Bible

Genesis

Chapter 1

¹ In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was without form and empty. Darkness was upon the surface of the deep. The Spirit of God was moving above the surface of the waters.

³ God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. ⁴ God saw the light, that it was good. He divided the light from the darkness. ⁵ God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.

⁶ God said, "Let there be an expanse between the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." ⁷ God made the expanse and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse. It was so. ⁸ God called the expanse "sky." And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.

⁹ God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear." It was so. ¹⁰ God called the dry land "earth," and the gathered waters he called "seas." He saw that it was good.

¹¹ God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees bearing fruit whose seed is in the fruit, each according to its own kind." It was so. ¹² The earth produced vegetation, plants producing seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit whose seed was in it, after their kind. God saw that it was good. ¹³ And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

¹⁴ God said, "Let there be lights in the sky to divide the day from the night and let them be as signs, for seasons, for days and years. ¹⁵ Let them be lights in the sky to give light upon the earth." It was so.

¹⁶ God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He made the stars also. ¹⁷ God set them in the sky to give light upon the earth, ¹⁸ to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good. ¹⁹ And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

²⁰ God said, "Let the waters be filled with great numbers of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the expanse of the sky." ²¹ God created the great sea creatures, as well as every living creature after its kind, creatures that move and which fill the waters everywhere, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good.

²² God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas. Let birds multiply on the earth." ²³ And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.

²⁴ God said, "Let the earth produce living creatures, each according to its own kind, livestock, creeping things, and wild animals, each according to its own kind." It was so. ²⁵ God made the wild animals after their kind, the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps upon the ground after its kind. He saw that it was good.

²⁶ God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." ¹

²⁷ God created man in his own image. In his own image he created him. Male and female he created them.

²⁸ God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful, and multiply. Fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves upon the earth."

²⁹ God said, "See, I have given you every plant yielding seed which is upon the surface of all the earth, and every tree with fruit which has seed in it. They will be food to you.

³⁰ To every beast of the earth, to every bird of the heavens, and to everything that creeps upon the earth, and to every creature that has the breath of life I have given every green plant for food." It was so.

³¹ God saw everything that he had made. Behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

¹Some ancient copies have: ... over the livestock, over all the animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

Chapter 2

¹ Then the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the living things that filled them.

² On the seventh day God came to the end of his work which he had done, and so he rested on the seventh day from all his work. ³ God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on it God rested from all his work which he had created and made.

⁴ This is the account of the heavens and the earth, when they were created, on the day that Yahweh God made the earth and the heavens.

⁵ No bush of the field was yet in the earth, and no plant of the field had yet sprouted, for Yahweh God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was no man to cultivate the ground. ⁶ But a mist went up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground.

⁷ Yahweh God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. ⁸ Yahweh God planted a garden eastward, in Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed.

⁹ Out of the ground Yahweh God made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. This included the tree of life that was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. ¹⁰ A river went out of Eden to water the garden. From there it divided and became four rivers.

¹¹ The name of the first is Pishon. It is the one which flows throughout the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. ¹² The gold of that land is good. There are also bdellium and the onyx stone.

¹³ The name of the second river is Gihon. This one flows throughout the whole land of Cush. ¹⁴ The name of the third river is Tigris, and it flows east of Ashur. The fourth river is the Euphrates.

¹⁵ Yahweh God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to work it and to maintain it. ¹⁶ Yahweh God commanded the man, saying, "From every tree in the garden you may freely eat. ¹⁷ But from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you must not eat, for on the day that you eat from it, you will surely die."

¹⁸ Then Yahweh God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone. I will make him a helper suitable for him." ¹⁹ Out of the ground Yahweh God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the sky. Then he brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. ²⁰ The man gave names to all the livestock, to all the birds of the sky, and to every beast of the field. But for the man himself there was found no helper suitable for him.

²¹ Yahweh God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, so the man slept. Yahweh God took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh where he took the rib. ²² With the rib that Yahweh God had taken from the man, he made a woman and brought her to the man. ²³ The man said,

"This time, this one is bone of my bones,

and flesh of my flesh.

She will be called 'woman,'

because she was taken out of man."

²⁴ Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, he will be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. ²⁵ They were both naked, the man and his wife, but were not ashamed.

Chapter 3

¹ Now the serpent was more shrewd than any other beast of the field which Yahweh God had made. He said to the woman, "Has God really said, 'You must not eat from any tree of the garden'?" ² The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat the fruit from the trees of the garden, ³ but concerning the fruit of the tree which is in the middle of the garden, God said, 'You must not eat it, and you must not touch it, or you will die.'"

⁴ The serpent said to the woman, "You will surely not die. ⁵ For God knows that the day you eat it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." ⁶ When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate it. Then she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it.

⁷ The eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked. So they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for their loins. ⁸ They heard the sound of Yahweh God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, so the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of Yahweh God among the trees of the garden.

⁹ Yahweh God called to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" ¹⁰ The man said, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked. So I hid myself." ¹¹ God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

¹² The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it." ¹³ Yahweh God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

¹⁴ Yahweh God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this,

cursed are you alone among all the livestock

and all the beasts of the field.

It is on your stomach that you will go,

and it is dust that you will eat

all the days of your life.

¹⁵ I will put hostility between you and the woman,

and between your seed and her seed.

He will bruise your head,

and you will bruise his heel."

¹⁶ To the woman he said,

"I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth;

it is in pain that you will give birth to children.

Your desire will be for your husband,

but he will rule over you."

¹⁷ To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree, concerning which I commanded you, saying, 'You may not eat from it,'

Cursed is the ground because of you;

through painful work you will eat from it

all the days of your life.

¹⁸ It will produce thorns and thistles for you,

and you will eat the plants of the field.

¹⁹ By the sweat of your face

you will eat bread,

until you return to the ground,

for out of it you were taken.

For dust you are,

and to dust you will return."

²⁰ The man called his wife's name Eve because she was the mother of all the living. ²¹ Yahweh God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

²² Yahweh God said, "Now the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. So now he must not be allowed to reach out with his hand, take from the tree of life, eat it, and live forever." ²³ Therefore Yahweh God sent him out from the garden of Eden, to cultivate the ground from which he had been taken. ²⁴ So God drove the man out of the garden, and he placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword that turned every way, in order to guard the way to the tree of life.

Chapter 4

¹ The man knew Eve his wife and she conceived and gave birth to Cain. She said, "I have produced a man with Yahweh's help." ² Then she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel became a keeper of flocks, but Cain cultivated the soil.

³ It came about that in the course of time Cain brought some of the fruit of the ground as an offering to Yahweh. ⁴ As for Abel, he brought some of the firstborn of his flock and some of the fat. Yahweh accepted Abel and his offering, ⁵ but Cain and his offering he did not accept. So Cain was very angry, and he scowled.

⁶ Yahweh said to Cain, "Why are you angry and why are you scowling? ⁷ If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin crouches at the door and desires to control you, but you must rule over it."

⁸ Cain spoke to Abel his brother. It came about that while they were in the fields, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. ¹

⁹ Then Yahweh said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

¹⁰ Yahweh said, "What have you done? Your brother's blood is calling out to me from the ground. ¹¹ Now cursed are you from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. ¹² When you cultivate the ground, from now on it will not yield to you its strength. A fugitive and a wanderer you will be in the earth."

¹³ Cain said to Yahweh, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. ¹⁴ Indeed, you have driven me out this day from this ground, and I will be hidden from your face. I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." ¹⁵ Yahweh said to him, "If anyone kills Cain, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold." Then Yahweh put a mark on Cain, so that if anyone found him, that person would not attack him.

¹⁶ So Cain went out from the presence of Yahweh and lived in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. ¹⁷ Cain knew his wife and she conceived. She gave birth to Enoch. He built a city and named it after his son Enoch.

¹⁸ To Enoch was born Irad. Irad became the father of Mehujael. Mehujael became the father of Methushael. Methushael became the father of Lamech. ¹⁹ Lamech took for himself two wives. The name of the one was Adah, and the name of the other was Zillah.

²⁰ Adah gave birth to Jabal. He was the father of those who live in tents and have livestock. ²¹ His brother's name was Jubal. He was the father of those who play the harp and pipe. ²² As for Zillah, she bore Tubal-Cain, the forger of tools of bronze and iron. The sister of Tubal-Cain was Naamah.

²³ Lamech said to his wives,

"Adah and Zillah, listen to my voice;

you wives of Lamech, listen to my words.

For I have killed a man for wounding me,

a young man for bruising me.

²⁴ If Cain is avenged seven times,

then Lamech will be avenged seventy-seven times."

²⁵ Adam knew his wife again, and she bore another son. She called his name Seth and said, "God has given me another son in the place of Abel, for Cain killed him." ²⁶ A son was born to Seth and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of Yahweh.

¹The best ancient copies read in this way. However, some old translations and some modern translations read Cain said to Abel his brother, "Let us go into the fields." It came about that while they were in the fields, Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

Chapter 5

¹ This is the record of the descendants of Adam. On the day that God created mankind, he made them in his own likeness. ² Male and female he created them. He blessed them and named them mankind when they were created.

³ When Adam had lived 130 years, he became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and he called his name Seth. ⁴ After Adam became the father of Seth, he lived eight hundred years. He became the father of more sons and daughters. ⁵ Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.

⁶ When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father of Enosh. ⁷ After he became the father of Enosh, he lived 807 years and became the father of more sons and daughters. ⁸ Seth lived 912 years, and then he died.

⁹ When Enosh had lived ninety years, he became the father of Kenan. ¹⁰ After he became the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years. He became the father of more sons and daughters. ¹¹ Enosh lived 905 years, and then he died.

¹² When Kenan had lived seventy years, he became the father of Mahalalel. ¹³ After he became the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years. He became the father of more sons and daughters. ¹⁴ Kenan lived 910 years, and then he died.

¹⁵ When Mahalalel had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Jared. ¹⁶ After he became the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years. He became the father of more sons and daughters. ¹⁷ Mahalalel lived 895 years, and then he died.

¹⁸ When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. ¹⁹ After he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived eight hundred years. He became the father of more sons and daughters. ²⁰ Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.

²¹ When Enoch had lived sixty-five years, he became the father of Methuselah. ²² Enoch walked with God three hundred years after he became the father of Methuselah. He became the father of more sons and daughters. ²³ Enoch lived 365 years. ²⁴ Enoch walked with God, and then he was gone, for God took him.

²⁵ When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. ²⁶ After he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years. He became the father of more sons and daughters. ²⁷ Methuselah lived 969 years. Then he died.

²⁸ When Lamech had lived 182 years, he became the father of a son. ²⁹ He called his name Noah, saying, "This one will give us rest from our work and from the painful labor of our hands, which we must do because of the ground that Yahweh has cursed."

³⁰ Lamech lived 595 years after he became the father of Noah. He became the father of more sons and daughters. ³¹ Lamech lived 777 years. Then he died.

³² After Noah had lived five hundred years, he became the father of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Chapter 6

¹ It came about when mankind began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them, ² that the sons of God saw that the daughters of mankind were attractive. They took for themselves wives, any of them that they chose. ³ Yahweh said, "My spirit will not remain in mankind forever, for they are flesh. They will live 120 years."

⁴ The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward. This happened when the sons of God married daughters of men, and they had children with them. These were the mighty men of old, men of renown.

⁵ Yahweh saw that the wickedness of mankind was great in the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. ⁶ Yahweh regretted that he had made mankind on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.

⁷ So Yahweh said, "I will wipe away mankind whom I have created from the surface of the earth—mankind and animals, and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I regret that I have made them." ⁸ But Noah found favor in the eyes of Yahweh.

⁹ This is the account of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, and blameless among the people of his time. Noah walked with God. ¹⁰ Noah became the father of three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

¹¹ The earth was corrupt before God, and it was filled with violence. ¹² God saw the earth; behold, it was corrupt, for all flesh had corrupted their way upon the earth.

¹³ God said to Noah, "I can see that it is time to put an end to all flesh, for the earth is filled with violence through them. Indeed, I will destroy them with the earth. ¹⁴ Make for yourself an ark of cypress wood. Make rooms in the ark, and cover it with pitch within and without. ¹⁵ This is how you will make it: The length of the ark is to be three hundred cubits; the breadth of it is to be fifty cubits, and the height of it is to be thirty cubits.

¹⁶ Make a roof for the ark, and finish it at a cubit from the top of the side. Place a door in the side of the ark and make a lower, a second, and a third deck. ¹⁷ Listen, I am about to bring the flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh that has in it the breath of life from under heaven. Everything that is on the earth will die.

¹⁸ But I will establish my covenant with you. You will come into the ark, you, and your sons, and your wife, and your sons' wives with you. ¹⁹ Of every living creature of all flesh, two of every kind you must bring into the ark, to keep them alive with you, both male and female.

²⁰ Of the birds after their kind, and of animals after their kind, of every creeping thing of the ground after its kind, two of every sort will come to you to keep them alive. ²¹ Gather for yourself every kind of food that is eaten and store it, so that it will be food for you and for them." ²² So Noah did this. According to all that God commanded him, so he did.

Chapter 7

¹ Yahweh said to Noah, "Come, you and all your household, into the ark, for I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation. ² Of every clean animal you will bring with you seven males and seven females. From the animals that are not clean, of them bring two, the male and his mate. ³ Also of the birds of the sky, bring seven males and seven females, to keep their offspring alive upon the surface of all the earth.

⁴ For in seven days I will cause it to rain upon the earth for forty days and forty nights. I will destroy from off the surface of the ground every living thing that I have made." ⁵ Noah did all that Yahweh commanded him.

⁶ Noah was six hundred years old when the flood came upon the earth. ⁷ Noah, his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives went into the ark together because of the waters of the flood.

⁸ Clean animals and unclean animals, birds, and everything that creeps upon the ground, ⁹ two by two, male and female, came to Noah and went into the ark, just as God had commanded Noah. ¹⁰ It came about that after the seven days, the waters of the flood came upon the earth.

¹¹ In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on the same day, all the fountains of the great deep burst open, and the windows of heaven were opened. ¹² The rain began and fell on the earth for forty days and forty nights.

¹³ On that very same day Noah and his sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and Noah's wife, and the three wives of his sons with them, entered into the ark. ¹⁴ They entered along with each wild animal according to its kind, and each sort of livestock according to its kind, and each creeping thing that creeps upon the earth according to its kind, and every sort of bird according to its kind, each kind of creature with wings.

¹⁵ Two of all flesh in which was the breath of life came to Noah and entered into the ark. ¹⁶ The animals that went in were male and female of all flesh; they entered in just as God had commanded him. Then Yahweh shut the door after them.

¹⁷ Then the flood came upon the earth for forty days, and the water increased and lifted the ark and raised it above the earth. ¹⁸ The waters completely covered over the earth, and the ark floated upon the surface of the water.

¹⁹ The waters rose greatly on the earth so that all the high mountains that were under the entire sky were covered. ²⁰ The waters rose fifteen cubits above the tops of the mountains.

²¹ All living beings that moved upon the earth died—birds, livestock, wild animals, all the living creatures that lived in great numbers upon the earth, and all mankind. ²² All living creatures who lived on the land, who breathed the breath of life through their noses, died.

²³ So every living thing that was on the surface of the earth was wiped out, mankind and animals and creeping things and birds of the sky. They were all destroyed from the earth. Only Noah and those with him in the ark were left. ²⁴ The waters stayed upon the earth for 150 days.

Chapter 8

¹ God remembered Noah, all the wild animals, and all the livestock that were with him in the ark. God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters started going down. ² The fountains of the deep and the windows of heaven were closed, and it stopped raining. ³ The flood waters went down slowly from the earth, and after the end of 150 days the waters had gone down.

⁴ The ark came to rest in the seventh month, on the seventeenth day of the month, upon the mountains of Ararat. ⁵ The waters continued to go down until the tenth month. On the first day of the month, the tops of the mountains appeared.

⁶ It came about after forty days that Noah opened the window of the ark which he had made. ⁷ He sent out a raven and it flew back and forth until the waters were dried up from the earth.

⁸ Then he sent out a dove to see if the waters had gone down from the surface of the earth, ⁹ but the dove found no place to rest her foot, and she returned to him in the ark, for the waters were still covering the whole earth. He reached out with his hand, and took and brought her into the ark with him.

¹⁰ He waited another seven days and again he sent out the dove from the ark. ¹¹ The dove returned to him in the evening. Look! In her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters had gone down from the earth. ¹² He waited another seven days, and sent out the dove again. She did not return again to him.

¹³ It came about in the six hundred and first year, in the first month, on the first day of the month, that the waters were dried up from off the earth. Noah removed the covering of the ark, looked out, and saw that, behold, the surface of the ground was dry. ¹⁴ In the second month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, the earth was dry.

¹⁵ God said to Noah, ¹⁶ "Go out of the ark, you, your wife, your sons, and your sons' wives with you. ¹⁷ Take out with you every living creature of all flesh that is with you—the birds, the animals, and every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth—so that they may increase greatly on the earth, that they may be fruitful and multiply upon the earth."

¹⁸ So Noah went out with his sons, his wife, and his sons' wives with him. ¹⁹ Every living creature, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, according to their families, left the ark.

²⁰ Noah built an altar to Yahweh. He took some of the clean animals and some of the clean birds, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. ²¹ Yahweh smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart, "I will not again curse the ground because of mankind, even though the intention of mankind's heart is evil from childhood. Nor will I again destroy everything living, as I have done.

²² While the earth remains,

seed time and harvest,

cold and heat,

summer and winter,

and day and night

will not cease."

Chapter 9

¹ Then God blessed Noah and his sons, and said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. ² The fear of you and the dread of you will be upon every living thing on the earth, upon every bird of the sky, upon everything that moves on the ground, and upon all the fish of the sea. They are given into your hand.

³ Every moving thing that lives will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. ⁴ But you must not eat meat with its life—that is its blood—in it.

⁵ But for your blood, the life that is in your blood, I will require payment. From the hand of every animal I will require it. From the hand of any man, that is, from the hand of one who has murdered his brother, I will require an accounting for the life of that man.

⁶ Whoever sheds man's blood,

by man will his blood be shed,

for it was in the image of God that he made man.

⁷ As for you, be fruitful and multiply, spread throughout the earth and multiply on it."

⁸ Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying, ⁹ "As for me, listen! I am going to confirm my covenant with you and with your descendants after you, ¹⁰ and with every living creature that is with you, with the birds, the livestock, and every creature of the earth with you, from all that came out of the ark, to every living creature on the earth.

¹¹ I hereby confirm my covenant with you, that never again will all flesh be destroyed by the waters of a flood. Never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth."

¹² God said, "This is the sign of the covenant which I am making between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: ¹³ I have set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.

¹⁴ It will come about when I bring a cloud over the earth and the rainbow is seen in the cloud, ¹⁵ then I will call to mind my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. The waters will never again become a flood to destroy all flesh.

¹⁶ The rainbow will be in the clouds and I will see it, in order to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth."

¹⁷ Then God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant that I have confirmed between me and all flesh that is on the earth."

¹⁸ The sons of Noah that came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan. ¹⁹ These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.

²⁰ Noah began to be a man of the soil, and he planted a vineyard. ²¹ He drank some of the wine and became drunk. He was lying uncovered in his tent.

²² Then Ham, the father of Canaan, saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers outside. ²³ So Shem and Japheth took a robe and laid it upon both their shoulders, and walked backwards and covered the nakedness of their father. Their faces were turned the other way, so they did not see their father's nakedness.

²⁴ When Noah awoke from his wine, he learned what his youngest son had done to him. ²⁵ So he said,

"Cursed be Canaan.

May he be a servant to his brothers' servants."

²⁶ He also said,

"May Yahweh, the God of Shem, be blessed,

and may Canaan be his servant.

²⁷ May God extend the territory of Japheth,

and let him make his home in the tents of Shem.

May Canaan be his servant."

²⁸ After the flood, Noah lived three hundred fifty years. ²⁹ All the days of Noah were nine hundred fifty years, and then he died.

Chapter 10

¹ These were the descendants of the sons of Noah, that is, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Sons were born to them after the flood.

² The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

³ The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.

⁴ The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, ¹ and Dodanim. ⁵ From these the coastland peoples separated and went into their lands, every one with its own language, according to their clans, by their nations.

⁶ The sons of Ham were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.

⁷ The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteka. The sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.

⁸ Cush became the father of Nimrod, who was a mighty one on the earth. ⁹ He was a mighty hunter before Yahweh. That is why it is said, "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before Yahweh." ¹⁰ The first centers of his kingdom were Babylon, Uruk, Akkad, and Kalneh, in the land of Shinar.

¹¹ Out of that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh, Rehoboth Ir, Calah, ¹² and Resen, which was between Nineveh and Calah. It was a large city.

¹³ Mizraim became the father of the Ludites, the Anamites, the Lehabites, the Naphtuhites, ¹⁴ the Pathrusites, the Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and the Caphtorites.

¹⁵ Canaan became the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and of Heth, ¹⁶ also of the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, ¹⁷ the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, ¹⁸ the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. Afterward the clans of the Canaanites spread out.

¹⁹ The border of the Canaanites was from Sidon, in the direction of Gerar, as far as Gaza, and as one goes toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha. ²⁰ These were the sons of Ham, by their clans, by their languages, in their lands, and in their nations.

²¹ Sons also were born to Shem, the older brother of Japheth. Shem was also the ancestor of all the people of Eber.

²² The sons of Shem were Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram.

²³ The sons of Aram were Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.

²⁴ Arphaxad became the father of Shelah, and Shelah became the father of Eber.

²⁵ Eber had two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother's name was Joktan.

²⁶ Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, ²⁷ Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, ²⁸ Obal, Abimael, Sheba, ²⁹ Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.

³⁰ Their territory was from Mesha, all the way to Sephar, the mountain of the east. ³¹ These were the sons of Shem, according to their clans and their languages, in their lands, according to their nations.

³² These were the clans of the sons of Noah, according to their genealogies, by their nations. From these the nations separated and went over the earth after the flood.

¹Some modern English translations read, Kittim .

Chapter 11

¹ Now the whole earth used one language and had the same words. ² As they journeyed in the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and they settled there.

³ They said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They had brick instead of stone and tar as mortar. ⁴ They said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower whose top will reach to the sky, and let us make a name for ourselves. If we do not, we will be scattered across the surface of the whole earth."

⁵ So Yahweh came down to see the city and the tower which the descendants of Adam had built. ⁶ Yahweh said, "Look, they are one people with the same language, and they are beginning to do this! Soon nothing that they intend to do will be impossible for them. ⁷ Come, let us go down and confuse their language there, so that they may not understand each other."

⁸ So Yahweh scattered them from there across the surface of all the earth and they stopped building the city. ⁹ Therefore, its name was called Babel, because there Yahweh confused the language of the whole earth and from there Yahweh scattered them abroad over the surface of all the earth.

¹⁰ These were the descendants of Shem. Shem was a hundred years old, and he became the father of Arphaxad two years after the flood. ¹¹ Shem lived five hundred years after he became the father of Arphaxad. He also became the father of other sons and daughters.

¹² When Arphaxad had lived thirty-five years, he became the father of Shelah. ¹³ Arphaxad lived 403 years after he became the father of Shelah. He also became the father of other sons and daughters.

¹⁴ When Shelah had lived thirty years, he became the father of Eber. ¹⁵ Shelah lived 403 years after he became the father of Eber. He also became the father of other sons and daughters.

¹⁶ When Eber had lived thirty-four years, he became the father of Peleg. ¹⁷ Eber lived 430 years after he became the father of Peleg. He also became the father of other sons and daughters.

¹⁸ When Peleg had lived thirty years, he became the father of Reu. ¹⁹ Peleg lived 209 years after he became the father of Reu. He also became the father of other sons and daughters.

²⁰ When Reu had lived thirty-two years, he became the father of Serug. ²¹ Reu lived 207 years after he became the father of Serug. He also became the father of other sons and daughters.

²² When Serug had lived thirty years, he became the father of Nahor. ²³ Serug lived two hundred years after he became the father of Nahor. He also became the father of other sons and daughters.

²⁴ When Nahor had lived twenty-nine years, he became the father of Terah. ²⁵ Nahor lived 119 years after he became the father of Terah. He also became the father of other sons and daughters.

²⁶ After Terah had lived seventy years, he became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

²⁷ Now these were the descendants of Terah. Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran, and Haran became the father of Lot. ²⁸ Haran died in the presence of his father Terah in the land of his birth, in Ur of the Chaldeans.

²⁹ Abram and Nahor took wives. The name of Abram's wife was Sarai and the name of Nahor's wife was Milkah, a daughter of Haran, who was the father of Milkah and Iskah. ³⁰ Now Sarai was barren; she had no child.

³¹ Terah took Abram his son, Lot the son of his son Haran, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife, and together they left Ur of the Chaldeans, to go into the land of Canaan. But they came to Haran and stayed there. ³² Terah lived 205 years and then died in Haran.

Chapter 12

¹ Now Yahweh said to Abram, "Go from your country, and from your relatives, and from your father's household, to the land that I will show you.

² I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you,

and make your name great, and you will be a blessing.

³ I will bless those who bless you, but whoever dishonors you I will curse.

Through you will all the families of the earth be blessed."

⁴ So Abram went, as Yahweh had told him to do, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he left Haran. ⁵ Abram took Sarai, his wife, Lot, his brother's son, all their possessions that they had accumulated, and the people that they had acquired in Haran. They left to go into the land of Canaan, and came to the land of Canaan.

⁶ Abram passed through the land as far as Shechem, to the oak of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites lived in the land. ⁷ Yahweh appeared to Abram, and said, "To your descendants I will give this land." So there Abram built an altar to Yahweh, who had appeared to him.

⁸ From there he moved to the hill country to the east of Bethel, where he pitched his tent, with Bethel to the west and Ai to the east. There he built an altar to Yahweh and called on the name of Yahweh. ⁹ Then Abram continued journeying, going toward the Negev.

¹⁰ There was a famine in the land, so Abram went down into Egypt to stay, for the famine was severe in the land. ¹¹ When he was about to enter into Egypt, he said to Sarai his wife, "See now, I know that you are a beautiful woman. ¹² When the Egyptians see you they will say, 'This is his wife,' and they will kill me, but they will keep you alive. ¹³ Say that you are my sister, so that it may be well with me because of you, and so that my life will be spared because of you."

¹⁴ It came about that when Abram entered into Egypt, the Egyptians saw that Sarai was very beautiful. ¹⁵ The princes of Pharaoh saw her, and praised her to Pharaoh, and the woman was taken into Pharaoh's household. ¹⁶ Pharaoh treated Abram well for her sake, and Abram received sheep and cattle, male donkeys, male servants, female servants, female donkeys, and camels.

¹⁷ Then Yahweh afflicted Pharaoh and his house with great plagues because of Sarai, Abram's wife. ¹⁸ Pharaoh summoned Abram, and said, "What is this that you have done to me? Why did you not tell me that she was your wife? ¹⁹ Why did you say, 'She is my sister,' so that I took her to be my wife? Now therefore, here is your wife. Take her, and go your way." ²⁰ Then Pharaoh gave orders to his men concerning him, and they sent him away, along with his wife and all that he had.

Chapter 13

¹ So Abram went up from Egypt and went into the Negev, he, his wife, and all that he had. Lot also went with them. ² Now Abram was very rich in livestock, in silver, and in gold.

³ He continued on his journey from the Negev to Bethel, to the place where his tent had been before, between Bethel and Ai. ⁴ He went to the place where the altar was that he had built previously. Here he called on the name of Yahweh.

⁵ Now Lot, who was traveling with Abram, also had flocks, herds, and tents. ⁶ The land was not able to support them both living close together, because their possessions were very many, so that they could not stay together. ⁷ Also, there was a dispute between the herdsmen of Abram's livestock and the herdsmen of Lot's livestock. The Canaanites and the Perizzites were living in the land at that time.

⁸ So Abram said to Lot, "Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen; after all, we are family. ⁹ Is not the whole land before you? Go ahead and separate yourself from me. If you go to the left, then I will go to the right. Or if you go to the right, then I will go to the left."

¹⁰ So Lot looked around, and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan was well watered everywhere all the way to Zoar, like the garden of Yahweh, like the land of Egypt. This was before Yahweh destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. ¹¹ So Lot chose for himself all the plain of the Jordan and traveled east, and the relatives separated from each other.

¹² Abram lived in the land of Canaan, and Lot lived among the cities of the plain. He set up his tents as far away as Sodom. ¹³ Now the men of Sodom were very wicked sinners against Yahweh.

¹⁴ Yahweh said to Abram after Lot had departed from him, "Look from the place where you are standing to the north, south, east, and west. ¹⁵ All this land which you see, I will give to you and to your descendants forever.

¹⁶ I will make your descendants as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your descendants also can be counted. ¹⁷ Arise, walk through the length and breadth of the land, for I will give it to you." ¹⁸ So Abram picked up his tent, and came and lived by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there built an altar to Yahweh.

Chapter 14

¹ It came about in the days of Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar, Kedorlaomer, king of Elam, and Tidal, king of Goyim, ² that they made war against Bera, king of Sodom, Birsha, king of Gomorrah, Shinab, king of Admah, Shemeber, king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar).

³ These latter five kings joined together in the Valley of Siddim (also called the Salt Sea). ⁴ Twelve years they had served Kedorlaomer, but in the thirteenth year they rebelled. ⁵ Then in the fourteenth year, Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him came and attacked the Rephaim in Ashteroth Karnaim, the Zuzites in Ham, the Emites in Shaveh Kiriathaim, ⁶ and the Horites in their hill country of Seir, as far as El Paran, which is near the desert.

⁷ Then they turned and came to En Mishpat (also called Kadesh), and defeated all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazezon Tamar.

⁸ Then the king of Sodom, the king of Gomorrah, the king of Admah, the king of Zeboyim, and the king of Bela (also called Zoar) went out and prepared for battle in the Valley of Siddim ⁹ against Kedorlaomer, king of Elam, Tidal, king of Goyim, Amraphel, king of Shinar, Arioch, king of Ellasar; four kings against the five.

¹⁰ Now the Valley of Siddim was full of tar pits, and as the kings of Sodom and Gomorrah fled, they fell in there. Those who were left fled to the mountains. ¹¹ So the kings took all the goods of Sodom and Gomorrah and all their provisions, and went their way. ¹² When they went, they also took Lot, Abram's brother's son, who was living in Sodom, along with all his possessions.

¹³ One who had escaped came and told Abram the Hebrew. He was living by the oaks that belonged to Mamre, the Amorite, who was the brother of Eshkol and Aner, who were all allies of Abram. ¹⁴ Now when Abram heard that enemies had captured his relative, he led out his 318 trained men who had been born in his house, and he pursued them as far as Dan.

¹⁵ He divided his men against them at night, he and his servants, and he pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. ¹⁶ Then he brought back all the possessions, and also brought back his relative Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the other people.

¹⁷ After Abram returned from defeating Kedorlaomer and the kings who were with him, the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (also called the King's Valley).

¹⁸ Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High.

¹⁹ He blessed him saying,

"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,

Creator of heaven and earth.

²⁰ Blessed be God Most High,

who has given your enemies into your hand."

Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.

²¹ The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the people, and take the goods for yourself." ²² Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have lifted up my hand to Yahweh, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, ²³ that I will not take a thread, a sandal strap, or anything that is yours, so that you can never say, 'I have made Abram rich.' ²⁴ I will take nothing except what the young men have eaten and the share of the men that went with me. Let Aner, Eshkol, and Mamre take their portion."

Chapter 15

¹ After these things the word of Yahweh came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Fear not, Abram! I am your shield and your very great reward."

² Abram said, "Lord Yahweh, what will you give me, since I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" ³ Abram said, "Since you have given me no descendant, see, one born in my house will be my heir!"

⁴ Then, behold, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but rather the one who will come from your own body will be your heir." ⁵ Then he brought him outside, and said, "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them." Then he said to him, "So will your descendants be."

⁶ He believed Yahweh, and he counted it to him as righteousness. ⁷ He said to him, "I am Yahweh, who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to inherit it." ⁸ He said, "Lord Yahweh, how will I know that I will inherit it?"

⁹ Then he said to him, "Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a dove, and a young pigeon." ¹⁰ He brought him all these, and cut them in two, and placed each half opposite the other, but he did not divide the birds. ¹¹ When the birds of prey came down upon the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

¹² Then when the sun was going down, Abram fell sound asleep and, behold, a deep and terrifying darkness overwhelmed him. ¹³ Then Yahweh said to Abram, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred years.

¹⁴ I will judge that nation that they will serve, and afterward they will come out with abundant possessions. ¹⁵ But you will go to your fathers in peace, and you will be buried in a good old age. ¹⁶ In the fourth generation they will come here again, for the iniquity of the Amorites has not yet reached its limit."

¹⁷ When the sun had gone down and it was dark, behold, a smoking firepot and a flaming torch passed between the pieces. ¹⁸ On that day Yahweh made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your descendants I hereby give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates— ¹⁹ the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, ²⁰ the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaites, ²¹ the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Girgashites, and the Jebusites."

Chapter 16

¹ Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had not borne any children for him, but she had a female servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar. ² So Sarai said to Abram, "See now, Yahweh has kept me from having children. Please go to my servant. It may be that I will have children by her." Abram listened to the voice of Sarai. ³ It was after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan that Sarai, Abram's wife, gave Hagar, her Egyptian servant, to her husband as a wife. ⁴ So he went to Hagar, and she conceived. When she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.

⁵ Then Sarai said to Abram, "This wrong on me is because of you. I gave my servant woman into your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes. Let Yahweh judge between me and you." ⁶ But Abram said to Sarai, "See here, your servant woman is in your power, do to her what you think best." So Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.

⁷ The angel of Yahweh found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring that is on the way to Shur. ⁸ He said, "Hagar, Sarai's servant, where did you come from and where are you going?" Then she said, "I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai."

⁹ The angel of Yahweh said to her, "Return to your mistress, and submit yourself to her authority." ¹⁰ Then the angel of Yahweh said to her, "I will greatly multiply your descendants, so that they will be too numerous to count."

¹¹ The angel of Yahweh also said to her,

"Behold, you are pregnant

and will bear a son,

and you will call his name Ishmael,

because Yahweh has heard your affliction.

¹² He will be a wild donkey of a man.

He will be hostile against every man,

and every man will be hostile to him,

and he will live apart from all his brothers."

¹³ Then she gave this name to Yahweh who spoke to her, "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "Do I really continue to see, even after he has seen me?" ¹⁴ Therefore the well was called Beer Lahai Roi; behold, it is between Kadesh and Bered.

¹⁵ Hagar gave birth to Abram's son, and Abram named his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael. ¹⁶ Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

Chapter 17

¹ When Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him, "I am God Almighty. Walk before me, and be blameless. ² Then I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly."

³ Abram bowed low with his face to the ground and God talked with him, saying, ⁴ "As for me, behold, my covenant is with you. You will be the father of a multitude of nations. ⁵ No longer will your name be Abram, but your name will be Abraham—for I appoint you to be the father of a multitude of nations. ⁶ I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will descend from you.

⁷ I will establish my covenant between me and you and your descendants after you, throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. ⁸ I will give to you, and to your descendants after you, the land where you have been sojourning, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God."

⁹ Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. ¹⁰ This is my covenant, which you must keep, between me and you and your descendants after you: Every male among you must be circumcised. ¹¹ You must be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and this will be the sign of the covenant between me and you.

¹² Every male among you that is eight days old must be circumcised, throughout your people's generations. This includes him who is born into your household and him who is bought with money from any foreigner who is not one of your descendants. ¹³ He who is born into your household and he who is bought with your money must be circumcised. Thus my covenant will be in your flesh for an everlasting covenant. ¹⁴ Any uncircumcised male who is not circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin will be cut off from his people. He has broken my covenant."

¹⁵ God said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, do not call her Sarai any more. Instead, her name will be Sarah. ¹⁶ I will bless her, and I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she will become the mother of nations. Kings of peoples will come from her."

¹⁷ Then Abraham bowed low with his face to the ground, and laughed, and said in his heart, "Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old? How can Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a son?" ¹⁸ Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!"

¹⁹ God said, "No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you must name him Isaac. I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant with his descendants after him. ²⁰ As for Ishmael, I have heard you. Behold, I have blessed him and will make him fruitful and will multiply him abundantly. He will be the father of twelve princes, and I will make him become a great nation. ²¹ But my covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this time in the next year."

²² When he had finished talking with him, God went up from Abraham. ²³ Then Abraham took Ishmael his son, and all those who were born into his household, and all those who were bought with his money, every male among the men of Abraham's household, and circumcised the flesh of their foreskin in that same day, as God had said to him.

²⁴ Abraham was ninety-nine years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. ²⁵ Ishmael his son was thirteen years old when he was circumcised in the flesh of his foreskin. ²⁶ On the very same day Abraham and Ishmael his son were both circumcised. ²⁷ All the men of his household were circumcised with him, including those born into the household and those bought with money from a foreigner.

Chapter 18

¹ Yahweh appeared to Abraham by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent doorway in the heat of the day. ² He looked up and, behold, he saw three men standing across from him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door and bowed low to the ground.

³ He said, "My Lord, if I have found favor in your sight, please do not pass by your servant." ⁴ Let a little water be brought, wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. ⁵ Let me bring a little food, so that you may refresh yourselves. Afterwards you can go your way, since you have come to your servant." They replied, "Do as you have said."

⁶ Then Abraham quickly went into the tent to Sarah, and said, "Hurry, get three seahs of fine flour, knead it, and make bread." ⁷ Then Abraham ran to the herd, and took a calf that was tender and good, and gave it to the servant, and he hurried to prepare it. ⁸ He took curds and milk, and the calf that had been prepared, and placed the food before them, and he stood by them under the tree while they ate.

⁹ They said to him, "Where is Sarah your wife?" He replied, "There, in the tent." ¹⁰ He said, "I will certainly return to you in the springtime, and see, Sarah your wife will have a son." Sarah was listening in the tent doorway, which was behind him.

¹¹ Now Abraham and Sarah were old, very advanced in age, and Sarah had passed the age when women could bear children. ¹² So Sarah laughed to herself, saying to herself, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?"

¹³ Yahweh said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really bear a child, when I am old'? ¹⁴ Is anything too hard for Yahweh? At the time appointed by me, in the spring, I will return to you. About this time next year Sarah will have a son." ¹⁵ Then Sarah denied it and said, "I did not laugh," for she was afraid. He replied, "No, you did laugh."

¹⁶ Then the men arose to leave and looked down toward Sodom. Abraham went with them to see them on their way. ¹⁷ But Yahweh said, "Should I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, ¹⁸ since Abraham will indeed become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him? ¹⁹ For I have chosen him so that he may instruct his children and his household after him to keep the way of Yahweh, to do righteousness and justice, so that Yahweh may bring upon Abraham what he has said to him."

²⁰ Then Yahweh said, "Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and because their sin is so serious, ²¹ I will now go down there and see the outcry against her that has come to me, whether they have really done it. If not, I will know."

²² So the men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before Yahweh. ²³ Then Abraham approached and said, "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?

²⁴ Perhaps there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous that are there? ²⁵ Far be it from you to do such a thing, killing the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be treated the same as the wicked. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?" ²⁶ Yahweh said, "If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare the whole place for their sake."

²⁷ Abraham answered and said, "See now, I have undertaken to speak to my Lord, even though I am only dust and ashes! ²⁸ What if there are five less than fifty righteous? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?" Then he said, "I will not destroy it, if I find there forty-five."

²⁹ He spoke to him yet again, and said, "What if there are forty found there?" He replied, "I will not do it for the forty's sake." ³⁰ He said, "Please do not be angry, Lord, so I may speak. Perhaps thirty will be found there." He replied, "I will not do it, if I find thirty there." ³¹ He said, "See now, I have undertaken to speak to my Lord! Perhaps twenty will be found there." He replied, "I will not destroy it for the twenty's sake."

³² He said, "Please do not be angry, Lord, and I will speak this one last time. Perhaps ten will be found there." Then he said, "I will not destroy it for the ten's sake." ³³ Yahweh went on his way as soon as he had finished talking with Abraham, and Abraham returned home.

Chapter 19

¹ The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, while Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom. Lot saw them, arose to meet them, and bowed down with his face to the ground. ² He said, "See now, my masters, please turn aside into your servant's house, stay for the night, and wash your feet. Then you can rise up early and go on your way." They replied, "No, we will spend the night in the town square." ³ But he urged them strongly, so they went with him, and entered into his house. He prepared a meal and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.

⁴ But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, surrounded the house, both young and old, all the men from every part of the city. ⁵ They called to Lot, and said to him, "Where are the men that came in to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them."

⁶ So Lot went out the door to them and shut the door after himself. ⁷ He said, "I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. ⁸ See now, I have two daughters who have not known any man. Please let me bring them out to you, and you do to them whatever is good in your eyes. Only do nothing to these men, because they have come under the shadow of my roof."

⁹ They said, "Stand back!" They also said, "This one came here to live as a foreigner, and now he has become our judge! Now we will deal worse with you than with them." They pressed hard against the man, against Lot, and came near to break down the door.

¹⁰ But the men reached out their hands and brought Lot into the house with them and shut the door. ¹¹ Then Lot's visitors struck with blindness the men who were outside the door of the house, both small and great, so that they became exhausted when they were trying to find the door.

¹² Then the men said to Lot, "Do you have anyone else here? Any sons-in-law, your sons and your daughters, and whoever you have in the city, get them out of here. ¹³ For we are about to destroy this place, because the accusations against it before Yahweh have become so loud that he has sent us to destroy it."

¹⁴ Lot went out and spoke to his sons-in-law, the men who had promised to marry his daughters, and said, "Quick, get out of this place, for Yahweh is about to destroy the city." But to his sons-in-law he seemed to be joking. ¹⁵ When dawn came, the angels urged Lot, saying, "Get going, take your wife and your two daughters that are here, so you are not swept away in the punishment of the city."

¹⁶ But he lingered. So the men grabbed his hand, and the hand of his wife, and the hands of his two daughters, because Yahweh was merciful to him. They brought them out, and set them outside the city. ¹⁷ When they had brought them out, one of the men said, "Run for your lives! Do not look back, or stay anywhere on the plain. Escape to the mountains so you are not swept away."

¹⁸ Lot said to them, "No, please, my masters! ¹⁹ See now, your servant has found favor in your eyes, and you have shown me great kindness in saving my life, but I cannot escape to the mountains, because the disaster will overtake me, and I will die. ²⁰ See now, the city over there is a little one. Please, let me escape there—Is it not a little one?—and my life will be saved."

²¹ He said to him, "Alright, I am granting this request also, that I will not destroy the city which you have mentioned. ²² Hurry! Escape there, for I cannot do anything until you arrive there." Therefore the city was named Zoar.

²³ The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot reached Zoar. ²⁴ Then Yahweh rained down upon Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Yahweh out of the sky. ²⁵ He destroyed those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and the plants that grew on the ground.

²⁶ But Lot's wife, who was behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

²⁷ Abraham got up early in the morning and went to the place where he had stood before Yahweh. ²⁸ He looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the plain. He looked and behold, smoke was rising from the land like the smoke of a furnace.

²⁹ So when God destroyed the cities of the plain, God called Abraham to mind. He sent Lot out of the midst of the destruction when he destroyed the cities in which Lot had lived.

³⁰ But Lot went up from Zoar to live in the mountains with his two daughters, because he was afraid to live in Zoar. So he lived in a cave, he and his two daughters.

³¹ The firstborn said to the younger, "Our father is old, and there is no man anywhere to lie with us according to the way of all the world. ³² Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, so that we may keep our family line alive through our father." ³³ So they made their father drink wine that night. Then the firstborn went in and lay with her father; he did not know when she lay down, nor when she got up.

³⁴ The next day the firstborn said to the younger, "Listen, here I lay last night with my father. Let us make him drink wine tonight also, and you should go and lie with him, so that we may keep our family line alive through our father." ³⁵ So they made their father drink wine that night also, and the younger went and lay with him. He did not know when she lay down or when she got up.

³⁶ So both the daughters of Lot conceived by their father. ³⁷ The firstborn gave birth to a son, and named him Moab. He became the ancestor of the Moabites of today. ³⁸ As for the younger daughter, she also gave birth to a son, and named him Ben-Ammi. He became the ancestor of the people of Ammon of today.

Chapter 20

¹ Abraham journeyed from there toward the land of the Negev, and lived between Kadesh and Shur. He was a foreigner living in Gerar. ² Abraham said concerning Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." So Abimelek king of Gerar sent for Sarah and took her. ³ But God came to Abimelek in a dream in the night, and said to him, "Behold, you are a dead man because of the woman whom you have taken, for she is a man's wife."

⁴ Now Abimelek had not come near her and he said, "Lord, would you kill even a righteous nation? ⁵ Did he not himself say to me, 'She is my sister?' Even she herself said, 'He is my brother.' I have done this in the integrity of my heart and the innocence of my hands."

⁶ Then God said to him in the dream, "Yes, I also know that in the integrity of your heart you did this, and I also kept you from sinning against me. Therefore I did not allow you to touch her. ⁷ Therefore, return the man's wife, for he is a prophet. He will pray for you, and you will live. But if you do not restore her, know that you and all who are yours will surely die."

⁸ Abimelek rose early in the morning and called all of his servants to himself. He told all these things to them, and the men were very afraid. ⁹ Then Abimelek called for Abraham and said to him, "What have you done to us? How have I sinned against you, that you have brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? You have done to me deeds that ought not to be done."

¹⁰ Abimelek said to Abraham, "What prompted you to do this thing?" ¹¹ Abraham said, "Because I thought, 'Surely there is no fear of God in this place, and they will kill me because of my wife.' ¹² Besides, she is indeed my sister, the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife.

¹³ When God caused me to leave my father's house and travel from place to place, I said to her, 'You must show me this faithfulness as my wife: At every place where we go, say about me, "He is my brother."'" ¹⁴ Then Abimelek took sheep and cattle, and male slaves and female slaves, and gave them to Abraham. Then he returned Sarah, Abraham's wife, to him.

¹⁵ Abimelek said, "Look, my land is before you. Settle wherever it pleases you." ¹⁶ To Sarah he said, "Look, I have given your brother a thousand pieces of silver. It is to cover any offense against you in the eyes of all who are with you, and before everyone, you are completely made right."

¹⁷ Then Abraham prayed to God, and God healed Abimelek, his wife, and his female slaves so that they were able to have children. ¹⁸ For Yahweh had closed all the wombs of the household of Abimelek because of Sarah, Abraham's wife.

Chapter 21

¹ Yahweh paid attention to Sarah as he had said he would, and Yahweh did for Sarah just as he had promised. ² Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him. ³ Abraham named his son, the one who had been born to him, whom Sarah bore to him, Isaac. ⁴ Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, just as God had commanded him.

⁵ Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. ⁶ Sarah said, "God has made me laugh; every one who hears will laugh with me." ⁷ She also said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children, and yet I have borne him a son in his old age!"

⁸ The child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned. ⁹ Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, mocking.

¹⁰ So she said to Abraham, "Drive out this slave woman and her son, for the son of this slave woman will not be heir with my son, with Isaac." ¹¹ This thing was very grievous to Abraham because of his son.

¹² But God said to Abraham, "Do not be grieved because of the young man and because of your servant girl. Listen to Sarah's words in all she says to you about this matter, because it is through Isaac that your descendants will be named. ¹³ I will also make the son of the servant woman into a nation, because he is your descendant."

¹⁴ Abraham rose up early in the morning, took bread and a skin of water, and gave it to Hagar, putting it on her shoulder. He gave her the boy and sent her away. She departed and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba. ¹⁵ When the water in the waterskin was gone, she abandoned the child under one of the bushes. ¹⁶ Then she went, and sat down a short distance from him, about the distance of a bowshot away, for she said, "Let me not look upon the death of the child." As she sat there across from him, she lifted up her voice and wept.

¹⁷ God heard the voice of the young man, and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her, "What troubles you, Hagar? Do not be afraid, for God has heard the voice of the young man where he is. ¹⁸ Get up, raise up the young man, and encourage him; for I will make him into a great nation."

¹⁹ Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. She went and filled the skin with water and gave the young man a drink. ²⁰ God was with the young man, and he grew. He lived in the wilderness and became an archer. ²¹ He lived in the wilderness of Paran, and his mother got a wife for him from the land of Egypt.

²² It came about at that time that Abimelek and Phicol the captain of his army spoke to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do. ²³ Now therefore swear to me here by God that you will not deal falsely with me, nor with my offspring, nor with my descendants. Show to me and to the land in which you have been staying the same covenant faithfulness that I have shown to you." ²⁴ Abraham said, "I swear."

²⁵ Abraham also complained to Abimelek concerning a well of water that Abimelek's servants had seized from him. ²⁶ Abimelek said, "I do not know who has done this thing. You did not tell me before now; I have not heard of it until today." ²⁷ So Abraham took sheep and cattle and gave them to Abimelek, and the two men made a covenant.

²⁸ Then Abraham set seven female lambs of the flock by themselves. ²⁹ Abimelek said to Abraham, "What is the meaning of these seven female lambs that you have set by themselves?" ³⁰ He replied, "These seven female lambs you will receive from my hand, so that it may be a witness for me, that I dug this well."

³¹ So he called that place Beersheba, because there they both swore an oath. ³² They made a covenant at Beersheba, and then Abimelek and Phicol, the captain of his army, returned to the land of the Philistines.

³³ Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beersheba. There he called on the name of Yahweh, the eternal God. ³⁴ Abraham remained as a foreigner in the land of the Philistines many days.

Chapter 22

¹ It came about after these things that God tested Abraham. He said to him, "Abraham!" Abraham said, "Here I am." ² Then God said, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering upon one of the mountains there, which I will tell you about." ³ So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, along with Isaac his son. He cut the wood for the burnt offering, then set out on his journey to the place that God had told him about.

⁴ On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place afar off. ⁵ Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the young man will go over there. We will worship and come again to you." ⁶ Then Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and put it on Isaac his son. He took in his own hand the fire and the knife; and they went both of them together.

⁷ Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, "My father," and he said, "Here I am, my son." He said, "See, here is the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" ⁸ Abraham said, "God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son." So they went on, both of them together.

⁹ When they came to the place that God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and laid the wood on it. Then he bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Abraham reached out with his hand and took up the knife to kill his son.

¹¹ Then the angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" and he said, "Here I am." ¹² He said, "Do not lay your hand upon the young man, nor do anything to harm him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing that you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me."

¹³ Abraham looked up and behold, behind him was a ram caught in the bushes by his horns. Abraham went and took the ram and offered him up as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abraham named that place, "Yahweh will provide," and it is said to this day, "On the mountain of Yahweh it will be provided."

¹⁵ The angel of Yahweh called to Abraham a second time from heaven ¹⁶ and said—this is Yahweh's declaration—by myself I have sworn that because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you and I will greatly multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and your descendants will possess the gate of their enemies.

¹⁸ Through your offspring all the nations of the earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice." ¹⁹ So Abraham returned to his young men, and they departed and went together to Beersheba, and he lived at Beersheba.

²⁰ It came about after these things that Abraham was told, "Milkah has borne children, as well, to your brother Nahor." ²¹ They were Uz his firstborn, Buz his brother, Kemuel the father of Aram, ²² Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.

²³ Bethuel became the father of Rebekah. These were the eight children that Milkah bore to Nahor, Abraham's brother. ²⁴ His concubine, whose name was Reumah, also bore Tebah, Gaham, Tahash, and Maakah.

Chapter 23

¹ Sarah lived 127 years. These were the years of the life of Sarah. ² Sarah died in Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron, in the land of Canaan. Abraham mourned and wept for Sarah.

³ Then Abraham rose up and went from his dead wife, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, ⁴ "I am a foreigner and sojourner among you. Please grant me a property for a burial place among you, so that I may bury my dead."

⁵ The sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying, ⁶ "Listen to us, my master. You are a prince of God among us. Bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs. None of us will refuse you his tomb, so that you may bury your dead."

⁷ Abraham arose and bowed down to the people of the land, to the sons of Heth. ⁸ He spoke to them, saying, "If you agree that I should bury my dead, then hear me and plead with Ephron son of Zohar, for me. ⁹ Ask him to sell me the cave of Machpelah, which he owns, which is at the end of his field. For the full price let him sell it to me publicly as a property for a burial place."

¹⁰ Now Ephron was sitting among the sons of Heth, and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the hearing of the sons of Heth, of all those who had come into the gate of his city, saying, ¹¹ "No, my master, hear me. I give you the field, and the cave that is in it. I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you to bury your dead."

¹² Then Abraham bowed down before the people of the land. ¹³ He spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, "But if you are willing, please hear me. I will pay for the field. Take the money from me, and I will bury my dead there."

¹⁴ Ephron answered Abraham, saying, ¹⁵ "Please, my master, listen to me. A piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver, what is that between me and you? Bury your dead." ¹⁶ Abraham listened to Ephron and Abraham weighed out to Ephron the amount of silver that he had spoken in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, according to the standard measurement of the merchants.

¹⁷ So the field of Ephron, which was in Machpelah, which was next to Mamre, that is, the field, the cave that was in it, and all the trees that were in the field and all around its border, passed ¹⁸ to Abraham by purchase in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all those who had come into the gate of his city.

¹⁹ After this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which is next to Mamre, that is, Hebron, in the land of Canaan. ²⁰ So the field and the cave in it passed to Abraham as a property for a burial place from the sons of Heth.

Chapter 24

¹ Now Abraham was very old and Yahweh had blessed Abraham in all things. ² Abraham said to his servant, the one who was the oldest of his household and who was in charge of all that he had, "Put your hand under my thigh ³ and I will make you swear by Yahweh, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I make my home. ⁴ But you will go to my country, and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son Isaac."

⁵ The servant said to him, "What if the woman will not be willing to follow me to this land? Must I take your son back to the land from which you came?" ⁶ Abraham said to him, "Make sure that you do not take my son back there! ⁷ Yahweh, the God of heaven, who took me from my father's house and from the land of my relatives, and who promised me with a solemn oath saying, 'To your descendants I will give this land,' he will send his angel before you, and you will get a wife for my son from there.

⁸ But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine. Only you are not to take my son back there." ⁹ So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master, and swore to him concerning this matter.

¹⁰ The servant took ten of his master's camels and departed. He also took with him all kinds of goods from his master. He departed and went to the region of Aram Naharaim, to the city of Nahor. ¹¹ He made the camels kneel down outside the city by the well of water. It was evening, the time that women go out to draw water.

¹² Then he said, "Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, grant me success today and show covenant faithfulness to my master Abraham. ¹³ Look, here I am standing by the spring of water, and the daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water. ¹⁴ Let it happen like this. When I say to a young woman, 'Please lower your pitcher so that I may drink,' and she says to me, 'Drink, and I will water your camels too,' then let her be the one that you have appointed for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown covenant faithfulness to my master."

¹⁵ It came about that even before he had finished speaking, behold, Rebekah came out with her water pitcher on her shoulder. Rebekah was born to Bethuel son of Milkah, the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother. ¹⁶ The young woman was very beautiful and a virgin. No man had ever known her. She went down to the spring, filled her pitcher and came up.

¹⁷ Then the servant ran to meet her and said, "Please give me a little drink of water from your pitcher." ¹⁸ She said, "Drink, my master," and she quickly let down her pitcher on her hand, and gave him a drink.

¹⁹ When she had finished giving him a drink, she said, "I will draw water for your camels also, until they have finished drinking." ²⁰ So she hurried and emptied her pitcher into the trough, then ran again to the well to draw water, and drew water for all his camels.

²¹ The man watched her in silence to see whether Yahweh had prospered his journey or not. ²² As the camels finished drinking, the man brought out a gold nose ring weighing half a shekel, and two gold bracelets for her arms weighing ten shekels, ²³ and asked, "Whose daughter are you? Tell me please, is there room in your father's house for us to spend the night?"

²⁴ She said to him, "I am the daughter of Bethuel son of Milkah, whom she bore to Nahor." ²⁵ She also said to him, "We have plenty of both straw and feed, and also room for you to spend the night."

²⁶ Then the man bowed down and worshiped Yahweh. ²⁷ He said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who has not abandoned his covenant faithfulness and his trustworthiness toward my master. As for me, Yahweh has led me directly to the house of my master's relatives."

²⁸ Then the young woman ran and told her mother's household about all of these things. ²⁹ Now Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban. Laban ran to the man who was out at the road by the spring. ³⁰ When he had seen the nose ring and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and when he had heard the words of Rebekah his sister, "This is what the man said to me," he went to the man, and, behold, he was standing by the camels at the spring.

³¹ Then Laban said, "Come, you blessed of Yahweh. Why are you standing outside? I have prepared the house, and a place for the camels." ³² So the man came to the house and he unloaded the camels. The camels were given straw and feed, and water was provided to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him.

³³ They set food before him to eat, but he said, "I will not eat until I have said what I have to say." So Laban said, "Speak on." ³⁴ He said, "I am Abraham's servant. ³⁵ Yahweh has blessed my master very much and he has become great. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, male servants and female servants, and camels and donkeys.

³⁶ Sarah, my master's wife, bore a son to my master when she was old, and he has given everything that he owns to him. ³⁷ My master made me swear, saying, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I make my home. ³⁸ Instead, you must go to my father's family, and to my relatives, and get a wife for my son.'

³⁹ I said to my master, 'Perhaps the woman will not follow me.' ⁴⁰ But he said to me, 'Yahweh, before whom I walk, will send his angel with you and he will prosper your way, so that you will get a wife for my son from among my relatives and from my father's family line. ⁴¹ But you will be free from my oath if you come to my relatives and they will not give her to you. Then you will be free from my oath.'

⁴² So I arrived today at the spring, and said, 'O Yahweh, God of my master Abraham, please, if you do indeed intend to make my journey successful— ⁴³ here I am, standing by the spring of water—let the young woman who comes out to draw water, the woman to whom I say, "Please give me a little water from your pitcher to drink," ⁴⁴ the woman who says to me, "Drink, and I will also draw water for your camels"—let her be the woman whom you, Yahweh, have chosen for my master's son.'

⁴⁵ Even before I had finished speaking in my heart, behold, Rebekah came out with her pitcher on her shoulder and she went down to the spring and drew water. So I said to her, 'Please give me a drink.' ⁴⁶ She quickly lowered her pitcher from her shoulder and said, 'Drink, and I will give your camels water also.' So I drank, and she watered the camels also.

⁴⁷ I asked her and said, 'Whose daughter are you?' She said, 'The daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milkah bore to him.' Then I put the ring in her nose and the bracelets on her arms. ⁴⁸ Then I bowed down and worshiped Yahweh, and blessed Yahweh, the God of my master Abraham, who had led me by the way that is right to find the daughter of my master's relative for his son.

⁴⁹ Now therefore, if you are prepared to show steadfast love and faithfulness to my master, tell me. But if not, tell me, so that I may turn to the right hand or to the left."

⁵⁰ Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, "The thing has come from Yahweh; we cannot speak to you either bad or good. ⁵¹ Look, Rebekah is before you. Take her and go, so she may be the wife of your master's son, as Yahweh has spoken."

⁵² When Abraham's servant heard their words, he bowed down to the ground before Yahweh. ⁵³ The servant brought out articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing, and gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and to her mother.

⁵⁴ Then he and the men who were with him ate and drank. They stayed there overnight, and when they arose in the morning, he said, "Send me away to my master." ⁵⁵ Her brother and her mother said, "Let the young woman stay with us for a few more days, at least ten. After that she may go."

⁵⁶ But he said to them, "Do not hinder me, since Yahweh has prospered my way. Send me on my way so that I may go to my master." ⁵⁷ They said, "We will call the young woman and ask her." ⁵⁸ So they called Rebekah and asked her, "Will you go with this man?" She replied, "I will go."

⁵⁹ So they sent their sister Rebekah, along with her female servant, on her journey with Abraham's servant and his men. ⁶⁰ They blessed Rebekah, and said to her,

"Our sister, may you be the mother

of thousands of ten thousands,

and may your descendants possess

the gate of those who hate them."

⁶¹ Then Rebekah arose, and she and her servant girls mounted the camels, and followed the man. Thus the servant took Rebekah, and went his way.

⁶² Now Isaac was living in the Negev, and had just returned from Beer Lahai Roi.

⁶³ Isaac went out to meditate in the field in the evening. When he looked up and saw, behold, there were camels coming! ⁶⁴ Rebekah looked, and when she saw Isaac, she jumped down from the camel. ⁶⁵ She said to the servant, "Who is that man who is walking in the field to meet us?" The servant said, "It is my master." So she took her veil, and covered herself.

⁶⁶ The servant recounted to Isaac all the things that he had done. ⁶⁷ Then Isaac brought her into his mother Sarah's tent and took Rebekah, and she became his wife, and he loved her. So Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Chapter 25

¹ Abraham took another wife; her name was Keturah. ² She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. ³ Jokshan became the father of Sheba and Dedan. The descendants of Dedan were the Assyrian people, the Letush people, and the Leum people. ⁴ Midian's sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were Keturah's descendants.

⁵ Abraham gave all that he owned to Isaac. ⁶ However, while he was still living, he gave gifts to the sons of his concubines and sent them to the land of the east, away from Isaac, his son.

⁷ These were the days of the years of Abraham's life which he lived, 175 years. ⁸ Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man with a full life, and he was gathered to his people.

⁹ Isaac and Ishmael, his sons, buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron son of Zohar the Hittite, which is near Mamre. ¹⁰ This field Abraham had bought from the sons of Heth. Abraham was buried there with Sarah his wife. ¹¹ After the death of Abraham, God blessed Isaac his son, and Isaac lived near Beer Lahai Roi.

¹² Now these were the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah's servant, bore to Abraham.

¹³ These were the names of Ishmael's sons, according to their birth order: Nebaioth—the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, ¹⁴ Mishma, Dumah, Massa, ¹⁵ Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. ¹⁶ These were Ishmael's sons, and these were their names, by their villages, and by their encampments; twelve princes according to their tribes.

¹⁷ These were the years of the life of Ishmael, 137 years. He breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people. ¹⁸ They lived from Havilah to Ashhur, which is near Egypt, as one goes toward Assyria. They lived in hostility with each other.

¹⁹ This is the account of Isaac, Abraham's son. Abraham became the father of Isaac. ²⁰ Isaac was forty years old when he took as his wife Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan Aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean.

²¹ Isaac prayed to Yahweh for his wife because she was barren, and Yahweh answered his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. ²² The children struggled together within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" She went to ask Yahweh about this.

²³ Yahweh said to her,

"Two nations are in your womb,

and two peoples will be separated from within you.

One people will be stronger than the other,

and the older will serve the younger."

²⁴ When it was time for her to give birth, behold, there were twins in her womb. ²⁵ The first child came out red all over like a hairy garment. They called his name Esau. ²⁶ After that, his brother came out. His hand was grasping Esau's heel. He was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when his wife bore them.

²⁷ The boys grew up, and Esau became a skillful hunter, a man of the field; but Jacob was a quiet man, who spent his time in the tents. ²⁸ Now Isaac loved Esau because he ate the animals that he had hunted, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

²⁹ Jacob cooked some stew. Esau came in from the field, and he was weak from hunger. ³⁰ Esau said to Jacob, "Feed me with that red stew. Please, I am exhausted!" That is why his name was called Edom.

³¹ Jacob said, "First sell me your birthright." ³² Esau said, "Look, I am about to die. What good is the birthright to me?" ³³ Jacob said, "First swear to me," so Esau swore an oath and in that way he sold his birthright to Jacob. ³⁴ Jacob gave Esau bread and stew of lentils. He ate and drank, then got up and went on his way. In this manner Esau despised his birthright.

Chapter 26

¹ Now a famine happened in the land, besides the first famine that had been in the days of Abraham. Isaac went to Abimelek, king of the Philistines at Gerar.

² Now Yahweh appeared to him and said, "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land that I tell you to live in. ³ Stay in this very land, and I will be with you and will bless you; for to you and to your descendants, I will give all these lands, and I will fulfill the oath that I swore to Abraham your father.

⁴ I will multiply your descendants like the stars of heaven, and will give to your descendants all these lands. Through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. ⁵ I will do this because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my instructions, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."

⁶ So Isaac settled in Gerar. ⁷ When the men of the place asked him about his wife, he said, "She is my sister." He feared to say, "She is my wife," because he thought, "The men of this place will kill me to get Rebekah, because she is so beautiful." ⁸ After Isaac had been there a long time, Abimelek king of the Philistines happened to look out of a window. He saw, behold, Isaac was caressing Rebekah, his wife.

⁹ Abimelek called Isaac to him and said, "Look, certainly she is your wife. Why did you say, 'She is my sister'?" Isaac said to him, "Because I thought someone might kill me to get her." ¹⁰ Abimelek said, "What is this you have done to us? One of the people might easily have lain with your wife, and you would have brought guilt upon us." ¹¹ So Abimelek commanded all the people and said, "Whoever touches this man or his wife will surely be put to death."

¹² Isaac planted crops in that land and reaped in the same year a hundredfold, because Yahweh blessed him. ¹³ The man became rich, and grew more and more until he became very great. ¹⁴ He had many sheep and cattle, and a large household. The Philistines envied him.

¹⁵ Now all the wells that his father's servants had dug in the days of Abraham his father, the Philistines stopped them up by filling them with earth. ¹⁶ Abimelek said to Isaac, "Go away from us, for you are much mightier than we." ¹⁷ So Isaac departed from there and camped in the Valley of Gerar, and lived there.

¹⁸ Once again Isaac dug out the wells of water, which they had dug in the days of Abraham his father. The Philistines had stopped them up after Abraham's death. Isaac called the wells by the same names that his father had called them.

¹⁹ When Isaac's servants dug in the valley, they found there a well of flowing water. ²⁰ The herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, and said, "This water is ours." So Isaac named that well "Esek," because they had quarreled with him.

²¹ Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that, too, so he gave it the name of "Sitnah." ²² He left there and dug yet another well, but they did not quarrel over that one. So he called it Rehoboth, and he said, "Now Yahweh has made room for us, and we will prosper in the land."

²³ Then Isaac went up from there to Beersheba. ²⁴ Yahweh appeared to him that same night and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father. Do not fear, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your descendants, for my servant Abraham's sake." ²⁵ Isaac built an altar there and called on the name of Yahweh. There he pitched his tent, and his servants dug a well.

²⁶ Then Abimelek went to him from Gerar, with Ahuzzath, his friend, and Phicol, the captain of his army. ²⁷ Isaac said to them, "Why are you coming to me, since you hate me and have sent me away from you?"

²⁸ Then they said, "We have clearly seen that Yahweh has been with you. So we decided that there should be an oath between us, yes, between us and you. So let us make a covenant with you, ²⁹ that you will do us no harm, just as we have not harmed you, and as we have treated you well and have sent you away in peace. Indeed, you are blessed by Yahweh."

³⁰ So Isaac made a feast for them, and they ate and drank. ³¹ They rose early in the morning and swore an oath with each other. Then Isaac sent them away, and they left him in peace.

³² That same day Isaac's servants came and told him about the well that they had dug. They said, "We have found water." ³³ He called the well Shibah, so the name of that city is Beersheba to this day.

³⁴ When Esau was forty years old, he took a wife, Judith the daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and also Basemath the daughter of Elon the Hittite. ³⁵ They brought sorrow to Isaac and Rebekah.

Chapter 27

¹ When Isaac was old and his eyes were dim so that he could not see, he called Esau, his older son, and said to him, "My son." Esau said to him, "Here I am," ² and Isaac said, "See now, I am old. I do not know the day of my death.

³ Therefore take your weapons, your quiver and your bow, and go out to the field and hunt game for me. ⁴ Make delicious food for me, the sort that I love, and bring it to me so I can eat it and bless you before I die."

⁵ Now Rebekah heard it when Isaac spoke to Esau his son. Esau went to the field to hunt for game and bring it back. ⁶ Rebekah spoke to Jacob her son and said, "See here, I heard your father speak to Esau your brother. He said, ⁷ 'Bring me game and make me delicious food, that I may eat it and bless you in the presence of Yahweh before my death.'

⁸ Now therefore, my son, obey my voice as I command you. ⁹ Go to the flock, and bring me two good kids; and I will make delicious food from them for your father, just like he loves. ¹⁰ You will take it to your father, so that he may eat it, so that he may bless you before his death."

¹¹ Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, "See, Esau my brother is a hairy man, and I am a smooth man. ¹² Perhaps my father will touch me, and I will seem to him as a deceiver. I will bring a curse upon me and not a blessing."

¹³ His mother said to him, "My son, let any curse fall on me. Just obey my voice, and go, bring them to me." ¹⁴ So Jacob went and got the young goats and brought them to his mother, and his mother made delicious food, just like his father loved.

¹⁵ Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau, her older son, which were with her in the house, and put them on Jacob, her younger son. ¹⁶ She put the skins of the kids on his hands and on the smooth part of his neck. ¹⁷ She put the delicious food and the bread that she had prepared into the hand of her son Jacob.

¹⁸ Jacob went to his father and said, "My father." His father said, "Here I am; who are you, my son?" ¹⁹ Jacob said to his father, "I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you said to me. Now sit up and eat some of my game, that you may bless me."

²⁰ Isaac said to his son, "How is it that you have found it so quickly, my son?" He said, "Because Yahweh your God brought it to me." ²¹ Isaac said to Jacob, "Come near me, so I may touch you, my son, and learn whether you are my true son Esau or not."

²² Jacob went over to Isaac his father; and Isaac touched him and said, "The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau." ²³ Isaac did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy, like his brother Esau's hands, so Isaac blessed him.

²⁴ He said, "Are you really my son Esau?" He replied, "I am." ²⁵ Isaac said, "Bring the food to me, and I will eat of your game, so that I may bless you." Jacob brought the food to him. Isaac ate, and Jacob brought him wine, and he drank.

²⁶ Then his father Isaac said to him, "Come near now and kiss me, my son." ²⁷ Jacob came near and kissed him, and he smelled the smell of his clothes and blessed him. He said,

"See, the smell of my son

is like the smell of a field

that Yahweh has blessed.

²⁸ May God give you a portion of the dew of heaven,

a portion of the fatness of the earth,

and plenty of grain and new wine.

²⁹ May peoples serve you

and nations bow down to you.

Be master over your brothers,

and may your mother's sons bow down to you.

May every one who curses you be cursed;

may every one who blesses you be blessed."

³⁰ As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. ³¹ He also made delicious food and brought it to his father. He said to his father, "Father, get up and eat some of your son's game, so that you may bless me."

³² Isaac his father said to him, "Who are you?" He said, "I am your son, your firstborn, Esau." ³³ Isaac trembled very much and said, "Who was it that hunted this game and brought it to me? I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him. Indeed, he will be blessed."

³⁴ When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with a very great and bitter cry, and said to his father, "Bless me, me also, my father." ³⁵ Isaac said, "Your brother came here deceitfully and has taken away your blessing."

³⁶ Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and, see, now he has taken away my blessing." Then he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?" ³⁷ Isaac answered and said to Esau, "Look, I have made him your master, and I have given to him all his brothers as servants, and I have given him grain and new wine. What more can I do for you, my son?"

³⁸ Esau said to his father, "Have you not even one blessing for me, my father? Bless me, even me too, my father." Esau wept loudly.

³⁹ Isaac his father answered and said to him,

"Look, the place where you live will be

far from the richness of the earth,

away from the dew of the sky above.

⁴⁰ By your sword you will live,

and you will serve your brother.

But when you rebel,

you will break his yoke off of your neck."

⁴¹ Esau bore a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing that his father had given him. Esau said in his heart, "The days of mourning for my father are near; after that I will kill my brother Jacob." ⁴² The words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son and said to him, "See, your brother Esau is consoling himself about you by planning to kill you.

⁴³ Now therefore, my son, obey me and flee to Laban, my brother, in Haran. ⁴⁴ Stay with him for a while, until your brother's fury subsides, ⁴⁵ until your brother's anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him. Then I will send and bring you back from there. Why should I lose you both in one day?

⁴⁶ Rebekah said to Isaac, "I abhor life because of the daughters of Heth. If Jacob takes one of the daughters of Heth as a wife, like these women, some of the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?"

Chapter 28

¹ Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him, "You must not take a wife from the Canaanite women. ² Arise, go to Paddan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father, and take a wife from there, one of the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother.

³ May God Almighty bless you, make you fruitful and multiply you, so that you may become a community of peoples. ⁴ May he give you the blessing of Abraham, to you, and to your descendants after you, that you may inherit the land where you have been sojourning, which God gave to Abraham."

⁵ So Isaac sent Jacob away. Jacob went to Paddan Aram, to Laban son of Bethuel the Aramean, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.

⁶ Now Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob and sent him away to Paddan Aram, to take a wife from there. He also saw that Isaac had blessed him and given him a command, saying, "You must not take a wife from the women of Canaan." ⁷ Esau also saw that Jacob had obeyed his father and his mother, and had gone to Paddan Aram.

⁸ Esau saw that the women of Canaan did not please Isaac his father. ⁹ So he went to Ishmael, and took, besides the wives that he had, Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael, Abraham's son, the sister of Nebaioth, to be his wife.

¹⁰ Jacob left Beersheba and went toward Haran. ¹¹ He came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones in that place, put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep.

¹² He dreamed and saw a stairway set up on the earth. Its top reached to heaven and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. ¹³ Behold, Yahweh stood above it and said, "I am Yahweh, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land on which you are lying, I will give to you and to your descendants.

¹⁴ Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread far out to the west, to the east, to the north, and to the south. Through you and through your descendants will all the families of the earth be blessed. ¹⁵ Behold, I am with you, and I will keep you wherever you go. I will bring you into this land again; for I will not leave you. I will do all that I have promised to you."

¹⁶ Jacob awoke out of his sleep, and he said, "Surely Yahweh is in this place, and I did not know it." ¹⁷ He was afraid and said, "How terrifying is this place! This is none other than the house of God. This is the gate of heaven."

¹⁸ Jacob arose early in the morning and took the stone that he had put under his head. He set it up as a pillar and poured oil upon the top of it. ¹⁹ He called the name of that place Bethel, but the name of the city originally was Luz.

²⁰ Jacob vowed a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will protect me on this road on which I am walking, and will give me bread to eat, and clothes to wear, ²¹ so that I return safely to my father's house, then Yahweh will be my God. ²² Then this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be a sacred stone. From everything that you give me, I will surely give a tenth back to you."

Chapter 29

¹ Then Jacob went on his journey and came to the land of the people of the east. ² As he looked, he saw a well in the field, and, behold, three flocks of sheep were lying there by it. For out of that well they would water the flocks, and the stone over the well's mouth was large. ³ When all the flocks had gathered there, the shepherds would roll the stone from the well's mouth and water the sheep, and then put the stone again over the well's mouth, back in its place.

⁴ Jacob said to them, "My brothers, where are you from?" They replied, "We are from Haran." ⁵ He said to them, "Do you know Laban son of Nahor?" They said, "We know him." ⁶ He said to them, "Is he well?" They said, "He is well, and, look there, Rachel his daughter is coming with the sheep."

⁷ Jacob said, "See, it is the middle of the day. It is not the time for the flocks to be gathered together. You should water the sheep and then go and let them graze." ⁸ They said, "We cannot water them until all the flocks are gathered together. The men will then roll the stone from the well's mouth, and we will water the sheep."

⁹ While Jacob was still speaking with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep, for she was tending them. ¹⁰ When Jacob saw Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban, his mother's brother, Jacob came over, rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban, his mother's brother.

¹¹ Jacob kissed Rachel and wept loudly. ¹² Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's relative, and that he was Rebekah's son. Then she ran and told her father.

¹³ When Laban heard the news about Jacob his sister's son, he ran to meet him, embraced him, kissed him, and brought him to his house. Jacob told Laban all these things. ¹⁴ Laban said to him, "You are indeed my bone and my flesh." Then Jacob stayed with him for about one month.

¹⁵ Then Laban said to Jacob, "Should you serve me for nothing because you are my relative? Tell me, what will your wages be?" ¹⁶ Now Laban had two daughters. The name of the older was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. ¹⁷ Leah's eyes were tender, but Rachel was beautiful in form and appearance. ¹⁸ Jacob loved Rachel, so he said, "I will serve you seven years for Rachel, your younger daughter."

¹⁹ Laban said, "It is better that I give her to you, than that I should give her to another man. Stay with me." ²⁰ So Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him only a few days, for the love he had for her.

²¹ Then Jacob said to Laban, "Give me my wife, for my days have been completed—so that I may go to her!" ²² So Laban gathered together all the men of the place and made a feast.

²³ In the evening, Laban took Leah his daughter and brought her to Jacob, who went to her. ²⁴ Laban gave his female servant Zilpah to his daughter Leah, to be her servant. ²⁵ In the morning, behold, it was Leah! Jacob said to Laban, "What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?"

²⁶ Laban said, "It is not our custom to give the younger daughter before the firstborn. ²⁷ Complete the bridal week of this daughter, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years."

²⁸ Jacob did so, and completed Leah's week. Then Laban gave him Rachel his daughter as his wife also. ²⁹ Laban also gave Bilhah to his daughter Rachel, to be her servant. ³⁰ So Jacob went to Rachel, too, but he loved Rachel more than Leah. So Jacob served Laban for seven more years.

³¹ Yahweh saw that Leah was not loved, so he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. ³² Leah conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Reuben. For she said, "Because Yahweh has looked upon my affliction; surely now my husband will love me."

³³ Then she conceived again and bore a son. She said, "Because Yahweh has heard that I am unloved, he has therefore given me this son also," and she called his name Simeon. ³⁴ Then she conceived again and bore a son. She said, "Now this time will my husband be attached to me, because I have borne him three sons." Therefore his name was called Levi.

³⁵ She conceived again and bore a son. She said, "This time I will praise Yahweh." Therefore she called his name Judah; then she stopped having children.

Chapter 30

¹ When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel was jealous of her sister. She said to Jacob, "Give me children, or I will die." ² Jacob's anger burned against Rachel. He said, "Am I in the place of God, who has withheld from you the fruit of the womb?"

³ She said, "See, there is my servant Bilhah. Go to her, so she might give birth to children on my knees, and I will have children by her." ⁴ So she gave him her servant Bilhah as a wife, and Jacob went to her.

⁵ Bilhah conceived and bore Jacob a son. ⁶ Then Rachel said, "God has vindicated me, and he has heard my voice and given me a son." For this reason she called his name Dan.

⁷ Bilhah, Rachel's servant, conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. ⁸ Rachel said, "With mighty wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister and have prevailed." She called his name Naphtali.

⁹ When Leah saw that she had stopped having children, she took Zilpah, her servant, and gave her to Jacob as a wife. ¹⁰ Zilpah, Leah's servant, bore Jacob a son. ¹¹ Leah said, "This is fortunate!" so she called his name Gad.

¹² Then Zilpah, Leah's servant, bore Jacob a second son. ¹³ Leah said, "I am happy! For the daughters will call me happy." So she called his name Asher.

¹⁴ Reuben went in the days of wheat harvest and found mandrakes in the field. He brought them to his mother Leah. Then Rachel said to Leah, "Give me some of your son's mandrakes." ¹⁵ Leah said to her, "Is it a small matter to you, that you have taken away my husband? Do you now want to take away my son's mandrakes, too?" Rachel said, "Then he will lie with you tonight, in exchange for your son's mandrakes."

¹⁶ Jacob came from the field in the evening. Leah went out to meet him and said, "You must come to me, for I have hired you with my son's mandrakes." So Jacob lay with Leah that night. ¹⁷ God listened to Leah, and she conceived and bore Jacob a fifth son. ¹⁸ Leah said, "God has given me my wages, because I gave my servant woman to my husband." She called his name Issachar.

¹⁹ Leah conceived again and bore a sixth son to Jacob. ²⁰ Leah said, "God has given me a good gift. Now my husband will honor me, because I have borne him six sons." She called his name Zebulun. ²¹ Afterwards she bore a daughter and called her name Dinah.

²² God called Rachel to mind and listened to her. He caused her to become pregnant. ²³ She conceived and bore a son. She said, "God has taken away my shame." ²⁴ She called his name Joseph, saying, "Yahweh has added to me another son."

²⁵ After Rachel had borne Joseph, Jacob said to Laban, "Send me away, so that I may go to my own home and to my country. ²⁶ Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served you, and let me go, for you know the service I have given you."

²⁷ Laban said to him, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, wait, because I have learned by using divination that Yahweh has blessed me for your sake." ²⁸ Then he said, "Name your wages, and I will pay them."

²⁹ Jacob said to him, "You know how I have served you, and how your livestock have fared with me. ³⁰ For you had little before I came, and it has increased abundantly. Yahweh has blessed you wherever I worked. Now when will I provide for my own household also?"

³¹ So Laban said, "What will I pay you?" Jacob said, "You will not give me anything. If you will do this thing for me, I will again feed your flock and keep it. ³² Let me walk through all your flock today, removing from it every speckled and spotted sheep, and every black one among the sheep, and the spotted and speckled among the goats. These will be my wages.

³³ My integrity will testify for me later on, when you come to check on my wages. Every one that is not speckled and spotted among the goats, and black among the sheep, if any are found with me, will be considered to be stolen." ³⁴ Laban said, "Agreed. Let it be according to your word."

³⁵ That day Laban removed the male goats that were striped and spotted, and all the female goats that were speckled and spotted, every one that had white in it, and all the black ones among the sheep, and gave them into the hand of his sons. ³⁶ Laban also put three days' journey between himself and Jacob. So Jacob kept tending the rest of Laban's flocks.

³⁷ Jacob took fresh cut branches of the poplar, almond, and plane trees, and he peeled white streaks in them and made the white inner wood appear that was in the sticks. ³⁸ Then he set the sticks that he had peeled in front of the flocks, in front of the watering troughs where they came to drink. They conceived when they came to drink.

³⁹ The flocks bred in front of the sticks; and the flocks produced striped, speckled, and spotted young. ⁴⁰ Jacob separated out these lambs, but made the rest of them face toward the striped animals and all the black sheep in the flock of Laban. Then he separated out his flocks for himself alone and did not put them together with Laban's flocks.

⁴¹ Whenever the stronger sheep in the flock were breeding, then Jacob would lay the sticks in the watering troughs before the eyes of the flock, so that they might conceive among the sticks. ⁴² But when the feebler animals in the flock came, he did not put the sticks in front of them. So the feebler animals were Laban's, and the stronger were Jacob's.

⁴³ The man became very prosperous. He had large flocks, female servants and male servants, and camels and donkeys.

Chapter 31

¹ Now Jacob heard the words of Laban's sons, that they said, "Jacob has taken away all that was our father's, and it is from our father's possessions that he has gotten all this wealth." ² Jacob saw the look on Laban's face. He saw that his attitude toward him had changed. ³ Then Yahweh said to Jacob, "Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you."

⁴ Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock ⁵ and said to them, "I see your father's attitude toward me has changed, but the God of my father has been with me. ⁶ You know that it is with all my strength that I have served your father.

⁷ Your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God has not permitted him to hurt me. ⁸ If he said, 'The speckled animals will be your wages,' then all the flock bore speckled young. If he said, 'The striped will be your wages,' then the whole flock bore striped young. ⁹ In this way God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.

¹⁰ Once at the time of breeding season, I saw in a dream the male goats that were mating with the flock. The male goats were striped, speckled, and spotted. ¹¹ The angel of God said to me in the dream, 'Jacob.' I said, 'Here I am.'

¹² He said, 'Lift up your eyes and see all the male goats that are breeding with the flock. They are striped, speckled, and spotted, for I have seen everything that Laban is doing to you. ¹³ I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar, where you made a vow to me. Now rise up and leave this land and return to the land of your birth.'"

¹⁴ Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, "Is there any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house? ¹⁵ Are we not treated by him as foreigners? For he has sold us and has also completely devoured our money. ¹⁶ For all the riches that God has taken away from our father are now ours and our children's. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do it."

¹⁷ Then Jacob arose and placed his sons and his wives upon the camels. ¹⁸ He drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all his property, including the livestock he had acquired in Paddan Aram. Then he set out to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.

¹⁹ When Laban had gone to shear his flock, Rachel stole her father's household gods. ²⁰ Jacob also deceived Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he was fleeing. ²¹ So he fled with all that he had and quickly passed over the River, and headed toward the hill country of Gilead.

²² On the third day Laban was told that Jacob had fled. ²³ So he took his relatives with him and pursued him for a seven days' journey. He overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.

²⁴ Now God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, "Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad." ²⁵ Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country. Laban also camped with his relatives in the hill country of Gilead. ¹

²⁶ Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done, that you deceived me and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword? ²⁷ Why did you flee secretly and trick me and did not tell me? I would have sent you away with celebration and with songs, with tambourine and with harps. ²⁸ You did not allow me to kiss my grandsons and my daughters good bye. Now you have acted foolishly.

²⁹ It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night and said, 'Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.' ³⁰ Now you have gone away because you longed to return to your father's house. But why did you steal my gods?"

³¹ Jacob answered and said to Laban, "I fled secretly because I was afraid and thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. ³² Whoever has stolen your gods will not continue to live. In the presence of our relatives, identify whatever with me is yours and take it." For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

³³ Laban went into Jacob's tent, into Leah's tent, and into the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find them. He went out of Leah's tent and entered into Rachel's tent.

³⁴ Now Rachel had taken the household gods, put them in a camel's saddle, and sat upon them. Laban searched the whole tent, but did not find them. ³⁵ She said to her father, "Do not be angry, my master, that I cannot stand up before you, for I am having my period." So he searched but did not find his household gods.

³⁶ Jacob was angry and argued with Laban. He said to him, "What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me? ³⁷ For you have searched all my possessions. What have you found of all your household goods? Set them here before our relatives, so that they may judge between the two of us.

³⁸ For twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten any rams from your flocks. ³⁹ What was torn by beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it. You demanded payment from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. ⁴⁰ There I was; in the day the heat consumed me, and the frost by night; and I went without sleep.

⁴¹ These twenty years I have been in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock. You have changed my wages ten times. ⁴² Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the one Isaac fears, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and my toil, and he rebuked you last night."

⁴³ Laban answered and said to Jacob, "The daughters are my daughters, the grandchildren are my grandchildren, and the flocks are my flocks. All that you see is mine. But what can I do today to these my daughters, or to their children whom they have borne? ⁴⁴ So now, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be for a witness between you and me."

⁴⁵ So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. ⁴⁶ Jacob said to his relatives, "Gather stones." So they took stones and made a pile. Then they ate there by the pile. ⁴⁷ Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.

⁴⁸ Laban said, "This pile is a witness between me and you today." Therefore its name was called Galeed. ⁴⁹ It is also called Mizpah, because Laban said, "May Yahweh watch between you and me, when we are out of sight one from another. ⁵⁰ If you mistreat my daughters, or if you take any wives besides my daughters, although no one else is with us, see, God is witness between you and me."

⁵¹ Laban said to Jacob, "Look at this pile, and look at the pillar, which I have set between you and me. ⁵² This pile is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this pile to you, and that you will not pass beyond this pile and this pillar to me, to do harm. ⁵³ May the God of Abraham, and the god of Nahor, the gods of their father, judge between us." Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.

⁵⁴ Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain and called his relatives to eat a meal. They ate and spent the entire night on the mountain. ⁵⁵ Early in the morning Laban got up, kissed his grandsons and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban left and returned home.

¹Some modern translations have Laban also camped in the hill country of Gilead .

Chapter 32

¹ Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. ² When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is God's camp," so he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

³ Jacob sent messengers on ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, in the region of Edom. ⁴ He commanded them, saying, "This is what you will say to my master Esau: This is what your servant Jacob says: 'I have been staying with Laban, and have delayed my return until now. ⁵ I have cattle and donkeys, and flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent this message to my master, so that I may find favor in your eyes.'"

⁶ The messengers returned to Jacob and said, "We went to your brother Esau. He is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him." ⁷ Then Jacob was very afraid and upset. So he divided the people who were with him into two camps, and also the flocks, the herds, and the camels. ⁸ He said, "If Esau comes to one camp and attacks it, then the camp that remains will escape."

⁹ Jacob said, "God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Yahweh, who said to me, 'Return to your country and to your kindred, and I will prosper you,' ¹⁰ I am not worthy of all your acts of covenant faithfulness and of all the trustworthiness that you have done for your servant. For with only my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.

¹¹ Please rescue me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I am afraid of him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. ¹² But you said, 'I will certainly make you prosper. I will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for their number.'"

¹³ Jacob stayed there that night. He took some of what he had with him as a gift for Esau, his brother: ¹⁴ two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, ¹⁵ thirty milking camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. ¹⁶ These he gave into the hand of his servants, every herd by itself. He said to his servants, "Go on ahead of me and put a space between each of the herds."

¹⁷ He instructed the first servant, saying, "When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, 'To whom do you belong? Where are you going? Whose animals are these that are in front of you?' ¹⁸ Then you will say, 'They are your servant Jacob's. They are a gift sent to my master Esau. See, he is also coming after us.'"

¹⁹ Jacob also gave instructions to the second group, the third, and all the men who followed the herds. He said, "You will say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. ²⁰ You must also say, 'Your servant Jacob is coming after us.'" For he thought, "I will appease him with the gifts that I am sending ahead of me. Then later, when I will see him, perhaps he will receive me." ²¹ So the gifts went on ahead of him. He himself stayed that night in the camp.

²² Jacob got up during the night, and he took his two wives, his two women servants, and his eleven sons. He sent them across the ford of the Jabbok. ²³ In this way he sent them across the stream along with all his possessions.

²⁴ Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until dawn. ²⁵ When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob's hip, so that his hip was dislocated as he wrestled with him. ²⁶ The man said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking." Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."

²⁷ The man said to him, "What is your name?" Jacob said, "Jacob." ²⁸ The man said, "Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel. For you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed."

²⁹ Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." He said, "Why is it that you ask my name?" Then he blessed him there. ³⁰ Jacob called the name of the place Peniel for he said, "I have seen God face to face, and my life is delivered."

³¹ The sun rose on Jacob as he passed Peniel. He was limping because of his hip. ³² That is why to this day the people of Israel do not eat the ligaments of the hip which are at the hip joint, because the man injured those ligaments while dislocating Jacob's hip.

Chapter 33

¹ Jacob looked up and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. Jacob divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants. ² Then he put the female servants and their children in front, followed by Leah and her children, and followed by Rachel and Joseph last of all. ³ He himself went on ahead of them. He bowed toward the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

⁴ Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, hugged his neck, and kissed him. Then they wept. ⁵ When Esau looked up, he saw the women and the children. He said, "Who are these people with you?" Jacob said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."

⁶ Then the female servants came forward with their children, and they bowed down. ⁷ Next Leah also and her children came forward and bowed down. Finally Joseph and Rachel came forward and bowed down. ⁸ Esau said, "What do you mean by all these groups that I met?" Jacob said, "To find favor in the sight of my master."

⁹ Esau said, "I have enough, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself." ¹⁰ Jacob said, "No, please, if I have found favor in your eyes, then accept my gift from my hand, for indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. ¹¹ Please accept my gift that was brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough." Thus Jacob urged him, and Esau accepted it.

¹² Then Esau said, "Let us be on our way. I will go before you." ¹³ Jacob said to him, "My master knows that the children are young, and that the sheep and the cattle are nursing their young. If they are driven hard even one day, all the animals will die. ¹⁴ Please let my master go on ahead of his servant. I will travel more slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are before me, and at the pace of the children, until I come to my master in Seir."

¹⁵ Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of my men who are with me." But Jacob said, "Why do that? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord." ¹⁶ So Esau that day started on his way back to Seir. ¹⁷ Jacob traveled to Sukkoth, built himself a house, and made shelters for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Sukkoth.

¹⁸ When Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan. He camped near the city. ¹⁹ Then he bought the piece of ground where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of silver. ²⁰ There he set up an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.

Chapter 34

¹ Now Dinah, Leah's daughter whom she bore to Jacob, went out to meet the young women of the land. ² Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her. He took her and lay with her, and he humiliated her. ³ He was drawn to Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her.

⁴ Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, "Get this young woman for me as a wife." ⁵ Now Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter. His sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came.

⁶ Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. ⁷ The sons of Jacob came in from the field when they heard of the matter. The men were offended. They were very angry because he had disgraced Israel by lying with Jacob's daughter, for such a thing should not have been done.

⁸ Hamor spoke with them, saying, "My son Shechem loves your daughter. Please give her to him as a wife. ⁹ Intermarry with us, give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. ¹⁰ You will live with us, and the land will be open to you to live and trade in, and to acquire property."

¹¹ Shechem said to her father and to her brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you tell me I will give. ¹² Ask me for as great a bride price and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me, but give me the young woman as a wife." ¹³ The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father with deceit, because Shechem had defiled Dinah their sister.

¹⁴ They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to anyone who is uncircumcised; for that would be a disgrace to us. ¹⁵ Only on this condition will we agree with you: If you will become circumcised as we are, if every male among you is circumcised. ¹⁶ Then will we give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will live with you and become one people. ¹⁷ But if you do not listen to us and become circumcised, then we will take our sister and we will leave."

¹⁸ Their words pleased Hamor and his son Shechem. ¹⁹ The young man did not delay to do what they said, because he delighted in Jacob's daughter, and because he was the most honored person in all his father's household.

²⁰ Hamor and Shechem his son went to the gate of their city and spoke with the men of their city, saying, ²¹ "These men are at peace with us, so let them live in the land and trade in it for, really, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give them our daughters.

²² Only on this condition will the men agree to live with us and become one people: If every male among us is circumcised, as they are circumcised. ²³ Will not their livestock and their property—all their animals be ours? So let us agree with them, and they will live among us."

²⁴ All who went out to the gates of his city listened to Hamor and Shechem, his son. All males were circumcised, all who went out to the gates of his city. ²⁵ On the third day, when they were still in pain, two of the sons of Jacob (Simeon and Levi, Dinah's brothers), each took his sword and they attacked the city that was certain of its security, and they killed all the males. ²⁶ They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the edge of the sword. They took Dinah from Shechem's house and went away.

²⁷ The other sons of Jacob came to the dead bodies and plundered the city, because the people had defiled their sister. ²⁸ They took their flocks, their herds, their donkeys, and everything in the city and in the surrounding fields. ²⁹ They captured all their wealth, all their children, and their wives. They even plundered everything that was in the houses.

³⁰ Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me, to make me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. I am few in number. If they gather themselves together against me and attack me, then I will be destroyed, I and my household." ³¹ But Simeon and Levi said, "Should Shechem have dealt with our sister as with a prostitute?"

Chapter 35

¹ God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there. Build an altar there to God, who appeared to you when you fled from Esau your brother." ² Then Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your clothes. ³ Then let us depart and go up to Bethel. I will build an altar there to God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and has been with me wherever I have gone."

⁴ So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that were in their hand, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob buried them under the oak that was near Shechem. ⁵ As they traveled, God made panic to fall on the cities that were around them, so those people did not pursue the sons of Jacob.

⁶ So Jacob arrived at Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him. ⁷ He built an altar there and called the place El Bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him, when he was fleeing from his brother. ⁸ Deborah, Rebekah's nurse, died. She was buried down from Bethel under the oak tree, so it was called Allon Bakuth.

⁹ When Jacob came from Paddan Aram, God appeared to him again and blessed him. ¹⁰ God said to him, "Your name is Jacob, but your name will no longer be called Jacob. Your name will be Israel." So God called his name Israel.

¹¹ God said to him, "I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants. ¹² The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac, I will give to you. To your descendants after you I also give the land." ¹³ God went up from him in the place where he spoke with him.

¹⁴ Jacob set up a pillar in the place where God had spoken to him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering over it and poured oil on it. ¹⁵ Jacob called the name of the place where God spoke with him, Bethel.

¹⁶ They journeyed on from Bethel. While they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor. She had hard labor. ¹⁷ While she was in hardest labor, the midwife said to her, "Do not be afraid, for now you will have another son." ¹⁸ As she was dying, with her dying breath she named him Ben-Oni, but his father called him Benjamin. ¹⁹ Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). ²⁰ Jacob set up a pillar upon her grave. It is the marker of Rachel's grave to this day.

²¹ Israel traveled on and pitched his tent beyond the watchtower of the flock. ²² While Israel was living in that land, Reuben lay with Bilhah his father's concubine, and Israel heard of it.

Now Jacob had twelve sons.

²³ His sons by Leah were Reuben, Jacob's firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun.

²⁴ His sons by Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin.

²⁵ His sons by Bilhah, Rachel's female servant, were Dan and Naphtali.

²⁶ The sons of Zilpah, Leah's female servant, were Gad and Asher. All these were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan Aram.

²⁷ Jacob came to Isaac, his father, in Mamre in Kiriath Arba (the same as Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had lived.

²⁸ Isaac lived for one hundred eighty years. ²⁹ Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his ancestors, an old man full of days. Esau and Jacob, his sons, buried him.

Chapter 36

¹ These were the descendants of Esau (also called Edom).

² Esau took his wives from the Canaanites. These were his wives: Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite; Oholibamah the daughter of Anah, the granddaughter of Zibeon the Hivite; ³ and Basemath, Ishmael's daughter, sister of Nebaioth.

⁴ Adah bore Eliphaz to Esau, and Basemath bore Reuel. ⁵ Oholibamah bore Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. These were the sons of Esau who were born to him in the land of Canaan.

⁶ Esau took his wives, his sons, his daughters, and all the members of his household, his livestock—all his other animals, and all his possessions, which he had gathered in the land of Canaan, and went into a land away from his brother Jacob. ⁷ He did this because their possessions were too many for them to stay together. The land where they were sojourning could not support them because of their livestock. ⁸ So Esau, also known as Edom, settled in the hill country of Seir.

⁹ These were the descendants of Esau, the ancestor of the Edomites in the hill country of Seir.

¹⁰ These were the names of Esau's sons: Eliphaz son of Adah, the wife of Esau; Reuel son of Basemath, the wife of Esau.

¹¹ The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, and Kenaz.

¹² Timna, a concubine of Eliphaz, Esau's son, bore Amalek. These were the grandsons of Adah, Esau's wife.

¹³ These were the sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. These were the grandsons of Basemath, Esau's wife.

¹⁴ These were the sons of Oholibamah, Esau's wife, who was the daughter of Anah and the granddaughter of Zibeon. She bore to Esau Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

¹⁵ These were the clans among Esau's descendants: the descendants of Eliphaz, the firstborn of Esau: Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, ¹⁶ Korah, Gatam, and Amalek. These were the clans descended from Eliphaz in the land of Edom. They were the grandsons of Adah.

¹⁷ These were the clans from Reuel, Esau's son: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, Mizzah. These were the clans descended from Reuel in the land of Edom. They were the grandsons of Basemath, Esau's wife.

¹⁸ These were the clans of Oholibamah, Esau's wife: Jeush, Jalam, Korah. These are the clans that descended from Esau's wife Oholibamah, daughter of Anah. ¹⁹ These were the sons of Esau (who was known as Edom), and these were their chiefs.

²⁰ These were the sons of Seir the Horite, the inhabitants of the land: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, ²¹ Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. These were the clans of the Horites, the inhabitants of Seir in the land of Edom.

²² The sons of Lotan were Hori and Heman, and Timna was Lotan's sister.

²³ These were the sons of Shobal: Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam.

²⁴ These were the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. This is Anah who found the hot springs in the wilderness, as he was pasturing donkeys of Zibeon his father.

²⁵ These were the children of Anah: Dishon and Oholibamah, the daughter of Anah.

²⁶ These were the sons of Dishon: Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.

²⁷ These were the sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan.

²⁸ These were the sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran.

²⁹ These were the clans of the Horites: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, and Anah, ³⁰ Dishon, Ezer, Dishan: These were clans of the Horites, according to their clan lists in the land of Seir.

³¹ These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel:

³² Bela son of Beor, reigned in Edom, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

³³ When Bela died, then Jobab son of Zerah of Bozrah, reigned in his place.

³⁴ When Jobab died, Husham who was of the land of the Temanites, reigned in his place.

³⁵ When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad who defeated the Midianites in the land of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith.

³⁶ When Hadad died, then Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.

³⁷ When Samlah died, then Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his place.

³⁸ When Shaul died, then Baal-Hanan son of Akbor reigned in his place.

³⁹ When Baal-Hanan son of Akbor died, then Hadar reigned in his place. The name of his city was Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the granddaughter of Me-Zahab.

⁴⁰ These were the names of the heads of clans from Esau's descendants, according to their clans and their regions, by their names: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, ⁴¹ Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, ⁴² Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, ⁴³ Magdiel, and Iram. These were the clan heads of Edom, according to their settlements in the land they possessed. This was Esau, the father of the Edomites.

Chapter 37

¹ Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan.

² This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, who was a young man seventeen years old, was guarding the flock with his brothers. He was with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. Joseph brought an unfavorable report about them to their father.

³ Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons because he was the son of his old age. He made him a beautifully decorated garment. ⁴ His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers. They hated him and would not speak peaceably to him.

⁵ Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told his brothers about it. They hated him even more. ⁶ He said to them, "Please listen to this dream which I dreamed.

⁷ Behold, we were tying bundles of grain in the field and behold, my bundle rose and stood upright, and behold, your bundles came around and bowed down to my bundle." ⁸ His brothers said to him, "Will you really reign over us? Will you actually rule over us?" They hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

⁹ He dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers. He said, "Look, I have dreamed another dream: The sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me." ¹⁰ He told it to his father just as to his brothers, and his father rebuked him. He said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come to bow down to the ground to you?" ¹¹ His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

¹² His brothers went to tend their father's flock in Shechem. ¹³ Israel said to Joseph, "Are not your brothers tending the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them." Joseph said to him, "I am ready." ¹⁴ He said to him, "Go now, see whether it is well with your brothers and well with the flock, and bring me word." So Jacob sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and Joseph went to Shechem.

¹⁵ A certain man found Joseph. Behold, Joseph was wandering in a field. The man asked him, "What do you seek?" ¹⁶ Joseph said, "I am seeking my brothers. Tell me, please, where they are tending the flock." ¹⁷ The man said, "They left this place, for I heard them say, 'Let us go to Dothan.'" Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

¹⁸ They saw him from a distance, and before he came near to them, they plotted against him to kill him. ¹⁹ His brothers said to one another, "Look, this master of dreams is approaching. ²⁰ Come now, therefore, let us kill him and cast him into one of the pits. We will say, 'A wild animal has devoured him.' We will see what will become of his dreams."

²¹ Reuben heard it and rescued him from their hand. He said, "Let us not take his life." ²² Reuben said to them, "Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him"—that he might rescue him out of their hand to bring him back to his father.

²³ It came about that when Joseph reached his brothers, they stripped him of his beautifully decorated garment. ²⁴ They took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty with no water in it.

²⁵ They sat down to eat bread. They lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh. They were traveling to carry them down to Egypt. ²⁶ Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

²⁷ Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands upon him. For he is our brother, our flesh." His brothers listened to him. ²⁸ The Midianite merchants passed by. His brothers drew Joseph up and lifted him up out of the pit. They sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The Ishmaelites carried Joseph into Egypt.

²⁹ Reuben returned to the pit, and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit. He tore his clothes. ³⁰ He returned to his brothers and said, "The boy is not there! And I, where can I go?"

³¹ They slaughtered a goat and then took Joseph's garment and dipped it into the blood. ³² Then they brought the beautifully decorated garment to their father and said, "We found this. Please see whether it is your son's garment or not." ³³ Jacob recognized it and said, "It is my son's clothing. A wild animal has devoured him. Joseph has certainly been torn to pieces."

³⁴ Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth upon his loins. He mourned for his son many days. ³⁵ All his sons and daughters rose up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He said, "Indeed I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son." His father wept for him. ³⁶ The Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard.

Chapter 38

¹ It came about at that time that Judah left his brothers and stayed with a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. ² He met there a daughter of a Canaanite man whose name was Shua. He took her and went to her.

³ She conceived and had a son. He was named Er. ⁴ She conceived again and had a son. She called his name Onan. ⁵ She again had a son and called his name Shelah. It was at Kezib where she gave birth to him.

⁶ Judah found a wife for Er, his firstborn. Her name was Tamar. ⁷ Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yahweh. Yahweh killed him.

⁸ Judah said to Onan, "Go to your brother's wife. Do the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a child for your brother." ⁹ Onan knew that the child would not be his. Whenever he went to his brother's wife, he wasted it on the ground so he would not have a child for his brother. ¹⁰ What he did was evil in the sight of Yahweh. Yahweh killed him also.

¹¹ Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's house until Shelah, my son, grows up." For he feared, "He might also die, just like his brothers." Tamar left and lived in her father's house.

¹² After a long time, Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted and went up to the shearers of his sheep at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. ¹³ Tamar was told, "Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep." ¹⁴ She took off the clothing of her widowhood and covered herself with her veil and wrapped herself. She sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the road to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah had grown up but she had not been given to him as a wife.

¹⁵ When Judah saw her he thought that she was a prostitute because she had covered her face. ¹⁶ He went to her by the road and said, "Come, please let me come to you"—for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law—and she said, "What will you give me so you can come to me?"

¹⁷ He said, "I will send you a young goat from the flock." She said, "Will you give me a pledge until you send it?" ¹⁸ He said, "What pledge can I give you?" She replied, "Your seal and cord, and the staff that is in your hand." He gave them to her and he went to her, and she conceived by him.

¹⁹ She got up and went away. She took off her veil and put on the clothing of her widowhood. ²⁰ Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order that he might receive the pledge back from the woman's hand, but he did not find her.

²¹ Then the Adullamite asked the men of the place, "Where is the cultic prostitute who was at Enaim by the road?" They said, "There has not been a cultic prostitute here." ²² He returned to Judah and said, "I did not find her. Also, the men of the place said, 'There has not been a cultic prostitute here.'" ²³ Judah said, "Let her keep the things, that we not be put to shame. Indeed, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her."

²⁴ It came about after about three months that it was told to Judah, "Tamar your daughter-in-law has committed prostitution, and indeed, she is pregnant by it." Judah said, "Bring her here and let her be burned." ²⁵ When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law a message, "By the man who owns these I am pregnant." She said, "Determine please whose these are, the seal and cords and staff." ²⁶ Judah recognized them and said, "She is more righteous than I am, since I did not give her as a wife to Shelah, my son." He did not know her again.

²⁷ It came about at the time for her to give birth that, behold, twins were in her womb. ²⁸ It came about as she was giving birth one put out a hand, and the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his hand and said, "This one came out first."

²⁹ But then he drew back his hand, and, behold, his brother came out first. The midwife said, "How you have broken out!" So he was named Perez. ³⁰ Then his brother came out, who had the scarlet thread upon his hand, and he was named Zerah.

Chapter 39

¹ Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh who was captain of the guard and an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down there. ² Yahweh was with Joseph and he became a prosperous man. He lived in the house of his Egyptian master.

³ His master saw that Yahweh was with him and that Yahweh prospered everything that he did. ⁴ Joseph found favor in his sight. He served Potiphar. Potiphar made Joseph manager over his house, and everything that he possessed, he put under his care.

⁵ It came about from the time that he made him manager over his house and over everything he possessed, that Yahweh blessed the Egyptian's house because of Joseph. The blessing of Yahweh was on everything that Potiphar had in the house and in the field. ⁶ Potiphar put everything that he had under Joseph's care. He did not have to think about anything except the food that he ate. Now Joseph was handsome and attractive.

⁷ It came about after this that his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, "Lie with me." ⁸ But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not pay attention to what I do in the house, and he has put everything that he owns under my care. ⁹ No one is greater in this house than I am. He has not kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?"

¹⁰ She spoke to Joseph day after day, but he refused to lie with her or to be with her. ¹¹ It came about one day that he went into the house to do his work. None of the men of the house were there in the house. ¹² She caught him by his clothes and said, "Lie with me." He left his clothing in her hand, fled, and went outside.

¹³ It came about, when she saw that he had left his clothing in her hand and had fled outside, ¹⁴ that she called to the men of her house and told them, "See, Potiphar has brought in a Hebrew to mock us. He came to me to lie with me, and I screamed. ¹⁵ It came about when he heard me scream, that he left his clothing with me, fled, and went outside."

¹⁶ She set his clothing next to her until his master came home. ¹⁷ She told him this explanation, "The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us, came in to mock me. ¹⁸ It came about that when I screamed, he left his clothing with me and fled outside."

¹⁹ It came about that, when his master heard the explanation his wife told him, "This is what your servant did to me," he became very angry. ²⁰ Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined. He was there in the prison.

²¹ But Yahweh was with Joseph and showed covenant faithfulness to him. He gave him favor in the sight of the prison warden. ²² The prison warden gave into Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, Joseph was in charge of it. ²³ The prison warden did not worry about anything that was in his hand, because Yahweh was with him. Whatever he did, Yahweh prospered.

Chapter 40

¹ It came about that after these things, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and king's baker offended their master, the king of Egypt. ² Pharaoh was angry with his two officials, the chief of the cupbearers and the chief of the bakers. ³ He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined.

⁴ The captain of the guard assigned Joseph to them, and he served them. They remained in custody for some time. ⁵ Both of them dreamed a dream—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt who were confined in the prison—each man had his own dream in the same night, and each dream had its own interpretation.

⁶ Joseph came to them in the morning and saw them. Behold, they were upset. ⁷ He asked Pharaoh's officials who were with him in custody in his master's house, saying, "Why do you look so sad today?" ⁸ They said to him, "We have both dreamed a dream and no one can interpret it." Joseph said to them, "Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me, please."

⁹ The chief of the cupbearers told his dream to Joseph. He said to him, "In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me. ¹⁰ In the vine were three branches. As it budded, its blossoms came out and the clusters of grapes ripened. ¹¹ Pharaoh's cup was in my hand. I took the grapes and squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I placed the cup into Pharaoh's hand."

¹² Joseph said to him, "This is the interpretation of it. The three branches are three days. ¹³ Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office. You will put Pharaoh's cup into his hand, just as when you were his cupbearer.

¹⁴ But think of me when it goes well with you, and please show kindness to me. Mention me to Pharaoh and bring me out of this prison. ¹⁵ For indeed I was abducted out of the land of the Hebrews. Here also have I done nothing that they should put me in this dungeon."

¹⁶ When the chief of the bakers saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, "I also had a dream, and, behold, three baskets of bread were on my head. ¹⁷ In the top basket there were all kinds of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds ate them out of the basket on my head."

¹⁸ Joseph answered and said, "This is the interpretation. The three baskets are three days. ¹⁹ Within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head from you and will hang you on a tree. The birds will eat your flesh off you."

²⁰ It came about on the third day that it was Pharaoh's birthday. He made a feast for all his servants. He lifted up the head of the chief of the cupbearers and the head of the chief of the bakers, among his servants. ²¹ He restored the chief of the cupbearers to his responsibility, and he put the cup into Pharaoh's hand again. ²² But he hanged the chief of the bakers, just as Joseph had interpreted to them. ²³ Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot about him.

Chapter 41

¹ It came about at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream. Behold, he stood by the Nile. ² Behold, seven cows came up out of the Nile, desirable and fat, and they grazed in the reeds. ³ Behold, seven other cows came up after them out of the Nile, undesirable and thin. They stood by the other cows on the bank of the river.

⁴ Then the undesirable and thin cows ate the seven desirable and fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up. ⁵ Then he slept and dreamed a second time. Behold, seven heads of grain came up on one stalk, wholesome and good. ⁶ Behold, seven heads, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them.

⁷ The thin heads swallowed up the seven wholesome and full heads. Pharaoh woke up, and, behold, it was a dream. ⁸ It came about in the morning that his spirit was troubled. He sent and called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh.

⁹ Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "I have remembered my sins today. ¹⁰ Pharaoh was angry with his servants, and put me in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, the chief baker and me. ¹¹ We dreamed a dream the same night, he and I. We dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.

¹² There was with us there a young Hebrew man, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him and he interpreted for us our dreams. He interpreted for each of us according to his dream. ¹³ It came about as he interpreted for us, so it happened. Pharaoh restored me to my post, but the other one he hanged."

¹⁴ Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph. They quickly took him out of the dungeon. He shaved himself, changed his clothes, and came in to Pharaoh. ¹⁵ Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, but there is no interpreter for it. But I have heard about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." ¹⁶ Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me. God will answer Pharaoh with favor."

¹⁷ Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I stood on the bank of the Nile. ¹⁸ Behold, seven cows came up out of the Nile, fat and desirable, and they grazed among the reeds.

¹⁹ Behold, seven other cows came up after them, weak, very undesirable, and thin. I never saw in all the land of Egypt such undesirableness like them. ²⁰ The thin and undesirable cows ate up the first seven fat cows. ²¹ When they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them, for they were still as undesirable as before. Then I awoke.

²² I looked in my dream, and, behold, seven heads came up upon one stalk, full and good. ²³ Behold, seven more heads—withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind—sprang up after them. ²⁴ The thin heads swallowed up the seven good heads. I told these dreams to the magicians, but there was none that could explain it to me."

²⁵ Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dreams of Pharaoh are the same. What God is about to do, he has declared to Pharaoh. ²⁶ The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years. The dreams are the same.

²⁷ The seven thin and undesirable cows that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven thin heads scorched by the east wind will be seven years of famine. ²⁸ That is the thing which I spoke to Pharaoh. What God is about to do he has revealed to Pharaoh. ²⁹ Look, seven years of great abundance will come throughout all the land of Egypt.

³⁰ Seven years of famine will come after them, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will devastate the land. ³¹ The abundance will not be remembered in the land because of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. ³² That the dream was repeated to Pharaoh is because the matter has been established by God, and God will soon do it.

³³ Now let Pharaoh look for a man discerning and wise, and put him over the land of Egypt. ³⁴ Let Pharaoh appoint officials over the land, and let them take a fifth of the crops of Egypt in the seven abundant years.

³⁵ Let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh, for food to be used in the cities. They should preserve it. ³⁶ The food will be a supply for the land for the seven years of famine which will be in the land of Egypt. In this way the land will not be devastated by the famine."

³⁷ This advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. ³⁸ Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a man as this, in whom is the Spirit of God?"

³⁹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You will be over my house, and according to your word will all my people be ruled. Only in the throne will I be greater than you." ⁴¹ Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have put you over all the land of Egypt."

⁴² Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand and put it upon Joseph's hand. He clothed him with clothes of fine linen, and put a gold chain on his neck. ⁴³ He had him ride in the second chariot which he possessed. Men shouted before him, "Bend the knee." Pharaoh put him over all the land of Egypt.

⁴⁴ Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and apart from you, no man will lift his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt." ⁴⁵ Pharaoh called Joseph's name "Zaphenath-Paneah." He gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, as a wife. Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.

⁴⁶ Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. ⁴⁷ In the seven bountiful years the land produced abundantly.

⁴⁸ He gathered up all the food of the seven years that was in the land of Egypt and put the food in the cities. He put into each city the food from the fields that surrounded it. ⁴⁹ Joseph stored up grain like the sand of the sea, so much that he stopped counting, because it was beyond counting.

⁵⁰ Joseph had two sons before the years of famine came, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On, bore to him. ⁵¹ Joseph called the name of his firstborn Manasseh, for he said, "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." ⁵² He called the name of the second son Ephraim, for he said, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."

⁵³ The seven years of abundance that was in the land of Egypt came to an end. ⁵⁴ The seven years of famine began, as Joseph had said. There was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was food.

⁵⁵ When all the land of Egypt was famished, the people loudly called on Pharaoh for food. Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph and do what he says." ⁵⁶ The famine was over all the face of the whole land. Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians. The famine was severe in the land of Egypt. ⁵⁷ All the earth was coming to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth.

Chapter 42

¹ Now Jacob became aware that there was grain in Egypt. He said to his sons, "Why do you look at one another?" ² He said, "See here, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt. Go down there and buy for us from there so we may live and not die." ³ Joseph's ten brothers went down to buy grain from Egypt. ⁴ But Jacob did not send Benjamin, Joseph's brother, with his brothers, for he said, "I fear that harm might come to him."

⁵ The sons of Israel came to buy among those who came, for the famine was in the land of Canaan. ⁶ Now Joseph was the governor over the land. He was the one who sold to all the people of the land. Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to him with their faces to the ground.

⁷ Joseph saw his brothers and recognized them, but he disguised himself to them and spoke severely with them. He said to them, "Where have you come from?" They said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food." ⁸ Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him.

⁹ Then Joseph remembered the dreams he had dreamed about them, and he said to them, "You are spies! You have come to see the undefended parts of the land." ¹⁰ They said to him, "No, my master. Your servants have come to buy food. ¹¹ We are all one man's sons. We are honest men. Your servants are not spies."

¹² He said to them, "No, you have come to see the undefended parts of the land." ¹³ They said, "We your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan. See, the youngest is this day with our father, and one brother is no longer alive."

¹⁴ Joseph said to them, "It is what I said to you; you are spies. ¹⁵ By this you will be tested. By the life of Pharaoh, you will not leave here, unless your youngest brother comes here. ¹⁶ Send one of yourselves and let him get your brother. You will remain in prison, that your words may be tested, whether there is truth in you. Or else, by the life of Pharaoh, surely you are spies." ¹⁷ He put them all in custody for three days.

¹⁸ Joseph said to them on the third day, "Do this and live, for I fear God. ¹⁹ If you are honest men, let one of your brothers be confined in this prison, but you go, carry grain for the famine of your houses. ²⁰ Bring your youngest brother to me so your words will be verified and you will not die." So they did so.

²¹ They said to one another, "We are truly guilty concerning our brother in that we saw the distress of his soul when he pleaded with us and we would not listen. Therefore this distress has come upon us." ²² Reuben answered them, "Did I not tell you, 'Do not sin against the boy,' but you would not listen? Now, see, his blood is required of us."

²³ They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. ²⁴ He turned from them and wept. He returned to them and spoke to them. He took Simeon from among them and bound him before their eyes. ²⁵ Then Joseph commanded his servants to fill his brothers' bags with grain, and to put every man's money back into his sack, and to give them provisions for the journey. It was done for them.

²⁶ The brothers loaded their donkeys with their grain and departed from there. ²⁷ As one of them opened his sack to give his donkey feed in the lodging place, he saw his money. Behold, it was in the opening of his sack. ²⁸ He said to his brothers, "My money has been put back. Look at it; it is in my sack." Their hearts sank and they turned trembling to one another, saying, "What is this that God has done to us?"

²⁹ They went to Jacob, their father in the land of Canaan and told him all that had happened to them. They said, ³⁰ "The man, the lord of the land, spoke roughly with us and thought that we were spies in the land. ³¹ We said to him, 'We are honest men. We are not spies. ³² We are twelve brothers, sons of our father. One is no longer alive, and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.'

³³ The man, the lord of the land, said to us, 'By this I will know that you are honest men. Leave one of your brothers with me, take grain for the famine in your houses, and go your way. ³⁴ Bring your youngest brother to me. Then I will know that you are not spies, but that you are honest men. Then I will release your brother to you, and you will trade in the land.'"

³⁵ It came about as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bag of silver was in his sack. When they and their father saw their bags of silver, they were afraid. ³⁶ Jacob their father said to them, "You have bereaved me of my children. Joseph is no longer alive, Simeon is gone, and you will take Benjamin away. All these things are against me."

³⁷ Reuben spoke to his father, saying, "You may kill my two sons if I do not bring Benjamin back to you. Put him in my hands, and I will bring him to you again." ³⁸ Jacob said, "My son will not go down with you. For his brother is dead and he alone is left. If harm comes to him on the road in which you go, then you will bring down my gray hair with sorrow to Sheol."

Chapter 43

¹ The famine was severe in the land. ² It came about when they had eaten the grain that they had brought out of Egypt, their father said to them, "Go again; buy us some food."

³ Judah told him, "The man solemnly warned us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.' ⁴ If you send our brother with us, we will go down and buy you food. ⁵ But if you do not send him, we will not go down. For the man said to us, 'You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.'"

⁶ Israel said, "Why did you treat me so badly by telling the man that you had another brother?" ⁷ They said, "The man asked details about us and our family. He said, 'Is your father still alive? Do you have another brother?' We answered him according to these questions. How could we have known that he would say, 'Bring your brother down?'"

⁸ Judah said to Israel his father, "Send the boy with me. We will rise and go that we may live and not die, both we, you, and also our children. ⁹ I will be a guarantee for him. You will hold me responsible. If I do not bring him back to you and set him before you, then let me bear the blame forever. ¹⁰ For if we had not delayed, surely by now we would have come back here a second time."

¹¹ Their father Israel said to them, "If it be so, now do this. Take some of the best products of the land in your bags. Carry down to the man a gift—some balm and honey, spices and myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. ¹² Take double money in your hand. The money that was returned in the opening of your sacks, carry again in your hand. Perhaps it was a mistake.

¹³ Take also your brother. Rise and go again to the man. ¹⁴ May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, so that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved." ¹⁵ The men took this gift, and in their hand they took double the amount of money, along with Benjamin. They got up and went down to Egypt and stood before Joseph.

¹⁶ When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, "Bring the men into the house, slaughter an animal and prepare it, for the men will eat with me at noon." ¹⁷ The steward did as Joseph said. He brought the men to Joseph's house.

¹⁸ The men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph's house. They said, "It is because of the money that was returned in our sacks the first time we were brought in, that he may seek an opportunity against us. He might arrest us and take us as slaves, and take our donkeys." ¹⁹ They approached the steward of Joseph's house, and they spoke to him at the door of the house, ²⁰ saying, "My master, we came down the first time to buy food.

²¹ It came about, when we reached the lodging place, that we opened our sacks, and, behold, every man's money was in the opening of his sack, our money in full weight. We have brought it back in our hands. ²² Other money we have also brought down in our hand to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks." ²³ The steward said, "Peace be to you, do not fear. Your God and the God of your father must have put your money in your sacks. I received your money." The steward then brought Simeon out to them.

²⁴ The steward took the men into Joseph's house. He gave them water, and they washed their feet. He gave feed to their donkeys. ²⁵ They prepared the gifts for Joseph's coming at noon, for they had heard that they would eat there.

²⁶ When Joseph came home, they brought the gifts which were in their hand into the house, and bowed down before him to the ground. ²⁷ He asked them about their welfare and said, "Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?"

²⁸ They said, "Your servant our father is well. He is still alive." And they bowed down and gave him honor. ²⁹ When he lifted up his eyes he saw Benjamin his brother, his mother's son, and he said, "Is this your youngest brother of whom you spoke to me?" Then he said, "May God be gracious to you, my son."

³⁰ Joseph hurried to go out of the room, for he was deeply moved about his brother. He sought somewhere to weep. He went to his room and wept there. ³¹ He washed his face and came out. He controlled himself, saying, "Serve the food."

³² The servants served Joseph by himself and the brothers by themselves. The Egyptians there ate with him by themselves because the Egyptians could not eat bread with the Hebrews, for that is detestable to the Egyptians. ³³ The brothers sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright, and the youngest according to his youth. The men were astonished together. ³⁴ Joseph sent portions to them from the food in front of him. But Benjamin's portion was five times as much as any of his brothers. They drank freely and were merry with him.

Chapter 44

¹ Joseph commanded the steward of his house, saying, "Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man's money in his sack's opening. ² Put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's opening of the youngest, and also his money for the grain." The steward did as Joseph had said.

³ The morning dawned, and the men were sent away, they and their donkeys. ⁴ When they were out of the city but were not yet far off, Joseph said to his steward, "Get up, follow after the men, and when you overtake them, say to them, 'Why have you returned evil for good? ⁵ Is this not the cup from which my master drinks, and the cup that he uses for divination? You have done evil, this thing that you have done.'"

⁶ The steward overtook them and spoke these words to them. ⁷ They said to him, "Why does my master speak such words as these? Far be it from your servants that they would do such a thing.

⁸ Look, the money that we found in our sacks' openings, we brought again to you out of the land of Canaan. How then could we steal out of your master's house silver or gold? ⁹ If any of your servants is found with it, let him die, and we also will be my master's slaves." ¹⁰ The steward said, "Now also let it be according to your words. He with whom the cup is found will be my slave, and you others will be innocent."

¹¹ Then each man hurried and brought his sack down to the ground, and each man opened his sack. ¹² The steward searched. He began with the oldest and finished with the youngest, and the cup was found in Benjamin's sack. ¹³ Then they tore their clothes. Each man loaded his donkey and returned to the city.

¹⁴ Judah and his brothers came to Joseph's house. He was still there, and they bowed before him to the ground. ¹⁵ Joseph said to them, "What is this that you have done? Do you not know that a man like me practices divination?"

¹⁶ Judah said, "What can we say to my master? What can we speak? Or how can we justify ourselves? God has found out the iniquity of your servants. Look, we are my master's slaves, both we and he also in whose hand the cup was found." ¹⁷ Joseph said, "Far be it from me that I should do so. The man in whose hand the cup was found, that person will be my slave, but as for you others, go up in peace to your father."

¹⁸ Then Judah came near to him and said, "My master, please let your servant speak a word in my master's ears, and do not let your anger burn against your servant, for you are just like Pharaoh. ¹⁹ My master asked his servants, saying, 'Do you have a father or a brother?'

²⁰ We said to my master, 'We have a father, an old man, and a child of his old age, a little one. But his brother is dead, and he alone is left of his mother, and his father loves him.' ²¹ Then you said to your servants, 'Bring him down to me that I may see him.' ²² After that, we said to my master, 'The boy cannot leave his father. For if he should leave his father his father would die.'

²³ Then you said to your servants, 'Unless your youngest brother comes down with you, you will not see my face again.' ²⁴ Then it came about when we went up to your servant my father, we told him the words of my master. ²⁵ Our father said, 'Go again, buy us some food.' ²⁶ Then we said, 'We cannot go down. If our youngest brother is with us, then will we go down, for we will not be able to see the man's face unless our youngest brother is with us.'

²⁷ Your servant my father said to us, 'You know that my wife bore me two sons. ²⁸ One of them went out from me and I said, "Surely he is torn in pieces, and I have not seen him since." ²⁹ Now if you also take this one from me, and harm comes to him, you will bring down my gray hair with sorrow to Sheol.'

³⁰ Now, therefore, when I come to your servant my father, and the young man is not with us, since his life is bound up in the boy's life, ³¹ it will come about, when he sees the boy is not with us, he will die. Your servants will bring down the gray hair of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol. ³² For your servant became a guarantee for the boy to my father and said, 'If I do not bring him to you, then I will bear the guilt to my father forever.'

³³ Now therefore, please let your servant stay instead of the boy as slave to my master, and let the boy go up with his brothers. ³⁴ For how can I go up to my father if the boy is not with me? I am afraid to see the evil that would come on my father."

Chapter 45

¹ Then Joseph could not control himself before all the servants who stood by him. He said loudly, "Everyone must leave me." So no servant stood by him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. ² He wept loudly, the Egyptians heard it, and the house of Pharaoh heard of it. ³ Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?" His brothers could not answer him, for they were shocked in his presence.

⁴ Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." They came near. He said, "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt. ⁵ Do not be grieved or angry with yourselves that you sold me here, for God sent me ahead of you to preserve life. ⁶ For these two years the famine has been in the land, and there are still five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.

⁷ God sent me ahead of you to preserve you as a remnant in the earth, and to keep you alive by a great deliverance. ⁸ So now it was not you who sent me here but God, and he has made me a father to Pharaoh, master of all his house, and ruler of all the land of Egypt.

⁹ Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, 'This is what your son Joseph says, "God has made me master of all Egypt. Come down to me, do not delay. ¹⁰ You will live in the land of Goshen, and you will be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks and your herds, and all that you have. ¹¹ I will provide for you there, for there are still five years of famine, so that you do not come to poverty, you, your household, and all that you have."'

¹² Look, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. ¹³ You will tell my father about all my honor in Egypt and of all that you have seen. You will hurry and bring my father down here."

¹⁴ He hugged his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept on his neck. ¹⁵ He kissed all his brothers and wept over them. After that his brothers talked with him.

¹⁶ The news of the matter was told in Pharaoh's house: "Joseph's brothers have come." It pleased Pharaoh and his servants very much. ¹⁷ Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: Load your animals and go to the land of Canaan. ¹⁸ Get your father and your households and come to me. I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land.'

¹⁹ Now you are commanded, 'Do this, take carts out of the land of Egypt for your children and for your wives. Get your father and come. ²⁰ Do not be concerned about your possessions, for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"

²¹ The sons of Israel did so. Joseph gave them carts, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey. ²² To all of them he gave each man changes of clothing, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver and five changes of clothing. ²³ For his father he sent this: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt; and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and other supplies for his father for the journey.

²⁴ So he sent his brothers away and they left. He said to them, "See that you do not quarrel on the journey." ²⁵ They went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan, to Jacob their father. ²⁶ They told him saying "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." His heart was astonished, for he could not believe what they told him.

²⁷ They told him all the words of Joseph that he had said to them. When Jacob saw the carts that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived. ²⁸ Israel said, "It is enough. Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

Chapter 46

¹ Israel made his journey with all that he had and went to Beersheba. There he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac. ² God spoke to Israel in a vision at night, saying, "Jacob, Jacob." He said, "Here I am." ³ He said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not fear to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you a great nation. ⁴ I will go down with you into Egypt, and I will surely bring you up again and Joseph will close your eyes with his own hand."

⁵ Jacob rose up from Beersheba. The sons of Israel transported Jacob their father, their children, and their wives, in the carts that Pharaoh had sent to carry him. ⁶ They took their livestock and their possessions that they had accumulated in the land of Canaan. They came into Egypt, Jacob and all his descendants with him. ⁷ He brought with him to Egypt his sons and his sons' sons, his daughters and his sons' daughters, and all his descendants.

⁸ These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt: Jacob and his descendants, Reuben, Jacob's firstborn;

⁹ the sons of Reuben, Hanok, Pallu, Hezron, and Karmi;

¹⁰ the sons of Simeon, Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman;

¹¹ and the sons of Levi, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

¹² The sons of Judah were Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan had died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

¹³ The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.

¹⁴ The sons of Zebulun were Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. ¹⁵ These were the sons of Leah whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan Aram, along with his daughter Dinah. His sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three.

¹⁶ The sons of Gad were Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

¹⁷ The sons of Asher were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah; and Serah was their sister. The sons of Beriah were Heber and Malkiel. ¹⁸ These were the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban had given to Leah his daughter. These sons she bore to Jacob—sixteen in all.

¹⁹ The sons of Jacob's wife Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin. ²⁰ In Egypt Manasseh and Ephraim were born to Joseph by Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On.

²¹ The sons of Benjamin were Bela, Beker, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard. ²² These were the sons of Rachel who were born to Jacob—fourteen in all.

²³ The son of Dan was Hushim.

²⁴ The sons of Naphtali were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem. ²⁵ These were the sons born to Jacob by Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter—seven in all.

²⁶ All those who went to Egypt with Jacob, who were his direct descendants, not counting Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six in all. ²⁷ With the two sons of Joseph who were born to him in Egypt, the people of the house of Jacob who went to Egypt were seventy in all.

²⁸ Jacob sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him to Goshen, and they came to the land of Goshen. ²⁹ Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He saw him, hugged his neck, and wept on his neck a long time. ³⁰ Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face, that you are still alive."

³¹ Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's house, "I will go up and tell Pharaoh, saying, 'My brothers and my father's house, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me. ³² The men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock. They have brought their flocks, their herds, and all that they have.'

³³ It will come about, when Pharaoh calls you and asks, 'What is your occupation?' ³⁴ that you should say, 'Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth until now, both we, and our forefathers.' Do this so that you may live in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians."

Chapter 47

¹ Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, "My father and my brothers, their flocks, their herds, and all that they own, have arrived from the land of Canaan. See, they are in the land of Goshen." ² He took five of his brothers and introduced them to Pharaoh.

³ Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" They said to Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, as our ancestors." ⁴ Then they said to Pharaoh, "We come as temporary residents in the land. There is no pasture for your servants' flocks, because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. So now, please let your servants live in the land of Goshen."

⁵ Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, "Your father and your brothers have come to you. ⁶ The land of Egypt is before you. Settle your father and your brothers in the best region, the land of Goshen. If you know any capable men among them, put them in charge of my livestock."

⁷ Then Joseph brought in Jacob his father and presented him to Pharaoh. Jacob blessed Pharaoh. ⁸ Pharaoh said to Jacob, "How long have you lived?" ⁹ Jacob said to Pharaoh, "The years of my sojourning are 130. The years of my life have been few and painful. They have not been as long as the days of my ancestors' sojourning." ¹⁰ Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence.

¹¹ Then Joseph settled his father and his brothers. He gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. ¹² Joseph provided food for his father, his brothers, and all his father's household, according to the number of their little ones.

¹³ Now there was no food in all the land; for the famine was severe. The land of Egypt and the land of Canaan wasted away because of the famine. ¹⁴ Joseph gathered all the money that was in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, by selling grain to the inhabitants. Then Joseph brought the money to Pharaoh's palace.

¹⁵ When all the money of the lands of Egypt and Canaan was spent, all the Egyptians came to Joseph saying, "Give us food! Why should we die in your presence because our money is gone?" ¹⁶ Joseph said, "If your money is gone, bring your livestock and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock." ¹⁷ So they brought their livestock to Joseph. Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses, for the flocks, for the herds, and for the donkeys. He fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year.

¹⁸ When that year was ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, "We will not hide from my master that our money is all gone, and the herds of cattle are my master's. There is nothing left in the sight of my master, except our bodies and our land. ¹⁹ Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh. Give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate."

²⁰ So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. For every Egyptian sold his field, because the famine was very severe. In this way, the land became Pharaoh's. ²¹ As for the people, he made them slaves from one end of Egypt's border to the other end. ²² It was only the land of the priests that Joseph did not buy, because the priests were given an allowance. They ate from the allotment which Pharaoh gave them. Therefore they did not sell their land.

²³ Then Joseph said to the people, "See, I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you will plant the land. ²⁴ At the harvest, you must give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four parts will be your own, for seed of the field and for food for your households and your little ones."

²⁵ They said, "You have saved our lives. May we find favor in your eyes. We will be Pharaoh's servants." ²⁶ So Joseph made it a statute which is in effect in the land of Egypt to this day, that one-fifth belongs to Pharaoh. Only the land of the priests did not become Pharaoh's.

²⁷ So Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. His people gained possessions there. They were fruitful and multiplied greatly. ²⁸ Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, so the years of Jacob's life were one hundred forty-seven years.

²⁹ When the time approached for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh, and show me faithfulness and trustworthiness. Please do not bury me in Egypt. ³⁰ When I lie down with my fathers, you will carry me out of Egypt and bury me in my forefathers' burial place." Joseph said, "I will do as you have said." ³¹ Israel said, "Swear to me," and Joseph swore to him. Then Israel bowed down at the head of his bed.

Chapter 48

¹ It came about after these things, that one said to Joseph, "Look, your father is sick." So he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. ² When Jacob was told, "Look, your son Joseph has arrived to see you," Israel gathered strength and sat up in bed.

³ Jacob said to Joseph, "God Almighty appeared to me at Luz in the land of Canaan. He blessed me ⁴ and said to me, 'Behold, I will make you fruitful, and multiply you. I will make of you an assembly of nations. I will give this land to your descendants as an everlasting possession.'

⁵ Now your two sons, who were born to you in the land of Egypt before I came to you into Egypt, they are mine. Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. ⁶ The offspring who are born after them will be yours; they will be listed under the names of their brothers in their inheritance. ⁷ But as for me, when I came from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan on the way, while there was still some distance to go to Ephrath. I buried her there on the way to Ephrath" (that is, Bethlehem).

⁸ When Israel saw Joseph's sons, he said, "Whose are these?" ⁹ Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." Israel said, "Bring them to me, that I may bless them." ¹⁰ Now Israel's eyes were failing because of his age, so he could not see. So Joseph brought them near to him, and he kissed them and embraced them.

¹¹ Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face again, but God has even allowed me to see your children." ¹² Joseph brought them out from between Israel's knees, and then he bowed with his face to the earth. ¹³ Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them close to him.

¹⁴ Israel reached out with his right hand and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head. He crossed his hands, for Manasseh was the firstborn. ¹⁵ Israel blessed Joseph, saying,

"The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,

the God who has cared for me to this day,

¹⁶ the angel who has protected me from all harm,

may he bless these boys.

May my name be named in them,

and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac.

May they grow into a multitude on the earth."

¹⁷ When Joseph saw his father place his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him. He took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. ¹⁸ Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father; for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand upon his head."

¹⁹ His father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know. He also will become a people, and he also will be great. Yet his younger brother will be greater than he, and his descendants will become a multitude of nations." ²⁰ Israel blessed them that day with these words,

"The people of Israel will pronounce blessings by your names saying,

'May God make you like Ephraim and like Manasseh'."

In this way, Israel put Ephraim before Manasseh.

²¹ Israel said to Joseph, "See, I am about to die, but God will be with you, and will bring you back to the land of your fathers. ²² To you, as one who is above your brothers, I give to you the mountain slope that I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow."

Chapter 49

¹ Then Jacob called for his sons, and said:

"Gather yourselves together,

that I may tell you what will happen to you in the future.

² Assemble yourselves and listen, you sons of Jacob.

Listen to Israel, your father.

³ Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might,

and the beginning of my strength,

outstanding in dignity, and outstanding in power.

⁴ Uncontrollable as rushing water,

you will not have the preeminence,

because you went up to your father's bed.

Then you defiled it; you went up to my couch.

⁵ Simeon and Levi are brothers.

Weapons of violence are their swords.

⁶ O my soul, do not come into their council;

O my glory, do not join in their meetings.

For in their anger they killed men.

It was for pleasure that they hamstrung oxen.

⁷ May their anger be cursed, for it was fierce

and their fury, for it was severe.

I will divide them in Jacob

and scatter them in Israel.

⁸ Judah, your brothers will praise you.

Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies.

Your father's sons will bow down before you.

⁹ Judah is a lion's cub.

My son, you have gone up from your victims.

He stooped down, he crouched like a lion, like a lioness.

Who would dare to awaken him?

¹⁰ The scepter will not depart from Judah,

nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,

until Shiloh comes. The nations will obey him.

¹¹ Binding his donkey to the vine,

and his donkey's colt to the choice vine,

he has washed his garments in wine,

and his robe in the blood of grapes.

¹² His eyes will be as dark as wine,

and his teeth as white as milk.

¹³ Zebulun will live by the shore of the sea.

He will be a harbor for ships,

and his border will extend to Sidon.

¹⁴ Issachar is a strong donkey,

lying down between the sheepfolds.

¹⁵ He sees a good resting place

and the pleasant land.

He will bend his shoulder to the burden

and become a servant for forced labor.

¹⁶ Dan will judge his people

as one of the tribes of Israel.

¹⁷ Dan will be a snake beside the road,

a poisonous snake in the path

that bites the horse's heels,

so that his rider falls backward.

¹⁸ I wait for your salvation, Yahweh.

¹⁹ Gad—raiders will attack him,

but he will attack them at their heels.

²⁰ Asher's food will be rich,

and he will provide royal delicacies.

²¹ Naphtali is a doe let loose;

he will have beautiful fawns.

²² Joseph is a fruitful bough,

a fruitful bough near a spring,

whose branches climb over the wall.

²³ The archers will attack him bitterly

and shoot at him with hostility.

²⁴ But his bow will remain steady,

and his hands will be skillful

because of the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob,

because of the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.

²⁵ The God of your father will help you

and the Almighty God will bless you

with blessings of the sky above,

blessings of the deep that lies beneath,

and blessings of the breasts and womb.

²⁶ The blessings of your father are greater

than the blessings of the ancient mountains

or the desirable things of the ancient hills.

May they be on the head of Joseph,

even upon the crown of the head of the prince of his brothers.

²⁷ Benjamin is a hungry wolf.

In the morning he will devour the prey,

and in the evening he will divide the plunder."

²⁸ These are the twelve tribes of Israel. This is what their father said to them when he blessed them. Each one he blessed with an appropriate blessing. ²⁹ Then he instructed them and said to them, "I am about to go to my people. Bury me with my forefathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, ³⁰ in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is near Mamre in the land of Canaan, the field that Abraham bought for a burial place from Ephron the Hittite.

³¹ There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah. ³² The field and the cave that is in it were purchased from the people of Heth." ³³ When Jacob finished these instructions to his sons, he pulled his feet into the bed, breathed his last, and went to his people.

Chapter 50

¹ Then Joseph was so distressed that he collapsed on the face of his father, and he wept over him, and he kissed him. ² Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. ³ They took forty days, for that was the full time for embalming. The Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

⁴ When the days of weeping were over, Joseph spoke to the house of Pharaoh, saying, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak to Pharaoh, saying, ⁵ 'My father made me swear, saying, "See, I am about to die. Bury me in my tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan. There you will bury me." Now let me go up and bury my father, and then I will return.'" ⁶ Pharaoh answered, "Go and bury your father, as he made you swear."

⁷ Joseph went up to bury his father. All the servants of Pharaoh went with him—the elders of his household, all the senior officials of the land of Egypt, ⁸ with all Joseph's household and his brothers, and his father's household. But their children, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. ⁹ Chariots and horsemen also went with him. It was a very large group of people.

¹⁰ When they came to the threshing floor of Atad on the other side of the Jordan, they mourned with very great and grievous sorrow. There Joseph made a seven-day mourning for his father. ¹¹ When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, "This is a very sad occasion for the Egyptians." That is why the name of the place was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.

¹² So his sons did for Jacob just as he had instructed them. ¹³ His sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre. Abraham had bought the cave with the field for a burial place. He had bought it from Ephron the Hittite. ¹⁴ After he had buried his father, Joseph returned into Egypt, he, along with his brothers, and all who had accompanied him to bury his father.

¹⁵ When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, "What if Joseph continues to be angry against us and wants to repay us in full for all the evil we did to him?" ¹⁶ So they commanded the presence of Joseph, saying, "Your father gave instructions before he died, saying, ¹⁷ 'Tell Joseph this, "Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin when they did evil to you."' Now please forgive the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

¹⁸ His brothers also went and lay facedown before him. They said, "See, we are your servants." ¹⁹ But Joseph answered them, "Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? ²⁰ As for you, you meant to harm me, but God meant it for good, to preserve the lives of many people, as you see today. ²¹ So now do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little children." He comforted them in this way and spoke kindly to their hearts.

²² Joseph lived in Egypt, together with his father's family. He lived one hundred ten years. ²³ Joseph saw Ephraim's children to the third generation. He also saw the children of Makir son of Manasseh, who were placed on the knees of Joseph.

²⁴ Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die; but God will surely come to you and lead you up out of this land to the land which he swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob." ²⁵ Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He said, "God will surely come to you. At that time you must carry up my bones from here." ²⁶ So Joseph died, 110 years old. They embalmed him and he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

Exodus

Chapter 1

¹ These are the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: ² Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, ³ Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, ⁴ Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. ⁵ All the people who were descendants of Jacob were seventy in number. Joseph was already in Egypt.

⁶ Then Joseph, all his brothers, and all that generation died. ⁷ But the people of Israel were fruitful, increased in numbers, became great, and became very, very mighty; the land was filled with them.

⁸ Now then a new king arose over Egypt, one who did not know about Joseph. ⁹ He said to his people, "Look, the people of Israel are more numerous and stronger than we are. ¹⁰ Come, let us deal with them wisely, otherwise they will continue to grow in numbers, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the land."

¹¹ So they put taskmasters over them to oppress them with hard labor. The Israelites built store cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Rameses. ¹² But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more the Israelites increased in numbers and spread. So the Egyptians began to dread the people of Israel.

¹³ The Egyptians severely forced the people of Israel to serve. ¹⁴ They made their lives bitter with hard service with mortar and brick, and with all kinds of work in the fields. All their required work was severe.

¹⁵ Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives; the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the other Puah. ¹⁶ He said, "When you assist the Hebrew women on the birthstool, observe when they give birth. If it is a son, then you must kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she may live." ¹⁷ But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt ordered them; instead, they let the baby boys live.

¹⁸ The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this, and let the baby boys live?" ¹⁹ The midwives answered Pharaoh, "The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women. They are vigorous and have finished giving birth before a midwife comes to them."

²⁰ God protected these midwives. The people increased in numbers and became very mighty. ²¹ Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. ²² Pharaoh ordered all his people, "You must throw every son that is born into the river, but every daughter you will let live."

Chapter 2

¹ Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a woman of Levi. ² The woman became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a healthy boy, she hid him for three months.

³ But when she could no longer hide him, she took a papyrus basket and sealed it with bitumen and pitch. Then she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds in the water along the side of the river. ⁴ His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.

⁵ Pharaoh's daughter came down to bathe at the river while her attendants walked along by the riverside. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her attendant to get it. ⁶ When she opened it, she saw the child. Behold, the baby was crying. She had compassion on him and said, "This is certainly one of the Hebrews' children."

⁷ Then the baby's sister said to Pharaoh's daughter, "Should I go and find you a Hebrew woman to nurse the child for you?" ⁸ Pharaoh's daughter said to her, "Go." So the young girl went and got the child's mother.

⁹ Pharaoh's daughter said to the baby's mother, "Take this child and nurse him for me, and I will pay you wages." So the woman took the child and nursed him. ¹⁰ When the child grew older, she brought him to Pharaoh's daughter, and he became her son. She named him Moses and said, "Because I drew him from the water."

¹¹ When Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and observed their hard labors. He saw an Egyptian striking a Hebrew, one of his own people. ¹² He looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no one there, he killed the Egyptian and hid his body in the sand.

¹³ He went out the next day, and, behold, two Hebrew men were fighting. He said to the one who was in the wrong, "Why are you hitting your companion?" ¹⁴ But the man said, "Who made you a leader and judge over us? Are you planning to kill me as you killed that Egyptian?" Then Moses became afraid and said, "What I did has certainly become known to others."

¹⁵ Now when Pharaoh heard about it, he tried to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. There he sat down by a well.

¹⁶ Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters. They came, drew water, and filled the troughs to water their father's flock. ¹⁷ The shepherds came and tried to drive them away, but Moses went and helped them. Then he watered their flock.

¹⁸ When the girls went to Reuel their father, he said, "Why are you home so early today?" ¹⁹ They said, "An Egyptian rescued us from the shepherds. He even drew water for us and watered the flock." ²⁰ He said to his daughters, "So where is he? Why did you leave the man? Call him so he can eat a meal with us."

²¹ Moses agreed to stay with the man, who also gave him his daughter Zipporah in marriage. ²² She bore a son, and Moses called his name Gershom; he said, "I have been a resident in a foreign land."

²³ A long time later, the king of Egypt died. The people of Israel groaned because of the slave labor. They cried out for help, and their pleas went up to God because of their bondage. ²⁴ When God heard their groaning, God called to mind his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. ²⁵ God saw the people of Israel, and he understood their situation.

Chapter 3

¹ Now Moses was still shepherding the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. Moses led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and arrived at Horeb, the mountain of God. ² There the angel of Yahweh appeared to him in a flame of fire in a bush. Moses looked, and behold, the bush was burning, but the bush was not burned up. ³ Moses said, "I will turn aside and see this amazing thing, why the bush is not burned up."

⁴ When Yahweh saw that he had turned aside to look, God called to him out of the bush and said, "Moses, Moses." Moses said, "Here I am." ⁵ God said, "Do not come any closer! Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is ground that is set apart to me." ⁶ He added, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob." Then Moses covered his face, for he was afraid to look at God.

⁷ Yahweh said, "I have certainly seen the suffering of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their outcry because of their taskmasters, for I know about their suffering. ⁸ I have come down to free them from the Egyptians' power and to bring them up from that land to a good, large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey; to the region of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

⁹ Now the outcry of the people of Israel has come to me. Moreover, I have seen the way the Egyptians have been oppressing them. ¹⁰ Now then, I will send you to Pharaoh so that you may bring my people, the people of Israel, out of Egypt."

¹¹ But Moses said to God, "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the people of Israel from Egypt?" ¹² God replied, "I will certainly be with you. This will be a sign to you that I have sent you. When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship me on this mountain."

¹³ Moses said to God, "When I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' and when they say to me, 'What is his name?' what should I say to them?" ¹⁴ God said to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM." God said, "You must say to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'" ¹⁵ God also said to Moses, "You must say to the people of Israel, 'Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is how I will be kept in mind for all generations.'

¹⁶ Go and gather the elders of Israel together. Say to them, 'Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me and said, "I have indeed observed you and have seen what has been done to you in Egypt. ¹⁷ I have promised to bring you up from the affliction in Egypt to the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, a land flowing with milk and honey."' ¹⁸ They will listen to you. You and the elders of Israel must go to the king of Egypt, and you must tell him, 'Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. So now let us go three days' journey into the wilderness, in order that we may sacrifice to Yahweh, our God.'

¹⁹ But I know that the king of Egypt will not let you go except under a mighty hand. ²⁰ I will reach out with my hand and attack the Egyptians with all the miracles that I will do among them. After that, he will let you go. ²¹ I will grant this people favor from the Egyptians, so when you leave, you will not go empty-handed. ²² Every woman will ask for silver and gold jewels and for clothing from her Egyptian neighbors and any women staying in her neighbors' houses. You will put them on your sons and daughters. In this way you will plunder the Egyptians."

Chapter 4

¹ Moses answered, "But what if they do not believe me or listen to me but say instead, 'Yahweh has not appeared to you'?" ² Yahweh said to him, "What is that in your hand?" Moses said, "A staff." ³ Yahweh said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake. Moses ran back from it.

⁴ Yahweh said to Moses, "Reach out and take it by the tail." So he reached out and took hold of the snake. It became a staff in his hand again. ⁵ "This is so they may believe that Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has appeared to you."

⁶ Yahweh also said to him, "Now put your hand inside your robe." So Moses put his hand inside his robe. When he brought it out, behold, his hand was leprous, as white as snow. ⁷ Yahweh said, "Put your hand inside your robe again." So Moses put his hand inside his robe, and when he brought it out, he saw that it was made healthy again, like the rest of his flesh.

⁸ Yahweh said, "If they do not believe you—if they do not pay attention to the first sign of my power or believe in it, then they will believe the second sign. ⁹ If they do not believe even these two signs of my power, or listen to you, then take some water from the river and pour it on the dry land. The water that you take will become blood on the dry land."

¹⁰ Then Moses said to Yahweh, "Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you spoke to your servant. I am slow of speech and slow of tongue." ¹¹ Yahweh said to him, "Who is it who made man's mouth? Who makes a man mute or deaf or seeing or blind? Is it not I, Yahweh? ¹² So now go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what to say." ¹³ But Moses said, "Lord, please send anyone else, anyone whom you wish to send."

¹⁴ Then Yahweh became angry with Moses. He said, "What about Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Moreover, he is coming to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. ¹⁵ You will speak to him and put the words to say into his mouth. I will be with your mouth and with his mouth, and I will teach you both what to do. ¹⁶ He will speak to the people for you. He will be like a mouth for you, and you will be like God for him. ¹⁷ You will take in your hand this staff, with which you will do the signs."

¹⁸ So Moses went back to Jethro his father-in-law and said to him, "Let me go so I may return to my relatives who are in Egypt and see if they are still alive." Jethro said to Moses, "Go in peace." ¹⁹ Yahweh said to Moses in Midian, "Go, return to Egypt, for all the men who were trying to take your life are dead." ²⁰ Moses took his wife and his sons and put them on a donkey. He returned to the land of Egypt, and he took the staff of God in his hand.

²¹ Yahweh said to Moses, "When you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the wonders that I have put in your power. But I will harden his heart, and he will not let the people go. ²² You must say to Pharaoh, 'This is what Yahweh says: Israel is my son, my firstborn, ²³ and I say to you, "Let my son go, so he may worship me." But since you have refused to let him go, I will certainly kill your son, your firstborn.'"

²⁴ Now on the way, when they stopped for the night, Yahweh met Moses and tried to kill him. ²⁵ Then Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son, and touched it to his feet. Then she said, "Surely you are a bridegroom to me by blood." ²⁶ So Yahweh let him alone. She said, "You are a bridegroom of blood" because of the circumcision.

²⁷ Yahweh said to Aaron, "Go into the wilderness to meet Moses." Aaron went, met him at the mountain of God, and kissed him. ²⁸ Moses told Aaron all the words of Yahweh that he had sent him to say and about all the signs of Yahweh's power that he had commanded him to do.

²⁹ Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. ³⁰ Aaron spoke all the words that Yahweh had spoken to Moses. He also displayed the signs of Yahweh's power in the sight of the people. ³¹ The people believed. When they heard that Yahweh had observed the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed down and worshiped him.

Chapter 5

¹ After these things happened, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so they can have a festival for me in the wilderness.'" ² Pharaoh said, "Who is Yahweh? Why should I listen to his voice and let Israel go? I do not know Yahweh; moreover, I will not let Israel go."

³ They said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to Yahweh our God so that he does not attack us with plague or with the sword." ⁴ But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people from their work? Go back to your labors." ⁵ Pharaoh also said, "There are now many people in our land, and you are making them stop their labors."

⁶ On that same day, Pharaoh gave a command to the people's taskmasters and overseers. He said, ⁷ "Unlike before, you must no longer give the people straw to make bricks. Let them go and gather straw for themselves. ⁸ However, you must still demand from them the same number of bricks as they made before. Do not accept any fewer, because they are lazy. That is why they are calling out and saying, 'Allow us to go and sacrifice to our God.' ⁹ Increase the workload for the men so that they keep at it and pay no more attention to deceptive words."

¹⁰ So the people's taskmasters and overseers went out and informed the people. They said, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will no longer give you any straw. ¹¹ You yourselves must go and get straw wherever you can find it, but your workload will not be reduced.'"

¹² So the people scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. ¹³ The taskmasters kept urging them and saying, "Finish your work, just as when straw was given to you." ¹⁴ Pharaoh's taskmasters beat the overseers, who were of the people of Israel, those same men whom they had put in charge of the workers. The taskmasters kept asking them, "Why have you not produced all the bricks required of you, either yesterday and today, as you used to do in the past?"

¹⁵ So the overseers, who were of the people of Israel, came to Pharaoh and cried out to him. They said, "Why are you treating your servants this way? ¹⁶ No straw is being given to your servants anymore, but they are still telling us, 'Make bricks!' We, your servants, are even beaten now, but it is the fault of your own people." ¹⁷ But Pharaoh said, "You are lazy! You are lazy! You say, 'Allow us to go sacrifice to Yahweh.' ¹⁸ So now go back to work. No more straw will be given to you, but you must still make the same number of bricks."

¹⁹ The overseers, who were of the people of Israel, saw that they were in trouble when they were told, "You must not reduce the daily number of bricks." ²⁰ They met Moses and Aaron, who were standing outside the palace, as they went away from Pharaoh. ²¹ They said to Moses and Aaron, "May Yahweh look at you and punish you, because you have made us offensive in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants. You have put a sword in their hand to kill us."

²² Moses went back to Yahweh and said, "Lord, why have you caused trouble for this people? Why did you send me in the first place? ²³ Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak to him in your name, he has caused trouble for this people, and you have not set your people free at all."

Chapter 6

¹ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Now you will see what I will do to Pharaoh. You will see this, for he will let them go because of my strong hand. Because of my strong hand, he will drive them out of his land."

² God spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am Yahweh. ³ I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty; but by my name, Yahweh, I was not known to them. ⁴ I also established my covenant with them, in order to give them the land of Canaan, the land in which they sojourned. ⁵ Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel whom the Egyptians have enslaved, and I have called to mind my covenant.

⁶ Therefore, say to the people of Israel, 'I am Yahweh. I will bring you out from under the hard labors of the Egyptians, and I will free you from their power. I will rescue you with a display of my power, and with mighty acts of judgment. ⁷ I will take you to myself as my people, and I will be your God. You will know that I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out from under the hard labors of the Egyptians.

⁸ I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am Yahweh.'" ⁹ When Moses told this to the people of Israel, they would not listen to him because of their discouragement about their severe slavery.

¹⁰ Then Yahweh said to Moses, saying, ¹¹ "Go tell Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to let the people of Israel go from his land." ¹² Moses said to Yahweh, "If the people of Israel have not listened to me, why will Pharaoh listen to me, since I am not good at speaking?" ¹³ Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron. He gave them a command for the people of Israel and for Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to bring the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

¹⁴ These were the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, were Hanok, Pallu, Hezron, and Karmi. These were the clan ancestors of Reuben.

¹⁵ The sons of Simeon were Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jakin, Zohar, and Shaul—the son of a Canaanite woman. These were the clan ancestors of Simeon.

¹⁶ Here are listed the names of the sons of Levi, according to their genealogies. They were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. Levi lived until he was 137 years old. ¹⁷ The sons of Gershon were Libni and Shimei, according to their clans. ¹⁸ The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. Kohath lived until he was 133 years old. ¹⁹ The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These became the clan ancestors of the Levites, together with their descendants.

²⁰ Amram married Jochebed, his father's sister. She bore him Aaron and Moses. Amram lived 137 years and then died. ²¹ The sons of Izhar were Korah, Nepheg, and Zikri. ²² The sons of Uzziel were Mishael, Elzaphan, and Sithri.

²³ Aaron married Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Nahshon. She bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

²⁴ The sons of Korah were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph. These were the clan ancestors of the Korahites.

²⁵ Eleazar, Aaron's son, married one of the daughters of Putiel. She bore him Phinehas. These were the heads of the fathers' houses among the Levites, according to their clans.

²⁶ These two men were the Aaron and Moses to whom Yahweh said, "Bring out the people of Israel from the land of Egypt, by their hosts." ²⁷ Aaron and Moses spoke to Pharaoh, king of Egypt,in order to bring out the people of Israel from Egypt. These were the same Moses and Aaron.

²⁸ When Yahweh spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt, ²⁹ he said to him, "I am Yahweh. Say to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, everything that I will tell you." ³⁰ But Moses said to Yahweh, "I am not good at speaking, so why will Pharaoh listen to me?"

Chapter 7

¹ Yahweh said to Moses, "See, I have made you like a god to Pharaoh. Aaron your brother will be your prophet. ² You will say everything that I command you to say. Aaron your brother will speak to Pharaoh so that he will let the people of Israel go from his land.

³ But I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and I will display many signs of my power, many wonders, in the land of Egypt. ⁴ But Pharaoh will not listen to you, so I will put my hand on Egypt and bring out my hosts, my people, the people of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. ⁵ The Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh when I reach out with my hand on Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them."

⁶ Moses and Aaron did so; they did just as Yahweh commanded them. ⁷ Moses was eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three years old when they spoke to Pharaoh.

⁸ Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron, ⁹ "When Pharaoh says to you, 'Do a miracle,' then you will say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and throw it down before Pharaoh, so that it may become a snake.'" ¹⁰ Then Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, and they did just as Yahweh had commanded. Aaron threw down his staff before Pharaoh and his servants, and it became a snake.

¹¹ Then Pharaoh also called for his Egyptian wise men and sorcerers. They did the same thing by their magic. ¹² Each man threw down his staff, and the staffs became snakes. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their snakes. ¹³ Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he did not listen, just as Yahweh had foretold.

¹⁴ Yahweh said to Moses, "Pharaoh's heart is hard, and he refuses to let the people go. ¹⁵ Go to Pharaoh in the morning when he goes out to the water. Stand on the riverbank to meet him, and take in your hand the staff that had turned into a snake.

¹⁶ Say to him, 'Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, has sent me to you to say, "Let my people go, so that they may worship me in the wilderness. Until now you have not listened." ¹⁷ Yahweh says this: "By this you will know that I am Yahweh. I am going to strike the water of the Nile River with the staff that is in my hand, and the river will be turned to blood. ¹⁸ The fish that are in the river will die, and the river will stink. The Egyptians will not be able to drink water from the river."'"

¹⁹ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Take your staff and reach out with your hand over the waters of Egypt, and over their rivers, streams, pools, and all their ponds, so that their water may become blood. Do this so that there will be blood throughout all the land of Egypt, even in containers of wood and stone.'"

²⁰ Moses and Aaron did as Yahweh commanded. Aaron raised the staff and struck the water in the river, in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants. All the water in the river turned to blood. ²¹ The fish in the river died, and the river began to stink. The Egyptians could not drink water from the river, and the blood was everywhere in the land of Egypt. ²² But the magicians of Egypt did the same thing with their magic. So Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he refused to listen to Moses and Aaron, just as Yahweh had said would happen.

²³ Then Pharaoh turned and went into his house. He did not even pay attention to this. ²⁴ All the Egyptians dug around the river for water to drink, but they could not drink the water of the river itself. ²⁵ Seven days passed after Yahweh had attacked the river.

Chapter 8

¹ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and tell him, 'Yahweh says this: "Let my people go so that they may worship me. ² If you refuse to let them go, I will afflict all your country with frogs. ³ The river will swarm with frogs. They will come up and go into your house, your bedroom, and your bed. They will go into your servants' houses. They will go onto your people, into your ovens, and into your kneading bowls. ⁴ The frogs will attack you, your people, and all your servants."'"

⁵ Yahweh spoke to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Reach out with your hand and your staff over the rivers, the streams, and the pools, and bring the frogs up over the land of Egypt.'" ⁶ Aaron reached out with his hand over Egypt's waters, and the frogs came up and covered the land of Egypt. ⁷ But the magicians did the same with their magic; they brought up frogs over the land of Egypt.

⁸ Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, "Pray to Yahweh for him to take away the frogs from me and my people. Then I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to him." ⁹ Moses said to Pharaoh, "Honor yourself over me. When should I pray for you, your servants, and your people, so that the frogs may be removed from you and your houses and stay only in the river?"

¹⁰ Pharaoh said, "Tomorrow." Moses said, "Let it be as you say, so that you may know that there is no one like Yahweh, our God. ¹¹ The frogs will go from you, your houses, your servants, and your people. They will stay only in the river." ¹² Moses and Aaron went out from Pharaoh. Then Moses cried out to Yahweh concerning the frogs that he had brought on Pharaoh.

¹³ Yahweh did as Moses asked: The frogs died in the houses, courts, and fields. ¹⁴ The people gathered them together in heaps, and the land stank. ¹⁵ But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as Yahweh had said that he would do.

¹⁶ Yahweh said to Moses, "Say to Aaron, 'Reach out with your staff and strike the dust on the ground, that it may become gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.'" ¹⁷ They did so. When Aaron reached out with his hand and his staff and struck the dust on the ground, gnats came on men and animals. All the dust on the ground became gnats throughout all the land of Egypt.

¹⁸ The magicians tried with their magic to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on men and animals. ¹⁹ Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, "This is the finger of God." But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, so he refused to listen to them. It was just as Yahweh had said Pharaoh would do.

²⁰ Yahweh said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and stand in front of Pharaoh as he goes out to the river. Say to him, 'Yahweh says this: "Let my people go so that they may worship me. ²¹ But if you do not let my people go, I will send swarms of flies on you, your servants, and your people, and into your houses. The Egyptians' houses will be full of swarms of flies, and even the ground on which they stand will be full of flies.

²² But on that day I will set the land of Goshen apart, the land in which my people are living, so that no swarms of flies will be there. This will happen so that you may know that I am Yahweh in the midst of this land. ²³ I will make a distinction between my people and your people. This sign of my power will take place tomorrow."'" ²⁴ Yahweh did so, and thick swarms of flies came into Pharaoh's house and into his servants' houses. Throughout the whole land of Egypt, the land was ruined because of the swarms of flies.

²⁵ Pharaoh called for Moses and for Aaron and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God in our own land." ²⁶ Moses said, "It is not right for us to do so, for the sacrifices we make to Yahweh our God are something disgusting to the Egyptians. If we make sacrifices right before their eyes that are disgusting to the Egyptians, will they not stone us? ²⁷ No, it is a three days' journey into the wilderness that we must make, in order to sacrifice to Yahweh our God, as he commands us."

²⁸ Pharaoh said, "I will allow you to go and sacrifice to Yahweh your God in the wilderness. Only you must not go very far away. Pray for me." ²⁹ Moses said, "As soon as I go out from you, I will pray to Yahweh that the swarms of flies may leave you, Pharaoh, and your servants and people tomorrow. But you must not deal deceitfully any more by not letting our people go to sacrifice to Yahweh."

³⁰ Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to Yahweh. ³¹ Yahweh did as Moses asked; and he removed the swarms of flies from Pharaoh, his servants, and his people. Not one remained. ³² But Pharaoh hardened his heart this time also, and he did not let the people go.

Chapter 9

¹ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and tell him, 'Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says this: "Let my people go so that they may worship me." ² But if you refuse to let them go, if you still keep them back, ³ then Yahweh's hand will bring a terrible plague on your livestock that are in the field—the horses, donkeys, camels, herds, and flocks. ⁴ But Yahweh will set the livestock of Israel apart from the livestock of Egypt, so that no animal that belongs to the people of Israel will die.

⁵ Yahweh has fixed a time; he has said, "It is tomorrow that I will do this thing in the land."'" ⁶ Yahweh did this the next day: All the cattle of Egypt died, but none of the people of Israel's animals died, not one animal. ⁷ Pharaoh investigated, and, behold, not even one livestock of the people of Israel died. But his heart was stubborn, so he did not let the people go.

⁸ Then Yahweh said to Moses and to Aaron, "Take some handfuls of ashes from a kiln. You, Moses, must throw the ashes up into the air while Pharaoh is watching. ⁹ They will become fine dust over all the land of Egypt. They will cause blisters and sores to break out on people and animals throughout all the land of Egypt." ¹⁰ So Moses and Aaron took ashes from a kiln and stood in front of Pharaoh. Then Moses threw the ashes up into the air. The ashes caused blisters and sores to break out on men and animals.

¹¹ The magicians could not resist Moses because of the blisters, because the blisters were on them and on all the other Egyptians. ¹² Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, so Pharaoh did not listen to Moses and Aaron. This was just as Yahweh had said to Moses that Pharaoh would do.

¹³ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning, stand in front of Pharaoh, and say to him, 'Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says this: "Let my people go so that they may worship me. ¹⁴ For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, on your servants and your people. I will do this so that you may know that there is no one like me in all the earth.

¹⁵ By now I could have reached out with my hand and attacked you and your people with plague, and you would have been eradicated from the land. ¹⁶ But it was for this reason I allowed you to survive: In order to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed throughout all the earth. ¹⁷ You are still lifting yourself up against my people by not letting them go.

¹⁸ Listen! Tomorrow about this time I will bring a very strong hail storm, such as has not been seen in Egypt since the day it was founded until now. ¹⁹ Now then, send men and gather your livestock and everything you have in the fields to a safe place. Every man and animal that is in the field and is not brought home—the hail will come down on them, and they will die."'"

²⁰ Then those of Pharaoh's servants who feared Yahweh's message hurried to bring their slaves and livestock into the houses. ²¹ But those who did not take Yahweh's message seriously left their slaves and livestock in the fields.

²² Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Reach out with your hand toward the sky so that there will be hail in all the land of Egypt, on men and animals, and every plant of the field in the land of Egypt." ²³ Moses reached out with his staff toward the sky, and Yahweh sent thunder, hail, and lightning to the ground. He also rained hail on the land of Egypt. ²⁴ So there were hail and lightning mixed with hail, very severe, such as had not been in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation.

²⁵ Throughout all the land of Egypt, the hail struck everything in the fields, both people and animals. It struck every plant in the fields and broke every tree. ²⁶ Only in the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel lived, was there no hail.

²⁷ Then Pharaoh sent men to summon Moses and Aaron. He said to them, "I have sinned this time. Yahweh is righteous, and I and my people are wicked. ²⁸ Pray to Yahweh, because the mighty thunderbolts and hail are too much. I will let you go, and you will stay here no longer."

²⁹ Moses said to him, "As soon as I leave the city, I will spread my hands out to Yahweh. The thunder will stop, and there will not be any more hail. In this way you will know that the earth belongs to Yahweh. ³⁰ But as for you and your servants, I know that you do not yet really honor Yahweh God."

³¹ Now the flax and the barley were ruined, for the barley was maturing in the ear, and the flax was in bloom. ³² But the wheat and the spelt were not harmed because they were later crops. ³³ When Moses had left Pharaoh and the city, he spread out his hands to Yahweh; the thunder and hail stopped, and the rain came down no more.

³⁴ When Pharaoh saw that the rain, hail, and thunder had ceased, he sinned again and hardened his heart, together with his servants. ³⁵ The heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and so he did not let the people of Israel go, just as Yahweh had spoken by the hand of Moses.

Chapter 10

¹ Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his servants. I have done this to show these signs of my power among them. ² I have also done this so that you may tell your children and grandchildren the things I have done, how I have harshly treated Egypt, and how I have given various signs of my power among them. In this way you will know that I am Yahweh."

³ So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, "Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews, says this: 'How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go so that they may worship me. ⁴ But if you refuse to let my people go, listen, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your land.

⁵ They will cover the surface of the ground so that no one will be able to see the earth. They will eat the remains of whatever escaped from the hail. They will also eat every tree that grows for you in the fields. ⁶ They will fill your houses, those of all your servants, and those of all the Egyptians—something neither your father nor your grandfather ever saw, nothing ever seen since the day that they were on the earth to this present day.'" Then Moses left and went out from Pharaoh.

⁷ Pharaoh's servants said to him, "How long will this man be a snare to us? Let the people of Israel go so that they may worship Yahweh their God. Do you not yet realize that Egypt is destroyed?" ⁸ Moses and Aaron were brought again to Pharaoh, who said to them, "Go worship Yahweh your God. But what people will go?"

⁹ Moses said, "We will go with our young and with our old, with our sons and our daughters. We will go with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a festival for Yahweh." ¹⁰ Pharaoh said to them, "May Yahweh indeed be with you, if I ever let you go and your little ones go. Look, you have some evil in mind. ¹¹ No! Go, just the men among you, and worship Yahweh, for that is what you want." Then Moses and Aaron were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

¹² Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Reach out with your hand over the land of Egypt to the locusts, that they may attack the land of Egypt and eat every plant in it, everything that the hail has left." ¹³ Moses reached out with his staff over the land of Egypt, and Yahweh brought an east wind over the land all that day and night. When it was morning, the east wind had brought the locusts.

¹⁴ The locusts went through all the land of Egypt and infested all parts of it. Never before had there been such a swarm of locusts in the land, and nothing like this will come after it. ¹⁵ They covered the surface of the whole land so that it was darkened. They ate every plant in the land and all the fruit of the trees that the hail had left. Throughout all the land of Egypt, no living green plant remained, nor any tree or plant in the fields.

¹⁶ Then Pharaoh quickly summoned Moses and Aaron and said, "I have sinned against Yahweh your God and against you. ¹⁷ Now then, forgive my sin this time, and pray to Yahweh your God that he will take this death away from me." ¹⁸ So Moses went out from Pharaoh and prayed to Yahweh.

¹⁹ Yahweh brought a very strong west wind that picked up the locusts and drove them into the Sea of Reeds; not a single locust remained in all the territory of Egypt. ²⁰ But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, and Pharaoh did not let the people of Israel go.

²¹ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Reach out with your hand toward the sky, so that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness that may be felt." ²² Moses reached out with his hand toward the sky, and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt for three days. ²³ No one could see anyone else; no one left his home for three days. However, all the people of Israel had light in the place where they lived.

²⁴ Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, "Go worship Yahweh. Even your little ones may go with you, but your flocks and herds must remain behind." ²⁵ But Moses said, "Allow us to have sacrifices and burnt offerings so that we may present them to Yahweh our God. ²⁶ Our cattle must also go with us; not a hoof of them may be left behind, for we must take them to worship Yahweh our God. For we do not know with what we must worship Yahweh until we arrive there."

²⁷ But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, and he would not let them go. ²⁸ Pharaoh said to Moses, "Go from me! Be careful about one thing, that you do not see me again, for on the day you see my face, you will die." ²⁹ Moses said, "You yourself have spoken. I will not see your face again."

Chapter 11

¹ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "There is still one more plague that I will bring on Pharaoh and Egypt. After that, he will let you go from here. When he finally lets you go, he will drive you away completely. ² Instruct the people that every man and woman is to ask of his or her neighbor for articles of silver and articles of gold." ³ Now Yahweh had made the Egyptians eager to please the Israelites. Moreover, the man Moses was very impressive in the sight of Pharaoh's servants and the people of Egypt.

⁴ Moses said, "Yahweh says this: 'About midnight I will go throughout Egypt. ⁵ All the firstborn in the land of Egypt will die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sits on his throne, to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the handmill grinding it, and to all the firstborn of the livestock.

⁶ Then there will be a great outcry throughout all the land of Egypt, such as has never been nor ever will be again. ⁷ But not even a dog will bark against any of the people of Israel, against either man or animal. In this way you will know that I am making a distinction between the Egyptians and the people of Israel.' ⁸ All these servants of yours, Pharaoh, will come down to me and bow down to me. They will say, 'Go, you and all the people who follow you!' After that I will go out." Then he went out from Pharaoh in great anger.

⁹ Yahweh said to Moses, "Pharaoh will not listen to you. This is so that I will do many amazing things in the land of Egypt." ¹⁰ Moses and Aaron did all these wonders before Pharaoh. But Yahweh hardened Pharaoh's heart, and Pharaoh did not let the people of Israel go out of his land.

Chapter 12

¹ Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt. He said, ² "For you, this month will be the start of months, the first month of the year to you.

³ Tell the assembly of Israel, 'On the tenth day of this month they must each take a lamb or young goat for themselves, each family doing this, a lamb for each household. ⁴ If the household is too small for a lamb, the man and his next door neighbor are to take lamb or young goat meat that will be enough for the number of the people. It should be enough for everyone to eat, so they must take enough meat to feed them all.

⁵ Your lamb or young goat must be without blemish, a one-year-old male. You may take one of the sheep or goats. ⁶ You must keep it safe until the fourteenth day of that month. Then the whole assembly of Israel must kill these animals at twilight. ⁷ You must take some of the blood and put it on the two side doorposts and on the tops of the doorframes of the houses in which you will eat the meat. ⁸ You must eat the meat that night, after first roasting it over a fire. Eat it with bread made without yeast, along with bitter herbs.

⁹ Do not eat it raw or boiled in water, but roast it over fire with its head, legs, and inner parts. ¹⁰ You must not let any of it be left over until morning. You must burn whatever is left over in the morning. ¹¹ This is how you must eat it: with your belt fastened, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. You must eat it hurriedly. It is Yahweh's Passover.

¹² Yahweh says this: I will go through the land of Egypt in that night and strike down all the firstborn of man and animal in the land of Egypt. I will do acts of judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am Yahweh. ¹³ The blood will be a sign on your houses for my coming to you. When I see the blood, I will pass over you when I attack the land of Egypt. This plague will not come on you and destroy you. ¹⁴ This day will become a memorial day for you, which you must observe as a festival to Yahweh; for your generations—a statute that you must keep as a festival forever.

¹⁵ You will eat bread without yeast during seven days. On the first day you will remove the yeast from your houses. Whoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that person must be cut off from Israel. ¹⁶ On the first day there will be an assembly that is set apart to me, and on the seventh day there will be another such gathering. No work will be done on these days, except the cooking for everyone to eat. That must be the only work that may be done by you.

¹⁷ You must observe this Festival of Unleavened Bread because it was on this day that I brought your hosts out of the land of Egypt. So you must observe this day throughout your people's generations as a statute forever. ¹⁸ You must eat unleavened bread from twilight of the fourteenth day in the first month of the year until twilight of the twenty-first day of the month.

¹⁹ During these seven days, no yeast must be found in your houses. Whoever eats bread made with yeast must be cut off from the community of Israel, whether that person is a foreigner or someone born in your land. ²⁰ You must eat nothing made with yeast. Wherever you live, you must eat bread made without yeast.'"

²¹ Then Moses summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, "Go and select lambs or kids that will be enough to feed your families and kill the Passover lamb. ²² Then take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood that will be in a basin. Apply the blood in the basin to the top of the doorframe and the two doorposts. None of you is to go out of the door of his house until the morning.

²³ For Yahweh will pass through to attack the Egyptians. When he sees the blood on the top of the doorframe and on the two doorposts, he will pass over your door and not permit the destroyer to come into your houses to attack you.

²⁴ You must observe this event. This will always be a law for you and your descendants. ²⁵ When you enter the land that Yahweh will give you, just as he has promised to do, you must observe this act of worship.

²⁶ When your children ask you, 'What does this act of worship mean?' ²⁷ then you must say, 'It is the sacrifice of Yahweh's Passover, because Yahweh passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt when he attacked the Egyptians. He set our households free.'" Then the people bowed down and worshiped Yahweh. ²⁸ The people of Israel went and did exactly as Yahweh had commanded Moses and Aaron.

²⁹ It happened at midnight that Yahweh attacked all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on his throne, to the firstborn of the person in the dungeon and all the firstborn of the livestock. ³⁰ Pharaoh got up in the night—he, all his servants, and all the Egyptians. There was a loud outcry in Egypt, for there was not a house where there was not someone dead.

³¹ Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron in the night and said, "Get up, get out from among my people, you and the people of Israel. Go, worship Yahweh, as you have said you wanted to do. ³² Take your flocks and your herds, as you have said, and go, and also bless me." ³³ The Egyptians were in a great hurry to send them out of the land, for they said, "We will all die."

³⁴ So the people took their dough without adding any yeast. Their kneading bowls were already tied up in their clothes and on their shoulders. ³⁵ Now the people of Israel did as Moses told them. They asked the Egyptians for articles of silver, articles of gold, and clothing. ³⁶ Yahweh made the Egyptians eager to please the Israelites. So the Egyptians gave them whatever they asked for. In this way, the Israelites plundered the Egyptians.

³⁷ The people of Israel journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. They numbered about 600,000 men on foot, in addition to the little ones. ³⁸ A mixed multitude also went with them, together with flocks and herds, a very large number of livestock. ³⁹ They baked bread without yeast in the dough that they brought from Egypt. It was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and could not delay to prepare food. ⁴⁰ The people of Israel had lived in Egypt for 430 years.

⁴¹ At the end of 430 years, on that very day, all of Yahweh's armed groups went out from the land of Egypt. ⁴² This was a night to stay awake, for Yahweh to bring them out from the land of Egypt. This was Yahweh's night to be observed by all the people of Israel throughout their people's generations.

⁴³ Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, "Here is the rule for the Passover: No foreigner may share in eating it. ⁴⁴ However, every Israelite's slave, bought with money, may eat it after you have circumcised him.

⁴⁵ Foreigners and hired servants must not eat any of the food. ⁴⁶ The food must be eaten in one house. You must not carry any of the meat out of the house, and you must not break any bone of it.

⁴⁷ All the community of Israel must observe the festival. ⁴⁸ If a foreigner lives with you and wants to observe the Passover to Yahweh, all his male relatives must be circumcised. Then he may come and observe it. He will become like the people who were born in the land. However, no uncircumcised person may eat any of the food.

⁴⁹ This same law will apply to both the native born and to the foreigner who lives among you."

⁵⁰ So all the people of Israel did exactly as Yahweh had commanded Moses and Aaron. ⁵¹ It came about that very day that Yahweh brought Israel out of the land of Egypt by their armed groups.

Chapter 13

¹ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Set apart to me every firstborn male, the first issue of every womb among the people of Israel, whether man or animal. He is mine."

³ Moses said to the people, "Call this day to mind, the day on which you came out from Egypt, out of the house of slavery, for by Yahweh's strong hand he brought you out from this place. No bread with yeast may be eaten. ⁴ You are going out of Egypt on this day, in the month of Aviv. ⁵ When Yahweh brings you into the land of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Hivites, and the Jebusites, the land that he swore to your ancestors to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey—then you must observe this act of worship in this month.

⁶ For seven days you must eat bread without yeast; on the seventh day there will be a festival to honor Yahweh. ⁷ Bread without yeast must be eaten throughout the seven days; no bread with yeast may be seen among you. No yeast may be seen with you within any of your borders.

⁸ On that day you are to say to your children, 'This is because of what Yahweh did for me when I came out of Egypt.' ⁹ This will be a reminder for you on your hand, and a reminder on your forehead. This is so the law of Yahweh may be in your mouth, for with a strong hand Yahweh brought you out of Egypt. ¹⁰ Therefore you must keep this law at its appointed time from year to year.

¹¹ When Yahweh brings you into the land of the Canaanites, as he swore to you and to your ancestors to do, and when he gives the land to you, ¹² you must set apart to Yahweh the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn offspring of your livestock that are males, will belong to Yahweh. ¹³ Every firstborn of a donkey you must redeem with a lamb. If you do not buy it back, then you must break its neck. But every firstborn of your sons you must redeem.

¹⁴ When your son asks you later, 'What does this mean?' then you are to tell him, 'It was by a strong hand that Yahweh brought us out from Egypt, from the house of slavery. ¹⁵ When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, Yahweh killed every firstborn in Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animal. That is why I sacrifice to Yahweh all the first male issue of the womb, but all my firstborn sons I redeem.' ¹⁶ This will become a reminder on your hands, and a reminder on your forehead, for it was by a strong hand Yahweh brought us out of Egypt."

¹⁷ When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that land was nearby. For God said, "Perhaps the people will change their minds when they experience war and will then return to Egypt." ¹⁸ So God led the people around through the wilderness to the Sea of Reeds. The people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt armed for battle.

¹⁹ Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear and said, "God will surely rescue you, and you must carry away my bones with you." ²⁰ The Israelites journeyed from Sukkoth and camped at Etham on the edge of the wilderness. ²¹ Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them on the way. By night he went in a pillar of fire to give them light. In this way they could travel by day and by night. ²² Yahweh did not take away from before the people the daytime pillar of cloud or the nighttime pillar of fire.

Chapter 14

¹ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Say to the people of Israel that they should turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal Zephon. You are to camp by the sea opposite Pi Hahiroth. ³ Pharaoh will say about the people of Israel, 'They are wandering confused in the land. The wilderness has closed in on them.'

⁴ I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them. I will get honor because of Pharaoh and all his army. The Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh." So the Israelites camped as they were instructed. ⁵ When the king of Egypt was told that the Israelites had fled, the minds of Pharaoh and his servants turned against the people. They said, "What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us."

⁶ Then Pharaoh got his chariots ready and took his army with him. ⁷ He took six hundred chosen chariots and all the other chariots of Egypt, with officers on all of them. ⁸ Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and the king pursued the people of Israel. Now the people of Israel had gone away in triumph. ⁹ But the Egyptians pursued them, together with all his horses and chariots, his horsemen, and his army. They overtook the Israelites camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.

¹⁰ When Pharaoh came close, the people of Israel looked up and were surprised. The Egyptians were marching after them, and they were terrified. The people of Israel cried out to Yahweh. ¹¹ They said to Moses, "Is it because there were no graves in Egypt, that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us like this, bringing us out of Egypt? ¹² Is this not what we told you in Egypt? We said to you, 'Leave us alone, so we can work for the Egyptians.' It would have been better for us to work for them than to die in the wilderness."

¹³ Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still and see the rescue that Yahweh will provide for you today. For you will never see again the Egyptians whom you see today. ¹⁴ Yahweh will fight for you, and you will only have to stand still."

¹⁵ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Why are you, Moses, continuing to call out to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward. ¹⁶ Lift up your staff, reach out with your hand over the sea and divide it in two, so that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground. ¹⁷ Be aware that I will harden the Egyptians' hearts so they will go after them. I will get honor because of Pharaoh and all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. ¹⁸ Then the Egyptians will know that I am Yahweh when I have gotten honor because of Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen."

¹⁹ The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them. The pillar of cloud moved from before them and went to stand behind them. ²⁰ The cloud came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel. It was a dark cloud to the Egyptians, but it lit the night for the Israelites, so one side did not come near the other all night.

²¹ Moses reached out with his hand over the sea. Yahweh drove the sea back by a strong east wind all that night and made the sea into dry land. In this way the waters were divided. ²² The people of Israel went into the middle of the sea on dry ground. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left.

²³ The Egyptians pursued them. They went after them into the middle of the sea—all Pharaoh's horses, chariots, and horsemen. ²⁴ But at the morning watch, Yahweh looked down on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and cloud. He threw the Egyptians into confusion. ²⁵ Their chariot wheels were clogged, and the horsemen drove with difficulty. So the Egyptians said, "Let us flee from Israel, for Yahweh is fighting for them against us."

²⁶ Yahweh said to Moses, "Reach out with your hand over the sea so that the waters may come back onto the Egyptians, their chariots, and their horsemen." ²⁷ So Moses reached out with his hand over the sea, and it returned to its normal course when the morning appeared. The Egyptians fled into the sea, and Yahweh drove the Egyptians into the middle of it. ²⁸ The waters came back and covered Pharaoh's chariots, horsemen, and his entire army that had followed the chariots into the sea. No one survived.

²⁹ However, the people of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea. The waters were a wall for them on their right hand and on their left. ³⁰ So Yahweh saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw dead Egyptians on the seashore. ³¹ When Israel saw the great power that Yahweh used against the Egyptians, the people feared Yahweh, and they trusted Yahweh and his servant Moses.

Chapter 15

¹ Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to Yahweh. They sang,

"I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously;

the horse and its rider he has thrown into the sea.

² Yahweh is my strength and song,

and he has become my salvation.

This is my God, and I will praise him,

my father's God, and I will exalt him.

³ Yahweh is a warrior;

Yahweh is his name.

⁴ He has thrown Pharaoh's chariots and army into the sea.

Pharaoh's chosen officers were drowned in the Sea of Reeds.

⁵ The depths covered them;

they went down into the depths like a stone.

⁶ Your right hand, Yahweh, is glorious in power;

your right hand, Yahweh, has shattered the enemy.

⁷ In great majesty you overthrew those who rose up against you.

You sent out your wrath; it consumed them like stubble.

⁸ By the blast of your nostrils the waters were piled up;

the flowing waters stood upright in a heap;

the deep water was congealed in the heart of the sea.

⁹ The enemy said, 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will share out the plunder;

my desire will be satisfied on them;

I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.'

¹⁰ But you blew with your wind, and the sea covered them;

they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

¹¹ Who is like you, Yahweh, among the gods?

Who is like you, majestic in holiness,

honored in praises, doing miracles?

¹² You reached out with your right hand,

and the earth swallowed them.

¹³ In your covenant loyalty you have led the people you have rescued.

In your strength you have led them to the holy place where you live.

¹⁴ The peoples will hear, and they will tremble;

terror will seize the inhabitants of Philistia.

¹⁵ Then the chiefs of Edom will fear;

the soldiers of Moab will shake;

all the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away.

¹⁶ Terror and dread will fall on them.

Because of your arm's power, they will become as still as a stone

until your people pass by, Yahweh—

until the people you have rescued pass by.

¹⁷ You will bring them and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance,

the place, Yahweh, that you have made to live in,

the sanctuary, our Lord, that your hands have built.

¹⁸ Yahweh will reign forever and ever."

¹⁹ For Pharaoh's horses went with his chariots and horsemen into the sea. Yahweh brought back the waters of the sea on them. But the people of Israel walked on dry land in the middle of the sea. ²⁰ Miriam the prophetess, sister of Aaron, picked up a tambourine, and all the women went out with tambourines, dancing along with her. ²¹ Miriam sang to them:

"Sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously.

The horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea."

²² Then Moses led Israel onward from the Sea of Reeds. They went out into the wilderness of Shur. They traveled for three days into the wilderness and found no water. ²³ Then they came to Marah, but they could not drink the water there because it was bitter. So they named that place Marah.

²⁴ So the people complained to Moses and said, "What can we drink?" ²⁵ Moses cried out to Yahweh, and Yahweh showed him a tree. Moses threw it into the water, and the water became sweet to drink. It was there that Yahweh gave them a strict law, and it was there that he tested them. ²⁶ He said, "If you carefully listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, and do what is right in his eyes, and if you give ear to his commands and obey all his laws—I will put on you none of the diseases that I put on the Egyptians, for I am Yahweh who heals you."

²⁷ Then the people came to Elim, where there were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. They camped there by the water.

Chapter 16

¹ The people journeyed on from Elim, and all the community of people of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. ² The whole community of the people of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. ³ The people of Israel said to them, "If only we had died by Yahweh's hand in the land of Egypt when we were sitting by the pots of meat and were eating bread to the full. For you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill our whole community with hunger."

⁴ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people will go out and gather a day's portion every day so that I may test them to see whether or not they will walk in my law. ⁵ It will come about on the sixth day, that they will gather twice as much as what they gathered every day before, and they will cook what they bring in."

⁶ Then Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, "In the evening you will know that it is Yahweh who has brought you out from the land of Egypt. ⁷ In the morning you will see Yahweh's glory, for he hears your complaining against him. Who are we for you to complain against us?" ⁸ Moses also said, "You will know this when Yahweh gives you meat in the evening and bread in the morning to the full—for he has heard the complaints that you speak against him. Who are Aaron and I? Your complaints are not against us; they are against Yahweh."

⁹ Moses said to Aaron, "Say to all the community of the people of Israel, 'Come near before Yahweh, for he has heard your complaints.'" ¹⁰ It came about, as Aaron spoke to the whole community of the people of Israel, that they looked toward the wilderness, and, behold, Yahweh's glory appeared in the cloud. ¹¹ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ¹² "I have heard the complaints of the people of Israel. Speak to them and say, 'In the evening you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am Yahweh your God.'"

¹³ It came about in the evening that quails came up and covered the camp. In the morning the dew lay round about the camp. ¹⁴ When the dew was gone, there on the surface of the wilderness were thin flakes like frost on the ground. ¹⁵ When the people of Israel saw it, they said one to another, "What is it?" They did not know what it was. Moses said to them, "It is the bread that Yahweh has given you to eat.

¹⁶ This is the command that Yahweh has given: 'You must gather, each one of you, the amount you need to eat, an omer for each person of the number of your people. This is how you will gather it: Gather enough to eat for every person who lives in your tent.'" ¹⁷ The people of Israel did so. Some gathered more, some gathered less. ¹⁸ When they measured it with an omer measure, those who had gathered much had nothing left over, and those who had gathered little had no lack. Each person gathered enough to meet their need.

¹⁹ Then Moses said to them, "No one must leave any of it until morning." ²⁰ However, they did not listen to Moses. Some of them left some of it until morning, but it bred worms and became foul. Then Moses became angry with them. ²¹ They gathered it morning by morning. Each person gathered enough to eat for that day. When the sun became hot, it melted.

²² It came about that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for each person. All the leaders of the community came and told this to Moses. ²³ He said to them, "This is what Yahweh has said: 'Tomorrow is a solemn rest, a holy Sabbath in Yahweh's honor. Bake what you want to bake, and boil what you want to boil. All that remains over, set it aside for yourselves until morning.'"

²⁴ So they set it aside until morning, as Moses had instructed. It did not become foul, nor was there any worm in it. ²⁵ Moses said, "Eat that food today, for today is a day reserved as a Sabbath to honor Yahweh. Today you will not find it in the fields.

²⁶ You will gather it during six days, but the seventh day is the Sabbath. On the Sabbath there will be no manna." ²⁷ It came about on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather manna, but they found none.

²⁸ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "How long will you refuse to keep my commandments and my laws? ²⁹ See, Yahweh has given you the Sabbath. So on the sixth day he is giving you bread for two days. Each of you must stay in his own place; no one must go out from his place on the seventh day." ³⁰ So the people rested on the seventh day.

³¹ The people of Israel called that food "manna." It was white like coriander seed, and its taste was like wafers made with honey. ³² Moses said, "This is what Yahweh has commanded: 'Let an omer of manna be kept throughout your people's generations so that your descendants might see the bread with which I fed you in the wilderness, after I brought you out from the land of Egypt.'"

³³ Moses said to Aaron, "Take a pot and put an omer of manna into it. Preserve it before Yahweh to be kept throughout the people's generations." ³⁴ As Yahweh commanded Moses, Aaron stored it beside the covenant decrees in the ark. ³⁵ The people of Israel ate manna forty years until they came to inhabited land. They ate it until they came to the borders of the land of Canaan. ³⁶ Now an omer is a tenth of an ephah.

Chapter 17

¹ The whole community of the people of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, following Yahweh's instructions. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. ² So the people blamed Moses for their situation and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test Yahweh?" ³ The people were very thirsty, and they complained against Moses. They said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt? To kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?"

⁴ Then Moses cried out to Yahweh, "What should I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." ⁵ Yahweh said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take with you some elders of Israel. Take with you the staff with which you struck the river, and go. ⁶ I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you will strike the rock. Water will come out of it for the people to drink." Then Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. ⁷ He named that place Massah and Meribah because the people of Israel were quarreling and because they had tested the Lord by saying, "Is Yahweh among us or not?"

⁸ Then an army of the Amalek people came and attacked Israel at Rephidim. ⁹ So Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some men and go out. Fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." ¹⁰ So Joshua fought Amalek as Moses had instructed, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

¹¹ While Moses was holding his hands up, Israel was winning; when he let his hands rest, Amalek would begin to win. ¹² When Moses' hands became heavy, Aaron and Hur took a stone and put it under him for him to sit on. At the same time, Aaron and Hur held his hands up, one person on one side of him, and the other person on the other side. So Moses' hands were held steady until the sun went down. ¹³ So Joshua laid waste to Amalek and his people with the sword.

¹⁴ Yahweh said to Moses, "Write this in a book and read it in Joshua's hearing, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under the skies." ¹⁵ Then Moses built an altar and he called it "Yahweh is my banner." ¹⁶ He said, "For a hand was lifted up to the throne of Yahweh—that Yahweh will wage war with Amalek from generation to generation."

Chapter 18

¹ Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people. He heard that Yahweh had brought Israel out of Egypt. ² Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took Zipporah, Moses' wife, after he had sent her home, ³ and her two sons; the name of the one son was Gershom, for Moses had said, "I have been a foreigner in a foreign land." ⁴ The name of the other was Eliezer, for Moses had said, "My ancestor's God was my help. He rescued me from Pharaoh's sword."

⁵ Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, came with Moses' sons and his wife to Moses in the wilderness where he was camped at the mountain of God. ⁶ He said to Moses, "I, your father-in-law Jethro, am coming to you with your wife and her two sons."

⁷ Moses went out to meet his father-in-law, bowed down, and kissed him. They asked about each other's welfare and then went into the tent. ⁸ Moses told his father-in-law all that Yahweh had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel's sake, about all the hardships that had come to them along the way, and how Yahweh had rescued them.

⁹ Jethro rejoiced over all the good that Yahweh had done for Israel, in that he had rescued them from the hand of the Egyptians. ¹⁰ Jethro said, "May Yahweh be praised, for he has rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of Pharaoh, and delivered the people from the hand of the Egyptians. ¹¹ Now I know that Yahweh is greater than all the gods, because when the Egyptians treated the Israelites arrogantly, God rescued his people."

¹² Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and sacrifices for God. Aaron and all the elders of Israel came to eat a meal before God with Moses' father-in-law.

¹³ On the next day Moses sat down to judge the people. The people stood around him from morning until evening. ¹⁴ When Moses' father-in-law saw all that he did for the people, he said, "What is this that you are doing with the people? Why is it that you sit alone and all the people stand about you from morning until evening?"

¹⁵ Moses said to his father-in-law, "The people come to me to ask for God's direction. ¹⁶ When they have a dispute, they come to me. I decide between one person and another, and I teach them God's statutes and laws."

¹⁷ Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not very good. ¹⁸ You will surely wear yourselves out, you and the people who are with you. This burden is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it by yourself. ¹⁹ Listen to me. I will give you advice, and God will be with you, because you are the people's representative to God, and you bring their disputes to him. ²⁰ You must teach them his statutes and laws. You must show them the way to walk and the work to do.

²¹ Furthermore, you must choose capable men from all the people, men who honor God, men of truth who hate unjust gain. You must put them over people, to be leaders in charge of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and of tens. ²² They will judge the people in all routine cases, but the difficult cases they will bring to you. As for all the small cases, they can judge those themselves. In that way it will be easier for you, and they will carry the burden with you. ²³ If you do this, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure, and the entire people will be able to go home in peace."

²⁴ So Moses listened to his father-in-law's words and did everything that he had said. ²⁵ Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people, leaders in charge of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens. ²⁶ They judged the people in normal circumstances. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but they themselves judged all the small cases. ²⁷ Then Moses let his father-in-law leave, and Jethro went back into his own land.

Chapter 19

¹ In the third month after the people of Israel had gone out from the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the wilderness of Sinai. ² After they left Rephidim and came to the wilderness of Sinai, they camped in the wilderness in front of the mountain.

³ Moses went up to God. Yahweh called to him from the mountain and said, "You must tell the house of Jacob, the people of Israel: ⁴ You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. ⁵ Now then, if you obediently listen to my voice and keep my covenant, then you will be my special possession from among all peoples, for all the earth is mine. ⁶ You will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation for me. These are the words that you must speak to the people of Israel."

⁷ So Moses came and summoned the elders of the people. He set before them all these words that Yahweh had commanded him. ⁸ All the people answered together and said, "We will do everything that Yahweh has said." Then Moses came to report the people's words to Yahweh. ⁹ Yahweh said to Moses, "I will come to you in a thick cloud so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe you forever." Then Moses told the people's words to Yahweh.

¹⁰ Yahweh said to Moses, "Go to the people. Today and tomorrow you must set them apart to me, and make them wash their garments. ¹¹ Be ready for the third day, for on the third day Yahweh will come down to Mount Sinai.

¹² You must set boundaries all around the mountain for the people. Say to them, 'Be careful that you do not go up the mountain or touch its border. Whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death.' ¹³ No one's hand may touch him. Rather, he must certainly be stoned or shot. Whether an animal or a man, he shall not live. When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they may come up to the mountain."

¹⁴ Then Moses went down from the mountain to the people. He set apart the people to Yahweh and they washed their garments. ¹⁵ He said to the people, "Be ready on the third day; do not go near your wives."

¹⁶ On the third day, when it was morning, there were thunder and lightning bolts and a thick cloud on the mountain, and the sound of a very loud ram's horn. All the people in the camp trembled. ¹⁷ Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. ¹⁸ Mount Sinai was completely covered with smoke because Yahweh descended on it in fire and smoke. The smoke went up like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain shook violently.

¹⁹ When the sound of the ram's horn grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in a voice. ²⁰ Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain, and he summoned Moses to the top. So Moses went up. ²¹ Yahweh said to Moses, "Go down and warn the people; otherwise they might break out to Yahweh to look, and many of them might perish. ²² Let the priests also who come near to me set themselves apart—prepare themselves for my coming—so that I do not break out against them."

²³ Moses said to Yahweh, "The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you commanded us: 'Set boundaries around the mountain and set it apart to Yahweh.'" ²⁴ Yahweh said to him, "Go down and bring up Aaron with you, but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, or he will break out against them." ²⁵ So Moses went down to the people and spoke to them.

Chapter 20

¹ God spoke all these words:

² "I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

³ You must have no other gods before me.

⁴ You must not make for yourself a carved figure nor the likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water below. ⁵ You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God. I punish the ancestors' wickedness by bringing punishment on the descendants, to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me. ⁶ But I show steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

⁷ You must not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for I will not hold guiltless anyone who takes my name in vain.

⁸ Remember the Sabbath day, to set it apart to me. ⁹ You must labor and do all your work for six days. ¹⁰ But the seventh day is a Sabbath for Yahweh your God. On it you must not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, or your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the foreigner who is within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and earth, the sea, and everything that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore Yahweh blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart.

¹² Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live a long time in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you.

¹³ You must not murder anyone.

¹⁴ You must not commit adultery.

¹⁵ You must not steal from anyone.

¹⁶ You must not give false testimony against your neighbor.

¹⁷ You must not covet your neighbor's house; you must not covet your neighbor's wife, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."

¹⁸ All the people saw the thundering and the lightning, and heard the sound of the ram's horn, and saw the mountain smoking. When the people saw it, they trembled and stood far off. ¹⁹ They said to Moses, "Speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, or we will die." ²⁰ Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid, for God has come to test you so that the honor of him may be in you, and so that you do not sin." ²¹ So the people stood far off, and Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.

²² Yahweh said to Moses, "This is what you must tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. ²³ You will not make for yourselves other gods alongside me, gods of silver or gods of gold.

²⁴ You must make an earthen altar for me, and you must sacrifice on it your burnt offerings, fellowship offerings, your sheep and your cattle. In every place where I cause my name to be honored, I will come to you and bless you. ²⁵ If you make me an altar of stone, you must not build it of cut stones, for if you use your tools on it, you will have defiled it. ²⁶ You must not go up to my altar on steps, so that your nakedness is not exposed.'"

Chapter 21

¹ "Now these are the decrees that you must set before them:

² 'If you buy a Hebrew servant, he is to serve for six years, and in the seventh year he will go free without paying anything. ³ If he came by himself, he must go free by himself; if he is married, then his wife must go free with him. ⁴ If his master gave him a wife and she bore him sons or daughters, the wife and her children will belong to her master, and he must go free by himself.

⁵ But if the servant plainly says, "I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free," ⁶ then his master must bring him to God. The master must bring him to a door or doorpost, and his master must bore his ear through with an awl. Then the servant will serve him for life.

⁷ If a man sells his daughter as a female servant, she must not go free as the male servants do. ⁸ If she does not please her master, who has selected her for himself, then he must let her be redeemed. He has no right to sell her to a foreign people. He has no such right, since he has treated her deceitfully.

⁹ If her master selects her as a wife for his son, he must treat her the same as if she were his daughter. ¹⁰ If he takes another wife for himself, he must not diminish her food, clothing, or her marital rights. ¹¹ But if he does not provide these three things for her, then she can go free without paying any money.

¹² Whoever strikes a man so that he dies, that person must surely be put to death. ¹³ If the man did not lie in wait for him, but God allowed it to happen, then I will appoint for you a place to where he can flee. ¹⁴ If a man arrogantly attacks his neighbor and kills him cleverly, then you must take him, even if he is at God's altar, so that he may die.

¹⁵ Whoever hits his father or mother must surely be put to death.

¹⁶ Whoever kidnaps a person—whether the kidnapper sells him, or that person is found in his hand—that kidnapper must be put to death.

¹⁷ Whoever curses his father or his mother must surely be put to death.

¹⁸ If men fight and one hits the other with a stone or with his fist, and that person does not die, but is confined to his bed; ¹⁹ then if he recovers and is able to walk about using his staff, the man who struck him must pay for the loss of his time; he must also see that he is completely healed. But that man is not guilty of murder.

²⁰ If a man hits his male servant or his female servant with a staff, and if the servant dies as a result of the blow, then that man must surely be punished. ²¹ However, if the servant lives for a day or two, there is to be no vengeance, for he will have suffered the loss of the servant.

²² If men fight together and hurt a pregnant woman so that she miscarries, but there is no other injury to her, then the guilty man must surely be forced to pay a fine as the woman's husband demands it from him, and he must pay as the judges determine. ²³ But if there is serious injury, then you must give a life for a life, ²⁴ an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand, a foot for a foot, ²⁵ a burn for a burn, a wound for a wound, or a bruise for a bruise.

²⁶ If a man hits the eye of his male servant or of his female servant and destroys it, then he must let the servant go free in compensation for his eye. ²⁷ If he knocks out a tooth of his male servant or female servant, he must let the servant go free as compensation for the tooth.

²⁸ If an ox gores a man or a woman to death, the ox must surely be stoned, and its flesh must not be eaten; but the ox's owner must be acquitted of guilt. ²⁹ But if the ox had a habit of goring in the past, and its owner was warned but did not keep it in, and the ox has killed a man or a woman, that ox must be stoned, and its owner also must be put to death. ³⁰ If a ransom is required for his life, he must pay for the redemption of his life whatever he is required to pay.

³¹ If the ox has gored a man's son or daughter, the ox's owner must do what this decree requires him to do. ³² If the ox gores a male servant or a female servant, the ox's owner must pay thirty shekels of silver, and the ox must be stoned.

³³ If a man opens a pit, or if a man digs a pit and does not cover it, and an ox or a donkey falls into it, ³⁴ the owner of the pit must repay the loss. He must give money to the dead animal's owner, and the dead animal will become his.

³⁵ If one man's ox hurts another man's ox so that it dies, then they must sell the live ox and divide its price, and they must also divide the dead ox. ³⁶ But if it was known that the ox had a habit of goring in time past, and its owner has not kept it in, he must surely pay ox for ox, and the dead animal will become his own.

Chapter 22

¹ If a man steals an ox or a sheep and kills it or sells it, then he must pay five oxen for one ox, and four sheep for one sheep. ² If a thief is found breaking in, and if he is struck so that he dies, in that case no bloodguilt will attach to anyone on his account. ³ But if the sun has risen before he breaks in, bloodguilt will attach to the person who kills him.

A thief must make restitution. If he has nothing, then he must be sold for his theft.

⁴ If the stolen animal is found alive in his possession, whether it is an ox, a donkey, or a sheep, he must pay back double.

⁵ If a man grazes his livestock in a field or vineyard and lets his animal loose, and it grazes in another man's field, he must make restitution from the best of his own field and from the best of his own vineyard.

⁶ If a fire breaks out and spreads in thorns so that stacked grain, or standing grain, or a field is consumed, the one who started the fire must surely make restitution.

⁷ If a man gives money or goods to his neighbor for safe keeping, and if it is stolen out of the man's house, if the thief is found, that thief must pay double. ⁸ But if the thief is not found, then the owner of the house must come before the judges to see whether he has put his own hand on his neighbor's property. ⁹ For every transgression, whether it is an ox, a donkey, a sheep, clothing, or any other missing thing about which one says, "This belongs to me," the claim of both parties must come before the judges. The man whom the judges find guilty must pay double to his neighbor.

¹⁰ If a man gives his neighbor a donkey, an ox, a sheep, or any animal to keep, and if it dies or is hurt or is carried away without anyone seeing it, ¹¹ an oath to Yahweh must be taken by them both, as to whether or not one person has put his hand on his neighbor's property. The owner must accept this, and the other will make no restitution. ¹² But if it was stolen from him, the other must make restitution to the owner for it. ¹³ If an animal was torn in pieces, let the other man bring the animal as evidence. He will not have to pay for what was torn.

¹⁴ If a man borrows any animal from his neighbor and the animal is injured or dies without the owner being with it, the other man must surely make restitution. ¹⁵ But if the owner was with it, the other man will not have to pay; if the animal was hired, it will be paid for by its hiring fee.

¹⁶ If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed, and if he lies with her, he must surely make her his wife by paying the bride wealth required for this. ¹⁷ If her father completely refuses to give her to him, he must pay money equal to the bride wealth of virgins.

¹⁸ You must not allow a sorceress to live.

¹⁹ Whoever lies with an animal must surely be put to death.

²⁰ Whoever sacrifices to any god except to Yahweh must be completely destroyed. ²¹ You must not wrong a foreigner or oppress him, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

²² You must not mistreat any widow or fatherless child. ²³ If you afflict them at all, and if they call out to me, I will surely hear their outcry. ²⁴ My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword; your wives will become widows, and your children will become fatherless.

²⁵ If you lend money to any of my people among you who are poor, you must not be like a moneylender to him or charge him interest. ²⁶ If you take your neighbor's garment in pledge, you must return it to him before the sun goes down, ²⁷ for that is his only covering; it is his garment for his body. What else can he lie down in? When he calls out to me, I will hear him, for I am gracious.

²⁸ You must not blaspheme me, God, nor curse a ruler of your people.

²⁹ You must not hold back offerings from your harvest or your winepresses. You must give to me the firstborn of your sons. ³⁰ You must also do the same with your oxen and your sheep. For seven days they may remain with their mothers, but on the eighth day you must give them to me. ³¹ You will be people that are set apart for me. So you must not eat any meat that was torn by animals in the field. Instead, you must throw it to the dogs.

Chapter 23

¹ You must not give a false report about anyone. Do not join with a wicked man to be a malicious witness. ² You must not follow a crowd to do evil, and you must not bear witness in a dispute while siding with the crowd in order to pervert justice. ³ You must not show favoritism to a poor man in his lawsuit.

⁴ If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you must bring it back to him. ⁵ If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen to the ground under its load, you must not leave that person. You must surely help him with his donkey.

⁶ Do not thrust aside justice for your poor in his lawsuit. ⁷ Do not join others in making false accusations, and do not kill the innocent or righteous, for I will not acquit the wicked. ⁸ Never take a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see, and perverts honest people's words. ⁹ You must not oppress a foreigner, since you know the life of a foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

¹⁰ For six years you will sow seed on your land and gather in its produce. ¹¹ But in the seventh year you will let it rest and lie fallow, so that the poor among your people may eat. What they leave, the wild animals will eat. You will do the same with your vineyards and olive orchards.

¹² During six days you will do your work, but on the seventh day you must rest. Do this so that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and so that your female slave's son and any foreigner may rest and be refreshed. ¹³ Pay attention to everything that I have said to you. Do not mention the names of other gods, nor let their names be heard from your mouth.

¹⁴ You must travel to hold a festival for me three times every year. ¹⁵ You are to observe the Festival of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you will eat unleavened bread for seven days. At that time, you will appear before me in the month of Aviv, which is fixed for this purpose. It was in this month that you came out from Egypt. But you must not appear before me empty-handed.

¹⁶ You must observe the Festival of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors when you sowed seed in the fields. Also you must observe the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year, when you gather in your produce from the fields. ¹⁷ All your males must appear before the Lord Yahweh three times every year.

¹⁸ You must not offer the blood from sacrifices made to me with bread containing yeast. The fat from the sacrifices at my festivals must not remain all night until the morning. ¹⁹ You must bring the choicest firstfruits from your land into my house, the house of Yahweh your God. You must not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

²⁰ I am going to send an angel before you to guard you on the way, and to bring you to the place that I have prepared. ²¹ Be attentive to him and obey him. Do not provoke him, for he will not pardon your transgressions. My name is on him. ²² If you indeed obey his voice and do everything that I tell you, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries.

²³ My angel will go before you and bring you to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and the Jebusites. I will destroy them. ²⁴ You must not bow down to their gods, worship them, or do as they do, but you must completely break them down, and you must smash their stone pillars in pieces. ²⁵ You must worship Yahweh your God, and he will bless your bread and water. I will remove sickness from among you.

²⁶ No woman will be barren or will miscarry her young in your land. I will give you long lives. ²⁷ I will send my terror before you, and will throw into confusion all the people to whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you. ²⁸ I will send hornets before you that will drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and the Hittites from before you. ²⁹ I will not drive them out from before you in one year, or the land would become desolate, and the wild animals would become too many for you.

³⁰ Instead, I will drive them out little by little from before you until you become fruitful and inherit the land. ³¹ I will fix your borders from the Sea of Reeds to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the Euphrates River. I will give the inhabitants of the land into your hands. You will drive them out before you. ³² You must not make a covenant with them or with their gods. ³³ They must not live in your land, or they would make you sin against me. If you worship their gods, this will surely become a trap for you.'"

Chapter 24

¹ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Come up to me—you, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel's elders, and worship me at a distance. ² Moses alone may come near to me. The others must not come near, nor may the people come up with him."

³ Moses went and told the people all of Yahweh's words and decrees. All the people answered with one voice and said, "We will do all the words that Yahweh has said." ⁴ Then Moses wrote down all of Yahweh's words. Early in the morning, Moses built an altar at the foot of the mountain and arranged twelve stone pillars, so that the stones would represent the twelve tribes of Israel.

⁵ He sent some young men from among the people of Israel to offer burnt offerings and sacrifice peace offerings of oxen to Yahweh. ⁶ Moses took half of the blood and put it into basins; he sprinkled the other half onto the altar.

⁷ He took the book of the Covenant and read it aloud to the people. They said, "We will do all that Yahweh has spoken. We will be obedient." ⁸ Then Moses took the blood and sprinkled it onto the people. He said, "This is the blood of the covenant that Yahweh has made with you by giving you this promise with all these words."

⁹ Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of Israel's elders went up the mountain. ¹⁰ They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet there was a pavement made of sapphire stone, as clear as the sky itself. ¹¹ God did not lay a hand on the leaders of the people of Israel. They saw God, and they ate and drank.

¹² Yahweh said to Moses, "Come up to me on the mountain and stay there. I will give you the tablets of stone and the law and commandments that I have written, so that you may teach them." ¹³ So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua and went up the mountain of God.

¹⁴ Moses had said to the elders, "Stay here and wait for us until we come to you. Aaron and Hur are with you. If anyone has a dispute, let him go to them." ¹⁵ So Moses went up the mountain, and the cloud covered it.

¹⁶ Yahweh's glory settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day he called to Moses from within the cloud. ¹⁷ The appearance of Yahweh's glory was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the people of Israel. ¹⁸ Moses entered the cloud and went up the mountain. He was up the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

Chapter 25

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, ² "Tell the people of Israel to take an offering for me from every person who is motivated by a willing heart. You must receive these offerings for me.

³ These are the offerings that you must receive from them: gold, silver, and bronze; ⁴ blue, purple, and scarlet material; fine linen; goats' hair; ⁵ ram skins dyed red and fine leather hides; acacia wood; ⁶ oil for the sanctuary lamps; spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; ⁷ onyx stones and other precious stones to be set for the ephod and breastpiece.

⁸ Let them make me a sanctuary so that I may live among them. ⁹ You must make it exactly as I will show you in the plans for the tabernacle and for all its equipment.

¹⁰ They are to make an ark of acacia wood. Its length must be two and a half cubits; its width will be one cubit and a half; and its height will be one cubit and a half. ¹¹ You must cover it inside and out with pure gold, and you must make on it a border of gold around its top.

¹² You must cast four rings of gold for it, and put them on the ark's four feet, with two rings on one side of it, and two rings on the other side. ¹³ You must make poles of acacia wood and cover them with gold. ¹⁴ You must put the poles into the rings on the ark's sides, in order to carry the ark.

¹⁵ The poles must remain in the rings of the ark; they must not be taken from it. ¹⁶ You must put into the ark the covenant decrees that I will give you. ¹⁷ You must make an atonement lid of pure gold. Its length must be two and a half cubits, and its width must be a cubit and a half. ¹⁸ You must make two cherubim of hammered gold for the two ends of the atonement lid.

¹⁹ Make one cherub for one end of the atonement lid, and the other cherub for the other end. They must be made as one piece with the atonement lid. ²⁰ The cherubim must spread out their wings upward and overshadow the atonement lid with them. The cherubim must face one another and look toward the center of the atonement lid. ²¹ You must put the atonement lid on top of the ark, and you must put into the ark the covenant decrees that I am giving you.

²² It is at the ark that I will meet with you. I will speak with you from my position above the atonement lid. It will be from between the two cherubim over the ark of the covenant decrees that I will speak to you about all the commands I will give you for the people of Israel.

²³ You must make a table of acacia wood. Its length must be two cubits; its width must be one cubit, and its height must be a cubit and a half. ²⁴ You must cover it with pure gold and put a border of gold around the top.

²⁵ You must make a surrounding frame for it one handbreadth wide, with a surrounding border of gold for the frame. ²⁶ You must make for it four rings of gold and attach the rings to the four corners, where the four feet were. ²⁷ The rings must be attached to the frame to provide places for the poles, in order to carry the table.

²⁸ You must make the poles out of acacia wood and cover them with gold so that the table may be carried with them. ²⁹ You must make the dishes, spoons, pitchers, and bowls to be used to pour out drink offerings. You must make them of pure gold. ³⁰ You must regularly set the bread of the presence on the table before me.

³¹ You must make a lampstand of pure hammered gold. The lampstand is to be made with its base and shaft. Its cups, its leafy bases, and its flowers are to be all made of one piece with it. ³² Six branches must extend out from its sides—three branches must extend from one side, and three branches of the lampstand must extend from the other side.

³³ The first branch must have three cups made like almond blossoms, with a leafy base and a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, with a leafy base and a flower. It must be the same for all six branches extending out from the lampstand. ³⁴ On the lampstand itself, the central shaft, there must be four cups made like almond blossoms, with their leafy bases and the flowers.

³⁵ There must be a leafy base under the first pair of branches—made as one piece with it, and a leafy base under the second pair of branches—also made as one piece with it. In the same way there must be a leafy base under the third pair of branches, made as one piece with it. It must be the same for all six branches extending out from the lampstand. ³⁶ Their leafy bases and branches must all be one piece with it, one beaten piece of work of pure gold.

³⁷ You must make the lampstand and its seven lamps, and set up its lamps for them to give light from it. ³⁸ The tongs and their trays must be made of pure gold. ³⁹ Use one talent of pure gold to make the lampstand and its accessories. ⁴⁰ Be sure to make them after the pattern that you are being shown on the mountain.

Chapter 26

¹ You must make the tabernacle with ten curtains made from fine linen and blue, purple, and scarlet wool with the designs of cherubim. This will be the work of a very skilled craftsman. ² The length of each curtain must be twenty-eight cubits, the width four cubits. All the curtains must be of the same size. ³ Five curtains must be joined to each other, and the other five curtains must also be joined to each other.

⁴ You must make loops of blue along the outer edge of the end curtain of one set. In the same way, you must do the same along the outer edge of the end curtain in the second set. ⁵ You must make fifty loops on the first curtain, and you must make fifty loops on the end curtain in the second set. Do this so that the loops will be opposite to each other. ⁶ You must make fifty clasps of gold and join the curtains together with them so that the tabernacle becomes united.

⁷ You must make curtains of goats' hair for a tent over the tabernacle. You must make eleven of these curtains. ⁸ The length of each curtain must be thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain must be four cubits. Each of the eleven curtains must be of the same size. ⁹ You must join five curtains to each other and the other six curtains to each other. You must double over the sixth curtain in the front of the tent.

¹⁰ You must make fifty loops on the edge of the end curtain of the first set, and fifty loops on the edge of the end curtain that joins the second set. ¹¹ You must make fifty bronze clasps and put them into the loops. Then you join the tent together so that it may be one piece.

¹² The leftover half curtain, that is, the overhanging part remaining from the tent's curtains, must hang at the back of the tabernacle. ¹³ There must be one cubit of curtain on one side, and one cubit of curtain on the other side—that which is left over of the length of the tent's curtains must hang over the sides of the tabernacle on one side and on the other side, to cover it. ¹⁴ You must make for the tabernacle a covering of ram skins dyed red, and another covering of fine leather to go above that.

¹⁵ You must make upright frames out of acacia wood for the tabernacle. ¹⁶ The length of each frame must be ten cubits, and its width must be one and a half cubits. ¹⁷ There must be two wooden pegs in each frame for joining the frames to each other. You are to make all the tabernacle's frames in this way. ¹⁸ When you make the frames for the tabernacle, you must make twenty frames for the south side.

¹⁹ You must make forty silver bases to go under the twenty frames. There must be two bases under the first frame to be its two pedestals, and also two bases under each of the other frames for their two pedestals. ²⁰ For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, you must make twenty frames ²¹ and their forty silver bases. There must be two bases under the first frame, two bases under the next frame, and so on.

²² For the back side of the tabernacle on the west side, you must make six frames. ²³ You must make two frames for the back corners of the tabernacle. ²⁴ These frames must be separate at the bottom, but joined at the top to the same ring. It must be this way for both of the back corners. ²⁵ There must be eight frames, together with their silver bases. There must be sixteen bases in all, two bases under the first frame, two bases under the next frame, and so on.

²⁶ You must make crossbars of acacia wood—five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle, ²⁷ five crossbars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five crossbars for the frames for the back side of the tabernacle to the west. ²⁸ The crossbar in the center of the frames, that is, halfway up, must reach from end to end.

²⁹ You must cover the frames with gold. You must make their rings of gold, for them to serve as holders for the crossbars, and you must cover the bars with gold. ³⁰ You must set up the tabernacle by following the plan you were shown on the mountain.

³¹ You must make a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and of fine linen, with designs of cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. ³² You must hang it on four pillars of acacia wood covered with gold. These pillars must have hooks of gold set on four silver bases. ³³ You must hang up the curtain under the clasps, and you must bring in the ark of the covenant decrees. The curtain is to separate the holy place from the most holy place.

³⁴ You must put the atonement lid on the ark of the covenant decrees, which is in the most holy place. ³⁵ You must place the table outside the curtain. You must place the lampstand opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle. The table must be on the north side.

³⁶ You must make a screen for the tent entrance. You must make it out of blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer. ³⁷ For the screen you must make five pillars of acacia and cover them with gold. Their hooks must be of gold, and you must cast five bronze bases for them.

Chapter 27

¹ You must make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide. The altar must be square and three cubits high. ² You must make extensions of its four corners shaped like ox horns. The horns will be made as one piece with the altar, and you must cover them with bronze.

³ You must make equipment for the altar: pots for ashes, and also shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans. You must make all these utensils with bronze. ⁴ You must make a grate for the altar, a network of bronze. Make a bronze ring for each of the grate's four corners.

⁵ You must put the grate under the ledge of the altar, halfway down to the bottom. ⁶ You must make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and you must cover them with bronze.

⁷ The poles must be put into the rings, and the poles must be on the two sides of the altar, to carry it. ⁸ You must make the altar hollow, out of planks. You must make it in the way you were shown on the mountain.

⁹ You must make a courtyard for the tabernacle. There must be hangings on the south side of the courtyard, hangings of fine twined linen one hundred cubits long. ¹⁰ The hangings must have twenty posts, with twenty bronze bases. There must also be hooks attached to the posts, as well as silver rods.

¹¹ In the same way, along the north side, there must be hangings one hundred cubits long with twenty posts, twenty bronze bases, hooks attached to the posts, and silver rods. ¹² Along the courtyard on the west side there must be a curtain fifty cubits long. There must be ten posts and ten bases. ¹³ The courtyard must also be fifty cubits long on the east side.

¹⁴ The hangings for one side of the entrance must be fifteen cubits long. They must have three posts with three bases. ¹⁵ The other side must also have hangings fifteen cubits long. They must have their three posts and three bases. ¹⁶ The courtyard gate must be a screen twenty cubits long. The curtain must be made of blue, purple, and scarlet material and fine twined linen, the work of an embroiderer. It must have four posts with four bases.

¹⁷ All the courtyard posts must have silver rods, silver hooks, and bronze bases. ¹⁸ The length of the courtyard must be one hundred cubits, the width fifty cubits, and the height five cubits with fine twined linen hangings all along, and bases of bronze. ¹⁹ All the equipment to be used in the tabernacle, and all the tent pegs for the tabernacle and courtyard must be made of bronze.

²⁰ You must command the people of Israel to bring olive oil, pure and pressed, for the lamps so they may burn continually. ²¹ In the tent of meeting, outside the curtain that is in front of the tabernacle that contains the ark of the covenant decrees, Aaron and his sons must keep the lamps burning before Yahweh, from evening to morning. This requirement will be a lasting statute throughout the generations of the people of Israel.

Chapter 28

¹ Call to yourself Aaron your brother and his sons—Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar—from among the people of Israel so that they may serve me as priests. ² You must make for Aaron, your brother, garments that are set apart to me. These garments will be for his honor and splendor. ³ You must speak to all people who are wise in heart, those whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, so that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him to serve me as my priest.

⁴ The garments that they must make are a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a coat of woven work, a turban, and a sash. They must make these garments that are set apart to me. They will be for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they may serve me as priests. ⁵ Craftsmen must use fine linen that is gold, blue, purple, and scarlet.

⁶ They must make the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and of fine-twined linen. It must be the work of a skillful craftsman. ⁷ It must have two shoulder pieces attached to its two upper corners. ⁸ Its finely-woven waistband must be like the ephod; it must be made of one piece with the ephod, made of fine twined linen that is gold, blue, purple, and scarlet. ⁹ You must take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel.

¹⁰ Six of their names must be on one stone, and six names must be on the other stone, in order of the sons' birth. ¹¹ With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engraving on a signet, you must engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You must mount the stones in settings of gold. ¹² You must put the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, to be stones to remind Yahweh of Israel's sons. Aaron will carry their names before Yahweh on his two shoulders as a reminder to him.

¹³ You must make settings of gold ¹⁴ and two braided chains of pure gold like cords, and you must attach the chains to the settings.

¹⁵ You must make a breastpiece for decision making, the work of a skillful workman, fashioned like the ephod. Make it of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and of fine linen. ¹⁶ It is to be square. You must fold the breastpiece double. It must be one span long and one span wide.

¹⁷ You must place in it four rows of precious stones. The first row must have a ruby, a topaz, and a garnet. ¹⁸ The second row must have an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. ¹⁹ The third row must have a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. ²⁰ The fourth row must have a beryl, and an onyx, and a jasper. They must be mounted in gold settings.

²¹ The stones must be arranged by the names of the sons of Israel. They must be like the engraving on a signet ring, each name standing for one of the twelve tribes. ²² You must make on the breastpiece chains like cords, braided work of pure gold. ²³ You must make two rings of gold for the breastpiece and must attach them to the two ends of the breastpiece. ²⁴ You must attach the two golden chains to the two corners of the breastpiece.

²⁵ You must attach the other ends of the two braided chains to the two settings. Then you must attach those to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at its front. ²⁶ You must make two rings of gold, and you must put them on the other two corners of the breastpiece, on the edge next to the inner border of the ephod.

²⁷ You must make two more gold rings, and you must attach them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the front of the ephod, close to its seam above the finely-woven waistband of the ephod. ²⁸ They must tie the breastpiece by its rings to the ephod's rings with a blue cord, so that it might be attached just above the ephod's woven waistband. This is so that the breastpiece might not become unattached from the ephod.

²⁹ When Aaron goes into the holy place, he must carry the names of the sons of Israel over his heart in the breastpiece for decision making, as a continuing memorial before Yahweh. ³⁰ You are to put the Urim and the Thummim in the breastpiece for decision making, so they may be over Aaron's heart when he goes in before Yahweh. Thus Aaron will always carry the means for making decisions for the people of Israel over his heart before Yahweh.

³¹ You will make the robe of the ephod entirely of blue fabric. ³² It must have an opening for the head in the middle. The opening must have a woven edge round about so that it does not tear. This must be the work of a weaver.

³³ On the bottom hem, you must make pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn all around. Gold bells must be between them all around. ³⁴ There must be a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate—and so on—all around the hem of the robe. ³⁵ The robe is to be on Aaron when he serves, so that its sound can be heard when he goes into the holy place before Yahweh and when he leaves. This is so that he does not die.

³⁶ You must make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving on a signet, "Holy to Yahweh." ³⁷ You must attach this plate by a blue cord to the front of the turban. ³⁸ It must be on Aaron's forehead; he must always bear any guilt that might attach to the offering of the holy gifts that the people of Israel set apart to Yahweh. The turban must be always on his forehead so that Yahweh may accept their gifts.

³⁹ You must make the coat with fine linen, and you must make a turban of fine linen. You must also make a sash, the work of an embroiderer.

⁴⁰ For Aaron's sons you must make tunics, sashes, and headbands for their honor and splendor. ⁴¹ You must clothe Aaron your brother, and his sons with him. You must anoint them, ordain them, and consecrate them to me, so that they may serve me as priests.

⁴² You must make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked flesh, that will cover them from the waist to the thighs. ⁴³ Aaron and his sons must wear these garments when they enter the tent of meeting or when they approach the altar to serve in the holy place. They must do this so they would not be guilty or else they would die. This is a permanent law for Aaron and his descendants after him.

Chapter 29

¹ Now this is what you must do to set them apart to me so that they may serve me as priests. Take one young bull from the herd and two rams without blemish, ² bread without yeast, and cakes without yeast mixed with oil. Also take wafers without yeast rubbed with oil. Make the wafers using fine wheat flour.

³ You must put them into a single basket, bring them in the basket, and present them with the bull and the two rams. ⁴ You must present Aaron and his sons at the entrance to the tent of meeting. You must wash Aaron and his sons in water.

⁵ You must take the garments and clothe Aaron with the coat, the robe of the ephod, the ephod, and the breastpiece, fastening the finely-woven waistband of the ephod around him. ⁶ You must set the turban on his head and put the holy crown on the turban. ⁷ Then take the anointing oil and pour it on his head, and in this way anoint him.

⁸ You must bring his sons and put tunics on them. ⁹ You must clothe Aaron and his sons with sashes and put headbands on them. The work of the priesthood will belong to them by permanent law. In this way you must consecrate Aaron and his sons for them to serve me.

¹⁰ You must all bring the bull before the tent of meeting, and Aaron and his sons must lay their hands on its head. ¹¹ You must kill the bull before Yahweh at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

¹² You must take some of the bull's blood and put it on the horns of the altar with your finger, and you must pour out the rest of the blood at the base of the altar. ¹³ You must take all the fat that covers the inner parts, and also take the covering of the liver and the two kidneys with the fat that is on them; burn it all on the altar. ¹⁴ But as for the bull's flesh, as well as its skin and dung, you must burn it up outside the camp. It will be a sin offering.

¹⁵ You must also take the one ram, and Aaron and his sons must lay their hands on its head. ¹⁶ You must kill the ram, then take its blood and sprinkle it on all sides of the altar. ¹⁷ You must cut the ram into pieces and wash its inner parts and its legs, and you must put the inner parts, together with its pieces and with its head, ¹⁸ on the altar. Then burn the whole ram. It will be a burnt offering to Yahweh, a sweet aroma, an offering made to Yahweh by fire.

¹⁹ You must then take the other ram, and Aaron and his sons must lay their hands on its head. ²⁰ Then you must kill the ram and take some of its blood. Put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear, and on the tip of his sons' right ears, on the thumb of their right hands, and on the great toe of their right feet. Then you must sprinkle the blood against the altar on every side.

²¹ You must take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil, and sprinkle it all on Aaron and on his garments, and also on his sons and on their garments. Aaron will then be set apart for me, as well as his garments, his sons and his sons' garments with him.

²² You must take the ram's fat, the fat tail, the fat that covers the inner parts, the covering of the liver, the two kidneys and the fat on them, and the right thigh—for this ram is for the priests' consecration to me. ²³ Take one loaf of bread, one cake of bread made with oil, and one wafer out of the basket of bread without yeast that is before Yahweh.

²⁴ You must put these in Aaron's hands and in the hands of his sons and wave them before me for a wave offering before Yahweh. ²⁵ You must then take the food from their hands and burn it on the altar with the burnt offering. It will produce a sweet aroma for me; it will be an offering made to me by fire.

²⁶ You must take the breast of Aaron's ram of dedication and wave it for a wave offering before Yahweh, and it will be your share. ²⁷ You must set apart to me the breast of the wave offering that is waved and the thigh that is the contribution for the priests—both the breast that was waved and the thigh that was contributed for Aaron and his sons—from the ram of consecration. ²⁸ This will be a perpetual share for Aaron and his sons. It will be a contribution from the people of Israel to give to Yahweh from their peace offerings.

²⁹ The holy garments of Aaron must also be reserved for his descendants after him. They are to be anointed in them and ordained to me in them. ³⁰ The priest who succeeds him from among his sons, who comes into the tent of meeting to serve me in the holy place, is to wear those garments for seven days.

³¹ You must take the ram of consecration and boil its meat in a holy place. ³² Aaron and his sons must eat the ram's meat and the bread that is in the basket at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ³³ They must eat the meat and bread that were given to atone for them and to ordain them to be set apart to me. No one else may eat that food; they must treat it as holy. ³⁴ If any of the meat of the ordination offering, or any of the bread, remains to the next morning, then you must burn it. It must not be eaten because it has been set apart to me.

³⁵ In this way, by following all that I have commanded you to do, you must treat Aaron and his sons. For seven days you must prepare them. ³⁶ Every day you must offer a bull as a sin offering for atonement. You must purify the altar by making atonement for it, and you must anoint it in order to set it apart to me. ³⁷ For seven days you must make atonement for the altar and set it apart to Yahweh. Then the altar will be completely set apart to me. Whatever touches the altar will be set apart to Yahweh.

³⁸ You must regularly offer on the altar every day two lambs a year old. ³⁹ One lamb you must offer in the morning, and the other lamb you must offer about sundown.

⁴⁰ With the first lamb, offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and the fourth part of a hin of wine as a drink offering.

⁴¹ You must offer the second lamb about sunset. You must offer the same grain offering as in the morning, and the same drink offering. These will produce a sweet aroma for me; it will be an offering made to me by fire. ⁴² These must be regular burnt offerings throughout your generations, at the entrance to the tent of meeting before Yahweh, where I will meet with you to speak to you there.

⁴³ That is where I will meet with the people of Israel; the tent will be set apart for me by my glory. ⁴⁴ I will set apart the tent of meeting and the altar for these to belong to me alone. I will also set apart Aaron and his sons to serve me as priests.

⁴⁵ I will live among the people of Israel and will be their God. ⁴⁶ They will know that I am Yahweh, their God, who brought them out from the land of Egypt so that I might live among them. I am Yahweh, their God.

Chapter 30

¹ You must make an altar as a place for burning incense. You must make it with acacia wood. ² Its length must be one cubit, and its width one cubit. It must be square, and its height must be two cubits. Its horns must be made as one piece with it.

³ You must cover the incense altar with pure gold—its top, its sides, and its horns. You must make a surrounding border of gold for it. ⁴ You must make two golden rings to be attached to it under its border on its two opposite sides. The rings must be holders for poles to carry the altar.

⁵ You must make the poles of acacia wood, and you must cover them with gold. ⁶ You must put the incense altar before the curtain that is by the ark of the covenant decrees. It will be before the atonement lid that is over the ark of the covenant decrees, where I will meet with you.

⁷ Aaron must burn fragrant incense every morning. He must burn it when he tends the lamps, ⁸ and Aaron lights the lamps again in the evening so incense will burn on it regularly before Yahweh, throughout your generations. ⁹ But you must offer no other incense on the incense altar, nor any burnt offering or grain offering. You must pour no drink offering on it.

¹⁰ Aaron must make atonement on its horns once a year. With the blood of the sin offering he will make atonement for it once a year throughout your generations. It is completely set apart to Yahweh."

¹¹ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ¹² "When you take a census of the people of Israel, then each person must give a ransom for his life to Yahweh. You must do this after you count them, so that there will be no plague among them when you count them. ¹³ Everyone who is counted in the census is to pay half a shekel of silver, according to the weight of the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is the same as twenty gerahs). This half shekel will be an offering to Yahweh. ¹⁴ Everyone who is counted, from twenty years old and up, must give this offering to me.

¹⁵ When the people give this offering to me to make atonement for their lives, the rich must not give more than the half shekel, and the poor must not give less. ¹⁶ You must receive this atonement money from the people of Israel and you must allocate it to the work of the tent of meeting. It must be a reminder to the people of Israel before me, to make atonement for your lives."

¹⁷ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ¹⁸ "You must also make a large bronze basin with a bronze stand, a basin for washing. You must put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you must put water in it.

¹⁹ Aaron and his sons must wash their hands and their feet with the water in it. ²⁰ When they go into the tent of meeting or when they go near to the altar to serve me by burning an offering, they must wash with water so that they do not die. ²¹ They must wash their hands and feet so that they do not die. This must be a permanent law for Aaron and his descendants throughout their people's generations."

²² Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ²³ "Take these fine spices: five hundred shekels of flowing myrrh, 250 shekels of sweet-smelling cinnamon, 250 shekels of sweet-smelling cane, ²⁴ five hundred shekels of cassia, measured by the weight of the shekel of the sanctuary, and one hin of olive oil. ²⁵ You must make holy anointing oil with these ingredients, the work of a perfumer. It will be a holy anointing oil, reserved for me.

²⁶ You must anoint the tent of meeting with this oil, as well as the ark of the covenant decrees, ²⁷ the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its equipment, the incense altar, ²⁸ the altar for burnt offerings with all its equipment, and the basin with its stand.

²⁹ You must set them apart to me so that they may be holy to me. Anything that touches them will also be holy. ³⁰ You must anoint Aaron and his sons and consecrate them so that they may serve me as priests. ³¹ You must say to the people of Israel, 'This must be an anointing oil that is set apart to Yahweh throughout your people's generations.

³² It must not be applied to people's skin, nor must you make any oil like it with the same formula, because it is set apart to Yahweh. You must regard it in this manner. ³³ Whoever makes perfume like it, or whoever puts any of it on someone, that person must be cut off from his people.'"

³⁴ Yahweh said to Moses, "Take spices—stacte, onycha, and galbanum—sweet spices along with pure frankincense, each in equal amounts. ³⁵ Make it into the form of incense, blended by a perfumer, seasoned with salt, pure and set apart. ³⁶ You will beat it to powder. Put part of it in front of the ark of the covenant decrees, which is in the tent of meeting, where I will meet with you. You will regard it as very holy to me.

³⁷ As for this incense that you will make, you must not make any with the same formula for yourselves. It must be most holy to you. ³⁸ Whoever makes anything like it to use as a perfume must be cut off from his people."

Chapter 31

¹ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ² "See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, from the tribe of Judah.

³ I have filled Bezalel with my Spirit, to give him wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, for all kinds of craftsmanship, ⁴ to make artistic designs and to work in gold, silver, and bronze; ⁵ also to cut and set stones and to carve wood—to do all kinds of craftsmanship.

⁶ In addition to him, I have appointed Oholiab son of Ahisamak, from the tribe of Dan. I have put skill into the hearts of all who are wise so that they may make all that I have commanded you. This includes ⁷ the tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant decrees, the atonement lid on the ark, and all the furniture of the tent— ⁸ the table and its utensils, the pure lampstand with all its equipment, the incense altar, ⁹ the altar for burnt offerings with all its equipment, and the large basin with its base.

¹⁰ This also includes the finely-woven garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest and those of his sons, reserved for me so that they may serve as priests. ¹¹ This also includes the anointing oil and the sweet incense for the holy place. These craftsmen must make all these things just as I have commanded you."

¹² Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ¹³ "Tell the people of Israel: 'You must certainly keep Yahweh's Sabbath days, for these will be a sign between him and you throughout your people's generations so that you may know that he is Yahweh, who sets you apart for himself. ¹⁴ So you must keep the Sabbath, for it must be treated by you as holy, reserved for him. Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death. Whoever works on the Sabbath, that person must surely be cut off from his people. ¹⁵ Work will be done for six days, but the seventh day is to be a Sabbath of complete rest, holy before Yahweh. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death.

¹⁶ Therefore the people of Israel must keep the Sabbath. They must observe it throughout their people's generations as a lasting covenant. ¹⁷ The Sabbath will always be a sign between Yahweh and the people of Israel, for in six days Yahweh made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"

¹⁸ When God had finished talking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him two tablets of covenant decrees, made of stone, written on by his own hand.

Chapter 32

¹ When the people saw that Moses delayed in coming down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, "Come, make us an idol that will go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him." ² So Aaron said to them, "Take off the golden rings that are on your wives' ears, and the ears of your sons and daughters, and bring them to me."

³ All the people took off the golden rings that were on their ears and brought them to Aaron. ⁴ He received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with an engraving tool, and he made a cast metal figure in the shape of a calf. Then they said, "These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt."

⁵ When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before the calf and made a proclamation; he said, "Tomorrow will be a festival in Yahweh's honor." ⁶ The people arose early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought fellowship offerings. Then they sat down to eat and to drink, and then got up to play.

⁷ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, "Go quickly, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. ⁸ They have quickly left the way that I commanded them. They have made a cast metal image in the shape of a calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed to it. They have said, 'These are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.'"

⁹ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "I have seen this people. Look, they are a stiff-necked people. ¹⁰ Now then, do not try to stop me. My anger will burn hot against them, so I will destroy them. Then I will make a great nation from you." ¹¹ But Moses tried to calm down Yahweh his God. He said, "Yahweh, why does your anger burn against your people, whom you have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand?

¹² Why should the Egyptians say, 'He led them out with evil intent, to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth?' Turn from your burning anger and relent from this punishment on your people. ¹³ Call to mind Abraham and Isaac and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self and said to them, 'I will make your descendants as many as the stars in the heavens, and I will give to your descendants all this land of which I have spoken. They will inherit it forever.'" ¹⁴ Then Yahweh relented from the punishment that he had said he would inflict on his people.

¹⁵ Then Moses turned around and went down the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the covenant decrees in his hand. The tablets were written on both their sides, on both the front and the back. ¹⁶ The tablets were God's own work, and the writing was God's own writing, engraved on the tablets.

¹⁷ When Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said to Moses, "There is the noise of combat in the camp." ¹⁸ But Moses said,

"It is not the sound of a shout of victory,

and it is not the sound of a cry of defeat,

but the sound of singing that I hear."

¹⁹ When Moses approached the camp, he saw the calf and the people dancing. He became very angry. He threw the tablets out of his hands and broke them at the bottom of the mountain. ²⁰ He took the calf that the people had made, burned it, ground it to powder, and poured it into the water. Then he made the people of Israel drink it.

²¹ Then Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you, that you have brought such a great sin on them?" ²² Aaron said, "Do not let your anger burn hot, my master. You know these people, how they are set on doing evil. ²³ They said to me, 'Make us a god who will go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.' ²⁴ So I said to them, 'Whoever has any gold, let him take it off.' They gave me the gold and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf."

²⁵ Moses saw that the people were running wild (for Aaron had let them get out of control, causing their enemies to mock them). ²⁶ Then Moses stood at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is on Yahweh's side, come to me." All the Levites gathered around him. ²⁷ He said to them, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this: 'Let each man fasten his sword on his side and go back and forth from entrance to entrance throughout the camp, and kill his brother, his companion, and his neighbor.'"

²⁸ The Levites did what Moses ordered. That day about three thousand of the people died. ²⁹ Moses said to the Levites, "You have been placed into Yahweh's service today, for each of you has taken action against his son and his brother, so Yahweh might give you a blessing today."

³⁰ The next day Moses said to the people, "You have committed a very great sin. Now I will go up to Yahweh. Perhaps I can make atonement for your sin." ³¹ Moses returned to Yahweh and said, "Alas! These people have committed a great sin and made themselves an idol of gold. ³² But now, please forgive their sin; but if you do not, blot me out of the book that you have written."

³³ Yahweh said to Moses, "Whoever has sinned against me, that person I will blot out of my book. ³⁴ So now go, lead the people to the place of which I have spoken to you. See, my angel will go before you. But on the day that I punish them, I will punish them for their sin." ³⁵ Yahweh sent a plague on the people because they had made the calf, the one that Aaron made.

Chapter 33

¹ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, "Go from here, you and the people whom you have brought up out of the land of Egypt. Go to the land about which I made an oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' ² I will send an angel before you, and I will drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. ³ Go to that land, which is flowing with milk and honey, but I will not go up with you, because you are a stiff-necked people. I might destroy you on the way."

⁴ When the people heard these troubling words, they mourned, and no one put on any jewelry. ⁵ Yahweh had said to Moses, "Say to the people of Israel, 'You are a stiff-necked people. If I went among you for even one moment, I would destroy you. So now, take off your jewelry so that I may decide what to do with you.'" ⁶ So the people of Israel wore no jewelry from Mount Horeb onward.

⁷ Moses took a tent and pitched it outside the camp, some distance from the camp. He called it the tent of meeting. Everyone who asked Yahweh for anything went out to the tent of meeting, outside the camp. ⁸ When Moses would go out to the tent, all the people would stand up at their tent entrances and look at Moses until he had gone inside. ⁹ Whenever Moses entered the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stand at the tent entrance, and Yahweh would speak with Moses.

¹⁰ Whenever all the people saw the pillar of cloud stand at the entrance to the tent, they would get up and worship, every man at his own tent entrance. ¹¹ Yahweh would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua son of Nun, a young man, would stay in the tent.

¹² Moses said to Yahweh, "See, you have been saying to me, 'Take this people on their journey,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name, and you have also found favor in my eyes.' ¹³ Now if I have found favor in your eyes, show me your ways so that I may know you and continue to find favor in your eyes. Remember that this nation is your people."

¹⁴ Yahweh answered, "My own presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." ¹⁵ Moses said to him, "If your presence does not go with us, do not take us up from here. ¹⁶ For otherwise, how will it be known that I have found favor in your eyes, I and your people? Will it not only be if you go with us that I and your people will be distinct from all the other peoples that are on the surface of the earth?"

¹⁷ Yahweh said to Moses, "I will also do this thing that you have requested, for you have found favor in my eyes, and I know you by name." ¹⁸ Moses said, "Please show me your glory."

¹⁹ Yahweh said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim my name 'Yahweh' before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy." ²⁰ But Yahweh said, "You must not see my face, for no one can see me and live."

²¹ Yahweh said, "See, here is a place by me; you will stand on this rock. ²² While my glory passes by, I will put you in a crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. ²³ Then I will take away my hand, and you will see my back, but my face will not be seen."

Chapter 34

¹ Yahweh said to Moses, "Cut two tablets of stone like the first tablets. I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets, the tablets that you broke. ² Be ready by morning and come up Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the mountain top.

³ No one is to come up with you. Do not let anyone else be seen anywhere on the mountain. No flocks or herds are even to graze in front of the mountain." ⁴ So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and he got up early in the morning and went up Mount Sinai, as Yahweh had instructed him. Moses carried the tablets of stone in his hand.

⁵ Yahweh came down in the cloud and stood with Moses there, and he pronounced the name "Yahweh." ⁶ Yahweh passed by before him and proclaimed, "Yahweh, Yahweh, the merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, ⁷ keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquities, transgressions, and sins. But he will by no means clear the guilty. He will bring the punishment for the fathers' sin on their children and on their children's children, as far as the third and fourth generations."

⁸ Moses quickly bowed down to the ground and worshiped. ⁹ Then he said, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, my Lord, please go among us, for this people is stiff-necked. Pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as your inheritance."

¹⁰ Yahweh said, "See, I am about to make a covenant. Before all your people, I will do marvels such as have not been done in all the earth nor in any nation. All the people among you will see my deeds, for it is a fearful thing that I am doing with you. ¹¹ Obey what I command you today. I am about to drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

¹² Be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land where you are going, or they will become a trap among you. ¹³ Rather, you must break down their altars, smash their stone pillars, and cut down their Asherah poles. ¹⁴ For you must worship no other god, for Yahweh, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.

¹⁵ So be careful not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for they prostitute themselves to their gods, and they sacrifice to their gods. Then one of them will invite you and you will eat some of his sacrifice, ¹⁶ and then you will even take some of his daughters for your sons, and his daughters will prostitute themselves to their gods, and they will make your sons prostitute themselves to their gods. ¹⁷ Do not make for yourselves gods of molten metal.

¹⁸ You must keep the Festival of Unleavened Bread. As I commanded you, you must eat bread without yeast for seven days at the fixed time in the month of Aviv, for it was in the month of Aviv you came out from Egypt.

¹⁹ The first issue of every womb is mine, even every male firstborn of your livestock, whether from herd or flock. ²⁰ You must redeem the firstborn of a donkey with a lamb, but if you do not buy it back, then you must break its neck. You must redeem all the firstborn of your sons. No one may appear before me empty-handed.

²¹ You may work for six days, but on the seventh day you must rest. Even at plowing time and in harvest, you must rest. ²² You must observe the Festival of Weeks with the firstfruits of the wheat harvest, and you must observe the Festival of Ingathering at the end of the year.

²³ Three times a year all your men must appear before Lord Yahweh, the God of Israel. ²⁴ For I will drive out nations before you and expand your borders. No one will desire to have your land as their own when you go up to appear before Yahweh your God three times in a year.

²⁵ You must not offer the blood of my sacrifice with any yeast, nor may any meat from the sacrifice at the Festival of the Passover be left over to the morning. ²⁶ You must bring the best of the firstfruits from your soil to my house. You must not boil a young goat in its mother's milk."

²⁷ Yahweh said to Moses, "Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel." ²⁸ Moses was there with Yahweh for forty days and nights; he did not eat any food nor drink any water. He wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.

²⁹ When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant decrees in his hand, he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant while speaking with God. ³⁰ When Aaron and the people of Israel saw Moses, the skin of his face was shining, and they were afraid to come near him. ³¹ But Moses called to them, and Aaron and all the leaders of the community came up to him. Then Moses spoke with them.

³² After this, all the people of Israel came up to Moses, and he told them all the commands that Yahweh had given him on Mount Sinai. ³³ When Moses had finished speaking with them, he put a veil over his face.

³⁴ Whenever Moses went before Yahweh to speak with him, he would remove the veil, until he came out. When he came out, he would tell the people of Israel what he was commanded to say. ³⁵ When the people of Israel saw Moses' face shining, he would put the veil over his face again until he went back in to speak with Yahweh.

Chapter 35

¹ Moses assembled all the community of the people of Israel and said to them, "These are the things that Yahweh has commanded you to do. ² On six days work may be done, but for you, the seventh day must be a holy day, a Sabbath day of complete rest, holy to Yahweh. Whoever does any work on that day must be put to death. ³ You must not light a fire in any of your homes on the Sabbath day."

⁴ Moses spoke to all the community of the people of Israel, saying, "This is the thing that Yahweh commanded. ⁵ Take an offering for Yahweh, all of you who have a willing heart. Bring an offering to Yahweh—gold, silver, bronze, ⁶ blue, purple, and scarlet wool and fine linen; goats' hair; ⁷ ram skins dyed red and fine leather hides; acacia wood; ⁸ oil for the sanctuary lamps, spices for the anointing oil and the fragrant incense, ⁹ onyx stones and other precious stones to be set for the ephod and breastpiece.

¹⁰ Every skilled man among you is to come and make everything that Yahweh has commanded— ¹¹ the tabernacle with its tent, its covering, its clasps, frames, bars, posts, and bases; ¹² also the ark with its poles, the atonement lid, and the screen to conceal it.

¹³ They brought the table with its poles, all its utensils, and the bread of the presence; ¹⁴ the lampstand for the lights, with its accessories, its lamps, and the oil for the lamps; ¹⁵ the incense altar with its poles, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the screen for the tabernacle entrance; ¹⁶ the altar for burnt offerings with its bronze grate and its poles and utensils; and the large basin with its base.

¹⁷ They brought the hangings for the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the screen for the courtyard entrance; ¹⁸ and the tent pegs for the tabernacle and courtyard, together with their ropes. ¹⁹ They brought the finely-woven garments for serving in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and his sons, for them to serve as priests."

²⁰ Then the entire congregation of the people of Israel left and went away from Moses' presence. ²¹ Everyone whose heart stirred him up and whom his spirit made willing came and brought a contribution to Yahweh for the construction of the tabernacle, for all the items of service in it, and for the holy garments. ²² They came, both men and women, all who had a willing heart. They brought brooches, earrings, rings, and ornaments, all kinds of gold jewelry. They all presented offerings of gold as a wave offering to Yahweh.

²³ Everyone who had blue, purple, or scarlet wool, fine linen, goat hair, ram skins dyed red, or fine leather skins brought them. ²⁴ Everyone making an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to Yahweh, and everyone who had acacia wood for any use in the work brought it.

²⁵ Every skilled woman spun wool with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple, or scarlet wool, or fine linen. ²⁶ All the women whose hearts stirred them up and who had skill spun goats' hair.

²⁷ The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be set into the ephod and the breastpiece; ²⁸ they brought spices and oil for the lamps, for the anointing oil, and for the fragrant incense. ²⁹ The people of Israel brought a freewill offering to Yahweh; every man and woman whose heart was willing brought materials for all the work that Yahweh had commanded through Moses to be made.

³⁰ Moses said to the people of Israel, "See, Yahweh has called by name on Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, from the tribe of Judah. ³¹ He has filled Bezalel with his Spirit, to give him wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, for all kinds of craftsmanship, ³² to make artistic designs and to work in gold, silver, and bronze; ³³ also to cut and set stones and to carve wood—to do all kinds of design and craftsmanship.

³⁴ He has put it in his heart to teach, both he and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, from the tribe of Dan. ³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work, to work as craftsmen, as engravers, as embroiderers in blue, purple, and scarlet wool and fine linen, and as weavers. They are craftsmen in all sorts of work, and they are artistic designers.

Chapter 36

¹ So Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom Yahweh has given skill and ability to know how to do any work in the construction of the holy place are to do the work according to all that Yahweh has commanded."

² Moses summoned Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skillful person in whose mind Yahweh had given skill, and whose heart stirred within him to come and do the work. ³ They received from Moses all the offerings that the people of Israel had brought for constructing the holy place. The people were still bringing freewill offerings every morning to Moses. ⁴ So all the skilled people working on the holy place came from the work that they had been doing.

⁵ The craftsmen told Moses, "The people are bringing much more than enough for doing the work that Yahweh has commanded us to do." ⁶ So Moses instructed that no one in the camp should bring any more offerings for the construction of the holy place. Then the people stopped bringing these gifts. ⁷ They had more than enough materials for all the work.

⁸ So all the craftsmen among them constructed the tabernacle with ten curtains made from fine linen and blue, purple, and scarlet wool with the designs of cherubim. This was the work of Bezalel, the very skilled craftsman. ⁹ The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, the width four cubits. All the curtains were of the same size. ¹⁰ Bezalel joined five curtains to each other, and the other five curtains he also joined to each other.

¹¹ He made loops of blue along the outer edge of the end curtain of one set, and he did the same along the outer edge of the end curtain in the second set. ¹² He made fifty loops on the first curtain and fifty loops on the edge of the end curtain in the second set. So the loops were opposite to each another. ¹³ He made fifty gold clasps and joined the curtains together with them so that the tabernacle became united.

¹⁴ Bezalel made curtains of goat hair for a tent over the tabernacle; he made eleven of these curtains. ¹⁵ The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain was four cubits. Each of the eleven curtains was of the same size. ¹⁶ He joined five curtains to each other and the other six curtains to each other. ¹⁷ He made fifty loops on the edge of the end curtain of the first set, and fifty loops along the edge of the end curtain that joined the second set.

¹⁸ Bezalel made fifty bronze clasps to join the tent together so that it might be one piece. ¹⁹ He made for the tabernacle a covering of ram skins dyed red, another covering of fine leather to go above that.

²⁰ Bezalel made vertical frames out of acacia wood for the tabernacle. ²¹ The length of each frame was ten cubits, and the width of each frame was one and a half cubits. ²² Each frame had two wooden pegs for joining the frames together. He did this for all the frames of the tabernacle. ²³ He made the frames for the tabernacle in this way: twenty frames for the south side.

²⁴ Bezalel made forty silver bases to go under the twenty frames. There were two bases under one frame to join the frames together, and also two bases under each of the other frames to join frames together. ²⁵ For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, he made twenty frames ²⁶ and their forty silver bases. There were two bases under the first frame, two bases under the next frame, and so on.

²⁷ For the back of the tabernacle on the west, Bezalel made six frames. ²⁸ He made two frames for the back corners of the tabernacle.

²⁹ These frames were separate at the bottom, but joined at the top in one ring. He made two of them in this way for the two corners. ³⁰ There were eight frames, together with their silver bases. There were sixteen bases in all, two bases under the first frame, two bases under the next frame, and so on.

³¹ Bezalel made crossbars of acacia wood—five for the frames of the one side of the tabernacle, ³² five crossbars for the frames of the other side of the tabernacle, and five crossbars for the frames for the back side of the tabernacle to the west. ³³ He made the crossbar in the center of the frames, that is, halfway up, to reach from end to end. ³⁴ He covered the frames with gold. He made their rings of gold, for them to serve as holders for the crossbars, and he covered the bars with gold.

³⁵ Bezalel made the curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and of fine linen, with designs of cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. ³⁶ He made for the curtain four pillars of acacia wood, and he covered them with gold. He also made gold hooks for the pillars, and he cast for them four silver bases.

³⁷ He made a screen for the tent entrance. It was made of blue, purple, and scarlet wool, using fine linen, the work of an embroiderer. ³⁸ He also made the hanging's five pillars with hooks. He covered their tops and their rods with gold. Their five bases were made of bronze.

Chapter 37

¹ Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood. Its length was two and a half cubits, its width was one cubit and a half, and its height was one cubit and a half. ² He covered it inside and out with pure gold and made for it a border of gold around its top. ³ He cast four rings of gold for its four feet, with two rings on one side of it, and two rings on the other side.

⁴ He made poles of acacia wood and covered them with gold. ⁵ He put the poles into the rings on the ark's sides, in order to carry the ark. ⁶ He made an atonement lid of pure gold. Its length was two and a half cubits, and its width was one and a half cubits.

⁷ Bezalel made two cherubim of hammered gold for the two ends of the atonement lid. ⁸ One cherub was for one end of the atonement lid, and other cherub was for the other end. They were made as one piece with the atonement lid. ⁹ The cherubim spread out their wings upward and overshadowed the atonement lid with them. The cherubim faced one another and looked toward the center of the atonement lid.

¹⁰ Bezalel made the table of acacia wood. Its length was two cubits, its width was one cubit, and its height was one and a half cubits. ¹¹ He covered it with pure gold and put a border of pure gold around the top. ¹² He made a surrounding frame for it one handbreadth wide, with a surrounding border of gold for the frame. ¹³ He cast for it four rings of gold and attached the rings to the four corners, where the four feet were.

¹⁴ The rings were attached to the frame to provide places for the poles, in order to carry the table. ¹⁵ He made the poles out of acacia wood and covered them with gold, in order to carry the table. ¹⁶ He made the objects that would be on the table—the dishes, spoons, the bowls, and pitchers to be used to pour out the offerings. He made them out of pure gold.

¹⁷ He made the lampstand of pure hammered gold. He made the lampstand with its base and shaft. Its cups, its leafy bases, and its flowers were all made of one piece with it. ¹⁸ Six branches extended out from its sides—three branches extended from one side, and three branches of the lampstand extended from the other side. ¹⁹ The first branch had three cups made like almond blossoms, with a leafy base and a flower, and three cups made like almond blossoms in the other branch, with a leafy base and a flower. It was the same for all six branches extending out from the lampstand.

²⁰ On the lampstand itself, the central shaft, there were four cups made like almond blossoms, with their leafy bases and the flowers. ²¹ There was a leafy base under the first pair of branches—made as one piece with it, and a leafy base under the second pair of branches—also made as one piece with it. In the same way there was a leafy base under the third pair of branches, made as one piece with it. It was the same for all six branches extending out from the lampstand. ²² Their leafy bases and branches were all one piece with it, one beaten piece of work of pure gold.

²³ Bezalel made the lampstand and its seven lamps, its tongs and their trays of pure gold. ²⁴ He made the lampstand and its accessories with one talent of pure gold.

²⁵ Bezalel made the incense altar. He made it with acacia wood. Its length was one cubit, and its width one cubit. It was square, and its height was two cubits. Its horns were made as one piece with it. ²⁶ He covered the incense altar with pure gold—its top, its sides, and its horns. He also made a surrounding border of gold for it.

²⁷ He made two golden rings to be attached to it under its border on its two opposite sides. The rings were holders for poles to carry the altar. ²⁸ He made the poles of acacia wood, and he covered them with gold. ²⁹ He made the holy anointing oil and the pure fragrant incense, the work of a perfumer.

Chapter 38

¹ Bezalel made the altar for burnt offerings of acacia wood. It was five cubits long and five cubits wide—a square—and three cubits high. ² He made extensions of its four corners shaped like ox horns. The horns were made of one piece with the altar, and he covered it with bronze. ³ He made all the equipment for the altar—pots for ashes, shovels, basins, meat forks, and firepans. He made all this equipment with bronze.

⁴ He made a grate for the altar, a network of bronze to be placed under the ledge, halfway down to the bottom. ⁵ He cast four rings for the four corners of the bronze grate, as holders for the poles.

⁶ Bezalel made poles of acacia wood and covered them with bronze. ⁷ He put the poles through the rings on the sides of the altar, to carry it. He made the altar hollow, out of planks.

⁸ Bezalel made the large bronze basin with a bronze stand. He made the basin out of mirrors belonging to the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

⁹ He also made the courtyard. The hangings on the south side of the courtyard were of fine linen, one hundred cubits long. ¹⁰ The hangings had twenty posts, with twenty bronze bases. There were hooks attached to the posts, as well as silver rods.

¹¹ In the same way, along the north side, there were hangings one hundred cubits long with twenty posts, twenty bronze bases, hooks attached to the posts, and silver rods. ¹² The hangings of the west side were fifty cubits long, with ten posts and bases. The hooks and rods of the posts were silver.

¹³ The courtyard was also fifty cubits long on the east side. ¹⁴ The hangings for one side of the entrance were fifteen cubits long. They had three posts with three bases. ¹⁵ On the other side of the entrance of the courtyard were also hangings fifteen cubits long, with three posts and three bases. ¹⁶ All the hangings around the courtyard were made of fine linen.

¹⁷ The bases for the posts were made of bronze. The hooks and rods for the posts were made of silver, and the covering for the tops of the posts was also made of silver. All the courtyard posts had silver bands on them. ¹⁸ The screen at the courtyard gate was twenty cubits long. It was made of blue, purple, and scarlet linen, fine twined linen, and was twenty cubits long. It was twenty cubits in length and five cubits in height, like the courtyard curtains. ¹⁹ Their four pillars and bases were of bronze, and the hooks were of silver. The covering for their tops and its rods were made of silver. ²⁰ All the tent pegs for the tabernacle and courtyard were made of bronze.

²¹ This is the inventory of the tabernacle, the tabernacle of the covenant decrees, as it was taken following Moses' instructions. It was the work of the Levites under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. ²² Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, from the tribe of Judah, made everything that Yahweh had commanded Moses. ²³ Oholiab son of Ahisamak, from the tribe of Dan, worked with Bezalel as an engraver, as a skillful workman, and as an embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and in fine linen.

²⁴ All the gold that was used for the project, in all the work connected with the holy place—the gold from the wave offering—was twenty-nine talents and 730 shekels, measured by the standard of the sanctuary shekel. ²⁵ The silver given by the community weighed one hundred talents and 1,775 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel, ²⁶ or one beka per person, which is half a shekel, measured by the sanctuary shekel. This figure was reached on the basis of every person who was counted in the census, those twenty years old and older—603,550 men in all.

²⁷ One hundred talents of silver were cast for the bases of the holy place and the bases of the curtain—one hundred bases, one talent for each base. ²⁸ With the remaining 1,775 shekels of silver, Bezalel made the hooks for the posts, covered the tops of the posts, and made the bands for them. ²⁹ The bronze from the wave offering weighed seventy talents and 2,400 shekels.

³⁰ With this he made the bases for the entrance to the tent of meeting, the bronze altar, its bronze grate, all the equipment for the altar, ³¹ the bases for the courtyard, the bases for the courtyard entrance, all the tent pegs for the tabernacle, and all the tent pegs for the courtyard.

Chapter 39

¹ With the blue, purple, and scarlet wool, they made finely-woven garments for service in the holy place. They made Aaron's garments for the holy place, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

² Bezalel made the ephod of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and of fine twined linen. ³ They hammered gold sheets and cut them into wires, to work them into the blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and into the fine linen, the work of a skillful workman.

⁴ They made shoulder pieces for the ephod, attached at its two upper corners. ⁵ Its finely-woven waistband was like the ephod; it was made of one piece with the ephod, made of fine twined linen that was gold, blue, purple, and scarlet, just as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

⁶ They crafted the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, set with engravings as on a signet with the names of the sons of Israel. ⁷ Bezalel put them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod to be memorial stones for the sons of Israel, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

⁸ He made the breastpiece, the work of a skillful workman, fashioned like the ephod. He made it of gold, of blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and of fine linen. ⁹ It was square. They folded the breastpiece double. It was one span long and one span wide.

¹⁰ They set in it four rows of precious stones. The first row had a ruby, a topaz, and a garnet. ¹¹ The second row had an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond. ¹² The third row had a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst. ¹³ The fourth row had a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. The stones were mounted in gold settings.

¹⁴ There were twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a signet with the name of one of the twelve tribes. ¹⁵ On the breastpiece they made chains like cords, braided work of pure gold. ¹⁶ They made two settings of gold and two gold rings, and they attached the two rings to the two corners of the breastpiece.

¹⁷ They put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the corners of the breastpiece. ¹⁸ They attached the other two ends of the braided chains to the two settings. They attached them to the shoulder pieces of the ephod at its front.

¹⁹ They made two rings of gold and put them on the two other corners of the breastpiece, on the edge next to the inner border of the ephod. ²⁰ They made two more gold rings and attached them to the bottom of the two shoulder pieces of the front of the ephod, close to its seam above the finely-woven waistband of the ephod.

²¹ They tied the breastpiece by its rings to the ephod's rings with a blue cord, so that it might be attached just above the ephod's finely-woven waistband. This was so that the breastpiece might not become unattached from the ephod. This was done as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

²² Bezalel made the robe of the ephod entirely of blue fabric, the work of a weaver. ²³ The robe had an opening for the head in the middle. The opening had a woven edge round about so that it did not tear. ²⁴ On the bottom hem of the robe, they made pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and of fine linen.

²⁵ They made bells of pure gold, and they put the bells between the pomegranates all around on the bottom edge the robe, between the pomegranates— ²⁶ a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate—on the edge of the robe for Aaron to serve in. This was as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

²⁷ They made the tunics of fine linen for Aaron and for his sons. ²⁸ They made the turban of fine linen, the ornate headbands of fine linen, the linen undergarments of fine linen, ²⁹ and the sash of fine linen and of blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, the work of an embroiderer. This was as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

³⁰ They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold; they engraved on it, like the engraving on a signet, "Holy to Yahweh." ³¹ They attached to the turban a blue cord to the top of the turban. This was as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

³² So the work on the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, was finished. The people of Israel did everything. They followed all the instructions that Yahweh had given to Moses. ³³ They brought the tabernacle to Moses—the tent and all its equipment, its clasps, frames, bars, posts, and bases; ³⁴ the covering of ram skins dyed red, the covering of fine leather, and the screen to conceal ³⁵ the ark of the covenant decrees, as well as the poles and the atonement lid.

³⁶ They brought the table, all its utensils, and the bread of the presence; ³⁷ the lampstand of pure gold and its lamps in a row, with its accessories and the oil for the lamps; ³⁸ the golden altar, the anointing oil and the fragrant incense; the screen for the tabernacle entrance; ³⁹ the bronze altar with its bronze grate and its poles and utensil and the large basin with its base.

⁴⁰ They brought the hangings for the courtyard with its posts and bases, and the screen for the courtyard entrance; its ropes and tent pegs; and all the equipment for the service of the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. ⁴¹ They brought the fine woven garments for serving in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest and his sons, for them to serve as priests.

⁴² Thus the people of Israel did all the work as Yahweh had commanded Moses. ⁴³ Moses examined all the work, and, behold, they had done it. As Yahweh had commanded, in that way they did it. Then Moses blessed them.

Chapter 40

¹ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "On the first day of the first month of the new year you must set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting.

³ You must place the ark of the covenant decrees in it, and you must shield the ark with the curtain. ⁴ You must bring in the table and set in order the things that belong on it. Then you must bring in the lampstand and set up the lamps.

⁵ You must put the golden incense altar before the ark of the covenant decrees, and you must put the screen at the entrance to the tabernacle. ⁶ You must put the altar for burnt offerings in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. ⁷ You must put the large basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and you must put water in it.

⁸ You must set up the courtyard around it, and you must hang up the screen at the courtyard entrance. ⁹ You must take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything that is in it. You must set it apart and all its furnishings to me; then it will be holy. ¹⁰ You must anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all its utensils. You must set apart the altar to me and it will become very holy to me. ¹¹ You must anoint the bronze basin and its base and set it apart to me.

¹² You are to bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the tent of meeting and you must wash them with water. ¹³ You are to clothe Aaron with the garments that are set apart to me, anoint him and set him apart so that he may serve as my priest.

¹⁴ You are to bring his sons and clothe them with tunics. ¹⁵ You must anoint them as you anointed their father so that they may serve me as priests. Their anointing will make for them a permanent priesthood throughout their people's generations." ¹⁶ This is what Moses did; he followed all that Yahweh had commanded him. He did all these things.

¹⁷ So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month in the second year. ¹⁸ Moses set up the tabernacle, put its bases in place, set up its frames, attached its bars, and set up its pillars and posts. ¹⁹ He spread the covering over the tabernacle and put the tent over it, as Yahweh had commanded him. ²⁰ He took the covenant decrees and put them into the ark. He also placed the poles on the ark and put the atonement lid on it.

²¹ He brought the ark into the tabernacle. He set up the curtain for the screen to shield the ark of the covenant decrees, as Yahweh had commanded him. ²² He put the table into the tent of meeting, on the north side of the tabernacle, outside the curtain. ²³ He placed the bread in order on the table before Yahweh, as Yahweh had commanded him.

²⁴ He put the lampstand into the tent of meeting, across from the table, on the south side of the tabernacle. ²⁵ He lit the lamps before Yahweh, as Yahweh had commanded him.

²⁶ He put the golden incense altar into the tent of meeting in front of the curtain. ²⁷ He burned fragrant incense on it, as Yahweh had commanded him.

²⁸ He hung the screen at the tabernacle entrance. ²⁹ He put the altar for the burnt offering at the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting. He offered on it the burnt offering and the grain offering, as Yahweh had commanded him. ³⁰ He placed the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar, and he put water in it for washing.

³¹ Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and their feet from the basin ³² whenever they would go into the tent of meeting and whenever they would go up to the altar. They washed themselves, as Yahweh had commanded Moses. ³³ Moses set up the courtyard around the tabernacle and the altar. He set up the screen at the courtyard entrance. In this way, Moses finished the work.

³⁴ Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and Yahweh's glory filled the tabernacle. ³⁵ Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and because Yahweh's glory filled the tabernacle.

³⁶ Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out on their journey. ³⁷ But if the cloud did not rise up from the tabernacle, then the people would not travel. They would stay until the day that it was lifted up. ³⁸ For Yahweh's cloud was over the tabernacle by day, and his fire was over it by night, in plain view of all the people of Israel throughout their journey.

Leviticus

Chapter 1

¹ Yahweh called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying, ² "Speak to the people of Israel and tell them, 'When any man from among you brings an offering to Yahweh, bring as your offering an animal, either from the herd or from the flock.

³ If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he must offer a male without blemish. He is to offer it at the entrance of the tent of meeting, so that it may be accepted before Yahweh. ⁴ He is to lay his hand on the head of the burnt offering, and then it will be accepted on his behalf to make atonement for himself.

⁵ Then he must kill the bull before Yahweh. Aaron's sons, the priests, will present the blood and sprinkle it on the altar that is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. ⁶ Then he must skin the burnt offering and cut it to pieces.

⁷ Then the sons of Aaron the priest will put fire on the altar and arrange wood on the fire. ⁸ Then Aaron's sons, the priests, are to place the pieces, including the head and the fat, on the wood that is on the fire that is on the altar. ⁹ But its inner parts and its legs he must wash with water. Then the priest will burn everything on the altar as a burnt offering. It will produce a sweet aroma for me; it will be an offering made to me by fire.

¹⁰ If his offering for the burnt offering is from the flock, one of the sheep or one of the goats, he must offer a male without blemish. ¹¹ He must kill it on the north side of the altar before Yahweh. Aaron's sons, the priests, will sprinkle its blood on every side of the altar.

¹² He is to cut it into pieces with its head and its fat, and the priest must place the pieces on the wood that is on the fire that is on the altar, ¹³ but the inner parts and the legs he must wash with water. Then the priest will offer the whole, and burn it on the altar. It is a burnt offering, and it will produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh; it will be an offering made to him by fire.

¹⁴ If his offering to Yahweh is to be a burnt offering of birds, then he must bring as his offering either a dove or a young pigeon. ¹⁵ The priest must bring it to the altar, wring off its head, and burn it on the altar. Then its blood must be drained out on the side of the altar.

¹⁶ He must remove its crop with its contents, and throw it beside the altar on the east side, in the place for the ashes. ¹⁷ He must tear it open by its wings, but he must not divide it into two parts. Then the priest will burn it on the altar, on the wood that is on the fire. It will be a burnt offering, and it will produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh; it will be an offering made to him by fire.

Chapter 2

¹ When anyone brings a grain offering to Yahweh, his offering must be fine flour, and he will pour oil on it and put incense on it. ² He is to take the offering to Aaron's sons the priests, and there the priest will take out a handful of the fine flour with the oil and the incense on it. Then the priest will burn the offering on the altar as a representative offering. It will produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh; it will be an offering made to him by fire. ³ Whatever is left of the grain offering will belong to Aaron and his sons. It is very holy to Yahweh from the offerings to Yahweh made by fire.

⁴ When you offer a grain offering without yeast that is baked in an oven, it must be soft bread of fine flour mixed with oil, or hard bread without yeast, which is spread with oil. ⁵ If your grain offering is baked with a flat iron pan, it must be of fine flour without yeast that is mixed with oil.

⁶ You are to divide it into pieces and pour oil on it. This is a grain offering. ⁷ If your grain offering is cooked in a pan, it must be made with fine flour and oil.

⁸ You must bring the grain offering made from these things to Yahweh, and it will be presented to the priest, who will bring it to the altar. ⁹ Then the priest will take some from the grain offering as a representative offering, and he will burn it on the altar. It will be an offering made by fire, and it will produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. ¹⁰ What is left of the grain offering will belong to Aaron and his sons. It is very holy to Yahweh from the offerings to Yahweh made by fire.

¹¹ No grain offering that you offer to Yahweh is to be made with yeast, for you must burn no leaven, nor any honey, as an offering made by fire to Yahweh. ¹² You will offer them to Yahweh as an offering of firstfruits, but they will not be used to produce a sweet aroma on the altar. ¹³ You must season each of your grain offerings with salt. You must never allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be missing from your grain offering. With all your offerings you must offer salt.

¹⁴ If you offer a grain offering of firstfruits to Yahweh, offer fresh grain that is roasted with fire and then crushed into meal. ¹⁵ Then you must put oil and incense on it. This is a grain offering. ¹⁶ Then the priest will burn part of the crushed grain and oil and incense as a representative offering. This is an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

Chapter 3

¹ If someone offers a sacrifice which is a fellowship offering of an animal from the herd, whether male or female, he must offer an animal without blemish before Yahweh. ² He will lay his hand on the head of his offering and kill it at the door of the tent of meeting. Then Aaron's sons the priests will sprinkle its blood on the sides of the altar.

³ The man will offer the sacrifice of a fellowship offering by fire to Yahweh. The fat that covers or is connected to the inner parts, ⁴ and the two kidneys and the fat that is on them by the loins, and the lobe of the liver, with the kidneys—he will remove all of this. ⁵ Aaron's sons will burn that on the altar with the burnt offering, which is on the wood that is on the fire. This will produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh; it will be an offering made to him by fire.

⁶ If the man's sacrifice of a fellowship offering to Yahweh is from the flock; male or female, he must offer a sacrifice without blemish. ⁷ If he offers a lamb for his sacrifice, then he must offer it before Yahweh. ⁸ He will lay his hand on the head of his sacrifice and kill it before the tent of meeting. Then Aaron's sons will sprinkle its blood on the sides of the altar.

⁹ The man will offer the sacrifice of fellowship offerings as an offering made by fire to Yahweh. The fat, the entire fat tail cut away close to the backbone, and the fat that covers the inner parts and all the fat that is near the inner parts, ¹⁰ and the two kidneys and the fat that is with them, which is by the loins, and the lobe of the liver, with the kidneys—he will remove all of this. ¹¹ Then the priest will burn it all on the altar as a burnt offering of food to Yahweh.

¹² If the man's offering is a goat, then he will offer it before Yahweh. ¹³ He must lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it before the tent of meeting. Then the sons of Aaron will sprinkle its blood on the sides of the altar. ¹⁴ The man will offer his sacrifice made by fire to Yahweh. He will remove the fat that covers the inner parts, and all the fat near the inner parts.

¹⁵ He will also remove the two kidneys and the fat that is with them, which is by the loins, and the lobe of the liver with the kidneys. ¹⁶ The priest will burn all that on the altar as a burnt offering of food, to produce a sweet aroma. All the fat belongs to Yahweh. ¹⁷ It will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations in every place you make your home, that you must not eat fat or blood.'"

Chapter 4

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Tell the people of Israel, 'When anyone sins without wanting to sin, doing any of the things that Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and if he does something that is prohibited, the following must be done.

³ If it is the anointed priest who sins so as to bring guilt on the people, then let him offer for his sin which he has committed a young bull without blemish to Yahweh as a sin offering.

⁴ He must bring the bull to the entrance of the tent of meeting before Yahweh, lay his hand on its head, and kill the bull before Yahweh. ⁵ The anointed priest will take some of the blood of the bull and take it to the tent of meeting.

⁶ The priest will dip his finger into the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times before Yahweh, before the curtain of the most holy place. ⁷ Then the priest will put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of fragrant incense before Yahweh, which is in the tent of meeting, and he will pour out all the rest of the blood of the bull at the base of the altar for burnt offerings, which is at the entrance of the tent of meeting.

⁸ He will cut away all the fat of the bull of the sin offering; the fat that covers the inner parts, all the fat that is attached to the inner parts, ⁹ the two kidneys and the fat that is on them, which is by the loins, and the lobe of the liver, with the kidneys—he will cut away all this. ¹⁰ He will cut it all away, just as he cuts it off from the bull of the sacrifice of peace offerings. Then the priest will burn these parts on the altar for burnt offerings.

¹¹ The skin of the bull and any remaining meat, with its head and with its legs and its inner parts and its dung, ¹² all the rest of the parts of the bull—he will carry all these parts outside the camp to a place that they have cleansed for me, where they pour out the ashes; they will burn those parts there on wood. They must burn those parts where they pour out the ashes.

¹³ If the whole assembly of Israel sins without wanting to sin, and the assembly is unaware that they have sinned and done any of the things which Yahweh has commanded not to be done, and if they are guilty, ¹⁴ then, when the sin they have committed becomes known, then the assembly must offer a young bull from the herd for a sin offering and bring it before the tent of meeting. ¹⁵ The elders of the assembly will lay their hands on the head of the bull before Yahweh, and the bull will be killed before Yahweh.

¹⁶ The anointed priest will bring some of the blood of the bull to the tent of meeting, ¹⁷ and the priest will dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle it seven times before Yahweh, before the curtain.

¹⁸ He will put some of the blood on the horns of the altar that is before Yahweh, which is in the tent of meeting, and he will pour out all the blood at the base of the altar for burnt offerings, which is at the entrance of the tent of meeting. ¹⁹ He will cut off all the fat from it and burn it on the altar.

²⁰ That is what he must do with the bull. Just as he did with the bull of the sin offering, so will he also do with this bull, and the priest will make atonement for the people, and they will be forgiven. ²¹ He will carry the bull outside the camp and burn it as he burned the first bull. This is the sin offering for the assembly.

²² When a ruler sins without intending to sin, doing any one of all the things that Yahweh his God has commanded not to be done, and he is guilty, ²³ then his sin which he has committed is made known to him, he must bring for his sacrifice a goat, a male without blemish.

²⁴ He will lay his hand on the head of the goat and kill it in the place where they kill the burnt offering before Yahweh. This is a sin offering. ²⁵ The priest will take the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings, and he will pour out its blood at the base of the altar of burnt offering.

²⁶ He will burn all the fat on the altar, just like the fat of the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest will make atonement for the ruler concerning his sin, and the ruler will be forgiven.

²⁷ If anyone of the common people sins without intending to sin, doing any of the things which Yahweh has commanded him not to be done, and when he realizes his guilt, ²⁸ then his sin which he has committed is made known to him, then he will bring a goat for his sacrifice, a female without blemish, for the sin that he has committed.

²⁹ He will lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill the sin offering at the place of burnt offering. ³⁰ The priest will take some of the blood with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings. He will pour out all the rest of the blood at the base of the altar.

³¹ He will cut away all the fat, just as the fat is cut away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest will burn it on the altar to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. The priest will make atonement for the man, and he will be forgiven.

³² If the man brings a lamb as his sacrifice for a sin offering, he will bring a female without blemish. ³³ He will lay his hand on the head of the sin offering and kill it for a sin offering at the place where they kill the burnt offering.

³⁴ The priest will take some of the blood of the sin offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar for burnt offerings, and he will pour out all its blood at the base of the altar. ³⁵ He will cut away all the fat, just as the fat of the lamb is cut away from the sacrifice of peace offerings, and the priest will burn it on the altar on top of the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. The priest will make atonement for him for the sin he has committed, and the man will be forgiven.

Chapter 5

¹ The person who is a witness or has seen or knows about some matter—if he hears the curse but sins by not testifying, he will bear the guilt of his iniquity. ² Or if anyone touches anything God has designated as unclean, whether it be the carcass of an unclean wild animal or the carcass of any unclean livestock or unclean creatures that move along the ground, even though he was not aware of what he had done, he has become unclean and is guilty.

³ Or if he touches the uncleanness of someone, whatever that uncleanness is, and if he is unaware of it, then he will be guilty when he learns about it. ⁴ Or if anyone swears rashly with his lips to do evil, or to do good, whatever it is that a man swears rashly with an oath, even if he is unaware of it, when he learns about it, then he will be guilty, in any of these things.

⁵ When someone is guilty in any of these things, he must confess whatever sin he has committed. ⁶ Then he must bring his guilt offering to Yahweh for the sin that he has committed, a female animal from the flock, either a lamb or a goat, for a sin offering, and the priest will make atonement for him concerning his sin.

⁷ If he cannot afford to buy a lamb, then he can bring as his guilt offering for his sin two doves or two young pigeons to Yahweh, one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. ⁸ He must bring them to the priest, who will offer one for the sin offering first—he will wring off its head from its neck but will not remove it completely from the body. ⁹ Then he will sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar, and he will drain the rest of the blood out at the base of the altar. This is a sin offering.

¹⁰ Then he must offer the second bird as a burnt offering, as described in the instructions, and the priest will make atonement for him for the sin that he has committed, and the person will be forgiven.

¹¹ But if he cannot afford to buy two doves or two young pigeons, then he must bring as his sacrifice for his sin a tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He must not put oil or any incense on it, for it is a sin offering.

¹² He must bring it to the priest, and the priest will take a handful of it as a representative offering and then burn it on the altar, on top of the offerings made by fire for Yahweh. This is a sin offering. ¹³ The priest will make atonement for any sin that the person has committed, and that person will be forgiven. The leftovers from the offering will belong to the priest, as with the grain offering.'"

¹⁴ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ¹⁵ "If anyone sins and acts unfaithfully in regard to the things that belong to Yahweh, but did so unintentionally, then he must bring his guilt offering to Yahweh. This offering must be a ram without blemish from the flock; its value must be appraised in silver shekels—the shekel of the sanctuary—as a guilt offering. ¹⁶ He must satisfy Yahweh for what he had done wrong in connection with what is holy, and he must add one-fifth to it and give it to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement for him with the ram of the guilt offering, and that person will be forgiven.

¹⁷ If anyone sins and does anything that Yahweh has commanded not to be done, even if he was unaware of it, he is still guilty and must carry his own guilt. ¹⁸ He must bring a ram without blemish out of the flock, worth the current value, as a guilt offering to the priest. Then the priest will make atonement for him concerning the sin he has committed, of which he was unaware, and he will be forgiven. ¹⁹ It is a guilt offering, and he is certainly guilty before Yahweh."

Chapter 6

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "If anyone sins and acts unfaithfully against Yahweh by deceiving his neighbor regarding something held in trust, or was left in his care, or about something that was stolen, or if he has oppressed his neighbor, ³ or he has found something that his neighbor lost and lies about it, or if he swears falsely, or in any matters like these by which people sin, ⁴ and if he has sinned and is found to be guilty, he must restore whatever he took by robbery or oppression, or that which was entrusted to him, or that which was lost but that he had found.

⁵ In addition, in any matter in which he swore falsely, he must restore it in full and he must add one-fifth of the value of it and pay it all to the owner on the day that he is found guilty. ⁶ Then he must bring his guilt offering to Yahweh, a ram without blemish from the flock that is worth the current value, as a guilt offering to the priest. ⁷ The priest will make atonement for him before Yahweh, and he will be forgiven concerning whatever he has become guilty of doing."

⁸ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ⁹ "Command Aaron and his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering must be on the hearth of the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar will be kept burning.

¹⁰ The priest will put on his linen clothes, and he will also put on his linen underclothes. He will pick up the ashes that are left after the fire has consumed the burnt offering on the altar, and he will put the ashes beside the altar. ¹¹ He will take off his garments and put on other garments to carry the ashes outside the camp to a place that is clean.

¹² The fire on the altar will be kept burning. It must not go out, and the priest will burn wood on it every morning. He will arrange the burnt offering as required on it, and he will burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. ¹³ Fire must be kept burning on the altar continually. It must not go out.

¹⁴ This is the law of the grain offering. The sons of Aaron will offer it before Yahweh before the altar. ¹⁵ The priest will take up a handful of the fine flour of the grain offering and of the oil and the incense which is on the grain offering, and he will burn it on the altar to produce a sweet aroma as a representative offering.

¹⁶ Aaron and his sons will eat whatever is left of the offering. It must be eaten without yeast in a holy place. They will eat it in the courtyard of the tent of meeting. ¹⁷ It must not be baked with yeast. I have given it as their part of my offerings made by fire. It is most holy, as the sin offering and the guilt offering. ¹⁸ Every male among the descendants of Aaron may eat of it, as decreed forever throughout your generations, taken from the fire offerings made to Yahweh. Whoever touches them will become holy.'"

¹⁹ So Yahweh spoke to Moses again, saying, ²⁰ "This is the offering of Aaron and of his sons, which they will offer to Yahweh on the day when each son is anointed: a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour as a regular grain offering, half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening.

²¹ It will be made with oil in a baking pan. When it is soaked, you will bring it in. In baked pieces you will offer the grain offering to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. ²² The anointed priest from among his sons will offer it. As commanded forever, it must be burned up completely to Yahweh. ²³ Every grain offering of the priest will be completely burned up. It must not be eaten."

²⁴ Yahweh spoke to Moses again, saying, ²⁵ "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying, 'This is the law of the sin offering: The sin offering must be killed at the place where the burnt offering is killed before Yahweh. It is most holy. ²⁶ The priest who offers it for sin will eat it. It must be eaten in a holy place in the courtyard of the tent of meeting.

²⁷ Whatever touches its meat will become holy, and if the blood is sprinkled on any garment, you must wash it, the part that was sprinkled on, in a holy place. ²⁸ But the clay pot in which it is boiled must be broken. If it is boiled in a bronze pot, it must be scrubbed and rinsed clean in water.

²⁹ Any male among the priests may eat some of it because it is most holy. ³⁰ But any sin offering whose blood is brought into the tent of meeting to make atonement in the holy place must not be eaten. It must be burned with fire.

Chapter 7

¹ This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy. ² They must kill the guilt offering in the place for killing it, and they must sprinkle its blood against every side of the altar. ³ All the fat in it will be offered: the fat tail, the fat that is over the inner parts, ⁴ the two kidneys and the fat on them, which is next to the loins, and what covers the liver, with the kidneys—all this must be removed.

⁵ The priest must burn these parts on the altar as an offering made with fire to Yahweh. This is the guilt offering. ⁶ Every male among the priests may eat part of this offering. It must be eaten in a holy place because it is most holy.

⁷ The sin offering is like the guilt offering. The same law applies to both of them. They belong to the priest who makes atonement with them. ⁸ The priest who offers anyone's burnt offering may have for himself the hide of that offering.

⁹ Every grain offering that is baked in an oven, and every such offering that is cooked in a frying pan or in a baking pan will belong to the priest who offers it. ¹⁰ Every grain offering, either dry or mixed with oil, will belong equally to all the descendants of Aaron.

¹¹ This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which people will offer to Yahweh. ¹² If anyone offers it in order to give thanks, then he must offer it with a sacrifice of cakes made without yeast, but mixed with oil, of cakes made without yeast, but spread with oil, and of cakes made with fine flour that is mixed with oil.

¹³ Also for the purpose of giving thanks, he must offer with the sacrifice of his peace offering cakes of bread made with yeast. ¹⁴ He is to offer one of each kind of these sacrifices as a contribution presented to Yahweh. It will belong to the priests who sprinkle the blood of the peace offerings onto the altar.

¹⁵ The person presenting a peace offering for the purpose of giving thanks must eat the meat of his offering on the day of the sacrifice. He must not leave any of it until the next morning. ¹⁶ But if the sacrifice of his offering is for the purpose of a vow, or for the purpose of a freewill offering, the meat must be eaten on the day that he offers his sacrifice, but whatever remains of it may be eaten on the next day.

¹⁷ However, whatever meat of the sacrifice remains on the third day must be burned. ¹⁸ If any of the meat of the sacrifice of one's peace offering is eaten on the third day, it will not be accepted, neither will it be credited to the one who offered it. It will be a disgusting thing, and the person who eats it will carry the guilt of his sin.

¹⁹ Any meat that touches an unclean thing must not be eaten. It must be burned with fire. As for the rest of the meat, anyone who is clean may eat it. ²⁰ However, an unclean person who eats any meat from the sacrifice of a peace offering that belongs to Yahweh—that person must be cut off from his people.

²¹ If anyone touches any unclean thing—whether uncleanness of man or of unclean animal or of some unclean, detestable thing—and if he then eats some of the meat of a sacrifice of peace offering that belongs to Yahweh, that person must be cut off from his people.'"

²² Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ²³ "Speak to the people of Israel and say, 'You must eat no fat of cattle, sheep, or goats. ²⁴ The fat of an animal that died without being a sacrifice, or the fat of an animal torn by wild animals, may be used for other purposes, but you must certainly not eat it.

²⁵ Whoever eats the fat of an animal that men can offer as a sacrifice by fire to Yahweh, that person must be cut off from his people. ²⁶ You must eat no blood whatsoever in any of your houses, whether it is from a bird or an animal. ²⁷ Whoever eats any blood, that person must be cut off from his people.'"

²⁸ So Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ²⁹ "Speak to the people of Israel and say, 'He who offers the sacrifice of a peace offering to Yahweh must bring part of his sacrifice to Yahweh. ³⁰ The offering for Yahweh to be made by fire, his own hands must bring it. He must bring the fat with the breast, so that the breast may be waved as a wave offering before Yahweh.

³¹ The priest must burn the fat on the altar, but the breast will belong to Aaron and his descendants. ³² You must give the right thigh to the priest as a contribution from the sacrifice of your peace offerings.

³³ The priest, one of Aaron's descendants, who offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat—he will have the right thigh as his share of the offering. ³⁴ For I have taken from the people of Israel, the breast of the wave offering, and the thigh that is the contribution from the sacrifices of their peace offerings, and they have been given to Aaron the priest and his sons as their regular share.

³⁵ This is what has been consecrated for Aaron and his descendants from the offerings for Yahweh made by fire, on the day when Moses presented them to serve Yahweh in the work of priest. ³⁶ This is the share that Yahweh commanded to be given them from the people of Israel, on the day that he anointed the priests. It will always be their share throughout all generations.

³⁷ This is the law of the burnt offering, of the grain offering, of the sin offering, of the guilt offering, of the consecration offering, and of the sacrifice of peace offerings, ³⁸ about which Yahweh gave commands to Moses on Mount Sinai on the day that he commanded the people of Israel to offer their sacrifices to Yahweh in the wilderness of Sinai.'"

Chapter 8

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Take Aaron and his sons with him, the garments and the anointing oil, the bull for the sin offering, the two rams, and the basket of unleavened bread. ³ Assemble all the assembly at the entrance to the tent of meeting."

⁴ So Moses did as Yahweh commanded him, and the assembly came together at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁵ Then Moses said to the assembly, "This is what Yahweh has commanded to be done."

⁶ Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water. ⁷ He put the tunic on Aaron and tied the sash around his waist, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him, and then he tied the ephod around him with the finely-woven waistband and bound it to him.

⁸ He placed the breastpiece on him, and in the breastpiece he put the Urim and the Thummim. ⁹ He set the turban on his head, and on the turban, in front, he set the golden plate, the holy crown, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

¹⁰ Moses took the anointing oil, anointed the tabernacle and everything in it and set them apart to Yahweh. ¹¹ He sprinkled the oil on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its utensils, and the washbasin and its base, to set them apart to Yahweh.

¹² He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron's head and anointed him to set him apart. ¹³ Moses brought Aaron's sons and clothed them with tunics. He tied sashes around their waists and wrapped linen cloth around their heads, as Yahweh had commanded him.

¹⁴ Moses brought the bull for the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bull that they had brought for the sin offering. ¹⁵ Moses killed it, and he took the blood and put it on the horns of the altar with his finger, purified the altar, poured out the blood at the base of the altar, and set it apart for God in order to make atonement for it.

¹⁶ He took all the fat that was on the inner parts, the covering of the liver, and the two kidneys and their fat, and Moses burned it all on the altar. ¹⁷ But Moses burned the bull, its hide, its meat, and its dung outside the camp, as Yahweh had commanded him.

¹⁸ Moses presented the ram for the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. ¹⁹ He killed it and sprinkled its blood against every side of the altar.

²⁰ He cut the ram into pieces and burned the head and the pieces and the fat. ²¹ He washed the inner parts and the legs with water, and he burned the whole ram on the altar. It was a burnt offering and produced a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

²² Then Moses presented the other ram, the ram of consecration, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram. ²³ Aaron killed it, and Moses took some of its blood and put it on the tip of Aaron's right ear, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. ²⁴ He brought Aaron's sons, and he put some of the blood on the tip of their right ear, on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot. Then Moses sprinkled its blood against every side of the altar.

²⁵ He took the fat, the fat tail, all the fat that was on the inner parts, the covering of the liver, the two kidneys and their fat, and the right thigh. ²⁶ Out of the basket of bread without yeast that was before Yahweh, he took one loaf without yeast, and one loaf of oiled bread, and one wafer, and placed them on the fat and on the right thigh. ²⁷ He put it all in the hands of Aaron and in the hands of his sons and waved them before Yahweh as a wave offering.

²⁸ Then Moses took them from off their hands and burned them on the altar for the burnt offering. They were a consecration offering and produced a sweet aroma. It was an offering made by fire to Yahweh. ²⁹ Moses took the breast and waved it as a wave offering to Yahweh. It was Moses' share of the ram for the priests' ordination, as Yahweh had commanded him.

³⁰ Moses took some of the anointing oil and the blood that was on the altar; he sprinkled these on Aaron, on his clothes, on his sons, and on his sons' clothes with him. In this way he set apart Aaron and his clothes, and his sons and their clothes to Yahweh.

³¹ So Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, "Boil the meat at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and there eat it and the bread that is in the basket of consecration, as I commanded, saying, 'Aaron and his sons will eat it.' ³² Whatever remains of the meat and of the bread you must burn. ³³ You must not go out from the entrance of the tent of meeting for seven days, until the days of your ordination are fulfilled. For Yahweh will consecrate you for seven days.

³⁴ What has been done this day—Yahweh has commanded to be done to make atonement for you. ³⁵ You will stay day and night for seven days at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and keep the command of Yahweh, so you will not die, because this is what I have been commanded." ³⁶ So Aaron and his sons did all the things which Yahweh had commanded them through Moses.

Chapter 9

¹ On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel. ² He said to Aaron, "Take a calf from the herd for a sin offering, and a ram without blemish for a burnt offering, and offer them before Yahweh.

³ You must speak to the people of Israel and say, 'Take a male goat for a sin offering and a calf and a lamb, both a year old and without blemish, for a burnt offering; ⁴ also take an ox and a ram for peace offerings to sacrifice before Yahweh, and a grain offering mixed with oil, because today Yahweh will appear to you.'" ⁵ So they brought all that Moses commanded to the tent of meeting, and all the assembly of Israel approached and stood before Yahweh.

⁶ Then Moses said, "This is what Yahweh commanded you to do, so that his glory may appear to you." ⁷ Moses said to Aaron, "Come near the altar and offer your sin offering and burnt offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people, and offer the sacrifice for the people to make atonement for them, as Yahweh has commanded."

⁸ So Aaron went near the altar and killed the calf for the sin offering, which was for himself. ⁹ The sons of Aaron presented the blood to him, and he dipped his finger into it and put it on the horns of the altar; then he poured out the blood at the base of the altar.

¹⁰ However, he burned the fat, the kidneys, and the covering of the liver on the altar as a sin offering, as Yahweh had commanded Moses. ¹¹ The meat and the hide he burned outside the camp.

¹² Aaron killed the burnt offering, and his sons gave him the blood, which he splashed against every side of the altar. ¹³ Then they gave him the burnt offering, piece by piece, together with the head, and he burned them on the altar. ¹⁴ He washed the inner parts and the legs and burned them on top of the burnt offering on the altar.

¹⁵ Aaron presented the people's sacrifice—a goat, then took it as the sacrifice for their sin and killed it; he sacrificed it for sin, as he had done with the first goat. ¹⁶ He presented the burnt offering and offered it as Yahweh had commanded. ¹⁷ He presented the grain offering; he filled his hand with it and burned it on the altar, along with the morning's burnt offering.

¹⁸ He killed also the ox and the ram, the sacrifice for the peace offering, which was for the people. Aaron's sons gave him the blood, which he sprinkled against every side of the altar. ¹⁹ However, they cut out the fat of the bull and the ram, the fat tail, the fat that covers the inner parts, the kidneys, and the covering of the liver.

²⁰ They took the parts that were cut out and put these on the breasts, and then Aaron burned the fat on the altar. ²¹ Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before Yahweh, as Moses had commanded.

²² Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them; then he came down from offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering. ²³ Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, then came out again and blessed the people, and the glory of Yahweh appeared to all the people. ²⁴ Fire came out from Yahweh and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw this, they shouted and lay facedown.

Chapter 10

¹ Nadab and Abihu, sons of Aaron, each took his censer, put fire in it, and then incense. Then they offered unapproved fire before Yahweh, which he had not commanded them to offer. ² So fire came out from before Yahweh and devoured them, and they died before Yahweh.

³ Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what Yahweh was talking about when he said,

'I will reveal my holiness to those who come near me.

I will be glorified before all the people.'"

Aaron did not say anything.

⁴ Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, "Come here and carry your brothers out of the camp from before the tabernacle."

⁵ So they came near and carried them, still wearing their priestly tunics, out of the camp, as Moses had instructed.

⁶ Then Moses said to Aaron and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his sons, "Do not let your hair on your heads hang loosely, and do not tear your clothes, so that you may not die, and so that Yahweh may not be angry with all the assembly. But allow your relatives, the entire house of Israel, to mourn for those whom the fire of Yahweh has set ablaze. ⁷ You must not go out from the entrance of the tent of meeting, or you will die, for the anointing oil of Yahweh is on you." So they acted according to Moses' instructions.

⁸ Yahweh spoke to Aaron, saying, ⁹ "Do not drink wine or strong drink, you, or your sons who remain with you, when you go into the tent of meeting, so you will not die. This will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations, ¹⁰ to distinguish between the holy and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean, ¹¹ so that you may teach the people of Israel all the statutes that Yahweh has commanded through Moses."

¹² Moses spoke to Aaron and to Eleazar and to Ithamar, his remaining sons, "Take the grain offering that remains from the offerings to Yahweh made by fire, and eat it without yeast beside the altar, for it is most holy. ¹³ You must eat it in a holy place, because it is your share and your sons' share of the offerings to Yahweh made by fire, for this is what I have been commanded to tell you.

¹⁴ As for the breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution, you must eat them in a clean place, you and your sons and daughters with you, for they are given as your assigned portion and your sons' assigned portion out of the sacrifices of the fellowship offerings of the people of Israel. ¹⁵ As for the thigh of the contribution and the breast of the wave offering, they must bring them with the offerings of fat made by fire as a wave offering before Yahweh. They will be yours and your sons' with you as a share forever, as Yahweh has commanded."

¹⁶ Then Moses asked about the goat for the sin offering, and found that it was burned up. So he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the remaining sons of Aaron; he said, ¹⁷ "Why have you not eaten the sin offering in the area of the tabernacle, since it is most holy, and since Yahweh has given it to you to take away the iniquity of the assembly, to make atonement for them before him? ¹⁸ Look, its blood was not brought inside the tabernacle, so you should certainly have eaten it in the tabernacle area, as I commanded."

¹⁹ Then Aaron answered Moses, "See, today they made their sin offering and burnt offering before Yahweh, and this thing has happened to me today. If I had eaten the sin offering today, would it have been pleasing in the sight of Yahweh?" ²⁰ When Moses heard that, he was satisfied.

Chapter 11

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, ² "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, 'These are the living things which you may eat among all the animals that are on the earth.

³ You may eat any animal that has a split hoof and that also chews the cud. ⁴ However, some animals either chew the cud or have a split hoof, and you must not eat them, animals such as the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof. So the camel is unclean to you.

⁵ Also the rock badger, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof, it is also unclean to you. ⁶ The rabbit, because it chews the cud, but does not have a split hoof, is unclean to you. ⁷ The pig, although it has a split hoof, does not chew the cud, is unclean to you. ⁸ You must not eat any of their meat, nor touch their carcasses. They are unclean to you.

⁹ The animals living in the water that you may eat are all those that have fins and scales, whether in the ocean or in the rivers. ¹⁰ But all living creatures that do not have fins and scales in the ocean or rivers, including all that move in the water and all the living creatures that are in the water—they must be detested by you.

¹¹ Since they must be detested, you must not eat of their meat; also, their carcasses must be detested. ¹² Whatever lives in the water and does not have fins and scales is detestable to you.

¹³ These are the birds you must detest—and you must not eat because they are detestable: the eagle, the vulture, and the black vulture, ¹⁴ the kite, any kind of falcon, ¹⁵ every kind of raven, ¹⁶ the horned owl and the screech owl, the seagull, and any kind of hawk.

¹⁷ You must also detest the little owl and the great owl, the cormorant, ¹⁸ the white owl and the barn owl, the osprey, ¹⁹ the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and also the bat.

²⁰ All winged insects that walk on four legs are detestable to you. ²¹ Yet you may eat any of the flying insects that also walk on four legs if they have jointed legs for hopping on the ground. ²² You may also eat any kind of locust, katydid, cricket, or grasshopper. ²³ But all the flying insects that have four feet must be detested by you.

²⁴ You will become unclean until evening by these animals if you touch a carcass of one of them. ²⁵ Whoever picks up one of their carcasses must wash his clothes and remain unclean until evening.

²⁶ Every animal which has a split hoof that is not completely divided or which does not chew the cud is unclean to you. Everyone who touches them will be unclean. ²⁷ Whatever walks on its paws among all the animals that walk on all four legs, they are unclean to you. Whoever touches such a carcass will be unclean until the evening. ²⁸ Whoever picks up such a carcass must wash his clothes and be unclean until the evening. These animals will be unclean to you.

²⁹ Of the animals that creep on the ground, these are the animals that will be unclean to you: the weasel, the rat, every kind of large lizard, ³⁰ the gecko, the monitor lizard, the lizard, the skink, and the chameleon.

³¹ Of all the animals that creep, these are the animals which will be unclean to you. Whoever touches them when they are dead will be unclean until evening. ³² If any of them dies and falls on anything, that thing will be unclean, whether it is made of wood, cloth, leather, or sackcloth. Whatever it is and whatever it is used for, it must be put into water; it will be unclean until evening. Then it will be clean. ³³ For every clay pot into or onto which any unclean animal falls, whatever is in the pot will become unclean, and you must destroy that pot.

³⁴ Any food that could be eaten but has water on it from such a pot is unclean. Any liquid that is for drinking from such a pot is unclean. ³⁵ Anything that one of their carcasses falls on becomes unclean; if it is an oven or small stove, it must be broken to pieces. They are unclean and they must remain unclean to you.

³⁶ A spring or cistern for collecting water remains clean; but anyone who touches their carcass is unclean. ³⁷ If any part of their carcass falls upon any seeds for sowing, those seeds will still be clean. ³⁸ But if water is put on the seeds, and if any part of their carcass falls on them, then they will be unclean to you.

³⁹ If any animal that you may eat dies, then he who touches the carcass will be unclean until evening. ⁴⁰ Whoever eats any of that carcass must wash his clothes and be unclean until evening. Anyone who picks up such a carcass will wash his clothes and be unclean until evening.

⁴¹ Every animal that creeps on the ground is detestable; it must not be eaten. ⁴² Whatever crawls on its belly, and whatever walks on all four legs, or whatever has many feet—all the animals that creep on the ground, these you must not eat, for they are detestable.

⁴³ You must not make yourselves detestable with any living creatures that creep; you must not make yourselves unclean with them and you must not be made unclean by them. ⁴⁴ For I am Yahweh your God. You are to keep yourselves holy, therefore, and be holy, because I am holy. You must not defile yourselves with any kind of animal that moves about on the ground. ⁴⁵ For I am Yahweh, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You must therefore be holy, for I am holy.

⁴⁶ This is the law regarding the animals, the birds, every living creature that moves in the waters, and of every creature that creeps on the ground, ⁴⁷ for which a distinction is to be made between the unclean and the clean, and between the living things that may be eaten and the living things that may not be eaten.'"

Chapter 12

¹ Yahweh said to Moses, ² "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, 'If a woman conceives and gives birth to a male child, then she will be unclean for seven days, just as she is unclean during the days of her monthly impurity. ³ On the eighth day the flesh of a baby boy's foreskin must be circumcised.

⁴ Then the mother's purification from her bleeding will continue for thirty-three days. She must not touch any holy thing or come into the sanctuary until the days of her purification are finished. ⁵ But if she gives birth to a female child, then she will be unclean for two weeks, as she is during her impurity. Then for sixty-six days she will be purified from her bleeding.

⁶ When the days of her purification are finished, for a son or for a daughter, she must bring a one year old lamb as a burnt offering, and a young pigeon or dove as a sin offering, to the entrance of the tent of meeting, to the priest.

⁷ Then he will offer it before Yahweh and make atonement for her, and she will be cleansed from the flow of her blood. This is the law regarding a woman who gives birth to either a male or a female child. ⁸ If she is not able to afford a lamb, then she must take two doves or two young pigeons, one as a burnt offering and the other as a sin offering, and the priest will make atonement for her; then she will be clean.'"

Chapter 13

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, ² "When anyone has on the skin of his body a swelling or scab or a bright spot, and it becomes infected and there is leprosy in his body, then he must be brought to Aaron the high priest, or to one of his sons the priests.

³ Then the priest will examine the disease in the skin of his body. If the hair in the diseased area has turned white, and if the disease appears to be deeper than just on the skin, then it is leprosy. After the priest examines him, he must pronounce him unclean. ⁴ If the bright spot in his skin is white, and the appearance of it is no deeper than the skin, and if the hair in the diseased area has not turned white, then the priest must isolate the one with the disease for seven days.

⁵ On the seventh day, the priest must examine him to see if in his opinion the disease is not any worse, and if it has not spread in the skin. If it has not, then the priest must isolate him seven days more. ⁶ The priest will examine him again on the seventh day to see if the disease is better and has not spread farther in the skin. If it has not, then the priest will pronounce him clean. It is a rash. He must wash his clothes, and then he is clean.

⁷ But if the rash has spread in the skin after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he must then show himself to the priest again. ⁸ The priest will examine him to see if the rash has spread farther in the skin. If it has spread, then the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.

⁹ When leprosy is in someone, then he must be brought to the priest. ¹⁰ The priest will examine him to see if there is a white swelling in the skin, if the hair has turned white, or if there is raw flesh in the swelling. ¹¹ If there is, then it is leprosy, and the priest must pronounce him unclean. He will not isolate him, because he is already unclean.

¹² If the leprosy breaks out widely in the skin and covers all the skin of the person with the disease from his head to his feet, as far as it appears to the priest, ¹³ then the priest must examine him to see if the leprosy has covered all his body. If it has, then the priest must pronounce the person who has the disease as clean. If it has all turned white, then he is clean. ¹⁴ But if raw flesh appears on him, he will be unclean.

¹⁵ The priest must look at the raw flesh and pronounce him unclean because the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy. ¹⁶ But if the raw flesh turns white again, then the person must go to the priest. ¹⁷ The priest will examine him to see if the flesh has turned white. If it has then the priest will pronounce that person to be clean.

¹⁸ When a person has a boil on the skin and it has healed, ¹⁹ and in place of the boil there is white swelling or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it must be shown to the priest. ²⁰ The priest will examine it to see if it appears deeper under the skin, and if the hair there has turned white. If so, then the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy, if it has developed in the place where the boil was.

²¹ But if the priest examines it and sees that there is no white hair in it, and that it is not under the skin but has faded, then the priest must isolate him for seven days. ²² If it spreads widely in the skin, then the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is an infectious disease. ²³ But if the bright spot stays in its place and has not spread, then it is the scar of the boil, and the priest must pronounce him clean.

²⁴ When the skin has a burn and the raw flesh of the burn has become a reddish-white or white spot, ²⁵ then the priest will examine it to see if the hair in that spot has turned white, and if it appears to be deeper than the skin. If it has, then it is leprosy. It has broken out in the burn, and the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.

²⁶ But if the priest examines it and finds that there is no white hair in the spot, and it is not under the skin but has faded, then the priest must isolate him for seven days. ²⁷ Then the priest must examine him on the seventh day. If it has spread widely in the skin, then the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy. ²⁸ If the spot stays in its place and has not spread in the skin but has faded, then it is a swelling from the burn, and the priest must pronounce him clean, for it is nothing more than the scar of the burn.

²⁹ If a man or woman has an infectious disease on the head or chin, ³⁰ then the priest must examine the person for an infectious disease to see if it appears to be deeper than the skin, and if there is yellow, thin hair in it. If there is, then the priest must pronounce him unclean. It is an itch, leprosy on the head or the chin.

³¹ If the priest examines the itching disease and sees that it is not under the skin, and if there is no black hair in it, then the priest will isolate the person with the itching disease for seven days.

³² On the seventh day the priest will examine the disease to see if it has spread. If there is no yellow hair, and if the disease appears to be only skin deep, ³³ then he must be shaved, but the diseased area must not be shaved, and the priest must isolate the person with the itching disease for seven more days.

³⁴ On the seventh day the priest will examine the disease to see if it has stopped spreading in the skin. If it appears to be no deeper than the skin, then the priest must pronounce him clean. The person must wash his clothes, and then he will be clean.

³⁵ But if the itching disease has spread widely in the skin after the priest said he was clean, ³⁶ then the priest must examine him again. If the disease has spread in the skin, the priest does not need to seek for yellow hair. The person is unclean. ³⁷ But if in the priest's view the itching disease has stopped spreading and black hair has grown in the area, then the disease has healed. He is clean, and the priest must pronounce him clean.

³⁸ If a man or a woman has white spots on the skin, ³⁹ then the priest must examine the person to see if the spots are a dull white, which is only a rash that has broken out in the skin. He is clean.

⁴⁰ If a man's hair has fallen out of his head, he is bald, but he is clean. ⁴¹ If his hair has fallen out of the front part of his head, and if his forehead is bald, he is clean.

⁴² But if there is a reddish-white sore on his bald head or forehead, it is leprosy that has broken out. ⁴³ Then the priest must examine him to see if the swelling of the diseased area on his bald head or forehead is reddish-white, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin. ⁴⁴ If it is, then he is leprous and is unclean. The priest must surely pronounce him unclean because of his disease on his head.

⁴⁵ The leprous person who has the disease must wear torn clothes, his hair must hang loosely, and he must cover his face up to his nose and call out, 'Unclean, unclean.' ⁴⁶ All the days that he has the infectious disease he will be unclean. Because he is unclean with a disease that can spread, he must live alone. He must live outside the camp.

⁴⁷ A garment that is contaminated with leprosy, whether it is a wool or linen garment, ⁴⁸ or anything woven or knitted from wool or linen, or leather or anything made with leather— ⁴⁹ if there is a greenish or reddish contamination in the garment, the leather, the woven or knitted material, or anything made of leather, then it is a leprosy that spreads; it must be shown to the priest.

⁵⁰ The priest must examine the item for leprosy; he must isolate anything that has leprosy for seven days. ⁵¹ He must examine the leprosy again on the seventh day. If it has spread in the garment or anything woven or knitted from wool or linen material, or leather or anything in which leather is used, then it is harmful leprosy, and the item is unclean. ⁵² He must burn the garment, or anything woven or knitted from wool or linen material, or leather or anything made with leather, anything in which the leprosy is found, for it can lead to disease. The item must be completely burned up.

⁵³ If the priest examines the item and sees that the leprosy has not spread in the garment or material woven or knitted from wool or linen, or leather goods, ⁵⁴ then he will command them to wash the item in which the leprosy was found, and he must isolate it for seven more days. ⁵⁵ Then the priest will examine the item after the item where there was leprosy was washed. If the leprosy has not changed its color, even though it has not spread, it is unclean. You must burn the item, no matter where the leprosy has contaminated it.

⁵⁶ If the priest examines the item, and if the leprosy has faded after it was washed, then he must tear out the contaminated part from the garment or from the leather, or from the woven or knitted material. ⁵⁷ If the leprosy still appears in the garment, either in the woven or knitted material, or in anything made of leather, it is spreading. You must burn any item that has the leprosy. ⁵⁸ The garment or anything woven or knitted from wool or linen material, or leather or anything made with leather—if you wash the item and the leprosy is gone, then the item must be washed a second time, and it will be clean.

⁵⁹ This is the law about leprosy in a garment of wool or linen, or anything woven or knitted from wool or linen material, or leather or anything made with leather, so that you may pronounce it clean or unclean."

Chapter 14

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "This will be the law for the leper on the day of his cleansing. He must be brought to the priest.

³ The priest will go out of the camp to examine the leper to see if the leprosy is healed. ⁴ Then the priest will command that the one to be cleansed must take two live, clean birds, cedar wood, scarlet yarn, and hyssop. ⁵ The priest will command him to kill one of the birds over fresh water that is in a clay pot.

⁶ The priest will then take the live bird and the cedar wood, and the scarlet yarn and the hyssop, and he will dip all these things, including the live bird, in the blood of the bird that was killed over the fresh water. ⁷ Then the priest will sprinkle this water seven times onto the person who is to be cleansed from the leprosy, and then the priest will pronounce him to be clean. Then the priest will release the living bird into the open fields.

⁸ The person who is being cleansed will wash his clothes, shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water, and then he will be clean. After that he must come into the camp, but he will live outside his tent for seven days. ⁹ On the seventh day he must shave all his hair off his head, and he must also shave off his beard and eyebrows. He must shave off all his hair, and he must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water; then he will be clean.

¹⁰ On the eighth day he must take two male lambs without blemish, one female lamb a year old without blemish, and three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and one log of oil. ¹¹ The priest who cleanses him will stand the person who is to be cleansed, along with those things, before Yahweh at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

¹² The priest will take one of the male lambs and offer it as a guilt offering, together with the log of oil; he will wave them for a wave offering before Yahweh. ¹³ He must kill the male lamb in the place where they kill the sin offerings and the burnt offerings, in the area of the tabernacle, for the sin offering belongs to the priest, as does the guilt offering, because it is most holy.

¹⁴ The priest will take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the tip of the right ear of the person who is to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. ¹⁵ Then the priest will take oil from the log and pour it into the palm of his own left hand, ¹⁶ and dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before Yahweh.

¹⁷ The priest will put the rest of the oil in his hand on the tip of the right ear of the person to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. He must put this oil on top of the blood from the guilt offering. ¹⁸ As for the rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand, he will put it on the head of the person who is to be cleansed, and the priest will make atonement for him before Yahweh.

¹⁹ Then the priest will offer the sin offering and make atonement for him who is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness, and afterward he will kill the burnt offering. ²⁰ Then the priest will offer the burnt offering and the grain offering on the altar. The priest will make atonement for the person, and then he will be clean.

²¹ However, if the person is poor and cannot afford these sacrifices, then he may take one male lamb as a guilt offering to be waved, to make atonement for himself, and one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering, and a log of oil, ²² together with two doves or two young pigeons, such as he is able to get; one bird will be a sin offering and the other a burnt offering. ²³ On the eighth day he must bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the entrance to the tent of meeting, before Yahweh.

²⁴ The priest will take the lamb for an offering, and he will take with it the log of olive oil, and he will wave them as a wave offering before Yahweh. ²⁵ The priest will kill the lamb for the guilt offering, and he will take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the tip of the right ear of the one who is to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.

²⁶ Then the priest will pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand, ²⁷ and he will sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before Yahweh.

²⁸ The priest will then put some of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of the one who is to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, the same places where he put the blood of the guilt offering. ²⁹ He will put the rest of the oil that is in his hand on the head of the one who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before Yahweh.

³⁰ He must offer one of the doves or young pigeons, such as the person has been able to get— ³¹ one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, along with the grain offering. Then the priest will make atonement for the one who is to be cleansed before Yahweh. ³² This is the law for a person in whom there is leprosy, who is not able to afford the standard offerings for his cleansing."

³³ Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, ³⁴ "When you have come into the land of Canaan which I gave to you as a possession, and if I put leprosy that spreads in a house in the land of your possession, ³⁵ then he who owns the house must come and tell the priest. He must say, 'There seems to me to be something like leprosy in my house.'

³⁶ Then the priest will command that they empty the house before he goes in to see the evidence of leprosy, so that nothing in the house will be made unclean. Afterward the priest must go in to see the house. ³⁷ He must examine the leprosy to see if it is in the house walls, and to see whether it appears greenish or reddish in the depressions in the wall's surface. ³⁸ If the house does have leprosy, then the priest will go out of the house and shut the door to the house for seven days.

³⁹ Then the priest will return again on the seventh day and examine it to see if the leprosy has spread in the walls of the house. ⁴⁰ If it has, then the priest will command that they take out the stones in which the leprosy has been found and throw them into an unclean place outside the city.

⁴¹ He will require all the inside walls of the house to be scraped, and they must take the contaminated material that is scraped off outside the city and dump it into the unclean place. ⁴² They must take other stones and put them in the place of the stones that were removed, and they must use new clay to plaster the house.

⁴³ If leprosy comes again and breaks out in the house in which the stones have been taken away and the walls have been scraped and then replastered, ⁴⁴ then the priest must come in and examine the house to see if leprosy has spread in the house. If it has, then it is harmful leprosy, and the house is unclean.

⁴⁵ The house must be torn down. The stones, timber, and all the plaster in the house must be carried away out of the city to the unclean place. ⁴⁶ In addition, whoever goes into the house during the time it is closed up will be unclean until evening. ⁴⁷ Anyone who has lain down in the house must wash his clothes, and anyone who ate in the house must wash his clothes.

⁴⁸ If the priest enters the house to examine it to see whether the leprosy has spread in the house after the house was plastered, then, if the leprosy is gone, he will pronounce the house clean.

⁴⁹ Then the priest must take two birds to cleanse the house, and cedar wood, and scarlet yarn, and hyssop. ⁵⁰ He will kill one of the birds over fresh water in a clay jar. ⁵¹ He will take the cedar wood, the hyssop, the scarlet yarn, and the live bird, and dip them in the blood of the killed bird, into the fresh water, and sprinkle the house seven times.

⁵² He will cleanse the house with the blood of the bird and with the fresh water, with the live bird, the cedar wood, the hyssop, and the scarlet yarn. ⁵³ But he will let the live bird go out of the city into the open fields. In this way he must make atonement for the house, and it will be clean.

⁵⁴ This is the law for all types of leprosy and things that cause it, and for an itch, ⁵⁵ and for leprosy in clothing and in a house, ⁵⁶ for swelling, for a rash, and for a bright spot, ⁵⁷ to determine when any of these cases is unclean or when it is clean. This is the law for leprosy."

Chapter 15

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, ² "Speak to the people of Israel, and say to them, 'When any man has an infected fluid that comes out of his body, he becomes unclean. ³ His uncleanness is due to this infected fluid. Whether his body flows with fluid or is stopped up, it is unclean.

⁴ Every bed on which he lies will be unclean, and everything on which he sits will be unclean. ⁵ Whoever touches his bed must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening.

⁶ Anyone who sits on anything on which the man with the flow of infected fluid sat, that person must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and he will be unclean until evening. ⁷ Anyone who touches the body of the one who has a flow of infected fluid must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and be unclean until evening.

⁸ If the person who has such a flow of fluid spits on someone who is clean, then that person must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and he will be unclean until evening. ⁹ Any saddle which he who has a flow rides upon will be unclean.

¹⁰ So whoever touches anything that was under that person will be unclean until evening, and anyone who carries those things must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water; he will be unclean until evening. ¹¹ Anyone the man with the discharge touches without washing his hands with water must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and he will be unclean until evening. ¹² Any clay pot that the one with such a flow of fluid touches must be broken, and every container of wood must be rinsed in water.

¹³ When he who has a flow is cleansed from his flow, then he must count for himself seven days for his cleansing; then he must wash his clothes and bathe his body in running water. Then he will be clean. ¹⁴ On the eighth day he must take two doves or two young pigeons and come before Yahweh at the entrance to the tent of meeting; there he must give the birds to the priest. ¹⁵ The priest must offer them, one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and the priest must make atonement for him before Yahweh for his flow.

¹⁶ If any man has an emission of semen, then he must bathe his whole body in water; he will be unclean until evening. ¹⁷ Every garment or leather on which there is semen must be washed with water; it will be unclean until evening. ¹⁸ If a man lies with a woman and there is an emission of semen, both of them must bathe with water and be unclean until evening.

¹⁹ When a woman has a flow of blood, her impurity will continue for seven days, and whoever touches her will be unclean until evening. ²⁰ Everything she lies on during her period will be unclean; everything that she sits on will also be unclean.

²¹ Whoever touches her bed must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water; that person will be unclean until evening. ²² Whoever touches anything that she sits on must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water; that person will be unclean until evening. ²³ Whether it is on the bed or on anything on which she sits, if he touches it, that person will be unclean until evening.

²⁴ If any man lies with her, and if her impure flow touches him, he will be unclean for seven days. Every bed on which he lies will be unclean.

²⁵ If a woman has a flow of blood for many days that is not in the time of her impurity, or if she has a flow beyond the time of her impurity, during all the days of the flow of her uncleanness, she will be as if she were in the days of her impurity. She is unclean. ²⁶ Every bed on which she lies all during her flow of blood will be to her just like the bed on which she lies during her impurity, and everything on which she sits will be unclean, just like the uncleanness of her impurity. ²⁷ Whoever touches any of those things will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and he will be unclean until evening.

²⁸ But if she is cleansed from her flow of blood, then she will count for herself seven days, and after that she will be clean. ²⁹ On the eighth day she will take to her two doves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ³⁰ The priest will offer one bird as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, and he will make atonement for her before Yahweh for her unclean flow of blood.

³¹ This is how you must separate the people of Israel from their uncleanness, so they will not die due to their uncleanness, by defiling my tabernacle, where I live among them.

³² This is the law for anyone who has a flow of fluid, for any man whose semen goes out of him and makes him unclean, ³³ for any woman who has a menstrual period, for anyone with a flow of fluid, whether male or female, and for any man who lies with an unclean woman.'"

Chapter 16

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses—this was after the death of Aaron's two sons, when they had gone near to Yahweh and then died. ² Yahweh said to Moses, "Speak to Aaron your brother and tell him not to come at just any time into the most holy place inside the curtain, before the atonement lid that is on the ark. If he does, he will die, because I appear in the cloud over the atonement lid.

³ So here is how Aaron must come into the most holy place. He must enter with a young bull as a sin offering, and a ram as a burnt offering. ⁴ He must put on the holy linen tunic, and he must put the linen undergarments on himself, and he must wear the linen sash and linen turban. These are the holy garments. He must bathe his body in water and then dress himself with these clothes. ⁵ He must take from the assembly of the people of Israel two male goats as a sin offering and one ram as a burnt offering.

⁶ Then Aaron must present the bull as the sin offering, which will be for himself, to make atonement for himself and his family. ⁷ Then he must take the two goats and set them before Yahweh at the entrance to the tent of meeting.

⁸ Then Aaron must cast lots for the two goats, one lot for Yahweh, and the other lot for the scapegoat. ⁹ Aaron must then present the goat on which the lot fell for Yahweh, and offer that goat as a sin offering. ¹⁰ But the goat on which the lot fell for the scapegoat must be brought alive before Yahweh, to make atonement by sending him away as a scapegoat into the wilderness.

¹¹ Then Aaron must present the bull for the sin offering, which will be for himself. He must make atonement for himself and for his family, so he must kill the bull as a sin offering for himself.

¹² Aaron must take a censer full of coals of fire from off the altar before Yahweh, with his hands full of finely ground sweet incense, and bring these things inside the curtain. ¹³ There he must put the incense on the fire before Yahweh so that the cloud from the incense may cover the atonement lid over the covenant decrees. He must do this so he will not die.

¹⁴ Then he must take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle it with his finger on the front of the atonement lid. He must sprinkle some of the blood with his finger seven times before the atonement lid.

¹⁵ Then he must kill the goat for the sin offering that is for the people and bring its blood inside the curtain. There he must do with the blood as he did with the blood of the bull: He must sprinkle it on the atonement lid and then before the atonement lid. ¹⁶ He must make atonement for the holy place because of the unclean actions of the people of Israel, and because of their rebellion and all their sins. He must also do this for the tent of meeting, where Yahweh lives among them, in the presence of their unclean actions.

¹⁷ No one must be in the tent of meeting when Aaron enters it to make atonement in the most holy place, and until he comes out and has finished making atonement for himself and for his family, and for all the assembly of Israel. ¹⁸ He must go out to the altar that is before Yahweh and make atonement for it, and he must take some of the bull's blood and some of the goat's blood and put it on the horns of the altar all around. ¹⁹ He must sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and set it apart to Yahweh, away from the unclean actions of the people of Israel.

²⁰ When he has finished atoning for the most holy place, the tent of meeting, and the altar, he must present the live goat. ²¹ Aaron must lay both his hands on the head of the live goat and confess over him all the evil deeds of the people of Israel, all their rebellion, and all their sins. Then he must put that sinfulness on the head of the goat and send the goat away in the care of a man who is ready to lead the goat into the wilderness. ²² The goat must carry on himself all the people's evil deeds to a solitary place. There in the wilderness, the man must let the goat go free.

²³ Then Aaron must go back into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments that he had put on before going into the most holy place, and he must leave those garments there. ²⁴ He must bathe his body in water in a holy place, and put on his normal garments; then he must go out and offer his burnt offering and the burnt offering for the people, and in this way make atonement for himself and for the people.

²⁵ He must burn the fat of the sin offering on the altar. ²⁶ The man who let the scapegoat go free must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; after that, he may come back into the camp.

²⁷ The bull for the sin offering and the goat for the sin offering, whose blood was brought in to make atonement in the holy place, must be carried outside the camp. There they must burn their hides, flesh, and dung. ²⁸ The man who burns those parts must wash his clothes and bathe his body in water; after that, he may come back into the camp.

²⁹ It will always be a statute for you that in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you must humble yourselves and do no work, whether the native born or a foreigner who is living among you. ³⁰ This is because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you from all your sins so you will be clean before Yahweh. ³¹ It is a solemn Sabbath of rest for you, and you must humble yourselves and do no work. This will always be a statute among you.

³² The high priest, the one who will be anointed and ordained to be high priest in his father's place, must make this atonement and put on the linen garments, that is, the holy garments. ³³ He must make atonement for the most holy place; he must make atonement for the tent of meeting and for the altar, and he must make atonement for the priests and for all the people of the assembly.

³⁴ This will always be a statute for you, to make atonement for the people of Israel because of all their sins, once in every year." This was done as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Chapter 17

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, and to all the people of Israel. Tell them what Yahweh has commanded: ³ 'Any man from Israel who kills an ox, lamb, or goat in the camp, or who kills it outside the camp, in order to sacrifice it— ⁴ if he does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting to offer it as a sacrifice to Yahweh before his tabernacle, that man is guilty of bloodshed. He has shed blood, and that man must be cut off from among his people.

⁵ The purpose of this command is so that the people of Israel will bring their sacrifices to Yahweh at the entrance to the tent of meeting, to the priest, to be sacrificed as fellowship offerings to Yahweh, instead of offering sacrifices in an open field. ⁶ The priest will sprinkle the blood on Yahweh's altar at the entrance to the tent of meeting; he will burn the fat for it to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh.

⁷ The people must no longer offer their sacrifices to goat idols, for which they act as prostitutes. This will be a permanent statute for them throughout their people's generations.'

⁸ You must say to them, 'Any man of Israel, or any foreigner who lives among them, who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice ⁹ and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting in order to sacrifice it to Yahweh, that man must be cut off from his people.

¹⁰ If any person of the house of Israel, or any foreigner who lives among them consumes any blood, I will set my face against that person who consumes blood and I will cut him off from among his people. ¹¹ For the life of an animal is in its blood. I have given its blood to you to make atonement on the altar for your lives, because it is the blood that makes atonement, for it is the blood that atones for the life.

¹² Therefore I said to the people of Israel that no one among you must eat blood, neither may any foreigner who lives among you eat blood. ¹³ Anyone of the people of Israel, or any of the foreigners who live among them, who hunts and kills an animal or bird that may be eaten, that person must pour out its blood and cover the blood with earth.

¹⁴ For the life of each creature is its blood. That is why I said to the people of Israel, "You must not eat the blood of any creature, for the life of every living creature is its blood. Whoever eats it must be cut off."

¹⁵ Every person who eats an animal that has died or that has been torn by wild animals, whether that person is native born or a foreigner living among you, he must wash his clothes and bathe himself in water, and he will be unclean until the evening. Then he will be clean. ¹⁶ But if he does not wash his clothes or bathe his body, then he must carry his guilt.'"

Chapter 18

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'I am Yahweh your God. ³ You must not do the things that the people do in Egypt, where you lived previously. You must not do the things that the people do in Canaan, the land to which I am taking you. Do not follow their customs.

⁴ My laws are what you must do, and my commandments are what you must keep, so that you walk in them, because I am Yahweh your God. ⁵ Therefore you must keep my decrees and my laws. If a person obeys them, he will live because of them. I am Yahweh.

⁶ Do not approach any close relatives to uncover nakedness, I am Yahweh. ⁷ Do not uncover the nakedness of your father by uncovering the nakedness of your mother; she is your mother, you must not uncover her nakedness. ⁸ Do not uncover the nakedness of your father's wives; it is your father's nakedness.

⁹ Do not uncover the nakedness of your sister, whether she is the daughter of your father or the daughter of your mother, whether she was born in your home or distant from you. ¹⁰ Do not uncover the nakedness of your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter, for their nakedness is your own nakedness. ¹¹ Do not uncover the nakedness of your father's wife's daughter, brought up in your father's family, since she is your sister.

¹² Do not uncover the nakedness of your father's sister; she is your father's relative. ¹³ Do not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, she is your mother's relative. ¹⁴ Do not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother, that is, you must not approach his wife; she is your aunt.

¹⁵ Do not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law; she is your son's wife; you must not uncover her nakedness. ¹⁶ Do not uncover the nakedness of your brother's wife; that is your brother's nakedness.

¹⁷ Do not uncover the nakedness of a woman and her daughter; and you must not take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter to uncover her nakedness; they are relatives; that is wickedness. ¹⁸ You must not marry your wife's sister as a second wife and uncover her nakedness while your first wife is alive.

¹⁹ Do not approach a woman to uncover her nakedness during the impurity of her uncleanness. ²⁰ Do not have sexual relations with your neighbor's wife and defile yourself with her in this way.

²¹ You must not give any of your children to put them into the fire, so that you sacrifice them to Molech, because you must not profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh.

²² Do not lie with other men as with a woman; that is detestable. ²³ Do not lie with any animal and defile yourself with it. Neither should any woman present herself to an animal to lie with it; that is a perversion.

²⁴ Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, for in all these ways the nations are defiled, the nations that I will drive out from before you. ²⁵ The land became defiled, so I have punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants.

²⁶ You, therefore, must keep my commandments and decrees, and you must not do any of these detestable things, neither the native-born Israelite nor the foreigner who lives among you. ²⁷ For these detestable things are what the people who lived in the land before you committed, and now the land is defiled. ²⁸ Therefore be careful so that the land does not vomit you up also after you have defiled it, as it vomited out the people who were before you.

²⁹ Whoever does any of these detestable things, the persons who do such things will be cut off from among their people. ³⁰ Therefore you must keep my command not to practice any of these detestable customs which were practiced here before you, so that you do not defile yourselves by them. I am Yahweh your God.'"

Chapter 19

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Speak to all the assembly of the people of Israel and say to them, 'You must be holy, for I Yahweh your God am holy. ³ Everyone must respect his mother and his father, and you must keep my Sabbaths. I am Yahweh your God. ⁴ Do not turn to worthless idols, nor make for yourselves molten gods. I am Yahweh your God.

⁵ When you offer a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to Yahweh, you must offer it that you may be accepted. ⁶ It must be eaten the same day you offer it, or on the next day. If anything remains until the third day, it must be burned up with fire. ⁷ If it is eaten at all on the third day, it is a foul thing; it must not be accepted, ⁸ and everyone who eats it must carry his own guilt because he has defiled what is holy to Yahweh, and that person must be cut off from his people.

⁹ When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not completely reap the corners of your field, neither will you gather all the gleanings of your harvest. ¹⁰ You must not gather every grape from your vineyard, nor gather the grapes that have fallen on the ground in your vineyard. You must leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God.

¹¹ Do not steal.

Do not lie.

Do not deceive each other.

¹² Do not swear by my name falsely and profane the name of your God. I am Yahweh.

¹³ Do not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant must not stay with you all night until the morning.

¹⁴ Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but fear your God. I am Yahweh.

¹⁵ Do not cause judgment to be false. You must not exalt the poor nor favor the great. Instead, judge your neighbor justly.

¹⁶ Do not walk around spreading slander among your people, but seek to protect your neighbor's life. I am Yahweh.

¹⁷ Do not hate your brother in your heart. You should rebuke your neighbor frankly, and do not bring sin upon yourself because of him.

¹⁸ Do not take vengeance or hold any grudge against any of your people, but instead love your neighbor as yourself. I am Yahweh.

¹⁹ You must keep my commands.

Do not try to breed your animals with different kinds of other animals.

Do not mix two different kinds of seeds when planting your field.

Do not wear clothing made of two kinds of material mixed together.

²⁰ Whoever lies with a slave girl who is promised to a husband, but who has not been ransomed or given her freedom, must be punished. They must not be put to death because she was not free.

²¹ A man must bring his guilt offering to Yahweh to the entrance to the tent of meeting—a ram as a guilt offering. ²² Then the priest will make atonement for him with the ram for the guilt offering before Yahweh, for the sin that he has committed. Then the sin which he has committed will be forgiven.

²³ When you come into the land and have planted all kinds of trees for food, then you must regard the fruit they produce as forbidden to be eaten. The fruit must be forbidden to you for three years. It must not be eaten. ²⁴ But in the fourth year all the fruit will be holy, a sacrifice of praise to Yahweh. ²⁵ In the fifth year you may eat the fruit, having waited so that the trees might produce more. I am Yahweh your God.

²⁶ Do not eat any meat with blood still in it.

Do not practice divination or sorcery.

²⁷ You will not round off the corners of the hair on the sides of your head or shave off the edge of your beard.

²⁸ Do not cut your body for the dead or put tattoo marks on your body. I am Yahweh.

²⁹ Do not disgrace your daughter by making her a prostitute, or the nation will fall to prostitution and the land will become full of wickedness.

³⁰ You must keep my Sabbaths and honor the sanctuary of my tabernacle. I am Yahweh.

³¹ Do not turn to sorcerers or spiritists. Do not seek them out, or they will defile you. I am Yahweh your God.

³² You must rise before the gray-headed person and honor the presence of an old man. You must fear your God. I am Yahweh.

³³ If a foreigner lives among you in your land, you must not do him any wrong. ³⁴ The foreigner who lives with you must be to you like the native-born Israelite who lives among you, and you must love him as yourself, because you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.

³⁵ Do no injustice when measuring length, weight, or quantity. ³⁶ You must use just scales, just weights, a just ephah, and a just hin. I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. ³⁷ You must obey all my decrees and all my laws, and do them. I am Yahweh.'"

Chapter 20

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Say to the people of Israel, 'Anyone among the people of Israel, or any foreigner who lives in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech, must certainly be put to death. The people in the land must stone him with stones.

³ I also will set my face against that man and will cut him off from among his people because he has given his child to Molech, so as to defile my holy place and profane my holy name. ⁴ If the people of the land close their eyes to that man when he gives any of his children to Molech, if they do not put him to death, ⁵ then I myself will set my face against that man and his clan, and I will cut him off and everyone else who acts like a prostitute as he did in order to act like a prostitute with Molech.

⁶ The person who turns to sorcerers and spiritists so as to prostitute themselves with them, I will set my face against that person; I will cut him off from among his people. ⁷ Therefore consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am Yahweh your God. ¹

⁸ You must keep my commands and carry them out. I am Yahweh who sets you apart as holy.

⁹ Everyone who curses his father or his mother must surely be put to death. He has cursed his father or his mother, so his blood is upon him.

¹⁰ The man who commits adultery with another man's wife, that is, anyone who commits adultery with his neighbor's wife—the adulterer and the adulteress must both certainly be put to death.

¹¹ If a man lies with his father's wife, he uncovers his father's nakedness. Both the son and his father's wife must certainly be put to death. Their blood is upon them.

¹² If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them must certainly be put to death. They have committed perversion. Their blood is upon them.

¹³ If a man lies with another man, as with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable. They must surely be put to death. Their blood is upon them.

¹⁴ If a man marries a woman and also marries her mother, this is wickedness. They must be burned, both he and the women, so that there will be no wickedness among you.

¹⁵ If a man lies with an animal, he must surely be put to death, and you must kill the animal.

¹⁶ If a woman approaches any animal and lies with it, you must kill the woman and the animal. They must certainly be put to death. Their blood is upon them.

¹⁷ If a man takes his sister, a daughter of his father or a daughter of his mother, and he sees her nakedness, and she sees his nakedness, it is a shameful thing. They must be cut off in the sight of the children of their people. He has uncovered the nakedness of his sister and he must carry his guilt.

¹⁸ If a man lies with a woman during her menstrual period and has uncovered her nakedness, he has uncovered her flow, the fountain of her blood. Both the man and woman must be cut off from among their people.

¹⁹ You must not uncover the nakedness of your mother's sister, or your father's sister, because you would disgrace your close relative. You must carry your own guilt.

²⁰ If a man lies with his aunt, he has uncovered his uncle's nakedness. They will bear responsibility for their sin, and they will die childless.

²¹ If a man marries his brother’s wife, that is abhorrent. He has uncovered his brother's nakedness; they will be childless.

²² You must therefore keep all my statutes and all my decrees; you must obey them so that the land into which I am bringing you to live will not vomit you up.

²³ You must not walk in the statutes of the nations that I will drive out before you, for they have done all these things, and I detest them.

²⁴ I said to you, "You will inherit their land; I will give it to you to possess, a land flowing with milk and honey. I am Yahweh your God, who has separated you from the other peoples. ²⁵ You must therefore distinguish between the clean animals and the unclean, and between the unclean birds and the clean. You must not make yourselves detestable with unclean animals or birds or with any creature that crawls along the ground, which I have separated as unclean from you.

²⁶ You must be holy, for I, Yahweh, am holy, and I have separated you from the other peoples, for you belong to me.

²⁷ A man or a woman who is a sorcerer or spiritist must certainly be put to death. The people must stone them with stones. Their blood is upon them.'"

¹Several modern translations have ... because I, Yahweh your God, am holy.

Chapter 21

¹ Yahweh said to Moses: "Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them, 'No one among you should make himself unclean for those who die among his people, ² except for his closest relatives—his mother, his father, his son, his daughter, his brother, ³ or his virgin sister who is dependent on him, since she has no husband—for her he may make himself unclean.

⁴ But he must not make himself unclean for other relatives and so defile himself.

⁵ Priests must not shave their heads or shave off the corners of their beards, nor cut their bodies. ⁶ They must be holy to their God and not disgrace the name of their God, because the priests offer Yahweh's food offerings, the bread of their God. Therefore the priests must be holy.

⁷ They must not marry any woman who is a prostitute and who is defiled, and they must not marry a woman divorced from her husband, for he is holy to his God.

⁸ You will set him apart, for he is the one who offers bread to your God. He must be holy to you, because I, Yahweh who makes you holy, am holy.

⁹ Any daughter of any priest who defiles herself by becoming a prostitute disgraces her father. She must be burned.

¹⁰ The one who is the high priest among his brothers, on whose head the anointing oil has been poured, and who has been consecrated to wear the special garments of the high priest, must not wear his hair loose or tear his clothes. ¹¹ He must not go anywhere that a dead body is present and defile himself, even for his father or his mother. ¹² The high priest must not leave the sanctuary area of the tabernacle or profane the sanctuary of his God, because he has been consecrated as high priest by the anointing oil of his God. I am Yahweh.

¹³ The high priest must marry a virgin as his wife. ¹⁴ He must not marry a widow, a divorced woman, or a woman who is a prostitute. He will not marry these kinds of women. He may only marry a virgin from his own people, ¹⁵ so he will not defile his children among his people, for I am Yahweh, who makes him holy.'"

¹⁶ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ¹⁷ "Speak to Aaron and tell him, 'Whoever of your descendants throughout their generations has a bodily defect, he must not approach to offer the food to his God.

¹⁸ Any man who has a bodily defect must not approach Yahweh, such as a blind man or a man who is unable to walk, one who is disfigured or deformed, ¹⁹ a man with a crippled hand or foot, ²⁰ a man who has a hump in his back or is abnormally thin or short, or a man with a defect in his eyes, or with a disease, sore, scabs, or whose testicles have been crushed. ²¹ No man among the descendants of Aaron the priest with a bodily defect may come near to perform the offerings made by fire for Yahweh. Such a man has a bodily defect; he must not come near to offer the bread of his God.

²² He may eat the food of his God, whether some of the most holy or some of the holy. ²³ However, he must not enter inside the curtain or come near the altar, because he has a bodily defect, so that he does not defile my holy place, for I am Yahweh, who makes them holy.'" ²⁴ So Moses spoke these words to Aaron, to his sons, and to all the people of Israel.

Chapter 22

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Speak to Aaron and to his sons, tell them to keep away from the holy things of the people of Israel, which they set apart to me. They must not profane my holy name. I am Yahweh. ³ Say to them, 'If any of your descendants throughout your generations approaches the holy things that the people of Israel have set apart to Yahweh, while he is unclean, that person must be cut off from before me: I am Yahweh.

⁴ None of the descendants of Aaron who is leprous or has an infection flowing from his body may eat any of the sacrifices made to Yahweh until he is clean. Whoever touches anything unclean through contact with the dead, or by contact with a man who has a flow of semen, ⁵ or whoever touches any creeping animal that makes him unclean, or any person who makes him unclean, whatever kind of uncleanness it may be— ⁶ then the priest who touches anything unclean will be unclean until evening. He must not eat any of the holy things, unless he has bathed his body in water.

⁷ When the sun has set, he will then be clean. After sunset he may eat from the holy things, because they are his food. ⁸ He must not eat anything found dead or killed by wild animals, by which he would defile himself. I am Yahweh.

⁹ The priests must follow my instructions, or they will be guilty of sin and could die for profaning me. I am Yahweh who makes them holy.

¹⁰ No one outside the priest's family, including guests of a priest or his hired servants, may eat anything that is holy. ¹¹ But if a priest buys any slave with his own money, that slave may eat from the things set apart to Yahweh. The priest's family members and slaves born in his house, they also may eat with him from those things.

¹² If a priest's daughter married someone who is not a priest, she may not eat any of the holy contribution offerings. ¹³ But if a priest's daughter is a widow, or divorced, and if she has no child, and if she returns to live in her father's house as in her youth, she may eat from her father's food. But no one who is not in the priestly family may eat from the priest's food.

¹⁴ If a man eats a holy food without knowing it, then he must repay the priest for it; he must add one-fifth to it and give it back to the priest.

¹⁵ The people of Israel must not profane the holy things that they have raised high and presented to Yahweh, ¹⁶ and cause themselves to carry the sin that would make them guilty of eating the holy food, for I am Yahweh who makes them holy.'"

¹⁷ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ¹⁸ "Speak to Aaron and his sons, and to all the people of Israel. Say to them, 'Any man from the house of Israel, or an alien living in Israel, when they present a sacrifice—whether it is to fulfill a vow, or whether it is a freewill offering, or they present to Yahweh a burnt offering, ¹⁹ if it is to be accepted, they must offer a male animal without blemish from the cattle, sheep, or goats.

²⁰ But you must not offer whatever has a blemish. I will not accept it on your behalf.

²¹ Whoever offers a sacrifice of fellowship offerings from the herd or the flock to Yahweh to fulfill a vow, or as a freewill offering, it must be unblemished to be accepted. There must be no defect in the animal.

²² You must not offer animals that are blind, disabled, or maimed, or that have warts, sores, or scabs. You must not offer these to Yahweh as a sacrifice by fire on the altar. ²³ You may present as a freewill offering an ox or a lamb that is deformed or small, but an offering like that will not be accepted for a vow.

²⁴ Do not offer any animal to Yahweh that has bruised, crushed, torn, or cut testicles. Do not do this within your land. ²⁵ You must not present the bread of your God from the hand of a foreigner. Those animals are deformed and have defects in them, they will not be accepted for you.'"

²⁶ Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ²⁷ "When a calf or a sheep or a goat is born, it must remain seven days with its mother. Then from the eighth day on, it may be accepted as a sacrifice for an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

²⁸ Do not kill a cow or ewe along with its young, both on the same day. ²⁹ When you sacrifice a thank offering to Yahweh, you must sacrifice it in an acceptable way. ³⁰ It must be eaten on the same day that it is sacrificed. You must leave none of it until the next morning. I am Yahweh.

³¹ So you must keep my commandments and carry them out. I am Yahweh.

³² You must not profane my holy name. I must be acknowledged as holy by the people of Israel. I am Yahweh who makes you holy, ³³ who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I am Yahweh."

Chapter 23

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses: ² "Speak to the people of Israel, and say to them, 'These are the appointed festivals for Yahweh, which you must proclaim as holy assemblies; they are my regular festivals.

³ You may work for six days, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, a holy assembly. You must do no work because it is a Sabbath for Yahweh in all the places where you live.

⁴ These are the appointed festivals of Yahweh, the holy assemblies that you must announce at their appointed times: ⁵ In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is Yahweh's Passover. ⁶ On the fifteenth day of the same month is the Festival of Unleavened Bread for Yahweh. For seven days you must eat unleavened bread.

⁷ The first day you must set apart to gather together; you will not do any of your regular work. ⁸ You will present a food offering to Yahweh for seven days. The seventh day is an assembly set apart to Yahweh, and on that day you must not do any regular work.'"

⁹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ¹⁰ "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you have come into the land that I will give you, and when you reap its harvest, then you must bring a bundle of the firstfruit of the grain to the priest. ¹¹ He will raise the bundle of grain before Yahweh and present it to him, for it to be accepted on your behalf. It is on the day after the Sabbath that the priest will raise it and present it to me.

¹² On the day when you raise the bundle of grain and present it to me, you must offer a male lamb one year old and without blemish as a burnt offering to Yahweh. ¹³ The grain offering must be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to Yahweh, to produce a sweet aroma, and with it a drink offering of wine, a fourth of a hin. ¹⁴ You must eat no bread, nor roasted or fresh grain, until the same day you have brought this offering to your God. This will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations, in every place that you live.

¹⁵ Beginning from the day after the Sabbath—that was the day you brought the bundle of grain as the wave offering—count seven full weeks. ¹⁶ You must count fifty days, which would be the day after the seventh Sabbath. Then you must present an offering of new grain to Yahweh.

¹⁷ You must bring out of your houses two loaves made from two-tenths of an ephah. They must be made from fine flour and baked with yeast; they will be a wave offering of the firstfruits to Yahweh. ¹⁸ You must present with the bread seven lambs one year old and without blemish, one young bull from the herd, and two rams. They must be a burnt offering to Yahweh, with their grain offering and their drink offerings, an offering made by fire and producing a sweet aroma for Yahweh.

¹⁹ You must offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old for a sacrifice, as fellowship offerings. ²⁰ The priest must wave them together with the bread of the firstfruits before Yahweh, and present them to him as an offering with the two lambs. They will be holy offerings to Yahweh for the priest. ²¹ You must make a proclamation on that same day. There will be a holy assembly, and you must do no ordinary work. This will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations in all the places where you live.

²² When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not completely reap the corners of your fields, and you must not gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor and for the foreigner. I am Yahweh your God.'"

²³ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ²⁴ "Speak to the people of Israel and say, 'In the seventh month, the first day of that month will be a solemn rest for you, a memorial with the blowing of trumpets, and a holy assembly. ²⁵ You must do no ordinary work, and you must offer a sacrifice made by fire to Yahweh.'"

²⁶ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ²⁷ "Now the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It is to be a holy assembly, and you must humble yourselves and present to Yahweh an offering by fire.

²⁸ You must do no work on that day because it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for yourselves before Yahweh your God. ²⁹ Whoever does not humble himself on that day must be cut off from his people.

³⁰ Whoever does any work on that day, I, Yahweh, will destroy him from among his people. ³¹ You must do no work of any kind on that day. This will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations in all the places where you live. ³² This day must be to you a Sabbath of solemn rest, and you must humble yourselves the ninth day of the month at the evening. From evening to evening you are to observe your Sabbath."

³³ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ³⁴ "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, 'On the fifteenth day of the seventh month will be the Festival of Shelters for Yahweh. It will last seven days.

³⁵ On the first day there must be a holy assembly. You must do no ordinary work. ³⁶ For seven days you must offer a sacrifice made by fire to Yahweh. On the eighth day there must be a holy assembly, and you must make a sacrifice offered with fire to Yahweh. This is a solemn assembly, and you must not do any ordinary work.

³⁷ These are the appointed festivals for Yahweh, which you must proclaim as holy assemblies to offer sacrifice by fire to Yahweh, a burnt offering and a grain offering, sacrifices and drink offerings, each on its own day. ³⁸ These festivals will be in addition to the Sabbaths of Yahweh and your gifts, all your vows, and all your freewill offerings that you give to Yahweh.

³⁹ Regarding the Festival of Shelters, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered in the fruits of the land, you must keep this festival of Yahweh for seven days. The first day will be a solemn rest, and the eighth day will also be a solemn rest.

⁴⁰ On the first day you must take the best fruit from the trees, branches of palm trees, and leafy branches of thick trees, and willows from streams, and you will rejoice before Yahweh your God for seven days. ⁴¹ For seven days each year, you must celebrate this festival for Yahweh. This will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations in all the places where you live. You must celebrate this festival in the seventh month.

⁴² You must live in small shelters for seven days. All who were born in Israel must live in small shelters for seven days, ⁴³ so that your descendants, generation after generation, may learn how I made the people of Israel live in such shelters when I led them out of the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.'" ⁴⁴ In this way, Moses announced to the people of Israel the appointed festivals for Yahweh.

Chapter 24

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ² "Command the people of Israel to bring you pure oil beaten from olives to be used in the lamp, that the light may burn continually.

³ Outside the curtain before the covenant decrees in the tent of meeting, Aaron must continually, from evening to morning, keep the lamp lit before Yahweh. This will be a permanent statute throughout your people's generations. ⁴ The high priest must always keep the lamps lit before Yahweh, the lamps on the lampstand of pure gold.

⁵ You must take fine flour and bake twelve loaves with it. There must be two-tenths of an ephah in each loaf. ⁶ Then you must set them in two rows, six in a row, on the table of pure gold before Yahweh.

⁷ You must put pure incense along each row of loaves as a representative offering. This incense will be an offering made by fire for Yahweh. ⁸ Every Sabbath day the high priest must regularly set out the bread before Yahweh on behalf of the people of Israel, as a sign of an everlasting covenant. ⁹ This offering will be for Aaron and his sons, and they are to eat it in a place that is holy, for it is a portion from the offerings to Yahweh made by fire."

¹⁰ Now it happened that the son of an Israelite woman, whose father was an Egyptian, went out among the people of Israel. This son of the Israelite woman fought against a man of Israel in the camp. ¹¹ The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the name of Yahweh and cursed God, so the people brought him to Moses. His mother's name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri, from the tribe of Dan. ¹² They held him in custody until Yahweh himself should declare his will to them.

¹³ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, ¹⁴ "Take the man who has cursed God outside the camp. All who heard him must lay their hands on his head, and then the entire assembly must stone him.

¹⁵ You must explain to the people of Israel and say, 'Whoever curses his God must carry his own sin. ¹⁶ He who blasphemes the name of Yahweh must surely be put to death. All the assembly must certainly stone him, whether he is a foreigner or a native-born Israelite. If anyone blasphemes the name of Yahweh, he must be put to death.

¹⁷ If anyone strikes down another human being, he must certainly be put to death. ¹⁸ If anyone strikes down someone's animal, he must pay it back, life for life.

¹⁹ If anyone injures his neighbor, it must be done to him as he did to his neighbor: ²⁰ fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. As he has caused an injury to a person, so must it also be done to him. ²¹ Anyone who kills an animal must pay it back, and anyone who kills a person must be put to death.

²² You must have the same law for both the foreigner and the native-born Israelite, for I am Yahweh your God.'" ²³ So Moses spoke to the people of Israel, and the people brought the man outside the camp, the one who had cursed Yahweh. They stoned him with stones. The people of Israel carried out the command of Yahweh to Moses.

Chapter 25

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, ² "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land that I give you, then the land must be made to keep a Sabbath for Yahweh.

³ You must plant your field for six years, and for six years you must prune your vineyard and gather the produce. ⁴ But in the seventh year, a Sabbath of solemn rest for the land must be observed, a Sabbath for Yahweh. You must not plant your field or prune your vineyard.

⁵ You must not conduct an organized harvest of whatever grows by itself, and you must not conduct an organized harvest of whatever grapes grow on your unpruned vines. This will be a year of solemn rest for the land. ⁶ Whatever the unworked land grows during the Sabbath year will be food for you. You, your male and female servants, your hired servants and the foreigners who live with you may gather food, ⁷ and your livestock and also wild animals may eat whatever the land produces.

⁸ You must count off seven Sabbaths of years, that is, seven times seven years, so that there will be seven Sabbaths of years, totaling forty-nine years. ⁹ Then you must blow a loud ram's horn everywhere on the tenth day of the seventh month. On the Day of Atonement you must blow a ram's horn throughout all your land.

¹⁰ You must set apart the fiftieth year to Yahweh and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It will be a Jubilee for you, in which property and slaves must be returned to his own clan.

¹¹ The fiftieth year will be a Jubilee for you. You must not plant or conduct an organized harvest, and you must not gather the grapes that grow on the unpruned vines. ¹² For it is a Jubilee, which will be holy for you. You must eat the produce that grows by itself out of the fields.

¹³ You must return everyone to his own property in this year of Jubilee.

¹⁴ If you sell any land to your neighbor or buy any land from your neighbor, you must not cheat or wrong each other.

¹⁵ If you buy land from your neighbor, consider the number of years and crops that can be harvested until the next Jubilee. Your neighbor selling the land must consider that also. ¹⁶ A larger number of years until the next Jubilee will increase the value of land, and a smaller number of years until the next Jubilee will decrease the value, because the number of harvests the land will produce for the new owner is related to the number of years before the next Jubilee. ¹⁷ You must not cheat or wrong one another; instead, you must honor your God, for I am Yahweh your God.

¹⁸ Therefore you must obey my decrees, keep my laws, and carry them out. Then you will live in the land in safety. ¹⁹ The land will yield its produce, and you will eat your fill and live there in safety.

²⁰ You might say, "What will we eat during the seventh year? Look, we cannot plant or gather our produce." ²¹ I will command my blessing to come upon you in the sixth year, and it will produce harvest enough for three years. ²² You will plant in the eighth year and continue to eat from the previous years' produce and the stored food. Until the harvest of the ninth year comes in, you will be able to eat from the provisions stored in the previous years.

²³ The land must not be sold to a new permanent owner, because the land is mine. You are all foreigners and sojourners on my land. ²⁴ You must observe the right of redemption for all the land that you acquire; you must allow the land to be bought back by the family from whom you bought it. ²⁵ If your fellow Israelite became poor and for that reason sold some of his property, then his nearest relative must come and redeem what his brother has sold.

²⁶ If a man has no relative to redeem his property, but if he has prospered and has the ability to redeem it, ²⁷ then he may calculate the years since the land was sold and repay the balance to the man to whom he sold it. Then he may return to his own property. ²⁸ But if he is not able to get the land back for himself, then the land he has sold will remain in the ownership of the one who bought it until the year of Jubilee. At the year of Jubilee, the land will be returned to the man who sold it, and the original owner will return to his property.

²⁹ If a man sells a house in a walled city, then he may buy it back within a whole year after it was sold. For a full year he will have the right of redemption. ³⁰ If the house is not redeemed within a full year, then the house in the walled city will become the permanent property of the buyer throughout his generations. It is not to be returned in the year of Jubilee.

³¹ But the houses of the villages that have no wall around them will be considered as the field of the land. They may be redeemed, and they must be returned during the year of Jubilee. ³² As for the cities of the Levites, the houses owned by the Levites in the cities they possess may be redeemed at any time.

³³ If one of the Levites does not redeem a house he sold, then the house that was sold in the city where it is located must be returned in the year of Jubilee, for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their property among the people of Israel. ³⁴ But the fields around their cities may not be sold because they are the permanent property of the Levites.

³⁵ If your fellow countryman becomes poor, so that he can no longer provide for himself, then you must help him as you would help a foreigner or a sojourner so that he may live among you. ³⁶ Do not take from him interest or usury, but honor your God so that your brother may keep living with you. ³⁷ You must not give him a loan of money and charge interest, nor sell him your food to earn a profit. ³⁸ I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, in order that I might give you the land of Canaan, and that I might be your God.

³⁹ If your fellow countryman has become poor and sells himself to you, you must not make him work like a slave. ⁴⁰ Treat him as a hired servant. He must be like a sojourner. He will serve with you until the year of Jubilee. ⁴¹ Then he will go away from you, he and his children with him, and he will return to his own clan and to his fathers' property.

⁴² For they are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. They will not be sold as slaves. ⁴³ You must not rule over them severely, but you must honor your God. ⁴⁴ As for your male and female slaves, whom you can obtain from the nations who live around you, you may buy slaves from them.

⁴⁵ You may also buy slaves from the foreigners who are living among you and from their clans who are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may become your property. ⁴⁶ You may provide such slaves as an inheritance for your children after you, to hold as property, and make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your brothers among the people of Israel severely.

⁴⁷ If a foreigner or someone living temporarily with you has become wealthy, and if one of your fellow Israelites has become poor and sells himself to that foreigner, or to a member of a foreigner's clan, ⁴⁸ after your fellow Israelite has been bought, he may be bought back. Someone in his family may redeem him.

⁴⁹ It might be the person's uncle, or his uncle's son, who redeems him, or anyone who is in his clan. Or, if he has become prosperous, he may redeem himself. ⁵⁰ He must bargain with the man who bought him; they must count the years from the year he sold himself to his purchaser until the year of Jubilee. The price of his redemption must be figured in keeping with the rate paid to a hired servant, for the number of years he might continue to work for the one who bought him.

⁵¹ If there are still many years until the year of Jubilee, he must pay back as the price for his redemption an amount of money that is in proportion to the number of those years. ⁵² If there are only a few years to the year of Jubilee, then he must bargain with his purchaser to reflect the number of years left before the year of Jubilee, and he must pay for his redemption in keeping with the number of years.

⁵³ He is to be to the purchaser like a man hired year by year. The purchaser is not to rule over him severely. ⁵⁴ If he is not redeemed by these means, then he must serve until the year of Jubilee, he and his children with him. ⁵⁵ To me the people of Israel are servants. They are my servants whom I brought out of the land of Egypt. I am Yahweh your God.'"

Chapter 26

¹ "You must make no idols, and you must not lift up a carved figure or a sacred stone pillar, and you must not place any carved stone image in your land to which you bow down, for I am Yahweh your God. ² You must keep my Sabbaths and honor my sanctuary. I am Yahweh.

³ If you walk in my laws and keep my commandments and obey them, ⁴ then I will give you rain in its season; the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will yield their fruit.

⁵ Your threshing will continue to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest will extend to the planting season. You will eat your bread to the full and live safely where you make your home in the land. ⁶ I will give peace in the land; you will lie down with nothing to make you afraid. I will take the dangerous animals away from the land, and the sword will not pass through your land.

⁷ You will chase your enemies, and they will fall before you by the sword. ⁸ Five of you will chase away a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand; your enemies will fall before you by the sword.

⁹ I will look at you with favor and make you fruitful and multiply you; I will establish my covenant with you. ¹⁰ You will eat food stored a long time. You will have to bring out the stored food because you will need the room for the new harvest.

¹¹ I will place my tabernacle among you, and I will not detest you. ¹² I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. ¹³ I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, so that you would not be their slaves. I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you to walk standing up straight.

¹⁴ But if you will not listen to me, and will not obey all these commandments, ¹⁵ and if you reject my decrees and detest my laws, so that you will not obey all my commandments, but break my covenant—

¹⁶ if you do these things, then I will do this to you: I will inflict terror on you, diseases and fever that will destroy the eyes and will drain away your life. You will plant your seeds in vain, because your enemies will eat their produce. ¹⁷ I will set my face against you, and you will be overpowered by your enemies. Men who hate you will rule over you, and you will run away, even when no one is chasing you.

¹⁸ If after all this you do not listen to me, then I will punish you seven times as severely for your sins. ¹⁹ I will break your pride in your power. I will make the sky over you like iron and your land like bronze. ²⁰ Your strength will be used up in vain, because your land will not produce its harvest, and your trees in the land will not produce their fruit.

²¹ If you walk against me and will not listen to me, I will bring seven times more blows on you, in proportion to your sins. ²² I will send wild animals against you, which will rob you of your children, destroy your livestock, and make you so few in number that your roads will be desolate.

²³ If in spite of these things you still do not accept my correction and you continue to walk in opposition to me, ²⁴ then I will also walk in opposition to you, and I myself will punish you seven times because of your sins.

²⁵ I will bring a sword on you that will execute vengeance for breaking the covenant. You will be gathered together inside your cities, and I will send a plague among you there, and then you will be delivered into the hand of your enemy. ²⁶ When I cut off your staff of food, ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they will distribute your bread by weight. You will eat but not be satisfied.

²⁷ If you do not listen to me despite these things, but continue to walk against me, ²⁸ then I will walk against you in anger, and I will punish you even seven more times as much for your sins.

²⁹ You will eat the flesh of your sons; you will eat the flesh of your daughters. ³⁰ I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars, and throw your corpses on the corpses of your idols, and I myself will abhor you.

³¹ I will turn your cities into ruins and destroy your sacred places. I will not be pleased with the aroma of your offerings. ³² I will devastate the land. Your enemies who will live there will be shocked at the devastation. ³³ I will scatter you among the nations, and I will draw out my sword and follow you. Your land will be devastated, and your cities will be ruined.

³⁴ Then the land will enjoy its Sabbaths for as long as it lies desolate and you are in your enemies' lands. During that time, the land will rest and enjoy its Sabbaths. ³⁵ As long as it lies desolate, it will have rest, which will be the rest that it did not have with your Sabbaths, when you lived in it.

³⁶ As for those of you who are left in your enemies' lands, I will send fear into your hearts so that even the sound of a leaf blowing in the wind will startle you, and you will flee as though you were fleeing from the sword. You will fall, even when no one is chasing you.

³⁷ You will stumble over each other as though you were running from the sword, even though no one is chasing you. You will have no power to stand before your enemies. ³⁸ You will perish among the nations, and your enemies' land will itself devour you. ³⁹ Those who are left among you will waste away in their iniquity, there in your enemies' lands, and because of their fathers' iniquities they will waste away as well.

⁴⁰ Yet if they confess their iniquity and their fathers' iniquity, and the unfaithfulness that they committed against me, and also their walking against me— ⁴¹ which caused me to turn against them and I brought them into the land of their enemies—if their uncircumcised hearts become humbled, and if they accept the punishment for their sins, ⁴² then will I call to mind my covenant with Jacob, my covenant with Isaac, and my covenant with Abraham; also, I will call the land to mind.

⁴³ The land will be abandoned by them, so it will be pleased with its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will have to pay the penalty for their iniquity because they themselves rejected my decrees and detested my laws.

⁴⁴ Yet despite all this, when they are in their enemies' land, I will not reject them, neither will I detest them so as to completely destroy them and do away with my covenant with them, for I am Yahweh their God. ⁴⁵ But for their sakes I will call to mind the covenant with their ancestors, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, so that I might be their God. I am Yahweh."

⁴⁶ These are the commandments, decrees, and laws that Yahweh made between himself and the people of Israel at Mount Sinai through Moses.

Chapter 27

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ² "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'If anyone makes a special vow to Yahweh, use the following valuations.

³ Your standard value for a male from twenty to sixty years old must be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. ⁴ For a female of the same ages your standard value must be thirty shekels.

⁵ From five years to twenty years old your standard value for a male must be twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. ⁶ From one month old to five years your standard value for a male must be five shekels of silver, and for a female three shekels of silver.

⁷ From sixty years old and up for a male your standard value must be fifteen shekels, and for a female ten shekels. ⁸ But if the person making the vow cannot pay the standard value, then the person being given must be presented to the priest, and the priest will value that person by the amount the one making the vow is able to afford.

⁹ If what is vowed is an animal that people can give as an offering to Yahweh, any part of that animal that is given to Yahweh becomes holy. ¹⁰ The person must not exchange it or substitute a good one for a bad one, or a bad for a good one. If he substitutes one animal for another, both it and the substitute become holy.

¹¹ However, if what is vowed is an unclean animal that people cannot give as an offering to Yahweh, then the person must bring the animal to the priest. ¹² The priest will value it, by the market value of the animal. Whatever value the priest places on the animal, that will be its value. ¹³ If the owner wishes to redeem it, then a fifth of its value is to be added to its redemption price.

¹⁴ When a man sets apart his house as a holy gift to Yahweh, then the priest will set its value as either good or bad. Whatever the priest values it, so it will be. ¹⁵ But if the owner who set apart his home wishes to redeem it, he must add a fifth of its value to its redemption price, and it will belong to him.

¹⁶ If a man sets apart to Yahweh some of the fields of his property, then the valuation of it will be in proportion to the amount of seed required to plant it—a homer of barley will be valued at fifty shekels of silver.

¹⁷ If he sets apart his field during the year of Jubilee, the valuation of it will stand. ¹⁸ But if he sets apart his field after the year of Jubilee, then the priest must calculate the value of the field by the number of years that remain until the next year of Jubilee, and the valuation of it must be reduced.

¹⁹ If the man who set apart the field wishes to redeem it, then he must add a fifth to the valuation, and it will belong to him. ²⁰ If he does not redeem the field, or if he has sold the field to another man, it cannot be redeemed any more. ²¹ Rather, the field, when it is released in the year of Jubilee, will be a holy gift to Yahweh, like the field that has been completely given to Yahweh. It will belong to the priest.

²² If a man sets apart a field that he has bought, but that field is not part of his family's land, ²³ then the priest will figure the valuation of it up to the year of Jubilee, and the man must pay its value on that day as a holy gift to Yahweh.

²⁴ In the year of Jubilee, the field will return to the man from whom it was bought, to the one whose property the land is. ²⁵ All the valuations must be set by the weight of the sanctuary shekel. Twenty gerahs must be the equivalent of one shekel.

²⁶ No one may set apart the firstborn among animals, since the firstborn already belongs to Yahweh; whether ox or sheep, it is Yahweh's. ²⁷ If it is an unclean animal, then the owner may buy it back at the valuation of it, and a fifth must be added to that value. If the animal is not redeemed, then it is to be sold at the set value.

²⁸ But nothing that a man devotes to Yahweh, from all that he has, whether man or animal, or his family land, may be sold or redeemed. Everything that is devoted is very holy to Yahweh. ²⁹ No ransom may be paid for the person who is devoted for destruction. That person must be put to death.

³⁰ All the tithe of the land, whether grain grown on the land or fruit from the trees, is Yahweh's. It is holy to Yahweh. ³¹ If a man redeems any of his tithe, he must add a fifth to its value.

³² As for every tenth of the herd or the flock, whatever passes under the shepherd's rod, one-tenth must be set apart to Yahweh. ³³ The shepherd must not search for the better or the worse animals, and he must not substitute one for another. If he changes it at all, then both it and that for which it is changed will be holy. It cannot be redeemed.'"

³⁴ These are the commandments that Yahweh gave at Mount Sinai to Moses for the people of Israel.

Numbers

Chapter 1

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the wilderness of Sinai. This happened on the first day of the second month during the second year after the people of Israel had come out from the land of Egypt. Yahweh said, ² "Conduct a census of the whole congregation of the men of Israel by their clans, by their ancestral households. Number them by name. Count all the males man by man, ³ who is twenty years old or older. Count all who can fight as soldiers for Israel. You and Aaron must record the number of men in their armed groups.

⁴ A man from each tribe, a clan head, must serve with you as his tribe's leader. Each leader must lead the men who will fight for his ancestors' household. ⁵ These are the names of the leaders who must fight with you:

From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;

⁶ from the tribe of Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

⁷ from the tribe of Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;

⁸ from the tribe of Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;

⁹ from the tribe of Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;

¹⁰ from the tribe of Ephraim son of Joseph, Elishama son of Ammihud;

from the tribe of Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;

¹¹ from the tribe of Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;

¹² from the tribe of Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

¹³ from the tribe of Asher, Pagiel son of Okran;

¹⁴ from the tribe of Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;

¹⁵ and from the tribe of Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan."

¹⁶ These were the men appointed from the people. They led their ancestors' tribes. They were the leaders of the clans in Israel.

¹⁷ Moses and Aaron took these men, who were recorded by name, ¹⁸ and they assembled the whole community together on the first day of the second month. The men twenty years old and older registered their ancestry by name, by their clans, by their ancestral households. They were numbered man by man. ¹⁹ Then Moses recorded their numbers in the wilderness of Sinai, as Yahweh had commanded him to do.

²⁰ From the descendants of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted man by man. ²¹ They counted 46,500 men from the tribe of Reuben.

²² From the descendants of Simeon, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the mustered men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted man by man. ²³ They counted 59,300 men from the tribe of Simeon.

²⁴ From the descendants of Gad, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted. ²⁵ They counted 45,650 men from the tribe of Gad.

²⁶ From the descendants of Judah, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted. ²⁷ They counted 74,600 men from the tribe of Judah.

²⁸ From the descendants of Issachar, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted. ²⁹ They counted 54,400 men from the tribe of Issachar.

³⁰ From the descendants of Zebulun, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted. ³¹ They counted 57,400 men from the tribe of Zebulun.

³² From the descendants of Ephraim son of Joseph, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted. ³³ They counted 40,500 men from the tribe of Ephraim.

³⁴ From the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted. ³⁵ They counted 32,200 men from the tribe of Manasseh.

³⁶ From the descendants of Benjamin, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted. ³⁷ They counted 35,400 men from the tribe of Benjamin.

³⁸ From the descendants of Dan, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted. ³⁹ They counted 62,700 from the tribe of Dan.

⁴⁰ From the descendants of Asher, from the records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted. ⁴¹ They counted 41,500 men from the tribe of Asher.

⁴² From the descendants of Naphtali, from the genealogical records, by their clans, by their ancestral households, the names of all the men twenty years old or older, able to go to war, were counted. ⁴³ They counted 53,400 from the tribe of Naphtali.

⁴⁴ Moses and Aaron counted all these men, together with the twelve men who were leading Israel, each from his ancestor's household. ⁴⁵ So all the men of Israel from twenty years old and older, all who could fight in war, were counted in each of their ancestral households. ⁴⁶ They counted 603,550 men.

⁴⁷ But the Levites were not counted according to their ancestors' tribes ⁴⁸ because Yahweh had said to Moses, ⁴⁹ "You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the total of the people of Israel.

⁵⁰ Rather, assign the Levites to care for the tabernacle of the covenant decrees, and to care for all the furnishings in the tabernacle and for everything in it. The Levites must carry the tabernacle, and they must carry the tabernacle's furnishings. They must care for the tabernacle and make their camp around it.

⁵¹ When the tabernacle is to move to another place, the Levites must take it down. When the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites must set it up. Any stranger who comes near the tabernacle must be killed. ⁵² When the people of Israel set up their tents, each man must do so near the banner that belongs to his armed group.

⁵³ However, the Levites must set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant decrees so that my anger does not come upon the people of Israel. The Levites must perform the duties of the tabernacle of the covenant decrees." ⁵⁴ The people of Israel did all these things. They did everything that Yahweh commanded through Moses.

Chapter 2

¹ Yahweh spoke again to Moses and Aaron. He said, ² "Each one of the people of Israel must camp around his standard, with the banners of their fathers' houses. They will camp around the tent of meeting on every side.

³ Those will be camping on the east of the tent of meeting, where the sun rises, they are the camp of Judah by their armed groups, and they are camping under their standard. Nahshon son of Amminadab is the leader of the people of Judah. ⁴ The number of the host of the people of Judah is 74,600.

⁵ The tribe of Issachar must camp next to Judah. Nethanel son of Zuar must lead the army of Issachar. ⁶ The number of the host of the people of Issachar is 54,400 men.

⁷ The tribe of Zebulun must camp next to Issachar. Eliab son of Helon must lead the army of Zebulun. ⁸ The number of the host of the people of Zebulun is 57,400.

⁹ All the number of the camp of Judah is 186,400. They will set out first.

¹⁰ On the south side will be the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the camp of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur. ¹¹ The number of the host of the people of Reuben is 46,500.

¹² Simeon is camping next to Reuben. The leader of the tribe of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. ¹³ The number of the host of the people of Simeon is 59,300.

¹⁴ The tribe of Gad is next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel. ¹⁵ The number of the host of the people of Gad is 45,650.

¹⁶ The number of all the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, is 151,450. They will set out second.

¹⁷ Next, the tent of meeting must go out from the camp with the Levites in the middle of all the camps. They must go out from the camp in the same order as they come into the camp. Every man must be in his place, by his banner.

¹⁸ On the west side will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud. ¹⁹ The number of the host of the people of Ephraim is 40,500.

²⁰ Next to them is the tribe of Manasseh. The leader of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. ²¹ The number of the host of the people of Manasseh is 32,200.

²² Next will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni. ²³ The number of the host of the people of Benjamin is 35,400.

²⁴ All those numbered in the camp of Ephraim is 108,100. They will set out third.

²⁵ On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan. The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. ²⁶ The number the host of the people of Dan is 62,700.

²⁷ The people of the tribe of Asher camp next to Dan. The leader of Asher is Pagiel son of Okran. ²⁸ The number the host of the people of Asher is 41,500.

²⁹ The tribe of Naphtali is next. The leader of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan. ³⁰ The number of the host of the people of Naphtali is 53,400.

³¹ All those numbered in the camp with Dan is 157,600. They will go out from the camp last, under their banner."

³² These are the descendants of Israel, numbered according to their ancestral households. All those counted in their camps, by their divisions, are 603,550. ³³ But the Levites were not counted along with the people of Israel, as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

³⁴ The people of Israel did everything that Yahweh commanded Moses. They camped by their banners. They went out from the camp by their clans, in the order of their ancestor's households.

Chapter 3

¹ Now this is the history of the descendants of Aaron and Moses when Yahweh spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. ² The names of Aaron's sons were Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

³ These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed and who were ordained to serve as priests. ⁴ But Nadab and Abihu fell dead before Yahweh when they offered to him unacceptable fire in the wilderness of Sinai. Nadab and Abihu had no children, so just Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests with Aaron their father.

⁵ Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ⁶ "Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest for them to help him.

⁷ They must perform the duties on behalf of Aaron and the whole community before the tent of meeting. They must serve in the tabernacle. ⁸ They must care for all the furnishings in the tent of meeting, and they must help the tribes of Israel to carry out the tabernacle service.

⁹ You must give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They are wholly given to help him serve the people of Israel. ¹⁰ You must appoint Aaron and his sons as priests, but any foreigner who comes near must be put to death."

¹¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ¹² "Look, I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel. I have done this instead of taking each firstborn, who opens the womb, from among the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me, ¹³ for all the firstborn belong to me. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both men and animals. They belong to me. I am Yahweh."

¹⁴ Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. He said, ¹⁵ "Count the descendants of Levi in each family, in their clans. Count every male who is one month old and older." ¹⁶ Moses counted them, following the word of Yahweh, just as he was commanded to do.

¹⁷ The names of the sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

¹⁸ These are the names of the sons of Gershon, by their clans: Libni and Shimei.

¹⁹ The sons of Kohath, by their clans: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

²⁰ The sons of Merari, by their clans: Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites, listed clan by clan.

²¹ The clans of the Libnites and the Shimeites come from Gershon. These are the clans of the Gershonites. ²² All the males from a month old and older were counted, totaling 7,500. ²³ The clans of the Gershonites must camp on the west side of the tabernacle.

²⁴ Eliasaph son of Lael must lead the clans of the descendants of the Gershonites. ²⁵ The family of Gershon must care for the tent of meeting including the tabernacle. They must care for the tent, its covering, and the curtain used as the entrance to the tent of meeting. ²⁶ They must care for the courtyard hangings, the curtain at the courtyard entrance—the courtyard that surrounds the sanctuary and the altar. They must care for the ropes of the tent of meeting and for everything in it.

²⁷ These clans come from Kohath: the clan of the Amramites, the clan of the Izharites, the clan of the Hebronites, and the clan of the Uzzielites. These clans belong to the Kohathites. ²⁸ 8,600 males have been counted aged one month old and older to perform the duties of the sanctuary. ²⁹ The Kohath clans must camp on the south side of the tabernacle.

³⁰ Elizaphan son of Uzziel must lead the ancestral households of the Kohathites. ³¹ They must care for the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the holy things that are used in their service, the curtain, and all the work around it. ³² Eleazar son of Aaron the priest must lead the men who lead the Levites. He must supervise the men who perform the duties of the holy place.

³³ Two clans have come from Merari: the clan of the Mahlites and the clan of the Mushites. These clans have come from Merari. ³⁴ 6,200 males have been counted aged one month old and older. ³⁵ Zuriel son of Abihail must lead the ancestral households of Merari. They must camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

³⁶ The descendants of Merari must care for the framing of the tabernacle, the crossbars, posts, bases, all the hardware, and everything related to them, including ³⁷ the pillars and posts of the courtyard that surround the tabernacle, with their sockets, pegs, and ropes.

³⁸ Moses and Aaron and his sons must camp on the east side of the tabernacle, in front of the tent of meeting, toward the sunrise. They are responsible for performing the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of the people of Israel. Any foreigner who approaches the sanctuary must be put to death.

³⁹ Moses and Aaron counted all the males in the clans of Levi who were aged one month old and older, just as Yahweh commanded. They counted twenty-two thousand men.

⁴⁰ Yahweh said to Moses, "Count all the firstborn males of the people of Israel who are aged one month old and older. List their names. ⁴¹ You must take the Levites for me—I am Yahweh—instead of all the firstborn of the people of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of the firstborn of the livestock of the descendants of Israel."

⁴² Moses counted all the firstborn people of Israel as Yahweh had commanded him to do. ⁴³ He counted all the firstborn males by name, aged one month old and older. He counted 22,273 men.

⁴⁴ Again, Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ⁴⁵ "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the people of Israel, and take the Levites' livestock instead of the people's livestock. The Levites belong to me—I am Yahweh.

⁴⁶ For the redemption of the 273 firstborn sons of Israel who exceed the number of the Levites ⁴⁷ you must collect five shekels for each of them. You must use the shekel of the sanctuary as your standard weight. The shekel equals twenty gerahs. ⁴⁸ You must give the redemption money that you paid to Aaron and his sons."

⁴⁹ So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number of those redeemed by the Levites. ⁵⁰ Moses collected the money from the firstborn of the people of Israel. He collected 1,365 shekels, weighing with the shekel of the sanctuary. ⁵¹ Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and to his sons. Moses did everything he was told to do by Yahweh's word, as Yahweh had commanded him.

Chapter 4

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron. He said, ² "Conduct a census of the male descendants of Kohath from among the Levites, by their clans and ancestral households. ³ Count all the men who are thirty to fifty years old. These men must join the company to serve in the tent of meeting. ⁴ The descendants of Kohath must take care of the most holy things reserved for me in the tent of meeting.

⁵ When the camp prepares to move forward, Aaron and his sons must go into the tent, take down the screening curtain that separates the most holy place from the holy place and cover the ark of the testimony with it. ⁶ They must cover the ark with a piece of fine leather. They must spread a cloth that is completely blue over it. They must insert the poles to carry it.

⁷ They are to spread a blue cloth on the table of the bread of the presence. On it they must put the dishes, spoons, bowls, and jars for the drink offering. Bread must always continue to be on the table. ⁸ They are to spread over them a scarlet cloth and cover the same with hides of fine leather. They must insert poles to carry the table.

⁹ They must take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand, along with its lamps, tongs, trays, and all the jars of oil for the lamps. ¹⁰ They must put the lampstand and all its accessories into a covering of fine leather, and they must put it on a carrying frame. ¹¹ They must spread a cloth of blue on the gold altar. They must cover it with a covering of fine leather, and then insert the carrying poles.

¹² They must take all the equipment for the ministry, with which they serve in the sanctuary, and wrap it in a blue cloth. They must cover that with the hides of fine leather and put the equipment on the carrying frame. ¹³ They must clear away the ashes of fat from the altar and spread a purple cloth on the altar. ¹⁴ They must put on the carrying frame all the equipment that they use in the work of the altar. These objects are the firepans, forks, shovels, bowls, and all the other equipment for the altar. They must cover the altar with fine leather hides and then insert the carrying poles.

¹⁵ When Aaron and his sons have completely covered the holy place and all its equipment, and when the camp moves forward, then the descendants of Kohath must come to carry the holy place. If they touch the holy instruments, they must die. This is the work of the descendants of Kohath, to carry the furnishings in the tent of meeting. ¹⁶ Eleazar son of Aaron the priest oversees the care of the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the regular grain offering, and the anointing oil. He oversees the care of the entire tabernacle and all that is in it, the holy place and its equipment."

¹⁷ Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron. He said, ¹⁸ "Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites. ¹⁹ So do this for them that they may live and not die, when they approach the most holy things: Aaron and his sons must go in, and assign each man to his work and his responsibility. ²⁰ But the Kohathites must not go in to look at the holy place, even for a moment, or they must die."

²¹ Yahweh spoke again to Moses. He said, ²² "Conduct a census of the descendants of Gershon also, by their ancestor's families and by their clans. ²³ Count those who are thirty years old to fifty years old. Count all of them who will join the company to serve in the tent of meeting.

²⁴ This is the work of the clans of the Gershonites, when they serve and what they carry. ²⁵ They must carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, its covering, the covering of fine leather hides that is on it, and the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting. ²⁶ They must carry the curtains of the court, the curtain for the doorway of the court's gate, which is near the tabernacle and near the altar, their ropes, and all the instruments for their service. Whatever should be done with these things, they must do it.

²⁷ Aaron and his sons must direct all the service of the descendants of the Gershonites, in everything that they transport, and in all their service. You must assign them to all their responsibilities. ²⁸ This is the service of the clans of the descendants of the Gershonites for the tent of meeting. Ithamar son of Aaron the priest must lead them in their service.

²⁹ You must count the descendants of Merari by their clans, and order them by their ancestor's families, ³⁰ from thirty years old and older up to fifty years old. Count everyone who is going to join the company and serve in the tent of meeting.

³¹ This is their responsibility and their burden in all their service for the tent of meeting. They must care for the framing of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts, and sockets, ³² along with the posts of the courtyard around the tabernacle, their sockets, pegs, and their ropes, with all their hardware. List by name the articles they must carry.

³³ This is the service of the clans of the descendants of Merari, what they are to do for the tent of meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest."

³⁴ Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the descendants of the Kohathites by the clans of their ancestor's families. ³⁵ They counted them from thirty years old and older up to fifty years old. They counted everyone who would join the company to serve in the tent of meeting. ³⁶ They counted 2,750 men by their clans.

³⁷ This was the list of the clans of the Kohathites who served in the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to Yahweh's command that was given through Moses.

³⁸ The descendants of Gershon were counted in their clans, by their ancestor's families, ³⁹ from thirty to fifty years old, everyone who would join the company to serve in the tent of meeting. ⁴⁰ All the men, counted by their clans and their ancestor's families, numbered 2,630.

⁴¹ Moses and Aaron counted the clans of the descendants of Gershon who would serve in the tent of meeting. In doing this, they obeyed what Yahweh had commanded them to do through Moses.

⁴² The descendants of Merari were counted in their clans by their ancestor's families, ⁴³ from thirty to fifty years old, everyone who would join the company to serve in the tent of meeting. ⁴⁴ All the men, counted by their clans and their ancestor's families, numbered 3,200.

⁴⁵ This was the list of the clans of the descendants of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron counted according to Yahweh's command that came by the hand of Moses.

⁴⁶ So Moses, Aaron, and the chiefs of Israel counted all the Levites by their clans in their ancestral families ⁴⁷ from thirty to fifty years old. They counted everyone who would do work in the tabernacle, and who would carry and care for the items in the tent of meeting. ⁴⁸ They counted 8,580 men.

⁴⁹ At Yahweh's command, Moses counted each man, keeping count of each by the type of work he was assigned to do. He counted each man by the kind of responsibility he would bear. In doing this, they obeyed what Yahweh had commanded them to do through Moses.

Chapter 5

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ² "Command the people of Israel to send away from the camp every leper, everyone who has an oozing sore, and whoever is unclean through touching a dead body. ³ Whether male or female, you must send them out of the camp. They must not defile the camp, because I live in it." ⁴ The people of Israel did so. They sent them out of the camp, as Yahweh commanded Moses. The people of Israel obeyed Yahweh.

⁵ Again Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ⁶ "Speak to the people of Israel. When a man or woman commits any sin such as people do to one another, and is unfaithful to me, that person is guilty. ⁷ Then he must confess the sin that he has done. He must completely pay back the price of his guilt and add to the price one-fifth more. He must give this to the one he has wronged.

⁸ But if the wronged person has no close relative to receive the payment, he must pay the price for his guilt to me through a priest, along with a ram to atone for himself. ⁹ Every contribution, everything the people of Israel have set apart, which they have brought to the priest, will belong to him. ¹⁰ The offerings of every person will be for the priest; if anyone gives anything to the priest, it will belong to him."

¹¹ Again, Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ¹² "Speak to the people of Israel. Say to them, 'Suppose that a man's wife turns away and is unfaithful to her husband.

¹³ If a man lies with her and it is hidden from the eyes of her husband, and her impurity is undetected even though she defiled herself, and there is no witness against her, since she was not caught in the act, ¹⁴ nevertheless, a spirit of jealousy might still inform the husband that his wife is defiled. However, a spirit of jealousy might falsely come on a man when his wife is not defiled.

¹⁵ In such cases, the man must bring his wife to the priest. The husband must take an offering required on her behalf, a tenth of an ephah of barley flour. He must pour no oil on it and put no frankincense on it, because it is a grain offering of jealousy, a grain offering for remembering, as a reminder of the iniquity.

¹⁶ The priest must bring her near and place her before Yahweh. ¹⁷ The priest must take a jar of holy water and take dust from the floor of the tabernacle. He must put the dust into the water.

¹⁸ The priest will set the woman before Yahweh and he will untie the hair on the woman's head. He will put into her hands the grain offering of remembrance, which is the grain offering of jealousy. The priest will hold in his hand the bitter water that can bring a curse. ¹⁹ The priest will put the woman under an oath and say to her, 'If no other man has lain with you, and if you have not gone astray and committed uncleanness, then you will be free from this bitter water that can bring a curse.

²⁰ But if you have gone astray, though you are under your husband's authority and you have defiled yourself, and some other man has had sexual relations with you, ²¹ then, (the priest must cause the woman to swear an oath that can bring down a curse on her, and then he must continue speaking to the woman) 'Yahweh will make you into a curse that will be shown to your people to be such. This will happen if Yahweh causes your thigh to waste away and your abdomen to swell. ²² This water that brings the curse will go into your stomach and make your abdomen swell and your thighs waste away.' The woman is to reply, 'Amen. Amen.'

²³ The priest must write these curses on a scroll, and then he must wash away the written curses into the bitter water.

²⁴ The priest must make the woman drink the bitter water that brings the curse. The water that brings the curse will enter her and become bitter. ²⁵ The priest must take the grain offering of jealousy out of the woman's hand. He must hold up the grain offering before Yahweh and bring it to the altar. ²⁶ The priest must take a handful of the grain offering as a representative offering, and burn it on the altar. Then he must give the woman the bitter water to drink.

²⁷ When he gives her the water to drink, if she is defiled because she has committed a sin against her husband, then the water that brings the curse will enter her and become bitter. Her abdomen will swell and her thigh will waste away. The woman will be cursed among her people. ²⁸ But if the woman is not defiled and if she is clean, then she must be free. She will be able to conceive children.

²⁹ This is the law of jealousy. It is the law for a woman who goes astray from her husband and is defiled. ³⁰ It is the law for a man with a spirit of jealousy when he is jealous of his wife. He must bring the woman before Yahweh, and the priest must do to her everything that this law of jealousy describes.

³¹ The man will be free from guilt for bringing his wife to the priest. The woman must bear any guilt she might have."

Chapter 6

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ² "Speak to the people of Israel. Say to them, 'When a man or a woman consecrates himself to Yahweh with the special vow of a Nazirite, ³ he must abstain from wine and strong drink. He must not drink vinegar made from wine or from strong drink. He must not drink any grape juice or eat fresh grapes or raisins. ⁴ In all the days of his consecration, he must eat nothing that is made from the grape vine, including everything from the seeds to the skins.

⁵ During all the time of his vow of consecration, no razor is to be used on his head until the days of his consecration to Yahweh are fulfilled. He must be set apart to Yahweh. He must let the hair grow long on his head.

⁶ During all the time that he sets himself apart to Yahweh, he must not come near a dead body. ⁷ He must not make himself unclean even for his father, mother, brother, or sister, if they die. This is because he is consecrated to God, as everyone can see by his long hair. ⁸ During all the time of his consecration he is holy, reserved for Yahweh.

⁹ If someone very suddenly dies beside him and defiles his consecrated head, then he must shave his head on the day of his purification—on the seventh day he must shave it.

¹⁰ On the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ¹¹ The priest must offer one bird as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering. These will atone for him because he sinned by being near the dead body. He must consecrate his head again on that day.

¹² He must set himself apart to Yahweh for the days of his consecration. He must bring a male lamb one year old as a guilt offering. The days before he defiled himself must not be counted, because his consecration was defiled.

¹³ This is the law about the Nazirite for when the time of his consecration is complete. He must be brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting. ¹⁴ He must present his offering to Yahweh. He must offer as a burnt offering a male lamb one year old and without blemish. He must bring as a sin offering a female lamb one year old and without blemish. He must bring a ram as a fellowship offering that is without blemish. ¹⁵ He must also bring a basket of bread made without yeast, loaves of fine flour mixed with oil, wafers without yeast rubbed with oil, together with their grain offering and drink offerings.

¹⁶ The priest must present them before Yahweh. He must offer his sin offering and burnt offering. ¹⁷ With the basket of unleavened bread, he must present the ram as a sacrifice, the fellowship offering to Yahweh. The priest must present also the grain offering and the drink offering.

¹⁸ The Nazirite must shave his consecrated head at the entrance to the tent of meeting. He must take the hair from his head and put it on the fire that is under the sacrifice of fellowship offerings.

¹⁹ The priest must take the boiled shoulder of the ram, one loaf of bread without yeast out of the basket, and one wafer without yeast. He must place them into the hands of the Nazirite after he has shaved his consecrated hair. ²⁰ The priest must wave them as an offering before Yahweh, a holy portion for the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was the contribution for the priest. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine.

²¹ This is the law for the Nazirite who vows his offering to Yahweh for his consecration. Whatever else he may give, he must keep the obligations of the vow he has taken, to keep the promise indicated by the law of his consecration.'"

²² Again Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ²³ "Speak to Aaron and to his sons. Say, 'You must bless the people of Israel in this way. You must say to them,

²⁴ "May Yahweh bless you

and keep you.

²⁵ May Yahweh make his face shine on you

and be gracious to you.

²⁶ May Yahweh look on you with favor

and give you peace."'

²⁷ It is in this way that they must give my name to the people of Israel. Then I will bless them."

Chapter 7

¹ On the day that Moses completed the tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart to Yahweh, together with all of its furnishings. He did the same for the altar and all its utensils. He anointed them and set them apart to Yahweh. ² On that day, the leaders of Israel, the heads of their ancestor's families, offered sacrifices. These men were leading the tribes. They had overseen the counting of the men in the census. ³ They brought their offerings before Yahweh. They brought six covered carts and twelve oxen. They brought one cart for every two leaders, and each leader brought one ox. They presented these things in front of the tabernacle.

⁴ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ⁵ "Accept the offerings from them and use the offerings for the work in the tent of meeting. Give the offerings to the Levites, to each one as his work needs them."

⁶ Moses took the carts and the oxen, and he gave them to the Levites. ⁷ He gave two carts and four oxen to the descendants of Gershon, because of what their work needed. ⁸ He gave four carts and eight oxen to the descendants of Merari, in the care of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest. He did this because of what their work required.

⁹ But he gave none of those things to the descendants of Kohath, because theirs would be the work related to the things that belong to Yahweh that they would carry on their own shoulders.

¹⁰ The leaders offered their goods for the dedication of the altar on the day that Moses anointed the altar. The leaders offered their sacrifices in front of the altar. ¹¹ Yahweh said to Moses, "Each leader must offer on his own day his sacrifice for the dedication of the altar."

¹² On the first day, Nahshon son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah, offered his sacrifice.

¹³ His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. ¹⁴ He gave one gold dish that weighed ten shekels and was full of incense.

¹⁵ He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb. ¹⁶ He gave one male goat as a sin offering. ¹⁷ He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Nahshon son of Amminadab.

¹⁸ On the second day, Nethanel son of Zuar, leader of Issachar, offered his sacrifice.

¹⁹ He offered as his sacrifice one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering.

²⁰ He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense. ²¹ He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb. ²² He gave one male goat as a sin offering. ²³ He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Nethanel son of Zuar.

²⁴ On the third day, Eliab son of Helon, leader of the descendants of Zebulun, offered his sacrifice.

²⁵ His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels, and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. ²⁶ He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

²⁷ He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb. ²⁸ He gave one male goat as a sin offering. ²⁹ He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Eliab son of Helon.

³⁰ On the fourth day, Elizur son of Shedeur, leader of the descendants of Reuben, offered his sacrifice.

³¹ His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. ³² He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

³³ He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb. ³⁴ He gave one male goat as a sin offering. ³⁵ He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Elizur son of Shedeur.

³⁶ On the fifth day, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai, leader of the descendants of Simeon, offered his sacrifice.

³⁷ His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. ³⁸ He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

³⁹ He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb. ⁴⁰ He gave one male goat as a sin offering. ⁴¹ He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.

⁴² On the sixth day, Eliasaph son of Deuel, leader of the descendants of Gad, offered his sacrifice.

⁴³ His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. ⁴⁴ He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

⁴⁵ He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb. ⁴⁶ He gave one male goat as a sin offering. ⁴⁷ He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Eliasaph son of Deuel.

⁴⁸ On the seventh day, Elishama son of Ammihud, leader of the descendants of Ephraim, offered his sacrifice.

⁴⁹ His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. ⁵⁰ He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

⁵¹ He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb. ⁵² He gave one male goat as a sin offering. ⁵³ He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Elishama son of Ammihud.

⁵⁴ On the eighth day, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, leader of the descendants of Manasseh, offered his sacrifice.

⁵⁵ His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. ⁵⁶ He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

⁵⁷ He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb. ⁵⁸ He gave one male goat as a sin offering. ⁵⁹ He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

⁶⁰ On the ninth day, Abidan son of Gideoni, leader of the descendants of Benjamin, offered his sacrifice.

⁶¹ His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. ⁶² He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

⁶³ He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb. ⁶⁴ He gave one male goat as a sin offering. ⁶⁵ He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Abidan son of Gideoni.

⁶⁶ On the tenth day, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai, leader of the descendants of Dan, offered his sacrifice.

⁶⁷ His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. ⁶⁸ He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

⁶⁹ He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb.. ⁷⁰ He gave one male goat as a sin offering. ⁷¹ He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

⁷² On the eleventh day, Pagiel son of Okran, leader of the descendants of Asher, offered his sacrifice.

⁷³ His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. ⁷⁴ He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

⁷⁵ He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb. ⁷⁶ He gave one male goat as a sin offering. ⁷⁷ He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Pagiel son of Okran.

⁷⁸ On the twelfth day, Ahira son of Enan, leader of the descendants of Naphtali, offered his sacrifice.

⁷⁹ His sacrifice was one silver platter weighing 130 shekels and one silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. Both of these objects were full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering. ⁸⁰ He also gave one gold dish weighing ten shekels, full of incense.

⁸¹ He gave as a burnt offering one young bull, one ram, and a one-year-old male lamb. ⁸² He gave one male goat as a sin offering. ⁸³ He gave two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs that were a year old, as the sacrifice for a fellowship offering. This was the sacrifice of Ahira son of Enan.

⁸⁴ This was the dedication offering for the altar on the day that it was anointed: the chiefs of Israel set apart the twelve silver platters, twelve silver bowls, and twelve gold dishes. ⁸⁵ Each silver platter weighed 130 shekels and each bowl weighed seventy shekels. All the silver vessels weighed 2,400 shekels, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. ⁸⁶ Each of the twelve gold dishes, full of incense, weighed ten shekels by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel. All the gold dishes weighed 120 shekels.

⁸⁷ They set apart all the animals for the burnt offerings, twelve bulls, twelve rams, and twelve year-old male lambs. They gave their grain offering. They gave twelve male goats as a sin offering. ⁸⁸ From all their cattle, they gave twenty-four bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty male lambs a year old, as the sacrifice for the fellowship offering. This was for the dedication of the altar after it was anointed.

⁸⁹ When Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Yahweh, he heard his voice speaking to him. Yahweh spoke to him from above the atonement lid on the ark of the testimony, from between the two cherubim. He spoke to him.

Chapter 8

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ² "Speak to Aaron. Say to him, 'The seven lamps must give light in front of the lampstand when you light them.'"

³ Aaron did this. He lit the lamps on the lampstand to give light toward the front of it, as Yahweh had commanded Moses. ⁴ The lampstand was made in this way and Yahweh showed Moses the pattern for it. It was to be hammered gold from its base to its top, with hammered cups like blossoms.

⁵ Again, Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ⁶ "Take the Levites from among the people of Israel and purify them.

⁷ Do this to them to purify them: Sprinkle the water of atonement on them. Make them shave their entire body, wash their clothes, and purify themselves. ⁸ Then have them take a young bull and its grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil. Let them take another young bull as a sin offering.

⁹ You will bring the Levites in front of the tent of meeting and assemble the whole community of the people of Israel. ¹⁰ When you bring the Levites before Yahweh, the people of Israel must lay their hands on the Levites. ¹¹ Aaron must offer the Levites before Yahweh, as a wave offering from the people of Israel so that they may do the service of Yahweh.

¹² The Levites must place their hands on the heads of the bulls. You must offer one bull for a sin offering and the other bull for a burnt offering to me, to atone for the Levites. ¹³ Present the Levites before Aaron and before his sons, and lift them up as a wave offering to me.

¹⁴ In this way you must separate the Levites from among the people of Israel. The Levites will belong to me. ¹⁵ After that, the Levites must go in to serve in the tent of meeting. You must purify them. You must offer them as a wave offering.

¹⁶ Do this, because they are entirely mine from among the people of Israel. They will take the place of each firstborn, the first issue of the womb, of all the descendants of Israel. I have taken the Levites for myself. ¹⁷ All the firstborn from among the people of Israel are mine, both man or animal. On the day that I took the lives of all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I set them apart for myself.

¹⁸ I have taken the Levites from among the people of Israel instead of all the firstborn. ¹⁹ I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons. I have taken them from among the people of Israel to do the work of the people of Israel in the tent of meeting. I have given them to atone for the people of Israel so that no plague will harm the people when they come near to the holy place."

²⁰ Moses, Aaron, and the whole community of the people of Israel did this with the Levites. They did everything that Yahweh had commanded Moses concerning the Levites. The people of Israel did this with them. ²¹ The Levites purified themselves and washed their clothing, and Aaron presented them as a wave offering to Yahweh and he made atonement for them to cleanse them.

²² After that, the Levites went in to do their service in the tent of meeting before Aaron and before Aaron's sons. This was as Yahweh had commanded Moses about the Levites. They treated all the Levites in this way.

²³ Yahweh spoke again to Moses. He said, ²⁴ "All of this is for the Levites who are twenty-five years old and more. They must join the company to serve in the tent of meeting.

²⁵ They must stop serving in this way at the age of fifty years. At that age they must not serve any longer. ²⁶ They may help their brothers who continue to work at the tent of meeting, to perform their duties, but they must serve no more. This is how you must deal with the Levites in all their responsibilities."

Chapter 9

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they came out from the land of Egypt. He said, ² "Let the people of Israel keep the Passover at its fixed time of year. ³ On the fourteenth day of this month, at evening, you must keep the Passover at its fixed time of year. You must keep it, follow all the regulations, and obey all the decrees that are related to it."

⁴ So, Moses told the people of Israel that they should keep the Festival of the Passover. ⁵ So they kept the Passover in the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at evening, in the wilderness of Sinai. The people of Israel obeyed everything that Yahweh commanded Moses to do.

⁶ There were certain men who became unclean by the body of a dead man. They could not keep the Passover on that day. They went before Moses and Aaron on that same day. ⁷ Those men said to Moses, "We are unclean because of the dead body of a man. Why do you keep us from offering the sacrifice to Yahweh at the fixed time of year among the people of Israel?" ⁸ Moses said to them, "Wait for me to hear what Yahweh will instruct about you."

⁹ Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ¹⁰ "Speak to the people of Israel. Say, 'If any of you or your descendants are unclean because of a dead body, or are on a long journey, he may still keep the Passover to Yahweh.'

¹¹ In the second month on the fourteenth day at evening, they will eat the Passover meal. They must eat the Passover lamb with bread that is made without yeast and with bitter herbs. ¹² They must not leave any of it until the morning, or break any of its bones. They must follow all the regulations for the Passover.

¹³ But any person who is clean and is not on a journey, but who fails to keep the Passover, that person must be cut off from his people because he did not bring the offering that Yahweh requires at the fixed time of year. That man must carry his sin. ¹⁴ If a stranger lives among you and keeps the Passover to Yahweh, he must keep it according to the statute of the Passover and according to its rule. You must have one statute both for the sojourner and for the one who was born in the land."

¹⁵ On the day that the tabernacle was set up, the cloud covered the tabernacle, the tent of the covenant decrees. At evening the cloud was over the tabernacle. It appeared like fire until morning. ¹⁶ It continued that way. The cloud covered the tabernacle and appeared like fire at night. ¹⁷ Whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tent, the people of Israel would set out on their journey. Wherever the cloud stopped, the people would camp.

¹⁸ At Yahweh's command, the people of Israel would travel, and at his command, they would camp. While the cloud stopped over the tabernacle, they would stay in their camp. ¹⁹ When the cloud remained on the tabernacle for many days, then the people of Israel would obey Yahweh's instructions and not travel.

²⁰ Sometimes the cloud remained a few days on the tabernacle. In that case, they would obey Yahweh's command—they would make camp and then travel on again at his command. ²¹ Sometimes the cloud was present in camp from evening until morning. When the cloud lifted in the morning, they journeyed. If it continued for a day and for a night, only when the cloud lifted would they journey on.

²² Whether the cloud stayed on the tabernacle for two days, a month, or a year, for as long as it stayed there, the people of Israel would stay in their camp and not travel. But whenever the cloud was taken up, they would set out on their journey. ²³ They would camp at Yahweh's command, and they would travel at his command. They obeyed Yahweh's command given through Moses.

Chapter 10

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ² "Make two silver trumpets. Hammer the silver to make them. You must use the trumpets to call the community together and to call the community to move their camps.

³ The priests must blow the trumpets to call all the community together in front of you at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁴ If the priests blow only one trumpet, then the leaders, the heads of the clans of Israel, must gather to you. ⁵ When you blow a loud signal, the tribes camped on the east side must begin their journey.

⁶ When you blow a loud signal the second time, the tribes camped on the south side must begin their journey. They must blow a loud signal for their journeys. ⁷ When the community gathers together, blow the trumpets, but not loudly. ⁸ The sons of Aaron, the priests, must blow the trumpets. This will always be an ordinance for you throughout your people's generations.

⁹ When you go to war in your land against an adversary who oppresses you, then you must sound an alarm with the trumpets. I, Yahweh your God, will call you to mind and save you from your enemies.

¹⁰ Also, at the times of celebration, both your regular festivals and at the beginnings of the months, you must blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices for your fellowship offerings. These will act as a reminder of you to me, your God. I am Yahweh your God."

¹¹ In the second year, in the second month, on the twentieth day of the month, the cloud was lifted from the tabernacle of the covenant decrees. ¹² The people of Israel then went on their journey from the wilderness of Sinai. The cloud stopped in the wilderness of Paran. ¹³ They made their first journey, following Yahweh's command given through Moses.

¹⁴ The camp under the banner of Judah's descendants went out first, moving out their individual armies. Nahshon son of Amminadab led Judah's army. ¹⁵ Nethanel son of Zuar led the army of the tribe of Issachar's descendants. ¹⁶ Eliab son of Helon led the army of the tribe of Zebulun's descendants.

¹⁷ The descendants of Gershon and of Merari, who cared for the tabernacle, took down the tabernacle and then set out on their journey. ¹⁸ Next, the armies under the banner of Reuben's camp set out on their journey. Elizur son of Shedeur led Reuben's army. ¹⁹ Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai led the army of the tribe of Simeon's descendants. ²⁰ Eliasaph son of Deuel led the army of the tribe of Gad's descendants.

²¹ The Kohathites set out. They carried the sanctuary's holy equipment. Others would set up the tabernacle before the Kohathites arrived at the next camp. ²² The armies under the banner of Ephraim's descendants set out next. Elishama son of Ammihud led Ephraim's army. ²³ Gamaliel son of Pedahzur led the army of the tribe of Manasseh's descendants. ²⁴ Abidan son of Gideoni led the army of the tribe of Benjamin's descendants.

²⁵ The armies that camped under the banner of Dan's descendants set out last. Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai led Dan's army. ²⁶ Pagiel son of Okran led the army of the tribe of Asher's descendants. ²⁷ Ahira son of Enan led the army of the tribe of Naphtali's descendants. ²⁸ This is the way that the armies of the people of Israel set out on their journey.

²⁹ Moses spoke to Hobab son of Reuel the Midianite. Reuel was the father of Moses' wife. Moses spoke to Hobab and said, "We are traveling to a place that Yahweh described. Yahweh said, 'I will give it to you.' Come with us and we will do you good. Yahweh has promised to do good for Israel." ³⁰ But Hobab said to Moses, "I will not go with you. I will go to my own land and my own relatives."

³¹ Then Moses replied, "Please do not leave us. You know how to camp in the wilderness. You must watch out for us. ³² If you go with us, we will do for you the same good that Yahweh does to us."

³³ They journeyed from the mountain of Yahweh for three days. The ark of the covenant of Yahweh went before them for three days to find a place for them to rest. ³⁴ Yahweh's cloud was over them in the daytime as they journeyed.

³⁵ Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, "Rise up, Yahweh. Scatter your enemies. Make those who hate you run from you." ³⁶ Whenever the ark stopped, Moses would say, "Return, Yahweh, to Israel's many tens of thousands."

Chapter 11

¹ Now the people complained about their troubles as Yahweh listened. Yahweh heard the people and became angry. Fire from Yahweh burned among them and consumed some of the camp on its edges. ² Then people called out to Moses, so Moses prayed to Yahweh, and the fire stopped. ³ That place was named Taberah, because Yahweh's fire burned among them.

⁴ Some foreign people began to camp with Israel's descendants. They wanted better food to eat. Then the people of Israel began to weep and say, "Who will give us meat to eat? ⁵ We remember the fish that we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic. ⁶ Now our appetite is gone, because all we can see is this manna."

⁷ Manna was like coriander seed. It looked like resin. ⁸ The people walked around and gathered it. They ground it in mills, beat it in mortars, boiled it in pots, and made it into cakes. It tasted like a delicacy baked with olive oil.

⁹ When the dew fell on the camp in the night, the manna also fell. ¹⁰ Moses heard the people weeping in their families, and every man was at the entrance to his tent. Yahweh was very angry, and in Moses' eyes their complaining was wrong.

¹¹ Moses said to Yahweh, "Why have you treated your servant so badly? Why are you not pleased with me? You make me carry the load of all these people. ¹² Did I conceive all these people? Have I given them birth so that you should say to me, 'Carry them closely to your chest as a father carries a baby?' Should I carry them to the land that you swore to their ancestors to give them?

¹³ Where can I find meat to give to all this people? They are weeping in front of me and are saying, 'Give us meat to eat.' ¹⁴ I cannot bear all these people alone. They are too much for me. ¹⁵ Since you are treating me this way, kill me now—if I find favor in your eyes—do not let me see my misery."

¹⁶ Yahweh said to Moses, "Bring to me seventy of Israel's elders. Be sure that they are elders and officers of the people. Bring them to the tent of meeting to stand there with you. ¹⁷ I will come down and talk with you there. I will take some of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will bear the burden of the people with you. You will not have to bear it alone.

¹⁸ Say to the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow you will indeed eat meat, for you have wept and Yahweh has heard. You said, "Who will give us meat to eat? It was good for us in Egypt." Therefore Yahweh will give you meat, and you will eat it. ¹⁹ You will not eat meat for only one day, two days, five days, ten days, or twenty days, ²⁰ but you will eat meat for a whole month until it comes out of your nostrils. It will disgust you because you have rejected Yahweh, who is among you. You have wept before him. You said, "Why did we leave Egypt?"'"

²¹ Then Moses said, "The people I am with are 600,000 footmen, and you have said, 'I will give them meat to eat for a whole month.' ²² Should we kill flocks and herds to satisfy them? Should we catch all the fish in the sea to satisfy them?" ²³ Yahweh said to Moses, "Is my hand short? Now you will see whether or not my word is true."

²⁴ Moses went out and told the people Yahweh's words. He gathered seventy of the people's elders and positioned them around the tent. ²⁵ Yahweh came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses. Yahweh took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders. When the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied, but only on that occasion and not again.

²⁶ Two men remained in the camp, named Eldad and Medad. The Spirit also rested on them. Their names were written on the list, but they had not gone out to the tent. Nevertheless, they prophesied in the camp. ²⁷ A young man in the camp ran and told Moses, "Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp."

²⁸ Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant, one of his chosen men, said to Moses, "My master Moses, stop them." ²⁹ Moses said to him, "Are you jealous for my sake? I wish that all of Yahweh's people were prophets and that he would put his Spirit on them all!" ³⁰ Then Moses and the elders of Israel went back to the camp.

³¹ Then a wind came from Yahweh and brought quail from the sea. They fell near the camp, about a day's journey on one side and a day's journey on the other side. The quail surrounded the camp about two cubits above the ground. ³² The people were busy gathering quail all that day, all the night, and all the next day. No one gathered less than ten homers of quail. They shared the quail all through the camp.

³³ While the meat was still between their teeth, while they were chewing it, the anger of Yahweh was kindled at them. He attacked the people with a very great disease. ³⁴ That place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved meat. ³⁵ From Kibroth Hattaavah the people traveled to Hazeroth, where they stayed.

Chapter 12

¹ Then Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married. ² They said, "Has Yahweh spoken only with Moses? Has he not spoken also with us?" Now Yahweh heard what they said. ³ Now the man Moses was very humble, humbler than anyone else on earth.

⁴ Right away Yahweh spoke to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam: "Come out, you three, to the tent of meeting." So the three of them went out. ⁵ Then Yahweh came down in a pillar of cloud. He stood at the entrance to the tent and called Aaron and Miriam. They both came forward.

⁶ Yahweh said, "Now listen to my words.

When a prophet of mine is with you,

I will reveal myself to him in visions

and speak to him in dreams.

⁷ My servant Moses is not like that.

He is faithful in all my house.

⁸ I speak to Moses directly, not with visions or riddles.

He sees my form.

So why are you unafraid

to speak against my servant, against Moses?"

⁹ Yahweh's anger burned against them, and then he left them. ¹⁰ The cloud rose from over the tent, and Miriam was suddenly leprous—she was as white as snow. When Aaron turned toward Miriam, he saw that she had leprosy.

¹¹ Aaron said to Moses, "Oh, my master, please do not hold this sin against us. We have spoken foolishly, and we have sinned. ¹² Please do not let her be like a dead newborn whose flesh is half consumed when it emerges from its mother's womb."

¹³ So Moses called out to Yahweh. He said, "Please heal her, God, please." ¹⁴ Yahweh said to Moses, "If her father had spit in her face, she would be disgraced for seven days. Shut her outside the camp for seven days. After that bring her in again." ¹⁵ So Miriam was shut outside the camp for seven days. The people did not journey until she had returned to the camp.

¹⁶ After that, the people journeyed from Hazeroth and camped in the wilderness of Paran.

Chapter 13

¹ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ² "Send some men to examine the land of Canaan, which I have given to the people of Israel. Send a man from every tribe of their ancestors. Each man must be a leader among them."

³ Moses sent them from the wilderness of Paran, so that they might obey Yahweh's command. All of them were leaders among the people of Israel. ⁴ These were their names: from the tribe of Reuben, Shammua son of Zakkur;

⁵ from the tribe of Simeon, Shaphat son of Hori;

⁶ from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;

⁷ from the tribe of Issachar, Igal son of Joseph;

⁸ from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;

⁹ from the tribe of Benjamin, Palti son of Raphu;

¹⁰ from the tribe of Zebulun, Gaddiel son of Sodi;

¹¹ from the tribe of Joseph (that is to say, from the tribe Manasseh), Gaddi son of Susi;

¹² from the tribe of Dan, Ammiel son of Gemalli;

¹³ from the tribe of Asher, Sethur son of Michael;

¹⁴ from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;

¹⁵ from the tribe of Gad, Geuel son of Maki.

¹⁶ These were the names of the men whom Moses sent to examine the land. Moses called Hoshea son of Nun by the name of Joshua.

¹⁷ Moses sent them to examine the land of Canaan. He said to them, "Approach from the Negev and go up into the hill country. ¹⁸ Examine the land to see what it is like. Observe the people who live there, whether they are strong or weak, and whether they are few or many. ¹⁹ See what the land is like where they live. Is it good or bad? What cities are there? Are they like camps, or are they fortified cities? ²⁰ See what the land is like, whether it is good for growing crops or not, and whether there are trees there or not. Be brave and bring back samples of the land's produce." Now the time was the season for the first ripe grapes.

²¹ So the men went up and examined the land from the wilderness of Zin to Rehob, near Lebo Hamath. ²² They went up from the Negev and arrived at Hebron. Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the descendants of Anak, were there. Now Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.

²³ When they reached the Valley of Eshkol, they cut down a branch with a cluster of grapes. They carried it on a staff between two of their group. They also brought pomegranates and figs. ²⁴ That place was named the Valley of Eshkol, because of the grape cluster that the people of Israel cut down there.

²⁵ After forty days, they returned from examining the land. ²⁶ They came back to Moses, Aaron, and all the community of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the community, and showed them the produce from the land.

²⁷ They told Moses, "We reached the land to which you sent us. It certainly flows with milk and honey. Here is some produce from it. ²⁸ However, the people who make their homes there are strong. The cities are fortified and very large. We also saw descendants of Anak there. ²⁹ The Amalekites live in the Negev. The Hittites, Jebusites, and Amorites have their homes in the hill country. The Canaanites live by the sea and along the Jordan River."

³⁰ Then Caleb silenced the people who were before Moses and said, "Let us go up and take possession of the land, for we are certainly able to conquer it." ³¹ But the other men who had gone with him said, "We are not able to attack the people because they are stronger than we are."

³² So they spread around a discouraging report to the people of Israel about the land that they had examined. They said, "The land that we looked at is a land that eats up its inhabitants. All the people whom we saw there are people of great height. ³³ There we saw the Nephilim, descendants of Anak, people who came from giants. In our own sight we were like grasshoppers in comparison with them, and this is what we were in their sight, too."

Chapter 14

¹ That night all the community wept loudly. ² All the people of Israel criticized Moses and Aaron. The whole community said to them, "We wish we had died in the land of Egypt, or here in this wilderness! ³ Why did Yahweh bring us to this land to die by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will become victims. Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?"

⁴ They said to one another, "Let us choose another leader, and let us return to Egypt." ⁵ Then Moses and Aaron lay facedown before all the assembly of the community of the people of Israel.

⁶ Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were some of those sent to examine the land, tore their clothes. ⁷ They spoke to all the community of the people of Israel. They said, "The land that we passed through and examined is a very good land. ⁸ If Yahweh is pleased with us, then he will take us into this land and give it to us. The land flows with milk and honey.

⁹ But do not rebel against Yahweh, and do not fear the people in the land, for they are bread to us. Their protection will be removed from them, because Yahweh is with us. Do not fear them." ¹⁰ Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of Yahweh appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.

¹¹ Yahweh said to Moses, "How long must this people despise me? How long must they fail to trust me, despite all the signs of my power that I have done among them? ¹² I will attack them with plague, disinherit them, and make from your own clan a nation that will be greater and mightier than they are."

¹³ Moses said to Yahweh, "If you do this, then the Egyptians will hear about it, because you rescued this people from them by your power. ¹⁴ They will tell it to this land's inhabitants. They have heard that you, Yahweh, are present with this people, because you are seen face to face. Your cloud stands over our people. You go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and in a pillar of fire by night.

¹⁵ Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations that have heard this report about you will say, ¹⁶ 'Because Yahweh could not take this people into the land that he swore to give them, he has killed them in the wilderness.'

¹⁷ Now, I beg you, may the power of my Lord be great. For you have said, ¹⁸ 'Yahweh is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He forgives iniquity and transgression. He will by no means clear the guilty when he brings the punishment of the ancestors' sin on their descendants, to the third and fourth generation.' ¹⁹ Pardon, I plead with you, this people's iniquity because of the greatness of your covenant faithfulness, just as you have always forgiven this people from the time they were in Egypt until now."

²⁰ Yahweh said, "I have pardoned them in keeping with your request, ²¹ but truly, as I live, and as all the earth will be filled with my glory, ²² all those people who saw my glory and the signs of power that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness—they have still tested me these ten times and have not listened to my voice.

²³ So I say that they will certainly not see the land about which I made an oath to their ancestors. Not one of them who despised me will see it, ²⁴ except for my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly. I will bring him into the land where he had gone, and his descendants will take possession of it. ²⁵ (Now the Amalekites and Canaanites lived in the valley.) Tomorrow turn and go to the wilderness by the way of the Sea of Reeds."

²⁶ Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron. He said, ²⁷ "How long must I tolerate this evil community that criticizes me? I have heard the complaining of the people of Israel against me.

²⁸ Say to them, 'As I live—this is Yahweh's declaration—as you have spoken in my hearing, I will do this to you: ²⁹ Your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness, all you who complained against me, you who were counted in the census, the whole number of the people from twenty years old and upward. ³⁰ You will certainly not go into the land that I promised to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

³¹ But your little ones who you said would be victims, I will take them into the land. They will experience the land that you have rejected! ³² As for you, your dead bodies will fall in this wilderness. ³³ Your children will be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years. They must bear the punishment for your acts of rebellion until the end of your corpses in the wilderness.

³⁴ According to the number of the days during which you examined the land, forty days, you will bear the punishment for your sins for forty years, one year for every day, and you will know my opposition. ³⁵ I, Yahweh, have spoken. I will certainly do this to all this evil community that is gathered together against me. They will be completely cut off in this wilderness, and here they will die.'"

³⁶ So the men Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made the entire community grumble against Moses by spreading a bad report about the land— ³⁷ these men who had brought out a bad report about the land were struck down, and they died of a plague before Yahweh. ³⁸ Of those men who had gone to spy out the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive.

³⁹ When Moses reported these words to all the people of Israel, they mourned very deeply. ⁴⁰ They rose up early in the morning and went to the top of the mountain and said, "Look, we are here, and we will go to the place that Yahweh has promised, for we have sinned."

⁴¹ But Moses said, "Why are you now violating Yahweh's command? You will not succeed. ⁴² Do not go, because Yahweh is not with you to prevent you from being defeated by your enemies. ⁴³ The Amalekites and Canaanites are there, and you will die by the sword because you turned back from following Yahweh. So he will not be with you."

⁴⁴ But they arrogantly went up into the hill country; however, neither Moses nor the ark of the covenant of Yahweh left the camp. ⁴⁵ Then the Amalekites came down, and also the Canaanites who lived on those hills. They attacked the Israelites and beat them down all the way to Hormah.

Chapter 15

¹ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ² "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you go into the land where you will live, which Yahweh will give to you, ³ you are to prepare an offering by fire to Yahweh, either a burnt offering or a sacrifice to fulfill a vow or a freewill offering, or an offering at your feasts, to produce a pleasing aroma for Yahweh from the herd or the flock.

⁴ You must offer to Yahweh a burnt offering as well as a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with one-fourth of a hin of oil. ⁵ You must also offer with the burnt offering, or for the sacrifice, one-fourth of a hin of wine for the drink offering for each lamb.

⁶ If you are offering a ram, you must prepare as a grain offering two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with a third of a hin of oil. ⁷ For the drink offering, you must offer a third of a hin of wine. It will produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh.

⁸ When you prepare a bull as a burnt offering or as a sacrifice to fulfill a vow, or as a fellowship offering to Yahweh, ⁹ then you must offer with the bull a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil. ¹⁰ You must offer as the drink offering half a hin of wine, as an offering made by fire, to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh.

¹¹ It must be done this way for each bull, for each ram, and for each of the male lambs or young goats. ¹² Every sacrifice that you prepare and offer must be done as described here. ¹³ All who are native-born must do these things in this way, when anyone brings an offering made by fire, to produce an aroma that is pleasing to Yahweh.

¹⁴ If a sojourner is staying with you, or whoever may live among you throughout your people's generations, he must make an offering made by fire, to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. He must act as you act. ¹⁵ There must be the same law for the community and for the foreigner who stays with you, a permanent law throughout your people's generations. As you are, so also must be the sojourner staying with you. He must act as you act before Yahweh. ¹⁶ The same law and decree must apply to you and to the foreigner who is staying with you.'"

¹⁷ Again Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ¹⁸ "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you come into the land where I will take you, ¹⁹ when you eat the food produced in the land, you must lift up a contribution to Yahweh.

²⁰ From the first of your dough you must offer a loaf to lift it up as a contribution, a contribution from the threshing floor. You must lift it up in this way. ²¹ You must give to me a lifted contribution throughout your people's generations from the first of your dough.

²² You will sometimes sin without intending to do so, when you do not obey all these commands that I have spoken to Moses— ²³ everything that I have commanded you through Moses from the day that I began to give you commands and onward throughout your people's generations. ²⁴ In the case of unintentional sin without the community's knowledge, then all the community must offer one young bull as a burnt offering to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. Along with this must be made a grain offering and drink offering, as commanded by the decree, and one male goat as a sin offering.

²⁵ The priest must make atonement for all the community of the people of Israel. They will be forgiven because the sin was an error. They have brought their sacrifice, an offering made by fire to me. They have brought their sin offering before me for their error. ²⁶ Then all the community of the people of Israel will be forgiven, and also the foreigners who are staying with them, because all the people committed the sin unintentionally.

²⁷ If a person sins unintentionally, then he must offer a female goat a year old as a sin offering. ²⁸ The priest must make atonement before Yahweh for the person who goes astray and sins unintentionally. That person will be forgiven when atonement has been made. ²⁹ You must have the same law for the one who does anything unintentionally, the same law for the one who is native born among the people of Israel and for the foreigners who are staying among them.

³⁰ But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native born or a foreigner, blasphemes me. That person must be cut off from among his people. ³¹ Because he has despised my word and has broken my commandment, that person must be cut off completely. His iniquity will be on him.'"

³² While the people of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering wood on the Sabbath day. ³³ Those who found him brought him to Moses, Aaron, and all the community. ³⁴ They kept him in custody because it had not been declared what should be done with him.

³⁵ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "The man must surely be put to death. All the community must stone him with stones outside the camp." ³⁶ So all the community brought him outside the camp and stoned him to death as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

³⁷ Again Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ³⁸ "Speak to the descendants of Israel and command them to make for themselves tassels to hang from the borders of their garments, to hang them from each border by a blue cord. They must do this throughout their people's generations. ³⁹ It will be a special reminder to you, when you may look at it, of all my commandments, to carry them out so that you do not look to your own heart and your own eyes and prostitute yourselves to them.

⁴⁰ Do this so that you may call to mind and obey all my commandments, and so that you may be holy, reserved for me, your God. ⁴¹ I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to become your God. I am Yahweh your God."

Chapter 16

¹ Now Korah son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, descendants of Reuben, gathered some men. ² They rose up against Moses, along with other men from the people of Israel, 250 leaders of the community who were men of reputation in the community. ³ They assembled themselves together to confront Moses and Aaron. They said to them, "You have gone too far! All the community is set apart, every one of them, and Yahweh is among them. Why do you lift up yourselves above the rest of Yahweh's community?"

⁴ When Moses heard that, he lay facedown. ⁵ He spoke to Korah and all his companions, "In the morning Yahweh will make known who belongs to him and who is set apart to him. He will bring that person near to him. The one he chooses he will bring near to himself.

⁶ Do this, Korah and all your group. Take censers ⁷ tomorrow and put fire and incense in them before Yahweh. The one whom Yahweh chooses, that man will be set apart to Yahweh. You have gone too far, you descendants of Levi."

⁸ Again, Moses said to Korah, "Now listen, you descendants of Levi: ⁹ is it a small thing for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the community of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do work in Yahweh's tabernacle, and to stand before the community to serve them? ¹⁰ He has brought you near, and all your kinfolk, the descendants of Levi, with you, yet you are seeking the priesthood also! ¹¹ Therefore you and all your company have gathered together against Yahweh. Who is Aaron that you grumble against him?"

¹² Then Moses called for Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, but they said, "We will not come up. ¹³ Is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness? Now you want to make yourself ruler over us! ¹⁴ In addition, you have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, or given us the fields and vineyards as an inheritance. Now do you want to blind us with empty promises? We will not come to you."

¹⁵ Moses was very angry and said to Yahweh, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed any of them." ¹⁶ Then Moses said to Korah, "Tomorrow you and all your companions must go before Yahweh—you and they, and Aaron. ¹⁷ Each of you must take his censer and put incense in it. Then each man must bring before Yahweh his censer, 250 censers. You and Aaron, also, must each bring your censer."

¹⁸ So every man took his censer, put fire in it, laid incense in it, and stood at the entrance to the tent of meeting with Moses and Aaron. ¹⁹ Korah assembled all the community against Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and Yahweh's glory appeared to all the community.

²⁰ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron: ²¹ "Separate yourselves from among this community that I may consume them immediately." ²² Moses and Aaron lay facedown and said, "God, the God of the spirits of all humanity, if one man sins, must you be angry with all the community?"

²³ Yahweh replied to Moses. He said, ²⁴ "Speak to the community. Say, 'Get away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.'"

²⁵ Then Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; the elders of Israel followed him. ²⁶ He spoke to the community and said, "Now leave the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing of theirs, or you will be consumed by all their sins." ²⁷ So the community on every side of the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram left them. Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the entrance to their tents, with their wives, sons, and their little ones.

²⁸ Then Moses said, "By this you will know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own accord. ²⁹ If these men die a natural death such as normally happens, then Yahweh has not sent me. ³⁰ But if Yahweh creates something new, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them, with everything that they possess, and they go down alive into Sheol, then you must understand that these men have despised Yahweh."

³¹ As soon as Moses finished speaking all these words, the ground opened under those men. ³² The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them, their families, and all the people who belonged to Korah, as well as all their possessions.

³³ So they and all that they possessed went down alive into Sheol. The earth closed over them, and they perished from among the community. ³⁴ All Israel around them fled from their cries. They exclaimed, "The earth may swallow us up also!" ³⁵ Then fire flashed out from Yahweh and devoured the 250 men who had offered incense.

³⁶ Again Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ³⁷ "Speak to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest and let him take up the censers out of the flames, for the censers are set apart to me. Then let him scatter the burning coals at a distance. ³⁸ Take the censers of those who lost their lives because of their sin. Let them be made into hammered plates as a covering over the altar. Those men did offer them before me, so they are set apart to me. They will be a sign of my presence to the people of Israel."

³⁹ Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers that had been used by the men who were burned up, and they were hammered out into a covering for the altar, ⁴⁰ to be a reminder to the people of Israel, so that no outsider who was not descended from Aaron should come up to burn incense before Yahweh, so they might not become like Korah and his group—just as Yahweh had commanded through Moses.

⁴¹ But the next morning all the community of the people of Israel complained against Moses and Aaron. They said, "You have killed Yahweh's people." ⁴² Then it happened, when the community had assembled against Moses and Aaron, that they looked toward the tent of meeting and, behold, the cloud was covering it. Yahweh's glory appeared, ⁴³ and Moses and Aaron came to the front of the tent of meeting.

⁴⁴ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ⁴⁵ "Go away from in front of this community so that I may consume them immediately." Then Moses and Aaron lay down with their faces to the ground. ⁴⁶ Moses said to Aaron, "Take the censer, put fire in it from off the altar, put incense in it, carry it quickly to the community, and make atonement for them, because anger is coming from Yahweh. The plague has begun."

⁴⁷ So Aaron did as Moses directed. He ran into the middle of the community. The plague had quickly started to spread among the people, so he put in the incense and made atonement for the people. ⁴⁸ Aaron stood between the dead and the living; in this way the plague was stopped.

⁴⁹ Those who died by the plague were 14,700 in number, besides those who had died in the matter of Korah. ⁵⁰ Aaron returned to Moses at the entrance to the tent of meeting, and the plague ended.

Chapter 17

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses. He said, ² "Speak to the people of Israel and get staffs from them, one for each ancestral tribe, twelve staffs. Write each man's name on his staff.

³ You must write Aaron's name on Levi's staff. There must be one staff for each leader from his ancestors' tribe. ⁴ You must place the staffs in the tent of meeting in front of the covenant decrees, where I meet with you. ⁵ It will happen that the staff of the man whom I choose will bud. I will cause the complaints from the people of Israel to stop, which they are speaking against you."

⁶ So Moses spoke to the people of Israel. All the tribal leaders gave him staffs, one staff from each leader, selected from each of the ancestral tribes, twelve staffs in all. Aaron's staff was among them. ⁷ Then Moses deposited the staffs before Yahweh in the tent of the covenant decrees.

⁸ The next day Moses went into the tent of the covenant decrees and, behold, Aaron's staff for the tribe of Levi had budded. It grew buds and produced blossoms and ripe almonds! ⁹ Moses brought out all the staffs from before Yahweh to all the people of Israel, and each man took his staff.

¹⁰ Yahweh said to Moses, "Put Aaron's staff in front of the covenant decrees. Keep it as a sign of guilt against the people who rebelled so that you may end complaints against me, or they will die." ¹¹ Moses did just as Yahweh had commanded him.

¹² The people of Israel spoke to Moses and said, "We will die here. We will all perish! ¹³ Everyone who comes up, who approaches Yahweh's tabernacle, will die. Must we all perish?"

Chapter 18

¹ Yahweh said to Aaron, "You, your sons, and your ancestor's clan will be responsible for all sins committed against the sanctuary. But only you and your sons with you will be responsible for all sins committed by anyone in the priesthood. ² As for your fellow members of the tribe of Levi, your ancestors' tribe, you must bring them with you so they may join you and help you when you and your sons serve in front of the tent of the covenant decrees.

³ They must perform your duties and the duties of the whole tent. However, they must not come near to anything in the holy place or connected with the altar, or they and also you will die. ⁴ They must join you and perform the duties connected with the tent of meeting, for all the work connected with the tent. A foreigner must not come near you. ⁵ You must perform the duties for the holy place and for the altar so that my anger does not come on the people of Israel again.

⁶ Look, I myself have chosen your fellow members of the Levites from among the descendants of Israel. They are a gift to you, given to me to do the work connected to the tent of meeting. ⁷ But only you and your sons may exercise the priesthood regarding everything connected with the altar and everything inside the curtain. You yourselves must fulfill those responsibilities. I am giving you the priesthood as a gift. Any foreigner who approaches must be put to death."

⁸ Then Yahweh said to Aaron, "Look, I have given you the duty of handling the contributions lifted up to me, and all the holy offerings that the people of Israel give to me. I have given these offerings to you as a consecrated portion and to your sons as your assigned portion for all time. ⁹ This will belong to you from the most holy things that are kept from the fire. From every offering of theirs—every grain offering, every sin offering, and every guilt offering—they are set apart to you and to your sons.

¹⁰ These offerings are very holy; every male must eat it, for they are holy to you. ¹¹ These are the contributions that will belong to you, set apart out of all their gifts of the wave offerings of the people of Israel. I have given them to you, your sons, and your daughters, as your portion forever. Everyone who is ceremonially clean in your family may eat any of these offerings.

¹² All the best of the oil, all the best of the new wine and grain, the firstfruits that the people give to me—all these things I have given to you. ¹³ The first ripe produce of all that is in their land, which they bring to me, will be yours. Everyone who is clean in your family may eat these things.

¹⁴ Every devoted thing in Israel will be yours. ¹⁵ Every first issue of the womb, all the firstborn that the people offer to Yahweh, both of man and animal, will be yours. Nevertheless, the people must certainly redeem every firstborn son, and they must redeem the firstborn male of unclean animals. ¹⁶ Those that are to be redeemed by the people must be redeemed after becoming one month old. Then the people may redeem them for the price of five shekels of silver, by the standard weight of the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs.

¹⁷ But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat—you must not redeem these animals; they are set apart to me. You must sprinkle their blood on the altar and burn their fat as an offering made by fire, an aroma pleasing to Yahweh. ¹⁸ Their meat will be yours. Like the breast and the right thigh that are lifted as an offering, their meat will be yours.

¹⁹ All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to Yahweh, I have given to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, as a continual share. It is an everlasting covenant of salt, a binding covenant forever, before Yahweh for both you and your descendants with you." ²⁰ Yahweh said to Aaron, "You will have no inheritance in the people's land, nor will you have any share of property among the people. I am your share and inheritance among the people of Israel.

²¹ To the descendants of Levi, look, I have given all the tithes in Israel as their inheritance in return for the service that they provide in working at the tent of meeting. ²² From now on the people of Israel must not come near the tent of meeting, or they will be responsible for this sin and die.

²³ The Levites must do the work connected to the tent of meeting. They will be responsible for any iniquity regarding it. This will be a permanent law throughout your people's generations. Among the people of Israel they must have no inheritance. ²⁴ For the tithes of the people of Israel, which they offer as a contribution to Yahweh—it is these that I have given to the Levites as their inheritance. That is why I said to them, 'They must have no inheritance among the people of Israel.'"

²⁵ Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ²⁶ "You must speak to the Levites and say to them, 'When you receive from the people of Israel the tenth that I have given to you from them for your inheritance, you will present a contribution from it to Yahweh, a tenth of the tithe. ²⁷ Your contribution must be considered by you as if it were a tenth of the grain from the threshing floor or of the production from the winepress.

²⁸ So you also must make a contribution to Yahweh from all the tithes that you receive from the people of Israel. From them you must give his contribution to Aaron the priest. ²⁹ Out of all the gifts you receive, you must make every contribution to Yahweh. You must do this from all the best and the holiest things that have been given to you.'

³⁰ Therefore you must say to them, 'When you present the best of it, then it must be credited to the Levites as the product from the threshing floor and the winepress. ³¹ You may eat the rest of your gifts in any place, you and your families, because it is your pay in return for your work in the tent of meeting. ³² You will not bear any sin by eating and drinking it, if you have presented to Yahweh the best of what you have received. But you must not profane the holy offerings of the people of Israel, or you will die.'"

Chapter 19

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, ² "This is a statute, a law which Yahweh is commanding you: Say to the people of Israel that they must bring to you a red heifer without flaw or blemish, and which has never carried a yoke.

³ Give the heifer to Eleazar the priest. He must bring it outside the camp, and someone must kill it in front of him. ⁴ Eleazar the priest must take some of its blood with his finger and sprinkle it seven times toward the front of the tent of meeting. ⁵ The heifer must be burned in his sight—its hide, its flesh, and its blood with its dung, must be burned. ⁶ The priest must take cedarwood, hyssop, and scarlet wool, and throw it all into the middle of the burning heifer.

⁷ Then he must wash his clothes and bathe in water. Then he may come into the camp, where he will remain unclean until the evening. ⁸ The one who has burned the heifer must wash his clothes in water and bathe in water. He will remain unclean until the evening.

⁹ A man who is clean must gather up the heifer's ashes and put them outside the camp in a clean place. These ashes must be kept for the community of the people of Israel. They will mix the ashes with water for purification from sin, since the ashes were from a sin offering. ¹⁰ The one who gathered the heifer's ashes must wash his clothes. He will remain unclean until the evening. This will be a permanent law for the people of Israel and the foreigners who stay with them.

¹¹ Whoever touches the dead body of any man will be unclean for seven days. ¹² Such a person must purify himself on the third day and on the seventh day. Then he will be clean. But if he does not purify himself the third day, then he will not be clean on the seventh day. ¹³ Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and does not purify himself—this person defiles Yahweh's tabernacle. That person must be cut off from Israel because the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him. He will remain unclean; his uncleanness will remain on him.

¹⁴ This is the law for when someone dies in a tent. Everyone who goes into the tent and everyone who is already in the tent will be unclean for seven days. ¹⁵ Every open container with no cover becomes unclean. ¹⁶ In the same way, anyone outside a tent who touches someone who has been killed with a sword, any other dead body, a human bone, or a grave—that person will be unclean for seven days.

¹⁷ Do this for the unclean person: Take some ashes from the burnt sin offering and mix them in a jar with fresh water. ¹⁸ Someone who is clean must then take hyssop, dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, on all the containers inside the tent, on the persons who were there, and on anyone who touched the bone, the one who was killed, the one who died, or the grave. ¹⁹ On the third day and on the seventh day, the clean person must sprinkle the unclean person. On the seventh day the unclean person must purify himself. He must wash his clothes and bathe in water. At evening he will become clean.

²⁰ But anyone who remains unclean, who refuses to purify himself—that person will be cut off from the community, because he has defiled Yahweh's sanctuary. The water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him; he remains unclean. ²¹ This will be an ongoing law concerning these situations. The one who sprinkles the water for impurity must wash his clothes. The one who touches the water for impurity will become unclean until evening. ²² Whatever the unclean person touches will become unclean. The person who touches it will become unclean until evening."

Chapter 20

¹ So the people of Israel, the whole community, went into the wilderness of Zin in the first month; they stayed at Kadesh. There Miriam died and was buried.

² There was no water for the community, so they assembled together against Moses and Aaron. ³ The people complained against Moses. They said, "It would have been better if we had died when our fellow Israelites died in front of Yahweh!

⁴ Why have you brought Yahweh's community into this wilderness to die here, we and our animals? ⁵ Why did you make us come up out of Egypt to bring us to this horrible place? There is no place for seed, figs, vines, or pomegranates, and there is no water to drink."

⁶ So Moses and Aaron went away from in front of the assembly. They went to the entrance of the tent of meeting and lay facedown. There Yahweh's brilliant glory appeared to them.

⁷ Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ⁸ "Take the staff and assemble the community, you, and Aaron your brother. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and command it to flow with water. You will produce water for them out of that rock, and you must give it to the community and their livestock to drink." ⁹ Moses took the staff from before Yahweh, as Yahweh had commanded him to do.

¹⁰ Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock. Moses said to them, "Listen now, you rebels. Must we bring water out of this rock for you?" ¹¹ Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with his staff, and much water came out. The community drank, and their livestock drank.

¹² Then Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me or honor me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, you will not bring this assembly into the land I have given them." ¹³ This place was called the waters of Meribah because the people of Israel had quarreled with Yahweh there, and he showed himself to them as holy.

¹⁴ Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom: Your brother Israel says this: "You know all the hardship that has found us. ¹⁵ You know that our ancestors went down to Egypt and lived in Egypt a long time. The Egyptians treated us harshly and also our ancestors. ¹⁶ When we called out to Yahweh, he heard our voice and sent an angel and brought us out of Egypt. Look, we are in Kadesh, a city on the border of your land.

¹⁷ I am asking you to let us pass through your land. We will not pass through field or vineyard, nor will we drink the water in your wells. We will go along the king's highway. We will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left until we have passed your border."

¹⁸ But the king of Edom replied to him, "You may not pass through here. If you do, I will come with the sword to attack you."

¹⁹ Then the people of Israel said to him, "We will go along the highway. If we or our livestock drink your water, we will pay for it. Just let us walk through on foot, without doing anything else."

²⁰ But the king of Edom replied, "You may not pass through." So the king of Edom came against Israel with a strong hand with many soldiers. ²¹ The king of Edom refused to allow Israel to cross over their border. Because of this, Israel turned away from the land of Edom.

²² So the people journeyed from Kadesh. The people of Israel, the whole community, came to Mount Hor. ²³ Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on Edom's border. He said, ²⁴ "Aaron must be gathered to his people, for he will not enter the land that I have given to the people of Israel. This is because you both rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.

²⁵ Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor. ²⁶ Take Aaron's priestly garments off him and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron must die and be gathered to his people there."

²⁷ Moses did as Yahweh commanded. They went up Mount Hor in the sight of all the community. ²⁸ Moses took Aaron's priestly garments off him and put them on Eleazar his son. Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. Then Moses and Eleazar came down. ²⁹ When all the community saw that Aaron was dead, the entire house of Israel wept for Aaron for thirty days.

Chapter 21

¹ When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was traveling by the road to Atharim, he fought against Israel and took some of them captive. ² Israel vowed to Yahweh and said, "If you give us victory over these people, then we will completely destroy their cities." ³ Yahweh listened to Israel's voice and he gave them victory over the Canaanites. They completely destroyed them and their cities. That place was named Hormah.

⁴ They traveled from Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Reeds to go around the land of Edom. The people became very discouraged on the way. ⁵ The people spoke against God and Moses: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread, no water, and we hate this miserable food."

⁶ Then Yahweh sent poisonous snakes among the people. The snakes bit the people; many people of Israel died. ⁷ The people came to Moses and said, "We have sinned because we have spoken against Yahweh and you. Pray to Yahweh for him to take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people.

⁸ Yahweh said to Moses, "Make a snake and attach it to a pole. It will happen that everyone who is bitten will survive, if he looks at it." ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake and attached it to a pole. When a snake bit any person, if he looked at the bronze snake, he survived.

¹⁰ Then the people of Israel traveled on and camped at Oboth. ¹¹ They traveled from Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim in the wilderness that faces Moab toward the east.

¹² From there they traveled on and camped in the Valley of Zered. ¹³ From there they traveled on and camped on the other side of the Arnon River, which is in the wilderness that extends from the border of the Amorites. The Arnon River forms the border of Moab, between Moab and the Amorites.

¹⁴ That is why it says in the scroll of the Wars of Yahweh,

"... Zahab ¹ in Suphah, and the valleys of the Arnon,

¹⁵ the slope of the valleys that lead toward the town of Ar

and lie along the border of Moab."

¹⁶ From there they traveled to Beer, the well where Yahweh said to Moses, "Gather the people together for me to give them water."

¹⁷ Then Israel sang this song:

"Spring up, well!

Sing about it,

¹⁸ about the well that our leaders dug,

the well the nobles of the people dug,

with the scepter and their staffs."

Then from the wilderness they traveled to Mattanah.

¹⁹ From Mattanah they traveled to Nahaliel, and from Nahaliel to Bamoth, ²⁰ and from Bamoth to a valley in the land of Moab. That is where the top of Mount Pisgah looks down on the wilderness.

²¹ Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon king of the Amorites saying, ²² "Let us pass through your land. We will not turn into any field or vineyard. We will not drink the water from your wells. We will travel by the king's highway until we have crossed your border."

²³ But King Sihon would not allow Israel to pass through his border. Instead, Sihon gathered all his army together and went out into the wilderness against Israel. He came to Jahaz, where he fought against Israel.

²⁴ Israel attacked the army of Sihon with the edge of the sword and took their land from the Arnon to the Jabbok river, as far as the land of the people of Ammon. Now the border of the people of Ammon was fortified. ²⁵ Israel took all the Amorite cities and lived in all of them, including Heshbon and all of its villages. ²⁶ Heshbon was the city of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab. Sihon had taken all his land from his territory to the Arnon River.

²⁷ That is why those who speak in proverbs say,

"Come to Heshbon.

Let the city of Sihon be rebuilt and established again.

²⁸ A fire blazed from Heshbon,

a flame from the city of Sihon

that devoured Ar of Moab,

and the owners of the high places of Arnon.

²⁹ Woe to you, Moab!

You have perished, people of Chemosh.

He has made his sons to be fugitives

and his daughters to be prisoners

of Sihon king of the Amorites.

³⁰ But we have conquered Sihon.

Heshbon is devastated all the way to Dibon.

We have defeated them all the way to Nophah,

which reaches to Medeba."

³¹ So Israel began to live in the Amorites' land. ³² Then Moses sent men to look at Jazer. They took its villages and drove out the Amorites who were there.

³³ Then they turned and went up by the road of Bashan. Og king of Bashan went out against them, he and all his army, to fight them at Edrei. ³⁴ Then Yahweh said to Moses, "Do not fear him, because I have given you victory over him, all his army, and his land. Do to him as you did to Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon." ³⁵ So they killed him, his sons, and all his army, until none of his people were left alive. Then they took over his land.

¹Some modern English translations read, Waheb .

Chapter 22

¹ The people of Israel traveled on until they camped in the plains of Moab near Jericho, on the other side of the Jordan River from the city.

² Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. ³ Moab was very afraid of the people because they were many, and Moab was in terror of the people of Israel. ⁴ The king of Moab said to the elders of Midian, "This multitude will eat up all that is around us as an ox eats up the grass in a field." Now Balak son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.

⁵ He sent messengers to Balaam son of Beor, at Pethor which is by the Euphrates River, in the land of his nation and his people. He called him and said, "Look, a nation has come here from Egypt. They cover the face of the earth and they are right now next to me. ⁶ Please come now and curse this nation for me, because they are too strong for me. Perhaps then I can manage to attack them and drive them out of the land. I know that those you bless will be blessed, and that those you curse will be cursed."

⁷ So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian left, taking payment for divination. They came to Balaam and spoke to him Balak's words. ⁸ Balaam said to them, "Stay here tonight. I will bring you what Yahweh says to me." So the leaders of Moab stayed with Balaam that night.

⁹ God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men who came to you?" ¹⁰ Balaam answered God, "Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, has sent them to me. He said, ¹¹ 'Look, the people who have come from Egypt cover the surface of my land. Now come and curse them for me. Perhaps I will manage to fight them and drive them out.'"

¹² God replied to Balaam, "You must not go with those men. You must not curse the people of Israel because they have been blessed." ¹³ Balaam rose up in the morning and said to Balak's leaders, "Go back to your land because Yahweh refuses to allow me to go with you." ¹⁴ So the leaders of Moab left and went back to Balak. They said, "Balaam refused to come with us."

¹⁵ Balak sent again more leaders who were even more honored than the first group. ¹⁶ They came to Balaam and said to him, "Balak son of Zippor says this, 'Please let nothing stop you from coming to me, ¹⁷ because I will pay you extremely well and give you great honor, and I will do whatever you tell me to do. So please come and curse this people for me.'"

¹⁸ Balaam answered and said to Balak's servants, "Even if Balak would give me his palace full of silver and gold, I cannot go beyond the word of Yahweh, my God, and do less or more than what he tells me. ¹⁹ Now then, please wait here tonight too, so that I may learn anything further that Yahweh says to me." ²⁰ God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them. But only do what I tell you to do."

²¹ Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey, and went with the leaders of Moab. ²² But because he went, God's anger was kindled. The angel of Yahweh placed himself in the road as someone hostile to Balaam, who was riding on his donkey. Balaam's two servants were also with him. ²³ The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. The donkey turned off the road and went into a field. Balaam struck the donkey to turn her back to the road.

²⁴ Then the angel of Yahweh stood in a narrow part of the road between some vineyards, with a wall on his right side and another wall on his left side. ²⁵ The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh again. She went against the wall and pinned Balaam's foot against it. Balaam struck her again.

²⁶ The angel of Yahweh went further and stood in another narrow place where there was no way to turn to either side. ²⁷ The donkey saw the angel of Yahweh, and she lay down under Balaam. Balaam's anger was kindled, and he struck the donkey with his staff.

²⁸ Then Yahweh opened the donkey's mouth so she could talk. She said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that induced you to strike me these three times?" ²⁹ Balaam replied to the donkey, "It was because you acted so stupidly with me. I wish there were a sword in my hand. If there were, by now I would have killed you." ³⁰ The donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your donkey on which you have ridden all your life long to this present day? Have I ever been in the habit of doing such things to you before?" Balaam said, "No."

³¹ Then Yahweh opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of Yahweh standing in the road with his drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed down and lay facedown. ³² The angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why have you struck your donkey these three times? Look, I have come as someone hostile to you because your actions before me have been wicked. ³³ The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If she had not turned away from me, I would certainly have killed you and spared her life."

³⁴ Balaam said to the angel of Yahweh, "I have sinned. I did not know that you stood against me in the road. So now, if it is displeasing to you, I will turn back." ³⁵ But the angel of Yahweh said to Balaam, "Go on ahead with the men. But you must only speak the words that I tell you." So Balaam went with the leaders of Balak.

³⁶ When Balak heard that Balaam had come, he went out to meet him at a city in Moab at the Arnon, which is on the border. ³⁷ Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send men to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?"

³⁸ Then Balaam replied to Balak, "See, I have come to you. Do I now have any power to say anything? I can only say the words that God puts into my mouth." ³⁹ Balaam went with Balak, and they arrived at Kiriath Huzoth. ⁴⁰ Then Balak sacrificed oxen and sheep and gave some meat to Balaam and the leaders who were with him.

⁴¹ In the morning, Balak took Balaam up to the high place of Baal. From there Balaam could see only a part of the Israelites in their camp.

Chapter 23

¹ Balaam said to Balak, "Build seven altars here for me and prepare seven bulls and seven rams." ² So Balak did as Balaam requested. Then Balak and Balaam offered a bull and a ram on every altar. ³ Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stand at your burnt offering and I will go. Perhaps Yahweh will come to meet me. Whatever he shows me I will tell you." So he went away to a hilltop with no trees.

⁴ Then God met Balaam, and Balaam said to him, "I have built seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on each one." ⁵ Yahweh put a message in Balaam's mouth and said, "Return to Balak and speak to him." ⁶ So Balaam returned to Balak, who was standing by his burnt offering, and all the leaders of Moab were with him.

⁷ Then Balaam began to speak his proverb and said,

"Balak has brought me from Aram,

the king of Moab from the eastern mountains.

'Come, curse Jacob for me,' he said.

'Come, denounce Israel.'

⁸ How can I curse those whom God has not cursed?

How can I denounce those whom Yahweh does not denounce?

⁹ For from the top of the rocks I see him;

from the hills I look at him.

See, there is a people who live alone

and do not consider themselves as just an ordinary nation.

¹⁰ Who can count the dust of Jacob

or number even only one-fourth of Israel?

Let me die the death of a righteous person,

and let my life's end be like his!"

¹¹ Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I brought you to curse my enemies, but look, you have blessed them." ¹² Balaam answered and said, "Should I not be careful to say only what Yahweh puts in my mouth?"

¹³ So Balak said to him, "Please come with me to another place where you can see them. You will only see the nearest of them, not all of them. There you will curse them for me." ¹⁴ So he took Balaam into the field of Zophim, to the top of Mount Pisgah, and built seven more altars. He offered up a bull and a ram on each altar. ¹⁵ Then Balaam said to Balak, "Stand here by your burnt offering, while I meet with Yahweh over there."

¹⁶ So Yahweh met Balaam and put a message in his mouth. He said, "Return to Balak and give him my message." ¹⁷ Balaam returned to him, and look, he was standing by his burnt offering, and the leaders of Moab were with him. Then Balak said to him, "What has Yahweh said?"

¹⁸ Balaam began his prophecy. He said,

"Rise up, Balak, and hear.

Listen to me, you son of Zippor.

¹⁹ God is not a man, that he should lie,

or a human being, that he should change his mind.

Has he promised anything without doing it?

Has he said he would do something without carrying it out?

²⁰ Look, I have been commanded to bless.

God has given a blessing, and I cannot reverse it.

²¹ He has not looked upon disaster in Jacob,

and he has not seen trouble in Israel.

Yahweh their God is with them,

and the shout of the king is among them.

²² God brought them out of Egypt

with strength like that of a wild ox.

²³ There is no sorcery that works against Jacob,

and no divination harms Israel.

Now it must be said about Jacob and Israel,

'Look what God has done!'

²⁴ Look, the people rise like a lioness,

as a lion emerges and attacks.

He does not lie down until he eats his victim

and drinks the blood of what he has killed."

²⁵ Then Balak said to Balaam, "Do not curse them or bless them at all." ²⁶ But Balaam answered and said to Balak, "Did I not tell you that I must say all that Yahweh tells me to say?" ²⁷ So Balak replied to Balaam, "Come now, I will take you to another place. Perhaps it will please God for you to curse them there for me."

²⁸ So Balak took Balaam to the top of Mount Peor, which looks down on the wilderness. ²⁹ Balaam said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here and prepare seven bulls and seven rams." ³⁰ So Balak did as Balaam had said; he offered up a bull and a ram on each altar.

Chapter 24

¹ When Balaam saw that it pleased Yahweh to bless Israel, he did not go, as at the other times, to use sorcery. Instead, he looked toward the wilderness.

² Balaam raised his eyes and saw that Israel was camped, each in their own tribe, and the Spirit of God came on him. ³ He received this prophecy and said,

"This is the declaration of Balaam son of Beor,

the declaration of the man whose eyes are wide open,

⁴ the declaration of the one who hears the words of God,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,

who bows down with his eyes open.

⁵ How delightful are your tents, Jacob,

the place where you live, Israel!

⁶ Like valleys they spread out,

like gardens by the riverside,

like aloes planted by Yahweh,

like cedars beside the waters.

⁷ Water will flow from their buckets,

and their seed will have abundant water.

Their king will be greater than Agag,

and their kingdom will be honored.

⁸ God will bring him out of Egypt.

He will have strength like a wild ox.

He will eat up the nations who fight against him.

He will break their bones to pieces.

He will shoot them with his arrows.

⁹ He crouches down like a lion,

like a lioness. Who dares disturb him?

May everyone who blesses him be blessed;

may everyone who curses him be cursed."

¹⁰ Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam and he struck his hands together in anger. Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but look, you have blessed them three times. ¹¹ So flee home now. I said I would greatly reward you, but Yahweh has kept you from getting any reward."

¹² Then Balaam replied to Balak, "I said to the messengers that you sent to me, ¹³ 'Even if Balak gave me his palace full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond Yahweh's word and anything bad or good, or anything at all that I might want to do. I can say only what Yahweh tells me to say.' Did I not say this to them? ¹⁴ So now, look, I will go back to my people. But first let me advise you about what this people will do to your people in the days ahead."

¹⁵ Balaam began this prophecy. He said,

"This is the declaration of Balaam son of Beor,

the declaration of the man whose eyes are wide open.

¹⁶ This is the declaration of someone who hears words from God,

who has knowledge from the Most High,

who sees visions from the Almighty,

who bows down with open eyes.

¹⁷ I see him, but he is not here now.

I look at him, but he is not near.

A star will come out of Jacob,

and a scepter will rise out of Israel.

He will shatter Moab's leaders

and destroy all the descendants of Seth.

¹⁸ Then Edom will become a possession of Israel,

and Seir will also become their possession,

enemies of Israel,

whom Israel will conquer with force.

¹⁹ Out of Jacob a king will come who will have dominion,

and he will destroy the survivors of their city."

²⁰ Then Balaam looked at Amalek and began his prophecy. He said,

"Amalek was once the greatest of nations,

but his end will be eternal destruction."

²¹ Then Balaam looked toward the Kenites and began his prophecy. He said,

"The place where you live is strong,

and your nest is in the rocks.

²² Nevertheless you Kenites will be consumed by fire

when Assyria carries you away captive."

²³ Then Balaam began his final prophecy. He said,

"Woe! Who will survive when God does this?

²⁴ Ships will come from the coast of Cyprus ¹ ;

they will attack Assyria and will conquer Eber,

but they, too, will end in destruction."

²⁵ Then Balaam got up and left. He returned to his home, and Balak also went away.

¹Some modern English translations read, Kittim .

Chapter 25

¹ Israel stayed in Shittim, and the men began to prostitute themselves with women of Moab, ² for the Moabites had invited the people to the sacrifices to their gods. So the people ate and bowed down to Moabite gods. ³ The men of Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and Yahweh's anger was kindled against Israel.

⁴ Yahweh said to Moses, "Kill all the leaders of the people and hang them up before me to expose them in the daylight, so that my fierce anger may turn away from Israel." ⁵ So Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each of you must kill his people who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor."

⁶ Then one of the men of the sons of Israel came and brought among his family members a Midianite woman. This happened in the sight of Moses and all the community of the people of Israel, while they were weeping at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ⁷ When Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, saw that, he rose up from among the community and took a spear in his hand.

⁸ He followed the man of Israel into the tent and thrust the spear through both of their bodies, both the man of Israel and the woman. So a plague that God had sent on the people of Israel stopped. ⁹ Those who died by the plague were twenty-four thousand in number.

¹⁰ Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ¹¹ "Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, has turned my rage away from the people of Israel because he was passionate with my zeal among them. So I have not consumed the people of Israel in my jealousy.

¹² Therefore say, 'Yahweh says, "Look, I am giving to Phinehas my covenant of peace. ¹³ For him and his descendants after him, it will be a covenant of an everlasting priesthood because he was zealous for me, his God. He has atoned for the people of Israel."'"

¹⁴ Now the name of the man of Israel who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, a leader of an ancestor's family among the Simeonites. ¹⁵ The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Kozbi daughter of Zur, who was head of a tribe and ancestral household in Midian.

¹⁶ So Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ¹⁷ "Treat the Midianites as enemies and attack them, ¹⁸ for they treated you like enemies with their deceitfulness. They led you into evil in the case of Peor and in the case of their sister Kozbi, the daughter of a leader in Midian, who was killed on the day of the plague in the matter of Peor."

Chapter 26

¹ It came about after the plague that Yahweh spoke to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He said, ² "Count all the community of the people of Israel, from twenty years old and up, by their ancestor's families, all who are able to go to war for Israel."

³ So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke to them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho and said, ⁴ "Count the people, from twenty years old and up, as Yahweh commanded Moses and the people of Israel, who came out of the land of Egypt."

⁵ Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. From his son Hanok came the clan of the Hanokites. From Pallu came the clan of the Palluites.

⁶ From Hezron came the clan of the Hezronites. From Karmi came the clan of the Karmites.

⁷ These were the clans of Reuben, who numbered 43,730 men.

⁸ Eliab was a son of Pallu. ⁹ Eliab's sons were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These were the same Dathan and Abiram who were in the company of Korah when they rebelled against Moses and Aaron and rebelled against Yahweh.

¹⁰ The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah when all his company died. At that time, fire devoured 250 men, who became a warning sign. ¹¹ But Korah's line did not die out.

¹² The clans of Simeon's descendants were these:

Through Nemuel, the clan of the Nemuelites,

through Jamin, the clan of the Jaminites,

through Jakin, the clan of the Jakinites,

¹³ through Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites,

through Shaul, the clan of the Shaulites.

¹⁴ These were the clans of Simeon's descendants, who numbered 22,200 men.

¹⁵ The clans of Gad's descendants were these:

Through Zephon, the clan of the Zephonites,

through Haggi, the clan of the Haggites,

through Shuni, the clan of the Shunites,

¹⁶ through Ozni, the clan of the Oznites,

through Eri, the clan of the Erites,

¹⁷ through Arod, the clan of the Arodites,

through Areli, the clan of the Arelites.

¹⁸ These were the clans of Gad's descendants, who numbered 40,500 men.

¹⁹ Judah's sons were Er and Onan, but these men died in the land of Canaan.

²⁰ The clans of Judah's other descendants were these:

through Shelah, the clan of the Shelanites,

through Perez, the clan of the Perezites, and

through Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites.

²¹ The descendants of Perez were these:

Through Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites,

through Hamul, the clan of the Hamulites.

²² These were the clans of Judah's descendants, who numbered 76,500 men.

²³ The clans of Issachar's descendants were these:

Through Tola, the clan of the Tolaites,

through Puah, the clan of the Puites,

²⁴ through Jashub, the clan of the Jashubites,

through Shimron, the clan of the Shimronites.

²⁵ These were the clans of Issachar, who numbered 64,300 men.

²⁶ The clans of Zebulun's descendants were these:

Through Sered, the clan of the Seredites,

through Elon, the clan of the Elonites,

through Jahleel, the clan of the Jahleelites.

²⁷ These were the clans of the Zebulunites, who numbered 60,500 men.

²⁸ The clans of Joseph's descendants were Manasseh and Ephraim. ²⁹ The descendants of Manasseh were these:

through Makir, the clan of the Makirites (Makir was Gilead's father),

through Gilead, the clan of the Gileadites.

³⁰ Gilead's descendants were these:

Through Iezer, the clan of the Iezerites,

through Helek, the clan of the Helekites,

³¹ through Asriel, the clan of the Asrielites,

through Shechem, the clan of the Shechemites,

³² through Shemida, the clan of the Shemidaites,

through Hepher, the clan of the Hepherites.

³³ Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons, but only daughters.

The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah.

³⁴ These were the clans of Manasseh, who numbered 52,700 men.

³⁵ The clans of Ephraim's descendants were these:

Through Shuthelah, the clan of the Shuthelahites,

through Beker, the clan of the Bekerites,

through Tahan, the clan of the Tahanites.

³⁶ The descendants of Shuthelah were, by Eran, the clan of the Eranites.

³⁷ These were the clans of Ephraim's descendants, who numbered 32,500 men. These were Joseph's descendants, counted in each of their clans.

³⁸ The clans of Benjamin's descendants were these:

Through Bela, the clan of the Belaites,

through Ashbel, the clan of the Ashbelites,

through Ahiram, the clan of the Ahiramites,

³⁹ through Shephupham, the clan of the Shuphamites,

through Hupham, the clan of the Huphamites.

⁴⁰ The descendants of Bela were Ard and Naaman. From Ard came the clan of the Ardites, and from Naaman came the clan of the Naamites.

⁴¹ These were the clans of Benjamin's descendants. They numbered 45,600 men.

⁴² The clans of Dan's descendants were, by Shuham, the clans of the Shuhamites. These were the clans of Dan's descendants. ⁴³ All the clans of the Shuhamites numbered 64,400 men.

⁴⁴ The clans of Asher's descendants were these:

Through Imnah, the clan of the Imnites,

through Ishvi, the clan of the Ishvites,

through Beriah, the clan of the Beriites.

⁴⁵ The descendants of Beriah were these:

Through Heber, the clan of the Heberites,

through Malkiel, the clan of the Malkielites.

⁴⁶ The name of Asher's daughter was Serah.

⁴⁷ These were the clans of Asher's descendants, who numbered 53,400 men.

⁴⁸ The clans of Naphtali's descendants were these:

Through Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites,

through Guni, the clan of the Gunites,

⁴⁹ through Jezer, the clan of the Jezerites,

through Shillem, the clan of the Shillemites.

⁵⁰ These were the clans of Naphtali's descendants, who numbered 45,400 men.

⁵¹ This was the complete count of men of Israel: 601,730.

⁵² Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ⁵³ "The land must be divided among these men as an inheritance according to the number of their names.

⁵⁴ To the larger clans you must give more inheritance, and to the smaller clans you must give less inheritance. To every family you must give an inheritance according to the number of men who were counted. ⁵⁵ However, the land must be divided by random lots. They must inherit the land according to the names of their ancestors' tribes. ⁵⁶ Their inheritance must be divided among the larger and the smaller clans, distributed to them by random lot."

⁵⁷ The Levite clans, counted clan by clan, were these:

Through Gershon, the clan of the Gershonites,

through Kohath, the clan of the Kohathites,

through Merari, the clan of the Merarites.

⁵⁸ The clans of Levi were these:

the clan of the Libnites,

the clan of the Hebronites,

the clan of the Mahlites,

the clan of the Mushites,

and the clan of the Korahites.

Kohath was Amram's ancestor.

⁵⁹ The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born to Levites in Egypt. She bore to Amram their children, who were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam their sister.

⁶⁰ To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ⁶¹ Nadab and Abihu died when they offered before Yahweh unacceptable fire.

⁶² The males who were counted among them numbered twenty-three thousand, all males one month old and up. But they were not counted among Israel's descendants because no inheritance was given to them among the people of Israel.

⁶³ These are the ones who were counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest. They counted the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. ⁶⁴ But among these there was no man who had been counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when the descendants of Israel were counted in the wilderness of Sinai.

⁶⁵ For Yahweh had said that all of those people would certainly die in the wilderness. There was not a man left among them, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Chapter 27

¹ Then to Moses came the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Makir son of Manasseh, of the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah.

² They stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the leaders, and before all the community at the entrance to the tent of meeting. They said, ³ "Our father died in the wilderness. He was not among the company that gathered themselves together to oppose Yahweh, in the company of Korah. He died for his own sin, and he had no sons.

⁴ Why should our father's name be taken away from among his clan members because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father's relatives." ⁵ So Moses brought their case before Yahweh.

⁶ Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ⁷ "Zelophehad's daughters are speaking correctly. You must certainly give them a possession as an inheritance among their father's relatives, and you must ensure that their father's inheritance passes on to them. ⁸ You must speak to the people of Israel and say, 'If a man dies and has no son, then you must cause his inheritance to pass to his daughter.

⁹ If he has no daughter, then you must give his inheritance to his brothers. ¹⁰ If he has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his father's brothers. ¹¹ If his father has no brothers, then you must give his inheritance to his nearest relative in his clan, and he must take it for his own. This will be a law established by decree for the people of Israel, as Yahweh has commanded me.'"

¹² Yahweh said to Moses, "Go up this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel. ¹³ After you have seen it, you, too, must be gathered to your people, like Aaron your brother. ¹⁴ This will happen because you two rebelled against my command in the wilderness of Zin during the strife of the congregation. There, when the water flowed from the rock, in your anger you failed to honor me as holy before the eyes of the whole community." These are the waters of Meribah Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.

¹⁵ Then Moses spoke to Yahweh and said, ¹⁶ "May you, Yahweh, the God of the spirits of all humanity, appoint a man over the community, ¹⁷ a man who may go out and come in before them and lead them out and bring them in, so that your community is not like sheep that have no shepherd."

¹⁸ Yahweh said to Moses, "Take Joshua son of Nun, a man in whom my Spirit lives, and lay your hand on him. ¹⁹ Place him before Eleazar the priest and before all the community, and command him before their eyes to lead them.

²⁰ You must put some of your authority on him, so that all the community of the people of Israel may obey him. ²¹ He will go before Eleazar the priest to seek my will for him by the decisions of the Urim. It will be at his command that the people will go out and come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole community."

²² So Moses did as Yahweh had commanded him. He took Joshua and placed him before Eleazar the priest and all the community. ²³ Moses laid his hands on him and commanded him to lead, as Yahweh had commanded him to do.

Chapter 28

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ² "Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'You must offer sacrifices to me at the appointed times, the food of my offerings made by fire to produce a sweet aroma for me.'

³ You must also say to them, 'This is the offering made by fire that you must offer to Yahweh—male lambs a year old without blemish, two each day, as a regular burnt offering. ⁴ One lamb you must offer in the morning, and the other lamb you must offer in the evening. ⁵ You must offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with one-fourth of a hin of beaten oil.

⁶ This is the regular burnt offering that was commanded at Mount Sinai to produce a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh. ⁷ The drink offering with it must be one-fourth of a hin for one of the lambs. You must pour out in the holy place a drink offering of strong drink to Yahweh. ⁸ The other lamb you must offer in the evening along with another grain offering like the one offered in the morning. You must also offer another drink offering with it, an offering made by fire, to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh.

⁹ On the Sabbath day you must offer two male lambs, each a year old without blemish, and two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering, mixed with oil, and the drink offering with it. ¹⁰ This is to be the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and the drink offering with it.

¹¹ At the beginning of each month, you must offer a burnt offering to Yahweh. You must offer two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old without blemish. ¹² You must also offer three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour as a grain offering mixed with oil for each bull, and two-tenths of fine flour as a grain offering mixed with oil for the one ram. ¹³ You must also offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering for each lamb. This is to be the burnt offering, to produce a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

¹⁴ The people's drink offerings must be half a hin of wine for a bull, a third of a hin for a ram, and one-fourth of a hin for a lamb. This is to be the burnt offering for every month throughout the months of the year. ¹⁵ One male goat as a sin offering to Yahweh must be offered. This will be in addition to the regular burnt offering and the drink offering with it.

¹⁶ During the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, comes Yahweh's Passover. ¹⁷ On the fifteenth day of this month a feast is to be held. For seven days, bread without yeast must be eaten. ¹⁸ On the first day, there must be a holy assembly to honor Yahweh. You must not do regular work on that day.

¹⁹ However, you must offer a sacrifice made by fire, a burnt offering to Yahweh. You must offer two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, without blemish. ²⁰ Along with the bull, you must offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, and along with the ram, two-tenths. ²¹ With each of the seven lambs, you must offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, ²² and one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for yourselves.

²³ You must offer these in addition to the regular burnt offering required each morning. ²⁴ As described here, you must offer these sacrifices daily, for the seven days of the Passover, the food of the offering made by fire, a sweet aroma for Yahweh. It must be offered in addition to the regular burnt offering and the drink offering with it. ²⁵ On the seventh day you must have a holy assembly to honor Yahweh, and you must not do regular work on that day.

²⁶ Also on the day of the firstfruits, when you offer a new grain offering to Yahweh in your Festival of Weeks, you must have a holy assembly to honor Yahweh, and you must not do regular work on that day. ²⁷ You must offer a burnt offering to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. You must offer two young bulls, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old. ²⁸ Offer also grain offering to go with them: Fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for each bull and two-tenths for the one ram.

²⁹ Offer a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for each of the seven lambs, ³⁰ and one male goat to make atonement for yourselves. ³¹ When you offer those animals without blemish, along with their drink offerings, this must be in addition to the regular burnt offering and the grain offering with it.

Chapter 29

¹ In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you must have a holy assembly to honor Yahweh. You must not do regular work on that day. It will be a day when you blow trumpets.

² You must offer a burnt offering to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. You must offer one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, each without blemish.

³ You must offer with them their grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the ram, ⁴ and one-tenth for each lamb of the seven lambs. ⁵ You must offer one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for yourselves.

⁶ Make these offerings in the seventh month in addition to all of the offerings you will make on the first of each month: the special burnt offering and the grain offering to go with it. These must be in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and its drink offerings. As you make these offerings, you will obey what has been decreed to produce a sweet aroma, an offering made by fire to Yahweh.

⁷ On the tenth day of the seventh month you must have a holy assembly to honor Yahweh. You must humble yourselves and do no work. ⁸ You must offer a burnt offering to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. You must offer one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old. They must each be without blemish.

⁹ You must offer with them a grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah for the bull, two-tenths for the one ram, ¹⁰ and a tenth of an ephah for each of the seven lambs. ¹¹ You must offer one male goat as a sin offering. This will be in addition to the sin offering of atonement, the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

¹² On the fifteenth day of the seventh month you must have a holy assembly to honor Yahweh. You must not do regular work on that day, and you must celebrate the festival for him seven days. ¹³ You must offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. You must offer thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old. Each must be without blemish.

¹⁴ You must offer with them a grain offering, fine flour mixed with oil, three-tenths of an ephah for every bull of the thirteen bulls, two-tenths for each ram of the two rams, ¹⁵ and a tenth of an ephah for each of the fourteen lambs. ¹⁶ You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and the drink offering with it.

¹⁷ On the second day of the assembly, you must offer twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, each without blemish. ¹⁸ You must make with them a grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded. ¹⁹ You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

²⁰ On the third day of the assembly, you must offer eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, each without blemish. ²¹ You must make with them a grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded. ²² You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

²³ On the fourth day of the assembly, you must offer ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, each without blemish. ²⁴ You must make with them a grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded. ²⁵ You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

²⁶ On the fifth day of the assembly, you must offer nine bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, each without blemish. ²⁷ You must make with them a grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded. ²⁸ You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

²⁹ On the sixth day of the assembly, you must offer eight bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, each without blemish. ³⁰ You must make with them a grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded. ³¹ You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

³² On the seventh day of the assembly, you must offer seven bulls, two rams, and fourteen male lambs a year old, each without blemish. ³³ You must make with them a grain offering and the drink offerings for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded. ³⁴ You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

³⁵ On the eighth day you must have another solemn assembly. You must not do regular work on that day. ³⁶ You must make a burnt offering, an offering made by fire to produce a sweet aroma for Yahweh. You must offer one bull, one ram, and seven male lambs a year old, each without blemish.

³⁷ You must offer their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bull, for the ram, and for the lambs, making as many offerings as were commanded. ³⁸ You must offer one male goat as a sin offering in addition to the regular burnt offering, its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

³⁹ These are what you must offer to Yahweh at your fixed festivals. These must be in addition to your vows and freewill offerings. You must offer these as your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings, and fellowship offerings.'" ⁴⁰ Moses told the people of Israel everything that Yahweh had commanded him to say.

Chapter 30

¹ Moses spoke to the leaders of the tribes of the people of Israel. He said, "This is what Yahweh has commanded. ² When a man makes a vow to Yahweh, or swears an oath to bind himself with a binding promise, he must not break his word. He must keep his promise to do everything that comes out of his mouth.

³ When a young woman living in her father's house makes a vow to Yahweh and binds herself with a promise, while within the house of her father, ⁴ if her father hears the vow and the promise by which she has bound herself, and if he says nothing to reverse her, then all her vows will remain in force, and every pledge by which she has bound herself will stand.

⁵ But if her father overrules her when he hears about it, none of her vows or the pledges by which she obligated herself will stand; Yahweh will forgive her because her father has forbidden her.

⁶ If she marries a husband after she makes a vow or her lips uttered a rash promise by which she has bound herself, ⁷ and her husband hears about it but says nothing to her, then her vows will stand, and the pledges by which she bound herself will stand.

⁸ But if her husband stops her on the day that he hears about it, then he cancels the vow that she has made, the rash talk of her lips with which she has bound herself, and Yahweh will forgive her.

⁹ But any vow of a widow or a divorced woman will stand against her. ¹⁰ If a woman made a vow in her husband's house or bound herself by a promise with an oath, ¹¹ and her husband hears of it but he says nothing to her and he does not oppose her, then all her vows will stand, and every pledge by which she bound herself will stand.

¹² But if her husband cancels them on the day that he heard about them, then whatever came out of her lips about her vows or promises will not stand. Her husband has canceled them, and Yahweh will forgive her.

¹³ Any vow and any binding oath to afflict her, her husband may make it stand or her husband may cancel it. ¹⁴ But if her husband says nothing to her from day to day, then he confirms all her vows and binding promises that she has made, and they will stand, because he has said nothing to her on the day that he heard of them.

¹⁵ If her husband cancels his wife's vow after he has heard about them, then he will be responsible for her guilt." ¹⁶ These are the statutes that Yahweh commanded Moses to announce—statutes for what is between a man and his wife and between a father and his daughter when she is in her youth in her father's family.

Chapter 31

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ² "Take vengeance on the Midianites for what they did to the people of Israel. After doing that, you will die and be gathered to your people."

³ So Moses spoke to the people. He said, "Arm some of your men for war so they may go against Midian and carry out Yahweh's vengeance on it. ⁴ Every tribe throughout Israel must send a thousand soldiers to war." ⁵ So out of Israel's thousands of men, one thousand from each tribe were provided from the clans of Israel, twelve thousand men armed for war.

⁶ Then Moses sent them to battle, a thousand from every tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, and with some articles from the holy place and the trumpets in his possession for sounding signals. ⁷ They fought against Midian, as Yahweh had commanded Moses. They killed every man. ⁸ They killed the kings of Midian with the rest of their dead: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor, with the sword.

⁹ The army of Israel took captive the women of Midian, their children, all their cattle, all their flocks, and all their goods. They took these as plunder. ¹⁰ They burned all their cities where they lived and all their camps.

¹¹ They took all the plunder and prisoners, both people and animals. ¹² They brought the prisoners, the booty, and the spoil to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the community of the people of Israel. They brought these to the camp in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan near Jericho.

¹³ Moses, Eleazar the priest, and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. ¹⁴ But Moses was angry with the officers of the army, the commanders of thousands and the captains of hundreds, who came from serving in the battle. ¹⁵ Moses said to them, "Have you let all the women live?

¹⁶ Look, these women caused the people of Israel, through Balaam's advice, to commit faithlessness against Yahweh in the matter of Peor, when the plague spread among Yahweh's community. ¹⁷ Now then, kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known a man by lying with him.

¹⁸ But keep alive for yourselves all the young girls who have not known a man by lying with him. ¹⁹ All of you who have killed anyone or touched anyone who was killed must stay outside the camp for seven days. On the third day and the seventh day you must purify yourselves and your captives. ²⁰ You must purify every garment and everything made of animal hide and goats' hair, and everything made of wood."

²¹ Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone to war, "This is a decreed law that Yahweh has commanded Moses: ²² The gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, and lead, ²³ and everything that resists fire, you must put it through the fire, and it will become clean. You must then purify those things with the water of cleansing. Whatever cannot go through the fire you must cleanse with that water. ²⁴ You must wash your clothes on the seventh day, and then you will become clean. Afterward you may come into Israel's camp."

²⁵ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ²⁶ "You and Eleazar the priest and the heads of the community's ancestral clans are to count all the plundered things that were captured, both men and animals. ²⁷ Divide the plunder into two parts. Divide it between the soldiers who went out to battle and all the rest of the community.

²⁸ Then levy a tax to be given to me from the soldiers who went out to battle. This tax must be one out of every five hundred, whether persons, cattle, donkeys, sheep, or goats. ²⁹ Take this tax from their half and give it to Eleazar the priest for a contribution to Yahweh.

³⁰ Also from the people of Israel's half, you must take one out of every fifty—from the persons, cattle, donkeys, and sheep—from all the animals. Give these to the Levites who perform the duties of my tabernacle." ³¹ So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as Yahweh had commanded Moses.

³² Now the booty that remained of the spoil that the men of war had plundered was 675,000 sheep, ³³ seventy-two thousand cattle, ³⁴ sixty-one thousand donkeys, ³⁵ and thirty-two thousand women who had not known a man by lying with him.

³⁶ The half that was kept for the soldiers numbered 337,000 sheep, ³⁷ and the tax for Yahweh of the sheep was 675.

³⁸ The cattle were thirty-six thousand, from which the tax for Yahweh was seventy-two.

³⁹ The donkeys were 30,500 from which the tax for Yahweh was sixty-one.

⁴⁰ The persons were sixteen thousand women, from which the tax for Yahweh was thirty-two.

⁴¹ Moses took the tax that was to be a contribution presented to Yahweh. He gave it to Eleazar the priest, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

⁴² As for the people of Israel's half that Moses had taken from the soldiers who had gone to war— ⁴³ the community's half was 337,500 sheep, ⁴⁴ thirty-six thousand oxen, ⁴⁵ 30,500 donkeys, ⁴⁶ and sixteen thousand women.

⁴⁷ From the people of Israel's half, Moses took one out of every fifty, both of people and animals. He gave them to the Levites who performed the duties of Yahweh's tabernacle, as Yahweh had commanded him to do.

⁴⁸ Then the officers of the army, the commanders over thousands and the captains over hundreds, came to Moses. ⁴⁹ They said to Moses, "Your servants have counted the soldiers who are under our command, and not one man is missing.

⁵⁰ We have brought Yahweh's offering, what each man found, articles of gold, armlets and bracelets, signet rings, earrings, and necklaces, to make atonement for ourselves before Yahweh." ⁵¹ Moses and Eleazar the priest received from them the gold—all the articles of craftsmanship.

⁵² All the gold of the contribution that they gave to Yahweh—the offerings from the commanders of thousands and from the captains of hundreds—weighed 16,750 shekels. ⁵³ Each soldier had taken plunder, each man for himself. ⁵⁴ Moses and Eleazar the priest took the gold from the commanders of thousands and captains of hundreds. They took it into the tent of meeting as a reminder of the people of Israel for Yahweh.

Chapter 32

¹ Now the descendants of Reuben and of Gad had large numbers of livestock. When they saw the land of Jazer and Gilead, the land was a wonderful place for livestock. ² So the descendants of Gad and Reuben came and spoke to Moses, to Eleazar the priest, and to the leaders of the community. They said, ³ "This is a list of places we have surveyed: Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon.

⁴ These are the lands that Yahweh attacked before the community of Israel, and they are good places for livestock. We, your servants, have a lot of livestock." ⁵ They said, "If we have found favor in your eyes, let this land be given to us, your servants, as a possession. Do not make us cross over the Jordan."

⁶ Moses replied to the descendants of Gad and Reuben, "Should your brothers go to war while you settle down here? ⁷ Why discourage the hearts of the people of Israel from going over into the land that Yahweh has given them?

⁸ Your fathers did the same thing when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to examine the land. ⁹ They went up to the Valley of Eshkol. They saw the land and then discouraged the hearts of the people of Israel so that they refused to enter the land that Yahweh had given them.

¹⁰ Yahweh's anger was kindled on that day. He took an oath and said, ¹¹ 'Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and up, will see the land about which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, because they have not completely followed me, except for ¹² Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua son of Nun. Only Caleb and Joshua have completely followed me.'

¹³ So Yahweh's anger was kindled against Israel. He made them wander around in the wilderness for forty years until all the generation who had done evil in his sight was destroyed. ¹⁴ Look, you have risen up in your fathers' place, like just more sinful men, to add to Yahweh's burning anger toward Israel. ¹⁵ If you turn away from following him, he will again leave Israel in the wilderness and you will have destroyed all this people."

¹⁶ So they came near Moses and said, "Allow us to build fences here for our livestock and cities for our families. ¹⁷ However, we ourselves will be ready and armed to go with Israel's army until we have led them into their place. But our families will live in the fortified cities because of the other people who still live in this land.

¹⁸ We will not return to our houses until every one of the people of Israel has obtained his inheritance. ¹⁹ We will not inherit the land with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance is here on the east side of the Jordan."

²⁰ So Moses replied to them, "If you do what you say, if you arm yourselves to go before Yahweh to war, ²¹ then every one of your armed men must cross over the Jordan before Yahweh, until he has driven out his enemies from before him ²² and the land is subdued before him. Then afterward you may return. You will be guiltless toward Yahweh and toward Israel. This land will be your possession before Yahweh.

²³ But if you do not do so, look, you will have sinned against Yahweh. Be sure that your sin will find you out. ²⁴ Build cities for your families and pens for your sheep; then do what you have said." ²⁵ The descendants of Gad and Reuben spoke to Moses and said, "Your servants will do as you, our master, commands.

²⁶ Our little ones, our wives, our cattle, and all our livestock will stay there in the cities of Gilead. ²⁷ However, we, your servants, every man who is armed for war, will cross over before Yahweh to battle, as our master says."

²⁸ So Moses gave instructions concerning them to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the leaders of the ancestor's clans in the tribes of the people of Israel. ²⁹ Moses said to them, "If the descendants of Gad and Reuben cross over the Jordan with you, every man who is armed to battle before Yahweh, and if the land is subdued before you, then you will give them the land of Gilead as a possession. ³⁰ But if they do not cross over with you armed, then they will acquire their possessions among you in the land of Canaan."

³¹ So the descendants of Gad and Reuben answered and said, "As Yahweh has said to us, your servants, this is what we will do. ³² We will cross over armed before Yahweh into the land of Canaan, but our possessed inheritance will remain with us on this side of the Jordan."

³³ So to the descendants of Gad and Reuben, and also to the half tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph, Moses gave the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, and of Og, king of Bashan. He gave to them the land, and distributed to them all its cities with their borders, the cities of the land around them.

³⁴ The descendants of Gad rebuilt Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, ³⁵ Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, ³⁶ Beth Nimrah, and Beth Haran as fortified cities with pens for sheep.

³⁷ The descendants of Reuben rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh, Kiriathaim, ³⁸ Nebo, Baal Meon—their names were later changed, and Sibmah. They gave other names to the cities that they rebuilt. ³⁹ The descendants of Makir son of Manasseh went to Gilead and took it away from the Amorites who were in it.

⁴⁰ Then Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites, the descendants of Manasseh, and his people settled there. ⁴¹ Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, went and captured its towns and called them Havvoth Jair. ⁴² Nobah went and captured Kenath and its villages, and he called it Nobah, after his own name.

Chapter 33

¹ These were the movements of the people of Israel after they left the land of Egypt by their armed groups under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. ² Moses wrote down the places from where they left to where they went, as commanded by Yahweh. These were their movements, departure after departure.

³ They traveled from Rameses during the first month, leaving on the fifteenth day of the first month. On the morning after the Passover, the people of Israel left openly, in the sight of all the Egyptians. ⁴ This happened while the Egyptians were burying all their firstborn, those whom Yahweh had killed among them, for he also made judgments against their gods.

⁵ The people of Israel set out from Rameses and camped at Sukkoth. ⁶ They set out from Sukkoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. ⁷ They set out from Etham and turned back to Pi Hahiroth, which is opposite Baal Zephon, where they camped opposite Migdol.

⁸ Then they set out from opposite Pi Hahiroth and passed through the middle of the sea into the wilderness. They traveled three days' journey into the wilderness of Etham and camped at Marah. ⁹ They set out from Marah and arrived at Elim. At Elim were twelve springs of water and seventy palm trees. That is where they camped. ¹⁰ They set out from Elim and camped by the Sea of Reeds.

¹¹ They set out from the Sea of Reeds and camped in the wilderness of Sin. ¹² They set out from the wilderness of Sin and camped at Dophkah. ¹³ They set out from Dophkah and camped at Alush. ¹⁴ They set out from Alush and camped at Rephidim, where no water was found for the people to drink.

¹⁵ They set out from Rephidim and camped in the wilderness of Sinai. ¹⁶ They set out from the wilderness of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah. ¹⁷ They set out from Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth. ¹⁸ They set out from Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.

¹⁹ They set out from Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez. ²⁰ They set out from Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah. ²¹ They set out from Libnah and camped at Rissah. ²² They set out from Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.

²³ They set out from Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher. ²⁴ They set out from Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah. ²⁵ They set out from Haradah and camped at Makheloth. ²⁶ They set out from Makheloth and camped at Tahath.

²⁷ They set out from Tahath and camped at Terah. ²⁸ They set out from Terah and camped at Mithkah. ²⁹ They set out from Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah. ³⁰ They set out from Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.

³¹ They set out from Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan. ³² They set out from Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad. ³³ They set out from Hor Haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah. ³⁴ They set out from Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.

³⁵ They set out from Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber. ³⁶ They set out from Ezion Geber and camped in the wilderness of Zin at Kadesh. ³⁷ They set out from Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, at the edge of the land of Edom.

³⁸ Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor at Yahweh's command and died there in the fortieth year after the people of Israel had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fifth month, on the first day of the month. ³⁹ Aaron was 123 years old when he died on Mount Hor.

⁴⁰ The Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the southern wilderness in the land of Canaan, heard of the coming of the people of Israel.

⁴¹ They set out from Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah. ⁴² They set out from Zalmonah and camped at Punon. ⁴³ They set out from Punon and camped at Oboth.

⁴⁴ They set out from Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab. ⁴⁵ They set out from Iye Abarim and camped at Dibon Gad. ⁴⁶ They set out from Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim.

⁴⁷ They set out from Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, opposite Nebo. ⁴⁸ They set out from the mountains of Abarim and camped in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. ⁴⁹ They camped by the Jordan, from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim in the plains of Moab.

⁵⁰ Yahweh spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho and said, ⁵¹ "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, ⁵² then you must drive out all the land's inhabitants before you. You must destroy all their carved figures. You must destroy all their cast metal images and demolish all their high places.

⁵³ You must take possession of the land and settle in it, because I have given you the land to possess. ⁵⁴ You must inherit the land by lot, according to each clan. To the larger clans you must give a larger share of land, and to the smaller clans you must give a smaller share of land. Wherever the lot falls to each clan, that land will belong to it. You will inherit the land according to your ancestors' tribes.

⁵⁵ But if you do not drive out the land's inhabitants before you, then the people you allow to stay will become like objects in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will make your lives difficult in the land where you settle. ⁵⁶ Then it will happen that what I now intend to do to those people, I will do also to you.'"

Chapter 34

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ² "Command the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you enter the land of Canaan, the land that will belong to you, the land of Canaan and its borders,

³ your southern border will extend from the wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. The eastern end of the southern border will be on a line that ends at the southern end of the Salt Sea.

⁴ Your border will turn south from the hill of Akrabbim and pass along through the wilderness of Zin. From there, it will run south of Kadesh Barnea and continue to Hazar Addar and further to Azmon. ⁵ From there, the border will turn from Azmon toward the brook of Egypt and follow it to the sea.

⁶ The western border will be the coastline of the Great Sea. This will be your western border.

⁷ Your northern border will extend along a line that you must mark out from the Great Sea to Mount Hor, ⁸ then from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath, then on to Zedad. ⁹ Then the border will continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This will be your northern border.

¹⁰ Then you must mark out your eastern border from Hazar Enan south to Shepham. ¹¹ Then the eastern border will go down from Shepham to Riblah, on the east side of Ain. The border will continue along the east side of the Sea of Kinnereth. ¹² Then the border will continue south along the Jordan River to the Salt Sea and continue down the eastern border of the Salt Sea. This will be your land, following its borders all around.'"

¹³ Then Moses commanded the people of Israel and said, "This is the land that you will receive by lot as a possession, which Yahweh has commanded to give to the nine tribes and to the half tribe. ¹⁴ The tribe of the descendants of Reuben, following the assignment of property to their ancestor's tribe, and the tribe of the descendants of Gad, following the assignment of property to their ancestor's tribe, and the half tribe of Manasseh have all received their land. ¹⁵ The two tribes and the half tribe have received their possession beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunrise."

¹⁶ Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ¹⁷ "These are the names of the men who will divide the land for your inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun. ¹⁸ You must choose one leader from every tribe to divide the land as their possession.

¹⁹ These are the names of the men:

From the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh.

²⁰ From the tribe of the descendants of Simeon, Shemuel son of Ammihud.

²¹ From the tribe of Benjamin, Elidad son of Kislon.

²² From of the tribe of the descendants of Dan a leader, Bukki son of Jogli.

²³ From the descendants of Joseph, of the tribe of the descendants of Manasseh a leader, Hanniel son of Ephod.

²⁴ From the tribe of the descendants of Ephraim a leader, Kemuel son of Shiphtan.

²⁵ From the tribe of the descendants of Zebulun a leader, Elizaphan son of Parnak.

²⁶ From the tribe of the descendants of Issachar a leader, Paltiel son of Azzan.

²⁷ From the tribe of the descendants of Asher a leader, Ahihud son of Shelomi.

²⁸ From the tribe of the descendants of Naphtali a leader, Pedahel son of Ammihud."

²⁹ Yahweh commanded these men to divide the land of Canaan and to give it to each of the tribes of Israel as their possession.

Chapter 35

¹ Yahweh spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho and said, ² "Command the people of Israel to give some of their own shares of the inheritance that they possess to the Levites. They must give them cities to live in and pastureland surrounding those cities.

³ The Levites will have these cities to live in. The pastureland will be for their cattle, their flocks, and all their other animals. ⁴ The pasturelands around the cities that you will give to the Levites must extend from the city walls for one thousand cubits in every direction.

⁵ You must measure two thousand cubits from outside the city on the east side, and two thousand cubits to the south side, two thousand cubits to the west side, and two thousand cubits to the north side. This will be the pasturelands for their cities. The cities will be in the center.

⁶ Six of the cities that you will give to Levites must serve as cities of refuge. You must provide these as places to which a person who has killed someone can flee. Also provide forty-two other cities. ⁷ The cities that you give to the Levites will total forty-eight. You must give their pasturelands with them.

⁸ As for the cities which you will give from the possession of the children of Israel, from tribes with many you shall take many, and from tribes with few you shall take few. Every tribe according to its inheritance shall give some of his cities to the Levites."

⁹ Then Yahweh spoke to Moses and said, ¹⁰ "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, 'When you cross over the Jordan into the land of Canaan, ¹¹ then you must choose cities to serve as cities of refuge for you, a place to which a person who has killed someone unintentionally may flee.

¹² These cities must be your refuge from the avenger, so that the killer will not die without first standing trial before the community. ¹³ You must choose six cities as cities of refuge.

¹⁴ You must provide three cities beyond the Jordan and three in the land of Canaan. They will be cities of refuge. ¹⁵ For the people of Israel, for the foreigner, and for the sojourner, these six cities will serve as a refuge to which anyone who kills someone unintentionally can flee.

¹⁶ But if an accused man has struck his victim with an instrument of iron, and if his victim dies, then the accused is indeed a murderer. He must certainly be put to death. ¹⁷ If an accused man has struck his victim with a stone in his hand that might kill the victim, and if his victim dies, then the accused is indeed a murderer. He must certainly be put to death. ¹⁸ If an accused man has struck his victim with a wooden weapon that might kill the victim, and if the victim dies, then the accused is indeed a murderer. He must certainly be put to death.

¹⁹ The avenger of blood must put the murderer to death. When he meets him, the avenger of blood must put him to death. ²⁰ If he strikes another in hatred or throws something at him, while hiding to ambush him, so that the victim dies, ²¹ or if he strikes him down in hatred with his hand so that the victim dies, then the accused who struck him must surely be put to death. He is a murderer. The avenger of blood may put the murderer to death when he meets him.

²² But if an accused man suddenly hits a victim without premeditated hate or throws something that hits the victim without lying in wait ²³ or if he throws a stone that could kill a victim without seeing the victim, then the accused was not the victim's enemy; he was not trying to hurt the victim. But this is what to do if the victim dies anyway.

²⁴ In that case, the community must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood on the basis of these rules. ²⁵ The community must rescue the killer from the power of the avenger of blood. The community must return the accused to the city of refuge to which he had originally fled. He must live there until the death of the current high priest, the one who was anointed with the holy oil.

²⁶ But if the killer at any time goes beyond the border of the city of refuge to which he fled, ²⁷ and if the avenger of blood finds him outside the border of his city of refuge, and if he kills the killer, the avenger of blood will not be guilty of murder. ²⁸ This is because the accused man should have remained in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest. After the death of the high priest, the killer may return to the land where he has his own property.

²⁹ These laws must be statutes for you through all your people's generations in all the places where you live. ³⁰ Whoever kills any person, the murderer must be killed, as testified to by the words of witnesses. But one witness's word alone may not cause any person to be put to death.

³¹ Also, you must not accept ransom for the life of a murderer who is guilty of murder. He must certainly be put to death. ³² You must not accept ransom for the one who has fled to a city of refuge. You must not in this way allow him to reside on his own property until the high priest dies.

³³ Do not pollute in this way the land where you live, because blood from murder pollutes the land. No atonement can be made for the land when blood has been shed on it, except by the blood of the one who shed it. ³⁴ So you must not defile the land in which you live because I am living in it. I, Yahweh, live among the people of Israel.'"

Chapter 36

¹ Then the leaders of the ancestors' families of the clan of Gilead son of Makir (who was Manasseh's son), who were from the clans of the descendants of Joseph, came and spoke before Moses and before the leaders who were the heads of the ancestor's families of the people of Israel. ² They said, "Yahweh commanded you, our master, to give a share of land by lot to the people of Israel. You were commanded by Yahweh to give the possession of Zelophehad our brother to his daughters.

³ But if his daughters marry men in another tribe of the people of Israel, then their share of land will be removed from our ancestor's share. It will be added to the share of the tribes that they join. In that case, it will be removed from the assigned share of our inheritance. ⁴ In that case, when the year of Jubilee of the people of Israel comes, then their possession will be joined to the possession of the tribe that they have joined. In this way, their possession will be taken away from the possession of our ancestors' tribe."

⁵ So Moses gave a command to the people of Israel, at Yahweh's word. He said, "What the tribe of Joseph's descendants says is right. ⁶ This is what Yahweh commands concerning Zelophehad's daughters. He says, 'Let them be married to whom they think best, but they must marry only within the clan of the tribe of their father.'

⁷ No possession of the people of Israel must change from one tribe to another. Each one of the people of Israel must continue with the possession of his ancestor's tribe.

⁸ Every woman of the people of Israel who has a possession in her tribe must marry someone from the clans belonging to her father's tribe. This is so that everyone of the people of Israel may own an inheritance from his ancestors. ⁹ No share may change hands from one tribe to another. Everyone of the tribes of the people of Israel must keep his own inheritance."

¹⁰ So Zelophehad's daughters did as Yahweh had commanded Moses. ¹¹ Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Noah, the daughters of Zelophehad, married descendants of Manasseh. ¹² They married into the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph. In this way, their inheritances remained in the tribe to which their father's clan belonged.

¹³ These are the commands and the decrees that Yahweh gave by Moses to the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

Deuteronomy

Chapter 1

¹ These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness, in the plain of the Jordan River valley over against Suph, between Paran, Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab. ² It is eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh Barnea.

³ It happened in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spoke to the people of Israel, telling them all that Yahweh commanded him concerning them. ⁴ This was after Yahweh had attacked Sihon the king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth at Edrei.

⁵ Beyond the Jordan, in the land of Moab, Moses began to announce these instructions, saying,

⁶ "Yahweh our God spoke to us at Horeb, saying, 'You have lived long enough in this hill country.

⁷ Turn and take your journey, and go to the hill country of the Amorites and to all the places near there in the plain of the Jordan River valley, in the hill country, in the lowlands, in the Negev, and by the seashore—the land of the Canaanites, and in Lebanon as far as the great river, the Euphrates. ⁸ Look, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land that Yahweh swore to your fathers—to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob—to give to them and to their descendants after them.'

⁹ I spoke to you at that time, saying, 'I am not able to carry you myself alone. ¹⁰ Yahweh your God has multiplied you, and, look, you are today as the multitude of the stars of heaven. ¹¹ May Yahweh, the God of your fathers, make you a thousand times as many as you are, and bless you, as he has promised you!

¹² But how can I myself alone carry your loads, your burdens, and your disputes? ¹³ Take wise men, understanding men, and men of good repute from each tribe, and I will make them heads over you.' ¹⁴ You answered me and said, 'The thing that you have spoken is good for us to do.'

¹⁵ So I took the heads of your tribes, wise men, and men of good repute, and made them heads over you, captains of thousands, captains of hundreds, captains of fifties, captains of tens, and officers, tribe by tribe. ¹⁶ I commanded your judges at that time, saying, 'Hear the disputes between your brothers, and judge righteously between a man and his brother, and the foreigner who is with him.

¹⁷ You will not show partiality to anyone in a dispute; you will hear the small and the great alike. You will not be afraid of the face of man, for the judgment is God's. The dispute that is too hard for you, you will bring to me, and I will hear it.' ¹⁸ I commanded you at that time all the things that you should do.

¹⁹ We journeyed away from Horeb and went through all that great and terrible wilderness that you saw, on our way to the hill country of the Amorites, as Yahweh our God had commanded us; and we came to Kadesh Barnea.

²⁰ I said to you, 'You have come to the hill country of the Amorites, which Yahweh our God is giving to us. ²¹ Look, Yahweh your God has set the land before you; go up, take possession, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has spoken to you; do not be afraid, neither be discouraged.'

²² Every one of you came to me and said, 'Let us send men ahead of us, so that they may search out the land for us, and bring us word about the way by which we should attack, and about the cities to which we will come.' ²³ The advice pleased me well; I took twelve men of you, one man for every tribe. ²⁴ They turned and went up into the hill country, came to the Valley of Eshkol, and scouted it.

²⁵ They took some of the produce of the land in their hands and brought it down to us. They also brought us word and said, 'It is a good land that Yahweh our God is giving to us.'

²⁶ Yet you refused to attack, but rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh your God. ²⁷ You complained in your tents and said, "It is because Yahweh hated us that he has brought us out of the land of Egypt, to give us into the hand of the Amorites to destroy us. ²⁸ Where can we go now? Our brothers have made our heart to melt, saying, 'Those people are bigger and taller than we are; their cities are large and are fortified up to the heavens; moreover, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.'"

²⁹ Then I said to you, 'Do not be terrified, neither be afraid of them. ³⁰ Yahweh your God, who goes before you, he will fight for you, like everything that he did for you in Egypt before your eyes, ³¹ and also in the wilderness, where you have seen how Yahweh your God carried you, as a man carries his son, everywhere you went until you came to this place.'

³² Yet in spite of this word you did not believe Yahweh your God, ³³ who went before you on the way to find a place for you to make camp, in fire by night and in a cloud by day.

³⁴ Yahweh heard the sound of your words and was angry; he swore and said, ³⁵ 'Surely not one of these men of this evil generation will see the good land that I swore to give to your ancestors, ³⁶ except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it and I will give him and his descendants the land that he has stepped on, because he wholly followed Yahweh.'

³⁷ Also Yahweh was angry with me because of you, saying, 'You also will not go in there; ³⁸ Joshua son of Nun, who stands before you, he will go in there; encourage him, for he will lead Israel to inherit it.

³⁹ Moreover, your little children, the ones you said would be victims, who today have no knowledge of good or evil—they will go in there. To them I will give it, and they will possess it. ⁴⁰ But as for you, turn and take your journey into the wilderness along the way to the Sea of Reeds.'

⁴¹ Then you answered and said to me, 'We have sinned against Yahweh; we will go up and fight, and we will follow all that Yahweh our God has commanded us to do.' Every man among you girded on his weapons of war, and you were ready to attack the hill country. ⁴² Yahweh said to me, 'Say to them, "Do not attack and do not fight, for I will not be with you, and you will be defeated by your enemies.'

⁴³ I spoke to you in this way, but you did not listen. You rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh; you were arrogant and attacked the hill country. ⁴⁴ But the Amorites, who lived in that hill country, came out against you and chased you like bees, and crushed you in Seir, as far as Hormah.

⁴⁵ You returned and wept before Yahweh; but Yahweh did not listen to your voice, nor did he pay attention to you. ⁴⁶ So you stayed in Kadesh many days, all the days that you stayed there.

Chapter 2

¹ Then we turned and took our journey into the wilderness by the way to the Sea of Reeds, as Yahweh had spoken to me; we went around Mount Seir for many days. ² Yahweh spoke to me, saying, ³ 'You have gone around this mountain long enough; turn northward.

⁴ Command the people, saying, "You are to pass through the border of your brothers, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; they will be afraid of you. Therefore be careful ⁵ not to fight with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not even enough for the sole of a foot to step on; for I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession.

⁶ You will purchase food from them for money, so that you may eat; you will also buy water from them for money, so that you may drink. ⁷ For Yahweh your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand; he has known your walking through this great wilderness. For these forty years Yahweh your God has been with you, and you have lacked nothing."'

⁸ So we passed by our brothers, the descendants of Esau who live in Seir, away from the Arabah road, from Elath and from Ezion Geber. Then we turned and passed by the way of the wilderness of Moab.

⁹ Yahweh said to me, 'Do not trouble Moab, and do not fight with them in battle. For I will not give you his land for your own possession, because I have given Ar to the descendants of Lot, for their possession.'

¹⁰ (The Emites lived there previously, a people as great, as many, and as tall as the Anakim; ¹¹ these also are considered to be the Rephaim, like the Anakim; but the Moabites call them the Emites.

¹² The Horites also lived in Seir previously, but the descendants of Esau succeeded them. They destroyed them from before them and lived in their place, like Israel did to the land of his possession that Yahweh gave to them.)

¹³ "'Now rise up and go over the brook Zered.' So we went over the brook Zered. ¹⁴ Now the days from when we came from Kadesh Barnea until we crossed the brook Zered, were thirty-eight years. It was by that time that all that generation of the men fit for fighting were gone from the people, as Yahweh had sworn to them. ¹⁵ Moreover, the hand of Yahweh was against that generation in order to destroy them from the people until they were gone.

¹⁶ So it happened, when all the men fit for fighting were dead and gone from among the people, ¹⁷ that Yahweh spoke to me, saying, ¹⁸ 'You are today to pass over Ar, the border of Moab. ¹⁹ When you come near opposite the people of Ammon, do not trouble them or fight them; for I will not give you any of the land of the people of Ammon as a possession; because I have given it to the descendants of Lot as a possession.'"

²⁰ (That also is considered to be a land of the Rephaim. The Rephaim lived there previously—but the Ammonites call them Zamzummim— ²¹ a people as great, as many, and as tall as the Anakim. But Yahweh destroyed them before the Ammonites, and they succeeded them and lived in their place. ²² This Yahweh also did for the people of Esau, who live in Seir, when he destroyed the Horites from before them, and the descendants of Esau succeeded them and have lived in their place even until today.

²³ As for the Avvites who lived in villages as far as Gaza, the Caphtorim, who came from Caphtor, destroyed them and settled in their place.)

²⁴ "'Now rise up, go on your journey, and pass over the Valley of the Arnon; look, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to possess it, and fight with him in battle. ²⁵ Today I will begin to put the fear and terror of you on the peoples that are under the whole sky; they will hear a report about you and will tremble and be in anguish because of you.'

²⁶ I sent messengers from the wilderness of Kedemoth to Sihon, king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, ²⁷ 'Let me pass through your land; I will go along the highway; I will turn neither to the right hand nor to the left.

²⁸ You will sell me food for money, so that I may eat; give me water for money, so that I may drink; only let me pass through on my feet; ²⁹ as the descendants of Esau who live in Seir, and as the Moabites who live in Ar, did for me; until I pass over the Jordan into the land that Yahweh our God is giving us.'

³⁰ But Sihon, king of Heshbon, would not let us pass by him; for Yahweh your God had hardened his mind and made his heart obstinate, that he might defeat him by your might, which he has now done today. ³¹ Yahweh said to me, 'Look, I have begun to deliver up Sihon and his land before you; begin to possess it, in order that you may inherit his land.'

³² Then Sihon came out against us, he and all his people, to fight at Jahaz. ³³ Yahweh our God gave him over to us and we defeated him and his sons and all his people.

³⁴ We took all his cities at that time and completely destroyed every city—men and the women and the little ones; we left no survivor. ³⁵ Only the livestock we took as booty for ourselves, along with the spoil of the cities that we had taken.

³⁶ From Aroer, which is on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, and from the city that is in the valley, all the way to Gilead, there was not a city too high for us. Yahweh our God gave them into our hands. ³⁷ It was only to the land of the descendants of Ammon that you did not go, as well as all the side of the Jabbok River, and the cities of the hill country—wherever Yahweh our God had forbidden us to go.

Chapter 3

¹ Then we turned and went up the way to Bashan. Og, the king of Bashan, came and attacked us, he and all his people, to fight at Edrei. ² Yahweh said to me, 'Do not fear him; for I have given you victory over him and have put all his people and his land under your control. You will do to him as you did to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who lived at Heshbon.'

³ So Yahweh our God also gave us victory over Og the king of Bashan, and all his people were put under our control. We struck them down until not one survivor remained for him. ⁴ We took all his cities at that time. There was not one of the sixty cities that we did not take from them—all the region of Argob, the kingdom of Og in Bashan.

⁵ These were all cities fortified with high walls, gates, and bars; this was besides very many unwalled villages. ⁶ We completely destroyed them, as we did to Sihon king of Heshbon, completely destroying every city—men and the women and the little ones. ⁷ But all the livestock and the spoil of the cities we took as booty for ourselves.

⁸ At that time we took the land out of the hand of the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan, from the Valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon ⁹ (Mount Hermon is called Sirion by the Sidonians, and the Amorites call it Senir) ¹⁰ and all the cities of the plain, all Gilead, and all Bashan, all the way to Salekah and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan."

¹¹ (For of the remnant of the Rephaim, only Og king of Bashan had remained. Look! His bed was a bed of iron. Was it not in Rabbah, where the descendants of Ammon live? It was nine cubits long and four cubits wide, the way people measure.)

¹² "This land that we took in possession at that time—from Aroer, that is by the Valley of the Arnon, and half the hill country of Gilead, and its cities—I gave to the Reubenites and to the Gadites. ¹³ The rest of Gilead and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half tribe of Manasseh. (All the region of Argob in Bashan was called the land of Rephaim.

¹⁴ Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, took all the region of Argob to the border of the Geshurites and the Maakathites. He called the region, even Bashan, by his own name, Havvoth Jair, to this day.)

¹⁵ I gave Gilead to Makir. ¹⁶ To the Reubenites and to the Gadites I gave territory from Gilead to the Valley of the Arnon—the middle of the valley is the territory's border—and to the Jabbok River, which is the border with the descendants of Ammon.

¹⁷ Another of its borders is also the plain of the Jordan River valley, from Kinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Salt Sea) to the slopes of Mount Pisgah eastward.

¹⁸ I commanded you at that time, saying, 'Yahweh your God has given you this land to possess it; you, all the men of war, will pass over armed before your brothers, the people of Israel.

¹⁹ But your wives, your little ones, and your livestock (I know that you have much livestock), will stay in your cities that I have given you, ²⁰ until Yahweh gives rest to your brothers, as he has to you, until they also possess the land that Yahweh your God is giving them beyond the Jordan; then will you return, every man of you, to your own property that I have given you.'

²¹ I commanded Joshua at that time, saying, 'Your eyes have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to these two kings; Yahweh will do the same to all the kingdoms where you go over. ²² You will not fear them, for Yahweh your God is the one who will fight for you.'

²³ I earnestly appealed to Yahweh at that time, saying, ²⁴ 'O Lord Yahweh, you have begun to show your servant your greatness and your strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or in earth that can do the same works as you have done, and the same mighty acts? ²⁵ Let me go over, I beg you, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that good hill country, and also Lebanon.'

²⁶ But Yahweh was angry with me because of you; he did not listen to me. Yahweh said to me, 'Let this be enough for you—speak no more to me about this matter: ²⁷ go up to the top of Pisgah and lift up your eyes westward, northward, southward, and eastward; look with your eyes, for you will not go over the Jordan.

²⁸ Instead, instruct Joshua and encourage and strengthen him, for he will go over before this people, and he will cause them to inherit the land that you will see.' ²⁹ So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth Peor.

Chapter 4

¹ Now, Israel, listen to the laws and the decrees that I am about to teach you, to do them; so that you may live and go in and possess the land that Yahweh, the God of your fathers, is giving you. ² You will not add to the words that I command you, neither will you diminish them, so that you may keep the commandments of Yahweh your God that I am about to command you.

³ Your eyes have seen what Yahweh did because of Baal Peor; for all the men who followed the Baal of Peor, Yahweh your God has destroyed them from among you. ⁴ But you who clung to Yahweh your God are alive today, every one of you.

⁵ Look, I have taught you laws and decrees, as Yahweh my God had commanded me, that you should do so in the midst of the land which you are going into in order to possess it. ⁶ Therefore keep them and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear about all these statutes and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.'

⁷ For what other great nation is there that has a god so near to them, as Yahweh our God is whenever we call upon him? ⁸ What other great nation is there that has laws and decrees so righteous as all this law that I am setting before you today?

⁹ Only pay attention and carefully guard yourself, so that you do not forget the things that your eyes have seen, so that they do not leave your heart for all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children. ¹⁰ On the day that you stood before Yahweh your God at Horeb, when Yahweh said to me, 'Assemble me the people, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.'

¹¹ You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain. The mountain burned with fire to the heart of heaven, with darkness, cloud, and thick darkness. ¹² Yahweh spoke to you out of the middle of the fire; you heard the voice with its words, but you saw no form; you only heard a voice.

¹³ He declared to you his covenant that he commanded you to perform, the Ten Commandments. He wrote them on two tablets of stone. ¹⁴ Yahweh commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and rules, so that you might do them in the land that you are crossing over to take possession of it.

¹⁵ So watch yourselves carefully—for you saw no kind of form on the day that Yahweh spoke to you at Horeb out of the middle of the fire— ¹⁶ that you do not corrupt yourselves by making a carved image in the form of any figure, in the likeness of male or female, ¹⁷ the likeness of any animal on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the heavens, ¹⁸ the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, or the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth.

¹⁹ You must not lift your eyes up to the heavens and look at the sun, the moon, or the stars—all the host of the heavens—and be drawn away to worship them and adore them—those things of which Yahweh your God has given a share to all the peoples under all the heavens. ²⁰ But Yahweh has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be to him a people of his own inheritance, as you are today.

²¹ Yahweh was angry with me because of you; he swore that I would not go over the Jordan, and that I would not go into the good land that Yahweh your God is giving to you as an inheritance. ²² Rather, I must die in this land; I must not go over the Jordan. But you will go over and possess that good land.

²³ Pay attention to yourselves, so that you do not forget the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything that Yahweh your God has forbidden you to make. ²⁴ For Yahweh your God is a devouring fire, a jealous God.

²⁵ When you beget children and children's children, and when you will have been in the land for a long time, and if you corrupt yourselves and make a carved figure in the form of anything, and do what is evil in the sight of Yahweh your God, to provoke him to anger— ²⁶ I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that you will soon utterly perish from off the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but you will be completely destroyed.

²⁷ Yahweh will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations, where Yahweh will lead you away. ²⁸ There you will serve other gods, the work of men's hands, wood and stone, which neither see, hear, eat, nor smell.

²⁹ But from there you will seek Yahweh your God, and you will find him, when you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.

³⁰ When you are in distress, and when all these things will have come on you, in those later days you will return to Yahweh your God and listen to his voice. ³¹ For Yahweh your God is a merciful God; he will not fail you nor destroy you, nor forget the covenant of your fathers that he swore to them.

³² Ask now about the days that are past, which were before your time, since the day that God created man on the earth, ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether there has been anything so great as this, or has anything like it ever been heard? ³³ Did ever a people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as you have heard, and live?

³⁴ Or has God ever attempted to go and take for himself a nation from the midst of another nation, by trials, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by an outstretched arm, and by great terrors, as everything that Yahweh your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?

³⁵ To you these things were shown, so that you might know that Yahweh is God, and that there is no one else besides him. ³⁶ Out of heaven he made you to hear his voice, so that he might instruct you; on earth he made you see his great fire; you heard his words out of the midst of the fire.

³⁷ Because he loved your fathers, he chose their descendants after them, and brought you out of Egypt with his presence, with his great power; ³⁸ in order to drive out from before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land as an inheritance, as today.

³⁹ Know therefore today, and lay it on your heart, that Yahweh is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no one else. ⁴⁰ You will keep his statutes and his commandments that I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you forever."

⁴¹ Then Moses selected three cities on the east side of the Jordan, ⁴² so that anyone might flee to one of them if he killed another person accidentally, without being his enemy previously. By fleeing to one of these cities, he might survive. ⁴³ They were: Bezer in the wilderness, the plain country, for the Reubenites; Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.

⁴⁴ This is the law that Moses placed before the people of Israel; ⁴⁵ these are the covenant decrees, laws, and ordinances that he spoke to the people of Israel when they came out of Egypt, ⁴⁶ when they were east of the Jordan, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, in the land of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had lived at Heshbon, whom Moses and the people of Israel had defeated when they came out of Egypt.

⁴⁷ They took his land as a possession, and the land of Og king of Bashan—these, the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan toward the east. ⁴⁸ This territory went from Aroer, on the edge of the Valley of the Arnon, to Mount Siyon (or Mount Hermon), ⁴⁹ and included all of the plain of the Jordan River valley, eastward beyond the Jordan, to the Sea of the Arabah, to the slopes of Mount Pisgah.

Chapter 5

¹ Moses called to all Israel and said to them, "Listen, Israel, to the statutes and the decrees that I will speak in your ears today, that you may learn them and keep them. ² Yahweh our God made a covenant with us at Horeb. ³ Yahweh did not make this covenant with our ancestors, but with us, all of us alive here today.

⁴ Yahweh spoke with you face to face on the mount out of the middle of the fire ⁵ (I stood between Yahweh and you at that time, to reveal to you his word; for you were afraid because of the fire, and you did not go up the mountain). Yahweh said,

⁶ 'I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

⁷ You will have no other gods before me.

⁸ You will not make for yourself a carved figure nor any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water below.

⁹ You will not bow down to them or serve them, for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God. I punish the ancestors' wickedness by bringing punishment on the children, to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, ¹⁰ and showing steadfast love to thousands, to those who love me and keep my commandments.

¹¹ You will not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain.

¹² Observe the Sabbath day to keep it holy, as Yahweh your God commanded you. ¹³ For six days you will labor and do all your work; ¹⁴ but the seventh day is a Sabbath to Yahweh your God. On it you will not do any work—not you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your ox, nor your donkey, nor any of your animals, nor any foreigner who is within your gates. This is so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you.

¹⁵ You will call to mind that you were a servant in the land of Egypt, and Yahweh your God brought you out from there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm. Therefore Yahweh your God has commanded you to keep the Sabbath day.

¹⁶ Honor your father and your mother, as Yahweh your God has commanded you to do, that you may live a long time in the land that Yahweh your God gives you, and so that it may go well with you.

¹⁷ You will not murder.

¹⁸ You will not commit adultery.

¹⁹ You will not steal.

²⁰ You will not give false witness against your neighbor.

²¹ You will not covet your neighbor's wife, you will not covet your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.'

²² These words Yahweh spoke in a loud voice to all your assembly on the mountain out of the middle of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness; he did not add any more words. He wrote them down on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.

²³ It came about, when you heard the voice out of the middle of the darkness, while the mountain was burning, that you came near to me—all your elders and the heads of your tribes. ²⁴ You said, 'Look, Yahweh our God has shown us his glory and his greatness, and we have heard his voice out of the middle of the fire; we have seen today that when God speaks with people, they can live.

²⁵ But why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of Yahweh our God any longer, we will die. ²⁶ For who besides us is there among all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speak out of the middle of the fire and lived, as we have done? ²⁷ As for you, you should go and listen to everything that Yahweh our God says; repeat to us everything that Yahweh our God says to you; we will listen to it and obey it.'

²⁸ Yahweh heard your words when you spoke to me. He said to me, 'I have heard the words of this people, what they said to you. What they said was good. ²⁹ Oh, that there were such a heart in them, that they would honor me and always keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their children forever! ³⁰ Go say to them, "Return to your tents."

³¹ But as for you, stand here by me, and I will tell you all the commandments, the statutes, and the decrees that you will teach them, so that they may keep them in the land that I will give them to possess.'

³² You will keep, therefore, what Yahweh your God has commanded you; you will not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. ³³ You will walk in all the ways that Yahweh your God has commanded you, so that you may live, and so that it may go well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land that you will possess.

Chapter 6

¹ Now these are the commandments, statutes, and decrees that Yahweh your God has commanded me to teach you, so that you might keep them in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess; ² so that you might honor Yahweh your God, so as to keep all his statutes and commandments that I am commanding you—you, your sons, and your sons' sons, all the days of your lives, so that your days may be prolonged.

³ Therefore listen to them, Israel, and keep them, so that it may go well with you, so that you may greatly multiply, in a land flowing with milk and honey, as Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has promised you would do.

⁴ Listen, Israel: Yahweh our God, Yahweh is one. ⁵ You will love Yahweh your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.

⁶ The words that I am commanding you today will be in your heart; ⁷ and you will diligently teach them to your children; you will talk about them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.

⁸ You will tie them as a sign upon your hand, and they will serve as frontlets between your eyes. ⁹ You will write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

¹⁰ When Yahweh your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, that he would give you, with large and very good cities that you did not build, ¹¹ and houses full of all kinds of good things that you did not make, cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant, you will eat and be satisfied— ¹² then be careful so that you do not forget Yahweh, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

¹³ You will honor Yahweh your God; him you will worship, and you will swear by his name. ¹⁴ You will not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you— ¹⁵ for Yahweh your God in the midst of you is a jealous God—if you do, the anger of Yahweh your God will be kindled against you and he will destroy you from the surface of the earth.

¹⁶ You will not test Yahweh your God as you tested him at Massah. ¹⁷ You will diligently keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, his solemn commands, and his statutes, that he has commanded you.

¹⁸ You will do what is right and good in the sight of Yahweh, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land that Yahweh swore to your fathers, ¹⁹ to drive out all your enemies from before you, as Yahweh has said.

²⁰ When your son asks you in time to come, saying, 'What are the covenant decrees, the statutes, and the other decrees that Yahweh our God commanded you?' ²¹ then you will say to your son, 'We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt; Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, ²² and he displayed signs and wonders, great and severe, on Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his house, before our eyes; ²³ and he brought us out from there, so that he might bring us in, to give us the land that he swore to our fathers.

²⁴ Yahweh commanded us to always keep all these statutes, to fear Yahweh our God for our good, so that he might keep us alive, as we are today. ²⁵ If we keep all these commands before Yahweh our God, as he has commanded us, this will be our righteousness.'

Chapter 7

¹ When Yahweh your God brings you into the land that you go to possess, he will drive out many nations before you—the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites—seven nations greater and mightier than you.

² It is Yahweh your God who gives them over to you when you defeat them, and then you must completely destroy them. You will make no covenant with them, and show them no mercy. ³ Neither will you arrange any marriages with them. You will not give your daughters to their sons, and you will not take their daughters for your sons.

⁴ For they will turn away your sons from following me, so that they may worship other gods. So the anger of Yahweh will be kindled against you, and he will destroy you quickly. ⁵ This is how you will deal with them: You will break down their altars, dash their stone pillars in pieces, cut down their Asherah poles, and burn their cast idols.

⁶ For you are a nation that is set apart to Yahweh your God. He has chosen you to be a people for him to possess, more than all the other peoples that are on the face of the earth.

⁷ Yahweh did not set his love upon you or choose you because you were more in number than any people—for you were the fewest of all peoples— ⁸ but because he loves you, and he wished to keep the oath that he had sworn to your fathers. This is why Yahweh has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

⁹ Therefore know that Yahweh your God—he is God, the faithful God, who keeps covenants and faithfulness for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commandments, ¹⁰ but repays those who hate him to their face, to destroy them; he will not be lenient on whoever hates him; he will repay him to his face.

¹¹ You will therefore keep the commandments, the statutes, and the decrees that I command you today, so that you will do them.

¹² If you listen to these decrees, and keep and do them, it will happen that Yahweh your God will keep with you the covenant and the faithfulness that he swore to your fathers. ¹³ He will love you, bless you, and multiply you. He will bless the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground—your grain, your new wine, and your oil—the calves of your herds and the young of your flocks in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you.

¹⁴ You will be blessed more than all other peoples; there will not be a childless male or a barren female among you or among your livestock. ¹⁵ Yahweh will take away from you all sickness; none of the evil diseases of Egypt that you have known will he put on you, but he will put them on all those who hate you.

¹⁶ You will consume all the peoples whom Yahweh your God will give over to you, and your eye will not pity them. You will not worship their gods, for that will be a trap for you.

¹⁷ If you say in your heart, 'These nations are more numerous than I; how can I dispossess them?'— ¹⁸ do not be afraid of them; you will call to mind what Yahweh your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt; ¹⁹ the great sufferings that your eyes saw, the signs, the wonders, the mighty hand, and the outstretched arm by which Yahweh your God brought you out. Yahweh your God will do the same to all the peoples whom you fear.

²⁰ Moreover, Yahweh your God will send the hornet among them, until those who are left and who hide themselves from you perish from your presence. ²¹ You will not be frightened at them, for Yahweh your God is among you, a great and fearsome God. ²² Yahweh your God will drive out those nations before you little by little. You will not defeat them all at once, or the wild animals would become very many around you.

²³ But Yahweh your God will give you victory over them when you meet them in battle; he will greatly confuse them until they are destroyed. ²⁴ He will put their kings under your power, and you will make their name perish from under heaven. No one will be able to stand before you, until you have destroyed them.

²⁵ You will burn the carved figures of their gods—do not covet the silver or the gold that covers them and take it for yourself, because if you do, you will become trapped by it—for it is an abomination to Yahweh your God. ²⁶ You will not bring any abomination into your house and start to worship it. You will utterly detest and abhor it, for it is set apart for destruction.

Chapter 8

¹ You must keep all the commands that I am giving you today, so that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that Yahweh swore to your fathers. ² You will call to mind all the ways that Yahweh your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, in order that he might humble you, that he might test you to know what was in your heart, as to whether you would keep his commandments or not.

³ He humbled you, and made you hunger, and fed you with manna, which you had not known and which your fathers had not known. He did that to make you know that it is not by bread alone that people live; rather, it is by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of Yahweh that people live.

⁴ Your clothing did not wear out and fall off you, and your feet did not swell up during those forty years. ⁵ You will think about in your heart, how, as a man disciplines his son, so Yahweh your God disciplines you. ⁶ You will keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, so that you might walk in his ways and honor him.

⁷ For Yahweh your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out into valleys and among hills; ⁸ a land of wheat and barley, of vines, fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive trees and honey.

⁹ It is a land in which you will not eat bread in poverty and in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are made of iron, and out of whose hills you may dig copper. ¹⁰ You will eat and be full, and you will bless Yahweh your God for the good land that he has given you.

¹¹ Be careful that you do not forget Yahweh your God, by failing to keep his commandments and his rules and statutes that I am commanding you today. ¹² Otherwise, when you eat and are full, and when you build good houses and live in them, your heart will be lifted up.

¹³ Be careful when your herds and flocks multiply and when your silver and gold increase, and all that you have is multiplied, ¹⁴ then your heart becomes lifted up and you forget Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

¹⁵ Do not forget him who led you through the great and terrifying wilderness, with its fiery serpents and scorpions and thirsty ground where there was no water, who brought you water out of the rock of flint. ¹⁶ He fed you in the wilderness with manna that your ancestors had never known, so that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end, ¹⁷ but you may say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand acquired all this wealth.'

¹⁸ But you will call to mind Yahweh your God, for it is he who gives you the power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is today. ¹⁹ It will happen that, if you will forget Yahweh your God and walk after other gods, worship them, and reverence them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. ²⁰ Like the nations that Yahweh is making to perish before you, so will you perish, because you would not listen to the voice of Yahweh your God.

Chapter 9

¹ Hear, Israel; you are about to cross over the Jordan today, to go in to dispossess nations greater and mightier than yourself, and cities that are great and fortified up to heaven, ² a people great and tall, the sons of the Anakim, whom you know, and of whom you have heard people say, 'Who can stand before the sons of Anak?'

³ Know therefore today that Yahweh your God is he who goes over before you like a devouring fire; he will destroy them, and he will subdue them before you; so will you drive them out and make them to perish quickly, as Yahweh has said to you.

⁴ Do not say in your heart, after Yahweh your God has thrust them out from before you, 'It was because of my righteousness that Yahweh has brought me in to possess this land,' for it was because of the wickedness of these nations that Yahweh is driving them out from before you.

⁵ It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you are going in to possess their land, but it is because of the wickedness of these nations that your God is driving them out from before you, and so that he may make come true the word that he swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

⁶ Know therefore, that Yahweh your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff-necked people.

⁷ Remember and do not forget how you provoked Yahweh your God to anger in the wilderness; from the day that you left the land of Egypt until you came to this place, you have been rebellious against Yahweh. ⁸ Also at Horeb you provoked Yahweh to anger, and Yahweh was angry enough with you to destroy you.

⁹ When I went up the mountain to receive the tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant that Yahweh made with you, I stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water. ¹⁰ Yahweh gave to me the two tablets of stone written with his finger; on them was written everything just like all the words that Yahweh announced to you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire on the day of the assembly.

¹¹ It happened at the end of those forty days and forty nights that Yahweh gave me the two tablets of stone, the tablets of the covenant. ¹² Yahweh said to me, 'Arise, go down quickly from here, for your people, whom you brought out of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have quickly turned aside out of the path that I commanded them. They have made for themselves a cast figure.'

¹³ Furthermore, Yahweh spoke to me and said, 'I have seen this people; they are a stubborn people. ¹⁴ Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven, and I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.'

¹⁵ So I turned around and came down the mountain, and the mountain was burning. The two tablets of the covenant were in my hands. ¹⁶ I looked, and behold, you had sinned against Yahweh your God. You had molded for yourselves a calf. You had quickly turned aside out of the path that Yahweh had commanded you.

¹⁷ I took the two tablets and threw them out of my hands. I broke them before your eyes. ¹⁸ Again I lay facedown before Yahweh for forty days and forty nights; I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all your sin that you had committed, in doing that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, so as to provoke him to anger.

¹⁹ For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure with which Yahweh was angry enough against you to destroy you. But Yahweh listened to me that time also. ²⁰ Yahweh was very angry with Aaron so as to destroy him; I prayed for Aaron also at the same time.

²¹ I took your sin, the calf that you had made, and burned it, beat it, and crushed it and ground it very small, until it was as fine as dust. I threw its dust into the stream that came down from the mountain.

²² At Taberah, at Massah, and at Kibroth Hattaavah, you provoked Yahweh to wrath. ²³ When Yahweh sent you from Kadesh Barnea and said, 'Go up and take possession of the land that I have given you,' then you rebelled against the commandment of Yahweh your God, and you did not believe or listen to his voice. ²⁴ You have been rebellious against Yahweh from the day that I knew you.

²⁵ So I lay facedown before Yahweh those forty days and forty nights, because he had said that he would destroy you. ²⁶ I prayed to Yahweh and said, 'O Lord Yahweh, do not destroy your people or your inheritance whom you have redeemed through your greatness, which you have brought out of Egypt with a mighty hand.

²⁷ Call to mind your servants Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; do not look at the stubbornness of this people, nor at their wickedness, nor at their sin, ²⁸ so that the land from where you brought us should say, "Because Yahweh was not able to bring them into the land that he promised to them, and because he hated them, he has brought them out to kill them in the wilderness." ²⁹ Yet they are your people and your inheritance, whom you brought out by your great strength and by the display of your power.'

Chapter 10

¹ At that time Yahweh said to me, 'Carve two tablets of stone like the first, and come up to me on the mountain, and make an ark of wood. ² I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets that you broke, and you will put them in the ark.'

³ So I made an ark of acacia wood, and I carved two tablets of stone like the first, and I went up the mountain, having the two tablets in my hand. ⁴ He wrote on the tablets, like the first writing, the Ten Commandments which Yahweh had spoken to you on the mountain out of the middle of the fire on the day of the assembly; then Yahweh gave them to me.

⁵ I turned and came down from the mountain, and put the tablets in the ark that I had made; there they are, as Yahweh commanded me."

⁶ (The people of Israel journeyed from Beeroth Bene Jaakan to Moserah. There Aaron died, and there he was buried; Eleazar, his son, served in the priest's office in his place. ⁷ From there they journeyed to Gudgodah, and from Gudgodah to Jotbathah, a land of streams of water.

⁸ At that time Yahweh chose the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, to stand before Yahweh to serve him, and to bless people in his name, as today. ⁹ Therefore Levi has no portion nor inheritance of land with his brothers; Yahweh is his inheritance, as Yahweh your God spoke to him.)

¹⁰ "I stayed on the mountain as at the first time, forty days and forty nights. Yahweh listened to me that time also; Yahweh did not wish to destroy you. ¹¹ Yahweh said to me, 'Arise, go before the people to lead them on their journey; they will go in and possess the land that I swore to their ancestors to give to them.'

¹² Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God require of you, except to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, and to worship Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹³ to keep the commandments of Yahweh, and his statutes, which I am commanding you today for your own good?

¹⁴ Behold, to Yahweh your God belongs heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is in them. ¹⁵ Only Yahweh took pleasure in your fathers so as to love them, and he chose you, their descendants, after them, more than any of the other peoples, as he does today.

¹⁶ Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and no longer stiffen your necks. ¹⁷ For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods and Lord of lords, the Great God, the Mighty One and the Fearsome One, who favors no one and takes no bribes.

¹⁸ He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and he shows love for the foreigner by giving him food and clothing. ¹⁹ Therefore love the foreigner; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

²⁰ You will fear Yahweh your God; him will you worship. To him you must cling, and by his name will you swear. ²¹ He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done for you these great and fearsome things, which your eyes have seen.

²² Your fathers went down into Egypt as seventy persons; now Yahweh your God has made you as many as the stars of the heavens.

Chapter 11

¹ Therefore you will love Yahweh your God and always keep his instructions, his statutes, his decrees, and his commandments.

² Notice that I am not speaking to your children, who have not known nor have they seen the punishment of Yahweh your God, his greatness, his mighty hand, or his outstretched arm, ³ the signs and deeds that he did in the midst of Egypt to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and to all his land.

⁴ Neither did they see what he did to the army of Egypt, to their horses, or to their chariots, how he made the water of the Sea of Reeds overwhelm them as they pursued after you, and how Yahweh has destroyed them until today, ⁵ or what he did for you in the wilderness until you came to this place.

⁶ They had not seen what Yahweh had done to Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab son of Reuben, how the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up, their households, their tents, and every living thing that followed them, in the middle of all Israel. ⁷ But your eyes have seen all the great works of Yahweh that he did.

⁸ Therefore keep all the commandments that I am commanding you today, that you may be strong, and go in and possess the land where you are going over to possess it, ⁹ and that you may prolong your days in the land that Yahweh swore to your fathers to give to them and to their descendants, a land flowing with milk and honey.

¹⁰ For the land, where you go in to possess it, is not like the land of Egypt, from where you came, where you sowed your seed and watered it with your foot, like a garden of herbs; ¹¹ but the land, where you go over to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinks water of the rain of the heavens, ¹² a land that Yahweh your God cares for; the eyes of Yahweh your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.

¹³ It will happen, if you will listen diligently to my commandments that I command you today, to love Yahweh your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹⁴ that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil. ¹⁵ I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be full.

¹⁶ Pay attention to yourselves so that your heart is not deceived, and you turn aside and worship other gods and bow down to them; ¹⁷ so that the anger of Yahweh is not kindled against you; and so that he does not shut up the heavens so that there will be no rain, and the land will not yield its fruit, and so that you perish quickly from off the good land that Yahweh is giving you.

¹⁸ Therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and soul, bind them as a sign on your hand, and let them be as frontlets between your eyes. ¹⁹ You will teach them to your children and talk about them when you sit in your house, when you walk on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up.

²⁰ You will write them on the doorposts of your house and on your city gates, ²¹ that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that Yahweh swore to your ancestors to give them for as long as the heavens are above the earth.

²² For if you diligently keep all these commandments that I am commanding you, so as to do them, to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, and to cling to him, ²³ then Yahweh will drive out all these nations from before you, and you will dispossess nations larger and mightier than yourselves.

²⁴ Every place where the sole of your foot will tread will be yours; from the wilderness to Lebanon, from the river, the Euphrates River, to the western sea will be your border. ²⁵ No man will be able to stand before you. Yahweh your God will lay the fear of you and the terror of you upon all the land that you tread on, as he has said to you.

²⁶ Look, I set before you today a blessing and a curse: ²⁷ the blessing, if you obey the commandments of Yahweh your God that I command you today, ²⁸ and the curse, if you do not obey the commandments of Yahweh your God, but turn aside from the way that I command you today, to go after other gods that you have not known.

²⁹ It will happen, when Yahweh your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, that you will set the blessing on Mount Gerizim, and the curse on Mount Ebal. ³⁰ Are they not beyond the Jordan, west of the western road, in the land of the Canaanites who live in the Arabah, over against Gilgal, beside the oaks of Moreh?

³¹ For you are to cross over the Jordan to go in to possess the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, and you will possess it and live in it. ³² You will keep all the statutes and the decrees that I set before you today.

Chapter 12

¹ These are the statutes and the decrees that you will keep in the land that Yahweh, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days that you live on the earth. ² You will surely destroy all the places where the nations that you will dispossess worshiped their gods, on the high mountains, on the hills, and under every green tree.

³ You must break down their altars, dash in pieces their stone pillars, and burn their Asherah poles. You must cut down the carved figures of their gods and destroy their name out of that place. ⁴ You will not worship Yahweh your God like that.

⁵ But to the place where Yahweh your God chooses out of all your tribes to establish his name, that will be the place where he lives, and it is there that you will go. ⁶ It is there that you will bring your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, and the offerings presented by your hand, your offerings for vows, your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks.

⁷ It is there that you will eat before Yahweh your God and rejoice about everything that you have put your hand to, you and your households, where Yahweh your God has blessed you.

⁸ You will not do all the things that we are doing here today; now everyone is doing whatever is right in his own eyes; ⁹ for you have not yet come to the rest, to the inheritance that Yahweh your God is giving you.

¹⁰ But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that Yahweh your God is causing you to inherit, he will give you rest from all your enemies round about so that you live in safety. ¹¹ Then to the place where Yahweh your God will choose to cause his name to live there—there you will bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, and the offerings presented by your hand, and all your choice offerings for vows that you will vow to Yahweh.

¹² You will rejoice before Yahweh your God—you, your sons, your daughters, your male servants, your female servants, and the Levites who are within your gate, because he has no portion or inheritance among you.

¹³ Pay attention to yourself that you do not offer your burnt offerings at every place that you see; ¹⁴ but it is at the place that Yahweh will choose among one of your tribes that you will offer your burnt offerings, and there you will do everything that I command you.

¹⁵ However, you may kill and eat animals within all your gates, as you desire, receiving the blessing of Yahweh your God for all that he has given you; the unclean and the clean persons both may eat of it, animals such as the gazelle and the deer. ¹⁶ But you will not eat the blood; you will pour it out on the earth like water.

¹⁷ You must not eat within your gates from the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, or the firstborn of your herd or flock; and you must not eat any of the meat you sacrifice along with any of your vows that you make, nor that of your freewill offerings, nor that of the offering you present with your hand.

¹⁸ Instead, you will eat them before Yahweh your God in the place that Yahweh your God will choose—you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, and the Levite who is within your gates; you will rejoice before Yahweh your God about everything to which you put your hand. ¹⁹ Pay attention to yourself so that you do not abandon the Levite as long as you live on your land.

²⁰ When Yahweh your God enlarges your borders, as he has promised you, and you say, 'I will eat flesh,' because of your desire to eat meat, you may eat meat, as your soul desires.

²¹ If the place where Yahweh your God chooses to establish his name is too far from you, then you will kill some of your herd and your flock that Yahweh has given you, as I have commanded you; you may eat within your gates, as your soul desires. ²² Like the gazelle and the deer are eaten, so you will eat of it; the unclean and the clean persons may eat of it alike.

²³ Only be sure that you do not consume the blood, for the blood is the life; you will not eat the life with the meat. ²⁴ You will not eat it; you will pour it out on the earth like water. ²⁵ You will not eat it, so that it may go well with you, and with your children after you, when you will do what is right in the eyes of Yahweh.

²⁶ But the things that belong to Yahweh that you have and the offerings for your vows—you will take these and go to the place that Yahweh chooses. ²⁷ There you will offer your burnt offerings, the meat and the blood, on the altar of Yahweh your God; the blood of your sacrifices will be poured out on the altar of Yahweh your God, and you will eat the flesh.

²⁸ Observe and listen to all these words that I command you, that it may go well with you and with your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the eyes of Yahweh your God.

²⁹ When Yahweh your God cuts off the nations from before you, when you go in to dispossess them, and you dispossess them, and live in their land, ³⁰ pay attention to yourself that you are not trapped into following them, after they are destroyed from before you—trapped into investigating their gods, into asking, 'How do these nations worship their gods? I will do the same.'

³¹ You must not worship Yahweh your God in that way, for everything that is an abomination to Yahweh, things that he hates—they have done these with their gods; they even burn their sons and their daughters in fire for their gods.

³² Whatever I command you, observe it. Do not add to it or take away from it.

Chapter 13

¹ If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and if he gives you a sign or a wonder, ² and if the sign or the wonder comes about, of which he spoke to you and said, 'Let us go after other gods, that you have not known, and let us worship them,' ³ do not listen to the words of that prophet, or to that dreamer of dreams; for Yahweh your God is testing you to know whether you love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

⁴ You will walk after Yahweh your God, honor him, keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and you will worship him and cling to him. ⁵ That prophet or that dreamer of dreams will be put to death, because he has spoken rebellion against Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and who redeemed you out of the house of bondage. That prophet wants to draw you out of the way in which Yahweh your God commanded you to walk. So completely remove the evil from among you.

⁶ Suppose that your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is to you like your own soul, secretly entices you and says, 'Let us go and worship other gods' which you have not known, neither you nor your ancestors— ⁷ any of the gods of the peoples that are round about you, near to you or far off from you, from the one end of the earth to the other end of the earth.'

⁸ You must not give in to him or listen to him, and you must not permit your eye to pity him, and you must not spare him or conceal him. ⁹ Instead, you will surely kill him; your hand will be the first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

¹⁰ You will stone him to death with stones, because he has tried to draw you away from Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. ¹¹ All Israel will hear and fear, and will not continue to do this kind of wickedness among you.

¹² If you hear anyone say about one of your cities, that Yahweh your God gives you to live in: ¹³ Some wicked fellows have gone out from among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city and said, 'Let us go and worship other gods that you have not known.' ¹⁴ Then you will examine the evidence, make search, and investigate it thoroughly. When you discover that it is true and certain that such an abominable thing has been done among you, then you will take action.

¹⁵ You will surely attack the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, completely destroy it and all the people who are in it, along with its livestock, with the edge of the sword. ¹⁶ You will gather all the spoil from it into the middle of its street and will burn the city, as well as all its booty, as a burnt offering for Yahweh your God. The city will be a heap of ruins forever; it must never be built again.

¹⁷ None of those things set apart for destruction must stick in your hand. This must be the case, so that Yahweh will turn from the burning of his anger, show you mercy, have compassion on you, and make you increase in numbers, as he has sworn to your fathers. ¹⁸ He will do this because you are listening to the voice of Yahweh your God, to keep all his commandments that I am commanding you today, to do that which is right in the eyes of Yahweh your God.

Chapter 14

¹ You are the people of Yahweh your God. Do not cut yourselves, nor shave any part of your face for the dead. ² For you are a nation that is set apart to Yahweh your God, and Yahweh has chosen you to be a people for his own possession, more than all peoples that are on the surface of the earth.

³ You must not eat any abominable thing. ⁴ These are the animals that you may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, ⁵ the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, and ibex, and the antelope, and the mountain sheep.

⁶ You may eat any animals that parts the hoof, that is, that has the hoof divided in two, and that chews the cud. ⁷ Nevertheless, you must not eat some animals that chew the cud or that have the hoof divided in two: the camel, the rabbit, and the rock badger; because they chew the cud but do not part the hoof, they are unclean to you.

⁸ The pig is unclean to you as well because he parts the hoof but does not chew the cud; he is unclean to you. Do not eat pig meat, and do not touch their carcasses.

⁹ Of these things that are in water you may eat: whatever has fins and scales; ¹⁰ but whatever has no fins and scales you must not eat; they are unclean to you.

¹¹ All clean birds you may eat. ¹² But these are the birds that you must not eat: the eagle, the vulture, the osprey, ¹³ the red kite and black kite, any kind of falcon.

¹⁴ You must not eat any kind of raven, ¹⁵ and the ostrich, and the night hawk, the sea gull, any kind of hawk, ¹⁶ the little owl, the great owl, the white owl, ¹⁷ the pelican, the osprey, the cormorant.

¹⁸ You must not eat the stork, any kind of heron, the hoopoe, and the bat. ¹⁹ All winged, swarming things are unclean to you; they must not be eaten. ²⁰ You may eat all clean flying things.

²¹ You must not eat of anything that dies of itself; you may give it to the foreigner who is within your gates, that he may eat it; or you may sell it to a foreigner. For you are a nation that is set apart to Yahweh your God. You must not boil a young goat in its mother's milk.

²² You must surely tithe all the yield of your seed, that which comes out from the field year after year. ²³ You must eat before Yahweh your God, in the place where he will choose to make a dwelling for his name, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock; that you may learn to always honor Yahweh your God.

²⁴ If the journey is too long for you so that you are not able to carry it, because the place where Yahweh your God will choose to establish his name is too far from you, then, when Yahweh God blesses you, ²⁵ you will convert the offering into money, tie up the money in your hand, and go to the place that Yahweh your God will choose.

²⁶ There you will spend the money for whatever you desire: cattle, sheep, wine or strong drink, or for whatever you desire. Then you will eat there before Yahweh your God and rejoice, you and your household. ²⁷ The Levite who is within your gates—do not abandon him, for he has no portion nor inheritance with you.

²⁸ At the end of every three years you will present all the tithe of your produce in the same year, and you will store it up within your gates; ²⁹ and the Levite, because he has no portion nor inheritance with you, and the foreigner, and the fatherless, and the widow who are within your gates, will come and eat and be satisfied. Do this so that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hand that you do.

Chapter 15

¹ At the end of every seven years, you must cancel debts. ² This is the manner of the release: Every creditor will cancel that which he has lent to his neighbor; he will not demand it from his neighbor or his brother because Yahweh's cancellation of debts has been proclaimed. ³ From a foreigner you may demand it; but whatever of yours is with your brother your hand must release.

⁴ However, there should be no poor among you (for Yahweh will surely bless you in the land that he gives you as an inheritance to possess), ⁵ if only you diligently listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, to keep all these commandments that I am commanding you today. ⁶ For Yahweh your God will bless you, as he promised you; you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow; you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.

⁷ If there is a poor man among you, one of your brothers, within any of your gates in your land that Yahweh your God is giving you, you must not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother; ⁸ but you must surely open your hand to him and surely lend him sufficient for his need.

⁹ Be careful not to have a wicked thought in your heart, saying, 'The seventh year, the year of release, is near,' so that you will not be stingy in regard to your poor brother and give him nothing; he might cry out to Yahweh about you, and it would be sin for you. ¹⁰ You must surely give to him, and your heart must not be sorry when you give to him, because in return for this Yahweh your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you put your hand to.

¹¹ For the poor will never cease to exist in the land; therefore I command you and say, 'You must surely open your hand to your brother, to your needy, and to your poor in your land.'

¹² If your brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, is sold to you and serves you for six years, then in the seventh year you must let him go free from you. ¹³ When you let him go free from you, you must not let him go empty-handed. ¹⁴ You must liberally provide for him out of your flock, out of your threshing floor, and out of your winepress. As Yahweh your God has blessed you, you must give to him.

¹⁵ You must remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that Yahweh your God redeemed you; therefore I am commanding you today to do this. ¹⁶ It will happen that if he says to you, 'I will not go away from you,' because he loves you and your house, and because he is well off with you, ¹⁷ then you must take an awl and thrust it through his ear to a door, and he will be your servant for life. You must do the same with your female servant.

¹⁸ It must not seem difficult for you to let him go free from you, because he has served you for six years and given twice the value of a hired person. Yahweh your God will bless you in all that you do.

¹⁹ All the firstborn males in your herd and your flock you must set apart to Yahweh your God. You will do no work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock. ²⁰ You must eat the firstborn before Yahweh your God year by year in the place that Yahweh will choose, you and your household. ²¹ If it has any blemish—for example, if it is lame or blind, or has any blemish whatever—you must not sacrifice it to Yahweh your God.

²² You will eat it within your gates; the unclean and the clean persons alike must eat it, as you would eat a gazelle or a deer. ²³ Only you must not eat its blood; you must pour its blood out on the ground like water.

Chapter 16

¹ Observe the month of Aviv, and keep the Passover to Yahweh your God, for in the month of Aviv Yahweh your God brought you out of Egypt by night. ² You will sacrifice the Passover to Yahweh your God with some of the flock and the herd in the place where Yahweh will choose to make a dwelling for his name.

³ You will eat no leavened bread with it; seven days will you eat unleavened bread with it, the bread of affliction; for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste. Do this all the days of your life so that you may call to mind the day when you came out of the land of Egypt. ⁴ No yeast must be seen among you within all your borders during seven days; nor must any of the meat that you sacrifice in the evening on the first day remain until the morning.

⁵ You must not sacrifice the Passover within any of your city gates that Yahweh your God is giving you. ⁶ Instead, sacrifice at the place where Yahweh your God will choose to make a dwelling for his name. There you will perform the sacrifice of the Passover in the evening at the going down of the sun, at the time of year that you came out of Egypt.

⁷ You must roast it and eat it at the place that Yahweh your God will choose; in the morning you will turn and go to your tents. ⁸ For six days you will eat unleavened bread; on the seventh day there will be a solemn assembly for Yahweh your God; on that day you must do no work.

⁹ You will count seven weeks for yourselves; from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain you must start counting seven weeks. ¹⁰ You must keep the Festival of Weeks for Yahweh your God with the tribute of a freewill offering from your hand that you will give, according as Yahweh your God has blessed you.

¹¹ You will rejoice before Yahweh your God—you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite who is within your city gates, and the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow who are among you, at the place where Yahweh your God will choose to make a dwelling for his name. ¹² You will call to mind that you were a slave in Egypt; you must observe and do these statutes.

¹³ You must keep the Festival of Shelters for seven days after you have gathered in the harvest from your threshing floor and from your winepress. ¹⁴ You will rejoice during your festival—you, your son, your daughter, your male servant, your female servant, the Levite, and the foreigner, and the fatherless and the widow who are within your gates.

¹⁵ For seven days you must observe the festival for Yahweh your God at the place that Yahweh will choose, because Yahweh your God will bless you in all your harvest and all the work of your hands, and you must be completely joyful.

¹⁶ Three times in a year all your males must appear before Yahweh your God at the place that he will choose: at the Festival of Unleavened Bread, at the Festival of Weeks, and at the Festival of Shelters. No one will appear before Yahweh empty-handed. ¹⁷ Rather, every man will bring a gift as he is able, that you might know the blessing that Yahweh your God has given to you.

¹⁸ You must make judges and officers within all your city gates that Yahweh your God is giving you; they will be taken from each of your tribes, and they must judge the people with righteous judgment. ¹⁹ You must not take justice away by force; you must not show partiality nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts the words of the righteous. ²⁰ You must follow after justice, after justice alone, so that you may live and inherit the land that Yahweh your God is giving you.

²¹ You must not set up for yourselves an Asherah, any sort of pole, beside the altar of Yahweh your God that you will make for yourself. ²² Neither must you set up for yourself any sacred stone pillar, which Yahweh your God hates.

Chapter 17

¹ You must not sacrifice to Yahweh your God an ox or a sheep in which is any blemish or anything bad, for that would be an abomination to Yahweh your God.

² If there is found among you, within any of your city gates that Yahweh your God is giving you, any man or woman who does what is evil in the sight of Yahweh your God and transgresses his covenant, ³ anyone who has gone and worshiped other gods and bowed down to them, either the sun, the moon, or any of the host of heaven—nothing that I have commanded— ⁴ and if you are told about this, or if you have heard of it, then you must make a careful investigation. If it is true and certain that such an abomination has been done in Israel, this is what you should do.

⁵ You must bring that man or woman, who has done this evil thing, to your city gates, that very man or woman, and you must stone that person to death. ⁶ At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, will he who must die be put to death; but at the mouth of only one witness he must not be put to death. ⁷ The hand of the witnesses must be the first to put him to death, and afterward the hand of all the people; and you will remove the evil from among you.

⁸ If a matter arises that is too hard for you to judge—perhaps a question of one kind of bloodshed or another, of one kind of lawsuit or another, or of one kind of wound or another—matters of controversy within your city gates—then you must go up to the place that Yahweh your God chooses. ⁹ You must go to the priests, the descendants of Levi, and to the judge who will be serving at that time; you will seek their advice, and they will give you the verdict.

¹⁰ Then you must do according to what they order you to do, at the place Yahweh will choose. Be careful to do all that they teach you. ¹¹ Follow the law they teach you, and do according to the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right hand or to the left.

¹² Anyone who acts in arrogance, listening neither to the priest who is standing to serve before Yahweh your God nor to the judge—that man will die; you will completely remove the evil from Israel. ¹³ All the people must hear and fear, and act arrogantly no more.

¹⁴ When you have come to the land that Yahweh your God gives you, and when you take possession of it and begin to live in it, and then you say, 'I will set a king over myself, like all the nations that are round about me,' ¹⁵ then you must surely set as king over yourself someone whom Yahweh your God will choose. You must set as king over yourself someone from among your brothers. You must not put a foreigner, who is not your brother, over yourself.

¹⁶ But he must not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt so that he may multiply horses, for Yahweh had said to you, 'You will never return that way again.' ¹⁷ He must not take many wives for himself, so that his heart does not turn away. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

¹⁸ When he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he must write for himself in a scroll a copy of this law, from the law that is before the priests, who are Levites. ¹⁹ The scroll must be with him, and he must read in it all the days of his life, so that he may learn to honor Yahweh his God, so as to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to observe them.

²⁰ He must do this so that his heart is not lifted up above his brothers, and so that he does not turn away from the commandments, to the right hand or to the left, so he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his descendants in the midst of Israel.

Chapter 18

¹ The priests, who are Levites, and all the tribe of Levi, will have no portion nor inheritance with Israel; they must eat the offerings of Yahweh made by fire as their inheritance. ² They must have no inheritance among their brothers; Yahweh is their inheritance, as he said to them.

³ This is the share given to the priests, given to them from the people who offer a sacrifice, whether it be an oxen or a sheep: the shoulder, the two cheeks, and the inner parts. ⁴ The firstfruits of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the first of the fleece of your sheep, you must give him. ⁵ For Yahweh your God has chosen him out of all your tribes to stand to serve in the name of Yahweh, him and his sons forever.

⁶ If a Levite comes from any of your towns out of all Israel where he is living and desires with all his soul to come to the place Yahweh will choose, ⁷ then he must serve in the name of Yahweh his God as all his brothers the Levites do, who stand there before Yahweh. ⁸ They must have similar portions to eat, besides of what comes of the sale of his family's inheritance.

⁹ When you have come into the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, you must not learn to observe the abominations of those nations. ¹⁰ There must not be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or his daughter in the fire, or anyone who uses divination or tells fortunes or interprets omens, or a sorcerer ¹¹ or one who casts spells or a sorcerer or a spiritist or one who seeks the dead.

¹² For whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh; it is because of these abominations that Yahweh your God is driving them out from before you. ¹³ You must be blameless before Yahweh your God. ¹⁴ For these nations that you will dispossess listen to those who practice sorcery and divination; but as for you, Yahweh your God has not allowed you to do so.

¹⁵ Yahweh your God will raise up for you a prophet from among you, one of your brothers, like me. You must listen to him. ¹⁶ This is what you asked from Yahweh your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let us not hear again the voice of Yahweh our God, nor see this great fire anymore, or we will die.'

¹⁷ Yahweh said to me, 'What they have said is good. ¹⁸ I will raise up a prophet for them from among their brothers, just like you. I will put my words in his mouth, and he will speak to them all that I command him. ¹⁹ It will happen that if anyone does not listen to the words of mine that he speaks in my name, I will require it of him.

²⁰ But the prophet who speaks a word arrogantly in my name, a word that I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that very prophet must die.' ²¹ This is what you must say in your heart: 'How will we recognize a message that Yahweh has not spoken?'

²² You will recognize a message that Yahweh has spoken when a prophet speaks in the name of Yahweh. If that thing does not occur nor happen, then that is something that Yahweh has not spoken and the prophet has spoken it in arrogance, and you must not be afraid of him.

Chapter 19

¹ When Yahweh your God cuts off the nations, those whose land Yahweh your God is giving you, and when you come after them and live in their cities and houses, ² you must select three cities for yourself in the middle of your land that Yahweh your God is giving you to possess. ³ You must build a road and divide the borders of your land into three parts, the land that Yahweh your God is causing you to inherit, so that everyone who kills another person may flee there.

⁴ This is the instruction concerning the one who kills another and flees from there in order to save his own life—the one who unintentionally kills his neighbor without hating him at the time of the accident. ⁵ For example, if a man goes into the forest with his neighbor to cut wood, and he chops with the ax to cut down a tree, and the ax head slips off of the handle and strikes his neighbor and kills him—then that man must flee to one of these cities and save his life.

⁶ Otherwise the avenger of blood might go after the one who took a life, and in the heat of his anger overtake him, if the distance is too great, strike him and kill him, even though that man did not deserve to die, since he had not hated his neighbor in the past. ⁷ Therefore I command you to select three cities for yourself.

⁸ If Yahweh your God enlarges your borders, as he has sworn to your ancestors to do, and gives you all the land that he promised to give to your ancestors; ⁹ if you keep all these commandments to do them, which I am commanding you today—commandments to love Yahweh your God and to always walk in his ways, then you must add three more cities for yourself, besides these three. ¹⁰ Do this so that innocent blood is not shed in the midst of the land that Yahweh your God is giving you for as an inheritance, so that no bloodguilt may be on you.

¹¹ But if anyone hates his neighbor, lies in wait for him, rises up against him, and mortally wounds him so that he dies, and if he then flees into one of these cities— ¹² then the elders of his city must send and bring him back from there, and turn him over to the hand of the avenger of blood, so that he may die. ¹³ Your eye must not pity him; instead, you must completely remove the bloodguilt from Israel so that it may go well with you.

¹⁴ You must not remove your neighbor's landmark that they set in place a long time ago, in your inheritance that you will inherit, in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you to possess.

¹⁵ One sole witness must not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any matter that he sins; at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, must any matter be confirmed. ¹⁶ Suppose that an unrighteous witness rises up against any man to testify against him of wrongdoing.

¹⁷ Then both men, the ones between whom the controversy exists, must stand before Yahweh, before the priests and the judges who serve in those days. ¹⁸ The judges must make diligent inquiries; see, if the witness is a false witness and has testified falsely against his brother, ¹⁹ then must you do to him, as he had wished to do to his brother; and you will remove the evil from among you.

²⁰ Then those who remain will hear and fear, and will from then on commit no longer any such evil among you. ²¹ Your eyes must not pity; life will pay for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.

Chapter 20

¹ When you march out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than you, you must not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God is with you, he who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

² When you are about to enter into battle, the priest must approach and speak to the people. ³ He must say to them, 'Listen, Israel, you are going to battle against your enemies. Do not let your hearts faint. Do not fear or tremble. Do not be afraid of them. ⁴ For Yahweh your God is the one who is going with you to fight for you against your enemies and to save you.'

⁵ The officers must speak to the people and say, 'What man is there who has built a new house and has not dedicated it? Let him go and return to his house, so that he does not die in battle and another man dedicates it.

⁶ Is there anyone who has planted a vineyard and has not enjoyed its fruit? Let him go home, so he will not die in battle and another man enjoy its fruit. ⁷ What man is there who is betrothed to a woman but has not yet married her? Let him go home so that he does not die in battle and another man marry her.'

⁸ The officers must speak further to the people and say, 'What man is there who is fearful or fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, so that his brother's heart does not melt like his own heart.' ⁹ When the officers have finished speaking to the people, they must appoint commanders of armies over them.

¹⁰ When you march up to attack a city, make those people an offer of peace. ¹¹ If they answer peaceably and open their gates to you, all the people who are found in it must become forced labor for you and must serve you.

¹² But if it makes no offer of peace to you, and instead makes war against you, then you must besiege it, ¹³ and when Yahweh your God gives you victory and puts them under your control, you must strike every man in the town with the edge of the sword.

¹⁴ But the women, the little ones, the livestock, and everything that is in the city, and all its spoil, you will take as booty for yourself. You will consume the booty of your enemies, whom Yahweh your God has given to you. ¹⁵ You must act in this way toward all the cities that are very far from you, cities that are not of the cities of these following nations.

¹⁶ In the cities of these peoples that Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must keep alive nothing that breathes. ¹⁷ You must completely destroy them: the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, as Yahweh your God has commanded you. ¹⁸ Do this so that they do not teach you to act in any of their abominable ways, as they have done for their gods. If you do, you will sin against Yahweh your God.

¹⁹ When you will besiege a city for a long time, as you wage war against it to capture it, you must not destroy its trees by wielding an ax against them. For you may eat from them, so you must not cut them down. For is the tree of the field a man whom you should besiege? ²⁰ Only the trees that you know are not trees for food, you may destroy and cut down; you will build siege works against the city that makes war with you, until it falls.

Chapter 21

¹ If someone is found killed in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you to possess, lying in the field, and it is not known who has attacked him; ² then your elders and your judges must go out, and they must measure to the cities that are around him who has been killed.

³ Then the elders of the town nearest to the dead man's body must take a heifer from the herd, one that has never been put to work, and that has not borne the yoke. ⁴ Then they must lead the heifer down to a valley with running water, a valley that has been neither plowed nor sown, and there in the valley they must break the heifer's neck.

⁵ The priests, descendants of Levi, must come forward, for Yahweh your God has chosen them to serve him and give blessing in the name of Yahweh and to decide every case of dispute and assault by their word.

⁶ All the elders of the city that is the nearest to the killed man must wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley; ⁷ and they must answer to the case and say, 'Our hands have not shed this blood, neither have our eyes seen it.

⁸ Forgive, Yahweh, your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, and do not put guilt for innocent bloodshed in the midst of your people Israel.' Then the bloodshed will be forgiven them. ⁹ In this way you will completely remove the innocent blood from your midst, when you do what is right in the eyes of Yahweh.

¹⁰ When you go out to do battle against your enemies and Yahweh your God gives you victory and puts them under your control, and you take them away as captives, ¹¹ if you see among the captives a beautiful woman, and you delight in her and wish to take her for yourself as a wife, ¹² then you will bring her home to your house; she will shave her head and cut her nails.

¹³ Then she will take off the clothes she was wearing when she was taken captive and she will remain in your house and mourn for her father and her mother a full month. After that you may go to her and be her husband, and she will be your wife. ¹⁴ But if you take no delight in her, then you may let her go where she wishes. But you must not sell her at all for money, and you must not treat her like a slave, because you have humiliated her.

¹⁵ If a man has two wives and one is loved and the other is hated, and they have both borne him children—both the beloved wife and the hated wife—if the firstborn son is of her that is hated, ¹⁶ then on the day that the man causes his sons to inherit what he possesses, he may not make the son of the beloved wife the firstborn before the son of the hated wife, the son who is actually the firstborn. ¹⁷ Instead, he must acknowledge the firstborn, the son of the hated wife, by giving him a double portion of all that he possesses, for that son is the beginning of his strength. The right of the firstborn belongs to him.

¹⁸ If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and who, even though they correct him, will not listen to them; ¹⁹ then his father and his mother must lay hold on him and bring him out to the elders of his city and to the gate of his city.

²⁰ They must say to the elders of his city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton and a drunkard.' ²¹ Then all the men of his city must stone him to death with stones; and you will remove the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and fear.

²² If a man has committed a sin worthy of death and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, ²³ then his body must not remain all night on the tree. You must surely bury him the same day; for whoever is hanged is cursed by God. You must not defile the land that Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance.

Chapter 22

¹ You must not watch your fellow Israelite's ox or his sheep go astray and hide yourself from them; you must surely bring them back to him. ² If your fellow Israelite is not near to you, or if you do not know him, then you must bring the animal home to your house, and it must be with you until he looks for it, and then you must restore it to him.

³ You must do the same with his donkey; you must do the same with his garment; you must do the same with every lost thing of your fellow Israelite's, anything that he has lost and you have found; you must not hide yourself. ⁴ You must not see your fellow Israelite's donkey or his ox fallen down in the road and hide yourself from them; you must surely help him to lift it up again.

⁵ A woman must not wear what pertains to a man, and neither must a man put on women's clothing; for whoever does these things is an abomination to Yahweh your God.

⁶ If a bird's nest happens to be in front of you on the road, in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs in it, and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you must not take the mother along with the young. ⁷ You must surely let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself. Obey this command so that it may go well with you, and that you may prolong your days.

⁸ When you build a new house, then you must make a railing for your roof so that you do not bring blood on your house if anyone falls from there.

⁹ You must not plant your vineyard with two kinds of seed, so that the whole harvest is not confiscated by the holy place, the seed that you have sown and the yield of the vineyard. ¹⁰ You must not plow with an ox and a donkey together. ¹¹ You must not wear fabric made of wool and linen together.

¹² You must make yourself fringes on the four corners of the cloak with which you clothe yourself.

¹³ Suppose a man takes a wife, and he goes to her, and then hates her, ¹⁴ and then accuses her of shameful deeds and puts a bad reputation on her, and says, 'I took this woman, but when I came near to her, I found no proof of virginity in her.'

¹⁵ Then the father and mother of the girl must take proof of her virginity to the elders at the city gate.

¹⁶ The girl's father must say to the elders, 'I gave my daughter to this man as a wife, and he hates her. ¹⁷ See, he has accused her of shameful things and said, "I did not find in your daughter the proof of virginity." But here is the proof of my daughter's virginity.' Then they will spread the garment out before the elders of the city.

¹⁸ The elders of that city must take that man and punish him; ¹⁹ and they must force him to pay a fine of one hundred shekels of silver, and give them to the father of the girl, because the man has caused a bad reputation for a virgin of Israel. She must be his wife; he may not send her away during all his days.

²⁰ But if this thing is true, that the proof of virginity was not found in the girl, ²¹ then they must bring out the girl to the door of her father's house, and the men of her city must stone her to death with stones, because she has committed a disgraceful action in Israel, to act as a prostitute in her father's house; and you will remove the evil from among you.

²² If a man is found lying with a woman who is married to another man, then they must both die, the man who was lying with the woman and the woman herself; and you will remove the evil from Israel.

²³ If there is a girl who is a virgin, betrothed to a man, and another man finds her in the city and lies with her, ²⁴ take both of them to the city gate, and stone them to death. You must stone the girl, because she did not cry out, even though she was in the city. You must stone the man, because he violated his neighbor's wife; and you will remove the evil from among you.

²⁵ But if the man finds the betrothed girl in the field, and if he seizes her and lies with her, then only the man who lies with her must die. ²⁶ But to the girl you must do nothing; there is no sin worthy of death in the girl. For this case is like when a man attacks his neighbor and kills him. ²⁷ For he found her in the field; the betrothed girl cried out, but there was no one to save her.

²⁸ If a man finds a girl who is a virgin but who is not betrothed, and if he seizes her and lies with her, and if they are discovered, ²⁹ then the man who lay with her must give fifty shekels of silver to the girl's father, and she must become his wife, because he has violated her. He may not send her away during all his days.

³⁰ A man must not take his father's wife as his own; he must not take away his father's marriage rights.

Chapter 23

¹ No man whose genitals are crushed or cut off may enter the assembly of Yahweh.

² No illegitimate child may belong to the assembly of Yahweh; as far as to the tenth generation of his descendants, none of them may belong to the assembly of Yahweh.

³ An Ammonite or a Moabite may not belong to the assembly of Yahweh; as far as to the tenth generation of his descendants, none of them may belong to the assembly of Yahweh. ⁴ This is because they did not meet you with bread and with water on the road when you had come out of Egypt, and because they hired against you Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim, to curse you.

⁵ But Yahweh your God would not listen to Balaam; instead, Yahweh your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because Yahweh your God loved you. ⁶ You must never seek their peace or prosperity, during all your days.

⁷ You must not detest an Edomite, for he is your brother; you must not abhor an Egyptian, because you were a foreigner in his land. ⁸ The descendants of the third generation that are born to them may belong to the assembly of Yahweh.

⁹ When you march out as an army against your enemies, then you must keep yourselves from every evil thing. ¹⁰ If there is among you any man who is unclean because of a nighttime accident, then he must go out of the army's camp; he must not come back into the camp. ¹¹ When evening comes, he must bathe himself in water; when the sun goes down, he will come back inside the camp.

¹² You must have a place also outside the camp to which you will go; ¹³ and you will have something among your tools to dig with; when you squat down to relieve yourself, you must dig with it and then put back the earth and cover up what has come out from you. ¹⁴ For Yahweh your God walks in the midst of your camp to give you victory and to give your enemies into your hand. Therefore your camp must be holy, so that he may not see any unclean thing among you and turn away from you.

¹⁵ You must not give back to his master a slave who has escaped from his master. ¹⁶ Let him live with you, in whatever town he chooses. Do not oppress him.

¹⁷ There must be no cultic prostitute among any of the daughters of Israel, neither must there be a cultic prostitute among the sons of Israel. ¹⁸ You must not bring the wages of a prostitute or the wages of a dog into the house of Yahweh your God for any vow; for both these are abominations to Yahweh your God.

¹⁹ You must not lend on interest to your fellow Israelite—interest of money, interest of food, or the interest of anything that is lent on interest. ²⁰ To a foreigner you may lend on interest; but to your fellow Israelite you must not lend on interest, so that Yahweh your God may bless you in all that you put your hand to, in the land which you are going in to possess.

²¹ When you make a vow to Yahweh your God, you must not be slow in fulfilling it, for Yahweh your God will surely require it of you; it would be sin for you not to fulfill it. ²² But if you will refrain from making a vow, it will be no sin for you. ²³ That which has gone out from your lips you must observe and do; according as you have vowed to Yahweh your God, anything that you have freely promised with your mouth.

²⁴ When you go into your neighbor's vineyard, you may eat as many grapes as you desire, but do not put any in your basket. ²⁵ When you go into your neighbor's ripe grain, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but do not put a sickle to your neighbor's ripe grain.

Chapter 24

¹ When a man takes a wife and marries her, if she finds no favor in his eyes because he has found something shameful about her, then he must write her a certificate of divorce, put it into her hand, and send her out of his house. ² When she has gone out of his house, she may go and be another man's wife.

³ If the second husband hates her and writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it into her hand, and sends her out of his house; or if the second husband dies, the man who took her to be his wife— ⁴ then her former husband, the one who had first sent her away, may not take her again to be his wife, after she has become unclean; for that would be an abomination to Yahweh. You must not cause the land to become guilty, the land that Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance.

⁵ When a man takes a new wife, he will not go to war with the army, neither may he be commanded to go on any forced duty; he will be free to be at home for one year and will bring joy to his wife whom he has taken.

⁶ No man may take a mill or an upper millstone as a pledge, for that would be taking a person's life as a pledge.

⁷ If a man is found kidnapping any of his brothers from among the people of Israel, and treats him as a slave and sells him, that thief must die; and you will remove the evil from among you.

⁸ Be careful regarding any plague of leprosy, so that you carefully observe and follow every instruction given to you which the priests, the Levites, teach you; as I commanded them, so you will act. ⁹ Call to mind what Yahweh your God did to Miriam as you were coming out of Egypt.

¹⁰ When you make your neighbor any kind of loan, you must not go into his house to fetch his pledge. ¹¹ You will stand outside, and the man to whom you have lent will bring the pledge outside to you.

¹² If he is a poor man, you must not lie down with his pledge in your possession. ¹³ You must surely restore to him the pledge by the time the sun goes down, so that he may lie down in his cloak and bless you; it will be righteousness for you before Yahweh your God.

¹⁴ You must not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is of your fellow Israelites or of the foreigners who are in your land within your city gates. ¹⁵ Each day you must give him his wage; the sun must not go down on this unsettled matter, for he is poor and is counting on it. Do this so that he does not cry out against you to Yahweh, and so that it not be a sin that you have committed.

¹⁶ The parents must not be put to death for their children, neither must the children be put to death for their parents. Everyone must be put to death for his own sin.

¹⁷ You must not twist the justice that is due the foreigner or the fatherless, nor take the widow's cloak as a pledge. ¹⁸ Remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and that Yahweh your God rescued you from there. Therefore I instruct you to obey this command.

¹⁹ When you reap your harvest in your field, and if you have forgotten an omer of grain in the field, you must not go back to get it; it must be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, or for the widow, so that Yahweh your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. ²⁰ When you beat the olives off your olive tree, you must not go over the branches again; it will be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, or for the widow.

²¹ When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, you must not glean it again. What is left over will be for the foreigner, for the fatherless, and for the widow. ²² You must call to mind that you were a slave in the land of Egypt; therefore I instruct you to obey this command.

Chapter 25

¹ If there is a dispute between men and they go to court, and the judges judge them, then they will acquit the righteous and condemn the wicked. ² If the guilty man deserves to be beaten, then the judge will make him lie down and be beaten in his presence with the ordered number of blows, according to his wickedness.

³ The judge may give him forty blows, but he may not exceed that number; for if he should exceed that number and beat him with many more blows, then your fellow Israelite would be humiliated before your eyes.

⁴ You must not muzzle the ox when he threshes the grain.

⁵ If brothers live together and one of them dies, not having any son, then the wife of the dead man must not be married off to someone else outside the family. Instead, her husband's brother must go to her and take her to himself as a wife, and do the duty of a husband's brother to her. ⁶ This is so that the firstborn that she bears will succeed in the name of that man's dead brother, so that his name will not perish from Israel.

⁷ But if the man does not wish to take his brother's wife for himself, then his brother's wife must go up to the gate to the elders and say, 'My husband's brother refuses to raise up for his brother a name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband's brother to me.' ⁸ Then the elders of his city must call him and speak to him. But suppose that he insists and says, 'I do not wish to take her.'

⁹ Then his brother's wife must come up to him in the presence of the elders, take off his sandal from his foot, and spit in his face. She must answer him and say, 'This is what is done to the man who does not build up his brother's house.' ¹⁰ His name will be called in Israel, 'The house of him whose sandal has been taken off.'

¹¹ If men fight with each other, and the wife of one comes to rescue her husband out of the hand of him who struck him, and if she stretches out her hand and takes him by the private parts, ¹² then you must cut off her hand; your eye must have no pity.

¹³ You must not have in your bag different weights, a large and a small. ¹⁴ You must not have in your house different measures, a large and a small.

¹⁵ A perfect and just weight you must have; a perfect and just measure you must have, so that your days may be long in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you. ¹⁶ For all who do such things, all that act unrighteously, are an abomination to Yahweh your God.

¹⁷ Call to mind what Amalek did to you on the road as you came out of Egypt, ¹⁸ how he met you on the road and attacked those of you at the rear, all who were feeble in your rear, when you were faint and weary; he did not honor God. ¹⁹ Therefore, when Yahweh your God has given you rest from all your enemies round about, in the land that Yahweh your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you must not forget that you must blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.

Chapter 26

¹ When you have come into the land that Yahweh your God is giving you as an inheritance, and when you possess it and live in it, ² then you must take some of the first of all the produce of the land that you have brought in from the land that Yahweh your God is giving you. You must put it in a basket and go to the place where Yahweh your God will choose to make a dwelling for his name.

³ You must go to the priest who will be serving in those days and say to him, 'I acknowledge today to Yahweh your God that I have come to the land that Yahweh swore to our ancestors to give us.' ⁴ The priest must take the basket out of your hand and set it down before the altar of Yahweh your God.

⁵ You must say before Yahweh your God, 'My ancestor was a wandering Aramean. He went down into Egypt and stayed there, and his people were few in number. There he became a great, mighty, and populous nation.

⁶ The Egyptians treated us badly and afflicted us. They put hard labor on us. ⁷ We cried out to Yahweh, the God of our fathers, and he heard our voice and saw our affliction, our labor, and our oppression.

⁸ Yahweh brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, with great fearsomeness, with signs, and with wonders; ⁹ and he has brought us to this place and has given us this land, a land that flows with milk and honey.

¹⁰ Now look, I have brought the first of the produce of the land that you, Yahweh, have given me.' You must set it down before Yahweh your God and worship before him; ¹¹ and you must rejoice in all the good that Yahweh your God has done for you, for your house—you, and the Levite, and the foreigner who is among you.

¹² When you have finished giving all the tithe of your harvest in the third year, that is, the year of tithing, then you must give it to the Levite, to the foreigner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, so that they may eat within your city gates and be filled. ¹³ You must say before Yahweh your God, 'I have completely removed from my house the things that belong to Yahweh, and have given them to the Levite, to the foreigner, to the fatherless, and to the widow, according to all your commandments that you have given me. I have not transgressed any of your commandments, neither have I forgotten them.

¹⁴ I have not eaten any of it in my mourning, nor have I put it somewhere else when I was unclean, nor have I given any of it in honor of the dead. I have listened to the voice of Yahweh my God; I have obeyed everything you have commanded me to do. ¹⁵ Look down from the holy place where you live, from heaven, and bless your people Israel, and the land that you have given us, as you had sworn to our fathers, a land flowing with milk and honey.'

¹⁶ Today Yahweh your God is commanding you to obey these statutes and decrees; you will therefore keep them and do them with all your heart and with all your soul. ¹⁷ You have declared today that Yahweh is your God, and that you will walk in his ways and keep his statutes, his commandments, and his decrees, and that you will listen to his voice.

¹⁸ Today Yahweh has declared that you are a people who are his own possession, as he had promised you, and that you are to keep all his commandments, ¹⁹ and he will set you high above all the other nations that he has made, and you will receive praise, fame, and honor. You will be a people that is set apart to Yahweh your God, just as he said."

Chapter 27

¹ Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people and said, "Keep all the commandments that I command you today. ² On the day when you will pass over the Jordan to the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, you must set up some large stones and plaster them with plaster. ³ You must write on them all the words of this law when you have passed over, so that you may go into the land that Yahweh your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, promised you.

⁴ When you have passed over the Jordan, set up these stones that I am commanding you about today, on Mount Ebal, and plaster them with plaster. ⁵ There you must build an altar to Yahweh your God, an altar of stones; but you must raise no iron tool to work the stones.

⁶ You must build the altar of Yahweh your God of unworked stones; you must offer burnt offerings on it to Yahweh your God, ⁷ and you will sacrifice fellowship offerings and will eat there; you will rejoice before Yahweh your God. ⁸ You will write on the stones all the words of this law. Write them very plainly."

⁹ Moses and the priests, the Levites, spoke to all Israel and said, "Be silent and listen, Israel: Today you have become the people of Yahweh your God. ¹⁰ You must therefore obey the voice of Yahweh your God and obey his commandments and statutes that I am commanding you today."

¹¹ Moses commanded the people the same day and said, ¹² "These tribes must stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people after you have passed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin.

¹³ These are the tribes that must stand on Mount Ebal to pronounce curses: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali. ¹⁴ The Levites will answer and say to all the men of Israel in a loud voice:

¹⁵ 'May the man be cursed who makes a a carved image or a cast metal figure, an abomination to Yahweh, the work of the hands of a craftsman, and who sets it up in secret.' Then all the people must answer and say, 'Amen.'

¹⁶ 'May the man be cursed who dishonors his father or his mother.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'

¹⁷ 'May the man be cursed who removes his neighbor's landmark.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'

¹⁸ 'May the man be cursed who misleads the blind on the road.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'

¹⁹ 'May the man be cursed who uses force to take away the justice due to a foreigner, fatherless, or widow.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'

²⁰ 'May the man be cursed who lies with his father's wife, because he has taken away his father's rights.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'

²¹ 'May the man be cursed who lies with any animal.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'

²² 'May the man be cursed who lies with his sister, the daughter of his father, or with the daughter of his mother.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'

²³ 'May the man be cursed who lies with his mother-in-law.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'

²⁴ 'May the man be cursed who kills his neighbor secretly.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'

²⁵ 'May the man be cursed who takes a bribe to kill an innocent person.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'

²⁶ 'May the man be cursed who does not confirm the words of this law, that he will obey them.' Then all the people must say, 'Amen.'

Chapter 28

¹ If you listen carefully to the voice of Yahweh your God so as to keep all his commandments that I am commanding you today, Yahweh your God will set you above all the other nations of the earth. ² All these blessings will come on you and overtake you, if you listen to the voice of Yahweh your God.

³ Blessed will you be in the city and blessed will you be in the field. ⁴ Blessed will be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, and the fruit of your livestock, and the increase of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

⁵ Blessed will be your basket and your kneading trough. ⁶ Blessed will you be when you come in, and blessed will you be when you go out.

⁷ Yahweh will cause your enemies who rise up against you to be struck down before you; they will come out against you one way but will flee before you seven ways. ⁸ Yahweh will command the blessing to come on you in your barns and in all that you put your hand to; he will bless you in the land that he is giving you.

⁹ Yahweh will establish you as a people that is set apart for himself, as he has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of Yahweh your God, and walk in his ways. ¹⁰ All the peoples of the earth will see that you are called by the name of Yahweh, and they will be afraid of you.

¹¹ Yahweh will make you very prosperous in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground in the land that he swore to your fathers to give you. ¹² Yahweh will open to you his storehouse of the heavens to give the rain for your land at the right time, and to bless all the work of your hand; you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow.

¹³ Yahweh will make you the head, and not the tail; you will be only above, and you will never be beneath, if you listen to the commandments of Yahweh your God that I am commanding you today, so as to observe and to do them, ¹⁴ and if you do not turn away from any of the words that I am commanding you today, to the right hand or to the left, so as to go after other gods to serve them.

¹⁵ But if you do not listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, so as to keep all his commandments and his statutes that I am commanding you today, then all these curses will come on you and overtake you.

¹⁶ Cursed will you be in the city, and cursed will you be in the field. ¹⁷ Cursed will be your basket and your kneading trough.

¹⁸ Cursed will be the fruit of your womb, the fruit of your ground, the calves of your herds, and the lambs of your flocks. ¹⁹ Cursed will you be when you come in, and cursed will you be when you go out.

²⁰ Yahweh will send on you curses, confusion, and rebukes in all that you put your hand to, until you are destroyed, and until you perish quickly because of the evil of your deeds by which you will have abandoned me. ²¹ Yahweh will make the plague cling to you until he destroys you from off the land that you are going in to possess.

²² Yahweh will attack you with infectious diseases, with fever, with inflammation, with drought, with sword, with scorching winds, and with mildew. These will pursue you until you perish.

²³ Your skies that are over your head will be bronze, and the earth that is under you will be iron. ²⁴ Yahweh will make the rain of your land into powder and dust; from the heavens will it come down on you, until you are destroyed.

²⁵ Yahweh will cause you to be struck down before your enemies; you will go out one way against them but will flee before them seven ways. You will be tossed to and fro among all the kingdoms of the earth. ²⁶ Your dead body will be food to all the birds of the heavens and to the wild animals of the earth; there will be no one to frighten them away.

²⁷ Yahweh will attack you with the boils of Egypt and with ulcers, scurvy, and itch, from which you cannot be healed. ²⁸ Yahweh will attack you with madness, with blindness, and with mental confusion. ²⁹ You will grope about at noonday like the blind grope in the darkness, and you will not prosper in your ways; you will be always oppressed and robbed, and there will be no one to save you.

³⁰ You will betroth a woman, but another man will seize her and rape her. You will build a house but not live in it; you will plant a vineyard but not enjoy its fruit. ³¹ Your ox will be killed before your eyes, but you will not eat its meat; your donkey will be forcibly taken away from before you and will not be restored to you. Your sheep will be given to your enemies, and you will have no one to deliver you.

³² Your sons and your daughters will be given to other peoples; your eyes will look for them the entire day, but will fail with longing for them. There will be no strength in your hand.

³³ The produce of your land and of all your labors—a nation that you do not know will eat it up; you will always be oppressed and crushed, ³⁴ so that you will become insane by what you have to see happen. ³⁵ Yahweh will attack you in the knees and legs with severe boils from which you cannot be cured, from the bottom of your feet to the top of your head.

³⁶ Yahweh will take you and the king whom you will place over yourself to a nation that you have not known, neither you nor your ancestors; there you will worship other gods of wood and stone. ³⁷ You will become a source of horror, a proverb, and a byword, among all the peoples where Yahweh will lead you away.

³⁸ You will take much seed out into the field, but will gather little seed in, for the locusts will consume it. ³⁹ You will plant vineyards and cultivate them, but you will neither drink any of the wine, nor even gather in the grapes, for worms will eat them.

⁴⁰ You will have olive trees within all your territory, but you will not anoint yourself with the oil, for your olive trees will drop their fruit. ⁴¹ You will have sons and daughters, but they will not remain yours, for they will go into captivity.

⁴² All your trees and the produce of your ground—the locusts will take them over. ⁴³ The foreigner who is among you will rise up above you higher and higher; you yourself will come down lower and lower. ⁴⁴ He will lend to you, but you will not lend to him; he will be the head, and you will be the tail.

⁴⁵ All these curses will come on you and will pursue and overtake you until you are destroyed. This will happen because you did not listen to the voice of Yahweh your God, so as to keep his commandments and his regulations that he commanded you. ⁴⁶ These curses will be on you as signs and wonders, and on your descendants forever.

⁴⁷ Because you did not worship Yahweh your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart when you were in prosperity, ⁴⁸ therefore will you serve the enemies that Yahweh will send against you; you will serve them in hunger, in thirst, in nakedness, and in poverty. He will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he destroys you.

⁴⁹ Yahweh will bring a nation against you from far away, from the ends of the earth, like an eagle flies to its victim, a nation whose language you do not understand; ⁵⁰ a nation with a fierce face that does not respect the aged and does not show favor to the young. ⁵¹ They will eat the young of your livestock and the produce of your land until you are destroyed. They will leave for you no grain, new wine, or oil, no calves of your herds or the lambs of your flock, until they have caused you to perish.

⁵² They will besiege you in all your city gates, until your high and fortified walls come down everywhere in your land, walls in which you had trusted. They will besiege you within all your city gates throughout all the land that Yahweh your God had given you. ⁵³ You will eat the fruit of your own body, the flesh of your sons and of your daughters, whom Yahweh your God gave you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies will oppress you.

⁵⁴ The man who is timid and very delicate among you—he will be envious of his brother and his own dear wife, and of whatever children he has left. ⁵⁵ So he will not give to any of them the flesh of his own children that he is going to eat, because he will have nothing left for himself in the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will oppress you within all your city gates.

⁵⁶ The tender and delicate woman among you, who would not venture to put the bottom of her foot on the ground for delicateness and tenderness—she will be envious of her own dear husband, of her son, and of her daughter, ⁵⁷ and of her own newborn that comes out from between her legs, and of the children whom she will bear. She will eat them in private for lack of anything else, during the siege and in the distress with which your enemy will oppress you within your city gates.

⁵⁸ If you do not keep all the words of this law that are written in this book, so as to honor this glorious and fearful name, Yahweh your God, ⁵⁹ then Yahweh will make your plagues terrible, and those of your descendants; they will be great plagues, of long duration, and severe diseases, of long duration.

⁶⁰ He will bring on you again all the diseases of Egypt that you were afraid of; they will cling to you. ⁶¹ Also every sickness and plague that is not written in the book of this law, those also Yahweh will bring on you until you are destroyed. ⁶² You will be left few in number, although you were like the stars of the heavens in number, because you did not listen to the voice of Yahweh your God.

⁶³ As Yahweh once rejoiced over you in doing you good, and in multiplying you, so he will rejoice over you in making you perish and in destroying you. You will be plucked off the land that you are going into to possess. ⁶⁴ Yahweh will scatter you among all peoples from the one end of the earth to the other end of the earth; there you will worship other gods that you have not known, neither you nor your ancestors, gods of wood and stone.

⁶⁵ Among these nations will you find no ease, and there will be no rest for the bottoms of your feet; Yahweh will give you there a trembling heart, failing eyes, and a soul that mourns. ⁶⁶ Your life will hang in doubt before you; night and day you will be afraid and will have no assurance of your life.

⁶⁷ In the morning you will say, 'I wish it were evening!' and in the evening you will say, 'I wish it were morning!' because of the fear in your hearts and the things your eyes will have to see. ⁶⁸ Yahweh will bring you into Egypt again by ships, by the route about which I had said to you, 'You will not see Egypt again.' There you will offer yourselves for sale to your enemies as male slaves and female slaves, but no one will purchase you."

Chapter 29

¹ These are the words that Yahweh commanded Moses to tell the people of Israel in the land of Moab, words that were added to the covenant that he had made with them at Horeb.

² Moses called to all Israel and said to them, "You have seen everything that Yahweh did before your eyes in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his servants, and to all his land— ³ the great sufferings that your eyes saw, the signs, and those great wonders. ⁴ But until today Yahweh has not given you a heart to know, eyes to see, or ears to hear.

⁵ I have led you for forty years in the wilderness; your clothes did not wear out on you, and your sandals did not wear out on your feet. ⁶ You did not eat any bread, and you did not drink any wine or other strong drink, so that you might know that I am Yahweh your God.

⁷ When you came to this place, Sihon, the king of Heshbon, and Og, the king of Bashan, came out against us to fight, and we struck them down. ⁸ We took their land and gave it as an inheritance to the Reubenites, to the Gadites, and to the half tribe of Manasseh. ⁹ Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, so that you may prosper in everything that you do.

¹⁰ You stand today, all of you, before Yahweh your God; your chiefs, your tribes, your elders, and your officers—all the men of Israel, ¹¹ your little ones, your wives, and the foreigner who is among you in your camp, from him who cuts your wood to him who draws your water.

¹² You are here in order to enter into the covenant of Yahweh your God and into the oath that Yahweh your God is making with you today, ¹³ so that he may make you today into a people for himself, and that he may be God for you, as he spoke to you, and as he swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

¹⁴ For it is not only with you that I am making this covenant and this oath— ¹⁵ with everyone standing here with us today before Yahweh our God—but also with those who are not here with us today.

¹⁶ You know how we lived in the land of Egypt, and how we came through the midst of the nations through which you passed.

¹⁷ You have seen their disgusting idols made of wood and stone, silver and gold, that were among them. ¹⁸ Make sure there is not among you any man, woman, clan, or tribe whose heart is turning away today from Yahweh our God, so as to go worship the gods of those nations. Make sure there is not among you any root that produces poison fruit and wormwood. ¹⁹ When that person hears the words of this curse, he will bless himself in his heart and say, 'I will have peace, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.' This would destroy the wet together with the dry.

²⁰ Yahweh will not pardon him. Instead, the anger of Yahweh and his jealousy will smolder against that man, and all the curses that are written in this book will come on him, and Yahweh will blot out his name from under heaven. ²¹ Yahweh will set him apart for disaster out of all the tribes of Israel, in keeping with all the curses of the covenant that are written in this book of the law.

²² The generation to come, your children who will rise up after you, and the foreigner who comes from a distant land, will speak when they see the plagues on this land and the diseases with which Yahweh has made it sick— ²³ and when they see that the whole land has become sulfur and burning salt, where nothing is sown or bears fruit, where no vegetation grows, like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, that Yahweh destroyed in his anger and wrath— ²⁴ they will say together with all the other nations, 'Why has Yahweh done this to this land? What does the heat of this great anger mean?'

²⁵ Then people will say, 'It is because they abandoned the covenant of Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, that he made with them when he brought them out of the land of Egypt, ²⁶ and because they went and served other gods and bowed down to them, gods that they had not known and that he had not given to them.

²⁷ Therefore the anger of Yahweh has been kindled against this land, so as to bring on it all the curses that are written in this book. ²⁸ Yahweh has uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great fury, and has thrown them into another land, as today.'

²⁹ The secret matters belong alone to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong forever to us and to our descendants, so that we may do all the words of this law.

Chapter 30

¹ When all these things have come on you, the blessings and the curses that I have set before you, and when you call them to mind among all the other nations where Yahweh your God has banished you, ² and when you return to Yahweh your God and obey his voice, following all that I am commanding you today—you and your children—with all your heart and with all your soul, ³ then Yahweh your God will reverse your captivity and have compassion on you; he will return and gather you from all the peoples where Yahweh your God has scattered you.

⁴ If any of your exiled people are in the farthest places under the heavens, from there Yahweh your God will gather you, and from there he will bring you. ⁵ Yahweh your God will bring you into the land that your forefathers possessed, and you will possess it again; he will do you good and will multiply you more than he did your forefathers.

⁶ Yahweh your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, so you will love Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. ⁷ Yahweh your God will put all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate you, those who persecuted you. ⁸ You will return and obey the voice of Yahweh, and you will do all his commandments that I am commanding you today.

⁹ Yahweh your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your womb, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your ground, for prosperity. For Yahweh will again delight in making you prosperous, as he rejoiced over your fathers. ¹⁰ He will do this if you will obey the voice of Yahweh your God, so as to keep his commandments and regulations that are written in this book of the law, if you turn to Yahweh your God with all your heart and all your soul.

¹¹ For this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, neither is it too far for you to reach. ¹² It is not in heaven, so that you should have to say, 'Who will go up for us to heaven and bring it down to us and make us able to hear it, so that we may do it?'

¹³ Neither is it beyond the sea, so that you should have to say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us and make us to hear it, so that we may do it?' ¹⁴ But the word is very near to you, in your mouth and your heart, so that you may do it.

¹⁵ See, today I have placed before you life and good, death and evil. ¹⁶ If you obey the decrees of Yahweh your God, in which I am commanding you today to love Yahweh your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments, his regulations, and his statutes, you will live and multiply, and Yahweh your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.

¹⁷ But if your heart turns away, and you do not listen and are drawn away and bow down to other gods and worship them, ¹⁸ then I declare to you today that you will surely perish; you will not prolong your days in the land that you are passing over the Jordan to go into and possess.

¹⁹ I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life so that you may live, you and your descendants. ²⁰ Do this so as to love Yahweh your God, to obey his voice, and to cling to him. For he is your life and the length of your days; do this so that you may live in the land that Yahweh swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them."

Chapter 31

¹ Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. ² He said to them, "I am now one hundred twenty years old; I can no more go out and come in; Yahweh has said to me, 'You will not go over this Jordan.' ³ Yahweh your God, he will go over before you; he will destroy these nations from before you, and you will dispossess them. Joshua, he will go over before you, as Yahweh has spoken.

⁴ Yahweh will do to them as he did to Sihon and to Og, the kings of the Amorites, and to their land, which he destroyed. ⁵ Yahweh will deliver them over to you, and you will do to them according to all that I commanded you. ⁶ Be strong and of good courage, fear not, and do not be afraid of them; for Yahweh your God, he it is who goes with you; he will not fail you nor abandon you."

⁷ Moses called to Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, "Be strong and of good courage, for you will go with this people into the land that Yahweh has sworn to their ancestors to give them; you will cause them to inherit it. ⁸ Yahweh, he it is who goes before you; he will be with you; he will not fail you nor abandon you; do not be afraid, do not be discouraged."

⁹ Moses wrote this law and gave it out to the priests, the sons of Levi, who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh; he also gave copies of it to all the elders of Israel. ¹⁰ Moses commanded them and said, "At the end of every seven years, at the time fixed for the cancellation of debts, during the Festival of Shelters, ¹¹ when all Israel has come to appear before Yahweh your God in the place that he will choose for his sanctuary, you will read this law before all Israel in their hearing.

¹² Assemble the people, the men, the women, and the little ones, and your foreigner who is within your city gates, so that they may hear and learn, and so that they may honor Yahweh your God and keep all the words of this law. ¹³ Do this so that their children, who have not known, may hear and learn to honor Yahweh your God, as long as you live in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess."

¹⁴ Yahweh said to Moses, "Look, the day is coming when you must die; call Joshua and present yourselves in the tent of meeting, so that I may give him a command." Moses and Joshua went and presented themselves in the tent of meeting. ¹⁵ Yahweh appeared in the tent in a pillar of cloud; the pillar of cloud stood over the door of the tent.

¹⁶ Yahweh said to Moses, "Look, you will lie down with your fathers; this people will rise up and act like a prostitute going after the strange gods that are among them in the land where they are going. They will abandon me and break my covenant that I have made with them.

¹⁷ Then, on that day, my anger will be kindled against them and I will abandon them. I will hide my face from them and they will be devoured. Many disasters and troubles will find them so that they will say on that day, 'Have these disasters not come upon us because our God is not in our midst?' ¹⁸ I will surely hide my face from them on that day because of all the evil that they will have done, because they will have turned to other gods.

¹⁹ Now therefore write this song for yourselves and teach it to the people of Israel. Put it in their mouths, so that this song may be a witness for me against the people of Israel. ²⁰ For when I will have brought them into the land that I swore to give to their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey, and when they have eaten and become satisfied and prosperous, then they will turn to other gods and they will serve them and they will despise me and they will break my covenant.

²¹ When many evils and troubles come upon this people, this song will testify before them as a witness (for it will not be forgotten from the mouths of their descendants). For I know the plans that they are forming today, even before I have brought them into the land that I swore to them."

²² So Moses wrote this song the same day and taught it to the people of Israel. ²³ Yahweh gave Joshua son of Nun a command and said, "Be strong and of good courage; for you will bring the people of Israel into the land that I swore to them, and I will be with you."

²⁴ It happened that when Moses had finished writing the words of this law in a book, ²⁵ that he commanded the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, and he said, ²⁶ "Take this book of the law and put it by the side of the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, so that it may be there as a witness against you.

²⁷ For I know your rebellion and your stiff neck; look, while I am still alive with you even today, you have been rebellious against Yahweh; how much more after my death? ²⁸ Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, so that I may speak these words in their ears and call heaven and earth to witness against them. ²⁹ For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves and turn aside out of the path that I have commanded you; disaster will come on you in the following days. This will happen because you will do what is evil in the sight of Yahweh, so as to provoke him to anger through the work of your hands."

³⁰ Moses recited in the ears of all the assembly of Israel the words of this song until they were finished.

Chapter 32

¹ Give ear, you heavens, and let me speak.

Let the earth listen to the words of my mouth.

² Let my teaching drop down like the rain,

let my speech distill like the dew,

like the gentle rain on the tender grass,

and like the showers on the plants.

³ For I will proclaim the name of Yahweh,

and ascribe greatness to our God.

⁴ The Rock, his work is perfect;

for all his paths are just.

He is the faithful God, without iniquity.

He is just and upright.

⁵ They have acted corruptly against him.

They are not his children. It is their disgrace.

They are a perverted and crooked generation.

⁶ Do you reward Yahweh in this way,

you foolish and unwise people?

Is he not your Father, the one who has created you?

He made you and established you.

⁷ Call to mind the days of ancient times,

think about the years of generations past.

Ask your father and he will show you,

your elders and they will tell you.

⁸ When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance—

when he divided all of mankind,

he set the boundaries of the peoples

according to the number of the children of Israel.

⁹ For Yahweh's portion is his people;

Jacob is his apportioned inheritance.

¹⁰ He found him in a desert land,

and in the barren and howling wilderness;

he shielded him and cared for him,

he guarded him as the apple of his eye.

¹¹ As an eagle that guards her nest

and flutters over her young,

Yahweh spread out his wings and took them,

and carried them on his pinions.

¹² Yahweh alone led him;

no foreign god was with him.

¹³ He made him ride on high places of the land,

and he fed him the fruits of the field;

he nourished him with honey from the rock,

and oil from the flinty crag.

¹⁴ He ate butter from the herd and drank milk from the flock,

with fat of lambs,

rams of Bashan and goats,

with the finest of the wheat—

and you drank foaming wine made from the blood of grapes.

¹⁵ But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked—

you grew fat, you were too fat, and you had eaten your fill—

he abandoned the God who made him,

and he rejected the Rock of his salvation.

¹⁶ They made Yahweh jealous by their strange gods;

with their abominations they angered him.

¹⁷ They sacrificed to demons, which are not God—

gods they had not known,

gods that recently appeared,

gods your fathers did not fear.

¹⁸ You have deserted the Rock, who became your father,

and you forgot the God who gave you birth.

¹⁹ Yahweh saw this and he rejected them,

because his sons and his daughters provoked him so.

²⁰ "I will hide my face from them," he said,

"and I will see what their end will be;

for they are a perverse generation,

children in whom is no faithfulness.

²¹ They have made me jealous by what is not god

and angered me by their worthless things.

I will make them envious by those who are not a people;

by a foolish nation I will make them angry.

²² For a fire is kindled by my anger

and is burning to the lowest Sheol;

it is devouring the earth and its produce;

it is setting on fire the foundations of the mountains.

²³ I will heap disasters on them;

I will shoot all my arrows at them;

²⁴ They will be wasted by hunger and devoured by burning heat

and bitter destruction;

I will send on them the teeth of wild animals,

with the poison of things that crawl in the dust.

²⁵ Outside the sword will bereave,

and in the bedrooms terror will do so.

It will destroy both young man and virgin,

the nursing baby, and the man of gray hairs.

²⁶ I said that I would scatter them far away,

that I would make the memory of them to cease from among mankind.

²⁷ Were it not that I feared the provocation of the enemy,

and that their enemies would judge mistakenly,

and that they would say, 'Our hand is exalted,'

I would have done all this.

²⁸ For Israel is a nation devoid of counsel,

and there is no understanding in them.

²⁹ Oh, that they were wise, that they understood this,

that they would consider their coming fate!

³⁰ How could one chase a thousand,

and two put ten thousand to flight,

unless their Rock had sold them,

and Yahweh had given them up?

³¹ For our enemies' rock is not like our Rock,

just as even our enemies have concluded.

³² For their vine comes from the vine of Sodom,

and from the fields of Gomorrah;

their grapes are grapes of poison;

their clusters are bitter.

³³ Their wine is the poison of serpents

and the cruel venom of asps.

³⁴ Is not this plan secretly kept by me,

sealed up among my treasures?

³⁵ Vengeance is mine to give, and recompense,

at the time when their foot slips;

for the day of disaster for them is near,

and the things that are to come on them will hurry to happen."

³⁶ For Yahweh will give justice to his people,

and he will pity his servants.

He will see that their power is gone,

and no one remains, either slaves or free people.

³⁷ Then he will say, "Where are their gods,

the rock in whom they took refuge,

³⁸ the gods who ate the fat of their sacrifices

and drank the wine of their drink offerings?

Let them rise up and help you;

let them be your protection.

³⁹ See now that I, even I, am God,

and that there is no god besides me;

I kill, and I make alive;

I wound, and I heal,

and there is no one who can save you from my might.

⁴⁰ For I lift up my hand to heaven

and say, 'As I live forever, I will act.

⁴¹ When I sharpen my glittering sword,

and when my hand begins to bring justice,

I will render vengeance on my enemies,

and I will pay back those who hate me.

⁴² I will make my arrows drunk with blood,

and my sword will devour flesh

with the blood of the killed and the captives,

and from the heads of the leaders of the enemy.'"

⁴³ Rejoice, you nations, with God's people,

for he will avenge the blood of his servants;

he will render vengeance on his enemies,

and he will make atonement for his land, for his people.

⁴⁴ Moses came and recited all the words of this song in the ears of the people, he, and Joshua son of Nun. ⁴⁵ Then Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel.

⁴⁶ He said to them, "Fix your mind on all the words that I have witnessed to you today, so that you may command your children to keep them, all the words of this law. ⁴⁷ For this is no trivial matter for you, because it is your life, and through this thing you will prolong your days in the land that you are going over the Jordan to possess."

⁴⁸ Yahweh spoke to Moses on that same day and said, ⁴⁹ "Go up into this range of the mountains of Abarim, up Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, opposite Jericho. You will look at the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the people of Israel as their possession.

⁵⁰ You will die on the mountain that you go up, and you will be gathered to your people, as Aaron your fellow Israelite died on Mount Hor and was gathered to his people. ⁵¹ This will happen because you were unfaithful to me among the people of Israel at the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the wilderness of Zin; because you did not treat me with honor and respect among the people of Israel. ⁵² For you will see the land before you, but you will not go there, into the land that I am giving to the people of Israel."

Chapter 33

¹ This is the blessing with which Moses the man of God blessed the people of Israel before his death. ² He said:

Yahweh came from Sinai

and rose from Seir upon them.

He shined out from Mount Paran,

and he came with ten thousands of holy ones.

In his right hand were flashes of lightning.

³ Indeed, he loves the peoples;

all his holy people are in your hand,

and they bowed down at your feet;

they received your words.

⁴ Moses commanded us a law,

an inheritance for the assembly of Jacob.

⁵ Then there was a king in Jeshurun,

when the heads of the people had gathered,

all the tribes of Israel together.

⁶ Let Reuben live and not die,

but may his men be few.

⁷ This is the blessing for Judah. Moses said:

Listen, Yahweh, to the voice of Judah,

and bring him to his people again.

Fight for him;

be a help against his enemies.

⁸ About Levi, Moses said:

Your Thummim and your Urim belong to your faithful one,

the one whom you tested at Massah,

with whom you struggled at the waters of Meribah,

⁹ who said about his father and mother, "I have not seen them."

Neither did he acknowledge his brothers,

nor did he take account of his own children.

For he guarded your word

and kept your covenant.

¹⁰ He teaches Jacob your decrees

and Israel your law.

He will put incense before you

and whole burnt offerings on your altar.

¹¹ Bless, Yahweh, his possessions,

and accept the work of his hands.

Shatter the loins of those who rise up against him,

and those of the people who hate him, so that they do not rise up again.

¹² About Benjamin, Moses said:

The one loved by Yahweh lives in security beside him;

Yahweh shields him all the day long,

and he lives between Yahweh's arms.

¹³ About Joseph, Moses said:

May his land be blessed by Yahweh

with the precious things of heaven, with the dew,

and with the deep that lies beneath.

¹⁴ May his land be blessed with the precious things of the harvest of the sun,

with the precious things of the produce of the months,

¹⁵ with the finest things of the ancient mountains,

and with the precious things of the everlasting hills.

¹⁶ May his land be blessed with the precious things of the earth and its abundance,

and with the good will of him who was in the bush.

Let the blessing come on the head of Joseph,

and on the top of the head of him who was prince over his brothers.

¹⁷ The firstborn of an ox, majestic is he,

and his horns are the horns of a wild ox.

With them he will push the peoples,

all of them, to the ends of the earth.

These are the ten thousands of Ephraim;

these are the thousands of Manasseh.

¹⁸ About Zebulun, Moses said:

Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out,

and you, Issachar, in your tents.

¹⁹ They will call the peoples to the mountains.

There will they offer sacrifices of righteousness.

For they will suck the abundance of the seas,

and from the sand on the seashore.

²⁰ About Gad, Moses said:

Blessed be he who enlarges Gad.

He will live there like a lioness,

and he will tear off an arm or a head.

²¹ He provided the best part for himself,

for there was the leader's portion of land reserved.

He came with the heads of the people.

He carried out the justice of Yahweh

and his decrees with Israel.

²² About Dan, Moses said:

Dan is a lion cub

that leaps out from Bashan.

²³ About Naphtali, Moses said:

Naphtali, satisfied with favor,

and full of the blessing of Yahweh,

take possession of the land to the west and south.

²⁴ About Asher, Moses said:

Blessed be Asher more than the other sons;

let him be acceptable to his brothers,

and let him dip his foot in olive oil.

²⁵ May your city bars be iron and bronze;

as long as will be your days, so long will your security be.

²⁶ There is no one like the God of Jeshurun,

who rides through the heavens to your help,

and in his majesty on the clouds.

²⁷ The eternal God is a refuge,

and underneath are the everlasting arms.

He thrust out the enemy from before you,

and he said, "Destroy!"

²⁸ Israel dwelt in safety.

Jacob's spring was secure

in a land of grain and new wine;

indeed, let his heavens drop dew on him.

²⁹ Your blessings are many, Israel!

Who is like you, a people saved by Yahweh,

the shield of your help,

and the sword of your majesty?

Your enemies will come trembling to you;

you will trample down their high places.

Chapter 34

¹ Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. There Yahweh showed him all the land of Gilead as far as Dan, ² and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, to the western sea, ³ and the Negev, and the plain of the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar.

⁴ Yahweh said to him, "This is the land that I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, saying, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have allowed you to look at it with your eyes, but you will not go over there." ⁵ So Moses the servant of Yahweh, died there in the land of Moab, as the word of Yahweh promised. ⁶ Yahweh buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth Peor, but no one knows where his grave is to this day.

⁷ Moses was one hundred twenty years old when he died; his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. ⁸ The people of Israel mourned for Moses in the plains of Moab for thirty days, and then the days of mourning for Moses were finished.

⁹ Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. The people of Israel listened to him and did what Yahweh had commanded Moses.

¹⁰ There has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face. ¹¹ There has never been any prophet like him in all the signs and wonders that Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land. ¹² There has never been any prophet like him in all the mighty, fearsome deeds that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Joshua

Chapter 1

¹ Now it came about after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' chief assistant, saying, ² "Moses, my servant, is dead. Now therefore, arise, cross over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them—to the people of Israel. ³ I have given you every place where the sole of your foot will walk. I have given it to you, just as I promised to Moses.

⁴ From the wilderness and Lebanon, as far as the great river, the Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea, where the sun goes down, will be your land. ⁵ No one will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not abandon you or leave you.

⁶ Be strong and courageous. You will cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their ancestors I would give to them. ⁷ Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go.

⁸ This book of the law must not leave your mouth. You must meditate on it day and night so that you can be careful to do all that is written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go."

¹⁰ Then Joshua commanded the leaders of the people, ¹¹ "Go through the camp and command the people, 'Prepare provisions for yourselves. In three days you will cross over this Jordan and go in and possess the land that Yahweh your God is giving you to possess.'"

¹² To the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, ¹³ "Call to mind the word that Moses the servant of Yahweh, commanded you when he said, 'Yahweh your God is giving you rest, and he is giving you this land.'

¹⁴ Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock will stay in the land that Moses gave you beyond the Jordan. But your mighty warriors will go over with your brothers and help them ¹⁵ until Yahweh has given your brothers rest just as he has given it to you. Then they also will take possession of the land Yahweh your God gives them. Then you will return to your own land and possess it, the land that Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan, where the sun rises."

¹⁶ Then they answered Joshua, saying, "All that you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. ¹⁷ We will obey you just as we obeyed Moses. Only may Yahweh your God be with you, as he was with Moses. ¹⁸ Whoever rebels against your commands and disobeys the words you have commanded them will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous."

Chapter 2

¹ Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men out from Shittim as spies. He said, "Go, look over the land, especially Jericho." They went away and came to the house of a prostitute whose name was Rahab, and they lodged there. ² It was told to the king of Jericho, "Look, men of Israel have come here to spy on the land." ³ The king of Jericho sent word to Rahab and said, "Bring out the men who have come to you who entered your house, for they have come to spy on the whole land."

⁴ But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She replied, "Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they were from. ⁵ They left when it was dusk, when it was time for the city gate to shut. I do not know where they went. You will probably catch them if you hurry after them."

⁶ But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them with the stalks of flax that she had laid out on the roof. ⁷ So the men pursued them on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan. The gate was shut as soon as the pursuers went out.

⁸ The men had not yet lain down for the night, when she came up to them on the roof. ⁹ She said, "I know that Yahweh has given you the land and that the fear of you has come upon us. All those who live in the land will melt away before you.

¹⁰ We have heard how Yahweh dried up the water of the Sea of Reeds for you when you came out of Egypt. We also heard what you did to the two kings of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan—Sihon and Og—whom you completely destroyed. ¹¹ As soon as we had heard it, our hearts melted and there was no courage left in anyone—for Yahweh your God, he is God in heaven above and on the earth below.

¹² Now then, please swear to me by Yahweh that, just as I have been kind to you, you will also deal kindly with my father's house. Give me a sure sign ¹³ that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters and all their families, and that you will deliver our souls from death."

¹⁴ The men said to her, "Our life for yours, even to death! If you do not speak about our business, then, when Yahweh gives us this land we will be merciful and faithful to you."

¹⁵ So she let them down out through the window using a rope. The house in which she lived was built into the wall of the city. ¹⁶ She said to them, "Go in the hills and hide or the pursuers will find you. Hide there for three days until the pursuers have returned. Then go on your way." ¹⁷ The men said to her, "We will be be free from the oath you made us swear to if you do not do this.

¹⁸ When we come into the land, you must tie this scarlet rope in the window through which you let us down, and you will gather into the house your father and mother, your brothers and all your father's household. ¹⁹ Whoever goes out of the doors of your house into the street, their blood will be upon their own heads and we will be guiltless. But if a hand is laid upon any who is with you in the house, his blood will be on our head.

²⁰ But if you speak about our business, we will be free from the oath you made us swear." ²¹ Rahab replied, "May what you say be done." She sent them away and they left. Then she tied the scarlet rope in the window.

²² They left and went up into the hills and they stayed there three days until their pursuers returned. The pursuers searched all along the road and found nothing.

²³ The two men returned and crossed over and came back to Joshua son of Nun, and they told him everything that had happened to them. ²⁴ They said to Joshua, "Truly Yahweh has given this land to us. All the inhabitants of the land are melting away because of us."

Chapter 3

¹ Joshua got up early in the morning, and they set out from Shittim. They came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and they camped there before they crossed over.

² After three days, the officers went through the middle of the camp; ³ they commanded the people, "When you see the ark of the covenant of Yahweh your God, and the priests from the Levites carrying it, you must leave this place and follow it. ⁴ There must be a distance between you and it of about two thousand cubits. Do not come close to it, so that you can see which way to go, since you have not gone this way before."

⁵ Joshua said to the people, "Consecrate yourselves tomorrow, for Yahweh will do wonders among you." ⁶ Then Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass in front of the people." So they picked up the ark of the covenant and went in front of people.

⁷ Yahweh said to Joshua, "This day I will make you a great man in the eyes of all Israel. They will know that as I was with Moses, I will be with you. ⁸ You will command the priests who carry the ark of the covenant, 'When you have come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, you must stand still in the Jordan River.'"

⁹ Then Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come here, and listen to the words of Yahweh your God." ¹⁰ And Joshua said, "By this you will know that the living God is among you and will drive out from before you the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites. ¹¹ Look! The ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth crosses over ahead of you into the Jordan.

¹² Now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from each. ¹³ When the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of Yahweh, the Lord of all the earth, touch the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan will be cut off, and even the waters that flow down from upstream will stop flowing and they will stand in one heap."

¹⁴ So when the people set out from their tents to cross over the Jordan, the priests who carried the ark of the covenant went ahead of the people. ¹⁵ As soon as those who were carrying the ark had come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who carried the chest were dipped in the edge of the water—now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of the harvest— ¹⁶ the waters that flowed down from upstream stood up in one heap. The water stopped flowing from a great distance. The waters stopped flowing from Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, all the way down to the sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea. The people crossed over near Jericho.

¹⁷ The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh stood on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan until all the people of Israel crossed over on dry ground.

Chapter 4

¹ When all the people crossed over the Jordan, Yahweh said to Joshua, ² "Choose twelve men for yourselves from among the people, one man from each tribe. ³ Give them this command: 'Take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests are standing on the dry ground, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you will spend the night tonight.'"

⁴ Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had chosen from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. ⁵ Joshua said to them, "Go over before the ark of Yahweh your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel.

⁶ This will be a sign in your midst for you when your children ask in days to come, 'What do these stones mean to you?' ⁷ Then you will say to them, 'The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones will be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.'"

⁸ The people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded, and they picked up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, as Yahweh said to Joshua. They set the stones up according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel. They carried the stones with them, over to the place where they camped and they set them down there. ⁹ Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan River, in the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant stood. The memorial is there to this day.

¹⁰ The priests who carried the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan until everything that Yahweh commanded Joshua to tell the people was completed, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people hurried and they crossed over. ¹¹ When all the people had finished crossing over, the ark of Yahweh and the priests crossed over before the people.

¹² The tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh passed before the people of Israel formed up as an army, just as Moses said to them. ¹³ About forty thousand men equipped for war passed before Yahweh, for battle on the plains of Jericho. ¹⁴ On that day Yahweh made Joshua great in the eyes of all Israel. They honored him—just as they honored Moses—all his days.

¹⁵ Then Yahweh spoke to Joshua, ¹⁶ "Command the priests who carry the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan."

¹⁷ So, Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan." ¹⁸ When the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of their feet were lifted up out on dry ground, then the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed its banks, just as they were four days before.

¹⁹ The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. They camped in Gilgal, east of Jericho. ²⁰ The twelve stones that they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. ²¹ He said to the people of Israel, "When your descendants ask their fathers in times to come, 'What are these stones?'

²² tell your children, 'This is where Israel crossed over the Jordan on dry ground.' ²³ Yahweh your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you, until you had crossed over, just as Yahweh your God did to the Sea of Reeds, which he dried up for us until we passed over, ²⁴ so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of Yahweh is mighty, and that you will honor Yahweh your God forever."

Chapter 5

¹ As soon as all the kings of the Amorites on the west side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were along the coast of the Great Sea, heard that Yahweh had dried up the waters of the Jordan until the people of Israel had crossed over, their hearts melted, and there was no longer any spirit in them because of the people of Israel. ¹

² At that time Yahweh said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and once more circumcise all the sons of Israel." ³ Then Joshua made himself flint knives and he circumcised all the sons of Israel at Gibeath Haaraloth.

⁴ This is the reason Joshua circumcised them: All the males who had come out of Egypt, including all the men of war, had died in the wilderness along the way, after they came out from Egypt. ⁵ Though all the males who came out of Egypt were circumcised, still, none of the boys born in the wilderness on the way out of Egypt had been circumcised.

⁶ For the people of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness until all the people, that is, all the men of war who had come out of Egypt, died, because they did not obey the voice of Yahweh. Yahweh swore to them that he would not let them see the land that he had sworn to their ancestors that he would give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey. ⁷ It was their children that Yahweh raised up in their place that Joshua circumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the way.

⁸ When they were all circumcised, they remained where they were in the camp until they healed. ⁹ Then Yahweh said to Joshua, "This day I have rolled away the disgrace of Egypt from you." So, the name of that place has been called Gilgal until this present day.

¹⁰ The people of Israel camped at Gilgal. They kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month, in the evening, on the plains of Jericho. ¹¹ On the day after Passover, that same day, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened bread and roasted grain.

¹² The manna stopped on the day after they ate the produce of the land. There was no longer manna for the people of Israel, but they ate the produce of the land of Canaan that year.

¹³ When Joshua was near Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing in front of him; he had drawn his sword and it was in his hand. Joshua went to him and said, "Are you for us or for our enemies?"

¹⁴ He said, "Neither. For I am the commander of the army of Yahweh. Now I have come." Then Joshua lay facedown on the ground to worship and said to him, "What does my master say to his servant?" ¹⁵ The commander of Yahweh's army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, because the place you are standing is holy." That is what Joshua did.

¹Some modern translations have until the people of Israel had crossed over, and others have, until we had crossed over . The copies of the ancient Hebrew text have we, but a note in their margin instructs readers to say they .

Chapter 6

¹ Now all the entrances to Jericho were closed because of the army of Israel. No one went out and no one came in. ² Yahweh said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hand, its king, and its mighty warriors.

³ You must march around the city, all the men of war going around the city one time. You must do this for six days. ⁴ Seven priests must carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark. On the seventh day, you must march around the city seven times, and the priests must sound blasts on the trumpets.

⁵ Then they must sound a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet all the people must shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat. The soldiers must attack, each one going straight ahead."

⁶ Then Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark of Yahweh." ⁷ He said to the people, "Go over and march around the city, and the armed men will go ahead of the ark of Yahweh."

⁸ Just as Joshua had said to the people, the seven priests carried the seven trumpets of rams' horns before Yahweh. As they advanced, they gave a blast on the trumpets. The ark of the covenant of Yahweh followed after them. ⁹ Armed men walked before the priests, and they made a blast on their trumpets, but then the rear guard walked up behind the ark, and the priests blew their trumpets continually.

¹⁰ But Joshua commanded the people, saying, "Do not shout. No sound must leave your mouths until the day I tell you to shout. Only then you must shout." ¹¹ So he caused the ark of Yahweh to go around the city one time that day. Then they entered their camp, and they stayed the night in the camp.

¹² Then Joshua got up early in the morning, and the priests picked up the ark of Yahweh. ¹³ The seven priests, who were carrying the seven trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark of Yahweh, walked steadily and gave blasts on the trumpets. Armed soldiers were walking in front of them. But when the rear guard walked after the ark of Yahweh, then the trumpets gave out continual blasts. ¹⁴ They marched around the city one time the second day and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

¹⁵ It was on the seventh day that they got up early, as dawn was breaking, and they marched around the city in the same way that was their pattern, this time for seven times. It was on this day that they marched around the city seven times. ¹⁶ It was on the seventh day, when the priests gave a blast with the trumpets, that Joshua commanded the people, "Shout! For Yahweh has given you the city.

¹⁷ The city and all that is in it will be set apart to Yahweh for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute will live—she and all the ones with her in her house—because she hid the messengers we sent. ¹⁸ But as for you, be on guard about taking the things set apart for destruction, so that after you mark them for destruction, you do not then take any of them. If you do this, you will make the camp of Israel something that must be destroyed and you will bring trouble on it. ¹⁹ All the silver, gold, and the things made of bronze and iron are set apart to Yahweh. They must go into the treasury of Yahweh."

²⁰ So the people gave a great shout, and they blew on the trumpets. Now when the people heard the trumpet sound, they gave a great shout, the wall fell down flat, and every man charged straight in and captured the city. ²¹ They completely destroyed all that was in the city by the edge of the sword—man and woman, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.

²² Then Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the prostitute's house. Bring out the woman and all who are with her, as you swore to her."

²³ So the young men who had been spies went in and brought Rahab out. They brought out her father, mother, brothers, and all the relatives that were with her. They brought them to a place outside the camp of Israel. ²⁴ They burned the city and everything in it. Only the silver, gold, and the vessels of bronze and iron were put into the treasury of the house of Yahweh.

²⁵ But Joshua allowed Rahab the prostitute, her father's household, and all that were with her to live. She lives in Israel to this day because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy on Jericho.

²⁶ Then Joshua commanded them at that time with an oath, and he said, "Cursed is the man in Yahweh's sight who rebuilds this city, Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn son, he will lay the foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son, he will set up its gates."

²⁷ So Yahweh was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.

Chapter 7

¹ But the people of Israel acted unfaithfully regarding the things that were set apart for destruction. Achan son of Karmi son of Zabdi son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some things that were set apart for destruction, and Yahweh's anger burned against the people of Israel.

² Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which was near Beth Aven, east of Bethel. He said to them, "Go up and spy out the land." So the men went up and spied out Ai. ³ When they returned to Joshua, they said to him, "Do not send all the people up to Ai. Send only two or three thousand men to go up and attack Ai. Do not make all the people labor in battle, for they are few in number."

⁴ So only about three thousand men went up from the army, but these ran away from the men of Ai. ⁵ The men of Ai killed about thirty-six men as they pursued them from the city gate as far as to the stone quarries, and they killed them as they were going down a hill. The hearts of the people melted and became like water.

⁶ Then Joshua tore his garments. He and the elders of Israel put dust on their heads and lay facedown on the ground in front of the ark of Yahweh, remaining there until evening. ⁷ Then Joshua said, "Ah, Yahweh Lord, why have you brought this people across the Jordan at all? To give us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we made a different decision and we had stayed on the other side of the Jordan!

⁸ Lord, what can I say, after Israel has turned their backs before their enemies? ⁹ For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it. They will surround us and make the people of the earth forget our name. What will you do for your great name?"

¹⁰ Yahweh said to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying there on your face? ¹¹ Israel has sinned. They have broken my covenant which I commanded them. They have stolen some of the things that were set apart. They have stolen and then also hidden their sin by putting what they have taken among their own belongings. ¹² As a result, the people of Israel cannot stand before their enemies. They turned their backs from their enemies because they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will not be with you any more unless you destroy the things that should have been destroyed, but are still among you.

¹³ Get up! Consecrate the people to me and say to them, 'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow. For Yahweh, the God of Israel says, "There are things set apart to be destroyed that are still among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove from among you all the things that were set apart to be destroyed."

¹⁴ In the morning, you must present yourselves by your tribes. The tribe that Yahweh selects will come near by their clans. The clan that Yahweh selects must come near by each household. The household that Yahweh selects must come near one by one. ¹⁵ It will happen that the one who is selected and who has those things that were set apart for destruction, he will be burned, he and all he has, because he has broken the covenant of Yahweh and because he has done a disgraceful thing in Israel.'"

¹⁶ So, Joshua got up early in the morning and brought Israel near, tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. ¹⁷ Joshua brought the clans of Judah near, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He brought near the clan of the Zerahites person by person, and Zabdi was selected. ¹⁸ He brought Zabdi's household near, person by person, and Achan son of Karmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, was selected.

¹⁹ Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and give praise to him. Please tell me what you have done. Do not hide it from me." ²⁰ Achan answered Joshua, "Truly, I have sinned against Yahweh, the God of Israel. This is what I did: ²¹ When I saw among the plunder a beautiful coat from Babylon, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I desired them and took them. They are hidden in the ground in the middle of my tent, and the silver is under it."

²² Joshua sent messengers, who ran to the tent and there were the things. When they looked, they found them hidden in his own tent, and the silver under them. ²³ They took the items from the middle of the tent and brought them to Joshua and to all the people of Israel. They poured them out before Yahweh.

²⁴ Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan son of Zerah, and the silver, the coat, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys, sheep, and his tent and all that he had, and they brought them up to the Valley of Achor.

²⁵ Then Joshua said, "Why have you troubled us? Yahweh will trouble you today." All Israel stoned him with stones. Then they stoned the rest with stones and burned them with fire. ²⁶ They set up over him a great heap of stones that is here until this day. Yahweh turned away his burning anger. Therefore the name of the place has been called the Valley of Achor until this present day.

Chapter 8

¹ Yahweh said to Joshua, "Do not fear; do not be discouraged. Take with you all the people of war. Go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. ² You will do to Ai and her king as you have done to Jericho and her king, except that you will take the plunder and the livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."

³ So Joshua got up and took all the men of war up to Ai. Then Joshua chose thirty thousand men—mighty warriors—and he sent them out at night. ⁴ He commanded them, "Look, you will lie in ambush against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you be ready.

⁵ I and all the men with me will approach the city, and when they come out to attack us, we will run away from them just as before. ⁶ They will come out after us until we have drawn them away from the city. They will say, 'They are running away from us as they did the last time.' So we will run away from them. ⁷ Then you come up out of your place of hiding, and you will capture the city. Yahweh your God will give it into your hand.

⁸ When you capture the city, you will set it on fire. You will do this when you obey the command given in the word of Yahweh. See, I have commanded you." ⁹ Joshua sent them out, and they went to the place of ambush, and they hid between Bethel and Ai to the west of Ai. But Joshua slept that night among the people.

¹⁰ Joshua got up early in the morning and got his soldiers ready, Joshua and the elders of Israel, and they attacked the people of Ai. ¹¹ All the fighting men who were with him went up and approached the city. They came near the city and camped on the north side of Ai. Now there was a valley between them and Ai. ¹² He took about five thousand men and set them in ambush on the west side of the city between Bethel and Ai.

¹³ They positioned all the soldiers, the main army on the north side of the city, and the rear guard on the west side of the city. Joshua spent that night in the valley. ¹⁴ It came about when the king of Ai saw it, he and his army got up early and rushed out to attack Israel at a certain place that was overlooking the Jordan River valley. He did not know that an ambush was waiting to attack from behind the city.

¹⁵ Joshua and all Israel let themselves be defeated before them, and they fled toward the wilderness. ¹⁶ All the people who were in the city were called together to go after them, and they went after Joshua and they were drawn away from the city. ¹⁷ There was not a man left in Ai and Bethel who had not gone out to pursue Israel. They abandoned the city and left it open as they pursued Israel.

¹⁸ Yahweh said to Joshua, "Point that spear in your hand toward Ai, for I will give Ai into your hand." Joshua held out the spear that was in his hand toward the city. ¹⁹ The soldiers hiding in ambush quickly rushed out of their place as he reached out with his hand. They ran and entered the city and captured it. They quickly set the city on fire.

²⁰ The men of Ai turned and looked back. They saw the smoke from the city rising into the sky, and they could not escape this way or that. For the Israelite soldiers who had fled into the wilderness now turned back to face those who were pursuing them. ²¹ When Joshua and all Israel saw the ambush had captured the city with the smoke rising, they turned around and killed the men of Ai.

²² The others came out from the city against them, so that they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side and some on that side. Israel attacked the men of Ai; none remained of those who survived or escaped. ²³ They kept the king of Ai, whom they captured alive, and they brought him to Joshua.

²⁴ It came about when Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the field near the wilderness where they pursued them, and when all of them, to the very last one, had fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai. They attacked it with the edge of the sword. ²⁵ All those who fell that day, both men and women, were twelve thousand, all the people of Ai. ²⁶ Joshua did not draw back his hand with which he had reached out while holding his spear, until he had completely destroyed all the people of Ai.

²⁷ Israel took only the livestock and the plunder from the city for themselves, just as Yahweh had commanded Joshua. ²⁸ Joshua burned Ai and turned it into a heap of ruins forever. It is a devastated place to this day.

²⁹ He hanged the king of Ai on a tree until evening. When the sun was going down, Joshua gave the command and they took the king's body down from the tree and threw it in front of the city gate. There they set up a great heap of stones on top of it. That heap remains there to this day.

³⁰ Then Joshua built an altar to Yahweh, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, ³¹ just as Moses the servant of Yahweh had commanded the people of Israel, as it was written in the book of the law of Moses: "An altar from uncut stones, on which no one has wielded an iron tool." He offered on the altar burnt offerings to Yahweh, and they sacrificed peace offerings. ³² There, in the presence of the people of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses.

³³ All Israel, their elders, officers, and their judges stood on both sides of the ark before the priests and Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh—the foreigner as well as the native born—half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half stood in front of Mount Ebal. They blessed the people of Israel, just as Moses the servant of Yahweh had commanded them at first.

³⁴ Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law, the blessings and the curses, just as they had been written in the book of the law. ³⁵ There was not one word from all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read in front of the assembly of Israel, including the women, the little children, and the foreigners who lived among them.

Chapter 9

¹ Then all the kings who lived beyond the Jordan in the hill country, and in the lowlands along the shore of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and the Jebusites— ² these gathered themselves together under one command, to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

³ When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, ⁴ they acted with a cunning plan. They went as messengers. They took worn-out sacks and put them on their donkeys. They also took old wineskins that were worn, torn, and had been repaired. ¹ ⁵ They put old and patched sandals on their feet, and dressed in old, worn-out clothing. All the bread in their food supply was dry and moldy.

⁶ Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have traveled from a very far country, so now make a covenant with us." ⁷ The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you live near us. How can we make a covenant with you?" ⁸ They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua said to them, "Who are you? Where did you come from?"

⁹ They said to him, "Your servants have come here from a land very far away, because of the fame of Yahweh your God. We have heard a report about him and about everything that he did in Egypt— ¹⁰ and everything that he did to the two kings of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.

¹¹ Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, 'Take provisions in your hand for the journey. Go to meet them and say to them, "We are your servants. Make a treaty with us." ¹² This is our bread, it was still warm when we took it from our houses on the day we set out to come to you. But now, see, it is dry and moldy. ¹³ These wineskins were new when we filled them, and look, now they are leaking. Our garments and our sandals are worn out from a very long journey.'"

¹⁴ So the Israelites took some of their provisions, but they did not consult with Yahweh for guidance. ¹⁵ Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The leaders of the people also swore a vow to them.

¹⁶ Three days after the Israelites made this covenant with them, they learned that they were their neighbors and that they lived nearby. ¹⁷ Then the people of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.

¹⁸ The people of Israel did not attack them because their leaders had taken an oath about them before Yahweh, the God of Israel. The whole community was grumbling against their leaders. ¹⁹ But all the leaders said to all the people, "We have taken an oath concerning them by Yahweh, the God of Israel, and now we cannot harm them.

²⁰ This is what we will do to them: To avoid any wrath that may come on us because of the oath we swore to them, we will let them live." ²¹ The leaders said to their people, "Let them live." So, the Gibeonites became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the Israelites, just as the leaders said about them.

²² Joshua called for them and said, "Why did you deceive us when you said, 'We are very far from you', when you live right here among us? ²³ Now, because of this, you are cursed and some of you will always be slaves, those who cut wood and draw water for the house of my God."

²⁴ They answered Joshua and said, "Because it was told to your servants that Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you—so we were very afraid for our lives because of you. That is why we did this thing. ²⁵ Now, look, you hold us in your power. Whatever seems good and right for you to do to us, do it."

²⁶ So Joshua did this for them: He delivered them out of the control of the people of Israel, so that the people of Israel did not kill them. ²⁷ That day Joshua made the Gibeonites cutters of wood and drawers of water for the community, and for the altar of Yahweh, to this day, in the place that Yahweh chooses.

¹Instead of They went as messengers, some Hebrew copies and some ancient translations of the Hebrew copies have, They got provisions ready and loaded their donkeys .

Chapter 10

¹ Now when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and had completely destroyed it (just as he had done to Jericho and its king), he also heard how the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living among them. ² The people of Jerusalem were very afraid because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities. It was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty warriors.

³ So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent a message to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon: ⁴ "Come up to me and help me. Let us attack Gibeon because they have made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel."

⁵ The five kings of the Amorites—the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon—came up, they and all of their armies. They encamped near Gibeon, and they attacked it.

⁶ The people of Gibeon sent a message to Joshua and to the army at Gilgal. They said, "Hurry! Do not withdraw your hands from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us. Help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country have gathered together to attack us." ⁷ Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the men of war with him, and all the mighty warriors.

⁸ Yahweh said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them. I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to stop your attack."

⁹ Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal. ¹⁰ Yahweh confused the enemy before Israel, and Israel killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon and pursued them on the road going up to Beth Horon, and they killed them on the road to Azekah and Makkedah.

¹¹ As they ran away from Israel, down the hill from Beth Horon, Yahweh threw large stones down from heaven upon them all the way to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than who were killed with the sword by the men of Israel.

¹² Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh on the day Yahweh gave the men of Israel victory over the Amorites. This is what Joshua said to Yahweh before Israel,

"Sun, be still at Gibeon,

and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon."

¹³ The sun stood still,

and the moon stopped moving

until the nation took vengeance

on their enemies.

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar?

The sun stayed

in the middle of the sky;

it did not go down

for about a whole day.

¹⁴ There has been no other day like it before or after it, when Yahweh obeyed the voice of a human being. For Yahweh was waging war on behalf of Israel.

¹⁵ Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.

¹⁶ Now the five kings had escaped and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah. ¹⁷ It was told to Joshua, "They have been found!—the five kings hidden in the cave at Makkedah!"

¹⁸ Joshua said, "Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and place soldiers there to guard them. ¹⁹ Do not stay yourselves. Pursue your enemies and attack them from the rear. Do not permit them to enter into their cities, because Yahweh your God has given them into your hand."

²⁰ Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished slaughtering them with a very great slaughter, until they were almost completely destroyed; only a few survivors who escaped reached the fortified cities. ²¹ Then the whole army returned in peace to Joshua at the camp at Makkedah. No one dared to say one word against any of the people of Israel.

²² Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and out of the cave bring to me these five kings." ²³ They did as he said. They brought to him these five kings from the cave—the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

²⁴ When they brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned every man of Israel. He said to the commanders of the soldiers who had gone into battle with him, "Put your feet on their necks." So they came up and put their feet on their necks. ²⁵ Then Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Be strong and courageous. This is what Yahweh will do to all your enemies you are going to fight."

²⁶ Then Joshua struck the kings. He hung them on five trees. They hung on the trees until evening. ²⁷ When it was sunset, Joshua gave orders, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves. They put large stones over the mouth of the cave. Those stones remain there to this very day.

²⁸ In this way, Joshua captured Makkedah on that day and killed everyone there with the sword, including its king. He completely destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivor in it. He did to the king of Makkedah just as he had done to the king of Jericho.

²⁹ Joshua and all Israel passed on from Makkedah to Libnah. He went into battle against Libnah. ³⁰ Yahweh also gave it into the hand of Israel—along with their king. Joshua struck it with the edge of the sword and every person in it. He left no survivor in it. He did to its king just as he had done to the king of Jericho.

³¹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish. He camped by it and waged war against it. ³² Yahweh gave Lachish into the hand of Israel. Joshua captured it on the second day and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, just as he had done to Libnah.

³³ Then Horam, king of Gezer, came up to help Lachish. Joshua attacked him and his army until there was not even one survivor left.

³⁴ Then Joshua and all Israel passed on from Lachish to Eglon. They camped by it and waged war against it, ³⁵ and captured it that same day. They struck it with the edge of the sword and they completely destroyed everyone in it, as Joshua had done to Lachish.

³⁶ Then Joshua and all Israel passed on from Eglon to Hebron. They waged war against it. ³⁷ They captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword, together with its king and its villages, and all the people in it. They left no survivors. Just as they had done to Eglon, they totally destroyed it and every person in it.

³⁸ Then Joshua turned, and all the army of Israel with him, and they passed on to Debir and waged war against it. ³⁹ They captured it, its king and all its nearby villages. They struck them with the edge of the sword and completely destroyed every person in it. They left no survivor. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.

⁴⁰ Joshua conquered all the land, the hill country, the Negev, the lowlands, and the foothills. Of all their kings he left not one survivor. He completely destroyed everything that breathed, just as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded. ⁴¹ Joshua struck them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen to Gibeon.

⁴² Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time because Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. ⁴³ Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, returned to the camp at Gilgal.

Chapter 11

¹ When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard this, he sent a message to Jobab, king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Akshaph. ² He also sent the message to the kings who were in the northern hill country, in the Jordan River valley south of Kinnereth, in the lowlands, and in Naphoth Dor to the west. ³ He also sent a message to the Canaanites to the east and west, the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites in the hill country, and the Hivites by Mount Hermon in the land of Mizpah.

⁴ All their armies came out with them, a great number of soldiers, in number like the sand on the seashore. They had a great number of horses and chariots. ⁵ All these kings met at the appointed time, and they camped at the waters of Merom to wage war with Israel.

⁶ Yahweh said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid in their presence, because tomorrow at this time I am giving them all to Israel as dead men. You will hamstring their horses, and you will burn their chariots." ⁷ Joshua and all the men of war came. They arrived suddenly at the waters of Merom, and attacked the enemy.

⁸ Yahweh gave the enemy into the hand of Israel, and they struck them and pursued them to Sidon, Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah to the east. They struck them until not even one survivor of them was left. ⁹ Joshua did to them just as Yahweh told him. He hamstrung the horses and burned the chariots.

¹⁰ Joshua turned back at that time and captured Hazor. He struck its king with the sword. (Hazor had been head of all these kingdoms.) ¹¹ They struck with the sword every living creature that was there, and he set them apart to be destroyed, so there was not any living creature left alive. Then he burned Hazor.

¹² Joshua captured all the cities of these kings. He also captured all their kings and struck them with the edge of the sword. He completely destroyed them with the edge of the sword, just as Moses the servant of Yahweh had commanded. ¹³ Israel did not burn any of the cities built on mounds, except Hazor. It alone Joshua burned.

¹⁴ The army of Israel took all the plunder from these cities along with the livestock for themselves. They killed every human being with the edge of the sword until all were dead. They left alive no creature that breathed. ¹⁵ Just as Yahweh had commanded his servant Moses, in the same way, Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did it. He left nothing undone of all that Yahweh commanded Moses to do.

¹⁶ Joshua took all that land: the hill country, all the Negev, all the land of Goshen, the foothills, the Jordan River valley, the hill country of Israel and its lowlands. ¹⁷ From Mount Halak near Edom, and going north as far as Baal Gad in the valley near Lebanon below Mount Hermon, he captured all their kings and put them to death.

¹⁸ Joshua waged war for a long time with all the kings. ¹⁹ Not one city made peace with the army of Israel except the Hivites who lived in Gibeon. Israel captured all the rest of the cities in battle. ²⁰ For it was Yahweh who hardened their hearts so they would wage war against Israel, so that they might be devoted to destruction without mercy, just as he had instructed Moses.

²¹ Then Joshua came at that time and he destroyed the Anakim. He did this in the hill country, at Hebron, Debir, Anab, and in all the hill country of Judah, and in all the hill country of Israel. Joshua completely destroyed them and their cities. ²² None of the Anakim were left in the land of Israel except at Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.

²³ So Joshua captured the whole land, just as Yahweh said to Moses. Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel, assigned to each of their tribes. Then the land had rest from the wars.

Chapter 12

¹ Now these are the kings of the land, whom the men of Israel conquered. The people of Israel took possession of the land on the east side of the Jordan where the sun rises, from the Valley of the Arnon River to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah to the east.

² Sihon, king of the Amorites, lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer, which is on the rim of the Arnon Gorge from the middle of the valley, and half of Gilead down to the Jabbok River on the border of the Ammonites.

³ Sihon also ruled over the Arabah to the Sea of Kinnereth, to the east, to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) eastward, all the way to Beth Jeshimoth and southward, toward the foot of the slopes of Mount Pisgah.

⁴ Og, king of Bashan, one of the remnant of the Rephaim, lived in Ashtaroth and Edrei.

⁵ He ruled over Mount Hermon, Salekah, and all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maakathites, and half of Gilead, to the border of Sihon, king of Heshbon.

⁶ Moses the servant of Yahweh, and the people of Israel had defeated them, and Moses the servant of Yahweh, gave the land as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.

⁷ These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the valley near Lebanon to Mount Halak near Edom. Joshua gave land to the tribes of Israel for them to possess. ⁸ He gave them the hill country, the lowlands, the Arabah, the sides of the mountains, the wilderness, and the Negev—the land of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

⁹ The kings included the king of Jericho, the king of Ai which is beside Bethel, ¹⁰ the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, ¹¹ the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, ¹² the king of Eglon, the king of Gezer,

¹³ the king of Debir, the king of Geder, ¹⁴ the king of Hormah, the king of Arad, ¹⁵ the king of Libnah, the king of Adullam, ¹⁶ the king of Makkedah, the king of Bethel,

¹⁷ the king of Tappuah, the king of Hepher, ¹⁸ the king of Aphek, the king of Lasharon, ¹⁹ the king of Madon, the king of Hazor, ²⁰ the king of Shimron Meron, the king of Akshaph,

²¹ the king of Taanach, the king of Megiddo, ²² the king of Kedesh, the king of Jokneam in Carmel, ²³ the king of Dor in Naphoth Dor, the king of Goyim in Gilgal, ²⁴ and the king of Tirzah. The number of kings was thirty-one in all.

Chapter 13

¹ Now Joshua was very old when Yahweh said to him, "You are very old, but there is still very much land to capture.

² This is the land that still remains: All the regions of the Philistines, and all those of the Geshurites, ³ from Shihor, which is east of Egypt, and northward to the border of Ekron, which is considered property of the Canaanites; the five rulers of the Philistines, those of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron; the territory of the Avvites

⁴ in the south; all the lands of the Canaanites, from Arah that belongs to the Sidonians, as far as Aphek which is on the border of the Amorites; ⁵ the land of Byblos, ¹ all of Lebanon toward the east, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to Lebo Hamath.

⁶ Also, all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon as far as Misrephoth Maim, including all the people of Sidon—I will drive them out before the army of Israel. Be sure to assign the land to Israel as an inheritance, as I commanded you. ⁷ Divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and to the half tribe of Manasseh."

⁸ With the other half of the tribe of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had received their inheritance that Moses, the servant of Yahweh, gave them on the east side of the Jordan,

⁹ from Aroer, which is on the edge of the Arnon River gorge (including the city that is in the middle of the gorge), to all the plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon;

¹⁰ all the cities of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, to the border of the Ammonites; ¹¹ Gilead, and the region of the Geshurites and Maakathites, all of Mount Hermon, all Bashan to Salekah; ¹² all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei—these are what was left of the remnant of the Rephaim—Moses struck them and drove them out.

¹³ But the people of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maakathites, and so Geshur and Maakah live in the midst of Israel to this day.

¹⁴ To the tribe of Levi alone Moses gave no inheritance. The offerings of Yahweh, the God of Israel, made by fire, are their inheritance, as God said to Moses.

¹⁵ Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of Reuben, clan by clan.

¹⁶ Their territory was from Aroer, on the edge of the Arnon River gorge, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plateau by Medeba.

¹⁷ Reuben also received Heshbon and all its cities that are in the plateau, Dibon, and Bamoth Baal, and Beth Baal Meon, ¹⁸ and Jahaz, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, ¹⁹ and Kiriathaim, and Sibmah, and Zereth Shahar on the hill of the valley.

²⁰ Reuben also received Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, Beth Jeshimoth, ²¹ all the cities of the plateau, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who had reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses had defeated together with the leaders of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who had lived in the land.

²² The people of Israel also killed with the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination, among the rest of those they had killed. ²³ The border of the tribe of Reuben is the Jordan River; this is their boundary. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Reuben, given to each of their clans, with their cities and villages.

²⁴ This is what Moses gave to the tribe of Gad, clan by clan:

²⁵ Their territory was Jazer, all the cities of Gilead and half the land of the Ammonites, to Aroer, which is east of Rabbah, ²⁶ from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, from Mahanaim to the territory of Debir.

²⁷ In the valley, Moses gave them Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Sukkoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, with the Jordan as a border, to the lower end of the Sea of Kinnereth, eastward beyond the Jordan. ²⁸ This is the inheritance of the tribe of Gad, clan by clan, with their cities and villages.

²⁹ Moses gave an inheritance to the half tribe of Manasseh. It was assigned to the half tribe of the descendants of Manasseh, clan by clan.

³⁰ Their territory was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities; ³¹ half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei (the royal cities of Og in Bashan). These were assigned to the descendants of Makir son of Manasseh—half of the people of Makir, clan by clan.

³² This is the inheritance that Moses assigned to them on the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan east of Jericho. ³³ Moses did not give an inheritance to the tribe of Levi. Yahweh, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, just as he said to them.

¹Some modern English translations read, land of Gebalites .

Chapter 14

¹ These are the areas of land that the people of Israel received as their inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the tribal clans of Israel allotted to them.

² Their inheritance was selected by lot for the nine and one-half tribes, just as Yahweh had commanded by the hand of Moses. ³ For Moses had given the inheritance of the two and one-half tribes beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance. ⁴ The tribe of Joseph was actually two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites were given no portion of the inheritance in the land, but only certain cities to live in, with their pasturelands for livestock and for their own material resources. ⁵ The people of Israel did as Yahweh commanded Moses, so they assigned the land.

⁶ Then the tribe of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, said to him, "You know what Yahweh said to Moses the man of God concerning you and me at Kadesh Barnea. ⁷ I was forty years old when Moses the servant of Yahweh sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy on the land. I brought him a report again as it was in my heart to make.

⁸ But my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt with fear. But I completely followed Yahweh my God. ⁹ Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land on which your foot has walked will be an inheritance for you and for your children forever, because you have completely followed Yahweh my God.'

¹⁰ Now, look! Yahweh has kept me alive these forty-five years, just as he said—from the time when Yahweh spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. Now, look! I am this day eighty-five years old. ¹¹ I am still as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me out. My strength is now as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming.

¹² Now therefore give me this hill country, which Yahweh promised me on that day. For you heard on that day that the Anakim were there with great fortified cities. It may be that Yahweh will be with me and that I will drive them out, just as Yahweh said."

¹³ Then Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron as an inheritance to Caleb son of Jephunneh. ¹⁴ Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he completely followed Yahweh, the God of Israel. ¹⁵ Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath Arba. (Arba had been the greatest man among the Anakim.) Then the land had rest from war.

Chapter 15

¹ The assignment of land for the tribe of the people of Judah, clan by clan, extended south to the border of Edom, with the wilderness of Zin being the farthest point to the south. ² Their border on the south ran from the end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces to the south.

³ Their boundary next went out to the south of the hill of Akrabbim and passed along to Zin, and went up south of Kadesh Barnea, along by Hezron, and up to Addar, where it turned about to Karka. ⁴ It passed along to Azmon, went by the brook of Egypt, and came to its end at the sea. This was their south boundary.

⁵ The eastern boundary was the Salt Sea, at the mouth of the Jordan. The border on the north ran from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan. ⁶ It went up to Beth Hoglah and passed along north of Beth Arabah. Then it went up to the Stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.

⁷ Then the border went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor, and so northward, turning toward Gilgal, which is opposite the hill of Adummim, which is on the south side of the valley. Then the border passed along to the springs of En Shemesh and went to En Rogel. ⁸ Then the border went up the Valley of Ben Hinnom to the south side of the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem). Then it went up to the top of the hill that lies over the Valley of Hinnom, on the west, which is at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.

⁹ Then the border extended from the top of the hills to the spring of Nephtoah, and went out from there to the cities of Mount Ephron. Then the border bends around to Baalah (the same as Kiriath Jearim). ¹⁰ Then the border circled around west of Baalah to Mount Seir, and passed along to the side of Mount Jearim on the north (the same as Kesalon), went down to Beth Shemesh, and crossed over to Timnah.

¹¹ The border went out beside the northern hill of Ekron, and then it bent around to Shikkeron and passed along to Mount Baalah, and from there it went to Jabneel. The border ended at the sea. ¹² The western boundary was the Great Sea and its coastline. This is the border around the tribe of Judah, clan by clan.

¹³ In keeping with the commandment of Yahweh to Joshua, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh an assignment of land among the tribe of Judah, Kiriath Arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). ¹⁴ Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, descendants of Anak. ¹⁵ He went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir (the name of Debir was formerly Kiriath Sepher).

¹⁶ Caleb said, "The man who attacks Kiriath Sepher and captures it, to him I will give Aksah my daughter as a wife." ¹⁷ When Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, captured it, Caleb gave him Aksah his daughter as a wife.

¹⁸ Soon after that, Aksah came to Othniel and urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb said to her, "What do you want?"

¹⁹ Aksah replied, "Do me a special favor, since you have given me the land of the Negev: Also give me some springs of water." Then Caleb gave her the upper springs and lower springs.

²⁰ This was the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, clan by clan.

²¹ The cities belonging to the tribe of Judah in the extreme south, toward the border of Edom, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, ²² Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, ²³ Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, ²⁴ Ziph, Telem, Bealoth.

²⁵ Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (this was also known as Hazor), ²⁶ Amam, Shema, Moladah, ²⁷ Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, ²⁸ Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah.

²⁹ Baalah, Iyim, Ezem, ³⁰ Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah, ³¹ Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, ³² Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon. These were twenty-nine cities in all, including their villages.

³³ In the lowlands there were Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, ³⁴ Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, ³⁵ Jarmuth, Adullam, Sokoh, Azekah, ³⁶ Shaaraim, Adithaim, and Gederah (that is, Gederothaim). These were fourteen cities in number, including their villages.

³⁷ Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, ³⁸ Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, ³⁹ Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon.

⁴⁰ Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, ⁴¹ Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, Makkedah. These were sixteen cities in number, including their villages.

⁴² Libnah, Ether, Ashan, ⁴³ Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib, ⁴⁴ Keilah, Akzib, Mareshah. These were nine cities, including their villages.

⁴⁵ Ekron, with its surrounding towns and villages; ⁴⁶ from Ekron to the Great Sea, all the settlements that were near Ashdod, including their villages.

⁴⁷ Ashdod, its surrounding towns, including their villages; Gaza, its surrounding towns including their villages; to the brook of Egypt, and to the Great Sea with its coastline.

⁴⁸ In the hill country, Shamir, Jattir, Sokoh, ⁴⁹ Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir), ⁵⁰ Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, ⁵¹ Goshen, Holon, and Giloh. These were eleven cities, including their villages.

⁵² Arab, Dumah, Eshan, ⁵³ Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, ⁵⁴ Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior. These were nine cities, including their villages.

⁵⁵ Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, ⁵⁶ Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, ⁵⁷ Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah. These were ten cities, including their villages.

⁵⁸ Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, ⁵⁹ Maarath, Beth Anoth, and Eltekon. These were six cities, including their villages.

⁶⁰ Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), and Rabbah. These were two cities, including their villages.

⁶¹ In the wilderness, there were Beth Arabah, Middin, Sekakah, ⁶² Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi. These were six cities, including their villages.

⁶³ But as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the tribe of Judah could not drive them out, so the Jebusites live there with the tribe of Judah to this day.

Chapter 16

¹ The assignment of land for the tribe of Joseph extended from the Jordan at Jericho, east of the springs of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho through the hill country of Bethel. ² Then it went from Bethel to Luz and passed along to Ataroth, the territory of the Arkites.

³ Then it went down westward to the territory of the Japhletites, as far as the territory of Lower Beth Horon, and then on to Gezer; it ended at the sea.

⁴ It was in this way that the tribes of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim received their inheritance.

⁵ The territory of the tribe of Ephraim, clan by clan: The border of their inheritance on the east went from Ataroth Addar as far as Upper Beth Horon, ⁶ and from there it continued to the sea. From Mikmethath on the north it turned eastward toward Taanath Shiloh and passed beyond it on the east to Janoah. ⁷ Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and to Naarah, and then reached Jericho, ending at the Jordan.

⁸ From Tappuah the border went westward to the brook of Kanah and ended at the sea. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Ephraim, clan by clan, ⁹ together with the cities that were chosen for the tribe of Ephraim within the inheritance of the tribe of Manasseh—all the cities, including their villages.

¹⁰ They did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so that the Canaanites live within Ephraim to this day, but these people were made to do forced labor.

Chapter 17

¹ This was the assignment of land for the tribe of Manasseh (who was the firstborn of Joseph)—that is, for Makir, who was Manasseh's firstborn and who himself was the father of Gilead. Makir's descendants were assigned the land of Gilead and Bashan, because Makir had been a man of war. ² Land was assigned to the rest of the tribe of Manasseh, given to their clans—Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These were the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, presented by their clans.

³ Now Zelophehad son of Hepher son of Gilead son of Makir son of Manasseh had no sons, but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah, and Tirzah. ⁴ They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and they said, "Yahweh commanded Moses to give to us an inheritance along with our brothers." So, following the commandment of Yahweh, he gave those women an inheritance among the brothers of their father.

⁵ Ten parcels of land were assigned to Manasseh in Gilead and Bashan, which is on the other side of the Jordan, ⁶ because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was assigned to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

⁷ The territory of Manasseh reached from Asher to Mikmethath, which is east of Shechem. Then the border went southward to those living near the spring of Tappuah. ⁸ (The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the people of Ephraim.)

⁹ The border went down to the brook of Kanah. These cities south of the brook among the towns of Manasseh belonged to Ephraim. The border of Manasseh was on the north side of the brook, and it ended at the sea. ¹⁰ The land to the south belonged to Ephraim, and the land to the north was Manasseh's; the sea was the border. On the north side Asher can be reached, and to the east, Issachar.

¹¹ Also in Issachar and in Asher, Manasseh possessed Beth Shan and its villages, Ibleam and its villages, the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, the inhabitants of Endor and its villages, the inhabitants of Taanach and its villages, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and its villages (and the third city is Napheth).

¹² Yet the tribe of Manasseh could not take possession of those cities, for the Canaanites continued to live in this land.

¹³ When the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but did not completely drive them out.

¹⁴ Then the descendants of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given us only one assignment of land and one portion for an inheritance, since we are a people great in number, and all along Yahweh has blessed us?" ¹⁵ Joshua said to them, "If you are a people great in number, go up by yourselves to the forest and there clear the ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and of the Rephaim. Do this, since the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you."

¹⁶ The descendants of Joseph said, "The hill country is not enough for us. But all the Canaanites who live in the valley have chariots of iron, both those who are in Beth Shan and its villages, and those who are in the Valley of Jezreel." ¹⁷ Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh, "You are a people great in number, and you have great power. You must not have only one piece of land assigned to you. ¹⁸ The hill country will also be yours. Though it is a forest, you will clear it and take possession of it to its farthest borders. You will drive out the Canaanites, even though they have chariots of iron, and even though they are strong."

Chapter 18

¹ Then the whole assembly of the people of Israel met together at Shiloh. They set up the tent of meeting there and they conquered the land before them. ² There were still seven tribes among the people of Israel whose inheritance had not been assigned.

³ Joshua said to the people of Israel, "How long will you put off going into the land that Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, has given you? ⁴ Appoint for yourselves three men from each tribe, and I will send them out. They will set out and survey the land up and down. They will write out a description of it with a view to their inheritances, and then they will come back to me.

⁵ They will divide it into seven sections. Judah will remain in their territory on the south, and the house of Joseph will continue in their territory in the north. ⁶ You will describe the land in seven sections and bring the description here to me. I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh our God.

⁷ The Levites have no portion among you, for the priesthood of Yahweh is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance, beyond the Jordan. This is the inheritance that Moses the servant of Yahweh gave them."

⁸ So the men got up and went. Joshua commanded those who went to write the description of the land, saying, "Go up and down in the land and write a description of it and return to me. I will cast lots for you here before Yahweh at Shiloh." ⁹ The men left and walked up and down in the land and wrote a description of it in a scroll by its cities in seven sections, listing the cities in each section. Then they returned to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh.

¹⁰ Then Joshua cast lots for them at Shiloh before Yahweh. It was there that Joshua assigned the land to the people of Israel, and to each was given his portion of the land.

¹¹ The assignment of land for the tribe of Benjamin came up clan by clan. The territory of their assigned land was located between the descendants of Judah and the descendants of Joseph. ¹² On the north side, their border began at the Jordan. The border went up to the ridge north of Jericho, and then up through the hill country westward. There it reached the wilderness of Beth Aven.

¹³ From there the border passed along south in the direction of Luz (the same place as Bethel). Then the border went down to Ataroth Addar, by the mountain that lies south of Beth Horon. ¹⁴ The boundary then went in another direction: On the western side it turned toward the south, heading toward the mountain across from Beth Horon. This boundary ended at Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim), a city that belonged to the tribe of Judah. This formed the border on the western side.

¹⁵ The south side began just outside of Kiriath Jearim. The border went from there to Ephron, to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. ¹⁶ The boundary then went down to the border of the mountain which was opposite the Valley of Ben Hinnom, which was at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim. It then went down to the Valley of Hinnom, south of the slope of the Jebusites, and continued down to En Rogel.

¹⁷ It turned northward, going in the direction of En Shemesh, and from there it went out to Geliloth, which was opposite the ascent of Adummim. Then it went down to the Stone of Bohan the son of Reuben. ¹⁸ It passed on to the north of the shoulder of Beth Arabah and down to the Arabah.

¹⁹ The border passed on to the north shoulder of Beth Hoglah. The border ended at the north bay of the Salt Sea, at the southern end of the Jordan. This was the boundary on the south. ²⁰ The Jordan formed its border on the eastern side. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin, and it was given clan by clan, border after border, all around.

²¹ Now the cities of the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, were Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz, ²² Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel, ²³ Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, ²⁴ Kephar Ammoni, Ophni, and Geba. There were twelve cities, including their villages.

²⁵ There were also the cities of Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth, ²⁶ Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah, ²⁷ Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah, ²⁸ Zelah, Haeleph, Jebus (the same as Jerusalem), Gibeah, and Kiriath. There were fourteen cities, including their villages. This was the inheritance of Benjamin for their clans.

Chapter 19

¹ The second casting of lots fell to Simeon, clan by clan. Their inheritance was in the middle of the inheritance that belonged to the tribe of Judah.

² They had for their inheritance Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah, ³ Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, ⁴ Eltolad, Bethul, and Hormah.

⁵ Simeon also had Ziklag, Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susah, ⁶ Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen. These were thirteen cities, including their villages. ⁷ Simeon also had Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan. These were four cities, including their villages.

⁸ These were together, including the villages around these cities as far as Baalath Beer (the same as Ramah in the Negev). This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon, clan by clan. ⁹ The inheritance of the tribe of Simeon formed part of the territory of the tribe of Judah. Because the portion of land assigned to the tribe of Judah was too large for them, the tribe of Simeon received their inheritance out of the middle of their portion.

¹⁰ The third casting of lots fell to the tribe of Zebulun, clan by clan. The border of their inheritance began at Sarid. ¹¹ Their border went up westward toward Maralah and touched Dabbesheth; then it extended to the brook that was opposite Jokneam.

¹² From Sarid the border turned eastward toward the sunrise and went to the border of Kisloth Tabor. From there it went to Daberath and then up to Japhia. ¹³ From there it passed on eastward to Gath Hepher, and then to Eth Kazin; next it went to Rimmon and turned toward Neah.

¹⁴ The border made a turn to the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El. ¹⁵ This region included the cities of Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem. There were twelve cities, including their villages.

¹⁶ This was the inheritance of the tribe of Zebulun, clan by clan, including these cities, including their villages.

¹⁷ The fourth casting of lots fell to Issachar, clan by clan. ¹⁸ Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem, ¹⁹ Hapharaim, Shion, and Anaharath.

²⁰ It also included Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, ²¹ Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah, and Beth Pazzez. ²² Their border also touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth Shemesh, and ended at the Jordan. There were sixteen cities, including their villages.

²³ This was the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar, according to their clans—the cities, including their villages.

²⁴ The fifth casting of lots fell to the tribe of Asher, clan by clan. ²⁵ Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Akshaph, ²⁶ Allammelek, Amad, and Mishall. On the west the boundary extended to Carmel and Shihor Libnath.

²⁷ Then it turned eastward to Beth Dagon and went as far as Zebulun, and then to the Valley of Iphtah El, northward to Beth Emek and Neiel. Then it continued on to Kabul toward the north. ²⁸ It then went on to Abdon, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.

²⁹ The border turned back to Ramah, and then to the fortified city of Tyre. Then the border turned to Hosah and ended at the sea, in the region of Akzib, ³⁰ Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob. There were twenty-two cities, including their villages.

³¹ This was the inheritance of the tribe of Asher, clan by clan—the cities, including their villages.

³² The sixth casting of lots fell to the tribe of Naphtali, clan by clan. ³³ Their border ran from Heleph, from the oak at Zaanannim, on to Adami Nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum; it ended at the Jordan. ³⁴ The border turned westward to Aznoth Tabor and went on to Hukkok; it touched Zebulun on the south, and reached to Asher on the west and Judah on the east at the Jordan River.

³⁵ The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, ³⁶ Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, ³⁷ Kedesh, Edrei, and En Hazor.

³⁸ There were also Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath, and Beth Shemesh. There were nineteen cities, including their villages.

³⁹ This was the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, clan by clan—the cities, including their villages.

⁴⁰ The seventh casting of lots fell to the tribe of Dan, clan by clan. ⁴¹ The territory of its inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir Shemesh, ⁴² Shaalabbin, Aijalon, and Ithlah.

⁴³ It also included Elon, Timnah, Ekron, ⁴⁴ Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, ⁴⁵ Jehud, Bene Berak, Gath Rimmon, ⁴⁶ Me Jarkon, and Rakkon along with the territory across from Joppa.

⁴⁷ When the territory of the tribe of Dan was lost to them, Dan attacked Leshem and took it. They struck it with the sword, took possession of it, and settled in it. They called Leshem Dan, after the name of their ancestor Dan.

⁴⁸ This was the inheritance of the tribe of Dan, clan by clan—the cities, including their villages.

⁴⁹ When they finished the allocation of the land as an inheritance, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among themselves to Joshua son of Nun. ⁵⁰ By the command of Yahweh they gave him the city for which he asked, Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the city and lived there.

⁵¹ These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the tribal clans of Israel assigned by lot at Shiloh, before Yahweh, at the entrance of the tent of meeting. So they finished assigning the land.

Chapter 20

¹ Then Yahweh said to Joshua, ² "Speak to the people of Israel, saying, 'Appoint the cities of refuge of which I spoke to you by the hand of Moses. ³ Do this so that one who kills a person by accident or unknowingly can go there. These cities will be a place of refuge from the avenger of blood.

⁴ He will run to one of those cities and will stand at the entrance of the city gate, and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they will take him into the city and give him a place for him to live among them.

⁵ If the avenger of blood pursues him there, then the people of the city must not hand the one who killed him over to the authorities. They must not do this because he killed his neighbor by accident, and he had no hatred toward him in the past. ⁶ He must stay in that city until he has stood before the assembly for judgment, until the death of the one who was serving as high priest in those days. Then the one who had accidentally killed the person may return to his own town and his own home, to the town from which he fled.'"

⁷ So the Israelites selected Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath Arba (the same as Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. ⁸ Beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they selected Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau from the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth Gilead, from the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh.

⁹ These were the cities selected for all the people of Israel and for the foreigners sojourning among them, so that anyone who killed a person unintentionally could run to them for safety. This person would not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until the accused person would first stand before the assembly.

Chapter 21

¹ Then the tribal leaders of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua son of Nun, and to the leaders of the families of their ancestors within the people of Israel. ² They said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, "Yahweh commanded you by the hand of Moses to give to us cities to live in, with the pasturelands for our livestock."

³ So by the command of Yahweh, the people of Israel gave out of their inheritance the following cities, including their pasturelands, to the Levites.

⁴ The casting of lots for the clans of the Kohathites gave this result: The priests—the descendants of Aaron who were from the Levites—received thirteen cities given from the tribe of Judah, from the tribe of Simeon, and from the tribe of Benjamin.

⁵ The rest of Kohath’s descendants received by lot ten cities from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and from the half tribe of Manasseh.

⁶ Then the people descended from Gershon were given, by the casting of lots, thirteen cities from the clans of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

⁷ The people who were descendants of Merari, clan by clan, received twelve cities from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

⁸ So the people of Israel gave, by casting lots, these cities (including their pasturelands) to the Levites, just as Yahweh had commanded by the hand of Moses.

⁹ From the tribes of Judah and Simeon, they assigned land to the following cities, here listed by name. ¹⁰ These cities were given to the descendants of Aaron, who were among the clans of the Kohathites, who in turn were from the tribe of Levi. For the first casting of lots had fallen to them.

¹¹ The Israelites gave them Kiriath Arba (Arba had been the father of Anak), the same place as Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the pasturelands around it. ¹² But the fields of the city, including their villages, were already given to Caleb son of Jephunneh, as his possession.

¹³ To the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with its pasturelands—which was a city of refuge for anyone who killed another unintentionally—and Libnah with its pasturelands, ¹⁴ Jattir with its pasturelands, and Eshtemoa with its pasturelands. ¹⁵ They also gave Holon with its pasturelands, Debir with its pasturelands, ¹⁶ Ain with its pasturelands, Juttah with its pasturelands, and Beth Shemesh with its pasturelands. There were nine cities that were given from these two tribes.

¹⁷ From the tribe of Benjamin were given Gibeon with its pasturelands, Geba with its pasturelands, ¹⁸ Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands—four cities.

¹⁹ The cities given to the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were thirteen cities in all, including their pasturelands.

²⁰ As for the rest of the Kohathites who belong to the Kohathite clans of the Levites—they had cities given to them from the tribe of Ephraim by the casting of lots. ²¹ To them were given Shechem with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim—a city of refuge for anyone who killed a person unintentionally—Gezer with its pasturelands, ²² Kibzaim with its pasturelands, and Beth Horon with its pasturelands—four cities in all.

²³ From the tribe of Dan, the clan of Kohath was given Eltekeh with its pasturelands, Gibbethon with its pasturelands, ²⁴ Aijalon with its pasturelands, and Gath Rimmon with its pasturelands—four cities in all.

²⁵ From the half tribe of Manasseh, the clan of Kohath was given Taanach with its pasturelands and Gath Rimmon with its pasturelands—two cities.

²⁶ There were ten cities in all for the rest of the clans of the Kohathites, including their pasturelands.

²⁷ From the half tribe of Manasseh, to clans of Gershon, these were other Levite clans, and they gave Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands—a city of refuge for anyone who killed another unintentionally, along with Be Eshterah with its pasturelands—two cities in all.

²⁸ To the clans of Gershon they also gave Kishion from the tribe of Issachar, along with its pasturelands, Daberath with its pasturelands, ²⁹ Jarmuth with its pasturelands, and En Gannim with its pasturelands—four cities.

³⁰ From the tribe of Asher, they gave Mishal with its pasturelands, Abdon with its pasturelands, ³¹ Helkath with its pasturelands, and Rehob with its pasturelands—four cities in all.

³² From the tribe of Naphtali, they gave the clans of Gershon Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands—a city of refuge for anyone who killed another unintentionally; Hammoth Dor with its pasturelands, and Kartan with its pasturelands—three cities in all.

³³ There were thirteen cities in all, out of the clans of Gershon, including their pasturelands.

³⁴ To the rest of the Levites—the clans of Merari—were given out of the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam with its pasturelands, Kartah with its pasturelands, ³⁵ Dimnah with its pasturelands, and Nahalal with its pasturelands—four cities in all.

³⁶ To the clans of Merari were given from the tribe of Reuben: Bezer with its pasturelands, Jahaz with its pasturelands, ³⁷ Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands—four cities.

³⁸ Out of the tribe of Gad they were given Ramoth in Gilead with its pasturelands—a city of refuge for anyone who killed another unintentionally—and Mahanaim with its pasturelands.

³⁹ The clans of Merari were also given Heshbon with its pasturelands, and Jazer with its pasturelands. These were four cities in all.

⁴⁰ All these were the cities of the several clans of Merari, who were from the tribe of Levi—twelve cities in all were given to them by the casting of lots.

⁴¹ The cities of the Levites taken from the middle of the land possessed by the people of Israel were forty-eight cities, including their pasturelands. ⁴² These cities each had its surrounding pasturelands. It was this way with all these cities.

⁴³ So Yahweh gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their ancestors. The Israelites took possession of it and settled there. ⁴⁴ Then Yahweh gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of their enemies could defeat them. Yahweh gave all their enemies into their hand. ⁴⁵ Not one thing among all the good promises that Yahweh had spoken to the house of Israel failed to come true. All of them came to be.

Chapter 22

¹ At that time Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. ² He said to them, "You have done everything that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you. You have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you. ³ You have not deserted your brothers these many days, down to this present day, and you have fulfilled the duties required by the commandments of Yahweh your God.

⁴ Now Yahweh your God has given rest to your brothers, just as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land you possess, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you on the other side of the Jordan. ⁵ Just be very careful to observe the commandments and the law that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to cling to him and worship him with all your heart and with all your soul." ⁶ So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went back to their tents.

⁷ Now to one-half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given an inheritance in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua gave an inheritance beside their brothers in the land west of the Jordan. Joshua sent them away to their tents; he blessed them ⁸ and said to them, "Return to your tents with much money, and with very much livestock, and with silver and gold, and with bronze and iron, and with very many garments. Divide the plunder from your enemies with your brothers."

⁹ So the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh returned home, leaving the people of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. They left to go to the region of Gilead, to their own land, which they themselves possessed, in obedience to the commandment of Yahweh, by the hand of Moses.

¹⁰ When they came to the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh built an altar beside the Jordan, a very large and prominent altar. ¹¹ The people of Israel heard about this and said, "Look! The people of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the front of the land of Canaan, at Geliloth, in the region near the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the people of Israel."

¹² When the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered together at Shiloh to go up to make war against them.

¹³ Then the people of Israel sent messengers to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead. They also sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, ¹⁴ and with him ten leaders, one from each of the tribal families of Israel, and every one of them was the head of a family among the clan of Israel.

¹⁵ They came to the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they spoke to them: ¹⁶ "The whole assembly of Yahweh says this, 'What is this unfaithfulness that you have committed against the God of Israel, by turning this day from following Yahweh by building yourself an altar this day in rebellion against Yahweh?

¹⁷ Was the iniquity of Peor not enough for us? Yet we have not even now cleansed ourselves from it. There was a plague on the assembly of Yahweh for that sin. ¹⁸ Must you also turn away from following Yahweh at this present day? If you also rebel against Yahweh today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole assembly of Israel.

¹⁹ If the land that you possess is defiled, then you should pass over into the land where Yahweh's tabernacle stands and take for yourselves a possession among us. Only do not rebel against Yahweh, nor rebel against us by building an altar for yourselves other than the altar of Yahweh our God. ²⁰ Did not Achan son of Zerah, act faithlessly in the matter of those things that had been reserved for God? Did not wrath fall on the entire community of Israel? That man did not perish alone for his iniquity.'"

²¹ Then the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh replied in answer to the heads of the clans of Israel: ²² "The Mighty One, God, Yahweh! The Mighty One, God, Yahweh!—He knows, and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in unfaithfulness against Yahweh, do not deliver us on this day ²³ for having built an altar to turn ourselves away from following Yahweh. If we built that altar in order to offer on it burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices of peace offerings, then let Yahweh make us pay for it.

²⁴ No! We did it for fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, 'What have you to do with Yahweh, the God of Israel?

²⁵ For Yahweh has made the Jordan a border between us and you. You people of Reuben and people of Gad, you have nothing to do with Yahweh.' So your children might make our children cease to worship Yahweh.

²⁶ So we said, 'Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offerings nor for any sacrifices, ²⁷ but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we will perform the service of Yahweh before him, with our burnt offerings and with our sacrifices and with our peace offerings, so that your children will never say to our children in time to come, "You have no share in Yahweh."'

²⁸ So we said, 'If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we would say, "Look! This is a copy of the altar of Yahweh, which our ancestors made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you." ²⁹ May it be far from us that we should rebel against Yahweh, and today turn away from following him by building an altar for burnt offerings, for grain offerings, or for sacrifices, other than the altar of Yahweh our God that is before his tabernacle.'"

³⁰ When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the people, that is, the heads of the clans of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh said, that it was good in their eyes. ³¹ Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, "Today we know that Yahweh is among us, because you have not committed this act of faithlessness against him. Now you have rescued the people of Israel out of the hand of Yahweh."

³² Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, and the leaders returned from the Reubenites and the Gadites, out of the land of Gilead, back to the land of Canaan, to the people of Israel, and brought back word to them. ³³ Their report was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. The people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more about making war against the Reubenites and the Gadites, in order to destroy the land where they had settled.

³⁴ The Reubenites and the Gadites named the altar "Witness," for they said, "It is a witness between us that Yahweh is God."

Chapter 23

¹ After many days, when Yahweh had given rest to Israel from all their enemies that were around them, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, ² Joshua called for all Israel—for their elders, for their leaders, for their judges, and for their officials—and he said to them, "I am old and well advanced in years. ³ You have seen everything that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is Yahweh your God who has fought for you.

⁴ Look! I have assigned to you the nations that remain to be conquered as an inheritance for your tribes, along with all the nations I have already destroyed, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. ⁵ Yahweh your God will drive them out. He will push them out from you. He will seize their land, and you will take possession of their land, just as Yahweh your God promised to you.

⁶ So be very strong, so that you keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, ⁷ so you may not mix with these nations that remain among you or mention the names of their gods, swear by them, worship them, or bow down to them. ⁸ Instead, you must cling to Yahweh your God just as you have done to this day.

⁹ For Yahweh has driven out before you large, strong nations. As for you, no one has been able to stand before you to this present day. ¹⁰ Any single man of your number will make a thousand run away, for Yahweh your God, is the one who fights for you, just as he promised you. ¹¹ Pay particular attention, so that you love Yahweh your God.

¹² But if you turn back and cling to the survivors of these nations who remain among you, or if you intermarry with them, or if you come together with them and they with you, ¹³ then know for certain that Yahweh your God will no longer drive these nations out from among you. Instead, they will become a snare and a trap for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land that Yahweh your God has given you.

¹⁴ Now I am going the way of all the earth, and you know with all your hearts and souls that not one word has failed to come true of all the good things that Yahweh your God promised about you. All these things have come about for you. Not one of them has failed. ¹⁵ But just as every word Yahweh your God promised you has been fulfilled, so Yahweh will bring on you all the evil things until he has destroyed you from this good land that Yahweh your God has given you.

¹⁶ He will do this if you break the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you to keep. If you go and worship other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of Yahweh will be kindled against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land that he has given you."

Chapter 24

¹ Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, for their leaders, for their judges, and for their officers, and they presented themselves before God. ² Joshua said to all the people, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'Your ancestors long ago lived beyond the Euphrates River—Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor—and they worshiped other gods.

³ But I took your father Abraham from beyond the Euphrates and led him into the land of Canaan and gave him many descendants through his son Isaac. ⁴ Then to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.

⁵ I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians with plagues. After that, I brought you out. ⁶ I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. The Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Sea of Reeds.

⁷ When your ancestors called out to Yahweh, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians. He brought the sea to come over them and cover them. You saw what I did in Egypt. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.

⁸ I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand. You took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you.

⁹ Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, got up and attacked Israel. He sent and called for Balaam son of Beor, to curse you. ¹⁰ But I did not listen to Balaam. Indeed, he blessed you. So I rescued you out of his hand.

¹¹ You went over the Jordan and came to Jericho. The leaders of Jericho fought against you, along with the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. I gave you victory over them and put them under your control. ¹² I sent the hornet before you, which drove them and the two kings of the Amorites out before you. It did not happen by your sword or by your bow.

¹³ I gave you land on which you had not worked and cities that you had not built, and now you live in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.'

¹⁴ Now fear Yahweh and worship him with all integrity and faithfulness; get rid of the gods that your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and worship Yahweh. ¹⁵ If it seems wrong in your eyes for you to worship Yahweh, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live. But as for me and my house, we will worship Yahweh."

¹⁶ The people answered and said, "We would never abandon Yahweh to serve other gods, ¹⁷ for it is Yahweh our God who brought us and our ancestors up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery, and who did those great signs in our sight, and who preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the nations through whom we passed. ¹⁸ Then Yahweh drove out before us all the peoples, including the Amorites who lived in the land. So we too will worship Yahweh, for he is our God."

¹⁹ But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve Yahweh, for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions and sins. ²⁰ If you abandon Yahweh and worship foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm. He will consume you, after he has done good to you."

²¹ But the people said to Joshua, "No, we will worship Yahweh." ²² Then Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen for yourselves Yahweh, to worship him." They said, "We are witnesses." ²³ "Now put away the foreign gods that are with you, and turn your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel."

²⁴ The people said to Joshua, "We will worship Yahweh our God. We will listen to his voice." ²⁵ Joshua made a covenant with the people that day. He put in place decrees and laws at Shechem. ²⁶ Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the law of God. He took a large stone and set it up there beneath the oak tree that was beside Yahweh's sanctuary.

²⁷ Joshua said to all the people, "Look, this stone will be a testimony against us. It has heard all the words Yahweh said to us. So it will be a witness against you, should you ever deny your God." ²⁸ So Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.

²⁹ After these things Joshua son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being 110 years old. ³⁰ They buried him within the border of his own inheritance, at Timnath Serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.

³¹ Israel worshiped Yahweh all of Joshua's days, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, those who had experienced the deeds that Yahweh had done for Israel.

³² The bones of Joseph, which the people of Israel brought up out of Egypt—they buried them at Shechem, in the piece of land that Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. He bought it for one hundred pieces of silver, and it became an inheritance for the descendants of Joseph. ³³ Eleazar son of Aaron also died. They buried him at Gibeah, the city of Phinehas his son, which had been given to him. It was in the hill country of Ephraim.

Judges

Chapter 1

¹ After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel asked Yahweh, saying, "Who first will attack the Canaanites for us, to fight against them?" ² Yahweh said, "Judah will attack. See, I have given them control of this land." ³ The men of Judah said to men of Simeon, their brothers, "Come up with us into our territory that was assigned to us that together we may fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you to the territory that was assigned to you." So the tribe of Simeon went with them.

⁴ The men of Judah attacked, and Yahweh gave them victory over the Canaanites and the Perizzites. They killed ten thousand of them at Bezek. ⁵ They found Adoni-Bezek at Bezek, and they fought against him and defeated the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

⁶ But Adoni-Bezek fled, and they pursued him and caught him, and they cut off his thumbs and his big toes. ⁷ Adoni-Bezek said, "Seventy kings, who had their thumbs and their big toes cut off, picked up food from under my table. As I have done, even so God has done to me." They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

⁸ The men of Judah fought against the city of Jerusalem and took it. They attacked it with the edge of the sword and they set the city on fire. ⁹ After that, the men of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, in the Negev, and the lowlands. ¹⁰ Judah advanced against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (the name of Hebron was previously Kiriath Arba), and they defeated Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

¹¹ From there the men of Judah advanced against the inhabitants of Debir (the name of Debir was previously Kiriath Sepher). ¹² Caleb said, "Whoever attacks Kiriath Sepher and takes it, I will give him Aksah, my daughter, to be his wife." ¹³ Othniel, son of Kenaz (Caleb's younger brother) captured Debir, so Caleb gave him Aksah, his daughter, to be his wife.

¹⁴ Soon Aksah came to Othniel, and she urged him to ask her father to give her a field. As she was getting off her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What can I do for you?" ¹⁵ She said to him, "Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negev, also give me springs of water." So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

¹⁶ The descendants of Moses' father-in-law the Kenite went up from the City of Palms with the people of Judah, into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the Negev, to live with the people of Judah near Arad. ¹⁷ The men of Judah went with the men of Simeon their brothers and they attacked the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath and they completely destroyed it. The name of the city was called Hormah.

¹⁸ The people of Judah also captured Gaza and the land around it, Ashkelon and the land around it, and Ekron and the land around it. ¹⁹ Yahweh was with the people of Judah and they took possession of the hill country, but they could not drive out the inhabitants of the plains because they had iron chariots.

²⁰ Hebron was given to Caleb (like Moses had said), and he drove out from there the three sons of Anak. ²¹ But the people of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem. So the Jebusites have lived with the people of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

²² The house of Joseph prepared to attack Bethel, and Yahweh was with them. ²³ They sent out men to spy on Bethel (the city that was formerly named Luz). ²⁴ The spies saw a man coming out of the city, and they said to him, "Show us, please, how to get into the city, and we will be kind to you."

²⁵ He showed them a way into the city, and so they attacked the city with the edge of the sword, but they let the man and all his family get away. ²⁶ Then the man went to the land of the Hittites and built a city and called it Luz, which is its name to this day.

²⁷ The people of Manasseh did not drive out the people living in the cities of Beth Shan and its villages, or Taanach and its villages, or those who lived in Dor and its villages, or those who lived in Ibleam and its villages, or those who lived in Megiddo and its villages, because the Canaanites were determined to live in that land. ²⁸ When Israel became strong, they forced the Canaanites to serve them with hard labor, but they never drove them out completely.

²⁹ Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites continued to live in Gezer among them.

³⁰ Zebulun did not drive out the people living in Kitron, or the people living in Nahalol, and so the Canaanites continued to live among them, but Zebulun forced the Canaanites to serve them with hard labor.

³¹ Asher did not drive out the people living in Akko, or the people living in Sidon, or those living in Ahlab, Akzib, Helbah, Aphek, or Rehob. ³² So the tribe of Asher lived among the Canaanites (those who lived in the land), because they did not drive them out.

³³ The tribe of Naphtali did not drive out those who were living in Beth Shemesh, or those living in Beth Anath. So the tribe of Naphtali lived among the Canaanites (the people who were living in that land). However, the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath were forced into hard labor for Naphthali.

³⁴ The Amorites forced the tribe of Dan out into the hill country, not allowing them to come down to the plain. ³⁵ So the Amorites lived at Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, but the military might of the house of Joseph conquered them, and they were forced to serve them with hard labor. ³⁶ The border of the Amorites ran from the hill of Akrabbim at Sela up into the hill country.

Chapter 2

¹ The angel of Yahweh went up from Gilgal to Bokim, and said, "I brought you up from Egypt, and have brought you to the land I swore to give to your fathers. I said, 'I will never break my covenant with you. ² You must make no covenant with those who live in this land. You must break down their altars.' But you have not listened to my voice. What is this that you have done?

³ So now I say, 'I will not drive the Canaanites out before you, but they will become thorns in your sides, and their gods will become a trap for you.'" ⁴ When the angel of Yahweh spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people shouted and wept. ⁵ They called the name of that place Bokim. There they offered sacrifices to Yahweh.

⁶ Now when Joshua had sent the people on their way, the people of Israel went, each to his own property, to take ownership of the land. ⁷ The people served Yahweh during the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him, those who had seen all of Yahweh's great deeds he had done for Israel. ⁸ Joshua son of Nun the servant of Yahweh, died at the age of 110 years old.

⁹ They buried him within the border of his property in Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. ¹⁰ All that generation was also gathered to their fathers. Another generation grew up after them who did not know Yahweh or the deeds he had done for Israel.

¹¹ The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and they served the Baals. ¹² They broke away from Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other gods, the very gods of the peoples who were around them, and they bowed down to them. They provoked Yahweh to anger because ¹³ they broke away from Yahweh and worshiped Baal and the Ashtoreths.

¹⁴ The anger of Yahweh burned against Israel, and he gave them to the raiders who stole their possessions from them. He sold them as slaves who were held by the strength of their enemies around them, so they could no longer defend themselves against their enemies. ¹⁵ Wherever Israel went out to fight, Yahweh's hand was against them to defeat them, just as he had sworn to them and they were in terrible distress.

¹⁶ Then Yahweh raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who were stealing their possessions. ¹⁷ Yet they would not listen to their judges. They were unfaithful to Yahweh and gave themselves like prostitutes to other gods and worshiped them. They soon turned aside from the way their fathers had lived—those who had obeyed the commandments of Yahweh—but they themselves did not do so.

¹⁸ When Yahweh raised up judges for them, Yahweh helped the judges and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days the judge lived. Yahweh had pity on them as they groaned because of those who oppressed them and afflicted them. ¹⁹ But when the judge died, they would turn away and do things that were even more corrupt than their fathers had done. They would go after other gods to serve them and worship them. They refused to give up any of their evil deeds or their stubborn ways.

²⁰ The anger of Yahweh burned against Israel; he said, "Because this nation has broken the terms of my covenant that I had set in place for their fathers—because they have not listened to my voice— ²¹ I will not, from now on, drive out from before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died. ²² I will do this so that I may test Israel, whether or not they will keep the way of Yahweh and walk in it, as their fathers kept it." ²³ That is why Yahweh left those nations and did not drive them out quickly and give them into the hand of Joshua.

Chapter 3

¹ Now Yahweh left these nations to test Israel, namely everyone in Israel who had not experienced any of the wars fought in Canaan. ² (He did this to teach warfare to the new generation of the people of Israel who had not known it before.) ³ These are the nations: the five rulers of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who lived in the Lebanon mountains, from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo Hamath. ¹

⁴ These nations were left as a means by which Yahweh would test Israel, to confirm whether they would obey the commands he gave their ancestors through Moses. ⁵ So the people of Israel lived among the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. ⁶ Their daughters they took to be their wives, and their own daughters they gave to their sons, and they served their gods.

⁷ The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and forgot Yahweh their God. They worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs. ⁸ Therefore, the anger of Yahweh was set on fire against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram Naharaim. The people of Israel served Cushan-Rishathaim for eight years.

⁹ When the people of Israel called out to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up someone who would come to help the people of Israel, and who would rescue them: Othniel son of Kenaz (Caleb's younger brother). ¹⁰ Yahweh's Spirit empowered him, and he judged Israel and he went out to war. Yahweh gave him victory over Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram. The hand of Othniel defeated Cushan-Rishathaim. ¹¹ The land had peace for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.

¹² After that, the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and Yahweh gave strength to Eglon king of Moab to overpower Israel. ¹³ Eglon joined with the Ammonites and the Amalekites and they went and defeated Israel, and they took possession of the City of Palms. ¹⁴ The people of Israel served Eglon the king of Moab for eighteen years.

¹⁵ When the people of Israel called out to Yahweh, Yahweh raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud son of Gera, a Benjamite, a left-handed man. The people of Israel sent him, with their tribute payment, to Eglon king of Moab.

¹⁶ Ehud made himself a sword that had two edges, one cubit in length; he bound it to his right thigh under his clothing. ¹⁷ He gave the tribute payment to King Eglon of Moab. (Now Eglon was a very fat man.) ¹⁸ After Ehud had presented the tribute payment, he left with those who had carried it in.

¹⁹ As for Ehud himself, however, when he reached the place where the carved images were made near Gilgal, he turned and went back, and he said, "I have a secret message for you, my king." Eglon said, "Silence!" So all those serving him left the room. ²⁰ Ehud came to him. The king was sitting by himself, alone in the coolness of the upper room. Ehud said, "I have a message from God for you." The king got up out of his seat.

²¹ Ehud reached with his left hand and took the sword from his right thigh, and he stabbed it into the king's body. ²² The hilt of the sword also went into him following the blade. The tip of the sword came out of his back and the fat closed over it, for Ehud did not pull the sword out of his belly. ²³ Then Ehud went out on the porch and closed the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

²⁴ After Ehud had gone, the king's servants came; they saw that the doors of the upper room were locked, so they thought, "Surely he is relieving himself in the coolness of the upper room." ²⁵ They were growing more concerned until they felt they were neglecting their duty when the king still did not open the doors to the upper room. So they took the key and opened them, and there lay their master, fallen to the floor, dead.

²⁶ While the servants were waiting, wondering what they should do, Ehud escaped and passed beyond the place where there were carved images of idols, and so he escaped to Seirah. ²⁷ When he arrived, he blew a ram's horn in the hill country of Ephraim. Then the people of Israel went down with him from the hills, and he was leading them.

²⁸ He said to them, "Follow me, for Yahweh is about to defeat your enemies, the Moabites." They followed him and they captured the fords of the Jordan across from the Moabites, and they did not allow anyone to cross the river. ²⁹ At that time they killed about ten thousand men of Moab, and all were strong and capable men. Not one escaped. ³⁰ So that day Moab was subdued by the strength of Israel, and the land had rest for eighty years.

³¹ After Ehud the next judge was Shamgar son of Anath who killed 600 men of the Philistines with a stick used to goad oxen. He also delivered Israel from danger.

¹Some modern English translations read, Hamath Pass

Chapter 4

¹ After Ehud died, the people of Israel once again did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. ² Yahweh sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was named Sisera, and he lived in Harosheth Haggoyim. ³ The people of Israel called out to Yahweh for help, because Sisera had nine hundred iron chariots and he oppressed the people of Israel with force for twenty years.

⁴ Now Deborah, a prophetess (the wife of Lappidoth), was a leading judge in Israel at that time. ⁵ She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came to her to settle their disputes.

⁶ She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali. She said to him, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, commands you, 'Go to Mount Tabor, and take with you ten thousand men from Naphtali and Zebulun. ⁷ I will draw out Sisera, the commander of Jabin's army, to meet you by the Kishon River, with his chariots and his army, and I will give you victory over him.'"

⁸ Barak said to her, "If you go with me, I will go, but if you do not go with me, I will not go." ⁹ She said, "I will certainly go with you. However, the road on which you are going will not lead to your honor, for Yahweh will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman." Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh.

¹⁰ Barak called for the men of Zebulun and Naphtali to come together at Kedesh. Ten thousand men followed him, and Deborah went along with him.

¹¹ Now Heber (the Kenite) had separated himself from the Kenites—they were the descendants of Hobab (Moses' father-in-law)—and he pitched his tent by the oak in Zaanannim near Kedesh.

¹² When they told Sisera that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, ¹³ Sisera called out all his chariots, nine hundred iron chariots, and all the soldiers who were with him, from Harosheth Haggoyim to the Kishon River.

¹⁴ Deborah said to Barak, "Go! For this is the day in which Yahweh has given you victory over Sisera. Is not Yahweh leading you?" So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him.

¹⁵ Yahweh confused Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword. And Sisera got down from his chariot and ran away on foot. ¹⁶ But Barak pursued the chariots and the army to Harosheth Haggoyim, and the whole army of Sisera was killed by the edge of the sword, and not a man survived.

¹⁷ But Sisera ran away on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the clan of Heber the Kenite. ¹⁸ Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, "Turn aside, my master; turn aside to me and do not be afraid." So he turned aside to her and came into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.

¹⁹ He said to her, "Please give me a little water to drink, for I am thirsty." She opened a leather bag of milk and gave him drink, and then she covered him up again. ²⁰ He said to her, "Stand at the opening of the tent. If someone comes and asks you, 'Is anyone here?', say 'No'."

²¹ Then Jael (the wife of Heber) took a tent peg and a hammer in her hand and went in secretly to him, for he was in a deep sleep, and she hammered the tent peg into the side of his head until it went down into the ground, and he died. ²² As Barak was pursuing Sisera, Jael want out to meet him and said to him, "Come, I will show you the man you are looking for." So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera dead, with the tent peg in the side of his head.

²³ So on that day God subdued Jabin, the king of Canaan, before the people of Israel. ²⁴ The might of the people of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they destroyed him.

Chapter 5

¹ On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

² "When the leaders take the lead in Israel,

when the people volunteer—

praise Yahweh!

³ Listen, you kings! Pay attention, you rulers!

I, I will sing to Yahweh;

I will sing praises to Yahweh,

the God of Israel.

⁴ Yahweh, when you went out from Seir,

when you marched from Edom,

the earth shook, and the skies also trembled;

also the clouds poured down water.

⁵ The mountains quaked before the face of Yahweh;

even Mount Sinai quaked before the face of Yahweh,

the God of Israel.

⁶ In the days of Shamgar (son of Anath),

in the days of Jael,

the main roads were abandoned,

and those who walked only used the winding paths.

⁷ There were few rural people in Israel,

until I, Deborah, arose—

arose as a mother in Israel!

⁸ When they chose new gods,

there was fighting at the city gates

and yet there were no shields or spears seen

among forty thousand in Israel.

⁹ My heart goes out to the commanders of Israel,

along with the people who gladly volunteered—

we bless Yahweh for them!

¹⁰ Think about this—you who ride on white donkeys

sitting on rugs for saddles,

and you who walk along the road.

¹¹ Hear the voices of those who sing

at the watering places.

There they tell again of Yahweh's righteous deeds,

and the righteous actions of his warriors in Israel.

Then the people of Yahweh went down to the city gates.

¹² Awake, awake, Deborah!

Awake, awake, sing a song!

Get up, Barak,

and capture your prisoners, you son of Abinoam.

¹³ Then the survivors came down to the nobles;

the people of Yahweh came down to me with the warriors.

¹⁴ They came from Ephraim, whose root is in Amalek;

the people of Benjamin followed you.

From Makir commanders came down,

and from Zebulun those who carry an officer's staff.

¹⁵ My princes in Issachar were with Deborah;

and Issachar was with Barak

rushing after him into the valley under his command.

Among the clans of Reuben

there were great searchings of heart.

¹⁶ Why did you sit between the fireplaces,

listening to the shepherds playing their pipes for their flocks?

As for the clans of Reuben

there were great searchings of heart.

¹⁷ Gilead stayed on the other side of the Jordan;

and Dan, why did he wander about on ships?

Asher remained on the coast

and lived close to his harbors.

¹⁸ Zebulun was a people who despised their lives to the point of death,

and Naphtali, also, on the field of battle.

¹⁹ The kings came, they fought;

the kings of Canaan fought at Taanach

by the waters of Megiddo.

But they took away no silver as plunder.

²⁰ From heaven the stars fought,

from their paths across the heavens they fought against Sisera.

²¹ The Kishon River swept them away,

that old river, the Kishon River.

March on my soul, be strong!

²² Then came the sound of horses' hooves—

galloping, the galloping of his mighty ones.

²³ 'Curse Meroz!' says the angel of Yahweh.

'Surely curse its inhabitants!—

because they did not come to help Yahweh—

to help Yahweh in the battle against the mighty warriors.'

²⁴ Jael is blessed more than all other women,

Jael (the wife of Heber the Kenite),

she is more blessed than all the women who live in tents.

²⁵ The man asked for water, and she gave him milk;

she brought him butter in a dish fit for princes.

²⁶ She put her hand to the tent peg,

and her right hand to the laborer's hammer;

with the hammer she struck Sisera, she crushed his head.

She smashed his skull into pieces when she pierced him through the side of his head.

²⁷ He collapsed between her feet, he fell and he lay there.

Between her feet he fell limp.

The place he collapsed is where he was violently killed.

²⁸ Out of a window she looked—

the mother of Sisera looked through the lattice and she called out in sadness,

'Why has it taken his chariot so long to come?

Why have the hoofbeats of the horses that pull his chariots been delayed?'

²⁹ Her wisest princesses replied,

and she gave herself the same answer:

³⁰ 'Have they not found and divided up the plunder—

a womb, two wombs for every man;

the plunder of dyed fabric for Sisera,

the plunder of dyed fabric embroidered,

two pieces of dyed fabric embroidered for the necks of those who plunder?'

³¹ So may all your enemies perish, Yahweh!

But your friends be like the sun when it rises in its might."

Then the land had peace for forty years.

Chapter 6

¹ The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and he gave them into the hand of Midian for seven years. ² The power of Midian oppressed Israel. Because of Midian, the people of Israel made shelters for themselves from the dens in the hills, the caves, and the strongholds.

³ It happened that any time the Israelites planted their crops, the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people from the east would attack the Israelites. ⁴ They would set up their camp on the land and destroy the crops, all the way to Gaza. They would leave no food in Israel, neither sheep nor cattle nor donkeys.

⁵ Whenever they and their livestock and tents came up, they would come as a swarm of locusts, and it was impossible to count either the people or their camels. They invaded the land in order to destroy it. ⁶ Midian weakened the people of Israel so severely that the people of Israel called out to Yahweh.

⁷ When the people of Israel called out to Yahweh because of Midian, ⁸ Yahweh sent a prophet to the people of Israel. The prophet said to them, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'I brought you up from Egypt; I brought you out of the house of slavery.

⁹ I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all who were oppressing you. I drove them out before you, and I gave you their land. ¹⁰ I said to you, "I am Yahweh your God; I commanded you not to worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living." But you have not obeyed my voice.'"

¹¹ Now the angel of Yahweh came and sat under the oak in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash (the Abiezrite), while Gideon, Joash's son, was threshing wheat in the winepress—to hide it from the Midianites. ¹² The angel of Yahweh appeared to him and said to him, "Yahweh is with you, you strong warrior!"

¹³ Gideon said to him, "Oh, my master, if Yahweh is with us, why then has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonderful deeds that our fathers told us about, when they said, 'Did not Yahweh bring us up from Egypt?' But now Yahweh has abandoned us and gave us into the hand of Midian."

¹⁴ Yahweh looked at him and said, "Go in the strength you already have. Deliver Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you?" ¹⁵ Gideon said to him, "Please, Lord, how can I deliver Israel? See, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least important in my father's house."

¹⁶ Yahweh said to him, "I will be with you, and you will defeat the entire Midianite army as one man." ¹⁷ Gideon said to him, "If you are pleased with me, then give me a sign that it is you who is speaking to me. ¹⁸ Please, do not leave here, until I come to you and bring out my gift and set it before you." Yahweh said, "I will wait until you return."

¹⁹ Gideon went and prepared a young goat and from an ephah of flour he made unleavened bread. He put the meat in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot and brought them to him under the oak tree, and presented them. ²⁰ The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread and put them on this rock, and pour out the broth over them." That is what Gideon did.

²¹ Then the angel of Yahweh reached out with the end of the staff in his hand. With it he touched the flesh and the unleavened bread; a fire went up out of the rock and consumed the meat and the unleavened bread. Then the angel of Yahweh went away and Gideon could no longer see him.

²² Gideon understood that this was the angel of Yahweh. Gideon said, "Ah, Lord Yahweh! For I have seen the angel of Yahweh face to face!" ²³ Yahweh said to him, "Peace to you! Do not be afraid, you will not die." ²⁴ So Gideon built an altar there to Yahweh. He called it, "Yahweh is Peace." To this day it still stands at Ophrah of the clan of Abiezer.

²⁵ That night Yahweh said to him, "Take your father's bull, and a second bull that is seven years old, and tear down the altar of Baal that belongs to your father, and cut down the Asherah that is beside it. ²⁶ Build an altar to Yahweh your God on the top of this place of refuge, and construct it the correct way. Offer the second bull as a burnt offering, using the wood from the Asherah that you cut down."

²⁷ So Gideon took ten of his servants and did as Yahweh had told him. But because he was too afraid of his father's household and the men of the town to do it during the day, he did it at night.

²⁸ In the morning when the men of the town got up, the altar of Baal was broken down, and the Asherah that was beside it was cut down, and the second bull had been offered on the altar that had been built. ²⁹ The men of the city said to one another, "Who has done this?" When they talked with others and searched for answers, they said, "Gideon son of Joash has done this thing."

³⁰ Then the men of the town said to Joash, "Bring out your son so that he may be put to death, because he broke down the altar of Baal, and because he cut down the Asherah beside it."

³¹ Joash said to all who opposed him, "Will you plead the case for Baal? Will you save him? Whoever pleads the case for him, let him be put to death while it is still morning. If Baal is a god, let him defend himself when someone breaks his altar down." ³² Therefore on that day they called Gideon "Jerub-Baal," because he said, "Let Baal defend himself against him," because Gideon broke down Baal's altar.

³³ Now all the Midianites, the Amalekites, and the people of the east gathered together. They crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.

³⁴ But the Spirit of Yahweh clothed Gideon. Gideon blew a trumpet, calling out the clan of Abiezer, so they might follow him. ³⁵ He sent messengers all throughout Manasseh, and they too, were called out to follow him. He also sent messengers to Asher, Zebulun, and Naphtali, and they went up to meet him.

³⁶ Gideon said to God, "If you intend to use me to save Israel, as you have said— ³⁷ Look, I am putting a woolen fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece, and it is dry on all the ground, then I will know that you will use me to save Israel, as you said."

³⁸ This is what happened—Gideon rose early the next morning, he pressed the fleece together, and wrung out the dew from the fleece, enough to fill a bowl with water.

³⁹ Then Gideon said to God, "Do not be angry with me, I will speak one more time. Please allow me one more test using the fleece. This time make the fleece dry, and let there be dew on all the ground around it." ⁴⁰ God did what he asked for that night. The fleece was dry, and there was dew on all the ground around it.

Chapter 7

¹ Then Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) rose up early, and all the people who were with him, and they encamped beside the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was to their north in the valley near the hill of Moreh.

² Yahweh said to Gideon, "There are too many soldiers for me to give you victory over the Midianites, so that Israel may not boast over me, saying, 'Our own power has saved us.' ³ Now therefore, proclaim in the ears of the people and say, 'Whoever is afraid, whoever trembles, let him return and depart from Mount Gilead.'" So twenty-two thousand people went away, and ten thousand remained.

⁴ Yahweh said to Gideon, "The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will make their number smaller for you there. If I say to you, 'This one will go with you,' he will go with you; but if I say, 'This one will not go with you,' he will not go."

⁵ So Gideon brought the people down to the water, and Yahweh said to him, "Separate everyone who laps up the water, as a dog laps, from those who kneel down to drink." ⁶ Three hundred men lapped. The rest of the men kneeled down to drink water.

⁷ Yahweh said to Gideon, "With the three hundred men who lapped, I will rescue you and give you victory over the Midianites. Let every other man go back to his own place." ⁸ So those who were chosen took their supplies and their trumpets. Gideon sent away all the men of Israel, every man to his tent, but he kept the three hundred men. Now the Midian camp was down below him in the valley.

⁹ That same night Yahweh said to him, "Get up! Attack the camp, for I am going to give you victory over it. ¹⁰ But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant, ¹¹ and listen to what they are saying, and your courage will be strengthened to attack the camp." So Gideon went with Purah his servant, down to the guard posts of the camp.

¹² The Midianites, the Amalekites, and all the people of the east settled along in the valley, as thick as a cloud of locusts. Their camels were more than could be counted; they were more in number than the grains of the sand on the seashore.

¹³ When Gideon arrived there, a man was telling a dream to his companion. The man said, "Look! I had a dream, and I saw a round loaf of barley bread tumbling into the camp of Midian. It came to the tent, and hit it so hard that it fell down and turned it upside down, so that it lay flat." ¹⁴ The other man said, "This is nothing other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel. God has given him victory over Midian and all their army."

¹⁵ When Gideon heard the retelling of the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down in worship. He went back to the camp of Israel and said, "Get up! Yahweh has given you victory over the Midian army." ¹⁶ He divided the three hundred men into three groups, and he gave them all rams' horns and empty jars, with torches inside each jar.

¹⁷ He said to them, "Look at me and do what I do. Watch! When I come to the edge of the camp, you must do what I do. ¹⁸ When I blow the ram's horn, I and all who are with me, then blow your ram's horns also on every side of the entire camp and shout, 'For Yahweh and for Gideon!'"

¹⁹ So Gideon and the hundred men who were with him came to the edge of the camp, right at the beginning of the middle watch. Just as the Midianites were changing guard, they blew the rams' horns and broke the jars that were in their hands.

²⁰ The three companies blew the rams' horns and broke the jars. They held the torches in their left hands and the rams' horns in their right hands to blow them. They shouted out, "The sword of Yahweh and of Gideon." ²¹ Every man stood in his place around the camp and all the Midianite army ran. They shouted and ran away.

²² When they blew the three hundred rams' horns, Yahweh set every Midianite man's sword against his comrades and against all their army. The army fled as far as Beth Shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, near Tabbath. ²³ The men of Israel from Naphtali, Asher, and all Manasseh were called out, and they went after Midian.

²⁴ Gideon sent messengers throughout all the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Go down against Midian and take control of the Jordan River, as far as Beth Barah, to stop them." So all the men of Ephraim were summoned and took control of the waters, as far as Beth Barah and the Jordan River. ²⁵ They captured the two princes of Midian, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and they killed Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They went after the Midianites, and they brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was on the other side of the Jordan.

Chapter 8

¹ The men of Ephraim said to Gideon, "What is this you have done to us? You did not call us when you went to fight against Midian." Then they had a violent argument with him.

² He said to them, "What have I done now compared to you? Are not the gleanings of Ephraim's grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? ³ God has given you victory over the princes of Midian—Oreb and Zeeb! What have I accomplished compared to you?" Their anger toward him died down when he said this.

⁴ Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over it, he and the three hundred men who were with him. They were exhausted, yet they still kept up the pursuit. ⁵ He said to the men of Sukkoth, "Please give loaves of bread to the people who follow me, for they are exhausted, and I am pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian."

⁶ Then the officials of Sukkoth said, "Are the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna now in your hand? Why should we give bread to your army?" ⁷ Gideon said, "When Yahweh has given us victory over Zebah and Zalmunna, I will thresh your skin with desert thorns and briers."

⁸ He went up from there to Peniel and spoke to the people there in the same way, but the men of Peniel answered him just as the men of Sukkoth had answered. ⁹ He spoke also to the men of Peniel and said, "When I come again in peace, I will break down this tower."

¹⁰ Now Zebah and Zalmunna were in Karkor with their army, about fifteen thousand men, all who remained out of the entire army of the people of the East, for there had fallen 120,000 men who drew the sword.

¹¹ Gideon went up the road taken by tent dwellers, past Nobah and Jogbehah. He defeated the enemy army, because they were not expecting an attack. ¹² Zebah and Zalmunna fled, and as Gideon pursued them, he captured the two kings of Midian—Zebah and Zalmunna—and set their whole army into a panic.

¹³ Gideon, son of Joash, returned from the battle going through the pass of Heres. ¹⁴ He caught a young man of Sukkoth and questioned him. The young man wrote down the names of seventy-seven officials and elders of Sukkoth.

¹⁵ Gideon came to the men of Sukkoth and said, "Look at Zebah and Zalmunna, about whom you mocked me and said, 'Have you already conquered Zebah and Zalmunna? We do not know that we should give bread to your army.'" ¹⁶ Gideon took the elders of the city, and he punished the men of Sukkoth with the desert thorns and briers. ¹⁷ Then he broke down the tower of Peniel and killed the men of that city.

¹⁸ Then Gideon said to Zebah and Zalmunna, "What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?" They answered, "As you are, so were they. Every one of them looked like the son of a king." ¹⁹ Gideon said, "They were my brothers, the sons of my mother. As Yahweh lives, if you had saved them alive, I would not kill you."

²⁰ He said to Jether (his firstborn), "Get up and kill them!" But the young man did not draw his sword for he was afraid, because he was still a young boy. ²¹ Then Zebah and Zalmunna said, "Get up yourself and kill us! For as the man is, so is his strength." Gideon rose and killed Zebah and Zalmunna. He also took off the crescent-shaped ornaments that were on their camels' necks.

²² Then the men of Israel said to Gideon, "Rule over us—you, your son, and your grandson—because you have saved us out of the hand of Midian." ²³ Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, neither will my son rule over you. Yahweh will rule over you."

²⁴ Gideon said to them, "Let me make a request of you, that every one of you give me the earrings from his plunder."(The Midianites had golden earrings because they were Ishmaelites.) ²⁵ They answered, "We are glad to give them to you." They spread out a cloak and every man threw on it the earrings from his plunder.

²⁶ The weight of the golden earrings that he requested was 1,700 shekels of gold. This plunder was in addition to the crescent ornaments, the pendants, the purple clothing that was worn by the kings of Midian, and in addition to the chains that had been around their camels' necks.

²⁷ Gideon made an ephod out of the earrings and put it in his city, in Ophrah, and all Israel prostituted themselves by worshiping it there. It became a trap for Gideon and for those in his house. ²⁸ So Midian was subdued before the people of Israel and they did not raise their heads up again. So the land had peace for forty years in the days of Gideon.

²⁹ Jerub-Baal, son of Joash, went and lived in his own house. ³⁰ Gideon had seventy sons who were his descendants, for he had many wives. ³¹ His concubine, who was in Shechem, also bore him a son, and Gideon gave him the name Abimelek.

³² Gideon, son of Joash, died at a good old age and was buried in the tomb of Joash his father, at Ophrah of the clan of Abiezer.

³³ It came about, as soon as Gideon was dead, the people of Israel turned again and prostituted themselves by worshiping the Baals. They made Baal-Berith their god.

³⁴ The people of Israel did not remember to honor Yahweh, their God, who had rescued them from the hand of all their enemies on every side. ³⁵ They did not keep their promises to the house of Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon), in return for all the good he had done in Israel.

Chapter 9

¹ Abimelek son of Jerub-Baal went to his mother's relatives at Shechem and he said to them and to the whole clan of his mother's family, ² "Please say this, so that all the leaders in Shechem may hear, 'Which is better for you, that all seventy sons of Jerub-Baal rule over you, or that just one rule over you?' Remember that I am your bone and your flesh."

³ His mother's relatives spoke for him to the leaders of Shechem, and they agreed to follow Abimelek, for they said, "He is our brother." ⁴ They gave him seventy pieces of silver out of the house of Baal-Berith, and Abimelek used the silver to hire worthless and reckless men, who traveled with him.

⁵ Abimelek went to his father's house at Ophrah, and upon one stone he murdered his seventy brothers, the sons of Jerub-Baal. Only Jotham was left, the youngest son of Jerub-Baal, for he hid himself. ⁶ All the leaders of Shechem and Beth Millo came together and they went and made Abimelek king, beside the oak near the pillar which is in Shechem.

⁷ When Jotham was told about this, he went and stood on the top of Mount Gerizim. He shouted and said to them, "Listen to me, you leaders of Shechem, so that God may listen to you. ⁸ The trees once went out to anoint a king over them. For they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'

⁹ But the olive tree said to them, 'Should I give up my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, to sway over the other trees?' ¹⁰ The trees said to the fig tree, 'Come and reign over us.' ¹¹ But the fig tree said to them, 'Should I give up my sweetness and my good fruit, just so I could return and sway over the other trees?'

¹² The trees said to the vine, 'Come and reign over us.' ¹³ The vine said to them, 'Should I give up my new wine, which makes gods and mankind glad, and return and sway over the other trees?' ¹⁴ Then said all the trees to the thornbush, 'Come and reign over us.'

¹⁵ The thornbush said to the trees, 'If you truly want to anoint me as king over you, then come and find refuge under my shade. If not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and let it burn up the cedars of Lebanon.' ¹⁶ Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and honesty, when you made Abimelek king, and if you have done well concerning Jerub-Baal and his house, and if you have punished him as he deserves—

¹⁷ and to think that my father fought for you, risked his life, and rescued you out of the hand of Midian— ¹⁸ but today you have risen up against my father's house and have killed his sons, seventy persons, upon one stone. Then you have made Abimelek, the son of his female servant, king over the leaders of Shechem, because he is your relative.

¹⁹ If you acted with faithfulness and integrity with Jerub-Baal and his house, then you should rejoice in Abimelek, and let him also rejoice in you. ²⁰ But if not, let fire come out from Abimelek and burn up the men of Shechem and Beth Millo. Let fire come out from the men of Shechem and Beth Millo, to burn up Abimelek." ²¹ Jotham fled and ran away, and he went to Beer. He lived there because it was far away from Abimelek, his brother.

²² Abimelek ruled over Israel for three years. ²³ God sent an evil spirit between Abimelek and the leaders of Shechem. The leaders of Shechem betrayed the trust they had with Abimelek. ²⁴ God did this so the violence done to the seventy sons of Jerub-Baal might be avenged and their blood be laid on Abimelek their brother, and the men of Shechem would be held responsible because they helped him murder his brothers.

²⁵ So the leaders of Shechem positioned men to lie in wait on the hilltops that they might ambush him, and they robbed all who passed by them along that road. This was reported to Abimelek.

²⁶ Gaal son of Ebed came with his relatives and they went over to Shechem. The leaders of Shechem had confidence in him. ²⁷ They went out into the field and gathered grapes from the vineyards, and they trampled on them. They held a festival in the house of their god, where they ate and drank, and they cursed Abimelek.

²⁸ Gaal son of Ebed, said, "Who is Abimelek, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerub-Baal? Is Zebul not his overseer? Serve the men of Hamor, Shechem's father! Why should we serve Abimelek? ²⁹ I wish that this people were under my command! Then would I remove Abimelek. I would say to Abimelek, 'Call out all your army.'"

³⁰ When Zebul, the official of the city, heard the words of Gaal son of Ebed his anger was kindled. ³¹ He sent messengers to Abimelek in order to deceive, saying, "See, Gaal son of Ebed and his relatives are coming to Shechem, and they are stirring up the city against you.

³² Now, get up during the night, you and the soldiers with you, and prepare an ambush in the fields. ³³ Then in the morning, as soon as the sun is up, rise early and make a raid on the city. When he and the people with him come out against you, do whatever you can to them."

³⁴ So Abimelek got up during the night, he and all the men who were with him, and they set an ambush against Shechem—dividing into four units. ³⁵ Gaal son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance of the city gate. Abimelek and the men who were with him came out of their hiding place.

³⁶ When Gaal saw the men, he said to Zebul, "See, men are coming down from the hilltops!" Zebul said to him, "You are seeing the shadows on the hills like they are men." ³⁷ Gaal spoke again and said, "Look, men are coming down in the middle of the land, and one unit is coming by way of the oak of the diviners."

³⁸ Then Zebul said to him, "Where are your proud words now, you who said, 'Who is Abimelek that we should serve him?' Are these not the men you despised? Go out now and fight against them." ³⁹ Gaal went out and he was leading the men of Shechem, and he fought Abimelek. ⁴⁰ Abimelek chased him, and Gaal fled before him. Many fell with deadly wounds before the entrance to the city gate.

⁴¹ Abimelek stayed in Arumah. Zebul forced Gaal and his relatives out of Shechem. ⁴² On the next day the people of Shechem went out into the field, and this was reported to Abimelek. ⁴³ He took his people, divided them into three units, and they set an ambush in the fields. He looked and saw the people coming out from the city and he attacked and killed them.

⁴⁴ Abimelek and the units that were with him attacked and blocked the entrance to the city gate. The other two units attacked all who were in the field and killed them. ⁴⁵ Abimelek fought against the city all that day. He captured the city, and killed the people who were in it. He broke down the city walls and sowed it with salt.

⁴⁶ When all the leaders of the tower of Shechem heard of it, they entered the stronghold of the house of El-Berith. ⁴⁷ Abimelek was told that all the leaders had gathered together at the tower of Shechem.

⁴⁸ Abimelek went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the men who were with him. Abimelek took an ax and cut off branches. He put it on his shoulder and ordered the men with him, "What you have seen me do, hurry and do as I have done." ⁴⁹ So every one cut off branches and followed Abimelek. They piled them against the wall of the tower, and they set the stronghold on fire, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem also died, about a thousand men and women.

⁵⁰ Then Abimelek went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and captured it. ⁵¹ But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women and all the leaders of the city fled to it and shut themselves in. Then they went up to the roof of the tower.

⁵² Abimelek came to the tower and fought against it, and he came up near to the door of the tower to burn it. ⁵³ But a woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelek's head and it crushed his skull. ⁵⁴ Then he called urgently to the young man who was his armor-bearer, and said to him, "Draw your sword and kill me, so no one will say about me, 'A woman killed him.'" So his young man pierced him through, and he died.

⁵⁵ When the men of Israel saw that Abimelek was dead, they went home. ⁵⁶ So God avenged the evil of Abimelek that he did to his father by killing his seventy brothers. ⁵⁷ God made all the evil of the men of Shechem turn back on their own heads and on them came the curse of Jotham son of Jerub-Baal.

Chapter 10

¹ After Abimelek, Tola son of Puah son of Dodo, a man from Issachar who lived in Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim, arose to deliver Israel. ² He judged Israel twenty-three years. He died and was buried in Shamir.

³ He was followed by Jair the Gileadite. He judged Israel twenty-two years. ⁴ He had thirty sons who rode on thirty donkeys, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth Jair to this day, which are in the land of Gilead. ⁵ Jair died and was buried in Kamon.

⁶ The people of Israel added to the evil they had done in the sight of Yahweh and worshiped the Baals, the Ashtoreths, the gods of Aram, the gods of Sidon, the gods of Moab, the gods of the people of Ammon, and the gods of the Philistines. They abandoned Yahweh and no longer worshiped him. ⁷ Yahweh burned with anger toward Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites.

⁸ They crushed and oppressed the people of Israel that year, and for eighteen years they oppressed all the people of Israel who were beyond the Jordan in the land of the Amorites, which is in Gilead. ⁹ Then the Ammonites crossed over the Jordan to fight against Judah, against Benjamin, and against the house of Ephraim, so that Israel was greatly distressed.

¹⁰ Then the people of Israel called out to Yahweh, saying, "We have sinned against you, because we abandoned our God and worshiped the Baals." ¹¹ Yahweh said to the people of Israel, "Did I not deliver you from the Egyptians, the Amorites, the Ammonites, the Philistines, ¹² and also from the Sidonians? The Amalekites and the Maonites oppressed you; you called out to me, and I delivered you from their power.

¹³ Yet you abandoned me again and worshiped other gods. Therefore, I will not keep adding to the times I deliver you. ¹⁴ Go and call out to the gods that you have worshiped. Let them rescue you when you have trouble."

¹⁵ The people of Israel said to Yahweh, "We have sinned. Do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please, rescue us this day." ¹⁶ They got rid of the foreign gods among them and they worshiped Yahweh. Then Yahweh could bear Israel's misery no longer.

¹⁷ Then the Ammonites were summoned and set up camp in Gilead. The people of Israel came together and set up their camp at Mizpah. ¹⁸ The leaders of the people of Gilead said one to another, "Who is the man who will begin to fight the Ammonites? He will become the leader over all those who are living in Gilead."

Chapter 11

¹ Now Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but he was the son of a prostitute. Gilead was his father. ² Gilead's wife also gave birth to his other sons. When his wife's sons grew up, they forced Jephthah to leave the house and said to him, "You are not going to inherit anything from our father's household. You are the son of another woman." ³ So Jephthah fled from his brothers and lived in the land of Tob, and worthless men gathered around Jephthah and they traveled with him.

⁴ Some days later, the people of Ammon made war against Israel. ⁵ When the people of Ammon made war against Israel, the elders of Gilead went to bring Jephthah back from the land of Tob. ⁶ They said to Jephthah, "Come and be our leader that we may fight with the people of Ammon."

⁷ Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "You hated me and forced me to leave my father's house. Why do you come to me now when you are in trouble?" ⁸ The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "That is why we are turning to you now; come with us and fight with the people of Ammon, and you will become the leader over all who live in Gilead."

⁹ Jephthah said to the elders of Gilead, "If you bring me home again to fight against the people of Ammon, and if Yahweh gives us victory over them, I will be your leader." ¹⁰ The elders of Gilead said to Jephthah, "May Yahweh be witness between us if we do not do as we say!" ¹¹ So Jephthah went with the elders of Gilead, and the people made him leader and commander over them. When he was before Yahweh in Mizpah, Jephthah repeated all the promises he made.

¹² Then Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, saying, "What is this conflict between us? Why have you come with force to take our land?" ¹³ The king of the people of Ammon answered to the messengers of Jephthah, "Because when Israel came up out of Egypt, they seized my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, over to the Jordan. Now give back those lands in peace."

¹⁴ Again Jephthah sent messengers to the king of the people of Ammon, ¹⁵ and he said, "This is what Jephthah says: Israel did not take the land of Moab and the land of the people of Ammon, ¹⁶ but they came up from Egypt, and Israel went through the wilderness to the Sea of Reeds and on to Kadesh.

¹⁷ When Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom, saying, 'Please let us pass through your land,' the king of Edom would not listen. They also sent messengers to the king of Moab, but he refused. So Israel stayed at Kadesh. ¹⁸ Then they went through the wilderness and turned away from the land of Edom and the land of Moab, and they went along the east side of the land of Moab and they camped on the other side of the Arnon. But they did not go into the territory of Moab, for the Arnon was Moab's border.

¹⁹ Israel sent messengers to Sihon, king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon; Israel said to him, 'Please, let us pass through your land to the place that is ours.' ²⁰ But Sihon did not trust Israel to pass through his territory. So Sihon gathered all his army together and camped at Jahaz, and there he fought against Israel.

²¹ Then Yahweh, the God of Israel, gave Sihon and all his people into the hand of Israel and they defeated them. So Israel took all the land of the Amorites who lived in that country. ²² They took over everything within the territory of the Amorites, from the Arnon to the Jabbok, and from the wilderness to the Jordan.

²³ So then Yahweh, the God of Israel, has driven out the Amorites before his people Israel, and should you now take possession of their land? ²⁴ Will you not take over the land that Chemosh, your god, gives you? So whatever land Yahweh our God has given us, we will take over. ²⁵ Now are you really better than Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab? Did he dare to have an argument with Israel? Did he ever wage war against them?

²⁶ While Israel lived for three hundred years in Heshbon and its villages, and in Aroer and its villages, and in all the cities that are along the banks of the Arnon—why then did you not take them back during that time? ²⁷ I have not done you wrong, but you are doing me wrong by attacking me. Yahweh, the judge, will decide today between the people of Israel and the people of Ammon."

²⁸ But the king of the people of Ammon rejected the warning Jephthah sent him.

²⁹ Then the Spirit of Yahweh came on Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, and passed through Mizpah of Gilead, and from Mizpah of Gilead he passed through to the people of Ammon. ³⁰ Jephthah made a vow to Yahweh and said, "If you give me victory over the people of Ammon, ³¹ then whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in peace from the people of Ammon will belong to Yahweh, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering."

³² So Jephthah passed through to the people of Ammon to fight against them, and Yahweh gave him victory. ³³ He attacked them and caused a great slaughter from Aroer as far as Minnith—twenty cities—and to Abel Keramim. So the people of Ammon were subdued before the people of Israel.

³⁴ Jephthah came to his home at Mizpah, and there his daughter came out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. She was his only child, and besides her he had neither son nor daughter. ³⁵ As soon as he saw her, he tore his clothes and said, "Oh! My daughter! You have crushed me with sorrow, and you have become one who troubles me! For I have opened my mouth to Yahweh, and I cannot turn back on my promise."

³⁶ She said to him, "My father, you have made a vow to Yahweh, do to me everything you promised, because Yahweh has taken vengeance for you against your enemies, the Ammonites." ³⁷ She said to her father, "Let this promise be kept for me. Leave me alone for two months, that I may leave and go down to the hills and grieve over my virginity, I and my companions."

³⁸ He said, "Go." He sent her away for two months. She left him, she and her companions, and they grieved her virginity in the hills. ³⁹ At the end of two months she returned to her father, who did with her according to the promise of the vow he had made. Now she had never known a man, and it became a custom in Israel ⁴⁰ that the daughters of Israel every year, for four days, would retell the story of the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

Chapter 12

¹ A call went out to the men of Ephraim; they passed through Zaphon and said to Jephthah, "Why did you pass through to fight against the people of Ammon and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down over you." ² Jephthah said to them, "I and my people were in a great conflict with the people of Ammon. When I called you, you did not rescue me from them.

³ When I saw that you did not rescue me, I put my life in my own hand and passed through against the people of Ammon, and Yahweh gave me victory. Why have you come to fight against me today?" ⁴ Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead and he fought against Ephraim. The men of Gilead attacked the men of Ephraim because they said, "You Gileadites are fugitives in Ephraim—in Ephraim and Manasseh."

⁵ The Gileadites captured the fords of the Jordan leading to Ephraim. When any of the survivors of Ephraim said, "Let me go over the river," the men of Gilead would say to him, "Are you an Ephraimite?" If he said, "No," ⁶ then they would say to him, "Say: Shibboleth," and if he said "Sibboleth" (for he could not pronounce the word correctly), the Gileadites would seize him and kill him at the fords of the Jordan. Forty-two thousand Ephraimites were killed at that time.

⁷ Jephthah served as a judge over Israel for six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in one of the cities of Gilead.

⁸ After him, Ibzan of Bethlehem served as a judge over Israel. ⁹ He had thirty sons. He gave away thirty daughters in marriage and he brought from the outside thirty daughters of other men for his sons. He judged Israel for seven years.

¹⁰ Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem. ¹¹ After him Elon the Zebulunite served as judge over Israel. He judged Israel for ten years. ¹² Elon the Zebulunite died and was buried in Aijalon in the land of Zebulun.

¹³ After him, Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite served as a judge over Israel. ¹⁴ He had forty sons and thirty grandsons. They rode on seventy donkeys, and he judged Israel for eight years. ¹⁵ Abdon son of Hillel the Pirathonite died and was buried in Pirathon in the land of Ephraim in the hill country of the Amalekites.

Chapter 13

¹ The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and he gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

² There was a man from Zorah, of the clan of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. His wife was barren and so she had not given birth.

³ The angel of Yahweh appeared to the woman and said to her, "See now, you have been barren, and you have not given birth, but you will conceive and you will give birth to a son. ⁴ Now be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, and do not eat anything unclean.

⁵ Look, you will become pregnant and give birth to a son. No razor will be used upon his head, for the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he will begin to deliver Israel from the hand of the Philistines."

⁶ Then the woman came and told her husband, "A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like that of an angel of God, very terrible. I did not ask him where he came from, and he did not tell me his name. ⁷ He said to me, 'Look! You will become pregnant, and you will give birth to a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and do not eat any food that the law declares to be unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from the time he is in your womb until the day of his death.'"

⁸ Then Manoah prayed to Yahweh and said, "Oh, Lord, please let the man of God you sent come again to us so that he may teach us what we are to do for the child who soon will be born." ⁹ God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came to the woman again when she was sitting in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her.

¹⁰ So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, "Look! The man has appeared to me—the one who came to me the other day!" ¹¹ Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, "Are you the man who spoke with my wife?" The man said, "I am."

¹² So Manoah said, "Now may your words come true. What will be the rules for the child, and what will be his work?" ¹³ The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, "She must carefully do everything that I said to her. ¹⁴ She may not eat anything that comes from the vines, and do not let her drink wine or strong drink or eat anything unclean. She must obey everything I have commanded her to do."

¹⁵ Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, "Please stay for a while, to give us time to prepare a young goat for you." ¹⁶ The angel of Yahweh said to Manoah, "Even if I stay, I will not eat your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to Yahweh." (Manoah did not know that he was the angel of Yahweh.)

¹⁷ Manoah said to the angel of Yahweh, "What is your name, so we may honor you when your words come true?" ¹⁸ The angel of Yahweh said to him, "Why do you ask my name? It is wonderful!"

¹⁹ So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering and offered them on the rock to Yahweh. He did something marvelous while Manoah and his wife were watching. ²⁰ When the flame went up from the altar toward the sky, the angel of Yahweh went up in the flame of the altar. Manoah and his wife saw this and lay facedown on the ground.

²¹ The angel of Yahweh did not appear again to Manoah or his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of Yahweh. ²² Manoah said to his wife, "We are sure to die, because we have seen God!"

²³ But his wife said to him, "If Yahweh wanted to kill us, he would not have received the burnt offering and the grain offering we gave him. He would not have shown us all these things, nor at this time would he have let us hear such things."

²⁴ Later the woman gave birth to a son, and called his name Samson. The boy grew up and Yahweh blessed him. ²⁵ Yahweh's Spirit began to stir him in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Chapter 14

¹ Samson went down to Timnah, and there he saw a woman, one of the daughters of the Philistines. ² When he returned, he told his father and mother, "I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines. Now get her for me to be my wife."

³ His father and mother said to him, "Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people? Are you going to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?" Samson said to his father, "Get her for me, for when I look at her, she pleases me." ⁴ But his father and his mother did not know that this matter came from Yahweh, for he desired to create a conflict with the Philistines (for at that time the Philistines were ruling Israel).

⁵ Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and his mother, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And, look, there one of the young lions came up and was roaring at him. ⁶ Yahweh's Spirit suddenly came on him, and he tore the lion apart as easily as he would have torn apart a small goat, and he had nothing in his hand. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done.

⁷ He went and spoke with the woman, and when he looked at her, she pleased Samson. ⁸ A few days later when he returned to marry her, he turned aside to look for the carcass of the lion. And, look, there was a swarm of bees and honey in what was left of the lion's body. ⁹ He scraped up the honey in his hands and went on, eating as he went. When he came to his father and his mother, he gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them he had taken the honey out of what was left of the lion's body.

¹⁰ Samson's father went down to where the woman was, and Samson gave a feast there, for this was the custom of the young men. ¹¹ As soon as her relatives saw him, they brought him thirty of their friends to be with him.

¹² Samson said to them, "Let me now tell you a riddle. If one of you can find it out and tell me the answer during the seven days of the feast, I will give out thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes. ¹³ But if you cannot tell me the answer, then you will give me thirty linen robes and thirty sets of clothes." They said to him, "Tell us your riddle, so we may hear it."

¹⁴ He said to them,

"Out of the eater was something to eat;

out of the strong was something sweet."

But his guests could not find the answer in three days.

¹⁵ On the fourth day they said to Samson's wife, "Trick your husband so that he may tell us the answer to the riddle, or we will burn up you and your father's house. Did you invite us here in order to make us poor?"

¹⁶ Samson's wife started to weep in front of him; she said, "All you do is hate me! You do not love me. You have told a riddle to some of my people, but you have not told me the answer." Samson said to her, "Look here, if I have not told my father or my mother, should I tell you?" ¹⁷ She cried during the seven days that their feast lasted. On the seventh day he told her the answer because she pressured him very much. She told the answer to the relatives of her people.

¹⁸ Before the sun went down on the seventh day the men of the city said to him,

"What is sweeter than honey?

What is stronger than a lion?"

Samson said to them,

"If you had not plowed with my heifer,

you would not have found the answer to my riddle."

¹⁹ Then Yahweh's Spirit suddenly came on Samson with power. Samson went down to Ashkelon and killed thirty of their men. He took their plunder, and he gave their clothes to those who had explained the riddle. Burning with anger, he went up to his father's house. ²⁰ Samson's wife was given to his best friend.

Chapter 15

¹ After some days, during the time of wheat harvest, Samson took a young goat and went to visit his wife. He said to himself, "I will go to my wife's room." But her father would not allow him to go in. ² Her father said, "I really thought you hated her, so I gave her to your friend. Her younger sister is more beautiful than she is, is she not? Take her instead."

³ Samson said to them, "This time I will be innocent in regard to the Philistines when I hurt them." ⁴ Samson went and caught three hundred foxes and he tied together each pair, tail to tail. Then he took torches and tied them in the middle of each pair of tails.

⁵ When he had set the torches on fire, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines, and they set fire to both the stacked grain and the grain standing in the field, along with the vineyards and the olive orchards. ⁶ The Philistines asked, "Who did this?" They were told, "Samson, the Timnite's son-in-law, did this because the Timnite took Samson's wife and gave her to his friend." Then the Philistines went and burned up her and her father.

⁷ Samson said to them, "If this is what you do, I will get my revenge against you, and after that is done, I will stop." ⁸ Then he cut them to pieces, hip and thigh, with a great slaughter. Then he went down and lived in a cave in the cliff of Etam.

⁹ Then the Philistines came up and encamped in Judah and spread out in Lehi. ¹⁰ The men of Judah said, "Why have you come up against us?" They said, "We have come up so we may capture Samson, and do to him as he has done to us."

¹¹ Then three thousand men of Judah went down to the cave in the cliff of Etam, and they said to Samson, "Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What is this you have done to us?" Samson said to them, "They did to me, and so I have done to them."

¹² They said to Samson, "We have come down to tie you up and give you into the hands of the Philistines." Samson said to them, "Swear to me that you will not kill me yourselves." ¹³ They said to him, "No, we will only tie you with ropes and hand you over to them. We promise we will not kill you." Then they tied him up with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

¹⁴ When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting as they met him. Then Yahweh's Spirit came on him with power. The ropes on his arms became like burnt flax, and they fell off his hands.

¹⁵ Samson found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and he picked it up and killed a thousand men with it. ¹⁶ Samson said,

"With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps,

with the jawbone of a donkey I have killed a thousand men."

¹⁷ When Samson finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone, and he called the place Ramath Lehi. ¹⁸ Samson was very thirsty and called on Yahweh and said, "You have given this great victory to your servant. But now will I die of thirst and fall into the hands of those who are uncircumcised?"

¹⁹ God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi and water came out. When he drank, his strength returned and he revived. So he called the name of that place En Hakkore, and it is at Lehi to this day. ²⁰ Samson judged Israel in the days of the Philistines for twenty years.

Chapter 16

¹ Samson went to Gaza and saw a prostitute there, and he went to her. ² The Gazites were told, "Samson has come here." The Gazites surrounded the place and in secret, they waited for him all night at the city gate. They kept silent all night. They had said, "Let us wait until daylight, and then let us kill him."

³ Samson lay in bed until midnight. At midnight he got up and he took hold of the city gate and its two posts. He pulled them up out of the ground, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them up to the top of the hill, in front of Hebron.

⁴ After this, Samson came to love a woman who lived in the Valley of Sorek. Her name was Delilah. ⁵ The rulers of the Philistines came up to her, and said to her, "Trick Samson to see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him in order to humiliate him. Do this, and each one of us will give you 1,100 pieces of silver."

⁶ Then Delilah said to Samson, "Please, tell me how is it that you are so strong, and how could anyone bind you, so you might be controlled?" ⁷ Samson said to her, "If they tie me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I will become weak and be like any other man."

⁸ Then the rulers of the Philistines brought up to Delilah seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she tied Samson up with them. ⁹ Now she had men hiding in secret, staying in her inner room. She said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" But he broke the bowstrings like a thread of yarn when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not discovered.

¹⁰ Then Delilah said to Samson, "This is how you have deceived me and told me lies. Please, tell me how you can be overpowered." ¹¹ He said to her, "If they tie me up with new ropes which have never been used for work, I will become weak and like any other man." ¹² So Delilah took new ropes and tied him up with them, and said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" The men lying in wait were in the inner room. But Samson tore off the ropes from his arms like they were a piece of thread.

¹³ Delilah said to Samson, "Until now you have deceived me and told me lies. Tell me how you may be overpowered." Samson said to her, "If you weave seven locks of my hair into a fabric on a loom, and then nail that to the loom, I will be like any other man." ¹⁴ While he slept, Delilah wove seven locks of his hair into the fabric on the loom and nailed it to the loom, and she said to him, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" He woke from his sleep and he pulled out the fabric and the pin from the loom.

¹⁵ She said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when you do not share your secrets with me? You have mocked me these three times and have not told me how you have such great strength." ¹⁶ Every day she pressed him hard with her words, and she pressured him so much that he wished he would die.

¹⁷ So Samson told her everything and said to her, "I have never had a razor cut the hair on my head, for I have been a Nazirite for God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I will become weak and be like every other man."

¹⁸ When Delilah saw that he had told her the truth about everything, she sent and called for the rulers of the Philistines, saying, "Come up again, for he has told me everything." Then the rulers of the Philistines went up to her, bringing the silver in their hands. ¹⁹ She had him fall asleep in her lap. She called for a man to shave off the seven locks of his head, and she began to subdue him, for his strength had left him.

²⁰ She said, "The Philistines are upon you, Samson!" He woke up out of his sleep and said, "I will get out like the other times and shake myself free." But he did not know that Yahweh had left him. ²¹ The Philistines captured him and put out his eyes. They brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. He turned the millstone at the prison house. ²² But the hair on his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

²³ The rulers of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god, and to rejoice. They said, "Our god has conquered Samson, our enemy, and put him in our hands." ²⁴ When the people saw him, they praised their god, for they said, "Our god has conquered our enemy and given him to us—the destroyer of our country, who killed many of us."

²⁵ When they were celebrating, they said, "Call for Samson, that he may make us laugh." They called for Samson out of the prison and he made them laugh. They made him stand between the pillars. ²⁶ Samson said to the boy who held his hand, "Permit me to touch the pillars on which the building rests, so that I can lean against them."

²⁷ Now the house was full of men and women. All the rulers of the Philistines were there. There were on the roof about three thousand men and women, who were looking on while Samson was entertaining them.

²⁸ Samson called to Yahweh and said, "Lord Yahweh, call me to mind! Please strengthen me only this once, God, so that I may have revenge in one blow on the Philistines for taking my two eyes." ²⁹ Samson held on to the two middle pillars on which the building rested, and he leaned against them, one pillar with his right hand, and the other with his left.

³⁰ Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He stretched out with his strength and the building fell on the rulers and on all the people who were in it. So the dead that he killed when he died were more than those he killed during his life. ³¹ Then his brothers and all the house of his father came down. They took him, brought him back and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the burial place of Manoah, his father. Samson had judged Israel for twenty years.

Chapter 17

¹ There was a man in the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Micah. ² He said to his mother, "The 1,100 pieces of silver that were taken from you, about which you spoke a curse, and which I heard—look here! I have the silver with me. I stole it." His mother said, "May Yahweh bless you, my son!"

³ He restored the 1,100 pieces of silver to his mother and his mother said, "I set apart this silver to Yahweh, for my son to make a carved image and a cast metal figure. So now, I restore it to you." ⁴ When he restored the money to his mother, his mother took two hundred pieces of silver and gave them to a metal worker who made them into a carved image and a cast metal figure, and they were placed in the house of Micah.

⁵ The man Micah had a house of idols and he made an ephod and household gods, and he hired one of his sons to become his priest. ⁶ In those days there was no king in Israel, and everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

⁷ Now there was a young man of Bethlehem in Judah, of the clan of Judah, who was a Levite. He stayed there to fulfill his duties. ⁸ The man left Bethlehem in Judah to go and find a place to live. As he journeyed, he came to Micah's house in the hill country of Ephraim. ⁹ Micah said to him, "Where do you come from?" The man said to him, "I am a Levite of Bethlehem in Judah, and I am traveling to find a place where I might live."

¹⁰ Micah said to him, "Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest. I will give you ten pieces of silver a year, a suit of clothes, and your food." So the Levite went into his house. ¹¹ The Levite was content to live with the man, and the young man became to Micah like one of his sons.

¹² Micah set apart the Levite for sacred duties, and the young man became his priest, and was in Micah's house. ¹³ Then Micah said, "Now I know that Yahweh will do good for me, because this Levite has become my priest."

Chapter 18

¹ In those days there was no king in Israel. The tribe of the descendants of Dan was looking for a territory to live in, for up to that day they had not received any inheritance from among the tribes of Israel. ² The people of Dan sent five men from the whole number of their tribe, men who were experienced warriors from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to scout the land on foot, and to look it over. They said to them, "Go and look over the land." They came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and they spent the night there.

³ When they were near Micah's house, they recognized the speech of the young Levite. So they stopped and asked him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? Why are you here?" ⁴ He said to them, "This is what Micah has done for me: He has hired me to become his priest."

⁵ They said to him, "Please seek the advice of God, so we may know whether the journey we are going on will be successful." ⁶ The priest said to them, "Go in peace. Yahweh will lead you in the way you should go."

⁷ Then the five men left and came to Laish, and they saw that the people were living in safety, in the same way the Sidonians lived, undisturbed and secure. There was no one who conquered them or who oppressed them in any way in the land. They lived far away from the Sidonians and had no dealings with anyone. ⁸ They returned to their tribe in Zorah and Eshtaol. Their relatives asked them, "What is your report?"

⁹ They said, "Come! Let us attack them! We have seen the land and it is very good. Are you doing nothing? Do not be slow to attack and conquer the land. ¹⁰ When you go, you will come to a secure people, and the land is wide! God has given it to you—a place that does not lack anything in the land."

¹¹ Six hundred men of the tribe of Dan, armed with weapons of war, set out from Zorah and Eshtaol. ¹² They went up and camped at Kiriath Jearim, in Judah. This is why people called that place Mahaneh Dan to this day; it is west of Kiriath Jearim.

¹³ They went away from there to the hill country of Ephraim and came to the house of Micah.

¹⁴ Then the five men who had gone to scout the country of Laish said to their relatives, "Do you know that in these houses there are an ephod, household gods, a carved image, and a cast metal figure? Decide now what you will do."

¹⁵ So they turned in there and came to the house of the young man, the Levite, at the house of Micah, and they greeted him. ¹⁶ Now the six hundred Danites, armed with weapons of war, stood at the entrance of the gate.

¹⁷ The five men who had gone to scout out the land went there and they took the carved figure, the ephod, the household gods, and the cast metal figure, while the priest stood by the opening of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war. ¹⁸ When these went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the ephod, the household gods, and the cast metal figure, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?"

¹⁹ They said to him, "Be quiet! Put your hand on your mouth and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest for the house of one man, or to be priest for a tribe and a clan in Israel?" ²⁰ The priest's heart was glad. He took the ephod, the household gods, and the carved figure, and went along with the people.

²¹ So they turned and went away, putting the little children, their livestock and their valuable possessions in front of them. ²² When they were a good distance from the house of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called together, and they caught up with the Danites. ²³ They shouted to the Danites, and they turned and said to Micah, "Why have you been called together?"

²⁴ He said, "You stole the gods that I made, you have taken my priest, and you are leaving. What else do I have left? How can you ask me, 'What is bothering you?'" ²⁵ The people of Dan said to him, "You should not let us hear you say anything, or some very angry men will attack you, and you and your family will be killed." ²⁶ Then the people of Dan went their way. When Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his house.

²⁷ The people of Dan took what Micah had made, as well as his priest, and they came to Laish, to a people who were undisturbed and secure and they struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city. ²⁸ There was no one to rescue them because it was a long way from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that is near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and lived there. ²⁹ They named the city Dan, the name of Dan their ancestor, who was one of Israel's sons. But the name of the city used to be Laish.

³⁰ The people of Dan set up the carved figure for themselves. Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, he and his sons were priests for the tribe of the Danites until the day of the land's captivity. ³¹ So they worshiped Micah's carved figure that he made as long as the house of God was at Shiloh.

Chapter 19

¹ In those days, when there was no king in Israel, there was a man, a Levite, living for a while in the most remote area of the hill country of Ephraim. He took for himself a woman, a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah. ² But his concubine acted like a prostitute against him; she left him and went back to her father's house in Bethlehem of Judah. She stayed there for four months.

³ Then her husband got up and went after her in order to persuade her to come back. His servant was with him, and a yoke of donkeys. She brought him into her father's house. When the girl's father saw him, he was glad to meet him. ⁴ His father-in-law, the girl's father, persuaded him to stay for three days. They ate and drank, and they spent the night there.

⁵ On the fourth day they got up early and he prepared to go, but the girl's father said to his son-in-law, "Strengthen yourself with a bit of bread, then you may go." ⁶ So the two of them sat down to eat and drink together. Then the girl's father said, "Please be willing to spend the night and have a good time."

⁷ When the Levite got up to leave, the father of the young woman urged him to stay, so he changed his plan and spent the night there again. ⁸ On the fifth day he woke up early to leave, but the girl's father said, "Strengthen yourself, and wait until the afternoon." So the two of them had a meal.

⁹ When the Levite and his concubine and his servant rose up to depart, his father-in-law, the girl's father said to him, "See now, the day is advancing toward evening. Please stay another night, and have a good time. You can get up early tomorrow and go back home."

¹⁰ But the Levite was not willing to spend the night. He got up and left. He went toward Jebus (that is Jerusalem). He had a pair of saddled donkeys—and his concubine was with him. ¹¹ When they were near Jebus, the day was nearly over, and the servant said to his master, "Come, let us turn aside to the city of the Jebusites and spend the night in it."

¹² His master said to him, "We will not turn aside into a city of foreigners who do not belong to the people of Israel. We will go on to Gibeah." ¹³ The Levite said to his young man, "Come, let us go to one of those other places, and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah."

¹⁴ So they went on, and the sun set as they came near to Gibeah, in the territory of Benjamin. ¹⁵ They turned aside there to spend the night in Gibeah. They went and sat down in the city square, but no one took them into his house for the night.

¹⁶ But then an old man was coming from his work in the field that evening. He was from the hill country of Ephraim, and he was staying for a while in Gibeah. But the men living in that place were Benjamites. ¹⁷ He raised his eyes and saw the traveler in the city square. The old man said, "Where are you going? Where are you coming from?"

¹⁸ The Levite said to him, "We are on our way from Bethlehem in Judah to the most remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, which is where I come from. I went to Bethlehem in Judah, and I am going to the house of Yahweh, but there is no one who will take me into his house. ¹⁹ We have straw and feed for our donkeys, and there is bread and wine for me and your female servant here, and for this young man with your servants. We lack nothing."

²⁰ The old man greeted them, "Peace be with you! I will take care of all your needs. Only do not spend the night in the square." ²¹ So the man brought the Levite into his house and gave feed to the donkeys. They washed their feet and ate and drank.

²² While they were making their hearts glad, some men of the city, worthless men, surrounded the house, beating on the door. They spoke to the old man, the master of the house, saying, "Bring out the man who came into your house, so we can know him." ²³ The man, the master of the house, went out to them and said to them, "No, my brothers, please do not do this evil thing! Since this man is a guest in my house, do not do this act of disgraceful folly!

²⁴ See, my virgin daughter and his concubine are here. Let me bring them out now. Violate them and do with them whatever you like. But do not do such an act of disgraceful folly to this man!" ²⁵ But the men would not listen to him, so the man seized his concubine and brought her out to them. They raped her and abused her all throughout the night, and at dawn they let her go. ²⁶ At dawn the woman came and she fell down at the door of the man's house where her master was, and she lay there until it was light.

²⁷ Her master rose up in the morning and opened the doors of the house and went out to go on his way. He could see his concubine lying there at the door, with her hands on the threshold. ²⁸ The Levite said to her, "Get up. Let us go." But there was no answer. He put her on the donkey, and the man set out for home.

²⁹ When the Levite came to his house, he took a knife, and he took hold of his concubine, and cut her up, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent the pieces everywhere throughout Israel. ³⁰ All who saw this said, "Such a thing has never been done or seen from the day the people of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this present day. Think about it! Give us advice! Tell us what to do!"

Chapter 20

¹ Then all the people of Israel—from Dan to Beersheba, including the land of Gilead also—came out, and the congregation assembled together as one man before Yahweh at Mizpah. ² The leaders of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, took their places in the assembly of the people of God—400,000 footmen ready to fight with the sword.

³ Now the people of Benjamin heard that the people of Israel had gone up to Mizpah. The people of Israel said, "Tell us how this wicked thing happened." ⁴ The Levite, the husband of the woman who had been murdered, answered, "I came to Gibeah in the territory that belongs to Benjamin, I and my concubine, to spend the night.

⁵ During the night, the leaders of Gibeah attacked me, surrounding the house, intending to kill me. They raped my concubine, and she died. ⁶ I took my concubine and cut her body into pieces, and sent them into each region of Israel's inheritance, because they have committed wickedness and an act of disgraceful folly in Israel. ⁷ Now, all you people of Israel, give your advice and counsel here."

⁸ All the people arose together as one man, and they said, "None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house! ⁹ But now this is what we must do to Gibeah: We will attack it as the lot directs us.

¹⁰ We will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and one hundred of a thousand, and one thousand of ten thousand, to get provisions for these people, so that when they come to Gibeah in Benjamin, they may punish them for the act of disgraceful folly they committed in Israel." ¹¹ So all the men of Israel assembled against the city, united as one man.

¹² The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What is this wickedness that was done among you? ¹³ Therefore, give us those wicked men of Gibeah, so we may put them to death, and so we will completely remove this evil from Israel." But the Benjamites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel. ¹⁴ Then the sons of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to get ready to fight against the sons of Israel.

¹⁵ The people of Benjamin brought together from their cities to fight on that day twenty-six thousand soldiers who were trained to fight with the sword. In addition, there were seven hundred of their chosen men from the inhabitants of Gibeah. ¹⁶ Among all these soldiers were seven hundred chosen men who were left-handed. Each of them could sling a stone at a hair and not miss.

¹⁷ The people of Israel, not counting the number from Benjamin, numbered 400,000 men, who were trained to fight with the sword. All of these were men of war. ¹⁸ The people of Israel arose, went up to Bethel, and asked for advice from God. They asked, "Who first will attack the people of Benjamin for us?" Yahweh said, "Judah will attack first."

¹⁹ The sons of Israel got up in the morning and they moved their camp near Gibeah. ²⁰ The men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin. They set up their battle positions against them at Gibeah. ²¹ The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah, and they killed twenty-two thousand men from among Israel on that day.

²² But the men of Israel strengthened themselves and they formed the battle line in the same place where they had taken positions on the first day. ²³ Then the people of Israel went up and they wept before Yahweh until evening, and they sought direction from Yahweh. They said, "Should we go again to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?" Yahweh said, "Attack them!"

²⁴ So the people of Israel went against the soldiers of Benjamin the second day. ²⁵ On the second day, Benjamin went out against them from Gibeah and they killed eighteen thousand men from the people of Israel. All were men who trained to fight with the sword.

²⁶ Then all the people of Israel, all the people, went up to Bethel and wept, and there they sat before Yahweh and they fasted that day until the evening and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before Yahweh.

²⁷ The people of Israel asked Yahweh—for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, ²⁸ and Phinehas, son of Eleazar son of Aaron, was serving before the ark in those days—"Should we go out to battle once more against the people of Benjamin, our brothers, or stop?" Yahweh said, "Attack, for tomorrow I will help you defeat them."

²⁹ So Israel set men in secret places around Gibeah. ³⁰ The people of Israel fought against the people of Benjamin for the third day, and they formed their battle lines against Gibeah as they had done before.

³¹ The people of Benjamin went and fought against the people, and they were drawn away from the city. They began to kill some of the people. There were about thirty men of Israel who died in the fields and on the roads. One of the roads went up to Bethel, and the other went to Gibeah.

³² Then the people of Benjamin said, "They are defeated and they are running away from us, just as at first." But the people Israel said, "Let us run back and draw them away from the city to the roads." ³³ All the men of Israel rose up out of their places and formed themselves into lines for battle at Baal Tamar. Then the people of Israel who had been hiding in secret places ran out from their places from Maareh Gibeah.

³⁴ Ten thousand chosen men out of all Israel came out against Gibeah, and the fighting was fierce, but the Benjamites did not know that disaster was close to them. ³⁵ Yahweh defeated Benjamin before Israel. On that day, the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin. All these who died were those who had been trained to fight with the sword.

³⁶ So the people of Benjamin saw they were defeated. The men of Israel had given ground to Benjamin, because they were trusting in the men they had placed in hidden positions outside Gibeah. ³⁷ Then the men who were hiding got up and hurried, and they rushed into Gibeah, and they struck all the city with the edge of the sword. ³⁸ The arranged signal between the men of Israel and the men hiding in secret would be that a great cloud of smoke would rise up out of the city.

³⁹ When the signal was sent the men of Israel would turn from the battle. Now Benjamin began to attack and they killed about thirty men of Israel, and they said, "It is sure that they are defeated before us, as in the first battle."

⁴⁰ But when a pillar of smoke began to rise up out of the city, the Benjamites turned and saw the smoke rising to the sky from the whole city. ⁴¹ Then the men of Israel turned against them. The men of Benjamin were terrified, for they saw that disaster had come on them.

⁴² So they ran away from the men of Israel, escaping on the way to the wilderness. But the fighting overtook them. The men of Israel came out of the cities and destroyed them where they stood.

⁴³ They surrounded the Benjamites, chased them and trampled them down at Nohah, all the way to the east side of Gibeah. ⁴⁴ From the tribe of Benjamin, eighteen thousand people died, all of them men who were distinguished in battle.

⁴⁵ They turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. The Israelites killed five thousand more of them along the roads. They kept going after them, following them closely all the way to Gidom, and there they killed two thousand more. ⁴⁶ All the soldiers of Benjamin who fell that day were twenty-five thousand—men who were trained to fight with the sword; all of them were distinguished in battle.

⁴⁷ But six hundred men turned and fled to the wilderness, toward the rock of Rimmon. For four months they stayed at the rock of Rimmon. ⁴⁸ And the men of Israel turned back against the descendants of Benjamin and struck down with the edge of the sword the entire city, the animals and everything that they found. They also burned down every town in their path.

Chapter 21

¹ Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, "None of us will give his daughter to marry a Benjamite." ² Then the people went to Bethel and sat there before God until the evening, and with loud voices they wept bitterly. ³ They called out, "Why, Yahweh, God of Israel, has this happened to Israel, that one of our tribes should be missing today?"

⁴ The next day the people got up early and built an altar there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. ⁵ The people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to Yahweh?" For they had made an important oath concerning anyone who did not come up to Yahweh at Mizpah. They said, "He would certainly be put to death."

⁶ The people of Israel had compassion for their brother Benjamin. They said, "Today one tribe has been cut off from Israel. ⁷ Who will provide wives for those who are left, since we have made an oath to Yahweh that we will not let any of them marry our daughters?"

⁸ They said, "Which of the tribes of Israel did not come up to Yahweh at Mizpah?" It was found that no one had come to the assembly from Jabesh Gilead. ⁹ For when the people were set out in an orderly manner, behold, none of the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead were there. ¹⁰ The assembly sent twelve thousand of their bravest men with instructions to go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead with the edge of the sword, including the women and children.

¹¹ "Do this: Every male and every woman who has known a man by lying with him you will devote to destruction." ¹² The men found among those living in Jabesh Gilead four hundred young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him, and they took them to the camp at Shiloh in Canaan.

¹³ The entire assembly sent a message and told the people of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon that they were offering them peace. ¹⁴ The Benjamites returned at that time and they were given the women of Jabesh Gilead who had been kept alive, but there were not enough women for all of them. ¹⁵ The people had compassion on Benjamin, because Yahweh had made a division between the tribes of Israel.

¹⁶ Then the elders of the assembly said, "How will we arrange wives for the Benjamites who are left, since the women of Benjamin have been killed?" ¹⁷ They said, "There must be an inheritance for the escaped remnant of Benjamin, so that a tribe is not destroyed from Israel.

¹⁸ We cannot give them wives from our daughters, for the people of Israel had sworn, saying, 'Cursed be anyone who gives a wife to Benjamin.'" ¹⁹ So they said, "You know there is a feast for Yahweh every year at Shiloh (which is north of Bethel, east of the road that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah)."

²⁰ They instructed the men of Benjamin, saying, "Go and hide in secret and wait in the vineyards. ²¹ Watch for the time when the girls from Shiloh come out to dance, then rush out of the vineyards and each one of you should grab a wife from the girls of Shiloh, then go back to the land of Benjamin.

²² When their fathers or their brothers come to protest to us, we will say to them, 'Show us favor! Let them remain because we did not get wives for each man during the war. You are innocent, since you did not give your daughters to them.'"

²³ The people of Benjamin did so. They took the number of wives that they needed from the girls who were dancing and they carried them off to be their wives. They went and returned to the place of their inheritance. They rebuilt the towns and lived in them. ²⁴ Then the people of Israel left that place and went home, each one to his own tribe and clan, and each one to his own inheritance.

²⁵ In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

¹Some modern translations read Please let me glean and gather among the bundle of grain after the reapers .

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew text have, Put on your best piece of clothing . However, a marginal note instructs readers to read, Put on your best clothes. Translators are free to choose for themselves.

1 Samuel

Chapter 1

¹ There was a certain man of Ramathaim of the Zuphites, of the hill country of Ephraim; his name was Elkanah son of Jeroham son of Elihu son of Tohu son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. ¹ ² He had two wives; the name of the first was Hannah, and the name of the second was Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

³ This man went from his city year after year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of hosts in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there. ⁴ When the day came for Elkanah to sacrifice each year, he always gave portions of the meat to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters.

⁵ But to Hannah he always gave a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although Yahweh had closed her womb. ⁶ Her rival provoked her severely in order to irritate her, because Yahweh had closed her womb.

⁷ So year after year, when she went up to the house of Yahweh with her family, her rival always provoked her. Therefore she used to weep and eat nothing. ⁸ Elkanah her husband always said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? Why do you not eat? Why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"

⁹ On one of these occasions, Hannah rose up after they had finished eating and drinking in Shiloh. Now Eli the priest was sitting upon his seat by the doorway to the temple of Yahweh. ¹⁰ She was deeply distressed; she prayed to Yahweh and wept bitterly.

¹¹ She made a vow and said, "Yahweh of hosts, if you will look on the affliction of your servant and call me to mind, and do not forget your servant, but give your servant a son, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and no razor will ever touch his head."

¹² As she continued praying before Yahweh, Eli watched her mouth. ¹³ Hannah spoke in her heart. Her lips moved, but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli thought she was drunk. ¹⁴ Eli said to her, "How long will you be drunk? Get rid of your wine."

¹⁵ Hannah answered, "No, my master, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before Yahweh. ¹⁶ Do not consider your servant to be a worthless woman; I have been speaking out of the abundance of my great concern and provocation."

¹⁷ Then Eli answered and said, "Go in peace; may the God of Israel grant the request that you have asked him for." ¹⁸ She said, "Let your servant find favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate; her face was no longer sad.

¹⁹ They rose early in the morning and worshiped before Yahweh, and then they returned again to their house in Ramah. Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and Yahweh remembered her. ²⁰ When the time came, Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son. She called his name Samuel, saying, "Because I have asked for him from Yahweh."

²¹ Once again, Elkanah and all his house went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice and pay his vow. ²² But Hannah did not go; she had said to her husband, "I will not go until the child is weaned; then I will bring him, so that he may appear before Yahweh and live there forever." ²³ Elkanah her husband said to her, "Do what seems good to you. Wait until you have weaned him; only, may Yahweh confirm his word." So the woman stayed and nursed her son until she weaned him.

²⁴ When she had weaned him, she took him with her, along with a three-year-old bull, ² one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of Yahweh in Shiloh. Now the child was still young. ²⁵ They killed the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.

²⁶ She said, "Oh, my master! As you live, my master, I am the woman who stood here next to you praying to Yahweh. ²⁷ For this child I prayed and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him. ²⁸ I have given him to Yahweh, as long as he lives he is lent to Yahweh." Then he worshiped Yahweh there. ³

¹Some modern translations have Ramathaim Zophim, but it is understood that Zophim really refers to the region in which the clan descended from Zuph resided.

²Some translations of the copies of the ancient Hebrew text have three bulls instead of a three-year-old bull .

³Some modern translations have Then they worshiped Yahweh there .

Chapter 2

¹ Hannah prayed and said,

"My heart rejoices in Yahweh.

My horn is exalted in Yahweh.

My mouth boasts over my enemies,

because I rejoice in your salvation.

² There is no one holy like Yahweh,

for there is none besides you;

there is no rock like our God.

³ Boast no more so very proudly;

let no arrogance come out of your mouth.

For Yahweh is a God of knowledge;

by him acts are weighed.

⁴ The bows of the mighty men are broken,

but those who stumble are girded with strength.

⁵ Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread;

those who were hungry have stopped being hungry.

Even the barren one gives birth to seven,

but the woman who has many children becomes weak.

⁶ Yahweh kills and brings to life.

He brings down to Sheol and raises up.

⁷ Yahweh makes some people poor and some rich.

He humbles, but he also lifts up.

⁸ He raises up the poor out of the dust.

He lifts the needy from the ash heap

to make them sit with princes

and inherit the seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are Yahweh's

and he has set the world upon them.

⁹ He will guard the feet of his faithful people,

but the wicked will be put to silence in darkness,

for no one will prevail by strength.

¹⁰ Those who oppose Yahweh will be broken to pieces;

he will thunder against them from heaven.

Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth;

he will give strength to his king

and exalt the horn of his anointed."

¹¹ Then Elkanah went to Ramah, to his house. The child served Yahweh in the presence of Eli the priest.

¹² Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know Yahweh. ¹³ The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come with a three-pronged fork in his hand, while the meat was boiling. ¹⁴ He would stick it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. They did this in Shiloh with all of Israel that came there.

¹⁵ Worse, before they burned the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man who was sacrificing, "Give meat to roast for the priest; for he will not accept boiled meat from you, but only raw." ¹⁶ If the man said to him, "They must burn the fat first, and then take as much as you want." Then he would say, "No, you will give it me now; if not, I will take it by force." ¹⁷ The sin of these young men was very great before Yahweh, for they despised Yahweh's offering.

¹⁸ But Samuel served Yahweh as a child clothed with a linen ephod. ¹⁹ His mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.

²⁰ Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, "May Yahweh give you more children by this woman because of the request she made of Yahweh." Then they would return to their own home. ²¹ Yahweh again helped Hannah, and again she conceived. She bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, the child Samuel grew before Yahweh.

²² Now Eli was very old; he heard all that his sons were doing to all Israel, and how they were lying with the women who were serving at the entrance to the tent of meeting. ²³ He said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil actions from all these people. ²⁴ No, my sons; for it is not a good report that I hear. You make Yahweh's people disobey.

²⁵ If one man sins against another, God will judge him; but if a man sins against Yahweh, who will speak for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh intended to kill them. ²⁶ The child Samuel grew up, and increased in favor with Yahweh and also with men.

²⁷ Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "Yahweh says, 'Did I not reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in bondage to the house of Pharaoh? ²⁸ I chose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, and to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me. I gave to the house of your father all the offerings of the people of Israel made with fire.

²⁹ Why, then, do you scorn my sacrifices and offerings, which I commanded in the place where I live? Why do you honor your sons above me by making yourselves fat with the best of every offering of my people Israel?' ³⁰ Therefore, Yahweh, the God of Israel, declares, 'I promised that your house and the house of your father should walk before me forever.' But now Yahweh declares, 'Far be it from me to do this, for I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be lightly esteemed.

³¹ See, the days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father's house, so that there will no longer be any old man in your house. ³² You will see distress in the place where I live. Although good will be given to Israel, there will no longer be any old man in your house. ³³ Any one of you that I do not cut off from my altar, I will cause your eyes to fail, and I will cause grief in your heart, then all the increase of your house will die while men.

³⁴ This will be the sign for you that will come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: They will both die on the same day. ³⁵ I will raise up for myself a faithful priest who will do what is in my heart and in my soul. I will build him a sure house; and he will walk before my anointed king forever.

³⁶ Everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him, asking for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and will say, "Please assign me to one of the priests' positions so I can eat a piece of bread."'"

Chapter 3

¹ The child Samuel served Yahweh under Eli. Yahweh's word was rare in those days; there was no frequent prophetic vision. ² At that time, Eli, whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see well, was lying down in his own bed. ³ The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of Yahweh, where the ark of God was. ⁴ Yahweh called to Samuel, who said, "Here I am."

⁵ Samuel ran to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Eli said, "I did not call you; lie down again." So Samuel went and lay down. ⁶ Yahweh called again, "Samuel." Again Samuel rose and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Eli answered, "I did not call you, my son; lie down again."

⁷ Now Samuel did not yet have any experience of Yahweh, nor had any message from Yahweh ever been revealed to him. ⁸ Yahweh called Samuel again the third time. Again Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am, for you called me." Then Eli realized that Yahweh had called the boy.

⁹ Then Eli said to Samuel, "Go and lie down again; if he calls you again, you must say, 'Speak, Yahweh, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his own place once more.

¹⁰ Yahweh came and stood; he called as at the other times, "Samuel, Samuel." Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening." ¹¹ Yahweh said to Samuel, "See, I am about to do something in Israel at which the ears of everyone who hears it will tingle.

¹² On that day I will carry out against Eli everything I have said about his house, from beginning to end. ¹³ I have told him that I am about to judge his house once for all for the iniquity that he knew about, because his sons brought a curse upon themselves and he did not stop them. ¹⁴ Because of this I have sworn to the house of Eli that the iniquity of his house will never be atoned for by sacrifice or offering."

¹⁵ Samuel lay down until morning; then he opened the doors of the house of Yahweh. But Samuel was afraid to tell Eli about the vision. ¹⁶ Then Eli called Samuel and said, "Samuel, my son." Samuel said, "Here I am."

¹⁷ He said, "What was the word he spoke to you? Please do not hide it from me. May God do so to you, and even more, if you hide anything from me of all the words that he spoke to you." ¹⁸ Samuel told him everything; he hid nothing from him. Eli said, "It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him."

¹⁹ Samuel grew up, and Yahweh was with him, and he let none of his prophetic words fall to the ground. ²⁰ All Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel was appointed to be a prophet of Yahweh. ²¹ Yahweh appeared again in Shiloh, for he revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by his word.

Chapter 4

¹ The word of Samuel came to all of Israel.

Now Israel went out to battle against the Philistines. They set up camp at Ebenezer, and the Philistines set up camp at Aphek.

² The Philistines lined up for battle against Israel. When the battle spread, Israel was defeated by the Philistines, who killed about four thousand men on the field of battle.

³ When the people came into the camp, the elders of Israel said, "Why has Yahweh defeated us today before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh here from Shiloh, that it may be here with us, that it might keep us safe from the hands of our enemies." ⁴ So the people sent men to Shiloh; from there they carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of hosts, who sits above the cherubim. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

⁵ When the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came into the camp, all of the people of Israel gave a great shout of joy, and the earth resounded. ⁶ When the Philistines heard the noise of the joyful shouting, they said, "What does this loud joyful shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" Then they realized that the ark of Yahweh had come into the camp.

⁷ The Philistines were afraid; they said, "A god has come into the camp." They said, "Woe to us! Nothing like this has happened before! ⁸ Woe to us! Who will protect us from the strength of these mighty gods? These are the gods who attacked the Egyptians with many different kinds of plagues in the wilderness. ⁹ Take courage, and be men, you Philistines, or you will become slaves to the Hebrews, as they have been slaves to you. Be men, and fight."

¹⁰ The Philistines fought, and Israel was defeated. Every man fled to his tent, and the slaughter was very great; for thirty thousand footmen from Israel fell. ¹¹ The ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died.

¹² A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, arriving with his clothes torn and earth on his head. ¹³ When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the road watching because his heart trembled with concern for the ark of God. When the man entered the city and told the news, the whole city cried out.

¹⁴ When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, "What is the meaning of this uproar?" The man quickly came and told Eli. ¹⁵ Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; his eyes did not focus, and he could not see.

¹⁶ The man said to Eli, "I am the one who came from the battle line. I fled from the battle today." Eli said, "How did it go, my son?" ¹⁷ The man who brought the news answered and said, "Israel fled from the Philistines. Also, there has been a great slaughter among the people. Also, your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God has been taken."

¹⁸ When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell over backward from his seat by the side of the gate. His neck was broken, and he died, because he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years.

¹⁹ Now his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news that the ark of God was captured and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she knelt down and gave birth, but her labor pains overwhelmed her. ²⁰ About the time of her death the women attending to her said, "Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son." But she did not answer or take what they said to heart.

²¹ She called the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has gone away from Israel!" for the ark of God had been captured, and because of her father-in-law and her husband. ²² She said, "The glory has gone away from Israel, because the ark of God has been captured."

Chapter 5

¹ Now the Philistines had captured the ark of God, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. ² The Philistines took the ark of God, brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it up beside Dagon. ³ When the people of Ashdod got up early the next day, behold, Dagon had fallen facedown on the ground before the ark of Yahweh. So they took Dagon and set him up in his place again.

⁴ But when they got up early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen facedown on the ground before the ark of Yahweh. The head of Dagon and both of his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon remained. ⁵ This is why, even today, the priests of Dagon and anyone who comes into Dagon's house does not step on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod.

⁶ Yahweh's hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod. He destroyed them and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territories. ⁷ When the men of Ashdod realized what was happening, they said, "The ark of the God of Israel must not stay with us, because his hand is hard against us and against Dagon our god."

⁸ So they sent for and gathered together all of the rulers of the Philistines; they said to them, "What should we do with the ark of the God of Israel?" They answered, "Let the ark of the God of Israel be brought around to Gath." So they carried the ark of the God of Israel there. ⁹ But after they brought it around, Yahweh's hand was against the city, causing a very great tumult. He afflicted the men of the city, both small and great; and tumors broke out on them.

¹⁰ So they sent the ark of God to Ekron. But as soon as the ark of God came into Ekron, the Ekronites cried out, saying, "They have brought to us the ark of the God of Israel to kill us and our people."

¹¹ So they sent for and gathered together all of the rulers of the Philistines; they said to them, "Send away the ark of the God of Israel, and let it return to its own place, so that it does not kill us and our people." For there was a deathly tumult throughout the city; the hand of God was very heavy there. ¹² The men who did not die were afflicted with the tumors, and the cry of the city went up to the heavens.

Chapter 6

¹ Now the ark of Yahweh was in the country of the Philistines for seven months. ² Then the Philistines called for the priests and the diviners; they said to them, "What should we do with the ark of Yahweh? Tell us how we should send it back to its own country."

³ The priests and diviners said, "If you send back the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it without a gift; by all means send him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted off of you until now." ⁴ Then they said, "What should the guilt offering be that we are returning to him?" They replied, "Five golden tumors and five golden mice, five being the number that is the same as the number of the rulers of the Philistines. For the same plague afflicted you and your rulers.

⁵ So you must make models of your tumors, and models of your mice that are ruining the land, and give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will lift his hand from you, from your gods, and from your land. ⁶ Why should you harden your hearts, as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened their hearts? That was when the God of Israel dealt severely with them; did not the Egyptians send away the people, and they left?

⁷ Now then, prepare a new cart with two nursing cows that have never been yoked. Tie the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them. ⁸ Take the ark of Yahweh and place it on the cart, and put the figures of gold, which you are returning to him as a guilt offering, in a box beside it. Send it off and let it go its way, ⁹ but watch. If it goes up the road to its own land toward Beth Shemesh, then it is Yahweh who has caused us this great harm. But if not, then we will know that it is not his hand that afflicted us; it happened to us by chance."

¹⁰ The men did as they were told; they took two nursing cows, tied them to the cart, and confined their calves at home. ¹¹ They put the ark of Yahweh on the cart, together with a box containing the golden mice and the castings of their tumors. ¹² The cows went straight in the direction of Beth Shemesh. They went along one highway, lowing as they went, and they did not turn aside either to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed after them to the border of Beth Shemesh.

¹³ Now the people of Beth Shemesh were harvesting their wheat in the valley. When they lifted up their eyes and saw the ark, they rejoiced.

¹⁴ The cart came into the field of Joshua from the town of Beth Shemesh and stopped there. A great stone was there, and they split the wood from the cart, and offered the cows as a burnt offering to Yahweh. ¹⁵ The Levites took down the ark of Yahweh and the box that was with it, where the golden figures were, and put them on the great stone. The men of Beth Shemesh offered burnt offerings and made sacrifices the same day to Yahweh.

¹⁶ When the five rulers of the Philistines saw this, they returned that day to Ekron.

¹⁷ These are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a guilt offering to Yahweh—one for Ashdod, one for Gaza, one for Ashkelon, one for Gath, and one for Ekron. ¹⁸ The golden mice were the same in number as the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five rulers, both fortified cities and country villages. The great stone, beside which they set down the ark of Yahweh, remains a witness to this day in the field of Joshua the Bethshemite.

¹⁹ Yahweh attacked some of the men of Beth Shemesh because they had looked into the ark of Yahweh. He killed 50,070 men. The people mourned, because Yahweh had given the people a great blow. ¹ ²⁰ The men of Beth Shemesh said, "Who is able to stand before Yahweh, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from us?"

²¹ They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of Yahweh; come down and take it back with you."

¹Instead of 50,070 men , some later copies and modern translations have, seventy men .

Chapter 7

¹ The men of Kiriath Jearim came, took the ark of Yahweh, and brought it into the house of Abinadab on the hill. They set apart his son Eleazar to keep the ark of Yahweh. ² From the day the ark remained in Kiriath Jearim, a long time passed, twenty years. All the house of Israel lamented and wished to turn to Yahweh.

³ Samuel said to the entire house of Israel, "If you return to Yahweh with your whole heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtoreths from among you, turn your hearts to Yahweh, and worship him only, then he will rescue you from the hand of the Philistines." ⁴ Then the people of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and worshiped Yahweh only.

⁵ Then Samuel said, "Bring together all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray to Yahweh for you." ⁶ They gathered at Mizpah, drew water and poured it out before Yahweh. They fasted that day and said, "We have sinned against Yahweh." It was there that Samuel decided disputes for the people of Israel and led the people.

⁷ Now when the Philistines heard the people of Israel had gathered at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines attacked Israel. When the people of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines. ⁸ Then the people of Israel said to Samuel, "Do not stop calling out to Yahweh our God for us, so he will save us from the hand of the Philistines."

⁹ Samuel took a nursing lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to Yahweh. Then Samuel cried out to Yahweh for Israel, and Yahweh answered him.

¹⁰ As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines approached to attack Israel. But Yahweh thundered with a loud sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel. ¹¹ The men of Israel went from Mizpah, and they pursued the Philistines and killed them as far as below Beth Kar.

¹² Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far Yahweh has helped us."

¹³ So the Philistines were subdued and they did not enter the border of Israel. The hand of Yahweh was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel. ¹⁴ The towns that the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron to Gath; Israel brought back their territory from the Philistines. Then there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

¹⁵ Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. ¹⁶ Each year he went on a circuit to Bethel, to Gilgal, and to Mizpah. He decided disputes for Israel in all these places. ¹⁷ Then he would return to Ramah, because his house was there; and there also he decided disputes for Israel. He also built an altar there to Yahweh.

Chapter 8

¹ When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel. ² The name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beersheba. ³ His sons did not walk in his ways, but chased after dishonest gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.

⁴ Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. ⁵ They said to him, "Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations."

⁶ But it displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." So Samuel prayed to Yahweh. ⁷ Yahweh said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in everything they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them.

⁸ The same deeds they have done since the day I brought them out of Egypt—abandoning me and serving other gods—they are now doing also to you. ⁹ Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know by what ordinances the king will reign over them."

¹⁰ So Samuel told all the words of Yahweh to the people who were asking for a king. ¹¹ He said, "These will be the ordinances of the king who will reign over you. He will take your sons and appoint them to his chariots and to be his horsemen, and to run before his chariots. ¹² He will appoint for himself captains of thousands and captains of fifties. He will make some plow his ground, some reap his harvest, and some make his weapons of war and the equipment for his chariots.

¹³ He will also take your daughters to be perfumers, cooks, and bakers. ¹⁴ He will take the very best of your fields, your vineyards, and your olive orchards, and give them to his servants. ¹⁵ He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give to his officers and his servants.

¹⁶ He will take your male servants and your female servants and the best of your cattle ¹ and your donkeys; he will put them all to work for him. ¹⁷ He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves. ¹⁸ Then on that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves; but Yahweh will not answer you on that day."

¹⁹ But the people refused to listen to Samuel; they said, "No! There must be a king over us ²⁰ so that we might be like all the other nations, and so that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles."

²¹ When Samuel heard all the words of the people he repeated them in the ears of Yahweh. ²² Yahweh said to Samuel, "Obey their voice and cause a king to reign over them." So Samuel said to the men of Israel, "Every man must go to his own city."

¹The Hebrew text can be read as: young men instead of cattle.

Chapter 9

¹ There was a man from Benjamin, a man of great wealth. His name was Kish son of Abiel son of Zeror son of Bekorath son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite. ² He had a son named Saul, a handsome young man. There was no man among the people of Israel who was a more handsome person than he. From his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people.

³ Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, "Take one of the servants with you; arise and go search for the donkeys." ⁴ So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and went through the land of Shalisha, but they did not find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not find them.

⁵ When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us go back, or my father may stop caring for the donkeys and become anxious about us." ⁶ But the servant said to him, "See now, there is a man of God in this city. He is a man who is held in honor; everything that he says comes true. Let us go there; maybe he can tell us which way we should go on our journey."

⁷ Then Saul said to his servant, "But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sack is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?" ⁸ The servant answered Saul and said, "Here, I have with me one-fourth of a shekel of silver that I will give to the man of God, to tell us which way we should go."

⁹ (Formerly in Israel, when a man went to seek the knowledge of God's will, he said, "Come, let us go to the seer." For today's prophet was formerly called a seer.) ¹⁰ Then Saul said to his servant, "Well said. Come, let us go." So they went to the city where the man of God was.

¹¹ As they went up the hill to the city, they found young women coming out to draw water; Saul and his servant said to them, "Is the seer here?"

¹² They answered, and said, "He is; see, he is just ahead of you. Hurry up, for he is coming to the city today, because the people are sacrificing today at the high place. ¹³ As soon as you enter the city you will find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he will bless the sacrifice; afterwards those who are invited will eat. Now go up, for you will find him immediately."

¹⁴ So they went up to the city. As they were entering the city, they saw Samuel coming out toward them, to go up to the high place.

¹⁵ Now the day before Saul came, Yahweh had revealed to Samuel: ¹⁶ "Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you will anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He will save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked on my people with pity because their cry for help has come to me."

¹⁷ When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh told him, "Here is the man I told you about! He is the one who will rule over my people." ¹⁸ Then Saul came close to Samuel in the gate and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?" ¹⁹ Samuel answered Saul and said, "I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for today you will eat with me. In the morning I will let you go, and I will tell you everything that is on your mind.

²⁰ As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. Then on whom are all the desires of Israel set? Is it not on you and all your father's house?" ²¹ Saul answered and said, "Am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest of the tribes of Israel? Is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this manner?"

²² So Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them at the head place of those who had been invited, who were about thirty people.

²³ Samuel said to the cook, "Bring the portion which I gave to you, of which I said to you, 'Put it aside.'" ²⁴ So the cook took up the thigh and what was on it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, "See what has been kept is set before you. Eat it, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, from the time when I said, 'I have invited the people.'" So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

²⁵ When they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the rooftop. ²⁶ Then at the break of dawn, Samuel called to Saul on the rooftop and said, "Get up, so I can send you on your way." So Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went out into the street.

²⁷ As they were going to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell the servant to go ahead of us"—and he went ahead—"but you must stay here awhile, that I may announce the message of God to you."

Chapter 10

¹ Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul's head, and kissed him. He said, "Has not Yahweh anointed you to be a ruler over his inheritance? ² When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel's tomb, in the territory of Benjamin at Zelzah. They will say to you, 'The donkeys that you were looking for have been found. Now your father has stopped caring about the donkeys and is anxious about you, saying, "What should I do about my son?"'

³ Then you will go on further from there, and you will come to the oak of Tabor. Three men going to God at Bethel will meet you there, one carrying three young goats, another carrying three loaves of bread, and another carrying a skin of wine. ⁴ They will greet you and give you two loaves of bread, which you will take from their hands.

⁵ After that, you will come to the hill of God, where the garrison of the Philistines is. When you arrive at the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a lute, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; they will be prophesying. ⁶ The Spirit of Yahweh will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them, and you will be changed into a different man.

⁷ Now, when these signs come to you, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you. ⁸ Go down before me to Gilgal. Then I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice peace offerings. Wait seven days until I come to you and show you what you must do."

⁹ When Saul turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. Then all these signs came to pass that day. ¹⁰ When they came to the hill, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him so that he prophesied with them.

¹¹ When everyone who knew him before saw him prophesying with the prophets, the people said to each other, "What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul one of the prophets now?" ¹² A man who was from that same place answered, "Then who is their father?" Because of this, it became a saying, "Is Saul also one of the prophets?" ¹³ When he finished prophesying, he came to the high place.

¹⁴ Then Saul's uncle said to him and his servant, "Where did you go?" He replied, "To search for the donkeys. When we saw that we could not find them, we went to Samuel." ¹⁵ Saul's uncle said, "Please tell me what Samuel said to you." ¹⁶ Saul replied to his uncle, "He told us plainly that the donkeys had been found." But he did not tell him about the matter of the kingdom, of which Samuel had spoken.

¹⁷ Now Samuel called the people together before Yahweh at Mizpah. ¹⁸ He said to the people of Israel, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel says: 'I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians, and from the hand of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.' ¹⁹ But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all of your calamities and your distresses; and you have said to him, 'Set a king over us.' Now present yourselves before Yahweh by your tribes and by your clans."

²⁰ So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel near, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen. ²¹ Then he brought the tribe of Benjamin near by their clans; and the clan of the Matrites was chosen; and Saul son of Kish was chosen. But when they went looking for him, he could not be found.

²² Then the people wanted to ask God more questions, "Is there still another man to come?" Yahweh answered, "He has hidden himself among the baggage." ²³ Then they ran and retrieved Saul from there. When he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

²⁴ Then Samuel said to the people, "Do you see the man whom Yahweh has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people!" All the people shouted, "Long live the king!"

²⁵ Then Samuel told the people the customs and rules of kingship, wrote them down in a book, and placed it before Yahweh. Samuel then sent all the people away, each man to his own house.

²⁶ Saul also went to his home at Gibeah, and with him went some strong men, whose hearts God had touched. ²⁷ But some worthless men said, "How can this man save us?" These people despised Saul and did not bring him any gifts. But Saul kept silent. ¹

¹Some modern translations add to this verse the following paragraph: Nahash king of the Ammonites had severely oppressed the Gadites and Reubenites. He dug out the right eye of each man and did not allow anyone to rescue Israel. Across the Jordan River was left no Israelites whose right eye Nahash king of the Ammonites had not dug out. But seven thousand men had escaped from the Ammonites and had gone into Jabesh Gilead .

Chapter 11

¹ Then Nahash the Ammonite went and besieged Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Make a covenant with us, and we will serve you." ² Nahash the Ammonite replied, "On this condition will I make a treaty with you, that I gouge out all of your right eyes, and in this way bring disgrace on all Israel."

³ Then the elders of Jabesh replied to him, "Leave us alone for seven days, so that we may send messengers to all the territory of Israel. Then, if there is no one to save us, we will surrender to you."

⁴ The messengers came to Gibeah, where Saul lived, and told the people what had happened. All the people wept loudly. ⁵ Now Saul was following the oxen out of the field. Saul said, "What is wrong with the people that they are weeping?" They told Saul what the men of Jabesh had said.

⁶ When Saul heard what they said, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he was very angry. ⁷ He took a yoke of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them throughout all the territory of Israel with the messengers. He said, "Whoever does not come out after Saul and after Samuel, this is what will be done to his oxen." Then the terror of Yahweh fell on the people, and they came out together as one man. ⁸ When he mustered them at Bezek, the people of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.

⁹ They said to the messengers that came, "You will tell the men of Jabesh Gilead, 'Tomorrow, by the time the sun is hot, deliverance will be yours.'" So the messengers went and told the men of Jabesh, and they were glad. ¹⁰ Then the men of Jabesh said to Nahash, "Tomorrow we will surrender to you, and you can do to us whatever seems good to you."

¹¹ The next day Saul put the people in three groups. They came into the middle of the camp during the morning watch, and they attacked and defeated the Ammonites until the heat of the day. Those who survived were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.

¹² Then the people said to Samuel, "Who was it who said, 'Will Saul reign over us?' Bring the men, so we can put them to death." ¹³ But Saul said, "No one must be put to death this day, because today Yahweh has brought about deliverance in Israel."

¹⁴ Then Samuel said to the people, "Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there." ¹⁵ So all the people went to Gilgal and made Saul king before Yahweh in Gilgal. There they sacrificed peace offerings before Yahweh, and Saul and all the men of Israel rejoiced greatly.

Chapter 12

¹ Samuel said to all Israel, "I have listened to everything you said to me, and I have set a king to reign over you. ² Now, here is the king walking before you; and I am old and gray; and, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until today.

³ Here I am; testify against me before Yahweh and before his anointed one. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with? Testify against me, and I will restore it to you."

⁴ They said, "You have not defrauded us, oppressed us, or stolen anything from any man's hand." ⁵ He said to them, "Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed one is witness today, that you have found nothing in my hand." They replied, "Yahweh is witness."

⁶ Samuel said to the people, "It is Yahweh who appointed Moses and Aaron, and who brought your fathers up from the land of Egypt. ⁷ Now then, present yourself, so that I may plead with you before Yahweh about all of the righteous deeds of Yahweh, which he did for you and your fathers.

⁸ When Jacob came to Egypt, and your ancestors cried out to Yahweh, then Yahweh sent Moses and Aaron, who led your ancestors out of Egypt and they settled in this place. ⁹ But they forgot Yahweh their God; he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the armies of Hazor, into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab; these all fought against your ancestors.

¹⁰ They cried out to Yahweh and said, 'We have sinned, because we have abandoned Yahweh and have served the Baals and the Ashtoreths. But now rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and we will serve you.' ¹¹ So Yahweh sent Jerub-Baal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and gave you victory over your enemies all around you, so that you lived in security.

¹² When you saw that Nahash the king of the people of Ammon came against you, you said to me, 'No, a king must rule over us'—even though Yahweh your God was your king. ¹³ Now here is the king whom you have chosen, whom you have asked for and whom Yahweh has now appointed as king over you.

¹⁴ If you fear Yahweh, serve him, obey his voice, and not rebel against the command of Yahweh, then both you and the king who reigns over you will be followers of Yahweh your God. ¹⁵ If you do not obey the voice of Yahweh, but rebel against the commands of Yahweh, then Yahweh's hand will be against you, as it was against your ancestors.

¹⁶ Even now present yourself and see this great thing which Yahweh will do before your eyes. ¹⁷ Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call upon Yahweh, that he may send thunder and rain. Then you will know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of Yahweh, in asking for yourselves a king." ¹⁸ So Samuel called to Yahweh; and that same day Yahweh sent thunder and rain. Then all the people greatly feared Yahweh and Samuel.

¹⁹ Then all the people said to Samuel, "Pray for your servants to Yahweh your God, so that we do not die. For we have added to all our sins this evil in asking for a king for ourselves." ²⁰ Samuel replied, "Do not be afraid. You have done all this evil, but do not turn away from Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart. ²¹ Do not turn away after empty things that cannot profit or rescue you, because they are useless.

²² For the sake of his great name, Yahweh will not reject his people, because it has pleased Yahweh to make you a people for himself. ²³ As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh by ceasing to pray for you. I will teach you the way that is good and right.

²⁴ Only fear Yahweh and serve him in truth with all your heart. Consider the great things he has done for you. ²⁵ But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be destroyed."

Chapter 13

¹ Saul was thirty years old when he began to reign; when he had reigned forty years over Israel, ² he chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with him in Mikmash and in the hill country of Bethel, while a thousand were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. The rest of the soldiers he sent home, each man to his tent.

³ Jonathan defeated the garrison of the Philistines that was at Geba and the Philistines heard of it. Then Saul blew the ram's horn throughout all the land, saying, "Let the Hebrews hear." ⁴ All Israel heard that Saul had defeated the garrison of the Philistines, and also that Israel had become a rotten smell to the Philistines. Then the soldiers were summoned together to join Saul at Gilgal.

⁵ The Philistines gathered together to fight against Israel, with three thousand chariots, six thousand men to drive the chariots, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They came up and encamped at Mikmash, east of Beth Aven.

⁶ When the men of Israel saw that they were in trouble—for the people were distressed, the people hid in caves, in the underbrush, in rocks, in wells, and in pits. ⁷ Some of the Hebrews went over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. But Saul was still at Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

⁸ He waited seven days, the time Samuel had set. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the people were scattering from Saul. ⁹ Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings." Then he offered the burnt offering. ¹⁰ As soon as he finished offering the burnt offering Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet him and to greet him.

¹¹ Then Samuel said, "What have you done?" Saul replied, "When I saw that the people were leaving me, and that you did not come within the set time, and that the Philistines had assembled at Mikmash, ¹² I said, 'Now the Philistines will come down against me at Gilgal, and I have not sought the favor of Yahweh.' So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering."

¹³ Then Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly. You have not kept the command of Yahweh your God that he commanded you. For then Yahweh would have established your rule over Israel forever. ¹⁴ But now your rule will not continue. Yahweh has sought out a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not obeyed what he commanded you."

¹⁵ Then Samuel arose and went up from Gilgal to Gibeah of Benjamin.

Then Saul numbered the people who were present with him, about six hundred men.

¹⁶ Saul, his son Jonathan, and the people who were present with them, stayed in Geba of Benjamin. But the Philistines camped at Mikmash.

¹⁷ Raiders came from the camp of the Philistines in three groups. One group turned toward Ophrah, to the land of Shual. ¹⁸ Another group turned toward Beth Horon, and another group turned toward the border that overlooks the Valley of Zeboyim toward the wilderness.

¹⁹ No blacksmith could be found throughout all of Israel, because the Philistines said, "Otherwise the Hebrews would make swords or spears for themselves." ²⁰ But all the men of Israel used to go down to the Philistines, each to sharpen his plow points, his mattock, his ax, and his sickle. ²¹ The charge was two-thirds of a shekel for the plow points, and the mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for sharpening axes and for straightening the goads.

²² So on the day of battle, there were no swords or spears found in the hands of any of the soldiers who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had them. ²³ The garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Mikmash.

Chapter 14

¹ One day, Jonathan son of Saul said to the young man who was his armor bearer, "Come, let us go over to the Philistines' garrison on the other side." But he did not tell his father.

² Saul was staying on the outskirts of Gibeah under the pomegranate tree that is in Migron. About six hundred men were with him, ³ including Ahijah son of Ahitub (Ichabod's brother) son of Phinehas son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh at Shiloh, who wore an ephod. The people did not know that Jonathan was gone.

⁴ On each side of the pass through which Jonathan wanted to go in order to get to the Philistines' garrison, there was a rocky cliff on one side and another rocky cliff on the other side. One rocky cliff was named Bozez and the other rocky cliff was named Seneh. ⁵ One rocky cliff stood on the north in front of Mikmash, and the other on the south in front of Geba.

⁶ Jonathan said to his young armor bearer, "Come, let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised fellows. It may be that Yahweh will work on our behalf, for nothing can stop Yahweh from saving by many or by few people." ⁷ His armor bearer replied, "Do everything that is in your heart. Go ahead, see, I am with you, to obey all your commands."

⁸ Then Jonathan said, "We will cross over to the men, and we will show ourselves to them. ⁹ If they say to us, 'Wait there until we come over to you'—then we will stay in our place and will not cross over to them. ¹⁰ But if they reply, 'Come over to us,' then we will cross over; because Yahweh has given them into our hand. This will be the sign to us."

¹¹ So both of them revealed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. The Philistines said, "Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves." ¹² Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you something." Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Follow after me, because Yahweh has given them into the hand of Israel."

¹³ Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, and his armor bearer followed behind him. The Philistines were put to death before Jonathan, and his armor bearer put some to death behind him. ¹⁴ That first attack that Jonathan and his armor bearer made, killed about twenty men within an area of half an acre.

¹⁵ There was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among the people. Even the garrison and the raiders panicked. The earth quaked, and there was a great panic.

¹⁶ Then Saul's watchmen in Gibeah of Benjamin looked; the crowd of Philistine soldiers was dispersing, and they were going here and there. ¹⁷ Then Saul said to the people that were with him, "Count and see who is missing from us." When they had counted, Jonathan and his armor bearer were missing.

¹⁸ Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here," for at that time it was with the people of Israel. ¹⁹ While Saul was talking to the priest, the commotion in the camp of the Philistines was continuing and increasing. Then Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand."

²⁰ Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into battle. Every Philistine's sword was against his fellow countrymen, and there was very great tumult. ²¹ Now those Hebrews who previously had been with the Philistines, and who had gone with them into the camp, even they joined with Israel who were with Saul and Jonathan.

²² When all the men of Israel who had hidden themselves in the hills near Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, even they chased after them in battle. ²³ So Yahweh saved Israel that day, and the battle passed beyond Beth Aven.

²⁴ That day the men of Israel were distressed because Saul had put the people under an oath and said, "Cursed be the man that eats any food until evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the troops tasted food. ²⁵ Then all the people entered the forest and there was honey upon the ground. ²⁶ When the people entered into the forest, the honey flowed, but no one put his hand to his mouth for the people feared the curse.

²⁷ But Jonathan had not heard that his father had bound the people with an oath. He reached out the tip of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened. ²⁸ Then one of the people, answered, "Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, by saying, 'Cursed be the man that eats food on this day,' even though the people are weak from hunger."

²⁹ Then Jonathan said, "My father has made trouble for the land. See how my eyes have become brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. ³⁰ How much better if the people had eaten freely today of the plunder from their enemies that they found? Because now the slaughter has not been great among the Philistines."

³¹ They attacked the Philistines that day from Mikmash to Aijalon. The people were very weary. ³² The people rushed greedily on the plunder and took sheep, cattle and calves, and killed them on the ground. The people ate them with the blood.

³³ Then they told Saul, "Look, the people are sinning against Yahweh by eating with the blood." Saul said, "You have acted unfaithfully. Now, roll a big stone here to me." ³⁴ Saul said, "Go out among the people, and tell them, 'Let every man bring his cattle and his sheep, and slaughter them here and eat them. Do not sin against Yahweh by eating meat with the blood.'" So each of the people brought his own ox with him that night and killed it there.

³⁵ Saul built an altar to Yahweh, which was the first altar that he built to Yahweh.

³⁶ Then Saul said, "Let us pursue the Philistines by night and plunder them until the morning light; let us not leave one of them alive." They replied, "Do whatever seems good to you." But the priest said, "Let us approach God here." ³⁷ Saul asked God, "Should I pursue the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?" But God did not answer him that day.

³⁸ Then Saul said, "Come here, all you leaders of the people; learn and see how this sin has happened today. ³⁹ For, as Yahweh lives, who saves Israel, even if it is in Jonathan my son, he will surely die." But none of the men among all the people answered him.

⁴⁰ Then he said to all Israel, "You must stand on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other." The people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you." ⁴¹ Saul said, "Yahweh, God of Israel! If this sin has been committed by me or by my son Jonathan, then, Yahweh, God of Israel, give the Urim. But if this sin has been committed by your people Israel, give the Thummim." ¹ Then Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, but the army was exonerated. ⁴² Then Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son." Then Jonathan was taken by lot.

⁴³ Then Saul said to Jonathan, "Tell me what you have done." Jonathan told him, "I tasted a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand. Here I am; I will die." ⁴⁴ Saul said, "God do so and more also to me, if you do not die, Jonathan."

⁴⁵ Then the people said to Saul, "Should Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great salvation for Israel? Far from it! As Yahweh lives, not one hair of his head will fall to the ground, for he has worked with God today." So the people ransomed Jonathan so that he did not die. ⁴⁶ Then Saul stopped pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.

⁴⁷ When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side. He fought against Moab, the Ammonites, Edom, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he inflicted punishment on them. ⁴⁸ He acted with great courage and defeated the Amalekites. He rescued Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.

⁴⁹ The sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malki-Shua. The names of his two daughters were Merab, the firstborn, and Michal, the younger. ⁵⁰ The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam; she was the daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the captain of his army was Abner son of Ner, Saul's uncle. ⁵¹ Kish was Saul's father; and Ner, the father of Abner, was the son of Abiel.

⁵² There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. When Saul saw any mighty man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.

¹The ULB is following the ancient Greek translation in the quotation. The Hebrew copies have: Give me the right answer .

Chapter 15

¹ Samuel said to Saul, "Yahweh sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel. Now listen to the words of Yahweh. ² This is what Yahweh of hosts says, 'I have noted what Amalek did to Israel in opposing them on the way, when they came up from Egypt. ³ Now go and attack Amalek and completely destroy all that they have. Do not spare them, but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, cattle and sheep, camel and donkey.'"

⁴ Saul summoned the people and numbered them at the city of Telaim—two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. ⁵ Then Saul came to the city of Amalek and waited in the valley.

⁶ Then Saul said to the Kenites, "Go, depart, come out from among the Amalekites, so I do not destroy you along with them. For you showed kindness to all the people of Israel, when they came from Egypt." So the Kenites moved away from the Amalekites. ⁷ Then Saul attacked the Amalekites, from Havilah as far as Shur, which is east of Egypt.

⁸ Then he took Agag the king of the Amalekites alive; he completely destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword. ⁹ But Saul and the people spared Agag, as well as the best of the sheep and cattle, fattened calves and the lambs. Everything that was good, they did not destroy. But they completely destroyed anything that was despised and worthless.

¹⁰ Then the word of Yahweh came to Samuel, saying, ¹¹ "I regret that I have set Saul to reign as king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments." Samuel was angry; he cried out to Yahweh all night.

¹² Samuel got up early to meet Saul in the morning. Samuel was told, "Saul came to Carmel and he set up a monument to himself, then turned and proceeded on down to Gilgal." ¹³ Then Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you by Yahweh! I have fulfilled the command of Yahweh."

¹⁴ Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the cattle that I hear?" ¹⁵ Saul replied, "They have brought them from the Amalekites. For the people spared the best of the sheep and cattle, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God. The rest we have completely destroyed." ¹⁶ Then Samuel said to Saul, "Wait, and I will tell you what Yahweh has said to me tonight." Saul said to him, "Speak!"

¹⁷ Samuel said, "Though you are little in your own sight, were you not made the head of the tribes of Israel? Then Yahweh anointed you king over Israel, ¹⁸ and Yahweh sent you on your way and said, 'Go and completely destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are destroyed.' ¹⁹ Why did you not obey the voice of Yahweh? Why did you rush to the plunder and do what was evil in the sight of Yahweh?"

²⁰ Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have indeed obeyed the voice of Yahweh, and have gone on the way that Yahweh sent me. I have captured Agag, the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites. ²¹ But the people took some of the booty—sheep and cattle, the best of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal."

²² Samuel replied, "Has Yahweh as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Obedience is better than sacrifice, and to listen is better than the fat of rams. ²³ For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and stubbornness is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, he has also rejected you from being king."

²⁴ Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; for I have broken Yahweh's commandment and your words, because I was afraid of the people and obeyed their voice. ²⁵ Now, please pardon my sin, and return with me so that I may worship Yahweh."

²⁶ Samuel said to Saul, "I will not go back with you; for you have rejected the word of Yahweh, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel." ²⁷ As Samuel turned to leave, Saul took hold of the hem of his robe, and it tore.

²⁸ Samuel said to him, "Yahweh has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to a neighbor of yours, one who is better than you. ²⁹ Also, the Strength of Israel will not lie nor change his mind; for he is not a man, that he should change his mind."

³⁰ Then Saul said, "I have sinned. But please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God." ³¹ So Samuel turned again after Saul, and Saul worshiped Yahweh.

³² Then Samuel said, "Bring Agag the king of the Amalekites here to me." Agag came to him confined with chains and said, "Surely death is bitter." ³³ Samuel replied, "As your sword has made women childless, so must your mother be childless among women." Then Samuel chopped Agag to pieces before Yahweh at Gilgal.

³⁴ Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his house at Gibeah of Saul. ³⁵ Samuel did not see Saul until the day of his death, for he mourned for Saul. Yahweh regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Chapter 16

¹ Yahweh said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I will send you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have selected for myself a king among his sons."

² Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." Yahweh said, "Take a heifer with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh.' ³ Call Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you will do. You will anoint for me the one whom I tell you."

⁴ Samuel did as Yahweh said and went to Bethlehem. The elders of the city were trembling as they came to meet him and said, "Are you coming in peace?" ⁵ He said, "In peace; I have come to sacrifice to Yahweh. Prepare to set yourselves apart and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he set apart Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

⁶ When they came, he looked at Eliab and said to himself that Yahweh's anointed was certainly standing before him. ⁷ But Yahweh said to Samuel, "Do not look at his outward appearance, or on the height of his stature; because I have rejected him. For Yahweh does not see as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but Yahweh looks on the heart."

⁸ Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. Then Samuel said, "Neither has Yahweh chosen this one." ⁹ Jesse then made Shammah pass by, but Samuel said, "Neither has Yahweh chosen this one." ¹⁰ Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Yahweh has not chosen any of these."

¹¹ Then Samuel said to Jesse, "Are these all the boys?" He replied, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is tending the sheep." Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and get him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." ¹² Jesse sent and brought him in. Now this son was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and a handsome appearance. Yahweh said, "Arise, anoint him; for he is the one."

¹³ Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. The Spirit of Yahweh rushed on David from that day forward. Then Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

¹⁴ Now the Spirit of Yahweh left Saul, and a harmful spirit from Yahweh tormented him instead. ¹⁵ Saul's servants said to him, "See now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you. ¹⁶ Let our master now command your servants who are before you to search for a man who is a skillful player on the harp. Then when the harmful spirit from God is on you, he will play it and you will be well."

¹⁷ Saul said to his servants, "Find me a man that can play well and bring him to me." ¹⁸ Then one of the young men answered, and said, "I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, who is skillful in playing, a strong, courageous man, a man of war, one prudent in speech, a handsome man; and Yahweh is with him." ¹⁹ So Saul sent messengers to Jesse, and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."

²⁰ Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a container of wine, and a young goat, and sent them with his son David to Saul. ²¹ Then David came to Saul and entered his service. Saul loved him greatly, and he became his armor bearer.

²² Saul sent to Jesse, saying, "Let David stand before me, for he has found favor in my eyes." ²³ Whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the harp and played it. So Saul would be refreshed and well, and the harmful spirit would depart from him.

Chapter 17

¹ Now the Philistines gathered their armies for battle. They were gathered at Sokoh, which belongs to Judah. They had encamped between Sokoh and Azekah, in Ephes Dammim.

² Saul and the men of Israel gathered and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up their battle line to meet the Philistines. ³ The Philistines stood on a mountain on one side, and Israel stood on a mountain on the other side with a valley between them.

⁴ A strong man came out of the Philistines' camp, a man named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span. ⁵ He had a helmet of bronze on his head, and he was clothed in scale armor of bronze that weighed five thousand shekels.

⁶ He had bronze armor on his legs and a javelin of bronze between his shoulders. ⁷ The staff of his spear was large, with a loop of cord for throwing it like the cord on a weaver's beam. His spear's head weighed six hundred shekels of iron. His shield bearer went before him.

⁸ He stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. ⁹ If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then will we be your servants. But if I defeat him and kill him, then you will be our servants and serve us."

¹⁰ Again the Philistine said, "I defy the ranks of Israel today. Give me a man so we may fight together." ¹¹ When Saul and all Israel heard what the Philistine said, they were discouraged and greatly afraid.

¹² Now David was the son of the Ephrathite of Bethlehem in Judah, whose name was Jesse. He had eight sons. Jesse was an old man in the days of Saul, very old among men. ¹³ The three oldest sons of Jesse had followed Saul to the battle. The names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the firstborn, second to him Abinadab, and the third Shammah.

¹⁴ David was the youngest. The three oldest followed Saul. ¹⁵ Now David went back and forth between Saul's army and his father's sheep at Bethlehem, in order to feed them. ¹⁶ For forty days the Philistine strong man came near morning and evening to present himself for battle.

¹⁷ Then Jesse said to his son David, "Take to your brothers an ephah of this roasted grain and these ten loaves, and carry them quickly to the camp for your brothers. ¹⁸ Also bring these ten cheeses to the captain of their thousand. Look to the well-being of your brothers, and bring back some evidence that they are doing well.

¹⁹ Your brothers are with Saul and all the men of Israel in the Valley of Elah, fighting the Philistines." ²⁰ David got up early in the morning and left the flock in the care of a shepherd. He took the supplies and left, as Jesse commanded him. He came to the camp as the army was going out to the battlefield shouting the war cry. ²¹ Then Israel and the Philistines lined up for battle, army against army.

²² David left his belongings with the keeper of supplies, ran to the army, and greeted his brothers. ²³ As he talked with them, the strong man, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, came out of the ranks of the Philistines and said the same words as before, and David heard them. ²⁴ When all the men of Israel saw the man, they fled from him and were very afraid.

²⁵ The men of Israel said, "Have you seen this man who has come up? He has come to defy Israel. The king will give great riches to the man who kills him, and he will give his daughter to him in marriage, and will make his father's house free from taxation in Israel."

²⁶ David said to the men who stood by him, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" ²⁷ Then the people repeated what they had been saying and told him, "So it will be done for the man who kills him."

²⁸ Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men. Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? With whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride, and the mischief in your heart; for you have come down here so that you might see the battle." ²⁹ David said, "What have I done now? Was it not just a question?" ³⁰ He turned away from him toward another, and spoke in the same way. The people answered the same thing as before.

³¹ When the words that David said were heard, soldiers repeated them to Saul, and he sent for David. ³² Then David said to Saul, "Let no man's heart fail because of that Philistine; your servant will go and fight with this Philistine." ³³ Saul said to David, "You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are only a youth, and he a man of war from his youth."

³⁴ But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to shepherd his father's sheep. When a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, ³⁵ I chased after him and attacked him, and rescued it out of his mouth. When he rose up against me, I caught him by his beard, struck him, and put him to death.

³⁶ Your servant has killed both a lion and a bear. This uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, since he has defied the armies of the living God."

³⁷ David said, "Yahweh rescued me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear. He will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine." Then Saul said to David, "Go, and may Yahweh be with you." ³⁸ Saul clothed David with his armor. He put a helmet of bronze upon his head, and he clothed him with a coat of chainmail.

³⁹ David strapped his sword on his armor. But he was not able to walk, because he had not trained with them. Then David said to Saul, "I cannot go out to fight with these, for I have not trained with them." So David put them off. ⁴⁰ He took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones out of the brook; he put them in his shepherd's pouch. His sling was in his hand as he approached the Philistine.

⁴¹ The Philistine came and approached David, with his shield bearer in front of him. ⁴² When the Philistine looked around and saw David, he despised him, for he was only a boy, and ruddy, with a handsome appearance. ⁴³ Then the Philistine said to David, "Am I a dog, that you come to me with sticks?," and the Philistine cursed David by his gods.

⁴⁴ The Philistine said to David, "Come to me, and I will give your flesh to the birds of the heavens and to the wild animals of the field." ⁴⁵ David replied to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin. But I come to you in the name of Yahweh of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.

⁴⁶ Today Yahweh will give me victory over you, and I will kill you and remove your head from your body. Today I will give the dead bodies of the Philistine army to the birds of the heavens and to the wild beasts of the earth, so that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, ⁴⁷ and that all this gathering may know that Yahweh does not save with sword or spear. For the battle is Yahweh's, and he will give you into our hand."

⁴⁸ When the Philistine rose and approached David, then David ran quickly toward the enemy army to meet him. ⁴⁹ David put his hand in his bag, took a stone from it, slung it, and hit the Philistine in the forehead. The stone sank into the Philistine's forehead, and he fell on his face to the ground.

⁵⁰ David defeated the Philistine with a sling and with a stone. He hit the Philistine and put him to death. There was no sword in David's hand. ⁵¹ Then David ran and stood over the Philistine and took his sword, drew it out of the sheath, killed him, and cut off his head with it. When the Philistines saw that their mighty man was dead, they fled.

⁵² Then the men of Israel and of Judah rose with a shout, and chased after the Philistines as far as the valley and the gates of Ekron. The dead Philistines lay along the way to Shaaraim, all the way to Gath and Ekron. ⁵³ The people of Israel returned from hotly pursuing the Philistines, and they plundered their camp. ⁵⁴ David took the head of the Philistine and brought it to Jerusalem, but he put his armor in his tent.

⁵⁵ When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine, he said to Abner, the captain of the army, "Abner, whose son is this youth?" Abner said, "As you live, king, I do not know." ⁵⁶ The king said, "Ask those who might know, whose son the boy is."

⁵⁷ When David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him, and brought him before Saul with the head of the Philistine in his hand. ⁵⁸ Saul said to him, "Whose son are you, young man?" David answered, "I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite."

Chapter 18

¹ When he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was bound to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. ² Saul took David into his service that day; he did not let him return to his father's house.

³ Then Jonathan and David made a covenant of friendship because Jonathan loved him as his own soul. ⁴ Jonathan took off the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David with his armor, as well as his sword, bow, and belt.

⁵ David went out wherever Saul sent him, and he succeeded. Saul set him over the men of war. This was pleasing in the eyes of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants.

⁶ As they came home from defeating the Philistines, the women came from all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with musical instruments. ⁷ The women sang one to another as they played. They sang:

"Saul has killed his thousands,

and David his ten thousands."

⁸ Saul was very angry, and this song displeased him. He said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but they have ascribed only thousands to me. What more can he have but the kingship?" ⁹ Saul looked at David with suspicion from that day on.

¹⁰ The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul and he prophesied within the house. So David played his instrument, as he did each day. Saul had a spear in his hand. ¹¹ Saul threw the spear, for he thought, "I will pin David to the wall." But David escaped from Saul's presence twice in this way. ¹² Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, but was no longer with Saul.

¹³ So Saul removed him from his presence and appointed him a commander of a thousand. In this way David went out and came in before the people. ¹⁴ David was prospering in all his ways, for Yahweh was with him.

¹⁵ When Saul saw that he prospered, he stood in awe of him. ¹⁶ But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he went out and came in before them.

¹⁷ Then Saul said to David, "Here is my oldest daughter Merab. I will give her to you as a wife. Only be courageous for me and fight Yahweh's battles." For Saul thought, "Let not my hand be on him, but let the hand of the Philistines be on him." ¹⁸ David said to Saul, "Who am I, and who are my relatives, or my father's clan in Israel, that I should be son-in-law to the king?"

¹⁹ But at the time when Merab, Saul's daughter, should have been given to David, she was given to Adriel the Meholathite as a wife.

²⁰ But Michal, Saul's daughter, loved David. They told Saul, and this pleased him. ²¹ Then Saul thought, "I will give her to him, so that she can be a trap for him, and that the hand of the Philistines may be against him." So Saul said to David a second time, "You will be my son-in-law."

²² Saul commanded his servants, "Speak with David in private, and say, 'See, the king takes pleasure in you, and all his servants love you. Now then, become the king's son-in-law.'"

²³ So Saul's servants spoke these words to David. Then David said, "Is it a small matter to you to be the king's son-in-law, since I am a poor man, and lightly esteemed?" ²⁴ The servants of Saul reported to him the words which David spoke.

²⁵ Then Saul said, "Say this to David, 'The king does not desire any price for the bride except a hundred foreskins of the Philistines, to be avenged from the king's enemies.'" Now Saul thought to make David fall by the hand of the Philistines. ²⁶ When his servants told David these words, it pleased David to be the king's son-in-law.

²⁷ Before those days had expired, David went with his men and killed two hundred Philistines. David brought their foreskins, and they gave them in full number to the king, so that he might be the king's son-in-law. So Saul gave him Michal his daughter as his wife. ²⁸ When Saul saw, and he knew that Yahweh was with David, and that Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him, ²⁹ Saul was even more afraid of David. Saul was continually David's enemy.

³⁰ Then the princes of the Philistines came out for battle, and as often as they came out, David behaved more prudently than all the servants of Saul, so that his name was highly regarded.

Chapter 19

¹ Saul said to Jonathan his son and to all his servants that they should kill David. But Jonathan, Saul's son, took great pleasure in David. ² So Jonathan told David, "Saul my father seeks to kill you. Therefore be on your guard in the morning and hide yourself in a secret place. ³ I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are, and I will speak with my father about you. If I learn anything, I will tell you."

⁴ Jonathan spoke well of David to Saul his father and said to him, "Do not let the king sin against his servant David. For he has not sinned against you, and his deeds have brought you good. ⁵ For he took his life in his hand and killed the Philistine. Yahweh brought about great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?"

⁶ Saul listened to Jonathan. Saul swore, "As Yahweh lives, he will not be put to death." ⁷ Then Jonathan called David, and Jonathan told him all these things. Jonathan brought David to Saul, and he was in his presence as before.

⁸ There was war again, and David went out and fought with the Philistines and defeated them with a great slaughter. They fled before him. ⁹ A harmful spirit from Yahweh came on Saul as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand, and as David was playing his instrument.

¹⁰ Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but he slipped away from Saul's presence, so that Saul drove the spear into the wall. David fled and escaped that night. ¹¹ Saul sent messengers to David's house to watch him that he might kill him in the morning. Michal, David's wife, told him, "If you do not save your life tonight, tomorrow you will be killed."

¹² So Michal let David down through the window. He went and fled, and escaped. ¹³ Michal took a household idol and laid it in the bed. Then she put a pillow of goats' hair at its head, and covered it with the clothes.

¹⁴ When Saul sent messengers to take David, she said, "He is sick." ¹⁵ Then Saul sent the messengers to see David; he said, "Bring him up to me in the bed, so that I may kill him."

¹⁶ When the messengers came in, behold, the household idol was in the bed along with the pillow of goats' hair at its head. ¹⁷ Saul said to Michal, "Why have you deceived me and let my enemy go, so that he has escaped?" Michal answered Saul, "He said to me, 'Let me go. Why should I kill you?'"

¹⁸ Now David fled and escaped, and went to Samuel in Ramah and told him all that Saul had done to him. Then he and Samuel went and stayed in Naioth. ¹⁹ It was told to Saul, saying, "See, David is at Naioth in Ramah." ²⁰ Then Saul sent messengers to capture David. When they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came on the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

²¹ When Saul was told this, he sent other messengers, and they also prophesied. So Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they also prophesied. ²² Then he also went to Ramah and came to the deep well that is in Seku. He asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" Someone said, "See, they are at Naioth in Ramah."

²³ Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. Then the Spirit of God came upon him, and as he went he prophesied until he came to Naioth in Ramah. ²⁴ He stripped off his clothes and also prophesied before Samuel. He lay naked all that day and all that night. This is why they ask, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"

Chapter 20

¹ Then David fled from Naioth in Ramah and came and said to Jonathan, "What have I done? What is my iniquity? What is my sin before your father, that he seeks to take my life?" ² Jonathan said to David, "Far from it; you will not die. My father does nothing either great or small without telling it to me. Why should my father hide this thing from me? It is not so."

³ Yet David vowed again and said, "Your father knows well that I have found favor in your eyes. He has said, 'Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.' But as truly as Yahweh lives, and as you live, there is but a step between me and death."

⁴ Then Jonathan said to David, "Whatever you say, I will do for you." ⁵ David said to Jonathan, "Tomorrow is the new moon, and I ought to sit down to eat with the king. But let me go, so that I may hide myself in the field until the third day at evening.

⁶ If your father misses me at all, then say, 'David earnestly asked leave of me that he might run to Bethlehem his city, because it is the yearly sacrifice there for all the clan.' ⁷ If he says, 'It is well,' your servant will have peace. But if he is very angry, then know that he has decided on evil.

⁸ Therefore deal kindly with your servant. For you have brought your servant into a covenant of Yahweh with you. But if there is iniquity in me, kill me yourself; for why then should you bring me to your father?" ⁹ Jonathan said, "Far be it from you! If I learned my father decided harm to come upon you, would I not tell you?"

¹⁰ Then David said to Jonathan, "Who will tell me if by chance your father should answer you roughly?" ¹¹ Jonathan said to David, "Come, let us go out into the field." So they both went out into the field.

¹² Jonathan said to David, "May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be witness. When I have questioned my father around this time tomorrow, or the third day, see, if there is good will toward David, will I not then send to you and make it known to you? ¹³ If it pleases my father to do you harm, may Yahweh do to Jonathan and more also if I do not make it known to you and send you away, so that you may go in peace. May Yahweh be with you, as he has been with my father.

¹⁴ If I am still alive, will you not show me the covenant faithfulness of Yahweh, that I may not die? ¹⁵ Do not cut off your covenant faithfulness from my house forever—not even when Yahweh cuts off every one of the enemies of David from the face of the earth." ¹⁶ So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David and said, "May Yahweh require an accounting from the hand of the enemies of David."

¹⁷ Jonathan made David vow again because of the love that he had for him, because he loved him as he loved his own soul. ¹⁸ Then Jonathan said to him, "Tomorrow is the new moon. You will be missed because your seat will be empty. ¹⁹ When you have stayed three days, go down quickly and come to the place where you hid yourself when this matter began, and stay by the stone Ezel.

²⁰ I will shoot three arrows to the side of it, as though I were shooting at a target. ²¹ Then I will send my young man and say to him, 'Go find the arrows.' If I say to the young boy, 'Look, the arrows are on this side of you; get them," then come; for there will be safety for you and not harm, as Yahweh lives.

²² "But if I say to the young man, 'Look, the arrows are beyond you,' then go your way, for Yahweh has sent you away. ²³ As for the agreement of which you and I have spoken, see, Yahweh is between you and me forever.'"

²⁴ So David hid himself in the field. When the new moon came, the king sat down to eat food. ²⁵ The king sat on his seat, as usual, on the seat by the wall. Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul's side. But David's place was empty.

²⁶ Yet Saul did not say anything that day, because he thought, "Something has happened to him. He is not clean; surely he is not clean." ²⁷ But on the second day, the day after the new moon, David's place was empty. Saul said to Jonathan his son, "Why has the son of Jesse not come to the meal either yesterday or today?"

²⁸ Jonathan answered Saul, "David earnestly asked permission from me to go to Bethlehem. ²⁹ He said, 'Please let me go. For our family has a sacrifice in the city, and my brother has ordered me to be there. Now, if I have found favor in your eyes, please let me go and see my brothers.' For this reason he has not come to the king's table."

³⁰ Then Saul's anger burned against Jonathan, and he said to him, "You son of a perverse, rebellious woman! Do I not know that you have chosen the son of Jesse to your own shame, and to the shame of your mother's nakedness? ³¹ For as long as the son of Jesse lives on the earth, neither you nor your kingdom will be established. Now then, send and bring him to me, for he must surely die."

³² Jonathan answered Saul his father, "For what reason should he be put to death? What has he done?" ³³ Then Saul threw his spear at him to kill him. So Jonathan knew that his father was determined to put David to death. ³⁴ Jonathan got up from the table in fierce anger and ate no food the second day of the month, for he was grieved over David, because his father had dishonored him.

³⁵ In the morning, Jonathan went out into the field to the appointment with David, and a young man was with him. ³⁶ He said to his young man, "Run and find the arrows that I shoot." As the young man ran, he shot an arrow beyond him. ³⁷ When the young man came to the place where the arrow that Jonathan shot had landed, Jonathan called after the young man, and said, "Is not the arrow beyond you?"

³⁸ Then Jonathan called after the young man, "Hurry, be quick, do not stay!" So Jonathan's young man gathered up the arrows and came to his master. ³⁹ But the young man did not know anything. Only Jonathan and David knew the matter. ⁴⁰ Jonathan gave his weapons to his young man and said to him, "Go, take them to the city."

⁴¹ As soon as the young man was gone, David stood up from behind the mound, lay facedown on the ground, and bowed himself three times. They kissed one another and wept together, with David weeping the more. ¹ ⁴² Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, because we have both sworn in the name of Yahweh and said, 'May Yahweh be between you and me, and between my descendants and your descendants, forever.'" Then David stood up and left, and Jonathan returned to the city.

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew text read, David came out from beside the south . Modern translations interpret this passage in different ways because the text is difficult to understand.

Chapter 21

¹ Then David came to Nob to see Ahimelek the priest. Ahimelek came to meet David trembling and said to him, "Why are you alone and have no one with you?" ² David said to Ahimelek the priest, "The king has sent me on a mission and has said to me, 'Let no one know anything about the business I am sending you, and what I have commanded you.' I have directed the young men to a certain place.

³ Now then what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here." ⁴ The priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is holy bread—if the young men have kept themselves from women."

⁵ David answered the priest, "Surely women have been kept from us for the past three days, as usual when I set out. The things belonging to the young men have been set apart even on ordinary missions. How much more today will what they have be set apart!" ⁶ So the priest gave him the bread that was set apart. For there was no bread there except the bread of the presence, which was removed from before Yahweh, in order to put hot bread in its place on the day it was taken away.

⁷ Now one of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Yahweh. His name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief of Saul's shepherds.

⁸ David said to Ahimelek, "Now is there not here on hand any spear or sword? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business was urgent." ⁹ The priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want to take that, take it, for there is no other weapon here." David said, "There is no other sword like that one; give it to me."

¹⁰ David arose and fled that day from Saul and went to Achish, the king of Gath. ¹¹ Achish's servants said to him, "Is not this David, the king of the land? Did they not sing to one another about him in dances,

'Saul has killed his thousands,

and David his ten thousands?'"

¹² David took these words to heart and was very afraid of Achish, the king of Gath. ¹³ He changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands; he made marks on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard.

¹⁴ Then Achish said to his servants, "Look, you see the man is mad. Why have you brought him to me? ¹⁵ Do I lack madmen, so that you have brought this fellow to behave like one in my presence? Will this fellow really come into my house?"

Chapter 22

¹ So David left there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. ² Everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented—they all gathered to him. David became captain over them. There were about four hundred men with him.

³ Then David went from there to Mizpah in Moab. He said to the king of Moab, "Please let my father and my mother go out with you until I know what God will do for me." ¹ ⁴ He left them with the king of Moab. His father and mother stayed with him the whole time that David was in his stronghold. ⁵ Then the prophet Gad said to David, "Do not stay in your stronghold. Leave and go into the land of Judah." So David left there and went into the forest of Hereth.

⁶ Saul heard that David had been discovered, along with the men who were with him. Now Saul was sitting in Gibeah under the tamarisk tree on a hill, with his spear in his hand, and all his servants were standing around him.

⁷ Saul said to his servants who stood around him, "Listen now, people of Benjamin! Will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards? Will he make you all captains of thousands and captains of hundreds, ⁸ in exchange for all of you plotting against me? None of you informs me when my son makes a covenant with the son of Jesse. None of you is sorry for me. None of you informs me that my son has incited my servant David against me. Today he hides and waits for me so he may attack me."

⁹ Then Doeg the Edomite, who stood by the servants of Saul, answered, "I saw the son of Jesse come to Nob, to Ahimelek son of Ahitub. ¹⁰ He prayed to Yahweh that he might help him, and he gave him provisions and the sword of Goliath the Philistine."

¹¹ Then the king sent someone to summon the priest Ahimelek son of Ahitub and all his father's house, the priests who were in Nob. All of them came to the king. ¹² Saul said, "Listen now, son of Ahitub." He answered, "Here I am, my master." ¹³ Saul said to him, "Why have you plotted against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have prayed to God that he might help him, so that he might rise up against me, to hide in secret, as he does today?"

¹⁴ Then Ahimelek answered the king and said, "Who among all your servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law and is over your bodyguard, and is honored in your house? ¹⁵ Is today the first time I have prayed to God to help him? Far be it from me! Do not let the king impute anything to his servant or to all the house of my father. For your servant knows nothing of this whole matter."

¹⁶ The king replied, "You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and all your father's house." ¹⁷ The king said to the guard that stood around him, "Turn and kill the priests of Yahweh. Because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, but did not reveal it to me." But the servants of the king would not put out their hand to kill the priests of Yahweh.

¹⁸ Then the king said to Doeg, "Turn and kill the priests." So Doeg the Edomite turned and attacked the priests; he killed eighty-five persons who wore a linen ephod that day. ¹⁹ He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, both men and women, children and infants, and its cattle, donkeys and sheep, he put to the sword.

²⁰ But one of the sons of Ahimelek son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped and fled after David. ²¹ Abiathar told David that Saul had killed Yahweh's priests.

²² David said to Abiathar, "I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for every death in your father's family! ²³ Stay with me and do not be afraid. For the one who seeks your life seeks mine as well. You will be safe with me."

¹Some ancient translations have, Please let my father and my mother stay with you, and some modern translations read this way.

Chapter 23

¹ They told David, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors." ² So David prayed to Yahweh for help and asked him, "Should I go and attack these Philistines?" Yahweh said to David, "Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah."

³ David's men said to him, "See, we are afraid here in Judah. How much more then if we go to Keilah against the armies of the Philistines?" ⁴ Then David prayed to Yahweh for help yet again. Yahweh answered him, "Arise, go down to Keilah. For I will give you victory over the Philistines."

⁵ David and his men went to Keilah and fought with the Philistines. He led away their cattle and struck them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah. ⁶ When Abiathar son of Ahimelek had fled to David at Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.

⁷ Saul was told that David had gone to Keilah. Saul said, "God has given him into my hand. For he is shut in because he has entered a city that has gates and bars." ⁸ Saul summoned all his forces for battle, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. ⁹ David knew that Saul was plotting harm against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, "Bring the ephod here."

¹⁰ Then David said, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, your servant has indeed heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake. ¹¹ Will the men of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? Yahweh, the God of Israel, I beg you, please tell your servant." Yahweh said, "He will come down."

¹² Then David said, "Will the men of Keilah surrender me and my men into the hand of Saul?" Yahweh said, "They will surrender you."

¹³ Then David and his men, who were about six hundred, got up and went away from Keilah, and they went from place to place. It was told Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, and he stopped the pursuit. ¹⁴ David stayed in the strongholds in the wilderness, in the hill country in the wilderness of Ziph. Saul looked for him every day, but God did not give him into his hand.

¹⁵ David saw that Saul had come out to seek his life; now David was in the wilderness of Ziph at Horesh. ¹⁶ Then Jonathan, Saul's son, got up and went to David at Horesh, and strengthened his hand in God.

¹⁷ He said to him, "Do not be afraid. For the hand of Saul my father will not find you. You will be king over Israel, and I will be next to you. Saul my father also knows this." ¹⁸ They made a covenant before Yahweh. David remained at Horesh, and Jonathan went home.

¹⁹ Then Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hakilah, which is south of Jeshimon? ²⁰ Now come down, king! According to your desire, come down! Our part will be to surrender him into the king's hand."

²¹ Saul said, "May you be blessed by Yahweh. For you have had compassion on me. ²² Go, make even more sure. Learn and find out where his hiding place is and who has seen him there. It is told to me that he is very crafty. ²³ So look, and learn all of the places where he hides himself. Come back to me with sure information, and then I will return with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the thousands of Judah."

²⁴ Then they rose up and went to Ziph ahead of Saul. Now David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon, in the Arabah to the south of Jeshimon. ²⁵ Saul and his men went to seek him. But David was told of it, so he went down to a rocky hill and lived in the wilderness of Maon. When Saul heard it, he chased David in the wilderness of Maon.

²⁶ Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men were going on the other side of the mountain. David hurried to get away from Saul. As Saul and his men were surrounding David and his men to take them, ²⁷ a messenger came to Saul and said, "Hurry and come, for the Philistines have made a raid against the land."

²⁸ So Saul returned from pursuing David and went against the Philistines. Therefore that place was called Sela Hammahlekoth. ²⁹ David went up from there and lived in the strongholds of En Gedi.

Chapter 24

¹ When Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the wilderness of En Gedi." ² Then Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to seek David and his men on the Rocks of the Wild Goats.

³ He came to sheep pens on the way, where there was a cave. Saul went inside to cover his feet. Now David and his men were sitting far back in the cave. ⁴ David's men said to him, "This is the day of which Yahweh spoke when he said to you, 'I will give your enemy into your hand, for you to do with him as you wish.'" Then David arose and quietly crept forward and cut off the corner of Saul's robe.

⁵ Afterward David's heart afflicted him because he had cut a corner off Saul's robe. ⁶ He said to his men, "May Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my master, Yahweh's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is Yahweh's anointed." ⁷ So David rebuked his men with these words, and did not permit them to attack Saul. Saul stood up, left the cave, and went on his way.

⁸ Afterward, David also stood up, left the cave, and called out after Saul: "My master the king." When Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the ground and showed him respect. ⁹ David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the men who say, 'See, David is seeking your harm?'

¹⁰ Today your eyes have seen how Yahweh put you into my hand when we were in the cave. Some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my master; for he is Yahweh's anointed.' ¹¹ See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no evil or treason in my hand, and I have not sinned against you, even though you hunt my life to take it.

¹² May Yahweh judge between you and me, and may Yahweh avenge me against you, but my hand must not be against you. ¹³ As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.' But my hand will not be against you.

¹⁴ After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea! ¹⁵ May Yahweh be judge and give judgment between you and me, and see to it, and plead my cause and permit me to escape from your hand."

¹⁶ When David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

¹⁷ He said to David, "You are more righteous than I am. For you have repaid me good, where I have repaid you evil. ¹⁸ You have declared today how you have done good to me, for you did not kill me when Yahweh had put me at your mercy.

¹⁹ For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go safely? May Yahweh reward you with good for what you have done to me today. ²⁰ Now, I know that you will surely be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hand.

²¹ Swear to me by Yahweh that you will not cut off my descendants after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house." ²² So David made an oath to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

Chapter 25

¹ Now Samuel died. All Israel gathered together and mourned for him, and they buried him in his house at Ramah. Then David rose and went down to the wilderness of Paran.

² There was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel. The man was very wealthy. He had three thousand sheep and one thousand goats. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel. ³ The man's name was Nabal, and the name of his wife was Abigail. The woman was intelligent and beautiful in appearance. But the man was harsh and evil in his dealings. He was a descendant of the house of Caleb.

⁴ David heard in the wilderness that Nabal was shearing his sheep. ⁵ So David sent ten young men. David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name. ⁶ You will say to him, 'Live in prosperity. Peace to you and peace to your house, and peace be to all that you have.

⁷ I hear that you have shearers. Your shepherds have been with us, and we did them no harm, and they missed nothing the whole time they were in Carmel. ⁸ Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Now let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we have come on a festive day. Please give whatever you have on hand to your servants and to your son David.'"

⁹ When David's young men arrived, they said all of this to Nabal in David's name and then waited. ¹⁰ Nabal answered David's servants, "Who is David, and who is the son of Jesse? There are many servants these days who are breaking away from their masters. ¹¹ Should I take my bread and my water and my meat that I have killed for my shearers, and give it to men who come from I do not know where?"

¹² So David's young men turned away and came back, and told him everything that was said. ¹³ David said to his men, "Every man strap on his sword." So every man strapped on his sword. David also strapped on his sword. About four hundred men followed after David, and two hundred stayed by the baggage.

¹⁴ But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife; he said, "David sent messengers out of the wilderness to greet our master, and he screamed at them. ¹⁵ Yet the men were very good to us. We were not harmed and did not miss anything as long as we went with them when we were in the fields.

¹⁶ They were a wall to us both day and night, all the while we were with them tending the sheep. ¹⁷ Therefore know this and consider what you will do, for evil is plotted against our master, and against his whole house. He is such a worthless fellow that one cannot reason with him."

¹⁸ Then Abigail hurried and took two hundred loaves, two bottles of wine, five sheep already prepared, five measures of parched grain, one hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on donkeys. ¹⁹ She said to her young men, "Go on before me, and I will come after you." But she did not tell her husband Nabal.

²⁰ As she rode on her donkey and came down by the cover of the mountain, David and his men came down toward her, and she met them.

²¹ Now David had said, "Surely in vain have I guarded all that this man has in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that belonged to him, and he has returned me evil for good. ²² May God do so to the enemies of David, and more also, if by the morning I leave so much as one male of all who belong to him."

²³ When Abigail saw David, she hurried and got down from her donkey and lay before David facedown and bowed herself to the ground. ²⁴ She lay at his feet and said, "On me alone, my master, be the guilt. Please let your servant speak to you, and listen to the words of your servant.

²⁵ Let not my master regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is with him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my master, whom you sent. ²⁶ Now then, my master, as Yahweh lives, and as you live, since Yahweh has restrained you from bloodshed, and from avenging yourself with your own hand, now let your enemies, and those who seek to do evil to my master, be like Nabal.

²⁷ Now let this present that your servant has brought to my master be given to the young men who follow my master. ²⁸ Please forgive the trespass of your servant, for Yahweh will certainly make my master a sure house, because my master is fighting the battles of Yahweh; and evil will not be found in you so long as you live.

²⁹ Though men rise up to pursue you to take your life, yet the life of my master will be bound in the bundle of the living by Yahweh your God; and he will sling away the lives of your enemies, as from the pocket of a sling.

³⁰ Yahweh will have done for my master everything he promised you, and has appointed you leader over Israel. ³¹ This will not cause grief or a troubled heart to my master—that you have poured out innocent blood, or because my master attempted to rescue himself. For when Yahweh will do good for my master, remember your servant."

³² David said to Abigail, "May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be blessed, he who sent you to meet me today. ³³ Your wisdom is blessed and you are blessed, because you have kept me today from bloodshed and from avenging myself with my own hand!

³⁴ For in truth, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, lives, he who has kept me from hurting you, unless you had hurried to come meet me, there would certainly have not been left to Nabal so much as one male baby by the morning light." ³⁵ So David received from her hand what she had brought him; he said to her, "Go up in peace to your house; see, I have listened to your voice and have accepted you."

³⁶ Abigail went back to Nabal; behold, he was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk. So she told him nothing at all until the morning light.

³⁷ It came about in the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, that his wife told him these things; his heart died within him, and he became like a stone. ³⁸ It came about ten days later that Yahweh attacked Nabal so that he died.

³⁹ When David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, "May Yahweh be blessed, who has avenged the scorn I have received from the hand of Nabal and has kept back his servant from doing wrong. He has turned Nabal's evil action back on his own head." Then David sent and spoke to Abigail, to take her to himself as wife. ⁴⁰ When David's servants had come to Abigail at Carmel, they spoke to her and said, "David has sent us to you to take you to him as his wife."

⁴¹ She arose, bowed herself with her face to the ground, and said, "See, your female servant is a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my master." ⁴² Abigail hurried and arose, and rode on a donkey with five servant girls of hers who followed her; and she followed David's messengers and became his wife.

⁴³ Now David had also taken Ahinoam of Jezreel as a wife; both of them became his wives. ⁴⁴ Also, Saul had given Michal his daughter, David's wife, to Paltiel son of Laish, who was of Gallim.

Chapter 26

¹ The Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah and said, "Is not David hiding in the hill of Hakilah, which is before Jeshimon?" ² Then Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph, having three thousand chosen men of Israel with him, to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph.

³ Saul camped on the hill of Hakilah, which is before Jeshimon, by the road. But David was staying in the wilderness, and he saw that Saul was coming after him into the wilderness. ⁴ So David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come.

⁵ David arose and went to the place where Saul had camped; he saw the place where Saul lay, and Abner son of Ner, the general of his army; Saul lay in the camp, and the people were camped around him, all asleep.

⁶ Then David said to Ahimelek the Hittite, and to Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, "Who will go down with me to Saul in the camp?" Abishai said, "I! I will go down with you." ⁷ So David and Abishai went to the army by night. Saul was there sleeping inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground beside his head. Abner and his soldiers lay around him. ⁸ Then Abishai said to David, "Today God has put your enemy into your hand. Now please let me pin him to the ground with the spear with just one blow. I will not strike him a second time."

⁹ David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him; for who can extend his hand against Yahweh's anointed one and be guiltless?" ¹⁰ David said, "As Yahweh lives, Yahweh will kill him, or his day will come to die, or he will go into battle and perish.

¹¹ May Yahweh forbid that I should extend my hand against his anointed one; but now, I beg you, take the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go." ¹² So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they got away. No one saw them or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from Yahweh had fallen on them.

¹³ Then David went over to the other side and stood on the top of the mountain far off; a great distance was between them. ¹⁴ David shouted out to the people and to Abner son of Ner; he said, "Do you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered and said, "Who are you who is shouting to the king?"

¹⁵ David said to Abner, "Are not you a courageous man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your master the king? For someone came in to destroy the king your master. ¹⁶ This thing you have done is not good. As Yahweh lives, you deserve to die because you have not kept watch over your master, Yahweh's anointed one. Now see where the king's spear is and the jar of water that was near his head!"

¹⁷ Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is that your voice, my son David?" David said, "It is my voice, my master, king." ¹⁸ He said, "Why does my master pursue his servant? What have I done? What evil is in my hand?

¹⁹ Now therefore, I beg you, let my master the king listen to the words of his servant. If it is Yahweh who has stirred you up against me, may he be pleased with an offering; but if it is human beings, may they be cursed in the sight of Yahweh, for they have today driven me out, that I should not cling to the inheritance of Yahweh; they have said to me, 'Go worship other gods.' ²⁰ Now therefore, do not let my blood fall to the earth away from Yahweh's presence; for the king of Israel has come out to search for the one flea as when one hunts a partridge in the mountains."

²¹ Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, David, my son; for I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes today. See, I have played the fool and have made a very bad mistake."

²² David answered and said, "See, your spear is here, king! Let one of the young men come over and get it and bring it to you. ²³ May Yahweh pay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; because Yahweh put you into my hand today, but I would not strike his anointed.

²⁴ See, as your life was precious in my eyes today, so may my life be much valued in the eyes of Yahweh, and may he rescue me out of all trouble." ²⁵ Then Saul said to David, "May you be blessed, David my son! You will certainly do great things and you will succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Chapter 27

¹ David said in his heart, "I will now perish one day by Saul's hand; there is nothing better for me than to escape into the land of the Philistines; Saul will give up looking for me any more within all the borders of Israel; in this way I will escape out of his hand."

² David arose and passed over, he and the six hundred men who were with him, to Achish son of Maok, the king of Gath. ³ David lived with Achish at Gath, he and his men, each man with his own household, and David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelite woman, and Abigail the Carmelite woman, Nabal's wife. ⁴ Saul was told that David had fled to Gath, so he looked for him no longer.

⁵ David said to Achish, "If I have found favor in your eyes, let them give me a place in one of the cities in the country, that I may live there. Why should your servant live in the royal city with you?" ⁶ So that day Achish gave him Ziklag; that is why Ziklag belongs to the kings of Judah to this very day. ⁷ The number of days that David lived in the land of the Philistines was a full year and four months.

⁸ David and his men attacked various places, making raids on the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites; for those nations were the inhabitants of the land, as you go to Shur, as far as the land of Egypt. They had been living there in the land from ancient times. ¹ ⁹ David attacked the land and saved neither man nor woman alive. He took away the sheep and cattle, the donkeys, the camels, and the clothing. Then he returned and went back to Achish.

¹⁰ Achish would say, "Against whom have you made a raid today?" David would answer, "Against the south of Judah," or "Against the south of the Jerahmeelites," or "Against the south of the Kenites."

¹¹ David would keep neither man nor woman alive to bring them to Gath, saying, "So that they cannot say about us, 'David did such and such.'" This was what he did all the while he was living in the country of the Philistines. ¹² Achish believed David, saying, "He has made his people Israel utterly abhor him; he will therefore be my servant forever."

¹Instead of the Girzites which is found in some ancient copies of the Hebrew text, some modern translations have the Gizrites which is found in the margin of some Hebrew copies.

Chapter 28

¹ It came about in those days that the Philistines gathered their armies together for battle to fight with Israel. Achish said to David, "Know for certain that you will go out with me in the army, you and your men." ² David said to Achish, "That being the case, you will know what your servant can do." Achish said to David, "Then I will make you my bodyguard all your days."

³ Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. Also, Saul had banned sorcerers and spiritists from the land. ⁴ Then the Philistines gathered themselves together and came and camped at Shunem; and Saul gathered all Israel together, and they camped at Gilboa.

⁵ When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled very much. ⁶ Saul prayed to Yahweh for help, but Yahweh did not answer him—neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets. ⁷ Then Saul said to his servants, "Find me a woman who is a sorceress, so that I may go to her and seek her advice." His servants said to him, "See, there is a woman in Endor who is a sorceress."

⁸ So Saul disguised himself, putting on other clothing and went, he and two men with him. They went to the woman by night. He said, "Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me the one I name." ⁹ The woman said to him, "See, you know what Saul has done, how he has banned sorcerers and spiritists from the land. So why are you setting a trap for my life, to make me die?" ¹⁰ Saul swore to her by Yahweh and said, "As Yahweh lives, no punishment will happen to you for this thing."

¹¹ Then the woman said, "Whom should I bring up to you?" Saul said, "Bring up Samuel for me." ¹² When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice and spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul."

¹³ The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. What do you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth." ¹⁴ He said to her, "What does he look like?" She said, "An old man is coming up; he is clothed with a robe." Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and showed him respect.

¹⁵ Samuel said to Saul, "Why have you disturbed me and brought me up?" Saul answered, "I am very distressed, for the Philistines are waging war against me, and God has left me and does not answer me any more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I will do."

¹⁶ Samuel said, "What then do you ask me, since Yahweh has left you, and he has become your enemy? ¹⁷ Yahweh has done to you what he said he would. Yahweh has torn the kingdom out of your hand and he has given it to someone else—to David.

¹⁸ Because you did not obey the voice of Yahweh and did not carry out his fierce wrath on Amalek, he has therefore done this today to you. ¹⁹ Yahweh will give Israel along with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. Yahweh will also give the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines."

²⁰ Then Saul immediately fell his full length on the ground and was very afraid because of the words of Samuel. There was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all that day, neither that whole night. ²¹ The woman came to Saul and saw that he was very troubled, She said to him, "See, your woman servant has listened to your voice; I have put my life in my hand and have listened to the words that you said to me.

²² Now therefore, I beg you, listen also to the voice of your woman servant, and let me set a little food in front of you. Eat so that you may gain strength for when you go on your way." ²³ But Saul refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him, and he listened to their voice. So he rose from the ground and sat on the bed.

²⁴ The woman had a fatted calf in the house; she hurried and killed it; she took flour, kneaded it, and baked unleavened bread with it. ²⁵ She brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and left that night.

Chapter 29

¹ Now the Philistines gathered together all their army at Aphek, and Israel camped by the spring that is in Jezreel. ² The princes of the Philistines passed on by hundreds and by thousands; David and his men passed on in the rear guard with Achish.

³ Then the princes of the Philistines said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" Achish said to the other princes of the Philistines, "Is not this David, the servant of Saul, the king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or rather these years, and I have found no fault with him since he came away to me to this day?"

⁴ But the princes of the Philistines were angry with him and said, "Send the man back, that he may return to the place you assigned him. He will not go down with us into battle, for he will become our adversary during the fighting. For how else could he make himself acceptable to his master than by taking the heads of our own men?

⁵ Is this not David of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying,

'Saul has killed his thousands,

and David his ten thousands'?"

⁶ Then Achish called David and said to him, "As Yahweh lives, you have been good, and your going out and your coming in with me in the army is good in my view; for I have found nothing wrong with you since the day of your coming to me to this very day. Nevertheless, the princes are not favorable to you. ⁷ So now return and go in peace, so that you do not displease the princes of the Philistines."

⁸ David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant as long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my master the king?" ⁹ Achish answered and said to David, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless, the princes of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go up with us to the battle.'

¹⁰ So now rise up early in the morning with the servants of your master who have come with you; as soon as you are up early in the morning and have light, go away." ¹¹ So David rose up early, he and his men, to leave in the morning, to return into the land of the Philistines. But the Philistines went up to Jezreel.

Chapter 30

¹ It came about, when David and his men had come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had made a raid upon the Negev and on Ziklag. They attacked Ziklag, burned it, ² and captured the women and everyone who was in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off as they went on their way.

³ When David and his men came to the city, it was burned, and their wives, their sons, and their daughters were taken captive. ⁴ Then David and the people that were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more power to weep.

⁵ David's two wives were taken captive, Ahinoam the Jezreelite woman, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. ⁶ David was greatly distressed, for the people were talking about stoning him, for all the people were bitter in spirit, each man for his sons and daughters; but David strengthened himself in Yahweh, his God.

⁷ David said to Abiathar son of Ahimelek, the priest, "I beg you, bring the ephod here for me." Abiathar brought the ephod to David. ⁸ David prayed to Yahweh for direction, saying, "If I pursue after this troop, will I overtake them?" Yahweh answered him, "Pursue, for you will certainly overtake them, and you will surely recover everything."

⁹ So David went, he and the six hundred men who were with him; they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. ¹⁰ But David kept pursuing, he and four hundred men; for two hundred had stayed behind, who were so weak that they could not go over the brook Besor.

¹¹ They found an Egyptian in a field and brought him to David; they gave him bread, and he ate; they gave him water to drink; ¹² and they gave him a piece of a cake of figs and two clusters of raisins. When he had eaten, he gained strength again, for he had eaten no bread nor drunk any water for three days and three nights.

¹³ David said to him, "To whom do you belong? Where do you come from?" He said, "I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; my master left me because three days ago I fell sick. ¹⁴ We made a raid on the Negev of the Kerethites, and what belongs to Judah, and the Negev of Caleb, and we burned Ziklag."

¹⁵ David said to him, "Will you bring me down to this raiding party?" The Egyptian said, "Swear to me by God that you will not kill me or betray me up into the hands of my master, and I will bring you down to this raiding party."

¹⁶ When the Egyptian had brought David down, the raiders were spread out over all the ground, eating and drinking and celebrating because of all the booty they had taken out of the land of the Philistines and from the land of Judah. ¹⁷ David attacked them from the twilight to the evening of the next day. Not a man escaped except for four hundred young men, who rode on camels and fled.

¹⁸ David recovered all that the Amalekites had taken; and David rescued his two wives. ¹⁹ Nothing was missing, neither small nor great, neither sons nor daughters, neither booty, nor anything that the raiders had taken for themselves. David brought back everything. ²⁰ David took all the flocks and the herds, which the men drove ahead of the other livestock. They said, "This is David's booty."

²¹ David came to the two hundred men who had been too weak to follow him, the ones the others had made to stay at the brook Besor. These men went ahead to meet David and the people who were with him. When David came to these people, he greeted them. ²² Then all the wicked men and worthless fellows among those who had gone with David said, "Because these men did not go with us, we will not give them any of the booty that we have recovered. However, each man may lead away his wife and children and go."

²³ Then David said, "You must not act like this, my brothers, with what Yahweh has given to us. He has preserved us and given into our hand the marauding band that came against us. ²⁴ Who will listen to you in this matter? For as the share is for anyone who goes into battle, so also will the share be for anyone who waits by the baggage; they will share and share alike." ²⁵ It has been so from that day to this day, for David made it a statute and a decree for Israel.

²⁶ When David came to Ziklag, he sent some of the booty to the elders of Judah, to his friends, saying, "See, here is a present for you from the booty from Yahweh's enemies." ²⁷ He also sent some to the elders who were in Bethel, and to those who were in Ramoth of the South, and to those who were in Jattir, ²⁸ and to those who were in Aroer, and to those who were in Siphmoth, and to those who were in Eshtemoa.

²⁹ He also sent some to the elders who were in Rakal, and to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, and to those who were in the cities of the Kenites, ³⁰ and to those who were in Hormah, and to those who were in Bor Ashan, and to those who were in Athak, ³¹ and to those who were in Hebron, and to all the places where David himself and his men habitually went.

Chapter 31

¹ Now the Philistines fought against Israel. The men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down dead on Mount Gilboa. ² The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his sons. The Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua, his sons. ³ The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers overtook him. He was in severe pain because of them.

⁴ Then Saul said to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it. Otherwise, these uncircumcised will come and abuse me." But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. ⁵ When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell on his sword in the same way and died with him. ⁶ So Saul died, his three sons, and his armor bearer—these men all died together that same day.

⁷ When the men of Israel who were on the other side of the valley, and those beyond the Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled, and the Philistines came and lived in them. ⁸ It came about on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

⁹ They cut off his head and stripped off his armor, and sent messengers into the land of the Philistines throughout to carry the news to their idols' temples and to the people. ¹⁰ They put his armor in the temple of the Ashtoreths, and they fastened his body to the city wall of Beth Shan.

¹¹ When the inhabitants of Jabesh Gilead heard of what the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all the fighting men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Beth Shan. They went to Jabesh and burned them there. ¹³ Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree in Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.

2 Samuel

Chapter 1

¹ After the death of Saul, David returned from attacking the Amalekites and remained in Ziklag for two days. ² On the third day, a man came from Saul's camp with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head. When he came to David he fell to the ground and bowed down.

³ David said to him, "Where did you come from?" He answered, "I escaped from the camp of Israel." ⁴ David said to him, "Please tell me how things went." He answered, "The people fled from the battle. Many have fallen and many are dead. Saul and Jonathan his son are also dead." ⁵ David said to the young man, "How do you know that Saul and Jonathan his son are dead?"

⁶ The young man replied, "By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there Saul was leaning on his spear, and chariots and riders were about to catch up with him. ⁷ Saul turned around and saw me and called out to me. I answered, 'Here I am.'

⁸ He said to me, 'Who are you?' I answered him, 'I am an Amalekite.' ⁹ He said to me, 'Please stand over me and kill me, for great suffering has taken hold of me, but life is still in me.' ¹⁰ So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that he would not live after he had fallen. Then I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and brought them here to you, my master."

¹¹ Then David tore his clothes, and all the men with him did the same. ¹² They mourned, wept, and fasted until evening for Saul, for Jonathan his son, for the people of Yahweh, and for the house of Israel because they had fallen by the sword. ¹³ David said to the young man, "Where are you from?" He answered, "I am the son of a foreigner in the land, an Amalekite."

¹⁴ David said to him, "Why were you not afraid to destroy Yahweh's anointed king with your own hand?" ¹⁵ David called one of the young men and said, "Go and kill him." So that man went and struck him down, and the Amalekite died. ¹⁶ Then David said to the dead Amalekite, "Your blood is on your head because your own mouth has testified against you and said, 'I have killed Yahweh's anointed king.'"

¹⁷ Then David sang this lament about Saul and Jonathan his son. ¹⁸ He commanded the people to teach this Song of the Bow to the sons of Judah, which has been written in the Book of Jashar.

¹⁹ "Your glory, Israel, is dead, killed on your high places!

How the mighty have fallen!

²⁰ Do not tell it in Gath,

do not proclaim it in the streets of Ashkelon,

so that the daughters of the Philistines may not rejoice,

so that the daughters of the uncircumcised may not celebrate.

²¹ Mountains of Gilboa,

let there not be dew or rain on you,

nor fields giving grain for offerings,

for there the shield of the mighty was defiled.

The shield of Saul is no longer anointed with oil.

²² From the blood of those who have been killed,

from the bodies of the mighty,

the bow of Jonathan did not turn back,

and the sword of Saul did not return empty.

²³ Saul and Jonathan were loved and gracious in life,

and in their death they were not separated.

They were swifter than eagles,

they were stronger than lions.

²⁴ You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,

who clothed you in scarlet as well as jewels,

and who put ornaments of gold on your clothing.

²⁵ How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle!

Jonathan is killed on your high places.

²⁶ I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan.

You were very dear to me.

Your love to me was wonderful,

exceeding the love of women.

²⁷ How the mighty have fallen,

and the weapons of war perished!"

Chapter 2

¹ After this David asked Yahweh and said, "Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?" Yahweh replied to him, "Go up." David said, "To which city should I go?" Yahweh replied, "To Hebron." ² So David went up with his two wives, Ahinoam from Jezreel, and Abigail from Carmel, the widow of Nabal. ³ David brought the men who were with him, who each brought his family, to the cities of Hebron, where they began to live.

⁴ Then men from Judah came and anointed David king over the house of Judah.

They told David, "The men of Jabesh Gilead have buried Saul."

⁵ So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead and said to them, "You are blessed by Yahweh, since you have shown this loyalty to your master Saul and have buried him.

⁶ Now may Yahweh show you steadfast love and faithfulness. I also will show you this goodness because you have done this thing. ⁷ Now then, let your hands be strong; be courageous for Saul your master is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them."

⁸ But Abner son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ish-Bosheth son of Saul and brought him to Mahanaim. ⁹ He made Ish-Bosheth king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, Benjamin, and over all Israel.

¹⁰ Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. ¹¹ The time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

¹² Abner son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. ¹³ Joab son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. There they sat down, one group on one side of the pool and the other on the other side.

¹⁴ Abner said to Joab, "Let the young men arise and compete before us." Then Joab said, "Let them arise." ¹⁵ Then the young men got up and gathered together, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, and twelve from servants of David.

¹⁶ Each man seized his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into the side of his opponent, and they fell down together. Therefore that place was called "Helkath Hazzurim," or "Field of Swords," which is in Gibeon. ¹⁷ The battle was very severe that day and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated before the servants of David.

¹⁸ The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel. Asahel was swift in his feet like a wild gazelle. ¹⁹ Asahel closely pursued Abner and followed him without turning away in any direction.

²⁰ Abner looked behind him and said, "Is that you Asahel?" He answered, "It is I." ²¹ Abner said to him, "Turn aside to your right or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his armor." But Asahel would not turn aside.

²² So Abner said again to Asahel, "Stop pursuing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I hold up my face to Joab, your brother?" ²³ But Asahel refused to turn aside, and so Abner stabbed him in the body with the blunt end of his spear, so that the spear came out the other side. Asahel fell down and died there. So it came about that anyone who arrived at the place where Asahel fell down and died, he stopped and stood still.

²⁴ But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. When the sun was going down, they came to the hill of Ammah, which is near Giah by the road to the wilderness of Gibeon. ²⁵ The men of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and stood on the top of the hill.

²⁶ Then Abner called to Joab and said, "Must the sword devour forever? Do you not know it will be bitter in the end? How long will it be before you tell your men to stop pursuing their brothers?" ²⁷ Joab replied, "Just as God lives, if you had not said that, my soldiers would have pursued their brothers until the morning!"

²⁸ So Joab blew the ram's horn, and all his men stopped and did not pursue Israel anymore, nor did they fight anymore. ²⁹ Abner and his men traveled all that night through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all the next morning, and then reached Mahanaim.

³⁰ Joab returned from pursuing Abner. He assembled all his people, from whom were missing Asahel and nineteen of David's servants. ³¹ But the servants of David had slaughtered from Benjamin and of Abner's men 360 men who died. ³² Then they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was in Bethlehem. Joab and his men traveled all night, and the day dawned on them at Hebron.

Chapter 3

¹ Now there was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. David grew stronger and stronger, but the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker.

² Sons were born to David in Hebron. His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam from Jezreel.

³ His second son, Kileab, was born to Abigail, the widow of Nabal from Carmel. The third, Absalom, was son of Maakah, daughter of Talmai, king of Geshur.

⁴ David's fourth son, Adonijah, was the son of Haggith. His fifth son was Shephatiah son of Abital,

⁵ and the sixth, Ithream, was the son of David's wife Eglah. These sons were born to David in Hebron.

⁶ It came about during the war between the house of Saul and the house of David that Abner made himself strong in the house of Saul. ⁷ Saul had a concubine whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. Ish-Bosheth said to Abner, "Why have you gone to my father's concubine?"

⁸ Then Abner was very angry at the words of Ish-Bosheth and said, "Am I a dog's head that belongs to Judah? Today I am showing faithfulness to the house of Saul, your father, to his brothers, and to his friends, by not delivering you into the hand of David. But now you accuse me of iniquity concerning this woman?

⁹ May God do so to me, Abner, and more also, if I do not do for David as Yahweh has sworn to him, ¹⁰ to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan to Beersheba." ¹¹ Ish-Bosheth could not answer Abner another word, because he feared him.

¹² Then Abner sent messengers to David to speak for him saying, "Whose land is this? Make a covenant with me, and you will see that my hand is with you, to bring all Israel to you." ¹³ David answered, "Good, I will make a covenant with you. But one thing I require from you is that you cannot see my face unless you first bring Michal, Saul's daughter, when you come to see me."

¹⁴ Then David sent messengers to Ish-Bosheth, Saul's son, saying, "Give me my wife Michal, to whom I betrothed to myself at the price of one hundred Philistine foreskins." ¹⁵ So Ish-Bosheth sent for Michal and took her from her husband, Paltiel son of Laish. ¹⁶ Her husband went with her, weeping as he went, and followed her to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Return home now." So he returned.

¹⁷ Abner spoke with the elders of Israel saying, "In the past you were trying to have David be king over you. ¹⁸ Now do it. For Yahweh has spoken of David saying, 'By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and from the hand of all their enemies.'"

¹⁹ Abner also spoke personally to the people of Benjamin. Then Abner went also to speak with David in Hebron to explain everything that Israel and the whole house of Benjamin desired to accomplish. ²⁰ When Abner and twenty of his men arrived in Hebron to see David, David had a feast prepared for them.

²¹ Abner explained to David, "I will arise and gather all Israel to you, my master the king, so that they may make a covenant with you, so that you may reign over all that you desire." So David sent Abner away, and Abner left in peace.

²² Then the servants of David and Joab came from a raid and brought much plunder with them. But Abner was not with David in Hebron. David had sent him away, and Abner had left in peace. ²³ When Joab and all the army with him arrived, they told Joab, "Abner son of Ner came to the king, and the king has sent him away, and Abner left in peace."

²⁴ Then Joab came to the king and said, "What have you done? Look, Abner came to you! Why have you sent him away, and he is gone? ²⁵ Do you not know that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to discover your plans and learn everything you are doing?" ²⁶ When Joab left David, he sent messengers after Abner, and they brought him back from the well of Sirah, but David did not know this.

²⁷ When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the middle of the gate to speak with him quietly. There Joab stabbed him in the stomach and so that Abner died. In this way, Joab avenged the blood of Asahel his brother.

²⁸ When David heard about this he said, "I and my kingdom are innocent before Yahweh forever regarding the blood of Abner son of Ner. ²⁹ May his blood fall upon the head of Joab and upon all his father's house! May Joab's house never be without someone who has a running sore or leprosy or who is lame and must walk with a staff or who is killed by the sword or does not have enough food." ³⁰ So Joab and Abishai his brother killed Abner, because he had killed their brother Asahel at Gibeon in battle.

³¹ David said to Joab and to all the people who were with him, "Tear your clothes, gird yourselves with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner's body." Now King David walked behind the body in the funeral procession. ³² They buried Abner in Hebron. The king wept and cried loudly at the tomb of Abner, and all the people also wept.

³³ The king lamented for Abner and sang,

"Should Abner die as a fool dies?

³⁴ Your hands were not bound.

Your feet were not shackled.

As a man falls before the sons of injustice, so you have fallen."

Once more all the people wept over him.

³⁵ All the people came to make David eat while it was still day, but David swore, "May God do so to me, and more also, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun goes down." ³⁶ All the people took notice of David's grief, and it pleased them, as whatever the king did pleased them.

³⁷ So all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not the king's desire to kill Abner son of Ner. ³⁸ The king said to his servants, "Do you not know that a prince and a great man has fallen this day in Israel? ³⁹ Now I am weak today, though I am an anointed king. These men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too severe for me. May Yahweh repay the evildoer by punishing him for his wickedness, as he deserves."

Chapter 4

¹ When Ish-Bosheth, Saul's son, heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands became weak, and all Israel was troubled. ² Now Saul's son had two men who were captains of groups of soldiers. The name of one was Baanah and the other Rekab, sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, who was from the people of Benjamin (for Beeroth is also considered part of Benjamin, ³ and the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have been living there until this very time).

⁴ Now Jonathan, Saul's son, had a son who was crippled in his feet. He was five years old when the news about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up to flee, but in her hurry, Jonathan's son fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth.

⁵ So the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, Rekab and Baanah, traveled during the heat of the day to the house of Ish-Bosheth, as he was resting at noon. ⁶ The woman guarding the door had fallen asleep while sifting wheat, and Rekab and Baanah walked in quietly and passed her. ⁷ So after they entered the house, they attacked him and killed him as he was lying on his bed in his room. Then they cut off his head and carried it away, traveling on the road all night to the Arabah.

⁸ They brought the head of Ish-Bosheth to David at Hebron, and they said to the king, "Look, this is the head of Ish-Bosheth son of Saul, your enemy, who sought your life. Today Yahweh has avenged our master the king against Saul and his descendants." ⁹ David answered Rekab and Baanah his brother, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite; he said to them, "As Yahweh lives, who delivered my life from every trouble, ¹⁰ when someone told me, 'Look, Saul is dead,' thinking he was bringing good news, I seized him and killed him at Ziklag. That was the reward I gave him for his news.

¹¹ How much more, when wicked men have killed an innocent person in his own house on his bed, should I not now require his blood from your hand and completely remove you from the earth?" ¹² Then David gave orders to the young men, and they killed them and cut off their hands and feet and hung them up beside the pool at Hebron. But they took the head of Ish-Bosheth and buried it in the grave of Abner in Hebron.

Chapter 5

¹ Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "Look, we are your flesh and bone. ² In the recent past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led the Israelite army. Yahweh said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become ruler over Israel.'"

³ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them before Yahweh. They anointed David king over Israel. ⁴ David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. ⁵ In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah.

⁶ The king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land. They said to David, "You will not come here except to be turned away by the blind and the lame. David cannot come here." ⁷ Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Zion, which now is the city of David.

⁸ At that time David said, "Those who attack the Jebusites will have to go through the water shaft to reach the 'lame and the blind' who are David's enemies." That is why people say, "The 'blind and the lame' must not enter the palace." ⁹ So David lived in the stronghold and called it the city of David. He fortified around it, from the terrace toward the inside. ¹⁰ David became very powerful because Yahweh, the God of hosts, was with him.

¹¹ Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, carpenters, and masons. They built a house for David. ¹² David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.

¹³ After David left Hebron and came to Jerusalem, he took more concubines and wives in Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. ¹⁴ These were the names of the children who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ¹⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, ¹⁶ Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.

¹⁷ Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed as king over Israel, they all went out looking for him. But David heard about it and went down to the stronghold. ¹⁸ Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim.

¹⁹ Then David asked for help from Yahweh. He said, "Should I attack the Philistines? Will you give victory over them?" Yahweh said to David, "Attack, for I will certainly give you victory over the Philistines." ²⁰ So David attacked at Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He commented, "Yahweh has burst through my enemies before me like a bursting flood of water." So he called the name of that place Baal Perazim. ²¹ The Philistines left their idols there, and David and his men carried them away.

²² Then the Philistines came up again and spread out once more in the Valley of Rephaim. ²³ So David sought help from Yahweh again, and Yahweh said to him, "You must not attack their front, but rather circle around behind them and come on them through the balsam woods.

²⁴ When you hear the sound of marching in the wind blowing through the balsam treetops, then attack with force. Do this because Yahweh will have gone out before you to attack the army of the Philistines." ²⁵ So David did as Yahweh had commanded him. He killed Philistines from Geba all the way to Gezer.

Chapter 6

¹ Now David again gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand. ² David arose and went with all his men who were with him from Baalah in Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the name of Yahweh of hosts, who sits enthroned over the cherubim.

³ They set the ark of God on a new cart. They brought it out of Abinadab's house, which was on a hill. Uzzah and Ahio, his sons, were guiding the new cart. ⁴ They brought the cart out of Abinadab's house on the hill with the ark of God on it. Ahio was walking in front of the ark. ⁵ Then David and all the house of Israel began to play before Yahweh, celebrating with instruments made of fir wood, harps, lyres, tambourines, rattles, and cymbals.

⁶ When they came to the threshing floor of Nakon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah reached out with his hand to grab the ark of God, and he took hold of it. ⁷ Then the anger of Yahweh burned against Uzzah. God attacked him there for his sin. Uzzah died there by the ark of God.

⁸ David was angry because Yahweh had attacked Uzzah, and he called the name of that place Perez Uzzah. That place is called Perez Uzza to this day. ⁹ David was afraid of Yahweh that day. He said, "How can the ark of Yahweh come to me?"

¹⁰ So David was not willing to take the ark of Yahweh with him into the city of David. Instead, he put it aside in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. ¹¹ The ark of Yahweh remained in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite for three months. So Yahweh blessed him and all his household.

¹² Now King David was told, "Yahweh has blessed Obed-Edom's house and everything that belongs to him because of the ark of God." So David went and brought up the ark of God from Obed-Edom's house to the city of David with joy. ¹³ When those who were carrying the ark of Yahweh had gone six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.

¹⁴ David danced before Yahweh with all his might; he was wearing only a linen ephod. ¹⁵ So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of Yahweh with shouting and the sound of rams' horns.

¹⁶ Now as the ark of Yahweh came into the city of David, Michal, daughter of Saul, looked out the window. She saw King David leaping and dancing before Yahweh. Then she despised him in her heart. ¹⁷ They brought in the ark of Yahweh and put it in its place, in the middle of the tent that David had set up for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before Yahweh.

¹⁸ When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh of hosts. ¹⁹ Then he distributed among all the people, the whole multitude of Israel, both to men and women, a loaf of bread, a portion of meat, and a cake of raisins. Then all the people left; each one returned to his own house.

²⁰ Then David returned to bless his family. Michal, the daughter of Saul, came out to meet David and said, "How honored the king of Israel was today, who undressed himself today before the eyes of the slave girls among his servants, like one of the crude fellows who shamelessly undresses himself!"

²¹ David responded to Michal, "I did that before Yahweh, who chose me above your father and above all his family, who appointed me leader over the people of Yahweh, over Israel. Before Yahweh I will be joyful! ²² I will be even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you have spoken about, I will be honored." ²³ So Michal, the daughter of Saul, had no children to the day of her death.

Chapter 7

¹ It happened that after the king had settled in his house, and after Yahweh had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies, ² the king said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God is staying in the middle of a tent."

³ Then Nathan said to the king, "Go, do what is in your heart, for Yahweh is with you."

⁴ But that same night the word of Yahweh came to Nathan, saying: ⁵ "Go and tell David my servant, 'This is what Yahweh says: Will you build me a house in which to live?

⁶ For I have not lived in a house from the day that I brought up the people of Israel out of Egypt until this present day. Rather, I have been moving about in a tent, a tabernacle. ⁷ In all places where I have moved among all the people of Israel, did I ever say anything to anyone from the tribes of Israel whom I appointed to shepherd my people Israel, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'

⁸ "Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what Yahweh of hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, so that you would be ruler over my people Israel. ⁹ I have been with you wherever you went. I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the great ones of the earth.

¹⁰ I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them there, so that they may live in their own place and be troubled no more. No longer will wicked people oppress them, as they did before, ¹¹ as they were doing from the days that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Now I will give you rest from all your enemies.

"Moreover, Yahweh declares to you that Yahweh will make you a house.

¹² When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up a descendant after you, one who will come out from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. ¹³ He will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ¹⁴ I will be a father to him, and he will be my son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the whipping of the sons of men.

¹⁵ But my covenant faithfulness will not leave him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. ¹⁶ Your house and kingdom will be confirmed forever before you. Your throne will be established forever.'"

¹⁷ Nathan spoke to David and reported to him all these words, and he told him about the entire vision.

¹⁸ Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh and said, "Who am I, Lord Yahweh, and what is my family that you have brought me to this point? ¹⁹ Now this was a small thing in your sight, Lord Yahweh. You have even spoken about your servant's family for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, Lord Yahweh!

²⁰ "What more can I, David, say to you? You have known your servant, Lord Yahweh.

²¹ For your word's sake, and to fulfill your own purpose, you have done this great thing and revealed it to your servant.

²² "Therefore you are great, Lord Yahweh, for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, as we have heard with our own ears. ²³ What nation is like your people Israel, the one nation on earth whom you, God, went and rescued for yourself? You did this so that they would become a people for yourself, to make a name for yourself, and to do great and fearful deeds for your land. You drove out nations and their gods from before your people, whom you rescued from Egypt.

²⁴ You established Israel as your own people forever, and you, Yahweh, became their God.

²⁵ "So now, Yahweh God, may the promise that you made concerning your servant and his family be established forever. Do as you have spoken. ²⁶ May your name be forever great, so the people will say, 'Yahweh of hosts is the God of Israel,' while the house of me, David, your servant is established before you.

²⁷ "For you, Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. That is why I, your servant, have found courage to pray to you. ²⁸ Now, Lord Yahweh, you are God, and your words are trustworthy, and you have made this good promise to your servant. ²⁹ Now then, let it please you to bless the house of your servant, so that it may continue forever before you. For you, Lord Yahweh, have said these things, and with your blessing your servant's house will be blessed forever."

Chapter 8

¹ After this it came about that David defeated the Philistines and subdued them. So David took Metheg Ammah from the control of the Philistines.

² Then he defeated Moab and measured their men with a line by making them lie down on the ground. He measured off two lines to put to death, and one full line to keep alive. So the Moabites became servants to David and began to pay him tribute.

³ David then defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, the king of Zobah, as Hadadezer was traveling to recover his rule by the Euphrates River. ⁴ David captured from him 1,700 chariots and twenty thousand footmen. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for a hundred chariots.

⁵ When the Arameans of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand Aramean men. ⁶ Then David put garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became servants to him and brought him tribute. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.

⁷ David took the golden shields that were on Hadadezer's servants and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ From Tebah and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took very much bronze.

⁹ When Tou, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ Tou sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him, because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, and because Hadadezer had waged war against Tou. Hadoram brought with himself objects of silver, gold, and bronze.

¹¹ King David dedicated these objects to Yahweh, together with the silver and gold that he had dedicated, which came from all the nations that he had conquered— ¹² from Aram, Moab, the people of Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek, along with all of the plundered goods of Hadadezer son of Rehob, the king of Zobah.

¹³ David's name was well known when he returned from conquering the Arameans in the Valley of Salt, with their eighteen thousand men. ¹⁴ He placed garrisons throughout all of Edom, and all the Edomites became servants to him. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.

¹⁵ David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and righteousness to all his people. ¹⁶ Joab son of Zeruiah was the commander of the army, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder. ¹⁷ Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests, and Seraiah was scribe. ¹⁸ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was in charge of the Kerethites and Pelethites, and David's sons were the priests. ¹

¹The ancient Greek translations and some modern translations have this as it is in 1 Chronicles 18:17, were the chief officials .

Chapter 9

¹ David said, "Is there anyone left in Saul's family to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan's sake?" ² There was in Saul's family a servant whose name was Ziba, and they called him to David. The king said to him, "Are you Ziba?" He replied, "Yes. I am your servant."

³ So the king said, "Is there not anyone left of Saul's family to whom I may show the kindness of God?" Ziba replied to the king, "Jonathan still has a son, who is lame in his feet." ⁴ The king said to him, "Where is he?" Ziba replied to the king, "Look, he is in the house of Makir son of Ammiel in Lo Debar."

⁵ Then King David sent and had him brought out of the house of Makir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar. ⁶ So Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul, came to David and bowed down his face to the floor in honor of David. David said, "Mephibosheth." He answered, "See, I am your servant!"

⁷ David said to him, "Do not be afraid, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father's sake, and I will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather, and you will always eat at my table." ⁸ Mephibosheth bowed and said, "What is your servant, that you should look with favor on such a dead dog as I am?"

⁹ Then the king called to Ziba, Saul's servant, and said to him, "All that belonged to Saul and his family I have given to your master's grandson. ¹⁰ You, your sons, and your servants must till the land for him and you must harvest the crops so that your master's grandson will have food to eat. For Mephibosheth, your master's grandson, must always eat at my table." Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants.

¹¹ Then Ziba said to the king, "Your servant will do all that my master the king commands his servant." The king added, "As for Mephibosheth he will eat at my table, as one of the king's sons." ¹² Mephibosheth had a young son whose name was Mika. All who lived in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. ¹³ So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, and he always ate at the king's table, though he was lame in both his feet.

Chapter 10

¹ It came about later that the king of the people of Ammon died, and that Hanun his son became king in his place. ² David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me." So David sent his servants to comfort Hanun concerning his father. His servants entered the land of the people of Ammon. ³ But the leaders of the people of Ammon said to Hanun their master, "Do you really think that David is honoring your father because he has sent men to comfort you? Has not David sent his servants to you to look at the city, to spy it out, in order to overthrow it?"

⁴ So Hanun took David's servants, shaved off half their beards, cut off their garments up to their buttocks, and sent them away. ⁵ When they explained this to David, he sent to meet with them, for the men were deeply ashamed. The king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return."

⁶ When the people of Ammon saw that they had become a stench to David, the people of Ammon sent messengers and hired the Arameans of Beth Rehob and Zobah, twenty thousand foot soldiers, and the king of Maakah with a thousand men, and the men of Tob with twelve thousand men. ⁷ When David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of soldiers. ⁸ The Ammonites came out and formed a line of battle at the entrance to their city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and of Rehob, and the men of Tob and Maakah, stood by themselves in the open fields.

⁹ When Joab saw the battle lines facing him both in front and behind, he chose some of Israel's best fighters and arranged them against the Arameans. ¹⁰ The rest of his people he put into the hand of Abishai his brother, and he set them out in position to fight against the army of Ammon.

¹¹ Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you, Abishai, must rescue me. But if the army of Ammon is too strong for you, then I will come and rescue you. ¹² Be strong, and let us show ourselves to be strong for our people and for the cities of our God, for Yahweh will do what is good for his purpose."

¹³ So Joab and the soldiers of his army advanced to the battle against the Arameans, who were forced to flee before the army of Israel. ¹⁴ When the army of Ammon saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled from Abishai and went back into the city. Then Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went back to Jerusalem.

¹⁵ When the Arameans saw that they were being defeated by Israel, they gathered themselves together again. ¹⁶ Then Hadarezer sent for Aramean troops from beyond the Euphrates River. They came to Helam, and Shobak, the commander of Hadarezer's army, went before them.

¹⁷ When David was told this, he gathered all Israel together, crossed the Jordan, and arrived at Helam. The Arameans arranged themselves in battle lines against David and fought him. ¹⁸ The Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed seven hundred of their men in chariots and forty thousand horsemen. Shobak the commander of their army was wounded and died there. ¹⁹ When all the kings who were servants of Hadarezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became their subjects. So the Arameans were afraid to help the people of Ammon anymore.

Chapter 11

¹ It came about in the spring of the year, at the time when kings normally go to war, that David sent out Joab, his servants, and all the army of Israel. They destroyed the army of Ammon and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem.

² So it came about one evening that David got up from his bed and walked on the roof of his palace. From there he happened to see a woman who was bathing, and the woman was very beautiful to look at. ³ So David sent and he asked people who would know about the woman. Someone said, "Is not this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, and is she not the wife of Uriah the Hittite?"

⁴ David sent messengers and took her; she came to him, and he lay with her (for she had just purified herself from her uncleanness). Then she returned to her house. ⁵ The woman conceived, and she sent and told David; she said, "I am pregnant."

⁶ Then David sent to Joab saying, "Send me Uriah the Hittite." So Joab sent Uriah to David. ⁷ When Uriah arrived, David asked him how Joab was, how the army was doing, and how the war was going. ⁸ David said to Uriah, "Go down to your house and wash your feet." So Uriah left the king's palace, and the king sent a gift for Uriah after he left.

⁹ But Uriah lay down at the door of the king's palace with all the servants of his master, and he did not go down to his house. ¹⁰ When they told David, "Uriah did not go down to his house," David said to Uriah, "Have you not come from a journey? Why did you not go down to your house?" ¹¹ Uriah answered David, "The ark, and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my master's servants are camped in an open field. How then can I go into my house to eat and to drink and to lie with my wife? As sure as you are alive, I will not do this."

¹² So David said to Uriah, "Stay here today also, and tomorrow I will let you leave." So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next day. ¹³ When David called him, he ate and drank before him, and David made him drunk. At evening Uriah went out to lie on his bed with the servants of his master; he did not go down to his house.

¹⁴ So in the morning David wrote a letter to Joab, and sent it by the hand of Uriah. ¹⁵ David wrote in the letter saying, "Set Uriah at the very front of the most severe battle, and then withdraw from him, that he may be hit and die."

¹⁶ So as Joab watched the siege upon the city, he assigned Uriah to the place where he knew the strongest enemy soldiers would be fighting. ¹⁷ When the men of the city went out and fought against Joab's army, some of the servants of David fell, and Uriah the Hittite was also killed there.

¹⁸ When Joab sent word to David about everything concerning the war, ¹⁹ he commanded the messenger, saying, "When you have finished telling all the things concerning the war to the king, ²⁰ it may happen that the king will become angry, and he will say to you, 'Why did you go so near to the city to fight? Did you not know that they would shoot from the wall?

²¹ Who killed Abimelek son of Jerub-Besheth? Did not a woman cast an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died at Thebez? Why did you go so near the wall?' Then you must answer, 'Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead also.'"

²² So the messenger left and went to David and told him everything that Joab had sent him to say. ²³ Then the messenger said to David, "The enemy were stronger than we were at first; they came out to us into the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate.

²⁴ Then their shooters shot at your soldiers from off the wall, and some of the king's servants were killed, and your servant Uriah the Hittite was killed too." ²⁵ Then David said to the messenger, "Say this to Joab, 'Do not let this displease you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Make your battle even stronger against the city, and overthrow it,' and encourage him."

²⁶ So when the wife of Uriah heard that Uriah her husband was dead, she lamented deeply for her husband. ²⁷ When her sorrow passed, David sent and took her home to his palace, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But what David had done displeased Yahweh.

Chapter 12

¹ Then Yahweh sent Nathan to David. He came to him and said, "There were once two men in a city. One man was rich and the other poor. ² The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle, ³ but the poor man had nothing except one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and fed and raised. It grew up together with him and with his children. The lamb even ate with him and drank from his own cup, and it lay in his bosom and was like a daughter to him.

⁴ One day a visitor came to the rich man, but the rich man was unwilling to take one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for him. Instead, he took the poor man's ewe lamb and cooked it for his visitor." ⁵ David was hot with anger against the rich man, and he raged to Nathan, "As Yahweh lives, the man who has done this deserves to be put to death. ⁶ He must pay back the lamb four times over because he did such a thing, and because he had no pity on the poor man."

⁷ Then Nathan said to David, "You are that man! Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'I anointed you king over Israel, and I rescued you out of the hand of Saul. ⁸ I gave you your master's house, and your master's wives into your arms. I also gave you the house of Israel and Judah. But if that had been too little, I would have given you many other things in addition.

⁹ So why have you despised the commands of Yahweh, so as to do what is evil in his sight? You have struck down Uriah the Hittite with the sword and have taken his wife to be your own wife. You killed him with the sword of the army of Ammon. ¹⁰ So now the sword will never leave your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite as your wife.'

¹¹ Yahweh says, 'Look, I will raise up disaster against you out of your own house. Before your own eyes, I will take your wives and give them to your neighbor, and he will lie with your wives in broad daylight. ¹² For you committed your sin secretly, but I will do this thing before all Israel, in the sunlight.'" ¹³ Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against Yahweh." Nathan replied to David, "Yahweh also has passed over your sin. You will not be killed.

¹⁴ However, because by this act you have despised Yahweh, the child who is born to you will surely die." ¹⁵ Then Nathan left and went home.

Yahweh attacked the child that Uriah's wife bore to David, and he was very sick.

¹⁶ David then implored God for the boy. David fasted and went inside and lay all night on the floor. ¹⁷ The elders of his house arose and stood beside him, to raise him up from the floor, but he would not get up, and he would not eat with them. ¹⁸ It came about on the seventh day that the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, "Look, while the child was still alive we spoke to him, and he did not listen to our voice. What might he do to himself if we tell him that the boy is dead?!"

¹⁹ But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David realized that the child was dead. He said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" They answered, "He is dead." ²⁰ Then David arose from the floor and washed himself, anointed himself, and changed his clothes. He went to the tabernacle of Yahweh and worshiped there, and then he came back to his own palace. When he asked for it, they set food before him, and he ate.

²¹ Then his servants said to him, "Why have you done this? You fasted and wept for the child while he was alive, but when the child died, you got up and ate." ²² David answered, "While the child was still alive I fasted and wept. I said, 'Who knows whether or not Yahweh will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' ²³ But now he is dead, so why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me."

²⁴ David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went to her and lay with her. Later she gave birth to a son, and the child was named Solomon. Yahweh loved him ²⁵ and he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah, because Yahweh loved him.

²⁶ Now Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites, and he captured the royal city. ²⁷ So Joab sent messengers to David and said, "I have fought against Rabbah, and I have taken the city's water supply. ²⁸ Now therefore gather the rest of the army together and camp against the city and take it, because if I take the city, it will be named after me."

²⁹ So David gathered all the army together and went to Rabbah; he fought against the city and captured it. ³⁰ David took the crown from their king's head—it weighed a talent of gold, and there was a precious stone in it. The crown was placed on David's own head. Then he brought out the plunder of the city in large quantities.

³¹ He brought out the people who were in the city and forced them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes; he also made them work at brick kilns. David required all the cities of the people of Ammon to do this labor. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.

Chapter 13

¹ It came about after this that David's son Absalom had a beautiful sister whose name was Tamar, and David's son Amnon loved her. ² Amnon was so frustrated that he became sick because of his sister Tamar. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible to Amnon to do anything to her.

³ But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. ⁴ Jonadab said to Amnon, "Why, son of the king, are you depressed every morning? Will you not tell me?" So Amnon answered him, "I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister."

⁵ Then Jonadab said to him, "Lie down on your bed and pretend to be sick. When your father comes to see you, ask him, 'Would you please send my sister Tamar to give me something to eat and cook it before me, so that I may see it and eat it from her hand?'" ⁶ So Amnon lay down and pretended to be sick. When the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, "Please send my sister Tamar to make some food for my sickness in front of me so that I may eat from her hand."

⁷ Then David sent word to Tamar at his palace, saying, "Go now to your brother Amnon's house and prepare food for him." ⁸ So Tamar went to her brother Amnon's house where he was lying down. She took dough and kneaded it and formed bread in his sight, and then she baked it. ⁹ She took the pan and gave the bread to him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said to the others present, "Send everyone out, away from me." So everyone went out from him.

¹⁰ So Amnon said to Tamar, "Bring the food into my room that I may eat from your hand." So Tamar took the bread that she had made, and brought it into the room of Amnon her brother. ¹¹ When she had brought the food to him, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister." ¹² She answered him, "No, my brother, do not force me, for nothing like this should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing!

¹³ How could I be rid of my shame? What about you? You would be like one of the fools in Israel! Now, please speak to the king, for he would not keep me from you." ¹⁴ However Amnon would not listen to her, and he was stronger than she was, and he overpowered her, and he lay with her.

¹⁵ Then Amnon hated Tamar with extreme hatred. The hatred with which he hated her was even greater than the love with which he had loved her. Amnon said to her, "Get up and go." ¹⁶ But she responded to him, "No! Because this great evil of making me leave is even worse than what you did to me!" But Amnon did not listen to her. ¹⁷ Instead, he called his personal servant and said, "Take this woman away from me, and bolt the door after her."

¹⁸ Then his servant brought her out and bolted the door after her. Tamar was wearing a beautifully decorated garment because the king's daughters who were virgins dressed in such robes. ¹⁹ Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her beautifully decorated garment. She put her hands on her head and walked away, crying aloud as she went.

²⁰ Absalom her brother said to her, "Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now keep quiet, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart." So Tamar remained alone in her brother Absalom's house. ²¹ But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. ²² Absalom said nothing to Amnon, for Absalom hated him for what he had done to her and how he had disgraced his sister Tamar.

²³ It came about after two full years that Absalom had sheep shearers working at Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king's sons to visit there. ²⁴ Absalom went to the king and said, "See now, your servant has sheep shearers. Please, may the king and his servants go with me, your servant."

²⁵ The king answered Absalom, "No, my son, all of us should not go because we would be a burden to you." Absalom begged the king, but he would not go, but he gave him his blessing. ²⁶ Then Absalom said, "If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us." So the king said to him, "Why should Amnon go with you?"

²⁷ Absalom pressed David, and so he let Amnon and all the king's sons go with him. ²⁸ Absalom commanded his servants saying, "Listen closely. When Amnon begins to be affected by the wine, and when I say to you, 'Attack Amnon,' then put him to death. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and brave." ²⁹ So Absalom's servants did to Amnon as he had commanded them. Then all the king's sons arose, and every man mounted his mule and fled.

³⁰ So it came about, while they were on the road, that the news came to David saying, "Absalom has killed all the king's sons, and there is not one of them left." ³¹ Then the king arose and tore his clothes, and lay on the floor; all his servants stood by with their clothes torn.

³² Jonadab son of Shimeah, David's brother, answered and said, "Let not my master believe that they have killed all the young men who are the king's sons, for Amnon only is dead. Absalom has planned this from the day that Amnon violated his sister Tamar. ³³ So therefore let not my master the king take this report to heart, so as to believe that all the king's sons are dead, for Amnon only is dead."

³⁴ Absalom fled away. A servant keeping watch raised his eyes and saw many people coming on the road on the hillside west of him. ³⁵ Then Jonadab said to the king, "Look, the king's sons are coming. It is just as your servant said." ³⁶ So it came about when he finished speaking, the king's sons arrived and raised their voices and wept. The king and all his servants also wept bitterly.

³⁷ But Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. David mourned for his son every day. ³⁸ So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, where he was for three years. ³⁹ The mind of King David longed to go out to see Absalom, for he was comforted concerning Amnon and his death.

Chapter 14

¹ Now Joab son of Zeruiah knew that the king's heart went out to Absalom. ² So Joab sent word to Tekoa and had a wise woman brought to him. He said to her, "Please pretend you are a mourner and put on mourning clothes. Please do not anoint yourself with oil, but be like a woman who has mourned a long time for the dead. ³ Then go to the king and speak to him about what I will describe." So Joab told her the words she was to say to the king.

⁴ When the woman from Tekoa spoke to the king, she lay facedown on the ground and said, "Help me, king." ⁵ The king said to her, "What is wrong?" She answered, "The truth is that I am a widow, and my husband is dead. ⁶ I, your servant, had two sons, and they fought with each other in the field, and there was no one to separate them. One struck the other and killed him.

⁷ Now the whole clan has risen against your servant, and they say, 'Give into our hand the man who struck his brother, so that we may put him to death, to pay for the life of his brother whom he killed.' So they would also destroy the heir. Thus they will put out the burning coal that I have left, and they will leave for my husband neither name nor descendant on the surface of the earth."

⁸ So the king said to the woman, "Go to your house, and I will command something to be done for you." ⁹ The woman of Tekoa replied to the king, "My master, king, may the guilt be on me and on my father's family. The king and his throne are guiltless."

¹⁰ The king replied, "Whoever says anything to you, bring him to me, and he will not touch you anymore." ¹¹ Then she said, "Please, may the king call to mind Yahweh your God, so that the avenger of blood will not destroy anyone further, so that they will not destroy my son." The king replied, "As Yahweh lives, not one hair of your son will fall to the ground."

¹² Then the woman said, "Please let your servant speak a further word to my master the king." He said, "Speak on." ¹³ So the woman said, "Why then have you devised such a thing against the people of God? For in saying this thing, the king is like someone who is guilty, because the king has not brought back home again his banished son. ¹⁴ For we all must die, and we are like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be gathered up again. But God will not take away life. Rather, he devises a way for those who were driven away not to remain outcast.

¹⁵ Now then, seeing that I have come to speak this thing to my master the king, it is because the people have made me afraid. So your servant said to herself, 'I will now speak to the king. It may be that the king will perform the request of his servant. ¹⁶ Perhaps the king will listen to me and deliver his servant from the hand of the man who would destroy me and my son together, out of the inheritance God gave us.' ¹⁷ Then your servant prayed, 'Yahweh, please let the word of my master the king give me relief, for as an angel of God, so is my master the king in telling good from evil.' May Yahweh your God be with you."

¹⁸ Then the king answered and said to the woman, "Please do not hide from me anything that I will ask you." The woman replied, "Let my master the king now speak." ¹⁹ The king said, "Is not the hand of Joab with you in all this?" The woman answered and said, "As you live, my master the king, no one can escape to the right hand or to the left from anything that my master the king has spoken. It was your servant Joab who commanded me and told me to say these things that your servant has spoken. ²⁰ Your servant Joab has done this to change the course of what is happening. My master is wise, like the wisdom of an angel of God, and he knows everything that is happening in the land."

²¹ So the king said to Joab, "See now, I will do this thing. Go then, and bring the young man Absalom back." ²² So Joab lay facedown on the ground in honor and gratitude to the king. Joab said, "Today your servant knows that I have found favor in your eyes, my master, king, in that the king has performed the request of his servant."

²³ So Joab arose, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom back to Jerusalem. ²⁴ The king said, "He may return to his own house, but he may not see my face." So Absalom returned to his own house, but did not see the king's face.

²⁵ Now in all Israel there was no one praised for his handsomeness more than Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head there was no blemish in him. ²⁶ When he cut the hair of his head at the end of every year, because it was heavy on him, he weighed his hair; it would weigh about two hundred shekels, which is measured by the weight of the king's standard. ²⁷ To Absalom were born three sons and one daughter, whose name was Tamar. She was a beautiful woman.

²⁸ Absalom lived two full years in Jerusalem, without seeing the king's face. ²⁹ Then Absalom sent word for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab would not come to him. So Absalom sent word a second time, but Joab still did not come.

³⁰ So Absalom said to his servants, "See, Joab's field is near mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire." So Absalom's servants set the field on fire. ³¹ Then Joab arose and came to Absalom at his house, and said to him, "Why have your servants set my field on fire?"

³² Absalom answered Joab, "Look, I sent word to you saying, 'Come here so I may send you to the king to say, "Why did I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to still be there. Now therefore let me see the king's face, and if I am guilty, let him kill me."'" ³³ So Joab went to the king and told him. When the king called for Absalom, he came to the king and bowed low to the ground before the king, and the king kissed Absalom.

Chapter 15

¹ It came about after this that Absalom prepared a chariot and horses for himself, with fifty men to run before him. ² Absalom would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. When any man had a dispute to come to the king for judgment, Absalom would call to him and say, "From what city have you come?" Then the man would answer, "Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel."

³ So Absalom would say to him, "Look, your case is good and in the right, but there is no one empowered by the king to hear your case." ⁴ Absalom would add, "I wish that I were made judge in the land, so that every man who had any dispute or cause might come to me, and I would bring him justice!"

⁵ So it came about that when any man came to Absalom to honor him, Absalom would put out his hand and take hold of him and kiss him. ⁶ Absalom acted in this way to all Israel who came to the king for judgment. So Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

⁷ It came about at the end of four years that Absalom said to the king, "Please let me go and pay a vow that I have made to Yahweh in Hebron. ⁸ For your servant made a vow while I was living at Geshur in Aram, saying,' If Yahweh will indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will worship Yahweh.'"

⁹ So the king said to him, "Go in peace." So Absalom arose and went to Hebron. ¹⁰ But then Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, "As soon as you hear the sound of the ram's horn, then you must say, 'Absalom is king in Hebron.'"

¹¹ With Absalom went two hundred men from Jerusalem, who were invited. They went in their innocence, not knowing anything that Absalom had planned. ¹² While Absalom offered sacrfices, he sent for Ahithophel from his hometown of Giloh. He was David's counselor. Absalom's conspiracy was strong, for the people following Absalom were constantly increasing.

¹³ A messenger came to David saying, "The hearts of the men of Israel are following after Absalom." ¹⁴ So David said to all his servants who were with him at Jerusalem, "Arise and let us flee, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Prepare to leave immediately, or he will quickly overtake us, and he will bring down disaster on us and attack the city with the edge of the sword." ¹⁵ The king's servants said to the king, "Look, your servants are ready to do whatever our master the king decides."

¹⁶ The king left and all his family after him, but the king left ten women, who were concubines, to keep the palace. ¹⁷ After the king went out and all the people after him, they stopped at the last house. ¹⁸ All his servants marched with him, and before him went all the Kerethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites—six hundred men who had followed him from Gath marched with the king.

¹⁹ Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, "Why will you come with us? Return and stay with the king, for you are a foreigner and an exile. Return to your own place. ²⁰ Since you just left yesterday, why should I make you wander all over with us? I do not even know where I am going. So return and take your fellow countrymen with you, and may steadfast love and faithfulness go with you."

²¹ But Ittai answered the king and said, "As Yahweh lives, and as my master the king lives, surely in whatever place where my master the king goes, there also will your servant go, whether that means living or dying." ²² So David said to Ittai, "Go ahead and continue with us." So Ittai the Gittite marched with the king, along with all his men and all the families who were with him. ²³ All the country wept with a loud voice as all the people passed by over the Kidron Valley, and as the king also himself crossed over. All the people traveled on the road toward the wilderness.

²⁴ Even Zadok with all the Levites, carrying the ark of the covenant of God, were present. They set the ark of God down, and then Abiathar joined them. They waited until all the people had passed by out of the city. ²⁵ The king said to Zadok, "Carry the ark of God back into the city. If I find favor in the eyes of Yahweh, he will bring me back here and show me again the ark and the place where he lives. ²⁶ But if he says, 'I am not pleased with you,' look, here am I, let him do to me whatever seems good to him."

²⁷ The king also said to Zadok the priest, "Are you not a seer? Return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz your son, and Jonathan son of Abiathar. ²⁸ See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me." ²⁹ So Zadok and Abiathar carried the ark of God back into Jerusalem, and they stayed there.

³⁰ But David ascended barefoot and weeping up the Mount of Olives, and he had his head covered. Every man of the people who were with him covered his head, and they went up weeping as they walked. ³¹ Someone told David saying, "Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom." So David prayed, "O Yahweh, please turn Ahithophel's advice into foolishness."

³² It came about that when David arrived at the top of the road, where God used to be worshiped, Hushai the Arkite came to meet him with his coat torn and earth on his head. ³³ David said to him, "If you travel with me, then you will be a burden to me. ³⁴ But if you return to the city and say to Absalom, 'I will be your servant, king, as I have been your father's servant in time past, so will I now be your servant,' then you will confuse Ahithophel's advice for me.

³⁵ Will you not have the priests Zadok and Abiathar with you? So whatever you hear in the king's palace, you must tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. ³⁶ See that they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son. You must send to me by their hand everything that you hear." ³⁷ So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city as Absalom arrived and entered into Jerusalem.

Chapter 16

¹ When David had gone a short distance over the summit of the hill, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth met him with a couple of saddled donkeys; on them were two hundred loaves of bread, one hundred clusters of raisins, and one hundred bunches of figs, and a skin of wine. ² The king said to Ziba, "Why did you bring these things?" Ziba replied, "The donkeys are for the king's household to ride on, the bread and fig cakes are for your young men to eat, and the wine is for anyone who is faint in the wilderness to drink."

³ The king said, "Then where is your master's grandson?" Ziba replied to the king, "Look, he has stayed behind in Jerusalem, for he said, 'Today the house of Israel will restore my father's kingdom to me.'" ⁴ Then the king said to Ziba, "Look, all that belonged to Mephibosheth now belongs to you." Ziba answered, "I bow in humility to you, my master, king. Let me find favor in your eyes."

⁵ When King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the clan of Saul came out from there. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and he cursed as he came out. ⁶ He threw stones at David and at all of the king's servants, in spite of the people and mighty men who were on the king's right and left.

⁷ Shimei called out in cursing, "Go away, get out of here, you man of blood, you worthless man! ⁸ Yahweh has repaid all of you for the blood you shed within the family of Saul, in whose place you have reigned. Yahweh has given the kingdom into the hand of Absalom your son. You have come to ruin because you are a man of blood."

⁹ Then Abishai son of Zeruiah, said to the king, "Why should this dead dog curse my master the king? Please let me go over and take off his head." ¹⁰ But the king said, "What have I to do with you, sons of Zeruiah? Perhaps he is cursing me because Yahweh has said to him, 'Curse David.' Who then could say to him, 'Why are you cursing the king?'"

¹¹ So David said to Abishai and to all his servants, "Look, my son, who was born from my body, wants to take my life. How much more may this Benjamite now desire my ruin? Leave him alone and let him curse, for Yahweh has commanded him to do it. ¹² Perhaps Yahweh will look at the misery unleashed on me, and repay me with good for his cursing me today."

¹³ So David and his men traveled on the road, while Shimei went beside him up on the hillside, cursing and throwing dust and stones at him as he went. ¹⁴ Then the king and all the people who were with him became weary, and he rested when they stopped for the night.

¹⁵ As for Absalom and all the people of the men of Israel who were with him, they came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. ¹⁶ It came about when Hushai the Arkite, David's friend, had come to Absalom, that Hushai said to Absalom, "Long live the king! Long live the king!"

¹⁷ Absalom said to Hushai, "Is this your loyalty to your friend? Why did you not go with him?" ¹⁸ Hushai said to Absalom, "No! The one whom Yahweh and this people and all the men of Israel have chosen, that is the man to whom I will belong, and I will stay with him.

¹⁹ Also, what man should I serve? Should I not serve in the presence of his son? As I have served in your father's presence, I will serve in your presence."

²⁰ Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, "Give us your advice about what we should do." ²¹ Ahithophel answered Absalom, "Go to your father's concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace, and all Israel will hear that you have become a stench to your father. Then the hands of all who are with you will be strong."

²² So they spread for Absalom a tent on the top of the palace, and Absalom went to his father's concubines in the sight of all Israel. ²³ Now the advice of Ahithophel that he gave in those days was as if a man heard from the mouth of God himself. That was how all of Ahithophel's advice was viewed by both David and Absalom.

Chapter 17

¹ Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Now let me choose twelve thousand men, and I will arise and pursue David tonight. ² I will come on him while he is weary and weak and will surprise him with fear. The people who are with him will flee, and I will attack only the king. ³ I will bring back all the people to you, like a bride coming to her husband, and all the people will be at peace under you." ⁴ What Ahithophel said pleased Absalom and all the elders of Israel.

⁵ Then Absalom said, "Now call Hushai the Arkite, too, and let us hear what he says." ⁶ When Hushai had come to Absalom, Absalom explained to him what Ahithophel had said and then asked Hushai, "Should we do what Ahithophel has said? If not, tell us what you advise." ⁷ So Hushai said to Absalom, "The advice that Ahithophel has given this time is not good."

⁸ Hushai added, "You know your father and his men are strong warriors, and that they are bitter, and they are like a bear robbed of her cubs in a field. Your father is a man of war; he will not sleep with the army tonight. ⁹ Look, right now he is probably hidden in some pit or in some other place. It will happen that when some of your men have been killed at the beginning of an attack, that whoever hears it will say, 'A slaughter has taken place among the soldiers who follow Absalom.' ¹⁰ Then even the bravest soldiers, whose hearts are like the heart of a lion, will be afraid because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man, and that the men who are with him are very strong.

¹¹ So I advise you that all Israel should be gathered together to you, from Dan to Beersheba, as numerous as the sands that are by the sea, and that you go to battle in person. ¹² Then we will come on him wherever he may be found, and we will cover him as the dew falls on the ground. We will not leave even one of his men, or him himself, alive.

¹³ If he retreats into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city and we will drag it into the river, until there is no longer even a small stone found there." ¹⁴ Then Absalom and the men of Israel said, "Hushai the Arkite's advice is better than Ahithophel's." Yahweh had ordained the rejection of Ahithophel's good advice in order to bring destruction on Absalom.

¹⁵ Then Hushai said to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests, "Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel in such and such a way, but I have advised something else. ¹⁶ Now then, go quickly and report to David; say to him, 'Do not camp tonight at the fords of the wilderness, but by all means cross over, or the king will be swallowed up along with all the people who are with him.'"

¹⁷ Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at the spring of Rogel. A female servant used to go and inform them what they needed to know, for they could not risk being seen going into the city. When the message came, then they were to go and tell King David. ¹⁸ But a young man saw them this time and told Absalom. So Jonathan and Ahimaaz went away quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim, who had a well in his courtyard, into which they descended.

¹⁹ The man's wife took the covering for the well and spread it over the well's opening, and tossed grain over it, so no one knew Jonathan and Ahimaaz were in the well. ²⁰ Absalom's servants came to the woman of the house and said, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman told them, "They have crossed over the river." So after they had looked around and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.

²¹ It came about after they had left that Jonathan and Ahimaaz came up out of the well. They went to report to King David; they said to him, "Get up and cross quickly over the water because Ahithophel has given such and such advice about you." ²² Then David arose and all the people who were with him, and they crossed over the Jordan. By morning daylight not one of them had failed to cross over the Jordan.

²³ When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and went to his house in his own city. He set his house in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.

²⁴ Then David came to Mahanaim. As for Absalom, he crossed over the Jordan, he and all the men of Israel with him. ²⁵ Absalom had set Amasa over the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Jether the Ishmaelite ¹ , who went to Abigail, who was the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah, the mother of Joab. ²⁶ Then Israel and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ It came about when David had come to Mahanaim, that Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Makir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim, ²⁸ brought sleeping mats and blankets, bowls and pots, and wheat, barley flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils, ²⁹ honey, butter, sheep, and milk curds from the herd, so that David and the people with him could eat. These men had said, "The people are hungry, weary, and thirsty in the wilderness."

¹Scholars disagree about whether the word describing Jether should be "Ishmaelite," as it is in the ancient Greek translation, or "Israelite," as it is in the ancient Hebrew text. Some scholars believe that "Israelite" is a scribal error in the Hebrew. "Ishmaelite" is the word used in a parallel passage, 1 Chronicles 2:17, in both the ancient Hebrew and Greek texts.

Chapter 18

¹ David counted the soldiers who were with him and appointed captains of thousands and captains of hundreds over them. ² Then David sent out the army, one-third under the command of Joab, another third under the command of Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab's brother, and still another third under the command of Ittai the Gittite. The king said to the army, "I will certainly go out with you myself, too."

³ But the men said, "You must not go to battle, for if we flee away they will not care about us, or if half of us die they will not care. But you are worth ten thousand of us! Therefore it is better that you be ready to help us from the city." ⁴ So the king answered them, "I will do whatever seems best to you." The king stood by the city gate while all the army went out by hundreds and by thousands.

⁵ The king commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai saying, "Deal gently for my sake with the young man, with Absalom." All the people heard that the king had given the captains this command about Absalom.

⁶ So the army went out into the countryside against Israel; the battle spread into the forest of Ephraim. ⁷ The army of Israel was defeated there before the servants of David; there was a great slaughter there that day of twenty thousand men. ⁸ The battle spread throughout the whole countryside, and more men were consumed by the forest than by the sword.

⁹ Absalom happened to meet some of David's servants. Absalom was riding his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak tree, and his head was caught up in the tree branches. He was left dangling between the ground and the sky while the mule he was riding kept going. ¹⁰ Someone saw this and told Joab, "Look, I saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!" ¹¹ Joab said to the man who told him about Absalom, "Look! You saw him! Why did you not strike him down to the ground? I would have given you ten silver shekels and a belt."

¹² The man replied to Joab, "Even if I received a thousand silver shekels, still I would not have reached out my hand against the king's son, because we all heard the king command you, Abishai, and Ittai, saying, 'No one must touch the young man Absalom.' ¹³ If I had risked my life by a falsehood (and there is nothing hidden from the king), you would have abandoned me."

¹⁴ Then Joab said, "I will not wait for you." So Joab took three javelins in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom, while he was still alive and hanging from the oak. ¹⁵ Then ten young men who carried Joab's armor surrounded Absalom, attacked him, and killed him.

¹⁶ Then Joab blew the ram's horn, and the army returned from pursuing Israel, for Joab held back the army. ¹⁷ They took Absalom and threw him into a large pit in the forest; they buried his body under a very large pile of stones, while all Israel fled, every man to his own tent.

¹⁸ Now Absalom, while still alive, had built for himself a large stone pillar in the King's Valley, for he said, "I have no son to carry along the memory of my name." He named the pillar after his own name, so it is called Absalom's Monument to this very day.

¹⁹ Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, "Let me now run to the king with the good news, how Yahweh has rescued him from the hand of his enemies." ²⁰ Joab answered him, "You will not be the bearer of news today; you must do it another day. Today you will bear no news because the king's son is dead."

²¹ Then Joab said to a Cushite, "Go, tell the king what you have seen." The Cushite bowed down to Joab, and ran. ²² Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said again to Joab, "Regardless of what may happen, please let me also run and follow the Cushite." Joab replied, "Why do you want to run, my son, seeing that you will have no reward for the news?" ²³ "Whatever happens," said Ahimaaz, "I will run." So Joab answered him, "Run." Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and outran the Cushite.

²⁴ Now David was sitting between the inner and outer gates. The watchman had gone up to the roof of the gate to the wall and raised his eyes. As he looked, he saw a man approaching, running alone. ²⁵ The watchman shouted out and told the king. Then the king said, "If he is alone, there is news in his mouth." The runner came closer and neared the city.

²⁶ Then the watchman noticed another man running, and the watchman called to the gatekeeper; he said, "Look, there is another man running alone." The king said, "He is also bringing news." ²⁷ So the watchman said, "I think the running of the man in front is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok." The king said, "He is a good man and is coming with good news."

²⁸ Then Ahimaaz called out and said to the king, "All is well." He bowed himself before the king with his face to the ground and said, "Blessed be Yahweh your God! He has delivered the men who lifted up their hand against my master the king." ²⁹ So the king replied, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" Ahimaaz answered, "When Joab sent me, the king's servant, to you, king, I saw a great disturbance, but I did not know what it was." ³⁰ Then the king said, "Turn aside and stand here." So Ahimaaz turned aside, and stood still.

³¹ Immediately then the Cushite arrived and said, "There is good news for my master the king, for Yahweh has avenged you today from all who rose up against you." ³² Then the king said to the Cushite, "Is it well with the young man Absalom?" The Cushite answered, "The enemies of my master the king, and all who rise up against you to do harm to you, should be as that young man is." ³³ Then the king was deeply unnerved, and he went up to the room over the gate and wept. As he went he grieved, "My son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! I wish I had died instead of you, Absalom, my son, my son!"

Chapter 19

¹ Joab was told, "Look, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom." ² So the victory that day was turned into mourning for all the army, for the army heard it said that day, "The king is mourning for his son."

³ The soldiers had to sneak quietly into the city that day, like people who are ashamed sneak away when they run from battle. ⁴ The king covered his face and cried in a loud voice, "My son Absalom, Absalom, my son, my son!"

⁵ Then Joab entered into the house to the king and said to him, "You have shamed the faces of all your servants today, who have saved your life today, and the lives of your sons and of your daughters, and the lives of your wives, and the lives of your concubines, ⁶ because you love those who hate you, and you hate those who love you. For today you have shown that commanders and servants are nothing to you. Today I believe that if Absalom had lived, and we all had died, then that would have pleased you.

⁷ Now therefore get up and go out and speak kindly to your servants, for I swear by Yahweh, if you do not go, not one man will remain with you tonight. That would be worse for you than all the disasters that have ever happened to you from your youth until now." ⁸ So the king got up and sat in the city gate, and all the people were told, "Look, the king is sitting in the gate," and all the people came before the king.

So Israel fled, every man to his tent.

⁹ All the people were arguing with each other throughout all the tribes of Israel saying, "The king rescued us out of the hand of our enemies, and he saved us out of the hand of the Philistines, but now he has run out of the land because of Absalom. ¹⁰ Absalom, whom we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about bringing the king back?"

¹¹ King David sent to Zadok and to Abiathar the priests saying, "Speak to the elders of Judah saying, 'Why are you the last to bring the king back to his palace, since the talk of all Israel favors the king, to bring him back to his palace? ¹² You are my brothers, my flesh and bone. Why then are you the last to bring back the king?'

¹³ Then say to Amasa, 'Are you not my flesh and my bone? God do so to me, and more also, if you are not captain of my army from now on in the place of Joab.'" ¹⁴ So he won the hearts of all the men of Judah as one man. They sent to the king saying, "Return, you and all your servants." ¹⁵ So the king returned and came to the Jordan. Now the men of Judah came to Gilgal to go to meet the king and then to bring the king across the Jordan.

¹⁶ Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite, who was from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David. ¹⁷ There were one thousand men from Benjamin with him, and Ziba the servant of Saul, and his fifteen sons and twenty servants with him. They crossed through the Jordan in the presence of the king. ¹⁸ They crossed to bring over the king's family and to do whatever he thought good. Shimei son of Gera bowed down before the king just before he began to cross the Jordan.

¹⁹ Shimei said to the king, "Do not, my master, find me guilty or call to mind the wrong your servant did the day my master the king left Jerusalem. Please, may the king not take it to heart. ²⁰ For your servant knows that I have sinned. See, that is why I have come today as the first from all the family of Joseph to come down to meet my master the king."

²¹ But Abishai son of Zeruiah answered and said, "Should not Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed Yahweh's anointed?" ²² Then David said, "What have I to do with you, you sons of Zeruiah, that you should today be adversaries to me? Will any man be put to death today in Israel? For do I not know that today I am king over Israel?" ²³ So the king said to Shimei, "You will not die." So the king promised him with an oath.

²⁴ Then Mephibosheth son of Saul came down to meet the king. He had not dressed his feet, or trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes from the day the king left until the day he came home in peace. ²⁵ So when he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king said to him, "Why did you not go with me, Mephibosheth?"

²⁶ He answered, "My master the king, my servant deceived me, for I said, 'I will saddle a donkey so I may ride on it and go with the king, because your servant is lame.' ²⁷ My servant Ziba has slandered me, your servant, to my master the king. But my master the king is like an angel of God. Therefore, do what is good in your eyes. ²⁸ For all my father's house were dead men before my master the king, but you set your servant among those who ate at your own table. What right therefore have I that I should still cry any more to the king?"

²⁹ Then the king said to him, "Why explain anything further? I have decided that you and Ziba will divide the fields." ³⁰ So Mephibosheth replied to the king, "Yes, let him take it all, since my master the king has come safely to his own home."

³¹ Then Barzillai the Gileadite came down from Rogelim to cross over the Jordan with the king, and he accompanied the king over the Jordan. ³² Now Barzillai was a very old man, eighty years old. He had furnished the king with provisions while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very wealthy man. ³³ The king said to Barzillai, "Come over with me, and I will provide for you to stay with me in Jerusalem."

³⁴ Barzillai replied to the king, "How many days are left in the years of my life, that I should go up with the king to Jerusalem? ³⁵ I am eighty years old. Can I distinguish between good and bad? Can your servant taste what I eat or what I drink? Can I hear any more the voice of singing men and singing women? Why then should your servant be a burden to my master the king? ³⁶ Your servant would like to just go over the Jordan with the king. Why should the king repay me with such a reward?

³⁷ Please let your servant return back home, so I may die in my own city by the grave of my father and my mother. But see, here is your servant Kimham. Let him cross over with my master the king, and do for him what seems good to you."

³⁸ The king answered, "Kimham will go over with me, and I will do for him what seems good to you, and whatever you desire from me, I do that for you." ³⁹ Then all the people crossed the Jordan, and the king crossed over, and the king kissed Barzillai and blessed him. Then Barzillai returned to his own home.

⁴⁰ So the king crossed over to Gilgal, and Kimham crossed over with him. All the army of Judah brought the king over, and also half the army of Israel. ⁴¹ Soon all the men of Israel began to come to the king and say to the king, "Why have our brothers, the men of Judah, stolen you away and brought the king and his family over the Jordan, and all David's men with him?"

⁴² So the men of Judah answered the men of Israel, "It is because the king is more closely related to us. Why then are you angry about this? Have we eaten anything that the king had to pay for? Has he given us any gifts?" ⁴³ The men of Israel answered the men of Judah, "We have ten tribes related to the king, so we have even more right to David than you. Why then did you despise us? Was not our proposal to bring back our king the first to be heard?" But the words of the men of Judah were even more severe than the words of the men of Israel.

Chapter 20

¹ There also happened to be at the same place a worthless man whose name was Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite. He blew the ram's horn and said, "We have no part in David, neither have we any inheritance in the son of Jesse. Let every man go back to his tent, Israel!"

² So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah followed closely their king, from the Jordan all the way to Jerusalem.

³ When David came to his palace at Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines whom he had left to keep the palace, and he put them in a house under guard. He provided for their needs, but he did not go to them any longer. So they were shut up to the day of their death, living as if they were widows.

⁴ Then the king said to Amasa, "Call the men of Judah together within three days; you must be here, too." ⁵ So Amasa went to call Judah, but he was delayed beyond the time that the king had appointed for him.

⁶ So David said to Abishai, "Now Sheba son of Bikri will do us more harm than Absalom did. Take your master's servants and pursue after him, or he will find fortified cities and escape out of our sight." ⁷ Then Joab's men went out after him, along with the Kerethites and the Pelethites and all the mighty warriors. They left Jerusalem to pursue Sheba son of Bikri.

⁸ When they were at the great stone which is at Gibeon, Amasa came to meet them. Joab was wearing the battle armor that he had put on, which included a belt around his waist with a sheathed sword fastened to it. As he walked forward, the sword fell out.

⁹ So Joab said to Amasa, "Is it well with you, my cousin?" Joab took Amasa by the beard with his right hand to kiss him. ¹⁰ Amasa did not notice the dagger that was in Joab's left hand. Joab stabbed Amasa in the stomach and his bowels spilled out to the ground. Joab did not strike him again, and Amasa died.

So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued Sheba son of Bikri.

¹¹ Then one of Joab's young men stood by Amasa, and the man said, "He who favors Joab, and he who is for David, let him follow Joab." ¹² Amasa lay wallowing in his blood in the middle of the road. When the man saw that all the people stood still, he carried Amasa off of the road and into a field. He threw a garment over him because he saw that everyone who came by him stood still. ¹³ After Amasa was taken off the road, all the men followed on after Joab in pursuit of Sheba son of Bikri.

¹⁴ Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel Beth Maakah, and through all the land of the Bikrites, who gathered together and also pursued Sheba. ¹⁵ They caught up with him and besieged him in Abel Beth Maakah. They built up a siege ramp against the city against the wall. All the army who were with Joab were wreaking destruction to break down the wall. ¹⁶ Then a wise woman cried out of the city, "Listen, please listen, Joab! Come near me so I may speak with you."

¹⁷ So Joab came near to her, and the woman said, "Are you Joab?" He answered, "I am." Then she said to him, "Listen to the words of your servant." He answered, "I am listening." ¹⁸ Then she spoke, "They used to say in old times, 'Surely seek advice at Abel,' and that advice would end the matter. ¹⁹ We are a city that is one of the most peaceful and faithful in Israel. You are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why do you want to swallow up the inheritance of Yahweh?"

²⁰ So Joab answered and said, "Far be it, far be it from me, that I should swallow up or destroy. ²¹ That is not true. But a man from the hill country of Ephraim, named Sheba son of Bikri, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Give up him alone, and I will withdraw from the city." The woman said to Joab, "His head will be thrown to you over the wall." ²² Then the woman went to all the people in her wisdom. They cut off the head of Sheba son of Bikri, and threw it out to Joab. Then he blew the ram's horn and Joab's men left the city, every man to his tent. Then Joab returned to Jerusalem to the king.

²³ Now Joab was over all the army of Israel, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and over the Pelethites. ²⁴ Adoniram was over the men who did forced labor, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder. ²⁵ Sheva was scribe and Zadok and Abiathar were priests. ²⁶ Ira the Jairite was David's priest.

Chapter 21

¹ There was a famine in David's time for three years in a row, and David sought the face of Yahweh. So Yahweh said, "This famine is on you because of Saul and his murderous family, because he put the Gibeonites to death."

² So the king called together the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not from the people of Israel; they were from what remained of the Amorites. The people of Israel had sworn not to kill them, but Saul tried to kill them all anyway in his zeal for the people of Israel and Judah. ³ David said to them, "What should I do for you? How can I make atonement, so that you may bless the people of Yahweh, who inherit his goodness and promises?"

⁴ The Gibeonites responded to him, "It is not a matter of silver or gold between us and Saul or his family. In the same way it is not for us to put to death any man in Israel." David replied, "What are you saying that I should do for you?"

⁵ They answered the king, "The man who tried to kill us all, who schemed against us, so that we are now destroyed and have no place within the borders of Israel— ⁶ let seven men from his descendants be handed over to us, and we will hang them before Yahweh in Gibeah of Saul, the one chosen by Yahweh." So the king said, "I will give them to you."

⁷ But the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan son of Saul, because of Yahweh's oath between them, between David and Jonathan son of Saul. ⁸ But the king took the two sons of Rizpah daughter of Aiah, sons whom she bore to Saul—the two sons were named Armoni and Mephibosheth; and David also took the five sons of Merab ¹ daughter of Saul, whom she bore to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. ⁹ He handed them over into the hands of the Gibeonites. They hanged them on the mountain before Yahweh, and they died all seven together. They were put to death during the time of harvest, during the first days at the beginning of barley harvest.

¹⁰ Then Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the mountain beside the dead bodies, from the beginning of harvest until the rain poured down on them from the sky. She did not allow the birds of the sky to disturb the bodies by day or the wild animals by night. ¹¹ It was told to David what Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, the concubine of Saul, had done.

¹² So David went and took the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son from the men of Jabesh Gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth Shan, where the Philistines had hanged them, after the Philistines had killed Saul in Gilboa. ¹³ David took away from there the bones of Saul and the bones of Jonathan his son, and they gathered the bones of the seven men who had been hanged, as well.

¹⁴ They buried the bones of Saul and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zela, in the tomb of Kish his father. They performed all that the king commanded. After that God answered their prayers for the land.

¹⁵ Then the Philistines went to war again with Israel. So David went down with his servants and fought against the Philistines. David was overcome with battle fatigue. ¹⁶ Ishbi-Benob, a descendant of the Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels, and who was armed with a new sword, intended to kill David. ¹⁷ But Abishai son of Zeruiah rescued David, attacked the Philistine, and killed him. Then the men of David swore to him, saying, "You must not go to battle anymore with us, so that you do not put out the lamp of Israel."

¹⁸ It came about after this that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob, when Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Saph, who was one of the descendants of the Rapha. ¹⁹ It came about again in a battle with the Philistines at Gob, that Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

²⁰ It came about in another battle at Gath that there was a man of great height who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in number. He also was descended from the Rapha. ²¹ When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimeah, David's brother, killed him. ²² These were descendants of the Rapha in Gath, and they were killed by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

¹Some Hebrew copies and other ancient translations of the Hebrew copies read: Michal, but see 1 Samuel 18:19, and compare 2 Samuel 6:23, which has Michal had no children . It may be that Michal was another name for Merab.

Chapter 22

¹ David sang to Yahweh the words of this song on the day that Yahweh rescued him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul. ² He prayed,

"Yahweh is my rock, my fortress,

the one who rescues me.

³ God is my rock.

I take refuge in him.

He is my shield, the horn of my salvation,

my stronghold, and my refuge,

the one who saves me from violence.

⁴ I will call on Yahweh, who is worthy to be praised,

and I will be saved from my enemies.

⁵ For the waves of death surrounded me,

the rushing waters of destruction overwhelmed me.

⁶ The cords of Sheol surrounded me;

the snares of death trapped me.

⁷ In my distress I called to Yahweh;

I called to my God;

he heard my voice from his temple,

and my cry for help went into his ears.

⁸ Then the earth shook and trembled.

The foundations of the heavens trembled

and were shaken, because God was angry.

⁹ Smoke went up from out of his nostrils,

and blazing fire came out of his mouth.

Coals were kindled by it.

¹⁰ He opened the heavens and came down,

and thick darkness was under his feet.

¹¹ He rode on a cherub and flew.

He was seen on the wings of the wind.

¹² He made darkness a tent around him,

gathering heavy rain clouds in the skies.

¹³ From the lightning before him

coals of fire fell.

¹⁴ Yahweh thundered from the heavens.

The Most High shouted.

¹⁵ He shot arrows and scattered his enemies—

lightning bolts and threw them into confusion.

¹⁶ Then the channels of the sea were seen;

the foundations of the world were laid bare

at the rebuke of Yahweh,

at the blast of the breath of his nostrils.

¹⁷ He reached down from above; he took hold of me!

He pulled me out of the surging water.

¹⁸ He rescued me from my strong enemy,

from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.

¹⁹ They came against me on the day of my distress,

but Yahweh was my support.

²⁰ He also brought me out to a wide open place.

He saved me because he was pleased with me.

²¹ Yahweh has rewarded me to the measure of my righteousness;

he has restored me to the measure of the cleanness of my hands.

²² For I have kept the ways of Yahweh

and have not acted wickedly by turning from my God.

²³ For all his righteous decrees have been before me;

as for his statutes, I have not turned away from them.

²⁴ I have also been innocent before him,

and I have kept myself from my iniquity.

²⁵ Therefore Yahweh has restored me to the measure of my righteousness,

to the degree of my cleanness in his sight.

²⁶ To the faithful one, you show yourself to be faithful;

to a man who is blameless, you show yourself to be blameless.

²⁷ With the pure you show yourself pure,

but you are perverse to the twisted.

²⁸ You save afflicted people,

but your eyes are against the proud, and you humiliate them.

²⁹ For you are my lamp, Yahweh.

Yahweh lights up my darkness.

³⁰ For by you I can run over a troop;

by my God I can leap over a wall.

³¹ As for God, his way is perfect.

The word of Yahweh is pure.

He is a shield

to everyone who takes refuge in him.

³² For who is God except Yahweh,

and who is a rock except our God?

³³ God is my refuge,

and he leads the blameless person on his path.

³⁴ He makes my feet swift like a deer

and places me on the high hills.

³⁵ He trains my hands for war,

and my arms to bend a bow of bronze.

³⁶ You have given me the shield of your salvation,

and your favor has made me great.

³⁷ You have made a wide place for my feet beneath me,

so my feet have not slipped.

³⁸ I pursued my enemies and destroyed them.

I did not turn back until they were destroyed.

³⁹ I devoured them and smashed them; they cannot rise.

They have fallen under my feet.

⁴⁰ You girded me with strength for battle;

you put under me those who rise up against me.

⁴¹ You gave me the back of my enemies' necks;

I annihilated those who hated me.

⁴² They cried for help, but no one saved them;

they cried out to Yahweh, but he did not answer them.

⁴³ I beat them into fine pieces like dust on the ground,

I trampled them like mud in the streets.

⁴⁴ You also have rescued me from the disputes of my own people.

You have kept me as the head of nations.

A people that I have not known serves me.

⁴⁵ Foreigners were forced to bow to me.

As soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me.

⁴⁶ The foreigners came trembling out of their strongholds.

⁴⁷ Yahweh lives! May my rock be praised.

May God be exalted, the rock of my salvation.

⁴⁸ This is the God who executes vengeance for me,

the one who brings down peoples under me.

⁴⁹ He sets me free from my enemies.

Indeed, you lifted me up above those who rose up against me.

You rescue me from violent men.

⁵⁰ Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations;

I will sing praises to your name.

⁵¹ God gives great victory to his king,

and he shows his covenant loyalty to his anointed one,

to David and to his descendants forever."

Chapter 23

¹ Now these are the last words of David—

the declaration of David son of Jesse,

the declaration of the man who was highly honored,

the one anointed by the God of Jacob,

the sweet psalmist of Israel.

² "The Spirit of Yahweh spoke by me,

and his word was on my tongue.

³ The God of Israel spoke,

the Rock of Israel said to me,

'The one who rules righteously over men,

who rules in the fear of God.

⁴ He will be like the morning light when the sun rises,

a morning without clouds,

when the tender grass springs up from the earth

through bright sunshine after rain.

⁵ Indeed, is my family not like this before God?

Has he not made an everlasting covenant with me,

ordered and sure in every way?

Does he not increase my salvation and fulfill my every desire?

⁶ But the worthless will all be like thorns to be thrown away,

because they cannot be gathered by one's hands.

⁷ The man who touches them

must use an iron tool or the shaft of a spear.

They must be burned up where they lie.'"

⁸ These are the names of David's mighty men: Josheb-Basshebeth the Tahkemonite, was the leader of the officers. He killed eight hundred men on one occasion. ¹

⁹ After him was Eleazar son of Dodai the Ahohite, one of the three mighty men. He was with David when they taunted the Philistines who had gathered together to do battle, and when the men of Israel had retreated. ¹⁰ Eleazar stood and fought the Philistines until his hand became weary and his hand stiffened to the grip of his sword. Yahweh brought about a great victory that day. The army returned after Eleazar, only to strip the bodies.

¹¹ After him was Shammah son of Agee, a Hararite. The Philistines gathered together where there was a field of lentils, and the army fled from them. ¹² But Shammah stood in the middle of the field and defended it. He killed the Philistines, and Yahweh brought about a great victory.

¹³ Three of the thirty soldiers went down to David at harvest time, to the cave of Adullam. The army of the Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁴ At that time David was in his stronghold, a cave, while the Philistines had established at Bethlehem.

¹⁵ David was longing for water and said, "If only someone would give me water to drink from the well at Bethlehem, the well that is by the gate!" ¹⁶ So these three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, the well at the gate. They took the water and brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to Yahweh. ¹⁷ Then he said, "Yahweh, far be it from me, that I should do this. Should I drink the blood of men who have risked their lives?" So he refused to drink it.

These things were done by the three mighty.

¹⁸ Abishai, brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was captain over the three. He once fought with his spear against three hundred men and killed them. He was renowned along with the three soldiers. ¹⁹ Was he not even more famous than the three? He was made their captain. However, his fame did not equal the fame of the three most famous soldiers.

²⁰ Benaiah from Kabzeel was the son of Jehoiada; he was a strong man who did mighty feats. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion while it was snowing. ²¹ Then he killed a very large Egyptian man. The Egyptian had a spear in his hand, but Benaiah fought against him with only a staff. He seized the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and then killed him with his own spear.

²² Benaiah son of Jehoiada did these feats, and he was named alongside the three mighty men. ²³ He was more highly regarded than the thirty soldiers in general, but he was not regarded quite as highly as the three mighty men. Yet David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

²⁴ The thirty included the following men: Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo from Bethlehem,

²⁵ Shammah the Harodite, Elika the Harodite,

²⁶ Helez the Paltite, Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite,

²⁷ Abiezer the Anathothite, Sibbekai ² the Hushathite,

²⁸ Zalmon the Ahohite, Maharai the Netophathite;

²⁹ Heled ³ son of Baanah the Netophathite, Ithai son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites,

³⁰ Benaiah the Pirathonite, Hiddai of the valleys of Gaash.

³¹ Abi-Albon the Arbathite, Azmaveth the Barhumite,

³² Eliahba the Shaalbonite, the sons of Jashen, Jonathan son of Shammah the Hararite,

³³ Ahiam son of Sharar the Hararite,

³⁴ Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maakathite, Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite,

³⁵ Hezro the Carmelite, Paarai the Arbite,

³⁶ Igal son of Nathan from Zobah, Bani from the tribe of Gad, ⁴

³⁷ Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Beerothite, armor bearer to Joab son of Zeruiah,

³⁸ Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

³⁹ Uriah the Hittite—thirty-seven in all.

¹Instead of Josheb-Basshebeth , some Hebrew copies and some ancient translations have Ishbaal , or Ish-Bosheth . These all are probably forms of the same name.

²Some copies of the ancient Greek translation taken from the ancient Hebrew copies, have the name Sibbekai, see also 2 Samuel 21:18 and 1 Chronicles 11:29. Come of the copies have Mebunnai .

³Some ancient copies have the spelling of this name to read, Heleb .

⁴Some modern translations have a different name at this place in the text: Zobah the son of Hagri .

Chapter 24

¹ Again the anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them saying, "Go, count Israel and Judah." ² The king said to Joab the commander of the army, who was with him, "Go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count all the people, so that I may know the total number of men fit for battle."

³ Joab said to the king, "May Yahweh your God multiply the number of people a hundred times, and may the eyes of my master the king see it take place. But why does my master the king want this?" ⁴ Nevertheless, the king's word was final against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders went out from the king's presence to count the people of Israel.

⁵ They crossed over the Jordan and encamped near Aroer, south of the city in the valley. Then they traveled on through Gad to Jazer. ⁶ They came to Gilead and to the land of Tahtim Hodshi, then on to Dan Jaan and around toward Sidon. ⁷ They reached the stronghold of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Then they went out to the Negev in Judah at Beersheba.

⁸ When they had gone throughout all the land, they came back to Jerusalem at the end of nine months and twenty days. ⁹ Then Joab reported the total of the census of the fighting men to the king. There were in Israel 800,000 brave men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were 500,000 men.

¹⁰ Then David's heart afflicted him after he had counted the men. So he said to Yahweh, "I have greatly sinned by doing this. Now, Yahweh, take away your servant's guilt, for I have acted very foolishly."

¹¹ When David rose up in the morning, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet Gad, David's seer, saying, ¹² "Go say to David: 'This is what Yahweh says: "I am giving you three choices. Choose one of them."'"

¹³ So Gad went to David and said to him, "Will three years of famine come to you in your land? Or will you flee three months from your enemies while they pursue you? Or will there be three days of plague in your land? Now decide what answer I should return to him who sent me." ¹⁴ Then David said to Gad, "I am in deep trouble. Let us fall into Yahweh's hands rather than into the hand of man, for his merciful actions are very great."

¹⁵ So Yahweh sent a plague on Israel from the morning to a fixed time, and seventy thousand people died from Dan to Beersheba. ¹⁶ When the angel reached out with his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, Yahweh changed his mind because of the harm it would cause, and he said to the angel who was destroying people, "Enough! Now draw back your hand." At that time the angel of Yahweh was standing at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.

¹⁷ Then David spoke to Yahweh when he saw the angel who had attacked the people, and said, "I have sinned, and I have acted perversely. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand punish me and my father's family!"

¹⁸ Then Gad came that day to David and said to him, "Go up and build an altar for Yahweh at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." ¹⁹ So David went up as Gad instructed him to do, as Yahweh had commanded. ²⁰ Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants approaching. So Araunah went out and bowed to the king with his face to the ground.

²¹ Then Araunah said, "Why has my master the king come to me, his servant?" David replied, "To buy your threshing floor, so I can build an altar for Yahweh, so that the plague may be removed from the people." ²² Araunah said to David, "Take it as your own, my master the king. Do with it what is good in your sight. Look, here are oxen for the burnt offering and threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. ²³ All this, my king, I, Araunah, will give to you." Then he said to the king, "May Yahweh your God accept you."

²⁴ The king said to Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it at a price. I will not offer as a burnt offering to Yahweh anything that costs me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. ²⁵ David built an altar for Yahweh there and offered on it burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. So Yahweh answered the prayer on behalf of the land, and the plague on Israel was confined.

1 Kings

Chapter 1

¹ When King David was old and advanced in years, they covered him with blankets, but he could not keep warm. ² So his servants said to him, "Let us look for a young virgin for our master the king. Let her serve the king and take care of him. Let her lie in his arms so that our master the king may keep warm."

³ So they searched for a beautiful girl within all the borders of Israel. They found Abishag the Shunammite and brought her to the king. ⁴ The girl was very beautiful. She served the king and took care of him, but the king did not know her.

⁵ At that time, Adonijah son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, "I will be king." So he prepared for himself chariots and horsemen with fifty men to run ahead of him. ⁶ His father had never troubled him, saying, "Why have you done this or that?" Adonijah was also a very handsome man, born next after Absalom.

⁷ He conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest. They followed Adonijah and helped him. ⁸ But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and the mighty men who belonged to David did not follow Adonijah.

⁹ Adonijah sacrificed sheep, cattle, and fattened calves by the stone of Zoheleth, which is beside En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants. ¹⁰ But he did not invite Nathan the prophet, Benaiah, the mighty men, or his brother Solomon.

¹¹ Then Nathan spoke to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon, saying, "Have you not heard that Adonijah son of Haggith has become king, and David our master does not know it? ¹² Now therefore let me give you advice, so that you may save your own life and the life of your son Solomon.

¹³ Go to King David; say to him, 'My master the king, did you not swear to your servant, saying, "Surely Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne?" Why then is Adonijah reigning?' ¹⁴ While you are there speaking with the king, I will come in after you and confirm your words."

¹⁵ So Bathsheba went into the king's room. The king was very old, and Abishag the Shunammite was serving the king. ¹⁶ Bathsheba bowed down and showed respect before the king. Then the king said, "What do you desire?" ¹⁷ She said to him, "My master, you swore to your servant by Yahweh your God, saying, 'Surely Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne.'

¹⁸ Now, see, Adonijah is king, and you, my master the king, do not know it. ¹⁹ He has sacrificed many cattle, fatted calves, and sheep, and has invited all the sons of the king, Abiathar the priest, and Joab the captain of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant.

²⁰ As for you, my master the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, waiting for you to tell them who will sit on the throne after you, my master. ²¹ Otherwise it will happen, when my master the king lies down with his fathers, that I and my son Solomon will be regarded as criminals."

²² While she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet came in. ²³ The servants told the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." When he came in before the king, he bowed down before the king with his face to the ground.

²⁴ Nathan said, "My master the king, have you said, 'Adonijah will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne?' ²⁵ For he has gone down today and sacrificed a great number of cattle, fatted calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king's sons, the captains of the army, and Abiathar the priest. They are eating and drinking before him, and saying, 'Long live King Adonijah!'

²⁶ But as for me, your servant, Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and your servant Solomon, he has not invited us. ²⁷ Has my master the king done this without telling us, your servants, who should sit on the throne after him?"

²⁸ Then King David answered and said, "Call Bathsheba back to me." She came into the king's presence and stood before the king. ²⁹ The king made an oath and said, "As Yahweh lives, who has redeemed my soul out of all trouble, ³⁰ as I vowed to you by Yahweh, the God of Israel, saying, 'Solomon your son will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place,' I will do this today." ³¹ Then Bathsheba bowed down and put her face to the ground and she showed honor to the king and said, "May my master King David live forever!"

³² King David said, "Call to me Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada." So they came before the king. ³³ The king said to them, "Take with you the servants of your master, and have Solomon my son ride on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. ³⁴ Let Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over Israel and blow the ram's horn and say, 'Long live King Solomon!'

³⁵ Then you will come up after him, and he will come and sit on my throne; for he will be king in my place. I have appointed him to be ruler over Israel and Judah." ³⁶ Benaiah son of Jehoiada answered the king, and said, "Let it be so! May Yahweh, the God of my master the king, confirm it. ³⁷ As Yahweh has been with my master the king, so may he be with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my master King David."

³⁸ So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and had Solomon ride upon King David's mule; they brought him to Gihon. ³⁹ Zadok the priest took the horn of oil out of the tent and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram's horn, and all the people said, "Long live King Solomon!" ⁴⁰ Then all the people went up after him, and the people played the flutes and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with their sound.

⁴¹ Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished eating. When Joab heard the sound of the ram's horn, he said, "Why is there an uproar in the city?" ⁴² While he was still speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest came. Adonijah said, "Come in, for you are a worthy man and bring good news."

⁴³ Jonathan answered and said to Adonijah, "Our master King David has made Solomon the king, ⁴⁴ and the king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and the Kerethites and the Pelethites. They have had Solomon ride on the king's mule. ⁴⁵ Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at Gihon, and have come up from there rejoicing, so that the city is in an uproar. This is the noise that you have heard.

⁴⁶ Also, Solomon is sitting on the throne of the kingdom. ⁴⁷ Moreover, the king's servants came to bless our master King David, saying, 'May your God make the name of Solomon better than your name, and make his throne greater than your throne.' Then the king bowed down on the bed. ⁴⁸ The king also said, 'Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who has given a person to sit on my throne this day, and that my own eyes should see it.'"

⁴⁹ Then all the guests of Adonijah were terrified. They stood up and each man went his way. ⁵⁰ Adonijah was afraid of Solomon and rose up, went, and took hold of the horns of the altar. ⁵¹ Then it was told Solomon, saying, "See, Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon, for he has laid hold on the horns of the altar, saying, 'Let King Solomon swear to me first that he will not kill his servant with the sword.'"

⁵² Solomon said, "If he will show himself a worthy man, not a hair of his will fall to the earth, but if wickedness is found in him, he will die." ⁵³ So King Solomon sent men, who brought Adonijah down from the altar. He came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, "Go to your house."

Chapter 2

¹ As the day of David's death approached, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, ² "I am going the way of all the earth. Be strong, therefore, and show yourself a man. ³ Keep the commands of Yahweh your God to walk in his ways, to obey his statutes, his commandments, his decisions, and his covenant decrees, being careful to do what is written in the law of Moses, so you may prosper in all you do, wherever you go, ⁴ so that Yahweh may fulfill his word which he spoke concerning me, saying, 'If your descendants carefully watch their conduct, to walk before me faithfully with all their heart and with all their soul, you will never cease to have a man on the throne of Israel.'

⁵ You know also what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me, and what he did to the two commanders of the armies of Israel, to Abner son of Ner, and to Amasa son of Jether, whom he killed. He shed the blood of war in peace and put the blood of war on the belt around his waist and on the sandals on his feet. ⁶ Deal with Joab by the wisdom you have learned, but do not let his gray head go down to Sheol in peace.

⁷ However, show kindness to the sons of Barzillai the Gileadite, and let them be among those who eat at your table, for they came to me when I fled from Absalom your brother.

⁸ Look, there is with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite of Bahurim, who cursed me with a violent curse on the day I went to Mahanaim. Shimei came down to meet me at the Jordan, and I swore to him by Yahweh, saying, 'I will not put you to death with the sword.' ⁹ Now therefore do not let him go free from punishment. You are a wise man, and you will know what you ought to do to him. You will bring his gray head down to Sheol with blood."

¹⁰ Then David lay down with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David. ¹¹ The days that David reigned over Israel were forty years. He had reigned for seven years in Hebron and for thirty-three years in Jerusalem. ¹² Then Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his rule was firmly established.

¹³ Then Adonijah son of Haggith came to Bathsheba the mother of Solomon. She said, "Do you come peacefully?" He replied, "Peacefully." ¹⁴ Then he said, "I have something to say to you." So she replied, "Speak." ¹⁵ Adonijah said, "You know that the kingdom was mine, and that all Israel expected me to be king. But things changed, and the kingdom was given to my brother, for it was his from Yahweh.

¹⁶ Now I have one request of you, and do not turn away from my face." Bathsheba said to him, "Speak." ¹⁷ He said, "Please speak to Solomon the king, for he will not turn away from your face, so that he may give me Abishag the Shunammite as my wife." ¹⁸ Bathsheba said, "Very well, I will speak to the king."

¹⁹ Bathsheba therefore went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah. The king rose to meet her and bowed down to her. Then he sat down on his throne and had a throne brought for the king's mother. She sat at his right hand. ²⁰ Then she said, "I wish to ask one small request of you, for you will not turn away from my face." The king answered her, "Ask, my mother, for I will not turn away from your face." ²¹ She said, "Let Abishag the Shunammite be given to Adonijah your brother as his wife."

²² King Solomon answered and said to his mother, "Why do you ask Abishag the Shunammite for Adonijah? Why do you not ask the kingdom for him also, for he is my elder brother—for him, for Abiathar the priest, and for Joab son of Zeruiah?" ²³ Then King Solomon swore by Yahweh, saying, "May God do so to me, and more also, if Adonijah has not spoken this word against his own life.

²⁴ Now therefore as Yahweh lives, who has established me and set me on the throne of David my father, and who has made me a house as he promised, surely Adonijah will be put to death today." ²⁵ So King Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, and Benaiah found Adonijah and put him to death.

²⁶ Then to Abiathar the priest the king said, "Go to Anathoth, to your own fields. You are worthy of death, but I will not at this time put you to death, because you carried the ark of the Lord Yahweh before David my father and suffered in every way my father suffered." ¹ ²⁷ So Solomon dismissed Abiathar from being priest to Yahweh, that he might fulfill the word of Yahweh, which he had spoken concerning the house of Eli at Shiloh.

²⁸ The news came to Joab, for Joab had supported Adonijah, though he had not supported Absalom. So Joab fled to the tent of Yahweh and took hold of the horns of the altar. ²⁹ It was told King Solomon that Joab had fled to the tent of Yahweh and was now beside the altar. Then Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, "Go, execute him."

³⁰ So Benaiah came to the tent of Yahweh and said to him, "The king says, 'Come out.'" Joab replied, "No, I will die here." So Benaiah returned to the king, saying, "Joab said he wanted to die at the altar." ³¹ The king said to him, "Do as he has said. Kill him and bury him so that you may take away from me and from my father's house the blood that Joab shed without cause.

³² May Yahweh return his blood on his own head, because without the knowledge of my father David he attacked two men more righteous and better than himself and killed them with the sword, Abner son of Ner, the captain of the army of Israel, and Amasa son of Jether, the captain of the army of Judah. ³³ So may their blood return on the head of Joab and on the head of his descendants forever. But to David and his descendants, and to his house, and to his throne, may there be peace forever from Yahweh."

³⁴ Then Benaiah son of Jehoiada went up and attacked Joab and killed him. He was buried in his own house in the wilderness. ³⁵ The king put Benaiah son of Jehoiada over the army in his place, and he put Zadok the priest in Abiathar's place.

³⁶ Then the king sent and called for Shimei, and said to him, "Build yourself a house in Jerusalem and live there, and do not go out from there to any other place. ³⁷ For on the day you go out, and pass over the Kidron Valley, know you for certain that you will surely die. Your blood will be on your own head." ³⁸ So Shimei said to the king, "What you say is good. As my master the king has said, so your servant will do." So Shimei lived in Jerusalem for many days.

³⁹ But at the end of three years, two of the servants of Shimei ran away to Achish son of Maakah, the king of Gath. So they told Shimei, saying, "See, your servants are in Gath." ⁴⁰ Then Shimei arose, saddled his donkey and went to Achish in Gath to seek his servants. He went and brought his servants back from Gath.

⁴¹ When Solomon was told that Shimei had gone from Jerusalem to Gath and had returned, ⁴² the king sent and called for Shimei and said to him, "Did I not make you swear by Yahweh and testify to you, saying, 'Know for certain that on the day you go out and go to any other place, you will surely die'? Then you said to me, 'What I have heard is good.'

⁴³ Why then have you not kept your oath to Yahweh and the command that I gave you?" ⁴⁴ The king also said to Shimei, "You know in your heart all the wickedness that you did to my father David. Therefore Yahweh will return your wickedness on your own head.

⁴⁵ But King Solomon will be blessed and the throne of David will be established before Yahweh forever." ⁴⁶ Then the king gave a command to Benaiah son of Jehoiada. He went out and put Shimei to death.

So the kingdom was well established in Solomon's hand.

¹The ancient Greek translation simply has, the ark of Yahweh .

Chapter 3

¹ Solomon allied himself by marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt. He took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David until he had finished building his own house, the house of Yahweh, and the wall around Jerusalem. ² The people were sacrificing at the high places, because no house had yet been built for the name of Yahweh. ³ Solomon showed his love for Yahweh by walking in the statutes of David his father, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places.

⁴ The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place there. Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵ Yahweh appeared at Gibeon to Solomon in a dream by night; he said, "Ask! What should I give you?"

⁶ So Solomon said, "You have shown great covenant faithfulness to your servant, David my father, because he walked before you in trustworthiness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart. You have kept for him this great covenant faithfulness and have given him a son to sit on his throne today.

⁷ Now Yahweh my God, you have made your servant king in the place of David my father, though I am only a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ Your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. ⁹ So give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people, so that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?"

¹⁰ This request of Solomon pleased the Lord. ¹¹ So God said to him, "Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, ¹² see, now I will do all you asked of me when you gave me your request. I give you a wise and an understanding heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, and no one like you will rise up after you.

¹³ I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days. ¹⁴ If you will walk in my ways to keep my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days."

¹⁵ Then Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. He came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. He offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

¹⁶ Then two women who were prostitutes came to the king and stood before him. ¹⁷ One woman said, "Oh, my master, this woman and I live in the same house, and I gave birth to a child with her in the house.

¹⁸ It happened on the third day after I gave birth that this woman also gave birth. We were together. There was no one else with us in the house, but only the two of us in the house. ¹⁹ Then this woman's son died in the night, because she lay on him. ²⁰ So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me, while your servant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead son at my breast.

²¹ When I rose in the morning to nurse my child, he was dead. But when I had looked at him carefully in the morning, he was not my son, whom I had borne." ²² Then the other woman said, "No, the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son." The first woman said, "No, the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son." This is how they spoke before the king.

²³ Then the king said, "One of you says, 'This is my son who is alive, and your son is dead,' and the other says, 'No, your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.'" ²⁴ The king said, "Bring me a sword." So they brought a sword before the king. ²⁵ Then the king said, "Divide the living child in two, and give half to this woman and half to the other."

²⁶ Then the woman whose son was alive spoke to the king, for her heart was full of compassion for her son, and she said, "Oh, my master, give her the living child, and by no means kill him." But the other woman said, "He will be neither mine nor yours. Divide him." ²⁷ Then the king answered and said, "Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother." ²⁸ When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had rendered, they feared the king, because they saw that the wisdom of God was in him for giving judgments.

Chapter 4

¹ King Solomon was king over all Israel. ² These were his officials: Azariah son of Zadok was the priest.

³ Elihoreph and Ahijah sons of Shisha, were secretaries. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder.

⁴ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the army. Zadok and Abiathar were priests. ¹

⁵ Azariah son of Nathan was over the officers. Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and the king's friend.

⁶ Ahishar was over the household. Adoniram son of Abda was over the men who were subjected to forced labor.

⁷ Solomon had twelve officers over all Israel, who provided food for the king and his household. Each man had to make provision for one month in the year. ⁸ These were their names: Ben-Hur, in the hill country of Ephraim;

⁹ Ben-Deker in Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth Shemesh, and Elon Bethhanan;

¹⁰ Ben-Hesed, in Arubboth (to him belonged Sokoh and all the land of Hepher);

¹¹ Ben-Abinadab, in all Naphoth Dor (he had Taphath the daughter of Solomon as his wife);

¹² Baana son of Ahilud, in Taanach and Megiddo, and all Beth Shan that is beside Zarethan below Jezreel, from Beth Shan to Abel Meholah as far as the other side of Jokmeam;

¹³ Ben-Geber, in Ramoth Gilead (to him belonged the towns of Jair son of Manasseh, that are in Gilead, and the region of Argob belonged to him, which is in Bashan, sixty great cities with walls and bronze gate bars);

¹⁴ Ahinadab son of Iddo, in Mahanaim;

¹⁵ Ahimaaz, in Naphtali (he also married Basemath the daughter of Solomon as his wife);

¹⁶ Baana son of Hushai, in Asher and Bealoth;

¹⁷ Jehoshaphat son of Paruah, in Issachar;

¹⁸ Shimei son of Ela, in Benjamin;

¹⁹ and Geber son of Uri, in the land of Gilead, the country of Sihon king of the Amorites and of Og king of Bashan, and he was the only deputy who was in the land.

²⁰ Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand by the sea. They were eating and drinking and were rejoicing. ²¹ Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms from the River to the land of the Philistines and to the border of Egypt. They brought tribute and served Solomon all the days of his life. ²² Solomon's provision for one day was thirty cors of fine flour and sixty cors of meal, ²³ ten head of cattle fattened in the stall, twenty head of cattle taken from the pastures, and one hundred sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, roebucks, and fattened fowl.

²⁴ For he had dominion over all the region on this side of the River, from Tiphsah as far as to Gaza, over all the kings on this side of the River, and he had peace on all sides around him. ²⁵ Judah and Israel lived in safety, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, from Dan to Beersheba, all the days of Solomon.

²⁶ Solomon had forty thousand stalls of horses for his chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen. ²⁷ Those officers provided food for King Solomon and for all who came to King Solomon's table, every man in his month. They let nothing be lacking. ²⁸ They also brought to the proper place barley and straw for the chariot horses and riding horses, each one bringing in what he was able.

²⁹ God gave Solomon great wisdom and understanding, and wideness of understanding like the sand on the seashore. ³⁰ Solomon's wisdom exceeded the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt. ³¹ He was wiser than all men—than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Kalkol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol—and his fame reached all the surrounding nations.

³² He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs were 1,005 in number. ³³ He described the plants, from the cedar that is in Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of the wall. He explained also about animals, birds, creeping things, and fish. ³⁴ People came from all the nations to hear the wisdom of Solomon. They came from all kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

¹The ancient Greek translation supports the opinion of some modern scholars that Zadok and Abiathar were priests was a later addition to the text.

Chapter 5

¹ Hiram king of Tyre sent his servants to Solomon for he had heard that they had anointed him king in place of his father; for Hiram had always loved David. ² Solomon sent word to Hiram, saying, ³ "You know that David my father could not build a house for the name of Yahweh his God because of the wars that surrounded him, for during his lifetime Yahweh was putting his enemies under the soles of his feet.

⁴ But now, Yahweh my God has given me rest on every side. There is neither adversary nor disaster. ⁵ So I intend to build a temple for the name of Yahweh my God, as Yahweh spoke to David my father, saying, 'Your son, whom I will set on your throne in your place, will build the temple for my name.'

⁶ Now therefore command that they cut cedars from Lebanon for me. My servants will join your servants, and I will pay you for your servants so that you are paid fairly for everything you agreed to do. For you know there is no one among us who knows how to cut timber like the Sidonians."

⁷ When Hiram heard the words of Solomon, he rejoiced greatly and said, "May Yahweh be blessed today, who has given to David a wise son over this great people." ⁸ Hiram sent word to Solomon, saying, "I have heard the message that you have sent to me. I will provide all the wood of cedar and cypress that you desire.

⁹ My servants will bring the trees down from Lebanon to the sea, and I will make them into rafts to go by sea to the place that you direct me. I will have them broken up there, and you will take them away. You will do what I desire by giving food for my household."

¹⁰ So Hiram gave Solomon all the timber of cedar and fir that he desired. ¹¹ Solomon gave Hiram twenty thousand cors of wheat for food to his household and twenty thousand baths of pure oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year. ¹ ¹² Yahweh gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him. There was peace between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them made a covenant.

¹³ King Solomon conscripted labor out of all Israel. The forced laborers numbered thirty thousand men. ¹⁴ He sent them to Lebanon, ten thousand a month in shifts. One month they were in Lebanon and two months at home. Adoniram was over the men who were subjected to forced labor.

¹⁵ Solomon had seventy thousand who carried burdens and eighty thousand who were stonecutters in the mountains, ¹⁶ besides Solomon's 3,300 chief officers who were over the work and who supervised the workers.

¹⁷ At the king's command they quarried large precious stones with which to lay the foundation of the temple. ¹⁸ So Solomon's builders and Hiram's builders and the men from Byblos ² did the cutting and prepared the timber and the stones to build the temple.

¹Some ancient Hebrew copies have: twenty thousand cors ... twenty thousand cors . Other ancient copies read: twenty thousand cors ... twenty thousand baths , which we are following here.

²Some modern English translations read, Gebalites .

Chapter 6

¹ So Solomon began to build the temple of Yahweh. This happened in the 480th year after the people of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, which is the second month. ² The temple that King Solomon built for Yahweh was sixty cubits long, twenty cubits wide, and thirty cubits high.

³ The portico in front of the temple's main hall was twenty cubits in length, equal to the width of the temple, and ten cubits deep in front of the temple. ⁴ For the house he made windows with frames that made them more narrow at the outside than on the inside.

⁵ Against the walls of the main chamber he built rooms around it, around both the outer room and the inner room. He built rooms all around the sides. ⁶ The lowest story was five cubits wide, the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide. For on the outside he made offsets in the wall of the house all around so that the beams would not be inserted in the walls of the house.

⁷ The house was built of stones prepared at the quarry. No hammer, ax, or any iron tool was heard in the house while it was being built. ⁸ On the south side of the temple there was an entrance at the ground level, then one went up by stairs to the middle level, and from the middle to the third level.

⁹ So Solomon built the temple and finished it; he covered the house with beams and planks of cedar. ¹⁰ He built the side rooms against the inner chambers of the temple, each side five cubits high; they were joined to the house with timbers of cedar.

¹¹ The word of Yahweh came to Solomon, saying, ¹² "Concerning this temple which you are building, if you walk in my statutes and do justice, keep all my commandments and walk in them, then I will confirm my promise with you that I had made to David your father. ¹³ I will live among the people of Israel and will not abandon them."

¹⁴ So Solomon built the house and finished it. ¹⁵ Then he built the interior walls of the house with boards of cedar. From the floor of the house to the ceiling, he covered them on the inside with wood, and he covered the floor of the house with cypress boards.

¹⁶ He built twenty cubits onto the rear of the house with boards of cedar from the floor to the ceiling. He built this room to be the inner room, the most holy place. ¹⁷ The main hall, that is, the holy place that was in front of the most holy place, was forty cubits long. ¹⁸ There was cedar inside the house, carved in the shape of gourds and open flowers. All was cedar inside. No stonework was visible on the inside.

¹⁹ Solomon prepared the inner room inside the house in order to place the ark of the covenant of Yahweh there. ²⁰ The inner room was twenty cubits in length, twenty cubits in width, and twenty cubits in height. Solomon overlaid the walls with pure gold and covered the altar with cedar wood.

²¹ Solomon overlaid the inside of the temple with pure gold, and he placed chains of gold across the front of the inner room, and overlaid the front with gold. ²² He overlaid the entire interior with gold until all the temple was finished. He also overlaid with gold the whole altar that belonged to the inner room.

²³ Solomon made two cherubim of olivewood, each ten cubits high, for the inner room. ²⁴ One wing of the first cherub was five cubits long and its other wing was also five cubits long. So from the tip of one wing to the tip of the other there was a distance of ten cubits. ²⁵ The other cherub also had a wingspan of ten cubits. Both the cherubim were of the same dimensions and shape. ²⁶ The height of one cherub was ten cubits and the other cherub was the same.

²⁷ Solomon placed the cherubim in the innermost room. The wings of the cherubim were stretched out so that the wing of one touched one wall and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall. Their wings touched one another in the middle of the most holy place. ²⁸ Solomon overlaid the cherubim with gold.

²⁹ He carved all the walls of the house around about with figures of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, in the outer and inner rooms. ³⁰ Solomon overlaid the floor of the house with gold, in both the outer and inner rooms.

³¹ Solomon made doors of olivewood for the entrance to the inner room. The lintel and doorposts had five indented sections. ³² So he made two doors of olivewood, and he made on them carvings of cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers. He overlaid them with gold and he spread the gold on the cherubim and palm trees.

³³ In this way, Solomon also made for the temple entrance doorposts of olive wood having four indented sections ³⁴ and two doors of cypress wood. The two leaves of the one door were folding and the two leaves of the other door were folding. ³⁵ He carved on them cherubim, palm trees, and open flowers, and he evenly overlaid gold on the carved work.

³⁶ He built the inner courtyard with three rows of cut stone and a row of cedar beams.

³⁷ The foundation of the house of Yahweh was laid in the fourth year, in the month of Ziv. ³⁸ In the eleventh year, in the month of Bul, which is the eighth month, the house was finished in all its parts and conforming to all its specifications. Solomon took seven years to build the temple.

Chapter 7

¹ Solomon took thirteen years to build his own palace. ² He built the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. Its length was one hundred cubits, its width was fifty cubits, and its height was thirty cubits. The palace was built with four rows of cedar pillars with cedar beams on the pillars.

³ The house was roofed with cedar that rested on beams. Those beams were supported by pillars. There were forty-five beams, fifteen in a row. ⁴ There were beams in three rows, and each window was opposite another window in three sets. ⁵ All the doors and posts were made square with beams, and window was opposite window in three sets.

⁶ There was a colonnade fifty cubits long and thirty cubits wide, with a portico in front and pillars and a roof.

⁷ Solomon built the hall of the throne where he was to judge, the hall of justice. It was covered with cedar from the floor to the ceiling. ¹

⁸ Solomon's house in which he was to live, in another courtyard within the palace grounds, was designed in a similar way. He also built a house like this for Pharaoh's daughter, whom he had taken as a wife.

⁹ These buildings were adorned with costly hewn stones, precisely measured and cut with a saw and smoothed on all sides. These stones were used from the foundation to the stones on top, and also on the outside to the great court. ¹⁰ The foundation was constructed with very large, costly stones of eight and ten cubits in length.

¹¹ Above were costly hewn stones precisely cut to size, and cedar beams. ¹² The great courtyard surrounding the palace had three rows of cut stone and a row of cedar beams like the courtyard of the temple of Yahweh and the temple portico.

¹³ King Solomon sent for Huram and brought him from Tyre. ¹⁴ Huram was the son of a widow of the tribe of Naphtali; his father was a man of Tyre, a craftsman in bronze. Huram was filled with wisdom and understanding and skill to do great work with bronze. He came to King Solomon to work with bronze for the king.

¹⁵ Huram fashioned the two pillars of bronze, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference. ¹⁶ He made two capitals of polished bronze to set on the tops of the pillars. The height of each capital was five cubits. ¹⁷ Checker latticework and wreaths of chain work for the capitals decorated the top of the pillars, seven for each capital.

¹⁸ So Huram made two rows of pomegranates around the top of each pillar to decorate their capitals. ¹⁹ The capitals on the tops of the portico pillars were decorated with lilies, four cubits high.

²⁰ The capitals on these two pillars also included, close to their very top, two hundred pomegranates in rows all around. ²¹ He raised up the pillars at the temple portico. The pillar on the right was named Jakin, and the pillar on the left was named Boaz. ²² On the top of the pillars were decorations like lilies. The fashioning of the pillars was done in this way.

²³ Huram made the round sea of cast metal, ten cubits from brim to brim. Its height was five cubits, and it was thirty cubits in circumference. ²⁴ Under the brim encircling the sea were gourds, ten in each cubit, cast in one piece with it when that basin was cast.

²⁵ The sea stood on twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east. It was set on top of them, and all their hindquarters were toward the inside. ²⁶ The sea was as thick as the width of a hand, and its brim was forged like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. The sea held two thousand baths of water.

²⁷ Huram made the ten stands of bronze. Each stand was four cubits long and four cubits wide, and the height was three cubits. ²⁸ The work of the stands was like this. They had panels that stood between frames, ²⁹ and on the panels and on the frames were lions, oxen, and cherubim. Above and below the lions and oxen were wreaths of hammered work.

³⁰ Every stand had four bronze wheels and axles, and its four corners had supports beneath for the basin. The supports were cast with wreaths on the side of each one. ³¹ The opening was round like a pedestal, a cubit and a half wide, and was within a crown that rose up a cubit. On the opening were engravings, and their panels were square, not round.

³² The four wheels were underneath the panels, and the axles of the wheels and their housings were in the stand. The height of a wheel was a cubit and a half. ³³ The wheels were forged like chariot wheels. Their housings, rims, spokes, and hubs were all cast metal.

³⁴ There were four handles at the four corners of each stand, forged into the stand itself. ³⁵ In the top of the stands there was a round band half a cubit deep, and on the top of the stand its supports and panels were attached.

³⁶ On the surfaces of the supports and on the panels Huram engraved cherubim, lions, and palm trees that covered the space available, and they were surrounded by wreaths. ³⁷ He made the ten stands in this manner. All of them were cast in the same molds, and they had one size, and the same shape.

³⁸ Huram made ten basins of bronze. One basin could hold forty baths of water. Each basin was four cubits across and there was one basin on each of ten stands. ³⁹ He made five stands on the south-facing side of the temple and five on the north-facing side of the temple. He set the sea on the east corner, facing toward the south of the temple.

⁴⁰ Huram made the basins and the shovels and the sprinkling bowls. Then he finished all the work that he did for King Solomon in the temple of Yahweh:

⁴¹ the two pillars, and the bowl-like capitals that were on top of the two pillars, and the two sets of decorative latticework to cover the two bowl like capitals that were on top of the pillars.

⁴² He made the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of decorative latticework (two rows of pomegranates for each set of latticework to cover the two bowl-like capitals that were on the pillars);

⁴³ the ten stands, and the ten basins on the stands.

⁴⁴ He made the large basin called the sea with its twelve oxen under it;

⁴⁵ also the pots, shovels, basins, and all the other implements. Huram made them out of polished bronze, for King Solomon, for the temple of Yahweh.

⁴⁶ The king had cast them in the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Sukkoth and Zarethan. ⁴⁷ Solomon did not weigh all the utensils because there were too many to weigh, because the weight of the bronze could not be measured.

⁴⁸ Solomon had made all the furnishings that were in the temple of Yahweh out of gold: the golden altar and the table on which the bread of the presence was to be placed;

⁴⁹ the lampstands, five on the right side and five on the left, in front of the inner room, were of pure gold, and the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs were of gold.

⁵⁰ Solomon also had made the cups, lamp trimmers, basins, spoons, and incense burners, all of which were made of pure gold; he had sockets of gold made for the doors of the inner room (which was the most holy place), and for the doors of the main hall of the temple.

⁵¹ In this way, all the work that King Solomon directed for the house of Yahweh was finished. So Solomon brought in the things that were set apart by David, his father, and the silver, the gold, and the furnishings, and put them into the storerooms of the house of Yahweh.

¹There was a repetition of the word for floor in the Hebrew copies, but see 1 Kings 6:16 for a similiar expression, that reads from the floor to the rafters and which appears to have been intended here.

Chapter 8

¹ Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the leaders of the families of the people of Israel, before himself in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from the city of David, that is, Zion. ² All the men of Israel assembled before King Solomon at the feast, in the month of Ethanim, which is the seventh month.

³ All the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark. ⁴ They brought up the ark of Yahweh, the tent of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tent. The priests and the Levites brought these things up. ⁵ King Solomon and all the assembly of Israel came together before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle that could not be counted.

⁶ The priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the inner room of the house, to the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim. ⁷ For the cherubim spread out their wings to the place of the ark, and they covered the ark and the poles by which it was carried. ⁸ The poles were so long that their ends were seen from the holy place in front of the inner room, but they could not be seen from outside. They are there to this day.

⁹ There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets of stone that Moses had put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the people of Israel when they came out of the land of Egypt. ¹⁰ It came about that when the priests came out of the holy place, the cloud filled the temple of Yahweh. ¹¹ The priests could not stand to serve because of the cloud, for the glory of Yahweh filled his house.

¹² Then Solomon said, "Yahweh has said

that he would live in thick darkness,

¹³ But I have built you a lofty residence,

a place for you to live in forever."

¹⁴ Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing. ¹⁵ He said, "May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised, who spoke to David my father, and has fulfilled it with his own hands, saying, ¹⁶ 'Since the day that I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, in order for my name to be there. However, I chose David to rule over my people Israel.'

¹⁷ Now it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. ¹⁸ But Yahweh said to David my father, 'In that it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well for it to be in your heart. ¹⁹ Nevertheless you will not build the house; instead, your son, one who will be born from your loins, will build the house for my name.'

²⁰ Yahweh has carried out the word that he had said, for I have arisen in the place of David my father, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised. I have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. ²¹ I have made a place for the ark there, in which is Yahweh's covenant, which he made with our fathers when he brought them out of the land of Egypt."

²² Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh, before all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands toward the heavens. ²³ He said, "Yahweh, God of Israel, there is no God like you in the heavens above or on the earth below, who keeps his covenant faithfulness with your servants who walk before you with all their heart; ²⁴ you who have kept with your servant David my father, what you promised him. Yes, you spoke with your mouth and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is today.

²⁵ Now then, Yahweh, God of Israel, carry out what you have promised to your servant David my father, when you said, 'You will not fail to have a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful to walk before me, as you have walked before me.' ²⁶ Now then, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David my father.

²⁷ But will God actually live on the earth? Look, the entire universe and heaven itself cannot contain you—how much less can this temple that I have built! ²⁸ Yet please respect this prayer of your servant and his humble request, Yahweh my God; listen to the cry and prayer that your servant prays before you today.

²⁹ May your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, to the place about which you have said, 'My name and my presence will be there'—in order to listen to the prayers that your servant will pray toward this place. ³⁰ So listen to the humble request of your servant and of your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, listen from the place where you live, from the heavens; and when you listen, forgive.

³¹ If a man sins against his neighbor and is required to swear an oath, and if he comes and swears an oath before your altar in this house, ³² listen from the heavens and act. Judge your servants, condemning the wicked and bringing what he has done upon his own head. Declare the innocent not guilty and give to him according to his righteousness.

³³ When your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, if they turn back to you, confess your name, pray, and seek your favor in this temple— ³⁴ then please listen in the heavens and forgive the sin of your people Israel; bring them back to the land that you gave to their ancestors.

³⁵ When the skies are shut up and there is no rain because the people have sinned against you—if they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sin when you have afflicted them— ³⁶ then listen in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel, when you teach them the good way in which they should walk. Send rain on your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.

³⁷ Suppose there is famine in the land, or suppose that there is disease, blight or mildew, locusts or caterpillars; or suppose that an enemy attacks the city gates in their land, or that there is any plague or sickness— ³⁸ and suppose then that prayers and humble requests are made by a person or by all your people Israel—each knowing the plague in his own heart as he spreads out his hands toward this temple.

³⁹ Then listen from heaven, the place where you live, forgive and act, and reward every person for all he does; you know his heart, because you and you only know the hearts of all human beings. ⁴⁰ Do this so that they may fear you all the days that they live on the land that you gave to our ancestors.

⁴¹ In addition, concerning the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel: When he comes from a distant country because of your name— ⁴² for they will hear of your great name, your mighty hand, and your raised arm—when he comes and prays toward this temple, ⁴³ then please listen from heaven, the place where you live, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you. Do this so that all the peoples on earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel. Do this so they might know that this house I have built is called by your name.

⁴⁴ Suppose that your people go out to battle against an enemy, by whatever way you may send them, and suppose that they pray to you, Yahweh, toward the city that you have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for your name. ⁴⁵ Then listen in the heavens to their prayer and their request, and help their cause.

⁴⁶ Suppose that they sin against you, since there is no one who does not sin, and suppose that you are angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, so that the enemy takes them away captive to their land, whether distant or near. ⁴⁷ Then suppose that they realize they are in the land where they have been exiled, and suppose that they repent and seek favor from you from the land of their captors. Suppose that they say, 'We have acted perversely and sinned. We have behaved wickedly.'

⁴⁸ Suppose that they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their enemies who captured them, and suppose that they pray to you toward their land, which you gave to their ancestors, and toward the city that you chose, and toward the house that I have built for your name.

⁴⁹ Then from heaven, the place where you live, listen to their prayer and their request for help, and you will make matters right for them. ⁵⁰ Forgive your people who have sinned against you, and all their transgressions that they have committed against you, and make them objects of compassion before those who have taken them captive, and cause their captors to have compassion on them.

⁵¹ They are your people and your inheritance, whom you rescued out of Egypt as if from the middle of a furnace where iron is forged. ⁵² May your eyes be open to the humble request of your servant and to the requests of your people Israel, to listen to them whenever they cry to you. ⁵³ For you separated them from among all the peoples of the earth to belong to you and receive your promises, just as you explained by Moses your servant, when you brought our fathers out of Egypt, Lord Yahweh."

⁵⁴ So it was that when Solomon had finished praying all this prayer and request for favor to Yahweh, he arose from before the altar of Yahweh, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread out toward the heavens. ⁵⁵ He stood and blessed all the assembly of Israel in a loud voice, saying, ⁵⁶ "May Yahweh be praised, who has given rest to his people Israel, keeping all his promises. Not one word has failed out of all Yahweh's good promises that he made with Moses his servant.

⁵⁷ May Yahweh our God be with us, as he was with our ancestors. May he never leave us or abandon us, ⁵⁸ that he may incline our hearts to him, to live in all his ways and keep his commandments and his regulations and his statutes, which he commanded our fathers.

⁵⁹ Let these words I have spoken, by which I have sought the favor of Yahweh, be near Yahweh our God day and night, so that he may help the cause of his servant and the cause of his people Israel, as every day will require; ⁶⁰ that all the peoples of the earth may know that Yahweh, he is God, and there is no other God! ⁶¹ Therefore let your heart be true to Yahweh our God, to walk in his statutes and keep his commandments, as on this day."

⁶² So the king and all Israel with him offered sacrifices to Yahweh. ⁶³ Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to Yahweh: twenty-two thousand cattle and 120,000 sheep. So the king and all the people of Israel dedicated the house of Yahweh.

⁶⁴ The same day the king set apart the middle of the courtyard in front of the temple of Yahweh, for there he offered the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar that was before Yahweh was too small to receive the burnt offering, the grain offerings, and the fat of the fellowship offerings.

⁶⁵ So Solomon held the feast at that time, and all Israel with him, a great assembly, from Lebo Hamath to the brook of Egypt, before Yahweh our God for seven days and also for another seven days, a total of fourteen days. ⁶⁶ On the eighth day he sent the people away, and they blessed the king and went to their tents with joyful and glad hearts for all the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David, his servant, and to Israel, his people.

Chapter 9

¹ After Solomon had finished building the house of Yahweh and the king's palace, and after he had accomplished all that he desired to do, ² Yahweh appeared to Solomon a second time, as he had appeared to him at Gibeon.

³ Then Yahweh said to him, "I have heard your prayer and your request for favor that you have made before me. I have set apart this house, which you have built, to myself, to put my name there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there for all time.

⁴ As for you, if you walk before me as David your father walked in integrity of heart and in uprightness, obeying all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my decrees, ⁵ then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, 'A descendant of yours will never fail to be on the throne of Israel.'

⁶ But if you turn away, you or your children, and do not keep my commandments and my statutes that I have placed before you, and if you go and worship other gods and bow down to them, ⁷ then will I cut off Israel from off the ground that I have given them; and this house that I have set apart to my name, I will cast it out of my sight, and Israel will become an example to be mocked and an object of ridicule among all peoples.

⁸ This temple will become a heap of ruins, and everyone who passes by it will be shocked and will hiss. They will ask, 'Why has Yahweh done this to this land and to this house?' ⁹ Others will answer, 'Because they abandoned Yahweh, their God, who had brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt, and they laid hold of other gods and bowed down to them and worshiped them. That is why Yahweh has brought all this disaster on them.'"

¹⁰ It came about at the end of twenty years that Solomon had finished building the two buildings, the temple of Yahweh and the king's palace. ¹¹ Now Hiram, the king of Tyre, had furnished Solomon with cedar and cypress trees, and with gold—all that Solomon desired—so King Solomon gave Hiram twenty cities in the land of Galilee.

¹² Hiram came out from Tyre to see the cities that Solomon had given him, but they did not please him. ¹³ So Hiram said, "What cities are these which you have given me, my brother?" Hiram called them the Land of Kabul, which they are still called today. ¹⁴ Hiram had sent to the king 120 talents of gold.

¹⁵ This is the account of the forced labor which King Solomon imposed to build the temple of Yahweh and his own palace, the Millo, the wall of Jerusalem, and Hazor, and Megiddo, and Gezer. ¹⁶ Pharaoh king of Egypt had gone up and taken Gezer. He burned it and killed the Canaanites in the city. Then Pharaoh gave the city to his daughter, Solomon's wife, as a wedding gift.

¹⁷ So Solomon rebuilt Gezer and Beth Horon the Lower, ¹⁸ Baalath and Tamar ¹ in the wilderness in the land of Judah, ¹⁹ and all the store cities that he possessed, and the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever he wished to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the lands under his rule.

²⁰ As for all the people who were left of the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who were not of the people of Israel, ²¹ their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the people of Israel were not able to totally destroy—Solomon made them into forced laborers, which they are to this day.

²² However, Solomon made no forced laborers of the people of Israel. They were his soldiers, his servants, his officials, his officers, and commanders of his chariot forces and his horsemen.

²³ These were also the chief officers managing the supervisors who were over Solomon's works, 550 of them, who supervised the people who did the work.

²⁴ Pharaoh's daughter moved from the city of David to the house that Solomon had built for her. Later, Solomon built the Millo.

²⁵ Three times each year Solomon offered burnt offerings and peace offerings on the altar that he built for Yahweh, burning incense with them on the altar that was before Yahweh. So he completed the temple and was now using it.

²⁶ King Solomon built a fleet of ships in Ezion Geber, which is near Elath on the shore of the Red Sea, in the land of Edom. ²⁷ Hiram sent servants to Solomon's fleet, sailors who were familiar with the sea, with Solomon's own servants. ²⁸ They went to Ophir with servants of Solomon. From there they brought back 420 talents of gold for King Solomon.

¹Tamar is also pronounced Tadmor .

Chapter 10

¹ When the queen of Sheba heard the report about Solomon concerning the name of Yahweh, she came to test him with hard questions. ² She came to Jerusalem with a very long caravan, with camels loaded with spices, much gold, and many precious gemstones. When she arrived, she told Solomon all that was in her heart.

³ Solomon answered all her questions. There was nothing she asked that the king did not answer. ⁴ When the queen of Sheba saw all Solomon's wisdom, the palace that he had built, ⁵ the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the work of his servants and their clothing, also his cupbearers, and the manner in which he offered burnt offerings in the house of Yahweh, there was no more breath in her.

⁶ She said to the king, "It is true, the report that I heard in my own land of your words and your wisdom. ⁷ I did not believe the message until I came here, and now my eyes have seen it. Not half was told me! In wisdom and wealth you have exceeded the report that I heard.

⁸ How blessed are your wives, and how blessed are your servants who constantly stand before you, because they hear your wisdom. ¹ ⁹ May Yahweh your God be praised, who has taken pleasure in you, who placed you on the throne of Israel. Because Yahweh loved Israel forever, he has made you king, for you to do justice and righteousness!"

¹⁰ She gave the king 120 talents of gold and a large amount of spices and precious stones. No greater amount of spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon was ever given to him again.

¹¹ The fleet of Hiram, which brought gold from Ophir, also brought from Ophir a large amount of almug wood and precious stones. ¹² The king made almug wood pillars for the temple of Yahweh and for the king's palace, and harps and lutes for the singers. No such quantity of almug wood has ever come or been seen again to this day.

¹³ King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba everything she wished for, whatever she asked, in addition to what Solomon gave her of his royal bounty. So she returned to her own land with her servants.

¹⁴ Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, ¹⁵ besides the gold that the traders and merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia and the governors in the country also brought gold and silver to Solomon.

¹⁶ King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of gold went into each one. ¹⁷ He also made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three minas of gold went into each shield; the king put them into the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon.

¹⁸ Then the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with the finest gold. ¹⁹ There were six steps to the throne, and the back of it had a rounded top. There were armrests on each side of the seat, and two lions standing beside the armrests. ²⁰ Twelve lions stood on the steps, one on each side of each of the six steps. There was no throne like it in any other kingdom.

²¹ All King Solomon's drinking cups were gold, and all the drinking cups in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were silver, because silver was not considered valuable in Solomon's days. ²² The king had at sea a fleet of ships of Tarshish, along with the fleet of Hiram. Once every three years the fleet brought gold, silver, and ivory, as well as apes and baboons.

²³ So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the world in riches and in wisdom. ²⁴ All the earth sought the presence of Solomon in order to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. ²⁵ Those who visited brought tribute, vessels of silver and of gold, and clothes, armor, and spices, as well as horses and mules, year after year.

²⁶ Solomon gathered together chariots and horsemen. He had 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he stationed in the chariot cities and with himself in Jerusalem. ²⁷ The king had silver in Jerusalem, as much as the stones on the ground. He made cedar wood to be as abundant as the sycamore fig trees that are in the lowlands.

²⁸ The horses that belonged to Solomon were imported from Egypt, and Kue and the king's merchants purchased them from Kue. ²⁹ Chariots were brought up from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver each, and horses for 150 shekels each. Many of these were then sold to all the kings of the Hittites and Aram.

¹Some Hebrew copies have: How blessed are your men . The ancient Greek translation has How blessed are your wives . Many think it is probable that women was misread as men , because two Hebrew words are very similar.

Chapter 11

¹ Now King Solomon loved many foreign women including the daughter of Pharaoh—women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, and Hittites. ² They were from the nations about which Yahweh said to the people of Israel, "You will not go among them to marry, neither will they come among you, for they will certainly turn your heart to their gods." In spite of this command, Solomon was affectionate toward these women in love.

³ Solomon had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines. His wives turned his heart away. ⁴ For when Solomon grew old, his wives turned away his heart after other gods; his heart was not fully surrendered to Yahweh his God, as was the heart of David his father.

⁵ For Solomon followed Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Sidonians, and he followed Molech, the disgusting idol of the Ammonites. ⁶ Solomon did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh; he did not fully follow Yahweh as David his father had done.

⁷ Then Solomon built a high place for Chemosh, the disgusting idol of Moab, on a hill east of Jerusalem, and also for Molech, the disgusting idol of the people of Ammon. ⁸ He also built high places for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods at them.

⁹ Yahweh was angry with Solomon, because his heart had turned away from him, the God of Israel, even though he had appeared to him twice ¹⁰ and commanded him about this very thing, that he should not go after other gods. But Solomon did not obey what Yahweh commanded.

¹¹ Therefore Yahweh said to Solomon, "Because you have done this and have not kept the covenant and my statutes that I have commanded you, I will surely tear the kingdom from you and give it to your servant. ¹² However, for David your father's sake, I will not do it in your lifetime, but I will tear it out of the hand of your son. ¹³ Yet I will not tear away all the kingdom; I will give one tribe to your son for David my servant's sake, and for the sake of Jerusalem, which I have chosen."

¹⁴ Then Yahweh raised up an adversary to Solomon, Hadad the Edomite. He was from the royal family of Edom. ¹⁵ When David was in Edom, Joab the captain of the army had gone up to bury the dead, every man who had been killed in Edom. ¹⁶ Joab and all Israel remained there six months until he had killed every male in Edom. ¹⁷ But Hadad fled to Egypt with other Edomites, his father's servants, when Hadad was still a little child.

¹⁸ They left Midian and came to Paran, from where they took men with them to Egypt, to Pharaoh king of Egypt, who gave him a house and land and food. ¹⁹ Hadad found great favor in the sight of Pharaoh, so that Pharaoh gave him a wife, his own wife's sister, the sister of Tahpenes the queen.

²⁰ The sister of Tahpenes gave birth to Hadad's son. They named him Genubath. Tahpenes raised him in Pharaoh's palace. So Genubath lived in Pharaoh's palace among the children of Pharaoh. ²¹ While he was in Egypt, Hadad heard that David had lain down with his ancestors and that Joab the captain of the army was dead, Hadad said to Pharaoh, "Let me depart, so I may go to my own country." ²² Then Pharaoh said to him, "But what have you lacked with me, that you now seek to go to your own country?" Hadad answered, "Nothing. Please let me go."

²³ God also raised up another adversary to Solomon, Rezon son of Eliada, who had fled from his master Hadadezer king of Zobah. ²⁴ Rezon gathered men to himself and became captain over a marauding band when David killed the men of Zobah. Rezon's men went to Damascus and lived there, and Rezon reigned in Damascus. ²⁵ He was an enemy of Israel all the days of Solomon, along with the trouble that Hadad caused. Rezon abhorred Israel and reigned over Aram.

²⁶ Then Jeroboam son of Nebat, an Ephraimite of Zeredah, a servant of Solomon, whose mother's name was Zeruah, a widow, also lifted up his hand against the king. ²⁷ He lifted up his hand against the king because Solomon had built up the place located at Millo and repaired the opening in the city wall of David his father.

²⁸ Jeroboam was a man of great ability. Solomon saw that the young man was industrious, so he appointed him over all the labor of the house of Joseph. ²⁹ At that time, when Jeroboam went out of Jerusalem, the prophet Ahijah the Shilonite found him on the road. Now Ahijah had dressed in a new garment and the two men were alone in the field. ³⁰ Then Ahijah grabbed hold of the new garment that was on him and tore it into twelve pieces.

³¹ He said to Jeroboam, "Take ten pieces, for Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'Look, I will tear the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon and I will give ten tribes to you ³² (but Solomon will have one tribe, for my servant David's sake and for Jerusalem's sake—the city that I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel), ³³ because they have abandoned me and have worshiped Ashtoreth the goddess of the Sidonians, Chemosh the god of Moab, and Molech the god of the people of Ammon. They have not walked in my ways, to do what is right in my eyes, and to keep my statutes and my decrees, as did David his father.

³⁴ I will not take the whole kingdom out of Solomon's hand. I have made him ruler all the days of his life, for David my servant's sake whom I chose, the one who kept my commandments and my statutes. ³⁵ But I will take the kingdom out of his son's hand and I will give it to you, ten tribes. ³⁶ I will give one tribe to Solomon's son, so that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem, the city in which I have chosen to put my name.

³⁷ I will take you, and you will rule to fulfill all that you desire, and you will be king over Israel. ³⁸ If you listen to all that I command you, and if you walk in my ways and do what is right in my eyes, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did, then I will be with you and will build you a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel to you. ³⁹ I will punish the descendants of David, but not forever.'"

⁴⁰ So Solomon tried to kill Jeroboam. But Jeroboam got up and fled into Egypt, to Shishak king of Egypt, and he remained in Egypt until the death of Solomon.

⁴¹ As for the other matters concerning Solomon, all that he did and his wisdom, are they not written in the book of the events of Solomon? ⁴² Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years. ⁴³ He lay down with his ancestors and he was buried in the city of David his father. Rehoboam his son became king in his place.

Chapter 12

¹ Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel was coming to Shechem to make him king. ² It happened that Jeroboam son of Nebat heard of this (for he was still in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon), for Jeroboam had settled down in Egypt. ¹

³ So they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, ⁴ "Your father made our yoke heavy. Now make lighter the hard work of your father and make lighter the heavy yoke that he put on us, and we will serve you." ⁵ Rehoboam said to them, "Go away for three days, then come back to me." So the people went away.

⁶ King Rehoboam consulted with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he was alive, and he said, "How do you advise me to answer this people?" ⁷ They spoke to him and said, "If you will be a servant today to these people and serve them, and answer them by saying good words to them, then they will always be your servants."

⁸ But Rehoboam ignored the advice that the old men had given him and he consulted with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. ⁹ He said to them, "What advice do you give me that we may answer the people who spoke to me and said, 'Lighten the yoke that your father put on us'?"

¹⁰ The young men who had grown up with Rehoboam spoke to him, saying, "Speak to these people who told you that your father Solomon made their yoke heavy but that you must make it lighter. You should say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. ¹¹ So now, although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions.'"

¹² So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king had instructed when he said, "Come back to me on the third day." ¹³ The king answered the people roughly and ignored the advice of the old men that they had given him. ¹⁴ He spoke to them following the advice of the young men; he said, "My father burdened you with a heavy yoke, but I will add to your yoke. My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions."

¹⁵ So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn of events brought about by Yahweh, that he might carry out his word that he had spoken by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

¹⁶ When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered him and said,

"What share do we have in David?

We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse!

Go to your tents, Israel.

Now see to your own house, David."

So Israel went back to their tents.

¹⁷ But as for the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam became king over them.

¹⁸ Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was over the forced laborers, but all Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam fled quickly in his chariot to Jerusalem. ¹⁹ So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

²⁰ It happened that when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to their assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was no one who followed the family of David, except only the tribe of Judah.

²¹ When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin; there were 180,000 chosen men who were soldiers, to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam son of Solomon.

²² But the word of God came to Shemaiah, the man of God; it said, ²³ "Speak to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the rest of the people; say, ²⁴ 'Yahweh says this: You must not attack or fight against your brothers the people of Israel. Each man must return to his home, for this thing has been made to happen by me.'" So they listened to the word of Yahweh and turned back and went their way, and they obeyed his word.

²⁵ Then Jeroboam built Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and lived there. He went out from there and built Peniel. ²⁶ Jeroboam thought in his heart, "Now the kingdom will return to the house of David. ²⁷ If these people go up to offer sacrifices in the temple of Yahweh at Jerusalem, then the heart of these people will turn again to their master, to Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah."

²⁸ So King Jeroboam sought advice and made two calves of gold; he said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Look, these are your gods, Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt." ²⁹ He set up one in Bethel and the other in Dan. ³⁰ So this act became a sin. The people went to one or the other, all the way to Dan.

³¹ Jeroboam made houses on high places and he also made priests from among all the people, who were not among the sons of Levi. ³² Jeroboam ordained a feast in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the feast that is in Judah, and he went up to the altar. He did so at Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he had made, and he placed in Bethel the priests of the high places he had made.

³³ Jeroboam went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month he had planned in his own mind; he ordained a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar to burn incense.

¹2 Chronicles 10:2 is very close to 1 Kings 12:2, that is, the Hebrew consonants are identical, and could support either reading, "settled down" or "returned." The alternate reading would be: then Jeroboam returned from Egypt .

Chapter 13

¹ A man of God came out of Judah by the word of Yahweh to Bethel. Jeroboam was standing by the altar to burn incense. ² He cried against the altar by the word of Yahweh: "Altar, altar! This is what Yahweh says, 'See, a son named Josiah will be born to the family of David, and on you he will sacrifice the priests of the high places who now burn incense on you. On you they will burn human bones.'" ³ Then the man of God gave a sign the same day, saying, "This is the sign that Yahweh has spoken: 'Look, the altar will be split apart, and the ashes on it will be poured out.'"

⁴ When the king heard what the man of God said, that he had cried out against the altar at Bethel, Jeroboam reached out with his hand from the altar, saying, "Seize him." Then the hand with which he had reached out against the man dried up, so that he could not draw it back to himself. ⁵ (The altar was also split apart and the ashes poured out from the altar, as described by the sign that the man of God had given by the word of Yahweh.)

⁶ King Jeroboam answered and said to the man of God, "Plead for the favor of Yahweh your God and pray for me, so that my hand may be restored to me again." So the man of God prayed to Yahweh, and the king's hand was restored to him again, and it became as it was before. ⁷ The king said to the man of God, "Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward."

⁸ The man of God said to the king, "Even if you give me half your possessions, I will not go with you, nor will I eat food or drink water in this place, ⁹ because Yahweh commanded me by his word, 'You will eat no bread nor drink water, nor return by the way that you came.'" ¹⁰ So the man of God left another way and did not return to his home by the way that he had come to Bethel.

¹¹ Now there was an old prophet living in Bethel, and one of his sons came and told him all the things that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. His sons also told him the words that the man of God had spoken to the king. ¹² Their father said to them, "Which way did he go?" Now his sons had seen the way the man of God from Judah had gone. ¹³ So he said to his sons, "Saddle the donkey for me." So they saddled the donkey and he rode off on it.

¹⁴ The old prophet went after the man of God and found him sitting under an oak tree; and he said to him, "Are you the man of God who came from Judah?" He answered, "I am." ¹⁵ Then the old prophet said to him, "Come home with me and eat food." ¹⁶ The man of God answered, "I may not return with you nor go in with you, neither will I eat food nor drink water with you in this place, ¹⁷ because it was commanded to me by the word of Yahweh, 'You will eat no food nor drink water there, nor return by the way that you came.'"

¹⁸ So the old prophet said to him, "I also am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of Yahweh, saying, 'Bring him back with you into your house, that he may eat food and drink water.'" But he was lying to the man of God. ¹⁹ So the man of God went back with the old prophet and ate food in his house and drank water.

²⁰ As they sat at the table, the word of Yahweh came to the prophet who had brought him back, ²¹ and he cried to the man of God who came from Judah, saying, "Yahweh says, 'Because you have been disobedient to the word of Yahweh and have not kept the command that Yahweh your God gave you, ²² but came back and have eaten food and drunk water in the place about which Yahweh told you to eat no food and drink no water, your body will not be buried in the tomb of your fathers.'"

²³ After he had eaten food and after he had drunk, the prophet saddled the donkey of the man of God, the man who had come back with him. ²⁴ When the man of God was gone, a lion met him on the road and killed him, and his body was left on the road. Then the donkey stood by it, and the lion also stood by the body. ²⁵ When men passed by and saw the body left on the road, and the lion standing by the body, they came and told it in the city where the old prophet lived.

²⁶ When the prophet who had brought him back from the way heard it, he said, "It is the man of God who disobeyed the word of Yahweh. Therefore Yahweh gave him to the lion, which tore him to pieces and killed him, just as the word of Yahweh warned him." ²⁷ So the old prophet spoke to his sons, saying, "Saddle my donkey," and they saddled it. ²⁸ He went and found the body left in the road, and the donkey and the lion standing by the body. The lion had not eaten the body, nor attacked the donkey.

²⁹ The prophet lifted up the body of the man of God, laid it on the donkey, and brought it back. He came to his own city to mourn and to bury him. ³⁰ He laid the body in his own grave, and they mourned over him, saying, "Woe, my brother!"

³¹ Then after he had buried him, the old prophet spoke to his sons, saying, "When I am dead, bury me in the tomb in which the man of God is buried. Lay my bones beside his bones. ³² For the message he declared by the word of Yahweh, against the altar in Bethel and against all the houses on the high places in the cities of Samaria, will certainly happen."

³³ After this Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but continued to appoint common priests for the high places from among all sorts of people. Any who would serve he consecrated as a priest. ³⁴ This matter became sin to the family of Jeroboam and caused his family to be destroyed and to be exterminated from the face of the earth.

Chapter 14

¹ At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam became very sick. ² Jeroboam said to his wife, "Please arise and disguise yourself, so you will not be recognized as my wife, and go to Shiloh, because Ahijah the prophet is there; he is the one who spoke about me, saying that I would become king over these people. ³ Take with you ten loaves, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to Ahijah. He will tell you what will happen to the child."

⁴ Jeroboam's wife did so; she left and went to Shiloh and came to the house of Ahijah. Now Ahijah could not see; he lost his sight because of old age. ⁵ Yahweh said to Ahijah, "Look, the wife of Jeroboam is coming to seek advice from you regarding her son, for he is sick. Say such and such to her, because when she comes, she will act as if she were some other woman."

⁶ When Ahijah heard the sound of her feet as she came in at the door, he said, "Come in, wife of Jeroboam. Why do you pretend to be someone you are not? I have been sent to you with severe news. ⁷ Go, tell Jeroboam that Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'I raised you from among the people to make you the leader over my people Israel. ⁸ I tore the kingdom away from the family of David and gave it to you, yet you have not been like my servant David, who kept my commandments and followed me with all his heart, to do only what was right in my eyes.

⁹ Instead, you have done evil, more than all who were before you. You have made other gods, and you have cast metal images to provoke me to anger, and you have thrust me behind your back. ¹⁰ Therefore, look, I will bring disaster on the house of Jeroboam; I will cut off from you every male child in Israel, whether slave or free, and will completely remove the house of Jeroboam like someone who burns up dung until it is gone.

¹¹ Anyone who belongs to Jeroboam who dies in the city will be eaten by dogs, and anyone who dies in the field will be eaten by the birds of the heavens, for I, Yahweh, have said it.' ¹² So arise, wife of Jeroboam, and go back to your home; when your feet enter the city, the child Abijah will die. ¹³ All Israel will mourn for him and bury him. He is the only one from Jeroboam's family who will go into a grave, because only in him, out of Jeroboam's house, was anything good found in the sight of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

¹⁴ Also, Yahweh will raise up a king of Israel who will cut off the family of Jeroboam on that day. Today is that day, right now. ¹⁵ For Yahweh will attack Israel as a reed is shaken in the water, and he will root up Israel out of this good land that he gave to their ancestors. He will scatter them beyond the Euphrates River, because they have made their Asherah poles and provoked Yahweh to anger. ¹⁶ He will give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, the sins that he has committed, and through which he has led Israel to sin."

¹⁷ So Jeroboam's wife arose and left, and came to Tirzah. As she came to the threshold of her house, the child died. ¹⁸ All Israel buried him and mourned for him, just as it was told to them by the word of Yahweh which he had spoken by his servant Ahijah the prophet.

¹⁹ As for the other matters concerning Jeroboam, how he waged war and how he reigned, see, they are written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel. ²⁰ Jeroboam reigned twenty-two years and then lay down with his ancestors, and Nadab his son became king in his place.

²¹ Now Rehoboam son of Solomon was reigning in Judah. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that Yahweh had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his name. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite woman. ²² Judah did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh; they provoked him to jealousy with the sins that they committed, more than everything that their fathers had done.

²³ For they also built for themselves high places, stone pillars, and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree. ²⁴ There were also cultic prostitutes in the land. They did the same disgusting practices as the nations that Yahweh had driven out before the people of Israel.

²⁵ It happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem. ²⁶ He took away the treasures in the house of Yahweh, and the treasures in the king's house. He took everything away; he also took all the shields of gold that Solomon had made.

²⁷ King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place and entrusted them into the hands of the commanders of the guard, who guarded the doors to the king's house. ²⁸ It happened that whenever the king entered the house of Yahweh, the guards would carry them; then they would bring them back into the guardhouse.

²⁹ As for the other matters concerning Rehoboam, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? ³⁰ There was constant warfare between Rehoboam and Jeroboam. ³¹ So Rehoboam lay down with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite woman. Abijah his son became king in his place.

Chapter 15

¹ In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijah began to reign over Judah. ² He reigned for three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maakah. She was the daughter of Abishalom. ³ He walked in all the sins that his father had committed before his time; his heart was not devoted to Yahweh his God as the heart of David, his ancestor, had been.

⁴ Nevertheless, for David's sake, Yahweh his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up his son after him in order to strengthen Jerusalem. ⁵ God did this because David had done what was right in his eyes; for all the days of his life, he had not turned away from anything that he commanded him, except only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite. ⁶ Now there was war between Rehoboam and Jeroboam all the days of Abijah's life.

⁷ As for the other matters of Abijah, all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. ⁸ Abijah lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Asa his son became king in his place.

⁹ In the twentieth year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Asa began to reign over Judah. ¹⁰ He reigned forty-one years in Jerusalem. His grandmother's name was Maakah, the daughter of Abishalom. ¹¹ Asa did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, as David, his ancestor, had done.

¹² He expelled the cultic prostitutes from the land and removed all the idols that his ancestors had made. ¹³ He also removed Maakah, his grandmother, from being queen, because she had made a disgusting figure out of an Asherah pole. Asa cut down the disgusting figure and burned it at the Kidron Valley.

¹⁴ But the high places were not taken away. Nevertheless, Asa's heart was completely devoted to Yahweh all his days. ¹⁵ He brought into the house of Yahweh the things that were set apart by his father, and his own things that had been set apart that were made of silver and gold, and vessels.

¹⁶ There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel, all their days. ¹⁷ Baasha king of Israel, acted aggressively against Judah and built up Ramah, so that he might not allow anyone to leave or enter into the land of Asa king of Judah.

¹⁸ Then Asa took all the silver and gold left in the storerooms in the house of Yahweh, and the storerooms of the king's palace. He put it into the hands of his servants and sent it to Ben-Hadad son of Tabrimmon son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who lived in Damascus. He said, ¹⁹ "Let there be a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Look, I have sent to you a gift of silver and gold. Break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, so that he may leave me alone."

²⁰ Ben-Hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies, and they attacked the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Beth Maakah, and all Kinnereth, together with all the land of Naphtali. ²¹ It came about that when Baasha heard this, he stopped building up Ramah and went back to Tirzah. ²² Then King Asa made a proclamation to all Judah. No one was exempted. They carried away the stones and timbers of Ramah with which Baasha had been building up the city. Then King Asa used that building material to build up Geba of Benjamin and Mizpah.

²³ As for the other matters of Asa, all his might, all that he did, and the cities he built, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? But during his old age he was diseased in his feet. ²⁴ Then Asa lay down with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David his father. Jehoshaphat his son became king in his place.

²⁵ Nadab son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah; he reigned over Israel two years. ²⁶ He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and walked in the way of his father, and in his own sin, by which he led Israel to sin.

²⁷ Baasha son of Ahijah, of the family of Issachar, conspired against Nadab; Baasha killed him down at Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines, for Nadab and all Israel were laying siege to Gibbethon. ²⁸ In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha killed Nadab and became king in his place.

²⁹ As soon as he was king, Baasha killed all the family of Jeroboam. He left none of Jeroboam's descendants breathing; in this way he destroyed his royal line, just as Yahweh had spoken by his servant Ahijah the Shilonite, ³⁰ for the sins of Jeroboam which he committed and by which he led Israel to sin, in his anger to which he provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel.

³¹ As for the other matters concerning Nadab, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel? ³² There was war between Asa and Baasha king of Israel all their days.

³³ In the third year of Asa king of Judah, Baasha son of Ahijah began to reign over all Israel in Tirzah and he reigned twenty-four years. ³⁴ He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and walked in the way of Jeroboam and in his sin by which he led Israel to sin.

Chapter 16

¹ The word of Yahweh came to Jehu son of Hanani against Baasha, saying, ² "Although I exalted you out of the dust and made you leader over my people Israel, you have walked in the way of Jeroboam and have made my people Israel to sin, so as to provoke me to anger with their sins.

³ See, I will consume Baasha and his family and I will make your family like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat. ⁴ The dogs will eat anyone belonging to Baasha who dies in the city, and the birds of the sky will eat anyone who dies in the fields."

⁵ As for the other matters concerning Baasha, what he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel? ⁶ Baasha lay down with his ancestors and was buried in Tirzah, and Elah his son became king in his place.

⁷ So by the prophet Jehu son of Hanani the word of Yahweh came against Baasha and his family, both because of all the evil that he did in the sight of Yahweh, so as to provoke him to anger with the work of his hands, like the family of Jeroboam, and also because he had killed all of Jeroboam's family.

⁸ In the twenty-sixth year of Asa king of Judah, Elah son of Baasha began to reign over Israel in Tirzah; he reigned two years. ⁹ His servant Zimri, captain of half his chariots, conspired against him. Now Elah was in Tirzah, drinking himself drunk in the house of Arza, who was over the household in Tirzah. ¹⁰ Zimri went in, attacked him, and put him to death in the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah and became king in his place.

¹¹ When Zimri began to reign and was seated on his throne, he killed all the family of Baasha. He did not leave alive a single male belonging to Baasha's relatives or friends. ¹² So Zimri destroyed all the family of Baasha, according to the word of Yahweh which he spoke against Baasha by Jehu the prophet, ¹³ for all the sins of Baasha and the sins of Elah his son that they committed, and by which they had led Israel to sin, so that they provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger with their idols.

¹⁴ As for the other matters concerning Elah, all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?

¹⁵ In the twenty-seventh year of Asa king of Judah, Zimri reigned only for seven days in Tirzah. Now the army was camped by Gibbethon, which belonged to the Philistines. ¹⁶ The army camped there heard it said, "Zimri has plotted and has killed the king." So that day in the camp, all Israel declared Omri, the commander of the army, king over Israel. ¹⁷ Omri went up from Gibbethon and all Israel with him, and they besieged Tirzah.

¹⁸ So when Zimri saw that the city had been taken, he went into the fortress attached to the king's palace and set fire to the building over him; in this way he died in the flames. ¹⁹ This was for the sins that he had committed in doing what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, by walking in the way of Jeroboam and in the sin that he had committed, so as to lead Israel to sin. ²⁰ As for the other matters concerning Zimri, and the treason that he carried out, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?

²¹ Then the people of Israel were divided into two parts. Half of the people followed Tibni son of Ginath, to make him king, and half followed Omri. ²² But the people who followed Omri were stronger than the people who followed Tibni son of Ginath. So Tibni died, and Omri became king.

²³ Omri began to reign over Israel in the thirty-first year of Asa king of Judah, and he reigned twelve years. He reigned from Tirzah for six years. ²⁴ He bought the hill of Samaria from Shemer for two talents of silver. He built a city on the hill and called the name of the city Samaria, after the name of Shemer, the past owner of the hill.

²⁵ Omri did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and acted more wickedly than all who had been before him. ²⁶ For he walked in all the ways of Jeroboam son of Nebat and in his sins by which he led Israel to sin, to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to be angry with their worthless idols.

²⁷ As for the other matters concerning Omri which he did, and the might that he showed, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel? ²⁸ So Omri lay down with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria and Ahab his son became king in his place.

²⁹ In the thirty-eighth year of Asa king of Judah, Ahab son of Omri began to reign over Israel. Ahab son of Omri reigned over Israel in Samaria twenty-two years. ³⁰ Ahab son of Omri did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, more than all those who were before him.

³¹ It was to Ahab a trivial thing to walk in the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, so he took as his wife Jezebel the daughter of Ethbaal, king of the Sidonians; he went and worshiped Baal and bowed down to him. ³² He built an altar for Baal in the house of Baal, which he had built in Samaria. ³³ Ahab made an Asherah pole. Ahab did even more to provoke Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger than all the kings of Israel who had been before him.

³⁴ During Ahab's rule, Hiel of Bethel rebuilt Jericho. Hiel laid the foundation of the city at the cost of the life of Abiram, his firstborn son; and Segub, his youngest son, lost his life while he was building the gates of the city, in keeping with the word of Yahweh which he spoke by Joshua son of Nun.

Chapter 17

¹ Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, "As Yahweh, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, there will not be dew or rain these years unless I say so."

² The word of Yahweh came to Elijah, saying, ³ "Leave from here and go eastward; hide yourself by the brook Kerith, east of the Jordan. ⁴ It will happen that you will drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there."

⁵ So Elijah went and did as the word of Yahweh commanded. He went to live by the brook Kerith, east of the Jordan. ⁶ The ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the brook. ⁷ But after a while the brook dried up because there was no rain in the land.

⁸ The word of Yahweh came to him, saying, ⁹ "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and live there. Look, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." ¹⁰ So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city a widow was there gathering sticks. So he called to her and said, "Please bring me a little water in a jar so that I may drink."

¹¹ As she was going to get water he called to her, and said, "Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand." ¹² She replied, "As Yahweh your God lives, I do not have any bread, but only a handful of meal in a jar and a little oil in a jug. See, I am gathering two sticks so I may go in and cook it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die." ¹³ Elijah said to her, "Do not fear. Go and do as you have said, but make me a little bread first and bring it out to me. Then afterward make some for you and for your son.

¹⁴ For Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, 'The jar of meal will not empty, neither will the jug of oil stop flowing, until the day that Yahweh sends rain on the earth." ¹⁵ So she did as Elijah had told her. She and Elijah, along with her household, ate for many days. ¹⁶ The jar of meal did not empty, neither did the jug of oil stop flowing, just as the word of Yahweh had said, as he had spoken by Elijah.

¹⁷ After these things the woman's son, the woman who owned the house, fell sick. His sickness was so severe that there was no more breath left in him. ¹⁸ So his mother said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Have you come to me to remind me of my iniquity and to kill my son?"

¹⁹ Then Elijah replied to her, "Give me your son." He took the boy from her arms and carried him up into the room where he was staying, and he laid the boy on his own bed. ²⁰ He cried to Yahweh and said, "Yahweh my God, have you also brought disaster on the widow with whom I am staying, by killing her son?" ²¹ Then Elijah stretched himself on the child three times; he cried out to Yahweh and said, "Yahweh my God, I beg you, please let this child's life return to him."

²² Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah; the life of the child returned to him, and he revived. ²³ Elijah took the child and brought him out of his room down into the house; he handed the boy to his mother and said, "See, your son is alive." ²⁴ The woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of Yahweh in your mouth is true."

Chapter 18

¹ So after many days the word of Yahweh came to Elijah, in the third year of the drought, saying, "Go, show yourself to Ahab and I will send rain on the land." ² Elijah went to show himself to Ahab; now the famine was severe in Samaria.

³ Ahab called Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace. Now Obadiah honored Yahweh very much, ⁴ for when Jezebel was killing the prophets of Yahweh, Obadiah took one hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.

⁵ Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the water springs and brooks. Perhaps we will find grass and save the horses and mules alive, so that we will not lose all the animals." ⁶ So they divided the land between them to pass through it and look for water. Ahab went one way by himself and Obadiah went another way.

⁷ As Obadiah was on the road, Elijah unexpectedly met him. Obadiah recognized him and lay facedown on the ground. He said, "Is it you, my master Elijah?" ⁸ Elijah answered him, "It is I. Go tell your master, 'Look, Elijah is here.'"

⁹ Obadiah replied, "How have I sinned, that you would give your servant into the hand of Ahab, for him to kill me? ¹⁰ As Yahweh your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my master has not sent men to find you. Whenever a nation or kingdom says, 'Elijah is not here,' Ahab makes them take an oath swearing that they could not find you. ¹¹ Yet now you say, 'Go, tell your master that Elijah is here.'

¹² As soon as I am gone from you, the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you some place I do not know. Then when I go and tell Ahab, and when he cannot find you, he will kill me. Yet I, your servant, have worshiped Yahweh from my youth. ¹³ Has it not been told to you, my master, what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid one hundred of Yahweh's prophets by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water?

¹⁴ Now you say to me, 'Go and tell your master that Elijah is here,' so that he will kill me." ¹⁵ Then Elijah responded, "As Yahweh of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will surely show myself to Ahab today."

¹⁶ So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and told him what Elijah said. Then the king went to meet Elijah. ¹⁷ When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him, "Is it you? You are the one who brings trouble to Israel!"

¹⁸ Elijah answered, "I have not brought trouble to Israel, but you and your father's family are the ones who have caused trouble by abandoning the commandments of Yahweh and by following the Baals. ¹⁹ Now then, send word and gather to me all Israel at Mount Carmel, along with the 450 prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel's table."

²⁰ So Ahab sent word to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. ²¹ Elijah came near to all the people and said, "How long will you keep changing your mind? If Yahweh is God, follow him. But if Baal is God, then follow him." Yet the people did not answer him a word.

²² Then Elijah said to the people, "I, I alone, am left as a prophet of Yahweh, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. ²³ So let them give us two bulls. Let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood, and put no fire under it. ²⁴ Then you will call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh, and the God who answers by fire, then let him be God." So all the people answered and said, "This is good."

²⁵ So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many people. Then call on the name of your god, but put no fire under the bull." ²⁶ They took the bull that was given to them and prepared it, and they called on the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "Baal, hear us." But there was no voice, nor anyone who answered. They danced around the altar they had made.

²⁷ At noon Elijah mocked them and said, "Shout out loudly! He is a god! Perhaps he is thinking, or is relieving himself, or he is traveling on a journey, or perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened." ²⁸ So they shouted more loudly, and they cut themselves, as they usually did, with swords and spears, until their blood flowed out over themselves. ²⁹ Midday passed, and they were still raving until the time of offering of the evening sacrifice, but there was no voice or anyone to answer; there was no one who paid any attention to their pleadings.

³⁰ Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me," and all the people came near to him. Then he repaired the altar of Yahweh that was lying in ruin. ³¹ Elijah took twelve stones, each stone representing one of the tribes of the sons of Jacob—it was Jacob to whom the word of Yahweh came, saying, "Israel will be your name." ³² With the stones he built an altar in the name of Yahweh and he dug a trench around the altar large enough to contain two seahs of seeds.

³³ He arranged the wood for a fire, cut the bull in pieces, and laid the pieces of the bull on the wood. He said, "Fill four jars with water and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." ³⁴ Then he said, "Do it a second time," and they did it a second time. Once more he said, "Do it a third time," and they did it a third time. ³⁵ The water ran around the altar and filled the trench.

³⁶ It happened at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, "Yahweh, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. ³⁷ Hear me, Yahweh, hear me, that these people may know that you, Yahweh, are God, and that you have turned their heart back again to yourself."

³⁸ Then the fire of Yahweh fell and consumed the burnt offering, as well as the wood, the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. ³⁹ When all the people saw this, they lay facedown on the ground and said, "Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!" ⁴⁰ So Elijah said to them, "Take the prophets of Baal. Do not let one of them escape." So they took them, and Elijah brought the prophets of Baal down to the Kishon River and killed them there.

⁴¹ Elijah said to Ahab, "Get up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of much rain." ⁴² So Ahab went up to eat and to drink. Then Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, bowed himself down on the earth and put his face between his knees.

⁴³ He said to his servant, "Go up now, look toward the sea." His servant went up and looked and said, "There is nothing." So seven times Elijah said, "Go again." ⁴⁴ At the seventh time the servant said, "Look, there is a cloud going up from the sea, as small as a man's hand." Elijah replied, "Go up and say to Ahab, 'Make ready your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.'"

⁴⁵ It happened that in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. Ahab rode and went to Jezreel, ⁴⁶ but the hand of Yahweh was on Elijah. He girded his loins and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Chapter 19

¹ Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. ² Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, "So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of those dead prophets by tomorrow about this time." ³ When Elijah heard that, he arose and fled for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

⁴ But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. He requested for himself that he might die, and said, "It is enough, now, Yahweh; take away my life, for I am no better than my dead ancestors." ⁵ So he lay down and slept under a broom tree. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, "Get up and eat." ⁶ Elijah looked, and near his head was bread that had been baked on coals and a jug of water. So he ate and drank and then lay down again.

⁷ The angel of Yahweh came again a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, because the journey will be too much for you." ⁸ So he arose and ate and drank, and he traveled in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God.

⁹ He went to a cave there and prepared to stay overnight in it. Then the word of Yahweh came to him and said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" ¹⁰ Elijah replied, "I have been very zealous for Yahweh, God of hosts, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. Now I, only I, am left and they are also trying to take my life."

¹¹ Yahweh replied, "Go out and stand on the mountain before me." Then Yahweh passed by, and a very strong wind struck the mountains and broke rocks into pieces before Yahweh, but Yahweh was not in the wind. Then after the wind, an earthquake came, but Yahweh was not in the earthquake. ¹² Then after the earthquake a fire came, but Yahweh was not in the fire. Then after the fire, a still small voice came.

¹³ When Elijah heard the voice, he wrapped his face in his cloak, went out, and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then a voice came to him that said, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" ¹⁴ Elijah replied, "I have been very zealous for Yahweh, God of hosts, because the people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. Now I, only I, am left and they are also trying to take my life."

¹⁵ Then Yahweh said to him, "Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus, and when you arrive you will anoint Hazael to be king over Aram, ¹⁶ and you will anoint Jehu son of Nimshi to be king over Israel, and you will anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah to be prophet in your place.

¹⁷ It will happen that Jehu will kill whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, and that Elisha will kill whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu. ¹⁸ But I will leave for myself seven thousand people in Israel, whose knees have not bent down to Baal, and whose mouths have not kissed him."

¹⁹ So Elijah left from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he himself was plowing with the twelfth yoke. Elijah walked over to Elisha and draped his cloak on him. ²⁰ Then Elisha left the oxen and ran after Elijah; he said, "Please let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you." Then Elijah said to him, "Go back, but think about what I have done to you."

²¹ So Elisha returned from Elijah and took the yoke of oxen, killed the animals, and cooked the meat with the wood from the ox yoke. Then he gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose, went after Elijah and served him.

Chapter 20

¹ Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army together. There were thirty-two lesser kings with him, and horses and chariots. He went up, besieged Samaria and fought against it. ² He sent messengers into the city to Ahab king of Israel, and said to him, "Ben-Hadad says this: ³ 'Your silver and your gold are mine. Also your wives and children, the best ones, are now mine.'"

⁴ The king of Israel answered and said, "It is as you say, my master, king. I and all that I have are yours." ⁵ The messengers came again and said, "Ben-Hadad says this, 'I sent word to you saying that you must give me your silver, your gold, your wives, and your children. ⁶ But I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time, and they will search your house and your servants' houses. They will seize with their own hands and take away everything that delights your eyes.'"

⁷ Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land together and said, "Please take note and see how this man seeks trouble. He has sent word to me in order to take my wives, children, and silver and gold, and I have not refused him." ⁸ All the elders and all the people said to Ahab, "Do not listen to him or consent to his demands."

⁹ So Ahab said to the messengers of Ben-Hadad, "Tell my master the king, 'I agree to everything that you sent your servant to do the first time, but I cannot accept this second demand.'" So the messengers left and took this response to Ben-Hadad. ¹⁰ Then Ben-Hadad sent his reply to Ahab, and said, "May the gods do so to me and more also, if even the ashes of Samaria will be enough for all the people who follow me to have a handful each."

¹¹ The king of Israel answered and said, "Tell Ben-Hadad, 'No one who is girding on his armor should boast as if he were taking it off.'" ¹² Ben-Hadad heard this message as he was drinking, he and the kings under him who were in their tents. Ben-Hadad commanded his servants, "Line yourselves up in position for battle." So they prepared themselves in position of battle to attack the city.

¹³ Then behold, a prophet came to Ahab king of Israel and said, "Yahweh says, 'Have you seen this great army? Look, I will place it into your hand today, and you will know that I am Yahweh.'" ¹⁴ Ahab replied, "By whom?" Yahweh replied and said, "By the young officers who serve the governors of the provinces." Then Ahab said, "Who will begin the battle?" Yahweh answered, "You." ¹⁵ Then Ahab mustered the young officers who served the governors of the provinces. They numbered 232. After them he mustered all the soldiers, all the army of Israel; seven thousand in number.

¹⁶ They went out at noon. Ben-Hadad had been drinking himself drunk in his tent, he and the thirty-two lesser kings who were supporting him. ¹⁷ The young officers who served the governors of the provinces went forward first. Then Ben-Hadad was informed by scouts that he had sent out, "Men are coming out from Samaria."

¹⁸ Ben-Hadad said, "Whether they have come out for peace or war, take them alive." ¹⁹ So the young officers who served the governors of the provinces went out of the city and the army followed them.

²⁰ Each man killed his opponent. The Arameans fled and Israel pursued them. Ben-Hadad the king of Aram escaped on a horse along with some horsemen. ²¹ Then the king of Israel went out and attacked the horses and chariots, and killed the Arameans in a great slaughter.

²² So the prophet came to the king of Israel and said to him, "Go, strengthen yourself, and understand and plan what you are doing, because at the return of the year the king of Aram will come up against you again." ²³ The servants of the king of Aram said to him, "Their god is a god of the hills. That is why they were stronger than we were. But now let us fight against them in the plain, and surely we will be stronger than they are.

²⁴ So you must do this: Remove all the kings from their positions of authority and replace them with military commanders. ²⁵ Raise up an army like the army you lost—horse for horse and chariot for chariot—so we can fight them in the plain. Then surely we will be stronger than they are." So Ben-Hadad listened to their advice and did what they advised.

²⁶ After the beginning of the new year, Ben-Hadad mustered the Arameans and went up to Aphek to fight against Israel. ²⁷ The people of Israel were mustered and supplied to fight against them. The people of Israel camped before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Arameans filled the countryside.

²⁸ Then a man of God came near and spoke to the king of Israel and said, "Yahweh says: 'Because the Arameans have said that Yahweh is a god of the hills, but he is not a god of the valleys, I will place this great army into your hand, and you will know that I am Yahweh.'"

²⁹ So the armies camped opposite each other for seven days. Then on the seventh day the battle started. The people of Israel killed 100,000 Aramean footmen in one day. ³⁰ The rest fled to Aphek, into the city, and the wall fell on twenty-seven thousand men who were left. Ben-Hadad fled and went into the city, into an inner room.

³¹ Ben-Hadad's servants said to him, "See now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful kings. Please let us put sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads, and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps he will spare your life." ³² So they girded sackcloth on their waists and ropes around their heads and then went to the king of Israel and said, "Your servant Ben-Hadad said, 'Please let me live.'" Ahab said, "Is he still alive? He is my brother."

³³ Now the men were listening for any sign from Ahab, so they quickly answered him, "Yes, your brother Ben-Hadad is alive." Then Ahab said, "Go and bring him." Then Ben-Hadad came to him, and Ahab had him come up into his chariot. ³⁴ Ben-Hadad said to Ahab, "I will restore to you the cities that my father took from your father, and you may make markets for yourself in Damascus, as my father did in Samaria." Ahab replied, "I will let you go with this covenant." So Ahab made a covenant with him and then let him go.

³⁵ A certain man, one of the sons of the prophets, said to one of his companions by the word of Yahweh, "Please hit me." But the man refused to hit him. ³⁶ Then the prophet said to his fellow prophet, "Because you have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh, as soon as you leave me, a lion will kill you." As soon as that man had left him, a lion came upon him and killed him.

³⁷ Then the prophet found another man and said, "Please hit me." So the man hit him and wounded him. ³⁸ Then the prophet left and waited for the king by the road; he had disguised himself with a bandage over his eyes.

³⁹ As the king passed by, the prophet cried out to the king and said, "Your servant went out into the heat of the battle, and a soldier stopped and brought a man to me and said, 'Watch this man. If by any means he goes missing, your life will be given for his life, or you must pay a talent of silver.' ⁴⁰ But because your servant was busy going here and there, the man escaped." Then the king of Israel said to him, "This is what your punishment will be—you yourself have decided it."

⁴¹ Then the prophet quickly removed the bandage from his eyes, and the king of Israel recognized that he was one of the prophets. ⁴² The prophet said to the king, "Yahweh says, 'Because you have let go from your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, your life will take the place of his life, and your people for his people.'" ⁴³ So the king of Israel went to his house resentful and angry, and arrived in Samaria.

Chapter 21

¹ Now some time later, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, near the palace of Ahab, king of Samaria. ² Ahab spoke to Naboth, saying, "Give me your vineyard, so I can have it as a vegetable garden, because it is near my house. In exchange, I will give you a better vineyard, or, if you prefer, I will pay you its value in money."

³ Naboth replied to Ahab, "May Yahweh forbid that I should give the inheritance of my ancestors to you." ⁴ So Ahab went into his palace resentful and angry because of the answer Naboth the Jezreelite gave him when he said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors." He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and refused to eat any food.

⁵ Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, "Why is your heart so sad, so that you eat no food?" ⁶ He replied to her, "I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money, or if it pleases you, I will give you another vineyard to be yours.' Then he answered me, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'" ⁷ So Jezebel his wife replied to him, "Do you not still rule the kingdom of Israel? Get up and eat; let your heart be happy. I will obtain for you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite."

⁸ So Jezebel wrote letters in Ahab's name, sealed them with his seal, and sent them to the elders and to the nobles who sat with him in meetings, and who lived near Naboth. ⁹ She wrote in the letters, saying, "Proclaim a fast and seat Naboth above the people. ¹⁰ Also place two worthless men with him and let them testify against him, saying, 'You cursed God and the king.'" Then take him out and stone him to death.

¹¹ So the men of his city, the elders and the noblemen who lived in Naboth's city, did as Jezebel had described to them, as was written in the letters that she had sent to them. ¹² They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth above the people. ¹³ The two dishonest men came in and sat before Naboth; they testified against Naboth in the presence of the people, saying, "Naboth cursed both God and the king." Then they carried him out of the city and stoned him to death. ¹⁴ Then the elders sent word to Jezebel, saying, "Naboth has been stoned and is dead."

¹⁵ So when Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, she said to Ahab, "Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money, because Naboth is not alive, but dead." ¹⁶ When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he rose up to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite and take possession of it.

¹⁷ Then the word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ¹⁸ "Get up and go meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria. He is in the vineyard of Naboth, where he has gone to take possession of it.

¹⁹ You must speak to him and say that Yahweh says, 'Have you killed and also taken possession?' Then you will tell him that Yahweh says, 'In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth, the dogs will lick your blood, yes, your blood.'" ²⁰ Ahab said to Elijah, "Have you found me, my enemy?" Elijah answered, "I have found you, because you have sold yourself to do what is evil in the sight of Yahweh.

²¹ Yahweh says this to you: 'See, I will bring disaster on you and will completely consume and cut off from Ahab every male child and slave and free man in Israel. ²² I will make your family like the family of Jeroboam son of Nebat, and like the family of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have provoked me to anger and have led Israel to sin.'

²³ Yahweh has also spoken concerning Jezebel, saying, 'The dogs will eat Jezebel beside the wall of Jezreel.' ²⁴ Anyone who belongs to Ahab and dies in the city, the dogs will eat; and the birds of the sky will eat anyone who dies in the field."

²⁵ There was no one like Ahab, who sold himself to do what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, whom Jezebel his wife incited to sin. ²⁶ Ahab behaved abhorrently by following idols, just as all that the Amorites had done, those whom Yahweh had removed before the people of Israel.

²⁷ When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his body and fasted, and lay in sackcloth and became very sad. ²⁸ Then the word of Yahweh came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ²⁹ "Do you see how Ahab humbles himself before me? Because he humbles himself before me, I will not bring the coming disaster in his days; it is in his son's day that I will bring disaster on his family."

Chapter 22

¹ Three years passed without war between Aram and Israel. ² Then it came about that in the third year, Jehoshaphat the king of Judah went down to the king of Israel.

³ Now the king of Israel had said to his servants, "Do you know that Ramoth Gilead is ours, but that we are doing nothing to take it from the hand of the king of Aram?" ⁴ So he said to Jehoshaphat, "Will you go with me to war at Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat replied to the king of Israel, "I am like you, my people are like your people, and my horses are like your horses."

⁵ Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please seek direction from the word of Yahweh for what you should do first." ⁶ Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, "Should I go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or should I not?" They said, "Attack, for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king."

⁷ But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here yet another prophet of Yahweh from whom we might seek advice?" ⁸ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may seek advice from Yahweh to help, Micaiah son of Imlah, but I hate him because he does not prophesy anything good about me, but only hardships." But Jehoshaphat said, "May the king not say that." ⁹ Then the king of Israel called an officer and commanded, "Bring Micaiah son of Imlah, right away."

¹⁰ Now Ahab the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on a throne, clothed in their robes, in a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. ¹¹ Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, "Yahweh says this: 'With these you will push the Arameans until they are consumed.'" ¹² Then all the prophets prophesied the same, saying, "Attack Ramoth Gilead and win, for Yahweh has given it into the hand of the king."

¹³ The messenger who went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, "See now, the words of the prophets declare good things to the king with one mouth. Please let your word be like one of them and say good things." ¹⁴ Micaiah replied, "As Yahweh lives, it is what Yahweh says to me that I will say." ¹⁵ When he came to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth Gilead for battle, or not?" Micaiah answered him, "Attack and win. Yahweh will give it into the hand of the king."

¹⁶ Then the king said to him, "How many times must I require you to swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?" ¹⁷ So Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel scattered to the mountains, like sheep who have no shepherd, and Yahweh said, 'These have no master. Let every man return to his house in peace.'"

¹⁸ So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but only disaster?" ¹⁹ Then Micaiah said, "Therefore hear the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven were standing by him on his right hand and on his left. ²⁰ Yahweh said, 'Who will entice Ahab, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?' One of them said this and another one said that.

²¹ Then a spirit came forward, stood before Yahweh, and said, 'I will entice him.' Yahweh said to him, 'How?' ²² The spirit replied, 'I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Yahweh replied, 'You will entice him, and you will also be successful. Go now and do so.' ²³ Now see, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these prophets of yours, and Yahweh has decreed disaster for you."

²⁴ Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, came up, slapped Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh take to go from me to speak to you?" ²⁵ Micaiah said, "Look, you will see on that day when you will go to hide in an inner room."

²⁶ The king of Israel said to his servant, "Seize Micaiah and take him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, my son. ²⁷ Say to him, 'The king says, Put this man in prison, and feed him the bread of affliction and the water of affliction until I come safely.'" ²⁸ Then Micaiah said, "If you return safely, then Yahweh has not spoken by me." Then he added, "Listen to this, all you people."

²⁹ So Ahab, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up to Ramoth Gilead. ³⁰ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle.

³¹ Now the king of Aram had commanded the thirty-two captains of his chariots, saying, "Do not attack unimportant or important soldiers. Attack only the king of Israel." ³² It came about that when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat they said, "Surely that is the king of Israel." They turned to attack him, so Jehoshaphat cried out. ³³ It came about that when the commanders of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

³⁴ But a certain man drew his bow at random and shot the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. Then Ahab said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded."

³⁵ The battle grew worse that day and the king was held up in his chariot facing the Arameans. He died in the evening. The blood ran out from his wound into the bottom of the chariot. ³⁶ Then about the time the sun was going down, a cry went up throughout the army, saying, "Every man should go back to his city; and every man should go back to his region!"

³⁷ So King Ahab died and was brought to Samaria, and they buried him in Samaria. ³⁸ They washed the chariot by the pool of Samaria, and the dogs licked up his blood (this was where the prostitutes bathed), just as the word of Yahweh had declared.

³⁹ As for the other matters concerning Ahab, all that he did, the ivory house that he built, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel? ⁴⁰ So Ahab lay down with his ancestors, and Ahaziah his son became king in his place.

⁴¹ Then Jehoshaphat son of Asa began to reign over Judah in the fourth year of Ahab king of Israel. ⁴² Jehoshaphat was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi.

⁴³ He walked in the ways of Asa, his father; he did not turn away from them; he did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh. Yet the high places were not taken away. The people were still sacrificing and burning incense on the high places. ⁴⁴ Jehoshaphat made peace with the king of Israel.

⁴⁵ As for the other matters concerning Jehoshaphat, and the might that he showed, and how he waged war, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? ⁴⁶ He completely removed from the land the rest of the cultic prostitutes who had remained in the days of his father Asa. ⁴⁷ There was no king in Edom, but a deputy ruled there.

⁴⁸ Jehoshaphat built ships of Tarshish; they were to go to Ophir for gold, but they did not go because the ships were wrecked at Ezion Geber. ⁴⁹ Then Ahaziah son of Ahab said to Jehoshaphat, "Let my servants sail with your servants in the ships." But Jehoshaphat would not allow it. ⁵⁰ Jehoshaphat lay down with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David, his ancestor; Jehoram his son became king in his place.

⁵¹ Ahaziah son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, and he reigned two years over Israel. ⁵² He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and walked in the way of his father, in the way of his mother, and in the way of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he led Israel to sin. ⁵³ He served Baal and worshiped him and so he provoked Yahweh, the God of Israel, to anger, just as his father had done.

2 Kings

Chapter 1

¹ Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. ² Then Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper chamber in Samaria, and was injured. So he sent for messengers and said to them, "Go, ask Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover from this injury."

³ But the angel of Yahweh said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and ask them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going to consult with Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? ⁴ Therefore Yahweh says, "You will not come down from the bed to where you have gone up; instead, you will certainly die."'" Then Elijah left.

⁵ When the messengers returned to Ahaziah, he said to them, "Why have you returned?" ⁶ They said to him, "A man came to meet us who said to us, 'Go back to the king who sent you, and say to him, "Yahweh says this: 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you sent men to consult with Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not come down from the bed to which you have gone up; instead, you will certainly die.'"'"

⁷ Ahaziah said to his messengers, "What sort of man was he, the one who came up to meet you and said these words to you?" ⁸ They answered him, "He wore a garment made of hair and had a leather belt wrapped around his waist." So the king replied, "That is Elijah the Tishbite."

⁹ Then the king sent a captain with fifty soldiers to Elijah. The captain went up to Elijah where he was sitting on the top of a hill. The captain spoke to him, "You, man of God, the king has said, 'Come down.'" ¹⁰ Elijah answered and said to the captain, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." Then fire came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

¹¹ Again King Ahaziah sent to Elijah another captain with fifty soldiers. This captain also said to Elijah, "You, man of God, the king says, 'Come down quickly.'" ¹² Elijah answered and said to them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men." Again the fire of God came down from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men.

¹³ Yet again the king sent a third group of fifty warriors. This captain went up, fell on his knees before Elijah, and sought his favor and said to him, "You, man of God, I ask you, let my life and the life of these fifty servants of yours be precious in your sight. ¹⁴ Indeed, fire came down from heaven and consumed the first two captains with their men, but now let my life be precious in your sight."

¹⁵ The angel of Yahweh said to Elijah, "Go down with him. Do not be afraid of him." So Elijah arose and went down with him to the king. ¹⁶ Later Elijah said to Ahaziah, "This is what Yahweh says, 'You have sent messengers to consult with Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron. Is it because there is no God in Israel from whom you can ask for information? So now, you will not come down from the bed where you have gone up; you will certainly die.'"

¹⁷ So King Ahaziah died according to the word of Yahweh that Elijah had spoken. Joram began to reign in his place, in the second year of Jehoram son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, because Ahaziah had no son. ¹⁸ As for the other matters concerning Ahaziah, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel?

Chapter 2

¹ So it came about, when Yahweh was going to take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah left with Elisha from Gilgal. ² Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here, please, because Yahweh has sent me to Bethel." Elisha replied, "As Yahweh lives, and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.

³ The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from you today?" Elisha replied, "Yes, I know it, but do not talk about it." ⁴ Elijah said to him, "Elisha, wait here, please, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho." Then Elisha replied, "As Yahweh lives, and as you live, I will not leave you." So they went to Jericho.

⁵ Then the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came to Elisha and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from you today?" Elisha answered, "Yes, I know it, but do not talk about it." ⁶ Then Elijah said to him, "Stay here, please, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan." Elisha replied, "As Yahweh lives, and as you live, I will not leave you." So the two went on.

⁷ Later, fifty of the sons of the prophets stood opposite them at a distance while the two stood by the Jordan. ⁸ Elijah took his cloak, rolled it up, and struck the water with it. The river divided on both sides so that the two of them walked over on dry ground.

⁹ It came about, after they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask me what I should do for you before I am taken from you." Elisha replied, "Please let a double portion of your spirit come on me." ¹⁰ Elijah answered, "You have asked for a difficult thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, this will happen for you, but if not, it will not happen."

¹¹ As they still went on and talked, behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared, which separated the two men from each other, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. ¹² Elisha saw it and cried out, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!"

He saw Elijah no more, and he took hold of his own clothes and tore them into two pieces.

¹³ He picked up Elijah's cloak that had fallen off him, and went back to stand by the bank of the Jordan. ¹⁴ He struck the water with Elijah's cloak that had fallen and said, "Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?" When he had struck the waters, they divided on both sides and Elisha crossed over.

¹⁵ When the sons of the prophets who were from Jericho saw him across from them, they said, "The spirit of Elijah does rest on Elisha!" So they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. ¹⁶ They said to him, "See now, among your servants there are fifty strong men. Let them go, we ask, and look for your master, in case the Spirit of Yahweh has taken him up and thrown him onto some mountain or into some valley." Elisha answered, "No, do not send them."

¹⁷ But when they urged Elisha until he was ashamed, he said, "Send them." Then they sent fifty men, and they looked for three days, but did not find him. ¹⁸ They came back to Elisha, while he stayed at Jericho, and he said to them, "Did I not say to you, 'Do not go'?"

¹⁹ The men of the city said to Elisha, "See now, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my master can see, but the water is bad and the land is not fruitful." ²⁰ Elisha replied, "Bring me a new bowl and put salt in it," so they brought it to him.

²¹ Elisha went out to the spring of water and threw salt in it; then he said, "Yahweh says this, 'I have healed these waters. From this time on, there will be no more death or unfruitful land.'" ²² So the waters were healed to this day, by the word which Elisha spoke.

²³ Then Elisha went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up the road, young boys came out of the city and mocked him; they said to him, "Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!" ²⁴ Elisha looked behind him and saw them; he cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore forty-two of the boys apart. ²⁵ Then Elisha went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.

Chapter 3

¹ Now in the eighteenth year of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, Joram son of Ahab began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned twelve years. ² He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, but not like his father and his mother; for he removed the sacred stone pillar of Baal that his father had made. ³ Nevertheless he held on to the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; he did not turn away from them.

⁴ Now Mesha king of Moab bred sheep. He had to give to the king of Israel 100,000 lambs and the wool of 100,000 rams. ⁵ But after Ahab died, the king of Moab rebelled against the king of Israel. ⁶ So King Joram left Samaria at that time to mobilize all Israel for war.

⁷ He sent a message to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, saying, "The king of Moab has rebelled against me. Will you go with me against Moab to battle?" Jehoshaphat replied, "I will go. I am as you are, my people as your people, my horses as your horses." ⁸ Then he said, "By which way should we attack?" Jehoshaphat answered, "By way of the wilderness of Edom."

⁹ So the king of Israel went with the king of Judah and the king of Edom. They wandered around for seven days, and then there was no water for the army or for the animals that went with them. ¹⁰ So the king of Israel said, "What is this? Has Yahweh called three kings to give them into the hand of Moab?"

¹¹ But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here a prophet of Yahweh, that we may consult Yahweh by him?" One of the king of Israel's servants answered and said, "Elisha son of Shaphat is here, who poured water on the hands of Elijah." ¹² Jehoshaphat said, "The word of Yahweh is with him." So the king of Israel, Jehoshaphat, and the king of Edom went down to him.

¹³ Elisha said to the king of Israel, "What have I to do with you? Go to the prophets of your father and mother." So the king of Israel said to him, "No, because Yahweh has called these three kings together to give them into the hand of Moab." ¹⁴ Elisha replied, "As Yahweh of hosts lives, before whom I stand, if I did not honor the presence of Jehoshaphat king of Judah, I would not pay any attention to you, or even look at you.

¹⁵ But now bring me a musician." Then it came to pass when the harpist played, the hand of Yahweh came upon Elisha. ¹⁶ He said, "Yahweh says this, 'Make this dry river valley full of trenches.' ¹⁷ For Yahweh says this, 'You will not see wind, neither will you see rain, but this river valley will be filled with water, and you will drink, you and your livestock and all your animals.'

¹⁸ This is an easy thing in the sight of Yahweh. He will also give you victory over the Moabites. ¹⁹ You will attack every fortified city and every good city, cut down every good tree, stop up all springs of water, and ruin every good piece of land with rocks."

²⁰ So in the morning about the time of offering the sacrifice, waters came from the direction of Edom, and the country was filled with water.

²¹ Now when all the Moabites heard that the kings had come to fight against them, they summoned everyone who was old enough to gird on armor and older, and they stood at the border. ²² They awakened early in the morning and the sun reflected on the water. When the Moabites saw the water opposite them, it looked as red as blood. ²³ They exclaimed, "This is blood! The kings have certainly been destroyed, and they have killed each other! So now, Moab, let us go plunder them!"

²⁴ When they came to the camp of Israel, Israel rose up and attacked the Moabites, who fled before them. The army of Israel drove the Moabites across the land, killing them. ²⁵ They destroyed the cities, and on every good piece of land every man threw a rock until it was covered up. They stopped up every spring of water and chopped down all the good trees. Only Kir Hareseth was left with its rocks in place. But the soldiers armed with slings surrounded and attacked it.

²⁶ When King Mesha of Moab saw that the battle was lost, he took with him seven hundred swordsmen to break through to the king of Edom, but they failed. ²⁷ Then he took his oldest son, who should have reigned after him, and offered him as a burnt offering upon the wall. So there was great anger against Israel, and the Israelite army left King Mesha and returned to their own land.

Chapter 4

¹ Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets came crying to Elisha, saying, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared Yahweh. Now the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves." ² So Elisha said to her, "What can I do for you? Tell me what do you have in the house?" She said, "Your servant has nothing in the house, except a pot of oil."

³ Then Elisha said, "Go out to borrow jars from your neighbors, empty jars. Borrow as many as possible. ⁴ Then you must go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons, and pour oil into all those jars; set aside the jars that are full."

⁵ So she left Elisha and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her, and she filled them with oil. ⁶ When the vessels were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another jar." But he said to her, "There are no more jars." Then the oil stopped flowing.

⁷ Then she came and told the man of God. He said, "Go, sell the oil; pay your debt, and live with your sons on the rest."

⁸ One day Elisha walked to Shunem where an important woman lived; she urged him to eat food with her. So as often as Elisha passed by, he would stop there to eat. ⁹ The woman said to her husband, "See now, I realize that this is a holy man of God who is always passing by.

¹⁰ Let us make a little room on the roof for Elisha, and let us put in it a bed, a table, a seat, and a lamp. Then when he comes to us, he will stay there." ¹¹ So when the day came again that Elisha stopped there, he stayed in the room and rested there.

¹² Elisha said to Gehazi his servant, "Call this Shunammite." When he had called her, she stood before him. ¹³ Elisha said to him, "Say to her, 'You have gone to all this trouble to care for us. What can be done for you? Can we speak for you to the king or to the army commander?'" She answered, "I live among my own people."

¹⁴ So Elisha said, "What can we do for her, then?" Gehazi answered, "Indeed, she has no son, and her husband is old." ¹⁵ So Elisha answered, "Call her." When he had called her, she stood in the door. ¹⁶ Elisha said, "At this time of year, in one year's time, you will be holding a son." She said, "No, my master and man of God, do not lie to your servant."

¹⁷ But the woman conceived and gave birth to a son at the same time in the following year, as Elisha had said to her. ¹⁸ When the child had grown, he went out one day to his father, who was with harvesters. ¹⁹ He said to his father, "My head, my head." His father said to his servant, "Carry him to his mother." ²⁰ When the servant had picked him up and brought the boy to his mother, the child sat on her knees until noon and then died.

²¹ So the woman got up and laid the boy on the bed of the man of God, shut the door, and went out. ²² She called to her husband, and said, "Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys so that I may hurry to the man of God and then come back."

²³ Her husband said, "Why do you want to go to him today? It is not a new moon nor a Sabbath." She replied, "It will be all right." ²⁴ Then she saddled a donkey and said to her servant, "Drive on quickly; do not slow down for me unless I say so."

²⁵ So she went and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.

So when the man of God saw her in the distance, he said to Gehazi his servant, "Look, here comes the Shunammite woman.

²⁶ Please run to meet her and say to her, 'Is everything alright with you and with your husband and child?'" She answered, "It is all right."

²⁷ When she came to the man of God at the mountain, she caught hold of his feet. Gehazi came near to push her away, but the man of God said, "Leave her alone, for she is very upset, and Yahweh has hidden the problem from me, and has told me nothing."

²⁸ Then she said, "Did I ask you for a son, my master? Did I not say, 'Do not deceive me'?" ²⁹ Then Elisha said to Gehazi, "Gird your loins and take my staff in your hand. Go to her home. If you meet any man, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer him. Lay my staff on the young man's face."

³⁰ But the mother of the young man said, "As Yahweh lives, and as you live, I will not leave you." So Elisha arose and followed her. ³¹ Gehazi hurried on ahead of them and laid the staff on the young man's face, but the young man did not speak or hear. So then Gehazi returned to meet Elisha and told him saying, "The young man has not awakened."

³² When Elisha arrived at the house, the young man was dead and was still on the bed. ³³ So Elisha went in and shut the door on the two of them and prayed to Yahweh. ³⁴ He went up and lay on the child; he put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands. He stretched himself out on the boy, and the boy's body grew warm.

³⁵ Then Elisha got up and walked around the room and again went up and stretched himself out on the boy. The child sneezed seven times and then opened his eyes! ³⁶ So Elisha called Gehazi and said, "Call the Shunammite!" So he called her, and when she came into the room, Elisha said, "Pick up your son." ³⁷ Then she lay facedown on the ground at his feet and bowed to the ground, and then picked up her son and went out.

³⁸ Then Elisha came again to Gilgal. There was famine in the land, and the sons of the prophets were sitting before him. He said to his servant, "Put the large pot on the fire and cook stew for the sons of the prophets." ³⁹ One of them went out into a field to gather vegetables. He found a wild vine and gathered enough wild gourds to fill the fold of his robe. They cut them up and put them into the stew, but did not know what kind they were.

⁴⁰ So they poured out the stew for the men to eat. Later, as they were eating, they cried out and said, "Man of God, there is death in the pot!" So they could not eat it anymore. ⁴¹ But Elisha said, "Bring some flour." He threw it into the pot and said, "Pour it out for the people, so that they may eat." Then there was no longer anything hurtful in the pot.

⁴² A man came from Baal Shalishah to the man of God and brought twenty loaves of barley bread in his sack from the firstfruits and fresh ears of grain. He said, "Give this to the people so they can eat." ⁴³ His servant said, "What, should I set this before a hundred men?" But Elisha said, "Give this to the people, so they can eat, because Yahweh says, 'They will eat and will have some left.'" ⁴⁴ So his servant set it before them; they ate, and left some remaining, just as the word of Yahweh promised.

Chapter 5

¹ Now Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Aram, was a great and honorable man in his master's view, because by him Yahweh had given victory to Aram. He was also a mighty warrior, but he was a leper. ² The Arameans had gone out in raiding parties and had captured a little girl from the land of Israel. She served Naaman's wife.

³ The girl said to her mistress, "I wish that my master were with the prophet who is in Samaria! Then he would heal my master of his leprosy." ⁴ So Naaman went in and told the king what the little girl from the land of Israel had said.

⁵ So the king of Aram said, "Go now, and I will send a letter to the king of Israel." Naaman left and took with him ten talents of silver, six thousand pieces of gold, and ten changes of clothes. ⁶ He also took the letter to the king of Israel that said, "Now when this letter is brought to you, you will see that I have sent Naaman my servant to you, so that you may cure him of his leprosy."

⁷ When the king of Israel had read the letter, he tore his clothes and said, "Am I God, to kill and to make alive, that this man wants me to cure a man of his leprosy? It seems he is seeking to start an argument with me."

⁸ So when Elisha the man of God heard that the king of Israel had torn his clothes, he sent word to the king saying, "Why have you torn your clothes? Let him come now to me, and he will know that there is a prophet in Israel." ⁹ So Naaman came with his horses and with his chariots and stood at the door of Elisha's house. ¹⁰ Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, "Go and dip yourself into the Jordan seven times, and your flesh will be restored; you will be clean."

¹¹ But Naaman was angry and went away and said, "Look, I thought he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of Yahweh his God, and wave his hand over the place and heal my leprosy. ¹² Are not Abanah and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than all the waters of Israel? Can I not bathe in them and be clean?" So he turned and went away in a rage.

¹³ Then Naaman's servants came near and spoke to him, "My father, if the prophet had commanded you do some difficult thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he says to you, 'Dip yourself and be clean'?" ¹⁴ Then he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan, obeying the instructions of the man of God. His flesh was restored again like the flesh of a little child, and he was healed.

¹⁵ Naaman returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came and stood before him. He said, "See now, I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So therefore, please take a gift from your servant." ¹⁶ But Elisha replied, "As Yahweh lives, before whom I stand, I will receive nothing." Naaman urged Elisha to take a gift, but he refused.

¹⁷ So Naaman said, "If not, then I ask you to let there be given to your servant two mule loads of earth, for from now on, your servant will offer neither burnt offering nor sacrifice to any god but Yahweh. ¹⁸ In this one thing may Yahweh pardon your servant, that is, when my king goes into the house of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my hand and I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, when I bow myself in the house of Rimmon, may Yahweh pardon your servant in this matter." ¹⁹ Elisha said to him, "Go in peace." So Naaman left.

²⁰ He had traveled only a short distance, when Gehazi the servant of Elisha the man of God said to himself, "Look, my master has spared this Naaman the Aramean by not receiving from his hands gifts that he brought. As Yahweh lives, I will run after him and receive something from him." ²¹ So Gehazi followed after Naaman. When Naaman saw someone running after him, he jumped down from his chariot to meet him and said, "Is everything all right?" ²² Gehazi said, "Everything is all right. My master has sent me, saying, 'See, now two young men of the sons of the prophets have come to me from the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two changes of clothes.'"

²³ Naaman replied, "I am very happy to give you two talents." Naaman urged Gehazi and tied two talents of silver in two bags, with two changes of clothes, and laid them on two of his servants, who carried the bags of silver before Gehazi. ²⁴ When Gehazi came to the hill, he took the bags of silver from their hands and hid them in the house; he sent the men away, and they left. ²⁵ When Gehazi went in and stood before his master, Elisha said to him, "Where have you come from, Gehazi?" He answered, "Your servant went nowhere."

²⁶ Elisha said to Gehazi, "Was not my spirit with you when the man turned his chariot to meet you? Is this a time to accept money and clothes, olive orchards and vineyards, sheep and oxen, and male servants and female servants? ²⁷ So the leprosy of Naaman will be on you and your descendants forever." So Gehazi went out from his presence, a leper as white as snow.

Chapter 6

¹ The sons of the prophets said to Elisha, "See now, the place where we live with you is too small for us all. ² Please let us go to the Jordan, and let every man cut down a tree there, and let us build us a place there where we may live." Elisha answered, "You may go ahead." ³ One of them said, "Please go with your servants." Elisha answered, "I will go."

⁴ So he went with them, and when they came to the Jordan, they began to cut down trees. ⁵ But as one was chopping, the ax head fell into the water; he cried out and said, "Oh no, my master, it was borrowed!"

⁶ So the man of God said, "Where did it fall?" The man showed Elisha the place. He then cut off a stick, threw it in the water, and made the iron float. ⁷ Elisha said, "Pick it up." So the man reached out his hand and grabbed it.

⁸ Now the king of Aram was waging war against Israel. He consulted with his servants, saying, "My camp will be in such and such a place." ⁹ So the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, "Be careful not to pass that place, for the Arameans are going down there."

¹⁰ The king of Israel sent a message to the place about which the man of God had spoken and warned him. More than once or twice, when the king went there, he was on his guard. ¹¹ The king of Aram was enraged about these warnings, and he called his servants and said to them, "Will you not tell me who among us is for the king of Israel?"

¹² So one of his servants said, "No, my master, king, for Elisha the prophet in Israel tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your own bedroom!" ¹³ The king replied, "Go and see where Elisha is so I may send men and capture him." It was told him, "See, he is in Dothan."

¹⁴ So the king sent to Dothan horses, chariots, and a large army. They came by night and surrounded the city. ¹⁵ When the servant of the man of God had risen early and gone outside, behold, a large army with horses and chariots surrounded the city. His servant said to him, "Oh, my master! What will we do?" ¹⁶ Elisha answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them."

¹⁷ Elisha prayed and said, "Yahweh, I beg that you will open his eyes that he may see." Then Yahweh opened the servant's eyes, and he saw. Behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire around Elisha! ¹⁸ When the Arameans came down to him, Elisha prayed to Yahweh and said, "Strike these people blind, I ask you." So Yahweh made them blind, just as Elisha had asked. ¹⁹ Then Elisha told the Arameans, "This is not the way, neither is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you are looking for." Then he led them to Samaria.

²⁰ It came about that when they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, "Yahweh, open the eyes of these men that they may see." Yahweh opened their eyes and they saw, and behold, they were in the middle of the city of Samaria. ²¹ The king of Israel said to Elisha, when he saw them, "My father, should I kill them? Should I kill them?"

²² Elisha answered, "You must not kill them. Would you kill those whom you had taken captive with your sword and bow? Put bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink, and go to their master." ²³ So the king prepared much food for them, and when they had eaten and drunk, he sent them away, and they went back to their master. Those bands of Aramean soldiers did not return for a long time into the land of Israel.

²⁴ Later after this Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered all his army and attacked Samaria and besieged it. ²⁵ So there was a great famine in Samaria. Behold, they besieged it until a donkey's head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove's dung for five pieces of silver. ²⁶ As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, saying, "Help, my master, king."

²⁷ He said, "If Yahweh does not help you, how can I help you? Is there anything coming from the threshing floor or winepress?" ²⁸ The king continued, "What is troubling you?" She answered, "This woman said to me, 'Give your son so that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.'" ²⁹ So we boiled my son and ate him, and I said to her on the next day, "Give your son that we may eat him, but she has hidden her son."

³⁰ So when the king heard the words of the woman, he tore his clothes (now he was passing by on the wall), and the people looked and saw that he had sackcloth underneath, against his skin. ³¹ Then he said, "May God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha son of Shaphat remains on him today."

³² But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a man from before him, but when the messenger came to Elisha, he said to the elders, "See how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold the door shut against him. Is not the sound of his master's feet behind him?" ³³ While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him. The king had said, "Behold, this trouble comes from Yahweh. Why should I wait for Yahweh any longer?"

Chapter 7

¹ Elisha said, "Hear the word of Yahweh. This is what Yahweh says: 'Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.'" ² Then the officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, "See, even if Yahweh should make windows in heaven, can this thing happen?" Elisha replied, "See, you will watch it happen with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it."

³ Now there were four men with leprosy right outside the city gate. They said one to another, "Why should we sit here until we die? ⁴ If we say that we should go into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we will die there. But if we still sit here, we will still die. Now then, come, let us go to the army of the Arameans. If they keep us alive, we will live, and if they kill us, we will only die."

⁵ So they rose up at twilight to go into the Aramean camp; when they arrived at the outermost part of the camp, there was no one there. ⁶ For the Lord had made the Aramean army hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses—the noise of another large army, and they said to each other, "The king of Israel has hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to come against us."

⁷ So the soldiers arose and fled in the twilight; they left their tents, their horses, their donkeys, and the camp as it was, and fled for their lives. ⁸ When the men with leprosy came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried away silver and gold and clothes, and went and hid them. They came back and entered into another tent and carried plunder away from there also, and went and hid it.

⁹ Then they said to each other, "We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, but we are keeping quiet about it. If we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now then, come, let us go and tell the king's household." ¹⁰ So they went and called the gatekeepers of the city. They told them, saying, "We went to the camp of the Arameans, but there was no one there, not the sound of anyone, but there were the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were." ¹¹ Then the gatekeepers shouted out the news, and then it was told inside the king's household.

¹² Then the king arose at night and said to his servants, "I will tell you now what the Arameans have done to us. They know that we are hungry, so they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the fields. They are saying, 'When they come out of the city, we will take them alive, and get into the city.'" ¹³ One of the king's servants answered and said, "I beg you, let some men take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. They are like all the rest of the population of Israel who are left—most are now dead; let us send them and see."

¹⁴ So they took two chariots with horses, and the king sent them after the army of the Arameans, saying, "Go and see." ¹⁵ They went after them to the Jordan, and all the road was full of clothes and equipment that the Arameans had cast away in their hurry. So the messengers returned and told the king.

¹⁶ The people went out and plundered the camp of the Arameans. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, just as the word of Yahweh had said. ¹⁷ The king had ordered the officer on whose hand he had leaned to be in charge of the gate, and the people trampled him down in the gateway. He died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king had come down to him.

¹⁸ So it happened as the man of God had said to the king, saying, "About this time in the gate of Samaria, two measures of barley will be available for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel." ¹⁹ That officer had answered the man of God and said, "See, even if Yahweh should make windows in heaven, can this thing happen?" Elisha had said, "See, you will watch it happen with your own eyes, but you will not eat any of it." ²⁰ That is exactly what happened to him, for the people trampled him in the gate, and he died.

Chapter 8

¹ Now Elisha had spoken to the woman whose son he had restored to life. He said to her, "Arise, and go with your household, and stay wherever you can in another land, because Yahweh has called for a famine which will come on this land for seven years." ² So the woman arose and she obeyed the word of the man of God. She went with her household and lived in the land of the Philistines seven years.

³ It came about at the end of seven years that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines, and she went to the king to cry to him for her house and for her land. ⁴ Now the king was talking with Gehazi the servant of the man of God, saying, "Please tell me all the great things that Elisha has done."

⁵ Then as he was telling the king how Elisha had restored to life the child who was dead, the very woman whose son he had restored to life came to cry to the king for her house and for her land. Gehazi said, "My master, king, this is the woman, and this is her son, whom Elisha restored to life." ⁶ When the king asked the woman about her son, she explained it to him. So the king ordered a certain officer for her, saying, "Give back to her all that was hers and all the harvests of her fields since the day that she left the land until now."

⁷ Elisha came to Damascus where Ben-Hadad the king of Aram was sick. The king was told, "The man of God has come here." ⁸ The king said to Hazael, "Take a gift in your hand and go meet the man of God, and consult with Yahweh through him, saying, 'Will I revive from this sickness?'" ⁹ So Hazael went to meet him and took a gift with him of every kind of good thing of Damascus, carried by forty camels. So Hazael came and stood before Elisha and said, "Your son Ben-Hadad king of Aram has sent me to you, saying, 'Will I revive from this sickness?'"

¹⁰ Elisha said to him, "Go, say to Ben-Hadad, 'You will surely revive,' but Yahweh has shown me that he will surely die." ¹¹ Then Elisha stared at Hazael until he was ashamed, and the man of God wept. ¹² Hazael asked, "Why do you weep, my master?" He answered, "Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set their strongholds on fire, and you will kill their young men with the sword, dash in pieces their little ones, and rip open their pregnant women."

¹³ Hazael replied, "Who is your servant, that he should do this great thing? He is only a dog." Elisha answered, "Yahweh has shown me that you will be king over Aram." ¹⁴ Then Hazael left Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, "What did Elisha say to you?" He answered, "He told me that you would certainly revive." ¹⁵ Then the next day Hazael took the blanket and dipped it in water, and spread it on Ben-Hadad's face so that he died. Then Hazael became king in his place.

¹⁶ In the fifth year of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel, Jehoram began to reign. He was the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah. He began to reign when Jehoshaphat was king of Judah. ¹⁷ Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem.

¹⁸ Jehoram walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab was doing; for he had Ahab's daughter as his wife, and he did what was evil in Yahweh's sight. ¹⁹ However, because of his servant David, Yahweh did not want to destroy Judah, since he had told David that he would always give him a lamp for his descendants.

²⁰ In Jehoram's days, Edom rebelled against the hand of Judah, and they set a king over themselves. ²¹ Then Jehoram crossed over to Zair with all his chariots. When the Edomites surrounded Jehoram, his chariot commanders rose up and attacked them during the night; but Jehoram's army ran away and went back to their tents.

²² So Edom has been in rebellion against the rule of Judah to this present day. Libnah also revolted at the same time. ²³ As for the other matters concerning Jehoram, all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? ²⁴ Jehoram lay down with his fathers and was buried with them in the city of David. Then Ahaziah his son became king in his place.

²⁵ In the twelfth year of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel, Ahaziah son of Jehoram, king of Judah, began to reign. ²⁶ Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah; she was the daughter of Omri, king of Israel. ²⁷ Ahaziah walked in the ways of the house of Ahab; he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as the house of Ahab was doing, for Ahaziah was a son-in-law to the house of Ahab.

²⁸ Ahaziah went with Joram son of Ahab, to fight against Hazael, king of Aram, at Ramoth Gilead. The Arameans wounded Joram. ²⁹ King Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that the Arameans had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Aram. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to Jezreel to see Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded.

Chapter 9

¹ Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets and said to him, "Gird your loins, then take this little bottle of oil in your hand and go to Ramoth Gilead. ² When you arrive, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi, and go in and make him arise up from among his companions, and conduct him to an inner chamber. ³ Then take the bottle of oil and pour it on his head and say, 'Yahweh says this: "I have anointed you king over Israel."' Then open the door, and run off; do not delay."

⁴ So the young man, the young prophet, went to Ramoth Gilead. ⁵ When he arrived, behold, the captains of the army were sitting. So the young prophet said, "I have come on an errand to you, captain." Jehu replied, "To which of us?" The young prophet answered, "To you, captain." ⁶ So Jehu arose and went into the house, and the prophet poured the oil on his head and said to Jehu, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this: 'I have anointed you king over the people of Yahweh, over Israel.

⁷ You must kill the family of Ahab your master so that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the servants of Yahweh who were murdered by the hand of Jezebel. ⁸ For the whole family of Ahab will perish, and I will cut off from Ahab every male child in Israel, whether he is a slave or a free person.

⁹ I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah. ¹⁰ The dogs will eat Jezebel in Jezreel, and there will be no one to bury her.'" Then the prophet opened the door and ran off.

¹¹ Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, "Is everything all right? Why did this mad fellow come to you?" Jehu answered them, "You know the man and the kinds of things he says." ¹² They said, "That is a lie. Tell us." Jehu answered, "He said this and that to me, and he also said, 'This is what Yahweh says: I have anointed you as king over Israel.'" ¹³ Then each of them quickly took off his outer garment and put it under Jehu at the top of the steps. They blew the ram's horn and said, "Jehu is king."

¹⁴ In this way Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. Now Joram had been defending Ramoth Gilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Aram, ¹⁵ but King Joram had gone back to Jezreel to be healed of the wounds that the Arameans had given him, when he had fought against Hazael king of Aram.

Jehu said to the servants of Joram, "If this is your opinion, then let no one escape and go out of the city, in order to go tell this news in Jezreel."

¹⁶ So Jehu rode in a chariot to Jezreel; for Joram was resting there. Now Ahaziah king of Judah had come down to see Joram.

¹⁷ The watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel, and he saw the company of Jehu as he came at a distance; he said, "I see a group of men coming." Joram said, "Take a horseman, and send him out to meet them; tell him to say, 'Are you coming in peace?'" ¹⁸ So a man was sent on horseback to meet him; he said, "The king says this: 'Are you coming in peace?'" So Jehu said, "What have you to do with peace? Turn and ride behind me." Then the watchman told the king, "The messenger has met them, but he is not coming back."

¹⁹ Then he sent out a second man on horseback, who came to them and said, "The king says this: 'Are you coming in peace?'" Jehu answered, "What have you to do with peace? Turn and ride behind me." ²⁰ Again the watchman reported, "He has met them, but he is not coming back. For the way that the chariot is being driven is the way that Jehu son of Nimshi drives; he is driving wildly."

²¹ So Joram said, "Get my chariot ready." They prepared his chariot, and Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah rode out, each in his chariot, to meet Jehu. They found him at the property of Naboth the Jezreelite. ²² When Joram saw Jehu, he said, "Are you coming in peace, Jehu?" He answered, "What peace is there, when the idolatrous acts of prostitution and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel are so many?"

²³ So Joram turned his chariot and fled and said to Ahaziah, "There is treachery, Ahaziah." ²⁴ Then Jehu drew his bow with his full strength and shot Joram between his shoulders; the arrow went through his heart, and he sank down in his chariot.

²⁵ Then Jehu said to Bidkar his officer, "Pick him up and throw him in the field of Naboth the Jezreelite. Think about how when you and I rode together after Ahab his father, Yahweh placed this prophecy against him: ²⁶ 'Yesterday I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons—this is Yahweh's declaration—and I will surely make you pay for it on this field—this is Yahweh's declaration. Now then, pick him up and throw him on this field, according to the word of Yahweh."

²⁷ When Ahaziah the king of Judah saw this, he fled up the road to Beth Haggan. But Jehu followed him, and said, "Kill him also in the chariot," and they shot him at the ascent of Gur, which is by Ibleam. Ahaziah fled to Megiddo and died there. ²⁸ His servants carried his body in a chariot to Jerusalem and buried him in his tomb with his fathers in the city of David.

²⁹ Now it was in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab that Ahaziah had begun to reign over Judah.

³⁰ When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it, and she painted her eyes, arranged her hair, and looked out the window. ³¹ As Jehu was entering the gate, she said to him, "Are you coming in peace, you Zimri, your master's murderer?" ³² Jehu looked up at the window and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" Then two or three eunuchs looked out.

³³ So Jehu said, "Throw her down." So they threw Jezebel down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and the horses, and Jehu trampled her underfoot. ³⁴ When Jehu entered the palace, he ate and drank. Then he said, "See now to this cursed woman and bury her, for she is a king's daughter."

³⁵ They went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull, the feet, and the palms of her hands. ³⁶ So they came back and told Jehu. He said, "This is the word of Yahweh which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'In the land at Jezreel the dogs will eat the flesh of Jezebel, ³⁷ and the body of Jezebel will be like dung on the surface of the fields in the land at Jezreel, so that no one will be able to say, "This is Jezebel."'"

Chapter 10

¹ Now Ahab had seventy descendants in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, including the elders and the guardians of Ahab's descendants, saying, ² "Your master's descendants are with you, and you also have chariots and horses and a fortified city and armor. So then, as soon as this letter comes to you, ³ select the best and most deserving of your master's descendants and set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's royal line."

⁴ But they were terrified and said among themselves, "See, the two kings could not stand before Jehu. So how can we stand?" ⁵ Then the man who was in charge of the palace, and the man who was over the city, and the elders also, and they who raised the children, sent word back to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants. We will do everything that you command us. We will not make any man king. Do what is good in your eyes."

⁶ Then Jehu wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, "If you are on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, you must take the heads of the men of your master's descendants, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time." Now the king's descendants, seventy in number, were with the important men of the city, who were bringing them up. ⁷ So when the letter came to them, they took the king's sons and killed them, seventy persons, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jehu in Jezreel.

⁸ A messenger came to Jehu, saying, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons." So he said, "Put them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning." ⁹ In the morning Jehu went out and stood, and said to all the people, "You are innocent. See, I plotted against my master and killed him, but who killed all these?

¹⁰ Now you should certainly realize that no part of Yahweh's word, the word that he spoke concerning the family of Ahab, will fall to the ground, for Yahweh has done what he spoke about through his servant Elijah." ¹¹ So Jehu killed all who remained in the family of Ahab in Jezreel, and all his important men, his close friends, and his priests, until no survivor remained to him.

¹² Then Jehu arose and left; he went to Samaria. As he was arriving at Beth Eked of the Shepherds, ¹³ he met brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah. Jehu said to them, "Who are you?" They answered, "We are brothers of Ahaziah, and we are going down to greet the children of the king and the children of Queen Jezebel." ¹⁴ Jehu said to his own men, "Take them alive." So they took them alive and killed them at the well of Beth Eked, all forty-two men. He did not leave any of them alive.

¹⁵ When Jehu had left there, he met Jehonadab son of Rekab coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him and said to him, "Is your heart with me, as my heart is with yours?" Jehonadab answered, "It is." Jehu said, "If it is, give me your hand." So he gave Jehu his hand, and Jehu took Jehonadab up with him into the chariot. ¹⁶ Jehu said, "Come with me and see my zeal for Yahweh." So he had Jehonadab ride along with him in his chariot. ¹⁷ When he came to Samaria, Jehu killed all who remained from Ahab's descendants in Samaria, until he had destroyed Ahab's royal line, just as was told them before by the word of Yahweh, which he had spoken to Elijah.

¹⁸ Then Jehu gathered all the people together and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little, but Jehu will serve him much. ¹⁹ Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers, and all his priests. Let no one be left out, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever does not come will not live." But Jehu did this deceitfully, with the intent to kill the worshipers of Baal. ²⁰ Jehu said, "Announce that there will be an assembly for Baal." So they announced it.

²¹ Then Jehu sent throughout all Israel and all the worshipers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left who did not come. They came into the temple of Baal, and it was filled from one end to another. ²² Jehu said to the man who kept the priest's wardrobe, "Bring out robes for all the worshipers of Baal." So the man brought out robes to them.

²³ So Jehu went with Jehonadab son of Rekab into the house of Baal, and he said to the worshipers of Baal, "Search and make sure that there is no one here with you from the servants of Yahweh, but the worshipers of Baal alone." ²⁴ Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had chosen eighty men who were standing outside, and he told them, "If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escapes, whoever lets that man escape, his life will be taken for the life of the one who escaped."

²⁵ So then as soon as Jehu finished offering the burnt offering, he said to his bodyguards and to the officers, "Go in and kill them. Let no one come out." So they killed them with the edge of the sword, and the bodyguards and the officers threw them out and went into the inner room of the house of Baal. ²⁶ They dragged out the stone pillars that were in the house of Baal, and they burned them. ²⁷ Then they broke down the pillar of Baal, and destroyed the house of Baal and made it a latrine, which it is to this day. ²⁸ That is how Jehu destroyed Baal worship from Israel.

²⁹ But Jehu did not leave the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he made Israel sin—that is, the worship of the golden calves in Bethel and Dan. ³⁰ So Yahweh said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in executing what was right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation." ³¹ But Jehu took no care to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam, by which he made Israel sin.

³² In those days Yahweh began to cut off regions from Israel, and Hazael defeated the Israelites at the borders of Israel, ³³ from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the Valley of the Arnon, through Gilead to Bashan.

³⁴ As for the other matters concerning Jehu, and all that he did, and all his power, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel? ³⁵ Jehu lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Jehoahaz his son became king in his place. ³⁶ The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

Chapter 11

¹ Now when Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she arose and killed all the royal children. ² But Jehosheba, a daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and hid him away from among the king's sons who were killed, along with his nurse; she put them into a bedroom. They hid him from Athaliah so that he was not killed. ³ He remained with her six years, hidden in the house of Yahweh, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

⁴ In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent messages and brought the commanders of hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to himself, into the temple of Yahweh. He made a covenant with them, and he made them swear an oath in the house of Yahweh. Then he showed them the king's son. ⁵ He commanded them, saying, "This is what you must do. A third of you who come on the Sabbath will keep watch over the king's house, ⁶ and a third will be at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guardhouse. You shall guard the guardhouse of the temple."

⁷ The two other groups who are not serving on the Sabbath, you must keep the watch over the house of Yahweh for the king. ⁸ You must surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand. Whoever enters within your ranks, let him be killed. You must stay with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in.

⁹ So the commanders of hundreds obeyed everything Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one took his men, those who were to come in to serve on the Sabbath, and those who were to stop serving on that Sabbath; and they came to Jehoiada the priest. ¹⁰ Then Jehoiada the priest gave the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields that belonged to King David and that were in the house of Yahweh.

¹¹ So the guards stood, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side, near the altar and the temple, surrounding the king. ¹² Then Jehoiada brought out the king's son Joash, put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant decrees. Then they made him king and anointed him. They clapped their hands and said, "Long live the king!"

¹³ When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people in the house of Yahweh. ¹⁴ She looked, and, behold, the king was standing by the pillar, as the custom was, and the captains and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and shouted, "Treason! Treason!"

¹⁵ Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds who were over the army, saying, "Bring her out between the ranks. Anyone who follows her, kill him with the sword." For the priest had said, "Do not let her be killed in the house of Yahweh." ¹⁶ So they seized her as she reached the horses' entrance to the king's house, and there she was killed.

¹⁷ Then Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and people, that they should be Yahweh's people, and also between the king and the people. ¹⁸ So all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down. They smashed Baal's altars and his idol figures to pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of those altars. Then Jehoida the priest appointed guards over the temple of Yahweh.

¹⁹ Jehoida took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guard, and all the people of the land, and together they brought down the king from the house of Yahweh and they went into the king's house, entering by way of the gate of the guards. Joash took his place on the royal throne. ²⁰ So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been killed with the sword at the king's house.

²¹ Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.

Chapter 12

¹ In the seventh year of Jehu, the reign of Joash began; he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah, of Beersheba. ² Joash did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh all the time, because Jehoiada the priest was instructing him. ³ But the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

⁴ Joash said to the priests, "All the money that is brought in as sacred offerings into the house of Yahweh, that money for which each person is assessed—whether it is the money collected in the census, or the money received from personal vows, or the money brought in by people motivated by Yahweh in their hearts to give— ⁵ the priests should receive the money from one of their treasurers and repair whatever damage is found in the temple."

⁶ But by the twenty-third year of King Joash, the priests had not repaired anything in the temple. ⁷ Then King Joash called for Jehoiada the priest and for the other priests; he said to them, "Why have you not repaired anything in the temple? Now take no more money from your taxpayers, but take what has been collected for repairs of the temple and give it to those who can make the repairs." ⁸ So the priests consented to take no more money from the people and not repair the temple themselves.

⁹ Then, Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of Yahweh. The priests who were guarding the temple entrance put into it all the money that was brought to the house of Yahweh. ¹⁰ Whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king's scribe and the high priest would come and put the money in bags and then count it, the money found in the temple of Yahweh.

¹¹ They gave the money that was weighed out into the hands of men who took care of the temple of Yahweh. They paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the temple of Yahweh, ¹² and to the masons and the stonecutters, for buying timber and cutting stone to repair the temple of Yahweh, and for all that was needed to be paid to repair it.

¹³ But the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh did not pay to make for it any silver cups, lamp trimmers, basins, trumpets, or any gold or silver furnishing. ¹⁴ They gave this money to those who did the work of repairing the house of Yahweh.

¹⁵ In addition, they did not require the money paid for repairs to be accounted for by the men who received it and paid it to the workmen, because these men practiced faithfulness. ¹⁶ But the money for the guilt offerings and the money for the sin offerings was not brought into the temple of Yahweh, because it belonged to the priests.

¹⁷ Then Hazael king of Aram attacked and fought against Gath, and took it. Hazael then turned to attack Jerusalem. ¹⁸ Joash king of Judah took all the things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had set apart, and what he had set apart, and all the gold that was found in the storerooms of the houses of Yahweh and of the king and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram. Then Hazael went away from Jerusalem.

¹⁹ As for the other matters concerning Joash, all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? ²⁰ His servants arose and plotted together; they attacked Joash in Beth Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla. ²¹ Jozabad ¹ son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad son of Shomer, his servants, attacked him, and he died. They buried Joash with his ancestors in the city of David, and Amaziah, his son, became king in his place.

¹Some ancient copies have Jozacar .

Chapter 13

¹ In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned seventeen years. ² He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh and followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who caused Israel to sin; and Jehoahaz did not turn away from them.

³ The anger of Yahweh burned against Israel, and he gave them continually into the hand of Hazael king of Aram and into the hand of Ben-Hadad son of Hazael. ⁴ So Jehoahaz implored Yahweh, and Yahweh listened to him because he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Aram was oppressing them. ⁵ So Yahweh gave Israel a rescuer, and they escaped from the hand of the Arameans, and the people of Israel began to live in their tents as they had before.

⁶ Nevertheless, they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who caused Israel to sin, and they continued in them; and the Asherah pole remained in Samaria. ⁷ The Arameans left Jehoahaz with only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand footmen, for the king of Aram had destroyed them and made them like the chaff at threshing time.

⁸ As for the other matters concerning Jehoahaz, and all that he did and his power, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel? ⁹ So Jehoahaz lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoash his son became king in his place.

¹⁰ In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, the reign of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz began over Israel in Samaria; he reigned sixteen years. ¹¹ He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. He did not leave behind any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he had made Israel to sin, but he walked in them.

¹² As for the other matters concerning Jehoash, and all that he did, and his might by which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel? ¹³ Jehoash lay down with his ancestors, and Jeroboam sat on his throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

¹⁴ Now Elisha became sick with an illness by which he later died, so Jehoash the king of Israel came down to him and wept over him. He said, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and the horsemen are taking you away!" ¹⁵ Elisha said to him, "Pick up a bow and some arrows," so Joash picked up a bow and some arrows. ¹⁶ Elisha said to the king of Israel, "Put your hand on the bow," so he put his hand on it. Then Elisha laid his hands on the king's hands.

¹⁷ Elisha said, "Open the window eastward," so he opened it. Then Elisha said, "Shoot!", and he shot. Elisha said, "This is Yahweh's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram, for you will attack the Arameans in Aphek until you have consumed them." ¹⁸ Then Elisha said, "Take the arrows," so Joash took them. He said to the king of Israel, "Strike the ground with them," and he struck the ground three times, then stopped. ¹⁹ But the man of God was angry with him and said, "You should have hit the ground five or six times. Then you would have attacked Aram until you annihilated it, but now you will attack Aram only three times."

²⁰ Then Elisha died, and they buried him. Now marauding bands of Moabites invaded the land at the beginning of the year. ²¹ As they were burying a certain man, they saw a marauding band of Moabites, so they threw the body into Elisha's grave. As soon as the man touched Elisha's bones, he revived and stood up on his feet.

²² Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. ²³ But Yahweh was gracious to Israel, and had compassion on them and concern for them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. So Yahweh did not destroy them, and he still has not driven them away from his presence.

²⁴ Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad his son became king in his place. ²⁵ Jehoash son of Jehoahaz took back from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the cities that had been taken from Jehoahaz his father by war. Jehoash attacked him three times, and he recovered those cities of Israel.

Chapter 14

¹ In the second year of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash, king of Judah, began to reign. ² He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem. ³ He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, yet not like David his father. He did everything that Joash, his father, had done.

⁴ But the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. ⁵ It came about that as soon as his rule was well established, he killed the servants who had murdered his father, the king.

⁶ Yet he did not put to death the sons of the murderers, according to what was written in the book of the law of Moses, as Yahweh had commanded, saying, "Fathers must not be put to death because of their children, neither must the children be put to death because of their fathers. But each one must die for his own sin." ⁷ He killed ten thousand soldiers of Edom in the Valley of Salt; he also took Sela in war and called it Joktheel, which is what it is called to this day.

⁸ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us meet each other face to face in battle." ⁹ But Jehoash the king of Israel sent messengers back to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "A thistle that was in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife,' but a wild beast in Lebanon walked by and trampled down the thistle. ¹⁰ You have indeed attacked Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Take pride in your victory, but stay at home, for why should you cause yourself trouble and fall, both you and Judah with you?"

¹¹ But Amaziah would not listen. So Jehoash king of Israel attacked and he and Amaziah king of Judah met each other face to face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. ¹² Judah was defeated by Israel, and every man fled to his tent.

¹³ Jehoash king of Israel, captured Amaziah, king of Judah son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. He came to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits in distance. ¹⁴ He took all the gold and silver, all the objects that were found in the house of Yahweh, and the valuable things in the king's palace, with hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

¹⁵ As for the other matters concerning Jehoash, all that he did, his power, and how he fought with Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel? ¹⁶ Then Jehoash lay down with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel, and Jeroboam, his son, became king in his place.

¹⁷ Amaziah son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. ¹⁸ As for the other matters concerning Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? ¹⁹ They made a conspiracy against Amaziah in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. He fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there.

²⁰ They brought him back on horses, and he was buried with his ancestors in Jerusalem in the city of David. ²¹ All the people of Judah took Azariah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. ²² It was Azariah who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah, after King Amaziah lay down with his ancestors.

²³ In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria; he reigned forty-one years. ²⁴ He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. He did not depart from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin. ²⁵ He restored the border of Israel from Lebo Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, following the commands of the word of Yahweh, the God of Israel, which he had spoken through his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet, who was from Gath Hepher.

²⁶ For Yahweh saw the suffering of Israel, that it was very bitter for everyone, both slave and free, and that there was no rescuer for Israel. ²⁷ But Yahweh had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he delivered them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

²⁸ As for the other matters concerning Jeroboam, all that he did, his power, how he waged war and recovered Damascus and Hamath, which had belonged to Judah, for Israel, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel? ²⁹ Jeroboam lay down with his ancestors, with the kings of Israel, and Zechariah his son became king in his place.

Chapter 15

¹ In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. ² Azariah was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jekoliah, and she was from Jerusalem. ³ He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as his father Amaziah had done.

⁴ However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. ⁵ Yahweh afflicted the king so that he was a leper to the day of his death and lived in a separate house. Jotham, the king's son, was over the household and ruled the people of the land.

⁶ As for the other matters concerning Azariah, all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? ⁷ So Azariah lay down with his ancestors; they buried him with his ancestors in the city of David. Jotham, his son, became king in his place.

⁸ In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam reigned over Israel in Samaria for six months. ⁹ He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as his fathers had done. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.

¹⁰ Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, attacked him in Ibleam, and put him to death. Then he became king in his place. ¹¹ As for the other matters concerning Zechariah, they are written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel. ¹² This was the word of Yahweh that he spoke to Jehu, saying, "Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation." That is what happened.

¹³ Shallum son of Jabesh began to reign in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned only one month in Samaria. ¹⁴ Menahem son of Gadi went up from Tirzah to Samaria. There he attacked Shallum son of Jabesh, in Samaria. He put him to death and became king in his place.

¹⁵ As for the other matters concerning Shallum and the conspiracy that he formed, they are written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel. ¹⁶ Then Menahem attacked Tiphsah and all who were there, and the borders around Tirzah, because they did not open up the city to him. So he attacked it, and he ripped open all the pregnant women in that village. ¹

¹⁷ In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi began to reign over Israel; he reigned ten years in Samaria. ¹⁸ He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. For his whole life, he did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.

¹⁹ Then Pul the king of Assyria came against the land, and Menahem gave Pul one thousand talents of silver, so that Pul's support might be with him to strengthen the kingdom of Israel in his hand. ²⁰ Menahem exacted this money from Israel by requiring each of the wealthy, powerful men to pay fifty shekels of silver to him to give to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria turned back and did not stay there in the land.

²¹ As for the other matters concerning Menahem, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel? ²² So Menahem lay down with his ancestors, and Pekahiah his son became king in his place.

²³ In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned two years. ²⁴ He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. He did not leave behind the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, by which he had caused Israel to sin.

²⁵ Pekahiah had an officer named Pekah son of Remaliah, who conspired against him. Along with fifty men of Gilead, Pekah killed Pekahiah as well as Argob and Arieh in Samaria, in the citadel of the king's palace. Pekah killed Pekahiah and became king in his place. ²⁶ As for the other matters concerning Pekahiah, all that he did, they are written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel.

²⁷ In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah son of Remaliah began to reign over Israel in Samaria; he reigned twenty years. ²⁸ He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. He did not depart from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, who had caused Israel to sin.

²⁹ In the days of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria came and took Ijon, Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh, Hazor, Gilead, Galilee, and all the land of Naphtali. He carried away the people to Assyria. ³⁰ So Hoshea son of Elah formed a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked him and put him to death. Then he became king in his place, in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah. ³¹ As for the other matters concerning Pekah, all that he did, they are written in the book of the events of the kings of Israel.

³² In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah began to reign. ³³ He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah; she was the daughter of Zadok.

³⁴ Jotham did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as his father Uzziah had done. ³⁵ However, the high places were not taken away. The people still sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. Jotham built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh. ³⁶ As for the other matters concerning Jotham, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah?

³⁷ In those days Yahweh began to send against Judah Rezin the king of Aram, and Pekah son of Remaliah. ³⁸ Jotham lay down with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David, his ancestor. Then Ahaz, his son, became king in his place.

¹Instead of Tiphsah , one ancient translation and some modern translations read Tappuah .

Chapter 16

¹ In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz son of Jotham king of Judah, began to reign. ² Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of Yahweh his God, as David his ancestor had done.

³ Instead, he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even made his son pass through the fire, following the detestable practices of the nations whom Yahweh had driven out before the people of Israel. ⁴ He offered sacrifices and burned incense at the high places, on the hilltops, and under every green tree.

⁵ Then Rezin, king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem to attack. They besieged Ahaz, but they could not conquer him. ⁶ At that time, Rezin king of Aram recovered Elath for Aram and drove the Jews out of Elath. Then the Arameans came to Elath, where they have lived to this day.

⁷ So Ahaz sent messengers to Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria, saying, "I am your servant and your son. Come up and save me from the hand of the king of Aram and from the hand of the king of Israel, who have attacked me." ⁸ So Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of Yahweh and among the treasures of the king's palace and he sent it as a gift to the king of Assyria. ⁹ Then the king of Assyria listened to him, and the king of Assyria went up against Damascus, conquered it and carried off its people as prisoners to Kir. He also killed Rezin the king of Aram.

¹⁰ King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. At Damascus he saw an altar. He sent to Uriah the priest a model of the altar and its pattern and the design for all the workmanship needed. ¹¹ So Uriah the priest built an altar to be just like the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus. He finished it before King Ahaz arrived back from Damascus. ¹² When the king came from Damascus he saw the altar; the king approached the altar and made offerings on it.

¹³ He made his burnt offering and his grain offering, poured out his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his fellowship offerings on the altar. ¹⁴ The bronze altar that was before Yahweh—he brought it from the front of the temple, from between his altar and the temple of Yahweh and put it on the north side of his altar.

¹⁵ Then King Ahaz commanded Uriah the priest, saying, "On the large altar burn the morning burnt offering and the evening grain offering, and the king's burnt offering and his grain offering, with the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offerings. Sprinkle on it all the blood of the burnt offering, and all the blood of the sacrifice. But the bronze altar will be for me to consult for guidance." ¹⁶ Uriah the priest did just what King Ahaz commanded.

¹⁷ Then King Ahaz removed the panels and the basins from the portable stands; he also took down the sea from off the bronze oxen that were under it and put it on a stone pavement. ¹⁸ He removed the covered walkway for the Sabbath that they had built at the temple, along with the king's entry outside the temple of Yahweh, because of the king of Assyria.

¹⁹ As for the other matters concerning Ahaz and what he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? ²⁰ Ahaz lay down with his ancestors and was buried with his ancestors in the city of David. Hezekiah his son became king in his place.

Chapter 17

¹ In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, the reign of Hoshea son of Elah began. He ruled in Samaria over Israel for nine years. ² He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, yet not as the kings of Israel who were before him. ³ Shalmaneser king of Assyria attacked him, and Hoshea became his servant and brought him tribute.

⁴ Then the king of Assyria realized that Hoshea had been plotting against him, for Hoshea had sent messengers to So king of Egypt; also, he offered no tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. So the king of Assyria shut him up and bound him in prison. ⁵ Then the king of Assyria attacked throughout all the land, and attacked Samaria and besieged it for three years. ⁶ In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria took Samaria and carried Israel away to Assyria. He put them in Halah, at the Habor River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes.

⁷ This captivity happened because the people of Israel had sinned against Yahweh their God, who had brought them up from the land of Egypt, from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. The people had been worshiping other gods ⁸ and walking in the customs of the nations whom Yahweh had driven out before the people of Israel, and in the customs of the kings of Israel that they had done.

⁹ The people of Israel did secretly—against Yahweh their God—things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their cities, from the watchtower to the fortress. ¹⁰ They also set up stone pillars and Asherah poles on every high hill and under every green tree.

¹¹ There they burned incense in all the high places, as the nations had done, those whom Yahweh had carried away before them. The Israelites performed wicked things to provoke Yahweh to anger; ¹² they worshiped idols, about which Yahweh had said to them, "You will not do this thing."

¹³ Yet Yahweh had testified to Israel and to Judah by every prophet and every seer, saying, "Turn from your evil ways and keep my commandments and my statutes, and be careful to keep all the law I commanded your fathers, and that I sent to you by my servants the prophets."

¹⁴ But they would not listen; instead they stiffened their necks like their fathers, who did not trust in Yahweh their God. ¹⁵ They rejected his statutes and the covenant that he had made with their ancestors, and the covenant decrees that he had given to them. They followed useless practices and they themselves became useless. They followed the pagan nations who were around them, those that Yahweh had commanded them not to imitate.

¹⁶ They ignored all the commandments of Yahweh their God. They made cast metal figures of two calves to worship. They made an Asherah pole, and they worshiped all the host of the heavens and Baal. ¹⁷ They made their sons and daughters pass through the fire, they used divination and enchantments, they sold themselves to do that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and they provoked him to anger. ¹⁸ Therefore Yahweh was very angry with Israel and removed them out of his sight. There was no one left but the tribe of Judah alone.

¹⁹ Even Judah did not keep the commandments of Yahweh their God, and they followed the customs that Israel had practiced. ²⁰ So Yahweh rejected all the descendants of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hand of those who would take the possession as spoil, until he had cast them out of his sight.

²¹ He tore Israel from the royal line of David, and they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king. Jeroboam drove Israel away from following Yahweh and made them commit a great sin. ²² The people of Israel followed all the sins of Jeroboam and they did not depart from them, ²³ so Yahweh removed Israel from his sight, as he had said through all his servants the prophets that he would. So Israel was carried away out of their own land to Assyria, and it is this way to this present day.

²⁴ The king of Assyria brought people from Babylon and from Kuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria in place of the people of Israel. They took over Samaria and lived in its cities. ²⁵ It happened at the beginning of their residence there that they did not honor Yahweh. So Yahweh sent lions among them which killed some of them. ²⁶ So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, "The nations that you have carried away and placed in the cities of Samaria do not know the practices required by the god of the land. So he has sent lions among them, and, see, the lions are killing people there because they do not know the practices required by the god of the land."

²⁷ Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, "Take one of the priests there whom you brought from there, and let him go and live there, and let him teach them the practices required by the god of the land." ²⁸ So one of the priests whom they had carried away from Samaria came and lived in Bethel; he taught them how they should honor Yahweh.

²⁹ Every ethnic group made gods of their own, and put them in the high places that the Samaritans had made—every ethnic group in the cities where they lived. ³⁰ The people of Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth; the people of Kuthah made Nergal; the people of Hamath made Ashima; ³¹ the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak. The Sepharvites burned their children in the fire to Adrammelek and Anammelek, the gods of the Sepharvites.

³² They also honored Yahweh, and appointed from among themselves priests of the high places, who sacrificed for them in the temples at the high places. ³³ They honored Yahweh and also worshiped their own gods, in the customs of the nations from among whom they had been taken away.

³⁴ To this day they persist in their old customs. They neither honor Yahweh, nor do they follow the statutes, the customs, the law, or the commandments that Yahweh gave to the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel. ³⁵ When Yahweh made a covenant with them, he commanded them, "You will not fear other gods, nor bow yourselves to them, nor worship them, nor sacrifice to them.

³⁶ But Yahweh, who brought you up from the land of Egypt with great power and with an outstretched arm, it is him you will honor, it is to him you will bow down, and it is to him that you will sacrifice. ³⁷ The statutes and the decrees, the law and the commandments that he wrote for you, you will keep them forever. So you must not fear other gods, ³⁸ and the covenant that I have made with you, you will not forget; neither will you honor other gods.

³⁹ But Yahweh your God is who you will honor. He will rescue you from the might of your enemies." ⁴⁰ They would not listen, because they continued to do what they had done in the past. ⁴¹ So these nations feared Yahweh and they also worshiped their carved figures, and their children did the same—as did their children's children. They continue to do what their ancestors did, up to this day.

Chapter 18

¹ Now in the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz, king of Judah began to reign. ² He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah; she was the daughter of Zechariah. ³ He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as David, his ancestor, had done.

⁴ He removed the high places, destroyed the stone pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke to pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, because in those days the people of Israel were burning incense to it; it was called "Nehushtan." ⁵ Hezekiah trusted in Yahweh, the God of Israel, so that after him there was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, nor among the kings who were before him.

⁶ For he held on to Yahweh. He did not stop following him but kept his commandments, which Yahweh commanded Moses. ⁷ So Yahweh was with Hezekiah, and wherever he went he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. ⁸ He attacked the Philistines to Gaza and the borders around, from the tower of the watchmen to the fortified city.

⁹ In the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it. ¹⁰ At the end of three years they took it, in the sixth year of Hezekiah, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel; in this way Samaria was captured.

¹¹ So the king of Assyria carried Israel away to Assyria and put them in Halah, and at the Habor River in Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes. ¹² He did this because they did not obey the voice of Yahweh their God, but they violated the terms of his covenant, all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded. They refused to listen to it or do it.

¹³ Then in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. ¹⁴ So Hezekiah king of Judah sent word to the king of Assyria, who was at Lachish, saying, "I have offended you. Withdraw from me. Whatever you put on me I will bear." The king of Assyria required Hezekiah king of Judah to pay three hundred talents of silver and thirty talents of gold. ¹⁵ So Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of Yahweh and in the treasuries of the king's palace.

¹⁶ Then Hezekiah cut off the gold from the doors of the temple of Yahweh and from the pillars that he had overlaid; he gave the gold to the king of Assyria. ¹⁷ But the king of Assyria mobilized his great army, sending Tartan and Rabsaris and the chief commander from Lachish to King Hezekiah at Jerusalem. They traveled up the roads and arrived outside Jerusalem. They approached the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway of the launderers' field, and stood by it. ¹⁸ When they had called to King Hezekiah, Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder, went out to meet them.

¹⁹ So the chief commander said to them to tell Hezekiah what the great king, the king of Assyria, said: "What is the source of your confidence? ²⁰ You speak only useless words, saying you have counsel and strength for war. In whom are you trusting, that you should rebel against me? ²¹ Look, you trust in Egypt, this walking stick of crushed reed; if a man leans on it, it will stick into his hand and pierce it. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt is to anyone who trusts in him.

²² But if you say to me, 'We are trusting in Yahweh our God,' is not he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, 'You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem'? ²³ Now therefore, I want to make you a good offer from my master the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to find riders for them.

²⁴ How could you resist even one captain of the least of my master's servants? You have put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen! ²⁵ Have I traveled up here without Yahweh to fight against this place and destroy it? Yahweh said to me, 'Attack this land and destroy it.'"

²⁶ Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah said to the chief commander, "Please speak to your servants in the Aramaic language, for we understand it. Do not speak with us in the language of Judah in the ears of the people who are on the wall." ²⁷ But the chief commander said to them, "Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words? Has he not sent me to the men who sit on the wall, who will have to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?"

²⁸ Then the chief commander stood and shouted in a loud voice in the language of Judah, saying, "Listen to the word of the great king, the king of Assyria. ²⁹ The king says, 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to rescue you from my power. ³⁰ Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, "Yahweh will surely rescue us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."'

³¹ Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: 'Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and from his own fig tree, and drink from the water in his own cistern. ³² You will do this until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive trees and honey, so that you may live and not die.' Do not listen to Hezekiah when he tries to persuade you, saying, 'Yahweh will rescue us.'

³³ Has any of the gods of the peoples rescued them out of the hand of the king of Assyria? ³⁴ Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they rescued Samaria out of my hand? ³⁵ Among all the gods of the lands, is there any god who has rescued his land from my power? How could Yahweh save Jerusalem from my might?"

³⁶ But the people remained silent and did not respond, for the king had commanded, "Do not answer him." ³⁷ Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was over the household; Shebna the scribe; and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and reported to him the words of the chief commander.

Chapter 19

¹ It came about that when King Hezekiah heard their report, he tore his clothes, covered himself with sackcloth, and went into the house of Yahweh. ² He sent Eliakim, who was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and the elders of the priests, all covered with sackcloth, to Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet.

³ They said to him, "Hezekiah says, 'This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, for the children have come to the time of birth, but there is no strength for them to be born. ⁴ It may be that Yahweh your God will hear all the words of the chief commander, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Now lift up your prayer for the remnant that is still here.'"

⁵ So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, ⁶ and Isaiah said to them, "Say to your master: 'Yahweh says, "Do not be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have insulted me. ⁷ Look, I will put a spirit in him, and he will hear a certain report and go back to his own land. I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."'"

¹⁰ "Say to Hezekiah king of Judah, 'Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, "Jerusalem will not be given over into the hand of the king of Assyria." ¹¹ See, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them completely. So will you be rescued?

¹² Have the gods of the nations rescued them, the nations that my fathers destroyed: Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden in Tel Assar? ¹³ Where are the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the cities of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?'"

¹⁴ Hezekiah received this letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the house of Yahweh and spread it before him. ¹⁵ Then Hezekiah prayed before Yahweh and said, "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, you who sit above the cherubim, you are God alone over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.

¹⁶ Incline your ear, Yahweh, and listen. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and see, and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. ¹⁷ Truly, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have destroyed the nations and their lands. ¹⁸ They have put their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men's hands, just wood and stone. So the Assyrians have destroyed them.

¹⁹ Now then, Yahweh our God, save us, I implore you, from his power, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Yahweh, are God alone."

²⁰ Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah, saying, "Yahweh, the God of Israel says, 'Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, I have heard you. ²¹ This is the word that Yahweh has spoken about him:

"The virgin daughter of Zion

despises you and mocks you.

The daughter of Jerusalem

shakes her head at you.

²² Whom have you defied and slandered?

Against whom have you exalted your voice

and lifted up your eyes in pride?

Against the Holy One of Israel!

²³ By your messengers

you have defied the Lord,

and have said,

'With the multitude of my chariots

I have gone up to the heights of the mountains,

to the highest elevations of Lebanon.

I will cut down the tall cedars

and the choice cypress trees there.

I will enter into its farthest parts,

its most fruitful forest.

²⁴ I have dug wells

and have drunk foreign waters.

I dried up all the rivers of Egypt

under the soles of my feet.'

²⁵ Have you not heard how I

determined it long ago,

and worked it out in ancient times?

Now I am bringing it to pass.

You are here to reduce impregnable cities

into heaps of ruins.

²⁶ Their inhabitants, of little strength,

are shattered and ashamed.

They are plants in the field,

green grass,

the grass on the roof or in the field,

burned before it has grown up.

²⁷ But I know your sitting down,

your going out, your coming in,

and your raging against me.

²⁸ Because of your raging against me,

and because your arrogance has reached my ears,

I will put my hook in your nose,

and my bit in your mouth;

I will turn you back

the way you came."

²⁹ This will be the sign for you:

This year you will eat what grows wild,

and in the second year what grows from that.

But in the third year you must plant and harvest,

plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

³⁰ The remnant of the house of Judah that survives

will again take root and bear fruit.

³¹ For from Jerusalem a remnant will come out,

from Mount Zion an escaped remnant will come. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.

³² Therefore Yahweh says this about the king of Assyria:

"He will not come into this city

nor shoot an arrow here.

Neither will he come before it with shield

or build up a siege ramp against it.

³³ The way by which he came

will be the same way he will leave;

he will not enter this city—

this is Yahweh's declaration."

³⁴ For I will defend this city and rescue it,

for my own sake and for my servant David's sake.'"

³⁵ It came about that night that the angel of Yahweh went out and attacked the camp of the Assyrians, putting to death 185,000 soldiers. When the men arose early in the morning, dead bodies lay everywhere. ³⁶ So Sennacherib king of Assyria left Israel and went home and stayed in Nineveh. ³⁷ Later, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisrok his god, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword. Then they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son became king in his place.

Chapter 20

¹ In those days Hezekiah was sick to the point of dying. So Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet came to him, and said to him, "Yahweh says, 'Set your house in order; for you will die, and not live.'" ² Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh, saying, ³ "Please, Yahweh, I beg you, call to mind how I have faithfully walked before you with my whole heart, and how I have done what was good in your sight." Then Hezekiah wept loudly.

⁴ Before Isaiah had gone out into the middle courtyard, the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, ⁵ "Turn back, and say to Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what Yahweh, the God of David your ancestor, says: "I have heard your prayer, and I have seen your tears. I am about to heal you on the third day, and you will go up to the house of Yahweh.

⁶ I will add fifteen years to your life, and I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city for my own sake and for my servant David's sake."'" ⁷ So Isaiah said, "Take a lump of figs." They did so and put it on his boil, and he recovered.

⁸ Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "What will be the sign that Yahweh will heal me, and that I should go up to the temple of Yahweh on the third day?" ⁹ Isaiah replied, "This will be the sign for you from Yahweh, that Yahweh will do the thing that he has spoken. Will the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?"

¹⁰ Hezekiah answered, "It is an easy thing for the shadow to go forward ten steps. No, let the shadow go backward ten steps." ¹¹ So Isaiah the prophet cried out to Yahweh, and he brought the shadow ten steps backward, from where it had moved on the stairway of Ahaz.

¹² At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan king of Babylon sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick. ¹³ Hezekiah listened to those letters, and then showed the messengers all the palace and his valuable things, the silver, the gold, the spices and precious oil, and the storehouse of his weapons, and all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his kingdom, that Hezekiah did not show them.

¹⁴ Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked him, "What did these men say to you? Where did they come from?" Hezekiah said, "They came from the distant country of Babylon." ¹⁵ Isaiah asked, "What have they seen in your house?" Hezekiah answered, "They have seen everything in my house. There is nothing among my valuable things that I have not shown them."

¹⁶ So Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Listen to the word of Yahweh: ¹⁷ 'Look, the days are about to come when everything in your palace, the things that your ancestors stored away until this present day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says Yahweh. ¹⁸ Some of your descendants whom you will father will be taken away from you, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'"

¹⁹ Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of Yahweh that you have spoken is good." For he thought, "Will there not be peace and stability in my days?" ²⁰ As for the other matters concerning Hezekiah, and all his power, and how he constructed the pool and the conduit, and how he brought water into the city—are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? ²¹ Hezekiah lay down with his ancestors, and Manasseh his son became king in his place.

Chapter 21

¹ Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hephzibah. ² He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, like the disgusting things of the nations whom Yahweh had driven out before the people of Israel. ³ For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he built altars for Baal, made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and he bowed down to all the host of heaven and worshiped them.

⁴ Manasseh built altars in the house of Yahweh, although Yahweh had commanded, "It is in Jerusalem that my name will be forever." ⁵ He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courtyards of the house of Yahweh. ⁶ He caused his son to pass through the fire, he performed sorcery and divination and consulted with sorcerers and spiritists. He did much evil in the sight of Yahweh, provoking him to anger.

⁷ The carved figure of Asherah that he had made, he placed it in the house of Yahweh. It was about this house that Yahweh had spoken to David and Solomon his son; he had said: "It is in this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, that I will put my name forever. ⁸ I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander any more out of the land that I gave to their ancestors, if they will only be careful to obey all that I have commanded them, and to follow all the law that my servant Moses commanded them." ⁹ But the people did not listen, and Manasseh led them to do evil even more than the nations that Yahweh had destroyed before the people of Israel.

¹⁰ So Yahweh spoke by his servants the prophets, saying, ¹¹ "Because Manasseh king of Judah has done these disgusting things, and has acted wickedly more than all that the Amorites who were before him did, and has also made Judah sin with his idols, ¹² therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this: Look, I am about to bring such evil on Jerusalem and Judah that whoever hears of it, both his ears will tingle.

¹³ I will stretch over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria, and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab; I will wipe Jerusalem clean, as a man wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. ¹⁴ I will throw off the remnant of my inheritance and give them into the hand of their enemies. They will become victims and plunder for all their enemies, ¹⁵ because they have done what is evil in my sight, and have provoked me to anger, since the day their ancestors came out of Egypt, to this day."

¹⁶ Moreover, Manasseh shed much innocent blood, until he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another with death. This was in addition to the sin by which he made Judah to sin, when they did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. ¹⁷ As for the other matters concerning Manasseh, all that he did, and the sin that he committed, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? ¹⁸ Manasseh lay down with his ancestors and was buried in the garden of his own house, in the garden of Uzza. Amon his son became king in his place.

¹⁹ Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Meshullemeth; she was the daughter of Haruz of Jotbah. ²⁰ He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had done.

²¹ Amon followed in all the way that his father had walked in and worshiped the idols that his father worshiped, and bowed down to them. ²² He abandoned Yahweh, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of Yahweh. ²³ The servants of Amon conspired against him and put the king to death in his own house.

²⁴ But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place. ²⁵ As for the other matters concerning Amon that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? ²⁶ The people buried him in his tomb in the garden of Uzza, and Josiah his son became king in his place.

Chapter 22

¹ Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jedidah (she was the daughter of Adaiah of Bozkath). ² He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh. He walked in all the way of David his ancestor, and he did not turn away either to the right or to the left.

³ It came about that in the eighteenth year of King Josiah, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah son of Meshullam, the scribe, to the house of Yahweh, saying, ⁴ "Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and tell him to count the money that has been brought into the house of Yahweh, which the temple guards have gathered from the people. ⁵ Let it be given into the hand of the workmen who are in charge of the house of Yahweh, and let them give it to the workmen who are in the house of Yahweh, for them to make repairs to damage in the temple.

⁶ Let them give money to the carpenters, the builders, and the masons, and also to buy timber and cut stone to repair the temple." ⁷ But no accounting was required for the money that was given to them, because they handled it faithfully.

⁸ Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh." So Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan, and he read it. ⁹ Shaphan went and took the book to the king, and also reported to him, saying, "Your servants have spent the money that was found in the temple and they have given it into the hand of the workmen who supervise the care for the house of Yahweh." ¹⁰ Then Shaphan the scribe said to the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." Then Shaphan read it to the king.

¹¹ It came about that when the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. ¹² The king commanded Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Akbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah, his own servant, saying, ¹³ "Go and consult with Yahweh for me, and for the people and for all Judah, because of the words of this book that has been found. For great is the anger of Yahweh that has been kindled against us because our ancestors have not listened to the words of this book so as to obey all that was written concerning us."

¹⁴ So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Akbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tikvah son of Harhas, keeper of the wardrobe (she lived in Jerusalem in the second quarter), and they spoke with her. ¹⁵ She said to them, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: 'Tell the man who sent you to me, ¹⁶ "This is what Yahweh says: 'See, I will bring disaster to this place and to its inhabitants, according to everything written in the book that the king of Judah has read.

¹⁷ Because they have abandoned me and have burned incense to other gods, so that they might provoke me to anger with all the deeds they have committed—therefore my anger has been kindled against this place, and it will not be extinguished.'" ¹⁸ But to the king of Judah, who sent you to ask Yahweh's will, this is what you will say to him: "Yahweh, the God of Israel says this: 'About the words that you heard, ¹⁹ because your heart was tender, and because you have humbled yourself before Yahweh, when you heard what I said against this place and its inhabitants, that they would become a desolation and a curse, and because you have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have listened to you—this is Yahweh's declaration.

²⁰ See, I will gather you to your ancestors, and you will be gathered to your grave in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place.'"'" So the men took this message back to the king.

Chapter 23

¹ So the king sent messengers who gathered to him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. ² Then the king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, prophets, and all the people, from small to great. He then read in their hearing all the words of the book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of Yahweh.

³ The king stood by the pillar and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh and to keep his commandments, his regulations, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book. So all the people agreed to stand by the covenant.

⁴ The king commanded Hilkiah the high priest, the priests under him, and the gatekeepers to bring out of the temple of Yahweh all the vessels that were made for Baal and Asherah, and for all the host of heaven. He burned them outside Jerusalem in the fields in the Kidron Valley and carried their ashes to Bethel. ⁵ He got rid of the idolatrous priests whom the kings of Judah had chosen to burn incense at the high places in the cities of Judah and in the places around Jerusalem—those who burned incense to Baal, to the sun and the moon, to the planets, and to all the host of heaven.

⁶ He brought out the Asherah pole from the temple of Yahweh, outside Jerusalem to the Kidron Valley and burned it there. He crushed it to dust and threw that dust onto the graves of the common people. ⁷ He broke down the houses of the cultic prostitutes in the temple of Yahweh, where the women wove garments for Asherah.

⁸ Josiah brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense, from Geba to Beersheba. He destroyed the high places at the gates that were at the entrance to the gate of Joshua (the city governor), on the left side of the city gate. ⁹ Although the priests of those high places were not allowed to serve at the altar of Yahweh in Jerusalem, they ate unleavened bread among their brothers.

¹⁰ Josiah defiled Topheth, which is in the Valley of Ben Hinnom, so that no one might cause his son or his daughter to pass through the fire as a sacrifice to Molech. ¹¹ He took away the horses that the kings of Judah had given to the sun. They had been in an area at the entrance to the temple of Yahweh, near the room of Nathan-Melek, the chamberlain. Josiah burned the chariots of the sun.

¹² Josiah the king destroyed the altars that were on the roof of the upper chamber of Ahaz, which the kings of Judah had made, and the altars that Manasseh had made in the two courts of the temple of Yahweh. Josiah smashed them into pieces and threw them into the Kidron Valley. ¹³ The king ruined the high places east of Jerusalem, south of the mount of corruption that Solomon the king of Israel had built for Ashtoreth, the detestable idol of the Sidonians; for Chemosh, the detestable idol of Moab; and for Molech, the detestable idol of the people of Ammon. ¹⁴ He broke the stone pillars into pieces and cut down the Asherah poles and he filled those places with the bones of human beings.

¹⁵ Josiah also completely destroyed the altar that was at Bethel and the high place that Jeroboam son of Nebat (the one who made Israel to sin) had constructed. He also burned that altar and the high place and crushed it to dust. He also burned the Asherah pole. ¹⁶ As Josiah looked over the area, he noticed the graves that were on the hillside. He sent men to take the bones from the graves; then he burned them on the altar, which defiled it. This was according to the word of Yahweh which the man of God had spoken, the man who spoke of these things beforehand.

¹⁷ Then he said, "What monument is that I see?" The men of the city told him, "That is the grave of the man of God who came from Judah and spoke about these things that you have just done against the altar of Bethel." ¹⁸ So Josiah said, "Let it alone. No one should move his bones." So they let his bones alone, along with the bones of the prophet who had come from Samaria.

¹⁹ Then Josiah removed all the houses on the high places that were in the cities of Samaria, which the kings of Israel had made, and that provoked Yahweh to anger. He did to them exactly what had been done at Bethel. ²⁰ He slaughtered all the priests of the high places on the altars and he burned human bones on them. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

²¹ Then the king commanded all the people, saying, "Keep the Passover to Yahweh your God, as it is written in this book of the covenant." ²² Such a Passover celebration had never been held from the days of the judges who ruled Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel or Judah. ²³ But in the eighteenth year of King Josiah this Passover of Yahweh was celebrated in Jerusalem.

²⁴ Josiah also completely removed the sorcerers and spiritists. He also completely removed the fetishes, the idols, and all the disgusting things that were seen in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, so as to confirm the words of the law which were written in the book that Hilkiah the priest had found in the house of Yahweh. ²⁵ Before Josiah, there had been no king like him, who turned to Yahweh with all his heart, all his soul, and all his might, who followed all the law of Moses. Nor did any king like Josiah arise after him.

²⁶ Nevertheless, Yahweh did not turn away from the burning of his raging anger, which burned against Judah because of all that Manasseh had done to provoke him to anger. ²⁷ So Yahweh said, "I will also remove Judah out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and I will throw away this city that I have chosen, Jerusalem, and the house of which I said, 'My name will be there.'"

²⁸ As for the other matters concerning Josiah, everything that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? ²⁹ In his days, Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt, went to fight against the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went to meet Necho in battle, and Necho killed him at Megiddo. ³⁰ Josiah's servants carried him dead in a chariot from Megiddo, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own grave. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in his father's place.

³¹ Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal; she was the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. ³² Jehoahaz did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, like everything that his ancestors had done. ³³ Pharaoh Necho put him in chains at Riblah in the land of Hamath, so that he might not reign in Jerusalem. Then Necho imposed a fine on Judah of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold.

³⁴ Pharaoh Necho made Eliakim son of Josiah king in the place of Josiah his father, and changed his name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz away to Egypt, and Jehoahaz died there. ³⁵ Jehoiakim paid the silver and gold to Pharaoh. In order to meet the demand of Pharaoh, Jehoikim taxed the land and he forced each man among the people of the land to pay him the silver and gold according to their assessments.

³⁶ Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zebidah; she was the daughter of Pedaiah of Rumah. ³⁷ Jehoiakim did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, just as his ancestors had done.

Chapter 24

¹ In Jehoiakim's days, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Judah; Jehoiakim became his servant for three years. Then Jehoiakim turned back and rebelled against Nebuchadnezzar. ² Yahweh sent against Jehoiakim marauding bands of Chaldeans, Arameans, Moabites, and Ammonites; he sent them against Judah to destroy it. This was in conformity with the word of Yahweh that had been spoken through his servants the prophets.

³ It was certainly at the mouth of Yahweh that this came on Judah, to remove them out of his sight, because of the sins of Manasseh, all that he did, ¹ ⁴ and also because of the innocent blood that he shed, for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood. Yahweh was not willing to pardon that.

⁵ As for the other matters concerning Jehoiakim, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the events of the kings of Judah? ⁶ Jehoiakim lay down with his ancestors, and Jehoiachin his son became king in his place.

⁷ The king of Egypt did not attack any more out of his land, because the king of Babylon had conquered all the lands that had been controlled by the king of Egypt, from the brook of Egypt to the Euphrates River.

⁸ Jehoiachin was eighteen years old when he began to reign; he reigned in Jerusalem three months. His mother's name was Nehushta; she was the daughter of Elnathan of Jerusalem. ⁹ He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh; he did all that his father had done.

¹⁰ At that time the servants of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Jerusalem and besieged the city. ¹¹ Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to the city while his servants were besieging it, ¹² and Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, his mother, his servants, his princes, and his officers. The king of Babylon captured him in the eighth year of his own reign.

¹³ Nebuchadnezzar took out from there all the valuable things in the house of Yahweh, and those in the king's palace. He cut into pieces all the golden objects that Solomon king of Israel had made in the temple of Yahweh, as Yahweh had said would happen. ¹⁴ He took into exile all Jerusalem, all the leaders, and all the mighty warriors, ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and the smiths. No one was left except the poorest people in the land.

¹⁵ Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiachin into exile at Babylon, as well as the king's mother, wives, officers, and the nobles of the land. He took them into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. ¹⁶ All the fighting men, seven thousand in number, and one thousand craftsmen and blacksmiths, all of them strong and fit for fighting—the king of Babylon brought these men into exile at Babylon. ¹⁷ The king of Babylon made Mattaniah, Jehoiachin's father's brother, king in his place, and changed his name to Zedekiah.

¹⁸ Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal; she was the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. ¹⁹ He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh; he did all that Jehoiakim had done. ²⁰ Through Yahweh's anger, all these events happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he drove them out of his presence. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

¹Some ancient Hebrew copies read, It was certainly because of the wrath of Yahweh .

Chapter 25

¹ It happened that in the ninth year of the reign of King Zedekiah, in the tenth month, and on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem. He camped opposite it, and they built a siege wall around it. ² So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah's reign. ³ On the ninth day of the fourth month of that year, the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land.

⁴ Then the city was broken into, and all the fighting men fled at night by the way of the gate between the two walls, by the king's garden, although the Chaldeans were all around the city. The king went in the direction of the Arabah. ⁵ But the army of Chaldeans pursued King Zedekiah and overtook him in the plains of the Jordan River valley near Jericho. All his army was scattered away from him.

⁶ They captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah, where they passed sentence on him. ⁷ As for Zedekiah's sons, they slaughtered them before his eyes. Then he put out his eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and brought him to Babylon.

⁸ Now in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan, a servant of the king of Babylon and commander of his bodyguards, came to Jerusalem. ⁹ He burned the house of Yahweh, the king's palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem; also every important building in the city he burned. ¹⁰ As for all the walls around Jerusalem, all the army of the Chaldeans who were under the commander of the bodyguard destroyed them.

¹¹ As for the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the remainder of the population—Nebuzaradan, the commander of the bodyguard, took them away into exile. ¹² But the commander of the bodyguard did leave some of the poorest of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

¹³ As for the bronze pillars that were in the house of Yahweh, and the stands and the bronze sea that were in the house of Yahweh, the Chaldeans broke them into pieces and carried the bronze back to Babylon. ¹⁴ The pots, shovels, lamp trimmers, spoons, and all the utensils of bronze with which the priests had served in the temple—the Chaldeans took them all away. ¹⁵ The censers and the bowls that were made of gold and those made of silver—the captain of the king's guard took them away as well.

¹⁶ The two pillars, the sea, and the stands that Solomon had made for the house of Yahweh contained more bronze than could be weighed. ¹⁷ The height of the first pillar was eighteen cubits, and a capital of bronze was on top of it. The capital was three cubits high, with latticework and pomegranates all around on the capital, all made of bronze. The other pillar and its latticework were the same as the first.

¹⁸ The commander of the bodyguard took Seraiah the chief priest, together with Zephaniah, the second priest, and the three gatekeepers. ¹⁹ From the city he took prisoner an officer who was in charge of soldiers, and five men of those who advised the king, who were still in the city. He also took prisoner the king's army officer responsible for drafting men into the army, along with sixty important men from the land who were in the city.

²⁰ Then Nebuzaradan, the commander of the bodyguard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. ²¹ The king of Babylon put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. In this way, Judah went out of its land into exile.

²² As for the people who remained in the land of Judah, those whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had left, he put Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, in charge of them. ²³ Now when all the commanders of the soldiers, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah governor, they went to Gedaliah at Mizpah. These men were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan son of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah son of the Maakathite—they and their men. ²⁴ Gedaliah made an oath to them and to their men, and said to them, "Do not be afraid of the Chaldean officials. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you."

²⁵ But it happened that in the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama, from the royal family, came with ten men and attacked Gedaliah. Gedaliah died, along with the Jews and the Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah. ²⁶ Then all the people, from the least to the greatest, and the commanders of the soldiers, arose and went to Egypt, because they were afraid of the Chaldeans.

²⁷ It happened later in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-seventh day of the month, that Awel-Marduk king of Babylon released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. This happened in the year that Awel-Marduk began to reign.

²⁸ He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat more honorable than that of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. ²⁹ Awel-Marduk removed Jehoiachin's prison clothes, and Jehoiachin ate regularly at the king's table for the rest of his life. ³⁰ A regular food allowance was given to him by the king every day for the rest of his life.

1 Chronicles

Chapter 1

¹ Adam, Seth, Enosh, ² Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, ³ Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech.

⁴ The sons of Noah were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. ¹

⁵ The sons of Japheth were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.

⁶ The sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. ²

⁷ The sons of Javan were Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites.

⁸ The sons of Ham were Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.

⁹ The sons of Cush were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteka. The sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan.

¹⁰ Cush became the father of Nimrod, who began to be a mighty man on the earth.

¹¹ Egypt became the ancestor of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, ¹² Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came), and the Caphtorites.

¹³ Canaan became the father of Sidon, his firstborn, and of the Hittites. ¹⁴ He also became the ancestor of the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, ¹⁵ Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, ¹⁶ Arvadites, Zemarites, and the Hamathites.

¹⁷ The sons of Shem were Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.

¹⁸ Arphaxad became the father of Shelah, and Shelah became the father of Eber.

¹⁹ Eber had two sons. The name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided. His brother's name was Joktan.

²⁰ Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, ²¹ Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, ²² Obal, Abimael, Sheba, ²³ Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab; all these were descendants of Joktan.

²⁴ Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,

²⁵ Eber, Peleg, Reu,

²⁶ Serug, Nahor, Terah,

²⁷ Abram, who was Abraham.

²⁸ The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael.

²⁹ These are their descendants: the firstborn of Ishmael was Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, ³⁰ Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, ³¹ Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were Ishmael's sons.

³² The sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine, were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. The sons of Jokshan were Sheba and Dedan.

³³ Midian's sons were Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were Keturah's descendants.

³⁴ Abraham became the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac were Esau and Israel.

³⁵ The sons of Esau were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.

³⁶ The sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek.

³⁷ The sons of Reuel were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.

³⁸ The sons of Seir were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.

³⁹ The sons of Lotan were Hori and Homam, and Timna was Lotan's sister.

⁴⁰ The sons of Shobal were Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon were Aiah and Anah.

⁴¹ The son of Anah was Dishon. The sons of Dishon were Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran.

⁴² The sons of Ezer were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Akan. The sons of Dishan were Uz and Aran.

⁴³ These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the people of Israel: Bela son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

⁴⁴ When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.

⁴⁵ When Jobab died, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.

⁴⁶ When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the land of Moab, reigned in his place. The name of his city was Avith.

⁴⁷ When Hadad died, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.

⁴⁸ When Samlah died, Shaul of Rehoboth on the river reigned in his place.

⁴⁹ When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor reigned in his place.

⁵⁰ When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad reigned in his place, and the name of his city was Pau. His wife's name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred daughter of Me-Zahab.

⁵¹ Hadad died.

The chiefs in Edom were Chief Timna, Chief Alvah, Chief Jetheth,

⁵² Chief Oholibamah, Chief Elah, Chief Pinon, ⁵³ Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, Chief Mibzar, ⁵⁴ Chief Magdiel, and Chief Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.

¹The Hebrew copies do not have the expression, The sons of Noah, but the ancient Greek translation includes this expression.

²Most Hebrew copies have Diphath instead of Riphath. However Diphath was probably a misspelling and other ancient copies corrected it to read Riphath. This last name is found in Genesis 10:3.

Chapter 2

¹ These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, ² Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

³ Judah's sons were Er, Onan, and Shelah, who were born to him by Shua's daughter, a Canaanite woman. Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yahweh, and Yahweh killed him. ⁴ Tamar, his daughter-in-law, bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons.

⁵ Perez's sons were Hezron and Hamul.

⁶ Zerah's sons were Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Kalkol, and Darda, five in all.

⁷ Karmi's son was Achar, who brought trouble on Israel when he acted faithlessly in regard to what was devoted to God. ¹

⁸ Ethan's son was Azariah.

⁹ Hezron's sons were Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb.

¹⁰ Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, a leader among Judah's descendants. ¹¹ Nahshon became the father of Salmon, and Salmon became the father of Boaz. ¹² Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse.

¹³ Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, ¹⁴ Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, ¹⁵ Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh.

¹⁶ Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three of them. ¹⁷ Abigail bore Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.

¹⁸ Caleb son of Hezron became the father of children by Azubah, his wife, and by Jerioth. His sons were Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. ¹⁹ Azubah died, and then Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. ²⁰ Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.

²¹ Later Hezron (when he was sixty years old) married the daughter of Makir, the father of Gilead. She bore him Segub. ²² Segub became the father of Jair, who controlled twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead.

²³ Geshur and Aram took Havvoth Jair and Kenath, as well as sixty surrounding towns. All these inhabitants were descendants of Makir, the father of Gilead.

²⁴ After the death of Hezron, Caleb went to Ephrathah, the wife of his father Hezron. She bore him Ashhur, the father of Tekoa. ²

²⁵ The sons of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, were Ram the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. ²⁶ Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah. She was the mother of Onam.

²⁷ The sons of Ram, the firstborn of Jerahmeel, were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.

²⁸ The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai were Nadab and Abishur.

²⁹ The name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bore him Ahban and Molid.

³⁰ The sons of Nadab were Seled and Appaim, but Seled died without children.

³¹ The son of Appaim was Ishi. The son of Ishi was Sheshan. The son of Sheshan was Ahlai.

³² The sons of Jada, the brother of Shammai, were Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children.

³³ The sons of Jonathan were Peleth and Zaza. These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.

³⁴ Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha. ³⁵ Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as his wife. She bore him Attai.

³⁶ Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan became the father of Zabad.

³⁷ Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed.

³⁸ Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the father of Azariah.

³⁹ Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez became the father of Eleasah.

⁴⁰ Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai became the father of Shallum.

⁴¹ Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah became the father of Elishama.

⁴² The sons of Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel, were Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph. His second son, Mareshah, was the father of Hebron.

⁴³ The sons of Hebron were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema. ⁴⁴ Shema became the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam. Rekem became the father of Shammai.

⁴⁵ The son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.

⁴⁶ Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez. Haran became the father of Gazez.

⁴⁷ The sons of Jahdai were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.

⁴⁸ Maakah, Caleb's concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah. ⁴⁹ She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Makbenah and the father of Gibea. The daughter of Caleb was Aksah.

⁵⁰ These were the descendants of Caleb. The sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim, ⁵¹ Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.

⁵² Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim had descendants: Haroeh, half of the Manahathites, ⁵³ and the clans of Kiriath Jearim: the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites, and Mishraites. The Zorathites and Eshtaolites descended from these.

⁵⁴ The descendants of Salma were Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, and half of the Manahathites—the Zorites, ⁵⁵ and the clans of the scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. These were the Kenites who came from Hammath, father of the house of Rekab.

¹Some Hebrew copies spell the name: Achan instead of Achar, a name which means trouble .

²Some translate the Hebrew to read, After Hezron's death in Caleb Ephrathah, his wife Abijah bore him a son, Ashhur the father of Tekoa .

Chapter 3

¹ Now these are the sons of David who were born to him in Hebron: the firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam from Jezreel; the second was Daniel, by Abigail from Carmel;

² the third was Absalom, whose mother was Maakah, daughter of Talmai king of Geshur. The fourth was Adonijah son of Haggith;

³ the fifth was Shephatiah by Abital; the sixth was Ithream by Eglah his wife.

⁴ These six were born to David in Hebron, where he reigned seven years and six months. He then ruled thirty-three years in Jerusalem. ⁵ These four sons, by Bathsheba daughter of Ammiel, were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, and Solomon. ¹

⁶ David's other nine sons were: Ibhar, Elishua, Eliphelet, ⁷ Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁸ Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. ⁹ These were David's sons, not including the sons by his concubines. Tamar was their sister.

¹⁰ Solomon's son was Rehoboam. Rehoboam's son was Abijah. Abijah's son was Asa. Asa's son was Jehoshaphat.

¹¹ Jehoshaphat's son was Jehoram. Jehoram's son was Ahaziah. Ahaziah's son was Joash.

¹² Joash's son was Amaziah. Amaziah's son was Azariah. Azariah's son was Jotham.

¹³ Jotham's son was Ahaz. Ahaz's son was Hezekiah. Hezekiah's son was Manasseh.

¹⁴ Manasseh's son was Amon. Amon's son was Josiah.

¹⁵ Josiah's sons were his firstborn Johanan, his second son Jehoiakim, his third son Zedekiah, and his fourth son Shallum.

¹⁶ Jehoiakim's sons were Jehoiachin and Zedekiah.

¹⁷ The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive, were Shealtiel, ¹⁸ Malkiram, Pedaiah, Shenazzar, Jekamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah.

¹⁹ Pedaiah's sons were Zerubbabel and Shimei. Zerubbabel's sons were Meshullam and Hananiah; Shelomith was their sister.

²⁰ His other five sons were Hashubah, Ohel, Berekiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-Hesed.

²¹ Hananiah's sons were Pelatiah and Jeshaiah. His son was Rephaiah, and further descendants were Arnan, Obadiah, and Shekaniah.

²² The descendants of Shekaniah were Shemaiah and his sons: Hattush, Igal, Bariah, Neariah, and Shaphat.

²³ Neariah's three sons were Elioenai, Hizkiah, and Azrikam.

²⁴ Elioenai's seven sons were Hodaviah, Eliashib, Pelaiah, Akkub, Johanan, Delaiah, and Anani.

¹One ancient Hebrew copy and the ancient Latin translation have Bathseba, however, most ancient Hebrew copies have Bathshua. 1 Samuel 12:24 is clear that Bathsheba was Solomon's mother and so her name is spelled here, "Bathsheba," so as to avoid confusion.

Chapter 4

¹ Judah's descendants were Perez, Hezron, Karmi, Hur, and Shobal.

² Reaiah, the son of Shobal, was the father of Jahath. Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were of the clans of the Zorathites.

³ These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash. Their sister's name was Hazzelelponi. ⁴ Penuel was the father of Gedor. Ezer was the father of Hushah. These were descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.

⁵ Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.

⁶ Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the descendants of Naarah.

⁷ Helah's sons were Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan, ⁸ and Koz, who became the father of Anub and Hazzobebah, and of the clans descended from Aharhel son of Harum.

⁹ Jabez was more respected than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez. She said, "Because I bore him in pain." ¹⁰ Jabez called out to the God of Israel and said, "If only you would truly bless me, expand my territory, and your hand will be with me. When you do this you will keep me from harm, so that I may be free from pain!" So God granted him his prayer.

¹¹ Kelub brother of Shuhah became the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. ¹² Eshton became the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Ir Nahash. ¹ These were men who lived in Rekah.

¹³ Kenaz's sons were Othniel and Seraiah. Othniel's sons were Hathath and Meonothai. ² ¹⁴ Meonothai became the father of Ophrah, and Seraiah became the father of Joab, the originator of Ge Harashim, whose people were craftsmen.

¹⁵ The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh were Iru, Elah and Naam. Elah's son was Kenaz.

¹⁶ Jehallelel's sons were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.

¹⁷ Ezrah's sons were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered's Egyptian wife ³ conceived and bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, who became the father of Eshtemoa. ¹⁸ These were the sons of Bithiah, daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married. Mered's Judahite wife bore Jered, who became the father of Gedor; Heber, who became the father of Soko; and Jekuthiel, who became the father of Zanoah.

¹⁹ Of the two sons of Hodiah's wife, sister of Naham, one became the father of Keilah the Garmite. The other was Eshtemoa the Maakathite.

²⁰ The sons of Shimon were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth.

²¹ The descendants of Shelah son of Judah, were Er father of Lekah, Laadah father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth Ashbea, ²² Jokim, the men of Kozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. (This information is from ancient records.) ²³ These were the potters who lived in Netaim and Gederah and worked for the king.

²⁴ Simeon's descendants were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul.

²⁵ Shallum was Shaul's son, Mibsam was Shallum's son, and Mishma was Mibsam's son.

²⁶ Mishma's descendants were Hammuel his son, Zakkur his grandson, and Shimei his great-grandson.

²⁷ Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters. His brothers did not have many children, so their clans did not increase greatly in numbers as the people of Judah did. ²⁸ They lived at Beersheba, Moladah, and at Hazar Shual.

²⁹ They also live at Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, ³⁰ Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, ³¹ Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.

³² Their five villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Token, and Ashan, ³³ together with the outlying villages as far as Baalath. These were their settlements, and they kept the genealogical records.

³⁴ Clan leaders were Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah, ³⁵ Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah son of Seraiah son of Asiel, ³⁶ Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, ³⁷ and Ziza son of Shiphi son of Allon son of Jedaiah son of Shimri son of Shemaiah.

³⁸ These mentioned by name were leaders in their clans, and their fathers' houses increased greatly.

³⁹ They went near Gedor, on the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks. ⁴⁰ They found abundant and good pasture. The land was broad, quiet, and peaceable. The Hamites had formerly lived there. ⁴¹ These just listed by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and attacked the Hamite tents and the Meunites, who were there also. They completely destroyed them and lived there because they found pasture for their flocks.

⁴² From them, from the sons of Simeon, five hundred men went to Mount Seir with Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, as their leader. ⁴³ They defeated the rest of the escaped remnant of Amalekites, and have lived there to this day.

¹Some modern translations read who settled in the town of Nahash .

²Most copies of the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew, and the ancient Latin translation of the Hebrew, insert: Meonothai into this verse, believing that it was omitted through a copyist's mistake.

³The Hebrew does not indicate here who the woman was. We understand from 4:18 that it was Mered's Egyptian wife.

Chapter 5

¹ The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel—now Reuben was Israel's firstborn, but his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph son of Israel because Reuben had defiled his father's couch. So he is not recorded in the genealogy as having the birthright. ² Judah was the strongest of his brothers, and the leader would come from him. But the birthright was Joseph's— ³ the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel were Hanok, Pallu, Hezron, and Karmi.

⁴ The descendants of Joel were these: Joel's son was Shemaiah. Shemaiah's son was Gog. Gog's son was Shimei. ⁵ Shimei's son was Micah. Micah's son was Reaiah. Reaiah's son was Baal.

⁶ Baal's son was Beerah, whom Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria took into exile. Beerah was a leader in the tribe of Reuben.

⁷ His kinsmen according to their clans, enrolled in the genealogy by their generations: Jeiel the leader, Zechariah, ⁸ and Bela son of Azaz son of Shema son of Joel. They lived in Aroer, as far as Nebo and Baal Meon, ⁹ and eastward to the start of the wilderness that extends to the Euphrates River, because their livestock had increased in the land of Gilead.

¹⁰ In the days of Saul, the tribe of Reuben attacked the Hagrites and defeated them. They lived in the Hagrites' tents throughout all the land east of Gilead.

¹¹ The members of the tribe of Gad lived near them, in the land of Bashan as far as Salekah.

¹² Joel was their leader; Shapham was second; and Janai and Shaphat in Bashan.

¹³ Their relatives, by their clans, were Michael, Meshullam, Sheba, Jorai, Jakan, Zia, and Eber—seven in all.

¹⁴ These persons named above were the descendants of Abihail, and Abihail was the son of Huri. Huri was the son of Jaroah. Jaroah was the son of Gilead. Gilead was the son of Michael. Michael was the son of Jeshishai. Jeshishai was the son of Jahdo. Jahdo was the son of Buz.

¹⁵ Ahi son of Abdiel son of Guni, was head of their clan.

¹⁶ They lived in Gilead, in Bashan, in its towns, and in all the pasturelands of Sharon as far as its borders. ¹⁷ All these were listed by genealogical records in the days of Jotham king of Judah and of Jeroboam king of Israel.

¹⁸ The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh had 44,760 soldiers skilled in battle, who carried shield and sword and who drew the bow, who could go out to war. ¹⁹ They attacked the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab.

²⁰ They received divine help against them. In this way, the Hagrites and all who were with them were defeated. This was because the Israelites cried out to God in the battle, and he responded to them, because they put their trust in him. ²¹ They captured their animals, including fifty thousand camels, 250,000 sheep, two thousand donkeys, and 100,000 men. ²² Many fell because the battle was from God. They lived in their land until the captivity.

²³ The sons of the half tribe of Manasseh lived in the land of Bashan as far as Baal Hermon and Senir (that is, Mount Hermon). ²⁴ These were the heads of their clans: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah, and Jahdiel. They were mighty warriors, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses.

²⁵ But they were unfaithful to their ancestors' God. They acted like prostitutes with the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. ²⁶ The God of Israel stirred up Pul king of Assyria (also called Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria). He took into exile the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. He brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara, and to the river of Gozan, where they remain to this day.

Chapter 6

¹ The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

² The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

³ The children of Amram were Aaron, Moses, and Miriam. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

⁴ Eleazar became the father of Phinehas, and Phinehas became the father of Abishua.

⁵ Abishua became the father of Bukki, and Bukki became the father of Uzzi.

⁶ Uzzi became the father of Zerahiah, and Zerahiah became the father of Meraioth.

⁷ Meraioth became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub.

⁸ Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Ahimaaz.

⁹ Ahimaaz became the father of Azariah, and Azariah became the father of Johanan.

¹⁰ Johanan became the father of Azariah, who served as a priest in the temple that Solomon built in Jerusalem.

¹¹ Azariah became the father of Amariah, and Amariah became the father of Ahitub.

¹² Ahitub became the father of Zadok, and Zadok became the father of Shallum.

¹³ Shallum became the father of Hilkiah, and Hilkiah became the father of Azariah.

¹⁴ Azariah became the father of Seraiah, and Seraiah became the father of Jozadak.

¹⁵ Jozadak went into captivity when Yahweh exiled Judah and Jerusalem by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar.

¹⁶ The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

¹⁷ The sons of Gershon were named Libni and Shimei.

¹⁸ The sons of Kohath were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

¹⁹ The sons of Merari were Mahli and Mushi. These are the clans of the Levites listed according to their fathers.

²⁰ The descendants of Gershon: Libni his son, Jahath his son, Zimmah his son, ²¹ Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, and Jeatherai his son.

²² The descendants of Kohath: Amminadab his son, Korah his son, Assir his son, ²³ Elkanah his son, Ebiasaph his son, Assir his son,

²⁴ Tahath his son, Uriel his son, Uzziah his son, and Shaul his son.

²⁵ The descendants of Elkanah were Amasai, Ahimoth,

²⁶ Elkanah his son, Zophai his son, Nahath his son, ²⁷ Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, and Elkanah his son. ¹

²⁸ The sons of Samuel were the firstborn, Joel, and Abijah, the second-born.

²⁹ The descendants of Merari were Mahli, Libni his son, Shimei his son, Uzzah his son,

³⁰ Shimea his son, Haggiah his son, and Asaiah his son.

³¹ These are the names of the men whom David put in charge of music in the house of Yahweh, after the ark came to rest there. ³² They served by singing before the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, until Solomon had built the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem. They fulfilled their duties according to the instructions given to them.

³³ These were those who served with their sons. From the clans of the Kohathites came Heman the musician. Here were his ancestors, going back in time: Heman was the son of Joel. Joel was the son of Samuel.

³⁴ Samuel was the son of Elkanah. Elkanah was the son of Jeroham. Jeroham was the son of Eliel. Eliel was the son of Toah.

³⁵ Toah was the son of Zuph. Zuph was the son of Elkanah. Elkanah was the son of Mahath. Mahath was the son of Amasai. Amasai was son of Elkanah.

³⁶ Amasai was the son of Elkanah. Elkanah was the son of Joel. Joel was the son of Azariah. Azariah was the son of Zephaniah.

³⁷ Zephaniah was the son of Tahath. Tahath was the son of Assir. Assir was the son of Ebiasaph. Ebiasaph was the son of Korah.

³⁸ Korah was the son of Izhar. Izhar was the son of Kohath. Kohath was the son of Levi. Levi was the son of Israel.

³⁹ Heman's fellow worker was Asaph, who stood at his right hand. Asaph was the son of Berekiah. Berekiah was the son of Shimea.

⁴⁰ Shimea was the son of Michael. Michael was the son of Baaseiah. Baaseiah was the son of Malkijah. ⁴¹ Malkijah was the son of Ethni. Ethni was the son of Zerah. Zerah was the son of Adaiah.

⁴² Adaiah was the son of Ethan. Ethan was the son of Zimmah. Zimmah was the son of Shimei. ⁴³ Shimei was the son of Jahath. Jahath was the son of Gershon. Gershon was the son of Levi.

⁴⁴ At Heman's left hand were his fellow workers the sons of Merari. They included Ethan son of Kishi. Kishi was the son of Abdi. Abdi was the son of Malluk. ⁴⁵ Malluk was the son of Hashabiah. Hashabiah was the son of Amaziah. Amaziah was the son of Hilkiah.

⁴⁶ Hilkiah was the son of Amzi. Amzi was the son of Bani. Bani was the son of Shemer. ⁴⁷ Shemer was the son of Mahli. Mahli was the son of Mushi. Mushi was the son of Merari. Merari was the son of Levi.

⁴⁸ Their associates, the Levites, were assigned to do all the labor for the tabernacle, the house of God.

⁴⁹ But Aaron and his descendants made the offerings on the altar for burnt offerings; and the offering on the incense altar for all the work on the most holy place. These offerings made atonement for Israel, according to all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

⁵⁰ Aaron's descendants are reckoned as follows: Aaron's son was Eleazar. Eleazar's son was Phinehas. Phinehas' son was Abishua. ⁵¹ Abishua's son was Bukki. Bukki's son was Uzzi. Uzzi's son was Zerahiah.

⁵² Zerahiah's son was Meraioth. Meraioth's son was Amariah. Amariah's son was Ahitub. ⁵³ Ahitub's son was Zadok. Zadok's son was Ahimaaz.

⁵⁴ These are the locations where Aaron's descendants were assigned to live, that is, for the descendants of Aaron who were from the clans of the Kohathites (the first lot was theirs). ⁵⁵ To them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah and its pasturelands, ⁵⁶ but the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh.

⁵⁷ To the descendants of Aaron they gave: Hebron (a city of refuge), and Libnah with its pasturelands, Jattir, Eshtemoa with its pasturelands, ⁵⁸ Hilen with its pasturelands, and Debir with its pasturelands.

⁵⁹ They also gave to the descendants of Aaron: Ashan with its pasturelands, Juttah, ² and Beth Shemesh with its pasturelands; ⁶⁰ and from the tribe of Benjamin, Geba with its pasturelands, Alemeth with its pasturelands, and Anathoth with its pasturelands.

All their cities throughout their clans were thirteen cities.

⁶¹ To the rest of Kohath's descendants were given by lot ten cities from the half tribe of Manasseh. ⁶² To Gershon's descendants in their various clans were given thirteen cities from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

⁶³ To Merari's descendants they gave by lot twelve cities, clan by clan, from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. ⁶⁴ So the people of Israel gave these cities with their pasturelands to the Levites. ⁶⁵ They assigned by lot these towns mentioned by name from the tribes of the sons of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

⁶⁶ Some of the clans of the descendants of Kohath were given cities from the territory of the tribe of Ephraim. ⁶⁷ They gave them: Shechem (a city of refuge) with its pasturelands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasturelands, ⁶⁸ Jokmeam with its pasturelands, Beth Horon with its pasturelands, ⁶⁹ Aijalon with its pasturelands, and Gath Rimmon with its pasturelands.

⁷⁰ The half tribe of Manasseh gave the Kohathites Aner with its pasturelands and Bileam with its pasturelands. These became the possessions of the rest of the Kohathite clans.

⁷¹ To Gershon's descendants out of the clans of the half tribe of Manasseh, they gave Golan in Bashan with its pasturelands and Ashtaroth with its pasturelands.

⁷² The tribe of Issachar gave to Gershon's descendants Kedesh with its pasturelands, Daberath with its pasturelands, ⁷³ Ramoth with its pasturelands, and Anem with its pasturelands.

⁷⁴ Issachar received from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with its pasturelands, Abdon with its pasturelands, ⁷⁵ Hukok with its pasturelands, and Rehob with its pasturelands.

⁷⁶ They received from the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee with its pasturelands, Hammon with its pasturelands, and Kiriathaim with its pasturelands.

⁷⁷ The rest of Merari's descendants received from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam, Kartah, ³ and Rimmono with its pasturelands and Tabor with its pasturelands;

⁷⁸ and from the tribe of Reuben, across the Jordan on the east side of Jericho, they received Bezer in the desert, Jahzah, ⁷⁹ Kedemoth and its pasturelands, and Mephaath and its pasturelands.

⁸⁰ The Levites received from the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead with its pasturelands, Mahanaim with its pasturelands, ⁸¹ Heshbon with its pasturelands, and Jazer with its pasturelands.

¹The ancient Greek translation taken from the Hebrew copies adds to the list Samuel his son .

²The place name Juttah is not in the ancient Hebrew copies but is found in the Syriac translation of the Hebrew copies; also see Joshua 21:16.

³The names Jokneam and Kartah are not found in the Hebrew copies but are found in the ancient Greek translation taken from the Hebrew copies. Compare the list in Joshua 21:34.

Chapter 7

¹ Issachar's four sons were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron.

² The sons of Tola were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Samuel. They were the heads of their clans, from the descendants of Tola and they were listed as mighty warriors among their generations. They numbered 22,600 in the days of David.

³ Uzzi's son was Izrahiah. His sons were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Ishiah; all five of them were clan leaders.

⁴ Along with them, according to the genealogical records of their clans, they had thirty-six thousand troops of the army for battle, for they had many wives and sons.

⁵ Their relatives from all the clans of Issachar numbered in all eighty-seven thousand mighty warriors, as listed in their genealogy.

⁶ Benjamin's three sons were Bela, Beker, and Jediael.

⁷ Bela's sons were Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, five heads of clans and mighty warriors. There were 22,034 of them recorded in their genealogy.

⁸ Beker's sons were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were his sons. ⁹ Recorded in their genealogy, according to their generations, were 20,200 heads of their clans, mighty warriors.

¹⁰ The son of Jediael was Bilhan. Bilhan's sons were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Kenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar.

¹¹ All these were sons of Jediael. Listed in their clan lists were 17,200 heads of houses and mighty warriors fit for military service.

¹² The Shuppites and the Huppites were descendants of Ir, and the Hushites were descendants of Aher.

¹³ The sons of Naphtali were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem—the descendants of Bilhah.

¹⁴ The descendants of Manasseh were Asriel, who was his descendant through his Aramean concubine. (She gave birth to Makir, the father of Gilead. ¹⁵ Then Makir took a wife from the Huppites and Shuppites, and his sister's name was Maakah.) The name of the second was Zelophehad, who had only daughters.

¹⁶ Then Maakah, wife of Makir, bore a son and she called him Peresh, and his brother's name was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.

¹⁷ The son of Ulam was Bedan. These were the descendants of Gilead, who was the son of Makir, who was the son of Manasseh. ¹⁸ Gilead's sister Hammoleketh gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.

¹⁹ The sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.

²⁰ The descendants of Ephraim were Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son, ²¹ Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son. Ezer and Elead were killed by men of Gath, natives in the land, when they went to steal their livestock. ²² Ephraim their father mourned for them many days, and his brothers came to comfort him.

²³ He went to his wife. She conceived and bore a son. Ephraim named him Beriah, because tragedy had come to his family. ²⁴ His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah.

²⁵ Rephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son,

²⁶ Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, ²⁷ Nun his son, and Joshua was his son.

²⁸ Their possessions and residences were Bethel and its surrounding villages. They extended eastward to Naaran and westward to Gezer and its villages, and to Shechem and its villages to Ayyah and its villages. ²⁹ On the border with Manasseh were Beth Shan and its villages, Taanach and its villages, Megiddo and its villages, and Dor and its villages. In these towns the descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived.

³⁰ Asher's sons were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Serah was their sister.

³¹ Beriah's sons were Heber and Malkiel, who was the father of Birzaith.

³² Heber's sons were Japhlet, Shomer, and Hotham. Shua was their sister.

³³ Japhlet's sons were Pasak, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These were Japhlet's children.

³⁴ Shomer, Japhlet's brother, had these sons: Rohgah, Hubbah, and Aram.

³⁵ Shemer's brother, Helem, had these sons: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.

³⁶ Zophah's sons were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah, ³⁷ Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera.

³⁸ Jether's sons were Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara.

³⁹ Ulla's sons were Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia. ⁴⁰ All these were descendants of Asher. They were heads of clans, distinguished men, mighty warriors, and chief among the leaders. There were twenty-six thousand men listed who were fit for military service recorded in their genealogy.

Chapter 8

¹ Benjamin's five sons were Bela his firstborn, Ashbel, Aharah,

² Nohah, and Rapha.

³ Bela's sons were Addar, Gera, Abihud, ⁴ Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, ⁵ Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.

⁶ These were the descendants of Ehud who were heads of fathers' houses for the inhabitants of Geba, who were compelled to move to Manahath:

⁷ Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera. The last, Gera, led them in their move. He was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.

⁸ Shaharaim became the father of children in the land of Moab, after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. ⁹ By his wife Hodesh, Shaharaim became the father of Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam, ¹⁰ Jeuz, Sakia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers' houses. ¹¹ He had already become the father of Abitub and Elpaal by Hushim.

¹² Elpaal's sons were Eber, Misham, and Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its surrounding villages). ¹³ There were also Beriah and Shema. They were heads of the fathers' houses of those living in Aijalon, who drove out the inhabitants of Gath.

¹⁴ Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, ¹⁵ Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, ¹⁶ Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.

¹⁷ Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, ¹⁸ Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.

¹⁹ Jakim, Zikri, Zabdi, ²⁰ Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, ²¹ Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.

²² Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, ²³ Abdon, Zikri, Hanan, ²⁴ Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, ²⁵ Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.

²⁶ Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, ²⁷ Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham. ²⁸ These were heads of clans—according to the genealogical records they were heads. These were the chief men who dwelled in Jerusalem.

²⁹ The father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife's name was Maakah, lived in Gibeon. ³⁰ His firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, ³¹ Gedor, Ahio, and Zeker.

³² Another of Jeiel's sons was Mikloth, who became the father of Shimeah. They also lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

³³ Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal.

³⁴ The son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal. Merib-Baal was the father of Micah.

³⁵ The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melek, Tarea, and Ahaz.

³⁶ Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah. Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza. ³⁷ Moza was the father of Binea. Binea was the father of Raphah. Raphah was the father of Eleasah. Eleasah was the father of Azel.

³⁸ Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were sons of Azel.

³⁹ The sons of Eshek, his brother, were Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. ⁴⁰ Ulam's sons were mighty warriors and archers. They had many sons and grandsons, a total of 150. All these belonged to the descendants of Benjamin.

Chapter 9

¹ So all Israel was recorded in genealogies. They were recorded in the book of the kings of Israel. As for Judah, they were carried away in exile to Babylon because of their faithlessness. ² The first to resettle in their possessions, in their cities, were some Israelites, priests, Levites, and temple servants. ³ Some descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem.

⁴ The settlers included Uthai son of Ammihud son of Omri son of Imri son of Bani, one of the descendants of Perez son of Judah.

⁵ Among the Shelanites were Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.

⁶ Among the descendants of Zerah was Jeuel. Their relatives numbered 690.

⁷ Among the descendants of Benjamin was Sallu son of Meshullam son of Hodaviah son of Hassenuah.

⁸ There were also Ibneiah son of Jeroham; Elah son of Uzzi son of Mikri; and Meshullam son of Shephatiah son of Reuel son of Ibnijah.

⁹ Their kinsmen, according to the genealogical records, numbered 956. All these men were heads of fathers' houses for their fathers' houses.

¹⁰ The priests were Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, and Jakin.

¹¹ There was also Azariah son of Hilkiah son of Meshullam son of Zadok son of Meraioth son of Ahitub, the one in charge of the house of God.

¹² There was Adaiah son of Jeroham son of Pashhur son of Malkijah. There was also Maasai son of Adiel son of Jahzerah son of Meshullam son of Meshillemith son of Immer.

¹³ Their relatives, who were leaders of their clans, numbered 1,760. They were very capable men for the work of service in the house of God.

¹⁴ Among the Levites, there was Shemaiah son of Hasshub son of Azrikam son of Hashabiah, among the descendants of Merari. ¹⁵ There were also Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah son of Mika son of Zikri son of Asaph. ¹⁶ There were also Obadiah son of Shemaiah son of Galal son of Jeduthun; and Berekiah son of Asa son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.

¹⁷ The doorkeepers were Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives. Shallum was their leader. ¹⁸ Previously they stood guard at the king's gate on the east side for the camp of Levi's descendants. ¹⁹ Shallum son of Kore son of Ebiasaph, ¹ son of Korah, and his relatives from his clan, the Korahites, were in charge of the work of the guard service. They guarded the door to the tent, as their ancestors had guarded the camp of Yahweh, and they also had guarded the entrance.

²⁰ Phinehas son of Eleazar had been in charge of them in the past, and Yahweh had been with him. ²¹ Zechariah son of Meshelemiah was guard of the entrance to the tent of meeting.

²² All those who were chosen as gatekeepers at the entrances numbered 212. Their names were recorded in the people's genealogies in their villages. David and Samuel the seer had appointed them to their positions of trust. ²³ So they and their descendants were assigned to guard the gates of the house of Yahweh, that is called the house of the tabernacle. ²⁴ The gatekeepers were posted on all four sides, toward the east, west, north, and south.

²⁵ Their brothers, who lived in their villages, came in for seven-day rotations, in turn. ²⁶ But the four leaders of the gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and with the storerooms in the house of God. ²⁷ They would stay overnight in their posts all around the house of God, for they were responsible for guarding it. They would open it each morning.

²⁸ Some of them were in charge of the temple's equipment; they counted the articles when they were brought in and when they were taken out. ²⁹ Some of them also were assigned to take care of the holy things, the equipment, and the supplies, including the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and the spices.

³⁰ Some of the priests' sons mixed the spices. ³¹ Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, was in charge of preparing bread for the offerings. ³² Some of their brothers, descendants of the Kohathites, were in charge of the bread of the presence, to prepare it every Sabbath.

³³ The singers and heads of the Levites' clans lived in rooms at the sanctuary when they were free from work, because they had to carry out their assigned tasks day and night. ³⁴ These were leaders of the clans of the Levites, according to the genealogical records, chief men. They lived in Jerusalem.

³⁵ The father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife's name was Maakah, lived in Gibeon. ³⁶ His firstborn son was Abdon, then his sons Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, ³⁷ Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.

³⁸ Mikloth was the father of Shimeam. They also lived near their brothers in Jerusalem.

³⁹ Ner was the father of Kish. Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab, and Esh-Baal.

⁴⁰ The son of Jonathan was Merib-Baal. Merib-Baal was the father of Micah.

⁴¹ The sons of Micah were Pithon, Melek, Tahrea, and Ahaz.

⁴² Ahaz was the father of Jadah. Jadah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri was the father of Moza. ⁴³ Moza became the father of Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.

⁴⁴ Azel had six sons, and their names were Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were Azel's sons.

¹Ebiasaph is the same person referred to as Asaph in 1 Chronicles 26:1.

Chapter 10

¹ Now the Philistines fought against Israel. Every man of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down dead on Mount Gilboa. ² The Philistines closely pursued Saul and his son. The Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua, his sons. ³ The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers overtook him, and they wounded him.

⁴ Then said Saul to his armor bearer, "Draw your sword and thrust me through with it. Otherwise, these uncircumcised will come and abuse me." But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

⁵ When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell on his sword in the same way and died. ⁶ So Saul died, and his three sons, so all his household members died together.

⁷ When all the men of Israel in the valley saw that they had fled and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled. Then the Philistines came and lived in them. ⁸ It came about on the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the dead, that they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa.

⁹ They stripped him and took his head and his armor. They sent messengers throughout Philistia to carry the news to their idols and to the people. ¹⁰ They put his armor in the temple of their gods, and fastened his skull to the temple of Dagon.

¹¹ When all Jabesh Gilead heard of all that the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all the fighting men went and took away the body of Saul and those of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh and fasted seven days.

¹³ So Saul died for the faithless act with which he acted faithlessly against Yahweh. He did not obey Yahweh's instructions, but asked for advice from someone who talked with the dead. ¹⁴ He did not seek guidance from Yahweh, so Yahweh killed him and turned over the kingdom to David son of Jesse.

Chapter 11

¹ Then all Israel gathered together with David at Hebron and said, "Look, we are your flesh and bone. ² In the recent past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led the Israelite army. Yahweh your God said to you, 'You will shepherd my people Israel, and you will become a ruler over my people Israel.'" ³ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them before Yahweh. They anointed David king over Israel. In this way, the word of Yahweh that had been declared by Samuel came true.

⁴ David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (that is, Jebus). Now the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. ⁵ The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, "You will not come in here." But David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David. ⁶ David had said, "Whoever attacks the Jebusites first will become chief and commander." So Joab son of Zeruiah attacked first, so he was made the chief.

⁷ Then David began to live in the stronghold. So they called it the city of David. ⁸ He built the city all around from the Millo and back to the surrounding wall. Joab restored the rest of the city. ⁹ David became greater and greater because Yahweh of hosts was with him.

¹⁰ These were the leaders David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, obeying the word of Yahweh concerning Israel. ¹¹ This is a list of David's mighty men: Jashobeam, the son of a Hakmonite, was commander of the officers. ¹ He killed three hundred men with his spear on one occasion.

¹² After him was Eleazar son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. ¹³ He was with David at Pas Dammim, and there the Philistines assembled together for battle, where there was a barley field and the army fled from the Philistines. ¹⁴ They stood in the middle of the field. They defended it and cut down the Philistines and Yahweh rescued them with a great victory.

¹⁵ Then three of the thirty leaders went down to the rock to David, to the cave of Adullam. The army of the Philistines was camped in the Valley of Rephaim. ¹⁶ At that time David was in his stronghold, a cave, while the Philistines had established their camp at Bethlehem. ¹⁷ David was longing for water and said, "If only someone would give me water to drink from the well at Bethlehem, the well that is by the gate!"

¹⁸ So these three mighty men broke through the army of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, the well at the gate. They took the water and brought it to David, but he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out to Yahweh. ¹⁹ Then he said, "Far be it for me before God that I should ever do this! Should I drink the blood of these men who have risked their lives?" Because they had put their lives at risk, David refused to drink it. These were the deeds of the three mighty men.

²⁰ Abishai brother of Joab was captain over the Three. He once used his spear against three hundred and killed them. He had a name along with the Three. ²¹ Of the Three, he was given double honor and became their captain, even though he was not one of them.

²² Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a brave warrior from Kabzeel, who did great deeds. He killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down into a pit and killed a lion on a day when the snow was falling. ²³ He even killed an Egyptian, a man five cubits tall. The Egyptian had a spear like a weaver's beam, but he went down to him with only a staff. He seized the spear out of the Egyptian's hand and killed him with his own spear.

²⁴ Benaiah son of Jehoiada did these feats, and he was named alongside the three mighty men. ²⁵ He was more highly regarded than the thirty soldiers in general, but he was not regarded quite as highly as the three mighty men. Yet David put him in charge of his bodyguard.

²⁶ The mighty warriors were Asahel brother of Joab, Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem,

²⁷ Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite,

²⁸ Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite,

²⁹ Sibbekai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite,

³⁰ Maharai the Netophathite, Heled son of Baanah the Netophathite,

³¹ Ithai son of Ribai of Gibeah of Benjamin's descendants, Benaiah the Pirathonite,

³² Hurai of the valleys of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite,

³³ Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite,

³⁴ the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan son of Shagee the Hararite,

³⁵ Ahiam son of Sakar the Hararite, Eliphal son of Ur,

³⁶ Hepher the Mekerathite, Ahijah the Pelonite,

³⁷ Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai son of Ezbai,

³⁸ Joel brother of Nathan, Mibhar son of Hagri,

³⁹ Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite (the armor bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah),

⁴⁰ Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite,

⁴¹ Uriah the Hittite, Zabad son of Ahlai,

⁴² Adina son of Shiza the Reubenite (a chief of the Reubenites) and thirty with him,

⁴³ Hanan son of Maakah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite,

⁴⁴ Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel sons of Hotham the Aroerite,

⁴⁵ Jediael son of Shimri, Joha (his brother the Tizite),

⁴⁶ Eliel the Mahavite, Jeribai and Joshaviah sons of Elnaam, Ithmah the Moabite,

⁴⁷ Eliel, Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite.

¹The Hebrew could also read, of the thirty, or, of the three .

Chapter 12

¹ These were the men who came to David to Ziklag, while he was still banished from the presence of Saul son of Kish. They were among the soldiers, his helpers in battle. ² They were armed with bows and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow. They were Benjamites, Saul's kinsmen.

³ The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, both sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite. There were Jeziel and Pelet, sons of Azmaveth. There were also Berakah, Jehu the Anathothite, ⁴ Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a soldier among the thirty (and in command of the thirty); Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite,

⁵ Eluzai, Jerimoth, Bealiah, Shemariah, Shephatiah the Haruphite, ⁶ the Korahites Elkanah, Ishiah, Azarel, Joezer, Jashobeam, and ⁷ Joelah and Zebadiah, sons of Jeroham of Gedor.

⁸ Some Gadites joined David at the stronghold in the wilderness. They were mighty warriors, men of war, ready for battle, who could handle shield and spear; whose faces were as fierce as the faces of lions. They were as swift as gazelles on the mountains.

⁹ There were Ezer the leader, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third,

¹⁰ Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth,

¹¹ Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh,

¹² Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth,

¹³ Jeremiah the tenth, Makbannai the eleventh.

¹⁴ These sons of Gad were leaders of the army. The least led a hundred, and the greatest led a thousand. ¹⁵ They crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it overflowed its banks, and caused all those living in the valleys to flee, both toward the east and toward the west.

¹⁶ Some of the men of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. ¹⁷ David went out to meet them and addressed them: "If you have come in peace to me to help me, my heart will be joined with you. But if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, may the God of our ancestors see and rebuke you, since I have done no wrong."

¹⁸ Then the Spirit clothed Amasai, who was chief of the thirty. Amasai said, "We are yours, David. We are on your side, son of Jesse. Peace, may peace be to whoever helps you. May peace be to your helpers, for your God is helping you." Then David received them and made them commanders over his men.

¹⁹ Some from Manasseh also deserted to David when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle. Yet they did not help the Philistines, because the Philistine lords consulted with each other and sent David away. They said, "He will desert to his master Saul at the risk of our lives." ²⁰ When he went to Ziklag, the men of Manasseh who joined him were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains over thousands of Manasseh.

²¹ They helped David fight against the roving bands, for they were mighty warriors. Later they became commanders in the army. ²² Day after day, men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like the army of God.

²³ This is the record of the armed soldiers for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, which carried out Yahweh's word.

²⁴ The men of Judah who carried shield and spear were 6,800, armed for war.

²⁵ From the Simeonites there were 7,100 mighty warriors trained for war.

²⁶ From the Levites there were 4,600 fighting men. ²⁷ Jehoiada was the leader of Aaron's descendants, and with him were 3,700. ²⁸ With Zadok, a young man, a mighty warrior, were twenty-two leaders from his clan.

²⁹ From Benjamin, Saul's kinsmen, were three thousand. Most of them had kept watch over the house of Saul until this time.

³⁰ From the Ephraimites there were 20,800 mighty warriors, men who were famous in their clans.

³¹ From the half tribe of Manasseh there were eighteen thousand famous men who came to make David king.

³² From Issachar, there were two hundred leaders who had understanding of the times and knew what Israel ought to do. All their relatives were under their command.

³³ From Zebulun there were fifty thousand fighting men, prepared for battle, with all the weapons of war, and ready to give undivided loyalty.

³⁴ From Naphtali there were one thousand officers, and with them thirty-seven thousand men with shields and spears.

³⁵ From the Danites there were 28,600 men prepared for battle.

³⁶ From Asher there were forty thousand men of war prepared for battle.

³⁷ From the other side of the Jordan, from the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, there were 120,000 men armed with all kinds of weapons for war.

³⁸ All these soldiers, equipped for battle, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel. All the rest of Israel were in agreement to make David king also. ³⁹ They were there with David three days, eating and drinking, for their relatives had sent them with provisions. ⁴⁰ In addition, those who were near to them, as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen, and cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, cattle and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.

Chapter 13

¹ David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. ² David said to all the assembly of Israel, "If it seems good to you, and if this comes from Yahweh our God, let us send messengers everywhere to our brothers who remain in all the regions of Israel, and to the priests and Levites who are in their cities. Let them be told to come together with us. ³ Let us bring the ark of our God back to ourselves, for we did not seek his will in the days of Saul's reign." ⁴ The whole assembly agreed to do these things, because in the eyes of all the people they seemed to be what was right.

⁵ So David assembled all Israel together, from the Shihor River in Egypt to Lebo Hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim. ⁶ David and all Israel went up to Baalah, that is, Kiriath Jearim, which belongs to Judah, to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by Yahweh's name, Yahweh, who sits enthroned over the cherubim.

⁷ So they set the ark of God on a new cart. They brought it out of Abinadab's house. Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the cart. ⁸ David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might. They were singing with harps and lutes, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets.

⁹ When they came to the threshing floor of Kidon, Uzzah reached out with his hand to grab the ark, because the oxen stumbled. ¹⁰ Then the anger of Yahweh burned against Uzzah, and Yahweh killed him because Uzzah had reached out with his hand to the ark. He died there before God. ¹¹ David was angry because Yahweh had attacked Uzzah. That place is called Perez Uzzah to this day.

¹² David was afraid of God that day. He said, "How can I bring the ark of God home to me?" ¹³ So David did not move the ark to the city of David, but put it aside in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. ¹⁴ The ark of God remained in Obed-Edom's household in his house for three months. So Yahweh blessed his house and all that he possessed.

Chapter 14

¹ Then Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, carpenters, and masons. They built a house for him. ² David knew that Yahweh had established him as king over Israel, and that his kingdom was exalted on high for the sake of his people Israel.

³ In Jerusalem, David took more wives, and he became the father of more sons and daughters. ⁴ These were the names of the children who were born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ⁵ Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, ⁶ Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁷ Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet.

⁸ Now when the Philistines heard that David had been anointed as king over all Israel, they all went out looking for him. But David heard about it and went out against them. ⁹ Now the Philistines had come and made a raid in the Valley of Rephaim.

¹⁰ Then David asked for help from God. He said, "Should I attack the Philistines? Will you give victory over them?" Yahweh said to him, "Attack, for I will certainly give them to you." ¹¹ So they came up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He commented, "God has burst through my enemies by my hand like a bursting flood of water." So the name of that place became Baal Perazim. ¹² The Philistines abandoned their gods there, and David gave an order that they should be burned.

¹³ Then the Philistines raided the valley yet again. ¹⁴ So David asked for help from God again. God said to him, "You must not attack their front, but rather circle around behind them and come on them through the balsam woods.

¹⁵ When you hear the sound of marching in the wind blowing through the balsam treetops, then attack with force. Do this because God will have gone out before you to attack the army of the Philistines." ¹⁶ So David did as God had commanded him. He defeated the army of the Philistines from Gibeon all the way to Gezer. ¹⁷ Then David's fame went out into all lands, and Yahweh caused all nations to fear him.

Chapter 15

¹ David built houses for himself in the city of David. He prepared a place for the ark of God and set up a tent for it. ² Then David said, "Only the Levites may carry the ark of God, for they had been chosen by Yahweh to carry the ark of Yahweh, and to serve him forever." ³ Then David assembled all Israel at Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of Yahweh to the place he had prepared for it.

⁴ David gathered together Aaron's descendants and the Levites.

⁵ From the descendants of Kohath, there was Uriel the leader and his relatives, 120 men.

⁶ From the descendants of Merari, there was Asaiah the leader and his relatives, 220 men.

⁷ From the descendants of Gershom, there was Joel the leader and his relatives, 130 men.

⁸ From the descendants of Elizaphan, there was Shemaiah the leader and his relatives, 200 men.

⁹ From the descendants of Hebron, there was Eliel the leader and his relatives, eighty men.

¹⁰ From the descendants of Uzziel, there was Amminadab the leader and his relatives, 112 men.

¹¹ David called for Zadok and Abiathar the priests, and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. ¹² He said to them, "You are the leaders of the Levite families. Consecrate yourselves, both you and your brothers, so that you may bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel, to the place that I have prepared for it.

¹³ You did not carry it the first time. That is why Yahweh our God broke out against us, for we did not seek him or obey his decree." ¹⁴ So the priests and the Levites consecrated themselves so they could bring up the ark of Yahweh, the God of Israel. ¹⁵ So the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded—following the rules given by the word of Yahweh.

¹⁶ David spoke to the leaders of the Levites to assign their brothers as singers who would play loudly on musical instruments, lutes and lyres and loud cymbals, to lift up sounds of joy. ¹⁷ So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel and one of his brothers, Asaph son of Berekiah. They also appointed kinsmen from Merari's descendants and Ethan son of Kushaiah. ¹⁸ With them were their kinsmen of second rank: Zechariah, ¹ Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel, the gatekeepers.

¹⁹ The musicians Heman, Asaph, and Ethan were appointed to play loud bronze cymbals. ²⁰ Zechariah, Aziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Maaseiah, and Benaiah played the lutes, set to Alamoth. ²¹ Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, Obed-Edom, Jeiel, and Azaziah led the way with harps set to the Sheminith.

²² Kenaniah, leader of the Levites, was the director of the singing because he was a teacher of music. ²³ Berekiah and Elkanah were guards for the ark. ²⁴ Shebaniah, Joshaphat, Nethanel, Amasai, Zechariah, Benaiah, and Eliezer, the priests, were to blow the trumpets before the ark of God. Obed-Edom and Jehiah were guards for the ark.

²⁵ So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders over thousands went to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh out of Obed-Edom's house with rejoicing. ²⁶ While God helped the Levites who carried the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams.

²⁷ David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were the Levites who carried the ark, the singers, and Kenaniah, the leader of the song with the singers. David was wearing a linen ephod. ²⁸ So all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh with joyful shouting, and with the sound of horns and trumpets, with cymbals, and with lutes and harps.

²⁹ But as the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came to the city of David, Michal daughter of Saul, looked out the window. She saw King David dancing and celebrating. Then she despised him in her heart.

¹Some ancient copies add the name or prefix, "ben," assuming perhaps the name of Zechariah's father was left out.

Chapter 16

¹ They brought in the ark of God and put it in the middle of the tent that David had set up for it. Then they offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings before God. ² When David had finished offering up the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Yahweh. ³ He distributed to every man of Israel, to both men and women, a loaf of bread, and a piece of meat, and a cake of raisins.

⁴ David appointed certain Levites to serve before the ark of Yahweh, and to celebrate, thank and praise Yahweh, the God of Israel. ⁵ These Levites were Asaph the leader, and second to him Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-Edom, and Jeiel. These were to play with lutes and harps. Asaph was to sound the cymbals, sounding loudly. ⁶ Benaiah and Jahaziel the priests were to blow the trumpets regularly, before the ark of the covenant of God.

⁷ Then on that day David first appointed Asaph and his brothers to sing this song of thanksgiving to Yahweh.

⁸ Give thanks to Yahweh, call on his name;

make known his deeds among the nations.

⁹ Sing to him, sing praises to him;

speak of all his marvelous deeds.

¹⁰ Boast in his holy name;

let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.

¹¹ Seek Yahweh and his strength;

seek his presence continually.

¹² Recall the marvelous things he has done,

his miracles and the decrees from his mouth,

¹³ you descendants of Israel his servant,

you people of Jacob, his chosen ones.

¹⁴ He is Yahweh, our God.

His decrees are on all the earth.

¹⁵ Keep his covenant in mind forever,

the word that he commanded for a thousand generations.

¹⁶ He calls to mind the covenant that he made with Abraham,

and his oath to Isaac.

¹⁷ This is what he confirmed to Jacob as a statute,

and to Israel as an everlasting covenant.

¹⁸ He said, "I will give you the land of Canaan

as the assigned portion of your inheritance."

¹⁹ When they were only few in number,

so very few, and they were strangers in the land,

²⁰ they wandered from nation to nation,

from one kingdom to another.

²¹ He did not allow anyone to oppress them;

he punished kings for their sakes.

²² He said, "Do not touch my anointed ones,

and do not harm my prophets."

²³ Sing to Yahweh, all the earth;

announce his salvation day after day.

²⁴ Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all the nations.

²⁵ For Yahweh is great and is to be praised greatly,

and he is to be feared above all other gods.

²⁶ For all the gods of the nations are idols,

but it is Yahweh who made the heavens.

²⁷ Splendor and majesty are in his presence.

Strength and joy are in his place.

²⁸ Ascribe to Yahweh, you clans of peoples,

ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!

²⁹ Ascribe to Yahweh the glory his name deserves.

Bring an offering and come before him.

Bow down to Yahweh in the splendor of holiness.

³⁰ Tremble before him, all the earth.

The world also is established; it cannot be shaken.

³¹ Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

let them say among the nations, "Yahweh reigns."

³² Let the sea roar, and that which fills it shout with joy.

Let the fields be joyful, and all that is in them.

³³ Then let the trees in the forest shout for joy before Yahweh,

for he is coming to judge the earth.

³⁴ Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,

for his covenant faithfulness endures forever.

³⁵ Then say, "Save us, God of our salvation.

Gather us together and rescue us from the other nations,

so that we may give thanks to your holy name

and glory in your praises."

³⁶ May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised

from everlasting to everlasting.

All the people said, "Amen" and praised Yahweh.

³⁷ So David left Asaph and his brothers there before the ark of the covenant of Yahweh, to serve continually before the ark, as every day's work required. ³⁸ Obed-Edom with those sixty-eight relatives were included. Obed-Edom son of Jeduthun, along with Hosah, were to be gatekeepers. ³⁹ Zadok the priest and his fellow workers were to serve before the tabernacle of Yahweh at the high place in Gibeon.

⁴⁰ They were to offer burnt offerings to Yahweh on the altar for burnt offerings continually morning and evening, according to all that is written in the law of Yahweh, which he gave as a command to Israel. ⁴¹ Heman and Jeduthun were with them, together with the rest who were chosen by name, to give thanks to Yahweh, because his covenant faithfulness endures forever.

⁴² Heman and Jeduthun were in charge of those who played trumpets, cymbals, and the other instruments for the sacred music. The sons of Jeduthun guarded the gate. ⁴³ Then all the people returned to their homes, and David returned to bless his own household.

Chapter 17

¹ It happened that after David had settled in his house, he said to Nathan the prophet, "Look, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of Yahweh is staying under a tent." ² Then Nathan said to David, "Go, do what is in your heart, for God is with you."

³ But that same night the word of God came to Nathan, saying, ⁴ "Go and tell David my servant, 'This is what Yahweh says: You will not build me a house in which to live. ⁵ For I have not lived in a house from the day that I brought up Israel to this present day. Rather, I have been living in a tent, a tabernacle, in various places. ⁶ In all places I have moved among all Israel, did I ever say anything to any of Israel's judges, whom I appointed to shepherd my people, saying, "Why have you not built me a house of cedar?"'"

⁷ "Now then, tell my servant David, 'This is what Yahweh of hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, so that you would be ruler over my people Israel. ⁸ I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and I will make you a name, like the name of the great ones who are on the earth.

⁹ I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them there, so that they may live in their own place and be troubled no more. No longer will wicked people oppress them, as they did before, ¹⁰ as they were doing from the days that I commanded judges to be over my people Israel. Then I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover I tell you that I, Yahweh, will build you a house.

¹¹ It will come about that when your days are fulfilled for you to go to your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, and for one of your own descendants, I will establish his kingdom. ¹² He will build me a house, and I will establish his throne forever.

¹³ I will be a Father to him, and he will be my son. I will not take my covenant faithfulness away from him, as I took it from Saul, who ruled before you. ¹⁴ I will set him over my house and in my kingdom forever, and his throne will be established forever.'"

¹⁵ Nathan spoke to David and reported to him all these words, and he told him about the entire vision.

¹⁶ Then David the king went in and sat before Yahweh; he said, "Who am I, Yahweh God, and what is my family, that you have brought me to this point? ¹⁷ For this was a small thing in your sight, God. You have spoken of your servant's family for a great while to come, and have shown me future generations, Yahweh God. ¹⁸ What more can I, David, say to you? You have honored your servant. You have given your servant special recognition.

¹⁹ Yahweh, for your servant's sake, and to fulfill your own purpose, you have done this great thing to reveal all your great deeds. ²⁰ Yahweh, there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, just as we have always heard. ²¹ For what nation on earth is like your people Israel, whom you, God, rescued from Egypt as a people for yourself, to make a name for yourself by great and awesome deeds? You drove out nations from before your people, whom you rescued from Egypt.

²² You made Israel your own people forever, and you, Yahweh, became their God. ²³ So now, Yahweh, may the promise that you made concerning your servant and his family be established forever. Do as you have spoken. ²⁴ May your name be established forever and be great, so the people will say, 'Yahweh of hosts is the God of Israel,' while the house of me, David, your servant is established before you.

²⁵ For you, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build him a house. That is why I, your servant, have found courage to pray to you. ²⁶ Now, Yahweh, you are God, and have made this good promise to your servant: ²⁷ Now it has pleased you to bless your servant's house, that it may continue forever before you. You, Yahweh, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever."

Chapter 18

¹ After this it came about that David attacked the Philistines and subdued them. He took Gath and its villages out of the Philistines' control. ² Then he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David and paid him tribute.

³ David then defeated Hadadezer, king of Zobah at Hamath, as Hadadezer was traveling to establish his rule by the Euphrates River. ⁴ David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen. David hamstrung all the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for a hundred chariots.

⁷ David took the golden shields that were on Hadadezer's servants and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ From Tebah and Kun, cities of Hadadezer, David took very much bronze. It was with this bronze that Solomon later made the bronze basin called "The Sea," the pillars, and the bronze equipment.

⁹ When Tou, king of Hamath, heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, ¹⁰ Tou sent Hadoram his son to King David to greet him and to bless him. He did this because David had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, and because Tou had often been at war with Hadadezer. Tou also sent David many different sorts of articles made of gold and silver and bronze. ¹¹ King David set these objects apart to Yahweh, together with the silver and the gold that he carried away from all the nations: Edom, Moab, the people of Ammon, the Philistines, and Amalek.

¹² Abishai son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. ¹³ He placed garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David's servants. Yahweh gave victory to David wherever he went.

¹⁴ David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and righteousness to all his people. ¹⁵ Joab son of Zeruiah was the commander of the army, and Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder. ¹⁶ Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests, and Shavsha was scribe. ¹⁷ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites, and David's sons were the chief officials at the hand of the king.

Chapter 19

¹ It came about later that Nahash, king of the people of Ammon, died, and that his son became king in his place. ² David said, "I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me." So David sent messengers to console him concerning his father. David's servants entered the land of the Ammonites and went to Hanun, in order to comfort him. ³ But the Ammonite princes said to Hanun, "Do you think that David is honoring your father because he has sent men to comfort you? Do not his servants come to you to explore and examine the land in order to overthrow it?"

⁴ So Hanun seized David's servants, shaved them, cut off their robes in the middle at their buttocks, and sent them away. ⁵ When they explained this to David, he sent to meet with them, for the men were deeply ashamed. The king said, "Stay at Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return."

⁶ When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, Hanun and the Ammonites sent a thousand talents of silver to hire Aramean chariots and horsemen from Naharaim, Maakah, and Zobah. ⁷ They hired thirty-two thousand chariots and the king of Maakah and his army, who came and encamped before Medeba. Then the Ammonites gathered themselves together from their cities and came out to battle.

⁸ When David heard of it, he sent Joab and his entire host of mighty men. ⁹ The people of Ammon came out and lined up for battle at the city gate, while the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.

¹⁰ When Joab saw the battle lines facing him both in front and behind, he chose some of Israel's best fighters and arranged them against the Arameans. ¹¹ As for the rest of the army, he gave it into the command of Abishai his brother, and he put them into battle lines against the army of Ammon.

¹² Joab said, "If the Arameans are too strong for me, then you, Abishai, must rescue me. But if the army of Ammon is too strong for you, then I will come and rescue you. ¹³ Be strong, and let us show ourselves to be strong for our people and for the cities of our God, for Yahweh will do what is good in his eyes."

¹⁴ So Joab and the soldiers of his army advanced to the battle against the Arameans, who were forced to flee before the army of Israel. ¹⁵ When the army of Ammon saw that the Arameans had fled, they also fled from Joab's brother Abishai and went back into the city. Then Joab returned from the people of Ammon and went back to Jerusalem.

¹⁶ When the Arameans saw that they were being defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought back Arameans from beyond the Euphrates River, with Shophak the commander of Hadadezer's army. ¹⁷ When David was told this, he gathered all Israel together, crossed the Jordan, and came upon them. He arranged the army for battle against the Arameans, and they fought him.

¹⁸ The Arameans fled from Israel, and David killed seven thousand Aramean charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also killed Shophak, the commander of the army. ¹⁹ When all the kings who were servants of Hadadezer saw that they were defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and served him. So the people of Aram were no longer willing to rescue the Ammonites.

Chapter 20

¹ It came about in the spring of the year, at the time when kings normally go to war, that Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah. David remained in Jerusalem. Joab attacked Rabbah and completely destroyed it.

² David took the crown of their king from off his head, and he found that it weighed a talent of gold, and in it were precious stones. The crown was set on David's head, and he brought out the plunder of the city in large quantities. ³ He brought out the people who were in the city and forced them to work with saws and iron picks and axes. David required all the cities of the descendants of Ammon to do this labor. Then David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.

⁴ It came about after this that there was a battle at Gezer with the Philistines. Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued. ⁵ It came about again in a battle with the Philistines at Gob, that Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed Lahmi brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.

⁶ It came about in another battle at Gath that there was a man of great height who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. He also was descended from the Rapha. ⁷ When he mocked the army of Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David's brother, killed him. ⁸ These were descendants of the Rapha of Gath, and they were killed by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

Chapter 21

¹ An adversary arose against Israel and incited David to count Israel. ² David said to Joab and to the commanders of the army, "Go, count the people of Israel from Beersheba to Dan and report back to me, that I may know their number." ³ Joab said, "May Yahweh make his army a hundred times greater than it is. But my master the king, do they not all serve my master? Why does my master want this? Why bring guilt on Israel?"

⁴ But the king's word was enforced against Joab. So Joab left and went throughout all Israel. Then he came back to Jerusalem. ⁵ Then Joab reported the total of the census of the fighting men to David. There were in Israel 1,100,000 men who drew the sword. Judah alone had 470,000 soldiers.

⁶ But Levi and Benjamin were not counted among them, for the king's command had disgusted Joab. ⁷ God was offended by this action, so he attacked Israel. ⁸ David said to God, "I have greatly sinned by doing this. Now take away your servant's guilt, for I have acted very foolishly."

⁹ Yahweh told Gad, David's prophet, ¹⁰ "Go say to David, 'This is what Yahweh says: I am giving you three choices. Choose one of them.'"

¹¹ So Gad went to David and said to him, "Yahweh says this, 'Choose one of these: ¹² either three years of famine, three months being pursued by your enemies and being caught by their swords, or else three days of Yahweh's sword, that is, a plague in the land, with the angel of Yahweh destroying throughout all the land of Israel.' Now then, decide what answer I should take to the one who sent me."

¹³ Then David said to Gad, "I am in great distress! Let me fall into the hand of Yahweh rather than into the hand of man, for his merciful actions are very great." ¹⁴ So Yahweh sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand people died. ¹⁵ God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it. As he was about to destroy it, Yahweh watched and changed his mind about the harm. He said to the destroying angel, "Enough! Now draw back your hand." At that time the angel of Yahweh was standing at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

¹⁶ David looked up and saw the angel of Yahweh standing between earth and heaven, having a drawn sword in his hand raised over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, lay facedown on the ground. ¹⁷ David said to God, "Is it not I that commanded that the army be numbered? I did this wicked thing. But these sheep, what have they done? Yahweh my God! Let your hand strike me and my clan, but do not let the plague remain on your people."

¹⁸ So the angel of Yahweh commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up and build an altar for Yahweh at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. ¹⁹ So David went up as Gad instructed him to do in the name of Yahweh. ²⁰ While Ornan was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the angel. He and his four sons with him hid themselves.

²¹ When David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David. He left the threshing floor and bowed to David with his face to the ground. ²² Then David said to Ornan, "Sell me this threshing floor, so I can build an altar for Yahweh. I will pay the full price, so that the plague may be removed from the people."

²³ Ornan said to David, "Take it as your own, my master the king. Do with it what is good in your sight. Look, I will give you oxen for burnt offerings, threshing sledges for wood, and wheat for the grain offering; I will give it all to you." ²⁴ King David said to Ornan, "No, I insist on buying it for the full price. I will not take what is yours and offer it as a burnt offering to Yahweh if it costs me nothing."

²⁵ So David paid six hundred shekels of gold for the place. ²⁶ David built an altar for Yahweh there and offered on it burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. He called on Yahweh, who answered him with fire from heaven on the altar for burnt offerings. ²⁷ Then Yahweh gave an order to the angel, and the angel put his sword back into its sheath.

²⁸ When David saw that Yahweh had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he performed the sacrifice there at that same time. ²⁹ Now at that time, Yahweh's tabernacle, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar for burnt offerings, were at the high place at Gibeon. ³⁰ However, David could not go there to ask for God's direction, because he was afraid of the sword of the angel of Yahweh.

Chapter 22

¹ Then David said, "This is where the house of Yahweh God will be, with the altar for the burnt offerings of Israel."

² So David ordered his servants to gather together the foreigners living in the land of Israel. He assigned them to be stonecutters, to cut stone blocks, in order to build the house of God.

³ David supplied a large amount of iron for the nails for the doors to go in the gateways, and for braces. He also supplied more bronze than could be weighed, ⁴ and more cedar trees than could be counted. (The Sidonians and the Tyrians brought too many cedar logs to David to count.) ⁵ David said, "My son Solomon is a young and inexperienced man, and the house that is to be built for Yahweh must be especially magnificent, so that it will be famous and glorious in all other lands. So I will prepare for its building." So David made extensive preparations before his death.

⁶ Then he called for Solomon his son and commanded him to build a house for Yahweh, the God of Israel. ⁷ David said to Solomon, "My son, it was my intention to build a house myself, for the name of Yahweh my God. ⁸ But Yahweh came to me and said, 'You have shed much blood and have fought many battles. You will not build a house for my name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in my sight.

⁹ However, you will have a son who will be a peaceful man. I will give him rest from all his enemies on every side. For his name will be Solomon, and I will give peace and quiet to Israel in his days. ¹⁰ He will build a house for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his Father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.'

¹¹ Now, my son, may Yahweh be with you and enable you to succeed. May you build the house of Yahweh your God, as he said you would. ¹² Only may Yahweh give you insight and understanding, so that you may obey the law of Yahweh your God, when he places you in charge over Israel. ¹³ Then you will succeed, if you carefully obey the statutes and the decrees that Yahweh gave to Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be discouraged.

¹⁴ Now, see, with great pains I have prepared for the house of Yahweh 100,000 talents of gold, one million talents of silver, and bronze and iron in large quantities. I have also provided timber and stone. You must add more to all this.

¹⁵ You have many workmen with you: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and skillful craftsmen without number of every kind, ¹⁶ who can work with gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Arise and begin the work, and may Yahweh be with you."

¹⁷ David also ordered all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying, ¹⁸ "Yahweh your God is with you and has given you peace on every side. He has given the region's inhabitants into my hand. The region is subdued before Yahweh and his people. ¹⁹ Now seek Yahweh your God with all your heart and your soul. Get up and build the holy place of Yahweh God. Then you can bring the ark of the covenant of Yahweh and the holy things that belong to God into the house built for Yahweh's name."

Chapter 23

¹ When David was old and near the end of his life, he made Solomon his son king over Israel. ² He gathered together all the leaders of Israel, with the priests and Levites. ³ The Levites who were thirty years old and older were counted in a census, and they numbered thirty-eight thousand.

⁴ "Of these, twenty-four thousand were to oversee the work on the house of Yahweh, and six thousand were officers and judges. ⁵ Four thousand were gatekeepers, and four thousand were to praise Yahweh with the instruments that I made to give praise," David said. ⁶ David divided them into groups that corresponded to Levi's sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

⁷ From the clans descended from Gershon, there were Ladan and Shimei.

⁸ There were three of Ladan's sons: Jehiel the leader, Zetham, and Joel.

⁹ There were three of Shimei's sons: Shelomoth, Haziel, and Haran. These were the leaders of the clans of Ladan.

¹⁰ There were four of Shimei's sons: Jahath, Ziza, Jeush, and Beriah.

¹¹ Jahath was the oldest, and Ziza the second, but Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were considered as one clan with the same duties.

¹² There were four of Kohath's sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

¹³ These were Amram's sons: Aaron and Moses. Aaron was chosen to set apart the most holy things, that he and his descendants would offer incense before Yahweh, to serve him and to give blessings in his name forever. ¹⁴ But as for Moses the man of God, his descendants were counted with the tribe of Levi.

¹⁵ Moses' sons were Gershom and Eliezer.

¹⁶ Gershom's descendant was Shubael the oldest.

¹⁷ Eliezer's descendant was Rehabiah. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many descendants.

¹⁸ Izhar's son was Shelomith the leader.

¹⁹ Hebron's descendants were Jeriah the oldest, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

²⁰ Uzziel's sons were Micah the oldest, and Ishiah the second.

²¹ Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi. Mahli's sons were Eleazar and Kish.

²² Eleazar died without having any sons. He had only daughters. So their kinsmen, the sons of Kish, married them.

²³ Mushi's three sons were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.

²⁴ These were Levi's descendants corresponding to their clans. They were the leaders, counted and listed by name in the census, of the clans that did the work in the service of the house of Yahweh, from twenty years old and upward. ²⁵ For David said, "Yahweh, the God of Israel, has given rest to his people. He makes his home in Jerusalem forever. ²⁶ The Levites will no longer need to carry the tabernacle and all the equipment used in its service."

²⁷ For by David's last words the Levites were counted, from twenty years old and upward. ²⁸ Their duty was to assist Aaron's descendants in the service of the house of Yahweh. They were to care for the courtyards, the rooms, the ceremonial purification of all the things that belong to Yahweh, and other work in the service of the house of God. ²⁹ They also took care of the bread of the presence, the fine flour for grain offerings, the unleavened wafers, the baked offerings, the offerings mixed with oil, and all the measuring of the amounts and sizes of things.

³⁰ They also stood every morning to thank and praise Yahweh. They also did this in the evening ³¹ and whenever burnt offerings were offered to Yahweh, on the Sabbath and at the new moon festivals and feast days. A fixed number, assigned by decree, always had to be present before Yahweh.

³² They were in charge of the tent of meeting, the holy place, and helped their kinsmen the descendants of Aaron in the service of the house of Yahweh.

Chapter 24

¹ The work groups based on Aaron's descendants were these: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ² Nadab and Abihu died before their father died. They had no children, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests. ³ David, together with Zadok, a descendant of Eleazar, and Ahimelek, a descendant of Ithamar, divided them into groups for their labor as priests.

⁴ There were more leading men among Eleazar's descendants than among Ithamar's descendants, so they divided Eleazar's descendants into sixteen groups. They did this by heads of clans and by Ithamar's descendants. These divisions were eight in number, corresponding to their clans. ⁵ They divided them impartially by lot, for there were holy officials and officials of God, from both Eleazar's descendants and Ithamar's descendants.

⁶ Shemaiah son of Nethanel the scribe, a Levite, wrote down their names in the presence of the king, the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelek son of Abiathar, and the leaders of the priestly and Levite families. One clan was drawn by lot from Eleazar's descendants, and then the next would be drawn from Ithamar's descendants.

⁷ The first lot went to Jehoiarib, the second to Jedaiah,

⁸ the third to Harim, the fourth to Seorim,

⁹ the fifth to Malkijah, the sixth to Mijamin,

¹⁰ the seventh to Hakkoz, the eighth to Abijah,

¹¹ the ninth to Jeshua, the tenth to Shekaniah,

¹² the eleventh to Eliashib, the twelfth to Jakim,

¹³ the thirteenth to Huppah, the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,

¹⁴ the fifteenth to Bilgah, the sixteenth to Immer,

¹⁵ the seventeenth to Hezir, the eighteenth to Happizzez,

¹⁶ the nineteenth to Pethahiah, the twentieth to Jehezkel,

¹⁷ the twenty-first to Jakin, the twenty-second to Gamul,

¹⁸ the twenty-third to Delaiah, and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.

¹⁹ This was the order of their service, when they came into the house of Yahweh, following the ordinance given to them by Aaron their ancestor, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded him.

²⁰ These were the rest of the descendants of Levi: Of the sons of Amram, Shubael; of the sons of Shubael, Jehdeiah.

²¹ As for Rehabiah, the sons of Rehabiah: Ishiah the leader.

²² From the Izharites: Shelomoth; from the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath.

²³ The sons of Hebron: Jeriah the leader, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.

²⁴ The son of Uzziel: Micah; from the sons of Micah: Shamir.

²⁵ The brother of Micah: Ishiah. From the sons of Ishiah: Zechariah.

²⁶ The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi; from the son of Jaaziah: Beno.

²⁷ The sons of Merari from Jaaziah: Beno, Shoham, Zakkur, and Ibri.

²⁸ From Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.

²⁹ From Kish: The son of Kish: Jerahmeel.

³⁰ The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the Levites, listed by their clans. ³¹ These men who were the head of each clan and each of their younger brothers, cast lots in the presence of King David, and Zadok and Ahimelek, along with the leaders of the families of the priests and Levites. They cast lots just as Aaron's descendants had done.

Chapter 25

¹ David and the leaders of the army selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with lutes and harps, and with cymbals. Here is the list of the men who performed this service:

² From the sons of Asaph: Zakkur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah, ¹ the sons of Asaph, under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied under the king's supervision.

³ From the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, ² Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six in all, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied, playing the harp for giving thanks and praising Yahweh.

⁴ From the sons of Heman: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, ³ Shubael, and Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. ⁵ All these were the sons of Heman the king's prophet. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters to lift up his horn.

⁶ All these were under the direction of their fathers. They were musicians in the house of Yahweh with cymbals, lutes and lyres, as they served in the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the king's supervision. ⁷ They and their brothers who were skilled and trained to make music to Yahweh numbered 288. ⁸ They cast lots for their duties, all alike, the same for the young as well as the old, the teacher as well as the student.

⁹ Now regarding Asaph's sons: The first lot fell to Joseph's family; the second fell to Gedaliah's family, twelve persons in number; ¹⁰ the third fell to Zakkur, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ¹¹ the fourth fell to Izri, ⁴ his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ¹² the fifth fell to Nethaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;

¹³ the sixth fell to Bukkiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ¹⁴ the seventh fell to Jesarelah, ⁵ his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ¹⁵ the eighth fell to Jeshaiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ¹⁶ the ninth fell to Mattaniah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;

¹⁷ the tenth fell to Shimei, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ¹⁸ the eleventh fell to Azarel, ⁶ his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ¹⁹ the twelfth fell to Hashabiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ²⁰ the thirteenth fell to Shubael, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;

²¹ the fourteenth fell to Mattithiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ²² the fifteenth fell to Jerimoth, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ²³ the sixteenth fell to Hananiah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ²⁴ the seventeenth fell to Joshbekashah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;

²⁵ the eighteenth fell to Hanani, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ²⁶ the nineteenth fell to Mallothi, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ²⁷ the twentieth fell to Eliathah, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ²⁸ the twenty-first fell to Hothir, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number;

²⁹ the twenty-second fell to Giddalti, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ³⁰ the twenty-third fell to Mahazioth, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number; ³¹ the twenty-fourth fell to Romamti-Ezer, his sons and his relatives, twelve persons in number.

¹This is the same person referred to in 1 Chronicles 25:14 as Jesarelah.

²This is a variant of the name Izri , which is found in 1 Chronicles 25:11, and refers to the same person.

³Uzziel is the same person referred to in 1 Chronicles 25:18 as Azarel.

⁴This is a variant of Zeri , found in 1 Chronicles 25:3, and refers to the same person.

⁵This is the same person referred to in 1 Chronicles 25:2 as Asharelah.

⁶This is the same person referred to in 1 Chronicles 25:4 as Uzziel.

Chapter 26

¹ Here were the divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites, Meshelemiah son of Kore, a descendant of Asaph ¹ .

² Meshelemiah ² had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,

³ Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.

⁴ Obed-Edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sakar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth,

⁵ Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth, for God had blessed Obed-Edom.

⁶ To Shemaiah his son were born sons who ruled over their clans; they were men of great ability.

⁷ The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. His relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also men with many abilities. ⁸ All these were descendants of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were men capable of doing their duties in the tabernacle service. There were sixty-two of them related to Obed-Edom.

⁹ Meshelemiah had sons and relatives, capable men, eighteen in all.

¹⁰ Hosah, a descendant of Merari, had sons: Shimri the leader (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him leader), ¹¹ Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth. All of Hosah's sons and kinsmen were thirteen in number.

¹² These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their leaders, had responsibilities, like their relatives, to serve in the house of Yahweh. ¹³ They threw lots, both young and old, corresponding to their clans, for every gate. ¹⁴ When the lot was cast for the east gate, it fell to Shelemiah ³ . They then cast lots for Zechariah his son, a prudent advisor, and his lot came out for the north gate.

¹⁵ To Obed-Edom was assigned the south gate, and his sons were assigned the storehouses. ¹⁶ Shuppim and Hosah were assigned the west gate along with the gate of Shalleketh, on the upper road. The guards were very close to each other.

¹⁷ On the east were six Levites, on the north four a day, on the south four a day, and at the storehouses two pairs. ¹⁸ At the pillar to the west there were four stationed at the road and two at the pillar ⁴ ¹⁹ These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were the descendants of Korah and Merari.

²⁰ Among the Levites, Ahijah was in charge of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the things that belong to Yahweh. ²¹ The descendants of Ladan, who were descendants of the Gershonites through Ladan, who were heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite, were Jehieli ²² and the sons of Jehieli: Zetham and Joel his brother. They were in charge of the treasuries of the house of Yahweh.

²³ From the clans of Amram, the clans of Izhar, the clans of Hebron, and the clans of Uzziel:

²⁴ Shubael, a descendant of Gershom son of Moses, was supervisor over the treasuries. ²⁵ His relatives from the clan of Eliezer were his son Rehabiah, Rehabiah's son Jeshaiah, Jeshaiah's son Joram, Joram's son Zikri, and Zikri's son Shelomith.

²⁶ Shelomith and his relatives were over all the treasuries holding the dedicated things that David the king, the family leaders, commanders over thousands and hundreds, and the army commanders had dedicated. ²⁷ They set apart the plunder won in battles for the upkeep of the house of Yahweh. ²⁸ They were also in charge of everything that was set apart to Yahweh by Samuel the prophet, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah. Everything that was set apart to Yahweh was under the guard of Shelomith and his relatives.

²⁹ Of Izhar's descendants, Kenaniah and his sons were in charge of the civil affairs of Israel. They were officers and judges.

³⁰ Of Hebron's descendants, Hashabiah and his brothers, 1,700 capable men, were in charge of Yahweh's work and the king's work. They were on the west side of the Jordan.

³¹ As for the Hebronites, Jeriah was the head of the clans, according to the genealogical records. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they examined the records and found among them men of great ability in Jazer of Gilead. ³² Jeriah had 2,700 relatives, who were capable family leaders. David made them overseers over the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the king's affairs.

¹Asaph is the same person referred to as Ebiasaph in 1 Chronicles 9:19.

²Meshelemiah is the same person referred to as Shelemiah in 1 Chronicles 26:14.

³Shelemiah is the same person referred to as Meshelemiah in 1 Chronicles 26:2.

⁴The Hebrew word translated here as pillar is uncertain. Some translations simply write the Hebrew word as parbar . This word appears only here and in 2 Kings 23:11 in the Old Testament.

Chapter 27

¹ This is the list of the family leaders of the people of Israel, commanders of thousands and hundreds, as well as army officers who served the king in various ways. Each military division served month by month throughout the year. Each division had twenty-four thousand men.

² Over the division for the first month was Jashobeam son of Zabdiel. In his division were twenty-four thousand men. ³ He was among the descendants of Perez and in charge of all the army officers for the first month.

⁴ Over the division for the second month was Dodai, from the clan descended from Ahoah. Mikloth was second in rank. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.

⁵ The commander of the army for the third month was Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a priest and leader. In his division were twenty-four thousand men. ⁶ This is the Benaiah who was the leader of the thirty, and over the thirty. Ammizabad his son was in his division.

⁷ The commander for the fourth month was Asahel brother of Joab. Zebadiah his son became commander after him. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.

⁸ The commander for the fifth month was Shamhuth, a descendant of Izrah. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.

⁹ The commander for the sixth month was Ira son of Ikkesh, from Tekoa. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.

¹⁰ The commander for the seventh month was Helez the Pelonite, from the people of Ephraim. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.

¹¹ The commander for the eighth month was Sibbekai the Hushathite, from the clan descended from Zerah. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.

¹² The commander for the ninth month was Abiezer the Anathothite, from the tribe of Benjamin. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.

¹³ The commander for the tenth month was Maharai from the city of Netophah, from the clan descended from Zerah. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.

¹⁴ The commander for the eleventh month was Benaiah from the city of Pirathon, from the tribe of Ephraim. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.

¹⁵ The commander for the twelfth month was Heldai from the city of Netophah, from the clan descended from Othniel. In his division were twenty-four thousand men.

¹⁶ These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel: For the tribe of Reuben, Eliezer son of Zichri was the leader. For the tribe of Simeon, Shephatiah son of Maakah was the leader.

¹⁷ For the tribe of Levi, Hashabiah son of Kemuel was the leader, and Zadok led Aaron's descendants.

¹⁸ For the tribe of Judah, Elihu, one of David's brothers, was the leader. For the tribe of Issachar, Omri son of Michael was the leader.

¹⁹ For the tribe of Zebulun, Ishmaiah son of Obadiah was the leader. For the tribe of Naphtali, Jerimoth son of Azriel was the leader.

²⁰ For the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Azaziah was the leader. For the half tribe of Manasseh, Joel son of Pedaiah was the leader.

²¹ For the half tribe of Manasseh in Gilead, Iddo son of Zechariah was the leader. For the tribe of Benjamin, Jaasiel son of Abner was the leader.

²² For the tribe of Dan, Azarel son of Jeroham was the leader. These were the leaders of the tribes of Israel.

²³ David did not count those twenty years old or younger, because Yahweh had promised to increase Israel like the stars of heaven. ²⁴ Joab son of Zeruiah began to count the men, but did not finish. Wrath fell on Israel for this. This number was not written down in the Chronicles of King David.

²⁵ Azmaveth son of Adiel was in charge of the king's treasuries. Jonathan son of Uzziah was over the storehouses in the fields, in the cities, and in the villages, and in the fortified towers. ²⁶ Ezri son of Kelub was over the farmers, those who plowed the land. ²⁷ Shimei the Ramathite was over the vineyards, and Zabdi the Shiphmite was over the grapes and the wine cellars.

²⁸ Over the olive trees and the sycamore trees that were in the lowlands was Baal-Hanan from Geder, and over the storehouses of oil was Joash. ²⁹ Over the herds that were pastured in Sharon was Shitrai from Sharon, and over the herds that were in the valleys was Shaphat son of Adlai.

³⁰ Over the camels was Obil the Ishmaelite, and over the female donkeys was Jehdeiah from Meronoth. Over the flocks was Jaziz the Hagrite. ³¹ Jaziz the Hagrite was in charge of the flocks. All these officials were in charge of the property of King David.

³² Jonathan, David's uncle, was an advisor, since he was a wise man and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hakmoni cared for the king's sons. ³³ Ahithophel was the king's advisor, and Hushai from the Arkite people was the king's private advisor. ³⁴ Ahithophel's position was taken by Jehoiada son of Benaiah, and by Abiathar. Joab was commander of the king's army.

Chapter 28

¹ David assembled all the officials of Israel at Jerusalem: the officials of the tribes, the officers of the divisions that served the king in their scheduled work, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, the managers over all the property and possessions of the king and of his sons, and the officers and fighting men, including the most skilled of them.

² Then David the king rose to his feet and said, "Listen to me, my brothers and my people. It was my intention to build a house as a resting place for the ark of the covenant of Yahweh; a footstool for our God, and I have made preparations to build it. ³ But God said to me, 'You will not build a temple for my name, because you are a man of war and have shed blood.'

⁴ Yet Yahweh, the God of Israel, chose me from all my father's house to be king over Israel forever. He has chosen Judah as leader, and from the house of Judah he chose my father's house, and from all my father's sons he was pleased to make me king over all Israel. ⁵ From the many sons whom Yahweh has given me, he chose Solomon, my son, to sit on the throne of the kingdom of Yahweh, over Israel.

⁶ He said to me, 'Solomon your son will build my house and my courtyards, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his Father. ⁷ I will establish his kingdom forever, if he remains committed to obey my commandments and decrees, as you are this day.'

⁸ Now then, in the sight of all Israel, this assembly for Yahweh, and in the presence of our God, all of you must keep and try to carry out all the commandments of Yahweh your God. Do this so that you may possess this good land and leave it as an inheritance to your descendants after you forever.

⁹ As for you, Solomon my son, obey the God of your father, and serve him with your whole heart and a willing spirit. Do this because Yahweh searches all hearts and understands every motivation of everyone's thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you abandon him, he will reject you forever. ¹⁰ Realize that Yahweh has chosen you to build this temple as his sanctuary. Be strong and do it."

¹¹ Then David gave to Solomon his son the plans for the temple portico, the temple buildings, the storerooms, the upper rooms, the inner rooms, and the room with the atonement lid. ¹² He gave him the plans he had drawn for the courtyards of the house of Yahweh, all the surrounding rooms, the storerooms in the house of God, and the treasuries for the things that belong to Yahweh.

¹³ He gave him regulations for the divisions of the priests and Levites, for the assigned responsibilities for the service of the house of Yahweh, and for all the objects for the service in the house of Yahweh. ¹⁴ He determined the weight of all the gold vessels for each service, the weight of silver vessels for each service, ¹⁵ the weight of the gold for all the gold articles, to be lampstands and gold lamps, the weight of gold for each lampstand, the weight of silver for each silver lampstand, according to the use of each lampstand in the service.

¹⁶ He gave the weight of the gold for the tables of the bread of the presence, for every table, and the weight of the silver for the silver tables. ¹⁷ He gave the weight of pure gold for the meat forks, basins, and cups. He gave the weight for each of the gold bowls, and the weight of each of the silver bowls.

¹⁸ He gave the weight of refined gold for the incense altar, and of the gold for the design of the chariot, the cherubim that spread out their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of Yahweh. ¹⁹ David said, "I have put all this in writing as Yahweh directed me and gave me to understand regarding the design."

²⁰ David said to Solomon his son, "Be strong and brave. Do the work. Do not be afraid or dismayed, for Yahweh God, my God, is with you. He will not leave you nor abandon you until all the work for the service of the house of Yahweh is finished. ²¹ See, here are the divisions of the priests and Levites for all the service in the house of God. They will be with you, together with all willing and skillful men, to assist you in the work and to perform the service. The officials and all the people are ready to follow your commands."

Chapter 29

¹ King David said to the whole assembly, "Solomon my son, whom alone God has chosen, is still young and inexperienced, and the task is great. For the temple is not for people but for Yahweh God. ² So I have done my best to provide for the temple of my God. I am giving gold for the things to be made of gold, silver for the things to be made of silver, bronze for the things to be made of bronze, iron for the things to be made of iron, and wood for the things to be made of wood. I am also giving onyx stones, stones to be set, stones for inlaid work of various colors—all kinds of precious stones—and marble stone in abundance.

³ Now, because of my delight in the house of my God, I am giving my personal treasure of gold and silver for it. I am doing this in addition to all that I have prepared for this holy temple: ⁴ three thousand talents of gold from Ophir, and seven thousand talents of refined silver, in order to overlay the walls of the buildings. ⁵ I am donating gold for the things to be made of gold, and silver for the things to be made of silver, and things for all kinds of work to be done by craftsmen. Who else wants to make a contribution to Yahweh today and give himself to him?"

⁶ Then freewill offerings were made by the leaders of their ancestors' families, the leaders of the tribes of Israel, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and by the officials over the king's work. ⁷ They gave for the service of the house of God five thousand talents and ten thousand darics of gold, ten thousand talents of silver, eighteen thousand talents of bronze, and 100,000 talents of iron.

⁸ Those who had precious stones gave them to the treasury of the house of Yahweh, under the supervision of Jehiel, a descendant of Gershon. ⁹ The people rejoiced because of these freewill offerings, because they had contributed wholeheartedly to Yahweh. King David also rejoiced greatly.

¹⁰ David blessed Yahweh in front of all the assembly. He said, "May you be praised, Yahweh, God of Israel our ancestor, forever and ever. ¹¹ Yours, Yahweh, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. For all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, Yahweh, and you are exalted as ruler over all.

¹² Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all people. In your hand is power and might. You possess the strength and might to make people great and to give strength to anyone. ¹³ Now then, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name.

¹⁴ But who am I, and who are my people, that we should have the ability to offer so willingly these things? Indeed, all things come from you, and we have simply given back to you what is yours. ¹⁵ For we are sojourners and tenants before you, as all our ancestors were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope of remaining on earth.

¹⁶ Yahweh our God, all this wealth that we have collected in order to build a temple to honor your holy name—it comes from you and belongs to you. ¹⁷ I know also, my God, that you examine the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things, and now I look with joy as your people who are present here willingly offer gifts to you.

¹⁸ Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel—our ancestors—keep this forever in the thoughts of the minds of your people. Direct their hearts toward you. ¹⁹ Give to Solomon my son a whole heart to keep your commandments, your covenant decrees, and your statutes, and to carry out all these plans to build the palace for which I have made provision."

²⁰ David said to all the assembly, "Now bless Yahweh your God." All the assembly blessed Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and they bowed down and showed honor to Yahweh and to the king. ²¹ On the next day, they made sacrifices to Yahweh and offered burnt offerings to him. They offered a thousand bulls, a thousand rams, and a thousand lambs, with their drink offerings and sacrifices in abundance for all Israel.

²² On that day, they ate and drank before Yahweh with great joy.

They made Solomon, David's son, king a second time, and anointed him with Yahweh's authority to be ruler. They also anointed Zadok to be priest.

²³ Then Solomon sat on Yahweh's throne as king in place of David his father. He prospered, and all Israel obeyed him.

²⁴ All the leaders, soldiers, and King David's sons gave allegiance to King Solomon. ²⁵ Yahweh greatly honored Solomon before all Israel and bestowed on him royal majesty such as had never been given to any king before him in Israel.

²⁶ David son of Jesse reigned over all Israel. ²⁷ David had been king of Israel for forty years. He ruled for seven years in Hebron and for thirty-three years in Jerusalem. ²⁸ He died at a good old age, after enjoying a long life, wealth and honor. Solomon his son reigned after him.

²⁹ King David's accomplishments are written in the chronicles of Samuel the seer, in the chronicles of Nathan the prophet, and in the chronicles of Gad the seer. ³⁰ Recorded there are the deeds of his rule, his power and the events that affected him, Israel, and all the kingdoms of the other lands.

2 Chronicles

Chapter 1

¹ Solomon son of David was strengthened in his rule, and Yahweh his God was with him and made him very powerful.

² Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and to the judges, and to every prince in all Israel, the heads of the fathers' houses. ³ So Solomon and all the assembly with him went to the high place that was at Gibeon, for there was the tent of meeting of God, which Moses the servant of Yahweh, had made in the wilderness. ⁴ But David had brought up the ark of God from Kiriath Jearim to the place that he had prepared for it, for he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem. ⁵ In addition, the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur was there before the tabernacle of Yahweh; Solomon and the assembly went to it. ¹

⁶ Solomon went up there to the bronze altar before Yahweh, which was at the tent of meeting, and offered one thousand burnt offerings on it.

⁷ God appeared to Solomon that night and said to him, "Ask! What should I give you?"

⁸ Solomon said to God, "You have shown great covenant faithfulness to David my father, and have made me king in his place. ⁹ Now, Yahweh God, let your promise to David my father be carried out, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. ¹⁰ Now give me wisdom and knowledge, so that I may lead this people, for who can judge your people, who are so many in number?" ¹¹ God said to Solomon, "Because this was in your heart, and because you have not asked for riches, wealth, or honor, nor for the life of those who hate you, nor for long life for yourself, but you have asked for wisdom and knowledge for yourself, so that you might rule my people, over whom I have made you king, this is what I will do.

¹² I will now give you wisdom and knowledge. I will also give you riches, wealth, and honor, as none of the kings had before you, and none after you will have." ¹³ So Solomon came to Jerusalem from the high place that was at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting; he reigned over Israel.

¹⁴ Solomon gathered chariots and horsemen, and he had 1,400 chariots and twelve thousand horsemen that he placed in the chariot cities, and with himself, the king in Jerusalem. ¹⁵ The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as the stones, and he made cedar wood as common as the sycamore trees that are in the lowlands.

¹⁶ As for the importation of horses from Egypt and Kue for Solomon, the king's merchants bought them from Kue at a price. ¹⁷ They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver, and a horse for 150 shekels. They also exported them to the kings of the Hittites and the Arameans.

¹Some of the ancient Hebrew copies have, the bronze altar made by Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, he placed there before the tabernacle of Yahweh , where he refers to David.

Chapter 2

¹ Now Solomon commanded the building of a house for Yahweh's name and the building of a palace for his kingdom. ² Solomon assigned seventy thousand men to carry loads, and eighty thousand men as stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 men to supervise them. ³ Solomon sent a message to Hiram, the king of Tyre, saying, "As you did with David my father, sending him cedar logs to build a house to live in, do the same with me.

⁴ See, I am about to build a house for the name of Yahweh my God, to set it apart to him, to burn incense of sweet spices before him, to set out the bread of the presence, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the Sabbaths and on the new moons, and on the appointed feasts for Yahweh our God. This is forever, for Israel. ⁵ The house that I will build will be very large, for our God is greater than all other gods.

⁶ But who is able to build God a house, since the entire universe and even heaven itself cannot contain him? Who am I to build him a house, except to burn sacrifices before him? ⁷ So send me a man who is skilled at work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, and in purple, crimson, and blue wool, a man who knows how to make all kinds of engraved wood. He will be with the skilled men who are with me in Judah and Jerusalem, whom David my father provided.

⁸ Send me also cedar, cypress, and algum trees from Lebanon, for I know that your servants know how to cut timber in Lebanon. See, my servants will be with your servants, ⁹ in order to prepare for me timber in abundance, for the house which I am about to build will be great and marvelous. ¹⁰ See, I will give to your servants, the men who will cut the timber, twenty thousand cors of ground wheat, twenty thousand cors of barley, twenty thousand baths of wine, and twenty thousand baths of oil." ¹

¹¹ Then Hiram, the king of Tyre, answered in writing, which he sent to Solomon: "Because Yahweh loves his people, he has made you king over them."

¹² In addition, Hiram said, "Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given to David the king a wise son, gifted with prudence and understanding, who will build a house for Yahweh and a royal palace for himself.

¹³ Now I have sent a skillful man, Huram-Abi, who is gifted with understanding. ¹⁴ He is the son of a woman of the daughters of Dan. His father was a man from Tyre. He is skilled at work in gold, silver, bronze, iron, stone, and in timber, and in purple, blue, and crimson wool, and fine linen. He is also skilled in making any kind of engraving and in making any kind of design. Let a place be made for him among your skilled workers, and with those of my master, David, your father.

¹⁵ Now then, the wheat and the barley, the oil and the wine, of which my master has spoken, let him send these things to his servants. ¹⁶ We will cut wood from Lebanon, as much wood as you need. We will take it to you as rafts by sea to Joppa, and you will carry it up to Jerusalem."

¹⁷ Solomon counted all the foreigners who were in the land of Israel, following the method that David, his father, had counted them. They were found to be 153,600. ¹⁸ He assigned seventy thousand of them to carry loads, eighty thousand to be stonecutters in the mountains, and 3,600 to be supervisors to put the people to work.

¹Some translations compare this section with 1 Kings 5:11 where the Hebrew reads: twenty thousand cors of wheat as food .

Chapter 3

¹ Then Solomon began to build the house of Yahweh at Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where Yahweh had appeared to David his father. He prepared the place that David had planned for it, at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. ² He began to build on the second day of the second month, in the fourth year of his reign. ³ Now these are the dimensions of the foundation that Solomon laid for the house of God. Using the old style cubit, the length was sixty cubits, and the width was twenty cubits.

⁴ The length of the portico at the front of the house was twenty cubits, matching the building's width. Its height was also twenty cubits, and Solomon overlaid its interior with pure gold. ⁵ He fashioned the ceiling of the main hall with cypress, which he overlaid with fine gold, and which he carved with palm trees and chains.

⁶ He decorated the house with precious stones; the gold was gold from Parvaim. ⁷ He also overlaid its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold; he carved cherubim on its walls.

⁸ He built the most holy place. Its length matched the house's width, twenty cubits, and its width was also twenty cubits. He overlaid it with fine gold, amounting to six hundred talents. ⁹ The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. He overlaid its high surfaces with gold.

¹⁰ He made two images of cherubim for the most holy place; craftsmen overlaid them with gold. ¹ ¹¹ The wings of the cherubim were twenty cubits long all together; the wing of one cherub was five cubits long, reaching to the wall of the room, and the other wing was five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub. ¹² The wing of the other cherub was also five cubits, reaching to the wall of the room; its other wing was also five cubits, touching the wing of the first cherub.

¹³ The wings of these cherubim spread a total of twenty cubits. The cherubim stood on their feet, with their faces toward the main hall. ¹⁴ He made the curtain of blue, purple, and crimson wool and fine linen, and he fashioned cherubim on it.

¹⁵ Solomon also made two pillars, each thirty-five cubits high, for in front of the house; the capitals that were on the top of them were five cubits high. ¹⁶ He made chains for the pillars and put them on top of them; he also made one hundred pomegranates and joined them to the chains. ¹⁷ He set up the pillars in front of the temple, one on the right hand, and the other on the left; he named the pillar on the right Jakin, and the pillar on the left Boaz.

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew texts can be rendered in two ways. Some translate as: two forged metal images of cherubim ; and another as: two carved wooden images of cherubim.

Chapter 4

¹ Moreover he made an altar of bronze; its length was twenty cubits, and its width was twenty cubits. Its height was ten cubits. ² He also made the round sea of cast metal, ten cubits from brim to brim. Its height was five cubits, and the sea was thirty cubits in circumference. ³ Under the brim encircling the sea were bulls, ten to each cubit, cast in one piece with the sea when the sea itself was cast.

⁴ The large basin known as "The Sea" was set upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, three looking toward the west, three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east. "The Sea" was set on top of them, and all their hindquarters were toward the inside. ⁵ "The Sea" was as thick as the width of a hand, and its brim was forged like the brim of a cup, like a lily blossom. "The Sea" held three thousand baths of water. ⁶ He made also ten basins for washing things; he put five on the south side, and five on the north; items used in performing the burnt offering were to be washed in them. The large basin known as "The Sea" was used by the priests for them to wash.

⁷ He made the ten lampstands of gold that were made from the instructions for their design; he placed them in the temple, five on the right hand, and five on the left. ⁸ He made ten tables and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left. He made one hundred basins of gold.

⁹ Furthermore he made the courtyard of the priests, and the great court and the doors for the court and overlaid their doors with bronze. ¹⁰ He placed the basin known as "The Sea" on the east side of the temple, facing toward the south.

¹¹ Huram made the pots, the shovels, and the sprinkling bowls.

So Huram finished the work that he did for King Solomon in the house of God:

¹² the two pillars, the bowl-like capitals that were on top of the two pillars, and the two sets of decorative latticework to cover the two bowl-like capitals that were on top of the pillars.

¹³ He had made the four hundred pomegranates for the two sets of decorative latticework: two rows of pomegranates for each set of latticework to cover the two bowl-like capitals that were on the pillars.

¹⁴ He also made the stands and the basins to go on the stands;

¹⁵ one sea and the twelve bulls under it,

¹⁶ also the pots, shovels, meat forks, and all the other implements that Huram-Abi made of polished bronze for King Solomon, for the house of Yahweh. ¹

¹⁷ The king had cast them in the plain of the Jordan, in the clay ground between Sukkoth and Zarethan. ¹⁸ Thus Solomon made all these vessels in great abundance; indeed, the weight of the bronze could not be known.

¹⁹ Solomon made all the furnishings that were in the house of God, the golden altar also, and the tables on which the bread of the presence was to be placed;

²⁰ the lampstands with their lamps, that were designed to burn before the inner room—these were made of pure gold;

²¹ and the flowers, the lamps, and the tongs, of gold, pure gold.

²² Also the lamp trimmers, basins, spoons, and incense burners were all made of pure gold. As for the entrance into the house, its inner doors into the most holy place and the doors of the house, that is, of the temple, were made of gold.

¹Instead of meat forks , some modern translations have bowls , which follows 1 Kings 7:45.

Chapter 5

¹ When all the work that Solomon did for the house of Yahweh was completed, Solomon brought in the things that David, his father, had set apart for this purpose, including the silver, the gold, and all the furnishings—he placed them into the treasuries of the house of God.

² Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel, all the heads of the tribes, and the leaders of the families of the people of Israel, in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of Yahweh from the city of David, that is, Zion. ³ All the men of Israel assembled before the king at the feast, which was in the seventh month.

⁴ All the elders of Israel came, and the Levites took up the ark. ⁵ They brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tent. The priests who were of the tribe of Levi brought these things up. ⁶ King Solomon and all the assembly of Israel came together before the ark, sacrificing sheep and cattle that could not be counted.

⁷ The priests brought in the ark of the covenant of Yahweh to its place, into the inner room of the house, to the most holy place, under the wings of the cherubim. ⁸ For the cherubim spread out their wings over the place of the ark, and they covered the ark and the poles by which it was carried.

⁹ The poles that extended from the ark were so long that their ends were seen from the holy place in front of the inner room, but they could not be seen from outside. They are there to this day. ¹⁰ There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had put there at Horeb, when Yahweh made a covenant with the people of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

¹¹ It came about that the priests came out of the holy place. All the priests who were present had consecrated themselves to Yahweh, regardless of their divisions. ¹² Also the Levites who were the singers, all of them, including Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun, and their sons and brothers, clothed in fine linen and playing cymbals, lutes and harps, stood at the east end of the altar. With them were 120 priests blowing trumpets.

¹³ It came about that the trumpeters and singers made music together, making one sound to be heard for praising and thanking Yahweh. They raised their voices with the trumpets and cymbals and other instruments, and they praised Yahweh. They sang, "For he is good, for his covenant loyalty endures forever." Then the house, the house of Yahweh, was filled with a cloud. ¹⁴ The priests could not stand in order to serve because of the cloud, for the glory of Yahweh filled his house.

Chapter 6

¹ Then Solomon said, "Yahweh has said that he would live in thick darkness, ² but I have built you a lofty residence, a place for you to live in forever." ³ Then the king turned around and blessed all the assembly of Israel, while all the assembly of Israel was standing.

⁴ He said, "May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised, who spoke to David my father, and has fulfilled it with his own hands, saying, ⁵ 'Since the day that I brought my people out of the land of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel in which to build a house, in order for my name to be there. Neither did I choose any man to be prince over my people Israel. ⁶ However, I have chosen Jerusalem, so that my name might be there, and I have chosen David to be over my people Israel.'

⁷ Now it was in the heart of David my father, to build a house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. ⁸ But Yahweh said to David my father, 'In that it was in your heart to build a house for my name, you did well for it to be in your heart. ⁹ Nevertheless, you are not to build the house; instead, your son, one who will come from your loins, will build the house for my name.'

¹⁰ Yahweh has carried out the word that he had said, for I have arisen in the place of David my father, and I sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised. I have built the house for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel. ¹¹ I have placed the ark there, in which is Yahweh's covenant, which he made with the people of Israel."

¹² Solomon stood before the altar of Yahweh in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands. ¹³ For he had made a bronze platform, five cubits long, five cubits wide, and three cubits high. He had placed it in the middle of the courtyard. He stood on it and knelt down before all the assembly of Israel, and then he spread out his hands toward the heavens.

¹⁴ He said, "Yahweh, God of Israel, there is no God like you in the heavens or on the earth, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with your servants who walk before you with all their heart; ¹⁵ you who have kept with your servant David my father, what you promised him. Yes, you spoke with your mouth and have fulfilled it with your hand, as it is today.

¹⁶ Now then, Yahweh, God of Israel, carry out what you have promised to your servant David my father, when you said, 'You will not fail to have a man in my sight to sit on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful to walk in my law, as you have walked before me.' ¹⁷ Now then, Yahweh, God of Israel, let your word be confirmed, which you have spoken to your servant David.

¹⁸ But will God actually live with mankind on the earth? Look, the entire universe and heaven itself cannot contain you—how much less can this temple that I have built! ¹⁹ Yet please respect this prayer of your servant and his plea, Yahweh my God; listen to the cry and prayer that your servant prays before you. ²⁰ May your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, the place where you promised to put your name. May you listen to the prayer your servant prays toward this place.

²¹ So listen to the pleas of your servant and of your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, listen from the place where you live, from the heavens; and when you listen, forgive.

²² If a man sins against his neighbor and is required to swear an oath, and if he comes and swears an oath before your altar in this house, ²³ listen from the heavens and act. Judge your servants, condemning the wicked and bringing what he has done upon his own head. Declare the innocent not guilty and give to him according to his righteousness.

²⁴ When your people Israel are defeated by an enemy because they have sinned against you, if they turn back to you, confess your name, pray, and seek favor before you in this temple— ²⁵ then please listen from the heavens and forgive the sin of your people Israel; bring them back to the land that you gave to them and to their ancestors.

²⁶ When the skies are shut up and there is no rain because the people have sinned against you—if they pray toward this place, confess your name, and turn from their sin when you have afflicted them— ²⁷ then listen in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and of your people Israel, when you direct them to the good way in which they should walk. Send rain on your land, which you have given to your people as an inheritance.

²⁸ Suppose there is famine in the land, or suppose that there is disease, blight or mildew, locusts or caterpillars; or suppose that its enemies attack the city gates in their land, or that there is any plague or sickness— ²⁹ and suppose then that prayers and pleas are made by a person or by all your people Israel—each knowing the plague and sorrow in his own heart as he spreads out his hands toward this temple. ³⁰ Then listen from heaven, the place where you live; forgive, and reward every person for all his ways; you know his heart, because you and you only know the hearts of human beings. ³¹ Do this so that they may fear you, so that they may walk in your ways all the days that they live on the land that you gave to our ancestors.

³² As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel, but who—because of your great name, your mighty hand, and your outstretched arm—comes and prays toward this house, ³³ then please listen from heaven, the place where you live, and do all that the foreigner asks of you, so that all the people of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and that they might know that this house I have built is called by your name.

³⁴ Suppose that your people go out to battle against their enemies, by whatever way you may send them, and suppose that they pray to you toward this city that you have chosen, and toward the house that I have built for your name. ³⁵ Then listen from the heavens to their prayer, their request, and help their cause.

³⁶ Suppose they sin against you—since there is no one who does not sin—and suppose that you are angry with them and hand them over to the enemy, so that the enemy carries them away and takes them as captives to their land, whether distant or near. ³⁷ Then suppose they realize they are in the land where they have been exiled, and suppose that they repent and seek favor from you in the land of their captivity. Suppose that they say, 'We have acted perversely and sinned. We have behaved wickedly.' ³⁸ Suppose that they return to you with all their heart and with all their soul in the land of their captivity, where they took them as captives, and suppose that they pray toward their land, which you gave to their ancestors, and toward the city that you chose, and toward the house that I have built for your name. ³⁹ Then listen from the heavens, the place where you live, to their prayer and to their pleas, and help their cause. Forgive your people, who have sinned against you.

⁴⁰ Now, my God, I beg you, let your eyes be open, and let your ears be attentive to the prayer that is made in this place.

⁴¹ Now then arise, Yahweh God, to your resting place, you and the ark of your strength. Let your priests, Yahweh God, be clothed with salvation, and let your faithful ones rejoice in your goodness. ⁴² Yahweh God, do not turn the face of your anointed away from you. Keep in mind your acts of covenant loyalty for David, your servant."

Chapter 7

¹ Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offerings and sacrifices, and the glory of Yahweh filled the house. ² The priests could not enter the house of Yahweh, because his glory filled his house. ³ When all the people of Israel saw the fire come down and the glory of Yahweh over the house, they bowed down with their faces to the ground on the stone pavement and worshiped and gave thanks to Yahweh. They said, "For he is good, for his covenant loyalty endures forever."

⁴ So the king and all the people offered sacrifices to Yahweh. ⁵ King Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty-two thousand head of cattle and 120,000 sheep and goats. So the king and all the people dedicated the house of God. ⁶ The priests stood, each standing where they serve; the Levites also with instruments of music of Yahweh, which David the king had made to give thanks to Yahweh in the song, "For his covenant faithfulness endures for ever." All the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.

⁷ Solomon set apart the middle of the courtyard in front of the house of Yahweh. There he offered the burnt offerings and the fat of the fellowship offerings, because the bronze altar that he had made was not able to hold the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the fat.

⁸ So Solomon held the festival at that time for seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great assembly, from Lebo Hamath to the brook of Egypt. ⁹ On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly, for they kept the dedication of the altar for seven days, and the feast for seven days. ¹⁰ On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people away to their tents with glad and joyful hearts because of the goodness that Yahweh had shown to David, Solomon, and Israel, his people.

¹¹ Thus Solomon finished the house of Yahweh and the king's house. Everything that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of Yahweh and in his own house, he successfully carried out. ¹² Yahweh appeared to Solomon by night and said to him, "I have heard your prayer, and I have chosen this place for myself as a house of sacrifice.

¹³ Suppose that I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send plague among my people, ¹⁴ then if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land. ¹⁵ Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers that are made in this place.

¹⁶ For I have now chosen and set apart this house that my name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will be there every day. ¹⁷ As for you, if you walk before me as David your father walked, obeying all that I have commanded you and keeping my statutes and my decrees, ¹⁸ then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I said in a covenant with David your father, when I said, 'A descendant of yours will never fail to be ruler in Israel.'

¹⁹ But if you turn away, and abandon my statutes and my commandments that I have placed before you, and if you go worship other gods and bow down to them, ²⁰ then I will uproot them from out of my ground that I have given them. This house that I have set apart for my name, I will cast away from before me, and I will make it a proverb and a joke among all the peoples.

²¹ Even though this temple is so lofty now, everyone who passes by it will be appalled and will hiss. They will ask, 'Why has Yahweh done this to this land and to this house?' ²² Others will answer, 'Because they abandoned Yahweh, their God, who had brought their ancestors out of the land of Egypt, and they laid hold of other gods and bowed down to them and worshiped them. That is why Yahweh has brought all this disaster on them.'"

Chapter 8

¹ It came about at the end of twenty years, during which Solomon had built the house of Yahweh and his own house, ² that Solomon rebuilt the towns that Hiram had given to him, and he settled the people of Israel in them.

³ Solomon attacked Hamath Zobah and defeated it. ⁴ He built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the storage cities, which he built in Hamath.

⁵ Also he built Beth Horon the Upper and Beth Horon the Lower, cities fortified with walls, gates, and bars. ⁶ Solomon built Baalath and all the storage cities that he possessed, and all the cities for his chariots and the cities for his horsemen, and whatever he wished to build for his pleasure in Jerusalem, in Lebanon, and in all the lands under his rule.

⁷ As for all the people who were left of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, who did not belong to Israel, ⁸ their descendants who were left after them in the land, whom the people of Israel had not destroyed—Solomon made them into forced laborers, which they are to this day.

⁹ However, Solomon did not makes slaves of the people of Israel for his work. Instead, they were soldiers, commanders of his officers, and commanders of his chariots and horsemen. ¹⁰ These were also the chief officers managing the supervisors who belonged to King Solomon, 250 of them, who ruled over the people who did the work.

¹¹ Solomon brought the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David to the house that he had built for her, for he said, "My wife must not live in the house of David king of Israel, because wherever the ark of Yahweh has come is holy."

¹² Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to Yahweh on his altar that he had built in front of the portico. ¹³ He offered sacrifices just as the daily schedule required; he offered them, following the directions found in the commandment of Moses, on the Sabbath days, the new moons, and on the set festivals three times every year: the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the Festival of Weeks, and the Festival of Shelters.

¹⁴ In keeping with the decrees of his father David, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests to their work, and the Levites to their positions, in order to praise God and to serve before the priests, as the daily schedule required. He also appointed the gatekeepers by their divisions to every gate, for David, the man of God, had also commanded this. ¹⁵ These people did not deviate from the commands of the king to the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the storerooms.

¹⁶ All the work ordered by Solomon was completed, from the day the foundation of the house of Yahweh was laid until it was finished. The house of Yahweh was completed.

¹⁷ Then Solomon went to Ezion Geber and then to Elath on the coast, in the land of Edom. ¹⁸ Hiram sent him ships commanded by his own officers, men who knew the sea, and with the servants of Solomon they went to Ophir and they took from there 450 talents of gold and brought it to King Solomon.

Chapter 9

¹ When the queen of Sheba heard the report about Solomon, she came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions. She came with a very long caravan, with camels loaded with spices, much gold, and many precious gemstones. When she had come to Solomon, she told him all that was in her heart. ² Solomon answered her all her questions; nothing was too difficult for Solomon; there was no question that he did not answer.

³ When the queen of Sheba saw Solomon's wisdom and the palace that he had built, ⁴ the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the work of his servants and their clothing, also his cupbearers and their clothing, and the burnt offerings he made at ¹ the house of Yahweh, there was no more breath in her.

⁵ She said to the king, "It is true, the report that I heard in my own land of your words and your wisdom. ⁶ I did not believe what I heard until I came here, and now my eyes have seen it. Not half was told me about the greatness of your wisdom and wealth! You have exceeded the report that I heard.

⁷ How blessed are your men, and how blessed are your servants who constantly stand before you, because they hear your wisdom. ² ⁸ Blessed be Yahweh your God, who has taken pleasure in you, who placed you on his throne, to be king for Yahweh your God. Because your God loved Israel, in order to establish them forever, he had made you king over them, for you to do justice and righteousness!"

⁹ She gave the king 120 talents of gold and a large amount of spices and precious stones. There had never been such spices as these that the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

¹⁰ The servants of Hiram and the servants of Solomon, who brought gold from Ophir, also brought algum wood and precious stones. ¹¹ With the algum wood, the king made steps for the house of Yahweh and for his house, as well as harps and lutes for the musicians. No wood like this had been seen before in the land of Judah. ¹² King Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba everything she desired and whatever she asked for; he gave her more than what she had brought to the king. So she left and went back to her own land, she and her servants.

¹³ Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, ¹⁴ besides the gold that the traders and merchants brought. All the kings of Arabia and the governors in the country also brought gold and silver to Solomon.

¹⁵ King Solomon made two hundred large shields of beaten gold. Six hundred shekels of gold went into each one. ¹⁶ He also made three hundred shields of beaten gold. Three minas of gold went into each shield; the king put them into the House of the Forest of Lebanon.

¹⁷ Then the king made a great throne of ivory and overlaid it with pure gold. ¹⁸ There were six steps to the throne, and a footstool of gold was attached to the throne. On each side of the throne there were armrests with two lions standing beside each of them.

¹⁹ Twelve lions stood on the steps, one on each side of each of the six steps. There was no throne like it in any other kingdom. ²⁰ All King Solomon's drinking cups were gold, and all the drinking cups in the House of the Forest of Lebanon were of pure gold. None were silver because silver was not considered valuable in Solomon's days. ²¹ The king had at sea a fleet of ships of Tarshish, along with the servants of Hiram. Once every three years the ships of Tarshish brought gold, silver, and ivory, as well as apes and baboons.

²² So King Solomon exceeded all the kings of the world in riches and in wisdom. ²³ All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon in order to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart. ²⁴ Those who visited brought tribute, vessels of silver and of gold, clothes, weapons, and spices, as well as horses and mules, year after year.

²⁵ Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen, which he stationed in the chariot cities and with himself in Jerusalem. ²⁶ He ruled over all the kings from the Euphrates River to the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.

²⁷ The king had silver in Jerusalem, as much as the stones on the ground. He made cedar wood to be as abundant as the sycamore fig trees that are in the lowlands. ²⁸ They brought horses for Solomon from Egypt and from all the lands.

²⁹ As for the other matters concerning Solomon, first and last, are they not written in The History of Nathan the Prophet, in The Prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in The Visions of Iddo the Seer (which also had information about Jeroboam son of Nebat)? ³⁰ Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel for forty years. ³¹ He lay down with his ancestors and the people buried him in the city of David his father. Rehoboam, his son, became king in his place.

¹Some scholars suggest an alternative reading of the phrase the burnt offerings he made at to say, the ascent by which he went up to .

²Some translations have: How blessed are your wives , following 1 Kings 10:8. The spelling of "men" and "wives" is very close in Hebrew.

Chapter 10

¹ Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel was coming to Shechem to make him king. ² When Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard this (for he was in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), he returned from Egypt.

³ So they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all Israel came; they spoke to Rehoboam and said, ⁴ "Your father made our yoke difficult. Now therefore, make your father's hard work easier, and lighten the heavy yoke that he put on us, and we will serve you." ⁵ Rehoboam said to them, "Come again to me after three days." So the people left.

⁶ King Rehoboam consulted with the old men who had stood before Solomon his father while he was alive; he said, "How would you advise me to bring an answer to these people?" ⁷ They spoke to him and said, "If you are good to this people and please them, and say good words to them, then they will always be your servants."

⁸ But Rehoboam ignored the advice of the old men that they had given him, and consulted with the young men who had grown up with him, who stood before him. ⁹ He said to them, "What advice do you give me, so that we may answer the people who spoke to me and said, 'Lighten the yoke that your father put on us'?"

¹⁰ The young men who had grown up with Rehoboam spoke to him, saying, "This is how you should speak to the people who told you that your father Solomon made their yoke heavy, but that you must make it lighter. This is what you should say to them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. ¹¹ So now, although my father burdened you with a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions.'"

¹² So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king said, "Come back to me on the third day." ¹³ King Rehoboam spoke to them harshly, ignoring the advice of the old men. ¹⁴ He spoke to them following the advice of the young men, saying, "My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to it. My father punished you with whips, but I will punish you with scorpions."

¹⁵ So the king did not listen to the people, for it was a turn in events brought about by God, that Yahweh might carry out his word that Ahijah the Shilonite had spoken to Jeroboam son of Nebat.

¹⁶ When all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered him and said, "What share do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse! Each of you should go back to his tent, Israel. Now see to your own house, David." So all Israel returned to their tents.

¹⁷ But as for the people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them. ¹⁸ Then King Rehoboam sent Adoniram, who was over the forced laborers, but the people of Israel stoned him to death with stones. King Rehoboam fled quickly in his chariot to Jerusalem. ¹⁹ So Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day.

Chapter 11

¹ When Rehoboam arrived in Jerusalem, he assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin, 180,000 chosen men who were soldiers, to fight against Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

² But the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying, ³ "Say to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, ⁴ 'Yahweh says this, "You must not attack or make war against your brothers. Everyone must return to his own house, for I have caused this to happen."'" So they obeyed the words of Yahweh and turned back from attacking Jeroboam.

⁵ Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities in Judah for defense. ⁶ He built Bethlehem, Etam, Tekoa, ⁷ Beth Zur, Soko, Adullam, ⁸ Gath, Mareshah, Ziph, ⁹ Adoraim, Lachish, Azekah, ¹⁰ Zorah, Aijalon, and Hebron. These are fortified cities in Judah and Benjamin.

¹¹ He fortified the fortresses and put commanders in them, with stores of food, oil, and wine. ¹² He put shields and spears in all the cities and made them very strong. So Judah and Benjamin belonged to him.

¹³ The priests and the Levites who were in all Israel went over to him from within their borders. ¹⁴ For the Levites left their pasturelands and property in order to come to Judah and Jerusalem, for Jeroboam and his sons had driven them away, so that they could no longer act as the priests of Yahweh. ¹⁵ Jeroboam appointed for himself priests for the high places and the goat and calf idols he had made.

¹⁶ People from all the tribes of Israel came after them, those who set their hearts to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel; they came to Jerusalem to sacrifice to Yahweh, the God of their fathers. ¹⁷ So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah and made Rehoboam son of Solomon strong during three years, and they walked for three years in the way of David and Solomon.

¹⁸ Rehoboam took a wife for himself: Mahalath, the daughter of Jerimoth, David's son, and of Abihail, the daughter of Eliab, Jesse's son. ¹⁹ She bore him sons: Jeush, Shemariah, and Zaham.

²⁰ After Mahalath, Rehoboam took Maakah, Absalom's daughter; she bore him Abijah, Attai, Ziza, and Shelomith. ²¹ Rehoboam loved Maakah, Absalom's daughter, more than all his other wives and his concubines (he took eighteen wives and sixty concubines, and became the father of twenty-eight sons and sixty daughters).

²² Rehoboam appointed Abijah son of Maakah to be chief, a leader among his brothers; he had the thought of making him king. ²³ Rehoboam ruled wisely; he scattered all his sons throughout all the land of Judah and Benjamin to every fortified city. He also gave them food in abundance and looked for many wives for them.

Chapter 12

¹ It came about, when Rehoboam's reign was established and he was strong, that he abandoned the law of Yahweh—and all Israel with him.

² It happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam, that Shishak, king of Egypt, came up against Jerusalem, because the people had been unfaithful to Yahweh. ³ He came with twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen. Soldiers without number came with him from Egypt: Libyans, Sukkites, and Cushites. ⁴ He captured the fortified cities that belonged to Judah and came to Jerusalem.

⁵ Now Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak. Shemaiah said to them, "This is what Yahweh says: You have abandoned me, so I have also given you over into Shishak's hand." ⁶ Then the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves and said, "Yahweh is righteous."

⁷ When Yahweh saw that they had humbled themselves, the word of Yahweh came to Shemaiah, saying, "They have humbled themselves. I will not ruin them; I will deliver them to some extent, and my anger will not pour out on Jerusalem by means of Shishak's hand. ⁸ Nevertheless, they will be his servants, so that they may understand what it is to serve me and to serve the rulers of the other countries."

⁹ So Shishak, king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem and took away the treasures in the house of Yahweh, and the treasures in the king's house. He took everything away; he also took the shields of gold that Solomon had made. ¹⁰ King Rehoboam made shields of bronze in their place and entrusted them into the hands of the commanders of the guard, who guarded the doors to the king's house.

¹¹ It happened that whenever the king entered the house of Yahweh, the guards would carry them; then they would bring them back into the guards' room. ¹² When Rehoboam humbled himself, Yahweh's anger turned away from him, so as not to destroy him completely; besides, there was still some good to be found in Judah.

¹³ So King Rehoboam made his kingship strong in Jerusalem, and thus he reigned. Rehoboam was forty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city that Yahweh had chosen from all the tribes of Israel so that he might put his name there. His mother's name was Naamah the Ammonite woman. ¹⁴ He did what was evil, because he did not fix his heart to seek Yahweh.

¹⁵ As for the other matters concerning Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the writings of Shemaiah the prophet and of Iddo the seer, which also have records of genealogies and the constant wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam? ¹⁶ Rehoboam lay down with his ancestors and was buried in the city of David; Abijah his son became king in his place.

Chapter 13

¹ In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah began to reign over Judah. ² He reigned for three years in Jerusalem; his mother's name was Macaiah, the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. There was war between Abijah and Jeroboam. ³ Abijah went into battle with an army of strong, courageous warriors, 400,000 chosen men. Jeroboam placed battle lines against him with 800,000 chosen men, mighty warriors.

⁴ Abijah stood on Mount Zemaraim, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, and said, "Listen to me, Jeroboam and all Israel! ⁵ Do you not know that Yahweh the God of Israel gave the dominion over Israel to David and his descendants forever by a covenant of salt?

⁶ Yet Jeroboam son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon son of David, rose up and rebelled against his master. ⁷ Worthless men, base fellows, gathered to him. They came against Rehoboam son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and timid at heart, and they were too strong for him.

⁸ So now you plan to resist the kingdom of Yahweh that is held within the hand of the descendants of David, because you are a large army, and you have the golden calves that Jeroboam made to be your gods. ⁹ But did you not drive out the priests of Yahweh, the descendants of Aaron, and the Levites, and make priests of your own in the same way as the people of other lands do? Whoever comes to serve as a priest, sacrificing a young bull and seven rams, he becomes a priest of what are not gods.

¹⁰ But as for us, Yahweh is our God, and we have not abandoned him. We have priests, descendants of Aaron, serving Yahweh, and the Levites, who are at their work. ¹¹ Every morning and evening they burn for Yahweh burnt offerings and sweet incense. They also arrange the bread of the presence on the pure table; they also tend the lampstand of gold with its lamps, for them to burn every evening. We keep the commandments of Yahweh, our God, but you have abandoned him.

¹² See, God is with us at our head, and his priests are here with the trumpets to sound an alarm against you. Sons of Israel, do not fight against Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, for you will not succeed."

¹³ But Jeroboam prepared an ambush behind them; his army was in front of Judah, and the ambush was behind them. ¹⁴ When Judah looked back, behold, the fighting was both in front of them and behind them. They cried out to Yahweh, and the priests blew the trumpets. ¹⁵ Then the men of Judah gave a shout; as they shouted, it came about that God struck Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.

¹⁶ The people of Israel fled before Judah, and God gave them into the hand of Judah. ¹⁷ Abijah and his army killed them with great slaughter; 500,000 chosen men of Israel fell dead. ¹⁸ In this way, the people of Israel were subdued at that time; the people of Judah won because they relied on Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.

¹⁹ Abijah pursued Jeroboam; he took cities from him: Bethel with its villages, Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephron with its villages. ²⁰ Jeroboam never recovered power again during the days of Abijah; Yahweh struck him, and he died. ²¹ But Abijah became powerful; he took fourteen wives for himself and became the father of twenty-two sons and sixteen daughters. ²² The rest of Abijah's deeds, his behavior, and words are written in the history of the prophet Iddo.

Chapter 14

¹ Abijah lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Asa, his son, became king in his place. In his days the land was quiet ten years. ² Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of Yahweh his God, ³ for he took away the foreign altars and the high places. He broke down the stone pillars and cut down the Asherah poles. ⁴ He commanded Judah to seek Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and to carry out the law and the commandments.

⁵ Also he took away the high places and the incense altars from all the cities of Judah. The kingdom had rest under him. ⁶ He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land was quiet, and he had no war in those years, because Yahweh had given him peace.

⁷ For Asa said to Judah, "Let us build these cities and make walls around them, and towers, gates, and bars; the land is still ours because we have sought Yahweh our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side." So they built and succeeded. ⁸ Asa had an army that carried shields and spears; from Judah he had 300,000 men, and from Benjamin, 280,000 men who carried shields and drew bows. All of these were mighty warriors.

⁹ Zerah the Cushite came against them with an army of one million soldiers and three hundred chariots; he came to Mareshah. ¹⁰ Then Asa went out to meet him, and they set the battle lines in order in the Valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. ¹¹ Asa cried to Yahweh, his God, and said, "Yahweh, there is no one but you to help one who has no strength when he is facing many. Help us, Yahweh our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast number. Yahweh, you are our God; do not let man defeat you."

¹² So Yahweh struck the Cushites before Asa and Judah; the Cushites fled. ¹³ Asa and the soldiers with him pursued them to Gerar. So many Cushites fell that they could not recover, for they were completely destroyed before Yahweh and his army. The army carried away very much plunder.

¹⁴ The army destroyed all the villages around Gerar, for terror of Yahweh had come on the inhabitants. The army plundered all the villages, and there was much booty in them. ¹⁵ The army also destroyed the tents of those who owned livestock; they carried away sheep in abundance, as well as camels, and then they returned to Jerusalem.

Chapter 15

¹ The Spirit of God came on Azariah son of Oded. ² He went out to meet Asa and said to him, "Listen to me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: Yahweh is with you, while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you abandon him, he will abandon you.

³ Now for a long period, Israel was without the true God, without a teaching priest, and without the law. ⁴ But when in their distress they turned to Yahweh, the God of Israel, and sought him, he was found by them. ⁵ In those times there was no peace for him who went out or for him who came in, for there were great disturbances on all the inhabitants of the lands.

⁶ They were broken in pieces, nation against nation, and city against city, for God troubled them with all kinds of suffering. ⁷ But be strong, and do not let your hands be weak, for your work will be rewarded."

⁸ When Asa heard these words, the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage and drove away the disgusting figures from all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and from the cities that he had captured from the hill country of Ephraim, and he rebuilt Yahweh's altar, which was in front of the portico of the house of Yahweh. ⁹ He gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and those who stayed with them—people from Ephraim and Manasseh, and from Simeon. For they came from Israel to him in great numbers, when they saw that Yahweh his God was with him.

¹⁰ So they gathered together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of Asa's reign. ¹¹ They sacrificed to Yahweh in that day some of the plunder that they had brought: seven hundred head of cattle and seven thousand sheep and goats.

¹² They entered into a covenant to seek Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, with all their heart and with all their soul. ¹³ They agreed that whoever refused to seek Yahweh, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether the person was small or great, whether man or woman.

¹⁴ They swore to Yahweh with a loud voice, with shouting, and with trumpets and rams' horns. ¹⁵ All Judah rejoiced at the oath, for they had sworn with all their heart, and they sought God with their whole desire, and he was found by them. Yahweh gave them peace all around them.

¹⁶ King Asa also removed Maakah, his grandmother, from being queen mother because she had made a disgusting figure out of an Asherah pole. He cut down the disgusting figure, crushed it to dust, and burned it at the Kidron Brook. ¹⁷ But the high places were not taken out of Israel. Nevertheless, Asa's heart was completely devoted all his days.

¹⁸ He brought into the house of God his father's sacred gifts and his own sacred gifts, silver and gold and utensils. ¹⁹ There was no more war until the thirty-fifth year of Asa's reign.

Chapter 16

¹ In the thirty-sixth year of Asa's reign, Baasha, king of Israel, acted aggressively against Judah and built up Ramah, so that he might not allow anyone to leave or enter into the land of Asa, king of Judah.

² Then Asa brought the silver and gold out of the storerooms in the house of Yahweh and of the king's house, and sent it to Ben-Hadad king of Aram, who lived in Damascus. He said, ³ "Let there be a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Look, I have sent to you silver and gold. Break your covenant with Baasha, king of Israel, so that he may leave me alone."

⁴ Ben-Hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel. They attacked Ijon, Dan, Abel Maim ¹ , and all the storage cities of Naphtali. ⁵ It came about that when Baasha heard this, he stopped building up Ramah and let his work cease. ⁶ Then Asa the king took all Judah with him. They carried away the stones and timbers of Ramah with which Baasha had been building up the city. Then King Asa used that building material to build up Geba and Mizpah.

⁷ At that time Hanani the seer went to Asa, king of Judah, and said to him, "Because you have relied on the king of Aram, and have not relied on Yahweh your God, the army of the king of Aram has escaped out of your hand. ⁸ Were not the Cushites and the Libyans a huge army, with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet, because you relied on Yahweh, he gave you victory over them.

⁹ For the eyes of Yahweh run everywhere throughout the whole earth, so that he might show himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect toward him. But you have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, you will have war." ¹⁰ Then Asa was angry with the seer; he put him into prison, for he was enraged with him over this matter. At the same time, Asa oppressed some of the people.

¹¹ Behold, the deeds of Asa, from first to last, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. ¹² In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was very severe, he did not seek help from Yahweh, but only from the healers.

¹³ So Asa lay down with his ancestors, dying in the forty-first year of his reign. ¹⁴ They buried him in his own tomb, which he had dug out for himself in the city of David. They laid him on a bier that was filled with sweet odors and various kinds of spices prepared by skilled perfumers. Then they made a very great fire in his honor.

¹The place named Abel Maim is the same as Abel Beth Maakah. See 2 Samuel 20:14-15.

Chapter 17

¹ Jehoshaphat son of Asa became king in his place. Jehoshaphat strengthened himself against Israel. ² He placed forces in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim, which Asa his father had captured.

³ Yahweh was with Jehoshaphat because he walked in the earlier ways of his father David, and did not seek the Baals. ¹ ⁴ Instead, he relied on the God of his father, and walked in his commandments, not according to the practices of Israel.

⁵ So Yahweh established the rule in his hand; all Judah brought tribute to Jehoshaphat. He had riches and honor in abundance. ⁶ His heart was committed to Yahweh's ways. He also removed the high places and the Asherah poles from Judah.

⁷ In the third year of his reign he sent his officials Ben-Hail, Obadiah, Zechariah, Nethanel, and Micaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah. ⁸ With them were Levites: Shemaiah, Nethaniah, Zebadiah, Asahel, Shemiramoth, Jehonathan, Adonijah, Tobijah, and Tob-Adonijah; and with them were the priests Elishama and Jehoram. ⁹ They taught in Judah, having the book of the law of Yahweh with them. They went about throughout all the cities of Judah and taught among the people.

¹⁰ Terror of Yahweh fell on all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat. ¹¹ Some of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and silver as tribute. Arabians also brought him flocks, 7,700 rams, and 7,700 goats.

¹² Jehoshaphat became very powerful. He built fortresses and storage cities in Judah. ¹³ He had many supplies in the cities of Judah, and soldiers—mighty warriors—in Jerusalem.

¹⁴ These were their divisions listed by the name of their fathers' houses: From Judah, the commanders of thousands; Adnah the commander, and with him 300,000 mighty warriors;

¹⁵ next to him Jehohanan the commander, and with him 280,000 men;

¹⁶ next to him Amasiah son of Zikri, who volunteered to serve Yahweh; and with him 200,000 mighty warriors.

¹⁷ From Benjamin: Eliada, a mighty warrior, and with him 200,000 armed with bows and shields;

¹⁸ next to him Jehozabad, and with him 180,000 ready prepared for war.

¹⁹ These were those who served the king, besides those whom the king put in the fortified cities throughout all Judah.

¹Some ancient copies do not have David , therefore, some modern translations leave it out.

Chapter 18

¹ Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor; he allied himself with Ahab by having one of his family marry his daughter. ² After some years, he went down to Ahab in Samaria. Ahab killed many sheep and cattle for him and the people who were with him. Ahab also persuaded him to attack Ramoth Gilead with him. ³ Ahab, king of Israel, said to Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, "Will you go with me to Ramoth Gilead?" Jehoshaphat answered him, "I am like you, and my people are like your people. We will be with you in the war."

⁴ Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, "Please first seek the word of Yahweh for your answer." ⁵ Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, four hundred men, and said to them, "Should we go to Ramoth Gilead to battle, or should I not?" They said, "Attack, for God will give it into the hand of the king."

⁶ But Jehoshaphat said, "Is there not here still another prophet of Yahweh with whom we might seek advice?" ⁷ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "There is still one man by whom we may seek the advice of Yahweh, Micaiah son of Imlah, but I hate him because he never prophesies good concerning me, but always evil." But Jehoshaphat said, "The king should not say that." ⁸ Then the king of Israel called an officer and said, "Quickly bring Micaiah son of Imlah."

⁹ Now Ahab the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on a throne, clothed in their robes, on a threshing floor at the entrance of the gate of Samaria, and all the prophets were prophesying before them. ¹⁰ Zedekiah son of Kenaanah made himself horns of iron and said, "Yahweh says this: With these you will push the Arameans until they are consumed." ¹¹ All the prophets prophesied the same, saying, "Attack Ramoth Gilead and win, for Yahweh has given it into the hand of the king."

¹² The messenger who went to summon Micaiah said to him, "Look, the words of the prophets with one mouth are favorable to the king. Let your words agree with theirs, and speak favorably." ¹³ Micaiah replied, "As Yahweh lives, it is what God says that I will say." ¹⁴ When he came to the king, the king said to him, "Micaiah, should we go to Ramoth Gilead for battle, or not?" Micaiah answered him, "Attack and be victorious! For it will be a great victory."

¹⁵ Then the king said to him, "How many times must I require you to swear to tell me nothing but the truth in the name of Yahweh?" ¹⁶ So Micaiah said, "I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains, like sheep who have no shepherd, and Yahweh said, 'These have no shepherd. Let every man return to his house in peace.'"

¹⁷ So the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "Did I not tell you that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but only disaster?" ¹⁸ Then Micaiah said, "Therefore all of you should hear the word of Yahweh: I saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven were standing on his right hand and on his left.

¹⁹ Yahweh said, 'Who will entice Ahab, king of Israel, so that he may go up and fall at Ramoth Gilead?' One said this and another that.

²⁰ Then a spirit came forward and it stood before Yahweh and said, 'I will entice him.' Yahweh said to him, 'How?' ²¹ The spirit replied, 'I will go out and I will become a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' Yahweh replied, 'You will entice him, and you will also be successful. Go now and do so.'

²² Now see, Yahweh has put a lying spirit in the mouth of these prophets of yours, and Yahweh has decreed disaster for you."

²³ Then Zedekiah son of Kenaanah, came up, slapped Micaiah on the cheek, and said, "Which way did the Spirit of Yahweh take to go from me to speak to you?" ²⁴ Micaiah said, "Look, you will know that on that day, when you run into some inner room to hide."

²⁵ The king of Israel said to some servants, "You people seize Micaiah and take him to Amon, the governor of the city, and to Joash, my son. ²⁶ You people will say to him, 'The king says: Put this man in prison and feed him with only a little bread and only a little water, until I return safely.'" ²⁷ Then Micaiah said, "If you return safely, then Yahweh has not spoken by me." Then he added, "Listen to this, all you people."

²⁸ So Ahab, the king of Israel, and Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, went up against Ramoth Gilead. ²⁹ The king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, "I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you put on your royal robes." So the king of Israel disguised himself, and they went into the battle. ³⁰ Now the king of Aram had commanded the captains of his chariots, saying, "Fight with neither small nor great, but only with the king of Israel."

³¹ It came about that when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat they said, "That is the king of Israel." They turned around to attack him, but Jehoshaphat cried out, and Yahweh helped him. God turned them away from him. ³² It came about that when the commanders of the chariots saw that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

³³ But a certain man drew his bow at random and shot the king of Israel between the joints of his armor. Then Ahab said to the driver of his chariot, "Turn around and carry me out of the battle, for I am badly wounded." ³⁴ The battle grew worse that day, and the king of Israel was held up in his chariot facing the Arameans until the evening. About the time that the sun was going down, he died.

Chapter 19

¹ Jehoshaphat the king of Judah safely returned to his house in Jerusalem. ² Then Jehu son of Hanani, the seer, went out to meet him and said to King Jehoshaphat, "Should you be helping the wicked? Should you be loving those who hate Yahweh? For this deed, anger from Yahweh is on you. ³ However, there is some good to be found in you, in that you have taken the Asherah poles out of the land, and you have fixed your heart to seek God."

⁴ Jehoshaphat lived in Jerusalem; and he went out again among the people from Beersheba to the hill country of Ephraim and brought them back to Yahweh, the God of their fathers. ⁵ He placed judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city.

⁶ He said to the judges, "Consider what you should do, because you are not judging for man, but for Yahweh; he is with you in the act of judging. ⁷ Now then, let the fear of Yahweh be upon you. Be careful when you judge, for there is no iniquity with Yahweh our God, nor is there any favoritism or bribe taking."

⁸ Moreover, in Jerusalem Jehoshaphat appointed some of the Levites and the priests, and some of the heads of the families of Israel, for carrying out judgment for Yahweh, and for the sake of disputes. They lived in Jerusalem. ⁹ He instructed them, saying, "You must serve in reverence for Yahweh, faithfully, and with your whole heart.

¹⁰ Whenever any dispute comes to you from your brothers who live in their cities, whether concerning bloodshed, whether about laws and commands, statutes or decrees, you must warn them, so they do not become guilty before Yahweh, or anger will come toward you and toward your brothers. If you do this, you will not be guilty.

¹¹ See, Amariah the chief priest is over you in all the matters of Yahweh. Zebadiah son of Ishmael, the leader of the house of Judah, is in charge of all the matters of the king. Also, the Levites will be officers serving you. Be strong and obey your instructions, and may Yahweh be with those who are good."

Chapter 20

¹ It came about after this, that the people of Moab and Ammon, and with them some Meunites came against Jehoshaphat to do battle. ¹ ² Then some came who told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A large multitude is coming against you from beyond the Dead Sea, from Edom. See, they are in Hazezon Tamar," that is, En Gedi. ²

³ Jehoshaphat became afraid and set himself to seek Yahweh. He proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. ⁴ Judah gathered together to seek Yahweh; they came to seek Yahweh from all the cities of Judah.

⁵ Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, at the house of Yahweh, in front of the new courtyard. ⁶ He said, "Yahweh, the God of our ancestors, are you not God in heaven? Are you not the ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in your hand, so no one is able to resist you. ⁷ Our God, did you not drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham?

⁸ They lived in it and built you a holy place in it for your name, saying, ⁹ 'If disaster comes on us—the sword, judgment, or plague, or famine—we will stand before this house, and before you (for your name is in this house), and we will cry to you in our distress, and you will hear us and save us.' ³

¹⁰ See now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir whom you would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt; so, Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. ¹¹ See how they are rewarding us; they are coming to drive us out of your land that you have given us to inherit.

¹² Our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power against this great army that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

¹³ All Judah stood before Yahweh, with their little ones, wives, and children.

¹⁴ Then in the middle of the assembly the Spirit of Yahweh came on Jahaziel, son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite and a descendant of Asaph. ¹⁵ Jahaziel said, "Listen, all Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and King Jehoshaphat. This is what Yahweh says to you, 'Do not fear; do not be discouraged because of this great army, for the battle does not belong to you, but to God.

¹⁶ You must go down against them tomorrow. See, they are coming up by way of the pass of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, before the wilderness of Jeruel. ¹⁷ You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand in your positions, stand still, and see the rescue of Yahweh with you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not fear nor be discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for Yahweh is with you.'"

¹⁸ Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before Yahweh, worshiping him. ¹⁹ The Levites, those of the descendants of the Kohathites and Korahites, stood up to praise Yahweh, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

²⁰ Early in the morning they arose and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. As they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Listen to me, Judah, and you inhabitants of Jerusalem! Trust in Yahweh your God, and you will be supported. Trust in his prophets, and you will succeed." ²¹ After he consulted with the people, he appointed those who sang to Yahweh and who praised him for his majestic splendor as they went out before the army, saying, "Give thanks to Yahweh, for his covenant faithfulness endures forever."

²² When they began to sing and to praise, Yahweh set men in ambush against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who were coming against Judah. They were defeated. ²³ For the people of Ammon and Moab rose to fight the inhabitants of Mount Seir, in order to completely kill them and destroy them. When they had finished with the inhabitants of Mount Seir, they all helped to destroy each other.

²⁴ When Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked out on the army. Behold, they were dead, fallen to the ground; none had escaped.

²⁵ When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take plunder from them, they found among them abundant goods, clothing, and valuable articles, which they took for themselves, more than they could carry away. It took them three days to carry off the plunder, there was so much of it. ⁴ ²⁶ On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berakah. There they praised Yahweh, so the name of that place is the "Valley of Berakah" to this day.

²⁷ Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in their lead, to go again to Jerusalem with joy, for Yahweh had made them rejoice over their enemies. ²⁸ They came to Jerusalem and to the house of Yahweh with lutes and harps and trumpets.

²⁹ The terror of God was on all the kingdoms of the nations when they heard that Yahweh had fought against Israel's enemies. ³⁰ So Jehoshaphat's kingdom was quiet, for his God gave him peace all around him.

³¹ Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah: He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem for twenty-five years. His mother's name was Azubah, the daughter of Shilhi. ³² He walked in the ways of Asa, his father; he did not turn away from them; he did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh. ³³ However, the high places were not taken away. The people still had not directed their hearts to the God of their ancestors.

³⁴ As for the other matters concerning Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the history of Jehu son of Hanani, which is recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.

³⁵ After this Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, allied himself with Ahaziah, king of Israel, who committed much wickedness. ³⁶ He allied himself with him to build ships to go to Tarshish. They built the ships at Ezion Geber. ³⁷ Then Eliezer son of Dodavahu of Mareshah, prophesied against Jehoshaphat; he said, "Because you have allied yourself with Ahaziah, Yahweh has destroyed your works." The ships were wrecked so that they could not go to Tarshish.

¹The reading Meunites represents a correction to the Hebrew text, as was suggested by the ancient Greek translation. The ancient Hebrew copies read: Ammonites . Most modern translations agree that Meunites was original.

²Instead of Edom , the ancient Greek and Latin translations and some modern translations read Aram .

³Instead of judgment , some ancient and modern translations read flood .

⁴Instead of among them , some ancient and modern translations read cattle . Instead of clothing , some ancient and modern translations read dead bodies .

Chapter 21

¹ Jehoshaphat lay down with his ancestors and was buried with them in the city of David; Jehoram, his son, became king in his place. ² Jehoram had brothers, sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael, and Shephatiah. All these were sons of Jehoshaphat, king of Israel. ³ Their father had given them large gifts of silver, gold, and other precious things, and also fortified cities in Judah, but he gave the kingdom to Jehoram.

⁴ Now when Jehoram had risen up over his father's kingdom and had firmly established himself as king, he killed all his brothers with the sword, and also various other leaders of Israel. ⁵ Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned for eight years in Jerusalem.

⁶ He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab was doing, for he had Ahab's daughter as his wife, and he did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. ⁷ However, Yahweh did not wish to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David; he had promised that he would always give a lamp to him and his descendants.

⁸ In Jehoram's days, Edom rebelled against the control of Judah, and they set a king to reign over themselves. ⁹ Then Jehoram crossed over with his commanders and all his chariots. It was night when he rose up and fought against the Edomites who had surrounded him and his chariot commanders. ¹⁰ So Edom has been in rebellion from the control of Judah to this present day. Libnah also revolted at the same time from his control, because Jehoram had abandoned Yahweh, the God of his ancestors.

¹¹ In addition, Jehoram had also built high places in the mountains of Judah and he made the inhabitants of Jerusalem to live like prostitutes, and he led Judah astray.

¹² A letter from the prophet Elijah came to Jehoram. It said, "This is what Yahweh, the God of David, your ancestor, says: Because you have not walked in the ways of Jehoshaphat, your father, nor in the ways of Asa, king of Judah, ¹³ but have walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, and have made Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to act like a prostitute, as the house of Ahab did—and because you have also killed your brothers in your father's house, men who were better than yourself— ¹⁴ see, Yahweh will strike your people, your children, your wives, and all your possessions with a heavy blow. ¹⁵ You yourself will have much sickness with a disease in your intestines, until the disease causes your intestines to come out, and this will continue day after day."

¹⁶ Yahweh stirred up against Jehoram the spirit of the Philistines and of the Arabians who were near the Cushites. ¹⁷ They attacked Judah, invaded it, and carried away all the wealth that was found in the king's house. They also carried away his sons and his wives. No son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest son.

¹⁸ After all this, Yahweh struck him in his intestines with an incurable disease. ¹⁹ It came about in due time, at the end of two years, that his intestines fell out because of his sickness, and that he died of severe disease. His people made no fire in his honor as they had done for his ancestors. ²⁰ He had begun to reign when he was thirty-two years old; he reigned in Jerusalem for eight years, and when he departed no one mourned him. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the royal tombs.

Chapter 22

¹ The inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, Jehoram's youngest son, king in his place, for the marauding band that came with the Arabians into the camp had killed all his older sons. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram, king of Judah, became king. ² Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned for one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah; she was the daughter of Omri. ³ He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab for his mother was his advisor in doing wicked things.

⁴ Ahaziah did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as the house of Ahab was doing, for they were his advisors after the death of his father, to his destruction. ⁵ He also followed their advice; he went with Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel, to fight against Hazael, king of Aram, at Ramoth Gilead. The Arameans wounded Joram.

⁶ Joram returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that they had given him at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael, king of Aram. So Ahaziah son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to Jezreel to see Joram son of Ahab, because Joram had been wounded.

⁷ Now the destruction of Ahaziah was brought about by God through Ahaziah's visit to Joram. When he had arrived, he went with Jehoram to attack Jehu son of Nimshi, whom Yahweh had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab. ⁸ It came about, when Jehu was carrying out God's judgment on the house of Ahab, that he found the leaders of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers serving Ahaziah. Jehu killed them.

⁹ Jehu looked for Ahaziah; they caught him hiding in Samaria, brought him to Jehu, and killed him. Then they buried him, for they said, "He is a son of Jehoshaphat, who sought Yahweh with all his heart." So the house of Ahaziah had no more power to rule the kingdom.

¹⁰ Now when Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she arose and killed all the royal children in the house of Judah. ¹¹ But Jehosheba, ¹ a daughter of the king, secretly took Joash son of Ahaziah away from the king's sons who were about to be killed. She put him and his nurse into a bedroom. So Jehosheba, a daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah, so that Athaliah did not kill him. ¹² He was with them, hidden in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

¹Jehosheba may be spelled differently in other translations, as: Jehoshaba .

Chapter 23

¹ In the seventh year, Jehoiada showed his strength and entered into a covenant with the commanders of hundreds, Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri. ² They went about in Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, as well as the heads of the families of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. ³ All the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. Jehoiada said to them, "See, the king's son will reign, as Yahweh has said concerning the descendants of David.

⁴ This is what you must do: A third of you priests and Levites who come to serve on the Sabbath will be guards at the doors. ⁵ Another third will be at the king's house, and the other third will be at the Foundation Gate. All the people will be in the courtyard of the house of Yahweh.

⁶ Allow no one to come into the house of Yahweh, except for the priests and the Levites who are serving. They may enter because they are consecrated. But all the other people must obey the commands of Yahweh. ⁷ The Levites must surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand. Whoever comes into the house, let him be killed. Stay with the king when he comes in and when he goes out."

⁸ So the Levites and all Judah served in every way in the manner in which Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one took his men, those who were to come in to serve on the Sabbath, and those who were to leave off serving on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed any of their divisions. ⁹ Then Jehoiada the priest brought to the commanders spears and small and large shields that had been King David's that were in the house of God.

¹⁰ Jehoiada placed all the soldiers, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, surrounding the king. ¹¹ Then they brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant decrees. Then they made him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him. Then they said, "Long live the king."

¹² When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people in the house of Yahweh, ¹³ and she looked, and, behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the commanders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers were playing musical instruments and leading the singing of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and shouted, "Treason! Treason!"

¹⁴ Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the commanders of hundreds who were over the army and said to them, "Bring her out between the ranks; anyone who follows her, let him be killed with the sword." For the priest had said, "Do not kill her in the house of Yahweh." ¹⁵ So they seized her as she went into the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king's house, and there they killed her.

¹⁶ Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king, that they should be Yahweh's people. ¹⁷ So all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down. They smashed Baal's altars and his images to pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of those altars.

¹⁸ Jehoiada appointed officers for the house of Yahweh under the hand of the priests, who were Levites, whom David had assigned to the house of Yahweh, to offer the burnt offerings to Yahweh, as it was written in the law of Moses, together with rejoicing and singing, as David had given direction. ¹⁹ Jehoiada set guards at the gates of the house of Yahweh, so that no one that was unclean in any way should enter.

²⁰ Jehoiada took with him the commanders of hundreds, the noblemen, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land. He brought down the king from the house of Yahweh; the people came through the Upper Gate to the king's house and sat the king on the throne of the kingdom. ¹ ²¹ So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. As for Athaliah, they had killed her with the sword.

¹Some modern translations have, they brought down the king .

Chapter 24

¹ Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah, of Beersheba. ² Joash did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh all the days of Jehoiada, the priest. ³ Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

⁴ It came about after this, that Joash decided to restore the house of Yahweh. ⁵ He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and he said to them, "Go out every year to the cities of Judah and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God. Make sure that you start right away." The Levites did nothing at first.

⁶ So the king called for Jehoiada the high priest and said to him, "Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax levied by Moses the servant of Yahweh and by the assembly of Israel for the tent of the covenant decrees?" ⁷ For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God and had given all the holy things of the house of Yahweh to the Baals.

⁸ So the king commanded, and they made a chest and placed it outside at the entrance to the house of Yahweh. ⁹ Then they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, for the people to bring in for Yahweh the tax that Moses the servant of God levied on Israel in the wilderness. ¹⁰ All the leaders and all the people rejoiced and brought money in and put it into the chest until they finished filling it.

¹¹ It happened that whenever the chest was brought to the king's officials by the hand of the Levites, and whenever they saw that there was much money in it, the king's scribe and the high priest's official would come, empty the chest, and take it and carry it back to its place. They did this day after day, gathering large amounts of money. ¹² The king and Jehoiada gave the money to those who did the work of serving in the house of Yahweh. These men hired stonemasons and carpenters to restore the house of Yahweh, and also those who worked in iron and bronze.

¹³ So the workmen labored, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands; they set up the house of God in its original design and strengthened it. ¹⁴ When they finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada. This money was used to make furnishings for the house of Yahweh, utensils with which to serve and make offerings—spoons and utensils of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in the house of Yahweh continually for all the days of Jehoiada.

¹⁵ Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and then he died; he was 130 years old when he died. ¹⁶ They buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, toward God, and to the house of God.

¹⁷ Now after the death of Jehoiada, the leaders of Judah came and did honor to the king. Then the king listened to them. ¹⁸ They abandoned the house of Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped the Asherah gods and the idols. God's anger came on Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. ¹⁹ Yet he sent prophets to them to bring them again to himself, Yahweh; the prophets testified against the people, but they refused to listen.

²⁰ The Spirit of God clothed Zechariah son of Jehoiada, the priest; Zechariah stood above the people and said to them, "God says this: Why do you transgress the commandments of Yahweh, so that you cannot prosper? Since you have abandoned Yahweh, he has also abandoned you." ²¹ But they plotted against him; at the king's command, they stoned him with stones in the courtyard of the house of Yahweh. ²² Joash the king, did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had done to him, and so he killed Jehoiada's son. As Zechariah was dying, he said, "May Yahweh see this and call you to account."

²³ It came about at the end of the year, that the army of Aram came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem; they destroyed all the leaders of the people and sent all the plunder from them to the king of Damascus. ²⁴ Although the army of the Arameans had come with only a few soldiers, Yahweh gave them victory over a very great army, because Judah had abandoned Yahweh, the God of their ancestors. In this way the Arameans brought judgment on Joash.

²⁵ By the time that the Arameans had gone, Joash had been severely wounded. His own servants plotted against him because of the blood of the sons of Jehoiada, the priest. They killed him in his bed, and he died; they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. ²⁶ These were the persons who plotted against him: Zabad son of Shimeath, an Ammonite woman; and Jehozabad son of Shimrith, a Moabite woman.

²⁷ Now the accounts about his sons, the important prophecies that were spoken about him, and the rebuilding of the house of God, see, they are written in the commentary on the book of the kings. Amaziah his son became king in his place.

Chapter 25

¹ Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan, of Jerusalem. ² He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, but not with a whole heart.

³ It came about that as soon as his rule was well established, he killed the servants who had murdered his father, the king. ⁴ But he did not put their children to death, according to what was written in the law, in the book of Moses, as Yahweh had commanded, "The fathers must not be put to death for their children, and children must not be put to death for their fathers. But, each one must die for his own sin."

⁵ Moreover, Amaziah gathered Judah together, and registered them by their ancestors' houses, under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—all of Judah and Benjamin. He numbered them from twenty years old and upward, and found them to be 300,000 chosen men, able to go to war, who could handle spear and shield. ⁶ He hired also 100,000 mighty warriors from Israel for one hundred talents of silver.

⁷ But a man of God came to him and said, "King, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for Yahweh is not with Israel—none of the people of Ephraim. ⁸ But even if you do go and are courageous and strong in battle, God will throw you down before the enemy, for God has power to help, and power to throw down."

⁹ Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what will we do about the one hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?" The man of God answered, "Yahweh is able to give you much more than that." ¹⁰ So Amaziah separated the army that had come to him from Ephraim; he sent them home again. So their anger was greatly kindled against Judah, and they returned home in fierce anger.

¹¹ Amaziah took courage and led his people to go out to the Valley of Salt; there he defeated ten thousand men of Seir. ¹² The army of Judah carried away alive another ten thousand. They took them to the top of the cliff and threw them down from there, so that they were all broken in pieces.

¹³ But the men of the army which Amaziah sent back, so that they should not go with him to battle, attacked the cities of Judah from Samaria to Beth Horon. They struck down three thousand of the people and took much plunder.

¹⁴ Now it came about, after that Amaziah had returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, that he brought the gods of the people of Seir, and set them up to be his own gods. He bowed down before them and burned incense to them. ¹⁵ So Yahweh's anger was kindled against Amaziah. He sent a prophet to him, who said, "Why have you sought after the gods of a people who did not even save their own people from your hand?"

¹⁶ It came about that as the prophet was speaking with him, the king said to him, "Have we made you an advisor to the king? Stop! Why should you be killed?" Then the prophet stopped and said, "I know that God has decided to destroy you because you have done this deed and have not listened to my advice."

¹⁷ Then Amaziah king of Judah consulted with advisors and sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, "Come, let us meet each other face to face in battle."

¹⁸ But Jehoash the king of Israel sent messengers back to Amaziah king of Judah, saying, "A thistle that was in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, saying, 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife,' but a wild beast in Lebanon walked by and trampled down the thistle. ¹⁹ You have said, 'See, I have struck down Edom,' and your heart has lifted you up. Take pride in your victory, but stay at home, for why should you cause yourself trouble and fall, both you and Judah with you?"

²⁰ But Amaziah would not listen, because this event was from God, so he might put the people of Judah into the hand of their enemies, because they had sought advice from the gods of Edom. ²¹ So Jehoash, king of Israel, attacked; he and Amaziah, king of Judah, met each other face to face at Beth Shemesh, which belongs to Judah. ²² Judah was struck down before Israel, and every man fled to his tent.

²³ Jehoash, king of Israel, captured Amaziah son of Jehoash son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, at Beth Shemesh. He brought him to Jerusalem and tore down the wall of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, four hundred cubits in distance. ²⁴ He took all the gold and silver, all the objects that were found in the house of God with Obed-Edom, and the valuable things in the king's house, with hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

²⁵ Amaziah son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Jehoash, son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel. ²⁶ As for the other matters concerning Amaziah, first and last, behold, are they not written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel?

²⁷ Now from the time that Amaziah turned away from following Yahweh, they began to make a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem. He fled to Lachish, but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. ²⁸ They brought him back on horses and buried him with his ancestors in the city of Judah.

Chapter 26

¹ All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. ² It was he who rebuilt Elath and restored it to Judah. After that the king lay down with his ancestors. ³ Uzziah was sixteen years old when he began to reign. He reigned for fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem.

⁴ He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as his father Amaziah had done. ⁵ He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who taught him to honor God. ¹ As long as he sought Yahweh, God made him prosper.

⁶ Uzziah went out and fought against the Philistines. He broke down the city walls of Gath, Jabneh, and Ashdod; he built cities in the country of Ashdod and among the Philistines. ⁷ God helped him against the Philistines, against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal, and against the Meunites. ⁸ The Ammonites paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread, even to the entrance of Egypt, because he was becoming more powerful.

⁹ In addition, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the Corner Gate, at the Valley Gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them. ¹⁰ He built watchtowers in the wilderness and dug many cisterns, for he had many herds in the lowlands and in the plains. He had farmers and vine growers in the hill country and in the fruitful fields, for he loved the soil.

¹¹ In addition, Uzziah had an army of fighting men who went out to war in groups which were organized by their number that were counted by Jeiel, the scribe, and Maaseiah, the officer, under the authority of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders. ¹² The whole number of the leaders of the families who led the mighty warriors was 2,600. ¹³ Under their hand was an army of 307,500 men that made war with mighty power to help the king against the enemy.

¹⁴ Uzziah prepared for them—for all the army—shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and stones for slinging. ¹⁵ In Jerusalem he built machines that were designed by skillful men to be on the towers and on the battlements to shoot arrows and large stones. His fame spread to distant lands, for he was greatly helped and so he became very powerful.

¹⁶ But when Uzziah had become powerful, his heart was lifted up so that he acted corruptly; he acted faithlessly against Yahweh, his God, for he went into the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense. ¹⁷ Azariah, the priest, went in after him, and with him eighty priests of Yahweh, who were brave men. ¹⁸ They confronted Uzziah the king, and said to him, "It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Yahweh, but for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the holy place, for you have been unfaithful and you will not be honored by Yahweh God."

¹⁹ Then Uzziah became angry. He was holding a censer in his hand to burn incense. While he was enraged against the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead before the priests in the house of Yahweh, beside the altar of incense. ²⁰ Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and, behold, he had become leprous on his forehead. They quickly drove him out of there. Indeed, he hurried to go out, because Yahweh had struck him.

²¹ Uzziah, the king, was a leper to the day of his death and lived in a separate house since he was a leper, for he was cut off from the house of Yahweh. Jotham, his son, was over the king's house and ruled the people of the land.

²² The other matters concerning Uzziah, from first to last, were recorded by the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz. ²³ So Uzziah lay down with his ancestors; they buried him with his ancestors in a burial ground that belonged to the kings, for they said, "He is a leper." Jotham, his son, became king in his place.

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew text can be read either, to honor God , or in the fear of God or in seeing God . Scholars are divided.

Chapter 27

¹ Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah; she was the daughter of Zadok. ² He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as his father Uzziah had done. He also refrained from going into the temple of Yahweh. But the people were still behaving corruptly.

³ He built the upper gate of the house of Yahweh, and on the hill of Ophel he built much. ⁴ Moreover he built cities in the hill country of Judah, and in the forests he built fortresses and towers.

⁵ He fought also with the king of the people of Ammon and defeated them. In that same year, the people of Ammon gave him one hundred talents of silver, ten thousand measures of wheat, and ten thousand measures of barley. The people of Ammon gave him the same in the second and third years.

⁶ So Jotham became powerful because he walked firmly before Yahweh his God. ⁷ As for the other matters concerning Jotham, all his wars, and his ways, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.

⁸ He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign; he reigned for sixteen years in Jerusalem. ⁹ Jotham lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city of David. Ahaz, his son, became king in his place.

Chapter 28

¹ Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, as David his ancestor had done. ² Instead, he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel; he also made cast metal figures for the Baals.

³ In addition, he burned incense in the Valley of Ben Hinnom and he caused his children to pass through the fire, according to the idolatrous practices of the people that Yahweh forced out of their land before the people of Israel. ⁴ He sacrificed and burned incense at the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.

⁵ Therefore Yahweh the God of Ahaz gave him into the hand of the king of Aram. The Arameans defeated him and carried away from him a great crowd of captives, bringing them to Damascus. Ahaz was also given into the hand of the king of Israel who defeated him in a great slaughter. ⁶ For Pekah son of Remaliah in one day killed 120,000 soldiers in Judah and all of them were powerful men, because they had abandoned Yahweh the God of their ancestors.

⁷ Zikri, a powerful man from Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son, Azrikam, the official over the palace, and Elkanah, who was next to the king. ⁸ The army of Israel took captive from their relatives 200,000 wives, sons, and daughters. They also took much plunder, which they carried back to Samaria.

⁹ But a prophet of Yahweh was there, his name was Oded. He went out to meet the army coming into Samaria. He said to them, "Because Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand. But you have slaughtered them in a rage that reached up to heaven. ¹⁰ And now you, people of Judah and Jerusalem, intend to make them your male slaves and female slaves. But are you not guilty of sins of your own against Yahweh your God? ¹¹ Now then, listen to me: Send the captives back, those whom you have captured of your own brothers, for Yahweh's burning anger is on you."

¹² Then certain leaders of the people of Ephraim—Azariah son of Jehohanan, Berekiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai, stood up against those who came back from the war. ¹³ They said to them, "You must not bring the captives here, for you intend something that will bring on us sin against Yahweh, to add to our sins and trespasses, for our trespass is great, and there is burning anger against Israel."

¹⁴ So the armed men left the captives and the plunder before the leaders and all the assembly. ¹⁵ The men who were assigned by name got up and took the captives, and clothed all who were naked among them with the plunder. They clothed them and gave them sandals. They gave them food to eat and drink. They anointed them and put the weak ones on donkeys. They took them back to their families in Jericho, (called the City of Palms). Then they returned to Samaria.

¹⁶ At that time King Ahaz sent messengers to the kings of Assyria to ask them to help him. ¹⁷ For once again the Edomites had come and attacked Judah, carrying captives away. ¹⁸ The Philistines also invaded the cities of the lowlands and of the Negev of Judah. They took Beth Shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soko with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and also Gimzo with its villages. They went to live in those places.

¹⁹ For Yahweh humbled Judah because of Ahaz, king of Israel; for he had acted wickedly in Judah and had been very faithless against Yahweh. ²⁰ Tiglath-Pileser, king of Assyria, came to him and troubled him instead of strengthening him. ²¹ For Ahaz plundered the house of Yahweh and the houses of the king and the leaders, to give the valuable things to the kings of Assyria. But doing this did not benefit him.

²² This same King Ahaz became even more faithless against Yahweh in his time of suffering. ²³ For he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus, gods that had defeated him. He said, "Because the gods of the kings of Aram helped them, I will sacrifice to them, so that they might help me." But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.

²⁴ Ahaz gathered together the furnishings of the house of God and cut them to pieces. He shut the doors of the house of Yahweh and he made for himself altars in every corner of Jerusalem. ²⁵ In every city of Judah he made high places to burn sacrifices to other gods. He provoked Yahweh, the God of his ancestors, to anger.

²⁶ Now the rest of his deeds, and all his ways, first and last, see, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. ²⁷ Ahaz lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. Hezekiah, his son, became king in his place.

Chapter 29

¹ Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah; she was the daughter of Zechariah. ² He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, just as David his father had done.

³ In the first year of his reign, in the first month, Hezekiah opened the doors of the house of Yahweh and repaired them. ⁴ He brought in the priests and the Levites, and gathered them together into the courtyard on the east side. ⁵ He said to them, "Listen to me, you Levites! Consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of Yahweh, the God of your ancestors, and carry away the filthiness from the holy place.

⁶ For our ancestors were faithless and did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh our God; they abandoned him, turned away their faces from the place where Yahweh lives, and turned their backs on it. ⁷ Also they shut up the doors of the porch and put out the lamps; they did not burn incense or offer burnt offerings in the holy place to the God of Israel.

⁸ Therefore the wrath of Yahweh had fallen on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them to be an object of terror, of horror, and of scorn, as you can see with your own eyes. ⁹ This is why our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons, our daughters, and our wives are in captivity for this.

¹⁰ Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with Yahweh, the God of Israel, so that his burning anger may turn away from us. ¹¹ My sons, do not be lazy now, for Yahweh has chosen you to stand before him, to worship him, and that you should be his servants and burn incense."

¹² Then the Levites arose: Mahath son of Amasai, and Joel son of Azariah, of the people of the Kohathites; and of the people of Merari, Kish son of Abdi, and Azariah son of Jehallelel; and of the Gershonites, Joah son of Zimmah, and Eden son of Joah;

¹³ of the descendants of Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the descendants of Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;

¹⁴ of the descendants of Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the descendants of Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.

¹⁵ They gathered their brothers, they consecrated themselves, and they went in, as the king commanded, following the words of Yahweh, to cleanse the house of Yahweh. ¹⁶ The priests went in to the inner part of the house of Yahweh to cleanse it; they brought out everything unclean that they found in the temple of Yahweh into the courtyard of the house. The Levites took it to carry it out to the Kidron Brook. ¹⁷ Now they began the consecration on the first day of the first month. By the eighth day of the month they reached the porch of Yahweh. Then for eight more days they consecrated the house of Yahweh. On the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.

¹⁸ Then they went to Hezekiah, the king, inside the palace and said, "We have cleansed all the house of Yahweh, the altar for burnt offerings with all its implements, and the table of the bread of the presence, with all its implements. ¹⁹ So we have prepared and we have consecrated all the items that King Ahaz removed when he acted unfaithfully during his reign. See, they are in front of the altar of Yahweh."

²⁰ Then Hezekiah the king rose early in the morning and gathered the leaders of the city; he went up to the house of Yahweh. ²¹ They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the sanctuary, and for Judah. He commanded the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of Yahweh.

²² So they killed the bulls, and the priests received the blood and sprinkled it on the altar. Then they killed the rams and sprinkled their blood on the altar; and they also killed the lambs and sprinkled their blood on the altar. ²³ They brought the male goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly; they laid their hands on them. ²⁴ The priests killed them, and they made a sin offering with their blood on the altar to make atonement for all Israel, for the king had commanded that a burnt offering and a sin offering should be made for all Israel.

²⁵ Hezekiah placed the Levites in the house of Yahweh with cymbals, lutes and harps, arranging them by the command of David, Gad, the king's seer, and Nathan, the prophet, for the command was from Yahweh by means of his prophets. ²⁶ The Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets.

²⁷ Hezekiah commanded them to offer the burnt offering on the altar. When the burnt offering began, the song of Yahweh began also, with the trumpets, together with the instruments of David, king of Israel. ²⁸ All the assembly worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters played; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

²⁹ When they had finished the offerings, the king and all who were present with him bowed and worshiped. ³⁰ Moreover, Hezekiah, the king, and the leaders commanded the Levites to sing praises to Yahweh with the words of David and of Asaph, the seer. They sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.

³¹ Then Hezekiah said, "Now you have consecrated yourselves to Yahweh. Come here and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of Yahweh." The assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who had a willing heart brought burnt offerings.

³² The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was seventy bulls, one hundred rams, and two hundred male lambs. All these were for a burnt offering to Yahweh. ³³ The consecrated offerings were six hundred oxen and three thousand sheep.

³⁴ But the priests were too few to skin all the burnt offerings, so their brothers, the Levites, helped them until the work was done, and until the priests could consecrate themselves, for the Levites had been more careful to consecrate themselves than the priests.

³⁵ In addition, there were very many burnt offerings; they were performed with the fat of the fellowship offerings, and there were drink offerings for every burnt offering. So the service of the house of Yahweh was set in order. ³⁶ Hezekiah rejoiced, and all the people also, because of what God had prepared for the people, for the work had been done quickly.

Chapter 30

¹ Hezekiah sent messengers to all Israel and Judah, and also wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of Yahweh in Jerusalem, to celebrate the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel. ² For the king, his leaders, and all the assembly in Jerusalem had consulted together, deciding to celebrate the Passover in the second month. ³ They could not celebrate at the regular time, because not enough priests had consecrated themselves for the celebration and the people had not gathered together in Jerusalem.

⁴ This proposal seemed right in the eyes of the king and of all the assembly. ⁵ So they agreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come to celebrate the Passover to Yahweh, the God of Israel, in Jerusalem. For they had not observed it with large numbers of people according to what was written. ⁶ So couriers went with the letters from the king and his leaders throughout all Israel and Judah, by the command of the king. They said, "You people of Israel, turn back to Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, so that he may turn back to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of the kings of Assyria.

⁷ Do not be like your ancestors or your brothers, who were faithless against Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, so that he made them an object of horror, as you see. ⁸ Now do not stiffen your necks, as your ancestors did; instead, give yourselves to Yahweh and come into his holy place, which he has consecrated forever, and worship Yahweh your God, so that his burning anger may turn away from you. ⁹ For if you turn back to Yahweh, your brothers and children will find compassion before those who led them away as prisoners, and they will come back into this land. For Yahweh your God, is gracious and merciful, and will not turn his face away from you, if you return to him."

¹⁰ So the couriers passed from city to city throughout the regions of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the way to Zebulun, but the people laughed at them and mocked them. ¹¹ However, certain men of Asher and Manasseh and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem. ¹² The hand of God also came on Judah, to give them one heart, to carry out the command of the king and leaders by the word of Yahweh.

¹³ Many people, a very great assembly, gathered in Jerusalem to celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread in the second month. ¹⁴ They rose and took away the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for incense; they threw them into the Kidron Brook. ¹⁵ Then they killed the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the second month. The priests and Levites were ashamed, so they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of Yahweh.

¹⁶ They stood in their place by their divisions, following the directions given in the law of Moses, the man of God. The priests sprinkled the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites. ¹⁷ For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites slaughtered the Passover lambs for everyone who was not purified and could not consecrate their sacrifice to Yahweh.

¹⁸ For a great many of the people, many of them from Ephraim and Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun, had not purified themselves, yet they ate the Passover meal, against the written instructions. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, "May the good Yahweh pardon everyone ¹⁹ who sets his heart to seek God, Yahweh, the God of his ancestors, even though he is not purified by the purification standards of the holy place." ²⁰ So Yahweh listened to Hezekiah and healed the people.

²¹ The people of Israel who were present in Jerusalem kept the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and the priests praised Yahweh day after day, singing with loud instruments to Yahweh. ²² Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites who understood the service of Yahweh. So they ate throughout the festival for the seven days, offering sacrifices of fellowship offerings, and making confession to Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.

²³ The whole assembly then decided to celebrate for another seven days, and they did so with joy. ²⁴ For Hezekiah king of Judah gave the assembly one thousand bulls and seven thousand sheep as an offering; and the leaders gave to the assembly one thousand bulls and ten thousand sheep and goats. A large number of priests consecrated themselves.

²⁵ All the assembly of Judah, with the priests and the Levites, and all the people who came together from Israel, as well as the foreigners who came from the land of Israel and those who lived in Judah—they all rejoiced. ²⁶ So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for since the time of Solomon son of David, king of Israel, there had not been anything like it in Jerusalem. ²⁷ Then the priests, the Levites, rose and blessed the people. Their voice was heard, and their prayer went up to heaven, the holy place where God lives.

Chapter 31

¹ Now when all this was finished, all the people of Israel who were there went out to the cities of Judah and broke to pieces the stone pillars and they cut down the Asherah poles, and they broke down the high places and the altars in all of Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Israel returned, every one to his own possession and his own city.

² Hezekiah assigned the divisions of the priests and the Levites organized by their divisions, each man assigned to his work, both the priests and the Levites. He assigned them to make the burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, to serve, to give thanks, and to praise at the gates of the house of Yahweh. ³ He also assigned the king's portion for the burnt offerings from his own possessions, that is, for the morning and evening burnt offerings, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbath days, the new moons, and the fixed festivals, as it was written in the law of Yahweh.

⁴ Moreover, he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give the portion for the priests and the Levites, so that they might concentrate on obeying the law of Yahweh. ⁵ As soon as the command was sent out, the people of Israel generously gave the firstfruits of grain, new wine, oil, honey, and from all their harvest of the field. They brought in a tithe of everything, which was a great quantity.

⁶ The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and the tithe of the holy things that were set apart to Yahweh their God, and they piled them up in heaps. ⁷ It was in the third month when they began piling up their contribution in heaps, and they finished in the seventh month. ⁸ When Hezekiah and the leaders came and saw the heaps, they blessed Yahweh and his people Israel.

⁹ Then Hezekiah questioned the priests and the Levites about the heaps. ¹⁰ Azariah, the chief priest, of the house of Zadok, answered him and said, "Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of Yahweh, we have eaten and had enough, and have plenty left over, for Yahweh has blessed his people. What was left over is this large amount here."

¹¹ Then Hezekiah commanded storerooms to be prepared in the house of Yahweh, and they prepared them. ¹² Then they faithfully brought in the offerings, the tithes and the things that belonged to Yahweh. Konaniah the Levite was the manager in charge of them, and his brother Shimei was second to him. ¹³ Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath, and Benaiah were managers under the hand of Konaniah and Shimei his brother, by appointment of Hezekiah, the king, and Azariah, the official over the house of God.

¹⁴ Kore son of Imnah the Levite, the porter at the east gate, was over the freewill offerings of God, in charge of distributing the offerings to Yahweh and the most holy offerings. ¹⁵ Under him were Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shekaniah, in the cities of the priests. They filled offices of trust, in order to give these offerings to their brothers division by division, to both the important and the unimportant.

¹⁶ They also gave to those males three years old and up, who were recorded in the genealogies of their ancestors who entered the house of Yahweh, as required by the daily schedule, to do the work in their offices and their divisions. ¹

¹⁷ They distributed to the priests who were recorded in the genealogies of their ancestors, and the same to the Levites twenty years old and more, according to their offices and their divisions. ¹⁸ They recorded in the genealogy all their little ones, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, through the whole community, for they were faithful in keeping themselves holy. ¹⁹ For the priests, the descendants of Aaron, who were in the fields of the villages belonging to their cities, or in every city, there were men assigned by name to give portions to all the males among the priests, and to all who were recorded in the genealogies of their ancestors as being among the Levites.

²⁰ Hezekiah did this throughout all Judah. He accomplished what was good, right, and faithful before Yahweh, his God. ²¹ In every work that he began in the service of the house of God, the law, and the commandments, to seek his God, he performed it with all his heart, and he succeeded.

¹Instead of males three years old and up , some modern translations have males thirty years old and up .

Chapter 32

¹ After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, came and entered Judah. He camped to attack the fortified cities, which he intended to capture for himself.

² When Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come and that he intended to fight against Jerusalem, ³ he consulted with his leaders and his powerful men to stop up the waters of the springs that were outside the city; they helped him do so. ⁴ So many people gathered together and stopped up all the springs and the stream that was flowing through the middle of the land. They said, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find a lot of water?"

⁵ Hezekiah took courage and built up all the wall that was broken down. He built the towers higher, and also the other wall outside. He also strengthened the Millo in the city of David, and he made large amounts of weapons and shields. ¹

⁶ He placed military commanders over the people. He gathered them together to him in the broad place at the city gate and spoke to their hearts. He said, ⁷ "Be strong and of good courage. Do not be afraid or dismayed because of the king of Assyria and all the army that is with him, for someone is with us who is greater than those with him. ⁸ With him is only an arm of flesh, but with us is Yahweh, our God, to help us, and to fight our battles." Then the people comforted themselves with the words of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

⁹ After this, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, sent his servants to Jerusalem (now he was in front of Lachish, and all his army was with him), to Hezekiah, king of Judah, and to all of Judah who were in Jerusalem. He said, ¹⁰ "This is what Sennacherib, king of Assyria, says: What are you trusting in so you can endure a siege in Jerusalem?

¹¹ Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, 'Yahweh our God will rescue us from the hand of the king of Assyria'? ¹² Has not this same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, 'On one altar you must worship, and on it you must burn your sacrifices'?

¹³ Do you not know what I and my ancestors have done to all the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of the peoples of the surrounding lands able in any way to rescue their land from my power? ¹⁴ Among all the gods of those nations that my ancestors completely destroyed, was there any god who could rescue his people out of my hand? Why should your God be able to rescue you from my power? ¹⁵ Now do not let Hezekiah deceive you or persuade you in this way. Do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to rescue his people out of my hand, or out of the hand of my ancestors. How much less will your God rescue you from my hand?"

¹⁶ Sennacherib's servants spoke even more against Yahweh God and against his servant Hezekiah. ¹⁷ Sennacherib also wrote letters in order to mock Yahweh, the God of Israel, and to speak against him. He said, "As the gods of the nations of the lands have not rescued their people out of my hand, so the God of Hezekiah will not rescue his people out of my hand."

¹⁸ They cried out in the language of the Jews to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten them and trouble them, in order that they might capture the city. ¹⁹ They spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they had spoken of the gods of the other peoples of the earth, which are merely the work of men's hands.

²⁰ Hezekiah, the king, and Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, prayed because of this matter and he cried out to heaven. ²¹ Yahweh sent an angel, who killed the mighty warriors, the commanders, and the officers of the king of Assyria in the camp. So Sennacherib returned to his own land with shame on his face. When he had gone into the house of his god, some of his own children killed him there with the sword.

²² In this way, Yahweh saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and gave them rest on every side. ² ²³ Many were bringing offerings to Yahweh in Jerusalem, and precious gifts to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was lifted up in the eyes of all nations from that time forward.

²⁴ In those days Hezekiah was sick to the point of dying. He prayed to Yahweh, who spoke to him and gave him a sign that he would be healed. ²⁵ But Hezekiah did not pay back Yahweh for the help given to him, for his heart was lifted up. So anger came on him, and on Judah and Jerusalem. ²⁶ Nevertheless, Hezekiah later humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that Yahweh's anger did not come on them during Hezekiah's days.

²⁷ Hezekiah had very many riches and much honor. He provided himself with storerooms for silver, gold, precious stones, and for spices, as well as for shields and for all kinds of valuable objects. ²⁸ He also had storehouses for the harvest of grain, new wine, and oil, and stalls for various kinds of livestock. He also had flocks in their pens. ²⁹ In addition, he provided himself with cities and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very much wealth. ³

³⁰ It was this same Hezekiah who also stopped up the upper spring of the waters of Gihon, and who brought them straight down on the west side of the city of David. Hezekiah succeeded in all his works. ³¹ However, in the matter of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent to him to ask questions of those who knew, about the miraculous sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him, and to know all that was in his heart.

³² As for the other matters concerning Hezekiah, including his actions of covenant loyalty, you can see that they are written in the vision of the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz, and in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. ³³ Hezekiah lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him on the hill of the tombs of the descendants of David. All Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem honored him at his death. Manasseh his son became king in his place.

¹Instead of He built the towers higher , some ancient and modern translations have, he built towers on it , that is, on the wall.

²Instead of gave them rest on every side , some ancient and modern translations have guided them on every side . The original reading is uncertain.

³Instead of cities , some modern translations have donkeys , and some other modern translations leave out the word entirely.

Chapter 33

¹ Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign; he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. ² He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, like the disgusting things of the nations whom Yahweh had driven out before the people of Israel. ³ For he rebuilt the high places that his father Hezekiah had torn down, and he built altars for the Baals, he made Asherah poles, and he bowed down to all the host of heaven and worshiped them.

⁴ Manasseh built altars in the house of Yahweh, although Yahweh had commanded, "It is in Jerusalem that my name will be forever." ⁵ He built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courtyards of the house of Yahweh. ⁶ In the Valley of Ben Hinnom he caused his sons to pass through the fire. He practiced sorcery, divination and he read omens, and he consulted with sorcerers and spiritists. Manasseh did much evil in the sight of Yahweh, and he provoked him to anger.

⁷ The carved figure he had made, he placed it in the house of God. It was about this house that God had spoken to David and Solomon his son; he had said, "It is in this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen from all the tribes of Israel, that I will put my name forever. ⁸ I will not move the people of Israel any more out of the land that I assigned to their ancestors, if they will only be careful to keep all that I have commanded them, following all the law, statutes, and decrees which I gave them through Moses." ⁹ Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do evil even more than the nations that Yahweh had destroyed before the people of Israel.

¹⁰ Yahweh spoke to Manasseh, and to his people, but they paid no attention. ¹¹ So Yahweh brought on them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who took Manasseh in chains, bound him with fetters, and took him off to Babylon.

¹² When Manasseh was in distress, he implored Yahweh, his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his ancestors. ¹³ He prayed to him; and God was moved by his plea, and God heard his humble request and brought him back to Jerusalem, into his kingship. Then Manasseh knew that Yahweh was God.

¹⁴ After this, Manasseh built an outer wall to the city of David, on the west side of Gihon, in the valley, to the entrance at the Fish Gate. He surrounded the hill of Ophel with it and raised the wall up to a very great height. He put courageous commanders in all the fortified cities of Judah. ¹⁵ He took away the foreign gods, the idol out of the house of Yahweh, and all the altars that he had built on the mount of the house of Yahweh and in Jerusalem, and threw them out of the city.

¹⁶ He rebuilt the altar of Yahweh and offered on it sacrifices of fellowship offerings and thank offerings; he commanded Judah to serve Yahweh, the God of Israel. ¹⁷ However, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to Yahweh, their God.

¹⁸ As to the other matters concerning Manasseh, his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel, behold, they are written among the deeds of the kings of Israel. ¹⁹ In that account there is history of his prayer, and how God was moved by his plea. There is also an account of all his sin and his trespasses, and the places where he had built high places and set up the Asherah poles and the carved figures, before he humbled himself—they are written about in the Chronicles of the Seers. ¹ ²⁰ So Manasseh lay down with his ancestors, and they buried him in his own house. Amon, his son, became king in his place.

²¹ Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign; he reigned two years in Jerusalem. ²² He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh, as Manasseh, his father, had done. Amon sacrificed to all the carved figures that Manasseh his father had made, and he worshiped them. ²³ He did not humble himself before Yahweh, as Manasseh his father had done. Instead, Amon trespassed more and more.

²⁴ His servants conspired against him and put him to death in his own house. ²⁵ But the people of the land killed all those who had conspired against King Amon, and they made Josiah, his son, king in his place.

¹Some modern translations have the Chronicles of Hozai , which is the reading of the original text. But many modern translations correct it to read the Chronicles of the Seers . Also, a few modern translations have the Chronicles of his seers .

Chapter 34

¹ Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem. ² He did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh, and walked in the ways of David his ancestor, and did not turn away either to the right or to the left. ³ For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was still young, he began to seek after the God of David, his ancestor. In the twelfth year, he began to cleanse Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, the Asherah poles, and the carved figures and the cast metal figures.

⁴ The people broke down the altars of the Baals in his presence; he cut apart the incense altars that were above them. He broke the Asherah poles and the carved figures. He crushed the cast metal figures to dust and scattered the dust on the graves of those who had sacrificed to them. ⁵ He burned the bones of their priests on their altars. In this way, he cleansed Judah and Jerusalem.

⁶ He did the same in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, all the way to Naphtali, and in the ruins that surrounded them. ⁷ He broke down the altars, crushed the Asherah poles and the carved images into powder, and cut apart all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.

⁸ Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, after Josiah had cleansed the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah, the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz the secretary, to repair the house of Yahweh his God. ⁹ They went to Hilkiah, the high priest, and entrusted to him the money that had been brought into the house of God, that the Levites, the guards of the doors, had gathered from Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, from all Judah and Benjamin, and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

¹⁰ They entrusted the money to the men who supervised the work on the temple of Yahweh. These men paid the workers who repaired and restored the temple. ¹¹ They paid it to the carpenters and builders to buy cut stone and timber for braces, and to make beams for the structures that some kings of Judah had allowed to become ruined.

¹² The men did the work faithfully. Their supervisors Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, from the sons of the Kohathites. Other Levites, all of whom were very good musicians, closely directed the workmen. ¹³ These Levites supervised those who carried building material and all other men who worked in any way. There were also Levites who were secretaries, administrators, and gate guards.

¹⁴ When they brought out the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of Yahweh that had been given through Moses. ¹⁵ Hilkiah said to Shaphan the scribe, "I have found the book of the law in the house of Yahweh." Hilkiah brought the book to Shaphan. ¹⁶ Shaphan took the book to the king, and also reported to him, saying, "Your servants are doing everything that has been entrusted to them.

¹⁷ They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of Yahweh, and they gave it into the hand of the supervisors and to the workmen." ¹⁸ Shaphan the scribe told the king, "Hilkiah the priest has given me a book." Then Shaphan read in it to the king. ¹⁹ It came about that when the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.

²⁰ The king commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah, his own servant, saying, ²¹ "Go and ask Yahweh's will for me, and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, because of the words of the book that has been found. For it is great, the anger of Yahweh that has been poured out on us. ¹ It is great, because our ancestors have not listened to the words of this book so as to obey all that was written in it."

²² So Hilkiah, and those whom the king had commanded, went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum son of Tokhath son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (she lived in Jerusalem in the Second District), and they spoke with her in this way.

²³ She said to them, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: Tell the man who sent you to me, ²⁴ 'This is what Yahweh says: See, I am about to bring disaster on this place and on its inhabitants, all the curses that have been written in the book that they have read before the king of Judah. ²⁵ This will happen because they have abandoned me and have burned incense to other gods, and they have provoked me to anger by all the works of their hands. Therefore, my anger will be poured out on this place, and it will not be extinguished.'

²⁶ But to the king of Judah, who sent you to ask Yahweh what he should do, this is what you will say to him, 'Yahweh, the God of Israel says this: About the words that you heard, ²⁷ because your heart was tender, and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and because you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have listened to you—this is Yahweh's declaration— ²⁸ see, I will gather you to your ancestors. You will be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes will not see any of the disaster I will bring on this place and its inhabitants.'" The men took this message back to the king.

²⁹ Then the king sent messengers and gathered together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. ³⁰ Then the king went up to the house of Yahweh, and all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, Levites, and all the people, from great to small. He then read in their hearing all the words of the book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of Yahweh.

³¹ The king stood in his place and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, his regulations, and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to obey the words of the covenant that were written in this book. ³² He caused all who were found in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand by the covenant. The inhabitants of Jerusalem acted in obedience to the covenant of God, the God of their ancestors.

³³ Josiah took away all the disgusting things from the lands that belonged to the people of Israel. He made everyone in Israel worship Yahweh, their God. For all of his days, they did not turn away from following Yahweh, the God of their ancestors.

¹Instead of that has been poured out on us , which is followed by most modern translations, some translations follow another rendering of the Hebrew, to read: that has been kindled against us .

Chapter 35

¹ Josiah kept a Passover to Yahweh in Jerusalem, and they killed the Passover lambs on the fourteenth day of the first month. ² He placed the priests in their positions and encouraged them in the service of the house of Yahweh.

³ He said to the Levites who taught all Israel and who were set apart to Yahweh, "Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon son of David, king of Israel built. It will be a burden on your shoulders no longer. Now worship Yahweh your God, and serve his people Israel. ⁴ Organize yourselves by your clans and your divisions, following the written instructions of David, king of Israel, and those of Solomon, his son.

⁵ Stand in the holy place, taking your position with your divisions within the clans of your brothers, the descendants of the people, and taking your places with your divisions within the clans of the Levites. ⁶ Kill the Passover lambs, consecrate yourselves, prepare the lambs for your brothers, to do according to the word of Yahweh that was given by the hand of Moses."

⁷ Josiah gave thirty thousand lambs and kids from flocks for the Passover offerings to all the people who were present, and he also gave three thousand head of cattle—all of these were from the king's own possessions. ⁸ His leaders gave a freewill offering to the people, priests, and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the officials in charge of the house of God, gave to the priests 2,600 Passover offerings and three hundred head of cattle. ⁹ Also Konaniah, and Shemaiah and Nethanel, his brothers, and Hashabiah, Jeiel, and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave five thousand Passover offerings to the Levites and five hundred head of cattle.

¹⁰ So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their places, with the Levites by their divisions, in response to the king's command. ¹¹ They killed the Passover lambs, and the priests sprinkled the blood that they received from the Levites' hand, and the Levites skinned the lambs. ¹² They removed the burnt offerings, in order to distribute them to the divisions of the clans of the people, to offer them to Yahweh, as it is written in the Book of Moses. They did the same with the cattle.

¹³ They roasted the Passover lambs with fire following the instructions. As for the consecrated offerings, they boiled them in pots, cauldrons, and pans, and they quickly carried them to all the people. ¹⁴ They later prepared offerings for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were occupied in offering the burnt offerings and the fat until nightfall, so the Levites prepared the offerings for themselves and for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

¹⁵ The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were in their place, according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king's seer, and the guards were at every gate. They did not have to leave their labors because their brothers the Levites made preparations for them.

¹⁶ So, at that time the entire service of Yahweh was carried out for the celebration of the Passover and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of Yahweh, as King Josiah commanded. ¹⁷ The people of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, and then the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days.

¹⁸ Such a Passover celebration had never been held in Israel from the days of the prophet Samuel, nor had any of the other kings of Israel ever celebrated such a Passover as Josiah did, along with the priests, Levites, and all the people of Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ¹⁹ This Passover was kept in the eighteenth year of the reign of Josiah.

²⁰ After all this, after Josiah had set the temple in order, Necho, king of Egypt, went up to fight against Carchemish at the Euphrates River, and Josiah went to fight against him. ²¹ But Necho sent ambassadors to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I am not coming against you today, but against the house with which I am making war. God has commanded me to hurry, so refrain from interfering with God, who is with me, or he might destroy you."

²² However, Josiah refused to turn away from him. He disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Necho that had come from the mouth of God; so he went to fight in the Valley of Megiddo.

²³ Archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am badly wounded." ²⁴ So his servants took him out of the chariot, and put him in his extra chariot. They took him to Jerusalem, where he died. He was buried in the tombs of his ancestors. All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.

²⁵ Jeremiah lamented for Josiah; all the male and female singers lament about Josiah to this day. These songs became customary in Israel; behold, they are written in the songs of lament.

²⁶ As for the other matters concerning Josiah, and his good deeds done in obedience to what is written in the law of Yahweh— ²⁷ his deeds, from beginning to end, are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.

Chapter 36

¹ Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's place in Jerusalem. ² Jehoahaz ¹ was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.

³ The king of Egypt removed him at Jerusalem, and forced him to pay a fine on the land of one hundred talents of silver and one talent of gold. ⁴ The king of Egypt made Eliakim, who was the brother of Jehoahaz, king over Judah and Jerusalem (and changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim). Then Necho took Eliakim's brother Jehoahaz and brought him to Egypt.

⁵ Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh his God. ⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attacked him and bound him in chains to lead him away to Babylon. ⁷ Nebuchadnezzar also carried some of the objects in the house of Yahweh to Babylon, and put them in his palace at Babylon.

⁸ As for the other matters concerning Jehoiakim, the disgusting things that he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel. Then Jehoiachin, his son, became king in his place.

⁹ Jehoiachin was eight years old when he began to reign; he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh. ¹⁰ In the spring of the year, King Nebuchadnezzar sent men and brought him to Babylon, with the valuable things from the house of Yahweh, and made Zedekiah, his relative, king over Judah and Jerusalem.

¹¹ Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. ¹² He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh his God. He did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of Yahweh.

¹³ Zedekiah also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear loyalty to him by God. But Zedekiah stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to Yahweh, the God of Israel. ¹⁴ Moreover, all the leaders of the priests and the people were extremely unfaithful, and they followed the disgusting practices of the nations. They polluted the house of Yahweh which he had consecrated in Jerusalem.

¹⁵ Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, sent word to them by his messengers again and again, because he had compassion on his people and on the place where he lives. ¹⁶ But they mocked God's messengers, despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of Yahweh arose against his people, until there was no help for it.

¹⁷ So God brought on them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the sanctuary, and had no compassion on young men or virgins, old men or the gray-haired. God gave them all into his hand.

¹⁸ All the furnishings of the house of God, great and small, the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and the treasures of the king and his officials—all these he took to Babylon. ¹⁹ They burned down the house of God, broke down the wall of Jerusalem, burned all its palaces, and destroyed all the valuable things in it.

²⁰ The king carried away to Babylon those who had escaped the sword. They became servants for him and his sons until the rule of the kingdom of Persia. ²¹ This happened to fulfill the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land should have enjoyed its Sabbath rests. It observed its Sabbath for all the time of its desolation so that it might pass seventy years in this way.

²² Now in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, so that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be carried out, Yahweh motivated the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing. He said,

²³ "This is what Cyrus, king of Persia, says: Yahweh, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has commanded me to build a house for him in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you from all his people, may Yahweh your God, be with you. Let him go up to the land."

¹Jehoahaz is written in Hebrew as Joahaz, but refers to the same person.

¹There are some textual issues here regarding the phrase the sons of Judah or the descendants of Hodaviah and other matters.

²Some modern English translations read, Erech .

¹The name Bani was missing in the ancient Hebrew copies, but was restored from the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew copies.

¹Instead of the second occurrence of Malkijah , some modern translations substitute Hashabiah .

²Instead of Bani , some modern translations have Bigvai .

³Instead of Among the descendants of Binnui: Shimei , some modern translations have Bani, Binnui, Shimei .

⁴Instead of Maknadebai , some modern translations have Among the descendants of Zaccai .

⁵Instead of and had children with some of them , some modern translations have but sent them away with their children .

Nehemiah

Chapter 1

¹ The words of Nehemiah son of Hakaliah:

Now it happened in the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, as I was in the fortress of Susa,

² that one of my brothers, Hanani, and some men from Judah came, and I asked them about the Jews, the escaped remnant, those who had escaped from the captivity, and about Jerusalem.

³ They said to me, "Those in the province who survived the captivity are in great trouble and disgrace because the wall of Jerusalem has been broken open, and its gates have been set on fire."

⁴ As soon as I heard these words, I sat down and wept, and for days I continued grieving and fasting and praying before the God of heaven. ⁵ Then I said, "Please, I beg you, Yahweh, God of heaven, the God who is great and awesome, who keeps the covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,

⁶ may your eyes be open and may your ear be attentive so you may hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants. I am confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Both I and my father's house have sinned. ⁷ We have acted very wickedly against you, and we have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules you commanded your servant Moses.

⁸ Please call to mind the word you commanded your servant Moses, 'If you act unfaithfully, I will scatter you among the peoples, ⁹ but if you return to me and follow my commandments and do them, though your people were scattered under the farthest skies, I will gather them from there and bring them to that place where I have chosen to make my name remain.'

¹⁰ Now they are your servants and your people, whom you have rescued by your great power and by your strong hand. ¹¹ Please, I beg you, Lord, may your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight to honor your name. Now give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man."

I served as cupbearer to the king.

Chapter 2

¹ In the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, he selected wine, and I took the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had never before been sad in his presence. ² But the king said to me, "Why is your face so sad? You do not appear to be ill. This must be sadness of heart." Then I became very much afraid.

³ I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad? The city, the place of my fathers' tombs, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire."

⁴ Then the king said to me, "What do you want me to do?" So I prayed to the God of heaven. ⁵ I replied to the king, "If it seems good to the king, and if your servant has done well in your sight, you could send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' tombs, that I may rebuild it." ⁶ The king replied to me (and the queen was also sitting beside him), "How long will you be gone and when will you return?" The king was glad to send me when I gave him an appointed time.

⁷ Then I said to the king, "If it pleases the king, may letters be given to me for the governors in the Province Beyond the River so that they may permit me to pass through their territories on my way to Judah. ⁸ May there also be a letter for Asaph the keeper of the king's forest, so that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the fortress next to the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house in which I will live."

So because the good hand of God was on me, the king granted me my requests.

⁹ I came to the governors in the Province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me commanders of the army and horsemen. ¹⁰ When Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, they were greatly displeased that someone had come who was seeking to help the people of Israel.

¹¹ So I came to Jerusalem and was there three days. ¹² I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. I did not tell anyone what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me, other than the one I was riding.

¹³ I went out by night by the Valley Gate, toward the Jackal's Well and to the Dung Gate, and inspected the walls of Jerusalem, which had been broken open, and the wooden gates were destroyed by fire. ¹⁴ Then I went on to the Fountain Gate and to the King's Pool. The place was too narrow for the animal I was riding to pass through.

¹⁵ So I went up that night by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned. ¹⁶ The rulers did not know where I went or what I did, and I had not yet informed the Jews, nor the priests, nor the nobles, nor the rulers, nor the rest who did the work.

¹⁷ I said to them, "You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins and its gates have been burned by fire. Come, let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, so we will no longer be in disgrace." ¹⁸ I told them that the good hand of my God was on me and also about the king's words that he had spoken to me. They said, "Let us rise up and build." So they strengthened their hands for the good work.

¹⁹ But when Sanballat the Horonite, and Tobiah the Ammonite servant, and Geshem the Arabian heard about it, they mocked and showed us contempt, and they said, "What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?" ²⁰ Then I answered them, "The God of heaven will give us success. We are his servants and we will arise and build. But you have no share, no right, and no historic claim in Jerusalem."

Chapter 3

¹ Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brother priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors in place. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred and as far as the Tower of Hananel. ² Next to him the men of Jericho worked, and next to them Zakkur son of Imri worked.

³ The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They made beams for it, and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. ⁴ Meremoth repaired the next section. He is the son of Uriah son of Hakkoz. Next to them Meshullam repaired. He is the son of Berekiah son of Meshezabel. Next to them Zadok repaired. He is the son of Baana. ⁵ Next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles refused to do the labor ordered by their supervisors.

⁶ Joiada son of Paseah and Meshullam son of Besodeiah repaired the Old Gate. They made beams for it, and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. ⁷ Next to them were men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite—the throne of the governor of the Province Beyond the River.

⁸ Next to him Uzziel son of Harhaiah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired, and next to him was Hananiah, a maker of perfumes. They rebuilt Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. ⁹ Next to them Rephaiah son of Hur repaired. He was the official over half the district of Jerusalem. ¹⁰ Next to them Jedaiah son of Harumaph repaired next to his house. Next to him Hattush son of Hashabneiah repaired.

¹¹ Malkijah son of Harim and Hasshub son of Pahath-Moab repaired another section along with the Tower of the Furnaces. ¹² Next to them Shallum son of Hallohesh, the official over half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, along with his daughters.

¹³ Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. They repaired a thousand cubits as far as the Dung Gate.

¹⁴ Malkijah son of Rekab, the official over the district of Beth Hakkerem, repaired the Dung Gate. He built it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

¹⁵ Shallun son of Kol-Hozeh, the official over the district of Mizpah, rebuilt the Fountain Gate. He built it, and put a cover on it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. He also rebuilt the wall of the Pool of Siloam by the king's garden, as far as the stairs leading down from the city of David.

¹⁶ Nehemiah son of Azbuk, the official over half the district of Beth Zur, repaired to the place across from the tombs of David, to the man-made pool, and to the house of the mighty men. ¹⁷ After him the Levites repaired, including Rehum son of Bani and next to him, Hashabiah, the official over half the district of Keilah, for his district.

¹⁸ After him their brothers repaired, including Binnui son of Henadad, the official over half the district of Keilah. ¹⁹ Next to him, Ezer son of Jeshua, the official over Mizpah, repaired another section that faced the ascent to the armory at the corner of the wall.

²⁰ After him Baruch son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the corner of the wall to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. ²¹ After him Meremoth son of Uriah son of Hakkoz repaired another section, from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib.

²² Next to him the priests, the men from the area around Jerusalem, repaired. ²³ After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their own house. After them Azariah son of Maaseiah son of Ananiah repaired next to his own house. ²⁴ After him Binnui son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the corner of the wall.

²⁵ Palal son of Uzai repaired over against the corner of the wall and the tower that extends upward from the upper house of the king at the courtyard of the guard. After him Pedaiah son of Parosh repaired. ²⁶ Now the temple servants living in Ophel repaired to the point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. ²⁷ After him the Tekoites repaired another section that was opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.

²⁸ The priests repaired above the Horse Gate, each opposite his own house. ²⁹ After them Zadok son of Immer repaired the section opposite his own house. Then after him Shemaiah son of Shekaniah, the keeper of the east gate, repaired. ³⁰ After him Hananiah son of Shelemiah, and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph, repaired another section. After him Meshullam son of Berekiah repaired opposite his living chambers.

³¹ After him Malkijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired to the house of the temple servants and the merchants that was opposite the Appointment Gate and the upper living chambers on the corner. ³² The goldsmiths and the merchants repaired between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate.

Chapter 4

¹ Now when Sanballat heard we were building the wall, anger burned within him, and he was furiously angry, and he mocked the Jews. ² In the presence of his brothers and the army of Samaria, he said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore the city for themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish the work in a day? Will they bring to life the stones from the piles of rubble after they were burned? ³ Tobiah the Ammonite was with him, and he said, "If only a fox went up on what they are building, it would break down their stone wall!"

⁴ Hear, our God, for we are despised. Turn back their taunts on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land of captivity. ⁵ Do not cover over their iniquity and let their sin not be blotted out from before you, for they have provoked the builders to anger.

⁶ So we built the wall and all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a desire to work.

⁷ But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabians, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the work of repairing the walls of Jerusalem was going forward, and that the broken places in the wall were being closed up, a great anger burned within them. ⁸ They all conspired together, and they came to fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it. ⁹ But we prayed to our God and set a guard as protection against them day and night because of their threat.

¹⁰ Then the people of Judah said, "The strength of those who carry the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble, and we are not able to rebuild the wall."

¹¹ Our enemies said, "They will not know or see until we come among them and kill them, and stop the work."

¹² At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and spoke to us ten times, warning us about the schemes they were making against us. ¹³ So I positioned people in the lowest parts of the wall in the exposed areas. I positioned each family with their swords, spears, and bows. ¹⁴ Then I looked, and stood up, and I said to the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Call to mind the Lord, who is great and awesome. Fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives, and your homes."

¹⁵ It came about when our enemies heard that their plans were known to us, and God had frustrated their plans, all of us returned to the wall, each one to his work. ¹⁶ So from that time half of my servants worked only on rebuilding the wall, and half of them held spears, shields, bows, and wore armor, while the leaders stood behind all the people of Judah

¹⁷ and those who were building the wall. Those who carried burdens carried their loads such that each did his work with one hand, and with the other hand he held his weapon. ¹⁸ Every builder wore his sword girded at his side, and that is how he worked. The one who sounded the ram's horn stayed beside me.

¹⁹ I said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "The work is great and extensive, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. ²⁰ You must rush to the place where you hear the ram's horn sound and assemble there. Our God will fight for us."

²¹ So we were doing the work. Half of them were holding spears from the rising of the dawn until the coming out of the stars. ²² I also said to the people at that time, "Let every man and his servant spend the night in the middle of Jerusalem, so they may be for us a guard during the night and a worker in the day." ²³ So neither I, nor my brothers, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us changed our clothes, and each of us carried his weapon, even if he went for water.

Chapter 5

¹ Then the people and their wives raised a great outcry against their fellow Jews. ² For there were some who said, "With our sons and daughters we are many. So let us get grain that we may eat and stay alive." ³ There were also some who said, "We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain during the famine."

⁴ Some also said, "We have borrowed money to pay the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards. ⁵ Yet now our flesh and blood is the same as our brothers, and our children are the same as their children. We are forced to sell our sons and our daughters to become slaves. Some of our daughters have already been enslaved. But it is not in our power to help it because other men now own our fields and our vineyards."

⁶ I was very angry when I heard their outcry and these words. ⁷ Then I thought about this, and earnestly appealed to the nobles and officials. I said to them, "You are exacting interest, each from his own brother." I held a great assembly against them ⁸ and said to them, "As for us, we have, according to our ability, bought back from slavery our Jewish brothers who had been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold back to us!" They were silent and never found a word to say.

⁹ Also I said, "What you are doing is not good. Should you not walk in the fear of our God to prevent the taunts of the nations that are our enemies? ¹⁰ I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. But we must stop charging interest on these loans. ¹¹ Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses and the percentage of the money, the grain, the new wine, and the oil that you exacted from them."

¹² Then they said, "We will return what we took from them, and will require nothing from them. We will do as you say." Then I called the priests, and made them swear to do as they had promised. ¹³ I shook out the fold of my robe and said, "So may God shake out of his house and possessions every man who does not keep his promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied."

All the assembly said, "Amen," and they praised Yahweh and the people did as they had promised.

¹⁴ So from the time I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year until the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, neither I nor my brothers ate the food provided for the governor. ¹⁵ But the former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people, and took from them forty shekels of silver for their daily food and wine. Even their servants were lords over the people. But I did not do so because of the fear of God.

¹⁶ I also continued to work on the wall, and we bought no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work. ¹⁷ At my table were the Jews and the officials, 150 men, besides those who came to us from among the nations who were around us.

¹⁸ Now what was prepared each day was one ox, six choice sheep, and also birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance, yet for all this I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the labor was heavy on this people.

¹⁹ Call me to mind, my God, for good, because of all that I have done for this people.

Chapter 6

¹ Now when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian and the rest of our enemies heard that I had rebuilt the wall and that there were no longer any sections left broken open, although I had not yet set up the doors in the gates, ² Sanballat and Geshem sent to me saying, "Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono." But they intended to do harm to me.

³ I sent messengers to them, saying, "I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" ⁴ They sent me the same message four times, and I answered them the same way each time.

⁵ Sanballat sent his servant to me in the same way the fifth time, with an open letter in his hand. ⁶ In it was written,

⁷ You have also appointed prophets to make this proclamation about you in Jerusalem, saying, 'There is a king in Judah!' You can be sure the king will hear these reports. Therefore come, let us discuss the matter with one another."

⁸ Then I sent word to him saying, "No such things have occurred as you say, for within your heart you invented them." ⁹ For they all wanted to make us afraid, thinking, "Their hands will drop from the work, and the work will not be done." But now, God, please strengthen my hands.

¹⁰ I went to the house of Shemaiah son of Delaiah son of Mehetabel, who was confined in his home. He said, "Let us meet together in the house of God, inside the temple, and let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. At night they are coming to kill you." ¹¹ I replied, "Would a man like me run away? Would a man like me go into the temple just so he could save his own life? I will not go in!"

¹² I realized that it was not God who sent him, but that he had prophesied against me. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. ¹³ They hired him to make me afraid, so that I might do what he said and sin, so they could give me a bad name in order to humiliate me.

¹⁴ Call to mind Tobiah and Sanballat, my God according to their deeds. Also call to mind the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who tried to make me be afraid.

¹⁵ So the wall was finished on the twenty-fifth day of the month of Elul, after fifty-two days. ¹⁶ When all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us, they became afraid and they fell greatly in their own eyes. For they knew the work was done with the help of our God.

¹⁷ At this time the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them. ¹⁸ For there were many in Judah who were bound by an oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shekaniah son of Arah. His son Jehohanan had taken as his wife the daughter of Meshullam son of Berekiah. ¹⁹ They also spoke to me about his good deeds and reported my words back to him.

Letters were sent to me from Tobiah to frighten me.

Chapter 7

¹ When the wall was finished and I had set up the doors in place, and the gatekeepers and singers and Levites had been appointed, ² I put my brother Hanani in charge over Jerusalem, along with Hananiah, the overseer of the fortress, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.

³ I said to them, "Do not open the gates of Jerusalem until the sun is hot. While the gatekeepers are on guard, you may shut the doors and bar them. Appoint guards from those who live in Jerusalem, some at the place of their guard station, and some in front of their own homes." ⁴ Now the city was wide and large, but there were few people within it, and no houses had yet been rebuilt.

⁵ My God put into my heart to gather together the nobles, the officials, and the people to enroll them by families. I found the book of the genealogy of those who returned at the first and found the following written in it.

⁶ "These are the people of the province who went up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon took into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each to his city. ⁷ They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, and Baanah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel included the following.

⁸ The descendants of Parosh, 2,172. ⁹ The descendants of Shephatiah, 372. ¹⁰ The descendants of Arah, 652.

¹¹ The descendants of Pahath-Moab, through the descendants of Jeshua and Joab, 2,818. ¹² The descendants of Elam, 1,254. ¹³ The descendants of Zattu, 845. ¹⁴ The descendants of Zakkai, 760.

¹⁵ The descendants of Binnui, 648. ¹⁶ The descendants of Bebai, 628. ¹⁷ The descendants of Azgad, 2,322. ¹⁸ The descendants of Adonikam, 667.

¹⁹ The descendants of Bigvai, 2,067. ²⁰ The descendants of Adin, 655. ²¹ The descendants of Ater, of Hezekiah, 98. ²² The descendants of Hashum, 328.

²³ The descendants of Bezai, 324. ²⁴ The descendants of Hariph, 112. ²⁵ The descendants of Gibeon, 95. ²⁶ The men from Bethlehem and Netophah, 188.

²⁷ The men from Anathoth, 128. ²⁸ The men of Beth Azmaveth, 42. ²⁹ The men of Kiriath Jearim, Kephirah, and Beeroth, 743. ³⁰ The men of Ramah and Geba, 621.

³¹ The men of Mikmash, 122. ³² The men of Bethel and Ai, 123. ³³ The men of the other Nebo, 52. ³⁴ The people of the other Elam, 1,254.

³⁵ The men of Harim, 320. ³⁶ The men of Jericho, 345. ³⁷ The men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono, 721. ³⁸ The men of Senaah, 3,930.

³⁹ The priests: The descendants of Jedaiah (of the house of Jeshua), 973. ⁴⁰ The descendants of Immer, 1,052. ⁴¹ The descendants of Pashhur, 1,247. ⁴² The descendants of Harim, 1,017.

⁴³ The Levites: The descendants of Jeshua, through the descendants of Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah, 74.

⁴⁴ The singers: The descendants of Asaph, 148.

⁴⁵ The gatekeepers of the descendants of Shallum, the descendants of Ater, the descendants of Talmon, the descendants of Akkub, the descendants of Hatita, the descendants of Shobai, 138.

⁴⁶ The temple servants: The descendants of Ziha, the descendants of Hasupha, the descendants of Tabbaoth, ⁴⁷ the descendants of Keros, the descendants of Sia, the descendants of Padon, ⁴⁸ the descendants of Lebana, the descendants of Hagaba, the descendants of Shalmai, ⁴⁹ the descendants of Hanan, the descendants of Giddel, the descendants of Gahar.

⁵⁰ The descendants of Reaiah, the descendants of Rezin, the descendants of Nekoda, ⁵¹ the descendants of Gazzam, the descendants of Uzza, the descendants of Paseah, ⁵² the descendants of Besai, the descendants of Meunim, the descendants of Nephusim.

⁵³ The descendants of Bakbuk, the descendants of Hakupha, the descendants of Harhur, ⁵⁴ the descendants of Bazluth, the descendants of Mehida, the descendants of Harsha, ⁵⁵ the descendants of Barkos, the descendants of Sisera, the descendants of Temah, ⁵⁶ the descendants of Neziah, the descendants of Hatipha.

⁵⁷ The descendants of Solomon's servants: the descendants of Sotai, the descendants of Sophereth, the descendants of Perida, ⁵⁸ the descendants of Jaala, the descendants of Darkon, the descendants of Giddel, ⁵⁹ the descendants of Shephatiah, the descendants of Hattil, the descendants of Pokereth-Hazzebaim, the descendants of Amon. ⁶⁰ All the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon's servants, were 392.

⁶¹ These were the people who went up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon, and Immer. But they could not prove that they or their ancestors' families were descendants from Israel: ⁶² the descendants of Delaiah, the descendants of Tobiah, and the descendants of Nekoda, 642.

⁶³ Those who were from the priests: the descendants of Habaiah, Hakkoz, and Barzillai (who took his wife from the daughters of Barzillai of Gilead and was called by their name).

⁶⁴ These sought their records among those enrolled by their families, but they could not be found, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean. ⁶⁵ Then the governor said to them that they should not be allowed to eat the priests' share of food from the sacrifices until there rose up a priest with Urim and Thummim.

⁶⁶ The whole assembly together was 42,360, ⁶⁷ besides their male servants and their female servants, of whom there were 7,337. They had 245 singing men and women.

⁶⁸ Their horses were 736 in number, their mules, 245, ⁶⁹ their camels, 435, and their donkeys, 6,720.

⁷⁰ Some from among the heads of ancestors' families gave gifts for the work. The governor gave to the treasury one thousand darics of gold, 50 basins, and 530 priestly garments. ¹ ⁷¹ Some of the heads of ancestors' families gave into the treasury for the work twenty thousand darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver. ⁷² The rest of the people gave twenty thousand darics of gold, and two thousand minas of silver, and sixty-seven priestly garments.

⁷³ So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel lived in their cities.

By the seventh month the people of Israel were settled in their cities."

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew text has thirty priestly garments , but it is difficult to understand. Most modern translations have 530 priestly garments . However, some recommend reading thirty priestly garments and five hundred minas of silver .

Chapter 8

¹ All the people gathered as one man in the open area in front of the Water Gate. They asked Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which Yahweh had commanded Israel. ² On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly, both men and women, and all who could hear and understand. ³ He faced the open area in front of the Water Gate, and he read from it from early morning until midday, before men and women, and any who could understand, and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.

⁴ Then Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform which the people had made for the purpose. Standing beside him were Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right side; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam were standing on his left side. ⁵ Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above the people, and when he opened it all the people stood up.

⁶ Ezra blessed Yahweh, the great God, and all the people lifted up their hands and answered, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped Yahweh with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah—the Levites—helped the people understand the law, while the people remained in their place. ¹ ⁸ They read in the book, The Law of God, making it clear with interpretation and giving the meaning so the people understood the reading.

⁹ Nehemiah the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting to the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to Yahweh your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. ¹⁰ Then Nehemiah said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and have something sweet to drink, and send some of it to one who has nothing prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of Yahweh is your strength."

¹¹ So the Levites made the people be quiet, saying, "Hush! for this day is holy. Do not be grieved." ¹² Then all the people went their way to eat and to drink and to share food and to celebrate with great joy because they had understood the words that were made known to them.

¹³ On the second day the leaders of the ancestors' families from all the people, the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe to gain insight from the words of the law. ¹⁴ They found written in the law how Yahweh had commanded through Moses that the people of Israel should live in shelters during the festival of the seventh month. ¹⁵ They should make a proclamation in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, "Go out into the hill country, and bring back branches from olive and wild olive trees, and from myrtle, palms and shade trees, to make shelters, as it is written."

¹⁶ So the people went out and brought the branches back and made themselves shelters, each on their own roofs, in their courtyards, in the courts of the house of God, in the open area in front of the Water Gate, and in the square at the Gate of Ephraim. ¹⁷ All the assembly of those who had returned from captivity made shelters and lived in them. For since the days of Joshua son of Nun to that day, the people of Israel had not celebrated this festival, and so their joy was very great.

¹⁸ Also day by day, from the first day to the last, Ezra read from the book of the law of God. They kept the festival for seven days and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, in obedience to the decree.

¹Most modern translations identify as Levites all the persons named in this verse. However, some modern translations put the Levites in the same list as the individuals first named.

Chapter 9

¹ Now on the twenty-fourth day of the same month the people of Israel were assembled and they were fasting, and they were wearing sackcloth, and they put dust on their heads. ² The descendants of Israel separated themselves from all the foreigners. They stood and confessed their own sins and the iniquities of their ancestors.

³ They stood up in their places, and for one-fourth of the day they read from the book of the law of Yahweh their God. For another fourth of the day they were confessing and bowing down before Yahweh their God. ⁴ The Levites, Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Kenani, stood on the stairs and they called out with a loud voice to Yahweh their God.

⁵ Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah said, "Stand up and give praise to Yahweh your God forever and ever."

"May they bless your glorious name, and may it be exalted above every blessing and praise.

⁶ You are Yahweh. You alone. You have made heaven, the highest heavens, with all their host, and the earth and everything on it, and the seas and all that is in them. You give life to them all, and the host of heaven worship you.

⁷ You are Yahweh, the God who chose Abram, and brought him out of Ur of the Chaldeans, and gave him the name Abraham. ⁸ You found his heart was faithful before you, and you made with him the covenant to give to his descendants the land of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, and the Girgashites. You have kept your promise because you are righteous.

⁹ You saw the affliction of our forefathers in Egypt and you heard their cry by the Sea of Reeds. ¹⁰ You gave signs and wonders against Pharaoh, and all his servants, and on all the people of his land, for you knew that the Egyptians acted with arrogance against them. But you made a name for yourself which stands to this day.

¹¹ Then you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the middle of the sea on the dry land; and threw those who pursued them into the depths, as a stone into deep waters.

¹² You led them by a pillar of cloud during the day, and by a pillar of fire during the night to light the way for them to go. ¹³ On Mount Sinai you came down and you spoke with them from heaven and gave to them righteous decrees and true laws, good statutes and commandments.

¹⁴ You made your holy Sabbath known to them, and you gave them commandments and statutes and a law through Moses your servant. ¹⁵ You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger, and water from a rock for their thirst, and you said to them to go in to possess the land you swore on oath to give them.

¹⁶ But they and our ancestors acted arrogantly, and they stiffened their necks and did not listen to your commandments. ¹⁷ They refused to listen, and they did not think about the wonders that you had done among them, but they stiffened their necks, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their slavery. But you are a God who is full of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love. You did not abandon them.

¹⁸ Even when they had cast a calf out of molten metal and said, 'This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,' and had committed great blasphemies, ¹⁹ you, in your compassion, did not abandon them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them on the way did not leave them during day, neither did the pillar of fire by night to light the way for them to go.

²⁰ Your good Spirit you gave them to instruct them, and your manna you did not withhold from their mouths, and water you gave them for their thirst. ²¹ For forty years you provided for them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.

²² You gave them kingdoms and peoples, assigning to them every corner of the land. Then they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon and the land of Og king of Bashan.

²³ You made their children as numerous as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you told their ancestors to go in and possess. ²⁴ So the people went in and possessed the land and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites. You gave them into their hands, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that Israel might do with them as they pleased.

²⁵ They captured the fortified cities and a productive land, and they took possession of houses full of all good things, cisterns already cut out, vineyards and olive orchards, and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were satisfied and grew fat and enjoyed themselves in your great goodness.

²⁶ Then they became disobedient and they rebelled against you. They threw your law behind their backs. They murdered your prophets who had warned them to turn back to you, and they committed great blasphemies. ²⁷ So you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. In the time of their suffering, they cried out to you, and you heard them from heaven, and because of your great mercies you sent them rescuers who rescued them out of the hand of their enemies.

²⁸ But after they had rest, they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so their enemies ruled over them. Yet when they returned and cried out to you, you heard from heaven, and many times because of your compassion you rescued them. ²⁹ You warned them so they might turn back to your law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did not listen to your commands. They sinned against your decrees which give life to anyone who obeys them. They gave the stubborn shoulder-blade and stiffened their neck and refused to listen.

³⁰ For many years you put up with them and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets. Yet they did not listen. So you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands. ³¹ But in your great mercies you did not destroy them completely or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

³² Now therefore, our God—you great, mighty, and awesome God who keep your covenant and steadfast love—do not let all this hardship seem little to you that has come on us, on our kings, on our leaders, and on our priests, and on our prophets, and on our ancestors, and on all your people from the days of the kings of Assyria until today. ³³ You are just in everything that has come on us, for you have dealt faithfully, but we have acted wickedly. ³⁴ Our kings, our leaders, our priests, and our ancestors have not kept your law, nor paid attention to your commandments or your laws by which you warned them.

³⁵ Even in their own kingdom, while they enjoyed your great goodness to them, in the large and productive land you set before them, they did not serve you or turn away from their evil deeds.

³⁶ Now we are slaves in the land you gave our ancestors to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, and behold, we are slaves in it! ³⁷ The rich produce of our land goes to the kings you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please. We are in great distress.

³⁸ Because of all this, we make a firm covenant in writing. On the sealed document are the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests."

Chapter 10

¹ On the sealed documents were Nehemiah, the governor, son of Hakaliah and Zedekiah, ² Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,

³ Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,

⁴ Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluk,

⁵ Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,

⁶ Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,

⁷ Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,

⁸ Maaziah, Bilgai, and Shemaiah. These were the priests.

⁹ The Levites were: Jeshua son of Azaniah, Binnui of the family of Henadad, Kadmiel,

¹⁰ and their fellow Levites, Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,

¹¹ Mika, Rehob, Hashabiah,

¹² Zakkur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,

¹³ Hodiah, Bani, and Beninu.

¹⁴ The leaders of the people were: Parosh, Pahath-Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,

¹⁵ Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,

¹⁶ Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,

¹⁷ Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,

¹⁸ Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,

¹⁹ Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,

²⁰ Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,

²¹ Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,

²² Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,

²³ Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,

²⁴ Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,

²⁵ Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,

²⁶ Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,

²⁷ Malluk, Harim, and Baanah.

²⁸ As for the rest of the people, who were priests, Levites, gatekeepers, singers, temple servants, and all who had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands and pledged themselves to the law of God, including their wives, their sons and their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding, ²⁹ they joined together with their brothers, their nobles, and bound themselves with both a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and obey all the commandments of Yahweh our Lord and his decrees and his statutes.

³⁰ We promised that we would not give our daughters to the people of the land or take their daughters for our sons. ³¹ We also promised that if the people of the land bring goods or any grain to sell on the Sabbath day, we would not buy from them on the Sabbath or on any holy day. Every seventh year we will let our fields rest, and we will cancel all debts.

³² We accepted the commands to give a third of a shekel each year for the service of the house of our God, ³³ to provide for the bread of the presence, and for the regular grain offering, the burnt offerings on the Sabbaths, the new moon festivals and appointed feasts, and for the holy offerings, and for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, as well as for all the work of the house of our God.

³⁴ We—the priests, the Levites, and the people—cast lots for the wood offering. The lots would select which of our families would bring wood into the house of our God at the appointed times each year, to be burned on the altar of Yahweh our God, as it is written in the law. ³⁵ We promised to bring to the house of Yahweh the firstfruits grown from our soil, and each year the firstfruits from each tree. ³⁶ The firstborn of our sons, and of our cattle—according to what is written in the law—and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks we will bring to the house of our God, to the priests who serve in the house of our God.

³⁷ We will bring the first of our dough and our grain offerings, and the fruit of every tree and new wine and oil, to the priests, to the storerooms of the house of our God. We will bring to the Levites the tithes from our soil because the Levites collect the tithes in all the towns where we labor. ³⁸ A priest, a descendant of Aaron, must be with the Levites when they receive the tithes. The Levites must bring a tenth of the tithes to the house of our God to the rooms of the storehouse.

³⁹ For the people of Israel and the descendants of Levi are to bring the contributions of grain, new wine, and oil to the storerooms where the articles of the sanctuary are kept and where the priests who are serving, and the gatekeepers, and the singers stay.

We will not neglect the house of our God.

Chapter 11

¹ The leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one of ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, and the other nine remained in other towns. ² Then the people blessed all those who volunteered to live in Jerusalem.

³ These are the provincial officials who lived in Jerusalem. However, in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his own property, including some Israelites, priests, Levites, temple servants, and descendants of Solomon's servants. ⁴ In Jerusalem lived some of the descendants of Judah and some of the descendants of Benjamin.

The people from Judah included: Athaiah son of Uzziah son of Zechariah son of Amariah son of Shephatiah son of Mahalalel, a descendant of Perez.

⁵ There was Maaseiah son of Baruch son of Kol-Hozeh son of Hazaiah son of Adaiah son of Joiarib son of Zechariah, a descendant of Shelah. ⁶ All the descendants of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468. They were outstanding men.

⁷ These are the descendants of Benjamin: Sallu son of Meshullam son of Joed son of Pedaiah son of Kolaiah son of Maaseiah son of Ithiel son of Jeshaiah, ⁸ and those following him, Gabbai and Sallai, 928 men. ¹ ⁹ Joel son of Zikri was their overseer, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second in command over the city.

¹⁰ From the priests: Jedaiah son of Joiarib, Jakin, ¹¹ Seraiah son of Hilkiah son of Meshullam son of Zadok son of Meraioth son of Ahitub, the chief official of the house of God, ¹² and their associates who did the work for the house, 822 men, along with Adaiah son of Jeroham son of Pelaliah son of Amzi son of Zechariah son of Pashhur son of Malkijah.

¹³ His brothers were heads of clans, 242 men; and Amashsai son of Azarel son of Ahzai son of Meshillemoth son of Immer, ¹⁴ and their brothers, 128 valiant warriors; their overseer was Zabdiel son of Haggedolim.

¹⁵ From the Levites: Shemaiah son of Hasshub son of Azrikam son of Hashabiah son of Bunni, ¹⁶ and Shabbethai and Jozabad, who were from the leaders of the Levites and were in charge of the outside work of the house of God.

¹⁷ There was Mattaniah son of Mika son of Zabdi, a descendant of Asaph, who was the director who began the thanksgiving in prayer, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers, and Abda son of Shammua son of Galal son of Jeduthun. ¹⁸ All the Levites in the holy city numbered 284.

¹⁹ The gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, 172 men.

²⁰ The remainder of Israel and of the priests and the Levites were in all the towns of Judah. Everyone lived on his own inherited property. ²¹ The temple workers lived in Ophel, and Ziha and Gishpa were in charge of them.

²² The chief officer over the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi son of Bani son of Hashabiah son of Mattaniah son of Mika, of the descendants of Asaph, singers over the work in the house of God. ²³ They were under orders from the king, and firm orders were given for the singers as every day required. ²⁴ Then Pethahiah son of Meshezabel, a descendant of Zerah son of Judah, was at the king's side in all matters concerning the people.

²⁵ As for the villages and their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages, ²⁶ and in Jeshua, Moladah, Beth Pelet, ²⁷ Hazar Shual, and Beersheba and its villages.

²⁸ Some of the people of Judah lived in Ziklag, Mekonah and its villages, ²⁹ En Rimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, ³⁰ Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, and in Lachish its fields and Azekah and its villages. So they encamped from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.

³¹ The descendants of the Benjamites settled in Geba, Mikmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages, ³² Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, ³³ Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, ³⁴ Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, ³⁵ Lod, Ono, and Ge Harashim. ² ³⁶ Some of the Levites who lived in Judah were assigned to the people of Benjamin.

¹Instead of those following him , some scholars suggest his brothers because that construction appears in Nehemiah 11:13, 14, 17, and 19 .

²Some modern English translations read, Lod, Ono, and the Valley of the Craftsmen . Others read, Lod and Ono, the valley of the craftsmen .

Chapter 12

¹ These were the priests and Levites who came up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

² Amariah, Malluk, Hattush,

³ Shekaniah, Rehum, and Meremoth.

⁴ There were Iddo, Ginnethon, Abijah,

⁵ Mijamin, Moadiah, Bilgah,

⁶ Shemaiah, and Joiarib, Jedaiah,

⁷ Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and Jedaiah. These were the leaders of the priests and their associates in the days of Jeshua.

⁸ The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who was in charge of the thanksgiving songs, along with his associates. ⁹ Bakbukiah and Unni, their associates, stood opposite them during the service.

¹⁰ Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim was the father of Eliashib, Eliashib was the father of Joiada, ¹¹ Joiada was the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan was the father of Jaddua.

¹² In the days of Joiakim these were the priests, the leaders of the families: Meraiah was the leader of Seraiah, Hananiah was the leader of Jeremiah,

¹³ Meshullam was the leader of Ezra, Jehohanan was the leader of Amariah,

¹⁴ Jonathan was the leader of Malluk, and Joseph was the leader of Shebaniah. ¹

¹⁵ Adna was the leader of Harim, Helkai the leader of Meremoth,

¹⁶ Zechariah was the leader of Iddo, Meshullam was the leader of Ginnethon, and

¹⁷ Zikri was the leader of Abijah; Piltai was the leader of Miniamin and Moadiah.

¹⁸ Shammua was the leader of Bilgah, Jehonathan was the leader of Shemaiah,

¹⁹ Mattenai was the leader of Joiarib, Uzzi was the leader of Jedaiah,

²⁰ Kallai was the leader of Sallu, Eber was the leader of Amok,

²¹ Hashabiah was the leader of Hilkiah, and Nethanel was the leader of Jedaiah.

²² In the days of Eliashib, the Levites Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua were recorded as the heads of families, and the priests were recorded during the reign of Darius the Persian. ²³ The descendants of Levi, their leaders of families were recorded in the book of the annals up to the days of Johanan son of Eliashib.

²⁴ The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua son of Kadmiel, with their associates, who stood opposite them to give praise and to give thanks, responding section by section, in obedience to the command of David, the man of God. ²⁵ Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storerooms by the gates. ²⁶ They served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra the priest and scribe.

²⁷ At the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem, the people sought out the Levites wherever they lived, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with joy, with thanksgivings and singing with cymbals, lutes, and harps. ²⁸ The fellowship of singers gathered together from the district around Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites.

²⁹ They also came from Beth Gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem. ³⁰ The priests and the Levites purified themselves, and then they purified the people, the gates, and the wall.

³¹ Then I had the leaders of Judah go up to the top of the wall, and I appointed two large choirs who gave thanks. One went to the right on the wall toward the Dung Gate.

³² Hoshaiah and half the leaders of Judah followed them, ³³ and after them went Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam, ³⁴ Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, Jeremiah, ³⁵ and some of the priests' sons with trumpets, and Zechariah son of Jonathan son of Shemaiah son of Mattaniah son of Micaiah son of Zakkur son of Asaph.

³⁶ There also were Zechariah's relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. Ezra the scribe was in front of them. ³⁷ By the Fountain Gate they went straight up on the stairs of the city of David, by the stairway to the wall above David's palace, to the Water Gate on the east.

³⁸ The other choir of those who gave thanks went in the other direction. I followed them on the wall with half the people, above the Tower of Ovens, to the Broad Wall, ³⁹ and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Old Gate, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate, and they stopped at the Gate of the Guard.

⁴⁰ So both choirs of those who gave thanks took their place in the house of God, and I also took my place with half of the officials with me. ⁴¹ Then the priests took their place: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with the trumpets, ⁴² and also Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam, and Ezer, and the singers made themselves heard and Jezrahiah was their leader.

⁴³ They offered great sacrifices that day, and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy. Also the women and the children rejoiced. So the joy of Jerusalem could be heard far away.

⁴⁴ On that day men were appointed to be in charge of the storerooms for the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the law for the priests and for the Levites. Each was assigned to work the fields near the towns. For Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who were standing before them. ⁴⁵ They performed the service of their God, and the service of purification, and so did the singers and the gatekeepers, in keeping with the command of David and of Solomon his son.

⁴⁶ For long ago, in the days of David and Asaph, there were directors of singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God. ⁴⁷ In the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah, all Israel gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers. They set aside the consecrated portion that was for the Levites, and the Levites set aside the consecrated portion for the descendants of Aaron.

¹Many modern translations have Malluk as a correction for Malluki in the Hebrew text. The correct form of this name appears in Neh. 12:2.

Chapter 13

¹ On that day they read in the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. It was found written in it that no Ammonite or Moabite should come into the assembly of God, forever. ² This was because they had not come to the people of Israel with bread and with water, but they had hired Balaam to curse Israel. However, our God turned the curse into a blessing. ³ As soon as they heard the law, they separated out from Israel every foreign person.

⁴ Now before this Eliashib the priest was appointed over the storerooms of the house of our God. He was related to Tobiah. ⁵ Eliashib prepared for Tobiah a large storeroom, where previously they kept the grain offering, the incense, the articles, and the tithes of the grain, new wine, and the oil, which were commanded to be for the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.

⁶ But in all this time I was not in Jerusalem. For in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king. After some time I asked the king for permission to leave, ⁷ and I returned to Jerusalem. I understood the evil that Eliashib had done by giving Tobiah a storeroom in the courts of the house of God.

⁸ This was very displeasing to me and I threw all Tobiah's household articles out of the storeroom. ⁹ I ordered that they purify the storerooms, and I put back in them the articles of the house of God, the grain offerings, and the incense.

¹⁰ I learned that the Levites' portions had not been given to them, and they had run away, each to his own field, the Levites and the singers who did the work. ¹¹ So I confronted the officials and said, "Why is the house of God neglected?" I gathered them together and stationed them at their posts.

¹² Then all Judah brought in the tithe of the grain, the new wine, and the oil to the storehouses. ¹³ I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest and Zadok the scribe, and from the Levites, Pedaiah. Next to them was Hanan son of Zakkur son of Mattaniah, for they were counted as trustworthy. Their duties were to distribute the supplies to their associates.

¹⁴ Call me to mind, my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out the good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and its services.

¹⁵ In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses on the Sabbath and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of heavy loads, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. I warned them against selling food on that day.

¹⁶ Men from Tyre living in Jerusalem brought in fish and all kinds of goods, and they sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah and in the city! ¹⁷ Then I confronted the nobles of Judah, "What is this evil thing you are doing, profaning the Sabbath day? ¹⁸ Did not your fathers do this? Did not our God bring all this evil on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath."

¹⁹ As soon as it became dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors be shut and that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I stationed some of my servants at the gates so no load could be brought in on the Sabbath day. ²⁰ The merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares camped outside Jerusalem once or twice.

²¹ But I warned them, "Why do you camp outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you!" From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath. ²² Then I commanded the Levites to purify themselves, and come and guard the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day.

Call me to mind for this also, my God, and have mercy on me because of the covenant loyalty you have toward me.

²³ In those days I also saw Jews that had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab. ²⁴ Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod. None of them knew how to speak the language of Judah, but only the language of one of the other peoples.

²⁵ I confronted them, and I cursed them, and I hit some of them and pulled out their hair. I made them swear by God, saying, "You will not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. ²⁶ Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of these women? Among many nations there was no king like him, and he was loved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, his foreign wives caused him to sin. ²⁷ Should we then listen to you and do all this great evil, and act unfaithfully against our God by marrying foreign women?"

²⁸ One of the sons of Joiada son of Eliashib the high priest was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I caused him to flee from my presence.

²⁹ Call them to mind, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.

³⁰ Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and established the duties of the priests and the Levites, each to his own task. ³¹ I provided for the wood offering at the appointed times and for the firstfruits.

Call me to mind, my God, for good.

Job

Chapter 1

¹ There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and Job was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned from evil. ² There were born to him seven sons and three daughters. ³ He possessed seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred donkeys and a great many servants. He was the man who was the greatest of all the people of the East.

⁴ On each son's assigned day, he would give a feast in his house. They would send and call for their three sisters to eat and drink with them. ⁵ When the days of the feast were over, Job would send for them and he would consecrate them. He would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings for each of his children, for he would say, "It may be that my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts." Job always did this.

⁶ Then it was the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh. Satan also came with them. ⁷ Yahweh said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, "From wandering on the earth, from going back and forth on it." ⁸ Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil."

⁹ Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, "Is it for no reason that Job fears God? ¹⁰ Have you not put a barrier around him, around his house, and around all that is his from every side? You have blessed the deeds of his hands, and his livestock have spread throughout the land. ¹¹ But now stretch out your hand and touch all that he has, and see if he does not curse you to your face." ¹² Yahweh said to Satan, "Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him himself do not stretch out your hand." Then Satan went away from the presence of Yahweh.

¹³ It came about that on a certain day, his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house. ¹⁴ A messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were feeding beside them. ¹⁵ Then the Sabeans fell on them and took them away. As for the servants, they have struck them with the edge of the sword. I alone have escaped to make it known to you."

¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants. I alone have escaped to make it known to you." ¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three groups, made a raid on the camels, and have taken them away. As for the servants, they have struck them with the edge of the sword. I alone have escaped to make it known to you."

¹⁸ While he was yet speaking, another also came and said, "Your sons and your daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house. ¹⁹ A strong wind came from the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house. It fell on the young people, and they died. I alone have escaped to make it known to you."

²⁰ Then Job rose, tore his robe, shaved his head, lay facedown on the ground, and worshiped God. ²¹ He said, "I was naked when I came out of my mother's womb, and I will be naked when I will return there. It is Yahweh who gave, and it is Yahweh who has taken away. May the name of Yahweh be blessed."

²² In all this matter, Job did not sin, nor did he accuse God of wrongdoing.

Chapter 2

¹ Then it was the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Yahweh. Satan also came with them to present himself before Yahweh. ² Yahweh said to Satan, "From where have you come?" Then Satan answered Yahweh and said, "From wandering on the earth, from going back and forth on it."

³ Yahweh said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and turns away from evil. He still holds fast to his integrity, although you misled me against him, to destroy him without cause."

⁴ Satan answered Yahweh and said, "Skin for skin, indeed; a man will give all he has for his life. ⁵ But stretch out your hand now and touch his bones and his flesh, and see if he does not curse you to your face."

⁶ Yahweh said to Satan, "See, he is in your hand; it is only his life that you must spare."

⁷ Then Satan went away from the presence of Yahweh. He struck Job with painful boils from the sole of his feet to his head. ⁸ Job took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself with, and he sat down in the middle of ashes.

⁹ Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die." ¹⁰ But he said to her, "You talk as a foolish woman talks. Should we receive the good from God and not receive the bad?" In all this matter, Job did not sin with his lips.

¹¹ Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that had come on him, each of them came from his own place: Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They set a time to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.

¹² When they lifted up their eyes at a distance, they did not recognize him. They raised their voices and wept; each tore his robe and threw dust into the air and upon his own head. ¹³ Then they sat with him on the ground for seven days and seven nights. No one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great.

Chapter 3

¹ After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day he was born. ² He said,

³ "May the day on which I was born perish,

the night that said, 'A boy has been conceived.'

⁴ May that day be dark!

May God not care about it,

nor light shine on it.

⁵ May darkness and the shadow of death claim it for their own.

May a cloud live over it;

may everything that makes the day black truly terrify it.

⁶ As for that night, may thick darkness seize it.

May it not rejoice among the days of the year;

may it not come into the number of the months.

⁷ See, may that night be barren;

may no joyful voice come into it.

⁸ Those who curse the day–may they curse it,

those who know how to wake up Leviathan.

⁹ May the stars of that day's dawn be dark.

May that day look for light, but find none;

neither may it see the eyelids of the dawn,

¹⁰ because it did not shut up the doors of my mother's womb,

and because it did not hide trouble from my eyes.

¹¹ Why did I not die when I came out from the womb?

Why did I not perish when my mother bore me?

¹² Why did her knees welcome me?

Why did her breasts receive me so that I should suck?

¹³ For now I would have been lying down quietly.

I would have slept and been at rest

¹⁴ with kings and counselors of the earth,

who built up tombs for themselves that are now in ruins.

¹⁵ Or I would have been lying down with princes who once had gold,

who had filled their houses with silver.

¹⁶ Or perhaps I would have been stillborn,

like infants that never see the light.

¹⁷ There the wicked cease from trouble;

there the weary are at rest.

¹⁸ There the prisoners are at ease together;

they do not hear the voice of the slave driver.

¹⁹ Both small and great people are there;

the servant is free from his master there.

²⁰ Why is light given to him who suffers?

Why is life given to the one who is bitter in soul,

²¹ to one who longs for death without it coming;

to one who digs for it more than for hidden treasure?

²² Why is light given to one who rejoices very much

and is glad when he finds the grave?

²³ Why is light given to a man whose way is hidden,

a man whom God has hedged in?

²⁴ For my sighing happens instead of eating;

my groaning is poured out like water.

²⁵ For the thing that I feared has come upon me;

what I was afraid of has come to me.

²⁶ I am not at ease, I am not quiet, and I have no rest;

trouble comes instead."

Chapter 4

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

² If anyone tries to speak with you, will you be impatient?

But who can stop himself from speaking?

³ See, you have instructed many;

you have strengthened weak hands.

⁴ Your words have supported him who was falling;

you have made feeble knees strong.

⁵ But now trouble has come to you, and you are weary;

it touches you, and you are troubled.

⁶ Is not your fear your confidence,

and the integrity of your ways your hope?

⁷ Think about this, please: Who has ever perished when innocent?

Or when were the upright people ever cut off?

⁸ According to what I have seen, those who plow iniquity

and sow trouble reap it.

⁹ By the breath of God they perish;

by the blast of his anger they are consumed.

¹⁰ The roaring of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion,

the teeth of the young lions—they are broken.

¹¹ The old lion perishes for lack of victims;

the cubs of the lioness are scattered everywhere.

¹² Now a certain matter was secretly brought to me,

and my ear received a whisper about it.

¹³ Then came thoughts from visions in the night,

when deep sleep falls on people.

¹⁴ It was at night when fear and trembling came upon me,

and all my bones shook.

¹⁵ Then a spirit passed before my face,

and the hair of my flesh stood up.

¹⁶ The spirit stood still,

but I could not discern its appearance.

A form was before my eyes;

there was silence, and I heard a voice that said,

¹⁷ "Can a mortal man be more righteous than God?

Can a man be more pure than his Maker?

¹⁸ See, if God puts no trust in his servants;

if he accuses his angels of folly,

¹⁹ how much more is this true of those who live in houses of clay,

whose foundation is in the dust,

who are crushed sooner than a moth?

²⁰ Between morning and evening they are destroyed;

they perish forever without anyone noticing them.

²¹ Are not their tent cords plucked up among them?

They die; they die without wisdom.

Chapter 5

¹ Call out now; is there anyone who will answer you?

To which of the holy ones will you turn?

² For anger kills the foolish;

jealousy causes the death of the silly.

³ I have seen a foolish person taking root,

but suddenly I cursed his home.

⁴ His children are far from safety;

they are crushed in the city gate.

There is no one to rescue them.

⁵ The hungry eat up their harvest;

they even take it from among the thorns.

The thirsty pant for their wealth.

⁶ For difficulties do not come out from the soil;

neither does trouble sprout from the ground.

⁷ Yet, mankind is born for trouble,

just as sparks fly upward.

⁸ But as for me, I would turn to God himself;

to him I would commit my cause—

⁹ he who does great and unsearchable things,

marvelous things without number.

¹⁰ He gives rain on the earth,

and sends water on the fields.

¹¹ He does this in order to set up on high those who are low;

to raise to safety those who mourn.

¹² He breaks the plans of crafty people,

so that their hands cannot achieve success.

¹³ He traps wise people in their own crafty actions;

the plans of twisted people are hurried to their end.

¹⁴ They encounter darkness in the daytime,

and grope at noonday as if it were night.

¹⁵ But he saves the poor person from the sword in their mouths

and the needy person from the hand of mighty people.

¹⁶ So the poor person has hope,

and injustice shuts her own mouth.

¹⁷ See, blessed is the man whom God corrects;

therefore, do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.

¹⁸ For he inflicts pain and then binds up;

he wounds and then his hands heal.

¹⁹ He will rescue you out of six troubles;

indeed, in seven troubles, no evil will touch you.

²⁰ In famine he will ransom you from death,

and in war from the hands of the sword.

²¹ You will be hidden from the scourge of the tongue;

and you will not be afraid of destruction when it comes.

²² You will laugh at destruction and famine,

and you will not be afraid of beasts of the earth.

²³ For you will have a covenant with the stones in your field,

and the beasts of the field will be at peace with you.

²⁴ You will know that your tent is in safety;

you will visit your sheepfold and you will not miss anything.

²⁵ You will also know that your seed will be great,

that your descendants will be like the grass on the ground.

²⁶ You will come to your grave at a full age,

like a stack of grain bundles that goes up at its time.

²⁷ See, we have examined this matter; it is like this;

listen to it, and know it for yourself."

Chapter 6

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² "Oh, if only my anguish were weighed;

if only all my calamity were laid in the balance!

³ For now it would be heavier than the sand of the seas.

That is why my words were reckless.

⁴ For the arrows of the Almighty are in me,

my spirit drinks up the poison;

the terrors of God have arranged themselves in array against me.

⁵ Does the wild donkey bray in despair when he has grass?

Or does the ox low in hunger when it has fodder?

⁶ Can that which has no taste be eaten without salt?

Or is there any taste in the white of an egg?

⁷ I refuse to touch them;

they are like disgusting food to me.

⁸ Oh, that I might have my request;

oh, that God would grant me the thing I long for:

⁹ that it would please God to crush me once,

that he would set his hand free and cut me off from this life!

¹⁰ May this still be my consolation—

even if I rejoice in pain that does not lessen:

that I have not denied the words of the Holy One.

¹¹ What is my strength, that I should continue to hope?

What is my end, that I should prolong my life?

¹² Is my strength the strength of stones?

Or is my flesh made of bronze?

¹³ Is it not true that I have no help in myself,

and that wisdom has been driven out of me?

¹⁴ To the person who is about to faint, faithfulness should be shown by his friend;

even to him who abandons the fear of the Almighty.

¹⁵ But my brothers have acted as deceitfully to me as a desert streambed,

as channels of water that pass away to nothing,

¹⁶ which are darkened because of ice over them,

and because of the snow that hides itself in them.

¹⁷ When they thaw out, they vanish;

when it is hot, they melt out of their place.

¹⁸ The caravans that travel by their way turn aside for water;

they wander into wasteland and then perish.

¹⁹ Caravans from Tema looked there,

while companies of Sheba hoped in them.

²⁰ They were disappointed because they had been confident of finding water.

They went there, but they were put to shame.

²¹ For now you friends are nothing to me;

you see my dreadful situation and are afraid.

²² Did I say to you, 'Give something to me'

or, 'Offer me a bribe from your wealth'

²³ or, 'Save me from my adversary's hand'

or, 'Ransom me from the hand of oppressors'?

²⁴ Teach me, and I will hold my peace;

make me understand where I have been wrong.

²⁵ How painful are upright words!

But your arguments, how do they actually rebuke me?

²⁶ Do you plan to ignore my words,

treating the words of a desperate man like the wind?

²⁷ Indeed, you cast lots for a fatherless child,

and haggle over your friend like merchandise.

²⁸ Now, therefore, please look at me,

for surely I would not lie to your face.

²⁹ Relent, I beg you; let there be no injustice with you;

Indeed, relent, for my cause is just.

³⁰ Is there evil on my tongue?

Cannot my mouth detect destructive things?

Chapter 7

¹ Does not man have hard labor on earth?

Are not his days like the days of a hired man?

² Like a slave earnestly desires the shadows of evening,

like a hired man looks for his wages—

³ so I have been assigned months of emptiness;

I have been given trouble-filled nights.

⁴ When I lie down, I say to myself,

'When will I get up and when will the night be gone?'

I am full of tossing to and fro until the day's dawning.

⁵ My flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust;

the sores in my skin harden up and then dissolve and run afresh.

⁶ My days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle;

they pass without hope.

⁷ God, call to mind that my life is only a breath;

my eye will no more see good.

⁸ The eye of God, who sees me, will see me no more;

God's eyes will be on me, but I will not exist.

⁹ As a cloud is consumed and vanishes away,

so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more.

¹⁰ He will return no more to his house;

neither will his place know him again.

¹¹ Therefore I will not restrain my mouth;

I will speak in the anguish of my spirit;

I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.

¹² Am I the sea or a sea monster

that you place a guard over me?

¹³ When I say, 'My bed will comfort me,

and my couch will ease my complaint,'

¹⁴ then you frighten me with dreams

and terrify me through visions,

¹⁵ so that my soul would choose strangling

and death rather than preserving these bones of mine.

¹⁶ I despise my life; I would not wish to always be alive;

let me alone, for my days are useless.

¹⁷ What is man that you should pay attention to him,

that you should set your mind on him,

¹⁸ that you should observe him every morning

and test him every moment?

¹⁹ How long will it be before you look away from me,

before you let me alone long enough for me to swallow down my own saliva?

²⁰ Even if I have sinned, what would that do to you,

you who watch men?

Why have you made a target of me,

so that I am a burden for you?

²¹ Why do you not pardon my transgression

and take away my iniquity?

For now will I lie down in the dust;

you will seek me carefully, but I will not exist."

Chapter 8

¹ Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,

² "How long will you say these things?

How long will the words of your mouth be a mighty wind?

³ Does God pervert justice?

Does the Almighty pervert righteousness?

⁴ Your children have sinned against him;

we know this, for he gave them into the hand of their sins.

⁵ But suppose you diligently sought God

and sought the favor of the Almighty.

⁶ If you are pure and upright,

then he would surely stir himself on your behalf

and restore you to your rightful place.

⁷ Even though your beginning was small,

still your final condition would be much greater.

⁸ Please ask the former generations,

and give your attention to what our ancestors learned.

⁹ (We were only born yesterday and know nothing

because our days on earth are a shadow.)

¹⁰ Will they not teach you and tell you?

Will they not speak words from their hearts?

¹¹ Can papyrus grow without a marsh?

Can reeds grow without water?

¹² While they are still green and not cut down,

they wither before any other plant.

¹³ So also are the paths of all who forget God;

the hope of the godless will perish.

¹⁴ His confidence will break apart,

and his trust is as weak as a spider's web.

¹⁵ He leans on his house, but it will not support him;

he takes hold of it, but it does not stand.

¹⁶ Under the sun he is green,

and his shoots go out over his entire garden.

¹⁷ His roots are wrapped about the heaps of stone;

they look for good places among the rocks.

¹⁸ But if this person is destroyed out of his place,

then that place will deny him and say, 'I never saw you.'

¹⁹ See, this is the "joy" of such a person's behavior;

other plants will sprout out of the same soil in his place.

²⁰ See, God will not reject an innocent man;

neither will he take the hand of evildoers.

²¹ He will yet fill your mouth with laughter,

your lips with shouting.

²² Those who hate you will be clothed with shame;

the tent of the wicked will be no more."

Chapter 9

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² "I truly know that this is so.

But how can a person be in the right with God?

³ If he wants to argue with God,

he cannot answer him once in a thousand times.

⁴ God is wise in heart and mighty in strength;

who has ever hardened himself against him and succeeded?—

⁵ he who removes the mountains without warning anyone

when he overturns them in his anger—

⁶ he who shakes the earth out of its place

and sets its pillars trembling.

⁷ It is the same God who tells the sun not to rise, and it does not,

and who covers up the stars,

⁸ who by himself stretches out the heavens

and tramples down the waves of the sea,

⁹ who makes the Bear, Orion, the Pleiades,

and the constellations of the south.

¹⁰ He does great and unsearchable things,

and wonderful things that cannot be counted.

¹¹ See, he goes by me, and I do not see him;

he passes on, but I do not understand him.

¹² If he takes something away, who can stop him?

Who can say to him, 'What are you doing?'

¹³ God will not withdraw his anger;

the helpers of Rahab bow beneath him.

¹⁴ How much less could I answer him,

could I choose words to reason with him?

¹⁵ Even if I were righteous, I could not answer him;

I could only plead for mercy with my judge.

¹⁶ Even if I called and he answered me,

I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.

¹⁷ For he breaks me with a tempest

and multiplies my wounds without cause.

¹⁸ He does not allow me to regain my breath;

but he fills me with bitterness.

¹⁹ If it is a matter of strength, behold, he is mighty!

If it is a matter of justice, who can summon him?

²⁰ Though I am in the right, my own mouth would condemn me;

and though I am blameless, my words would prove me to be guilty.

²¹ I am blameless, but I do not care any more about myself;

I despise my own life.

²² It makes no difference, which is why I say

that he destroys blameless people and wicked people together.

²³ When a whip suddenly kills,

he mocks the despair of the innocent.

²⁴ The earth is given into the hand of wicked people;

God covers the faces of its judges.

If it is not he who does it, then who is it?

²⁵ My days are swifter than a running messenger;

my days flee away; they see no good anywhere.

²⁶ They are as fast as papyrus reed boats,

and as fast as the eagle that swoops down on its victim.

²⁷ If I said that I would forget about my complaints,

that I would take off my sad face and be happy,

²⁸ I would be afraid of all my sorrows

because I know that you will not consider me innocent.

²⁹ I will be condemned;

why, then, should I try in vain?

³⁰ If I washed myself with snow water

and made my hands ever so clean,

³¹ God would plunge me in a ditch,

and my own clothes would be disgusted with me.

³² For God is not a man, as I am, that I could answer him,

that we could come together in court.

³³ There is no judge between us

who might lay his hand upon us both.

³⁴ There is no other judge who could take God's rod off me,

who could keep his terror from frightening me.

³⁵ Then would I speak up and not fear him.

But as things are now, I cannot do that.

Chapter 10

¹ I am weary of my life;

I will give free expression to my complaint;

I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.

² I will say to God, 'Do not merely condemn me;

show me why you accuse me.

³ Is it good to you that you should oppress me,

to despise the labor of your hands

while you smile on the plans of the wicked?

⁴ Do you have eyes of flesh?

Do you see like a man sees?

⁵ Are your days like the days of mankind

or your years like the years of people,

⁶ that you inquire after my iniquity

and search after my sin,

⁷ although you know I am not guilty

and there is no one who can rescue me from your hand?

⁸ Your hands have framed and fashioned me

together round about, yet you are destroying me.

⁹ Call to mind, I beg you, that you have fashioned me like clay;

will you bring me into dust again?

¹⁰ Have you not poured me out like milk

and curdled me like cheese?

¹¹ You have clothed me with skin and flesh

and knit me together with bones and sinews.

¹² You have granted me life and covenant faithfulness;

your care has guarded my spirit.

¹³ Yet these things you hid in your heart—

I know that this is what you were thinking:

¹⁴ that if I sinned, you would notice it;

you would not acquit me of my iniquity.

¹⁵ If I have acted wickedly, woe to me;

and even if I acted righteously,

I could not lift up my head,

since I am filled with disgrace—

see my affliction!

¹⁶ If my head were lifted up,

you would stalk me like a lion;

and again you would show yourself with marvellous acts of power against me.

¹⁷ You bring new witnesses against me

and increase your anger against me;

you attack me with fresh armies.

¹⁸ Why, then, have you brought me out of the womb?

I wish I had died and that no eye had ever seen me.

¹⁹ I would have been as though I had never existed;

I would have been carried from the womb to the grave.

²⁰ Are not my days only a few? Stop then,

let me alone, so that I may have a little rest

²¹ before I go from where I will not return,

to the land of darkness and of the shadow of death,

²² the land that is as dark as darkness,

the land of the shadow of death, without any order,

where the light is like darkness.'"

Chapter 11

¹ Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

² "Should not such a multitude of words be answered?

Should this man, so full of talk, be acquitted?

³ Should your boasting make others remain silent?

When you mock, will no one make you feel ashamed?

⁴ For you say to God, 'My beliefs are pure,

I am clean in your eyes.'

⁵ But, oh, that God would speak

and open his lips against you;

⁶ that he would show you the secrets of wisdom!

For sound wisdom has two sides.

Know then that God demands from you less than your iniquity deserves.

⁷ Can you understand God by searching for him?

Can you comprehend the Almighty perfectly?

⁸ The matter is as high as heaven; what can you do?

It is deeper than Sheol; what can you know?

⁹ Its measure is longer than the earth,

and wider than the sea.

¹⁰ If he passes through and shuts anyone up,

if he calls an assembly, then who can stop him?

¹¹ For he knows deceitful people;

when he sees iniquity, does he not notice it?

¹² But foolish people will gain understanding

when the foal of a wild donkey is born a man.

¹³ But suppose that you set your heart right

and reach out with your hands toward God;

¹⁴ suppose that iniquity is in your hand,

but that you put it far away from you,

and do not let unrighteousness live in your tents.

¹⁵ Then you will certainly lift up your face without a sign of shame;

indeed, you will be steadfast and will not fear.

¹⁶ You will forget your trouble;

you will remember it only like waters that have flowed away.

¹⁷ Your life will be brighter than the noonday;

though there be darkness, it will become like the morning.

¹⁸ You will be secure because there is hope;

indeed, you will find safety about you and will take your rest in safety.

¹⁹ Also you will lie down in rest, and none will make you afraid;

indeed, many will seek your favor.

²⁰ But the eyes of wicked people will fail;

they will have no refuge;

their only hope will be a last gasp of life."

Chapter 12

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² "No doubt you are the people;

wisdom will die with you.

³ But I have understanding as well as you;

I am not inferior to you.

Indeed, who does not know such things as these?

⁴ I am something for my neighbor to laugh at—

I, one who called on God and who was answered by him!

I, a just and blameless man—I am now something to laugh at.

⁵ In the thought of someone who is at ease, there is contempt for misfortune;

he thinks in a way that brings more misfortune to those whose foot is slipping.

⁶ The tents of robbers prosper,

and those who provoke God feel secure;

their own hands are their gods.

⁷ But now ask the animals, and they will teach you;

ask the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you.

⁸ Or speak to the earth, and it will teach you;

the fish of the sea will declare to you.

⁹ Which animal among all these does not know

that the hand of Yahweh has done this?

¹⁰ In his hand is the life of every living thing

and the breath of all mankind.

¹¹ Does not the ear test words

just as the palate tastes its food?

¹² With aged men is wisdom;

in length of days is understanding.

¹³ With God are wisdom and might;

he has counsel and understanding.

¹⁴ See, he breaks things down, and they cannot be built again;

if he imprisons someone, there can be no release.

¹⁵ See, if he withholds the waters, they dry up;

and if he sends them out, they overwhelm the land.

¹⁶ With him are strength and wisdom;

people who are deceived and the deceiver are both in his power.

¹⁷ He leads counselors away barefoot in sorrow;

he turns judges into fools.

¹⁸ He removes the bond of kings;

he wraps a cloth about their waists.

¹⁹ He leads priests away barefoot in sorrow

and overthrows mighty people.

²⁰ He removes the speech of those who had been trusted

and takes away the understanding of the elders.

²¹ He pours contempt upon princes

and unfastens the belt of the strong.

²² He reveals the deep things of darkness

and brings utter darkness into the light.

²³ He makes nations strong, and he also destroys them;

He enlarges nations, and he also leads them along as prisoners.

²⁴ He takes away understanding from the leaders of the people of the earth;

he causes them to wander in a wilderness where there is no path.

²⁵ They grope in the dark without light;

he makes them stagger like a drunk man.

Chapter 13

¹ See, my eye has seen all this;

my ear has heard and understood it.

² What you know, the same I also know;

I am not inferior to you.

³ However, I would rather speak with the Almighty;

I wish to reason with God.

⁴ But you whitewash the truth with lies;

you are all worthless healers.

⁵ Oh, that you would altogether hold your peace!

That would be your wisdom.

⁶ Hear now my own reasoning;

listen to the pleading of my own lips.

⁷ Will you speak unrighteousness for God,

and will you talk deceitfully for him?

⁸ Will you show him partiality?

Will you argue the case for God?

⁹ Will it be good for you when he examines you?

Could you deceive him as you might deceive men?

¹⁰ He would surely reprove you

if in secret you showed partiality.

¹¹ Will not his majesty terrify you,

and the dread of him fall upon you?

¹² Your memorable sayings are proverbs made of ashes;

your defenses are defenses made of clay.

¹³ Hold your peace, let me alone, so that I may speak,

let come what may on me.

¹⁴ I will take my own flesh in my teeth;

I will take my life in my hands.

¹⁵ See, if he kills me, I will have no hope left;

nevertheless, I will defend my ways before him.

¹⁶ This will be the reason for my deliverance,

for no godless person would come before him.

¹⁷ God, listen carefully to my speech;

let my declaration come to your ears.

¹⁸ See now, I have set my defense in order;

I know that I will be vindicated.

¹⁹ Who is the one who would argue against me in court?

If you came to do so, and if I were proved wrong, then I would be silent and die.

²⁰ God, do only two things for me,

and then I will not hide myself from your face:

²¹ withdraw your oppressive hand from me,

and do not let your terrors make me afraid.

²² Then call me, and I will answer;

or let me speak to you, and you answer me.

²³ How many are my iniquities and sins?

Let me know my transgression and my sin.

²⁴ Why do you hide your face from me

and treat me like your enemy?

²⁵ Will you cause a driven leaf to tremble?

Will you pursue dry stubble?

²⁶ For you write down bitter things against me;

you make me inherit the iniquities of my youth.

²⁷ You also put my feet in the stocks;

you closely watch all my paths;

you examine the ground where the soles of my feet have walked

²⁸ although I am like a rotten thing that wastes away,

like a garment that moths have eaten.

Chapter 14

¹ Man, who is born of woman,

lives only a few days and is full of trouble.

² He sprouts from the ground like a flower and is cut down;

he flees like a shadow and does not last.

³ Do you look at any of these?

Do you bring me into judgment with you?

⁴ Who can bring something clean out of something unclean?

No one.

⁵ Man's days are determined.

The number of his months is with you;

you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass.

⁶ Look away from him that he may rest,

so that he may enjoy his day like a hired man if he can do so.

⁷ There can be hope for a tree;

if it is cut down, it might sprout again,

so that its tender stalk does not disappear.

⁸ Though its root grows old in the earth,

and its stump dies in the ground,

⁹ yet even if it only smells water, it will bud

and send out branches like a plant.

¹⁰ But man dies; he becomes weak;

indeed, man stops breathing, and then where is he?

¹¹ As water disappears from a lake,

and as a river becomes dry and dries up,

¹² so people lie down and do not rise again.

Until the heavens are no more, they will not awake

nor be roused out of their sleep.

¹³ Oh, that you would hide me away in Sheol away from troubles,

and that you would keep me in private until your wrath is over,

that you would set me a fixed time to stay there and then call me to mind!

¹⁴ If a man dies, will he live again?

All my time of service there I will wait

until my release should come.

¹⁵ You would call, and I would answer you.

You would have a desire for the work of your hands.

¹⁶ You would number and care for my footsteps;

you would not keep track of my sin.

¹⁷ My transgression would be sealed up in a bag;

you would cover up my iniquity.

¹⁸ But even mountains fall and crumble to nothing;

even rocks are moved out of their place;

¹⁹ the waters wear down the stones;

their flooding washes away the dust of the earth.

Like this, you destroy the hope of man.

²⁰ You forever defeat him, and he passes away;

you change his face and send him away to die.

²¹ If his sons are honored, he does not know it;

and if they are brought low, he does not see it.

²² He feels only the pain of his own body,

and he mourns for himself.

Chapter 15

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

² "Should a wise man answer with useless knowledge

and fill himself with the east wind?

³ Should he reason with unprofitable talk

or with speeches with which he can do no good?

⁴ Indeed, you diminish respect for God;

you obstruct meditation before him,

⁵ for your iniquity teaches your mouth;

you choose to have the tongue of the crafty.

⁶ Your own mouth condemns you, not mine;

indeed, your own lips testify against you.

⁷ Are you the first man that was born?

Were you brought into existence before the hills?

⁸ Have you heard the secret knowledge of God?

Do you limit wisdom to yourself?

⁹ What do you know that we do not know?

What do you understand that is not also in us?

¹⁰ With us are both the gray-headed and the very aged men

who are much older than your father.

¹¹ Are the consolations of God too small for you,

the words that are gentle toward you?

¹² Why does your heart carry you away?

Why do your eyes flash,

¹³ so that you turn your spirit against God

and bring out such words from your mouth?

¹⁴ What is man that he should be clean?

What is he who is born of a woman that he should be righteous?

¹⁵ See, God puts no trust even in his holy ones;

indeed, the heavens are not clean in his sight;

¹⁶ how much less clean is one who is abhorrent and corrupt,

a man who drinks iniquity like water!

¹⁷ I will show you; listen to me;

I will announce to you the things I have seen,

¹⁸ the things that wise men have passed down from their fathers,

the things that their ancestors did not hide.

¹⁹ These were their ancestors, to whom alone the land was given,

and among whom no stranger ever passed.

²⁰ The wicked man twists in pain all his days,

the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor to suffer.

²¹ A sound of terrors is in his ears;

while he is in prosperity, the destroyer will come upon him.

²² He does not think that he will return out of darkness;

he has been marked out for the sword.

²³ He goes to various places for bread, saying, 'Where is it?'

He knows that the day of darkness is at hand.

²⁴ Distress and anguish make him afraid;

they prevail against him, as a king ready for battle.

²⁵ Because he has reached out with his hand against God

and has behaved proudly against the Almighty,

²⁶ this wicked man runs at God with a stiff neck,

with a thick shield.

²⁷ This is true, even though he has covered his face with his fat

and gathered fat on his loins,

²⁸ and has lived in desolate cities;

in houses which no man inhabits now

and which were ready to become heaps.

²⁹ He will not be rich; his wealth will not last

and his possessions will not spread over the land.

³⁰ He will not depart out of darkness; ¹

a flame will dry up his stalks;

at the breath of God's mouth he will go away. ²

³¹ Let him not trust in useless things, deceiving himself;

for uselessness will be his reward.

³² It will happen before his time should come to die;

his palm branch will not be green.

³³ He will drop his unripe grapes like a grapevine;

he will cast off his flowers like the olive tree.

³⁴ For the company of godless people will be barren;

fire will consume their tents of bribery.

³⁵ They conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity;

their womb conceives deceit."

¹Many modern translations leave out He will not depart out of darkness , because they believe that this expression was mistakenly copied from 15:22.

²The copies of the ancient Hebrew text have He will go away by the breath of his mouth , which some modern translations interpret as meaning the breath of God's mouth . However, other modern translations follow the ancient Greek translation of the ancient Hebrew copies, which reads, his flower will fall with the wind .

Chapter 16

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² "I have heard many such things;

you are all troublesome comforters.

³ Will useless words ever have an end?

What is wrong with you that you answer like this?

⁴ I also could speak as you do,

if you were in my place;

I could collect and join words together against you

and shake my head at you in mockery.

⁵ I would strengthen you with my mouth,

and the quivering of my lips will bring you relief!

⁶ If I speak, my grief is not lessened;

if I keep from speaking, how am I helped?

⁷ But now, God, you have made me weary;

you have made all my family desolate.

⁸ You have made me dry up,

which itself is a witness against me;

the leanness of my body rises up against me,

and it testifies against my face.

⁹ God has torn me in his wrath and persecuted me;

He grinds his teeth in rage;

my enemy fastens his eyes on me as he tears me apart.

¹⁰ People have gaped with open mouth at me;

they have hit me on the cheek with contempt;

they have gathered together against me.

¹¹ God hands me over to ungodly people,

and throws me into the hands of wicked people.

¹² I was at ease, and he broke me apart.

Indeed, he has taken me by the neck and dashed me to pieces;

he has also set me up as his target.

¹³ His archers surround me all around;

God pierces my kidneys and does not spare me;

he pours out my bile on the ground.

¹⁴ He smashes through my wall again and again;

he runs upon me like a warrior.

¹⁵ I have sewn sackcloth on my skin;

I have thrust my horn into the ground.

¹⁶ My face is red with weeping;

on my eyelids is utter darkness,

¹⁷ although there is no violence in my hands,

and my prayer is pure.

¹⁸ Earth, do not cover up my blood;

let my cry have no resting place.

¹⁹ Even now, see, my witness is in heaven;

he who vouches for me is on high.

²⁰ My friends scoff at me,

but my eye pours out tears to God.

²¹ I ask for that witness in heaven to argue for this man with God

as a man does with his neighbor!

²² For when a few years have passed,

I will go to a place from where I will not return.

Chapter 17

¹ My spirit is broken, and my days are over;

the grave is ready for me.

² Surely there are mockers with me;

my eye must always see their provocation.

³ Give now a pledge, be a guarantee for me with yourself;

who else is there who will help me?

⁴ For you, God, have kept their hearts from understanding;

therefore, you will not exalt them over me.

⁵ He who denounces his friends for a reward,

the eyes of his children will fail.

⁶ But he has made me a byword of the people;

they spit in my face.

⁷ My eye is also dim because of sorrow;

all my members are as thin as shadows.

⁸ Upright men will be appalled by this;

the innocent man will stir himself up against godless men.

⁹ The righteous man will keep to his way;

he who has clean hands will grow stronger and stronger.

¹⁰ But as for you all, come on now;

I will not find a wise man among you.

¹¹ My days are past; my plans are shattered,

and so are the desires of my heart. ¹

¹² These people, these mockers, change the night into day;

light is near to darkness.

¹³ If the only home I hope for is Sheol;

and if I have spread my couch in the darkness;

¹⁴ and if I have said to the pit, 'You are my father,'

and to the worm, 'You are my mother or my sister,'

¹⁵ where then is my hope?

As for my hope, who can see any?

¹⁶ Will hope go down with me to the gates of Sheol

when we descend to the dust?"

¹Some modern translations have My days are past, as are my plans. The wishes of my heart are finished or ... the strings of my heart have been broken . Some translations have My days are past; my plans are over, as are the wishes of my heart.

Chapter 18

¹ Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,

² "When will you stop your talk?

Consider, and afterwards we will speak.

³ Why are we regarded as cattle,

stupid in your sight?

⁴ You who tear at yourself in your anger,

should the earth be abandoned for you

or should the rocks be removed out of their places?

⁵ Indeed, the light of the wicked person will be put out;

the spark of his fire will not shine.

⁶ The light will be dark in his tent;

his lamp above him will be put out.

⁷ The steps of his strength will be made short;

his own plans will cast him down.

⁸ For he will be thrown into a net by his own feet;

he will walk into a pitfall.

⁹ A trap will take him by the heel;

a snare will lay hold on him.

¹⁰ A noose is hidden for him on the ground;

and a trap for him in the way.

¹¹ Terrors will make him afraid on every side;

they will chase him at every step.

¹² His wealth will turn into hunger,

and calamity will be ready at his side.

¹³ The parts of his body will be devoured;

indeed, the firstborn of death will devour his parts.

¹⁴ He is torn from the safety of his tent

and marched off to the king of terrors.

¹⁵ People not his own will live in his tent

after they see that sulfur is scattered within his home.

¹⁶ His roots will be dried up beneath;

above will his branch be cut off.

¹⁷ His memory will perish from the earth;

he will have no name in the street.

¹⁸ He will be driven from light into darkness

and be chased out of this world.

¹⁹ He has no offspring or descendants among his people,

no survivor where he once lived.

²⁰ Those who live in the west are appalled at what happens to him one day,

and horror seizes those who live in the east.

²¹ Surely such are the homes of unrighteous people,

the places of those who do not know God."

Chapter 19

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² "How long will you torment me

and crush me with words?

³ These ten times you have insulted me;

you are not ashamed that you have treated me harshly.

⁴ If it is indeed true that I have erred,

my error remains my own concern.

⁵ If indeed you will exalt yourselves above me

and use my humiliation against me,

⁶ then you should know that God has done wrong to me

and has caught me in his net.

⁷ See, I cry out, "Violence!" but I get no answer.

I call out for help, but there is no justice.

⁸ He has walled up my way so that I cannot pass,

and he has set darkness in my path.

⁹ He has stripped me of my glory,

and he has taken the crown from my head.

¹⁰ He has broken me down on every side, and I am gone;

he has pulled up my hope like a tree.

¹¹ He has also kindled his wrath against me;

he regards me as one of his adversaries.

¹² His troops come on together;

they cast up siege mounds against me

and encamp around my tent.

¹³ He has put my brothers far from me;

my acquaintances are wholly alienated from me.

¹⁴ My kinsfolk have failed me;

my close friends have forgotten me.

¹⁵ Those who once stayed as guests in my house and my female servants regard me as a stranger;

I am an alien in their sight.

¹⁶ I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer

although I seek his favor with my mouth.

¹⁷ My breath is offensive to my wife;

I am even detestable to those who were born from my mother's womb.

¹⁸ Even young children despise me;

if I rise to speak, they speak against me.

¹⁹ All my familiar friends abhor me;

those whom I love have turned against me.

²⁰ My bones cling to my skin and to my flesh;

I survive only by the skin of my teeth.

²¹ Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, my friends,

for the hand of God has touched me.

²² Why do you pursue me like God does?

Will you ever be satisfied with my flesh?

²³ Oh, that my words were now written down!

Oh, that they were inscribed in a book!

²⁴ Oh, that with an iron pen and lead

they were engraved in the rock forever!

²⁵ But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives,

and that at last he will stand on the earth;

²⁶ after my skin, that is, this body, is destroyed,

then in my flesh I will see God.

²⁷ I will see him with my own eyes—I, and not someone else.

My heart fails within me.

²⁸ If you say, 'How we will persecute him!

The root of his troubles lies in him,'

²⁹ then be afraid of the sword,

because wrath brings the punishment of the sword,

so that you may know there is a judgment."

Chapter 20

¹ Then Zophar the Naamathite answered and said,

² "My thoughts make me answer quickly

because of the worry that is in me.

³ I hear a rebuke that dishonors me,

but a spirit from my understanding answers me.

⁴ Do you not know this fact from ancient times,

when God placed man on earth:

⁵ the triumph of a wicked man is short,

and the joy of a godless man lasts only for a moment?

⁶ Though his height reaches up to the heavens,

and his head reaches to the clouds,

⁷ yet such a person will perish forever like his own dung;

those who have seen him will say, 'Where is he?'

⁸ He will fly away like a dream and will not be found;

indeed, he will be chased away like a vision of the night.

⁹ The eye that saw him will see him no more;

his place will see him no longer.

¹⁰ His children will apologize to poor people;

his hands will have to give back his wealth.

¹¹ His bones are full of youthful strength,

but it will lie down with him in the dust.

¹² Although wickedness is sweet in his mouth,

although he hides it under his tongue,

¹³ although he holds it there and does not let it go

but keeps it still in his mouth—

¹⁴ the food in his intestines turns bitter;

it becomes the poison of asps inside him.

¹⁵ He swallows down riches, but he will vomit them up again;

God will cast them out of his stomach.

¹⁶ He will suck the poison of asps;

the viper's tongue will kill him.

¹⁷ He will not enjoy the streams,

the torrents of honey and butter.

¹⁸ He will give back the fruit of his labor and will not be able to swallow it;

he will not enjoy the wealth earned by his commerce.

¹⁹ For he has oppressed and neglected poor people;

he has violently taken away houses that he did not build.

²⁰ Because he has known no satisfaction in his belly,

he will not be able to save anything in which he takes pleasure.

²¹ There is nothing left that he did not devour;

therefore his prosperity will not be permanent.

²² In the fullness of his abundance he will fall into trouble;

the hand of everyone who suffers will come against him.

²³ When he is about to fill his stomach,

God will throw the fierceness of his wrath on him;

God will rain it down on him while he is eating.

²⁴ Although that man will flee from the iron weapon,

a bow of bronze will shoot him.

²⁵ He pulls it out of his back

and the gleaming point comes out of his liver.

Terrors come over him.

²⁶ Complete darkness is reserved for his treasures;

a fire not fanned will devour him;

it will consume what is left in his tent.

²⁷ The heavens will reveal his iniquity,

and the earth will rise up against him as a witness.

²⁸ The wealth of his house will vanish;

his goods will flow away on the day of God's wrath.

²⁹ This is the wicked man's portion from God,

the heritage decreed for him by God."

Chapter 21

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² "Listen carefully to my words,

and let this be the comfort you offer to me.

³ Put up with me, and I also will speak;

after I have spoken, mock on.

⁴ As for me, is my complaint to a person?

Why should I not be impatient?

⁵ Look at me and be appalled,

and lay your hand upon your mouth.

⁶ When I think about my sufferings, I am terrified,

and trembling seizes my body.

⁷ Why do wicked people continue to live,

become old, and grow mighty in power?

⁸ Their descendants are established with them in their sight,

and their offspring are established before their eyes.

⁹ Their houses are safe from fear;

neither is the rod of God on them.

¹⁰ Their bull breeds; it does not fail to do so;

their cow gives birth and does not lose her calf prematurely.

¹¹ They send out their little ones like a flock,

and their children dance.

¹² They sing to the tambourine and harp

and rejoice with the music of the flute.

¹³ They spend their days in prosperity,

and they go down quietly to Sheol.

¹⁴ They say to God, 'Depart from us

for we do not wish any knowledge of your ways.

¹⁵ What is the Almighty, that we should worship him?

What profit would we get if we prayed to him?'

¹⁶ See, is not their prosperity in their own hands?

I have nothing to do with the advice of wicked people.

¹⁷ How often is it that the lamp of wicked people is put out,

or that their calamity comes upon them?

How often does it happen that God distributes sorrows to them in his anger?

¹⁸ How often is it that they become like stubble before the wind

or like chaff that the storm carries away?

¹⁹ You say, 'God lays up one's iniquity for his children.'

Let him pay it himself, so that he might know it.

²⁰ Let his eyes see his own destruction,

and let him drink of the wrath of the Almighty.

²¹ For what does he care about his family after him

when the number of his months is cut off?

²² Can anyone teach God knowledge,

since he judges even those who are high?

²³ One man dies in his full strength,

being completely quiet and at ease.

²⁴ His body is full of milk,

and the marrow of his bones is moist.

²⁵ Another man dies in bitterness of soul,

one who has never experienced anything good.

²⁶ They lie down alike in the dust;

the worms cover them both.

²⁷ See, I know your thoughts,

and your schemes to do violence to me.

²⁸ For you say, 'Where now is the house of the prince?

Where is the tent in which the wicked man once lived?'

²⁹ Have you never asked traveling people?

Do you not know the evidence they can tell,

³⁰ that the wicked man is kept from the day of calamity,

and that he is led away from the day of wrath?

³¹ Who will condemn the wicked man's way to his face?

Who will repay him for what he has done?

³² Yet he will be borne to the grave;

men will keep watch over his tomb.

³³ The clods of the valley will be sweet to him;

all people will follow after him,

as there were innumerable people before him.

³⁴ How then do you comfort me with nonsense,

since in your answers there is nothing but falsehood?"

Chapter 22

¹ Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said,

² "Can a man be useful to God?

Can a wise man be useful to him?

³ Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are righteous?

Is it gain to him if you make your ways blameless?

⁴ Is it because of your reverence for him that he rebukes you

and takes you to judgment?

⁵ Is not your wickedness great?

Is there no end to your iniquities?

⁶ For you have demanded guarantee of a loan from your brother for no reason,

and you have stripped away clothing from the naked.

⁷ You have not given water to weary people to drink;

you have withheld bread from hungry people

⁸ although you, a mighty man, possessed the earth,

although you, an honored man, lived in it.

⁹ You have sent widows away empty;

the arms of the fatherless have been crushed.

¹⁰ Therefore, snares are all around you,

and sudden fear troubles you.

¹¹ There is darkness, so that you cannot see;

an abundance of waters covers you.

¹² Is not God in the heights of heaven?

Look at the height of the stars, how high they are!

¹³ You say, 'What does God know?

Can he judge through the thick darkness?

¹⁴ Thick clouds are a covering to him, so that he does not see us;

he walks on the vault of heaven.'

¹⁵ Will you keep the old way

that wicked men have walked—

¹⁶ those who were snatched away before their time,

those whose foundations have washed away like a river,

¹⁷ those who said to God, 'Depart from us';

those who said, 'What can the Almighty do to us?'

¹⁸ Yet he filled their houses with good things;

the plans of wicked people are far from me.

¹⁹ Righteous people see their fate and are glad;

innocent people mock them.

²⁰ They say, 'Surely those who rose up against us are cut off;

fire has consumed their possessions.'

²¹ Now agree with God and be at peace with him;

in that way, good will come to you.

²² Receive, I beg you, instruction from his mouth;

store up his words in your heart.

²³ If you return to the Almighty, you will be built up,

if you put unrighteousness far away from your tents.

²⁴ Lay your treasure down in the dust,

the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks,

²⁵ and the Almighty will be your treasure,

precious silver to you.

²⁶ For then you will take pleasure in the Almighty;

you will lift up your face to God.

²⁷ You will make your prayer to him, and he will hear you;

you will pay your vows to him.

²⁸ You will also decree anything, and it will be confirmed for you;

light will shine on your paths.

²⁹ God humbles a proud man,

and he saves the one with humble eyes.

³⁰ He will rescue even the man who is not innocent;

who will be rescued through the cleanness of your hands."

Chapter 23

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² "Even today my complaint is rebellion; ¹

my hand ² is heavy because of my groaning.

³ Oh, that I knew where I might find him!

Oh, that I might come to his place!

⁴ I would lay my case in order before him

and fill my mouth with arguments.

⁵ I would learn the words with which he would answer me

and would understand what he would say to me.

⁶ Would he argue against me in the greatness of his power?

No, he would pay attention to me.

⁷ There the upright person might argue with him.

In this way I would be acquitted forever by my judge.

⁸ See, I go eastward, but he is not there,

and westward, but I cannot find him.

⁹ To the north, where he is at work, but I cannot see him,

and to the south, where he hides himself so that I cannot see him.

¹⁰ But he knows the way that I take;

when he has tested me, I will come out like gold.

¹¹ My foot has held fast to his steps;

I have kept to his way and turned not aside.

¹² I have not gone back from the commandment of his lips;

I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.

¹³ But he is one of a kind, who can turn him back?

What he desires, he does.

¹⁴ For he carries out his decree against me;

there are many like them.

¹⁵ Therefore, I am terrified in his presence;

when I think about him, I am afraid of him.

¹⁶ For God has made my heart weak;

the Almighty has terrified me.

¹⁷ I have not been brought to an end by darkness,

because of the thick darkness that covers the gloom of my face.

¹Some ancient translations and many English translations have: bitter .

²Some copies have: his hand .

Chapter 24

¹ Why are times for judging wicked people not set by the Almighty?

Why do not those who are faithful to God see his days of judgment come?

² There are wicked people who remove boundary markers;

there are wicked people who take away flocks by force

and put them in their own pastures.

³ They drive away the donkey of those without fathers;

they take the widow's ox as a pledge.

⁴ They force needy people out of their path;

poor people of the earth all hide themselves from them.

⁵ See, these poor people go out to their work

like wild donkeys in the wilderness, looking carefully for food;

perhaps the Arabah will provide them food for their children.

⁶ They reap fodder in the field;

they glean the vineyard of the wicked.

⁷ They lie naked all night without clothing;

they have no covering in the cold.

⁸ They are wet with the showers of the mountains;

they lie next to large rocks because they have no shelter.

⁹ The fatherless is seized from the breast,

and they take a pledge against the poor.

¹⁰ But the poor people go about naked without clothing;

although they go hungry,

they carry bundles of grain belonging to other people.

¹¹ The poor people make oil within the walls of those wicked men;

they tread the wicked men's winepresses,

but they themselves suffer thirst.

¹² From out of the city the dying groan,

and the throat of the wounded cries out for help.

But God does not charge anyone with wrongdoing.

¹³ Some of these wicked people rebel against the light;

they know not its ways,

nor do they stay in its paths.

¹⁴ Before daylight the murderer rises

and he kills the poor and the needy;

in the night he is like a thief.

¹⁵ Also, the eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight;

he says, 'No eye will see me.'

He disguises his face.

¹⁶ In the darkness they dig into houses;

but they shut themselves up in the daytime;

they do not care for the light.

¹⁷ For all of them, thick darkness is like the morning;

for they are friends with the terrors of thick darkness.

¹⁸ Swiftly they pass away, however, like foam on the surface of the waters;

their portion of the land is cursed;

no one goes to work in their vineyards.

¹⁹ As drought and heat melt away the snow into waters,

so Sheol takes away those who have sinned.

²⁰ The womb that bore him will forget him;

the worm will feed sweetly on him;

he will be remembered no more;

in this way, wickedness will be broken like a tree.

²¹ The wicked one devours the barren women who have not borne children;

he does no good to the widow.

²² Yet God drags away the mighty by his power;

he rises up and does not strengthen him in life.

²³ God gives him what he needs for security, and he is supported,

but his eyes are on his ways.

²⁴ These people are exalted; still, in only a little while, they will be gone;

indeed, they will be brought low; they will be gathered up like all the others;

they will be cut off like the tops of ears of grain.

²⁵ If it is not so, who can prove me to be a liar;

who can make my speech worth nothing?"

Chapter 25

¹ Then Bildad the Shuhite answered and said,

² "Dominion and fear are with him;

he makes order in his high places of heaven.

³ Is there any end to the number of his armies?

Upon whom does his light not shine?

⁴ How then can man be righteous with God?

How can he who is born of a woman be clean, acceptable to him?

⁵ See, even the moon has no brightness to him;

the stars are not pure in his sight.

⁶ How much less man, who is a worm—

a son of man, who is a worm!"

Chapter 26

¹ Then Job answered and said,

² "How you have helped one who has no power!

How you have saved the arm that has no strength!

³ How you have advised one who has no wisdom

and announced to him sound wisdom!

⁴ With whose help have you spoken these words?

Whose spirit was it that came out from you?

⁵ The dead are made to tremble,

those who are beneath the waters

and all who dwell in them.

⁶ Sheol is naked before God;

destruction itself has no covering against him.

⁷ He stretches out the northern skies

over the empty space,

and he hangs the earth over nothing.

⁸ He binds up the waters in his thick clouds,

but the clouds are not torn under them.

⁹ He covers the surface of the moon

and spreads his clouds on it.

¹⁰ He has engraved a circular boundary on the surface of the waters

as the line between light and darkness.

¹¹ The pillars of heaven tremble

and are astonished at his rebuke.

¹² He calmed the sea with his power;

by his understanding he shattered Rahab.

¹³ By his breath he made the skies clear;

his hand pierced the fleeing serpent.

¹⁴ See, these are but the fringes of his ways;

how small a whisper do we hear of him!

Who can understand the thunder of his power?"

Chapter 27

¹ Job continued his discourse, and he said,

² "As surely as God lives, who has taken away my justice,

the Almighty, who made my life bitter,

³ while my life is yet in me,

and the breath from God is in my nostrils,

this is what I will do.

⁴ My lips will not speak wickedness,

neither will my tongue speak deceit;

⁵ I will never admit that you are right;

until I die I will never deny my integrity.

⁶ I hold fast to my righteousness and will not let it go;

my conscience will not accuse me so long as I live.

⁷ Let my enemy be like a wicked man;

let him who rises up against me be like an unrighteous man.

⁸ For what is the hope of a godless man when God cuts him off,

when God takes away his life?

⁹ Will God hear his cry

when trouble comes upon him?

¹⁰ Will he delight himself in the Almighty

and call upon God at all times?

¹¹ I will teach you concerning the hand of God;

I will not conceal the thoughts of the Almighty.

¹² See, all of you have seen this yourselves;

why then have you become completely useless?

¹³ This is the portion of a wicked man with God,

the inheritance of the oppressor that he receives from the Almighty:

¹⁴ If his children multiply, it is for the sword;

his offspring will never have enough food.

¹⁵ Those who survive him will be buried by plague,

and their widows will make no lament for them.

¹⁶ Though the wicked man heaps up silver like the dust,

and heaps up clothing like clay,

¹⁷ he may heap up clothing, but righteous people will put it on,

and innocent people will divide up the silver among themselves.

¹⁸ He builds his house like a spider,

like a hut that a guard makes.

¹⁹ He lies down in bed rich, but he will not keep doing so;

he opens his eyes, and everything is gone.

²⁰ Terrors overtake him like waters;

a storm takes him away in the night.

²¹ The east wind carries him away, and he leaves;

it sweeps him out of his place.

²² It throws itself at him and does not stop;

he tries to flee out of its hand.

²³ It claps its hands at him

and hisses him from his place.

Chapter 28

¹ Surely there is a mine for silver,

a place where they refine gold.

² Iron is taken out of the earth;

copper is smelted out of the stone.

³ A man sets an end to darkness

and searches out to the farthest limit

the stones in the blackest darkness.

⁴ He breaks open a shaft away from where people live,

places that are forgotten by anyone's foot.

He hangs far away from people; he swings to and fro.

⁵ As for the earth, out of which comes bread,

it is turned up below as if by fire.

⁶ Its stones are the place where sapphires are found,

and its dust contains gold.

⁷ No bird of prey knows the path to it,

nor has the falcon's eye seen it.

⁸ The proud animals have not walked such a path,

nor has the fierce lion passed there.

⁹ A man lays his hand on the flinty rock;

he overturns mountains by their roots.

¹⁰ He cuts out channels among the rocks;

his eye sees every valuable thing there.

¹¹ He ties up the streams so they do not run;

what is hidden there he brings out to the light.

¹² Where will wisdom be found?

Where is the place of understanding?

¹³ Man does not know its price;

neither is it found in the land of the living.

¹⁴ The deep waters under the earth say, 'It is not in me';

the sea says, 'It is not with me.'

¹⁵ It cannot be gotten for gold;

neither can silver be weighed as its price.

¹⁶ It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir,

with precious onyx or sapphire.

¹⁷ Gold and crystal cannot equal it in worth;

neither can it be exchanged for jewels of fine gold.

¹⁸ No mention is worth making of coral or jasper;

indeed, the price of wisdom is more than rubies.

¹⁹ The topaz of Cush does not equal it;

neither can it be valued in terms of pure gold.

²⁰ From where, then, comes wisdom?

Where is the place of understanding?

²¹ Wisdom is hidden from the eyes of all living things

and is kept hidden from the birds of the heavens.

²² Destruction and Death say,

'We have heard just a rumor about it with our ears.'

²³ God understands the way to it;

he knows its place.

²⁴ For he looks to the very ends of the earth

and sees under all the heavens.

²⁵ He made the force of the wind

and parceled out the waters by measure.

²⁶ He made a decree for the rain

and a path for the thunder.

²⁷ Then he saw wisdom and announced it;

he established it, indeed, and he examined it.

²⁸ To people he said,

'See, the fear of the Lord—that is wisdom;

to depart from evil is understanding.'"

Chapter 29

¹ Job resumed speaking and said,

² "Oh, that I were as I was in the past months

when God cared for me,

³ when his lamp shined on my head,

and when I walked through darkness by his light.

⁴ Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days

when the friendship of God was on my tent,

⁵ when the Almighty was yet with me,

and my children were around me,

⁶ when my way was covered with cream,

and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!

⁷ When I went out to the city gate,

when I sat in my place in the city square,

⁸ the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect,

and the aged people rose and stood for me.

⁹ The princes used to refrain from talking when I came;

they would lay their hand on their mouths.

¹⁰ The voices of the noblemen were hushed,

and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.

¹¹ For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me;

after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me

¹² because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out,

and the one who had no father when he had no one to help him.

¹³ The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me;

I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.

¹⁴ I put on righteousness, and it clothed me;

my justice was like a robe and a turban.

¹⁵ I was eyes to blind people;

I was feet to lame people.

¹⁶ I was a father to needy people;

I would investigate the case even of one whom I did not know.

¹⁷ I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man;

I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.

¹⁸ Then I said, 'I will die in my nest;

I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.

¹⁹ My roots are spread out to the waters,

and dew lies all night on my branches.

²⁰ The honor in me is always fresh,

and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'

²¹ To me men listened; they waited for me;

they stayed silent to hear my advice.

²² After my words were done, they did not speak again;

my speech dropped like water on them.

²³ They always waited for me as they waited for rain;

they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words,

as they would do for the latter rain.

²⁴ I smiled on them when they did not expect it;

they did not reject the light of my face.

²⁵ I selected their way and sat as their chief;

I lived like a king in his army,

like one who comforts mourners.

Chapter 30

¹ Now those who are younger than I have nothing but mockery for me—

these young men whose fathers I would have refused to allow to work beside the dogs of my flock.

² Indeed, the strength of their fathers' hands, how could it have helped me—

men in whom the strength of their mature age had perished?

³ They were thin from poverty and hunger;

they gnawed at the dry ground in the darkness of wilderness and desolation.

⁴ They plucked saltwort and bushes' leaves;

the roots of the broom tree were their food.

⁵ They were driven out from among people

who shouted after them as one would shout after a thief.

⁶ So they had to live in river valleys,

in holes of the earth and of the rocks.

⁷ Among the bushes they brayed like donkeys

and they gathered together under the nettles.

⁸ They were the sons of fools, indeed, sons of nameless people!

They were driven out of the land with whips.

⁹ But now I have become the subject of their taunting song;

I have become a byword for them.

¹⁰ They abhor me and stand far off from me;

they do not refrain from spitting in my face.

¹¹ For God has unstrung the string to my bow and afflicted me,

and those who taunt me cast off restraint before my face.

¹² Upon my right hand rise the rabble;

they drive me away and

pile up against me their siege mounds.

¹³ They destroy my path;

they push forward disaster for me,

men who have no one to hold them back.

¹⁴ They come against me like an army through a wide hole in a city wall;

in the midst of the destruction they roll themselves in on me.

¹⁵ Terrors are turned upon me;

my honor is driven away as if by the wind;

my prosperity passes away as a cloud.

¹⁶ Now my life is pouring out from within me;

many days of suffering have laid hold on me.

¹⁷ In the night my bones in me are pierced;

the pains that gnaw at me take no rest.

¹⁸ God's great force has seized my clothing;

it wraps around me like the collar of my tunic.

¹⁹ He has thrown me into the mud;

I have become like dust and ashes.

²⁰ I cry to you, God, but you do not answer me;

I stand up, and you merely look at me.

²¹ You have changed and become cruel to me;

with the might of your hand you persecute me.

²² You lift me up to the wind and cause it to drive me along;

you throw me back and forth in a storm. ¹

²³ For I know that you will bring me to death,

to the house appointed for all the living.

²⁴ However, does no one reach out with his hand to beg for help when he falls?

Does no one in trouble call out for help?

²⁵ Did not I weep for him whose day is hard?

Did I not grieve for the needy man?

²⁶ When I hoped for good, then evil came;

when I waited for light, darkness came instead.

²⁷ My heart is troubled and does not rest;

days of affliction have come on me.

²⁸ I have gone about like one who was living in the dark,

but not because of the sun;

I stand up in the assembly and cry for help.

²⁹ I am a brother to jackals,

a companion of ostriches.

³⁰ My skin is black and falls away from me;

my bones are burned with heat.

³¹ Therefore my harp is tuned for songs of mourning,

my flute for the singing of those who wail.

¹Some modern translations have you dissolve me in a storm .

Chapter 31

¹ I have made a covenant with my eyes;

how then should I look with desire on a virgin?

² For what is the portion from God above,

the inheritance from the Almighty on high?

³ I used to think that calamity is for unrighteous people,

and that disaster is for those who behave wickedly.

⁴ Does not God see my ways

and count all my steps?

⁵ If I have walked with falsehood,

if my foot has hurried to deceit,

⁶ let me be weighed in an even balance

so that God will know my integrity.

⁷ If my step has turned aside from the way,

if my heart has gone after my eyes,

if any spot has stuck to my hands,

⁸ then let me sow, and let another eat,

and let my crops be uprooted.

⁹ If my heart has been deceived by a woman,

if I have lain in wait at my neighbor's door,

¹⁰ then let my wife grind grain for another,

and let others bow down on her.

¹¹ For that would be a terrible crime;

indeed, it would be a crime to be punished by judges.

¹² For that is a fire that consumes as far as Abaddon,

and it would burn all my harvest to the root.

¹³ If I rejected the plea for justice from my male servant or my female servant

when they argued with me,

¹⁴ what then would I do when God rises up to accuse me?

When he comes to judge me, how would I answer him?

¹⁵ Did the one who made me in the womb not make them also?

Did not the same one mold us all in the womb?

¹⁶ If I have withheld poor people from their desire,

or if I have caused the eyes of the widow to grow dim from crying,

¹⁷ or if I have eaten my morsel alone

and not allowed those without fathers to eat it also—

¹⁸ because from my youth the orphan grew up with me as with a father,

and I have guided his mother, a widow, from my own mother's womb.

¹⁹ If I have seen anyone perish for lack of clothing,

or if I have seen that a needy man had no clothing;

²⁰ if his heart has not blessed me

because he has not been warmed with the wool of my sheep,

²¹ if I have lifted up my hand against the orphan

because I saw my support in the city gate,

then bring charges against me!

²² If I have done these things, then let my shoulder fall from the shoulder blade,

and let my arm be broken from its joint.

²³ For I dreaded destruction from God;

because of his majesty, I was not able to do those things.

²⁴ If I have made gold my hope,

and if I have said to fine gold, 'You are what I am confident in';

²⁵ if I have rejoiced because my wealth was great,

because my hand had gotten many possessions,

then bring charges against me!

²⁶ If I have seen the sun when it shone,

or the moon walking in its splendor,

²⁷ and if my heart has been secretly attracted,

so that my mouth has kissed my hand in worship of them—

²⁸ this also would be a crime to be punished by judges,

for I would have denied the God who is above.

²⁹ If I have rejoiced at the destruction of anyone who hated me

or congratulated myself when disaster overtook him,

then bring charges against me!

³⁰ Indeed, I have not even allowed my mouth to sin

by asking for his life with a curse.

³¹ If the men of my tent have never said,

'Who can find one who has not been filled with Job's food?'

³² (even the foreigner has never had to stay in the city square,

because I have always opened my doors to the traveler),

and if that is not so, then bring charges against me!

³³ If, like mankind, I have hidden my sins

by hiding my guilt inside my bosom

³⁴ (because I feared the great multitude,

because the contempt of the families terrified me,

so that I kept silent and would not go outside)—

³⁵ Oh, if only I had someone to hear me!

See, here is my signature; let the Almighty answer me!

If only I had the indictment that my opponent has written!

³⁶ Surely I would carry it openly on my shoulder;

I would bind it on myself like a crown.

³⁷ I would declare to him an accounting for my steps;

as a confident prince I would go up to him.

³⁸ If my land ever cries out against me,

and its furrows weep together,

³⁹ if I have eaten its harvest without paying for it

or have caused its owners to lose their lives,

⁴⁰ then let thorns grow instead of wheat

and weeds instead of barley."

The words of Job are finished.

Chapter 32

¹ So these three men stopped answering Job because he was righteous in his own eyes. ² Then the anger of Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was kindled; it was kindled against Job because he justified himself rather than God.

³ Elihu's anger was also kindled against his three friends because they had found no answer to Job, and yet they had condemned Job. ⁴ Now Elihu had waited to speak to Job because the other men were older than he. ⁵ However, when Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouths of these three men, his anger was kindled.

⁶ Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up and said,

"I am young, and you are very old.

That is why I held back and was afraid to tell you my own thoughts.

⁷ I said, "Length of days should speak;

a multitude of years should teach wisdom.

⁸ But there is a spirit in a man;

the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.

⁹ It is not only the great people who are wise,

nor the aged people alone who understand justice.

¹⁰ Therefore I say to you, 'Listen to me;

I will also tell you my knowledge.'

¹¹ See, I waited for your words;

I listened to your arguments

while you were searching for a word.

¹² Indeed, I paid attention to you,

but, see, there was not one of you who could convince Job

or who could respond to his words.

¹³ Be careful not to say, 'We have found wisdom!'

God will have to defeat Job; mere man cannot do it.

¹⁴ For Job has not directed his words against me,

so I will not answer him with your words.

¹⁵ These three men are dismayed; they can answer Job no longer;

they have not a word more to say.

¹⁶ Should I wait because they are not speaking,

because they stand there silent and answer no more?

¹⁷ No, I also will answer on my part;

I will also tell them my knowledge.

¹⁸ For I am full of words;

the spirit in me compels me.

¹⁹ See, my breast is like fermenting wine that has no vent;

like new wineskins, it is ready to burst.

²⁰ I will speak so that I may be refreshed;

I will open my lips and answer.

²¹ I will not show favoritism;

neither will I give honorific titles to any man.

²² For I do not know how to give such titles;

if I did so, my Maker would soon take me away.

Chapter 33

¹ So now, Job, I beg you, hear my speech;

listen to all my words.

² See now, I have opened my mouth;

my tongue has spoken in my mouth.

³ My words come from the uprightness of my heart;

my lips speak pure knowledge.

⁴ The Spirit of God has made me;

the breath of the Almighty has given me life.

⁵ If you can, answer me;

set your words in order before me and stand up.

⁶ See, I am just as you are in God's sight;

I also have been formed out of the clay.

⁷ See, terror of me will not make you afraid;

neither will my pressure be heavy upon you.

⁸ You have certainly spoken in my hearing;

I have heard the sound of your words saying,

⁹ 'I am clean and without transgression;

I am innocent, and there is no iniquity in me.

¹⁰ See, God finds opportunities to attack me;

he regards me as his enemy.

¹¹ He puts my feet in stocks;

he watches all my paths.'

¹² See, in this you are not in the right—I will answer you,

for God is greater than man.

¹³ Why do you struggle against him?

He does not account for any of his doings.

¹⁴ For God speaks once—

yes, twice, though man does not notice it.

¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night,

when deep sleep falls upon men,

in slumber on the bed—

¹⁶ then God opens the ears of men,

and frightens them with threats,

¹⁷ to cause man to turn away from his deed,

and keep pride from a man.

¹⁸ God keeps man's life back from the pit,

his life from crossing over to death.

¹⁹ Man is punished also with pain on his bed,

with constant strife in his bones,

²⁰ so that his life abhors food,

and his soul abhors delicacies.

²¹ His flesh is consumed away so that it cannot be seen;

his bones, once not seen, now stick out.

²² Indeed, his soul draws close to the pit,

his life to those who wish to destroy it.

²³ But if there is an angel who can be a mediator for him,

one out of a thousand,

to tell a man what is right for him,

²⁴ to be gracious to him and say,

'Save this person from going down to the pit;

I have found a ransom for him,'

²⁵ then his flesh will become fresher than a youth's;

it is restored to the days of his youthful vigor.

²⁶ He will pray to God, and God will be kind to him,

so that he sees God's face with joy.

God will restore to the person his righteousness.

²⁷ Then that person will sing in front of other people and say,

'I sinned and perverted that which was right,

but my sin was not punished.

²⁸ God has rescued my soul from going down into the pit;

my life will continue to see light.'

²⁹ See, God does all these things with a person,

twice, yes, even three times,

³⁰ to bring his soul back from the pit,

so that he may be enlightened with the light of life.

³¹ Pay attention, Job, and listen to me;

be silent and I will speak.

³² If you have anything to say, answer me;

speak, for I wish to justify you.

³³ If not, then listen to me;

remain silent, and I will teach you wisdom."

Chapter 34

¹ Moreover, Elihu continued to speak:

² "Listen to my words, you wise men;

hear me, you who have knowledge.

³ For the ear tests words

as the palate tastes food.

⁴ Let us choose for ourselves what is just:

let us discover among ourselves what is good.

⁵ For Job has said, 'I am righteous,

but God has taken away my rights.

⁶ Regardless of my rights

I am considered to be a liar.

My wound is incurable,

although I am without sin.'

⁷ What man is like Job,

who drinks up mockery like water,

⁸ who goes around in the company of those who behave wickedly,

and who walks with wicked men?

⁹ For he has said, 'It is no use to a person

to take pleasure in doing what God wants.'

¹⁰ So listen to me, you men of understanding:

far be it from God that he should do wickedness;

far be it from the Almighty that he should commit sin.

¹¹ For he pays back a person's work;

he makes every man come upon the reward of his own ways.

¹² Indeed, God does nothing wicked,

nor does the Almighty ever pervert justice.

¹³ Who put him in charge over the earth?

Who put the whole world under him?

¹⁴ If he ever set his intentions only on himself,

and if he ever gathered back to himself his spirit and his breath,

¹⁵ then all flesh would perish together;

mankind would return to dust again.

¹⁶ If now you have understanding, listen to this;

listen to the sound of my words.

¹⁷ Can one who hates justice govern?

Will you condemn God, who is righteous and mighty?

¹⁸ God, who says to a king, 'You are worthless,'

or says to nobles, 'You are wicked'?

¹⁹ God, who does not show favoritism to leaders

and does not acknowledge rich people more than poor,

for they all are the work of his hands.

²⁰ In a moment they will die;

at midnight people will be shaken and will pass away;

mighty people will be taken away, but not by human hands.

²¹ For God's eyes are upon a person's ways;

he sees all his steps.

²² There is no darkness and there is no deep shadow

where those who behave wickedly may hide themselves.

²³ For God does not need to examine a person further;

there is no need for any person to go before him in judgment.

²⁴ He breaks mighty men into pieces for their ways that need no further investigation;

he puts others in their places.

²⁵ In this way he has knowledge of their deeds;

he overthrows these people in the night; they are crushed.

²⁶ In the open sight of others, he kills them for their wicked deeds like criminals

²⁷ because they turned away from following him

and refused to acknowledge any of his ways.

²⁸ In this way, they made the cry of poor people come to him;

he heard the cry of afflicted people.

²⁹ When he stays silent, who can condemn him?

If he hides his face, who can see him?

He rules over nation and individual alike,

³⁰ so that a godless man may not reign,

so that there may be no one to entrap people.

³¹ Suppose someone says to God,

'I am certainly guilty, but I will not act corruptly any longer;

³² teach me what I cannot see;

I have committed sin, but I will do it no longer.'

³³ Is it according to your desires that God must punish that person?

For you reject this!

You must choose, not I.

So say what it is that you know.

³⁴ Men of understanding will say to me—

indeed, every wise man who hears me will say,

³⁵ 'Job speaks without knowledge;

his words are without wisdom.'

³⁶ If only Job were put on trial in the smallest details of his case

because of his talking like wicked men.

³⁷ For he adds rebellion to his sin;

he claps his hands in mockery in our midst;

he piles up words against God."

Chapter 35

¹ Moreover Elihu continued, saying,

² "Do you think this is just

when you say, 'I am in the right before God'?

³ For you ask, 'What use is it to me?'

and, 'Would I be better off if I had sinned?'

⁴ I will answer you,

both you and your friends.

⁵ Look up at the sky, and see it;

see the sky, which is higher than you.

⁶ If you have sinned, what harm do you do to God?

If your transgressions are many, what do you do to him?

⁷ If you are righteous, what can you give to him?

What will he receive from your hand?

⁸ Your wickedness may hurt a man, as you are a man,

and your righteousness might benefit another son of man.

⁹ Because of many acts of oppression, people cry out;

they call for help from the arms of mighty men.

¹⁰ But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker,

who gives songs in the night,

¹¹ who teaches us more than he teaches the wild animals of the earth,

and who makes us wiser than the birds of the sky?'

¹² There they cry out, but God gives no answer

because of the pride of evil men.

¹³ God will certainly not hear a foolish cry;

the Almighty will pay no attention to it.

¹⁴ How much less will he answer you if you say that you do not see him,

that your case is before him, and that you are waiting for him!

¹⁵ Now you say that his anger does not punish,

and he does not take even a litte notice of transgression.

¹⁶ So Job opens his mouth only to speak foolishness;

he multiplies words without knowledge."

Chapter 36

¹ Elihu continued on and said,

² "Be patient with me a little longer, and I will show you some things

because I have a little more to say in defense of God.

³ I will obtain my knowledge from far off;

I will acknowledge that righteousness belongs to my Maker.

⁴ For indeed, my words will not be false;

someone who is mature in knowledge is with you.

⁵ See, God is mighty, and despises no one;

he is mighty in strength of understanding.

⁶ He does not preserve the life of wicked people

but gives justice those who suffer.

⁷ He does not withdraw his eyes from righteous people

but sets them on thrones with kings forever,

and they are lifted up.

⁸ If they are bound in chains

and trapped in cords of suffering,

⁹ then he reveals to them what they have done,

and their transgressions and their pride.

¹⁰ He also opens their ears to his instruction,

and commands them to turn back from iniquity.

¹¹ If they listen to him and worship him,

they will spend their days in prosperity,

their years in contentment.

¹² However, if they do not listen, they will perish by the sword;

they will die because they have no knowledge.

¹³ Those who are godless in heart store up their anger;

they do not cry out for help even when God ties them up.

¹⁴ They die in their youth;

their lives end among the cultic prostitutes.

¹⁵ God rescues afflicted people by means of their afflictions;

he opens their ears by means of their oppression.

¹⁶ Indeed, he would like to draw you out of distress

into a broad place where there is no hardship

and where your table would be set with food full of fatness.

¹⁷ But you are full of judgment on wicked people;

judgment and justice have laid hold of you.

¹⁸ Do not let your anger entice you to mockery,

or the greatness of a ransom to turn you aside.

¹⁹ Can your wealth benefit you, so that you will not be in distress,

or can all the force of your strength help you?

²⁰ Do not desire the night, to commit sin against others,

when peoples are cut off in their place.

²¹ Be careful that you do not turn to wickedness

because you are being tested by suffering so that you will stay away from sinning.

²² See, God is exalted in his power;

who is a teacher like him?

²³ Who has ever instructed him about his way?

Who can ever say to him, 'You have committed unrighteousness?'

²⁴ Remember to praise his deeds,

of which people have sung.

²⁵ All people have looked on those deeds,

but they see those deeds only from far away.

²⁶ See, God is great, but we do not understand him well;

the number of his years is incalculable.

²⁷ For he draws up the drops of water

that he distills as rain from his vapor, ¹

²⁸ which the clouds pour down

and drop in abundance on mankind.

²⁹ Indeed, can anyone understand the extensive spread of the clouds

and the thunder from his hut?

³⁰ See, he spreads his lightning around him

and covers the roots of the sea.

³¹ In this way he judges the peoples

and gives food in abundance.

³² He fills his hands with the lightning

until he commands it to strike its mark.

³³ Its thunder warns of the storm,

the cattle can also hear it is coming.

¹Some modern translations have that distill as rain from his vapor .

Chapter 37

¹ Indeed, my heart trembles at this;

it is moved out of its place.

² Hear, oh, hear the noise of his voice,

the sound that goes out from his mouth.

³ He sends it out under the whole sky,

and he sends out his lightning to the edges of the earth.

⁴ A voice roars after it;

he thunders with the voice of his majesty;

he does not restrain the lightning bolts

when his voice is heard.

⁵ God thunders marvelously with his voice;

he does great things that we cannot comprehend.

⁶ For he says to the snow, 'Fall on the earth';

and to the rain shower, 'Be strong.'

⁷ He stops the hand of every man from working,

so that all people whom he has made may see his deeds.

⁸ Then the beasts go into hiding

and stay in their dens.

⁹ The storm comes from its chamber in the south

and the cold from the scattering winds in the north.

¹⁰ By the breath of God ice is given;

the expanse of the waters is frozen like metal.

¹¹ Indeed, he weighs down the thick cloud with moisture;

he scatters his lightning through the clouds.

¹² He swirls the clouds around by his guidance,

so that they may do whatever he commands them

above the surface of the earthly world.

¹³ He makes all of this happen; sometimes it happens for correction, sometimes for his land,

and sometimes as acts of covenant faithfulness.

¹⁴ Listen to this, Job;

stop and think about God's marvelous deeds.

¹⁵ Do you know how God establishes the clouds

and makes the lightning bolts to flash in them?

¹⁶ Do you understand the floating of the clouds,

the marvelous deeds of God, who is perfect in knowledge?

¹⁷ Do you understand how your garments become hot

when the land is still because the wind comes from the south?

¹⁸ Can you spread out the sky as he can—

the sky, which is as strong as a mirror of cast metal?

¹⁹ Teach us what we should say to him,

for we cannot lay out our arguments in order because of the darkness of our minds.

²⁰ Should he be told that I wish to speak with him?

Would a person wish to be swallowed up?

²¹ Now, people cannot look at the sun when it is bright in the sky

after the wind has passed through and has cleared it of its clouds.

²² Out of the north comes golden splendor—

over God is fearsome majesty.

²³ As for the Almighty, we cannot find him!

He is great in power;

he does not oppress justice and abundant righteousness.

²⁴ Therefore, people fear him.

He does not pay any attention to those who are wise in their own minds."

Chapter 38

¹ Then Yahweh called to Job out of a fierce storm and said,

² "Who is this who brings darkness to plans

by means of words without knowledge?

³ Now gird up your loins like a man

for I will ask you questions,

and you must answer me.

⁴ Where were you when I laid the earth's foundations?

Tell me, if you have so much understanding.

⁵ Who determined its dimensions? Tell me, if you know.

Who stretched the measuring line over it?

⁶ On what were its foundations laid?

Who laid its cornerstone

⁷ when the morning stars sang together

and all the sons of God shouted for joy?

⁸ Who shut up the sea with doors

when it burst out, as if it had come out of the womb—

⁹ when I made clouds its clothing,

and thick darkness its swaddling bands?

¹⁰ That was when I marked out for the sea my boundary,

and when I placed its bars and doors,

¹¹ and when I said to it, 'You may come this far, but no farther;

here is where I will put a boundary to the pride of your waves.'

¹² Have you given orders to the morning,

or caused the dawn to know its place,

¹³ so that it might take hold of the edges of the earth

and shake the wicked out of it?

¹⁴ The earth is changed in appearance like clay changes under a seal;

all things on it stand out clearly like the folds of a piece of clothing.

¹⁵ From wicked people their light is taken away;

their uplifted arm is broken.

¹⁶ Have you gone to the springs of the sea?

Have you walked in the lowest parts of the deep?

¹⁷ Have the gates of death been revealed to you?

Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death?

¹⁸ Have you understood the earth in its expanse?

Tell me, if you know it all.

¹⁹ Where is the way to the resting place of light—

as for darkness, where is its place?

²⁰ Can you lead light and darkness to their places of work?

Can you find the way back to their houses for them?

²¹ Undoubtedly you know, for you were born then;

the number of your days is so large!

²² Have you entered the storehouses for the snow,

or have you seen the storehouses for the hail,

²³ these things that I have kept for times of trouble,

for days of battle and war?

²⁴ What is the path to where the lightning bolts are distributed

or to where the winds are scattered from the east over the earth?

²⁵ Who has created the channels for the floods of rain,

or who has made a path for the thunder,

²⁶ to cause it to rain on lands where no person exists,

and on the wilderness, in which there is no one,

²⁷ to satisfy the devastated and desolate places,

and to make the ground sprout with grass?

²⁸ Does the rain have a father,

or, who fathers the drops of dew?

²⁹ Out of whose womb did the ice come?

Who bore the white frost out of the sky?

³⁰ The waters hide themselves and become like stone;

the surface of the deep becomes frozen.

³¹ Can you fasten chains on the Pleiades,

or undo the cords of Orion?

³² Can you lead the constellations to appear at their proper times?

Can you guide the Bear with its children?

³³ Do you know the regulations of the sky?

Could you set in place the sky's rule over the earth?

³⁴ Can you raise your voice up to the clouds,

so that an abundance of rainwater may cover you?

³⁵ Can you send out bolts of lightning that they may go out,

that they say to you, 'Here we are'?

³⁶ Who has put wisdom in the clouds

or has given understanding to the mists?

³⁷ Who can number the clouds by his skill?

Who can pour out the water skins of the sky

³⁸ when the dust runs into a hard mass

and the clods of earth clump tightly together?

³⁹ Can you hunt down a victim for a lioness

or satisfy the appetite of her young lion cubs

⁴⁰ when they are crouching in their dens

and sheltering in hiding to lie in wait?

⁴¹ Who provides victims for the ravens

when their young ones cry out to God

and stagger about for lack of food?

Chapter 39

¹ Do you know at what time the wild goats in the rocks bear their young?

Can you watch when the deer are having their fawns?

² Can you count the months that they gestate?

Do you know the time when they bear their young?

³ They crouch down and give birth to their young,

and then they finish their labor pains.

⁴ Their young ones become strong and grow up in the open fields;

they go out and do not return to them.

⁵ Who sent the wild donkey out free?

Who has untied the bonds of the swift donkey,

⁶ whose home I have made in the Arabah,

his house in the salt land?

⁷ He laughs in scorn at the noises in the city;

he does not hear the driver's shouts.

⁸ He roams over the mountains as his pastures;

there he looks for every green plant to eat.

⁹ Will the wild ox be happy to serve you?

Will he consent to stay by your manger?

¹⁰ Can you use ropes to hold the wild ox in the furrows?

Will he harrow the valleys as he follows after you?

¹¹ Will you trust him because his strength is great?

Will you leave your labor to him to do?

¹² Will you depend on him to bring your grain home,

to gather the grain for your threshing floor?

¹³ The wings of the ostrich wave proudly,

but are they the pinions and plumage of love?

¹⁴ For she leaves her eggs on the earth,

and she lets them keep warm in the dust;

¹⁵ she forgets that a foot might crush them

or that a wild beast might trample them.

¹⁶ She deals roughly with her young ones as if they were not hers;

she does not fear that her labor might have been in vain,

¹⁷ because God has deprived her of wisdom

and has not given her any understanding.

¹⁸ When she runs swiftly,

she laughs in scorn at the horse and its rider.

¹⁹ Have you given the horse his strength?

Did you clothe his neck with his flowing mane?

²⁰ Have you ever made him jump like a locust?

The majesty of his snorting is fearsome.

²¹ He paws in might and rejoices in his strength;

he rushes out to meet the weapons.

²² He mocks fear and is not dismayed;

he does not turn back from the sword.

²³ The quiver rattles against his flank,

along with the flashing spear and the javelin.

²⁴ He swallows up ground with fierceness and rage;

at the sound of the ram's horn, he cannot stand in one place.

²⁵ Whenever the ram's horn sounds, he says, 'Aha!'

He smells the battle from far away—

the thunderous shouts of the commanders and the outcries.

²⁶ Is it by your wisdom that the hawk soars,

that he stretches out his wings for the south?

²⁷ Is it at your orders that the eagle mounts up

and makes his nest in high places?

²⁸ He lives on cliffs and makes his home

on the peaks of cliffs, a stronghold.

²⁹ From there he searches for victims;

his eyes see them from very far away.

³⁰ His young also drink up blood;

where killed people are, there he is."

Chapter 40

¹ Yahweh continued to speak to Job; he said,

² "Should anyone who wishes to criticize try to correct the Almighty?

He who argues with God, let him answer."

³ Then Job answered Yahweh and said,

⁴ "See, I am insignificant; how can I answer you?

I put my hand over my mouth.

⁵ I spoke once, and I will not answer;

indeed, twice, but I will proceed no further."

⁶ Then Yahweh answered Job out of a fierce storm and said,

⁷ "Now gird up your loins like a man,

for I will ask you questions, and you must answer me.

⁸ Will you actually say that I am unjust?

Will you condemn me so you may claim that you are in the right?

⁹ Do you have an arm like God's,

and can you thunder with a voice like his?

¹⁰ Now clothe yourself in glory and dignity;

array yourself in honor and majesty.

¹¹ Scatter around the excess of your anger;

look at everyone who is proud and bring him low.

¹² Look at everyone who is proud and bring him low;

trample down wicked people where they stand.

¹³ Bury them in the earth together;

imprison their faces in the hidden place.

¹⁴ Then will I also acknowledge about you

that your own right hand can save you.

¹⁵ See now, the behemoth,

which I made when I made you—

he eats grass like an ox.

¹⁶ See now, his strength is in his loins,

and his power is in his belly's muscles.

¹⁷ He makes his tail like a cedar;

the sinews of his thighs are joined together.

¹⁸ His bones are like tubes of bronze;

his legs are like bars of iron.

¹⁹ He is the chief of the creatures of God.

Only God, who made him, can defeat him.

²⁰ For the hills provide him with food;

the beasts of the field play nearby.

²¹ He lies under the lotus plants

in the shelter of the reeds, in the marshes.

²² The lotus plants cover him with their shade;

the willows of the brook are all around him.

²³ See, if a river floods its banks, he does not tremble;

he is confident, though the Jordan should surge up to his mouth.

²⁴ Can anyone capture him with a hook,

or pierce his nose through with a snare?

Chapter 41

¹ Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook?

Or tie up his jaws with a cord?

² Can you put a rope into his nose,

or pierce his jaw through with a hook?

³ Will he make many pleas to you?

Will he speak soft words to you?

⁴ Will he make a covenant with you,

that you should take him for a servant forever?

⁵ Will you play with him as you would with a bird?

Will you tie him up for your servant girls?

⁶ Will the groups of fishermen bargain for him?

Will they divide him up to trade among the merchants?

⁷ Can you fill his hide with harpoons

or his head with fishing spears?

⁸ Put your hand on him just once,

and you will remember the battle and do it no more.

⁹ See, the hope of anyone who does that is a lie;

will not anyone be thrown down to the ground just by the sight of him?

¹⁰ None is so fierce that he dare stir Leviathan up;

who, then, is he who can stand before me?

¹¹ Who has first given anything to me in order that I should repay him?

Whatever is under the whole sky is mine.

¹² I will not keep silent concerning Leviathan's legs,

nor about the matter of his strength, nor about his graceful form.

¹³ Who can strip off his outer garment?

Who can penetrate his double armor?

¹⁴ Who can open the doors of his face—

ringed with his teeth, which are a terror?

¹⁵ his back is made up of rows of shields,

tight together as with a close seal.

¹⁶ One is so near to another

that no air can come between them.

¹⁷ They are joined to each other;

they stick together, so that they cannot be pulled apart.

¹⁸ Light flashes out from his snorting;

his eyes are like the eyelids of the morning dawn.

¹⁹ Out of his mouth go burning torches,

sparks of fire leap out.

²⁰ Out of his nostrils goes smoke

like a boiling pot on a fire that has been fanned to be very hot.

²¹ His breath kindles coals into flame;

fires go out from his mouth.

²² In his neck is strength,

and terror dances in front of him.

²³ The folds of his flesh are joined together;

they are firm on him; they cannot be moved.

²⁴ His heart is as hard as a stone—

indeed, as hard as a lower millstone.

²⁵ When he raises himself up, even the gods become afraid;

because of its thrashing they draw back.

²⁶ If a sword strikes him, it does nothing—

and neither does a spear, an arrow, or any other pointed weapon.

²⁷ He thinks of iron as if it were straw,

and of bronze as if it were rotten wood.

²⁸ An arrow cannot make him flee;

to him sling stones become chaff.

²⁹ Clubs are regarded as straw;

he laughs at the whirring flight of a spear.

³⁰ His lower parts are like sharp pieces of broken pottery;

he leaves a spreading trail in the mud as if he were a threshing sledge.

³¹ He makes the deep to foam up like a pot of boiling water;

he makes the sea like a pot of ointment.

³² He makes a shining wake behind him;

one would think the deep had gray hair.

³³ On earth there is no equal to him,

who has been made to live without fear.

³⁴ He sees everything that is proud;

he is king over all the sons of pride."

Chapter 42

¹ Then Job answered Yahweh and said,

² "I know that you can do all things,

that no purpose of yours can be stopped.

³ 'Who is this who without knowledge conceals plans?'

Indeed, I have spoken things that I did not understand,

things too difficult for me to understand, which I did not know about.

⁴ You said to me, 'Listen, now, and I will speak;

I will ask you things,

and you will tell me.'

⁵ I had heard about you by my ear's hearing,

but now my eye sees you.

⁶ So I despise myself;

I repent in dust and ashes."

⁷ It came about that after he had said these words to Job, Yahweh said to Eliphaz the Temanite, "My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has done. ⁸ Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer, so that I may not deal with you after your folly. You have not said what is right about me, as my servant Job has done." ⁹ So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as Yahweh had commanded them, and Yahweh accepted Job.

¹⁰ When Job prayed for his friends, Yahweh reversed his captivity. Yahweh gave him twice as much as he had possessed before. ¹¹ Then all Job's brothers, and all his sisters, and all who knew him before, came to him and ate food with him in his house. They showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the disasters that Yahweh had brought upon him, and each of them gave Job a piece of silver and a ring of gold.

¹² Yahweh blessed the final end of Job's life more than the first; he had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, one thousand yoke of oxen, and one thousand female donkeys. ¹³ He also had seven sons and three daughters. ¹⁴ He called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-Happuch.

¹⁵ In all the land no women were found as beautiful as Job's daughters. Their father gave them an inheritance along with their brothers. ¹⁶ After this, Job lived 140 years; he saw his sons and his sons' sons, up to four generations. ¹⁷ Then Job died, being old and full of days.

Psalms

Chapter 1

¹ Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the advice of the wicked,

or stand in the pathway with sinners,

or sit in the assembly of mockers.

² But his delight is in the law of Yahweh,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He will be like a tree planted by the streams of water

that produces its fruit in its season,

whose leaves do not wither;

whatever he does will prosper.

⁴ The wicked are not so,

but are like the chaff that the wind drives away.

⁵ So the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

⁶ For Yahweh approves of the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish.

Chapter 2

¹ Why are the nations in turmoil,

and why do the peoples devise vain plans?

² The kings of the earth take their stand together

and the rulers take counsel together

against Yahweh and against his Messiah, saying,

³ "Let us tear off the shackles they put on us

and throw off their chains."

⁴ He who sits in the heavens will sneer at them;

the Lord mocks them.

⁵ Then he will speak to them in his anger

and terrify them in his rage, saying,

⁶ "I myself have set my king in place

on Zion, my holy mountain."

⁷ I will announce a decree of Yahweh.

He said to me, "You are my son!

This day I have become your Father.

⁸ Ask me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance

and the ends of the earth for your possession.

⁹ You will break them with an iron rod;

like a jar of a potter, you will smash them to pieces."

¹⁰ So now, you kings, be prudent;

be corrected, you judges of the earth.

¹¹ Worship Yahweh in fear

and rejoice with trembling.

¹² Kiss the son or he will be angry with you,

and you will die in the way when his anger burns for just a moment.

How blessed are all those who seek refuge in him.

Chapter 3

A psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.

¹ Yahweh, how many are my enemies!

Many have risen against me.

² Many say about me,

"There is no deliverance for him from God."

Selah

³ But you, Yahweh, are a shield around me,

my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.

⁴ I lift up my voice to Yahweh,

and he answers me from his holy hill.

Selah

⁵ I lay down and slept;

I awoke, for Yahweh protected me.

⁶ I will not be afraid of the multitudes of people

who have set themselves against me on every side.

⁷ Rise up, Yahweh! Save me, my God!

For you will hit all my enemies on the jaw;

you will break the teeth of the wicked.

⁸ Salvation comes from Yahweh.

May your blessings be on your people.

Selah

Chapter 4

For the chief musician; on stringed instruments. A psalm of David.

¹ Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness;

give me room when I am hemmed in.

Have mercy on me and listen to my prayer.

² You people, how long will you turn my honor into shame?

How long will you love what is worthless and seek after lies?

Selah

³ But know that Yahweh has set apart the faithful ones for himself.

Yahweh will hear when I call to him.

⁴ Tremble in fear, but do not sin!

Meditate in your heart on your bed and be silent.

Selah

⁵ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness

and put your trust in Yahweh.

⁶ Many say, "Who will show us anything good?"

Yahweh, lift up the light of your face on us.

⁷ You have given my heart more gladness

than others have when their grain and new wine abound.

⁸ It is in peace that I will lie down and sleep,

for you alone, Yahweh, make me safe and secure.

Chapter 5

For the chief musician; with wind instruments. A psalm of David.

¹ Give ear to my words, Yahweh;

think about my groanings.

² Listen to the sound of my call, my King and my God,

for it is to you that I pray.

³ Yahweh, in the morning you hear my cry;

in the morning I will bring my petition to you and wait expectantly.

⁴ Certainly you are not a God who takes pleasure in evil;

evil people will not be your guests.

⁵ The arrogant will not stand in your presence;

you hate all who behave wickedly.

⁶ You will destroy liars;

Yahweh abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.

⁷ But as for me, because of your great covenant faithfulness,

I will come into your house;

in reverence I will bow down toward your holy temple.

⁸ Oh Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of my enemies;

make your path straight before me.

⁹ For there is no truth in their mouth;

their inward being is wicked;

their throat is an open tomb;

they flatter with their tongue.

¹⁰ Declare them guilty, God;

may their schemes be their downfall!

Drive them out for their many transgressions,

for they have rebelled against you.

¹¹ But may all those who take refuge in you rejoice;

let them always shout for joy because you defend them;

let them be joyful in you, those who love your name.

¹² For you will bless the righteous, Yahweh;

you will surround them with favor as with a shield.

Chapter 6

For the chief musician; on stringed instruments, set to the Sheminith style. A psalm of David.

¹ Yahweh, do not rebuke me in your anger

or discipline me in your wrath.

² Have mercy on me, Yahweh, for I am frail;

heal me, Yahweh, for my bones are shaking.

³ My soul also is very troubled.

But you, Yahweh—how long will this continue?

⁴ Return, Yahweh! rescue me.

Save me because of your covenant faithfulness!

⁵ For in death there is no remembrance of you.

In Sheol who will give you thanks?

⁶ I am weary with my groaning.

All night I drench my bed with tears;

I dissolve my couch with my tears.

⁷ My eyes grow dim from grief;

they grow weak because of all my adversaries.

⁸ Get away from me, all you who behave wickedly;

for Yahweh has heard the sound of my weeping.

⁹ Yahweh has heard my appeal for mercy;

Yahweh has accepted my prayer.

¹⁰ All my enemies will be ashamed and greatly troubled.

They will turn back and be suddenly humiliated.

Chapter 7

A musical composition of David, which he sang to Yahweh concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.

¹ Yahweh my God, I take refuge in you!

Save me from all who chase me, and rescue me.

² Otherwise, they will rip me apart like a lion,

tearing me in pieces with no one else able to bring me to safety.

³ Yahweh my God, if I have done this,

and there is injustice on my hands—

⁴ if I have done evil to him who was at peace with me,

or harmed my enemy for no reason—

⁵ then let my enemy pursue my life and overtake me;

let him trample my life to the ground

and lay my honor in the dust.

Selah

⁶ Arise, Yahweh, in your anger;

stand up against the rage of my enemies;

wake up for my sake and carry out the righteous decrees that you have commanded for them.

⁷ The peoples are assembled all around you;

take once more your rightful place over them.

⁸ Yahweh, judge the nations;

vindicate me, Yahweh, because I am righteous and innocent, Most High.

⁹ May the evil deeds of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous people,

righteous God, you who examine hearts and minds.

¹⁰ My shield comes from God,

the one who saves the upright in heart.

¹¹ God is a righteous judge,

a God who is indignant each day.

¹² If a person does not repent,

God will sharpen his sword

and will prepare his bow for battle.

¹³ He prepares to use deadly weapons against him;

he makes his arrows flaming shafts.

¹⁴ Think about the one who is pregnant with wickedness,

who conceives destructive plans, who gives birth to harmful lies.

¹⁵ He digs a pit and hollows it out

and then falls into the pit he has made.

¹⁶ His own destructive plans return to his own head,

for his violence comes down on his own head.

¹⁷ I will give thanks to Yahweh for his justice;

I will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High.

Chapter 8

For the chief musician; set to the Gittith style. A psalm of David.

¹ Yahweh our Lord, how magnificent is your name in all the earth,

you who reveal your glory in the heavens above.

² Out of the mouth of babies and infants you have established praise ¹

because of your enemies,

so that you might silence both the enemy and the avenger.

³ When I look up at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

⁴ Of what importance is the human race that you notice them,

or mankind that you pay attention to them?

⁵ Yet you have made them only a little lower than the heavenly beings

and have crowned them with glory and honor.

⁶ You make him to rule over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet:

⁷ all sheep and oxen,

and even the wild animals of the field,

⁸ the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,

everything that passes through the currents of the seas.

⁹ Yahweh our Lord,

how magnificent is your name in all the earth!

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew text can be read either as established praise or established strength .

Chapter 9

For the chief musician; set to Muth Labben style. A psalm of David.

¹ I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart;

I will tell about all your marvelous deeds.

² I will be glad and rejoice in you;

I will sing praise to your name, Most High!

³ When my enemies turn back,

they stumble and perish before you.

⁴ For you have defended my just cause;

you sit on your throne, a righteous judge!

⁵ You rebuked the nations;

you have destroyed the wicked;

you have blotted out their name forever and ever.

⁶ The enemy crumbled like ruins

when you overthrew their cities.

All remembrance of them has perished.

⁷ But Yahweh remains forever;

he has established his throne for justice.

⁸ He will judge the world with righteousness,

and he will execute judgment for the nations with fairness.

⁹ Yahweh also will be a stronghold for the oppressed,

a stronghold in times of trouble.

¹⁰ Those who know your name trust in you,

for you, Yahweh, do not abandon those who seek you.

¹¹ Sing praises to Yahweh, who rules in Zion;

tell the nations of his deeds.

¹² For the God who avenges bloodshed remembers;

he does not forget the cry of the oppressed.

¹³ Have mercy on me, Yahweh; see my affliction by those who hate me,

you who can snatch me from the gates of death.

¹⁴ Oh, that I might proclaim all your praise.

In the gates of the daughter of Zion

I will rejoice in your salvation!

¹⁵ The nations have sunk down into the pit that they made;

their feet are caught in the net that they hid.

¹⁶ Yahweh has made himself known; he has executed judgment;

the wicked is ensnared by his own actions.

Selah

¹⁷ The wicked are turned back and sent to Sheol,

all the nations that forget God.

¹⁸ For the needy will not always be forgotten,

nor will the hope of the oppressed be forever dashed.

¹⁹ Arise, Yahweh; do not let man win against you;

may the nations be judged in your sight.

²⁰ Terrify them, Yahweh;

may the nations know that they are mere men.

Selah

Chapter 10

¹ Why, Yahweh, do you stand far off?

Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

² Because of their arrogance, wicked people chase the oppressed;

but please let the wicked be trapped by their own schemes that they have devised.

³ For the wicked person boasts of his deepest desires;

he blesses the greedy and insults Yahweh.

⁴ The wicked in the haughtiness of his face does not seek God.

All his thoughts are that there is no God.

⁵ He is secure at all times,

but your righteous decrees are too high for him;

he snorts at all his enemies.

⁶ He says in his heart," I will never fail;

throughout all generations I will not meet adversity."

⁷ His mouth is full of curses and lies and oppression;

under his tongue are mischief and evil.

⁸ He waits in ambush near the villages;

in the secret places he murders the innocent;

his eyes look for some helpless victim.

⁹ He lurks in secret like a lion in the thicket;

he lies in wait to catch the oppressed.

He catches the oppressed when he pulls in his net.

¹⁰ His victims are crushed and beaten down;

they fall into his strong nets.

¹¹ He says in his heart, "God has forgotten;

he covers his face; he will never see it."

¹² Arise, Yahweh! Lift up your hand, God!

Do not forget the oppressed.

¹³ Why does the wicked man reject God

and say in his heart, "You will not hold me accountable"?

¹⁴ You have taken notice, for you always see the one who inflicts the misery and sorrow.

The helpless entrusts himself to you;

you rescue the fatherless.

¹⁵ Break the arm of the wicked and evil man.

Make him account for his evil deeds,

which he thought you would not discover.

¹⁶ Yahweh is King forever and ever;

the nations are driven out of his land.

¹⁷ Yahweh, you have heard the needs of the oppressed;

you strengthen their heart, you listen to their prayer;

¹⁸ You defend the fatherless and the oppressed

so that no man on the earth will cause terror again.

Chapter 11

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ I take refuge in Yahweh;

how will you say to me,

"Flee like a bird to the mountain"?

² For see! The wicked prepare their bows.

They make ready their arrows on the strings

to shoot in the darkness at the upright in heart.

³ For if the foundations are ruined,

what can the righteous do?

⁴ Yahweh is in his holy temple;

his eyes watch, his eyes examine the children of mankind.

⁵ Yahweh examines both the righteous and the wicked,

but he hates those who love to do violence.

⁶ He rains burning coals and sulfur upon the wicked;

a scorching wind will be their portion from his cup!

⁷ For Yahweh is righteous, and he loves righteousness;

the upright will see his face.

Chapter 12

For the chief musician; set to the Sheminith. A psalm of David.

¹ Help, Yahweh, for the faithful ones have disappeared;

those who have integrity have vanished from the children of men.

² Everyone says empty words to his neighbor;

everyone speaks with flattering lips and a double heart.

³ Yahweh, cut off all flattering lips,

every tongue declaring great things.

⁴ These are those who have said, "With our tongues we will prevail.

When our lips speak, who can be master over us?"

⁵ "Because of violence against the poor, because of the groans of the needy,

I will arise," says Yahweh.

"I will provide the safety for which they long."

⁶ The words of Yahweh are pure words,

like silver purified in a furnace on the earth,

refined seven times.

⁷ You are Yahweh! You keep them.

You preserve the godly people from this wicked generation and forever.

⁸ The wicked walk on every side

when evil is exalted among the children of mankind.

Chapter 13

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ How long, Yahweh, will you forget me? Forever?

How long will you hide your face from me?

² How long must I worry

and have grief in my heart all day?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

³ Look at me and answer me, Yahweh my God!

Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death.

⁴ Do not let my enemy say, "I have defeated him,"

so that my enemy may not say, "I have prevailed over my adversary";

otherwise, my enemies will rejoice when I am brought down.

⁵ But I have trusted in your covenant faithfulness;

my heart rejoices in your salvation.

⁶ I will sing to Yahweh

because he has treated me very generously.

Chapter 14

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ A fool says in his heart, "There is no God."

They are corrupt and have done abominable iniquity;

there is no one who does good.

² Yahweh looks down from heaven on the children of mankind

to see if there are any who understand,

who seek after him.

³ They have all turned away. Together they have become corrupt.

There is no one who does good, no, not one.

⁴ Do they not know anything, those who behave wickedly,

those who eat up my people as they eat bread,

but who do not call on Yahweh?

⁵ They tremble with dread,

for God is with the righteous generation!

⁶ You want to humiliate the poor person

even though Yahweh is his refuge.

⁷ Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion!

When Yahweh brings back his people from the captivity,

then Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad!

Chapter 15

A psalm of David.

¹ Yahweh, who may stay in your tabernacle?

Who may live on your holy hill?

² Whoever walks blamelessly, does what is right

and speaks truth from his heart.

³ He does not slander with his tongue,

he does not harm others,

and he does not insult his neighbor.

⁴ The abhorrent is despised in his eyes,

but he honors those who fear Yahweh.

He swears to his own disadvantage

and does not take back his promises.

⁵ He does not charge interest when he lends money.

He does not take bribes to testify against the innocent.

He who does these things will never be shaken.

Chapter 16

A michtam of David.

¹ Protect me, God,

for I take refuge in you.

² I say to Yahweh, "You are my Lord;

my goodness is nothing apart from you.

³ As for the holy people who are on the earth,

they are noble people; all my delight is in them.

⁴ Their troubles will be increased, those who seek out other gods.

I will not pour out drink offerings of blood to their gods

or lift up their names with my lips.

⁵ Yahweh, you are my chosen portion and my cup.

You hold onto my lot.

⁶ Measuring lines have been laid for me in pleasant places;

surely a beautiful inheritance is mine.

⁷ I will bless Yahweh, who counsels me;

even at night my mind instructs me.

⁸ I set Yahweh before me at all times,

so I will not be shaken from his right hand!

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad; my glory is rejoicing.

Surely I will live in security.

¹⁰ For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol.

You will not let your faithful one see the pit.

¹¹ You teach me the path of life;

abundant joy resides in your presence;

delights abide in your right hand forever!"

Chapter 17

A prayer of David.

¹ Listen to my plea for justice, Yahweh;

pay attention to my cry for help!

Give ear to my prayer from lips without deceit.

² Let my vindication come from your presence;

let your eyes see what is right!

³ If you test my heart, if you come to me in the night,

you will purify me and will not find any evil plans;

my mouth will not transgress.

⁴ As for the deeds of mankind,

it is at the word of your lips

that I have kept myself from the ways of the lawless.

⁵ My steps have held firmly to your tracks;

my feet have not slipped.

⁶ I call to you, for you answer me, God;

turn your ear to me and listen when I speak.

⁷ Show your covenant faithfulness in a wonderful way,

you who save by your right hand

those who take refuge in you from their enemies!

⁸ Protect me like the apple of your eye;

hide me under the shadow of your wings

⁹ from the presence of the wicked ones who deal violently with me,

my enemies who surround me.

¹⁰ They have no mercy on anyone;

their mouths speak with pride.

¹¹ They have surrounded my steps.

They set their eyes to strike me to the ground.

¹² They are like a lion eager for a victim,

like a young lion crouching in hidden places.

¹³ Arise, Yahweh! Attack them! Throw them down on their faces!

Rescue my life from the wicked by your sword!

¹⁴ Rescue me from men by your hand, Yahweh,

from men of this world whose prosperity is in this life alone!

You will fill the bellies of your treasured ones with riches;

they will have many children

and will leave their wealth to their children.

¹⁵ As for me, I will see your face in righteousness;

I will be satisfied, when I awake, with a sight of you.

Chapter 18

For the chief musician. A psalm of David, the servant of Yahweh, when he sang to Yahweh the words of this song on the day that Yahweh rescued him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He sang:

¹ I love you, Yahweh, my strength.

² Yahweh is my rock, my fortress, the one who brings me to safety;

he is my God, my rock; I take refuge in him.

He is my shield, the horn of my salvation, and my stronghold.

³ I will call on Yahweh who is worthy to be praised,

and I will be saved from my enemies.

⁴ The cords of death surrounded me,

and the rushing waters of worthlessness overwhelmed me.

⁵ The cords of Sheol surrounded me;

the snares of death trapped me.

⁶ In my distress I called to Yahweh;

I called for help to my God.

He heard my voice from his temple;

my cry for help went into his presence;

it went into his ears.

⁷ Then the earth shook and trembled;

the foundations of the mountains also trembled

and were shaken because God was angry.

⁸ Smoke went up from out of his nostrils,

and blazing fire came out of his mouth.

Coals were kindled by it.

⁹ He opened the heavens and came down,

and thick darkness was under his feet.

¹⁰ He rode on a cherub and flew;

he glided on the wings of the wind.

¹¹ He made darkness a tent around him,

heavy rainclouds in the skies.

¹² Hailstones and coals of fire fell from the lightning before him.

¹³ Yahweh thundered in the heavens!

The voice of the Most High shouted. ¹

¹⁴ He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies;

many lightning bolts dispersed them.

¹⁵ Then the water channels appeared;

the foundations of the world were laid bare

at your rebuke, Yahweh,

at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

¹⁶ He reached down from above; he took hold of me!

He pulled me out of the surging water.

¹⁷ He rescued me from my strong enemy,

from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me.

¹⁸ They came against me on the day of my distress

but Yahweh was my support!

¹⁹ He set me free in a wide open place;

he saved me because he was pleased with me.

²⁰ Yahweh has rewarded me because of my righteousness;

he has restored me because my hands were clean.

²¹ For I have kept the ways of Yahweh

and have not wickedly turned away from my God.

²² For all his righteous decrees have been before me;

as for his statutes, I have not turned away from them.

²³ I have also been innocent before him,

and I have kept myself from iniquity.

²⁴ Therefore Yahweh has restored me because of my righteousness,

because my hands were clean before his eyes.

²⁵ To one who is faithful, you show yourself to be faithful;

to a man who is blameless, you show yourself to be blameless.

²⁶ To one who is pure, you show yourself to be pure;

but to one who is perverse, you show yourself to be shrewd.

²⁷ For you save afflicted people,

but you abase those with proud, uplifted eyes!

²⁸ For you give light to my lamp;

Yahweh my God lights up my darkness.

²⁹ For by you I can run over a barricade;

by my God I can leap over a wall.

³⁰ As for God—his way is perfect!

The word of Yahweh is pure!

He is a shield to everyone who takes refuge in him.

³¹ For who is God except Yahweh?

Who is a rock except our God?

³² It is God who puts strength on me like a belt,

who places the blameless person on his path.

³³ He makes my feet swift like a deer

and places me on the heights!

³⁴ He trains my hands for war

and my arms to bend a bow of bronze.

³⁵ You have given me the shield of your salvation.

Your right hand has supported me,

and your favor has made me great.

³⁶ You have made a wide place for my feet beneath me

so that my feet have not slipped.

³⁷ I pursued my enemies and caught them;

I did not turn back until they were destroyed.

³⁸ I smashed them so that they were unable to rise;

they have fallen under my feet.

³⁹ For you have girded me with strength for battle;

you put under me those who rise up against me.

⁴⁰ You gave me the back of my enemies' necks;

I annihilated those who hated me.

⁴¹ They called for help, but no one saved them;

they called out to Yahweh, but he did not answer them.

⁴² I beat them into fine pieces like dust before the wind;

I threw them out like mud in the streets.

⁴³ You rescued me from the disputes of people;

you have made me head over nations;

people whom I have not known serve me.

⁴⁴ As soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me;

foreigners were forced to bow to me.

⁴⁵ The foreigners came trembling out of their strongholds.

⁴⁶ Yahweh lives; may my rock be praised.

May the God of my salvation be exalted.

⁴⁷ He is the God who executes vengeance for me,

who subdues the nations under me.

⁴⁸ I am set free from my enemies!

Indeed, you lifted me above the ones who rose against me!

You rescued me from violent men.

⁴⁹ Therefore I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the nations;

I will sing praises to your name!

⁵⁰ God gives great victory to his king,

and he shows his covenant loyalty to his anointed one,

to David and to his descendants forever.

¹This verse follows some Hebrew copies and the Septuagint, ending after shouted . Most Hebrew copies have the additional phrase hailstones and coals of fire .

Chapter 19

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ The heavens declare the glory of God,

and the skies make known the work of his hands!

² Day after day speech pours out;

night after night it reveals knowledge.

³ There is no speech or spoken words;

their voice is not heard.

⁴ Yet their words go out over all the earth,

and their speech to the end of the world.

He has pitched a tent for the sun among them.

⁵ The sun is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber

and like a strong man who rejoices when he runs his race.

⁶ The sun rises from the one horizon

and crosses the sky to the other;

nothing escapes its heat.

⁷ The law of Yahweh is perfect,

restoring the soul;

the testimony of Yahweh is reliable,

making the simple wise.

⁸ The instructions of Yahweh are right,

making the heart glad;

the commandment of Yahweh is pure,

bringing light to the eyes.

⁹ The fear of Yahweh is pure,

enduring forever;

the righteous decrees of Yahweh are true

and altogether right!

¹⁰ They are of greater value than gold,

even more than much fine gold;

they are sweeter than honey

and the dripping honey from the honeycomb.

¹¹ Yes, by them your servant is warned;

in obeying them there is great reward.

¹² Who can discern all his own errors?

Cleanse me from hidden faults.

¹³ Keep your servant also from arrogant sins;

let them not rule over me.

Then I will be perfect,

and I will be innocent from many transgressions.

¹⁴ May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

Yahweh, my rock and my redeemer.

Chapter 20

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ May Yahweh help you in the day of trouble;

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you

² and send help from the holy place

to support you from Zion.

³ May he call to mind all your offerings

and accept your burnt sacrifice.

Selah

⁴ May he grant you your heart's desire

and fulfill all your plans.

⁵ Then we will rejoice in your victory,

and, in the name of our God, we will raise banners.

May Yahweh grant all your petitions.

⁶ Now I know that Yahweh will rescue his anointed one;

he will answer him from his holy heaven

with the saving strength of his right hand.

⁷ Some trust in chariots and others in horses,

but we trust in the name of Yahweh our God.

⁸ They will be brought down and fall,

but we will rise and stand upright!

⁹ Yahweh, rescue the king;

help us when we call.

Chapter 21

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ The king rejoices in your strength, Yahweh!

How greatly he rejoices in the salvation you provide!

² You have given him his heart's desire

and have not held back the request of his lips.

Selah

³ For you bring him rich blessings;

you placed on his head a crown of purest gold.

⁴ He asked you for life; you gave it to him;

you gave him the length of his days forever and ever.

⁵ His glory is great because of your victory;

you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty.

⁶ For you grant him lasting blessings;

you make him glad with the joy of your presence.

⁷ For the king trusts in Yahweh;

through the covenant faithfulness of the Most High

he will not be moved.

⁸ Your hand will seize all your enemies;

your right hand will seize those who hate you.

⁹ At the time of your anger,

you will burn them up as in a fiery furnace.

Yahweh will consume them in his wrath,

and the fire will devour them.

¹⁰ You will destroy their offspring from the earth

and their descendants from among the human race.

¹¹ For they intended evil against you;

they conceived a plot with which they will not succeed!

¹² For you will turn them back;

you will draw your bow before them.

¹³ Be exalted, Yahweh, in your strength;

we will sing and praise your power.

Chapter 22

For the chief musician; set to "The rhythm of the deer." A psalm of David.

¹ My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?

Why are you so far from saving me

and far from the words of my anguish?

² My God, I cry out in the daytime, but you do not answer,

and at night I am not silent!

³ Yet you are holy;

you sit as king with the praises of Israel.

⁴ Our ancestors trusted in you;

they trusted in you, and you rescued them.

⁵ They cried to you and they were rescued.

They trusted in you and were not disappointed.

⁶ But I am a worm and not a man,

a disgrace to humanity and despised by the people.

⁷ All those who see me taunt me;

they mock me; they shake their heads at me.

⁸ They say, "He trusts in Yahweh;

let Yahweh rescue him.

Let him rescue him, for he delights in him."

⁹ For you brought me from the womb;

you made me trust you when I was on my mother's breasts.

¹⁰ I have been thrown on you from the womb;

you are my God since I was in my mother's womb!

¹¹ Do not be far away from me, for trouble is near;

there is no one to help.

¹² Many bulls surround me;

strong bulls of Bashan surround me.

¹³ They open their mouths wide against me

like a roaring lion ripping its victim.

¹⁴ I am being poured out like water,

and all my bones are dislocated.

My heart is like wax;

it melts away within my inner parts.

¹⁵ My strength has dried up like a piece of pottery;

my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.

You have laid me in the dust of death.

¹⁶ For dogs have surrounded me;

a company of evildoers has encircled me;

they have pierced my hands and my feet.

¹⁷ I can count all my bones.

They look and stare at me.

¹⁸ They divide my garments among themselves,

they cast lots for my clothes.

¹⁹ Do not be far away, Yahweh;

please hurry to help me, my strength!

²⁰ Rescue my soul from the sword,

my only life from the claws of wild dogs.

²¹ Save me from the lion's mouth;

rescue me from the horns of the wild oxen.

²² I will declare your name to my brothers;

in the midst of the assembly I will praise you.

²³ You who fear Yahweh, praise him!

All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!

Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel!

²⁴ For he has not despised or abhorred

the suffering of the afflicted one;

Yahweh has not hidden his face from him;

when the afflicted one cried to him, he heard.

²⁵ My praise will be because of you in the great assembly;

I will fulfill my vows before those who fear him.

²⁶ The oppressed will eat and be satisfied;

those who seek Yahweh will praise him.

May your hearts live forever.

²⁷ All the peoples of the earth will remember and turn to Yahweh;

all the families of the nations will bow down before you.

²⁸ For the kingdom is Yahweh's;

he is the ruler over the nations.

²⁹ All the prosperous people of the earth will feast and will worship;

all those who are descending into the dust will bow before him,

those who cannot preserve their own souls alive.

³⁰ A generation to come will serve him;

they will tell the next generation of the Lord.

³¹ They will come and tell of his righteousness;

they will tell to a people not yet born what he has done!

Chapter 23

A psalm of David.

¹ Yahweh is my shepherd; I will lack nothing.

² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

he leads me beside tranquil water.

³ He brings back my life;

he guides me along paths that are right

for his name's sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I will fear no harm, for you are with me;

your rod and your staff comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

you have anointed my head with oil;

my cup runs over.

⁶ Surely goodness and covenant faithfulness will pursue me

all the days of my life;

and I will live in the house of Yahweh

for the length of my days!

Chapter 24

A psalm of David.

¹ The earth is Yahweh's, and its fullness,

the world, and all who live in it.

² For he has founded it upon the seas

and established it on the rivers.

³ Who will ascend the mountain of Yahweh?

Who will stand in his holy place?

⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart;

who has not lifted up a falsehood,

and has not sworn an oath in order to deceive.

⁵ He will receive a blessing from Yahweh

and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

⁶ Such is the generation of those who seek him,

those who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Selah

⁷ Lift up your heads, you gates;

be lifted up, everlasting doors,

so that the King of glory may come in!

⁸ Who is this King of glory?

Yahweh, strong and mighty;

Yahweh, mighty in battle.

⁹ Lift up your heads, you gates;

be lifted up, everlasting doors,

so that the King of glory may come in!

¹⁰ Who is this King of glory?

Yahweh of hosts,

he is the King of glory.

Selah

Chapter 25

A psalm of David.

¹ To you, Yahweh,

I lift up my life!

² My God, I trust in you.

Do not let me be humiliated;

do not let my enemies rejoice triumphantly over me.

³ May no one who hopes in you be disgraced;

may those who act treacherously without cause be ashamed!

⁴ Make known to me your ways, Yahweh;

teach me your paths.

⁵ Guide me into your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

I hope in you all day long.

⁶ Call to mind, Yahweh, your acts of compassion and of covenant faithfulness;

for they have always existed.

⁷ Do not think about the sins of my youth

or my rebelliousness;

Call me to mind with covenant faithfulness

because of your goodness, Yahweh!

⁸ Yahweh is good and upright;

therefore he teaches sinners the way.

⁹ He guides the humble in what is right

and he teaches them his way.

¹⁰ All the paths of Yahweh are steadfast love and faithfulness

to those who keep his covenant and his solemn commands.

¹¹ For your name's sake, Yahweh,

pardon my iniquity, for it is great.

¹² Who is the man who fears Yahweh?

The Lord will instruct him in the way that he should choose.

¹³ His life will go along in goodness;

and his descendants will inherit the land.

¹⁴ The friendship of Yahweh is for those who honor him,

and he makes his covenant known to them.

¹⁵ My eyes are always on Yahweh,

for he will free my feet from the net.

¹⁶ Turn toward me and have mercy on me;

for I am alone and afflicted.

¹⁷ The troubles of my heart are enlarged;

draw me out from my distress!

¹⁸ See my affliction and my toils;

forgive all my sins.

¹⁹ See my enemies, for they are many;

they hate me with violent hatred.

²⁰ Protect my life and rescue me;

do not let me be humiliated,

for I take refuge in you!

²¹ May integrity and uprightness preserve me,

for I hope in you.

²² Rescue Israel, God,

from all of his troubles!

Chapter 26

A psalm of David.

¹ Judge me, Yahweh,

for I have walked with integrity;

I have trusted in Yahweh without wavering.

² Examine me, Yahweh, and test me;

test the purity of my inner parts and my heart!

³ For your covenant faithfulness is before my eyes,

and I walk about in your faithfulness.

⁴ I do not associate with deceitful people,

nor do I mingle with dishonest people.

⁵ I hate the assembly of evildoers,

and I do not live with the wicked.

⁶ I wash my hands in innocence,

and I go around your altar, Yahweh,

⁷ to sing a loud song of praise

and report all your wonderful deeds.

⁸ Yahweh, I love the house where you live,

the place where your glory lives!

⁹ Do not sweep me away with sinners,

or my life with men of bloodshed,

¹⁰ in whose hands there is a plot,

and whose right hand is full of bribes.

¹¹ But as for me, I will walk in integrity;

redeem me and have mercy on me.

¹² My foot stands on level ground;

in the assemblies will I bless Yahweh!

Chapter 27

A psalm of David.

¹ Yahweh is my light and my salvation;

whom should I fear?

Yahweh is my life's refuge;

whom should I dread?

² When evildoers approached me to devour my flesh,

my adversaries and my enemies stumbled and fell.

³ Though an army encamps against me,

my heart will not fear;

though war rises up against me,

even then I will remain confident.

⁴ One thing have I asked of Yahweh,

and I will seek that:

that I may live in the house of Yahweh

all the days of my life,

to see the beauty of Yahweh

and to meditate in his temple.

⁵ For in the day of trouble

he will hide me in his shelter;

in the cover of his tent he will conceal me.

He will lift me high on a rock!

⁶ Then my head will be lifted up above my enemies all around me,

and I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tent!

I will sing and make songs to Yahweh!

⁷ Hear, Yahweh, my voice when I cry out!

Have mercy on me, and answer me!

⁸ My heart says about you,

"Seek his face!" I seek your face, Yahweh!

⁹ Do not hide your face from me;

do not turn your servant away in anger!

You have been my helper;

do not abandon me or reject me,

God of my salvation!

¹⁰ Even if my father and my mother abandon me,

Yahweh will take me in.

¹¹ Teach me your way, Yahweh!

Lead me on a level path

because of my enemies.

¹² Do not give me up to the desires of my enemies,

for false witnesses have risen up against me,

and they breathe out violence!

¹³ What would have happened to me

if I had not believed that I would see the goodness of Yahweh

in the land of the living?

¹⁴ Wait for Yahweh;

be strong, and let your heart be courageous!

Wait for Yahweh!

Chapter 28

A psalm of David.

¹ To you, Yahweh, I cry out;

my rock, do not ignore me.

If you do not respond to me,

I will join those who go down to the pit.

² Hear the sound of my pleading

when I call for help from you,

when I lift up my hands

toward your most holy place!

³ Do not drag me away with the wicked,

those who behave wickedly,

who speak peace with their neighbors

but have evil in their hearts.

⁴ Give them what their deeds deserve

and repay them what their wickedness demands;

repay them for the work of their hands

and render to them their due.

⁵ Because they do not understand the deeds of Yahweh

or the work of his hands,

he will break them down

and never rebuild them.

⁶ Blessed be Yahweh

because he has heard the sound of my pleading!

⁷ Yahweh is my strength and my shield;

my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.

Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,

and I will praise him with singing.

⁸ Yahweh is the strength of his people,

and he is the saving refuge of his anointed one.

⁹ Save your people and bless your inheritance.

Be their shepherd and carry them forever.

Chapter 29

A psalm of David.

¹ Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of God,

ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength!

² Ascribe to Yahweh the glory his name deserves.

Bow down to Yahweh in the splendor of holiness!

³ The voice of Yahweh is heard over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

Yahweh thunders over many waters.

⁴ The voice of Yahweh is powerful;

the voice of Yahweh is majestic.

⁵ The voice of Yahweh breaks the cedars;

Yahweh breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

⁶ He makes Lebanon skip like a calf

and Sirion like a young ox.

⁷ The voice of Yahweh sends out flames of fire.

⁸ The voice of Yahweh shakes the wilderness;

Yahweh shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

⁹ The voice of Yahweh causes the oaks to twist

and strips the forests bare.

Everyone in his temple says, "Glory!"

¹⁰ Yahweh sits as king over the flood;

Yahweh sits as king forever.

¹¹ Yahweh gives strength to his people;

Yahweh blesses his people with peace.

Chapter 30

A psalm; a song at the dedication of the temple. A psalm of David.

¹ I will exalt you, Yahweh,

for you have raised me up

and have not allowed my enemies to rejoice over me.

² Yahweh my God, I cried to you for help,

and you healed me.

³ Yahweh, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;

you have kept me alive from going down to the pit.

⁴ Sing praises to Yahweh, you his faithful ones!

Give thanks when you remember his holiness.

⁵ For his anger is only for a moment;

but his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping comes for a night,

but joy comes in the morning.

⁶ In confidence I said, "I will never be shaken."

⁷ Yahweh, by your favor

you established me as a strong mountain;

but when you hid your face,

I was troubled.

⁸ I cried to you, Yahweh,

and sought favor from my Lord!

⁹ What advantage is there in my blood,

if I go down to the grave?

Will the dust praise you?

Will it declare your trustworthiness?

¹⁰ Hear, Yahweh, and have mercy on me!

Yahweh, be my helper.

¹¹ You have turned my mourning into dancing;

you have removed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.

¹² So now my glory will sing praise to you and not be silent;

Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

Chapter 31

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ In you, Yahweh, I take refuge;

never let me be humiliated.

Rescue me in your righteousness.

² Listen to me; rescue me quickly;

be my rock of refuge,

a stronghold to save me.

³ For you are my rock and my fortress;

therefore for your name's sake, lead and guide me.

⁴ Pluck me out of the net that they have hidden for me,

for you are my refuge.

⁵ Into your hands I entrust my spirit;

you will redeem me, Yahweh, God of trustworthiness.

⁶ I hate those who serve worthless idols,

but I trust in Yahweh.

⁷ I will be glad and rejoice in your covenant faithfulness,

for you saw my affliction;

you knew the distress of my soul.

⁸ You have not given me into the hand of my enemy.

You have set my feet in a wide open place.

⁹ Have mercy upon me, Yahweh, for I am in distress;

my eyes grow weary with grief

with my soul and my body.

¹⁰ For my life is weary with sorrow

and my years with groaning.

My strength fails because of my iniquity,

and my bones are wasting away.

¹¹ Because of all my enemies, I have become contemptible;

my neighbors are appalled at my situation,

and those who know me are horrified.

Those who see me in the street run from me.

¹² I am forgotten as a dead man whom no one thinks about.

I am like a broken pot.

¹³ For I have heard the whispering of many,

terrifying news from every side

as they plot together against me.

They plot to take away my life.

¹⁴ But I trust in you, Yahweh;

I say, "You are my God."

¹⁵ My times are in your hand.

Rescue me from the hands of my enemies

and from those who pursue me.

¹⁶ Make your face shine on your servant;

save me in your covenant faithfulness.

¹⁷ Do not let me be humiliated, Yahweh;

for I call out to you!

May the wicked be humiliated!

May they be silent in Sheol.

¹⁸ May lying lips be silenced

that speak against the righteous defiantly

with arrogance and contempt.

¹⁹ How great is your goodness

that you have stored up for those who revere you,

that you perform for those who take refuge in you

before all the children of mankind!

²⁰ In the shelter of your presence, you hide them from the plots of men.

You hide them in a shelter from the strife of tongues.

²¹ Blessed be Yahweh,

for he showed me his marvelous covenant faithfulness when I was in a besieged city.

²² Though I said in my alarm,

"I am cut off from your eyes,"

yet you heard my plea for help

when I cried to you.

²³ Love Yahweh, all you faithful ones.

Yahweh protects the faithful,

but he pays back the arrogant in full.

²⁴ Be strong and let your heart take courage,

all you who trust in Yahweh for help.

Chapter 32

A psalm of David. A maschil.

¹ Blessed is the person

whose transgression is forgiven,

whose sin is covered.

² Blessed is the man to whom Yahweh reckons no guilt

and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

³ When I remained silent,

my bones were wasting away

while I groaned all day long.

⁴ For day and night your hand was heavy upon me.

My strength withered as in summer drought.

Selah

⁵ Then I acknowledged my sin to you,

and I no longer hid my iniquity.

I said, "I will confess my transgressions to Yahweh,"

and you forgave the guilt of my sin.

Selah

⁶ For this reason every one of your faithful followers should pray to you

at a time of great distress.

When the surging waters overflow,

the waters will not reach them.

⁷ You are my hiding place;

you will guard me from trouble.

You will surround me with the songs of victory.

Selah

⁸ I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go.

I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

⁹ Do not be like a horse or like a mule,

which have no understanding;

it is only with bridle and bit to control them

that they will go where you want them to.

¹⁰ The wicked have many sorrows,

but Yahweh's covenant faithfulness will surround the one who trusts in him.

¹¹ Be glad in Yahweh, and rejoice, you righteous;

shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

Chapter 33

¹ Rejoice in Yahweh, you righteous;

praise is appropriate for the upright.

² Give thanks to Yahweh with the harp;

sing praises to him with the lute having ten strings.

³ Sing to him a new song;

play skillfully and shout for joy.

⁴ For Yahweh's word is upright,

and all his deeds are done in faithfulness.

⁵ He loves righteousness and justice.

The earth is full of Yahweh's covenant faithfulness.

⁶ By the word of Yahweh the heavens were made,

and all the stars were made by the breath of his mouth.

⁷ He gathers the waters of the sea together like a heap;

he puts the oceans in storehouses.

⁸ Let the whole earth fear Yahweh;

let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

⁹ For he spoke, and it was done;

he commanded, and it stood in place.

¹⁰ Yahweh frustrates the alliances of nations;

he overrules the plans of the peoples.

¹¹ The plans of Yahweh stand forever,

the plans of his heart for all generations.

¹² Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh,

the people whom he has chosen as his own inheritance.

¹³ Yahweh looks from heaven;

he sees all the people.

¹⁴ From the place where he lives,

he looks down on all who live on the earth.

¹⁵ He who shapes the hearts of them all

observes all their deeds.

¹⁶ No king is saved by a vast army;

a warrior is not saved by his great strength.

¹⁷ A horse is a false hope for victory;

in spite of his great strength, he cannot rescue.

¹⁸ See, Yahweh's eye is on those who fear him,

on those who hope in his covenant faithfulness

¹⁹ to deliver their lives from death

and to keep them alive in times of famine.

²⁰ We wait for Yahweh;

he is our help and our shield.

²¹ Our hearts rejoice in him,

for we trust in his holy name.

²² Let your covenant faithfulness, Yahweh, be with us

as we put our hope in you.

Chapter 34

A psalm of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him out.

¹ I will praise Yahweh at all times,

his praise will always be in my mouth.

² I will praise Yahweh!

May the oppressed hear and rejoice.

³ Praise Yahweh with me,

let us lift up his name together.

⁴ I sought Yahweh and he answered me,

and he gave me victory over all my fears.

⁵ Those who look to him are radiant,

and their faces are not ashamed.

⁶ This oppressed man cried and Yahweh heard him

and saved him from all his troubles.

⁷ The angel of Yahweh camps around those who fear him

and rescues them.

⁸ Taste and see that Yahweh is good.

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

⁹ Fear Yahweh, you his holy people.

There is no lack for those who fear him.

¹⁰ The young lions sometimes lack food and suffer hunger,

but those who seek Yahweh will not lack anything good.

¹¹ Come, sons, listen to me.

I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.

¹² What man is there who delights in life

and loves many days,

that he may see good?

¹³ Then keep your tongue from evil

and keep your lips from speaking lies.

¹⁴ Turn away from evil and do good.

Seek peace and go after it.

¹⁵ The eyes of Yahweh are on the righteous

and his ears are directed toward their cry.

¹⁶ The face of Yahweh is against those who do evil,

to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

¹⁷ The righteous cry out and Yahweh hears

and he rescues them from all their troubles.

¹⁸ Yahweh is close to the brokenhearted,

and he saves those who are crushed in spirit.

¹⁹ Many are the troubles of the righteous,

but Yahweh delivers them out of them all.

²⁰ He keeps all his bones,

not one of them will be broken.

²¹ Evil will kill the wicked.

Those who hate the righteous will be condemned.

²² Yahweh rescues the lives of his servants.

None of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

Chapter 35

A psalm of David.

¹ Yahweh, work against those who work against me;

fight against those who fight against me.

² Grab your small shield and large shield;

rise up and help me.

³ Use your spear and battle ax

against those who chase me;

say to my soul,

"I am your salvation."

⁴ May those who seek my life

be shamed and dishonored.

May those who plan to harm me

be turned back and ashamed.

⁵ May they be as chaff before the wind,

as the angel of Yahweh drives them away.

⁶ May their way be dark and slippery,

as the angel of Yahweh chases them.

⁷ Without cause they set their net for me;

without cause they dug a pit for my life.

⁸ Let destruction overtake them by surprise.

Let the net that they have set catch them.

Let them fall into it, to their destruction.

⁹ But I will be joyful in Yahweh

and rejoice in his salvation.

¹⁰ All my bones will say,

"Yahweh, who is like you,

who rescues the oppressed from those who are too strong for them

and the poor and needy from those who try to rob them?"

¹¹ Unrighteous witnesses rise up;

they accuse me falsely.

¹² They repay me evil for good.

I am sorrowful.

¹³ As for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth;

I fasted for them,

and my prayer returned to my bosom.

¹⁴ I went about in grief as for my brother;

I bent down in mourning as for my mother.

¹⁵ But when I stumbled, they rejoiced and gathered together;

they gathered together against me, and I was surprised by them.

They tore at me without stopping.

¹⁶ With no respect at all they mocked me;

they grind their teeth at me in rage.

¹⁷ Lord, how long will you look on?

Rescue my soul from their destructive attacks,

my only life from the lions.

¹⁸ Then I will thank you in the great assembly;

I will praise you among many people.

¹⁹ Do not let my deceitful enemies rejoice over me;

do not let them carry out their wicked schemes.

²⁰ For they do not speak peace,

but they devise deceitful words

against those in our land who live in peace.

²¹ They open their mouths wide against me;

they said, "Aha, Aha, our eyes have seen it."

²² You have seen it, Yahweh, do not be silent;

Lord, do not be far from me.

²³ Arouse yourself and awake to my defense;

My God and my Lord, defend my cause.

²⁴ Defend me, Yahweh my God, because of your righteousness;

do not let them rejoice over me.

²⁵ Do not let them say in their heart, "Aha, we have what we wanted."

Do not let them say, "We have devoured him."

²⁶ May they be put to shame and may they be humiliated who rejoice at my distress.

May those who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and dishonor.

²⁷ Let those who desire my vindication

shout for joy and be glad;

may they say continually, "Yahweh be praised,

he who delights in the welfare of his servant."

²⁸ Then I will tell of your justice

and praise you all day long.

Chapter 36

For the chief musician. A psalm of David the servant of Yahweh.

¹ An evil man speaks of his transgression from deep in his heart,

there is no fear of God in his eyes.

² For he comforts himself,

thinking that his iniquity will not be discovered and be hated.

³ The words of his mouth are wickedness and deceit;

he does not want to be wise and do good.

⁴ While he lies in bed, he plans ways to sin;

he sets out on an evil way;

he does not reject evil.

⁵ Your covenant faithfulness, Yahweh, reaches to the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

⁶ Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;

your judgments are like the great deep.

Yahweh, you preserve both mankind and the animals.

⁷ How precious is your covenant faithfulness, God!

Humanity takes refuge under the shadow of your wings.

⁸ They feast upon the abundance of your house;

you let them drink from the river of your delights.

⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light we will see light.

¹⁰ Extend your covenant faithfulness fully to those who know you,

your defense to the upright of heart.

¹¹ Do not let the foot of the arrogant man come near to me.

Do not let the hand of the wicked drive me away.

¹² Over there those who behave wickedly have fallen;

they have been pushed down and are not able to get up.

Chapter 37

A psalm of David.

¹ Do not be irritated because of evildoers;

do not be envious of those who act unrighteously.

² For they will soon dry up as the grass

and wither as the green plants.

³ Trust in Yahweh and do what is good;

settle in the land and graze in faithfulness.

⁴ Then delight yourself in Yahweh,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

⁵ Give your ways to Yahweh;

trust in him, and he will act on your behalf.

⁶ He will display your justice like the daylight

and your innocence like the day at noon.

⁷ Be still before Yahweh

and wait patiently for him.

Do not be angry if someone succeeds in what he does,

or when he makes evil plots.

⁸ Do not be angry and frustrated.

Do not worry. This only makes trouble.

⁹ Evildoers will be cut off,

but those who wait for Yahweh will inherit the land.

¹⁰ In a little while the evil man will disappear;

you will look at his place, but he will be gone.

¹¹ But the meek will inherit the land

and will delight in great prosperity.

¹² The wicked man plots against the righteous

and he grinds his teeth in rage against him.

¹³ The Lord laughs at him,

for he sees that his day is coming.

¹⁴ The wicked have drawn out their swords

and have bent their bows

to cast down the oppressed and needy,

to kill those who are upright.

¹⁵ Their swords will pierce their own hearts,

and their bows will be broken.

¹⁶ Better is the little that the righteous has

than the abundance of many wicked people.

¹⁷ For the arms of the wicked people will be broken,

but Yahweh supports the righteous people.

¹⁸ Yahweh watches over the blameless day by day,

and their heritage will be forever.

¹⁹ They will not be ashamed when times are bad.

When famine comes, they will have enough to eat.

²⁰ But evil men will perish.

Yahweh's enemies will be like the splendor of the pastures;

they will be consumed and disappear in the smoke.

²¹ The wicked person borrows but does not repay,

but the righteous person is generous and gives.

²² Those who are blessed by God will inherit the land;

those who are cursed by him will be cut off.

²³ It is by Yahweh that a man's steps are established,

the man whose way is commendable in God's sight.

²⁴ Though he stumbles, he will not fall down,

for Yahweh is holding him with his hand.

²⁵ I was young and now am old;

I have never seen the righteous person abandoned

or his children begging for bread.

²⁶ All the day long he is gracious and lends,

and his children become a blessing.

²⁷ Turn away from evil and do what is right;

then you will be safe forever.

²⁸ For Yahweh loves justice

and does not abandon his faithful ones.

They are preserved forever,

but the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

²⁹ The righteous will inherit the land

and live there forever.

³⁰ The mouth of the righteous person speaks wisdom

and increases justice.

³¹ The law of his God is in his heart;

his feet will not slip.

³² The wicked person spies on the righteous person

and seeks to kill him.

³³ Yahweh will not abandon him into the evil person's hand

or condemn him when he is judged.

³⁴ Wait for Yahweh and keep his way,

and he will raise you up to possess the land.

You will see when the wicked are cut off.

³⁵ I have seen the wicked and terrifying person

spread out like a green tree in its native soil.

³⁶ But when I passed by again, he was not there.

I looked for him, but he could not be found.

³⁷ Observe the man of integrity, and mark the upright;

there is a good future for a man of peace.

³⁸ Rebels will be totally destroyed;

the future for the wicked man is cut off.

³⁹ Salvation of the righteous comes from Yahweh;

he is their place of safety in the times of trouble.

⁴⁰ Yahweh helps them and rescues them.

He rescues them from evil men and saves them

because they have taken refuge in him.

Chapter 38

A psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.

¹ Yahweh, do not rebuke me in your anger;

do not punish me in your wrath.

² For your arrows pierce me,

and your hand presses me down.

³ There is no soundness in my body because of your anger;

there is no health in my bones because of my sin.

⁴ For my iniquities overwhelm me;

they are a burden too heavy for me.

⁵ My wounds are infected and smell

because of my foolish sins.

⁶ I am stooped over and humiliated every day;

I go about mourning all day long.

⁷ For within me, I am filled with burning;

there is no health in my flesh.

⁸ I am numb and utterly crushed;

I groan because of the anguish of my heart.

⁹ Lord, you understand my heart's deepest yearnings,

and my groanings are not hidden from you.

¹⁰ My heart pounds, my strength fades,

and the light of my eyes, even that is not with me.

¹¹ My friends and companions shun me because of my condition;

my neighbors stand far off.

¹² Those who seek my life lay snares for me.

They who seek my harm speak destructive words

and say deceitful words all day long.

¹³ But I, I am like a deaf man and hear nothing;

I am like a mute man who says nothing.

¹⁴ I am like a man who does not hear

and who has no reply.

¹⁵ Surely I wait for you, Yahweh;

you will answer, Lord my God.

¹⁶ I say this so that my enemies will not rejoice over me.

If my foot slips, they will do terrible things to me.

¹⁷ For I am about to stumble,

and I am in constant pain.

¹⁸ I confess my guilt;

I am anxious about my sin.

¹⁹ But my enemies are numerous;

those who hate me wrongfully are many.

²⁰ They repay me evil for good;

they hurl accusations at me

although I have pursued what is good.

²¹ Do not abandon me, Yahweh;

my God, do not stay far away from me.

²² Come quickly to help me,

Lord, my salvation.

Chapter 39

For the chief musician, for Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

¹ I decided, "I will watch what I say

so that I do not sin with my tongue.

I will muzzle my mouth

while in the presence of an evil man."

² I kept silent;

I kept back my words even from saying anything good,

and my pain grew worse.

³ My heart became hot;

when I thought about these things,

it burned like a fire.

Then finally I spoke.

⁴ "Yahweh, make me know when will be the end of my life

and the extent of my days.

Show me how transient I am.

⁵ See, you have made my days only the width of my hand,

and my lifetime is like nothing before you.

Surely every man is a single breath.

Selah

⁶ Surely every man walks about like a shadow.

Surely everyone hurries about

to accumulate riches although they do not know who will receive them.

⁷ Now, Lord, for what am I waiting?

You are my only hope.

⁸ Rescue me from my sins;

do not make me the scorn of fools.

⁹ I am silent and cannot open my mouth,

because it is you who has done it.

¹⁰ Stop wounding me;

I am overwhelmed by the blow of your hand.

¹¹ When you discipline people for iniquity,

you consume the things they desire like a moth;

surely all people are nothing but vapor.

Selah

¹² Hear my prayer, Yahweh,

and give ear to my cry for help;

do not be deaf to my tears!

for I am like a foreigner with you,

a sojourner like all my ancestors were.

¹³ Turn your gaze from me so that I may smile again

before I die."

Chapter 40

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ I waited patiently for Yahweh;

he listened to me and heard my cry.

² He brought me up out of a horrible pit,

out of the miry clay,

and he set my feet on a rock

and made my steps secure.

³ He has put a new song in my mouth,

praise to our God.

Many will see it and honor him

and will trust in Yahweh.

⁴ Blessed is the man

who makes Yahweh his trust

and does not honor the proud

or those who turn away from him to lies.

⁵ Many, Yahweh my God,

are the wonderful deeds that you have done,

and your thoughts which are about us cannot be numbered;

if I declared and spoke of them,

they would be more than could be counted.

⁶ You have no delight in sacrifice or offering,

but you have opened my ears;

you have not required burnt offerings or sin offerings.

⁷ Then said I, "See, I have come;

it is written about me in the scroll of the document.

⁸ I delight to do your will, my God;

your laws are in my heart."

⁹ I have proclaimed good news of your righteousness in the great assembly;

Yahweh, you know that my lips have not kept back from doing this.

¹⁰ I have not concealed your righteousness in my heart;

I have declared your faithfulness and your salvation;

I have not concealed your covenant faithfulness

or your trustworthiness from the great assembly.

¹¹ Do not keep back your acts of mercy from me, Yahweh;

let your covenant faithfulness and your trustworthiness always preserve me.

¹² Troubles that cannot be numbered surround me;

my iniquities have caught up with me so that I am no longer able to see anything;

they are more than the hairs on my head,

and my heart has failed me.

¹³ Be pleased, Yahweh, to rescue me;

hurry to help me, Yahweh.

¹⁴ Let them be ashamed and completely disappointed

who pursue my life to sweep it away.

Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor,

those who delight in hurting me.

¹⁵ Let them be appalled because of their shame,

those who say to me, "Aha, aha!"

¹⁶ But may all those who seek you rejoice

and be glad in you;

let everyone who loves your salvation say continually,

"May Yahweh be praised."

¹⁷ I am poor and needy;

yet the Lord thinks about me.

You are my help and you come to my rescue;

do not delay, my God.

Chapter 41

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ Blessed is he who is concerned for the weak;

in the day of trouble, Yahweh will rescue him.

² Yahweh will preserve him and keep him alive,

and he will be blessed on the earth;

Yahweh will not turn him over to the will of his enemies.

³ Yahweh will support him on the bed of suffering;

you will make his bed of sickness into a bed of healing.

⁴ I said, "Yahweh, have mercy on me!

Heal me, for I have sinned against you."

⁵ My enemies speak evil against me, saying,

'When will he die and his name perish?'

⁶ If my enemy comes to see me,

he says worthless things;

his heart gathers up wickedness for itself;

when he goes away from me, he tells others about it.

⁷ All who hate me whisper together against me;

against me they hope for my hurt.

⁸ They say, "An evil disease holds on tightly to him;

now that he is lying down, he will rise up no more."

⁹ Indeed, even my own close friend, in whom I trusted,

who ate my bread,

has lifted up his heel against me.

¹⁰ But you, Yahweh, have mercy on me and raise me up

so that I may pay them back.

¹¹ By this I know that you delight in me,

for my enemy does not triumph over me.

¹² As for me, you support me in my integrity

and will keep me before your face forever.

¹³ May Yahweh, the God of Israel be praised

from everlasting to everlasting.

Amen and Amen.

Book Two

(Psalms 42-72)

Chapter 42

For the chief musician. A maschil of the sons of Korah.

¹ As the deer pants after streams of water,

so I thirst for you, God.

² I thirst for God, for the living God,

when will I come and appear before God?

³ My tears have been my food

day and night,

while my enemies are always saying to me,

"Where is your God?"

⁴ These things I call to mind

as I pour out my soul:

how I went with the throng

and led them to the house of God

with the voice of joy and praise,

a multitude celebrating a festival.

⁵ Why are you bowed down, my soul?

Why are you upset within me?

Hope in God,

for again I will praise him who is my salvation.

⁶ My God, my soul is bowed down within me,

therefore I call you to mind from the land of the Jordan,

from the three peaks of Mount Hermon, and from the hill of Mizar.

⁷ Deep calls to deep at the noise of your waterfalls;

all your waves and your billows have gone over me.

⁸ Yet Yahweh will command his covenant faithfulness in the daytime;

in the night his song will be with me,

a prayer to the God of my life.

⁹ I will say to God, my rock,

"Why have you forgotten me?

Why do I go mourning

because of the oppression of the enemy?"

¹⁰ As with a sword in my bones, my adversaries rebuke me,

while they always say to me, "Where is your God?"

¹¹ Why are you bowed down, my soul?

Why are you upset within me?

Hope in God,

for again I will praise him who is my salvation and my God.

Chapter 43

¹ Bring me justice, God,

and plead my case against a nation that is not faithful.

Deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.

² For you are the God of my strength.

Why have you rejected me?

Why do I go about in mourning

because of the oppression of the enemy?

³ Oh, send out your light and your truth,

let them lead me.

Let them bring me to your holy hill

and to your dwelling.

⁴ Then I will go to the altar of God,

to God my exceeding joy.

I will praise you with the harp,

God, my God.

⁵ Why are you bowed down, my soul?

Why are you upset within me?

Hope in God,

for again I will praise him who is my salvation and my God.

Chapter 44

For the chief musician. A psalm of the sons of Korah. A maschil.

¹ We have heard with our ears, God,

our fathers have told us

what work you did in their days,

in the days of old.

² You drove out the nations with your hand,

but you planted our people;

you afflicted the peoples,

but you spread our people out in the land.

³ For they did not obtain the land for their possession by their own sword,

neither did their own arm save them;

but your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face,

because you were favorable to them.

⁴ God, You are my King;

command victory for Jacob.

⁵ Through you we will push down our adversaries;

through your name we will tread them under,

those who rise up against us.

⁶ For I will not trust in my bow,

neither will my sword save me.

⁷ But you have saved us from our adversaries,

and have put to shame those who hate us.

⁸ In God we have made our boast all the day long,

and we will give thanks to your name forever.

Selah

⁹ But now you have rejected us and brought us dishonor,

and you do not go out with our armies.

¹⁰ You make us turn back from the adversary;

and those who hate us take spoil for themselves.

¹¹ You have made us like sheep to be slaughtered

and have scattered us among the nations.

¹² You sell your people for nothing;

you have not increased your wealth by doing so.

¹³ You make us a rebuke to our neighbors,

scoffed and mocked by those around us.

¹⁴ You make us an insult among the nations,

a shaking of the head among the peoples.

¹⁵ All the day long my dishonor is before me,

and the shame of my face has covered me

¹⁶ because of the voice of him who rebukes and insults,

because of the enemy and the avenger.

¹⁷ All this has come on us; yet we have not forgotten you

or dealt falsely with your covenant.

¹⁸ Our heart has not turned back;

our steps have not gone from your way.

¹⁹ Yet you have severely broken us in the place of jackals

and covered us with the shadow of death.

²⁰ If we have forgotten the name of our God

or spread out our hands to a strange god,

²¹ would not God search this out?

For he knows the secrets of the heart.

²² Indeed, for your sake we are being killed all day long;

we are considered to be sheep for the slaughter.

²³ Awake, why do you sleep, Lord?

Arise, do not reject us forever.

²⁴ Why do you hide your face

and forget our affliction and our oppression?

²⁵ For we have sunk down into the dust;

our bodies cling to the earth.

²⁶ Rise up for our help

and redeem us for the sake of your covenant faithfulness.

Chapter 45

For the chief musician; set to Shoshannim. A psalm of the sons of Korah. A maschil. A song of loves.

¹ My heart overflows on a good subject;

I will read aloud the words I have composed about the king;

my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

² You are fairer than the children of mankind;

grace is poured onto your lips;

therefore we know that God has blessed you forever.

³ Gird your sword to your side, mighty one,

in your glory and your majesty.

⁴ In your majesty ride on triumphantly

because of trustworthiness, meekness, and righteousness;

your right hand will teach you fearful things.

⁵ Your arrows are sharp;

the peoples fall under you;

your arrows are in the hearts of the king's enemies.

⁶ Your throne, God, is forever and ever;

a scepter of justice is the scepter of your kingdom.

⁷ You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness;

therefore God, your God, has anointed you

with the oil of gladness more than your companions.

⁸ All your garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia;

out of ivory palaces

stringed instruments have made you glad.

⁹ Kings' daughters are among your honorable women;

at your right hand stands the queen clothed in gold of Ophir.

¹⁰ Listen, daughter, consider and incline your ear;

forget your own people and your father's house.

¹¹ In this way the king will desire your beauty;

he is your master; revere him.

¹² The daughter of Tyre will be there with a gift;

the rich among the people will beg for your favor.

¹³ The royal daughter in the palace is all glorious;

her clothing is worked with gold.

¹⁴ She will be led to the king in embroidered dress;

the virgins, her companions who follow her,

will be brought to you.

¹⁵ They will be led by gladness and rejoicing;

they will enter into the king's palace.

¹⁶ In the place of your fathers will be your children,

whom you will make princes in all the earth.

¹⁷ I will make your name to be remembered in all generations;

therefore the peoples will give you thanks forever and ever.

Chapter 46

For the chief musician. A psalm of the sons of Korah; set to Alamoth. A song.

¹ God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble.

² Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change,

though the mountains should be shaken into the heart of the seas,

³ though its waters roar and rage, and

though the mountains tremble with their swelling.

Selah

⁴ There is a river whose streams make the city of God happy,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

⁵ God is in the middle of her; she will not be moved;

God will help her, and he will do so at the dawn of morning.

⁶ The nations raged and the kingdoms were shaken;

he lifted up his voice, and the earth melted.

⁷ Yahweh of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah

⁸ Come, behold the deeds of Yahweh,

who has set up objects of horror on earth.

⁹ He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;

he breaks the bow and cuts the spear into pieces;

he burns up the shields.

¹⁰ Be quiet and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations;

I will be exalted on the earth.

¹¹ Yahweh of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our refuge.

Selah

Chapter 47

For the chief musician. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

¹ Clap your hands, all you peoples;

shout to God with the sound of celebration.

² For Yahweh Most High is terrifying;

he is a great King over all the earth.

³ He subdues peoples under us

and nations under our feet.

⁴ He chooses our inheritance for us,

the pride of Jacob whom he loved.

Selah

⁵ God has gone up with a shout,

Yahweh with the sound of a ram's horn.

⁶ Sing praises to God, sing praises;

sing praises to our King, sing praises.

⁷ For God is the King over all the earth;

sing praises with understanding.

⁸ God reigns over the nations;

God sits on his holy throne.

⁹ The princes of the peoples have gathered together

to the people of the God of Abraham;

for the shields of the earth belong to God;

he is greatly exalted.

Chapter 48

A song; a psalm of the sons of Korah.

¹ Great is Yahweh and greatly to be praised,

in the city of our God on his holy mountain.

² Beautiful in elevation,

the joy of the whole earth,

is Mount Zion, on the sides of the north,

the city of the great King.

³ God has made himself known in her palaces as a refuge.

⁴ For, see, the kings assembled themselves;

they passed by together.

⁵ They saw it, then they were amazed;

they were dismayed, and they hurried away.

⁶ Trembling took hold of them there,

pain as when a woman is in labor.

⁷ With the east wind

you break the ships of Tarshish.

⁸ As we have heard,

so have we seen

in the city of Yahweh of hosts,

in the city of our God;

God will establish it

forever.

Selah

⁹ We have thought about your covenant faithfulness, God,

in the middle of your temple.

¹⁰ As your name is, God,

so is your praise to the ends of the earth;

your right hand is full of righteousness.

¹¹ Let Mount Zion be glad,

let the daughters of Judah rejoice

because of your righteous decrees.

¹² Walk around Mount Zion, go round about her;

count her towers,

¹³ notice well her walls,

and look at her palaces

so that you may tell it to the next generation.

¹⁴ For this God is our God forever and ever;

he will be our guide to death.

Chapter 49

For the chief musician. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

¹ Hear this, all you peoples;

give ear, all you inhabitants of the world,

² both low and high,

rich and poor together.

³ My mouth will speak wisdom

and the meditation of my heart will be of understanding.

⁴ I will incline my ear to a parable;

I will begin my parable with the harp.

⁵ Why should I fear the days of evil,

when iniquity surrounds me at my heels?

⁶ Why should I fear those who trust in their wealth

and boast about the amount of their riches?

⁷ It is certain that no one can redeem his brother

or give God a ransom for him,

⁸ For the redemption of one's life is costly,

and no one can pay what we owe.

⁹ No one can live forever

so that he would not see the pit.

¹⁰ For he will see decay. Wise men die;

the fool and the brute alike perish

and leave their wealth to others.

¹¹ Their inner thought is that their families will continue forever,

and the places where they live, to all generations;

they call their lands after their own names.

¹² But man, having wealth, does not remain alive;

he is like the wild animals that perish.

¹³ This, their way, is their folly;

yet after them, men approve of their sayings.

Selah

¹⁴ Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol,

and death will be their shepherd.

The upright will rule over them in the morning,

and their bodies will be consumed in Sheol,

with no place for them to live.

¹⁵ But God will redeem my life from the power of Sheol;

he will receive me.

Selah

¹⁶ Do not be afraid when one becomes rich,

and the glory of his house increases.

¹⁷ For when he dies he will take nothing away;

his glory will not go down after him.

¹⁸ He blessed his soul while he lived—

and men praise you when you live for yourself—

¹⁹ he will go to the generation of his fathers

and they will never see the light again.

²⁰ One who has wealth but no understanding

is like the animals that perish.

Chapter 50

A psalm of Asaph.

¹ The Mighty One, God, Yahweh,

has spoken and called the earth

from the rising of the sun to its setting.

² Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty,

God has shone.

³ Our God comes

and does not stay silent;

a fire devours before him,

and it is very stormy around him.

⁴ He calls to the heavens above

and to the earth so that he may judge his people:

⁵ "Gather my faithful ones together to me,

those who have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

⁶ The heavens will declare his righteousness,

for God himself is judge.

Selah

⁷ "Hear, my people, and I will speak, Israel,

and I will testify against you.

I am God, your God.

⁸ I will not reprove you for your sacrifices;

your burnt offerings are always before me.

⁹ I will take no bull out of your house,

or male goats out of your folds.

¹⁰ For every animal of the forest is mine,

and the cattle on a thousand hills.

¹¹ I know all the birds of the mountains,

and the wild beasts of the field are mine.

¹² If I were hungry, I would not tell you;

for the world is mine, and everything in it.

¹³ Will I eat the flesh of bulls

or drink the blood of goats?

¹⁴ Offer to God the sacrifice of thanksgiving,

and pay your vows to the Most High.

¹⁵ Call on me in the day of trouble;

I will rescue you, and you will glorify me."

¹⁶ But to the wicked God says,

"What have you to do with declaring my statutes,

that you have taken my covenant in your mouth,

¹⁷ since you hate instruction

and throw my words away?

¹⁸ When you see a thief, you agree with him;

you participate with those who commit adultery.

¹⁹ You give your mouth to evil,

and your tongue expresses deceit.

²⁰ You sit and speak against your brother;

you slander your own mother's son.

²¹ You have done these things, but I have kept silent,

so you thought that I was someone just like yourself.

But I will reprove you

and bring up, right before your eyes, all the things you have done.

²² Give this careful consideration, you who forget God,

otherwise I will tear you to pieces,

and there will be no one to come to help you!

²³ The one who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving praises me,

and to anyone who plans his path in the right way

I will show God's salvation."

Chapter 51

For the chief musician. A psalm of David; when Nathan the prophet came to him after he had gone into Bathsheba.

¹ Have mercy on me, God,

because of your covenant faithfulness;

for the sake of the multitude of your merciful actions,

blot out my transgressions.

² Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity

and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,

and my sin is always before me.

⁴ Against you, you only, I have sinned

and done what is evil in your sight;

you are justified when you speak;

you are blameless when you judge.

⁵ See, I was born in iniquity;

as soon as my mother conceived me, I was in sin.

⁶ See, you desire trustworthiness in my inner self;

and you teach me wisdom in the secret place within.

⁷ Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

⁸ Make me hear joy and gladness

so that the bones that you have broken may rejoice.

⁹ Hide your face from my sins

and blot out all my iniquities.

¹⁰ Create in me a clean heart, God,

and renew a right spirit within me.

¹¹ Do not drive me away from your presence,

and do not take your holy Spirit from me.

¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation,

and sustain me with a willing spirit.

¹³ Then will I teach transgressors your ways,

and sinners will be converted to you.

¹⁴ Forgive me for shedding blood,

God of my salvation,

and I will shout for the joy of your righteousness.

¹⁵ Lord, open my lips,

and my mouth will express your praise.

¹⁶ For you do not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;

you have no pleasure in burnt offerings.

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.

You, God, will not despise a broken and a contrite heart.

¹⁸ Do good in your good pleasure to Zion;

rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

¹⁹ Then will you delight in the sacrifices of righteousness,

in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;

then our people will offer bulls on your altar.

Chapter 52

For the chief musician. A maschil of David; when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said to him, "David has come to the house of Ahimelek."

¹ Why are you proud of making trouble, you mighty man?

The covenant faithfulness of God comes every day.

² Your tongue plans destruction

like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.

³ You love evil more than good

and lying rather than speaking righteousness.

Selah

⁴ You love all words that devour others,

you deceitful tongue.

⁵ God will surely destroy you forever;

he will take you up and pluck you out of your tent

and root you out of the land of the living.

Selah

⁶ The righteous will also see it and fear;

they will laugh at him and say,

⁷ "See, this is a man who did not make God his refuge,

but he trusted in the abundance of his wealth,

and he was strong when he destroyed others."

⁸ But as for me, I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;

I will trust in the covenant faithfulness of God forever and ever.

⁹ I will give you thanks forever for what you have done.

I will wait for your name, because it is good,

in the presence of your faithful ones.

Chapter 53

For the chief musician; set to Mahalath. A maschil of David.

¹ A fool says in his heart,

"There is no God."

They are corrupt and have done abominable iniquity;

there is no one who does good.

² God looks down from heaven

on the children of mankind

to see if there are any who understand,

who seek after him.

³ They have all turned away. Together they have become corrupt.

There is not one who does good,

not even one.

⁴ Do those who behave wickedly have no understanding—

those who devour my people as if they were eating bread

and they do not call on God?

⁵ There they are, in great fear,

where there was nothing to cause them to be afraid;

for God will scatter the bones of those who encamp against you;

you put them to shame,

for God has rejected them.

⁶ Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion!

When God brings back his people from the captivity,

then Jacob will rejoice and Israel will be glad!

Chapter 54

For the chief musician; on stringed instruments. A maschil of David; when the Ziphites came and said to Saul, "Does David not hide himself with us?"

¹ Save me, God, by your name,

and judge me in your might.

² Hear my prayer, God;

give ear to the words of my mouth.

³ For strangers have risen up against me,

and ruthless men have sought after my life;

they have not set God before them.

Selah

⁴ See, God is my helper;

the Lord is the one who upholds me.

⁵ He will repay my enemies with evil;

in your faithfulness, destroy them!

⁶ I will sacrifice to you with a freewill offering;

I will give thanks to your name, Yahweh, for it is good.

⁷ For he has rescued me from every trouble;

my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.

Chapter 55

For the chief musician; on stringed instruments. A maschil of David.

¹ Give ear to my prayer, God;

and do not hide yourself from my plea.

² Pay attention to me and answer me;

I am restless in my troubles

³ because of the voice of my enemies,

because of the oppression of the wicked;

for they bring trouble on me,

they are hostile to me with wickedness and anger.

⁴ My heart trembles within me,

and the terrors of death have fallen on me.

⁵ Fear and trembling have come on me,

and horror has overwhelmed me.

⁶ I said, "Oh, if only I had wings like a dove!

Then would I fly away and be at rest.

⁷ See, then I would wander far away;

I would stay in the wilderness.

Selah

⁸ I would hurry to a shelter

from the stormy wind and tempest."

⁹ Destroy, Lord, and divide their tongue;

for I see violence and strife in the city.

¹⁰ Day and night they go about on its walls;

wickedness and trouble are in the middle of it.

¹¹ Wickedness is in the middle of it;

oppression and deceit do not leave its streets.

¹² For it was not an enemy who rebuked me,

then I could have borne it;

neither was it he who hated me who raised himself up against me,

then I would have hidden myself from him.

¹³ But it was you, a man equal to myself,

my companion and my close friend.

¹⁴ We had sweet fellowship together;

we walked in the house of God with the throng.

¹⁵ Let death come deceitfully on them;

let them go down alive to Sheol,

for wickedness is where they live, right among them.

¹⁶ As for me, I will call on God,

and Yahweh will save me.

¹⁷ In the evening, morning, and at noonday I complain and moan;

he will hear my voice.

¹⁸ He will safely rescue my life from the battle that was against me,

for those who fought against me were many.

¹⁹ God, the one who rules from eternity,

will hear them and humiliate them.

Selah

They never change,

and they do not fear God.

²⁰ My friend has raised his hands against those who were at peace with him;

he has not respected the covenant that he had.

²¹ His mouth was smooth as butter,

but his heart was hostile;

his words were softer than oil,

yet they were actually drawn swords.

²² Place your burdens on Yahweh,

and he will sustain you;

he will never allow a righteous person to totter.

²³ But you, God, will bring the wicked down into the pit of destruction;

men of bloodshed and deceit will not live even half as long as others,

but I will trust in you.

Chapter 56

For the chief musician; set to Jonath elem rehokim. A psalm of David. A michtam; when the Philistines took him in Gath.

¹ Be merciful to me, God,

for men are attacking me!

All the day long those who fight me oppress me.

² My enemies trample me all day long;

for there are many who arrogantly fight against me.

³ When I am afraid,

I will put my trust in you.

⁴ In God, whose word I praise—

in God I have put my trust; I will not be afraid;

what can mere man do to me?

⁵ All the day long they twist my words;

all their thoughts are against me for evil.

⁶ They gather themselves together, they hide themselves,

and they mark my steps,

just as they have waited for my life.

⁷ Do not let them escape doing iniquity.

Bring down the peoples in your anger, God.

⁸ You number my wanderings

and put my tears into your bottle;

are they not in your book?

⁹ Then my enemies will turn back on the day that I call to you;

this I know, that God is for me.

¹⁰ In God—whose word I praise,

in Yahweh—whose word I praise,

¹¹ in God I trust,

I will not be afraid.

What can anyone do to me?

¹² The duty to fulfill my vows to you is on me, God;

I will give thank offerings to you.

¹³ For you have rescued my life from death;

you have kept my feet from stumbling,

so that I may walk before God

in the light of the living.

Chapter 57

For the chief musician; set to Al Tashheth. A psalm of David. A michtam; when he fled from Saul, in the cave.

¹ Be merciful to me, God, be merciful to me,

for I take refuge in you until these troubles are over.

I stay under your wings for protection

until this destruction is over.

² I will cry to God Most High,

to God, who does all things for me.

³ He will send help from heaven and save me,

he rebukes those who hotly pursue me.

Selah

God will send me his steadfast love and his faithfulness.

⁴ My life is among lions;

I am among those who are ready to devour me.

I am among people whose teeth are spears and arrows,

and whose tongues are sharp swords.

⁵ Be exalted, God, above the heavens;

let your glory be above all the earth.

⁶ They spread out a net for my feet;

I was bowed down.

They dug a pit in front of me.

They themselves have fallen into the middle of it!

Selah

⁷ My heart is fixed, God, my heart is fixed;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.

⁸ Wake up, my glory!

Wake up, lute and harp!

I will wake up the dawn!

⁹ I will give thanks to you, Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

¹⁰ For great is your unfailing love, reaching to the heavens;

and your faithfulness to the clouds.

¹¹ Be exalted, God, above the heavens;

may your glory be exalted over all the earth.

Chapter 58

For the chief musician; set to Al Tashheth. A psalm of David. A michtam.

¹ Do you rulers speak righteousness?

Do you judge uprightly, you people?

² No, you commit wickedness in your heart;

you distribute violence throughout the land with your hands.

³ The wicked go astray even when they are in the womb;

they go astray from birth, speaking lies.

⁴ Their poison is like a snake's poison;

they are like a deaf asp that stops up its ears,

⁵ that pays no attention to the voice of charmers,

no matter how skillful they are.

⁶ Shatter their teeth in their mouths, God;

break out the great teeth of the young lions, Yahweh.

⁷ Let them melt away as water that runs off;

when they shoot their arrows, let them be as though they had no points.

⁸ Let them be like a snail that melts and passes away,

like the untimely born child of a woman that never sees the sunlight.

⁹ Before your pots can feel the thorn's burning heat,

he will take them away with a whirlwind,

the green thorns and the burning thorns alike.

¹⁰ The righteous will rejoice when he sees God's vengeance;

he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked,

¹¹ so that men will say,

"Truly, there is a reward for the righteous person;

truly there is a God who judges the earth."

Chapter 59

For the chief musician; set to Al Tashheth. A psalm of David. A michtam; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.

¹ Rescue me from my enemies, my God;

set me on high away from those who rise up against me.

² Keep me safe from those who behave wickedly,

and save me from men of bloodshed.

³ For, see, they wait in ambush to take my life.

The powerful men gather themselves together against me,

but not because of my transgression or my sin, Yahweh.

⁴ For no guilt of mine they prepare to run at me;

awake and help me and see.

⁵ You, Yahweh God of hosts,

the God of Israel,

arise and punish all the nations;

do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors.

Selah

⁶ They return at evening, they howl like dogs

and go around the city.

⁷ See, they belch out with their mouths;

swords are in their lips,

for they say, "Who hears us?"

⁸ But you, Yahweh, laugh at them;

you mock at all the nations.

⁹ God, my strength, I will pay attention to you;

you are my high tower.

¹⁰ My God will meet me with his covenant faithfulness;

God will let me see my desire on my enemies.

¹¹ Do not kill them,

or my people will forget.

Scatter them by your power and make them fall,

Lord our shield.

¹² For the sins of their mouths and the words of their lips,

let them be captured in their pride,

and for the curses and lies that they express.

¹³ Consume them in wrath,

consume them so that they will be no more;

let them know that God rules in Jacob

and to the ends of the earth.

Selah

¹⁴ At evening they return,

howling like dogs going around the city.

¹⁵ They wander about looking for food

and they growl like a dog if they are not satisfied.

¹⁶ But I will sing about your strength,

and in the morning I will praise your steadfast love!

For you have been my high tower

and a refuge in the day of my distress.

¹⁷ To you, my strength, I will sing praises;

for God is my high tower, the God of covenant faithfulness.

Chapter 60

For the chief musician; set to Shushan Eduth. A michtam of David, for teaching; when he fought with Aram Naharaim and with Aram Zobah, and Joab returned and killed twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.

¹ God, you have rejected us; you have broken through our defenses;

you have been angry; restore us again.

² You have made the land tremble; you have torn it apart;

heal its cracks, for it is shaking.

³ You have made your people see difficult things;

you have made us drink the wine of staggering.

⁴ For those who honor you,

you have set up a banner

to be displayed against those who carry the bow.

Selah

⁵ So that those you love may be rescued,

rescue us with your right hand and answer me.

⁶ God has spoken in his holiness, "I will rejoice;

I will divide Shechem

and apportion out the Valley of Sukkoth.

⁷ Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim also is my helmet;

Judah is my scepter.

⁸ Moab is my washbasin;

over Edom I will throw my sandal;

I will shout in triumph because of Philistia."

⁹ Who will bring me into the strong city?

Who will lead me to Edom?

¹⁰ But you, God, have you not rejected us?

You do not go into battle with our army.

¹¹ Give us help against the enemy,

for man's help is futile.

¹² We will triumph with God's help;

he will trample down our enemies.

Chapter 61

For the chief musician; on a stringed instrument. A psalm of David.

¹ Hear my cry, God;

attend to my prayer.

² From the ends of the earth will I call to you when my heart is faint;

lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

³ For you have been a refuge for me,

a strong tower from the enemy.

⁴ Let me live in your tabernacle forever!

Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings.

Selah

⁵ For you, God, have heard my vows,

you have given me the inheritance of those who honor your name.

⁶ You will prolong the king's life;

his years will be like many generations.

⁷ He will reign before God forever;

appoint your steadfast love and faithfulness to protect him.

⁸ I will sing praise to your name forever

so that I may perform my vows every day. 2

Chapter 62

For the chief musician; after the manner of Jeduthun. A psalm of David.

¹ I wait in silence for God alone;

my salvation comes from him.

² He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my high tower;

I will not be greatly moved.

³ How long, all of you, will you attack a man,

that you may murder him,

like a leaning wall or a shaky fence?

⁴ They consult with him

only to bring him down from his honorable position;

they love to tell lies;

they bless him with their mouths,

but in their hearts they curse him.

Selah

⁵ I wait in silence for God alone;

for my hope is set on him.

⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my high tower; I will not be moved.

⁷ With God is my salvation and my glory;

the rock of my strength and my refuge are in God.

⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people;

pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us.

Selah

⁹ Surely men of low standing are vanity,

and men of high standing are a lie;

they will weigh lightly in the scales;

weighed together, they are lighter than nothing.

¹⁰ Do not trust in oppression or robbery;

and do not hope uselessly in riches,

for they will bear no fruit;

do not fix your heart on them.

¹¹ God has spoken once,

twice have I heard this:

power belongs to God.

¹² Also to you, Lord, belongs covenant faithfulness,

for you pay back every person for what he has done.

Chapter 63

A psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.

¹ God, you are my God!

I earnestly search for you,

my soul thirsts for you,

and my flesh longs for you,

in a dry and weary land

where there is no water.

² So I have looked on you in the sanctuary,

to see your power and your glory.

³ Because your covenant faithfulness is better than life,

my lips will praise you.

⁴ So I will bless you while I live;

I will lift up my hands in your name.

⁵ It will be as if I ate a meal of marrow and fatness;

with joyful lips my mouth will praise you,

⁶ when I think about you on my bed

and meditate on you in the night watches.

⁷ For you have been my help,

and in the shadow of your wings I rejoice.

⁸ I cling to you;

your right hand supports me.

⁹ But those who seek to destroy my life

will go down into the lowest parts of the earth;

¹⁰ they will be given over to those whose hands use the sword,

and they will become food for the jackals.

¹¹ But the king will rejoice in God;

everyone who swears by him will be proud of him,

but the mouth of those who speak lies will be stopped up.

Chapter 64

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ Hear my voice, God, listen to my complaint;

preserve my life from fear of my enemies.

² Hide me from the secret plotting of evildoers,

from the commotion of those who behave wickedly.

³ They have sharpened their tongues like swords;

they have aimed their arrows, bitter words,

⁴ so that they may shoot from secret places at someone who is innocent;

suddenly they shoot at him and fear nothing.

⁵ They encourage themselves in an evil plan;

they consult privately together in order to set traps;

they say, "Who will see us?"

⁶ They invent injustices;

"We have finished," they say, "a careful plan."

The inner thoughts and hearts of man are deep.

⁷ But God will shoot them;

suddenly they will be wounded with his arrows.

⁸ They will be made to stumble, since their own tongues are against them;

all who see them will wag their heads.

⁹ All people will fear

and will declare God's deeds.

They will wisely think about what he has done.

¹⁰ The righteous will be glad about Yahweh and will take refuge in him;

all the upright in heart will take pride in him.

Chapter 65

For the chief musician. A psalm. A song of David.

¹ For you, God in Zion, our praise waits;

our vows will be carried out to you.

² You who hear prayer,

to you all flesh will come.

³ Iniquities prevail against us;

as for our transgressions, you will forgive them.

⁴ Blessed is the man whom you choose to bring near to you

so that he may live in your courts.

We will be satisfied with the goodness of your house,

your holy temple.

⁵ In righteousness you will answer us by doing awesome deeds,

God of our salvation;

you who are hope of all the ends of the earth

and of those who are far across the sea.

⁶ For it is you who made the mountains firm,

you who are girded with strength.

⁷ It is you who quiet the roaring of the seas,

the roaring of their waves,

and the commotion of the peoples.

⁸ Those who live in the uttermost parts of the earth

are afraid of the evidence of your deeds;

you make the east and the west rejoice.

⁹ You come to help the earth; you water it;

you greatly enrich it;

the river of God is full of water;

you provide mankind grain when you have prepared the earth.

¹⁰ You water its furrows abundantly;

you settle down the furrows' ridges;

you make them soft with rain showers;

you bless the sprouts between them.

¹¹ You crown the year with your goodness,

and your wagon tracks overflow with abundance.

¹² The pastures in the wilderness drip with dew,

and the hills are girded with joy.

¹³ The pastures are clothed with flocks;

the valleys also are covered over with grain;

they shout for joy, and they sing.

Chapter 66

For the chief musician. A song, a psalm.

¹ Shout out loud to God, all the earth;

² Sing out the glory of his name;

make his praise glorious.

³ Say to God, "How terrifying are your deeds!

By the greatness of your power

your enemies will submit to you.

⁴ All the earth will worship you

and will sing to you;

they will sing praises to your name."

Selah

⁵ Come and see the works of God;

he is fearsome in his deeds toward the sons of mankind.

⁶ He turned the sea into dry land;

they went through the river on foot;

there we rejoiced in him.

⁷ He rules forever by his might;

his eyes observe the nations;

let not the rebellious exalt themselves.

Selah

⁸ Give blessing to God, you people,

let the sound of his praise be heard.

⁹ He keeps us among the living,

and he does not permit our feet to slip.

¹⁰ For you, God, have tested us;

you have tested us as silver is tested.

¹¹ You brought us into a net;

you laid a heavy burden on our backs.

¹² You made people ride over our heads;

we went through fire and water,

but you brought us out into a spacious place.

¹³ I will come into your house with burnt offerings;

I will pay you my vows

¹⁴ which my lips promised

and my mouth spoke when I was in distress.

¹⁵ I will offer to you burnt offerings of fat animals

with the sweet aroma of rams;

I will offer bulls and goats.

Selah

¹⁶ Come and listen, all you who fear God,

and I will declare what he has done for my soul.

¹⁷ I cried to him with my mouth,

and he was praised with my tongue.

¹⁸ If I had seen wickedness within my heart,

the Lord would not have listened to me.

¹⁹ But God has truly heard;

he has paid attention to the voice of my prayer.

²⁰ Blessed be God,

who has not turned away my prayer

or his covenant faithfulness from me.

Chapter 67

For the chief musician; on stringed instruments. A psalm, a song.

¹ May God be merciful to us and bless us

and cause his face to shine on us

Selah

² so that your ways may be known on earth,

your salvation among all nations.

³ Let the peoples praise you, God;

let all the peoples praise you.

⁴ Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you will judge the peoples with justice

and govern the nations on earth.

Selah

⁵ Let the peoples praise you, God;

let all the peoples praise you.

⁶ The earth has yielded its produce

and God, our God, has blessed us.

⁷ God has blessed us,

and all the ends of the earth honor him.

Chapter 68

For the chief musician; A psalm of David, a song.

¹ Let God arise; let his enemies be scattered;

let those also who hate him flee before him.

² As smoke is driven away, so drive them away;

as wax melts before the fire,

so let the wicked perish in the presence of God.

³ But let the righteous be glad;

let them rejoice before God;

may they rejoice with gladness.

⁴ Sing to God! Sing praises to his name!

Praise the one who rides through the plains of the Jordan River valley!

Yah is his name! Rejoice before him! ¹

⁵ A Father of the fatherless, a judge of the widows,

is God in the holy place where he lives.

⁶ God puts the lonely into families;

he brings out the prisoners with singing;

but the rebellious live in a parched land.

⁷ God, when you went out before your people,

when you marched through the wilderness,

Selah

⁸ the earth trembled;

the heavens also dropped rain in God's presence,

in the presence of God when he came to Sinai, in the presence of God, the God of Israel.

⁹ You, God, sent a plentiful rain;

you strengthened your inheritance when it was weary.

¹⁰ Your people lived in it;

You, God, gave from your goodness to the poor.

¹¹ The Lord gave the word,

and those who announced them were a great army.

¹² Kings of armies flee, they flee,

and the women waiting at home divide the plunder:

¹³ the wings of a dove are covered with silver,

its feathers with shining gold.

Yet some of you people lie down among the sheepfolds.

¹⁴ The Almighty scattered kings there,

it was as when it snowed on Mount Zalmon.

¹⁵ A mighty mountain is the hill country of Bashan;

a high mountain is the hill country of Bashan.

¹⁶ Why do you look in envy, you high hill country,

at the mountain which God desires for the place he will live?

Indeed, Yahweh will live in it forever.

¹⁷ The chariots of God are twenty thousand,

thousands upon thousands;

the Lord is among them in the holy place, as at Sinai.

¹⁸ You have ascended on high;

you have led away captives;

you have received gifts from among men,

even from the rebellious,

so that Yah, God, might live there. ²

¹⁹ Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burdens,

the God who is our salvation.

Selah

²⁰ Our God is a God who saves;

Yahweh the Lord is the one who is able to rescue us from death.

²¹ But God will strike through the heads of his enemies,

through the hairy scalps of those who walk in offenses against him.

²² The Lord said, "I will bring my enemies back from Bashan;

I will bring them back from the depths of the sea

²³ so that you may crush your enemies, dipping your foot in blood,

and so that the tongues of your dogs may have their share from your enemies."

²⁴ They have seen your processions, God,

the processions of my God, my King, into the holy place.

²⁵ The singers went first, the minstrels followed after,

and in the middle were the unmarried girls playing tambourines.

²⁶ Bless God in the assemblies;

praise Yahweh, you who are from the fountain ³ of Israel.

²⁷ There is Benjamin, the smallest tribe, ruling them,

then the leaders of Judah and their multitudes,

the leaders of Zebulun and the leaders of Naphtali.

²⁸ Your God, Israel, has decreed your strength;

reveal to us your power, God, as you have revealed it in times past.

²⁹ Reveal your power to us from your temple at Jerusalem,

where kings bring tribute to you.

³⁰ Rebuke the wild beasts in the reeds,

against the peoples, that multitude of bulls and calves.

Humiliate them and make them bring you silver;

scatter the peoples who love to wage war.

³¹ Princes will come out of Egypt;

Cush will hurry to reach out with her hands to God.

³² Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.

Selah

Sing praises to the Lord,

³³ to him who rides on the heaven of heavens, which exist from ancient times;

see, he lifts up his voice with power.

³⁴ Ascribe strength to God;

his majesty is over Israel,

and his strength is in the skies.

³⁵ God, you are fearsome in your holy place;

the God of Israel—he gives strength and power to his people.

Blessed be God.

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

³The copies of the ancient Hebrew text can be read either as from the fountain or from the assembly .

Chapter 69

For the chief musician; set to Shoshannim. A psalm of David.

¹ Save me, God;

for the waters have put my life in danger.

² I sink in deep mire, where there is no place to stand;

I have come into deep waters, where the floods flow over me.

³ I am weary with my crying; my throat is dry;

my eyes fail while I wait for my God.

⁴ Those who hate me without a cause

are more than the hairs on my head;

those who would cut me off,

being my enemies for wrong reasons, are mighty;

what I did not steal,

I have to give back.

⁵ God, you know my foolishness,

and my sins are not hidden from you.

⁶ Let not those who hope in you be put to shame because of me,

Lord Yahweh of hosts;

let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor because of me,

God of Israel.

⁷ For your sake I have borne rebuke;

shame has covered my face.

⁸ I have become a stranger to my brothers,

an alien to my mother's children.

⁹ For the zeal of your house has eaten me up,

and the rebukes of those who rebuke you have fallen on me.

¹⁰ When I weep and fast,

I must endure scorn.

¹¹ When I put on sackcloth,

I became a byword to them.

¹² Those who sit in the city gate talk about me;

I am a song of drunkards.

¹³ But as for me, my prayer is to you, Yahweh,

at a time that you will accept;

answer me in the trustworthiness of your salvation.

¹⁴ Pull me out of the mire,

and do not let me sink;

let me be taken away from those who hate me

and rescued out of the deep waters.

¹⁵ Do not let the floods of water overwhelm me,

neither let the deep swallow me up.

Do not let the pit shut its mouth on me.

¹⁶ Answer me, Yahweh, for your covenant faithfulness is good;

because your mercies for me are many, turn to me.

¹⁷ Do not hide your face from your servant,

for I am in distress; answer me quickly.

¹⁸ Come to me and redeem me.

Because of my enemies, ransom me.

¹⁹ You know my rebuke, my shame, and my dishonor;

my adversaries are all before you.

²⁰ Rebuke has broken my heart;

I am full of heaviness;

I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none;

I looked for comforters, but I found none.

²¹ They gave me poison for my food;

in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

²² Let their table before them become a snare;

when they think they are in safety, let it become a trap.

²³ Let their eyes be darkened so that they cannot see;

and always make their loins shake.

²⁴ Pour out your indignation on them,

and let your raging anger overtake them.

²⁵ Let their encampment be a desolation;

let no one live in their tents.

²⁶ For they persecuted the one you struck down.

They repeated the account of the pain of those you have wounded.

²⁷ Accuse them of having committed iniquity after iniquity;

do not let them come into your righteous victory.

²⁸ Let them be blotted out of the Book of Life

and not be written down along with the righteous.

²⁹ But I am poor and in pain;

let your salvation, God, set me up on high.

³⁰ I will praise the name of God with a song

and will exalt him with thanksgiving.

³¹ That will please Yahweh better than an ox

or a bull that has horns and hooves.

³² The meek have seen it and are glad;

you who seek after God, let your hearts live.

³³ For Yahweh hears the needy

and does not despise his prisoners.

³⁴ Let heaven and earth praise him,

the seas and everything that moves in them.

³⁵ For God will save Zion and will rebuild the cities of Judah;

the people will live there and have it as a possession.

³⁶ His servants' descendants will inherit it;

and those who love his name will live there.

Chapter 70

For the chief musician. A psalm of David; to bring to remembrance.

¹ Save me, God!

Yahweh, come quickly and help me.

² Let those who try to take my life

be ashamed and humiliated;

let them be turned back and brought to dishonor,

those who take pleasure in my pain.

³ Let them be turned back because of their shame,

those who say, "Aha, aha."

⁴ Let all those who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you;

let those who love your salvation always say,

"May God be praised."

⁵ But I am poor and needy;

hurry to me, God;

you are my help and you rescue me.

Yahweh, do not delay.

Chapter 71

¹ In you, Yahweh, I take refuge;

let me never be put to shame.

² Rescue me and make me safe in your righteousness;

turn your ear to me and save me.

³ Be to me a rock for refuge

where I may always go;

you have given a command to save me,

for you are my rock and my fortress.

⁴ Rescue me, my God, out of the hand of the wicked,

out of the hand of the unrighteous and ruthless.

⁵ For you are my hope, Lord Yahweh.

I have trusted in you ever since I was a child.

⁶ By you I have been supported from the womb;

you are he who took me out of my mother's belly;

my praise will be always about you.

⁷ I am a marvel to many people;

you are my strong refuge.

⁸ My mouth will be filled with your praise,

all the day with your honor.

⁹ Do not throw me away in my time of old age;

do not abandon me when my strength fails.

¹⁰ For my enemies are talking about me;

those who watch for my life are plotting together.

¹¹ They say, "God has abandoned him;

pursue and take him,

for there is no one to save him."

¹² God, do not be far from me;

my God, hurry to help me.

¹³ Let them be put to shame and destroyed,

those who are hostile to my life;

let them be covered with rebuke and dishonor,

those who seek my hurt.

¹⁴ But I will always hope in you

and will praise you more and more.

¹⁵ My mouth will tell about your righteousness

and your salvation all the day,

although I cannot understand it.

¹⁶ I will come with the mighty acts of the Lord Yahweh;

I will make mention of your righteousness, yours alone.

¹⁷ God, you have taught me from my youth;

even now I declare your wonderful deeds.

¹⁸ Indeed, even when I am old and gray-headed, God,

do not abandon me,

as I have been declaring your strength to the next generation,

your power to everyone who is to come.

¹⁹ Your righteousness also, God, is very high;

you who have done great things,

God, who is like you?

²⁰ You who made me see many troubles

will revive us again

and will bring us up again

from the depths of the earth.

²¹ May you increase my honor;

turn again and comfort me.

²² I will also give thanks to you with the harp

for your trustworthiness, my God;

to you I will sing praises with the harp,

Holy One of Israel.

²³ My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you—

even my soul, which you have redeemed.

²⁴ My tongue will also talk about your righteousness

all day long;

for they have been put to shame and are confused,

those who sought my hurt.

Chapter 72

A psalm of Solomon.

¹ Give the king your righteous decrees, God,

your righteousness to the king's son.

² May he judge your people with righteousness

and your poor with justice.

³ May the mountains produce peace for the people;

may the hills produce righteousness.

⁴ May he judge the poor of the people;

may he save the children of the needy

and break in pieces the oppressor.

⁵ May they honor you while the sun endures,

and as long as the moon lasts throughout all generations.

⁶ May he come down like rain on the mown grass,

like showers that water the earth.

⁷ May the righteous flourish in his days,

and may there be an abundance of peace till the moon is no more.

⁸ May he have dominion from sea to sea,

and from the River to the ends of the earth.

⁹ May those who live in the wilderness bow down before him;

may his enemies lick the dust.

¹⁰ May the kings of Tarshish and of the islands render tribute;

may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

¹¹ Indeed, may all kings fall down before him;

may all nations serve him.

¹² For he helps the needy person who cries out

and the poor person who has no other helper.

¹³ He has pity on the poor and needy,

and he saves the lives of needy people.

¹⁴ He redeems their lives from oppression and violence,

and their blood is precious in his sight.

¹⁵ May he live!

May the gold of Sheba be given to him.

May people always pray for him;

may God bless him all day long.

¹⁶ May there be abundance of grain in the land;

on the mountaintops may their crops wave.

May the fruit of it be like Lebanon;

may the people flourish in the cities like the grass of the field.

¹⁷ May his name endure forever;

may his name continue as long as the sun;

may people be blessed in him;

may all nations call him blessed.

¹⁸ May Yahweh God, the God of Israel, be blessed,

who alone does wonderful things.

¹⁹ May his glorious name be blessed forever,

and may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

Amen and Amen.

²⁰ The prayers of David son of Jesse are finished.

Book Three

(Psalms 73-89)

Chapter 73

A psalm of Asaph.

¹ Surely God is good to Israel,

to those with a pure heart.

² But as for me, my feet almost slipped;

my feet almost slipped out from under me

³ because I was envious of the arrogant

when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

⁴ For they have no pain until their death,

but they are strong and well fed.

⁵ They are not in trouble like other men;

they are not afflicted like other men.

⁶ Pride adorns them like a necklace around their neck;

violence clothes them like a robe.

⁷ Out of such blindness comes sin;

evil thoughts pass through their hearts.

⁸ They mock and speak wickedly;

in their arrogance they threaten oppression.

⁹ They set their mouth against the heavens,

and their tongues march through the earth.

¹⁰ Therefore his people turn to them

and abundant waters are drained out.

¹¹ They say, "How does God know?

Is there knowledge with the Most High?"

¹² Take notice: these people are wicked;

they are always at ease, becoming richer and richer.

¹³ Surely it is in vain that I have guarded my heart

and washed my hands in innocence.

¹⁴ For all the day long I have been afflicted

and disciplined every morning.

¹⁵ If I had said, "I will say these things,"

then I would have betrayed this generation of your children.

¹⁶ Though I tried to understand these things,

it was too difficult for me.

¹⁷ Then I went into God's sanctuary

and came to understand their fate.

¹⁸ Surely you put them in slippery places;

you bring them down to ruin.

¹⁹ How they become a wilderness in a moment!

They come to an end and are finished in awful terrors.

²⁰ They are like a dream after one wakes up;

Lord, when you arise,

you will despise their image.

²¹ For my heart was embittered,

and I was deeply wounded.

²² I was ignorant and lacked insight;

I was like a senseless animal before you.

²³ Yet I am always with you;

you hold my right hand.

²⁴ You will guide me with your advice

and afterward receive me to glory.

²⁵ Whom have I in heaven but you?

There is no one on earth that I desire but you.

²⁶ My flesh and my heart grow weak,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.

²⁷ Those who are far from you will perish;

you will destroy all those who are unfaithful to you.

²⁸ But as for me, all I need to do is to approach God.

I have made the Lord Yahweh my refuge.

I will declare all your deeds.

Chapter 74

A maschil of Asaph.

¹ God, why have you rejected us forever?

Why does your anger burn against the sheep of your pasture?

² Call to mind your people, whom you purchased in ancient times,

the tribe whom you have redeemed to be your own heritage,

and Mount Zion, where you live.

³ Come look at the everlasting ruins,

all the damage that the enemy has done in the holy place.

⁴ Your adversaries roared in the middle of your appointed place;

they set up their battle flags.

⁵ They hacked away with axes

as in a thick forest.

⁶ They smashed and broke down all the engravings;

they broke them with axes and hammers.

⁷ They set your sanctuary on fire, knocking it to the ground;

they desecrated the dwelling place of your name.

⁸ They said in their hearts, "We will destroy them all."

They burned up all the meeting places of God in the land.

⁹ We do not see any more signs;

there is no prophet any more,

and no one among us knows how long this will last.

¹⁰ How long, God, will the enemy throw insults at you?

Will the enemy blaspheme your name forever?

¹¹ Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand?

Take your right hand from your garment and destroy them.

¹² Yet God has been my king from ancient times,

bringing salvation on the earth.

¹³ You divided the sea by your strength;

you smashed the heads of the sea monsters in the waters.

¹⁴ You crushed the heads of leviathan;

you fed him to those living in the wilderness.

¹⁵ You broke open springs and streams;

you dried up flowing rivers.

¹⁶ The day is yours, and the night is yours also;

you set the light and the sun in place.

¹⁷ You have set all the borders of the earth;

you have made summer and winter.

¹⁸ Call to mind how the enemy hurled insults at you, Yahweh,

and that a foolish people has blasphemed your name.

¹⁹ Do not give the life of your dove to a wild animal.

Do not forget forever the life of your oppressed people.

²⁰ Remember your covenant,

for the dark regions of the land are full of places of violence.

²¹ Do not let the oppressed be turned back in shame;

let the poor and oppressed praise your name.

²² Arise, God; plead your own cause;

call to mind how fools mock you all day long.

²³ Do not forget the voice of your adversaries

or the uproar of those who continually defy you.

Chapter 75

For the chief musician; set to Al Tashheth. A psalm of Asaph, a song.

¹ We give thanks to you, God;

we give thanks, for your name is near;

people tell of your wondrous works.

² At the appointed time

I will judge fairly.

³ Though the earth and all the inhabitants shake in fear,

I make steady the earth's pillars.

Selah

⁴ I said to the arrogant, "Do not be arrogant,"

and to the wicked, "Do not lift up the horn.

⁵ Do not lift up your horn to the heights;

do not speak with an arrogant neck."

⁶ It is not from the east or from the west,

and it is not from the wilderness that lifting up comes.

⁷ But God is the judge;

he brings down and he lifts up.

⁸ For Yahweh holds in his hand a cup of foaming wine,

which is mixed with spices, and pours it out.

Surely all the wicked of the earth

will drink it to the last drop.

⁹ But I will continually tell what you have done;

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

¹⁰ He says, "I will cut off all the horns of the wicked,

but the horns of the righteous will be raised up."

Chapter 76

For the chief musician, on stringed instruments. A psalm of Asaph, a song.

¹ God has made himself known in Judah;

his name is great in Israel.

² His tent is in Salem;

his dwelling place is in Zion.

³ There he broke the arrows of the bow,

the shield, the sword, and the other weapons of war.

Selah

⁴ You shine brightly and are majestic

as you descend from the mountains, where you killed your victims.

⁵ The brave of heart were plundered;

they fell asleep.

All the warriors were helpless.

⁶ At your rebuke, God of Jacob,

both charioteer and horse fell asleep.

⁷ You, yes you, are to be feared;

who can stand in your sight when you are angry?

⁸ From heaven you made your judgment heard;

the earth was afraid and silent

⁹ when you, God, arose to execute judgment

and to save all the oppressed of the earth.

Selah

¹⁰ Surely your angry judgment against humanity will bring you praise;

you gird yourself with the remnant of your anger.

¹¹ Make vows to Yahweh your God and keep them.

May all who surround him bring tribute to him who is to be feared.

¹² He cuts off the spirit of the princes;

he is feared by the kings of the earth.

Chapter 77

For the chief musician; after the manner of Jeduthun. A psalm of Asaph.

¹ I will call with my voice to God;

I will call out with my voice to God,

and my God will give ear to me.

² In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;

at night I stretched my hands out, and they would not become tired.

My soul refused to be comforted.

³ I thought of God as I groaned;

I thought about him as I grew faint.

Selah

⁴ You held my eyes open;

I was too troubled to speak.

⁵ I thought about the days of old,

about years long past.

⁶ During the night I called to mind the song I once sang.

I thought carefully

and tried to understand what had happened.

⁷ Will the Lord reject me forever?

Will he never again show me favor?

⁸ Was his covenant faithfulness gone forever?

Had his promise failed forever?

⁹ Had God forgotten to be gracious?

Had his anger shut off his compassion?

Selah

¹⁰ I said, "This is my sorrow:

the changing of the right hand of the Most High toward us."

¹¹ But I will remember the deeds of Yah; ¹

I will remember your miracles of long ago.

¹² I will ponder all your deeds

and will reflect on them.

¹³ Your way, God, is holy;

what god compares to our great God?

¹⁴ You are the God who does wonders;

you have revealed your strength among the peoples.

¹⁵ You gave your people victory by your great power—

the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

Selah

¹⁶ The waters saw you, God;

the waters saw you, and they were afraid;

the depths trembled.

¹⁷ The clouds poured down water;

the cloudy skies gave voice;

your arrows flew about.

¹⁸ Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind;

the lightning lit up the world;

the earth trembled and shook.

¹⁹ Your path went through the sea

and your way through the surging waters,

but your footprints were not seen.

²⁰ You led your people like a flock

by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 78

A maschil of Asaph.

¹ Hear my teaching, my people,

listen to the words of my mouth.

² I will open my mouth in parables;

I will sing about hidden things about the past.

³ These are things that we have heard and learned,

things that our ancestors have told us.

⁴ We will not keep them from their descendants.

We will tell the next generation

about the praiseworthy deeds of Yahweh,

his strength, and the wonders that he has done.

⁵ For he established covenant decrees in Jacob

and appointed a law in Israel.

He commanded our ancestors

that they were to teach them to their children.

⁶ He commanded this so that the generation to come might know his decrees,

the children not yet born,

who should tell them in turn to their own children.

⁷ Then they would place their hope in God

and not forget his deeds

but keep his commandments.

⁸ Then they would not be like their ancestors,

who were a stubborn and rebellious generation,

a generation whose hearts were not right,

and whose spirits were not committed and faithful to God.

⁹ The Ephraimites were armed with bows,

but they turned back on the day of battle.

¹⁰ They did not keep the covenant with God,

and they refused to obey his law.

¹¹ They forgot his deeds,

the wonderful things that he had shown them.

¹² They forgot the marvelous things he did in the sight of their ancestors

in the land of Egypt, in the land of Zoan.

¹³ He divided the sea and led them across it;

he made the waters to stand like walls.

¹⁴ In the daytime he led them with a cloud

and all the night with the light of fire.

¹⁵ He split the rocks in the wilderness,

and he gave them water abundantly,

enough to fill the depths of the sea.

¹⁶ He made streams flow out of the rock

and made the water flow like rivers.

¹⁷ Yet they continued to sin against him,

rebelling against the Most High in the wilderness.

¹⁸ They challenged God in their hearts

by asking for food to satisfy their appetites.

¹⁹ They spoke against God;

they said, "Can God really lay out a table for us in the wilderness?

²⁰ See, when he struck the rock,

waters gushed out

and streams overflowed.

But can he give bread also?

Will he provide meat for his people?"

²¹ When Yahweh heard this, he was angry;

so his fire burned against Jacob,

and his anger attacked Israel,

²² because they did not believe in God

and did not trust in his salvation.

²³ Yet he commanded the skies above

and opened the doors of the sky.

²⁴ He rained down manna for them to eat,

and gave them the grain from heaven.

²⁵ People ate the bread of angels.

He sent them food in abundance.

²⁶ He caused the east wind to blow in the sky,

and by his power he guided the south wind.

²⁷ He rained down meat on them like dust,

birds as numerous as the sands of the sea.

²⁸ They fell in the middle of their camp,

all around their tents.

²⁹ So they ate and were full.

He gave them what they craved.

³⁰ But they had not yet filled up;

their food was still in their mouths.

³¹ Then God's anger attacked them

and killed the strongest of them.

He brought down the young men of Israel.

³² Despite this, they continued to sin

and did not believe his wonderful deeds.

³³ Therefore God cut short their days;

their years were filled with terror.

³⁴ Whenever God killed them, they would start to seek him,

and they would return and look earnestly for him.

³⁵ They would call to mind that God was their rock

and that the Most High God was their rescuer.

³⁶ But they would flatter him with their mouth

and lie to him with their words.

³⁷ For their hearts were not firmly fixed on him,

and they were not faithful to his covenant.

³⁸ Yet he, being merciful,

forgave their iniquity

and did not destroy them.

Yes, many times he held back his anger

and did not stir up all his wrath.

³⁹ He called to mind that they were made of flesh,

a wind that passes away and does not return.

⁴⁰ How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness

and grieved him in the barren regions!

⁴¹ Again and again they challenged God

and offended the Holy One of Israel.

⁴² They did not think about his power,

how he had rescued them from the enemy

⁴³ when he performed his terrifying signs in Egypt

and his wonders in the region of Zoan.

⁴⁴ He turned the Egyptians' rivers to blood

so that they could not drink from their streams.

⁴⁵ He sent swarms of flies that devoured them

and frogs that destroyed them.

⁴⁶ He gave their crops to the grasshopper

and their labor to the locust.

⁴⁷ He destroyed their vines with hail

and their sycamore trees with more hail.

⁴⁸ He rained hail on their cattle

and hurled lightning bolts at their livestock.

⁴⁹ The fierceness of his anger lashed out against them.

He sent wrath, fury, and trouble

like angels who bring disaster.

⁵⁰ He leveled a path for his anger;

he did not spare them from death

but gave them over to the plague.

⁵¹ He killed all the firstborn in Egypt,

the firstborn of their strength in the tents of Ham.

⁵² He led his own people out like sheep

and guided them through the wilderness like a flock.

⁵³ He led them secure and unafraid,

but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.

⁵⁴ Then he brought them to the border of his holy land,

to this mountain that his right hand acquired.

⁵⁵ He drove out the nations from before them

and assigned them their inheritance.

He settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.

⁵⁶ Yet they challenged and rebelled

against the Most High God

and did not keep his solemn commands.

⁵⁷ They were unfaithful

and acted treacherously like their fathers;

they were as undependable as a faulty bow.

⁵⁸ For they made him angry with their high places

and provoked him to jealous anger with their idols.

⁵⁹ When God heard this, he was angry

and completely rejected Israel.

⁶⁰ He abandoned the sanctuary of Shiloh,

the tent where he had lived among people.

⁶¹ He allowed his strength to be captured

and gave his glory into the enemy's hand.

⁶² He handed his people over to the sword,

and he was angry with his heritage.

⁶³ Fire devoured their young men,

and their virgins had no wedding songs.

⁶⁴ Their priests fell by the sword,

and their widows could not weep.

⁶⁵ Then the Lord awakened as one from sleep,

like a warrior who shouts because of wine.

⁶⁶ He drove his adversaries back;

he put them to everlasting shame.

⁶⁷ He rejected the tent of Joseph,

and he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim.

⁶⁸ He chose the tribe of Judah

and Mount Zion that he loved.

⁶⁹ He built his sanctuary like the heavens,

like the earth that he has established forever.

⁷⁰ He chose David, his servant,

and took him from the sheepfolds.

⁷¹ He took him from following the ewes with their young,

and he brought him to be shepherd of Jacob,

his people, and of Israel, his heritage.

⁷² David shepherded them with the integrity of his heart,

and he guided them with the skill of his hands.

Chapter 79

A psalm of Asaph.

¹ God, foreign nations have come into your inheritance;

they have defiled your holy temple;

they have turned Jerusalem into a heap of ruins.

² They have given the dead bodies of your servants

as food to the birds of the skies,

the bodies of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth.

³ They have shed their blood like water around Jerusalem,

and there was none to bury them.

⁴ We are objects of contempt to our neighbors,

mocking and derision to those who are around us.

⁵ How long, Yahweh? Will you stay angry forever?

How long will your jealous anger burn like fire?

⁶ Pour out your wrath on the nations

that do not know you

and on the kingdoms

that do not call upon your name.

⁷ For they have devoured Jacob

and laid waste his villages.

⁸ Do not hold the iniquities of our forefathers against us;

may your merciful actions come to us,

for we are very low.

⁹ Help us, God of our salvation,

for the sake of the glory of your name;

save us and forgive our sins

for your name's sake.

¹⁰ Why should the nations say,

"Where is their God?"

May the blood of your servants that was shed

be avenged on the nations before our eyes.

¹¹ May the groans of the prisoners come before you;

with the greatness of your power keep the children of death alive.

¹² Pay back into the laps of our neighboring countries seven times as much

as the contempt with which they have taunted you, Lord.

¹³ So we your people and sheep of your pasture

will give you thanks forever.

We will tell your praises

to all generations.

Chapter 80

For the chief musician, set to the Shoshannim Eduth style. A psalm of Asaph.

¹ Give ear, Shepherd of Israel,

you who lead Joseph like a flock;

you who sit above the cherubim,

shine on us!

² In the sight of Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh,

stir up your power;

come and save us.

³ God, restore us;

make your face shine on us,

and we will be saved.

⁴ Yahweh God of hosts,

how long will you be angry at your people when they pray?

⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears

and given them tears to drink in great quantities.

⁶ You make us an object of strife for our neighbors,

and our enemies laugh in mockery about us among themselves.

⁷ God of hosts, restore us;

make your face shine on us,

and we will be saved.

⁸ You brought a vine out of Egypt;

you drove out nations and transplanted it.

⁹ You cleared the land for it;

it took root and filled the land.

¹⁰ The mountains were covered with its shade,

the cedars of God by its branches.

¹¹ It sent out its branches as far as the sea

and its shoots to the Euphrates River.

¹² Why have you broken down its walls

so that all who pass by along the road pluck its fruit?

¹³ The boars out of the forest ruin it,

and the beasts of the field feed on it.

¹⁴ Turn back, God of hosts;

look down from heaven and take notice

and take care of this vine.

¹⁵ This is the root that your right hand planted,

the son that you have strengthened for yourself.

¹⁶ It has been burned and cut down;

they perish because of your rebuke.

¹⁷ May your hand be on the man of your right hand,

on the son of man whom you strengthened for yourself.

¹⁸ Then we will not turn away from you;

revive us, and we will call on your name.

¹⁹ Yahweh God of hosts, restore us;

make your face shine on us, and we will be saved.

Chapter 81

For the chief musician; set to the Gittith style. A psalm of Asaph.

¹ Shout joyfullly to God our strength;

shout out for joy to the God of Jacob.

² Sing a song and play the tambourine,

the pleasant harp with the lute.

³ Blow the ram's horn on the day of the new moon,

on the day of the full moon, when our feast day begins.

⁴ For it is a statute for Israel,

a decree given by the God of Jacob.

⁵ He issued it as a regulation in Joseph

when he went against the land of Egypt,

where I heard a voice that I did not recognize:

⁶ "I removed the burden from his shoulder;

his hands were freed from holding the basket.

⁷ In your distress you called out, and I helped you;

I answered you from a dark thundercloud.

I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

Selah

⁸ Listen, my people, for I will warn you,

Israel, if you would only listen to me!

⁹ There must be no foreign god among you;

you must not worship any foreign god.

¹⁰ I am Yahweh your God,

who brought you out of the land of Egypt.

Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

¹¹ But my people did not listen to my words;

Israel did not obey me.

¹² So I gave them over to their own stubborn way

so that they might follow their own devices.

¹³ Oh, that my people would listen to me;

oh, that my people would walk in my paths.

¹⁴ Then I would quickly subdue their enemies

and turn my hand against their oppressors.

¹⁵ May those who hate Yahweh cringe in fear before him!

May they be humiliated forever.

¹⁶ I would feed Israel with the finest wheat;

I would satisfy you with honey out of the rock."

Chapter 82

A psalm of Asaph.

¹ God stands in the divine assembly;

in the midst of the gods he renders judgment.

² How long will you judge unjustly

and show favoritism to the wicked?

Selah

³ Give justice to the poor and fatherless;

maintain the rights of the afflicted and destitute.

⁴ Rescue the poor and needy;

take them out of the hand of the wicked.

⁵ They neither know nor understand;

they wander around in the darkness;

all the foundations of the earth crumble.

⁶ I said, "You are gods,

and all of you are sons of the Most High.

⁷ Nevertheless you will die like men

and fall like one of the princes."

⁸ Arise, God, judge the earth,

for you have an inheritance in all the nations.

Chapter 83

A song. A psalm of Asaph.

¹ God, do not be silent!

Do not ignore us and remain unmoved, God.

² Look, your enemies are making a commotion,

and those who hate you have raised their heads.

³ They make shrewd plans against your people

and plan together against your protected ones.

⁴ They have said, "Come, and let us destroy them as a nation.

Then the name of Israel will no longer be remembered."

⁵ They schemed together with one strategy;

they made an alliance against you—

⁶ the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites,

of Moab and the Hagrites,

⁷ Byblos, ¹ Ammon, Amalek;

and also Philistia and the inhabitants of Tyre.

⁸ Assyria also has joined with them;

they have become an arm for the descendants of Lot.

Selah

⁹ Do to them as you did to Midian,

as you did to Sisera and to Jabin at the Kishon River.

¹⁰ They perished at Endor

and became like manure for the earth.

¹¹ Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb,

and all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna.

¹² They said, "Let us take for ourselves

the pastures of God."

¹³ My God, make them like the whirling dust,

like chaff before the wind,

¹⁴ like the fire that burns the forest,

and like the flame that sets the mountains on fire.

¹⁵ Chase them with your strong wind,

and terrify them with your windstorm.

¹⁶ Fill their faces with shame

so that they might seek your name, Yahweh.

¹⁷ May they be put to shame and be terrified forever;

may they perish in disgrace.

¹⁸ Then they will know that you alone,

whose name is Yahweh,

are the Most High over all the earth.

¹Some modern English translations read, Gebal .

Chapter 84

For the chief musician; set to the Gittith style. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

¹ How lovely is the place where you live,

Yahweh of hosts!

² I long for the courts of Yahweh;

my desire for it has made me exhausted.

My heart and all of my being

shout for joy to the living God.

³ Even the sparrow has found herself a house

and the swallow a nest for herself

where she may lay her young

near your altars, Yahweh of hosts,

my King, and my God.

⁴ Blessed are they who live in your house;

they praise you continually.

Selah

⁵ Blessed is the man whose strength is in you,

in whose heart are the highways up to Zion.

⁶ As they go through the Valley of Tears

they make it a place of springs.

The early rains cover it with blessings. ¹

⁷ They go from strength to strength;

every one of them appears before God in Zion.

⁸ Yahweh God of hosts, hear my prayer;

give ear, God of Jacob!

Selah

⁹ God, watch over our shield;

show concern for your anointed.

¹⁰ For one day in your courts is better

than a thousand elsewhere.

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God,

than to live within the tents of the wicked.

¹¹ For Yahweh God is our sun and shield;

Yahweh will give grace and glory;

he does not withhold any good thing

from those who walk in integrity.

¹² Yahweh of hosts,

blessed is the man who trusts in you.

¹Some scholars translate the Hebrew as cover it with pools of water .

Chapter 85

For the chief musician. A psalm of the sons of Korah.

¹ Yahweh, you have shown favor to your land;

you have restored the well-being of Jacob.

² You have forgiven the iniquity of your people;

you have covered all their sin.

Selah

³ You have withdrawn all your wrath;

you have turned back from your hot anger.

⁴ Restore us, God of our salvation,

and let go of your displeasure with us.

⁵ Will you be angry with us forever?

Will you remain angry throughout future generations?

⁶ Will you not revive us again?

Then your people will rejoice in you.

⁷ Show us your covenant faithfulness, Yahweh;

grant us your salvation.

⁸ I will listen to what Yahweh God says,

for he will make peace with his people, his faithful ones.

Yet they must not turn again to foolish ways.

⁹ Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him;

then glory will remain in our land.

¹⁰ Steadfast love and faithfulness have met together;

righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

¹¹ Trustworthiness springs up from the ground,

and righteousness looks down from the sky.

¹² Yes, Yahweh will give his good blessings,

and our land will yield its crops.

¹³ Righteousness will go before him

and make a way for his footsteps.

Chapter 86

A prayer of David.

¹ Listen, Yahweh, and answer me,

for I am poor and needy.

² Protect me, for I am faithful;

my God, save your servant who trusts in you.

³ Be merciful to me, Lord,

for I cry out to you all day long.

⁴ Make your servant glad,

for to you, Lord, I lift up my soul.

⁵ You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive,

abounding in steadfast love to all those who cry out to you.

⁶ Give ear, Yahweh, to my prayer;

hear the sound of my pleas.

⁷ In the day of my trouble I call on you,

for you will answer me.

⁸ There is no one who compares to you among the gods, Lord.

There are no deeds like your deeds.

⁹ All the nations that you have made

will come and bow before you, Lord.

They will honor your name.

¹⁰ For you are great and do wonderful things;

you only are God.

¹¹ Teach me your ways, Yahweh.

Then I will walk in your truth.

Unite my heart

to reverence your name.

¹² Lord my God, I will praise you with my whole heart;

I will glorify your name forever.

¹³ For great is your covenant faithfulness toward me;

you have rescued my life from the depths of Sheol.

¹⁴ God, the arrogant have risen up against me.

A company of violent men seek my life.

They have no regard for you.

¹⁵ But you, Lord, are a merciful and gracious God,

slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

¹⁶ Turn toward me and have mercy on me;

give your strength to your servant;

save the son of your servant woman.

¹⁷ Show me a sign of your favor.

Then those who hate me will see it and be put to shame

because you, Yahweh, have helped me and comforted me.

Chapter 87

A psalm of the sons of Korah; a song.

¹ On the holy mount stands the city he founded;

² Yahweh loves the gates of Zion

more than all the tents of Jacob.

³ Glorious things are said of you,

city of God.

Selah

⁴ "I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers.

See, there are Philistia, and Tyre, along with Cush—

and will say, 'This one was born there.'"

⁵ Of Zion it will be said,

"Each of these was born in her;

and the Most High himself will establish her."

⁶ Yahweh writes in the census book of the nations,

"This one was born there."

Selah

⁷ So also the singers and the dancers say together,

"All my fountains are in you."

Chapter 88

A song, a psalm of the sons of Korah; for the chief musician; set to the Mahalath Leannoth style. A maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.

¹ Yahweh, God of my salvation,

I cry out day and night before you.

² Listen to my prayer;

pay attention to my cry.

³ For I am filled with troubles,

and my life has reached Sheol.

⁴ People treat me like those who go down into the pit;

I am a man with no strength.

⁵ I am free among the dead;

I am like the dead who lie in the grave,

about whom you care no more

because they are cut off from your power.

⁶ You place me in the lowest part of the pit,

in the dark and deep places.

⁷ Your wrath lies heavy on me,

and all your waves crash over me.

Selah

⁸ Because of you, my acquaintances avoid me.

You have made me an abomination to them.

I am hemmed in and I cannot escape.

⁹ My eyes grow weary from trouble;

All day long I call out to you, Yahweh;

I spread out my hands to you.

¹⁰ Will you do wonders for the dead?

Will those who have died rise and praise you?

Selah

¹¹ Will your covenant faithfulness be proclaimed in the grave,

your faithfulness in the place of the dead?

¹² Will your wonderful deeds be known in the darkness,

or your righteousness in the place of forgetfulness?

¹³ But I cry to you, Yahweh;

in the morning my prayer comes before you.

¹⁴ Yahweh, why do you reject me?

Why do you hide your face from me?

¹⁵ I have always been afflicted and on the verge of death since my youth.

I have suffered from your terrors;

I am in despair.

¹⁶ Your burning anger has passed over me,

and your terrifying deeds have annihilated me.

¹⁷ They surround me like water all the day long;

they have all encircled me.

¹⁸ You have removed every friend and acquaintance from me.

My only acquaintance is the darkness.

Chapter 89

A maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.

¹ I will sing of Yahweh's acts of covenant faithfulness forever.

I will proclaim your truthfulness to future generations.

² For I have said, “Covenant faithfulness has been established forever;

your truthfulness you have established in the heavens.”

³ You said, “I have made a covenant with my chosen one,

I have made an oath to David my servant:

⁴ ‘I will establish your descendants forever,

and I will establish your throne through all generations.‘”

Selah

⁵ The heavens praise your wonders, Yahweh;

your truthfulness is praised in the assembly of the holy ones.

⁶ For who in the skies can be compared to Yahweh?

Who among the sons of the gods is like Yahweh?

⁷ He is a God who is greatly honored in the council of the holy ones

and is awesome among all who surround him.

⁸ Yahweh God of hosts,

who is strong like Yah? ¹

Your truthfulness surrounds you.

⁹ You rule the raging sea;

when the waves surge, you calm them.

¹⁰ You crushed Rahab as one who is killed.

You scattered your enemies with your strong arm.

¹¹ The heavens belong to you, and the earth also.

You established the world and all it contains.

¹² You created the north and the south.

Tabor and Hermon rejoice in your name.

¹³ You have a mighty arm

and a strong hand, and your right hand is high.

¹⁴ Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne.

Steadfast love and faithfulness come before you.

¹⁵ Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound!

Yahweh, they walk in the light of your face.

¹⁶ They rejoice in your name all day long,

and in your righteousness they exalt you.

¹⁷ You are their glorious strength,

and by your favor our horn is exalted.

¹⁸ For our shield belongs to Yahweh;

our king belongs to the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁹ Long ago you spoke in a vision

to your faithful ones; ²

you said, "I have set a crown on a mighty one." ³

I have raised up one chosen from among the people.

²⁰ I have chosen David my servant;

with my holy oil have I anointed him.

²¹ My hand will support him;

my arm will strengthen him.

²² No enemy will deceive him;

no son of wickedness will oppress him.

²³ I will crush his enemies before him;

I will kill those who hate him.

²⁴ My truth and my covenant faithfulness will be with him;

by my name his horn will be exalted.

²⁵ I will place his hand over the sea

and his right hand over the rivers.

²⁶ He will call out to me, 'You are my Father,

my God, and the rock of my salvation.'

²⁷ I also will place him as my firstborn son,

the most exalted of the kings of the earth.

²⁸ I will extend my covenant faithfulness to him forever;

and my covenant with him will be secure.

²⁹ I will make his descendants endure forever

and his throne as enduring as the skies above.

³⁰ If his children abandon my law

and do not walk in my regulations,

³¹ if they break my rules

and do not keep my commands,

³² then will I punish their rebellion with a rod

and their iniquity with blows.

³³ But I will not remove my steadfast love from him

or be unfaithful to my promise.

³⁴ I will not break my covenant

or change the words of my lips.

³⁵ Once and for all I have sworn by my holiness—

I will not lie to David:

³⁶ his descendants will continue forever

and his throne as long as the sun before me.

³⁷ It will be established forever like the moon,

the faithful witness in the sky."

Selah

³⁸ But you have refused and rejected;

you have been angry with your anointed king.

³⁹ You have renounced the covenant of your servant.

You have desecrated his crown on the ground.

⁴⁰ You have broken down all his walls.

You have ruined his strongholds.

⁴¹ All who pass by have robbed him.

He has become the scorn of his neighbors.

⁴² You have raised the right hand of his enemies;

you have made all his enemies rejoice.

⁴³ You turn back the edge of his sword

and have not made him stand when in battle.

⁴⁴ You have brought his splendor to an end;

you have brought down his throne to the ground.

⁴⁵ You have shortened the days of his youth.

You have covered him with shame.

Selah

⁴⁶ How long, Yahweh? Will you hide yourself forever?

How long will your anger burn like fire?

⁴⁷ Oh, think about how short my time is,

and for what vanity you have created all the children of mankind!

⁴⁸ Who can live and not die,

or rescue his own life from the hand of Sheol?

Selah

⁴⁹ Lord, where are your former acts of covenant faithfulness

that you swore to David in your truthfulness?

⁵⁰ Call to mind, Lord, the mocking directed against your servants

and how I bear in my heart so many insults from the nations.

⁵¹ Your enemies hurl insults, Yahweh;

they mock the footsteps of your anointed one.

⁵² Blessed be Yahweh forever.

Amen and Amen.

Book Four

(Psalms 90-106)

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Many ancient copies of the Hebrew text have the singular faithful one instead of faithful ones .

³The ancient copies of the Hebrew text have I will place help upon a warrior . Some scholars translate the word for help as crown and that is how the ULB editors have translated the word here.

Chapter 90

A prayer of Moses the man of God.

¹ Lord, you have been our refuge

throughout all generations.

² Before the mountains were formed,

or you formed the earth and the world,

from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

³ You return man to dust,

and you say, "Return, you descendants of mankind."

⁴ For a thousand years in your sight

are as yesterday when it is past,

and as a watch in the night.

⁵ You sweep them away as with a flood and they sleep;

in the morning they are like the grass that sprouts up.

⁶ In the morning it blooms and grows up;

in the evening it withers and dries up.

⁷ Truly, we are consumed in your anger,

and in your wrath we are terrified.

⁸ You have set our iniquities before you,

our hidden sins in the light of your presence.

⁹ Our life passes away under your wrath;

our years quickly pass like a sigh.

¹⁰ Our years are seventy,

or even eighty if we are healthy;

but even our best years are marked by trouble and sorrow.

Yes, they pass quickly, and we fly away.

¹¹ Who knows the power of your anger,

and your wrath that is equal to the fear of you?

¹² So teach us to consider our life

so that we might gain a heart of wisdom.

¹³ Turn back, Yahweh! How long will it be?

Have pity on your servants.

¹⁴ Satisfy us in the morning with your covenant faithfulness

so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

¹⁵ Make us glad in proportion to the days you afflicted us

and to the years we have experienced trouble.

¹⁶ Let your servants see your work,

and let our children see your majesty.

¹⁷ May the favor of the Lord our God be ours;

prosper the work of our hands;

indeed, prosper the work of our hands.

Chapter 91

¹ He who lives in the shelter of the Most High

will stay in the shadow of the Almighty.

² I will say of Yahweh, "He is my refuge and my fortress,

my God, in whom I trust."

³ For he will rescue you

from the snare of the hunter

and from the destructive plague.

⁴ He will cover you with his wings,

and under his wings you will find refuge.

His faithfulness is a shield and protection.

⁵ You will not be afraid of terror in the night,

or of the arrow that flies by day,

⁶ or of the plague that stalks in the darkness,

or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.

⁷ A thousand may fall at your side

and ten thousand at your right hand,

but it will not reach you.

⁸ You will only observe

and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ For Yahweh is my refuge!

Make the Most High your refuge also.

¹⁰ No evil will overtake you;

no affliction will come near your tent.

¹¹ For he will put his angels in charge over you,

to guard you in all your ways.

¹² They will lift you up with their hand

so that you will not hit your foot on a stone.

¹³ You will crush lions and asps under your feet;

you will trample on young lions and serpents.

¹⁴ Because he delights in me, I will rescue him.

I will protect him because he acknowledges my name.

¹⁵ When he calls to me, I will answer him.

I will be with him in trouble;

I will give him victory and will honor him.

¹⁶ I will satisfy him with the length of his days,

and show him my salvation.

Chapter 92

A psalm, a song for the Sabbath day.

¹ It is a good thing to give thanks to Yahweh

and to sing praises to your name, Most High,

² to proclaim your covenant faithfulness in the morning

and your truthfulness every night,

³ with a lute of ten strings

and the resounding music of the harp.

⁴ For you, Yahweh, have made me glad through your deeds.

I will sing for joy because of the deeds of your hands.

⁵ How great are your deeds, Yahweh!

Your thoughts are very deep.

⁶ A brutish person does not know,

nor does a fool understand this:

⁷ When the wicked sprout like the grass,

and even when all those who behave wickedly thrive,

still they are doomed to eternal destruction.

⁸ But you, Yahweh, will reign forever.

⁹ Indeed, look at your enemies, Yahweh!

Indeed, look at your enemies. They will perish!

All those who behave wickedly will be scattered.

¹⁰ You have lifted up my horn like the horn of the wild ox;

I am anointed with fresh oil.

¹¹ My eyes have seen the downfall of my enemies;

my ears have heard of the doom of my evil foes.

¹² The righteous will flourish like the palm tree;

they will grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

¹³ They are planted in the house of Yahweh;

they flourish in the courts of our God.

¹⁴ They bear fruit even when they are old;

they stay fresh and green,

¹⁵ to proclaim that Yahweh is just.

He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Chapter 93

¹ Yahweh reigns; he is robed in majesty;

Yahweh has clothed and girded himself with strength.

The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved.

² Your throne is established from ancient times;

you are from everlasting.

³ The oceans rise, Yahweh;

they have lifted up their voice;

the oceans' waves crash and roar.

⁴ Above the crashing of many waves,

the mighty breakers of the sea,

Yahweh on high is mighty.

⁵ Your solemn commands are very trustworthy;

holiness adorns your house,

Yahweh, for the length of your days.

Chapter 94

¹ Yahweh, God who avenges,

God who avenges, shine over us.

² Rise up, judge of the earth,

give recompense to the proud.

³ How long will the wicked, Yahweh,

how long will the wicked rejoice?

⁴ They pour out their arrogant words;

all those who behave wickedly boast.

⁵ They crush your people, Yahweh;

they afflict your heritage.

⁶ They kill the widow and foreigner who lives in their country,

and they murder the fatherless.

⁷ They say, "Yah does not see;

the God of Jacob does not take notice of it." ¹

⁸ Pay attention, you stupid people!

You fools, when will you gain understanding?

⁹ He who made the ear, does he not hear?

He who formed the eye, does he not see?

¹⁰ He who disciplines the nations, does he not correct?

He is the one who gives knowledge to man.

¹¹ Yahweh knows the thoughts of men,

that they are vapor.

¹² Blessed is the one whom Yah instructs,

the one whom you teach from your law. ²

¹³ You give him rest in times of trouble

until a pit is dug for the wicked.

¹⁴ For Yahweh will not abandon his people

or abandon his inheritance.

¹⁵ For judgment will again be righteous;

and all the upright in heart will follow it.

¹⁶ Who will rise up to defend me against the evildoers?

Who will stand up for me against those who behave wickedly?

¹⁷ Unless Yahweh had been my help,

I would soon be lying down in the place of silence.

¹⁸ When I said, "My foot is slipping,"

Your covenant faithfulness, Yahweh, held me up.

¹⁹ When cares within me are many,

your consolations delight my soul.

²⁰ Can a throne of destruction be allied with you,

one that creates trouble by statute?

²¹ They conspire together to take the life of the righteous

and they declare guilty the blood of the innocent.

²² But Yahweh has been my high tower,

and my God has been the rock of my refuge.

²³ He will bring on them their own iniquity

and will cut them off in their own wickedness.

Yahweh our God will cut them off.

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 95

¹ Oh come, let us sing to Yahweh;

let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.

² Let us enter his presence with thanksgiving;

let us shout joyfully to him with psalms of praise.

³ For Yahweh is a great God

and a great King superior to all gods.

⁴ In his hand are the depths of the earth;

the heights of the mountains are his.

⁵ The sea is his, for he made it,

and his hands formed the dry land.

⁶ Oh come, let us worship and bow down;

let us kneel before Yahweh, our Creator:

⁷ For he is our God,

and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand.

Today—oh, that you would hear his voice!

⁸ "Do not harden your heart, as at Meribah,

or as on the day of Massah in the wilderness,

⁹ where your forefathers tested me;

they put me to the test, though they had seen my deeds.

¹⁰ For forty years I was angry with that generation

and said, 'This is a people whose hearts wander astray;

they have not known my ways.'

¹¹ Therefore I swore in my anger

that they would never enter into my resting place."

Chapter 96

¹ Oh, sing to Yahweh a new song;

sing to Yahweh, all the earth.

² Sing to Yahweh, bless his name;

announce his salvation day after day.

³ Declare his glory among the nations,

his marvelous deeds among all the nations.

⁴ For Yahweh is great and is to be praised greatly.

He is to be feared above all other gods.

⁵ For all the gods of the nations are idols,

but it is Yahweh who made the heavens.

⁶ Splendor and majesty are in his presence.

Strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

⁷ Ascribe to Yahweh, you clans of peoples,

ascribe praise to Yahweh for his glory and strength.

⁸ Give to Yahweh the glory that his name deserves.

Bring an offering and come into his courts.

⁹ Bow down to Yahweh in the splendor of holiness;

tremble before him, all the earth.

¹⁰ Say among the nations, "Yahweh reigns."

The world also is established; it cannot be shaken.

He judges the peoples fairly.

¹¹ Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;

let the sea roar and that which fills it shout with joy.

¹² Let the fields rejoice and all that is in them.

Then let all the trees in the forest shout for joy

¹³ before Yahweh, for he is coming.

He is coming to judge the earth.

He will judge the world with righteousness

and the peoples with his faithfulness.

Chapter 97

¹ Yahweh reigns; let the earth rejoice;

let the many coastlands be glad.

² Clouds and darkness surround him.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

³ Fire goes before him

and consumes his adversaries on every side.

⁴ His lightning lights up the world;

the earth sees and trembles.

⁵ The mountains melt like wax before Yahweh,

the Lord of the whole earth.

⁶ The skies declare his justice,

and all the nations see his glory.

⁷ All those who worship carved figures will be shamed,

those who boast in worthless idols—

bow down to him, all you gods!

⁸ Zion heard and was glad,

and the towns of Judah rejoiced

because of your righteous decrees, Yahweh.

⁹ For you, Yahweh, are most high above all the earth.

You are exalted far above all gods.

¹⁰ You who love Yahweh, hate evil!

He protects the lives of his faithful ones,

and he takes them out of the hand of the wicked.

¹¹ Light is sown for the righteous

and gladness for those with honest hearts.

¹² Be glad in Yahweh, you righteous;

and give thanks when you remember his holiness.

Chapter 98

A psalm.

¹ Oh, sing to Yahweh a new song,

for he has done marvelous things;

his right hand and his holy arm

have given him victory.

² Yahweh has made known his salvation;

he has openly showed his justice to all the nations.

³ He calls to mind his steadfast love

and faithfulness for the house of Israel;

all the ends of the earth will see

the victory of our God.

⁴ Shout for joy to Yahweh, all the earth;

burst into song, sing for joy, and sing praises.

⁵ Sing praises to Yahweh with the harp,

with the harp and melodious song.

⁶ With trumpets and the sound of the horn,

shout joyfully before the King, Yahweh.

⁷ Let the sea shout and everything in it,

the world and those who live in it!

⁸ Let the rivers clap their hands,

and let the mountains shout for joy.

⁹ Yahweh is coming to judge the earth;

he will judge the world with righteousness

and the nations with fairness.

Chapter 99

¹ Yahweh reigns;

let the nations tremble.

He sits enthroned above the cherubim;

the earth quakes.

² Yahweh is great in Zion;

he is exalted above all the nations.

³ Let them praise your great and awesome name;

he is holy.

⁴ The king is strong, and he loves justice.

You have established fairness;

you have done righteousness

and justice in Jacob.

⁵ Praise Yahweh our God

and worship at his footstool.

He is holy.

⁶ Moses and Aaron were among his priests,

and Samuel was among those who called on his name.

They called to Yahweh,

and he answered them.

⁷ He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud.

They kept his solemn commands

and the statutes that he gave them.

⁸ You answered them,

Yahweh our God.

A forgiving God you were to them,

but also an avenger of their sinful deeds.

⁹ Praise Yahweh our God,

and worship at his holy hill,

for Yahweh our God is holy.

Chapter 100

A psalm of thanksgiving.

¹ Shout joyfully to Yahweh, all the earth.

² Serve Yahweh with gladness;

come before his presence with joyful singing.

³ Know that Yahweh is God;

he made us, and we are his.

We are his people and the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter into his gates with thanksgiving

and into his courts with praise.

Give thanks to him and bless his name.

⁵ For Yahweh is good; his covenant faithfulness endures forever

and his truthfulness through all generations.

Chapter 101

A psalm of David.

¹ I will sing of covenant faithfulness and justice;

to you, Yahweh, I will sing praises.

² I will pay attention to the way of integrity.

Oh, when will you come to me?

I will walk with integrity of heart within my house.

³ I will not put wrongdoing before my eyes;

I hate worthless evil;

it will not cling to me.

⁴ A perverse heart will leave me;

I am not loyal to evil.

⁵ I will destroy whoever secretly slanders his neighbor.

I will not tolerate the haughty of eye and arrogant of heart.

⁶ I will look to the faithful of the land to sit at my side.

Those who walk in the way of integrity may serve me.

⁷ Deceitful people will not remain within my house;

liars will not be welcome before my eyes.

⁸ Morning by morning

I will destroy all the wicked from the land;

I will remove all who behave wickedly

from the city of Yahweh.

Chapter 102

A prayer of the afflicted when he is faint and pours out his lament before Yahweh.

¹ Hear my prayer, Yahweh;

hear my cry to you.

² Do not hide your face from me in my time of trouble.

Listen to me.

When I call out to you,

answer me quickly.

³ For my days pass away like smoke,

and my bones burn like fire.

⁴ My heart is crushed, and I am like grass that has withered.

I forget to eat any food.

⁵ With my continual groaning,

I have become very thin.

⁶ I am like a pelican of the wilderness;

I have become like an owl in the ruins.

⁷ I lie awake like a solitary bird,

alone on the housetop.

⁸ My enemies taunt me all day long;

those who mock me use my name in curses.

⁹ I eat ashes like bread

and mix my drink with tears.

¹⁰ Because of your raging anger,

you have lifted me up to throw me down.

¹¹ My days are like a shadow that fades,

and I have withered like grass.

¹² But you, Yahweh, live forever,

and your fame is for all generations.

¹³ You will rise up and have mercy on Zion.

Now is the time to have mercy upon her;

the appointed time has come.

¹⁴ For your servants hold her stones dear

and feel compassion for the dust of her ruins.

¹⁵ The nations will respect your name, Yahweh,

and all the kings of the earth will honor your glory.

¹⁶ Yahweh will rebuild Zion

and will appear in his glory.

¹⁷ At that time, he will respond to the prayer of the destitute;

he will not reject their prayer.

¹⁸ This will be written for future generations,

and a people not yet created will praise Yah. ¹

¹⁹ For he has looked down from the holy heights;

from heaven Yahweh has viewed the earth,

²⁰ to hear the groaning of the prisoners,

to release those who were condemned to death.

²¹ Then men will proclaim the name of Yahweh in Zion

and his praise in Jerusalem

²² when the peoples and kingdoms gather together

to serve Yahweh.

²³ He has taken away my strength in the middle of life.

He has shortened my days.

²⁴ I said, "My God, do not take me away in the middle of life;

you are here throughout all generations.

²⁵ In ancient times you established the earth;

the heavens are the work of your hands.

²⁶ They will perish, but you will remain;

they will all grow old like a garment;

like clothing, you will remove them,

and they will disappear.

²⁷ But you are the same,

and your years will have no end.

²⁸ The children of your servants will live on,

and their descendants will live in your presence."

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 103

A psalm of David.

¹ I give praise to Yahweh with all my life,

and with all that is within me,

I give praise to his holy name.

² I give praise to Yahweh with all my life,

and I remember all of his good deeds.

³ He forgives all your iniquities;

he heals all your diseases.

⁴ He redeems your life from the pit;

he crowns you with covenant faithfulness and acts of tender mercy.

⁵ He satisfies your life with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

⁶ Yahweh does what is fair

and does acts of justice for all who are oppressed.

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,

his deeds to the descendants of Israel.

⁸ Yahweh is merciful and gracious;

slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

⁹ He will not discipline forever;

he will not be angry to eternity.

¹⁰ He does not deal with us as our sins deserve

or repay us for what our iniquities demand.

¹¹ For as the skies are high above the earth,

so great is his covenant faithfulness toward those who honor him.

¹² As far as the east is from the west,

this is how far he has removed the guilt of our sins from us.

¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,

so Yahweh has compassion on those who honor him.

¹⁴ For he knows how we are formed;

he knows that we are dust.

¹⁵ As for man, his days are like grass;

he flourishes like a flower in a field.

¹⁶ The wind blows over it, and it disappears,

and no one can even tell where it once grew.

¹⁷ But the covenant faithfulness of Yahweh is from everlasting to everlasting

on those who honor him.

His righteousness extends to their descendants.

¹⁸ They keep his covenant

and remember to obey his instructions.

¹⁹ Yahweh has established his throne in the heavens,

and his kingdom rules over everyone.

²⁰ Give praise to Yahweh, you his angels,

you mighty ones who are strong and do his word,

and obey the sound of his word.

²¹ Give praise to Yahweh, all his hosts,

his servants who do his will.

²² Give praise to Yahweh, all his creatures,

in all the places where he reigns.

I will give praise to Yahweh with all my life.

Chapter 104

¹ I give praise to Yahweh with all my life,

Yahweh my God, you are very magnificent;

you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

² You cover yourself with light as with a garment;

you spread out the heavens like a tent curtain.

³ You lay the beams of your chambers on the clouds;

you make the clouds your chariot;

you walk on the wings of the wind.

⁴ He makes the winds his messengers,

flames of fire his servants.

⁵ He laid the foundations of the earth,

so that it will not totter forever and ever.

⁶ You covered the earth with water like a garment;

the water covered the mountains.

⁷ At your rebuke the waters retreated;

at the sound of your thunder they hurried away.

⁸ The mountains rose and the valleys went down

to the places that you had appointed for them.

⁹ You have set a boundary for them that they will not cross;

they will not cover the earth again.

¹⁰ He made springs flow into the valleys;

the streams flow between the mountains.

¹¹ They supply water for all the animals of the field;

the wild donkeys quench their thirst.

¹² By the riverbanks the birds build their nests;

they sing among the branches.

¹³ He waters the mountains from his water chambers in the sky.

The earth is filled with the fruit of his labor.

¹⁴ He makes the grass grow for the cattle

and plants for man to cultivate,

so that man may produce food from the earth.

¹⁵ He makes wine to make man happy,

oil to make his face shine,

and food to sustain his life.

¹⁶ The trees of Yahweh get plenty of rain;

the cedars of Lebanon which he planted.

¹⁷ There the birds make their nests.

The stork makes the cypress tree her home.

¹⁸ The wild goats live on the high mountains;

the mountain heights are a refuge for the hyraxes.

¹⁹ He appointed the moon to mark the seasons;

the sun knows its time for setting.

²⁰ You make the darkness of the night

when all the beasts of the forest come out.

²¹ The young lions roar for their prey

and seek their food from God.

²² When the sun rises, they retreat

and sleep in their dens.

²³ Meanwhile, people go out to their work

and labor away until the evening.

²⁴ Yahweh, how many and varied are your works!

With wisdom you made them all;

the earth overflows with your works.

²⁵ Over there is the sea, deep and wide,

teeming with innumerable creatures,

both small and great.

²⁶ The ships travel there,

and Leviathan is also there, which you formed to play in the sea.

²⁷ All these look to you in hope

that you will give them their food on time.

²⁸ When you give to them, they gather;

when you open your hand, they are satisfied.

²⁹ When you hide your face, they are troubled;

if you take away their breath, they die

and return to dust.

³⁰ When you send out your Spirit,

they are created,

and you renew the surface of the ground.

³¹ May the glory of Yahweh last forever;

may Yahweh enjoy his creation.

³² He looks down on the earth, and it shakes;

he touches the mountains, and they smoke.

³³ I will sing to Yahweh all my life;

I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

³⁴ May my thoughts be sweet to him;

I will rejoice in Yahweh.

³⁵ May sinners vanish from the earth,

and let the wicked be no more.

I give praise to Yahweh with all my life.

Give praise to Yah. ¹

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 105

¹ Give thanks to Yahweh, call on his name;

make known his deeds among the nations.

² Sing to him, sing praises to him;

speak of all his marvelous deeds.

³ Boast in his holy name;

let the heart of those who seek Yahweh rejoice.

⁴ Seek Yahweh and his strength;

seek his presence continually.

⁵ Recall the marvelous things he has done,

his miracles and the decrees from his mouth,

⁶ you descendants of Abraham his servant,

you people of Jacob, his chosen ones.

⁷ He is Yahweh, our God.

His decrees are on all the earth.

⁸ He keeps in mind his covenant forever,

the word that he commanded for a thousand generations.

⁹ He calls to mind the covenant that he made with Abraham

and his oath to Isaac.

¹⁰ This is what he confirmed to Jacob as a statute

and to Israel as an everlasting covenant.

¹¹ He said, "I will give you the land of Canaan

as your share of your inheritance."

¹² He said this when they were only few in number,

so very few, and were strangers in the land.

¹³ They went from nation to nation

and from one kingdom to another.

¹⁴ He did not allow anyone to oppress them;

he rebuked kings for their sakes.

¹⁵ He said, "Do not touch my anointed ones,

and do not harm my prophets."

¹⁶ He called for a famine on the land;

he cut off the whole staff of bread.

¹⁷ He sent a man ahead of them;

Joseph was sold as a servant.

¹⁸ His feet were bound by shackles;

on his neck was put an iron collar,

¹⁹ until what he had said came to pass.

The word of Yahweh tested him.

²⁰ The king sent servants to release him;

the ruler of the people set him free.

²¹ He put him in charge of his house

as ruler of all his possessions

²² to instruct his princes as he wished

and to teach his elders wisdom.

²³ Then Israel came into Egypt,

and Jacob lived for a time in the land of Ham.

²⁴ Yahweh made his people fruitful,

and made them stronger than their enemies.

²⁵ He caused their enemies to hate his people,

to mistreat his servants.

²⁶ He sent Moses, his servant,

and Aaron, whom he had chosen.

²⁷ They performed his signs among the Egyptians,

his wonders in the land of Ham.

²⁸ He sent darkness and made that land dark,

and they did not rebel against his commands.

²⁹ He turned their water into blood

and killed their fish.

³⁰ Their land swarmed with frogs,

even in the rooms of their rulers.

³¹ He spoke, and swarms of flies and gnats came

throughout their country.

³² He turned their rain into hail,

with fire flaming on their land.

³³ He destroyed their vines and fig trees;

he broke the trees of their country.

³⁴ He spoke, and the locusts came,

so many locusts.

³⁵ The locusts ate up all of the vegetation in their land;

They ate up all the crops of the ground.

³⁶ He killed every firstborn in their land,

the firstfruits of all their strength.

³⁷ He brought the Israelites out with silver and gold;

none of his tribes stumbled on the way.

³⁸ Egypt was glad when they went away,

for the Egyptians were afraid of them.

³⁹ He spread a cloud for a covering

and made a fire to light up the night.

⁴⁰ The Israelites asked for food, and he brought quail

and satisfied them with bread from heaven.

⁴¹ He split the rock, and waters gushed from it;

they flowed in the wilderness like a river.

⁴² For he called to mind his holy promise

that he made to Abraham his servant.

⁴³ He led his people out with joy,

his chosen with shouts of triumph.

⁴⁴ He gave them the lands of the nations;

they took possession of the fruit of the peoples' labors

⁴⁵ so that they might keep his statutes

and obey his laws.

Give praise to Yah. ¹

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 106

¹ Give praise to Yah. ¹

Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,

for his covenant faithfulness endures forever.

² Who can recount the mighty acts of Yahweh

or proclaim in full all his praiseworthy deeds?

³ Blessed are those who do what is right,

and whose deeds are always just.

⁴ Call me to mind, Yahweh, when you show favor to your people;

help me when you save them.

⁵ Then I will see the prosperity of your chosen,

rejoice in the gladness of your nation,

and glory with your inheritance.

⁶ We have sinned like our ancestors;

we have done wrong, and we have done evil.

⁷ Our fathers did not pay attention to your marvelous deeds in Egypt;

they ignored your many acts of covenant faithfulness;

they were rebellious at the sea, the Sea of Reeds.

⁸ Nevertheless, he saved them for his name's sake

so that he might reveal his power.

⁹ He rebuked the Sea of Reeds, and it dried up.

Then he led them through the depths, as through a wilderness.

¹⁰ He saved them from the hand of those who hated them,

and he rescued them from the hand of the enemy.

¹¹ But the waters covered their adversaries;

not one of them survived.

¹² Then they believed his words,

and they sang his praise.

¹³ But they quickly forgot his deeds;

they did not wait for his instructions.

¹⁴ They had insatiable cravings in the wilderness,

and they challenged God in the desert.

¹⁵ So he gave them what they requested,

but he sent a horrible disease upon them.

¹⁶ In the camp they became jealous of Moses

and Aaron, the holy priest of Yahweh.

¹⁷ The earth opened and swallowed up Dathan

and covered the company of Abiram.

¹⁸ Fire broke out in their company;

the fire consumed the wicked.

¹⁹ They made a calf at Horeb

and worshiped a cast metal figure.

²⁰ They traded the glory of God

for the image of a bull that eats grass.

²¹ They forgot God their Savior,

who had done great deeds in Egypt.

²² He had done wonderful things in the land of Ham

and awesome deeds at the Sea of Reeds.

²³ So he said he would destroy them—

had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him,

to turn away his anger from destroying them.

²⁴ Then they despised the delightful land;

they did not believe his promise,

²⁵ but grumbled in their tents,

and did not obey Yahweh.

²⁶ Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them

that he would let them die in the desert,

²⁷ scatter their descendants among the nations,

and scatter them in foreign lands.

²⁸ They worshiped the Baal of Peor

and ate the sacrifices offered to the dead.

²⁹ They provoked him to anger with their actions,

and a plague broke out among them.

³⁰ Then Phinehas stood up and mediated,

and the plague subsided.

³¹ It was counted to him as a righteous deed

to all generations forever.

³² They also angered Yahweh at the waters of Meribah,

and Moses suffered because of them.

³³ They made his spirit bitter,

and he spoke thoughtlessly with his lips.

³⁴ They did not destroy the nations

as Yahweh had commanded them,

³⁵ but they mingled with the nations,

learned their practices,

³⁶ and worshiped their idols,

which became a snare to them.

³⁷ They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons.

³⁸ They shed innocent blood,

the blood of their sons and of their daughters,

whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,

desecrating the land with blood.

³⁹ They were defiled by their deeds;

in their actions they were like prostitutes.

⁴⁰ So Yahweh was angry with his people,

and he abhorred his inheritance.

⁴¹ He gave them into the hand of the nations,

and those who hated them ruled over them.

⁴² Their enemies oppressed them,

and they were brought into subjection to their authority.

⁴³ Many times he came to help them,

but they were rebellious in their purposes

and were brought low by their own iniquity.

⁴⁴ Nevertheless, he paid attention to their distress

when he heard their cry for help.

⁴⁵ He called to mind his covenant with them

and relented because of his steadfast love.

⁴⁶ He caused all their captors

to have pity on them.

⁴⁷ Save us, Yahweh, our God.

Gather us from among the nations

so that we may give thanks to your holy name

and glory in your praises.

⁴⁸ May Yahweh, the God of Israel, be praised

from everlasting to everlasting.

All the people said, "Amen."

Give praise to Yah. ²

Book Five

(Psalms 107-150)

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 107

¹ Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,

and his covenant faithfulness endures forever.

² Let the redeemed of Yahweh speak out,

those he has rescued from the hand of the enemy.

³ He has gathered them out of foreign lands,

from the east and from the west,

from the north and from the south.

⁴ They wandered in the wilderness on a desert road

and found no city in which to live.

⁵ Because they were hungry and thirsty,

they fainted from exhaustion.

⁶ Then they called out to Yahweh in their trouble,

and he rescued them out of their distress.

⁷ He led them by a direct path

so that they would go to a city to live in.

⁸ Oh that people would praise Yahweh for his covenant faithfulness

and for the amazing things he has done for humanity!

⁹ For he satisfies the longings of those who are thirsty,

and the desires of those who are hungry he fills up with good things.

¹⁰ Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,

prisoners in affliction and chains.

¹¹ This was because they had rebelled against God's word

and rejected the instruction of the Most High.

¹² He humbled their hearts through hardship;

they stumbled and there was no one to help them up.

¹³ Then they called out to Yahweh in their trouble,

and he saved them out of their distress.

¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness and gloom

and broke their bonds.

¹⁵ Oh that people would praise Yahweh for his covenant faithfulness

and for the amazing things he has done for humanity!

¹⁶ For he has broken the gates of bronze

and cut through the bars of iron.

¹⁷ They were foolish in their rebellious ways

and afflicted because of their iniquities.

¹⁸ Their soul abhorred all food,

and they came close to the gates of death.

¹⁹ Then they called out to Yahweh in their trouble,

and he saved them out of their distress.

²⁰ He sent his word and healed them,

and he rescued them from the pits in which they were trapped.

²¹ Oh that people would praise Yahweh for his covenant faithfulness

and for the amazing things he has done for humanity!

²² Let them offer the sacrifices of thanksgiving

and proclaim his deeds with shouts of joy.

²³ Some travel on the sea in ships

and do business overseas.

²⁴ These saw the deeds of Yahweh

and his wonders on the seas.

²⁵ For he commanded and aroused the windstorm

that stirs up the seas.

²⁶ They reached up to the sky; they went down to the depths.

Their lives melted away in distress.

²⁷ They swayed and staggered like drunkards

and were at their wits' end.

²⁸ Then they called out to Yahweh in their trouble,

and he brought them out of their distress.

²⁹ He calmed the storm,

and the waves were stilled.

³⁰ Then they rejoiced because the sea was calm,

and he brought them to their desired harbor.

³¹ Oh that people would praise Yahweh for his covenant faithfulness

and for the amazing things he has done for humanity!

³² Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people

and praise him in the council of the elders.

³³ He turns rivers into a wilderness,

springs of water into dry land,

³⁴ and a fruitful land into a barren place

because of the wickedness of its people.

³⁵ He turns the wilderness into a pool of water

and dry land into springs of water.

³⁶ He settles the hungry there,

and they build a city to live in.

³⁷ They sowed fields and planted vineyards

that yielded a fruitful harvest.

³⁸ He blesses them so they are very numerous.

He does not let their livestock decrease in number.

³⁹ They were diminished and brought low

by oppression, distress, and suffering.

⁴⁰ He pours contempt on the leaders

and causes them to wander in the wilderness, where there are no roads.

⁴¹ But he protects the needy from affliction

and cares for his families like a flock.

⁴² The upright will see this and rejoice,

and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

⁴³ Whoever is wise should take note of these things

and meditate on Yahweh's acts of covenant faithfulness.

Chapter 108

A song, a psalm of David.

¹ My heart is fixed, God!

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises with all my glory.

² Wake up, lute and harp;

I will wake up the dawn.

³ I will give thanks to you, Yahweh, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

⁴ For your covenant faithfulness is great above the heavens;

and your trustworthiness reaches to the skies.

⁵ Be exalted, God, above the heavens,

and may your glory be exalted over all the earth.

⁶ So that those you love may be rescued,

rescue us with your right hand and answer me.

⁷ God has spoken in his holiness; "I will rejoice;

I will divide Shechem

and apportion out the Valley of Sukkoth.

⁸ Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;

Ephraim also is my helmet;

Judah is my scepter.

⁹ Moab is my washbasin;

over Edom I will throw my sandal;

I will shout in triumph because of Philistia.

¹⁰ Who will bring me into the fortified city?

Who will lead me to Edom?"

¹¹ God, have you not rejected us?

You do not go into battle with our army.

¹² Give us help against the enemy,

for man's help is futile.

¹³ We will triumph with God's help;

he will trample down our enemies.

Chapter 109

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ God whom I praise,

do not be silent.

² For the wicked and deceitful attack me;

they speak lies against me.

³ They surround me and say hateful things,

and they attack me without cause.

⁴ In return for my love they accuse me,

but I pray for them.

⁵ They repay me evil for good,

and hatred for my love.

⁶ Appoint a wicked man over such an enemy as these people;

appoint an accuser to stand at his right hand.

⁷ When he is judged, may he be found guilty;

may his prayer be considered sinful.

⁸ May his days be few;

may another take his office.

⁹ May his children be fatherless,

and may his wife be a widow.

¹⁰ May his children wander about and beg,

seeking food far from their ruined home.

¹¹ May the creditor seize all he owns;

may strangers plunder the product of his labor.

¹² May no one extend any kindness to him;

may no one have pity on his fatherless children.

¹³ May his descendants be cut off;

may their name be blotted out in the next generation.

¹⁴ May his ancestors' iniquity be remembered before Yahweh;

and may the sin of his mother not be forgotten.

¹⁵ May their sins always be before Yahweh;

may he cut off their memory from the earth.

¹⁶ May Yahweh do this, for that man never bothered to show any covenant faithfulness,

but harassed the oppressed, the needy,

and the brokenhearted to death.

¹⁷ He loved cursing;

may it come back upon him.

He hated blessing;

may it be far from him.

¹⁸ He clothed himself with cursing as his garment,

and his curse came into his body like water,

like oil into his bones.

¹⁹ May his curses be to him like the clothes he wears to cover himself,

like the belt he always wears.

²⁰ May this be the reward of my accusers from Yahweh,

of those who say evil things about me.

²¹ Yahweh my Lord, deal kindly with me for your name's sake.

Because your covenant faithfulness is good, save me.

²² For I am oppressed and needy,

and my heart is wounded within me.

²³ I am fading away like the shadow of the evening;

I am shaken off like a locust.

²⁴ My knees are weak from fasting;

my body has become thin and has no fat.

²⁵ I have become an object of scorn to my accusers;

when they see me, they shake their heads.

²⁶ Help me, Yahweh my God;

save me by your covenant faithfulness.

²⁷ Let them know that this is your hand,

that you, Yahweh, have done this.

²⁸ They curse, but you bless;

when they attack, may they be put to shame,

but may your servant rejoice.

²⁹ May my adversaries be clothed with shame;

may they wear their shame like a robe.

³⁰ With my mouth I give great thanks to Yahweh;

I will praise him in the midst of a crowd.

³¹ For he will stand at the right hand of the one who is needy,

to save him from those who condemn him.

Chapter 110

A psalm of David.

¹ The declaration of Yahweh to my lord:

"Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies your footstool."

² Yahweh will hold out the scepter of your strength from Zion;

rule among your enemies.

³ Your people will follow you in holy garments

of their own free will on the day of your power;

from the womb of the dawn your youth will be to you like the dew.

⁴ Yahweh has sworn and will not change his mind:

"You are a priest forever,

after the manner of Melchizedek."

⁵ The Lord is at your right hand.

He will kill kings on the day of his anger.

⁶ He will judge the nations;

he will fill the battlegrounds with dead bodies;

he will kill the leaders in many countries.

⁷ He will drink of the brook along the road,

and then he will lift his head up high after victory.

Chapter 111

¹ Give praise to Yah. ¹

I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart

in the assembly of the upright, in their gathering.

² The works of Yahweh are great,

eagerly awaited by all those who desire them.

³ His work is majestic and glorious,

and his righteousness endures forever.

⁴ He does wonderful things that will be remembered;

Yahweh is gracious and merciful.

⁵ He gives food to his faithful followers.

He will always call to mind his covenant.

⁶ He showed his powerful works to his people

in giving them the inheritance of the nations.

⁷ The works of his hands are trustworthy and just;

all his instructions are reliable.

⁸ They are established forever,

to be observed faithfully and properly.

⁹ He sent redemption to his people;

he ordained his covenant forever;

holy and awesome is his name.

¹⁰ To honor Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom;

those who carry out his instructions have good understanding.

His praise endures forever.

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 112

¹ Give praise to Yah. ¹

Blessed is the man who fears Yahweh,

who greatly delights in his commandments.

² His descendants will be powerful on earth;

the descendants of the godly man will be blessed.

³ Wealth and riches are in his house;

his righteousness will endure forever.

⁴ Light shines in the darkness for the godly person;

he is gracious, merciful, and just.

⁵ It goes well for the man who deals graciously and lends money,

who conducts his affairs with honesty.

⁶ For he will never be moved;

the righteous person will be remembered forever.

⁷ He does not fear bad news;

he is confident, trusting in Yahweh.

⁸ His heart is tranquil, without fear,

until he looks in triumph over his adversaries.

⁹ He gives freely to the poor;

his righteousness endures forever;

his horn will be exalted with honor.

¹⁰ The wicked person will see this and be angry;

he will grind his teeth in rage and he will melt away;

the desire of the wicked people will perish.

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 113

¹ Give praise to Yah. ¹

Praise him, you servants of Yahweh;

praise the name of Yahweh.

² Blessed be the name of Yahweh,

both now and forevermore.

³ From the rising of the sun to its setting,

Yahweh's name should be praised.

⁴ Yahweh is exalted above all nations,

and his glory reaches above the skies.

⁵ Who is like Yahweh our God,

who has his seat on high,

⁶ who humbles himself to look down

at the sky and at the earth?

⁷ He raises up the poor out of the dirt

and lifts up the needy from the ash heap,

⁸ so that he may seat him with princes,

with the princes of his people.

⁹ He gives a home to the barren woman of the house;

he makes her a joyful mother of children.

Give praise to Yah! ²

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 114

¹ When Israel left Egypt,

the house of Jacob from a people who spoke a foreign language,

² Judah became his holy place,

Israel his kingdom.

³ The sea looked and fled;

the Jordan turned back.

⁴ The mountains skipped like rams,

the hills skipped like lambs.

⁵ Why did you flee, sea?

Jordan, why did you turn back?

⁶ Mountains, why did you skip like rams?

You little hills, why did you skip like lambs?

⁷ Tremble, earth, before the Lord,

at the presence of the God of Jacob.

⁸ He turned the rock into a pool of water,

the hard rock into a spring of water.

Chapter 115

¹ Not to us, Yahweh, not to us,

but to your name bring honor,

for your covenant faithfulness

and for your trustworthiness.

² Why should the nations say,

"Where is their God?"

³ Our God is in heaven;

he does whatever he pleases.

⁴ The nations' idols are silver and gold,

the work of men's hands.

⁵ Those idols have mouths, but they do not speak;

they have eyes, but they do not see;

⁶ they have ears, but they do not hear;

they have noses, but they do not smell.

⁷ Those idols have hands, but do not feel;

they have feet, but they cannot walk;

nor do they speak from their mouths.

⁸ Those who make them are like them,

as is everyone who trusts in them.

⁹ Israel, trust in Yahweh;

he is your help and shield.

¹⁰ House of Aaron, trust in Yahweh;

he is your help and shield.

¹¹ You who honor Yahweh, trust in him;

he is your help and shield.

¹² Yahweh takes notice of us and will bless us;

he will bless the family of Israel;

he will bless the family of Aaron.

¹³ He will bless those who honor him,

both young and old.

¹⁴ May Yahweh increase your numbers more and more,

yours and your descendants'.

¹⁵ May you be blessed by Yahweh,

who made heaven and earth.

¹⁶ The heavens belong to Yahweh;

but the earth he has given to mankind.

¹⁷ The dead do not give praise to Yah, ¹

nor do any who go down into silence;

¹⁸ But we will give praise to Yah,

now and forevermore.

Give praise to Yah! ²

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 116

¹ I love Yahweh because he hears

my voice and my pleas for mercy.

² Because he listened to me,

I will call on him as long as I live.

³ The cords of death surrounded me,

and the snares of Sheol confronted me;

I felt anguish and sorrow.

⁴ Then I called on the name of Yahweh:

"I beg you, Yahweh, rescue my life."

⁵ Yahweh is gracious and just;

our God is compassionate.

⁶ Yahweh protects the naive;

I was brought low, and he saved me.

⁷ My soul can return to its resting place,

for Yahweh has been good to me.

⁸ For you rescued my life from death,

my eyes from tears,

and my feet from stumbling.

⁹ I will serve Yahweh

in the land of the living.

¹⁰ I believed in him, even when I said,

"I am greatly afflicted."

¹¹ In my alarm I said,

"All men are liars."

¹² How can I repay Yahweh

for all his kindnesses to me?

¹³ I will raise the cup of salvation,

and call on the name of Yahweh.

¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to Yahweh

in the presence of all his people.

¹⁵ Precious in the sight of Yahweh

is the death of his faithful ones.

¹⁶ Yahweh, indeed, I am your servant;

I am your servant, the son of your servant woman;

you have taken away my bonds.

¹⁷ I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving

and will call on the name of Yahweh.

¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to Yahweh

in the presence of all his people,

¹⁹ in the courts of the house of Yahweh,

in your midst, Jerusalem.

Give praise to Yah! ¹

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 117

¹ Praise Yahweh, all you nations;

exalt him, all you peoples.

² For his covenant faithfulness is great toward us,

and the trustworthiness of Yahweh endures forever.

Give praise to Yah! ¹

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 118

¹ Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,

his covenant faithfulness endures forever.

² Let Israel say,

"His covenant faithfulness endures forever."

³ Let the house of Aaron say,

"His covenant faithfulness endures forever."

⁴ Let the loyal followers of Yahweh say,

"His covenant faithfulness endures forever."

⁵ In my distress I called out to Yah;

Yah answered me and set me in a spacious place. ¹

⁶ Yahweh is with me; I will not be afraid;

what can man do to me?

⁷ Yahweh is on my side as my helper;

I will look in triumph on those who hate me.

⁸ It is better to take shelter in Yahweh

than to put confidence in man.

⁹ It is better to take refuge in Yahweh

than to put one's trust in princes.

¹⁰ All the nations surrounded me;

in Yahweh's name I cut them off.

¹¹ They surrounded me; yes, they surrounded me;

in Yahweh's name I cut them off.

¹² They surrounded me like bees;

they disappeared as quickly as fire among thorns;

in Yahweh's name I cut them off.

¹³ "You attacked me to knock me down,

but Yahweh helped me.

¹⁴ Yah is my strength and joy,

and he is the one who rescues me." ²

¹⁵ The joyful shout of victory is heard in the tents of the righteous;

the right hand of Yahweh conquers.

¹⁶ The right hand of Yahweh is exalted;

the right hand of Yahweh conquers.

¹⁷ I will not die, but live

and declare what Yah has done. ³

¹⁸ Yah has punished me harshly,

but he has not handed me over to death. ⁴

¹⁹ Open to me the gates of righteousness;

I will enter them and I will give thanks to Yah. ⁵

²⁰ This is the gate of Yahweh;

the righteous enter through it.

²¹ I will give thanks to you, for you answered me,

and you have become my salvation.

²² The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone.

²³ This is Yahweh's doing;

it is marvelous in our eyes.

²⁴ This is the day on which Yahweh has acted;

we will rejoice and be glad in it.

²⁵ We beg you, Yahweh, please give us victory!

We beg you, Yahweh, please give us success!

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of Yahweh;

we bless you from the house of Yahweh.

²⁷ Yahweh is God, and he has given us light;

bind the sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.

²⁸ You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;

you are my God; I will exalt you.

²⁹ Oh, give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good,

for his covenant faithfulness endures forever.

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

³Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

⁴Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

⁵Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 119

ALEPH

¹ Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,

who walk in the law of Yahweh.

² Blessed are they who keep his solemn commands,

who seek him with all their heart.

³ They do no wrong;

they walk in his ways.

⁴ You have commanded us to keep your instructions

so that we should carefully observe them.

⁵ Oh, that I would be firmly established

in the observance of your statutes!

⁶ Then I would not be put to shame

when I think of all your commandments.

⁷ I will give thanks to you with an upright heart

when I learn your righteous decrees.

⁸ I will observe your statutes;

do not leave me alone.

BETH

⁹ How can a young person keep his path pure?

By obeying your word.

¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you;

Do not let me stray from your commandments.

¹¹ I have stored up your word in my heart

so that I might not sin against you.

¹² Blessed you are, Yahweh;

teach me your statutes.

¹³ With my mouth I have declared

all the righteous decrees that you have revealed.

¹⁴ I rejoice in the way of your covenant decrees

more than in all riches.

¹⁵ I will meditate on your instructions

and pay attention to your ways.

¹⁶ I delight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word.

GIMEL

¹⁷ Be kind to your servant so that I may live

and keep your word.

¹⁸ Open my eyes so that I may see

marvelous things in your law.

¹⁹ I am a foreigner in the land;

do not hide your commandments from me.

²⁰ My desires are crushed by the longing to know

your righteous decrees at all times.

²¹ You rebuke the proud, who are cursed,

who wander from your commandments.

²² Spare me from disgrace and contempt,

for I have obeyed your solemn commands.

²³ Though rulers plot and slander me,

your servant meditates on your statutes.

²⁴ Your solemn commands are my delight,

and they are my counselors.

DALETH

²⁵ My life clings to the dust!

Give me life by your word.

²⁶ I told you my ways, and you answered me;

teach me your statutes.

²⁷ Make me understand the ways of your instructions,

so that I can meditate on your wondrous teachings.

²⁸ I am overwhelmed with grief!

Strengthen me by your word.

²⁹ Turn from me the path of deceit;

graciously teach me your law.

³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

I have always kept your righteous decrees before me.

³¹ I cling to your covenant decrees;

Yahweh, do not let me be shamed.

³² I will run in the path of your commandments,

for you enlarge my heart to do so.

³³ Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your statutes,

and I will keep them to the end.

³⁴ Give me understanding, and I will keep your law;

I will observe it with all my heart.

³⁵ Guide me in the path of your commandments,

for I delight to walk in it.

³⁶ Direct my heart toward your covenant decrees

and away from unrighteous gain.

³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;

revive me in your ways.

³⁸ Carry out for your servant the word

that you gave to those who revere you.

³⁹ Take away the disgrace I dread,

for your judgments are good.

⁴⁰ See, I have longed for your instructions;

revive me in your righteousness.

VAV

⁴¹ Yahweh, give me your unfailing love—

your salvation, according to your word;

⁴² then I will have a reply for the one who mocks me,

for I trust in your word.

⁴³ Do not take the word of truth from my mouth,

for my hope is in your righteous decrees.

⁴⁴ I will observe your law continually,

forever and ever.

⁴⁵ I will walk securely,

for I seek your instructions.

⁴⁶ I will speak of your solemn commands before kings

and will not be ashamed.

⁴⁷ I delight in your commandments,

which I love dearly.

⁴⁸ I will lift up my hands to your commandments, which I love;

I will meditate on your statutes.

ZAYIN

⁴⁹ Call to mind your word to your servant

because you have given me hope.

⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction:

that your word has kept me alive.

⁵¹ The proud have scoffed at me,

yet I have not turned away from your law.

⁵² I have thought about your righteous decrees from ancient times, Yahweh,

and I comfort myself.

⁵³ Hot anger has taken hold of me

because of the wicked who reject your law.

⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songs

in the house of my sojourn.

⁵⁵ I think about your name during the night, Yahweh,

and I keep your law.

⁵⁶ This has been my practice

because I have observed your instructions.

HETH

⁵⁷ Yahweh is my portion;

I have determined to observe your words.

⁵⁸ I earnestly request your favor with my whole heart;

be merciful to me according to your word.

⁵⁹ I examined my ways

and turned my feet to your solemn commands.

⁶⁰ I hurry and do not delay

to keep your commandments.

⁶¹ The cords of the wicked have ensnared me;

I have not forgotten your law.

⁶² At midnight I rise to give thanks to you

because of your righteous decrees.

⁶³ I am a companion of all who honor you,

to all who observe your instructions.

⁶⁴ The earth, Yahweh, is full of your covenant faithfulness;

teach me your statutes.

TETH

⁶⁵ You have done good to your servant,

Yahweh, by means of your word.

⁶⁶ Teach me proper discernment and understanding,

for I have believed in your commandments.

⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I observe your word.

⁶⁸ You are good, and you are one who does good;

teach me your statutes.

⁶⁹ The arrogant have smeared me with lies,

but I keep your instructions with my whole heart.

⁷⁰ Their hearts are hardened,

but I delight in your law.

⁷¹ It is good for me that I have suffered

so that I would learn your statutes.

⁷² Instruction from your mouth is more precious to me

than thousands of pieces of gold and silver.

YOD

⁷³ Your hands have made and fashioned me;

give me understanding so that I may learn your commandments.

⁷⁴ Those who honor you will be glad when they see me

because I find hope in your word.

⁷⁵ I know, Yahweh, that your decrees are just,

and that in faithfulness you afflicted me.

⁷⁶ Let your covenant faithfulness comfort me,

according to your word to your servant.

⁷⁷ Show me compassion so that I may live,

for your law is my delight.

⁷⁸ Let the proud be put to shame,

for they have slandered me;

but I will meditate on your instructions.

⁷⁹ May those who honor you turn to me,

those who know your solemn commands.

⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless with respect to your statutes

so that I may not be put to shame.

KAPH

⁸¹ I faint with longing that you might rescue me!

I hope in your word.

⁸² My eyes long for your word;

when will you comfort me?

⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke;

I do not forget your statutes.

⁸⁴ How long must your servant endure this;

when will you judge those who persecute me?

⁸⁵ The proud have dug pits for me,

defying your law.

⁸⁶ All your commandments are reliable;

those people persecute me wrongfully; help me.

⁸⁷ They have almost made an end to me on earth,

but I do not reject your instructions.

⁸⁸ By your steadfast love, keep me alive,

so that I may obey the solemn commands that come from your mouth.

LAMEDH

⁸⁹ Yahweh, your word stands forever;

your word is established firmly in heaven.

⁹⁰ Your faithfulness lasts for all generations;

you have established the earth, and it remains.

⁹¹ All things continue to this day, just as you said in your righteous decrees,

for all things are your servants.

⁹² If your law had not been my delight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

⁹³ I will never forget your instructions,

for through them you have kept me alive.

⁹⁴ I am yours; save me,

for I seek your instructions.

⁹⁵ The wicked prepare to destroy me,

but I will seek to understand your solemn commands.

⁹⁶ All perfection I have seen has an end;

but your command is exceedingly broad.

MEM

⁹⁷ Oh how I love your law!

It is my meditation all day long.

⁹⁸ Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies,

for your commandments are always with me.

⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers,

for I meditate on your covenant decrees.

¹⁰⁰ I understand more than those older than I am;

this is because I have kept your instructions.

¹⁰¹ I have kept my feet back from every evil path

so that I might observe your word.

¹⁰² I have not turned aside from your righteous decrees,

for you have instructed me.

¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste,

yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹⁰⁴ Through your instructions I gain discernment;

therefore I hate every false way.

NUN

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light for my path.

¹⁰⁶ I have sworn and have confirmed it,

that I will observe your righteous decrees.

¹⁰⁷ I am very afflicted;

keep me alive, Yahweh, as you have promised in your word.

¹⁰⁸ Yahweh, please accept the freewill offerings of my mouth,

and teach me your righteous decrees.

¹⁰⁹ My life is always in my hand,

yet I do not forget your law.

¹¹⁰ The wicked have set a snare for me,

but I have not strayed from your instructions.

¹¹¹ I claim your covenant decrees as my heritage forever,

for they are the joy of my heart.

¹¹² My heart is set on obeying your statutes

forever to the very end.

SAMEKH

¹¹³ I hate those who have a double mind,

but I love your law.

¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield;

I hope in your word.

¹¹⁵ Get away from me, you evildoers,

so that I may observe the commandments of my God.

¹¹⁶ Sustain me by your word so that I may live

and not be ashamed of my hope.

¹¹⁷ Support me, and I will be safe;

I will always meditate on your statutes.

¹¹⁸ You reject all those who stray from your statutes,

for their deceit is vain.

¹¹⁹ You remove all the wicked of the earth like slag;

therefore I love your solemn commands.

¹²⁰ My body trembles in fear of you,

and I am afraid of your righteous decrees.

AYIN

¹²¹ I do what is just and right;

do not abandon me to my oppressors.

¹²² Guarantee the welfare of your servant;

do not let the proud oppress me.

¹²³ My eyes grow tired as I wait for your salvation

and for your righteous word.

¹²⁴ Show your servant your covenant faithfulness,

and teach me your statutes.

¹²⁵ I am your servant; give me understanding

so that I may know your solemn commands.

¹²⁶ It is time for Yahweh to act,

for people have broken your law.

¹²⁷ Truly I love your commandments

more than gold, more than fine gold.

¹²⁸ Therefore I carefully follow all your instructions,

and I hate every path of falsehood.

¹²⁹ Your rules are wonderful,

that is why I obey them.

¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light;

it gives understanding to the untrained.

¹³¹ I open my mouth and pant,

for I long for your commandments.

¹³² Turn to me and have mercy on me,

as you always do for those who love your name.

¹³³ Direct my footsteps by your word;

do not let any wickedness rule me.

¹³⁴ Redeem me from human oppression

so that I may observe your instructions.

¹³⁵ Let your face shine on your servant,

and teach me your statutes.

¹³⁶ Streams of tears run down from my eyes

because people do not observe your law.

TSADHE

¹³⁷ You are righteous, Yahweh,

and your decrees are fair.

¹³⁸ You have given your solemn commands righteously

and faithfully.

¹³⁹ Zeal has destroyed me

because my adversaries forget your words.

¹⁴⁰ Your word has been tested very much,

and your servant loves it.

¹⁴¹ I am insignificant and despised,

yet I do not forget your instructions.

¹⁴² Your justice is forever justice,

and your law is trustworthy.

¹⁴³ Though distress and anguish have found me,

your commandments are still my delight.

¹⁴⁴ Your covenant decrees are righteous forever;

give me understanding that I may live.

QOPH

¹⁴⁵ I cried out with my whole heart, "Answer me, Yahweh,

I will keep your statutes.

¹⁴⁶ I call to you; save me,

and I will observe your solemn commands."

¹⁴⁷ I rise before the dawn of the morning and cry for help.

I hope in your words.

¹⁴⁸ My eyes are open before the night watches change

so that I might meditate on your word.

¹⁴⁹ Hear my voice in your covenant faithfulness;

keep me alive, Yahweh, as you have promised in your righteous decrees.

¹⁵⁰ Those who are persecuting me are coming closer to me,

but they are far from your law.

¹⁵¹ You are near, Yahweh,

and all your commandments are trustworthy.

¹⁵² Long ago I learned from your solemn commands

that you had set them in place forever.

RESH

¹⁵³ Look on my affliction and help me,

for I do not forget your law.

¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me;

keep me alive according to your word.

¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked,

for they do not love your statutes.

¹⁵⁶ Great are your merciful actions, Yahweh;

keep me alive, as you always do.

¹⁵⁷ My persecutors and my foes are many,

yet I have not turned from your covenant decrees.

¹⁵⁸ I view the treacherous with disgust

because they do not keep your word.

¹⁵⁹ See how I love your instructions;

keep me alive, Yahweh, as you have promised by your covenant faithfulness.

¹⁶⁰ The essence of your word is truth;

every one of your righteous decrees lasts forever.

SHIN

¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without cause,

but my heart stands in awe of your word.

¹⁶² I rejoice at your word

like one who finds great plunder.

¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood,

but I love your law.

¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you

because of your righteous decrees.

¹⁶⁵ Great peace they have, those who love your law;

nothing makes them stumble.

¹⁶⁶ I hope for your salvation, Yahweh,

and I obey your commandments.

¹⁶⁷ I observe your solemn commands,

and I love them greatly.

¹⁶⁸ I keep your instructions and your solemn commands,

for you are aware of everything I do.

TAV

¹⁶⁹ Listen to my cry for help, Yahweh;

give me understanding into your word.

¹⁷⁰ May my plea come before you;

help me according to your word.

¹⁷¹ May my lips pour out praise,

for you teach me your statutes.

¹⁷² Let my tongue sing about your word,

for all your commandments are right.

¹⁷³ May your hand help me,

for I have chosen your instructions.

¹⁷⁴ I long for your rescue, Yahweh,

and your law is my delight.

¹⁷⁵ May I live and praise you,

and may your righteous decrees help me.

¹⁷⁶ I have wandered off like a lost sheep;

seek your servant,

for I have not forgotten your commandments.

Chapter 120

A song of ascents.

¹ In my distress I called out to Yahweh,

and he answered me.

² Rescue my life, Yahweh,

from those who lie with their lips

and deceive with their tongues.

³ How will he punish you,

and what more will he do to you,

you who have a lying tongue?

⁴ He will punish you with the arrows of a warrior

sharpened over burning coals of the broom tree.

⁵ Woe is me because I temporarily live in Meshech;

I lived previously among the tents of Kedar.

⁶ For too long I have lived

with those who hate peace.

⁷ I am for peace,

but when I speak, they are for war.

Chapter 121

A song of ascents.

¹ I will lift up my eyes to the mountains.

From where will my help come?

² My help comes from Yahweh,

who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not allow your foot to slip;

he who protects you will not slumber.

⁴ See, the guardian of Israel

never slumbers or sleeps.

⁵ Yahweh is your guardian;

Yahweh is the shade at your right hand.

⁶ The sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.

⁷ Yahweh will protect you from all harm,

and he will protect your life.

⁸ Yahweh will protect you in all you do

now and forevermore.

Chapter 122

A song of ascents, of David.

¹ I was glad when they said to me,

"Let us go to the house of Yahweh."

² Jerusalem, our feet are standing

within your gates!

³ Jerusalem, built

as a city carefully planned!

⁴ The tribes go up to Jerusalem—the tribes of Yah— ¹

as a testimony for Israel,

to give thanks to the name of Yahweh.

⁵ There thrones of judgment were set,

thrones of the house of David.

⁶ Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

"May those who love you be at ease.

⁷ May there be peace within the walls that defend you,

and may they have peace within your fortresses."

⁸ For the sake of my brothers and my friends

I will say, "May there be peace within you."

⁹ For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God,

I will seek good for you.

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 123

A song of ascents.

¹ To you I lift up my eyes,

you who are enthroned in the heavens.

² See, as the eyes of servants look to their master's hand,

as the eyes of a servant girl look to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to Yahweh our God

until he has mercy on us.

³ Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us,

for we are filled with humiliation.

⁴ We are more than full

of the scoffing of the insolent

and with the contempt of the proud.

Chapter 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹ "If Yahweh had not been on our side,"

let Israel say now,

² "if it had not been Yahweh who was on our side

when men rose up against us,

³ then they would have swallowed us up alive

when their anger raged against us.

⁴ The water would have swept us away;

the torrent would have overwhelmed us.

⁵ Then the raging waters would have drowned us."

⁶ Blessed be Yahweh,

who has not allowed us to be torn by their teeth.

⁷ We have escaped like a bird

out of the snare of the fowlers;

the snare has been broken,

and we have escaped.

⁸ Our help is in the name of Yahweh,

who made heaven and earth.

Chapter 125

A song of ascents.

¹ Those who trust in Yahweh

are like Mount Zion, unshakable, forever enduring.

² As the mountains surround Jerusalem,

so Yahweh surrounds his people

now and forever.

³ The scepter of wickedness must not rule

in the assigned portion of the righteous.

Otherwise the righteous might do what is wrong.

⁴ Do good, Yahweh, to those who are good

and to those who are upright in their hearts.

⁵ But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways,

Yahweh will lead them away with the those who behave wickedly.

May peace be on Israel.

Chapter 126

A song of ascents.

¹ When Yahweh reversed the captivity of Zion,

we were like those who dream.

² Then our mouths were filled with laughter

and our tongues with joyful shouting.

Then they said among the nations,

"Yahweh has done great things for them."

³ Yahweh did great things for us;

how glad we were!

⁴ Reverse our captivity, Yahweh,

like the streams in the Negev.

⁵ Those who sow in tears

will reap with shouts of joy.

⁶ He who goes out weeping,

carrying seed for sowing,

will return again with shouts of joy,

bringing his bundles of grain with him.

Chapter 127

A song of ascents, of Solomon.

¹ Unless Yahweh builds the house,

they work uselessly, those who build it.

Unless Yahweh guards the city,

the watchman stands guard uselessly.

² It is useless for you to rise up early,

to come home late,

or to eat the bread of hard work,

for Yahweh provides for his beloved as they sleep.

³ See, children are a heritage from Yahweh,

and the fruit of the womb is a reward from him.

⁴ Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

so are the children of one's youth.

⁵ How blessed is the man

that has his quiver full of them.

He will not be put to shame

when he confronts his enemies in the gate.

Chapter 128

A song of ascents.

¹ Blessed is everyone who honors Yahweh,

who walks in his ways.

² The labor of your hands you will enjoy;

you will be blessed and prosper.

³ Your wife will be like a fruitful vine

in your house;

your children will be like olive plants

as they sit around your table.

⁴ Yes, indeed, the man will be blessed

who honors Yahweh.

⁵ May Yahweh bless you from Zion;

may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

all the days of your life.

⁶ May you live to see your children's children.

May peace be on Israel.

Chapter 129

A song of ascents.

¹ "Often since my youth they have attacked me,"

let Israel say.

² "Often since my youth they have attacked me,

yet they have not defeated me.

³ The plowers plowed on my back;

they made their furrows long.

⁴ Yahweh is righteous;

he has cut off the ropes of the wicked."

⁵ May they all be put to shame and turned back,

those who hate Zion.

⁶ May they be like the grass on the housetops

that withers before it grows up,

⁷ that cannot fill the reaper's hand

or the chest of the one who binds bundles of grain together.

⁸ May those who pass by not say,

"May the blessing of Yahweh be on you;

we bless you in the name of Yahweh."

Chapter 130

A song of ascents.

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, Yahweh.

² Lord, hear my voice;

let your ears be attentive

to my pleas for mercy.

³ If you, Yah, would mark iniquities,

Lord, who could stand? ¹

⁴ But there is forgiveness with you,

that you may be revered.

⁵ I wait for Yahweh, my soul waits,

and in his word I hope.

⁶ My soul waits for the Lord

more than watchmen wait for the morning.

⁷ Israel, hope in Yahweh.

Yahweh is merciful,

and with him is great redemption.

⁸ It is he who will redeem Israel

from all his iniquities.

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 131

A song of ascents; of David.

¹ Yahweh, my heart is not proud

or my eyes haughty.

I do not have great hopes for myself

or concern myself with things that are beyond me.

² Indeed I have stilled and quieted my soul;

like a weaned child with his mother,

my soul within me is like a weaned child.

³ Israel, hope in Yahweh

now and forever.

Chapter 132

A song of ascents.

¹ Yahweh, for David's sake call to mind

all his afflictions.

² Call to mind how he swore to Yahweh,

how he vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob.

³ He said, "I will not enter the tent of my house

or get on the couch of my bed,

⁴ I will not give sleep to my eyes

or rest to my eyelids

⁵ until I find a place for Yahweh,

a tabernacle for the Mighty One of Jacob."

⁶ See, we heard about it in Ephrathah;

we found it in the fields of Jaar.

⁷ We will go into God's tabernacle;

we will worship at his footstool.

⁸ Arise, Yahweh, to your resting place,

you and the ark of your strength!

⁹ May your priests be clothed with integrity;

may your faithful ones shout for joy.

¹⁰ For your servant David's sake,

do not turn away from your anointed king.

¹¹ Yahweh swore a sure oath to David,

a sure oath that he will not revoke:

"I will place one of your descendants on your throne.

¹² If your sons keep my covenant

and the solemn commands that I will teach them,

their children also will sit on your throne forevermore."

¹³ Certainly Yahweh has chosen Zion,

he has desired her for his seat.

¹⁴ "This is my resting place forever.

I will live here, for I desire her.

¹⁵ I will abundantly bless her with provisions.

I will satisfy her poor with bread.

¹⁶ I will clothe her priests with salvation,

her faithful ones will shout aloud for joy.

¹⁷ There I will make a horn to sprout for David

and set up a lamp for my anointed one.

¹⁸ I will clothe his enemies with shame,

but on him his crown will shine."

Chapter 133

A song of ascents. Of David.

¹ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is

for brothers to live together!

² It is like fine oil on the head

pouring down on the beard—

Aaron's beard,

and then it pours down on the collar of his robes.

³ It is like the dew of Hermon

which falls on the mountains of Zion.

For there Yahweh commanded the blessing—

life forevermore.

Chapter 134

A song of ascents.

¹ Come, bless Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh,

you who serve during the night in the house of Yahweh.

² Lift up your hands to the holy place

and bless Yahweh.

³ May Yahweh bless you from Zion,

he who made heaven and earth.

Chapter 135

¹ Give praise to Yah! ¹

Praise the name of Yahweh.

Praise him, you servants of Yahweh,

² you who stand in the house of Yahweh,

in the courtyards of the house of our God.

³ Give praise to Yah, for he is good; ²

sing praises to his name, for it is pleasant to do so.

⁴ For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself, ³

Israel as his own possession.

⁵ I know that Yahweh is great,

that our Lord is above all gods.

⁶ Whatever Yahweh desires, he does

in heaven, on earth,

in the seas and all the ocean depths.

⁷ He brings the clouds from far away,

making lightning bolts accompany the rain

and bringing the wind out of his storehouse.

⁸ He killed the firstborn of Egypt,

both of man and animals.

⁹ He sent signs and wonders into your midst, Egypt,

against Pharaoh and all his servants.

¹⁰ He attacked many nations

and killed mighty kings,

¹¹ Sihon king of the Amorites

and Og king of Bashan

and all the kingdoms of Canaan.

¹² He gave us their land as an inheritance,

an inheritance to Israel his people.

¹³ Your name, Yahweh, endures forever;

your renown, Yahweh, endures throughout all generations.

¹⁴ For Yahweh defends his people

and has compassion on his servants.

¹⁵ The nations' idols are silver and gold,

the work of men's hands.

¹⁶ Those idols have mouths, but they do not speak;

they have eyes, but they do not see;

¹⁷ they have ears, but they do not give ear,

nor is there breath in their mouths.

¹⁸ Those who make them are like them,

as is everyone who trusts in them.

¹⁹ Descendants of Israel, bless Yahweh;

descendants of Aaron, bless Yahweh.

²⁰ Descendants of Levi, bless Yahweh;

you who honor Yahweh, bless Yahweh.

²¹ Blessed be Yahweh in Zion,

he who lives in Jerusalem.

Give praise to Yah. ⁴

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

³Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

⁴Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 136

¹ Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good.

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

² Give thanks to the God of gods.

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

⁴ to him who alone does great wonders;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

⁵ to him who by wisdom made the heavens;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

⁶ to him who spread out the earth above the waters;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

⁷ to him who made great lights;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

⁸ to him who gave the sun to rule by day,

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

⁹ the moon and stars to rule by night;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

¹⁰ to him who killed the firstborn of Egypt

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

¹¹ and brought out Israel from among them

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

¹² with a strong hand and a raised arm;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

¹³ to him who divided the Sea of Reeds

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

¹⁴ and made Israel to pass through the middle of it,

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

¹⁵ but overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Sea of Reeds;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

¹⁶ to him who led his people through the wilderness;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

¹⁷ to him who killed great kings;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

¹⁸ to him who killed majestic kings,

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

¹⁹ Sihon king of the Amorites

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

²⁰ and Og king of Bashan;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

²¹ to him who gave their land as an inheritance,

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

²² an inheritance to Israel his servant;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

²³ to him who called us to mind and helped us in our humiliation;

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

²⁴ to him who has rescued us from our enemies,

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

²⁵ who gives food to all living beings.

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven.

(His covenant faithfulness endures forever.)

Chapter 137

¹ By the rivers of Babylon

we sat down and wept

when we thought about Zion.

² There on the poplars in the midst of it

we hung our harps.

³ There our captors required songs from us,

and those who mocked us required joy from us, saying,

"Sing us one of the songs of Zion."

⁴ How could we sing a song about Yahweh

in a foreign land?

⁵ If I ignore the memory of you, Jerusalem,

let my right hand forget her skill.

⁶ Let my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth

if I think about you no more,

if I do not prefer Jerusalem

more than my greatest delights.

⁷ Call to mind, Yahweh, what the Edomites did

on the day Jerusalem fell.

They said, "Tear it down, tear it down

to its foundations."

⁸ Daughter of Babylon, soon to be destroyed—

may the person be blessed, whoever pays you back

for what you have done to us.

⁹ May the person be blessed,

whoever takes and dashes your little ones against a rock.

Chapter 138

A psalm of David.

¹ I will give you thanks with my whole heart;

before the gods I will sing praises to you.

² I will bow down toward your holy temple

and give thanks to your name

for your covenant faithfulness and for your trustworthiness.

You have made your word and your name

more important than anything else.

³ On the day that I called you, you answered me;

you made me bold and strengthened my soul.

⁴ All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh,

for they will hear the words from your mouth.

⁵ Indeed, they will sing of the deeds of Yahweh,

for great is the glory of Yahweh.

⁶ For though Yahweh is high, yet he cares for the lowly,

but the proud he knows from far off.

⁷ Though I walk in the middle of trouble,

you will preserve my life;

you will reach out with your hand against the anger of my enemies,

and your right hand will save me.

⁸ Yahweh is with me to the end;

your covenant faithfulness, Yahweh, endures forever.

Do not abandon the works of your hands.

Chapter 139

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ Yahweh, you have examined me,

and you know me.

² You know when I sit down and when I get up;

you understand my thoughts from far away.

³ You observe my path and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

⁴ For before there is a word on my tongue,

you know it completely, Yahweh.

⁵ Behind me and before me you surround me

and place your hand upon me.

⁶ Such knowledge is incomprehensible to me;

it is too high, and I cannot reach it.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

⁸ If I ascend up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there.

⁹ If I fly away on the wings of the dawn

and go to live in the uttermost parts across the sea,

¹⁰ even there your hand will lead me,

your right hand will hold on to me.

¹¹ If I said, "Surely the darkness will cover me,

and the light will become night around me,"

¹² even the darkness would not be dark to you.

The night would shine like the day,

for the darkness and the light are both alike to you.

¹³ You formed my inner parts;

you formed me in my mother's womb.

¹⁴ I will praise you

because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Your works are wonderful.

My soul knows this very well.

¹⁵ My bones were not hidden from you

when I was made in private,

when I was intricately made in the depths of the earth.

¹⁶ You saw me inside the womb;

all the days assigned to me were recorded

in your book even before the first one happened.

¹⁷ How precious are your thoughts to me, God!

How vast is their sum!

¹⁸ If I tried to count them,

they would be more in number than the sand.

When I awake, I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you would kill the wicked, God;

get away from me, you men of bloodshed.

²⁰ They rebel against you and act deceitfully;

your enemies tell lies.

²¹ Do I not hate those, Yahweh, who hate you?

Do I not despise those who rise up against you?

²² I hate them completely;

they have become my enemies.

²³ Examine me, God, and know my heart;

test me and know my thoughts.

²⁴ See if there is any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the everlasting way.

Chapter 140

For the chief musician. A psalm of David.

¹ Yahweh, rescue me from the wicked;

preserve me from violent men.

² They plan evil in their hearts;

they cause battles every day.

³ Their tongues wound like serpents;

vipers' poison is on their lips.

Selah

⁴ Keep me from the hands of the wicked, Yahweh;

preserve me from violent men

who plan to push down my steps.

⁵ The proud have set a trap for me;

they have spread a net;

they have set a snare for me.

Selah

⁶ I said to Yahweh, "You are my God;

give ear to the sound of my pleas."

⁷ Yahweh, my Lord, you are powerfully able to save me;

you shield my head in the day of battle.

⁸ Yahweh, do not grant the desires of the wicked;

do not let their evil plans succeed.

Selah

⁹ Those who surround me raise their heads;

let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

¹⁰ Let burning coals fall on them;

throw them into the fire,

into bottomless pits, never more to rise.

¹¹ May men of tongues not be made secure on the earth;

may evil hunt down the violent man to strike him dead.

¹² I know that Yahweh will judge in favor of the afflicted,

and that he will give justice to the needy.

¹³ Surely the righteous people will give thanks to your name;

the upright people will live in your presence.

Chapter 141

A psalm of David.

¹ Yahweh, I am crying out to you; come quickly to me.

Give ear to my voice when I call to you.

² May my prayer be like incense before you;

may my lifted hands be like the evening sacrifice.

³ Yahweh, place a guard over my mouth;

guard the door of my lips.

⁴ Do not let my heart desire any evil thing

or participate in wicked deeds

with men who behave wickedly.

May I not eat any of their delicacies.

⁵ Let a righteous man hit me; it will be a kindness to me.

Let him correct me; it will be like oil on my head;

may my head not refuse to accept it.

But my prayer is always against their wicked deeds.

⁶ Their judges will be thrown down from the top of cliffs;

they will hear that my own words are pleasant.

⁷ They will have to say, "As when one plows and breaks up the ground,

so our bones have been scattered at the mouth of Sheol."

⁸ Surely my eyes are on you, Yahweh, Lord;

in you I take refuge; do not leave my soul defenseless.

⁹ Protect me from the snares that they have laid for me,

from the traps of those who behave wickedly.

¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their own nets

while I escape.

Chapter 142

A maschil of David, when he was in the cave; a prayer.

¹ With my voice I cry out for help to Yahweh;

with my voice I plead for Yahweh's favor.

² I pour out my lament before him;

I tell him my troubles.

³ When my spirit is weak within me,

you know my path.

In the way that I walk

they have hidden a trap for me.

⁴ I look to my right and see

that there is no one who cares about me.

There is no escape for me;

no one cares about my life.

⁵ I called out to you, Yahweh;

I said, "You are my refuge,

my portion in the land of the living.

⁶ Listen to my cry,

for I have been brought very low;

rescue me from my persecutors,

for they are stronger than I.

⁷ Bring my soul out of prison

so that I may give thanks to your name.

The righteous will gather around me

because you have been good to me."

Chapter 143

A psalm of David.

¹ Hear my prayer, Yahweh;

give ear to my pleas.

Because of your faithfulness and righteousness,

answer me!

² Do not enter into judgment with your servant,

for in your sight no one is righteous.

³ The enemy has pursued my soul;

he has crushed me to the ground;

he has made me to live in darkness

like those who have been dead a long time.

⁴ My spirit is overwhelmed within me;

my heart is appalled.

⁵ I call to mind the old days;

I meditate on all your deeds;

I reflect on your accomplishments.

⁶ I spread my hands out to you;

my soul thirsts for you in a parched land.

Selah

⁷ Answer me quickly, Yahweh,

because my spirit faints.

Do not hide your face from me,

or I will become like those who go down into the pit.

⁸ Let me hear your covenant faithfulness in the morning,

for I trust in you.

Show me the way where I should walk,

for I lift up my soul to you.

⁹ Rescue me from my enemies, Yahweh;

I flee to you to hide.

¹⁰ Teach me to do your will,

for you are my God.

May your good Spirit

lead me in the land of uprightness.

¹¹ Yahweh, for your name's sake, keep me alive;

in your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble.

¹² In your covenant faithfulness cut off my enemies

and destroy all the enemies of my life,

for I am your servant.

Chapter 144

A psalm of David.

¹ Blessed be Yahweh, my rock,

who trains my hands for war

and my fingers for battle.

² You are my covenant faithfulness and my fortress,

my high tower and the one who rescues me,

my shield and the one in whom I take refuge,

the one who subdues nations under me.

³ Yahweh, what is man that you take notice of him

or the son of man that you think about him?

⁴ Man is like a breath;

his days are like a passing shadow.

⁵ Cause the sky to sink and come down, Yahweh;

touch the mountains and make them smoke.

⁶ Send flashes of lightning and scatter my enemies;

shoot your arrows and drive them back in confusion.

⁷ Reach out your hand from above;

rescue me out of many waters,

from the hand of foreigners.

⁸ Their mouths speak lies,

and their right hand is falsehood.

⁹ I will sing a new song to you, God;

on a lute of ten strings I will sing praises to you,

¹⁰ who gives salvation to kings,

who rescues David your servant from an evil sword.

¹¹ Rescue me and free me

from the hand of foreigners.

Their mouths speak lies,

and their right hand is falsehood.

¹² May our sons be like plants

who grow to full size in their youth

and our daughters like carved corner pillars,

shapely like those of a palace.

¹³ May our storehouses be full

with every kind of produce,

and may our sheep produce thousands

and ten thousands in our fields.

¹⁴ Then our oxen will have many young.

No one will break through our walls; there will be no exile

and no outcry in our streets.

¹⁵ Blessed is the people with such blessings;

happy is the people whose God is Yahweh.

Chapter 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

¹ I will extol you, my God, King;

I will bless your name forever and ever.

² Every day will I bless you;

I will praise your name forever and ever.

³ Great is Yahweh and greatly to be praised;

his greatness is unsearchable.

⁴ One generation will praise your deeds to the next

and will proclaim your mighty actions.

⁵ I will meditate on the majesty of your glory

and on your marvelous deeds.

⁶ They will speak of the power of your awesome works,

and I will declare your greatness.

⁷ They will declare your abounding goodness,

and they will shout joyfully about your righteousness.

⁸ Yahweh is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger and great in steadfast love.

⁹ Yahweh is good to all;

his tender mercies are over all his works.

¹⁰ All your works will give thanks to you, Yahweh;

your faithful ones will bless you.

¹¹ They will speak of the glory of your kingdom,

and they will tell of your power.

¹² They will make known to mankind God's mighty deeds

and the glorious splendor of his kingdom.

¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

¹⁴ Yahweh supports all who are falling

and raises up all those who are bent over.

¹⁵ The eyes of all wait for you;

you give them their food at the right time.

¹⁶ You open your hand

and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

¹⁷ Yahweh is righteous in all his ways

and faithful in all his deeds.

¹⁸ Yahweh is near to all those who call to him,

to all who call to him in trustworthiness.

¹⁹ He fulfills the desire of those who honor him;

he hears their cry and saves them.

²⁰ Yahweh watches over all those who love him,

but he will destroy all the wicked.

²¹ My mouth will speak out the praise of Yahweh;

let all mankind bless his holy name

forever and ever.

Chapter 146

¹ Give praise to Yah. ¹

Praise Yahweh, my soul.

² I give praise to Yahweh with all my life;

I will sing praises to my God as long as I exist.

³ Do not put your trust in princes

or in mankind, in whom there is no salvation.

⁴ When a person's life's breath stops, he returns to the ground;

on that day his plans end.

⁵ Blessed is he who has the God of Jacob for his help,

whose hope is in Yahweh his God.

⁶ Yahweh made heaven and earth,

the sea, and all that is in them;

he observes trustworthiness forever.

⁷ He executes justice for the oppressed

and gives food to the hungry.

Yahweh frees the prisoners;

⁸ Yahweh opens the eyes of the blind;

Yahweh raises up those who are bowed down;

Yahweh loves the righteous people.

⁹ Yahweh protects the foreigners in the land;

he supports the fatherless and widow,

but he opposes the wicked.

¹⁰ Yahweh will reign forever,

your God, Zion, for all generations.

Give praise to Yah. ²

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 147

¹ Give praise to Yah, ¹

for it is good to sing praises to our God;

it is pleasant, and praise is suitable.

² Yahweh rebuilds Jerusalem;

he gathers together the scattered people of Israel.

³ He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

⁴ He counts the stars;

he gives names to all of them.

⁵ Great is our Lord and awesome in power;

his understanding cannot be measured.

⁶ Yahweh supports the oppressed;

he brings the wicked down to the ground.

⁷ Sing to Yahweh with thanksgiving;

sing praises to our God with a harp.

⁸ He covers the heavens with clouds

and prepares rain for the earth,

making the grass to grow on the mountains.

⁹ He gives food to the animals

and to the young ravens when they cry.

¹⁰ He finds no delight in the strength of a horse;

he takes no pleasure in the strong legs of a man.

¹¹ Yahweh takes pleasure in those who honor him,

who hope in his covenant faithfulness.

¹² Praise Yahweh, Jerusalem;

praise your God, Zion.

¹³ For he strengthens the bars of your gates;

he blesses your children among you.

¹⁴ He brings prosperity inside your borders;

he satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

¹⁵ He sends out his commandment to earth;

his command runs very swiftly.

¹⁶ He makes the snow like wool;

he scatters the frost like ashes.

¹⁷ He dispenses the hail like crumbs;

who can withstand the cold he sends?

¹⁸ He sends out his command and melts them;

he makes the wind to blow and the water to flow.

¹⁹ He proclaimed his word to Jacob,

his statutes and his righteous decrees to Israel.

²⁰ He has not done so with any other nation,

and as for his decrees, they do not know them.

Give praise to Yah. ²

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 148

¹ Give praise to Yah. ¹

Praise Yahweh, you in the heavens;

praise him, you in the heights.

² Praise him, all his angels;

praise him, all his hosts.

³ Praise him, sun and moon;

praise him, all you shining stars.

⁴ Praise him, highest heaven

and you waters that are above the sky.

⁵ Let them praise the name of Yahweh,

for he gave the command, and they were created.

⁶ He has also established them forever and ever;

he issued a decree that will never change.

⁷ Praise him from the earth,

you sea monsters and all ocean depths,

⁸ fire and hail, snow and clouds,

stormy wind fulfilling his word.

⁹ Praise him, mountains and all hills,

fruit trees and all cedars,

¹⁰ Wild animals and all livestock,

creatures that crawl and birds with wings.

¹¹ Praise Yahweh, you kings of the earth and all nations,

you princes, and all you judges of the earth,

¹² both young men and young women,

elderly and children.

¹³ Let them all praise the name of Yahweh,

for his name alone is exalted

and his glory extends over the earth and the heavens.

¹⁴ He has lifted up the horn of his people

for praise from all his faithful ones,

the people of Israel, the people near to him.

Give praise to Yah. ²

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 149

¹ Give praise to Yah! ¹

Sing to Yahweh a new song;

sing his praise in the assembly of the faithful ones.

² Let Israel rejoice in the one who made them;

let the people of Zion rejoice in their king.

³ Let them praise his name with dancing;

let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp.

⁴ For Yahweh takes pleasure in his people;

he glorifies the humble with salvation.

⁵ Let the faithful ones rejoice in this honor;

let them sing for joy on their beds.

⁶ May the praises of God be in their mouths

and a two-edged sword in their hand

⁷ to execute vengeance on the nations

and acts of punishment on the peoples.

⁸ They will bind their kings with chains

and their nobles with iron shackles.

⁹ They will execute the judgment that is written.

This will be an honor for all his faithful ones.

Give praise to Yah. ²

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 150

¹ Give praise to Yah! ¹

Praise God in his holy place;

praise him in the mighty heavens.

² Praise him for his mighty acts;

praise him for his surpassing greatness.

³ Praise him with the blast of the horn;

praise him with lute and harp.

⁴ Praise him with tambourines and dancing;

praise him with stringed instruments and pipe.

⁵ Praise him with loud cymbals;

praise him with high sounding cymbals.

⁶ Let everything that has breath give praise to Yah!

Give praise to Yah! ²

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Proverbs

Chapter 1

¹ The proverbs of Solomon son of David, the king of Israel.

² These proverbs are to teach wisdom and instruction,

to teach words of insight,

³ that you may receive instruction in prudent behavior,

righteousness, justice, and uprightness.

⁴ These proverbs are also to give wisdom to the naive,

and to give knowledge and discretion to the youth.

⁵ Let wise people listen and increase their learning,

and let discerning people get wise counsel,

⁶ to understand proverbs, parables,

and words of wise people and their riddles.

⁷ The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge—

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

⁸ My son, hear the instruction of your father

and do not abandon the rules of your mother;

⁹ they will be a graceful wreath for your head

and pendants hanging from your neck.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners try to entice you into their sin,

do not go with them.

¹¹ If they say, "Come with us,

let us lie in wait for blood,

let us hide and attack innocent people for no reason;

¹² let us swallow them up alive, like Sheol takes away those who are healthy,

and make them like those who go down into the pit;

¹³ we will find all kinds of valuable things;

we will fill our houses with plunder;

¹⁴ throw in your lot with us,

and we will all have one purse together"—

¹⁵ my son, do not walk down that path with them;

do not let your foot touch where they walk;

¹⁶ their feet run to evil

and they hurry to shed blood.

¹⁷ For it is useless to spread the net

in the sight of any bird.

¹⁸ These men lie in wait for their own blood—

they set an ambush for their own lives.

¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who gains profit by violence;

unjust gain takes away the lives of those who hold on to it.

²⁰ Wisdom cries aloud in the street,

she raises her voice in the open places;

²¹ at the head of the noisy streets she cries out,

at the entrance of the city gates she speaks her sayings,

²² "How long, you naive people, will you love being naive?

How long, you mockers, will you delight in mockery,

and how long, you fools, will you hate knowledge?

²³ Turn at my correction;

I will pour out my spirit to you;

I will make my words known to you.

²⁴ I have called, and you have refused to listen;

I reached out with my hand, but there was no one who paid attention.

²⁵ But you have ignored all my instruction

and paid no attention to my correction.

²⁶ I will laugh at your calamity,

I will mock you when the terror comes—

²⁷ when your fearful dread comes like a storm

and disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind,

when distress and anguish come upon you.

²⁸ Then they will call upon me, and I will not answer;

they will diligently seek me, but they will not find me.

²⁹ Because they hate knowledge

and did not choose the fear of Yahweh,

³⁰ they would not follow my instruction,

and they despised all my correction.

³¹ They will eat the fruit of their ways,

and with the fruit of their schemes they will be filled.

³² For the naive are killed when they turn away,

and the indifference of fools will destroy them.

³³ But whoever listens to me will dwell in safety

and will rest secure with no fear of disaster."

Chapter 2

¹ My son, if you receive my words

and treasure up my commandments with you,

² make your ears pay attention to wisdom

and incline your heart to understanding.

³ If you cry out for discernment

and raise your voice for understanding,

⁴ if you seek it like you would seek silver

and search for understanding as you would seek hidden treasures,

⁵ then you will understand the fear of Yahweh

and you will find the knowledge of God.

⁶ For Yahweh gives wisdom;

from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

⁷ He stores up sound wisdom for the upright;

he is a shield for those who walk in integrity;

⁸ he guards the paths of justice

and he will preserve the way of his faithful ones.

⁹ Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and equity,

and every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom will come into your heart,

and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

¹¹ Discretion will watch over you;

understanding will guard you.

¹² They will rescue you from the way of evil,

from those who speak perverse things,

¹³ who abandon the paths of uprightness

and walk in the ways of darkness.

¹⁴ They rejoice when they do evil

and delight in the perversities of evil.

¹⁵ They follow crooked paths,

and using deception they hide their tracks.

¹⁶ Wisdom and discretion will save you from an adulteress,

from an immoral woman and her flattering words.

¹⁷ She abandons the companion of her youth

and forgets the covenant of her God.

¹⁸ For her house sinks down to death,

and her tracks will lead you to those in the grave.

¹⁹ All who go to her will not return again

and they will not reach the paths of life.

²⁰ So you will walk in the way of good people

and follow the paths of righteous people.

²¹ For the upright will make a home in the land,

and those with integrity will remain in it.

²² But the wicked will be cut off from the land,

and the faithless will be cut off from it.

Chapter 3

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching,

and keep my commandments in your heart,

² for the length of your days and years of your life,

they will add peace to you.

³ Do not let steadfast love and faithfulness ever leave you;

tie them together about your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ Then you will find favor and a good reputation

in the sight of God and man.

⁵ Trust in Yahweh with all your heart

and do not lean on your own understanding;

⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him

and he will make your paths straight.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes;

fear Yahweh and turn away from evil.

⁸ It will be healing to your flesh

and refreshment for your bones.

⁹ Honor Yahweh with your wealth

and with the firstfruits of all your produce,

¹⁰ and your storehouses will be filled up

and your vats will be bursting, full of new wine.

¹¹ My son, do not despise Yahweh's instruction

and do not hate his rebuke,

¹² for Yahweh disciplines those he loves,

as a father deals with a son who pleases him.

¹³ The one who finds wisdom is blessed;

he also gets understanding.

¹⁴ What you gain from wisdom is better than what silver will give in return

and its profit is better than gold.

¹⁵ Wisdom is more precious than jewels

and nothing you desire can compare to her.

¹⁶ She has the length of her days in her right hand;

in her left hand are riches and honor.

¹⁷ Her ways are ways of pleasantness

and all her paths are peace.

¹⁸ She is a tree of life to those who take hold of it;

those who hold on to it are happy.

¹⁹ By wisdom Yahweh founded the earth;

by understanding he established the heavens.

²⁰ By his knowledge the depths broke open

and the clouds dropped their dew.

²¹ My son, do not let these depart from your eyes:

guard sound wisdom and discretion.

²² They will be life to your soul

and an adornment of favor to wear around your neck.

²³ Then you will walk on your way in safety

and your foot will not stumble;

²⁴ when you lie down, you will not be afraid;

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

²⁵ Do not be afraid of sudden terror

or devastation caused by the wicked, when it comes,

²⁶ for Yahweh will be on your side

and will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.

²⁷ Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,

when it is in your power to act.

²⁸ Do not say to your neighbor,

"Go, and come again, and tomorrow I will give it,"

when you have the money with you.

²⁹ Do not make a plan to harm your neighbor—

the one who dwells in safety with you.

³⁰ Do not argue with a person without a reason,

when he has done nothing to harm you.

³¹ Do not envy a violent person

or choose any of his ways.

³² For the devious person is an abomination to Yahweh,

but he brings the upright person into his confidence.

³³ The curse of Yahweh is on the house of the wicked person,

but he blesses the home of righteous people.

³⁴ He mocks mockers,

but he gives his favor to humble people.

³⁵ Wise people inherit honor,

but fools will be lifted up in their shame.

Chapter 4

¹ Listen, sons, to a father's instruction,

and pay attention so you will know what understanding is.

² I am giving you good instructions;

do not abandon my teaching.

³ When I was a son of my father,

the tender and only child of my mother,

⁴ he taught me and said to me,

"Let your heart hold fast to my words;

keep my commands and live.

⁵ Acquire wisdom and understanding;

do not forget and do not reject the words of my mouth;

⁶ do not abandon wisdom and she will watch over you;

love her and she will keep you safe.

⁷ Wisdom is the most important thing, so acquire wisdom

and spend all you own so you can get understanding.

⁸ Cherish wisdom and she will exalt you;

she will honor you when you embrace her.

⁹ She will put a wreath of honor on your head;

she will give you a beautiful crown."

¹⁰ Listen, my son, and receive my words,

and you will have many years in your life.

¹¹ I am teaching you in the way of wisdom;

I am leading you in upright paths.

¹² When you walk, no one will stand in your way

and if you run, you will not stumble.

¹³ Hold on to instruction, do not let it go;

guard it, for it is your life.

¹⁴ Do not follow the path of the wicked

and do not go along the way of those who do evil.

¹⁵ Avoid it, do not go on it;

turn away from it and go another way.

¹⁶ For they cannot sleep until they do evil

and they are robbed of sleep until they cause someone to stumble.

¹⁷ For they devour the bread of wickedness

and drink the wine of violence.

¹⁸ But the path of righteous people is like the first light that grows brighter;

it shines more and more until the fullness of the day comes.

¹⁹ The way of the wicked is like darkness—

they do not know what it is they stumble over.

²⁰ My son, pay attention to my words;

incline your ear to my sayings.

²¹ Do not let them turn away from your eyes;

keep them in your heart.

²² For my words are life to those who find them

and health to their whole body.

²³ Keep your heart safe and guard it with all diligence,

for from it flow the springs of life.

²⁴ Put crooked speech away from you

and put corrupt talk far from you.

²⁵ Let your eyes look straight ahead

and fix your gaze straight before you.

²⁶ Make a level path for your foot;

then all your ways will be established.

²⁷ Do not turn aside to the right or to the left;

turn your foot away from evil.

Chapter 5

¹ My son, pay attention to my wisdom;

incline your ears to my understanding,

² so you may learn about discretion

and your lips may protect knowledge.

³ For the lips of an adulteress drip with honey

and her mouth is smoother than oil,

⁴ but in the end she is as bitter as wormwood,

cutting like a sharp sword.

⁵ Her feet go down to death;

her steps go all the way to Sheol.

⁶ She gives no thought to the path of life.

Her footsteps wander;

she does not know where she is going.

⁷ Now, my sons, listen to me;

do not turn away from listening to the words of my mouth.

⁸ Keep your path far away from her

and do not come near the door of her house.

⁹ In that way you will not give away your honor to others

or years of your life to a cruel person;

¹⁰ strangers will not feast on your strength;

your labor will not go into the house of foreigners.

¹¹ At the end of your life you will groan

when your flesh and your body waste away.

¹² You will say, "How I hated instruction

and my heart despised correction!

¹³ I would not listen to the voice of my teachers

or incline my ear to my instructors.

¹⁴ I was almost completely ruined

in the midst of the assembly,

among the gathering of the people."

¹⁵ Drink water from your own cistern

and drink running water from your own well.

¹⁶ Should your springs be dispersed everywhere

and your streams of water flow in the public squares?

¹⁷ Let them be for yourself alone

and not for strangers with you.

¹⁸ May your fountain be blessed

and may you rejoice in the wife of your youth,

¹⁹ for she is a loving deer and a graceful doe.

Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;

may you be continually intoxicated by her love.

²⁰ For why should you, my son, be captivated by an adulteress?

Why should you embrace the bosom of an immoral woman?

²¹ Yahweh sees everything a person does

and watches all the paths he takes.

²² A wicked person will be seized by his own iniquities;

the cords of his sin will hold him tight.

²³ He will die because he lacks instruction;

he is led astray by his great foolishness.

Chapter 6

¹ My son, if you set aside your money as a guarantee for your neighbor's loan,

if you gave your promise for a loan of someone you do not know,

² then you have laid a trap for yourself by your promise

and you have been caught by the words of your mouth.

³ When you are caught by your words, my son,

do this and save yourself,

since you have fallen into the hand of your neighbor;

go and humble yourself

and make your case before your neighbor.

⁴ Give your eyes no sleep

and your eyelids no slumber.

⁵ Save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter,

like a bird from the hand of the fowler.

⁶ Look at the ant, you lazy person,

consider her ways, and be wise.

⁷ It has no commander,

officer, or ruler,

⁸ yet it prepares its food in the summer

and during the harvest it stores up what it will eat.

⁹ How long will you lie down, you lazy person?

When will you rise from your sleep?

¹⁰ "A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest"—

¹¹ and your poverty will come like a robber

and your needs like an armed soldier.

¹² A worthless person—a wicked man—

lives by the crookedness of his speech,

¹³ winking his eyes, making signals with his feet

and pointing with his fingers.

¹⁴ He plots evil with perversity in his heart;

he always stirs up strife.

¹⁵ Therefore his disaster will overtake him in an instant;

in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.

¹⁶ There are six things that Yahweh hates,

seven that are an abomination to him:

¹⁷ the eyes of a proud person, a tongue that lies,

hands that shed the blood of innocent people,

¹⁸ a heart that invents wicked schemes,

feet that quickly run to do evil,

¹⁹ a witness who breathes out lies

and one who sows discord among brothers.

²⁰ My son, obey the command of your father

and do not abandon the teaching of your mother.

²¹ Always bind them on your heart;

tie them about your neck.

²² When you walk, they will guide you;

when you lie down, they will watch over you;

and when you wake up, they will teach you.

²³ For the commands are a lamp,

and the teaching is a light;

the corrections that come by instruction

are the way of life.

²⁴ It keeps you from the evil woman,

from the smooth tongue of an immoral woman.

²⁵ Do not lust in your heart after her beauty

and do not let her capture you with her eyelashes.

²⁶ The price of a prostitute is the cost of a loaf of bread,

but the wife of another man hunts for a precious life.

²⁷ Can a man carry a fire against his chest

without burning his clothes?

²⁸ Can a man walk on hot coals

without scorching his feet?

²⁹ So is the man who goes to his neighbor's wife;

the one who touches her will not go unpunished.

³⁰ People do not despise a thief if he steals

to satisfy his need when he is hungry.

³¹ Yet if he is caught, he will pay back seven times what he stole;

he must give up everything of value in his house.

³² The one who commits adultery lacks sense;

the one who does it destroys himself.

³³ Wounds and shame are what he deserves

and his disgrace will not be blotted out.

³⁴ For jealousy makes a man furious;

he will show no mercy on the day of vengeance.

³⁵ He will accept no ransom

and he cannot be bought off,

though you offer him many gifts.

Chapter 7

¹ My son, keep my words

and store up my commands within yourself.

² Keep my commands and live,

and keep my instruction as the apple of your eye.

³ Tie them on your fingers;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

⁴ Say to wisdom, "You are my sister,"

and call understanding your kinsman,

⁵ in order to keep yourself from the adulterous woman,

from the immoral woman who makes her words smooth.

⁶ At the window of my house

I was looking out through the lattice.

⁷ I looked at the naive people,

and I noticed among the young men

a youth who had no sense.

⁸ That young man passed down the street near her corner,

and he went toward her house.

⁹ It was twilight, in the evening of the day,

at the time of night and darkness.

¹⁰ There a woman met him,

dressed like a prostitute, with a false heart.

¹¹ She was loud and rebellious;

her feet did not stay at home.

¹² Now in the streets, then in the marketplace,

and at every corner she waited in ambush.

¹³ So she grabbed him and kissed him,

with a strong face she said to him,

¹⁴ "I made my peace offering today,

I fulfilled my vows,

¹⁵ so I came out to meet you,

to eagerly seek your face,

and I have found you.

¹⁶ I have spread coverings on my bed,

colored linens from Egypt.

¹⁷ I have sprinkled my bed

with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

¹⁸ Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning;

let us take great pleasure in acts of love.

¹⁹ For my husband is not at his house;

he has gone on a long journey.

²⁰ He took a bag of money with him;

he will come home on the day of the full moon."

²¹ With her great persuasiveness she turned him;

with her smooth lips she compelled him.

²² Suddenly he went after her

like an ox going to slaughter,

and like a fool is punished with shackles, ¹

²³ until an arrow pierces through his liver.

He was like a bird rushing into a snare.

He did not know that it would cost him his life.

²⁴ Now, my sons, listen to me;

pay attention to the words of my mouth.

²⁵ May your heart not turn aside onto her paths;

do not be led astray onto her paths.

²⁶ She has caused many people to fall down pierced;

those she has killed are numerous.

²⁷ Her house is on the paths to Sheol;

they go down to the dark bedrooms of death.

¹The Hebrew text is difficult to understand. The ancient Greek translation has: like a dog to the muzzle. Some translations have like a deer to the trap .

Chapter 8

¹ Does not Wisdom call out?

Does not Understanding raise her voice?

² On the hilltops beside the road,

at the crossroads, Wisdom has taken her stand.

³ Before the gates at the entrance into the city,

at the entrances into the city, she cries out.

⁴ "It is to you, people, that I call;

my voice is for the sons of mankind.

⁵ You who are naive, learn wisdom;

and you who are foolish, you must get an understanding mind.

⁶ Listen, because I will speak of noble things,

and when my lips open I will say upright things.

⁷ For my mouth speaks what is trustworthy,

and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

⁸ All the words of my mouth are just;

in them is nothing twisted or perverse.

⁹ All of them are straight for the person who understands;

my words are upright for those who find knowledge.

¹⁰ Acquire my instruction rather than silver;

acquire knowledge rather than choicest gold.

¹¹ For Wisdom is better than jewels;

no desirable thing is equal to her.

¹² I, Wisdom, live with Prudence,

and I possess knowledge and discretion.

¹³ The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.

I hate pride and arrogance, the evil way,

and perverted speech. I hate them.

¹⁴ I have good advice and sound wisdom;

I am insight; strength belongs to me.

¹⁵ By me kings reign,

and rulers make laws that are just.

¹⁶ By me princes rule,

nobles, and all who judge with justice.

¹⁷ I love those who love me,

and those who diligently seek me, find me.

¹⁸ With me are riches and honor,

lasting wealth and righteousness.

¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold;

my produce is better than pure silver.

²⁰ I walk in the path of righteousness,

in the midst of the paths of justice.

²¹ As a result, I make those who love me inherit wealth;

I fill up their treasuries.

²² Yahweh created me at the beginning,

the first of his deeds long ago.

²³ In ages long ago I was established—from the first,

from the beginnings of the earth.

²⁴ Before there were oceans, I was given birth—

before there were springs abounding with water.

²⁵ Before the mountains were settled

and before the hills, I was born.

²⁶ I was born before Yahweh had made the earth or the fields,

or even the first dust in the world.

²⁷ I was there when he established the heavens,

when he drew a circle on the surface of the deep.

²⁸ I was there when he established the clouds above

and when the springs in the deep became fixed.

²⁹ I was there when he made his limit for the sea,

so the waters should not spread beyond his command,

and when there was set the limit for the foundations of the dry land.

³⁰ I was beside him, as a skilled craftsman;

I was his delight day after day,

always rejoicing before him.

³¹ I was rejoicing in his whole world,

and my delight was in the sons of mankind.

³² Now, my sons, listen to me,

for those who keep my ways will be blessed.

³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise;

do not neglect it.

³⁴ The one who listens to me will be blessed.

He will be watching every day at my doors,

waiting beside the posts of my doors.

³⁵ For whoever finds me, finds life,

and he will find the favor of Yahweh.

³⁶ But he who fails, harms his own life;

all who hate me love death."

Chapter 9

¹ Wisdom has built her own house;

she has carved seven pillars out of rocks.

² She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,

and she has set her table.

³ She has sent out her maids; she calls out

from the highest points of the city,

⁴ "Who is naive? Let him turn aside here!"

To the one lacking good sense she speaks.

⁵ "Come, eat my food,

and drink the wine I have mixed.

⁶ Leave your naive actions and live;

walk in the path of understanding.

⁷ Whoever disciplines a mocker receives dishonor,

and whoever rebukes a wicked person receives abuse.

⁸ Do not reprove a mocker, or he will hate you;

reprove a wise man, and he will love you.

⁹ Give to a wise person, and he will become even wiser;

teach a righteous person, and he will add to his learning.

¹⁰ The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom,

and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

¹¹ For through me your days will be multiplied,

and years of life will be added to you.

¹² If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,

and if you mock, you will carry it by yourself."

¹³ The woman of foolishness is ignorant;

she is untaught and knows nothing.

¹⁴ She sits at the door of her house,

on a seat in the highest places of the town.

¹⁵ She is calling out to those who pass by in the streets,

to people walking straight on their way.

¹⁶ "Let anyone who is naive turn aside here,"

she says to those who have no sense.

¹⁷ "Stolen waters are sweet,

and bread of secrecy is delicious."

¹⁸ But he does not know that the dead are there,

that her invited guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Chapter 10

¹ The proverbs of Solomon.

A wise son makes his father rejoice

but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

² Treasures accumulated by wickedness give no profit,

but doing what is right delivers from death.

³ Yahweh does not let the soul of the righteous person go hungry,

but he frustrates the cravings of the wicked.

⁴ A lazy hand causes a person to be poor,

but the hand of the diligent person gains riches.

⁵ A wise son gathers a crop in the summer,

but it is disgraceful for him to sleep during harvest.

⁶ Blessings from God are upon the head of the righteous person,

but the mouth of the wicked covers up violence.

⁷ The righteous person makes those who remember him happy,

but the name of the wicked will rot away.

⁸ The wise of heart accept commands,

but a talkative fool will come to ruin.

⁹ He who walks in integrity walks in safety,

but the one who makes his ways crooked, he will be found out.

¹⁰ He who winks the eye causes grief,

but a talkative fool will come to ruin.

¹¹ The mouth of the righteous person is a water spring of life,

but the mouth of the wicked covers up violence.

¹² Hatred stirs up conflicts,

but love covers over all transgressions.

¹³ Wisdom is found on the lips of a discerning person,

but a rod is for the back of the one who has no sense.

¹⁴ Wise men store up knowledge,

but the mouth of a fool brings destruction near.

¹⁵ The wealth of a rich man is his fortified city;

the poverty of the poor is their destruction.

¹⁶ The wage of the righteous person leads to life;

the income of the wicked leads them to sin.

¹⁷ There is a path to life for the one who follows discipline,

but the one who rejects correction is led astray.

¹⁸ Whoever conceals hatred has lying lips,

and whoever spreads slander is a fool.

¹⁹ When there are many words, transgression is not lacking,

but he who is careful in what he says is wise.

²⁰ The tongue of the righteous person is pure silver;

there is little value in the heart of the wicked.

²¹ The lips of the righteous person nourish many,

but fools die because of their lack of sense.

²² The blessings of Yahweh bring wealth

and he adds no pain to it.

²³ Wickedness is a game a fool plays,

but wisdom is a pleasure to a man of understanding.

²⁴ The fear of the wicked person will overtake him,

but the desire of righteous people will be granted.

²⁵ The wicked are like the storm that passes by, and they are no more,

but the righteous person is a foundation that lasts forever.

²⁶ Like vinegar on the teeth and smoke in the eyes,

so is the lazy person to those who send him.

²⁷ The fear of Yahweh prolongs life,

but the years of the wicked will be short.

²⁸ The hope of righteous people is their joy,

but the hope of wicked people will perish.

²⁹ The way of Yahweh is a stronghold for those who have integrity,

but it is destruction for those who behave wickedly.

³⁰ The righteous person will never be overthrown,

but the wicked will not remain in the land.

³¹ Out of the mouth of the righteous person comes the fruit of wisdom,

but the perverse tongue will be cut out.

³² The lips of the righteous person know what gains favor,

but the mouth of the wicked, they know what is perverse.

Chapter 11

¹ False scales are an abomination to Yahweh,

but he delights in a precise weight.

² When pride comes, then comes disgrace,

but with humility comes wisdom.

³ The integrity of the upright guides them,

but the crooked ways of the treacherous destroy them.

⁴ Wealth is worthless on the day of wrath,

but doing right delivers you from death.

⁵ The right conduct of a blameless person makes his way straight,

but the wicked will fall because of their own wickedness.

⁶ The right conduct of the upright keeps them safe,

but the treacherous are trapped by their cravings.

⁷ When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes

and the hope that was in his strength comes to nothing.

⁸ The righteous person is delivered from trouble

and it comes upon the wicked instead.

⁹ With his mouth the godless person destroys his neighbor,

but through knowledge righteous people are kept safe.

¹⁰ When righteous people prosper, a city rejoices;

when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy.

¹¹ Through the blessings of the upright the city is exalted;

by the mouth of the wicked the city is thrown down.

¹² The man who has contempt for his friend has no sense,

but a man of understanding keeps quiet.

¹³ Whoever goes around slandering reveals secrets,

but the trustworthy in spirit keeps a matter covered.

¹⁴ Where there is no counsel, a nation falls,

but victory comes through many counselors.

¹⁵ Whoever guarantees a loan for a stranger will surely suffer harm,

but the one who hates giving a pledge in that kind of promise is safe.

¹⁶ A gracious woman gets honor,

but violent people grasp for wealth.

¹⁷ A merciful person benefits himself,

but one who is cruel hurts himself.

¹⁸ The wicked person lies to get his wages,

but one who sows what is right reaps the wages of truth.

¹⁹ An honest person who does what is right will live,

but the one who pursues evil will die.

²⁰ Those whose hearts are perverse are an abomination to Yahweh,

but he delights in those whose ways are blameless.

²¹ Be sure of this—the wicked person will not go unpunished,

but the descendants of righteous people will be kept safe.

²² Like a gold ring in a pig's nose

is a beautiful woman without discretion.

²³ The desires of righteous people result in good,

but wicked people can only hope for wrath.

²⁴ There is one who scatters—he will accumulate even more;

another withholds what is just—he comes to poverty.

²⁵ The generous person will prosper

and the one who gives water to others will have water for himself.

²⁶ People curse the man who refuses to sell grain,

but good gifts crown the head of him who sells it.

²⁷ The one who diligently seeks good is also seeking favor,

but the one who searches for evil will find it.

²⁸ Those who trust in their riches will fall,

but like the leaf, righteous people will flourish.

²⁹ The one who brings trouble on his own household will inherit the wind

and the fool will become a servant to the wise of heart.

³⁰ The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,

but violence takes away lives.

³¹ Behold! The righteous person is rewarded on earth;

how much more the wicked and the sinner!

Chapter 12

¹ Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,

but the one who hates correction is stupid.

² Yahweh gives favor to a good man,

but he condemns a man who makes evil plans.

³ A person cannot be established by wickedness,

but righteous people cannot be uprooted.

⁴ A worthy wife is her husband's crown,

but she who brings shame is like a disease that rots his bones.

⁵ The plans of the righteous are just,

but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.

⁶ The words of wicked people are an ambush waiting for bloodshed,

but the words of the upright keep them safe.

⁷ Wicked people are overthrown and they are gone,

but the house of the righteous person will stand.

⁸ A man is praised for prudent lips,

but the perverse heart is despised.

⁹ Better the person of low position who has a servant

than the one who honors himself but has no food.

¹⁰ The righteous person cares about the needs of his animal,

but even the compassion of the wicked is cruel.

¹¹ The one who works his land will have plenty of food,

but whoever chases after worthless projects has no sense.

¹² The evil person desires the plunder of the wicked,

but the righteous root endures.

¹³ An evil person is trapped by the transgression of his lips,

but the righteous person escapes from trouble.

¹⁴ From the fruit of his words a person is filled with good things,

just as the work of his hands rewards him.

¹⁵ The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,

but a wise man listens to advice.

¹⁶ A fool shows his anger at once,

but one who ignores an insult is prudent.

¹⁷ The one who speaks the truth says what is right,

but a false witness, deceit.

¹⁸ The words of one who speaks rashly are like the thrusts of a sword,

but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

¹⁹ Truthful lips last forever,

but a lying tongue is only for a moment.

²⁰ There is deceit in the hearts of those who plan to do evil,

but joy comes to the advisors of peace.

²¹ No ill comes upon the righteous,

but the wicked are filled with distress.

²² Lying lips are an abomination to Yahweh,

but those who live faithfully are his delight.

²³ A prudent man conceals his knowledge,

but the heart of fools shouts out folly.

²⁴ The hand of the diligent will rule,

but lazy people will be put to forced labor.

²⁵ Anxiety in the heart of a person weighs him down,

but a good word makes him glad.

²⁶ The righteous person is a guide for his friend,

but the way of the wicked leads them astray.

²⁷ Lazy people would not roast their own game,

but the diligent man will obtain precious wealth.

²⁸ Those who walk in the right way find life

and in its path there is no death.

Chapter 13

¹ A wise son hears his father's instruction,

but a mocker will not listen to rebuke.

² From the fruit of his mouth a person enjoys good things,

but the appetite of the treacherous is for violence.

³ The one who guards his mouth protects his life,

but the one who opens wide his lips will ruin himself.

⁴ The appetite of the lazy person craves but gets nothing,

but the appetite of the diligent person will be richly satisfied.

⁵ The righteous person hates deceptive words,

but a wicked person makes himself repugnant, and he does what is shameful.

⁶ Righteousness protects those who are faultless in their path,

but wickedness ruins those who commit sin.

⁷ There is someone who enriches himself, but has nothing at all,

and there is someone who gives everything away, yet has much wealth.

⁸ The ransom of a rich man's life is his wealth,

but a poor person does not hear a threat.

⁹ The light of righteous people rejoices,

but the lamp of wicked people will be put out.

¹⁰ Pride only breeds conflict,

but for those who listen to good advice there is wisdom.

¹¹ Wealth dwindles away when there is too much vanity,

but the one who makes money by working with his hand

will make his money grow.

¹² When hope is postponed, it breaks the heart,

but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

¹³ Whoever despises instruction brings destruction on himself,

but he who respects the commandment will be rewarded.

¹⁴ The teaching of a wise person is a fountain of life,

turning you away from the snares of death.

¹⁵ Good insight wins favor,

but the way of the treacherous is disaster. ¹

¹⁶ Prudent people act out of knowledge in every decision,

but a fool parades his folly.

¹⁷ A wicked messenger falls into trouble,

but a faithful envoy brings healing.

¹⁸ The one who ignores instruction will have poverty and shame,

but honor will come to him who learns from correction.

¹⁹ A longing realized is sweet to the appetite,

but turning away from evil is an abomination to fools.

²⁰ Walk with wise people and you will be wise,

but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

²¹ Disaster runs after sinners,

but righteous people are rewarded with good.

²² A good person leaves an inheritance for his grandchildren,

but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous person.

²³ An unplowed field owned by the poor could produce much food,

but it is swept away by injustice.

²⁴ The one who does not use his rod hates his son,

but one who loves his son is careful to instruct him.

²⁵ The righteous person eats until he satisfies his appetite,

but the stomach of the wicked is always hungry.

¹The ULB is following the ancient Greek translation because the Hebrew is difficult to understand. The Hebrew has: the way of the treacherous is unending.

Chapter 14

¹ The wise woman builds her house,

but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands.

² The one who walks uprightly fears Yahweh,

but the one who is dishonest in his ways despises him.

³ From the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,

but the lips of the wise will preserve them.

⁴ Where there are no cattle, the feeding trough is clean,

but an abundant crop comes from the strength of an ox.

⁵ A faithful witness does not lie,

but a false witness breathes out lies.

⁶ A mocker seeks wisdom and there is none,

but knowledge comes easily to the one who is discerning.

⁷ Walk away from a foolish person,

for you will not find knowledge on his lips.

⁸ The wisdom of the prudent person is to understand his own way,

but the folly of fools is deception.

⁹ Fools mock when the guilt offering is sacrificed,

but among the upright favor is shared.

¹⁰ The heart knows its own bitterness

and no stranger shares its joy.

¹¹ The house of wicked people will be destroyed,

but the tent of the upright will flourish.

¹² There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end only leads to death.

¹³ A heart can laugh but still be in pain

and joy may end up being grief.

¹⁴ The faithless in heart will get what his ways deserve,

but a good person will get what is his.

¹⁵ The one who is naive believes everything,

but the prudent man thinks about his steps.

¹⁶ A wise man fears and turns away from evil,

but the fool confidently dismisses a warning.

¹⁷ One who is quick to become angry does foolish things,

and a person who makes evil schemes is hated.

¹⁸ The naive inherit foolishness,

but prudent people are crowned with knowledge.

¹⁹ Evil people will bow down before those who are good

and those who are wicked will bow down at the gates of the righteous person.

²⁰ The poor person is hated even by his own companions,

but the rich people have many friends.

²¹ The one who shows contempt for his neighbor is sinning,

but the one who shows favor to the poor is blessed.

²² Do not those who plot evil go astray?

But those who plan to do good will receive steadfast love and faithfulness.

²³ With all hard work comes a profit,

but when there is only talk, it leads to poverty.

²⁴ The crown of wise people is their wealth,

but the folly of fools brings them only more folly.

²⁵ A truthful witness saves lives,

but he who breathes out lies brings betrayal.

²⁶ In the fear of Yahweh is strong confidence;

it will be a refuge for his children.

²⁷ The fear of Yahweh is a fountain of life,

so that a person may turn away from the snares of death.

²⁸ The glory of a king is found in the great number of his people,

but without people the prince is ruined.

²⁹ A patient person has great understanding,

but the quick-tempered person exalts folly.

³⁰ A tranquil heart is life for the body,

but envy rots the bones.

³¹ The one who oppresses the poor insults his Maker,

but the one who shows favor to the needy honors him.

³² The wicked person is brought down by his evil actions,

but the righteous person has a refuge even in death.

³³ Wisdom rests in the heart of the discerning,

but even among fools she lets herself be known.

³⁴ Doing what is right exalts a nation,

but sin is a disgrace to any people.

³⁵ The favor of the king is with the servant who acts prudently,

but his anger is for the one who acts shamefully.

Chapter 15

¹ A gentle answer turns away wrath,

but a harsh word stirs up anger.

² The tongue of wise people compliments knowledge,

but the mouth of fools pours out folly.

³ The eyes of Yahweh are everywhere,

keeping watch over the evil and the good.

⁴ A healing tongue is a tree of life,

but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.

⁵ A fool has contempt for his father's instruction,

but he who learns from correction is prudent.

⁶ In the house of the righteous person there is great treasure,

but the earnings of the wicked person give him trouble.

⁷ The lips of wise people scatter knowledge about,

but not so the hearts of fools.

⁸ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to Yahweh,

but the prayer of the upright is his delight.

⁹ The way of wicked people is an abomination to Yahweh,

but he loves the one who pursues what is right.

¹⁰ Harsh discipline awaits anyone who abandons the way

and he who hates correction will die.

¹¹ Sheol and destruction are open before Yahweh;

how much more the hearts of the sons of mankind?

¹² The mocker does not love the one who corrects him;

he will not go to the wise.

¹³ A joyful heart makes the face cheerful,

but by an injured heart the spirit is broken.

¹⁴ The heart of the discerning seeks knowledge,

but the mouth of fools feeds on folly.

¹⁵ All the days of the afflicted are miserable,

but a cheerful heart has an unending feast.

¹⁶ Better is little with the fear of Yahweh

than great treasure with tumult.

¹⁷ Better is a meal with vegetables where there is love

than a fattened calf served with hatred.

¹⁸ An angry man stirs up strife,

but a person who is slow to anger quiets a quarrel.

¹⁹ The path of the lazy person is like a place with a hedge of thorns,

but the path of the upright is a built-up highway.

²⁰ A wise son brings joy to his father,

but a foolish person despises his mother.

²¹ Folly delights a person who lacks sense,

but the one who has understanding walks a straight path.

²² Plans go wrong where there is no advice,

but with numerous advisors they succeed.

²³ A person finds joy when he gives a pertinent reply;

how good is a timely word!

²⁴ The path of life leads upward for prudent people,

that they may turn away from Sheol beneath.

²⁵ Yahweh tears down the house of the proud,

but he protects the property of the widow.

²⁶ The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to Yahweh,

but pleasant words are pure.

²⁷ The person who profits from unjust gain brings trouble to his family,

but the one who hates bribes will live.

²⁸ The heart of the righteous person ponders before it answers,

but the mouth of wicked people pours out all its evil.

²⁹ Yahweh is far away from wicked people,

but he hears the prayer of righteous people.

³⁰ The light of the eyes brings joy to the heart

and good news is health to the body.

³¹ The ear that listens to life-giving rebuke

will dwell among wise people.

³² The one who rejects discipline despises himself,

but he who listens to correction gains understanding.

³³ The fear of Yahweh instructs in wisdom,

and humility comes before honor.

Chapter 16

¹ The plans of the heart belong to a person,

but the answer from his tongue comes from Yahweh.

² All of a person's ways are pure in his own eyes,

but Yahweh weighs the spirits.

³ Commit your works to Yahweh

and your plans will succeed.

⁴ Yahweh has made everything for its purpose,

even the wicked for the day of trouble.

⁵ Every exalted heart is an abomination to Yahweh,

but be sure of this, they will not go unpunished.

⁶ By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for

and by the fear of Yahweh people turn away from evil.

⁷ When a person's ways are pleasing to Yahweh,

he makes even that person's enemies to be at peace with him.

⁸ Better is a little with what is right,

than a large income with injustice.

⁹ In his heart a person plans out his way,

but Yahweh directs his steps.

¹⁰ Insightful decisions are on the lips of a king;

his mouth should not betray justice.

¹¹ Honest scales come from Yahweh;

all the weights in the bag are his work.

¹² Doing evil is an abomination to kings,

for a throne is established by doing what is right.

¹³ Righteous lips are the delight of the king,

and he loves the person who speaks upright words.

¹⁴ A king's wrath is a messenger of death

but a wise man will try to calm his anger.

¹⁵ In the light of a king's face is life

and his favor is like a cloud that brings a spring rain.

¹⁶ How much better it is to get wisdom than gold.

To get understanding should be chosen more than silver.

¹⁷ The highway of the upright turns away from evil;

the one who guards his way preserves his life.

¹⁸ Pride comes before destruction

and a haughty spirit before a downfall.

¹⁹ It is better to be of humble spirit among poor people

than to divide the plunder with proud people.

²⁰ Whoever contemplates what they are taught will find what is good,

and those who trust in Yahweh will be blessed.

²¹ The one who is wise in heart is called discerning

and sweetness of speech improves the ability to teach.

²² Understanding is a fountain of life to the one who has it,

but the instruction of fools is their foolishness.

²³ The heart of a wise person gives insight to his mouth

and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

²⁴ Pleasant words are a honeycomb—

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

²⁵ There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

²⁶ The laborer's appetite works for him;

his hunger urges him on.

²⁷ A worthless person digs up mischief

and his speech is like a scorching fire.

²⁸ A perverse person stirs up conflict

and a gossip separates close friends.

²⁹ A man of violence lies to his neighbor

and leads him down a path that is not good.

³⁰ The one who winks the eye is plotting perverse things;

those who purse the lips will bring evil to pass.

³¹ Gray hair is a crown of glory;

it is gained by living the right way.

³² It is better to be slow to anger than to be a warrior

and one who rules his spirit is stronger than one who conquers a city.

³³ The lots are cast into the lap,

but the decision is from Yahweh.

Chapter 17

¹ It is better to have quiet with a dry morsel of bread

than a house full of feasting with strife.

² A wise servant will rule over a son who acts shamefully

and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.

³ The crucible is for silver and the furnace is for gold,

but Yahweh tests hearts.

⁴ The evildoer pays attention to wicked lips;

a liar gives ear to a destructive tongue.

⁵ Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker

and the one who rejoices at misfortune will not go unpunished.

⁶ Grandchildren are the crown of the aged

and parents bring honor to their children.

⁷ Eloquent speech is not suitable for a fool;

much less are lying lips suitable for a prince.

⁸ A bribe is like a magic stone to the one who gives it;

wherever he turns, he succeeds.

⁹ Whoever overlooks an offense seeks love,

but the one who repeats a matter alienates close friends.

¹⁰ A rebuke goes deeper into a person who has understanding

than a hundred blows go into a fool.

¹¹ An evil person only seeks rebellion,

so a cruel messenger will be sent against him.

¹² It is better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs

than to meet a fool in his foolishness.

¹³ When someone returns evil for good,

evil will never leave his house.

¹⁴ The beginning of conflict is like one who releases water everywhere,

so walk away from the dispute before it has broken out.

¹⁵ The person who acquits the wicked person and the person who condemns the righteous person—

both are an abomination to Yahweh.

¹⁶ Why should a fool pay money to learn about wisdom

when he has no sense?

¹⁷ A friend is loving at all times

and a brother is born for times of trouble.

¹⁸ A man having no sense makes binding promises

and becomes responsible for his neighbor's debts.

¹⁹ Whoever loves conflict loves sin;

whoever raises his door seeks destruction.

²⁰ A person who has a crooked heart finds nothing that is good;

the one who has a perverse tongue falls into calamity.

²¹ Whoever is the parent of a fool brings grief to himself;

and the father of a fool has no joy.

²² A joyful heart is good medicine,

but a broken spirit dries up the bones.

²³ A wicked man accepts a secret bribe

to pervert the ways of justice.

²⁴ The one who has understanding sets his face toward wisdom,

but the eyes of a fool are set on the ends of the earth.

²⁵ A foolish son is a grief to his father

and bitterness to the woman who bore him.

²⁶ Also, it is never good to punish the righteous;

neither is it good to flog the noble for their integrity.

²⁷ One who has knowledge uses few words

and he who is cool of spirit has understanding.

²⁸ Even a fool is thought to be wise if he keeps silent;

when he keeps his mouth shut, he is considered to be intelligent.

Chapter 18

¹ One who isolates himself seeks his own desire,

and he quarrels with all sound wisdom.

² A fool finds no pleasure in understanding,

but only in revealing what is in his own heart.

³ When a wicked person comes, contempt comes with him—

along with shame and disgrace.

⁴ The words of a man's mouth are deep waters;

the fountain of wisdom is a flowing stream.

⁵ It is not good to be partial to the wicked person,

nor to deny justice to the righteous person.

⁶ A fool's lips bring him conflict

and his mouth invites a beating.

⁷ A fool's mouth is his ruin

and he ensnares himself with his lips.

⁸ The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels

and they go down into the inner parts of the body.

⁹ Also, one who is slack in his work

is a brother to the one who destroys the most.

¹⁰ The name of Yahweh is a strong tower;

the righteous person runs into it and is safe.

¹¹ The wealth of the rich is his fortified city

and in his imagination it is like a high wall.

¹² Before his downfall a person's heart is proud,

but humility comes before honor.

¹³ One who answers before listening—

it is his folly and shame.

¹⁴ A person's spirit will endure sickness,

but who can bear a broken spirit?

¹⁵ The heart of the intelligent acquires knowledge

and the hearing of the wise seeks it out.

¹⁶ A man's gift may open the way

and bring him before great men.

¹⁷ The first to plead his case seems just

until his opponent comes and examines him.

¹⁸ Casting the lot settles disputes

and separates strong opponents.

¹⁹ An offended brother is harder to be won than a strong city,

and quarrels are like the bars of a castle.

²⁰ From the fruit of his mouth one's stomach is filled;

with the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.

²¹ Death and life are controlled by the tongue,

and those who love the tongue will eat its fruit.

²² He who finds a wife finds a good thing

and receives favor from Yahweh.

²³ A poor person pleads for mercy,

but a rich person answers harshly.

²⁴ The one who claims many friends is brought to ruin by them,

but there is a friend who comes closer than a brother.

Chapter 19

¹ Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity

than one who is perverse in speech and is a fool.

² Also, it is not good to have desire without knowledge

and the one who runs too fast misses the path.

³ A person's folly ruins his life

and his heart rages against Yahweh.

⁴ Wealth adds many friends,

but a poor person is separated from his friends.

⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished

and he who breathes out lies will not escape.

⁶ Many will ask for a favor from a generous person

and everyone is a friend of the one who gives gifts.

⁷ All the brothers of a poor man hate him;

how much more do his friends who go far away from him!

He pursues them with words,

but they are gone.

⁸ He who gets wisdom loves his own life;

he who keeps understanding will find what is good.

⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,

but the one who breathes out lies will perish.

¹⁰ It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury—

much less for a slave to rule over princes.

¹¹ Discretion makes a person slow to anger

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

¹² The wrath of the king is like the roaring of a young lion,

but his favor is like dew on the grass.

¹³ A foolish son is ruin to his father

and a quarreling wife is a constant dripping of water.

¹⁴ A house and wealth are inherited from parents,

but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.

¹⁵ Laziness throws a person into a deep sleep,

but the one not willing to work will go hungry.

¹⁶ The one who obeys the command guards his life,

but the one who despises his ways will die.

¹⁷ Whoever is gracious to the poor lends to Yahweh

and he will repay him for what he has done.

¹⁸ Discipline your son while there is hope

and do not set your desire on putting him to death.

¹⁹ A person with great anger must bear the penalty;

if you rescue him, you will have to do it a second time.

²⁰ Listen to advice and accept instruction,

so you may become wise by the end of your life.

²¹ Many are the plans in a person's heart,

but it is the purpose of Yahweh that will stand.

²² Loyalty is what a person desires

and a poor person is better than a liar.

²³ Honor for Yahweh leads people to life;

anyone who has it will rest satisfied and not afflicted by harm.

²⁴ The lazy person buries his hand in the dish;

he will not even bring it back up to his mouth.

²⁵ Strike a mocker, and the naive person will become prudent;

discipline one who is discerning, and he will gain knowledge.

²⁶ The one who robs his father and drives his mother away

is a son who brings shame and disgrace.

²⁷ If you cease to hear instruction, my son,

you will stray from the words of knowledge.

²⁸ A corrupt witness mocks justice

and the mouth of the wicked swallows iniquity.

²⁹ Judgments are ready for mockers

and flogging for the backs of fools.

Chapter 20

¹ Wine is a mocker and strong drink is a brawler;

whoever is led astray by drink is not wise.

² The fear of a king is like the fear of a young lion that is roaring;

the one who makes him angry forfeits his life.

³ It is an honor for anyone to avoid conflict,

but every fool jumps into an argument.

⁴ The lazy person does not plow in autumn;

he seeks a crop at harvest time but will have nothing.

⁵ The purpose in a human heart is like deep water,

but someone with understanding will draw it out.

⁶ Many a person proclaims he is loyal,

but who can find one who is faithful?

⁷ The righteous person walks in his integrity,

and his sons who follow after him will be blessed.

⁸ A king who sits on the throne performing the duties of a judge

is winnowing with his eyes all the evil that is before him.

⁹ Who can say, "I have kept my heart pure;

I am clean from my sin"?

¹⁰ Differing weights and unequal measures—

both are abominations to Yahweh.

¹¹ Even a youth is known by his actions,

by whether his conduct is pure and upright.

¹² Ears that hear and eyes that see—

Yahweh made them both.

¹³ Do not love sleep or you will come to poverty;

open your eyes and you will have plenty to eat.

¹⁴ "Bad! Bad!" says the buyer,

but when he goes away he boasts.

¹⁵ There is gold and an abundance of costly stones,

but lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.

¹⁶ Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger,

and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.

¹⁷ Bread gained by deceit tastes sweet,

but afterward his mouth will be full of gravel.

¹⁸ Plans are established by advice

and only with wise guidance should you wage war.

¹⁹ A slanderer reveals secrets,

and so you should not associate with people who talk too much.

²⁰ If a person curses his father or his mother,

his lamp will be put out in the middle of darkness.

²¹ An inheritance gained quickly at the beginning

will not be blessed in the end.

²² Do not say, "I will pay you back for this wrong!"

Wait for Yahweh and he will rescue you.

²³ Unequal weights are an abomination to Yahweh,

and deceptive scales are not good.

²⁴ A person's steps are directed by Yahweh;

how then can he understand his way?

²⁵ It is a snare for a person to say rashly, "This thing is holy,"

and begin to think about what it means only after making his vow.

²⁶ A wise king winnows the wicked

and he turns a threshing wheel over them.

²⁷ The spirit of a person is the lamp of Yahweh,

searching all his inmost parts.

²⁸ Steadfast love and faithfulness preserve the king;

he makes his throne strong by love.

²⁹ The glory of young men is their strength

and the splendor of old people is their gray hair.

³⁰ Blows that make a wound cleanse away evil

and beatings make the innermost parts clean.

Chapter 21

¹ The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of Yahweh;

he turns it wherever he pleases.

² Every person's way is right in his own eyes,

but it is Yahweh who weighs the hearts.

³ To do what is right and just

is more acceptable to Yahweh than sacrifice.

⁴ Haughty eyes and a proud heart—

the lamp of the wicked—are sin.

⁵ The plans of the diligent lead only to prosperity,

but everyone who acts too quickly comes only to poverty.

⁶ Acquiring treasures by a lying tongue

is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.

⁷ The violence of the wicked will drag them away,

for they refuse to do what is just.

⁸ The way of a guilty person is crooked,

but the one who is pure does what is right.

⁹ It is better to live on a corner of the roof

than in a house shared with a quarrelsome wife.

¹⁰ The appetite of the wicked craves evil;

his neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.

¹¹ When the mocker is punished, the naive become wise,

and when the wise person is instructed, he lays hold of knowledge.

¹² The righteous person watches the house of the wicked person;

he brings wicked people to disaster.

¹³ The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor,

he also will cry out, but he will not be answered.

¹⁴ A gift in secret appeases anger

and a concealed gift appeases strong wrath.

¹⁵ When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous person,

but it brings terror to workers of iniquity.

¹⁶ The one who wanders from the way of understanding,

he will rest in the assembly of the dead.

¹⁷ Whoever loves pleasure will become poor;

the one who loves wine and oil will not be rich.

¹⁸ A wicked person is ransom for the righteous,

and the treacherous person is ransom for the upright.

¹⁹ It is better to live in the desert

than with a quarreling and angry wife.

²⁰ Desirable treasure and oil are kept in the dwelling of the wise,

but a foolish person swallows it all up.

²¹ The one who does right and is kind—

this person finds life, righteousness, and honor.

²² A wise man scales the city of the mighty ones,

and he brings down the stronghold in which they trusted.

²³ Whoever guards his mouth and tongue

keeps himself out of trouble.

²⁴ The proud and haughty person—"Mocker" is his name—

acts with arrogant pride.

²⁵ The desire of the lazy person kills him,

for his hands refuse to work.

²⁶ All day long he craves and craves more,

but the righteous person gives and does not hold back.

²⁷ The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination;

it is even more detestable when he brings it with evil motives.

²⁸ A false witness will perish,

but the one who listens will speak for all time.

²⁹ A wicked man makes his face hard,

but the upright is certain about his ways. ¹

³⁰ There is no wisdom, there is no understanding, and there is no advice

that can stand against Yahweh.

³¹ The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

but the victory belongs to Yahweh.

¹Some ancient copies of the Hebrew text have but the upright thinks about his way .

Chapter 22

¹ A good name is to be chosen over great riches

and favor is better than silver and gold.

² Rich and poor people have this in common—

Yahweh is the maker of all of them.

³ The prudent sees trouble and hides himself,

but the naive go on and suffer because of it.

⁴ The reward for humility and fear of Yahweh

is riches, honor, and life.

⁵ Thorns and snares lie in the path of the perverse;

whoever guards his life will keep far from them.

⁶ Teach a child the way he should go

and when he is old he will not turn away from that instruction.

⁷ Rich people rule over poor people

and one who borrows is a slave to the one who lends.

⁸ He who sows injustice will reap trouble

and the rod of his fury will fade away.

⁹ The one who has a generous eye will be blessed,

for he shares his bread with the poor.

¹⁰ Drive away the mocker, and out goes strife;

disputes and dishonor will cease.

¹¹ The one who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious,

he will have the king for his friend.

¹² The eyes of Yahweh keep watch over knowledge,

but he overthrows the words of the treacherous.

¹³ The lazy person says, "There is a lion in the street!

I will be killed in the open places."

¹⁴ The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit;

Yahweh's anger is stirred up against anyone who falls into it.

¹⁵ Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child,

but the rod of discipline drives it far away.

¹⁶ The one who oppresses poor people to increase his wealth,

or gives to rich people, will come to poverty.

¹⁷ Incline your ear and listen to the words of the wise

and apply your heart to my knowledge,

¹⁸ for it will be pleasant for you if you keep them within you,

if all of them are ready on your lips.

¹⁹ So your trust may be in Yahweh,

I teach them to you today—even to you.

²⁰ Have I not written for you thirty sayings

of instruction and knowledge,

²¹ to teach you truth in these trustworthy words,

so you may give trustworthy answers

to those who sent you?

²² Do not rob the poor because he is poor,

or crush the needy at the gate,

²³ for Yahweh will plead their case,

and he will rob of life those who robbed them.

²⁴ Do not make a friend of someone who is ruled by anger

and you must not go with one who rages,

²⁵ or you will learn his ways

and entangle yourself in a snare.

²⁶ Do not be one who strikes hands in making a pledge,

or who puts up security for debts.

²⁷ If you lack the means to pay,

what could stop someone from taking away your bed from under you?

²⁸ Do not remove the ancient boundary stone

that your fathers have set.

²⁹ Do you see a man skilled at his work? He will stand before kings;

he will not stand before common people.

Chapter 23

¹ When you sit to eat with a ruler,

observe carefully what is before you,

² and put a knife to your throat

if you are a person who likes to eat a lot of food.

³ Do not crave his delicacies,

for it is the food of lies.

⁴ Do not work too hard to gain wealth;

be wise enough to know when to stop.

⁵ Will you let your eyes light upon it? It will be gone,

for it will surely take up wings like an eagle

and fly off to the sky.

⁶ Do not eat the food of one with an evil eye—

and do not crave his delicacies,

⁷ for he is the kind of man

who counts the price of the food.

"Eat and drink!" he says to you,

but his heart is not with you.

⁸ You will vomit up the little you have eaten

and you will have wasted your compliments.

⁹ Do not speak in the hearing of a fool,

for he will despise the wisdom of your words.

¹⁰ Do not move an ancient boundary stone

or encroach on the fields of orphans,

¹¹ for their Redeemer is strong

and he will plead their case against you.

¹² Apply your heart to instruction

and your ears to words of knowledge.

¹³ Do not withhold instruction from a child,

for if you beat him with the rod, he will not die.

¹⁴ It is you who must beat him with the rod

and save his soul from Sheol.

¹⁵ My son, if your heart is wise,

then my heart also will be glad;

¹⁶ my kidneys will rejoice

when your lips speak what is right.

¹⁷ Do not let your heart envy sinners,

but continue in the fear of Yahweh all the day.

¹⁸ Surely there is a future

and your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁹ Hear—you!—my son, and be wise

and direct your heart in the way.

²⁰ Do not associate with those who drink much wine,

or with gluttonous eaters of meat,

²¹ for the drunkard and the glutton become poor

and slumber will clothe them with rags.

²² Listen to your father who begot you

and do not despise your mother when she is old.

²³ Buy the truth, but do not sell it;

buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.

²⁴ The father of the righteous person will greatly rejoice,

and he who begets a wise child will be glad in him.

²⁵ Let your father and your mother be glad

and let her who bore you rejoice.

²⁶ My son, give me your heart

and let your eyes observe my ways.

²⁷ For a prostitute is a deep pit,

and an immoral woman is a narrow well.

²⁸ She lies in wait like a robber

and she increases the number of the treacherous among humanity.

²⁹ Who has woe? Who has sorrow?

Who has strife? Who has complaining?

Who has wounds for no reason? Who has bloodshot eyes?

³⁰ Those who linger over wine,

those who try the mixed wine.

³¹ Do not look at the wine when it is red,

when it sparkles in the cup

and goes down smoothly.

³² In the last it bites like a serpent

and it stings like an adder.

³³ Your eyes will see strange things

and your heart will utter perverse things.

³⁴ You will be as one who sleeps on the high seas

or lies down on the top of a mast.

³⁵ "They hit me," you will say, "but I was not hurt.

They beat me, but I did not feel it.

When will I wake up?

I will seek another drink."

Chapter 24

¹ Do not be envious of those who are evil,

nor desire to associate with them,

² because their hearts plot violence

and their lips talk about trouble.

³ Through wisdom a house is built

and by understanding it is established.

⁴ By knowledge the rooms are filled

with all precious and pleasant riches.

⁵ A warrior of wisdom is strong,

and a man of knowledge increases his strength;

⁶ for with guidance you can wage your war

and with many advisors there is victory.

⁷ Wisdom is too high for a fool;

in the gate he does not open his mouth.

⁸ There is one who plans to do evil—

people call him a master of schemes.

⁹ A foolish plan is sin

and a mocker is an abomination to people.

¹⁰ If you become weak with fear in the day of trouble,

then your strength is small.

¹¹ Rescue those who are being taken away to death

and hold back those who are staggering to the slaughter.

¹² If you say, "Behold, we knew nothing about this,"

does not the one who weighs the heart understand what you are saying?

The one who guards your life, does he not know it?

Will God not give to each one what he deserves?

¹³ My son, eat honey because it is good,

because the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.

¹⁴ Such is wisdom for your soul—

if you find it, there will be a future

and your hope will not be cut off.

¹⁵ Do not lie in wait like the wicked person who attacks the house of the righteous person.

Do not destroy his home!

¹⁶ For the righteous person falls down seven times and rises again,

but wicked people stumble at calamity.

¹⁷ Do not rejoice when your enemy falls

and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles,

¹⁸ or Yahweh will see and disapprove

and turn away his wrath from him.

¹⁹ Do not be angry because of evildoers,

and do not envy wicked people,

²⁰ for the evil person has no future

and the lamp of wicked people will go out.

²¹ Fear Yahweh, and fear the king, my son;

do not associate with those who rebel against them,

²² for suddenly their disaster will come,

and who knows the extent of the destruction that will come from both of them?

²³ These also are sayings of the wise.

Partiality in judging a case at law is not good.

²⁴ Whoever says to the wicked person, "You are a righteous person,"

will be cursed by peoples and abhorred by nations.

²⁵ But those who discipline the wicked will have delight

and gifts of goodness will come to them.

²⁶ The one who gives a straight answer

gives a kiss on the lips.

²⁷ Prepare your outdoor work,

and make everything ready for yourself in the field;

after that, build your house.

²⁸ Do not bear witness against your neighbor without cause

and do not deceive with your lips.

²⁹ Do not say, "I will do to him what he has done to me;

I will pay him back for what he has done."

³⁰ I went by the field of a lazy person,

past the vineyard of the man having no sense.

³¹ Thorns had grown up everywhere,

the ground was covered with nettles,

and its stone wall was broken down.

³² Then I saw and considered it;

I looked and received instruction.

³³ A little sleep, a little slumber,

a little folding of the hands to rest—

³⁴ and poverty comes marching upon you,

and your needs like an armed soldier.

Chapter 25

¹ These are more proverbs of Solomon, copied by the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah.

² It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,

but the glory of kings to search it out.

³ Like the heavens are for height and the earth is for depth,

so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

⁴ Remove the dross from the silver

and a metal worker can use the silver in his craft.

⁵ Even so, remove wicked people from the presence of the king

and his throne will be established by doing what is right.

⁶ Do not honor yourself in the king's presence

and do not stand in the place designated for great people.

⁷ It is better for him to say to you, "Come up here,"

than for him to humiliate you before a nobleman.

What you have witnessed,

⁸ do not bring quickly to trial.

For what will you do in the end

when your neighbor puts you to shame?

⁹ Argue your case between you and your neighbor himself

and do not reveal another's secret,

¹⁰ or else the one who hears you will bring shame upon you

and an evil report about you that cannot be silenced.

¹¹ Apples of gold in settings of silver

is a word spoken in the right situation.

¹² A gold ring or jewelry made of fine gold

is a wise rebuke to a listening ear.

¹³ Like the cold of snow at harvest time

is a faithful messenger for those who sent him;

he brings back the life of his masters.

¹⁴ Clouds and wind without rain

is the one who boasts about a gift he does not give.

¹⁵ With patience a ruler can be persuaded

and a soft tongue can break a bone.

¹⁶ If you find honey, eat just enough—

otherwise, having too much of it, you vomit it up.

¹⁷ Do not set your foot in your neighbor's house too often;

he may become tired of you and hate you.

¹⁸ A man who bears false witness against his neighbor

is like a club used in war, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.

¹⁹ An unfaithful man in whom you trust in a time of trouble

is like a bad tooth or a foot that slips.

²⁰ Like a person who takes off a garment in cold weather,

or like vinegar poured upon carbonate of soda,

is the one who sings songs to a heavy heart.

²¹ If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat,

and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,

²² for you will shovel coals of fire on his head

and Yahweh will reward you.

²³ As surely as the north wind brings rain,

so a tongue that tells secrets will result in angry faces.

²⁴ It is better to live on a corner of the roof

than in a house shared with a quarreling wife.

²⁵ Like cold waters to one who is thirsty,

so is good news from a far country.

²⁶ Like a fouled spring or a ruined fountain

is a righteous person tottering before wicked people.

²⁷ It is not good to eat too much honey;

that is like searching for honor after honor. ¹

²⁸ A person without self-control

is like a city breached and without walls.

¹Many modern translations have different interpretations of this difficult verse.

Chapter 26

¹ Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,

so a fool does not deserve honor.

² As the sparrow flutters and the swallow darts when they fly,

so an undeserved curse does not alight.

³ A whip is for the horse, a bridle is for the donkey

and a rod is for the back of fools.

⁴ Do not answer a fool according to his folly,

or you will become like him.

⁵ Answer a fool and join in on his folly,

so he will not become wise in his own eyes.

⁶ Whoever sends a message by the hand of a fool

cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.

⁷ Like the legs of a paralytic which hang down

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

⁸ Like tying a stone in a sling

is giving honor to a fool.

⁹ Like a thorn that goes into the hand of a drunkard

is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

¹⁰ Like an archer who wounds all those around him

is one who hires a fool or hires anyone who passes by.

¹¹ As a dog returns to his own vomit,

so is a fool who repeats his folly.

¹² Do you see someone who is wise in his own eyes?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

¹³ The lazy person says, "There is a lion on the road!

There is a lion between the open places!"

¹⁴ As the door turns on its hinges,

so is the lazy person upon his bed.

¹⁵ The lazy person puts his hand into the dish

and yet he has no strength to lift it up to his mouth.

¹⁶ The lazy person is wiser in his own eyes

than seven men who respond with good judgment.

¹⁷ Like one who takes hold of the ears of a dog

is a passerby who becomes angry at a dispute that is not his own.

¹⁸ Like a madman who throws

firebrands, arrows, and death

¹⁹ is the one who deceives his neighbor

and says, "Was I not telling a joke?"

²⁰ For lack of wood, the fire goes out;

and where there is no gossiper, quarreling ceases.

²¹ As charcoal is to burning coals and wood is to fire,

so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.

²² The words of a gossip are like delicious morsels;

they go down into the inner parts of the body.

²³ Like the glaze overlaying an earthen vessel,

so are burning lips and an evil heart.

²⁴ One who hates others disguises his feelings with his lips

and he lays up deceit within himself.

²⁵ He will speak graciously, but do not believe him,

for there are seven abominations in his heart.

²⁶ Though his hatred is covered with deception,

his wickedness will be revealed in the assembly.

²⁷ Whoever digs a pit will fall into it

and the stone will roll back on the one who pushed it.

²⁸ A lying tongue hates the people it crushes

and a flattering mouth brings about ruin.

Chapter 27

¹ Do not boast about tomorrow,

for you do not know what a day may bring.

² Let someone else praise you and not your own mouth;

a stranger and not your own lips.

³ Consider the heaviness of a stone and the weight of sand—

the provocation of a fool is heavier than both.

⁴ There is the cruelty of rage and the flood of anger,

but who is able to stand before jealousy?

⁵ Better is a rebuke that is clearly seen

than hidden love.

⁶ Faithful are the wounds caused by a friend,

but many are the kisses of an enemy.

⁷ A person who has eaten to the full rejects even a honeycomb,

but to the hungry person, every bitter thing is sweet.

⁸ Like a bird that wanders from its nest

is a man who strays from where he lives.

⁹ Perfume and incense make the heart rejoice,

but the sweetness of a friend comes from his sincere counsel. ¹

¹⁰ Do not abandon your friend and your friend's father,

and do not go to your brother's house on the day of your calamity.

Better is a neighbor who is nearby

than a brother who is far away.

¹¹ Be wise, my son, and make my heart rejoice;

then I will give back an answer to the one who mocks me.

¹² The prudent sees trouble and hides himself,

but the naive go on and suffer for it.

¹³ Take a garment of one who has put up security for a stranger,

and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an immoral woman.

¹⁴ Whoever gives his neighbor a blessing with a loud voice early in the morning,

that blessing will be considered to be a curse!

¹⁵ A quarreling wife is like

the constant dripping on a rainy day;

¹⁶ restraining her is like restraining the wind,

or trying to catch oil in your right hand.

¹⁷ Iron sharpens iron;

in the same way, a man sharpens his friend.

¹⁸ The one who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit,

and the one who protects his master will be honored.

¹⁹ Just as water reflects a person's face,

so a person's heart reflects the person.

²⁰ Just as Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied,

so a man's eyes are never satisfied.

²¹ A crucible is for silver and a furnace is for gold;

and a person is tested when he is praised.

²² Even if you crush a fool

with the pestle—along with the grain—

yet his foolishness will not leave him.

²³ Be sure you know the condition of your flocks

and be concerned about your herds,

²⁴ for wealth is not forever.

Does a crown endure for all generations?

²⁵ You should know when the hay is gone and the new growth appears,

and the time when the grass from the hills is gathered in.

²⁶ Those lambs will provide your clothing

and the goats will provide the price of the field.

²⁷ There will be goats' milk for your food

—the food for your household—

and nourishment for your servant girls.

¹Many modern translations have different interpretations of this difficult verse.

Chapter 28

¹ The wicked people run away when no one chases them,

but righteous people are as bold as a young lion.

² Because of the transgression of a land, it has many rulers,

but with a man of understanding and knowledge, it will last a long time.

³ A poor person who oppresses other poor people

is like a beating rain that leaves no food.

⁴ Those who abandon the law praise wicked people,

but those who keep the law fight against them.

⁵ Evil men do not understand justice,

but those who seek Yahweh understand everything.

⁶ It is better for a poor person who walks in his integrity

than for a rich person who is crooked in his ways.

⁷ He who keeps the law is a son who has understanding,

but one who is a companion of gluttons shames his father.

⁸ The one who makes his fortune by usury and interest

gathers his wealth for another who will be gracious to the poor.

⁹ If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,

even his prayer is an abomination.

¹⁰ Whoever misleads the upright into an evil way

will fall into his own pit,

but the blameless will have a good inheritance.

¹¹ The rich person may be wise in his own eyes,

but a poor person who has understanding will find him out.

¹² When the righteous triumph, there is great glory;

but when the wicked arise, people are sought out.

¹³ The one who hides his sins will not prosper,

but the one who confesses them and abandons them will be shown mercy.

¹⁴ The one who always lives with reverence is blessed,

but whoever hardens his heart will fall into trouble.

¹⁵ Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

is a wicked ruler over poor people.

¹⁶ The ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

but the one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days.

¹⁷ If a man is burdened with a person's blood,

he will be a fugitive until death

and no one will help him.

¹⁸ Whoever walks with integrity will be kept safe,

but the one whose way is crooked will suddenly fall.

¹⁹ The one who works his land will have plenty of food,

but whoever follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty.

²⁰ A faithful man will have great blessings,

but the one who gets rich quickly will not go unpunished.

²¹ It is not good to show partiality,

but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong.

²² A stingy man hurries after riches,

but he does not know that poverty will come upon him.

²³ Whoever disciplines someone, afterward will find more favor from him

than from the one who flatters him with his tongue.

²⁴ Whoever robs his father and his mother and says, "That is no sin,"

he is the companion of the one who destroys.

²⁵ A greedy man stirs up conflict,

but the one who trusts in Yahweh will prosper.

²⁶ One who trusts in his own heart is a fool,

but whoever walks in wisdom will be delivered.

²⁷ The one who gives to the poor will lack nothing,

but whoever closes his eyes to them will receive many curses.

²⁸ When the wicked arise, people hide themselves;

but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Chapter 29

¹ A person who has received many rebukes but who stiffens his neck

will be broken in a moment beyond healing.

² When righteous people increase, the people rejoice,

but when a wicked person is the ruler, the people sigh.

³ Whoever loves wisdom makes his father rejoice,

but he who keeps company with prostitutes destroys his wealth.

⁴ The king establishes the land by justice,

but the one who demands bribes throws it down.

⁵ A man who flatters his neighbor

is spreading a net for his feet.

⁶ In the sin of an evil person is a trap,

but the righteous person sings and rejoices.

⁷ The righteous person knows the rights of the poor;

the wicked person does not understand such knowledge.

⁸ Mockers set a city on fire,

but those who are wise turn away wrath.

⁹ When a wise person has a legal dispute with a fool,

he rages and laughs, and there will be no rest.

¹⁰ Men of bloodshed hate the one who is blameless

and seek the life of the upright.

¹¹ A fool brings forth all his spirit,

but a wise man soothes it back.

¹² If a ruler pays attention to lies,

all his officials will be wicked.

¹³ The poor person and the oppressor are similar,

for Yahweh gives light to the eyes of them both.

¹⁴ If a king judges the poor by the truth,

his throne will be established forever.

¹⁵ The rod and correction give wisdom,

but a child freed from discipline puts his mother to shame.

¹⁶ When wicked people are in power, transgression increases,

but righteous people will see the downfall of those wicked people.

¹⁷ Discipline your son and he will give you rest;

he will bring delight into your life.

¹⁸ Where there is no prophetic vision the people run wild,

but the one who keeps the law is blessed.

¹⁹ A slave will not be corrected by words,

for though he understands, there will be no response.

²⁰ Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

²¹ One who pampers his slave from youth,

at the end of it there will be trouble.

²² An angry person stirs up strife

and a master of rage commits many sins.

²³ A person's pride brings him low,

but one who has a humble spirit will be given honor.

²⁴ One who shares with a thief hates his own life;

he hears the curse and says nothing.

²⁵ The fear of man makes a snare,

but the one who trusts in Yahweh will be protected.

²⁶ Many are those who seek the face of the ruler,

but from Yahweh is justice for a person.

²⁷ An unjust man is an abomination to righteous people,

but the one whose way is upright is an abomination to the wicked person.

Chapter 30

¹ The words of Agur son of Jakeh—the burden.

This man declares to Ithiel,

to Ithiel and Ucal: ¹

² Surely I am more like an animal than any human,

and I do not have the understanding of a human being.

³ I have not learned wisdom,

nor do I have knowledge of the Holy One.

⁴ Who has gone up to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?

Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is his name, and what is the name of his son?

Surely you know!

⁵ Every word of God is tested;

he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

⁶ Do not add to his words,

or he will discipline you,

and you will be proved to be a liar.

⁷ Two things I ask of you;

do not withhold them from me before I die:

⁸ Put vanity and lies far away from me.

Give me neither poverty nor riches,

just let me eat the food that is my portion.

⁹ For if I have too much, I might deny you

and say, "Who is Yahweh?"

Or if I become poor, I might steal

and profane the name of my God.

¹⁰ Do not slander a slave before his master,

or he will curse you and you will be held guilty.

¹¹ There is a generation that curses their father

and does not bless their mother.

¹² There is a generation that is pure in their own eyes,

and yet they are not washed of their filth.

¹³ There is a generation whose eyes are raised up,

and how high are their eyelids lifted up!

¹⁴ There is a generation whose teeth are swords

and whose jawbones are knives,

so they may devour the poor from the earth

and the needy from among humanity.

¹⁵ The leech has two daughters:

"Give and give," they cry.

There are three things that are never satisfied,

four that never say, "Enough":

¹⁶ Sheol; the barren womb;

land that is never satisfied with water;

and the fire that never says, "Enough!"

¹⁷ The eye that mocks a father

and scorns obedience to a mother

will be pecked out by the ravens of the valley

and will be eaten by the vultures.

¹⁸ There are three things that are too wonderful for me,

four that I do not understand:

¹⁹ the way of an eagle in the sky;

the way of a snake on a rock;

the way of a ship in the heart of the sea;

and the way of a man with a young woman.

²⁰ This is the way of an adulteress:

she eats and she wipes her mouth

and says, "I have not behaved wickedly."

²¹ Under three things the earth trembles,

and under four it cannot bear up:

²² a slave when he becomes king;

a fool when he is filled with food;

²³ a hated woman when she marries;

and a slave girl when she takes the place of her mistress.

²⁴ Four things on earth are small

and yet they are very wise:

²⁵ the ants are creatures that are not strong,

but they prepare their food in the summer;

²⁶ the rock badgers are not mighty creatures,

but they make their homes in the rocks.

²⁷ Locusts have no king,

but all of them march in rank.

²⁸ As for the lizard, you can hold it in your two hands,

yet it is found in kings' palaces.

²⁹ There are three things that are stately in their stride

and four that are stately in how they walk:

³⁰ a lion, strongest among wild animals—

it does not turn away from anything;

³¹ a strutting rooster; a goat;

and a king whose soldiers are beside him.

³² If you have been foolish, exalting yourself,

or if you have been devising evil—

put your hand over your mouth.

³³ As churning milk makes butter

and as one's nose will produce blood if it is twisted,

so deeds done in anger produce conflict.

¹The second line of some ancient Greek translations of the ancient Hebrew reads This man declares: I am weary. I am weary and helpless. They appear to have translated the Hebrew names Ithiel and Ucal into the Greek as weary and helpless .

Chapter 31

¹ The words of King Lemuel—a burden his mother taught him.

² What, my son? What is it, son of my womb?

What do you want, son of my vows?

³ Do not give your strength to women,

or your ways to those who destroy kings.

⁴ It is not for kings, Lemuel,

it is not for kings to drink wine,

or for rulers to crave strong drink,

⁵ because when they drink they forget what has been decreed,

and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.

⁶ Give strong drink to a person who is perishing

and wine to those in bitter distress.

⁷ He will drink and he will forget his poverty

and he will not remember his trouble.

⁸ Speak for those who cannot speak,

for the causes of all who are perishing.

⁹ Speak out and judge by the measure of what is right

and plead the cause of poor and needy people.

¹⁰ Who can find a capable wife?

Her value is far more than jewels.

¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will never be poor.

¹² She does good things for him and not evil

all the days of her life.

¹³ She searches for wool and flax

and works with the delight of her hands.

¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships;

she brings her food from far away.

¹⁵ She rises while it is night

and gives food to her household,

and she distributes portions to her female servants.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She girds herself with strength

and makes her arms strong.

¹⁸ She knows what will make a good profit for her;

all night long her lamp is not extinguished.

¹⁹ She puts her hands on the spindle,

and her hands grasp the twisting thread.

²⁰ She reaches out with her hand to poor people;

she reaches out with her hands to needy people.

²¹ She is not afraid of the snow for her household,

for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes coverings for her bed,

and she wears clothes of fine purple linen.

²³ Her husband is known at the gates,

when he sits with the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,

and she supplies sashes to the merchants.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and honor,

and she laughs at the future.

²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom

and the law of kindness is on her tongue.

²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed,

and her husband praises her, saying,

²⁹ "Many women have done well,

but you surpassed them all."

³⁰ Elegance is deceptive, beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears Yahweh, she will be praised.

³¹ Give her the fruit of her hands

and let her works praise her in the gates.

¹Many modern translations interpret the last part of this verse in different ways: and many concubines, and everything that pleases men or and everything that pleases people .

¹Instead of God makes human beings seek hidden things , other modern translations interpret this line in different ways.

²Some modern translations have Who knows the spirit of mankind, which goes upward, and the spirit of animals, which goes downward into the earth?

¹Instead of will meet all his obligations , many modern translations have different interpretations of this difficult passage.

¹Some scholars translate the Hebrew as: No one is ruler over the wind so as to stop the wind .

²Some modern translations have to his own hurt .

³Many modern translations have different interpretations of this difficult verse: I saw wicked people come and go into the holy place. They proudly spoke in the city about the things they had done. This also is meaningless . Other modern translations have I saw wicked people come and go into the holy place. They were praised in the city for the things they had done. This also is meaningless .

¹Some modern translations follow ancient translations which have the good and the bad . In this way, they make the phrase complete. Translators may decide to imitate them.

¹Some modern translations have As you do not know the path of the spirit to the baby's bones in the pregnant womb .

¹The ancient Greek and Latin translations and other ancient translations of the Hebrew copies reads he turned away .

²The Hebrew text: yielding aromatic scents. This phrase may possibly be read as: garden beds made of balsam .

¹The meaning of Shulammite is uncertain. It may mean you perfect woman or you woman from Shulam .

²The meaning of Mahanaim is uncertain. It may be the name of a place or "two armies." Two of the possible meanings of this last phrase of verse 13 are on the dance of Mahanaim and on the dance between two armies .

¹Some other ancient Hebrew copies are translated: How beautiful, you are a beloved one .

²Some copies of the ancient Greek translation and other ancient translations of the Hebrew copies have: over my lips and teeth .

³The Hebrew could be read as either in the villages or among the henna blossoms .

¹Some scholars read a play on the Hebrew word for "peace" and translate the Hebrew either: I am in his eyes as one who brings peace or: so I have found favor in his eyes .

Isaiah

Chapter 1

¹ The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz, that he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

² Hear, heavens, and give ear, earth;

for Yahweh has spoken:

"I have nourished and brought up children,

but they have rebelled against me.

³ The ox knows his owner,

and the donkey his master's feeding trough,

but Israel does not know,

Israel does not understand."

⁴ Woe! Nation, sinners,

a people weighed down with iniquity,

offspring of evildoers,

sons who act corruptly!

They have abandoned Yahweh,

they have despised the Holy One of Israel,

they have estranged themselves from him.

⁵ Why are you still being beaten?

Why do you rebel more and more?

The whole head is sick,

the whole heart is weak.

⁶ From the sole of the foot to the head

there is no health;

only wounds, and bruises,

and fresh open wounds;

they have not been closed, cleansed, bandaged,

nor treated with oil.

⁷ Your country is ruined;

your cities are burned;

your fields—in your presence,

strangers are destroying them—

abandoned devastation, overthrown by strangers.

⁸ The daughter of Zion is left

like a hut in a vineyard,

like a shed in a garden of cucumbers,

like a besieged city.

⁹ If Yahweh of hosts had not left for us a few survivors,

we would have been like Sodom,

we would have been like Gomorrah.

¹⁰ Hear the word of Yahweh,

you rulers of Sodom;

listen to the instruction of our God,

you people of Gomorrah:

¹¹ "What is the multitude of your sacrifices to me?"

says Yahweh.

"I have had enough of the burnt offerings of rams,

and the fat of fatted beasts;

and in the blood of bulls, lambs, or goats

I do not delight.

¹² When you come to appear before me,

who has required this of you, to trample my courts?

¹³ Bring no more meaningless offerings;

incense is an abomination to me;

your new moon and Sabbath assemblies—

I cannot tolerate these wicked assemblies.

¹⁴ I hate your new moons and your appointed feasts;

they are a burden to me; I am tired of enduring them.

¹⁵ So when you spread out your hands in prayer,

I hide my eyes from you;

even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen;

your hands are full of blood.

¹⁶ Wash, cleanse yourselves;

remove the evil of your deeds from my sight;

stop being evil;

¹⁷ learn to do good;

seek justice, make straight the oppression, ¹

give justice to the fatherless,

defend the widow."

¹⁸ "Come now, and let us reason together,"

says Yahweh;

"though your sins are like scarlet,

they will be white like snow;

though they are red like crimson,

they will be like wool.

¹⁹ If you are willing and obedient,

you will eat the good of the land,

²⁰ but if you refuse and rebel,

the sword will devour you,"

for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.

²¹ How the faithful city

has become a prostitute!

She who was full of justice—

she was full of righteousness,

but now she is full of murderers.

²² Your silver has become impure,

your wine mixed with water.

²³ Your princes are rebels

and companions of thieves;

everyone loves bribes

and runs after payoffs.

They do not defend the fatherless,

nor does the widow's legal plea come before them.

²⁴ Therefore this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts,

the Mighty One of Israel:

"Woe to them! I will comfort myself concerning my adversaries

and avenge myself against my enemies;

²⁵ I will turn my hand against you,

refine away your dross as with lye,

and take away all your dross.

²⁶ I will restore your judges as at the first,

and your counselors as at the beginning;

after that you will be called

the city of righteousness,

a faithful town."

²⁷ Zion will be redeemed by justice,

and her repentant ones by righteousness.

²⁸ Rebels and sinners will be crushed together,

and those who abandon Yahweh will be done away with.

²⁹ "For you will be ashamed of the sacred oak trees

that you desired,

and you will be embarrassed by the gardens

that you have chosen.

³⁰ For you will be like an oak whose leaf withers,

and like a garden that has no water.

³¹ The strong man will be like tinder,

and his work like a spark;

they will both burn together,

and no one will quench them."

¹Instead of make straight the oppression , some of the ancient Hebrew copies have a phrase that may mean, help the oppressed .

Chapter 2

¹ The things that Isaiah son of Amoz saw in a vision, concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

² It will be in the last days

that the mountain of the house of Yahweh

will be established as the highest of the mountains,

and it will be raised up above the hills,

and all the nations will flow to it.

³ Many peoples will come and say,

"Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh,

to the house of the God of Jacob,

so he may teach us some of his ways,

and we may walk in his paths."

For out of Zion will go the law,

and the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.

⁴ He will judge between the nations

and will render decisions for many peoples;

they will hammer their swords into plowshares,

and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation will not lift up sword against nation,

nor will they train for war any longer.

⁵ House of Jacob, come,

and let us walk in the light of Yahweh.

⁶ For you have abandoned your people,

the house of Jacob,

because they are filled with customs from the east

and they practice divination like the Philistines,

and they shake hands with sons of foreigners.

⁷ Their land is full of silver and gold,

and there is no limit to their wealth;

their land also is full of horses,

nor is there limit to their chariots.

⁸ Their land also is full of idols;

they worship the craftsmanship of their own hands,

things that their own fingers have made.

⁹ People bow down,

and men abase themselves.

So do not raise them up.

¹⁰ Go into the rocky places and hide in the ground

from the terror of Yahweh

and from the glory of his majesty.

¹¹ The lofty gaze of man will be abased,

and the haughtiness of men will be brought down,

and Yahweh alone will be exalted on that day.

¹² For there will be a day of Yahweh of hosts

against everyone who is proud and raised up,

and against everyone who is arrogant—

and he will be abased—

¹³ and against all the cedars of Lebanon

that are high and lifted up,

and against all the oaks of Bashan.

¹⁴ That day of Yahweh of hosts

will be against all the high mountains,

and against all the hills that are lifted up,

¹⁵ and against every high tower,

and against every impregnable wall,

¹⁶ and against all the ships of Tarshish,

and against all delightful sailing vessels.

¹⁷ The pride of man will be brought down,

and the haughtiness of men will be abased;

Yahweh alone will be exalted on that day.

¹⁸ The idols will completely pass away.

¹⁹ Men will go into the caves of the rocks

and the holes of the ground,

from the terror of Yahweh,

and from the glory of his majesty,

when he rises to terrify the earth.

²⁰ On that day people will throw away

their idols of silver and of gold

that they have made for themselves to worship—

they will throw them away to the moles and bats.

²¹ The people will go into the crevices in the rocks

and into the clefts of the ragged rocks,

from the terror of Yahweh

and from the glory of his majesty,

when he rises to terrify the earth.

²² Stop trusting in man,

whose life-breath is in his nostrils,

for what does he amount to?

Chapter 3

¹ See, the Lord Yahweh of hosts

is about to take away from Jerusalem and from Judah

support and staff:

the whole supply of bread

and the whole supply of water,

² the mighty man and the warrior,

the judge and the prophet,

the one who practices divination and the elder,

³ the captain of fifty

and the respected citizen,

the counselor, the expert craftsman

and the skillful enchanter.

⁴ "I will place mere youths as their leaders,

and the young will rule over them.

⁵ The people will be oppressed,

every one by another,

and every one by his neighbor;

the child will act arrogantly toward the elderly,

and the degraded will challenge the honorable.

⁶ A man will even take hold of his brother

in his father's house and say,

'You have a coat; be our ruler,

and let this ruin be in your hands.'

⁷ On that day he will shout and say,

'I will not be a healer;

I have no bread or clothing.

You will not make me ruler of the people.'"

⁸ For Jerusalem has stumbled,

and Judah has fallen,

because their speech and their actions are against Yahweh,

rebelling against the eyes of his glory.

⁹ The look on their faces witnesses against them;

and they tell of their sin like Sodom;

they do not hide it.

Woe to them!

For they have completed a catastrophe for themselves.

¹⁰ Tell the righteous person that it will be well,

for they will eat the fruit of their deeds.

¹¹ Woe to the wicked! It will go badly for him,

for what his hands have earned will be done to him.

¹² My people—children are their oppressors,

and women rule over them.

My people, those who guide you lead you astray

and confuse the direction of your path.

¹³ Yahweh stands up for an accusation;

he is standing to accuse the people.

¹⁴ Yahweh will come with judgment

against the elders of his people and their leaders:

"You have ruined the vineyard;

the plunder from the poor is in your houses.

¹⁵ Why do you crush my people

and grind the faces of the poor?"

This is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts.

¹⁶ Yahweh says that because the daughters of Zion are proud,

they walk with their necks extended,

with flirting eyes, walking with tiny steps as they go,

making tinkling sounds from bracelets on their ankles.

¹⁷ Therefore the Lord will form scabs

on the heads of the daughters of Zion,

and Yahweh will make them bald.

¹⁸ On that day the Lord will remove their beautiful ankle jewelry, head bands, the crescent ornaments, ¹⁹ the ear pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; ²⁰ the headscarves, the ankle chains, the sashes, and the perfume boxes, and the amulets.

²¹ He will remove the rings and the nose jewels; ²² the festive robes, the mantles, the veils, and the handbags; ²³ the hand mirrors, the fine linen, the head pieces, and the wraps.

²⁴ Instead of sweet perfume there will be stench;

and instead of a belt, a rope;

instead of well-arranged hair, baldness;

and instead of a robe, a covering of sackcloth;

and branding instead of beauty.

²⁵ Your men will fall by the sword,

and your strong men will fall in war.

²⁶ Jerusalem's gates will lament and mourn;

and she will be alone and sit upon the ground.

Chapter 4

¹ On that day seven women

will take hold of one man and say,

"Our own food we will eat,

our own clothing we will wear.

But let us take your name

to remove our shame."

² On that day the branch of Yahweh will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and delight of the escaped remnant in Israel.

³ It will happen that the one who is left in Zion and the one who remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who is written down as living in Jerusalem. ⁴ This will happen when the Lord will have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and will have cleansed the blood stains from the midst of Jerusalem, by means of the spirit of judgment and the spirit of flaming fire.

⁵ Then over the whole site of Mount Zion and over her place of assembly, Yahweh will create cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; it will be a canopy over all the glory. ⁶ It will be a shelter for shade in the daytime from the heat, and a refuge and a cover from the storm and rain.

Chapter 5

¹ Let me sing for my well beloved,

a song of my beloved about his vineyard.

My well beloved had a vineyard

on a very fertile hill.

² He spaded it, removed the stones,

and planted it with an excellent kind of vine.

He built a tower in the middle of it,

and also built a winepress.

He waited for it to produce grapes,

but it only produced wild grapes.

³ So now, inhabitant of Jerusalem and man of Judah,

judge between me and my vineyard.

⁴ What more could have been done for my vineyard,

that I have not done for it?

When I looked for it to produce grapes,

why did it produce wild grapes?

⁵ Now I will tell you

what I will do to my vineyard:

I will remove the hedge,

I will turn it into a pasture,

I will break down its wall,

and it will be trampled down.

⁶ I will lay it waste,

and it will not be pruned nor hoed.

Instead, briers and thorns will spring up.

I will also command the clouds

not to rain on it.

⁷ For the vineyard of Yahweh of hosts

is the house of Israel,

and the man of Judah

his pleasant planting;

he waited for justice, but instead, there was killing;

for righteousness, but, instead, a shout for help.

⁸ Woe to those who join house to house,

who join field to field,

until no room remains,

and you alone remain in the land!

⁹ Yahweh of hosts told me,

many houses will be desolate,

even great and impressive ones,

without any inhabitant.

¹⁰ For a ten-yoke vineyard will yield only one bath,

and one homer of seed will yield only an ephah.

¹¹ Woe to those who rise up early in the morning

to obtain strong drink,

those who linger late into the night

until wine inflames them.

¹² They have harp and lute,

tambourine, flute, and wine at their feasts,

but they do not honor what Yahweh has done

or respect the work of his hands.

¹³ Therefore my people have gone into captivity

for lack of understanding;

their honored leaders are famished,

and their common people have nothing to drink.

¹⁴ Therefore Sheol has made its appetite greater

and has opened its mouth very wide;

their elite, the people, their leaders, and the revelers

and those who are happy among them, descend into Sheol.

¹⁵ People bow low,

and men abase themselves.

the eyes of the lofty will be abased.

¹⁶ Yahweh of hosts will be exalted in his justice,

and God the Holy One will show himself holy by his righteousness.

¹⁷ Then the sheep will feed as in their own pasture,

and in the ruins, lambs will graze as foreigners. ¹

¹⁸ Woe to those who pull along iniquity with useless cords

and who pull along sin as if it were with a cart rope.

¹⁹ Woe to those who say, "Let God hurry,

let him work quickly, so we can see it happen;

and let the plans of the Holy One of Israel come,

so that we may know them."

²⁰ Woe to those who call evil good,

and good evil;

who represent darkness as light,

and light as darkness;

who represent bitter as sweet,

and sweet as bitter!

²¹ Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes,

and prudent in their own understanding!

²² Woe to those who are champions at drinking wine,

and masters at mixing strong drinks;

²³ who acquit the wicked for a bribe,

and deprive those in the right of what is right!

²⁴ Therefore as the tongue of fire devours stubble,

and as chaff goes down in flame,

so their root will rot,

and their blossom will blow away like dust.

This will happen because they have rejected

the law of Yahweh of hosts,

and because they have despised

the word of the Holy One of Israel.

²⁵ Therefore the anger of Yahweh is kindled against his people.

He has reached out with his hand against them

and has punished them.

The mountains tremble,

and their corpses are like garbage in the streets.

In all these things, his anger does not subside;

his hand is still stretched out.

²⁶ He will lift up a signal flag for faraway nations

and will whistle for those at the end of the earth.

Look, they will come

speedily and promptly.

²⁷ None tire or stumble among them;

none slumbers or sleeps.

Nor are their belts loose,

or the thongs of their sandals broken.

²⁸ Their arrows are sharp

and all their bows are bent;

their horses' hooves are like flint,

and their chariot wheels like storms.

²⁹ Their roaring will be like a lion;

they will roar like young lions.

They will growl and seize the prey

and drag it away, with none to rescue.

³⁰ On that day they will roar against the prey

as the sea roars.

If anyone looks over the land,

he will see darkness and suffering;

even the light will be made dark by the clouds.

¹Some modern translations have and in the ruins of the rich, lambs will graze .

Chapter 6

¹ In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne; he was high and elevated, and the hem of his robe filled the temple. ² Above him were the seraphim; each one had six wings; with two each covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

³ Each one called to another and said,

"Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of hosts!

The whole earth is full of his glory."

⁴ The foundations of the thresholds shook at the voices of those who were crying out, and the house was filled with smoke.

⁵ Then I said, "Woe is me! For I am doomed because I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, because my eyes have seen the King, Yahweh, Yahweh of hosts!"

⁶ Then one of the seraphim flew to me; he had a glowing coal in his hand, that he had taken with the tongs from off the altar. ⁷ He touched my mouth with it and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt has been taken away, and your sin atoned for."

⁸ I heard the voice of the Lord say, "Whom will I send; who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here I am; send me." ⁹ He said, "Go and tell this people,

'Hearing, you will hear, but you will not understand;

seeing, you will see, but you will not know.'

¹⁰ Make the heart of this people insensitive,

and their ears dull, and blind their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,

and understand with their heart, and then turn and be healed."

¹¹ Then I said, "Lord, how long?" He answered,

"Until cities crash into ruins

and are without inhabitants,

and the houses are without people,

and the land falls into a desolate waste,

¹² and until Yahweh has sent the people far away,

and the whole land is completely abandoned.

¹³ Even if a tenth of the people remain in it,

it will again be destroyed;

as a terebinth or an oak is cut down and whose trunk remains,

the holy seed is in its stump."

Chapter 7

¹ During the days of Ahaz son of Jotham son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Aram, and Pekah son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to war against it, but they could not prevail against it. ² It was reported to the house of David that Aram was allied with Ephraim. His heart trembled, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the forest shake in the wind. ¹

³ Then Yahweh said to Isaiah, "Go out with your son Shear-Jashub to meet Ahaz at the end of the conduit of the upper pool, on the road to Launderer's Field. ⁴ Tell him, 'Be careful, remain calm, do not be afraid or intimidated by these two smoldering firebrands, by the fierce anger of Rezin and Aram, and of Pekah son of Remaliah.

⁵ Aram, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have planned evil against you; they have said, ⁶ "Let us attack Judah and terrify her, and let us break into her and set up our king there, the son of Tabeel."

⁷ The Lord Yahweh says,

"It will not take place;

it will not happen,

⁸ because the head of Aram is Damascus,

and the head of Damascus is Rezin.

Within sixty-five years,

Ephraim will be shattered and will no longer be a people.

⁹ The head of Ephraim is Samaria,

and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son.

If you do not remain firm in faith,

surely you will not remain secure."'"

¹⁰ Then Yahweh spoke again to Ahaz, ¹¹ "Ask a sign of Yahweh your God; ask for it in Sheol below or in the height above." ¹² But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, nor will I test Yahweh."

¹³ So Isaiah replied, "Listen, house of David. Is it not enough for you people to test the patience of people? Must you also test the patience of my God? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you people a sign: See, the young woman will conceive, bear a son, and will call his name Immanuel. ¹⁵ He will eat curds and honey when he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good.

¹⁶ For before the child knows to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be desolate. ¹⁷ Yahweh will bring on you, on your people, and on your father's house days unlike any since Ephraim seceded from Judah—he will bring on you the king of Assyria."

¹⁸ At that time Yahweh will whistle for a fly from the distant streams of Egypt, and for a bee from the land of Assyria. ¹⁹ They will all come and settle down into all the gorges, into the clefts of the rocks, on all the thornbushes, and onto all the pastures.

²⁰ At that time the Lord will shave with a razor that was hired beyond the Euphrates River—the king of Assyria—the head and the hair of the legs; it will also sweep away the beard. ²¹ On that day, a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep, ²² and because of the abundance of milk they give, he will eat curds, for everyone left in the land will eat curds and honey.

²³ At that time, where there were a thousand vines worth a thousand silver shekels, there will be nothing but briers and thorns. ²⁴ Men will go there to hunt with bows, because all the land will be briers and thorns. ²⁵ They will stay away from all the hills that were cultivated with the hoe, for fear of the briers and thorns; but it will be a place where cattle and sheep graze.

¹Instead of that Aram was allied with Ephraim , some scholars translate the Hebrew to read: that Aram had camped in Ephraim .

Chapter 8

¹ Yahweh said to me, "Take a large tablet and write on it, 'Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.' ² I will summon faithful witnesses to attest for me, Uriah the priest, and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah."

³ I went to the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then Yahweh said to me, "Call his name Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. ⁴ For before the child knows to cry, 'My father,' and, 'My mother,' the riches of Damascus and the plunder of Samaria will be carried away by the king of Assyria."

⁵ Yahweh spoke to me again,

⁶ "Because this people has refused

the gentle waters of Shiloah

and rejoices over Rezin

and the son of Remaliah,

⁷ therefore the Lord is about to bring up on them

the waters of the River, mighty and many,

the king of Assyria and all his glory.

It will come up over all its channels

and overflow its banks.

⁸ The River will sweep onward into Judah,

flooding and passing on, until it reaches to your neck.

Its outstretched wings will fill the breadth of your land,

Immanuel."

⁹ You peoples will be broken to pieces.

Listen, all you distant countries:

gird yourselves and be broken to pieces;

gird yourselves and be broken to pieces.

¹⁰ Form a plan, but it will not be carried out;

issue the command, but it will not be carried out,

for God is with us.

¹¹ Yahweh spoke to me, with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people.

¹² Do not call conspiracy

anything that this people calls conspiracy,

you will not fear what they fear,

and do not be terrified.

¹³ It is Yahweh of hosts whom you will honor as holy;

he is the one you must fear,

and he is the one you must dread.

¹⁴ He will become a sanctuary;

but he will be a stone of striking,

and a stone of stumbling—

for both the houses of Israel,

and he will be a trap and a snare

to the people of Jerusalem.

¹⁵ Many will stumble over it

and fall and be broken,

and be ensnared and captured.

¹⁶ Bind up my testimony,

seal the official record, and give it to my disciples.

¹⁷ I will wait for Yahweh,

who hides his face from the house of Jacob;

I will trust in him.

¹⁸ See, I and the sons whom Yahweh has given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from Yahweh of hosts, who lives on Mount Zion.

¹⁹ They will say to you, "Consult with sorcerers and spiritists," the ones who chirp and mutter incantations. But should a people not consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf of the living? ²⁰ To the law and to the testimony! If they do not say such things, it is because they have no light of dawn.

²¹ They will pass through the land greatly distressed and hungry. When they are hungry, they will become angry and curse their king and their God, as they turn their faces upward. ²² They will look at the earth and see distress, darkness, and gloom that causes anguish. They will be banished to thick darkness.

Chapter 9

¹ The gloom will be dispelled from her who was in anguish. In an earlier time he humiliated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make it glorious, the way to the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

² The people who walked in darkness

have seen a great light;

those who have lived in the land of the shadow of death,

the light has shone on them.

³ You have multiplied the nation;

you have increased their joy.

They rejoice before you like the joy at harvest time,

as men rejoice when they divide the plunder.

⁴ For the yoke of his burden,

the beam across his shoulder,

the rod of his oppressor,

you have broken to pieces as on the day of Midian.

⁵ For every boot treading in the tumult

and the garments rolled in blood

will be burned,

fuel for the fire.

⁶ For to us a child has been born,

to us a son has been given;

and the government will be on his shoulder;

and his name will be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

⁷ Of the increase of his government and of peace

there will be no end,

as he rules on the throne of David,

and over his kingdom,

to establish it and sustain it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time onward and for evermore.

The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.

⁸ The Lord sent a word against Jacob,

and it fell on Israel.

⁹ All the people will know,

even Ephraim and the inhabitants of Samaria,

who say in pride

and with an arrogant heart,

¹⁰ "The bricks have fallen,

but we will rebuild with chiseled stone;

the sycamores have been cut down,

but we will put cedars in their place."

¹¹ Therefore Yahweh will raise up against him Rezin,

his adversary, and will stir up his enemies,

¹² the Arameans on the east, and the Philistines on the west.

They will devour Israel with open mouth.

In all these things, his anger does not subside;

his hand is still stretched out.

¹³ Yet the people will not turn to him who struck them,

nor will they seek Yahweh of hosts.

¹⁴ Therefore Yahweh will cut off from Israel head and tail,

palm branch and reed, in one day.

¹⁵ The elder and the noble man are the head;

and the prophet that teaches lies is the tail.

¹⁶ Those who lead this people lead them astray,

and those who are led by them are swallowed up.

¹⁷ Therefore the Lord will not rejoice over their young men

nor will he have compassion on their fatherless and widows,

since every one is godless and an evildoer,

and every mouth speaks foolish things.

In all these things, his anger does not subside;

his hand is still stretched out.

¹⁸ Wickedness burns like a fire;

it devours the briers and thorns;

it even burns the thickets of the forest,

which rise in a column of smoke.

¹⁹ Through the fury of Yahweh of hosts

the land is scorched,

and the people are like fuel for the fire.

No man spares his brother.

²⁰ They will grab food on the right hand

but still be hungry;

they will eat food on the left hand

but will not be satisfied.

Each will even eat the flesh of his own arm. ¹

²¹ Manasseh will devour Ephraim, and Ephraim, Manasseh;

and they together will attack Judah.

In all these things, his anger does not subside;

his hand is still stretched out.

¹Instead of the flesh of his own arm , some scholars understand the Hebrew here to mean the flesh of his own children .

Chapter 10

¹ Woe to those who decree unjust decrees

and write unjust laws.

² They deprive the needy of justice,

rob the poor of my people of their rights,

plunder widows,

and make the fatherless their prey!

³ What will you do on judgment day

when the destruction comes from far away?

To whom will you flee for help,

and where will you leave your wealth?

⁴ Nothing remains, and you crouch among the prisoners

or fall among the killed.

In all these things, his anger does not subside;

his hand is still stretched out.

⁵ Woe to the Assyrian, the rod of my anger,

the staff by whom I wield my fury!

⁶ I send him against a godless nation

and against the people who bear my overflowing wrath.

I order him to take the plunder, to take the prey,

and to trample them like mud in the streets.

⁷ But this is not what he intends,

nor does he think this way.

It is in his heart to destroy

and eliminate many nations.

⁸ For he says, "Are not all my princes kings?

⁹ Is not Kalno like Carchemish?

Is not Hamath like Arpad?

Is not Samaria like Damascus?

¹⁰ As my hand has overcome idolatrous kingdoms,

whose carved figures were greater than those of Jerusalem and Samaria,

¹¹ just as I did to Samaria and her worthless idols,

will I not also do the same to Jerusalem and to her idols?"

¹² When the Lord has finished his work on Mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will punish the fruit of the arrogant heart of the king of Assyria and his prideful looks. ¹³ For he says,

"By my strength and by my wisdom I acted.

I have understanding,

and I have removed the boundaries of the peoples.

I have stolen their treasures,

and like a bull I have brought down the inhabitants.

¹⁴ My hand has seized, as from a nest,

the wealth of nations,

and as one gathers abandoned eggs,

I gathered all the earth.

None fluttered their wings

or opened their mouth or chirped."

¹⁵ Will the ax boast about itself against the one who wields it?

Will the saw praise itself more than the one who cuts with it?

It is as if a rod could lift up those who raise it,

or as if a staff could lift up a person.

¹⁶ Therefore the Lord Yahweh of hosts

will send emaciation among his elite warriors;

and under his glory there will be kindled

a burning like fire.

¹⁷ The light of Israel will become a fire,

and his Holy One a flame;

it will burn and devour his thorns and briers

in one day.

¹⁸ Yahweh will consume the glory of his forest

and of his fruitful land, both soul and body;

it will be like when a sick man's life wastes away.

¹⁹ The remnant of the trees of his forest will be so few,

that a child could count them.

²⁰ On that day, the remnant of Israel,

the family of Jacob that has escaped,

will no longer rely on the one

who defeated them,

but will indeed depend on Yahweh,

the Holy One of Israel.

²¹ A remnant of Jacob

will return to the mighty God.

²² For though your people, Israel, are like the sand of the seashore,

only a remnant of them will return.

Destruction is decreed,

as overflowing righteousness demands.

²³ For the Lord Yahweh of hosts is about to carry out

the destruction determined throughout the land.

²⁴ Therefore the Lord Yahweh of hosts says,

"My people who live in Zion,

do not fear the Assyrian.

He will strike you with the rod

and raise his staff against you, as the Egyptians did.

²⁵ Do not fear him,

for in a very short time

my anger against you will end,

and my anger will lead to his destruction."

²⁶ Then Yahweh of hosts will wield a whip against them,

as when he defeated Midian at the rock of Oreb.

He will raise his rod over the sea and lift it up

as he did in Egypt.

²⁷ On that day, his burden is lifted from your shoulder

and his yoke from off your neck,

and the yoke will be destroyed

because of fatness. ¹

²⁸ The enemy has come to Aiath

and has passed through Migron;

at Mikmash he has stored his provisions.

²⁹ They have crossed over the pass

and they lodge at Geba.

Ramah trembles

and Gibeah of Saul has fled.

³⁰ Cry aloud, daughter of Gallim!

Pay attention, Laishah!

Answer her, Anathoth!

³¹ Madmenah is fleeing,

and the inhabitants of Gebim run for safety.

³² This very day he will halt at Nob

and shake his fist

at the mountain of the daughter of Zion,

the hill of Jerusalem.

³³ Behold, the Lord Yahweh of hosts

will lop off the boughs with a terrifying crash;

the tallest trees will be cut down,

and the lofty will be brought down.

³⁴ He will chop down the thickets of the forest with an ax,

and Lebanon in his majesty will fall.

¹The last line of this verse is difficult because it does not seem to fit the context. Some modern translations leave out because of fatness . Other modern translations have and the yoke will be destroyed from off your neck. He has gone up from Rimmon . Here He means the Assyrian king and his army.

Chapter 11

¹ A shoot will sprout from the stump of Jesse,

and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit.

² The Spirit of Yahweh will rest upon him,

the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

the Spirit of instruction and might,

the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of Yahweh.

³ His delight will be the fear of the Lord;

he will not judge by what his eyes see,

nor decide by what his ears hear.

⁴ Instead, he will judge the poor with righteousness

and decide fairly for the humble of the earth.

He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

and with the breath of his lips he will kill the wicked.

⁵ Righteousness will be the belt of his waist,

and faithfulness the belt around his hips.

⁶ The wolf will live with the lamb,

and the leopard will lie down with the young goat;

the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together,

and a little child will lead them.

⁷ The cow and the bear will graze together,

and their young will lie down together.

The lion will eat straw like the ox.

⁸ A baby will play over the hole of the asp,

and the weaned child will put his hand on the den of the adder.

⁹ They will not hurt nor destroy

on all my holy mountain;

for the earth will be full of knowledge of Yahweh,

as the waters cover the sea.

¹⁰ On that day, the root of Jesse will stand as a signal flag for the peoples. The nations will seek him out, and his resting place will be glorious. ¹¹ On that day, the Lord will again extend his hand to recover the remnant of his people who remain in Assyria, Egypt, Pathros, Cush, Elam, Shinar, Hamath, and the islands of the sea.

¹² He will set up a signal flag for the nations

and will gather the outcasts of Israel

and the dispersed of Judah

from the four corners of the earth.

¹³ He will turn aside the envy of Ephraim,

and hostilities of Judah will be cut off.

Ephraim will not envy Judah,

and Judah will no longer be hostile to Ephraim.

¹⁴ Instead they will swoop down on the Philistine hills on the west,

and together they will plunder the people of the east.

They will possess Edom and Moab,

and the people of Ammon will obey them.

¹⁵ Yahweh will completely destroy

the gulf of the Sea of Egypt.

With his scorching wind he will wave his hand

over the Euphrates River

and will divide it into seven streams,

so it can be crossed over in sandals.

¹⁶ There will be a highway for the remnant of his people

that return from Assyria,

as there was for Israel in their coming up

from the land of Egypt.

Chapter 12

¹ On that day you will say,

"I will give thanks to you, Yahweh.

For though you were angry with me,

your wrath has turned away,

and you have comforted me.

² See, God is my salvation;

I will trust and will not fear,

for Yah, yes, Yahweh is my strength and song.

He has become my salvation." ¹

³ With joy you will draw water

from the wells of salvation.

⁴ On that day you will say,

"Give thanks to Yahweh and call upon his name;

declare his deeds among the peoples,

proclaim that his name is exalted.

⁵ Praise Yahweh in song, for he has done majestic things;

let this be known throughout the earth.

⁶ Cry aloud and shout for joy, you inhabitants of Zion,

for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

Chapter 13

¹ A declaration about Babylon, that Isaiah son of Amoz received:

² On the bare mountain set up a signal flag,

cry aloud to them,

wave your hand for them

to go into the gates of the nobles.

³ "I have commanded my consecrated ones;

I have summoned my mighty ones to vent my anger—

those who rejoice in my triumph.

⁴ The noise of a multitude in the mountains,

as of many people!

The noise of a tumult of the kingdoms

like many nations gathered together!

Yahweh of hosts is mustering

the army for the battle.

⁵ They come from a far country,

from way over the horizon.

It is Yahweh with his instruments of indignation,

to destroy the whole land.

⁶ Wail, for the day of Yahweh is near;

it comes with destruction from the Almighty.

⁷ Therefore all hands hang limp,

and every heart melts.

⁸ They will be terrified;

pain and agony will seize them,

like a woman in labor.

They will look in amazement at one another;

their faces will be aflame.

⁹ See, the day of Yahweh comes

with cruel wrath and overflowing anger,

to make the land a desolation

and to exterminate the sinners from it.

¹⁰ The stars of heaven and the constellations

will not give their light.

The sun will be darkened even from dawn,

and the moon will not shine.

¹¹ I will punish the world for its evil

and the wicked for their iniquity.

I will put an end to the arrogance of the proud

and will abase the arrogance of the ruthless.

¹² I will make men more rare than fine gold

and mankind harder to find than the pure gold of Ophir.

¹³ Therefore I will make the heavens tremble,

and the earth will be shaken out of its place,

by the fury of Yahweh of hosts,

and on the day of his fierce anger.

¹⁴ Like a hunted gazelle or like a sheep

with no one to gather them,

every man will turn toward his own people

and will flee to his own land.

¹⁵ Every one who is found will be thrust through,

and every one who is swept up will die by the sword.

¹⁶ Their infants also will be dashed in pieces before their eyes.

Their houses will be plundered and their wives raped.

¹⁷ Look, I am about to stir up the Medes to attack them,

who will not be concerned about silver,

nor do they delight in gold.

¹⁸ Their bows will strike down the young men;

they will have no mercy on the fruit of the womb

and they will not look with pity on children.

¹⁹ Then Babylon, the most admired of kingdoms,

the splendor of Chaldean arrogance,

will be overthrown by God

like Sodom and Gomorrah.

²⁰ It will never be inhabited

or lived in from generation to generation.

The Arab will not pitch his tent there,

nor will shepherds have their flocks rest there.

²¹ But wild animals of the desert will lie there.

Their houses will be full of owls;

and ostriches and wild goats will skip about there.

²² Hyenas will cry in their fortresses,

and jackals in the beautiful palaces.

Her time is near,

and her days will not be delayed.

Chapter 14

¹ Yahweh will have compassion on Jacob;

he will again choose Israel

and restore them into their own land.

Foreigners will join with them

and attach themselves to the house of Jacob.

² The nations will bring them to their own place.

Then the house of Israel will take possession of them

in the land of Yahweh as male servants and female servants.

They will take captive those who had captured them,

and they will rule over their oppressors.

³ On the day that Yahweh gives you rest from your suffering and anguish, and from the hard labor which you were required to perform, ⁴ you will sing this taunt song against the king of Babylon,

"How the oppressor has come to an end,

the proud fury ended! ¹

⁵ Yahweh has broken the staff of the wicked,

the scepter of those rulers,

⁶ that struck the peoples in wrath

with unceasing blows,

that ruled the nations in anger,

with an attack that was unrestrained.

⁷ The whole earth is at rest and is quiet;

they begin celebrating with singing.

⁸ Even the cypress trees rejoice over you

with the cedars of Lebanon;

they say, 'Since you are laid low,

no woodcutter comes up to cut us down.'

⁹ Sheol below is eager

to meet you when you go there.

It arouses the dead for you,

all the leaders of the earth,

making them rise up from their thrones,

all the kings of the nations.

¹⁰ They all will speak and say to you,

'You have become as weak as us.

You have become like us.

¹¹ Your pomp has been brought down to Sheol

with the sound of your lutes.

Maggots are spread under you,

and worms cover you.'

¹² How you are fallen from heaven,

daystar, son of the dawn!

How you are cut down to the ground,

you who made the nations weak!

¹³ You had said in your heart,

'I will ascend into heaven,

I will exalt my throne

above the stars of God,

and I will sit on the mount of assembly,

in the far reaches of the north.

¹⁴ I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;

I will make myself like the Most High God.'

¹⁵ Yet you are now brought down to Sheol,

to the depths of the pit.

¹⁶ Those who see you will gaze at you

and they will pay attention to you.

They will say, 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble,

who shook kingdoms,

¹⁷ who made the world like a wilderness, who overthrew its cities

and did not let his prisoners go home?'

¹⁸ All the kings of the nations,

all of them lie down in honor, each one in his own tomb.

¹⁹ But you are cast out of your grave

like an abhorrent branch.

Those who were killed cover you like a garment,

those pierced by the sword,

who go down to the stones of the pit

like a trampled corpse.

²⁰ You will not join them in burial,

because you have destroyed your land

and killed your people.

The offspring of evildoers will never be mentioned again."

²¹ Prepare your slaughter for his children,

for the iniquity of their ancestors,

so they will not rise up and possess the earth

and fill the whole world with cities.

²² "I will rise up against them—

this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts.

I will cut off from Babylon name, descendant, and posterity—

this is Yahweh's declaration.

²³ I will also make her into a possession of owls,

and into pools of water,

and I will sweep her with the broom of destruction—

this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts."

²⁴ Yahweh of hosts has sworn,

"Surely, as I have intended, so it will come about;

and as I have purposed, so it will be:

²⁵ I will break the Assyrian in my land,

and on my mountains trample him underfoot.

Then his yoke will be lifted from off them

and his burden from off their shoulder."

²⁶ This is the plan that has been devised for the whole earth,

and this is the hand that is raised over all the nations.

²⁷ For Yahweh of hosts has planned this; who will stop him?

His hand is raised, and who will turn it back?

²⁸ In the year that king Ahaz died this declaration came:

²⁹ Do not rejoice, all you Philistines,

that the rod that struck you is broken.

For out of the serpent's root will grow an adder,

and his offspring will be a fiery flying serpent.

³⁰ The firstborn of the poor will graze their sheep in my pastures,

and the needy will lie down in safety.

I will kill your root with famine

that will put to death all your survivors.

³¹ Wail, gate; cry, city;

all of you will melt away, Philistia.

For out of the north comes a cloud of smoke,

and there is no straggler in his ranks.

³² How will they respond

to the messengers of that nation?

"Yahweh has founded Zion,

and in her the afflicted of his people will find refuge."

¹Because the Hebrew translated as proud fury ended is very difficult, other modern scholars and translations have tried other meanings such as: the golden city ended , the turmoil ended , the hostility ended , or the arrogance ended , and others.

Chapter 15

¹ A declaration about Moab.

Indeed, in one night

Ar of Moab is laid waste and destroyed;

indeed, in one night

Kir of Moab is laid waste and destroyed.

² They have gone up to the temple,

the people of Dibon went up to the heights to weep;

Moab wails over Nebo and over Medeba.

All their heads are shaved bare

and all their beards are cut off.

³ In their streets they wear sackcloth;

on their housetops and in the square

everyone wails, melting in weeping.

⁴ Heshbon and Elealeh call out for help;

their sound is heard as far as Jahaz.

So the armed men of Moab cry out for help;

they tremble within themselves.

⁵ My heart cries out for Moab;

her fugitives flee to Zoar

and to Eglath Shelishiyah.

They go up the ascent of Luhith weeping;

on the road to Horonaim

they raise a cry of distress over their destruction.

⁶ The waters of Nimrim are a desolation;

the grass is withered;

the vegetation has dried up;

there is no more green grass.

⁷ The abundance they have grown and stored

they carry away over the brook of the poplars.

⁸ The cry has gone around the territory of Moab;

the wailing as far as Eglaim and Beer Elim.

⁹ For the waters of Dimon are full of blood;

but I will bring even more upon Dimon.

A lion will attack those who escape from Moab

and also those remaining in the land.

Chapter 16

¹ Send rams to the ruler of the land

from Selah in the wilderness,

to the mount of the daughter of Zion.

² As wandering birds,

as a scattered nest,

so the women of Moab are

at the fords of the Arnon River.

³ "Give instruction, execute justice;

provide some shade like night in the middle of the day;

hide the outcasts;

do not betray the fugitives.

⁴ Let them live among you, the outcasts from Moab;

be a hiding place for them from the destroyer."

For the oppression will stop,

and destruction will cease,

those who trample will disappear from the land.

⁵ A throne will be established in covenant faithfulness;

and one from David's tent will faithfully sit there.

He will judge as he seeks justice and does righteousness.

⁶ We have heard of Moab's pride, his arrogance,

his boasting, and his anger.

But his boastings are empty words.

⁷ So Moab wails for Moab—they all wail!

Mourn, you who are utterly destroyed,

for the raisin cakes of Kir Hareseth.

⁸ The fields of Heshbon have dried up

as well as the vines of Sibmah.

The rulers of the nations

have trampled the choice vines

that reached to Jazer

and spread into the desert.

Its shoots spread abroad;

they went over to the sea.

⁹ Indeed I will weep along with Jazer

for the vineyard of Sibmah.

I will water you with my tears,

Heshbon and Elealeh.

For on your fields of summer fruits and harvest

I have ended the shouts of joy.

¹⁰ Gladness and joy are taken away from the fruit tree groves;

and there is no singing, or shouts in the vineyards.

No one treads out wine in the presses,

for I have put an end to the shouts of the one who treads.

¹¹ So my heart sighs like a harp for Moab,

and my inward being for Kir Hareseth.

¹² When Moab wears himself out on the high place

and enters his sanctuary to pray,

his prayers will accomplish nothing.

¹³ This is the word that Yahweh spoke concerning Moab previously. ¹⁴ Again Yahweh speaks, "Within three years, the glory of Moab will be dishonored; in spite of his many people, the remnant will be very few and insignificant."

Chapter 17

¹ A declaration about Damascus.

Behold, Damascus is taken away from being a city,

and it shall be a fallen ruin.

² The cities of Aroer will be abandoned.

They will be places for flocks to lie down,

and no one will frighten them.

³ Fortified cities will disappear from Ephraim,

the kingdom from Damascus,

and the remnant of Aram—

they will be like the glory of the people of Israel—

this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts.

⁴ It will come about on that day

that the glory of Jacob will become thin,

and the fatness of his flesh will become lean.

⁵ It will be as when a harvester gathers the standing grain,

and his arm reaps the heads of grain.

It will be as when one gleans heads of grain

in the Valley of Rephaim.

⁶ Gleanings will be left,

however, as when the olive tree is shaken:

two or three olives in the top of the uppermost bough,

four or five in the highest branches of a fruitful tree—

this is the declaration of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

⁷ On that day men will look toward their Maker,

and their eyes will look to the Holy One of Israel.

⁸ They will not look to the altars,

the work of their hands,

nor will they look to what their fingers have made,

the Asherah poles or the sun images.

⁹ On that day their strong cities will be like the abandoned wooded slopes on the hill summits, which were abandoned because of the people of Israel, and they will become a desolation.

¹⁰ For you have forgotten the God of your salvation,

and have ignored the rock of your refuge.

So you plant pleasant plants,

and set out vine branches received from a stranger.

¹¹ But though on the day you plant them you hedge them in,

and though in the morning your seed grows,

the harvest will fail on a day of grief

and of desperate sorrow.

¹² Woe! The uproar of many peoples,

who roar like the roaring of the seas,

and the rushing of nations,

who rush like the rushing of mighty waters!

¹³ The nations will roar like the rushing of many waters,

but he will rebuke them and they will flee far away,

they will be chased before the wind like chaff on the mountains,

and like weeds whirling before a storm.

¹⁴ In the evening, see, terror!

Before the morning they will be gone!

This is the portion of those who loot us,

the lot of those who rob us.

Chapter 18

¹ Woe to the land of the rustling of wings,

which is along the rivers of Cush;

² who send ambassadors by the sea,

in vessels of papyrus on the waters.

Go, you swift messengers,

to a nation tall and smooth,

to a people feared far and near,

a nation strong and treading down,

whose land the rivers divide.

³ All you inhabitants of the world

and you who live on the earth,

when a signal flag is lifted up on the mountains, look;

and when the ram's horn is blown, listen.

⁴ This is what Yahweh said to me,

"I will quietly observe from my home,

like the simmering heat in sunlight,

like a cloud of mist in the heat of harvest.

⁵ Before the harvest, when the blossoming is over,

and the flower is ripening into a grape,

he will cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks,

and he will cut down and take away the spreading branches.

⁶ They will be left together for the birds of the mountains

and for the animals of the earth.

The birds of prey will spend the summer on them,

and all the animals of the earth will spend harvest time on them."

⁷ At that time tribute will be brought to Yahweh of hosts

from a people tall and smooth,

from a people feared far and near,

nation strong and trampling down,

whose land the rivers divide,

to the place of the name of Yahweh of hosts, to Mount Zion.

Chapter 19

¹ A declaration about Egypt.

See, Yahweh rides on a swift cloud

and is coming to Egypt;

the idols of Egypt quake before him,

and the hearts of the Egyptians melt within themselves.

² "I will stir up Egyptians against Egyptians:

A man will fight against his brother,

and a man against his neighbor;

city will be against city,

and kingdom against kingdom.

³ The spirit of Egypt will be weakened from within.

I will destroy his advice,

though they sought the advice of idols,

dead men's spirits, sorcerers, and spiritists.

⁴ I will give the Egyptians

into the hand of a severe master,

and a strong king will rule over them—

this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts."

⁵ The waters of the sea will dry up,

and the river will dry up and become empty.

⁶ The rivers will become foul;

the streams of Egypt will dwindle and dry up;

the reeds and flags will wither away.

⁷ The reeds along the Nile,

at the mouth of the Nile,

and every sown field beside the Nile will become parched,

will be driven away, and will be no more.

⁸ The fishermen will wail and mourn,

and all who cast a hook into the Nile will mourn,

and those who spread nets on the waters will waste away.

⁹ The workers in combed flax

and those who weave white cloth will turn pale.

¹⁰ The cloth workers of Egypt will be crushed;

all who work for wages will be grieved within themselves.

¹¹ The princes of Zoan

are completely foolish.

The advice of the wisest advisors of Pharaoh

has become stupid.

How can you say to Pharaoh,

"I am the son of wise men, a son of ancient kings?"

¹² Where then are your wise men?

Let them tell you and make known

what Yahweh of hosts plans concerning Egypt.

¹³ The princes of Zoan have become fools,

the princes of Memphis are deceived;

they have made Egypt go astray,

who are the cornerstones of her tribes. ¹

¹⁴ Yahweh has mixed a spirit of distortion into her midst,

and they have led Egypt astray in all she does,

like a drunk staggering in his vomit.

¹⁵ There is nothing anyone can do for Egypt,

whether head or tail, palm branch or reed.

¹⁶ In that day, the Egyptians will be like women. They will tremble and fear because of the upraised hand of Yahweh of hosts that he raises over them. ¹⁷ The land of Judah will become a cause of staggering to Egypt. Whenever anyone reminds them of her, they will be afraid, because of the plan of Yahweh of hosts, that he is planning against them.

¹⁸ In that day there will be five cities in the land of Egypt that speak the language of Canaan and swear allegiance to Yahweh of hosts. One of these will be called The City of the Sun. ²

¹⁹ In that day there will be an altar to Yahweh in the middle of the land of Egypt, and a stone pillar at the border to Yahweh. ²⁰ It will be as a sign and a witness to Yahweh of hosts in the land of Egypt. When they cry to Yahweh because of oppressors, he will send them a savior and a defender, and he will deliver them.

²¹ Yahweh will become known to Egypt, and the Egyptians will acknowledge Yahweh on that day. They will worship with sacrifices and offerings, and will make vows to Yahweh and fulfill them. ²² Yahweh will afflict Egypt, afflicting and healing. They will return to Yahweh; he will hear their prayer and will heal them.

²³ In that day there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian will come to Egypt, and the Egyptian to Assyria; and the Egyptians will worship with the Assyrians.

²⁴ In that day, Israel will be the third with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth; ²⁵ Yahweh of hosts will bless them and say, "Blessed be Egypt, my people; Assyria, the work of my hands; and Israel, my inheritance."

¹The name Memphis , is used in most modern translations, and that name represents the place in Egypt that is known in Hebrew as Noph .

²Instead of The City of the Sun , which probably refers to the Egyptian city of Heliopolis, some ancient and modern translations have The City of Destruction .

Chapter 20

¹ In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, he fought against Ashdod and took it. ² At that time Yahweh spoke by Isaiah son of Amoz and said, "Go and remove the sackcloth from your waist, and take your sandals off your feet." He did so, walking naked and barefoot.

³ Yahweh said, "Just as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot for three years, it is a sign and a wonder concerning Egypt and concerning Cush— ⁴ in this way the king of Assyria will lead away the captives of Egypt, and the exiles of Cush, young and old, naked and barefoot, and with buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.

⁵ They will be dismayed and ashamed, because of Cush their hope and of Egypt their glory. ⁶ The inhabitants of these coasts will say on that day, 'Indeed, this was our source of hope, where we fled for help to be rescued from the king of Assyria, and now, how can we escape?'"

Chapter 21

¹ A declaration about the desert by the sea.

Like stormwinds sweeping through the Negev it comes

passing through from the wilderness, from a terrible land.

² A severe vision has been given to me:

the treacherous man deals treacherously,

and the destroyer destroys.

Go up and attack, Elam; besiege, Media;

I will stop all her groaning.

³ Therefore my loins are filled with pain;

pains like the pains of a woman in labor

have taken hold of me;

I am bowed down by what I heard;

I am disturbed by what I saw.

⁴ My heart pounds; I shake with fear.

Twilight was my desire, but it brought me terror.

⁵ They prepare the table,

they spread rugs and eat and drink;

arise, princes,

anoint your shields with oil.

⁶ For this is what the Lord said to me,

"Go, post a watchman;

he must report what he sees.

⁷ When he sees a chariot, a pair of horsemen,

riders on donkeys, and riders on camels,

then he must pay attention

and be very alert."

⁸ The watchman cries out, ¹

"Lord, on the watchtower I stand all day, every day,

and at my post I stand all night long."

⁹ Here comes a chariot with a man and a pair of horsemen.

He calls out, "Babylon has fallen, fallen,

and all the carved figures of its gods

are broken to the ground."

¹⁰ My threshed and winnowed ones,

children of my threshing floor!

What I have heard from Yahweh of hosts,

the God of Israel, I have declared to you.

¹¹ A declaration about Dumah.

One calls to me from Seir,

"Watchman, what is left of the night?

Watchman, what is left of the night?"

¹² The watchman said,

"The morning comes and also the night.

If you want to ask, then ask;

and come back again."

¹³ A declaration about Arabia.

In the wilderness of Arabia you spend the night,

you caravans of Dedanites.

¹⁴ Bring water for the thirsty;

inhabitants of the land of Tema,

meet the fugitives with bread.

¹⁵ For they have fled from the sword,

from the drawn sword,

from the bent bow,

and from the weight of war.

¹⁶ For this is what the Lord said to me, "Within a year, as a laborer hired for a year would see it, all the glory of Kedar will end. ¹⁷ Only a few of the archers, the warriors of Kedar will remain," for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has spoken.

¹Instead of The watchman cries out which is attested by ancient Hebrew copies, but there are some ancient Hebrew copies that have A lion cries out . The second reading, lion , appears to be a misspelling of the Hebrew for watchman .

Chapter 22

¹ A declaration about the Valley of Vision:

What is the reason that you have all gone up

to the housetops?

² Is it so you may hear a city full of noises,

a town full of revelry?

Your dead were not killed with the sword,

and they did not die in battle.

³ All your rulers fled away together,

but they were captured without using a bow;

all of them were captured together,

though they had fled far away.

⁴ Therefore I said, "Do not look at me,

I will weep bitterly;

do not try to comfort me concerning the destruction

of the daughter of my people."

⁵ For there is a day of tumult, treading down,

and confusion for the Lord Yahweh of hosts,

in the Valley of Vision,

a breaking down of the walls,

and people crying out to the mountains.

⁶ Elam takes up the quiver,

with chariots of men and horsemen,

and Kir lays the shield bare.

⁷ It will come about that your choicest valleys

will be full of chariots,

and the horsemen will take their positions at the gate.

⁸ He took away the protection of Judah;

and you looked in that day

to the weapons in the Palace of the Forest.

⁹ You saw the breaches of the city of David,

that they were many,

and you collected the water

of the lower pool.

¹⁰ You counted the houses of Jerusalem,

and you tore down the houses to fortify the wall.

¹¹ You made a reservoir between the two walls

for the water of the old pool.

But you did not consider the city's maker,

who had planned it long ago.

¹² The Lord Yahweh of hosts called on that day

for weeping, for mourning,

for shaved heads, and the wearing of sackcloth.

¹³ But look, there is celebration and gladness,

killing cattle and slaughtering sheep,

eating meat and drinking wine:

"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we will die."

¹⁴ This was revealed in my ears by Yahweh of hosts:

"Surely this iniquity will not be forgiven you,

even when you die,"

says the Lord Yahweh of hosts.

¹⁵ The Lord Yahweh of hosts, says this,

"Go to this administrator, to Shebna,

who is over the house, and say,

¹⁶ 'What are you doing here and who gave you permission

to cut out a tomb for yourself,

hewing out a grave on the heights

and carving out a resting place in the rock?'"

¹⁷ See, Yahweh is about to throw you, a mighty man,

about to throw you down; he will grasp you tightly.

¹⁸ He will surely wind you round and round,

and toss you like a ball into a vast country.

There you will die, and there your glorious chariots will be;

you will be the shame of your master's house!

¹⁹ "I will force you out of your office and from your station.

You will be pulled down.

²⁰ It will come about on that day that I will call my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah. ²¹ I will clothe him with your tunic and put on him your sash, and I will transfer your authority into his hand. He will be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. ²² I will place the key of the house of David on his shoulder; he will open, and none will shut; he will shut, and none will open.

²³ I will fasten him, a peg in a secure place, and he will become a seat of glory for his father's house. ²⁴ They will hang on him all the glory of his father's house, the offspring and descendants, every small container from the cups to all the jugs.

²⁵ On that day—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts—the peg driven in a firm place will give way, break off, and fall, and the load that was on it will be cut off—for Yahweh has spoken.

Chapter 23

¹ A declaration about Tyre:

Wail, you ships of Tarshish;

Tyre has been devastated,

with neither home nor harbor;

from the land of Cyprus

it has been revealed to them. ¹

² Be silent, you inhabitants of the coast;

the merchant of Sidon,

who travels over the sea, has filled you. ²

³ Upon the great waters

was the grain of Shihor,

the harvest of the Nile was her produce;

and it became the commerce of the nations.

⁴ Be ashamed, Sidon; for the sea has spoken,

the fortress of the sea. He says,

"I have not labored nor given birth,

nor have I raised young men nor brought up young women."

⁵ When the report comes to Egypt,

they will be grieved concerning Tyre.

⁶ Cross over to Tarshish;

wail, you inhabitants of the coast.

⁷ Has this happened to you, the joyful city,

whose origin is from ancient times,

whose feet carried her far away

to foreign places to settle?

⁸ Who has planned this against Tyre,

the giver of crowns,

whose merchants are princes,

whose traders are the honored ones of the earth?

⁹ Yahweh of hosts has planned it

to dishonor her pride and all her glory,

to shame all her honored ones of the earth.

¹⁰ Plow your land, as one plows the Nile,

daughter of Tarshish.

There is no longer a marketplace in Tyre. ³

¹¹ Yahweh has reached out with his hand over the sea,

and he has shaken the kingdoms;

he has given a command concerning Phoenicia,

to destroy the strongholds.

¹² He said, "You will not rejoice again,

oppressed virgin daughter of Sidon;

arise, pass over to Cyprus;

but neither there you will have rest."

¹³ See the land of the Chaldeans.

This people has ceased to be;

the Assyrians have made it

a wilderness for wild animals.

They set up their siege towers;

they demolished its palaces;

they made it a heap of ruins.

¹⁴ Wail, you ships of Tarshish;

for your refuge has been destroyed.

¹⁵ In that day, Tyre will be forgotten for seventy years, like the days of a king. After the end of seventy years there will happen in Tyre something like in the song of the prostitute.

¹⁶ Take a harp, go about the city,

you forgotten prostitute;

play it well, sing many songs,

so that you may be remembered.

¹⁷ It will come about that after seventy years, Yahweh will help Tyre, and she will start making her prostitute's wages again by doing the work of a prostitute, and she will offer her services to all the kingdoms of the earth. ¹⁸ Her profits and prostitute's wages will be set apart to Yahweh. They will not be stored up or kept in the treasury, for her profits will be given to those who live in Yahweh's presence and will be used to supply them with abundant food and so they can have the best quality clothing.

¹Instead of Cyprus , some modern translations keep Kittim , the Hebrew name for this island.

²Some ancient and modern translations have Be silent, you inhabitants of the coast; the merchants of Sidon, who travel over the sea, have filled you or Be silent, you inhabitants of the coast and you merchants of Sidon, whom those who travel over the sea have filled .

³The Hebrew is difficult here. Instead of ULB, Plow your land , some scholars have translated the Hebrew to mean Cross over your land or Flood your land .

Chapter 24

¹ Look, Yahweh is about to empty the earth,

to devastate it, mar its surface, and scatter its inhabitants.

² It will come about that, as with the people, so with the priest;

as with the servant, so with his master;

as with the servant girl, so with her mistress;

as with the buyer, so with the seller;

as with the creditor, so with the debtor;

as with the receiver of interest, so with the giver of interest.

³ The earth will be completely devastated and completely plundered;

for Yahweh has spoken this word.

⁴ The earth mourns and withers, the world shrivels up and withers,

the prominent people of the earth waste away.

⁵ The earth is polluted by its inhabitants

because they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes,

and broken the everlasting covenant.

⁶ Therefore a curse devours the earth,

and its inhabitants are found guilty.

The inhabitants of the earth burn up, and few people are left.

⁷ The new wine mourns, the vine wastes away,

all the merry-hearted groan.

⁸ The happy sound of the tambourines stops,

and the revelry of those who rejoice;

the joy of the harp ceases.

⁹ They no longer drink wine and sing,

and the strong drink is bitter to those who drink it.

¹⁰ The city of chaos has been broken down;

every house is closed up and empty.

¹¹ There is a crying in the streets because of the wine;

all joy is darkened, the gladness of the land has disappeared.

¹² In the city is left a desolation,

and the gate is broken into a ruin.

¹³ For this is how it will be on the whole earth

among the nations,

as when an olive tree is beaten,

as the gleanings when the grape harvest is done.

¹⁴ They will lift up their voices

and shout the majesty of Yahweh,

and will joyfully shout from the sea.

¹⁵ Therefore in the east glorify Yahweh,

and in the isles of the sea give glory

to the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.

¹⁶ From the farthest part of the earth we have heard songs,

"Glory to the righteous one!"

But I said, "I have wasted away,

I have wasted away, woe is me!

The treacherous have dealt treacherously;

yes, the treacherous have dealt very treacherously."

¹⁷ Terror, the pit, and the snare

are upon you, inhabitants of the earth.

¹⁸ He who flees from the sound of terror

will fall into the pit,

and he who comes up out of the middle of the pit

will be caught in the snare.

The windows of the heavens will be opened,

and the foundations of the earth will shake.

¹⁹ The earth will be completely broken, the earth ripped apart;

the earth will be violently shaken.

²⁰ The earth will stagger like a drunkard,

and it will sway back and forth like a hut.

Its sin will be heavy on it

and it will fall and never rise again.

²¹ On that day Yahweh will punish

the host of the heaven in the heavens,

and the kings of the earth on the earth.

²² They will be gathered together,

prisoners in a pit,

and will be shut up in a prison;

and after many days they will be punished.

²³ Then the moon will be ashamed,

and the sun disgraced,

for Yahweh of hosts will reign

on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem,

and before his elders in glory.

Chapter 25

¹ Yahweh, you are my God;

I will exalt you, I will praise your name;

for you have done wonderful things,

things planned long ago, in perfect faithfulness.

² For you have made a city a heap,

a fortified city a ruin;

a palace of foreigners is no longer a city;

it will never be rebuilt.

³ Therefore a strong people will glorify you;

a city of ruthless nations will fear you.

⁴ For you have been a place of safety

for the one who is poor,

a shelter for the one who is needy in his distress—

a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat.

When the breath of the ruthless

was like a storm against a wall,

⁵ and like heat in a dry land,

you subdued the noise of foreigners,

as the heat is subdued by the shade of a cloud,

so the song of the ruthless ones is answered.

⁶ On this mountain Yahweh of hosts

will make for all peoples a feast of tender meats,

a feast of choice wines,

of tender meats filled with marrow,

of refined choice wines.

⁷ He will destroy on this mountain

the covering over all peoples,

the web woven over all the nations.

⁸ He will swallow up death forever,

and the Lord Yahweh will wipe away tears

from off all faces;

the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for Yahweh has spoken it.

⁹ It will be said on that day,

"Look, this is our God;

we have waited for him, and he will save us.

This is Yahweh; we have waited for him,

we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

¹⁰ For on this mountain the hand of Yahweh will rest;

and Moab will be trampled down in his place,

even as straw is trampled down in a pit filled with manure.

¹¹ They will spread their hands in the midst of it,

as a swimmer spreads his hands to swim.

But Yahweh will bring down their pride

in spite of the skill of their hands.

¹² The stronghold of your fortress walls he will bring down,

he will abase,

he will cause to fall to the ground, to the dust.

Chapter 26

¹ In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah:

We have a strong city;

God has made salvation its walls and ramparts.

² Open the gates,

that the righteous nation that keeps faith may enter in.

³ The mind that is stayed on you,

you will keep him in perfect peace, for he trusts in you.

⁴ Trust in Yahweh forever;

for in Yah, Yahweh is an everlasting rock. ¹

⁵ For he will bring down those

who live in the high place, the lofty city.

He will abase it.

He will abase it to the ground;

he will cause it to fall to the dust.

⁶ It will be trampled down

by the feet of the poor and the treading of the needy.

⁷ The path of the righteous is level,

Righteous One; the path of the righteous you make straight.

⁸ Yes, in the path of your judgments,

Yahweh, we wait for you;

your name and your reputation are our desire.

⁹ I have longed for you in the night;

yes, my spirit within me seeks you earnestly.

For when your judgments come on the earth,

the inhabitants of the world learn about righteousness.

¹⁰ Let favor be shown to the wicked one,

but he will not learn righteousness.

In the land of uprightness he acts wickedly

and does not see the majesty of Yahweh.

¹¹ Yahweh, your hand is lifted up,

but they do not notice.

But they will see your zeal for the people and be put to shame,

because fire of your adversaries will devour them.

¹² Yahweh, you will ordain peace for us;

for indeed, you have also performed all our works for us.

¹³ Yahweh our God, other masters besides you have ruled over us;

but we praise your name alone.

¹⁴ They are dead, they will not live;

they are deceased, they will not arise.

Indeed, you came in judgment and destroyed them,

and made every memory of them to perish.

¹⁵ You have increased the nation, Yahweh,

you have increased the nation; you are honored;

you have extended all the borders of the land.

¹⁶ Yahweh, in trouble have they looked to you;

they whispered prayers when your discipline was on them. ²

¹⁷ As a pregnant woman nears the time for her to give birth,

when she is in pain and cries out in her labor pains,

so we have been before you, Lord.

¹⁸ We have been pregnant, we have been in labor,

but it is as if we have only given birth to wind.

We have not brought salvation to the earth,

and the inhabitants of the world have not fallen.

¹⁹ Your dead will live; their dead bodies will arise.

Awake and sing for joy, you who live in the dust;

for your dew is the dew of light,

and the earth will bring forth its dead.

²⁰ Go, my people, enter into your rooms

and shut your doors behind you;

hide for a short time,

until the indignation has passed by.

²¹ For, look, Yahweh is about to come out of his place

to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;

the earth will uncover her bloodshed,

and will no longer conceal those she killed.

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²This is a difficult verse and is translated in several ways by different modern English translations.

Chapter 27

¹ On that day

Yahweh with his hard, great and fierce sword

will punish Leviathan the slithering serpent,

Leviathan the squirming serpent,

and he will kill the monster that is in the sea.

² In that day:

A vineyard of wine, sing of it.

³ "I, Yahweh, am its protector;

I water it every moment.

I guard it night and day

so no one will hurt it.

⁴ I am not angry,

Oh, that there were briers and thorns!

In battle I would march against them;

I would burn them all together;

⁵ unless they take hold of my refuge

and make peace with me; let them make peace with me.

⁶ In the coming day, Jacob will take root;

Israel will blossom and bud;

and they will fill the surface of the world with fruit."

⁷ Has Yahweh attacked Jacob and Israel

as he attacked those nations who attacked them?

Have Jacob and Israel been killed

as their killers were killed?

⁸ In exact measure you have contended,

sending Jacob and Israel away;

he drove them away with his severe breath

in the day of the east wind. ¹

⁹ So in this way, the iniquity of Jacob will be atoned for,

for this will be the full fruit of the removal of his sin:

when he will make all the altar stones

as chalk and crushed to pieces,

and no Asherah poles or incense altars

will remain standing.

¹⁰ For the fortified city is desolate,

the habitation is deserted and abandoned like the wilderness.

There a calf feeds, and there he lies down

and consumes its branches.

¹¹ When the boughs are withered, they will be broken off.

Women will come and make fires with them,

for this is not a people of understanding.

Therefore their Maker will not have compassion on them,

and he who made them will not be merciful to them.

¹² It will come about on that day that Yahweh will thresh from the Euphrates River to the Brook of Egypt and you, the people of Israel, will be gathered together one by one. ¹³ On that day a great ram's horn will be blown; and the perishing ones in the land of Assyria will come, and the outcasts in the land of Egypt. They will worship Yahweh on the holy mountain in Jerusalem.

¹Instead of In exact measure , many modern translations have an idea similar to By driving them away .

Chapter 28

¹ Woe to the proud garland crown

that is worn by each of the drunkards of Ephraim,

and to the fading flower of its glorious beauty,

the garland that is set on the head of the lush Valley

of those who are overcome with wine!

² Behold, the Lord sends one who is mighty and strong;

like a storm of hail and a destructive windstorm,

like a driving rain and overflowing waters;

and he will throw each garland crown down to the ground.

³ The proud garland of the drunkards of Ephraim

will be trodden underfoot.

⁴ The fading flower of his glorious beauty,

which is on the head of the rich valley,

will be as the first ripe fig before the summer,

that, when someone sees it,

while it is yet in his hand, he swallows it down.

⁵ In that day Yahweh of hosts will become a beautiful crown

and a diadem of beauty for the remainder of his people,

⁶ a spirit of justice for him who sits in judgment,

and strength for those who turn back their enemies at their gates.

⁷ But even these reel with wine,

and stagger with strong drink.

The priest and the prophet reel with strong drink,

and they are swallowed up by wine.

They stagger with strong drink,

staggering in vision and reeling in decision.

⁸ Truly, all tables are covered with filthy vomit,

so that there is no clean place.

⁹ To whom will he teach knowledge,

and to whom will he explain the message?

To those who are weaned from milk

or to those just taken from the breasts?

¹⁰ For it is

command upon command, command upon command;

rule upon rule, rule upon rule;

here a little, there a little.

¹¹ Indeed, with mocking lips and a foreign tongue

he will speak to this people.

¹² In the past he said to them

"This is the rest, give rest to him who is weary;

and this is the refreshing,"

but they would not listen.

¹³ So the word of Yahweh will be to them

command upon command, command upon command;

rule upon rule, rule upon rule;

here a little, there a little;

so that they may go and fall backward,

and be broken, ensnared, and captured.

¹⁴ So listen to the word of Yahweh, you who mock,

you who rule over this people who are in Jerusalem.

¹⁵ This will happen because you said,

"We have made a covenant with death,

and with Sheol we have reached an agreement.

So when the overwhelming whip passes through,

it will not reach us.

For we have made a lie our refuge,

and taken shelter in falsehood."

¹⁶ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says,

"See, I will lay in Zion a foundation stone, a tried stone,

a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation.

He who believes will not be ashamed.

¹⁷ I will make justice the measuring stick,

and righteousness the plumbline.

Hail will sweep away the refuge of lies,

and the floodwaters will overwhelm the hiding place.

¹⁸ Your covenant with death will be dissolved,

and your agreement with Sheol will not stand.

When the raging flood passes through,

you will become its trampling place.

¹⁹ Whenever it passes through, it will overwhelm you,

and morning by morning it will pass through

and by day and night it will come.

When the message is understood,

it will cause terror.

²⁰ For the bed is too short for a man to stretch out on,

and the blanket too narrow for him to wrap himself in."

²¹ Yahweh will rise up as on Mount Perazim;

he will rouse himself as in the Valley of Gibeon

to do his work, his strange work,

and perform his strange deed.

²² Now therefore do not mock,

or your bonds will be tightened.

I have heard from the Lord Yahweh of hosts,

a decree of destruction on the earth.

²³ Pay attention and listen to my voice;

be attentive and listen to my words.

²⁴ Does a farmer who plows all day to sow, only plow the ground?

Does he continually break up and harrow the field?

²⁵ When he has prepared the ground,

does he not scatter caraway seed, sow the cumin,

put in the wheat in rows and the barley in the right place,

and the spelt at its edges? ¹

²⁶ His God instructs him;

he teaches him wisely.

²⁷ Moreover, the caraway seed is not threshed with a sledge,

nor is a cartwheel rolled over the cumin;

but caraway is beaten out with a stick,

and cumin with a rod.

²⁸ Bread grain is crushed,

but the one who grinds it does not thresh it forever.

The wheel of his cart and his horses would destroy it,

so he does not continue to grind it.

²⁹ This too comes from Yahweh of hosts,

who gives wonderful counsel

and whose sound wisdom is great.

¹The identification of some of these spices is in doubt, so different translations may have a different list of spices than here. In addition, other modern translations give different meaning to the expressions translated in the ULB as in rows and in the right place , because these expressions are uncertain in Hebrew.

Chapter 29

¹ Woe to Ariel, Ariel,

the city where David encamped!

Add year to year;

let the festivals come round.

² But I will besiege Ariel,

and she will be mourning and lamenting;

and she will be to me like Ariel.

³ I will encamp against you in a circle

and will lay siege against you with a garrison,

and I will raise siege works against you.

⁴ You will be abased and will speak from the ground;

your speech will be bowed down from the dust.

Your voice will sound like a spirit that speaks from the ground,

and out of the dust your speech will whisper.

⁵ The great number of your invaders will become like fine dust,

and the multitude of the ruthless ones as chaff that passes away.

It will happen suddenly, in an instant.

⁶ Yahweh of hosts will come to you

with thunder, earthquake, great noise,

with strong winds and violent storm, and the flames of a devouring fire.

⁷ It will be like a dream, a vision of the night:

A horde of all the nations will fight against Ariel

and her stronghold.

They will attack her and her fortifications to press upon her.

⁸ It will be like when a hungry man dreams he is eating,

but when he awakes, his stomach is empty.

It will be like when a thirsty man dreams that he is drinking

and he awakes faint, with his thirst not quenched.

Yes, so will be the great number of nations

that fights against Mount Zion.

⁹ Astonish yourselves and be astonished;

blind yourselves and be blind!

Be drunk, but not with wine;

stagger, but not with strong drink.

¹⁰ For Yahweh has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep.

He has closed your eyes, the prophets,

and has covered your heads, the seers.

¹¹ All revelation has become to you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men might give to one who is learned, saying, "Read this." He also says, "I cannot, for it is sealed." ¹² If the book is given to one who cannot read, saying, "Read this," he says, "I cannot read."

¹³ The Lord said,

"This people comes close to me with their mouths

and honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me.

Their honor for me

is only a commandment of men that has been taught.

¹⁴ Therefore, see, I will proceed to do a marvelous thing

among this people, wonder after wonder.

The wisdom of their wise men will perish,

and the understanding of their prudent men will disappear."

¹⁵ Woe to those who deeply hide their plans from Yahweh,

and whose deeds are in darkness.

They say, "Who sees us, and who knows us?"

¹⁶ You turn things upside down!

Should the potter be considered like clay,

so that the thing that is made should say about him who made it,

"He did not make me,"

or the thing formed say about him who formed it,

"He does not understand"?

¹⁷ In just a little while,

Lebanon will be turned into a field,

and the field will become a forest.

¹⁸ On that day the deaf will hear the words of a book,

and the eyes of the blind will see out of the deep darkness.

¹⁹ The oppressed will again rejoice in Yahweh,

and the poor among men will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

²⁰ For the ruthless will cease, and the mocker will vanish.

All those who love to do evil will be eliminated,

²¹ who by a word make a man out to be an offender.

They lay a snare for him who seeks justice at the gate

and put the righteous down with empty lies.

²² Therefore this is what Yahweh says concerning the house of Jacob—Yahweh, who redeemed Abraham,

"Jacob will no longer be ashamed,

nor will his face be pale.

²³ But when he sees his children, the work of my hands,

they will make my name holy.

They will make holy the name of the Holy One of Jacob

and they will stand in awe of the God of Israel.

²⁴ Those who err in spirit will gain understanding,

and complainers will accept instruction."

Chapter 30

¹ "Woe to the rebellious children—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

They make plans, but not from me;

they make alliances with other nations,

but they were not directed by my Spirit,

so they add sin to sin.

² They set out to go down into Egypt,

but have not asked for my direction.

They seek protection from Pharaoh

and take refuge in the shadow of Egypt.

³ Therefore Pharaoh's protection will be your shame,

and the refuge in Egypt's shade, your humiliation,

⁴ although their princes are at Zoan,

and their messengers have come to Hanes.

⁵ They will all be ashamed

because of a people who cannot help them,

who are neither help nor aid,

but a shame, and even a disgrace."

⁶ A declaration about the animals of the Negev:

Through the land of trouble and anguish,

of the lioness and the lion,

the viper and fiery flying serpent,

they carry their riches on the backs of donkeys,

and their treasures on the camels' humps,

to a people who cannot help them.

⁷ For Egypt's help is vain and empty;

therefore I have called her Rahab, who sits still.

⁸ Now go, write it in their presence on a tablet,

and inscribe it on a scroll,

that it may be preserved

for the time to come as a testimony.

⁹ For these are a rebellious people, lying children,

children who will not hear the instruction of Yahweh.

¹⁰ They say to the seers, "Do not see;"

and to the prophets, "Do not prophesy the truth to us;

speak flattering words to us,

prophesy illusions.

¹¹ Turn aside from the way, stray off the path;

cause the Holy One of Israel

to cease speaking before our face."

¹² Therefore the Holy One of Israel says,

"Because you reject this word

and trust in oppression and deceit and lean on it,

¹³ so this iniquity will be to you

like a broken part ready to fall, like a bulge in a high wall

whose fall will happen suddenly, in an instant."

¹⁴ It will break as a potter's vessel is broken;

he will not spare it,

so that there will not be found among its pieces a shard

with which to scrape fire from the hearth,

or to scoop up water out of the cistern.

¹⁵ For this is what the Lord Yahweh, the Holy One of Israel says,

"In returning and resting you will be saved;

in quietness and in trust will be your strength.

But you were not willing.

¹⁶ You said, 'No, for we will flee on horses,'

so you will flee;

and, 'We will ride upon swift horses,'

so those who pursue you will be swift.

¹⁷ One thousand will flee at the threat of one;

at the threat of five you will flee

until your remnant will be

like a flagstaff on the top of a mountain,

or like a signal flag on a hill."

¹⁸ Yet Yahweh is waiting to be gracious to you,

therefore he is ready to show you mercy.

For Yahweh is a God of justice;

blessed are all those who wait for him.

¹⁹ For a people will live in Zion, in Jerusalem, and you will weep no more. He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. When he hears it, he will answer you.

²⁰ Though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, even so, your teacher will not hide himself anymore, but you will see your teacher with your own eyes. ²¹ Your ears will hear a word behind you saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left.

²² You will desecrate your carved figures overlaid with silver and your gold cast figures. You will throw them away like a menstrual rag. You will say to them, "Get out of here."

²³ He will give the rain for your seed when you sow the ground, and bread with abundance from the ground, and the crops will be abundant. In that day your cattle will graze in broad pastures. ²⁴ The oxen and the donkeys, who plow the ground, will eat seasoned feed that has been winnowed with a shovel and a fork.

²⁵ On every high mountain and on every high hill, there will be flowing brooks and streams of waters, in the day of the great slaughter when the towers fall. ²⁶ The light of the moon will be like the light of the sun, and the light of the sun will be seven times brighter, like the sunlight of seven days. Yahweh will bind up the breaking of his people and heal the bruises of his wounding them.

²⁷ Look, the name of Yahweh comes from a distant place,

burning with his anger and in dense smoke.

His lips are full of fury,

and his tongue is like a devouring fire.

²⁸ His breath is like an overflowing torrent

that reaches up to the middle of the neck,

to sift the nations with the sieve of worthlessness.

His breath is a bridle in the jaws of the peoples

to cause them to wander away.

²⁹ You will have a song

as in the night when a holy feast is observed,

and gladness of heart,

as when one goes with a flute to the mountain of Yahweh,

to the Rock of Israel.

³⁰ Yahweh will make the splendor of his voice heard

and show the motion of his arm

in raging anger and flames of fire,

with windstorm, rainstorm, and hailstones.

³¹ For at the voice of Yahweh, Assyria will be dismayed;

he will strike them with a staff.

³² Every stroke of the appointed rod

that Yahweh will lay on them

will be accompanied with the music of tambourines and harps

as he battles, waving his weapons, and fights with them.

³³ For a place of burning was prepared long ago.

Indeed, it is prepared for the king,

and God has made it deep and wide.

The pile is ready with a fire and much wood.

The breath of Yahweh, like a stream of sulfur,

will set it on fire.

Chapter 31

¹ Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help

and lean on horses,

and trust in chariots (for they are many)

and in horsemen (for they are mighty).

But they are not concerned about the Holy One of Israel,

nor do they seek Yahweh!

² Yet he is wise, and he will bring disaster

and will not retract his words.

He will arise against the evil house

and against the helpers of those who behave wickedly.

³ Egypt is a man and not God,

their horses flesh and not spirit.

When Yahweh reaches out with his hand,

both the one who helps will stumble,

and the one who is helped will fall; both will perish together.

⁴ This is what Yahweh says to me,

"As a lion, even a young lion, growls over its torn prey,

when a group of shepherds is called out against it,

but it is not frightened by their voices,

nor does it creep away from their sound;

thus Yahweh of hosts will descend

to fight on Mount Zion, on that hill.

⁵ Like birds in flight,

so Yahweh of hosts will protect Jerusalem;

he will protect and rescue

as he passes over it and preserves it.

⁶ Return to him from whom you have deeply turned away, people of Israel. ⁷ For in that day each one will throw away his idols of silver and his idols of gold that your own hands have made as a sin.

⁸ Assyria will fall by the sword;

a sword not wielded by man will consume him.

He will flee from the sword,

and his young men will be forced to do hard labor.

⁹ They will lose all confidence because of terror,

and his princes will be afraid

at the sight of Yahweh's signal flag—

this is the declaration of Yahweh—

whose fire is in Zion and whose firepot is in Jerusalem."

Chapter 32

¹ Look, a king will reign in righteousness,

and princes will rule in justice.

² Each one will be like a shelter from the wind

and a refuge from the storm,

like streams of water in a dry place,

like the shade of a great rock in a land of weariness.

³ Then the eyes of those who see will not be dim,

and the ears of those who hear will hear attentively.

⁴ The rash will think carefully with understanding,

and the stutterer will speak distinctly and with ease.

⁵ The fool will no longer be called honorable,

nor the deceiver called principled.

⁶ For the fool speaks folly,

and his heart plans evil

and godless actions,

and he speaks wrongly against Yahweh.

He makes the hungry empty,

and the thirsty he causes to lack drink.

⁷ The deceiver's methods are evil.

He devises wicked schemes

to destroy the poor with deceitful words,

even when the poor say what is right.

⁸ But the honorable man makes honorable plans;

and because of his honorable actions he will stand.

⁹ Rise up, you women who are at ease,

and listen to my voice;

you carefree daughters,

give ear to my word.

¹⁰ For in a little more than a year

your confidence will be broken,

you carefree women,

for the grape harvest will fail,

the ingathering will not come.

¹¹ Tremble, you women who are at ease;

be troubled, you confident ones;

take off your fine clothes and make yourselves bare;

gird your loins with sackcloth.

¹² You will wail for the pleasant fields,

for the fruitful vines.

¹³ The land of my people

will be overgrown with thorns and briers,

even in all the joyful houses in the jubilant city.

¹⁴ For the palace will be abandoned,

the crowded city will be deserted;

the hill and the watchtower will become caves forever,

a joy of wild donkeys, a pasture of flocks;

¹⁵ until the Spirit is poured on us from on high,

and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,

and the fruitful field is considered as a forest.

¹⁶ Then justice will reside in the wilderness;

and righteousness will live in the fruitful field.

¹⁷ The work of righteousness will be peace;

and the result of righteousness,

quietness and confidence forever.

¹⁸ My people will live in a peaceful habitation,

in secure homes, and in quiet resting places.

¹⁹ Though hail flattens the forest

and the city is completely brought down,

²⁰ you will be blessed

when you sow your seed beside every stream

and let the foot of the ox and donkey range free.

Chapter 33

¹ Woe to you, destroyer who has not been destroyed!

Woe to the betrayer whom they have not betrayed!

When you stop destroying, you will be destroyed.

When you stop betraying, they will betray you.

² Yahweh, be gracious to us; we wait for you;

be our arm every morning,

our salvation in the time of trouble.

³ At the loud noise the peoples flee;

when you arise, the nations are scattered.

⁴ Your plunder is gathered as the locusts gather;

as locusts leap, men leap on it.

⁵ Yahweh is exalted. He lives in a high place.

He will fill Zion with justice and righteousness.

⁶ He will be the stability in your times,

abundance of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge;

the fear of Yahweh is his treasure.

⁷ Look, their envoys cry in the streets;

the ambassadors of peace weep bitterly.

⁸ The highways are deserted;

there are no more travelers.

Covenants are broken, witnesses are despised,

and mankind is not respected. ¹

⁹ The land mourns and wastes away;

Lebanon is ashamed and withers away; ²

Sharon is like a desert plain;

and Bashan and Carmel shake off their leaves.

¹⁰ "Now will I arise," says Yahweh;

"now I will be lifted up; now I will be elevated.

¹¹ You conceive chaff, and you give birth to stubble;

your breath is a fire that will consume you.

¹² The peoples will be burned to lime,

as thornbushes are cut down and are burned.

¹³ You who are far away, hear what I have done;

and, you who are near, acknowledge my might."

¹⁴ The sinners in Zion are afraid;

trembling has seized the godless ones.

Who among us can sojourn with a raging fire?

Who among us can sojourn with everlasting burnings?

¹⁵ He who walks righteously and speaks honestly;

who despises the gain of oppression,

who shakes his hand so that it will not accept a bribe,

who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed,

and who shuts his eyes from looking on evil—

¹⁶ this is the man who will dwell on the heights,

his stronghold will be the fortress among the cliffs,

his food will be given,

and his water will be in steady supply.

¹⁷ Your eyes will see the king in his beauty;

they will see a land off in the distance.

¹⁸ Your heart will recall the terror;

where is the scribe,

where is he who weighed the money?

Where is he who counted the towers?

¹⁹ You will no longer see the defiant people,

people who mock you

in a language that you do not understand.

²⁰ Look at Zion, the city of our feasts;

your eyes will see Jerusalem as a quiet habitation,

a tent that will not be removed,

whose stakes will never be pulled up

nor will any of its cords be broken.

²¹ There Yahweh in majesty will be with us,

in a place of broad rivers and streams,

where no warship with oars will travel,

and no large ships will sail.

²² For Yahweh is our judge, Yahweh is our lawgiver,

Yahweh is our king; he will save us.

²³ Your riggings are slack;

they cannot hold the mast in place;

they cannot spread the sail;

when the plunder of abundant prey is divided,

even the lame will take away booty.

²⁴ The inhabitants will not say, "I am sick;"

the people who live there will be forgiven for their iniquity.

¹Some ancient Hebrew copies have the word for cities , but this is seen by many scholars to be a corruption of the more likely Hebrew word for witnesses , which is the ULB translation.

²The word mourns can be also be read as dries up . The two Hebrew words are spelled the same. Isaiah 24:4 is similar, and the meaning there is clearly dries up .

Chapter 34

¹ Come near, you nations, and listen;

pay attention, you people!

The earth and all that fills it must listen,

the world and all its produce.

² For Yahweh is angry with all the nations,

and furious against all their armies;

he has completely destroyed them,

he has handed them over to the slaughter.

³ The bodies of their dead will be thrown out.

The stench of the dead bodies will be everywhere;

and the mountains will soak up their blood.

⁴ All the host of heaven will waste away,

and the sky will be rolled up like a scroll;

and all their stars will fade away,

as the leaf fades from off the vine,

and as the overripe figs from the fig tree.

⁵ For when my sword will have drunk its fill in heaven;

look, it will now come down on Edom,

on the people I am setting apart for destruction.

⁶ The sword of Yahweh is dripping with blood

and covered with fat,

dripping with the blood of lambs and goats,

covered with the fat of the kidneys of rams.

For Yahweh has a sacrifice in Bozrah

and a great slaughter in the land of Edom.

⁷ Wild oxen will fall with them,

and young bulls with the mighty ones.

Their land will be drunk with blood,

and their dust made fat with fatness.

⁸ For it will be a day of vengeance for Yahweh

and a year when he will pay them back for the cause of Zion.

⁹ The streams of Edom will be turned into pitch,

her dust into sulfur,

and her land will become burning pitch.

¹⁰ It will burn night and day;

its smoke will rise forever;

from generation to generation it will be a wasteland;

no one will pass through it forever and ever.

¹¹ But wild birds and animals will live there;

the owl and the raven will make their nest in it.

He will stretch over it the measuring line of ruin

and the plumbline of destruction.

¹² Her nobles will have nothing left to call a kingdom,

and all her princes will be nothing.

¹³ Thorns will overgrow her palaces,

nettles and thistles her fortresses.

It will be a habitation of jackals,

a place for ostriches.

¹⁴ The wild animals of the desert and the hyenas will meet there,

and the wild goats will cry to one another.

Nocturnal animals will settle there

and find for themselves a resting place.

¹⁵ Owls will make nests, lay and hatch their eggs,

hatch and protect their young.

Yes, there hawks will gather,

each one with its mate.

¹⁶ Search through the scroll of Yahweh;

not one of these will be missing.

None will lack for a mate; for his mouth has commanded it,

and his spirit has gathered them.

¹⁷ He has cast lots for their places,

and his hand has measured it out for them by a cord.

They will possess it forever;

from generation to generation they will live there.

Chapter 35

¹ The wilderness and the Arabah will be glad;

and the desert will rejoice and blossom.

Like the rose,

² it will blossom abundantly

and rejoice with joy and joyful shouting;

the glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of Yahweh,

the splendor of our God.

³ Strengthen the weak hands,

and make steady the knees that shake.

⁴ Say to those with a fearful heart,

"Be strong, do not fear!

Look, your God will come with vengeance,

with the recompense of God. He will come and save you."

⁵ Then the eyes of the blind will see,

and the ears of the deaf will hear.

⁶ Then the lame man will leap like a deer,

and the mute tongue will shout for joy,

for water breaks out in the Arabah,

and streams in the wilderness.

⁷ The burning sand will become a pool,

and the thirsty ground springs of water;

in the place where jackals lived,

in their resting place, will be grass with reeds and rushes.

⁸ A highway will be there called The Holy Way.

The unclean will not travel it.

But it will be for him who walks in it.

No fool will go on it.

⁹ No lion will be there, no ferocious beast will be on it;

they will not be found there,

but the redeemed will walk there.

¹⁰ The ransomed of Yahweh will return

and come with singing to Zion,

and everlasting joy will be on their heads;

gladness and joy will overtake them;

sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Chapter 36

¹ In the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib, king of Assyria, attacked all the fortified cities of Judah and captured them. ² Then the king of Assyria sent the chief commander from Lachish to Jerusalem to King Hezekiah with a great army. He approached the conduit of the upper pool, on the highway to the launderers' field, and stood by it. ³ The Israelite officials who went out of the city to talk with them were Hilkiah's son Eliakim, the palace administrator, Shebna the king's secretary, and Asaph's son Joah, who wrote down the government decisions.

⁴ The chief commander said to them, "Tell Hezekiah that the great king, the king of Assyria, says, 'What is the source of your confidence? ⁵ You speak only useless words, saying there is counsel and strength for war. Now in whom are you trusting? Who has given you courage to rebel against me?

⁶ Look, you are trusting in Egypt, that splintered reed that you use as a walking staff, but if a man leans on it, it will stick into his hand and pierce it. That is what Pharaoh king of Egypt is to anyone who trusts in him. ⁷ But if you say to me, "We are trusting in Yahweh our God," is not he the one whose high places and altars Hezekiah has taken away, and has said to Judah and to Jerusalem, "You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem"?

⁸ Now therefore, I want to make you a good offer from my master the king of Assyria. I will give you two thousand horses, if you are able to find riders for them.

⁹ How could you resist even one captain of the least of my master's servants? You have put your trust in Egypt for chariots and horsemen! ¹⁰ Now then, have I traveled up here without Yahweh to fight against this land and destroy it? Yahweh said to me, "Attack this land and destroy it."'"

¹¹ Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, and Shebnah, and Joah said to the chief commander, "Please speak to your servants in the Aramean language, Aramaic, for we understand it. Do not speak with us in the language of Judah in the ears of the people who are on the wall." ¹² But the chief commander said, "Has my master sent me to your master and to you to speak these words? Has he not sent me to the men who sit on the wall, who will have to eat their own dung and drink their own urine with you?"

¹³ Then the chief commander stood and shouted in a loud voice in the language of Judah, saying, "Listen to the words of the great king, the king of Assyria. ¹⁴ The king says, 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to rescue you. ¹⁵ Do not let Hezekiah make you trust in Yahweh, saying, "Yahweh will surely rescue us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."'

¹⁶ Do not listen to Hezekiah, for this is what the king of Assyria says: 'Make peace with me and come out to me. Then every one of you will eat from his own vine and from his own fig tree, and drink from the water in his own cistern. ¹⁷ You will do this until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and new wine, a land of bread and vineyards.'

¹⁸ Do not let Hezekiah mislead you, saying, 'Yahweh will rescue us.' Has any of the gods of the peoples rescued them from the hand of the king of Assyria? ¹⁹ Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? Have they rescued Samaria from my power? ²⁰ Among all the gods of these lands, is there any god who has rescued his land from my power, as if Yahweh could save Jerusalem from my power?"

²¹ But the people remained silent and did not respond, for the king's command was, "Do not answer him." ²² Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was over the household, Shebna the scribe, and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn, and reported to him the words of the chief commander.

Chapter 37

³ They said to him, "Hezekiah says, 'This day is a day of distress, rebuke, and disgrace, like when a child is ready to be born, but the mother has no strength to give birth to her child. ⁴ It may be Yahweh your God will hear the words of the chief commander, whom the king of Assyria his master has sent to defy the living God, and will rebuke the words which Yahweh your God has heard. Now lift up your prayer for the remnant that is still here.'"

⁵ So the servants of King Hezekiah came to Isaiah, ⁶ and Isaiah said to them, "Say to your master: 'Yahweh says, "Do not be afraid of the words that you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have insulted me. ⁷ Look, I will put a spirit in him, and he will hear a rumor and go back to his own land. I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land."'"

⁸ Then the chief commander returned and found the king of Assyria fighting against Libnah, for he had heard that the king had gone away from Lachish. ⁹ Then Sennacherib heard that Tirhakah king of Cush and Egypt had mobilized to fight against him, so he sent messengers again to Hezekiah with a message: ¹⁰ "Say to Hezekiah, king of Judah, 'Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you, saying, "Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria."

¹¹ See, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands by destroying them completely. So will you be rescued? ¹² Have the gods of the nations rescued them, the nations that my fathers destroyed: Gozan, Haran, Rezeph, and the people of Eden in Tel Assar? ¹³ Where is the king of Hamath, the king of Arpad, the king of the cities of Sepharvaim, of Hena, and Ivvah?'"

¹⁴ Hezekiah received this letter from the hand of the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the house of Yahweh and spread it before him. ¹⁵ Hezekiah prayed to Yahweh: ¹⁶ "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, you who sit above the cherubim, you are God alone over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.

¹⁷ Turn your ear, Yahweh, and listen. Open your eyes, Yahweh, and see, and hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to mock the living God. ¹⁸ It is true, Yahweh, the kings of Assyria have destroyed all the nations and their lands.

¹⁹ They have put their gods into the fire, for they were not gods but the work of men's hands, just wood and stone. So the Assyrians have destroyed them. ²⁰ So now, Yahweh our God, save us from his power, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you are Yahweh alone."

²¹ Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah, saying, "Yahweh, the God of Israel says, 'Because you have prayed to me concerning Sennacherib king of Assyria, ²² this is the word that Yahweh has spoken about him:

"The virgin daughter of Zion despises you and mocks you;

the daughter of Jerusalem shakes her head at you.

²³ Whom have you defied and insulted?

Against whom have you exalted your voice

and lifted up your eyes in pride?

Against the Holy One of Israel.

²⁴ By your servants you have defied the Lord

and have said, 'With the multitude of my chariots

I have gone up to the heights of the mountains,

to the highest elevations of Lebanon.

I will cut down its tall cedars

and choice cypress trees there,

and I will enter into its farthest high places,

its most fruitful forest.

²⁵ I have dug wells and drunk water; ¹

I dried up all the rivers of Egypt under the soles of my feet.'

²⁶ Have you not heard

how I determined it long ago

and worked it out in ancient times?

Now I am bringing it to pass.

You are here to reduce impregnable cities

into heaps of ruins.

²⁷ Their inhabitants, of little strength,

are dismayed and ashamed.

They are plants in the field, green grass,

the grass on the roof or in the field,

before the east wind.

²⁸ But I know your sitting down, your going out,

your coming in, and your raging against me.

²⁹ Because of your raging against me,

and because your arrogance has reached my ears,

I will put my hook in your nose, and my bit in your mouth;

I will turn you back the way you came."

³⁰ This will be the sign for you:

This year you will eat what grows wild,

and in the second year what grows from that.

But in the third year you must plant and harvest,

plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

³¹ The remnant of the house of Judah that survives

will again take root and bear fruit.

³² For from Jerusalem a remnant will come out;

from Mount Zion an escaped remnant will come.

The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will do this.'"

³³ Therefore Yahweh says this about the king of Assyria:

"He will not come into this city

and he will not shoot an arrow here.

He will not come before it with shield

or build up a siege ramp against it.

³⁴ The way by which he came will be the same way he will leave;

he will not enter this city—this is Yahweh's declaration.

³⁵ For I will defend this city and rescue it

for my own sake and for the sake of David my servant."

³⁶ Then the angel of Yahweh went out and attacked the camp of the Assyrians, putting to death 185,000 soldiers. When the men arose early in the morning, dead bodies lay everywhere. ³⁷ So Sennacherib king of Assyria left Israel and went home and stayed in Nineveh.

³⁸ Later, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisrok his god, his sons Adrammelek and Sharezer killed him with the sword. Then they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reigned in his place.

¹Some ancient and modern translations have I have dug wells and drunk water in foreign lands .

Chapter 38

¹ In those days Hezekiah was sick to the point of dying. So Isaiah son of Amoz, the prophet, came to him, and said to him, "Yahweh says, 'Set your house in order; for you will die, not live.'" ² Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh. ³ He said, "Please, Yahweh, I beg you, call to mind how I have faithfully walked before you with my whole heart, and how I have done what was good in your sight." Then Hezekiah wept loudly.

⁴ Then the word of Yahweh came to Isaiah, saying, ⁵ "Go and say to Hezekiah, the leader of my people, 'This is what Yahweh, the God of David your ancestor, says: I have heard your prayer, and I have seen your tears. See, I am about to add fifteen years to your life. ⁶ Then I will rescue you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city.

⁷ This will be the sign to you from Yahweh, that I will do what I have promised. ⁸ Look, I will cause the shadow on the stairs of Ahaz to go back ten steps.'" So the shadow went back ten steps of the stairs on which it had advanced.

⁹ This was the written prayer of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and then recovered:

¹⁰ "I said that halfway through my life

I will go through the gates of Sheol;

I am sent there for the rest of my years.

¹¹ I said that I will no longer see Yah,

Yah in the land of the living; ¹

I will no longer look on mankind

or the inhabitants of the world. ²

¹² My dwelling place is removed

and carried away from me like a shepherd's tent;

I have rolled up my life like a weaver;

you are cutting me off from the loom;

between day and night you are ending my life.

¹³ I cried out ³ until the morning;

like a lion he breaks all my bones.

Between day and night you are ending my life.

¹⁴ Like a swallow I chirp;

I coo like a dove;

my eyes grow tired with looking upward.

Lord, I am oppressed; help me.

¹⁵ What can I say?

He has both spoken to me, and has done it;

I will walk slowly all my years

because of the bitterness of my soul.

¹⁶ Lord, the sufferings you send are good for me;

may my life be given back to me;

you have restored my life and health.

¹⁷ It was for my benefit

that I experienced such bitterness.

You have rescued me from the pit of destruction;

for you have thrown all my sins behind your back.

¹⁸ For Sheol does not thank you;

death does not praise you;

those who go down into the pit

do not hope in your trustworthiness.

¹⁹ The living person, the living person,

he is the one who gives you thanks, as I do this day;

a father makes known to children

your trustworthiness.

²⁰ Yahweh is about to save me,

and we will celebrate with music

all the days of our lives in the house of Yahweh."

²¹ Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a lump of figs and put it on the boil, and he will recover." ²² Hezekiah also had said, "What will be the sign that I should go up to the house of Yahweh?"

¹Yah is a short form of the name Yahweh.

²the inhabitants of the world : Most modern translations have this meaning. Ancient Hebrew copies have the inhabitants of the place of non-existence (that is, brief existence).

³The Hebrew could be read: I cried out or I calmed myself .

Chapter 39

¹ At that time Marduk-Baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah; for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick and had recovered. ² Hezekiah was pleased by these things; he showed the messengers his storehouse of valuable things—the silver, the gold, the spices and precious oil, the storehouse of his weapons, and all that was found in his storehouses. There was nothing in his house, nor in all his kingdom, that Hezekiah did not show them.

³ Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked him, "What did these men say to you? Where did they come from?" Hezekiah said, "They came to me from the distant country of Babylon." ⁴ Isaiah asked, "What have they seen in your house?" Hezekiah answered, "They have seen everything in my house. There is nothing among my valuable things that I have not shown them."

⁵ Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Listen to the word of Yahweh of hosts: ⁶ 'Look, the days are about to come when everything in your palace, the things that your ancestors stored away until this present day, will be carried to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says Yahweh.

⁷ They will take away some of your own descendants, whom you will father, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'" ⁸ Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of Yahweh that you have spoken is good." For he thought, "There will be peace and stability in my days."

Chapter 40

¹ "Comfort, comfort my people,"

says your God.

² "Speak tenderly to Jerusalem;

and proclaim to her

that her warfare has ended,

that her iniquity is pardoned,

that she has received double

from Yahweh's hand for all her sins."

³ A voice cries out,

"In the wilderness prepare the way of Yahweh;

make straight in the Arabah a highway for our God." ¹

⁴ Every valley will be lifted up,

and every mountain and hill will be brought low;

and the rugged land will be made level,

and the rough places a plain;

⁵ and the glory of Yahweh will be revealed,

and all people will see it together;

for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it.

⁶ A voice says, "Cry."

Another answers, "What should I cry?"

"All flesh is grass,

and all their covenant faithfulness is like the flower of the field.

⁷ The grass withers and the flower fades

when the breath of Yahweh blows on it;

surely humanity is grass.

⁸ The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever."

⁹ Go up on a high mountain,

Zion, bearer of good news. ²

Shout out loud,

Jerusalem. You who bring good news, raise your voice, do not be afraid. ³

Say to the cities of Judah,

"Here is your God!"

¹⁰ Look, the Lord Yahweh comes as a victorious warrior,

and his strong arm rules for him.

See, his reward is with him,

and his recompense goes before him.

¹¹ He will feed his flock like a shepherd,

he will gather in his arm the lambs,

and carry them close to his heart,

and will gently lead the ewes nursing their young.

¹² Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,

measured the sky with the span of his hand,

held the dust of the earth in a basket,

weighed the mountains in scales,

or the hills in a balance?

¹³ Who has comprehended the mind of Yahweh,

or instructed him as his counselor?

¹⁴ From whom did he ever receive instruction?

Who taught him the correct way to do things,

and taught him knowledge,

or showed to him the way of understanding?

¹⁵ Look, the nations are like a drop in a bucket,

and are regarded like the dust on the scales;

see, he weighs the isles as a speck.

¹⁶ Lebanon is not sufficient fuel,

nor its wild animals sufficient for a burnt offering.

¹⁷ All the nations are insufficient before him;

they are regarded by him as nothing and emptiness.

¹⁸ To whom then will you compare God?

To what idol will you liken him?

¹⁹ An idol! A craftsman casts it:

The goldsmith overlays it with gold

and forges silver chains for it.

²⁰ To make an offering

one chooses a wood that will not rot;

he seeks a skillful artisan

to make an idol that will not fall over.

²¹ Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

²² He is the one who sits above the horizon of the earth;

and the inhabitants are like grasshoppers before him.

He stretches out the heavens like a curtain

and spreads them out as a tent to live in.

²³ He reduces rulers to nothing

and makes the rulers of the earth emptiness.

²⁴ They are barely planted, barely sown,

their stem has barely taken root in the earth,

when he blows upon them and they wither,

and the wind carries them away like straw.

²⁵ "To whom then will you compare me,

whom do I resemble?" says the Holy One.

²⁶ Look up at the sky!

Who has created all these stars?

He leads out their formations

and calls them all by name.

By the greatness of his might and by the strength of his power,

not one is missing.

²⁷ Why do you say, Jacob, and declare, Israel,

"My way is hidden from Yahweh,

and my God is not concerned about my vindication"?

²⁸ Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, Yahweh,

the Creator of the ends of the earth,

does not get tired or weary;

there is no limit to his understanding.

²⁹ He gives strength to the tired;

and to the one who lacks might he gives power.

³⁰ Even young people become tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall:

³¹ but those who wait for Yahweh will renew their strength;

they will soar with wings like eagles;

they will run and not be weary;

they will walk and not faint.

¹Some older English translations have A voice cries out in the wilderness which follows Matthew 3:3.

²Instead of Go up on a high mountain, Zion, bearer of good news , some modern translations have You who are bearing good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain .

³Some modern translations have Jerusalem, proclaimer of good news . Some other modern translations have proclaim good news to Jerusalem .

Chapter 41

¹ "Listen before me in silence, you coastlands;

let the nations renew their strength;

let them come near and speak;

let us come near together to argue a dispute.

² Who has stirred up one from the east,

calling him in righteousness to his service?

He hands nations over to him

and helps him subdue kings.

He turns them to dust with his sword,

like windblown stubble with his bow.

³ He pursues them and passes by safely,

by a swift path that his feet scarcely touch.

⁴ Who has performed and accomplished these deeds?

Who has summoned the generations from the beginning?

I, Yahweh, the first, and with the last ones, I am he.

⁵ The isles have seen and are afraid;

the ends of the earth tremble;

they approach and come.

⁶ Everyone helps his neighbor,

and every one says to one another, 'Be encouraged.'

⁷ So the carpenter encourages the goldsmith,

and he who works with the hammer

encourages him who works with an anvil,

saying of the welding, 'It is good.'

They fasten it with nails so it will not topple over.

⁸ But you, Israel, my servant,

Jacob whom I have chosen,

the descendants of Abraham my friend,

⁹ I took you from the ends of the earth

and called you from the farthest places,

saying to you, 'You are my servant.'

I have chosen you and I have not rejected you.

¹⁰ Do not fear, for I am with you.

Do not be anxious, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, and I will help you,

and I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

¹¹ See, they will be ashamed and disgraced,

all who have been angry with you;

they will be as nothing and will perish,

those who oppose you.

¹² You will seek and will not find

those who contended with you;

those who warred against you

will be like nothing, absolutely nothing.

¹³ For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand,

saying to you, 'Do not fear; I am helping you.'

¹⁴ Do not fear, Jacob you worm, and you men of Israel;

I will help you—this is the declaration of Yahweh,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁵ Look, I am making you like a sharp threshing sledge,

new and two-edged;

you will thresh the mountains and crush them;

you will make the hills like chaff.

¹⁶ You will winnow them, and the wind will carry them away;

the wind will scatter them.

You will rejoice in Yahweh,

you will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁷ The oppressed and needy look for water, but there is none,

and their tongues are parched for thirst;

I, Yahweh, will respond to their prayers;

I, the God of Israel, will not abandon them.

¹⁸ I will make streams to flow down the slopes,

and springs in the middle of the valleys;

I will make the desert into a pool of water,

and the dry land into springs of water.

¹⁹ In the wilderness I will set the cedar,

the acacia, and the myrtle, and the olive tree.

I will set the cypress in the desert plain,

with the pines and the cypress box trees.

²⁰ I will do this so that the people

may see, learn, consider, and gain understanding together,

that the hand of Yahweh has done this,

that the Holy One of Israel has created it.

²¹ 'Present your case,' says Yahweh,

'present your best arguments for your idols,'

says the King of Jacob.

²² Let them bring us their own arguments;

have them come forward and declare to us what will happen,

so we may know these things well.

Have them tell us of earlier predictive declarations,

so we can reflect on them and know how they were fulfilled.

²³ Tell things about the future,

that we may know if you are gods;

do something good or evil,

that we may be frightened and impressed.

²⁴ See, you idols are nothing and your deeds are nothing;

the one who chooses you is detestable.

²⁵ I have raised up one from the north, and he comes;

from the sun's rising I summon him who calls on my name,

and he will trample the rulers like mud,

like a potter who is treading on the clay.

²⁶ Who announced this from the beginning, that we might know?

Before this time, that we may say, 'He is in the right'?

Indeed none of them decreed it,

yes, none heard your words.

²⁷ I first said to Zion,

'Look here they are!' I sent a herald to Jerusalem.

²⁸ When I look, there is no one,

not one among them who can give good advice,

who, when I ask, can answer a word.

²⁹ Look, all of them are nothing,

and their deeds are nothing;

their cast metal figures are wind and emptiness.

Chapter 42

¹ Behold, my servant, whom I uphold;

my chosen one, in him I take delight.

I have put my Spirit upon him;

he will bring justice to the nations.

² He will not cry out nor shout,

nor make his voice heard in the streets.

³ A crushed reed he will not break,

and a dimly burning wick he will not quench:

he will faithfully execute justice.

⁴ He will neither grow faint nor be crushed

until he has established justice on the earth;

and the coastlands wait for his law.

⁵ This is what God Yahweh says—

the one who created the heavens and stretched them out,

the one who made the earth and all its produce,

the one who gives breath to the people on it

and life to those who live on it:

⁶ "I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness

and will hold your hand.

I will keep you and set you as a covenant for the people,

as a light for the Gentiles,

⁷ to open the eyes of the blind,

to release the prisoners from the dungeon,

and from the house of imprisonment

those who sit in darkness.

⁸ I am Yahweh, that is my name;

and my glory I will not share with another

nor my praise with carved idols.

⁹ See, the previous things came to pass,

now I am about to declare new events.

Before they begin to occur I will tell you about them."

¹⁰ Sing to Yahweh a new song,

and his praise from the end of the earth;

you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it,

the coastlands, and those who live there.

¹¹ Let the desert and the cities cry out,

the villages where Kedar lives, shout for joy!

Let the inhabitants of Sela sing;

let them shout from the mountaintops.

¹² Let them give glory to Yahweh

and declare his praise in the coastlands.

¹³ Yahweh will go out as a warrior;

as a man of war he will stir up his zeal.

He will shout, yes, he will roar his battle cries;

he will show his enemies his power.

¹⁴ I have kept quiet for a long time;

I have been still and restrained myself;

now I will cry out like a woman in labor;

I will gasp and pant.

¹⁵ I will lay waste mountains and hills

and dry up all their vegetation;

and I will turn the rivers into islands

and will dry up the marshes.

¹⁶ I will bring the blind by a way that they do not know;

in paths that they do not know I will lead them.

I will turn the darkness into light before them,

and make the crooked places straight.

These things I will do,

and I will not abandon them.

¹⁷ They will be turned back, they will be completely put to shame,

those who trust in carved figures,

who say to cast metal figures, "You are our gods."

¹⁸ Listen, you deaf;

and look, you blind, that you may see.

¹⁹ Who is blind but my servant?

Or deaf like my messenger I send?

Who is as blind as my covenant partner,

or blind as Yahweh's servant?

²⁰ You see many things, but do not comprehend;

ears are open, but no one hears.

²¹ It pleased Yahweh to praise his justice

and to make his law glorious.

²² But this is a people robbed and plundered;

they are all trapped in pits, held captive in prisons;

they have become prey with no one to rescue them,

and no one says, "Bring them back!"

²³ Who among you will listen to this?

Who will listen and hear in the future?

²⁴ Who gave Jacob over to the robber,

and Israel to the looters?

Was it not Yahweh, against whom we have sinned,

in whose ways they refused to walk,

and whose law they refused to obey?

²⁵ Therefore he poured out on them

the heat of his anger and the violence of war,

Its flames encircled them, yet they did not understand;

it consumed them, but they did not take it to heart.

Chapter 43

¹ But now this is what Yahweh says,

he who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel:

"Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you;

I have called you by your name, you are mine.

² When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you.

When you walk through the fire you will not be burned,

and the flames will not destroy you.

³ For I am Yahweh your God,

the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

I have given Egypt as your ransom,

Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

⁴ Since you are precious and special in my sight, I love you;

therefore I will give people in exchange for you,

and other peoples in exchange for your life.

⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;

I will bring your offspring from the east,

and gather you from the west.

⁶ I will say to the north, 'Hand them over;'

and to the south, 'Do not hold any back;'

Bring my sons from afar,

and my daughters from the remote regions of the earth,

⁷ everyone who is called by my name,

whom I have created for my glory,

whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made.

⁸ Bring out the people who are blind,

even though they have eyes,

and the deaf,

even though they have ears.

⁹ All the nations gather together,

and the peoples assemble.

Who among them could have declared this

and announced to us earlier events?

Let them bring their witnesses so they can be justified;

let them listen and affirm, 'It is true.'

¹⁰ You are my witnesses—this is Yahweh's declaration—

and my servant whom I have chosen,

so that you may know and believe in me,

and understand that I am he.

Before me there was no god formed,

and there will be none after me.

¹¹ I, I am Yahweh,

and there is no savior but me.

¹² I have declared, saved, and proclaimed,

and there is no other god among you.

You are my witnesses—

this is Yahweh's declaration—I am God.

¹³ From this day on I am he,

and no one can rescue anyone from my hand.

I act, and who can turn it back?"

¹⁴ This is what Yahweh says,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:

"For your sake I send to Babylon

and lead them all down as fugitives,

turning the Chaldeans' expressions of joy

into songs of lamentation.

¹⁵ I am Yahweh, your Holy One,

the Creator of Israel, your King."

¹⁶ This is what Yahweh says

(who opened a way through the sea

and a path in the mighty waters,

¹⁷ who led out the chariot and the horse,

the army and the mighty man. They fell down together;

they will never rise again;

they are extinguished, quenched like a burning wick.)

¹⁸ "Do not think about these former things,

nor consider the things of long ago.

¹⁹ Look, I am about to do a new thing;

now it begins to happen; do you not know it?

I will make a road in the desert

and streams of water in the wilderness.

²⁰ The wild animals of the field will honor me,

the jackals and the ostriches,

because I give water in the wilderness,

and rivers in the desert,

for my chosen people to drink,

²¹ this people whom I formed for myself,

that they might recount my praises.

²² But you have not called on me, Jacob;

you have become tired of me, Israel.

²³ You have not brought me

any of your sheep as burnt offerings,

or honored me with your sacrifices.

I have not burdened you with grain offerings,

nor wearied you with demands for incense.

²⁴ You have bought me no sweet-smelling cane with money,

neither have you poured out to me the fat of your sacrifices;

but you have burdened me with your sins,

you have wearied me with your evil deeds.

²⁵ I, yes, I, am he who blots out your offenses for my own sake;

and I will not call to mind your sins any longer.

²⁶ Remind me of what happened. Let us debate together;

present your cause, that you may be proved to be in the right.

²⁷ Your first father sinned,

and your teachers have transgressed against me.

²⁸ Therefore I will defile the holy officials;

I will hand Jacob over to complete destruction,

and Israel to abusive humiliation."

Chapter 44

¹ Now listen, Jacob my servant,

and Israel, whom I have chosen:

² This is what Yahweh says,

he who made you and formed you in the womb

and who will help you: "Do not fear, Jacob my servant;

and you, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.

³ For I will pour water on the thirsty ground,

and flowing streams on the dry ground;

I will pour my Spirit on your offspring

and my blessing on your descendants.

⁴ They will spring up among the grass,

like willows by the streams of water.

⁵ One will say, 'I belong to Yahweh,'

and another will call out the name of Jacob,

and another will write on his hand 'Belonging to Yahweh,'

and name himself by the name of Israel."

⁶ This is what Yahweh says—

the King of Israel and his Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts:

"I am the first, and I am the last;

and there is no God but me.

⁷ Who is like me? Let him announce it and explain to me

the events that occurred since I established my ancient people,

and let them declare the events to come.

⁸ Do not fear or be afraid.

Have I not declared to you long ago, and announced it?

You are my witnesses: Is there any God besides me?

There is no other Rock; I know of none."

⁹ All who fashion idols are nothing;

the things they delight in are worthless;

their witnesses cannot see or know anything,

and they will be put to shame.

¹⁰ Who would form a god

or cast an idol that is worthless?

¹¹ Look, all his associates will be put to shame;

the craftsmen are only men.

Let them assemble together; let them stand up;

they will tremble and be put to shame.

¹² The smith works with his tools,

forming it, working over the coals.

He shapes it with hammers

and works it with his strong arm.

He is hungry, and his strength wanes;

he drinks no water and becomes faint.

¹³ The carpenter measures the wood with a line,

and marks it with a stylus.

He shapes it with his tools

and marks it out with a compass.

He shapes it after the figure of a man,

like a glorious human, so it may stay in a house.

¹⁴ He cuts down cedars,

or chooses a cypress tree or an oak tree.

He makes it grow for himself among the trees in the forest.

He plants a fir tree and the rain makes it grow.

¹⁵ Then a man uses it for a fire and warms himself.

Yes, he kindles a fire and bakes bread.

Then he makes from it a god and bows down to it;

he makes an idol and bows down to it.

¹⁶ He burns part of the wood for the fire,

roasting his meat over it. He eats and is satisfied.

He warms himself and says,

"Ah, I am warm, I have seen the fire."

¹⁷ With the rest of the wood he makes a god, his carved image;

he bows down to it and reverences it,

and prays to it saying, "Rescue me, for you are my god."

¹⁸ They do not know, nor do they understand,

for their eyes are blind and cannot see,

and their hearts cannot gain understanding.

¹⁹ No one's heart remembers, and no one has the knowledge,

no one has the understanding to say,

"I have burned part of the wood in the fire;

yes, I have also baked bread upon its coals.

I have roasted meat over its coals and eaten.

Now should I make the other part

of the wood into an abomination?

Should I bow down to a block of wood?"

²⁰ It is as if he were eating ashes; his deceived heart misleads him.

He cannot rescue himself, nor does he say,

"This thing in my right hand is a false god."

²¹ Think about these things, Jacob,

and Israel, for you are my servant:

I have formed you; you are my servant:

Israel, you will not be forgotten by me.

²² I have blotted out, like a thick cloud, your rebellious deeds,

and like a cloud, your sins;

return to me,

for I have redeemed you.

²³ Sing, you heavens, for Yahweh has done this;

shout for joy, you depths of the earth.

Break out into a shout of joy, you mountains,

you forest with every tree in it;

for Yahweh has redeemed Jacob,

and will show his glory in Israel.

²⁴ This is what Yahweh says, your Redeemer,

he who formed you from the womb:

"I am Yahweh, who made everything,

who alone stretched out the heavens,

who alone fashioned the earth.

²⁵ I who frustrate the omens of the empty talkers

and who disgrace those who interpret omens;

I who overturn the wisdom of the wise

and make their advice foolish.

²⁶ I, Yahweh, who confirmed the words of his servant

and brings to pass the predictions of his messengers,

who says of Jerusalem, 'She will be inhabited,'

and of the towns of Judah,

'They will be built again, and I will raise up their ruins';

²⁷ who says to the deep sea,

'Be dry, and I will dry up your currents.'

²⁸ Yahweh is the one who says of Cyrus,

'He is my shepherd, he will do my every wish;

he will decree about Jerusalem, 'She will be rebuilt,'

and about the temple, 'Let its foundations be laid.'"

Chapter 45

¹ This is what Yahweh says to his anointed,

to Cyrus, whose right hand I hold,

in order to subdue nations before him, to disarm kings,

and to open the doors before him, so that gates remain open:

² "I will go before you

and level the mountains;

I will break in pieces the doors of bronze

and cut in pieces their iron bars,

³ and I will give you the treasures of darkness

and riches hidden away,

that you may know that it is I, Yahweh, who call you by your name,

I, the God of Israel.

⁴ For Jacob my servant's sake,

and Israel my chosen,

I have called you by your name,

giving you a title of honor,

though you have not known me.

⁵ I am Yahweh, and there is no other;

there is no God but me.

I will gird you,

though you have not known me;

⁶ that people may know

from the rising of the sun, and from the west,

that there is no god but me:

I am Yahweh, and there is no other.

⁷ I form the light and create darkness;

I bring peace and create disaster;

I am Yahweh, who does all these things.

⁸ You heavens, rain down from above!

Let the skies rain down righteousness.

Let the earth absorb it,

that salvation may bear fruit,

and righteousness spring up together with it.

I, Yahweh, have created them both.

⁹ Woe to anyone who argues with the one who formed him,

to him who is like any other earthen pot

among all the earthen pots in the ground!

Does the clay say to the potter,

'What are you making?'

or 'Your work has no handles on it'?

¹⁰ Woe to him who says to a father,

What are you fathering?'

or to a woman,

'What are you giving birth to?'

¹¹ This is what Yahweh says,

the Holy One of Israel, his Maker:

'Why do you ask questions about what I will do for my children?

Do you command me concerning the work of my hands?'

¹² 'I made the earth

and created man on it.

It was my hands that stretched out the heavens,

and I commanded all the stars to appear.

¹³ I stirred Cyrus up in righteousness,

and I will smooth out all his paths.

He will build my city;

he will let my exiled people go home,

and not for price nor bribe,'"

says Yahweh of hosts.

¹⁴ This is what Yahweh says,

"The produce of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush

with the Sabeans, men of tall stature,

will be brought to you.

They will be yours.

They will follow after you,

coming in chains.

They will bow down to you

and plead with you saying,

'Surely God is with you,

and there is no other except him.'"

¹⁵ Truly you are a God who hides yourself,

God of Israel, Savior.

¹⁶ They will all be ashamed and disgraced together;

those who carve idols will walk in humiliation.

¹⁷ But Israel will be saved by Yahweh

with an everlasting salvation;

you will never again be ashamed or humiliated.

¹⁸ This is what Yahweh says,

who created the heavens,

the true God

who created the earth and made it,

who established it.

He created it, not as a waste,

but designed it to be inhabited:

"I am Yahweh,

and there is no other.

¹⁹ I have not spoken in secret,

in some dark land;

I did not say to Jacob's descendants,

'Seek me in vain!'

I am Yahweh, who speaks what is right;

I declare the things that are upright.

²⁰ Assemble yourselves and come!

Gather together, you refugees from among the nations!

They have no knowledge, those who carry carved images

and pray to gods that cannot save.

²¹ Come close and declare it to me, bring the evidence!

Let them conspire together.

Who has shown this from long ago?

Who announced it?

Was it not I, Yahweh?

There is no God except me,

a just God and a Savior;

there is no one besides me.

²² Turn to me and be saved,

all the ends of the earth;

for I am God, and there is no other.

²³ By myself I swear,

speaking my just decree,

and it will not turn back:

'To me every knee will bend,

every tongue will swear.

²⁴ They will say of me, "In Yahweh alone

are righteousness and strength."'"

They will all be ashamed

who are angry at him.

²⁵ In Yahweh all the descendants of Israel will be justified;

they will take pride in him.

Chapter 46

¹ Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low.

Their idols weigh down the animals who carry them,

and you load your cattle with heavy burdens

for weary animals.

² Together they bend low, kneel down;

they cannot rescue the images,

and they themselves have gone off into captivity.

³ Listen to me, house of Jacob,

all the remnant of the house of Israel,

who have been carried by me from before your birth,

carried from the womb.

⁴ Even to your old age I am he,

and until your hair is gray I will carry you.

I made you and I will bear you;

I will carry you and I will rescue you.

⁵ To whom will you compare me? Who do you think I resemble,

so that we may be compared?

⁶ People pour out gold from the bag

and weigh silver on the scale.

They hire a metalsmith, and he makes it into a god;

they bow down and worship it.

⁷ They lift it on their shoulder and carry it;

they set it in its place, and it stands in its place

and does not move from it.

They cry out to it, but it cannot answer

nor save anyone from his trouble.

⁸ Think about these things;

never ignore them, you rebels!

⁹ Think about the earlier things, those of times past,

for I am God, and there is no other,

I am God, and there is no one like me.

¹⁰ I announce the end from the beginning,

and beforehand what has not yet happened;

I say, "My plan will happen,

and I will do as I desire."

¹¹ I call a bird of prey from the east,

the man of my choice from a distant land;

yes, I have spoken; I will also accomplish it;

I have purposed, I will also do it.

¹² Listen to me, you stubborn people,

who are far from doing what is right.

¹³ I am bringing my righteousness near;

it is not far away,

and my salvation does not wait;

and I will give salvation to Zion

and my beauty to Israel.

Chapter 47

¹ Come down and sit in the dust,

virgin daughter of Babylon;

sit on the ground without a throne,

daughter of the Chaldeans.

You will no longer be called

dainty and delicate.

² Take the millstone and grind flour;

remove your veil,

strip off your flowing robe, uncover your legs,

cross the streams.

³ Your nakedness will be uncovered,

yes, your shame will be seen:

I will take vengeance

and will not spare a man.

⁴ Our Redeemer, Yahweh of hosts is his name,

the Holy One of Israel.

⁵ Sit in silence and go into darkness,

daughter of the Chaldeans;

for you will no longer be called

queen of kingdoms.

⁶ I was angry with my people;

I defiled my heritage

and gave them over into your hand,

but you showed them no mercy;

you placed a very heavy yoke on the old people.

⁷ You said, "I will rule forever

as sovereign queen."

You did not take these things to heart,

nor did you consider how they would turn out.

⁸ So now hear this, you who love pleasure

and sit securely;

you who say in your heart,

"I exist, and there is no one else like me;

I will never sit as a widow,

nor will I ever experience loss of children."

⁹ But these two things will come to you

in a moment in one day:

the loss of children and widowhood;

in full force they will come on you,

despite your sorceries

and your many incantations and amulets.

¹⁰ You have trusted in your wickedness;

you have said, "No one sees me";

your wisdom and your knowledge lead you astray,

but you say in your heart,

"I exist, and there is no one else like me."

¹¹ Disaster will overcome you;

you will not be able to drive it away with your incantations.

Destruction will fall on you;

you will not be able to ward it off.

Calamity will strike you suddenly,

before you know it.

¹² Persist in casting your spells

and your many sorceries

which you have faithfully recited since your childhood;

perhaps you will profit from them,

perhaps you will cause trembling.

¹³ You are tired out from so much counsel;

let those men stand up and save you—

those who chart the heavens and prophesy by the stars,

those who declare the new moons—

let them save you from what will happen to you.

¹⁴ See, they will become like stubble.

The fire will burn them up.

They will not save themselves

from the hand of the flame.

There are no coals to warm them

and no fire for them to sit by!

¹⁵ This is what they have become to you—

those with whom you have worked,

and you have bought and sold with them since your youth—

they wandered about each one in his own direction;

there is no one who can rescue you."

Chapter 48

¹ Hear this, house of Jacob,

who are called by the name Israel

and have come from the waters of Judah;

you who swear by the name of Yahweh

and invoke the God of Israel,

but not sincerely nor in a righteous manner.

² For they call themselves people of the holy city

and trust in the God of Israel.

Yahweh of hosts is his name.

³ "I have declared the things from long ago;

they came out from my mouth, and I made them known;

then suddenly I did them, and they came to pass.

⁴ Because I knew that you were obstinate,

your neck muscles tight as iron,

and your forehead like bronze,

⁵ therefore I declared these things to you beforehand;

before they happened I informed you,

so you could not say,

'My idol has done them,'

or 'My carved figure and my cast metal figure has ordained these things.'

⁶ You heard about these things; look at all this evidence;

and you, will you not admit what I said is true?

From now on, I am showing you new things,

hidden things that you have not known.

⁷ Now, and not from previously, they come into being,

and before today you have not heard about them,

so you will not be able to say,

'Yes, I knew about them.'

⁸ You never heard; you did not know;

these things were not unfolded to your ears beforehand.

For I knew that you have been very deceitful,

and that you have been a rebel from birth.

⁹ For the sake of my name I will defer my anger,

and for my honor I will hold back from destroying you.

¹⁰ Look, I refined you, but not as silver;

I have purified you in the furnace of affliction.

¹¹ For my own sake, for my own sake I will act;

for how can I allow my name to be profaned?

I will not give my glory to anyone else.

¹² Listen to me, Jacob,

and Israel, whom I called:

I am he;

I am the first, I also am the last.

¹³ Yes, my hand laid the foundation of the earth,

and my right hand spread out the heavens;

when I call to them,

they stand up together.

¹⁴ Assemble yourselves, all of you, and listen!

Who among you has announced these things?

Yahweh's ally will accomplish his purpose against Babylon.

He will carry out Yahweh's will against the Chaldeans.

¹⁵ I, I have spoken,

yes, I have summoned him,

I have brought him,

and he will succeed.

¹⁶ Come near to me, listen to this:

From the beginning I have not spoken in secret; when it happens, I am there."

Now the Lord Yahweh has sent me, and his Spirit.

¹⁷ This is what Yahweh,

your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel says,

"I am Yahweh your God,

who teaches you how to profit,

who leads you by the way that you should go.

¹⁸ If only you had obeyed my commandments!

Then your peace and prosperity would have flowed like a river,

and your righteousness like the waves of the sea.

¹⁹ Your descendants would have been as numerous as the sand,

and the offspring from your womb as numerous as the grains of sand;

their name would not have been cut off

nor blotted out from before me.

²⁰ Come out from Babylon!

Flee from the Chaldeans!

With the sound of a ringing cry announce it!

Make this known,

make it go out to the ends of the earth!

Say, 'Yahweh has redeemed his servant Jacob.'

²¹ They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts;

he made the water to flow out of the rock for them;

he split open the rock,

and the waters gushed out.

²² There is no peace for the wicked—says Yahweh."

Chapter 49

¹ Listen to me, you coastlands!

Now pay attention, you distant peoples.

Yahweh has called me from birth by name,

when my mother brought me into the world.

² He has made my mouth like a sharp sword;

he hid me in the shadow of his hand;

he has made me into a polished arrow;

in his quiver he has hidden me.

³ He said to me, "You are my servant,

Israel, through whom I show my glory."

⁴ But I replied, "Though I thought I have labored in vain,

I have spent my energy for nothing,

yet my justice is with Yahweh,

and my reward is with my God."

⁵ Now Yahweh has spoken—

he who formed me from birth to be his servant,

to restore Jacob again to himself,

so that Israel would be gathered to him,

for I am honored in the eyes of Yahweh,

and my God has become my strength—

⁶ and he says, "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant

to reestablish the tribes of Jacob,

and to restore the survivors of Israel.

I will make you a light to the Gentiles,

that you may be my salvation to the ends of the earth."

⁷ This is what Yahweh says,

the Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One,

to the one whose life is despised, hated by the nations,

and a slave of rulers,

"Kings will see you and arise,

and princes will see you and bow down,

because of Yahweh who is faithful,

even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."

⁸ This is what Yahweh says,

"At a time I decide to show my favor I will answer you,

and in a day of salvation I will help you;

I will protect you,

and give you as a covenant for the people,

to rebuild the land,

to reassign the desolate inheritance.

⁹ You will say to the prisoners, 'Come out;'

to those in dark dungeons, 'Show yourselves.'

They will graze along the roads,

and on all the bare slopes will be their pasture.

¹⁰ They will not be hungry or thirsty;

nor will the heat or sun beat on them,

for he who has mercy on them will lead them;

he will guide them to springs of water.

¹¹ Then I will make all my mountains into a road,

and make my highways level."

¹² Look, these will come from far away,

some from the north and the west;

and others from the land of Sinim.

¹³ Sing, heavens, and be joyful,

earth; break into joyful shouting, you mountains!

For Yahweh comforts his people,

and will have compassion on his afflicted.

¹⁴ But Zion said, "Yahweh has abandoned me,

and the Lord has forgotten me."

¹⁵ "Can a woman forget her baby, nursing at her breast,

so she does not have compassion on the son she has borne?

Yes, they may forget,

but I will not forget you.

¹⁶ Look, I have inscribed your name on my palms;

your walls are continually before me.

¹⁷ Your children are hurrying back,

while those who destroyed you and made you desolate are going away.

¹⁸ Look around and see,

they are all gathering and coming to you.

As surely as I live—this is Yahweh's declaration—

you will surely wear them like jewelry,

and you will put them on like a bride.

¹⁹ Though you were a waste and desolate,

a land that was in ruins,

now you will be too small for the inhabitants,

and those who devoured you will be far away.

²⁰ The children born during the time of your bereavement

will say in your hearing,

'The place is too cramped for us,

make room for us, so we may live here.'

²¹ Then you will say in your heart,

'Who has borne these children for me?

I was bereaved and barren,

exiled and divorced.

Who has raised these children?

Look, I was left all alone;

where did these come from?'"

²² This is what the Lord Yahweh says,

"Look, I will raise my hand to the nations;

I will raise my signal flag to the peoples.

They will bring your sons in their bosoms

and carry your daughters on their shoulders.

²³ Kings will be your foster fathers,

and their queens your nursemaids;

they will bow down to you with their faces to the earth

and lick the dust of your feet;

and you will know that I am Yahweh;

those who wait for me will not be put to shame."

²⁴ Can the booty be taken from the warrior,

or captives be rescued from the ruthless? ¹

²⁵ But this is what Yahweh says,

"Yes, the captives will be taken away from the warrior,

and booty will be rescued from the ruthless;

for I will oppose your adversary

and save your children.

²⁶ I will feed your oppressors with their own flesh;

and they will get drunk on their own blood, as if it were wine.

Then all mankind will know

that I, Yahweh, am your Savior and your Redeemer,

the Mighty One of Jacob."

¹Instead of from the ruthless , the copies of the ancient Hebrew text have from the righteous , but most modern translations correct it to from the ruthless .

Chapter 50

¹ This is what Yahweh says,

"Where is the certificate of divorce

with which I divorced your mother?

To which of my creditors did I sell you?

Look, you were sold because of your iniquities,

and because of your rebellion your mother was sent away.

² Why did I come but there was no one there?

Why did I call but no one answered?

Was my hand too short to ransom you?

Was there no power in me to rescue you?

Look, at my rebuke I dry up the sea;

I make the rivers a desert;

their fish die for lack of water and rot.

³ I clothe the sky with darkness;

I cover it with sackcloth."

⁴ The Lord Yahweh has given me a tongue as one of those who are taught,

so that I speak a sustaining word to the weary one;

he awakens my ear to hear like those who are taught.

⁵ The Lord Yahweh has opened my ear,

and I was not rebellious,

nor did I turn away backward.

⁶ I gave my back to those who beat me,

and my cheeks to those who plucked out my beard;

I did not hide my face

from acts of shame and spitting.

⁷ For the Lord Yahweh will help me;

therefore I am not disgraced;

so I have made my face like flint,

for I know that I will not be put to shame.

⁸ He who will justify me is close by.

Who will oppose me?

Let us stand and confront one another.

Who is my accuser?

Let him come near to me.

⁹ See, the Lord Yahweh will help me.

Who will declare me guilty?

See, they will all wear out like a garment;

the moth will eat them up.

¹⁰ Who among you fears Yahweh?

Who obeys the voice of his servant?

Who walks in deep darkness

without light?

He should trust in the name of Yahweh

and lean on his God.

¹¹ Look, all you who light fires,

who equip yourselves with torches:

walk in the light of your fire

and in the flames that you have ignited.

This is what you have received from me:

You will lie down in a place of pain.

Chapter 51

¹ Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,

you who seek Yahweh:

look at the rock from which you were chiseled

and to the quarry from which you were cut.

² Look at Abraham, your father,

and to Sarah, who bore you;

for when he was a lone individual,

I called him. I blessed him and made him many.

³ Yes, Yahweh will comfort Zion;

he will comfort all her waste places;

her wilderness he made like Eden,

and her desert plains beside the Jordan River valley like the garden of Yahweh;

joy and gladness will be found in her,

thanksgiving, and the sound of singing.

⁴ "Be attentive to me, my people;

and listen to me, my people!

For a law will go out from me,

and I will make my justice to be a light for the nations.

⁵ My righteousness is near;

my salvation will go out,

and my arm will judge the nations;

the coastlands will wait for me;

for my arm they will eagerly wait.

⁶ Lift up your eyes to the sky,

and look at the earth beneath,

for the heavens will vanish away like smoke,

the earth will wear out like a garment,

and its inhabitants will die like flies.

But my salvation will continue forever,

and my righteousness will never stop working.

⁷ Listen to me, you who know what is right,

you people who have my law in your heart:

Do not fear the scorn of men,

nor be dismayed by their abuse.

⁸ For the moth will eat them up like a garment,

and the worm will eat them like wool;

but my righteousness will be forever,

and my salvation to all generations."

⁹ Awake, awake, clothe yourself with strength,

arm of Yahweh.

Awake as in the days of old,

the generations of ancient times.

Is it not you who crushed Rahab,

you who pierced the sea monster?

¹⁰ Did you not dry up the sea,

the waters of the great deep,

and make the depths of the sea into a way

for the redeemed to pass through?

¹¹ The ransomed of Yahweh will return

and come to Zion with cries of joy

and with gladness forever on their heads;

and gladness and joy will overtake them,

and sorrow and mourning will flee away.

¹² "I, I, am he who comforts you.

Why are you afraid of men, who will die,

the sons of mankind, who are made like grass?

¹³ Why have you forgotten Yahweh your Maker,

who stretched out the heavens

and laid the foundations of the earth?

You are in constant dread every day

because of the hot fury of the oppressor

when he decides to destroy.

Where is the fury of the oppressor?

¹⁴ The one who is bent down, Yahweh will hurry to release;

he will not die and go down to the pit, nor will he lack bread.

¹⁵ For I am Yahweh your God,

who churns up the sea so that its waves roar—

Yahweh of hosts is his name.

¹⁶ I have placed my words in your mouth,

and I have covered you in the shadow of my hand,

that I may plant the heavens,

lay the foundations of the earth,

and say to Zion, 'You are my people.'"

¹⁷ Awake, awake,

stand up, Jerusalem,

you who have drunk out of the hand of Yahweh

from the bowl of his anger;

you who have drunk out of the bowl,

down to the dregs from the cup of staggering.

¹⁸ There is no one among all the sons she has born

to guide her;

there is no one among all the sons that she has raised

to take her by the hand.

¹⁹ These two troubles happened to you—

who will grieve with you?—

desolation and destruction, and the famine and the sword.

Who will comfort you? ¹

²⁰ Your sons have fainted;

they lie at every street corner,

like an antelope in a net;

they are filled with the anger of Yahweh,

the rebuke of your God.

²¹ But now hear this, you oppressed one

and drunken one, but not drunk with wine:

²² Your Lord Yahweh, your God,

who pleads the cause of his people, says this,

"See, I have taken the cup of staggering from your hand—

the bowl, which is the cup of my anger—

so that you will not drink it again.

²³ I will put it into the hand of your tormentors,

those who have said to you,

'Lie down, that we may walk over you';

you made your back like the ground

and like the street for them to walk on."

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew text and some modern translations have How will I comfort you? , most modern translations correct this passage to Who will comfort you?

Chapter 52

¹ Awake, awake,

put on your strength, Zion;

put on your beautiful garments,

Jerusalem, holy city;

for never again will the uncircumcised

or the unclean enter you.

² Shake yourself off from the dust;

arise and sit, Jerusalem;

take off the chain from your neck,

captive, daughter of Zion.

³ For this is what Yahweh says,

"You were sold for nothing,

and you will be redeemed without money."

⁴ For this is what the Lord Yahweh says,

"In the beginning my people went down to live temporarily in Egypt;

and Assyria has oppressed them for no good reason.

⁵ Now what do I have here—this is Yahweh's declaration—

seeing that my people are taken away for nothing?

Those who rule over them mock—this is Yahweh's declaration—

and my name is blasphemed continually

all day long. ¹

⁶ Therefore my people will know my name;

they will know in that day that I am the one who says,

"Yes, it is I!"

⁷ How beautiful on the mountains

are the feet of the messenger who brings good news,

who announces peace,

who bears good tidings,

who announces salvation,

who says to Zion,

"Your God reigns!"

⁸ Listen, your watchmen raise their voices,

together they shout for joy,

for they will see, every eye of theirs,

Yahweh's return to Zion.

⁹ Break out into joyful singing together,

you ruins of Jerusalem;

for Yahweh has comforted his people;

he has redeemed Jerusalem.

¹⁰ Yahweh has bared his holy arm

in the sight of all the nations;

all the earth will see

the salvation of our God.

¹¹ Leave, leave, go out from there;

touch nothing unclean;

leave from her midst; purify yourselves,

you who carry the vessels of Yahweh.

¹² For you will not go out in a rush,

nor will you leave in a panic;

for Yahweh will go before you;

and the God of Israel will be your rearguard.

¹³ Look, my servant will act wisely;

he will be high and lifted up, and he will be exalted.

¹⁴ As many were horrified at you—

his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man,

and his form no longer looked like anything human.

¹⁵ Even so, my servant will sprinkle many nations

and kings will shut their mouths because of him.

For that which they had not been told, they will see,

and that which they had not heard, they will understand.

¹Instead of the ULB mock , which follows the Dead Sea Scrolls and the ancient Latin translation of the Hebrew copies; some ancient Hebrew copies have wail .

Chapter 53

¹ Who has believed our message,

and to whom has the arm of Yahweh been revealed?

² For he grew up before Yahweh like a sapling,

and like a sprout out of parched earth;

he had no remarkable appearance or splendor;

when we saw him, there was no beauty to attract us.

³ He was despised and rejected by people;

a man of sorrows, and one familiar with pain.

Like one from whom men hide their faces,

he was despised; and we considered him insignificant.

⁴ But surely he has borne our sicknesses

and carried our sorrows;

yet we thought he was being punished by God,

struck by God, and afflicted.

⁵ But he was pierced because of our rebellious deeds;

he was crushed because of our iniquities.

The punishment for our peace was on him,

and with his wounds we are healed.

⁶ We all like sheep have gone astray;

we have each turned to his own way,

and Yahweh has placed on him

the iniquity of us all.

⁷ He was oppressed; yet when he humbled himself,

he did not open his mouth;

as a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and as a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

⁸ By coercion and judgment he was taken away.

As for his generation, who thought that he was cut off from the land of the living,

or that he was punished

for the transgression of my people?

⁹ They placed his grave with the criminals,

with a rich man in his death,

although he had done no violence,

nor had there been any deceit in his mouth.

¹⁰ Yet it was Yahweh's will to crush him and make him ill.

When he makes his life an offering for sin,

he will see his offspring, he will prolong his days,

and Yahweh's purpose will be accomplished through him.

¹¹ After the suffering of his life,

he will see light and be satisfied by his knowledge. ¹

My righteous servant will justify many;

he will bear their iniquities. ²

¹² Therefore will I give him his portion among the multitudes,

and he will divide the plunder with the many,

because he exposed himself to death

and was numbered with the transgressors.

He bore the sin of many

and made intercession for the transgressors.

¹Instead of After the suffering of his life , some modern translations have From the suffering of his life he will see the result .

²Many modern translations supply light . Some modern translations have By his knowledge, my righteous servant will justify many .

Chapter 54

¹ "Sing, you barren woman,

you who have not given birth;

break into joyful singing and cry aloud,

you who have never been in birth labor.

For the children of the desolate one

are more than the children of the married woman,"

says Yahweh.

² "Make your tent larger

and spread your tent curtains farther out,

unsparingly;

lengthen your ropes

and strengthen your stakes.

³ For you will spread out to the right hand and to the left,

and your descendants will conquer nations

and resettle desolate cities.

⁴ Do not fear for you will not be ashamed,

nor be discouraged for you will not be disgraced;

you will forget the shame of your youth

and you will remember no more the disgrace of your widowhood.

⁵ For your Maker is your husband;

Yahweh of hosts is his name.

The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;

he is called the God of the whole earth.

⁶ For Yahweh has called you back

as a wife abandoned and grieved in spirit,

like a woman married young and rejected,"

says your God.

⁷ "For a short time I abandoned you,

but with great compassion I will gather you.

⁸ In a flood of anger

I hid my face from you for a moment;

but with everlasting covenant faithfulness

I will have mercy on you—

says Yahweh, the one who rescues you.

⁹ For this is like the waters of Noah to me:

as I swore that the waters of Noah would never again pass over the earth,

so have I sworn

that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you.

¹⁰ Though the mountains may fall

and the hills be shaken,

yet my steadfast love will not turn away from you,

nor will my covenant of peace be shaken—

says Yahweh, who has mercy on you.

¹¹ Afflicted one, storm-driven and uncomforted one,

look, I will set your pavement in turquoise,

and lay your foundations with sapphires.

¹² I will make your pinnacles of rubies

and your gates of sparkling stones,

and your outer wall of beautiful stones.

¹³ Then all your children will be taught by Yahweh;

and the peace of your children will be great.

¹⁴ In righteousness you will be established,

and you will be far from oppression,

for you will not fear;

and you will be far from terror,

for it will not come near to you.

¹⁵ Look, if anyone stirs up trouble, it will not be from me;

anyone who stirs up trouble with you will fall in defeat.

¹⁶ See, I have created the craftsman,

who blows the burning coals

and forges weapons as his work,

and I have created the destroyer to destroy.

¹⁷ No weapon that is formed against you will succeed;

and you will condemn everyone who accuses you.

This is the heritage of the servants of Yahweh,

and their vindication from me—

this is Yahweh's declaration."

Chapter 55

¹ "Hey! Everyone who is thirsty,

come to the water,

and you who have no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without cost.

² Why do you weigh out silver for what is not bread,

and why do you labor for what does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to me and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in fatness.

³ Turn your ears and come to me!

Listen, that you may live!

I will make an everlasting covenant with you—

my reliable, faithful love that I promised to David.

⁴ Look, I have placed him as a witness to the nations,

as a leader and commander to the peoples.

⁵ Look, you will call to a nation that you did not know;

and a nation that did not know you will run to you

because of Yahweh your God,

the Holy One of Israel,

who has glorified you."

⁶ Seek Yahweh while he may be found;

call on him while he is nearby.

⁷ Let the wicked leave his path,

and the man of sin his thoughts.

Let him return to Yahweh, and he will pity him,

and to our God, who will abundantly forgive him.

⁸ "For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

nor are your ways my ways—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

⁹ for as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

¹⁰ For as the rain and snow

come down from heaven

and do not return there

unless they saturate the earth

and make it produce and sprout

and give seed to the farmer who sows and bread to the eater,

¹¹ so also my word will be that goes from my mouth—

it will not return to me empty,

but it will achieve the purpose

for which I sent it.

¹² For you will go out in joy

and be led along peacefully;

the mountains and the hills

will break out in joyful shouts before you,

and all the trees of the fields

will clap their hands.

¹³ Instead of the thornbushes, the cypress will grow;

and instead of the brier, the myrtle tree will grow,

and it will be for Yahweh, for his name,

as an everlasting sign

that will not be cut off."

Chapter 56

¹ This is what Yahweh says,

"Observe what is right, do what is just;

for my salvation is near,

and my righteousness is about to be revealed.

² Blessed is the man that does this,

and who holds it tightly.

He observes the Sabbath, not defiling it,

and keeps his hand from doing any evil."

³ Let no foreigner who has become a follower of Yahweh say,

"Yahweh will certainly exclude me from his people."

The eunuch should not say,

"See, I am a dry tree."

⁴ For this is what Yahweh says,

"To the eunuchs who observe my Sabbaths

and choose what pleases me,

and hold fast my covenant,

⁵ to them I will set up in my house and within my walls

a monument

that is better than having sons and of daughters.

I will give them an everlasting monument

that will never be cut off.

⁶ Also foreigners who join themselves to Yahweh—

to serve him,

and who love the name of Yahweh,

to be his servants,

every one who observes the Sabbath and who keeps from defiling it,

and who holds fast my covenant—

⁷ I will bring to my holy mountain

and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

their burnt offerings and their sacrifices

will be accepted on my altar.

For my house will be called

a house of prayer for all nations,

⁸ this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh,

who gathers the outcasts of Israel—

I will still gather others

in addition to them."

⁹ All you wild beasts of the field,

come and devour, all you beasts in the forest!

¹⁰ All their watchmen are blind,

they do not understand.

They are all silent dogs

who cannot bark.

They dream,

and lying down they love to sleep.

¹¹ The dogs have big appetites;

they can never get enough;

they are shepherds without discernment;

they have all turned to their own way,

each one covetous for unjust gain.

¹² "Come," they say, "let us get wine

and drink much strong drink.

Tomorrow will be like today,

a day great beyond measure."

Chapter 57

¹ The righteous perish,

but no one considers it,

and the people of covenant faithfulness are gathered away,

but no one understands

that the righteous is gathered

away from the evil.

² He enters into peace;

they rest in their beds,

those who walk in their uprightness.

³ But come here, you sons of the sorceress,

children of the adulterer and the woman who has prostituted herself.

⁴ Whom are you merrily mocking?

Against whom are you opening the mouth

and sticking out the tongue?

Are you not children of rebellion,

children of deceit?

⁵ You heat yourselves up sleeping together under the oaks,

under every green tree,

you who kill your children in the dry riverbeds,

under the rocky overhangs.

⁶ Among the smooth things of the river valley are the things that have been assigned to you.

They are the object of your devotion.

You pour out your drink offering to them

and raise up a grain offering.

Concerning these things should I repent?

⁷ You prepared your bed on a high mountain;

you also went up there to offer sacrifices.

⁸ Behind the door and the doorposts

you set up your symbols;

you deserted me, made yourselves naked, and went up;

you made your bed wide.

You made a covenant with them; you loved their beds;

you saw their private parts.

⁹ You went to Molech with oil

and increased your perfumes. ¹

You send your ambassadors far away;

you went down to Sheol.

¹⁰ You were tired from your long journey,

but you never said, "It is hopeless."

You found life in your hand;

therefore you did not weaken.

¹¹ "Whom are you worried about? Whom do you fear?

Is that the reason that you have acted deceitfully,

so that you do not remember me

or think about me?

Is it because I was silent for so long

that you are no longer afraid of me?"

¹² I will proclaim all your righteous acts and tell all that you have done,

but they will not help you.

¹³ When you cry out,

let your collection of idols rescue you.

The wind will carry them all away,

a breath will carry them all away.

But he who takes refuge in me

will inherit the land

and will possess my holy mountain.

¹⁴ He will say,

'Build, build! Clear a way!

Remove all the stumbling blocks from the path of my people!'"

¹⁵ For this is what the high and elevated One says,

who lives eternally, whose name is holy,

"I live in the exalted and holy place,

with him also that is of a crushed and humble spirit,

to revive the spirit of the humble ones,

and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

¹⁶ For I will not accuse forever,

nor will I be angry forever,

for then man's spirit would faint before me,

the lives that I have made.

¹⁷ Because of the sin of his violent gain,

I was angry, and I punished him; I hid my face and was angry,

but he went backward in the way of his heart.

¹⁸ I have seen his ways, but I will heal him.

I will lead him and comfort and console those who mourn for him,

¹⁹ and I create the fruit of the lips.

Peace, peace, to those who are far off and to those who are near—

says Yahweh—I will heal them.

²⁰ But the wicked are like the tossing sea,

which cannot rest,

and its waters churn up mire and mud.

²¹ There is no peace for the wicked one—says God."

¹Instead of to Molech , some scholars emend the Hebrew to read to the king .

Chapter 58

¹ "Cry loudly; do not hold back.

Lift up your voice like a ram's horn.

Confront my people with their rebellion,

and the house of Jacob with their sins.

² Yet they seek me daily

and delight in the knowledge of my ways,

like a nation that practiced righteousness

and did not abandon the law of their God.

They ask me for righteous judgments;

they take pleasure in the thought of God coming near.

³ 'Why have we fasted,' they say,

'but you do not see it?

Why have we humbled ourselves,

but you do not notice?'

Look, on the day of your fast you find your own pleasure

and oppress all your laborers.

⁴ Look, you fast in quarreling and strife,

and to hit with your fist of wickedness;

you do not fast today

to make your voice heard above.

⁵ Is this really the kind of fast that I would want:

A day for anybody to humble himself,

for him to bow down his head like a reed,

and to spread sackcloth and ashes under himself?

Do you really call this a fast,

a day that pleases Yahweh?

⁶ Is not this the fast that I choose:

To release wicked bonds,

to undo the ropes of the yoke,

to set the crushed ones free,

and to break every yoke?

⁷ Is it not to break your bread with the hungry,

to bring the poor and homeless into your house,

to cloth the naked when you see them,

and not to hide yourself from your own relatives?

⁸ Then your light would be broken open like the sunrise,

and your healing would quickly sprout up;

your righteousness would go before you,

and the glory of Yahweh would be your rearguard.

⁹ Then you would call, and Yahweh would answer;

you would cry out for help, and he would say, 'Here I am.'

If you take away from among yourselves the yoke,

the accusing finger, and the speech of wickedness,

¹⁰ if you yourselves provide for the hungry

and satisfy the need of the distressed;

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your darkness will be like the noonday.

¹¹ Then Yahweh will lead you continually

and satisfy you in regions where there is no water,

and he will strengthen your bones.

You will be like a watered garden,

and like a spring of water, whose waters never fail.

¹² Some of you will rebuild the ancient ruins;

you will raise up the ruins of many generations;

you will be called 'The repairer of the wall,'

'The restorer of streets to live on.'

¹³ Suppose that you turn back your feet from traveling on the Sabbath day,

and from doing your own pleasure on my holy day.

Suppose that you call the Sabbath a delight,

and that you call the matters of Yahweh holy and honored.

Suppose that you honor the Sabbath by leaving your own business,

and by not finding your own pleasure and by not speaking your own words.

¹⁴ Then you will find delight in Yahweh;

and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth;

I will feed you from the inheritance of Jacob your father—

for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken."

Chapter 59

¹ Look, Yahweh's hand is not so short that it cannot save;

nor his ear so dull, that it cannot hear.

² Your iniquities, however,

have separated you from your God,

and your sins have made him hide his face from you

and from hearing you.

³ For your hands are stained with blood

and your fingers with iniquity.

Your lips speak lies

and your tongue speaks maliciously.

⁴ No one calls in righteousness,

and none pleads his case in truth.

They trust in empty words, and tell lies;

they conceive trouble and give birth to iniquity.

⁵ They hatch eggs of an adder

and weave a spider's web.

Whoever eats of their eggs dies,

and if an egg is crushed, it hatches into a viper.

⁶ Their webs cannot be used for garments,

nor can they cover themselves with their works.

Their works are works of sin,

and deeds of violence are in their hands.

⁷ Their feet run to evil,

and they run to pour out innocent blood.

Their thoughts are thoughts of sin;

violence and destruction are their roads.

⁸ The way of peace they do not know,

and there is no justice in their paths.

They have made crooked paths;

whoever travels these paths does not know peace.

⁹ Therefore justice is far from us,

nor does righteousness reach us.

We wait for light, but see darkness;

we look for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

¹⁰ We grope for the wall like the blind,

like those who cannot see.

We stumble at noonday as in the twilight;

among the strong we are like dead men.

¹¹ We growl like bears

and moan like doves;

we wait for justice, but there is none;

for rescue, but it is far from us.

¹² For our many transgressions are before you,

and our sins testify against us;

for our transgressions are with us,

and we know our iniquities.

¹³ We have rebelled, denying Yahweh

and turning away from following our God.

We have spoken extortion and turning aside,

conceived complaining from the heart and words of lying.

¹⁴ Justice is driven back,

and righteousness stands far off;

for truth stumbles in the public square,

and uprightness cannot come near.

¹⁵ Trustworthiness has gone away,

and he who turns away from evil makes himself prey.

Yahweh saw it and was displeased

that there was no justice.

¹⁶ He saw that there was no man,

and was appalled that there was no one to intervene.

Therefore his own arm brought salvation for him,

and his righteousness sustained him.

¹⁷ He put on righteousness as a breastplate

and a helmet of salvation upon his head.

He clothed himself with garments of vengeance

and wore zeal as a mantle.

¹⁸ He repaid them for their deeds,

wrath on his adversaries,

recompense to his enemies;

he repaid recompense to the islands.

¹⁹ So they will fear the name of Yahweh from the west,

and his glory from the sun's rising;

for he will come as a rushing stream,

driven by the breath of Yahweh.

²⁰ "A redeemer will come to Zion

and to those who turn from their rebellious deeds in Jacob—

this is Yahweh's declaration.

²¹ As for me, this is my covenant with them—says Yahweh—my spirit who is upon you, and my words which I have put in your mouth, will not leave your mouth, or go out of the mouth of your children, or go out of the mouths of your descendants—says Yahweh—from this time and forever."

Chapter 60

¹ Arise, shine; for your light has come,

and the glory of Yahweh has risen on you.

² Though darkness will cover the earth,

and thick darkness the nations;

yet Yahweh will arise upon you,

and his glory will be seen on you.

³ Nations will come to your light,

and kings to your bright light that is rising.

⁴ Look all around and see.

They all gather themselves together and come to you.

Your sons will come from far,

and your daughters will be carried in their arms.

⁵ Then you will look and be radiant,

and your heart will rejoice and overflow,

because the abundance of the sea will be poured out to you,

the wealth of the nations will come to you.

⁶ Camel caravans will cover you,

the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah;

all of them will come from Sheba;

they will bring gold and frankincense,

and will bring the good news of the praises of Yahweh.

⁷ All the flocks of Kedar will be gathered together to you,

the rams of Nebaioth will serve your needs;

they will be acceptable offerings on my altar;

and I will glorify my glorious house.

⁸ Who are these who fly along like a cloud,

and like the doves to their shelters?

⁹ The coastlands look for me,

and the ships of Tarshish lead,

to bring your sons from far,

their silver and their gold with them,

for the name of Yahweh your God,

and for the Holy One of Israel,

because he has honored you.

¹⁰ Sons of foreigners will rebuild your walls,

and their kings will serve you;

though in my wrath I punished you,

yet in my favor I will have compassion on you.

¹¹ Your gates also will remain open continually;

they will not be shut day or night,

so that the wealth of the nations may be brought,

with their kings being led.

¹² Indeed, nations and kingdoms that will not serve you will perish;

those nations will be completely ruined.

¹³ The glory of Lebanon will come to you,

the cypress tree, the fir, and the cypress box tree together,

to beautify my sanctuary;

and I will glorify the place of my feet.

¹⁴ They will come to you to bow down, the sons of those who humbled you;

those who showed contempt for you will bow at the soles of your feet;

they will call you The City of Yahweh,

Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

¹⁵ Instead of you remaining abandoned and hated,

with no one passing through you,

I will make you a thing of pride forever,

a joy from generation to generation.

¹⁶ You will also drink the milk of the nations,

and will nurse at the breast of kings;

you will know that I, Yahweh, am your Savior and your Redeemer,

the Mighty One of Jacob.

¹⁷ Instead of bronze I will bring gold,

instead of iron I will bring silver;

instead of wood,

bronze, and instead of stones, iron.

I will appoint peace as your governors,

and justice your rulers.

¹⁸ Violence will no longer be heard in your land,

neither devastation nor crushing within your borders;

but you will call your walls Salvation,

and your gates Praise.

¹⁹ The sun will no longer be your light by day,

nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you;

but Yahweh will be your everlasting light,

and your God your glory.

²⁰ Your sun will no longer set,

nor will your moon withdraw and disappear;

for Yahweh will be your everlasting light,

and the days of your mourning will be ended.

²¹ All your people will be righteous;

they will take possession of the land for all time,

the branch of my planting,

the work of my hands,

that I may be glorified.

²² The least of you will become a thousand,

and the smallest one a mighty nation;

I, Yahweh, will swiftly accomplish these things

when the time comes.

Chapter 61

¹ The Spirit of the Lord Yahweh is on me,

because Yahweh has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the afflicted.

He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison for those who are bound.

² He has sent me to proclaim the year of Yahweh's favor,

the day of vengeance of our God,

and to comfort all who mourn.

³ He has sent me—to give to those who mourn in Zion—

to give them a turban instead of ashes,

oil of joy

instead of mourning,

a mantle of praise

in place of a spirit of dullness,

to call them oaks of righteousness,

the planting of Yahweh,

that he may be glorified.

⁴ They will rebuild the ancient ruins;

they will restore the former desolations.

They will restore the ruined cities,

the desolations from many former generations.

⁵ Foreigners will stand and feed your flocks,

and sons of foreigners will be your farmers and vineyard workers.

⁶ You will be called the priests of Yahweh;

they will call you servants of our God.

You will eat the wealth of the nations,

and you will boast in their riches.

⁷ Instead of your shame

you will have double;

and instead of dishonor

they will rejoice over their share.

So they will have a double share of their land;

everlasting joy will be theirs.

⁸ For I, Yahweh, love justice,

and I hate robbery and violent injustice.

I will faithfully repay them,

and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

⁹ Their descendants will be known among the nations,

and their offspring among the peoples.

All who see them will acknowledge them,

that they are the people whom Yahweh has blessed.

¹⁰ I will greatly rejoice in Yahweh;

in my God I will be very glad.

For he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has clothed me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom adorns himself with a turban,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

¹¹ For as the earth produces its sprouting plants,

and as the garden makes its planting grow,

so the Lord Yahweh will cause righteousness

and praise to sprout up in front of all the nations.

Chapter 62

¹ For Zion's sake I will not be silent,

and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet,

until her righteousness proceeds brightly,

and her salvation as a burning torch.

² The nations will see your righteousness,

and all kings your glory.

You will be called by a new name

that Yahweh will choose.

³ You will also be a crown of beauty in the hand of Yahweh,

and a turban of kingship in the hand of your God.

⁴ It will no more be said of you, "Abandoned";

nor of your land any longer will it be said, "Desolate."

Indeed, you will be called "My delight is in her,"

and your land "Married,"

for Yahweh delights in you,

and your land will be married.

⁵ Truly, as a young man marries a young woman,

so your sons will marry you,

and as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride,

your God will rejoice over you.

⁶ I have put watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;

they are not silent day or night.

You who keep reminding Yahweh,

do not pause.

⁷ Do not allow him to rest until he reestablishes Jerusalem

and makes it a praise on earth.

⁸ Yahweh has sworn by his right hand

and by the arm of his strength,

"Surely I will no longer give your grain

as food for your enemies.

Foreigners will not drink your new wine,

for which you have worked.

⁹ For those who harvest the grain will eat it

and praise Yahweh,

and those who gather the grapes will drink the wine

in the courts of my holy sanctuary."

¹⁰ Come through, come through the gates!

Prepare the way for the people!

Build it, build the highway!

Gather out the stones!

Raise up a signal flag for the nations!

¹¹ Look, Yahweh announces

to the ends of the earth,

"Say to the daughter of Zion:

Look, your salvation is coming!

See, his reward is with him,

and his recompense is going before him."

¹² They will call you, "The holy people;

the redeemed of Yahweh,"

and you will be called "Sought after;

a city not abandoned."

Chapter 63

¹ Who is this who comes from Edom,

wearing red garments, from Bozrah?

Who is this, splendid in his clothing,

marching in the greatness of his strength?

"It is I, speaking in righteousness,

and mighty to save."

² Why are your clothes red,

and why do your garments look like you have been treading grapes in a winepress?

³ "I have trodden grapes in the winepress alone,

and no one from the nations joined me.

I trod them in my anger

and trampled them in my fury.

Their blood is spattered on my clothes

and stained all my clothes.

⁴ For I looked forward to the day of vengeance,

and the year for my redemption had arrived.

⁵ I looked, and there was no one to help.

I was appalled that there was none to help,

but my own arm brought victory for me,

and my strong anger drove me on.

⁶ I trampled down the peoples in my anger

and made them drunk in my wrath,

and I poured out their blood on the earth."

⁷ I will tell of the acts of Yahweh's covenant faithfulness,

the praises of Yahweh.

I will tell of all that Yahweh has done for us,

and of his great goodness to the house of Israel.

This compassion he has shown us because of his mercy,

and with many deeds of covenant faithfulness.

⁸ For he said, "For certain they are my people,

children who are not disloyal."

He became their Savior.

⁹ Through all their suffering, he suffered too,

and the angel from his presence saved them.

In his love and mercy he saved them,

and he lifted them up and carried them

through all the ancient times.

¹⁰ But they rebelled

and grieved his holy Spirit.

So he became their enemy

and fought against them.

¹¹ His people thought about the ancient times of Moses.

They said, "Where is God, who brought them up out of the sea

with the shepherds of his flock?

Where is God,

who put his holy Spirit among them?

¹² Where is God,

who made his glorious power go with the right hand of Moses,

and divided the water before them,

to make an everlasting name for himself?

¹³ Where is God, who led them through the deep water?

Like a horse running in the wilderness,

they did not stumble.

¹⁴ As the cattle that go down into the valley,

the Spirit of Yahweh gave them rest.

So you led your people,

to make yourself a glorious name.

¹⁵ Look down from heaven and take notice

from your holy and glorious habitation.

Where are your zeal and your mighty acts?

Your pity and your compassionate actions are kept from us.

¹⁶ For you are our Father,

though Abraham does not know us,

and Israel does not recognize us,

you, Yahweh, are our Father.

'Our Redeemer' has been your name from ancient times.

¹⁷ Yahweh, why do you make us wander from your ways

and harden our hearts so we do not fear you?

Return for your servants' sake,

the tribes of your inheritance.

¹⁸ Your holy people possessed your sanctuary for a short time,

but then our enemies trampled it.

¹⁹ We have become like those over whom you never ruled,

like those who were never called by your name."

Chapter 64

¹ "Oh, if you had split open the heavens and come down!

The mountains would have shaken at your presence,

² as when fire kindles the brushwood,

or the fire makes water boil.

Oh, that your name would be known by your adversaries,

that the nations would tremble at your presence!

³ Previously, when you did awesome things that we had not expected,

you came down, and the mountains trembled at your presence.

⁴ Since ancient times no one has heard or listened,

no eye has seen any God besides you,

who takes action for the one who waits for him.

⁵ You come to help those who rejoice in doing what is right,

those who remember you in your ways.

You became angry with us because we sinned for a long time.

How will we be saved?

⁶ For we have all become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous deeds are like a menstrual rag.

We have all withered like leaves;

our iniquities, like the wind, carry us away.

⁷ There are none who calls on your name,

who makes an effort to take hold of you.

For you have hidden your face from us

and made us waste away in the hand of our iniquities.

⁸ Yet, Yahweh, you are our Father;

we are the clay. You are our potter;

and we all are the work of your hand.

⁹ Be not too angry, Yahweh,

nor remember our iniquity against us forever.

Please look at us all,

your people.

¹⁰ Your holy cities have become a wilderness;

Zion has become a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.

¹¹ Our holy and beautiful temple, where our fathers praised you,

has been destroyed by fire, and all that was so dear is in ruins.

¹² How can you still hold back, Yahweh?

How can you remain silent and continue to humiliate us?"

Chapter 65

¹ "I was ready to be sought out by those who did not ask;

I was ready to be found by those who did not seek.

I said, 'Here I am! Here I am!'

to a nation that did not call on my name.

² I have spread out my hands all day

to a stubborn people,

who walk in a way that is not good,

who have walked after their own thoughts and plans!

³ They are a people who continually provoke me,

offering sacrifices in gardens,

and burning incense on brick tiles.

⁴ They sit among the graves

and keep watch all night,

and eat pork with the broth of foul meat in their dishes.

⁵ They say, 'Stand away, do not come near to me,

for I am holier than you.'

These things are smoke in my nose,

a fire that burns all day long.

⁶ Look, it is written before me:

I will not keep quiet, for I will pay them back;

I will repay them into their laps,

⁷ for their iniquities and the iniquities of their fathers together,"

says Yahweh.

"I will repay them for burning incense on the mountains

and for mocking me on the hills.

I will therefore measure out their past deeds

into their laps."

⁸ This is what Yahweh says,

"As when new wine is found in a cluster of grapes,

when one says, 'Do not ruin it,

for there is good in it,'

this is what I will do for my servants' sake:

I will not ruin them all.

⁹ I will bring descendants from Jacob,

and from Judah ones who will possess my mountains.

My chosen ones will possess the land,

and my servants will live there.

¹⁰ Sharon will become a pasture for the flocks,

and the Valley of Achor a resting place for herds,

for my people who seek me.

¹¹ But you who abandon Yahweh,

who forget my holy mountain,

who prepare a table for Fortune,

and fill wine glasses of mixed wine for Destiny.

¹² I will appoint you for the sword,

and you will all bow down to the slaughter,

because when I called, you did not answer;

when I spoke, you did not listen.

But you did what was evil in my sight

and chose to do what displeases me."

¹³ This is what the Lord Yahweh says,

"Look, my servants will eat,

but you will be hungry;

look, my servants will drink,

but you will be thirsty;

look, my servants will rejoice,

but you will be put to shame.

¹⁴ Look, my servants will shout with joy

because of gladness of heart,

but you will cry because of the pain of the heart,

and will wail because of the crushing of the spirit.

¹⁵ You will leave behind your name

as a curse for my chosen ones to speak;

I, the Lord Yahweh, will kill you;

I will call my servants by another name.

¹⁶ Whoever pronounces a blessing on the earth

will be blessed by me, the God of truth.

Whoever takes an oath on the earth

will swear by me, the God of truth,

because the former troubles will be forgotten,

for they will be hidden from my eyes.

¹⁷ For see, I am about to create

new heavens and a new earth;

and the former things will not be remembered

or be brought to mind.

¹⁸ But you will be glad and rejoice forever

in what I am about to create.

See, I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,

and her people as a source of gladness.

¹⁹ I will rejoice over Jerusalem

and be glad over my people;

the sounds of weeping and cries of distress

will no longer be heard in her.

²⁰ Never again will an infant live there

only a few days;

nor will an old man die before his time.

One who dies at one hundred years old

will be considered a young person.

Anyone who fails to reach the age of one hundred years old

will be considered cursed.

²¹ They will build houses and inhabit them,

and they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.

²² No longer will they build a house and another live in it;

they will not plant, and another eat;

for as the days of trees

will be the days of my people.

My chosen will fully outlive

the work of their hands.

²³ They will not labor in vain,

nor give birth to dismay.

For they are the children of those blessed by Yahweh,

and their descendants with them.

²⁴ Before they call, I will answer;

and while they are still speaking, I will hear.

²⁵ The wolf and the lamb will graze together,

and the lion will eat straw like the ox;

but dust will be the serpent's food.

They will no longer do evil or harm

on all my holy mountain,"

says Yahweh.

Chapter 66

¹ This is what Yahweh says,

"Heaven is my throne,

and the earth is my footstool.

Where then is the house you will build for me?

Where is the place where I may rest?

² My hand has made all these things;

that is how these things came to be—

this is Yahweh's declaration.

This is the man of whom I approve,

the broken and contrite in spirit,

and who trembles at my word.

³ He who slaughters an ox

also murders a man;

he who sacrifices a lamb

also breaks a dog's neck;

he who offers a grain offering

offers swine's blood;

he who offers a memorial of incense

also blesses wickedness.

They have chosen their own ways,

and they take pleasure in their abominations.

⁴ In the same way I will choose their own punishment;

I will bring on them what they fear,

because when I called, no one answered;

when I spoke, no one listened.

They did what was evil in my sight,

and chose to do what displeases me."

⁵ Hear the word of Yahweh,

you who tremble at his word,

"Your brothers who hate

and exclude you for my name's sake have said,

'May Yahweh be glorified,

then we will see your joy,'

but they will be put to shame.

⁶ A sound of battle tumult comes from the city,

a sound from the temple,

the sound of Yahweh

giving recompense to his enemies.

⁷ Before she goes into labor,

she gives birth;

before pain is upon her,

she gave birth to a son.

⁸ Who has heard of such a thing?

Who has seen such things?

Will a land be born in one day?

Can a nation be established in one moment?

Yet as soon as Zion goes into labor,

she gives birth to her children.

⁹ Do I bring a baby to the birth opening

and not permit the child to be born?—asks Yahweh.

Or do I bring a child to moment of delivery

and then hold it back?—asks your God."

¹⁰ Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her,

all you who love her;

rejoice with her,

all you who mourned over her!

¹¹ For you will nurse and be satisfied;

with her breasts you will be comforted;

for you will drink them to the full

and be delighted with the abundance of her glory.

¹² This is what Yahweh says,

"I am about to spread prosperity over her like a river,

and the riches of the nations like an overflowing stream.

You will nurse at her side, be carried in her arms,

and be dandled on her knees.

¹³ As a mother comforts her child,

so I will comfort you,

and you will be comforted in Jerusalem."

¹⁴ You will see this, and your heart will rejoice,

and your bones will sprout like the tender grass.

The hand of Yahweh will be made known to his servants,

but he will show his anger against his enemies.

¹⁵ For look, Yahweh is coming with fire,

and his chariots are coming like the windstorm

to bring the heat of his anger

and his rebuke with flames of fire.

¹⁶ For Yahweh executes judgment on mankind

by fire and with his sword.

Those killed by Yahweh will be many.

¹⁷ They consecrate themselves and make themselves pure, so they may enter the gardens, following the one in the middle of those who eat the flesh of pig and abominable things like mice. ¹ "They will come to an end—this is Yahweh's declaration.

¹⁸ For I know their deeds and their thoughts. The time is coming when I will gather all nations and languages. They will come and will see my glory. ² ¹⁹ I will set a sign among them. Then I will send survivors from them to the nations: To Tarshish, the Libyans and Lydians, ³ who draw the bow, to Tubal, Greece, ⁴ and to the distant coastlands that have not heard reports about me nor seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations.

²⁰ They will bring back all your brothers out of all the nations, as an offering to Yahweh. They will come on horses, and in chariots, in wagons, on mules, and on camels, to my holy mountain Jerusalem—says Yahweh. For the people of Israel will bring a grain offering in a clean vessel into the house of Yahweh. ²¹ Some of these I will even choose as priests and Levites—says Yahweh.

²² For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I will make will remain before me—this is Yahweh's declaration—so your descendants will remain, and your name will remain. ²³ From one month to the next, and from one Sabbath to the next, all people will come to bow down to me—says Yahweh.

²⁴ They will go out and see the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me, for the worms that eat them will not die, and the fire that consumes them will not be quenched; and it will be an abhorrence to all flesh."

¹Modern translations provide various interpretations for this difficult verse.

²Modern translations provide various interpretations for this difficult verse.

³Some modern English translations read, Tarshish, Put, and Lud .

⁴Some modern English translations read, Javan .

Jeremiah

Chapter 1

¹ These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. ² The word of Yahweh came to him in the days of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. ³ It also came in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, until the fifth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, when the people of Jerusalem were taken away as prisoners.

⁴ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

⁵ "Before I formed you in the womb, I chose you;

before you came out from the womb I set you apart;

I made you a prophet to the nations."

⁶ "Ah, Lord Yahweh!" I said, "I do not know how to speak, for I am too young."

⁷ But Yahweh said to me, "Do not say, 'I am too young.' You must go everywhere I send you, and you must say whatever I command you! ⁸ Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to rescue you—this is Yahweh's declaration."

⁹ Then Yahweh reached out with his hand, touched my mouth, and said to me, "Now, I have placed my word in your mouth. ¹⁰ I am appointing you today over nations and over kingdoms, to uproot and break down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and plant."

¹¹ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, "What do you see, Jeremiah?"

I said, "I see an almond branch."

¹² Yahweh said to me, "You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to carry it out."

¹³ The word of Yahweh came to me a second time, saying, "What do you see?"

I said, "I see a heated pot, whose surface is churning, tipping away from the north."

¹⁴ Yahweh said to me, "Disaster will be opened up out of the north on all who live in this land.

¹⁵ For I am calling all the tribes of the northern kingdoms—this is Yahweh's declaration.

They will come, and everyone will set his throne

at the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem,

against all the walls that surround it,

and against all the cities of Judah.

¹⁶ I will pronounce sentence against them

for all their evil in abandoning me,

in burning incense to other gods,

and in worshiping the works of their own hands.

¹⁷ Gird up your loins! Stand up and say to them whatever I command you. Do not be shattered before them, or I will shatter you before them! ¹⁸ Behold! Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land—against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land. ¹⁹ They will fight against you, but they will not defeat you, for I will be with you to rescue you—this is Yahweh's declaration."

Chapter 2

¹ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem. Say, 'Yahweh says this:

I have called to mind on your behalf

the covenant faithfulness of your youth,

your love at the time when we were engaged,

when you went after me in the wilderness,

the land that was not sown.

³ Israel was set apart to Yahweh,

the firstfruits of his harvest!

All who ate from the firstfruits were held guilty;

disaster came upon them—

this is Yahweh's declaration.'"

⁴ Hear the word of Yahweh, house of Jacob,

all you clans of the house of Israel.

⁵ Yahweh says this,

"What did your fathers find wrong with me,

that they went far from following me?

That they went after useless idols

and became useless themselves?

⁶ They did not say,

'Where is Yahweh,

who brought us up from the land of Egypt?

Where is Yahweh,

who led us to the wilderness,

into the land of the Arabah and pits,

in a land of drought and utter darkness,

a land through which no one passes and where no one lives?'

⁷ But I brought you to the land of Carmel,

to eat its fruit and other good things!

Yet when you came,

you defiled my land,

you made my inheritance an abomination!

⁸ The priest did not say

'Where is Yahweh?'

and the experts in the law did not care about me!

The shepherds transgressed against me.

The prophets prophesied for Baal

and walked after unprofitable things.

⁹ So I will still accuse you—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

and I will accuse your sons' sons.

¹⁰ For cross over to the coasts of Cyprus ¹ and look.

Send messengers out to Kedar and find out

and see if there has ever before been anything like this.

¹¹ Has a nation exchanged gods,

even though they were not gods?

But my people have exchanged their glory

for what cannot help them. ²

¹² Shudder, heavens, because of this

Be shocked and very desolate—

this is Yahweh's declaration.

¹³ For my people have committed two evils against me:

They have abandoned the springs of living waters,

and they have dug out cisterns for themselves,

broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

¹⁴ Is Israel a slave?

Was he born in his master's home?

So why has he become plunder?

¹⁵ Young lions roared against him.

They made a lot of noise

and made his land a horror.

His cities are destroyed

without any inhabitants.

¹⁶ Also, the people of Memphis and Tahpanhes

will shave your skull.

¹⁷ Did you not do this to yourselves

when you abandoned Yahweh your God,

while he was leading you along the way?

¹⁸ So now, why take the road to Egypt

and drink the waters of Shihor?

Why take the road to Assyria

and drink the waters of the Euphrates River?

¹⁹ Your wickedness rebukes you,

and your acts of apostasy punish you.

So think about it and understand

that it is wicked and bitter

when you abandon Yahweh your God,

and have no fear of me—

this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts.

²⁰ For in ancient days I broke your yoke;

I tore your fetters off you.

Still you said,

'I will not serve!'

On every high hill and beneath every leafy tree

you lay down as a prostitute.

²¹ I planted you as a choice vine,

completely from pure seed.

How then have you have changed yourself

into a corrupt, worthless vine?

²² For even if you clean yourself in the river

or wash with strong soap,

your iniquity is a stain before me—

this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh.

²³ How can you say,

'I am not defiled!

I have not walked after the Baals'?

Look at what you did in the valleys!

Consider what you have done—

you are a swift female camel

running here and there,

²⁴ a wild donkey accustomed to the wilderness,

in her heat sniffing the wind!

Who can restrain her lust?

None of the males need wear themselves out pursuing her;

in her month they will find her.

²⁵ You must restrain your feet from becoming bare

and your throat from being thirsty!

But you have said, 'It is hopeless!

No, I love strangers and go after them!'

²⁶ Like the shame of a thief when he is found,

so the house of Israel will be ashamed—

they, their kings, their princes, and their priests and prophets!

²⁷ These are the ones who say to the tree,

'You are my father,'

and to the stone, 'You gave birth to me.'

For their back faces me and not their faces.

Nevertheless, they say in the time of troubles,

'Arise and save us!'

²⁸ Yet where are the gods that you made for yourselves?

Let them arise if they wish to save you in your time of troubles,

for your idols equal your cities in number, Judah!

²⁹ So why do you accuse me of doing wrong?

All of you have sinned against me—

this is Yahweh's declaration.

³⁰ I have punished your people in vain.

They would not accept discipline.

Your sword has devoured your prophets

like a destructive lion!

³¹ You who belong to this generation! Pay attention to my word, the word of Yahweh!

Have I been a wilderness to Israel?

Or a land of deep darkness?

Why would my people say,

'Let us wander around, we will not go to you anymore'?

³² Will a virgin forget her jewelry,

a bride her sash?

Yet my people have forgotten me

for days without number!

³³ How well you make your way to look for love.

You have even taught your ways to wicked women.

³⁴ The blood that was the life of innocent, poor people

has been found on your clothes.

These people were not discovered

in acts of burglary.

³⁵ Yet you say,

'I am innocent;

surely his anger has turned away from me.'

But look! I will bring down judgment on you

because you say, 'I have not sinned.'

³⁶ Why do you treat so very lightly

this change in your ways?

You will also be disappointed by Egypt,

just as you were by Assyria.

³⁷ You will also go out from there dejected,

with your hands on your head,

for Yahweh has rejected the ones whom you trusted,

so you will not be helped by them."

¹Some modern English translations read, Kittim .

²Instead of their glory , some ancient copies have my glory .

Chapter 3

¹ "If a man divorces his wife and she goes from him

and becomes another man's wife,

will he return to her again?

Would that land not be greatly polluted?

You have lived as a prostitute who has many lovers;

and would you return to me?—

this is Yahweh's declaration.

² Lift up your eyes to the barren heights and look!

Is there any place where you have not had illicit sex?

By the roadsides you sat waiting for your lovers,

as an Arab in the wilderness.

You have polluted the land

with your prostitution and wickedness.

³ So the showers have been withheld

and the spring rains have not come;

yet you have the forehead of a prostitute;

you refuse to be ashamed.

⁴ Have you not just now called to me: 'My Father!

My closest friend even from my youth!

⁵ Will he always be angry?

Will he always keep his wrath to the end?'

Look! This is what you have said,

but you do all the evil you can!"

⁶ Then Yahweh said to me in the days of Josiah the king, "Do you see what apostate Israel has done? She has gone up every high hill and under every leafy tree, and there she has acted like a prostitute. ⁷ I said, 'After she does all these things, she will return to me,' but she did not return. Then her faithless sister Judah saw these things.

⁸ So I saw that, in the same way that apostate Israel had committed adultery and I had sent her away and had given a certificate of divorce against her, her faithless sister Judah did not fear; she also went out and acted like a prostitute. ⁹ Her prostitution was nothing to her; she defiled the land, and she committed adultery with stones and trees. ¹⁰ Then after all of this, her faithless sister Judah returned to me, not with all her heart, but with a lie—this is Yahweh's declaration."

¹¹ Then Yahweh said to me, "Apostate Israel has been more righteous than faithless Judah! ¹² Go and proclaim these words to the north. Say,

'Return, apostate Israel!—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

I will not always be angry with you.

Since I am faithful—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

I will not stay angry forever.

¹³ Acknowledge your iniquity,

for you have transgressed against Yahweh your God;

you have shared your ways with strangers

under every leafy tree!

For you have not listened to my voice!—

this is Yahweh's declaration.

¹⁴ Return, faithless people!—this is Yawheh's declaration—I am your husband! I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion! ¹⁵ I will give you shepherds after my heart, and they will shepherd you with knowledge and insight.

¹⁶ Then it will happen that you will increase and bear fruit in the land in those days—this is Yahweh's declaration-they will no longer say, "The ark of the covenant of Yahweh!" This matter will no longer come up in their hearts or be remembered; it will not be missed, and another one will not be made.'

¹⁷ In that time they will proclaim about Jerusalem, 'This is Yahweh's throne,' and all the other nations will gather at Jerusalem in Yahweh's name. They will no longer walk in the stubbornness of their wicked hearts. ¹⁸ In those days, the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel. They will come together from the land of the north to the land that I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.

¹⁹ As for me, I said,

'How I want to treat you as my son

and give you a delightful land,

an inheritance more beautiful

than what is in any other nation!'

I would have said, 'You will call me "my Father".'

I would have said

that you would not turn from following me.

²⁰ But like a woman faithless to her husband,

you have betrayed me, house of Israel—

this is Yahweh's declaration."

²¹ A voice is heard on the plains,

the weeping and pleading of the people of Israel!

For they have changed their ways;

they have forgotten Yahweh their God.

²² "Return, faithless people!

I will heal you of your apostasy!"

"Behold! We will come to you,

for you are Yahweh our God!

²³ Surely lies come from the hills,

a confusing noise from the mountains;

surely Yahweh our God

is the salvation of Israel.

²⁴ Yet since our youth shameful idols

have consumed the labor of our ancestors—

their flocks and herds, their sons and daughters!

²⁵ Let us lie down in shame.

May our shame cover us,

for we have sinned against Yahweh our God!

We ourselves and our ancestors,

from the time of our youth to this present day,

have not listened to the voice of Yahweh our God!"

Chapter 4

¹ "If you return, Israel—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

then it should be to me that you return.

If you remove your detestable things from before me

and do not wander from me again,

² and if you are truthful, just, and righteous

when you swear, 'As Yahweh lives,'

then the nations will bless themselves in him,

and in him they will glory."

³ For Yahweh says this to each person in Judah and Jerusalem:

'Plow your own ground,

and do not sow among thorns.

⁴ Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh,

and remove the foreskins of your heart,

men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,

or else my fury will break out like fire,

and burn with no one to quench it,

because of the wickedness of your practices.

⁵ Report in Judah and let it be heard in Jerusalem.

Say, "Blow the ram's horn in the land."

Proclaim, "Gather together.

Let us go to the fortified cities."

⁶ Lift up the signal flag and point it toward Zion,

and run for safety!

Do not stay, for I am bringing disaster

from the north and great crushing.

⁷ A lion is coming out from his thicket

and someone who will destroy nations is setting out.

He is leaving his place to bring horror to your land,

to turn your cities into ruins, where no one will live.

⁸ Because of this, gird yourselves with sackcloth,

lament and wail.

For the force of Yahweh's anger

has not turned away from us.

⁹ Then it will happen in that day—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

that the hearts of the king and his officials will die.

The priests will be appalled,

and the prophets will be astounded.'"

¹⁰ So I said, "Ah! Lord Yahweh. Surely you have completely deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, 'There will be peace for you.' Yet the sword is striking against their life."

¹¹ In that time it will be said of this people and Jerusalem, "A burning wind from the plains of the desert will make its way to the daughter of my people. It will not winnow or cleanse them. ¹² A wind far stronger than that will come at my command, and I will now pass sentence against them.

¹³ See, he comes up like clouds,

and his chariots are like a storm.

His horses are faster than eagles.

Woe to us, for we will be devastated!

¹⁴ Cleanse your heart from wickedness, Jerusalem,

so that you might be saved.

How long will wicked thoughts lodge within you?

¹⁵ For a voice is bringing news from Dan

and a report of trouble from the mountains of Ephraim.

¹⁶ Make the nations think about this:

See, announce to Jerusalem

that besiegers are coming from a distant land

to shout in battle against the cities of Judah.

¹⁷ They will be like the watchmen

of a cultivated field against her all around,

since she has been rebellious against me—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

¹⁸ and your conduct and your deeds

have done these things to you.

This will be your punishment.

How bitter it will be!

It will strike your very heart.

¹⁹ My heart! My heart!

I am in anguish in my heart.

My heart is turbulent within me.

I cannot keep quiet for I hear the sound of the horn,

an alarm for battle.

²⁰ Disaster follows after disaster;

for all the land lies in ruins.

Suddenly my tents are destroyed,

my curtains in a moment.

²¹ How long will I see the signal flag?

Will I hear the sound of the horn?

²² For the foolishness of my people—

they do not know me.

They are stupid children,

and they have no understanding.

They are skilled at doing evil,

but they do not know how to do good.

²³ I saw the land. Behold!

It was formless and empty.

For there was no light for the heavens.

²⁴ I looked at the mountains.

Behold, they were trembling,

and all the hills were shaking about.

²⁵ I looked. Behold, there was no one,

and all the birds of the heavens had fled.

²⁶ I looked. Behold, the productive land was a wilderness

and all the cities had been pulled down before Yahweh,

before the fury of his wrath."

²⁷ This is what Yahweh says,

"All the land will become a devastation,

but I will not completely destroy it

²⁸ For this reason, the land will mourn,

and the heavens above will darken.

For I have declared my intentions;

I will not hold back;

I will not turn from carrying them out.

²⁹ Every city will flee from the noise of the horseman

and the archer with a bow;

they will run into the forests.

Every city will climb up into the rocky places.

The cities will be abandoned,

for there will be no one to inhabit them.

³⁰ Now that you have been devastated, what will you do? For though you are clothed in scarlet, and though you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, and though you make your eyes look bigger with paint, you are making yourself beautiful in vain. The men who lusted for you now reject you. They are trying to take away your life.

³¹ So I hear the sound of anguish,

distress as in the birth of a firstborn child,

the sound of the daughter of Zion.

She is gasping for breath.

She spreads out her hands,

'Woe to me! I am fainting because of these murderers.'"

Chapter 5

¹ "Rush about through the streets of Jerusalem;

search in her city squares, too.

Then look and think about this:

If you can find a man or anyone who is acting justly

and trying to act faithfully,

then I will forgive Jerusalem.

² Although they say, 'As Yahweh lives,'

yet they are swearing falsely."

³ Yahweh, do your eyes not look for faithfulness?

You struck the people, but they do not feel pain.

You have completely defeated them,

but they still refuse to receive discipline.

They make their faces harder than rock,

for they refuse to repent.

⁴ So I said,

"Surely these are only poor people.

They are foolish, for they do not know Yahweh's ways

nor their God's decrees.

⁵ I will go to the important people

and declare God's messages to them,

for they at least know Yahweh's ways,

the decrees of their God."

But they all broke their yoke together;

they all tore apart the chains that bound them to God.

⁶ So a lion from a thicket will attack them.

A wolf from the Arabah will devastate them.

A leopard is watching their cities

Anyone who goes outside his city will be torn apart.

For their transgressions increase.

Their acts of apostasy are numerous.

⁷ Why should I pardon these people?

Your sons have abandoned me

and have made oaths by what are not gods.

I fed them fully

but they committed adultery

and walked in great number to the houses of prostitutes.

⁸ They were horses in heat.

They roamed about wanting to mate.

Each man neighed to his neighbor's wife.

⁹ So should I not punish them—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

and should I not avenge myself

on a nation that is like this?

¹⁰ Go up onto her vineyards' terraces and destroy.

But do not bring complete destruction to them.

Trim their vines,

since those vines do not come from Yahweh.

¹¹ For the houses of Israel and Judah

have completely betrayed me—

this is Yahweh's declaration.

¹² They have spoken falsely about Yahweh

and they said, "He will do nothing;

no harm will come upon us,

and we will not see sword or famine.

¹³ The prophets will become wind,

the word is not in them,

so let what they say be done to them."

¹⁴ So Yahweh, the God of hosts says this,

"Because you have said this, see,

I am about to place my word in your mouth.

It will be like a fire,

and this people will be like wood!

For it will consume them.

¹⁵ Behold! I am about to bring a nation

against you from far away, house of Israel—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

it is a lasting nation, an ancient nation!

It is a nation whose language you do not know,

nor will you understand what they say.

¹⁶ Its quiver is like an open tomb.

They are all soldiers.

¹⁷ They will eat up your harvest and your food.

They will devour your sons and daughters.

They will devour your flocks and herds.

They will devour your vines and fig trees.

They will beat down with a sword

your fortified cities in which you put your trust.

¹⁸ But even in those days—this is Yahweh's declaration—I do not intend to destroy you completely. ¹⁹ When you, Israel and Judah, say, 'Why has Yahweh our God done all these things to us?' then you, Jeremiah, will say to them, 'Just as you abandoned Yahweh and served foreign gods in your land, so you must also serve strangers in a land that is not your own.'

²⁰ Report this to the house of Jacob

and let it be heard in Judah. Say,

²¹ 'Hear this, you foolish people

who have no understanding;

you have eyes but you cannot see,

and you have ears but you cannot hear.

²² Do you not fear me—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

or tremble before my face?

I have placed a border of sand against the sea

an ongoing decree that it does not violate—

even though the sea rises and falls,

still it does not violate it.

Even though its waves roar,

they do not cross it.

²³ But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart.

They have turned aside and gone away.

²⁴ For they do not say in their hearts,

"Let us fear Yahweh our God,

the one who brings the rain—

the early rain and the late rains—

in their right time,

keeping the appointed weeks of the harvest for us."

²⁵ Your iniquities kept these things from happening.

Your sins have stopped good from coming to you.

²⁶ For wicked men are found with my people.

They watch as someone crouches to capture birds;

they set a trap and catch people.

²⁷ Like a cage full of birds,

their houses are full of deceit.

So they grow large and become rich.

²⁸ They have become fat;

they shine with well-being.

They crossed over all bounds of wickedness.

They do not plead the cause of the people,

or the cause of the orphan.

They prosper even though they have not

given justice to the needy.

²⁹ Should I not punish them for these things—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

and will I not take vengeance for myself

on a nation like this?

³⁰ An appalling and horrifying thing

has occurred in the land.

³¹ The prophets prophesy with deceit,

and the priests rule with their own power.

My people love it this way,

but what will happen in the end?'"

Chapter 6

¹ Find safety, people of Benjamin, by leaving Jerusalem.

Blow a ram's horn in Tekoa.

Raise up over Beth Hakkerem a signal,

since wickedness is appearing from the north;

a great crushing is coming.

² The daughter of Zion,

the beautiful and delicate woman, will be destroyed.

³ The shepherds and their flocks will go to them;

they will set up tents against her all around;

each man will shepherd with his own hand.

⁴ "Dedicate yourselves to the gods for the battle.

Arise, let us attack at noon.

Woe to us! For the daylight is fading away

and the evening shadows are falling.

⁵ But let us attack at night

and destroy her fortresses."

⁶ For Yahweh of hosts says this:

Cut her trees,

and heap up siege works against Jerusalem.

This is the right city to attack,

because it is filled with oppression.

⁷ As a well pours out fresh water,

so this city keeps producing wickedness.

Violence and devastation are heard within her;

sickness and wounds are continually before my face.

⁸ Accept discipline, Jerusalem,

or I will turn away from you

and make you into a ruin, an uninhabited land.'"

⁹ Yahweh of hosts says this,

"They will certainly glean the remnant of Israel like a vineyard.

Reach out again with your hand to pick grapes from the vines.

¹⁰ To whom should I declare and warn

so they will listen?

Look! Their ears are uncircumcised;

they are not able to pay attention!

Look! The word of Yahweh has come to them to correct them,

but they do not want it."

¹¹ But I am filled with Yahweh's fury.

I am tired of holding it in.

He said, to me,

"Pour it out on the children in the streets

and on the groups of young men.

For every man will be taken away with his wife;

and every old person heavy with years.

¹² Their houses will be turned over to others,

both their fields and their wives together.

For I will attack the inhabitants of the land with my hand—

this is Yahweh's declaration.

¹³ Yahweh declares that from the least to the greatest,

all of them are greedy for dishonest gain.

From the prophet to the priest,

all of them practice deceit.

¹⁴ They have healed the brokenness of my people lightly,

saying, 'Peace, Peace,' when there is no peace.

¹⁵ Were they ashamed when they practiced abominations?

They were not ashamed;

they did not know how to blush!

So they will fall among the fallen;

they will be brought down

when they are punished, says Yahweh.

¹⁶ Yahweh says this,

"Stand at the road crossing and look;

ask for the ancient pathways.

'Where is this good way?'

Then go on it and find a resting place for yourselves.

But the people say,

'We will not go.'

¹⁷ I appointed for you watchmen to listen for the ram's horn.

But they said, 'We will not listen.'

¹⁸ Therefore, nations, listen!

See, you witnesses, what will happen to them.

¹⁹ Hear, earth!

See, I am about to bring disaster to this people,

the fruit of their thoughts,

because they paid no attention to my word

and they have rejected my law.

²⁰ What does this frankincense going up from Sheba mean to me

or these sweet smells from a distant land?

Your burnt offerings are not acceptable to me,

nor are your sacrifices.

²¹ So Yahweh says this,

'See, I am about to place a stumbling block against this people.

They will stumble over it-fathers and sons together.

Inhabitants and their neighbors will also perish.'

²² Yahweh says this,

'See, a people is coming from the land of the north,

a great nation is being stirred up from the farthest parts of the earth.

²³ They will pick up bows and spears.

They are cruel and have no compassion.

Their sound is like the sea roar,

and they are riding on horses,

set out in order as men for battle,

against you, daughter of Zion.'"

²⁴ We have heard the reports about them

and our hands fall limp in distress.

Anguish seizes us as a woman giving birth.

²⁵ Do not go out to the fields,

and do not walk on the roads,

for the swords of the enemy and terror are all around.

²⁶ Daughter of my people,

gird yourself with sackcloth and roll in ashes;

mourn with painful sobs as for an only son,

for the destroyer will suddenly come upon us.

²⁷ "I have made you, Jeremiah,

one who tests my people like one would test metal,

so you will inspect and test their ways.

²⁸ They are all the most stubborn of people,

who go about slandering others.

All of them are bronze and iron, acting corruptly.

²⁹ The bellows are scorched by the fire that is burning them;

the lead is consumed in the flames.

The refining continues among them,

but it is useless, because the evil is not removed.

³⁰ They will be called rejected silver,

for Yahweh has rejected them."

Chapter 7

¹ The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, ² "Stand at the gate of the house of Yahweh and proclaim this word! Say, 'Hear the word of Yahweh, all you of Judah, you who enter these gates to worship Yahweh.

³ Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: Make your ways and practices good, and I will let you continue to live in this place. ⁴ Do not entrust yourself to deceitful words and say, "Temple of Yahweh! Temple of Yahweh! Temple of Yahweh!"

⁵ For if you actually make your ways and practices good; if you completely execute justice between a man and his neighbor— ⁶ if you do not oppress the sojourner, the orphan, or the widow and do not pour out innocent blood in this place, and do not walk after other gods to your own harm— ⁷ then I will let you stay in this place, in the land that I gave to your ancestors from ancient times and forever.

⁸ Behold! You are entrusting yourselves to deceitful words that do not help you. ⁹ Do you steal, kill, and commit adultery? Do you swear deceitfully and offer incense to Baal and walk after other gods whom you have not known? ¹⁰ Then do you come and stand before me in this house that is called by my name and say, "We are saved," so you can do all of these abominations? ¹¹ Is this house, which carries my name, a den of bandits in your eyes? But behold, I have seen it—this is Yahweh's declaration.'

¹² 'So go to my place that was in Shiloh, where I allowed my name to stay there in the beginning, and look at what I did to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. ¹³ So now, on account of your doing all of these practices—this is Yahweh's declaration—I spoke to you time and time again, but you did not listen. I summoned you, but you did not answer. ¹⁴ Therefore, what I did to Shiloh, I will also do to this house that is called by my name, the house in which you have trusted, this place that I gave to you and your ancestors. ¹⁵ For I will send you out from before me just as I had sent out all your brothers, all the descendants of Ephraim.'

¹⁶ As for you, Jeremiah, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up a cry of distress or say a prayer on their behalf, and do not petition me, for I will not listen to you. ¹⁷ Do you not see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? ¹⁸ The children are gathering wood and the fathers kindling the fire! The women are kneading dough to make cakes for the queen of the heavens and pour out drink offerings for other gods so that they will provoke me.

¹⁹ Are they truly provoking me?—this is Yahweh's declaration—is it not themselves whom they are provoking, so that shame is on them? ²⁰ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, 'See, my anger and wrath will gush out onto this place, on both man and animals, on the tree in the fields and the fruit on the ground. It will burn and never be extinguished.'

²¹ Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel says this: 'Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices and eat the meat. ²² For when I brought your ancestors out from the land of Egypt, I did not require anything from them. I gave them no command about matters of burnt offerings and sacrifices. ²³ I only gave them this command, "Listen to my voice, and I will be your God and you will be my people. So walk in all the ways that I am commanding you, so that it may go well with you."

²⁴ But they did not listen or incline their ear. They lived by their own stubborn plans of their wicked hearts, so they went backwards, not forward. ²⁵ Ever since the day when your ancestors went out from the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent every one of my servants, my prophets, to you. I persisted in sending them. ²⁶ But they did not listen to me or incline their ear. Instead, they stiffened their necks. They were more wicked than their ancestors.'

²⁷ So proclaim all these words to them, but they will not listen to you. Proclaim these things to them, but they will not answer you. ²⁸ Say to them: This is a nation that does not listen to the voice of Yahweh its God and does not receive discipline. Truth is destroyed and cut off from their mouths.

²⁹ Cut off your hair and shave yourself, and throw away your hair. Sing a dirge over the open places. For Yahweh has rejected and abandoned this generation in his rage. ³⁰ For the sons of Judah have done evil in my eye—this is Yahweh's declaration—they have set their detestable things in the house that is called by my name, in order to defile it.

³¹ Then they built the high place of Topheth that is in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. They did this to burn their sons and daughters in fire—something that I did not command, nor did it enter my mind. ³² So see, days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when it will no longer be called Topheth or Valley of Ben Hinnom. It will be the Valley of Slaughter; they will bury bodies in Topheth until there is no room left.

³³ The corpses of this people will be food for the birds of the skies and the wild animals of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away. ³⁴ I will put an end to the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the sound of the groom and the sound of the bride, for the land will become a desolation."

Chapter 8

¹ "At that time—this is Yahweh's declaration—they will bring out from the graves the bones of the kings of Judah and its officials, the bones of the priests and the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ² Then they will spread them out in the light of the sun and moon and all the stars of the skies; these things in the sky that they have followed and served, that they have walked after and sought, and that they have worshiped. The bones will not be gathered or buried again. They will be like dung on the surface of the earth. ³ In every place where I have driven them, death will be chosen instead of life by all who remain from this evil family—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts.

⁴ So say to them, 'Yahweh says this:

Does anyone fall and not get up?

Does anyone get lost and not try to return?

⁵ Why has this people, Jerusalem,

turned away in permanent apostasy?

They hold on to deceit

and refuse to repent.

⁶ I paid attention and listened,

but they did not speak right;

no one repented of his wickedness,

no one who says, "What have I done?"

All of them go where they wish,

like a horse rushing toward battle.

⁷ Even the stork in heaven knows the right times;

and the doves, swifts, and cranes.

They go on their migrations at the right time,

but my people do not know Yahweh's decrees.

⁸ How can you say,

"We are wise, for the law of Yahweh is with us"?

Indeed, see!

The deceitful pen of the scribes has created deceit.

⁹ The wise men will be ashamed.

They are dismayed and trapped.

Behold! They reject Yahweh's word,

so what use is their wisdom?

¹⁰ So I will give their wives to others,

and their fields to those who will possess them,

because from the least to the greatest,

all of them are greedy for dishonest gain!

From the prophet to the priest,

all of them practice deceit.

¹¹ They have healed the brokenness of my people lightly,

saying, "Peace, Peace," when there is no peace.

¹² Were they ashamed when they practiced abominations?

They were not ashamed;

they did not know how to blush!

So they will fall among the fallen;

they will be brought down when they are punished,

says Yahweh.

¹³ I will remove them completely—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

there will be no grapes on the vine,

nor will there be figs on the fig trees.

For the leaf will wither,

and what I have given to them will pass away.

¹⁴ Why are we sitting here?

Come together;

let us go to the fortified cities,

and we will become silent there in death.

For Yahweh our God will silence us.

He will make us drink poison,

since we have sinned against him.

¹⁵ We are hoping for peace,

but there will be nothing good.

We are hoping for a time of healing,

but see, there will be terror.

¹⁶ The snorting of his stallions is heard from Dan.

The whole earth shakes

at the sound of the neighing of his strong horses.

For they will come

and consume the land and its wealth,

the city and the ones living in it.

¹⁷ For see, I am sending out snakes among you,

adders that you cannot charm.

They will bite you—

this is Yahweh's declaration.'"

¹⁸ My sorrow has no end

and my heart is sick.

¹⁹ Behold! The cry for help of the daughter of my people

from a land far away!

Is Yahweh not in Zion?

Is her king no longer there?

Why then do they provoke me to anger with their carved figures

and their worthless foreign idols?

²⁰ The harvest has passed on, summer is over.

But we have not been saved.

²¹ I am hurt because of the hurt of the daughter of my people.

I mourn at the horrible things that have happened to her;

I am dismayed.

²² Is there no medicine in Gilead?

Is there no healer there?

Why will the healing of the daughter of my people not happen?

Chapter 9

¹ If only my head could produce water,

and my eyes be a fountain of tears!

For I wish to weep day and night for those

among the daughter of my people who have been killed.

² If only someone would give me a place for travelers in the wilderness to stay,

where I could go to abandon my people.

If only I could leave them,

since all of them are adulterers, a company of traitors!

³ "They bend their tongues like their bows for lies,

and it is not because of any faithfulness of theirs

that they grow strong on the earth.

For they go from one wicked act to another.

They do not know me." This is Yahweh's declaration.

⁴ Each of you, be on guard against your neighbor

and do not trust in any brother.

For every brother is certainly a deceiver,

and every neighbor walks in slander.

⁵ Each man mocks his neighbor

and does not speak the truth.

Their tongues teach deceitful things.

They are exhausted from committing iniquity.

⁶ Your dwelling is in the midst of deception;

in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me—

this is Yahweh's declaration."

⁷ Yahweh of hosts says this,

"See, I am about to refine them and test them,

for what else can I do, because of what my people have done?

⁸ Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deceit.

With their mouths they proclaim peace with their neighbors,

but with their hearts they lie in wait for them.

⁹ Should I not punish them because of these things—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

and should I not avenge myself on a nation that is like this?

¹⁰ I will sing a song of mourning and wailing for the mountains,

and a dirge will be sung for the meadows in the wilderness.

For they have been made desolate

and no one can pass through them,

and the lowing of the cattle is not heard.

The birds of the skies and the animals

have all fled away.

¹¹ So I will turn Jerusalem into piles of ruins,

a hideout for jackals.

I will make Judah's cities ruined places

without inhabitants."

¹² What man is wise enough to understand this? To whom has the mouth of Yahweh spoken, and he will declare it? Why has the land perished and been made desolate like the wilderness that no one can pass through?

¹³ Yahweh says, "It is because they have abandoned my law that I set before them, because they do not listen to my voice or walk by it. ¹⁴ It is because they have walked by their stubborn hearts and have followed the Baals as their fathers taught them to do.

¹⁵ Therefore Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, says this, 'See, I am about to make this people eat wormwood and drink poisonous water. ¹⁶ Then I will scatter them among the nations that they have not known, neither they nor their ancestors. I will send out a sword after them until I have completely destroyed them.'"

¹⁷ Yahweh of hosts says this,

"Think about this: Summon

funeral singers; let them come.

Send out for women skilled at lamenting;

let them come.

¹⁸ Let them hurry and sing a mournful song over us,

so our eyes may run with tears and our eyelids flow with water.

¹⁹ For the sound of wailing is heard in Zion,

'How we are devastated.

We are greatly ashamed,

for we have abandoned the land

since they tore down our houses.'

²⁰ So you women, hear Yahweh's word;

pay attention to the messages that come from his mouth.

Then teach your daughters a mourning song,

and each neighbor woman a dirge.

²¹ For death has come through our windows;

it goes into our palaces.

It destroys children from outside,

and young men in the city squares.

²² Declare this, 'This is Yahweh's declaration—

the corpses of men will fall like dung in the fields,

and like grain stalks after the reapers,

and there will be no one to gather them.'"

²³ Yahweh says this,

"Do not let the wise man take pride in his wisdom,

or the warrior in his might.

Do not let the wealthy man take pride in his riches.

²⁴ For if a man takes pride in anything,

let it be in this, that he has insight and knows me.

For I am Yahweh, who acts with covenant loyalty,

justice and righteousness on earth.

For it is in these that I take pleasure—

this is Yahweh's declaration."

²⁵ "See, days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when I will punish all the circumcised who are such only in their body. ²⁶ I will punish Egypt and Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, and all the desert people who cut the hair on the sides of their heads very short. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel has an uncircumcised heart."

Chapter 10

¹ "Hear the word that Yahweh is announcing to you, house of Israel. ² Yahweh says this,

'Do not learn the ways of the nations,

and do not be dismayed by the signs in the heavens,

for the nations are dismayed by these.

³ For the customs of these people are worthless.

Someone cuts down a tree from the forest.

It is the work of the hands of a craftsman using an axe.

⁴ Then they decorate it with silver and gold.

They strengthen it with hammer and nails so it will not fall over.

⁵ What they make with their hands is like scarecrows in a cucumber field,

because they, too, can say nothing,

and they have to be carried because they cannot walk.

Do not fear them, for they cannot bring about evil,

nor are they able to do anything good.'"

⁶ There is no one like you, Yahweh.

You are great, and your name is great in power.

⁷ Who does not fear you, king of the nations?

For this is what you deserve,

for there is no one like you among all the wise men of the nations

or all their royal kingdoms.

⁸ They are both brutish and stupid.

Their vain discipline—it is nothing but wood.

⁹ They bring hammered silver from Tarshish,

and gold from Uphaz made by artificers,

the hands of refiners.

Their clothes are blue and purple cloth.

Their skillful men made all of these things.

¹⁰ But Yahweh is the true God.

He is the living God and eternal king.

The earth quakes at his anger,

and the nations cannot endure his anger.

¹¹ You will speak to them like this, "The gods that did not make the heavens and earth will perish from the earth and from under these heavens."

¹² But it was he who made the earth by his power,

and he established the world by his wisdom,

and by his understanding he stretched out the heavens.

¹³ His voice makes the roar of waters in the heavens,

and he brings up the mists from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightning for the rain

and sends out wind from his storehouse.

¹⁴ Every man has become stupid, without knowledge.

Every metalworker is put to shame by his idols.

For his cast metal images are frauds;

there is no life in them.

¹⁵ They are useless, the work of mockers;

they will perish at the time of their punishment.

¹⁶ But God, the portion of Jacob, is not like these,

for he is the molder of all things.

Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;

Yahweh of hosts is his name.

¹⁷ Gather your bundle and leave the land,

you people who have been living under the siege.

¹⁸ For Yahweh says this,

"See, I am about to throw the inhabitants of the land out this time.

I will cause them distress,

and they will find it to be so."

¹⁹ Woe to me!

Because of my broken bones, my wound is infected.

So I said,

"Surely this is agony, but I must bear it."

²⁰ My tent is devastated,

and all of my tent cords are cut in two.

They have taken my children away from me,

so they no longer exist.

There is no longer anyone to spread out my tent

or to raise up my tent curtains.

²¹ For the shepherds are stupid

and they do not seek Yahweh;

so they have not prospered,

and all their flock has been scattered.

²² The report of news has arrived, "See! It is coming,

a great earthquake is coming from the land of the north

to make the cities of Judah into ruins,

hideouts for jackals."

²³ I know, Yahweh,

that the way of a man does not come from himself.

No person walking directs his own steps.

²⁴ Discipline me, Yahweh, with justice,

not in your anger or you would destroy me.

²⁵ Pour your fury on the nations that do not know you

and on the families that do not call on your name.

For they have devoured Jacob and consumed him

so as to completely destroy him and demolish his habitation.

Chapter 11

¹ The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, ² "Listen to the words of this covenant, and declare them to each man in Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

³ Say to them, 'Yahweh, God of Israel says this: Cursed is anyone who does not listen to the words of this covenant. ⁴ This is the covenant that I commanded your ancestors to keep the day I brought them out from the land of Egypt, from the furnace for smelting iron. I said, "Listen to my voice and do all of these things just as I have commanded you, for you will be my people and I will be your God." ⁵ Obey me so that I may confirm the oath that I swore to your ancestors, the oath that I would give them the land flowing with milk and honey, where you live today.'" Then I, Jeremiah, answered and said, "Let it be so, Yahweh!"

⁶ Yahweh said to me, "Proclaim all these things in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. Say, 'Listen to the words of this covenant and carry them out. ⁷ For I have been giving solemn commands to your ancestors from the day I brought them up from the land of Egypt until this present time, persistently warning them and saying, "Listen to my voice."' ⁸ But they did not listen or incline their ear. Each person has been walking in the stubbornness of his wicked heart. So I brought all the curses in the covenant that I commanded them to obey, but the people still did not obey."

⁹ Next Yahweh said to me, "A conspiracy has been discovered among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ¹⁰ They have returned to the iniquities of their earliest ancestors, who refused to listen to my word. They walked after other gods to worship them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah broke my covenant that I established with their ancestors.

¹¹ Therefore Yahweh says this, 'See, I am about to bring disaster on them, disaster from which they will not be able to escape. Then they will call out to me, but I will not listen to them. ¹² The cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and call out to the gods to which they had given offerings, but they will certainly not be saved by them at the time of their disaster. ¹³ For you Judah, the number of your gods has increased to equal the number of your cities. You have made the number of shameful altars in Jerusalem, incense altars for Baal, equal to the number of her streets.

¹⁴ So you yourself, Jeremiah, must not pray for this people. You must not cry for help or pray on their behalf. For I will not be listening when they call on me in their disaster.

¹⁵ Why is my beloved one

the one who has had so many wicked intentions,

in my house?

The meat of your sacrifices cannot help you.

You rejoice because of your evil actions.

¹⁶ In the past Yahweh called you a leafy olive tree,

beautiful with lovely fruit.

But he will light a fire on it that will sound like the roar of a storm;

its branches will be broken.

¹⁷ For Yahweh of hosts, the one who planted you, has decreed disaster against you because of the wicked acts that the house of Israel and the house of Judah have committed—they have angered me by giving offerings to Baal.'"

¹⁸ Yahweh made me know these things, so I know them. You, Yahweh, made me see their deeds. ¹⁹ I was like a gentle lamb being led to the slaughter. I did not know that they had formed plans against me,

"Let us destroy the tree with its fruit!

Let us cut him off from the land of the living

so his name will be no longer remembered."

²⁰ Yet Yahweh of hosts is the righteous judge

who examines the heart and the mind.

I will witness your vengeance against them,

for I have presented my case to you.

²¹ Therefore Yahweh says this concerning the people of Anathoth who are seeking your life, "They say, 'You must not prophesy in the name of Yahweh, or you will die by our hand.' ²² Therefore Yahweh of hosts says this, 'See, I am about to punish them. Their vigorous young men will die by the sword. Their sons and their daughters will die by famine. ²³ No remnant will be left for them, because I am bringing disaster against the people of Anathoth, a year of their punishment.'"

Chapter 12

¹ You are righteous, Yahweh,

whenever I bring disputes to you.

I must certainly tell you of my reason to complain:

Why do the ways of the wicked succeed?

All the treacherous are at ease.

² You planted them and they took root.

They continue to produce fruit.

You are near to them in their mouths,

but far away from their hearts.

³ Yet you, Yahweh, know me.

You see me and you test my heart toward you.

Take them away like sheep to the slaughter,

and set them apart for the day of slaughter!

⁴ How long will the land mourn

and the grass in the field be withered?

Because those who live in it are wicked,

the animals and the birds have been swept away,

because the people said,

"He will not see what happens to us."

⁵ Yahweh said, "Indeed, if you, Jeremiah,

have run with foot soldiers and they have tired you out,

how can you compete against horses?

And if you are confident only in a peaceful land,

how will you do in the majesty along the Jordan?

⁶ For even your brothers and your father's family

have betrayed you and have raised their voice against you.

Do not trust in them,

even if they say nice things to you.

⁷ I have abandoned my house;

I have abandoned my inheritance.

I have given my beloved into the hands of her enemies.

⁸ My inheritance has become to me

like a lion in a thicket;

she sets herself against me with her own voice,

so I hate her.

⁹ Has not my prized possession become a speckled bird,

that other birds of prey go against her all around?

Go and gather all the wild beasts

and bring them to devour her.

¹⁰ Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard.

They have trampled on my portion of land;

they turned my delightful portion into a wilderness,

a desolation.

¹¹ They have made her a desolation.

I mourn for her; she is desolate.

All the land has been made desolate,

for there is no one who takes it to heart.

¹² Destroyers have come against all

the bare places in the wilderness,

for Yahweh's sword is devouring

from one end of the land to the other.

There is no safety in the land

for any living creature.

¹³ They have sown wheat but harvest thornbushes.

They are exhausted from work but have gained nothing.

So be ashamed of your gain

because of Yahweh's anger."

¹⁴ Yahweh says this against all my neighbors, the wicked ones who strike at the possession that I made my people Israel inherit, "See, I am the one who is about to uproot them from their own ground, and I will pull up the house of Judah from among them. ¹⁵ Then after I uproot those nations, it will happen that I will have compassion on them and bring them back; I will return them—each man to his inheritance and his land.

¹⁶ It will come about that if those nations carefully learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name 'As Yahweh lives' just as they have taught my people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up in the midst of my people. ¹⁷ But if any do not listen, then I will uproot that nation. It will certainly be uprooted and destroyed—this is Yahweh's declaration."

Chapter 13

¹ Yahweh said this to me, "Go and buy a linen undergarment and put it on around your waist, but do not put it in water first." ² So I bought an undergarment as Yahweh directed, and I put in on around my waist. ³ Then the word of Yahweh came to me a second time, saying, ⁴ "Take the undergarment that you purchased that is around your waist, get up and go now to Perath. ¹ Hide it there in a rock crevice." ⁵ So I went and hid it in Perath, just as Yahweh had commanded me.

⁶ After many days, Yahweh said to me, "Get up and go back to Perath. Take from there the undergarment that I commanded you to hide." ⁷ So I went back to Perath ² and dug out the undergarment where I had hid it, and behold, it was destroyed and completely useless.

⁸ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ⁹ "Yahweh says this: In the same way I will destroy the pride of Judah and the great majesty of Jerusalem. ¹⁰ This wicked people who refuses to listen to my word, who walk in the hardness of their heart, who go after other gods to worship them and bow down to them—they will be like this undergarment that is good for nothing. ¹¹ For just as an undergarment clings to someone's hips, so I have made all the house of Israel and all the house of Judah cling to me—this is Yahweh's declaration—to be my people, to bring me fame, praise, and honor. But they would not listen to me.

¹² So you must speak this word to them, 'Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this: Every jar will be filled with wine.' They will say to you, 'Do we not indeed know that every jar will be filled with wine?' ¹³ So say to them, 'Yahweh says this: See, I am about to fill with drunkenness every inhabitant of this land, the kings who sit on David's throne, the priests, prophets, and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ¹⁴ Then I will smash each man against the other, fathers and children together—this is Yahweh's declaration—I will not pity them or have compassion, and I will not spare them from destruction.'"

¹⁵ Listen and pay attention.

Do not be arrogant, for Yahweh had spoken.

¹⁶ Give honor to Yahweh your God

before he brings darkness,

and before he causes your feet to stumble

on the mountains at twilight.

For you are hoping for light,

but he will turn it to deep darkness

and change it to deep gloom.

¹⁷ So if you will not listen,

I will weep alone because of your pride.

My eyes will certainly weep and flow with tears,

for Yahweh's flock has been taken captive.

¹⁸ "Say to the king and to the queen mother,

'Humble yourselves! Sit!

For your splendid crowns

have fallen from your heads.'

¹⁹ The cities in the Negev will be shut up,

with no one to open them.

All Judah will be taken captive,

completely taken captive.

²⁰ Lift up your eyes

and look at the ones coming from the north.

Where is the flock he gave to you,

the flock that was so beautiful to you?

²¹ What will you say when God sets over you

those whom you yourself had trained

to be your special allies?

Are these not the beginnings of the labor pains

that will seize you just like a woman in childbirth?

²² Then you might say in your heart,

'Why are these things happening to me?'

It will be for the multitude of your iniquities

that your skirts are raised up

and you have been violated.

²³ Can the people of Cush change their skin color,

or a leopard change its spots?

If so, then you yourself,

although accustomed to wickedness,

would be able to do good.

²⁴ So I will scatter them like chaff

that perishes in the desert wind.

²⁵ This is what I have given to you,

the portion I have decreed for you—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

because you have forgotten me

and trusted in deceit.

²⁶ So also I myself will strip your skirts off you,

and your nakedness will be seen.

²⁷ I have seen your adultery and neighing,

the wickedness of your prostitution

on the hills and in the fields,

and I have seen these detestable things!

Woe to you, Jerusalem!

How long until you are made clean again?"

¹Some transate Perath as the Euphrates .

²Some transate Perath as the Euphrates .

Chapter 14

¹ This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah regarding the drought,

² "Let Judah mourn;

let her gates waste away.

They are wailing for the land;

their cries for Jerusalem are going up.

³ Their mighty ones send out their servants for water.

When they go to the trenches,

they cannot find water.

They all return with empty vessels;

they cover their heads ashamed and dishonored.

⁴ Because of this the ground is cracked,

for there is no rain in the land.

The plowmen are ashamed

and cover their heads.

⁵ For even the doe leaves her young in the fields

and abandons them, for there is no grass.

⁶ The wild donkeys stand on the bare plains

and they pant in the wind like jackals.

Their eyes fail to work,

for there is no vegetation."

⁷ Even though our iniquities testify against us

Yahweh, act for the sake of your name.

For our acts of apostasy increase;

we have sinned against you.

⁸ You are the Hope of Israel,

the one who saves him in the time of distress,

why will you be like a stranger in the land,

like a foreign wanderer who stretches out and spends just one night?

⁹ Why are you like someone who is astounded,

or like a warrior who has no power to rescue?

You are in our midst, Yahweh,

and your name is called over us.

Do not leave us!

¹⁰ Yahweh says this to this people:

"Since they love to wander,

they have not held back their feet from doing so."

Yahweh is not pleased with them

Now he calls to mind their iniquity

and has punished their sins.

¹¹ Yahweh said to me, "Do not pray for good on behalf of this people. ¹² For if they fast, I will not listen to their outcry, and if they offer up burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not take pleasure in them. For I will put an end to them by sword, famine, and plague."

¹³ Then I said, "Oh, Lord Yahweh! Behold! The prophets are saying to the people, 'You will not see the sword; there will be no famine for you, for I will give you true peace in this place.'"

¹⁴ Yahweh said to me, "The prophets prophesy deceit in my name. I did not send them out, nor did I give them any command or speak to them. But deceitful visions and worthless divination and the deceitfulness of their hearts—that is what they are prophesying to you."

¹⁵ Therefore Yahweh says this, "About the prophets prophesying in my name but whom I did not send out—those who say there will be no sword or famine in this land: These prophets will perish by sword and famine. ¹⁶ Then the people to whom they prophesied will be thrown out in the streets of Jerusalem because of famine and sword, for there will be no one to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, or their daughters—for I will pour out their wickedness on them.

¹⁷ Say this word to them:

'Let my eyes flow with tears

night and day.

Do not let them stop,

for there will be a great collapse

of the virgin daughter of my people—

a great and incurable wound.

¹⁸ If I go out to the field,

there are the ones who were killed by the sword!

If I come to the city,

there are the diseases that are caused by famine.

Both the prophet and the priest wander about the land,

and they do not know.'"

¹⁹ Have you completely rejected Judah?

Do you hate Zion?

Why will you afflict us when there is no healing for us?

We hoped for peace, but there was nothing good—

and for a time of healing,

but see, there is only terror.

²⁰ We admit, Yahweh, our offenses,

the iniquity of our ancestors,

for we have sinned against you.

²¹ Do not reject us!

For the sake of your name,

do not make your glorious throne a disgrace.

Remember and do not break

your covenant with us.

²² Do any of the worthless idols of the nations bring rain?

Or can the skies themselves send down showers?

Are you not the one, Yahweh our God?

We wait for you, for you are the one

who does all these things.

Chapter 15

¹ Then Yahweh said to me, "Even if Moses or Samuel were standing in front of me, I would still not be in favor of this people. Send them out from before me, for them to go away. ² It will happen that they will say to you, 'Where should we go?' Then you must say to them, 'Yahweh says this:

Those who are for death should go to death;

those who are for the sword should go to the sword.

Those who are for famine should go to famine;

and those who are for captivity should go to captivity.'

³ For I will assign them to four groups—this is Yahweh's declaration—the sword to slaughter some, the dogs to drag some away, the birds of the skies and the wild animals of the earth to consume and destroy some. ⁴ I will make of them a horrifying thing to all the kingdoms of the earth, because of what Manasseh son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.

⁵ For who will have compassion for you, Jerusalem?

Who will grieve for you?

⁶ You have abandoned me—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

you have gone back from me.

So I will strike you with my hand and destroy you.

I am tired of relenting.

⁷ So I will winnow them with a pitchfork

at the gates of the land.

I will bereave them.

I will destroy my people

since they will not turn from their ways.

⁸ I will make their widows more numerous

than the sands of the seashore.

Against the mothers of young men I will send

the destroyer at noonday.

I will make horror and dismay suddenly fall on them.

⁹ The mother who has borne seven children will waste away.

She will gasp.

Her sun will set while it is still day.

She will be ashamed and embarrassed,

for I will give those who remain to the sword

in the presence of their enemies—

this is Yahweh's declaration."

¹⁰ Woe to me, my mother!

For you have borne me,

I who am a man of strife and argument through all the land.

I have not lent, nor has anyone lent to me,

but they all curse me.

¹¹ Yahweh said:

"Will I not rescue you for good?

I will certainly make your enemies beg for help

in the time of calamity and distress.

¹² Can one smash iron?

Especially iron from the north that is mixed with bronze?

¹³ I will give to your enemies

your wealth and treasures as free plunder.

I will do this because of all your sins

committed within all your borders.

¹⁴ Then I will make you serve your enemies

in a land that you do not know,

for a fire will ignite,

kindled in my wrath against you." ¹

¹⁵ Yahweh, you know

Remember me and help me

Bring vengeance for me

against those who persecute me.

You are patient, but do not allow them to take me away;

know that I have suffered insult for your sake.

¹⁶ Your words have been found, and I consumed them

Your words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart,

for I bear your name,

Yahweh God of hosts.

¹⁷ I did not sit in the circle

of those who celebrated or rejoiced.

I sat alone because of your powerful hand,

for you filled me with indignation.

¹⁸ Why is my pain constant and my wound incurable,

refusing to be healed?

Will you be like deceitful waters to me,

waters that dry up?

¹⁹ Therefore Yahweh said this,

"If you repent, Jeremiah,

then I will restore you,

and you will stand before me and serve me.

For if you separate the foolish things from the precious things,

you will be like my mouth.

The people will come back to you,

but you yourself must not go back to them.

²⁰ I will make you like an impenetrable bronze wall to this people,

and they will wage war against you.

But they will not defeat you,

for I am with you to save and rescue you—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

²¹ for I will rescue you from the hand of the wicked

and redeem you from the hand of the ruthless."

¹Instead of Then I will make you serve your enemies , some ancient copies have Then I will make your enemies take you .

Chapter 16

¹ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Do not take a wife for yourself, and do not have sons or daughters for yourself in this place. ³ For Yahweh says this to the sons and daughters who are born in this place, to the mothers who bear them, and to the fathers who caused them to be born in this land, ⁴ 'They will die diseased deaths. They will not be mourned or buried. They will be like dung on the ground. For they will come to an end by sword and famine, and their corpses will be food for the birds of the skies and the wild animals of the earth.'

⁵ For the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, 'Do not enter a house where there is mourning. Do not go to mourn or to show sympathy for them, for I have taken away my peace from this people—this is Yahweh's declaration—and my steadfast love and mercy. ⁶ Both the great and the small will die in this land. They will not be buried, and no one will mourn for them or cut themselves or shave their heads for them.

⁷ No one must share any food in mourning to comfort them because of the deaths, and none must give a comforting cup to his father or his mother in order to comfort them. ⁸ You must not go to a banquet house to sit with them in order to eat or drink.' ⁹ For Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'See, before your eyes, in your days and in this place, I am about to put an end to the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the sound of the groom and the sound of the bride.'

¹⁰ Then it will happen that you will report all these words to this people, and they will say to you, 'Why has Yahweh decreed all this great disaster against us? What is our iniquity and sin that we sinned against Yahweh our God?' ¹¹ So say to them, 'Because your ancestors abandoned me—this is Yahweh's declaration—and they went after other gods and worshiped and bowed down to them. They abandoned me and have not kept my law.

¹² But you yourselves have brought about more wickedness than your ancestors, for see, each person is walking by the stubbornness of his wicked heart; there is no one who listens to me. ¹³ So I will throw you from this land to a land that you have not known, neither you nor your ancestors, and you will worship other gods there by day and night, for I will not give any favor to you.'

¹⁴ Therefore, behold, the days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when it will no longer be said, 'As Yahweh lives, the one who brought up the people of Israel from the land of Egypt.' ¹⁵ but, 'As Yahweh lives, the one who brought up the people of Israel from the land of the north and from the lands where he had scattered them.' For I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors.

¹⁶ Behold! I will send for many fishermen—this is Yahweh's declaration—so they will fish the people out. After this I will send for many hunters so they will hunt for them among all the mountains and hills, and in rock crevices. ¹⁷ For my eye is on all their ways; they cannot be hidden from before me. Their iniquity cannot be concealed from before my eyes. ¹⁸ I will first pay back double for their iniquity and sin. They have polluted my land. They have filled my inheritance with the corpses of their detestable idols and their abominations."

¹⁹ Yahweh, you are my stronghold and my refuge,

my place of safety in the day of distress.

The nations will go to you from the ends of the earth and say,

"Surely our ancestors inherited deceit.

They are empty;

there is no profit in them.

²⁰ Do people make gods for themselves?

But they are not gods."

²¹ Therefore see! I will cause them to know in this time,

I will cause them to know my hand and my power,

so they will know that Yahweh is my name.

Chapter 17

¹ "The sin of Judah is written

with an iron stylus having a diamond point.

It is engraved on the tablet of their heart

and on the horns of your altars.

² Even their children remember their altars

and their Asherah poles

that were beside the spreading trees

and on the high hills.

³ My mountain in the open country,

and your wealth and all your treasures

I will give away as plunder,

together with your high places,

because of the sin you committed in all your territories.

⁴ You will, by your own actions,

let go of the inheritance that I gave to you.

I will enslave you to your enemies

in a land that you do not know,

for you have ignited a fire in my wrath,

which will burn forever."

⁵ Yahweh says,

"The person who trusts in mankind is accursed;

he makes flesh his strength

but turns his heart away from Yahweh.

⁶ For he will be like a small bush in the Arabah

and will not see anything good coming.

He will stay in the stony places in the wilderness,

barren land without inhabitants.

⁷ But the person who trusts in Yahweh is blessed,

for Yahweh is his reason for confidence.

⁸ For he will be like a tree planted by water,

its roots will spread out by the stream.

It will not fear the heat when it comes,

for its leaves are always green.

It is not anxious in a year of drought,

and it will not stop producing fruit.

⁹ The heart is more deceitful than anything else.

It is sick; who can understand it?

¹⁰ I am Yahweh,

the one who searches through the mind,

who tests the hearts.

I give to each person according to his ways,

according to the fruit of his deeds.

¹¹ A partridge hatches an egg that she did not lay.

Someone may become rich unjustly,

but when half his days are over,

those riches will abandon him,

and in the end he will be a fool."

¹² "The place of our sanctuary is a glorious throne,

elevated from the beginning.

¹³ Yahweh is the hope of Israel.

All who abandon you will be put to shame;

those in the land who turn away from you

will be written in the earth,

for they have abandoned Yahweh,

the fountain of living waters.

¹⁴ Heal me, Yahweh, and I will be healed!

Rescue me, and I will be rescued

For you are my song of praise.

¹⁵ See, they are saying to me,

'Where is the word of Yahweh? Let it come!'

¹⁶ As for me,

I did not run from being a shepherd following you.

I did not long for the day of disaster.

You know the proclamations that came from my lips.

They were made in your presence.

¹⁷ Do not be a terror to me.

You are my refuge on the day of calamity.

¹⁸ May my pursuers be ashamed,

but do not let me be ashamed.

May they be dismayed,

but do not let me be dismayed.

Send the day of disaster against them

and shatter them with a double share of destruction."

¹⁹ Yahweh said this to me: "Go and stand in the gate of the people where the kings of Judah enter and where they exit, then in all the other gates of Jerusalem. ²⁰ Say to them, 'Hear the word of Yahweh, kings of Judah and all you people of Judah, and every resident of Jerusalem who comes in through these gates.

²¹ Yahweh says this: "Be careful for the sake of your lives and do not carry a burden on the Sabbath day to bring it to the gates of Jerusalem. ²² Do not bring a load out from your house on the Sabbath day. Do not do any work, but set apart the Sabbath day, just as I commanded your ancestors to do."' ²³ They did not listen or pay attention, but stiffened their neck so they would not hear me nor accept discipline.

²⁴ It will happen that if you truly listen to me—this is Yahweh's declaration—and do not bring a load to the gates of this city on the Sabbath day but instead set apart the Sabbath day and not do any work on it, ²⁵ then kings, princes, and those who sit on David's throne will come to the gates of this city in chariots and with horses, they and their leaders, men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, and this city will be inhabited forever.

²⁶ They will come from the cities of Judah and from all around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin and the lowlands, from the mountains, and from the Negev, bringing burnt offerings and sacrifices, grain offerings and frankincense, thank offerings to the house of Yahweh. ²⁷ But if you do not listen to me—to set apart the Sabbath day and to not carry heavy loads and to not enter the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day—then I will light a fire in its gates, and it will consume the fortresses of Jerusalem, and it cannot be put out."

Chapter 18

¹ The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, ² "Arise and go out to the potter's house, for I will have you hear my word there." ³ So I went out to the potter's house, and behold! The potter was working on the potter's wheel. ⁴ But the pot he was making from the clay was ruined in the potter's hand, so he returned the clay and formed it into another pot, and he made that pot an object that was pleasing in his eyes.

⁵ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ⁶ "Should I not be able to act like this potter with you, house of Israel?—this is Yahweh's declaration. Behold! Like clay in a potter's hand—that is how you are in my hand, house of Israel. ⁷ At one moment, I may proclaim something about a nation or a kingdom, that I will drive it out, tear it down, or destroy it. ⁸ But if the nation about which I have made that proclamation turns from its evil, then I will relent from the disaster that I was planning to bring upon it.

⁹ At another moment, I may proclaim something about a nation or a kingdom, that I will build it up or plant it. ¹⁰ But if it does evil in my eyes by not listening to my voice, then I will change my mind about the good that I had said I would do for them.

¹¹ So now, speak to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and say, 'Yahweh says this: See, I am about to form disaster against you. I am about to devise a plan against you. Repent, each person from his wicked way, so your ways and your practices will bring good to you.' ¹² But they will say, 'This is no use. We will act according to our own plans. Each one of us will do what his evil, stubborn heart desires.'

¹³ Therefore Yahweh says this,

'Ask the nations,

who has ever heard of such a thing as this?

The virgin Israel has committed a horrible act.

¹⁴ Does the snow in Lebanon

ever leave the rocky hills on its sides?

Are the mountain streams coming from far away

ever destroyed, those cold streams?

¹⁵ Yet my people have forgotten me.

They have made offerings to useless idols

and been made to stumble in their paths;

they have left the ancient paths

to walk lesser paths.

¹⁶ Their land will become a horror,

an object of everlasting hissing.

Everyone who passes by her

will be astonished and shake his head.

¹⁷ I will scatter them before their enemies

like an eastern wind.

I will show them my back, and not my face,

on the day of their disaster.'"

¹⁸ So the people said, "Come, let us make plots against Jeremiah, since the law will never perish from the priests, or advice from the wise men, or words from the prophets. Come, let us attack him with our words and no longer pay attention to anything he proclaims."

¹⁹ Pay attention to me, Yahweh,

and listen to the voice of my enemies.

²⁰ Will disaster from them really be my reward

for being good to them?

For they have dug a pit for me.

Remember how I stood before you to speak for their welfare,

to cause your fury to turn away from them.

²¹ Therefore give their children over to famine,

and give them to the hands of those who use the sword.

So let their women become bereaved and widows,

and their men be killed,

and their young men killed by the sword in battle.

²² Let a distressed shout be heard from their houses,

as you suddenly bring raiders against them.

For they have dug a pit to capture me

and have hidden traps for my feet.

²³ But you, Yahweh

you know all of their plans against me to kill me.

Do not forgive their iniquities.

Do not wipe their sins away from you.

Let them be overthrown before you.

Act against them in the time of your wrath.

Chapter 19

¹ Yahweh said this, "Go and purchase a potter's clay flask while you are with the elders of the people and the priests. ² Then go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom at the entry of the Broken Pottery Gate, and there proclaim the words that I will tell you. ³ Say, 'Hear the word of Yahweh, kings of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, "See, I am about to bring disaster on this place, and the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle.

⁴ I will do this because they have abandoned me and profaned this place. In this place they offer sacrifices to other gods that they did not know. They, their ancestors, and the kings of Judah have also filled this place with innocent blood. ⁵ They built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to him—something that I did not command or mention, nor did it enter my mind.

⁶ Therefore, see, the days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when this place will no longer be called Topheth, the Valley of Ben Hinnom, for it will be the Valley of Slaughter. ⁷ In this place I will make the plans of Judah and Jerusalem useless. I will make them to fall by the sword before their enemies and by the hand of the ones seeking their lives. Then I will give their corpses as food to the birds of the heavens and the wild animals of the earth. ⁸ Then I will make this city a ruin and the object of hissing, for everyone passing by it will be astonished and hiss regarding all of its plagues. ⁹ I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and daughters; each man will consume the flesh of his neighbor in the siege and in the distress with which their enemies and the ones seeking their lives distress them."'

¹⁰ Then you will break the clay flask in the sight of the men who went with you. ¹¹ You will say to them, 'Yahweh of hosts says this: I will do this same thing to this people and this city—this is Yahweh's declaration—just as Jeremiah shattered the clay flask so that it could not be repaired again. People will bury the dead in Topheth until there is no place left for any more dead.

¹² This is what I will do to this place and its inhabitants when I make this city like Topheth—this is Yahweh's declaration— ¹³ so the houses of Jerusalem and of the kings of Judah will become like Topheth—all the houses on whose rooftops the unclean people worship all the stars of the heavens and pour out drink offerings to other gods.'"

¹⁴ Then Jeremiah went from Topheth, where Yahweh had sent him to prophesy. He stood in the courtyard of the house of Yahweh and he said to all the people, ¹⁵ "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'See, I am about to bring to this city and to all of its towns all the disaster that I have proclaimed against it, since they stiffened their neck and refused to listen to my words.'"

Chapter 20

¹ Pashhur son of Immer the priest—he was a leading officer—heard Jeremiah prophesying these words before the house of Yahweh. ² So Pashhur beat Jeremiah the prophet and then placed him in the stocks that were at the Upper Gate of Benjamin in the house of Yahweh.

³ It happened on the next day that Pashhur brought Jeremiah out of the stocks. Then Jeremiah said to him, "Yahweh has not called your name Pashhur, but you are Magor Missabib. ⁴ For Yahweh says this, 'Look, I will make you an object of horror, you and all of your loved ones, for they will fall by the sword of their enemies and your eyes will see it. I will give all of Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. He will make them captives in Babylon or attack them with the sword.

⁵ I will give him all the wealth of this city and all the products of its labor, all of its precious items, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. I will place these things in the hand of your enemies, and they will plunder them. They will seize them and bring them to Babylon. ⁶ But you, Pashhur, and all the inhabitants of your house will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon and die there. You and all of your loved ones to whom you prophesied deceitful things will be buried there.'"

⁷ "Yahweh, you deceived me, and I was deceived.

You are stronger than I,

and you overpowered me.

I have become a laughingstock all day long;

everyone mocks me.

⁸ For whenever I have spoken,

I have called out and proclaimed,

'Violence and destruction.'

So the word of Yahweh

has brought me insult and mocking all the day.

⁹ If I say, 'I will not think about Yahweh anymore.

I will not speak any longer in his name.'

Then it is like a burning fire in my heart,

held within my bones.

So I struggle to contain it but I cannot.

¹⁰ I have heard rumors of terror

from many people all around.

'Report! We must report it!'

Every one of my men of peace

watches to see if I will fall.

'Perhaps he can be tricked.

If so, we can overpower him

and take our revenge on him.'

¹¹ But Yahweh is with me like a terrifying warrior,

so the ones pursuing me will stagger.

They will not defeat me.

They will be greatly ashamed,

because they will not succeed.

They will have unending shame,

it will never be forgotten.

¹² But Yahweh of hosts,

you examine the righteous

and see the mind and the heart.

Let me see your vengeance on them

for I have committed my cause to you.

¹³ Sing to Yahweh!

Praise Yahweh!

For he has rescued the lives of those

who are oppressed from the hand of evildoers.

¹⁴ Let the day when I was born be cursed.

Do not let the day that my mother bore me be blessed.

¹⁵ Let the man who brought the joyful news

to my father be cursed,

the one who said,

'A male child has been born to you,' causing great joy.

¹⁶ Let that man be like the cities that Yahweh overthrew

and he did not have compassion on them.

Let him hear a cry for help in the dawn,

a battle cry at noontime,

¹⁷ because he did not kill me in the womb,

making my mother to be my tomb,

a womb that was pregnant forever.

¹⁸ Why is it that I came out from the womb

to see troubles and agony,

so that my days are filled with shame?"

Chapter 21

¹ The word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malkijah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest to him, and they said, ² "Seek advice from Yahweh on our behalf, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war on us. Perhaps Yahweh will do miracles for us, as in times past, and will make him withdraw from us."

³ So Jeremiah said to them, "This is what you must say to Zedekiah, ⁴ 'Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: See, I am about to turn back the instruments of war that are in your hand, with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are closing you in from outside the walls! For I will gather them in the middle of this city. ⁵ Then I myself will fight against you with a raised hand and a strong arm, and with wrath, fury, and great anger.

⁶ For I will attack the inhabitants of this city, both man and animal. They will die in a severe plague. ⁷ After this—this is Yahweh's declaration—Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, the people, and whoever remains in this city after the plague, the sword, and the famine, I will give them all into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those seeking their life. Then he will kill them with the edge of the sword. He will not pity them, spare them, or have compassion.'

⁸ Then to this people you must say, 'Yahweh says this: See, I am about to place before you the way of life and the way of death. ⁹ Anyone staying in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague; but anyone going out and falling on his knees before the Chaldeans who have closed in against you will live. His life will be his loot. ¹⁰ For I have set my face against this city in order to bring disaster and not to bring good—this is Yahweh's declaration. It has been given into the hand of the king of Babylon and he will burn it.'

¹¹ Concerning the house of the king of Judah, listen to the word of Yahweh. ¹² House of David, Yahweh says,

'Bring about justice in the morning.

Rescue the one who has been robbed

by the hand of the oppressor,

or my fury will go out like fire and burn,

and there is no one who can quench it,

because of the wickedness of your practices.

¹³ See, inhabitant of the valley!

I am against you, rock of the plain—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

I am against anyone who is saying,

"Who will come down to attack us?"

or "Who will enter our houses?"

¹⁴ I have assigned the fruit of your practices

to come against you—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

and I will light a fire in the thickets,

and it will consume everything around it.'"

Chapter 22

¹ This is what Yahweh says, "Go down to the house of the king of Judah and proclaim this word there. ² Say, 'King of Judah, listen to the word of Yahweh—you who sit on David's throne—you, and your servants, and your people who come through these gates. ³ Yahweh says this, "Perform justice and righteousness, and anyone who has been robbed—rescue him from the hand of the oppressor. Do not mistreat any foreigner in your land, or any orphan or widow. Do not commit violence or pour out innocent blood in this place.

⁴ For if you truly do these things, then kings sitting on David's throne will enter the gates of this house riding in a chariot and on horses—he, his servants, and his people! ⁵ But if you do not listen to these words, then I have sworn by myself—this is Yahweh's declaration—that this royal house will become a ruin."'

⁶ For Yahweh says this concerning the house of the king of Judah,

'You are like Gilead,

or like the summit of Lebanon to me.

Yet I will turn you into a wilderness,

into cities with no inhabitants.

⁷ For I have appointed destroyers to come against you!

Men with their weapons

will cut off the best of your cedars

and let them fall into the fire.

⁸ Then many nations will pass by this city. Each person will say to the next, "Why has Yahweh acted in this way toward this great city?" ⁹ Then the other will answer, "Because they abandoned the covenant of Yahweh their God and bowed down to other gods and worshiped them."

¹⁰ Do not weep for the one who is dead

or mourn for him;

but weep bitterly for him who is about to go away,

because he will never return

and see the land of his birth again.'

¹¹ For Yahweh says this about Shallum son of Josiah king of Judah, who served as king instead of Josiah his father, 'He has gone from this place and will not come back. ¹² He will die there in the place to where they have exiled him, and he will never again see this land.'

¹³ Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness,

his upper rooms by injustice,

who makes his neighbor work for him for nothing,

and he does not give him his wages;

¹⁴ he says, 'I will build for myself a large house

with spacious upper rooms.'

So he cuts out large windows for it,

and he panels it with cedar, and he paints it red.

¹⁵ Is this what makes you a good king,

that you wanted to have boards of cedar?

Did not your father also eat and drink,

yet do justice and righteousness?

Then things went well for him.

¹⁶ He judged in favor of the poor and needy.

It was good then.

Is this not what it means to know me?

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

¹⁷ But there is nothing in your eyes and heart

except worry for your unjust profit

and for pouring out innocent blood,

for producing oppression and crushing of others.

¹⁸ Therefore this is what Yahweh says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:

They will not lament for him, saying,

'Woe, my brother!' or 'Woe, my sister!'

They will not lament for him, saying,

'Woe, master!' or 'Woe, majesty!'

¹⁹ He will be buried with a donkey's burial,

dragged away and thrown out

beyond the gates of Jerusalem.

²⁰ Go up Lebanon's mountains and shout.

Lift your voice in Bashan.

Shout from the Abarim mountains,

for all of your friends will be destroyed.

²¹ I spoke to you when you were safe,

but you said, 'I will not listen.'

This was your custom since your youth,

for you have not listened to my voice.

²² The wind will shepherd away all your shepherds,

and your friends will go into captivity.

Then you will certainly be ashamed and humiliated

by all of your evil deeds.

²³ You who live in 'Lebanon,'

who is nestled in cedar buildings,

how you will be pitied when the labor pains come upon you,

pain like that of a woman in labor!

²⁴ "As I live—this is Yahweh's declaration—even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, were the signet on my right hand, I would tear you off. ²⁵ For I have given you to the hand of the ones seeking your life and to the hand of those before whom you are afraid, even to the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Chaldeans. ²⁶ I will throw you and your mother who bore you into another land, a country where you were not born, and there you will die.

²⁷ About this land to which they will want to return, they will not come back here.

²⁸ Is this a despised and shattered vessel?

Is this man Jehoiachin a pot that pleases no one?

Why have they thrown him and his descendants out,

and have poured them out into a land that they did not know?

²⁹ Land, Land, Land!

Hear the word of Yahweh!

³⁰ Yahweh says this,

'Write about this man Jehoiachin:

He will be childless.

He will not prosper during his days,

and no one among his descendants

will achieve success

or ever again sit on David's throne

and rule over Judah.'"

Chapter 23

¹ "Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture—this is Yahweh's declaration." ² Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says this concerning the shepherds who are shepherding his people, "You have scattered my flock and have driven them away. You have not cared for them. So I am about to punish you for the wickedness of your practices—this is Yahweh's declaration.

³ I myself will gather the remnant of my flock from all of the lands where I have driven them, and I will return them to a grazing place, where they will be fruitful and increase. ⁴ Then I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them so they will no longer fear or be dismayed. None of them will go missing—this is Yahweh's declaration.

⁵ See, the days are coming

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—when I will raise up for David a righteous branch.

He will reign as king;

he will act wisely

and cause justice and righteousness in the land.

⁶ In his days Judah will be rescued,

and Israel will live in security.

Then this is the name by which he will be called:

Yahweh is our righteousness.

⁷ Therefore see, days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when they will no longer say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought the people of Israel up from the land of Egypt.' ⁸ Instead they will say, 'As Yahweh lives, who brought up and who led back the descendants of the house of Israel from the northern land and all the lands where I had driven them.' Then they will live in their own land."

⁹ Regarding the prophets,

my heart is broken in me,

and all of my bones tremble.

I have become like a drunk man,

like a man whom wine has overpowered,

because of Yahweh and his holy words.

¹⁰ For the land is full of adulterers.

Because of the curse the land mourns.

The meadows in the wilderness dry up.

These prophets' paths are wicked;

their power is not used in a right manner.

¹¹ "For both the prophets and the priests are polluted.

I even found their wickedness in my house!

—this is Yahweh's declaration—

¹² therefore their way will be

like a slippery place in the darkness.

They will be pushed down.

They will fall in it.

For I will send disaster against them

in the year of their punishment

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

¹³ For I have seen the prophets in Samaria

doing what is repulsive:

They prophesied by Baal

and led my people Israel astray.

¹⁴ Among the prophets in Jerusalem

I have seen horrible things:

They commit adultery and walk in deceit.

They strengthen the hands of evildoers;

no one turns back from his wickedness.

All of them have become like Sodom to me

and its inhabitants like Gomorrah!"

¹⁵ Therefore Yahweh of hosts says this concerning the prophets,

"Look, I am about to make them eat wormwood

and drink poisonous water,

for pollution has gone out from the prophets of Jerusalem

to all the land."

¹⁶ Yahweh of hosts says this,

"Do not listen to the words of the prophets

who prophesy to you.

They are leading you into vanity!

They are announcing visions from their own minds,

not from Yahweh's mouth.

¹⁷ They are constantly saying to those who dishonor me,

'Yahweh declares there will be peace for you.'

For everyone walking

in the stubbornness of his own heart says,

'Disaster will not come upon you.'

¹⁸ Yet who has stood in Yahweh's council meeting?

Who sees and hears his word?

Who pays attention to his word and listens?

¹⁹ See, there is a storm coming from Yahweh!

His fury is going out, and a tempest is whirling about.

It is whirling around the heads of the wicked.

²⁰ Yahweh's wrath will not return

until it has carried out

and brought into being his heart's purposes.

In the final days,

you will understand it.

²¹ I did not send out these prophets,

but they ran.

I did not proclaim anything to them,

but they have still prophesied.

²² For if they had stood in my council meeting,

they would have caused my people to hear my word;

they would have caused them to turn from their wicked words

and from the wickedness of their practices.

²³ Am I only a God nearby

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—and not also a God far away?

²⁴ Can anyone hide in a secret place so I cannot see him?

—this is Yahweh's declaration—

and do I not fill the heavens and the earth?

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

²⁵ I have heard what the prophets have said, those who were prophesying deceit in my name. They said, 'I had a dream! I had a dream!' ²⁶ How long will this go on, prophets who prophesy lies from their minds, and who prophesy from the deceit in their hearts? ²⁷ They are planning on making my people forget my name with the dreams that they report, each one to his neighbor, just as their ancestors forgot my name in favor of Baal's name.

²⁸ The prophet who has a dream, let him report the dream. But the one to whom I have declared something, let him declare my word truthfully. What does straw have to do with grain?—this is Yahweh's declaration— ²⁹ Is not my word like fire?—this is Yahweh's declaration—and like a hammer that shatters a rock into pieces? ³⁰ So see, I am against the prophets—this is Yahweh's declaration—anyone who steals words from another person and says they come from me.

³¹ See, I am against the prophets—this is Yahweh's declaration—who use their tongues to prophesy proclamations. ³² See, I am against the prophets who dream deceitfully—this is Yahweh's declaration—and then proclaim them and in this way mislead my people with their deceit and boasting. I am against them, for I have not sent them out nor given them commands. So they will certainly not help this people—this is Yahweh's declaration.

³³ When these people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, 'What is the burden of Yahweh?' you will say to them, 'You are the burden, and I will cast you off'—this is Yahweh's declaration. ³⁴ As for the prophets, priests, and people who are saying, 'This is the burden of Yahweh' I will punish that man and his house.

³⁵ You continue to say, each person to his neighbor and each man to his brother, 'What did Yahweh answer?' and 'What did Yahweh declare?' ³⁶ But you must no longer talk about the 'burden of Yahweh,' for the burden is every man's own word, and you have perverted the words of the living God, Yahweh of hosts, our God.

³⁷ This is what you will say to the prophet, 'What answer did Yahweh give you?' or 'What did Yahweh say?' ³⁸ But if you say, 'The burden of Yahweh', this is what Yahweh says: 'Because you have said these words, 'The burden of Yahweh,' when I sent to you, saying, 'You will not say, "The burden of Yahweh,"' ³⁹ therefore, behold, I am about to pick you up and throw you away from me, along with the city that I gave you and your ancestors. ⁴⁰ Then I will put everlasting disgrace and everlasting shame on you that will not be forgotten.'"

Chapter 24

¹ Yahweh showed me something. Behold, two baskets of figs were placed before the temple of Yahweh. (This vision happened after Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, took into exile Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, the officials of Judah, the craftsmen and the metalworkers from Jerusalem and brought them to Babylon.) ² One basket of figs was very good, like first ripe figs, but the other basket of figs was so very bad that they could not be eaten. ³ Yahweh said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I said, "Figs. Figs that are very good and figs that are so very bad they cannot be eaten."

⁴ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ⁵ "Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: I will look on the exiles of Judah for their benefit, just like these good figs, the exiles whom I have sent out from this place to the land of Chaldea. ⁶ I will set my eyes on them for good and restore them to this land. I will build them up, and not tear them down. I will plant them, and not uproot them. ⁷ Then I will give them a heart to know me, for I am Yahweh. They will be my people and I will be their God, so they will turn to me with all their heart.

⁸ But like the bad figs that are too bad to be eaten—this is what Yahweh says—I will act in this way with Zedekiah, king of Judah, with his officials, and with the rest of Jerusalem who remain in this land or go to stay in the land of Egypt. ⁹ I will turn them into a terrifying thing, a disaster, in the sight of all the kingdoms on earth, a disgrace and a subject for proverbs, taunts, and curses in every place where I will have driven them. ¹⁰ I will send out sword, famine, and plague against them, until they are destroyed from the land that I gave them and their ancestors."

Chapter 25

¹ This is the word that came to Jeremiah about all the people of Judah. It came in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah. That was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. ² Jeremiah the prophet proclaimed this to all the people of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

³ He said, "For twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah until this day, Yahweh's words have been coming to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. ⁴ Yahweh sent out all his servants the prophets to you again and again, but you have not listened or turned your ear to hear.

⁵ These prophets said, 'Let each man turn from his wicked way and the wickedness of his practices and return to the land that Yahweh gave in ancient times to your ancestors and to you, as a permanent gift. ⁶ So do not walk after other gods to worship them or bow down to them, and do not provoke him with the work of your hands so that he does you harm.'

⁷ But you have not listened to me—this is Yahweh's declaration—so you have provoked me with the work of your hands to do harm to you. ⁸ So Yahweh of hosts says this, 'Because you did not listen to my words, ⁹ see, I am about to send out a command to gather all the peoples of the north—this is Yahweh's declaration—with Nebuchadnezzar my servant, king of Babylon, and bring them against this land and its inhabitants, and against all the nations around you. For I will set them apart for destruction. I will turn them into a horror, an object for hissing, and an unending desolation.

¹⁰ I will put an end to the sound of joy and sound of gladness, the sound of the groom and the sound of the bride, the sound of the millstones and the light of the lamp. ¹¹ Then all of this land will become a desolation and a horror, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.

¹² Then it will happen when seventy years have been completed, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation, the land of the Chaldeans—this is Yahweh's declaration—for their iniquity and make it an unending desolation. ¹³ Then I will carry out against that land all the words that I had spoken, and everything written in this book that Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations. ¹⁴ For also many other nations and great kings will make slaves out of these nations. I will repay them for their deeds and the works of their hands.'"

¹⁵ For Yahweh, God of Israel, said this to me, "Take this cup of the wine of fury from my hand and make all the nations to which I am sending you drink it. ¹⁶ For they will drink and then stagger about and rant madly before the sword that I am sending out among them."

¹⁷ So I took the cup from Yahweh's hand, and I made all the nations to which Yahweh had sent me drink it: ¹⁸ Jerusalem, the cities of Judah and her kings and officials—to turn them into ruins and a waste, and into an object for hissing and cursing, as they are at this present day.

¹⁹ Other nations also had to drink it: Pharaoh king of Egypt and his servants; his officials and all his people; ²⁰ all people of mixed heritage and all the kings of the land of Uz; all the kings of the land of the Philistines—Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod; ²¹ Edom and Moab and the people of Ammon.

²² The kings of Tyre and Sidon, the kings of the coasts on the other side of the sea, ²³ Dedan, Tema, and Buz with all the ones who cut the hair on the sides of their heads very short, they also had to drink it.

²⁴ All the kings of Arabia and all the kings of people of mixed heritage who live in the wilderness; ²⁵ all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes; ²⁶ all the kings of the north, the ones close by and the ones far away—everyone with his brother and all the kingdoms of the world that are on the surface of the earth, all of them had to drink the cup from Yahweh's hand. Finally, the king of Babylon will also drink from that cup.

²⁷ Yahweh said to me, "Now you must say to them, 'Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: Drink and become drunk, then vomit, fall down, and do not rise before the sword that I am sending among you.' ²⁸ Then it will happen that if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink, you will say to them, 'Yahweh of hosts says this: You must certainly drink it. ²⁹ For see, I am about to bring disaster on the city that is called by my name, and should you yourselves be free from punishment? You will not be free, for I am calling a sword against all the inhabitants of the land!—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts.'

³⁰ You must prophesy all these words against them, and say to them,

'Yahweh will roar from the heights

and he will shout with his voice from his holy dwelling,

and he will roar mightily against his fold;

and he will shout, like those who tread the grapes

against all those who live on the earth.

³¹ The sound of battle will resound to the ends of the earth,

for Yahweh brings charges against the nations,

and he brings judgment on all flesh,

and the wicked ones he will put to the sword

—this is Yahweh's declaration.'

³² Yahweh of hosts says this,

'See, disaster is going out from nation to nation,

and a great storm is beginning

from the farthest parts of the earth.

³³ Then those killed by Yahweh will on that day extend from one end of the earth to the other; they will not be mourned, gathered, or buried. They will be like dung on the ground.

³⁴ Wail, shepherds, and shout for help!

Roll about in the dust, you noblemen of the flock,

for the days of your slaughter have come;

you will be scattered when you fall like fine pottery.

³⁵ There is no refuge for the shepherds,

there will be no escape for the noblemen of the flock.

³⁶ Hear the outcry of the shepherds

and the wails of the noblemen of the flock,

for Yahweh is destroying their pastures.

³⁷ So the peaceful pastures will be devastated

because of Yahweh's fierce anger.

³⁸ Like a young lion, he has left his den,

for their land will become a horror

because of the oppressor's anger,

because of his angry wrath.'" ¹

¹Instead of the oppressor's anger , some ancient Hebrew copies and some modern translations have the oppressor's sword .

Chapter 26

¹ In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from Yahweh, saying, ² "Yahweh says this: Stand in the courtyard of my house and speak about all the cities of Judah who come to worship at my house. Proclaim all the words that I have commanded you to say to them. Do not cut short any word! ³ It may be that they will listen, that each man will turn from his wicked ways, so I will relent concerning the disaster that I am planning to bring on them because of the wickedness of their deeds.

⁴ So you must say to them, 'Yahweh says this: If you do not listen to me so as to walk in my law that I have placed before you— ⁵ if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I am persistently sending to you—but you have not listened!— ⁶ then I will make this house like Shiloh; I will turn this city into a curse in the sight of all the nations on earth.'"

⁷ The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah announcing these words in the house of Yahweh. ⁸ So it happened that when Jeremiah had finished announcing all that Yahweh commanded him to say to all the people, the priests, prophets, and all the people seized him and said, "You will certainly die! ⁹ Why have you prophesied in Yahweh's name and said that this house will become like Shiloh and this city will become desolate, with no inhabitant?" For all the people had assembled together against Jeremiah in the house of Yahweh.

¹⁰ Then the officials of Judah heard these words and went up from the house of the king to the house of Yahweh. They sat in the gateway at the New Gate of the house of Yahweh. ¹¹ The priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people. They said, "It is right for this man to die, for he prophesied against this city, just as you heard with your own ears!" ¹² So Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people and said, "Yahweh has sent me out to prophesy against this house and this city, to say all the words that you have heard.

¹³ So now, improve your ways and your practices, and listen to the voice of Yahweh your God so that he will relent concerning the disaster that he has proclaimed against you. ¹⁴ I myself—look at me!—am in your hand. Do to me what is good and right in your eyes. ¹⁵ But you must surely know that if you kill me, then you are bringing innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and its inhabitants, for Yahweh has truly sent me to you to proclaim all these words for your ears."

¹⁶ Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and prophets, "It is not right for this man to die, for he has proclaimed things to us in the name of Yahweh our God." ¹⁷ Then men from the elders of the land rose up and spoke to the entire assembly of the people.

¹⁸ They said, "Micah of Moresheth was prophesying in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He spoke to all the people of Judah and said, 'Yahweh of hosts says this:

Zion will become a plowed field,

Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,

and the hill of the temple will become a thicket.'

¹⁹ Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all of Judah put him to death? Did he not fear Yahweh and appease the face of Yahweh so that Yahweh would relent concerning the disaster that he proclaimed to them? So will we do greater evil against our own lives?"

²⁰ Meanwhile there was another man who prophesied in the name of Yahweh—Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim—he also prophesied against this city and this land, agreeing with all of Jeremiah's words. ²¹ But when King Jehoiakim and all his soldiers and officials heard his word, then the king tried to put him to death, but Uriah heard and was afraid, so he ran away and went to Egypt.

²² Then King Jehoiakim sent out men to go to Egypt—Elnathan son of Akbor and men to go into Egypt after Uriah. ²³ They took Uriah out from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim. Then Jehoiakim killed him with a sword and sent his corpse out to the graves of the ordinary people. ²⁴ But the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so he was not given into the hand of the people to be put to death.

Chapter 27

¹ In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh. ¹ ² This is what Yahweh said to me, "Make fetters and a yoke for yourself. Place them on your neck. ³ Then send them out to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the people of Ammon, the king of Tyre, and to the king of Sidon. Send them by the hand of those kings' ambassadors who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. ⁴ Give commands to them for their masters and say, 'Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: This is what you must say to your masters,

⁵ "I myself made the earth by my great strength and my raised arm. I also made men and animals on the earth, and I give it to anyone who is right in my eyes. ⁶ So now, I myself am giving all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, my servant. Also, I am giving the living things in the fields to him to serve him. ⁷ For all the nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until the time for his land comes. Then many nations and great kings will subdue him.

⁸ So the nation and the kingdom that does not serve Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and that does not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon—I will punish that nation with the sword, with famine, and with the plague—this is Yahweh's declaration—until I have destroyed it by his hand.

⁹ So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your soothsayers, and sorcerers, who have been speaking to you and saying, 'Do not serve the king of Babylon.' ¹⁰ For they are prophesying deceit to you in order to send you far away from your lands, for I will drive you away, and you will die. ¹¹ But the nation that places its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serves him, I will allow it to rest in its land—this is Yahweh's declaration—and they will cultivate it and make their homes in it."'"

¹² So I spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah and gave him this message, "Place your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people, and you will live. ¹³ Why will you die—you and your people—by the sword, famine, and plague, just as I have declared about the nation that refuses to serve the king of Babylon?

¹⁴ Do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you and say, 'Do not serve the king of Babylon,' for they are prophesying lies to you. ¹⁵ 'For I have not sent them out—this is Yahweh's declaration—for they are prophesying deceit in my name so that I will drive you out and you will perish, both you and the prophets who are prophesying to you.'"

¹⁶ I proclaimed this to the priests and all the people and said, "Yahweh says this: Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you and say, 'Look! The objects belonging to the house of Yahweh are being returned from Babylon now!' They are prophesying lies to you. ¹⁷ Do not listen to them. You should serve the king of Babylon and live. Why should this city become a ruin? ¹⁸ If they are prophets, and if the word of Yahweh has truly come to them, let them beg Yahweh of hosts not to send to Babylon the objects that remain in his house, the house of the king of Judah, and Jerusalem.

¹⁹ Yahweh of hosts says this about the pillars, the large basin known as "The Sea" and its base, and the rest of the objects that remain in this city— ²⁰ the objects that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he carried Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, the king of Judah, into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem.

²¹ Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this about the objects that remain in the house of Yahweh, the house of the king of Judah, and Jerusalem, ²² 'They will be brought to Babylon, and they will remain there until the day I have set to come for them—this is Yahweh's declaration—then I will bring them up and restore them to this place.'"

¹Although most Hebrew copies have Jehoiakim , most modern translations have Zedekiah , because the events in this chapter occur during his reign.

Chapter 28

¹ It happened in that year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year and the fifth month, Hananiah son of Azzur the prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of Yahweh in front of the priests and all the people. He said, ² "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: I have broken the yoke imposed by the king of Babylon.

³ Within two years I will bring back to this place all the objects belonging to the house of Yahweh house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took from this place and transported to Babylon. ⁴ Then I will bring back to this place Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the captives of Judah who were sent to Babylon—this is Yahweh's declaration—for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon."

⁵ So Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Hananiah the prophet in front of the priests and to all the people who stood in the house of Yahweh. ⁶ Jeremiah the prophet said, "Let it be so! May Yahweh confirm the words that you prophesied and bring back to this place the objects belonging to the house of Yahweh and all the captives from Babylon. ⁷ However, listen to the word that I am proclaiming in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people.

⁸ The prophets who existed before me and you from long ago also prophesied about many nations and against great kingdoms, about war, famine ¹ , and plague. ⁹ So the prophet who prophesies that there will be peace—if his word comes true, then it will be known that he is indeed a prophet sent out by Yahweh."

¹⁰ But Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. ¹¹ Then Hananiah spoke in front of all the people and said, "Yahweh says this: Just like this, within two years I will break from off the neck of every nation the yoke imposed by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon." Then Jeremiah the prophet went on his way.

¹² After Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying, ¹³ "Go and speak to Hananiah and say, 'Yahweh says this: You broke yokes of wood, and in their place you have made yokes of iron.' ¹⁴ For Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: I have placed a yoke of iron on the neck of all of these nations to serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I have also given him the wild beasts in the fields to rule over."

¹⁵ Next Jeremiah the prophet said to Hananiah the prophet, "Listen Hananiah! Yahweh has not sent you, but you yourself have caused this people to trust in a lie. ¹⁶ So Yahweh says this: Look, I am about to send you out from the earth. You will die this year, since you proclaimed rebellion against Yahweh." ¹⁷ In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.

¹Some ancient copies have disaster instead of famine .

Chapter 29

¹ These are the words in the scroll that Jeremiah the prophet sent out from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the captives and to the priests, prophets, and all the people that Nebuchadnezzar exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon. ² This was after Jehoiachin the king, the queen mother, and the high officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, and the craftsmen had been sent away from Jerusalem. ³ He sent this scroll by the hand of Elasah son of Shapan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah whom Zedekiah, king of Judah, had sent to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

⁴ The scroll said, "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this to all the captives whom I caused to be exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon, ⁵ 'Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit.

⁶ Take wives and give birth to sons and daughters. Then take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands. Let them give birth to sons and daughters and increase there so you do not become too few. ⁷ Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be exiled, and intercede with me on its behalf since there will be peace for you if it is at peace.'

⁸ For Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that you encourage them to dream. ⁹ For they are prophesying deceitfully to you in my name. I did not send them—this is Yahweh's declaration.'

¹⁰ For Yahweh says this, 'When Babylon has ruled you for seventy years, I will help you and carry out my good word for you to bring you back to this place. ¹¹ For I myself know the plans that I have for you—this is Yahweh's declaration—plans for peace and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

¹² Then you will call to me, and go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ For you will seek me and find me, since you will seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ Then I will be found by you—this is Yahweh's declaration—and I will reverse your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and places where I scattered you—this is Yahweh's declaration—for I will bring you back to the place from where I caused you to be exiled.'

¹⁵ Since you said that Yahweh has raised up prophets for us in Babylon, ¹⁶ Yahweh says this to the king who sits on the throne of David and to all the people who are staying in that city, your brothers who have not gone out with you into captivity— ¹⁷ Yahweh of hosts says this, 'See, I am about to send sword, famine, and plague on them. For I will make them like rotten figs that are too bad to be eaten.

¹⁸ Then I will pursue them with sword, famine, and plague and make them a terrifying thing to all the kingdoms on earth—a horror, an object of curses and hissing, and a shameful thing among all the nations where I scattered her. ¹⁹ This is because they did not listen to my word—this is Yahweh's declaration—that I sent out to them through my servants the prophets. I repeatedly sent them, but you would not listen—this is Yahweh's declaration.'

²⁰ So you yourselves listen to the word of Yahweh, all you exiles whom he has sent out from Jerusalem to Babylon,

²¹ 'Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who prophesy falsely to you in my name: See, I am about to put them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He will kill them before your eyes.

²² Then a curse will be spoken about these persons by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon. The curse will say: "May Yahweh make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in fire." ²³ This will happen because of the disgraceful things they did in Israel when they committed adultery with their neighbor's wives and declared false words in my name, things that I never commanded them to say. For I am the one who knows; I am the witness—this is Yahweh's declaration.'"

²⁴ About Shemaiah the Nehelamite, say this: ²⁵ "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: Because you sent out letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, and said, ²⁶ 'Yahweh has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, for you to be the overseer of the house of Yahweh. You are in control of all the people who rave and make themselves into prophets. You should put them in stocks and chains.

²⁷ So now, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who makes himself into a prophet against you? ²⁸ For he has sent to us in Babylon and said, 'It will be a long time. Build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their fruit."'" ²⁹ Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet.

³⁰ Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying, ³¹ "Send word to all the exiles and say, 'Yahweh says this about Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you when I myself did not send him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie, ³² therefore Yahweh says this: Look, I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. There will not be a man for him to stay among this people. He will not see the good that I will do for my people—this is Yahweh's declaration—for he has proclaimed rebellion against Yahweh.'"

Chapter 30

¹ The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, ² "This is what Yahweh, God of Israel, says, 'Write in a scroll all the words that I have spoken to you. ³ For look, days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when I will reverse the captivity of my people, Israel and Judah. I, Yahweh, have said it. For I will bring them back to the land that I gave their ancestors, and they will possess it.'"

⁴ These are the words that Yahweh declared concerning Israel and Judah, ⁵ "For Yahweh says this,

'We have heard a trembling voice

of dread and not of peace.

⁶ Ask and see if a man bears a child.

Why do I see every young man with his hand on his loins

like a woman bearing a child?

Why have all their faces become pale?

⁷ Woe! For that day will be great,

with none like it.

It will be a time of distress for Jacob,

but he will be rescued from it.

⁸ For it will be in that day

—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts

—that I will break the yoke off your neck,

and I will shatter your chains,

so foreigners will no longer enslave you.

⁹ But they will worship Yahweh their God

and serve David their king,

whom I will make king over them.

¹⁰ So you, my servant Jacob, do not fear

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—and do not be dismayed, Israel.

For see, I am about to deliver you from the faraway place,

and your descendants from the land of captivity.

Jacob will return and be at ease;

he will rest secure,

and there will be no more terror.

¹¹ For I am with you

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—to save you.

Then I will bring a complete end

to all the nations where I have scattered you.

But I will certainly not put an end to you,

though I discipline you justly

and will certainly not leave you unpunished.'

¹² For Yahweh says this,

'Your injury is incurable;

your wound is infected.

¹³ There is no one to plead your case;

there is no remedy for your wound to heal you.

¹⁴ All of your lovers have forgotten you.

They will not look for you,

for I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy

and the discipline of a cruel master

because of your many iniquities

and your numerous sins.

¹⁵ Why do you call for help for your injury?

Your pain is incurable.

Because of your many iniquities,

your numerous sins,

I have done these things to you.

¹⁶ So everyone who consumes you

will be consumed,

and all of your adversaries will go into captivity.

For the ones who have plundered you

will become plunder,

and I will make all of the ones despoiling you a spoil.

¹⁷ For I will bring healing on you;

I will heal you of your wounds

—this is Yahweh's declaration—

I will do this because they called you:

Outcast. No one cares for this Zion.'"

¹⁸ Yahweh says this,

"See, I am about to bring back

the fortunes of Jacob's tents

and have compassion on his homes.

Then a city will be built on the heap of ruins,

and a stronghold will exist again where it used to be.

¹⁹ Then a song of praise and a sound of merriment

will go out from them,

for I will increase them and not diminish them;

I will honor them so they will not be humbled.

²⁰ Then their people will be like before,

and their assembly will be established before me

when I punish all the ones

who are now oppressing them.

²¹ Their ruler will come from among them.

He will emerge from their midst

when I draw him near and when he approaches me.

If I do not do this,

who would dare come close to me?

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

²² Then you will be my people,

and I will be your God.

²³ See, the tempest of Yahweh,

his fury, has gone out.

It is a continual tempest.

It will whirl on the heads of the wicked people.

²⁴ Yahweh's wrath will not return

until it has carried out and brought into being

his heart's purposes.

In the final days,

you will understand it."

Chapter 31

¹ "At that time—this is Yahweh's declaration—I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they will be my people."

² Yahweh says this,

"The people who have survived the sword

have found favor in the wilderness;

I will go out to give rest to Israel."

³ Yahweh appeared to me in the past and said,

"I have loved you, Israel, with everlasting love.

So I have drawn you toward myself

with covenant faithfulness.

⁴ I will build you up again

so you will be built, virgin Israel.

You will again pick up your tambourine

and go out with happy dances.

⁵ You will plant vineyards again

on the mountains of Samaria;

the farmers will plant and put the fruit to good use.

⁶ For a day will come

when the watchmen in the mountains of Ephraim will proclaim,

'Arise, let us go up to Zion to Yahweh our God.'

⁷ For Yahweh says this,

"Shout for joy over Jacob!

Shout in gladness for the chief people of the nations!

Let praise be heard.

Say, 'Yahweh has rescued his people, the remnant of Israel.'

⁸ See, I am about to bring them from the northern lands.

I will gather them from the farthest parts of the earth.

The blind and lame will be among them;

pregnant women and those who are about to give birth

will be with them.

A great assembly will return here.

⁹ They will come weeping;

I will lead them as they make their pleas.

I will have them journey to streams of water

on a straight road.

They will not stumble on it,

for I will be a Father to Israel,

and Ephraim will be my firstborn.

¹⁰ "Hear the word of Yahweh, nations.

Report along the coasts in the distance.

You nations must say,

'The one who scattered Israel is gathering her up

and keeping her as a shepherd keeps his sheep.'

¹¹ For Yahweh has ransomed Jacob

and has redeemed him from the hand

that was too strong for him.

¹² Then they will come and rejoice on the heights of Zion.

Their faces will shine because of Yahweh's goodness,

over the grain and the new wine,

over the oil and the offspring of the flocks and herds.

For their lives will become like a watered garden,

and they will never again feel any more sorrow.

¹³ Then virgins will rejoice with dancing,

and young and old men will be together.

For I will change their mourning into celebration.

I will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.

¹⁴ Then I will saturate the lives of the priests

with abundance.

My people will fill themselves with my goodness

—this is Yahweh's declaration."

¹⁵ Yahweh says this

"A voice is heard in Ramah,

wailing and bitter weeping.

It is Rachel weeping for her children.

She refuses to be comforted over them,

for they live no longer."

¹⁶ Yahweh says this,

"Hold your voice back from weeping

and your eyes from tears;

there is a reward for your work

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—your children will return from the land of the enemy.

¹⁷ There is hope for your future

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—your descendants will return inside their borders.

¹⁸ "I have certainly heard Ephraim sorrowing,

'You punished me,

and I have been punished like an untrained calf.

Bring me back and I will be brought back,

for you are Yahweh my God.

¹⁹ For after I turned back to you, I repented;

after I was trained, I slapped my thigh.

I was ashamed and humiliated,

for I have borne the disgrace of my youth.'

²⁰ Is not Ephraim my precious child?

Is he not my dear, delightful son?

For whenever I speak against him,

I certainly still call him to my loving mind.

In this way my heart longs for him.

I will certainly have compassion on him

—this is Yahweh's declaration."

²¹ Place road signs for yourself.

Set up guideposts for yourself.

Set your mind on the right path,

the way you should take.

Come back, virgin Israel!

Come back to these cities of yours.

²² How long will you waver, faithless daughter?

For Yahweh has created something new on earth

—a woman surrounds a strong man.

²³ Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, says this, "When I reverse their captivity, they will say this in the land of Judah and its cities, 'May Yahweh bless you, you righteous place where he lives, you holy mountain.' ²⁴ For Judah and all its cities will live together there, as will farmers and those who set out with flocks. ²⁵ For I will cause those who are weary to drink their fill, and I fill up those who are faint." ²⁶ After this I awoke, and I realized that my sleep had been refreshing.

²⁷ "Look, the days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when I will sow the houses of Israel and Judah with the seed of man and the seed of animals. ²⁸ In the past, I kept them under surveillance in order to uproot them and to tear them down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring them harm. But in the coming days, I will watch over them, in order to build them up and to plant them—this is Yahweh's declaration.

²⁹ In those days no one will say any longer,

'Fathers have eaten sour grapes,

but the children's teeth are dulled.'

³⁰ For each man will die in his own iniquity; everyone who eats sour grapes, his teeth will be dulled.

³¹ Look, the days are coming—

this is Yahweh's declaration—

when I will establish a new covenant

with the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

³² It will not be like the covenant

that I established with their fathers in the days

when I took them by their hand

to bring them out from the land of Egypt,

because they broke my covenant,

although I was a husband for them—

this is Yahweh's declaration.

³³ This is the covenant

that I will establish with the house of Israel

after these days

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

I will place my law within them

and will write it on their heart,

for I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

³⁴ Then each man will no longer teach his neighbor,

or a man teach his brother and say, 'Know Yahweh!'

For all of them will know me,

from the smallest of them to the greatest

—this is Yahweh's declaration—

for I will forgive their iniquity

and will no longer call their sins to mind."

³⁵ Yahweh says this,

it is he who gives the sun for light by day

and the ordinance of the moon and stars

for light by night.

He is the one who sets the sea in motion

so that its waves roar—

Yahweh of hosts is his name.

³⁶ "Only if these permanent things vanish from my sight

—this is Yahweh's declaration—

will Israel's descendants ever stop

from forever being a nation before me."

³⁷ Yahweh says this,

"Only if the highest heavens can be measured,

and only if the earth's foundation below can be discovered,

will I reject all of Israel's descendants

because of all that they have done

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

³⁸ "Look, the days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when the city will be rebuilt for me, from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. ³⁹ Then the measuring line will go out again farther, to the hill of Gareb and around Goah. ⁴⁰ The whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes, and all the terraced fields going out to the Kidron Valley as far as the corner of the Horse Gate on the east, will be set apart for Yahweh. The city will not be pulled up or overthrown again, forever."

Chapter 32

¹ This is the word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. ² At that time, the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was imprisoned in the courtyard of the guard at the house of the king of Judah.

³ Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him and said, "Why do you prophesy and say, 'Yahweh says this: Look, I am about to give over this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. ⁴ Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the hand of the Chaldeans, for he will certainly be given into the hand of the king of Babylon. His mouth will speak to the king's mouth, and his eyes will see the king's eyes. ⁵ He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, and he will remain there until I have dealt with him—this is Yahweh's declaration. Though you fight against the Chaldeans, you will not succeed.'?"

⁶ Jeremiah said, "The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ⁷ 'Look, Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you and will say, "Buy my field that is in Anathoth for yourself, for the right of redemption belongs to you."'"

⁸ Then, as Yahweh had declared, Hanamel, the son of my uncle, came to me in the courtyard of the guard, and he said to me, "Buy my field that is in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of inheritance is yours, and the right of redemption belongs to you. Buy it for yourself." Then I knew that this was Yahweh's word. ⁹ So I bought the field in Anathoth from Hanamel, the son of my uncle, and I weighed out for him the silver, seventeen shekels in weight.

¹⁰ Then I wrote in a scroll and sealed it, and had witnesses witness it. Then I weighed the silver in the scales. ¹¹ Next I took the deed of purchase that was sealed, following the command and the statutes, as well as the unsealed deed. ¹² I gave the sealed scroll to Baruch son of Neriah son of Mahseiah in front of Hanamel, the son of my uncle, and the witnesses who had written in the sealed scroll, and in front of all the Jews who sat in the courtyard of the guard.

¹³ So I gave a command to Baruch before them. I said, ¹⁴ "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: Take these documents, both this receipt of purchase that is sealed and the unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last for a long time. ¹⁵ For Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land."

¹⁶ After I gave the receipt of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to Yahweh and said,

¹⁷ "Woe, Lord Yahweh! Look! You alone have made the heavens and the earth by your great strength and with your raised arm. Nothing you say is too difficult for you to do. ¹⁸ You show steadfast love to thousands and pour the guilt of fathers into the laps of their children after them. You are the great and mighty God; Yahweh of hosts is your name.

¹⁹ You are great in wise counsel and mighty in deeds, for your eyes are open to all the ways of people, to give to each man what his conduct and deeds deserve. ²⁰ You did signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. To this present day here in Israel and among all mankind, you have made your name famous. ²¹ For you brought your people Israel out from the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand, with a raised arm, and with great terror.

²² Then you gave them this land—which you had sworn to their ancestors to give to them—a land flowing with milk and honey. ²³ So they entered and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or live in obedience to your law. They did nothing of what you had commanded them to do, so you brought all this disaster on them.

²⁴ Look! The siege mounds have reached up to the city to capture it. For because of sword, famine, and plague, the city has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. For what you have said would happen is happening, and see, you are watching. ²⁵ Then you, Lord Yahweh, said to me, "Purchase a field for yourself with silver and have witnesses witness it, even though this city is being given into the hand of the Chaldeans."

²⁶ The word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying, ²⁷ "Look! I am Yahweh, God of all mankind. Is anything too difficult for me to do? ²⁸ Therefore Yahweh says this, 'See, I am about to give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans and Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. He will capture it.

²⁹ The Chaldeans who are fighting against this city will come and set fire to this city and burn it, along with the houses on the roofs of which the people worshiped Baal and poured out drink offerings to other gods in order to provoke me. ³⁰ For the people of Israel and Judah have certainly been people who have been doing evil before my eyes since their youth. The people of Israel have certainly provoked me to anger with the works of their hands—this is Yahweh's declaration.

³¹ Yahweh declares that this city has been a provocation of my wrath and fury since the day that they built it. It has been that right up to this present day. So I will remove it from before my face ³² because of all the wickedness of the people of Israel and Judah, the things that they have done to provoke me—they, their kings, princes, priests, prophets, and every person in Judah and inhabitant of Jerusalem.

³³ They turned their backs to me instead of their faces. Though I persistently taught them, not one of them listened in order to receive correction. ³⁴ They set up their abominable idols in the house that is called by my name, to defile it. ³⁵ They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom in order to put their sons and daughters in the fire for Molech. I did not command them. It never entered my mind that they should do this detestable thing and so cause Judah to sin.'

³⁶ So now therefore, I, Yahweh, the God of Israel, say this concerning this city, the city about which you are saying, 'It is given into the hand of the king of Babylon by sword, famine, and plague.' ³⁷ See, I am about to gather them from every land where I had driven them in my wrath, fury, and great anger. I am about to bring them back to this place and enable them to live in security.

³⁸ Then they will be my people, and I will be their God. ³⁹ I will give them one heart and one way to honor me every day so it will be good for them and their descendants after them. ⁴⁰ Then I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. I will set honor for me in their hearts, so that they will never turn away from me.

⁴¹ Then I will rejoice in doing good to them. I will faithfully plant them in this land with all my heart and all my life.

⁴² For Yahweh says this, 'Just as I have brought all this great disaster on this people, so I will bring on them all the good things that I have said I would do for them.

⁴³ Then fields will be bought in this land, about which you are saying, "This is a ruined land, which has neither man nor animal. It has been given into the hand of the Chaldeans." ⁴⁴ They will buy fields with silver and write in sealed scrolls. They will assemble witnesses in the land of Benjamin, all around Jerusalem and the cities of Judah, in the cities in the hill country and in the lowlands, and in the cities of the Negev. For I will reverse their captivity—this is Yahweh's declaration.'"

Chapter 33

¹ Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut within the courtyard of the guard, saying, ² "Yahweh the maker, says this—Yahweh, who forms in order to establish—Yahweh is his name, ³ 'Call to me, and I will answer you. I will demonstrate great things to you, mysteries that you do not understand.'

⁴ For Yahweh, God of Israel, says this concerning the houses in this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that are torn down because of the siege ramps and the sword, ⁵ 'The Chaldeans are coming to fight and to fill the houses with corpses of people whom I will kill in my wrath and fury, when I hide my face from this city because of all their wickedness.

⁶ But see, I am about to bring healing and a cure, for I will heal them and will bring to them abundance, peace, and faithfulness. ⁷ For I will reverse the captivity of Judah and Israel; I will build them up as in the beginning. ⁸ Then I will purify them from all the iniquity that they have committed against me. I will pardon all the iniquities that they have done against me, and all the ways that they rebelled against me. ⁹ For this city will become for me a joyful name, a song of praise and honor for all the nations of the earth who will hear of all the good things that I am going to do for it. Then they will fear and tremble because of all the good things and the peace that I will give to it.'

¹⁰ Yahweh says this, 'In this place about which you are now saying, "It is desolate, a place with neither man nor animal," in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, having neither man nor animal, there will be heard again ¹¹ the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the sound of the groom and the sound of the bride, the sound of those who say, while they bring thank offerings to the house of Yahweh,

"Give thanks to Yahweh of hosts, for Yahweh is good,

and his unfailing love lasts forever!"

For I will reverse the captivity of the land to what they were before,' says Yahweh.

¹² Yahweh of hosts says this: 'In this desolate place, where now there is neither man nor animal—in all its cities there will again be pastures where shepherds can rest their flocks. ¹³ In the cities in the hill country, the lowlands, and the Negev,in the land of Benjamin and all around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again pass under the hands of the ones counting them,' says Yahweh.

¹⁴ 'Look! Days are coming—this is Yahweh's declaration—when I will do what I have promised for the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

¹⁵ In those days and in that time

I will make a righteous branch to grow for David,

and he will carry out justice and righteousness in the land.

¹⁶ In those days Judah will be saved,

and Jerusalem will live in security,

for this is what she will be called,

"Yahweh is our righteousness."'

¹⁷ For Yahweh says this: 'A man from David's line will never be lacking to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, ¹⁸ nor will a man from the Levitical priests be lacking before me to raise burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to perform sacrifices all the time.'"

¹⁹ The word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying, ²⁰ "Yahweh says this: 'If you can break my covenant with day and night so that there will no longer be day or night at their proper times, ²¹ then you will be able to break my covenant with David my servant, so that he will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests, my servants. ²² As the hosts of heaven cannot be counted, and as the sand of the seashores cannot be measured, so I will increase the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who serve before me.'"

²³ The word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying, ²⁴ "Have you not considered what this people has declared when they said, 'The two families that Yahweh chose, now he has rejected them'? In this way they despise my people, saying that they are no longer a nation in their sight.

²⁵ I, Yahweh, say this, 'If I have not established the covenant of day and night, and if I have not fixed the laws of heaven and earth, ²⁶ then I will reject the descendants of Jacob and David my servant and not bring from them a person to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will reverse their captivity and show mercy to them.'"

Chapter 34

¹ The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all of his army, together with all the kingdoms of the earth, the domains under his dominion, and all their people were waging war against Jerusalem and all of her cities, saying: ² "Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: Go and speak to Zedekiah king of Judah and say to him, 'Yahweh says this: Look, I am about to give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon. He will burn it. ³ You will not escape from his hand, for you will certainly be seized and given into his hand. Your eyes will look at the eyes of the king of Babylon; he will speak directly to you as you go to Babylon.'

⁴ Listen to the word of Yahweh, Zedekiah king of Judah! Yahweh says this concerning you, 'You will not die by the sword. ⁵ You will die in peace. As in the funeral burning of your ancestors, the kings who were before you, they will burn your body. They will say, "Woe, master!" They will lament for you. Now I have spoken—this is Yahweh's declaration.'"

⁶ So Jeremiah the prophet proclaimed to Zedekiah king of Judah all these words in Jerusalem. ⁷ The army of the king of Babylon made war against Jerusalem and all the remaining cities of Judah: Lachish and Azekah. These cities of Judah remained as fortified cities.

⁸ The word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem, to proclaim freedom to them, ⁹ that each man must send away his Hebrew slaves free, both male and female, so no one was to make a slave of a Jew, who was his brother.

¹⁰ So all the leaders and people entered into the covenant that each person would free his male and female slaves so that they would not be enslaved any longer. They obeyed and set them free. ¹¹ But after this they changed their minds. They brought back the slaves whom they had sent away free. They forced them to become slaves again.

¹² So the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying, ¹³ "Yahweh, God of Israel, says this, 'I myself made a covenant with your ancestors on the day that I brought them out from the land of Egypt, out from the house of slavery. That was when I said, ¹⁴ "At the end of every seven years, each man must send away his brother, his fellow Hebrew who had sold himself to you and served you for six years. Send him away in freedom." But your ancestors did not listen to me or incline their ears to me.

¹⁵ Now you yourselves repented and began to do what is right in my eyes. You proclaimed freedom, each man to his neighbor, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name. ¹⁶ But then you turned and polluted my name; you caused each man to bring back his male and female slaves, the ones whom you had sent away free. You forced them to become your slaves again.'

¹⁷ Therefore Yahweh says this, 'You yourselves have not listened to me. You should have proclaimed freedom, every one of you, to your brothers and fellow Israelites. So look! I am about to proclaim freedom to you—this is Yahweh's declaration—freedom for the sword, the plague, and famine, for I am going to make you a terrifying thing in the sight of every kingdom on earth. ¹⁸ Then I will deal with the people who have broken my covenant, who did not keep the words of the covenant that they established before me when they cut a bull in two and walked between its parts, ¹⁹ and then the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the eunuchs and the priests, and all the people of the land walked between the parts of the bull.

²⁰ I will give them into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who are seeking their lives. Their corpses will be food for the birds of the skies and the wild animals on the earth. ²¹ So I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his leaders into the hand of their enemies and into the hand of those who are seeking their life, and into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon that has risen up against you. ²² Look, I am about to give a command—this is Yahweh's declaration—and will bring them back to this city to wage war against it and take it, and to burn it. For I will turn the cities of Judah into ruined places in which there will be no inhabitants.'"

Chapter 35

¹ The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, saying, ² "Go to the family of the Rekabites and speak with them. Then bring them to my house, into one of the rooms there, and give them wine to drink."

³ So I took Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah son of Habazziniah and his brothers, all his sons, and all the family of the Rekabites. ⁴ I took them to the house of Yahweh, into the rooms of the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, the man of God. These rooms were beside the room of the leaders, which was above the room of Maaseiah son of Shallum, the gatekeeper.

⁵ Then I placed bowls and cups full of wine in front of the Rekabites and said to them, "Drink some wine." ⁶ But they said, "We will not drink any wine, for our ancestor, Jonadab son of Rekab, commanded us, 'Do not drink any wine, neither you nor your descendants, forever. ⁷ Also, do not build any houses, sow any seeds, or plant any vineyards; this is not for you. For you must live in tents all your days, so that you might live many days in the land where you are staying as foreigners.'

⁸ We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab son of Rekab, our ancestor, in all that he commanded us, to never drink wine all of our days, we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters. ⁹ We will never build houses to live in, and there will be no vineyard, field, or seed in our possession. ¹⁰ We have lived in tents and we have obeyed and done all that Jonadab our ancestor commanded us. ¹¹ But when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked the land, we said, 'Come, we must go to Jerusalem to escape from the Chaldean and Aramean armies.' So we are living in Jerusalem."

¹² Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying, ¹³ "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'Go and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, "Will you not receive correction and listen to my words?—this is Yahweh's declaration. ¹⁴ The words of Jonadab son of Rekab that he gave to his sons as a command, not to drink any wine, have been observed to this very day. They have obeyed their ancestor's command. But as for me, I myself have been making persistent proclamations to you, but you do not listen to me.

¹⁵ I persistently sent to you all my servants, the prophets, saying 'Let each person turn from his wicked way and do good deeds; let no one walk any longer after other gods and worship them. Then you will live in the land that I gave to you and your ancestors.' But you did not incline your ears and you did not listen to me. ¹⁶ For the descendants of Jonadab son of Rekab have observed the commands of their ancestor that he commanded them, but this people refuses to listen to me."'

¹⁷ So Yahweh, God of hosts and God of Israel, says this, 'Look, I am bringing upon Judah and on everyone living in Jerusalem, all the disasters I pronounced against them because I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.'"

¹⁸ Jeremiah said to the family of the Rekabites, "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: You have listened to the commands of Jonadab your ancestor and have kept them all—you have obeyed all that he commanded you to do— ¹⁹ so Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'There will always be someone descended from Jonadab son of Rekab to serve me.'"

Chapter 36

¹ It came about in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, that this word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, and he said, ² "Take a scroll for yourself and write on it all the words that I have told you concerning Israel and Judah, and every nation. Do this for everything I have told from the days of Josiah until this very day. ³ Perhaps the people of Judah will listen to all the disasters that I intend to bring on them. Perhaps everyone will turn away from his wicked way, so I can forgive their iniquity and their sin."

⁴ Then Jeremiah called Baruch son of Neriah, and Baruch wrote in a scroll, at Jeremiah's dictation, all the words of Yahweh spoken to him. ⁵ Next Jeremiah gave a command to Baruch. He said, "I am in prison and cannot go to the house of Yahweh. ⁶ So you must go and read from the scroll that you wrote at my dictation. On the day of the fast, you must read Yahweh's words in the hearing of the people in his house, and also in the hearing of all of Judah who have come from their cities. Proclaim these words to them.

⁷ Perhaps their pleas for mercy will come before Yahweh. Perhaps each person will turn from his wicked way, since the wrath and fury that Yahweh has proclaimed against this people are severe." ⁸ So Baruch son of Neriah did everything that Jeremiah the prophet had commanded him to do. He read aloud from the scroll the words of Yahweh in the house of Yahweh.

⁹ It came about in the fifth year and ninth month of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, that all the people in Jerusalem and the people who came to Jerusalem from the cities of Judah proclaimed a fast before Yahweh. ¹⁰ Baruch read aloud from the scroll Jeremiah's words in the house of Yahweh, from the room of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe, in the upper courtyard, by the gate of the entrance to the house of Yahweh. He did this in the hearing of all the people.

¹¹ Now Micaiah son of Gemariah son of Shaphan heard all of Yahweh's words in the scroll. ¹² He went down to the house of the king, to the secretary's room. Look, all the officials were sitting there: Elishama the secretary, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Akbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, and Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the officials.

¹³ Then Micaiah reported to them all the words that he had heard that Baruch read aloud from the scroll in the hearing of the people. ¹⁴ So all the officials sent Jehudi son of Nethaniah son of Shelemiah son of Cushi, to Baruch. Jehudi said to Baruch, "Take the scroll in your hand, the scroll from which you were reading in the hearing of the people, and come." So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and went to the officials. ¹⁵ Then they said to him, "Sit down and read this in our hearing." So Baruch read the scroll.

¹⁶ It happened that when they heard all these words, each man turned in fear to the one next to him and said to Baruch, "We must certainly report all of these words to the king." ¹⁷ Then they asked Baruch, "Tell us, how did you come to write all these words at Jeremiah's dictation?" ¹⁸ Baruch said to them, "He dictated all these words to me, and I wrote them in ink on this scroll." ¹⁹ Then the officials said to Baruch, "Go, hide yourself, and Jeremiah, too. Do not let anyone know where you are."

²⁰ So they put the scroll in the room of Elishama the secretary, and they went to the king in the courtyard and they reported everything in the hearing of the king. ²¹ Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. Jehudi took it from the room of Elishama the secretary. Then he read it in the hearing of the king and all the officials who were standing beside him. ²² Now the king was staying in the winter house in the ninth month, and a brazier was burning in front of him.

²³ It happened that as Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut it off with a knife and throw it into the fire in the brazier until all of the scroll was destroyed. ²⁴ But neither the king nor any of his servants who heard all these words were frightened, nor did they tear their clothes.

²⁵ Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah had even urged the king not to burn the scroll, but he did not listen to them. ²⁶ Then the king commanded Jerahmeel, a relative, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but Yahweh had hidden them.

²⁷ Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah after the king had burned the scroll and the words that Baruch had written at Jeremiah's dictation, saying, ²⁸ "Go back, take another scroll for yourself, and write in it all the words that were on the original scroll, the one that Jehoiakim king of Judah burned. ²⁹ Then you must say this to Jehoiakim king of Judah: 'You burned that scroll, saying, "Why have you written on it, 'The king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land, for he will cut off both man and animal from it'?"'"

³⁰ Therefore Yahweh says this concerning you, Jehoiakim king of Judah: "No descendant of yours will ever sit on the throne of David. As for you, your corpse will be thrown out into the heat of day and the frost of night. ³¹ For I will punish you, your descendants, and your servants for the iniquity of you all. I will bring on you, on all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and on every person in Judah all the disasters with which I have threatened you—but you paid no attention."

³² So Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch son of Neriah the scribe. Baruch wrote on it at Jeremiah's dictation all the words that had been in the scroll burned by Jehoiakim king of Judah. Furthermore, many other similar words were added to this scroll.

Chapter 37

¹ Now Zedekiah son of Josiah reigned as king in place of Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had made Zedekiah king over the land of Judah. ² But Zedekiah, his servants, and the people of the land did not listen to the words of Yahweh that he proclaimed by the hand of Jeremiah the prophet.

³ So King Zedekiah, Jehukal son of Shelemiah, and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest sent a message to Jeremiah the prophet. They said, "Pray on our behalf to Yahweh our God." ⁴ Now Jeremiah was coming and going among the people, for he had not yet been put in prison. ⁵ Pharaoh's army came out from Egypt, and the Chaldeans who were besieging Jerusalem heard the news about them and left Jerusalem.

⁶ Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah the prophet, saying, ⁷ "Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: This is what you will say to the king of Judah, because he has sent you to seek advice from me, 'See, Pharaoh's army, which came to help you, is about to go back to Egypt, its own land. ⁸ The Chaldeans will return. They will fight against this city, capture it, and burn it.'

⁹ Yahweh says this: Do not deceive yourselves by saying, 'Surely the Chaldeans are leaving us,' for they will not leave. ¹⁰ Even if you had defeated the entire Chaldean army that is fighting you so that only badly wounded men were left in their tents, they would get up and burn this city."

¹¹ So it was when the Chaldean army had left Jerusalem as Pharaoh's army was coming, ¹² then Jeremiah went out from Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin. He wanted to take possession of a tract of land there among his people. ¹³ As he was in the Benjamin Gate, a chief guard was there. His name was Irijah son of Shelemiah son of Hananiah. He grabbed hold of Jeremiah the prophet and said, "You are deserting to the Chaldeans."

¹⁴ But Jeremiah said, "That is not true. I am not deserting to the Chaldeans." But Irijah did not listen to him. He took Jeremiah and brought him to the officials. ¹⁵ The officials were angry with Jeremiah. They beat him and put him in prison, which had been the house of Jonathan the scribe, for they had turned it into a prison.

¹⁶ So Jeremiah was put into a dungeon, where he stayed for many days. ¹⁷ Then King Zedekiah sent someone who brought him to the palace. In his house, the king asked him privately, "Is there any word from Yahweh?" Jeremiah answered, "There is a word: You will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon."

¹⁸ Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, "How have I sinned against you, your servants, or this people so that you have placed me in prison? ¹⁹ Where are your prophets, the ones who prophesied for you and said the king of Babylon will not come against you or against this land? ²⁰ But now listen, my master the king! Let my plea for favor come before you. Do not return me to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there."

²¹ So King Zedekiah gave an order. His servants confined Jeremiah in the courtyard of the guard. A loaf of bread was given him every day from the street of the bakers, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard.

Chapter 38

¹ Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehukal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah heard the words that Jeremiah was declaring to all the people. He was saying, ² "Yahweh says this: Anyone staying in this city will be killed by sword, famine, and plague. But anyone who goes out to the Chaldeans will survive. His life will be his loot, but he will survive. ³ Yahweh says this: This city will be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it."

⁴ So the officials said to the king, "Let this man die, for in this way he is weakening the hands of the fighting men who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people. He is proclaiming these words, for this man is not working for safety for this people, but disaster." ⁵ So King Zedekiah said, "Look, he is in your hand since there is no king able to resist you."

⁶ Then they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malkijah, son of the king. The cistern was in the courtyard of the guard. They lowered Jeremiah down on ropes. There was no water in the cistern, but it was muddy, and he sank down into the mud.

⁷ Now Ebed-Melek the Cushite was one of the eunuchs in the king's house. He heard that they had placed Jeremiah in the cistern. Now the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate. ⁸ So Ebed-Melek went from the king's house and spoke with the king. He said, ⁹ "My master the king, these men have done evil with the way they have treated Jeremiah the prophet. They threw him into a cistern for him to die in it from hunger, since there is no more food in the city."

¹⁰ Then the king gave a command to Ebed-Melek the Cushite. He said, "Take command of thirty men from here and take Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies." ¹¹ So Ebed-Melek took command of those men and went to the king's house, to a storeroom for clothing under the house. From there he took rags and worn-out clothing and then let them down by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.

¹² Ebed-Melek the Cushite said to Jeremiah, "Put the rags and worn-out clothing under your arms and on top of the ropes." So Jeremiah did so. ¹³ Then they pulled Jeremiah by the ropes. In this way they brought him up from the cistern. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the guard.

¹⁴ Then King Zedekiah sent word and brought Jeremiah the prophet to himself, to the third entrance in the house of Yahweh. The king said to Jeremiah, "I want to ask you something. Do not keep the answer from me." ¹⁵ Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I answer you, will you not certainly kill me? But if I give you advice, you will not listen to me." ¹⁶ But King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in private and said, "As Yahweh lives, the one who made us, I will not kill you or give you into the hand of those men who are seeking your life."

¹⁷ So Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "Yahweh, God of hosts, God of Israel, says this: If you indeed go out to the officials of the king of Babylon then you will live, and this city will not be burned. You and your family will live. ¹⁸ But if you do not go out to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be given into the hand of the Chaldeans. They will burn it, and you will not escape from their hand."

¹⁹ King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "But I am afraid of the Jews who have deserted to the Chaldeans, because I might be given over into their hand, for them to treat me badly."

²⁰ Jeremiah said, "They will not give you over to them. Obey the message from Yahweh that I am telling you, so that things will go well for you, and so that you will live. ²¹ But if you refuse to go out, this is what Yahweh has shown me. ²² Look! All the women who are left in your house, king of Judah, will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon. These women will say to you,

'You have been deceived by your men of peace;

they have ruined you.

Your feet are now sunk into the mud,

and your friends will turn away from you.'

²³ For all of your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans, and you yourself will not escape from their hand. You will be captured by the hand of the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned."

²⁴ Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Do not inform anyone about these words, so that you do not die. ²⁵ If the officials hear that I have talked with you, and if they come and say to you, 'Tell us what you said to the king and do not hide it from us, or we will kill you,' ²⁶ then you must say to them, 'I made a humble plea before the king that he would not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.'"

²⁷ Then all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, so he answered them as the king had commanded him. So they stopped talking with him, because they had not heard the conversation between Jeremiah and the king. ²⁸ So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard until the day Jerusalem was captured.

Chapter 39

¹ In the ninth year and tenth month of Zedekiah king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and besieged it. ² In the eleventh year and fourth month of Zedekiah, on the ninth day of the month, the city was broken into. ³ Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim an important official, and Nebo-Sarsekim a high official, and all the remaining officials of the king of Babylon.

⁴ It happened that when Zedekiah, king of Judah, and all his fighting men saw them, they fled. They went out at night from the city by the king's garden path, through the gate between the two walls. The king went out in the direction of the Arabah. ⁵ But the army of Chaldeans pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of the Jordan River valley near Jericho. Then they captured him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where Nebuchadnezzar passed sentence on him.

⁶ The king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah's sons before his own eyes at Riblah. He also slaughtered all the noblemen of Judah. ⁷ Then he put out Zedekiah's eyes and bound him in bronze chains in order to take him to Babylon.

⁸ Then the Chaldeans burned the king's house and the people's houses. They also tore down the walls of Jerusalem. ⁹ Nebuzaradan, the commander of the king's bodyguards, took into exile in Babylon the rest of the people who were left in the city. This included the people who had deserted to the Chaldeans and the rest of the people who were left in the city. ¹⁰ But Nebuzaradan the commander of the king's bodyguards allowed the poorest people who had nothing for themselves to remain in the land of Judah. He gave them vineyards and fields on that same day.

¹¹ Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had given an order about Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the commander of the king's bodyguards. He had said, ¹² "Take him and care for him. Do not harm him. Do for him anything he tells you." ¹³ So Nebuzaradan the commander of the king's bodyguards, Nebushazban the high eunuch, Nergal-Sharezer the high official, and all the most important officials of the king of Babylon sent men out. ¹⁴ Their men took Jeremiah from the courtyard of the guard and entrusted him to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, to take him home, so Jeremiah stayed among the people.

¹⁵ Now the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah while he was under arrest in the courtyard of the guard, saying, ¹⁶ "Speak to Ebed-Melek the Cushite and say, 'Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: See, I am about to carry out my words against this city for disaster and not for good. For they will all come true before you on that day.

¹⁷ But I will rescue you on that day—this is Yahweh's declaration—and you will not be given into the hand of the men whom you fear. ¹⁸ For I will certainly rescue you. You will not fall by the sword. Your life will be your loot since you trust in me—this was Yahweh's declaration.'"

Chapter 40

¹ The word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh after Nebuzaradan the commander of the king's bodyguards had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound with chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon. ² The chief guard took Jeremiah and said to him, "Yahweh your God decreed this disaster for this place.

³ So Yahweh brought it about. He did just as he had decreed, since you people sinned against him and did not obey his voice. That is why this thing has happened to you people. ⁴ But now look! I have released you today from the chains that were on your hands. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will take care of you. But if it is not good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, then do not do so. Look at all the land before you. Go where it is good and right in your eyes to go."

⁵ When Jeremiah did not reply, Nebuzaradan said, "Go to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has put in charge of the cities of Judah. Stay with him among the people or go wherever it is good in your eyes to go." The commander of the king's bodyguards gave him food and a gift, and then sent him away. ⁶ So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. He stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.

⁷ Now some commanders of Judean soldiers who were still in the countryside—they and their men—heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah son of Ahikam governor over the land. They also heard that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children who were the poorest people in the land, those who had not been exiled to Babylon. ⁸ So they went to Gedaliah at Mizpah. These men were Ishmael son of Nethaniah; Johanan and Jonathan, sons of Kareah; Seraiah son of Tanhumeth; the sons of Ephai the Netophathite; and Jaazaniah son of the Maakathite—they and their men.

⁹ Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan took an oath to them and to their men and said to them, "Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldean officials. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you. ¹⁰ Look, I am living in Mizpah to meet with the Chaldeans who came to us. So harvest wine, summer fruit, and oil and store them in your containers. Live in the cities that you have occupied."

¹¹ Then all the Jews in Moab, among the people of Ammon, and in Edom, and in every land heard that the king of Babylon had allowed a remnant of Judah to stay, that he had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan over them. ¹² So all the Jews returned from every place where they had been scattered. They came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They harvested wine and summer fruit in great abundance.

¹³ Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders in the countryside came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. ¹⁴ They said to him, "Do you realize that Baalis king of the people of Ammon sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to murder you?" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

¹⁵ So Johanan son of Kareah spoke privately to Gedaliah in Mizpah and said, "Allow me to go kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah. No one will suspect me. Why should he kill you? Why allow all of Judah that has been gathered to you to be scattered and the remnant of Judah destroyed?" ¹⁶ But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, "Do not do this thing, for you are telling lies about Ishmael."

Chapter 41

¹ But it happened that in the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah son of Elishama, from the royal family, and some officers of the king, came—ten men were with him—to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. They ate food together there in Mizpah. ² But Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him rose up and attacked Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, with the sword. Ishmael killed Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon had put in charge of the land. ³ Then Ishmael killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah in Mizpah and the Chaldean fighting men found there.

⁴ Then it was the second day after the killing of Gedaliah, but no one knew. ⁵ Some men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria—eighty men who had shaved their beard, torn their clothes, and cut themselves—with food offerings and frankincense in their hands to go to the house of Yahweh.

⁶ So Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them as they went, walking and weeping. Then it happened that as he encountered them, he said to them, "Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam!" ⁷ It came about that when they came into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah slaughtered them and threw them into a pit, he and the men who were with him.

⁸ But there were ten men among them who said to Ishmael, "Do not kill us, for there are provisions of ours in a field: Wheat and barley, oil and honey." So he did not kill them with their other companions. ⁹ The cistern where Ishmael threw all the dead bodies that he had killed, was a large cistern that King Asa dug to make a defense against King Baasha of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it in with the dead.

¹⁰ Next Ishmael captured all the people who remained in Mizpah, the king's daughters and all the people who were left in Mizpah whom Nebuzaradan the chief guard had assigned to Gedaliah son of Ahikam. So Ishmael son of Nethaniah captured them and went to cross over to the people of Ammon.

¹¹ But Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders with him heard of all the harm that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had done. ¹² So they took all their men and went to fight against Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They found him at the great pool of Gibeon.

¹³ Then it happened that when all the people who were with Ishmael saw Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders who were with him, they were very happy. ¹⁴ So all the people whom Ishmael had captured at Mizpah turned around and went to Johanan son of Kareah.

¹⁵ But Ishmael son of Nethaniah fled with eight men from Johanan. He went to the people of Ammon. ¹⁶ Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders with him took from Mizpah all the people who had been rescued from Ishmael son of Nethaniah. This was after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Johanan and his companions took the strong men, the fighting men, the women and children, and the eunuchs who had been rescued at Gibeon.

¹⁷ Then they went and stayed for a while in Geruth Kimham, which is near Bethlehem. They were going to go to Egypt ¹⁸ because of the Chaldeans. They were afraid of them since Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had put in charge of the land.

Chapter 42

¹ Then all the army commanders and Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached Jeremiah the prophet. ² They said to him, "Let our plea for favor come before you. Pray for us to Yahweh your God for these people who remain since we are so few in number, as you see. ³ Ask Yahweh your God to tell us the way we should go and what we should do."

⁴ So Jeremiah the prophet said to them, "I have heard you. Look, I will pray to Yahweh your God as you have requested. Whatever Yahweh answers, I will tell you. I will keep nothing back from you." ⁵ They said to Jeremiah, "May Yahweh be a true and faithful witness against us, if we do not do everything that Yahweh your God tells us to do. ⁶ Whether it is good or if it is bad, we will obey the voice of Yahweh our God, to whom we are sending you, so that it may be well with us when we obey the voice of Yahweh our God."

⁷ At the end of ten days, the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah. ⁸ So Jeremiah called to Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders with him, and to all the people from the least to the greatest. ⁹ Then he said to them, "This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel—to whom you sent me so I might lay your pleas before him—says, ¹⁰ 'If you go back and live in this land, then I will build you and not tear you down; I will plant you and not pull you up, for I will relent concerning the disaster that I have brought on you.

¹¹ Do not fear the king of Babylon, whom you are fearing. Do not fear him—this is Yahweh's declaration—since I am with you to save you and rescue you from his hand. ¹² For I will give you mercy. I will have compassion on you, and I will bring you back to your land.

¹³ But suppose that you say, "We will not stay in this land"—if you do not listen to my voice, the voice of Yahweh your God. ¹⁴ Suppose that you say, "No! We will go to the land of Egypt, where we will not see any war, where we will not hear the sound of the ram's horn, and we will not go hungry for food. We will live there."

¹⁵ Now listen to this word of Yahweh, you remnant of Judah. Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'If you actually set out to go to Egypt, to go and live there, ¹⁶ then the sword that you fear will overtake you there in the land of Egypt. The famine that you are anxious about will pursue you to Egypt, and you will die there. ¹⁷ So it will happen that all the men who set out to go to Egypt to live there will die by sword, famine, or plague. There will be no survivor of them, no one to escape the disaster that I will bring on them.

¹⁸ For Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this: Just as my wrath and my fury were poured out on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, in the same way my fury will be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. You will become an object of cursing and a horror, an object for speaking curses, and something dishonorable, and you will not see this place again.'" ¹⁹ Then Jeremiah said, "Yahweh has spoken concerning you—the remnant of Judah. Do not go to Egypt! You certainly know that I have been a witness against you today.

²⁰ For you fatally deceived yourselves when you sent me to Yahweh your God and said, 'Pray to Yahweh our God for us. Everything that Yahweh our God says, tell us, and we will carry it out.' ²¹ For I have reported to you today, but you have not listened to the voice of Yahweh your God or to anything about which he sent me to you. ²² So now, you should certainly know that you will die by sword, famine, and plague in the place where you desired to go to live."

Chapter 43

¹ It happened that Jeremiah finished proclaiming to all the people all the words of Yahweh their God that Yahweh their God had told him to say. ² Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the arrogant men said to Jeremiah, "You are telling lies. Yahweh our God has not sent you to say, 'Do not go to Egypt to live there.' ³ For Baruch son of Neriah is inciting you against us to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, for you to cause our death and to make us captives in Babylon."

⁴ So Johanan son of Kareah, all the princes of the army, and all the people refused to listen to Yahweh's voice to live in the land of Judah. ⁵ Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders took away all the remnant of Judah who had returned from all the nations where they had been scattered to live in the land of Judah. ⁶ They took the men and women, the children and the king's daughters, and every person whom Nebuzaradan, the commander of the king's bodyguards, had let remain with Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan. They also took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah. ⁷ They went to the land of Egypt, to Tahpanhes, because they did not listen to Yahweh's voice.

⁸ So the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying, ⁹ "Take some large stones in your hand, and, in the sight of some Jewish men, hide them in the mortar in the pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh's house in Tahpanhes." ¹⁰ Then say to them, "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'See, I am about to send messengers to bring Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, my servant. I will place his throne over these stones that you, Jeremiah, have buried. Nebuchadnezzar will place his pavilion over them.

¹¹ For he will come and attack the land of Egypt. Anyone who is assigned to death will be given to death. Anyone who is assigned to captivity will be taken captive. Anyone who is assigned to the sword will be given to the sword. ¹² Then I will light a fire in the temples of Egypt's gods. Nebuchadnezzar will burn them or capture them. He will clean out the land of Egypt just as shepherds clean vermin off their clothes. He will go out from that place in victory. ¹ ¹³ He will break the stone pillars at Heliopolis in the land of Egypt. He will burn the temples of Egypt's gods.'"

¹Instead of I will light a fire , some ancient and modern translations have he will light a fire .

Chapter 44

¹ The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who lived in the land of Egypt, the ones staying in Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and in Upper Egypt: ² "Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says, 'You yourselves have seen all the disasters that I brought on Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah. See, they are ruins today. There is no one to live in them. ³ This is because of the wicked things they did to provoke me to anger by going to burn incense and to worship other gods. These were gods that neither they themselves, nor you, nor your ancestors knew.'

⁴ So I repeatedly sent all of my servants the prophets to them. I sent them to say, 'Stop doing these abominable things that I hate.' ⁵ But they did not listen. They refused to pay attention or turn from their wickedness in burning incense to other gods. ⁶ So my fury and my wrath were poured out and kindled a fire in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. So they became ruins and devastations, as at this present day.'

⁷ So now Yahweh, the God of hosts and the God of Israel, says this, 'Why are you doing great wickedness against yourselves? Why are you causing yourselves to be cut off from among Judah—men and women, children and babies? No remnant of you will be left. ⁸ By your wickedness you have provoked me to anger with the deeds of your hands, by burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have gone to live. You have gone there so that you will be destroyed, so that you will be a curse and a taunt among all the nations of the earth.

⁹ Have you forgotten the wickedness committed by your ancestors and the wickedness committed by the kings of Judah and their wives? Have you forgotten the evil committed by yourselves and your wives in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem? ¹⁰ To this day, they still are not humbled. They do not honor my law or decrees that I placed before them and their ancestors, nor do they walk in them.'

¹¹ Therefore Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'See, I am about to set my face against you to bring disaster to you and to destroy all of Judah. ¹² For I will take the remnant of Judah that has set out to go to the land of Egypt to live there. I will do this so that they will all perish in the land of Egypt. They will fall by sword and famine. From the least to the greatest they will die by sword and famine. They will die and will become a curse, an object of horror—a curse and an insult.

¹³ For I will punish the people inhabiting the land of Egypt just as I punished Jerusalem with the sword, with famine, and with the plague, ¹⁴ so that none of the remnant of Judah who have gone to live in the land of Egypt will escape or survive or return to the land of Judah, to which they desire to return and live; and none of them will return except a few who escaped from there.'"

¹⁵ Then all the men who knew that their wives were burning incense to other gods, and all the women who were in the great assembly, and all the people who were living in Lower and Upper Egypt, answered Jeremiah. ¹⁶ They said, "About the word that you have told us in Yahweh's name—we will not listen to you. ¹⁷ For we will certainly do all the things that we said we would do—burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her just as we, our ancestors, our kings, and our leaders did in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. Then we will be filled with food and will prosper, without experiencing any disaster.

¹⁸ When we refrained from doing these things, not offering incense to the queen of heaven and not pouring out drink offerings to her, we were all suffering poverty and were dying by sword and famine." ¹⁹ The women said, "When we were making incense offerings before the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, was it against our husbands that we did these things, making cakes in her image and pouring out drink offerings to her?"

²⁰ Then Jeremiah said to all the people—to the men and women, and all the people who answered him—he proclaimed and said, ²¹ "Did not Yahweh remember the incense that you burned in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem—you and your ancestors, your kings and leaders, and the people of the land? For Yahweh calls this to mind; it comes to his thoughts.

²² Then he was no longer able to bear it because of the wickedness of your practices, because of the abominations that you did. Then your land became a desolation, a horror, and a curse so there was no longer an inhabitant as at this present day. ²³ Because you burned incense and sinned against Yahweh, and because you would not listen to his voice, his law, his statutes, or his covenant decrees, this disaster against you has happened as at this present day."

²⁴ Then Jeremiah said to all the people and all the women, "Hear the word of Yahweh, all of Judah who are in the land of Egypt. ²⁵ Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this, 'You and your wives both have said with your mouths and carried out with your hands what you said, "We will certainly carry out the vows that we made to worship the queen of heaven, to pour out drink offerings to her." Now fulfill your vows; carry them out.'

²⁶ So then, hear the word of Yahweh, all of Judah who are staying in the land of Egypt, 'See, I have sworn by my great name—says Yahweh. My name will no longer be called upon by the mouths of any of the men of Judah in all the land of Egypt, you who now say, "As the Lord Yahweh lives." ²⁷ See, I am watching over them for disaster and not for good. Every person of Judah in the land of Egypt will perish by sword and famine until they are all finished. ²⁸ Then the survivors of the sword will return from the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, only a small number of them. So all the remnant of Judah who went to the land of Egypt to live there will know whose word will stand—mine or theirs.

²⁹ This will be the sign for you—this is Yahweh's declaration—that I am setting against you in this place, so that you will know that my words will certainly attack you with disaster.' ³⁰ Yahweh says this, 'Look, I am about to give Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and into the hand of those who seek to kill him. It will be the same as when I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, his enemy who sought his life.'"

Chapter 45

¹ This is the word that Jeremiah the prophet told Baruch son of Neriah. This happened when he wrote in a scroll these words from the mouth of Jeremiah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah. He said, ² "Yahweh, God of Israel, says this to you, Baruch: ³ You have said, 'Woe is me, for Yahweh has added agony to my pain. My groaning has wearied me; I find no rest.'

⁴ This is what you must say to him: 'Yahweh says this: See, what I built, I am now tearing down. What I planted, I am now pulling up—I will do this throughout all the earth. ⁵ But are you hoping for great things for yourself? Do not hope for that. For see, disaster is coming on all humanity—this is Yahweh's declaration—but I am giving you your life as loot everywhere you will go.'"

Chapter 46

¹ This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.

² For Egypt: "This is about the army of Pharaoh Necho, king of Egypt that was at Carchemish by the Euphrates River. This was the army that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon defeated in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:

³ Get the small shields and the large shields ready,

and go forward to fight.

⁴ Put the harness on the horses;

mount up on the horses

and take your stand with your helmets on;

polish the spears and put on your armor.

⁵ What am I seeing here?

They are dismayed and are running away,

for their soldiers have been completely destroyed.

They are fleeing for refuge and are not looking back.

Terror is all around

—this is Yahweh's declaration—

⁶ the swift cannot run away,

and the soldiers cannot escape.

They stumble in the north

and fall beside the Euphrates River.

⁷ Who is this who rises like the Nile,

whose waters toss up and down like the rivers?

⁸ Egypt rises like the Nile,

like rivers of water that rise and fall.

Egypt says, 'I will go up and I will cover the earth.

I will destroy cities and their inhabitants.

⁹ Go up, horses.

Be angry, you chariots.

Let the soldiers go out,

Cush and Put, men skillful with a shield, and Lydia,

¹ men skillful at bending their bows.'

¹⁰ That day will be the day of vengeance

for the Lord Yahweh of hosts,

and he will avenge himself on his foes.

The sword will devour and be satisfied.

It will drink its fill of their blood.

For there will be a sacrifice

to the Lord Yahweh of hosts

in the northern land by the Euphrates River.

¹¹ Go up to Gilead and obtain medicine,

virgin daughter of Egypt.

It is useless that you put much medicine on yourself.

There is no cure for you.

¹² The nations have heard of your disgrace.

The earth is filled with your cry of distress,

for soldier stumbles against soldier;

both of them fall together."

¹³ This is the word that Yahweh told Jeremiah the prophet when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came and attacked the land of Egypt:

¹⁴ "Announce in Egypt,

and proclaim it in Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes.

'Take your station and prepare yourself,

for the sword will devour those around you.'

¹⁵ Why are your mighty ones facedown on the ground?

They will not stand,

because Yahweh has pushed them to the ground.

¹⁶ He increases the numbers of those who stumble.

Each soldier falls against the next one.

They are saying, 'Get up. Let us go home.

Let us go back to our own people,

to the land of our birth,

and away from the sword of the oppressor.'

¹⁷ They proclaimed there,

'Pharaoh the king of Egypt is only a noise,

one who has let his opportunity slip away.'

¹⁸ As I live—declares the King,

whose name is Yahweh of hosts—

someone will come like Mount Tabor

and Mount Carmel by the sea.

¹⁹ Pack for yourselves baggage to carry into exile,

you who live in Egypt.

For Memphis will become a waste;

it will be burned, and no one will live there.

²⁰ Egypt is a very beautiful young cow,

but a stinging insect is coming from the north

It is coming.

²¹ The hired soldiers in her midst are like a fattened bull,

but they will also turn away and run away.

They will not stand together,

for the day of their disaster is coming against them,

the time of their punishment.

²² Egypt hisses like a snake and crawls away,

for her enemies are marching against her.

They are going toward her like woodcutters with axes.

²³ They will cut down the forests

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—although it is very dense.

For the enemies will be more numerous than locusts,

unable to be counted.

²⁴ The daughter of Egypt will be made ashamed.

She will be given into the hand of people from the north."

²⁵ Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, says, "See, I am about to punish Amon of Thebes, Pharaoh, Egypt and her gods, her kings the Pharaohs, and those who trust in them. ²⁶ I am giving them into the hand of the ones seeking their lives, and into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his servants. Then after this Egypt will be inhabited as in previous days—this is Yahweh's declaration.

²⁷ But you, my servant Jacob, do not fear.

Do not be dismayed, Israel, for see,

I am about to deliver you from the faraway place,

and your descendants from the land of their captivity.

Jacob will return and be at ease;

he will rest secure, and there will be no more terror.

²⁸ You, my servant Jacob, do not fear

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—for I am with you,

so I will bring complete destruction against all the nations

where I scattered you.

But I will not destroy you completely.

Yet I will discipline you justly

and will certainly not leave you unpunished."

¹Some modern English translations read, Lud .

Chapter 47

¹ This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the Philistines. This word came to him before Pharaoh attacked Gaza.

² "Yahweh says this:

See, floods of water are rising in the north.

They will be like an overflowing river!

Then they will overflow the land and everything in it,

its cities and its inhabitants!

So everyone will shout for help,

and all the inhabitants of the land will howl.

³ At the sound of the stamping of their strong horses' hooves,

at the roar of their chariots and the noise of their wheels,

fathers will not help their children

because of the weakness of their own hands.

⁴ For the day is coming that will devastate all of the Philistines,

to cut off from Tyre and Sidon

every survivor who wants to help them.

For Yahweh is devastating the Philistines,

those who remain from the island of Caphtor.

⁵ Baldness will come upon Gaza.

Ashkelon has been silenced.

You remnant in their valley,

how long will you cut yourself?

⁶ Woe, sword of Yahweh!

How long will it be until you become silent?

Go back to your scabbard!

Stop and be silent.

⁷ How can it rest when Yahweh has commanded it,

when he has appointed it to attack Ashkelon

and the coastlands along the sea?"

Chapter 48

¹ To Moab, Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this,

"Woe to Nebo, for it has been devastated.

Kiriathaim has been humiliated and captured.

Her fortress has been disgraced and crushed.

² The honor of Moab is no more.

Their enemies in Heshbon plotted disaster against her.

They said, 'Come and let us destroy her as a nation.

Madmen will also perish

—a sword will go after you.'

³ Listen! A sound of an outcry is coming from Horonaim,

where there is ruin and great destruction.

⁴ Moab has been destroyed.

Her children have made their cries heard.

⁵ They go up the hill of Luhith weeping,

for on the way down to Horonaim,

screams are heard because of the destruction.

⁶ Flee! Save your lives

and become like a juniper bush in the wilderness.

⁷ For because of your trust in your practices

and your wealth

you also will be captured.

Then Chemosh will go away into captivity

together with his priests and leaders.

⁸ For the destroyer will come to every city;

no city will escape.

So the valley will perish

and the plain will be devastated,

as Yahweh has said.

⁹ Give wings to Moab,

for she must certainly fly away.

Her cities will become a wasteland,

where there is no one to live in them.

¹⁰ May anyone who is lazy in doing Yahweh's work

be cursed!

May anyone who keeps his sword back from shedding blood

be cursed!

¹¹ Moab has rested secure since he was young.

He is like his wine that has never been poured from pot to pot.

He has never gone into captivity.

Therefore he tastes as good as ever;

his flavor remains unchanged.

¹² So see, the days are coming

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—when I will send him those who will tip him over

and pour out all his pots and shatter his jars.

¹³ Then Moab will be ashamed of Chemosh

just as the house of Israel was ashamed of Bethel,

their object of trust.

¹⁴ How can you say,

'We are soldiers, powerful fighting men'?

¹⁵ Moab will be devastated and its cities attacked.

For its finest young men

have gone down to the place of slaughter.

This is the king's declaration!

Yahweh of hosts is his name.

¹⁶ Moab's disaster is soon to happen;

calamity is hurrying quickly.

¹⁷ All you who are around Moab, wail;

and all you who know its fame, shout this,

'Woe, the strong staff,

the honored rod, has been broken.'

¹⁸ Come down from your honored place

and sit on the dry ground,

you daughter living in Dibon.

For the destroyer of Moab will come up against you,

he will ruin your strongholds.

¹⁹ Stand on the road and watch,

you people who live in Aroer.

Ask the ones who are fleeing and escaping.

Say, 'What has happened?'

²⁰ Moab has been shamed,

for it has been shattered.

Howl and lament;

shout for help.

Tell it to people by the Arnon River

that Moab has been devastated.

²¹ Now punishment has come to the hill country,

to Holon, Jahzah, and Mephaath,

²² to Dibon, Nebo, and Beth Diblathaim,

²³ to Kiriathaim, Beth Gamul, and Beth Meon,

²⁴ To Kerioth and Bozrah,

and to all the cities in the land of Moab—

the farthest and the closest cities.

²⁵ The horn of Moab has been hacked off;

its arm has been broken

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

²⁶ Make him drunk,

because he acted proudly against Yahweh.

Let Moab wallow in his vomit,

and let him be an object of ridicule.

²⁷ For did not Israel become an object for laughter to you?

Was he found among thieves,

so that you shook your head at him

as often as you spoke about him?

²⁸ Abandon the cities and camp on the cliffs,

inhabitants of Moab.

Become like a dove that is nesting

over the mouth of a hole in the rocks.

²⁹ We have heard of Moab's pride

—his arrogance,

his haughtiness, his pride,

his self-glory and the conceit in his heart.

³⁰ This is Yahweh's declaration

—I myself know his arrogant speech,

which amounts to nothing, like his deeds.

³¹ So I will howl a lament for Moab,

and I will shout in sorrow for all of Moab.

I will lament for the people of Kir Hareseth.

³² I will weep for you more than I did for Jazer,

vine of Sibmah!

Your branches passed across the Salt Sea

and reached as far as Jazer.

The destroyer has attacked

your summer fruit and your grapes.

³³ So celebration and rejoicing have been taken away

from the fruit trees and the land of Moab.

I have put an end to the wine from their winepresses.

They will not tread with joyful shouts.

Any shouts will not be shouts of joy.

³⁴ From the shouts at Heshbon as far as Elealeh

their sound is heard at Jahaz,

from Zoar to Horonaim and Eglath Shelishiyah,

since even the waters of Nimrim have become desolate.

³⁵ For I will put an end to anyone in Moab

who makes sacrifices on the high places

and burns incense to his gods

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

³⁶ So my heart is lamenting for Moab like a flute.

My heart is lamenting like flutes

for the people of Kir Hareseth.

The riches they gained are gone.

³⁷ For every head is bald and every beard shaved.

Incisions are on every hand,

and sackcloth is around their waists.

³⁸ There is mourning everywhere,

on every flat roof of Moab and in Moab's plazas.

For I have destroyed Moab like pots that no one wants

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

³⁹ How it has been shattered!

How they howl in their lamenting!

Moab turns its back in shame!

So Moab will become an object of derision

and a terror to all those who are around him."

⁴⁰ For Yahweh says this,

"See, the enemy will come flying like an eagle,

spreading out his wings over Moab.

⁴¹ Kerioth has been captured,

and its strongholds have been seized.

For in that day the hearts of Moab's soldiers

will be like the hearts of women in birth labor.

⁴² So Moab will be destroyed and be no longer a people,

because he made himself to be great against Yahweh.

⁴³ Terror, the pit, and a trap are coming on you,

inhabitant of Moab

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

⁴⁴ Anyone who flees because of terror will fall into the pit,

and anyone who climbs out of the pit

will be caught in the trap

for I will bring this on them, the people of Moab,

in the year of my vengeance against them

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

⁴⁵ The ones who flee will stand in the shadow of Heshbon

without any strength,

for fire will go out from Heshbon,

flame from the middle of Sihon.

It will devour the forehead of Moab

and the scalps of the boastful people.

⁴⁶ Woe to you, Moab!

Chemosh's people are destroyed,

For your sons are taken as captives

and your daughters into captivity.

⁴⁷ But I will reverse the captivity of Moab in later days

—this is Yahweh's declaration."

The judgment on Moab ends here.

Chapter 49

¹ About the people of Ammon, Yahweh says this,

"Does Israel have no children?

Is there no one to inherit anything in Israel?

Why does Molech occupy Gad,

and his people live in its cities? ¹

² So look, the days are coming

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—when I will cause a trumpet call

for battle against Rabbah

to be heard among the people of Ammon,

so it will become a deserted heap

and its villages will be set on fire.

For Israel will possess those who possessed him,"

says Yahweh.

³ "Howl in lament, Heshbon,

for Ai will be devastated!

Shout out, daughters of Rabbah!

Gird yourselves with sackcloth.

Lament and run about in futility,

for Molech is going into captivity,

together with his priests and leaders.

⁴ Why do you brag about your valleys,

your valleys that are so fruitful, faithless daughter?

you who trust in your wealth and say,

'Who will come against me?'

⁵ See, I am about to bring terror on you

—this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts—

this terror will come from all those who surround you.

Each one of you will be scattered before it.

There will be no one to gather those running away.

⁶ But after this I will reverse the captivity of the people of Ammon

—this is Yahweh's declaration."

⁷ About Edom, Yahweh of hosts says this,

"Is there no longer any wisdom to be found in Teman?

Has good advice disappeared

from those who have understanding?

Has their wisdom become corrupted?

⁸ Flee! Turn back!

Stay in holes in the ground, inhabitants of Dedan.

For I am bringing the disaster of Esau on him

at the time that I punish him.

⁹ If grape harvesters came to you,

would they not leave a little bit behind?

If thieves came in the night,

would they not spoil only as much as they wanted?

¹⁰ But I have stripped Esau bare.

I have revealed his hiding places.

So he will not be able to hide himself.

His children, his brothers, and his neighbors are destroyed,

and he is gone.

¹¹ Leave your orphans behind.

I will take care of their lives,

and your widows can trust in me."

¹² For Yahweh says this, "See, those who did not deserve it must certainly drink some of the cup. Do you yourself think you will go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for you will certainly drink. ¹³ For I have sworn by myself—this is Yahweh's declaration—that Bozrah will become a horror, a disgrace, a devastation, and an object for cursing. All of its cities will become ruins forever.

¹⁴ I have heard news from Yahweh,

and a messenger has been sent out to the nations,

'Gather together and attack her.

Get ready for battle.'

¹⁵ "For see, I have made you small compared to the other nations,

despised by people.

¹⁶ As for your fearsomeness,

your heart's pride has deceived you,

inhabitants of places on the cliff,

you who have occupied the highest hills

so that you may make your nest high like an eagle.

I will bring you down from there

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

¹⁷ Edom will become a horror to everyone passing by it.

Every such person will be appalled

and hiss because of all of its disasters.

¹⁸ Like the overthrow of Sodom and Gomorrah

and their neighbors, says Yahweh,

and no one will live there;

no person will stay there.

¹⁹ See, he will go up like a lion

from the majesty of the Jordan

to the green pasturelands.

For I will quickly make Edom run from it,

and I will put someone who will be chosen in charge of it.

For who is like me,

and who will summon me?

What shepherd is able to resist me?

²⁰ So listen to the plans that Yahweh has decided against Edom,

the plans that he has formed

against the inhabitants of Teman.

They will certainly be dragged away,

even the smallest flock.

Their pasturelands will be turned into ruined places.

²¹ At the sound of their falling the earth shakes.

The sound of cries of distress is heard at the Sea of Reeds.

²² See, someone will attack like an eagle,

and swoop down and spread his wings over Bozrah.

Then on that day, the hearts of Edom's soldiers

will become like the heart of a woman in birth labor."

²³ About Damascus:

"Hamath and Arpad will be ashamed,

for they have heard news of disaster.

They melt away!

Anxiety is in the sea.

It cannot stay calm.

²⁴ Damascus has become very weak.

It turns away to flee;

terror seizes it.

Distress and pain seize it,

like the pain of a woman giving birth.

²⁵ How has the city of praise not been abandoned,

the town of my joy?

²⁶ Therefore its young men will fall in its plazas,

and all the fighting men will perish on that day

—this is the declaration of Yahweh of hosts."

²⁷ "For I will light a fire on the wall of Damascus,

and it will devour the strongholds of Ben-Hadad."

²⁸ About Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, Yahweh says this to Nebuchadnezzar (now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon was going to attack these places):

"Arise and attack Kedar

and destroy those people of the east.

²⁹ Their tents and their flocks will be taken,

along with their tent curtains and all of their equipment;

their camels will be led away from them,

and men will shout to them,

"Terror is on every side!"

³⁰ Flee! Wander far away!

Stay in holes in the ground, inhabitants of Hazor

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon

has devised a plan against you.

Flee! Turn back!

³¹ Arise! Attack the nation at ease,

that lives in safety," says Yahweh.

"They have no gates or bars in them,

and its people live by themselves.

³² For their camels will become plunder,

and the abundance of their property

will become war plunder.

Then I will scatter to every wind

those who cut the hair on the sides of their heads very short,

and I will bring disaster on them from every side

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

³³ Hazor will become a lair of jackals,

a permanent wasteland.

No one will live there;

no human being will stay there."

³⁴ This is the word of Yahweh that came to Jeremiah the prophet about Elam. This happened at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, and he said,

³⁵ "Yahweh of hosts says this:

See, I am about to break the bowmen of Elam,

the main part of their power.

³⁶ For I will bring the four winds

from the four corners of the heavens,

and I will scatter the people of Elam to all of those winds.

There is no nation

to which those scattered from Elam will not go.

³⁷ So I will shatter Elam before their enemies

and before those who seek their lives.

for I will bring disaster against them, the fury of my wrath

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—and I will send the sword after them

until I have consumed them.

³⁸ Then I will put my throne in Elam

and will destroy its king and leaders from there

—this is Yahweh's declaration

³⁹ —and it will happen in later days

that I will reverse the captivity of Elam

—this is Yahweh's declaration."

¹Instead of Molech , some modern translations have their king .

Chapter 50

¹ This is the word that Yahweh declared about Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, by the hand of Jeremiah the prophet,

² "Report to the nations and cause them to listen.

Lift up a signal and cause them to listen.

Do not conceal it.

Say, 'Babylon is taken. Bel is made ashamed.

Marduk is dismayed.

Its idols are put to shame;

its images are dismayed.'

³ A nation from the north will arise against it,

and make her land a desolation.

No one will live in it;

both men and animals will flee away.

⁴ In those days and at that time

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—the people of Israel and the people of Judah

will come together to go with weeping

and seek Yahweh their God.

⁵ They will ask the way to Zion

and will set off toward it, saying,

We will go and join ourselves to Yahweh

in an everlasting covenant that will not be forgotten."

⁶ My people have been a lost flock.

Their shepherds have led them astray in the mountains;

they have turned them around from hill to hill.

They went, they have forgotten their resting place.

⁷ Everyone who went out to them devoured them.

Their adversaries said, 'We are not guilty,

because they sinned against Yahweh,

their true home—Yahweh,

the hope of their ancestors.'

⁸ Leave from the midst of Babylon;

go out from the land of the Chaldeans;

be like male goats

that leave before the rest of the flock does.

⁹ For see, I am about to set in motion

and raise up a group of great nations

from the north against Babylon.

They will arrange themselves against her.

Babylon will be captured from there.

Their arrows are like a skilled warrior

who does not return empty-handed.

¹⁰ Chaldea will become plunder.

All those who plunder it will be satisfied

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

¹¹ You rejoice, you celebrate the plundering of my inheritance;

you jump around like a calf stamping in its pasture;

you neigh like a powerful horse.

¹² So your mother will be greatly ashamed;

the one who bore you will be embarrassed.

See, she will be the least of nations,

a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert.

¹³ Because of Yahweh's anger,

Babylon will not be inhabited,

but will be a complete devastation.

Everyone who passes by will be appalled because of Babylon

and will hiss because of all of its wounds.

¹⁴ Arrange yourselves against Babylon all around her.

Everyone who bends a bow must shoot at her.

Do not spare any of your arrows,

for she has sinned against Yahweh.

¹⁵ Raise a shout against her all around!

She has surrendered;

her towers have fallen;

her walls are torn down,

for this is Yahweh's vengeance.

Take vengeance on her!

Do to her just as she has done!

¹⁶ Destroy both the farmer who sows seed

and the one who uses a sickle

at the time of harvest in Babylon.

Let each person turn back to his own people

from the oppressor's sword;

let them flee to their own land.

¹⁷ Israel is a scattered flock

driven away by lions.

First the king of Assyria devoured him; then after this,

Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon broke his bones.

¹⁸ Therefore Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, says this:

See, I am about to punish the king of Babylon and his land,

just as I punished the king of Assyria.

¹⁹ I will restore Israel to his homeland;

he will graze on Carmel and Bashan.

Then he will be satisfied

in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead.

²⁰ In those days and at that time, says Yahweh,

iniquity will be looked for in Israel,

but none will be found.

I will inquire about the sins of Judah,

but none will be found,

for I will forgive the remnant that I spare.

²¹ "Arise against the land of Merathaim,

against it and the ones inhabiting Pekod.

Put them to the sword and completely destroy them

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—do everything that I am commanding you.

²² The sounds of battle and enormous destruction

are in the land.

²³ How the hammer of all the lands

has been cut apart and destroyed.

How Babylon has become an object of horror

among the nations.

²⁴ I have set a trap for you and you were taken, Babylon,

and you did not know it!

You were found and captured,

because you opposed Yahweh.

²⁵ Yahweh has opened his armory

and is bringing out the weapons

for carrying out his anger.

There is work for the Lord Yahweh of host

in the land of the Chaldeans.

²⁶ Attack her from far away.

Open her granaries

and pile her up like heaps of grain.

Set her apart for destruction.

Leave no remnant of her.

²⁷ Kill all her bulls.

Send them down to the place of slaughter.

Woe to them, for their day has come

—the time for their punishment.

²⁸ There is the sound of those fleeing,

of those who are survivors,

from the land of Babylon.

These will report the vengeance of Yahweh our God for Zion,

and vengeance for his temple.

²⁹ "Summon the archers against Babylon

—all those who bend their bows.

Camp against her,

and let no one escape.

Repay her for what she has done.

Do to her by the measure she has used.

For she had acted arrogantly against Yahweh

—against the Holy One of Israel.

³⁰ So her young men will fall in the city squares,

and all her fighting men will be destroyed on that day

—this is Yahweh's declaration."

³¹ "See, I am against you, proud one

—this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh of hosts

—for your day has come, proud one,

the time when I will punish you.

³² So the proud ones will stumble and fall.

No one will raise them up.

I will set fire to their cities;

it will devour everything around him.

³³ Yahweh of hosts says this:

The people of Israel are oppressed,

together with the people of Judah.

All the ones who captured them still hold them;

they refuse to let them go.

³⁴ The one who rescues them is strong.

Yahweh of hosts is his name.

He will truly plead their case,

in order to bring rest to the land,

and to bring strife to the ones inhabiting Babylon.

³⁵ A sword is against the Chaldeans

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—and against the inhabitants of Babylon,

her leaders, and her wise men.

³⁶ A sword against those who say empty words!

They will become fools!

A sword against her soldiers!

They will be filled with terror.

³⁷ A sword is coming against their horse their chariots

and all of the people who are in the midst of Babylon,

so they will become like women.

A sword is coming against her storerooms,

and they will be plundered.

³⁸ A drought is coming on her waters,

so they will become dry.

For she is a land of worthless idols,

and they act like people

made insane by their dreadful idols.

³⁹ So desert beasts with the jackals will inhabit there,

and the young of ostriches will live in her.

For all time, she will no longer be inhabited.

From generation to generation, she will not be lived in.

⁴⁰ Just as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighbors

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—no one will live there;

no person will stay in her.

⁴¹ "See, a people is coming from the north;

a great nation and many kings

are being stirred up from the farthest parts of the earth.

⁴² They will pick up bows and spears.

They are cruel and have no compassion.

Their sound is like the sea roar,

and they are riding on horses,

set out in order as men for battle, against you,

daughter of Babylon.

⁴³ The king of Babylon heard the reports about them

and his hands fell limp in distress.

Anguish seized him

like a woman giving birth.

⁴⁴ Behold! He goes up like a lion

from the majesty of the Jordan

to the enduring grazing place

For I will quickly cause them to run from it,

and I will put someone who will be chosen in charge of it.

For who is like me,

and who will summon me?

What shepherd is able to resist me?

⁴⁵ So listen to the plans that Yahweh has decided against Babylon,

the plans that he has planned

against the land of the Chaldeans.

They will certainly be dragged away,

even the smallest flock.

Their pasturelands will be turned into ruined places.

⁴⁶ At the sound of conquered Babylon the earth shakes,

and their shout of distress is heard among the nations."

Chapter 51

¹ "Yahweh says this:

See, I am about to stir up a wind of destruction

against Babylon and against those

who live in Leb Kamai.

² I will send foreigners to Babylon.

They will scatter her and devastate her land,

for they will come against her

from all around on the day of disaster.

³ Do not let the archers bend their bows;

do not let them put on armor.

Do not spare her young men;

set her whole army apart for destruction.

⁴ For the wounded people

will fall in the land of the Chaldeans;

those who are thrust through will fall in her streets.

⁵ For Israel and Judah are not abandoned by their God,

by Yahweh of hosts,

although their land is filled with offenses

committed against the Holy One of Israel.

⁶ Flee from the midst of Babylon;

let each man save himself.

Do not perish in her iniquity.

For it is the time of Yahweh's vengeance.

He will repay all of it to her.

⁷ Babylon was a golden cup in the hand of Yahweh

that made all the world drunk;

nations drank her wine and became insane.

⁸ Babylon will fall suddenly and be destroyed.

Wail for her

Give her medicine for her pain;

perhaps she can be healed.

⁹ 'We wished to heal Babylon,

but she is not healed.

Let us all leave her and go away,

to our own land.

For her guilt reaches up to the heavens;

it is piled up to the clouds.

¹⁰ Yahweh has brought about our vindication.

Come, let us give a full account in Zion

the deeds of Yahweh our God.'

¹¹ Sharpen the arrows and take up the shields.

Yahweh is stirring up

the spirit of the king of the Medes

in a plan to destroy Babylon.

This is for Yahweh's vengeance,

vengeance for the destruction of his temple.

¹² Lift up a signal flag over Babylon's walls;

make the watch strong;

set up watchmen;

prepare the ambushes;

for the LORD will do what he has said

concerning the inhabitants of Babylon.

¹³ You people who live by many streams of water,

you people who are rich with treasures,

your end has come.

The thread of your life is now cut short.

¹⁴ Yahweh of hosts has sworn by his own life,

'I will fill you with men, like a swarm of locusts,

and they will raise a battle cry against you.'

¹⁵ He has made the earth by his power;

he set in place the world by his wisdom.

By his understanding he stretched out the heavens.

¹⁶ When he thunders,

there is the roar of waters in the heavens,

for he brings up the mist from the ends of the earth.

He makes lightning for rain

and sends out wind from his storehouses.

¹⁷ Every man has become stupid,

without knowledge.

Every metalworker is put to shame

by his idols.

For his cast metal images are frauds,

and there is no life in them.

¹⁸ They are useless, the work of mockers;

they will perish at the time of their punishment.

¹⁹ But God, the portion of Jacob, is not like these,

for he is the molder of all things.

Israel is the tribe of his inheritance;

Yahweh of hosts is his name.

²⁰ You are my war hammer,

my weapon for battle.

With you I will smash nations

and destroy kingdoms.

²¹ With you I will smash horses and their riders;

with you I will smash chariots and their drivers.

²² With you I will smash each man and woman;

with you I will smash the old and the young.

With you I will smash the young men and the virgin girls.

²³ With you I will smash the shepherds and their flocks;

with you I will smash the plowmen and their teams.

With you I will smash the governors and officials.

²⁴ For in your sight I will pay Babylon and all the inhabitants of Chaldea for all of the evil that they did in Zion—this is Yahweh's declaration.

²⁵ See, I am against you, mountain of destruction

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—which destroys the whole earth.

I will stretch out my hand against you,

and roll you down from the cliffs,

and make you a burned-out mountain.

²⁶ So they will not take from you any stone

to construct a building's corner or foundation;

for you will become an everlasting devastation

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

²⁷ Lift up a signal flag over the earth.

Blow the ram's horn over the nations.

Call the nations to attack her:

the kingdoms of Ararat, Minni, and Ashkenaz.

Appoint a commander to attack her;

bring up horses like swarming locusts.

²⁸ Prepare the nations to attack her:

The kings of the Medes and his governors,

all of his officials and all the lands under his rule.

²⁹ For the land will shake and be in anguish,

since Yahweh's plans continue against Babylon,

to make the land of Babylon a wasteland

where there is no inhabitant.

³⁰ The soldiers in Babylon have stopped fighting;

they stay in their strongholds.

Their strength has failed;

they have become women

—her homes are on fire,

the bars of her gates are broken.

³¹ A messenger runs to proclaim to another messenger,

and a runner tells another runner

to report to the king of Babylon

that his city has been taken from end to end.

³² So the fords over the river are seized;

the enemy is burning the reed marshes,

and Babylon's fighting men are confused.

³³ For Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel, says this:

The daughter of Babylon is like a threshing floor.

It is time to trample her down.

In a little while the time of harvest will come to her.

³⁴ 'Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured me,

he has driven me into confusion

and has made me an empty pot.

Like a sea monster he has swallowed me,

he has filled his stomach with my delicious foods,

and then he has spit me out.'

³⁵ The one who lives in Zion will say,

'May the violence done to me and my flesh

be on Babylon.'

Jerusalem will say,

'May my blood be on the inhabitants of Chaldea.'

³⁶ Therefore Yahweh says this:

See, I am about to plead your case

and bring about vengeance for you.

For I will dry up Babylon's water

and make her springs run dry.

³⁷ Babylon will become heaps of rubble,

a den of jackals, a horror,

an object of hissing,

where there are no inhabitants.

³⁸ The Babylonians will roar together like young lions.

They will growl like lion cubs.

³⁹ When they become hot with greed,

I will make a feast for them;

I will make them drunk so they become joyful

and then sleep an unending sleep and not wake up

—this is Yahweh's declaration—

⁴⁰ I will send them down like lambs to the slaughter,

like rams with male goats.

⁴¹ How Babylon has been captured!

So the praise of all the earth is seized.

How Babylon has become a ruined place among the nations.

⁴² The sea has come up over Babylon

She is covered with its roaring waves.

⁴³ Her cities have become a desolation,

a dry land and a wilderness,

a land that no one inhabits,

and no human being passes through.

⁴⁴ So I will punish Bel in Babylon;

I will bring out from his mouth what he swallowed,

and the nations will no longer flow

to him with their offerings.

The walls of Babylon will fall.

⁴⁵ Go out from her midst, my people.

Let each of you save his own life

from the fury of my wrath.

⁴⁶ Do not let your hearts be timid

or fear the news that is heard in the land,

for the news will come one year.

After it in the next year there will be news,

and violence will be in the land.

Ruler will be against ruler.

⁴⁷ Therefore, see, days are coming

when I will punish the carved idols of Babylon.

All of her land will be ashamed,

and all of her slaughtered ones will fall in her midst.

⁴⁸ Then the heavens and the earth,

and all that is in them will rejoice over Babylon.

For destroyers will come for her from the north

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

⁴⁹ As Babylon has made the killed of Israel fall,

so the killed of all her land will fall in Babylon.

⁵⁰ Survivors of the sword, go away!

Do not stay still.

Call Yahweh to mind from far away;

let Jerusalem come to mind.

⁵¹ We are ashamed, for we have been insulted;

shame has covered our faces,

for foreigners have entered the holy places

of the house of Yahweh.

⁵² Therefore, see, days are coming

—this is Yahweh's declaration

—when I will punish her carved idols,

and the wounded people will groan in all of her land.

⁵³ For even if Babylon went up to the heavens

or fortified her highest fortresses,

destroyers would come from me to her

—this is Yahweh's declaration.

⁵⁴ A cry of distress came from Babylon,

great destruction from the land of the Chaldeans.

⁵⁵ For Yahweh is destroying Babylon.

He is causing her loud voice to perish.

Their enemies roar like the waves of many waters;

their noise becomes very strong.

⁵⁶ For the destroyers have come against her

—against Babylon!

—and her warriors have been captured.

Their bows are shattered,

for Yahweh is the God of vengeance;

he will surely carry out this repayment.

⁵⁷ For I will make her princes and her wise men drunk,

as well as her governors, her officials, and her soldiers.

and they will sleep in an unending sleep

and never wake up

—this is the King's declaration:

Yahweh of hosts is his name.

⁵⁸ Yahweh of hosts says this:

The thick walls of Babylon will be completely demolished,

and her high gates will be burned.

Then the peoples coming to her aid will labor uselessly;

everything that the nations try to do for her

will be burned up."

⁵⁹ This is the word that Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah son of Neriah son of Mahseiah when he went with Zedekiah king of Judah to Babylon in the fourth year of his reign. Now Seraiah was a chief officer. ⁶⁰ For Jeremiah had written in a scroll about all the disaster that was going to come on Babylon—all these words that were written about Babylon.

⁶¹ Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "When you go to Babylon, then you will see and you will read these words aloud. ⁶² Then you will say, 'Yahweh, you yourself have declared that you would destroy this place, and that no man or animal will live in it, and it will be desolate forever.'

⁶³ Then when you have finished reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates. ⁶⁴ Say, 'Babylon will sink like this. It will not arise because of the disaster that I am sending against it, and they will fall.'" Jeremiah's words end here.

Chapter 52

¹ Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal; she was the daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah. ² He did what was evil in the sight of Yahweh; he did everything that Jehoiakim had done. ³ Through Yahweh's anger, all these events happened in Jerusalem and Judah, until he drove them from before himself. Then Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

⁴ It happened that in the ninth year of the reign of King Zedekiah, in the tenth month, and on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came with all his army against Jerusalem. They camped opposite it, and they built a siege wall around it. ⁵ So the city was besieged until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah's reign.

⁶ By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine was so severe in the city that there was no food for the people of the land. ⁷ Then the city was broken into, and all the fighting men fled and went out of the city at night by the way of the gate that was between the two walls, by the king's garden, although the Chaldeans were all around the city. So they went in the direction of the Arabah. ⁸ But the army of Chaldeans pursued the king and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of the Jordan River valley near Jericho. All his army was scattered away from him.

⁹ They captured the king and brought him up to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he passed sentence on him. ¹⁰ The king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah's sons before his own eyes, and at Riblah he also slaughtered all the leaders of Judah. ¹¹ Then he put out Zedekiah's eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and brought him to Babylon. The king of Babylon put him in prison until the day of his death.

¹² Now in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of the reign of King Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan came to Jerusalem. He was the commander of the king's bodyguards and a servant of the king of Babylon. ¹³ He burned the house of Yahweh, the king's palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem; also every important building in the city he burned. ¹⁴ As for the walls around Jerusalem, all the army of the Chaldeans who were with the commander of the bodyguards destroyed them.

¹⁵ As for the poorest people, the rest of the people who were left in the city, those who had deserted to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the craftsmen—Nebuzaradan, the commander of the bodyguards, took some of them away into exile. ¹⁶ But Nebuzaradan, the commander of the bodyguards, left some of the poorest of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

¹⁷ As for the bronze pillars that belonged to the house of Yahweh, and the stands, and the large bronze basin called "The Sea" that were in the house of Yahweh, the Chaldeans broke them into pieces and carried all the bronze back to Babylon. ¹⁸ The pots, shovels, lamp trimmers, bowls, and all the utensils of bronze with which the priests had served in the temple—the Chaldeans took them all away. ¹⁹ The basins and the incense burners, the bowls, pots, lampstands, pans, and basins that were made of gold, and those made of silver—the commander of the king's guard took them away as well.

²⁰ The two pillars, the large bronze basin known as "The Sea," and the twelve bronze bulls that were under the stands, things that King Solomon had made for the house of Yahweh, contained more bronze than could be weighed. ²¹ The pillars were eighteen cubits high each, and a line around each one measured twelve cubits. Each was four fingers thick and hollow.

²² A capital of bronze was on top of it. The capital was five cubits high, with latticework and pomegranates all around. It was all made of bronze. The other pillar and its pomegranates were the same as the first. ²³ So there were ninety-six pomegranates on the capital's sides, and one hundred pomegranates above the surrounding latticework.

²⁴ The commander of the bodyguards took prisoner Seraiah, the high priest, together with Zephaniah, the second priest, and the three gatekeepers. ²⁵ From the city he took prisoner an officer who was in charge of soldiers, and seven men of those who advised the king, who were still in the city. He also took prisoner the king's army officer responsible for drafting men into the army, along with sixty important men from the land who were in the city.

²⁶ Then Nebuzaradan, the commander of the bodyguards, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. ²⁷ The king of Babylon put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath. In this way, Judah went out of its land into exile.

²⁸ These were the people who Nebuchadnezzar exiled:

In the seventh year, 3,023 Jews.

²⁹ In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar

he took 832 people from Jerusalem.

³⁰ In the twenty-third year of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuzaradan,

the commander of the king's bodyguards,

exiled 745 Jewish people.

All the exiled people totaled 4,600.

³¹ It happened later in the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin, king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, that Awel-Marduk, king of Babylon released Jehoiachin king of Judah from prison. This happened in the year that Awel-Marduk began to reign.

³² He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat more honorable than that of the other kings who were with him in Babylon. ³³ Awel-Marduk removed Jehoiachin's prison clothes, and Jehoiachin ate regularly at the king's table for the rest of his life, ³⁴ and a regular food allowance was given to him by the king of Babylon every day for the rest of his life until his death.

Ezekiel

Chapter 1

¹ In the thirtieth year, the fourth month, and the fifth day of the month, it came about that I was living among the captives by the Kebar Canal. The heavens opened, and I saw visions of God. ² On the fifth day of that month—it was the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiachin— ³ the word of Yahweh came to Ezekiel son of Buzi the priest, in the land of the Chaldeans by the Kebar Canal, and the hand of Yahweh was upon him there.

⁴ Then I looked, and there was a windstorm coming from the north; a great cloud with fire flashing within it and brightness surrounding it and inside of it, and the fire was the color of amber inside the cloud. ⁵ In the middle was the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man, ⁶ but they had four faces each, and each of the creatures had four wings.

⁷ Their legs were straight, but the soles of their feet were like the hooves of a calf that shone like polished bronze. ⁸ Yet they had human hands under their wings on all four sides. For all four, their faces and wings were like this: ⁹ their wings touched each other. They did not turn when they moved; each one went straight ahead.

¹⁰ The likeness of their faces was like the face of a man. The four of them had the face of a lion to the right side, and the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side. They four had also the face of an eagle. ¹¹ Their faces were like that, and their wings were spread out above, so that each creature had a pair of wings that touched another creature's wing, and also a pair of wings that covered their bodies. ¹² Each went straight forward, so that wherever the Spirit directed them to go, they went without turning.

¹³ As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches; bright fire also moved about among the creatures, and there were flashes of lightning. ¹⁴ The living creatures were moving swiftly back and forth, and they had the appearance of lightning!

¹⁵ Then I looked at the living creatures; and I saw one wheel on the ground beside each of the living creatures with its four faces. ¹⁶ This was the appearance and structure of the wheels: Each wheel was like beryl, and the four had the same likeness; their appearance and workmanship was like a wheel intersecting another wheel.

¹⁷ As they moved, they went in any of their four directions, without turning as they went. ¹⁸ As for their rims, they were high and fearsome, for the rims were full of eyes round about.

¹⁹ Whenever the living creatures moved, the wheels moved beside them. When the living creatures rose up from the earth, the wheels also rose up. ²⁰ Wherever the Spirit would go, they went, and the wheels rose up beside them, for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. ²¹ Whenever the creatures moved, the wheels also moved; and when the creatures stood still, the wheels stood still; when the creatures rose up from the earth, the wheels rose up beside them, because the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

²² Over the heads of the living creatures was the likeness of an expansive dome; it looked like awe-inspiring crystal stretched out over their heads above. ²³ Beneath the dome, each one of the creature's wings stretched out straight and touched another creature's wings. Each of the living creatures also had a pair to cover themselves; each had a pair to cover his own body.

²⁴ Then I heard the sound of their wings. Like the noise of many waters. Like the voice of the Almighty whenever they moved. Like the sound of a rainstorm. Like the sound of an army. Whenever they stood still, they lowered their wings. ²⁵ A voice came from above the dome over their heads whenever they stood still and lowered their wings.

²⁶ Above the dome over their heads was the likeness of a throne that was like the appearance of a sapphire stone, and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness like the appearance of a man.

²⁷ I saw a figure with the appearance of glowing metal with fire in it from the appearance of his hips up; I saw from the appearance of his hips downward the appearance of fire and brightness all around. ²⁸ Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day was the appearance of the bright light surrounding it. It was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice speaking.

Chapter 2

¹ He said to me, "Son of man, stand up on your feet; then I will speak to you." ² Then, as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. ³ He said to me, "Son of man, I am sending you to the people of Israel, to rebellious nations that have rebelled against me—both they and their ancestors have sinned against me up to this very day!

⁴ Their descendants have stubborn faces and hard hearts. I am sending you to them, and you will say to them, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says.' ⁵ Either they will listen or they will not listen. They are a rebellious house, but they will at least know that a prophet has been among them.

⁶ You, son of man, do not be afraid of them or their words. Do not be afraid, although you are with briers and thorns and although you live with scorpions. Do not fear their words or be dismayed by their faces, since they are a rebellious house.

⁷ But you will speak my words to them, whether they listen or not, because they are most rebellious.

⁸ But you, son of man, listen to what I am saying to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house. Open your mouth and eat what I am about to give to you!"

⁹ Then I looked, and a hand was extended out to me; in it was a written scroll. ¹⁰ He spread it out before me; it had been written on both its front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning, and woe.

Chapter 3

¹ He said to me, "Son of man, what you have found, eat. Eat this scroll, then go speak to the house of Israel." ² So I opened my mouth, and he fed me that scroll. ³ He said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly and fill your stomach with this scroll that I have given to you!" So I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

⁴ Then he said to me, "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak my words to them. ⁵ For you are not being sent to a people of strange speech or difficult language, but to the house of Israel— ⁶ not to many peoples of strange speech or a difficult language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely if I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. ⁷ But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me. So all the house of Israel is strong browed and hard hearted.

⁸ Behold! I have made your face as hard as their faces and your brow as hard as their brows. ⁹ I have made your brow like a diamond, harder than flint! Do not fear them or be discouraged by their faces, since they are a rebellious house."

¹⁰ Then he said to me, "Son of man, all the words that I announce to you—take them into your heart and hear them with your ears! ¹¹ Then go to the captives, to your people, and speak to them. Say to them, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says,' whether they will listen or not."

¹² Then the Spirit lifted me up, and I heard behind me the sound of a great earthquake: "Blessed be the glory of Yahweh from his place!" ¹³ It was the sound of the wings of the living creatures as they touched one another, and the sound of the wheels that were with them, and the sound of a great earthquake.

¹⁴ The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went with bitterness in the anger of my spirit, and the strong hand of Yahweh was on me. ¹⁵ So I went to the captives at Tel Aviv who lived along the Kebar Canal, and I stayed there among them for seven days, overwhelmed in amazement.

¹⁶ Then it happened after seven days that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ¹⁷ "Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel, so listen to the word from my mouth, and give them my warning. ¹⁸ When I say to the wicked, 'You will surely die' and you do not warn him or speak a warning to the wicked about his evil deeds so he might live—the wicked one will die for his iniquity, but I will require his blood from your hand. ¹⁹ But if you warn the wicked, and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked deeds, then he will die for his iniquity, but you will have rescued your own life.

²⁰ If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and acts unjustly, and I set a stumbling block before him, he will die. Because you did not warn him, he will die in his sin, and I will not call to mind the righteous deeds that he performed, but I will require his blood from your hand. ²¹ But if you warn the righteous man to stop sinning so that he no longer sins, he will surely live since he was warned; and you will have rescued your own life."

²² So the hand of Yahweh was on me there, and he said to me, "Arise! Go out into the plain, and I will speak with you there!" ²³ I arose and went out into the plain, and there the glory of Yahweh was staying, like the glory that I had seen beside the Kebar Canal; so I fell on my face.

²⁴ The Spirit came to me and stood me up on my feet; and he spoke with me, and said to me, "Go and shut yourself up within your house, ²⁵ for now, son of man, they will place ropes upon you and tie you so you cannot go out among them.

²⁶ I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth, so you will be mute, and you will not be able to rebuke them, since they are a rebellious house. ²⁷ But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth so you will say to them, 'This is what the Lord Yahweh says.' The one who will hear will hear; the one who will not listen will not listen, for they are a rebellious house!"

Chapter 4

¹ "But you, son of man, take a brick for yourself and place it before you. Then carve the city of Jerusalem on it. ² Then lay siege against it, and build forts against it. Raise up a siege ramp against it and set camps around it. Place battering rams all around it. ³ Then take for yourself an iron pan and use it as an iron wall between yourself and the city and set your face against it, for it will be under siege, and you are to put the siege against it. This will be a sign to the house of Israel.

⁴ Then, lie on your left side and put the sin of the house of Israel on it; you will bear their iniquity for the number of the days that you lie down against the house of Israel. ⁵ I myself am assigning to you one day to represent each year of their punishment: 390 days! In this way, you will bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

⁶ When you have completed these days, then lie down a second time on your right side, for you will bear the iniquity of the house of Judah for forty days. I am assigning to you one day for each year. ⁷ Set your face toward Jerusalem that is under siege, and with your arm uncovered prophesy against it. ⁸ For behold! I am placing bonds on you so you will not turn from one side to the other until you have completed the days of your siege.

⁹ Take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them in a single container and make bread for yourself according to the number of the days that you will lie upon your side. For 390 days you will eat it. ¹⁰ The food you will eat will be by weight, twenty shekels per day, and you will eat it at set times each day. ¹¹ Then you will drink water, measured out to a sixth of a hin, and you will drink it at set times.

¹² You will eat it as barley cakes, but you will bake it on excrement of human dung within their sight!" ¹³ For Yahweh says, "This means that the bread that the people of Israel will eat will be unclean, there among the nations where I will banish them."

¹⁴ But I said, "Alas, Lord Yahweh! I have never been unclean! I have never eaten either an animal that died by itself or anything killed by animals, from my youth until now, and foul meat has never entered my mouth!" ¹⁵ So he said to me, "Look! I have given you cow manure instead of human dung so you can prepare your bread over that."

¹⁶ He also said to me, "Son of man! Behold! I am breaking the staff of bread in Jerusalem, and they will eat bread while rationing it in anxiety and drink water while rationing it in horror. ¹⁷ Because they will lack bread and water, every man will be appalled at his brother, and they will waste away because of their iniquity."

Chapter 5

¹ "Then you, son of man, take a sharp sword as a barber's razor for yourself, and pass the razor over your head and your beard, then take scales to weigh and divide your hair. ² Burn a third of it with fire in the midst of the city when the days of the siege are completed, and take a third of the hair and strike it with the sword all around the city. Then scatter a third of it to the wind, and I will draw out a sword to chase after the people.

³ But take a small number of hairs from them and tie them into the folds of your robe. ⁴ Then take more of the hair and throw it into the midst of the fire; and burn it in the fire; from there a fire will go out to all the house of Israel."

⁵ The Lord Yahweh says this, "This is Jerusalem in the midst of the nations, where I have placed her, and where I have surrounded her with other lands. ⁶ But she has rebelled against my ordinances more wickedly than the nations have, and my statutes more than the lands that surround her. The people have rejected my ordinances and have not walked in my statutes."

⁷ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, "Because you are more troublesome than the nations that surround you and have not walked in my statutes or acted according to my decrees, or even acted according to the decrees of the nations that surround you," ⁸ therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, "Behold! I myself will act against you. I will execute judgments within your midst for the nations to see.

⁹ I will do to you what I have not done and the like of which I will not do again, because of all your disgusting practices. ¹⁰ Therefore fathers will eat the children in your midst, and sons will eat their fathers, since I will execute judgment on you and scatter to every direction all of you who remain.

¹¹ Therefore, as I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—it is certainly because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your detestable things and with all your disgusting practices, that I myself will reduce you in number; my eye will not have pity on you, and I will not spare you. ¹² A third of you will die by plague, and they will be consumed by famine in your midst. A third will fall by the sword surrounding you. Then I will scatter a third in every direction, and draw out a sword to chase after them as well.

¹³ Then my wrath will be completed, and I will cause my fury toward them to rest. I will be comforted, and they will know that I, Yahweh, have spoken in my jealousy when I have completed my fury against them. ¹⁴ I will make you a ruin and an object of scorn to the nations that surround you and in the sight of everyone who passes by.

¹⁵ So Jerusalem will become something for other people to condemn and to mock, a warning and a horror to the nations that surround you. I will execute judgments against you in wrath and fury, and with furious rebukes—I, Yahweh have declared this! ¹⁶ I will send out harsh arrows of famine against you that will become the means with which I will destroy you. For I will increase the famine on you and break your staff of bread. ¹⁷ I will send a famine and disasters against you so you will be childless. Plague and blood will pass through you, and I will bring a sword against you—I, Yahweh, have declared this."

Chapter 6

¹ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, set your face against the mountains of Israel and prophesy to them. ³ Say, 'Mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Lord Yahweh! The Lord Yahweh says this to the mountains and to the hills, to the streambeds, and to the valleys: Behold! I am bringing a sword against you, and I will destroy your high places.

⁴ Then your altars will become desolate and your pillars will be destroyed, and I will throw down your dead in front of their idols. ⁵ I will lay the dead bodies of the people of Israel before their idols, and scatter your bones around your altars.

⁶ Everywhere you live, cities will be laid waste and the high places ruined, so that your altars will be laid waste and made desolate. Then your idols will be broken and disappear, your pillars will be cut down and your works will be wiped away. ⁷ The dead will fall down in your midst and you will know that I am Yahweh.

⁸ But I will preserve a remnant among you, and there will be some who escape the sword among the nations, when you are scattered throughout the lands. ⁹ Then those who escape will think of me among the nations where they will be held captive, that I was grieved by their promiscuous heart that turned away from me, and by their eyes that whored after their idols. Then they will show loathing on their face for the wickedness which they have committed with all their abominations. ¹⁰ So they will know that I am Yahweh. It was for a reason that I said I would bring this evil to them.

¹¹ The Lord Yahweh says this: Clap your hands and stomp your foot! Say, 'Alas!' because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel! For they will fall by sword, famine, and plague. ¹² The one far away will die by plague, and the one who is near will fall by the sword. Those who remain and survive will die by famine. In this way I will accomplish my fury against them.

¹³ Then you will know that I am Yahweh, when their dead lie among their idols, around their altars, on every high hill—on all the mountain peaks, and under every flourishing tree and thick oak—the places where they burned incense to all their idols. ¹⁴ I will strike with my hand and make the land desolate and a waste, from the wilderness to Diblah, throughout all the places where they live. Then they will know that I am Yahweh." ¹

¹Instead of Diblah , some ancient Hebrew copies and modern translations have Riblah .

Chapter 7

¹ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "You, son of man—the Lord Yahweh says this to the land of Israel.

'An end! An end has come

to the four borders of the land.

³ Now the end is upon you,

for I am sending out my wrath on you,

and I will judge you according to your ways;

then I will bring all your abominations upon you.

⁴ For my eye will not pity you,

and I will not spare you.

Instead, I will bring your ways upon you,

and your abominations will be in your midst.

Then you will know that I am Yahweh.'

⁵ "The Lord Yahweh says this:

Disaster! A unique disaster!

Behold, it is coming. ¹

⁶ An end is surely coming.

The end has woken up against you.

Behold, it is coming!

⁷ Your doom is coming to you who inhabit the land.

The time has come; the day is near—

tumult and not joyful shouting on the mountains.

⁸ Now before long I will pour out my fury against you

and fill up my wrath upon you

when I judge you according to your ways

and bring all your abominations upon you.

⁹ For my eye will not look compassionately,

and I will not spare you.

As you have done, I will do to you;

and your abominations will be in your midst

so you will know that I am Yahweh, the one punishing you.

¹⁰ Behold, the day!

Behold, it is coming!

Doom has gone out!

The rod has blossomed,

arrogance has budded!

¹¹ Violence has grown up into a rod of wickedness—

none of them, and none of their multitude,

none of their wealth, and none of their importance will last!

¹² The time is coming; the day has come close.

Do not let the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn,

since my anger is on the entire multitude!

¹³ For the seller will not return to the land he sold as long as they both live,

because the vision concerning the entire multitude will not be reversed;

and because of their iniquity, none of them will be strengthened!

¹⁴ They have blown the trumpet

and made everything ready,

but there is no one marching to battle;

since my anger is on the entire multitude.

¹⁵ The sword is on the outside,

and plague and famine are inside the building.

Those who are in the field will die by the sword,

while famine and plague will consume those in the city.

¹⁶ But some survivors will escape from among them,

and they will go to the mountains.

Like doves of the valleys, all of them will moan—

each man for his iniquity.

¹⁷ Every hand will falter

and every knee will be weak as water,

¹⁸ and they will gird themselves sackcloth,

and trembling will cover them;

and shame will be on every face,

and baldness on all of their heads.

¹⁹ They will throw their silver into the streets

and their gold will be an impure thing.

Their silver and their gold will not be able to rescue them

in the day of Yahweh's rage.

Their lives will not be saved,

and their hunger will not be satisfied,

because their iniquity has become a stumbling block.

²⁰ In their pride they took the beauty of his jeweled ornaments,

and with them they made their abominable images and their detestable idols.

Therefore, I am turning these into an unclean thing to them.

²¹ Then I will give those things into the hand of strangers as plunder

and to the wicked of the earth as plunder,

and they will defile them.

²² Then I will turn my face away from them

when they defile my cherished place;

bandits will enter it and defile it.

²³ Make a chain,

because the land is filled with the judgment of blood,

and the city is full of violence.

²⁴ So I will bring the most wicked of the nations,

and they will possess their houses,

and I will bring an end to the pride of the mighty,

for their holy places will be defiled!

²⁵ Fear will come!

They will seek peace,

but there will be none.

²⁶ Disaster upon disaster will come,

and there will be rumor after rumor.

Then they will seek a vision from the prophet,

but the law will perish from the priest

and advice from the elders.

²⁷ The king will mourn

and the prince will be clothed in horror,

while the hands of the people of the land will tremble in fear.

According to their own ways I will do this to them!

I will judge them with their own standards

until they know that I am Yahweh.'"

¹Instead of Disaster! A unique disaster! some ancient copies have Disaster after disaster!

Chapter 8

¹ So it came about in the sixth year and the sixth month, in the fifth day of the month, as I sat in my house and the elders of Judah sat before me, that the hand of the Lord Yahweh again fell upon me there. ² So I looked, and behold, there was a likeness with the appearance of a man. From the appearance of his hips downward there was fire. And from his hips upward there was the appearance of something shining, like glowing metal.

³ Then he reached out the form of a hand and took me by the hair of my head; the Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven, and in visions from God, he brought me to Jerusalem, to the entrance of the inner northern gate, where the idol that provokes great jealousy was standing. ⁴ Then behold, the glory of the God of Israel was there, according to the vision I had seen on the plain.

⁵ Then he said to me, "Son of man, lift up your eyes to the north." So I lifted up my eyes to the north, and to the north of the gate leading to the altar, there in the entrance, was the idol of jealousy. ⁶ So he said to me, "Son of man, do you see what they are doing? These are great abominations that the house of Israel is doing here to make me go far from my own sanctuary. But you will turn and see even greater abominations."

⁷ Then he brought me to the doorway of the courtyard, and I looked, and there was a hole in the wall. ⁸ He said to me, "Son of man, dig into this wall." So I dug into the wall, and there was a door. ⁹ Then he said to me, "Go and see the wicked abominations that they are doing here."

¹⁰ So I went in and looked, and behold, I saw there portrayed all over the walls every form of creeping things and detestable animals, and all the idols of the house of Israel. ¹¹ Seventy elders of the house of Israel were there, and Jaazaniah son of Shaphan was standing in their midst. They were standing in front of the images, and each man had his censer in his hand so that the smell of the cloud of incense went up.

¹² He said to me, "Son of man, do you see what the elders of the house of Israel are doing in the dark? Each one does this in the hidden chamber of his idol, for they say, 'Yahweh does not see us! Yahweh has abandoned the land.'" ¹³ Then he said to me, "Turn again and see the other great abominations that they are doing."

¹⁴ Next he brought me to the entrance of the gate of the house of Yahweh that was on the north side, and behold! The women were sitting there mourning for Tammuz. ¹⁵ So he said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? Turn again and see even greater abominations than these."

¹⁶ He brought me into the inner courtyard of the house of Yahweh, and behold! at the entrance of the temple of Yahweh between the portico and the altar, there were about twenty-five men with their backs toward the temple of Yahweh and their faces toward the east, and they were worshiping the sun.

¹⁷ He said to me, "Do you see this, son of man? Is it a little thing for the house of Judah to do these abominations that they are doing here? For they have filled the land with violence and they have turned again to provoke me to anger, putting the branch to their noses. ¹⁸ So I will also act among them; my eye will not have compassion, and I will not spare them. Though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them."

Chapter 9

¹ Then he cried in my hearing with a loud voice, and said, "Let the guards come up to the city, each with his weapon of destruction in his hand." ² Then behold! Six men came from the pathway of the upper gate that faces north, each with his weapon of slaughter in his hand. There was a man in their midst dressed in linen with a scribe's equipment at his side. So they went in and stood beside the bronze altar.

³ Then the glory of the God of Israel went up from the cherubim where it had been to the threshold of the house. He called to the man dressed in linen who had the scribe's equipment at his side. ⁴ Yahweh said to him, "Pass through the midst of the city—the midst of Jerusalem—and make a mark on the foreheads of those who groan and sigh about all the abominations being performed in the midst of the city."

⁵ Then he spoke to the others within my hearing, "Pass through the city after him and kill. Do not let your eyes have compassion, and do not spare anyone. ⁶ Kill—completely destroy—old man, young man, virgin, little children or women. But do not approach anyone who has the mark on his head. Begin at my sanctuary!" So they began with the elders who were in front of the house.

⁷ He said to them, "Defile the house, and fill its courtyards with the dead. Proceed!" So they went out and attacked the city. ⁸ As they were attacking it, I found myself alone and I fell on my face and cried out and said, "Ah, Lord Yahweh, will you destroy all the remnant of Israel in the outpouring of your wrath on Jerusalem?"

⁹ He said to me, "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceedingly great. The land is full of blood and the city full of perversions, since they say, 'Yahweh has forgotten the land,' and 'Yahweh does not see!' ¹⁰ But as for me, my eye will not pity them, and I will not spare them. I will bring their deeds upon their heads." ¹¹ Behold! The man dressed in linen who had the scribe's equipment by his side came back. He reported and said, "I have done all that you have commanded."

Chapter 10

¹ As I looked toward the dome that was over the heads of the cherubim; something appeared above them like a sapphire with the appearance of the likeness of a throne. ² Then Yahweh spoke to the man dressed in linen and said, "Go between the wheels underneath the cherubim, and fill both your hands with fiery coals from between the cherubim and scatter them over the city." Then the man went in as I watched.

³ The cherubim stood on the right side of the house when the man went in, and a cloud filled the inner courtyard. ⁴ The glory of Yahweh rose up from the cherubim and stood over the threshold of the house. It filled the house with the cloud, and the courtyard was full of the brightness of Yahweh's glory. ⁵ The sound of the cherubim's wings was heard as far as the outer courtyard, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks.

⁶ It came about, when God commanded the man dressed in linen and said, "Take fire from between the wheels that are between the cherubim," the man went in and stood beside a wheel. ⁷ A cherub reached out his hand between the cherubim to the fire that was among the cherubim, and lifted it up and placed it into the hands of the one dressed in linen. The man took it and went back out. ⁸ I saw on the cherubim something like a man's hand under their wings.

⁹ So I looked, and behold! Four wheels were beside the cherubim—one wheel beside each cherub—and the appearance of the wheels was like a beryl stone. ¹⁰ Their appearance was the same likeness for all four of them, like a wheel intersecting another wheel. ¹¹ When they moved, they went in any of their four directions, without turning as they went; but whatever direction the head faced, they followed after it without turning as they went.

¹² Their whole body—including their backs, their hands, and their wings—was covered with eyes, and eyes covered the four wheels all around also. ¹³ As I listened, the wheels were called, "Whirling." ¹⁴ They had four faces each; the first face was the face of a cherub, the second face was the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle.

¹⁵ Then the cherubim—these were the living creatures that I had seen by the Kebar Canal—rose up. ¹⁶ Whenever the cherubim moved, the wheels would go beside them, and whenever the cherubim lifted up their wings to rise up from the earth, the wheels did not turn. They still stayed beside them. ¹⁷ When the cherubim stood still, the wheels stood still, and when they rose up, the wheels rose up with them, for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels.

¹⁸ Then the glory of Yahweh went out from over the threshold of the house and stood over the cherubim. ¹⁹ The cherubim lifted up their wings and rose from the earth in my sight when they went out, and the wheels did the same beside them. They stood at the eastern entrance to the house of Yahweh, and the glory of the God of Israel came upon them from above.

²⁰ These were the living creatures that I had seen below the God of Israel by the Kebar Canal, so I knew that they were cherubim! ²¹ They had four faces each and four wings each, and the likeness of human hands under their wings, ²² and the likeness of their faces was like the faces that I had seen in the vision at the Kebar Canal, and each of them went straight ahead.

Chapter 11

¹ Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the eastern gate of the house of Yahweh, facing east, and behold, in the doorway of the gate there were twenty-five men. I saw Jaazaniah son of Azzur and Pelatiah son of Benaiah, leaders of the people, among them.

² God said to me, "Son of man, these are the men who devise iniquity, and who decide wicked plans in this city. ³ They are saying, 'The time to build houses is not now; this city is the pot, and we are the meat.' ⁴ Therefore prophesy against them. Prophesy, son of man."

⁵ Then the Spirit of Yahweh fell on me and he said for me to say: This is what Yahweh says, "That is what you are saying, house of Israel; for I know what goes through your mind. ⁶ You have multiplied the people you have killed in this city and filled its streets with them. ⁷ Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this: The people you have killed, whose bodies you have laid in the midst of Jerusalem, are the meat, and this city is the pot. But you are going to be brought out from the midst of this city.

⁸ You have feared the sword, so I am bringing the sword upon you—this is the declaration of the Lord Yahweh. ⁹ I will bring you out of the midst of the city, and put you into the hands of foreigners, for I will bring judgments against you. ¹⁰ You will fall by the sword. I will judge you within the borders of Israel so you will know that I am Yahweh.

¹¹ This city will not be your cooking pot, nor will you be the meat within her midst. I will judge you within the borders of Israel. ¹² Then you will know that I am Yahweh, whose statutes you have not walked in and whose decrees you have not obeyed. Instead, you have followed the decrees of the nations that surround you."

¹³ It came about that as I was prophesying, Pelatiah son of Benaiah, died. So I fell on my face and cried out with a loud voice and said, "Alas, Lord Yahweh, will you completely destroy the remnant of Israel?"

¹⁴ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ¹⁵ "Son of man, your brothers! Your brothers! The men of your kindred and all the house of Israel! All of them are those of whom it is said by those living in Jerusalem, 'They are far away from Yahweh! This land was given to us as our possession.'

¹⁶ Therefore say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Though I have removed them far off among the nations, and though I have scattered them among the lands, yet I have been a sanctuary for them for a little while in the lands where they have gone.' ¹⁷ Therefore say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: I will gather you from the peoples, and assemble you from the lands where you were scattered, and I will give you the land of Israel.' ¹⁸ Then they will go there and remove every detestable thing and every abomination from that place.

¹⁹ I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them. I will take out the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, ²⁰ so that they will walk in my statutes, they will carry out my decrees and do them. Then they will be my people, and I will be their God. ²¹ But to those who walk with affection toward their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their conduct on their own heads—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."

²² The cherubim lifted up their wings and the wheels that were beside them, and the glory of the God of Israel was high up over them. ²³ Then the glory of Yahweh went up from within the midst of the city and stood on the mountain to the east of the city.

²⁴ The Spirit lifted me up and brought me into Chaldea, to the exiles, in the vision from the Spirit of God, and the vision that I had seen went up from upon me. ²⁵ Then I declared to the exiles all the things of Yahweh that I had seen.

Chapter 12

¹ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, you live in the midst of a rebellious house, where they have eyes to see but they do not see; and where they have ears to hear but do not listen, because they are a rebellious house.

³ Therefore as for you, son of man, prepare your things for exile, and begin going out by day in their sight, for I will exile you in their sight from your place to another place. Perhaps they will begin to see, though they are a rebellious house.

⁴ You will bring out your things for an exile in the day in their sight; go out in the evening in their sight in the way that anyone goes into exile. ⁵ Dig a hole through the wall in their sight, and go out through it. ⁶ In their sight, lift up your things onto your shoulder, and bring them out in the darkness. Cover your face, for you must not see the land, since I have set you as a sign to the house of Israel."

⁷ So I did this, just as I was commanded. I brought out my things of exile in the daytime, and in the evening I dug a hole through the wall by hand. I brought my things out in the dark, and lifted them up on my shoulder in their sight.

⁸ Then the word of Yahweh came to me in the morning, saying, ⁹ "Son of man, is the house of Israel, that rebellious house, not asking, 'What are you doing?' ¹⁰ Say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: this prophetic action concerns the prince in Jerusalem, and all the house of Israel in whose midst they are.'

¹¹ Say, 'I am a sign to you.' As I have done, so it will be done to them; they will go into exile and into captivity. ¹² The prince who is among them will lift up his things upon his shoulder in the dark, and will go out through the wall. They will dig through the wall and bring out their things. He will cover his face, so he will not see the land with his eyes. ¹³ I will spread out my net over him and he will be caught in my snare; then I will bring him to Babylon, the land of the Chaldeans, but he will not see it. He will die there.

¹⁴ I will also scatter in every direction all of those around him who were to assist him and his entire army, and I will send out a sword after them. ¹⁵ Then they will know that I am Yahweh, when I scatter them among the nations and disperse them throughout the lands. ¹⁶ But I will spare a few men from among them from the sword, famine, and plague, so they may record all of their abominations in the lands where I take them, so they will know that I am Yahweh."

¹⁷ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ¹⁸ "Son of man, eat your bread with trembling, and drink your water with shaking and anxiety.

¹⁹ Then say to the people of the land, 'The Lord Yahweh says this concerning the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the land of Israel, "They will eat their bread with trembling and drink their water with horror, since the land will be stripped of its fullness because of the violence of all those who dwell there. ²⁰ So the cities that were inhabited will be desolate, and the land will become a wasteland; so you will know that I am Yahweh."'"

²¹ Again the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ²² "Son of man, what is this proverb that you have in the land of Israel that says, 'The days are prolonged, and every vision fails'? ²³ Therefore, say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: I will put an end to this proverb, and the people of Israel will no longer use it.' Say to them, 'The days have drawn near when every vision will be fulfilled.

²⁴ For there will no longer be any false visions or favorable divinations within the house of Israel. ²⁵ For I am Yahweh! I speak, and I carry out the words that I speak. The matter will no longer be delayed. For I will speak this word in your days, rebellious house, and I will carry it out!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"

²⁶ Again the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ²⁷ "Son of man! Behold, the house of Israel has said, 'The vision that he sees is for a time many days from now, and he prophesies of far off times.' ²⁸ Therefore say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: My words will not be delayed any longer, but the word that I have spoken will be done—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"

Chapter 13

¹ Again, the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, prophesy against the prophets who are prophesying in Israel, and say to those who are prophesying out of their own imaginations, 'Listen to the word of Yahweh. ³ The Lord Yahweh says this: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit, but who have seen nothing! ⁴ Israel, your prophets have been like jackals in the wastelands.

⁵ You have not gone to the breaks in the wall around the house of Israel in order to repair it, in order to resist in battle on the day of Yahweh. ⁶ The people have false visions and practice false divination, those who say, "Such and such is Yahweh's declaration." Yahweh has not sent them, but they nevertheless have made people hope that their messages would come true. ⁷ Have you not had false visions and practice false divination, you who say, "Such and such is Yahweh's declaration" when I myself have not spoken?'

⁸ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Because you have had false visions and have told lies—therefore this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration against you: ⁹ My hand will be against the prophets who have lying visions and who practice false divination. They will not be in the assembly of my people, or enrolled in the record of the house of Israel; they must not go to the land of Israel. For you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh!

¹⁰ Because of this, and because they led my people astray and said, "Peace!" when there is no peace, they are building a wall that they will paint with whitewash.' ¹¹ Say to those who are whitewashing the wall, 'It will fall down; there will be a downpour of rain, and I will send hailstones to make it fall down, and a windstorm wind to break it down. ¹² See, the wall will fall down. Have others not said to you, "Where is the whitewash that you put on it?"

¹³ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: I will bring a windstorm in my rage, and there will be floods of rain in my wrath! Hailstones in my rage will completely destroy it. ¹⁴ For I will tear down the wall that you have covered with whitewash, and I will demolish it to the ground and lay bare its foundations. So it will fall, and you will be annihilated in the middle of it all. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

¹⁵ For I will annihilate in my fury the wall and those who whitewashed it. I will say to you, "The wall exists no more, nor do the people who whitewashed it— ¹⁶ the prophets of Israel who prophesied about Jerusalem and who had visions of peace for her. But there is no peace!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."'

¹⁷ So you, son of man, set your face against the daughters of your people who prophesy out of their own minds, and prophesy against them. ¹⁸ Say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Woe to the women who sew magic charms onto every part of their hand and make veils for their heads of every size, used to hunt down people. Will you hunt down my people but save your own lives?

¹⁹ You have profaned me among my people for handfuls of barley and crumbs of bread, to kill people who should not die, and to preserve the lives of those who should not continue to live, because of your lies to my people who heard you.

²⁰ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: I am against the magic charms that you have used to ensnare the people's lives as if they were birds. Indeed, I will tear them from your arms; and the people whom you have trapped like birds—I will let them go free. ²¹ I will tear away your veils and rescue my people from your hand, so they will no longer be trapped in your hands. You will know that I am Yahweh.

²² Because you discouraged the heart of the righteous with lies, even though I did not cause him grief, and because you strengthened the hands of the wicked so that he does not turn from his evil ways and save his life, ²³ therefore you will no longer see false visions or practice divination. I will rescue my people out of your hand. You will know that I am Yahweh.'"

Chapter 14

¹ Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat before me. ² Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ³ "Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts and have put the stumbling block of their iniquity before their own faces. Should I be inquired of at all by them?

⁴ Therefore announce this to them and say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Every man of the house of Israel who takes his idols into his heart, or who puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his face, and who then comes to a prophet—I, Yahweh, will answer him according to the number of his idols. ⁵ I will do this so that I may take back the house of Israel in their hearts that have been driven far from me through their idols.'

⁶ Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Repent and turn away from your idols! Turn back your faces from all your abominations.

⁷ For every one from the house of Israel and every one of the foreigners sojourning in Israel who deserts me, who takes his idols into his heart and puts the stumbling block of his iniquity before his own face, and who then comes to a prophet to seek me—I, Yahweh, will answer him myself. ⁸ So I will set my face against that man and make him a sign and a proverb, for I will cut him off from the midst of my people, and you will know that I am Yahweh.

⁹ If a prophet is deceived and speaks a message, then I, Yahweh, will deceive that prophet; I will reach out with my hand against him and destroy him from the midst of my people Israel. ¹⁰ They will carry their own iniquity; the iniquity of the prophet will be the same as the iniquity of the one who inquires from him. ¹¹ Because of this, the house of Israel will no longer wander away from following me nor defile themselves any longer through all their transgressions. They will be my people, and I will be their God—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"

¹² Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ¹³ "Son of man, when a land sins against me by committing faithlessness so that I reach out with my hand against it and break the staff of its bread, and send out over it a famine and cut off both men and animals from the land; ¹⁴ then even if these three men—Noah, Daniel, and Job—were in the land's midst, they could only rescue their own lives by their righteousness—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

¹⁵ If I send evil beasts through the land and make it barren so that it becomes a wasteland where no man may pass through because of the beasts, ¹⁶ then even if these same three men were in it—as I live, declares the Lord Yahweh—they would not be able to rescue even their own sons or daughters; only their own lives would be rescued, but the land would become a wasteland.

¹⁷ Or if I bring a sword against that land and say, 'Sword, go through the land and cut off both men and animals from it', ¹⁸ then even if these three men were in the midst of the land—as I live, declares the Lord Yahweh—they would not be able to rescue even their own sons or daughters; only their own lives would be rescued.

¹⁹ Or if I send a plague against this land and pour out my fury against it through bloodshed, in order to cut off both men and animals, ²⁰ then even if Noah, Daniel, and Job were in that land—as I live, declares the Lord Yahweh—they would not be able to rescue even their own sons or daughters; only their own lives would be rescued by their righteousness.

²¹ For the Lord Yahweh says this: I will certainly make things worse by sending my four judgments—famine, sword, wild animals, and plague—against Jerusalem to cut off both men and animals from her.

²² Yet, behold! An escaped remnant will be left in her, survivors who will go out with sons and daughters. Behold! They will go out to you, and you will see their ways and actions and be comforted concerning the punishment that I have sent to Jerusalem, and about everything else that I have sent against the land. ²³ The survivors will comfort you when you see their ways and their actions, so you will know all these things I have done against her, that I have not done them in vain!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."

Chapter 15

¹ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, how is a vine better than any tree with branches that is among the trees in a forest? ³ Do people take wood from a vine to make anything? Or do they make a peg from it to hang anything on it? ⁴ See! If it is thrown into a fire as fuel, and if the fire has burned both of its ends and also the middle, is it good for anything?

⁵ See! When it was complete, it could not make anything; surely then, when the fire has burned, then it still will not make anything useful. ⁶ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: Unlike the trees in the forests, I have given the vine as fuel for fires; I will act in the same way toward the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

⁷ For I will set my face against them. Though they come out from the fire, yet the fire will consume them; so you will know that I am Yahweh, when I set my face against them. ⁸ Then I will make the land into an abandoned wasteland because they have committed faithlessness—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."

Chapter 16

¹ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, make known to Jerusalem her abominations, ³ and declare, 'The Lord Yahweh says this to Jerusalem: Your beginning and your birth took place in the land of Canaan; your father was an Amorite, and your mother was a Hittite.

⁴ On the day of your birth, your mother did not cut your navel, nor did she purify you in water or rub you down with salt, or wrap cloth around you. ⁵ No eye had compassion for you to do any of these things for you, to be compassionate toward you. On the day that you were born, with loathing for your life, you were thrown out into the open field.

⁶ But I passed by you, and I saw you writhing in your own blood; so I said to you in your blood, "Live!" I said to you in your blood, "Live!" ¹ ⁷ I made you grow like a plant in a field. You multiplied and became great, and you became the jewel of jewels. Your breasts became firm, and your hair grew thick, though you had been naked and bare.

⁸ I passed by you again, and I saw you. See! the time of love came for you, so I spread my robe over you and covered your nakedness. Then I swore to you and brought you into a covenant—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—and you became mine.

⁹ So I washed you with water and rinsed your blood off you, and I anointed you with oil. ¹⁰ I dressed you in embroidered clothes and placed leather sandals on your feet. I wrapped you with fine linen and covered you with silk. ¹¹ Next I adorned you with jewelry, and I put bracelets on your hands, and a chain around your neck. ¹² I put a nose ring in your nostrils and earrings in your ears, and a beautiful crown on your head.

¹³ So you were adorned with gold and silver, and you were dressed in fine linen, silk, and embroidered clothes; you ate fine flour, honey, and oil, and you were very beautiful, and you became a queen. ¹⁴ Your fame went out among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect in the majesty that I had given to you—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

¹⁵ But you trusted in your own beauty, and you acted like a prostitute because of your fame; you poured out your acts of prostitution on everyone who passed by, so that your beauty became his. ¹⁶ Then you took your clothes and with them you made high places for yourself decorated in various colors, and there you acted like a prostitute. This should not have happened. Nor should such a thing exist.

¹⁷ You took the beautiful jewels of the gold and silver that I gave you, and you made for yourself male figures, and you did with them as a prostitute would do. ¹⁸ You took your embroidered garments and covered them, and you set my oils and incense before them. ¹⁹ My bread I gave you—made with fine flour, oil, and honey—you set before them for a fragrant aroma, for this is what happened—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

²⁰ Then you took your sons and daughters whom you bore for me, and you sacrificed them to the images to be devoured as food. Are your acts of prostitution a small matter? ²¹ You slaughtered my children to the idols and made them pass through the fire. ²² In all your abominations and your acts of prostitution you have not thought about the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare as you thrashed about in your blood.

²³ Woe! Woe to you!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—therefore, in addition to all this wickedness, ²⁴ you built yourself a mound and made yourself a high place in every public place.

²⁵ You built your high place at the head of every road and made your beauty abominable, and you spread your legs to anyone who passed by, and you multiplied your acts of prostitution. ²⁶ You have acted like a prostitute with the Egyptians, your lustful neighbors, and you committed many more acts of prostitution, provoking me to anger.

²⁷ See! I will strike you with my hand and cut off your food. I will hand your life over to your enemies, the daughters of the Philistines, who were ashamed of your obscene behavior. ²⁸ You have acted like a prostitute with the Assyrians because you could not be satisfied. You acted like a prostitute and still were not satisfied. ²⁹ You performed many more acts of prostitution in the land of the merchants of Chaldea, and even this did not satisfy you.

³⁰ How weak is your heart—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—that you would do all these things, deeds of a shameless prostitute? ³¹ You have built your mounds at the head of every street and made your high places in every public square. Yet you were not like a prostitute because you scoffed at taking payment.

³² You adulterous woman, you accept strangers instead of your husband. ³³ People give payment to every prostitute, but you give your wages to all your lovers and bribe them to come to you from all around for your acts of prostitution. ³⁴ So there is a difference between you and other women in your fornication. No one offers payment for you to act like a prostitute. You are the very opposite. You gave them payment and none was given to you.

³⁵ Therefore, you prostitute, listen to the word of Yahweh. ³⁶ The Lord Yahweh says this: Because you have poured out your lust and uncovered your nakedness through your acts of prostitution with your lovers and with all your detestable idols, and because you gave them your children's blood, ³⁷ therefore, behold, I will gather all your lovers that you have met, all those whom you loved and all those whom you hated, and I will gather them against you on every side. I will uncover your nakedness to them so they see all your nakedness.

³⁸ For I will punish you for adultery and the shedding of blood, and I will bring on you the bloodshed of my anger and jealousy. ³⁹ I will give you into their hands so they will throw down your vaulted chamber and break down your high places and they will strip you of your clothes and take all of your jewelry. They will leave you naked and bare.

⁴⁰ Then they will bring up a crowd against you and stone you with stones, and they will cut you apart with their swords. ⁴¹ They will burn your houses and will perform many judgments on you in the sight of many women, for I will put a stop to your prostitution, and you will no longer pay your lovers. ⁴² Then I will calm my fury against you; my jealousy will leave you, for I will be satisfied, and will no longer be angry.

⁴³ Because you did not call to mind the days of your youth and have made me shake with anger because of all these things, therefore, behold! I myself will bring down on your own head the punishment for what you have done—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration. Have you not added prostitution to all your other detestable practices?

⁴⁴ Behold! Everyone who speaks proverbs concerning you will say, "As the mother is, so also is her daughter." ⁴⁵ You are the daughter of your mother, who detested her husband and her children, and you are the sister of your sisters who detested their husbands and their children. Your mother was a Hittite, and your father was an Amorite.

⁴⁶ Your older sister was Samaria and her daughters were the ones living in the north, while your younger sister was the one living south of you, that is, Sodom and her daughters.

⁴⁷ You not only walked in their ways and committed their disgusting practices, but in all your ways you have acted more corruptly than they. ⁴⁸ As I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—your sister Sodom and her daughters, have not done as much evil as you and your daughters have done.

⁴⁹ Behold! This was the iniquity of your sister Sodom that she was arrogant in her leisure, careless and unconcerned about anything. She did not strengthen the hands of the poor and needy people. ⁵⁰ She was arrogant and committed disgusting practices before me, so I took them away just as you have seen.

⁵¹ Samaria did not commit even half of your sins. You have done many more disgusting things than they did, and you have made your sisters appear more righteous than you because of all the disgusting things you have done! ⁵² Bear your disgrace, for you have furnished justification for your sisters. Because of your sins, which you committed so abominably, you have made your sisters appear to be more righteous than you. So then, be ashamed and bear your disgrace, for you have made your sisters appear righteous.

⁵³ For I will reverse their captivity—the captivity of Sodom and her daughters, and the captivity of Samaria and her daughters—and your captivity will be among them. ⁵⁴ On account of these things you will show your shame; you will be humiliated because of everything that you have done, and in this way you will be a comfort to them. ⁵⁵ So your sister Sodom and her daughters will be restored to their former condition, and Samaria and her daughters will be restored to their former estate. Then you and your daughters will be restored to your former condition.

⁵⁶ Sodom your sister was not even mentioned by your mouth in the days when you were proud, ⁵⁷ before your wickedness was revealed. Now you are scorned by the daughters of Edom and to all the daughters of the Philistines around her—all those around you despise you. ² ⁵⁸ You will show your shame and your disgusting practices!—this is Yahweh's declaration!

⁵⁹ The Lord Yahweh says this: I will deal with you as you deserve, you who have despised your oath by breaking the covenant.

⁶⁰ But I myself will call to mind my covenant with you made in the days of your youth, and I will establish an everlasting covenant with you. ⁶¹ Then you will call to mind your ways and be ashamed when you receive your older sisters and your younger sisters. I will give them to you as daughters, but not because of your covenant.

⁶² I myself will establish my covenant with you, and you will know that I am Yahweh. ⁶³ Because of these things, you will call everything to mind and be ashamed, so you will no longer open your mouth to speak because of your shame, when I have forgiven you for all that you have done—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"

¹Some modern translations leave out the second occurrence of I said to you in your blood, "Live!" .

²Instead of Edom , some ancient Hebrew copies and some modern translations have Aram , that is, Syria.

Chapter 17

¹ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, present a riddle and speak a parable to the house of Israel. ³ Say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: A large eagle with large wings and long pinions, full of feathers, and that was multicolored went to Lebanon and took hold of the top of a cedar tree. ⁴ It broke off the tips of the branches and took them to the land of Canaan; he planted it in a city of merchants.

⁵ He also took some seed of the land and planted it in fertile soil. He placed it beside a large body of water like a willow. ⁶ Then it sprouted and became a spreading vine low to the ground. Its branches turned toward him, and its roots grew under it. So it became a vine and produced branches and sent out shoots.

⁷ But there was another great eagle with large wings and many feathers. Behold! This vine turned its roots toward the eagle, and it spread out its branches toward the eagle from the place it had been planted so it would be watered. ⁸ It had been planted in good soil beside a large body of water so it would produce branches and sprout fruit, to become a glorious vine.'

⁹ Say to the people, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Will it prosper? Will it not be uprooted and stripped of its fruit so that it withers, and all its fresh growth will wither? No strong arm or many people will be needed to pull it out by its roots. ¹⁰ So behold! After it has been planted, will it grow? Will it not wither when the eastern wind touches it? It will completely wither away in the garden plot where it sprouted.'"

¹¹ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ¹² "Speak to the rebellious house, 'Do you not know what these things mean? Behold! The king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and took her king and her princes and brought them to him in Babylon.

¹³ Then he took a royal descendant, made a covenant with him, and brought him under an oath. He took away the mighty men of the land, ¹⁴ so the kingdom might become lowly and not lift itself up. By keeping his covenant the land will survive.

¹⁵ But the king of Jerusalem rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors to Egypt to acquire horses and an army. Will he succeed? Will the one doing these things escape? If he breaks the covenant, will he escape?

¹⁶ As I live!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—he will surely die in the land of the king who made him king, the king whose oath he despised, and whose covenant he broke. He will die in the middle of Babylon.

¹⁷ Pharaoh with his mighty army and a great company of men will not help him in battle, when ramps are constructed and siege walls are built up to cut off many lives. ¹⁸ For the king despised his oath by breaking the covenant. Behold, he reached out with his hand to make a promise and yet he did all these things. He will not escape.

¹⁹ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: As I live, was it not my oath that he despised and my covenant that he broke? So I will bring his punishment on his head! ²⁰ I will spread my net out over him, and he will be caught in my hunting net. Then I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment on him there for his faithlessness that he committed when he betrayed me! ²¹ All of his refugees in his armies will fall by the sword, and the ones who remain will be scattered in every direction. Then you will know that I am Yahweh; I have declared this would happen."

²² The Lord Yahweh says this, 'So I myself will take a twig from the highest part of the cedar tree and I will plant it. I will break off a tender twig, and I myself will plant it on a high mountain. ²³ I will plant it on the mountains of Israel so it will bear branches and produce fruit, and it will become a majestic cedar so that every winged bird will live under it. They will nest in the shade of its branches.

²⁴ Then all the trees of the field will know that I am Yahweh. I bring down the high trees and I raise up the low trees. I wither the watered tree and I cause the dried tree to bloom. I am Yahweh, I have declared that this will happen; and I have done it.'"

Chapter 18

¹ The word of Yahweh came to me again, saying, ² "What do you mean, you who use this proverb concerning the land of Israel and say, 'Fathers eat sour grapes, and the children's teeth are made blunt'?

³ As I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—there will certainly no longer be any occasion for you to use this proverb in Israel. ⁴ Behold! Every life belongs to me—the life of the father as well as the life of the son, they belong to me! The soul who sins is the one who will die!

⁵ What can be said about a man who is righteous and who carries out justice and righteousness— ⁶ if he does not eat upon the mountains or lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, and he does not defile his neighbor's wife or approach a woman during her impurity, is he a righteous man?

⁷ What can be said about a man who does not oppress anyone, who gives back to the debtor his pledge, and who does not commit robbery but gives his food to the hungry and covers the naked with clothing—is he a righteous man?

⁸ What can be said about a man who does not loan money for usury or take interest but keeps his hand from injustice? It is said of him that he carries out justice and establishes faithfulness between people. ⁹ If that man walks in my statutes and keeps my decrees to act faithfully, then the promise for this righteous man is this: He will surely live!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

¹⁰ But suppose that he has a violent son who sheds blood and does any one of these things that were mentioned, ¹ ¹¹ (though his father has not done any of these things). He eats upon the mountains and he defiles his neighbor's wife, what can be said about him?

¹² He oppresses the poor and needy; he commits robbery and does not return a pledge, and he lifts up his eyes to the idols and commits disgusting practices, ¹³ and he loans money for usury and takes interest, should that man live? Surely he will not live! He will certainly die and his blood will be on him because he has done all these detestable things.

¹⁴ But behold! Suppose there is a man who bears a son, and his son sees all the sins that his father has committed, and though he sees them, he does not do those things.

¹⁵ That son does not eat upon the mountains, and he does not lift up his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel, and he does not defile his neighbor's wife, what can be said about him?

¹⁶ That son does not oppress anyone, or require a pledge, or commit robbery, but instead gives his food to the hungry and covers up the naked with clothing. ¹⁷ That son does not oppress anyone or loan money for usury or take interest, but he carries out my decrees and walks according to my statutes; that son will not die for his father's iniquity: He will surely live!

¹⁸ His father, since he oppressed others by extortion and robbed his brother, and did what is not good among his people—behold, he will die in his iniquity.

¹⁹ But you say, 'Why does the son not bear the iniquity of his father?' Because the son carries out justice and righteousness and keeps all my statutes; he does them. He will surely live! ²⁰ The one who sins, he is the one who will die. A son will not bear his father's iniquity, and a father will not bear his son's iniquity. The righteousness of the one who acts rightly will be on himself, and the wickedness of the wicked will be on himself.

²¹ But if the wicked turns away from all his sins that he has done, and obeys all my statutes and performs justice and righteousness, then he will certainly live and not die. ²² All the transgressions that he has committed will not be called to mind against him. He will live by the righteousness that he practices.

²³ Do I greatly rejoice over the death of the wicked—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—and not in his turning away from his way so that he may live?

²⁴ But if the righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and practices abominations like all the abominations that the wicked person does, then will he live? All the righteousness that he had done will not be called to mind when he betrays me in his treachery. So he will die in the sins that he committed.

²⁵ But you say, 'The way of the Lord is not fair!' Listen, house of Israel! Are my ways unfair? Is it not your ways that are unfair? ²⁶ When the righteous man turns away from his righteousness, and commits iniquity and dies because of them, then he will die in the iniquity that he has done.

²⁷ But when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness that he has done and performs justice and righteousness, then he will preserve his life. ²⁸ For he has seen and turned away from all the transgressions that he had done. He will surely live, and he will not die.

²⁹ But the house of Israel says, 'The way of the Lord is not fair!' How is my way not fair, house of Israel? It is your ways that are not fair. ³⁰ Therefore I will judge each man among you according to his ways, house of Israel!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration. Repent and turn away from all your transgressions so that they will not be stumbling blocks of iniquity against you.

³¹ Throw away from yourselves all of the transgressions that you have committed; make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, house of Israel? ³² For I have no delight in the death of the one who dies—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—so repent and live!"

¹Some ancient Hebrew copies and many modern translations leave out to a brother .

Chapter 19

¹ "Now you, take up a lamentation against the leaders of Israel ² and say,

'Who was your mother?

A lioness, she lived with a lion's son;

in the midst of young lions, she nurtured her cubs.

³ She is the one who raised up one of her cubs to become a young lion,

a lion who learned to tear apart his prey,

and then he devoured men.

⁴ Then the nations heard about him.

He was caught in their trap,

and they brought him with hooks to the land of Egypt.

⁵ Then she saw that although she had waited for his return,

her expectation was now gone,

so she took another of her cubs

and raised him to become a young lion.

⁶ This young lion roamed about in the midst of lions.

He was a young lion and learned to tear his victims;

he devoured men.

⁷ He seized their widows

and ruined their cities.

The land and its fullness were made desolate

because of the sound of his roaring. ¹

⁸ But the nations came against him

from the surrounding provinces;

they spread their nets over him.

He was caught in their trap.

⁹ With hooks they put him in a cage

and then they brought him to the king of Babylon.

They brought him to the strongholds

so that his voice would no longer be heard

on the mountains of Israel.

¹⁰ Your mother was like a vine

planted in your blood beside the water. ²

It was fruitful and full of branches

because of the abundance of water.

¹¹ It had strong branches that were used for rulers' scepters,

and its size was exalted above the branches,

and its height was seen by the greatness of its foliage.

¹² But the vine was uprooted in fury

and thrown down to the earth,

and an eastern wind dried out its fruit.

Its strong branches were broken off and withered

and fire consumed them.

¹³ So now it is planted in the wilderness,

in a land of drought and thirst.

¹⁴ For fire went out from her large branches

and consumed its fruit.

There is no strong branch on it,

no scepter to rule.'

This is a lamentation and will be sung as a lamentation."

¹Instead of He seized their widows , some ancient Hebrew copies and many modern translations have He destroyed their fortresses .

²Instead of in your blood , some ancient Hebrew copies and many modern translations have in your vineyard .

Chapter 20

¹ It came about in the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, that elders of Israel came to inquire of Yahweh and sat before me.

² Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ³ "Son of man, declare to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Have you come to inquire of me? As I live, I will not be inquired of by you!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'

⁴ Will you judge them? Will you judge, son of man? Let them know about their fathers' abominations. ⁵ Say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: On the day that I chose Israel and raised my hand to swear an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made myself known to them in the land of Egypt, when I raised my hand to swear an oath to them. I said, "I am Yahweh your God"— ⁶ on that day I raised my hand to swear an oath to them that I would bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had carefully selected for them. It was flowing with milk and honey; it was the most beautiful ornament among all the lands.

⁷ I said to them, "Let each man throw away the detestable things from before his eyes and the idols of Egypt. Do not make yourselves unclean; I am Yahweh your God."

⁸ But they rebelled against me and were unwilling to listen to me. Each man did not throw away the detestable things from before his eyes nor abandon the idols of Egypt, so I determined to pour out my fury upon them to satisfy my wrath among them in the middle of the land of Egypt. ⁹ I acted for my name's sake so it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations among whom they were staying. I made myself known to them, in their eyes, by bringing them out of the land of Egypt.

¹⁰ So I sent them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. ¹¹ Then I gave them my statutes and made my decrees known to them, by which a man will live if he obeys them. ¹² I also gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between myself and them, for them to know that I am Yahweh who makes them holy.

¹³ But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness. They did not walk in my statutes; instead, they rejected my decrees, by which a man will live if he obeys them, and they greatly profaned my Sabbaths. So, I said I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness in order to end them. ¹⁴ But I acted for my name's sake so it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations, in whose sight I had brought them out of Egypt.

¹⁵ So I myself also raised my hand to swear an oath to them in the wilderness not to bring them into the land that I had been going to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey, which was the most beautiful ornament among all the lands. ¹⁶ I swore this because they had rejected my decrees and did not walk in my statutes, and they profaned my Sabbaths, since their hearts walked after their idols. ¹⁷ But my eye spared them from their destruction and I did not completely destroy them in the wilderness.

¹⁸ I said to their children in the wilderness, "Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, or keep their rules, or defile yourselves with their idols. ¹⁹ I am Yahweh your God, walk in my statutes; keep my decrees and obey them. ²⁰ Keep my Sabbaths holy so that they will be a sign between me and you, so that you will know that I am Yahweh your God."

²¹ But their sons and daughters rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes or keep my decrees, by which a man might live if he obeys them. They profaned my Sabbaths, so I determined to pour out my fury upon them to satisfy my wrath against them in the wilderness. ²² But I turned my hand away and acted for my name's sake, so it would not be profaned in the eyes of the nations in whose sight I had brought out the Israelites.

²³ I myself also lifted up my hand to swear to them in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the nations and disperse them among the lands. ²⁴ I decided to do this since they had not obeyed my decrees, and since they had rejected my statutes and profaned my Sabbaths. Their eyes were longing after their fathers' idols.

²⁵ Then I also gave them statutes that were not good, and decrees by which they could not live. ²⁶ I declared them to be unclean through their gifts—they made a sacrifice of every firstborn of the womb and caused them to pass through the fire—that I might fill them with horror so they will know that I am Yahweh!'

²⁷ Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel and say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: In this also your fathers blasphemed me when they were unfaithful to me. ²⁸ When I brought them into the land that I had sworn to give them, and then whenever they saw any high hill and leafy tree, they offered their sacrifices, they provoked me by their offerings, and there they also burned their fragrant incense and poured out their drink offerings. ²⁹ Then I said to them, "What is this high place where you bring offerings there?" So the name is called Bamah to this day.'

³⁰ Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Why do you make yourselves unclean with the ways of your fathers? So why do you act like prostitutes, searching for disgusting things? ³¹ When you offer up your gifts—when you cause your sons to pass through the fire—to this day you defile yourselves with all your idols. So why should I let you seek me, house of Israel? As I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—I will not allow you to seek me. ³² The thought that is forming in your mind will never happen. You say, "Let us be like the other nations, like the clans in the other lands who worship wood and stone."

³³ As I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—I will certainly reign over you with a mighty hand, a raised arm, and fury that will be poured out on you. ³⁴ I will bring you out from the other peoples and will gather you out of the lands among whom you have been scattered. I will do this with a mighty hand and with fury poured out. ³⁵ Then I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will judge you face to face.

³⁶ As I judged your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so also I will judge you—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration. ³⁷ I will cause you to pass under my rod, and I will make you obey the requirements of the covenant. ³⁸ I will purge from among you the rebels and those who revolt against me. I will send them out from the land where they are staying as foreigners, but they will not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

³⁹ So to you, house of Israel, the Lord Yahweh says this: Each of you should go to his own idols. Worship them if you will refuse to listen to me, but you must no longer profane my holy name with your gifts and your idols.

⁴⁰ For on my holy mountain, on the mountain peak of Israel—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—all of the house of Israel will worship me there in the land. I will be pleased to require your contributions there, and also the firstfruits of your tribute with all your holy things. ⁴¹ I will accept you like fragrant incense when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the lands where you have been scattered. I will show myself as holy among you for the nations to see.

⁴² Then, when I bring you to the land of Israel, to the land that I have lifted up my hand to swear to give to your fathers, you will know that I am Yahweh. ⁴³ There you will call to mind your conduct and all of your deeds by which you defiled yourselves, and you will despise yourselves in your own eyes for all your evil deeds that you have done. ⁴⁴ So you will know that I am Yahweh when I do this to you because of my name's sake, and not because of your evil deeds, and not because of your corrupt deeds, house of Israel—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"

⁴⁵ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ⁴⁶ "Son of man, set your face toward the southern lands, and speak against the south; prophesy against the forest of the Negev. ⁴⁷ Say to the forest of the Negev, 'This is Yahweh's declaration—the Lord Yahweh says this: See, I will set a fire among you. It will devour every fresh tree and every dried tree among you. The fiery flame will not be quenched; every face from the south to the north will be burned.

⁴⁸ Then all flesh will see that I am Yahweh when I light the fire, and it will not be quenched.'" ⁴⁹ Then I said, "Alas! Lord Yahweh, they are saying of me, 'Is he not a mere teller of parables?'"

Chapter 21

¹ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, set your face toward Jerusalem, and speak against the sanctuaries; prophesy against the land of Israel. ³ Say to the land of Israel, 'Yahweh says this: Behold! I am against you! I will draw my sword from its sheath and cut off both the righteous person and the wicked person from you!

⁴ In order for me to cut off both the righteous and the wicked from you, my sword will go out from its sheath against all flesh from the south to the north. ⁵ Then all flesh will know that I, Yahweh, have drawn my sword from its sheath. It will no longer hold back!'

⁶ As for you, son of man, groan as your loins break! In bitterness groan before their eyes! ⁷ Then it will happen that they will ask you, 'For what reason are you groaning?' Then you will say, 'Because of the news that is coming, for every heart will melt, and every hand will falter! Every spirit will grow faint, and every knee will flow like water. Behold! It is coming and it will be like this!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"

⁸ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ⁹ "Son of man, prophesy and say, 'The Lord says this:

Say: A sword! A sword!

It will be sharpened and polished!

¹⁰ It will be sharpened in order to engage in great slaughter!

It will be polished in order to be like lightning!

Should we rejoice in my son's scepter?

The coming sword hates every such rod!

¹¹ So the sword will be given to be polished,

and then to be grasped by the hand!

The sword is sharpened and it is polished

and it is to be given into the hand of the one who kills!'"

¹² Call for help and wail, son of man!

For that sword has come against my people!

It is against all the leaders of Israel.

They are thrown against the sword with my people.

Therefore, slap your thigh!

¹³ For there is a trial,

but what if the scepter that despises does not last?

—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

¹⁴ Now you, son of man, prophesy

and hit your two hands together,

for the sword will attack even a third time!

A sword for the ones to be slaughtered!

It is a sword for the many to be slaughtered,

piercing them everywhere!

¹⁵ In order to melt their hearts and to multiply their fallen,

I have set the sword for slaughter at all their gates.

Ah! It is made like lightning, it is grasped for slaughter.

¹⁶ Strike sharply to the righthand side!

Strike to the lefthand side!

Go wherever your face is turned.

¹⁷ For I will also hit my two hands together,

and then I will bring my fury to rest!

I, Yahweh, declare it!"

¹⁸ The word of Yahweh came to me again, saying, ¹⁹ "Now you, son of man, assign two roads for the sword of the king of Babylon to come. The two roads will start in the same land, and a signpost will mark one of them as leading to a city. ²⁰ Mark one road for the sword to come to Rabbah, the city of the Ammonites. Mark the other to lead the army to Judah and the city of Jerusalem, which is fortified.

²¹ For the king of Babylon will stop at the crossroads, at the junction, in order to practice divination. He will shake some arrows and ask direction from some idols and he will examine a liver. ²² In his right hand will be a divination about Jerusalem, to set battering rams against it, to open his mouth to order the slaughter, to sound a war cry, to set battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect siege towers. ²³ It will seem to be a false divination in their eye, those who had sworn an oath to the Babylonians! But the king will accuse them of iniquity in order to besiege them!

²⁴ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: Because you have made your guilt to be remembered, making your transgressions to be revealed, so that in all your actions your sins will be seen—because you have done this you will be taken in hand.

²⁵ As for you, profane and wicked ruler of Israel, whose day of punishment has come, and whose time of committing iniquity has ended, ²⁶ the Lord Yahweh says this to you: Remove the turban and take off the crown! Things will no longer be the same! Exalt the lowly and humble the exalted! ²⁷ A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! It will not be restored until the one comes who is assigned to execute judgment.

²⁸ So you, son of man, prophesy and say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this to the people of Ammon concerning their coming disgrace: A sword, a sword is drawn! It is sharpened for the slaughter in order to devour, so it will be like lightning! ²⁹ While prophets see empty visions for you, while they practice divination to make up lies for you, this sword will lie on the necks of the wicked who are about to be killed, whose day of punishment has come and whose time of iniquity is about to end.

³⁰ Return the sword to its sheath. In the place of your creation, in the land of your origin, I will judge you! ³¹ I will pour out my indignation on you! I will fan the fire of my rage against you and put you into the hand of cruel men, craftsmen of destruction!

³² You will become fuel for the fire! Your blood will be in the midst of the land. You will not be remembered, for I, Yahweh have declared this!'"

Chapter 22

¹ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,

² "Now you, son of man, will you judge? Will you judge the city of blood? Make her know all her abominations. ³ You must say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: This is a city that pours out blood in her midst so that her time may come; a city that makes idols to make herself unclean.

⁴ You have become guilty by the blood that you have poured out, and you have become unclean by the idols that you have made. You have drawn your days to a close, and the end of your years has come. Therefore I will make you an object of scorn to the nations and a laughingstock to all the lands. ⁵ Both those who are near and those who are far away from you will mock you—you unclean city—with the reputation known everywhere as being full of confusion.

⁶ Behold! The rulers of Israel, each one by his own power, have come to you to pour out blood. ⁷ They have dishonored fathers and mothers within you, and they have performed oppression on the foreigners in your midst. They have mistreated the orphans and the widows within you. ⁸ You have despised my holy things and have profaned my Sabbaths. ⁹ Slanderous men have come within you in order to pour out blood, and they eat on the mountains. They perform wickedness in your midst.

¹⁰ Within you men uncover the nakedness of their father. Within you they have violated unclean women during their impurity. ¹¹ Men who commit abominations with their neighbors' wives, and men who make their own daughters-in-law shamefully unclean; men who abuse their own sisters—daughters of their own fathers—all these are done within you. ¹² These men take bribes within you in order to pour out blood and you have loaned money for usury and taken interest, and you have treated your neighbors violently for profit by extortion, and you have forgotten me—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

¹³ See! With my hand I have struck the dishonest gain that you have made, and the bloodshed that is done in the midst of you. ¹⁴ Will your heart stand, will your hands be strong on the days when I myself will deal with you? I, Yahweh, am declaring this, and I will do it. ¹⁵ So I will scatter you among the nations and disperse you through the lands. In this way, I will purge your uncleanness from you. ¹⁶ So you will become unclean in the eyes of the nations. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.'" ¹

¹⁷ Next the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ¹⁸ "Son of man, the house of Israel has become dross to me. All of them are the leftovers of bronze and tin, and iron and lead in the midst of you. They will be like the dross of silver in your furnace. ¹⁹ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Because all of you have become like dross, therefore, behold! I am about to gather you into the midst of Jerusalem.

²⁰ As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead and tin and put it inside a furnace to melt it, and they blow the fire on it in order to melt it, so I will gather you in my anger and my wrath, and I will put you there and melt you. ²¹ I will gather you and blow on you the fire of my wrath, and you will be melted in the midst of it. ²² As silver is melted in a furnace, you will be melted in it, and you will know that I, Yahweh, have poured out my wrath on you!'"

²³ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ²⁴ "Son of man, say to her, 'You are a land that has not been cleansed. There is no rain on the day of wrath! ²⁵ There is a conspiracy of her prophets in her midst, like a roaring lion tearing apart a victim. They consume life and take precious wealth; they make many widows within her! ²

²⁶ Her priests do violence to my law, and they profane my holy things. They do not distinguish between holy things and profane things, and do not teach the difference between the unclean and the clean. They hide their eyes from my Sabbaths so that I am profaned in their midst. ²⁷ Her princes within her are like wolves tearing apart their victims. They pour out blood and destroy life for unjust gain. ²⁸ Her prophets have painted them over with whitewash—their seers of false visions and diviners of lies. They say "The Lord Yahweh says this" when Yahweh has not spoken.

²⁹ The people of the land have oppressed through extortion and plundered through robbery, and they mistreat the poor and needy, and oppress the foreigner without justice.

³⁰ So I searched for a man from them who would build up a wall and who would stand before me in its breach for the land so I would not destroy it, but I found no one. ³¹ So I will pour out my indignation upon them. I will finish them with the fire of my indignation and set their way on their own heads—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"

¹Instead of you will become unclean , some ancient copies have I will give you your inheritance .

²Instead of There is a conspiracy of her prophets within her , some ancient copies have whose princes .

Chapter 23

¹ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, there were two women, daughters of the same mother. ³ They acted as prostitutes in Egypt in the time of their youth. They acted as prostitutes there. Their breasts were squeezed and their virgin nipples were fondled there. ⁴ Their names were Oholah—the older sister—and Oholibah—her younger sister. Then they became mine and bore sons and daughters. Their names mean this: Oholah means Samaria, and Oholibah means Jerusalem.

⁵ But Oholah acted as a prostitute even when she was mine; she lusted for her lovers, for the Assyrians who were dominant, ⁶ for the governor clothed in purple, and for his officials, who were strong and handsome, all of them men riding on horses. ⁷ So she gave herself as a prostitute to them, to all the best of Assyria's men, and she made herself unclean with everyone she lusted for—and with all their idols.

⁸ For she had not left her prostitute behavior behind in Egypt, when they had lain with her when she had been a young girl, when they caressed her virgin bosom and poured out their lust upon her. ⁹ Therefore I gave her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians for whom she lusted. ¹⁰ They uncovered her nakedness, took her sons and daughters, killed her with the sword, and she became notorious among other women, so they executed judgment on her.

¹¹ Her sister Oholibah saw this, but her lust was more passionate than her sister's, and her prostitution was worse. ¹² She lusted for the Assyrians, the governors and the dominating officials who dressed impressively, who were men riding horses. All of them were strong, handsome men. ¹³ I saw that she had made herself unclean. It was the same for both sisters.

¹⁴ Then she increased her prostitution even more. She saw men carved on walls, figures of Chaldeans painted in red, ¹⁵ wearing belts around their waists, with flowing turbans on their heads. All of them had the appearance of officers of chariot troops, the likeness of sons of Babylonia, whose native land is Chaldea.

¹⁶ As soon as her eyes saw them, she lusted for them, so she sent out messengers to them in Chaldea. ¹⁷ Then the Babylonians came to her and to her bed of lust, and they made her unclean with their fornication. By what she had done she was made unclean, so she turned herself away from them in disgust.

¹⁸ When she displayed her acts of prostitution and uncovered her nakedness, I turned away from her, just as I had turned away in disgust from her sister. ¹⁹ Then she increased her prostitution as she remembered the days of her youth, when she was a prostitute in the land of Egypt.

²⁰ So she lusted for her lovers, whose private parts were like those of donkeys and whose reproductive emissions were like those of horses. ²¹ This is how you committed shameful acts of your youth, when the Egyptians fondled your nipples and squeezed your young breasts.

²² Therefore, Oholibah, the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Behold! I will turn your lovers against you. Those from whom you turned away, I will bring them against you from every side: ²³ the Babylonians and all the Chaldeans, Pekod, Shoa, and Koa, and all the Assyrians with them, strong, handsome men, governors and officials, all of them are officers and men of reputation, all of them riding on horses.

²⁴ They will come against you with weapons, and with chariots and wagons, and with a great crowd of people. They will set large shields, small shields, and helmets against you all around. I will give them the opportunity to punish you, and they will judge you according to their judgments. ²⁵ For I will set my jealous anger on you, and they will deal with you in fury. They will cut off your noses and your ears, and your survivors will fall by the sword. They will take away your sons and your daughters, and your survivors will be devoured by fire.

²⁶ They will strip you of your clothes and take away all of your beautiful jewelry. ²⁷ So I will remove your shameful behavior from you and your acts of prostitution from the land of Egypt. You will not lift up your eyes toward them with longing, and you will think of Egypt no longer.'

²⁸ For the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Behold! I will give you into the hand of the ones you hate, back into the hand of the ones from whom you had turned away. ²⁹ They will deal with you hatefully; they will take all the products of your labor and abandon you naked and bare. The nakedness of your fornication will be uncovered—and your wicked deeds and your fornications.

³⁰ These things will be done to you in your acting like a prostitute, lusting after nations by which you became unclean with their idols. ³¹ You have walked in the way of your sister, so I will put her cup of punishment into your hand.'

³² The Lord Yahweh says this,

'You will drink your sister's cup that is deep and large.

You will become a laughingstock and a subject for derision—

this cup contains a great amount.

³³ You will be filled with drunkenness and sorrow,

the cup of horror and devastation;

the cup of your sister Samaria.

³⁴ You will drink it and drain it empty;

then you will shatter it

and tear your breasts with the pieces.

For I have declared it—

this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'

³⁵ Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Because you have forgotten me and thrown me away behind your back, so also you will bear the consequences of your shameful behavior and acts of sexual immorality.'"

³⁶ Yahweh said to me, "Son of man, will you judge Oholah and Oholibah? So present to them their disgusting practices, ³⁷ since they have committed adultery, and since there is blood on their hands. They have committed adultery with their idols, and they have even caused their sons to pass through the fire, as food for their idols.

³⁸ Then they continue to do this to me: They make my sanctuary unclean, and on the same day they defile my Sabbaths. ³⁹ For when they had slaughtered their children for their idols, then they came to my sanctuary on the same day to defile it! So behold! This is what they have done in the middle of my house.

⁴⁰ You sent out for men who came from far away, to whom messengers had been sent—now behold. They indeed came, those for whom you bathed, painted your eyes, and adorned yourself with jewelry. ⁴¹ There you sat on a beautiful bed and at a table arranged before it where you placed my incense and my oil.

⁴² So the sound of a carefree crowd was around her, including all kinds of men, even Sabeans were brought in from the wilderness, and they put bracelets on their hands and beautiful crowns on their heads.

⁴³ Then I said of her who was worn out by adulteries, 'Now they will fornicate with her, and she with them.' ⁴⁴ They went to her as men go to a prostitute. In this way they went to Oholah and Oholibah, immoral women. ⁴⁵ But righteous men will pass judgment and punish them as adulteresses, and they will punish them with the sentence for those who shed blood, because they are adulteresses and blood is on their hands.

⁴⁶ So the Lord Yahweh says this: I will raise up a company against them and give them up to be terrorized and plundered. ⁴⁷ Then that company will stone them with stones and cut them down with their swords. They will kill their sons and daughters and burn down their houses.

⁴⁸ For I will remove shameful behavior from the land and discipline all the women so they will no longer act like prostitutes. ⁴⁹ So they will set your shameful behavior against you. You will bear the guilt of your sins with your idols, and in this way you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh."

Chapter 24

¹ The word of Yahweh came to me in the ninth year, in the tenth month, and on the tenth day of the month, saying, ² "Son of man, write for yourself the name of this day, this exact day, for this exact day the king of Babylon has besieged Jerusalem.

³ So speak a proverb against this rebellious house, a parable. Say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this:

Place the cooking pot.

Place it and pour water into it.

⁴ Gather pieces of food within it,

every good piece—the thigh and shoulder—

and fill it with the best bones.

⁵ Take the best of the flock,

and pile up the bones under it.

Bring it to a boil

and cook the bones in it.

⁶ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: Woe to the city of blood, a cooking pot that has rust in it and that rust will not come out of it. Take piece after piece from it, but do not cast lots for it.

⁷ For her blood is in the midst of her. She has set it on the smooth rock; she has not poured it out on the ground to cover it with dust, ⁸ so it brings fury up to exact vengeance. I placed her blood on the smooth rock so it could not be covered.

⁹ Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this: Woe to the city of blood. I will also enlarge the pile of wood. ¹⁰ Stack up the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well and mix in the spices and let the bones be charred.

¹¹ Then set the pot on its coals empty, in order to heat and scorch its bronze, so its uncleanness within it will be melted, its corrosion consumed.' ¹² She has become weary because of toil, but her corrosion has not gone out of her by the fire.

¹³ Your shameful behavior is in your uncleanness. Because I tried to cleanse you but still you would not be cleansed from your uncleanness, you will not be cleansed anymore until I have satisfied my fury upon you.

¹⁴ I, Yahweh, have declared it, and I will do it. I will not relent nor will I rest from it. As your ways were, and as your activities, they will judge you!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."

¹⁵ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ¹⁶ "Son of man! Behold, I am taking the delight of your eyes from you with a plague, but you must not mourn nor weep, and your tears must not flow. ¹⁷ You must groan silently. Do not conduct a funeral for the dead. Tie your turban on you and place your sandals on your feet, but do not cover your facial hair or eat the bread of men who mourn for having lost their wives."

¹⁸ So I spoke to the people in the morning, and my wife died in the evening. In the morning I did what I had been commanded to do.

¹⁹ The people asked me, "Will you not tell us what these things mean, the things that you are doing?" ²⁰ So I said to them, "The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ²¹ 'Say to the house of Israel, the Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I will desecrate my sanctuary—the pride of your power, the delight of your eyes, and the yearning of your soul, and your sons and your daughters whom you left behind will fall by the sword.

²² Then you will do exactly as I have done: you will not veil your facial hair, nor eat the bread of mourning men! ²³ Instead, your turbans will be on your heads, and your sandals on your feet; you will not mourn nor weep, for you will rot away in your iniquities, and each man will groan for his brother. ²⁴ So Ezekiel will be a sign for you, as everything that he has done you will do when this comes. Then you will know that I am the Lord Yahweh!'

²⁵ "But you, son of man, on the day that I capture their stronghold, the joy of their splendor, and the delight of their eyes and the burden of their soul, their sons and daughters, ²⁶ on that day, a refugee will come to you to give you the news! ²⁷ On that day your mouth will be opened up to that refugee and you will speak—you will no longer be silent. You will be a sign for them so that they will know that I am Yahweh."

Chapter 25

¹ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, set your face against the people of Ammon and prophesy against them.

³ Say to the people of Ammon, 'Hear the word of the Lord Yahweh. This is what the Lord Yahweh says: Because you said, "Aha!" over my sanctuary when it was profaned, and against the land of Israel when it was desolate, and against the house of Judah when they went into exile, ⁴ therefore, behold, I am giving you to a people in the east as their possession. They will set up camp against you and set up their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and they will drink your milk. ⁵ I will make Rabbah a pasture for camels and the people of Ammon a field for flocks. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.

⁶ For the Lord Yahweh says this: You have clapped your hands and stamped your feet, and rejoiced with all the contempt within you against the land of Israel. ⁷ Therefore, behold! I will strike you with my hand and give you as plunder to the nations. I will cut you off from the peoples and make you perish from among the lands! I will destroy you, and you will know that I am Yahweh.'

⁸ The Lord Yahweh says this, 'Because Moab and Seir say, "Behold! The house of Judah is like every other nation." ⁹ Therefore, behold! I will open the slopes of Moab, starting at his cities on the border—the splendor of Beth Jeshimoth, Baal Meon, and Kiriathaim— ¹⁰ to the people of the east who have been against the people of Ammon. I will give them up as a possession so that the people of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations. ¹¹ So I will perform judgments against Moab, and they will know that I am Yahweh.'

¹² The Lord Yahweh says this, 'Edom has taken vengeance against the house of Judah and has committed wrong in doing so. ¹³ Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this: I will strike Edom with my hand and destroy all men and animals there. I will make them a ruined, abandoned place, from Teman to Dedan. They will fall by the sword.

¹⁴ I will lay my vengeance upon Edom by the hand of my people Israel, and they will do to Edom according to my anger and my fury, and they will know my vengeance—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'

¹⁵ The Lord Yahweh says this, 'Because the Philistines have acted vengefully and taken vengeance with contempt in their heart as enemies trying to destroy Judah for all time, ¹⁶ this is what the Lord Yahweh says: Behold! I will reach out with my hand against the Philistines, and I will cut off the Kerethites and destroy the remnant who are along the seacoast. ¹⁷ For I will take great vengeance against them with furious acts of punishment, so they will know that I am Yahweh, when I take my vengeance on them.'"

Chapter 26

¹ So it was in the eleventh year, on the first day of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, because Tyre has said against Jerusalem, 'Aha! The gates of the people are broken! She has turned to me; I will be filled up because she is ruined.'

³ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Behold! I am against you, Tyre, and I will raise up many nations against you like the sea raises its waves. ⁴ They will destroy the walls of Tyre and tear down her towers. I will sweep her dust away and make her like a bare rock.

⁵ She will become a place for nets to dry out in the midst of the sea, since I have declared it—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—and she will become plunder for the nations. ⁶ Her daughters who are in the fields will be slaughtered by the swords, and they will know that I am Yahweh.'

⁷ For this is what the Lord Yahweh says: Behold, from the north I am bringing Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, king of kings, against Tyre, with horses and chariots, and with horsemen and a great crowd of people. ⁸ He will kill your daughters in the field with the sword. He will set up a siege work and build a ramp against your walls and raise up shields against you.

⁹ He will place his battering rams to hit against your walls, and with his tools he will tear down your towers. ¹⁰ His horses will be so many that their dust will cover you. Your walls will shake with the sound of horsemen, wagons, and chariots. When he enters your gates, he will enter as men come into a city whose walls have been broken down. ¹¹ The hooves of his horses will trample all of your streets. He will kill your people with the sword and your mighty stone pillars will fall to the ground.

¹² They will plunder your riches and loot your merchandise. They will tear down your walls and destroy your delightful homes. Your stones, your timber, and the rubble they will throw into the waters. ¹³ I will stop the noise of your songs. The sound of your harps will be heard no more. ¹⁴ I will make you a bare rock, you will become a place where nets are spread out to dry. You will never be built again, for I, Lord Yahweh have spoken—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

¹⁵ The Lord Yahweh says this to Tyre, 'Will not the islands quake with the sound of your downfall, and with the groans of the wounded when the terrible slaughter is in your midst? ¹⁶ Then all the princes of the sea will step down from their thrones and remove their robes and cast off their embroidered garments. They will clothe themselves with trembling, they will sit on the ground and tremble every moment, and they will be appalled because of you.

¹⁷ They will lift up a lament for you and say to you,

How you, who were inhabited by sailors,

have been destroyed.

The famous city that was so strong—

it is now gone from the sea.

The ones living in her

once spread a terror about themselves

upon everyone who lived near them.

¹⁸ Now the coasts tremble on the day of your downfall.

The islands in the sea are terrified,

because you are no longer in your place.'

¹⁹ For the Lord Yahweh says this: When I make you a desolate city, like the other cities that are not inhabited, when I raise up the deeps against you, and when the great waters cover you, ²⁰ then I will bring you down to the people of ancient times, like the others who have gone down into the pit; for I will make you live in the lowest parts of the earth as in ruins of ancient times. Because of this you will not come back and stand in the land of the living. ¹ ²¹ I will place disaster on you, and you will be no more forever. Then you will be sought, but you will never be found ever again—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."

¹The expression and stand in the land of the living follows the ancient Greek translation. The ancient Hebrew copies have I will place glory in the land of the living , which does not seem to fit the context here.

Chapter 27

¹ Again the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Now you, son of man, begin a lamentation concerning Tyre, ³ and say to Tyre, who lives within the gates of the sea, merchants of peoples to many islands, 'The Lord Yahweh says this to you:

Tyre, you have said, "I am perfect in beauty."

⁴ Your borders are in the heart of the seas;

your builders have perfected your beauty.

⁵ They have made all your planks with cypress from Senir;

they took a cedar from Lebanon to make a mast for you.

⁶ They made your oars from the oaks of Bashan;

they made your decks out of cypress wood from Cyprus,

and they overlaid them with ivory.

⁷ Your sails were made from colorful linen from Egypt

that served as your signal flag;

the colors of blue and purple from the coasts of Elishah

are used for the awning on your boat.

⁸ Those who were living in Sidon and Arvad were your rowers;

the wise men of Tyre were within you;

they were your pilots.

⁹ The elders of Byblos filled your seams;

all the ships of the sea and their sailors among you

were carrying your merchandise for trade.

¹⁰ Persia, Lydia, and Libya were in your army,

your men of war.

They hung shield and helmet within you;

they showed your splendor.

¹¹ The men of Arvad and Helek in your army

were on your walls surrounding you,

and the people of Gammad were in your towers.

They hung up their shields on your walls all around you!

They completed your beauty.

¹² Tarshish was a trading partner with you because of your abundant wealth of goods to sell: Silver, iron, tin, and lead. They bought and sold your wares! ¹³ Greece, ¹ Tubal, and Meshech—they traded slaves and in items made of bronze. They handled your merchandise.

¹⁴ Beth Togarmah provided horses, warhorses, and mules as your merchandise. ¹⁵ The men of Rhodes traded with you on many coasts. Merchandise was in your hand; they sent back horn, ivory, and ebony as payment!

¹⁶ Aram was a trading partner for the many products of your labor; they provided emeralds, purple, colored cloth, fine fabric, pearls, and rubies as your merchandise. ¹⁷ Judah and the land of Israel were trading with you. They provided wheat from Minnith, cakes, honey, oil, and balsam as your merchandise. ¹⁸ Damascus was a trading partner for the many products of your labor, of all your enormous wealth, and of the wine of Helbon and the wool of Zahar.

¹⁹ Dan and Javan from Izal provided you with merchandise of wrought iron, cinnamon, and calamus. This became merchandise for you. ²⁰ Dedan was your dealer in fine saddle blankets. ²¹ Arabia and all the chiefs of Kedar were your trading partners; they provided you with lambs, rams and goats.

²² The traders of Sheba and Raamah came to sell you the best of every spice and in all kinds of precious gems; they traded gold for your merchandise. ²³ Haran, Kanneh, and Eden were your trading partners, along with Sheba, Ashur, and Kilmad.

²⁴ These were your dealers in ornate robes of violet cloths with woven colors, and in blankets of multicolored, embroidered, and well-woven cloth in your marketplaces.

²⁵ The ships of Tarshish

were the transporters of your merchandise!

So you were filled up,

heavily laden with cargo in the heart of the seas!

²⁶ Your rowers have brought you into vast seas;

the eastern wind has broken you in the middle of them.

²⁷ Your wealth, merchandise, and trade goods;

your sailors and pilots, and ship builders;

your traders of merchandise and all the men of war who are in you,

and all your company—

they will sink into the depths of the sea

on the day of your overthrow.

²⁸ Cities at the sea will tremble

at the sound of your pilots' cry.

²⁹ All those who handle oars will come down from their ships;

mariners and all the pilots on the sea will stand on the land.

³⁰ Then they will make their voices heard over you

and they will cry aloud bitterly;

they will cast dust up on their heads.

They will roll about in ashes.

³¹ They will shave their heads bald for you

and bind themselves with sackcloth,

and they will weep bitterly over you

and they will cry out.

³² They will lift up their wails of lamentation for you

and sing dirges over you,

Who is like Tyre, who has now been brought to silence

in the middle of the sea?

³³ When your merchandise went ashore from the sea,

it satisfied many peoples;

you enriched the kings of the earth

with your great wealth and merchandise!

³⁴ But when you were shattered by the seas, by deep waters,

your merchandise and all your company sank!

³⁵ All the inhabitants of the coasts were appalled at you,

and their kings bristled in horror!

Their faces trembled!

³⁶ The traders among the people hiss at you;

you have become a horror,

and you will be no more forever.'"

¹Some modern English translations read, Javan .

Chapter 28

¹ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Your heart is arrogant! You have said, "I am a god! I will sit in the seat of the gods in the heart of the seas!" Even though you are a man and not a god, you make your heart like the heart of a god; ³ you think that you are wiser than Daniel, and that no secret amazes you!

⁴ You have made yourself wealthy with wisdom and skill, and obtained gold and silver in your treasuries! ⁵ By great wisdom and by your trading, you have multiplied your wealth, so your heart is arrogant because of your wealth.

⁶ Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this: Because you have made your heart like the heart of a god, ⁷ I will therefore bring foreigners against you, terrifying men from other nations. They will bring their swords against the beauty of your wisdom, and they will profane your splendor.

⁸ They will send you down to the pit, and you will die the death of those who die in the heart of the seas. ⁹ Will you truly say, "I am a god" to the face of one who kills you? You are a man and not God, and you will be in the hand of the one who pierces you. ¹⁰ You will die the death of the uncircumcised by the hand of foreigners, for I have declared it—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"

¹¹ The word of Yahweh came again to me, saying, ¹² "Son of man, lift up a lament for the king of Tyre and say to him, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: You were the model of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty. ¹³ You were in Eden, the garden of God. Every precious stone covered you: ruby, topaz, emerald, chrysolite, onyx, jasper, sapphire, turquoise, and beryl. Your settings and mountings were made from gold. It was on the day you were created that they were prepared.

¹⁴ I placed you on the holy mountain of God as the cherub I anointed to guard mankind. You were in the midst of the fiery stones where you walked about. ¹⁵ You had integrity in your ways from the day you were created until injustice was found within you.

¹⁶ Through your great trade you were filled with violence, and so you sinned. So I threw you out of the mountain of God, as a one who was defiled, and I destroyed you, guardian cherub, and drove you from among the fiery stones. ¹⁷ Your heart was arrogant with your beauty; you ruined your wisdom because of your splendor. I have sent you down to the earth. I have placed you before kings so they may see you.

¹⁸ Because of your many iniquities and your dishonest trade, you have defiled your holy places. So I have made fire come out from you; it will consume you. I will turn you into ashes on the earth in the sight of all who look at you. ¹⁹ All the ones who knew you among the peoples are appalled at you; you have become terrified, and you will be no more forever.'"

²⁰ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ²¹ "Son of man, set your face against Sidon and prophesy against her. ²² Say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am against you, Sidon! For I will be glorified in your midst. Then they will know that I am Yahweh when I execute judgments within her. I will be shown to be holy in her.

²³ I will send out a plague in her and blood in her streets, and those who are fatally wounded will fall in the midst of her. When the sword comes against her from all around, then they will know that I am Yahweh.

²⁴ Then there will no longer be pricking briers and painful thorns for the house of Israel from all those around them who despise them, so they will know that I am the Lord Yahweh!'

²⁵ The Lord Yahweh says this, 'When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they were scattered, and when I am set apart among them, so the nations may see, then they will make their homes in the land I will give to my servant Jacob. ²⁶ Then they will live securely within her and build houses, plant vineyards, and live securely when I execute judgments on all the ones who now despise them from all around; so they will know that I am Yahweh their God!'"

Chapter 29

¹ In the tenth year, in the tenth month on the twelfth day of the month, the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, set your face against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt; prophesy against him and against all of Egypt. ³ Declare and say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this:

Behold! I am against you, Pharaoh, king of Egypt.

You, the great sea monster that lurks in the midst of the river,

that says, "My river is my own. I have made it for myself."

⁴ For I will place hooks in your jaw,

and the fish of your Nile will cling to your scales;

I will lift you up from the middle of your river

along with all the fish of the river that cling to your scales.

⁵ I will throw you down into the wilderness,

you and all the fish from your river.

You will fall on the open field;

you will not gather together or assemble.

I will give you as food to the living things of the earth

and to the birds of the heavens.

⁶ Then all the inhabitants of Egypt will know

that I am Yahweh,

because they have been a walking stick

made of a reed to the house of Israel.

⁷ When they took hold of you in their hand,

you broke and tore open their shoulder;

and when they leaned on you,

you were broken,

and you caused their legs to be unsteady.

⁸ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I will bring a sword against you. I will cut off both men and animals from you. ⁹ So the land of Egypt will become desolate and a ruin. Then they will know that I am Yahweh, because the sea monster had said, "The river is mine, for I have made it." ¹⁰ Therefore, behold! I am against you and against your river, so I will give the land of Egypt over to desolation and waste, and you will become a wasteland from the Migdol to Syene and the borders of Cush.

¹¹ No man's foot will pass through it, and no wild animal's foot will pass through it. It will not be inhabited for forty years. ¹² For I will make the land of Egypt a desolation in the midst of uninhabited lands, and its cities in the midst of wasted cities will become a desolation for forty years; then I will scatter Egypt among the nations, and I will disperse them though the lands.

¹³ For the Lord Yahweh says this: At the end of forty years I will gather Egypt from the peoples among whom they were scattered. ¹⁴ I will reverse the captivity of Egypt and bring them back to the region of Pathros, to the land of their origin. Then they will be a lowly kingdom there.

¹⁵ It will be the lowliest of the kingdoms, and it will not be lifted up any more among the nations. I will diminish them so they will no longer rule over nations. ¹⁶ Egypt will no longer be a reason for confidence for the house of Israel. Instead, it will be a reminder of the iniquity that Israel committed when they turned to Egypt for help. Then they will know that I am the Lord Yahweh.'"

¹⁷ Then it came about in the twenty-seventh year on the first of the first month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ¹⁸ "Son of man, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon stationed his army to do hard work against Tyre. Every head was rubbed until it was made bald, and every shoulder was made raw. Yet he and his army received no payment from Tyre for the hard work that he carried out against it.

¹⁹ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Behold! I am giving the land of Egypt to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and he will capture its loot, steal its plunder, and carry off all he finds there; that will be his army's wages. ²⁰ I have given him the land of Egypt as the wages for the work they did for me—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

²¹ On that day I will make a horn sprout up for the house of Israel, and I will make you speak in their midst, so that they will know that I am Yahweh.'"

Chapter 30

¹ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, prophesy and say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this:

Wail, "Woe is the coming day."

³ The day is near.

The day is near for Yahweh.

It will be a day of clouds

a time of doom for nations.

⁴ Then a sword will come against Egypt,

and there will be anguish in Cush

when the killed people fall in Egypt—

when they take her wealth,

and when her foundations are ruined.

⁵ Cush and Put, Lydia and all Arabia, and Libya, together with the people belonging to the covenant—they will all fall by the sword.

⁶ Yahweh says this:

So the ones who support Egypt will fall,

and the pride of her strength will go down.

From Migdol to Syene their soldiers will fall by the sword—

this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

⁷ They will be appalled in the midst of the abandoned lands,

and their cities will be among all the ruined cities.

⁸ Then they will know that I am Yahweh,

when I set fire in Egypt,

and when all of her helpers are destroyed.

⁹ In that day messengers will go out from before me in ships to terrorize a secure Cush, and there will be anguish among them on the day of Egypt's doom. For behold! It is coming.

¹⁰ The Lord Yahweh says this: I will make an end of the multitudes of Egypt by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. ¹¹ He and his army with him, the terror of nations, will be brought to destroy the land; they will draw out their swords against Egypt and fill the land with those who have been killed.

¹² I will make the rivers into dry ground, and I will sell the land into the hand of wicked men. I will make the land and its fullness desolate by the hand of strangers—I, Yahweh, have spoken.

¹³ The Lord Yahweh says this: I will destroy idols, and I will bring an end to the worthless idols of Memphis. There will no longer be a prince in the land of Egypt, and I will put fear on the land of Egypt. ¹⁴ Then I will make Pathros desolate and set fire in Zoan, and I will execute acts of judgment on Thebes.

¹⁵ For I will pour out my fury on Pelusium, the stronghold of Egypt, and cut off the multitude of Thebes. ¹⁶ Then I will set fire in Egypt; Pelusium will be in great agony, Thebes will be broken up, and Memphis will face enemies every day.

¹⁷ The young men in Heliopolis and Bubastis will fall by the sword, and their cities will go into captivity. ¹⁸ In Tahpanhes, the day will become dark when I break the yoke of Egypt there, and the pride of her strength will be finished. There will be a cloud covering her, and her daughters will walk into captivity. ¹⁹ I will execute acts of judgment in Egypt, so they will know that I am Yahweh.'"

²⁰ Then it came about in the eleventh year, in the first month, in the seventh day of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ²¹ "Son of man, I have broken the arm of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Behold! It has not been bound up for healing or set with a splint so that it can become strong enough to grasp a sword.

²² Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this, 'Behold, I am against Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. For I will break his arm, both the strong one and the broken one, and I will make the sword fall from his hand. ²³ Then I will scatter Egypt among the nations and disperse them among the lands. ²⁴ I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon and place my sword in his hand so that I might destroy Pharaoh's arms. He will groan before the king of Babylon with the groans of a dying man.

²⁵ For I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, while Pharaoh's arms will fall. Then they will know that I am Yahweh, when I put my sword into the hand of the king of Babylon; for he will attack the land of Egypt with it. ²⁶ So I will scatter Egypt among the nations and disperse them through the lands. Then they will know that I am Yahweh.'"

Chapter 31

¹ Then it came about in the eleventh year, in the third month, on the first day of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, say to Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, and to his multitudes around him,

'In your greatness, who are you like?

³ Behold! Assyria was a cedar in Lebanon with beautiful branches,

giving shade to the forest,

and the tallest in height,

and the branches formed its treetop.

⁴ Many waters made it tall;

the deep waters made it huge.

Rivers flowed all around the place where it was planted,

for their channels stretched out to all the trees in the field.

⁵ Its great height was more than any of the other trees in the field,

and its branches became very many;

its branches grew long

because of many waters as they grew.

⁶ Every bird of the heavens

nested in its branches,

while every living thing of the field

gave birth to its young under its foliage.

All of the many nations

lived under its shade.

⁷ For it was beautiful in its greatness

and the length of its branches,

for its roots were in many waters.

⁸ Cedars in the garden of God could not equal it.

None among the cypress trees matched its branches,

and the plane tree could not equal its boughs.

There was no other tree in the garden of God

that was like it in its beauty.

⁹ I made it beautiful with its many branches

and all the trees of Eden that were in the garden of God envied it.

¹⁰ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: Because it was tall in height, and it set its treetop between its branches, it lifted up its heart because of its height. ¹¹ I have given it into the hand of a mighty one of the nations, to deal with it according to what its wickedness deserves. I have thrown it out.

¹² Foreigners who were the terror of all the nations cut it off and left it to die. Its branches fell on the mountains and all the valleys, and its boughs lay broken in all the ravines of the land. Then all the nations on earth came out from under its shade and they went away from it.

¹³ All the birds of the sky rested on the trunk of the fallen tree and every animal of the field came to its branches.

¹⁴ This happened so that no other trees that grow by the waters will lift up their foliage to the height of the tallest trees, and that no other trees that grow beside the waters will reach up to that height. All of them have been assigned to death, to the earth below, among the children of humanity, with those that go down to the pit.

¹⁵ The Lord Yahweh says this: On the day when the cedar went down to Sheol I brought mourning to the earth. I covered the deep waters over it, and I held back the ocean waters. I kept back the great waters, and I brought mourning to Lebanon for him. So all the trees of the field mourned because of it.

¹⁶ I brought shuddering to the nations at the sound of its downfall, when I threw it down to Sheol with those who went down into the pit. So I comforted all the trees of Eden in the lowest parts of the earth. These had been the choicest and best trees of Lebanon; the trees that drank the waters.

¹⁷ For they also went down with it to Sheol, to the ones who had been killed by the sword. These were its strong arm, those nations who had lived in its shade. ¹⁸ Which of the trees in Eden was your equal in glory and greatness? For you will be brought down with the trees of Eden to the lowest parts of the earth among the uncircumcised; you will lie down with those who were killed by the sword.'

This is Pharaoh and all of his multitudes—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."

Chapter 32

¹ Then it happened in the twelfth month of the twelfth year, on the first of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, lift up a lament concerning Pharaoh the king of Egypt; say to him,

'You are like a young lion among the nations,

but you are like a monster in the seas;

you churn up the water,

you stir up the waters with your feet and muddy their waters.

³ The Lord Yahweh says this:

So I will spread my net over you in the assembly of many peoples,

and they will lift you up in my net.

⁴ I will abandon you in the land.

I will throw you into a field

and cause all the birds of the heavens to settle on you;

the hunger of all living animals on earth will be satisfied by you.

⁵ For I will put your flesh on the mountains,

and I will fill the valleys with your worm-filled corpse.

⁶ Then I will pour your blood over the mountains,

and the stream beds will be filled with your blood.

⁷ Then when I extinguish you,

I will cover the heavens and darken their stars;

I will cover the sun with clouds,

and the moon will not shine its light.

⁸ All the shining lights in the heavens

I will darken over you,

and I will put darkness over your land—

this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

⁹ So I will terrify the heart of many peoples in lands that you do not know, when I bring about your destruction among the nations, among lands that you have not known. ¹ ¹⁰ I will shock many peoples concerning you; their kings will bristle in horror concerning you when I swing my sword before them. Every moment each one will tremble because of you, on the day of your ruin.

¹¹ For the Lord Yahweh says this: The sword of the king of Babylon will come against you.

¹² I will cause your multitudes to fall by warriors' swords—

each warrior a terror of nations.

These warriors will devastate the pride of Egypt

and destroy all of its multitudes.

¹³ For I will destroy all the cattle from beside the plentiful waters;

the foot of man will no longer stir the waters up,

neither will the hooves of cattle stir them.

¹⁴ Then I will calm their waters

and make their rivers run like oil—

this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

¹⁵ When I make the land of Egypt a desolation,

when the land is made desolate of all its fullness,

when I attack all the inhabitants in her,

they will know that I am Yahweh.

¹⁶ There will be a lament; the daughters of the nations will lament over her; they will lament over Egypt, over all her multitudes they will lament—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"

¹⁷ Then it happened in the twelfth year, on the fifteenth day of the month, that the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ¹⁸ "Son of man, weep for the multitudes of Egypt and bring them down—her and the daughters of majestic nations—to the lowest earth with those who have gone down to the pit.

¹⁹ 'Are you really more beautiful than anyone else?

Go down and lie down with the uncircumcised.'

²⁰ They will fall among those who were killed by the sword. The sword has been drawn! She has been given to the sword; they will seize her and her multitudes. ²¹ The strongest of the warriors in Sheol will declare about Egypt and her allies, 'They have come down here! They will lie down with the uncircumcised, with those who were killed by the sword.'

²² Assyria is there with all her assembly. Her graves surround her; all of them were killed by the sword. ²³ Those whose graves are set in the recesses of the pit are there, with all her assembly. Her graves surround all of those who were killed, who fell by the sword, those who brought terror on the land of the living.

²⁴ Elam is there with all her multitudes. Her graves surround her; all of them were killed— those who fell by the sword, who have gone down uncircumcised to the lowest parts of the earth, who brought their terrors on the land of the living and who carry their own shame, together with the ones going down to the pit. ²⁵ Among those who were killed, they have made a bed for her, with her multitude all around her grave. All of them are uncircumcised, pierced by the sword, because they had brought their terrors on the land of the living. So they carry their shame with those who go down to the pit; they are laid among those who were killed.

²⁶ Meshech, Tubal, and all their multitudes are there! Their graves surround them. All of them are uncircumcised, killed by the sword, because they had brought their terrors on the land of the living. ²⁷ They do not lie down with the fallen warriors of the uncircumcised who have gone down to Sheol with all their weapons of war, and with their swords placed under their heads and their iniquities over their bones. For they were the terror of warriors in the land of the living.

²⁸ So you, Egypt, will be broken in the midst of the uncircumcised! You will lie alongside those who were pierced by the sword.

²⁹ Edom is there with her kings and all her leaders. They have been placed in their strength with those killed by the sword. With the uncircumcised they lie, with those who have gone down to the pit.

³⁰ The princes of the north are there—all of them and all the Sidonians who went down with the ones who had been pierced. They were powerful and terrorized others, but now they lie down there in shame, uncircumcised with those who were pierced by the sword. They carry their own shame, together with the ones going down to the pit.

³¹ Pharaoh will look and be comforted about all his multitudes who were pierced by the sword—Pharaoh and all his army—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration. ³² I put him as my terrifying one in the land of the living, but he will be laid down in the midst of the uncircumcised, among those pierced by the sword, Pharaoh and all his multitudes—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."

¹Instead of when I bring about your destruction among the nations , some ancient translations and some modern translations have when I take you into captivity among the nations .

Chapter 33

¹ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, declare this to your people; say to them, 'When I bring a sword against any land, then the people of that land take one man from among themselves and make him a watchman for them. ³ He looks for the sword as it comes on the land, and he blows his horn to warn the people! ⁴ If the people hear the sound of the horn but do not pay attention, and if the sword comes and kills them, then each one's blood is on his own head.

⁵ If someone hears the sound of the horn and pays no attention, his blood is on him; but if he pays attention, he will save his own life.

⁶ "However, if the watchman sees the sword as it is coming, but if he does not blow the horn, with the result that the people are not warned, and if the sword comes and takes anyone's life, then that person dies in his own iniquity, but I will require his blood from the watchman.'

⁷ "Now you yourself, son of man! I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; you will hear the words from my mouth and warn them on my behalf. ⁸ If I say to a wicked person, 'Wicked one, you will surely die!' but if you do not announce this so as to warn the wicked about his way, then he who is wicked will die in his iniquity, but I will require his blood from your hand! ⁹ But you, if you warn the wicked about his way, so that he might turn back from it, and if he does not turn back from his way, then he will die in his iniquity, but you yourself will have saved your own life.

¹⁰ "So you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, 'You are saying this, "Our transgressions and our sins are on us, and we are rotting away in them! How can we live?"' ¹¹ Say to them, 'As I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—I do not delight in the death of the wicked, for if the wicked repents from his way, then he will live! Repent! Repent from your wicked ways! For why should you die, house of Israel?'

¹² So now you, son of man, say to your people, 'The righteousness of a righteous person will not save him if he sins! The wickedness of a wicked person will not cause him to perish if he repents from his wickedness! For the righteous person will not be able to live because of his righteousness if he sins. ¹³ If I say to the righteous, "He will surely live!" and if he trusts in his righteousness and then commits injustice, I will not call to mind any of his righteousness. He will die for the wickedness he committed.

¹⁴ So if I say to the wicked, "You will surely die," but if he then repents from his sins and does what is just and right— ¹⁵ if he restores the loan guarantee that he wickedly demanded, or if he makes restitution for what he has stolen, and if he walks in the statutes that give life and no longer commits injustice—then he will surely live. He will not die. ¹⁶ None of the sins that he has committed will be called to mind for him. He has done justice and righteousness, and so, he will surely live!

¹⁷ 'But your people say, "The way of the Lord is not fair!" but it is your ways that are not fair! ¹⁸ When the righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits injustice, then he will die in it! ¹⁹ When the wicked turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and righteous, he will live because of those things! ²⁰ But you people say, "The way of the Lord is not fair!" I will judge each of you according to his way, house of Israel!'"

²¹ It happened in the twelfth year, on the fifth day of the tenth month of our captivity, that a fugitive came to me from Jerusalem and said, "The city has been captured!" ²² The hand of Yahweh had been on me in the evening before the fugitive came, and my mouth was opened by the time that he came to me in the dawn. So my mouth was open; I was no longer mute!

²³ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ²⁴ "Son of man, the ones inhabiting those ruins in the land of Israel are talking and say, 'Abraham was only one person, and he inherited the land, but we are many! The land has been given to us as a possession.'

²⁵ Therefore say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: You eat blood, and you lift up your eyes towards your idols, then you pour out people's blood. Should you really possess the land? ²⁶ You have depended on your swords and have done abominations; each man defiles his neighbor's wife. Should you really possess the land?'

²⁷ You will say this to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: As I live, surely the ones in the ruins will fall by the sword, and I will give those in the fields to the living creatures as food, and those in fortresses and in caves will die of plagues. ²⁸ Then I will turn the land into a desolation and a horror, and the pride of its might will end, for the mountains of Israel will be deserted, and there will be no one to pass through them.' ²⁹ So they will know that I am Yahweh, when I make the land a desolation and a waste because of all the abominations that they have done.

³⁰ "So now you, son of man—your people are saying things about you beside the walls and the gates of the houses, and each says to one another—each man to his brother, 'Let us go and listen to the prophet's word that comes out from Yahweh!' ³¹ So my people will come to you, as they often do, and will sit in front of you and listen to your words, but they will not obey them. Right words are in their mouths, but their hearts are going after unjust profit.

³² For you are like a lovely song to them, a beautiful sound that is well played on a stringed instrument, so they will listen to your words, but none of them will obey them. ³³ So when all of this happens—behold! it will happen!—then they will know that a prophet has been among them."

Chapter 34

¹ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this to the shepherds: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who are shepherding themselves. Should not shepherds guard the flock? ³ You eat the fatty portions and you clothe yourselves in wool. You slaughter the fatlings of the flock. You do not shepherd at all.

⁴ You have not strengthened those who are weak, nor do you heal the ones who are ill. You do not bind up the ones who are broken, and you do not restore the outcasts or seek the lost. Instead, you rule over them through strength and violence. ⁵ Then they were scattered without a shepherd, and they became food for all the living beasts in the fields, after they were scattered. ⁶ My flock strays on all of the mountains and on every high hill, and it is dispersed over the entire surface of the earth. Yet no one is searching for them.

⁷ Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh: ⁸ As I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—because my flock has become plunder and food for all the beasts in the fields, because there was no shepherd and none of my shepherds sought my flock, but the shepherds guarded themselves and did not shepherd my flock.

⁹ Therefore, shepherds, hear the word of Yahweh: ¹⁰ The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock from their hand. Then I will dismiss them from shepherding the flock; neither will the shepherds any longer shepherd themselves since I will take away my flock from their mouths, so that my flock will no longer be food for them.

¹¹ For the Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I myself will seek out my flock and I will look after them, ¹² like a shepherd seeking his flock on the day he is within the midst of his scattered flock. Thus I will seek my flock, and I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on the day of clouds and darkness. ¹³ Then I will bring them out from among the peoples; I will gather them from the lands and bring them to their land. I will put them in pastures on the mountainsides of Israel, by the streams, and in every settlement in the land.

¹⁴ I will put them in good pastures; the high mountains of Israel will be their grazing places. They will lie down there in good places for grazing, in abundant pastures, and they will graze on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I myself will shepherd my flock, and I myself will make them lie down—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration— ¹⁶ I will seek the lost and restore the outcast. I will bind up the broken sheep and heal the sick sheep, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd with justice.

¹⁷ So now you, my flock—this is what the Lord Yahweh says—behold, I will be a judge between sheep and sheep and between rams and male goats. ¹⁸ Is it not enough to feed on the good pasture, that you must trample down with your feet what is left of the pasture; and to drink from clear waters, that you must muddy the rivers with your feet? ¹⁹ Must my sheep eat what you have trampled with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

²⁰ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this to them: Behold! I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the thin ones, ²¹ for you have pushed them with your sides and shoulders, and you have gored all of the weak ones with your horns until you have scattered them away from the land.

²² I will save my flock and they will no longer be plunder, and I will judge between one sheep and another! ²³ I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will shepherd them, he will feed them, and he will be their shepherd. ²⁴ For I, Yahweh, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among them—I, Yahweh, have declared this.

²⁵ Then I will make a covenant of peace with them and remove the evil wild animals from the land, so that they will live securely in the wilderness and safely sleep in the forests. ²⁶ I will also bring blessings on them and on the places around my hill, for I will send out showers in due season. These will be showers of blessing. ²⁷ Then the trees of the field will produce their fruit, and the earth will yield its produce. My sheep will be secure in their land; then they will know that I am Yahweh, when I break the bars of their yoke, and when I rescue them from the hand of those who enslaved them.

²⁸ They will no longer be plunder for the nations, and the wild animals on the earth will no longer devour them. For they will live securely, and no one will frighten them. ²⁹ For I will provide them a renowned plantation; so they will not be victims of famine in the land, and they will not bear the insults of the nations.

³⁰ Then they will know that I, Yahweh their God, am with them. They are my people, the house of Israel—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration. ³¹ For you are my sheep, the flock of my pasture, and my people, and I am your God—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"

Chapter 35

¹ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, set your face against Mount Seir and prophesy against it. ³ Say to it, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am against you, Mount Seir, and I will strike you with my hand and make you a desolation and a waste.

⁴ I will make your cities ruins, and you yourself will become desolate; then you will know that I am Yahweh. ⁵ Because you have always been hostile to the people of Israel, and because you poured them out into the hands of the sword at the time of their distress, at the time their punishment was at its greatest. ⁶ Therefore, as I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—I will prepare you for bloodshed, and bloodshed will pursue you! Since you did not hate bloodshed, bloodshed will pursue you.

⁷ I will make Mount Seir a complete desolation when I cut off from it anyone who passes through and returns again. ⁸ I will fill its mountains with those who were killed; on your high hills and valleys and in all your streams those who were killed by the sword will fall. ⁹ I will make you a perpetual desolation. Your cities will not be inhabited, but you will know that I am Yahweh.

¹⁰ You have said, "These two nations and these two lands will become mine, and we will possess them," even when Yahweh was present with them. ¹¹ Therefore, as I live—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—so I will do according to your anger and according to your jealousy that you had in your hatred of Israel, and I will show myself to them when I judge you.

¹² So you will know that I am Yahweh. I have heard all the insults you spoke against the mountains of Israel, when you said, "They have been destroyed; they have been given over to us to devour." ¹³ You exalted yourselves against me with what you said, and you multiplied the words you said against me; and I heard it all.

¹⁴ The Lord Yahweh says this: I will make you a desolation, while the entire earth rejoices. ¹⁵ As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the people of Israel because of its desolation, I will do the same to you. You will become a desolation, Mount Seir, and all of Edom—all of it! Then they will know that I am Yahweh.'"

Chapter 36

¹ "Now you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel and say, 'Mountains of Israel, listen to the word of Yahweh. ² The Lord Yahweh says this: The enemy has said about you, "Aha!" and "The ancient high places have become our possession."' ³ Therefore prophesy and say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Because of your desolation and because of the attacks that came on you from all sides, you have become a possession of the other nations; you have been the subject of slanderous lips and tongues, and of people's stories.

⁴ Therefore, mountains of Israel, listen to the word of the Lord Yahweh: The Lord Yahweh says this to the mountains and the high hills, to the streambeds and valleys, to the uninhabited desolations and the abandoned cities that have become plunder and a subject of mocking for the other nations that surround them— ⁵ therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: I have certainly spoken in the fire of my zeal against the other nations, against Edom and all who took my land for themselves as a possession, against all those who had both joy in their heart and contempt in their spirit, as they seized my land that they might claim its pasturelands for themselves.' ⁶ Therefore, prophesy to the land of Israel and say to the mountains and to the high hills, to the streambeds and to the valleys, 'the Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! In my zeal and in my anger I am declaring this because you have borne the insults of nations.

⁷ Therefore, the Lord Yahweh says this: I myself will lift up my hand to swear that the nations that surround you will certainly carry their own shame.

⁸ But you, mountains of Israel, you will grow branches and bear fruit for my people Israel, since they will soon come back to you. ⁹ For behold, I am for you, and I treat you with favor; you will be plowed and sown with seed.

¹⁰ So I will multiply upon you the number of your people, even the whole house of Israel. The cities will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. ¹¹ I will multiply men and animals on you mountains so that they will multiply and be fruitful. Then I will cause you to be inhabited as you previously were, and I will do you more good than in the past, for you will know that I am Yahweh. ¹² I will bring men, my people Israel, to walk on you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance, and you will no longer cause their children to die.

¹³ The Lord Yahweh says this: Because they are saying to you, "You devour men, bereaving your nation of children," ¹⁴ therefore you will not consume people any longer, and you will no longer make your nation mourn their deaths. This is the Lord Yahweh's declaration. ¹⁵ Nor will I allow you to hear the insults of the nations any longer; you will no longer have to suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'"

¹⁶ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ¹⁷ "Son of man, when the house of Israel inhabited their land, they defiled it with their ways and their deeds. Their ways were like the uncleanness of the impurity before me. ¹⁸ So I poured out my fury against them for the blood that they poured out on the land and for their pollution of it by their idols.

¹⁹ I scattered them among the nations; they were dispersed through the lands. I judged them according to their ways and their deeds. ²⁰ Then they went to the nations, and wherever they went, they profaned my holy name when people said of them, 'Are these really the people of Yahweh? For they have been thrown out of his land.' ²¹ But I had compassion for my holy name that the house of Israel had defiled among the nations, when they went there.

²² Therefore say to the house of Israel, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: I am not doing this for your sake, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations everywhere you have gone. ²³ For I will make my great name holy, which you have profaned among the nations—in the midst of the nations, you profaned it. Then the nations will know that I am Yahweh—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—when you see that I am holy.

²⁴ I will take you from the nations and gather you from every land, and I will bring you to your land. ²⁵ Then I will sprinkle pure water on you so you will be clean; you will be purified from all of your uncleanness, and I will purify you from all of your idols.

²⁶ I will give you a new heart and a new spirit in your innermost parts, and I will take away the heart of stone from your flesh. For I will give you a heart of flesh. ²⁷ I will set my Spirit in you and enable you to walk in my statutes and keep my decrees, so you will do them. ²⁸ Then you will inhabit the land that I gave to your ancestors; you will be my people, and I will be your God.

²⁹ For I will save you from all of your uncleanness. I will summon the grain and multiply it. I will no longer put famine upon you. ³⁰ I will multiply the fruit of the tree and the produce of the field so that you will no longer bear the shame of famine among the nations. ³¹ Then you will think of your wicked ways and your deeds that were not good, and you will show loathing on your faces because of your own iniquities and your disgusting practicies.

³² I am not doing this for your sake—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—let this be known to you. So be ashamed and disgraced because of your ways, house of Israel. ³³ The Lord Yahweh says this: On the day that I purify you from all your iniquity, I will cause you to inhabit the cities and to rebuild the ruined places. ³⁴ For you will plow the ruined land until it is no longer a ruin before the eyes of all who pass by.

³⁵ Then they will say, "This land was desolate, but it has become like the garden of Eden; the desolate cities and the uninhabited ruins that were torn down are now fortified and inhabited." ³⁶ Then the other nations around you will know that I am Yahweh, that I built up the ruins and replanted the deserted places. I am Yahweh. I have declared it and I will do it.

³⁷ The Lord Yahweh says this: Again I will be asked by the house of Israel to do this for them, to increase them like a flock of people. ³⁸ Like the flock is set apart for sacrifices, like the flock in Jerusalem at her appointed feasts, so will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people and they will know that I am Yahweh.'"

Chapter 37

¹ The hand of Yahweh was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of Yahweh and set me down in the midst of a valley; it was full of bones. ² Then he made me pass through them round and round. Behold! A great many of them were in the valley. Behold! They were very dry. ³ He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live again?" So I said, "Lord Yahweh, you alone know."

⁴ Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones. Listen to the word of Yahweh. ⁵ The Lord Yahweh says this to these bones: Behold! I am about to put breath into you, and you will live. ⁶ I will place sinews over you and bring flesh onto you. I will cover you with skin and put breath within you so you will live. Then you will know that I am Yahweh.'"

⁷ So I prophesied as I was commanded; as I prophesied, behold, a sound came, that of shaking. Then the bones drew together—bone against bone. ⁸ I looked and, behold, sinews were now on them, and flesh grew up and skin covered them. But there was still no breath in them.

⁹ Then Yahweh said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Breath, come from the four winds, and breathe on these who have been killed, so they may live.'" ¹⁰ So I prophesied as I was commanded; the breath came into them and they lived. Then they stood on their feet, a very great army.

¹¹ Then Yahweh said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the entire house of Israel. Behold! They are saying, 'Our bones have dried up, and our hope is gone. We have been cut off.' ¹² Therefore prophesy and say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I will open your graves and lift you out from them, my people. I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

¹³ Then you will know that I am Yahweh, when I open your graves and bring you out from them, my people. ¹⁴ I will place my Spirit within you so you will live, and I will cause you to rest in your land when you know that I am Yahweh. I declare and will do it—this is Yahweh's declaration.'"

¹⁵ Then the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ¹⁶ "So now you, son of man, take one stick for yourself and write on it, 'For Judah and for the people of Israel, his companions.' Then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph, the branch of Ephraim, and for all the people of Israel, their companions.' ¹⁷ Bring both of them together into one stick, so that they become one in your hand.

¹⁸ When your people speak to you and say, 'Will you not tell us what these things of yours mean?' ¹⁹ then say to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am taking the branch of Joseph that is in the hand of Ephraim and the tribes of Israel his companions and joining it to the branch of Judah, so that they will make one branch, and they will become one in my hand.' ²⁰ Hold in your hand the branches that you wrote on before their eyes.

²¹ Declare to them, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am about to take the people of Israel from among the nations where they went. I will gather them from the surrounding lands and I will bring them to their land. ²² I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel, and there will be one king as king over all of them, and they will no longer be two nations. They will no longer be divided into two kingdoms. ²³ Then they will no longer defile themselves with their idols, their disgusting things, or any of their other sins. For I will save them from all of their faithless actions with which they have sinned, and I will purify them, so they will be my people and I will be their God. ¹

²⁴ David my servant will be king over them. So there will be one shepherd over them all, and they will walk according to my decrees and they will keep my statutes and obey them. ²⁵ They will live in the land that I have given to my servant Jacob, where your fathers had stayed. They will live in it forever—they, their children, and their grandchildren, for David my servant will be their chief forever.

²⁶ I will establish a covenant of peace with them. It will be an everlasting covenant with them. I will establish them and multiply them and set my holy place in their midst forever. ²⁷ My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. ²⁸ Then the nations will know that I am Yahweh who sets Israel apart, when my holy place is among them forever.'"

¹Some ancient translations of the Hebrew copies and most modern translations read in this way: from all of their faithless actions . However, the Hebrew text, as it is, is difficult to translate. It reads: from their dwelling places , which many think makes little sense in this context.

Chapter 38

¹ The word of Yahweh came to me, saying, ² "Son of man, set your face toward Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; and prophesy against him. ³ Say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am against you, Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal.

⁴ So I will turn you around and set hooks in your jaw; I will send you out with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all of them dressed in full armor, a great company with large shields and small shields, all of them holding swords! ⁵ Persia, Cush, and Libya are with them, all of them with shields and helmets! ⁶ Gomer and all her troops, and Beth Togarmah, from the far parts of the north, and all its troops! Many peoples are with you!

⁷ Get ready! Yes, prepare yourself and your troops assembled with you, and be their commander. ⁸ You will be called after many days, and after some years you will go to a land that has recovered from the sword and that has been gathered from many peoples, gathered back to the mountains of Israel that had been a continuous ruin. But the land's people will be brought out of the peoples, and they will live in safety, all of them! ⁹ So you will go up as a storm goes; you will be like a cloud covering the land, you and all your troops, all the many soldiers with you.

¹⁰ The Lord Yahweh says this: It will happen on that day that plans will form in your heart, and you will devise wicked schemes.' ¹¹ Then you will say, 'I will go up to the open land; I will go to the quiet people living in safety, all of them living where there are no walls or bars, and where there are no city gates. ¹² I will capture booty and steal plunder, in order to bring my hand against the ruins that are newly inhabited, and against the people gathered from the nations, people who are gaining livestock and property, and who are living at the center of the earth.'

¹³ Sheba and Dedan, and the traders of Tarshish along with all its young warriors will say to you, 'Have you come to take booty? Have you assembled your company to take away plunder, to carry off silver and gold, to take their livestock and property and to haul away much plunder?'

¹⁴ Therefore prophesy, son of man, and say to Gog, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: On that day, when my people Israel are living securely, will you not learn about them? ¹⁵ You will come from your place far away in the north with a great army, all of them riding on horses, a great company, a large army. ¹⁶ You will attack my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land. In the latter days I will bring you against my land, so the nations might know me when I show myself through you, Gog, to be holy before their eyes.

¹⁷ The Lord Yahweh says this: Are you not the one of whom I spoke in former days by the hand of my servants, the prophets of Israel, who prophesied in their own time for years that I would bring you against them? ¹⁸ So it will come to be in that day when Gog attacks the land of Israel—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—my wrath will mount up in my anger.

¹⁹ In my zeal and in the fire of my anger, I declare that on that day there will be a great earthquake in the land of Israel. ²⁰ They will shake before me—the fish of the sea and the birds of the skies, the beasts of the fields, and all the creatures that crawl on the earth, and every person who is on the surface of the land. The mountains will be thrown down and the cliffs will fall, until every wall falls to the earth.

²¹ I will summon a sword against him on all my mountains—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—each man's sword will be against his brother. ²² With plague and blood I will enter into judgment with him, and I will rain on him and on his troops—and on the many nations with him—a torrential downpour and hailstones, fire and sulfur. ²³ For I will show my greatness and my holiness and I will make myself known in the eyes of the many nations, and they will know that I am Yahweh.'"

Chapter 39

¹ "Now you, son of man, prophesy against Gog and say, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Behold! I am against you, Gog, chief of Meshech and Tubal. ² I will turn you and lead you on; I will bring you up from the far north and bring you to the mountains of Israel. ³ Then I will knock your bow out of your left hand and make the arrows fall from your right hand.

⁴ You will fall on the mountains of Israel—you and all your troops and the soldiers who are with you. I will give you to the birds of prey and the wild beasts of the fields for food. ⁵ You will fall on the open field, for I myself declare it—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration. ⁶ Then I will send out fire on Magog and on those living in safety on the coasts, and they will know that I am Yahweh.

⁷ For I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will no longer allow my holy name to be profaned; the nations will know that I am Yahweh, the Holy One in Israel. ⁸ Behold! The day is coming, and it will take place—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

⁹ The ones living in the cities of Israel will go out and they will use weapons to kindle and make fires and burn them—small shields, large shields, bows, arrows, the clubs and spears; they will make fires with them for seven years. ¹⁰ They will not gather wood from the fields or cut down trees from the forests, since they will kindle fires with the weapons; they will take from those who wanted to take from them; they will plunder those who wanted to plunder them—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."

¹¹ Then it will happen on that day that I will make a place there for Gog—a grave in Israel, a valley for those who journey to the east of the sea. It will block those who wish to cross over. There they will bury Gog with all his multitudes. They will call it the Valley of Hamon Gog.

¹² For seven months the house of Israel will bury them in order to purify the land. ¹³ For all the people of the land will bury them; it will be a day of renown for them when I am glorified—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

¹⁴ Then they will designate men to continually go through the land, to find those who were traveling through, but who died and their bodies remained on the surface of the land, so that they may bury them, in order to cleanse the land. At the end of the seventh month they will begin their search. ¹⁵ As these men pass through the land, when they see any human bone, they will put a marker by it, until gravediggers come and bury it in the Valley of Hamon Gog. ¹⁶ There will be a city there by the name of Hamonah. In this way they will purify the land.

¹⁷ Now to you, son of man, the Lord Yahweh says this: Say to all the winged birds and all the wild beasts in the fields, 'Gather together and come. Gather from all around to the sacrifice that I myself am making for you, a large sacrifice on the mountains of Israel, so that you may consume flesh and drink blood. ¹⁸ You will consume the flesh of warriors and drink the blood of the princes of the earth; they will be rams, lambs, goats, and bulls, they were all fattened in Bashan.

¹⁹ Then you will eat fat to your satisfaction; you will drink blood until you become drunk; this will be the sacrifice that I will slaughter for you. ²⁰ You will be satisfied at my table with horse, chariot, warrior, and every man of war—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.'

²¹ I will set my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see my judgment that I perform and my hand that I have set against them. ²² The house of Israel will know that I am Yahweh their God from that day onward.

²³ The nations will know that the house of Israel went into captivity because of their iniquity by which they betrayed me, so I hid my face from them and gave them into the hand of their adversaries so that all of them fell by the sword. ²⁴ I did to them according to their uncleanness and their sins, when I hid my face from them.

²⁵ Therefore the Lord Yahweh says this: Now I will reverse the captivity of Jacob, and I will have compassion on all the house of Israel, when I act with zeal for my holy name. ²⁶ Then they will bear their shame and all the treachery by which they betrayed me. They will forget all this when they rest in their land in safety, with no one to terrify them. ²⁷ When I restore them from the peoples and gather them from the lands of their enemies, I will show myself to be holy in the sight of many nations.

²⁸ Then they will know that I am Yahweh their God, for I sent them into captivity among the nations, but then I will gather them back to their land. I will not leave any of them among the nations. ²⁹ I will no longer hide my face from them when I pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."

Chapter 40

¹ In the twenty-fifth year of our captivity at the beginning of the year on the tenth day of the month, in the fourteenth year after the city was captured—on that same day, the hand of Yahweh was upon me and he took me there. ² In visions from God he brought me to the land of Israel. He brought me to rest on a very high mountain; to the south were what appeared to be buildings of a city.

³ Then he brought me there. Behold, a man! His appearance was like the appearance of bronze. A linen cord and a measuring stick were in his hand, and he stood in the city gate. ⁴ The man said to me, "Son of man, look with your eyes and listen with your ears, and fix your mind on all that I am revealing to you, for you were brought here so I could reveal them to you. Report everything that you will see to the house of Israel."

⁵ There was a wall surrounding the temple area. The length of the measuring stick in the man's hand was six long cubits. Each long cubit was a cubit and a handbreadth in length. So he measured the wall, and it was one measuring stick thick and one measuring stick high. ⁶ Then he went to the temple gate that faced east. He went up its steps and measured the threshold of the gate—one stick in depth. ¹ ⁷ The guard chambers were each one stick in length and one stick in width; there were five cubits between any two of the chambers, and the threshold of the temple gate by the temple portico was one stick deep.

⁸ He measured the portico of the gate; it was one stick in length. ⁹ He measured the portico of the gate. It was one stick deep. The doorposts were two cubits in width. This was the portico of the gate facing the temple. ¹⁰ There were three guard chambers on either side of the east gate, and each of them had the same measurement, and the walls that separated them had the same measurement.

¹¹ Then the man measured the width of the gateway entrance—ten cubits; and he measured the length of the gateway entrance—thirteen cubits. ¹² He measured the wall that was bordering the front of the chambers—one cubit high. The chambers measured six cubits on each side. ¹³ Then he measured the gateway from the roof of one chamber to that of the next chamber—twenty-five cubits, from the entrance of the first chamber to that of the second.

¹⁴ Then he measured the wall that went between the guard chambers—sixty cubits in length; he measured as far as the gate's portico. ¹⁵ The entrance from the front of the gate to the other end of the gate's portico was fifty cubits. ¹⁶ There were closed windows toward the chambers and toward their pillars within the gates all around; and it was the same for the porches. There were windows all around the inside, and each jamb was decorated with palm trees.

¹⁷ Then the man brought me to the outer courtyard of the temple. Behold, there were rooms, and there was pavement in the courtyard, with thirty rooms next to the pavement. ¹⁸ The pavement went up to the side of the gates, and its width was the same as the gates' length. This was the lower pavement. ¹⁹ Then the man measured the distance from the front of the lower gate to the front of the inner gate; it was one hundred cubits on the east side, and the same on the north side.

²⁰ Then he measured the length and width of the gate that was at the north of the outer court. ²¹ There were three chambers on either side of that gate, and the gate and its portico measured the same as the main gate—fifty cubits in total length and twenty-five cubits in width.

²² Its windows, portico, chambers, and its palm trees corresponded to the gate that faced east. Seven steps went up to it and to its portico. ²³ There was a gate to the inner courtyard in front of the gate facing north, just as also there was a gate to the east; the man measured from one gate to the other gate—one hundred cubits in distance.

²⁴ Next the man brought me to the gate of the southern entrance, and its walls and portico measured the same as the other outer gates. ²⁵ There were closed windows in the gateway and its portico just as at that gate. The south gate and its portico measured fifty cubits in length and twenty-five cubits in width.

²⁶ There were seven steps up to the gate and its portico, and there were carvings of palm trees on the walls on either side. ²⁷ There was a gate to the inner courtyard on the southern side, and the man measured from that gate to the gate of the south entrance—one hundred cubits in distance.

²⁸ Then the man brought me to the inner courtyard by way of its southern gate, which had the same measurements as the other gates. ²⁹ Its chambers, walls, and porticos measured the same as the other gates; there were windows all around in the portico. The inner gate and its portico measured fifty cubits in length and twenty-five cubits in width. ³⁰ There were also porticos all around the inner wall; these were twenty-five cubits in length and five cubits in width. ³¹ This portico faced the outer courtyard with carved palm trees on its walls and eight steps going up to it.

³² Then the man brought me to the inner courtyard by the eastern way and measured the gate, which had the same measurements as the other gates. ³³ Its chambers, walls, and portico measured the same as the other gates, and there were windows all around. The inner gate and its portico measured fifty cubits in length and twenty-five cubits in width. ³⁴ Its portico faced the outer courtyard; it had palm trees on either side of it and eight steps going up it.

³⁵ Next the man brought me to the northern gate and measured it; it measured the same as the other gates. ³⁶ Its chambers, walls, and portico measured the same as the other gates, and there were windows all around. The gateway and its portico measured fifty cubits in length and twenty-five cubits in width. ³⁷ Its portico faced the outer courtyard; it had palm trees on either side of it and eight steps going up it.

³⁸ There was a room with a door by each of the inner gateways. This was where they rinsed the burnt offerings. ³⁹ There were two tables on each side of each portico, on which the burnt offering was slaughtered, and also the sin offering and the guilt offering.

⁴⁰ By the wall of the courtyard, going up to the gate to the north, there were two tables. Also on the other side there were two tables at the gate's portico. ⁴¹ There were four tables on either side by the gate; they slaughtered animals on the eight tables.

⁴² There were four tables of cut stone for the burnt offerings, one and a half cubits in length, one and a half cubits in width, and one cubit tall. On them they laid the tools with which they slaughtered the burnt offerings for the sacrifices. ⁴³ Two-pronged hooks a handbreadth in length were fastened in the portico all around, and the flesh of the offerings would be put on the tables.

⁴⁴ On the outside of the inner gate, within the inner courtyard, were singers' chambers, one on the north side facing south, and the other on the south side facing north. ⁴⁵ Then the man said to me, "This room facing south is for the priests who are on duty in the temple.

⁴⁶ The room facing north is for the priests on duty at the altar. These are the sons of Zadok who come near to Yahweh to serve him; they are among the sons of Levi." ⁴⁷ Next he measured the courtyard—one hundred cubits in length and one hundred cubits in width in a square, with the altar in front of the house.

⁴⁸ Then the man brought me to the portico of the house and measured its doorposts—they were five cubits thick on either side. The gateway itself was fourteen cubits in width, and the walls on each side of it were three cubits in width. ² ⁴⁹ The length of the portico was twenty cubits, and its depth was eleven cubits. There were steps that went up to it and columns that stood on either side of it. ³ ⁴

¹After one stick in depth , many copies of the ancient Hebrew text contains the additional phrase: one threshold one stick in depth" . Many modern translations, however, leave this expression out, because it seems to be a repetition of preceding verse.

²Instead of the walls on each side of it were three cubits in width , the copies of the ancient Hebrew text read the entrance was three cubits in width , but this seems to be a mistake, judging from the preceding words in this verse.

³Instead of steps , some copies of the ancient Hebrew text, and some modern translations read ten steps .

⁴Instead of eleven cubits , some ancient translations of the Hebrew copies and many modern translations read twelve cubits .

Chapter 41

¹ Then the man brought me into the temple's holy place and measured the doorposts—six cubits in width on either side. ¹ ² The width of the doorway was ten cubits; the wall on each side was five cubits in length. Then the man measured the dimensions of the holy place—forty cubits in length and twenty cubits in width.

³ Then the man went into the very holy place and measured the posts of the doorway—two cubits, and the doorway was six cubits in width. The walls on either side were seven cubits in width. ⁴ Then he measured the room's length—twenty cubits. Its width—twenty cubits to the front of the temple hall. Then he said to me, "This is the most holy place."

⁵ Then the man measured the wall of the house—it was six cubits thick. The width of each side room around the house was four cubits in width. ⁶ There were side rooms on three levels, one room above another, thirty rooms on each level. There were ledges around the wall of the house, to support all of the side rooms, for there was no support put in the wall of the house. ⁷ So the side rooms widened and went around going up, for the house went around higher and higher all around; the rooms widened as the house went up, and a stairway went up to the highest level, through the middle level.

⁸ Then I saw a raised part all around the house, the foundation for the side chambers; it measured a full stick in height—six cubits. ⁹ The width of the wall of the side rooms on the outside was five cubits. There was an open space to the outside of these rooms in the sanctuary.

¹⁰ On the other side of this open space were the priests' outer side rooms; this space was twenty cubits in width all around the sanctuary. ¹¹ There were doors into the side rooms from another open space—one doorway was on the north side, and the other on the south side. The width of this open area was five cubits all around.

¹² The building that faced the courtyard on the west side was seventy cubits in width. Its wall measured five cubits thick all around, and it was ninety cubits in length. ¹³ Then the man measured the sanctuary—one hundred cubits in length. The separated building, its wall, and the courtyard also measured one hundred cubits in length. ¹⁴ The width of the front of the courtyard in front of the sanctuary was also one hundred cubits.

¹⁵ Then the man measured the length of the building behind the sanctuary, to its west, and the galleries on either side—one hundred cubits. The holy place and the portico, ¹⁶ the inner walls and the windows, including the narrow windows, and the galleries all around on three levels, were all paneled in wood. ¹⁷ Above the entryway to the inner sanctuary and spaced along the walls there was a measured pattern.

¹⁸ It was decorated with cherubim and palm trees; with a palm tree between each cherub, and each cherub had two faces: ¹⁹ the face of a man looked toward a palm tree on one side, and the face of a young lion looked toward a palm tree on the other side. They were carved all around the entire house. ²⁰ From the ground to above the doorway, cherubim and palm trees were carved on the outer wall of the house.

²¹ The gate posts of the holy place were square. Their appearance was like the appearance of ²² the wooden altar in front of the holy place, which was three cubits high and two cubits in length on each side. Its corner posts, base, and frame were made of wood. Then the man said to me, "This is the table that stands before Yahweh." ² ²³ There were double doors for the holy place and the most holy place. ²⁴ These doors had two hinged door panels each, two panels for one door and two panels for the other.

²⁵ Carved on them—on the doors of the holy place—were cherubim and palm trees just as the walls were decorated, and there was a wooden roof over the portico at the front. ²⁶ There were narrow windows and palm trees on either side of the portico. These were the side rooms of the house, and they also had overhanging roofs.

¹After six cubits in width on either side , ancient Hebrew copies and some modern translations add the width of the tent .

²Instead of Their appearance was like the appearance of the wooden altar in front of the holy place, which was , some modern translations have They all looked like each other. The wooden altar in front of the holy place was .

Chapter 42

¹ Next the man sent me out to the outer courtyard on the north side, and he brought me to rooms in front of the outer courtyard and the northern outer wall. ² Those rooms were one hundred cubits along their front and fifty cubits in width. ³ Some of those rooms faced the inner courtyard and were twenty cubits away from the sanctuary. There were three levels of rooms, and the ones above looked down on the ones below and were open to them, having a walkway. Some of the rooms looked out onto the outer courtyard.

⁴ A passage ten cubits in width and one hundred cubits in length ran in front of the rooms. The rooms' doors were toward the north. ¹ ⁵ But the upper halls were smaller, for the walkways took away from them more space than they did in the lowest and middle levels of the building. ⁶ For the halls on the third story had no columns, unlike the courtyards, which did have columns. So the highest level's rooms were smaller in size compared to the rooms in the lowest and middle levels.

⁷ The outside wall ran along the rooms toward the outer courtyard, the courtyard that was in front of the rooms. That wall was fifty cubits in length. ⁸ The length of the rooms of the outer courtyard was fifty cubits, and the rooms facing the sanctuary were one hundred cubits in length. ⁹ There was an entrance to the lowest rooms from the east side, coming from the outer courtyard.

¹⁰ Along the wall of the outer courtyard on the eastern side of the outer courtyard, in front of the sanctuary's inner courtyard, there were also rooms ² ¹¹ with a walkway in front of them. They were as the appearance of the rooms on the northern side. They had the same length and breadth and the same exits and arrangements and doors. ¹² On the south side were doors into rooms that were just the same as on the north side. A passage on the inside had a door at its head, and the passage opened into the various rooms. On the east side there was a doorway into the passage at one end.

¹³ Then the man said to me, "The northern rooms and the southern rooms that are in front of the outer courtyard are holy rooms where the priests who work nearest to Yahweh may eat the most holy food. They will put the most holy things there—the food offering, the sin offering, and the guilt offering—for this is a holy place. ¹⁴ When the priests enter there, they must not go out of the holy place to the outer court, without laying aside the clothes in which they served, since these are holy. So they must dress in other clothes before going near the people."

¹⁵ The man completed measuring the inner house and then took me out to the gate that faced the east and measured all the surrounding area there.

¹⁶ He measured the east side with a measuring stick—five hundred cubits with the measuring stick. ³ ¹⁷ He measured the north side—five hundred cubits with the measuring stick. ⁴ ¹⁸ He also measured the south side—five hundred cubits with the measuring stick. ⁵ ¹⁹ He also turned and measured the west side—five hundred cubits with the measuring stick. ⁶

²⁰ He measured it on four sides. It had a wall around it that was five hundred cubits in length, and five hundred cubits in width, to separate the holy from the profane.

¹Some ancient translations of the Hebrew copies and many modern translations read one hundred cubits . Other ancient Hebrew copies some other modern translations read one cubit .

²Many copies of the ancient Hebrew text and some modern translations read on the eastern side . However, the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew copies and most modern translations read on the southern side .

³The ancient Greek translation and most modern translations read five hundred cubits , and appears to be correct; but the Hebrew copies read: five hundred measuring sticks , which seems to be an error.

⁴The ancient Greek translation and most modern translations read five hundred cubits, ; but the ancient Hebrew copies read: five hundred measuring sticks , which seems to be an error.

⁵The ancient Greek translation and most modern translations read five hundred cubits ; but the ancient Hebrew copies read: five hundred measuring sticks , which seems to be an error.

⁶The ancient Greek translation and most modern translations read five hundred cubits ; but the ancient Hebrew copies read: five hundred measuring sticks , which seems to be an error.

Chapter 43

¹ The man then brought me to the gate that opened to the east. ² Behold! The glory of the God of Israel came from the east; his voice was like the sound of many waters, and the earth shone with his glory.

³ It was according to the appearance of the vision that I saw, according to the vision that I saw when he had come ¹ to destroy the city, and the visions were like the vision that I saw at the Kebar Canal—and I fell to my face. ⁴ So the glory of Yahweh came to the house by way of the gate that opened to the east. ⁵ Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court. Behold! The glory of Yahweh was filling the house.

⁶ The man was standing beside me, and I heard someone else speaking to me from the house. ⁷ He said to me, "Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place for the soles of my feet, where I will live in the midst of the people of Israel forever. The house of Israel will no longer defile my holy name—they or their kings—with their faithlessness or with the corpses of their kings at their high places. ⁸ They will no longer profane my holy name by putting their threshold next to my threshold, and their gateposts next to my gateposts, with nothing but a wall between me and them. They defiled my holy name with their disgusting practices, so I consumed them with my anger.

⁹ Now let them remove their faithlessness and the corpses of their kings from before me, and I will live in their midst forever.

¹⁰ Son of man, you yourself must tell the house of Israel about this house so they will be ashamed of their iniquities. They should think about this description. ¹¹ For if they are ashamed of all that they have done, then reveal to them the design of the house, its details, its exits, its entrances, and all its designs, all its decrees and rules. Then write this down before their eyes so they will keep to all its design and all its rules, so as to obey them.

¹² This is the regulation for the house: From the peak of the hill to all the surrounding border around it, it will be most holy. Behold! This is the law for the house.

¹³ These will be the measurements of the altar in cubits—that cubit being a regular cubit and a handbreadth in length. So the gutter around the altar will be a cubit deep, and its width will also be a cubit. The border around its surrounding edge will be one span. This will be the base of the altar. ¹⁴ From the gutter at the ground level up to the lower ledge of the altar is two cubits, and that ledge itself is one cubit in width. Then from the small ledge up to the large edge of the altar, it is four cubits, and the large edge is a cubit in width.

¹⁵ The hearth on the altar for the burnt offerings is four cubits high, and there are four horns pointing upward on the hearth. ¹⁶ The hearth is twelve cubits in length and twelve cubits in width, a square. ¹⁷ Its border is fourteen cubits in length and fourteen cubits in width on each of its four sides, and its rim is a half cubit in width. The gutter is a cubit in width all around with its steps facing east."

¹⁸ Next he said to me, "Son of man, the Lord Yahweh says this: These are the regulations for the altar on the day they make it, for raising the burnt offering onto it, and for sprinkling blood on it. ¹⁹ You will give a young bull from the herd as a sin offering for the Levitical priests who are the descendants of Zadok, those who come near to me to serve me—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

²⁰ Then you will take some of its blood and place it on the altar's four horns and the four sides of its edge and on the surrounding rim; you will cleanse it and make atonement for it. ²¹ Then take the bull for the sin offering and burn it in the appointed part of the temple area outside of the sanctuary.

²² Then on the second day you will offer a male goat without blemish from the goats as a sin offering; the priests will cleanse the altar just as they cleansed it with the bull. ²³ When you finish its cleansing, offer an unblemished bull from the herd and an unblemished ram from the flock. ²⁴ Offer them before Yahweh; the priests will throw salt onto them and raise them up as a burnt offering to Yahweh.

²⁵ You must prepare a male goat as a sin offering daily for seven days, and the priests must also prepare an unblemished bull from the herd and an unblemished ram from the flock. ²⁶ They must atone for the altar for seven days and purify it, and in this way they must consecrate it. ²⁷ They must complete these days, and on the eighth day and onward it will come about that the priests will prepare your burnt offerings and your peace offerings on the altar, and I will accept you—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."

¹Instead of when he had come which some Hebrew copies and some ancient and many modern translations read, some other copies of the Hebrew text read: when I came .

Chapter 44

¹ Then the man brought me back to the outer sanctuary gate that faced east; it was closed tightly. ² Yahweh said to me, "This gate has been sealed shut; it will not be opened. No man will go through it, for Yahweh, the God of Israel, has come through it, so it has been closed tightly. ³ The ruler of Israel will sit in it to eat food before Yahweh. He will enter by way of the gate's portico and go out the same way."

⁴ Then he brought me by way of the northern gate to the front of the temple, and I looked, and behold, the glory of Yahweh filled the house of Yahweh, and I fell to my face. ⁵ Then Yahweh said to me, "Son of man, set your heart and look with your eyes and listen with your ears to all that I am declaring to you, to all the statutes of the house of Yahweh and all its laws. Think about the house's entrance and the sanctuary's exits.

⁶ Then say to the rebellious ones, the house of Israel, 'The Lord Yahweh says this: Let all of your disgusting practices be enough for you, house of Israel— ⁷ that you brought foreigners with uncircumcised hearts and uncircumcised flesh to be in my sanctuary, profaning my house, while you were offering me food, fat and blood—you have broken my covenant by all your disgusting practices.

⁸ You have not carried out your duties regarding my holy things, but you appointed others to take up your duties, and you assigned them to care for my holy place. ⁹ The Lord Yahweh says this: No foreigner, uncircumcised in heart and flesh, from any of those who live among the people of Israel, may enter my holy place.

¹⁰ Yet the Levites went far from me—they wandered away from me, going after their idols—but they will pay for their iniquity. ¹¹ They are servants in my sanctuary, watching the gates of the house and serving in the house and they slaughter the burnt offerings and the people's sacrifices, and they will stand before the people and serve them. ¹² But because they performed the sacrifices before their idols, they became stumbling blocks for sin for the house of Israel. Therefore I will lift up my hand to swear an oath against them—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration—they will bear their punishment.

¹³ They will not come near me to serve me as priests or to come near any of my holy things, to my most holy things. Instead, they will bear their shame and their disgusting practices that they have done. ¹⁴ But I will place them as keepers of the work in the house, for all of its duties and everything that is done in it.

¹⁵ Then the Levitical priests and the descendants of Zadok who fulfilled the duties of my sanctuary when the people of Israel were wandering away from me, they will come near to me to minister to me; they will stand before me to offer me the fat and the blood—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration. ¹⁶ They will come to my sanctuary; they will approach my table to worship me and to fulfill their duties to me.

¹⁷ So it will be that when they come to the gates of the inner courtyard, they must be clothed in linen clothes, for they must not come in wool inside the gates of the courtyard and its house. ¹⁸ There should be linen turbans on their heads and linen underclothes on their hips. They must not gird themselves in clothes that make them sweat.

¹⁹ When they go out to the outer courtyard, to the outer courtyard in order to go to the people, they must take off the clothes they wore when they served; they must take them off and lay them down in a holy room, so they do not make other people holy by contact with their special clothing.

²⁰ Also they must neither shave their heads nor allow their hair to hang loosely, but they must trim the hair of their heads. ²¹ No priest may drink wine when he comes to the inner court, ²² nor take a widow or a divorced woman as a wife for himself, but only a virgin from the line of the house of Israel or a widow who was previously married to a priest.

²³ For they will teach my people the difference between the holy and the profane; they will make them know the unclean from the clean. ²⁴ In a dispute they will stand to judge with my decrees; they must be just. They will keep my law and my statutes in every feast, and they will celebrate my holy Sabbaths.

²⁵ They must not defile themselves by going near to a dead person; however, if the dead person was his father or mother, son or daughter, brother or unmarried sister, then they may defile themselves. ²⁶ After a priest has become unclean, they will count off a period of seven days for him. ²⁷ On the day he enters the holy place, into the inner courtyard to serve in the holy place, he must bring a sin offering for himself—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

²⁸ This will be their inheritance: I am their inheritance, and you must give them no property in Israel; I will be their property! ²⁹ They will eat the food offerings, the sin offerings, the guilt offerings, and everything devoted to Yahweh in Israel, will be theirs.

³⁰ The best of the firstfruits of all things and every contribution, anything from all of your contributions will belong to the priests, and you will give the first of your dough to the priests so that blessing may rest on your house. ³¹ The priests will not eat any carcass or animal torn by a wild animal, whether bird or beast.

Chapter 45

¹ When you cast lots to divide up the land as an inheritance, you must make an offering to Yahweh; this offering will be a holy part of the land, twenty-five thousand cubits in length, and ten thousand cubits in width. It will be holy, all its area round about. ¹ ² From this there will be a five hundred cubits by five hundred cubits square surrounding the holy place, with a surrounding border fifty cubits in width.

³ From this area you will measure a portion that is twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width; it will be the sanctuary, the most holy place. ⁴ It will be a holy place in the land for the priests who serve Yahweh, who come near Yahweh to serve him. It will be a place for their houses and a holy area for the holy place. ⁵ So it will be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand in width, and it will be for towns that belong to the Levites who serve in the house.

⁶ You will designate an area for the city, five thousand cubits in width and twenty-five thousand in length, that will be next to the area reserved for the holy place; this city will belong to all the house of Israel. ⁷ The prince's land will be on both sides of the area reserved for the holy place and the property of the city. It will be to their west and to their east. The length will correspond to the length of one of those portions, from the west to the east.

⁸ This land will be property for the prince in Israel. My princes will no longer oppress my people; instead, they will give the land to the house of Israel, for their tribes.

⁹ The Lord Yahweh says this: It is enough for you, princes of Israel! Remove violence and strife; do justice and righteousness! Quit your evictions of my people!—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration. ¹⁰ You must have just scales, just ephahs, and just baths! ¹¹ The ephah and the bath will be the same amount, so that a bath will be a tenth of a homer; the ephah will be a tenth of a homer. Their measure will be corresponding to the homer. ¹² The shekel will be twenty gerahs; sixty shekels will make a mina for you.

¹³ This is the contribution that you must present: A sixth of an ephah for every homer of wheat, and you will give a sixth of an ephah for every homer of barley. ¹⁴ The regulation offering of oil will be a tenth of a bath for every cor (which is ten baths), or for every homer, since a homer is also ten baths. ¹⁵ One sheep or goat will be taken from the flock for every two hundred animals from the well-watered land of Israel. These will be used for the grain offerings, the burnt offerings, and the peace offerings to make atonement for the people—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

¹⁶ All the people of the land will give this contribution to the prince in Israel. ¹⁷ It will be the prince's responsibility to furnish animals for the burnt offerings, the grain offerings, and the drink offerings at the festivals and the new moon celebrations, and on the Sabbath days—all the fixed festivals of the house of Israel. He will provide for the sin offerings, the grain offerings, the burnt offerings, and the peace offerings for atonement on behalf of the house of Israel.

¹⁸ The Lord Yahweh says this: In the first month, on the first day of the month, you will take an unblemished bull from the herd and perform a sin offering for the sanctuary. ¹⁹ The priest will take some of the blood of the sin offering and place it on the doorposts of the house and on the four corners of the border of the altar, and on the doorposts of the gate to the inner court. ²⁰ You will do this on the seventh of the month for each person's sin by accident or ignorance; in this way you will atone for the temple.

²¹ In the first month on the fourteenth day of the month, there will be for you the Passover, a seven-day festival. You will eat unleavened bread. ²² On that day, the prince will prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bull as a sin offering.

²³ For the seven days of the festival, the prince will prepare a burnt offering for Yahweh: Seven bulls and seven unblemished rams each day for seven days, and a male goat each day as a sin offering. ²⁴ Then the prince will perform a food offering of an ephah for each bull and an ephah for each ram with a hin of oil for each ephah.

²⁵ In the seventh month on the fifteenth day of the month, at the festival, the prince will perform offerings on these seven days: Sin offerings, burnt offerings, food offerings, and offerings of oil.

¹Instead of ten thousand , which the copies of the ancient Hebrew text and some modern translations have, some copies of the ancient Hebrew text and many modern translations have twenty thousand .

Chapter 46

¹ The Lord Yahweh says this: The gate of the inner courtyard, facing east, will be shut for the six days of work, but on the Sabbath it will be opened, and on the day of the new moon it will be opened. ² The prince will enter the outer courtyard by the way of the gate and its portico from outside, and he will stand before the doorposts of the inner gate while the priests perform his burnt offering and peace offering. Then he will worship at the threshold of the inner gate and go out, but the gate will not be shut until evening.

³ The people of the land will also worship before Yahweh at the entrance to this gate on the Sabbaths and new moons. ⁴ The burnt offering that the prince offers to Yahweh on the Sabbath day will be six unblemished lambs and an unblemished ram. ⁵ The grain offering with the ram will be an ephah, and the grain offering with the lambs will be what he wishes to give, and a hin of oil with each ephah of grain.

⁶ On the day of the new moon he must offer an unblemished bull from a herd, six lambs, and an unblemished ram. ⁷ He must make a grain offering of an ephah for the bull and an ephah for the ram, and what he wishes to give for the lambs, and a hin of oil for every ephah of grain. ⁸ When the prince enters by the way of the gate and its portico, he must leave by the same way.

⁹ But when the people of the land come before Yahweh at the appointed festivals, anyone entering through the north gate to worship must leave through the south gate; and anyone entering through the south gate must leave through the north gate. No one may turn back to the gate through which he entered, for he must go out straight ahead. ¹⁰ The prince must be in their midst; when they go in, he must go in, and when they leave, he must leave.

¹¹ At the festivals, the grain offering must be an ephah of grain for the bull and an ephah for the ram, and whatever he wishes to give with the lambs, and a hin of oil for every ephah. ¹² When the prince gives a freewill offering, either a burnt offering or a peace offering to Yahweh, the gate facing east will be opened for him. He will offer his burnt offering or his peace offering as he does it on the Sabbath day. Then he must go out, and after he has gone out the gate will be shut.

¹³ In addition, you will give an unblemished lamb one year old as a burnt offering to Yahweh daily; you will do this morning after morning. ¹⁴ You will give a grain offering with it morning after morning, a sixth of an ephah and a third of a hin of oil to moisten the flour of the grain offering for Yahweh, according to a permanent statute. ¹⁵ They will prepare the lamb, the grain offering, and the oil morning after morning, a permanent burnt offering.

¹⁶ The Lord Yahweh says this: If the prince gives a gift to one of his sons, it is his inheritance. It will also belong to his descendants. It is their property by inheritance. ¹⁷ But if he gives a gift from his inheritance to one of his servants, then it will be that servant's until the year of liberty, and then it will return to the prince. His inheritance will certainly be for his sons. ¹⁸ The prince will not take the people's inheritance, oppressing them by taking their own property; he must provide for his sons from his own property so that my people will not be scattered, each man from his own property.'"

¹⁹ Next the man brought me through the entrance at the gate to the holy rooms for the priests, which faced north and behold! There was a place toward the west. ²⁰ He said to me, "This is the place where the priests must boil the guilt offering and the sin offering and where they must bake the grain offering. They must not bring the offerings into the outer courtyard, for then the people would be consecrated."

²¹ Then he brought me to the outer courtyard and he led me past the four corners of that courtyard, and I saw that in every corner of the courtyard there was another court. ²² In the four corners of the outer courtyard there were four small courtyards, forty cubits in length and thirty in width. The four courtyards were the same size. ¹ ²³ There was a row made of stone all around the four of them, and cooking hearths were under the stone row. ²⁴ The man said to me, "These are the places where the temple servants will boil the people's sacrifices."

¹The Hebrew word translated here as small is unclear. Some ancient and some modern translations translate it as "small". However, there is some uncertainty about this word, and others translate it differently.

Chapter 47

¹ Then the man took me back to the entrance to the temple, and there was water flowing out from under the temple threshold of the house toward the east—for the front of the temple faced east—and the water was flowing down the south side of the temple, to the right of the altar. ² So he brought me out through the northern gate and led me around to the gate facing east, and there the water was flowing from this gate on its south side.

³ As the man was going toward the east, there was a measuring line in his hand; he measured off one thousand cubits and brought me through the water to ankle-deep water. ⁴ Then he measured one thousand cubits again and brought me through the water to knee-deep water; and he measured another thousand cubits and brought me to hip-deep water. ⁵ Next he measured off another thousand cubits, but it was a river that I could not cross through because the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in—it was a river that could not be crossed.

⁶ The man said to me, "Son of man, do you see this?" and he brought me out and had me walk back along the riverbank. ⁷ As I walked back, there the riverbank had many trees on this side and also the other side. ⁸ The man said to me, "This water is going out to the eastern territory and down to the Arabah; this water flows into the Salt Sea and will make it fresh.

⁹ It will be that every living creature that swarms will live where the water goes; there will be many fish, for these waters flow there. It will make the salt water fresh. Everything will live wherever the river goes. ¹⁰ Then it will happen that fishermen of En Gedi will stand by the water, and there will be a place to dry out the fishing nets by En Eglaim. There will be many kinds of fish in the Salt Sea, like the fish in the Great Sea for their abundance.

¹¹ But the Salt Sea's swamps and marshes will not be made fresh; they will be for providing salt. ¹² Beside this river on its banks, on both sides, all kinds of trees will grow that bear food. Their leaves will not wither and their fruit will never fail to grow. Each month the trees will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves will be for healing.

¹³ The Lord Yahweh says this: This will be the way that you divide the land up for the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph will have two portions. ¹⁴ You are to divide equally what I lifted up my hand and swore to give to your fathers. This land will come to you as an inheritance.

¹⁵ This will be the boundary of the land on the north side from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon, and then to Zedad. ¹ ¹⁶ Then the boundary will go to Berothah, to Sibraim, which is between Damascus and Hamath, and then to Hazer Hattikon, which is beside the boundary of Hauran. ¹⁷ So the boundary will go from the sea to Hazar Enan on the border with Damascus and Hamath to the north. This will be the north side.

¹⁸ On the east side the boundary will run between Hauran and Damascus, along the Jordan River between Gilead and the land of Israel. You will measure from the border to the eastern sea. This will be the eastern border. ²

¹⁹ Then on the south side the boundary will run from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh, then along the brook of Egypt to the Great Sea. This will be the boundary on the south side.

²⁰ Then the boundary on the west side will be the Great Sea to a point opposite Lebo Hamath. This will be the west side.

²¹ In this way you will divide this land for yourselves, for the tribes of Israel. ²² So you will distribute the inheritances for yourselves and for the foreigners in your midst, those who have given birth to children in your midst and who are, with you, like the native born people of Israel. You will cast lots for inheritances among the tribes of Israel. ²³ Then it will happen that the foreigner will be with the tribe among whom he is living. You must give him an inheritance—this is the Lord Yahweh's declaration."

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew text read: by way of Hethlon, and then to Zedad , but some modern translations follow Ezekiel 48:1 at this point, and add Lebo Hamath .

²The copies of the ancient Hebrew text read: You will measure from the border to the eastern sea . However, the ancient Greek translations of the Hebrew copies, and many modern translations read to the eastern sea as far as Tamar .

Chapter 48

¹ These are the names of the tribes. The tribe of Dan will receive one portion of land; its boundary will run along the northern boundary of Israel by way of Hethlon and Lebo Hamath. Its boundary will go on to Hazar Enan and along the border with Damascus to the north and then on to Hamath. Dan's boundary will go from east all the way to the Great Sea. ² Adjoining the border of Dan, from the east side to the west, Asher will have one portion. ³ Adjoining the border of Asher from the east side to the west, Naphtali will have one portion.

⁴ Adjoining the border of Naphtali from the east side to the west, Manasseh will have one portion. ⁵ Adjoining the border of Manasseh from the east side to the west, Ephraim will have one portion. ⁶ Adjoining the border of Ephraim from the east side to the west, Reuben will have one portion. ⁷ Adjoining the border of Reuben from the east side to the west, Judah will have one portion.

⁸ The offering of land that you will make will be along the border with Judah and extend from the east side to the west side; it will be twenty-five thousand cubits in width. Its length will correspond to one tribe's portion from the east side to the west side, and the sanctuary will be in the middle of it. ⁹ This land that you will offer up to Yahweh will be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand cubits in width.

¹⁰ These will be the assignments of this holy portion of land: The priests will have land assigned to them measuring twenty-five thousand cubits in length on the north side; ten thousand cubits in width on the west side; ten thousand cubits in width on the east side; and twenty-five thousand cubits in length on the south side, with the holy place of Yahweh in the middle of it. ¹¹ This will be for the consecration of the priests of the line of Zadok, who have served me faithfully and who did not go astray when the people of Israel went astray, as the Levites did. ¹² The offering for them will be a portion of this most holy land, extending to the border of the Levites.

¹³ The Levites' land along the border with the priests' land will be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and ten thousand cubits in width. The entire length of the two tracts of land will be twenty-five thousand cubits in length and twenty thousand cubits in width. ¹⁴ They must not sell it or exchange it; none of this firstfruits of the land of Israel must ever be separated from these tracts, for it all is holy to Yahweh.

¹⁵ The remaining land, five thousand cubits in width and twenty-five thousand cubits in length, will be for the collective use of the city, the houses, and the pastureland; the city will be in its midst. ¹⁶ These will be the city's measurements: The north side will be 4,500 cubits in length; the south side will be 4,500 cubits in length; the east side will be 4,500 cubits in length; and the west side will be 4,500 cubits in length.

¹⁷ There will be pasture for the city toward the north, 250 cubits deep; to the south, 250 cubits deep; to the east, 250 cubits deep, and to the west, 250 cubits deep. ¹⁸ The remaining area of the holy offering will stretch for ten thousand cubits to the east and ten thousand cubits to the west. It will stretch along the border of the holy offering, and its produce will be food for those working in the city.

¹⁹ The people who work in the city, from all the tribes of Israel, will farm the land. ²⁰ All the land offering will measure twenty-five thousand cubits by twenty-five thousand cubits. In this way you will make the holy offering of land, together with the land for the city.

²¹ The rest of the land on either side of the holy offering and the city area will be for the prince. The prince's tract of land to the east will extend for twenty-five thousand cubits from boundary of the holy offering to the eastern border—and his tract to the west will extend for twenty-five thousand cubits to the western border. In the middle will be the holy offering, and the holy place of the temple will be in its midst. ²² The land extending from the property of the Levites and the area of the city in its midst will be for the prince; it will be between the border of Judah and the border of Benjamin—this land will be for the prince.

²³ As for the remaining tribes, their portions will also run from the eastern side to the west side. Benjamin will receive one portion. ²⁴ Adjoining the border of Benjamin from the east side to the west, Simeon will have one portion. ²⁵ Adjoining the border of Simeon from the east side to the west, Issachar will have one portion. ²⁶ Adjoining the border of Issachar from the east side to the west, Zebulun will have one portion.

²⁷ To the south of Zebulun's boundary, running from the east side to the west side, will be the land of Gad—one portion. ²⁸ The southern boundary of Gad will extend from Tamar to the waters of Meribah Kadesh, and farther to the brook of Egypt, and then to the Great Sea. ²⁹ This is the land for which you will cast lots; it will be the inheritance of the tribes of Israel. These will be their portions. This is the Lord Yahweh's declaration.

³⁰ These will be the exits from the city: On the north side, which will measure 4,500 cubits in length, ³¹ will be three gates, named for tribes of Israel: one gate for Reuben, one gate for Judah, and one gate for Levi. ³² On the east side, which will measure 4,500 cubits in length, will be three gates: one gate for Joseph, one gate for Benjamin, and one gate for Dan.

³³ On the south side, which is 4,500 cubits in length, will be three gates: one gate for Simeon, one gate for Issachar, and one gate for Zebulun. ³⁴ On the west side, which will measure 4,500 cubits, will be three gates: one gate for Gad, one gate for Asher, and one gate for Naphtali. ³⁵ The distance around the city will be eighteen thousand cubits; from that day on, the city's name will be "Yahweh Is There."

Daniel

Chapter 1

¹ In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonia came to Jerusalem and surrounded the city to cut off all supplies to it. ² The Lord gave Nebuchadnezzar victory over Jehoiakim king of Judah, and he gave him some of the sacred objects from the house of God. He brought them into the land of Babylonia, to the house of his god, and he placed the sacred objects in his god's treasury.

³ The king spoke to Ashpenaz, his chief official, to bring in some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and of the nobility— ⁴ young men without blemish, attractive in appearance, having insight in all wisdom, filled with knowledge and understanding, and qualified to serve in the king's palace. He was to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. ⁵ The king counted out for them a daily portion of his delicacies and some of the wine that he drank. These young men were to be trained for three years, and after that, they would serve the king.

⁶ Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, some of the people of Judah. ⁷ The chief official gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

⁸ But Daniel intended in his mind that he would not pollute himself with the king's delicacies or with the wine that he drank. So he asked permission from the chief official that he might not defile himself. ⁹ Now God gave Daniel favor and compassion through the respect that the chief official had for him. ¹⁰ The chief official said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my master the king. He has commanded what food and drink you should have. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men of your own age? The king might have my head because of you."

¹¹ Then Daniel spoke to the steward whom the chief official had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. ¹² He said, "Please test us, your servants, for ten days. Give us only some vegetables to eat and water to drink. ¹³ Then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the king's delicacies, and treat us, your servants, based on what you see."

¹⁴ So the steward agreed with him to do this, and he tested them for ten days. ¹⁵ At the end of ten days their appearance was more healthy, and they were better nourished, than all the young men who ate the king's delicacies. ¹⁶ So the steward took away their delicacies and their wine and gave them only vegetables.

¹⁷ As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and insight in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel could understand all kinds of visions and dreams. ¹⁸ At the end of the time set by the king to bring them in, the chief official brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar.

¹⁹ The king spoke with them, and among the whole group there were none to compare with Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. They stood before the king, ready to serve him. ²⁰ In every question of wisdom and understanding that the king asked them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and those who claimed to speak with the dead, who were in his entire kingdom. ²¹ Daniel was there until the first year of King Cyrus.

Chapter 2

¹ In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, he had dreams. His mind was troubled, and he could not sleep. ² Then the king summoned the magicians and those who claimed to speak with the dead. He also called the sorcerers and educated men. He wanted them to tell him his dreams. So they came in and stood before the king.

³ The king said to them, "I have had a dream, and my mind is anxious to know what the dream means." ⁴ Then the educated men spoke to the king in Aramaic, "King, live forever! Tell the dream to us, your servants, and we will reveal the interpretation."

⁵ The king replied to the educated men, "This matter has been settled. If you do not reveal to me the dream and its interpretation, your bodies will be torn apart and your houses made into rubbish heaps. ⁶ But if you will tell me the dream and its interpretation, you will receive gifts from me, a reward, and great honor. So tell to me the dream and its interpretation."

⁷ They replied again and said, "Let the king tell us, his servants, the dream and we will tell you its interpretation." ⁸ The king answered, "I know for certain that you want more time because you see how firm my decision is about this. ⁹ But if you do not tell me the dream, there is only one sentence for you. You have decided to prepare false and corrupt words that you agreed together to say to me until I change my mind. So then, tell me the dream, and then I will know that you can tell the interpretation."

¹⁰ The educated men replied to the king, "There is not a man on earth able to meet the king's demand. There is no great king or ruler who has demanded such a thing from any magician, or from anyone who claims to speak with the dead, or from an educated man. ¹¹ What the king demands is difficult, and there is no one who can tell it to the king except the gods, and they do not live among humans."

¹² This made the king angry and very furious, and he gave an order to destroy all the wise men in Babylon. ¹³ So the decree went out to put the wise men to death, and they sent to look for Daniel and his friends to put them to death.

¹⁴ Then Daniel replied with prudence and discretion to Arioch the commander of the king's bodyguard, who had come to kill all the wise men in Babylon. ¹⁵ Daniel asked the king's commander, "Why is the king's decree so urgent?" So Arioch told Daniel what had happened. ¹⁶ Then Daniel went in and requested an appointment with the king so that he could present the interpretation to the king.

¹⁷ Then Daniel went to his house and explained to his companions Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah what had happened. ¹⁸ He urged them to seek mercy from the God of heaven concerning this mystery so that Daniel and his friends might not be destroyed with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

¹⁹ That night the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision. Then Daniel praised the God of heaven ²⁰ and Daniel said,

"Praise the name of God forever and ever,

for wisdom and power belong to him.

²¹ He changes the times and seasons;

he removes kings and places kings on their thrones.

He gives wisdom to wise men

and knowledge to those who have understanding.

²² He reveals the deep and hidden things

because he knows what is in the darkness,

and the light lives with him.

²³ God of my ancestors, I thank you and praise you

for the wisdom and power you gave to me.

Now you have made known to me what we asked of you;

you have made known to us the matter that concerns the king."

²⁴ Then Daniel went in to see Arioch (the one the king appointed to kill everyone who was wise in Babylon). He went and said to him, "Do not destroy the wise men in Babylon. Take me to the king and I will show the king the interpretation of his dream."

²⁵ Then Arioch quickly brought in Daniel before the king and said, "I have found among the exiles of Judah a man who will reveal the interpretation of the king's dream." ²⁶ The king said to Daniel (whose name was Belteshazzar), "Are you able to tell me the dream that I saw and its interpretation?"

²⁷ Daniel answered the king and said, "The mystery that the king has asked about cannot be revealed by wise men, nor by those who claim to speak with the dead, nor by magicians, and not by astrologers. ²⁸ Nevertheless, there is a God who lives in the heavens, who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to you, King Nebuchadnezzar, what will happen in the days to come. These were your dream and the visions of your mind as you lay on your bed.

²⁹ As for you, king, your thoughts on your bed were about things to come, and the one who reveals mysteries has made known to you what is about to happen. ³⁰ As for me, this mystery was not revealed to me because of any wisdom that I have more than any other living person. This mystery was revealed to me so that you, king, may understand the interpretation, and so that you may know the thoughts of your mind.

³¹ King, you looked up and you saw a great statue. This statue, which was large and had exceeding splendor, stood before you. Its brightness was terrifying. ³² The head of the statue was made of fine gold. Its breast and arms were of silver. Its middle and its thighs were made of bronze, ³³ and its legs were made of iron. Its feet were made partly of iron and partly of clay.

³⁴ You looked up, and a stone was cut out, although not by human hands, and it struck the statue on its feet of iron and clay, and it shattered them. ³⁵ Then the iron, clay, bronze, silver, and gold at the same time were broken into pieces and became like the chaff of the threshing floors in the summer. The wind carried them away and there was no trace of them left. But the stone that struck the statue became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.

³⁶ This was the dream. Now we will tell the king the interpretation. ³⁷ You, king, are king of the kings to whom the God of heaven has given the kingdom, the power, the strength, and the honor. ³⁸ He has given into your hand the place where the human beings live. He has given over the animals of the field and the birds of the heavens into your hand, and he has made you rule over them all. You are the statue's head of gold.

³⁹ After you, another kingdom will arise that is inferior to you, and yet a third kingdom of bronze will rule over all the earth.

⁴⁰ There will be a fourth kingdom, strong as iron, because iron breaks other things into pieces and shatters everything. It will shatter all these things and crush them.

⁴¹ Just as you saw, the feet and toes were partly made of baked clay and partly made of iron, so it will be a divided kingdom; some of the strength of iron will be in it, just as you saw iron mixed with the soft clay. ⁴² As the toes of the feet were partly made of iron and partly made of clay, so the kingdom will be partly strong and partly brittle. ⁴³ As you saw the iron mixed with soft clay, so the people will be a mixture; they will not stay together, just as iron does not mix with clay.

⁴⁴ In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be conquered by another people. It will break the other kingdoms into pieces and put an end to all of them, and it will remain forever. ⁴⁵ Just as you saw, a stone was cut out of the mountain, but not by human hands. It broke the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold into pieces. The great God has made known to you, king, what will happen after this. The dream is true and this interpretation is reliable."

⁴⁶ King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face before Daniel and honored him; he commanded that an offering be made and that incense be offered up to him. ⁴⁷ The king said to Daniel, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and the one who reveals mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery."

⁴⁸ Then the king made Daniel highly honored and gave him many wonderful gifts. He made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon. Daniel became chief governor over all the wise men of Babylon. ⁴⁹ Daniel made a request of the king, and the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to be administrators over the province of Babylon. But Daniel remained at the king's court.

Chapter 3

¹ King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue that was sixty cubits tall and six cubits wide. He set it up in the Plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. ² Then Nebuchadnezzar sent messages out to gather together the provincial governors, regional governors, and local governors, together with the counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the high officials of the provinces to come to the dedication of the statue that the king had set up.

³ Then the provincial governors, regional governors, and local governors, together with the counselors, treasurers, judges, magistrates, and all the high officials of the provinces gathered together to the dedication of the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up. They stood before it. ⁴ Then a herald loudly shouted, "You are commanded, peoples, nations, and languages, ⁵ that at the time you hear the sound of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the golden statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up.

⁶ Whoever does not fall down and worship, at that very moment, will be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire." ⁷ So when all the peoples heard the sounds of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations, and languages fell down and worshiped the golden statue that Nebuchadnezzar the king had set up.

⁸ Now at this time certain Chaldeans came and brought accusations against the Jews. ⁹ They said to Nebuchadnezzar the king, "King, live forever! ¹⁰ You, king, have made a decree that every person who hears the sounds of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music, must fall down and worship the golden statue.

¹¹ Whoever does not fall down and worship must be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire. ¹² Now there are certain Jews whom you have appointed over the affairs of the province of Babylon; their names are Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. These men, king, pay no attention to you. They will not serve your gods or worship the golden statue you have set up."

¹³ Then Nebuchadnezzar, filled with anger and rage, commanded that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought to him. So they brought these men before the king. ¹⁴ Nebuchadnezzar said to them, "Have you made your minds up, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you will not serve my gods or worship to the golden statue that I have set up?

¹⁵ Now if you are ready—when you hear the sounds of the horns, flutes, zithers, lyres, harps, and pipes, and all kinds of music—to fall down and worship the statue that I have made, all will be well. But if you do not worship, you will immediately be thrown into the middle of a furnace of blazing fire. Who is the god who is able to rescue you out of my hands?"

¹⁶ Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered the king, "Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. ¹⁷ If there is an answer, it is that our God whom we serve is able to keep us safe from the furnace of blazing fire, and he will rescue us out of your hand, king. ¹⁸ But if not, let it be known to you, king, that we will not serve your gods, and we will not worship the golden statue you set up."

¹⁹ Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with rage; the look on his face changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He commanded that the furnace should be heated seven times hotter than it was normally heated. ²⁰ Then he commanded some very strong men in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and to throw them into the furnace of blazing fire.

²¹ They were tied up still wearing their robes, tunics, turbans, and other clothing, and they were thrown into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire. ²² Because the king's command was strictly followed and the furnace was exceedingly hot, the flames of the fire killed the men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. ²³ These three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell into the middle of the furnace of blazing fire while they were tied up.

²⁴ Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was amazed and stood up quickly. He asked his advisors, "Did we not throw three men tied up into the fire?" They replied to the king, "Certainly, king." ²⁵ He said, "But I see four men who are not tied up walking around in the fire, and they are not hurt. The brilliance of the fourth is like a son of the gods."

²⁶ Then Nebuchadnezzar came near the door of the furnace of blazing fire and called out, "Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of God Most High, come out! Come here!" Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego came out of the middle of the fire. ²⁷ The provincial governors, regional governors, other governors, and the king's counselors who had gathered together saw these men. The fire had not hurt their bodies; the hair on their heads was not singed; their robes were not harmed; and there was no smell of fire on them.

²⁸ Nebuchadnezzar said, "Let us praise the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent his messenger and rescued his servants who trusted in him, and set aside the king's command, and they gave up their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their God.

²⁹ Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language that speaks anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego must be torn apart, and that their houses must be made into rubbish heaps because there is no other god who is able to save like this." ³⁰ Then the king caused Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to prosper in the province of Babylon.

Chapter 4

¹ King Nebuchadnezzar sent this decree to all peoples, nations, and languages who lived on the earth: May your peace increase.

² It has seemed good to me to tell you about the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.

³ How great are his signs,

and how mighty are his wonders!

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and his dominion lasts from generation to generation."

⁴ I, Nebuchadnezzar, was living happily in my house, and I was enjoying prosperity in my palace. ⁵ But a dream I had made me afraid. As I lay there, the images I saw and the visions in my mind troubled me. ⁶ So I gave a decree to bring before me all the wise men of Babylon so they could interpret the dream for me.

⁷ Then came the magicians, those who claimed to speak with the dead, the educated men, and the astrologers. I told them the dream, but they could not make known the interpretation to me. ⁸ But at last Daniel came in—the one who is named Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods—and I told him the dream. ⁹ "Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no mystery is too difficult for you. Tell me the appearance of my dream and its interpretation.

¹⁰ These were the sights that I saw in my mind as I lay upon my bed: I looked, and there was a tree in the middle of the earth, and its height was very great. ¹¹ The tree grew and became strong. Its top reached to the heavens, and it could be seen to the ends of the whole earth. ¹² Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit was abundant, and on it was food for all. The animals of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches. All living creatures were fed from it.

¹³ I saw in my mind as I lay on my bed, and a watcher, a holy one came down from the heavens. ¹⁴ He shouted and said, 'Chop down the tree and cut off its branches, strip off its leaves, and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds fly away from its branches.

¹⁵ Leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the middle of the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew from the heavens. Let it live with the animals among the plants on the ground. ¹⁶ Let his mind be changed from a man's mind, and let an animal's mind be given to him until seven years pass by.

¹⁷ This sentence is by the decree of the watchers, a decision made by the holy ones, so that those who are alive may know that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and gives them to anyone he wishes to place over them, even to the most humble men.' ¹⁸ I, King Nebuchadnezzar, had this dream. Now you, Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because none of the wise men in my kingdom can interpret it for me. But you are able to do so, because the spirit of the holy gods is in you."

¹⁹ Then Daniel, who was also named Belteshazzar, was greatly upset for a brief time, and his thoughts alarmed him. The king said, "Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar replied, "My master, may the dream be for those who hate you; may its interpretation be for your enemies.

²⁰ The tree that you saw—which grew and became strong, and whose top reached up to the heavens, and which could be seen to the ends of the whole earth— ²¹ whose leaves were beautiful, and whose fruit was abundant, so that in it was food for all, and under it the animals of the field found shade, and in which the birds of the heavens lived— ²² this tree is you, king, you who have grown so strong. Your greatness has grown and reaches to the heavens, and your dominion reaches to the ends of the earth.

²³ You, king, saw a watcher, a holy one coming down from heaven and saying, 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the middle of the tender grass of the field. Let it be wet with the dew from the heavens. Let it live with the animals in the field until seven years pass by.'

²⁴ This is the interpretation, king. It is a decree of the Most High that has reached you, my master the king. ²⁵ You will be driven from among men, and you will live with the animals in the field. You will be made to eat grass like cattle, and you will be wet with the dew from the heavens, and seven years will pass by until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and that he gives them to anyone he wishes.

²⁶ As it was commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, in this way your kingdom will be returned to you from the time you learn that heaven rules. ²⁷ Therefore, king, let my advice be pleasing to you. Stop sinning and do what is right. Turn away from your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed, and it may be that your prosperity will be extended."

²⁸ All these things happened to King Nebuchadnezzar. ²⁹ Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace in Babylon, ³⁰ and he said, "Is this not the great Babylon, which I have built for my royal residence, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?"

³¹ While the words were still on the lips of the king, a voice came from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, it is announced to you that this kingdom has been taken away from you. ³² You will be driven away from people, and your home will be with the animals in the field. You will be made to eat grass like cattle. Seven years will pass until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdoms of people and he gives them to anyone he wishes."

³³ This decree against Nebuchadnezzar was carried out immediately. He was driven away from people. He ate grass like cattle, and his body was wet with the dew from the heavens. His hair grew as long as eagles' feathers, and his nails became like birds' claws.

³⁴ At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven, and my sanity was given back to me.

"I praised the Most High,

and I honored and glorified the one who lives forever.

For his dominion is an everlasting dominion,

and his kingdom endures from all generations to all generations.

³⁵ All the earth's inhabitants

are considered by him to be as nothing;

he does among the army of heaven

and the inhabitants of the earth

whatever suits his will.

No one can stop him or challenge him.

No one can say to him, 'Why have you done this?'"

³⁶ At the same time that my sanity returned to me, my majesty and splendor returned to me for the glory of my kingdom. My counselors and my noblemen sought my favor. I was brought back to my throne, and even more greatness was given to me. ³⁷ Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, extol, and honor the King of heaven, for all his deeds are true, and his ways are just. He can humble those who walk in their own pride.

Chapter 5

¹ Belshazzar the king made a great feast for a thousand of his noblemen, and he drank wine in front of all one thousand of them. ² While Belshazzar tasted the wine, he gave orders to bring the containers made of gold or silver that Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple in Jerusalem, from which the king, his noblemen, and his wives and concubines could drink.

³ The servants brought the gold containers that had been taken out of the temple, the house of God, in Jerusalem. The king, his noblemen, and his wives and concubines drank from them. ⁴ They drank the wine and praised their idols made of gold and silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone.

⁵ At that moment the fingers of a human hand appeared in front of the lampstand and wrote on the plaster wall in the king's palace. The king could see part of the hand as it wrote. ⁶ Then the king's face changed and his thoughts frightened him; his limbs could not support him, and his knees were knocking together.

⁷ The king shouted a command to bring in those who claimed to speak with the dead, the educated men, and the astrologers. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, "Whoever reads this writing and makes known its interpretation to me will be clothed with purple and will have a gold chain around his neck. He will have the authority of the third highest ruler in the kingdom."

⁸ Then all the king's wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known its interpretation to the king. ⁹ Then King Belshazzar was greatly alarmed and the look on his face changed. His noblemen were perplexed.

¹⁰ Now the queen came into the banquet house because of what the king and his nobles had said. The queen said, "King, live forever! Do not let your thoughts trouble you. Do not let the look on your face change.

¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom who has the spirit of the holy gods. In the days of your father, light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods was found in him. King Nebuchadnezzar, your father the king, made him chief of the magicians, as well as chief of those who speak with the dead, of the educated men, and of the astrologers. ¹² An excellent spirit, knowledge, understanding, interpreting of dreams, explaining of riddles and solving of problems—these qualities were found in this man Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now call for Daniel and he will tell you the interpretation."

¹³ Then Daniel was brought before the king. The king said to him, "You are that Daniel, one of the people of the exiles of Judah, whom my father the king brought out of Judah. ¹⁴ I have heard about you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.

¹⁵ Now the wise men and those who claim to speak with the dead have been brought in before me to read this writing and make known to me its interpretation, but they could not make known to me the interpretation of the message. ¹⁶ I have heard that you can give interpretations and solve problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you will be clothed with purple and have a gold chain placed around your neck, and you will have the authority of the third highest ruler in the kingdom."

¹⁷ Then Daniel answered before the king, "Let your gifts be for yourself, and give your rewards to another person. Nevertheless, I will read the writing to you, king, and will tell you the interpretation. ¹⁸ As for you, king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, greatness, honor, and majesty. ¹⁹ Because of the greatness God gave him, all peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared him. He killed those he wanted to die, and he kept alive those he wished to live. He raised up those he wanted, and he humbled those he wished.

²⁰ But when his heart was arrogant and his spirit was hardened so that he acted presumptuously, he was brought down from his royal throne, and they took away his glory. ²¹ He was driven away from humanity, he had the mind of an animal, and he lived with the wild donkeys. He ate grass like cattle. His body was wet with the dew from the heavens until he learned that the Most High God rules over the kingdoms of people and that he sets over them anyone he wishes.

²² You his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, even though you knew all this. ²³ You have lifted yourself up against the Lord of heaven. From his house they brought you the containers that you, your nobles, your wives and your concubines drank wine from, and you praised the idols made of silver and gold, bronze, iron, wood, and stone—idols that do not see, hear, or know anything. You have not honored the God who holds your breath in his hand and who knows all your ways. ²⁴ Then God sent out a hand from his presence and this inscription was written.

²⁵ This is the writing that was done: 'Mene, Mene, Tekel, and Pharsin.'

²⁶ This is the interpretation of the message: 'Mene,' 'God has numbered your kingdom and brought it to an end.'

²⁷ 'Tekel,' 'you are weighed in the scales and are found lacking.'

²⁸ 'Peres,' 'your kingdom is divided and is given to the Medes and Persians.'"

²⁹ Then Belshazzar gave a command, and they clothed Daniel with purple. A chain of gold was put around his neck, and the king made a proclamation about him that he would have the authority of the third highest ruler in the kingdom. ³⁰ That night Belshazzar, the Babylonian king, was killed, ³¹ and Darius the Mede received the kingdom when he was about sixty-two years old.

Chapter 6

¹ It seemed good to Darius to appoint over the kingdom 120 provincial governors who would rule over all the kingdom. ² Over them there were three chief administrators, and Daniel was one of them. These chief administrators were appointed so that they might supervise the provincial governors, so that the king should suffer no loss. ³ Daniel was distinguished above the other chief administrators and the provincial governors because he had an extraordinary spirit. The king was planning to put him over the whole kingdom.

⁴ Then the other chief administrators and the provincial governors looked for mistakes in the work Daniel did for the kingdom, but they could find no corruption or failure in his duty because he was faithful. No mistakes or negligence was found in him. ⁵ Then these men said, "We cannot find any reason to complain against this Daniel unless we find something against him regarding the law of his God."

⁶ Then these administrators and governors brought a plan before the king. They said to him, "King Darius, may you live forever! ⁷ All the chief administrators of the kingdom, the regional governors, and the provincial governors, the advisors, and the governors have consulted together and decided that you, the king, should issue a decree and enforce a prohibition, so that whoever makes a petition to any god or man for thirty days, except to you, king, that person must be thrown into the den of lions.

⁸ Now, king, issue the prohibition and sign the document so that it may not be changed, as directed by the law of the Medes and Persians, so it cannot be repealed." ⁹ So king Darius signed the document, the prohibition.

¹⁰ When Daniel learned that the document had been signed into law, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his upper room toward Jerusalem), and he got down on his knees, as he did three times a day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done before. ¹¹ Then these men who had formed the plot together saw Daniel make requests and seek favor from God.

¹² Then they approached the king and spoke with him about his prohibition: "Did you not make a prohibition that everyone who makes a petition to any god or human being during the next thirty days, except to you, king, must be thrown into the den of lions?" The king answered, "The matter is settled, as directed by the law of the Medes and Persians; it cannot be repealed."

¹³ Then they replied to the king, "That person Daniel, who is one of the people of the exile from Judah, pays no attention to you, king, or to the prohibition that you have signed. He prays to his God three times a day." ¹⁴ When the king heard this, he was terribly distressed, and he applied his mind to rescue Daniel from this ruling. He labored until sunset to try to save Daniel.

¹⁵ Then these men who had formed the plot gathered together with the king and said to him, "Know, king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no prohibition or statute that the king issues can be changed."

¹⁶ Then the king gave an order, and they brought in Daniel, and they threw him into the lions' den. The king said to Daniel, "May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you."

¹⁷ A stone was brought over the entrance to the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signet rings of his nobles so that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel. ¹⁸ Then the king went to his palace and he went through the night fasting. No entertainment was brought before him, and sleep fled from him.

¹⁹ Then at daybreak the king got up and he quickly went to the lions' den. ²⁰ As he came near to the den, the king called out to Daniel in a sad voice, saying to Daniel, "Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?"

²¹ Then said Daniel to the king, "King, live forever! ²² My God has sent his messenger and has shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me. For I was found blameless before him and also before you, king, and I have done you no harm."

²³ Then the king was very happy. He gave an order that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was lifted up out of the den. No harm was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.

²⁴ The king gave an order, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel and threw them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives. Before they reached the floor, the lions overpowered them and broke all their bones to pieces. ²⁵ Then King Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages that live in all the earth:

"May peace increase for you.

²⁶ I hereby make a decree that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel,

for he is the living God

and lives forever,

and his kingdom will not be destroyed;

his dominion will last to the end.

²⁷ He makes us safe and rescues us,

and he does signs and wonders

in heaven and in earth;

he has kept Daniel safe

from the strength of the lions."

²⁸ So Daniel prospered during the reign of Darius and during the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Chapter 7

¹ In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylonia, Daniel had a dream and visions in his mind while lying on his bed. Then he wrote down what he had seen in the dream. He wrote down the most important events: ² Daniel explained, "In my vision at night I saw that the four winds of heaven were stirring up the great sea. ³ Four large animals, each one different from the other, came up out of the sea.

⁴ The first was like a lion but had eagle's wings. As I was looking, its wings were torn off and it was lifted from the ground and made to stand on two feet, like a man. The mind of a man was given to it. ⁵ Then there was a second animal, like a bear, and it was bending over; it had three ribs between its teeth in its mouth. It was told, 'Get up and devour many people.'

⁶ After this I looked again. There was another animal, one that looked like a leopard. On its back it had four wings like bird wings, and it had four heads. It was given authority to rule. ⁷ After this I saw in the visions of the night a fourth animal, terrifying, frightening, and very strong. It had large iron teeth; it devoured, broke in pieces, and trampled underfoot what was left. It was different from the other animals, and it had ten horns.

⁸ While I was considering the horns, I looked and saw another horn grow up among them, a little horn. Three of the first horns were wrenched out by the roots. I saw in this horn eyes like the eyes of a man and a mouth that was boasting about great things.

⁹ As I looked,

thrones were set in place,

and the Ancient of Days took his seat.

His clothing was as white as snow,

and the hair of his head was like pure wool.

His throne was flames of fire,

and its wheels were burning fire.

¹⁰ A river of fire

flowed out from before him;

millions served him,

and one hundred million were standing before him.

The court was in session,

and the books were opened.

¹¹ I continued to look because of the sound of the boastful words spoken by the horn. I watched while the animal was killed, and its body was destroyed, and it was given over to be burned up. ¹² As for the rest of the four animals, their authority to rule was taken away, but their lives were prolonged for a period of time.

¹³ In my visions that night,

I saw one coming with the clouds of heaven like a son of man;

he came to the Ancient of Days

and was presented before him.

¹⁴ Authority to rule and glory and royal power were given to him

so that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.

His authority to rule is an everlasting authority that will not pass away,

and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

¹⁵ As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved inside of me, and the visions I saw in my mind troubled me. ¹⁶ I approached one of them standing there and asked him to show me the interpretation of these things.

¹⁷ 'These large animals, four in number, are four kings that will arise from the earth. ¹⁸ But the holy people of the Most High will receive the kingdom, and they will possess it forever and ever.'

¹⁹ Then I wanted to know more about the fourth animal—it was so different from the others and very horrifying with its iron teeth and bronze claws; it devoured, broke into pieces, and trampled on what was left with its feet. ²⁰ I wanted to know about the ten horns on its head, and about the other horn that grew up, and before which the three horns fell down. I wanted to know about the horn that had eyes and about the mouth that boasted about great things and that seemed greater than its companions.

²¹ As I looked, this horn waged war against the holy people and was defeating them ²² until the Ancient of Days came, and justice was given to the holy people of the Most High. Then the time came when the holy people took possession of the kingdom.

²³ This is what that person said, 'As for the fourth animal,

it will be a fourth kingdom on earth

that will be different from all the other kingdoms.

It will devour the whole earth,

and it will trample it down

and break it into pieces.

²⁴ As for the ten horns,

out of this kingdom ten kings will arise,

and another will arise after them.

He will be different from the previous ones,

and he will subdue the three kings.

²⁵ He will speak words against the Most High

and will oppress the holy people of the Most High God.

He will try to change the festivals and the law.

These things will be given into his hand

for one year, two years, and half a year.

²⁶ But the court will be in session,

and they will take his royal power away

to be consumed and destroyed at the end.

²⁷ The kingdom and the dominion,

and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven,

will be given to the people

who belong to the holy people of the Most High.

His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and all other kingdoms will serve and obey him.'

²⁸ Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts greatly alarmed me and my face changed in appearance. But I kept these things to myself."

Chapter 8

¹ In the third year of the reign of King Belshazzar, I, Daniel, had a vision appear to me (after the one that appeared to me at first). ² I saw in the vision, as I was looking, that I was in the fortress of Susa in the province of Elam. I saw in the vision that I was beside the Ulai Canal.

³ I looked up and saw before me a ram with two horns, standing beside the canal. One horn was longer than the other, but the longer one grew more slowly than the shorter and was passed up in length by it. ⁴ I saw the ram pushing west, then north, and then south; no other animal could stand before him. None of them was able to rescue anyone out of his hand. He did whatever he wanted, and he became great.

⁵ As I was thinking about this, I saw a male goat come from the west, who went across the surface of the whole earth, running fast, not seeming to touch the ground. The goat had a large horn between his eyes. ⁶ He came to the ram who had two horns—I had seen the ram standing on the bank of the canal—and the goat rushed toward the ram in a powerful rage.

⁷ I saw the goat come close to the ram. He was very angry at the ram, and he hit the ram and broke off its two horns. The ram was powerless to stand before him. The goat knocked him down to the ground and trampled on him. There was no one who could rescue the ram from his power. ⁸ Then the goat became very large. But when he became strong, the large horn was broken, and in its place four other large horns grew up that pointed toward the four winds of the heavens.

⁹ Out of one of them grew another horn, little at first, but which grew exceedingly large toward the south, toward the east, and toward the Beautiful Land. ¹⁰ It became so large as to engage in war with the army of heaven. Some of that army and some of the stars were thrown down to the earth, and it trampled on them.

¹¹ It made itself to be as great as the commander of the army. It took away from him the regular burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary was polluted. ¹² Because of rebellion, the army will be given over to the goat's horn, and the burnt offering will be stopped. The horn will throw truth down to the ground, and it will succeed in what it does.

¹³ Then I heard a holy one speaking and another holy one answering him, "How long will these things last, this vision about the burnt offering, the sin that brings destruction, the handing over of the sanctuary, and heaven's army being trampled on?" ¹⁴ He said to me, "It will last for 2,300 evenings and mornings. After that the sanctuary will be restored."

¹⁵ When I, Daniel, had seen the vision, I tried to understand it. Then there stood before me one who looked like a man. ¹⁶ I heard a man's voice calling between the banks of the Ulai Canal. He said, "Gabriel, help this man understand the vision." ¹⁷ So he came near where I stood. When he came, I was frightened and fell on my face. But he said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end."

¹⁸ When he spoke to me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face to the ground. Then he touched me and made me stand up. ¹⁹ He said, "See, I will make known to you what will happen later in the time of wrath, because the vision concerns the appointed time for the end.

²⁰ As for the ram you saw, the one that had two horns—they are the kings of Media and Persia. ²¹ The male goat is the king of Greece. The large horn between his eyes is the first king.

²² As for the horn that was broken, in the place of which four others arose—four kingdoms will arise from his nation, but not with his great power. ²³ At the latter time of those kingdoms, when the transgressors have reached their limit, a grim-faced king, one who is very intelligent, will arise.

²⁴ His power will be mighty—but not by his own power. He will be amazing in what he destroys; he will act and succeed. He will destroy mighty ones and the holy people. ²⁵ By his craftiness he will make deceit prosper under his hand. He will become great in his own mind. He will unexpectedly destroy many people. He will even rise up against the Prince of princes, and he will be broken, but not by any human hand.

²⁶ The vision about the evenings and mornings that has been told is true. But seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future."

²⁷ Then I, Daniel, was overcome and lay weak for several days. Then I got up, and went about the king's business. But I was astounded by the vision, and there was no one who understood it.

Chapter 9

¹ In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus ¹ —a descendant of the Medes, who had been made king over the kingdom of the Chaldeans— ² in the first year of Darius' reign, I, Daniel, was studying the books containing Yahweh's word, the word that had come to Jeremiah the prophet. I observed that there would be seventy years until Jerusalem's desolations would end.

³ I turned my face to the Lord God, to seek him with prayer and humble requests, with fasting, wearing sackcloth, and sitting in ashes. ⁴ I prayed to Yahweh my God, and I made confession of our sins. I said, "I beg you, Lord—you are the great and awesome God—you are the one who keeps the covenant and is faithful to love those who love you and keep your commandments.

⁵ We have sinned and have done what is wrong. We have acted wickedly and we have rebelled, turning aside from your commands and decrees. ⁶ We have not listened to your servants the prophets who spoke in your name to our kings, our leaders, our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.

⁷ To you, Lord, belongs righteousness. To us today, however, belongs shame on our faces—for the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem, and to all Israel. This includes those who are near and those who are far away in all the lands where you scattered them. This is because of the faithless deeds that we committed against you. ⁸ To us, Yahweh, belongs shame on our faces—to our kings, to our leaders, and to our ancestors—because we have sinned against you.

⁹ To the Lord our God belong compassion and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him. ¹⁰ We have not obeyed the voice of Yahweh our God by walking in his laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. ¹¹ All Israel has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. The curse and oath that are written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, for we have sinned against him.

¹² Yahweh has confirmed the words that he spoke against us and against our rulers over us, by bringing on us a great disaster. For under the whole of heaven there has not been done anything that could compare with what has been done to Jerusalem. ¹³ As it is written in the law of Moses, all this disaster has come on us, yet we have not begged for mercy from Yahweh our God by turning away from our iniquities and paying attention to your truth. ¹⁴ Therefore Yahweh has kept the disaster ready and has brought it on us, for Yahweh our God is righteous in all the deeds he does, yet we have not obeyed his voice.

¹⁵ Now, Lord our God, you brought out your people from the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, and you have made a famous name for yourself, as in this present day. But still we sinned; we have done wicked things. ¹⁶ Lord, because of all your righteous deeds, let your anger and your wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. Because of our sins, and because of the iniquities of our ancestors, Jerusalem and your people have become an object of mockery to all those around us.

¹⁷ Now, our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to his humble requests; for your sake, Lord, make your face shine on your sanctuary that is desolate. ¹⁸ My God, incline your ears and listen; open your eyes and see. We have been devastated; look at the city that is called by your name. We do not bring our humble requests to you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. ¹⁹ Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, pay attention and take action! For your own sake, do not delay, my God, for your city and your people are called by your name."

²⁰ While I was speaking—praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my humble request before Yahweh my God on behalf of God's holy mountain— ²¹ while I was praying, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the first, flew down to me in rapid flight, at the time of the evening sacrifice.

²² He gave me understanding and said to me, "Daniel, I have now come out to give you insight and understanding. ²³ When you began presenting your humble requests, the order was given and I have come to tell you the answer, for you are precious. Therefore consider this word and understand the revelation.

²⁴ Seventy sevens are decreed for your people and your holy city to end the guilt and put an end to sin, to atone for wickedness, to bring everlasting righteousness, to carry out the vision and the prophecy, and to consecrate the most holy place. ²⁵ Know and understand that from the issuing of the order to restore and rebuild Jerusalem to the coming of the anointed one (who will be a leader), there will be seven sevens and sixty-two sevens. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and a moat, despite the times of distress.

²⁶ After the sixty-two sevens, the anointed one will be destroyed and will have nothing. The army of a coming ruler will destroy the city and the holy place. Its end will come with a flood, and there will be war even to the end. Desolations have been decreed.

²⁷ He will confirm a covenant with many for one seven. In the middle of the seven he will put an end to the sacrifice and the offering. On the wing of abominations will come someone who makes desolate until the complete destruction that has been decreed is poured out on the one who has made the desolation."

¹Also known as Ahasuerus .

Chapter 10

¹ In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia, a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. This message was true. It was about a great conflict. Daniel understood the message when he had insight from the vision.

² In those days I, Daniel, was in mourning for three weeks. ³ I ate no delicacies, I ate no meat, I drank no wine, and I did not anoint myself with oil until the completion of three entire weeks.

⁴ On the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was beside the great river (that is, the Tigris), ⁵ I looked up and saw a man dressed in linen, with a belt around his waist made of pure gold from Uphaz. ⁶ His body was like topaz, and his face was like lightning. His eyes were like flaming torches, and his arms and his feet were like polished bronze. The sound of his words was like the sound of a great crowd.

⁷ I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision. However, a great terror came on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. ⁸ So I was left alone and saw this great vision. No strength remained in me; my bright appearance was turned into a ruined look, and no strength remained in me. ⁹ Then I heard his words—and as I heard them, I fell on my face in deep sleep with my face to the ground.

¹⁰ A hand touched me, and it made me tremble in my knees and the palms of my hands. ¹¹ The angel said to me, "Daniel, precious man, understand the words that I am speaking to you. Stand upright, for I have been sent to you." When he had spoken this message to me, I stood up trembling.

¹² Then he said to me, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day you set your mind to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come because of your words. ¹³ The prince of the kingdom of Persia resisted me, and I was kept there with the kings of Persia for twenty-one days. But Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me. ¹

¹⁴ Now I have come to help you understand what will happen to your people in the last days. For the vision is for days yet to come." ¹⁵ While he was speaking to me using these words, I turned my face toward the ground and was unable to speak.

¹⁶ One who was like the sons of man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and spoke to him who stood before me: "My master, I am in agony because of the vision; I have no strength left. ¹⁷ I am your servant. How can I talk with my master? For I now have no strength, and there is no breath left in me."

¹⁸ Again the one with an appearance of a man touched me and strengthened me. ¹⁹ He said, "Do not be afraid, precious man. May peace be to you! Be strong now, be strong!" While he was speaking to me, I was strengthened. I said, "Let my master speak, for you have strengthened me."

²⁰ He said, "Do you know why I have come to you? I will soon return to fight against the prince of Persia. When I go, the prince of Greece will come. ²¹ But I will tell you what is written in the Book of Truth. There is no one who shows himself to be strong with me against them, except Michael your prince.

¹Instead of kings of Persia , some ancient copies have prince of the kings of Persia .

Chapter 11

¹ In the first year of Darius the Mede, I myself came to support and protect Michael. ² Now I will tell you the truth. Three kings will arise in Persia, and a fourth will be far richer than all the others. When he has gained power through his riches, he will stir up everyone against the kingdom of Greece.

³ A mighty king will rise up who will rule a very great kingdom, and he will act according to his desires. ⁴ When he has risen up, his kingdom will be broken and divided to the four winds of heaven, but not to his own descendants, and not with the authority he had when he was ruling. For his kingdom will be uprooted for others besides his descendants.

⁵ The king of the South will become strong, but one of his commanders will become even stronger than he and will have dominion. His dominion will be a great dominion. ⁶ After a few years, when the time is right, they will make an alliance. The daughter of the king of the South will come to the king of the North to confirm the agreement. But she will not keep her arm's strength, nor will he stand, or his arm. She will be abandoned—she and those who brought her, and her father, and the one who supported her in those times. ¹

⁷ But a branch from her roots will rise up in her place. He will attack the army and enter the fortress of the king of the North. He will fight them, and he will conquer them. ⁸ He will capture their gods, along with their cast metal figures and their precious vessels of silver and of gold, and take them to Egypt. For some years he will stay away from the king of the North. ⁹ Then the king of the North will invade the kingdom of the king of the South, but he will withdraw to his own land.

¹⁰ His sons will get ready and assemble a great army. It will keep coming and will flood everything; it will pass through all the way to his fortress.

¹¹ Then the king of the South will become very angry; he will go and fight against him, the king of the North. The king of the North will raise up a great army, but the army will be given into his hand. ¹² The army will be carried off, and the heart of the king of the South will be lifted up, and he will make tens of thousands to fall, but he will not be victorious.

¹³ Then the king of the North will raise up another army, greater than the first. After some years, the king of the North will surely come with a great army supplied with much equipment.

¹⁴ In those times many will rise against the king of the South. Sons of the violent among your people will set themselves in order to fulfill a vision, but they will stumble.

¹⁵ The king of the North will come, pour out earth for siege mounds, and capture a city with fortifications. The forces of the South will not be able to stand, not even their best soldiers. There will be no strength to stand. ¹⁶ The one who comes against him will do as he desires, and no one will stand in his way. He will stand in the Beautiful Land, and destruction will be in his hand.

¹⁷ The king of the North will set his face to come with the strength of his entire kingdom, and with him will be an agreement that he will make with the king of the South. He will give him a daughter of women in marriage to ruin the kingdom of the South. But the plan will not succeed or help him. ¹⁸ After this, the king of the North will pay attention to the coastlands and will capture many of them. But a commander will end his contempt and will cause his contempt to turn back upon him. ¹⁹ Then he will pay attention to the fortresses of his own land, but he will stumble and fall; he will not be found.

²⁰ Then someone will rise up in his place who will make a tax collector pass through for the sake of the splendor of the kingdom. But in the next days he will be broken, but not in anger or in battle. ²¹ In his place will rise up a despised person to whom the people will not have given the honor of royal power; he will come unexpectedly and will take over the kingdom by trickery. ²² An army will be swept away like a flood from before him. Both that army and the leader of the covenant will be destroyed.

²³ From the time an alliance is made with him, he will act deceitfully; with only a small number of people he will gain power. ²⁴ Without warning he will come into the richest part of the province, and he will do what neither his father nor his father's father did. He will spread among his followers the booty, the plunder, and the wealth. He will plan the overthrow of fortresses, but only for a time.

²⁵ He will wake up his power and his heart against the king of the South with a great army. The king of the South will wage war with an extremely large and mighty army, but he will not stand because others will make plots against him. ²⁶ Even those who eat his fine food will try to destroy him. His army will be swept away like a flood, and many of them will fall killed. ²⁷ Both these kings, with their hearts set on evil against each other, will sit at the same table and lie to each other, but it will be of no use. For the end will come at the time that has been fixed.

²⁸ Then the king of the North will go back into his land with great riches, with his heart set against the holy covenant. He will act and then will return to his own land.

²⁹ At the appointed time he will return and come against the South again. But this time it will not be as before. ³⁰ For ships of Kittim will come against him, and he will become afraid. He will return and be furious against the holy covenant, and he will take action. He will return and show favor to those who abandon the holy covenant.

³¹ His forces will rise up and profane the fortress sanctuary. They will put an end to the regular burnt offering, and they will set up the abomination that causes desolation. ³² As for those who acted wickedly against the covenant, he will deceive them and corrupt them. But the people who know their God will be strong and will take action.

³³ Those among the people who have insight will make many understand. But they will stumble by the sword and by flame; they will stumble into captivity and into being robbed for days. ³⁴ In their stumbling, they will be helped with a little help. In hypocrisy many will join themselves with them. ³⁵ Some of those who have insight will stumble so that refining will happen to them, and cleansing, and purifying, until the time of the end. For the appointed time is still to come.

³⁶ The king will act according to his desires. He will lift himself up and make himself great above every god. Against the God of gods he will say astonishing things, for he will succeed until the wrath is completed. For what has been decreed will be done. ³⁷ He will show no regard for the gods of his fathers, not even the god desired by women, nor will he regard any other god, but will exalt himself above them all.

³⁸ He will honor the god of fortresses instead of these. It is a god whom his fathers did not know that he will honor with gold and silver, with precious stones and other precious things. ³⁹ He will attack the strongest fortresses with the help of a foreign god. To anyone who acknowledges him, he will give much honor. He will make them rulers over many people, and he will divide up the land as a reward. ²

⁴⁰ At the time of the end, the king of the South will attack. The king of the North will storm against him with chariots and horsemen and with many ships. He will go against lands, flood them, and pass through. ⁴¹ He will go into the Beautiful Land, and tens of thousands of Israelites will fall. But these will escape from his hand: Edom, Moab, and the remainder of the people of Ammon.

⁴² He will extend his hand into lands; the land of Egypt will not be rescued. ⁴³ He will have control over the treasures of gold and of silver, and over all the precious things of Egypt; the Libyans and the Cushites will be in his footsteps.

⁴⁴ But news from the east and the north will frighten him, and he will go out with great rage to completely destroy and to set many apart for destruction. ⁴⁵ He will set up the tent of his royal residence between the seas and the mountain of the beauty of holiness. He will come to his end, and there will be no helper for him.

¹Instead of his arm , which the Hebrew text has, some ancient translations of the Hebrew text and many modern translations read his seed , that is, his children .

²Instead of He will attack the strongest fortresses , some modern translations have He will defend his fortress .

Chapter 12

¹ At that time Michael, the great prince who guards your people, will rise up. There will be a time of trouble such as never was since the beginning of any nation until that time. At that time your people will be saved, everyone whose name is found written in the book. ² Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth will rise up, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

³ Those who have insight will shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who turn many to righteousness are like the stars forever and ever. ⁴ But you, Daniel, close up these words; keep the book sealed until the time of the end. Many will run here and there, and knowledge will increase."

⁵ Then I, Daniel, looked, and there were two others standing. One stood on the bank on this side of the river, and one stood on the bank on the other side of the river. ⁶ One of them said to the man clothed in linen, the one who was upstream along the river, "How long will it be to the end of these amazing events?"

⁷ I heard the man clothed in linen, who was upstream along the river—he raised his right hand and his left hand to heaven and swore by the one who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time. When they finish shattering the power of the holy people, all these things will be completed.

⁸ I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, "My master, what will be the outcome of all these things?" ⁹ He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.

¹⁰ Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand. ¹¹ From the time that an end is put to the regular burnt offering and the abomination that causes complete desolation is set up, there will be 1,290 days.

¹² Blessed is the one who waits until the end of the 1,335 days. ¹³ You must go your way until the end, and you will rest. You will rise in the place assigned to you, at the end of days."

¹Some modern translations have The rebels have dug a deep pit , The rebels have dug deep at Shittim , or, continuing on from the previous verse, a pit dug deep at Shittim .

¹Instead of They gather together , which the copies of the ancient Hebrew text have, some ancient translations of the copies of the Hebrew text, and many modern translations have They cut themselves , an allusion to the pagan custom of idol worshipers wounding themselves in the frenzy of prayer.

¹Some ancient translations of the Hebrew text and most modern translations have they went away from me . The copies of the ancient Hebrew text have they went away from them .

¹The phrase so that we may offer to you the fruit of our lips represents the interpretation of some ancient translations of the Hebrew text. The copies of the ancient Hebrew text have so that we may offer bulls, our lips . Some modern translations interpret this to mean, so that we may offer to you bulls, which we have promised to do .

¹Instead of the sin of Samaria , some scholars translate the Hebrew as, Ashimah of Samaria . Ashimah was the name of a pagan goddess worshiped in some parts of Syria.

²The copies of the ancient Hebrew text have, As the way to Beersheba exists , where this might refer to what people going to worship Beersheba's idols might have said. However, some scholars understand the Hebrew text to read As the loved one of Beersheba lives . Here loved one stands for an idol worshiped in Beersheba.

¹Instead of come together in battle ranks , some modern translations read cut yourselves , referring to the pagan practice of cutting oneself while praying to idols. There are some modern translations that follow an ancient translation of the Hebrew text that reads build up your fortifications .

²The copies of the ancient Hebrew text have the phrase: in its entrances , that is, in their gates. However, some modern translations suppose that a different Hebrew word was intended: with a drawn sword .

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew text which were translated here read, Listen to the rod and to the one who has put it in place , but some modern translations have Listen, tribe, and those assembled together in the city .

²Parts of this verse are difficult to understand, because in the copies of the ancient Hebrew text there are two Hebrew words in it whose meanings are not known. As a result, various other readings have been proposed by scholars and some modern translations follow those suggestions.

³The copies of the ancient Hebrew text have you will bear the reproach of my people , but the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew copies reads: you will bear the scorn of the nations and some modern translations are following that reading.

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew text are translated here, their multitudes go like the desert wind ; this is a difficult passage to translate, and it is translated in different ways in modern translations.

¹Instead of how I should turn from my complaint , which is the reading of the copies of the Hebrew text, some modern translations have how I should answer when he replies to my complaint or how I should answer when he rebukes me .

²There is some question about whether the Hebrew should be translated as you express your anger or as you pour from your wineskin .

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew text add the expression on shigionoth , which may refer to musical directions for singers.

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew text have by their king , but some modern translations read by Milcom , the name of a pagan god that many people worshiped.

¹The copies of the ancient Hebrew text have, until the day that I rise up to seize the prey . However, some of the copies of the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew copies, and modern translations that follow those suggestions, read, until the day that I rise up as a witness .

²This verse is very difficult to understand, and modern translations translate it in many different ways.

¹Some ancient translations of the copies of the Hebrew text and most modern translations have their iniquity . The copies of the ancient Hebrew text have their eye , but this is widely thought to be an error.

¹Most interpreters translate the Hebrew words as against enemy armies and some translate the Hebrew as a guard, and so translate the phrase, I will surround my temple as a guard .

¹Many modern translations arrange the text by adding together at the start of the next verse.

¹Instead of rebuke your descendants , which is in the copies of the ancient Hebrew text, some ancient translations have cut off your shoulder or throw the arm to you . Some other modern translations have corrupt your descendants .

²Instead of he will take you away with it , which is in the ancient copies of the Hebrew text, some ancient translations have I will take you away from beside me , that is, from my presence .

³Instead of the one who answers , which follows the ancient Greek translation of the Hebrew copies, some scholars have translated the ancient Hebrew copies as the one who studies .

Matthew

Chapter 1

¹ The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham.

² Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers.

³ Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram.

⁴ Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon.

⁵ Salmon was the father of Boaz by Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse.

⁶ Jesse was the father of David the king.

David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah.

⁷ Solomon was the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah, Abijah the father of Asa.

⁸ Asa was the father of Jehoshaphat, Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram an ancestor of Uzziah.

⁹ Uzziah was the father of Jotham, Jotham the father of Ahaz, Ahaz the father of Hezekiah.

¹⁰ Hezekiah was the father of Manasseh, Manasseh the father of Amon, and Amon the father of Josiah.

¹¹ Josiah was an ancestor of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

¹² After the deportation to Babylon, Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel, Shealtiel was an ancestor of Zerubbabel.

¹³ Zerubbabel was the father of Abiud, Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor.

¹⁴ Azor was the father of Zadok, Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud.

¹⁵ Eliud was the father of Eleazar, Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob.

¹⁶ Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

¹⁷ All the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.

¹⁸ The birth of Jesus Christ happened in the following way. His mother, Mary, was engaged to marry Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant by the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ But Joseph, her husband, was a righteous man and did not want to publicly disgrace her, so he intended to divorce her quietly.

²⁰ As he thought about these things, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, because the one who is conceived in her is conceived by the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you will call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."

²² Now all this happened to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, ²³ "Behold, the virgin will become pregnant and will bear a son, and they will call his name Immanuel"—which being translated is "God with us."

²⁴ Joseph got up from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and he took her as his wife. ²⁵ But he did not know her until she gave birth to a son. Then he called his name Jesus.

Chapter 2

¹ After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, learned men from the east arrived in Jerusalem saying, ² "Where is he who was born King of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him." ³ When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

⁴ Herod brought together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, and he asked them, "Where is the Christ to be born?" ⁵ They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for this is what was written by the prophet:

⁶ 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

are not the least among the rulers of Judah,

for from you will come one who rules,

who will shepherd my people Israel.'"

⁷ Then Herod secretly called the learned men to ask them exactly what time the star had appeared. ⁸ He sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search carefully for the young child. When you have found him, bring me a report so that I also may come and worship him."

⁹ After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star that they had seen in the east went before them until it came and stood still over where the young child was. ¹⁰ When they saw the star, they rejoiced with very great joy.

¹¹ They went into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother. They fell down and worshiped him. They opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² God warned them in a dream not to return to Herod, so they departed to their own country by another way.

¹³ After they had departed, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the young child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Remain there until I tell you, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him." ¹⁴ That night Joseph rose and took the young child and his mother and departed into Egypt. ¹⁵ He remained there until the death of Herod. This fulfilled what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I have called my Son."

¹⁶ Then Herod, when he saw that he had been mocked by the learned men, was very angry. He sent and killed all the male children that were in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old and under, according to the time that he had determined exactly from the learned men.

¹⁷ Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet, saying,

¹⁸ "A voice was heard in Ramah,

weeping and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children,

and she refused to be comforted,

because they were no more."

¹⁹ When Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ²⁰ "Get up and take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." ²¹ Joseph rose, took the child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel.

²² But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in the place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. After God warned him in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee ²³ and went and lived in a city called Nazareth. This fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophets, that he would be called a Nazarene.

Chapter 3

¹ In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea saying, ² "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." ³ For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying,

"The voice of one calling out in the wilderness,

'Make ready the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight.'"

⁴ Now John wore clothing of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan River went out to him. ⁶ They were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to him for baptism, he said to them, "You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath that is coming? ⁸ Bear fruit worthy of repentance. ⁹ Do not think of saying among yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham even out of these stones.

¹⁰ Already the ax has been placed against the root of the trees. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. ¹¹ I baptize you with water for repentance. But he who comes after me is mightier than I, and I am not worthy even to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹² His winnowing fork is in his hand to thoroughly clear off his threshing floor and to gather his wheat into the storehouse. But he will burn up the chaff with fire that can never be put out."

¹³ Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized by John. ¹⁴ But John kept trying to stop him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" ¹⁵ Jesus responded and said to him, "Permit it now, for it is right for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then John permitted him.

¹⁶ After he was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God coming down like a dove and resting upon him. ¹⁷ Behold, a voice came out of the heavens saying, "This is my beloved Son. I am very pleased with him."

Chapter 4

¹ Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ² When he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. ³ The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread."

⁴ But Jesus answered and said to him, "It is written, 'Man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.'"

⁵ Then the devil took him into the holy city and set him on the highest point of the temple building, ⁶ and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,

'He will command his angels to take care of you,'

and

'They will carry you in their hands,

so that you will not hit your foot against a stone.'"

⁷ Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'You must not test the Lord your God.'"

⁸ Again, the devil took him up to a very high hill and showed him all the kingdoms of the world along with all their glory. ⁹ He said to him, "All these things I will give you, if you fall down and worship me."

¹⁰ Then Jesus said to him, "Go away from here, Satan! For it is written, 'You will worship the Lord your God, and you will serve only him.'"

¹¹ Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.

¹² Now when Jesus heard that John had been handed over, he withdrew into Galilee. ¹³ He left Nazareth and went and lived in Capernaum, which is by the Sea of Galilee in the territories of Zebulun and Naphtali.

¹⁴ This happened to fulfill what was said by Isaiah the prophet:

¹⁵ "The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

toward the sea, beyond the Jordan,

Galilee of the Gentiles!

¹⁶ The people who sat in darkness

have seen a great light,

and to those who sat in the region and shadow of death,

upon them has a light arisen."

¹⁷ From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near."

¹⁸ As he was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." ²⁰ Immediately they left the nets and followed him.

²¹ As Jesus was going on from there he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and John his brother. They were in the boat with Zebedee their father mending their nets. He called them, ²² and they immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

²³ Jesus went about in all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every kind of disease and sickness among the people. ²⁴ The news about him went out into all of Syria, and the people brought to him all those who suffered from various diseases and pains, those who were possessed by demons, the epileptics, and the paralytics. Jesus healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds followed him from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

Chapter 5

¹ When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. ² He opened his mouth and taught them, saying,

³ "Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,

for they will be comforted.

⁵ Blessed are the meek,

for they will inherit the earth.

⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

for they will be filled.

⁷ Blessed are the merciful,

for they will obtain mercy.

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,

for they will see God.

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they will be called sons of God.

¹⁰ Blessed are those who have been persecuted for righteousness' sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ "Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and say all kinds of evil things against you falsely for my sake. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven. For in this way people persecuted the prophets who lived before you.

¹³ "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt has lost its taste, how can it be made salty again? It is never again good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. ¹⁴ You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but rather on the lampstand, and it shines for everyone in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light shine before people in such a way that they see your good deeds and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

¹⁷ "Do not think that I have come to destroy the law or the prophets. I have come not to destroy them, but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I say to you that until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will in any way pass away from the law, until all things have been accomplished.

¹⁹ Therefore whoever breaks the least one of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. ²⁰ For I say to you that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will in no way enter the kingdom of heaven.

²¹ "You have heard that it was said to them in ancient times, 'Do not murder,' and 'Whoever murders will be subject to judgment.' ²² But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment; and whoever says to his brother, 'You worthless person!' will be subject to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be subject to the fire of hell.

²³ Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has anything against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar, and go on your way. First be reconciled with your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

²⁵ Agree with your adversary quickly while you are with him on the way to court, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I say to you, you will never come out from there until you have paid the last penny you owe.

²⁷ "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' ²⁸ But I say to you that everyone who looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members should perish than that your whole body should be thrown into hell. ³⁰ If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. For it is better for you that one of your members should perish than that your whole body should go into hell.

³¹ It was also said, 'Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' ³² But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on account of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress. Whoever marries her after she has been divorced commits adultery.

³³ "Again, you have heard that it was said to those in ancient times, 'Do not swear a false oath, but carry out your oaths to the Lord.' ³⁴ But I say to you, swear not at all, neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; ³⁵ nor by the earth, for it is the footstool for his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.

³⁶ Neither swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ But let your speech be 'Yes, yes,' or 'No, no.' Anything that is more than this is from the evil one.

³⁸ "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.' ³⁹ But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. Instead, whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.

⁴⁰ If anyone wishes to bring a lawsuit against you and takes away your tunic, let that person also have your cloak. ⁴¹ Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. ⁴² Give to anyone who asks you, and do not turn away from anyone who wishes to borrow from you.

⁴³ "You have heard that it was said, 'You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ¹ ⁴⁵ so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

⁴⁶ For if you love those who love you, what reward do you get? Do not even the tax collectors do the same thing? ⁴⁷ If you greet only your brothers, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same thing? ⁴⁸ Therefore you must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

¹The best ancient copies do not have Bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you .

Chapter 6

¹ "Watch out that you do not do your acts of righteousness before people to be seen by them, or else you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. ² So when you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before yourself as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be glorified by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full.

³ But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing ⁴ so that your alms may be given in secret. Then your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

⁵ "When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by people. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But you, when you pray, enter your inner chamber. Shut the door and pray to your Father, who is in secret. Then your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ⁷ When you pray, do not make useless repetitions as the pagans do, for they think that they will be heard because of their many words.

⁸ Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows what things you need before you ask him.

⁹ Therefore pray like this:

'Our Father in heaven,

may your name be honored as holy.

¹⁰ May your kingdom come.

May your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.

¹² Forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

¹³ Do not bring us into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.' ¹

¹⁴ For if you forgive people their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you do not forgive their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

¹⁶ "When you fast, do not have a sad face as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces so that they may appear to people to be fasting. Truly I say to you, they have received their reward in full. ¹⁷ But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face ¹⁸ so that you may not appear to people to be fasting, but only to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

¹⁹ "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on the earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Instead, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

²² The eye is the lamp of the body. Therefore, if your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light. ²³ But if your eye is bad, your whole body is full of darkness. Therefore, if the light that is in you is actually darkness, how great is that darkness! ²⁴ No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

²⁵ Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. For is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable than they are?

²⁷ Which one of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his lifespan? ²⁸ Why are you anxious about clothing? Think about the lilies in the fields, how they grow. They do not labor, and they do not spin cloth. ²⁹ Yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.

³⁰ If God so clothes the grass in the fields, which exists today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith? ³¹ Therefore do not be anxious and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What clothes will we wear?'

³² For the Gentiles search for these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you. ³⁴ Therefore, do not be anxious for tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Each day has enough evil of its own.

¹The best ancient copies do not have For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen .

Chapter 7

¹ "Do not judge, and you will not be judged. ² For with the judgment you judge, you will be judged, and with the measure that you measure, it will be measured out to you.

³ Why do you look at the tiny piece of straw that is in your brother's eye, but you do not take notice of the log that is in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take out the piece of straw that is in your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the piece of straw that is in your brother's eye.

⁶ Do not give what is holy to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls in front of the pigs. Otherwise they may trample them underfoot, and then turn and tear you to pieces.

⁷ "Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks, receives; everyone who seeks, finds; and to the person who knocks, it will be opened. ⁹ Or which one of you, if his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

¹¹ Therefore, if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him? ¹² Therefore, whatever things you want people to do to you, you should also do to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

¹³ "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many people who go through it. ¹⁴ But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

¹⁵ "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but are truly ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruits you will know them. Do people gather grapes from a thornbush or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but the bad tree produces bad fruit.

¹⁸ A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ So then, you will recognize them by their fruits.

²¹ Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many people will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, in your name drive out demons, and in your name do many miracles?' ²³ Then will I openly declare to them, 'I never knew you! Get away from me, you who practice lawlessness!'

²⁴ "Therefore, everyone who hears my words and obeys them will be like a wise man who built his house upon a rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat upon that house, but it did not fall down, for it was founded on the rock.

²⁶ But everyone who hears my words and does not obey them will be like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew and struck that house, and it fell, and its destruction was complete."

²⁸ It came about that when Jesus finished speaking these words, the crowds were astonished by his teaching, ²⁹ for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Chapter 8

¹ When Jesus had come down from the hill, large crowds followed him. ² Behold, a leper came to him and bowed before him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."

³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing. Be clean." Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

⁴ Jesus said to him, "See that you say nothing to any man. Go on your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."

⁵ When he was coming into Capernaum, a centurion came to him, begging him ⁶ and saying, "Lord, my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible agony."

⁷ Then Jesus said to him, "I will come and heal him."

⁸ The centurion answered and said, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof. Only say the word and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I also am a man under authority, and I have soldiers under me. I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another one, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

¹⁰ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those who were following him, "Truly I say to you, I have not found anyone with such faith in Israel.

¹¹ I tell you, many will come from the east and the west, and they will recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. ¹² But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth." ¹³ Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! As you have believed, so may it be done for you." And the servant was healed at that very hour.

¹⁴ When Jesus had come into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. ¹⁵ Jesus touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and started serving him.

¹⁶ When evening had come, the people brought to Jesus many who were possessed by demons. He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. ¹⁷ This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

"He took our illnesses

and bore our diseases."

¹⁸ Now when Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave instructions to leave for the other side of the Sea of Galilee. ¹⁹ Then a scribe came to him and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."

²⁰ Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

²¹ Another of the disciples said to him, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father."

²² But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."

²³ When Jesus had entered a boat, his disciples followed him into it. ²⁴ Behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But Jesus was asleep. ²⁵ The disciples came to him and woke him up, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!"

²⁶ Jesus said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. Then there was a great calm.

²⁷ The men marveled and said, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"

²⁸ When Jesus had come to the other side and to the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were possessed by demons met him. They were coming out of the tombs and were very violent, so that no traveler could pass that way. ²⁹ Behold, they cried out and said, "What do we have to do with you, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the set time?"

³⁰ Now a herd of many pigs was there feeding, not too far away from them. ³¹ The demons kept pleading with Jesus and saying, "If you cast us out, send us away into that herd of pigs."

³² Jesus said to them, "Go!" The demons came out and went into the pigs; and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep hill into the sea and they died in the water.

³³ Those who had been tending the pigs ran away and they went into the city and reported everything, especially what had happened to the men who had been possessed by demons. ³⁴ Behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.

Chapter 9

¹ Jesus entered a boat, crossed over, and came into his own city. ² Behold, they brought to him a paralyzed man lying on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Son, be encouraged. Your sins have been forgiven."

³ Behold, some of the scribes said among themselves, "This man is blaspheming." ⁴ Jesus knew their thoughts and said, "Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? ⁵ For which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? ⁶ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, ... " he said to the paralytic, "Get up, pick up your mat, and go to your house."

⁷ Then the man got up and went away to his house. ⁸ When the crowds saw this, they were afraid and glorified God, who had given such authority to people. ⁹ As Jesus passed by from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's tent. He said to him, "Follow me." He got up and followed him.

¹⁰ As Jesus sat down to eat in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and dined with Jesus and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

¹² When Jesus heard this, he said, "People who are strong in body do not need a physician; only those who are sick do. ¹³ You should go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice.' For I came not to call the righteous to repent, but sinners."

¹⁴ Then the disciples of John came to him and said, "Why do we and the Pharisees often fast, but your disciples do not fast?"

¹⁵ Jesus said to them, "Can the sons of the wedding hall mourn while the bridegroom is still with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

¹⁶ No man puts a piece of new cloth on an old garment, for the patch will tear away from the garment, and a worse tear will be made.

¹⁷ Neither do people put new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will be spilled, and the wineskins will be destroyed. Instead, they put new wine into fresh wineskins, and both will be preserved."

¹⁸ While Jesus was saying these things to them, behold, an official came and bowed down to him. He said, "My daughter has just now died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live." ¹⁹ Then Jesus got up and followed him, and so did his disciples.

²⁰ Behold, a woman who suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his garment. ²¹ For she had said to herself, "If only I touch his clothes, I will be made well."

²² But Jesus turned and saw her, and said, "Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well." And the woman was healed from that hour.

²³ When Jesus came into the official's house, he saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion. ²⁴ He said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead, but she is asleep." But they laughed at him in mockery.

²⁵ When the crowd had been put outside, he entered the room and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. ²⁶ The news about this spread into all that region.

²⁷ As Jesus passed by from there, two blind men followed him. They kept shouting and saying, "Have mercy on us, Son of David!"

²⁸ When Jesus had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I can do this?"

They said to him, "Yes, Lord."

²⁹ Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "Let it be done to you according to your faith," ³⁰ and their eyes were opened. Then Jesus strictly commanded them and said, "See that no one knows about this." ³¹ But the two men went out and spread the news about this throughout that region.

³² As those two men were going away, behold, a mute man possessed by a demon was brought to Jesus. ³³ When the demon had been driven out, the mute man spoke. The crowds were astonished and said, "This has never been seen before in Israel!"

³⁴ But the Pharisees were saying, "By the ruler of the demons, he drives out demons."

³⁵ Jesus went about all the cities and the villages. He continued teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing all kinds of disease and all kinds of sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were troubled and discouraged. They were like sheep without a shepherd.

³⁷ He said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. ³⁸ Therefore urgently pray to the Lord of the harvest, so that he may send out laborers into his harvest."

Chapter 10

¹ Jesus called his twelve disciples together and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out, and to heal all kinds of disease and all kinds of sickness.

² Now the names of the twelve apostles were these. The first, Simon (whom he also called Peter), and Andrew his brother; James son of Zebedee, and John his brother; ³ Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; ⁴ Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who would betray him.

⁵ These twelve Jesus sent out. He instructed them and said, "Do not go to any place where Gentiles live, and do not enter any town of the Samaritans. ⁶ Go instead to the lost sheep of the house of Israel; ⁷ and as you go, preach and say, 'The kingdom of heaven is near.'

⁸ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. ⁹ Do not carry any gold, silver, or copper in your belts. ¹⁰ Do not take a traveling bag for your journey, or an extra tunic, or sandals, or a staff, for a laborer deserves his food.

¹¹ Whatever city or village you enter, find who is worthy in it, and stay there until you leave. ¹² As you enter into the house, greet it. ¹³ If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you.

¹⁴ As for those who do not receive you or listen to your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet. ¹⁵ Truly I say to you, it will be more bearable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.

¹⁶ "See, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves. ¹⁷ Watch out for people! They will deliver you up to councils, and they will whip you in their synagogues. ¹⁸ Then you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.

¹⁹ When they deliver you up, do not be anxious about how or what you will speak, for what to say will be given to you at that time. ²⁰ For it is not you who will speak, but the Spirit of your Father who will speak in you.

²¹ Brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. ²² You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But whoever endures to the end, that person will be saved. ²³ When they persecute you in this city, flee to the next, for truly I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man has come.

²⁴ "A disciple is not greater than his teacher, nor a servant above his master. ²⁵ It is enough for the disciple that he should be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much worse will be the names they call the members of his household!

²⁶ Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not be known. ²⁷ What I tell you in the darkness, say in the daylight, and what you hear softly in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops.

²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul. Instead, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. ²⁹ Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's knowledge. ³⁰ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹ Do not fear. You are more valuable than many sparrows.

³² Therefore everyone who confesses me before men, I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven. ³³ But he who denies me before men, I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.

³⁴ "Do not think that I came to bring peace upon the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. ³⁵ For I came to set

a man against his father,

and a daughter against her mother,

and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

³⁶ A man's enemies will be those of his own household.

³⁷ He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. ³⁸ He who does not pick up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. ³⁹ He who finds his life will lose it. But he who loses his life for my sake will find it.

⁴⁰ "He who welcomes you welcomes me, and he who welcomes me also welcomes him who sent me. ⁴¹ He who welcomes a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and he who welcomes a righteous man in the name of a righteous man will receive a righteous man's reward.

⁴² Whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink in the name of a disciple, truly I say to you, he will in no way lose his reward."

Chapter 11

¹ It came about that when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities. ² Now when John heard in the prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent a message by his disciples ³ and said to him, "Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?"

⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, "Go and report to John what you see and hear. ⁵ The blind are receiving sight, the lame are walking, lepers are being cleansed, the deaf are hearing again, the dead are being raised back to life, and the gospel is being preached to the poor. ⁶ Blessed is anyone who does not stumble because of me."

⁷ As these men went on their way, Jesus began to say to the crowds about John, "What did you go out in the desert to see—a reed being shaken by the wind? ⁸ But what did you go out to see—a man dressed in soft clothing? Really, those who wear soft clothing live in kings' houses.

⁹ But what did you go out to see—a prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is he of whom it was written,

'See, I am sending my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.'

¹¹ Truly I say to you that among those born of women, there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet the least important person in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is. ¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and men of violence take it by force.

¹³ For all the prophets and the law have been prophesying until John; ¹⁴ and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears to hear, let him hear.

¹⁶ To what should I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces calling out to the others, ¹⁷ saying:

'We played a flute for you,

and you did not dance.

We mourned,

and you did not weep.'

¹⁸ For John came not eating bread or drinking wine, and they say, 'He has a demon.' ¹⁹ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they say, 'Look, he is a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her deeds."

²⁰ Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles were done, because they had not repented. ²¹ "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles had been done in Tyre and Sidon which were done in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. ²² But I tell you it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment than for you.

²³ You, Capernaum, do you think you will be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. For if in Sodom there had been done the miracles that were done in you, it would still have remained until today. ²⁴ But I say to you that it will be easier for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment than for you."

²⁵ At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you concealed these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. ²⁶ Yes, Father, for this was pleasing in your sight. ²⁷ All things have been entrusted to me from my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

²⁸ Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke on you and learn from me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Chapter 12

¹ At that time Jesus went on the Sabbath day through the grainfields. His disciples were hungry and began to pluck heads of grain and eat them. ² But when the Pharisees saw that, they said to Jesus, "See, your disciples do what is unlawful to do on the Sabbath."

³ But Jesus said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was hungry, and the men who were with him? ⁴ He went into the house of God and ate the bread of the presence, which was unlawful for him to eat and unlawful for those who were with him, but lawful only for the priests.

⁵ Have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath but are guiltless? ⁶ But I say to you that one greater than the temple is here.

⁷ If you had known what this meant, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless. ⁸ For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

⁹ Then Jesus left from there and went into their synagogue. ¹⁰ Behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. The Pharisees asked Jesus, saying, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" so that they might accuse him of sinning.

¹¹ Jesus said to them, "What man would there be among you, who, if he had just one sheep, and if this sheep fell into a pit on the Sabbath, would not take hold of it and raise it out? ¹² How much more valuable, then, is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath."

¹³ Then Jesus said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and it was restored to health, just like the other hand. ¹⁴ But the Pharisees went out and plotted against him. They were seeking how they might destroy him.

¹⁵ Jesus, knowing this, withdrew from there. Many people followed him, and he healed them all. ¹⁶ He commanded them not to make him known to others, ¹⁷ that it might be fulfilled, what had been said through Isaiah the prophet, saying,

¹⁸ "See, my servant whom I have chosen;

my beloved one, in whom my soul is well pleased.

I will put my Spirit upon him,

and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.

¹⁹ He will not strive nor cry aloud;

neither will anyone hear his voice in the streets.

²⁰ He will not break any bruised reed;

he will not quench any smoking flax,

until he leads justice to victory,

²¹ and in his name the Gentiles will have hope."

²² Then someone blind and mute, possessed by a demon, was brought to Jesus. He healed him, with the result that the mute man spoke and saw. ²³ All the crowds were amazed and said, "Can this man be the Son of David?"

²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard of this miracle, they said, "This man does not cast out demons except by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons."

²⁵ But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

²⁶ If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? For this reason they will be your judges.

²⁸ But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹ How can anyone enter the house of the strong man and take away his belongings without tying up the strong man first? Then he will steal his belongings from his house. ³⁰ The one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters.

³¹ Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. ³² Whoever speaks any word against the Son of Man, that will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, that will not be forgiven him, neither in this world, nor in that which is to come.

³³ Make a tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴ You offspring of vipers, since you are evil, how can you say good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. ³⁵ The good man from the good treasure of his heart produces what is good, and the evil man from the evil treasure of his heart produces what is evil.

³⁶ I say to you that in the day of judgment people will give an account for every idle word they will have said. ³⁷ For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

³⁸ Then certain scribes and Pharisees answered Jesus and said, "Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you."

³⁹ But Jesus answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign. But no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. ⁴⁰ For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of the big fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

⁴¹ The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation of people and will condemn it. For they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and see, someone greater than Jonah is here.

⁴² The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them. She came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and see, someone greater than Solomon is here.

⁴³ When an unclean spirit has gone away from a man, it passes through waterless places and looks for rest, but does not find it. ⁴⁴ Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' Having returned, it finds the house empty—it had been swept clean and put in order. ⁴⁵ Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all come in to live there. Then the final condition of that man becomes worse than the first. It will be just like that with this evil generation."

⁴⁶ While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, seeking to speak to him. ⁴⁷ Someone said to him, "Look, your mother and your brothers stand outside, seeking to speak to you."

⁴⁸ But Jesus answered and said to him who told him, "Who is my mother and who are my brothers?" ⁴⁹ Then he stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, "See, here are my mother and my brothers! ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, that person is my brother, and sister, and mother."

Chapter 13

¹ On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. ² A very large crowd gathered around him, so he got into a boat and sat in it while the whole crowd stood on the beach.

³ Then Jesus said many things to them in parables. He said, "Behold, a farmer went out to sow seed. ⁴ As he sowed, some seeds fell beside the road, and the birds came and devoured them. ⁵ Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil. Immediately they sprang up because the soil had no depth. ⁶ But when the sun had risen, they were scorched because they had no root, and they withered away.

⁷ Other seeds fell among the thorn plants. The thorn plants grew up and choked them. ⁸ Other seeds fell on good soil and produced a crop, some one hundred times as much, some sixty, and some thirty. ⁹ He who has ears, let him hear."

¹⁰ The disciples came and said to Jesus, "Why do you talk to the crowd in parables?"

¹¹ Jesus answered and said to them, "You have been given the privilege of understanding mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. ¹² For whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. But whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

¹³ This is why I talk to them in parables:

Though they are seeing,

they do not see;

and though they are hearing,

they do not hear, or understand.

¹⁴ To them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, that which says,

'Listening, you will hear, but you will never understand;

seeing, you will see, but you will never know.

¹⁵ For the heart of this people has become dull,

and with their ears they hardly hear,

and they have shut their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears,

and understand with their heart and turn again,

and I would heal them.'

¹⁶ But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. ¹⁷ Truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things that you see and did not see them. They desired to hear the things that you hear and did not hear them.

¹⁸ Listen then to the parable of the farmer who sowed his seed. ¹⁹ When anyone hears the word of the kingdom but does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the seed that was sown beside the road.

²⁰ What was sown on rocky ground is the person who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, ²¹ yet he has no root in himself and he endures for a while. When tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, he quickly falls away.

²² What was sown among the thorn plants, this is the person who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful. ²³ The seed that was sown on the good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands it. He bears fruit and produces a crop, yielding in one case a hundred, in another sixty, and in another thirty times as much as was planted."

²⁴ Jesus presented another parable to them. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. ²⁵ But while people slept, his enemy came and also sowed weeds among the wheat and then went away. ²⁶ When the blades sprouted and then produced their crop, then the weeds appeared also.

²⁷ The servants of the landowner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How does it now have weeds?'

²⁸ "He said to them, 'An enemy has done this.'

"The servants said to him, 'So do you want us to go and pull them out?'

²⁹ "The landowner said, 'No. Because while you are pulling out the weeds, you might uproot the wheat with them. ³⁰ Let both grow together until the harvest. At the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First pull out the weeds and tie them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'"

³¹ Then Jesus presented another parable to them. He said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field. ³² This seed is indeed the smallest of all seeds. But when it has grown, it is greater than the garden plants. It becomes a tree, so that the birds of the sky come and nest in its branches."

³³ Jesus then told them another parable. "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the dough had risen."

³⁴ All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; and he said nothing to them without a parable. ³⁵ This was in order that what had been said through the prophet might be fulfilled, when he said,

"I will open my mouth in parables.

I will say things that were hidden from the foundation of the world."

³⁶ Then Jesus left the crowds and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field."

³⁷ Jesus answered and said, "He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. ³⁸ The field is the world; and the good seed, these are the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are the sons of the evil one, ³⁹ and the enemy who sowed them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.

⁴⁰ Therefore, as the weeds are gathered up and consumed by fire, so will it be at the end of the age. ⁴¹ The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all stumbling blocks and those who commit lawlessness. ⁴² They will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. ⁴³ Then will the righteous people shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear.

⁴⁴ "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field. A man found it and hid it. In his joy he goes, sells everything he possesses, and buys that field. ⁴⁵ Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is a merchant looking for valuable pearls. ⁴⁶ When he found one very valuable pearl, he went and sold everything that he possessed and bought it.

⁴⁷ "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea, and that gathered all kinds of fish. ⁴⁸ When it was filled, the fishermen drew it up on the beach. Then they sat down and gathered the good ones into containers, but the bad ones they threw away.

⁴⁹ It will be this way at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from among the righteous. ⁵⁰ They will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

⁵¹ "Have you understood all these things?"

The disciples said to him, "Yes."

⁵² Then Jesus said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple to the kingdom of heaven is like a man who is the owner of a house, who draws out old and new things from his treasure." ⁵³ Then it came about that when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from that place.

⁵⁴ Then Jesus entered his own region and taught the people in their synagogue. The result was that they were astonished and said, "Where does this man get his wisdom and these miraculous powers from? ⁵⁵ Is not this man the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? Are not his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶ Are not all his sisters with us? Where did he get all these things?"

⁵⁷ They were offended by him.

But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own family."

⁵⁸ He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.

Chapter 14

¹ About that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus. ² He said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead. Therefore these powers are at work in him."

³ For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. ⁴ For John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her as your wife." ⁵ Herod would have killed him, but he feared the people, because they regarded him as a prophet.

⁶ But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst and pleased Herod. ⁷ In response, he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.

⁸ After being instructed by her mother, she said, "Give me here, on a platter, the head of John the Baptist." ⁹ The king was grieved by her request, but because of his oath and because of all those at dinner with him, he ordered that it should be done.

¹⁰ He sent and beheaded John in the prison. ¹¹ Then his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. ¹² Then his disciples came, took up the corpse, and buried it. After this, they went and told Jesus.

¹³ Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place. When the crowds heard of it, they followed him on foot from the cities. ¹⁴ Then Jesus came before them and saw the large crowd. He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

¹⁵ When the evening had come, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour has already passed. Dismiss the crowds, so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves."

¹⁶ But Jesus said to them, "They have no need to go away. You give them something to eat."

¹⁷ They said to him, "We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish."

¹⁸ Jesus said, "Bring them to me."

¹⁹ Then Jesus ordered the crowd to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish. Looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowd. ²⁰ They all ate and were filled. Then they took up what remained of the broken pieces of food—twelve baskets full. ²¹ Those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

²² Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he sent away the crowds. ²³ After he had sent away the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. ²⁴ But the boat was now a long way from land, being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was blowing against them.

²⁵ In the fourth watch of the night Jesus approached them, walking on the sea. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled and said, "It is a ghost," and they cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus spoke to them right away and said, "Be brave! It is I! Do not be afraid."

²⁸ Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water."

²⁹ Jesus said, "Come."

So Peter got out from the boat and walked on the water to go to Jesus.

³⁰ But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became afraid. As he began to sink, he cried out and said, "Lord, save me!"

³¹ Jesus immediately stretched out his hand, took hold of Peter, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

³² Then when Jesus and Peter went into the boat, the wind ceased blowing. ³³ Then the disciples in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, "Truly you are the Son of God."

³⁴ When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. ³⁵ When the men in that place recognized Jesus, they sent messages everywhere into the surrounding area, and they brought to him everyone who was sick. ³⁶ They begged him that they might just touch the edge of his garment, and as many as touched it were healed.

Chapter 15

¹ Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem. They said, ² "Why do your disciples violate the traditions of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread."

³ He answered and said to them, "Then why do you violate the commandment of God for the sake of your traditions?

⁴ For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and 'He who speaks evil of his father or mother will surely die.' ⁵ But you say, 'Whoever says to his father or mother, "Whatever help you would have received from me is now a gift given to God," ⁶ that person does not need to honor his father.' In this way you have made void the word of God ¹ for the sake of your traditions.

⁷ You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you when he said,

⁸ 'This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me.

⁹ They worship me in vain

because they teach as their doctrines the commandments of people.'"

¹⁰ Then he called the crowd to himself and said to them, "Listen and understand— ¹¹ Nothing that enters into the mouth defiles a person. Instead, what comes out of the mouth, this is what defiles a person."

¹² Then the disciples came and said to Jesus, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?"

¹³ Jesus answered and said, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. ¹⁴ Let them alone; they are blind guides. If a blind person guides another blind person, both will fall into a pit."

¹⁵ Peter responded and said to Jesus, "Explain this parable to us."

¹⁶ Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not understand that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and then goes out into the latrine?

¹⁸ But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart. They are the things that defile a person. ¹⁹ For from the heart proceed evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander. ²⁰ These are the things that defile a person. But to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a person."

²¹ Then Jesus went away from there and withdrew toward the regions of the cities of Tyre and Sidon. ²² Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from that region. She shouted out and said, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed."

²³ But Jesus answered her not a word. His disciples came and begged him, saying, "Send her away, for she is shouting after us."

²⁴ But Jesus answered and said, "I was not sent to anyone except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

²⁵ But she came and bowed down before him, saying, "Lord, help me."

²⁶ He answered and said, "It is not proper to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

²⁷ She said, "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs eat some of the crumbs that fall from their masters' tables."

²⁸ Then Jesus answered and said to her, "Woman, great is your faith; let it be done for you just as you wish." Her daughter was healed from that hour.

²⁹ Jesus left that place and went near to the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up a hill and sat there. ³⁰ Large crowds came to him. They brought with them lame, blind, mute, and crippled people, and many others who were sick. They presented them at Jesus' feet, and he healed them. ³¹ So the crowd marveled when they saw the mute persons speak, the crippled made well, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. They glorified the God of Israel.

³² Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion on the crowd because they have stayed with me for three days already and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away without eating, or they may faint on the way."

³³ The disciples said to him, "Where can we get enough loaves of bread in such a deserted place to satisfy so large a crowd?"

³⁴ Jesus said to them, "How many loaves do you have?"

They said, "Seven, and a few small fish."

³⁵ Then Jesus commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground.

³⁶ He took the seven loaves and the fish, and after giving thanks, he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples. The disciples gave them to the crowd. ³⁷ The people all ate and were satisfied. Then they gathered up seven baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over. ³⁸ Those who ate were four thousand men, besides women and children. ³⁹ Then Jesus sent the crowds away and got into the boat and went into the region of Magadan.

¹The best ancient copies have the word of God ; some other ancient copies have the commandment. It is difficult to choose the better reading.

Chapter 16

¹ The Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested him by asking him to show them a sign from the sky. ² But he answered and said to them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'

³ When it is morning, you say, 'It will be foul weather, for the sky is red and overcast.' You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot interpret the signs of the times. ⁴ An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah." Then Jesus left them and went away.

⁵ When the disciples reached the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. ⁶ Jesus said to them, "Watch out and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

⁷ The disciples reasoned among themselves and said, "It is because we took no bread."

⁸ Jesus was aware of this and said, "You of little faith, why do you reason among yourselves and say that it is because you have taken no bread?

⁹ Do you not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you gathered up? ¹⁰ Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?

¹¹ How is it that you do not understand that I was not speaking to you about bread? Watch out and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees." ¹² Then they understood that he was not telling them to beware of yeast in bread, but to beware of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

¹³ Now when Jesus came to the regions near Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Who do people say that the Son of Man is?"

¹⁴ They said, "Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."

¹⁵ He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

¹⁶ Answering, Simon Peter said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

¹⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸ I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church. The gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

¹⁹ I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." ²⁰ Then Jesus commanded the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

²¹ From that time Jesus started to tell his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer many things at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, be killed, and be raised back to life on the third day.

²² Then Peter took him aside and rebuked him, saying, "May this be far from you, Lord! May this never happen to you!"

²³ But Jesus turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you do not think about the things of God, but about the things of people."

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ For what does it profit a person if he gains the whole world but forfeits his life? What can a person give in exchange for his life?

²⁷ For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels. Then he will reward every person according to his deeds. ²⁸ Truly I say to you, there are some of you standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Chapter 17

¹ Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up a high mountain by themselves. ² He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as brilliant as the light.

³ Behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah talking with him. ⁴ Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you desire, I will make here three shelters—one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

⁵ While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, there was a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."

⁶ When the disciples heard it, they fell facedown and were very afraid. ⁷ Then Jesus came and touched them and said, "Get up and do not be afraid." ⁸ Then they looked up but saw no one except Jesus only.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Report this vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."

¹⁰ His disciples asked him, saying, "Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

¹¹ Jesus answered and said, "Elijah will indeed come and restore all things. ¹² But I tell you, Elijah has already come, but they did not recognize him. Instead, they did whatever they wanted to him. In the same way, the Son of Man will also suffer at their hands." ¹³ Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

¹⁴ When they had come to the crowd, a man came to him, knelt before him, and said, ¹⁵ "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic and suffers severely. For he often falls into the fire or the water. ¹⁶ I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him."

¹⁷ Jesus answered and said, "Unbelieving and perverse generation, how long will I have to stay with you? How long must I bear with you? Bring him here to me." ¹⁸ Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that hour.

¹⁹ Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, "Why could we not cast it out?"

²⁰ Jesus said to them, "Because of your small faith. For I truly say to you, if you have faith even as small as a grain of mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you." ²¹ ¹

²² While they stayed in Galilee, Jesus said to his disciples, "The Son of Man will be given over into the hands of people, ²³ and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up." The disciples were deeply grieved.

²⁴ When they had come to Capernaum, the men who collected the two-drachma tax came to Peter and said, "Does not your teacher pay the two-drachma tax?"

²⁵ He said, "Yes."

When Peter came into the house, Jesus spoke to him first and said, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth collect tolls or taxes? From their sons or from others?"

²⁶ "From others," Peter answered.

"Then the sons are free," Jesus said.

²⁷ "But so that we do not cause the tax collectors to stumble, go to the sea, throw in a hook, and draw in the fish that comes up first. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a shekel. Take it and give it to the tax collectors for me and you."

¹The best ancient copies do not have v. 21, But this kind of demon does not go out except with prayer and fasting .

Chapter 18

¹ At that time the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

² Jesus called to himself a little child, set him among them, ³ and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like little children, you will in no way enter the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. ⁵ Whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name receives me. ⁶ But whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to stumble, it would be better for him that a large millstone should be hung about his neck, and that he should be sunk into the depths of the sea.

⁷ "Woe to the world because of stumbling blocks! For it is necessary that those stumbling blocks come, but woe to the person through whom those stumbling blocks come! ⁸ If your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life maimed or lame than to be thrown into the eternal fire having two hands or two feet.

⁹ If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye than to be thrown into the fiery hell having both eyes.

¹⁰ See that you do not despise any of these little ones. For I say to you that in heaven their angels always look on the face of my Father who is in heaven. ¹¹ ¹

¹² What do you think? If anyone has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the hillside and go off seeking the one that went astray? ¹³ If he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. ¹⁴ In the same way, it is not the will of your Father in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

¹⁵ "If your brother sins against you, go and rebuke him, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you will have gained your brother. ¹⁶ But if he does not listen to you, take one or two others along with you so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word might be confirmed.

¹⁷ And if he refuses to listen to them, tell the matter to the church. If he also refuses to listen to the church, let him be to you as a pagan and a tax collector.

¹⁸ I tell you truly, whatever things you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹ Again I tell you truly, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father who is in heaven. ²⁰ For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in their midst."

²¹ Then Peter came and said to Jesus, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Until seven times?"

²² Jesus said to him, "I do not tell you seven times, but until seventy times seven.

²³ Therefore the kingdom of heaven is similar to a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴ As he began the settling, one servant was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵ But since he did not have the means to repay, his master commanded him to be sold, together with his wife and children and everything that he had, and payment to be made.

²⁶ So the servant fell down, bowed down before him, and said, 'Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.' ²⁷ So the master of that servant, since he was moved with compassion, released him and forgave him the debt.

²⁸ But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants, who owed him one hundred denarii. He took hold of him, began to choke him, and said, 'Pay me what you owe.'

²⁹ "But his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, saying, 'Have patience with me, and I will repay you.'

³⁰ But the first servant refused. Instead, he went and threw him into prison until he should pay him what he owed. ³¹ When his fellow servants saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved. They came and told their master everything that had happened.

³² "Then that servant's master called him and said to him, 'You wicked servant, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³ Should you not have had mercy on your fellow servant, even as I had mercy on you?'

³⁴ His master was angry and handed him over to the torturers until he would pay all that was owed. ³⁵ So also my heavenly Father will do to you if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

¹The best ancient Greek copies do not have the sentence that some translations include, For the Son of Man came to save that which was lost .

Chapter 19

¹ It came about that when Jesus had finished these words, he departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea that is beyond the Jordan River. ² Great crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

³ Pharisees came to him, testing him, saying to him, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any cause?"

⁴ Jesus answered and said, "Have you not read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female?

⁵ He who made them also said, 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and join to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' ⁶ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one tear apart."

⁷ They said to him, "Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of divorce and then to send her away?"

⁸ He said to them, "For your hardness of heart, Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not that way. ⁹ I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery." ¹

¹⁰ The disciples said to Jesus, "If that is the case of a man with his wife, it is not good to marry."

¹¹ But Jesus said to them, "Not everyone can accept this saying, but only those to whom it is given. ¹² For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother's womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to accept this teaching, let him accept it."

¹³ Then some little children were brought to him so that he would lay his hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But Jesus said, "Permit the little children, and do not forbid them to come to me, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such ones." ¹⁵ He placed his hands on the children, and then he went away from there.

¹⁶ Behold, a man came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, what good thing must I do that I may have eternal life?"

¹⁷ Jesus said to him, "Why do you ask me about what is good? Only one is good, but if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments."

¹⁸ The man said to him, "Which commandments?"

Jesus said, "Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness,

¹⁹ honor your father and your mother, and love your neighbor as yourself."

²⁰ The young man said to him, "All these things I have obeyed. What do I still need?"

²¹ Jesus said to him, "If you wish to be perfect, go, sell your possessions, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." ²² But when the young man heard what Jesus said, he went away sorrowful, for he had many possessions.

²³ Jesus said to his disciples, "Truly I say to you, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God."

²⁵ When the disciples heard it, they were very astonished and said, "Who then can be saved?"

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, "With people this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

²⁷ Then Peter answered and said to him, "See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?"

²⁸ Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, in the new age when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit upon twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

²⁹ Every one who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children, or land for my name's sake will receive one hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

¹The best ancient copies do not have and the man who marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery .

Chapter 20

¹ "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ² After he had agreed with the laborers for one denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.

³ He went out again about the third hour and saw other laborers standing idle in the marketplace. ⁴ To them he said, 'You also, go into the vineyard, and I will give you what is right.' So they went to work.

⁵ Again he went out about the sixth hour and again the ninth hour, and did the same. ⁶ Once more about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, 'Why do you stand here idle all the day long?'

⁷ "They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.'

"He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.'

⁸ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.'

⁹ "When the laborers who had been hired at the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. ¹⁰ When the first laborers came, they thought that they would receive more, but they also received one denarius each.

¹¹ When they received their wages, they complained about the landowner. ¹² They said, 'These last laborers have spent only one hour in work, but you have made them equal to us, we who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.'

¹³ "But the owner answered and said to one of them, 'Friend, I do you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for one denarius? ¹⁴ Take what belongs to you and go your way. I choose to give to these last hired laborers just the same as to you.

¹⁵ Is it not lawful for me to do as I want with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am good?' ¹⁶ So the last will be first, and the first last." ¹

¹⁷ As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, ¹⁸ "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be given over to the chief priests and scribes. They will condemn him to death ¹⁹ and will deliver him to the Gentiles for them to mock, to flog, and to crucify him. But on the third day he will be raised up."

²⁰ Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus with her sons. She bowed down before him and asked for something from him.

²¹ Jesus said to her, "What do you wish?"

She said to him, "Command that these my two sons may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left hand, in your kingdom."

²² But Jesus answered and said, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink?"

They said to him, "We are able."

²³ He said to them, "My cup you will indeed drink. But to sit at my right hand and at my left hand is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." ²⁴ When the other ten disciples heard this, they were very angry with the two brothers.

²⁵ But Jesus called them to himself and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their important men exercise authority over them. ²⁶ But it must not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your servant, ²⁸ just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

²⁹ As they went out from Jericho, a great crowd followed him. ³⁰ There were two blind men sitting by the road. When they heard that Jesus was passing by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us." ³¹ The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be quiet, but they cried out even more loudly, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us."

³² Then Jesus stood still and called to them and said, "What do you wish me to do for you?"

³³ They said to him, "Lord, that our eyes may be opened." ³⁴ Then Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.

¹The best ancient copies do not have Many are called, but few are chosen .

Chapter 21

¹ As Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, ² saying to them, "Go into the next village, and you will immediately find a donkey tied up there, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. ³ If anyone says anything to you about that, you will say, 'The Lord has need of them,' and that person will immediately send them with you."

⁴ Now all this happened to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet, saying,

⁵ "Tell the daughter of Zion,

'See, your King is coming to you,

Humble and riding on a donkey—

on a colt, the foal of a donkey.'"

⁶ Then the disciples went and did just as Jesus had instructed them. ⁷ They brought the donkey and the colt and put their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat upon the cloaks. ⁸ Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches off the trees and spread them in the road.

⁹ Then the crowds that went before Jesus and those that followed him were shouting,

"Hosanna to the son of David!

Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!

Hosanna in the highest!"

¹⁰ When Jesus had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred and said, "Who is this?"

¹¹ The crowds answered, "This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

¹² Then Jesus entered the temple. He cast out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and turned over the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. ¹³ He said to them, "It is written, 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers."

¹⁴ Then the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.

¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the marvelous things that he did, and when they heard the children shouting in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they became very angry.

¹⁶ They said to him, "Do you hear what they are saying?"

Jesus said to them, "Yes! But have you never read,

'Out of the mouths of little children and nursing infants

you have prepared praise'?"

¹⁷ Then Jesus left them and went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.

¹⁸ Now in the morning as he returned to the city, he was hungry. ¹⁹ Seeing a fig tree along the roadside, he went to it and found nothing on it except leaves. He said to it, "May there be no fruit from you ever again," and immediately the fig tree withered.

²⁰ When the disciples saw it, they marveled and said, "How did the fig tree immediately wither away?"

²¹ Jesus answered and said to them, "Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to this fig tree, but you will even say to this mountain, 'Be taken up and thrown into the sea,' and it will be done. ²² Whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive."

²³ When Jesus had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching and said, "By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you this authority?"

²⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question. If you tell me, I will tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁵ The baptism of John—from where did it come? From heaven or from men?"

They discussed among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

²⁶ But if we say, 'From men,' we fear the crowd, because they all view John as a prophet." ²⁷ Then they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know."

He also said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

²⁸ But what do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go labor today in the vineyard.'

²⁹ "The son answered and said, 'I will not,' but afterward he changed his mind and went.

³⁰ "Then the man went to the second son and said the same thing. He answered and said, 'I will go, sir,' but he did not go.

³¹ Which of the two sons did his father's will?"

They said, "The first one."

Jesus said to them, "Truly I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God before you do.

³² For John came to you in the way of righteousness, but you did not believe him. But the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. But you, even when you saw this, you did not repent afterward and believe him.

³³ "Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner. He planted a vineyard, set a hedge about it, dug a winepress in it, built a watchtower, and rented it out to vine growers. Then he went into another country. ³⁴ When the time of the fruit harvest approached, he sent some servants to the vine growers to collect his fruit.

³⁵ But the vine growers took his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned still another. ³⁶ Again, the owner sent other servants, more than the first, but the vine growers treated them in the same way. ³⁷ After that, the owner sent his own son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'

³⁸ "But when the vine growers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take over the inheritance.' ³⁹ So they took him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.

⁴⁰ Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine growers?"

⁴¹ They said to him, "He will violently destroy those wicked people, and he will then rent out the vineyard to other vine growers, men who will give him his share of crops at the harvest time."

⁴² Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the scriptures,

'The stone which the builders rejected

has been made the cornerstone.

This was from the Lord,

and it is marvelous in our eyes'?

⁴³ Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and will be given to a nation that produces its fruits. ⁴⁴ Whoever falls on this stone will be broken to pieces. But anyone on whom it falls will be crushed."

⁴⁵ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they understood he was speaking about them. ⁴⁶ Seeking to arrest him, they were afraid of the crowd, because the people regarded him as a prophet.

Chapter 22

¹ Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, ² "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who prepared a marriage feast for his son. ³ He sent out his servants to call those who had been invited to come to the marriage feast, but they would not come.

⁴ Again the king sent other servants, saying, 'Tell them who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and all things are ready. Come to the marriage feast."'

⁵ But they paid no attention and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. ⁶ The others seized the king's servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. ⁷ The king was angry, and he sent his soldiers and they destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

⁸ Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. ⁹ Therefore go to the highway crossings and invite as many people to the marriage feast as you can find.' ¹⁰ The servants went out to the highways and gathered together all the people they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

¹¹ But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ¹² The king said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' But the man was speechless.

¹³ Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind this man hand and foot, and throw him out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and the grinding of teeth.' ¹⁴ For many people are called, but few are chosen."

¹⁵ Then the Pharisees went and planned how they might entrap Jesus in his own talk. ¹⁶ Then they sent to him their disciples, together with the Herodians. They said to Jesus, "Teacher, we know that you are truthful, and that you teach God's way in truth. You care for no one's opinion, and you do not show partiality between people. ¹⁷ So tell us, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

¹⁸ But Jesus understood their wickedness and said, "Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? ¹⁹ Show me the coin for the tax." Then they brought a denarius to him.

²⁰ Jesus said to them, "Whose image and name are these?"

²¹ They said to him, "Caesar's."

Then Jesus said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's."

²² When they heard it, they marveled. Then they left him and went away.

²³ On that day some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, ²⁴ saying, "Teacher, Moses said, 'If a man dies, having no children, his brother must marry his wife and raise children for his brother.'

²⁵ There were seven brothers. The first married and then died. Having left no children, he left his wife to his brother. ²⁶ Then the second brother did the same thing, then the third, all the way to the seventh brother. ²⁷ After them all, the woman died. ²⁸ Now in the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven brothers? For they all had married her."

²⁹ But Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken because you do not know the scriptures or the power of God. ³⁰ For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage. Instead, they are like angels in heaven.

³¹ But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was spoken to you by God, saying, ³² 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living." ³³ When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.

³⁴ But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. ³⁵ One of them, an expert in the law, asked him a question, testing him— ³⁶ "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the law?"

³⁷ Jesus said to him, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment.

³⁹ And a second commandment is like it—'Love your neighbor as yourself.' ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend the whole law and the prophets."

⁴¹ Now while the Pharisees were still gathered together, Jesus asked them a question. ⁴² He said, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?"

They said to him, "The son of David."

⁴³ Jesus said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call him Lord, saying,

⁴⁴ 'The Lord said to my Lord,

"Sit at my right hand,

until I make your enemies your footstool"'?

⁴⁵ If David then calls the Christ 'Lord,' how is he David's son?" ⁴⁶ No one was able to answer him a word, and no man dared ask him any more questions from that day on.

Chapter 23

¹ Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples. ² He said, "The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. ³ Therefore whatever they command you to do, do these things and observe them. But do not imitate their deeds, for they say things but then do not do them.

⁴ Yes, they bind heavy burdens that are difficult to carry, and then they put them on people's shoulders. But they themselves will not move a finger to carry them. ⁵ They do all their deeds to be seen by people. For they make their phylacteries wide, and they enlarge the edges of their garments.

⁶ They love the places of honor at feasts and the chief seats in the synagogues, ⁷ and special greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi' by people.

⁸ But you must not be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are brothers. ⁹ And call no man on earth your father, for you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰ Neither must you be called 'teacher,' for you have only one teacher, the Christ.

¹¹ But he who is greatest among you will be your servant. ¹² Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

¹³ "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven against people. For you do not enter it yourselves, and neither do you allow those about to enter to do so. ¹⁴ ¹ ¹⁵ Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you go over sea and land to make one convert, and when he has become one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you.

¹⁶ "Woe to you, you blind guides, you who say, 'Whoever swears by the temple, it is nothing. But whoever swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound to his oath.' ¹⁷ You blind fools! Which is greater, the gold or the temple that makes the gold holy?

¹⁸ And, 'Whoever swears by the altar, it is nothing. But whoever swears by the gift that is on it, he is bound to his oath.' ¹⁹ You blind people! Which is greater, the gift or the altar that makes the gift holy?

²⁰ Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. ²¹ The one who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who lives in it. ²² And the one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by him who sits on it.

²³ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, but you have left undone the weightier matters of the law—justice and mercy and faithfulness. But these you ought to have done and not to have left the other undone. ²⁴ You blind guides, you who strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!

²⁵ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of robbery and self-indulgence. ²⁶ You blind Pharisee! Clean first the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may become clean also.

²⁷ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside look beautiful, but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. ²⁸ In the same way, you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

²⁹ "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the tombs of the righteous. ³⁰ You say, 'If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' ³¹ Therefore you testify against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.

³² You also fill up the measure of your fathers. ³³ You serpents, you offspring of vipers, how will you escape the judgment of hell?

³⁴ Therefore, see, I am sending you prophets and wise men and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify, and some you will whip in your synagogues and chase from city to city. ³⁵ The result is that upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel, to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. ³⁶ Truly I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation.

³⁷ "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often did I long to gather your children together, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! ³⁸ See, your house is left to you desolate. ³⁹ For I say to you, you will not see me from now on until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

¹The best ancient copies do not have verse 14 (some copies add the verse after verse 12). Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you devour widows' houses, while you make a show of long prayers. You will therefore receive greater condemnation .

Chapter 24

¹ Jesus went out from the temple and was going on his way. His disciples came to him to point out to him the buildings of the temple. ² But he answered and said to them, "Do you not see all these things? Truly I say to you, not one stone will be left on another that will not be torn down."

³ As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, "Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"

⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. ⁵ For many will come in my name. They will say, 'I am the Christ,' and will lead many astray.

⁶ You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for these things must happen; but the end is not yet. ⁷ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. ⁸ But all these things are only the beginning of birth pains.

⁹ Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you. You will be hated by all the nations for my name's sake. ¹⁰ Then many will stumble, and betray one another and hate one another. ¹¹ Many false prophets will rise up and lead many astray.

¹² Because lawlessness will increase, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ This good news of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations. Then the end will come.

¹⁵ "Therefore, when you see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (let the reader understand), ¹⁶ "let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, ¹⁷ let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house, ¹⁸ and let him who is in the field not return to take his cloak.

¹⁹ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! ²⁰ Pray that your flight will not occur in the winter or on a Sabbath. ²¹ For there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, nor ever will be again. ²² Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.

²³ Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'There is the Christ!' do not believe it. ²⁴ For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. ²⁵ See, I have told you ahead of time.

²⁶ Therefore, if they say to you, 'Look, he is in the wilderness,' do not go out to the wilderness. Or, 'See, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe it. ²⁷ For as the lightning shines out from the east and flashes all the way to the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ²⁸ Wherever a dead animal is, there the vultures will gather.

²⁹ "But immediately after the tribulation of those days

the sun will be darkened,

the moon will not give its light,

the stars will fall from the sky,

and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

³⁰ Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. ³¹ He will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

³² "Learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as the branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³ So also, when you see all these things, you should know that he is near, at the very gates.

³⁴ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all of these things will have happened. ³⁵ Heaven and the earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

³⁶ But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

³⁷ As the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered the ark, ³⁹ and they knew nothing until the flood came and took them all away—so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

⁴⁰ Then two men will be in a field—one will be taken, and one will be left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a mill—one will be taken, and one will be left. ⁴² Therefore be on your guard, for you do not know on what day your Lord will come.

⁴³ But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what time of night the thief was coming, he would have been on guard and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. ⁴⁴ Therefore you must also be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour that you do not expect.

⁴⁵ "So who is the faithful and wise servant whom his master has set over his household in order to give them their food at the right time? ⁴⁶ Blessed is that servant whom his master will find doing that when he comes. ⁴⁷ Truly I say to you that the master will set him over all his possessions.

⁴⁸ But if an evil servant says in his heart, 'My master has been delayed,' ⁴⁹ and begins to beat his fellow servants, and eats and drinks with drunkards, ⁵⁰ then the master of that servant will come on a day that the servant does not expect and at an hour that he does not know. ⁵¹ His master will cut him in pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.

Chapter 25

¹ "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ² Five of them were foolish and five were wise. ³ For when the foolish virgins took their lamps, they did not take any oil with them. ⁴ But the wise virgins took containers of oil along with their lamps.

⁵ Now while the bridegroom was delayed, they all got sleepy and slept. ⁶ But at midnight there was a cry, 'Look, the bridegroom! Go out and meet him.'

⁷ Then all those virgins rose up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸ The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil because our lamps are going out.'

⁹ "But the wise answered and said, 'Since there will not be enough for us and you, go instead to those who sell and buy some for yourselves.'

¹⁰ While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut.

¹¹ "Afterward the other virgins also came and said, 'Master, master, open for us.'

¹² "But he answered and said, 'Truly I say to you, I do not know you.' ¹³ Watch therefore, for you do not know the day or the hour.

¹⁴ "For it is like when a man was about to go into another country. He called his own servants and entrusted his possessions to them. ¹⁵ To one of them he gave five talents, to another he gave two, and to yet another he gave one talent. Each one received an amount according to his own ability, and that man went on his journey. ¹⁶ The one who received the five talents went at once and worked with them and gained another five talents.

¹⁷ In the same way, the one who had received two talents gained another two. ¹⁸ But the servant who had received one talent went away, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money.

¹⁹ Now after a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The servant who had received the five talents came and brought another five talents. He said, 'Master, you entrusted me with five talents. See, I have gained five talents more.'

²¹ "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things. I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.'

²² "The servant who had received two talents came and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have gained two more talents.'

²³ "His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful over a few things. I will put you in charge over many things. Enter into the joy of your master.'

²⁴ "Then the servant who had received one talent came and said, 'Master, I know that you are a hard man. You reap where you did not sow, and you harvest where you did not scatter. ²⁵ I was afraid, so I went away and hid your talent in the ground. See, you have here what belongs to you.'

²⁶ "But his master answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sowed and harvest where I have not scattered. ²⁷ Therefore you should have given my money to the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

²⁸ Therefore take away the talent from him and give it to the servant who has ten talents. ²⁹ For to everyone who possesses more will be given, and he will have an abundance. But from anyone who does not possess anything, even what he does have will be taken away. ³⁰ Throw the worthless servant out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.'

³¹ "When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will place the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left.

³⁴ Then the King will say to those on his right hand, 'Come, you who have been blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you cared for me; I was in prison and you came to me.'

³⁷ "Then the righteous will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you a drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and take you in? Or naked and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and come to you?'

⁴⁰ "Then the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, what you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.'

⁴¹ Then he will say to those on his left hand, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels, ⁴² because I was hungry, but you did not give me food; I was thirsty, but you did not give me a drink; ⁴³ I was a stranger, but you did not take me in; naked, but you did not clothe me; sick and in prison, but you did not care for me.'

⁴⁴ "Then they will also answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not serve you?'

⁴⁵ "Then he will answer them and say, 'Truly I say to you, what you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.' ⁴⁶ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."

Chapter 26

¹ It came about that when Jesus had finished all these words, he said to his disciples, ² "You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be given over to be crucified."

³ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the palace of the high priest, who was named Caiaphas. ⁴ They plotted together to arrest Jesus stealthily and kill him. ⁵ For they were saying, "Not during the festival, so that a riot does not arise among the people."

⁶ Now while Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, ⁷ as he was reclining at table, a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive ointment, and she poured it upon his head. ⁸ But when his disciples saw it, they became angry and said, "What is the reason for this waste? ⁹ This could have been sold for a large amount and given to the poor."

¹⁰ But Jesus, knowing this, said to them, "Why are you causing trouble for this woman? For she has done a beautiful thing for me. ¹¹ You always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me.

¹² For when she poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. ¹³ Truly I say to you, wherever this good news is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be spoken of in memory of her."

¹⁴ Then one of the twelve, who was named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests ¹⁵ and said, "What are you willing to give me to turn him over to you?" They weighed out thirty pieces of silver for him. ¹⁶ From that moment he sought an opportunity to turn him over to them.

¹⁷ Now on the first day of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus and said, "Where do you want us to prepare for you to eat the Passover meal?"

¹⁸ He said, "Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, 'The Teacher says, "My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples."'" ¹⁹ The disciples did as Jesus directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

²⁰ When evening came, he sat down to eat with the twelve disciples. ²¹ As they were eating, he said, "Truly I say to you that one of you will betray me."

²² They were very sorrowful, and each one began to ask him, "Surely not I, Lord?"

²³ He answered, "The one who dips his hand with me in the dish is the one who will betray me. ²⁴ The Son of Man will go, just as it is written about him. But woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would be better for that man if he had not been born."

²⁵ Judas, who would betray him said, "Is it I, Rabbi?"

He said to him, "You have said it yourself."

²⁶ As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, and broke it. He gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat. This is my body."

²⁷ He took a cup and gave thanks, and gave it to them and said, "Drink it, all of you. ²⁸ For this is my blood of the covenant that is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ But I say to you, I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom."

³⁰ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ³¹ Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will fall away tonight because of me, for it is written,

'I will strike the shepherd

and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'

³² But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

³³ But Peter said to him, "Even if all fall away because of you, I will never fall away."

³⁴ Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."

³⁵ Peter said to him, "Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you." All the other disciples said the same thing.

³⁶ Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane and said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." ³⁷ He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee with him and began to become sorrowful and troubled. ³⁸ Then he said to them, "My soul is deeply sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch with me."

³⁹ He went a little farther, fell on his face, and prayed. He said, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet, not as I will, but as you will." ⁴⁰ He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "What, could you not watch with me for one hour? ⁴¹ Watch and pray that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

⁴² He went away a second time and prayed. He said, "My Father, if this cannot pass away unless I drink it, your will be done." ⁴³ He came again and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. ⁴⁴ So leaving them again, he went away and prayed a third time, saying the same words.

⁴⁵ Then Jesus came to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Look, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Arise, let us go. Look, the one who is betraying me is near."

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came. A large crowd came with him from the chief priests and elders of the people. They came with swords and clubs. ⁴⁸ Now the man who was going to betray Jesus had given them a signal, saying, "The one I kiss is the man. Seize him."

⁴⁹ Immediately he came up to Jesus and said, "Greetings, Rabbi!" and he kissed him.

⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, "Friend, do what you have come to do." Then they came, laid hands on Jesus, and seized him.

⁵¹ Behold, one of those who was with Jesus stretched out his hand, drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. ⁵² Then Jesus said to him, "Put your sword back in its place, for all those who take up the sword will perish by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think that I could not call upon my Father, and he would send me more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, that this must happen?"

⁵⁵ At that time Jesus said to the crowd, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to seize me like a robber? Every day I sat teaching in the temple, and you did not arrest me. ⁵⁶ But all this has happened so that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples abandoned him and fled.

⁵⁷ Those who had seized Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had gathered together. ⁵⁸ But Peter followed him from a distance to the courtyard of the high priest. He went inside and sat down with the officers to see the outcome.

⁵⁹ Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death. ⁶⁰ They did not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. But later two came forward ⁶¹ and said, "This man said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.'"

⁶² The high priest stood up and said to him, "Do you have no answer? What is it that they are testifying against you?" ⁶³ But Jesus was silent. The high priest said to him, "I command you by the living God, tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God."

⁶⁴ Jesus replied to him, "You have said it yourself. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven."

⁶⁵ Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, "He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we still need witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. ⁶⁶ What do you think?"

They answered and said, "He is deserving of death."

⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and beat him with their fists, while some slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, "Prophesy to us, you Christ. Who is it that struck you?"

⁶⁹ Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him and said, "You were also with Jesus of Galilee."

⁷⁰ But he denied it in front of them all, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about."

⁷¹ When he went out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to those there, "This man was also with Jesus of Nazareth."

⁷² He again denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!"

⁷³ After a little while those who were standing by came and said to Peter, "Surely you are also one of them, for the way you speak gives you away."

⁷⁴ Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know the man," and immediately a rooster crowed.

⁷⁵ Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said, "Before the rooster crows you will deny me three times." Then he went outside and wept bitterly.

Chapter 27

¹ Now when morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put him to death. ² They bound him, led him away, and delivered him to Pilate the governor.

³ Then when Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus had been condemned, he repented and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, ⁴ and said, "I have sinned by betraying innocent blood."

But they said, "What is that to us? See to that yourself."

⁵ Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went out and hanged himself.

⁶ The chief priests took the pieces of silver and said, "It is not lawful to put this into the treasury because it is the price of blood." ⁷ They discussed the matter together, and they bought with the money the potter's field in which to bury strangers. ⁸ For this reason that field has been called, "The Field of Blood" to this day.

⁹ Then that which had been spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled, saying, "They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the sons of Israel, ¹⁰ and they gave it for the potter's field, as the Lord had directed me."

¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

Jesus answered him, "You say so."

¹² But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. ¹³ Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they accuse you of?" ¹⁴ But he did not answer even one word, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

¹⁵ Now at the festival it was the custom of the governor to set free one prisoner chosen by the crowd. ¹⁶ At that time they had a notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas. ¹

¹⁷ So when they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Who do you want me to set free for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" ¹⁸ He knew that they had handed Jesus over to him because of envy.

¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him and said, "Have nothing to do with that innocent man. For I have suffered much today because of a dream I had about him."

²⁰ Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. ²¹ The governor asked them, "Which of the two do you want me to set free for you?"

They said, "Barabbas."

²² Pilate said to them, "What should I do with Jesus who is called Christ?"

They all answered, "Crucify him."

²³ Then he said, "Why, what evil has he done?"

But they cried out even louder, "Crucify him."

²⁴ So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but instead a riot was starting, he took water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, "I am innocent of the blood of this man. You see to it."

²⁵ All the people said, "May his blood be on us and our children." ²⁶ Then he set Barabbas free for them, but he scourged Jesus and handed him over to be crucified.

²⁷ Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the government headquarters and they gathered the whole company of soldiers. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. ²⁹ They made a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and placed a staff in his right hand. They knelt down before him and mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

³⁰ They spat on him, and they took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. ³¹ When they had mocked him, they took the robe off him and put his own garments on him, and led him away to crucify him.

³² As they came out, they found a man from Cyrene named Simon, whom they forced to go with them so that he might carry his cross. ³³ They came to a place called Golgotha, which means "The Place of a Skull." ³⁴ They gave him wine to drink mixed with gall. But when he tasted it, he would not drink.

³⁵ When they had crucified him, they divided up his garments by casting lots, ³⁶ and they sat and kept guard over him. ³⁷ Above his head they put the charge against him, which read, "This is Jesus, the king of the Jews."

³⁸ Two robbers were crucified with him, one on the right of him and one on the left. ³⁹ Those who passed by insulted him, shaking their heads ⁴⁰ and saying, "You who were going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!"

⁴¹ In the same way the chief priests were mocking him, along with the scribes and elders, and said, ⁴² "He saved others, but he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel. Let him come down off the cross, and then we will believe in him.

⁴³ He trusts in God, let God rescue him now, if God consents to release him. For he even said, 'I am the Son of God.'" ⁴⁴ In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also insulted him.

⁴⁵ Now from the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. ⁴⁶ About the ninth hour, Jesus cried with a loud voice and said, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?"

⁴⁷ When some of those who were standing there heard it, they said, "He is calling for Elijah."

⁴⁸ Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed staff, and gave it to him to drink. ⁴⁹ The rest of them said, "Leave him alone. Let us see whether Elijah comes to save him." ⁵⁰ Then Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.

⁵¹ Behold, the curtain of the temple was split in two from the top to the bottom, and the earth shook, and the rocks split apart. ⁵² The tombs were opened, and the bodies of the holy people who had fallen asleep were raised. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.

⁵⁴ Now when the centurion and those who were watching Jesus saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they became very afraid and said, "Truly this was the Son of God." ⁵⁵ Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee to attend to his needs were there watching from a distance. ⁵⁶ Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

⁵⁷ When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ He approached Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.

⁵⁹ Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and laid it in his own new tomb that he had cut into the rock. Then he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb and went away. ⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

⁶² The next day, which was the day after the Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together with Pilate. ⁶³ They said, "Sir, we remember that when that deceiver was alive, he said, 'After three days will I rise again.' ⁶⁴ Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, otherwise his disciples may come and steal him and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first."

⁶⁵ Pilate said to them, "Take a guard. Go and make it as secure as you know how." ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and placing the guard.

¹Many ancient copies do not have Jesus .

Chapter 28

¹ Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. ² Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, came and rolled away the stone, and sat on it.

³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. ⁴ The guards shook with fear and became like dead men.

⁵ The angel addressed the women and said to them, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. ⁶ He is not here, but is risen, just as he said. Come see the place where the Lord was lying. ⁷ Go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has risen from the dead. See, he is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him.' See, I have told you."

⁸ The women quickly left the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" The women came, took hold of his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee. There they will see me."

¹¹ Now while the women were going, behold, some of the guards went into the city and told the chief priests all the things that had happened. ¹² When the priests had met with the elders and discussed the matter with them, they gave a large amount of money to the soldiers ¹³ and told them, "Say to others, 'The disciples of Jesus came by night and stole his body while we were sleeping.'

¹⁴ If this report reaches the governor, we will persuade him and take any worries away from you." ¹⁵ So the soldiers took the money and did as they had been instructed. This report spread widely among the Jews and continues even today.

¹⁶ But the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted.

¹⁸ Jesus came to them and spoke to them and said, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations. Baptize them into the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

²⁰ Teach them to obey all the things that I have commanded you. See, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Mark

Chapter 1

¹ This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

² As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

"Look, I am sending my messenger before your face,

the one who will prepare your way.

³ The voice of one crying out in the wilderness,

'Make ready the way of the Lord;

make his paths straight.'"

⁴ John came, baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵ The whole country of Judea and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. They were baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. ⁶ John wore a coat of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

⁷ He was preaching, saying, "One will come after me who is more powerful than I; the strap of his sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸ I baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

⁹ It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and he was baptized by John in the Jordan River. ¹⁰ As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens split open and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. ¹¹ A voice came out of the heavens: "You are my beloved Son. I am very pleased with you."

¹² Then the Spirit compelled him to go out into the wilderness. ¹³ He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels served him.

¹⁴ Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God. ¹⁵ He said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel."

¹⁶ When he was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷ Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." ¹⁸ Then immediately they left the nets and followed him.

¹⁹ As Jesus was walking on a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and John his brother; they were in the boat mending the nets. ²⁰ He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and they followed him.

²¹ Then they came into Capernaum, and on the Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and taught. ²² They were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as someone who has authority and not as the scribes.

²³ Just then a man in their synagogue who had an unclean spirit cried out, ²⁴ saying, "What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the Holy One of God!"

²⁵ Jesus rebuked the demon and said, "Be quiet and come out of him!" ²⁶ The unclean spirit threw him into convulsions and went out from him while crying out with a loud voice.

²⁷ All the people were amazed, so they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him!" ²⁸ The news about him went out everywhere into the whole region of Galilee.

²⁹ After coming out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, along with James and John. ³⁰ Now Simon's mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. ³¹ So he came, took her by the hand, and raised her up; the fever left her, and she started serving them.

³² That evening after the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed by demons. ³³ The whole city gathered together at the door. ³⁴ He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons, but he did not allow the demons to speak because they knew him.

³⁵ He got up very early, while it was still dark; he left and went out into a solitary place and there he prayed. ³⁶ Simon and those who were with him searched for him. ³⁷ They found him and they said to him, "Everyone is looking for you."

³⁸ He said, "Let us go elsewhere, out into the surrounding towns, so that I may preach there also. That is why I came out here." ³⁹ He went throughout all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

⁴⁰ A leper came to him. He was begging him; he knelt down and said to him, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

⁴¹ Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him, saying to him, "I am willing. Be clean." ⁴² Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

⁴³ Jesus strictly warned him and sent him away. ⁴⁴ He said to him, "Be sure to say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

⁴⁵ But he went out and began to declare it freely and spread the word, so much so that Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but he stayed out in remote places. Yet people were still coming to him from everywhere.

Chapter 2

¹ When Jesus came back to Capernaum after a few days, it was heard that he was at home. ² So many gathered there that there was no more space, not even at the door, and he spoke the word to them.

³ Then some men came to him who were bringing a paralyzed man; four people were carrying him. ⁴ When they could not get near him because of the crowd, they removed the roof that was above Jesus, and after they made an opening, they lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on.

⁵ Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

⁶ Now some of the scribes were sitting there, and they reasoned in their hearts, ⁷ "How can this man speak this way? He blasphemes! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit what they were thinking within themselves. He said to them, "Why are you thinking this in your hearts? ⁹ Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Get up, take up your mat and walk'?

¹⁰ But in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," he said to the paralytic, ¹¹ "I say to you, get up, take up your mat, and go to your house."

¹² He got up and immediately took up the mat, and went out of the house in front of everyone, so that they were all amazed and they gave glory to God, and they said, "We never saw anything like this."

¹³ He went out again by the lake, and all the crowd came to him, and he taught them. ¹⁴ As he passed by, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's tent and he said to him, "Follow me." He got up and followed him.

¹⁵ Jesus was having a meal in Levi's house and many tax collectors and sinners were dining with him and his disciples, for there were many and they followed him. ¹⁶ When the scribes, who were Pharisees, saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"

¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he said to them, "People who are strong in body do not need a physician; only people who are sick need one. I did not come to call righteous people, but sinners."

¹⁸ Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and said to him, "Why do John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?"

¹⁹ Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding attendants fast while the bridegroom is still with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.

²⁰ But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and in those days, they will fast. ²¹ No one sews a piece of new cloth on an old garment. Otherwise the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and there is a worse tear.

²² No one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the wine will burst the skins and both the wine and the wineskins are lost. Instead, new wine is put into fresh wineskins."

²³ On the Sabbath day Jesus went through some grainfields, and his disciples began picking heads of grain as they made their way. ²⁴ The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing something that is not lawful on the Sabbath day?"

²⁵ He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry—he and the men who were with him— ²⁶ how he went into the house of God when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the presence, which is unlawful for anyone to eat except the priests, and he even gave some to those who were with him?"

²⁷ Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for mankind, not mankind for the Sabbath. ²⁸ Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath."

Chapter 3

¹ Again Jesus walked into the synagogue, and there was a man with a withered hand. ² Some people watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath so that they could accuse him.

³ Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, "Get up and stand here in the middle of everyone." ⁴ Then he said to the people, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath day or to do harm; to save a life or to kill?" But they were silent.

⁵ He looked around at them with anger, and he was grieved by their hardness of heart, and he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ⁶ The Pharisees went out and immediately began to plot with the Herodians as to how they might put him to death.

⁷ Then Jesus, with his disciples, went to the sea, and a great crowd of people followed from Galilee and from Judea ⁸ and from Jerusalem and from Idumea and beyond the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. When they heard about the things he was doing, a great crowd came to him.

⁹ He told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not press against him. ¹⁰ For he healed many, so that everyone who had afflictions eagerly approached him in order to touch him.

¹¹ Whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, and they said, "You are the Son of God." ¹² He strictly ordered them not to make him known.

¹³ He went up on the mountain, and he called for those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed the twelve (whom he named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them to proclaim the message, ¹⁵ and to have authority to cast out demons. ¹⁶ He appointed the twelve: Simon, to whom he gave the name Peter;

¹⁷ James son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James, to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, "Sons of Thunder"; ¹⁸ and Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who would betray him.

²⁰ Then he went home, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat bread. ²¹ When his family heard about it, they went out to seize him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

²² The scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul" and "By the ruler of the demons he drives out demons."

²³ Jesus called them to himself and said to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.

²⁶ If Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he is not able to stand, but has come to an end. ²⁷ But no one can enter into the house of a strong man and steal his belongings without tying up the strong man first, and then he will plunder his house.

²⁸ Truly I say to you, all sins of the sons of men will be forgiven, even all the blasphemies which they utter, ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin."

³⁰ Jesus said this because they were saying, "He has an unclean spirit."

³¹ Then his mother and his brothers came and stood outside. They sent for him, summoning him. ³² A crowd was sitting around him and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside, and they are looking for you."

³³ He answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" ³⁴ He looked around at those who were sitting in a circle around him and said, "See, here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ For whoever does the will of God, that person is my brother, and sister, and mother."

Chapter 4

¹ Again he began to teach beside the sea, and a large crowd gathered around him. He stepped into a boat that was on the sea, and he sat down in it. The whole crowd was on the shore beside the sea. ² He taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching, this is what he said to them.

³ "Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he sowed, some seed fell beside the road, and the birds came and devoured it. ⁵ Other seed fell on the rocky ground, where it did not have much soil. Immediately it sprang up, because it did not have deep soil.

⁶ But when the sun rose, the plants were scorched, and because they had no root, they dried up. ⁷ Other seed fell among the thorn plants. The thorn plants grew up and choked it, and it did not produce a crop.

⁸ Other seed fell into good soil, and it produced a crop growing up and increasing and yielding thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times." ⁹ Then he said, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!"

¹⁰ When Jesus was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. ¹¹ He said to them, "To you is given the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to those outside everything is in parables,

¹² so that when they look,

yes they look,

but do not see,

and so that when they hear,

yes they hear,

but do not understand,

or else they would turn

and God would forgive them."

¹³ He said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ These are the ones beside the road, where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.

¹⁶ And these are the seed sown on the rocky ground; who, when they hear the word immediately receive it with joy. ¹⁷ But they do not have root in themselves, but they endure for a while. Afterward when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, they immediately fall away.

¹⁸ Still others are the ones sown among the thorns. They are those who hear the word, ¹⁹ but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, and it is unproductive. ²⁰ Those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word, accept it and bear fruit, thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much."

²¹ Jesus said to them, "Do you bring a lamp inside the house to put it under a basket or under the bed? You bring it in and you put it on a lampstand. ²² For nothing is hidden that will not be known, and nothing is secret that will not come out into the open. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!"

²⁴ He said to them, "Pay attention to what you hear, for the measure you use will be measured to you, and more will be added to you. ²⁵ Because whoever has, to him will be given more, and whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken."

²⁶ He also said, "The kingdom of God is like a man who sows his seed on the ground. ²⁷ He sleeps at night and gets up by day, and the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ The earth bears grain by itself: First the blade, then the ear, then the mature grain in the ear. ²⁹ When the crop is ripe, he immediately sends in the sickle because the harvest has come."

³⁰ Again he said, "To what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use to explain it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which, when it is sown, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth. ³² Yet, when it is sown, it grows and becomes greater than all the garden plants, and it forms large branches, so that the birds of heaven can make their nests in its shade."

³³ With many parables like this he spoke the word to them, as much as they were able to understand, ³⁴ and he did not speak to them without a parable. But when he was alone, he explained everything to his own disciples.

³⁵ On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go over to the other side." ³⁶ So they left the crowd, taking Jesus with them, just as he was, in the boat. There were other boats going along with him. ³⁷ Just then a violent windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was almost full of water.

³⁸ But Jesus himself was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him up, saying, "Teacher, do you not care that we are about to die?"

³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

⁴⁰ Then he said to them, "Why are you afraid? Do you still not have faith?"

⁴¹ They were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, because even the wind and the sea obey him?"

Chapter 5

¹ They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes. ² When Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came up to him out of the tombs.

³ The man lived in the tombs. No one could restrain him anymore, not even with a chain. ⁴ He had been bound many times with shackles and with chains. He tore the chains apart and his shackles were shattered. No one had the strength to subdue him.

⁵ Every night and day in the tombs and in the mountains, he cried out and cut himself with sharp stones. ⁶ When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran to him and bowed down before him.

⁷ He cried out with a loud voice, "What do I have to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you by God himself, do not torment me." ⁸ For he had been saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit."

⁹ He asked him, "What is your name?"

He answered him, "My name is Legion, for we are many."

¹⁰ He begged him again and again not to send them out of the region.

¹¹ Now a great herd of pigs was there feeding on the hill, ¹² and they begged him, saying, "Send us into the pigs; let us enter into them." ¹³ So he allowed them; the unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep hill into the sea, and about two thousand pigs drowned in the sea.

¹⁴ Then those who were feeding the pigs ran away and reported what had happened in the city and in the countryside, and so people went out to see what had happened. ¹⁵ Then they came to Jesus and they saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

¹⁶ Those who had seen what happened to the demon-possessed man told them about it in detail, and they also told them about the pigs. ¹⁷ Then they started to beg him to leave their region.

¹⁸ When he was getting into the boat, the demon-possessed man begged him that he might be with him. ¹⁹ But Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, "Go to your house and to your people and tell them what the Lord has done for you, and how he has shown you mercy." ²⁰ So he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis the great things that Jesus had done for him, and everyone was amazed.

²¹ Now when Jesus had crossed over again to the other side in the boat, a great crowd gathered around him, as he was beside the sea. ²² Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came, and when he saw him, fell at his feet. ²³ He begged again and again, saying, "My little daughter is near death. I beg you, come and lay your hands on her that she may be made well and live." ²⁴ So he went with him, and a great crowd followed him and pressed close around him.

²⁵ Now a woman was there who had a flow of blood for twelve years. ²⁶ She had suffered much from many doctors and had spent everything that she had, but instead of getting better she grew worse. ²⁷ When she had heard the reports about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak.

²⁸ For she said, "If I touch just his clothes, I will be healed." ²⁹ When she touched him, the bleeding stopped, and she felt in her body that she was healed from her affliction.

³⁰ Jesus immediately realized in himself that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?"

³¹ His disciples said to him, "You see this crowd pressed around you, and you say, 'Who touched me?'"

³² But Jesus looked around to see who had done it.

³³ The woman, knowing what had happened to her, feared and trembled. She came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. ³⁴ He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be healed from your affliction."

³⁵ While he was speaking, some people came from the synagogue leader's house, saying, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any longer?"

³⁶ But when Jesus overheard the message that was spoken, he said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid. Just believe." ³⁷ He did not permit anyone to accompany him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. ³⁸ They came to the house of the leader of the synagogue and he saw there people making a lot of noise; they were weeping and wailing loudly.

³⁹ When he entered the house, he said to them, "Why are you upset and why do you weep? The child is not dead but sleeps." ⁴⁰ They began to mock him. But he put them all outside and took the father of the child and the mother and those who were with him, and he went in where the child was.

⁴¹ He took the hand of the child and said to her, "Talitha, koum!" which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, get up." ⁴² Immediately the child got up and walked (for she was twelve years of age). They were immediately astonished with overwhelming amazement. ⁴³ He strictly ordered them that no one should know about this. Then he told them to give her something to eat.

Chapter 6

¹ He went out from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ² When the Sabbath came, he taught in the synagogue. Many people heard him and they were amazed. They said, "Where did he get these teachings?" "What is this wisdom that has been given to him?" "What are these miracles that he does with his hands?" ³ "Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are his sisters not here with us?" They were offended by Jesus. ¹

⁴ Then Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household." ⁵ He could not do any mighty work, except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their unbelief. Then he went around the villages teaching.

⁷ Then he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits, ⁸ and instructed them to take nothing for their journey, except a staff—no bread, no bag, and no money in their belts— ⁹ but to wear sandals, and not to wear two tunics.

¹⁰ He said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, remain until you go away from there. ¹¹ If any town will not receive you or listen to you, when you leave that place, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony to them."

¹² They went out and proclaimed that people should repent. ¹³ They cast out many demons, and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

¹⁴ King Herod heard this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him." ¹⁵ Some others said, "He is Elijah." Still others said, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets in ancient times."

¹⁶ But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."

¹⁷ For Herod sent to have John arrested and he had him bound in prison on account of Herodias (his brother Philip's wife), because he had married her.

¹⁸ For John told Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." ¹⁹ But Herodias held on to anger against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not, ²⁰ for Herod feared John; he knew that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. Listening to him made him greatly perplexed, yet he heard him gladly.

²¹ Then an opportunity came when Herod had his birthday and he made a dinner for his officials and for the commanders and leaders of Galilee. ²² The daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced for them, and she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want and I will give it to you."

²³ He swore to her saying, "Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."

²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask him for?"

She said, "The head of John the Baptist."

²⁵ She immediately hurried back to the king, and she asked, saying, "I want you to give me, right now, the head of John the Baptist on a wooden platter."

²⁶ Though this deeply grieved the king, he could not refuse her request because of the oath he had made and because of his dinner guests. ²⁷ So the king sent a soldier from his guard and commanded him to bring him John's head. The guard went and beheaded him in the prison. ²⁸ He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard of this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.

³⁰ The apostles came together with Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. ³¹ Then he said to them, "Come away by yourselves into a deserted place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. ³² So they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves.

³³ But they saw them leaving and many recognized them, and they ran there together on foot from all the towns, and they arrived there before them. ³⁴ When they came ashore, he saw a great crowd and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things.

³⁵ When the hour was late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. ³⁶ Send them away so that they may go into the nearby countryside and villages to buy something to eat for themselves."

³⁷ But he answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat."

They said to him, "Can we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?"

³⁸ He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see."

When they found out, they said, "Five loaves and two fish."

³⁹ He commanded all the people to sit down in groups upon the green grass. ⁴⁰ They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. ⁴¹ He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

⁴² They all ate until they were satisfied. ⁴³ They took up broken pieces of bread, twelve baskets full, and also pieces of the fish. ⁴⁴ There were five thousand men who ate the loaves.

⁴⁵ Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he sent the crowd away. ⁴⁶ After taking leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray. ⁴⁷ Evening came, and the boat was now in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on land.

⁴⁸ He saw that they were straining against the oars, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the sea, and he wanted to pass by them. ⁴⁹ But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought he was a ghost and cried out, ⁵⁰ because they saw him and were troubled. Immediately he spoke to them and said to them, "Be courageous! It is I! Do not be afraid!"

⁵¹ He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased blowing. They were completely amazed. ⁵² For they had not understood what the loaves meant. Instead, their hearts were hardened.

⁵³ When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored the boat. ⁵⁴ When they came out of the boat, the people recognized him immediately, ⁵⁵ and they ran throughout the whole region and began to bring the sick on their mats to wherever they heard he was.

⁵⁶ Wherever he entered into villages, or cities, or into the country, they would put the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch the edge of his garment, and as many as touched him were healed.

¹The man called Joses here is called Joseph in Matthew 27:56. The name Joseph represents how the name was spelled in Hebrew, and the name Joses represents how his name was spelled in Greek.

Chapter 7

¹ The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him.

² They saw that some of his disciples ate bread with hands that were unclean, that is, unwashed. ³ (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands carefully, because they hold to the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When the Pharisees come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they bathe themselves, and they hold to many other things they have received, such as the washing of cups, pots, copper vessels, and the couches upon which they eat.)

⁵ The Pharisees and the scribes asked Jesus, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat their bread with unclean hands?"

⁶ But he said to them, "Isaiah prophesied well about you hypocrites. As it is written,

'This people honors me with their lips,

but their heart is far from me.

⁷ In vain they worship me,

teaching the commands of men as their doctrines.'

⁸ You abandon the commandment of God and hold on to the tradition of men." ⁹ He also said to them, "How well you reject the commandment of God so you may keep your tradition! ¹⁰ For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'He who speaks evil of his father or mother will surely be put to death.'

¹¹ But you say, 'If a man says to his father or mother, "Whatever help you would have received from me is Corban"' (that is to say, 'a Gift'), ¹² then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or his mother. ¹³ You are making the word of God void by your tradition which you have handed down. And many similar things you do."

¹⁴ He called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and understand. ¹⁵ There is nothing from outside of a person that can defile him when it enters into him. It is what comes out of the person that defiles him." ¹⁶ ¹

¹⁷ Now when Jesus left the crowd and entered the house, his disciples asked him about the parable. ¹⁸ Jesus said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not know that whatever enters into a person from outside cannot defile him, ¹⁹ because it cannot go into his heart, but it goes into his stomach and then passes out into the latrine?" With this statement Jesus declared all foods clean.

²⁰ He said, "It is that which comes out of the person that defiles him. ²¹ For from within a person, out of the heart, proceed evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, ²² adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, folly. ²³ All these evils come from within, and they are what defile a person."

²⁴ He got up from there and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon. There he went into a house, and he wanted no one to know where he was, yet he could not be hidden. ²⁵ But immediately ² a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him and came and fell down at his feet. ²⁶ Now the woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by descent. She begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.

²⁷ He said to her, "Let the children first be fed. For it is not proper to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

²⁸ But she answered and said to him, "Yes, Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

²⁹ He said to her, "Because of what you have said, you are free to go. The demon has gone out of your daughter." ³⁰ She went back to her house and found the child lying on the bed, and the demon was gone.

³¹ Then he went out again from the region of Tyre, and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee up into the region of the Decapolis. ³² They brought to him someone who was deaf and had difficulty speaking, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.

³³ Then taking him aside away from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and then he spit and touched his tongue. ³⁴ Then he looked up to heaven, sighed, and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is to say, "Open!" ³⁵ At once his ears were opened, the bond of his tongue was released, and he began to speak plainly.

³⁶ Jesus ordered them to tell no one. But the more he ordered them, the more abundantly they proclaimed it. ³⁷ They were extremely astonished, saying, "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

¹The best ancient copies do not have verse 16. If any man has ears to hear, let him hear .

²Some ancient copies do not have the words, But immediately .

Chapter 8

¹ In those days, there was again a great crowd, and they had nothing to eat. Jesus called his disciples and said to them, ² "I have compassion on the crowd because they continue to be with me already for three days and have nothing to eat. ³ If I send them away to their home without eating, they may faint on the way. Some of them have come a long way."

⁴ His disciples answered him, "Where can we get enough loaves of bread in such a deserted place to satisfy these people?"

⁵ He asked them, "How many loaves do you have?"

They said, "Seven."

⁶ He commanded the crowd to sit down on the ground. He took the seven loaves, gave thanks, and broke them. He gave them to his disciples to set before them, and they set them before the crowd.

⁷ They also had a few small fish, and after he gave thanks for them, he commanded the disciples to serve these as well. ⁸ They ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the remaining broken pieces, seven large baskets. ⁹ There were about four thousand people. Then he sent them away. ¹⁰ Immediately he got into the boat with his disciples, and they went into the region of Dalmanutha.

¹¹ Then the Pharisees came out and began to argue with him. They sought from him a sign from heaven, to test him. ¹² He sighed deeply in his spirit and said, "Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation." ¹³ Then he left them, got into a boat again, and went away to the other side.

¹⁴ Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread with them. They had no more than one loaf of bread in the boat. ¹⁵ He instructed them, saying, "Keep watch and be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod."

¹⁶ The disciples were arguing with one another about having no bread.

¹⁷ When he understood this, he asked them, "Why are you arguing about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Do you have hardened hearts?

¹⁸ You have eyes; do you not see? You have ears; do you not hear? Do you not remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves among the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces of bread did you take up?"

They said to him, "Twelve."

²⁰ "When I broke the seven loaves among the four thousand, how many basketfuls of broken pieces of bread did you take up?"

They said to him, "Seven."

²¹ He said, "Do you not yet understand?"

²² They came to Bethsaida. The people there brought to him a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. ²³ Jesus took hold of the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. When he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, "Do you see anything?"

²⁴ He looked up, and said, "I see men who look like walking trees."

²⁵ Then he again laid his hands upon his eyes, and the man opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw all things clearly. ²⁶ Jesus sent him away to his home and said, "Do not enter the village."

²⁷ Jesus went out with his disciples into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, "Who do the people say that I am?"

²⁸ They answered him and said, "John the Baptist. Others say, 'Elijah,' and others, 'One of the prophets.'"

²⁹ He asked them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Peter said to him, "You are the Christ."

³⁰ Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

³¹ He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and would be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and would be killed, and after three days rise up. ³² He spoke that message openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

³³ But Jesus turned and looked at his disciples and then he rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan! You are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of people." ³⁴ Then he called the crowd and his disciples together, and he said to them, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

³⁵ For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. ³⁶ What does it profit a person to gain the whole world and then forfeit his life? ³⁷ What can a person give in exchange for his life?

³⁸ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."

Chapter 9

¹ He said to them, "Truly I say to you, there are some of you who are standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God come with power."

² Six days later, Jesus took Peter and James and John with him up a high mountain, alone by themselves. Then he was transfigured before them. ³ His garments became radiantly brilliant, extremely white, whiter than any bleacher on earth could bleach them.

⁴ Then Elijah with Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus. ⁵ Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here, and so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." ⁶ (For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.)

⁷ A cloud came and overshadowed them. Then a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him." ⁸ Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them, but only Jesus.

⁹ As they were coming down the mountain, he commanded them to tell no one what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. ¹⁰ So they kept the matter to themselves, but they discussed among themselves what "rising from the dead" could mean.

¹¹ They asked him, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

¹² He said to them, "Elijah does come first to restore all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be despised? ¹³ But I say to you that Elijah has come, and they did whatever they wanted to him, just as it is written about him."

¹⁴ When they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes were arguing with them. ¹⁵ As soon as they saw Jesus, the whole crowd was amazed, and as they ran up to him, they greeted him. ¹⁶ He asked his disciples, "What are you arguing with them about?"

¹⁷ Someone in the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you. He has a spirit that makes him unable to speak. ¹⁸ It seizes him and it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out of him, but they could not."

¹⁹ He answered them, "Unbelieving generation, how long will I have to stay with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him to me."

²⁰ They brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw him into a convulsion. The boy fell on the ground and foamed at the mouth. ²¹ Jesus asked his father, "For how much time has he been like this?"

The father said, "Since childhood.

²² It has often thrown him into the fire or into the waters and tried to destroy him. If you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us."

²³ Jesus said to him, "'If you are able'? All things are possible for the one who believes."

²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe! Help my unbelief!"

²⁵ When Jesus saw the crowd running to them, he rebuked the unclean spirit and said, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter into him again."

²⁶ It cried out and convulsed the boy greatly and then came out. The boy looked like one who was dead, so that many said, "He is dead." ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and the boy stood up.

²⁸ When Jesus came into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"

²⁹ He said to them, "This kind cannot be cast out except by prayer."

³⁰ They went out from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know where they were, ³¹ for he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, "The Son of Man will be given over into the hands of men, and they will put him to death. When he has been put to death, after three days he will rise again." ³² But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask him.

³³ Then they came to Capernaum. After he entered the house he asked them, "What were you discussing on the way?" ³⁴ But they were silent. For they had been arguing with one another on the way about who was the greatest. ³⁵ Sitting down, he called the twelve together and he said to them, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be last of all and servant of all."

³⁶ He took a little child and placed him in their midst. He took him in his arms and said to them, ³⁷ "Whoever receives such a child in my name receives me; whoever receives me does not receive me but the one who sent me."

³⁸ John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we stopped him, because he does not follow us."

³⁹ But Jesus said, "Do not stop him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name and can soon afterwards say anything bad about me.

⁴⁰ Whoever is not against us is for us. ⁴¹ Whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in my name because you belong to Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.

⁴² Whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone tied around his neck and be thrown into the sea. ⁴³ If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than to have two hands and to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire. ⁴⁴ ¹

⁴⁵ If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame than to have your two feet and be thrown into hell. ⁴⁶ ²

⁴⁷ If your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out. It is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, ⁴⁸ where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out.

⁴⁹ For everyone will be salted with fire. ⁵⁰ Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

¹The best ancient copies do not have this phrase, and verse 44 is not included in the ULB, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out. This phrase does appear in verse 48.

²The best ancient copies do not have this phrase, and verse 46 is not included in the ULB, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not put out. This phrase does appear in verse 48.

Chapter 10

¹ Jesus left that place and went to the region of Judea and to the area beyond the Jordan River, and the crowds came to him again. He was teaching them again, as he was accustomed to do. ² Then Pharisees came to him to test him and asked, "Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?"

³ He answered, "What did Moses command you?"

⁴ They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and then to send her away."

⁵ "It was because of your hard hearts that he wrote you this law," Jesus said to them. ⁶ "But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'

⁷ 'For this reason

a man will leave his father and mother

and be united to his wife,

⁸ and the two will become one flesh.'

So they are no longer two, but one flesh.

⁹ Therefore what God has joined together, let no man tear apart."

¹⁰ When they were in the house, the disciples asked him again about this. ¹¹ He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. ¹² If she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."

¹³ Then they brought their little children to him so that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus noticed it, he was angry and said to them, "Permit the little children to come to me, and do not forbid them, for the kingdom of God belongs to those who are like them.

¹⁵ Truly I say to you, whoever will not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will definitely not enter it." ¹⁶ Then he took the children into his arms and blessed them as he placed his hands on them.

¹⁷ When he began his journey, a man ran up to him and knelt before him and asked, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

¹⁸ Jesus said, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. ¹⁹ You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not testify falsely, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

²⁰ The man said, "Teacher, all these things I have obeyed from the time I was a youth."

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. He said to him, "One thing you lack. You must sell all that you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." ²² But because of this statement he looked very sad and he went away sorrowful, because he had many possessions.

²³ Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How difficult it is for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God!" ²⁴ The disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how hard it is to enter into the kingdom of God! ²⁵ It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

²⁶ They were greatly astonished and said to each other, "Then who can be saved?"

²⁷ Jesus looked at them and said, "With people it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God."

²⁸ Peter began to speak to him: "Look, we have left everything and have followed you."

²⁹ Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the gospel ³⁰ who will not receive a hundred times as much now in this age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the world to come, eternal life. ³¹ But many who are first will be last, and the last first."

³² They were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going ahead of them. The disciples were amazed, and those who were following behind were afraid. Then Jesus took the twelve aside again and began to tell them what would soon happen to him. ³³ "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be given over to the chief priests and the scribes. They will condemn him to death and give him over to the Gentiles. ³⁴ They will mock him, spit on him, whip him, and put him to death. But after three days he will rise."

³⁵ James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask you."

³⁶ He said to them, "What do you want me to do for you?"

³⁷ They said, "Allow us to sit with you in your glory, one at your right hand and the other at your left."

³⁸ But Jesus replied to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup which I will drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I will be baptized?"

³⁹ They said to him, "We are able."

Jesus said to them, "The cup that I will drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you also will be baptized.

⁴⁰ But who is to sit at my right hand or at my left hand is not mine to give, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared."

⁴¹ When the other ten disciples heard about this, they began to be very angry with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them to himself and said, "You know those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles dominate them, and their high officials exercise authority over them.

⁴³ But it is not this way among you. Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wishes to be first among you must be the slave of all. ⁴⁵ For the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

⁴⁶ They came to Jericho. As he left Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, the son of Timaeus, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, sat by the road. ⁴⁷ When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to shout and to say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"

⁴⁸ Many rebuked the blind man, telling him to be quiet. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"

⁴⁹ Jesus stopped and commanded him to be called. They called the blind man, saying, "Be brave! Get up! He is calling for you." ⁵⁰ He threw aside his coat, sprang up, and came to Jesus.

⁵¹ Jesus answered him and said, "What do you want me to do for you?"

The blind man said, "Rabboni, I want to receive my sight."

⁵² Then Jesus said to him, "Go. Your faith has healed you." Immediately he could see again, and he followed him on the road.

Chapter 11

¹ Now as they came to Jerusalem, they were close to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, and Jesus sent out two of his disciples ² and said to them, "Go into the village opposite us. As soon as you enter it, you will find a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it to me. ³ If anyone says to you, 'Why are you doing this?' you should say, 'The Lord has need of it and will immediately send it back here.'"

⁴ They went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. ⁵ Some people were standing there and said to them, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" ⁶ They spoke to them as Jesus told them, and the people let them go their way.

⁷ They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it. ⁸ Many people spread their garments on the road, and others spread branches they had cut from the fields. ⁹ Those who went before him and those who followed shouted,

"Hosanna! Blessed is the one

who comes in the name of the Lord.

¹⁰ Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!

Hosanna in the highest!"

¹¹ Then Jesus entered into Jerusalem and went into the temple and looked around at everything. Now the time being late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve. ¹² The next day while they were going out from Bethany, he was hungry.

¹³ Seeing from far away a fig tree that had leaves, he went to see if he could find any fruit on it, and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. ¹⁴ He said to it, "No one will ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it.

¹⁵ They came to Jerusalem, and he entered the temple and began to cast out the sellers and the buyers in the temple. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. ¹⁶ He did not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple that could be sold.

¹⁷ He taught them and said, "Is it not written,

'My house will be called

a house of prayer for all the nations'?

But you have made it a den of robbers."

¹⁸ The chief priests and the scribes heard what he had said, and they looked for a way to destroy him. For they feared him because the entire crowd was amazed at his teaching. ¹⁹ When evening came, they left the city.

²⁰ As they walked by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away to its roots. ²¹ Peter remembered and said, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered away."

²² Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God. ²³ Truly I say to you that if anyone says to this mountain, 'Get up and cast yourself into the sea,' and if he does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he said will happen, that is what God will do.

²⁴ Therefore I say to you: Everything you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ When you stand and pray, you must forgive whatever you have against anyone, so that your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you your trespasses." ²⁶ ¹

²⁷ They came to Jerusalem again. As Jesus was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him. ²⁸ They said to him, "By what authority do you do these things, and who gave you the authority to do them?"

²⁹ Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question. Tell me and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. ³⁰ The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer me."

³¹ They discussed between themselves and argued and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why then did you not believe him?' ³² But if we say, 'From men,' ... ." They were afraid of the people, for everyone was convinced that John was a prophet. ³³ Then they answered Jesus and said, "We do not know."

Then Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

¹The best ancient copies of Mark do not have this sentence: But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your trespasses .

Chapter 12

¹ Then Jesus began to teach them in parables. He said, "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, and dug a pit for a winepress. He built a watchtower and then leased the vineyard to vine growers. Then he went away on a journey. ² At the right time, he sent a servant to the vine growers to receive from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. ³ But they took him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.

⁴ Again he sent to them another servant, and they wounded him in the head and treated him shamefully. ⁵ He sent yet another, and this one they killed. They treated many others in the same way, beating some and killing others.

⁶ He had still one more person to send, a beloved son. He was the last one he sent to them. He said, 'They will respect my son.'

⁷ "But the vine growers said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.'

⁸ They seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. ⁹ Therefore, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the vine growers and will give the vineyard to others.

¹⁰ Have you not read this scripture?

'The stone which the builders rejected

has been made the cornerstone.

¹¹ This was from the Lord,

and it is marvelous in our eyes.'"

¹² After this the Jewish leaders sought a way to arrest Jesus because they understood that he spoke the parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd. So they left him and went away.

¹³ Then they sent some of the Pharisees and the Herodians to him to trap him with words. ¹⁴ When they came, they said to him, "Teacher, what people think is not a concern to you because you do not show partiality to anyone. You truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay or not?"

¹⁵ But Jesus knew their hypocrisy and said to them, "Why do you test me? Bring me a denarius so I can look at it."

¹⁶ They brought one to Jesus. He said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?"

They said, "Caesar's."

¹⁷ Jesus said, "Give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." They marveled at him.

¹⁸ Then Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him. They asked him, saying, ¹⁹ "Teacher, Moses wrote for us, 'If a man's brother dies and leaves a wife behind him, but had no child, the man should take the brother's wife, and raise up children for his brother.'

²⁰ There were seven brothers; the first took a wife and then died, having no children. ²¹ Then the second took her and died, leaving no child, and the third in the same way. ²² The seven left no children. Last of all, the woman also died. ²³ In the resurrection, when they rise again, whose wife will she be? For all seven brothers had her as their wife."

²⁴ Jesus said, "Is this not the reason you are mistaken, because you do not know the scriptures nor the power of God? ²⁵ For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but they are like angels in heaven.

²⁶ But concerning the dead that are raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account about the bush, how God spoke to him and said, 'I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob'? ²⁷ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are quite mistaken."

²⁸ One of the scribes came and heard their discussion; he saw that Jesus answered them well. He asked him, "What commandment is the most important of all?"

²⁹ Jesus answered, "The most important is, 'Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' ³¹ The second commandment is this, 'You must love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other greater commandment than these."

³² The scribe said, "Good, Teacher! You have truly said that God is one, and that there is no other besides him. ³³ To love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself is even more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

³⁴ When Jesus saw that he had given a wise answer, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." After that, no one dared to ask Jesus any more questions.

³⁵ While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he said, "How is it that the scribes say the Christ is the son of David? ³⁶ David himself, in the Holy Spirit, said,

'The Lord said to my Lord,

"Sit at my right hand

until I put your enemies under your feet."'

³⁷ David himself calls him 'Lord,' so how can the Christ be David's son?" The large crowd gladly listened to him.

³⁸ In his teaching Jesus said, "Beware of the scribes, who like to walk in long robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, ³⁹ and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts. ⁴⁰ They also devour widows' houses, and they pray long prayers for people to see. These men will receive greater condemnation."

⁴¹ Then Jesus sat down across from an offering box in the temple area; he was watching people as they dropped their money into the box. Many rich people put in large amounts of money. ⁴² Then a poor widow came and put in two mites, worth about a penny.

⁴³ He called his disciples and said to them, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them who contributed to the offering box. ⁴⁴ For all of them gave out of their abundance. But this widow, out of her poverty, put in all of the money which she had to live on."

Chapter 13

¹ As Jesus was walking away from the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look at the wonderful stones and wonderful buildings!"

² Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left on another which will not be torn down."

³ As he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, ⁴ "Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign when all these things are about to happen?"

⁵ Jesus began to say to them, "Be careful that no one leads you astray. ⁶ Many will come in my name and say, 'I am he,' and they will lead many astray.

⁷ When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be frightened; these things must happen, but the end is not yet. ⁸ For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many places, and famines. These are the beginnings of birth pains.

⁹ "Be on your guard. They will give you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand before both governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them. ¹⁰ But the gospel must first be proclaimed to all the nations.

¹¹ When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry about what you should say. For in that hour, what you should say will be given to you; it will not be you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. ¹² Brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. ¹³ You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But whoever endures to the end, that person will be saved.

¹⁴ "When you see the abomination of desolation standing where it should not be standing" (let the reader understand), "let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, ¹⁵ let him who is on the housetop not go down into the house or take anything out of it, ¹⁶ and let him who is in the field not return to take his cloak.

¹⁷ But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing infants in those days! ¹⁸ Pray that it might not occur in the winter. ¹⁹ For those will be days of great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of creation, which God created, until now, no, nor ever will be again. ²⁰ Unless the Lord had shortened the days, no flesh would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those whom he chose, he cut short the days.

²¹ Then if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. ²² For false Christs and false prophets will appear and will give signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect. ²³ Be on guard! I have told you all these things ahead of time.

²⁴ "But after the tribulation of those days,

'the sun will be darkened,

the moon will not give its light,

²⁵ the stars will fall from the sky,

and the powers that are in the heavens

will be shaken.'

²⁶ Then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ Then he will send his angels and he will gather together his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the sky.

²⁸ "Learn a lesson from the fig tree. As soon as the branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near, close to the gates.

³⁰ Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all of these things occur. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. ³² But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father.

³³ "Be alert! Watch, because you do not know what time it is. ¹ ³⁴ It is like a man who goes on a journey—he leaves his house and puts his servants in charge of the house, each one with his work, and he commands the doorkeeper to stay alert.

³⁵ Therefore stay alert because you do not know when the master of the house will come home; it could be in the evening, at midnight, when the rooster crows, or in the morning. ³⁶ If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ³⁷ What I say to you I say to everyone: Watch!"

¹Some ancient copies of the Greek text read: Be alert! Watch and pray .

Chapter 14

¹ It was now two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were seeking ways to stealthily arrest Jesus and then kill him. ² For they were saying, "Not during the festival, so that a riot does not arise among the people."

³ While Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came to him having an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which was pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the nard on his head. ⁴ But there were some who were angry. They spoke among themselves and said, "What is the reason for the waste of this perfume? ⁵ This perfume could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and given to the poor." Then they scolded her.

⁶ But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why are you troubling her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. ⁷ You always have the poor with you, and whenever you desire you can do good to them, but you will not always have me. ⁸ She has done what she could. She has anointed my body for burial. ⁹ Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will be spoken of, in memory of her."

¹⁰ Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went away to the chief priests so that he might give him over to them. ¹¹ When the chief priests heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. He began looking for an opportunity to give him over to them.

¹² On the first day of unleavened bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, "Where do you want us to go to prepare, so you may eat the Passover meal?"

¹³ He sent two of his disciples and said to them, "Go into the city, and a man bearing a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴ Where he enters a house, follow him in and say to the owner of that house, 'The Teacher says, "Where is my guest room where I will eat the Passover with my disciples?"'

¹⁵ He will show you a large furnished upper room that is ready. Make the preparations for us there." ¹⁶ The disciples left and went to the city. They found everything as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover meal.

¹⁷ When it was evening, he came with the twelve. ¹⁸ As they were lying down at the table and eating, Jesus said, "Truly I say to you, one of you eating with me will betray me."

¹⁹ They were all very sorrowful, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"

²⁰ Jesus answered and said to them, "It is one of the twelve, the one now dipping bread with me in the bowl. ²¹ For the Son of Man will go as it is written about him. But woe to that man through whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for him if he had not been born."

²² As they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed it, and broke it. He gave it to them and said, "Take this. This is my body." ²³ He took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, and they all drank from it. ²⁴ He said to them, "This is my blood of the covenant, the blood that is poured out for many. ²⁵ Truly I say to you, I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God."

²⁶ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷ Jesus said to them, "All of you will fall away, for it is written,

'I will strike the shepherd

and the sheep will be scattered.'

²⁸ But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

²⁹ Peter said to him, "Even if all fall away, I will not."

³⁰ Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, today—yes, this very night—before the rooster crows twice you will deny me three times."

³¹ But Peter said emphatically, "If I must die with you, I will not deny you." They all made the same promise.

³² They came to the place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." ³³ He took Peter, James, and John with him and began to be distressed and deeply troubled. ³⁴ He said to them, "My soul is deeply grieved, even to the point of death. Remain here and watch."

³⁵ Going a little farther, Jesus fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass from him. ³⁶ He said, "Abba, Father, all things are possible with you. Remove this cup from me. But not my will, but yours."

³⁷ He came back and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, "Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch for one hour? ³⁸ Watch and pray that you do not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." ³⁹ Again he went away and prayed, and he used the same words.

⁴⁰ When he came back again, he found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him. ⁴¹ He came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come. Look! The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴² Get up; let us go. Look, the one who is betraying me is near."

⁴³ While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived, and a large crowd was with him with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. ⁴⁴ Now his betrayer had given them a sign, saying, "The one I kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard." ⁴⁵ When Judas arrived, immediately he came up to Jesus and said, "Rabbi," and he kissed him. ⁴⁶ Then they laid hands on him and seized him.

⁴⁷ But one of them who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear.

⁴⁸ Jesus said to them, "Do you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs, to arrest me? ⁴⁹ When I was daily with you and I was teaching in the temple, you did not arrest me. But this was done that the scriptures might be fulfilled." ⁵⁰ All those with Jesus left him and ran away.

⁵¹ A young man, wearing only a linen garment that was wrapped around him, was following Jesus. When the men seized him, ⁵² he left the linen garment and ran away naked.

⁵³ They led Jesus to the high priest. There were gathered with him all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes. ⁵⁴ Now Peter followed him from a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest. He sat among the officers, warming himself near the fire.

⁵⁵ Now the chief priests and the entire Jewish council were seeking testimony against Jesus so they might put him to death. But they did not find any. ⁵⁶ For many brought false testimony against him, but even their testimony did not agree.

⁵⁷ Some stood up and brought false testimony against him; they said, ⁵⁸ "We heard him say, 'I will destroy this temple made with hands, and in three days I will build another made without hands.'" ⁵⁹ Yet even their testimony did not agree.

⁶⁰ The high priest stood up among them and asked Jesus, "Have you no answer? What is it these men testify against you?" ⁶¹ But he was silent and answered nothing. Again the high priest questioned him and said, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"

⁶² Jesus said, "I am;

and you will see the Son of Man

when he sits at the right hand of power

and comes with the clouds of heaven."

⁶³ The high priest tore his garments and said, "Do we still need witnesses? ⁶⁴ You have heard the blasphemy. What is your decision?" They all condemned him as one who deserved death.

⁶⁵ Some began to spit on him and to cover his face and strike him with their fists and say to him, "Prophesy!" The officers took him and beat him.

⁶⁶ While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came to him. ⁶⁷ She saw Peter warming himself, and she looked closely at him and said, "You were also with the Nazarene, Jesus."

⁶⁸ But he denied it, saying, "I neither know nor understand what you are talking about." Then he went out into the gateway. And the rooster crowed. ¹

⁶⁹ But the servant girl saw him and began to say again to those who stood there, "This man is one of them!"

⁷⁰ But he denied it again. After a little while, those who stood there were saying to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you also are a Galilean."

⁷¹ But he began to put himself under curses and to swear, "I do not know this man you are talking about."

⁷² The rooster immediately crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said to him: "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times," and he broke down and wept.

¹Some ancient copies do not have, And the rooster crowed .

Chapter 15

¹ Early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders and scribes and the entire Jewish council, consulted together. Then they bound Jesus and led him away. They handed him over to Pilate. ² Pilate asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

He answered him, "You say so."

³ The chief priests were accusing him of many things.

⁴ Pilate again asked him, "Do you give no answer? See how many things they are accusing you of!" ⁵ But Jesus no longer answered Pilate, and that amazed him.

⁶ Now at the time of the festival, Pilate usually released to them one prisoner, a prisoner they requested. ⁷ There was a man called Barabbas in prison with the rebels who had committed murder during the rebellion. ⁸ The crowd came to Pilate and began to ask him to do for them as he had done in the past.

⁹ Pilate answered them and said, "Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?" ¹⁰ For he knew that it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to cry out that Barabbas should be released instead.

¹² Pilate answered them again and said, "What then should I do with the King of the Jews?"

¹³ They shouted again, "Crucify him!"

¹⁴ Pilate said to them, "What evil has he done?"

But they shouted more and more, "Crucify him."

¹⁵ Pilate wanted to satisfy the crowd, so he released Barabbas to them. He scourged Jesus and then handed him over to be crucified.

¹⁶ The soldiers led him inside the courtyard (which is the government headquarters), and they called together the whole company of soldiers. ¹⁷ They put a purple robe on Jesus, and they twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on him. ¹⁸ They began to salute him and say, "Hail, King of the Jews!"

¹⁹ They were striking his head with a reed staff and spitting on him. They went to their knees and they bowed down before him. ²⁰ When they had mocked him, they took off of him the purple robe and put his own garments on him, and then led him out to crucify him. ²¹ A certain man, Simon of Cyrene, was coming in from the country (he was the father of Alexander and Rufus), and they forced him to carry his cross.

²² The soldiers brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which is translated "Place of a Skull"). ²³ They offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not drink it. ²⁴ They crucified him and divided up his garments by casting lots to determine what piece each soldier would take.

²⁵ It was the third hour when they crucified him. ²⁶ On a sign they wrote the charge against him, "The king of the Jews." ²⁷ With him they crucified two robbers, one on the right of him and one on his left. ²⁸ ¹

²⁹ Those who passed by insulted him, shaking their heads and saying, "Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, ³⁰ save yourself and come down from the cross!"

³¹ In the same way the chief priests were mocking him with each other, along with the scribes, and said, "He saved others, but he cannot save himself. ³² Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those who were crucified with him also insulted him.

³³ At the sixth hour, darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. ³⁴ At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is interpreted, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" ³⁵ Some of those standing by heard his words and said, "Look, he is calling for Elijah."

³⁶ Someone ran, put sour wine on a sponge, put it on a reed staff, and gave it to him to drink. The man said, "Let us see if Elijah comes to take him down." ³⁷ Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice and died.

³⁸ The curtain of the temple was split in two from the top to the bottom.

³⁹ When the centurion who stood and faced Jesus saw that he had died in this way, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God." ⁴⁰ There were also women who looked on from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joses), ² and Salome. ⁴¹ When he was in Galilee, they followed him and served him. Many other women also came up with him to Jerusalem.

⁴² When evening had come, because it was the Day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea came there. He was a respected member of the council who was waiting for the kingdom of God. He boldly went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Pilate was amazed that Jesus was already dead; he called the centurion and asked him if Jesus was dead.

⁴⁵ When Pilate learned from the centurion that Jesus was dead, he gave the body to Joseph. ⁴⁶ Joseph had bought a linen cloth. He took him down from the cross, wrapped him in the linen cloth, and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of a rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. ⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw the place where Jesus was buried.

¹The best ancient copies do not have Mark 15:28, The scripture was fulfilled that says, 'He was counted with the lawless ones.'

²The man called Joses here is called Joseph in Mark 6:3. The name Joseph represents how the name was spelled in Hebrew, and the name Joses represents how his name was spelled in Greek.

Chapter 16

¹ When the Sabbath day was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices that they might come and anoint Jesus' body. ² Very early on the first day of the week, they went to the tomb when the sun had come up.

³ They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" ⁴ When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, for it was very large.

⁵ They entered the tomb and saw a young man dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

⁶ He said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. Look at the place where they had laid him. ⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.'"

⁸ They went out and ran from the tomb; they were trembling and amazed. They said nothing to anyone because they were so afraid.

⁹ ¹ [Early on the first day of the week, after he arose, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. ¹⁰ She went and told those who were with him, while they were mourning and weeping. ¹¹ They heard that he was alive and that he had been seen by her, but they did not believe.

¹² After these things he appeared in a different form to two of them as they were walking out into the country. ¹³ They went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.

¹⁴ Jesus later appeared to the eleven as they were reclining at the table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he rose from the dead. ¹⁵ He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel to the entire creation. ¹⁶ He who believes and is baptized will be saved, and he who does not believe will be condemned.

¹⁷ These signs will go with those who believe: In my name they will cast out demons. They will speak in new languages. ¹⁸ They will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink anything deadly, it will not hurt them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well."

¹⁹ After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. ²⁰ The disciples left and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the signs that went with them.] ²

¹The best ancient copies do not have Mark 16:9-20.

²See the note on Mark 16:9.

Luke

Chapter 1

¹ Many have taken on the work of putting together an account of the things that have been accomplished among us, ² just as they were passed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. ³ So it seemed good to me also, because I have accurately investigated everything from the beginning, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, ⁴ so that you might know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

⁵ In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a certain priest named Zechariah from the division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. ⁶ They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord. ⁷ But they had no child because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both advanced in their days.

⁸ Now it came about that Zechariah was in God's presence, carrying out the priestly duties in the order of his division. ⁹ According to the customary way of choosing which priest would serve, he had been chosen by lot to enter into the temple of the Lord to burn incense. ¹⁰ The whole crowd of people was praying outside at the hour when the incense was burned.

¹¹ Now an angel of the Lord appeared to him and stood at the right side of the incense altar. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear fell on him. ¹³ But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son. You will call his name John.

¹⁴ You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. ¹⁵ For he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He must never drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit from his mother's womb.

¹⁶ Many of the descendants of Israel will be turned to the Lord their God. ¹⁷ He will go before the face of the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready for the Lord a people prepared for him."

¹⁸ Zechariah said to the angel, "How can I know this? For I am an old man and my wife is advanced in her days." ¹⁹ The angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, to bring you this good news. ²⁰ Behold! You will be silent, unable to speak, until the day these things take place. This is because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at the right time."

²¹ Now the people were waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised that he was spending so much time in the temple. ²² But when he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized that he had seen a vision while he was in the temple. He kept on making signs to them and remained silent. ²³ It came about that when the days of his service were over, he went to his house.

²⁴ After these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and for five months she kept herself hidden. She said, ²⁵ "This is what the Lord has done for me when he looked at me with favor in order to take away my shame before people."

²⁶ In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee named Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, who was a descendant of David, and the virgin's name was Mary. ²⁸ He came to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you." ²⁹ But she was very confused by his words, and she wondered what kind of greeting this could be.

³⁰ The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹ See, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son. You will call his name 'Jesus.' ³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³ He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom."

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, "How will this happen, since I have not known any man?"

³⁵ The angel answered and said to her, "The Holy Spirit will overshadow you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.

³⁶ See, your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age. This is the sixth month for her, she who was called barren. ³⁷ For nothing will be impossible for God."

³⁸ Mary said, "See, I am the female servant of the Lord. Let it be for me according to your message." Then the angel left her.

³⁹ Then Mary arose in those days and quickly went into the hill country, to a city in Judea. ⁴⁰ She went into the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ Now it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb jumped, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

⁴² She cried out with a loud shout and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. ⁴³ Why has it happened to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For see, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. ⁴⁵ Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of the things that were told her from the Lord."

⁴⁶ Mary said,

"My soul praises the Lord,

⁴⁷ and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.

⁴⁸ For he has looked

at the low condition of his female servant.

For see, from now on all generations will call me blessed.

⁴⁹ For the Mighty One has done great things for me,

and his name is holy.

⁵⁰ His mercy lasts from generation to generation

for those who fear him.

⁵¹ He has displayed strength with his arm;

he has scattered those who were proud

about the thoughts of their hearts.

⁵² He has thrown down princes from their thrones

and he has raised up those of low condition.

⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things,

but the rich he has sent away empty-handed.

⁵⁴ He has given help to Israel his servant,

so as to remember to show mercy

⁵⁵ (as he said to our fathers)

to Abraham and his descendants forever."

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months and then returned to her house.

⁵⁷ Now the time had come for Elizabeth to deliver her baby and she gave birth to a son. ⁵⁸ Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.

⁵⁹ Now it happened on the eighth day that they came to circumcise the child. They would have called him "Zechariah," after the name of his father. ⁶⁰ But his mother answered and said, "No. He will be called John." ⁶¹ They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."

⁶² They made signs to his father as to how he wanted him to be named. ⁶³ His father asked for a writing tablet and wrote, "His name is John." They all were astonished at this.

⁶⁴ Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue was freed. He spoke and praised God. ⁶⁵ Fear came on all who lived around them. All these matters were spread throughout all the hill country of Judea. ⁶⁶ All who heard them stored them in their hearts, saying, "What then will this child become?" For the hand of the Lord was with him.

⁶⁷ His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying,

⁶⁸ "Praised be the Lord, the God of Israel,

for he has come to help

and he has accomplished redemption for his people.

⁶⁹ He has raised up a horn of salvation for us

in the house of his servant David

⁷⁰ (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from long ago),

⁷¹ salvation from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us.

⁷² He will do this to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember his holy covenant,

⁷³ the oath that he swore

to Abraham our father.

⁷⁴ He swore to grant to us that we,

having been delivered out of the hand of our enemies,

would serve him without fear

⁷⁵ in holiness and righteousness

before him all our days.

⁷⁶ Yes, and you, child,

will be called a prophet of the Most High,

for you will go before the face of the Lord

to prepare his paths,

to prepare people for his coming,

⁷⁷ to give knowledge of salvation to his people

by the forgiveness of their sins.

⁷⁸ This will happen because

of the tender mercy of our God,

because of which the sunrise

from on high will come to help us,

⁷⁹ to shine on those who sit in darkness

and in the shadow of death.

He will do this to guide our feet

into the path of peace."

⁸⁰ Now the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

Chapter 2

¹ Now in those days, it came about that Caesar Augustus sent out a decree ordering that a census be taken of all the people living in the world. ² This was the first census made while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³ So everyone went to his own city to be registered for the census.

⁴ Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David. ⁵ He went there to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

⁶ Now it came about that while they were there, the time came for her to deliver her baby. ⁷ She gave birth to a son, her firstborn child, and she wrapped him in long strips of cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

⁸ There were shepherds in that region who were staying in the fields, guarding their flock at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.

¹⁰ Then the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid, because I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all the people. ¹¹ Today a Savior was born for you in the city of David! He is Christ the Lord! ¹² This is the sign that will be given to you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger."

¹³ Suddenly there was together with the angel a great multitude from heaven, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest,

and may there be peace on earth

among people with whom he is pleased." ¹

¹⁵ It came about that when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to each other, "Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us." ¹⁶ They hurried there and found Mary, Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in a manger.

¹⁷ After they had seen him, they made known what had been said to them about this child. ¹⁸ All who heard it were amazed at what was spoken to them by the shepherds. ¹⁹ But Mary kept thinking about all the things she had heard, treasuring them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for everything that they had heard and seen, just as it had been spoken to them.

²¹ When it was the end of the eighth day, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name he had been given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

²² When the required number of days for their purification had passed, according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to the temple in Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. ²³ As it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb will be set apart to the Lord." ²⁴ So they offered a sacrifice according to what was said in the law of the Lord, "a pair of doves or two young pigeons."

²⁵ Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.

²⁷ Led by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple. When the parents brought in the infant Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the law, ²⁸ he took him into his arms and praised God, and he said,

²⁹ "Now let your servant depart in peace, Lord,

according to your word.

³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation,

³¹ which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples:

³² A light for revelation to the Gentiles

and glory to your people Israel."

³³ His father and mother ² were amazed at what was said about him. ³⁴ Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the downfall and rising up of many people in Israel and for a sign that is rejected— ³⁵ and a sword will pierce your own soul—so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

³⁶ A prophetess named Anna was there. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in her days. She had lived with her husband for seven years after her virginity, ³⁷ and was a widow for eighty-four years. She never left the temple but was serving with fastings and prayers, night and day. ³⁸ At that very hour she came near to them and began giving thanks to God, and she spoke about the child to everyone who had been waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

³⁹ When they had finished everything they were required to do according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. ⁴⁰ The child grew and became strong; he was full of wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

⁴¹ His parents went every year to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they again went up at the customary time for the festival. ⁴³ After they had stayed the full number of days for the feast, they began to return home. But the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem and his parents did not know it. ⁴⁴ They assumed that he was with the group that was traveling with them, so they traveled a day's journey. Then they started to search carefully for him among their relatives and friends.

⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem and started to search carefully for him there. ⁴⁶ It came about that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the middle of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.

⁴⁸ When they saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us this way? Look, your father and I have been anxiously searching for you." ⁴⁹ He said to them, "Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I had to be about my Father's business?" ³ ⁵⁰ But they did not understand what he meant by those words.

⁵¹ Then he went back home with them to Nazareth and was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.

⁵² But Jesus continued to grow in wisdom and stature, and increased in favor with God and people.

¹Some ancient Greek copies have different spellings that suggest two possible meanings of the last phrase of verse 14, the second being preferred. The suggestions are: good will toward people or among people with whom he (God) is pleased .

²Some copies of the ancient Greek text have his father's name, Joseph .

³Some scholars translate "about my Father's business" as in my Father's house.

Chapter 3

¹ In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Iturea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, ² during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas—the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

³ He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

⁴ As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,

"A voice of one crying out in the wilderness,

'Make ready the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight.

⁵ Every valley will be filled,

and every mountain and hill will be made low,

and the crooked roads will be made straight,

and the uneven places will be built into roads,

⁶ and all flesh will see the salvation of God.'"

⁷ So John said to the crowds who were coming out to be baptized by him, "You offspring of vipers! Who warned you to run away from the wrath that is coming?

⁸ Therefore, produce fruits that are worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say within yourselves, 'We have Abraham for our father,' for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.

⁹ Even now the ax is set against the root of the trees. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire."

¹⁰ Then the crowds kept asking him, saying, "What then are we to do?"

¹¹ He answered and said to them, "If someone has two tunics, he should share with a person who has none, and the one having food should do the same."

¹² Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, "Teacher, what must we do?"

¹³ He said to them, "Do not collect more money than you have been ordered to collect."

¹⁴ Some soldiers also asked him, saying, "What about us? What must we do?"

He said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, and do not accuse anyone falsely. Be content with your wages."

¹⁵ Now as the people were eagerly expecting the Christ to come, everyone was wondering in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ. ¹⁶ John answered by saying to them all, "As for me, I baptize you with water, but someone is coming who is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy even to untie the strap of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand to thoroughly clear off his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his storehouse. But he will burn up the chaff with fire that can never be put out."

¹⁸ With many other exhortations also, John was announcing the good news to the people. ¹⁹ When Herod the tetrarch had been reproved for marrying his brother's wife Herodias, and for all the other evil things that Herod had done, ²⁰ he added this to them all, that he locked John up in prison.

²¹ Now it came about, when all the people were baptized, Jesus also was baptized, and while he was praying, the heavens opened, ²² and the Holy Spirit in bodily form came down on him like a dove, and a voice came from heaven: "You are my beloved Son. I am pleased with you."

²³ When Jesus began his ministry, he was about thirty years of age. He was the son (as it was assumed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, ²⁴ the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph.

²⁵ Joseph was the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum, the son of Esli, the son of Naggai, ²⁶ the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein, the son of Josech, the son of Joda.

²⁷ Joda was the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Salathiel, the son of Neri, ²⁸ the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

²⁹ the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi.

³⁰ Levi was the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph, the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

³¹ the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha, the son of Nathan, the son of David, ³² the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon.

³³ Nahshon was the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, ³⁴ the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham, the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

³⁵ the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg, the son of Eber, the son of Shelah.

³⁶ Shelah was the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem, the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

³⁷ the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared, the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan, ³⁸ the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.

Chapter 4

¹ Then Jesus, being full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, ² where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of that time he was hungry.

³ The devil said to him, "If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread."

⁴ Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man does not live on bread alone.'"

⁵ Then the devil led Jesus up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant of time. ⁶ The devil said to him, "I will give to you all this authority and all their glory, for they have been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want. ⁷ So then, if you will bow down and worship me, it will be yours."

⁸ But Jesus answered and said to him, "It is written, 'You will worship the Lord your God, and you will serve only him.'"

⁹ Then the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem and put him on the very highest point of the temple building, and said to him, "If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. ¹⁰ For it is written,

'He will give orders to his angels regarding you,

to protect you,'

¹¹ and, 'They will lift you up in their hands,

so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.'"

¹² Answering him, Jesus said, "It is said, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'"

¹³ When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he went away and left him until another time.

¹⁴ Then Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread throughout the entire surrounding region. ¹⁵ Then he began to teach in their synagogues and he was praised by all.

¹⁶ He came into Nazareth, where he had been raised, and, as was his custom, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day and he stood up to read aloud. ¹⁷ The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. He opened the scroll and found the place where it was written,

¹⁸ "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he anointed me

to announce good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to set free those who are oppressed,

¹⁹ to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. ²¹ He began to speak to them: "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

²² Everyone there spoke well of him and they were amazed at the gracious words which were coming out of his mouth, and they asked, "Is this not the son of Joseph?"

²³ He said to them, "Surely you will say this proverb to me, 'Doctor, heal yourself. Whatever we heard that you did in Capernaum, do the same in your hometown.'" ²⁴ But he said, "Truly I say to you, no prophet is received in his own hometown.

²⁵ But in truth I tell you that there were many widows in Israel during the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months and a great famine came upon all the land. ²⁶ But Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath in Sidon, to a widow living there. ²⁷ There were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet, but none of them were cleansed except Naaman the Syrian."

²⁸ All the people in the synagogue were filled with rage when they heard these things. ²⁹ They got up, forced him out of the town, and led him to the cliff of the hill on which their town was built, so they might throw him off the cliff. ³⁰ But he passed through the middle of them and he went to another place.

³¹ Then he went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and he began to teach them on the Sabbath. ³² They were astonished at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.

³³ Now in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, ³⁴ "Ah! What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"

³⁵ Jesus rebuked the demon, saying, "Do not speak! Come out of him!" When the demon had thrown the man down in the middle of them, he came out of him, and did not harm him in any way.

³⁶ All the people were very amazed, and they kept talking about it with one another. They said, "What kind of words are these? He commands the unclean spirits with authority and power and they come out." ³⁷ So news about him began to spread into every part of the surrounding region.

³⁸ Then Jesus left the synagogue and entered into the house of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering with a high fever, and they pleaded with him on her behalf. ³⁹ So he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and started serving them.

⁴⁰ When the sun was setting, people brought to Jesus everyone who was sick with various kinds of diseases. He laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. ⁴¹ Demons also came out from many of them, crying out and saying, "You are the Son of God!" Jesus rebuked the demons and would not let them speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

⁴² When daybreak came, he went out into a solitary place. Crowds of people were looking for him and came to the place where he was. They tried to keep him from going away from them. ⁴³ But he said to them, "I must also preach the gospel about the kingdom of God to many other cities, because this is the reason I was sent here."

⁴⁴ Then he continued to preach in the synagogues throughout Judea.

Chapter 5

¹ Now it happened while the people were crowding around Jesus and listening to the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret. ² He saw two boats pulled up by the edge of the lake. The fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. ³ Jesus got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put it out in the water a short distance from the land. Then he sat down and taught the people out of the boat.

⁴ When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Take the boat out into the deeper water and let down your nets for a catch."

⁵ Simon answered and said, "Master, we have labored all night and caught nothing, but at your word, I will let down the nets." ⁶ When they had done this, they gathered a very large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. ⁷ So they motioned to their partners in the other boat that they should come and help them. They came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

⁸ But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord." ⁹ For he and all who were with him were amazed at the catch of fish which they had taken. ¹⁰ And so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon.

Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid, because from now on you will catch men."

¹¹ When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

¹² It came about that while he was in one of the cities, a man full of leprosy was there. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."

¹³ Then Jesus reached out his hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing. Be clean." Immediately the leprosy left him.

¹⁴ He instructed him to tell no one but told him, "Go on your way, and show yourself to the priest and offer a sacrifice for your cleansing, according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."

¹⁵ But the report about him spread even farther, and large crowds of people came together to hear him teach and to be healed of their sicknesses. ¹⁶ But he often withdrew into the deserted places and prayed.

¹⁷ It came about on one of those days that he was teaching, and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal.

¹⁸ Now some men came carrying on a mat a man who was paralyzed, and they looked for a way to bring him inside in order to lay him down in front of Jesus. ¹⁹ They could not find a way to bring him in because of the crowd, so they went up to the housetop and let the man down through the tiles, on his mat, into the midst of the people, right in front of Jesus.

²⁰ Seeing their faith, Jesus said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."

²¹ The scribes and the Pharisees began to question this, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"

²² But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking, answered and said to them, "Why are you questioning this in your hearts? ²³ Which is easier: to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you' or to say, 'Get up and walk'? ²⁴ But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,"—he said to the paralyzed man—"I tell you, get up, pick up your mat and go to your house."

²⁵ Immediately he got up in front of them and picked up the mat on which he was lying. Then he went away to his house, glorifying God.

²⁶ Everyone was amazed and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today."

²⁷ After these things happened, Jesus went out from there and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax collector's tent. He said to him, "Follow me." ²⁸ So Levi got up and followed him, leaving everything behind.

²⁹ Then Levi gave a big banquet in his house for Jesus. There were many tax collectors there and other people who were reclining at the table and eating with them. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and their scribes were complaining to his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?"

³¹ Jesus answered them, "People who are well do not need a physician; only those who are sick. ³² I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."

³³ They said to him, "The disciples of John often fast and pray, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same. But your disciples eat and drink."

³⁴ Jesus said to them, "Can anyone make the wedding attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is still with them? ³⁵ But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, then in those days they will fast."

³⁶ Then Jesus also spoke a parable to them. "No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and uses it to mend an old garment. If he does that, he will tear the new garment, and the piece of cloth from the new garment will not fit with the cloth of the old garment.

³⁷ No one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does that, the new wine will burst the skins, and the wine will be spilled, and the wineskins will be destroyed. ³⁸ But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins. ³⁹ No one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is better.'"

Chapter 6

¹ Now it happened on a Sabbath that Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them between their hands, and eating the grain. ² But some of the Pharisees said, "Why are you doing something that is not lawful to do on the Sabbath day?"

³ Answering them, Jesus said, "Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and the men who were with him? ⁴ He went into the house of God and took the bread of the presence and ate some of it, and also gave some to the men who were with him to eat, even though it was only lawful for the priests to eat it." ⁵ Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."

⁶ It happened on another Sabbath that he went into the synagogue and taught the people there. A man was there whose right hand was withered. ⁷ The scribes and the Pharisees were watching him closely to see whether he would heal someone on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. ⁸ But he knew what they were thinking and he said to the man whose hand was withered, "Get up and stand here in the middle of everyone." So the man got up and stood there.

⁹ Jesus said to them, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to destroy it?" ¹⁰ Then he looked around at them all and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so, and his hand was restored. ¹¹ But they were filled with senseless rage, and they talked to each other about what they might do to Jesus.

¹² It happened in those days that he went out to the mountain to pray. He continued all night in prayer to God. ¹³ When it was day, he called his disciples to him, and he chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles.

¹⁴ The names of the apostles were Simon (whom he also named Peter) and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, ¹⁵ Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called the Zealot, ¹⁶ Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

¹⁷ Then Jesus came down the mountain with them and stood on a level place with a large crowd of his disciples and a large number of the people from Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon. ¹⁸ They had come to listen to him and to be healed of their diseases. People who were troubled with unclean spirits were also healed. ¹⁹ Everyone in the crowd kept trying to touch him because power to heal was coming out from him, and he healed them all.

²⁰ Then he looked at his disciples and said,

"Blessed are you who are poor,

for yours is the kingdom of God.

²¹ Blessed are you who hunger now,

for you will be filled.

Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

²² Blessed are you when people hate you,

and when they exclude you and insult you

and reject your name as evil,

because of the Son of Man.

²³ Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because you will surely have a great reward in heaven, for their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way.

²⁴ But woe to you who are rich,

for you have already received your comfort.

²⁵ Woe to you who are full now,

for you will be hungry later.

Woe to you who laugh now,

for you will mourn and weep later.

²⁶ Woe to you when all men speak well of you,

for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets.

²⁷ "But I say to you who are listening, love your enemies and do good to those who hate you. ²⁸ Bless those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you.

²⁹ To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer him also the other. If someone takes away your coat, do not withhold your tunic either. ³⁰ Give to everyone who asks you. If someone takes away something that belongs to you, do not ask him to give it back to you.

³¹ As you want people to do to you, you should do the same to them. ³² If you only love people who love you, what reward is there for you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³ If you do good only to people who do good to you, what reward is there for you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴ If you only lend to people from whom you hope to be repaid, what reward is there for you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive back the same amount.

³⁵ But love your enemies and do good to them. Lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind toward unthankful and evil people. ³⁶ Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

³⁷ Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven.

³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good amount—pressed down, shaken together and spilling over—will pour into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you."

³⁹ Then he also told them a parable. "Can a blind person guide another blind person? If he did, they would both fall into a pit, would they not? ⁴⁰ A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.

⁴¹ Why do you look at the tiny piece of straw that is in your brother's eye, but you do not notice the log that is in your own eye? ⁴² How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take out the piece of straw that is in your eye,' when you yourself do not even see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the piece of straw that is in your brother's eye.

⁴³ For there is no good tree that produces rotten fruit, nor is there a rotten tree that produces good fruit. ⁴⁴ For each tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces. For people do not gather figs from a thornbush, nor do they gather grapes from a briar bush.

⁴⁵ The good man from the good treasure of his heart produces what is good, and the evil man from the evil treasure of his heart produces what is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

⁴⁶ "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and yet you do not obey the things that I say? ⁴⁷ Every person who comes to me and hears my words and obeys them, I will tell you what he is like. ⁴⁸ He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep in the ground and built the house's foundation on solid rock. When a flood came, the torrent of water flowed against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.

⁴⁹ But the person who hears my words and does not obey them, he is like a man who built a house on top of the ground without a foundation. When the torrent of water flowed against that house, it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was complete."

Chapter 7

¹ After Jesus had finished everything he was saying in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum.

² Now a centurion had a slave who was highly regarded by him, and he was sick and about to die. ³ When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ When they had come to Jesus, they asked him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy to have you do this for him, ⁵ because he loves our nation, and he is the one who built the synagogue for us."

⁶ So Jesus continued on his way with them. But when he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to say to him, "Lord, do not trouble yourself, because I am not worthy for you to come under my roof. ⁷ For this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you, but just say a word and my servant will be healed. ⁸ For I also am a man who is under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another one, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it."

⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him said, "I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such faith." ¹⁰ When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant was healthy.

¹¹ Soon after that, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. ¹² As he came near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother (who was a widow), and a rather large crowd from the town was with her. ¹³ When the Lord saw her, he was deeply moved with compassion for her and said to her, "Do not cry." ¹⁴ Then he went up and touched the wooden frame on which they carried the body, and those carrying it stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise." ¹⁵ The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother.

¹⁶ Then fear overcame all of them, and they kept praising God, saying, "A great prophet has been raised among us" and "God has looked upon his people." ¹⁷ This news about Jesus spread throughout the whole of Judea and all the neighboring regions.

¹⁸ John's disciples told him about all these things. Then John called two of his disciples ¹⁹ and sent them to the Lord to say, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"

²⁰ When they had come near to Jesus, the men said, "John the Baptist has sent us to you to say, 'Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?'"

²¹ In that hour he healed many people from sicknesses and afflictions and from evil spirits, and to many blind people he gave sight. ²² Jesus answered and said to them, "After you have gone on your way, report to John what you have seen and heard. Blind people are receiving sight, lame people are walking, lepers are being cleansed, deaf people are hearing, people who have died are being raised back to life, and the poor are being told good news. ²³ The person who does not stop believing in me because of my actions is blessed."

²⁴ After John's messengers had gone away, Jesus began to say to the crowds about John, "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ²⁵ But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear splendid clothing and who live in luxury are in kings' palaces. ²⁶ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

²⁷ This is he of whom it is written,

'See, I am sending my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way before you.'

²⁸ I say to you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he is."

²⁹ (When all the people heard this, including the tax collectors, they declared that God is righteous, because they had been baptized with the baptism of John. ³⁰ But the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

³¹ "To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? ³² They are like children playing in the marketplace, who sit and call to one another and say,

'We played a flute for you,

and you did not dance.

We sang a funeral song,

and you did not cry.'

³³ For John the Baptist came eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' ³⁴ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, he is a gluttonous man and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' ³⁵ But wisdom is justified by all her children."

³⁶ Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him. So after Jesus entered into the Pharisee's house, he reclined at the table to eat. ³⁷ Behold, there was a woman in the city who was a sinner. When she found out that he was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfumed oil. ³⁸ As she stood behind him near his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and she wiped them with her hair and kissed them and anointed them with perfumed oil.

³⁹ When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he thought to himself, saying, "If this man were a prophet, then he would know who and what type of woman is touching him, that she is a sinner."

⁴⁰ Jesus responded and said to him, "Simon, I have something to say to you."

He said, "Say it, Teacher!"

⁴¹ Jesus said, "A certain moneylender had two debtors. The one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² When they could not pay him, he forgave them both. Therefore, which of them will love him more?"

⁴³ Simon answered him and said, "I suppose the one whom he forgave the most."

Jesus said to him, "You have judged correctly."

⁴⁴ Jesus turned to the woman and said to Simon, "You see this woman. I have entered into your house. You gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You did not give me a kiss, but from the time I came in she did not stop kissing my feet.

⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with perfumed oil. ⁴⁷ For this reason I say to you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven—for she loved much. But the one who is forgiven little, loves little."

⁴⁸ Then he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

⁴⁹ Those reclining together began to say among themselves, "Who is this that even forgives sins?"

⁵⁰ Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you. Go in peace."

Chapter 8

¹ It happened soon afterward that Jesus began traveling around to different cities and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, ² as well as certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had been driven out; ³ Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's manager; Susanna; and many others, who, out of their possessions, provided for their needs.

⁴ While a large crowd of people was gathering, and people were coming to him from town after town, he told a parable: ⁵ "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell beside the road and it was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the sky devoured it. ⁶ Some fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

⁷ Some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up together with the seed and choked it. ⁸ But some fell on good soil and produced a crop that was a hundred times greater." After Jesus had said these things, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear."

⁹ His disciples asked him what this parable meant. ¹⁰ He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but for others I speak in parables, so that

'seeing they may not see,

and hearing they may not understand.'

¹¹ Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. ¹² The ones along the road are those who have heard, but then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts so they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ The ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But they have no root; they believe for a while, and in a time of testing they fall away.

¹⁴ The seeds that fell among the thorns are people who hear the word, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature. ¹⁵ But the seed that fell on the good soil, these are the ones who, hearing the word with an honest and good heart, hold it securely and bear fruit with patient endurance.

¹⁶ "No one lights a lamp and covers it with a bowl or puts it under a bed. Rather, he puts it on a lampstand so that everyone who enters may see the light. ¹⁷ For nothing is hidden that will not be made known, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come into the light. ¹⁸ So listen carefully, for to the one who has, more will be given to him, but the one who does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him."

¹⁹ Then his mother and brothers came to him, but they could not get near him because of the crowd. ²⁰ He was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." ²¹ But Jesus answered and said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it."

²² Now one day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." They set sail. ²³ But as they sailed he fell asleep. A terrible windstorm came down on the lake, and their boat was filling with water, and they were in danger.

²⁴ Then Jesus' disciples came over to him and woke him up, saying, "Master! Master! We are about to die!"

He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and there was a calm.

²⁵ Then he said to them, "Where is your faith?"

But they were afraid and amazed, and they asked one another, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?"

²⁶ They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. ²⁷ When Jesus stepped on the land, he was met by a certain man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he did not live in a house but among the tombs.

²⁸ When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and he said with a loud voice, "What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me." ²⁹ For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and he would be driven by the demon into the wilderness.

³⁰ Then Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"

He said, "Legion," for many demons had entered into him.

³¹ They kept begging him not to command them to go away into the abyss.

³² Now a large herd of pigs was there feeding on the hillside. The demons begged him to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. ³³ So the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep slope into the lake and was drowned.

³⁴ When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and told about it in the city and countryside. ³⁵ So the people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out. He was sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

³⁶ Then those who had seen it told them how the man who had been possessed by demons had been healed. ³⁷ Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, for they were overwhelmed with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.

³⁸ The man from whom the demons had gone out begged him to let him go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, ³⁹ "Return to your home and give a full account of what God has done for you." The man went on his way, proclaiming throughout the whole city what Jesus had done for him.

⁴⁰ Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. ⁴¹ Behold, a man named Jairus, who was one of the leaders of the synagogue, came and fell down at Jesus' feet, and he begged him to come to his house ⁴² because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve years of age, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds of people pressed together around him.

⁴³ Now a woman was there who had been bleeding for twelve years ¹ and could not be healed by anyone. ⁴⁴ She came behind Jesus and touched the edge of his coat, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

⁴⁵ Jesus said, "Who was it who touched me?"

When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds of people are all around you and they are pressing in against you."

⁴⁶ But Jesus said, "Someone did touch me, for I know that power has gone out from me."

⁴⁷ When the woman saw that she could not escape notice, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people she declared why she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed. ⁴⁸ Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace."

⁴⁹ While he was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue leader's house, saying, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the teacher any longer."

⁵⁰ But when Jesus heard this, he answered Jairus, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be healed."

⁵¹ When he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father of the child and her mother. ⁵² Now all were mourning and wailing for her, but he said, "Do not weep; she is not dead but asleep." ⁵³ But they began to mock him, knowing that she was dead.

⁵⁴ But he took her by the hand and called out, saying, "Child, get up!" ⁵⁵ Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He ordered them to get her something to eat. ⁵⁶ Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.

¹Scholars are divided whether the phrase and had spent all her money on physicians should be included here.

Chapter 9

¹ He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases. ² He sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

³ He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey—no staff, no wallet, no bread, no money, and no extra tunic. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave.

⁵ Wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them." ⁶ Then they departed and went through the villages, proclaiming the gospel and healing everywhere.

⁷ Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, ⁸ and others said that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen. ⁹ Herod said, "I beheaded John. Who is this about whom I hear such things?" And so he tried to see him.

¹⁰ When the apostles returned, they told him everything they had done. Then he took them with him, and they went away privately to a town called Bethsaida. ¹¹ But when the crowds heard about this, they followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and he cured those who needed healing.

¹² Now the day was about to come to an end, and the twelve came to him and said, "Send the crowd away that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and food, because we are here in an isolated place."

¹³ But he said to them, "You give them something to eat."

They said, "We have no more than five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all these people."

¹⁴ (There were about five thousand men.) He said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

¹⁵ So they did this, and made the people sit down. ¹⁶ Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, he blessed them and broke them into pieces, and he gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. ¹⁷ They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over was picked up—twelve baskets of broken pieces.

¹⁸ It came about while Jesus was praying by himself, the disciples were with him. He questioned them, saying, "Who do the crowds say that I am?"

¹⁹ They answered, "John the Baptist. But others say Elijah, and others say that one of the prophets from long ago has risen."

²⁰ Then he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

²¹ But he warned and instructed them to tell this to no one, ²² saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and he will be killed and on the third day be raised."

²³ Then he said to them all, "If anyone wants to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. ²⁴ Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ²⁵ What profit is there for a person to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit himself?

²⁶ Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his own glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. ²⁷ But truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."

²⁸ Now about eight days after Jesus said these words, he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. ²⁹ As he was praying, the form of his face was changed, and his clothes became brilliant white.

³⁰ Behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, ³¹ who appeared in glory, talking with him about his departure, which he was about to bring to completion in Jerusalem.

³² Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were standing with him. ³³ As they were going away from Jesus, Peter said to him, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." (He did not know what he was saying.)

³⁴ As he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud. ³⁵ A voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my Son, the one who is chosen; listen to him." ³⁶ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

³⁷ Now on the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. ³⁸ Behold, a man from the crowd cried out, saying, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. ³⁹ You see, a spirit takes control over him and he suddenly screams; it causes him to have convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him and it bruises him badly. ⁴⁰ I begged your disciples to force it out, but they could not."

⁴¹ Jesus answered and said, "You unbelieving and perverse generation, how long must I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here." ⁴² While the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and shook him with convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

⁴³ Then they were all amazed at the greatness of God. While they all were marveling at everything he was doing, he said to his disciples, ⁴⁴ "Let these words go deeply into your ears: The Son of Man will be betrayed into the hands of men." ⁴⁵ But they did not understand this statement. It was hidden from them, so they could not know its meaning, and yet they were afraid to ask about this statement.

⁴⁶ Then an argument started among them about which of them would be the greatest. ⁴⁷ But Jesus, knowing the reasoning in their hearts, took a little child and put him by his side ⁴⁸ and said to them, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For whoever is least among you all is the one who is great."

⁴⁹ John answered, "Master, we saw someone forcing out demons in your name and we prevented him, because he does not follow along with us." ⁵⁰ "Do not stop him," Jesus said, "because whoever is not against you is for you."

⁵¹ When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. ⁵² He sent messengers on ahead of him, and they went and entered into a Samaritan village to prepare everything for him. ⁵³ But the people there did not welcome him because he had set his face to go to Jerusalem.

⁵⁴ When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and destroy them?" ⁵⁵ But he turned and rebuked them, ⁵⁶ and they went on to another village.

⁵⁷ As they were going along the road, someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."

⁵⁸ Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds in the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head."

⁵⁹ Then he said to another, "Follow me."

But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

⁶⁰ But he said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim far and wide the kingdom of God."

⁶¹ Then someone else said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to those in my home."

⁶² Jesus replied to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

Chapter 10

¹ Now after these things, the Lord appointed seventy ¹ others, and sent them out two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go. ² He said to them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.

³ Go on your way. See, I send you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. ⁴ Do not carry a money bag, or a traveler's bag, or sandals, and greet no one on the road.

⁵ Whatever house you enter, first say, 'May peace be on this house!' ⁶ If a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him, but if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Remain in that same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

⁸ Whatever town you enter, and they receive you, eat what is set before you ⁹ and heal the sick that are there. Say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come close to you.'

¹⁰ Whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, ¹¹ 'Even the dust from your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you! But know this: The kingdom of God is near.' ¹² I say to you that on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town.

¹³ Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the mighty works which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. ¹⁴ But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. ¹⁵ You, Capernaum, do you think you will be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades.

¹⁶ The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

¹⁷ The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons submitted to us in your name."

¹⁸ Jesus said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from heaven as lightning. ¹⁹ See, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will in any way hurt you. ²⁰ Nevertheless do not rejoice only in this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice even more that your names are engraved in heaven."

²¹ At that same hour he rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit and said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you concealed these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to those who are untaught, like little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well pleasing in your sight.

²² "All things have been entrusted to me from my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

²³ Then he turned around to the disciples and said privately, "Blessed are those who see the things that you see. ²⁴ I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see the things you see, and they did not see them, and to hear the things that you hear, and they did not hear them."

²⁵ Behold, an expert in the law stood up so that he might test him, saying, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

²⁶ Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? How do you read it?"

²⁷ He gave an answer and he said, "You will love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself."

²⁸ Jesus said to him, "You have answered correctly. Do this, and you will live."

²⁹ But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"

³⁰ Jesus answered him and said, "A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He fell among robbers, who stripped him of his belongings, and beat him, and left him half dead.

³¹ By chance a certain priest was going down that way, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³² In the same way, a Levite also, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

³³ But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was. When he saw him, he was moved with compassion. ³⁴ He approached him and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii, and gave them to the host, and said, 'Take care of him, and whatever extra you spend, when I return, I will repay you.'

³⁶ Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the robbers?"

³⁷ He said, "The one who showed mercy to him."

Jesus said to him, "Go and do the same."

³⁸ Now as they were traveling along, he entered into a certain village, and a certain woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. ³⁹ She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and heard his word.

⁴⁰ But Martha was overly busy with preparing to serve a meal. She came up to Jesus and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."

⁴¹ But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, which will not be taken away from her."

¹Many of the best ancient copies read seventy but some read seventy-two.

Chapter 11

¹ It happened one day that Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples."

² Jesus said to them, "When you pray say,

'Father, may your name be honored as holy.

May your kingdom come.

³ Give us our daily bread each day.

⁴ Forgive us our sins,

as we forgive everyone who is in debt to us.

Do not lead us into temptation.'"

⁵ Jesus said to them, "Which of you will have a friend, and will go to him at midnight, and say to him, 'Friend, lend to me three loaves of bread, ⁶ since a friend of mine just came in from the road, and I do not have anything to set before him'? ⁷ Then the one inside who answered him may say, 'Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children, along with me, are in bed. I am not able to get up and give bread to you.' ⁸ I say to you, even if he does not get up and give bread to you because you are his friend, yet because of your shameless persistence, he will get up and give you as many loaves of bread as you need.

⁹ I also say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For every asking person receives; and the seeking person finds; and to the person who knocks, it will be opened.

¹¹ Which father among you, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? ¹ ¹² Or if he asks for an egg, will you give a scorpion to him? ¹³ Therefore, if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father from heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?"

¹⁴ Now Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. ¹⁵ But some of the people said, "By Beelzebul, the ruler of demons, he is driving out demons."

¹⁶ Others tested him and sought from him a sign from heaven.

¹⁷ But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself is made desolate, and a house divided against itself falls.

¹⁸ If Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say I cast out demons by Beelzebul. ¹⁹ If I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? Because of this, they will be your judges. ²⁰ But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you.

²¹ When a strong man who is fully armed guards his own palace, his possessions are safe, ²² but when a stronger man overcomes him, the stronger man takes away the armor in which the man trusted and plunders the man's possessions. ²³ The one who is not with me is against me, and the one who does not gather with me scatters.

²⁴ When an unclean spirit has gone away from a man, it passes through waterless places and looks for rest. Finding none, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' ²⁵ Having returned, it finds the house had been swept clean and put in order. ²⁶ Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more evil than itself and they all come in to live there. Then the final condition of that man becomes worse than the first."

²⁷ It happened that, as he said these things, a certain woman raised her voice above the crowd and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you."

²⁸ But he said, "Rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it."

²⁹ As the crowds were increasing, Jesus began to say, "This generation is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, though no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. ³⁰ For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so too the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.

³¹ The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and see, someone greater than Solomon is here.

³² The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation of people and will condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and see, someone greater than Jonah is here.

³³ No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it in a hidden place or under a basket, but on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. ³⁴ Your eye is the lamp of the body. When your eye is good, the whole body is filled with light. But when your eye is bad, your body is full of darkness. ³⁵ Therefore, watch out that the light in you is not darkness. ³⁶ If then your whole body is full of light, not having any member in darkness, then your whole body will be like when a lamp shines its brightness on you."

³⁷ When he had finished speaking, a Pharisee asked him to eat with him at his house, so Jesus went in and reclined. ³⁸ The Pharisee was surprised that Jesus did not first wash before dinner.

³⁹ But the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of cups and bowls, but the inside of you is filled with robbery and evil. ⁴⁰ You senseless men! Did not the one who made the outside also make the inside? ⁴¹ Give what is inside as alms, and then all things will be clean for you.

⁴² "But woe to you Pharisees, because you tithe mint and rue and every other garden herb, but you neglect justice and the love of God. It is necessary to act justly and love God, without failing to do the other things also.

⁴³ Woe to you Pharisees, for you love the front seats in the synagogues and respectful greetings in the marketplaces. ⁴⁴ Woe to you, for you are like unmarked graves that people walk over without knowing it."

⁴⁵ One of the experts in the law said to him, "Teacher, what you say insults us too." ⁴⁶ Jesus said, "Woe to you, teachers of the law! For you put people under burdens that are hard to carry, but you do not touch the burdens with one of your own fingers.

⁴⁷ Woe to you, because you build tombs for the prophets, and it was your ancestors who killed them. ⁴⁸ So you are witnesses and you consent to the works of your ancestors, for they indeed killed them and you build their tombs.

⁴⁹ For this reason also, God's wisdom said, 'I will send to them prophets and apostles, and they will persecute and kill some of them.' ⁵⁰ As a result, this generation will be charged for all the blood of the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, ⁵¹ from Abel's blood to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the temple. Yes, I say to you, this generation will be held responsible.

⁵² Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key of knowledge; you do not enter in yourselves, and you hinder those who are entering."

⁵³ After Jesus left there, the scribes and the Pharisees opposed him and argued with him about many things, ⁵⁴ lying in wait to catch him in something he might say.

¹The best ancient copies have the shorter reading. Some ancient copies have a longer reading, which also is found in Matthew 7:9: Which father among you, if your son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? Or a fish, will give him a snake?

Chapter 12

¹ In the meantime, when many thousands of the people were gathered together so much that they trampled on each other, he began to say to his disciples first of all, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

² But there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, and nothing hidden that will not be known. ³ So whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.

⁴ I say to you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that they have no more that they can do. ⁵ But I will warn you about whom to fear. Fear the one who, after he has killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I say to you, fear him.

⁶ Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them is forgotten in the sight of God. ⁷ But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear. You are more valuable than many sparrows.

⁸ I say to you, everyone who confesses me before men, the Son of Man will also confess before the angels of God, ⁹ but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. ¹⁰ Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him, but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.

¹¹ When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you will speak in your defense, or what you will say, ¹² for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that hour what you should say."

¹³ Then someone from the crowd said to him, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me."

¹⁴ Jesus said to him, "Man, who appointed me a judge or a mediator over you?" ¹⁵ He said to them, "Watch that you keep yourselves from all greedy desires, because a person's life does not consist of the abundance of his possessions."

¹⁶ Then Jesus told them a parable, saying, "The field of a rich man yielded abundantly, ¹⁷ and he reasoned with himself, saying, 'What will I do, because I do not have a place to store my crops?' ¹⁸ He said, 'This is what I will do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store all of my grain and other goods. ¹⁹ I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods stored up for many years. Rest easy, eat, drink, be merry."'

²⁰ But God said to him, 'Foolish man, tonight your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' ²¹ That is what someone is like who stores up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God."

²² Jesus said to his disciples, "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.

²⁴ Think about the ravens, that they do not sow or reap. They have no storeroom or barn, but God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds! ²⁵ Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his lifespan? ²⁶ If then you are not able to do such a very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷ Think about the lilies—how they grow. They do not labor, neither do they spin. Yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. ²⁸ If God so clothes the grass in the field, which exists today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!

²⁹ Do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be anxious. ³⁰ For all the nations of the world seek these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. ³² Do not fear, little flock, because your Father is very pleased to give you the kingdom.

³³ Sell your possessions and give alms. Make for yourselves purses which will not wear out—treasure in the heavens that does not run out, where no thief comes near, and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

³⁵ "Keep your loins girded and your lamps lit, ³⁶ and be like people waiting expectantly for their master when he returns from the marriage feast, so that when he comes and knocks, they may immediately open the door for him.

³⁷ Blessed are those servants whom the master will find watching when he comes. Truly I say to you, he will gird himself to serve and have them sit down at the table, and he will come and serve them. ³⁸ If the master comes in the second watch of the night, or if even in the third watch, and finds them ready, blessed are those servants.

³⁹ But understand this, that if the master of the house had known the hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect."

⁴¹ Peter said, "Lord, are you telling this parable only to us, or also to everyone?"

⁴² The Lord said, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager whom his lord will set over his other servants to give them their portion of food at the right time? ⁴³ Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing that when he comes. ⁴⁴ Truly I say to you that he will set him over all his property.

⁴⁵ But if that servant says in his heart, 'My lord delays his return,' and begins to beat the male servants and female servants and to eat and drink and to become drunk, ⁴⁶ the lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know and will cut him in pieces and appoint a place for him with the unfaithful.

⁴⁷ That servant, having known his lord's will and not having prepared or done according to his will, will be beaten with many blows. ⁴⁸ But the one who did not know and did what deserved a beating, he will be beaten with a few blows. But everyone who has been given much, from them much will be required, and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be asked.

⁴⁹ "I came to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled. ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how I am distressed until it is completed!

⁵¹ Do you think that I came to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. ⁵² For from now on there will be five in one house divided—three people against two, and two people against three. ⁵³ They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law."

⁵⁴ Jesus was saying to the crowds also, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it happens. ⁵⁵ When a south wind is blowing, you say, 'There will be a scorching heat,' and it happens. ⁵⁶ Hypocrites, you know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the heavens, but how is it that you do not know how to interpret the present time?

⁵⁷ Why do you not judge what is right for yourselves? ⁵⁸ For when you go with your adversary before the magistrate, on the way make an effort to be reconciled with him so that he does not drag you to the judge, and so that the judge does not deliver you to the officer, and the officer does not throw you into prison. ⁵⁹ I say to you, you will never come out from there until you have paid the very last bit of money."

Chapter 13

¹ At that time, some people there told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate mixed with their own sacrifices. ² Jesus answered and said to them, "Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered in this way? ³ No, I tell you. But if you do not repent, all of you will perish in the same way.

⁴ Or those eighteen people in Siloam on whom a tower fell and killed them, do you think they were worse sinners than other men in Jerusalem? ⁵ No, I say. But if you do not repent, all of you will also perish."

⁶ Jesus told this parable, "Someone had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and he came and looked for fruit on it but found none. ⁷ The man said to the gardener, 'Look, for three years I have come and tried to find fruit on this fig tree and found none. Cut it down. Why let it waste the ground?'

⁸ "The gardener answered and said, 'Sir, leave it alone this year while I dig around it and put manure on it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, good; but if it does not, cut it down!'"

¹⁰ Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues during the Sabbath. ¹¹ Behold, a woman was there who for eighteen years had a spirit of weakness. She was bent over and was not able to straighten up completely.

¹² When Jesus saw her, he called to her and said, "Woman, you are freed from your weakness." ¹³ He placed his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight again and glorified God.

¹⁴ But the synagogue ruler was indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. So the ruler answered and said to the crowd, "There are six days in which it is necessary to labor. Come and be healed then, not on the Sabbath day."

¹⁵ The Lord answered him and said, "Hypocrites! Does not each of you untie his ox or his donkey from the stall and lead it to drink on the Sabbath? ¹⁶ So too this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, should her bonds not be untied on the Sabbath day?"

¹⁷ As he said these things, all those who opposed him were ashamed, but the whole crowd was rejoicing over all the glorious things he did.

¹⁸ Then Jesus said, "What is the kingdom of God like, and what can I compare it to? ¹⁹ It is like a mustard seed that a man took and threw into his garden, and it grew into a big tree, and the birds of heaven built their nests in its branches."

²⁰ Again he said, "To what can I compare the kingdom of God? ²¹ It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of flour until all the flour was leavened."

²² Then Jesus traveled through the towns and villages, teaching and making his way toward Jerusalem. ²³ Someone said to him, "Lord, are only a few people to be saved?"

So he said to them,

²⁴ "Struggle to enter through the narrow door, because, I say to you, many will try to enter, but will not be able to enter.

²⁵ Once the owner of the house gets up and locks the door, then you will stand outside and pound the door and say, 'Lord, Lord, let us in.'

"He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you or where you are from.'

²⁶ "Then you will say, 'We ate and drank in front of you and you taught in our streets.'

²⁷ "But he will reply, 'I say to you, I do not know where you are from. Get away from me, all you workers of unrighteousness!'

²⁸ There will be crying and the grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God's kingdom, but you are thrown out. ²⁹ They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and be seated at a table in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ Know this, those who are least important will be first, and those who are most important will be last."

³¹ In that same hour, some Pharisees came and said to him, "Go and leave here because Herod wants to kill you."

³² Jesus said, "Go and tell that fox, 'Look, I cast out demons and perform healings today and tomorrow, and the third day I will reach my goal.' ³³ In any case, it is necessary for me to continue on today, tomorrow, and the following day, since it is not acceptable for a prophet to be destroyed outside of Jerusalem.

³⁴ Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to you. How often I desired to gather your children the way a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you did not desire this. ³⁵ See, your house is abandoned. I say to you, you will not see me until you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Chapter 14

¹ It happened one Sabbath, when he went into the house of one of the leaders of the Pharisees to eat bread, that they were watching him closely. ² Behold, there in front of him was a man who was suffering from edema. ³ Jesus asked the experts in the Jewish law and the Pharisees, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?"

⁴ But they kept silent. So Jesus took hold of him, healed him, and sent him away. ⁵ He said to them, "Which of you who has a son or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?" ⁶ They were not able to give an answer to these things.

⁷ When Jesus noticed how those who were invited chose the seats of honor, he spoke a parable, saying to them, ⁸ "When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the place of honor, because someone may have been invited who is more honored than you. ⁹ When the person who invited both of you arrives, he will say to you, 'Give this other person your place,' and then in shame you will proceed to take the lowest place.

¹⁰ But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when the one who has invited you comes, he may say to you, 'Friend, go up higher.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. ¹¹ For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

¹² Jesus also said to the man who had invited him, "When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your rich neighbors, as they may also invite you in return, and you will be repaid.

¹³ But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, ¹⁴ and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the just."

¹⁵ When one of them who sat at the table with Jesus heard these things, he said to him, "Blessed is he who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!"

¹⁶ But Jesus said to him, "A certain man prepared a large dinner and invited many. ¹⁷ At the dinner hour, he sent his servant to say to those who were invited, 'Come, because everything is now ready.'

¹⁸ "They all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please excuse me.'

¹⁹ "Another said, 'I have bought five pairs of oxen, and I am going to try them out. Please excuse me.'

²⁰ "Then another man said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.'

²¹ "The servant came and told his master these things. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, 'Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the town and bring in here the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.'

²² "The servant said, 'Master, what you commanded has been done, and yet there is still room.'

²³ "The master said to the servant, 'Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. ²⁴ For I say to you, none of those men who were invited will taste my dinner.'"

²⁵ Now large crowds were going with him, and he turned and said to them, ²⁶ "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. ²⁷ Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.

²⁸ For which of you who desires to build a tower does not first sit down and count the cost to calculate if he has what he needs to complete it? ²⁹ Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'

³¹ Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take advice about whether he is able with ten thousand men to fight the other king who comes against him with twenty thousand men? ³² If not, while the other army is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for conditions of peace. ³³ So therefore, any one of you who does not give up all his possessions cannot be my disciple.

³⁴ Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its taste, how can it be made salty again? ³⁵ It is of no use for the soil or even for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Chapter 15

¹ Now all the tax collectors and other sinners were coming to Jesus to listen to him. ² Both the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled to each other, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and even eats with them."

³ Jesus spoke this parable to them, saying, ⁴ "Which one of you, if he has a hundred sheep and then loses one of them, will not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the lost one until he finds it? ⁵ Then when he has found it, he lays it across his shoulders and rejoices.

⁶ When he comes to the house, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep.' ⁷ I say to you that even so, there will be joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, more than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

⁸ "Or what woman who has ten silver coins, if she were to lose one coin, would not light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she has found it? ⁹ When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I lost.' ¹⁰ Even so, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

¹¹ Then Jesus said, "A certain man had two sons, ¹² and the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of the wealth that falls to me.' So he divided his property between them.

¹³ Not many days later, the younger son gathered together all he owned and went to a country far away, and there he wasted all his wealth by living recklessly. ¹⁴ Now when he had spent everything, a severe famine spread through that country, and he began to be in need.

¹⁵ He went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He was longing to eat the carob pods that the pigs ate because no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ But when the young son came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, and I am here, perishing from hunger! ¹⁸ I will get up and leave here and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me as one of your hired servants."'

²⁰ So the young son got up and left and came toward his father. While he was still far away, his father saw him and was moved with compassion, and he ran and embraced him and kissed him. ²¹ The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

²² "The father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and sandals on his feet. ²³ Then bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and be merry! ²⁴ For my son was dead, and now he is alive. He was lost, and now he is found.' Then they began to be merry.

²⁵ "Now his older son was out in the field. As he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ He called to one of the servants and asked what these things might be. ²⁷ The servant said to him, 'Your brother has come home and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him in good health.'

²⁸ "The older son was angry and would not go in, and his father came out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But the older son answered and said to his father, 'Look, these many years I slaved for you, and I never neglected a command of yours, and yet you never gave me a young goat that I might be merry with my friends, ³⁰ but when your son came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed for him the fattened calf.'

³¹ "The father said to him, 'Child, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³² But it was proper for us to be merry and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead, and is now alive; he was lost, and has now been found.'"

Chapter 16

¹ Jesus also said to the disciples, "There was a certain rich man who had a manager, and it was reported to him that this manager was wasting his possessions. ² So the rich man called him and said to him, 'What is this that I hear about you? Give an account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.'

³ "The manager said to himself, 'What should I do, since my master is taking away my management job? I do not have strength to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. ⁴ I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from my management job, people will welcome me into their houses.'

⁵ "Then the manager called for each one of his master's debtors, and he asked the first one, 'How much do you owe to my master?' ⁶ He said, 'A hundred baths of olive oil.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.'

⁷ "Then the manager said to another, 'How much do you owe?' He said, 'A hundred cors of wheat.' He said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'

⁸ "The master then commended the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own people than are the sons of light. ⁹ I say to you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the eternal dwellings.

¹⁰ "He who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and he who is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much. ¹¹ If you have not been faithful in using unrighteous wealth, who will trust you with true wealth? ¹² If you have not been faithful in using other people's property, who will give you money of your own?

¹³ "No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth."

¹⁴ Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. ¹⁵ He said to them, "You justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts. That which is exalted among men is detestable in the sight of God.

¹⁶ The law and the prophets were in effect until John came. From that time on, the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone tries to force their way into it. ¹⁷ But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the law to become invalid.

¹⁸ "Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from her husband commits adultery.

¹⁹ "Now there was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and was enjoying every day his great wealth. ²⁰ A certain beggar named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, ²¹ and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

²² It came about that the beggar died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, ²³ and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus at his side.

²⁴ So he cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.'

²⁵ "But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things. But now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. ²⁶ Besides all this, a great chasm has been put in place, so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot, and no one can cross over from there to us.'

²⁷ "The rich man said, 'I beg you, Father Abraham, that you would send him to my father's house— ²⁸ for I have five brothers—in order that he may warn them, so that it may not be that they come into this place of torment.'

²⁹ "But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them listen to them.'

³⁰ "The rich man replied, 'No, Father Abraham, but if someone would go to them from the dead, they will repent.'

³¹ "But Abraham said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead.'"

Chapter 17

¹ Jesus said to his disciples, "It is certain there will be stumbling blocks, but woe to that person through whom they come! ² It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

³ Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴ If he sins against you seven times in the day, and seven times returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him!"

⁵ The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."

⁶ The Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted, and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.

⁷ But which of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come immediately and sit down to eat'? ⁸ Will he not say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat, and put a belt around your clothes and serve me until I have finished eating and drinking. Then afterward you will eat and drink'?

⁹ He does not thank the servant because he did the things that were commanded, does he? ¹⁰ Even so you also, when you have done everything that you are commanded, should say, 'We are unworthy servants. We have only done what we ought to do.'"

¹¹ It came about that as he traveled to Jerusalem, he went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² As he entered into a certain village, there he was met by ten men who were lepers. They stood far away from him ¹³ and they lifted up their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us."

¹⁴ When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." As they went away they were cleansed. ¹⁵ When one of them saw that he was healed, he turned back, with a loud voice glorifying God. ¹⁶ He fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

¹⁷ Then Jesus said, "Were not the ten cleansed? Where are the nine? ¹⁸ Were there no others who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?" ¹⁹ He said to him, "Arise, and go. Your faith has made you well."

²⁰ Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with careful observing. ²¹ Neither will they say, 'Look, here it is!' or 'There it is!' For look, the kingdom of God is within you."

²² He said to the disciples, "The days are coming when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it. ²³ Then they will say to you, 'Look, there! Look, here!' But do not go out or run after them, ²⁴ for as the lightning shines brightly when it flashes from one part of the sky to another part of the sky, so will the Son of Man be in his day.

²⁵ But first he must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation. ²⁶ As it happened in the days of Noah, even so will it also happen in the days of the Son of Man. ²⁷ They ate, they drank, they married, and they were given in marriage until the day that Noah entered into the ark—and the flood came and destroyed them all.

²⁸ In the same way, even as it happened in the days of Lot—they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. ²⁹ But in the day that Lot went out from Sodom, it rained fire and sulfur from heaven and destroyed them all.

³⁰ After the same manner it will be in the day that the Son of Man is revealed. ³¹ In that day let him who is on the housetop not go down to get his goods out of the house, and in the same way let him who is in the field not return.

³² Remember Lot's wife. ³³ Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will save it.

³⁴ I tell you, in that night there will be two people in one bed. One will be taken, and the other will be left. ³⁵ There will be two women grinding grain together. One will be taken, and the other will be left." ³⁶ ¹

³⁷ They asked him, "Where, Lord?"

He said to them, "Where there is a body, there will the vultures also be gathered together."

¹Luke 17:36 the best ancient copies do not have verse 36, There will be two in the field; one will be taken and the other left .

Chapter 18

¹ Then he spoke a parable to them about how they should always pray and not become discouraged, ² saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect people.

³ Now there was a widow in that city, and she came often to him, saying, 'Help me get justice against my opponent.'

⁴ For a long time he was not willing to help her, but after a while he said to himself, 'Though I do not fear God or respect man, ⁵ yet because this widow causes me trouble, I will help her get justice, so that she does not wear me out by her constant coming.'"

⁶ Then the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ Now will not God also bring justice to his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? ⁸ I say to you that he will bring justice to them speedily. Even so, when the Son of Man comes, will he indeed find faith on the earth?"

⁹ Then he also spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and who despised other people: ¹⁰ "Two men went up into the temple to pray—the one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector.

¹¹ The Pharisee stood and prayed these things about himself, 'God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, unrighteous people, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. ¹² I fast two times every week. I give tithes of all that I get.'

¹³ But the tax collector, standing at a distance, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but hit his breast, saying, 'God, have mercy on me, a sinner.' ¹⁴ I say to you, this man went back down to his house justified rather than the other, because everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but everyone who humbles himself will be exalted."

¹⁵ The people were also bringing to him their infants so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. ¹⁶ But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Permit the little children to come to me, and do not forbid them. For the kingdom of God belongs to such ones. ¹⁷ Truly I say to you, whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a child will definitely not enter it."

¹⁸ A certain ruler asked him, saying, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"

¹⁹ Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good, except God alone. ²⁰ You know the commandments—do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not testify falsely, honor your father and mother."

²¹ The ruler said, "All these things I have obeyed from the time I was a youth."

²² When Jesus heard that, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. You must sell all that you have and distribute it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven—and come, follow me."

²³ But when the ruler heard these things, he became extremely sad, for he was very rich.

²⁴ Then Jesus, seeing him, ¹ said, "How difficult it is for those who are rich to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵ For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."

²⁶ Those hearing it said, "Then who can be saved?"

²⁷ Jesus answered, "The things which are impossible with people are possible with God."

²⁸ Peter said, "Well, we have left everything that is our own and have followed you."

²⁹ Jesus then said to them, "Truly, I say to you that there is no one who has left house, or wife, or brothers, or parents, or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, ³⁰ who will not receive much more in this time, and in the age to come, eternal life."

³¹ After he gathered the twelve to himself, he said to them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that have been written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. ³² For he will be given over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked, and shamefully treated, and spit upon. ³³ After whipping him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again."

³⁴ They understood none of these things, and this word was hidden from them, and they did not understand the things that were said.

³⁵ It came about that, as Jesus approached Jericho, a certain blind man was sitting by the road begging, ³⁶ and hearing a crowd going by, he asked what was happening. ³⁷ They told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by.

³⁸ So the blind man cried out, saying, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me." ³⁹ The ones who were walking ahead rebuked the blind man, telling him to be quiet. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me."

⁴⁰ Jesus stood still and commanded that the man be brought to him. Then when the blind man was near, Jesus asked him, ⁴¹ "What do you want me to do for you?"

He said, "Lord, I want to receive my sight."

⁴² Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight. Your faith has healed you." ⁴³ Immediately he received his sight and followed him, glorifying God. All the people, when they saw this, gave praise to God.

¹Some ancient Greek copies have the phrase: seeing that he had become sad .

Chapter 19

¹ Jesus entered and was passing through Jericho. ² Behold, there was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.

³ He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd, because he was small in height. ⁴ So he ran on ahead of the people and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was about to pass that way.

⁵ When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house." ⁶ So he hurried and came down and welcomed him joyfully. ⁷ When everyone saw this, they all complained, saying, "He has gone in to visit a man who is a sinner."

⁸ Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, the half of my possessions I give to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone of anything, I will restore four times the amount."

⁹ Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. ¹⁰ For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the people who are lost."

¹¹ As they heard these things, he continued speaking and told a parable, because he was near to Jerusalem, and they thought that the kingdom of God was about to appear immediately. ¹² He said therefore, "A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and then to return.

¹³ He called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas and said to them, 'Conduct business until I come back.'

¹⁴ "But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, 'We will not have this man reign over us.' ¹⁵ It happened when he returned, having received the kingdom, he commanded the servants to whom he had given the money to be called to him, that he might know what profit they had made by doing business.

¹⁶ "The first came before him, saying, 'Lord, your mina has made ten minas more.'

¹⁷ "The nobleman said to him, 'Well done, good servant. Because you were faithful in very little, you will have authority over ten cities.'

¹⁸ "The second came, saying, 'Your mina, lord, has made five minas.'

¹⁹ "The nobleman said to him, 'You take charge over five cities.'

²⁰ "Another came, saying, 'Lord, here is your mina, which I kept safely in a cloth, ²¹ for I was afraid of you, because you are a demanding person. You take up what you did not put in, and you reap what you did not sow.'

²² "The nobleman said to him, 'By your own words I will judge you, you wicked servant. You knew that I am a demanding person, taking up what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow. ²³ Then why did you not put my money in the bank, so that when I returned I would have collected it with interest?'

²⁴ The nobleman said to them that stood by, 'Take away from him the mina, and give it to him that has the ten minas.'

²⁵ "They said to him, 'Lord, he has ten minas.'

²⁶ "'I say to you, that everyone who has will be given more, but from him that has not, even that which he has will be taken away. ²⁷ But these enemies of mine, those who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and kill them before me.'"

²⁸ When he had said these things, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.

²⁹ It came about that when he came near to Bethphage and Bethany, to the mountain that is called Olives, he sent two of the disciples, ³⁰ saying, "Go into the next village. As you enter, you will find a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it to me. ³¹ If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say, 'The Lord has need of it.'"

³² Those who were sent went and found the colt just as Jesus had told them.

³³ As they were untying the colt, the owners said to them, "Why are you untying the colt?"

³⁴ They said, "The Lord has need of it." ³⁵ They brought it to Jesus, and they threw their cloaks upon the colt and set Jesus on it. ³⁶ As he went, they spread their cloaks on the road.

³⁷ As he was now approaching the place where the Mount of Olives descends, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen, saying,

³⁸ "Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!

Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!"

³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the multitude said to him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples."

⁴⁰ Jesus answered and said, "I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would cry out."

⁴¹ When Jesus approached the city, he wept over it, ⁴² saying, "If only you had known in this day, even you, the things which bring you peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.

⁴³ For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build a barricade around you and surround you and press in on you from every side. ⁴⁴ They will strike you down to the ground, and your children with you. They will not leave one stone upon another because you did not recognize the time of your visitation."

⁴⁵ Jesus entered the temple and began to cast out those who were selling, ⁴⁶ saying to them, "It is written, 'My house will be a house of prayer,' but you have made it a den of robbers."

⁴⁷ So Jesus was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes were seeking to destroy him, as were the leaders of the people, ⁴⁸ but they could not find a way to do it because all the people were listening to him intently.

Chapter 20

¹ It came about one day as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and preaching the gospel that the chief priests and the scribes came to him with the elders. ² They spoke, saying to him, "Tell us by what authority you do these things, or who it is who gave you this authority."

³ He answered and said to them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell me. ⁴ The baptism of John: Was it from heaven or from men?"

⁵ They reasoned with themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' ⁶ But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone us, for they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

⁷ So they answered that they did not know where it came from.

⁸ Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things."

⁹ He told the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to vine growers, and went into another country for a long time. ¹⁰ At the appointed time he sent a servant to the vine growers, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vine growers beat him, and sent him away empty-handed.

¹¹ He then sent yet another servant and they also beat him, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. ¹² He also sent yet a third and they also wounded him, and threw him out.

¹³ So the lord of the vineyard said, 'What will I do? I will send my beloved son. Maybe they will respect him.'

¹⁴ "But when the vine growers saw him, they discussed among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.'

¹⁵ They threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the lord of the vineyard do to them? ¹⁶ He will come and destroy these vine growers, and will give the vineyard to others."

When they heard it, they said, "May it never be!"

¹⁷ But Jesus looked at them, and said, "What is the meaning of that which is written:

'The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone'?

¹⁸ Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, and the one on whom it falls will be crushed."

¹⁹ So the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour, for they knew that he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. ²⁰ Watching him carefully, they sent out spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might find fault with his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor.

²¹ They asked him, saying, "Teacher, we know that you say and teach rightly, and are not partial to anyone, but you teach the truth about the way of God. ²² Is it lawful for us to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?"

²³ But Jesus understood their craftiness, and said to them, ²⁴ "Show me a denarius. Whose image and name is on it?"

They said, "Caesar's."

²⁵ He said to them, "Then give to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." ²⁶ They were not able to find fault with what he had said in front of the people, but marveling at his answer, they were silent.

²⁷ When some of the Sadducees came to him, the ones who say that there is no resurrection, ²⁸ they asked him, saying, "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife, and being childless, the man should take the brother's wife, and raise up children for his brother.

²⁹ There were seven brothers and the first took a wife, and died childless, ³⁰ and the second as well. ³¹ The third took her, and in the same way the seven also left no children and died. ³² Afterward the woman also died. ³³ In the resurrection, then, whose wife will she be? For the seven had her as their wife."

³⁴ Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage. ³⁵ But those who are regarded as worthy in that age to receive the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage. ³⁶ Neither can they die anymore, for they are equal to the angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection.

³⁷ But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the place concerning the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. ³⁸ Now he is not the God of the dead, but of the living, because all live to him."

³⁹ Some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have answered well." ⁴⁰ For they did not dare ask him any more questions.

⁴¹ Jesus said to them, "How do they say that the Christ is David's son? ⁴² For David himself says in the Book of Psalms,

The Lord said to my Lord,

'Sit at my right hand,

⁴³ until I make your enemies

your footstool.'

⁴⁴ David therefore calls the Christ 'Lord,' so how is he David's son?"

⁴⁵ In the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, ⁴⁶ "Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes and love special greetings in the marketplaces and chief seats in the synagogues and places of honor at feasts. ⁴⁷ They also devour widows' houses, and for a show they make long prayers. Men like this will receive greater condemnation."

Chapter 21

¹ Jesus looked up and saw the rich men who were putting their gifts into the treasury. ² He saw a certain poor widow putting in two mites. ³ So he said, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them. ⁴ All of these gave gifts out of their abundance. But this widow, out of her poverty, put in all she had to live on."

⁵ As some spoke of the temple, how it was decorated with beautiful stones and offerings, he said, ⁶ "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left on another which will not be torn down."

⁷ So they asked him, saying, "Teacher, when will these things happen? What will be the sign when these things are about to happen?" ⁸ Jesus answered, "Be careful that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not go after them. ⁹ When you hear of wars and riots, do not be terrified, for these things must happen first, but the end will not happen immediately."

¹⁰ Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues. There will be terrifying events and great signs from heaven.

¹² But before all of these things, they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you over to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors because of my name. ¹³ It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.

¹⁴ Therefore resolve in your hearts not to prepare your defense ahead of time, ¹⁵ for I will give you words and wisdom that all your adversaries will not be able to resist or contradict.

¹⁶ But you will be given over also by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated by everyone because of my name. ¹⁸ But not a hair from your head will perish. ¹⁹ In your endurance you will gain your lives.

²⁰ "When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that its desolation is near. ²¹ Then let those in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the city leave it, and those who are out in the country must not enter the city. ²² For these are days of vengeance, so that all the things that are written will be fulfilled.

²³ Woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing in those days! For there will be great distress upon the land, and wrath to this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the edge of the sword, and they will be led captive into all the nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

²⁵ "There will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars, and on the earth. The nations will be in distress, anxious because of the roar of the sea and waves. ²⁶ There will be men fainting from fear and from expectation of the things which are coming upon the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

²⁷ Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸ But when these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is coming near."

²⁹ Jesus told them a parable, "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ³⁰ When they sprout buds, you see for yourselves and know that summer is already near. ³¹ So also, when you see these things happening, recognize that the kingdom of God is near.

³² Truly I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

³⁴ "But pay attention to yourselves, so that your hearts are not burdened with excessive drinking and drunkenness and the worries of life, and that day does not close on you suddenly ³⁵ like a trap. For it will come upon everyone living on the face of the whole earth.

³⁶ But be alert at all times, praying that you may be strong enough to escape all these things that will take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."

³⁷ So during the days he was teaching in the temple, and at night he went out and stayed on the mountain that is called Olives. ³⁸ All of the people came early in the morning to hear him in the temple.

Chapter 22

¹ Now the Festival of Unleavened Bread was approaching, which is called the Passover. ² The chief priests and the scribes were seeking how they could put Jesus to death, for they were afraid of the people.

³ Then Satan entered into Judas, the one called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve. ⁴ Judas went to the chief priests and captains and discussed with them how he would betray Jesus to them.

⁵ They were glad and agreed to give him money. ⁶ He consented and looked for an opportunity to give him over to them away from the crowd.

⁷ Then came the day of unleavened bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. ⁸ So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, "Go and prepare for us the Passover meal, so that we may eat it."

⁹ They said to him, "Where do you want us to make preparations?"

¹⁰ He answered them, "Look, when you have entered the city, a man bearing a pitcher of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he goes into. ¹¹ Then say to the master of the house, 'The Teacher says to you, "Where is the guest room, where I will eat the Passover with my disciples?"'

¹² He will show you a large furnished upper room. Make the preparations there." ¹³ So they went, and found everything as he had said to them. Then they prepared the Passover meal.

¹⁴ When the hour came, he sat down with the apostles. ¹⁵ Then he said to them, "I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. ¹⁶ For I say to you, I will not eat it again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God."

¹⁷ Then Jesus took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, "Take this, and share it among yourselves. ¹⁸ For I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine again until the kingdom of God comes."

¹⁹ Then he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." ²⁰ He took the cup in the same way after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

²¹ But pay attention. The hand of the one who betrays me is with me at the table. ²² For the Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined. But woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!" ²³ They began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who would do this.

²⁴ Then there arose also a quarrel among them about which of them was considered to be greatest. ²⁵ He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles are lords over them, and the ones who have authority over them are called doers of good deeds.

²⁶ But it must not be like this with you. Instead, let the greatest among you become like the youngest and the one who leads like the one who serves. ²⁷ For who is greater, the one who sits at the table, or the one who serves? Is it not the one who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as one who serves.

²⁸ But you are the ones who have continued with me in my trials. ²⁹ I set you over a kingdom, even as my Father has set me over a kingdom, ³⁰ that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

³¹ "Simon, Simon, be aware, Satan asked to have you, that he might sift you as wheat. ³² But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. After you have turned back again, strengthen your brothers."

³³ Peter said to him, "Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death."

³⁴ Jesus replied, "I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day before you deny three times that you know me."

³⁵ Then Jesus said to them, "When I sent you out without a purse, a bag of provisions, or sandals, did you lack anything?"

They answered, "Nothing."

³⁶ Then he said to them, "But now, the one who has a purse, let him take it, and likewise a bag of provisions. The one who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one.

³⁷ For I say to you, what is written about me must be fulfilled, 'He was counted with the lawless ones.' For what is predicted about me is being fulfilled."

³⁸ Then they said, "Lord, look! Here are two swords."

He said to them, "It is enough."

³⁹ Jesus went, as he often did, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. ⁴⁰ When they arrived, he said to them, "Pray that you do not enter into temptation."

⁴¹ He went away from them about a stone's throw, and he knelt down and prayed, ⁴² saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless not my will, but yours be done."

⁴³ Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. ⁴⁴ Being in agony, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down upon the ground.

⁴⁵ When he rose up from his prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping because of their sorrow ⁴⁶ and asked them, "Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray, that you may not enter into temptation."

⁴⁷ While he was still speaking, behold, a crowd appeared, with Judas, one of the twelve, leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him, ⁴⁸ but Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"

⁴⁹ When those who were around Jesus saw what was happening, they said, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?" ⁵⁰ Then one of them struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

⁵¹ Jesus said, "That is enough!" He touched his ear, and healed him.

⁵² Jesus said to the chief priests, to the captains of the temple, and to elders who came against him, "Do you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? ⁵³ When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not lay your hands on me. But this is your hour, and the authority of darkness."

⁵⁴ Seizing him, they led him away and brought him into the high priest's house. But Peter followed from a distance. ⁵⁵ After they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat in the midst of them.

⁵⁶ A certain female servant saw him as he sat in the light of the fire and looked straight at him and said, "This man also was with him."

⁵⁷ But Peter denied it, saying, "Woman, I do not know him."

⁵⁸ After a little while someone else saw him, and said, "You are also one of them."

But Peter said, "Man, I am not."

⁵⁹ After about an hour another man insisted and said, "Truly this man also was with him, for he is a Galilean."

⁶⁰ But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying." Immediately, while he was speaking, a rooster crowed.

⁶¹ Turning, the Lord looked at Peter, and Peter remembered the word of the Lord, when he said to him, "Before a rooster crows today you will deny me three times." ⁶² Peter went outside and wept bitterly.

⁶³ Then the men holding Jesus in custody mocked and beat him. ⁶⁴ They put a cover over him and asked him, saying, "Prophesy! Who is the one who hit you?" ⁶⁵ They spoke many other things against Jesus, blaspheming him.

⁶⁶ As soon as it was day, the elders of the people gathered together, both chief priests and scribes. They led him into the Council ⁶⁷ and said, "If you are the Christ, tell us."

But he said to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe,

⁶⁸ and if I ask you, you will not answer.

⁶⁹ But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God."

⁷⁰ They all said, "Then you are the Son of God?"

Jesus said to them, "You say that I am."

⁷¹ They said, "Why do we still need a witness? For we ourselves have heard from his own mouth."

Chapter 23

¹ The whole company of them rose up and brought Jesus before Pilate. ² They began to accuse him, saying, "We found this man misleading our nation, forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king."

³ Pilate asked him, saying, "Are you the King of the Jews?"

Jesus answered him and said, "You say so."

⁴ Pilate said to the chief priests and the multitudes, "I find no guilt in this man."

⁵ But they were insisting, saying, "He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee even to this place."

⁶ So when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. ⁷ When he learned that he was under Herod's authority, he sent Jesus to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem in those days.

⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, because he had wanted to see him for a long time. He had heard about him and he hoped to see some sign done by him. ⁹ Herod questioned Jesus in many words, but Jesus answered him nothing. ¹⁰ The chief priests and the scribes stood, vigorously accusing him.

¹¹ Herod with his soldiers showed Jesus contempt and they mocked him. Then they dressed him in splendid clothes and sent him back to Pilate. ¹² For Herod and Pilate had become friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been enemies with each other.

¹³ Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the crowd of people ¹⁴ and said to them, "You brought to me this man like a man who is misleading the people. And see, I, having questioned him before you, find no guilt in this man concerning those things of which you accuse him.

¹⁵ No, nor does Herod, for he sent him back to us, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him. ¹⁶ I will therefore punish him and release him." ¹⁷ ¹

¹⁸ But they cried out all together, saying, "Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas!" ¹⁹ Barabbas was a man who had been put into prison for a certain rebellion in the city and for murder.

²⁰ Pilate addressed them again, desiring to release Jesus. ²¹ But they shouted, saying, "Crucify him, crucify him." ²² He said to them a third time, "Why, what evil has this man done? I have found no guilt deserving death in him. Therefore after punishing him, I will release him."

²³ But they were insistent with loud voices, demanding for him to be crucified. Their voices convinced Pilate. ²⁴ So Pilate decided to grant their demand. ²⁵ He released the one they asked for who had been put in prison for rebellion and murder. But he delivered up Jesus to their will.

²⁶ As they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him to carry, following Jesus.

²⁷ A great crowd of the people, and of women who grieved and mourned for him, were following him. ²⁸ But turning to them, Jesus said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.

²⁹ For see, the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren and the wombs that did not bear, and the breasts that did not nurse.'

³⁰ Then they will begin to say to the mountains,

'Fall on us,' and to the hills, 'Cover us.'

³¹ For if they do these things while the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?"

³² Other men, two criminals, were led away with him to be put to death.

³³ When they came to the place that is called "The Skull," there they crucified him and the criminals—one on his right and one on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." Then they cast lots, dividing up his garments.

³⁵ The people stood watching while the rulers also were mocking him, saying, "He saved others. Let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, the chosen one."

³⁶ The soldiers also ridiculed him, approaching him, offering him vinegar, ³⁷ and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself." ³⁸ There was also a sign over him, "This is the King of the Jews."

³⁹ One of the criminals who was hanging there insulted him by saying, "Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us."

⁴⁰ But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? ⁴¹ We indeed are here justly, for we are receiving what we deserve for our deeds. But this man did nothing wrong."

⁴² Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

⁴³ Jesus said to him, "Truly I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise."

⁴⁴ It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour ⁴⁵ as the sun turned dark. Then the curtain of the temple was split in two.

⁴⁶ Crying with a loud voice, Jesus said, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." Having said this, he died.

⁴⁷ When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, "Surely this was a righteous man."

⁴⁸ When all the multitudes who came together to witness this sight saw the things that were done, they returned beating their breasts. ⁴⁹ But all those who knew him, and the women who followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

⁵⁰ Behold, there was a man named Joseph, who was a member of the Council. He was a good and righteous man. ⁵¹ This man had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, and he was looking for the kingdom of God.

⁵² This man, approaching Pilate, asked for the body of Jesus. ⁵³ He took it down, wrapped it in fine linen, and placed it in a tomb that was cut in stone, where no one had ever been laid.

⁵⁴ It was the Day of the Preparation, and the Sabbath was about to begin. ⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus out of Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. ⁵⁶ They returned and prepared spices and ointments.

Then on the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.

¹The best ancient copies do not have Luke 23:17, Now Pilate was obligated to release to the Jews one prisoner at the feast .

Chapter 24

¹ Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. ² They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. ³ They entered in, but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

⁴ It happened that, while they were confused about this, suddenly, two men stood by them in bright shining garments. ⁵ As the women were terrified and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said to the women, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

⁶ He is not here, but has been raised! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, ⁷ saying that the Son of Man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and on the third day rise again."

⁸ The women remembered his words ⁹ and returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and all the rest. ¹⁰ Now Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them reported these things to the apostles.

¹¹ But this message seemed like idle talk to the apostles, and they did not believe the women. ¹² Yet Peter rose up and ran to the tomb, and, stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves. Peter then departed to his home, wondering what had happened.

¹³ Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. ¹⁴ They discussed with each other about all the things that had happened.

¹⁵ It happened that, while they discussed and questioned together, Jesus himself approached and went with them. ¹⁶ But their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.

¹⁷ Jesus said to them, "What are these matters you two are discussing as you walk?" They stood there looking sad.

¹⁸ One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only person in Jerusalem who does not know the things which have happened there these days?"

¹⁹ Jesus said to them, "What things?"

They answered him, "The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet, mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

²⁰ and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death and crucified him.

²¹ But we hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. Yes, and what is more, it is now the third day since all these things happened.

²² But also, some women of our company amazed us, having been at the tomb early in the morning. ²³ When they did not find his body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. ²⁴ Some men who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said. But they did not see him."

²⁵ Jesus said to them, "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! ²⁶ Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?" ²⁷ Then beginning from Moses and through all the prophets, Jesus interpreted to them the things concerning himself in all the scriptures.

²⁸ As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as though he were going further. ²⁹ But they compelled him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is almost over." So Jesus went in to stay with them.

³⁰ It happened that, when he had sat down with them to eat, he took the bread, blessed it, and breaking it, he gave it to them. ³¹ Then their eyes were opened, and they knew him, and he vanished out of their sight. ³² They said one to another, "Was not our heart burning within us, while he spoke to us on the way, while he opened to us the scriptures?"

³³ They rose up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven gathered together and those who were with them, ³⁴ saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon." ³⁵ So they told the things that happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

³⁶ As they spoke these things, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace be to you." ³⁷ But they were terrified and filled with fear and thought that they were seeing a spirit.

³⁸ Jesus said to them, "Why are you troubled? Why do questions arise in your heart? ³⁹ See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see me having." ⁴⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

⁴¹ They still could not believe it because of joy, and they were amazed. Jesus said to them, "Do you have anything to eat?" ⁴² They gave him a piece of a broiled fish, ⁴³ and he took it and ate it before them.

⁴⁴ He said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you when I was with you, that all that was written in the law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the scriptures. ⁴⁶ He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead on the third day. ⁴⁷ Repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹ See, I am sending you what my Father promised. But remain in the city until you are clothed with power from on high."

⁵⁰ Then Jesus led them out until they were near Bethany. He lifted up his hands and blessed them. ⁵¹ It happened that, while he was blessing them, he left them and was carried up into heaven.

⁵² So they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. ⁵³ They were continually in the temple, blessing God.

John

Chapter 1

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² This one was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him there was not one thing made that has been made.

⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

⁶ There was a man who was sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ John was not the light, but came that he might testify about the light.

⁹ The true light, which gives light to all men, was coming into the world.

¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own did not receive him.

¹² But to as many as received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. ¹³ These were not born of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and lived among us. We have seen his glory, glory as of the one and only who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John testified about him and cried out, saying, "This was the one of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is greater than I am, for he was before me.'"

¹⁶ For from his fullness we have all received grace after grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made God known.

¹⁹ This is the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" ²⁰ He confessed—he did not deny, but confessed—"I am not the Christ." ²¹ So they asked him, "What are you then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." They said, "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No."

²² Then they said to him, "Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?" ²³ He said, "I am a voice, crying in the wilderness: 'Make the way of the Lord straight,' just as Isaiah the prophet said."

²⁴ Now some from the Pharisees were sent, ²⁵ and they asked him and said to him, "Why do you baptize, then, if you are not the Christ nor Elijah nor the prophet?"

²⁶ John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water. But among you stands someone you do not know. ²⁷ He is the one who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." ²⁸ These things were done in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Look, there is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is the one of whom I said, 'The one who comes after me is more than me, for he was before me.' ³¹ I did not know him, but it was so that he could be revealed to Israel that I came baptizing with water."

³² John testified, saying, "I saw the Spirit coming down like a dove from heaven, and it stayed upon him. ³³ I did not recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'The one on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ I have both seen and testified that this is the Son of God."

³⁵ Again, the next day, as John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ they saw Jesus walking by, and John said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"

³⁷ His two disciples heard him say this and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Then Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They replied, "Rabbi" (which is translated "Teacher"), "where are you staying?" ³⁹ He said to them, "Come and see." Then they came and saw where he was staying; they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.

⁴⁰ One of the two who heard John speak and then followed Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. ⁴¹ He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated "Christ"). ⁴² He brought him to Jesus, and Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas" (which is translated "Peter").

⁴³ The next day, when Jesus wanted to leave to go to Galilee, he found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." ⁴⁴ Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. ⁴⁵ Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, "He of whom Moses wrote in the law, and the prophets, we have found him: Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth."

⁴⁶ Nathaniel said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." ⁴⁷ Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him and said about him, "See, a true Israelite, in whom is no deceit!" ⁴⁸ Nathaniel said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

⁴⁹ Nathaniel replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" ⁵⁰ Jesus replied and said to him, "Because I said to you, 'I saw you underneath the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than this." ⁵¹ Then he said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."

Chapter 2

¹ Three days later, there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding.

³ When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." ⁴ Jesus said to her, "Woman, why do you come to me? My time has not yet come." ⁵ His mother said to the servants, "Whatever he says to you, do it."

⁶ Now there were six stone water pots there used for the Jewish ceremonial washing, each containing two to three metretes. ⁷ Jesus said to them, "Fill the water pots with water." So they filled them up to the brim. ⁸ Then he told the servants, "Take some out now and take it to the head waiter." So they did.

⁹ The head waiter tasted the water that had become wine, but he did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew). Then he called the bridegroom ¹⁰ and said to him, "Every man serves the good wine first and then the cheaper wine when they are drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now."

¹¹ This first sign Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and he revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

¹² After this Jesus, his mother, his brothers, and his disciples went down to Capernaum and they stayed there for a few days.

¹³ Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ He found sellers of oxen and sheep and pigeons in the temple, and the money changers were sitting there.

¹⁵ So he made a whip of cords and drove all of them out from the temple, including both the sheep and the cattle. He scattered the coins of the money changers and turned their tables over. ¹⁶ To the pigeon sellers he said, "Take these things away from here. Stop making the house of my Father a marketplace."

¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for your house will consume me."

¹⁸ Then the Jewish authorities responded and said to him, "What sign will you show us, since you are doing these things?" ¹⁹ Jesus replied, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

²⁰ Then the Jewish authorities said, "This temple was built in forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?" ²¹ However, he was speaking about the temple of his body. ²² After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he said this, and they believed the scripture and this statement that Jesus had spoken.

²³ Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover festival, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he did. ²⁴ But Jesus did not trust in them because he knew them all, ²⁵ because he did not need anyone to testify to him about man, for he knew what was in man.

Chapter 3

¹ Now there was a Pharisee whose name was Nicodemus, a Jewish leader. ² This man came to Jesus at night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher that came from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him."

³ Jesus replied to him, "Truly, truly, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

⁴ Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?"

⁵ Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. ⁶ That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

⁷ Do not be amazed that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' ⁸ The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

⁹ Nicodemus replied and said to him, "How can these things be?" ¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? ¹¹ Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak what we know, and we testify about what we have seen. Yet you do not accept our testimony.

¹² If I told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? ¹³ No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.

¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ so that all who believe in him may have eternal life.

¹⁶ "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send the Son into the world in order to condemn the world, but in order to save the world through him. ¹⁸ He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is already condemned because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

¹⁹ This is the reason for the judgment: The light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. ²¹ However, he who practices the truth comes to the light so that it may be plainly seen that his deeds have been done in God."

²² After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea. There he spent some time with them and baptized. ²³ Now John was also baptizing in Aenon near to Salim because there was much water there. People were coming to him and were being baptized, ²⁴ for John had not yet been thrown in prison.

²⁵ Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and a Jew about ceremonial washing. ²⁶ They went to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, about whom you have testified, look, he is baptizing, and they are all going to him."

²⁷ John replied, "A man cannot receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. ²⁸ You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but instead, 'I have been sent before him.'

²⁹ The bride belongs to the bridegroom. Now the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the voice of the bridegroom. This, then, is my joy made complete. ³⁰ He must increase, but I must decrease.

³¹ "He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth is from the earth and speaks about the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. ³² He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. ³³ He who has received his testimony has confirmed that God is true.

³⁴ For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God. For he does not give the Spirit by measure. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand. ³⁶ He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God stays on him."

Chapter 4

¹ Now when Jesus knew that the Pharisees had heard that he was making and baptizing more disciples than John ² (although Jesus himself was not baptizing, but his disciples were), ³ he left Judea and went back again to Galilee.

⁴ But it was necessary for him to go through Samaria. ⁵ So he came to a town of Samaria, called Sychar, near the piece of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.

⁶ The well of Jacob was there. Jesus was tired from his journey and sat by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

⁷ A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, "Give me some water to drink." ⁸ For his disciples had gone away into the town to buy food.

⁹ Then the Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it that you, being a Jew, are asking me, being a Samaritan woman, for something to drink?" For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.

¹⁰ Jesus answered and said to her, "If you had known the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

¹¹ The woman said to him, "Sir, you do not have a bucket and the well is deep. Where then do you have the living water? ¹² You are not greater, are you, than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock?"

¹³ Jesus replied and said to her, "Everyone who drinks from this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will not ever be thirsty again. Instead, the water that I will give him will become a fountain of water in him, springing up to eternal life."

¹⁵ The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water so that I may not become thirsty and not have to come here to draw water."

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come back here."

¹⁷ The woman answered and said to him, "I do not have a husband."

Jesus replied, "You have said correctly, 'I have no husband,'

¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true."

¹⁹ The woman said to him, "Sir, I see that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that Jerusalem is the place where people have to worship."

²¹ Jesus said to her, "Believe me, woman, that an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. ²² You worship what you do not know. We worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.

²³ However, the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to be his worshipers. ²⁴ God is Spirit, and the people who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

²⁵ The woman said to him, "I know that the Messiah is coming (the one called Christ). When he comes, he will explain everything to us."

²⁶ Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one speaking to you."

²⁷ At that moment his disciples returned. Now they were wondering why he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, "What are you looking for?" or "Why are you speaking with her?"

²⁸ So the woman left her water pot, went back to the town, and said to the people, ²⁹ "Come, see a man who told me everything that I have ever done. This could not be the Christ, could it?" ³⁰ They left the town and came to him.

³¹ In the meantime, the disciples were urging him, saying, "Rabbi, eat." ³² But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you do not know about." ³³ So the disciples said to each other, "No one has brought him anything to eat, have they?"

³⁴ Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. ³⁵ Do you not say, 'There are four more months and then the harvest comes'? I am saying to you, look up and see the fields, for they are already ripe for harvest! ³⁶ He who is harvesting receives wages and gathers fruit for everlasting life, so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

³⁷ For in this the saying, 'One sows, and another reaps,' is true. ³⁸ I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."

³⁹ Many of the Samaritans in that city believed in him because of the report of the woman who was testifying, "He told me everything that I have done." ⁴⁰ So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days.

⁴¹ Many more believed because of his word. ⁴² They said to the woman, "We no longer believe because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard, and we know that this one is indeed the Savior of the world."

⁴³ After those two days, he departed from there for Galilee. ⁴⁴ For Jesus himself declared that a prophet has no honor in his own country. ⁴⁵ When he came into Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all the things that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival, for they had also gone to the festival.

⁴⁶ Now he came again to Cana in Galilee, where he had made the water wine. There was a certain royal official whose son in Capernaum was ill. ⁴⁷ When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went to Jesus and asked him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die.

⁴⁸ Jesus then said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will not believe." ⁴⁹ The royal official said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies." ⁵⁰ Jesus said to him, "Go. Your son lives." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went away.

⁵¹ While he was going down, his servants met him, saying that his son was living. ⁵² So he asked them the hour when he began to improve. They replied to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him."

⁵³ Then the father realized that it was at that hour that Jesus had said to him, "Your son lives." So he himself and his whole household believed. ⁵⁴ This was the second sign that Jesus did when he came out of Judea to Galilee.

Chapter 5

¹ After this there was a Jewish festival, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ² Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate there is a pool, which in the Aramaic language is called Bethesda, and it has five roofed porches. ³ A large number of people who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed were lying there. ¹ ⁴ ²

⁵ A certain man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there, and after he realized that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be healthy?"

⁷ The sick man replied, "Sir, I do not have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up. When I come, another steps down before me." ⁸ Jesus said to him, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk."

⁹ Immediately the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was a Sabbath.

¹⁰ So the Jews said to him who was healed, "It is the Sabbath and you are not permitted to carry your mat." ¹¹ He replied, "He who made me healthy said to me, 'Pick up your mat and walk.'"

¹² They asked him, "Who is the man that said to you, 'Pick it up and walk'?" ¹³ However, the one who was healed did not know who it was because Jesus had gone away secretly, for there was a crowd in the place.

¹⁴ Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, "See, you have become healthy! Do not sin anymore, so that something worse will not happen to you." ¹⁵ The man went away and reported to the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him healthy.

¹⁶ Now because of these things the Jews persecuted Jesus, because he did these things on the Sabbath. ¹⁷ Jesus replied to them, "My Father is working even now, and I, too, am working." ¹⁸ Because of this, the Jews sought even more to kill him because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal to God.

¹⁹ Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, the Son can do nothing of himself, except only what he sees the Father doing, for whatever the Father is doing, the Son does in the same way. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and he shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these so that you will be amazed.

²¹ For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to anyone he wishes. ²² For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son ²³ so that everyone will honor the Son just as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

²⁴ Truly, truly, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but he has passed from death to life.

²⁵ "Truly, truly, I tell you the time is coming, and is now, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

²⁶ For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has also given to the Son so that he has life in himself, ²⁷ and the Father has given the Son authority to carry out judgment because he is the Son of Man.

²⁸ Do not be amazed at this, for there is a time coming in which everyone who is in the tombs will hear his voice ²⁹ and will come out: those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

³⁰ "I can do nothing from myself. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous because I am not seeking my own will but the will of him who sent me. ³¹ If I should testify about myself, my testimony would not be true. ³² There is another who testifies about me, and I know that the testimony that he gives about me is true.

³³ You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. ³⁴ But the testimony that I receive is not from man. I say these things that you might be saved. ³⁵ John was a lamp that was burning and shining, and you were willing to rejoice in his light for a while.

³⁶ Yet the testimony that I have is greater than that of John, for the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me that the Father has sent me. ³⁷ The Father who sent me has himself testified about me. You have neither heard his voice nor seen his form at any time. ³⁸ You do not have his word remaining in you, for you are not believing in the one whom he has sent.

³⁹ You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and these same scriptures testify about me, ⁴⁰ and you are not willing to come to me so that you may have life.

⁴¹ I do not receive glory from men, ⁴² but I know that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.

⁴³ I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another should come in his own name, you would receive him. ⁴⁴ How can you believe, you who accept glory from one another but are not seeking the glory that comes from the only God?

⁴⁵ Do not think that I myself will accuse you before the Father. The one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have hoped. ⁴⁶ If you believed Moses, you would believe me, because he wrote about me. ⁴⁷ If you do not believe his writings, how are you going to believe my words?"

¹The best ancient copies do not have the phrase, waiting for the moving of the water .

²The best ancient copies do not have verse 4, For an angel of the Lord went down and stirred up the water at certain times and whoever stepped in while the water was stirring was healed from whatever disease he suffered from .

Chapter 6

¹ After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias. ² A great crowd was following him because they saw the signs that he was doing on those who were sick. ³ Jesus went up the mountain and there he sat down with his disciples.

⁴ (Now the Passover, the Jewish festival, was near.) ⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming to him, he said to Philip, "Where are we going to buy bread so that these may eat?" ⁶ (But Jesus said this to test Philip, for he himself knew what he was going to do.)

⁷ Philip answered him, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread would not be sufficient for each one to have even a little." ⁸ One of the disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to Jesus, ⁹ "There is a boy here who has five loaves of barley bread and two fish, but what are these among so many?"

¹⁰ Jesus said, "Make the people sit down." Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. ¹¹ Then Jesus took the loaves and after giving thanks, he gave it to those who were sitting. He did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted. ¹² When the people were filled, he said to his disciples, "Gather up the broken pieces which remain, so that nothing will be lost."

¹³ So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. ¹⁴ Then, when the people saw this sign that he did, they said, "This truly is the prophet who is to come into the world." ¹⁵ When Jesus realized that they were about to come and seize him by force to make him king, he withdrew again up the mountain by himself.

¹⁶ When it became evening, his disciples went down to the sea. ¹⁷ They got into a boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was dark by this time, and Jesus had not yet come to them. ¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing, and the sea was getting rough.

¹⁹ When they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were afraid. ²⁰ But he said to them, "It is I! Do not be afraid." ²¹ Then they were willing to receive him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land where they were going.

²² The next day, the crowd that had been standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there except the one, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples but that his disciples had gone away alone. ²³ However, there were some boats that came from Tiberias close to the place where they had eaten the bread loaves after the Lord had given thanks.

²⁴ When the crowd discovered that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum seeking Jesus. ²⁵ After they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?"

²⁶ Jesus replied to them, saying, "Truly, truly, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate some of the bread loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Do not labor for the food that perishes, but labor for the food that endures to eternal life which the Son of Man will give you, for God the Father has set his seal on him."

²⁸ Then they said to him, "What must we do, so that we may do the works of God?" ²⁹ Jesus replied and said to them, "This is the work of God: That you believe in the one whom he has sent."

³⁰ So they said to him, "What sign then will you do, so that we may see and believe you? What will you do? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written, 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'"

³² Then Jesus replied to them, "Truly, truly, it was not Moses who gave you the bread out of heaven, but it is my Father who is giving you the true bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." ³⁴ So they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always."

³⁵ Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me will not be hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. ³⁶ But I told you that indeed you have seen me, and you do not believe. ³⁷ Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me, and he who comes to me I will certainly not throw out.

³⁸ For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. ³⁹ This is the will of him who sent me, that I would lose not one of all those whom he has given me, but will raise them up on the last day. ⁴⁰ For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him will have eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day."

⁴¹ Then the Jews grumbled about him because he had said, "I am the bread that has come down from heaven." ⁴² They said, "Is not this Jesus son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then does he now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?"

⁴³ Jesus replied and said to them, "Stop grumbling among yourselves. ⁴⁴ No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the prophets, 'Everyone will be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.

⁴⁶ Not that anyone has seen the Father, except he who is from God—he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Truly, truly, he who believes has eternal life.

⁴⁸ I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹ Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.

⁵⁰ This is the bread which comes down from heaven, so that a person may eat some of it and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats some of this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

⁵² The Jews became angry among themselves and began to argue, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" ⁵³ Then Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in yourselves.

⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day. ⁵⁵ For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶ He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him.

⁵⁷ As the living Father sent me, and as I live because of the Father, so he who eats me, he will also live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that has come down from heaven, not as the fathers ate and died. He who eats this bread will live forever." ⁵⁹ But Jesus said these things in the synagogue while he was teaching in Capernaum.

⁶⁰ Then many of his disciples who heard this said, "This is a difficult saying; who can hear it?" ⁶¹ Jesus, because he knew in himself that his disciples were grumbling at this, said to them, "Does this offend you?

⁶² Then what if you should see the Son of Man going up to where he was before? ⁶³ It is the Spirit who makes alive; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and they are life.

⁶⁴ Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus knew from the beginning who were the ones that would not believe and who it was who would betray him. ⁶⁵ He said, "It is because of this that I said to you that no one can come to me unless it is granted to him by the Father."

⁶⁶ Because of this, many of his disciples went away and no longer walked with him. ⁶⁷ Then Jesus said to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" ⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom would we go? You have words of eternal life, ⁶⁹ and we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God." ¹

⁷⁰ Jesus said to them, "Did not I choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?" ⁷¹ Now he spoke of Judas son of Simon Iscariot, for it was he, one of the twelve, who would betray Jesus.

¹The phrase the Holy One of God is in the best ancient copies. Some later copies add an additional description and they read: the Christ, the Holy One of God .

Chapter 7

¹ After these things Jesus traveled about in Galilee, for he did not want to go into Judea because the Jews were seeking to kill him. ² Now the Jewish Festival of Shelters was near.

³ His brothers therefore said to him, "Leave this place and go to Judea, so that your disciples also may see the works that you do. ⁴ No one does anything in secret if he himself seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world."

⁵ For even his brothers did not believe in him. ⁶ Jesus therefore said to them, "My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. ⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.

⁸ You go up to the festival; I am not going to this festival because my time has not yet been fulfilled." ⁹ After he said these things to them, he stayed in Galilee.

¹⁰ But when his brothers had gone up to the festival, then he also went up, not publicly but in secret. ¹¹ The Jews were looking for him at the festival and said, "Where is he?"

¹² There was much discussion among the crowds about him. Some said, "He is a good man." Others said, "No, he leads the crowds astray." ¹³ Yet no one spoke openly about him for fear of the Jews.

¹⁴ When the festival was already half over, Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. ¹⁵ Then the Jews marveled, saying, "How does this man know so much? He has never been educated." ¹⁶ Jesus answered them and said, "My teaching is not mine, but is of him who sent me.

¹⁷ If anyone wishes to do his will, he will know about this teaching, whether it comes from God, or whether I speak from myself. ¹⁸ Whoever speaks from himself seeks his own glory, but whoever seeks the glory of him who sent him, that person is true, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

¹⁹ Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?" ²⁰ The crowd answered, "You have a demon. Who seeks to kill you?"

²¹ Jesus answered and said to them, "I did one work, and you all marvel because of it. ²² Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the ancestors), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a man.

²³ If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses is not broken, why are you angry with me because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath? ²⁴ Do not judge according to appearance, but judge righteously."

²⁵ Some of them from Jerusalem said, "Is not this the one they seek to kill? ²⁶ See, he speaks openly, and they say nothing to him. It cannot be that the rulers indeed know that this is the Christ, can it? ²⁷ Yet we know where this one is from. But when the Christ comes, no one will know where he is from."

²⁸ Then Jesus cried out in the temple, teaching and saying, "You both know me and know where I come from. I have not come of myself, but he who sent me is true, and you do not know him. ²⁹ I know him because I come from him and he sent me."

³⁰ They were trying to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him because his hour had not yet come. ³¹ But many in the crowd believed in him, and they said, "When the Christ comes, will he do more signs than what this one has done?" ³² The Pharisees heard the crowds whispering these things about Jesus, and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent officers to arrest him.

³³ Jesus then said, "I am still with you for a short amount of time, and then I go to him who sent me. ³⁴ You will seek me but you will not find me; where I go, you will not be able to come."

³⁵ The Jews therefore said among themselves, "Where will this man go that we will not be able to find him? Will he go to the dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? ³⁶ What is this word that he said, 'You will seek me but will not find me; where I go, you will not be able to come'?"

³⁷ Now on the last, great day of the festival, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in me, just as the scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his belly."

³⁹ But he said this about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him would receive; the Spirit had not yet been given because Jesus was not yet glorified.

⁴⁰ Some of the crowd, when they heard these words, said, "This is indeed the prophet." ⁴¹ Others said, "This is the Christ." But some said, "Does the Christ come from Galilee? ⁴² Have the scriptures not said that the Christ will come from the descendants of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David was?"

⁴³ So there arose a division in the crowds because of him. ⁴⁴ Some of them would have arrested him, but no one laid hands on him.

⁴⁵ Then the officers came back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" ⁴⁶ The officers answered, "Never has anyone spoken like this."

⁴⁷ So the Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived? ⁴⁸ Have any of the rulers believed in him, or any of the Pharisees? ⁴⁹ But this crowd that does not know the law, they are cursed."

⁵⁰ Nicodemus (one of the Pharisees, who came to him earlier) said to them, ⁵¹ "Does our law judge a man before hearing from him and knowing what he does?" ⁵² They answered and said to him, "Are you also from Galilee? Search and see that no prophet comes from Galilee."

⁵³ ¹ [Then everyone went to his own house.

¹The best ancient copies do not have John 7:53-8:11.

Chapter 8

¹ ¹ Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. ² Early in the morning he came to the temple again, and all the people came; he sat down and taught them. ³ The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in the act of adultery. They placed her in the middle.

⁴ Then they said to him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such people; what do you say about her?" ⁶ They said this in order to trap him so that they might have something to accuse him about, but Jesus bent down and wrote on the ground with his finger.

⁷ When they continued asking him questions, he stood up and said to them, "The one among you who has no sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." ⁸ Again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground with his finger.

⁹ When they heard it, they left one by one, beginning with the oldest. Finally Jesus was left alone, with the woman who had been in the middle. ¹⁰ Jesus stood up and said to her, "Woman, where are your accusers? Did no one condemn you?" ¹¹ She said, "No one, Lord." Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."] ²

¹² Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in the darkness but will have the light of life." ¹³ The Pharisees said to him, "You testify about yourself; your testimony is not true."

¹⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, "Even if I testify about myself, my testimony is true. I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I came from or where I am going. ¹⁵ You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one. ¹⁶ Yet if I judge, my judgment is true because I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent me.

¹⁷ Yes, and in your law it is written that the testimony of two men is true. ¹⁸ I am he who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me."

¹⁹ They said to him, "Where is your father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither me nor my Father; if you had known me, you would have known my Father also." ²⁰ He said these words in the treasury as he taught in the temple, and no one arrested him because his hour had not yet come.

²¹ So again he said to them, "I am going away; you will seek me and will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come." ²² The Jews said, "Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, 'Where I am going you cannot come'?"

²³ Jesus said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. ²⁴ Therefore, I said to you that you will die in your sins. For unless you believe that I AM, you will die in your sins."

²⁵ They said therefore to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "What I have said to you from the beginning. ²⁶ I have many things to speak and to judge about you. However, he who sent me is true; and the things that I heard from him, these things I say to the world." ²⁷ They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father.

²⁸ Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I AM, and that I do nothing of myself. As the Father taught me, I speak these things. ²⁹ He who sent me is with me, and he has not left me alone, because I always do what is pleasing to him." ³⁰ As Jesus was saying these things, many believed in him.

³¹ Jesus said to those Jews who had believed him, "If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples; ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." ³³ They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves of anyone; how can you say, 'You will be set free'?"

³⁴ Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. ³⁵ The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. ³⁶ Therefore, if the Son sets you free, you will be truly free.

³⁷ I know that you are Abraham's descendants; you seek to kill me because my word has no place in you. ³⁸ I say what I have seen with my Father, and you also do what you heard from your father."

³⁹ They answered and said to him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. ⁴⁰ Yet, now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do this. ⁴¹ You do the works of your father." They said to him, "We were not born in sexual immorality; we have one Father: God."

⁴² Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; for neither have I come of myself, but he sent me. ⁴³ Why do you not understand my words? It is because you cannot hear my words. ⁴⁴ You are of your father, the devil, and you wish to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature because he is a liar and the father of lies.

⁴⁵ Yet, because I speak the truth, you do not believe me. ⁴⁶ Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I speak the truth, why do you not believe me? ⁴⁷ He who is of God hears the words of God; you do not hear them because you are not of God."

⁴⁸ The Jews answered and said to him, "Do we not truly say that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?" ⁴⁹ Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.

⁵⁰ I do not seek my glory; there is one seeking and judging. ⁵¹ Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps my word, he will never see death."

⁵² The Jews said to him, "Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham and the prophets died; but you say, 'If anyone keeps my word, he will never taste death.' ⁵³ You are not greater than our father Abraham who died, are you? The prophets also died. Who do you make yourself out to be?"

⁵⁴ Jesus answered, "If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing; it is my Father who glorifies me—about whom you say that he is your God. ⁵⁵ You have not known him, but I know him. If I would say, 'I do not know him,' I would be like you, a liar. However, I know him and keep his word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced at seeing my day; he saw it and was glad."

⁵⁷ The Jews said to him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and you have seen Abraham?" ⁵⁸ Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." ⁵⁹ Then they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

¹See the note on John 7:53.

²See the note on John 7:53.

Chapter 9

¹ Now as Jesus passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, so that he was born blind?"

³ Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents, but so that the works of God would be revealed in him. ⁴ We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one will be able to work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."

⁶ After Jesus said these things, he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and smeared the mud on his eyes. ⁷ He said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which is translated "Sent"). So the man went away, washed, and came back seeing.

⁸ Then the man's neighbors and those who had seen him previously as a beggar were saying, "Is not this the man that used to sit and beg?" ⁹ Some said, "It is he." Others said, "No, but he is like him." But he said, "I am the one."

¹⁰ They said to him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" ¹¹ He answered, "The man who is called Jesus made mud and smeared it on my eyes and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' So I went and washed, and I received my sight." ¹² They said to him, "Where is he?" He replied, "I do not know."

¹³ They brought the man who used to be blind to the Pharisees. ¹⁴ Now it was the Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. ¹⁵ Then again the Pharisees asked him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I now can see."

¹⁶ Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God because he does not keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" So there was a division among them. ¹⁷ So they asked the blind man again, "What do you say about him, since he opened your eyes?" The blind man said, "He is a prophet." ¹⁸ Now the Jews still did not believe about him that he was blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of him who had received his sight.

¹⁹ They asked the parents, "Is this your son whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" ²⁰ So his parents answered them, "We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. ²¹ How he now sees, we do not know, and who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him, he is an adult. He can speak for himself."

²² His parents said these things, because they were afraid of the Jews. For the Jews had already agreed that if anyone would confess him to be the Christ, he would be thrown out of the synagogue. ²³ Because of this, his parents said, "He is an adult, ask him."

²⁴ So for a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner." ²⁵ Then that man replied, "I do not know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: I was blind, and now I see."

²⁶ Then they said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" ²⁷ He answered, "I have told you already, and you did not listen! Why do you want to hear it again? You do not want to become his disciples too, do you?"

²⁸ They insulted him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. ²⁹ We know that God has spoken to Moses, but we do not know where this one is from."

³⁰ The man answered and said to them, "This is remarkable, that you do not know where he is from, and yet he opened my eyes. ³¹ We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if someone worships God and does his will, he listens to him.

³² Since the world began it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. ³³ If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." ³⁴ They answered and said to him, "You were completely born in sins, and you are teaching us?" Then they threw him out.

³⁵ Jesus heard that they had cast him out of the synagogue. He found him and said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" ³⁶ He replied and said, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?" ³⁷ Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and it is the one who is speaking with you." ³⁸ The man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped him.

³⁹ Jesus said, "For judgment I came into this world so that those who do not see may see and so that those who see may become blind." ⁴⁰ Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things and asked him, "Are we also blind?" ⁴¹ Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin, but now you say, 'We see,' so your sin remains."

Chapter 10

¹ "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter through the gate into the sheep pen, but climbs up some other way, that man is a thief and a robber. ² He who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

³ The gatekeeper opens for him. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

⁵ They will not follow a stranger but instead they will avoid him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." ⁶ Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they did not understand what these things were that he was saying to them.

⁷ Then Jesus said to them again, "Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the gate of the sheep. ⁸ Everyone who came before me is a thief and a robber, but the sheep did not listen to them.

⁹ I am the gate. If anyone enters in through me, he will be saved; he will go in and out and will find pasture. ¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they will have life and have it abundantly.

¹¹ I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired servant is not a shepherd and does not own the sheep. He sees the wolf coming and abandons the sheep and escapes, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. ¹³ He runs away because he is a hired servant and does not care for the sheep.

¹⁴ I am the good shepherd, and I know my own, and my own know me. ¹⁵ The Father knows me, and I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice so that there will be one flock and one shepherd.

¹⁷ This is why the Father loves me: I lay down my life so that I may take it again. ¹⁸ No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father."

¹⁹ A division again occurred among the Jews because of these words. ²⁰ Many of them said, "He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to him?" ²¹ Others said, "These are not the words of a demon-possessed man. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?"

²² Then it was time for the Festival of the Dedication in Jerusalem. It was winter, ²³ and Jesus was walking in the temple in the porch of Solomon. ²⁴ Then the Jews surrounded him and said to him, "How long will you hold us doubting? If you are the Christ, tell us openly."

²⁵ Jesus replied to them, "I told you, but you do not believe. The works that I do in the name of my Father, these testify concerning me. ²⁶ Yet you do not believe because you are not my sheep.

²⁷ My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life; they will never die, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.

²⁹ My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all others, and no one is able to snatch them out of the hand of the Father. ³⁰ I and the Father are one." ³¹ Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.

³² Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of those works are you stoning me?" ³³ The Jews answered him, "We are not stoning you for any good work, but for blasphemy, because you, a man, are making yourself God."

³⁴ Jesus answered them, "Is it not written in your law, 'I said, "You are gods"'? ³⁵ If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the scripture cannot be broken), ³⁶ do you say to him whom the Father set apart and sent into the world, 'You are blaspheming,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God'?

³⁷ If I am not doing the works of my Father, do not believe me. ³⁸ But if I am doing them, even if you do not believe me, believe in the works so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and that I am in the Father." ³⁹ They tried to seize him again, but he went away out of their hand.

⁴⁰ He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John had first been baptizing, and he stayed there. ⁴¹ Many people came to him and they said, "John indeed did no signs, but all the things that John has said about this man are true." ⁴² Many people believed in him there.

Chapter 11

¹ Now a certain man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. ² It was Mary who anointed the Lord with myrrh and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.

³ The sisters then sent for Jesus, saying, "Lord, see, he whom you love is sick." ⁴ When Jesus heard it, he said, "This sickness is not to death, but instead it is for the glory of God so that the Son of God may be glorified by it."

⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, Jesus stayed two more days in the place where he was. ⁷ Then after this, he said to the disciples, "Let us go to Judea again."

⁸ The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, right now the Jews are trying to stone you, and you are going back there again?" ⁹ Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours of light in a day? If someone walks in the daytime, he will not stumble, because he sees by the light of this world.

¹⁰ However, if he walks at night, he will stumble because the light is not in him." ¹¹ He said these things, and after these things, he said to them, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going so that I may wake him out of sleep."

¹² The disciples therefore said to him, "Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will recover." ¹³ Now Jesus had spoken of his death, but they thought that he was speaking about the sleep of resting. ¹⁴ Then Jesus said to them plainly, "Lazarus is dead.

¹⁵ I am glad, for your sakes, that I was not there so that you may believe. Let us go to him." ¹⁶ Thomas, who was called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, "Let us also go so that we may die with Jesus."

¹⁷ When Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. ¹⁸ Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away. ¹⁹ Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary, to comfort them about their brother. ²⁰ Then Martha, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet him, but Mary was sitting in the house.

²¹ Martha then said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. ²² Even now, I know that whatever you ask from God, he will give to you." ²³ Jesus said to her, "Your brother will rise again."

²⁴ Martha said to him, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day." ²⁵ Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, even if he dies, will live; ²⁶ and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

²⁷ She said to him, "Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world." ²⁸ When she had said this, she went away and called her sister Mary privately. She said, "The Teacher is here and is calling for you." ²⁹ When she heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.

³⁰ Now Jesus had not yet come into the village but was still in the place where Martha had met him. ³¹ So when the Jews, who were with her in the house and who were comforting her, saw Mary getting up quickly and going out, they followed her, thinking that she was going to the tomb to weep there. ³² When Mary came to the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell down at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died."

³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and was troubled; ³⁴ he said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." ³⁵ Jesus wept.

³⁶ Then the Jews said, "See how much he loved Lazarus!" ³⁷ But some of them said, "Could not this man, who opened the eyes of a blind man, also have made this man not die?"

³⁸ Then Jesus again, being deeply moved in himself, went to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone lay against it. ³⁹ Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of Lazarus, the one who had died, said to Jesus, "Lord, by this time the body will be decaying, for he has been dead for four days." ⁴⁰ Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that, if you believed, you would see the glory of God?"

⁴¹ So they took away the stone. Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, "Father, I thank you that you listened to me. ⁴² I knew that you always listen to me, but it is because of the crowd that is standing around me that I said this, so that they may believe that you have sent me."

⁴³ After he had said this, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" ⁴⁴ The dead man came out; his feet and hands were bound with cloths, and his face was bound about with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Untie him and let him go."

⁴⁵ Then many of the Jews who came to Mary, and saw what Jesus did, believed in him. ⁴⁶ But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them the things that Jesus had done.

⁴⁷ Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council together and said, "What will we do? This man does many signs. ⁴⁸ If we leave him alone like this, all will believe in him; the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

⁴⁹ However, a certain man among them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing. ⁵⁰ You do not consider that it is better for you that one man dies for the people than that the whole nation perishes."

⁵¹ Now this he said not from himself. Instead, being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for the nation; ⁵² and not only for the nation, but so that the children of God who are scattered would be gathered together into one. ⁵³ So from that day onward they planned how to put Jesus to death.

⁵⁴ No longer did Jesus walk openly among the Jews, but he departed from there into the country near to the wilderness into a town called Ephraim. There he stayed with the disciples. ⁵⁵ Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up to Jerusalem from the country before the Passover in order to purify themselves.

⁵⁶ They were looking for Jesus and speaking one with another as they stood in the temple: "What do you think? That he will not come to the festival?" ⁵⁷ Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given an order that if anyone knew where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might seize him.

Chapter 12

¹ Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² So they made him a dinner there, and Martha was serving, but Lazarus was one of those who were lying down at the table with Jesus. ³ Then Mary took a litra of perfume made of very precious pure nard, anointed the feet of Jesus with it, and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples, the one who would betray him, said, ⁵ "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?" ⁶ Now he said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief. He had the moneybag and would steal from what was put in it.

⁷ Jesus said, "Allow her to keep what she has for the day of my burial. ⁸ You will always have the poor with you. But you will not always have me."

⁹ Now a large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, and they came, not only for Jesus, but also to see Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ¹⁰ The chief priests conspired together so that they might also put Lazarus to death; ¹¹ for it was because of him that many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.

¹² On the next day a great crowd came to the festival. When they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, ¹³ they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet him and cried out, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, the King of Israel."

¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it was written,

¹⁵ "Do not fear, daughter of Zion;

see, your King is coming,

sitting on the colt of a donkey."

¹⁶ His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, they remembered that these things had been written about him and that they had done these things to him.

¹⁷ Now the crowd testified that they had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him up from the dead. ¹⁸ It was also for this reason that the crowd went out to meet him, because they heard that he had done this sign. ¹⁹ The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, "Look, you can do nothing good; see, the world has gone after him."

²⁰ Now certain Greeks were among those who were going up to worship at the festival. ²¹ These went to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we want to see Jesus." ²² Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew went with Philip, and they told Jesus.

²³ Jesus answered them and said, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it will bear much fruit.

²⁵ He who loves his life will lose it; but he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ If anyone serves me, let him follow me; and where I am, there will my servant also be. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

²⁷ Now my soul is troubled and what should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But for this reason I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify your name." Then a voice came from heaven and said, "I have glorified it and I will glorify it again." ²⁹ Then the crowd that stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, "An angel has spoken to him."

³⁰ Jesus answered and said, "This voice did not come for me, but for you. ³¹ Now is the judgment of this world: Now will the ruler of this world be thrown out.

³² When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself." ³³ He said this to indicate what kind of death he would die.

³⁴ The crowd answered him, "We have heard from the law that the Christ will stay forever. How can you say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this Son of Man?" ³⁵ Jesus then said to them, "The light will still be with you for a short amount of time. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness does not overtake you. He who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. ³⁶ While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may be sons of light."

Jesus said these things and then departed and hid from them.

³⁷ Although Jesus had done so many signs before them, yet they did not believe in him ³⁸ so that the word of Isaiah the prophet would be fulfilled, in which he said:

"Lord, who has believed our report,

and to whom has the arm

of the Lord been revealed?"

³⁹ For this reason they could not believe, for Isaiah had also said,

⁴⁰ "He has blinded their eyes,

and he has hardened their heart,

otherwise they would see with their eyes

and understand with their hearts,

and turn, and I would heal them."

⁴¹ Isaiah said these things because he saw the glory of Jesus and spoke of him. ⁴² But despite that, many of the rulers believed in Jesus; but because of the Pharisees, they did not confess it so that they would not be banned from the synagogue. ⁴³ They loved the glory that comes from people more than the glory that comes from God.

⁴⁴ Jesus cried out and said, "The one who believes in me believes not only in me but also in him who sent me, ⁴⁵ and the one who sees me sees him who sent me.

⁴⁶ I have come as a light into the world, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in the darkness. ⁴⁷ If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I have not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

⁴⁸ The one who rejects me and who does not receive my words has one who judges him. The word I have spoken will judge him on the last day. ⁴⁹ For I did not speak for myself, but it is the Father who sent me, who has given me the command about what to say and what to speak. ⁵⁰ I know that his command is eternal life, so that is what I say—just as the Father has spoken to me, so I speak."

Chapter 13

¹ Now it was before the Festival of the Passover. Jesus knew that his hour had come to go out of this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ² Now the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot son of Simon to betray Jesus. So during dinner,

³ Jesus—who knew that the Father had given everything over into his hands and that he had come from God and was going back to God— ⁴ got up from dinner and took off his outer clothing. Then he took a towel and wrapped it around himself. ⁵ Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples and dry them with the towel that he had put around himself.

⁶ He came to Simon Peter, and Peter said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?" ⁷ Jesus answered and said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand this later." ⁸ Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet." Jesus answered him, "If I do not wash you, you have no share with me." ⁹ Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, do not only wash my feet, but also my hands and my head."

¹⁰ Jesus said to him, "He who is bathed has no need, except to wash his feet, but he is completely clean; you are clean, but not everyone." ¹¹ (For Jesus knew who would betray him; that is why he said, "Not all of you are clean.")

¹² So when Jesus had washed their feet and taken his garments and sat down again, he said to them, "Do you understand what I have done for you? ¹³ You call me 'teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are speaking correctly, because so I am. ¹⁴ If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you should also wash the feet of one another. ¹⁵ For I have given you an example so that you should also do just as I did for you.

¹⁶ Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is a messenger greater than he who sent him. ¹⁷ If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them. ¹⁸ I am not speaking about all of you; I know those whom I have chosen—but this is so that the scripture will be fulfilled: 'He who eats my bread lifted up his heel against me.'

¹⁹ I tell you this now before it happens so that when it happens, you may believe that I AM. ²⁰ Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me."

²¹ When Jesus said this, he was troubled in spirit. He testified and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you that one of you will betray me." ²² The disciples looked at each other, wondering of whom he was speaking.

²³ One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was lying down at the table against Jesus' side. ²⁴ Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him who he is speaking about." ²⁵ So he leaned back against the side of Jesus and said to him, "Lord, who is it?"

²⁶ Then Jesus answered, "It is the one for whom I will dip the piece of bread and give it him." So when he had dipped the bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷ Then after the bread, Satan entered into him, so Jesus said to him, "What you are doing, do it quickly."

²⁸ Now no one who was lying down at the table knew why he said this to him. ²⁹ Some thought that, since Judas had the moneybag, Jesus said to him, "Buy what we need to have for the festival," or that he should give something to the poor. ³⁰ After Judas received the bread, he went out immediately. It was night.

³¹ When Judas was gone, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. ³² If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify the Son in himself, and he will glorify him at once. ³³ Little children, I am with you for still a short amount of time. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' Now I also say this to you.

³⁴ I am giving you a new commandment, that you should love one another; as I have loved you, so also you should love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another."

³⁶ Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, where are you going?" Jesus answered, "Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, but you will follow later." ³⁷ Peter said to him, "Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you." ³⁸ Jesus answered, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly, truly, I say to you, the rooster will not crow before you have denied me three times."

Chapter 14

¹ "Do not let your heart be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you, for I am going to prepare a place for you. ³ If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, so that where I am you will also be.

⁴ You know the way to where I am going." ⁵ Thomas said to Jesus, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" ⁶ Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷ If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you know him and have seen him."

⁸ Philip said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." ⁹ Jesus said to him, "I have been with you for such a long time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?

¹⁰ Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak from my own authority, but the Father living in me is doing his work. ¹¹ Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me, or else believe because of the works themselves.

¹² Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will do the works that I do, and he will do greater works than these because I am going to the Father. ¹³ Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it so that the Father will be glorified in the Son. ¹⁴ If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

¹⁵ If you love me, you will keep my commandments, ¹⁶ and I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Comforter so that he will be with you forever— ¹⁷ the Spirit of truth. The world cannot receive him because it does not see him or know him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

¹⁸ I will not leave you as orphans; I will come back to you. ¹⁹ Yet a short amount of time and the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will also live. ²⁰ On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and that you are in me, and that I am in you.

²¹ He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me, and he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and I will show myself to him." ²² Judas (not Iscariot) said to Jesus, "Lord, why is it that you will show yourself to us and not to the world?"

²³ Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and we will make our home with him. ²⁴ He who does not love me does not keep my words. The word that you hear is not from me but from the Father who sent me.

²⁵ I have said these things to you, while I am staying with you. ²⁶ However, the Comforter—the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name—he will teach you everything and he will remind you of everything that I said to you. ²⁷ I leave you peace; I give you my peace. I do not give it as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid.

²⁸ You heard that I said to you, 'I am going away, and I will come back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I am. ²⁹ Now I have told you before it happens so that, when it happens, you will believe.

³⁰ I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me, ³¹ but in order that the world will know that I love the Father, I do just as the Father commanded me. Let us get up and go from here."

Chapter 15

¹ "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and he prunes every branch that bears fruit so that it will bear more fruit.

³ You are already clean because of the message that I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

⁵ I am the vine, you are the branches. He who remains in me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for without me you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown away like a branch and dries up, and they gather the branches and throw them into the fire, and they are burned up. ⁷ If you remain in me, and if my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

⁸ My Father is glorified in this, that you bear much fruit and so prove that you are my disciples. ⁹ As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love.

¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, as I have kept the commandments of my Father and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have spoken these things to you so that my joy will be in you and so that your joy will be made full.

¹² This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. ¹³ No one has greater love than this—that one lays down his life for his friends.

¹⁴ You are my friends if you do the things that I command you. ¹⁵ No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father I have made known to you.

¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. This is so that whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ¹⁷ These things I command you, so that you love one another.

¹⁸ If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own. But because you are not of the world and because I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they kept my word, they will also keep yours. ²¹ They will do all these things to you because of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. ²² If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.

²³ He who hates me also hates my Father. ²⁴ If I had not done the works that no one else did among them, they would have no sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. ²⁵ But this is in order to fulfill the word that is written in their law, 'They hated me without a cause.'

²⁶ When the Comforter comes—whom I will send to you from the Father, that is, the Spirit of truth, who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me. ²⁷ You also must testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.

Chapter 16

¹ "I have spoken these things to you so that you will not fall away. ² They will throw you out of the synagogues. But the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think that he is offering a service to God.

³ They will do these things because they have not known the Father nor me. ⁴ I have spoken these things to you so that when their hour comes, you will remember that I told you about them. I did not tell you about these things in the beginning, because I was with you.

⁵ But now I go to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?' ⁶ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. ⁷ But truly I tell you, it is better for you that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Comforter will not come to you, but if I go, I will send him to you.

⁸ When he comes, the Comforter will prove the world to be wrong about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment— ⁹ about sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, and you will no longer see me; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

¹² I have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak from himself. But he will say whatever he hears, and he will tell you things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and he will tell it to you.

¹⁵ Everything that the Father has is mine. Therefore, I said that the Spirit will take from what is mine and he will tell it to you. ¹⁶ In a short amount of time you will no longer see me, and after another short amount of time you will see me."

¹⁷ Then some of his disciples said to one another, "What is this that he says to us, 'A short amount of time you will no longer see me and after another short amount of time you will see me,' and, 'Because I go to the Father'?" ¹⁸ Therefore they said, "What is this that he says, 'A short amount of time'? We do not know what he is talking about."

¹⁹ Jesus saw that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, "Is this what you are asking each other, what I meant by saying, 'In a short amount of time and you will no longer see me, and again in a short amount of time and you will see me'? ²⁰ Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will be glad. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. ²¹ When a woman gives birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers her tribulation because of her joy that a man has been born into the world.

²² So you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your heart will be glad, and no one will be able to take away your joy from you. ²³ On that day you will not ask me anything. Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. ²⁴ Until now you have not asked anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy will be fulfilled.

²⁵ "I have said these things to you in figures of speech, but the hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech, but instead I will tell you plainly about the Father.

²⁶ On that day you will ask in my name and I do not say to you that I will pray to the Father for you, ²⁷ for the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and because you have believed that I came from God. ²⁸ I came from the Father, and I have come into the world. Again, I am leaving the world and I am going to the Father."

²⁹ His disciples said, "See, now you are speaking plainly and you are not using figures of speech. ³⁰ Now we know that you know all things, and you do not need anyone to ask you questions. Because of this, we believe that you have come from God." ³¹ Jesus answered them, "Do you believe now?

³² See, the hour is coming, yes, and has indeed come, when you will be scattered, everyone to his own home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. ³³ I have spoken these things to you so that you will have peace in me. In the world you have tribulation. But have courage! I have conquered the world."

Chapter 17

¹ After Jesus said these things, he lifted up his eyes to the heavens and said, "Father, the hour has come, glorify your Son so that the Son will glorify you— ² just as you gave him authority over all flesh so that he would give eternal life to everyone whom you have given him.

³ This is eternal life: That they know you, the only true God, and him whom you sent, Jesus Christ. ⁴ I glorified you on the earth. I have finished the work that you have given me to do. ⁵ Now, Father, glorify me along with yourself with the glory that I had with you before the world was made.

⁶ I revealed your name to the people whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. ⁷ Now they know that everything that you have given me comes from you, ⁸ for I have given them all the words that you gave me. They received them and truly knew that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me.

⁹ I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. ¹⁰ Everything that is mine is yours, and yours is mine, and I am glorified in them. ¹¹ I am no longer in the world, but these people are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name that you have given me so that they will be one, just as we are one.

¹² While I was with them, I kept them safe in your name, which you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was destroyed, except for the son of destruction, so that the scriptures would be fulfilled. ¹³ Now I am coming to you, but I am saying these things in the world so that they will have my joy fulfilled in themselves. ¹⁴ I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

¹⁵ I do not ask for you to take them away from the world, but for you to keep them safe from the evil one. ¹⁶ They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. ¹⁷ Set them apart by the truth. Your word is truth.

¹⁸ Just as you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. ¹⁹ For their sakes I have set myself apart, so that they themselves may also be set apart in truth.

²⁰ I pray not only for these, but also for those who will believe in me through their word ²¹ so that they will all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world will believe that you have sent me.

²² The glory that you gave me, I have given to them, so that they will be one, just as we are one: ²³ I in them, and you in me—that they may be brought to complete unity, so that the world will know that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you loved me.

²⁴ Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you gave me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

²⁵ Righteous Father, the world did not know you, but I know you; and these know that you sent me. ²⁶ I made your name known to them, and I will make it known so that the love with which you have loved me will be in them, and I will be in them."

Chapter 18

¹ After Jesus spoke these words, he went out with his disciples to the other side of the Kidron Brook, where there was a garden into which he and his disciples entered. ² Now Judas, who was going to betray him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. ³ Then Judas, leading a company of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons.

⁴ Then Jesus, having known all the things that would happen to him, went forward and asked them, "Who are you looking for?" ⁵ They answered him, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus said to them, "I am." Judas, who betrayed him, was also standing with the soldiers.

⁶ So when he said to them, "I am," they went backward and fell to the ground. ⁷ Then again he asked them, "Who are you looking for?" Again they said, "Jesus of Nazareth."

⁸ Jesus answered, "I told you that I am. So if you are looking for me, let these go." ⁹ This was in order to fulfill the word that he said: "Of those whom you have given me, I lost no one."

¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. Now the name of the servant was Malchus. ¹¹ Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword back into its sheath. Should I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?"

¹² So a company of soldiers and the captain, and the officers of the Jews, seized Jesus and tied him up. ¹³ They led him first to Annas, for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was high priest that year. ¹⁴ Now Caiaphas was the one who had given the advice to the Jews that it would be better that one man die for the people.

¹⁵ Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and he entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest; ¹⁶ but Peter was standing at the door outside. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to the doorkeeper, and he brought Peter in.

¹⁷ Then the female servant, the doorkeeper, said to Peter, "Are you not also one of the disciples of this man?" He said, "I am not." ¹⁸ Now the servants and the officers were standing there, and they had made a charcoal fire, for it was cold, and they were warming themselves. Peter was also with them, standing there and warming himself.

¹⁹ The high priest then asked Jesus about his disciples and his teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered him, "I have spoken openly to the world. I was always teaching in synagogues and in the temple where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why did you ask me? Ask those who have heard me about what I said. Look, these people know what I said."

²² When Jesus had said this, one of the officers standing there struck Jesus and said, "Is that how you answer the high priest?" ²³ Jesus answered him, "If I spoke wrongly, testify about the wrong, but if rightly, why do you hit me?" ²⁴ Then Annas sent him tied up to Caiaphas the high priest.

²⁵ Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. The people then said to him, "Are you not also one of his disciples?" He denied it and said, "I am not." ²⁶ One of the servants of the high priest, who was a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Did I not see you in the garden with him?" ²⁷ Then Peter denied it again; and immediately the rooster crowed.

²⁸ Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the government headquarters. It was early in the morning, and they did not enter the government headquarters so that they would not be defiled but would be able to eat the Passover. ²⁹ So Pilate went out to them and said, "What accusation are you bringing against this man?" ³⁰ They answered and said to him, "If this man was not an evildoer, we would not have given him over to you."

³¹ Pilate therefore said to them, "Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law." The Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put any man to death." ³² They said this so that the word of Jesus would be fulfilled which he had spoken to indicate by what kind of death he would die.

³³ Then Pilate entered the government headquarters again and called Jesus, and he said to him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" ³⁴ Jesus answered, "Do you speak from yourself, or did others speak to you about me?" ³⁵ Pilate answered, "I am not a Jew, am I? Your own people and the chief priests gave you over to me. What did you do?"

³⁶ Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, then my servants would fight so that I would not be given over to the Jews. But now my kingdom is not from here." ³⁷ Pilate then said to him, "Are you a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I have been born, and for this purpose I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice."

³⁸ Pilate said to him, "What is truth?" When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and said to them, "I find no guilt in this man. ³⁹ But you have the custom that I release one person to you at the Passover. So do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?" ⁴⁰ Then they cried out again and said, "Not this man, but Barabbas." Now Barabbas was a revolutionary.

Chapter 19

¹ Then Pilate took Jesus and whipped him. ² The soldiers wove a crown of thorns. They put it on the head of Jesus and dressed him with a purple garment. ³ They came to him and said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" and they struck him.

⁴ Then Pilate went outside again and said to them, "See, I am bringing him outside to you so that you will know that I find no guilt in him." ⁵ So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. Pilate said to them, "Look, here is the man!"

⁶ When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw Jesus, they cried out and said, "Crucify him, crucify him!"

Pilate said to them, "Take him yourselves and crucify him, for I find no guilt in him."

⁷ The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to that law he has to die because he claimed to be the Son of God." ⁸ When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid, ⁹ and he entered the government headquarters again and said to Jesus, "Where do you come from?" But Jesus gave him no answer.

¹⁰ Then Pilate said to him, "Are you not speaking to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you, and authority to crucify you?" ¹¹ Jesus answered him, "You do not have any authority over me except for what has been given to you from above. Therefore, he who gave me over to you has a greater sin."

¹² At this answer, Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you release this man, you are not a friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar."

¹³ When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place called "The Pavement," but in the Aramaic language, "Gabbatha."

¹⁴ Now it was the day of preparation for the Passover, at about the sixth hour. Pilate said to the Jews, "See, here is your king!"

¹⁵ They cried out, "Away with him, away with him; crucify him!"

Pilate said to them, "Should I crucify your King?"

The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."

¹⁶ Then Pilate gave Jesus over to them to be crucified.

¹⁷ Then they took Jesus, and he went out, carrying the cross for himself, to the place called "The Place of a Skull," which in the Aramaic language is called "Golgotha." ¹⁸ They crucified Jesus there, and with him two other men, one on each side, with Jesus in the middle.

¹⁹ Pilate also wrote a sign and put it on the cross. There it was written: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this sign because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city. The sign was written in Aramaic, in Latin, and in Greek.

²¹ Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but rather, 'This one said, "I am King of the Jews."'"

²² Pilate answered, "What I have written I have written."

²³ When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, divided them into four shares, one for each of them; and also the tunic. Now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴ Then they said to each other, "Let us not tear it, but instead let us cast lots for it to decide whose it will be." This happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled which said,

"They divided my garments among themselves

and cast lots for my clothing."

This is what the soldiers did.

²⁵ Now standing beside Jesus' cross were his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, see, your son!" ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, "See, your mother!" From that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

²⁸ After this, knowing that everything was now accomplished and so that the scriptures would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." ²⁹ A container full of sour wine was placed there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop staff and lifted it up to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had taken the sour wine, he said, "It is finished." He bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹ Then the Jews, because it was the day of preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was especially important), asked Pilate to break their legs and to remove them. ³² Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man and of the second man who had been crucified with Jesus. ³³ When they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they did not break his legs.

³⁴ However, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. ³⁵ The one who saw this has testified, and his testimony is true. He knows that what he said is true so that you may also believe.

³⁶ For these things happened in order to fulfill scripture, "Not one of his bones will be broken." ³⁷ Again, another scripture says, "They will look at him whom they pierced."

³⁸ After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, since he was a disciple of Jesus (but secretly for fear of the Jews), asked Pilate if he could take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission. So Joseph came and took away his body. ³⁹ Nicodemus also came—he who at first had come to Jesus by night. He brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about one hundred litras.

⁴⁰ So they took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in linen cloths with the spices, as was the custom of the Jews to bury bodies. ⁴¹ Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden was a new tomb in which no person had yet been buried. ⁴² Because it was the day of preparation for the Jews and because the tomb was close by, they laid Jesus in it.

Chapter 20

¹ Now early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb, and she saw the stone rolled away from the tomb. ² So she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and she said to them, "They took away the Lord out from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."

³ Then Peter and the other disciple went out, and they were going to the tomb. ⁴ They both ran together, and the other disciple quickly ran ahead of Peter and arrived at the tomb first. ⁵ Then stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go inside.

⁶ Simon Peter then arrived after him and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there ⁷ and the cloth that had been on his head. It was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a place by itself.

⁸ Then the other disciple, the one who first arrived at the tomb, also went in, and he saw and believed. ⁹ For until that time they still did not know the scripture that he should rise from the dead. ¹⁰ So the disciples went back home again.

¹¹ But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she stooped down into the tomb. ¹² She saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the foot of where the body of Jesus had lain. ¹³ They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"

She said to them, "Because they took away my Lord, and I do not know where they have put him."

¹⁴ When she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

¹⁵ Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?"

She thought that he was the gardener, so she said to him, "Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will take him away."

¹⁶ Jesus said to her, "Mary."

She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni" (which is to say "Teacher").

¹⁷ Jesus said to her, "Do not touch me, for I have not yet gone up to the Father, but go to my brothers and say to them that I will go up to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God."

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and that he had said these things to her.

¹⁹ On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the middle of them and said to them, "Peace to you." ²⁰ After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Jesus then said to them again, "Peace to you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you." ²² When Jesus had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³ Whoever's sins you forgive, they are forgiven; whoever's sins you keep back, they are kept back."

²⁴ Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ The other disciples later said to him, "We have seen the Lord."

He said to them, "Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

²⁶ After eight days his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came while the doors were closed, and stood among them, and said, "Peace to you." ²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger and see my hands. Reach here with your hand and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believe."

²⁸ Thomas answered and said to him, "My Lord and my God."

²⁹ Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and believed."

³⁰ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, signs that have not been written in this book, ³¹ but these have been written so that you would believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and so that believing, you would have life in his name.

Chapter 21

¹ After these things Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. This is how he revealed himself: ² Simon Peter was together with Thomas called Didymus, Nathaniel from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples of Jesus. ³ Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We, too, will come with you." They went and got into a boat, but they caught nothing during the whole night.

⁴ Now, when it was already early in the morning, Jesus stood on the beach, but the disciples did not know it was Jesus. ⁵ So Jesus said to them, "Young men, do you have anything to eat?"

They answered him, "No."

⁶ He said to them, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they threw their net and were not able to draw it in because of the large number of fish.

⁷ Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord." When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tied up his outer garment (for he was undressed), and threw himself into the sea. ⁸ The other disciples came in the boat (for they were not far from the land, about two hundred cubits off), and they were pulling the net full of fish. ⁹ When they got out upon the land, they saw a charcoal fire there and fish laid on it, with bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." ¹¹ Simon Peter then went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, 153 of them, but even with so many, the net was not torn.

¹² Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Jesus came, took the bread, and gave it to them, and the fish also. ¹⁴ This was the third time that Jesus revealed himself to the disciples after he had risen from the dead.

¹⁵ After they ate breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?"

Peter said to him, "Yes Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."

¹⁶ He said to him again a second time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

Peter said to him, "Yes Lord, you know that I love you."

Jesus said to him, "Shepherd my sheep."

¹⁷ He said to him a third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"

Peter was sorrowful because Jesus had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" He said to him, "Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you."

Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.

¹⁸ Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to gird yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you become old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will gird you and carry you where you will not want to go."

¹⁹ Now Jesus said this in order to indicate with what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After he had said this, he said to Peter, "Follow me."

²⁰ Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had also leaned back against the side of Jesus at the dinner and who had said, "Lord, who is the one who will betray you?" ²¹ Peter saw him and then said to Jesus, "Lord, what will this man do?"

²² Jesus said to him, "If I want him to stay until I come, what is that to you? Follow me."

²³ So this statement spread among the brothers, that that disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to Peter that the other disciple would not die, but, "If I want him to stay until I come, what is that to you?"

²⁴ This is the disciple who testifies about these things, and who wrote these things, and we know that his testimony is true. ²⁵ There are also many other things that Jesus did. If each one were written down, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.

Acts

Chapter 1

¹ The former account I wrote, Theophilus, told all that Jesus began to do and to teach, ² until the day that he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. ³ After his suffering, he presented himself alive to them with many convincing proofs. For forty days he appeared to them, and he spoke about the kingdom of God.

⁴ When he was meeting together with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, about which he said, "You heard from me ⁵ that John indeed baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days."

⁶ When they were assembled together they asked him, "Lord, is this the time you will restore the kingdom to Israel?" ⁷ He said to them, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father has determined by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

⁹ When the Lord Jesus had said these things, as they were looking up, he was raised up, and a cloud hid him from their eyes. ¹⁰ While they were looking intensely to heaven as he went, suddenly, two men stood by them in white clothing. ¹¹ They said, "You men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will return in the same manner as you saw him going into heaven."

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mountain that is called Olives, which is near to Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey. ¹³ When they arrived, they went up into the upper chamber, where they were staying. They were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. ¹⁴ They all were devoted with one purpose to prayer, together with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

¹⁵ In those days Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers, about 120 names, and said, ¹⁶ "Brothers, it was necessary that the scripture should be fulfilled, that the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who guided the ones who arrested Jesus.

¹⁷ For he was one of us and received a share of this ministry." ¹⁸ (Now this man bought a field with the earnings he received for his wickedness, and there he fell headfirst, and his body burst open, and all his intestines poured out. ¹⁹ All those living in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language "Akeldama," that is, "Field of Blood.")

²⁰ "For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

'Let his field be made desolate,

and do not let even one person live there';

'Let someone else take his position of leadership.'

²¹ It is necessary, therefore, that one of the men who accompanied us all the time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²² beginning from the baptism of John to the day that he was taken up from us, become a witness with us of his resurrection." ²³ They put forward two men, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.

²⁴ They prayed and said, "You, Lord, know the hearts of all people, so reveal which of these two is the one whom you have chosen ²⁵ to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned away to go to his own place." ²⁶ They cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Chapter 2

¹ When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in the same place. ² Suddenly a sound like the rush of a violent wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ³ There appeared to them tongues like fire that were distributed, and they sat upon each one of them. ⁴ They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues, as the Spirit gave them the ability.

⁵ Now there were Jews who were living in Jerusalem, godly men, from every nation under heaven. ⁶ When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and was confused because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. ⁷ They were amazed and marveled; they said, "Really, are not all these who are speaking Galileans?

⁸ Why is it that we are hearing them, each in our own language in which we were born? ⁹ Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and those who live in Mesopotamia, in Judea and Cappadocia, in Pontus and Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia and Pamphylia, in Egypt and the parts of Libya toward Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, ¹¹ Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our languages about the mighty works of God."

¹² They were all amazed and perplexed; they said to one another, "What does this mean?" ¹³ But others mocked and said, "They are full of new wine."

¹⁴ But Peter stood with the eleven, raised his voice, and declared to them, "Men of Judea and all of you who live at Jerusalem, let this be known to you; pay attention to my words. ¹⁵ For these people are not drunk as you assume, for it is only the third hour of the day.

¹⁶ But this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel:

¹⁷ 'It will be in the last days,' God says,

'I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.

Your sons and your daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams.

¹⁸ Surely on my servants

and my female servants in those days

I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.

¹⁹ I will show wonders in the sky above

and signs on the earth below,

blood, fire, and vapor of smoke.

²⁰ The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the great and remarkable

day of the Lord comes.

²¹ It will be that everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

²² Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited to you by God with the mighty deeds and wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. ²³ This man was handed over by God's predetermined plan and foreknowledge; and you, by the hand of lawless men, put him to death by nailing him to a cross. ²⁴ But God raised him up, freeing him from the agonies of death, because it was impossible for him to be held by it.

²⁵ For David says about him,

'I saw the Lord always before my face,

for he is beside my right hand

so that I should not be moved.

²⁶ Therefore my heart was glad

and my tongue rejoiced.

Also, my flesh will live in hope.

²⁷ For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

neither will you allow

your Holy One to see decay.

²⁸ You have made known to me the ways of life;

you will make me full of gladness with your face.'

²⁹ Brothers, it is proper for me to speak to you confidently about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰ Therefore, he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of the fruit of his loins on his throne. ³¹ He saw what was to happen in the future and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.

³² This Jesus—God raised him up, of which we all are witnesses. ³³ Therefore, having been exalted to the right hand of God and having received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father, he has poured out what you see and hear.

³⁴ For David did not ascend to the heaven, but he says,

'The Lord said to my Lord,

"Sit at my right hand

³⁵ until I make your enemies

the footstool for your feet."'

³⁶ Therefore, let all the house of Israel certainly know that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified."

³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were pierced in their hearts, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what must we do?"

³⁸ Then Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ For the promise is to you and to your children and to all who are far off, as many people as the Lord our God will call."

⁴⁰ With many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." ⁴¹ Then they received his word and were baptized, and there were added in that day about three thousand souls. ⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in prayers.

⁴³ Fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. ⁴⁴ All who believed were together and had all things in common, ⁴⁵ and they sold their property and possessions and distributed them to all, according to the needs anyone had.

⁴⁶ So day after day they devoted themselves with one purpose in the temple. They also broke bread in homes, and they shared food together with glad and generous hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people, and every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Chapter 3

¹ Now Peter and John were going up into the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. ² Now a man who was lame from his mother's womb was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful. They would place him there every day so he could ask those who were going into the temple for alms. ³ When he saw Peter and John about to enter the temple, he asked them for alms.

⁴ Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said, "Look at us." ⁵ The lame man looked at them, expecting to receive something from them. ⁶ But Peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have, I will give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

⁷ Taking him by the right hand, Peter raised him up, and immediately the man's feet and ankles were made strong. ⁸ Leaping up, the lame man stood and began to walk; and he entered with Peter and John into the temple, walking, leaping, and praising God.

⁹ All the people saw him walking and praising God. ¹⁰ They noticed that it was the man who had been asking people for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the temple; and they were filled with wonder and amazement because of what had happened to him.

¹¹ As he was holding on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch that is called Solomon's, greatly marveling. ¹² When Peter saw this, he answered the people, "You Israelite men, why do you marvel? Why do you fix your eyes on us, as if we made him walk by our own power or godliness?

¹³ The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. He is the one whom you handed over and rejected before the face of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. ¹⁴ You rejected the Holy and Righteous One, and you asked instead for a murderer to be given to you.

¹⁵ You killed the Founder of life, whom God raised from the dead—and we are witnesses of this. ¹⁶ On the basis of faith in his name, his name made this man, whom you see and know, strong. The faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

¹⁷ Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. ¹⁸ But the things which God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he has now fulfilled.

¹⁹ Repent, therefore, and turn, so that your sins may be blotted out, ²⁰ so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord; and that he may send the Christ who has been appointed for you, Jesus.

²¹ He is the One heaven must receive until the time of the restoration of all things, about which God spoke from ancient times by the mouth of his holy prophets. ²² Moses indeed said, 'The Lord God will raise up a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to everything he tells you. ²³ It will happen that every person who does not listen to that prophet will be completely destroyed from among the people.'

²⁴ Yes, and all the prophets from Samuel and those who came after him, they spoke out and announced these days. ²⁵ You are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant that God made with your ancestors, as he said to Abraham, 'In your seed all the families of the earth will be blessed.' ²⁶ After God raised up his servant, he sent him to you first, in order to bless you by turning every one of you from your wickedness."

Chapter 4

¹ As Peter and John were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them. ² They were deeply troubled because Peter and John were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ They laid hands on them and put them in custody until the next morning, since it was now evening. ⁴ But many of the people who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men who believed was about five thousand.

⁵ It came about on the next day that their rulers, elders, and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas the high priest was there, and Caiaphas, and John, and Alexander, and all who were relatives of the high priest. ⁷ When they had set Peter and John in their midst, they asked them, "By what power, or in what name, have you done this?"

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, "You rulers of the people, and elders, ⁹ if we are on trial today concerning a good deed done to a sick man, and by what means this man was healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to you all and to all the people of Israel that this man stands before you healthy in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom God raised from the dead.

¹¹ Jesus Christ is the stone which you builders rejected but which has been made the cornerstone. ¹² There is no salvation in any other person, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

¹³ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were ordinary, uneducated men, they were surprised, becoming aware that Peter and John had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ Because they saw the man who was healed standing with them, they had nothing to say against this.

¹⁵ But after they had commanded the apostles to leave the council meeting, they talked among themselves. ¹⁶ They said, "What should we do with these men? For a remarkable sign has been done through them, and this is evident to everyone who lives in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. ¹⁷ But in order that it spreads no further among the people, let us warn them not to speak anymore to anyone in this name." ¹⁸ Then they called them in and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

¹⁹ But Peter and John answered and said to them, "Whether it is proper in the sight of God to obey you rather than him, you judge. ²⁰ We are not able to stop speaking about the things we have seen and heard."

²¹ After further warning Peter and John, they let them go. They were unable to find any excuse to punish them, because all of the people were glorifying God for what had been done. ²² The man who had experienced this sign of healing was more than forty years old.

²³ After they were set free, Peter and John came to their own people and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ When they heard it, they raised their voices with one purpose to God and said, "Lord, you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and all that is in them. ²⁵ You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David,

'Why did the Gentile nations rage,

and the peoples imagine useless things?'

²⁶ You said,

'The kings of the earth set themselves together,

and the rulers gathered together

against the Lord, and against his Christ.'

²⁷ Indeed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, gathered together in this city against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. ²⁸ They gathered together to do all that your hand and your plan had decided in advance would happen.

²⁹ Now, Lord, look upon their warnings and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness. ³⁰ Stretch out your hand to heal and to give signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus." ³¹ After they had prayed, the place where they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

³² The great number of those who believed were of one heart and soul. No one said that anything he possessed was his own, but they had everything in common. ³³ With great power the apostles were proclaiming their testimony about the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

³⁴ There was no person among them who lacked anything, for all who owned title to lands or houses sold them and brought the money from the things that were sold ³⁵ and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each one according to their need.

³⁶ Joseph, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which is translated Son of Encouragement), a Levite, a man from Cyprus, ³⁷ sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles' feet.

Chapter 5

¹ Now a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property, ² and he kept back part of the sale money (his wife also knew it), and brought the other part of it and laid it at the apostles' feet.

³ But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the price of the land? ⁴ While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own, and after it was sold, was it not under your authority? Why did you put it in your heart to do this? You have not lied to men, but to God." ⁵ Hearing these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last, and great fear came upon all who heard it. ⁶ The young men arose and wrapped him up, and they carried him out and buried him.

⁷ After about three hours, his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. ⁸ Peter said to her, "Tell me whether you sold the land for so much." She said, "Yes, for so much."

⁹ Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." ¹⁰ She immediately fell down at his feet and breathed her last. When the young men came in, they found her dead, and carried her out and buried her beside her husband. ¹¹ Great fear came upon the whole church and upon all who heard these things.

¹² Many signs and wonders were taking place among the people through the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon's Porch. ¹³ But none of the rest had the courage to join them; however, they were held in high esteem by the people.

¹⁴ Still more believers were being added to the Lord, multitudes of men and women, ¹⁵ so that they even carried the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, so that as Peter came by, his shadow might fall on some of them. ¹⁶ There also came together a great number of people from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed.

¹⁷ But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees); and they were filled with jealousy ¹⁸ and laid hands on the apostles, and held them in custody in the common prison.

¹⁹ Yet during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison and led them out, and said, ²⁰ "Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life." ²¹ When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, all the elders of the people of Israel, and sent to the prison to have the apostles brought.

²² But the officers that went did not find them in the prison, and they returned and reported, ²³ "We found the prison securely shut and the guards standing at the door, but when we had opened it, we found no one inside."

²⁴ Now when the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed concerning them as to what would come of it. ²⁵ Then someone came and told them, "The men whom you put in the prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people."

²⁶ So the captain went with the officers and brought them back, but without violence, for they feared the people, that they might be stoned. ²⁷ When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest interrogated them, ²⁸ saying, "We ordered you with a command not to teach in this name, and yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and desire to bring this man's blood upon us."

²⁹ But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men. ³⁰ The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. ³¹ God exalted him to his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. ³² We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

³³ When the council members heard this, they were furious and they wanted to kill the apostles. ³⁴ But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the council and gave a command to take the men outside for a little while.

³⁵ Then he said to them, "Men of Israel, pay close attention to what you propose to do with these people. ³⁶ For before these days, Theudas rose up claiming to be somebody, and a number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who had been obeying him were scattered and came to nothing. ³⁷ After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all who had been obeying him were scattered.

³⁸ Now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or work is of men, it will be overthrown. ³⁹ But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; you may even find that you are fighting against God." So they were persuaded.

⁴⁰ Then they called the apostles in and beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. ⁴¹ They went away from before the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the Name. ⁴² Thereafter every day, in the temple and from house to house, they were continuously teaching and proclaiming the good news that the Christ is Jesus.

Chapter 6

¹ Now in these days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, a complaint by the Grecian Jews began against the Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of help.

² The twelve called the multitude of the disciples to them and said, "It is not right for us to give up the word of God in order to serve tables. ³ You should therefore choose, brothers, seven men from among yourselves, men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. ⁴ As for us, we will always continue in prayer and in the ministry of the word."

⁵ Their speech pleased the whole multitude. So they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte from Antioch. ⁶ The believers brought these men before the apostles, who prayed and then placed their hands upon them.

⁷ So the word of God continued to spread, and the number of disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly, and a large number of the priests became obedient to the faith.

⁸ Now Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. ⁹ But there arose some people who belonged to the synagogue called the synagogue of the Freedmen, of the Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Cilicia and Asia. These people were debating with Stephen.

¹⁰ But they were not able to stand against the wisdom and the Spirit with which Stephen spoke. ¹¹ Then they bribed some men to say, "We have heard Stephen speak blasphemous words against Moses and against God."

¹² They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, and they approached Stephen and seized him and brought him before the council. ¹³ They brought false witnesses, who said, "This man does not stop speaking words against this holy place and the law. ¹⁴ For we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us." ¹⁵ Everyone who sat in the council fixed their eyes on him and saw his face was like the face of an angel.

Chapter 7

¹ The high priest said, "Are these things true?" ² Stephen said,

"Brothers and fathers, listen to me: The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran;

³ he said to him, 'Leave your land and your relatives, and go into the land that I will show you.'

⁴ "Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and lived in Haran; from there, after his father died, God brought him into this land, where you live now. ⁵ He gave none of it as an inheritance to him, no, not even enough to set a foot on. But he promised—even though Abraham had no child yet—that he would give the land as a possession to him and to his descendants after him.

⁶ God was speaking to him like this, that his descendants would live for a while in a foreign land, and that the inhabitants there would bring them into slavery and mistreat them for four hundred years. ⁷ 'But I will judge the nation that they serve,' said God, 'and after that they will come out and worship me in this place.' ⁸ Then God gave Abraham the covenant of circumcision, so Abraham became the father of Isaac and circumcised him on the eighth day; Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of the twelve patriarchs.

⁹ "Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him into Egypt; but God was with him ¹⁰ and rescued him from all his tribulation. He gave Joseph favor and wisdom in the presence of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him governor over Egypt and over all his household.

¹¹ "Now a famine and great tribulation came over all Egypt and Canaan, and our fathers could find no food. ¹² But when Jacob heard that there was grain in Egypt, he sent out our fathers on their first trip. ¹³ On their second trip Joseph made himself known to his brothers, and Joseph's family became known to Pharaoh.

¹⁴ Joseph sent his brothers back to invite Jacob his father to come to Egypt, along with all his relatives, seventy-five persons in all. ¹⁵ So Jacob went down into Egypt, and he died, he and our fathers. ¹⁶ They were carried over to Shechem and laid in the tomb that Abraham had bought for a price in silver from the sons of Hamor in Shechem.

¹⁷ "As the time of the promise approached, the promise that God had made to Abraham, the people grew and multiplied in Egypt, ¹⁸ until there arose another king over Egypt, a king who did not know about Joseph. ¹⁹ He deceived our people and mistreated our fathers, forcing them to expose their newborn infants so they would not be kept alive.

²⁰ "At that time Moses was born; he was very beautiful before God and was nourished for three months in his father's house. ²¹ When he was placed outside, Pharaoh's daughter adopted him and raised him as her own son.

²² Moses was educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and he was mighty in his words and works.

²³ "But when he was about forty years old, it came into his heart to visit his brothers, the descendants of Israel. ²⁴ Seeing an Israelite being mistreated, Moses defended him and avenged him who was oppressed by striking the Egyptian: ²⁵ he thought that his brothers would understand that God, by his hand, was giving them salvation, but they did not understand.

²⁶ On the next day he appeared to them when they were fighting, and he tried to make peace between them, saying, 'Men, you are brothers; why are you wronging one another?'

²⁷ "But the one who had wronged his neighbor pushed him away, and said, 'Who appointed you a ruler and a judge over us? ²⁸ Would you like to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian yesterday?'

²⁹ Moses ran away after hearing this statement; he became a foreigner in the land of Midian, where he became the father of two sons.

³⁰ "When forty years were past, an angel appeared to him in the wilderness of Mount Sinai, in a flame of fire in a bush.

³¹ When Moses saw the fire, he marveled at the sight; and as he approached to look at it, the voice of the Lord came, saying, ³² 'I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob.' Moses trembled and did not dare to look.

³³ "The Lord said to him, 'Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. ³⁴ I have certainly seen the oppression of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them; now come, I will send you to Egypt.'

³⁵ "This Moses whom they rejected, when they said, 'Who appointed you a ruler and a judge?'—he was the one whom God sent as both a ruler and deliverer. God sent him by the hand of the angel who appeared to Moses in the bush. ³⁶ Moses led them out of Egypt, after doing miracles and signs in Egypt and at the Sea of Reeds, and in the wilderness during forty years.

³⁷ "It is the same Moses who said to the people of Israel, 'God will raise up a prophet for you from among your brothers, a prophet like me.'

³⁸ This is the man who was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who had spoken to him on Mount Sinai, who was with our fathers, and who received living words to give to us.

³⁹ "But our fathers refused to obey him; they pushed him away from themselves, and in their hearts they turned back to Egypt. ⁴⁰ At that time they said to Aaron, 'Make us gods who will lead us. As for this Moses, who led us out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has happened to him.'

⁴¹ So they made a calf in those days and brought a sacrifice to the idol, and rejoiced because of the work of their hands. ⁴² But God turned and gave them up to worship the stars in the sky, as it is written in the book of the prophets,

'Did you bring me offerings and sacrifices

during the forty years in the wilderness, house of Israel?

⁴³ You accepted the tabernacle of Molech

and the star of the god Rephan,

and the images that you made to worship them:

and I will carry you away beyond Babylon.'

⁴⁴ "Our fathers had the tabernacle of the testimony in the wilderness, just as God commanded when he spoke to Moses, that he should make it like the pattern that he had seen. ⁴⁵ Later, our fathers, under Joshua, received the tabernacle and brought it with them when they took possession of the land. God took the land from the nations and drove them out before the face of our fathers. The tabernacle remained in the land until the time of David, ⁴⁶ who found favor in the sight of God, and he asked if he might find a dwelling place for the house of Jacob ¹ .

⁴⁷ But it was Solomon who built the house for God.

⁴⁸ "However, the Most High does not live in houses made with hands, as the prophet says,

⁴⁹ 'Heaven is my throne,

and the earth is the footstool for my feet.

What kind of house can you build for me? says the Lord,

or what is the place for my rest?

⁵⁰ Did my hand not make all these things?'

⁵¹ "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit; you act just as your fathers acted. ⁵² Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed the prophets who appeared in advance of the coming of the Righteous One; and you have now become the betrayers and murderers of him also, ⁵³ you people who received the law that angels had ordained, but you did not keep it."

⁵⁴ Now when the council members heard these things, they were furious in their hearts and they ground their teeth at Stephen. ⁵⁵ But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, looked up intently into heaven and saw the glory of God; and he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ⁵⁶ Stephen said, "Look, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

⁵⁷ At this the council members covered their ears, and shouting out with a loud voice, they rushed at him with one purpose. ⁵⁸ They forced him out of the city and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their outer clothing at the feet of a young man named Saul.

⁵⁹ As they were stoning Stephen, he was calling out to the Lord and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." ⁶⁰ He knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he fell asleep.

¹The phrase: the house of Jacob, is found in many ancient copies. Other ancient texts have the phrase: the God of Jacob .

Chapter 8

¹ Saul was in agreement with his death.

So there began on that day a great persecution against the church that was in Jerusalem; and the believers were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

² Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. ³ But Saul tried to destroy the church. He would enter house after house, drag off both men and women, and put them in prison.

⁴ Yet the believers who had been scattered went about preaching the word. ⁵ Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.

⁶ Crowds of people were giving close attention to what was being said by Philip; with one mind they heard him, and they saw the signs he did. ⁷ Unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying out with a loud voice, and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. ⁸ So there was much joy in that city.

⁹ But there was a certain man in the city named Simon, who had earlier been practicing sorcery; he used to astonish the people of Samaria while claiming that he was an important person. ¹⁰ All the Samaritans, from the least to the greatest, paid attention to him; they said, "This man is that power of God which is called Great." ¹¹ They listened to him because he had astonished them for a long time with his sorceries.

¹² But when they believed Philip as he proclaimed the gospel about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Even Simon himself believed, and after he was baptized he stayed with Philip constantly. When he saw signs and mighty works taking place, he was amazed.

¹⁴ Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent to them Peter and John. ¹⁵ When they had come down, they prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit. ¹⁶ For until that time, the Holy Spirit had not come upon any of them; they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money. ¹⁹ He said, "Give me this authority, too, that whoever I place my hands on might receive the Holy Spirit."

²⁰ But Peter said to him, "May your silver perish along with you, because you thought to obtain the gift of God with money. ²¹ You have no part or allotted portion in this matter, because your heart is not right with God. ²² Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord, so that he might perhaps forgive you for the intention of your heart. ²³ For I see that you are in the poison of bitterness and in the bonds of unrighteousness."

²⁴ Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, so that nothing you have said may happen to me."

²⁵ When they had testified and spoken the word of the Lord, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, proclaiming the gospel to many villages of the Samaritans.

²⁶ Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip and said, "Arise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This road is in a desert.) ²⁷ He arose and went. Behold, there was a man from Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship. ²⁸ He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

²⁹ The Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and stay close to this chariot."

³⁰ So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?"

³¹ Then he said, "How can I, unless someone guides me?" He invited Philip to come up into the chariot and sit with him.

³² Now the passage of the scripture which the Ethiopian was reading was this,

"He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,

and like a lamb before his shearer is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

³³ In his humiliation

justice was taken away from him.

Who can give a full account of his descendants?

For his life was taken from the earth."

³⁴ So the eunuch asked Philip, and said, "I beg you, tell me who is the prophet speaking about, himself, or someone else?" ³⁵ Philip began to speak, and beginning with this scripture he proclaimed the gospel about Jesus to him.

³⁶ As they went on the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, "Look, there is water here. What prevents me from being baptized?" ³⁷ ¹ ³⁸ So the Ethiopian commanded the chariot to stop. They went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and Philip baptized him.

³⁹ When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord took Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but went on his way rejoicing. ⁴⁰ But Philip appeared at Azotus and he went through that region, proclaiming the gospel to all the cities until he came to Caesarea.

¹The best ancient copies do not have Acts 8:37, Philip said, "If you believe with all your heart, you may be baptized." The Ethiopian answered, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" .

Chapter 9

¹ But Saul, still speaking threats even of murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest ² and asked him for letters for the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

³ As he was traveling, it happened that as he came near to Damascus, suddenly there shone all around him a light out of heaven; ⁴ and he fell upon the ground and heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?"

⁵ Saul replied, "Who are you, Lord?" The Lord said, "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting; ⁶ but rise, enter into the city, and it will be told you what you must do." ⁷ The men who traveled with Saul stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one.

⁸ Saul arose from the ground, and when he opened his eyes, he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. ⁹ For three days he was without sight, and he neither ate nor drank.

¹⁰ Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, "Ananias!" He said, "See, I am here, Lord."

¹¹ The Lord said to him, "Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and at the house of Judas ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. ¹² He has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, so that he might see again."

¹³ But Ananias answered, "Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ He has authority from the chief priests to put in bonds everyone here who calls upon your name."

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine, to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel; ¹⁶ for I will show him how much he must suffer for the cause of my name."

¹⁷ So Ananias departed, and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road when you were coming, has sent me so that you might receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit." ¹⁸ Immediately something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he received his sight; he arose and was baptized; ¹⁹ and he ate and was strengthened.

He stayed with the disciples in Damascus for several days.

²⁰ Right away he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying that he is the Son of God. ²¹ All who heard him were amazed and said, "Is not this the man who destroyed those in Jerusalem who called on this name? He has come here to take them bound to the chief priests." ²² But Saul became more and more powerful, and he was causing distress among the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.

²³ After many days, the Jews planned together to kill him. ²⁴ But their plan became known to Saul. They watched the gates day and night in order to kill him. ²⁵ But his disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall, lowering him in a basket.

²⁶ When he had come to Jerusalem, Saul attempted to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles, and he told them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how at Damascus Saul had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus.

²⁸ He was with them, going in and out around Jerusalem. He spoke boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus ²⁹ and debated with the Grecian Jews; but they kept trying to kill him. ³⁰ When the brothers learned of this, they brought him down to Caesarea and sent him away to Tarsus.

³¹ So then, the church throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and was built up; and, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, the church grew in numbers. ³² Now it came about that, as Peter went throughout the whole region, he came down also to God's holy people who lived in the town of Lydda.

³³ There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been in his bed for eight years, for he was paralyzed. ³⁴ Peter said to him, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and make your bed," and right away he got up. ³⁵ So everyone who lived in Lydda and in Sharon saw the man and they turned to the Lord.

³⁶ Now there was in Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha (which is translated "Dorcas"). This woman was full of good works and merciful deeds that she did for the poor. ³⁷ It came about in those days that she fell sick and died; when they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room.

³⁸ Since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, pleading with him, "Come to us without delay." ³⁹ Peter arose and went with them. When he had arrived, they brought him to the upper room, and all the widows stood by him weeping, showing him the tunics and garments that Dorcas had made while she had been with them.

⁴⁰ Peter put them all out of the room, knelt down, and prayed; then, turning to the body, he said, "Tabitha, arise." Then she opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. ⁴¹ Peter then gave her his hand and raised her up; and when he called God's holy people and the widows, he presented her alive to them. ⁴² This matter became known throughout all Joppa, and many people believed on the Lord. ⁴³ It happened that Peter stayed for many days in Joppa with a man named Simon, a tanner.

Chapter 10

¹ Now there was a certain man in the city of Caesarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of what was called the Italian Company of Soldiers. ² He was a devout man, one who feared God with all his household, gave many alms to the people, and prayed to God constantly.

³ About the ninth hour of the day, he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God coming to him. The angel said to him, "Cornelius!" ⁴ Cornelius stared at the angel and was very afraid and said, "What is it, sir?"

The angel said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have gone up as a memorial offering into God's presence.

⁵ Now send men to the city of Joppa to bring a man named Simon who is called Peter. ⁶ He is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the seaside."

⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had left, Cornelius called two of his house servants, and a devout soldier from among those who served him. ⁸ Cornelius told them all that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

⁹ Now on the next day at about the sixth hour, as they were on their journey and were approaching the city, Peter went up upon the housetop to pray. ¹⁰ He then became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while the people were cooking some food, a trance came on him, ¹¹ and he saw the sky open and a certain container descending, something like a large sheet coming down to the earth, let down by its four corners. ¹² In it were all kinds of four-footed animals and things that crawled on the earth, and birds of the sky.

¹³ Then a voice spoke to him: "Rise, Peter, kill and eat."

¹⁴ But Peter said, "Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that was defiled and unclean."

¹⁵ But the voice came to him again a second time: "What God has made clean, you must not call defiled." ¹⁶ This happened three times; then the container was immediately taken back up into the sky.

¹⁷ Now while Peter was very confused about what the vision that he had seen could mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius stood before the gate, after they had asked their way to the house. ¹⁸ They called out and asked whether Simon, who was also called Peter, was staying there.

¹⁹ While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Behold, three men are looking for you. ¹ ²⁰ Arise and go down and go with them. Do not hesitate to go with them, because I have sent them."

²¹ So Peter went down to the men and said, "I am he whom you are seeking. Why have you come?"

²² They said, "A centurion named Cornelius, a righteous man and one who fears God, and is well spoken of by all the nation of the Jews, was instructed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house, so he could listen to a message from you." ²³ So Peter invited them to come in and stay with him.

On the next morning he got up and went with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa accompanied him.

²⁴ On the following day they came to Caesarea. Cornelius was waiting for them; he had called together his relatives and his close friends.

²⁵ It came about that when Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet to worship him. ²⁶ But Peter helped him up, saying, "Stand up! I too am a man."

²⁷ While Peter was talking with him, he went in and found many people gathered together. ²⁸ He said to them, "You yourselves know that it is not lawful for a Jewish man to associate with or to visit a foreigner. But God has shown me that I should not call any man defiled or unclean. ²⁹ That is why I came without arguing, when I was sent for. So I ask you why you sent for me."

³⁰ Cornelius said, "Four days ago at this very hour, I was praying at the ninth hour in my house; and see, a man stood before me in bright clothing. ³¹ He said, 'Cornelius, your prayer has been heard by God, and your alms have reminded God about you. ³² So send someone to Joppa, and call to you a man named Simon who is called Peter. He is staying in the house of a tanner named Simon, by the seaside.' ² ³³ So at once I sent for you. You are kind to have come. Now then, we are all here present in the sight of God to hear everything that you have been instructed by the Lord to say." ³

³⁴ Then Peter opened his mouth and said, "Truly I understand that God is not partial. ³⁵ Instead, in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

³⁶ You know the message that he sent to the people of Israel, when he announced the good news about peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all— ³⁷ you yourselves know the events that took place, which occurred throughout all Judea, beginning in Galilee, after the baptism that John announced; ³⁸ the events concerning Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

³⁹ We are witnesses of all the things Jesus did, both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, ⁴⁰ but God raised him up on the third day and caused him to be seen, ⁴¹ not by all the people, but to the witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

⁴² He commanded us to proclaim to the people and to testify that this is the one who has been chosen by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

⁴⁴ While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all of those who were listening to his message. ⁴⁵ The people who belonged to the circumcision group of believers—all of those who came with Peter—were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out also on the Gentiles.

⁴⁶ For they heard these Gentiles speaking in tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, ⁴⁷ "Can anyone keep water from these people so they should not be baptized, these people who have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?" ⁴⁸ Then he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to stay with them for several days.

¹Some ancient copies have, two men are looking for you or some men are looking for you .

²Some ancient copies add: When he comes, he will speak to you .

³Instead of instructed by the Lord to say, some ancient copies have, instructed by God to say .

Chapter 11

¹ Now the apostles and the brothers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. ² When Peter had come up to Jerusalem, they who belonged to the circumcision group criticized him; ³ they said, "You associated with uncircumcised men and ate with them!"

⁴ But Peter started to explain the matter to them in detail, saying, ⁵ "I was praying in the city of Joppa, and in a trance I saw a vision of a container coming down, like a large sheet let down from heaven by its four corners. It descended to me. ⁶ I gazed at it and I thought about it. I saw the four-legged animals of earth, wild beasts, things that crawled, and birds of the sky.

⁷ Then I heard a voice say to me, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat!'

⁸ I said, 'Not so, Lord; for nothing unholy or unclean has ever entered into my mouth.'

⁹ But the voice answered again from heaven, 'What God has made clean, you must not call defiled.' ¹⁰ This happened three times, and then everything was taken back up into heaven again.

¹¹ "Behold, right away there were three men standing in front of the house where we were; they had been sent from Caesarea to me. ¹² The Spirit commanded me to go with them, and that I should make no distinction regarding them. These six brothers went with me, and we went into the man's house. ¹³ He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, 'Send men to Joppa and bring back Simon who is called Peter. ¹⁴ He will speak to you a message by which you will be saved—you and all your household.'

¹⁵ As I began to speak to them, the Holy Spirit came on them, just as on us in the beginning. ¹⁶ I remembered the words of the Lord, how he said, 'John indeed baptized with water; but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.'

¹⁷ Then if God gave to them the same gift as he gave to us when we believed on the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I, that I could oppose God?"

¹⁸ When they heard these things, they said nothing in response, but they glorified God and said, "Then God has given repentance for life to the Gentiles also."

¹⁹ Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that arose over Stephen spread as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word only to Jews. ²⁰ But some of them, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, came to Antioch and spoke also to Greeks, proclaiming to them the gospel about the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The hand of the Lord was with them; a great number believed and turned to the Lord.

²² News about them came to the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent out Barnabas as far as Antioch. ²³ When he came and saw the grace of God, he was glad and he encouraged them all to remain with the Lord with purpose of heart. ²⁴ For he was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith, and many people were added to the Lord.

²⁵ Barnabas then went out to Tarsus to search carefully for Saul. ²⁶ When he found him, he brought him to Antioch. It came about that for an entire year they gathered together with the church and taught many people. The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

²⁷ Now in these days some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. ²⁸ One of them, Agabus by name, stood up and indicated by the Spirit that a great famine would occur over all the world. This happened in the days of Claudius.

²⁹ So the disciples, as each one was able, determined to send a contribution for the relief of the brothers in Judea. ³⁰ They did this; they sent money to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.

Chapter 12

¹ Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church so that he might mistreat them. ² He killed James the brother of John with the sword.

³ After he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. That was during the days of unleavened bread. ⁴ After arresting him, he put him in prison, assigning him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him; he was intending to bring him to the people after the Passover.

⁵ So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer was made earnestly to God for him by those in the church. ⁶ On the night before Herod was going to bring him out for trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison.

⁷ Behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared by him, and a light shone in the prison cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him and said, "Get up quickly," and his chains fell off his hands. ⁸ The angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." Peter did so. The angel said to him, "Put on your outer garment and follow me."

⁹ So Peter followed the angel and went out. He did not know that what was done by the angel was real. He thought he was seeing a vision. ¹⁰ After they had passed by the first guard and the second, they came to the iron gate that led into the city; it opened for them by itself. They went out and went down a street, and the angel left him right away.

¹¹ When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I truly know that the Lord has sent his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting." ¹² When he realized this, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.

¹³ When he knocked at the door of the gate, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. ¹⁴ When she recognized Peter's voice, out of joy she failed to open the gate; instead, she came running into the room; she reported that Peter was standing at the gate. ¹⁵ So they said to her, "You are insane." But she insisted that it was so. They said, "It is his angel."

¹⁶ But Peter continued knocking, and when they had opened the door, they saw him and were amazed. ¹⁷ Peter motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and he told them how the Lord had brought him out of prison. He said, "Report these things to James and the brothers." Then he left and went to another place.

¹⁸ Now when it became day, there was no small disturbance among the soldiers over what had happened to Peter. ¹⁹ After Herod had searched for him and could not find him, he questioned the guards and ordered them to be put to death.

Then Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.

²⁰ Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They went to him with one purpose, and after persuading Blastus, the king's assistant, to help them, they asked for peace because their country received its food from the king's country. ²¹ On a set day Herod dressed himself in royal clothing and sat on a throne; he made a speech to them.

²² The people shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man!" ²³ Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God the glory; he was eaten by worms and died.

²⁴ But the word of God increased and multiplied.

²⁵ So when Barnabas and Saul had completed their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, ¹ bringing with them John, also called Mark.

¹Some ancient copies read, they returned to Jerusalem .

Chapter 13

¹ Now in the church in Antioch, there were some prophets and teachers. They were Barnabas, Simeon (who is called Niger), Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (the foster brother of Herod the tetrarch), and Saul. ² While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul, to do the work to which I have called them." ³ After they had fasted, prayed, and laid their hands on these men, they sent them off.

⁴ So Barnabas and Saul, having been sent out by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia; from there they sailed away to Cyprus. ⁵ While they were in the city of Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews. They also had John for an assistant.

⁶ When they had gone through the whole island to Paphos, they found a certain magician, a Jewish false prophet, whose name was Bar-Jesus. ⁷ This magician associated with the proconsul, Sergius Paulus, who was an intelligent man. This man summoned Barnabas and Saul, because he sought to hear the word of God. ⁸ But Elymas "the magician" (that is how his name is translated) opposed them; he tried to turn the proconsul away from the faith.

⁹ But Saul, who is also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, stared at him intensely ¹⁰ and said, "You son of the devil, you are full of all kinds of deceit and wickedness. You are an enemy of every kind of righteousness. You will never stop twisting the straight paths of the Lord, will you?

¹¹ Now look, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will become blind. You will not see the sun for a while." Immediately there fell on Elymas a mist and darkness; he started going around seeking people to lead him by the hand. ¹² After the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, because he was astonished at the teaching about the Lord.

¹³ Now Paul and his friends set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ Paul and his friends traveled from Perga and came to Antioch of Pisidia. There they went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. ¹⁵ After the reading of the law and the prophets, the leaders of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, "Brothers, if you have any message of encouragement for the people here, say it."

¹⁶ So Paul stood up and motioned with his hand; he said, "Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. ¹⁷ The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and exalted the people when they stayed in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm he led them out of it. ¹⁸ For about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. ¹

¹⁹ After he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave our people their land for an inheritance. ²⁰ All these events took place over 450 years. After all these things, God gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.

²¹ Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, to be king for forty years. ²² After God removed him from the kingship, he raised up David to be their king. It was about David that God testified, saying, 'I have found David son of Jesse to be a man after my heart, who does all I want him to do.'

²³ From this man's descendants God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised to do. ²⁴ Before the arrival of Jesus, John proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ As John was finishing his work, he said, 'Who do you think I am? I am not the one. But listen, one is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.'

²⁶ Brothers, children of the offspring of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, it is to us that the message about this salvation has been sent. ²⁷ For they who live in Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize him, and they fulfilled the voices of the prophets that are read every Sabbath by condemning him.

²⁸ Even though they found no reason for the death penalty, they called on Pilate to kill him. ²⁹ When they had completed all the things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.

³⁰ But God raised him from the dead. ³¹ He was seen for many days by those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. These people are now his witnesses to the people.

³² So we tell you the good news: The promise that came to our fathers ³³ God has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:

'You are my Son,

today I have become your Father.'

³⁴ As to his raising him from the dead, never to return to decay, he has spoken in this way:

'I will give you the holy and sure blessings

promised to David.'

³⁵ This is why he also says in another Psalm,

'You will not allow your Holy One

to see decay.'

³⁶ For when David had served the purpose of God in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was laid with his fathers and his body experienced decay. ³⁷ But he whom God raised up experienced no decay.

³⁸ So let it be known to you, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. The law of Moses could not make you righteous. ³⁹ But by this man God makes righteous everyone who believes.

⁴⁰ So then be careful that the thing the prophets spoke about does not happen to you:

⁴¹ 'Look, you despisers,

and be astonished and then perish;

For I am doing a work in your days,

a work that you would never believe,

even if someone announces it to you.'"

⁴² As Paul and Barnabas left, the people begged them that they might speak these same words again the next Sabbath. ⁴³ When the synagogue meeting ended, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who were speaking to them and persuading them to continue in the grace of God.

⁴⁴ On the next Sabbath, almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of the Lord. ⁴⁵ When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with envy and spoke against the things that were said by Paul and insulted him.

⁴⁶ But Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, "It was necessary that the word of God should first be spoken to you. Seeing you push it away from yourselves and consider yourselves unworthy of eternal life, see, we will turn to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so has the Lord commanded us, saying,

'I have appointed you as a light for the Gentiles,

that you should bring salvation

to the uttermost parts of the earth.'"

⁴⁸ As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of the Lord. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. ⁴⁹ The word of the Lord was spread out through the whole region.

⁵⁰ But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city. They stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and threw them out of their region. ⁵¹ But Paul and Barnabas shook off the dust from their feet against them. Then they went to the city of Iconium. ⁵² And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

¹Some ancient copies read, For about forty years he cared for them in the wilderness .

Chapter 14

¹ It came about in Iconium that Paul and Barnabas entered together into the synagogue of the Jews and spoke in such a way that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed. ² But the Jews who were disobedient stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and made them bitter against the brothers.

³ So they stayed there for a long time, speaking boldly with the Lord's power, while he gave evidence about the message of his grace. He did this by granting signs and wonders to be done by the hands of Paul and Barnabas. ⁴ But the people of the city were divided; some sided with the Jews, others with the apostles.

⁵ Both Gentiles and Jews (together with their leaders) made an attempt to mistreat them and to stone them, ⁶ but as soon as they learned about this, they fled to the Lycaonian cities of Lystra and Derbe and the surrounding region, ⁷ where they continued to proclaim the gospel.

⁸ At Lystra a certain man sat, powerless in his feet, a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked. ⁹ This man heard Paul speaking. Paul fixed his eyes on him and saw that he had faith to be made well. ¹⁰ So he said to him in a loud voice, "Stand up on your feet." Then the man jumped up and walked around.

¹¹ When the multitude saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the dialect of Lycaonia, "The gods have become like men and come down to us." ¹² They called Barnabas "Zeus," and Paul "Hermes," because he was the main speaker. ¹³ The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and wreaths to the gates; he and the multitudes wanted to offer sacrifice.

¹⁴ But when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of it, they tore their clothing and quickly went out into the crowd, crying out, ¹⁵ "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are human beings, with the same nature as you. We are telling you good news that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them. ¹⁶ In the past ages, he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.

¹⁷ But still, he did not leave himself without witness, in that he did good and gave you the rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling your hearts with food and gladness." ¹⁸ Even with these words, Paul and Barnabas barely kept the multitudes from sacrificing to them.

¹⁹ But some Jews from Antioch and Iconium came and persuaded the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, thinking that he was dead. ²⁰ Yet as the disciples were standing around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day, he went to Derbe with Barnabas.

²¹ After they had proclaimed the gospel in that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, to Iconium, and to Antioch. ²² They kept strengthening the souls of the disciples and encouraging them to continue in the faith, saying, "We must enter into the kingdom of God through many tribulations."

²³ When they had appointed for them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they entrusted them to the Lord, in whom they had believed. ²⁴ Then they passed through Pisidia and came to Pamphylia. ²⁵ When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. ²⁶ From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had now completed.

²⁷ When they arrived in Antioch and gathered the church together, they reported all the things that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles. ²⁸ They stayed for a long time with the disciples.

Chapter 15

¹ Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and taught the brothers, saying, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." ² This brought Paul and Barnabas into a sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas, along with some others from among them, were appointed to go up to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders about this question.

³ They therefore, being sent by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria and announced the conversion of the Gentiles. They brought great joy to all the brothers. ⁴ When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all the things that God had done with them.

⁵ But certain men who believed, who belonged to the group of Pharisees, stood up and said, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to command them to keep the law of Moses." ⁶ So the apostles and the elders gathered together to consider this matter.

⁷ After much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brothers, you know that a good while ago God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel, and believe. ⁸ God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us. ⁹ He made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.

¹⁰ Now therefore why do you test God, that you should put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear? ¹¹ But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they were."

¹² All the multitude kept silent while they listened to Barnabas and Paul report the signs and wonders God had worked among the Gentiles through them.

¹³ After they stopped speaking, James answered, saying,

"Brothers, listen to me.

¹⁴ Simon has told how God first graciously helped the Gentiles in order to take from them a people for his name.

¹⁵ The words of the prophets agree with this, as it is written,

¹⁶ 'After these things I will return,

and I will build again the tabernacle of David,

which has fallen down;

I will set up and restore its ruins again,

¹⁷ so that the remnant of men may seek the Lord,

including all the Gentiles called by my name.'

¹⁸ This is what the Lord says,

who has done these things

that have been known from ancient times. ¹

¹⁹ Therefore, I have decided that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God. ²⁰ But we will write to them that they must keep away from the pollution of idols, from sexual immorality, and from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood. ²¹ For Moses has been proclaimed in every city from ancient generations and he is preached in the synagogues every Sabbath."

²² Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, who were leaders of the brothers, and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.

²³ They wrote this with their hands,

²⁴ Because we have heard that certain men have gone out from us, with no orders from us, and have disturbed you with words that upset your souls, ²⁵ it seemed good to us, who have come to one mind, to choose men and to send them to you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, ²⁶ men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁷ Therefore we have sent Judas and Silas, who will report to you the same things in their own words. ²⁸ For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: ²⁹ that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols, blood, things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you avoid these things, you will do well.

³⁰ So they, when they were dismissed, came down to Antioch; after they gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. ³¹ When they had read it, they rejoiced because of the encouragement. ³² Judas and Silas, also prophets, encouraged the brothers with many words and strengthened them.

³³ After they had spent some time there, they were sent away in peace from the brothers to those who had sent them. ³⁴ ² ³⁵ But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching (along with many others) the word of the Lord.

³⁶ After some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return now and visit the brothers in every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are." ³⁷ Barnabas wanted to also take with them John, who was called Mark. ³⁸ But Paul thought it was not good to take Mark, who had left them in Pamphylia and did not go further with them in the work.

³⁹ Then there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. ⁴⁰ But Paul chose Silas and left, after he was entrusted by the brothers to the grace of the Lord. ⁴¹ Then he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

¹There are some copies of the ancient Greek text that have a slightly different meaning, This is what the Lord says, to whom are known all his deeds from ancient times .

²The best ancient copies do not have verse 34 (See: Acts 15:40), But it seemed good to Silas to remain there .

Chapter 16

¹ Paul also came to Derbe and to Lystra, and behold, a certain disciple named Timothy was there, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. ² He was well spoken of by the brothers who were at Lystra and Iconium. ³ Paul wanted him to travel with him, so he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

⁴ As they were going along through the cities, they were passing along the decrees to obey that were decided on by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. ⁵ So the churches were strengthened in the faith and increased in number daily.

⁶ Paul and his companions went through the regions of Phrygia and Galatia, since they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the word in the province of Asia. ⁷ When they came near Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus prevented them. ⁸ So passing by Mysia, they came down to the city of Troas.

⁹ A vision appeared to Paul in the night: A man of Macedonia was standing there, begging him and saying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us." ¹⁰ When Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

¹¹ Setting sail therefore from Troas, we made a straight course to Samothrace, and the next day we came to Neapolis. ¹² From there we went to Philippi, which is a city of Macedonia, the most important city in the district and a Roman colony, and we stayed in this city for several days.

¹³ On the Sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat down and spoke to the women who had come together.

¹⁴ A certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple from the city of Thyatira, who worshiped God, listened to us. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. ¹⁵ When she and her house were baptized, she pleaded with us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay in my house." And she persuaded us.

¹⁶ It came about that, as we were going to the place of prayer, a certain slave girl who had a spirit of divination encountered us. She brought her masters much gain by fortunetelling. ¹⁷ This woman followed after Paul and us and shouted, saying, "These men are servants of the Most High God. They proclaim to you the way of salvation." ¹⁸ She did this for many days. But Paul, being greatly annoyed by her, turned and said to the spirit, "I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her." And it came out at that same hour.

¹⁹ When her masters saw that their hope of profit was now gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace before the authorities. ²⁰ When they had brought them to the magistrates, they said, "These men are causing trouble in our city. They are Jews. ²¹ They proclaim customs that are not lawful for Romans to accept or practice."

²² Then the crowd rose up together against Paul and Silas; the magistrates tore their garments off them and commanded them to be beaten with rods. ²³ When they had laid many blows upon them, they threw them into prison and commanded the jailer to guard them securely. ²⁴ After he got this command, the jailer threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.

²⁵ Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's chains were unfastened.

²⁷ The jailer was awakened from sleep and saw the open prison doors; he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, because he thought that the prisoners had escaped.

²⁸ But Paul shouted with a loud voice, saying, "Do not harm yourself, because we are all here."

²⁹ The jailer called for lights and rushed in and, trembling for fear, fell down before Paul and Silas, ³⁰ and brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"

³¹ They said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

³² They spoke the word of the Lord to him, together with everyone in his house. ³³ Then the jailer took them at the same hour of the night, and washed their wounds, and he and those in his entire house were baptized immediately. ³⁴ Then as he brought Paul and Silas up into his house and he set food before them, he rejoiced greatly with those of his house, that he had believed in God.

³⁵ Now when it was day, the magistrates sent word to the guards, saying, "Let those men go."

³⁶ The jailer reported the words to Paul, saying, "The magistrates have sent word to me to let you go. Now therefore come out, and go in peace."

³⁷ But Paul said to them, "They have publicly beaten us without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens—and they threw us into prison. Do they now want to send us away secretly? No! Let them come themselves and lead us out."

³⁸ The guards reported these words to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Romans, they were afraid. ³⁹ The magistrates came and apologized to them and brought them out, asking them to go away from the city.

⁴⁰ So Paul and Silas went out of the prison and came to the house of Lydia. When Paul and Silas saw the brothers, they encouraged them and then departed from the city.

Chapter 17

¹ Now when they had passed through the cities of Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to the city of Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. ² Paul, as his custom was, went to them, and for three Sabbath days reasoned with them from the scriptures.

³ He was opening the scriptures and explaining that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise again from the dead. He said, "This Jesus whom I proclaim to you is the Christ." ⁴ Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, including a large number of devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women.

⁵ But the unbelieving Jews, being moved with jealousy, took certain wicked men from the marketplace, gathered a crowd together, and set the city in an uproar. Assaulting the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring Paul and Silas out to the people. ⁶ But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and certain other brothers before the officials of the city, crying, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also. ⁷ These men whom Jason has welcomed act against the decrees of Caesar; they say that there is another king—Jesus."

⁸ They troubled the crowd and the officials of the city who heard these things. ⁹ But after they took security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

¹⁰ That night the brothers sent Paul and Silas to Berea. When they arrived there, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. ¹¹ Now these people were more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. ¹² Therefore many of them believed, including some influential Greek women and many men.

¹³ But when the Jews of Thessalonica learned that Paul was also proclaiming the word of God at Berea, they went there and stirred up and troubled the crowds. ¹⁴ Then immediately, the brothers sent Paul to go to the sea, but Silas and Timothy stayed there. ¹⁵ Those who were leading Paul took him as far as the city of Athens. As they left Paul there, they received from him instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as quickly as possible.

¹⁶ Now while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols. ¹⁷ So he reasoned every day in the synagogue with the Jews and others who worshiped God, as well as in the marketplace with those who happened to be there.

¹⁸ But also some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers encountered him. Some said, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others said, "He seems to be one who calls people to follow strange gods," because he was proclaiming the gospel about Jesus and the resurrection.

¹⁹ They took Paul and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, "May we know this new teaching which you were speaking? ²⁰ For you bring some strange things to our ears. Therefore, we want to know what these things mean." ²¹ (Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing but either telling or listening about something new.)

²² So Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus and said,

"You men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way.

²³ For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found an altar with this inscription, 'TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.' What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.

²⁴ The God who made the world and everything in it, since he is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples built with hands. ²⁵ Neither is he served by men's hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives people life and breath and everything else.

²⁶ From one man he made every nation of people to live on the surface of the earth, having determined their appointed seasons and the boundaries of their living areas, ²⁷ so that they should search for God and perhaps they may feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us.

²⁸ For in him we live and move and have our being, just as one of your own poets has said: 'For we also are his offspring.'

²⁹ "Therefore, since we are God's offspring, we ought not to think that the qualities of deity are like gold, or silver, or stone—images created by the art and imagination of man.

³⁰ Therefore God overlooked the times of ignorance, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent. ³¹ This is because he has set a day when he will judge the world in righteousness by the man he has appointed. God has given proof of this man to everyone by raising him from the dead."

³² Now when the men of Athens heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked Paul; but others said, "We will listen to you again about this matter." ³³ After that, Paul left them. ³⁴ But certain men joined him and believed, including Dionysius the Areopagite, a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Chapter 18

¹ After these things Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. ² There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to them, ³ and because he worked at the same trade, he stayed with them and labored, for they were tentmakers by trade.

⁴ So Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, trying to persuade both Jews and Greeks. ⁵ Now when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself to the word, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. ⁶ But when the Jews opposed and insulted him, Paul shook out his garment at them and said to them, "May your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles."

⁷ Then he left from there and went to the house of a man named Titius Justus, a man who worshiped God. His house was next to the synagogue. ⁸ Crispus, the leader of the synagogue, believed in the Lord, together with all his household; and many of the Corinthians who heard about it believed and were baptized.

⁹ The Lord said to Paul in the night in a vision, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one will try to harm you, for I have many people in this city." ¹¹ Paul lived there for a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

¹² But when Gallio became governor of Achaia, the Jews rose up with one mind against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat; ¹³ they said, "This man persuades people to worship God contrary to the law."

¹⁴ Yet when Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "You Jews, if indeed it were a matter of wrong or a wicked crime, it would be reasonable to put up with you. ¹⁵ But since these are questions about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I do not wish to be a judge of these matters."

¹⁶ Gallio made them leave the judgment seat. ¹⁷ So they all seized Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio did not care what they did.

¹⁸ Paul, after staying there for many more days, left the brothers and sailed for Syria with Priscilla and Aquila. Before he left the seaport, Cenchreae, he had his hair cut off because of a vow he had taken. ¹⁹ When they came to Ephesus, Paul left Priscilla and Aquila there, but he himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

²⁰ When they asked Paul to stay a longer time, he declined. ²¹ But taking his leave of them, he said, "I will return again to you if it is God's will." He then set sail from Ephesus.

²² When Paul had landed at Caesarea, he went up and greeted the Jerusalem church and then went down to Antioch. ²³ After having spent some time there, Paul departed and went through the regions of Galatia and Phrygia, strengthening all the disciples.

²⁴ Now a certain Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, came to Ephesus. He was eloquent in speech and mighty in the scriptures. ²⁵ Apollos had been instructed in the teachings of the Lord. Being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, but he knew only the baptism of John. ²⁶ Apollos began to speak boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.

²⁷ When he desired to pass over into Achaia, the brothers encouraged him and wrote to the disciples in Achaia to welcome him. When he arrived, he greatly helped those who believed by grace. ²⁸ Apollos powerfully refuted the Jews in public debate, showing by the scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.

Chapter 19

¹ It came about that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to the city of Ephesus, and found certain disciples there. ² Paul said to them, "Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?"

They said to him, "No, we did not even hear about the Holy Spirit."

³ Paul said, "Into what then were you baptized?"

They said, "Into John's baptism."

⁴ So Paul replied, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance. He told the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus."

⁵ When the people heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. ⁶ Then when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them and they spoke in tongues and prophesied. ⁷ In all they were about twelve men.

⁸ Paul went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But when some Jews were hardened and disobedient, they began to speak evil of the Way before the crowd. So Paul left them and took the disciples with him, reasoning with them every day in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This continued for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

¹¹ God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, ¹² so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick and their illnesses left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

¹³ But there were Jewish exorcists traveling through the area. They called on the name of the Lord Jesus so they could have power over evil spirits when they said, "By the Jesus whom Paul proclaims, I command you to come out." ¹⁴ The Jewish high priest, whose name was Sceva, had seven sons who were doing this.

¹⁵ An evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?" ¹⁶ The evil spirit in the man leaped on the exorcists and subdued them and beat them up. Then they fled out of that house naked and wounded. ¹⁷ This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. They became very afraid, and the name of the Lord Jesus was honored.

¹⁸ Also, many of the believers came and confessed and gave a full account of the evil things they had done. ¹⁹ Many who practiced magic brought their books together and burned them in the sight of everyone. When they counted the value of them, it was fifty thousand pieces of silver. ²⁰ So the word of the Lord spread very widely in powerful ways.

²¹ Now after these things were completed, Paul decided in the Spirit to pass through Macedonia and Achaia on his way to Jerusalem; he said, "After I have been there, I must also see Rome." ²² Paul sent to Macedonia two of those who served him, Timothy and Erastus. But he himself stayed in Asia for a while.

²³ At about that time there was no small disturbance in Ephesus concerning the Way. ²⁴ A certain silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in much business for the craftsmen. ²⁵ So he gathered together the workmen of that occupation and said, "Men, you know that in this business we make much money.

²⁶ You see and hear that, not only at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people. He is saying that gods made by hands are not gods. ²⁷ Not only is there danger that our trade will be discredited, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis might be regarded as worthless, and her greatness would be brought to nothing, she whom all Asia and the world worship."

²⁸ When they heard this, they were filled with anger and cried out, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians." ²⁹ The whole city was filled with confusion, and the people rushed with one mind into the theater. They had seized Paul's travel companions, Gaius and Aristarchus, who came from Macedonia.

³⁰ Paul wanted to enter in among the crowd of people, but the disciples prevented him. ³¹ Also, some of the officials of the province of Asia who were his friends sent him a message pleading with him not to enter the theater. ³² Some people were shouting one thing, and some another, for the crowd was in confusion. Most of them did not even know why they had come together.

³³ Some of the crowd advised Alexander, whom the Jews were pushing forward. So Alexander motioned with his hand, wanting to give a defense to the assembly. ³⁴ But when they recognized that he was a Jew, they all cried out for about two hours with one voice, saying, "Great is Artemis of the Ephesians."

³⁵ When the town clerk had quieted the crowd, he said, "You men of Ephesus, what man is there who does not know that the city of the Ephesians is temple keeper of the great Artemis and of the image which fell down from heaven? ³⁶ Seeing then that these things are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and do nothing rash. ³⁷ For you have brought these men to this court who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess.

³⁸ Therefore, if Demetrius and the craftsmen who are with him have an accusation against anyone, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. Let them accuse one another. ³⁹ But if you are seeking anything more, it should be resolved in the regular assembly. ⁴⁰ For we are in danger of being accused of rioting today, and there is no cause we can give to justify this uproar." When he had said this, he dismissed the assembly. ¹

¹Some Greek copies number this last sentence as verse 41.

Chapter 20

¹ After the uproar was over, Paul sent for the disciples and after he encouraged them, he said farewell and left to go into Macedonia. ² When he had gone through those regions and had spoken many words of encouragement to them, he came to Greece. ³ After he had spent three months there, a plot was formed against him by the Jews as he was about to sail for Syria, so he decided to return through Macedonia.

⁴ Accompanying him as far as Asia were Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea; Aristarchus and Secundus, both from the Thessalonian believers; Gaius of Derbe; Timothy; and Tychicus and Trophimus from Asia. ⁵ But these men had gone before us and were waiting for us at Troas. ⁶ We sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and in five days we came to them in Troas. There we stayed for seven days.

⁷ On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul spoke to the believers. He was planning to leave the next day, so he prolonged his message until midnight. ⁸ There were many lamps in the upper room where we had come together.

⁹ In the window was sitting a young man named Eutychus, who fell into a deep sleep. As Paul spoke even longer, this young man, still sleeping, fell down from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰ But Paul went down, stretched himself out on him, and embraced him. Then he said, "Do not be upset any more, for he is alive."

¹¹ Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking with them much longer until dawn, he left. ¹² They brought back the boy alive and were greatly comforted.

¹³ We ourselves went ahead of Paul by ship and sailed away to Assos, where we planned to take Paul on board. This is what he himself desired to do, because he planned to go by land. ¹⁴ When he met us at Assos, we took him onto the ship and went to Mitylene.

¹⁵ Then we sailed from there and arrived the next day opposite the island of Chios. The following day we touched at the island of Samos, and the day after we came to the city of Miletus. ¹⁶ For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus, so that he would not spend any time in Asia; for he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem for the day of Pentecost, if it were at all possible for him to do so.

¹⁷ From Miletus he sent men to Ephesus and called to himself the elders of the church. ¹⁸ When they had come to him, he said to them, "You yourselves know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I always spent my time with you. ¹⁹ I kept serving the Lord with all lowliness of mind and with tears, and in trials that happened to me because of the plots of the Jews. ²⁰ You know how I did not keep back from declaring to you anything that was useful, and how I taught you in public and from house to house, ²¹ testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus.

²² Now look, I am going to Jerusalem, compelled by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that chains and afflictions await me. ²⁴ But I do not consider my life valuable to myself, if only I may finish the race and complete the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

²⁵ Now look, I know that you all, among whom I went about proclaiming the kingdom, will see my face no more. ²⁶ Therefore I testify to you this day, that I am innocent of the blood of any man. ²⁷ For I did not hold back from declaring to you the whole will of God.

²⁸ Therefore be careful about yourselves, and about all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has appointed you overseers. Be careful to shepherd the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood. ¹ ²⁹ I know that after my departure, vicious wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. ³⁰ Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth to draw away the disciples after them.

³¹ So be on guard. Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each one of you night and day with tears. ³² Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are being sanctified.

³³ I coveted no man's silver, gold, or clothing. ³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands served my own needs and the needs of those who were with me. ³⁵ In all things I gave you an example of how you should help the weak by laboring, and of how you should remember the words of the Lord Jesus, words that he himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"

³⁶ After he had spoken in this way, he knelt down and prayed with them all. ³⁷ There was a lot of crying and they embraced Paul and kissed him. ³⁸ They were in anguish most of all because of what he had said, that they would never see his face again. Then they escorted him to the ship.

¹Instead of with his own blood , some ancient copies read, with the blood of his own Son .

Chapter 21

¹ When we had gone away from them and set sail, we took a straight course to the city of Cos, and the next day to the city of Rhodes, and from there to the city of Patara. ² When we found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, we went aboard and set sail.

³ After sighting Cyprus, leaving it on the left side of the boat, we sailed on to Syria and landed at Tyre, where the ship was to unload its cargo. ⁴ After we found the disciples, we stayed there seven days. Through the Spirit they kept urging Paul not to go to Jerusalem.

⁵ When our days there were over, we left and went on our way, and they all, with their wives and children, accompanied us out of the city. Then we knelt down on the beach, prayed, ⁶ and said farewell to each other. Then we went on board the ship, and they returned home.

⁷ When we had finished the voyage from Tyre, we arrived at Ptolemais. There we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for one day. ⁸ On the next day we left and went to Caesarea. We entered the house of Philip, the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and we stayed with him. ⁹ Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

¹⁰ As we stayed there for some days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. ¹¹ He came to us and took Paul's belt. With it he tied his own feet and hands and said, "Thus says the Holy Spirit, 'This is how the Jews in Jerusalem will tie up the man who owns this belt, and they will hand him over into the hands of the Gentiles.'"

¹² When we heard these things, both we and the people who lived in that place pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem.

¹³ Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready, not only to be tied up, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

¹⁴ Since Paul would not be persuaded, we remained silent and then we said, "May the will of the Lord be done."

¹⁵ After these days, we picked up our bags and went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁶ There also went with us some of the disciples from Caesarea. They brought with them a man named Mnason, a man from Cyprus, an early disciple, with whom we would stay.

¹⁷ When we had arrived in Jerusalem, the brothers welcomed us gladly. ¹⁸ The next day Paul went with us to James, and all the elders were present. ¹⁹ When he had greeted them, he reported one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.

²⁰ When they heard it, they glorified God, and they said to him, "You see, brother, how many thousands have believed among the Jews. They are all zealous to keep the law. ²¹ They have been told about you, that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to abandon Moses, and that you tell them not to circumcise their children, and not to walk according to the traditional ways.

²² What should we do? They will certainly hear that you have come. ²³ So do what we say to you. We have four men who made a vow. ²⁴ Take these men and purify yourself with them, and pay their expenses for them, so that they may shave their heads. So everyone will know that the things they have been told about you are false. They will learn that you also live correctly, obeying the law.

²⁵ But concerning the Gentiles who have believed, we wrote about our decision that they should keep themselves from things sacrificed to idols, from blood, from what is strangled, and from sexual immorality." ²⁶ Then Paul took the men, and the next day he purified himself along with them. Then they went into the temple, giving notice when the days of purification would be fulfilled and the offering would be presented for each of them.

²⁷ When the seven days were almost finished, some Jews from Asia, seeing Paul in the temple, stirred up the whole crowd and laid hands on him. ²⁸ They were shouting, "Men of Israel, help us. This is the man who teaches all men everywhere things that are against the people, the law, and this place. Besides, he has also brought Greeks into the temple and has defiled this holy place." ²⁹ For they had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian with him in the city, and they thought that Paul had brought him into the temple.

³⁰ All the city was excited, and the people ran together and laid hold of Paul. They dragged him out of the temple, and the doors were immediately shut. ³¹ As they were trying to kill him, news came up to the chief captain of the company of soldiers, that all Jerusalem was in an uproar.

³² Right away he took soldiers and centurions and ran down to the crowd. When the people saw the chief captain and the soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. ³³ Then the chief captain approached and laid hold of Paul, and commanded him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

³⁴ Some in the crowd were shouting one thing and others another. Since the captain could not learn the truth because of all the noise, he ordered that Paul be brought into the fortress. ³⁵ When he came to the steps, he was carried by the soldiers because of the crowd's violence. ³⁶ For the crowd of people followed after and kept shouting out, "Away with him!"

³⁷ As Paul was about to be brought into the fortress, he said to the chief captain, "Is it permitted for me to say something to you?"

The captain said, "Do you know Greek?

³⁸ Are you not then the Egyptian who some time ago started a rebellion and led the four thousand men of the 'Assassins' out into the wilderness?"

³⁹ Paul said, "I am a Jew, from the city of Tarsus in Cilicia. I am a citizen of no unimportant city. I beg you, allow me to speak to the people."

⁴⁰ When the captain had given him permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned with the hand to the people. When there was a deep silence, he spoke to them in the Hebrew language. He said,

Chapter 22

¹ "Brothers and fathers, listen to my defense which I will now make to you."

² When the crowd heard Paul speak to them in the Hebrew language, they became quiet. He said,

³ "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but educated in this city at the feet of Gamaliel. I was instructed according to the strict ways of the law of our fathers. I am zealous for God, just as all of you are today. ⁴ I persecuted this Way to the death, binding up and delivering to prison both men and women, ⁵ as the high priest and all the elders can testify. I received letters from them for the brothers in Damascus, and I went there to bring them back in bonds to Jerusalem to be punished.

⁶ It happened that when I was traveling and nearing Damascus, about noon suddenly a great light from heaven began to shine around me. ⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'

⁸ I answered, 'Who are you, Lord?'

He said to me, 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.'

⁹ Those who were with me saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who spoke to me. ¹⁰ I said, 'What should I do, Lord?'

The Lord said to me, 'Arise and go into Damascus. There you will be told everything that has been appointed for you to do.'

¹¹ I could not see because of that light's brightness, and being led by the hands of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

¹² There I met a man named Ananias, a devout man according to the law and well spoken of by all the Jews who lived there. ¹³ He came to me, stood by me, and said, 'Brother Saul, receive your sight.' In that very hour I saw him.

¹⁴ Then he said, 'The God of our fathers has appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One, and to hear the voice coming from his own mouth. ¹⁵ For you will be a witness for him to all men about what you have seen and heard. ¹⁶ Now why are you waiting? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'

¹⁷ After I had returned to Jerusalem, and while I was praying in the temple, a trance came on me. ¹⁸ I saw him say to me, 'Hurry and leave Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about me.'

¹⁹ I said, 'Lord, they themselves know that I imprisoned and beat those who believed in you in every synagogue. ²⁰ When the blood of Stephen your witness was spilled, I also was standing by and agreeing, and I was guarding the cloaks of those who killed him.' ²¹ But he said to me, 'Go, because I will send you far away to the Gentiles.'"

²² They listened to him until that statement. Then they raised their voices and said, "Away with such a fellow from the earth, for it is not right that he should live." ²³ As they were shouting, throwing off their cloaks, and throwing dust into the air, ²⁴ the chief captain commanded Paul to be brought into the fortress. He ordered that he should be questioned with scourging, so that he himself might know why they were shouting against him like that.

²⁵ When they had tied him up with the thongs, Paul said to the centurion who was standing by, "Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman and who has not been put on trial?"

²⁶ When the centurion heard this, he went to the chief captain and told him, saying, "What are you about to do? For this man is a Roman citizen."

²⁷ The chief captain came and said to him, "Tell me, are you a Roman citizen?"

Paul said, "Yes."

²⁸ The chief captain answered, "It was only with a large amount of money that I acquired citizenship."

But Paul said, "I was born a Roman citizen."

²⁹ Then the men who were going to question him left him immediately. The chief captain also was afraid, when he learned that Paul was a Roman citizen, because he had tied him up.

³⁰ On the next day, the chief captain wanted to know for certain about the Jews' accusations against Paul. So he untied his bonds and ordered the chief priests and all the council to meet. Then he brought Paul down and placed him in their midst.

Chapter 23

¹ Paul looked directly at the council members and said, "Brothers, I have lived before God in all good conscience until this day." ² The high priest Ananias commanded those who stood by him to strike him on the mouth.

³ Then Paul said to him, "God will strike you, you whitewashed wall. Are you sitting to judge me by the law, yet order me to be struck, against the law?"

⁴ Those who stood by said, "Is this how you insult God's high priest?"

⁵ Paul said, "I did not know, brothers, that he was high priest. For it is written, 'You must not speak evil of a ruler of your people.'"

⁶ When Paul saw that the one part of the council were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he spoke loudly in the council: "Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is because I have the hope of the resurrection of the dead that I am being judged." ⁷ When he said this, an argument began between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided. ⁸ For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, no angels, and no spirits, but the Pharisees acknowledge all of them.

⁹ So a large uproar occurred, and some of the scribes belonging to the Pharisees stood up and argued, saying, "We find nothing wrong with this man. What if a spirit or an angel has spoken to him?" ¹⁰ When there arose a great argument, the chief captain feared that Paul would be torn to pieces by them, so he commanded the soldiers to go down and take him by force from among the council members, and bring him into the fortress.

¹¹ The following night the Lord stood beside him and said, "Have courage, for as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome."

¹² When it became day, some Jews formed a conspiracy and put themselves under an oath, saying that they would not eat or drink anything until they had killed Paul. ¹³ There were more than forty men who formed this conspiracy.

¹⁴ They went to the chief priests and the elders and said, "We have sworn a great oath to eat nothing until we have killed Paul. ¹⁵ Now, therefore, let the council formally request the chief captain to bring him down to you, as if you would decide his case more precisely. As for us, we are ready to kill him before he comes here."

¹⁶ But Paul's sister's son heard that they were lying in wait, so he went and entered the fortress and told Paul.

¹⁷ Paul called one of the centurions and said, "Take this young man to the chief captain, for he has something to report to him."

¹⁸ So the centurion took the young man and brought him to the chief captain and said, "Paul the prisoner called me to him, and asked me to bring this young man to you. He has something to say to you."

¹⁹ The chief captain took him by the hand to a private place and asked him, "What is it that you have to report to me?"

²⁰ The young man said, "The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring down Paul tomorrow to the council, as if they were going to ask more precisely about his case. ²¹ But do not be persuaded by them, because there are more than forty men who are lying in wait for him. They have put themselves under oath neither to eat nor to drink until they have killed him. Even now they are ready, waiting for your approval."

²² So the chief captain let the young man go, after instructing him, "Tell no one that you have reported these things to me."

²³ Then he called to him two of the centurions and said, "Get two hundred soldiers ready to go as far as Caesarea, and seventy horsemen also, and two hundred spearmen. You will leave at the third hour of the night." ²⁴ He also ordered them to provide animals which Paul could ride and to take him safely to Felix the governor.

²⁵ Then he wrote a letter like this: ²⁶ "Claudius Lysias, ²⁷ This man was arrested by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with soldiers and rescued him, since I learned that he was a Roman citizen.

²⁸ I wanted to know why they accused him, so I took him down to their council. ²⁹ I learned that he was being accused about questions concerning their own law, but that there was no accusation against him that deserved death or imprisonment. ³⁰ Then it was reported to me that there was a plot against the man, so I immediately sent him to you and instructed his accusers also to bring their charges against him in your presence.

³¹ So the soldiers obeyed their orders. They took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. ³² On the next day, most of the soldiers left the horsemen to go with him and they themselves returned to the fortress. ³³ When the horsemen reached Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they also presented Paul to him.

³⁴ When the governor read the letter, he asked what province Paul was from. When he learned that he was from Cilicia, ³⁵ he said, "I will hear you fully when your accusers come here." Then he commanded him to be kept in Herod's government headquarters.

Chapter 24

¹ After five days, Ananias the high priest, certain elders, and an orator named Tertullus went there. These men brought charges against Paul before the governor. ² When Paul stood before the governor, Tertullus began to accuse him and said to the governor, "Because of you we have great peace, and your foresight brings good reform to our nation; ³ so with all thankfulness we welcome everything that you do, most excellent Felix.

⁴ So that I detain you no more, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. ⁵ For we have found this man to be a pest and one who causes all the Jews throughout the world to rebel. He is a leader of the Nazarene sect. ⁶ He even tried to desecrate the temple, so we arrested him. ¹

⁷ ² ⁸ When you examine Paul about all these matters, you will be able to learn about all the things of which we are accusing him." ⁹ The Jews also joined in the accusation, affirming that these charges were true.

¹⁰ But when the governor motioned for Paul to speak, Paul answered, "I understand that for many years you have been a judge to this nation, and so I gladly explain myself to you.

¹¹ You can learn for yourself that it has not been more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem. ¹² When they found me in the temple, I did not argue with anyone, and I did not stir up a crowd, either in the synagogues, or in the city. ¹³ They cannot prove to you the accusations they are now making against me.

¹⁴ But I confess this to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I serve the God of our fathers, believing all things that are according to the law and that has been written in the prophets. ¹⁵ I have a hope in God, which these men also have, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked. ¹⁶ So I always strive to have a blameless conscience before God and human beings.

¹⁷ Now after many years I came to give alms to my nation and present sacrifices. ¹⁸ When I did this, certain Jews from Asia found me in a purification ceremony in the temple, not with a crowd or an uproar. ¹⁹ These men ought to be before you now and accuse me, if they have anything.

²⁰ Or else, these same men should say what wrong they found in me when I stood before the Jewish council, ²¹ unless it is about this one thing that I shouted out when I stood among them, 'It is concerning the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you today.'"

²² Then Felix, who was well informed about the Way, postponed the hearing. He said, "When Lysias the commander comes down from Jerusalem, I will decide your case." ²³ Then he commanded the centurion that Paul should be kept in custody, but to have some freedom so that none of his friends would be prevented from attending to his needs.

²⁴ After some days, Felix returned with Drusilla his wife, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and he heard from him about faith in Christ Jesus. ²⁵ But when Paul reasoned with him about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, "Go away for now. But when I have time later on, I will send for you."

²⁶ At the same time he hoped that Paul would give money to him, so he often sent for him and spoke with him. ²⁷ But when two years passed, Porcius Festus became the governor after Felix, but Felix wanted to gain favor with the Jews, so he left Paul bound.

¹Some ancient copies add, We wanted to judge him according to our law .

²Some ancient copies have for verse 7 and the beginning of verse 8, 7 But Lysias, the officer, came and took him by force out of our hands, 8 commanding his accusers to come to you .

Chapter 25

¹ Now, Festus entered the province, and after three days, he went from Caesarea up to Jerusalem. ² The chief priests and the prominent Jews brought their charges against Paul, and they asked Festus earnestly— ³ asking him to do them a favor against Paul—to summon him to Jerusalem, for they were preparing an ambush to kill him along the way.

⁴ Festus answered that Paul was being held in custody at Caesarea, and that he himself was going there soon. ⁵ "Therefore, those who can," he said, "should go there with us. If there is something wrong with the man, you should accuse him."

⁶ Festus stayed not more than eight or ten days and then he went down to Caesarea, and on the next day he sat on the judgment seat and commanded Paul to be brought to him. ⁷ When he arrived, the Jews from Jerusalem stood nearby, and they brought many serious charges which they could not prove.

⁸ Paul defended himself and said, "I have committed no sin against the law of the Jews or against the temple or against Caesar."

⁹ But Festus wanted to gain the favor of the Jews, and so he answered Paul and said, "Do you want to go up to Jerusalem and to be judged by me about these things there?" ¹⁰ Paul said, "I stand before the judgment seat of Caesar where I must be judged. I have wronged no Jews, just as you also very well know.

¹¹ Though if I have done wrong and if I have done what is worthy of death, I do not refuse to die. But if their accusations are nothing, no one can hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar." ¹² After Festus talked with the council, he answered, "You have appealed to Caesar. To Caesar you will go!"

¹³ Now after some days, King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea to pay an official visit to Festus. ¹⁴ After they had been there for many days, Festus presented Paul's case to the king; he said, "A certain man was left behind here by Felix as a prisoner. ¹⁵ When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against this man to me, and they asked for a sentence of condemnation against him. ¹⁶ I answered them that it was not the custom of the Romans to hand over anyone before the accused had faced his accusers and received an opportunity to defend himself against the charges.

¹⁷ Therefore, when they came together here, I did not wait, but the next day I sat in the judgment seat and I ordered the man to be brought in. ¹⁸ When the accusers stood up, they charged him with nothing that I considered wickedness. ¹⁹ Instead, they had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who was dead, whom Paul claims to be alive. ²⁰ I was perplexed about how to investigate this matter, and so I asked him if he would be willing to go to Jerusalem to stand trial there about these charges.

²¹ But when Paul appealed to be kept in custody while awaiting the decision of the emperor, I ordered him to be held in custody until I could send him to Caesar." ²² Agrippa spoke to Festus: "I would also like to listen to this man." "Tomorrow," Festus said, "you will hear him."

²³ So on the next day, Agrippa and Bernice came with much ceremony; they came into the hall with the military officers and with the prominent men of the city. When Festus spoke the command, Paul was brought to them. ²⁴ Festus said, "King Agrippa, and all you men who are here with us, you see this man; all the multitude of Jews appealed to me in Jerusalem and here also, and they shouted to me that he should no longer live.

²⁵ I found he had done nothing worthy of death; but because he appealed to the emperor, I decided to send him to Rome. ²⁶ But I do not have anything certain to write to my lord. For this reason, I have brought him to you, especially to you, King Agrippa, so that I might have something more to write about the case. ²⁷ For it seems unreasonable for me to send a prisoner and to not also state the charges against him."

Chapter 26

¹ So Agrippa said to Paul, "You may speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and made his defense.

² "I consider myself happy, King Agrippa, to make my case before you today against all the accusations of the Jews, ³ especially because you are an expert in all the Jewish customs and questions. So I beg you to hear me patiently.

⁴ Truly, all the Jews know how I lived from my youth in my own nation and at Jerusalem. ⁵ They have known about me from the beginning, if they are willing to admit it, that I lived as a Pharisee, the strictest party of our religion.

⁶ Now I stand here to be judged because of my hope in the promise made by God to our fathers. ⁷ It is this promise that our twelve tribes hope to receive as they worship God earnestly night and day, and it is for this hope, king, that the Jews are accusing me. ⁸ Why should any of you judge it to be incredible that God raises the dead?

⁹ Now indeed, I myself thought that I should do many things against the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰ I did these in Jerusalem. I locked up in prison many of God's holy people by the authority I received from the chief priests; and when they were killed, I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ I punished them many times in all the synagogues, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was furiously enraged against them, and I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

¹² While I was doing this, I went to Damascus with authority and orders from the chief priests; ¹³ and on the way there, in the middle of the day, king, I saw a light from heaven that was brighter than the sun, and it shone around both me and the men who were traveling with me. ¹⁴ When we all fell to the ground, I heard a voice speaking to me that said in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick a goad.'

¹⁵ Then I said, 'Who are you, Lord?' The Lord replied, 'I am Jesus whom you persecute. ¹⁶ Now get up and stand on your feet; because for this purpose I appeared to you, to appoint you to be a servant and a witness concerning the things that you know about me now and the things that I will show to you later; ¹⁷ and I will rescue you from the people and from the Gentiles to whom I am sending you, ¹⁸ to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, so that they may receive from God the forgiveness of sins and the inheritance that I give to them who are sanctified by faith in me.'

¹⁹ Therefore, King Agrippa, I did not disobey the heavenly vision; ²⁰ but, to those in Damascus first, and then at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, I gave them the message that that they should repent and turn to God, doing deeds worthy of repentance. ²¹ For this cause the Jews arrested me in the temple and tried to kill me.

²² Therefore I have received the help that comes from God until this very day, and I stand and testify to both small and great about nothing more than what the prophets and Moses said would happen— ²³ that Christ must suffer, and by being the first to rise from the dead he would proclaim light to our own people and to the Gentiles."

²⁴ As Paul completed his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are insane; your great learning makes you insane." ²⁵ But Paul said, "I am not insane, most excellent Festus, but I am declaring words of truth and sound judgment. ²⁶ For the king knows about these things; and so I speak boldly to him, for I am persuaded that none of this is hidden from him; for this has not been done in a corner.

²⁷ Do you believe the prophets, King Agrippa? I know that you believe." ²⁸ Agrippa said to Paul, "In a short time would you persuade me and make me a Christian?"

²⁹ Paul said, "I pray to God, that whether in a short or long time, not you only, but also all that hear me today, would be like me, but without these prison chains."

³⁰ Then the king stood up, and the governor, and Bernice also, and those who were sitting with them; ³¹ when they left the hall, they talked to one another and said, "This man does nothing worthy of death or of bonds."

³² Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been freed if he had not appealed to Caesar."

Chapter 27

¹ When it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they committed Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion named Julius, who belonged to the Augustan company of soldiers. ² We boarded a ship from Adramyttium which was about to sail along the coast of Asia. So we went to sea. Aristarchus from Thessalonica in Macedonia went with us.

³ The next day we landed at the city of Sidon, where Julius treated Paul kindly and allowed him to go to his friends to receive their care. ⁴ From there we went to sea and sailed under the lee of Cyprus, close to the island, because the winds were against us. ⁵ When we had sailed across the sea past Cilicia and Pamphylia, we landed at Myra, a city of Lycia. ⁶ There, the centurion found a ship from Alexandria that was going to sail to Italy. He put us on it.

⁷ When we had sailed slowly for many days and had finally arrived with difficulty near Cnidus and the wind no longer allowed us to go that way, we sailed along the sheltered side of Crete, opposite Salmone. ⁸ We sailed along the coast with difficulty, until we came to a certain place called Fair Havens, which is near the city of Lasea.

⁹ We had now taken much time, the time of the Jewish fast also had passed, and it had now become dangerous to sail. So Paul warned them, ¹⁰ and said, "Men, I see that the voyage we are about to take will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives." ¹¹ But the centurion was more persuaded by the master and by the owner of the ship than by those things that were spoken by Paul.

¹² Because the harbor was not easy to spend the winter in, most of the sailors advised to sail from there, and if by any means we could reach the city of Phoenix, to spend the winter there. Phoenix is a harbor in Crete, facing both southwest and northwest. ¹³ When a south wind began to blow gently, the sailors thought that they had what they needed. So they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore.

¹⁴ But after a short time a wind of hurricane force, called the northeaster, began to beat down from the island. ¹⁵ When the ship was caught by the storm and could no longer head into the wind, we had to give way to the storm and were driven along by the wind. ¹⁶ We sailed along the lee of a small island called Cauda, and with difficulty we were able to secure the lifeboat.

¹⁷ When they had hoisted the lifeboat up, they used its ropes to bind the hull of the ship. They were afraid that they should run upon the sandbars of Syrtis, so they lowered the sea anchor and were driven along. ¹⁸ We took such a violent battering by the storm that the next day they began throwing the cargo overboard.

¹⁹ On the third day the sailors threw overboard the ship's equipment with their own hands. ²⁰ When the sun and stars did not shine on us for many days, and the great storm still beat upon us, any more hope that we should be saved was abandoned.

²¹ When they had gone long without food, then Paul stood up among the sailors and said, "Men, you should have listened to me, and not have set sail from Crete, so as to get this injury and loss. ²² Now I urge you to take courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only the loss of the ship.

²³ For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong, whom also I worship—his angel stood beside me ²⁴ and said, 'Do not be afraid, Paul. You must stand before Caesar, and see, God in his kindness has given to you all those who are sailing with you.' ²⁵ Therefore have courage, men! For I trust God that it will happen just as it was told to me. ²⁶ But we must run aground upon some island."

²⁷ When the fourteenth night had come, as we were driven this way and that in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors thought that they were approaching some land. ²⁸ They took soundings and found twenty fathoms; after a little while, they took more soundings and found fifteen fathoms. ²⁹ They were afraid that we might crash on the rocks, so they lowered four anchors from the stern and prayed that morning would come soon.

³⁰ The sailors were looking for a way to abandon the ship and had lowered the lifeboat into the sea, and pretended that they would throw down the anchors from the bow. ³¹ But Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved." ³² Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat and let it drift away.

³³ When daylight was coming on, Paul encouraged them all to take some food. He said, "This day is the fourteenth day that you have been on constant guard and have gone without food—you have not eaten anything. ³⁴ So I urge you to share some food, for this is necessary for you to survive. For not one of you will lose a single hair from his head." ³⁵ When he had said this, he took bread and he thanked God in the sight of everyone. Then he broke the bread and began to eat.

³⁶ Then they were all encouraged and they also took food. ³⁷ We were 276 souls on the ship. ³⁸ When they had eaten enough, they made the ship lighter by throwing out the wheat into the sea.

³⁹ When it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they saw a bay with a beach, and they discussed whether they could drive the ship onto it. ⁴⁰ So they cut loose the anchors and left them in the sea. At the same time they loosed the ropes of the rudders and raised the foresail to the wind; and so they headed to the beach. ⁴¹ But the ship struck a sandbar and ran aground. The bow was stuck there and remained unmovable, and the stern was broken up by the force of the waves.

⁴² The soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners so that none of them could swim away and escape. ⁴³ But the centurion wanted to save Paul, so he stopped their plan; and he ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land. ⁴⁴ Then the rest of the men should follow, some on planks, and some on other things from the ship. In this way it happened that all of us were brought safely to land.

Chapter 28

¹ When we were brought safely through, we learned that the island was called Malta. ² The native people offered to us not just ordinary kindness, but they lit a fire and welcomed us all because of the constant rain and cold.

³ But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and placed them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened onto his hand. ⁴ When the native people saw the animal hanging from his hand, they said one to another, "This man certainly is a murderer who has been saved from the sea; Justice does not permit him to live."

⁵ But then he shook the animal into the fire and suffered no harm. ⁶ They were waiting for him to swell up or suddenly fall down dead. But after they watched him for a long time and saw that nothing was wrong with him, they changed their minds and said that he was a god.

⁷ Now in a nearby place there were lands belonging to the chief man of the island, a man named Publius. He welcomed us and kindly provided for us for three days. ⁸ It happened that the father of Publius was lying afflicted with a fever and dysentery. When Paul went to him, he prayed, placed his hands on him, and healed him. ⁹ After this happened, the rest of the people on the island who were sick also came and were healed. ¹⁰ The people also honored us with many honors. When we were preparing to sail, they gave us what we needed.

¹¹ After three months we set sail in a ship that had spent the winter at the island, a ship of Alexandria, with "the twin gods" as its figurehead. ¹² After we landed at the city of Syracuse, we stayed there three days.

¹³ From there we sailed and arrived at the city of Rhegium. After one day a south wind sprang up, and in two days we came to the city of Puteoli. ¹⁴ There we found some brothers and were invited to stay with them for seven days. In this way we came to Rome. ¹⁵ From there the brothers, after they heard about us, came to meet us as far as the Market of Appius and the Three Taverns. When Paul saw the brothers, he thanked God and took courage.

¹⁶ When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself with the soldier who was guarding him.

¹⁷ Then it came about that after three days Paul called together those men who were the leaders among the Jews. When they had come together, he said to them, "Brothers, although I have done nothing wrong against the people or the customs of our fathers, I was delivered as a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans. ¹⁸ After they questioned me, they wished to set me free, because there was no reason for the death penalty in my case.

¹⁹ But when the Jews spoke against their desire, I was forced to appeal to Caesar, although it is not as if I were bringing any accusation against my nation. ²⁰ For this reason, therefore, I called upon you that I might see you and speak with you, since it is because of the hope of Israel that I am now wearing this chain."

²¹ Then they said to him, "We neither received letters from Judea about you, nor did any of the brothers come and report or say anything bad about you. ²² But we want to hear from you what you think about this sect, because it is known by us that it is spoken against everywhere."

²³ When they had appointed a day for him, more people came to him at his dwelling place. He presented the matter to them, and testified about the kingdom of God. He tried to persuade them about Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets, from morning until evening. ²⁴ Some were convinced about the things which were said, while others did not believe.

²⁵ When they did not agree with one another, they left after Paul had spoken this one word: "The Holy Spirit spoke well through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers.

²⁶ He said, 'Go to this people and say,

"Hearing you will hear, but you will never understand;

seeing, you will see, but you will never know.

²⁷ For the heart of this people has become dull,

and with their ears they hardly hear,

and they have shut their eyes.

Otherwise they might see with their eyes,

and hear with their ears,

and understand with their heart and turn again,

and I would heal them."'

²⁸ Therefore, you should know that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen." ²⁹ ¹

³⁰ Paul lived for two whole years in his own rented house, and he welcomed all who came to him. ³¹ He was proclaiming the kingdom of God and was teaching the things about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness without being hindered.

¹Acts 28:29—Some ancient copies have verse 29: When he had said these things, the Jews went away. They were having a great dispute among themselves .

Romans

Chapter 1

¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God, ² which he promised beforehand by his prophets in the holy scriptures, ³ concerning his Son who was a descendant of David according to the flesh.

⁴ Through the Spirit of holiness he was declared with power to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. ⁵ Through him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience of faith among all the nations, for the sake of his name. ⁶ Among these nations, you also have been called to belong to Jesus Christ.

⁷ To all in Rome who are beloved of God and called to be his holy people: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁸ First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed throughout the whole world. ⁹ For God is my witness, whom I serve in my spirit in the gospel of his Son, of how continually I make mention of you. ¹⁰ I always request in my prayers that by any means I may at last be successful now by the will of God in coming to you.

¹¹ For I desire to see you, that I may give you some spiritual gift, in order to strengthen you. ¹² That is, I long to be mutually encouraged among you, through each other's faith, yours and mine.

¹³ Now I do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, that I often intended to come to you (but I was hindered until now), in order to have some fruit among you also, just as I have had among the rest of the Gentiles. ¹⁴ I am a debtor both to Greeks and to foreigners, both to the wise and to the foolish. ¹⁵ So, as for me, I am ready to proclaim the gospel also to you who are in Rome.

¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and for the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it God's righteousness is revealed from faith to faith, as it has been written, "The righteous will live by faith."

¹⁸ For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who through unrighteousness hold back the truth. ¹⁹ This is because that which is known about God is visible to them. For God has enlightened them.

²⁰ For ever since the creation of the world, his invisible qualities, namely his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, having been discerned in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ²¹ This is because, although they knew about God, they did not glorify him as God, nor did they give him thanks. Instead, they became foolish in their thoughts, and their senseless hearts were darkened.

²² They claimed to be wise, but they became foolish. ²³ They exchanged the glory of the imperishable God for the likenesses of an image of perishable man, of birds, of four-footed beasts, and of creeping things.

²⁴ Therefore God delivered them over to the lusts of their hearts for uncleanness, for their bodies to be dishonored among themselves. ²⁵ It is they who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and who worshiped and served the creation instead of the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

²⁶ Because of this, God delivered them over to dishonorable lusts, for their women exchanged natural relations for those that were unnatural. ²⁷ In the same way, the men also left their natural relations with women and burned in their lust for one another. These were men who committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the penalty they deserved for their error.

²⁸ And just as they did not approve of having God in their awareness, he gave them up to a corrupted mind, for them to do those things that are not proper.

²⁹ They have been filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, and malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, and evil intentions. They are gossips, ³⁰ slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventing ways of doing evil; they are disobedient to parents. ³¹ They are senseless, faithless, heartless, and unmerciful.

³² They understand the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death. But not only do they do these things, they also approve of others who do them.

Chapter 2

¹ Therefore you are without excuse, you person, you who judge, for in things for which you judge the other person, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. ² But we know that God's judgment is according to truth when it falls on those who practice such things.

³ But consider this, you person, you who judge those who practice such things although you do the same things. Will you escape from the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you think so little of the riches of his kindness, his delayed punishment, and his patience? Do you not know that his kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

⁵ But it is to the extent of your hardness and unrepentant heart that you are storing up for yourself wrath on the day of wrath, that is, the day of the revelation of God's righteous judgment. ⁶ He will pay back to every person according to his actions: ⁷ to those who according to the perseverance of good deeds have sought glory, honor, and incorruptibility, he will give eternal life.

⁸ But to those who are self-seeking, who disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness, wrath and fierce anger will come. ⁹ God will bring tribulation and distress on every human soul that has practiced evil, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

¹⁰ But glory, honor, and peace will come to everyone who practices good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. ¹¹ For there is no partiality with God. ¹² For as many as have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and as many as have sinned with respect to the law will be judged by the law.

¹³ For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but it is the doers of the law who will be justified. ¹⁴ For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things of the law, they are a law to themselves, although they do not have the law.

¹⁵ By this they show that the actions required by the law are written in their hearts. Their conscience also bears witness to them, and their own thoughts either accuse or defend them ¹⁶ on the day when God will judge the secrets of all people, according to my gospel, through Jesus Christ.

¹⁷ But if you say that you are a Jew and rest upon the law and boast in God, ¹⁸ and know his will and approve of what is excellent because you have been instructed from the law; ¹⁹ and if you are convinced that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, ²⁰ an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of little children, and that you have in the law the form of knowledge and of the truth, then how does this affect the way you live your life?

²¹ You who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? ²² You who say that one must not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who hate idols, do you rob temples?

²³ You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by transgressing the law? ²⁴ For "the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you," just as it has been written.

²⁵ For circumcision is profitable to you if you obey the law, but if you are a transgressor of the law, your circumcision becomes uncircumcision. ²⁶ If, then, the uncircumcised person keeps the requirements of the law, will not his uncircumcision be considered as circumcision? ²⁷ And will not the one who is naturally uncircumcised condemn you if he fulfills the law? This is because you have the written law and circumcision, yet you are a transgressor of the law!

²⁸ For he is not a Jew who is merely one outwardly; neither is circumcision that which is merely outward in the flesh. ²⁹ But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter. The praise of such a person comes not from people but from God.

Chapter 3

¹ Then what advantage does the Jew have? And what is the benefit of circumcision? ² It is great in every way. First of all, the Jews were entrusted with revelation from God.

³ For what if some Jews were without faith? Will their unbelief nullify God's faithfulness? ⁴ May it never be. Instead, let God be found to be true, even though every man is a liar. As it has been written,

"That you might be shown to be righteous in your words,

and that you might prevail when you come into judgment."

⁵ But if our unrighteousness shows the righteousness of God, what can we say? Can we say that God is unrighteous to bring his wrath upon us? (I am using a human argument.) ⁶ May it never be! For then how would God judge the world?

⁷ But if through my lie the truth of God increases his glory, why am I still being judged as a sinner? ⁸ Why not say, as we are slandered as saying, and as some affirm that we say, "Let us do evil, so that good may come"? Their condemnation is just.

⁹ What then? Are we excusing ourselves? Not at all. For we have already accused both Jews and Greeks, all of them, of being under sin.

¹⁰ This is as it is written:

“No one is righteous, not one;

¹¹ there is no one who understands;

there is no one who seeks God.

¹² They have all turned away;

together they have become useless.

There is no one who does good, no,

not even one.”

¹³ "Their throat is an open grave.

Their tongues have deceived.

The poison of snakes is under their lips.”

¹⁴ "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

¹⁵ "Their feet are swift to pour out blood.

¹⁶ Destruction and suffering are in their paths.

¹⁷ These people have not known a way of peace."

¹⁸ "There is no fear of God before their eyes."

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to the ones who are under the law, so that every mouth may be shut, and the whole world held accountable to God. ²⁰ For no flesh will be justified by the works of the law in his sight. For through the law comes the knowledge of sin.

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been revealed, to which the Law and the Prophets bear witness— ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe. For there is no distinction,

²³ for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and they are freely justified by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

²⁵ For God provided Christ Jesus as an atoning sacrifice through faith in his blood. He offered Christ as proof of his justice, because of his disregard of previous sins ²⁶ in his patience. This was to show his righteousness at this present time, so he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

²⁷ Where then is boasting? It is excluded. Through what kind of law? Of works? No, but through a law of faith. ²⁸ We conclude then that a person is justified by faith without works of the law.

²⁹ Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not also the God of Gentiles? Yes, of Gentiles also. ³⁰ If, indeed, God is one, he will justify the circumcision by faith, and the uncircumcision through faith.

³¹ Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! Instead, we uphold the law.

Chapter 4

¹ What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, found? ² For if Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had a reason to boast, but not before God. ³ For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness."

⁴ Now for him who labors, his wage is not counted as a gift, but as what is owed. ⁵ But for him who does not work but instead believes in the one who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.

⁶ David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness without works.

⁷ He says,

"Blessed are those

whose lawless deeds are forgiven,

and whose sins are covered.

⁸ Blessed is the man

against whom the Lord will not count sin."

⁹ Then is this blessing pronounced only on those of the circumcision, or also on those of the uncircumcision? For we say, "Faith was counted to Abraham as righteousness." ¹⁰ How was it counted to him? Was it before or after he had been circumcised? It was not after, but before!

¹¹ Abraham received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. The purpose was to make him the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, so that righteousness would be counted to them. ¹² He is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.

¹³ For the promise to Abraham and to his descendants that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. ¹⁴ For if those who live by the law are to be the heirs, faith is made empty, and the promise does nothing. ¹⁵ For the law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there is no transgression.

¹⁶ For this reason it is by faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all of Abraham's descendants—not only to those who are under the law, but also to those who share the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all, ¹⁷ as it is written, "I have appointed you the father of many nations." Abraham was in the presence of him whom he trusted, that is, God, who gives life to the dead and calls the things that do not exist into existence.

¹⁸ In hope he believed against hope, that he would become the father of many nations, according to what he had been told, "So will your descendants be." ¹⁹ Without becoming weak in faith, he considered his own body as dead (because he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb.

²⁰ But because of God's promise, Abraham did not hesitate in unbelief. Instead, he was strengthened in faith and gave glory to God. ²¹ He was fully convinced that what God had promised, he was also able to accomplish. ²² Therefore this was also "counted to him as righteousness."

²³ But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone. ²⁴ They were written also for us, and it will be counted to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. ²⁵ This is the one who was delivered up for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.

Chapter 5

¹ Since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. ² Through him we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we boast in the hope of the glory of God.

³ Not only this, but we also boast in our tribulations. We know that tribulation brings about perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance produces character, and character produces hope, ⁵ and hope does not make ashamed because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who was given to us.

⁶ For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For one will hardly die for a righteous person, though perhaps someone would dare to die for a good person.

⁸ But God proves his own love toward us, because while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more, then, now that we are justified by his blood, we will be saved by him from the wrath of God.

¹⁰ For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, after having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. ¹¹ Not only this, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we now have received this reconciliation.

¹² So then, as through one man sin entered into the world, in this way death entered through sin. And death spread to all people, because all sinned. ¹³ For until the law, sin was in the world, but there is no accounting for sin when there is no law.

¹⁴ Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who did not sin like Adam's disobedience, who is a pattern of him who was to come.

¹⁵ But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the trespass of one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abound for the many!

¹⁶ For the gift is not like the outcome of that one man's sin. The judgment followed one trespass and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. ¹⁷ For if, by the trespass of the one, death ruled through the one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Jesus Christ.

¹⁸ So then, as one trespass led to condemnation for all people, so also through the one act of righteousness came justification and life for all people. ¹⁹ For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one will the many be made righteous.

²⁰ But the law came in to increase the trespass. But where sin abounded, grace abounded even more. ²¹ This happened so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness for everlasting life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Chapter 6

¹ What then will we say? Should we continue in sin so that grace may abound? ² May it never be. We who died to sin, how can we still live in it? ³ Do you not know that as many as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

⁴ We were buried, then, with him through baptism into death. This happened in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so also we might walk in newness of life. ⁵ For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, we will also be united with his resurrection.

⁶ We know this, that our old man was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be destroyed. This happened so that we should no longer be enslaved to sin. ⁷ He who has died is declared righteous with respect to sin.

⁸ But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live together with him. ⁹ We know that since Christ has been raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer rules over him.

¹⁰ For in regard to the death that he died to sin, he died once for all. However, the life that he lives, he lives for God. ¹¹ In the same way, you also must consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

¹² Therefore do not let sin rule in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts. ¹³ Do not present the members of your bodies to sin, to be tools used for unrighteousness. But present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and present the members of your bodies to God as tools to be used for righteousness. ¹⁴ Do not allow sin to rule over you. For you are not under law, but under grace.

¹⁵ What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law, but under grace? May it never be. ¹⁶ Do you not know that if you present yourselves as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey? You are either slaves to sin, which leads to death, or slaves to obedience, which leads to righteousness.

¹⁷ But thanks be to God! For you were slaves of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart the pattern of teaching that you were given. ¹⁸ You have been made free from sin, and you have been made slaves of righteousness.

¹⁹ I speak like a man because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented the members of your bodies as slaves to uncleanness and to lawlessness, resulting in more lawlessness, in the same way, now present the members of your bodies as slaves to righteousness for sanctification. ²⁰ For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from righteousness. ²¹ At that time, what fruit then did you have of the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.

²² But now that you have been made free from sin and are enslaved to God, you have your fruit for sanctification. The result is eternal life. ²³ For the wages of sin are death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Chapter 7

¹ Or do you not know, brothers (for I am speaking to people who know about law), that the law rules over a person for whatever time he lives?

² For the married woman is bound by law to the husband while he lives, but if the husband dies, she is released from the law of marriage. ³ So then, while her husband is living, if she lives with another man, she will be called an adulteress. But if the husband dies, she is free from the law, so she is not an adulteress if she lives with another man.

⁴ Therefore, my brothers, you were also made dead to the law through the body of Christ. This is so that you could be joined to another, that is, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might produce fruit for God. ⁵ For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in the members of our bodies to bear fruit for death.

⁶ But now we have been released from the law. We have died to that by which we were bound. This is so that we might serve in newness of the Spirit, and not in oldness of the letter.

⁷ What will we say then? Is the law itself sin? May it never be. However, I would never have known sin, if it were not through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law said, "You must not covet." ⁸ But sin took the opportunity through the commandment and produced every kind of coveting in me. For apart from the law, sin was dead.

⁹ At one time I was alive without the law, but when the commandment came, sin regained life ¹⁰ and I died. The commandment that was to bring life turned out to be death for me.

¹¹ For sin took the opportunity through the commandment and deceived me. Through the commandment it killed me. ¹² So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous, and good.

¹³ So did what is good become death to me? May it never be. But sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin, brought about death in me through what was good, and through the commandment sin might become sinful beyond measure. ¹⁴ For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh. I have been sold under slavery to sin.

¹⁵ For what I do, I do not really understand. For what I want to do, I do not do, and what I hate, I do. ¹⁶ But if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law that the law is good.

¹⁷ But now it is no longer I who do it, but the sin that lives in me. ¹⁸ For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) lives no good thing. For the desire for good is with me, but I cannot do it.

¹⁹ For the good that I want, I do not do, but the evil that I do not want, that I do. ²⁰ Now if I do what I do not want to do, then it is no longer I who am acting, but rather sin that lives in me. ²¹ So, I find this law: When I want to do good, evil is present with me.

²² For I rejoice in the law of God with my inner person. ²³ But I see a different law in the members of my body. It fights against that new law in my mind. It takes me captive by the law of sin that is in the members of my body.

²⁴ I am a miserable man! Who will deliver me from this body of death? ²⁵ But thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind. However, with the flesh I serve the law of sin.

Chapter 8

¹ There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.

³ For what the law was unable to do because it was weak through the flesh, God did. He sent his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be an offering for sin, and he condemned sin in the flesh. ⁴ He did this in order that the requirements of the law might be fulfilled in us, we who walk not according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. ⁵ Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

⁶ For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ The mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God, for it does not submit to God's law, nor is it able to do so. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹ However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed God's Spirit lives in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to him. ¹⁰ If Christ is in you, the body is dead with respect to sin, but the spirit is alive with respect to righteousness.

¹¹ If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will give life also to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

¹² So then, brothers, we are debtors, but not to the flesh to live according to the flesh. ¹³ For if you live according to the flesh, you are about to die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the body's actions, you will live.

¹⁴ For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵ You did not receive a spirit of slavery so that you live in fear again; but you received the Spirit of adoption, by which we cry, "Abba, Father!"

¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. ¹⁷ If we are children, then we are also heirs—heirs of God. And we are joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed to us. ¹⁹ For the eager expectation of the creation waits for the revealing of the sons of God.

²⁰ For the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹ that the creation itself will be delivered from slavery to decay, and that it will be brought into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²² For we know that the whole creation groans and labors in pain together even now.

²³ Not only that, but even we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly, as we wait eagerly for our adoption, the redemption of our body. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he can see? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

²⁶ In the same way, the Spirit also helps in our weakness. For we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groans. ²⁷ He who searches out the hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes on behalf of God's holy people according to the will of God.

²⁸ We know that for those who love God, he works all things together for good, ¹ for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ Because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ Those whom he predestined, these he also called. Those whom he called, these he also justified. Those whom he justified, these he also glorified.

³¹ What, therefore, can we say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but delivered him up on behalf of us all, how will he not also with him freely give us all things?

³³ Who will bring any accusation against God's chosen ones? God is the one who justifies. ³⁴ Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us.

³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ³⁶ Just as it is written,

"For your benefit we are killed all day long.

We were considered as sheep for the slaughter."

³⁷ In all these things we are more than conquerors through the one who loved us. ³⁸ For I have been convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor governments, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

¹Instead of he works all things together for good , some Greek copies read, all things work together for good .

Chapter 9

¹ I tell the truth in Christ. I do not lie, and my conscience bears witness with me in the Holy Spirit ² that for me there is great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.

³ For I could wish that I myself would be cursed and set apart from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. ⁴ They are Israelites. They have adoption, the glory, the covenants, the gift of the law, the ministry in the temple, and the promises. ⁵ Theirs are the patriarchs from whom Christ has come with respect to the flesh—he who is God over all. May he be praised forever. Amen.

⁶ But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For it is not everyone in Israel who truly belongs to Israel. ⁷ Neither are all Abraham's descendants truly his children. But "It is through Isaac that your descendants will be called."

⁸ That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God. But the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. ⁹ For this is the word of promise: "At this time I will come, and a son will be given to Sarah."

¹⁰ Not only this, but after Rebekah also had conceived by one man, our father Isaac— ¹¹ for the children were not yet born and had not yet done anything good or bad, so that the purpose of God according to choice might stand, ¹² not because of actions, but because of him who calls—it was said to her, "The older will serve the younger." ¹³ It is just as had been written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

¹⁴ What then will we say? Is there unrighteousness with God? May it never be. ¹⁵ For he says to Moses,

"I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy,

and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

¹⁶ So then, it is not because of him who wills, nor because of him who runs, but because of God, who shows mercy.

¹⁷ For the scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I raised you up, so that I might demonstrate my power in you, and so that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." ¹⁸ So then, God has mercy on whom he wishes, and whom he wishes, he makes stubborn.

¹⁹ You will say then to me, "Why does he still find fault? For who has ever withstood his will?" ²⁰ On the contrary, man, who are you who answers against God? Will what has been molded say to the one who molds it, "Why did you make me this way?" ²¹ Does the potter not have the right over the clay to make from the same lump a container for honorable use, and another container for dishonorable use?

²² What if God, who is willing to show his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience containers of wrath prepared for destruction? ²³ What if he did this in order that he might make known the riches of his glory upon containers of mercy, which he had previously prepared for glory? ²⁴ What if he did this also for us, whom he also called, not only from among the Jews, but also from among the Gentiles?

²⁵ As he says also in Hosea:

"I will call them 'my people' who were not my people,

and her 'beloved' who was not beloved.

²⁶ Then it will be that where it was said to them,

'You are not my people,'

there they will be called 'sons of the living God.'"

²⁷ Isaiah cries out concerning Israel,

"Though the number of the sons of Israel were as the sand of the sea,

it will be a remnant that will be saved,

²⁸ for the Lord will execute his word

on the earth completely and without delay."

²⁹ As Isaiah had said previously,

"If the Lord of hosts

had not left us descendants,

we would be like Sodom,

and we would have become like Gomorrah."

³⁰ What will we say then? That the Gentiles, who were not pursuing righteousness, laid hold of righteousness, the righteousness by faith. ³¹ But Israel, who did pursue a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.

³² Why not? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as if by works. They stumbled over the stone of stumbling, ³³ as it has been written,

"Look, I am laying in Zion a stone of stumbling

and a rock of offense.

He who believes in it will not be ashamed."

Chapter 10

¹ Brothers, my heart's desire and my plea to God is for them, for their salvation. ² For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. ³ For, failing to understand the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, they did not submit to God's righteousness.

⁴ For Christ is the fulfillment of the law for righteousness for everyone who believes. ⁵ For Moses writes about the righteousness that comes from the law: "The man who does these things will live by them."

⁶ But the righteousness that comes from faith says this: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down); ⁷ "and do not say, 'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).

⁸ But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart." That is the word of faith, which we proclaim. ⁹ For if with your mouth you confess Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart one believes and has righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

¹¹ For scripture says, "Everyone who believes on him will not be put to shame." ¹² For there is no difference between Jew and Greek. For the same Lord is Lord of all, and he is rich to all who call upon him. ¹³ For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

¹⁴ How then can they call on him in whom they have not believed? How can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? How can they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ Then how can they preach, unless they are sent?—As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good news!"

¹⁶ But not all of them obeyed the good news. For Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?" ¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

¹⁸ But I say, "Did they not hear?" Yes, most certainly.

"Their sound has gone out into all the earth,

and their words to the ends of the world."

¹⁹ Moreover, I say, "Did Israel not know?" First Moses says,

"I will provoke you to jealousy by what is not a nation.

By means of a nation without understanding, I will stir you up to anger."

²⁰ Then Isaiah was very bold when he says,

"I was found by those who did not seek me.

I appeared to those who did not ask for me."

²¹ But to Israel he says,

"All the day long I reached out my hands

to a disobedient and stubborn people."

Chapter 11

¹ I say then, did God reject his people? May it never be. For I also am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. ² God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the scripture says about Elijah, how he pleaded with God against Israel? ³ "Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have broken down your altars. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life."

⁴ But what does God's answer say to him? "I have reserved for myself seven thousand men who have not bent the knee to Baal." ⁵ Even so then, at this present time also there is a remnant because of the choice of grace.

⁶ But if it is by grace, it is no longer based on works. Otherwise grace would no longer be grace. ¹ ⁷ What then? The thing that Israel was seeking, it did not obtain, but the chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened. ⁸ It is just as it is written:

"God has given them a spirit of dullness,

eyes so that they should not see,

and ears so that they should not hear,

to this very day."

⁹ Then David says,

"Let their table become a snare and a trap,

a stumbling block and a retribution for them.

¹⁰ Let their eyes be darkened so that they may not see,

and bend their backs continually."

¹¹ I say then, "Did they stumble so as to fall?" May it never be. Instead, by their trespass, salvation has come to the Gentiles, in order to provoke them to jealousy. ¹² Now if their trespass is the riches of the world, and if their loss is the riches of the Gentiles, how much greater will their fulfillment be?

¹³ But now I am speaking to you Gentiles, and as long as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I take pride in my ministry. ¹⁴ Perhaps I will provoke to jealousy those who are of my own flesh. Perhaps we will save some of them.

¹⁵ For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? ¹⁶ If the firstfruits are holy, so is the lump of dough. If the root is holy, so are the branches.

¹⁷ But if some of the branches were broken off, if you, a wild olive branch, were grafted in among them, and if you shared with them in the rich root of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast over the branches. But if you do boast, it is not you who supports the root, but the root that supports you.

¹⁹ You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in." ²⁰ That is true. Because of their unbelief they were broken off, but you stand firm because of your faith. Do not be arrogant in your thoughts, but fear. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you.

²² Look at, then, the kind actions and the severity of God: severity came on the Jews who fell, but God's kindness comes on you, if you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

²³ And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in. For God is able to graft them in again. ²⁴ For if you were cut out of what is by nature a wild olive tree, and contrary to nature were grafted into a good olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree?

²⁵ For I do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, of this mystery, so that you may not be wise in your own thinking: A partial hardening has come upon Israel until the full number of the Gentiles comes in.

²⁶ Thus all Israel will be saved, just as it is written:

"Out of Zion will come the Deliverer.

He will remove ungodliness from Jacob,

²⁷ and this will be my covenant with them,

when I will take away their sins."

²⁸ As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake. But as far as election is concerned, they are beloved because of the patriarchs. ²⁹ For the gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

³⁰ For just as you were formerly disobedient to God, now you have received mercy because of their disobedience. ³¹ In the same way, now these Jews have been disobedient. The result was that by the mercy shown to you they may also now receive mercy. ³² For God has shut up all into disobedience in order that he might show mercy on all.

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are his judgments,

and his ways beyond discovering!

³⁴ "For who has known the mind of the Lord

or who has become his advisor?

³⁵ Or who has first given anything to God,

that God must repay him?"

³⁶ For from him and through him and to him are all things.

To him be the glory forever. Amen.

¹Some old copies read But if it is by works, then it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work .

Chapter 12

¹ I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God. This is your reasonable service. ² Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Do this so that you can test and approve what is the good, acceptable, and perfect will of God.

³ For by the grace that was given to me I say to everyone among you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather, think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has given you.

⁴ For we have many members in one body, but not all the members have the same function. ⁵ In the same way, we who are many are one body in Christ, and are individually members of each other.

⁶ We have different gifts according to the grace that was given to us. If one's gift is prophecy, let it be done according to the proportion of his faith. ⁷ If one's gift is service, let him serve. If one has the gift of teaching, let him teach. ⁸ If one's gift is encouragement, let him encourage. If one's gift is giving, let him do it generously. If one's gift is leading, let it be done with diligence. If one's gift is in showing mercy, let it be done with cheerfulness.

⁹ Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; hold on to that which is good. ¹⁰ Concerning love of the brothers, be affectionate to one another. Concerning honor, respect one another.

¹¹ Concerning diligence, do not be hesitant. Concerning the spirit, be eager. Concerning the Lord, serve him. ¹² Rejoice in hope, endure tribulation, be faithful in prayer. ¹³ Share in the needs of God's holy people. Find many ways to show hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not think in proud ways, but accept lowly people. Do not be wise in your own thoughts.

¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil. Do good things in the sight of all people. ¹⁸ If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with all people.

¹⁹ Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but give way to the wrath of God. For it is written, "'Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay,' says the Lord."

²⁰ But "if your enemy is hungry, feed him.

If he is thirsty, give him a drink.

For if you do this, you will heap coals of fire on his head."

²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Chapter 13

¹ Let every soul be subject to higher authorities, for there is no authority unless it comes from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God. ² Therefore he who rebels against that authority opposes the command of God; and those who oppose it will receive judgment on themselves.

³ For rulers are not a terror to those who do good deeds, but to those who do evil deeds. Do you desire to have no fear of the one in authority? Do what is good, and you will receive his praise. ⁴ For he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for he does not carry the sword for no reason. For he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath on the one who does evil. ⁵ Therefore you must be subject, not only because of the wrath, but also because of conscience.

⁶ Because of this you pay taxes also. For authorities are servants of God, who attend to this very thing continually. ⁷ Pay to everyone what is owed to them: tax to whom tax is due, toll to whom toll is due, fear to whom fear is due, honor to whom honor is due.

⁸ Owe no one anything, except to love one another. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. ⁹ The commandments, "Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet," and if there is any other commandment it is summed up in this, "Love your neighbor as yourself." ¹⁰ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law.

¹¹ Because of this, you know the time, that it is already the hour for you to awake out of sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. ¹² The night has advanced, and the day is near. Let us therefore put aside the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

¹³ Let us walk appropriately, as in the day, not in drunken celebrations or drunkenness; and let us not walk in sexual immorality or in uncontrolled lust, and not in strife or jealousy. ¹⁴ But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its lusts.

Chapter 14

¹ Receive anyone who is weak in faith, without giving judgment about arguments. ² One person has faith to eat anything, another who is weak eats only vegetables.

³ May the one who eats everything not despise the one who does not; and may the one who does not eat everything not judge the other who eats everything. For God has accepted him. ⁴ Who are you, you who judge a servant belonging to someone else? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. But he will be made to stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

⁵ One person values one day above another. Another has concluded that every day is equal. Let each person be convinced in his own mind. ⁶ He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord; and he who eats, eats for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God. He who does not eat, refrains from eating for the Lord; he also gives thanks to God.

⁷ For none of us lives for himself, and none dies for himself. ⁸ For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord. Then whether we live or die, we are the Lord's. ⁹ For to this purpose Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord of both the dead and those who are living.

¹⁰ But you, why do you judge your brother? And you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. ¹¹ For it is written,

"As I live," says the Lord,

"to me every knee will bend,

and every tongue will confess to God."

¹² So then, each one of us will give an account of himself to God.

¹³ Therefore, let us no longer judge one another, but instead decide this, that no one will place a stumbling block or a snare for his brother.

¹⁴ I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean by itself. Only for him who considers anything to be unclean, for him it is unclean. ¹⁵ If because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food one for whom Christ died.

¹⁶ So do not allow what you consider to be good to be spoken of as evil. ¹⁷ For the kingdom of God is not about food and drink, but about righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.

¹⁸ For the one who serves Christ in this way is acceptable to God and approved by people. ¹⁹ So then, let us pursue the things of peace and the things that build up one another.

²⁰ Do not destroy the work of God on account of food. All things are clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone to stumble. ²¹ It is good not to eat meat, nor to drink wine, nor to do anything over which your brother stumbles.

²² The faith you have, keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. ²³ He who doubts is condemned if he eats, because it is not from faith. And whatever is not from faith is sin.

Chapter 15

¹ Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and ought not to please ourselves. ² Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, in order to build him up.

³ For even Christ did not please himself. Instead, it was just as it is written, "The insults of those who insulted you fell on me." ⁴ For whatever was previously written was written for our instruction in order that through patience and through encouragement of the scriptures we would have hope.

⁵ Now may the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with each other according to Christ Jesus. ⁶ May he do this in order that with one mind you may glorify with one mouth the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁷ Therefore receive one another, even as Christ also received you, to the glory of God.

⁸ For I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision on behalf of God's truth, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, ⁹ and for the Gentiles to glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

"Therefore I will give praise to you among the Gentiles

and sing praise to your name."

¹⁰ Again it says,

"Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people."

¹¹ And again,

"Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;

let all the peoples praise him."

¹² Again, Isaiah says,

"The root of Jesse will come,

the one who rises to rule over the Gentiles;

in him the Gentiles will have hope."

¹³ Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

¹⁴ I myself am also convinced about you, my brothers. I am convinced that also you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge. I am convinced that you are also able to instruct one another.

¹⁵ But I am writing more boldly to you about some things in order to remind you again, because of the grace given me by God. ¹⁶ This grace was that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus sent to the Gentiles, to offer as a priest the gospel of God, so that the offering of the Gentiles might become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.

¹⁷ In Christ Jesus I have reason to boast of my service for God. ¹⁸ For I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me for the obedience of the Gentiles. These are things done by word and action, ¹⁹ by the power of signs and wonders, and by the power of the Spirit of God. This was so that from Jerusalem, and round about as far as Illyricum, I might fully carry out the gospel of Christ.

²⁰ In this way, my desire has been to proclaim the gospel, but not where Christ is known by name, in order that I might not build upon another man's foundation. ²¹ It is as it is written:

"Those to whom no report of him came will see him,

and those who have not heard will understand."

²² Therefore I was also hindered many times from coming to you. ²³ But now, I no longer have any place in these regions, and I have been longing for many years to come to you.

²⁴ I hope to see you when I pass through there on my way to Spain, and to be helped by you on my journey there, once I have enjoyed your company for a while. ²⁵ But now I am going to Jerusalem, serving God's holy people.

²⁶ For it was the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution to the poor among God's holy people who are in Jerusalem. ²⁷ Yes, it was their good pleasure, and they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they owe it to the Jews to minister to them with their material things.

²⁸ Therefore, when I have completed this task and have made sure that they receive all that was collected, I will go to Spain and visit you on the way. ²⁹ I know that when I come to you I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.

³⁰ Now I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me. ³¹ Pray that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to God's holy people. ³² Pray that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and that I may, together with you, find rest.

³³ May the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Chapter 16

¹ I commend to you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is in Cenchreae, ² in order that you may receive her in the Lord. Do this in a manner worthy of God's holy people, and provide her with whatever help she may need from you, for she has been a great help to many and to myself as well.

³ Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, ⁴ who for my life risked their own lives. I give thanks to them, and not only I, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

⁵ Greet the church that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus my beloved, who is the firstfruit of Asia to Christ.

⁶ Greet Mary, who has labored hard for you.

⁷ Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and fellow prisoners. They are well known among the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.

⁸ Greet Ampliatus, my beloved in the Lord.

⁹ Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved.

¹⁰ Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus.

¹¹ Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet those of the household of Narcissus who are in the Lord.

¹² Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, laborers in the Lord. Greet Persis the beloved, who has labored much in the Lord.

¹³ Greet Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.

¹⁴ Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them.

¹⁵ Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all God's holy people who are with them.

¹⁶ Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

¹⁷ Now I urge you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned. Turn away from them. ¹⁸ For people such as these do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own stomach. By their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the innocent.

¹⁹ For your example of obedience reaches everyone. I rejoice, therefore, over you, but I want you to be wise as to that which is good, and innocent to that which is evil. ²⁰ The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

²¹ Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen. ²² I, Tertius, who write this epistle down, greet you in the Lord.

²³ Gaius, the host for me and for the whole church, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, with Quartus the brother. ²⁴ ¹

²⁵ Now to him who is able to make you strong according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ,

according to the revelation of the mystery that had been kept secret for long ages

²⁶ but now has been revealed and made known through the prophetic writings to all nations,

by the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

²⁷ to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, be glory forever. Amen.

¹The best ancient copies do not have this phrase: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen . So verese 24 is not included in the ULB.

1 Corinthians

Chapter 1

¹ Paul, called by Christ Jesus to be an apostle by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

² to the church of God at Corinth, those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy people, together with all those in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is their Lord and ours:

³ May grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I always give thanks to my God for you because of the grace of God that Christ Jesus gave to you. ⁵ He has made you rich in every way, in all speech and with all knowledge, ⁶ just as the testimony about Christ has been confirmed as true among you.

⁷ Therefore you lack no spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful, who called you into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

¹⁰ Now I urge you, brothers, through the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and that there be no divisions among you. I urge that you be joined together with the same mind and by the same purpose. ¹¹ For I have been informed concerning you, my brothers, by Chloe's people that there are factions among you.

¹² I mean this: Each one of you says, "I am with Paul," or "I am with Apollos," or "I am with Cephas," or "I am with Christ." ¹³ Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

¹⁴ I thank God that I baptized none of you, except Crispus and Gaius. ¹⁵ This was so that no one would say that you were baptized into my name. ¹⁶ (I also baptized the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know if I baptized any others.)

¹⁷ For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel—not with clever speech, in order that the cross of Christ would not be emptied of its power.

¹⁸ For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing. But among those who are being saved, it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written,

"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.

I will set aside the understanding of the intelligent."

²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the scholar? Where is the debater of this world? Has not God turned the wisdom of the world into foolishness? ²¹ Since the world in its wisdom did not know God, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of preaching.

²² For Jews ask for miraculous signs and Greeks seek wisdom. ²³ But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.

²⁴ But to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, we preach Christ as the power and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than people, and the weakness of God is stronger than people.

²⁶ Look at your calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise according to the flesh. Not many of you were powerful. Not many of you were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise. God chose what is weak in the world to shame what is strong.

²⁸ God chose what is low and despised in the world. He even chose things that are regarded as nothing, to bring to nothing things that are held as valuable. ²⁹ He did this so that no flesh would have a reason to boast before him.

³⁰ Because of what God did, now you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God. He became our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. ³¹ As a result, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

Chapter 2

¹ When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence of speech or wisdom as I proclaimed hidden truths about God. ¹ ² For I decided to know nothing when I was among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

³ And I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. ⁴ And my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with the demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith might not be in the wisdom of humans, but in the power of God.

⁶ Now we do speak wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this world, or of the rulers of this age, who are passing away. ⁷ Instead, we speak God's wisdom in hidden truth, the hidden wisdom that God predestined before the ages for our glory.

⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ But as it is written,

"No eye has seen,

no ear has heard,

no human heart has imagined

what God has prepared for those who love him"—

¹⁰ For God has revealed these things to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything out, even the deep things of God. ² ¹¹ For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of the person in him? So also, no one knows the deep things of God except the Spirit of God.

¹² But we did not receive the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, so that we might know the things freely given to us by God. ¹³ We speak about these things in words not taught by human wisdom but by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual things to spiritual people.

¹⁴ The unspiritual person does not receive the things that belong to the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him. He cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned. ¹⁵ The one who is spiritual judges all things, but he is not judged by others.

¹⁶ "For who can know the mind of the Lord,

that he can instruct him?"

But we have the mind of Christ.

¹A few important and ancient Greek copies read, as I proclaimed the testimony about God .

²Some ancient Greek copies say But God . Howevever, following our Greek source, it reads, For God .

Chapter 3

¹ And I, brothers, could not speak to you as to spiritual people, but instead as to fleshly people, as to little children in Christ. ² I fed you milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it; and even now you are not yet ready.

³ For you are still fleshly. For where jealousy and strife exist among you, are you not living according to the flesh, and are you not walking by human standards? ⁴ For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another says, "I follow Apollos," are you not merely human beings? ⁵ Who then is Apollos? Who is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, just as the Lord gave tasks to each.

⁶ I planted and Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. ⁷ So then, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything. But it is God who gives the growth.

⁸ Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his own wages according to his own labor. ⁹ For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's garden, God's building.

¹⁰ According to the grace of God that was given to me as a skilled master builder, I laid a foundation and another is building on it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it. ¹¹ For no one can lay a foundation other than the one that has been laid, that is, Jesus Christ.

¹² Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, ¹³ his work will be revealed, for the day will reveal it. For it will be revealed in fire. The fire will test the quality of what each one has done.

¹⁴ If anyone's work remains, he will receive a reward; ¹⁵ but if anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, but he himself will be saved, as though escaping through fire.

¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God's temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person. For God's temple is holy, and so are you.

¹⁸ Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a "fool" that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written,

"He catches the wise in their craftiness."

²⁰ And again,

"The Lord knows that the reasoning of the wise is futile."

²¹ For this reason, let no one boast in men. All things are yours, ²² whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come. All things are yours, ²³ and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

Chapter 4

¹ This is how a person should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the hidden truths of God. ² Now what is required of stewards is that they are found to be trustworthy.

³ But for me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. For I do not even judge myself. ⁴ I am not aware of any charge being made against me, but that does not justify me. The one who judges me is the Lord.

⁵ Therefore do not pronounce judgment about anything before the time, before the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his praise from God.

⁶ Now, brothers, I applied these principles to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that from us you might learn the meaning of the saying,

"Do not go beyond what is written."

This is so that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against the other.

⁷ For who sees any difference between you and others? What do you have that you did not receive? If you have received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

⁸ Already you have all you could want! Already you have become rich! You began to reign—and that quite apart from us! Indeed, I wish you did reign, so that we could reign with you. ⁹ For I think God has put us apostles on display as the last in line, in a procession and like men sentenced to death. We have become a spectacle to the world—to angels, and to human beings.

¹⁰ We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we are held in dishonor. ¹¹ Up to this present hour we are hungry and thirsty, we are poorly clothed, we are beaten, and we are homeless.

¹² We labor hard, working with our own hands. When we are slandered, we bless. When we are persecuted, we endure. ¹³ When we are slandered, we speak with kindness. We have become as the refuse of the world and the filthiest of all things, even till now.

¹⁴ I do not write these things to shame you, but to warn you as my beloved children. ¹⁵ For even if you have ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. ¹⁶ So I urge you to be imitators of me.

¹⁷ That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, just as I teach them everywhere and in every church. ¹⁸ Now some of you have become puffed up, acting as though I were not coming to you.

¹⁹ But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills. Then I will know not merely the words of these who are so puffed up, but I will see their power. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power. ²¹ What do you want? Should I come to you with a rod or with love and in a spirit of gentleness?

Chapter 5

¹ We heard a report that there is sexual immorality among you, a kind of immorality that is not even permitted among the pagans: A man has his father's wife. ² You are puffed up! Should you not mourn instead, so that the one who did this deed might be removed from among you?

³ For even though I am absent in body, I am present in spirit. I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as though I were there. ⁴ When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, ⁵ deliver this man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.

⁶ Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens the whole loaf? ⁷ Cleanse yourselves of the old yeast so that you may be a new batch of dough, unleavened, just as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. ⁸ So let us then celebrate the festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of bad behavior and wickedness. Instead, let us celebrate with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

⁹ I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people. ¹⁰ In no way did I mean the immoral people of this world, or the greedy, or swindlers, or idolaters, since to stay away from them you would need to go out of the world.

¹¹ But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother but who is living in sexual immorality, or who is greedy, or is an idolater, or is verbally abusive, or is a drunkard, or a swindler. Do not even eat a meal with such a person. ¹² For how am I involved with judging those who are outside the church? Instead, are you not to judge those who are inside the church? ¹³ But God judges those who are on the outside.

"Remove the evil person from among you."

Chapter 6

¹ When one of you has a dispute against another, does he dare to bring a lawsuit before the unrighteous rather than before God's holy people? ² Do you not know that God's holy people will judge the world? If then you will judge the world, are you not able to settle matters of little importance? ³ Do you not know that we will judge the angels? How much more, then, can we judge matters of this life?

⁴ If then you have to make judgments that pertain to daily life, why do you lay such cases as these before those who have no standing in the church? ⁵ I say this to your shame. Is there no one among you wise enough to settle a dispute between brothers? ⁶ But one brother brings a lawsuit against another brother—and this before unbelievers!

⁷ The fact that you have lawsuits with one another is already a defeat for you. Why not rather suffer the wrong? Why not rather allow yourselves to be cheated? ⁸ But you yourselves do wrong and you cheat, and you do this to your own brothers!

⁹ Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who submit to homosexual acts, nor men who perform homosexual acts, ¹⁰ nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ That is what some of you were like. But you have been cleansed, you have been sanctified, you have been justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

¹² "Everything is lawful for me," but not everything is profitable. "Everything is lawful for me," but I will not be mastered by any of them. ¹³ "Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food," but God will do away with both of them. The body is not intended for sexual immorality. Instead, the body is for the Lord, and the Lord will provide for the body.

¹⁴ God both raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power. ¹⁵ Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Should I then take the members of Christ and join them to a prostitute? May it not be!

¹⁶ Do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her? As scripture says, "The two will become one flesh." ¹⁷ But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.

¹⁸ Run away from sexual immorality! Every other sin that a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.

¹⁹ Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives within you, whom you have from God? Do you not know that you are not your own? ²⁰ For you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God with your body and in your spirit, which belong to God.

Chapter 7

¹ Now concerning the issues you wrote about: "It is good for a man not to touch a woman." ² But because of temptations for many immoral acts, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.

³ The husband should fulfill his duty to have sexual relations with his wife, and in the same way the wife to her husband. ⁴ It is not the wife who has authority over her own body, it is the husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body, but the wife does.

⁵ Do not deprive each other, except by mutual agreement and for a specific period of time. Do this so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then you should come together again, so that Satan may not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

⁶ But I say these things to you as a concession and not as a command. ⁷ I wish that everyone were as I am. But each one has his own gift from God. One has this kind of gift, and another that kind.

⁸ To the unmarried and to widows I say that it is good for them if they remain unmarried, as I am. ⁹ But if they cannot exercise self-control, they should marry. For it is better for them to marry than to burn with passion.

¹⁰ Now to the married I give this command—not I, but the Lord—the wife should not separate from her husband ¹¹ (but if she does separate from her husband, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.

¹² But to the rest I say—I, not the Lord—that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and if she is content to live with him, he should not divorce her. ¹³ If a woman has an unbelieving husband, and if he is content to live with her, she should not divorce him. ¹⁴ For the unbelieving husband is set apart because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is set apart because of the brother. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but actually they are set apart.

¹⁵ But if the unbeliever departs, let him go. In such cases, the brother or sister is not bound to their vows. God has called us to live in peace. ¹⁶ For how do you know, woman, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, man, whether you will save your wife?

¹⁷ However, as the Lord has given each one his portion, let each one walk as God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. ¹⁸ Was anyone circumcised when he was called to believe? He should not try to appear uncircumcised. Was anyone uncircumcised when he was called to faith? He should not be circumcised. ¹⁹ For it is neither circumcision nor uncircumcision that matters. What matters is obeying the commandments of God.

²⁰ Each one should remain in the calling he was in when God called him to believe. ²¹ Were you a slave when God called you? Do not be concerned about it. But if you can become free, take advantage of it. ²² For someone who is called by the Lord as a slave is the Lord's freeman. In the same way, the one who was free when he was called to believe is Christ's slave. ²³ You have been bought with a price, so do not become slaves of men. ²⁴ Brothers, in whatever situation he was in when he was called, let each one remain with God in that.

²⁵ Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. But I give my opinion as one who, by the Lord's mercy, is trustworthy. ²⁶ Therefore, I think that because of the disaster that is coming, it is good for a man to remain as he is.

²⁷ Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a divorce. If you are free of a wife, do not seek a wife. ²⁸ But if you do marry, you have not sinned, and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who do will have many kinds of fleshly trouble, and I want to spare you from this.

²⁹ But this I say, brothers: The time is short. From now on, let those who have wives live as though they had none. ³⁰ Those who weep should act as though they were not weeping, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they did not possess anything, ³¹ and those who use the world should not act as though they are using it to the full. For the world in its present form is coming to an end.

³² I would like you to be free from worries. The unmarried man is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to please him. ³³ But the married man is concerned about the things of the world, how to please his wife— ³⁴ he is divided. The unmarried woman or the virgin is concerned about the things of the Lord, how to be set apart in body and in spirit. But the married woman is concerned about the things of the world, how to please her husband.

³⁵ I say this for your own benefit, and not to put any constraint on you. I say this for what is right, so that you may be devoted to the Lord without any distraction.

³⁶ But if anyone thinks that he is not treating his virgin with respect—if she is beyond the age of marriage and it must be so—he should do what he wants. He is not sinning. They should marry. ³⁷ But if he is standing firm in his heart, if he is not under pressure but can control his own will, and if he has decided in his own heart to do this, to keep his own a virgin, he will do well. ³⁸ So the one who marries his virgin does well, and the one who chooses not to marry will do even better.

³⁹ A woman is bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but only in the Lord. ⁴⁰ Yet in my judgment she would be happier if she lives as she is. And I think that I also have the Spirit of God.

Chapter 8

¹ Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. ² If anyone thinks he knows something, that person does not yet know as he should know. ³ But if anyone loves God, that person is known by him.

⁴ Therefore, concerning the eating of food sacrificed to idols: We know that an idol in this world is nothing and that there is no God but one. ⁵ For even if there were so-called gods, either in heaven or on earth (just as there are many "gods" and many "lords"), ⁶ yet for us there is only one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom all things exist, and through whom we exist.

⁷ However, this knowledge is not in everyone. Instead, some previously practiced idol worship, and they eat this food as if it were something sacrificed to an idol. Their conscience is thereby defiled because it is weak.

⁸ But food will not present us to God. We are not worse if we do not eat, nor better if we do eat it. ⁹ But take care that your freedom does not become a reason for someone who is weak in faith to stumble. ¹⁰ For suppose that someone sees you, who have knowledge, eating a meal in an idol's temple. Is not his weak conscience emboldened to eat what is offered to idols?

¹¹ So because of your understanding about the true nature of idols, the weaker one, the brother for whom Christ died, is destroyed. ¹² Thus, when you sin against your brothers and wound their weak consciences, you sin against Christ. ¹³ Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I may not cause my brother to fall.

Chapter 9

¹ Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? ² If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.

³ This is my defense to those who examine me: ⁴ Do we not have the right to eat and drink? ⁵ Do we not have the right to take along a wife who is a believer, as do the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas? ⁶ Or do only I and Barnabas not have the right to not work at a trade?

⁷ Who serves as a soldier at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat its fruit? Or who shepherds a flock and does not drink milk from it? ⁸ Do I say these things based on human authority? Does not the law also say this?

⁹ For it is written in the law of Moses, "Do not put a muzzle on an ox when it is threshing the grain." Is it really the oxen that God cares about? ¹⁰ Is he not speaking about us? It was written for us, because the one who plows should plow in hope, and the one who threshes should thresh in the hope of sharing in the harvest. ¹¹ If we sowed spiritual things among you, is it too much for us to reap physical things from you?

¹² If others exercised this right from you, do we not have even more? But we did not claim this right. Instead we endured everything rather than be a hindrance to the gospel of Christ. ¹³ Do you not know that those who perform sacred duties get their food from the temple? Do you not know that those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living from the gospel.

¹⁵ But I have not claimed any of these rights. And I do not write this so something might be done for me. It would be better for me to die than—No one will make my boast empty! ¹⁶ For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I must do this. And woe be to me if I do not preach the gospel!

¹⁷ For if I do this willingly, I have a reward. But if not willingly, I still have a stewardship that was entrusted to me. ¹⁸ What then is my reward? That when I preach, I may offer the gospel without charge and so not take full use of my right in the gospel.

¹⁹ For though I am free from all, I became a servant to all, in order that I might win more. ²⁰ To the Jews I became like a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law, I became like one under the law in order to win those under the law. I did this even though I myself was not under the law. ¹

²¹ To those outside the law, I became like one outside the law, although I was not outside the law of God myself, but under the law of Christ. I did this so that I may win those outside the law. ²² To the weak I became weak, so that I may win the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that I may by all means save some. ²³ I do all things for the gospel's sake, so that I may participate in its blessings.

²⁴ Do you not know that in a race all the runners run the race, but that only one receives the prize? So run to win the prize. ²⁵ Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a wreath that is perishable, but we do it to receive one that is imperishable. ²⁶ Therefore this is how I run, as not without purpose; this is how I box, not as one beating the air. ²⁷ But I subdue my body and make it a slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself may not be disqualified.

¹The ULB has: I did this even though I myself was not under the law . A few important and ancient Greek copies, with other ancient translations, leave this sentence out.

Chapter 10

¹ I do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud and all passed through the sea. ² All were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, ³ and all ate the same spiritual food. ⁴ All drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.

⁵ But God was not well pleased with most of them, and their corpses were scattered about in the wilderness. ⁶ Now these things were examples for us, so we would not be those who lust for evil things as they lusted.

⁷ Do not be idolaters, as some of them were. This is as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." ⁸ Let us not commit sexual immorality, as many of them did. In one day, twenty-three thousand people died because of it.

⁹ Neither let us put Christ to the test, as many of them tested him and were destroyed by snakes. ¹⁰ Also do not grumble, as many of them did and were destroyed by an angel of death.

¹¹ Now these things happened to them as examples for us. They were written for our instruction—for us on whom the end of the ages has come. ¹² Therefore let anyone who thinks he stands be careful that he does not fall. ¹³ No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to all humanity. Instead, God is faithful. He will not let you be tempted beyond your ability. With the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, so that you may be able to endure it.

¹⁴ Therefore, my beloved ones, run away from idolatry. ¹⁵ I speak to you as people who have understanding, so you may judge what I say. ¹⁶ The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? ¹⁷ Because there is one loaf of bread, we who are many are one body. We all take of one loaf of bread together.

¹⁸ Look at the Israel that is according to the flesh. Are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar? ¹⁹ What am I saying then? That an idol is anything? Or that food sacrificed to an idol is anything?

²⁰ But I say about the things they sacrifice, that they offer these things to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons! ²¹ You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot participate at the table of the Lord and the table of demons. ²² Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he is?

²³ "Everything is lawful," but not everything is profitable. "Everything is lawful," but not everything builds people up. ²⁴ No one should seek his own good. Instead, each one should seek the good of his neighbor.

²⁵ Eat everything sold in the market without asking questions of conscience. ²⁶ For "the earth is the Lord's, and the fullness of it." ²⁷ If an unbeliever invites you to eat a meal, and you wish to go, eat whatever is set before you without asking questions of conscience.

²⁸ But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, both for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— ¹ ²⁹ the conscience of the other man, I mean, and not yours. For why should my freedom be judged by another's conscience? ³⁰ If I partake of the meal with gratitude, why am I being insulted for that for which I gave thanks?

³¹ Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ³² Be blameless both to Jews and to Greeks, and to the church of God. ³³ In the same way I try to please all people in all things. I do not seek my benefit, but that of the many. I do this so that they may be saved.

¹Some ancient copies of the Greek text add, For the earth and everything in it belong to the Lord . But the best ancient copies of the Greek text do not have this. Many scholars see this addition as a duplication of verse 26.

Chapter 11

¹ Be imitators of me, just as I am an imitator of Christ.

² Now I praise you because you remember me in everything. I praise you because you hold firmly to the traditions just as I delivered them to you. ³ Now I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, that a man is the head of a woman, and that God is the head of Christ. ⁴ Any man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head.

⁵ But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head. For it is the same thing as if her head were shaved. ⁶ For if a woman will not cover her head, she should cut her hair short. If it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or for her to shave her head, let her cover her head.

⁷ For a man should not have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God. But the woman is the glory of the man. ⁸ For man was not made from woman. Instead, woman was made from man.

⁹ For neither was man created for woman. Instead, woman was created for man. ¹⁰ This is why the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.

¹¹ Nevertheless, in the Lord, the woman is not independent from the man, nor is the man independent from the woman. ¹² For as the woman comes from the man, so does the man come from the woman. And all things come from God.

¹³ Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? ¹⁴ Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor for him? ¹⁵ Does not nature teach you that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For her hair has been given to her as a covering. ¹⁶ But if anyone wants to argue about this, we do not have any other practice, nor do the churches of God.

¹⁷ But in the following instructions, I do not praise you. For when you come together, it is not for the better but for the worse. ¹⁸ For in the first place, I hear that when you come together in the church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. ¹⁹ For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.

²⁰ For when you come together, it is not the Lord's Supper that you eat. ²¹ When you eat, each one eats his own food before the others have their meal. One is hungry, and another becomes drunk. ²² Do you not have houses to eat and to drink in? Do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What should I say to you? Should I praise you? I will not praise you for this!

²³ For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night when he was betrayed, took bread. ²⁴ After he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you. Do this to remember me."

²⁵ In the same way he took the cup after supper, and he said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this as often as you drink it, to remember me." ²⁶ For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

²⁷ Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. ²⁸ Let a person examine himself first, and in this way let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. ²⁹ For he who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment to himself. ³⁰ That is why many among you are weak and ill, and some of you have fallen asleep.

³¹ But if we examine ourselves, we will not be judged. ³² But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned along with the world.

³³ Therefore, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another. ³⁴ If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that when you come together it will not be for judgment. And about the other things you wrote, I will give instructions when I come.

Chapter 12

¹ About spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. ² You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to idols who could not speak, in whatever ways you were led by them. ³ Therefore I want you to know that no one who speaks by the Spirit of God can say, "Jesus is accursed." No one can say, "Jesus is Lord," except by the Holy Spirit.

⁴ Now there are different gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are different ministries, but the same Lord; ⁶ and there are different kinds of work, but it is the same God who works all in all.

⁷ Now to each one is given the outward display of the Spirit for the benefit of all. ⁸ For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit.

⁹ To another is given faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit. ¹⁰ To another is given miraculous works, and to another prophecy. To another is given the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, giving the gifts to each one individually, as he chooses.

¹² For as the body is one and has many members and all are members of the same body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slave or free, and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

¹⁴ For the body is not a single member, but many. ¹⁵ If the foot says, "Since I am not the hand, I am not part of the body," it is not any less a part of the body. ¹⁶ And if the ear says, "Because I am not an eye, I am not part of the body," it is not any less a part of the body. ¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?

¹⁸ But God has appointed each member, each one of them, into the body as he has desired. ¹⁹ If they were all the same member, where would the body be? ²⁰ So now they are many members, but only one body.

²¹ The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you." Nor does the head say to the feet, "I have no need of you." ²² But the members of the body that appear to be weaker are essential, ²³ and the parts of the body that we think are less honorable, we give them greater honor, and our unpresentable members have more dignity. ²⁴ Now our presentable members have no such need. Rather, God has composed the body, giving greater honor to those members that lack it.

²⁵ He did this so there may be no division within the body, but that the members should care for one another with the same affection. ²⁶ So when one member suffers, all the members suffer together; or when one member is honored, all the members rejoice together. ²⁷ Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.

²⁸ And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then those who do miracles, then gifts of healing, those who provide helps, those who do the work of administration, and those who have various kinds of tongues. ²⁹ Are all of them apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all do miracles?

³⁰ Do all of them have gifts of healing? Do all of them speak with tongues? Do all of them interpret tongues? ³¹ Zealously seek the greater gifts. And now I will show you a more excellent way.

Chapter 13

¹ Suppose that I speak with the tongues of men and of angels. But if I do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. ² Suppose that I have the gift of prophecy and understand all hidden truths and knowledge, and that I have all faith so as to remove mountains. But if I do not have love, I am nothing. ³ Suppose that I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and that I give my body to be burned. But if I do not have love, I gain nothing. ¹

⁴ Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous and does not boast. It is not puffed up ⁵ or rude. It does not seek its own. It is not provoked, nor does it keep a count of wrongs. ⁶ It does not rejoice in unrighteousness. Instead, it rejoices in the truth. ⁷ Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

⁸ Love never ends. If there are prophecies, they will pass away. If there are tongues, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when the perfect comes, that which is incomplete will pass away.

¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put away childish things. ¹² For now we see indirectly in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I have been fully known. ¹³ But now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.

¹Most important and ancient Greek copies, as well as ancient translations read, I give my body to be burned . There are a few important and ancient Greek copies, as well as ancient translations, that read, I give my body so that I might boast .

Chapter 14

¹ Pursue love and be zealous for spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy. ² For the one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. For no one understands him because he speaks mysteries in the Spirit. ³ But the one who prophesies speaks to people to build them up, to exhort them, and to comfort them. ⁴ The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church.

⁵ Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues. But even more than that, I wish that you would prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues (unless someone interprets so that the church may receive edification). ⁶ But now, brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, how will I benefit you? I cannot, unless I speak to you with revelation, or knowledge, or prophecy, or teaching.

⁷ In the same way, when lifeless instruments are producing sounds—like the flute or the harp—if they do not produce different tones, how will anyone know what tune the flute or harp is playing? ⁸ For if the trumpet is played with an uncertain sound, how will anyone know when it is time to prepare for battle? ⁹ It is the same way for you with the tongue. If you utter speech that is not clear, how will what is said be understood? You will be speaking into the air.

¹⁰ There are doubtless many kinds of languages in the world, and none is without meaning. ¹¹ But if I do not know the meaning of a language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and the speaker will be a foreigner to me.

¹² So it is with you. Since you are eager for the manifestations of the Spirit, seek for the edification of the church so that you might abound. ¹³ So the one who speaks in a tongue should pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴ For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

¹⁵ What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind. I will sing with my spirit, and I will also sing with my mind. ¹⁶ Otherwise, if you bless God with the spirit, how will the outsider say "Amen" when you are giving thanks if he does not know what you are saying?

¹⁷ For you certainly give thanks well enough, but the other person is not built up. ¹⁸ I thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you. ¹⁹ But in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding so that I might instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.

²⁰ Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Rather, in regard to evil, be like infants. But in your thinking be mature. ²¹ In the law it is written,

"By men of strange tongues

and by the lips of strangers

I will speak to this people.

Even then they will not hear me,"

says the Lord.

²² So then, tongues are a sign, not to believers, but to unbelievers. But prophecy is for a sign, not for unbelievers, but for believers. ²³ If, therefore, the whole church comes together and all speak in tongues, and outsiders and unbelievers come in, would they not say that you are insane?

²⁴ But if you all were prophesying and an unbeliever or an outsider came in, he would be convicted by all he hears. He would be judged by all that is said. ²⁵ The secrets of his heart would be revealed. As a result, he would fall on his face and worship God. He would declare that God is really among you.

²⁶ What is next then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a psalm, a teaching, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Do everything so that you build up the church. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at most three, and each one in turn, and then someone should interpret what is said. ²⁸ But if there is no one to interpret, let each of them keep silent in the church. Let each one speak to himself alone and to God.

²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others listen with discernment to what is said. ³⁰ But if there is a revelation to one who is sitting, let the first be silent.

³¹ For each of you can prophesy one by one so that each one may learn and all may be exhorted. ³² For the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. ³³ For God is not a God of confusion, but of peace.

This is the rule in all the churches of God's holy people.

³⁴ The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak. Instead, they should be in submission, as also the law says. ³⁵ If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. ³⁶ Did the word of God come from you? Are you the only ones it has reached?

³⁷ If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I write to you are a command of the Lord. ³⁸ But if anyone does not recognize this, let him not be recognized.

³⁹ So then, brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid anyone from speaking in tongues. ⁴⁰ But let all things be done properly and in order.

Chapter 15

¹ Now I want to make known to you, brothers, the gospel I proclaimed to you, which you received and on which you stand, ² and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

³ For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures.

⁵ Christ appeared to Cephas, and then to the twelve; ⁶ then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once. Most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

⁸ Last of all, he appeared to me, as if to one born prematurely. ⁹ For I am the least of the apostles. I am unworthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God.

¹⁰ But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace in me was not in vain. Instead, I labored harder than all of them. Yet it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. ¹¹ Therefore whether it is I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

¹² Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; ¹⁴ and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain.

¹⁵ Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we testified that God raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised. ¹⁶ For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; ¹⁷ and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is in vain and you are still in your sins.

¹⁸ Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. ¹⁹ If only in this life we hope in Christ, of all people we are most to be pitied.

²⁰ But now Christ has been raised from the dead as the firstfruits of those who sleep. ²¹ For since death came by a man, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.

²² For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own order: Christ, who is the firstfruits, and then those who belong to Christ will be made alive at his coming.

²⁴ Then will be the end, when he will hand over the kingdom to God the Father, when he will abolish all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

²⁷ For "he has put everything under his feet." But when it says, "he has put everything," it is clear that this does not include the one who put everything in subjection under him. ²⁸ When all things are subjected under him, then the Son himself will be subjected under the one who put all things into subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

²⁹ Or else what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are they baptized for them? ³⁰ Why then are we in danger every hour?

³¹ I die every day! This is as sure as my boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. ³² What do I gain, from a human point of view, if I fought with beasts at Ephesus, if the dead are not raised?

"Let us eat and drink,

for tomorrow we die."

³³ Be not deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." ³⁴ Sober up! Live righteously! Do not keep sinning. For some of you have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

³⁵ But someone will say, "How are the dead raised, and with what kind of body will they come?" ³⁶ You fool! What you sow will not come to life unless it dies.

³⁷ What you sow is not the body that will be, but a bare grain. It may become wheat or something else. ³⁸ But God will give it a body as he chooses, and to each seed its own body. ³⁹ Not all flesh is the same. Instead, there is one flesh for human beings, and another flesh for animals, and another flesh for birds, and another for fish.

⁴⁰ There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the glory of the heavenly body is one kind and the glory of the earthly is another. ⁴¹ There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars. For one star differs from another star in glory.

⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, and what is raised is imperishable. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

⁴⁵ So also it is written, "The first man Adam became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. ⁴⁶ But the spiritual did not come first but the natural, and then the spiritual.

⁴⁷ The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is from heaven. ⁴⁸ Just as the one made from dust is, so also are those who are made of the dust, and as the man of heaven is, so also are those who are of heaven. ⁴⁹ Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven.

⁵⁰ Now this I say, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. Neither does what is perishable inherit what is imperishable. ⁵¹ Look! I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.

⁵² We will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For this perishable body must put on what is imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.

⁵⁴ But when this perishable body has put on what is imperishable, and when this mortal body has put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory."

⁵⁵ "Death, where is your victory?

Death, where is your sting?"

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always abound in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Chapter 16

¹ Now concerning the collection for God's holy people: as I instructed the churches of Galatia, so you are to do. ² On the first day of the week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up as he may prosper. Do this so that there will be no collections when I come.

³ When I arrive, to whomever you approve, I will give letters of introduction to them and will send them with your gift to Jerusalem. ⁴ If it is appropriate for me to go also, they will go with me.

⁵ But I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia. For I will pass through Macedonia. ⁶ Perhaps I may stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my way, wherever I go.

⁷ For I do not wish to see you now for only a passing visit. For I hope to spend more time with you, if the Lord permits. ⁸ But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, ⁹ for a wide door has opened for me, and there are many adversaries.

¹⁰ Now when Timothy comes, see that he is with you unafraid, for he is laboring at the work of the Lord, as I am doing. ¹¹ Let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, so that he may come to me. For I am expecting him to come along with the brothers. ¹² Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly encouraged him to visit you with the brothers. But it was not at all his will that he come now. However, he will come when the time is right.

¹³ Be watchful, stand fast in the faith, act like men, be strong. ¹⁴ Let all that you do be done in love.

¹⁵ You know the household of Stephanas, that they were the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of God's holy people. Now I urge you, brothers, ¹⁶ to be in submission to such people and to everyone who helps in the work and labors with us.

¹⁷ I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus. They have made up for your absence. ¹⁸ For they have refreshed my spirit and yours. So then, acknowledge people like them.

¹⁹ The churches of Asia send greetings to you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you in the Lord, with the church that is in their home. ²⁰ All the brothers greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

²¹ I, Paul, write this with my own hand. ²² If anyone does not love the Lord, may he be accursed. Our Lord, come! ²³ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. ²⁴ My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. ¹

¹A few important and ancient Greek copies and some ancient translations have Amen at the end of verse 24. But many important ancient Greek copies, as well as many ancient translations, do not have Amen at the end.

¹There is evidence that corrections were made to verse 7 by later copyists who were referring to other ancient texts. Most modern translations follow those corrections, and they now read, and in your love for us . But there are some important and ancient Greek copies that read, and in our love for you .

²Some translations number this sentence as verse 14.

¹Some translations include this sentence with verse 20.

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies do not have in Ephesus, but this letter may have been circulated throughout this region to several churches, not just to the church in Ephesus.

²Some interpreters place the last phrase of Ephesians 1:4. in love , with verse 5 so that it reads, In love God predestined us .

¹Some ancient and important Greek copies add Amen , and there are some ancient Greek copies that have that word at the end of every New Testament book. There are also many important and ancient Greek copies that do not have the final Amen .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies add and the Lord Jesus Christ .

²Some important and ancient Greek copies read, on your behalf .

³Some ancient Greek copies read who made us able .

⁴Some ancient Greek copies read, in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins ; it may be a reference to Ephesians 1:7.

¹Some ancient Greek copies read, and forgave you all of your trespasses .

¹Some ancient Greek copies and some ancient translations read, When Christ appears, who is our life, then you will also appear with him in glory .

²Some ancient Greek copies read, It is for these things that the wrath of God is coming .

¹There are some important and ancient Greek copies, along with some ancient translations of the Greek, that read, I sent him to you for this, that he might know the matters about you, and that he may encourage your hearts .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, May grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ .

²Some important and ancient Greek copies read, Instead, we were like babies among you, as when a mother comforts her own children .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, We sent Timothy, our brother and God's servant in the gospel of Christ .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, and the man of sin is revealed .

²Some important and ancient Greek copies read, For God chose you from the first for salvation .

¹Some old copies add the exhortation, Stay away from such things. But the best ancient copies do not.

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies add to the Gentiles .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, Warn them before the Lord .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies add and you have put him over the works of your hands .

¹Some important and ancient copies read, But that message did not benefit those who heard it without joining faith to it .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, Christ came as a high priest of the good things that are to come .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, For you had compassion on me in my chains .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, They were stoned. They were sawn in two. They were put to the test. They were killed with the sword .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned or shot with an arrow .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, Do you want to know, foolish man, how it is that faith without works is dead?

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, You made your souls pure by obedience to the truth through the Spirit .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, to be kept in pits of darkness until the judgment ,

²Some ancient copies of the Greek text read, They enjoy their actions while they are feasting with you in love feasts .

³Many modern translations read Balaam son of Beor in order to be consistent with the Old Testament spelling of the name. Some modern translations choose to follow the spelling of the Greek text, which reads, Balaam son of Bosor .

¹It is uncertain which Greek word is intended for the last word of verse 10, either laid bare or burned up are the choices. There is uncertainty about which word should be chosen. The second choice would be, The elements will be burned with fire, and the earth and the deeds in it will be burned up .

¹Some important ancient Greek copies read, And we are writing these things to you so that your joy will be complete .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies leave out, and this is what we are .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, and every spirit that does not acknowledge that Jesus has come in the flesh is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world .

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, For there are three that testify in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one; and there are three that testify on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three are as one . However, the best copies do not have this reading.

Revelation

Chapter 1

¹ This is the revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, ² who testified about the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ, all the things that he saw. ³ Blessed is the one who reads aloud this prophecy and those who listen to the words of this prophecy and who obey what is written in it, because the time is near.

⁴ John, to the seven churches in Asia: May grace be to you and peace from the one who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, ⁵ and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To the one who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood— ⁶ he has made us a kingdom, priests for his God and Father—to him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.

⁷ Look, he is coming with the clouds;

every eye will see him,

including those who pierced him.

All the tribes of the earth will mourn because of him.

Yes, Amen.

⁸ "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "the one who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." ¹

⁹ I, John—your brother and the one who shares with you in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are in Jesus—was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony about Jesus. ¹⁰ I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day. I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet. ¹¹ It said, "Write what you see in a book, and send it to the seven churches—to Ephesus, to Smyrna, to Pergamum, to Thyatira, to Sardis, to Philadelphia, and to Laodicea."

¹² I turned around to see whose voice was speaking to me, and as I turned I saw seven golden lampstands. ¹³ In the middle of the lampstands there was one like a son of man, wearing a long robe that reached down to his feet and a golden sash around his chest.

¹⁴ His head and hair were as white as wool—as white as snow—and his eyes were like a flame of fire. ¹⁵ His feet were like polished bronze, like bronze that had been refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of many rushing waters. ¹⁶ He had seven stars in his right hand, and a sword with two sharp edges was coming out of his mouth. His face was shining like the sun at its strongest.

¹⁷ When I saw him, I fell at his feet like a dead man. He placed his right hand on me and said, "Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last ¹⁸ and the one who lives. I was dead, but look, I live forever and ever! And I have the keys of death and of Hades.

¹⁹ Therefore write down what you have seen, what is now, and what will take place after this. ²⁰ As for the hidden meaning about the seven stars you saw in my right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end, says the Lord God .

Chapter 2

¹ "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write:

'The words of the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand and who walks among the seven golden lampstands,

² "I know your deeds, your hard labor, and your patient endurance, and that you cannot tolerate those who are evil, but you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and you have found them to be false.

³ You are enduring patiently and bearing up for my name, and you have not grown weary. ⁴ But I have against you the fact that you have left behind your first love. ⁵ Remember therefore from where you have fallen. Repent and do the things you did at first. Unless you repent, I will come to you and I will remove your lampstand from its place.

⁶ But you have this: You hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. ⁷ Let the one who has an ear, hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."'

⁸ "To the angel of the church in Smyrna write:

'The words of the one who is the first and the last, the one who was dead and who became alive again:

⁹ "I know your sufferings and your poverty, but you are rich. I know the slander of those who say they are Jews, but they are not. They are a synagogue of Satan.

¹⁰ Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Look! The devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you will be tested, and you will suffer for ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. ¹¹ Let the one who has an ear, hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death."'

¹² "To the angel of the church in Pergamum write:

'The words of the one who has the sword with two sharp edges:

¹³ "I know where you live, there where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold on tightly to my name. I know that you did not deny your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas my witness, my faithful one, who was killed among you, there where Satan lives.

¹⁴ But I have a few things against you: You have there some who hold tightly to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to throw a stumbling block before the sons of Israel so they would eat food sacrificed to idols and be sexually immoral. ¹⁵ In the same way, you even have some who hold tightly to the teaching of the Nicolaitans.

¹⁶ Repent, therefore! If you do not, I will quickly come to you, and I will wage war against them with the sword in my mouth. ¹⁷ Let the one who has an ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches. To the one who conquers, I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give a white stone with a new name written on the stone, a name which no one knows but the one who receives it."'

¹⁸ "To the angel of the church in Thyatira write:

'These are the words of the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire and feet like polished bronze:

¹⁹ "I know your deeds: your love and faith and service and your patient endurance. I know that what you have done recently is more than you did at first.

²⁰ But I have this against you: You tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she deceives my servants to commit sexual immorality and to eat food sacrificed to idols. ²¹ I gave her time to repent, but she is not willing to repent of her immorality.

²² Look! I will throw her onto a sickbed and those who commit adultery with her into great suffering, unless they repent of her deeds. ²³ I will strike her children dead, and all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out thoughts and hearts. I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

²⁴ But to the rest of you in Thyatira, to everyone who does not hold this teaching and does not know what some call the deep things of Satan—to you I say, 'I do not put any other burden on you.' ²⁵ In any case, you must hold on tightly until I come.

²⁶ The one who conquers and does my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations.

²⁷ 'He will rule them with an iron rod,

like clay jars he will break them into pieces.'

²⁸ Just as I have received from my Father, I will also give him the morning star. ²⁹ Let the one who has an ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches."'

Chapter 3

¹ "To the angel of the church in Sardis write:

'The words of the one who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars: "I know your deeds. You have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.

² Wake up and strengthen what remains but is about to die, because I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.

³ Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard. Obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come as a thief, and you will not know what hour I will come against you. ⁴ But you have a few names in Sardis who have not stained their clothes, and they will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.

⁵ The one who conquers will be clothed in white garments, and I will never wipe his name out of the Book of Life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. ⁶ Let the one who has an ear hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches."'

⁷ "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

'The words of the one who is holy and true—

he holds the key of David,

he opens and no one shuts,

he shuts and no one can open.

⁸ "'I know your deeds. Look, I have put before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have obeyed my word and have not denied my name.

⁹ Look! I will cause those who belong to the synagogue of Satan, those calling themselves Jews but are not, but rather liars—I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will know that I love you. ¹⁰ Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is coming on the whole world, to test those who live on the earth. ¹¹ I am coming soon. Hold to what you have so no one can take away your crown.

¹² The one who conquers I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, the name of the city of my God (the new Jerusalem, that comes down out of heaven from my God), and my new name. ¹³ Let the one who has an ear, hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches."'

¹⁴ "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write:

'The words of the Amen, the reliable and true witness, the ruler over God's creation.

¹⁵ "I know your deeds and that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot! ¹⁶ So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to vomit you out of my mouth.

¹⁷ For you say, 'I am rich, I have had many material possessions, and I need nothing.' But you do not know that you are most miserable, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. ¹⁸ Listen to my advice: Buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and brilliant white garments so you may clothe yourself and not show the shame of your nakedness, and salve to anoint your eyes so you will see.

¹⁹ I rebuke and discipline everyone whom I love. Therefore, be earnest and repent. ²⁰ Look, I am standing at the door and am knocking. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his home and will eat with him, and he with me.

²¹ The one who conquers I will give him the right to sit down with me on my throne, just as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. ²² Let the one who has an ear, hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches."'"

Chapter 4

¹ After these things I looked, and I saw an open door in heaven. The first voice that I had heard was speaking to me like a trumpet, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after these things." ² At once I was in the Spirit, and I saw there a throne placed in heaven, with someone sitting on it. ³ The one who was sitting on it looked like jasper and carnelian. There was a rainbow around the throne. The rainbow was like an emerald in appearance.

⁴ Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, dressed with white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. ⁵ From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings, and crashes of thunder. Seven flaming lamps were burning in front of the throne, lamps that were the seven spirits of God.

⁶ Before the throne was a sea of glass, like crystal. In the middle of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures, full of eyes, front and back.

⁷ The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature was like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. ⁸ The four living creatures each had six wings, full of eyes on top and underneath. Night and day they do not stop saying,

"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,

who was, and who is, and who is to come."

⁹ Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, ¹⁰ the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They lay their crowns before the throne, saying,

¹¹ "Worthy are you, our Lord and our God,

to receive glory and honor and power,

for you created all things,

and by your will they existed and were created."

Chapter 5

¹ Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and on the back, sealed with seven seals. ² I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"

³ No one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to read it. ⁴ I wept bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to read it. ⁵ But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

⁶ I saw a Lamb standing in the middle of the throne area and among the four living creatures and among the elders. He looked as though he had been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ He went and took hold of the scroll out of the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne.

⁸ When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and a golden bowl full of incense, which are the prayers of God's holy people.

⁹ They sang a new song:

"You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals.

For you were slaughtered,

and with your blood you purchased people for God

from every tribe, language, people, and nation.

¹⁰ You made them a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign on the earth."

¹¹ Then I looked and heard the sound of many angels who encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. Their total number was ten thousands of ten thousands and thousands of thousands. ¹² They said in a loud voice,

"Worthy is the Lamb, who has been slaughtered,

to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength,

honor, glory, and praise."

¹³ I heard every created thing that was in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea—everything in them—saying,

"To the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise, honor, glory, and dominion

forever and ever."

¹⁴ The four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped. ¹

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies read, the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the one who lives forever and ever .

Chapter 6

¹ I looked when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice that sounded like thunder, "Come!" ² I looked and there was a white horse. Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown. He came out as a conqueror in order to conquer.

³ When the Lamb opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, "Come!" ⁴ Then another horse came out—fiery red. To its rider was given permission to take peace away from the earth, so that its people would slaughter one another. This rider was given a huge sword.

⁵ When the Lamb opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, "Come!" I saw a black horse, and its rider held a pair of scales in his hand. ⁶ I heard what seemed to be a voice among the four living creatures say, "A choenix of wheat for one denarius, and three choenices of barley for a denarius. But do not harm the oil and the wine."

⁷ When the Lamb opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, "Come!" ⁸ Then I saw a pale horse. The rider on it was named Death, and Hades was following him. They were given authority over one-fourth of the earth, to kill with the sword, with famine and disease, and with the wild animals of the earth.

⁹ When the Lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been killed because of the word of God and the testimony which they held. ¹⁰ They cried out with a loud voice, "How long, Ruler over all, holy and true, until you judge those who live on the earth, and until you avenge our blood?" ¹¹ Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told that they should wait a short time longer until the full number of their fellow servants and their brothers who were to be killed, just as they had been killed, was made complete.

¹² When the Lamb opened the sixth seal, I watched and there was a great earthquake. The sun became as black as sackcloth, and the full moon became like blood. ¹³ The stars in the heavens fell to the earth, just as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when shaken by a stormy wind. ¹⁴ The sky vanished like a scroll that was being rolled up. Every mountain and island was moved out of its place.

¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth and the important people, and the commanders, and the rich, and the powerful, and everyone else, slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. ¹⁶ They said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us! Hide us from the face of the one who is seated on the throne and from the Lamb's wrath. ¹⁷ For the great day of their wrath has come. Who is able to stand?"

Chapter 7

¹ After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, tightly holding back the four winds of the earth so that no wind should blow on the earth, on the sea, or against any tree. ² I saw another angel coming up from the east, who had the seal of the living God. He cried out with a loud voice to the four angels who were given permission to harm the earth and the sea: ³ "Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees until we have put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God."

⁴ I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000, who were sealed from every tribe of the people of Israel:

⁵ twelve thousand from the tribe of Judah were sealed,

twelve thousand from the tribe of Reuben,

twelve thousand from the tribe of Gad,

⁶ twelve thousand from the tribe of Asher,

twelve thousand from the tribe of Naphtali,

twelve thousand from the tribe of Manasseh,

⁷ twelve thousand from the tribe of Simeon,

twelve thousand from the tribe of Levi,

twelve thousand from the tribe of Issachar,

⁸ twelve thousand from the tribe of Zebulun,

twelve thousand from the tribe of Joseph, and

twelve thousand from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

⁹ After these things I looked, and there was a huge multitude that no one could count—from every nation, tribe, people, and language—standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and they were crying out with a loud voice:

"Salvation belongs to our God,

who is seated on the throne,

and to the Lamb!"

¹¹ All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne. They worshiped God, ¹² saying,

"Amen!

Praise, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honor, power, and strength

be to our God forever and ever!

Amen!"

¹³ Then one of the elders asked me, "Who are these, clothed with white robes, and where did they come from?" ¹⁴ I said to him, "Sir, you know," and he said to me, "These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵ For this reason,

they are before the throne of God,

and they worship him day and night in his temple.

The one who is seated on the throne

will spread his tent over them.

¹⁶ They will not be hungry again,

nor will they be thirsty again.

The sun will not beat down on them,

nor any burning heat.

¹⁷ For the Lamb at the center of the throne

will shepherd them,

and he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Chapter 8

¹ When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was a silence in heaven for about half an hour. ² Then I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.

³ Another angel came, holding a golden incense bowl, standing at the incense altar. Much incense was given to him so that he would offer it with the prayers of all God's holy people on the golden incense altar before the throne. ⁴ The smoke of the incense—with the prayers of God's holy people—rose up before God from the angel's hand. ⁵ The angel took the incense bowl and filled it with fire from the altar. Then he threw it down to the earth, and there were crashes of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake.

⁶ The seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.

⁷ The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there was hail and fire mixed with blood. It was thrown down onto the earth so that a third of it was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up. ¹

⁸ The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a great mountain burning with fire was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea became blood, ⁹ a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.

¹⁰ The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a huge star fell from the sky, blazing like a torch, on a third of the rivers and springs of water. ¹¹ The name of the star is Wormwood. A third of the waters became wormwood, and many people died from the waters that became bitter.

¹² The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, as well as a third of the moon and a third of the stars. So a third of them turned dark; a third of the day and a third of the night had no light.

¹³ I looked, and I heard an eagle ² that was flying overhead calling out with a loud voice, "Woe, woe, woe, to those who live on the earth, because of the remaining trumpet blasts that are about to be sounded by the three angels."

¹Some important and ancient Greek copies leave out, so that a third of it was burned up .

²Some copies have the word angel instead of eagle .

Chapter 9

¹ Then the fifth angel sounded his trumpet. I saw a star from heaven that had fallen to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the bottomless pit. ² He opened the shaft of the bottomless pit, and smoke went up out of the shaft like smoke from a huge furnace. The sun and the air were turned dark by the smoke from the shaft.

³ Out of the smoke locusts came on the earth, and they were given power like that of scorpions on the earth. ⁴ They were told not to damage the grass on the earth or any green plant or tree, but only the people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads.

⁵ They were not given permission to kill those people, but only to torture them for five months. Their agony would be like the sting of a scorpion when it strikes a person. ⁶ In those days people will seek death but will not find it. They will greatly desire to die, but death will flee from them.

⁷ The locusts looked like horses prepared for war. On their heads were something like crowns of gold, and their faces were like human faces. ⁸ They had hair like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. ⁹ They had breastplates like iron breastplates, and the sound of their wings was like the sound made by many chariots and horses running into battle.

¹⁰ They had tails with stingers like scorpions; in their tails they had power to harm people for five months. ¹¹ They had as king over them the angel of the bottomless pit. His name in Hebrew was Abaddon, and in Greek he had the name Apollyon.

¹² The first woe is past. Look! After this there are still two disasters to come.

¹³ The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns of the golden altar that is present before God, ¹⁴ saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who had been bound at the great Euphrates River." ¹⁵ The four angels who had been prepared for that hour, that day, that month, and that year were released to kill a third of mankind.

¹⁶ The number of the soldiers on horseback was 200,000,000. I heard their number. ¹⁷ This is how I saw the horses in my vision and those who rode on them: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke, and sulfur.

¹⁸ A third of the people were killed by these three plagues: the fire, smoke, and sulfur that came out of their mouths. ¹⁹ For the power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails—for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflicted wounds on people.

²⁰ The rest of mankind, those who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, nor did they stop worshiping demons and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone, and wood—things that cannot see, hear, or walk. ²¹ Neither did they repent of their murders, their sorcery, their sexual immorality, or their acts of theft.

Chapter 10

¹ Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was clothed in a cloud, and there was a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun and his feet were like pillars of fire. ² He held a little scroll, which was opened in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.

³ Then he shouted in a loud voice like a roaring lion. When he shouted, the seven thunders spoke out with their sounds. ⁴ When the seven thunders spoke out, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Seal up what the seven thunders said. Do not write it down."

⁵ Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and the earth raised his right hand to heaven. ⁶ He swore by the one who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and all that is in it, the earth and all that is on it, and the sea and all that is in it, and the angel said, "There will be no more delay. ⁷ But on the day when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, then the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he proclaimed the good news to his servants the prophets."

⁸ The voice I heard from heaven spoke to me again: "Go, take the open scroll that is in the hand of the angel standing on the sea and on the land." ⁹ Then I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take the scroll and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."

¹⁰ I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but after I ate it, my stomach became bitter. ¹¹ Then someone said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings."

Chapter 11

¹ A reed was given to me to use like a measuring rod. I was told, "Get up and measure the temple of God and the altar, and those who worship in it. ² But do not measure the courtyard outside the temple, for it has been given over to the Gentiles. They will trample the holy city for forty-two months.

³ I will give my two witnesses authority to prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." ⁴ These witnesses are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that have stood before the Lord of the earth. ⁵ If anyone chooses to harm them, fire comes out of their mouth and devours their enemies. Anyone who wishes to harm them must be killed in this way.

⁶ These witnesses have authority to close up the sky so that no rain will fall during the days that they prophesy. They have power to turn the waters to blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague whenever they wish. ⁷ When they will have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the bottomless pit will wage war against them. He will conquer them and kill them.

⁸ Their bodies will lie in the street of the great city (which is symbolically called Sodom and Egypt) where their Lord was crucified. ⁹ For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language, and nation will look at their bodies. They will not permit them to be placed in a tomb.

¹⁰ Those who live on the earth will rejoice over them and celebrate. They will even send gifts to one another because these two prophets tormented those who lived on the earth. ¹¹ But after three and a half days a breath of life from God will enter them, and they will stand on their feet. Great fear will fall on those who see them. ¹² Then they will hear a loud voice from heaven say to them, "Come up here!" Then they will go up into heaven in a cloud, while their enemies look on.

¹³ At that hour there will be a major earthquake, and a tenth part of the city will collapse. Seven thousand people will be killed in the earthquake, and the survivors will be terrified and give glory to the God of heaven.

¹⁴ The second woe is past. Look! The third woe is coming quickly.

¹⁵ Then the seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and loud voices spoke in heaven and said,

"The kingdom of the world has become

the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ,

and he will reign forever and ever."

¹⁶ Then the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones in the presence of God, fell upon their faces and worshiped God. ¹⁷ They said,

"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

the one who is and who was,

because you have taken your great power

and have begun to reign. ¹

¹⁸ The nations were enraged,

but your wrath has come.

The time has come for the dead to be judged

and for you to reward your servants the prophets

and God's holy people, and those who feared your name,

both the unimportant and the mighty.

The time has come

for you to destroy those who are destroying the earth."

¹⁹ Then God's temple in heaven was opened and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, crashes of thunder, an earthquake, and a great hailstorm.

¹The best copies of the ancient Greek text have the phrase who was, and who is, but some later copies of the Greek add the phrase: and who is to come .

Chapter 12

¹ A great sign was seen in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. ² She was pregnant, and she was crying out in birth pains, in the anguish of childbirth.

³ Then another sign was seen in heaven: Look! There was a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and there were seven crowns on his heads. ⁴ His tail swept away a third of the stars in heaven and hurled them down to the earth. The dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth, he would devour her child.

⁵ She gave birth to a son, a male child, who would rule all the nations with an iron rod. Her child was snatched away to God and to his throne, ⁶ and the woman fled into the wilderness, where God had prepared a place for her, so she could be taken care of for 1,260 days.

⁷ Now there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. ⁸ But the dragon was not strong enough to win. So there was no longer any place in heaven for him and his angels. ⁹ The great dragon—that old serpent called the Devil or Satan, who deceives the whole world—was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven:

"Now have come the salvation and the power

and the kingdom of our God,

and the authority of his Christ.

For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down,

the one who accused them before our God day and night.

¹¹ They conquered him

by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony,

for they did not love their lives

even to death.

¹² Therefore rejoice, you heavens

and all who reside in them!

But woe to the earth and to the sea,

because the devil has gone down to you!

He is filled with terrible anger

and knows that he has only a little time!

¹³ When the dragon realized he had been thrown down to the earth, he pursued the woman who had given birth to the male child. ¹⁴ But the woman was given the two wings of a great eagle so that she would flee to the place prepared for her in the wilderness. This was the place where she would be taken care of, for a time, times, and half a time—out of the serpent's presence.

¹⁵ The serpent poured water out of his mouth like a river so that he might make a flood to sweep her away. ¹⁶ But the earth helped the woman. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon was pouring out of his mouth. ¹⁷ Then the dragon was enraged at the woman and went off to wage war with the rest of her descendants, those who obey God's commandments and hold to the testimony about Jesus. ¹⁸ Then the dragon stood on the sand of the seashore.

Chapter 13

¹ Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads. On its horns were ten crowns, and on each of its heads was a blasphemous name. ² This beast I saw was like a leopard. Its feet were like a bear's feet, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. The dragon gave it his power, his throne, and his great authority to rule.

³ One of the beast's heads seemed to have a fatal wound, but that fatal wound had been healed. The whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. ⁴ They also worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast. They worshiped the beast, too, and kept saying, "Who is like the beast?" and "Who can fight against it?"

⁵ The beast was given a mouth that could speak proud words and blasphemies. It was permitted to exercise authority for forty-two months. ⁶ So the beast opened its mouth to speak blasphemies against God, blaspheming his name and his tabernacle, those who live in heaven.

⁷ The beast was permitted to wage war with God's holy people and to conquer them. Also, authority was given to it over every tribe, people, language, and nation. ⁸ All who live on the earth will worship it, everyone whose name was not written in the Book of Life, which belongs to the Lamb who had been slaughtered from the foundation of the world.

⁹ If anyone has an ear, let him hear.

¹⁰ If anyone is to be taken into captivity,

into captivity he will go.

If anyone is to be killed with the sword,

with the sword he will be killed.

Here is a call for the patient endurance and faith of God's holy people.

¹¹ Then I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and it spoke like a dragon. ¹² He exercised all the authority of the first beast in his presence, and he made the earth and those who live on it worship the first beast—the one whose lethal wound had been healed.

¹³ He performed mighty miracles. He even made fire come down on the earth from heaven in front of people. ¹⁴ By the signs he was given power on behalf of the beast, he deceived those who live on the earth, telling them to set up an image for the beast—who was wounded by the sword, but he still lived.

¹⁵ He was permitted to give breath to the beast's image so that the image would even speak and cause all who refused to worship the beast to be killed. ¹⁶ He also forced everyone, unimportant and mighty, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on the right hand or on the forehead. ¹⁷ It was impossible for anyone to buy or sell unless he had the mark of the beast, that is, the number representing its name.

¹⁸ This calls for wisdom. If anyone has insight, let him calculate the number of the beast. For it is the number of a human being. His number is 666.

Chapter 14

¹ I looked and saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion. With him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father's name written on their foreheads. ² I heard a voice from heaven sounding like a roar of many waters and loud thunder. The sound I heard was also like harpists playing their harps.

³ They sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except for the 144,000 who had been bought from the earth. ⁴ These are the ones that have not defiled themselves with women, for they have kept themselves sexually pure. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among mankind as firstfruits for God and for the Lamb. ⁵ No lie was found in their mouth; they are blameless.

⁶ I saw another angel flying in midair, who had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language, and people. ⁷ He called out with a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory. For the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him, the one who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of water."

⁸ Another angel—a second angel—followed, saying, "Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great, who persuaded all the nations to drink the wine of her immoral passion."

⁹ Another angel—a third angel—followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If anyone worships the beast and his image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, ¹⁰ he will also drink some of the wine of God's wrath, the wine that has been poured undiluted into the cup of his anger. The person who drinks it will be tormented with fire and sulfur before God's holy angels and before the Lamb.

¹¹ The smoke from their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest day or night—these worshipers of the beast and his image, and everyone who receives the mark of his name. ¹² Here is a call for the patient endurance of God's holy people, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus."

¹³ I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."

"Yes," says the Spirit, "so that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds will follow them."

¹⁴ I looked, and there was a white cloud. Seated on the cloud was one like a son of man. He had a golden crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. ¹⁵ Then another angel came out of the temple and called with a loud voice to the one sitting on the cloud: "Take your sickle and start to reap. For the time to reap has come, since the harvest of the earth is ripe." ¹⁶ Then the one who was sitting on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was reaped.

¹⁷ Another angel came out from the temple in heaven; he also had a sharp sickle. ¹⁸ Still another angel came out from the incense altar, who had authority over the fire. He called out with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, "Take your sharp sickle and gather in the clusters of grapes from the vines of the earth, for their grapes are now ripe."

¹⁹ The angel swung his sickle to the earth and harvested the grapevine of the earth. He threw it into the great winepress of God's wrath. ²⁰ The winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood poured out from it up to the height of a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.

Chapter 15

¹ Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: There were seven angels with seven plagues, which are the final plagues, for with them the wrath of God will be completed.

² I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mixed with fire. Standing beside the sea were those who had been victorious over the beast and his image and over the number representing his name. They were holding harps given to them by God.

³ They were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

"Great and marvelous are your deeds,

Lord God, the Almighty.

Just and true are your ways,

King of the nations.

⁴ Who will not fear you, Lord,

and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come

and worship before you

because your righteous deeds have been revealed."

⁵ After these things I looked, and the temple of the tabernacle of witness was open in heaven. ⁶ Out of the temple came the seven angels holding the seven plagues. They were clothed with pure, bright linen and had golden sashes around their chests.

⁷ One of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God, who lives forever and ever. ⁸ The temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power. No one could enter it until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.

Chapter 16

¹ I heard a loud voice call out of the temple and say to the seven angels, "Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of God's wrath."

² The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the earth; ugly and painful sores came on the people who had the mark of the beast, those who worshiped his image.

³ The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea. It became blood, like the blood of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.

⁴ The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. ⁵ I heard the angel of the waters say,

"You are righteous—the one who is and who was, the Holy One—

because you have judged these things.

⁶ Because they poured out the blood of God's holy people and prophets,

you have given them blood to drink;

it is what they deserve."

⁷ I heard the altar reply,

"Yes, Lord God Almighty,

your judgments are true and righteous."

⁸ The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and it was given permission to scorch the people with fire. ⁹ They were scorched by the terrible heat, and they blasphemed the name of God, who has the authority over these plagues. They did not repent or give him glory.

¹⁰ Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and darkness covered its kingdom. They chewed on their tongues because of the pain. ¹¹ They blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pain and sores, and they still refused to repent of their deeds.

¹² The sixth angel poured out his bowl into the great river, the Euphrates. Its water was dried up in order to prepare the way for the kings that would come from the east. ¹³ I saw three unclean spirits that looked like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, of the beast, and of the false prophet. ¹⁴ For they are spirits of demons performing miraculous signs. They were going out to the kings of the whole world in order to gather them together for the battle on the great day of God Almighty.

¹⁵ ("Look! I am coming as a thief! Blessed is the one who keeps watching, keeping his garments on so that he does not walk around naked and so that they do not see his shameful condition.")

¹⁶ They brought them together at the place that is called Armageddon in Hebrew.

¹⁷ Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. Then a loud voice came out of the temple and from the throne, saying, "It is done!" ¹⁸ There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, crashes of thunder, and a terrible earthquake—an earthquake greater than any that has ever happened since human beings have been on the earth, so great was this earthquake. ¹⁹ The great city was split into three parts, and the nations' cities collapsed. Then God called to mind Babylon the great, and he gave that city the cup filled with the wine made from his furious wrath.

²⁰ Every island disappeared, and the mountains were no longer found. ²¹ Great hailstones, weighing about a talent, came down from the sky upon the people. They blasphemed God for the plague of hail because that plague was so terrible.

Chapter 17

¹ One of the seven angels who had been holding the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the condemnation of the great prostitute who is seated on many waters, ² with whom the kings of the earth committed sexual immorality, and with the wine of her sexual immorality the inhabitants of the earth became drunk."

³ Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit to a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names. The beast had seven heads and ten horns. ⁴ The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet and was adorned with gold, precious stones, and pearls. She was holding in her hand a golden cup full of detestable things and the impurities of her sexual immorality. ⁵ On her forehead was written a name, a mystery: "Babylon the great, the mother of prostitutes and of the detestable things of the earth."

⁶ I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people and with the blood of the martyrs for Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. ⁷ But the angel said to me, "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast that is carrying her, the beast that has the seven heads and the ten horns.

⁸ The beast you saw existed, does not exist now, and is about to come up from the bottomless pit. Then he will go on to destruction. Those who live on the earth, those whose names have not been written in the Book of Life since the foundation of the world—they will be astounded when they see the beast, because he once was, and now is not, and yet will come.

⁹ This calls for a mind that has wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman is seated. ¹⁰ They are also seven kings. Five kings have fallen, one exists, and the other has not yet come, and when he comes, he must remain for a little while.

¹¹ The beast that once was, and now is not, yet he is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.

¹² The ten horns that you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but they will receive authority as kings for one hour together with the beast. ¹³ These are of one mind, and they give over their power and authority to the beast. ¹⁴ They will wage war against the Lamb. But the Lamb will conquer them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and those with him are the called, chosen, and faithful ones."

¹⁵ The angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples, multitudes, nations, and languages.

¹⁶ The ten horns that you saw—they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, they will devour her flesh, and they will burn her completely with fire. ¹⁷ For God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose by agreeing to give their power to rule to the beast until God's words are fulfilled.

¹⁸ The woman you saw is the great city that has power to rule over the kings of the earth."

Chapter 18

¹ After these things I saw another angel coming down out of heaven. He had great authority, and the earth was illumined by his glory. ² He cried out with a mighty voice, saying,

"Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!

She has become a dwelling place for demons,

a prison for every unclean spirit,

a prison for every unclean bird,

a prison for every unclean and detestable animal.

³ For all the nations have drunk

the wine of her immoral passion.

The kings of the earth have committed immorality with her.

The merchants of the earth have become rich from the power of her sensual way of living."

⁴ Then I heard another voice from heaven say,

"Come out from her, my people,

so that you will not share in her sins,

and so that you will not receive any of her plagues.

⁵ Her sins have piled up as high as heaven,

and God has remembered her evil actions.

⁶ Pay her back as she has paid others back,

and repay her double for her deeds;

in the cup she mixed, mix double the amount for her.

⁷ As she glorified herself and lived in luxury,

give her just as much torture and grief.

For she says in her heart,

'I am seated as a queen;

I am not a widow,

and I will never see mourning.'

⁸ Therefore in one day her plagues will come:

death, mourning, and famine.

She will be consumed by fire,

for the Lord God is mighty, and he is her judge."

⁹ The kings of the earth who committed sexual immorality and went out of control with her will weep and wail over her when they see the smoke of her burning. ¹⁰ They will stand off at a distance, afraid of her torment, saying,

"Woe, woe to the great city,

Babylon, the powerful city!

For in a single hour your punishment has come."

¹¹ The merchants of the earth weep and mourn for her since no one buys their merchandise anymore— ¹² merchandise of gold, silver, precious stone, pearls, fine linen, purple, silk, scarlet, all kinds of scented wood, every vessel of ivory, every vessel made of most precious wood, bronze, iron, marble, ¹³ cinnamon, spice, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, fine flour, wheat, cattle and sheep, horses and chariots, and bodies and souls of people.

¹⁴ The fruit that you desired with all your might is gone from you. All your luxury and splendor have vanished, never to be found again.

¹⁵ The merchants of these goods who became rich by her will stand away from her at a distance because of the fear of her torment, weeping and mourning loudly.

¹⁶ They will say,

"Woe, woe to the great city

that was dressed in fine linen, in purple, and in scarlet,

and was adorned with gold, precious jewels, and pearls!

¹⁷ In a single hour all that wealth has been laid waste."

Every ship's captain, every seafaring man, sailors, and all who make their living from the sea stood off at a distance.

¹⁸ They cried out as they saw the smoke of her burning. They said, "What city is like the great city?" ¹⁹ They threw dust on their heads, and cried out, weeping and mourning,

"Woe, woe to the great city

where all who had their ships

at sea became rich from her wealth.

For in a single hour she has been laid waste."

²⁰ "Rejoice over her, heaven,

you holy people and apostles and prophets,

for God has brought your judgment on her!"

²¹ A mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying,

"In this way, Babylon, the great city,

will be thrown down with violence

and will not be seen anymore.

²² The sound made by harpists, musicians,

flute players, and trumpeters

will not be heard anymore in you.

No craftsman of any kind

will be found in you.

No sound of a mill

will be heard anymore in you.

²³ The light of a lamp

will not shine in you anymore.

The voices of the bridegroom and the bride

will not be heard in you anymore,

for your merchants were the princes of the earth,

and the nations were deceived by your sorcery.

²⁴ In her the blood of prophets and of God's holy people was found,

and the blood of all who have been killed on the earth."

Chapter 19

¹ After these things I heard what sounded like a loud voice of a large number of people in heaven calling out,

"Hallelujah!

Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God.

² His judgments are true and just,

for he has judged the great prostitute

who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality.

He has avenged the blood of his servants

from her hand."

³ They spoke a second time:

"Hallelujah!

The smoke rises from her forever and ever."

⁴ The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God, who was seated on the throne. They were saying,

"Amen. Hallelujah!"

⁵ Then a voice came out from the throne, saying,

"Praise our God,

all you his servants,

you who fear him,

both the unimportant and the powerful."

⁶ Then I heard what sounded like the voice of a great number of people, like the roar of many waters, and like mighty crashes of thunder, saying,

"Hallelujah!

For the Lord reigns, our God, the Almighty.

⁷ Let us rejoice and be glad

and give him the glory!

For the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come,

and his bride has made herself ready.

⁸ She was permitted to be dressed

in bright and clean fine linen"

(for fine linen is the righteous acts of God's holy people).

⁹ The angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." He also said to me, "These are true words of God." ¹⁰ I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, "Do not do this! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold the testimony about Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony about Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."

¹¹ Then I saw heaven open, and I looked and there was a white horse. The one riding it is called faithful and true. It is with justice that he judges and wages war. ¹² His eyes are like a fiery flame, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but himself. ¹³ He is clothed with a robe that was dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.

¹⁴ The armies of heaven were following him on white horses, dressed in fine linen, white and clean. ¹⁵ Out of his mouth goes a sharp sword with which he strikes down the nations, and he will rule them with an iron rod. He tramples in the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. ¹⁶ He has a name written on his robe and on his thigh: "King of kings and Lord of lords."

¹⁷ I saw an angel standing in the sun. He called out in a loud voice to all the birds flying overhead, "Come, gather together for the great feast of God. ¹⁸ Come eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of commanders, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, the unimportant and the powerful."

¹⁹ I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies. They were assembling in order to wage war with the one who rode the horse and with his army. ²⁰ The beast was captured and with him the false prophet who performed the signs in his presence. With these signs he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and who worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur.

²¹ The rest of them were killed by the sword that came out of the mouth of the one who rode on the horse. All the birds ate their dead flesh.

Chapter 20

¹ Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven. He had the key to the bottomless pit, and he had a great chain in his hand. ² He took hold of the dragon, the old serpent, which is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. ³ He threw him into the bottomless pit. He shut it and sealed it over him. This was so that he would not deceive the nations anymore until the thousand years were over. After that, he must be set free for a short amount of time.

⁴ Then I saw thrones. Seated on them were those who had been given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony about Jesus and for the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image, and they had refused to receive the mark on their forehead or hand. They came to life, and they reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

⁵ The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. ⁶ Blessed and holy is anyone who takes part in the first resurrection! Over these the second death has no power. They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

⁷ When the thousand years come to an end, Satan will be released from his prison. ⁸ He will go out to deceive the nations at the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to bring them together for the battle. They will be as many as the sand of the sea.

⁹ They went up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's holy people—the beloved city. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. ¹⁰ The devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

¹¹ Then I saw a great white throne and the one who is seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled away from his presence, but there was no place for them to go. ¹² I saw the dead—the mighty and the unimportant—standing before the throne, and the books were opened. Then another book was opened—the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what was recorded in the books, according to their deeds.

¹³ The sea gave up the dead who were in it. Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and the dead were judged according to their deeds. ¹⁴ Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. ¹⁵ If anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

Chapter 21

¹ Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, that came down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

³ I heard a great voice from the throne saying, "Look! The dwelling place of God is with human beings, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and he will be their God. ⁴ He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, or grieving, or crying, or pain. The former things have passed away.

⁵ The one who was seated on the throne said, "Look! I make all things new." He said, "Write this down because these words are trustworthy and true." ⁶ He said to me, "These things are done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who thirsts I will give drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.

⁷ The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God, and he will be my son. ⁸ But as for the cowards, the faithless, the detestable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. That is the second death."

⁹ One of the seven angels came to me, the one who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues, and he said, "Come here. I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." ¹⁰ Then he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God.

¹¹ Jerusalem had the glory of God, and its brightness was like a very precious jewel, like a stone of crystal-clear jasper. ¹² It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel. ¹³ On the east were three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates.

¹⁴ The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵ The one who spoke with me had a measuring rod made of gold to measure the city, its gates, and its wall.

¹⁶ The city was laid out in a square; its length was the same as its width. He measured the city with the measuring rod, twelve thousand stadia in length (its length, width, and height were the same). ¹⁷ He also measured its wall, 144 cubits thick by human measurement (which is also the angel's measure).

¹⁸ The wall was built of jasper and the city of pure gold, like clear glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the wall were adorned with every kind of precious stone. The first was jasper, the second was sapphire, the third was agate, the fourth was emerald, ²⁰ the fifth was onyx, the sixth was carnelian, the seventh was chrysolite, the eighth was beryl, the ninth was topaz, the tenth was chrysoprase, the eleventh was jacinth, and the twelfth was amethyst.

²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls; each of the gates was made from a single pearl. The streets of the city were pure gold, like transparent glass. ²² I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

²³ The city had no need of the sun or the moon in order to shine on it because the glory of God shone on it, and its lamp is the Lamb. ²⁴ The nations will walk by the light of that city. The kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. ²⁵ Its gates will not be shut during the day, and there will be no night there.

²⁶ They will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it, ²⁷ but nothing unclean will ever enter into it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Chapter 22

¹ Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, clear as crystal. It was flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb ² through the middle of the city's street. On each side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, and it bears its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.

³ There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night; they will have no need for the light of a lamp or sunlight because the Lord God will shine on them. They will reign forever and ever.

⁶ The angel said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants what must happen soon." ⁷ "Look! I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who obeys the words of the prophecy of this book."

⁸ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing me these things. ⁹ He said to me, "Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you, with your brothers the prophets, and with those who obey the words of this book. Worship God!"

¹⁰ Then he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. ¹¹ The one who is unrighteous, let him continue to do unrighteousness. The one who is morally filthy, let him continue to be morally filthy. The one who is righteous, let him continue to do what is righteous. The one who is holy, let him continue to be holy."

¹² "Look! I am coming soon. My reward is with me, to pay back each one according to his deeds. ¹³ I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

¹⁴ Blessed are those who wash their robes so that they will have the right to eat from the tree of life and to enter the city through the gates. ¹ ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

¹⁶ I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star."

¹⁷ The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come!" Let the one who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come, and whoever desires it, let him freely have the water of life.

¹⁸ I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written about in this book. ¹⁹ If anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are written about in this book. ²

²⁰ The one who testifies to these things says, "Yes! I am coming soon." Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen. ³

¹Instead of, Blessed are those who wash their robes, some ancient copies of the Greek text read, Blessed are those who do his commandments .

²Some older copies read God will take away his share in the Book of Life and in the holy city that are written about in this book .

³Some ancient copies of the Greek text or ancient translations of the Greek text add the phrase: be with you holy people or be with all you holy people or be with all of his holy people .

Genesis

Capítulo 1

¹ No princípio, Deus criou os céus e a terra. A terra era sem forma e vazia. ² Havia escuridão sobre a face do abismo, e o Espírito de Deus Se movia sobre a superfície das águas.

³ Deus disse: "Haja luz". E houve luz. ⁴ E Deus viu que a luz era boa; então, separou a luz da escuridão. ⁵ Deus chamou a luz dia e chamou a escuridão noite. Houve manhã e anoitecer, o primeiro dia.

⁶ E Deus disse: "Que haja firmamento entre as águas, e haja separação entre águas e águas". ⁷ E Deus fez o firmamento e separou as águas que estavam debaixo do firmamento das águas que estavam em cima do firmamento. E assim aconteceu. ⁸ E Deus chamou o firmamento de céus. Houve manhã e anoitecer, o segundo dia.

⁹ E Deus disse: "Ajuntem-se as águas debaixo do céu, num só lugar, e apareça porção seca". E assim aconteceu. ¹⁰ Deus chamou a porção seca de terra e, ao ajuntamento das águas, de mares. E Deus viu que isso era bom.

¹¹ E Deus disse: "Produza a terra vegetação, plantas que deem sementes e árvores frutíferas que deem frutos, conforme a sua espécie, cuja semente esteja no fruto". E assim aconteceu. ¹² A terra produziu vegetação, plantas que davam semente, segundo a sua espécie, e árvores frutíferas cuja semente estava no seu fruto. E Deus viu que isso era bom. ¹³ Houve manhã e anoitecer, o terceiro dia.

¹⁴ Deus disse: "Haja luzeiros no firmamento dos céus para separar o dia da noite; que sirvam como sinais para estações, dias e anos. ¹⁵ Que sejam luzeiros no firmamento dos céus para iluminar a terra". E assim aconteceu.

¹⁶ Deus fez dois grandes luzeiros: o maior para governar o dia e o menor para governar a noite. Também fez as estrelas. ¹⁷ Deus os colocou no firmamento dos céus para iluminar a terra, ¹⁸ para governar o dia e a noite e separar a luz da escuridão. E Deus viu que isso era bom. ¹⁹ Houve manhã e anoitecer, o quarto dia.

²⁰ Deus disse: "Que haja multidões de criaturas vivas nas águas, e que as aves voem por cima da terra, abaixo do firmamento dos céus". ²¹ Deus criou os grandes animais marinhos e todos os seres viventes que se movem e que povoam as águas, segundo as suas espécies; e todas as aves, segundo as suas espécieis. E Deus viu que isso era bom.

²² E Deus os abençoou, dizendo: "Sede frutíferos, multiplicai-vos e enchei as águas dos mares. Que as aves multipliquem-se na terra". ²³ Houve manhã e anoitecer, o quinto dia.

²⁴ E Deus disse: "Que a terra produza seres viventes, cada um de acordo com sua própria espécie: animais domésticos, animais selvagens e os demais seres vivos da terra; cada um de acordo com a sua própria espécie. E assim aconteceu". ²⁵ Deus fez os animais selvagens da terra, conforme a sua espécie, os animais de criação, conforme a sua espécie, e os demais seres vivos da terra, conforme a sua espécie. Ele viu que isso era bom.

²⁶ E disse Deus: "Façamos o homem à Nossa imagem, conforme a Nossa semelhança. Que ele exerça domínio sobre os peixes do mar, sobre as aves dos céus, sobre todos os animais de criação, sobre toda a terra e sobre todos os seres vivos que rastejam sobre a terra". ¹ ²⁷ Deus criou, então, o homem a Sua imagem, à imagem de Deus o criou; macho e fêmea Deus os criou.

²⁸ Deus os abençoou e lhes disse: "Sede frutíferos e multiplicai-vos, enchei a terra e subjugai-a. Dominai sobre todos os peixes do mar, sobre as aves dos céus e sobre todo ser vivente que rasteja pela terra". ²⁹ Deus disse: "Eis que vos tenho dado todas as plantas que dão semente que estão sobre a face de toda a terra e todas as árvores que dão frutos com semente; elas vos servirão de alimento.

³⁰ Para todos os animais selvagens da terra, para todas as aves dos céus, para todos os seres vivos que rastejam pela terra, e para todas as criaturas que têm fôlego de vida, toda planta verde lhes será por alimento". E assim aconteceu. ³¹ E viu Deus tudo quanto fizera, e eis que isso era muito bom. Houve manhã e anoitecer, o sexto dia.

¹Algumas cópias antigas trazem: ... sobre os animais domésticos, sobre todos os animais da terra, e sobre todos os répteis que rastejam sobre a terra .

Capítulo 2

¹ Assim foram concluídos os céus e a terra e tudo que neles há. ² No sétimo dia, Deus terminou o trabalho que tinha feito e, naquele dia, Ele descansou. ³ E Deus abençoou o sétimo dia e o santificou, porque nele descansou de toda a obra que havia criado.

⁴ São essas as origens dos céus e da terra, quando foram criados. Quando Deus Yahweh fez os céus e a terra, ⁵ ainda não havia nenhum arbusto no campo e nenhuma planta havia brotado, porque Deus Yahweh não havia feito chover sobre a terra e não havia nenhum homem para trabalhar no solo. ⁶ Mas uma neblina subia da terra e regava toda a superfície do solo.

⁷ Então, Deus Yahweh formou o homem do pó da terra, soprou-lhe nas narinas o fôlego de vida e o homem se tornou um ser vivente. ⁸ Deus Yahweh plantou um jardim na direção do oriente, no Éden, e lá colocou o homem que Ele havia formado.

⁹ Do solo, Deus Yahweh fez brotar todo tipo de árvores agradáveis à vista e boa para o alimento. Isso incluía a árvore da vida, que estava no meio do jardim, e a árvore do conhecimento do bem e do mal. ¹⁰ Um rio saía do Éden, regava o jardim e dali se dividia e se transformava em quatro rios.

¹¹ O nome do primeiro é Pisom. Esse é o que rodeia a terra de Havilá, onde há ouro. ¹² O ouro dessa terra é bom. Ali existe também bdélio e a pedra de ônix.

¹³ O nome do segundo rio é Giom. Esse percorre toda a terra de Cuxe. ¹⁴ O nome do terceiro rio é Tigre. Esse é o que corre pelo oriente da Assíria. O quarto rio é o Eufrates.

¹⁵ Deus Yahweh tomou o homem e o colocou dentro do jardim do Éden para que ele o guardasse e o cultivasse. ¹⁶ Deus Yahweh ordenou ao homem, dizendo: "De toda árvore deste jardim, tu poderás comer livremente. ¹⁷ Mas, da árvore do conhecimento do bem e do mal, tu não poderás comer, porque, no dia em que dela comeres, certamente morrerás.

¹⁸ Então, Deus Yahweh disse: "Não é bom que o homem esteja só. Far-lhe-ei uma auxiliadora que lhe seja idônea". ¹⁹ Havendo, pois, Deus Yahweh formado da terra todos os animais do campo e todas as aves dos céus, então, Ele os trouxe ao homem para ver como lhes chamaria. E o nome que o homem desse a cada ser vivo, esse seria seu nome. ²⁰ O homem deu nome para todos os animais domésticos, para todos os pássaros dos céus, para todas as feras do campo. Mas, para o homem, não se achava uma auxiliadora que lhe fosse idônea.

²¹ Deus Yahweh fez cair um sono profundo sobre o homem, e ele adormeceu. Deus Yahweh pegou uma de suas costelas e fechou o lugar com carne. ²² Com a costela que Deus Yahweh havia tirado do homem, Ele fez a mulher e a levou a Adão. ²³ E o homem disse: "Esta agora é osso dos meus ossos, e carne da minha carne. Ela será chamada 'mulher', porque do homem foi tirada".

²⁴ Por isso, deixará o homem seu pai e sua mãe, e se unirá à sua mulher, e eles serão uma só carne. ²⁵ Os dois estavam nus, o homem e sua mulher, mas não se envergonhavam.

Capítulo 3

¹ Ora, a serpente era mais astuta que qualquer outro animal que Yahweh Deus criou. E ela perguntou à mulher: "Deus realmente disse: 'Vós não devereis comer de nenhuma árvore do jardim?'". ² A mulher disse para a serpente: "Podemos comer do fruto das árvores do jardim, ³ mas não podemos comer o fruto da árvore que está no meio do jardim; pois Deus disse: 'Não deveis comer dele, não deveis tocar nele, ou morrereis'".

⁴ A serpente disse para a mulher: "Certamente, não morrereis, ⁵ porque Deus sabe que, no dia em que dele comerdes, vossos olhos se abrirão, e sereis como Deus, conhecendo o bem e o mal". ⁶ Quando a mulher viu que aquela árvore era boa para comer, agradável aos olhos e desejável para dar conhecimento, pegou o fruto, comeu-o, deu ao seu marido e ele comeu.

⁷ Os olhos dos dois se abriram e eles perceberam que estavam nus; costuraram folhas de figueira e fizeram vestimentas para si. ⁸ Eles ouviram a voz de Yahweh Deus, que estava caminhando pelo jardim no frescor do dia. Então, o homem e sua mulher se esconderam da presença de Yahweh Deus entre as árvores do jardim.

⁹ Yahweh Deus chamou o homem e lhe disse: "Onde tu estás?". ¹⁰ E o homem disse: "Ouvi a Tua voz no jardim e fiquei com medo, porque eu estava nu; então, me escondi". ¹¹ Deus disse: "Quem te disse que estavas nu? Comeste da árvore que Eu disse que não deverias comer?".

¹² O homem respondeu: "A mulher que Tu me deste me deu do fruto da árvore e eu comi". ¹³ Yahweh Deus disse para a mulher: "Que fizeste?". A mulher respondeu: "A serpente me enganou e eu comi".

¹⁴ Yahweh Deus disse à serpente: "Porque fizeste isso, tu serás maldita entre todos os animais domésticos e todos os animais selvagens. Rastejarás sobre teu ventre e comerás poeira pelo resto da tua vida. ¹⁵ Porei inimizade entre ti e a mulher e entre teu descendente e o descendente dela. Ele ferirá tua cabeça e tu ferirás seu calcanhar".

¹⁶ E à mulher disse: "Multiplicarei grandemente tua dor ao dar à luz; é na dor que tu irás ter filhos. Teu desejo será para teu marido, mas ele governará sobre ti".

¹⁷ E, ao homem, disse: "Porque ouviste a voz da tua mulher e comeste do fruto da árvore que te ordenei, dizendo: 'Não comerás dela', a terra será amaldiçoada por tua causa, trabalharás duramente para poder comer dela, todos os dias de tua vida. ¹⁸ Ela produzirá espinhos e ervas daninhas e tu comerás das plantas do campo. ¹⁹ Do suor da tua face, comerás o pão, até retornares à terra de onde tu foste tirado. Porque tu és pó e ao pó retornarás'".

²⁰ O homem chamou a sua mulher de Eva, porque ela era a mãe de todos os seres vivos. ²¹ Yahweh Deus fez vestimentas de peles para Adão e sua esposa e os vestiu.

²² Yahweh Deus disse: "Agora o homem se tornou como um de nós, conhecendo o bem e o mal. Não permitirei que ele tome da árvore da vida e dela coma e viva para sempre". ²³ Por isso, Yahweh Deus o lançou fora do jardim do Éden, para cultivar a terra da qual foi tirado. ²⁴ Então, Deus expulsou o homem, pôs os querubins a leste do jardim do Éden e uma espada flamejante que se revolvia por todos os lados, a fim de proteger o caminho da árvore da vida.

Capítulo 4

¹ Adão teve relações com Eva, sua mulher. Ela concebeu e deu à luz Caim. Ela disse: "Eu tive um filho homem com ajuda de Deus Yahweh". ² Então, ela deu à luz seu irmão Abel. Abel tornou-se um pastor de ovelhas, mas Caim lavrava a terra.

³ Passado algum tempo, Caim trouxe alguns frutos da terra e os ofereceu a Deus Yahweh. ⁴ E Abel trouxe as primícias e gorduras do seu rebanho. Yahweh Se agradou de Abel e de sua oferta, ⁵ mas Ele não se agradou de Caim e da sua oferta. Assim, Caim ficou muito furioso e com o semblante caído.

⁶ Yahweh disse para Caim: "Por que tu estás furioso e por que teu semblante está caído? ⁷ Se tu procederes como é correto, não serás aceito? Porém, se tu não procederes como é correto, o pecado espreita à porta e deseja te controlar, mas precisas dominá-lo".

⁸ Caim falou para Abel, seu irmão: "Vamos ao campo". Enquanto eles estavam no campo, Caim levantou-se contra Abel, seu irmão, e o matou. ⁹ Então, Yahweh disse para Caim: "Onde está Abel, teu irmão?". Ele disse: "Eu não sei. Sou eu o guardador do meu irmão?".

¹⁰ Yahweh disse: "O que fizeste? Do solo, a voz do sangue do teu irmão está clamando a Mim. ¹¹ Agora és maldito pelo solo que escancarou a sua boca para receber o sangue do teu irmão que está em tuas mãos. ¹² Quando tu trabalhares, o solo não vai produzir. Serás um fugitivo e errante pela terra".

¹³ Caim disse a Yahweh: "Minha punição é maior do que eu posso suportar. ¹⁴ De fato, hoje Tu me expulsas deste solo e eu ficarei afastado da Tua presença. Eu serei um fugitivo e errante pela terra; e quem comigo encontrar, poderá matar-me. ¹⁵ E disse-lhe Yahweh: "Qualquer que matar Caim será vingado sete vezes". Então, Yahweh colocou um sinal sobre Caim, para que não fosse morto por quem o encontrasse.

¹⁶ Retirou-se Caim da presença de Yahweh e viveu na terra de Node, a leste do Éden. ¹⁷ Caim conheceu sua mulher, que concebeu e deu à luz Enoque. Caim edificou uma cidade e pôs o nome de seu filho Enoque.

¹⁸ De Enoque, nasceu Irade. Irade gerou Meujael. Meujael gerou Metusael. Metusael gerou Lameque. ¹⁹ Lameque tomou para si duas esposas: o nome de uma era Ada e o nome da outra era Zila.

²⁰ Ada deu à luz Jabal. Ele foi o pai daqueles que habitam em tendas e possuem gado. ²¹ Seu irmão chamava-se Jubal. Ele foi o pai daqueles que tocam harpa e flauta. ²² Zila também teve um filho, Tubal-Caim, fabricante de ferramentas de bronze e ferro. A irmã de Tubal-Caim era Naamá.

²³ Lameque disse para suas esposas: "Ada e Zila, escutai a minha voz, mulheres de Lameque; ouvi as minhas palavras, pois eu matei um homem por ferir-me, um jovem rapaz por pisar-me. ²⁴ Se Caim é vingado sete vezes, Lameque será vingado setenta e sete vezes".

²⁵ Tornou Adão a ter relações com sua mulher e ela gerou outro filho, a quem pôs o nome de Sete; e ela disse: "Deus me deu outro filho no lugar de Abel, pois Caim o matou". ²⁶ De Sete, também nasceu um filho e ele lhe deu o nome de Enos. Foi nesse tempo em que as pessoas começaram a invocar o nome de Yahweh.

Capítulo 5

¹ Este é o registro dos descendentes de Adão. No dia em que Deus criou o homem, Ele os fez à Sua própria semelhança. ² Ele criou o homem e a mulher, abençoou-os e os chamou de humanos quando foram criados.

³ Adão viveu cento e trinta anos, gerou um filho à sua semelhança, conforme a sua imagem e o chamou de Sete. ⁴ Depois que Adão teve Sete, viveu oitocentos anos e gerou filhos e filhas. ⁵ Adão viveu novecentos e trinta anos; e morreu.

⁶ Sete viveu cento e cinco anos e gerou Enos. ⁷ Depois que teve Enos, Sete viveu oitocentos e sete anos e gerou filhos e filhas. ⁸ Sete viveu novecentos e doze anos; e morreu.

⁹ Enos viveu noventa anos e gerou Quenã. ¹⁰ Depois que teve Quenã, Enos viveu oitocentos e quinze anos e gerou filhos e filhas. ¹¹ Enos viveu novecentos e cinco anos; e morreu.

¹² Quenã viveu Setenta anos e gerou Maalalel. ¹³ Depois que teve Maalalel, Quenã viveu oitocentos e quarenta anos e gerou filhos e filhas. ¹⁴ Quenã viveu novecentos e dez anos; e morreu.

¹⁵ Maalalel viveu sessenta e cinco anos e gerou Jarede. ¹⁶ Depois que teve Jarede, Maalalel viveu oitocentos e trinta anos e gerou filhos e filhas. ¹⁷ Maalalel viveu oitocentos e noventa e cinco anos; e morreu.

¹⁸ Jarede viveu cento e sessenta e dois anos e gerou Enoque. ¹⁹ Depois que teve Enoque, Jarede viveu oitocentos anos e gerou filhos e filhas. ²⁰ Jarede viveu novecentos e sessenta e dois anos; e morreu.

²¹ Enoque viveu sessenta e cinco anos e gerou Matusalém. ²² Enoque andou com Deus. Depois que teve Matusalém, Enoque viveu trezentos anos e gerou filhos e filhas. ²³ Enoque viveu trezentos e sessenta e cinco anos. ²⁴ Andou Enoque com Deus e desapareceu da terra, porque Deus o tomou.

²⁵ Matusalém viveu cento e oitenta e sete anos e gerou Lameque. ²⁶ Depois que teve Lameque, Matusalém viveu setecentos e oitenta e dois anos e gerou filhos e filhas. ²⁷ Matusalém viveu novecentos e sessenta e nove anos; e morreu.

²⁸ Lameque viveu cento e oitenta e dois anos e gerou um filho, ²⁹ a quem chamou Noé, dizendo: "Este nos consolará de nossas obras e do penoso trabalho de nossas mãos, causado pela terra que Yahweh amaldiçoou".

³⁰ Lameque viveu quinhentos e noventa e cinco anos depois que gerou Noé e gerou filhos e filhas. ³¹ Lameque viveu setecentos e setenta e sete anos; e morreu.

³² Noé viveu quinhentos anos e gerou Sem, Cam e Jafé.

Capítulo 6

¹ E aconteceu que, quando os homens começaram a se multiplicar sobre a terra e nasceram suas filhas, ² os filhos de Deus viram que as filhas dos homens eram atraentes e tomaram para si como esposas todas que lhes agradaram. ³ E Yahweh disse: "Meu espírito não permanecerá para sempre no homem, pois é carne, e os seus dias serão cento e vinte anos".

⁴ Gigantes estavam na terra, naqueles dias e também depois. Isso aconteceu porque os filhos de Deus casaram com as filhas dos homens, e eles tiveram filhos com elas, os quais foram homens valentes, homens de renome.

⁵ Yahweh viu que grande maldade havia nos homens sobre a terra e que toda inclinação dos pensamentos de seus corações era continuamente má. ⁶ E Yahweh Se lamentou por ter feito o homem na terra e isso entristeceu Seu coração.

⁷ Então, Yahweh disse: "Eu vou extinguir da face da terra o homem que criei; tanto a humanidade, quanto os animais maiores, as coisas rastejantes e as aves dos céus, pois lamento de tê-los criado". ⁸ Mas Noé encontrou favor aos olhos de Yahweh.

⁹ Estes são os eventos concernentes a Noé. Ele era um homem justo, íntegro entre as pessoas da sua época e andava com Deus. ¹⁰ Noé se tornou pai de três filhos: Sem, Cam e Jafé.

¹¹ A terra estava corrompida perante Deus e estava cheia de violência. ¹² Deus viu a terra e ela estava corrompida, toda a carne havia corrompido o seu caminho sobre a terra.

¹³ Deus disse a Noé: "Eu vejo que é tempo de pôr um fim em toda a carne, pois a terra está cheia da violência dos homens. De fato, vou destruí-los juntamente com a terra. ¹⁴ Faze para ti mesmo uma arca de madeira de cipreste. Faze compartimentos na arca e reveste-a com piche por dentro e por fora. ¹⁵ Esta é a forma com que irás fazer: o comprimento da arca será de trezentos côvados, a sua largura de cinquenta côvados e sua altura de trinta côvados.

¹⁶ Farás um teto para a arca e finalizarás com um côvado do topo da lateral. Porás uma porta na lateral da arca. Farás pavimentos: um embaixo, um segundo e um terceiro. ¹⁷ Ouve: Eu trarei um dilúvio sobre a terra, para destruir toda carne que tem fôlego de vida debaixo do céu. Tudo o que está na terra morrerá.

¹⁸ Mas eu firmarei uma aliança contigo. Tu irás para dentro da arca, teus filhos, tua esposa e as esposas de teus filhos contigo. ¹⁹ De toda criatura viva, de toda carne, tu deves trazer para dentro da arca dois de cada espécie, macho e fêmea, para mantê-los vivos contigo:

²⁰ das aves conforme suas espécies, dos animais maiores conforme suas espécies, de cada coisa rastejante do chão conforme suas espécies, dois de cada tipo virão a ti, para mantê-los vivos. ²¹ Armazena todo tipo de comida, pois servirá de sustento para ti e para eles. ²² Então, Noé fez dessa forma. De acordo com tudo o que Deus mandou, ele fez.

Capítulo 7

¹ Yahweh disse a Noé: "Vai para a arca, tu e toda a tua família, porque Eu vi que és justo diante de Mim nesta geração. ² De cada animal puro, trarás contigo sete machos e sete fêmeas; e, dos animais que não são puros, um casal, o macho e sua fêmea. ³ Também, das aves do céu, trarás sete machos e sete fêmeas, para preservar a sua espécie sobre toda a face da terra.

⁴ Porque, em sete dias, farei chover sobre toda a terra quarenta dias e quarenta noites. Destruirei da superfície da terra todas as coisas vivas que criei". ⁵ Noé fez tudo o que Yahweh havia ordenado.

⁶ Noé tinha seiscentos anos quando o dilúvio veio sobre a terra. ⁷ Noé entrou na arca com seus filhos e sua mulher e as mulheres de seus filhos, por causa das águas do dilúvio.

⁸ Os animais puros e os impuros, as aves, e tudo que rasteja sobre a terra, ⁹ de dois em dois, macho e fêmea, foram a Noé e entraram na arca, como Deus havia ordenado a Noé. ¹⁰ Sucedeu que, depois de sete dias, as águas inundaram a superfície da terra.

¹¹ Quando Noé tinha seiscentos anos, aos dezessete dias do segundo mês, romperam-se todas as fontes do grande abismo, e as comportas do céu se abriram. ¹² A chuva começou a cair e encheu a terra por quarenta dias e quarenta noites.

¹³ Nesse mesmo dia, entrou na arca Noé e seus filhos Sem, Cam e Jafé, a esposa de Noé e as três mulheres de seus filhos. ¹⁴ E, com eles, todo animal selvagem, segundo a sua espécie, todo animal de criação, segundo a sua espécie, todo animal que rasteja sobre a terra, toda ave, conforme a sua espécie, toda criatura que tem asa.

¹⁵ Dois de cada carne que tem o sopro de vida vieram para Noé e entraram na arca. ¹⁶ Os animais que entraram eram macho e fêmea; e entraram como Deus havia ordenado. Então, Yahweh fechou a porta.

¹⁷ E veio o dilúvio sobre a terra, por quarenta dias, e as águas aumentaram e levantaram a arca da terra. ¹⁸ As águas cobriram completamente a terra, e a arca flutuou sobre a superfície das águas.

¹⁹ As águas se avolumaram mais e mais sobre a terra e cobriram completamente até as montanhas mais altas que havia debaixo do céu. ²⁰ As águas sobressaíram quinze côvados acima do topo das montanhas.

²¹ Todos os seres vivos que se moviam sobre a terra morreram: os pássaros, os animais domésticos, os animais selvagens, tudo que rasteja sobre a terra, e toda a humanidade. ²² Todos os seres cujas narinas respiravam o sopro de vida e todos em terra seca morreram.

²³ Então, todos os seres vivos sobre a superfície da terra foram extintos, desde os humanos até os animais maiores, os rastejantes e os pássaros no céu. Todos eles foram extintos da terra. E restaram somente Noé e aqueles que com ele estavam dentro da arca. ²⁴ As águas prevaleceram sobre a terra por cento e cinquenta dias.

Capítulo 8

¹ Deus lembrou-se de Noé, de todos os animais selvagens e de todos os animais domésticos que estavam com ele na arca. Deus fez soprar um vento sobre a terra, e as águas começaram a recuar. ² As fontes do abismo e as comportas do céu fecharam-se, e parou de chover. ³ As águas recuavam continuamente sobre a terra. Depois de cento e cinquenta dias, as águas tinham diminuído consideravelmente.

⁴ A arca parou no sétimo mês, no décimo sétimo dia, sobre as montanhas de Ararate. ⁵ As águas continuaram a recuar até o décimo mês. No primeiro dia do décimo mês, os picos das montanhas apareceram.

⁶ Sucedeu que, ao final de quarenta dias, Noé abriu a janela da arca que ele havia feito ⁷ e soltou o corvo, que ia e voltava, até que as águas se secaram sobre a terra.

⁸ Então, ele enviou uma pomba para ver se as águas haviam recuado sobre a face da terra, ⁹ mas a pomba não encontrou lugar onde pousar. Então, ela retornou para Noé na arca, porque as águas ainda cobriam toda a terra. Ele estendeu sua mão, segurou-a e a trouxe para dentro da arca com ele.

¹⁰ Ele esperou outros sete dias e novamente soltou a pomba para fora da arca. ¹¹ A pomba retornou para ele ao entardecer, e eis que ela trazia no bico uma folha de oliveira recém colhida. ¹² Assim, Noé soube que as águas tinham diminuído sobre a terra. Ele esperou ainda outros sete dias e soltou a pomba novamente. Ela não retornou mais para ele.

¹³ Sucedeu que, no primeiro dia do primeiro mês do ano seiscentos e um, as águas secaram sobre a terra. Noé removeu a cobertura da arca, olhou para fora e eis que a face da terra estava seca. ¹⁴ No segundo mês, no vigésimo sétimo dia, a terra estava seca.

¹⁵ Deus disse a Noé: ¹⁶ "Sai da arca, tu e tua mulher, teus filhos e as mulheres de teus filhos contigo. ¹⁷ Faz sair toda criatura viva de toda carne, tanto aves como animais de criação e todo animal rastejante que se arrasta sobre a terra, para que eles possam se reproduzir, frutificar e multiplicar sobre a terra".

¹⁸ Então, Noé saiu com seus filhos, sua mulher e as mulheres de seus filhos. ¹⁹ Todas as criaturas vivas: as aves, os animais de criação, os animais selvagens e todo animal rastejante, conforme as suas famílias, deixaram a arca.

²⁰ Noé construiu um altar para Yahweh. Ele tomou alguns dos animais limpos e alguns passáros limpos e ofereceu holocaustos sobre o altar. ²¹ Yahweh sentiu o aroma suave e disse em Seu coração: "Eu não tornarei a amaldiçoar a terra por causa do homem, apesar das intenções do seu coração serem más desde a infância, e nem tornarei a destruir todo vivente, como Eu acabo de fazer. ²² Enquanto a terra permanecer, semeadura e colheita, frio e calor, verão e inverno, dia e noite não cessarão".

Capítulo 9

¹ E Deus abençoou Noé e seus filhos e lhes disse: "Frutificai, multiplicai-vos e enchei a terra. ² O pavor e o medo de vós estarão sobre todo animal vivente da terra, sobre toda ave do céu, sobre tudo o que rasteja pelo chão e sobre todos os peixes do mar. Todos foram entregues a vossa mão.

³ Tudo quanto se move e vive vos servirá de alimento. Assim como vos dei os vegetais, agora vos dou todas as coisas. ⁴ Contudo, não comereis carne com a vida nela, ou seja, com o sangue dentro dela.

⁵ Certamente, Eu requererei o vosso sangue, o sangue da vossa vida; Eu o requererei de cada animal. Também da mão de cada homem que assassinou seu irmão, Eu requererei pela vida do homem. ⁶ Qualquer que derramar sangue de um homem terá seu sangue derramado pelo homem, porque Deus fez o homem à Sua imagem. ⁷ Quanto a vós, sede fecundos e multiplicai-vos; povoai a terra e multiplicai-vos nela".

⁸ Então, Deus falou com Noé e seus filhos, dizendo: ⁹ "Eis que Eu estabelecerei a Minha aliança convosco, com a vossa descendência depois de vós ¹⁰ e com cada ser vivente que estiver convosco: tanto as aves, os animais de criação e os animais selvagens que saíram da arca, como todo ser vivente da terra.

¹¹ Estabelecerei Minha aliança convosco, que nunca mais será destruída toda carne por águas de dilúvio. Nunca mais haverá dilúvio para destruir a terra". ¹² Deus disse: "Este é o sinal da Minha aliança que faço entre Mim e vós e todos os seres viventes que estão convosco, para as futuras gerações. ¹³ Eu coloquei o Meu arco nas nuvens e este será o sinal da aliança entre Mim e a terra.

¹⁴ E acontecerá que, quando Eu trouxer nuvens sobre a terra e nelas aparecer o arco, ¹⁵ recordarei da Minha aliança firmada entre Mim e vós e todos os seres viventes de toda carne. E não haverá mais as águas de dilúvio para destruir toda carne.

¹⁶ O arco estará nas nuvens e Eu o verei e Me lembrarei da aliança entre Deus e todos os seres viventes de toda carne que há sobre a terra". ¹⁷ Depois, Deus disse a Noé: "Este é o símbolo da aliança que Eu estabeleci, entre Eu e todas as criaturas na terra".

¹⁸ Os filhos de Noé que saíram da arca eram Sem, Cam e Jafé. Cam era o pai de Canaã. ¹⁹ São eles os três filhos de Noé e deles toda a terra foi povoada.

²⁰ Nóe começou a cultivar a terra e plantou uma vinha. ²¹ Bebeu vinho e se embriagou. Ele ficou nu em sua tenda.

²² Cam, o pai de Canaã, viu a nudez de seu pai e saiu para contar aos seus dois irmãos. ²³ Então, Sem e Jafé pegaram uma capa e colocaram-na sobre os próprios ombros e, andando de costas, cobriram a nudez de seu pai. Seus rostos estavam voltados para trás, para que não vissem a nudez de seu pai.

²⁴ Quando Noé despertou de sua embriaguez, soube o que seu filho mais novo havia feito a ele. ²⁵ Então, disse: "Maldito seja Canaã. Ele será servo dos servos de seus irmãos".

²⁶ E também disse: "Que Yahweh, o Deus de Sem, seja bendito, e Canaã seja seu servo. ²⁷ Que Deus engrandeça Jafé e habite ele nas tendas de Sem. E que Canaã seja seu servo".

²⁸ Depois do dilúvio, Noé viveu trezentos e cinquenta anos. ²⁹ Todos os dias de Noé foram novecentos e cinquenta anos, depois ele morreu.

Capítulo 10

¹ Estas são as gerações dos filhos de Noé: Sem, Cam e Jafé; seus filhos nasceram depois do dilúvio.

² Os filhos de Jafé foram: Gomer, Magogue, Madai, Javã, Tubal, Meseque e Tiras. ³ Os filhos de Gomer foram: Asquenaz, Rifate e Togarma. ⁴ Os filhos de Javã foram: Elisá, Társis, Quitim e Dodanim. ⁵ Os descendentes de Javã repartiram entre si as terras do litoral, e, então, ocuparam-nas segundo a sua própria língua, de acordo com as suas famílias e nações.

⁶ Os filhos de Cam foram: Cuxe, Mizraim, Pute e Canaã. ⁷ Os filhos de Cuxe foram: Seba, Havilá, Sabtá, Raamá e Sabtecá. Os filhos de Raamã foram: Sabá e Dedã.

⁸ Cuxe gerou a Ninrode, o qual foi o primeiro a ser poderoso na terra. ⁹ Ele foi um poderoso caçador diante de Yahweh. Por isso que é dito: "Como Ninrode, um poderoso caçador diante de Yahweh". ¹⁰ As principais cidades do seu reino foram Babel, Ereque, Acade e Calné, na terra de Sinar.

¹¹ Daquela terra, ele partiu para a Assíria e edificou Nínive, Reobote-Ir, Calá ¹² e Resém entre Nínive e Calá. Essa era uma grande cidade. ¹³ Mizraim gerou a Ludim, a Anamim, a Leabim, a Naftuim, ¹⁴ a Patrusim, a Casluim (de onde saíram os filisteus) e a Caftorim.

¹⁵ Canaã gerou Sidom, seu primogênito, e Hete, ¹⁶ também gerou o jebuseu, o amorreu, o girgaseu, ¹⁷ o heveu, o arqueu, o sineu, ¹⁸ o arvadeu, o zemareu e o hamateu. Depois, as famílias dos cananeus se espalharam.

¹⁹ O território dos cananeus era de Sidom, em direção a Gerar, até Gaza; indo em direção a Sodoma, Gomorra, Admã e Zeboim, até Lasa. ²⁰ Esses foram os descendentes de Cam com suas famílias, suas línguas, e em suas terras e suas nações.

²¹ Sem, antepassado de todos os filhos de Héber e irmão mais velho de Jafé, também gerou filhos. ²² Os filhos de Sem foram: Elão, Assur, Arfaxade, Lude e Arã. ²³ Os filhos de Arã foram: Uz, Hul, Geter e Más.

²⁴ Arfaxade gerou a Selá; e Selá gerou Éber. ²⁵ Éber gerou dois filhos. O nome do primeiro foi Pelegue, porque nesses dias a terra foi dividida. O nome de seu irmão foi Joctã.

²⁶ Joctã gerou Almodá, Selefe, Hazarmavé, Jerá, ²⁷ Hadorão, Uzal, Dicla, ²⁸ Obal, Abimael, Sabá, ²⁹ Ofir, Havilá e Jobabe. Todos esses foram os filhos de Joctã.

³⁰ O território deles ia desde Messa até Sefar, incluindo montanhas ao Leste. ³¹ Esses foram os descendentes de Sem, segundo as suas famílias e suas línguas, em suas terras, e suas nações.

³² Essas são as famílias dos descendentes de Noé, segundo as suas genealogias, com suas nações. A partir dessas famílias, foram formaradas as nações e se dispersaram sobre toda a terra, depois do dilúvio.

Capítulo 11

¹ O mundo tinha uma só língua e uma só maneira de falar. ² Partindo eles do oriente, acharam uma planície na terra de Sinar e se estabeleceram ali.

³ E disseram uns aos outros: "Vinde, façamos tijolos e queimemo-los completamente". Eles usaram tijolos em vez de pedras, e o piche como argamassa. ⁴ E disseram: "Vinde, construamos uma cidade para nós, uma torre cujo topo alcance o céu, e façamos para nós um nome, a fim de que não nos espalhemos sobre a superfície da terra".

⁵ E desceu Yahweh para ver a cidade e a torre que os filhos dos homens edificaram. ⁶ Yahweh disse: "Eis que todos são um só povo e falam uma só língua. Isso é o que começaram a fazer; agora não haverá restrição alguma para tudo o que intentarem fazer. ⁷ Vinde, desçamos e confundamos ali a sua língua, para que não entendam uns aos outros".

⁸ E Yahweh os espalhou dali sobre toda a superfície da terra; e pararam de edificar a cidade. ⁹ Por isso, foi chamada Babel, porque foi ali que Yahweh confundiu a língua de toda a terra e os espalhou sobre toda a face da terra.

¹⁰ Estas são as gerações de Sem. Ele tinha cem anos de idade, quando gerou Arfaxade, dois anos depois do dilúvio. ¹¹ Sem viveu quinhentos anos depois que gerou Arfaxade; também gerou outros filhos e filhas.

¹² Arfaxade tinha trinta e cinco anos, quando gerou Selá. ¹³ Depois que gerou Selá, Arfaxade viveu quatrocentos e três anos; também gerou outros filhos e filhas.

¹⁴ Selá tinha trinta anos quando gerou Éber. ¹⁵ Selá viveu quatrocentos e três anos depois que gerou Éber; também gerou outros filhos e filhas.

¹⁶ Éber tinha trinta e quatro anos quando gerou Pelegue. ¹⁷ Éber viveu quatrocentos e trinta anos depois que gerou Pelegue; também gerou outros filhos e filhas.

¹⁸ Pelegue tinha trinta anos, quando gerou Reú. ¹⁹ Pelegue viveu duzentos e nove anos depois que gerou Reú; também gerou outros filhos e filhas.

²⁰ Reú tinha trinta e dois anos quando gerou Serugue. ²¹ Reú viveu duzentos e sete anos depois que gerou Serugue; também gerou outros filhos e filhas.

²² Serugue tinha trinta anos quando gerou Naor. ²³ Serugue viveu duzentos anos depois que gerou Naor; também gerou outros filhos e filhas.

²⁴ Naor tinha vinte e nove anos quando gerou Terá. ²⁵ Naor viveu cento e dezenove anos depois que gerou Terá. ²⁶ Terá tinha setenta anos quando gerou Abrão, Naor e Harã.

²⁷ Estes são os descendentes de Terá. Terá gerou Abrão, Naor e Harã; e Harã gerou Ló. ²⁸ Harã morreu na presença do seu pai Terá, na terra de seu nascimento, em Ur dos caldeus.

²⁹ Abrão e Naor tomaram mulheres para si. O nome da mulher de Abrão era Sarai e o nome da mulher de Naor era Milca; esta era filha de Harã, que foi pai de Milca e de Iscá. ³⁰ Sarai era estéril: não tinha filhos.

³¹ Terá tomou seu filho Abrão e Ló, filho de seu filho, e a Sarai, sua nora, mulher de seu filho Abrão. E juntos deixaram Ur dos caldeus para ir à terra de Canaã. ³² Foram até Harã e se estabeleceram ali. Terá viveu duzentos e cinco anos e depois morreu em Harã.

Capítulo 12

¹ Então, Yahweh disse a Abrão: "Sai da tua terra, e do meio dos teus parentes, e da casa de teu pai, para a terra que Eu te mostrarei. ² E farei de ti uma grande nação, te abençoarei, farei teu nome grande e tu serás uma bênção. ³ Eu abençoarei os que te abençoarem e amaldiçoarei os que te amaldiçoarem. Através de ti, todas as famílias da terra serão abençoadas".

⁴ E foi Abrão como Yahweh havia lhe dito que fizesse, e Ló foi com ele. Abrão tinha setenta e cinco anos quando partiu de Harã. ⁵ Levou consigo Sarai, sua mulher, e Ló, filho de seu irmão, e toda sua riqueza e as pessoas que havia adquirido em Harã. Eles saíram para a terra de Canaã e lá chegaram.

⁶ Abrão atravessou a terra até Siquém para o carvalho de Moré. Naquele tempo, os cananeus habitavam na terra. ⁷ Yahweh apareceu para Abrão e disse: "Eu darei esta terra para os teus descendentes". Então, Abrão edificou um altar para Yahweh, Aquele que lhe havia aparecido.

⁸ De lá, ele mudou-se para a montanha ao leste de Betel, onde armou sua tenda; estando Betel ao oeste e Ai, ao leste. Lá ele edificou um altar para Yahweh e invocou pelo Seu nome. ⁹ Então, Abrão partiu dali em direção ao Neguebe.

¹⁰ E houve fome na terra. Então, Abrão desceu até o Egito para ali ficar, pois a fome era severa na terra. ¹¹ E aconteceu que, quando ele estava se aproximando do Egito, disse para Sarai, sua mulher: "Vê, eu sei que tu és mulher formosa. ¹² Quando os egípcios te virem, dirão: 'Esta é a mulher dele'; irão matar-me e te manterão viva. ¹³ Dize, pois, que és minha irmã e assim estarei bem, graças a ti, e minha vida será poupada por tua causa".

¹⁴ Aconteceu que, quando Abrão entrou no Egito, os egípcios viram que Sarai era mulher muito formosa. ¹⁵ Os oficiais do Faraó a viram, elogiaram-na diante do Faraó e a mulher foi levada para a casa do Faraó. ¹⁶ Ele tratou bem a Abrão por causa dela e lhes deu ovelhas, bois, jumentos, servos e servas, jumentas e camelos.

¹⁷ Então, Yahweh afligiu a Faraó e a sua casa com grandes pragas, por causa de Sarai, mulher de Abrão. ¹⁸ Faraó chamou Abrão e disse: "O que é isto que fizeste? Por que não me relataste que ela é tua mulher? ¹⁹ Por que me disseste que ela é tua irmã, de modo que a tomei para ser minha mulher? Agora, pois, aqui está a tua mulher, toma-a e segue teu caminho. ²⁰ Então, Faraó deu ordens a seus homens a respeito dele, e levaram-no embora, junto com sua esposa e com tudo o que possuía".

Capítulo 13

¹ Então, Abrão subiu do Egito para o Neguebe. Ele, sua mulher e tudo o que tinha. Ló também foi com ele. ² Abrão era muito rico: possuía gado, prata e ouro.

³ Ele continuou sua jornada de Neguebe para Betel, até o lugar onde sua tenda já esteve antes, entre Betel e Ai. ⁴ Esse é o lugar onde estava o altar que ele havia construído anteriormente, e ali Abrão invocou o nome de Yahweh.

⁵ Nessa época, Ló, que acompanhava Abrão, também possuía rebanhos e tendas. ⁶ A terra não era suficiente para sustentá-los, pois os seus bens eram muitos, de modo que não podiam viver juntos. ⁷ Houve contenda entre os pastores dos rebanhos de Abrão e os pastores dos rebanhos de Ló. Nesse tempo, os cananeus e os ferezeus habitavam essa terra.

⁸ Disse Abrão a Ló: "Que não haja contenda entre mim e ti, nem entre os meus pastores e os teus pastores, pois somos irmãos. ⁹ Não está diante de ti toda a terra? Peço-te que te apartes de mim. Se fores para a esquerda, então, irei para a direita. Ou se fores para a direita, irei para a esquerda".

¹⁰ Então, Ló olhou ao redor e viu que todo o vale do Jordão era bem irrigado por todo o caminho até Zoar; era como o jardim de Yahweh, como a terra do Egito. Isso foi antes de Yahweh destruir Sodoma e Gomorra. ¹¹ Assim, Ló escolheu para si todo o vale do Jordão e partiu para o Oriente, e se separaram um do outro.

¹² Abrão habitou na terra de Canaã, e Ló, nas cidades do vale, armando suas tendas até Sodoma. ¹³ Ora, os homens de Sodoma eram extremamente maus e grandes pecadores contra Yahweh.

¹⁴ Yahweh disse a Abrão, após Ló ter se separado dele: "Ergue os teus olhos e olha desde o lugar onde estás para o norte, para o sul, para o oriente e para o ocidente. ¹⁵ Toda esta terra que vês, Eu darei a ti e aos teus descendentes para sempre.

¹⁶ E farei tua descendência tão numerosa quanto o pó da terra, de modo que, se alguém pudesse contar o pó da terra, então, tua descendência também poderia ser contada. ¹⁷ Levanta-te, percorre esta terra no seu comprimento e largura, pois para ti a darei". ¹⁸ Então, Abrão desarmou suas tendas e habitou perto dos carvalhos de Manre, situados no Hebrom, onde edificou um altar a Yahweh.

Capítulo 14

¹ Nos dias de Anrafel, rei de Sinar, de Arioque, rei de Elasar, de Quedorlaomer, rei de Elão e de Tidal, rei de Goim, ² estes fizeram uma guerra contra Bera, rei de Sodoma, Birsa, rei de Gomorra, Sinabe, rei de Admá, Semeber, rei de Zeboim e o rei de Belá (também chamada de Zoar).

³ Esses últimos cinco reis ajuntaram-se no vale de Sidim (também chamado de Mar Salgado). ⁴ Durante doze anos, haviam servido Quedorlaomer, mas, no décimo terceiro ano, rebelaram-se. ⁵ Depois do décimo quarto ano, Quedorlaomer e os reis que estavam com ele foram e atacaram os refains em Asterote-Carnaim, os zuzins em Hão, os emins em Savé-Quiriataim ⁶ e os horeus de seu monte Seir até El-Parã, próximo ao deserto.

⁷ Depois eles retornaram e foram para En-Mispate (também chamado de Cades), e conquistaram a terra dos amalequitas e também dos amorreus, que viviam em Hazazom-Tamar. ⁸ Em seguida, o rei de Sodoma, o rei de Gomorra, o rei de Admá, o rei de Zeboim e o rei de Belá (também chamado de Zoar) deslocaram-se e prepararam-se para a batalha no vale de Sidim ⁹ contra Quedorlaomer, rei de Elão, Tidal, rei de Goim, Anrafel, rei de Sinar, Arioque, rei de Elasar: quatro reis contra cinco.

¹⁰ O vale de Sidim estava cheio de poços de piche, e os reis de Sodoma e Gomorra fugiram e caíram lá. Aqueles que estavam à esquerda fugiram para as montanhas. ¹¹ Então, os inimigos tomaram todos os bens e provisões de Sodoma e Gomorra e se foram. ¹² Eles tomaram também Ló, juntamente com suas posses. Ló era filho do irmão de Abrão e vivia em Sodoma.

¹³ Um que havia escapado foi e contou a Abrão, o hebreu; este estava habitando junto aos carvalhos que pertenciam a Manre, o amorreu, irmão de Escol e de Aner, os quais eram todos aliados de Abrão. ¹⁴ Quando Abrão ouviu que seus inimigos haviam capturado seu parente, liderou seus trezentos e dezoito homens treinados, nascidos em sua casa, e os perseguiu até Dã.

¹⁵ Ele dividiu seus homens e atacou os inimigos à noite, perseguindo-os até Hobá, ao norte de Damasco. ¹⁶ Assim, ele trouxe de volta todas as suas posses e também trouxe de volta seu parente Ló e seus bens, assim como as mulheres e as outras pessoas.

¹⁷ Depois que Abrão retornou do ataque a Quedorlaomer e aos reis que estavam com ele, o rei de Sodoma saiu para encontrá-lo no vale de Savé (também chamado de Vale do Rei). ¹⁸ Melquisedeque, rei de Salém, trouxe pão e vinho. Ele era sacerdote do Deus Altíssimo.

¹⁹ Ele abençoou Abrão, dizendo: "Bendito seja Abrão pelo Deus Altíssimo, Criador dos céus e da terra. ²⁰ Bendito seja o Deus Altíssimo, que entregou os teus inimigos em tuas mãos". Então, Abrão deu-lhe um décimo de tudo.

²¹ O rei de Sodoma disse a Abrão: "Dá-me o povo e toma os bens para ti". ²² Abrão disse ao rei de Sodoma: "Eu levanto minhas mãos a Yahweh, Deus Altíssimo, Criador dos céus e da terra, ²³ que eu não tomarei nem uma linha, uma correia de sandália ou qualquer coisa que te pertença, para que nunca possas dizer: 'Eu enriqueci a Abrão'. ²⁴ Eu não levarei nada, exceto o que esses jovens já comeram. E, quanto à parte dos homens que vieram comigo, Aner, Escol e Manre, que eles peguem as suas porções".

Capítulo 15

¹ Depois disso, falou Yahweh a Abrão, numa visão, dizendo: "Não temas, Abrão! Eu Sou teu escudo e tua recompensa será grande". ² Abrão respondeu: "Senhor Yahweh, o que me darás, pois continuo sem filho, e o meu herdeiro será Eliézer de Damasco?". ³ E acrescentou Abrão: "Tu não me deste descendente e o mordomo da minha casa será o meu herdeiro".

⁴ Então, veio a ele a palavra de Yahweh, dizendo: "Esse não será o teu herdeiro, mas aquele que será gerado por ti será o teu herdeiro". ⁵ E o Senhor o conduziu para fora e disse: "Olha para o céu e conta as estrelas, se puderes". E lhe disse: "Assim será a tua descendência".

⁶ Abrão creu em Yahweh e isso lhe foi atribuído como justiça. ⁷ E disse Yahweh: "Eu Sou Yahweh, que te fez sair de Ur dos caldeus, para te dar esta terra por herança". ⁸ Perguntou-lhe Abrão: "Senhor Yahweh, como vou saber que a herdarei?".

⁹ Respondeu-lhe: "Traz-Me uma novilha, uma cabra e um carneiro, cada um com três anos de idade, um pombo e uma rolinha". ¹⁰ Ele trouxe os animais, cortou-os ao meio e colocou cada parte em frente à outra, porém não cortou as aves. ¹¹ As aves de rapina desciam sobre as carcaças e Abrão as afugentava.

¹² Quando o sol se pôs, caiu um sono profundo sobre Abrão, pavor e grande escuridão o cercaram. ¹³ Então, disse Yahweh a Abrão: "Sabes, com certeza, que teus descendentes serão peregrinos em uma terra que não lhes pertence. Serão escravizados e oprimidos por quatrocentos anos.

¹⁴ Mas Eu julgarei a nação à qual haverão de servir; depois sairão com abundantes riquezas. ¹⁵ Tu, porém, irás em paz aos teus pais e serás sepultado em boa velhice. ¹⁶ Na quarta geração, eles voltarão para cá, porque a iniquidade dos amorreus ainda não atingiu seu limite".

¹⁷ Depois que o sol se pôs e já estava escuro, uma fornalha fumegante e uma tocha de fogo passaram por entre as metades dos animais. ¹⁸ Naquele dia, Yahweh fez uma aliança com Abrão, dizendo: "À tua descendência dei esta terra, desde o rio do Egito até ao grande rio Eufrates: ¹⁹ o queneu, o quenezeu, o cadmoneu, ²⁰ o heteu, o perizeu, os refains, ²¹ o amorreu, o cananeu, o girgaseu e o jebuseu".

Capítulo 16

¹ No entanto, Sarai, esposa de Abrão, não gerou nenhum filho para ele, mas ela tinha uma escrava egípcia, cujo nome era Agar. ² Então, disse Sarai a Abrão: "Eis que Yahweh tem me impedido de ter filhos. Dorme com a minha escrava. Pode ser que eu tenha filhos através dela". Abrão deu ouvidos à palavra de Sarai. ³ Então, Sarai, a esposa de Abrão, deu a sua escrava egípcia, Agar, como mulher ao seu marido. Isso aconteceu dez anos depois de Abrão ter habitado na terra de Canaã. ⁴ Ele teve relação sexual com Agar, e ela concebeu; e quando percebeu que estava grávida, olhou com desprezo sua senhora.

⁵ Então, Sarai disse a Abrão: "Essa injúria sobre mim é por tua causa. Eu dei minha escrava em tuas mãos e, quando se viu grávida, ela me tratou com desprezo. Deixa Yahweh julgar entre mim e ti". ⁶ Mas Abrão disse a Sarai: "Eis que tua escrava está sob teu poder, faze a ela o que te parecer melhor". Assim, Sarai a tratou com dureza e Agar fugiu de sua presença.

⁷ O Anjo de Yahweh a encontrou junto a uma fonte de águas no deserto, no caminho de Sur. ⁸ Ele disse: "Agar, escrava de Sarai, de onde vens e para onde vais?". E ela disse: "Eu estou fugindo de minha senhora, Sarai".

⁹ O Anjo de Yahweh lhe disse: "Retorna para a tua senhora e humilha-te à sua autoridade". ¹⁰ Disse mais o Anjo de Yahweh: "Eu multiplicarei grandemente a tua descendência, e será tão numerosa, que não poderão contá-la".

¹¹ O Anjo de Yahweh também lhe disse: Eis que estás grávida e darás à luz um filho, a quem chamarás de Ismael, pois Yahweh te ouviu na tua aflição. ¹² Ele será, entre os homens, como um jumento selvagem. Ele será hostil a todos, e todo homem lhe será hostil; e como oponente viverá diante dos seus irmãos".

¹³ Então, Agar chamou de Yahweh Aquele que falara com ela: "Tu És o Deus que me vê", pois ela disse: "Teria eu realmente visto aqui Aquele que me vê?". ¹⁴ Por isso, chamou o poço de Beer-Laai-Roi, que está entre Cades e Berede.

¹⁵ Agar deu um filho a Abrão e Abrão chamou de Ismael ao filho que Agar lhe dera. ¹⁶ Tinha Abrão oitenta e seis anos quando Agar deu à luz Ismael.

Capítulo 17

¹ Quando Abrão tinha noventa e nove anos, Yahweh apareceu a Abrão e lhe falou: "Eu sou O Deus Onipotente. Anda na Minha presença e sê perfeito. ² Então, Eu confirmarei Minha aliança contigo e te multiplicarei grandemente".

³ Abrão prostou-se com o rosto em terra e Deus falou-lhe, dizendo: ⁴ "Quanto a Mim, esta é a Aliança que faço contigo: Tu serás pai de muitas nações. ⁵ Não mais te chamarás Abrão, mas teu nome será Abraão — porque te constituí para ser pai de uma multidão de nações. ⁶ Farei que sejas extraordinariamente fecundo, de ti farei nações e reis descenderão de ti.

⁷ Estabelecerei Minha aliança entre Mim e ti e com a tua descendência, a qual perdurará através de todas as gerações como aliança eterna, para que Eu seja o teu Deus e O de toda a tua descendência. ⁸ A ti e a tua descendência darei a terra onde tu tens peregrinado, toda a terra de Canaã como uma posse eterna e Eu serei vosso Deus".

⁹ Ainda disse Deus a Abraão: "Quanto a ti, guarda Minha aliança, tu e a tua descendência por todas as gerações vindouras. ¹⁰ Esta é a Minha aliança, a qual tens que manter entre Mim e ti e a tua descendência: Todo homem dentre vós deve ser circuncidado. ¹¹ Circuncidarás a carne do vosso prepúcio e este será o sinal da aliança entre Mim e vós.

¹² Todo homem entre vós, da idade de oito dias, deve ser circuncidado, por todas as vossas gerações. Isso inclui todo aquele que é nascido em vossa casa, aquele que é comprado e qualquer estrangeiro que não for dos vossos descendentes. ¹³ Aquele que for nascido em vossa casa e que for comprado com vosso dinheiro deverá ser circuncidado. Assim, Minha aliança estará marcada em vossa carne como aliança eterna. ¹⁴ Qualquer incircunciso que não for circuncidado na carne de seu prepúcio será eliminado de vosso povo, pois ele quebrou Minha aliança".

¹⁵ Deus disse a Abraão: "Quanto a Sarai, tua mulher, não a chame mais de Sarai. Em vez disso, seu nome será Sara. ¹⁶ Eu a abençoarei e te darei um filho por meio dela. Eu a abençoarei e ela se tornará a mãe de nações. Reis de povos virão por meio dela".

¹⁷ Então, Abraão se prostrou com o rosto em terra, riu e disse em seu coração: "Pode uma criança nascer de um homem de cem anos? Como pode Sara, que tem noventa anos gerar um filho?". ¹⁸ Abraão disse para Deus: "Que Ismael viva diante de ti!".

¹⁹ Disse Deus: "Não, porém Sara, tua mulher, te dará um filho, e tu o chamarás Isaque. Estabelecerei Minha aliança com ele, como aliança perpétua e com a sua descendência. ²⁰ Quanto a Ismael, Eu tenho te escutado. Eis que Eu o abençoarei, farei ele fecundo e o multiplicarei abundantemente. Ele será pai de doze líderes de tribos, e Eu farei dele uma grande nação. ²¹ Porém Minha aliança estabelecerei com Isaque, aquele o qual Sara dará a ti nesta mesma época do próximo ano".

²² Quando terminou de falar com ele, Deus retirou-se da presença de Abraão. ²³ Então, Abraão tomou seu filho Ismael e todos aqueles que nasceram em sua casa, todo homem entre os homens da casa de Abraão e os circuncidou na carne do prepúcio no mesmo dia, como Deus lhe havia dito.

²⁴ Abraão tinha noventa e nove anos, quando lhe foi circuncidada a carne do prepúcio. ²⁵ E Ismael, seu filho, tinha treze anos quando lhe foi circuncidada a carne do prepúcio. ²⁶ No mesmo dia, Abraão e seu filho Ismael foram circuncidados. ²⁷ Todos os homens da sua casa foram circuncidados com ele, incluindo aqueles que nasceram em sua casa e aqueles estrangeiros que foram comprados com dinheiro.

Capítulo 18

¹ Yahweh apareceu a Abraão nos carvalhais de Manre, quando ele estava sentado à entrada da tenda, no maior calor do dia. ² Eis que Abraão olhou para cima e viu três homens de pé, à sua frente. Quando os avistou, correu de onde estava para encontrá-los e prostou-se em terra.

³ Ele disse: "Senhor, se encontrei favor aos Teus olhos, não passes de Teu servo. ⁴ Mandarei trazer um pouco de água; lavai os pés e descansai debaixo da árvore. ⁵ Trarei um pouco de pão; refazei as vossas forças, porque chegaste até o vosso servo e depois seguireis adiante". E responderam: "Faz como disseste".

⁶ Então, Abraão rapidamente entrou na tenda e falou com Sara: "Apressa-te, pega três medidas de farinha fina, amassa-as e faz bolos". ⁷ Então, Abraão correu ao seu rebanho, pegou um bezerro novo e bom e entregou-o a seu servo, que se apressou em prepará-lo. ⁸ Pegou coalhada, leite e o bezerro que havia sido preparado, serviu-lhes e permaneceu em pé diante deles, enquanto comiam debaixo da árvore.

⁹ Eles perguntaram a Abraão: "Onde está tua mulher, Sara?" Ele respondeu: "Está ali na tenda". ¹⁰ E disse: "Certamente voltarei a ti em um ano, e tua mulher, Sara, terá um filho". Sara estava escutando à entrada da tenda, atrás dele.

¹¹ Abraão e Sara estavam velhos, com a idade bem avançada; além disso, Sara já havia passado da idade de gerar filhos. ¹² Então, Sara riu e falou para si mesma: "Terei eu prazer depois de idosa, sendo meu senhor também já velho?".

¹³ Yahweh disse a Abraão: "Por qual motivo Sara ri e diz: 'Poderei eu ter um filho, sendo idosa?'; ¹⁴ Haveria alguma coisa difícil demais para Yahweh? Daqui a um ano, no tempo determinado, retornarei a ti e Sara terá um filho". ¹⁵ Então, Sara negou e disse: "Eu não ri", pois ela teve medo. Ele retrucou: "Não! Tu riste".

¹⁶ Então, os homens levantaram-se dali e olharam na direção de Sodoma. Abraão foi junto com eles para encaminhá-los. ¹⁷ E Yahweh disse: "Eu Esconderei de Abraão o que estou prestes a fazer, ¹⁸ visto que ele será uma grande e poderosa nação, e todas as nações da terra serão abençoadas nele? ¹⁹ Porque Eu o escolhi para que ordene seus filhos e sua descedência a permanecerem nos caminhos de Yahweh, para praticarem a justiça e o juízo, e para que Yahweh cumpra o que disse a Abraão".

²⁰ Então, Yahweh disse: "O clamor de Sodoma e Gomorra tornou-se grande, e a transgressão deles se agravou muito; ²¹ descerei agora e verei se, de fato, tudo o que têm feito corresponde ao clamor que tem chegado a Mim. Caso contrário, saberei".

²² Então, os homens viraram e foram em direção a Sodoma, mas Abraão permaneceu perante Yahweh. ²³ Abraão se aproximou e disse: "Acaso destruirás o justo com o corrupto?

²⁴ Se houver cinquenta justos na cidade, destruirás e não pouparás o lugar por causa dos cinquenta justos que estão ali? ²⁵ Longe de Ti fazer tal coisa, matar o justo com o corrupto, como se o justo fosse igual ao corrupto. Longe de Ti! Acaso o Juiz de toda terra não fará o que é justo?". ²⁶ Yahweh disse: "Se Eu encontrar em Sodoma cinquenta justos, pouparei a cidade toda por causa deles".

²⁷ E respondeu Abraão: "Eis que me atrevo a falar ao Senhor, embora seja somente pó e cinza. ²⁸ E, se de cinquenta justos faltarem cinco, destruirás a cidade inteira por causa dos cinco?". E disse: "Não destruirei, se ali encontrar quarenta e cinco".

²⁹ Abraão disse novamente: "O que acontecerá se encontrares quarenta ali?". Ele respondeu: "Não o farei por causa dos quarenta". ³⁰ Ele disse: "Por favor, não fiques bravo o Senhor por eu falar novamente. E se forem encontrados trinta, ali?". Ele disse: "Não o farei, se encontrar trinta ali". ³¹ E disse: "Não fiques bravo o Senhor, falarei ainda esta vez. E se forem encontrados vinte, ali?". Ele respondeu: "Não destruirei por causa dos vinte".

³² E disse: "Por favor, não fiques bravo o Senhor, falarei ainda esta vez. E se forem encontrados dez ali?". Ele respondeu: "Não os destruirei por causa dos dez". ³³ Yahweh continuou Seu caminho assim que terminou de falar com Abraão, e este retornou para sua casa.

Capítulo 19

¹ Os dois anjos vieram para Sodoma à noite, enquanto Ló estava sentado no portão de Sodoma. Ló os viu, levantou-se, foi ao encontro deles e se prostrou com seu rosto voltado para o chão. ² Ele disse: "Por favor, meus senhores, eu insisto que entreis na casa do vosso servo, para passar a noite e lavar vossos pés. Então, podereis levantar cedo e seguir o vosso caminho". Eles disseram: "Não, nós passaremos a noite na praça da cidade". ³ Mas ele insistiu com eles fortemente, então, eles foram com ele e entraram em sua casa. Ele preparou a comida, assou pães sem fermento e eles comeram.

⁴ Mas, antes que eles se deitassem, todos os homens de Sodoma cercaram a casa, desde os jovens até os velhos, toda a população, até o último. ⁵ Eles chamaram Ló e lhe disseram: "Onde estão os homens que vieram a ti esta noite? Trazei-os até nós para que possamos dormir com eles".

⁶ Então, Ló saiu e fechou a porta atrás de si. ⁷ Ele disse: "Eu imploro, meus irmãos, que não vos porteis de maneira tão perversa. ⁸ Vede, eu tenho duas filhas que nunca dormiram com homem algum. Eu as trarei para fora e vós fareis com elas o que bem quiserdes. Mas a esses homens nada façais porque eles estão sob a sombra da minha casa".

⁹ Eles disseram: "Sai daí!". Disseram também: "Este veio para viver aqui como estrangeiro e agora se tornou nosso juiz! Agora nós iremos fazer mais mal a ti do que a eles!". Eles pressionaram fortemente contra o homem, contra Ló, e se aproximaram para derrubar a porta.

¹⁰ Mas os visitantes estenderam as mãos, alcançaram Ló e o trouxeram para dentro da casa e fecharam a porta. ¹¹ Quanto aos homens que estavam do lado de fora da casa, os hóspedes de Ló, os atacaram deixando-os cegos, do menor ao maior, de modo que eles ficaram exaustos de tanto procurar a entrada da casa.

¹² Então, os dois homens disseram a Ló: "Há mais alguém aqui? Genros, filhos, filhas e qualquer um que tu conheças aqui na cidade, tire-os daqui. ¹³ Porque vamos destruir este lugar, pois as acusações contra este lugar têm chegado como um grito diante de Yahweh e Ele nos enviou para destruí-lo".

¹⁴ Ló saiu e falou com os seus genros, os homens que tinham prometido casar com as suas filhas e lhes disse: "Rápido, saí desse lugar pois Yahweh está prestes a destruir a cidade". Mas, para os seus genros, ele parecia estar brincando. ¹⁵ Ao amanhecer, os anjos apressaram Ló dizendo: "Vai, toma a tua mulher e as tuas filhas que estão aqui para que não pereças no castigo da cidade".

¹⁶ Porém, como ele se demorava, os homens o pegaram pela mão, bem como sua mulher e suas filhas, porque Yahweh foi misericordioso para com ele. Eles os trouxeram para fora e os colocaram fora da cidade. ¹⁷ E aconteceu que, enquanto eles os traziam para fora, um dos homens disse: "Foge pela tua vida! Não olhes para trás, nem te detenhas em qualquer lugar na planície. Foge para as montanhas, para que não pereças".

¹⁸ Ló disse-lhe: "Não, por favor, meus senhores! ¹⁹ Eis que teu servo tem achado graça aos vossos olhos e vós tendes me mostrado grande misericórdia ao salvar a minha vida, mas eu não posso escapar para as montanhas porque a destruição vai me alcançar e eu morrerei. ²⁰ Eis que a cidade ali é perto o suficiente e é pequena. Por favor, permite que eu fuja para lá, (ela não é pequena?) e minha vida estará a salvo".

²¹ Ele lhe disse: "Certo, eu estou concedendo esse pedido também, que eu não destruirei a cidade que tu mencionaste. ²² Apressa-te! Foge para lá, porque não posso fazer nada até que chegues lá". Portanto, a cidade foi chamada Zoar.

²³ O sol já havia nascido sobre a terra quando Ló alcançou Zoar. ²⁴ Então, Yahweh fez chover do céu enxofre e fogo sobre Sodoma e Gomorra. ²⁵ Yahweh destruiu aquelas cidades, toda a planície, todos os habitantes das cidades e as plantas que cresciam no solo.

²⁶ Mas a mulher de Ló, que estava atrás dele, olhou para trás e transformou-se em uma estátua de sal. ²⁷ Abraão levantou-se cedo pela manhã e foi ao lugar onde havia estado antes com Yahweh. ²⁸ Ele olhou para Sodoma e Gomorra e para toda a terra da planície. Olhou e contemplou e viu uma fumaça subindo da terra como uma fumaça de uma fornalha.

²⁹ Então, quando Deus destruiu as cidades de toda a planície, lembrou-se de Abraão e tirou Ló do meio da destruição, quando destruiu as cidades em que Ló havia habitado.

³⁰ Mas Ló subiu de Zoar, para viver nas montanhas com suas filhas, porque estava com medo de viver em Zoar. Então, viveu em uma caverna, ele e as suas filhas.

³¹ A primogênita disse para a mais nova: "Nosso pai está velho e não há nenhum homem por perto para dormir conosco de acordo como o costume de toda a terra. ³² Vem, deixa-me fazer nosso pai beber vinho e assim teremos relações com ele para que possamos conservar a sua descendência". ³³ Elas deram vinho para o pai naquela noite. Então, a primogênita foi e teve relações com o pai; ele não sabia quando ela havia deitado nem levantado.

³⁴ No dia seguinte, a primogênita disse à irmã mais nova: "Eis que, na noite passada, eu tive relações com o meu pai. Vamos lhe dar vinho esta noite também, e tu vai e tenha relações com ele, para que possamos conservar a sua descendência". ³⁵ Então, elas deram vinho para o pai naquele noite e a filha mais nova foi e teve relações com ele. Ele não soube quando ela se deitou, nem quando se levantou.

³⁶ Então, as duas filhas de Ló ficaram grávidas do seu pai. ³⁷ A primogênita deu à luz um menino, a quem chamou Moabe. Ele se tornou o ancestral dos moabitas de hoje. ³⁸ A mais nova também deu à luz um menino, a quem chamou Ben-Ami. Ele se tornou o ancestral dos amonitas de hoje.

Capítulo 20

¹ Abraão partiu dali para a terra do Neguebe e viveu entre Cades e Sur. Ele era um estrangeiro vivendo em Gerar. ² Abraão disse a respeito de sua mulher Sara: "Ela é minha irmã". Então, Abimeleque, o rei de Gerar mandou seus homens buscar Sara e a tomou para si. ³ Mas Deus veio a Abimeleque num sonho, à noite, e lhe disse: "Tu és um homem morto por causa da mulher que tomaste, porque ela tem marido".

⁴ Ora, Abimeleque, que não havia tocado nela, disse: "Senhor, matarás também uma nação justa? ⁵ Não foi ele quem me disse: 'Ela é minha irmã?'. E ela também me disse: 'Ele é o meu irmão'. Fiz isso com integridade no meu coração e na inocência de minhas mãos".

⁶ Então, Deus lhe respondeu no sonho: "Sim, Eu sei que fizestes isso na integridade do teu coração e também te impedi de pecar contra Mim, por isso, não permiti que tu a tocasses. ⁷ Agora, devolva a mulher ao marido dela, pois ele é um profeta e orará por ti e tu viverás. Mas, se tu não a devolveres, morrerás tu e todos os teus".

⁸ Abimeleque levantou-se cedo e chamou todos os servos. Ele contou todas essas coisas aos homens, que ficaram com muito medo. ⁹ Então, Abimeleque chamou Abraão e lhe disse: "O que fizeste a nós? Em que pequei contra ti, para que trouxesses grande pecado sobre mim e meu reino? Fizeste a mim coisa que não se deve fazer".

¹⁰ Disse mais Abimeleque a Abraão: "O que te levou a fazer tais coisas?". ¹¹ Abraão respondeu: "Porque eu dizia comigo mesmo: 'Certamente não há o temor de Deus neste lugar e eles me matarão por causa da minha mulher'. ¹² Além disso, ela é de fato minha irmã, filha do meu pai, mas não é filha da minha mãe; e veio a ser minha mulher.

¹³ Quando Deus me fez sair errante da casa de meu pai, eu disse a Sara: 'Tu deves me mostrar lealdade como minha mulher: Em todo lugar onde formos, dirás sobre mim: Ele é meu irmão'". ¹⁴ Então, Abimeleque pegou ovelhas e gados; escravos e escravas e os deu a Abraão. E lhe devolveu Sara, mulher de Abraão.

¹⁵ Abimeleque disse: "Eis que a minha terra está diante de ti. Habite onde te agradares". ¹⁶ E disse para Sara: "Eis que dei ao teu irmão mil moedas de prata, para reparação da ofensa contra ti, diante de todos os teus; assim, estais completamente justificada perante todos".

¹⁷ E Abraão orou a Deus e Deus curou Abimeleque, sua mulher e suas concubinas, para que pudessem ter filhos. ¹⁸ Porque Yahweh havia tornado estéreis todas as mulheres da casa de Abimeleque, por causa de Sara, mulher de Abraão.

Capítulo 21

¹ Yahweh atentou para Sara, como Ele disse que faria, e fez por ela exatamente como havia prometido. ² Sara concebeu e deu à luz um filho para Abraão em sua velhice, no tempo determinado que Deus havia falado. ³ Abraão chamou seu filho recém-nascido, a quem Sara dera à luz, com o nome de Isaque. ⁴ Abraão circuncidou seu filho Isaque aos oito dias de idade, como Deus havia ordenado.

⁵ Abraão tinha cem anos de idade quando seu filho Isaque nasceu. ⁶ Sara disse: "Deus me fez rir; todos quantos ouvirem rirão comigo". ⁷ E acrescentou: "Quem diria a Abraão que Sara amamentaria filhos? Dei a ele um filho na sua velhice!".

⁸ A criança cresceu e foi desmamada, e Abraão fez um grande banquete no dia em que Isaque foi desmamado. ⁹ Sara viu o filho de Agar, a egípcia que ela havia dado a Abraão, zombando de Isaque.

¹⁰ Então, ela disse a Abraão: "Expulsa essa escrava e seu filho, pois o filho dessa escrava não será herdeiro com meu filho Isaque". ¹¹ Essa palavra desagradou muito a Abraão por causa de seu filho.

¹² Porém, Deus disse a Abraão: "Não fiques triste por causa do rapaz e por causa de sua serva. Escuta as palavras de Sara em tudo o que te diz sobre esse assunto, porque é por meio de Isaque que a tua descendência será chamada. ¹³ Eu também farei do filho da serva uma nação, porque ele é teu descendente".

¹⁴ Abraão se levantou cedo pela madrugada, pegou pão e um odre de água e o deu a Agar, colocando-o em seu ombro. Ele entregou-lhe o menino e despediu-a. Ela partiu e vagou pelo deserto de Berseba. ¹⁵ Quando a água do odre acabou, ela abandonou o menino debaixo de um arbusto. ¹⁶ Então, ela foi e se sentou à distância de um tiro de arco, porque disse: "Não verei a morte do menino". Ela sentou adiante dele, ergueu a voz e chorou.

¹⁷ Deus ouviu a voz do rapaz, e o Anjo de Deus chamou Agar desde o céu e lhe disse: "Que tens, Agar? Não tenhas medo, pois Deus ouviu a voz do rapaz de onde ele está. ¹⁸ Levanta-te, ergue o rapaz e segura-o pela mão, pois farei dele uma grande nação".

¹⁹ Então, Deus abriu seus olhos, e ela viu um poço. Ela foi, encheu o odre de água e deu de beber ao rapaz. ²⁰ Deus era com o rapaz; ele cresceu, viveu no deserto e tornou-se um flecheiro. ²¹ Ele viveu no deserto de Parã, e sua mãe tomou para ele uma mulher da terra do Egito.

²² Naquele tempo, Abimeleque e Ficol, o capitão do seu exército, falaram a Abraão, dizendo: "Deus é contigo em tudo o que fazes. ²³ Agora, portanto, promete-me aqui, por Deus, que não irás tratar falsamente a mim, nem a meu filho, nem a meu neto. Mostra a mim e à terra em que tens estado a mesma benevolência que tenho mostrado a ti". ²⁴ Abraão disse: "Eu prometo".

²⁵ E Abraão reclamou a Abimeleque por causa de um poço de água do qual os servos de Abimeleque tinham se apropriado. ²⁶ Abimeleque disse: "Eu não sei quem fez isso. E também não me contaste isso antes; nunca ouvi falar disso até hoje". ²⁷ Então, Abraão tomou ovelhas e um boi e os deu a Abimeleque, e os dois homens fizeram um acordo.

²⁸ Pôs Abraão à parte sete cordeiras do rebanho. ²⁹ Abimeleque disse a Abraão: "Qual é o significado dessas cordeiras que tu colocaste à parte?". ³⁰ Ele respondeu: "Estas sete cordeiras receberás da minha mão para que possam ser um testemunho de que cavei este poço".

³¹ Então, ele chamou aquele lugar de Berseba, porque ambos fizeram um juramento. ³² Eles fizeram um acordo em Berseba, e Abimeleque e Ficol, o capitão do seu exército, retornaram à terra dos filisteus.

³³ Abraão plantou uma tamargueira em Berseba e ali invocou o nome de Yahweh, o eterno Deus. ³⁴ Abraão permaneceu como um peregrino na terra dos filisteus por muitos dias.

Capítulo 22

¹ Aconteceu que, depois dessas coisas, Deus provou Abraão e disse: "Abraão!" Ele respondeu: "Aqui estou". ² E disse Deus: "Toma teu filho, teu único filho, a quem amas, Isaque, e vai para a terra de Moriá; e oferece-o ali em holocausto, sobre uma das montanhas que Eu te mostrarei". ³ E Abraão se levantou cedo pela manhã, selou seu jumento, tomou dois de seus jovens com ele, juntamente com Isaque, seu filho, e cortou a madeira para o holocausto. Então, partiu em seu jumento para o lugar que Deus havia falado.

⁴ Ao terceiro dia, Abraão ergueu os olhos e viu o lugar de longe. ⁵ Abraão disse para seus jovens: "Ficai aqui com o jumento, e eu e o rapaz iremos até lá. Nós adoraremos e voltaremos a vós". ⁶ Então, Abraão pegou a madeira para o holocausto e a colocou sobre Isaque, seu filho. Tomou o fogo e a faca em suas próprias mãos e seguiram juntos.

⁷ E Isaque disse a seu pai, Abraão: "Meu pai!". Respondeu ele: "Aqui estou eu, meu filho". E disse ele: "Eis aqui o fogo e a madeira, mas onde está o cordeiro para o holocausto?". ⁸ Abraão disse: "Deus proverá para Si o cordeiro para o holocausto, meu filho". E seguiram juntos.

⁹ Quando chegaram ao lugar que Deus havia mostrado, Abraão construiu ali o altar e colocou a madeira sobre ele; amarrou Isaque, seu filho, e o colocou sobre o altar, em cima da madeira. ¹⁰ E, estendendo a mão, pegou a faca para sacrificar seu filho.

¹¹ Então, o Anjo de Yahweh o chamou do céu e disse: "Abraão, Abraão!". E ele respondeu: "Aqui estou". ¹² E o Anjo disse: "Não estendas a mão sobre o rapaz, nem lhe faças mal algum, pois agora sei que temes a Deus, porque não Me negaste teu filho, teu único filho".

¹³ Abraão olhou para cima e viu atrás de si um carneiro preso nos arbustos pelos chifres. Abraão foi, pegou o carneiro e o ofereceu em holocausto no lugar de seu filho. ¹⁴ Abraão chamou aquele lugar: "Yahweh Proverá", sobre o qual se diz até o dia de hoje, "No Monte de Yahweh, haverá provisão".

¹⁵ O Anjo de Yahweh chamou Abraão uma segunda vez, desde o céu, ¹⁶ e disse: "Por Mim jurei, diz Yahweh, porque fizeste assim e não negaste o teu filho, teu único filho, ¹⁷ certamente abençoarei e multiplicarei a tua descendência como as estrelas dos céus e como a areia na praia do mar; e teus descendentes dominarão a cidade de teus inimigos.

¹⁸ Em tua descendência, serão benditas todas as nações da terra, pois tu obedeceste a Minha voz". ¹⁹ Então, Abraão retornou aos seus jovens, eles partiram e foram juntos a Berseba. E ele viveu em Berseba.

²⁰ E aconteceu que, depois dessas coisas, disseram a Abraão: "Milca também deu à luz filhos ao teu irmão Naor: ²¹ Uz, seu primogênito; Buz, seu irmão; Quemuel, pai de Arão; ²² Quesede; Hazo; Pildas; Jidlafe e Betuel".

²³ Betuel gerou a Rebeca. Milca deu à luz esses oito filhos de Naor, irmão de Abraão. ²⁴ A concubina de Naor, cujo nome era Reumá, também deu à luz Teba, Gaão, Taás e Maacá.

Capítulo 23

¹ Sara viveu cento e vinte e sete anos. Esses foram os anos da vida de Sara. ² Sara morreu em Quiriate-Arba, que é Hebrom, na terra de Canaã. Abraão lamentou e chorou por Sara.

³ Então, Abraão se levantou, afastou-se do corpo de sua falecida mulher e falou com os descendentes de Hete, dizendo: ⁴ "Eu sou um estrangeiro entre vós. Por favor, permiti-me adquirir uma área para sepulcro entre vós, para que eu possa sepultar minha falecida mulher".

⁵ Os descendentes de Hete responderam a Abraão, dizendo: ⁶ "Ouve-nos, meu senhor. Tu és um príncipe de Deus entre nós. Sepulta tua mulher na melhor de nossas sepulturas. Nenhum de nós te recusará uma sepultura, para que possas sepultar tua mulher".

⁷ Abraão se levantou, curvou-se diante do povo da terra, os descendentes de Hete, ⁸ e lhes falou dizendo: "Se vós concordardes que eu sepulte minha mulher em vossa terra, então, falai por mim a Efrom, filho de Zoar. ⁹ Pedi a ele que me venda a gruta de Macpela, que lhe pertence, a qual está na extremidade de seu campo; que me conceda pelo devido preço, em herança de sepulcro no meio de vós".

¹⁰ Então, o heteu Efrom, que estava sentado entre os descendentes de Hete, respondeu a Abraão, de modo que ouvissem tanto os heteus como aqueles que haviam vindo pelo portão de sua cidade, dizendo: ¹¹ "Não, meu senhor, ouve-me. Dou-te o campo e a gruta que nele está. Concedo-te na presença dos filhos do meu povo para que sepultes tua mulher".

¹² Então, Abraão se inclinou diante das pessoas daquela terra ¹³ e falou a Efrom, aos ouvidos de todas aquelas pessoas, dizendo: "Se estás de acordo, peço-te que me ouças. Pagarei o preço do campo; recebe-o de mim, e ali sepultarei minha mulher".

¹⁴ Efrom respondeu a Abraão, dizendo: ¹⁵ "Por favor, meu senhor, ouve-me. Um pedaço de campo vale quatrocentos siclos de prata. O que é isso entre mim e ti? Sepulta tua falecida mulher". ¹⁶ Abraão ouviu a Efrom e pesou para ele a quantidade de prata que havia falado aos ouvidos dos descendentes de Hete, quatrocentos siclos de prata, moeda corrente entre os mercadores.

¹⁷ Assim, o campo de Efrom, que estava em Macpela, próximo de Manre, isto é, o campo, a gruta e as árvores que estavam nele e todo o limite ao redor foram transferidos ¹⁸ a Abraão na presença dos descendentes de Hete e diante de todos que entraram pelo portão de sua cidade.

¹⁹ Depois disso, Abraão sepultou Sara, sua mulher, na gruta do campo de Macpela, próximo de Manre, que é Hebrom, na terra de Canaã. ²⁰ Assim, o campo e a gruta foram transferidos a Abraão pelos descendentes de Hete como propriedade de sepultura.

Capítulo 24

¹ Abraão estava velho, com idade bem avançada, e Yahweh abençoou Abraão em todas as coisas. ² Abraão disse ao seu servo, o mais velho de sua casa e encarregado de tudo o que ele tinha: "Coloca tua mão sob minha coxa, ³ e eu te farei jurar por Yahweh, o Deus do céu e o Deus da terra, que tu não tomarás mulher para meu filho das filhas dos cananeus, dentre os quais eu habito. ⁴ Mas tu irás para minha terra e para meus parentes e tomarás uma mulher para meu filho Isaque".

⁵ O servo lhe disse: ⁶ "E se a mulher não estiver disposta a me seguir até esta terra? Devo levar teu filho de volta à terra da qual ele veio?". Abraão lhe disse: "Certifica-te de que tu não leves meu filho de volta! ⁷ Yahweh, o Deus do céu, que me levou da casa do meu pai e da terra dos meus parentes e que me prometeu com um juramento dizendo: 'Para tua descendência, darei esta terra', Ele enviará Seu Anjo antes de ti, e tu tomarás uma mulher para o meu filho lá.

⁸ Mas, se a mulher não quiser te seguir, então, tu estarás livre deste meu juramento. Só não deves levar meu filho de volta". ⁹ Então, o servo colocou sua mão sob a coxa de Abraão, seu senhor, e jurou a ele sobre esse assunto.

¹⁰ O servo pegou dez dos camelos do seu senhor e partiu. Ele também levou consigo todos os tipos de presentes do seu senhor. Levantou-se e partiu para a Mesopotâmia, para a cidade de Naor. ¹¹ Ele fez os camelos se ajoelharem fora da cidade, perto do poço de água, ao entardecer, quando as moças saem para pegar água.

¹² E disse: "Yahweh, Deus do meu senhor Abraão, dá-me hoje bom êxito e faze benevolência para com meu senhor Abraão. ¹³ Eis que aqui estou, na fonte de água, e as filhas dos homens da cidade estão vindo tirar água. ¹⁴ Que aconteça assim. Quando eu disser para uma jovem mulher: 'Por favor, abaixa teu cântaro para que eu possa beber', e ela me disser: 'Bebe, e eu darei de beber aos teus camelos também', então, ela será a que o Senhor designou ao Teu servo Isaque. Assim, saberei que mostraste Tua benevolência para com meu senhor".

¹⁵ E aconteceu que, antes mesmo de ele ter terminado de falar, Rebeca veio com seu cântaro de água em seu ombro. Rebeca era filha de Betuel, filho de Milca, mulher de Naor, irmão de Abraão. ¹⁶ A jovem era de boa aparência, virgem, a quem nenhum homem havia conhecido. Ela foi à fonte, encheu seu cântaro e subiu.

¹⁷ Então, o servo correu para encontrá-la e disse: "Por favor, dá-me um pouco de água do teu cântaro". ¹⁸ Ela disse: "Bebe, meu senhor" e rapidamente abaixou seu cântaro em sua mão e o deu de beber.

¹⁹ Quando ela havia acabado de dar-lhe de beber, disse: "Eu darei água a teus camelos também, até que eles tenham terminado de beber". ²⁰ Então, ela se apressou, esvaziou completamente seu cântaro no bebedouro, correu novamente ao poço para tirar água e tirou água para todos camelos dele.

²¹ O homem observava em silêncio para ver se Yahweh havia tornado próspera sua jornada ou não. ²² E aconteceu que, quando os camelos terminaram de beber, o homem pegou um pendente de ouro, pesando meio siclo, e duas pulseiras para seus braços, pesando dez siclos de ouro ²³ e perguntou: "Tu és filha de quem? Dize-me, por favor, há local na casa do teu pai para passarmos a noite?".

²⁴ Ela lhe disse: "Sou filha de Betuel, filho de Milca, que ela deu a Naor". ²⁵ Ela também lhe disse: "Temos bastante palha e alimento e também local para que possas passar a noite".

²⁶ Então, o homem se curvou e adorou a Yahweh. ²⁷ Ele disse: "Abençoado seja Yahweh, o Deus do meu senhor Abraão, que não abandonou Sua benevolência e Sua confiabilidade para com meu senhor. Quanto a mim, Yahweh me levou diretamente à casa dos parentes de meu senhor".

²⁸ Então, a moça correu e disse à família de sua mãe sobre todas essas coisas. ²⁹ Ora, Rebeca tinha um irmão, e seu nome era Labão. E correu Labão até o homem que estava na estrada, próximo à fonte. ³⁰ Quando ele viu o pendente de ouro e as pulseiras nos braços de sua irmã e tendo ouvido também as palavras de sua irmã Rebeca: "Foi isso que o homem me disse", ele foi até o homem, e este estava próximo aos camelos, na fonte.

³¹ E Labão disse: "Vem, abençoado de Yahweh. Por que estás aí fora? Eu preparei a casa e um lugar para os camelos". ³² Então, o homem foi até a casa e desatou os camelos. Palha e alimento foram dados aos camelos, e água foi providenciada para lavar os pés dele e os pés dos homens que estavam com ele.

³³ Serviram-lhe comida, mas ele disse: "Não comerei até que eu tenha dito o que tenho para dizer". Então, Labão disse: "Fala". ³⁴ Ele disse: "Eu sou servo de Abraão. ³⁵ Yahweh abençoou muito o meu senhor, e ele tem prosperado. Ele deu-lhe ovelhas e bois, prata e ouro, escravos e escravas, camelos e jumentos.

³⁶ Sara, a mulher de meu senhor, já era velha quando gerou um filho para ele. E ele lhe deu tudo o que possuía. ³⁷ Meu senhor me fez jurar, dizendo: 'Não tomarás mulher para meu filho das filhas dos cananeus, dentre os quais eu habito. ³⁸ Em vez disso, tu irás para minha terra e para meus parentes e tomarás uma mulher para meu filho'.

³⁹ Eu disse ao meu senhor: 'Talvez a mulher não me siga'. ⁴⁰ Mas ele me disse: 'Yahweh, diante de quem eu caminho, enviará Seu Anjo contigo, e Ele fará prosperar teu caminho, para que tomes uma mulher para meu filho dentre a minha família e dentre a casa de meu pai. ⁴¹ Mas serás liberto do meu juramento se fores à minha família e eles se recusarem a entregá-la para ti. Só então, serás livre do meu juramento'.

⁴² Então, hoje cheguei junto à fonte e disse: 'Ó Yahweh, Deus do meu senhor Abraão, se assim desejares, dá-me hoje bom êxito na missão que vou fazer. ⁴³ Aqui estou eu, próximo à fonte de água. Faz com que a moça que vier pegar água, aquela a quem eu disser: 'Por favor, dá-me um pouco de água do teu cântaro para que eu beba', ⁴⁴ e a moça disser-me: 'Bebe, e irei também pegar água para teus camelos', que seja a moça que Tu, Yahweh, escolheste para o filho do meu senhor'.

⁴⁵ Mesmo antes de eu terminar de falar no meu coração, Rebeca veio com seu cântaro em seu ombro e desceu à fonte para tirar água. Então, eu lhe disse: 'Por favor, dá-me de beber'. ⁴⁶ Ela rapidamente abaixou cântaro do seu ombro e disse: 'Bebe e também darei água aos teus camelos'. Então, eu bebi e ela deu de beber aos meus camelos também.

⁴⁷ Eu lhe perguntei, dizendo: 'És filha de quem?'. Ela disse: 'Sou filha de Betuel, filho de Naor e Milca'. Então, eu coloquei um pendente em seu nariz e as pulseiras em seus braços. ⁴⁸ Então, curvei-me e adorei a Yahweh, e bendisse a Yahweh, o Deus do meu senhor Abraão, que me conduziu pelo caminho correto para encontrar a filha dos parentes do meu senhor para seu filho.

⁴⁹ Entretanto, se estais preparados para tratar meu senhor como família, fielmente e confiavelmente, dizei-me. Mas senão, dizei-me, para que eu possa tomar o caminho da direita ou da esquerda".

⁵⁰ Então, Labão e Betuel responderam, dizendo: "Isso vem de Yahweh; não podemos falar-te mal ou bem. ⁵¹ Eis que Rebeca está diante de ti. Leva-a e vai, para que ela possa ser a mulher do filho do teu senhor, como Yahweh disse".

⁵² Quando o servo de Abraão ouviu-lhes, prostrou-se ao chão perante Yahweh. ⁵³ O servo trouxe peças de prata e ouro e vestimentas e os deu a Rebeca. Ele também deu presentes preciosos para seu irmão e sua mãe.

⁵⁴ Comeram e beberam ele e os homens que estavam com ele. Passaram a noite lá e, quando se levantaram de manhã, ele disse: "Deixai-me ir para o meu senhor". ⁵⁵ Seu irmão e sua mãe disseram: "Deixa a jovem permanecer conosco por ao menos dez dias. Depois ela pode partir".

⁵⁶ Mas ele lhes disse: "Não me impeçais, já que Yahweh fez meu caminho prosperar. Deixai-me no meu caminho para que eu possa ir até meu senhor". ⁵⁷ Eles disseram: "Chamaremos a jovem e lhe perguntaremos". ⁵⁸ Então, eles chamaram Rebeca e perguntaram: "Irás com este homem?". Ela respondeu: "Irei".

⁵⁹ Então, enviaram sua irmã Rebeca junto com sua ama-de-leite, em sua jornada, com o servo de Abraão e seus homens. ⁶⁰ Eles abençoaram Rebeca e disseram-lhe: "Nossa irmã, que sejas mãe de milhares de dezenas de milhares e que teus descendentes possuam o portão daqueles que os odeiam".

⁶¹ Então, Rebeca se levantou e, junto às suas servas, montou os camelos e seguiu o homem. Logo o servo levou Rebeca e seguiu o seu caminho. ⁶² Ora, Isaque morava no Neguebe e havia acabado de retornar de Beer-Laai-Roi.

⁶³ Isaque foi meditar no campo, ao anoitecer. Quando ele olhou para cima, viu que havia camelos vindo! ⁶⁴ Rebeca olhou e, quando viu Isaque, saltou do camelo e ⁶⁵ disse ao servo: "Quem é aquele homem que está caminhando no campo para encontrar-nos?". O servo disse: "É o meu senhor". Então, ela tomou seu véu e se cobriu.

⁶⁶ O servo contou a Isaque todas as coisas que havia feito. ⁶⁷ Então, Isaque conduziu-a até a tenda de sua mãe, Sara, e tomou a Rebeca, que se tornou sua mulher, e ele a amou. Então, Isaque foi consolado após a morte de sua mãe.

Capítulo 25

¹ Abraão tomou outra mulher; seu nome era Quetura. ² Ela deu à luz Zinrã, Jocsã, Medã, Midiã, Isbaque e Suá. ³ Jocsã tornou-se pai de Seba e Dedã. Os povos Assurim, Letusim e Leumim eram descendentes de Dedã. ⁴ Os filhos de Midiã foram Efá, Efer, Hanoque, Abidá e Eldá. Todos esses eram descendentes de Quetura.

⁵ Abraão deu tudo o que possuía a Isaque. ⁶ No entanto, enquanto era vivo, deu presentes aos filhos de suas concubinas e lhes enviou para a terra ao leste, distante de Isaque, seu filho.

⁷ Estes são os dias dos anos da vida de Abraão: cento e setenta e cinco anos. ⁸ Abraão expirou e morreu em boa velhice, idoso com uma vida plena, e foi reunido ao seu povo.

⁹ Isaque e Ismael, seus filhos, enterraram-no na caverna de Macpela, no campo de Efrom, filho de Zoar, o heteu, perto de Manre. ¹⁰ Abraão havia comprado esse campo dos filhos dos heteus. Ele fora enterrado juntamente com Sara, sua esposa. ¹¹ Logo após sua morte, Deus abençoou Isaque, seu filho, e Isaque viveu perto de Beer-Laai-Roi.

¹² Estes são os descendentes de Ismael, filho de Abraão, o qual Agar, a egípcia, serva de Sara, concedeu a Abraão.

¹³ Estes foram os nomes dos filhos de Ismael, de acordo com a ordem de nascimento: Nebaiote, o primogênito de Ismael, Quedar, Abdeel, Mibsão, ¹⁴ Misma, Dumá, Massá, ¹⁵ Hadade, Tema, Jetur, Nafis e Quedemá. ¹⁶ Esses foram os filhos de Ismael e seus nomes, dados às suas vilas e aos seus acampamentos; doze chefes conforme suas tribos.

¹⁷ Estes são os anos de vida de Ismael: cento e trinta e sete anos. Ele expirou e morreu, e foi reunido ao seu povo. ¹⁸ Eles habitaram desde Havilá até Sur, perto do Egito, como quem vai em direção à Assíria. Eles viviam em hostilidade um com o outro.

¹⁹ Estes são os eventos relacionados a Isaque, filho de Abraão. Abraão tornou-se pai de Isaque, ²⁰ e este tinha quarenta anos quando tomou por mulher Rebeca, filha de Betuel, o arameu de Padã-arã, e irmã de Labão, o arameu.

²¹ Isaque orou a Yahweh por sua esposa, pois era estéril e Yahweh ouviu suas orações; Rebeca, sua esposa, engravidou. ²² Os filhos lutavam dentro dela, e ela disse: "Por que isso está acontecendo comigo?". E foi consultar a Yahweh.

²³ Yahweh disse-lhe: "Há duas nações em teu útero, e dois povos serão separados de teu ventre. Um povo será mais forte que o outro, e o mais velho servirá o mais novo".

²⁴ Quando chegou o tempo de dar à luz, havia gêmeos em seu ventre. ²⁵ O primeiro que saiu era todo ruivo e peludo, como uma vestimenta de pelos. E o chamaram de Esaú. ²⁶ Logo em seguida, veio seu irmão, cuja mão segurava o calcanhar de Esaú. E lhe deram o nome de Jacó. Isaque tinha sessenta anos quando sua esposa os deu à luz.

²⁷ Os meninos cresceram, e Esaú se tornou um caçador habilidoso, um homem do campo; porém, Jacó era um homem calmo que passava seu tempo nas tendas. ²⁸ Isaque amava Esaú, pois ele comia os animais que seu filho caçava, já Rebeca amava Jacó.

²⁹ Certa vez, Jacó havia feito um ensopado, quando Esaú chegou do campo, fraco de fome. ³⁰ Então, Esaú disse a Jacó: "Dá-me desse ensopado vermelho, por favor. Estou faminto!". Por isso, ele foi chamado Edom.

³¹ Jacó disse: "Primeiro, vende-me o teu direito de primogenitura". ³² Esaú respondeu: "Estou prestes a morrer. De que me serviria o direito da primogenitura?". ³³ E Jacó retomou: "Jura-me primeiro". Então, Esaú fez um juramento e, desse modo, vendeu-lhe seu direito de primogenitura. ³⁴ Jacó deu pão e o ensopado de lentilhas a seu irmão. Ele comeu e bebeu, então, levantou-se e seguiu o seu caminho. Assim, Esaú desprezou o seu direito de primogenitura.

Capítulo 26

¹ Houve grande fome na terra, além da primeira, ocorrida nos dias de Abraão. Por isso, Isaque foi até Abimeleque, rei dos filisteus, em Gerar.

² E Yahweh apareceu a ele e lhe disse: "Não desças até o Egito, habita na terra que Eu te mostrarei. ³ Permanece nesta mesma terra, e Eu serei contigo e te abençoarei; pois darei a ti e aos teus descendentes todas estas terras, e cumprirei o que jurei a teu pai Abraão.

⁴ Multiplicarei a tua descendência como as estrelas do céu, e darei à tua semente todas estas terras. Em tua descendência, serão abençoadas todas as nações da terra. ⁵ Farei isso, porque Abraão obedeceu à Minha voz e guardou a Minha prescrição, as Minhas ordenanças, os Meus estatutos e as Minhas leis".

⁶ Isaque assim habitou em Gerar. ⁷ Quando os homens do lugar lhe perguntaram sobre sua mulher, ele respondeu: "É minha irmã". Pois temeu dizer: "É minha mulher". Ele pensou consigo: "Os homens deste lugar tentarão me matar para possuir Rebeca, pois ela é de boa aparência". ⁸ Isaque permaneceu ali por longo tempo. E aconteceu que Abimeleque, rei dos filisteus, olhou pela janela e viu Isaque acariciando Rebeca, sua mulher.

⁹ Abimeleque chamou Isaque e disse: "É evidente que ela é tua mulher. Então, por que disseste: 'É minha irmã'?" Isaque respondeu-lhe: "Porque temi que me matassem por causa dela". ¹⁰ Abimeleque disse: Por que fizeste isso conosco? Se alguém de nós deitasse com tua mulher, tu terias trazido culpa sobre nós". ¹¹ Então, Abimeleque ordenou a todo o povo, dizendo: "Quem tocar neste homem ou na sua mulher, certamente será morto".

¹² Isaque semeou naquela terra e, no mesmo ano, colheu cem vezes mais, pois Yahweh o abençoou. ¹³ O homem se enriqueceu e prosperou até tornar-se extremamente rico. ¹⁴ Possuía muitas ovelhas e gado, e grande número de servos, de modo que os filisteus o invejavam.

¹⁵ E, por isso, os filisteus entulharam e entupiram com terra todos os poços cavados pelos servos nos dias de Abraão, seu pai. ¹⁶ Então, Abimeleque disse: "Aparta-te de nós, pois tu és muito mais poderoso do que nós". ¹⁷ E Isaque partiu dali, acampou-se no vale de Gerar, onde habitou.

¹⁸ Isaque tornou a cavar os poços de água feitos nos dias de Abraão, seu pai, que os filisteus haviam entulhado, após a morte de Abraão. Isaque chamou os poços pelos mesmos nomes que seu pai já lhes havia dado.

¹⁹ Assim que os servos de Isaque cavaram no vale, acharam uma fonte de águas correntes. ²⁰ Os pastores de Gerar contenderam com os pastores de Isaque, dizendo: "Essa água nos pertence". Por isso, Isaque deu ao poço o nome Eseque, pois disputaram por causa dele.

²¹ E cavaram outro poço, e contenderam também por causa desse; por isso, foi-lhe dado o nome Sitna. ²² Ele partiu dali e cavou ainda outro poço, contudo não contenderam por esse. Então, chamou o nome dele Reobote, pois disse: "Yahweh agora nos deu um lugar, e prosperaremos na terra".

²³ E Isaque subiu dali a Berseba. ²⁴ Yahweh apareceu-lhe naquela noite e disse: "Eu Sou o Deus de Abraão, teu pai. Não temas, pois Eu estou contigo e te abençoarei e multiplicarei a tua descendência, por causa de Meu servo Abraão". ²⁵ Isaque edificou ali um altar e invocou o nome de Yahweh. Ali ele armou a sua tenda, e seus servos cavaram um poço.

²⁶ Então, Abimeleque veio desde Gerar com Auzate, seu amigo, e Ficol, o chefe do seu exército, para encontrá-lo. ²⁷ Isaque lhes disse: "Por que viestes até mim, visto que me tratastes com hostilidade e me expulsastes do vosso meio?".

²⁸ E lhe responderam: "Temos visto claramente que Yahweh está contigo. Então, decidimos que deveria haver um juramento entre nós, sim, entre nós e ti. Portanto, permite-nos fazer uma aliança contigo: ²⁹ Tu não nos farás mal, assim como nós não te tocamos ete tratamos bem e te deixamos ir em paz. De fato, tu és o bendito de Yahweh".

³⁰ Então, Isaque lhes ofereceu um banquete, e eles comeram e beberam. ³¹ E se levantaram de manhã e juraram um ao outro. Depois, Isaque os despediu e eles partiram em paz.

³² Naquele mesmo dia, os servos de Isaque vieram e contaram-lhe sobre o poço que haviam cavado. E disseram-lhe: "Encontramos água". ³³ E deu ao poço o nome Seba, por isso, a cidade se chama Berseba até os dias de hoje.

³⁴ Quando Esaú tinha quarenta anos, tomou por mulher Judite, a filha de Beeri, o heteu, e Basemate, a filha de Elom, o heteu. ³⁵ Elas trouxeram amargura de espírito para Isaque e Rebeca.

Capítulo 27

¹ Quando Isaque estava velho e seus olhos fracos, de modo que não podia enxergar, ele chamou Esaú, seu filho mais velho, e lhe disse: "Meu filho". Disse ele: "Estou aqui". ² Ele disse: "Olha, estou velho. Eu não sei o dia da minha morte;

³ Portanto pega tuas armas, tua aljava e o teu arco, vai para o campo e caça para mim. ⁴ Faze uma comida deliciosa, do jeito que eu gosto, para que eu possa comer e te abençoar antes que eu morra".

⁵ Rebeca ouviu quando Isaque falou com Esaú, seu filho. Esaú foi para o campo caçar e trazer a caça. ⁶ Rebeca falou com Jacó, seu filho, e disse: "Olha, eu ouvi teu pai falar com Esaú, teu irmão, dizendo: ⁷ 'Traze-me uma caça e faze-me uma comida deliciosa, para que eu possa comer e te abençoar na presença de Yahweh antes da minha morte'.

⁸ Portanto agora, meu filho, atende às minhas palavras naquilo que eu te ordenar. ⁹ Vai até o rebanho, traze-me dois bons cabritos; e eu farei uma comida deliciosa para teu pai, do jeito que ele gosta. ¹⁰ Tu levarás para teu pai para que ele coma, de modo que te abençoe, antes da sua morte".

¹¹ Jacó disse a Rebeca sua mãe: "Meu irmão é um homem peludo, e eu sou um homem liso. ¹² Porventura meu pai tocará em mim e me perceberá como um enganador. Eu trarei maldição sobre mim ao invés de bênção".

¹³ Sua mãe disse-lhe: "Meu filho, que qualquer maldição caia sobre mim. Apenas atende às minhas palavras, e vai, e traze-os para mim. ¹⁴ Então, Jacó foi, pegou os cabritos novos e os levou para sua mãe. Ela fez uma comida deliciosa, do jeito que o seu pai gostava.

¹⁵ Rebeca pegou a melhor roupa de Esaú, o filho mais velho, a qual estava com ela em sua casa, e vestiu-a em Jacó, seu filho mais novo. ¹⁶ Ela cobriu com a pele dos cabritos as mãos dele e a parte lisa do seu pescoço. ¹⁷ Colocou a comida deliciosa e o pão que havia preparado nas mãos de seu filho Jacó.

¹⁸ Jacó foi até seu pai e disse: "Meu pai". Ele respondeu: "Aqui estou; quem és tu, meu filho?". ¹⁹ Jacó lhe disse: "Eu sou Esaú, teu primogênito; eu tenho feito conforme ordenaste. Agora senta-te e come da minha caça para que me abençoes".

²⁰ Isaque disse a seu filho: "Como tu encontraste a caça tão rápido, meu filho?". Ele respondeu: "Porque Yahweh, o teu Deus, trouxe até mim". ²¹ Isaque disse a Jacó: "Aproxima-te de mim para que eu possa tocar-te, meu filho, e ver se és verdadeiramente meu filho Esaú ou não".

²² Jacó aproximou-se do seu pai Isaque, e este o tocou e disse: "A voz é a de Jacó, mas as mãos são as de Esaú". ²³ Isaque não o reconheceu, porque suas mãos eram peludas, como as de seu irmão Esaú. Então, Isaque o abençoou.

²⁴ Ele perguntou: "És tu realmente meu filho Esaú?". E ele disse: "Eu sou". ²⁵ Isaque disse: "Traze a comida para mim, comerei da tua caça, e te abençoarei". Jacó trouxe a comida para o seu pai. Isaque comeu, e Jacó trouxe-lhe vinho, e ele bebeu.

²⁶ Logo, seu pai disse: "Aproxima-te e me dá um beijo, meu filho". ²⁷ Jacó aproximou-se e o beijou, e ele sentiu o cheiro da sua roupa e o abençoou, dizendo: "Vê, o cheiro do meu filho é cheiro do campo que Yahweh tem abençoado.

²⁸ Que Deus te dê a porção do orvalho do céu, a porção da fartura da terra e abundância de trigo e de vinho novo.

²⁹ Que os povos sirvam-te e as nações prostrem-se diante de ti. Sê mestre dos teus irmãos, e que os filhos da tua mãe inclinem-se diante de ti. Que todos que te amaldiçoarem sejam amaldiçoados, e todos que te abençoarem sejam abençoados".

³⁰ Assim que Isaque abençoou Jacó, e ele saiu da sua presença, Esaú seu irmão veio da sua caça. ³¹ Ele também fez uma comida deliciosa e a trouxe para seu pai, dizendo: "Pai, levanta-te, come algo da caça do teu filho, para que possas me abençoar".

³² Isaque disse: "Quem és tu?", Ele disse: "Eu sou teu filho, teu primogênito, Esaú". ³³ Isaque ficou muito abalado e disse: "Quem era aquele que trouxe a caça para mim? Eu comi tudo antes que tu viesses, e eu o abençoei. Certamente, ele será abençoado".

³⁴ Quando Esaú ouviu as palavras do seu pai, chorou com muita amargura e disse-lhe: "Abençoa-me também, meu pai". ³⁵ Isaque disse: "Teu irmão veio aqui com esperteza e levou tua bênção".

³⁶ Esaú disse: "Não é com razão que ele seja chamado de Jacó? Ele enganou-me por duas vezes. Levou meu direito de primogenitura e agora levou minha bênção". Então, perguntou: "Tu não tens reservada uma bênção para mim?". ³⁷ Isaque respondeu a Esaú: "Olha, eu o coloquei por senhor sobre ti, dei-lhe todos seus irmãos como seus servos. E dei a ele fartura de trigo e vinho novo. O que mais posso fazer por ti, meu filho?".

³⁸ Esaú disse ao seu pai: "Não tens ainda uma bênção para mim, meu pai? Abençoa-me também, meu pai". Esaú chorou em alta voz.

³⁹ Isaque respondeu e disse-lhe: "Olha, o lugar onde tu vais morar será longe das terras férteis, longe do orvalho que cai do céu. ⁴⁰ Pela tua espada viverás e tu servirás a teu irmão. Mas, quando te livrares, sacudirás o jugo do teu pescoço.

⁴¹ Esaú odiou Jacó por causa da bênção que seu pai lhe dera. Esaú disse em seu coração: "Os dias de luto por meu pai estão próximos; depois disso, eu matarei meu irmão Jacó". ⁴² As palavras de Esaú, o primogênito, foram relatadas a Rebeca. Então, ela mandou chamar Jacó, seu filho mais novo, e disse-lhe: "Vê, teu irmão Esaú se consolou planejando matar-te.

⁴³ Portanto, agora, meu filho, obedece-me e foge para a casa de Labão, meu irmão, em Harã. ⁴⁴ Fica com ele por alguns dias, até que a fúria do teu irmão diminua e que ele esqueça o que tu tens feito a ele. ⁴⁵ Logo, eu te trarei de volta. Por que deveria eu perder os dois filhos em um dia?".

⁴⁶ Rebeca disse a Isaque: "Estou aborrecida da vida por causa das filhas dos heteus. Se Jacó tomar uma das filhas dos heteus, filhas desta terra, o que será da minha vida?".

Capítulo 28

¹ Isaque chamou Jacó, abençoou-o, e ordenou-lhe: "Não tomes mulher dentre as cananéias. ² Levanta-te, vai a Padã-Arã, à casa de Betuel, pai de tua mãe, e toma de lá uma mulher, uma das filhas de Labão, irmão de tua mãe.

³ Que o Deus Todo Poderoso te abençoe, e te faça frutificar, e te multiplique para que te tornes uma multidão de povos. ⁴ Que Ele te dê a bênção de Abraão, a ti e a teus descendentes, para que possas herdar a terra onde tu tens peregrinado, a qual Deus prometeu a Abraão".

⁵ Assim Isaque despediu-se de Jacó, que se foi para Padã-Arã, à casa de Labão, que era filho de Betuel, o arameu, e irmão de Rebeca, mãe de Jacó e Esaú.

⁶ Então, Esaú viu que Isaque abençoou Jacó e o enviou à Padã-Arã para tomar uma esposa de lá. Ele também viu que, abençoando-o, Isaque tinha dado uma ordem dizendo: "Não tomes uma esposa dentre as cananeias". ⁷ Esaú também viu que Jacó havia obedecido a seu pai e sua mãe, e ido até Padã-Arã.

⁸ Esaú viu que as mulheres de Canaã não agradavam Isaac, seu pai. ⁹ Então, ele foi a Ismael e, apesar das mulheres que já possuía, tomou Maalate por mulher, filha de Ismael, filho de Abraão, e irmã de Nabaiote.

¹⁰ Partiu Jacó de Berseba e seguiu para Harã. ¹¹ Tendo chegado a certo lugar para pernoitar, porque o sol já era posto, pegou uma das pedras, colocou embaixp de sua cabeça e se deitou ali para dormir.

¹² Ele sonhou e viu uma escada posta sobre a terra cujo topo alcançava o céu; e os anjos de Deus subiam e desciam por ela. ¹³ Acima dela, estava Yahweh, que disse: "Eu sou Yahweh, o Deus de teu pai Abraão, e o Deus de Isaque. A terra em que estás deitado darei a ti e a teus descendentes.

¹⁴ Tua descendência será como o pó da terra, e tu te estenderás para o ocidente, para o oriente, para o norte e para o sul; todas as famílias da terra serão abençoadas por meio de ti e de teus descendentes. ¹⁵ Eis que estou contigo e te guardarei por onde fores. Eu te farei retornar a esta terra; não te deixarei, até que se tenha cumprido tudo o que te prometi".

¹⁶ Jacó acordou do seu sono e disse: "Realmente, Yahweh está neste lugar e eu não sabia". Ele temeu e disse: ¹⁷ "Quão terrível é este lugar! Este não é outro lugar, senão a casa de Deus; esta é a porta para o céu".

¹⁸ Então, Jacó levantou-se cedo pela manhã, tomou a pedra que havia usado como travesseiro, a pôs por coluna e derramou óleo sobre ela. ¹⁹ Chamou aquele lugar de Betel, mas o nome da cidade era originalmente Luz.

²⁰ E Jacó fez um voto, dizendo: "Se Deus estiver comigo e me proteger nesta jornada, e me der pão para comer, roupas para vestir, ²¹ para que eu retorne salvo para a casa de meu pai, então, Yahweh será meu Deus. ²² E esta pedra que tenho posto por coluna será Casa de Deus, e de tudo quanto me deres, certamente eu darei um décimo a Ti".

Capítulo 29

¹ Então, Jacó seguiu viagem e chegou à terra dos povos do leste. ² Enquanto ele olhava, viu um poço no campo e três rebanhos de ovelhas deitadas junto a ele, pois desse poço é que davam de beber aos rebanhos. Entretanto, havia uma grande pedra por cima da boca do poço. ³ Quando todos os rebanhos estavam lá reunidos, os pastores rolavam a pedra da boca do poço e davam de beber às ovelhas; então, recolocavam a pedra por cima da boca do poço de volta em seu lugar.

⁴ Jacó lhes disse: "Meus irmãos, de onde sois vós?". Eles responderam: "Somos de Harã". ⁵ Ele lhes disse: "Vós conheceis Labão, filho de Naor?". E disseram: "Nós o conhecemos". ⁶ Jacó lhes perguntou: "Ele está bem?". Eles disseram: "Ele está bem, e olhe ali, Raquel, sua filha, está chegando com as ovelhas".

⁷ Jacó disse: "Vê, estamos na metade do dia e não é a hora de recolher o rebanho. Vós devíeis dar de beber às ovelhas, e, então, levá-las para pastar". ⁸ Eles disseram: "Nós não podemos dar de beber às ovelhas até que os rebanhos estejam reunidos. Então, os homens irão tirar a pedra da boca do poço e daremos de beber às ovelhas".

⁹ Enquanto Jacó ainda falava com eles, Raquel veio com as ovelhas de seu pai, porque estava cuidando delas. ¹⁰ Quando viu Raquel, a filha de Labão, irmão da sua mãe, e as ovelhas de Labão, Jacó aproximou-se, rolou a pedra da boca do poço e deu de beber ao rebanho de Labão, irmão de sua mãe.

¹¹ Jacó beijou Raquel e chorou em alto som. ¹² Jacó contou a Raquel que era parente de seu pai, e que era filho de Rebeca. Então, ela correu e contou ao seu pai.

¹³ Quando Labão ouviu as novidades sobre Jacó, filho de sua irmã, correu para conhecê-lo, abraçá-lo, beijá-lo e o trouxe para sua casa. Jacó contou a Labão todas essas coisas. ¹⁴ Labão disse-lhe: "Tu és de fato meu osso e minha carne". Então, Jacó ficou com ele por um mês.

¹⁵ Então, Labão disse a Jacó: "Porque tu és meu parente, deverias servir-me de graça? Dize-me, qual será o teu salário?". ¹⁶ Ora, Labão tinha duas filhas. O nome da mais velha era Lia, e o nome da mais nova era Raquel. ¹⁷ Os olhos de Lia eram meigos, mas Raquel era bonita em forma e aparência. ¹⁸ Jacó amava Raquel. Então, ele disse: "Eu te servirei sete anos por Raquel, sua filha mais nova".

¹⁹ Labão disse: "É melhor dá-la a ti do que a outro homem. Fica comigo". ²⁰ Então, Jacó serviu sete anos por Raquel; e estes lhe pareceram poucos dias pelo amor que ele tinha por ela.

²¹ Então, Jacó disse a Labão: "Dá-me minha esposa, porque os meus dias já se completaram; para que eu possa casar-me com ela". ²² Então, Labão juntou todos os homens da região e fez uma festa.

²³ À noite, Labão tomou Lia, sua filha, e levou-a até Jacó, que dormiu com ela. ²⁴ Labão deu sua serva Zilpa à sua filha para ser serva dela. ²⁵ Pela manhã, viu Jacó que era Lia! Jacó disse a Labão: "O que é isso que fizeste a mim? Eu não te servi por Raquel? Por que, então, me enganaste?".

²⁶ Labão disse: "Não é nosso costume entregar a filha mais nova antes da primogênita. ²⁷ Completa a semana nupcial desta filha, e nós te daremos a outra em retorno, por me servir mais sete anos".

²⁸ Jacó fez isso e completou a semana de Lia. Então, Labão deu também a ele Raquel, sua filha, como sua esposa. ²⁹ Labão deu também Bila à sua filha Raquel para ser serva dela. ³⁰ Então, Jacó dormiu com Raquel também, mas ele a amava mais do que a Lia. Então, Jacó serviu Labão por mais sete anos.

³¹ Yahweh viu que Lia não era amada, então, ele abriu o ventre dela, mas Raquel era estéril. ³² Lia concebeu e deu à luz um filho, e ela o chamou Rúben. Pois disse: "Porque Yahweh tem visto a minha aflição; certamente agora meu marido me amará".

³³ Então, ela concebeu outra vez e deu à luz um filho. Ela disse: "Porque Yahweh ouviu que eu não sou amada, Ele me deu mais este filho", e ela o chamou Simeão. ³⁴ Então, ela concebeu novamente e deu à luz um filho. Ela disse: "Agora, desta vez, meu marido estará apegado a mim, pois eu lhe dei três filhos". Por isso, chamou-o Levi.

³⁵ Ela concebeu novamente e deu à luz um filho. Ela disse: "Desta vez, louvarei Yahweh". Assim, chamou-o Judá; então, ela parou de ter filhos.

Capítulo 30

¹ Quando Raquel viu que não dava nenhum filho a Jacó, ela sentiu inveja de sua irmã e disse a Jacó: "Dá-me filhos, senão morrerei". ² A raiva de Jacó acendeu-se contra Raquel. Ele disse: "Por acaso estou eu no lugar de Deus, que te impediu de gerar filhos?".

³ Ela disse: "Vê, aqui está a minha escrava Bila. Tem relações com ela, para que dê à luz e traga filhos ao meu colo, por meio dela". ⁴ Assim, deu-lhe sua escrava Bila como esposa, e Jacó teve relações com ela.

⁵ Bila concebeu e deu a Jacó um filho. ⁶ Então, Raquel disse: "Deus me fez justiça, ouviu a minha voz e me deu um filho". Por isso, o chamou de Dã.

⁷ Bila, escrava de Raquel, concebeu novamente e deu a Jacó o segundo filho. ⁸ Raquel disse: "Tive grandes lutas com minha irmã e venci". Ela o chamou Naftali.

⁹ Quando Lia percebeu que havia parado de ter filhos, tomou Zilpa, sua escrava e a deu para Jacó como esposa. ¹⁰ Zilpa, serva de Lia, deu a Jacó um filho. ¹¹ Então, Lia disse: "Afortunada!". E o chamou Gade.

¹² Depois Zilpa, serva de Lia, deu o segundo filho a Jacó. ¹³ Lia disse: "Como sou feliz! As filhas me chamarão de feliz". Então, ela o chamou Aser.

¹⁴ Nos dias da colheita do trigo, Rúben foi ao campo e achou mandrágoras. Ele as trouxe para Lia, sua mãe. Então, Raquel disse a Lia: "Dá-me algumas das mandrágoras do teu filho". ¹⁵ Lia disse-lhe: "Acaso é pouco que tu tenhas tomado o meu marido? Queres também tomar as mandrágoras do meu filho?". E disse Raquel: "Jacó se deitará contigo esta noite em troca das mandrágoras de teu filho".

¹⁶ Jacó voltou do campo à tarde. Lia foi ao seu encontro e disse: "Irás unir-te a mim esta noite, porque eu te aluguei em troca das mandrágoras do meu filho". Então, Jacó teve relações com Lia naquela noite. ¹⁷ Deus escutou Lia e ela concebeu e deu a Jacó o quinto filho. ¹⁸ Lia disse: "Deus me recompensou, pois dei minha escrava a meu marido". Ela o chamou Issacar.

¹⁹ Lia concebeu outra vez e deu o sexto filho a Jacó. ²⁰ E disse: "Deus me deu um bom presente. Agora o meu marido me honrará, pois lhe dei seis filhos". Ela o chamou Zebulom. ²¹ Depois, deu à luz uma filha e a chamou Diná.

²² Lembrou-se Deus de Raquel. Ele a ouviu e a tornou fecunda. ²³ Ela concebeu e deu à luz um filho e disse: "Deus retirou a minha vergonha". ²⁴ Ela o chamou José, dizendo: "Que Yahweh acrescente-me outro filho".

²⁵ Depois que Raquel deu à luz a José, Jacó disse a Labão: "Manda-me embora, para que eu volte para minha casa e para minha terra. ²⁶ Dá-me minhas mulheres e meus filhos, pelos quais eu te servi e deixa-me ir, pois sabes o serviço que te prestei".

²⁷ Labão disse-lhe: "Se tenho achado favor aos teus olhos, espera, pois eu soube, por meio de adivinhações, que Yahweh me abençoou por causa de ti". ²⁸ Então, ele disse: "Estipula o teu salário e eu te pagarei".

²⁹ Jacó disse-lhe: "Tu sabes de que maneira te servi e como cuidei do teu rebanho. ³⁰ Porque tu tinhas pouco antes da minha vinda, mas depois aumentou grandemente. Yahweh te abençoou por onde trabalhei. Agora, quando trabalharei também por minha casa?".

³¹ Então, Labão disse: "O que te darei?". Jacó disse: "Tu não me darás nada. Voltarei a apascentar e a guardar o teu rebanho se fizeres isto por mim. ³² Deixa-me passar por todo o teu rebanho hoje, separando dele todos os cabritos manchados e os malhados; e todos os negros entre os cordeiros; e as manchadas e malhadas entre as cabras. Este será o meu salário.

³³ Minha integridade vai atestar por mim, quando mais tarde verificares o meu salário. Tudo o que não for manchado e malhado entre as cabras, e negro entre os cordeiros; se for achado comigo, será considerado furtado". ³⁴ Labão disse: "Está bem. Que seja de acordo com a tua palavra".

³⁵ Naquele dia, Labão separou os bodes listrados e malhados, todas as cabras manchadas e malhadas, todas que tinham algum branco e todos os negros entre os cordeiros e os deu nas mãos dos seus filhos. ³⁶ Labão pôs três dias de caminhada entre ele e Jacó. E Jacó continuou apascentando o restante dos rebanhos de Labão.

³⁷ Jacó tomou varas verdes de estoraque, de amendoeira e de plátano. Descascando-as, fez nelas riscas brancas, fazendo aparecer o branco que nelas havia. ³⁸ Então, ele pôs as varas que havia descascado em frente aos rebanhos, nos bebedouros onde bebiam. E eles acasalavam quando vinham beber.

³⁹ Os rebanhos acasalavam diante das varas e os rebanhos davam crias listradas, manchadas e malhadas. ⁴⁰ Jacó separou os cordeiros e pôs o rebanho para o lado dos listrados e dos negros no rebanho de Labão. Então, ele separou seu rebanho para si e não o colocou com o rebanho de Labão.

⁴¹ Todas as vezes que os mais fortes do rebanho acasalavam, Jacó colocava as varas nos bebedouros diante dos olhos do rebanho, para que acasalassem diante das varas. ⁴² Mas, quando os mais fracos do rebanho vinham, ele não colocava as varas na frente deles. Assim, os fracos eram de Labão e os fortes eram de Jacó.

⁴³ O homem se tornou muito próspero. Ele tinha grandes rebanhos, escravas e escravos, camelos e jumentos.

Capítulo 31

¹ Então, Jacó ouviu as palavras dos filhos de Labão, que diziam: "Jacó tem levado tudo o que era do nosso pai, e é das posses de nosso pai que ele tem adquirido toda esta riqueza". ² Jacó viu o olhar na face de Labão. Jacó viu que a atitude de Labão para com ele tinha mudado. ³ Então, Yahweh disse a Jacó: "Retorna para a terra de teus pais e de teus parentes e Eu serei contigo".

⁴ Jacó mandou chamar Raquel e Lia para o campo, junto do seu rebanho, ⁵ e lhes disse: "Eu vejo que a atitude de vosso pai para comigo mudou, mas o Deus de meu pai tem estado comigo. ⁶ Vós sabeis que, com toda minha força, tenho servido a vosso pai.

⁷ Vosso pai tem enganado a mim e mudado meu salário dez vezes, mas Deus não tem permitido que ele faça mal a mim. ⁸ Quando ele dizia: 'Os animais manchados serão teu salário', então, todo o rebanho nascia manchado. E, quando ele dizia: 'Os listrados serão o teu salário,' então, todo o rebanho nascia listrado. ⁹ Desse modo, Deus tem tirado o gado de teu pai e dado a mim.

¹⁰ Pois, no tempo da reprodução, eu vi em um sonho os bodes que estavam acasalando no rebanho. Os bodes eram listrados, manchados e malhados. ¹¹ O anjo de Deus disse a mim no sonho: 'Jacó'. Eu disse: 'Eis me aqui'.

¹² Ele disse: 'Levanta os teus olhos e vê todos os bodes que estão acasalando no rebanho. Eles são listrados, manchados e malhados, pois Eu tenho visto todas as coisas que Labão está fazendo a ti. ¹³ Eu sou o Deus de Betel, onde tu ungiste um pilar, onde tu juraste um voto a Mim. Agora, deixa esta terra e retorna à terra de teu nascimento'".

¹⁴ Raquel e Lia responderam e lhe disseram: "Existe alguma porção ou herança para nós na casa de nosso pai? ¹⁵ Não somos nós tratadas por ele como estrangeiras? Pois ele nos tem vendido e também devorado completamente nosso dinheiro. ¹⁶ Pois todas as riquezas que Deus tem tirado de nosso pai agora são nossas e de nossos filhos. Agora, então, o que quer que Deus tenha te dito, faz".

¹⁷ Então, Jacó se levantou e colocou seus filhos e suas mulheres sobre os camelos. ¹⁸ Ele começou a conduzir todo o seu gado, e toda a sua propriedade que ele havia adquirido, incluindo o gado em sua posse, o qual ele ganhou em Padã-Arã. Então, ele partiu para estar com Isaque, seu pai, na terra de Canaã.

¹⁹ Enquanto Labão foi tosquiar seu rebanho, Raquel roubou os deuses da casa de seu pai. ²⁰ Jacó também enganou Labão, o arameu, não dizendo a ele que estava partindo. ²¹ Então, ele fugiu com tudo o que tinha e rapidamente atravessou o rio, e se dirigiu para a região montanhosa de Gileade.

²² No terceiro dia, Labão foi avisado que Jacó tinha fugido. ²³ Então, tomou seus parentes com ele e perseguiu Jacó por uma jornada de sete dias. Ele o alcançou na região montanhosa de Gileade.

²⁴ Ora, Deus veio a Labão, o arameu, em um sonho na noite e disse-lhe: "Tem cuidado, não fales a Jacó nem bem nem mal". ²⁵ Labão alcançou Jacó. Então, Jacó armou sua tenda na região montanhosa. Labão com seus parentes também acamparam na região montanhosa de Gileade.

²⁶ Labão disse a Jacó: "O que fizeste, que me enganaste e levaste as minhas filhas como prisioneiras de guerra? ²⁷ Por que fugiste secretamente, me enganaste e não me disseste? Eu teria te despedido com celebração e com cânticos, com tamborins e com harpas. ²⁸ Tu não me permitiste beijar e me despedir de meus netos e minhas filhas. Ora, tu agiste tolamente.

²⁹ Tenho poder para te fazer mal, mas o Deus de teu pai falou-me ontem à noite e disse: 'Tem cuidado, não fales a Jacó nem bem nem mal'. ³⁰ E agora tu foste embora, porque desejavas retornar para a casa de teu pai. Mas, por que roubaste os meus deuses?".

³¹ Jacó respondeu e disse a Labão: "Porque eu tive medo e pensei que tomarias tuas filhas de mim à força, saí secretamente. ³² Quem quer que tenha roubado teus deuses não continuará vivo. Na presença de nossos parentes, identifica o que for teu que esteja comigo e pega". Pois Jacó não sabia que Raquel os tinha roubado.

³³ Labão entrou na tenda de Jacó, na tenda de Lia, e na tenda das duas servas, mas ele não os achou. Ele saiu da tenda de Lia e entrou na tenda de Raquel.

³⁴ Ora, Raquel havia tomado os deuses da casa, colocou-os na sela de um camelo e se sentou sobre eles. Labão procurou por toda a tenda, mas não os encontrou. ³⁵ Ela disse a seu pai: "Não fiques irritado, meu senhor, pois eu não posso me levantar diante de ti, pois estou no período de menstruação". Então, ele procurou, mas não encontrou os deuses de sua casa.

³⁶ Jacó estava irritado e argumentou com Labão. E lhe disse: "Qual é minha ofensa? Qual é o meu pecado para que me persigas furiosamente? ³⁷ Pois tu tens vasculhado todas as minhas posses. O que achaste de todos os bens de tua casa? Deixa-os aqui diante de nossos parentes, de modo que eles possam julgar entre nós dois.

³⁸ Por vinte anos, eu tenho estado contigo. Tuas ovelhas e tuas cabras não têm abortado, nem tenho eu comido nenhum carneiro de teu rebanho. ³⁹ O que foi despedaçado por bestas eu não trouxe a ti. Em vez disso, eu suportei esta perda. Tu sempre me fizeste pagar por todo animal que faltava, se furtado pelo dia ou furtado pela noite. ⁴⁰ Lá estava eu: pelo dia, o calor me consumia e, pela noite, o orvalho congelado; e eu ficava sem dormir.

⁴¹ Esses vinte anos eu estive em tua casa. Eu trabalhei para ti por catorze anos por tuas duas filhas e seis anos por teu rebanho. Mudaste meu salário dez vezes. ⁴² Se o Deus de meu pai, o Deus de Abraão, a quem Isaque teme, não estivesse comigo, certamente agora me terias mandado embora com mãos vazias. Deus tem visto a minha aflição e como eu tenho trabalhado duro e Ele te repreendeu ontem à noite".

⁴³ Labão respondeu e disse a Jacó: "As filhas são minhas filhas, os netos são meus netos e os rebanhos são meus rebanhos. Tudo o que vês é meu. Mas o que posso eu fazer hoje a estas minhas filhas ou a seus filhos que elas deram à luz? ⁴⁴ Então, agora, façamos um pacto, tu e eu, e deixa isto ser um testemunho entre mim e ti".

⁴⁵ Então, Jacó tomou uma pedra e a colocou como um pilar. ⁴⁶ Jacó disse aos seus parentes: "Ajuntem pedras". Então, eles tomaram pedras e fizeram uma pilha. Eles comeram alí junto à pilha. ⁴⁷ Labão chamou isso Jegar-Saaduta, mas Jacó chamou Galeede.

⁴⁸ Labão disse: "Esta pilha é uma testemunha entre mim e ti hoje". Por isso, foi chamado Galeede. ⁴⁹ Também foi chamado Mizpá, porque Labão disse: "Que Yahweh vigie entre mim e ti quando estivermos fora de vista um do outro. ⁵⁰ Se maltratares as minhas filhas ou se tomares quaisquer esposas além de minhas filhas, embora ninguém mais esteja conosco, atenta, Deus é testemunha entre mim e ti".

⁵¹ Labão disse a Jacó: "Olha esta pilha e olha este pilar, o qual ergui entre mim e ti. ⁵² Esta pilha é uma testemunha, e o pilar é uma testemunha de que não passarei além desta pilha até ti, e que tu não passarás além desta pilha e deste pilar até mim, para trazer prejuízo. ⁵³ Que o Deus de Abraão, o Deus de Naor, o Deus do pai deles, julgue entre nós". Jacó jurou por Deus, o qual seu pai Isaque temia.

⁵⁴ Jacó ofereceu um sacrifício no monte e chamou seus parentes para comer uma refeição. Eles comeram e passaram a noite toda no monte. ⁵⁵ Cedo, pela manhã, Labão se levantou, beijou seus netos e suas filhas e os abençoou. Então, Labão os deixou e retornou para casa.

Capítulo 32

¹ Jacó também seguiu em seu caminho, e os anjos de Deus o encontraram. ² Quando Jacó os viu, ele disse: "Este é o acampamento de Deus," então, ele chamou o nome daquele lugar Maanaim.

³ Jacó enviou adiante de si mensageiros a Esaú seu irmão, à terra de Seir, na região de Edom. ⁴ Deu-lhes instruções dizendo: "Isto é o que dirás ao meu senhor Esaú: Eis o que fala o teu servo Jacó: 'Eu morei com Labão, e estive com ele até agora. ⁵ Tenho bois, jumentos e rebanhos, escravos e escravas. Enviei esta mensagem a meu senhor, para que eu possa alcançar o teu favor".

⁶ Os mensageiros retornaram e disseram a Jacó: "Nós fomos ao teu irmão Esaú. Ele está a caminho para encontrar-te; quatrocentos homens estão com ele". ⁷ Jacó temeu e se angustiou; dividiu em dois grupos o povo que estava com ele; e também os rebanhos, as manadas e os camelos. ⁸ Ele disse: "Se Esaú atacar um grupo e o destroçar, então, o outro grupo escapará".

⁹ Jacó disse: "Deus de meu pai Abraão, e Deus de meu pai Isaque, Yahweh, que me disse: 'Retorna à tua terra natal e à tua parentela, e Eu te prosperarei', ¹⁰ sou indigno de toda a Tua fidelidade e de toda a Tua misericórdia para com o Teu servo. Eu atravessei o Jordão apenas com o meu cajado, e agora volto com dois grupos.

¹¹ Por favor, livra-me da mão do meu irmão Esaú, pois eu temo que ele mate a mim e as mães com os filhos. ¹² Pois Tu disseste: 'Eu certamente te farei prosperar. Farei que a tua descendência seja numerosa como a areia do mar, a qual não se pode contar'".

¹³ Jacó permaneceu alí aquela noite. E do que tinha ele separou algo para presentear Esaú, seu irmão: ¹⁴ duzentas cabras e vinte bodes, duzentas ovelhas e vinte carneiros, ¹⁵ trinta camelas de leite com suas crias, quarenta vacas e dez touros, vinte jumentas e dez jumentos. ¹⁶ Ele os entregou a seus servos, cada manada em separado. E disse a seus servos: "Ide adiante de mim e deixai um espaço entre uma manada e outra".

¹⁷ Ele instruiu o primeiro servo, dizendo: "Quando Esaú meu irmão te encontrar e te perguntar, dizendo: 'A quem pertences? Para onde vais? E de quem são estes animais diante ti?', ¹⁸ então, dirás: 'são do teu servo Jacó. É um presente enviado para meu senhor Esaú. E eis que ele mesmo chegará atrás de nós'".

¹⁹ Jacó instruiu também ao segundo grupo, ao terceiro, e a todos os homens que seguiam as manadas. Ele disse: "Direis a mesma coisa a Esaú quando o encontrardes. ²⁰ Direis também: 'Teu servo Jacó está vindo atrás de nós.'" Pois ele pensou: "Eu o apaziguarei com o presente que me antecede. Depois, quando eu o encontrar, talvez me receba bem". ²¹ Então, o presente foi adiante dele. Ele mesmo permaneceu aquela noite no acampamento.

²² Jacó se levantou durante a noite, tomou suas duas mulheres, suas duas servas e seus onze filhos. Ele os enviou a atravessar um ponto raso do Jaboque. ²³ Desta maneira, ele os fez atravessar o ribeiro com todas as suas posses.

²⁴ Jacó foi deixado sozinho, e um homem lutou com ele até o romper do dia. ²⁵ Quando o homem viu que não poderia derrotá-lo, tocou a juntura da coxa de Jacó, o qual teve o quadril deslocado, quando lutou com ele. ²⁶ O homem disse: "Deixa-me ir, pois já subiu o alvorecer". Jacó disse: "Eu não te deixarei ir sem que me abençoes".

²⁷ O homem disse a ele: "Qual é o teu nome?" Ele respondeu: "Jacó". ²⁸ O homem disse: "Teu nome não será mais Jacó, e sim, Israel. Pois lutaste com Deus e com homens e prevaleceste".

²⁹ E Jacó perguntou: "Por favor diga-me o teu nome". Ele disse: "Por que perguntas o meu nome?". E o abençoou ali. ³⁰ Chamou Jacó aquele lugar de Peniel pois disse: "Eu vi Deus face a face e minha vida foi preservada".

³¹ Nasceu o sol sobre Jacó, quando ele passou Peniel. Ele estava mancando por causa de seu quadril. ³² Por isso, até hoje, os filhos de Israel não comem os ligamentos da coxa que estão na articulação do quadril, porque o homem feriu aqueles ligamentos quando deslocou o quadril de Jacó.

Capítulo 33

¹ Jacó levantou os olhos e viu que Esaú estava vindo, e com ele quatrocentos homens. Jacó dividiu os filhos entre Lia, Raquel e as duas servas. ² Então, ele pôs as servas e seus filhos à frente, Lia e seus filhos atrás deles, e por último Raquel e José. ³ Ele mesmo passou à frente deles, prostrou-se ao chão por sete vezes, até aproximar-se de seu irmão.

⁴ Então, Esaú correu ao seu encontro, abraçou-o e o beijou, e eles choraram. ⁵ Quando Esaú levantou os olhos viu as mulheres e as crianças, e perguntou: "Quem são essas pessoas que estão contigo?". Jacó respondeu: "São os filhos que Deus graciosamente deu ao teu servo".

⁶ Então, as servas se aproximaram com suas crianças e se prostraram. ⁷ Em seguida, Lia e suas crianças se aproximaram e se prostraram. Por último, José e Raquel se aproximaram e se prostraram. ⁸ Então, Esaú perguntou: "O que tu pretendes com estes grupos de servos que foram ao meu encontro?". Jacó disse: "Para encontrar favor aos olhos de meu senhor".

⁹ Esaú disse: "Eu tenho muitos bens, meu irmão; guarda o que tens para ti". ¹⁰ Jacó disse: "Não, por favor, se encontrei graça aos teus olhos, então, aceita o presente da minha mão, porque, de fato, ver a tua face é como ver a face de Deus, e tu tens me aceitado. ¹¹ Por favor, aceita o presente que eu trouxe; porque Deus tem me abençoado grandemente e, por causa disso, tenho o suficiente". Jacó insistiu com ele, até que Esaú aceitou seu presente.

¹² Então, Esaú disse: "Sigamos nosso caminho, eu irei adiante de ti". ¹³ Jacó lhe disse: "Meu senhor, sabe que as crianças são muito pequenas, e que as ovelhas e vacas ainda estão amamentando suas crias; se elas forem forçadas a caminhar demais em um só dia, todos os animais morrerão. ¹⁴ Por favor, meu senhor, passa adiante do teu servo; eu seguirei mais lentamente, conforme o passo do gado que está diante de mim, e no passo das crianças, até que chegue a meu senhor em Seir".

¹⁵ Esaú disse: "Permite-me deixar contigo alguns dos meus homens". Mas Jacó disse: "Por que fazer isso? Meu senhor já tem sido generoso o suficiente para comigo". ¹⁶ Então, Esaú retomou o seu caminho para Seir, naquele mesmo dia. ¹⁷ Jacó viajou para Sucote, edificou uma casa para si e fez abrigos para seu gado. Por isso, o nome do lugar se chama Sucote.

¹⁸ Quando Jacó veio de Padã-Arã, chegou salvo à cidade de Siquém, a qual está na terra de Canaã, e acampou perto da cidade. ¹⁹ Então, comprou um pedaço de campo dos filhos de Hamor, pai de Siquém, por cem peças de prata, e ali armou sua tenda. ²⁰ Então, levantou ali um altar e o chamou de Deus, o Deus de Israel.

Capítulo 34

¹ Então, Diná, a filha que Lia teve de Jacó, saiu para conhecer as filhas da terra. ² Siquém, filho de Hamor, o heveu, príncipe da terra, a viu, a agarrou, a tomou e a violentou. ³ Ele se apaixonou por Diná, a filha de Jacó, e falou ternamente a ela.

⁴ Siquém disse a seu pai Hamor: "Consegue-me esta mulher para que seja minha esposa". ⁵ Jacó ouviu que ele corrompeu a Diná, sua filha. Seus filhos estavam no campo com os rebanhos; Jacó calou-se até eles voltarem.

⁶ Hamor, o pai de Siquém, saiu para falar com Jacó. ⁷ Os filhos de Jacó voltaram do campo e ouviram sobre o ocorrido. Eles ficaram furiosos, estavam indignados porque ele havia desgraçado Israel, violentando a filha de Jacó, algo que não deveria ter sido feito.

⁸ Hamor falou-lhes, dizendo: "Meu filho Siquém ama vossa filha. Por favor, entregai-a a ele para que seja sua esposa. ⁹ Fazei aliança conosco, dai-nos vossas filhas e tomai nossas filhas para vós. ¹⁰ Vós vivereis conosco e a terra estará disponível para que vivais, comercializeis e adquirais propriedades".

¹¹ Siquém disse ao pai e aos irmãos de Diná: "Deixai-me encontrar favor aos vossos olhos e o que me pedirem eu vos darei. ¹² Pedi-me o que vós quereis pela noiva e eu vos darei o que me pedirem, mas dai-me a mulher para que seja minha esposa. ¹³ Os filhos de Jacó responderam a Siquém e Hamor, seu pai, com falsidade, devido ao que Siquém havia feito com Diná, irmã deles.

¹⁴ Eles disseram: "Nós não podemos fazer isso: dar nossa irmã a qualquer um que esteja incircunciso, isso seria uma desgraça para nós. ¹⁵ A única condição para aceitarmos é que vos circuncideis como nós, e que cada homem do vosso povo seja circuncidado. ¹⁶ Então, nós vos daremos as nossas filhas e tomaremos as vossas filhas para nós, assim, viveremos convosco e nos tornaremos um só povo. ¹⁷ Mas, se vós não nos ouvirdes e não vos circuncidardes, tomaremos de volta nossa irmã e partiremos".

¹⁸ Essas palavras agradaram a Hamor e a seu filho Siquém. ¹⁹ O jovem não tardou em fazer o que eles disseram porque ele gostava da filha de Jacó e porque ele era a pessoa mais honrada da casa de seu pai.

²⁰ Hamor e o filho Siquém foram ao portão de sua cidade e falaram com todos os homens, dizendo: ²¹ "Estes homens estão em paz conosco, deixai-os viver na terra e deixai-os fazer negócios, a terra é suficientemente grande para eles. Tomemos suas filhas como esposas e entreguemos-lhes as nossas filhas.

²² Esta foi a única condição com a qual os homens concordaram para viverem conosco e nos tornarmos um só povo: Se cada homem entre nós for circuncidado, assim como eles o são. ²³ Não serão todos os seus rebanhos e suas propriedades também nossos? Vamos entrar em acordo e, então, eles viverão conosco".

²⁴ Todos os homens da cidade ouviram Hamor e Siquém, seu filho. E cada homem foi circuncidado. ²⁵ No terceiro dia, quando eles estavam ainda com dores, dois filhos de Jacó, Simeão e Levi, irmãos de Diná, tomaram suas espadas, entraram silenciosamente na cidade e mataram todos os homens. ²⁶ Também mataram Hamor e Siquém, seu filho, ao fio da espada e tiraram Diná da casa de Siquém e foram embora.

²⁷ Os outros filhos de Jacó foram até onde estavam os corpos e saquearam a cidade porque o povo havia desonrado a irmã deles. ²⁸ Eles tomaram seus rebanhos, manadas, jumentos e todas as coisas que havia na cidade e nos campos ao redor, ²⁹ todas as suas riquezas. Todas as crianças e suas esposas foram capturadas. Eles tomaram todas as coisas que estavam em suas casas.

³⁰ Jacó disse a Simeão e a Levi: "Vós causastes grandes problemas para mim, fazendo com que os habitantes desta terra, cananeus e perizeus, me odeiem. Como somos em pouco número, se eles se juntarem para me atacar, irão destruir a mim e a minha casa". ³¹ Mas Simeão e Levi disseram: "Deveria Siquém ter tratado nossa irmã como uma prostituta?".

Capítulo 35

¹ Deus disse a Jacó: "Levanta-te, sobe a Betel e habita ali. Constrói um altar ao Deus que apareceu a ti quando fugiste de Esaú, teu irmão". ² Então, Jacó disse à sua família e a todos que estavam com ele: "Lançai fora os deuses estrangeiros que estão entre vós, purificai-vos e mudai vossas roupas. ³ Partamos e subamos a Betel. Eu farei ali um altar a Deus que me respondeu no dia da minha angústia e esteve comigo por onde andei".

⁴ Dito isto, eles entregaram a Jacó todos os deuses estrangeiros que estavam em suas mãos e os brincos que estavam em suas orelhas. Jacó enterrou-os debaixo do carvalho que estava próximo a Siquém. ⁵ Enquanto viajavam, o terror de Deus caiu sobre as cidades que estavam ao seu redor, para que aqueles povos não perseguissem os filhos de Jacó.

⁶ Então, Jacó chegou em Luz (esta é Betel), que fica na terra de Canaã; ele e todo seu povo que com ele estava. ⁷ Ele construi ali um altar e o chamou de El-Betel, pois ali Deus havia se revelado a ele, quando estava fugindo de seu irmão. ⁸ Débora, ama de Rebeca, morreu. Ela foi enterrada em Betel, debaixo de um carvalho, que passou a ser chamado Alom-Bacute.

⁹ Quando Jacó voltou de Padã-Arã, Deus apareceu-lhe novamente e o abençoou. ¹⁰ Deus lhe disse: "Teu nome é Jacó, porém não mais o será. Tu serás chamado Israel". E Deus lhe deu o nome de Israel.

¹¹ Deus lhe disse: "Eu sou o Deus Todo Poderoso. Frutifica e multiplica-te. Uma nação e uma multidão de nações virão de ti e haverá reis entre teus descendentes. ¹² A terra que dei a Abraão e a Isaque darei a ti e também a teus descendentes". ¹³ E Deus subiu de diante dele, do lugar onde Deus falou com Jacó.

¹⁴ Jacó levantou uma coluna no lugar onde Deus havia lhe falado, uma coluna de pedra. Ele derramou sobre ela uma oferta de libação, e também azeite. ¹⁵ E Jacó deu o nome Betel ao lugar onde Deus falou com ele.

¹⁶ Eles partiram de Betel. Enquanto ainda estavam a alguma distância de Efrata, Raquel entrou em trabalho de parto. Foi-lhe muito difícil dar à luz. ¹⁷ Enquanto estava nas fortes dores de parto, a parteira lhe disse: "Não temas, pois terás outro filho". ¹⁸ Como estava morrendo, em seu último suspiro nomeou-o Benoni, entretanto seu pai lhe chamou Benjamim. ¹⁹ Raquel morreu e foi enterrada no caminho para Efrata (que é Belém). ²⁰ Jacó levantou uma coluna sobre seu túmulo. É a marca de seu túmulo até os dias de hoje.

²¹ Israel partiu e armou sua tenda além da torre de Migdal-Éder. ²² Enquanto Israel estava vivendo naquela terra, Rúben deitou-se com Bila, concubina de seu pai e Israel ouviu a respeito. Os filhos de Jacó eram doze:

²³ com Lia, ele teve Rúben, o primogênito, Simeão, Levi, Judá, Issacar e Zebulom; ²⁴ com Raquel, teve José e Benjamim; ²⁵ com Bila, serva de Raquel, teve Dã e Naftali;

²⁶ com Zilpa, serva de Lia, teve Gade e Aser. Todos esses são os filhos de Jacó, os quais nasceram em Padã-Arã. ²⁷ Jacó foi até Isaque, seu pai, em Manre, Quiriate-Arba (a mesma que Hebrom), onde peregrinaram Abraão e Isaque.

²⁸ Isaque viveu cento e oitenta anos. ²⁹ Expirou, morreu e foi recolhido aos seus ancestrais idoso e cheio de dias. Esaú e Jacó, seus filhos, sepultaram-no.

Capítulo 36

¹ Estes são os descendentes de Esaú, também chamado de Edom. ² Estas são as mulheres que Esaú tomou dentre as filhas de Canaã: Ada, a filha de Elom, o heteu; Aolibama, a filha de Ana, neta de Zibeão, o heveu; ³ e Basemate, filha de Ismael, irmã de Nebaiote.

⁴ De Esaú, Ada teve Elifaz, e Basemate teve Reuel. ⁵ Aolibama teve Jeús, Jalão e Corá. Esses são os filhos de Esaú que nasceram na terra de Canaã.

⁶ Esaú levou suas mulheres, seus filhos, suas filhas, todos os membros de sua casa e seu gado, todos os seus animais e possessões, que havia adquirido na terra de Canaã, e foi para uma terra distante do seu irmão Jacó. ⁷ Ele fez isso porque suas posses eram muitas para habitarem juntos. A terra onde haviam se estabelecido não podia sustentá-los por causa dos rebanos que possuíam. ⁸ Por isso, Esaú, também conhecido como Edom, estabeleceu-se na região montanhosa de Seir.

⁹ Estes foram os descendentes de Esaú, o ancestral dos edomitas, habitantes na região montanhosa de Seir. ¹⁰ E estes eram os nomes dos filhos de Esaú: Elifaz, filho de Ada, mulher de Esaú; Reuel, filho de Basemate, mulher de Esaú. ¹¹ Os filhos de Elifaz foram: Temã, Omar, Zefô, Gatã e Quenaz. ¹² Timna era concubina de Elifaz, filho de Esaú, deu à luz Amaleque. Esses foram os netos de Ada, mulher de Esaú.

¹³ Estes foram os filhos de Reuel: Naate, Zerá, Samá e Mizá. Esses foram os filhos de Basemate, mulher de Esaú. ¹⁴ Estes foram os filhos de Aolibama, mulher de Esaú, filha de Aná, filho de Zibeão. Ela teve de Esaú Jeús, Jalão e Corá.

¹⁵ Estas foram os chefes dos descendentes de Esaú: os descendentes de Elifaz, o primogênito de Esaú, os chefes Temã, Omar, Zefô, Quenaz, ¹⁶ Corá, Gatã e Amaleque. Os chefes que nasceram a Elifaz na terra de Edom; esses eram netos de Ada.

¹⁷ Estes foram os chefes de Reuel, filho de Esaú: Naate, Zerá, Sama e Mizá. Esses foram os chefes que descenderam de Reuel na terra de Edom. Eram netos de Basemate, mulher de Esaú. ¹⁸ Estes foram os chefes de Aolibama, mulher de Esaú: Jeús, Jalão e Corá. Esses foram os chefes que descenderam de Aolibama, mulher de Esaú, filha de Aná. ¹⁹ Esses são os descendentes de Esaú, que é Edom, e seus chefes.

²⁰ Estes foram os filhos de Seir, o horeu, moradores daquela terra: Lotã, Sobal, Zibeão, Anás, ²¹ Disom, Eser e Disã. Esses foram os chefes dos horeus, os habitantes de Seir na terra de Edom. ²² Os filhos de Lotã foram: Hori e Hemã; Timna era irmã de Lotã.

²³ Foram estes os filhos de Sobal: Alvã, Manaate, Ebal, Sefô e Onã. ²⁴ Estes foram os filhos de Zibeão: Aías e Aná; este é o Aná que encontrou as fontes termais no deserto, enquanto levava às pastagens os jumentos de Zibeão, seu pai.

²⁵ Estes foram os filhos de Aná: Disom e Aolibama, filha de Aná. ²⁶ E estes foram os filhos de Disom: Hendã, Esbã, Itrã e Querã. ²⁷ Estes foram os filhos de Eser: Bilã, Zaavã e Acã. ²⁸ Estes são os filhos de Disã: Uz e Arã.

²⁹ Estes foram os chefes dos horeus: o chefe Lotã, o chefe Sobal, o chefe Zibeão, o chefe Aná, ³⁰ o chefe Disom, o chefe Eser e o chefe Disã; esses foram os chefes dos horeus, de acordo com lista dos chefes na terra de Seir.

³¹ Estes foram os reis que reinaram na terra de Edom antes de qualquer um ter reinado sobre os israelitas: ³² Belá, filho de Beor, reinou em Edom; e o nome de sua cidade era Dinabá. ³³ Quando Belá morreu, Jobabe, filho de Zerá, reinou em seu lugar.

³⁴ Quando Jobabe morreu, Husã, da terra dos temanitas, reinou em seu lugar. ³⁵ Quando Husã morreu, então, Hadade, filho de Bedade, que derrotou os midianitas no campo de Moabe, reinou em seu lugar. O nome de sua cidade era Avite. ³⁶ Quando Hadade morreu, Sâmela de Masreca reinou em seu lugar.

³⁷ Sâmela morreu, e, então, Saul de Reobote, junto ao rio, reinou em seu lugar. ³⁸ Quando Saul morreu, Baal-Hanã, filho de Acbor, reinou em seu lugar. ³⁹ Quando Baal-Hanã morreu, Hadar reinou em seu lugar. O nome da sua cidade era Paú; e sua mulher era Meetabel, filha de Matrede, neta de Mezaabe.

⁴⁰ Estes foram os nomes dos chefes dos descendentes de Esaú, de acordo com suas tribos e regiões, por seus nomes: Timna, Alva, Jetete, ⁴¹ Aolibama, Elá, Pinom, ⁴² Quenaz, Temã, Mibzar, ⁴³ Magdiel e Irão. Esses foram os chefes das tribos de Edom, de acordo com suas habitações, na terra que tinham possuído. Esse foi Esaú, o pai dos edomitas.

Capítulo 37

¹ Jacó habitou na terra onde seu pai tinha vivido, na terra de Canaã. ² Estes foram os eventos relacionados a Jacó. José, que era um jovem de dezessete anos de idade, estava cuidando do rebanho com seus irmãos. Ele estava com os filhos de Bila e os filhos de Zilpa, esposas de seu pai. José trouxe ao seu pai uma notícia desfavorável sobre eles.

³ E Israel amava José mais que todos os seus filhos, pois ele era o filho de sua velhice. Ele fez uma bela túnica para ele. ⁴ Seus irmãos viram que seu pai o amava mais que a todos eles. Odiaram-no e não falavam cordialmente com ele.

⁵ José teve um sonho e o relatou aos seus irmãos. Eles o odiaram ainda mais. ⁶ Ele lhes disse: "Por favor, escutai este sonho que tive.

⁷ Eis que estávamos amarrando fardos de grãos no campo e meu fardo se levantou e ficou em pé e seus fardos rodearam e se curvaram ao meu fardo". ⁸ Seus irmãos disseram-lhe: "Reinarás mesmo sobre nós? Governarás, de fato, sobre nós?". Eles odiaram-no ainda mais por seus sonhos e suas palavras.

⁹ Ele teve outro sonho e o contou aos seus irmãos. Ele disse: "Eis que tive outro sonho: o sol e a lua e onze estrelas se curvavam diante de mim". ¹⁰ Ele o contou ao seu pai, assim como aos seus irmãos e seu pai o repreendeu. Disse-lhe: "O que é este sonho que tiveste? Eu, tua mãe e teus irmãos iremos, de fato, curvar-nos ao chão perante ti?". ¹¹ Seus irmãos estavam com ciúmes dele, mas seu pai manteve a questão em mente.

¹² Seus irmãos foram cuidar do rebanho de seu pai em Siquém. ¹³ Israel disse a José: "Teus irmãos não estão cuidando do rebanho em Siquém? Vem e te enviarei a eles". José lhe disse: "Estou pronto". ¹⁴ Ele lhe disse: "Vai agora, verifica se teus irmãos e o rebanho estão bem e traze-me notícias". Então, Jacó enviou-lhe para fora do vale de Hebrom e José foi a Siquém.

¹⁵ Um certo homem encontrou José e eis que ele estava perdido em um campo. O homem perguntou-lhe: "O que procuras?". ¹⁶ José disse: "Estou procurando meus irmãos. Dize-me, por favor, onde eles estão cuidando do rebanho". ¹⁷ O homem disse: "Eles deixaram este lugar, pois ouvi-os dizer: 'Vamos para Dotã'". José foi atrás dos seus irmãos e os encontrou em Dotã.

¹⁸ Eles o viram de longe e, antes que ele se aproximasse, conspiraram contra ele para matá-lo. ¹⁹ Seus irmãos disseram uns aos outros: "Eis que o sonhador se aproxima. ²⁰ Vamos, agora, matá-lo e jogá-lo dentro de uma destas cisternas. E diremos: 'Um animal selvagem o devorou'. Veremos o que será de seus sonhos".

²¹ Rúben ouviu isso, livrou-o de suas mãos e disse: "Não vamos tirar a sua vida". ²² Rúben disse a eles: "Não derrameis sangue. Jogai-o nesta cova no deserto, todavia não ponhais a mão nele". Ele planejava resgatar José de suas mãos para fazê-lo retornar ao seu pai.

²³ Aconteceu que, quando José chegou a seus irmãos, eles o despiram de sua bela túnica. ²⁴ Pegaram-no e o jogaram na cisterna, que estava vazia e sem água.

²⁵ Eles se sentaram para comer pão. Levantaram seus olhos e eis que viram uma caravana de ismaelitas vindo de Gileade, com seus camelos, carregando especiarias, bálsamo e mirra, que eles levavam para o Egito. ²⁶ Disse Judá aos seus irmãos: "Que lucro teremos se matarmos nosso irmão e encobrirmos seu sangue?

²⁷ Vinde, vamos vendê-lo aos ismaelitas e não coloquemos nossas mãos sobre ele, pois ele é nosso irmão, nossa carne". Seus irmãos o escutaram. ²⁸ Quando os mercadores midianitas passaram, seus irmãos ergueram José, fazendo-o sair da cisterna e o venderam por vinte siclos de prata aos ismaelitas. Os ismaelitas levaram José ao Egito.

²⁹ Quando Rúben retornou à cisterna, eis que José não estava lá. Ele rasgou suas roupas ³⁰ e, voltando aos seus irmãos, disse: "O rapaz não está lá. E eu, para onde irei?".

³¹ Então, eles pegaram a túnica de José, mataram um cabrito e mergulharam a túnica no sangue. ³² Depois a levaram ao seu pai e disseram: "Encontramos isto. Por favor, vê se é a túnica do teu filho ou não". ³³ Jacó reconheceu a veste e disse: "É do meu filho. Um animal selvagem o devorou. José certamente foi despedaçado".

³⁴ Jacó rasgou suas roupas e colocou uma roupa de saco sobre seu quadril. E sofreu luto por seu filho por muitos dias. ³⁵ Todos os seus filhos e filhas se levantaram para confortá-lo, mas ele se recusou ser consolado, dizendo: "De fato, irei ao sheol lamentando por meu filho". Seu pai chorou por ele. ³⁶ E os midianitas o venderam a Potifar no Egito, um oficial do Faraó, capitão da guarda real.

Capítulo 38

¹ Naquele tempo, Judá deixou seus irmãos e permaneceu com um homem de Adulão, cujo nome era Hira. ² Ali, ele encontrou a filha de um cananeu, cujo nome era Suá. Ele a tomou por mulher e se deitou com ela.

³ Ela engravidou, teve um filho e deram-lhe o nome de Er. Ela engravidou novamente e deu à luz um filho e ⁴ o chamou Onã. ⁵ Novamente, teve um filho e o chamou Selá. Foi em Quezibe que ela o deu à luz.

⁶ Judá encontrou uma esposa para o seu primogênito Er, cujo nome era Tamar. ⁷ Er, o primogênito de Judá, era mau aos olhos de Yahweh e Yahweh o matou.

⁸ Judá disse a Onã: "Deita-te com a esposa do teu irmão, cumpre teu papel de cunhado para com ela e dá um filho para teu irmão". ⁹ Onã sabia que a criança não seria dele. Sempre que se deitava com a esposa do seu irmão, derramava o sêmen no chão para que não desse um filho para seu irmão. ¹⁰ O que ele fazia era mau aos olhos de Yahweh e Yahweh também o matou.

¹¹ Então, Judá disse a Tamar, sua nora: "Permanece como viúva na casa de teu pai até que Selá, meu filho, cresça". Pois temeu: "Ele pode moorrer, assim como seus irmãos". Tamar partiu e viveu na casa de seu pai.

¹² Após um longo tempo, a filha de Suá, esposa de Judá, faleceu. Judá foi confortado e subiu aos tosqueadores de suas ovelhas em Timnate, ele e seu amigo Hira, o adulamita. ¹³ Disseram a Tamar: "Eis que teu sogro está indo a Timnate tosquiar suas ovelhas". ¹⁴ Ela tirou suas vestes de viúva, cobriu-se e envolveu-se com seu véu. Ela se sentou no portão de Enaim, próximo à estrada para Timnate. Viu que Selá havia crescido, mas ela não havia sido dada a ele como esposa.

¹⁵ Quando Judá a viu, pensou que era uma prostituta, por estar com o rosto coberto. ¹⁶ Ele foi até ela na estrada e disse: "Vem, por favor, deixa-me deitar contigo", pois ele não sabia que ela era sua nora; ela disse: "O que me darás para que deites comigo?".

¹⁷ Ele disse: "Enviar-te-ei um cabrito do rebanho". Ela disse: "Tu me darás garantia até que o envies a mim?". ¹⁸ Ele disse: "Que garantia posso dar-te?". E ela disse: "Teu selo, teu cordão e o cajado que está em tua mão". Ele os deu a ela, deitou-se com ela e ela engravidou dele.

¹⁹ Ela se levantou e partiu. Tirou seu véu e vestiu as vestes de sua viuvez. ²⁰ Judá enviou o cabrito do rebanho com seu amigo adulamita para receber a garantia das mãos da mulher, mas ele não a encontrou.

²¹ Então, o adulamita perguntou aos homens do local: "Onde está a prostituta do templo que estava na estrada de Enaim?". Eles disseram: "Não havia prostituta do templo aqui". ²² Ele retornou a Judá e disse: "Não a encontrei. Também os homens do local disseram: 'Não havia prostituta do templo aqui'". ²³ Judá disse: "Deixa que ela fique com os itens para que não sejamos razão de vergonha. De fato, enviei este cabrito, mas não a encontraste".

²⁴ Aconteceu que, após três meses, foi dito a Judá: "Tamar, tua nora, prostituiu-se e está grávida". Judá disse: "Traze-a aqui e deixa-a ser queimada". ²⁵ Quando ela foi trazida, enviou ao seu sogro uma mensagem: "Estou grávida do homem que é dono destas coisas". Ela disse mais: "Reconhece, por favor, a quem pertencem estes: o selo, o cordão e o cajado". ²⁶ Judá reconheceu os itens e disse: "Ela é mais justa do que eu, visto que não a dei como esposa a Selá, meu filho". Ele não se deitou com ela novamente.

²⁷ Sucedeu que, chegada a hora de ela dar à luz, eis que gêmeos estavam em seu ventre. ²⁸ Quando ela estava parindo, um bebê colocou uma mão para fora e a parteira pegou um fio escarlate e amarrou-o em sua mão e disse: "Este veio primeiro".

²⁹ Todavia ele recolheu sua mão de volta e eis que seu irmão saiu primeiro. A parteira disse: "Como quebraste a ordem!". E ele foi chamado Perez. ³⁰ Então, seu irmão saiu, o que tinha um fio escarlate em sua mão, e ele foi chamado Zerá.

Capítulo 39

¹ José foi levado ao Egito. Potifar, um oficial de Faraó que era capitão da guarda e egípcio, comprou-o dos ismaelitas que o haviam levado para lá. ² Yahweh estava com José e este se tornou próspero. José, então, passou a morar com seu senhor egípcio.

³ Seu senhor viu que Yahweh estava com ele e que Yahweh prosperava tudo que ele fazia. ⁴ José encontrou favor diante dos olhos de seu senhor, a quem servia. Potifar o fez administrador de sua casa, e colocou sob seus cuidados tudo que possuía.

⁵ Desde que o colocou como administrador de sua casa e de tudo o que possuía, Yahweh abençoou o lar do egípcio por causa de José. A bênção de Yahweh estava em todas as coisas que Potifar tinha em sua casa e em seu campo. ⁶ Potifar pôs tudo sobre os cuidados de José. Ele não tinha que pensar sobre nada exceto sobre a comida que comia. José era formoso de porte e de aparência.

⁷ E aconteceu que, depois disso, a mulher de seu senhor desejou José. Ela disse: "Deita-te comigo". ⁸ Mas ele recusou e disse para ela: "Escuta: meu senhor não precisa se preocupar sobre o que eu faço na casa. Ele pôs tudo sob meus cuidados. ⁹ Ninguém é superior a mim nesta casa. Ele não vedou nada a mim, a não ser a ti, porque tu és a mulher dele. Como poderia eu cometer este grande mal e pecar perante Deus?".

¹⁰ Ela falou com José dia após dia, mas ele se recusava a dormir ou estar com ela. ¹¹ Mas, certo dia, ele chegou à casa onde trabalhava e nenhum dos que ali trabalhavam estavam lá. ¹² Ela o pegou pelas roupas e disse: "Deita-te comigo". Ele, porém, deixando suas roupas nas mãos dela, escapou e fugiu para fora.

¹³ Quando ela viu que ele tinha deixado suas roupas em suas mãos e fugiu para fora, ¹⁴ chamou um dos homens da casa e disse para ele: "Vede, Potifar trouxe um hebreu para nos insultar. Ele veio para deitar-se comigo e eu gritei. ¹⁵ Quando me escutou gritando, deixou suas roupas comigo, fugiu e foi para fora".

¹⁶ Ela deixou a roupa dele perto de si até que o seu senhor chegou em casa. ¹⁷ E deu para ele essa explicação: "O servo hebreu que nos trouxeste veio para me insultar. ¹⁸ Quando eu gritei, ele deixou suas roupas comigo e fugiu para fora".

¹⁹ Então, quando o seu senhor ouviu a explicação da mulher: "Foi isso o que seu servo fez comigo", Potifar ficou muito bravo. ²⁰ O senhor de José o pegou e o colocou na prisão, um lugar onde ficavam confinados os prisioneiros do rei. Ele ficou na prisão.

²¹ Mas Yahweh estava com José e era fiel a ele e o favoreceu aos olhos do carcereiro. ²² O carcereiro confiou os prisioneiros a José para que cuidasse deles. Qualquer coisa que acontecesse, José estava encarregado disso. ²³ O carcereiro não se preocupava com nada que estava sob seus cuidados porque Yahweh estava com José. Qualquer coisa que fizesse, Yahweh o prosperava.

Capítulo 40

¹ Sucedeu, depois dessas coisas, que o copeiro e o padeiro do rei do Egito ofenderam seu mestre, rei do Egito. ² Faraó indignou-se com seus dois oficiais, o copeiro chefe e o padeiro chefe. ³ Ele os colocou em custódia na prisão do capitão da guarda, na mesma prisão onde José estava preso.

⁴ O capitão da guarda colocou José a cargo deles para que os servisse. Eles permaneceram sob custódia por algum tempo. ⁵ Ambos sonharam um sonho — o copeiro e o padeiro do rei do Egito os quais estavam na prisão — cada homem sonhou seu próprio sonho, na mesma noite, e cada sonho teve sua própria interpretação.

⁶ Quando José foi até eles pela manhã, observou que eles estavam tristes. ⁷ Ele perguntou aos oficiais de Faraó que estavam com ele na prisão: "Por que estais com o semblante tão triste hoje?". ⁸ Eles responderam: "Nós tivemos um sonho e ninguém consegue interpretá-lo". José disse para eles: "Não pertencem a Deus as interpretações? Contai-me por favor".

⁹ O copeiro chefe contou seu sonho a José dizendo: "No meu sonho, contemplava uma videira na minha frente. ¹⁰ Na videira, havia três ramos. Enquanto ela estava brotando, suas flores saíram e seus cachos davam uvas maduras. ¹¹ A taça de Faraó estava na minha mão. Eu peguei as uvas e as expremi na taça de Faraó e coloquei a taça em suas mãos".

¹² José disse a ele: esta é a interpretação desse sonho: "Os três ramos são três dias. ¹³ Dentro de três dias, Faraó erguerá sua cabeça e te mudará de posição, restaurando-te como oficial dele. Tu servirás a taça de Faraó nas mãos dele, como quando eras seu copeiro.

¹⁴ Mas lembra-te de mim quando estiver tudo bem contigo; peço-te que tenhas compaixão, falando de mim a Faraó e tira-me desta prisão. ¹⁵ De fato, eu fui sequestrado da terra dos hebreus. Aqui também não fiz nada para que me colocassem nesta prisão".

¹⁶ Quando o padeiro chefe viu que a interpretação era favorável, ele disse a José: "Eu também tive um sonho, e contemplei três cestas de pão na minha cabeça. ¹⁷ Na cesta do topo, havia todos os tipos de assados para Faraó, mas os pássaros comeram da cesta que estava na minha cabeça".

¹⁸ José respondeu e disse: "Esta é a interpretação: as três cestas são três dias. ¹⁹ Dentro de três dias, Faraó erguerá a tua cabeça e serás enforcado em uma árvore e as aves comerão a tua carne".

²⁰ No terceiro dia, era o aniversário do Faraó. Ele deu um banquete para todos os seus servos. Ele "levantou" a cabeça do copeiro-mor e a cabeça do padeiro-mor entre seus servos. ²¹ Ele reabilitou o copeiro-mor para a sua responsabilidade e este colocou a taça na mão de Faraó novamente. ²² Mas ele enforcou o padeiro-mor, assim como José havia interpretado para eles. ²³ Mas o copeiro-mor não se lembrou de José; ele o esqueceu.

Capítulo 41

¹ Passados dois anos inteiros, Faraó teve um sonho. Eis que ele estava em pé junto ao Nilo. ² De repente, sete vacas subiram do Nilo, desejáveis e gordas, e pastavam nos juncos. ³ Logo, depois delas, sete outras vacas subiram do rio, indesejáveis e magras. Elas pararam junto às outras vacas à beira do rio.

⁴ Então, as vacas indesejáveis e magras comeram as sete vacas desejáveis e gordas. Então, Faraó acordou. ⁵ Depois, ele voltou a dormir e sonhou uma segunda vez. De repente, sete espigas de grão brotaram de um mesmo caule, saudáveis e boas. ⁶ Eis que, depois delas, brotaram sete espigas, magras e queimadas pelo vento leste.

⁷ As espigas magras engoliram as setes espigas saudáveis. Faraó acordou, e eis que tinha sido um sonho. ⁸ Aconteceu que, na manhã seguinte, seu espírito estava perturbado. Ele mandou chamar todos os mágicos e sábios do Egito. Faraó contou-lhes seus sonhos, mas ninguém conseguiu interpretá-los para Faraó.

⁹ Então, o chefe dos copeiros disse a Faraó: "Hoje estou pensando em minhas ofensas. ¹⁰ Faraó estava irritado com seus servos, e me pôs sobre custódia na casa do capitão da guarda, a mim e ao chefe dos padeiros. ¹¹ Nós tivemos um sonho na mesma noite, ele e eu. Sonhamos cada um o seu sonho, cada sonho com a sua interpretação.

¹² Estava conosco um jovem hebreu, servo do capitão da guarda. Contamos a ele nossos sonhos, e ele os interpretou. Ele interpretou para cada um de nós conforme o seu sonho. ¹³ E aconteceu conforme ele nos havia interpretado. Faraó me restaurou ao meu cargo, porém, ele enforcou o outro".

¹⁴ Então, Faraó mandou chamar José. Rapidamente, tiraram-no da masmorra. Ele se barbeou, trocou de roupa e foi até Faraó. ¹⁵ Faraó disse para José: "Eu tive um sonho, mas não há quem o interprete. Porém, ouvi dizer a teu respeito que, quando ouves um sonho, consegues interpretá-lo". ¹⁶ José respondeu a Faraó, dizendo: "Não sou eu, mas Deus responderá com favor a Faraó".

¹⁷ Faraó falou a José: "Em meu sonho, eis que eu estava em pé, à beira do Nilo. ¹⁸ De repente, sete vacas subiram do Nilo gordas e desejáveis, e pastavam entre os juncos.

¹⁹ Logo, depois delas, outras sete vacas subiram, uma após outra, fracas, muito indesejáveis e magras. Nunca vi em toda a terra do Egito coisas tão indesejáveis quanto essas. ²⁰ As vacas magras e indesejáveis devoraram as sete primeiras vacas gordas. ²¹ Quando as devoraram, não se podia saber que elas as haviam comido, pois permaneciam tão indesejáveis como antes. Então, eu acordei.

²² Eu vi em meu sonho, e eis que sete espigas subiram, de um mesmo caule, cheias e boas. ²³ Eis que surgiram outras sete espigas murchas, magras e queimadas pelo vento leste. ²⁴ As espigas magras engoliram as sete espigas boas. Eu contei estes sonhos aos mágicos, mas não houve quem o interpretasse para mim".

²⁵ José disse a Faraó: "Os sonhos de Faraó são a mesma coisa. O que Deus está por fazer Ele declarou a Faraó. ²⁶ As setes vacas boas são sete anos, e as sete espigas boas são sete anos. Os sonhos são a mesma coisa.

²⁷ As sete vacas magras e indesejáveis que subiram depois são sete anos, e também as sete espigas magras e queimadas pelo vento leste serão sete anos de fome. ²⁸ Isso foi o que eu disse a Faraó. O que Deus está por fazer Ele revelou a Faraó. ²⁹ Vê: sete anos de grande fartura virão em toda a terra do Egito.

³⁰ Depois deles, virão sete anos de fome, e toda a fartura será esquecida na terra do Egito, e a fome devastará a terra. ³¹ A fartura não será lembrada na terra devido à fome que virá em seguida, pois será muito severa. ³² Quanto ao sonho de Faraó ter se repetido, é porque isso foi estabelecido por Deus, e Deus o fará em breve.

³³ Ora, que Faraó encontre um homem entendido e sábio, e coloque-o sobre a terra do Egito. ³⁴ Que Faraó nomeie supervisores sobre a terra, e que eles tomem a quinta parte dos produtos do Egito nos sete anos de fartura.

³⁵ Que ajuntem todos os mantimentos desses bons anos que estão chegando e armazenem o cereal sob a autoridade de Faraó, para alimento a ser usado nas cidades. Que eles o preservem. ³⁶ O alimento será um suprimento para a terra durante os sete anos de fome que haverá na terra do Egito. Dessa forma, a terra não será devastada pela fome".

³⁷ Esse conselho foi bom aos olhos de Faraó e aos olhos de todos os seus servos. ³⁸ Faraó disse aos seus servos: "Podemos encontrar um homem como este, em quem o Espírito de Deus habita?".

³⁹ Então, Faraó disse a José: "Visto que Deus lhe mostrou tudo isso, ninguém é tão entendido e sábio como tu. ⁴⁰ Tu estarás sobre a minha casa; segundo a tua palavra, todo o meu povo será governado. Somente no trono eu serei maior que tu. ⁴¹ Faraó disse a José: "Vê, eu te ponho sobre toda a terra do Egito".

⁴² Faraó tirou o anel de selar de sua mão e colocou-o na mão de José. Ele o vestiu com roupas de linho fino e colocou uma corrente de ouro no pescoço dele. ⁴³ Ele o fez subir à segunda carruagem que possuía. Homens gritaram perante ele: "Dobrai o joelho". Faraó o pôs sobre toda a terra do Egito.

⁴⁴ Faraó disse a José: "Eu sou Faraó e, sem a tua permissão, nenhum homem levantará a mão ou pé em toda a terra do Egito". ⁴⁵ Faraó chamou José pelo nome de Zafenate-Paneia. Deu-lhe Asenate por esposa, que era filha de Potífera, sacerdote de Om. José percorreu a terra do Egito.

⁴⁶ José tinha trinta anos de idade quando ele se apresentou perante Faraó, rei do Egito. José saiu da presença de Faraó e percorreu toda a terra do Egito. ⁴⁷ Nos sete anos de fartura, a terra produziu abundantemente.

⁴⁸ Ele ajuntou todo o mantimento produzido nos sete anos, na terra do Egito, e colocou o mantimento nas cidades. Ele pôs, em cada cidade, o mantimento dos campos ao redor dela. ⁴⁹ José armazenou cereais como a areia do mar, tanto que parou de contar porque foi além da conta.

⁵⁰ José teve dois filhos com Asenate, filha de Potífera, sacerdote de Om, antes dos anos de fome chegarem. ⁵¹ José chamou seu primogênito de Manassés, pois disse: "Deus me fez esquecer de todos os meus problemas e de toda a casa do meu pai". ⁵² Ele chamou seu segundo filho de Efraim, pois disse: "Deus me fez frutífero na terra da minha aflição".

⁵³ Os sete anos de fartura que houve na terra do Egito chegaram ao fim. ⁵⁴ Os sete anos de fome começaram, como José tinha dito. Havia fome em todas as terras, porém em toda a terra do Egito havia alimento.

⁵⁵ Quando toda a terra do Egito teve fome, o povo clamou em alta voz a Faraó por comida. Faraó disse aos egípicios: "Ide a José e fazei o que ele disser". ⁵⁶ A fome estava sobre toda a face da terra. José abriu todos os celeiros e vendeu aos egípicios. A fome estava severa na terra do Egito. ⁵⁷ Toda a terra vinha ao Egito para comprar cereal de José, porque a fome era severa em toda a terra.

Capítulo 42

¹ Ora, Jacó soube que havia cereal no Egito. Ele disse aos seus filhos: "Por que olhais uns para os outros?". ² Ele disse: "Vede, eu ouvi dizer que no Egito existe cereal. Desçei até lá e comprai para nós, para que vivamos e não morramos". ³ Os dez irmãos de José desceram para comprar cereal do Egito. ⁴ Mas Benjamim, irmão de José, Jacó não o mandou com seus irmãos, pois temia que algum mal lhe acontecesse.

⁵ Os filhos de Israel chegaram para comprar juntamente com outras pessoas que vinham, porque a fome estava presente na terra de Canaã. ⁶ Agora, José era o governador da terra. Era ele quem vendia para todo o povo da terra. Os irmãos de José vieram e se curvaram diante dele, baixando seus rostos para o chão.

⁷ José viu seus irmãos e os reconheceu, mas ele se disfarçou e falou asperamente com eles, dizendo-lhes "De onde viestes?". Eles disseram: "Da terra de Canaã, para comprar comida". ⁸ José reconheceu os seus irmãos, porém eles não o reconheceram.

⁹ Então, José se lembrou dos sonhos que tivera sobre eles, e lhes disse: "Vós sois espiões! Viestes ver as partes indefesas da terra". ¹⁰ Eles lhe disseram: "Não, senhor meu. Teus servos vieram comprar comida. ¹¹ Nós somos filhos de um único homem. Somos homens honestos. Teus servos não são espiões".

¹² Ele lhes disse: "Não, mas viestes ver as partes indefesas da terra". ¹³ Eles disseram: "Nós, teus servos, somos doze irmãos, filhos de um único homem da terra de Canaã. O mais novo está com nosso pai, e um irmão não vive mais".

¹⁴ José disse-lhes: "É como eu vos disse: vós sois espiões. ¹⁵ Por isso, sereis testados. Pela vida do Faraó, vós não saireis daqui, a menos que teu irmão mais novo venha aqui. ¹⁶ Enviai um de vós para buscar teu irmão. Ficareis na prisão, para que vossas palavras sejam testadas, se há verdade em vós". ¹⁷ Ele os pôs na prisão por três dias.

¹⁸ José disse-lhes no terceiro dia: "Fazei isso e vivei, pois eu temo a Deus. ¹⁹ Se sois homens honestos, deixai um dos vossos irmãos ficar confinado nessa prisão, mas vós ireis levar cereal por causa da fome de vossas casas. ²⁰ Trazei vosso irmão mais novo a mim, para que as vossas palavras sejam confirmadas e não morrereis". Então, eles o fizeram.

²¹ Eles disseram uns ao outros: "Nós somos verdadeiramente culpados em relação ao nosso irmão, porque vimos a aflição de sua alma, quando ele suplicava conosco e não o ouvimos. Por isso, esta angústia veio sobre nós". ²² Rúben respondeu-lhes: "Eu não vos disse: 'não pequeis contra o menino', mas vós não me ouvistes? Agora vede: o sangue dele é cobrado de nós".

²³ Eles não sabiam que José os entendia, porque havia um intérprete entre eles. ²⁴ Ele se afastou e chorou. José voltou e falou com eles. Ele tomou Simeão deles e o amarrou diante dos seus olhos. ²⁵ Então, José ordenou seus servos que enchessem com cereal as bagagens dos seus irmãos, colocassem de volta o dinheiro de cada um em seus sacos e lhes dessem provisão para a jornada. E isso lhes foi feito.

²⁶ Os irmãos carregaram seus jumentos com seu cereal e partiram dali. ²⁷ Quando um deles abriu o seu saco de cereal para dar comida ao seu jumento em um alojamento, ele viu seu dinheiro. Eis que ele estava na boca do saco. ²⁸ Ele disse para seus irmãos: "Meu dinheiro foi posto de volta. Vede-o aqui na boca do saco de cereal". Seus corações desfaleceram e, tremendo, viraram-se uns para os outros, dizendo: "O que é isto que Deus fez conosco?".

²⁹ Eles foram a Jacó, seu pai, na terra de Canaã, e lhe contaram o que lhes acontecera. Eles disseram: ³⁰ "O homem, o senhor da terra, falou duramente conosco e pensou que nós fôssemos espiões da terra. ³¹ Nós dissemos para ele: 'Somos homens honestos. Não somos espiões. ³² Somos doze irmãos, filhos do nosso pai. Um não vive mais e o mais novo está hoje com nosso pai na terra de Canaã'.

³³ O homem, o senhor da terra, disse-nos: 'Com isso, eu saberei que sois homens honestos. Esteja um de vossos irmãos comigo, levai cereal por causa da fome em vossas casas, e ide por vosso caminho. ³⁴ Trazei vosso irmão mais novo para mim. Então, eu saberei que vós não sois espiões, mas que sois homens honestos. Então, soltarei vosso irmão pra vós, e podereis negociar na terra'".

³⁵ Aconteceu que, quando esvaziaram suas bagagens, eis que cada um dos homens estava com sua bolsa de dinheiro no saco de cereal. Quando eles e seu pai viram suas bolsas de dinheiro, ficaram com medo. ³⁶ Jacó, seu pai, disse-lhes: "Estais me tirando meus filhos. José não está mais vivo, Simeão se foi, e quereis levar Benjamim. Todas essas coisas estão contra mim".

³⁷ Rúben falou para seu pai: "Podes matar meus dois filhos se eu não trouxer Benjamim de volta para ti. Coloca-o em minhas mãos, e eu o trarei para ti de novo". ³⁸ Jacó disse: "Meu filho não descerá convosco. Pois seu irmão está morto e somente ele restou. Se lhe acontecer algum mal no caminho por onde forem, fareis meus cabelos brancos descerem com tristeza ao Sheol".

Capítulo 43

¹ A fome era severa na terra. ² Tendo eles acabado de comer o mantimento que trouxeram do Egito, disse-lhes seu pai: "Voltai e comprai para nós algum alimento".

³ Judá respondeu-lhe: "O homem fortemente nos advertiu: 'Não vereis a minha face, a menos que o vosso irmão esteja convosco'. ⁴ Se enviares conosco nosso irmão, voltaremos e compraremos alimento para ti. ⁵ Mas, se não o enviares, não voltaremos. Porque o homem nos disse: 'Não vereis a minha face, a menos que o vosso irmão esteja convosco".

⁶ Israel disse: "Por que me fizeste este mal, dizendo ao homem que tínheis outro irmão?". ⁷ Eles responderam: "O homem perguntou detalhes sobre nós e nossa família. Ele disse: 'O vosso pai ainda vive? Tendes outro irmão?'. Respondemos conforme essas perguntas. Como podíamos saber que ele diria: 'Trazei o vosso irmão?'".

⁸ Judá disse para Israel, seu pai: "Envia o rapaz comigo. Nós nos levantaremos e iremos para que vivamos e não morramos, tanto nós, como tu, e também os vossos filhos. ⁹ Eu serei a garantia por ele e tu me terás por responsável. Se eu não o trouxer de volta e o apresentar perante ti, então, serei culpado para sempre. ¹⁰ Pois, se não tivéssemos demorado, certamente já teríamos voltado aqui pela segunda vez".

¹¹ Seu pai, Israel, disse-lhes: "Se tem que ser assim, fazei isto. Peguem alguns dos melhores produtos da terra e coloquem em vossas bagagens. Levem para o homem um presente: um pouco de bálsamo e de mel, essências aromáticas e mirra, nozes de pistache e amêndoas. ¹² Levai em vossas mãos dinheiro em dobro. Levai de volta o dinheiro que foi devolvido na abertura de vossas bagagens. Talvez tenha havido algum engano.

¹³ Levai também o vosso irmão. Levantai-vos e ide para o homem. ¹⁴ Que Deus Todo Poderoso conceda Sua misericórdia perante o homem, para que ele liberte o vosso outro irmão e Benjamim. Se me forem tirados os filhos, sem filhos ficarei". ¹⁵ Os homens pegaram aquele presente e levaram em mãos o dobro de dinheiro, junto com Benjamim. Eles se levantaram, foram para o Egito, e se apresentaram diante de José.

¹⁶ Quando José viu Benjamim com eles, disse ao administrador da sua casa: "Leva os homens para dentro de casa, abate um animal e prepara-o, para que eles comam comigo, ao meio-dia". ¹⁷ O administrador fez como José dissera. Ele trouxe os homens para a casa de José.

¹⁸ Os homens estavam com medo porque foram trazidos para a casa de José. Eles disseram: "Isso é por causa do dinheiro que foi posto de volta em nossas bagagens na primeira vez que fomos trazidos, porque o homem está buscando uma oportunidade contra nós. Ele pode nos prender e nos tomar como escravos, e levar nossos jumentos". ¹⁹ Eles se aproximaram do administrador da casa de José, e falaram com ele à porta da casa, ²⁰ dizendo: "Ouve, senhor, nós viemos pela primeira vez para comprar comida.

²¹ Aconteceu que, quando chegamos ao alojamento, abrimos nossas bagagens, e eis que o valor total do dinheiro de cada um estava na abertura de sua bagagem. Nós o trouxemos de volta em nossas mãos. ²² Também trouxemos mais dinheiro em nossas mãos para comprar alimento. Não sabemos quem colocou nosso dinheiro em nossas bagagens. ²³ O administrador disse: "Paz seja convosco, não temais. O vosso Deus e o Deus do vosso pai deve ter colocado o dinheiro em vossas bagagens. Eu recebi o vosso dinheiro". Então, o administrador trouxe-lhes Simeão.

²⁴ O administrador trouxe os homens para dentro da casa de José. Ele lhes deu água, e eles lavaram seus pés. Ele deu comida aos seus jumentos. ²⁵ Eles prepararam os presentes para quando José viesse ao meio-dia, pois tinham ouvido que comeriam ali.

²⁶ Quando José chegou, eles trouxeram os presentes que estavam em suas mãos para dentro da casa, e prostraram-se diante dele, ao chão. ²⁷ Ele lhes perguntou sobre como estavam e disse: "O vosso pai, o velho homem de quem falais, está bem? Ele ainda está vivo?"

²⁸ Eles disseram: "Teu servo, nosso pai, está bem. Ele ainda está vivo". E se prostraram e se inclinaram. ²⁹ Quando levantou seus olhos, ele viu Benjamim, seu irmão, filho de sua mãe, e disse: "Este é o vosso irmão mais novo de quem falastes?". Então, disse: "Que Deus seja gracioso convosco, meu filho".

³⁰ José apressou-se para sair da sala, pois ele estava profundamente comovido por causa do seu irmão. Ele buscou um lugar para chorar, foi para seu quarto e ali chorou. ³¹ Ele lavou o seu rosto e voltou. Ele se controlou, dizendo: "Servi a comida".

³² Os servos serviram a José à parte, e aos seus irmãos separadamente. E os egípcios que ali estavam comeram à parte, porque os egípicios não podiam comer com os hebreus, pois isso era detestável para os egípcios. ³³ Os irmãos sentaram perante ele e foram colocados desde o primogênito até o mais novo, por ordem de idade. Eles estavam juntamente surpreendidos. ³⁴ José deu-lhes porções da comida que estava diante dele. Mas a porção de Benjamin era cinco vezes maior do que a de qualquer dos seus irmãos. Eles beberam e se alegraram com ele.

Capítulo 44

¹ José ordenou ao mordomo de sua casa, dizendo: "Enche as bagagens dos homens com alimento, tanto quanto conseguirem levar, e põe o dinheiro de cada homem na boca do alforje. ² Põe minha taça, a taça de prata, na boca do alforje do mais novo, assim como o dinheiro do seu cereal". O mordomo fez como José havia dito.

³ Logo de manhã, os homens foram despedidos com os seus jumentos. ⁴ Quando eles já haviam saído da cidade, mas não estavam muito distantes, José disse ao seu mordomo: "Levanta-te, segue os homens, e quando os alcançares, dize-lhes: 'Por que pagastes o bem com o mal? ⁵ Essa não é a taça na qual meu senhor bebe, e que ele usa para adivinhar? Fizestes mal, isso o que fizestes.'"

⁶ O mordomo os alcançou e repetiu-lhes essas palavras. ⁷ Eles lhe disseram: "Porque meu mestre fala tais palavras? Longe de vossos servos fazerem semelhante coisa".

⁸ Vê, o dinheiro que achamos na boca de nossas bagagens, trouxemos de volta para ti da terra de Canaã. Como, então, poderíamos roubar da casa do vosso mestre ouro ou prata? ⁹ "Aquele dentre vossos servos com quem a taça for encontrada, morra, e nós também seremos escravos do meu senhor". ¹⁰ O mordomo disse: "Ora, seja conforme as vossas palavras. Aquele com quem a taça for encontrada será meu escravo, e vós outros sereis inocentes".

¹¹ Então, cada homem apressou-se e colocou o seu saco no chão, e cada um abriu seu saco. ¹² O mordomo buscou, começando pelo mais velho e terminou pelo mais novo, e a taça foi achada no saco de Benjamim. ¹³ Então, eles rasgaram suas roupas. Cada homem carregou seu jumento e retornaram à cidade.

¹⁴ Judá chegou com seus irmãos à casa de José. Ele ainda estava lá, e prostraram-se em terra diante dele. ¹⁵ José perguntou-lhes: "O que vós fizestes? Não sabeis que um homem como eu pode adivinhar?"

¹⁶ Judá disse: "Que diremos ao meu senhor? Que falaremos? Ou como nos justificaremos? Deus descobriu a iniquidade de teus servos. Vê, seremos escravos de meu senhor, tanto nós como aquele na mão de quem a taça foi achada". ¹⁷ José disse: "Longe de mim fazer isto. O homem na mão de quem foi achada a taça, este será meu escravo, mas, quanto a vós outros, subi em paz ao vosso pai".

¹⁸ Então, Judá aproximou-se dele e disse: "Meu senhor, por favor deixe teu servo falar uma palavra aos ouvidos do meu senhor, e que a tua ira não se acenda contra teu servo, porque tu és como Faraó". ¹⁹ Meu senhor perguntou a seus servos, dizendo: 'Tendes pai ou irmão?';

²⁰ E respondemos a meu senhor: 'Temos um pai, um velho homem, e um filho de sua velhice, um pequenino. Porém, seu irmão está morto, e ele é o único que restou de sua mãe, e seu pai o ama'. ²¹ Então, tu disseste a teus servos: 'Trazei-o a mim, para que eu o veja'. ²² Depois disso, dissemos ao meu mestre: 'O jovem não pode deixar seu pai, pois seu pai morreria se ele o deixasse'.

²³ Então, tu respondeste a teus servos: 'A menos que vosso irmão mais novo desça convosco, nunca mais vereis de novo a minha face'. ²⁴ E sucedeu que, quando nós subimos para teu servo, meu pai, falamos a ele tuas palavras. ²⁵ Nosso pai disse: 'Ide novamente e comprai algum alimento'. ²⁶ Então, dissemos: 'Não podemos descer. Se nosso irmão mais novo estiver conosco, então, desceremos, pois não teremos permissão de ver a face do homem a menos que nosso irmão mais novo esteja conosco'.

²⁷ Teu servo, meu pai, disse-nos: 'Vós sabeis que minha mulher me deu dois filhos. ²⁸ Um saiu de perto de mim, e eu disse: "Certamente ele foi despedaçado, e nunca mais o vi". ²⁹ Ora, se também tirardes este de mim, e algum desastre lhe acontecer, fareis os meus cabelos brancos descerem com tristeza ao Sheol'.

³⁰ Ora, portanto, quando eu voltar para o teu servo, meu pai, e o jovem não estiver conosco, visto que sua alma está ligada à alma do garoto, ³¹ acontecerá que, quando ele vir que o garoto não está conosco, ele morrerá. Teus servos faremos com que os cabelos brancos do teu servo, nosso pai, desçam com tristeza ao Sheol. ³² Pois o teu servo se fez de garantia pelo garoto para o meu pai, dizendo: 'Se eu não o trouxer a ti, então, levarei a culpa diante do meu pai para sempre'.

³³ Ora, portanto, por favor, permite que teu servo fique no lugar do garoto como escravo para meu senhor, e deixa o garoto subir com seus irmãos. ³⁴ Pois, como eu posso subir para meu pai se o garoto não estiver comigo? Tenho medo de ver o mal que sobreviria ao meu pai.

Capítulo 45

¹ Então, José não conseguia se controlar diante dos servos que estavam com ele. E disse em alta voz: "Todos vós, deixai-me". Então, nenhum servo ficou diante dele, quando José se revelou para seus irmãos. ² Ele chorou em alta voz, os egípcios ouviram o choro e a casa de Faraó também ouviu. ³ José disse a seus irmãos: "Eu sou José. Meu pai ainda está vivo?". Seus irmãos não conseguiam respondê-lo pois estavam assustados em sua presença.

⁴ Então, José disse a seus irmãos: "Aproximai-vos de mim, por favor". Então, eles se aproximaram. Ele disse: "Eu sou José, vosso irmão, a quem vós vendestes para o Egito. ⁵ Não vos entristeçais, nem vos afligis por terem me vendido para cá, pois foi para preservação das vossas vidas que Deus me enviou adiante de vós. ⁶ Por dois anos, há fome nesta terra e ainda haverá cinco anos sem lavoura e colheita.

⁷ Deus me enviou até vós para preservar a vossa descendência na terra e para preservar a vossa vida com grande livramento. ⁸ Então, não fostes vós que me enviastes para cá, mas Deus; e Ele tem feito de mim um pai para Faraó, senhor de toda sua casa e governador de toda a terra do Egito.

⁹ Apressai-vos a ir ao meu pai e digam-lhe: 'Isto é o que teu filho José diz: 'Deus me fez senhor de todo o Egito. Vem até mim, não demores. ¹⁰ Habitarás na terra de Gósen e estarás perto de mim, tu e teus filhos e os filhos de teus filhos e as tuas ovelhas e os teus bois e tudo o que tens. ¹¹ Ali te sustentarei, para que não caias em pobreza, tu, tua casa e tudo que tens, pois ainda haverá cinco anos de fome'.

¹² Olha, teus olhos veem, e os olhos de meu irmão Benjamin, que é minha boca que fala convosco. ¹³ Fareis, pois, saber a meu pai a respeito de toda honra que tenho no Egito e a respeito de tudo que vistes. Apressai-vos em trazer meu pai pra cá".

¹⁴ Ele abraçou seu irmão Benjamin e os dois choraram abraçados. ¹⁵ Ele beijou todos os seus irmãos, chorando sobre eles. Depois disso, seus irmãos falaram com ele.

¹⁶ Essa notícia foi dada na casa de Faraó: "Os irmãos de José chegaram". Isso muito agradou a Faraó e a seus servos. ¹⁷ Faraó disse a José: "Diz a teus irmãos: 'Fazei isto: carregai vossos animais e ide à terra de Canaã. ¹⁸ Buscai vosso pai e vossa família e vinde até mim. Eu vos darei uma boa terra no Egito e comereis do melhor da terra'.

¹⁹ Ordena-lhes também, 'Fazei isto: levai carros da terra do Egito para vossos filhos e esposas. Trazei vosso pai e vinde. ²⁰ Não vos preocupeis com vossos bens, pois o melhor de toda a terra do Egito será vosso'".

²¹ Os filhos de Israel assim o fizeram. José lhes deu carros, como Faraó havia ordenado, e lhes deu provisão para a jornada. ²² Para todos, deu-lhes mudas de roupas, mas, para Benjamin, ele deu trezentas peças de prata e cinco mudas de roupa. ²³ Para seu pai, ele mandou isto: dez jumentos carregados com coisas boas do Egito; dez jumentas carregadas com grãos, pães e outros suprimentos para a jornada de seu pai.

²⁴ Então, ele enviou seus irmãos e eles partiram. E lhes disse: "Não brigueis pelo caminho". ²⁵ Saíram do Egito e voltaram para a terra de Canaã, terra de seu pai Jacó. ²⁶ Eles disseram a Jacó: "José ainda está vivo, e ele é o governador das terras do Egito". E seu coração ficou perplexo, pois ele não podia acreditar no que diziam.

²⁷ Disseram-lhe todas as palavras que José havia dito. Quando Jacó viu os carros que José havia enviado para levá-lo, o espírito de Jacó seu pai reviveu. ²⁸ E Israel disse: "É suficiente. José meu filho ainda está vivo. Eu irei vê-lo antes que eu morra".

Capítulo 46

¹ Israel partiu com tudo o que tinha e foi para Berseba. Lá ele ofereceu sacrifícios ao Deus de seu pai Isaque. ² Deus falou com Isarel em uma visão, à noite, dizendo: "Jacó, Jacó". ³ Ele disse: "Eis-me aqui". Deus disse: "Eu sou Deus, o Deus de teu pai. Não temas descer para o Egito, pois lá farei de ti uma grande nação. ⁴ Eu estarei contigo no Egito e, com certeza, te farei voltar. E José fechará teus olhos com sua própria mão".

⁵ Então, Jacó levantou-se de Berseba; e os filhos de Israel levaram Jacó seu pai, seus filhos e suas esposas, nos carros que Faraó havia mandado para carregá-lo. ⁶ Eles levaram seus gados e seus bens que haviam acumulado na terra de Canaã. E vieram para o Egito Jacó e todos os seus descendentes. ⁷ Ele levou consigo para o Egito seus filhos e os filhos de seus filhos, suas filhas e as filhas de seus filhos e todos os seus descendentes.

⁸ Estes são os nomes dos filhos de Israel que foram para o Egito: Jacó e seus filhos: Rúben, primogênito de Jacó; ⁹ os filhos de Rúben: Hanoque, Palu, Hezrom e Carmi. ¹⁰ Os filhos de Simeão: Jemuel, Jamim, Oade, Jaquim, Zoar e Saul, filho de uma cananéia. ¹¹ Os filhos de Levi: Gérson, Coate e Merari.

¹² E os filhos de Judá: Er, Onã, Selá, Perez e Zerá, porém Er e Onã morreram na terra de Canaã. Os filhos de Perez foram Hezrom e Hamul; ¹³ os filhos de Issacar: Tola, Puva, Iobe e Sinrom. ¹⁴ Os filhos de Zebulom: Serede, Elom e Jaleel. ¹⁵ Esses são os filhos de Leia, que ela deu a Jacó em Padã-Arã, além de sua filha Diná. Seus filhos e filhas foram ao todo trinta e três pessoas.

¹⁶ Os filhos de Gade: Zifiom, Hagui, Suni, Ezbom, Eri, Arodi e Areli. ¹⁷ E os filhos de Aser: Imná, Isvá, Isvi e Beria, e Sera, a irmã deles; e os filhos de Beria: Héber e Malquiel. ¹⁸ Esses são os filhos de Zilpa, que Labão deu a sua filha Leia; e esses ela deu a Jacó, dezesseis pessoas ao todo.

¹⁹ Os filhos de Raquel, mulher de Jacó: José e Benjamin. ²⁰ E nasceram a José, na terra do Egito: Manassés e Efraim, os quais lhe foram dados por Asenate, filha de Potífera, sacerdote de Om. ²¹ E os filhos de Benjamin: Belá, Bequer, Asbel, Gera, Naamã, Eí, Rôs, Mupim, Hupim e Arde. ²² Esses são os filhos de Raquel, que nasceram a Jacó, catorze pessoas ao todo.

²³ O filho de Dã: Husim. ²⁴ Os filhos de Naftali: Jazeel, Guni, Jezer e Silém. ²⁵ Esses são os filhos de Bila, que Labão deu à sua filha Raquel; e ela os deu a Jacó, sete pessoas ao todo.

²⁶ Todas as pessoas que foram com Jacó para o Egito, que eram seus descendentes, sem contar as mulheres de seus filhos, no total, eram sessenta e seis pessoas. ²⁷ Os filhos de José que lhe nasceram no Egito eram dois. Todas as pessoas da casa de Jacó que foram para o Egito eram setenta.

²⁸ Jacó enviou Judá à sua frente ao encontro de José, para que este tomasse o caminho para Gósen; e chegaram à terra de Gósen. ²⁹ José preparou sua carruagem e foi ao encontro de Israel, seu pai, em Gósen. Ele o viu, abraçou seu pescoço e chorou por muito tempo. ³⁰ Israel disse a José: "Agora já posso morrer, pois vi o teu rosto, e ainda vives".

³¹ José disse a seus irmãos e a casa de seu pai: "Subirei e relatarei ao Faraó, dizendo: 'Meus irmãos e a casa de meu pai, que estavam na terra de Canaã, vieram até mim. ³² Os homens são pastores, pois eles têm cuidado de gado. E trouxeram seus rebanhos, seus gados e tudo o que eles possuem'.

³³ Então, quando Faraó vos chamar e perguntar: 'Qual é a vossa ocupação?', ³⁴ respondereis: 'Teus servos foram homens de gado desde a nossa juventude até agora, tanto nós como nossos pais'. Fazei isso, então, vós podereis viver na terra de Gósen, pois todo pastor de rebanho é abominação para os egípcios".

Capítulo 47

¹ Depois, José foi e contou ao Faraó: "Meu pai e meus irmãos, suas ovelhas, seus rebanhos e tudo o que têm chegaram da terra de Canaã; e estão na terra de Gosén". ² Ele escolheu cinco de seus irmãos e os apresentou ao Faraó.

³ Faraó disse aos irmãos de José: "Qual é a vossa ocupação?". E eles lhe responderam: "Teus servos são pastores de ovelhas, assim como nossos antepassados". ⁴ Depois, eles disseram: "Nós viemos como forasteiros a esta terra, porque a fome é severa na terra de Canaã e não há pastos para as ovelhas de teus servos. Então, agora, por favor, deixa que teus servos vivam na terra de Gosén".

⁵ Depois, Faraó falou com José e lhe disse: "Teu pai e teus irmãos vieram a ti. ⁶ A terra do Egito está diante de ti. Que o teu pai e os teus irmãos habitem na melhor região, a terra de Gosén. Se tu conheces alguém capaz dentre eles, coloca-o como encarregado de meu rebanho".

⁷ Então, José trouxe seu pai e o apresentou a Faraó. Jacó abençoou Faraó. ⁸ Faraó disse a Jacó: "Quantos anos tens?". ⁹ Jacó lhe respondeu: "Os anos de minhas peregrinações são cento e trinta anos. Os anos de minha vida são poucos e dolorosos. Eles não têm sido longos como os de meus antepassados". ¹⁰ E Jacó abençoou Faraó e se retirou de sua presença.

¹¹ Então, José estabeleceu seu pai e seus irmãos. Ele lhes deu um território nas terras do Egito, o melhor dessa terra, na terra de Ramessés, como Faraó havia ordenado. ¹² José providenciou alimento para seu pai e seus irmãos e para toda a casa de seu pai, de acordo com o número de seus filhos.

¹³ Não havia alimento em toda aquela terra, pois a fome era severa. A terra do Egito e a terra de Canaã estavam desoladas por causa da fome. ¹⁴ José arrecadou todo o dinheiro que havia na terra do Egito e na terra de Canaã, vendendo grãos aos que ali habitavam, depois José levou o dinheiro ao palácio do Faraó.

¹⁵ Quando todo o dinheiro das terras do Egito e Canaã acabou, todos os egípcios vieram a José dizendo: "Dá-nos alimento! Deveríamos morrer em tua presença porque não temos mais dinheiro?". ¹⁶ José lhes respondeu: "Se vosso dinheiro acabou, trazei vossos rebanhos e eu vos darei alimento em troca do vosso rebanho". ¹⁷ Então, eles trouxeram seus rebanhos a José. José lhes deu alimento em troca de cavalos, ovelhas, gado e jumentos. Alimentou-os com pão em troca de todo o rebanho aquele ano.

¹⁸ Quando aquele ano terminou, eles vieram a José, no ano seguinte, dizendo: "Não esconderemos de nosso senhor que nosso dinheiro acabou, e o senhor já possui nossos rebanhos de gado. Nada restou à vista de meu senhor, exceto nossos corpos e nossas terras. ¹⁹ Por que deveríamos morrer, tanto nós como nossas terras diante de teus olhos? Compra nossas terras em troca de alimento e nós e nossas terras seremos servos do Faraó. Dá-nos sementes para que possamos viver e não morrer e para que a terra não se torne desolada".

²⁰ Assim, José adquiriu toda a terra do Egito para Faraó. Cada egípcio vendeu seus campos, pois a fome era muito severa. Dessa forma, a terra se tornou do Faraó. ²¹ E o povo se tornou escravo de um extremo a outro da terra do Egito. ²² Apenas não comprou a terra dos sacerdotes, porque aos sacerdotes eram dadas porções de alimento. Eles se sustentavam da porção que lhes era dada por Faraó. Portanto, não venderam suas terras.

²³ José disse ao povo: "Vede, eu vos comprei e comprei vossas terras hoje para o Faraó. Agora aqui estão sementes para vós e vós plantareis na terra. ²⁴ Na colheita, devereis dar a quinta parte ao Faraó e quatro partes serão vossas, para semear o campo e para servir de alimento às vossas famílias e aos vossos filhos".

²⁵ Eles responderam: "Tu salvaste nossas vidas. Achamos favor diante de teus olhos. Seremos escravos de Faraó". ²⁶ Então, José fez disso um decreto que permanece na terra do Egito até hoje: a quinta parte pertence ao Faraó. Apenas a terra dos sacerdotes não se tornou propriedade de Faraó.

²⁷ Assim Israel viveu na terra do Egito, na terra de Gosén. Seu povo ganhou posses ali. Eles frutificaram e multiplicaram-se grandemente. ²⁸ Jacó viveu na terra do Egito dezessete anos, então, os anos da vida de Jacó foram cento e quarenta e sete anos.

²⁹ Quando o tempo da morte de Israel se aproximava, ele chamou seu filho José e lhe disse: "Se agora eu encontrar favor em ti, coloca a tua mão embaixo de minha coxa e mostra-me fidelidade e confiabilidade. Por favor, não me enterres no Egito. ³⁰ Quando eu adormecer com meus pais, leva-me para fora do Egito e enterra-me junto a meus pais". José lhe respondeu: "Eu farei como disseste". ³¹ Israel disse: "Jure a mim", e José jurou a ele. Depois, Israel se inclinou sobre a cabeceira de sua cama.

Capítulo 48

¹ Aconteceu que, depois dessas coisas, veio alguém e disse a José: "Eis que teu pai está doente". Então, ele pegou seus dois filhos, Manassés e Efraim. ² Quando disseram a Jacó "Eis que teu filho José chegou para ver-te", Israel se esforçou e se sentou na cama.

³ Jacó disse a José: "O Deus Todo Poderoso me apareceu na cidade de Luz, na terra de Canaã. Ele me abençoou ⁴ e me disse: 'Eis que te farei fértil e te multiplicarei. Farei de ti uma multidão de povos e darei a teus descendentes esta terra como possessão perpétua'.

⁵ E, assim, teus dois filhos, que nasceram para ti na terra do Egito antes que eu viesse a ti no Egito, eles são meus. Efraim e Manassés serão meus, assim como Rúben e Simeão. ⁶ Os filhos que tiveres depois deles serão teus; e em nome de seus irmãos receberão sua herança. ⁷ Porque, quando vim de Padã, para minha tristeza, Raquel morreu no caminho da terra de Canaã, enquanto ainda faltava certa distância para chegar em Efrata. Eu a enterrei no caminho para Efrata", que é Belém.

⁸ Quando Israel viu os filhos de José, disse: "Quem são estes?". ⁹ José lhe respondeu: "Estes são meus filhos, que Deus me deu aqui". Israel lhe disse: "Traze-os até mim, para que eu os abençoe". ¹⁰ Os olhos de Israel já não enxergavam devido a sua idade avançada, por isso ele não pôde vê-los. Então, José os trouxe para perto dele, que os beijou e os abraçou.

¹¹ Israel disse a José: "Nunca esperei ver tua face novamente, mas Deus me permitiu ver teus filhos". ¹² José os tirou do colo de Israel e, então, prostou-se com rosto em terra. ¹³ José pegou os dois, Efraim pela sua mão direita em direção à mão esquerda de Israel, e Manassés pela sua mão esquerda em direção à mão direita de Israel, e os trouxe para perto dele.

¹⁴ Israel estendeu sua mão direita e a pôs sobre a cabeça de Efraim, que era o mais jovem, e sua mão esquerda sobre a cabeça de Manassés, assim ele cruzou suas mãos, pois Manassés era o primogênito. ¹⁵ Israel abençoou José, dizendo-lhe: "O Deus com quem meus pais Abraão e Isaque andaram, o Deus que tem cuidado de mim até este dia, ¹⁶ o Anjo que tem me protegido de todo perigo, abençoe estes rapazes. E que o meu nome seja reconhecido neles, e também o nome de meus pais, Abraão e Isaque. E que se multipliquem sobre a terra".

¹⁷ Quando José viu a mão direita de seu pai na cabeça de Efraim, isso lhe foi desagradável. Então, ele pegou a mão de seu pai e a removeu da cabeça de Efraim para a cabeça de Manassés. ¹⁸ José disse a seu pai: "Assim não, meu pai, pois este é o primogênito. Põe tua mão direita sobre a cabeça dele".

¹⁹ Seu pai se recusou e lhe disse: "Eu sei, meu filho, eu sei. Ele também se tornará um povo, e ele também será grande. Mas seu irmão mais jovem será maior do que ele, e a descendência dele se tornará como uma multidão de nações". ²⁰ Israel os abençoou naquele dia com estas palavras: "O povo de Israel pronunciará bênçãos utilizando vossos nomes, dizendo: 'Que Deus vos faça como Efraim e Manassés'". Desse modo, Israel colocou Efraim à frente de Manassés.

²¹ Israel disse a José: "Eis que estou para morrer, porém Deus estará contigo, e Ele vai te trazer de volta para a terra de teus pais. ²² Para ti, como alguém que está acima de teus irmãos, te dou a encosta da montanha que tomei dos amorreus com minha espada e com meu arco.

Capítulo 49

¹ Então, Jacó chamou seus filhos e lhes disse: "Reuni-vos, que vou dizer-vos o que vos acontecerá no futuro. ² Ajuntai-vos e escutai, filhos de Jacó. Escutai a Israel, vosso pai.

³ Rúben, tu és meu primogênito, minha força e o início do meu vigor, excelente em dignidade e poder. ⁴ Incontrolável como as águas turbulentas, não terás a primazia, porque subiste à cama de teu pai. Assim a contaminaste; subiste à minha cama.

⁵ Simeão e Levi são irmãos. Suas espadas são armas de violência. ⁶ Ó minha alma, não entres em seu conselho. Não me encontrarei em seus ajuntamentos, pois meu coração é muito honrado para isso. Porque, no seu furor, mataram homens. Foi por prazer que esquartejaram bois.

⁷ Que sua ira seja amaldiçoada, porque era forte, e sua fúria era cruel. Eu os dividirei em Jacó e os espalharei em Israel.

⁸ Judá, teus irmãos te louvarão. Tua mão será sobre o pescoço de teus inimigos. Os filhos de teu pai se curvarão diante de ti.

⁹ Judá é um leãozinho. Tu resististe às tuas suas presas, meu filho. Inclinando-se, ele se agachou como um leão, como uma leoa. Quem se atreveria a despertá-lo?

¹⁰ O cetro não se apartará de Judá, nem o pendão de autoridade dentre seus pés, até que venha Siló. As nações lhe obedecerão.

¹¹ Amarrando seu jumentinho na vinha e o potro da jumenta na videira escolhida, ele lavará suas roupas no vinho e sua túnica no sangue de uvas. ¹² Seus olhos serão tão escuros quanto o vinho e os seus dentes brancos como o leite.

¹³ Zebulom habitará na região costeira. Ele será um porto para os navios e seus domínios se estenderão até Sidom.

¹⁴ Issacar é um jumento forte, deitado entre os currais das ovelhas. ¹⁵ Ele vê um bom lugar de descanso e uma terra agradável. Oferecerá seus ombros para a carga e se entregará como servo para as tarefas.

¹⁶ Dã julgará seu povo como uma das tribos de Israel. ¹⁷ Dã será como uma serpente à beira da estrada, uma serpente peçonhenta que morde o calcanhar do cavalo, e assim faz cair o seu cavaleiro para trás. ¹⁸ Eu espero por Tua salvação, Yahweh.

¹⁹ Gade, cavaleiros o atacarão, mas ele os atacará nos seus calcanhares. ²⁰ O alimento de Aser será abundante, e produzirá iguarias reais. ²¹ Naftali é uma corça livre e terá belos filhotes.

²² José é um ramo frutífero, perto de uma fonte, cujos galhos escalam acima do muro. ²³ Os arqueiros irão atacá-lo, atirar nele e assediá-lo.

²⁴ Mas seu arco permanecerá firme e suas mãos permanecerão hábeis por causa das mãos do Poderoso de Jacó e devido ao nome do Pastor, a Rocha de Israel.

²⁵ O Deus de teu pai te ajudará e o Todo Poderoso Deus te abençoará com bênçãos celestiais de cima, bênçãos das profundezas que repousam abaixo e bênçãos dos seios e do ventre.

²⁶ As bênçãos de teu pai serão maiores do que as bênçãos das antigas montanhas ou as coisas mais desejáveis das eternas colinas. Eles estarão sob a cabeça de José, bênçãos que coroam a cabeça de quem foi príncipe sobre seus irmãos.

²⁷ Benjamim é um lobo faminto. De manhã, devorará a presa e, à noite, dividirá o despojo".

²⁸ Essas são as doze tribos de Israel. Isso foi o que seu pai lhes disse quando os abençoou. A cada um abençoou com uma bênção apropriada. ²⁹ Então, ele os instruiu e lhes disse: "Em breve, irei para o meu povo. Enterrai-me com meus antepassados na cova que está no campo de Efrom, o heteu, ³⁰ na caverna que está no campo de Macpela, que é perto de Manre, na terra de Canaã, o campo que Abraão comprou de Efrom, o heteu, para sepultura.

³¹ Ali, eles sepultaram Abraão e Sara, sua esposa; ali, eles sepultaram Isaque e Rebeca, sua esposa; e ali sepultei a Lia. ³² O campo e a cova que está nele foram comprados do povo de Hete". ³³ Quando Jacó terminou essas instruções a seus filhos, recolheu seus pés na cama, deu seu último suspiro e foi para o seu povo.

Capítulo 50

¹ Então, José se lançou sobre o rosto de seu pai, chorou sobre ele e o beijou. ² José ordenou a seus servos, os médicos, para embalsamar seu pai. Então, os médicos embalsamaram Israel ³ Eles levaram quarenta dias, pois esse é o tempo completo para embalsamento. Os egípcios lamentaram por ele setenta dias.

⁴ Quando os dias de lamento acabaram, José falou para a corte real de Faraó, dizendo: "Se eu tenho achado graça aos teus olhos, por favor, dizei ao Faraó: ⁵ 'Meu pai me fez jurar, dizendo: 'Vê, estou para morrer. Sepulta-me no túmulo que cavei para mim mesmo na terra de Canaã. Lá me sepultarás'. Agora, deixa-me subir e sepultar meu pai, e, então, retornarei'". ⁶ Faraó respondeu: "Vai e sepulta teu pai, como ele te fez jurar".

⁷ José foi sepultar seu pai. Com ele, subiram todos os oficiais de Faraó, toda a corte de sua casa, e todas as autoridades da terra do Egito, ⁸ com toda a casa de José e seus irmãos, e a casa de seu pai. Mas eles deixaram suas crianças, seu rebanho de ovelhas, e seu rebanho de gados na terra de Gósen. ⁹ Foram também com ele carros e cavaleiros; era um grande grupo de pessoas.

¹⁰ Quando eles chegaram à eira de Atade, do outro lado do rio Jordão, eles lamentaram com grande e intenso choro. Lá, José fez sete dias de lamento por seu pai. ¹¹ Quando os habitantes da terra, os cananeus, viram a lamentação na eira de Atade, eles disseram: "Esta é uma ocasião muito triste para os egípcios". É por esta razão que o lugar é chamado Abel-Mizraim e está além do Jordão.

¹² Então, seus filhos fizeram a Jacó como ele lhes havia instruído. ¹³ Carregaram-no até a terra de Canaã e o sepultaram na caverna, no campo de Macpela, perto de Manre. Abraão havia comprado a caverna com o campo para ser lugar de sepultura. Ele comprou de Efrom, o heteu. ¹⁴ Depois de sepultar seu pai, José retornou para o Egito, junto com seus irmãos, e todos aqueles que o acompanharam para o sepultamento de seu pai.

¹⁵ Quando os irmãos de José viram que seu pai estava morto, disseram: "E se José tiver um rancor e quiser nos retribuir por todo o mal que lhe causamos?". ¹⁶ Então, eles enviaram uma mensagem para José, dizendo: "Teu pai deu instruções antes de morrer, dizendo: ¹⁷ 'Diz isto a José: Por favor, perdoa teus irmãos e o erro que eles cometeram quando te trataram mal. Agora, por favor, perdoa os servos do Deus de teu pai'". José chorou quando a mensagem chegou até ele.

¹⁸ Seus irmãos também prostaram-se diante dele e disseram: "Eis que nós somos teus servos". ¹⁹ E José lhes respondeu: "Não tenhais medo. Por acaso estou no lugar de Deus? ²⁰ É certo que vós planejastes contra mim, mas Deus tornou isso em algo bom, para preservar a vida de muitas pessoas, como vedes hoje. ²¹ Então, agora, não tenhais medo. Eu proverei para vós e vossos filhos". Ele lhes confortou e assim lhes falou gentilmente ao coração.

²² José viveu no Egito junto com a família de seu pai. Ele viveu cento e dez anos. ²³ José viu os filhos de Efraim até a terceira geração. Ele também viu os filhos de Maquir, filho de Manassés. Eles nasceram sobre os joelhos de José.

²⁴ José disse a seus irmãos: "Eu estou para morrer, mas Deus certamente virá até vós e vos fará subir desta terra para a terra que Ele jurou dar a Abraão, Isaque e Jacó". ²⁵ Então, José fez o povo de Israel jurar, dizendo: "Deus certamente vos visitará. Neste tempo carregareis meus ossos daqui". ²⁶ Então, José morreu aos cento e dez anos. Depois, eles o embalsamaram e o colocaram num caixão no Egito.

Exodus

Capítulo 1

¹ Estes são os nomes dos filhos de Israel que vieram para o Egito com Jacó, cada um com sua casa: ² Rúben, Simeão, Levi e Judá, ³ Issacar, Zebulon e Benjamin, ⁴ Dã, Naftali, Gade e Aser. ⁵ Todos os descendentes de Jacó eram setenta. José já estava no Egito.

⁶ Então José, todos os seus irmãos e toda aquela geração morreu. ⁷ Os israelitas eram frutíferos, numerosos e se tornaram fortes; a terra estava cheia deles.

⁸ Então, um novo rei se levantou no Egito, o qual não se importava com a memória de José. ⁹ Ele disse ao seu povo: "Olhai os israelitas; eles são mais numerosos e fortes que nós. ¹⁰ Vide. Vamos lidar sabiamente com eles. Caso contrário, eles continuarão a multiplicar-se e, se acontecer uma guerra, eles se juntarão aos nossos inimigos, lutarão contra nós, e deixarão a terra".

¹¹ Então, eles colocaram feitores que os oprimiam com trabalhos pesados. Os israelitas construíram cidades-armazéns para Faraó: Pitom e Ramessés. ¹² Porém, quanto mais os egípcios os oprimiam, mais os israelitas se tornavam numerosos e se espalhavam. Então, os egípcios começaram a temer os israelitas.

¹³ Os egípcios fizeram os israelitas trabalharem rigorosamente. ¹⁴ Eles tornaram a vida deles amarga, com trabalhos pesados com barro e tijolo, e com todo tipo de trabalho nos campos. Todo o trabalho exigido era pesado.

¹⁵ Em seguida, o rei do Egito falou às parteiras dos hebreus; o nome de uma era Sifrá, e a outra se chamava Puá. ¹⁶ Ele disse: "Quando vós ajudardes as hebreias no parto, observai quando elas derem à luz. Se for menino, então deveis matá-lo; mas, se for menina, ela viverá". ¹⁷ Entretanto as parteiras temiam a Deus e não fizeram como o rei do Egito lhes ordenara. Em vez disso, deixaram que os meninos vivessem.

¹⁸ O rei do Egito convocou as parteiras e lhes disse: "Por que deixastes os meninos viverem?". ¹⁹ As parteiras responderam a Faraó: "As hebreias não são como as egípcias; elas são vigorosas e terminam de dar à luz antes que uma parteira chegue a até elas".

²⁰ Deus protegeu aquelas parteiras. O povo cresceu numerosamente e se tornou muito forte. ²¹ Por conta do temor das parteiras, Deus lhes deu famílias. ²² Faraó ordenou a todo o seu povo: "Deveis jogar no rio todos os meninos nascidos, mas deixai todas as meninas viverem".

Capítulo 2

¹ Um homem da tribo de Levi casou-se com uma mulher descendente de Levi. ² A mulher engravidou e deu à luz um filho. Quando ela viu que ele era um menino formoso, ela o escondeu por três meses.

³ Mas, quando ela não pôde mais escondê-lo, tomou um cesto de junco e o revestiu de betume e piche. Depois colocou a criança dentro dele e o pôs nas águas, ao longo da margem do rio. ⁴ Sua irmã ficou a certa distância para observar o que aconteceria com ele.

⁵ A filha de Faraó desceu ao rio para banhar-se, enquanto suas servas caminhavam pela margem. Ela viu o cesto entre os juncos e enviou uma serva para pegá-lo. ⁶ Quando o abriu, viu a criança. Diante dela, a criança chorava. Ela teve compaixão dele e disse: "Esta é, certamente, uma criança hebreia".

⁷ Então, a irmã da criança disse à filha de Faraó: "Queres que eu vá e encontre uma mulher hebreia para alimentar a criança para a senhora?". ⁸ A filha de Faraó respondeu: "Vai". Então, a jovem foi e trouxe a mãe da criança.

⁹ A filha de Faraó disse à mãe da criança: "Leva este menino e o amamenta para mim; eu te pagarei salário. Então, a mulher o levou e o amamentou. ¹⁰ Quando o menino cresceu um pouco mais, ela o trouxe para a filha de Faraó e ele se tornou filho dela. Ela o chamou de Moisés, dizendo: "Porque das águas o tirei".

¹¹ Quando Moisés cresceu, ele foi até seu povo e observou seu penoso trabalho. Certo dia, ele viu um egípcio surrando um hebreu, alguém de seu próprio povo. ¹² Ele olhou para um lado e para o outro e, quando viu que não havia ninguém ali, matou o egípcio e escondeu seu corpo na areia.

¹³ E tornou a sair no dia seguinte e se deparou com dois hebreus lutando. Ele disse para aquele que iniciou a briga: "Por que estás batendo em seu companheiro?". ¹⁴ Mas o homem lhe respondeu: "Quem te fez um líder e juiz sobre nós? Estás planejando me matar, como fizeste ao egípcio?". Então Moisés ficou com medo e pensou: "O que eu fiz, certamente, tornou-se conhecido dos outros".

¹⁵ Faraó, ao ouvir a respeito disso, tentou matar Moisés. Mas Moisés fugiu e escondeu-se na terra de Midiã. Lá, ficou sentado perto de um poço. ¹⁶ O pastor de Midiã tinha sete filhas. Elas vieram, tiraram água, e encheram os coxos para dar de beber ao rebanho de seu pai. ¹⁷ Os pastores vieram e tentaram tirá-las de lá, mas Moisés levantou-se e as defendeu. E, então, deu de beber ao rebanho delas.

¹⁸ Quando as moças foram até Reuel, seu pai, ele lhes disse: "Por que voltastes para casa mais cedo?". ¹⁹ Elas responderam: "Um egípcio nos resgatou dos pastores. Ele até deu de beber a nós e ao rebanho". ²⁰ Ele disse às filhas: "E onde ele está? Por que o deixastes? Chamai-o para que possa comer conosco".

²¹ Moisés concordou em ficar com aquele homem, que também lhe deu sua filha Zípora em casamento. ²² Ela deu à luz um filho, e Moisés deu-lhe o nome de Gérson, dizendo: "Eu tenho sido peregrino numa terra estrangeira".

²³ Muito tempo depois, o rei do Egito morreu. Os israelitas queixaram-se devido ao trabalho escravo. Eles imploraram por socorro, e suas súplicas chegaram a Deus por causa da Sua misericórdia. ²⁴ Quando Deus ouviu o clamor dos hebreus, trouxe à memória Sua aliança com Abrãao, com Isaque e com Jacó. ²⁵ Deus olhou para os israelitas e entendeu sua situação.

Capítulo 3

¹ Moisés, agora, pastoreava o rebanho de Jetro, seu sogro, o sacerdote de Midiã. Moisés conduziu o rebanho para longe do deserto e chegou a Horebe, a montanha de Deus. ² Então, o Anjo de Yahweh lhe apareceu numa chama de fogo em um arbusto. Moisés olhou, e eis que o arbusto estava em chamas, mas não se queimava. ³ Moisés disse: "Eu darei uma volta para ver melhor esse fenômeno, porque o arbusto não está sendo consumido pelas chamas".

⁴ Quando Yahweh viu que ele contornou para ver, Deus o chamou das chamas e disse: "Moisés, Moisés". Moisés disse: "Eis-me aqui". ⁵ Deus ordenou: "Não te aproximes mais! Tira os sapatos de teus pés, pois este lugar em que estás é terra consagrada a Mim". ⁶ E disse mais: "Eu sou o Deus de teu pai, o Deus de Abraão, o Deus de Isaque, e o Deus de Jacó". Então, Moisés cobriu o rosto, pois estava com medo de olhar para Deus.

⁷ Yahweh disse: "Com certeza, Eu tenho visto o sofrimento do Meu povo, que está no Egito. Eu tenho ouvido o seu clamor por causa dos feitores, pois conheço os seus sofrimentos. ⁸ Eu desci para libertá-los das mãos dos egípcios e para levá-los a uma terra boa e farta, uma terra de onde flui leite e mel; a região dos cananeus, heteus, amorreus, periseus, heveus e jebuseus.

⁹ O clamor do povo de Israel tem chegado a Mim. Além disso, Eu tenho visto a opressão causada pelos egípcios. ¹⁰ Agora, portanto, Eu te enviarei a Faraó e, então tu deverás trazer meu povo, os israelitas, para fora do Egito".

¹¹ Mas Moisés disse a Deus: "Quem sou eu para ir a Faraó e tirar os Israelitas para fora do Egito?". ¹² Deus respondeu: "Certamente, Eu estarei contigo. Isto será um sinal de que Eu o enviei. Quando tu tiveres trazido teus irmãos do Egito, vós me adorareis neste monte".

¹³ Moisés disse a Deus: "Quando eu for aos israelitas e disser-lhes: 'O Deus de vossos antepassados me enviou a vós,' e, quando eles disserem a mim: 'Qual é o nome Dele?', o que devo dizer-lhes?". ¹⁴ Deus respondeu a Moisés: "EU SOU O QUE SOU". Deus disse: "Tu deverás dizer ao israelitas: 'EU SOU me enviou a vós'". ¹⁵ Deus também disse a Moisés: "Tu deverás dizer aos israelitas: 'Yahweh, o Deus de vossos antepassados, o Deus de Abraão, de Isaque e de Jacó enviou-me a vós. Este é o Meu nome para sempre; é assim que me invocarão por todas as gerações'.

¹⁶ Ide e reuni os anciãos de Israel. Dizei-lhes: 'Yahweh, o Deus de vossos antepassados, o Deus de Abraão, de Isaque e de Jacó, apareceu a mim e disse: "De fato, Eu vos tenho observado e visto o que vos tem acontecido no Egito. ¹⁷ Eu tenho prometido tirar-vos da opressão do Egito para a terra dos cananeus, heteus, amorreus, perizeus, heveus e jebuseus, uma terra de onde flui leite e mel'". ¹⁸ Eles te ouvirão. Tu e os anciãos de Israel irão ao rei do Egito e dirão a ele: 'Yahweh, o Deus dos hebreus, encontrou-nos. Portanto, deixa-nos ir por três dias de jornada no deserto, de forma que ali possamos sacrificar a Yahweh, nosso Deus'.

¹⁹ Mas Eu sei que o rei do Egito não vos deixará partir, a menos que seja forçado. ²⁰ Eu os alcançarei com Minha mão e atacarei os egípcios com todos os prodígios que farei no meio deles. Após isso, ele vos deixará ir. ²¹ Eu asseguro que vós tereis o favor dos egípcios quando partirem; não partirão de mãos vazias. ²² Todas as mulheres pedirão prata, joias de ouro e roupas de suas vizinhas egípcias e de quaisquer outras que estiverem hospedadas na casa de suas vizinhas. Vós colocareis em seus filhos e filhas. Desse modo, vós saqueareis os egípcios".

Capítulo 4

¹ Moisés disse: "E, se eles não acreditarem em mim, ou não me derem ouvidos e, além disso, disserem: 'Yahweh não te apareceu'?" ² Deus lhe disse: "O que é isso na tua mão?". Moisés respondeu: "Uma vara". ³ Yahweh disse: "Joga-a no chão". Moisés a jogou no chão, e a vara se tornou uma cobra. Moisés fugiu dela.

⁴ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Estende a tua mão e pega-a pela cauda". Então, ele estendeu a mão e pegou a cobra. E se tornou uma vara em suas mãos novamente. ⁵ "Isso é para que eles creiam que Yahweh, o Deus de vossos ancestrais, o Deus de Abraão, o Deus de Isaque, e o Deus de Jacó, te apareceu".

⁶ Yahweh também disse a ele: "Agora, coloca tua mão dentro do teu manto". Então, Moisés colocou a mão dentro do manto. Quando ele a tirou, sua mão estava leprosa, tão branca quanto a neve. ⁷ Yahweh disse: "Coloca tua mão dentro do manto novamente". Então, Moisés assim o fez e, quando a tirou, ela havia se tornado saudável de novo, como o resto de sua carne.

⁸ Yahweh disse: "Se eles não acreditarem em ti, se eles não prestarem atenção ao primeiro sinal do Meu poder ou não acreditarem, então, eles crerão por causa do segundo sinal. ⁹ E, se eles não acreditarem nem mesmo nesses dois sinais do Meu poder, ou não te derem ouvidos, então, pega um pouco de água do rio e derrama na terra seca. A água que tu pegares se tornará sangue na terra seca".

¹⁰ Então, Moisés disse a Yahweh: "Senhor, eu nunca fui eloquente, nem no passado, nem desde que falaste ao teu servo. Eu sou hesitante para falar e lento de língua". ¹¹ Yahweh disse a ele: "Quem é Este que fez a boca do homem? Quem faz um homem mudo ou surdo, ou o que vê, ou o cego? Não sou eu, Yahweh?". ¹² Então, agora, vai. Eu serei a tua boca e te ensinarei o que dizer". ¹³ Mas Moisés clamou: "Senhor, por favor, manda outra pessoa, qualquer um que desejares enviar".

¹⁴ Então, Yahweh ficou irado com Moisés. Ele disse: "E Arão, teu irmão, o levita? Eu sei que ele pode falar bem. Além disso, ele está vindo te encontrar, e, ao ver-te, ficará alegre em seu coração. ¹⁵ Tu falarás a ele e colocarás as palavras em sua boca. Eu serei com a tua boca e com a boca de Arão. E eu mostrarei a ambos o que fazer. ¹⁶ Ele falará ao povo por ti. Ele será a tua boca, e tu serás para ele como Eu sou para ti. ¹⁷ Tu tomarás em tuas mãos esta vara. Com ela, farás os sinais".

¹⁸ Então, Moisés voltou a Jetro, seu sogro, e disse-lhe: "Deixa-me ir e retornar aos meus parentes que estão no Egito e ver se eles ainda estão vivos". Jetro disse a Moisés: "Vai em paz". ¹⁹ Yahweh falou a Moisés em Midiã: "Vai, retorna ao Egito, pois todos os homens que estavam tentando tirar tua vida estão mortos". ²⁰ Moisés tomou sua esposa e seus filhos e colocou-os em um jumento. Ele retornou para a terra do Egito. E ele pegou a vara de Deus em suas mãos.

²¹ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Quando voltares ao Egito, cuida para que faças diante de Faraó todas as maravilhas que Eu coloquei em teu poder. Mas Eu vou endurecer o coração dele, e ele não deixará o povo ir. ²² Tu dirás a Faraó: 'Isto é o que Yahweh diz: Israel é meu filho, meu primogênito, ²³ e Eu te digo: "Deixa Meu filho ir, para que Me adore". Mas, se tu recusares a deixá-lo ir, Eu certamente matarei teu filho, teu primogênito".

²⁴ A caminho do Egito, quando eles pararam para descansar à noite, Yahweh encontrou Moisés e tentou matá-lo. ²⁵ Então, Zípora pegou uma faca de pedra e cortou fora o prepúcio de seu filho, e colocou aos pés de Moisés, dizendo: "Certamente, tu és um marido sanguinário. ²⁶ Então, Yahweh o deixou. Ela disse: "Certamente, tu és um marido sanguinário" por causa da circuncisão.

²⁷ Yahweh disse a Arão: "Vai ao deserto para encontrar Moisés". Arão foi, encontrou-o na montanha de Deus, e o beijou. ²⁸ Moisés contou a Arão todas as palavras que Yahweh lhe enviara para dizer e sobre todos os sinais do poder de Yahweh, que Ele lhe ordenara fazer.

²⁹ Então, Moisés e Arão foram e ajuntaram os anciãos dos israelitas. ³⁰ Arão falou todas as palavras que Yahweh dissera a Moisés. Este expôs os sinais do poder de Yahweh diante do povo. ³¹ O povo acreditou. Quando eles ouviram que Yahweh observava os israelitas e que Ele havia visto sua opressão, então eles prostraram suas cabeças e O adoraram.

Capítulo 5

¹ Depois dessas coisas, Moisés e Arão foram até Faraó e lhe disseram: "Isto é o que Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, disse: 'Deixa meu povo ir. Assim, eles poderão celebrar uma festa para Mim, no deserto". ² Faraó disse: "Quem é Yahweh? Por que eu devo ouvir Sua voz e deixar Israel ir? Eu não conheço Yahweh. Eu não deixarei Israel ir".

³ Eles disseram: "O Deus dos hebreus quer se encontrar conosco. Deixa-nos ir para uma viagem de três dias para celebrar e sacrificar a Yahweh, nosso Deus, de modo que não sejamos alvo de praga por meio de Sua espada". ⁴ Mas o rei do Egito disse a eles: "Moisés e Arão, por que estais tirando o povo do seu trabalho? Voltai ao trabalho". ⁵ Ele também disse: "Existem agora muitos hebreus em nossa terra, e os fazeis abandonar o seu trabalho".

⁶ No mesmo dia, Faraó deu uma ordem para os capatazes e mestres das tarefas do povo. Ele disse: ⁷ "Ao contrário de antes, não deis mais palha ao povo para fazer tijolos. Deixai que eles vão e reúnam palha para si mesmos. ⁸ Contudo ainda deveis exigir o mesmo número de tijolos que eles fizeram antes. Não aceiteis nenhum a menos, porque eles estão preguiçosos. É por isso que eles estão clamando e dizendo: 'Permita-nos ir e sacrificar ao nosso Deus'. ⁹ Aumentai a carga de trabalho para esses homens, para que não deem atenção às palavras enganosas".

¹⁰ Então, os capatazes do povo e os mestres de obras saíram e informaram ao povo. Eles disseram: "Isto é o que o Faraó disse: 'Eu não darei mais nenhuma palha. ¹¹ Vós mesmos deveis ir e pegar palha onde quer que as encontrem, mas vosso trabalho não será reduzido'".

¹² Então o povo espalhou-se por toda a terra do Egito, colhendo restolho ao invés de palha. ¹³ Os mestres de obras, impelindo-os, disseram: "Terminai vosso trabalho, mas palha não vos daremos". ¹⁴ Os mestres de obras do Faraó, que estavam sobre os capatazes israelitas, os mesmos que estavam sobre os trabalhadores, perguntaram-lhes: "Por que vós não estais produzindo os tijolos exigidos, tanto ontem como hoje, como fazíeis anteriormente?".

¹⁵ Então, os capatazes israelitas foram até Faraó e reclamaram. Eles disseram: "Por que tratas teus servos desta forma? ¹⁶ Não dás a nós, teus servos, mais palha, e ainda nos dizes: 'Fazei tijolos!' Nós, teus servos, somos castigados agora, mas esta falta é do teu povo". ¹⁷ Porém Faraó disse: "Vós sois preguiçosos! Sois preguiçosos! Vós dizeis: 'Deixa-nos ir sacrificar a Yahweh.' ¹⁸ Então, agora, voltai ao trabalho. Não iremos dar mais palha para vós, mas vós fareis o mesmo número de tijolos".

¹⁹ Os capatazes israelitas perceberam o problema quando foram informados sobre esta decisão: "Vós não reduzireis o número diário de tijolos". ²⁰ Eles procuraram Moisés e Arão, que estavam em pé, do outro lado do palácio, longe de onde estava Faraó. ²¹ Eles disseram a Moisés e Arão: "Que Yahweh olhe para vós e vos aflija, porque vós fizestes com que Faraó olhasse para seus servos com maus olhos. Vós colocastes a espada em suas mãos para nos matar".

²² Moisés se voltou para Yahweh e disse: "Senhor, por que Tu tens causado problemas a este povo? Primeiro, por que Tu me enviaste para este lugar? ²³ Desde que vim falar com Faraó em Teu nome, ele tem causado problemas a este povo, e Tu não tens levado teu povo à liberdade".

Capítulo 6

¹ Então, Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Agora, tu verás o que farei a Faraó. Verás que ele os deixará ir por causa da Minha forte mão. Devido à Minha poderosa mão, ele os expulsará da sua terra".

² Deus falou a Moisés, dizendo: "Eu sou Yahweh. ³ Eu apareci a Abraão, a Isaque e a Jacó, como Deus Poderoso; mas, por Meu nome, Yahweh, Eu não era conhecido por eles. ⁴ Eu também estabeleci a Minha aliança com eles, para lhes dar a terra de Canaã, a terra onde eles moraram como peregrinos, a terra pela qual eles passaram. ⁵ Além disso, Eu tenho escutado o gemido dos israelitas, os quais foram escravizados pelos egípcios, e Eu tenho Me lembrado da Minha aliança.

⁶ Portanto, diz aos israelitas: 'Eu sou Yahweh. Eu vos tirarei da escravidão dos egípcios e vos libertarei do poder deles. Resgatar-vos-ei com Minha poderosa mão e com grandes atos de julgamento. ⁷ Eu vos tomarei para Mim, como Meu povo, e Eu serei vosso Deus. E vós sabereis que Eu Sou Yahweh, vosso Deus, que vos tirou da escravidão dos egípcios.

⁸ Eu vos levarei para a terra que Eu prometi dar a Abraão, a Isaque e a Jacó. Eu a darei como posse. Eu Sou Yahweh". ⁹ Quando Moisés disse isso aos israelitas, eles não o escutaram devido ao desânimo causado pela dura escravidão.

¹⁰ Então Yahweh falou a Moisés: ¹¹ "Vai e fala ao Faraó, rei do Egito, para deixar o povo de Israel partir de sua terra". ¹² Moisés disse a Yahweh: "Se os israelitas não têm me escutado, por que Faraó me escutará, já que eu não sou bom no falar?". ¹³ Mas Yahweh falou a Moisés e a Arão, dando-lhes ordens para os israelitas e para Faraó, rei do Egito, a fim de que os israelitas deixassem a terra do Egito.

¹⁴ Estes foram os cabeças da casa dos seus pais: os filhos de Rúben, o primogênito de Israel, foram Hanoque, Palu, Hezrom e Carmi. Estas foram as famílias de Rúben. ¹⁵ Os filhos de Simeão foram Jemuel, Jamim, Oade, Jaquim, Zoar e Saul — o filho da mulher cananéia. Essas foram as famílias de Simeão.

¹⁶ Aqui estão listados os nomes dos filhos de Levi, conforme os seus descendentes. Eles foram Gérson, Coate e Merari. Levi viveu cento e trinta e sete anos. ¹⁷ Os filhos de Gérson foram Libni e Simei. ¹⁸ Os filhos de Coate foram Anrão, Isar, Hebrom e Uziel. Coate viveu cento e trinta e três anos. ¹⁹ Os filhos de Merari foram Mali e Musi. Estes se tornaram famílias de Levi, junto de seus descendentes.

²⁰ Anrão casou-se com Joquebede, irmã do seu pai. E ela lhe deu Arão e Moisés. Anrão viveu cento e trinta e sete anos e morreu. ²¹ Os filhos de Izar foram Corá, Nofegue e Zicri. ²² Os filhos de Uziel foram Misael, Elzafã e Sitri.

²³ Arão casou-se com Eliseba, filha de Aminadabe, irmã de Nasom. Ela lhe deu Nadabe e Abiú, Eleazar e Itamar. ²⁴ Os filhos de Corá foram Assir, Elcana e Abiasafe. Estas foram as famílias dos coraítas. ²⁵ Eleazar, filho de Arão, casou-se com uma das filhas de Putiel. Ela deu à luz Fineias. Esses foram os cabeças dos pais dos levitas, junto de seus descendentes.

²⁶ Estes foram os dois homens, Arão e Moisés, a quem Yahweh disse: "Tirai os israelitas da terra do Egito, por seus grupos de guerreiros". ²⁷ Foram Arão e Moisés que falaram a Faraó, rei do Egito, para deixar partir os israelitas da terra do Egito.

²⁸ Quando Yahweh falou a Moisés na terra do Egito, ²⁹ Ele disse: "Eu sou Yahweh. Diz a Faraó, rei do Egito, todas as coisas que te direi". ³⁰ Mas Moisés disse a Yahweh: "Eu não sou bom em falar, então, por que Faraó me escutará?".

Capítulo 7

¹ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Vê, Eu te tenho feito como um deus diante de Faraó. Arão, teu irmão, será o teu profeta. ² Tu dirás tudo o que Eu te ordenar dizer. Arão, teu irmão, falará a Faraó para que ele deixe o povo de Israel partir de sua terra.

³ Mas Eu endurecerei o coração de Faraó, e manifestarei muitos sinais do Meu poder e muitas maravilhas na terra do Egito. ⁴ Mas Faraó não te ouvirá. Então Eu colocarei Minha mão sobre o Egito e tirarei Meus batalhões, o Meu povo, os descendentes de Israel. Eu os tirarei da terra do Egito por meio de grandes atos de juízo. ⁵ Os egípcios saberão que Eu sou Yahweh, quando Eu estender a Minha mão sobre o Egito e tirar os israelitas do meio deles".

⁶ Assim, Moisés e Arão fizeram; justamente como Yahweh lhes havia ordenado. ⁷ Moisés tinha oitenta anos, e Arão, oitenta e três, quando falaram a Faraó.

⁸ Yahweh falou a Moisés e a Arão: ⁹ "Quando Faraó vos disser: 'Fazei um milagre', então tu dirás a Arão: 'Toma tua vara e lança-a diante de Faraó, para que se transforme numa serpente'". ¹⁰ Então, Moisés e Arão foram a Faraó e fizeram exatamente conforme Yahweh havia ordenado. Arão lançou sua vara diante de Faraó e seus servos, e ela se transformou numa serpente.

¹¹ Então, Faraó também chamou os seus sábios e feiticeiros. Eles fizeram a mesma coisa por meio de sua feitiçaria. ¹² Cada um deles lançou sua vara ao solo, e elas se transformaram em serpentes. Porém a vara de Arão devorou as serpentes deles. ¹³ O coração de Faraó se endureceu e ele não os ouviu, assim como Yahweh havia dito.

¹⁴ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "O coração de Faraó está endurecido e ele se recusa a deixar o povo ir. ¹⁵ Vai a Faraó pela manhã, quando ele estiver junto às águas. Fica à beira do rio, para encontrá-lo, e leva na mão a vara que se transformou numa serpente.

¹⁶ Diz a ele: 'Yahweh, o Deus dos hebreus, enviou-me a ti para dizer-te: "Deixa o meu povo ir, e, assim, eles poderão me adorar no deserto. Até agora, tu não tens nos ouvido". ¹⁷ Yahweh disse: "Assim, saberás que Eu sou Yahweh. Eu ferirei a água do rio Nilo com a vara que está em Minha mão, e o rio se transformará em sangue. ¹⁸ Os peixes que estiverem no rio morrerão, e o rio cheirará mal. Os egípcios não conseguirão beber a água do rio'".

¹⁹ E, então, Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Diz a Arão: 'Toma a tua vara e estende tua mão sobre as águas do Egito, sobre os seus rios, sobre seus canais, sobre suas lagoas e sobre todas as suas poças d'água, para que suas águas se transformem em sangue. Faz isso e, então, haverá sangue por toda a terra do Egito, até mesmo nas vasilhas de madeira e de pedra'".

²⁰ Moisés e Arão fizeram como Yahweh havia ordenado. Arão levantou a vara e feriu a água no rio, diante de Faraó e de seus servos. Toda a água do rio se transformou em sangue. ²¹ Os peixes morreram e o rio começou a cheirar mal. Os egípicios não podiam beber da água do rio, e o sangue estava por todo lugar na terra do Egito. ²² Mas os feiticeiros do Egito fizeram a mesma coisa com a sua feitiçaria. Assim, o coração de Faraó se endureceu e ele se recusou a ouvir Moisés e Arão, exatamente como Yahweh havia dito que aconteceria.

²³ E assim Faraó virou-se e foi para a sua casa. Ele nem mesmo considerou o caso. ²⁴ Todos os egípcios cavaram ao redor do rio procurando água para beber, porém não puderam beber da água do rio. ²⁵ E sete dias se passaram depois de Yahweh ter ferido o rio.

Capítulo 8

¹ Falou Yahweh a Moisés: "Vai a Faraó e dize-lhe: 'Assim diz Yahweh: "Deixa Meu povo ir para que possa Me adorar. ² Se tu recusares a deixá-lo ir, afligirei seu país inteiro com rãs. ³ O rio se encherá com abundância de rãs que subirão na sua casa, no seu quarto e na sua cama. Elas entrarão nas casas dos teus servos; elas sobrevirão sobre teu povo, entrarão nos fornos e nas tuas amassadeiras. ⁴ As rãs atacarão a ti, o teu povo e todos os teus servos".

⁵ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Diz a Arão: 'Estende tua mão e teu cajado sobre os rios, os ribeiros e lagos e faz subir rãs sobre a terra do Egito". ⁶ Arão estendeu sua mão sobre as águas do Egito e rãs vieram e cobriram toda terra do Egito. ⁷ Porém os mágicos fizeram o mesmo com suas mágicas: eles trouxeram rãs sobre a terra do Egito.

⁸ Faraó, então, chamou Moisés e Arão e lhes disse: "Rogai a Yahweh para que Ele retire de mim e do meu povo as rãs. Depois disso, deixarei o povo ir para que possa oferecer sacrifício a Ele". ⁹ Moisés disse a Faraó: "Eu te darei o privilégio de me dizeres quando devo rogar por ti, por teus servos e por teu povo, para que as rãs sejam retiradas de sobre vós e de vossas casas e continuem apenas sobre o rio".

¹⁰ Faraó respondeu: "Amanhã". Moisés disse-lhe: "Seja feito de acordo com tuas palavras para que saibas que não existe nenhum outro como Yahweh, nosso Deus. ¹¹ As rãs fugirão de vós, de vossas casas, de vossos servos e do teu povo. Elas permanecerão apenas no rio". ¹² Moisés e Arão saíram da presença de Faraó. Depois disso, Moisés clamou a Yahweh com relação às rãs que Ele havia trazido sobre Faraó.

¹³ Yahweh fez conforme Moisés pediu: as rãs morreram nas casas, nos quintais e nos campos. ¹⁴ O povo as recolheu em montes e pilhas. ¹⁵ Mas Faraó, ao ver o alívio, endureceu seu coração e não deu ouvidos ao que disseram Moisés e Arão, exatamente como Yahweh havia dito.

¹⁶ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Diz a Arão: 'Estende teu cajado e toca a poeira da terra para que ela faça surgir piolhos por toda a terra do Egito". ¹⁷ Assim eles fizeram e Arão estendeu sua mão e seu cajado. Tocou ele no pó da terra e piolhos apareceram sobre homens e animais. Toda poeira do chão se transformou em piolhos, por toda a terra do Egito.

¹⁸ Os mágicos tentaram, por meio de suas magias, produzir piolhos, mas não foram capazes. Havia piolhos nas pessoas e nos animais. ¹⁹ Por causa disso, os mágicos disseram a Faraó: "Isso é o dedo de Deus". Porém o coração de Faraó se endureceu de maneira que ele se recusou a ouvi-los. Aconteceu exatamente de acordo com o que Yahweh dissera.

²⁰ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Levanta-te bem cedo, pela manhã, coloca-te diante de Faraó, quando ele sair até o rio, e diz-lhe: 'Yahweh diz o seguinte: "Deixa meu povo sair para que Me adore. ²¹ Mas, se tu não o deixares ir, enviarei enxames de moscas sobre ti, sobre teus servos, tuas casas e teu povo. As habitações dos egípcios ficarão tomadas de enxames, até mesmo o chão onde eles pisam ficará tomado de moscas.

²² Porém, naquele dia tratarei Gósen, a terra onde meu povo habita, de forma diferente, pois ali não haverá nenhum enxame de moscas. Acontecerá dessa forma para que tu saibas que Eu sou Yahweh no meio desta terra. ²³ Farei distinção entre Meu povo e o teu povo. Este sinal do Meu poder acontecerá amanhã". ²⁴ Assim fez Deus, e enormes enxames de moscas entraram na casa de Faraó e nas habitações de seus servos. Toda a terra do Egito ficou arruinada por causa dos enxames de moscas.

²⁵ Faraó chamou Moisés e Arão e disse-lhes: "Ide, oferecei sacrifício ao vosso Deus aqui na nossa própria terra". ²⁶ Moisés disse: "Não é correto para nós agirmos dessa maneira, pois os sacrifícios que nós oferecemos a Yahweh, nosso Deus, é algo repugnante aos egípcios. Se oferecermos sacrifícios diante deles, os quais são repugnantes aos egípcios, eles não nos apedrejarão? ²⁷ Não, nós devemos fazer uma jornada de três dias pelo deserto, a fim de oferecermos sacrifício a Yahweh, nosso Deus, assim como Ele nos ordenou.

²⁸ Faraó disse: "Eu vos deixarei ir e oferecer sacrifício a Yahweh, vosso Deus, no deserto. Mas vós não podereis ir muito longe, e orai por mim". ²⁹ Moisés disse: "Assim que eu sair da tua presença, orarei a Yahweh para que Ele remova os enxames de moscas da tua casa, dos teus servos e do teu povo. Entretanto, tu não poderás mais usar de artimanhas para não deixar nosso povo ir para sacrificar a Yahweh".

³⁰ Moisés saiu da presença de Faraó e orou a Yahweh. ³¹ Fez Yahweh conforme Moisés pediu: removeu os enxames de moscas da casa de Faraó, dos seus servos e do seu povo. Não restou nenhuma. ³² No entanto, Faraó endureceu seu coração outra vez e não deixou o povo ir.

Capítulo 9

¹ Então, Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Vai a Faraó e dize-lhe: 'Yahweh, o Deus dos hebreus, diz: Deixa Meu povo ir para que eles possam Me adorar. ² Mas, se tu recusares a deixá-los ir, se tu ainda os retiverdes, ³ então, a mão de Yahweh será sobre seu gado nos campos e sobre seus cavalos, jumentos, camelos, bois, ovelhas, e isso causará um terrível desastre. ⁴ Yahweh tratará o gado de Israel e o gado do Egito diferentemente. Nenhum animal que pertença aos israelitas será morto.

⁵ Yahweh tem fixado um tempo. Ele disse: Será amanhã que Eu farei estas coisas na terra'". ⁶ Yahweh fez isso no dia seguinte: todo o gado do Egito morreu. Mas nenhum dos animais dos israelitas morreu. ⁷ Faraó investigou, e eis que nem mesmo um animal dos israelitas havia morrido. Mas seu coração estava obstinado e ele não deixou o povo ir.

⁸ Então, Yahweh disse a Moisés e a Arão: "Tomai alguns punhados de cinzas do forno. Tu, Moisés, deves jogar as cinzas para o ar enquanto Faraó estiver vendo. ⁹ Elas se tornarão poeira fina sobre toda a terra do Egito. Elas causarão bolhas e feridas nas pessoas e animais de toda a terra do Egito". ¹⁰ Então Moisés e Arão pegaram as cinzas do forno e se colocaram diante de Faraó. Moisés as jogou para o ar, e elas causaram bolhas e chagas que se estouravam nas pessoas e nos animais.

¹¹ Os mágicos não puderam resistir a Moisés por causa das bolhas, que vieram sobre eles e sobre todos os outros egípcios. ¹² Yahweh endureceu o coração de Faraó, que não deu atenção a Moisés e a Arão. Conforme Yahweh havia dito a Moisés que Faraó faria.

¹³ Então, Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Acorda cedo pela manhã, aguarda em frente de Faraó e dize-lhe: 'Yahweh, o Deus dos hebreus, disse: Deixa Meu povo ir para que ele possa Me adorar, ¹⁴ pois Eu enviarei, neste tempo, todas as Minhas pragas sobre vós, sobre vossos servos e sobre vosso povo. Eu farei isto para que tu possas saber que não há quem Me seja semelhante em toda a terra.

¹⁵ Por agora, Eu teria te alcançado com Minha mão e atacado a ti e a teu povo com doença e tu terias sido exterminado da terra. ¹⁶ Mas foi por esta razão que Eu te permiti sobreviver, a fim de te mostrar o Meu poder, de modo que Meu nome seja proclamado em toda a terra. ¹⁷ Ainda assim, tu estás te levantando contra Meu povo para não deixá-lo ir.

¹⁸ Ouve! Amanhã, por esta hora, Eu trarei uma tempestade de granizo muito forte, tal qual não se tenha visto no Egito desde o dia em que foi fundado. ¹⁹ Agora, pois, envia homens e recolhe teu gado e tudo o que tens nos campos envia para um lugar seguro. A chuva de granizo cairá sobre cada homem e animal que estiver no campo, e aqueles que não forem levados para casa morrerão".

²⁰ Então, os servos de Faraó que acreditaram na mensagem de Yahweh apressaram-se em trazer seus escravos e gado para dentro das casas. ²¹ Mas aqueles que não acreditaram na mensagem de Yahweh deixaram seus escravos e gados nos campos.

²² Então Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Estende tua mão em direção ao céu, e cairá granizo em toda a terra do Egito: sobre as pessoas, sobre os animais e sobre todas as plantas nos campos, por todo o Egito". ²³ Moisés levantou sua vara em direção ao céu, e Yahweh enviou trovões, granizo e relâmpagos sobre a terra. Ele fez cair chuva de granizo sobre a terra do Egito. ²⁴ Houve relâmpagos e pesado granizo como nunca havia sido visto em toda a terra do Egito, desde que tornou-se uma nação.

²⁵ Por toda a terra do Egito, a chuva de granizo feriu tudo nos campos, tanto pessoas como animais. Feriu todas as plantas dos campos e quebrou todas as árvores. ²⁶ Somente na terra de Gósen, onde viviam os israelitas, não houve chuva de granizo.

²⁷ Faraó enviou homens para chamar Moisés e Arão. Ele lhes disse: "Eu pequei desta vez. Yahweh é justo e eu e meu povo somos perversos. ²⁸ Orai a Yahweh, porque os fortes raios e a chuva de granizo são demais. Eu vos deixarei ir e vós não ficareis mais aqui".

²⁹ Moisés disse-lhe: "Assim que eu deixar a cidade, estenderei minhas mãos a Yahweh. Os trovões cessarão e não haverá mais granizo. Desse modo, vós sabereis que a terra pertence a Yahweh. ³⁰ Porém, quanto a ti e a teus servos, eu sei que realmente ainda não honrais a Deus Yahweh".

³¹ O linho e a cevada foram destruídos, pois a cevada estava amadurecendo na espiga e o linho, florescendo. ³² Mas o trigo e o centeio não foram prejudicados, porque eram colheitas posteriores. ³³ Quando Moisés saiu da presença de Faraó e da cidade, ele estendeu suas mãos para Yahweh e os trovões e as chuvas de granizo pararam, e a chuva não mais caiu.

³⁴ Quando Faraó viu que a chuva de granizo e os trovões haviam cessado, ele pecou outra vez e endureceu seu coração junto com os seus servos. ³⁵ O coração de Faraó foi endurecido. Então, ele não deixou o povo de Israel ir. E isso foi como Yahweh dissera a Moisés que Faraó agiria.

Capítulo 10

¹ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Vai a Faraó, pois lhe endureci o coração e também o de seus subordinados. Fiz isso para mostrar, por meio de sinais, o Meu poder sobre eles. ² Fiz isso também para que vós possais dizer aos vossos filhos e netos tudo o que tenho feito; como tenho zombado do Egito e como tenho enviado vários sinais do Meu poder sobre eles. Desse modo, vós sabereis que Eu Sou Yahweh".

³ Então, Moisés e Arão foram até Faraó e lhe disseram: "Yahweh, o Deus dos hebreus, disse isto: 'Por quanto tempo recusarás humilhar-te perante Mim? Deixa que Meu povo vá para que possa Me adorar. ⁴ Mas, se te recusares a deixar Meu povo ir, ouve, amanhã Eu mandarei gafanhotos para tua terra.

⁵ Eles cobrirão a superfície da terra de modo que ninguém poderá enxergar o chão. Eles comerão os restos de tudo o que tiver escapado à tempestade de granizo. Eles devorarão também todas as árvores que tiverem crescido nos campos. ⁶ Eles encherão as casas, as dos subordinados, bem como todas as casas dos egípcios, algo nunca visto desde então". E Moisés saiu da presença de Faraó.

⁷ Os conselheiros disseram a Faraó: "Ainda, por quanto tempo esse homem nos ameaçará? Deixa que os israelitas partam para que possam adorar a Yahweh, seu Deus. Tu ainda não entendeste que o Egito está destruído?" ⁸ Moisés e Arão, então, foram levados novamente à presença de Faraó, que lhes disse: "Ide e adorai a Yahweh, o vosso Deus. Mas quem irá?".

⁹ Disse Moisés: "Iremos com os jovens e os velhos, com nossos filhos e filhas. Levaremos também nossas ovelhas e nossos bois, porque devemos festejar em honra a Yahweh". ¹⁰ Faraó disse a eles: "Esteja, de fato, Yahweh convosco, se eu deixar ir vós e vossas crianças. Vede, vós tendes alguma má intenção. ¹¹ Ide, mas somente os homens, para adorar Yahweh, pois isso é o que quereis". Então Moisés e Arão foram levados da presença de Faraó.

¹² Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Estenda tua mão sobre a terra do Egito para que os gafanhotos possam atacar esta terra e devorar tudo, todas as coisas que não foram consumidas pela tempestade de granizo. ¹³ Moisés estendeu seu cajado sobre a terra do Egito, e Yahweh mandou um vento forte sobre a terra, vindo do leste, durante todo o dia e toda a noite. Quando amanheceu, o vento do leste trouxe os gafanhotos.

¹⁴ Os gafanhotos se espalharam por toda a terra do Egito. Algo assim nunca havia sido visto antes e nunca será novamente. ¹⁵ Eles cobriram toda a supefície da terra, tornando-a escura; e devoraram toda a plantação e também os frutos das árvores que a tempestade de granizo não havia destruído. Por toda a terra do Egito, nenhuma vegetação resistiu, nem planta alguma permaneceu nos campos.

¹⁶ Então Faraó rapidamente convocou Moisés e Arão e lhes disse: "Pequei contra Yahweh, o vosso Deus, e contra vós. ¹⁷ Agora, então, perdoai a mim e rogai a Yahweh, para que Ele leve a morte para longe de mim". ¹⁸ Moisés saiu da presença de Faraó e orou a Yahweh.

¹⁹ Yahweh enviou uma tempestade com ventos fortes vindos do leste, lançando os gafanhotos no Mar Vermelho. Nenhum gafanhoto permaneceu em território Egípcio. ²⁰ Mas Yahweh endureceu ainda mais o coração de Faraó, e este não permitiu que os Israelitas saíssem.

²¹ Então, Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Estenda tua mão ao céu para que haja escuridão em toda a terra do Egito, trevas que poderão ser sentidas. ²² Moisés, então, estendeu sua mão ao céu, e vieram densas trevas sobre toda a terra do Egito por três dias. ²³ Ninguém mais pode ver ninguém. E ninguém podia sair de casa durante esses três dias. Entretanto, havia luzes em todos os lares israelitas.

²⁴ Faraó mandou chamar Moisés e disse: "Ide e adorai a Yahweh. Até mesmo vossas famílias poderão ir convosco, mas vossas ovelhas e bois deverão permanecer". ²⁵ Mas Moisés disse: "Tu também deves dar-nos animais para sacrifício e holocausto em oferecimento a Yahweh, nosso Deus. ²⁶ Nossos rebanhos também irão conosco, e nenhum casco deverá ser deixado para trás, porquanto devemos oferecê-los a Yahweh. Porque não sabemos com o que haveremos de adorar Yahweh, nosso Deus, até que cheguemos lá".

²⁷ Mas Yahweh continuou a endurecer o coração de Faraó, que não permitiu que os povo de Israel fosse. ²⁸ Faraó disse a Moisés: "Afasta-te da minha presença! Presta atenção a uma coisa: que tu não me vejas novamente, pois no dia em que vires a minha face morrerás". ²⁹ Moisés disse: "É como tu mesmo disseste: eu não verei tua face outra vez".

Capítulo 11

¹ Então, Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Há ainda mais uma praga que Eu trarei sobre Faraó e o Egito. Depois disso, ele vos deixará ir. Quando, finalmente, ele vos deixar partir, ele vos expulsará completamente. ² Instrui o povo dizendo que todo homem e toda mulher devem pedir a seu vizinho ou vizinha artigos de prata e ouro". ³ Yahweh havia tornado os egípcios ansiosos em satisfazer os israelitas. Além disso, aos olhos dos servos de Faraó e do povo do Egito, o homem Moisés era muito importante.

⁴ Moisés disse: "Assim diz Yahweh: 'Por volta da meia noite, Eu passarei pelo Egito. ⁵ Todos os primogênitos na terra do Egito morrerão, desde o primogênito de Faraó, que assenta em seu trono, até o primogênito da escrava que trabalha no moinho, e os primogênitos de todos os rebanhos.

⁶ Então, por toda a terra do Egito, haverá uma grande lamentação como nunca houve antes e como nunca haverá novamente. ⁷ Mas, nem mesmo um cachorro latirá contra o povo de Israel; nem contra homem, tampouco contra animais dos rebanhos. Dessa forma, sabereis que Eu estou tratando os egípcios e os israelitas distintamente. ⁸ Todos os teus servos, Faraó, descerão a Mim, e se curvarão perante Mim. Eles dirão: 'Vai, tu e todo o povo que te segue!' Depois disso, eu partirei"'. Então ele saiu da presença de Faraó com grande ira.

⁹ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Faraó não te ouvirá. Para que Eu possa fazer muitas coisas prodigiosas na terra do Egito". ¹⁰ Moisés e Arão fizeram todos esses prodígios diante de Faraó. Porém, Yahweh endureceu o coração de Faraó, que não permitiu que o povo de Israel deixasse sua terra.

Capítulo 12

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés e a Arão na terra do Egito, dizendo: ² "Para vós, este primeiro mês será o início dos meses, o primeiro mês do ano para vós.

³ Diz à assembleia de Israel: 'No décimo dia deste mês, cada um de vós deve tomar um cordeiro ou um cabrito; cada família fará isso, um cordeiro para cada família. ⁴ Se a família for pequena para um cordeiro, o homem e seu vizinho do lado comerão a carne de um cordeiro ou cabrito que for suficiente, conforme o número de pessoas. Deverá ser suficiente para todos que comerem; assim, eles deverão tomar carne suficiente para alimentar a todos vós.

⁵ Vosso cordeiro ou cabrito deverá ser sem mácula, um macho de um ano. Tomareis um cordeiro ou cabrito. ⁶ Devereis guardá-lo até o décimo quarto dia do mês. Então, toda a assembleia de Israel deverá matar cada animal ao cair da tarde. ⁷ Pegareis uma parte do sangue, e a colocareis nos dois umbrais e na parte superior da porta das casas, nas quais irão o animal. ⁸ Naquela noite, comereis a carne, depois de tê-la, primeiro, assado ao fogo. Comereis com pão feito sem fermento, juntamente com ervas amargas.

⁹ Não o comereis cru ou cozido em água. Ao invés disso, assá-lo-eis ao fogo, com a cabeça, as pernas e as partes internas. ¹⁰ Não deixareis sobrar nada para a manhã seguinte. Queimareis tudo quanto sobrar até de manhã. ¹¹ Assim é como comereis: com o cinto apertado, sapatos nos pés e cajado na mão. Comereis apressadamente. Esta é a Páscoa de Yahweh".

¹² Yahweh disse: "Passarei na terra do Egito naquela noite, e ferirei todos os primogênitos dos homens e dos animais na terra do Egito. Punirei todos os deuses do Egito. Eu sou Yahweh. ¹³ O sangue será um sinal para Me mostrar as suas casas. Quando Eu vir o sangue, passarei por cima de vós, quando ferir a terra do Egito. Essa praga não virá sobre vós e não vos destruirá. ¹⁴ Esse dia se tornará um memorial para vós, o qual devereis observar como uma festividade para Yahweh. Será sempre uma lei para vós, através de todas as gerações, devereis observar este dia.

¹⁵ Comereis pães sem fermento durante sete dias. No primeiro dia, removereis o fermento de vossas casas. Qualquer que comer pão fermentado do primeiro até o sétimo dia deverá ser cortado de Israel. ¹⁶ No primeiro dia, haverá uma assembleia que será dedicada ao Meu nome e no sétimo dia haverá outro ajuntamento semelhante. Nenhum trabalho será feito nesses dias, exceto o cozimento, para que todos possam comer. Somente esse trabalho deverá ser feito por vós.

¹⁷ Observareis essa celebração dos pães sem fermento, porque nesse dia trarei vossos exércitos para fora da terra do Egito. Assim, observareis esse dia por todas as gerações. Será uma lei para vós, para sempre. ¹⁸ Comereis pães sem fermento desde o cair da tarde do décimo quarto dia do primeiro mês do ano até o cair da tarde do vigésimo primeiro dia do mesmo mês.

¹⁹ Durante esses sete dias, nenhum fermento deverá ser encontrado em vossas casas. Qualquer que comer pão com fermento será cortado da comunidade de Israel, seja essa pessoa um estrangeiro ou alguém nascido em vossa terra. ²⁰ Nada feito com fermento deverá ser comido. Onde quer que viverdes, comereis pão feito sem fermento".

²¹ Então, Moisés convocou todos os anciãos de Israel e disse-lhes: "Ide e escolhei os cordeiros que sejam suficientes para alimentar vossas famílias, e sacrificai o cordeiro da Páscoa. ²² Então, tomai um ramo de hissopo e mergulhai-o no sangue que estará numa bacia. Aspergireis o sangue da bacia no topo das portas e nos umbrais. Nenhum de vós sairá da porta da vossa casa até o amanhecer.

²³ Porque Yahweh passará para ferir os egípcios. Quando Ele vir o sangue no topo das vigas da porta e dos umbrais, passará por cima da vossa porta e não permitará que o destruidor entre nas vossas casas para ferir-vos.

²⁴ Observareis isso para sempre, como uma lei para vós e vossos descendentes. ²⁵ Quando entrardes na terra que Yahweh vos dará, como Ele prometeu fazer, observareis esse ato de adoração.

²⁶ Quando vossos filhos vos perguntarem: 'O que significa este ato de adoração?'. ²⁷ Então direis: 'Este é o sacrifício da Páscoa de Yahweh, porque Yahweh passou por cima das casas dos israelitas no Egito, quando feriu de morte os egípcios. Ele libertou nossas famílias'". Então, o povo prostou-se e adorou a Yahweh. ²⁸ Os israelitas foram e fizeram exatamente conforme Yahweh tinha ordenado a Moisés e Arão.

²⁹ Aconteceu que, à meia noite, Yahweh feriu de morte todos os primogênitos na terra do Egito, desde o primogênito do Faraó, o qual se assentava em seu trono, como também o primogênito do prisioneiro e todos os primogênitos dos rebanhos. ³⁰ Faraó levantou-se à noite — ele, todos os seus servos e todos os egípcios. Houve grande lamento no Egito, pois não havia casa alguma onde não houvesse alguém morto.

³¹ À noite, o Faraó convocou Moisés e Arão, e disse: "Levantai-vos, saí do meio do meu povo, vós e os israelitas. Ide, adorai a Yahweh, conforme pedistes e queríeis fazer. ³² Levai vossos rebanhos e gados, como dissestes, ide e também abençoai-me." ³³ Os egípcios estavam com grande pressa para expulsá-los da terra, pois diziam: "Vamos todos morrer".

³⁴ Então o povo tomou suas massas sem nenhum fermento adicionado. Suas amassadeiras já estavam amarradas a suas roupas e em seus ombros. ³⁵ O povo de Israel fez conforme Moisés tinha dito. Foram pedidos aos egípcios os objetos de prata e ouro, como também roupas. ³⁶ Yahweh fez com que os egípcios desejassem agradar aos israelitas. Então, os egípcios deram qualquer coisa que fosse pedida por eles. Dessa forma, os israelitas despojaram os egípcios.

³⁷ Os israelitas viajaram de Ramessés a Sucote. Eram cerca de seiscentos mil homens a pé, sem contar as crianças. ³⁸ Uma multidão misturada de estrangeiros também foi com eles, junto com seus rebanhos e gados, um número muito grande. ³⁹ Assaram pães sem fermento com a massa que eles trouxeram do Egito. Os pães estavam sem fermento porque tinham saído do Egito e não podiam se atrasar com o preparo da comida. ⁴⁰ Os israelitas tinham habitado no Egito por quatrocentos e trinta anos.

⁴¹ No final dos quatrocentos e trinta anos, naquele mesmo dia, todos os exércitos de Yahweh saíram da terra do Egito. ⁴² Essa foi uma noite para ficar acordado, pois Yahweh os tirou da terra do Egito. Essa foi a noite de Yahweh, para ser observada por todos os israelitas através de todas as suas gerações.

⁴³ Yahweh disse a Moisés e Arão: "Aqui está a regra para a Páscoa: nenhum estrangeiro comerá dela. ⁴⁴ No entanto, todo escravo israelita comprado por dinheiro poderá comer após ter sido circuncidado.

⁴⁵ Estrangeiros e servos assalariados não deverão comer nada dessa comida. ⁴⁶ A refeição deverá ser comida na sua própria casa. Não levareis nenhuma carne para fora da casa, e não quebrareis osso algum.

⁴⁷ Toda a comunidade de Israel deverá observar a celebração. ⁴⁸ Se um estrangeiro viver entre vós e quiser participar da Páscoa para Yahweh, todos os seus parentes homens deverão ser circuncidados. Então ele poderá celebrá-la. Ele se tornará como uma pessoa nativa. Contudo, nenhum incircunciso poderá comer dela.

⁴⁹ Essa mesma lei será aplicada tanto para o nativo quanto para o estrangeiro que vive entre vós". ⁵⁰ Assim, todos os israelitas fizeram exatamente como Yahweh tinha ordenado a Moisés e Arão. ⁵¹ Isso aconteceu no mesmo dia em que Yahweh tirou Israel da terra do Egito, conforme seus exércitos.

Capítulo 13

¹ Yahweh falou para Moisés e disse: ² "Dedica para Mim todo o primogênito, todo macho entre os israelitas, tanto homens, como animais. O primogênito Me pertencerá".

³ Moisés disse ao povo: "Trazei à memória este dia, o dia em que saístes do Egito - da casa da escravidão - pela mão poderosa de Yahweh, que vos tirou desse lugar. Não podereis comer pão fermentado. ⁴ Vós saireis do Egito neste dia, no mês de Abibe. ⁵ Quando Yahweh vos trouxer para a terra dos cananeus, heteus, amorreus, heveus e jebuseus, a terra que Ele jurou aos vossos ancestrais que vos daria, uma terra que mana leite e mel — então devereis observar este ato de adoração neste mês.

⁶ Por sete dias, devereis comer pão sem fermento; ao sétimo dia, harevá uma festa em honra a Yahweh. ⁷ Pão sem fermento deverá ser consumido durante os sete dias; nenhum pão com fermento deverá ser visto entre vós. Nenhum fermento deverá ser encontrado entre vós, dentro de vossas fronteiras.

⁸ Naqueles dias, direis aos vossos filhos: 'Isto é pelo que Yahweh fez por mim quando saí do Egito'. ⁹ Isso será como lembrete na vossa mão e como lembrete na vossa fronte. Por isso a lei de Yahweh deverá estar em vossa boca, pois, com forte mão, vos trouxe do Egito. ¹⁰ Portanto devereis guardar essas leis ano após ano.

¹¹ Quando Yahweh vos trouxer para terra dos cananitas, como Ele jurou a vós e a vossos ancestrais que iria fazer, e quando Ele vos der a terra, ¹² devereis separar para Ele todo primogênito, tanto dos homens quanto dos animais. Os machos serão para Yahweh. ¹³ Cada primogênito de jumento vós devereis comprar novamente com um cordeiro. Se não o comprardes novamente, então devereis lhe quebrar o pescoço. Porém, cada um dos vossos primogênitos machos entre todos os vossos filhos — devereis comprá-los novamente.

¹⁴ Quando vosso filho vos perguntar mais tarde, 'O que isso significa?' então lhe direis: 'Foi pela Sua forte mão que Yahweh nos tirou do Egito, da casa da escravidão. ¹⁵ Quando Faraó, obstinadamente, recusou-se a nos deixar sair, Yahweh matou todos os primogênitos na terra do Egito, tanto os primogênitos de pessoas e como os primogênitos dos animais. Por isso, eu sacrifico a Yahweh todo primogênito macho de todo animal, e por isso eu compro novamente os primogênitos entre meus filhos'. ¹⁶ Isso será um lembrete em suas mãos, e um lembrete em sua testa, pois foi com forte mão que Yahweh nos tirou do Egito.

¹⁷ Quando Faraó deixou o povo ir, Deus não os guiou pela terra dos filisteus, ainda que fosse o caminho mais próximo. Pois Deus disse: "Talvez o povo mude de ideia quando vivenciar a guerra, e então retornará para o Egito". ¹⁸ Então, Deus guiou o povo ao redor do deserto para o Mar Vermelho. Os israelitas subiram para fora do Egito armados para a batalha.

¹⁹ Moisés levou os ossos de José consigo, pois José fez os israelitas jurarem solenemente e dizer: "Deus certamente vos resgatará, e vós devereis levar meus ossos consvosco." ²⁰ Os isrelitas viajaram de Sucote e acamparam em Etã, às margens do deserto. ²¹ Yahweh ia diante deles durante o dia, em uma coluna de nuvem para guiá-los pelo caminho. Pela noite, Ele ia como coluna de fogo para dar a eles a luz. Assim, eles puderam viajar durante o dia e durante a noite. ²² Yahweh não retirou de diante do povo a coluna de nuvem para o dia, nem a coluna de fogo para a noite.

Capítulo 14

¹ Deus falou a Moisés: ² "Dize aos israelitas que eles devem retornar e acampar diante de Pi Hairote, entre Migdol e o mar, antes de Baal Zefom. Vós acampareis junto ao mar, oposto a Pi Hairote. ³ Faraó dirá sobre vós, israelitas, 'Eles estão vagando pela terra. Ficaram presos no deserto'.

⁴ Eu endurecerei o coração de Faraó, e ele os perseguirá. Serei honrado por causa de Faraó e seu exército. Os egípcios saberão que Eu sou Yahweh." Então os israelitas acamparam como haviam sido instruídos. ⁵ Quando o rei do Egito foi informado de que os israelitas haviam fugido, os pensamentos de Faraó e de seus servos voltaram-se contra o povo. Eles disseram: "O que fizemos nós, deixando Israel livre de nos servir?"

⁶ Então Faraó preparou suas carruagens e tomou seu exército com ele. ⁷ Tomou seiscentas carruagens selecionadas e outras carruagens do Egito, todas com seus oficiais. ⁸ Yahweh endureceu o coração de Faraó, rei do Egito, e o rei perseguiu os israelitas. Os israelitas haviam saído triunfantes. ⁹ Mas os egípcios os perseguiram, com seus cavalos e carruagens, seus cavaleiros e seu exército. Eles alcançaram os israelitas no acampamento junto ao mar, ao lado de Pi Hairote, antes de Baal Zefom.

¹⁰ Quando Faraó se aproximou, os israelitas olharam e ficaram surpresos. Os egípcios estavam marchando atrás deles; e ficaram apavorados. Os israelitas clamaram a Deus. ¹¹ Eles disseram a Moisés: "É porque não havia túmulos no Egito que nos trouxeste para morrer no deserto? Por que nos trataste assim, tirando-nos do Egito? ¹² Não foi isso o que te dissemos? Nós te dissemos: 'Deixa-nos em paz, então poderemos servir aos egípcios. Teria sido melhor para nós trabalhar para eles do que morrer no deserto'".

¹³ Moisés disse ao povo: "Não temais. Permanecei firmes e vede o livramento que Yahweh proverá para vós hoje. Pois nunca mais vereis novamente os egípcios que vedes hoje. ¹⁴ Yahweh lutará por vós, apenas permanecereis firmes"

¹⁵ Então Deus disse a Moisés: "Moisés, por que continuas clamando a mim? Dize aos israelitas para irem em frente. ¹⁶ Levanta o teu cajado, estende a tua mão sobre o mar e divide-o em dois, para que o povo de Israel atravesse o mar em terra seca. Sabe que endurecerei os corações dos egípcios, para os perseguir. ¹⁷ Serei honrado por causa de Faraó e todo seu exército, suas carruagens e seus cavaleiros. ¹⁸ Então os egípcios saberão que Eu sou Yahweh quando Eu for honrado por causa de Faraó, suas carruagens e seus cavaleiros."

¹⁹ O anjo de Deus, que ia à frente dos israelitas, foi para trás deles. A coluna de nuvem, que ia à frente deles, ficou atrás. ²⁰ A nuvem ficou entre o acampamento dos egípcios e o acampamento dos israelitas. E era uma nuvem escura para os Egípcios, mas iluminava a noite para os Israelitas. Então um lado não se aproximou do outro durante toda noite.

²¹ Moisés estendeu sua mão sobre o mar. Com um forte vento oriental, durante toda aquela noite, Yahweh recolheu e dividiu as águas do mar, tornando-o terra seca. ²² Os Israelitas atravessaram pelo meio do mar em solo seco. As águas formaram uma muralha para eles, tanto do seu lado direito quanto do lado esquerdo.

²³ Os egípcios os perseguiram. Eles foram atrás dos israelitas para o meio do mar - com todos os cavalos, carruagens e cavaleiros de Faraó. ²⁴ Mas, ao amanhecer, Yahweh impediu o exército egípcio através da coluna de fogo e da nuvem. Ele trouxe pânico entre os egípcios. ²⁵ As rodas de suas carruagens ficaram travadas, e seus cavaleiros guiavam com dificuldade. Então os egípcios disseram: "Vamos fugir de Israel, porque Yahweh está lutando a favor deles e contra nós".

²⁶ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Estende tua mão sobre o mar para que as águas voltem sobre os egípcios, suas carruagens e cavaleiros". ²⁷ Então Moisés estendeu sua mão sobre o mar, e as águas voltaram ao curso normal quando amanheceu. Os egípcios tentaram fugir de dentro do mar, mas Yahweh lançou-os para o meio dele. ²⁸ As águas voltaram e cobriram as carruagens, os cavaleiros de Faraó e seu exército inteiro que tinha seguido as carruagens até o mar. Ninguém sobreviveu.

²⁹ No entanto os israelitas caminharam por terra seca no meio do mar. As águas eram uma muralha para eles, tanto do lado direito quanto do esquerdo. ³⁰ Assim Yahweh livrou Israel das mãos dos egípcios naquele dia, e Israel viu os corpos deles à beira-mar. ³¹ Quando Israel viu o grande poder que Deus usou contra os egípcios, o povo honrou a Yahweh e confiou em Deus e em seu servo Moisés.

Capítulo 15

¹ Então, Moisés e o povo de Israel entoaram esta canção a Deus. Eles cantaram: "Eu louvo a Yahweh, pois Ele triunfou gloriosamente; o cavalo e seu cavaleiro, Ele lançou ao mar.

² Yahweh é minha força e canção, Ele se tornou minha salvação. Este é meu Deus e eu O louvarei, o Deus de meu pai, e eu O exaltarei. ³ Yahweh é um guerreiro. Yahweh é o Seu nome.

⁴ Ele lançou ao mar as carruagens de Faraó e seu exército. Os oficiais escolhidos de Faraó foram lançados ao Mar Vermelho. ⁵ As profundezas os cobriram, desceram às profundezas como pedras.

⁶ Tua mão direita, Yahweh, é gloriosa em poder; Tua mão direita, Yahweh, esmagou o inimigo. ⁷ Em grande majestade, Tu venceste aqueles que se levantaram contra Ti. Tu enviaste a Tua ira e ela os consumiu como palha. ⁸ Pelo sopro de Tuas narinas, as águas se amontoaram; as águas correntes se levantaram; as águas profundas se congelaram no coração do mar.

⁹ O inimigo disse: 'Eu o perseguirei, eu vencerei, eu dividirei os despojos; meu desejo será satisfeito neles; eu conduzirei minha espada; minha mão os destruirá.' ¹⁰ Mas Tu sopraste com o Teu vento, e o mar os cobriu; eles afundaram em poderosas águas. ¹¹ Quem entre os deuses é como Tu, Yahweh? Quem é como Tu, majestoso em santidade, honrado em louvores, operando milagres?

¹² Tu os alcançaste com Tua mão direita e a terra os tragou. ¹³ Em Tua leal aliança, guiaste o povo que resgataste. Em Tua força, o guiaste para o santo lugar onde Tu vives.

¹⁴ Os povos ouvirão e tremerão; o terror alcançará os habitantes da Filístia. ¹⁵ Então, os líderes de Edom temerão, os soldados de Moabe tremerão; todos os habitantes de Canaã se abalarão.

¹⁶ Terror e pavor virão sobre eles; pela força do Teu braço, eles se tornarão como pedra até que Teu povo passe, Yahweh, até que o povo que Tu resgataste tenha atravessado.

¹⁷ Tu os trarás e os plantarás no monte de Tua herança, o lugar, Yahweh, que Tu fizeste para habitares, o santuário, nosso Deus, que Tuas mãos construíram. ¹⁸ Yahweh reinará para sempre e sempre".

¹⁹ Pois os cavalos de Faraó entraram com suas carruagens e cavaleiros no mar. Yahweh derramou de volta as águas do mar por sobre eles. Porém os Israelitas caminharam por terra seca, no meio do mar. ²⁰ Miriam, a profetisa, irmã de Arão, tomou um tamborim e, com ela, todas as mulheres vieram com tamborins, dançando. ²¹ Miriam cantou para elas: "Cantai ao SENHOR, pois Ele triunfou gloriosamente. O cavalo e seu cavaleiro Ele lançou ao mar".

²² Então desde o Mar Vermelho, Moisés guiou Israel adiante. Eles atravessaram pelo deserto de Sur. Viajaram três dias pelo deserto e não encontraram água. ²³ Então chegaram a Mara, mas não puderam beber a água de lá, pois era amarga. Por isso chamaram aquele lugar de Mara.

²⁴ Então o povo murmurou contra Moisés dizendo: "O que podemos beber?" ²⁵ Moisés clamou a Yahweh, e Yahweh lhe mostrou um tronco de árvore. Moisés o lançou às águas, e elas se tornaram doces para beber. Foi nesse lugar que Yahweh lhes deu uma lei estrita e foi ali que Ele os testou. ²⁶ Ele disse: "Se atentamente ouvirdes a Minha voz, Eu, Yahweh, o vosso DEUS, e fizerdes o que for correto aos Meus olhos - e se observardes os Meus mandamentos e obedecerdes às Minhas leis, não porei sobre vós nenhuma das aflições que Eu fiz cair sobre os egípcios; pois Eu sou Yahweh, aquele que vos cura."

²⁷ Então o povo chegou até Elim, onde havia doze nascentes de água e setenta palmeiras. Eles acamparam junto das águas.

Capítulo 16

¹ O povo viajou de Elim, e toda a comunidade dos israelitas veio para o deserto de Sim, que fica entre Elim e Sinai, no décimo quinto dia do segundo mês, depois de partirem da terra do Egito. ² Toda a comunidade dos israelitas murmurou contra Moisés e Arão no deserto. ³ Os israelitas lhes disseram: "Se ao menos tivéssemos morrido pela mão de Yahweh na terra do Egito, enquanto nos assentávamos perto das panelas de carne e comíamos pão até nos fartarmos? Pois vós nos trouxestes para este deserto, para matar toda a nossa comunidade de fome".

⁴ Então, Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Eu farei chover pão do céu sobre vós. O povo sairá e recolherá uma porção diária. Este será Meu teste para ver se eles andarão ou não na Minha lei. ⁵ Isto acontecerá no sexto dia: recolherão duas vezes mais do que recolheram nos outros dias, e cozinharão o que eles trouxerem".

⁶ Então Moisés e Arão disseram para todo o povo de Israel: "Ao anoitecer, vós sabereis que é Yahweh quem vos tirou da terra do Egito. ⁷ E, pela manhã, vós vereis a glória de Yahweh, pois Ele ouviu vossas murmurações contra Ele. Quem somos nós para que vós reclameis contra nós?" ⁸ Moisés também disse: "Vós sabereis quando Yahweh vos der carne ao anoitecer e, pão pela manhã para vos saciardes, pois Ele ouviu vossas murmurações contra Ele. Quem somos Arão e Eu? Vossas murmurações não são contra nós; são contra Yahweh".

⁹ Moisés disse a Arão: "Diga a toda a comunidade do povo de Israel: "Aproximai-vos perante Yahweh, pois Ele tem ouvido vossas queixas." ¹⁰ Enquanto Arão falava para toda a comunidade do povo de Israel, eles olharam para o deserto e eis que a glória de Yahweh apareceu na nuvem. ¹¹ Depois, Yahweh falou a Moisés e disse: ¹² " Eu tenho ouvido as queixas do povo de Israel. Fale com eles e lhes diga: 'À noite, vós comereis carne, e, pela manhã, sereis saciados com pão. Então, vós sabereis que Eu sou o Yahweh, vosso Deus'".

¹³ E aconteceu que, naquela noite, codornas vieram e cobriram o acampamento. De manhã, o orvalho caiu em volta do acampamento. ¹⁴ Quando o orvalho se foi, viram que, pelo chão do deserto, havia algo pequeno e redondo, como a geada no chão. ¹⁵ Quando os israelitas viram isso, disseram uns aos outros: "O que é isso?" Eles não sabiam o que era. Moisés lhes disse: "É o pão que Yahweh vos tem dado para comer.

¹⁶ Este é o mandamento que Yahweh tem dado: 'Vós tendes de guardar, cada um de vós, a porção que vos é necessária para comer: um ômer por pessoa, segundo o número do povo. É assim que fareis: juntai o suficiente para comer para cada pessoa que vive em sua tenda.'" ¹⁷ E o povo de Israel assim o fez. Alguns juntaram mais e outros, menos. ¹⁸ Quando mediram isso com a medida do ômer, aqueles que haviam juntado mais não tinham nenhuma sobra, e aqueles que haviam juntado menos nada lhes faltou. Cada pessoa juntou o suficiente para suas necessidades.

¹⁹ Então Moisés lhes disse: "Ninguém deve guardar para amanhã". Entretanto, eles não escutaram a Moisés. ²⁰ Alguns deles guardaram para o dia seguinte, mas surgiram vermes e o pão se tornou detestável. Moisés ficou irado com eles. ²¹ Eles o guardavam manhã após manhã. Cada pessoa juntava o suficiente para comer naquele dia. E o alimento se derretia, quando o sol ficava mais forte.

²² E aconteceu que, no sexto dia, eles reuniram duas vezes mais pão, dois ômeres por cada pessoa. Todos os líderes da comunidade vieram e contaram isso a Moisés. ²³ Ele lhes disse: "Isso é o que Deus disse: 'Amanhã é o descanso, o sábado santo em honra a Deus. Cozinhai o que quiserdes cozinhar, fervei o que quiserdes ferver. Tudo o que sobrar, guardai para vós até a manhã seguinte'".

²⁴ Então, eles os guardaram até pela manhã, como Moisés os instruiu. E não se tornou podre, nem criou vermes neles. ²⁵ Moisés disse: "Comei esta comida hoje, pois hoje é um dia reservado, o sábado, para honrar a Yahweh. Hoje não encontrareis comida nos campos.

²⁶ Reunireis isso durante seis dias, mas o sétimo é o dia do sábado. No sábado, não haverá maná". ²⁷ E aconteceu que, no sétimo dia, algumas pessoas saíram em busca do maná, porém nada encontraram.

²⁸ Então, Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Por quanto tempo vos recusareis a manter Meus mandamentos e Minhas leis? ²⁹ Vede, Eu, Yahweh tenho vos dado o descanso. Então, no sexto dia, vos darei pão por dois dias. Cada um de vós ficará em sua morada, ninguém deverá sair de sua casa, no sétimo dia". ³⁰ Então, o povo descansou no sétimo dia.

³¹ O povo de Israel chamou o alimento de "maná". Era branco como a semente de coentro, e tinha o gosto como de pão feito com mel. ³² Moisés lhes disse: "Isso é o que Yahweh tem ordenado: 'Deixai um ômer de maná guardado para as gerações de vosso povo, para que vossos descendentes vejam o pão com que Eu vos alimentei no deserto, depois que vos tirei da terra do Egito'".

³³ Moisés disse a Arão: "Pega um pote e coloca um ômer de maná dentro. Guarda isso perante Yahweh para as gerações do nosso povo". ³⁴ Assim como Yahweh ordenou a Moisés, Arão guardou, ao lado do decreto da aliança, na arca. ³⁵ O povo de Israel comeu o maná por quarenta anos, até chegarem à terra habitada. Eles comeram até chegarem à fronteira da terra de Canaã. ³⁶ Um ômer é a décima parte de um efa.

Capítulo 17

¹ Toda a comunidade dos israealitas partiu do deserto de Sim, seguindo as instruções de Yahweh. Eles acamparam em Refidim, mas lá não havia água para as pessoas beberem. ² Então, o povo culpou Moisés pela sua situação e lhe disse: "Dá-nos água para beber". Moisés disse: "Por que vós reclamais? Por que vós testais a Deus?". ³ As pessoas estavam muito sedentas e elas se queixaram contra Moisés. Disseram: "Por que tu nos tiraste do Egito? Para nos matar de sede, nossas crianças e nossos rebanhos?".

⁴ Então, Moisés clamou a Yahweh: "O que eu deveria fazer com este povo? Eles estão prontos para me apedrejar". ⁵ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Vai à frente dessas pessoas e leve contigo alguns anciãos de Israel. Leva também a vara com a qual feristes o rio e vai tu. ⁶ Eu estarei diante de ti sobre a rocha no Horebe, e tu irás bater na rocha. Água sairá dela para o povo beber". Então Moisés fez desta maneira à vista dos anciãos de Israel. ⁷ Ele chamou aquele lugar de Massá e Meribá, devido às queixas dos israelitas, e porque eles testaram o Senhor dizendo: "Está Yahweh entre nós ou não?".

⁸ Então, o exército dos amalequitas veio e atacou Israel em Refidim. ⁹ Assim, Moisés disse a Josué: "Escolhe alguns homens e sai para lutar com os amalequitas. Amanhã, eu estarei no topo do monte com a vara de Deus em minha mão". ¹⁰ Então, Josué fez como foi instruído e lutou contra os amalequitas, enquanto Moisés, Arão e Hur estavam no topo do monte.

¹¹ Enquanto Moisés mantinha as mãos levantadas, Israel vencia; quando ele deixava suas mãos descansarem, os amalequitas começavam a vencer. ¹² Quando as mãos de Moisés ficaram pesadas, Arão e Hur pegaram uma pedra e a colocaram debaixo dele para que sentasse. Ao mesmo tempo, Arão e Hur mantinham suas mãos levantadas, um de um lado e outro de outro. Assim, as mãos de Moisés ficaram levantadas até o sol se pôr. ¹³ Dessa forma, Josué derrotou os amalequitas com a espada.

¹⁴ Deus disse a Moisés: "Escreve isso em um livro e lê para Josué ouvir, porque Eu irei apagar a memória dos amalequitas de debaixo dos céus". ¹⁵ Então, Moisés construiu um altar e o chamou de "Yahweh é a minha bandeira". ¹⁶ Ele fez isso, porque ele disse: "Yahweh jurou que Ele irá guerrear contra Amaleque de geração em geração".

Capítulo 18

¹ Jetro, o sacerdote de Midiã, sogro de Moisés, ouviu tudo o que Deus tinha feito a Moisés e ao seu povo Israel. Ele ouviu que Yahweh tirou Israel do Egito. ² Jetro, sogro de Moisés, levou Zípora, esposa de Moisés, depois que ele a tinha enviado a sua casa, ³ e os seus dois filhos; o nome de um de seus filhos foi Gérson, pois Moisés disse: "Eu fui peregrino em terra estranha". ⁴ O nome do outro foi Eliézer, pois Moisés disse: "O Deus dos meus antepassados foi a minha ajuda. Ele me resgatou da espada de Faraó".

⁵ Jetro, sogro de Moisés, foi com os filhos de Moisés e a sua mulher para o deserto onde ele estava acampado no monte de Deus. ⁶ Ele disse para Moisés, "Eu, teu sogro Jetro, estou indo ao teu encontro com a tua mulher e os teus dois filhos.

⁷ Moisés saiu para encontrar o seu sogro, inclinou, e o beijou. Eles perguntaram um ao outro como estavam e, em seguida, foram à tenda. ⁸ Moisés disse ao seu sogro tudo o que Yahweh havia feito ao faraó e aos egípcios por amor a Israel, acerca de todas as dificuldades enfrentadas no caminho e de como Yahweh os livrou.

⁹ Jetro alegrou-se com todas as coisas que Yahweh fez para o povo de Israel, e que Ele os resgatou das mãos dos egípcios. ¹⁰ Jetro disse: "Louvado seja Yahweh que vos livrou dos egípcios e das mãos de Faraó, e vos deixou livre de seu controle. ¹¹ Agora, sei que Deus é maior do que todos os deuses, porque, quando os egípcios trataram arrogantemente os Iraelitas, Deus os resgatou.

¹² Jetro, sogro de Moisés, apresentou a Deus sacrifícios e holocautos. Arão e todos os anciãos de Israel vieram comer com o sogro de Moisés na presença de Deus.

¹³ No dia seguinte, Moisés sentou-se para julgar o povo. O povo ficou à volta dele desde a manhã até à noite. ¹⁴ Quando o sogro de Moisés viu tudo o que ele fez para o povo, disse, "O que é isso que estás fazendo com o povo? Por que estás sentado sozinho e o povo fica em tua volta desde a manhã até à noite"?

¹⁵ Moisés disse ao seu sogro: "As pessoas vêm até a mim para perguntar a direção de Deus. ¹⁶ Quando elas têm uma discussão, vêm a mim. Eu decido entre uma pessoa e outra, e lhes ensino os estatutos e as leis de Deus".

¹⁷ O sogro de Moisés disse a ele: "O que tu estás fazendo não é muito bom. ¹⁸ Certamente, desfalecerás tu e o teu povo que está contigo, porque o fardo é pesado demais para ti. Não podes fazer sozinho. ¹⁹ Ouve-me. Vou dar-te um conselho, e Deus será contigo, porque tu és para Deus o representante do povo, e levas as discussões deles a Ele. ²⁰ Deves ensinar-lhes os estatutos Dele e as leis. Deves lhes mostrar o jeito de andar e o trabalho para fazer.

²¹ Além disso, deves escolher homens, que honram a Deus, homens de confiança que odeiam o lucro injusto. Deves colocá-los acima das pessoas, para serem líderes de mil, cem, cinquenta e chefe de dez. ²² Eles julgarão as pessoas em todos os casos, mas os casos difíceis eles trarão a ti. E todos os pequenos casos, eles podem julgá-los. Desse jeito, será fácil para ti, e eles carregarão o fardo contigo. ²³ Se fizeres isso, e se também Deus guiar-te, então estarás capacitado para suportar, e o povo estará pronto para irem para casa satisfeito.

²⁴ Então, Moisés ouviu as palavras de seu sogro e fez tudo que ele tinha dito. ²⁵ Moisés escolheu homens capazes de todo Israel e os colocou como cabeças sobre o povo, líderes responsáveis de mil, cem, cinquenta e líderes de dez. ²⁶ Eles julgaram o povo em circunstâncias normais. Os casos difíceis eles levaram para Moisés, mas eles mesmo julgaram os pequenos casos. ²⁷ Então, Moisés deixou o seu sogro, e Jetro voltou para sua própria terra.

Capítulo 19

¹ No terceiro mês depois de o povo israelita ter deixado a terra do Egito, naquele mesmo dia, eles voltaram para o deserto do Sinai. ² Depois de saírem de Refidim, eles acamparam no deserto do Sinai, em frente do monte.

³ Moisés subiu até Deus. Yahweh o chamou para a montanha e disse: "Vós deveis falar à casa de Jacó, ao povo de Israel: ⁴ Vós tendes visto o que Eu fiz com os egípcios, como Eu vos carreguei nas asas das águias e vos trouxe para Mim. ⁵ Agora, portanto, se ouvirdes atentamente a Minha voz e guardardes a Minha aliança, sereis Minha propriedade exclusiva dentre todos os povos, porque toda a terra é Minha. ⁶ Vós sereis reino de sacerdotes e a nação santa para Mim. Essas são as palavras que falarás ao povo de Israel".

⁷ Então Moisés voltou e convocou os anciãos do povo. Ele lhes apresentou todas as palavras que Yahweh havia ordenado. ⁸ Todo o povo respondeu dizendo: "Nós faremos tudo o que Yahweh ordenou." Então, Moisés voltou a comunicar as palavras do povo para Yahweh. ⁹ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Virei a ti em uma nuvem espessa para que o povo Me ouça falar contigo e sempre creia em ti". Então, Moisés falou as palavras do povo a Yahweh.

¹⁰ Yahweh disse para Moisés: "Vá até o povo. Hoje e amanhã santificai-o para Mim, e faça com que lavem as próprias roupas. ¹¹ Estai prontos para o terceiro dia, porque, no terceiro dia, Eu, Yahweh, voltarei ao monte Sinai.

¹² Tu definirás todos os limites ao redor do monte para o povo. Dize a eles: 'Cuidado. Vós não podereis subir ao monte ou tocar em sua borda. Qualquer de vós que tocar no monte certamente será condenado à morte'. ¹³ Ninguém tocará a mão na pessoa que fizer isso. Em vez disso, ela certamente deverá ser apedrejada ou flechada. Quer seja uma pessoa ou um animal, deverão ser condenados à morte. Quando a trombeta tocar por muito tempo, eles subirão até a base do monte".

¹⁴ Então Moisés desceu do monte para o povo. Ele santificou o povo para Yahweh, e eles lavaram suas roupas. ¹⁵ Ele disse para as pessoas: "Estejam prontos para o terceiro dia; não vos chegareis a vossas esposas".

¹⁶ No terceiro dia, quando amanheceu, houve trovões e relâmpagos e uma nuvem espessa no monte. E ouviu-se um toque muito alto de trombeta. Todo o povo do acampamento ficou estremecido. ¹⁷ Moisés levou o povo para fora do acampamento ao encontro de Deus, e eles permaneceram na base do monte. ¹⁸ O Monte Sinai foi completamente coberto com fumaça porque Yahweh havia descido sobre ele em fogo e fumaça. A fumaça subia como a de uma fornalha, e todo o monte estremecia violentamente.

¹⁹ Quando o som da trombeta aumentava cada vez mais, Moisés falava, e Deus lhe respondia. ²⁰ Yahweh desceu sobre o Monte Sinai, para o topo do monte, e chamou Moisés para lá. Então Moisés subiu. ²¹ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Desce e adverte o povo para não romper o limite para vir até Mim, ou muitos deles perecerão. ²² Os sacerdotes que se aproximam do SENHOR também devem se santificar - para que o SENHOR não se volte contra eles".

²³ Moisés disse a Yahweh: "O povo não poderá subir ao monte, porque Tu nos ordenaste: 'Marcai limites ao redor do monte e santificai-vos a Yahweh'". ²⁴ Yahweh lhe disse: "Vai, desce o monte e traze Arão contigo, mas os sacerdotes e o povo não poderão subir até Mim, ou Eu os atacarei". ²⁵ Então, Moisés desceu até o povo e falou isso para eles.

Capítulo 20

¹ Deus disse todas estas palavras: ² "Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus, que vos tirou da terra do Egito, fora da casa da servidão. ³ Vós não deveis ter nenhum outro deus além de Mim.

⁴ Vós não deveis ter para vós mesmos figuras entalhadas de nenhuma semelhança de qualquer coisa que está acima do céu, ou que esteja embaixo da terra, ou que esteja abaixo das águas. ⁵ Não vos ajoelhareis diante deles, nem os adorareis, porque Eu, Yahweh, vosso Deus, sou um Deus zeloso. Eu castigo os filhos pela maldade dos seus pais, até a terceira e a quarta geração daqueles que Me odeiam. ⁶ Mas Eu mostrarei aliança de fidelidade até milhares de gerações daqueles que Me amarem e guardarem os Meus mandamentos.

⁷ Não tomareis o Meu nome, Yahweh, vosso Deus, em vão. Eu não terei por inocente aquele que tomar o Meu nome em vão.

⁸ Lembrai-vos do dia de sábado para dedicá-lo a Mim. ⁹ Vós deveis trabalhar e fazer todo vosso trabalho durante seis dias. ¹⁰ Mas o sétimo dia é o Meu sábado, Yahweh, o vosso Deus. Nele, vós não deveis fazer nenhum trabalho, nem tu, nem teu filho, nem tua filha, nem teu servo, nem tua serva, nem teu gado, nem o estrangeiro que vive dentro dos teus muros. ¹¹ Porque, em seis dias, Eu, Yahweh, fiz os céus, a terra, e o mar e tudo que existe neles e então descansei no sétimo dia. Então Eu, Yahweh, abençoei o dia de sábado e o dediquei para Mim mesmo.

¹² Honra a teu pai e tua mãe, dessa maneira, tu terás uma vida longa na terra, que Eu, Yahweh, teu Deus, te dei. ¹³ Não cometas assassinato. ¹⁴ Não cometas adultério.

¹⁵ Não roubes. ¹⁶ Não dês falso testemunho contra o teu vizinho. ¹⁷ Não cobices a casa do teu vizinho; não cobices a mulher do teu vizinho, seu servo, sua serva, seu boi, seu burro, ou qualquer coisa que pertença ao teu vizinho".

¹⁸ Todo o povo viu os trovões e os raios e ouviram a voz de trombeta e viram a montanha fumegando. Quando o povo viu isso, eles tremeram e permaneceram distantes. ¹⁹ Eles disseram a Moisés: "Fala-nos e nós o ouviremos; mas não deixes Deus nos falar, ou nós morreremos". ²⁰ Moisés disse para o povo: "Não temais, porque Deus veio vos provar para que a sua honra esteja em vós, a fim de que não pequeis". ²¹ Então, o povo permaneceu longe, e Moisés se aproximou das densas trevas onde Deus estava.

²² Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Isto é o que dirás aos israelitas: 'Vós mesmos tendes visto que Eu tenho falado convosco do céu. ²³ Não façais para vós outros deuses diante de mim, deuses de prata ou deuses de ouro.

²⁴ Vós deveis fazer um altar de terra para Mim e sacrificar sobre ele ofertas queimadas, ofertas pacíficas, ovelhas e bois. Em cada lugar, onde Meu nome estiver sendo honrado, Eu virei e vos abençoarei. ²⁵ Se vós Me fizerdes um altar de pedras, não deveis construí-lo com pedras cortadas, porque, se vós usardes vossas ferramentas, o profanareis. ²⁶ Não subireis pelos degraus, ao meu altar, para vos guardardes de expor vossas partes íntimas".

Capítulo 21

¹ "Agora estes são os Decretos que deverás dizer ao povo:

² 'Se comprares um escravo hebreu, ele trabalhará por seis anos e, no sétimo ano, será liberto sem nenhum pagamento por isso. ³ Se ele veio por si mesmo, assim deverá ser liberto; se for casado, então sua esposa será liberta com ele. ⁴ Se seu senhor der a ele uma esposa e ela gerar filhos ou filhas, então a esposa e as crianças pertencerão ao senhor, e ele deverá ir livre sozinho.

⁵ Mas, se o escravo disser claramente: "Eu amo minha família e meu senhor; eu não irei livre", ⁶ então, seu senhor deverá levá-lo perante Deus, e o colocará na porta ou portal, furará sua orelha com uma agulha espessa. Assim, o servo será seu escravo pelo resto de sua vida.

⁷ Se um homem vender sua filha como escrava, ela não será liberta como os servos. ⁸ Se ela não agradar a seu senhor, o qual a designou para si, o senhor deve permiti-la ser comprada de volta. Ele não tem o direito de vendê-la a um estrangeiro. Ele não tem esse direito, já que a tratou de forma desonrosa.

⁹ Se o senhor designá-la como esposa para seu filho, ele deverá tratá-la como se ela fosse sua filha. ¹⁰ Se o filho a rejeitar como esposa e tomar outra esposa para si, ele não deve diminuir sua comida, vestimenta ou seus direitos conjugais. ¹¹ Mas, se o esposo não cumprir quanto a essas três coisas para ela, então ela poderá ser livre sem pagar nenhuma quantia.

¹² Qualquer um que ferir um homem de tal forma que ele morra, deverá ser condenado à morte. ¹³ Se o homem não o fizer com intenção, mas acidentalmente, então irei designar um lugar para onde ele poderá fugir. ¹⁴ Se um homem atacar intencionalmente seu vizinho e o matar, então tu terás que tirá-lo, ainda que esteja no altar de Deus, para que ele morra.

¹⁵ Qualquer um que ferir seu pai ou sua mãe, certamente será condenado à morte. ¹⁶ Qualquer um que sequestrar uma pessoa e vendê-la, ou for encontrada em seu poder, deverá ser condenado à morte. ¹⁷ Qualquer um que amaldiçoar seu pai ou mãe deverá ser condenado à morte.

¹⁸ Se homens brigarem, e um ferir o outro com uma pedra ou com socos, sem matá-lo, mas deixá-lo de cama; ¹⁹ e este voltar a andar apoiado em seu bordão, o homem que feriu deverá pagar pelo tempo perdido, assim como pela sua completa recuperação, mas o homem não será culpado de assassinato.

²⁰ Se um homem ferir seu servo ou sua serva com seu cajado e o servo chegar a morrer pelo golpe, aquele homem deverá ser punido. ²¹ Entretanto, se o servo sobreviver por um ou dois dias, o senhor não será punido, porque já sofreu a perda de seu escravo.

²² Se homens lutarem e acabarem por machucar uma mulher grávida e esta chegar a perder seu bebê, não havendo outro dano a ela, certamente o culpado deverá indenizá-la se seu marido exigir, e pagará conforme o juiz determinar. ²³ Mas, se houver dano sério, deverás pagar a vida com outra vida, ²⁴ olho por olho, dente por dente, mão por mão, pé por pé, ²⁵ queimadura por queimadura, ferimento por ferimento, hematoma por hematoma.

²⁶ Se um homem ferir o olho de seu escravo ou escrava e destruí-lo, o senhor o deixará ir livre por seu olho destruído. ²⁷ Se arrancar um dente, também o libertará em compensação por seu dente.

²⁸ Se um boi fere com seu chifre um homem ou uma mulher causando-lhes a morte, o boi deverá ser apedrejado até a morte, e sua carne não deverá ser comida; mas seu dono será absolvido de culpa. ²⁹ Mas, se o boi já tinha o hábito de ferir no passado, e seu dono tinha conhecimento e não tomou nenhuma providência, e o boi matar um homem ou uma mulher, o boi deverá ser apedrejado e seu dono morto. ³⁰ Se for pedido resgate por sua vida, ele deverá pagar com o que lhe for pedido.

³¹ Se um boi ferir com chifre o filho ou a filha de um homem, o dono do boi deverá fazer o que este decreto exige que ele faça. ³² Se um boi ferir um escravo ou uma escrava, o dono do boi certamente pagará trinta siclos de prata ao seu senhor, e seu boi deverá ser apedrejado.

³³ Se alguém cavar uma cisterna, ou abrir e não tampá-la, e um boi ou jumento cair nela, ³⁴ o dono da cisterna certamente indenizará ao dono do animal pelo dano, e o animal morto passará a ser seu.

³⁵ Se um boi de um homem ferir o boi de outro homem de modo que ele morra, então venderá o boi vivo e dividirá o valor entre os donos, e eles também deverão dividir a carne do boi morto. ³⁶ Mas, se era sabido que o boi já tinha o hábito de ferir no passado, e seu dono não tomou providências, ele deverá pagar animal por animal, e o boi morto se tornará dele.

Capítulo 22

¹ Se um homem roubar um boi ou uma ovelha e os matar ou vender, então ele deve pagar cinco bois por um boi, e quatro ovelhas por uma ovelha. ² Se um ladrão for encontrado arrombando uma casa, e, se alguém o ferir e ele morrer, nesse caso nenhuma culpa pelo assassinato será colocado sobre a pessoa que o matar. ³ Mas, se o sol nascer antes que ele arrombe, culpa pelo assassinato será colocada sobre a pessoa que o matou. O ladrão deverá fazer a restituição do que roubou. Se ele não possuir nada, então ele deverá ser vendido por seu roubo. ⁴ Se o animal roubado for encontrado vivo em sua posse, seja um boi, um jumento ou uma ovelha, ele deverá pagar de volta em dobro.

⁵ Se um homem levar seu rebanho para pastar em um campo ou em uma vinha e deixar seus animais soltos, e eles pastarem no campo de outro homem, ele deverá fazer a restituição com o melhor de sua própria vinha.

⁶ Se um incêndio começar e se espalhar entre os espinheiros, de maneira que os grãos colhidos, ou os grãos plantados, ou um campo for consumido, aquele que causou o incêndio deverá fazer a restituição.

⁷ Se um homem der dinheiro e bens a seu vizinho para serem guardados com segurança, e eles forem roubados da casa desse homem, se o ladrão for encontrado, esse ladrão deverá pagar em dobro. ⁸ Porém, se o ladrão não for encontrado, então o dono da casa deverá apresentar-se diante dos juízes a fim de ver se ele colocou sua própria mão na propriedade de seus vizinho. ⁹ Para toda disputa, seja por um boi, um jumento, uma ovelha, roupas, ou qualquer outra coisa que tenha sido perdida, sobre a qual alguém diga: "Isto pertence a mim", a causa das duas partes deverá ser apresentada diante dos juízes. O homem a quem o juiz considerar culpado deve pagar o dobro a seu vizinho.

¹⁰ Se um homem der a seu vizinho um jumento, um boi, uma ovelha ou qualquer animal para guardar e, se este morrer ou se machucar ou for levado sem que ninguém o veja, ¹¹ um juramento a Yahweh deverá ser feito por ambos como forma de verificar se uma pessoa colocou sua mão na propriedade de seu vizinho. O dono deverá aceitá-lo e o outro não fará restituição. ¹² Mas, se o animal tiver sido roubado dele, o outro deverá fazer a restituição ao seu dono. ¹³ Se um animal tiver sido dilacerado, permiti que o outro homem traga o animal como evidência. Ele não terá que pagar pelo que foi dilacerado.

¹⁴ Se um homem emprestar qualquer animal de seu vizinho e o animal se machucar ou morrer sem que o dono esteja presente, o outro homem deverá fazer a restituição. ¹⁵ Mas, se o dono estiver presente, o outro homem não terá que pagar; se o animal tiver sido alugado, ele será pago por seu valor de locação.

¹⁶ Se um homem seduzir uma virgem que não esteja prometida, e deitar-se com ela, ele deverá certamente torná-la sua esposa pagando o dote requerido. ¹⁷ Se seu pai recusar-se completamente a entregá-la, ele deverá pagar o valor equivalente ao dote das virgens.

¹⁸ Vós não devereis permitir que uma feiticeira viva. ¹⁹ Aquele que dormir com um animal certamente deverá ser condenado à morte.

²⁰ Aquele que sacrificar a qualquer deus que não seja a Yahweh deverá ser completamente destruído. ²¹ Não devereis maltratar um estrangeiro ou oprimi-lo, pois fostes estrangeiros na terra do Egito.

²² Não devereis maltratar nenhuma viúva ou órfão. ²³ Se porventura os afligirdes, e eles clamarem a Mim, Yahweh, certamente ouvirei o clamor deles. ²⁴ Minha ira se acenderá, e vos matarei ao fio de espada; vossas esposas se tornarão viúvas e vossos filhos se tornarão órfãos.

²⁵ Se emprestardes dinheiro a qualquer um dentre Meu povo que seja pobre, não devereis agir como um credor para com ele ou cobrar dele juros. ²⁶ Se tomardes o manto de seu vizinho como penhor, devereis devolvê-lo antes que o sol se ponha, ²⁷ pois este é o único cobertor para seu corpo; é seu manto para seu corpo. Onde mais ele poderá dormir? Quando ele clamar a Mim, Eu o ouvirei, pois sou compassivo.

²⁸ Vós não devereis blasfemar contra Mim, Deus, nem amaldiçoar o juiz de vosso povo.

²⁹ Vós não devereis reter ofertas de vossa colheita ou de vossos lagares. Devereis Me oferecer vossos primogênitos. ³⁰ Vós fareis o mesmo com vossos bois e vossas ovelhas. Por sete dias, eles ficarão com suas mães, mas, ao oitavo dia, oferecei-os a Mim. ³¹ Vós sereis povo separado para Mim. Então, não devereis comer carne dilacerada por animais no campo. Em vez disso, devei jogá-la aos cães.

Capítulo 23

¹ Não espalharás notícias falsas sobre ninguém, nem te ajuntarás com o ímpio para seres testemunha mentirosa. ² Não seguirás a multidão para fazeres o mal, nem darás testemunho que perverta a justiça, para apoiar a multidão. ³ Nem mesmo para favorecer um homem pobre em sua causa.

⁴ Se encontrares o boi do teu inimigo ou o seu jumento andando perdido, tu o levarás de volta para ele. ⁵ Se vires o jumento de alguém que te odeia caído no chão sob sua carga, tu não o abandonarás. Tu deves certamente ajudá-lo a tirar a carga do jumento.

⁶ Não perverterás o direito do pobre na sua causa. ⁷ Não farás falsas acusações, e não matarás o inocente e o justo, pois Eu não justificarei o ímpio. ⁸ Nunca aceitarás suborno, pois o suborno cega os que veem e pervete as palavras dos justos. ⁹ Não oprimirás o estrangeiro, visto que vós conheceis a vida de um estrangeiro, pois fostes estrangeiros na terra do Egito.

¹⁰ Por seis anos semearás a tua terra e recolherás a sua produção. ¹¹ Mas no sétimo ano a deixarás descansando e não a cultivarás, de tal forma que os pobres entre teu povo possam comer. O que eles deixarem, os animais selvagens comerão. Tu farás o mesmo com tuas vinhas e olivais.

¹² Durante seis dias, tu farás o teu trabalho, mas no sétimo dia descansarás. Faze isto para que o teu boi e o teu jumento descansem, e para que o filho da tua escrava e o estrangeiro possa descansar e renovar-se. ¹³ Dai atenção a tudo que Eu tenho vos falado. Não mencioneis os nomes de outros deuses, nem permitais que seus nomes sejam ouvidos da tua boca.

¹⁴ Três vezes por ano me celebrarás uma festa. ¹⁵ Celebrarás a Festa dos Pães Asmos como Eu te ordenei, por sete dias comerás pães sem fermento. Naquele tempo, tu te apresentarás perante Mim no mês de Abibe, que é estabelecido para este propósito. Foi neste mês que saíste do Egito. Mas ninguém apareça de mãos vazias perante Mim.

¹⁶ Celebrarás a Festa da Colheita, dos primeiros frutos do teu trabalho, do que tiveres semeado nos campos. Novamente, ao final do ano, celebrarás a Festa da Colheita quando juntares a produção dos campos. ¹⁷ Todo homem deverá se apresentar perante Mim, Yahweh, três vezes no ano.

¹⁸ Não oferecerás o sangue dos sacrifícios feitos a Mim com pão fermentado. A gordura dos sacrifícios das minhas festas não deverá permanecer toda a noite até a manhã. ¹⁹ Levarás os primeiros frutos, os melhores da tua terra, à Minha casa, a casa de Yahweh, teu Deus. Não cozinharás o cabrito no leite da mãe dele.

²⁰ Eu envio um Anjo adiante de ti para te guardar pelo caminho, e para te levar ao lugar que Eu preparei. ²¹ Dá atenção a Ele e obedeça à sua voz. Não o provoques, pois Ele não perdoará transgressões. Meu nome está sobre Ele. ²² Se tu, de fato, obedecerdes sua voz e fizerdes tudo que Eu te digo, então Eu serei um inimigo para teus inimigos e um adversário para teus adversários.

²³ Meu Anjo irá adiante de ti e te levará aos amorreus, heteus, perizeus, cananeus, heveus e aos jebuseus; e Eu os exterminarei. ²⁴ Não te curvarás aos seus deuses, adorando-os ou fazendo como eles fazem. Ao contrário, tu os destruirás completamente e esmigalharás seus altares de pedra. ²⁵ Servireis a Yahweh, teu Deus, e Ele abençoará o teu pão e a tua água; e Eu removerei as doenças do meio de vós.

²⁶ Nenhuma mulher será estéril ou abortará seu bebê na tua terra. O número dos dias da tua vida completarei. ²⁷ Eu enviarei o meu terror adiante de ti, para aqueles em cujas terras vós entrardes. Eu exterminarei todos os povos que vós encontrardes. Eu farei com que todos os seus inimigos fujam com medo. ²⁸ Eu enviarei vespas diante de ti que expulsarão os heveus, cananeus e os heteus diante de ti. ²⁹ Eu não os expulsarei de vossa presença num só ano, ou a terra se tornaria abandonada, e os animais selvagens se multiplicariam contra vós.

³⁰ Em vez disso, Eu os expulsarei pouco a pouco de diante de vós, até que sejais frutíferos e herdeis a terra. ³¹ Eu estabelecerei os teus limites desde o mar Vermelho até o mar dos filisteus, e desde o deserto até o rio Eufrates. Eu te darei vitória sobre os habitantes da terra. Tu os expulsarás de diante de ti. ³² Não farás aliança com eles ou com seus deuses. ³³ Eles não devem viver na tua terra, ou eles te fariam pecar contra mim. Se adorardes seus deuses, isso certamente se tornará uma armadilha para ti".

Capítulo 24

¹ Então Yahweh disse para Moisés: "Subi até Mim, tu, Arão, Nadabe, Abiú e setenta anciãos de Israel, e me adorareis de longe. ² Somente Moisés pode vir para perto de Mim. Os outros não deverão chegar perto, nem o povo poderá subir com ele".

³ Moisés foi e relatou para o povo toda as Palavras e Decretos de Yahweh. Todo o povo respondeu em uma só voz e disse: "Nós faremos o que a Palavra de Yahweh tem dito". ⁴ Então Moisés escreveu toda a Palavra de Yahweh. De manhã cedo, Moisés construiu um altar no pé da montanha e arrumou doze pilares de pedra, assim essas pedras representam as doze tribos de Israel.

⁵ Ele enviou alguns jovens israelitas para ofertar holocaustos e sacrificar ofertas de comunhão de bois para Yahweh. ⁶ Moisés pegou metade do sangue e colocou dentro de bacias; ele aspergiu a outra metade sobre altar.

⁷ Ele pegou o Livro da Aliança e leu em voz alta para o povo. Ele disse: "Nós faremos o que Yahweh tem falado. Nós seremos obedientes". ⁸ Então Moisés pegou o sangue aspergiu sobre o povo. Ele disse: "Este é o sangue da Aliança que Yahweh tem feito convosco dando-lhes esta promessa com todas estas Palavras".

⁹ Depois Moisés, Arão, Nadabe, Abiú, e setenta dos anciãos israelitas subiram para a montanha. ¹⁰ Eles viram o Deus de Israel. Sob seus pés estava a calçada feita de pedra de safira, tão clara quanto o próprio céu. ¹¹ Deus não estendeu sua mão irada sobre os líderes Israelitas. Eles viram a Deus, e eles comeram e beberam.

¹² Yahweh disse para Moisés: "Sobe até Mim na montanha e fica lá. Eu te darei as tábuas de pedra e a Lei e os Mandamentos que Eu tenho escrito, para que tu possas ensiná-los. ¹³ Então Moisés partiu com Josué, seu assistente, e subiu para a Montanha de Deus.

¹⁴ Moisés tinha dito para os anciãos: "Ficai aqui e esperai por nós até que retornemos para vós. Arão e Hur estarão convosco. Se alguém tiver alguma questão ide até eles". ¹⁵ Então Moisés subiu até a montanha, e a nuvem o cobriu.

¹⁶ A glória de Yahweh se estabeleceu no Monte Sinai e a nuvem o cobriu por seis dias. No sétimo dia, Yahweh chamou por Moisés da nuvem. ¹⁷ A aparência da glória de Yahweh era como um fogo devorador no topo da montanha aos olhos dos israelitas. ¹⁸ Moisés entrou na nuvem e subiu para a montanha. Ele esteve na montanha por quarenta dias e quarenta noites.

Capítulo 25

¹ Yahweh disse a Moisés: ² "Dize à nação de Israel, aos que têm coração voluntário, para ajuntar uma oferta. Tu deves receber essas ofertas para Mim.

³ Eis as ofertas que tu deves coletar do meio do povo: ouro, prata, bronze, lã e linho fino, ⁴ e azul e roxo e peles de carneiro tingidas de vermelho; pelo de cabra; ⁵ pele crua tirada de animais marinhos; madeira de acácia; ⁶ óleo para as lâmpadas do santuário, especiarias para o óleo da unção e fragrância para o incenso, ⁷ pedra de ônix e outras pedras preciosas para cravá-las ao colete sacerdotal e ao peitoral.

⁸ Fareis para Mim um santuário, para que Eu habite no meio do povo. ⁹ Fareis tudo exatamente conforme mostrarei nos planos do tabernáculo e todos o seus componentes.

¹⁰ Eles devem fazer uma arca talhada em madeira de acácia. Seu cumprimento terá dois côvados e meio; sua largura terá um côvado e meio; e a altura será de um côvado e meio. ¹¹ Cobrirás a arca com ouro puro por dentro e por fora, e farás uma borda de ouro ao redor do topo.

¹² Forjarás quatro argolas de ouro, e as fixarás nos quatro pés da arca, com duas argolas de um lado, e do outro lado. ¹³ Fareis, para Mim, varas de madeira de acácia e as cobrirás com ouro. ¹⁴ Colocarás as varas por dentro das argolas que estão dos dois lados da arca, para carregá-la.

¹⁵ As varas devem permanecer por dentre as argolas da arca, que não devem ser removidas delas. ¹⁶ Porás dentro da arca os decretos do pacto que eu darei a ti. ¹⁷ Fareis para Mim um propiciatório de ouro puro com tampa. A largura terá dois côvados e meio; a profundidade terá um côvado e meio. ¹⁸ Farás para Mim dois querubins de ouro maciço para as duas extremidades do propiciatório.

¹⁹ Faze-Me querubins, um em uma extremidade do propiciatório, e outro na outra extremidade. Forjarás como uma só peça os querubins e o propiciatório. ²⁰ Os querubins terão suas asas abertas de frente para o propiciatório, protegendo-o. Os querubins estarão virados um de frente para o outro, olhando em direção ao centro do propiciatório. ²¹ Porás o propiciatório no topo da arca, colocarás dentro da arca os Decretos do pacto que Eu darei a ti.

²² Sobre a tampa da arca, Eu Me encontrarei contigo. Falarei contigo por cima do propciatório. Falarei por entre os dois querubins que estão sobre a arca que contém os Decretos da aliança que Eu falarei a ti sobre todas as ordenanças que darei aos israelitas.

²³ Farás uma mesa de madeira de acácia. Seu comprimento terá dois côvados; sua profundidade terá um côvado, e sua altura terá um côvado e meio. ²⁴ Cobrirás de ouro puro, e a borda do topo farás de ouro ao redor.

²⁵ Farás uma moldura com borda coberta de ouro, medindo quadro dedos de largura. ²⁶ Farás quatro argolas de ouro e as porás nas quatro extremidades, onde os quatro pés estão. ²⁷ As argolas deverão ser forjadas à moldura, para prover lugar às varas, a fim de carregá-la.

²⁸ Farás as varas de madeira de acácia e as cobrirás de ouro, para que a mesa seja carregada. ²⁹ Os utensílios, louças, colheres, vasos e suas tigelas, deverão ser usados para oferecer as libações. Farás de ouro puro. ³⁰ Tu deverás regularmente apresentar os pães da presença sobre a mesa, diante de Mim.

³¹ Tu farás um candelabro de puro ouro maciço. O candelabro, seu pedestal e haste farás com relevo. Seus copos em formato de flor, e as flores deverão ser feitas em uma só peça. ³² Seis braços deverão sair dos seus lados, três braços deverão sair de um lado e três braços do candelabro deverão sair do outro lado.

³³ O primeiro braço deverá ter três copos em forma de flor de amêndoa, com cálice e botão, e três copos feitos em forma de flor de amêndoa no outro braço, com cálice e botão. Será o mesmo para os seis braços. Todos os braços deverão sair da haste. ³⁴ Na própria haste, deverá ter quatro copos feitos em forma de flor de amêndoa, com cálice e botão.

³⁵ O cálice e o botão deverão estar nos primeiros pares de braços, feitos como peça única, e um cálice e um botão debaixo do segundo par de braços, também feitos como peça única. Da mesma forma o cálice e o botão deverão estar debaixo do terceito par de braços, feitos como peça única. Os seis braços deverão sair do candelabro. ³⁶ O cálice e os botões deverão ser feitos como peça única, uma peça de puro ouro batido.

³⁷ Tu deverás fazer o candelabro e suas sete lamparinas, e posicioná-las para iluminar. ³⁸ O seus aparadores e apagadores deverão ser feitos de ouro puro. ³⁹ Um talento de ouro puro deverá ser usado para fazer o candelabro e seus utensílios. ⁴⁰ Certifica-te de fazer tudo conforme o padrão que está sendo mostrado a ti no monte.

Capítulo 26

¹ Deves fazer o tabernáculo com dez cortinas de linho fino, e azul, e roxo e vermelho, com querubins bordados nelas. Trabalho este feito por habilidosos artesãos. ² O comprimento de cada cortina deve ser de vinte e oito côvados, a largura de quatro côvados. Todas as cortinas deverão ser do mesmo tamanho. ³ Cinco cortinas deverão ser ajuntadas umas às outras, e as outras cinco cortinas também ajuntadas umas às outras.

⁴ Deves fazer laços de azul na borda da última cortina do primeiro agrupamento. Do mesmo jeito, deves fazer os mesmos laços na extremidade final da última cortina do segundo agrupamento. ⁵ Deves fazer cinquenta laçadas na primeira cortina, e deves fazer cinquenta laçadas na última cortina do segundo grupamento. Faças isso para que as laçadas estejam opostas umas às outras. ⁶ Deves fazer cinquenta fechos de ouro e juntar as cortinas com eles para que o tabernáculo seja unido.

⁷ Deves fazer cortinas de pelos de cabra para que sirva de cobertura sobre o tabernáculo. Deves fazer onze dessas cortinas. ⁸ O comprimento de cada cortina deverá ser de trinta côvados, e a largura de cada uma, quatro côvados. Cada uma das onze cortinas deverá ser do mesmo tamanho. ⁹ Deves juntar cinco cortinas entre si e as outras seis cortinas entre si. Deves dobrar a sexta cortina na frente da Tenda.

¹⁰ Deves fazer cinquenta laçadas na borda da última cortina do primeiro grupamento, e cinquenta laçadas na borda da última cortina que compõe o segundo grupamento. ¹¹ Farás cinquenta fechos de bronze e os colocarás nos laços. Então deves unir as cortinas para que sejam como uma só peça.

¹² A metade restante da cortina, que é a parte que sobra da cortina da tenda, deve cobrir o fundo do tabernáculo. ¹³ Deve haver um côvado de cortina de um lado, e um côvado de cortina do outro lado - a parte que está sobrando em comprimento deve cobrir os lados do tabernáculo de um lado e do outro, deve cobri-los. ¹⁴ Deves fazer, para o tabernáculo, uma cobertura feita de pele de carneiro tingida de vermelho, e uma outra cobertura de couro para ir sobre a primeira.

¹⁵ Deves fazer tábuas de madeira de acácia, na vertical, para o tabernáculo. ¹⁶ O comprimento de cada tábua deverá ser de dez côvados, e sua largura, de um côvado e meio. ¹⁷ Deve haver dois encaixes, um em cada tábua, para que elas possam se encaixar uma na outra. Farás todas as tábuas do tabernáculo desta maneira. ¹⁸ Quando fizeres as tábuas para o tabernáculo, deves fazer vinte tábuas para o lado sul.

¹⁹ Farás quarenta bases de prata para que vá abaixo das vinte tábuas. Deve haver duas bases debaixo da primeira tábua para que sejam seus pedestais, também deve haver duas bases debaixo das outras tábuas para que sejam seus pedestais. ²⁰ Para o segundo lado do tabernáculo, no lado norte, deves fazer vinte tábuas ²¹ e suas quarenta bases de prata. Deve haver duas bases debaixo da primeira tábua, duas bases debaixo da segunda tábua, e assim por diante.

²² Para o fundo do tabernáculo, no lado oeste, deves fazer seis tábuas. ²³ Farás duas tábuas para os cantos do fundo do tabernáculo. ²⁴ Essas tábuas devem possuir suas bases separadas, porém juntas pelo mesmo anel, em sua extremidade superior. Deve ser dessa maneira para ambos os cantos do fundo. ²⁵ Devem ter oito tábuas juntamente com suas bases. Deve haver dezesseis bases para todas, duas bases debaixo da primeira, duas debaixo da seguinte, e assim por diante.

²⁶ Deves fazer travessões de madeira de acácia - cinco para as tábuas de um lado do tabernáculo, ²⁷ cinco travessões para as tábuas no outro lado do tabernáculo, e cinco travessões para o lado do fundo do tabernáculo para o oeste. ²⁸ O travessão no centro das tábuas, que as conectará, se estenderá de uma extremidade à outra.

²⁹ Banharás as tábuas com ouro. Deves também fazer as argolas de ouro, para que sirvam de suportes para os travessões, e deves banhar as tábuas com ouro. ³⁰ Deves montar o tabernáculo de acordo com o plano que te foi mostrado no monte.

³¹ Deves fazer também um véu de azul, roxo e vermelho, e de linho fino, com bordados de querubins, trabalho de um habilidoso artesão. ³² Deves pendurá-lo em quatro colunas de madeira de acácia banhadas em ouro. Essas colunas devem possuir ganchos de ouro e estarem sobre quatro bases de prata. ³³ Deves prender as cortinas debaixo dos fechos, e deverás trazer a Arca da aliança para dentro do véu. O véu é para fazer separação entre o lugar santo e o lugar santíssimo.

³⁴ Colocarás o propiciatório sobre a Arca do testemunho, que está no lugar santíssimo. ³⁵ Deverás colocar a mesa do lado de fora do véu. O candelabro deve ser posicionado em frente à mesa, no lado sul do tabernáculo. A mesa deve estar no lado norte do tabernáculo.

³⁶ Deves fazer uma cortina para a entrada da tenda. Farás a cortina de azul, púrpura, e carmesim, de linho fino torcido, trabalho de um bordador. ³⁷ Para as cortinas, deves fazer cinco pilares de madeira de acácia banhados com ouro. Seus ganchos devem ser de ouro, e fundirás cinco bases de bronze para os pilares.

Capítulo 27

¹ Tu deves fazer o altar de madeira de acácia, cinco côvados de comprimento e cinco côvados de largura. O altar deve ser quadrado e com três côvados de altura. ² Tu deves fazer extensões de seus quatro cantos no formato de chifres de boi. Os chifres serão feitos como uma só peça com o altar, e deves cobri-los com bronze.

³ Tu deves fazer utensílios para o altar: potes para cinzas, e também pás, bacias, garfos e braseiros. Deves fazer todos esses utensílios com bronze. ⁴ Deves fazer uma grelha para o altar, na forma de uma rede de bronze. Faça um anel de bronze para cada um dos quatro cantos da grelha.

⁵ Tu deves colocar a grelha sob a borda do altar, de maneira que chegue até o meio do altar. ⁶ Deves fazer varas para carregar o altar, varas de madeira de acácia, e deves cobri-las com bronze.

⁷ As varas devem passar por dentro das argolas, e elas devem estar nos dois lados do altar para ser carregado. ⁸ Tu deves fazer o altar oco, de tábuas. Deves fazê-lo como te foi mostrado no monte.

⁹ Tu deves fazer um átrio para o tabernáculo. No lado sul do átrio, deve haver cortinas de linho fino torcido de cem côvados de comprimento. ¹⁰ As cortinas serão sustentadas por vinte colunas, cujas bases serão de bronze. Deve haver ganchos ligados às colunas, e hastes de prata para as cortinas.

¹¹ Da mesma forma, no lado norte, deve haver cortinas de cem côvados de comprimento, com vinte postes, vinte bases de bronze, ganchos ligados às colunas e hastes de prata. ¹² Na largura do átrio, no lado oeste, deve haver uma cortina de cinqüenta côvados de comprimento. Deve haver dez postes e dez bases. ¹³ O átrio deve também ter cinquenta côvados de comprimento no lado leste.

¹⁴ As cortinas para um lado da entrada devem ser de quinze côvados de comprimento. Elas devem ter três colunas com três bases. ¹⁵ O outro lado também deve ter cortinas de quinze côvados de comprimento. Elas devem ter suas três colunas e três bases. ¹⁶ O portão do átrio deve ser uma cortina de vinte côvados de comprimento. A cortina deve ser feita de azul, roxo, e vermelho, linho fino torcido, obra de bordador. Ela deve ter quatro colunas com quatro bases.

¹⁷ Todas as colunas do átrio devem ter hastes de prata, ganchos de prata, e bases de bronze. ¹⁸ O comprimento do pátio deverá ser de cem côvados, a largura de cinqüenta côvados, e a altura de cinco côvados, com finas cortinas de linho fino torcido em toda a extensão, e as bases de bronze. ¹⁹ Todos os utensílios a serem utilizados na tenda, e todas as estacas para o tabernáculo e para o pátio devem ser feitas de bronze.

²⁰ Tu deves ordenar os israelitas para trazerem azeite puro de azeitonas prensadas para as lâmpadas, de modo que elas possam queimar continuamente. ²¹ Na Tenda do encontro, do lado de fora do véu que está diante da Arca da aliança, Arão e seus filhos deverão manter as lâmpadas acesas de tarde até a manhã, perante Yahweh. Essa ordenança será um estatuto perpétuo ao longo das gerações da nação israelita.

Capítulo 28

¹ Chama para si seu irmão Arão e seus filhos Nadabe, Abiú, Eleazar e Itamar dentre os israelitas para servir-Me como sacerdotes. ² Tu deves fazer para Arão, teu irmão, vestimentas que são dedicadas a Mim. Essas vestimentas serão para a sua honra e esplendor. ³ Tu deves falar a todo o povo que tem habilidades especiais, aqueles a quem Eu enchi com o Espírito de sabedoria, para que façam as vestimentas de Arão para separá-lo para Me servir como Meu sacerdote.

⁴ As vestimentas que eles devem fazer são um peitoral, uma estola, um manto bordado, um turbante e um cinto. Eles devem fazer essas vestimentas dedicadas a Mim. Elas serão para seu irmão Arão e seus filhos para Me servirem como sacerdotes. ⁵ Os artesãos devem usar linho fino, ouro, azul, roxo e vermelho.

⁶ Eles devem fazer o colete sacerdotal de ouro, de linho fino torcido, e de lã azul, roxa e vermelha. Deve ser um trabalho de um artesão especialista. ⁷ Deve ter duas ombreiras unidas nas extremidades superiores. ⁸ Seu cinto de costura fina deve ser como o colete sacerdotal; deve ser feito formando uma só peça com o colete sacerdotal, feito de ouro, linho fino torcido e de azul, roxo e vermelho. ⁹ Tu deves levar duas pedras de ônix e gravar nelas os nomes dos doze filhos de Israel.

¹⁰ Seis de seus nomes devem estar em uma pedra, e seis nomes devem estar na outra pedra, em ordem de idade. ¹¹ Com o trabalho de um lapidário em pedra, como gravação por sinete, gravarás as duas pedras com os nomes dos doze filhos de Israel. Tu deves montar as pedras com engastes de ouro. ¹² Colocarás as duas pedras nas ombreiras do colete sacerdotal para lembrar Yahweh dos filhos de Israel. Arão carregará seus nomes perante Yahweh, sobre os dois ombros como uma lembrança a ele.

¹³ Deves fazer engastes de ouro ¹⁴ e duas correntes entrelaçadas de puro ouro como cordões, e deves fixar as correntes nos engastes.

¹⁵ Deves fazer um peitoral do juízo, trabalho de um especialista, desenhado como o sacerdotal. Faça-o de ouro, de azul, roxo, de lã vermelha e de linho fino. ¹⁶ Deve ser quadrado. Tu deves dobrar o peitoral duas vezes. Ele deve ser de um palmo de comprimento e de um palmo de largura.

¹⁷ Deves fixar nele quatro fileiras de pedras preciosas. A primeira fileira deve ter um rubi, um topázio e uma granada. ¹⁸ A segunda fileira deve ter uma esmeralda, uma safira e um diamante. ¹⁹ A terceira deve ter um jacinto, uma ágata e uma ametista. ²⁰ A quarta deve ter um berilo, um ônix e um jaspe. Elas devem ser montadas em engastes de ouro.

²¹ As pedras devem ser arrumadas com os nomes dos doze filhos de Israel, cada uma na ordem dos nomes. Elas devem ser como a gravação de um sinete de anel, cada nome estando como uma das doze tribos. ²² Tu deves fazer no peitoral correntes como cordas, trabalho entrelaçado de ouro puro. ²³ Deves fazer duas argolas de ouro para o peitoral e deves fixá-las nas duas extremidades dele. ²⁴ Deves fixar as duas correntes de ouro nas duas extremidades do peitoral.

²⁵ Deves fixar as outras extremidades das duas correntes entrelaçadas aos dois engastes. Então tu deves prendê-los nas ombreiras do peitoral do colete, na parte da frente. ²⁶ Deves fazer duas argolas de ouro, e colocá-las nas outras duas extremidades do peitoral, no limite próximo à borda interior.

²⁷ Tu deves fazer mais duas argolas de ouro, e deves fixá-las no fundo das duas ombreiras da frente do colete sacerdotal, próximas às suas costuras, sobre a fina costura do cinto do colete sacerdotal. ²⁸ Eles devem prender o peitoral com essas argolas nas argolas do colete sacerdotal com o cordão azul, para que ele seja fixado exatamente acima do cinto costurado do colete sacerdotal. Isso é para que o peitoral não se separe do colete sacerdotal.

²⁹ Quando Arão for para o lugar santo, ele deve levar os doze nomes dos filhos de Israel no peitoral do juízo sobre o seu coração para tomada de decisão, como um memorial contínuo diante de Yahweh. ³⁰ Tu deves colocar no peitoral do juízo o Urim e o Tumim. Eles devem estar no peito de Arão quando se adentrar perante Yahweh, e Arão deve constantemente levar o juízo dos israelitas em seu peito perante Yahweh.

³¹ Tu deves fazer o manto do colete sacerdotal completamente de tecido na cor púrpura. ³² Ele deve ter uma abertura para a cabeça no meio. A abertura deve ter uma borda costurada arredondada para que não se rompa. Deve ser feito por um tecelão.

³³ Em sua bainha, deves fazer romãs de fio azul, roxo e vermelho ao redor. Sinos de ouro devem ser colocados entre eles ao redor. ³⁴ Deve haver um sino de ouro e uma romã, um sino de ouro e uma romã - continuamente - ao redor da bainha do manto. ³⁵ Este manto deve estar em Arão quando ele servir, para que seu som possa ser ouvido quando ele entrar no lugar santo, perante Yahweh, e ao sair. Isso é para que ele não morra.

³⁶ Tu deves fazer uma placa de ouro puro e gravar nele, como a gravação de um sinete, DEDICADO A YAHWEH. ³⁷ Deves prender essa placa com um cordão azul na frente do turbante. ³⁸ Isso deve estar na testa de Arão; ele deve sempre levar toda a culpa que possa ser atribuída às ofertas dos presentes sagrados que os israelitas dedicaram a Yahweh. O turbante deve estar sempre em sua testa para que Yahweh possa aceitar seus presentes.

³⁹ Deves fazer uma túnica de fino linho, e tu deves fazer um turbante de fino linho. Deves fazer também um cinto, com o trabalho de um bordador.

⁴⁰ Para os filhos, de Arão deves fazer capas, cintos e tiaras para glória e ornamento deles. ⁴¹ Tu deves vestir teu irmão Arão e seus filhos com ele. Tu deves ungi-los, ordená-los, e dedicá-los a Mim, para que eles possam Me servir como sacerdotes.

⁴² Tu deves fazer-lhes calções de linho para cobrir suas partes íntimas, calções que os cobrirão da cintura até as coxas. ⁴³ Arão e seus filhos devem usá-los quando eles entrarem na Tenda do encontro, ou quando eles se aproximarem do altar, para servir no lugar santo. Eles devem fazer isso para que não venham a carregar iniquidade e morram. Isso será uma lei permanente para Arão e seus descendentes após ele.

Capítulo 29

¹ Agora isso é o que tu deves fazer para dedicá-los a Mim para que então possam me servir como sacerdotes. Pega um novilho e dois carneiros sem mácula, ² pães e bolos sem levedura misturados com azeite. Também pega bolachas sem levedura mergulhadas no óleo. Faze as bolachas usando uma farinha de trigo fina.

³ Deves pô-los em uma única cesta, trazê-los na cesta, e apresentá-los com o novilho e os dois carneiros. ⁴ Deves apresentar Arão e seus filhos na entrada da Tenda do encontro. Deves lavar Arão e seus filhos na água.

⁵ Deves pegar as roupas e vestir Arão com a túnica, o manto do colete sacerdotal, o colete sacerdotal, e o peitoral, prendendo o tecido fino do colete sacerdotal em volta dele. ⁶ Deves colocar o turbante em sua cabeça e a coroa santa em cima do turbante. ⁷ Então pega o óleo da unção e derrama em sua cabeça e, dessa forma, unge-o.

⁸ Deves trazer seus filhos e pôr capas neles. ⁹ Deves vestir Arão e seus filhos com cintos e pôr turbantes neles. O trabalho do sacerdócio pertencerá a eles por uma lei permanente. Dessa forma, deves consagrar Arão e seus filhos para que eles sirvam a Mim.

¹⁰ Vós deveis trazer o novilho à Tenda do encontro e Arão e seus filhos devem repousar suas mãos na cabeça dele. ¹¹ Tu deves matar o novilho perante Mim, Yahweh, na entrada da Tenda do encontro.

¹² Deves tomar uma parte do sangue do novilho e pô-lo nas pontas do altar com teu dedo, e deves derramar o sangue remanescente na base do altar. ¹³ Deves tomar toda a gordura que cobre as vísceras e também tomarás a gordura que envolve o fígado e os dois rins; queima tudo no altar. ¹⁴ Mas a carne, a pele e o excremento do novilho, tu deves queimá-los fora do campo. Isso será uma oferta pelos pecados.

¹⁵ Deves tomar o primeiro carneiro, e Arão e seus filhos devem repousar suas mãos na cabeça dele. ¹⁶ Tu deves matar o carneiro. Então pega seu sangue e espalha-o em cada lado e dentro do altar. ¹⁷ Tu deves cortar o carneiro em pedaços e lavar suas vísceras e pernas, e deves pôr as vísceras, juntamente com suas partes e sua cabeça, ¹⁸ sobre o altar. Então queima o carneiro inteiro. Será um holocausto para mim, Yahweh. Isso produzirá um aroma agradável para mim; será uma oferta de holocausto feita a Mim.

¹⁹ Deves então pegar o outro carneiro, e Arão e seus filhos devem repousar suas mãos na cabeça dele. ²⁰ Então tu deves matar o carneiro e pegar parte de seu sangue. Coloca-o na ponta da orelha direita, no polegar da mão direita e no polegar do pé direito de Arão e dos seus filhos. Então deves derramar sangue em cada lado do altar.

²¹ Deves pegar parte do sangue que está no altar e parte do óleo de unção, e derramar em Arão e em suas roupas, e também em seus filhos e suas roupas. Arão será, então, separado para Mim, assim como suas roupas, seus filhos e as roupas dos seus filhos com ele.

²² Deves pegar a gordura do carneiro, a gordura da cauda, a gordura que cobre as vísceras, a cobertura do fígado, dos dois rins, a gordura que os envolve, e a coxa direita – porque esse carneiro é para a consagração dos sacerdotes a Mim. ²³ Pega um pão, um bolo feito com azeite, e uma bolacha de dentro da cesta de pães sem levedura que haverá perante Mim, Yahweh.

²⁴ Tu deves colocá-los nas mãos de Arão e de seus filhos. Eles deverão apresentá-los perante Mim, Yahweh, e mostrá-los como uma oferta a Mim. ²⁵ Tu deves, então, pegar o alimento de suas mãos e queimá-lo no altar junto com o holocausto. Isso produzirá um aroma agradável para Mim; será uma oferta de fogo oferecida a Mim.

²⁶ Deves pegar o peito do carneiro usado para consagração de Arão e apresentá-lo como uma oferta a Mim, Yahweh. Então esta será sua porção para comer. ²⁷ Tu deves dedicar a Mim o peito que ofereceste como oferta e a coxa que fora apresentada – o peito que fora ofertado e a coxa que fora apresentada, ambos vieram do carneiro de consagração de Arão e seus filhos a Mim. ²⁸ Essas porções de carne, dadas pelos israelitas, devem pertencer para sempre a Arão e a seus descendentes. Pela norma das ofertas pacíficas, estas serão ofertas para os sacerdotes, tiradas das ofertas dos israelistas, apresentadas a Mim, Yahweh.

²⁹ As roupas santas de Arão também devem ser reservadas para seus filhos depois dele. Eles serão ungidos nelas e ordenados para Mim nelas. ³⁰ O sacerdote que sucedê-lo dentre seus filhos, que virá à Tenda do encontro para servir a Mim, no santo lugar, usará essas roupas por sete dias.

³¹ Tu deves tomar o carneiro da consagração dos sacerdotes e cozinhar sua carne em um lugar santo. ³² Arão e seus filhos devem comer a carne do carneiro e o pão que está dentro da cesta na entrada da Tenda do encontro. ³³ Eles devem comer a carne e o pão que tu sacrificaste para ordenança deles, para ser consagrada a Mim. Ninguém mais pode comer essa comida, porque devem considerá-la consagrada a Mim, reservada para Mim. ³⁴ E se, na manhã seguinte, houver sobrado algo da carne ou do pão da ordenação, então tu deves queimá-los. Não deverá ser comido porque foram consagrados a Mim.

³⁵ Dessa forma, ao seguir tudo o que Eu comandei para que fizesses, deves fazer com Arão e seus filhos. Tu deves tomar sete dias para consagrá-los a Mim. ³⁶ Todo dia tu deves oferecer um novilho como oferta de perdão pelos pecados. Tu deves purificar o altar, fazendo expiação por ele, e deves ungi-lo com óleo para consagração a Mim. ³⁷ Por sete dias, tu deves purificar o altar e consagrá-lo a Yahweh. Então o altar será completamente consagrado a Mim. Tudo o que tocar o altar será separado para Yahweh.

³⁸ Tu deves oferecer, todos os dias, no altar, dois cordeiros de um ano de idade. ³⁹ Um cordeiro tu deves oferecer pela manhã e o outro cordeiro tu deves oferecer perto do anoitecer.

⁴⁰ Com o primeiro cordeiro, oferecerás dois quilos de farinha fina misturada com um litro de azeite de oliva e derramarás um litro de vinho como oferta de bebida.

⁴¹ Tu deves oferecer o segundo cordeiro ao pôr do sol. Tu deves ofertar a mesma oferta queimada da manhã e a mesma oferta de bebida. Essas produzirão um aroma agradável para Mim; será uma oferta de fogo feita a Mim. ⁴² Isso deve ser uma oferta de fogo regular feita pelo seu povo. Tu deves fazê-lo na entrada da Tenda de encontro perante Mim, Yahweh, onde te encontrarei para falar contigo.

⁴³ Ali me encontrarei com os israelistas; a tenda ficará separada para Mim pela Minha glória. ⁴⁴ Eu consagrarei a Tenda do encontro e o Altar para aqueles que pertencem somente a Mim. Eu irei também consagrar Arão e seus filhos para servirem a Mim como sacerdotes.

⁴⁵ Eu viverei entre os israelitas e serei o seu Deus. ⁴⁶ Eles saberão que eu sou Yahweh, seu Deus, que os tirou da terra do Egito para que Eu pudesse viver entre eles. Eu sou Yahweh, seu Deus.

Capítulo 30

¹ Tu deves fazer um altar para queimar incenso. Deves fazê-lo com madeira de acácia. ² O seu comprimento deve ser de um côvado e sua largura de um côvado. O altar deve ser quadrado e sua altura deve ser de dois côvados. As suas pontas devem ser feitas como uma só peça com ele.

³ Deves cobrir o altar do incenso com ouro puro ― sua tampa, seus lados e suas pontas. Deves fazer uma moldura de ouro para o altar. ⁴ Deves fazer duas argolas de ouro para serem presas à moldura do altar nos seus dois lados opostos. As argolas devem ser o suporte das varas para carregar o altar.

⁵ Deves fazer as varas de madeira de acácia e deves cobri-las com ouro. ⁶ Deves colocar o altar de incenso diante do véu que está diante da Arca da Aliança. Ele estará diante do propiciatório que está sobre a Arca da Aliança, onde te encontrarei.

⁷ Arão deve queimar incenso aromático todas as manhãs. Ele deve queimá-lo quando organizar as lâmpadas. ⁸ Quando Arão acender as lâmpadas outra vez, à noite, ele deve queimar incenso no altar de incenso. Essa deve ser uma oferta de incenso regular diante de Mim, Yahweh, por todas as gerações do teu povo. ⁹ Mas tu não deves oferecer outro incenso sobre o altar de incenso, nem outro holocausto ou oferta queimada. Tu não deves derramar oferta de bebida sobre o altar.

¹⁰ Arão deve fazer propiciação sobre as pontas do altar de incenso uma vez por ano. Ele deve fazer isso usando o sangue da oferta de sacrifício pelo pecado. O sumo sacerdote deve fazer isso por todas as gerações do teu povo. Essa oferta será completamente dedicada a Mim, Yahweh."

¹¹ Yahweh disse a Moisés: ¹² "Quando tu fizeres o censo dos israelitas, então cada pessoa deve dar o resgate pela sua vida a Yahweh. Tu deves fazer isso após contá-los, para que não haja praga entre eles quando tu os contares. ¹³ Todo o que for contado no censo pagará meio ciclo de prata, de acordo com o peso do santuário (um ciclo corresponde a vinte geras). Esse meio ciclo será uma oferta a Mim, Yahweh. ¹⁴ Todo o que for contado, de vinte anos acima, deve dar essa oferta a Mim.

¹⁵ Quando o povo ofertar a Mim para fazer expiação por vossas vidas, o rico não deve dar mais que meio ciclo e o pobre não deve dar menos. ¹⁶ Tu deves receber o dinheiro da expiação dos israelitas e deves aplicá-lo no serviço da Tenda do encontro. Isso deve ser um memorial para os israelitas diante de Mim, para fazer expiação por vossas vidas."

¹⁷ Yahweh disse a Moisés: ¹⁸ "Tu também deves fazer uma grande pia de bronze com uma base de bronze, uma pia para purificação. Tu deves colocá-la entre a Tenda do encontro e o altar, e deves despejar água nela.

¹⁹ Arão e seus filhos devem lavar suas mãos e seus pés com a água da pia. ²⁰ Quando eles entrarem na Tenda do encontro, ou quando se aproximarem do altar para Me servir queimando ofertas, eles devem lavar-se com água, para que não morram. ²¹ Eles devem lavar suas mãos e pés para que não morram. Essa será uma lei permanente para Arão e seus descendentes por todas as gerações do teu povo."

²² Yahweh disse a Moisés: ²³ "Toma estas finas especiarias: quinhentos ciclos de mirra líquida, duzentos e cinquenta ciclos de canela aromática, duzentos e cinquenta ciclos de cálamo aromático, ²⁴ quinhentos ciclos de cássia, medidos com o peso do ciclo do santuário, e um him de azeite de oliva. ²⁵ Tu deves fazer o óleo santo da unção com esses ingredientes, o trabalho de um perfumista. Esse será um óleo santo de unção reservado para Mim.

²⁶ Tu deves ungir a tenda do encontro com esse óleo e também a Arca da Aliança, ²⁷ a mesa e todos os seus utensílios, o candelabro e seus equipamentos, o altar de incenso, ²⁸ o altar do holocausto com todos os seus equipamentos e a pia com sua base.

²⁹ Tu deves dedicá-los a Mim para que sejam completamente consagrados a Mim. Tudo o que tocar essas coisas também será separado para Mim. ³⁰ Deves ungir Arão e seus filhos e consagrá-los a Mim para que me sirvam como sacerdotes. ³¹ Tu deves dizer aos israelitas: 'Este deve ser um óleo de unção que é dedicado a Yahweh por todas as gerações do teu povo.

³² Ele não deve ser aplicado na pele das pessoas, nem deveis fazer outro óleo com a mesma fórmula porque ele é consagrado a Yahweh. Deveis considerá-lo assim. ³³ Quem fizer perfume como ele, ou quem aplicá-lo em outrem, essa pessoa deve ser cortada do seu povo.'"

³⁴ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Toma especiarias - estoraque, ônica e gálbano - especiarias aromáticas com puro incenso, cada um em quantidades iguais. ³⁵ Prepara-os na forma de incenso, misturado por perfumista, temperado com sal, puro e consagrado a Mim. ³⁶ Tu os triturarás até obter uma mistura muito fina. Ponha parte dele em frente à Arca da Aliança, que está na Tenda do encontro, onde te encontrarei. Tu o considerarás completamente dedicado a Mim.

³⁷ Quanto a esse incenso que prepararás, não farás outro com a mesma fórmula para vós mesmos. Ele deve ser santíssimo a vós. ³⁸ Quem preparar algo como ele para usar como perfume deve ser cortado do seu povo."

Capítulo 31

¹ Disse Yahweh a Moisés: ² "Vê, Eu tenho chamado pelo nome a Bezalel filho de Uri filho de Hur, da tribo de Judá.

³ Eu tenho enchido a Bezalel com meu Espírito, para dar-lhe sabedoria, entendimento e conhecimento em todo tipo de atividade artística, ⁴ para fazer desenhos artísticos e trabalhar em ouro, prata e bronze; ⁵ também para cortar e definir pedras e para fazer entalhe em madeira, ou seja, para trabalhar em toda atividade artística.

⁶ Além dele, Eu tenho designado também a Aoliabe, filho de Aisamaque, da tribo de Dã. Eu tenho colocado nos corações de todos os que são sábios para que eles possam fazer tudo o que Eu tenho te ordenado. Isso inclui ⁷ a Tenda do encontro, a Arca dos Decretos da Aliança, a tampa da expiação que estará sobre a Arca, e todos os utensílios da Tenda: ⁸ a mesa com seus utensílios, o candelabro de ouro puro com todos os seus utensílios, o altar do incenso, ⁹ o altar para as ofertas queimadas com os seus utensílios, e a pia grande com a sua base;

¹⁰ as vestes finamente tecidas, a saber, as vestes sagradas para Arão, o sacerdote, e as de seus filhos, separados para Me servirem como sacerdotes; ¹¹ Isso também inclui o óleo da unção e o incenso de aroma agradável para o lugar sagrado. Esses artesãos devem fazer todas as coisas como Eu te ordenei".

¹² Disse Yahweh a Moisés: ¹³ "Fala aos israelitas: 'Vós certamente guardareis os sábados de Yahweh, porque isso será um sinal entre Ele e vós através das gerações; para que saibais que Ele é Yahweh, que vos separastes para Ele mesmo. ¹⁴ Então vós deveis guardar o sábado, tratá-lo como santo, separado para Ele. Quem profanar o sábado certamente deverá ser morto. Qualquer um que trabalhar no sábado, essa pessoa deverá ser expulsa do meio do seu povo. ¹⁵ Durante seis dias trabalharás, mas o sétimo dia será o sábado de descanso solene, santo, separado para a honra de Yahweh. Quem fizer qualquer tipo de trabalho no dia de sábado certamente deverá ser morto.

¹⁶ Portanto os israelitas devem guardar o sábado, observando-o através das gerações como lei perpétua. ¹⁷ O sábado será um sinal entre Yahweh e os israelitas para sempre, porque Yahweh fez os céus e a terra em seis dias e, no sétimo dia, descansou e tomou alento'".

¹⁸ Quando Deus acabou de falar com Moisés no monte Sinai, deu-lhe as duas tábuas dos Decretos da Aliança, tábuas feitas de pedra, escritas pela Sua própria mão.

Capítulo 32

¹ Quando o povo viu que Moisés demorava para descer da montanha, eles se ajuntaram em volta de Arão e lhe disseram: "Vem, faze-nos um ídolo para que vá a nossa frente. Quanto a esse Moisés, o homem que nos tirou da terra do Egito, não sabemos o que aconteceu com ele". ² Então Arão lhes disse: "Tirai os brincos de ouro das orelhas de vossas esposas e das orelhas dos vossos filhos e filhas, e trazei-os a mim".

³ E todo o povo retirou os brincos de ouro que estavam em suas orelhas e os levou a Arão. ⁴ Ele recebeu o ouro do povo, e o modelou em forma de um bezerro. Então o povo disse: "Israel, este é o vosso deus que vos tirou da terra do Egito."'

⁵ Quando Arão viu isso, ele construiu um altar diante do bezerro e proclamou, dizendo: "Amanhã haverá um festival em honra a Yahweh". ⁶ No dia seguinte, o povo se levantou cedo e ofereceu ofertas queimadas e trouxeram ofertas pacificas. Então se sentaram para comer e beber, e depois se levantaram para se divertir.

⁷ Então Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Vá imediatamente, pois o teu povo, os quais tiraste da terra do Egito, tem se corrompido. ⁸ Eles rapidamente se desviaram do caminho que Eu os ordenei. Eles moldaram um bezerro para eles e o adoraram e fizeram sacrificios para ele. Eles têm dito: 'Israel, esse é o seu deus que vos tirou da terra do Egito'".

⁹ E disse Yahweh a Moisés: "Eu tenho visto esse povo. Vê, eles são um povo teimoso. ¹⁰ Agora, pois, não tentes me impedir. Minha furia irá queimar contra eles, então EU os destruirei. Feito isso irei fazer uma grande nação por meio de ti. ¹¹ Porém Moisés tentou acalmar Yahweh seu Deus. Ele disse: "Yahweh por que a tua ira se acende contra o teu povo, os quais Tu trouxeste da terra do Egito com grande poder e mão poderosa?

¹² Por que os egípcios deveriam dizer: 'Ele os livrou do mal para matá-los nas montanhas e destruí-los da face da terra'? Afasta-te desta fúria ardente e retira essa punição de sobre o Teu povo. ¹³ Lembra-te de Abraão, de Isaque e de Israel, Teus servos, aos quais Tu juraste, por ti mesmo, dizendo-lhes: "Multiplicarei teus descendentes como as estrelas nos céus, e lhes darei toda esta terra a qual tenho falado. Eles a herdarão para sempre'". ¹⁴ Então Yahweh desistiu da punição que Ele lhe havia dito que traria contra o Seu povo.

¹⁵ Então Moisés se virou e desceu a montanha, carragando as duas tábuas dos Decretos da Aliança em suas mãos. As tábuas estavam escritas em ambos os lados, frente e verso. ¹⁶ As tábuas e os seus escritos eram obras do próprio Deus, esculpidos por Ele mesmo.

¹⁷ Quando Josué ouviu o barulho do povo que gritava, ele disse a Moisés: "Há gritos de combate no acampamento". ¹⁸ Mas disse-lhe Moisés: "Isso não é grito dos vitoriosos, e nem barulho de pessoas derrotadas, o que escuto é o som de pessoas cantando".

¹⁹ Quando Moisés chegou ao acampamento, ele viu o bezerro e as pessoas dançando. Logo enfureceu-se. Ele lançou as tábuas de suas mãos e as quebrou ao pé da montanha. ²⁰ Ele pegou o bezerro que as pessoas haviam feito, queimou-o, triturou-o até virar pó, e o despejou na água. Então ele fez com que o povo de Israel a bebesse.

²¹ Então Moisés disse a Arão: "O que esse povo te fez, para que trouxesses tamanho pecado sobre ele"? ²² Disse-lhe Arão: "Não se acenda a vossa ira, meu senhor. Tu conheces esse povo, e sabes o quanto eles empenhados em fazer o mal. ²³ Eles me disseram: 'Faze-nos um deus que vá a nossa frente. Quanto a Moisés, o homem que nos trouxe da terra do Egito, nós não sabemos o que houve com ele' ²⁴ Então eu lhes disse: 'Aqueles que têm ouro, tirem-no. Eles me deram, e eu o lancei ao fogo, e saiu esse bezerro'".

²⁵ Moisés viu que o povo estava agindo de forma estranha, pois Arão os deixou perder o controle, expondo-os à zombaria dos seus inimigos. ²⁶ Então Moisés ficou de pé, na entrada do acampamento, e disse: "Quem estiver do lado de Yahweh, venha até mim". Todos os levitas se ajuntaram em volta dele. ²⁷ Ele lhes disse: "Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz isto: 'Que cada homem prepare sua espada ao lado indo e vindo, de porta em porta, por todo o acampamento, e mate seus irmãos, seus companheiros e vizinhos'".

²⁸ Os levitas fizeram conforme Moisés lhes havia ordenado. Naquele dia morreram cerca de três mil homens do povo. ²⁹ Moisés disse aos levitas: "Vós fostes postos a serviço de Yahweh hoje, pois cada um de vós agiu contra seu irmão, portanto Yahweh vos deu uma benção hoje".

³⁰ No dia seguinte, Moisés disse ao povo: "Cometestes um grande pecado. Agora eu subirei a Yahweh. Talvez eu possa fazer expiação pelo vosso pecado. ³¹ Moisés voltou a Yahweh e disse: "Oh, esse povo cometeu um grande pecado e fizeram para si um ídolo de ouro. ³² Mas agora, perdoa-lhes o pecado; se não o fizeres, apaga-me do livro que escreveste".

³³ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Aquele que tiver pecado contra mim, essa pessoa eu apagarei do meu livro. ³⁴ Agora vai e conduz este povo para o lugar sobre o qual eu te falei. Vê, o Meu anjo irá na tua frente. Porém no dia em que Eu os castigar, Eu os punirei por seu pecado". ³⁵ Então Yahweh enviou a praga para o povo, por fezer o bezerro, aquele que Arão havia fabricado.

Capítulo 33

¹ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Parte daqui, tu e o povo que tiraste da terra do Egito. Vái para a terra a respeito da qual tenho feito um juramento a Abraão, a Isaque e a Jacó, quando Eu disse: 'Eu a darei à tua descendência'. ² Enviarei um anjo à tua frente, e expulsarei os cananeus, os amorreus, os heteus, os perizeus, os heveus e os jebuseus. ³ Vai para a terra da qual está fluindo leite e mel, porém Eu não irei contigo, porque és um povo muito teimoso. Eu poderei destruir-te no caminho".

⁴ Quando o povo ouviu essas palavras inquietantes, pranteou, e não se adornou de jóias. ⁵ Yahweh havia dito a Moisés: "Dize aos israelitas: 'Sois um povo teimoso. Se Eu fosse no meio de vós, ainda que por um momento, vos destruiria. Portanto, tirai os vossos adornos para que Eu decida o que fazer convosco'". ⁶ Então os israelitas não usaram jóias, desde o monte Horebe em diante.

⁷ Moisés tomou uma tenda, e a armou do lado de fora do acampamento, a uma certa distância. Ele a chamou de Tenda do encontro. Todo aquele que pedia qualquer coisa a Yahweh ia à Tenda do encontro, fora do acampamento. ⁸ Quando Moisés ia à Tenda, todo o povo se levantava e ficava de pé na entrada de sua própria tenda, observando Moisés, até que ele entrasse na Tenda. ⁹ E quando Moisés entrava na Tenda, a coluna de nuvem descia e ficava à entrada da Tenda, e Yahweh falava com Moisés.

¹⁰ Sempre que o povo via a coluna de nuvem parada em frente à entrada da Tenda, todos se levantavam e adoravam, cada um na entrada de sua tenda. ¹¹ E Yahweh falava com Moisés face a face, como quem fala com seu amigo. Em seguida, Moisés voltava para o acampamento, mas o seu servo, o jovem Josué, filho de Num, permanecia na Tenda.

¹² E Moisés disse a Yahweh: "Tu me dizes: 'Leva este povo em sua jornada', mas não tens me mostrado quem enviarás comigo. Disseste também: 'Conheço-Te por teu nome, e achaste favor aos Meus olhos. ¹³ Se achei favor aos Teus olhos, rogo-Te que agora me mostres os Teus caminhos, para que eu Te conheça, a fim de que continue a achar favor aos Teus olhos. Lembra-Te de que esta nação é o Teu povo".

¹⁴ Yahweh respondeu-lhe: "Eu mesmo irei contigo, e te darei descanso". ¹⁵ Então Moisés lhe disse: "Se Tu mesmo não fores conosco, não nos tires daqui. ¹⁶ Caso contrário, como saber que encontrei favor aos Teus olhos, eu e o Teu povo? Acaso não é somente por andares conosco, que eu e o Teu povo somos diferentes de todos os outros povos da face da terra?"

¹⁷ E Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Farei também isso que Me pediste, pois achaste favor aos Meus olhos, e te conheço pelo nome". ¹⁸ Disse Moisés: "Por favor, mostra-me a Tua glória".

¹⁹ Yahweh disse: "Farei passar toda a minha bondade diante de ti, e diante de ti proclamarei o meu nome, 'Yahweh'. Eu serei gracioso com quem Eu quiser ser gracioso, e mostrarei misericórdia a quem Eu quiser mostrar misericórdia". ²⁰ Porém Yahweh disse: "Não poderás ver a Minha face, porque ninguém pode ver a Minha face e viver".

²¹ Yahweh disse: "Vê, eis um lugar próximo de Mim; Tu ficarás sobre esta rocha. ²² Enquanto a Minha glória passar, te colocarei numa fenda da rocha, e te cobrirei com Minha mão até Eu passar. ²³ Então, tirarei a Minha mão e verás as Minhas costas, mas a Minha face não será vista".

Capítulo 34

¹ Yahweh disse para Moisés: "Corta duas tábuas de pedra como as primeiras tábuas de pedra. Eu escreverei nessas tábuas de pedra as palavras que estavam nas primeiras tábuas de pedras, as tábuas que tu quebraste. ² Prepara-te pela manhã e sobe o Monte Sinai, e apresenta-te a mim no topo da montanha.

³ Ninguém poderá subir contigo. Não deixe ninguém mais ser visto em nenhum lugar da montanha. Nem manada, nem rebanhos devem pastar em frente à montanha". ⁴ Então Moisés cortou duas tábuas de pedra como as primeiras, levantou-se de manhã cedo e subiu ao Monte Sinai, como Yahweh havia lhe instruído. Moisés carregou as tábuas de pedra em suas mãos.

⁵ Yahweh desceu em uma nuvem e esteve com Moisés ali, e ele pronunciou o nome "Yahweh". ⁶ Yahweh passou à frente dele e proclamou: "Yahweh, Yahweh, Deus é misericordioso e gracioso, não se ira facilmente e é abundante na aliança com fidelidade e confiança, ⁷ mantendo fielmente a aliança por milhares de gerações, perdoando iniquidades, transgressões e pecados. Porém Ele, de maneira nenhuma, livrará o culpado. Ele vai trazer punição para os pecados dos pais sobre os filhos, e sobre os filhos dos filhos, até a terceira e a quarta geração".

⁸ Moisés rapidamente prostrou sua cabeça ao chão e adorou. ⁹ Depois ele disse: "Se agora eu tenho achado favor em Teu olhar, meu Senhor, por favor vem sobre nós, por essas pessoas teimosas. Perdoa nossas iniquidades e nossos pecados, e leva-nos como tua propriedade".

¹⁰ Yahweh disse: "Vê, Eu estou para fazer uma aliança. Perante todo o teu povo, Eu irei fazer maravilhas como as que não foram feitas em toda a terra ou em qualquer nação. Todas essas pessoas, perante ti, verão minhas grandes obras, por isso estou fazendo uma coisa terrível contigo. ¹¹ Obedece o que estou te ordenando hoje. Eu estou prestes a expulsar de diante de ti os amorreus, os cananeus, os heteus, os perizeus, os haveus e os jebuseus.

¹² Tem cuidado para não fazeres alianças com os que habitam a terra para onde estás indo, ou eles se tornarão uma armadilha perante ti. ¹³ Em vez disso, tu deves quebrar seus altares, esmagar seus pilares de pedras sagradas e cortar os postes de Aserá. ¹⁴ Pois não deves adorar outros deuses, por mim O SENHOR, cujo nome é 'Ciumento', sou o Deus ciumento.

¹⁵ Tem cuidado para não fazeres alianças com os que habitam a terra, pois eles se prostituem para seus deuses, e sacrificam a eles e te convidarão para que comas algo do sacrifício deles. ¹⁶ Então tomarás algumas das filhas deles para os teus filhos, e as filhas deles se prostituirão para seus deuses, e eles farão teus filhos se prostituirem para os deuses deles. ¹⁷ Não faças para ti mesmo deuses de metal fundido.

¹⁸ Tu deves manter o festival de pães sem fermento. Como eu lhe comandei, tu deves comer pão sem fermento por sete dias, no tempo fixo, no mês de abib, pois foi no mês de abib que vieste do Egito.

¹⁹ Todos os primogênitos são meus, inclusive todos os primogênitos machos do teu rebanho, tanto de vacas quanto de ovelhas. ²⁰ Tu deves comprar de volta os primogênitos dos burros com cordeiros, porém se não comprares de volta tu deves quebrar-lhes o pescoço. Tu deves comprar de volta todos os primogênitos de teus filhos. Ninguém deve aparecer perante mim de mãos vazias.

²¹ Tu deves trabalhar por seis dias, porém no sétimo dia tu deves descansar. Mesmo durante o tempo de cultivo e na colheita, tu deves descansar. ²² Tu deves observar o festival das semanas com a primeira produção da colheita de trigo, e tu deves observar o festival da colheita no final do ano.

²³ Todos os teus homens deverão se apresentar diante de mim, Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, três vezes por ano. ²⁴ Pois Eu expulsarei nações de diante de ti e expandirei tuas fronteiras. Ninguém deverá cobiçar tuas terras, quando apareceres diante de mim, Yahweh, teu Deus, três vezes por ano.

²⁵ Não oferecerás sangue do meu sacrifício com nenhum fermento, ou nenhuma carne do sacrifício do festival de páscoa, que sobrou pela manhã. ²⁶ Tu deverás trazer o melhor e o primeiro fruto do teu campo para a minha casa. Não cozinharás um cabrito no leite de sua mãe.

²⁷ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Escreve estas palavras, pois Eu me compromento com estas palavras que falei, e fiz uma aliança com o povo de Israel". ²⁸ Moisés esteva lá com Yahweh por quarenta dias e quarenta noites; ele não comeu nenhuma comida, nem bebeu água. Ele escreveu nas tábuas as palavras da Aliança, os dez Mandamentos.

²⁹ Quando Moisés desceu do Monte Sinai com as duas tábuas do Decreto da Aliança em suas mãos, ele não sabia que a pele de sua face tinha se tornado radiante enquanto falava com Deus. ³⁰ Quando Arão e todos os israelitas viram Moisés, a pele da face dele estava brilhando, e eles ficaram com medo de se aproximar dele. ³¹ Mas Moisés lhes chamou, e Arão e todos os líderes da comunidade vieram a ele. Depois Moisés falou com eles.

³² Após isso, todo o povo de Israel veio a Moisés, e ele disse a eles todos os mandamentos que Yahweh tinha dado a ele no Monte Sinai. ³³ Depois que Moisés terminou de falar com eles, ele colocou um véu sobre sua face.

³⁴ Sempre que Moisés estava perante Yahweh para falar com Ele, ele removia o véu. Depois ele colocava o véu de volta quando ele ia embora. Ele saía da tenda e dizia aos israelitas o que tinha sido ordenado. ³⁵ Os israelitas viram a face de Moisés brilhando. Porém depois ele colocava o véu sobre sua face de novo até que voltasse a falar com Yahweh.

Capítulo 35

¹ Moisés reuniu toda a comunidade dos filhos de Israel e lhes disse: "Estas são as coisas que Yahweh vos ordenou fazer. ² Em seis dias, qualquer trabalho poderá ser feito, todavia, para vós, o sétimo dia será um dia santificado. O dia de sábado será para descansar; é dia santo para Yahweh. Qualquer um que realizar algum trabalho nesse dia deverá morrer. ³ Vós não podereis nem ao menos acender fogo em vossas casas no dia de sábado".

⁴ Moisé falou a toda comunidade de Israel: "Isto foi o que Yahweh ordenou: ⁵ 'separai uma oferta para Yahweh, todos vós que tendes um coração disposto. Trazei uma oferta para Yahweh — ouro, prata, bronze; ⁶ lã azul, roxa e vermelha e linho fino; pelos de cabra; ⁷ peles de carneiro tingidas de vermelho e couro fino; madeira de acácia; ⁸ azeite para as lamparinas do santuário, especiarias para o óleo da unção e fragrância de incenso; ⁹ pedras de ônix e outras pedras preciosas para serem colocadas no colete e no peitoral da veste sacerdotal.

¹⁰ Todo homem habilidoso entre vós virá e fará tudo o que Yahweh ordenou — ¹¹ o tabernáculo, com sua tenda, sua cobertura, seus colchetes, suas armações, barras, seus postes e suas bases; ¹² também a arca, com suas varas para transportá-la, a tampa da expiação e a cortina para cobri-la.

¹³ A mesa, com as varas para transporte com todos os seus utensílios e os pães da presença. ¹⁴ O candelabro das luzes, com seus acessórios, suas lâmpadas e o azeite para as lâmpadas; ¹⁵ o altar de incenso, com suas varas para transporte, o óleo da unção e as fragrâncias de incensos; a cortina para a entrada do tabernáculo; ¹⁶ o altar para as ofertas queimadas, com suas grelhas de bronze e varas para o seu transporte e todos os utensílios; a grande bacia de bronze, com sua base.

¹⁷ As cortinas externas da entrada do pátio, com suas colunas e bases e a cortina para a entrada do pátio; ¹⁸ as estacas do tabernáculo e do pátio, junto com suas cordas; ¹⁹ as vestes finamente tecidas para servir no lugar santo, as vestes sagradas para Arão, o sacerdote, e seus filhos, para que eles sirvam como sacerdotes".

²⁰ Então, todas as tribos de Israel partiram e se afastaram da presença de Moisés. ²¹ Todo aquele cujo coração o instigava e a quem o seu espírito queria, veio e trouxe uma oferta para Yahweh para a construção do tabernáculo, para todos os objetos do serviço e para as vestes sagradas. ²² Então, vieram homens e mulheres, todos que tinham um coração disposto. Eles traziam broches, brincos, anéis e ornamentos, todos os tipos de jóias de ouro. Todos eles ofereceram ofertas de ouro a Yahweh.

²³ Todos aqueles que tinham lã azul, roxa e vermelha, linho fino, pelos de cabra, peles de ovelhas tingidas de vermelho ou fino couro os trouxeram. ²⁴ Todos os que tinham oferta de prata ou bronze trouxeram para Yahweh e todos que tinham madeira de acácia para ser utilizada as trouxeram para serem usadas na obra.

²⁵ Toda mulher habilidosa tecia lã com suas mãos e trazia o que havia feito — lã azul, roxa ou vermelha, ou linho fino. ²⁶ Todas as mulheres cujos corações estavam dispostos a fiar os pêlos das cabras.

²⁷ Os líderes trouxeram pedras de ônix e outras pedras preciosas para serem fixadas no colete e no peitoral da veste sacerdotal; ²⁸ trouxeram especiarias e azeite para as lâmpadas, para o óleo da unção e para o incenso perfumado. ²⁹ Os israelitas trouxeram uma oferta voluntária para Yahweh; cada homem e cada muher, cujos corações estavam dispostos, trouxeram materiais para a obra que Yahweh ordenara para Moisés realizar.

³⁰ Moisés disse aos israelitas: "Vede, Yahweh chamou pelo nome a Bezalel, filho de Uri, filho de Hur, da tribo de Judá. ³¹ Ele encheu Bezalel com Seu Espírito, dando-lhe sabedoria, entendimento e conhecimento para todos os tipos de artesanato, ³² para fazer desenhos artísticos e trabalhar com ouro, prata e bronze; ³³ também para cortar e lapidar pedras e esculpir em madeira — para fazer todos os tipos de artesanato.

³⁴ Ele colocou isso em seu coração para ensinar, tanto Bezalel quanto Aoliabe, filho de Aisamaque, da tribo de Dã. ³⁵ Ele os encheu de habilidade para fazer todo o tipo de trabalho, para trabalhar como artesãos, como gravadores, como bordadores em lã azul, roxo e vermelho, linho fino e como tecelões. Eles são artesãos em todos os tipos de trabalho e são desenhistas artísticos.

Capítulo 36

¹ Desse modo, Bezalel e Aoliabe irão trabalhar e também cada pessoa de coração capacitado na qual Deus colocou habilidade e conhecimento para saberem como construir o santo lugar, seguindo as instruções que Ele vos deu para fazer".

² Moisés convocou Bezalel e Aoliabe, e toda pessoa hábil para a qual Yahweh dera destreza, e cujo interior do coração foi movido por Ele para vir e fazer o trabalho. ³ Eles receberam de Moisés todas as ofertas que os israelitas trouxeram para construir o santo lugar. O povo continuou trazendo a Moisés ofertas vonlutárias toda manhã. ⁴ Então todas as pessoas capacitadas, trabalhando no santuário vieram do serviço que estavam fazendo.

⁵ Eles disseram a Moisés: "O povo está trazendo mais do que o necessário para fazer o trabalho que Yahweh nos ordenou fazer". ⁶ Desse modo, Moisés instruiu que ninguém no acampamento trouxesse mais ofertas para a construção do santuáio. Então o povo parou de trazer presentes. ⁷ Eles tinham mais do que materiais suficientes para todo o trabalho.

⁸ Assim todos os artesãos dentre eles construíram o tarbenáculo com dez cortinas feitas com linho fino e lã azul, roxa e vermelha com desenhos de querumbins. Esse foi o trabalho de Bezalel, um artesão muito capaz. ⁹ O comprimento de cada cortina era de vinte e oito côvados, com largura de quatro côvados. Todas as cortinas tinham o mesmo tamanho. ¹⁰ Bezalel juntou cinco cortinas umas com as outras, e outras cinco cortinas ele também as juntou umas com as outras.

¹¹ Ele laçou de azul ao longo da orla da cortina do primeiro grupo, e ele fez o mesmo ao longo da orla do segundo grupo. ¹² Ele fez cinquenta laços na primeira cortina e cinquenta laços na orla do segundo grupo opondo-as umas às outras. ¹³ Ele fez cinquenta ganchos de ouro e uniram as cortinas com eles e assim o tabernáculo juntou-se.

¹⁴ Bezalel fez cortinas de pelos de cabras para servir como tenda sobre o tabernáculo; ele fez onze dessas cortinas. ¹⁵ O comprimento de cada cortina era de trinta côvados, e a largura de cada cortina era de quatro côvados. Cada uma das onze cortinas era do mesmo tamanho. ¹⁶ Ele juntou cinco cortinas umas com as outras e outras seis cortinas umas com as outras. ¹⁷ Ele fez cinquenta laços na orla da cortina do primeiro grupo, e cinquenta laços ao longo da orla da cortina do segundo grupo.

¹⁸ Bezalel fez cinquenta ganchos de bronze para unir a tenda para ser um todo. ¹⁹ Ele fez, para cobrir o tarbenáculo, uma cobertura de peles de carneiros tingidas de vermelho, e, acima dessas camadas, uma fina cobertura de couro.

²⁰ Bezalel fez tábuas verticais de madeira de acácia para o tabernáculo. ²¹ O comprimento de cada tábua era de dez côvados, e sua largura era de um côvado e meio. ²² Existiam dois encaixes em cada tábua para unir uma à outra. Ele fez todas as tábuas do tarbenáculo dessa maneira. ²³ Assim ele fez as tábuas para o tarbenáculo. Ele fez vinte tábuas para o lado sul.

²⁴ Bezalel fez quarenta bases de prata para ficarem debaixo das vinte tábuas. Existiam duas bases debaixo da primeira tábua, e também duas bases debaixo de cada tábua para os seus dois encaixes. ²⁵ Para o segundo lado do tabernáculo, o lado norte, ele fez vinte tábuas ²⁶ e suas quarenta bases de prata. Havia duas bases debaixo da primeira tábua, duas bases debaixo da próxima tábua e assim por diante.

²⁷ Para os fundos do tabernáculo, ao oeste, Bezalel fez seis tábuas. ²⁸ Ele fez duas tábuas para os cantos dos fundos do tabernáculo.

²⁹ Essas tábuas eram separadas em seus fundamentos, mas eram unidas no topo pela mesma argola. Era dessa forma em ambos os cantos dos fundos. ³⁰ Existiam oito tábuas, unidas com suas bases de prata. Tinham dezesseis bases ao todo, duas bases debaixo da primeira tábua, duas bases debaixo da próxima tábua, e assim por diante.

³¹ Bezalel fez traves de madeira de acácia—cinco traves para as tábuas do outro lado do tabernáculo, ³² cinco traves para as tábuas dos fundos ao ocidente. ³³ Ele fez a trave central por entre as tábuas, isto é, parcialmente em cima, de uma extremidade à outra. ³⁴ Ele cobriu as tábuas com ouro. Eles fez as suas argolas com ouro, para servir como suporte para as traves, e também cobriu as barras com ouro.

³⁵ Bezalel fez o véu de lã azul, roxa e vermelha, e de linho fino, com desenhos de querubins, o trabalho de um habilidoso trabalhador. ³⁶ Ele fez para o véu quatro suportes de madeira de acácia, e os cobriu com ouro. Ele também fez ganchos de ouro para os pilares, e os fundiu com as quatro bases de prata.

³⁷ Ele pendurou o véu na entrada da tenda. Era feito de lã azul, roxa e vermelha, de lino fino, o trabalho de um bordador. ³⁸ Ele também fez para as tapeçarias cinco pilares com ganchos. Ele cobriu seus topos e suas hastes com ouro. Suas cinco bases eram feitas de bronze.

Capítulo 37

¹ Bezalel fez a arca de madeira de acácia. O seu comprimento era de dois côvados e meio, a sua largura era de um côvado e meio e a sua altura era de um côvado e meio. ² Ele a cobriu por dentro e por fora com ouro puro e fez para ela uma bordadura de ouro ao redor. ³ Ele fundiu quatro argolas de ouro para os seus quatro pés, com duas argolas de um lado e duas argolas do outro lado.

⁴ Ele fez varas de madeira de acácia e as cobriu com ouro; ⁵ pôs as varas dentro das argolas, nos lados da arca para carregá-la. ⁶ Fez também o propiciatório de ouro puro. O seu comprimento era de dois côvados e meio e a sua largura era de um côvado e meio.

⁷ Bezalel fez dois querubins de ouro batido para as duas extremidades do propiciatório. ⁸ Um querubim estava em uma extremidade do propiciatório e o outro querubim estava na outra extremidade. Eles formavam uma só peça com o propiciatório. ⁹ Os querubins estendiam as suas asas por cima e cobriam o propiciatório com elas. Eles estavam de frente um para o outro, com as faces voltadas para o propiciatório.

¹⁰ Bezalel fez a mesa de madeira de acácia. O seu comprimento era de dois côvados; a sua largura era de um côvado e a sua altura era de um côvado e meio. ¹¹ Ele a cobriu com ouro puro e pôs uma bordadura de ouro puro ao redor. ¹² Fez uma moldura para ela na largura de quatro dedos, com uma bordadura de ouro para a moldura. ¹³ Ele fundiu para ela quatro argolas de ouro e as atou nos quatro cantos onde os seus pés estavam.

¹⁴ As argolas foram atadas na moldura para receber as varas para carregar a mesa. ¹⁵ Ele fez as varas de madeira de acácia, por fora, e as cobriu com ouro, para carregar a mesa. ¹⁶ Ele fez os objetos que estariam sobre a mesa: pratos, colheres, tigelas e jarros a serem usados para derramar as ofertas. Ele os fez de ouro puro.

¹⁷ Ele fez o candelabro de ouro puro batido; fez o candelabro com sua base e haste. Seus copos, suas bases com folhas e suas flores formavam com ele uma só peça. ¹⁸ Seis braços saíam dos seus lados: três braços saíam de um lado do candelabro, e três saíam do outro. ¹⁹ O primeiro braço tinha três copos em forma de flor de amêndoa, com folhas na base e uma flor; e no outro braço, três copos feitos em forma de flor de amêndoa, com folhas na base e uma flor. Era a mesma coisa para todos os seis braços que saíam do candelabro.

²⁰ No próprio candelabro, na haste central, havia quatro copos feitos na forma de flores de amêndoa, com suas bases com folhas e flores. ²¹ Havia uma base com folhas sob o primeiro par de braços, formando uma só peça com ele; e uma base com folhas sob o segundo par de braços, também formando uma só peça com ele. Da mesma forma, havia uma base com folhas sob o terceiro par de braços, feito em uma só peça com ele. Assim era para todos os seis braços que saíam do candelabro. ²² Suas bases com folhas e braços formavam todos uma só peça com ele, peça trabalhada em ouro puro batido.

²³ Bezalel fez o candelabro e suas sete lâmpadas, seus aparadores e seus apagadores de ouro puro. ²⁴ Ele fez o candelabro e seus acessórios com um talento de ouro puro.

²⁵ Bezalel fez o altar do incenso. Ele o fez de madeira de acácia. O seu comprimento era de um côvado e sua largura de um côvado. Ele era quadrado e sua altura tinha dois côvados. Seus chifres formavam uma só peça com ele. ²⁶ Ele cobriu o altar do incenso com ouro puro, sua parte superior, seus lados e seus chifres. Fez também uma bordadura de ouro para ele.

²⁷ Ele fez duas argolas de ouro e as fixou debaixo da bordadura, em lados opostos do altar do incenso. As argolas eram suportes onde passavam as varas para carregar o altar. ²⁸ Fez as varas de madeira de acácia e as cobriu com ouro. ²⁹ Ele fez o óleo santo da unção e incenso aromático, puro, obra de perfumista.

Capítulo 38

¹ Bezalel fez o altar do holocausto de madeira de acácia. Era um quadrado de cinco côvados de comprimento, cinco de largura e três de altura. ² Ele fez extensões nos seus quatro cantos, no formato de chifres de boi. Os chifres formavam uma só peça com o altar, e ele o cobriu de bronze. ³ Ele fez todos os utensílios do altar: vasilhas para cinzas, pás, pias, os garfos e os braseiros. Ele fez todos esses utensílios de bronze.

⁴ Ele fez uma grelha para o altar, no formato de uma rede de bronze, embaixo da borda ao redor. Ela chegava até o meio do altar. ⁵ Ele fundiu quatro argolas para os quatro cantos da grelha de bronze, como suportes para as varas.

⁶ Bezalel fez varas de madeira de acácia e cobriu-as com bronze. ⁷ Ele atravessou as varas pelos anéis dos lados do altar, para carregá-lo. Ele fez o altar oco, usando tábuas.

⁸ Bezalel fez a grande pia de bronze com uma base de bronze. Ele fez a pia de espelhos pertencentes às mulheres que serviam à entrada da Tenda do encontro.

⁹ Ele fez também o átrio. As cortinas do lado sul do átrio eram de linho fino, de cem côvados de comprimento. ¹⁰ As cortinas tinham vinte colunas, com vinte bases de bronze. Havia ganchos anexos às colunas, bem como hastes de prata.

¹¹ Da mesma forma, do lado norte, havia cortinas de cem côvados, com vinte colunas, vinte bases de bronze, ganchos presos às colunas e hastes de prata. ¹² As cortinas do lado oeste mediam cinquenta côvados, com dez colunas e bases. Os ganchos e hastes das colunas eram de prata.

¹³ As cortinas também mediam cinquenta côvados no lado leste do átrio. ¹⁴ As cortinas de um dos lados da entrada mediam quinze côvados. Elas tinham três colunas com três bases. ¹⁵ Do outro lado da entrada, havia também cortinas de quinze côvados, com três colunas e três bases. ¹⁶ Todas as cortinas ao redor do átrio eram feitas de linho fino.

¹⁷ As bases das colunas foram feitas de bronze. Os ganchos e hastes nas colunas foram feitos de prata, e o revestimento dos seus capitéis também foi feito de prata. Todas as colunas do átrio eram cobertas de prata. ¹⁸ A cortina do portão do átrio media vinte côvados. A cortina era feita de azul, vermelho e roxo, linho fino torcido, e media vinte côvados. Media vinte côvados de comprimento e cinco côvados de altura, como as cortinas do átrio. ¹⁹ Tinha quatro bases de bronze e ganchos de prata. O revestimento de seus capitéis e de suas hastes era feito de prata. ²⁰ Todas as estacas das tendas do tabernáculo e do átrio eram feitas de bronze.

²¹ Este é o inventário das coisas para o tabernáculo, o tabernáculo dos Decretos da Aliança, seguindo as instruções de Moisés. Foi obra dos levitas debaixo da direção de Itamar, filho do sacerdote Arão. ²² Bezalel, filho de Uri, filho de Hur, da tribo de Judá, fez tudo o que Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés. ²³ Aoliabe, filho de Aisamaque, da tribo de Dã, trabalhou junto de Bezalel como um escultor, um habilidoso operário, e como um tecelão em lã azul, escarlate e púrpura e em linho fino.

²⁴ Todo o ouro que foi usado para o projeto, em todo o trabalho ligado ao lugar santo, isto é, o ouro da oferta, foi vinte e nove talentos e setecentos e trinta siclos, segundo a medida do siclo do santuário. ²⁵ A prata dada pela comunidade pesou cem talentos e mil setecentos e setenta e cinco siclos, conforme o padrão do siclo do santuário, ²⁶ ou um beca por homem, isto é, meio siclo, segundo a medida do siclo do santuário. Essa representação foi alcançada com base em todos os que foram contados no censo, da idade de vinte anos para cima, que foram seiscentos e três mil quinhentos e cinquenta homens, ao todo.

²⁷ Cem talentos de prata foram fundidos para fazer as bases do santuário e as bases das cortinas: cem bases, um talento para cada base. ²⁸ Com os mil setecentos e setenta e cinco siclos de prata restantes, Bezalel fez os ganchos para as colunas, cobriu os seus capitéis, e fez as hastes para elas. ²⁹ O bronze da oferta pesou setenta talentos e dois mil e quatrocentos siclos.

³⁰ Com isso, ele fez as bases da entrada da Tenda do encontro, o altar de bronze, sua grelha de bronze, todo o equipamento para o altar, ³¹ as bases do átrio, as bases da entrada do átrio, todas as estacas de tenda para o tabernáculo e todas as estacas de tenda para o átrio.

Capítulo 39

¹ Com a lã azul, roxa e vermelha fizeram vestes finamente tecidas para cultuar no lugar santo. Eles fizeram as vestes de Arão para o lugar santo, conforme Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés.

² Bezalel fez o colete de ouro e de lã azul, roxa e vermelha. ³ Eles amassaram lâminas de ouro e as cortaram em fios, para entrelaçar com lã azul, roxa e de vermelha e com linho fino ― trabalho de um artesão habilidoso.

⁴ Eles fizeram ombreiras para o colete, atadas a ele nas suas duas pontas superiores. ⁵ Seu cinto, finamente tecido, era como o colete, feito uma única peça com ele, feito de linho fino trançado que era dourado, azul, roxo e vermelho, conforme Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés.

⁶ Eles encravaram as pedras de ônix embutida em conjuntos de ouro, esculpidas com gravuras com os nomes dos doze filhos de Israel. ⁷ Bezalel as pôs sobre as ombreiras do avental, como pedras para lembrar a Yahweh os doze filhos de Israel, como Yahweh tinha ordenado a Moisés.

⁸ Ele fez o peitoral, o trabalho de um habilidoso artesão, modelado como o colete. Ele o fez de ouro, de lã azul, roxa e vermelha, e de linho fino. ⁹ Era quadrado. Dobraram o peitoral em dois. Era de um palmo de cumprimento e de um palmo de largura.

¹⁰ Eles fixaram nele quatro filas de pedras preciosas. A primeira fila tinha um rubi, um topázio, uma granada. ¹¹ A segunda fila tinha uma esmeralda, uma safira e um diamante. ¹² A terceira fila tinha um jacinto, uma ágata e uma ametista. ¹³ A quarta fila tinha um berilo, uma ônix, e um jaspe. As pedras foram montadas em ouro.

¹⁴ As pedras foram agrupadas de acordo com o nome dos doze filhos de Israel, cada uma delas ordenadas pelo nome. Eram esculpidas como um desenho em um anel de selar, cada nome correspondendo a uma das doze tribos. ¹⁵ Sobre o peitoral eles fizeram correntes como cordas trançadas, trabalho de ouro puro. ¹⁶ Eles fizeram dois conjuntos de ouro e dois anéis de ouro, e uniram os dois aneis às duas pontas do peitoral.

¹⁷ Eles puseram as duas correntes trançadas de ouro nos dois anéis nas pontas do peitoral. ¹⁸ Eles uniram as duas outras pontas das correntes trançadas aos dois conjuntos. Uniram-nas às ombreiras na frente do colete.

¹⁹ Eles fizeram dois anéis de ouro e os puseram sobre as duas outras pontas do peitoral, sobre a estola próxima à borda interna. ²⁰ Eles fizeram mais dois anéis de ouro e os uniram ao fundo do peitoral, na frente do colete, perto da sua costura, acima do cinto finamente tecido do colete.

²¹ Eles amarraram o peitoral por seus anéis aos anéis do colete com um cordão azul, de modo que podia ser amarrado bem acima do cinto finamente tecido do colete. Assim foi feito para que o peitoral não se soltasse do colete. Isso foi feito como Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés.

²² Bezalel fez a túnica do colete completamente de tecido roxo ― trabalho de um tecelão. ²³ Ela possuía uma abertura bem no meio para a cabeça. A abertura tinha uma trança rodeada em suas extremidades de modo que não se descosturava. ²⁴ Sobre a bainha do fundo, eles fizeram romãs de lã azul, roxa e vermelha e de linho fino.

²⁵ Eles fizeram sinos de ouro puro, e os puseram entre as romãs ao redor da extremidade inferior da túnica, entre as romãs ― ²⁶ um sino e uma romã, um sino e uma romã ― na extremidade da túnica para Arão cultuar. Isso foi como Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés.

²⁷ Eles fizeram as capas de linho fino para Arão e para seus filhos. ²⁸ Eles fizeram o turbante de linho fino, a mitra ornada de linho fino, o forro de linho fino, ²⁹ e o cinto de linho fino e de lã azul, roxa e vermelha ― trabalho de um bordador. Isso foi como Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés.

³⁰ Eles fizeram a lâmina da coroa sagrada de puro ouro; eles esculpiram nela, como uma gravura: DEDICADA A YAHWEH. ³¹ Eles amarraram ao turbante uma corda azul ao topo do turbante. Isso foi como Yahweh tinha ordenado a Moisés.

³² Então a obra do tabernáculo, a tenda do encontro, foi concluída. O povo de Israel fez tudo. Eles seguiram todas as instruções que Yahweh havia dado a Moisés. ³³ Eles trouxeram o tabernáculo a Moisés ― a tenda e todos os seus utensílios, seus fechos, tábuas, vigas, colunas e bases. ³⁴ A cobertura de peles de carneiro, tingidas de vermelho, a cobertura de couro de animais marinhos, o véu protetor, ³⁵ a arca da aliança com suas varas e tampa.

³⁶ Eles trouxeram a mesa, todos os seus utensílios e os pães da presença; ³⁷ o candelabro de ouro puro e suas lâmpadas alinhadas, com seus assessórios e o óleo para as lâmpadas; ³⁸ o altar de ouro, óleo de unção e o incenso aromático; a cortina para a entrada do tabernáculo; ³⁹ o altar de bronze com sua grelha de bronze e suas varas e utensílios e a bacia com sua base.

⁴⁰ Eles trouxeram as cortinas para o pátio com suas colunas e bases, e a cortina para a entrada do pátio, suas cordas e estacas da tenda; e todos os utensílios para o culto no tabernáculo, a tenda do encontro. ⁴¹ Eles trouxeram as vestes finas para ministrar no santo lugar, as vestes sagradas para o sacerdote Arão e seus filhos, para eles ministrarem como sacerdotes.

⁴² Assim, o povo de Israel fez todo o trabalho de acordo com o que Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés. ⁴³ Moisés examinou todo o trabalho e observou o que haviam feito. Então Moisés os abençoou.

Capítulo 40

¹ Então Yahweh falou a Moisés, ² "No primeiro dia do primeiro mês, montarás o tabernáculo, a tenda do encontro.

³ Colocarás a arca da aliança dentro da tenda e a cobrirás com um véu. ⁴ Deverás trazer a mesa e pôr em ordem seus pertences sobre ela. Então deverás trazer o candelabro e colocar suas lâmpadas.

⁵ Porás o altar de incenso de ouro perante a arca da aliança, e deverás pôr cortinas na entrada do tabernáculo. ⁶ Colocarás o altar do holocausto à frente da entrada do tabernáculo, a tenda do encontro. ⁷ Porás a pia entre a tenda do encontro e o altar, e a encherás de água.

⁸ Armarás o pátio em volta do tabernáculo, e estenderás a cortina à entrada do pátio. ⁹ Tomarás o óleo da unção e ungirás o tabernáculo e tudo o que estiver nele. Dedicarás todos o seus utensílios a Mim; então serão santificados. ¹⁰ Ungirás o altar do holocausto e todos os seus utensílios. Dedicarás o altar a Mim, e ele se tornará santíssimo para Mim. ¹¹ Ungirás a pia de bronze e sua base, e a dedicarás a Mim.

¹² Trarás Arão e seus filhos à entrada da tenda do encontro e deverás lavá-los com água. ¹³ Vestirás Arão com as vestes dedicadas a Mim, ungirás a ele e o dedicarás a Mim para que ele Me sirva como Meu sacerdote.

¹⁴ Trarás seus filhos e os vestirás com capas. ¹⁵ Tu os ungirás como ungiste o pai deles, para que Me sirvam como sacerdotes. A unção deles lhes dará um sacerdócio permanente por todas as suas gerações." ¹⁶ Isso foi o que Moisés fez. Ele seguiu tudo o que Yahweh havia ordenado. Ele fez todas essas coisas.

¹⁷ Então o tabernáculo foi levantado no primeiro dia do primeiro mês, no segundo ano. ¹⁸ Moisés levantou o tabernáculo, firmou suas bases, montou suas tábuas, uniu suas vigas, e firmou suas estacas e postes. ¹⁹ Ele espalhou a cobertura sobre o tabernáculo como uma tenda, da maneira como Yahweh havia mandado. ²⁰ Pôs as Leis da Aliança dentro da arca. Colocou também os varais na arca e o propiciatório sobre ela.

²¹ Trouxe a arca para dentro do tabernáculo. Esticou o véu para proteger a arca da aliança, como Yahweh havia ordenado. ²² Colocou a mesa dentro da tenda do encontro, no lado norte do tabernáculo, fora do véu. ²³ Colocou os pães em ordem na mesa diante de Yahweh, como Yahweh ordenou a ele.

²⁴ Ele pôs o candelabro dentro da tenda do encontro, em frente à mesa, no lado sul do tabernáculo. ²⁵ Acendeu as lâmpadas diante de Yahweh, como Yahweh ordenou a ele.

²⁶ Pôs o altar de incenso de ouro na tenda do encontro, diante do véu. ²⁷ Queimou sobre ele incenso aromático, como Yahweh ordenou a ele.

²⁸ Pendurou a cortina na entrada do tabernáculo. ²⁹ Pôs o altar para o sacrifício na entrada do tabernáculo, a tenda do encontro. Ele ofereceu o holocausto e a oferta de cereais sobre o altar, como Yahweh ordenou a ele. ³⁰ Colocou a pia de bronze entre a tenda do encontro e o altar, e pôs água dentro dela para lavar.

³¹ Moisés, Aarão e seus filhos lavavam as mãos e os pés na bacia ³² toda vez que entravam na tenda do encontro e iam até o altar. Lavavam-se, como Yahweh ordenou a Moisés. ³³ Moisés levantou o átrio em volta do tabernáculo e do altar. Esticou a cortina na entrada do pátio. Dessa forma, Moisés terminou o trabalho.

³⁴ Então a nuvem cobriu a tenda do encontro, e a glória de Yahweh encheu o tabernáculo. ³⁵ Moisés não pôde entrar na tenda do encontro, pois a nuvem estava sobre ela, e porque a glória de Yahweh encheu o tabernáculo.

³⁶ Toda vez que a nuvem subia de sobre o tabernáculo, o povo de Israel seguia sua jornada. ³⁷ Porém, se a nuvem não subisse do tabernáculo, então o povo não seguia. Eles ficavam até o dia em que ela subisse. ³⁸ Pois a nuvem de Yahweh estava sobre o tabernáculo durante o dia, e Seu fogo durante a noite, à vista de todo o povo de Israel, em todas as suas jornadas.

Leviticus

Capítulo 1

¹ Yahweh chamou Moisés e falou a ele na Tenda do Encontro, dizendo: ² "Fala ao povo de Israel e diz: 'Quando alguém dentre vós trouxer uma oferta a Yahweh, trazei como oferta um animal do vosso rebanho, seja ele de pequeno ou grande porte.

³ Se a oferta dele for holocausto de gado graúdo, ele deverá oferecer um macho sem defeito na entrada da Tenda do Encontro, para que seja aceito diante de Yahweh. ⁴ Ele porá a mão sobre a cabeça do animal oferecido em holocausto, e então, a oferta será aceita em seu favor, para sua expiação.

⁵ Ele sacrificará o novilho diante de Yahweh. Os sacerdotes, filhos de Arão, apresentarão o sangue e o aspergirão sobre o altar na entrada da Tenda do Encontro. ⁶ Então ele esfolará o holocausto e o cortará em pedaços.

⁷ E os filhos de Arão, o sacerdote, colocarão fogo no altar e lenha para o fogo. ⁸ Os sacerdotes, filhos de Arão, colocarão em ordem os pedaços, a cabeça e a gordura sobre a lenha que está no fogo do altar. ⁹ Mas as vísceras e as pernas, as lavarão com água. E então, o sacerdote queimará tudo no altar como holocausto. Isso produzirá um aroma agradável para Mim; será uma oferta queimada para Mim.

¹⁰ Se a oferta for holocausto de gado miúdo, de cordeiro ou de cabrito, ele oferecerá um macho sem defeito. ¹¹ Ele o matará do lado norte do altar diante de Yahweh. Os sacerdotes, filhos de Arão, aspergirão o sangue por todos os lados do altar.

¹² Então, ele o cortará em pedaços, juntamente com a cabeça e a gordura, e o sacerdote porá os pedaços em ordem sobre lenha que está no fogo sobre o altar; ¹³ mas as vísceras e as pernas serão lavadas com água. Então o sacerdote oferecerá tudo isso e queimará no altar. Isso é um holocausto, e produzirá um aroma agradável a Yahweh; será uma oferta feita para Ele pelo fogo.

¹⁴ Se a oferta a Yahweh for holocausto de aves, então trará como oferta rolinhas ou pombinhas. ¹⁵ O sacerdote a trará sobre o altar, destroncará a cabeça da ave e a queimará sobre o altar. Então ele fará o sangue escorrer ao lado do altar.

¹⁶ Ele removerá o papo e as penas, e lançará sobre o lugar das cinzas, do lado leste do altar. ¹⁷ Ele a cortará pelas asas, mas não a dividirá em duas partes. Então o sacerdote a queimará sobre o altar, sobre a lenha que está no fogo. Isso será um holocausto, e produzirá um aroma agradável para Yahweh; será uma oferta feita para Ele pelo fogo.

Levítico 2

¹ Quando alguém trouxer uma oferta de cereais a Yahweh, sua oferta deverá ser farinha fina, e sobre ela derramará óleo e colocará incenso. ² Ele levará a oferta aos sacerdotes, filhos de Arão, e lá o sacerdote pegará uma mão cheia de farinha fina com o óleo e o incenso sobre ela. Então o sacerdote queimará a oferta como memorial no altar. Isto produzirá um aroma agradável a Yahweh. Será uma oferta queimada a Yahweh. ³ O que sobrar da oferta de grãos pertencerá a Arão e a seus filhos. É oferta santíssima a Yahweh dentre aquelas queimadas a Ele.

⁴ Quando ofereceres uma oferta de cereais sem fermento, assada em um forno, deve ser pão macio de boa farinha misturada com óleo, ou pão duro sem fermento, e untado com óleo. ⁵ Se a tua oferta de grãos for assada com uma panela de ferro plana, deve ser da boa farinha, sem fermento e misturada com óleo.

⁶ Em pedaços a dividirás e derramarás óleo sobre ela. Essa é uma oferta de cereais. ⁷ Se a tua oferta de cereais for assada em uma panela, deve ser feita com boa farinha e óleo.

⁸ Deverás trazer a oferta de cereais feita dessas coisas a Yahweh, e será apresentada ao sacerdote, que a trará ao altar. ⁹ Então, o sacerdote tomará uma parte da oferta de cereais, oferecida como memorial, e a queimará no altar. Será uma oferta queimada, e produzirá um aroma agradável a Yahweh. ¹⁰ O que sobrar da oferta de cereais pertencerá a Arão e a seus filhos. É oferta santíssima a Yahweh, dentre aquelas queimadas a Ele.

¹¹ Nenhuma oferta de cereais que ofereceres a Yahweh deverá ser feita com fermento, porque não deverás queimar nenhum fermento, nem mel, como uma oferta queimada a Yahweh. ¹² Tu oferecerás as ofertas a Yahweh como um dos primeiros frutos, mas elas não serão usadas como oferta de aroma agradável sobre o altar. ¹³ Deverás temperar cada oferta de cereais com sal. Nunca deverás deixar que o sal da aliança do teu Deus, falte na tua oferta de cereais. Deverás oferecer sal em todas as vossas ofertas.

¹⁴ Se ofereceres uma oferta de cereais dos primeiros frutos a Yahweh, oferecerás grãos frescos torrados ao fogo e, depois, moídos. ¹⁵ Então, deverás colocar óleo e incenso sobre ela. Essa é uma oferta de cereais. ¹⁶ Depois o sacerdote queimará parte dos grãos moídos, o óleo e o incenso como oferta memorial. Essa é uma oferta queimada a Yahweh.

Capítulo 3

¹ Se alguém oferecer um sacrifício pacífico, oferecendo um animal do rebanho, quer seja macho ou fêmea, ele deve oferecer um animal sem defeitos diante de Yahweh. ² Ele porá a mão na cabeça da sua oferta e a matará na porta da tenda do encontro. Então os filhos de Arão, os sacerdotes, aspergirão o sangue da oferta nas bordas do altar.

³ O homem oferecerá o sacrifício pacífico oferecendo-o pelo fogo a Yahweh. A gordura que cobre ou que está conectada às vísceras, ⁴ os dois rins, a gordura aderente a eles junto aos lombos e a pele do fígado com os rins—ele irá remover tudo isto. ⁵ Os filhos de Arão queimarão isso no altar com o holocausto, o qual está na lenha que está no fogo. Isso irá produzir um doce aroma para Yahweh; será uma oferta feita a ele pelo fogo.

⁶ Se o sacrifício pacífico de um homem a Yahweh é do rebanho; macho ou fêmea, ele deve oferecer um sacrifício sem defeito. ⁷ Se ele oferecer um cordeiro pelo seu sacrifício, então ele deve oferecê-lo diante de Yahweh. ⁸ Ele porá sua mão sobre a cabeça do seu sacrifício e o matará diante da tenda do encontro. Então os filhos de Arão arspergirão o sangue nas bordas do altar.

⁹ O homem oferecerá um sacrifício pacífico como uma oferta queimada a Yahweh. A gordura, a cauda gorda inteira cortada perto ao espinhaço, a gordura que cobre as vísceras e toda gordura que está perto das vísceras, ¹⁰ os dois rins e a gordura deles, que está no quadril, e a gordura aderente ao fígado, com os rins—ele irá remover tudo isso. ¹¹ E o sacerdote queimará tudo isso no altar como oferta queimada de alimento a Yahweh.

¹² E se a oferta do homem é uma cabra, então ele a oferecerá diante de Yahweh. ¹³ Ele porá sua mão na cabeça da cabra e a matará diante da tenda do encontro. Então os filhos de Arão aspergirão o sangue nas bordas do altar. ¹⁴ O homem oferecerá sua oferta queimada a Yahweh. Ele removerá a gordura que cobre as vísceras, e toda a gordura das vísceras.

¹⁵ Ele também removerá os dois rins e a gordura deles, que está nos lombos, a gordura aderente ao fígado com os rins. ¹⁶ O sacerdote queimará tudo isso no altar como uma oferta queimada de alimento para produzir um aroma agradável. Toda a gordura pertence a Yahweh. ¹⁷ Será uma lei permanente através das gerações do teu povo em todo o lugar em que vós fizerdes vosso lar, que vós não deveis comer gordura ou sangue'".

Capítulo 4

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ² "Diz ao povo de Israel: 'Quando alguém pecar sem intenção de fazê-lo, praticando qualquer das coisas que Yahweh recomendou que não se fizesse, e, se ele fizer alguma coisa que é proibida, deverá ser feito como se descreve a seguir. ³ Se for o sumo sacerdote que pecar de forma a trazer culpa sobre o povo, então oferecerá pelo seu pecado um novilho sem defeito como uma oferta a Yahweh pelo pecado.

⁴ Ele deve trazer o novilho à entrada da Tenda do Encontro, diante de Yahweh, impor sua mão sobre o novilho e matá-lo diante de Yahweh. ⁵ O sacerdote ungido pegará um pouco do sangue do novilho e o trará para a Tenda do Encontro.

⁶ O sacerdote molhará seu dedo no sangue e aspergirá um pouco dele sete vezes perante Yahweh, diante do véu do santíssimo lugar. ⁷ E o sacerdote colocará, diante de Yahweh, um pouco do sangue nos chifres do altar de incenso, que está na tenda do encontro, e despejará o sangue restante do novilho na base do altar do holocausto, que fica na entrada da Tenda do Encontro.

⁸ Ele removerá toda a gordura do novilho da oferta pelo pecado: A gordura que cobre as vísceras, toda a gordura que está junto delas, ⁹ os dois rins, a gordura que está sobre eles, ao lado dos lombos, e o lóbulo do fígado juntamente com os rins — ele deverá retirar tudo isso. ¹⁰ Ele retirará tudo, assim como ele o faz com a novilha do sacrifício de ofertas pacíficas. Então, o sacerdote queimará essas partes no altar do holocausto.

¹¹ O couro do novilho e as sobras de carne, junto com a cabeça, pés, víceras e seu excremento; ¹² todo o restante das partes do novilho — ele levará para fora do acampamento, para um lugar onde se purificam para Mim, onde despejam as cinzas; queimarão aquelas partes sobre a lenha. Eles devem queimar aquelas partes onde despejam as cinzas.

¹³ Se toda a congregação de Israel pecar sem desejar fazê-lo, se estiver sem consciência de que pecou, e tiver praticado qualquer das coisas que Yahweh recomendou que não fizesse, e se for culpada, ¹⁴ então, quando o pecado que cometeu se tornar conhecido, a congregação deverá oferecer um novilho como oferta pelo pecado e trazê-lo diante da tenda do encontro. ¹⁵ Os anciãos da congregação imporão suas mãos sobre a cabeça do novilho, perante Yahweh, e o novilho será morto diante de Yahweh.

¹⁶ O sacerdote ungido trará um pouco do sangue do novilho para a Tenda do Encontro ¹⁷ e molhará o dedo no sangue e o aspergirá sete vezes perante Yahweh, diante do véu.

¹⁸ Ele colocará um pouco do sangue nos chifres do altar, diante de Yahweh, que está na Tenda do Encontro, e despejará todo o sangue na base do altar do holocausto que fica na entrada da Tenda do Encontro. ¹⁹ Ele retirará toda a gordura e a queimará no altar.

²⁰ Isso é o que ele deve fazer com o novilho. Da mesma forma que ele fez com o das ofertas pelo pecado, assim fará com este novilho, e o sacerdote fará a expiação para o povo, e eles serão perdoados. ²¹ Ele levará o novilho para fora do acampamento e o queimará assim como fez com o primeiro novilho. Esta é a oferta de pecado pela assembleia.

²² Quando um líder pecar sem intenção, praticando qualquer coisa que Yahweh, seu Deus, ordenou que não fizesse, e, se ele for culpado, ²³ então, quando o pecado cometido por ele for de seu conhecimento, deverá trazer para seu sacrifício um bode, macho sem defeito.

²⁴ Ele imporá sua mão sobre a cabeça do bode e o matará no lugar onde oferecem o holocausto diante de Yahweh. Esta é uma oferta pelo pecado. ²⁵ O sacerdote pegará o sangue da oferta pelo pecado com seus dedos e o colocará nos chifres do altar do holocausto e despejará o restante do sangue na base do altar do holocausto.

²⁶ Ele queimará toda a gordura no altar, tal como o fez com a gordura do sacrifício de ofertas pacíficas. O sacerdote fará a expiação pelo líder, referente a seu pecado, e o líder será perdoado.

²⁷ Se qualquer pessoa comum pecar sem intenção, praticando qualquer das coisas que Yahweh ordenara que não se fizesse, e se ele for culpado, ²⁸ então, quando ele perceber o pecado que cometeu, deverá trazer para seu sacrifício uma cabra, uma fêmea sem defeito, como oferta pelo pecado que cometeu.

²⁹ Ele imporá a mão sobre a cabeça do animal, da oferta pelo pecado, oferecendo-a e matando-a no lugar do holocausto. ³⁰ O sacerdote tirará um pouco do sangue com seus dedos e o colocará nos chifres do altar do holocausto. Ele despejará todo o restante do sangue na base do altar.

³¹ Ele retirará toda a gordura, da mesma forma que é retirada no sacrifício de ofertas pacíficas. O sacerdote a queimará no altar, como aroma agradável para Yahweh. O sacerdote fará a expiação do pecado, e ele será perdoado.

³² Se o homem trouxer um cordeiro e seu sacrifício for uma oferta pelo pecado, ele trará uma fêmea sem defeito; ³³ imporá a mão sobre a cabeça do animal, da oferta pelo pecado, e o matará como oferta pelo pecado, no lugar onde realizaram o holocausto.

³⁴ O sacerdote tirará um pouco do sangue das ofertas pelo pecado, com seus dedos, e o colocará nos chifres do altar do holocausto. Ele despejará todo o restante do sangue na base do altar. ³⁵ Ele cortará fora toda a gordura dele, da mesma forma que a gordura do cordeiro é retirada no sacrifício de ofertas pacíficas e o sacerdote a queimará no altar sobre os holocautos oferecidos a Yahweh. O sacerdote fará a expiação pelo seu pecado, e o homem será perdoado.

Capítulo 5

¹ Se alguém pecar porque não testemunhou quando ele tiver observado alguma coisa sobre a qual é requerido que testemunhe, se ele tiver visto ou ouvido sobre isso, ele será responsabilizado. ² Ou se alguém tocar em qualquer coisa que Deus considera imunda, seja um cadáver de animal selvagem impuro, ou de um animal doméstico que já tenha morrido, ou de animal que rasteja, mesmo que a pessoa não tenha tido a intenção de tocá-lo, ele ficará impuro e será culpado.

³ Ou se ele tocar a impureza de alguém, seja o que for, ainda que sem consciência, então ele será culpado quando souber disso. ⁴ Ou, se alguém jura precipitadamente com seus lábios, seja para fazer o mal ou o bem, qualquer que seja o juramento deste homem, mesmo que inconscientemente, quando ele souber disso, então será culpado de todas essas coisas.

⁵ Quando alguém é culpado de alguma dessas coisas, ele deverá confessar qualquer pecado que tenha cometido. ⁶ Então, deverá trazer uma oferta para Yahweh pela culpa do pecado que cometeu. Um animal fêmea do rebanho, seja ovelha ou cabra, por oferta pela culpa, e o sacerdote fará a expiação por ele no que diz respeito ao seu pecado.

⁷ Se ele não tiver condições de comprar uma ovelha, então poderá trazer a Yahweh, como oferta pela culpa, duas rolinhas ou dois pombinhos, um pela oferta da culpa e outra para holocausto. ⁸ Ele deve trazê-las ao sacerdote, que irá oferecê-las primeiro por oferta do pecado — ele irá torcer-lhe o pescoço, sem, entretanto, arrancar-lhe a cabeça do corpo. ⁹ Então, ele aspergirá parte do sangue da oferta pela culpa sobre um lado do altar e escorrerá o restante do sangue na base do altar. Isso será a oferta pelo pecado.

¹⁰ Ele deve oferecer o segundo pássaro como holocausto, como está descrito nas instruções, e o sacerdote irá fazer expiação por ele, pelo pecado que cometeu. Então, a pessoa será perdoada.

¹¹ Mas, se ele não pode comprar duas rolinhas ou dois pombinhos, então deve trazer como sacrifício pelo seu pecado um décimo de um efa de boa farinha por oferta pelo pecado. Ele não deverá colocar azeite ou incenso nela, porque isso é uma oferta pelo pecado.

¹² Ele deve levá-la ao sacerdote, que pegará um punhado dela como oferta memorial, e então a queimará no altar, por cima das ofertas queimadas para Yahweh. Essa é a oferta pelo pecado. ¹³ O sacerdote fará uma expiação por qualquer pecado que a pessoa tenha cometido, e essa pessoa será perdoada. As sobras da oferta pertencerão ao sacerdote, como ofertas de cereais.

¹⁴ Então Yahweh falou a Moisés dizendo: ¹⁵ "Se alguém violar um mandamento e pecar contra as coisas que pertencem a Yahweh, mas o fizer sem intenção, então deve trazer sua oferta pela culpa a Yahweh. Essa oferta deve ser um carneiro sem defeito do rebanho; isso deve ser avaliado em siclos de prata — os siclos do santuário — como uma oferta pela culpa. ¹⁶ Ele deve restituir a Yahweh pelo que fez de errado em relação ao que é santo; deve adicionar uma quinta parte e dá-la ao sacerdote. Então, o sacerdote irá fazer expiação por ele com o cordeiro da oferta pela culpa, e essa pessoa será perdoada.

¹⁷ Se alguém pecar e fizer qualquer coisa que Yahweh ordenou que não seja feito, mesmo que sem consciência, ele ainda assim é culpado, e deve carregar sua própria culpa. ¹⁸ Ele deverá trazer ao sacerdote, como oferta pela culpa, um carneiro sem defeito do rebanho, que será devidamente avaliado. Então, o sacerdote fará expiação por ele relativa ao pecado que cometeu, e mesmo que seja inconsciente, ele será perdoado. ¹⁹ É uma oferta pela culpa, pois certamente é culpado diante de Yahweh.

Capítulo 6

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ² "Se alguém pecar e quebrar um mandamento contra Yahweh, como agir falsamente com seu próximo sobre algo emprestado a ele, ou, se ele trapacear ou roubá-lo, ou extorqui-lo, ³ ou achar algo que ele perdeu e mentir sobre isso, jurando falsamente, ou em qualquer coisa como estas, nas quais as pessoas pecam, ⁴ então, ao vir isso à tona, se ele pecou, e for culpado, que restaure o que quer que tenha roubado ou extorquido, ou foi pego de empréstimo por ele ou algo perdido que ele achou.

⁵ Ou, se ele mentiu sobre qualquer coisa, ele deve restaurar em sua totalidade e deve adicionar um quinto a mais para pagar àquele de quem lhe foi emprestado, no dia em que for declarado culpado. ⁶ Então, ele deve trazer sua oferta pela culpa a Yahweh: um carneiro sem defeito do rebanho, que tenha o mesmo valor, como uma oferta pela culpa, será trazida ao sacerdote. ⁷ O sacerdote fará expiação por ele diante de Yahweh, e ele será perdoado do pecado que o tornará culpado".

⁸ Então, Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ⁹ "Dá ordem a Arão e a seus filhos, dizendo: 'Esta é a lei do holocausto: o holocausto deve estar no coração do altar, por toda a noite até a manhã, e o fogo do altar ficará queimando continuamente.

¹⁰ O sacerdote colocará suas vestes de linho e também colocará seus calções de linho. Ele apanhará as cinzas que restaram depois que o fogo consumiu o holocausto no altar e as colocará ao lado do altar. ¹¹ Ele tirará suas vestes e colocará novas vestimentas, para levar as cinzas para fora do acampamento a um lugar limpo.

¹² O fogo no altar será mantido aceso. Ele não deve ser apagado e o sacerdote queimará lenha sobre o altar toda manhã. Ele colocará a oferta queimada como foi pedido e queimará no altar a gordura das ofertas pacíficas. ¹³ O fogo deve ser mantido aceso no altar continuamente. Não deve ser apagado.

¹⁴ Esta é a lei da oferta de cereais: Os filhos de Arão a oferecerão a Yahweh diante do altar. ¹⁵ O sacerdote tomará um punhado da farinha mais fina da oferta de cereais e do azeite e do incenso que está sobre a oferta de cereais e ele a queimará no altar como memorial de aroma agradável a Yahweh.

¹⁶ Arão e seus filhos comerão o que restar da oferta. Isso deve ser comido sem fermento em um lugar santo. Eles o comerão no pátio da Tenda do Encontro. ¹⁷ Não deve ser assado com fermento. Eu lhes dei como a parte que lhes cabe de Minhas ofertas queimadas. É coisa santíssima, como oferta pelo pecado e como oferta pela culpa. ¹⁸ Por todo o tempo que virá para as gerações do teu povo, todo homem descendente de Arão pode comer isso como sua porção, tomada das ofertas queimadas a Yahweh. Qualquer que as tocar se tornará sant'".

¹⁹ Então, Yahweh falou a Moisés novamente, dizendo: ²⁰ "Esta é a oferta de Arão e de seus filhos, a qual eles oferecerão a Yahweh no dia em que forem ungidos: a décima parte de um efa da farinha mais fina, como uma oferta queimada contínua, metade dela pela manhã e metade à tarde.

²¹ Isso será feito com azeite em uma assadeira. Quando estiver embebido, trarás para dentro. Em pedaços cozidos, tu oferecerás a oferta de cereais como um aroma agradável a Yahweh. ²² O filho do sumo sacerdote que está se tornando o novo sumo sacerdote dentre seus filhos a oferecerá, como mandamento perpétuo, tudo isso deve ser queimado a Yahweh. ²³ Toda oferta queimada do sacerdote será completamente queimada. Não deve ser comida".

²⁴ Yahweh falou a Moisés novamente, dizendo: ²⁵ "Fala a Arão e a seus filhos, dizendo: 'Esta é a lei da oferta pelo pecado: a oferta pelo pecado deve ser sacrificada no lugar onde o holocausto é sacrificado diante de Yahweh; é algo santíssimo. ²⁶ O sacerdote, que a oferece pelo pecado, a comerá. Ela deve ser comida em um lugar santo, no pátio da Tenda do Encontro.

²⁷ Qualquer coisa que tocar a carne da oferta se tornará santa, e, se o sangue for aspergido em alguma roupa, tu deves lavar a parte em que foi aspergido em um lugar santo. ²⁸ Mas o pote de barro em que for cozida deve ser quebrado. Se for cozida em um pote de bronze, este deve ser esfregado e lavado em água limpa.

²⁹ Qualquer homem dentre os sacerdotes poderá comer alguma dessas coisas, pois são santíssimas. ³⁰ Porém nenhuma oferta pelo pecado deve ser comida, cuja parte do sangue é trazida para dentro da tenda do encontro, para fazer expiação no lugar santo. Esta deve ser queimada.

Capítulo 7

¹ Esta é a lei da oferta pela culpa. ² É santíssima. Eles deverão sacrificar o animal oferecido pela culpa no lugar em que sacrificam o holocausto e devem aspergir seu sangue por todos os lados do altar. ³ Toda a gordura contida nela será oferecida: a gordura da cauda, a gordura de suas vísceras, ⁴ os dois rins e a gordura neles, que estão perto dos lombos, e que cobre o fígado, com os rins — tudo isso deve ser tirado.

⁵ O sacerdote deverá queimar essas partes no altar como uma oferta feita pelo fogo a Yahweh. Esta é a oferta pela culpa. ⁶ Todo homem entre os sacerdotes deve comer parte desta oferta. Deve ser comida em um lugar santo, pois é santíssima.

⁷ A oferta pelo pecado é como a oferta pela culpa. A mesma lei se aplica a ambas. Elas pertencem ao sacerdote que fizer expiação com elas. ⁸ O sacerdote, que oferecer o holocausto de alguém, deve ter para si o couro desta oferta.

⁹ Toda oferta de cereais, que for assada em um forno, e toda oferta semelhantemente cozida em uma frigideira ou em uma assadeira pertencerá ao sacerdote qua a oferecer. ¹⁰ Toda oferta de cereais, seja seca ou misturada com azeite, pertencerá igualmente a todos os descendentes de Arão.

¹¹ Esta é a lei do sacrifício da oferta pacífica, a qual o povo oferecerá a Yahweh. ¹² Se alguém a oferecer com o propósito de dar graças, então deve oferecê-la com um sacrifício de bolos feitos sem fermento, mas misturados com azeite, de bolos feitos sem fermento, mas amassados com azeite e de bolos feitos com farinha fina, que é misturada com azeite.

¹³ Também para o propósito de dar graças, ele deve oferecer, com esta oferta pacífica, bolos de pães feitos com fermento. ¹⁴ Ele deve oferecer um de cada tipo desses sacrifícios como uma oferta apresentada a Yahweh. Isso pertencerá ao sacerdote que aspergir o sangue da oferta pacífica no altar.

¹⁵ Quem apresenta uma oferta pacífica com o propósito de dar graças deve comer da carne de sua oferta no dia do sacrifício. Ele não deve deixar nada sobrar até a manhã seguinte. ¹⁶ Mas, se o sacrifício de sua oferta é para o propósito de um voto, ou com o propósito de uma oferta espontânea, a carne deve ser comida no dia que ele a oferecer em sacrifício, mas qualquer coisa que sobrar disso pode ser comida no dia seguinte.

¹⁷ De qualquer modo, qualquer carne do sacrifício, que perdurar ao terceiro dia, deve ser queimada. ¹⁸ Se alguma carne do sacrifício de uma oferta pacífica de alguém for comida ao terceiro dia, ela não será aceita, nem terá valor para quem a ofereceu. Será algo abominável, e a pessoa que a comer carregará a culpa de seu pecado.

¹⁹ Qualquer carne que tocar alguma coisa impura não deve ser consumida. Deve ser queimada. Quanto ao resto da carne, qualquer um que é limpo pode comê-la. ²⁰ Contudo, uma pessoa impura, que comer carne do sacrifício de uma oferta pacífica que pertence a Yahweh, essa pessoa deve ser cortada de seu povo.

²¹ Se alguém tocar algo impuro — tanto impureza de homem, ou impureza de besta, ou alguma coisa impura ou repulsiva, e se ele depois comer da carne do sacrifício da oferta pacífica que pertence a Yahweh, esta pessoa deve ser eliminada de meio do seu povo'".

²² Então Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ²³ "Fala ao povo de Israel e diga: 'Não comais gordura alguma de boi ou de ovelha ou de bode. ²⁴ A gordura do animal que morreu sem ser em um sacrifício, ou a gordura de um animal degolado por animais selvagens, deve ser usada para outros propósitos, mas certamente não devais comê-la.

²⁵ Qualquer pessoa que comer da gordura do animal que pode ser oferecido como oferta queimada a Yahweh deve ser eliminada do meio de seu povo. ²⁶ Não comais nenhum sangue em nehuma de suas casas, quer seja de um pássaro ou de um animal. ²⁷ Qualquer pessoa que comer sangue deve ser eliminada do meio de seu povo'".

²⁸ Então Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ²⁹ "Fala ao povo de Israel e diz: 'Aquele que oferecer uma oferta pacífica a Yahweh deve trazer parte desse sacrifício a Yahweh. ³⁰ A oferta para Yahweh deve ser queimada e trazida com suas próprias mãos. Ele deve trazer a gordura com o peitoral, para que seja uma oferta erguida, apresentada diante de Yahweh.

³¹ O sacerdote deve queimar a gordura no altar, mas o peito deverá pertencer a Arão e a seus descendentes. ³² Vós deveis dar a coxa direita da oferta ao sacerdote como um presente, à parte do sacrifício de suas ofertas pacíficas.

³³ O sacerdote, um dos descendentes de Arão, que oferece o sangue da oferta pacífica e a gordura — ele terá a coxa direita como sua porção da oferta. ³⁴ Pois Eu tenho tomado do povo de Israel o peito e a coxa da oferta apresentada e erguida a Mim, e Eu as dei a Arão, o sumo sacerdote e a seus descendentes; essas serão sempre a porção dos sacrifícios das ofertas pacíficas feitas pelo povo de Israel.

³⁵ Esta é a porção de Arão e seus descendentes das ofertas queimadas a Yahweh, no dia que Moisés os apresentou para servir a Yahweh no ofício de sacerdote. ³⁶ Esta é a porção que Yahweh ordenou que fosse dada do povo de Israel, no dia em que Ele ungiu os sacerdotes. Isso será sempre sua porção por todas as gerações.

³⁷ Esta é a lei do holocausto, da oferta de cereais, da oferta pelo pecado, da oferta pela culpa, da oferta da consagração, e do sacrifício das ofertas pacíficas, ³⁸ sobre as quais Yahweh deu ordens a Moisés no Monte Sinai no dia em que ordenou ao povo de Israel que oferecesse seus sacrifícios a Yahweh no deserto do Sinai'".

Capítulo 8

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ² "Toma Arão e seus filhos, suas vestes e o óleo da unção, o novilho para a oferta de pecado, os dois carneiros e o cesto com os pães não fermentados. ³ Reúne toda a congregação à entrada da Tenda do Encontro".

⁴ Então, Moisés fez como Yahweh ordenou, e a congregação ajuntou-se à entrada da Tenda do Encontro. ⁵ Moisés disse à congregação: "Isto é o que Yahweh ordenou que seja feito".

⁶ Moisés trouxe Arão e seus filhos, e os lavou com água. ⁷ Ele vestiu Arão com a túnica e passou a faixa pela cintura dele, vestiu-o com a capa e pôs sobre ele o manto sacerdotal. Então, ele amarrou o manto sacerdotal com um cinto finamente trançado e atou-o ao corpo dele.

⁸ Ele colocou o peitoral em Arão. Nesse peitoral, posicionou o Urim e o Tumim. ⁹ Ele fixou o turbante em sua cabeça. No turbante, bem à frente, uma lâmina de ouro, a coroa santa, como Yahweh havia ordenado.

¹⁰ Moisés pegou o óleo da unção, ungiu o tabernáculo e tudo o que lá havia e os consagrou a Yahweh. ¹¹ Ele aspergiu o óleo sete vezes no altar e ungiu o altar e todos os utensílios que lá estavam, bem como a bacia e o suporte, para consagrá-los a Yahweh.

¹² Ele derramou um pouco do óleo da unção sobre a cabeça de Arão e o ungiu para consagrá-lo a Yahweh. ¹³ Moisés trouxe os filhos de Arão e os vestiu com túnicas. Ele amarrou faixas em volta das cinturas deles e cobriu suas cabeças com mitras, assim como Yahweh havia mandado.

¹⁴ Moisés trouxe o novilho para oferta pelo pecado, e Arão e seus filhos puseram suas mãos sobre a cabeça do novilho que eles tinham trazido para a oferta pelo pecado. ¹⁵ Ele o matou, pegou seu sangue e o colocou com o dedo nos chifres do altar; purificou o altar, derramou o sangue na base do altar e o consagrou a Deus como forma de expiação dos pecados.

¹⁶ Ele retirou toda a gordura que estava nas vísceras, a que cobria o fígado, e os dois rins e a gordura junto a eles, e Moisés queimou tudo isso no altar. ¹⁷ Mas o novilho, seu couro e sua carne, bem como os excrementos foram queimados, fora do acampamento, exatamente como Yahweh havia determinado.

¹⁸ Moisés apresentou o carneiro para o holocausto, e Arão e seus filhos impuseram suas mãos sobre a cabeça do carneiro. ¹⁹ Ele o matou e aspergiu o sangue em cada lado do altar.

²⁰ Ele cortou o carneiro em pedaços e queimou a cabeça, os pedaços e a gordura. ²¹ Ele lavou as vísceras e as pernas com água e queimou todo o carneiro no altar. Isso foi um holocausto de aroma agradável, oferta queimada a Yahweh, exatamente como Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés.

²² Então Moisés apresentou o outro carneiro, o da consagração, e Arão e seus filhos impuseram suas mãos sobre a cabeça do carneiro. ²³ Arão matou-o, e Moisés recolheu um pouco do sangue e o passou na ponta da orelha direita de Arão, no polegar de sua mão direita e no dedão do seu pé direito. ²⁴ Ele trouxe os filhos de Arão e passou um pouco do sangue na ponta da orelha direita, no polegar da mão direita e no dedão do pé direito. Então, Moisés aspergiu o sangue em cada lado do altar.

²⁵ Ele recolheu a gordura, a cauda gorda, e toda a gordura que estava nas vísceras, a que cobria o fígado, os dois rins e a gordura junto a eles, e a coxa direita. ²⁶ E do cesto dos pães não fermentados, que estava perante Yahweh, ele apanhou um pão não fermentado, um outro feito com óleo e um outro pão fino, e os colocou sobre as gorduras e sobre a coxa direita. ²⁷ Ele depositou tudo nas mãos de Arão e nas mãos de seus filhos e moveu por oferta de movimento perante Yahweh.

²⁸ Então, Moisés tomou tudo das mãos deles e queimou no altar para holocausto. Isso foi uma oferta consagrada, de aroma agradável a Deus. Foi uma oferta queimada para Yahweh. ²⁹ Moisés tomou o peito e o movimentou como oferta movida para Yahweh. Isso foi a parte do carneiro que cabia a Moisés, para ordenação sacerdotal, como Yahweh havia ordenado a ele.

³⁰ Moisés pegou uma parte do óleo da unção e o sangue que estava no altar; aspergiu-o em Arão, em suas roupas, em seus filhos e nas roupas de seus filhos. Dessa forma, ele consagrou Arão e suas roupas, e seus filhos e suas roupas a Yahweh.

³¹ Então, Moisés disse a Arão e a seus filhos: "Cozinhai a carne na entrada da tenda do encontro, e lá comei-a juntamente com o pão que está no cesto da consagração, assim como ordenei, dizendo: 'Arão e seus filhos comerão isso'. ³² E o que restar da carne e do pão vós deveis queimar. ³³ E vós não saireis da entrada da tenda do encontro por sete dias, até que os dias da ordenação sejam cumpridos. Pois Yahweh vos consagrará por sete dias.

³⁴ Isso que foi feito neste dia é o que Yahweh ordenou para ser feito para vossa expiação. ³⁵ Vós permanecereis noite e dia, por sete dias, à entrada da Tenda do Encontro, e guardareis o que Yahweh ordenou, para que não morrais, porque isso é o que tenho ordenado". ³⁶ Então, Arão e seus filhos fizeram todas as coisas que Yahweh lhes havia ordenado por meio de Moisés.

Capítulo 9

¹ No oitavo dia, Moisés chamou Arão, seus filhos e os anciãos de Israel. ² Ele disse a Arão: "Toma um bezerro do rebanho para uma oferta pelo pecado e um carneiro sem defeito para o holocausto, e oferece-os perante Yahweh.

³ Tu deverás falar ao povo de Israel e dizer: 'Tomai um bode para uma oferta pelo pecado, e um bezerro e um cordeiro, ambos de um ano e sem defeito, para holocausto; ⁴ e tomai também um boi e um carneiro para a oferta pacífica, para sacrificar diante de Yahweh, e uma oferta de cereais misturada com azeite. Porque hoje Yahweh aparecerá a vós". ⁵ Então eles trouxeram tudo quanto Moisés ordenou para a tenda da congregação, e toda a comunidade de Israel se aproximou e se postou de pé diante de Yahweh.

⁶ Depois, disse Moisés: "Isso é o que Yahweh vos ordenou para fazer, e então a glória Dele poderá aparecer a vós". ⁷ Moisés disse a Arão: "Vem para perto do altar e oferece tua oferta pelo pecado e o holocausto. Faz expiação para ti mesmo e para o povo, e oferece o sacrifício pelo povo, para fazer expiação por si mesmo, assim como Yahweh ordenou".

⁸ Arão foi para perto do altar e sacrificou o bezerro para a oferta pelo pecado, que era por si mesmo. ⁹ Os filhos de Arão lhe apresentaram o sangue, e, então, ele molhou seu dedo no sangue e o colocou sobre os chifres do altar. Depois, derramou o sangue na base do altar.

¹⁰ Todavia, ele queimou a gordura, os rins e a gordura que cobria o fígado no altar, como uma oferta pelo pecado, assim como Yahweh ordenara a Moisés. ¹¹ E queimou a carne e o couro fora do acampamento.

¹² Arão sacrificou o holocausto, e seus filhos lhe deram o sangue, o qual ele respingou por todos os lados do altar. ¹³ Depois, eles lhe deram o holocausto, pedaço por pedaço, junto com a cabeça, e ele os queimou no altar. ¹⁴ Então, lavou as vísceras e as pernas e as queimou sobre o holocausto no altar.

¹⁵ Arão apresentou o sacrifício pelo povo — um bode — e depois o tomou como um sacrifício pelos seus pecados e o matou; ele o sacrificou pelo pecado, da mesma forma como fez com o primeiro. ¹⁶ Apresentou o holocausto e o ofereceu como Yahweh havia ordenado. ¹⁷ Ele apresentou a oferta de cereais e encheu sua mão com ela e a queimou no altar, juntamente com o holocausto da manhã.

¹⁸ Ele também sacrificou o boi e o carneiro, o sacrifício para oferta pacífica pelo povo. Os filhos de Arão lhe deram o sangue, o qual ele respingou em todos os lados do altar. ¹⁹ Todavia, retiraram a gordura do boi e do carneiro, a cauda gorda, a gordura que cobre as vísceras, os rins e a gordura que cobria o fígado.

²⁰ Eles pegaram as partes que haviam sido retiradas e as colocaram sobre os peitos, e Arão queimou a gordura no altar. ²¹ Arão ergueu os peitos e a coxa direita para o alto como uma oferta diante de Yahweh e a apresentou a Ele, assim como Moisés havia ordenado.

²² Então, Arão levantou suas mãos em direção ao povo, e o abençoou. Depois de oferecer a oferta pelo pecado, o holocausto, e a oferta pacífica, ele desceu. ²³ Moisés e Arão entraram na Tenda do Encontro, e depois saíram de novo e abençoaram o povo, e a glória de Yahweh apareceu para todos eles. ²⁴ Saiu fogo de Yahweh e consumiu o holocausto e a gordura no altar. Quando todo o povo viu isso, eles gritaram e se prostraram, com o rosto no chão.

Capítulo 10

¹ Nadabe e Abiú, filhos de Arão, pegaram cada um o seu incensário, colocaram fogo nele e depois o incenso. Em seguida, ofereceram fogo não permitido diante de Yahweh, o qual Ele não tinha lhes ordenado. ² Por causa disso, saiu fogo de diante de Yahweh e os devorou; e morreram perante Yahweh.

³ Então, Moisés disse a Arão: "Isto é o que o Yahweh estava falando quando disse: 'Eu revelarei Minha santidade àqueles que se aproximam de Mim e serei glorificado diante de todos'". E Arão se calou. ⁴ Moisés chamou a Misael e Elzafã, filhos de Uziel, tio de Arão, e disse-lhes: "Aproximai-vos e trazei vossos irmãos para fora do acampamento, diante do tabernáculo".

⁵ Assim, eles se aproximaram e os levaram, ainda vestidos em suas túnicas sacerdotais, para fora do acampamento, conforme a instrução de Moisés ⁶ que disse a Arão, Eleazar e a Itamar, seus filhos: "Não deixeis que os cabelos de vossas cabeças fiquem bagunçados e nem rasgueis as vossas vestes, para que não morrais e para que Yahweh não se enfureça com toda congregação. Contudo, deixai que vossos familiares, toda a casa de Israel, lamentem pela morte daqueles que foram consumidos pelo fogo de Yahweh. ⁷ Não podereis deixar a porta da Tenda do Encontro, senão morrereis; pois o óleo da unção de Yahweh está sobre vós". Assim eles procederam, de acordo com as instruções de Moisés.

⁸ Yahweh falou a Arão, dizendo: ⁹ "Quando entrardes na Tenda do Encontro, não bebais vinho nem qualquer bebida forte, nem tu, nem teus filhos que ainda estão contigo, para que não morrais. Este será um estatuto permanente por todas as gerações, para que possais ¹⁰ diferenciar o santo e o profano, o puro e o impuro, ¹¹ de forma que possais ensinar ao povo de Israel todos os estatutos que Yahweh ordenou através de Moisés".

¹² Moisés disse a Arão, Eleazar e a Itamar, os filhos que lhe restaram: "Tomai a oferta de cereais que sobraram das ofertas queimadas a Yahweh, comei-a sem fermento, junto ao altar, pois ela é santissíma. ¹³ Vós a comereis em um lugar santo, uma vez que ela é a vossa porção e a de vossos filhos, das ofertas queimadas a Yahweh, porque assim é que me foi ordenado.

¹⁴ O peito da oferta movida e a coxa que são oferecidos a Yahweh, vós deveis comer em local limpo, aceitável diante de Deus. Tu, teus filhos e tuas filhas devereis comer aquelas partes porque elas serão dadas a ti e a teus filhos como porção proveniente dos sacrifícios de ofertas pacíficas do povo de Israel. ¹⁵ A coxa que é oferta apresentada a Yahweh e o peito da oferta movida devem ser trazidos juntamente com as ofertas queimadas de gordura, para serem apresentadas como ofertas movidas a Yahweh. Elas pertencerão a ti e aos teus filhos contigo, como uma herança eterna, assim como determinou Yahweh.

¹⁶ Então, Moisés perguntou sobre o bode para o holocausto e descobriu que ele havia sido queimado. Por isso, ele se enfureceu com Eleazar e Itamar, os filhos remanescentes de Arão. Disse ele: ¹⁷ "Por qual motivo não comestes dentro da área do tabernáculo? Já que ela é santíssima, considerando que Yahweh vos ofereceu isso para remover a iniquidade da congregação e fazer expiação pelo povo diante Dele. ¹⁸ O sangue do sacrifício não foi trazido para dentro do tabernáculo; por esse motivo, vós certamente deveríeis ter comido a oferta dentro do tabernáculo conforme vos ordenei".

¹⁹ Então, Arão respondeu a Moisés. Ele disse: Eis que eles fizeram a oferta pelo pecado deles e seu holocausto diante de Yahweh e isso aconteceu hoje. Se eu tivesse comido a oferta pelo pecado hoje, teria sido isso agradável aos olhos de Yahweh?". ²⁰ Ao ouvir tais palavras, Moisés se deu por satisfeito.

Capítulo 11

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés e a Arão, dizendo: ² "Falai ao povo de Israel, dizendo: 'Estas são as coisas vivas que vós podereis comer entre todos os animais que estão sobre a terra.

³ Vós podereis comer quaisquer animais que possuem casco fendido e também os que ruminam. ⁴ Todavia, alguns animais que ruminam ou possuem casco fendido, vós não devais comer deles. Animais tais como o camelo, porque ele rumina, mas não possui casco fendido. Portanto, o camelo será impuro para vós.

⁵ Também o texugo da rocha, porque rumina e não possui casco fendido, será impuro para vós. ⁶ E o coelho, porque rumina, mas não possui casco fendido, será impuro para vós. ⁷ E o porco, que, embora possua casco fendido, não rumina, então será impuro para vós. ⁸ Vós não devereis comer nenhuma das suas carnes, nem tocar suas carcaças. Elas serão impuras para vós.

⁹ Os animais que vivem na água que podereis comer são todos aqueles que possuem barbatanas e escamas, seja no oceano ou nos rios. ¹⁰ Mas todas as criaturas vivas que não possuem barbatanas e escamas, nos oceanos ou nos rios, incluindo todas as que se movem nas águas e todas as que vivem na água, deverão ser detestadas por vós.

¹¹ Visto que elas deverão ser detestadas, vós não devereis comer suas carnes; também suas carcaças deverão ser detestadas. ¹² Tudo o que não possui barbatanas ou escamas nas águas deverá ser detestado por vós.

¹³ As aves que devereis detestar e que não devereis comer são estas: a águia, o abutre, ¹⁴ a águia marinha, qualquer tipo de falcão, ¹⁵ todo tipo de corvo, ¹⁶ a coruja de chifre e a coruja das torres, a gaivota e qualquer tipo de gavião.

¹⁷ Vós devereis também detestar a coruja pequena e a coruja grande, o cormorão, ¹⁸ a coruja branca a coruja de celeiro, a águia-pescadora, ¹⁹ a cegonha, qualquer tipo de garça, a poupa e também o morcego.

²⁰ Todos os insetos alados que andam sobre quatro patas deverão ser detestados por vós. ²¹ Todavia, vós podereis comer qualquer inseto voador que também andar sobre patas, se ele possuir pernas articuladas para pular sobre o chão. ²² E vós também podereis comer qualquer tipo de locusta, esperança, grilo ou gafanhoto. ²³ Mas todos os insetos voadores que possuem quatro patas deverão ser detestados por vós.

²⁴ Vós vos tornareis impuros, até o anoitecer, por estes animais, se tocardes a carcaça de algum deles. ²⁵ E quem pegar uma de suas carcaças deverá lavar suas roupas e permanecerá impuro até o anoitecer.

²⁶ Todo animal que possui casco fendido que não é completamente dividido ou aquele que não rumina será impuro para vós. Todo aquele que os tocar ficará impuro. ²⁷ Todo o que anda sobre suas patas entre todos os animais que andam sobre as quatro pernas, eles serão impuros para vós. Qualquer que tocar tais carcaças ficará impuro até o anoitecer. ²⁸ E qualquer um que pegar tais carcaças deverá lavar suas roupas e ficará impuro até o anoitecer. Estes animais serão impuros para vós.

²⁹ Dos animais que rastejam pelo chão, estes são os animais que serão impuros para vós: a doninha, o rato, todo tipo de lagarto grande, ³⁰ a lagartixa, o lagarto monitor, o lagarto, o lagarto da areia e o camaleão.

³¹ Dentre todos os animais que rastejam, esses são os que serão impuros para vós. Qualquer um que tocá-los, quando estiverem mortos, ficará impuro até o anoitecer. ³² E, se algum deles morrer e cair sobre alguma coisa, aquela coisa ficará impura; seja feita de madeira, tecido, couro, ou pano de saco. Não importa o que for ou para o que seja usado, deverá ser posto dentro d'água e ficará impuro até o anoitecer. Então, ficará puro. ³³ Para todos os potes de barro, dentro ou sobre os quais algum animal impuro cair, tudo o que estiver dentro do pote ficará impuro e vós devereis destruir esse pote.

³⁴ Todo alimento puro, que se permite comer, mas sobre o qual a água de um pote impuro caiu, ficará impuro. E qualquer bebida de tais potes ficará impura. ³⁵ Tudo em que alguma parte de carcaça de um animal impuro cair, ficará impuro, seja um forno ou pote de cozinhar. Deverão ser quebrados em pedaços. Isso é impuro e deverá ser impuro para vós.

³⁶ Uma fonte ou cisterna onde a água para beber é coletada permanecerá pura se tais criaturas caírem dentro delas; mas se alguém tocar a carcaça de um animal impuro na água, ficará impuro. ³⁷ Se alguma parte de uma carcaça impura cair sobre alguma semente para a plantação, esta semente continuará pura. ³⁸ Mas, se a água for colocada sobre a semente e alguma parte de uma carcaça impura cair sobre ela, então ficará impura para vós.

³⁹ Se algum animal dos quais vós podeis comer vier a morrer, então, aquele que tocar sua carcaça ficará impuro até o anoitecer. ⁴⁰ E qualquer que comer algo daquela carcaça deverá lavar as suas roupas e ficará impuro até o anoitecer. E aquele que carregar a carcaça deverá lavar suas roupas e ficará impuro até o anoitecer.

⁴¹ Todo animal que rasteja sobre o solo deve ser detestado; não deverá ser comido. ⁴² Tudo que rasteja sobre o ventre, e tudo que anda sobre as quatro patas, ou tudo que possui muitas patas — todos os animais que rastejam sobre o solo — vós não devereis comer, pois eles deverão ser detestados.

⁴³ Vós não devereis tornar-vos impuros com nenhuma criatura viva que rasteja. Vós não devereis tornar-vos impuros com elas, pois elas podem tornar-vos impuros. ⁴⁴ Pois Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus. Vós deveis vos manter santos. Portanto, sede santos porque Eu sou Santo. Vós não devereis vos contaminar com nenhum tipo de animal que se move sobre o solo. ⁴⁵ Pois Eu sou Yahweh, que vos tirou da terra do Egito, para ser vosso Deus. Portanto, vós devereis ser santos, pois Eu sou Santo.

⁴⁶ Esta é a lei a respeito dos animais, das aves e de toda criatura viva que se move nas águas e toda criatura que rasteja sobre o solo, ⁴⁷ para as quais uma distinção é feita entre pura e impura. E entre os seres vivos que podem ser comidos e os seres vivos que não podem ser comidos.

Capítulo 12

¹ Yahweh disse a Moisés: ² "Fala ao povo de Israel, dizendo: 'Se uma mulher conceber e der a luz a um filho, ela estará impura por sete dias; da mesma forma que ela estará impura durante os sete dias do seu ciclo menstrual. ³ Ao oitavo dia, a carne do prepúcio do menino deve ser circuncidada.

⁴ Então o período de purificação da mãe por causa do seu sangramento, continuará por trinta e três dias. Ela não poderá tocar em nada que for santo ou adentrar a área do tabernáculo, até que finde os dias de sua purificação. ⁵ Mas se ela der a luz a uma filha, então, ela estará impura por duas semanas, como ela fica durante seu período. Assim, a purificação da mãe continuará por sessenta e seis dias.

⁶ Quando os dias de sua purificação terminarem, por um filho ou por uma filha. Ela deve trazer um cordeiro de um ano, como holocausto e um pombinho ou uma pomba, como oferta de pecado ao sacerdote na entrada da Tenda da Congregação.

⁷ Então ele o oferecerá diante de Yahweh e fará a expiação por ela, que ficará purificada do fluxo de seu sangue. Esta é a lei, sobre uma mulher que dá a luz a um filho ou uma filha. ⁸ Se ela não puder oferecer um cordeiro, então ela deverá levar duas pombas ou dois pombinhos. Um, como holocausto e o outro como oferta de pecado e o sacerdote fará expiação por ela; assim ela será limpa.' "

Capítulo 13

¹ Yahweh falou para Moisés e para Arão, dizendo: ² "Quando alguém tiver sobre a pele de seu corpo um inchaço, ou crosta de ferida, ou mancha brilhante e isto se tornar infecionado, então essa pessoa deve ser levada a Arão, o Sumo Sacerdote, ou a um de seus filhos, os sacerdotes.

³ Então o sacerdote examinará a enfermidade na pele de seu corpo. Se os pelos no local enfermo tiverem ficado esbranquiçados, e a área atingida for mais funda do que a pele, então trata-se de doença infecciosa. Depois do sacerdote examinar, ele o declarará impuro. ⁴ Mas se a mancha brilhante na sua pele estiver esbranquiçada e a área atingida não for mais funda que a pele e os pelos na região enferma não tiverem ficado esbranquiçados, então o sacerdote deve isolar o enfermo por sete dias.

⁵ No sétimo dia, o sacerdote deve examiná-lo para averiguar, se na sua opinião, a enfermidade não piorou e não se espalhou pela pele. Se não tiver se espalhado, então o sacerdote deverá isolá-lo por mais sete dias. ⁶ No sétimo dia, o sacerdote o examinará novamente para averiguar, se a área enferma está melhor e a enfermidade não se alastrou pela pele. Se não tiver se espalhado mais, então o sacerdote o declarará puro. É uma erupção na pele; ele deverá lavar as suas roupas e ficará limpo.

⁷ Mas, se a erupção na pele tiver se espalhado depois que ele tiver se apresentado ao sacerdote para a purificação, então ele deve apresentar-se ao sacerdote novamente. ⁸ O sacerdote o examinará para averiguar se a erupção se espalhou pela pele. Se tiver se espalhado, então o sacerdote deverá declará-lo como impuro. Trata-se de doença infecciosa.

⁹ Quando alguém estiver com doença infecciosa, então ele precisará ser levado ao sacerdote. ¹⁰ O sacerdote o examinará para averiguar se existe um inchaço esbranquiçado sobre a pele, cujos pelos da região se tornaram brancos, ou se houver uma ferida em carne viva sobre o inchaço, ¹¹ então, trata-se de doença contagiosa crônica e o sacerdote deve declará-lo como impuro. E não o isolará, porque já está impuro.

¹² Se a doença contagiosa se alastrar vastamente e cobrir toda a pele da pessoa infectada, da cabeça aos pés, até onde é possível o sacerdote examinar; ¹³ então, o sacerdote deve examiná-la para averiguar se a enfermidade cobriu todo o seu corpo. Se tiver coberto, então o sacerdote deve declará-la como alguém que teve a efermidade purificada. Se tudo se tornou branco, então tal pessoa está pura. ¹⁴ Mas se feridas em carne viva aparacerem sobre ela, estará impura.

¹⁵ O sacerdote examinará a ferida em carne viva e deve declará-lo como impura, porque a ferida em carne viva é impura. Trata-se de uma doença infecciosa. ¹⁶ Mas se a ferida em carne viva ficar novamente branca, então a pessoa deverá ir ao sacerdote. ¹⁷ O sacerdote examinará para averiguar se a carne ficou esbranquiçada. Se tiver ficado, então, o sacerdote vai anunciar que a pessoa está pura.

¹⁸ Quando uma pessoa tiver uma ferida com pus sobre a pele que já está curada ¹⁹ e se no lugar dessa ferida com pus, houver um inchaço esbranquiçado ou uma mancha clara de cor branco-avermelhada, então, esta deve ser mostrada ao sacerdote. ²⁰ O sacerdote a examinará para averiguar se a mesma aparenta estar mais funda sob a pele e se os pelos na região ficaram brancos. Se sim, o sacerdote então declarará essa pessoa como impura. Trata-se de uma doença infecciosa, caso esta tenha se desenvolvido no lugar em que estava a ferida com pus.

²¹ Mas se o sacerdote averiguar e notar que não há pelos brancos na região ferida, e que não está mais funda que a pele, mas que já clareou, então, o sacerdote precisa isolar a pessoa por sete dias. ²² Se a enfermidade se espalhar completamente pela pele, então o sacerdote deve declarar a pessoa como impura. Trata-se de uma doença contagiosa. ²³ Mas se a mancha clara permanecer no mesmo lugar e não se espalhar, então é uma cicatriz da ferida com pus e o sacerdote deve declarar a pessoa como pura.

²⁴ Quando a pele tiver uma queimadura e quando a carne viva da queimadura se transformar em uma mancha branco-avermelhada ou uma mancha esbranquiçada, ²⁵ então o sacerdote a examinará para averiguar se os pelos clarearam e se a mancha está mais profunda que a pele. Se sim, trata-se de uma doença infecciosa que surgiu sobre a queimadura, e o sacerdote precisa declarar a pessoa como impura. Trata-se de uma doença infecciosa.

²⁶ Mas se o sacerdote examiná-la e não encontrar pelos brancos na mancha e ela não estiver mais funda que a pele, porém já tenha desaparecido, então o sacerdote deverá isolar a pessoa por sete dias. ²⁷ Então o sacerdote deve examinar a pessoa no sétimo dia. Se a enfermidade tiver se espalhado completamente sobre a pele, então o sacerdote deverá declarar a pessoa como impura. Trata-se de uma doença contagiosa. ²⁸ Se a mancha permanecer no mesmo lugar e não estiver espalhado sobre pele, mas clareado, então é um inchaço da queimadura e o sacerdote deve declarar a pessoa como pura, pois não é nada mais que uma cicatriz da queimadura.

²⁹ Se um homem ou mulher tem ferida na cabeça ou queixo, ³⁰ então o sacerdote examinará a pessoa à procura de uma doença infecciosa, para ver se esta aparenta estar mais funda do que a pele e para ver se há pelos amarelos e finos nela. Se houver, então o sacerdote deve declarar a pessoa como impura. É uma doença chamada "sarna", trata-se de um tipo de doença infecciosa na cabeça ou queixo.

³¹ Se o sacerdote examinar a ferida e notar que esta não está mais funda que a pele e se não há pelos pretos nela, então o sacerdote isolará a pessoa com a doença infecciosa por sete dias.

³² Ao sétimo dia, o sacerdote examinará a doença para ver se esta se espalhou. Se não houver pelos amarelos e se a doença não aparentar estar profunda na pele, ³³ então a pessoa deve ser raspada, mas a área infectada não pode ser raspada, e o sacerdote precisa isolar a pessoa com a doença contagiosa por mais sete dias.

³⁴ Ao sétimo dia, o sacerdote examinará a doença para averiguar se esta parou de se espalhar pela pele. Caso aparente não estar mais profunda do que a pele, então o sacerdote deve declarar a pessoa como pura. Tal pessoa deverá lavar suas próprias roupas e então estará pura.

³⁵ Mas se a doença contagiosa tiver se espalhado completamente pela pele depois de o sacerdote declarar a pessoa como pura, ³⁶ então, o sacerdote deve examiná-la novamente. Se a doença tiver se espalhado pela pele, o sacerdote não precisa procurar por pelos amarelos. A pessoa está impura. ³⁷ Mas, se à vista do sacerdote, a doença contagiosa tiver parado de se espalhar e tiver crescido cabelo preto na área que havia sido infectada, então a doença foi sarada. A pessoa está limpa, e o sacerdote deve declará-la como pura.

³⁸ Se um homem ou uma mulher tiver manchas brancas sobre a pele, ³⁹ então o sacerdote deve examinar a pessoa para averiguar se as manchas estão esbranquiçadas, ou seja, é somente uma coceira que se desenvolveu sobre a pele. A pessoa está pura.

⁴⁰ Se o cabelo de um homem caiu de sua cabeça, ele está calvo, mas, está puro. ⁴¹ E se seu cabelo caiu da frente de sua cabeça e se sua fronte estiver calva, ele está puro.

⁴² Mas se houver uma ferida em sua cabeça ou fronte calva, essa é uma doença infecciosa que irrompeu sobre a pele. ⁴³ Então o sacerdote deve examinar a pessoa para averiguar se o inchaço da área infectada em sua cabeça ou fronte calva está branco-avermelhada tal como a aparência de uma doença contagiosa sobre a pele. ⁴⁴ Se está assim, então a pessoa está com uma doença contagiosa e está impura. O sacerdote deve declará-lo como impuro por causa da doença em sua cabeça.

⁴⁵ A pessoa que tem uma doença infecciosa deve vestir roupas rasgadas, seus cabelos precisam estar livremente soltos e deve cobrir seu rosto até o nariz e gritar: "Impuro! Impuro!". ⁴⁶ Todos os dias que estiver com a doença infecciosa, essa pessoa estará impura. Porque está impura com uma enfermidade que pode se espalhar, essa pessoa deve viver sozinha. Deve viver fora do acampamento.

⁴⁷ Uma peça de roupa, seja de lã ou de linho, que estiver infectada com mofo, ⁴⁸ ou qualquer peça tecida ou tricotada com lã, ou linho, ou couro, ou qualquer artefato feito com couro - ⁴⁹ se houver uma contaminação esverdeada ou avermelhada, no couro, na lã, ou no material tricotado, ou em qualquer artefato feito com couro, então é mofo que se espalha; deve ser apresentado ao sacerdote.

⁵⁰ O sacerdote examinará a peça à procura de mofo; ele deve isolar qualquer peça em que há mofo por sete dias. ⁵¹ Ao sétimo dia, ele examinará o mofo novamente. Se este tiver se espalhado pela vestimenta ou qualquer peça tecida ou tricotada com lã, ou linho, ou couro, ou qualquer artefato em que é utilizado couro, então é um mofo prejudicial, e a peça está impura. ⁵² O sacerdote deve queimar a vestimenta ou qualquer peça tecida ou tricotada com lã, ou linho, ou couro, ou feita com couro, onde o mofo prejudicial for encontrado, porque este pode levar à enfermidade. A peça deve ser completamente queimada.

⁵³ Se o sacerdote examinar a peça e notar que o mofo não se espalhou na vestimenta ou no material tecido ou tricotado com lã ou linho, ou em peças de vestuário de couro, ⁵⁴ então ele ordenará que sejam lavadas essas peças nas quais o mofo foi encontrado e ele deve isolá-las por mais sete dias. ⁵⁵ Então o sacerdote examinará a peça depois que a peça contaminada com mofo foi lavada. Se o mofo não mudou de cor, mesmo que não tenha se espalhado, a peça está impura. Queimarás a peça, não importa onde o mofo a tenha contaminado.

⁵⁶ Se o sacerdote examinar a peça e se o mofo tiver diminuido depois que esta foi lavada, então ele cortará a parte contaminada da vestimenta, ou do couro, ou da peça tecida com lã, ou tricotada com linho. ⁵⁷ Se o mofo ainda aparecer na vestimenta, quer seja naquela tecida com lã ou tricotada com linho, quer seja naquela feita de couro, ele está se espalhando. Queimarás qualquer peça em que houver o mofo. ⁵⁸ A vestimenta ou qualquer peça tecida com linho ou tricotada com lã, ou feita de couro ou qualquer uma feita com couro, se a lavardes e o mofo desaparecer, então a peça precisa ser lavada uma segunda vez e então estará pura.

⁵⁹ Esta é a lei sobre mofo em uma vestimenta de lã ou linho, ou qualquer outra peça tecida com linho, ou tricotada com lã, ou feita de couro, ou qualquer uma feita com couro, para que vós possais anunciá-la como pura ou impura.

Capítulo 14

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés dizendo: ² "Esta será a lei para pessoa impura, no dia de sua purificação. Ela deverá apresentar-se ao sacerdote.

³ O sacerdote sairá do acampamento para examinar a pessoa e verificar se a infecção da pele está curada. ⁴ Então o sacerdote ordenará que a pessoa a ser purificada traga duas aves limpas e vivas, madeira de cedro, carmesim e hissopo. ⁵ O sacerdote lhe ordenará que mate uma das aves sobre a água fresca que estará num pote de barro.

⁶ O sacerdote trará a ave viva, e a madeira de cedro, e o carmesim, e o hissopo e mergulhará todas essas coisas, incluindo a ave viva, no sangue da ave que foi morta sobre a água fresca. ⁷ Então o sacerdote espargirá essa água sete vezes sobre a pessoa que será limpa da infecção e em seguida o declarará puro. Depois disso, o sacerdote libertará a ave viva no campo aberto.

⁸ A pessoa a ser purificada lavará as suas roupas, raspará todo o seu cabelo, lavar-se-á em água e então estará pura. Depois disso, essa pessoa entrará no acampamento, mas viverá fora de sua tenda por sete dias. ⁹ No sétimo dia, raspará todo o cabelo de sua cabeça e também deverá raspar sua barba e sobrancelhas. Deverá raspar todo o seu cabelo, lavar suas roupas e lavar-se em água; então estará limpa.

¹⁰ No oitava dia, deverá pegar dois cordeiros sem defeito, uma ovelha de um ano sem defeito, três décimos de efa de fina farinha misturada com óleo como oferta queimada e uma medida de óleo. ¹¹ O sacerdote que faz a purificação levantará a pessoa que será purificada, juntamente com todas essas coisas, perante Yahweh, na entrada da tenda do encontro.

¹² O sacerdote pegará um dos cordeiros e o oferecerá como oferta pela culpa, juntamente com uma medida de óleo; ele os levantará como oferta perante Yahweh e os apresentará a Ele. ¹³ Ele deverá matar o cordeiro no lugar onde foram mortas as ofertas pelo pecado e os holocaustos, na área do tabernáculo, pois a oferta pelo pecado pertence ao sacerdote, assim como a oferta pela culpa, pois são santíssimas.

¹⁴ O sacerdote pegará parte do sangue da oferta de culpa e a colocará na ponta da orelha direita da pessoa que será purificada, no polegar de sua mão direita e no polegar de seu pé direito. ¹⁵ Então o sacerdote pegará óleo e colocará na palma da sua própria mão esquerda, ¹⁶ mergulhará seu dedo direito no óleo que está na sua mão esquerda e espargirá o óleo do seu dedo sete vezes perante Yahweh.

¹⁷ O sacerdote colocará o restante do óleo que está em sua mão na ponta da orelha direita da pessoa que será purificada, no polegar de sua mão direita e no polegar do seu pé direito. Ele deverá colocar o óleo em cima do sangue da oferta de culpa. ¹⁸ E o restante do óleo que estiver na mão do sacerdote ele colocará sobre a cabeça da pessoa que será purificada, e o sacerdote fará expiação por ele perante Yahweh.

¹⁹ Depois o sacerdote oferecerá oferta pelo pecado e fará expiação por aquele que será purificado por causa de sua impureza e depois ele oferecerá a oferta queimada. ²⁰ Então o sacerdote oferecerá o holocausto e a oferta queimada no altar. O sacerdote fará expiação pela pessoa, e então ela ficará pura.

²¹ Porém se a pessoa for pobre e não puder pagar por esses sacrificios, então ela pegará um cordeiro como oferta de culpa a ser levantada e apresentada a Yahweh como expiação por ela e um décimo de efa de fina farinha misturada ao óleo como oferta queimada e porção de óleo, ²² juntamente com duas rolas e duas pombinhas, tal como for capaz de oferecer; um pássaro será oferta pelo pecado e o outro será holocausto. ²³ No oitavo dia, deverá trazê-los ao sacerdote para sua purificação, na entrada da tenda do encontro, perante Yahweh.

²⁴ Então o sacerdote pegará o cordeiro para a oferta de culpa e a porção de óleo e os levantará como oferta a Yahweh e os apresentará a Ele. ²⁵ Ele matará o cordeiro para a oferta de culpa e pegará parte do sangue da oferta de culpa e a colocará na ponta da orelha direita daquele que será purificado, no polegar de sua mão direita e no polegar de seu pé direito.

²⁶ Então o sacerdote derramará parte do óleo na palma da sua própria mão esquerda ²⁷ e espargirá com seu dedo direito parte do óleo que está em sua mão esquerda sete vezes perante Yahweh.

²⁸ Então, o sacerdote porá parte do óleo que está em sua mão na ponta da orelha direita daquele que será purificado, no dedo polegar da sua mão direita, e no dedo polegar do seu pé direito, os mesmo lugares onde ele colocou o sangue da oferta de culpa. ²⁹ Ele colocará o restante do óleo que está em sua mão sobre a cabeça daquele que será purificado, para fazer expiação por ele perante Yahweh.

³⁰ Ele deverá oferecer uma das rolas ou pombinhas, conforme a pessoa tiver sido capaz de adquirir -- ³¹ uma como oferta pelo pecado e a outra como holocausto, juntamente com a oferta queimada. Então o sacerdote fará expiação por aquele que será purificado perante Yahweh. ³² Esta é a lei para a pessoa com infecção de pele, que não for capaz de adquirir a oferta para sua purificação".

³³ Yahweh falou a Moisés e a Arão dizendo: ³⁴ "Quando tiveres entrado na terra de Canaã, a qual te dei por possessão, e se eu colocar lepra que se espalhe na casa, na terra de sua possessão, ³⁵ então o dono da casa deverá vir e falar ao sacerdote. Ele deverá dizer: 'Parece-me que há algo como lepra em minha casa'.

³⁶ Então o sacerdote ordenará que eles esvaziem a casa antes de entrar e ver a evidencia de lepra, para que nada dentro da casa se torne impuro. Depois disso, o sacerdote deverá entrar para ver a casa. ³⁷ Ele deverá examinar a lepra e confirmar se ela está nas paredes da casa, e confirmará se sua aparência é esverdeada ou avermelhada nas depressões de superficie das paredes. ³⁸ Se a casa tiver lepra, então o sacerdote sairá e fechará a porta da casa por sete dias.

³⁹ Então o sacerdote retornará no sétimo dia e examinará para confirmar se a lepra se espalhou pelas paredes da casa. ⁴⁰ Se tiver se alastrado, então o sacerdote ordenará que se retirem as pedras onde a lepra tiver sido encontrada e as lançará em um lugar impuro fora da cidade.

⁴¹ Ele requererá que todas as paredes de dentro da casa sejam raspadas, e eles deverão pegar o material contaminado que foi raspado e lançar fora da cidade, em um lugar impuro. ⁴² Eles deverão pegar outras pedras e colocá-las no lugar das pedras removidas e deverão usar um barro novo para rebocar a casa.

⁴³ Se a lepra retornar e aparecer na casa da qual as pedras tiverem sido retiradas e as paredes tiverem sido raspadas e rebocadas, ⁴⁴ então o sacerdote virá e examinará a casa para confirmar se a lepra se espalhou por ela. Se houver, então é lepra nociva, e a casa está impura.

⁴⁵ A casa deverá ser derrubada. As pedras, madeiras, e todo o reboco da casa deverá se retirado para fora da cidade, para um lugar impuro. ⁴⁶ Assim também, qualquer um que entrar na casa durante o período em que estiver fechada estará impuro até o enterdecer. ⁴⁷ Aquele que houver dormido na casa deverá lavar suas roupas, e aquele que houver se alimentado dentro da casa deverá lavar suas roupas.

⁴⁸ Se o sacerdote entrar na casa para examiná-la e checar se a lepra se espalhou pela casa, depois de ela ter sido rebocada, e então, se a lepra não tiver retornado, ele a declarará como casa limpa.

⁴⁹ Então o sacerdote deverá pegar duas aves para purificar a casa, e madeira de cedro, e carmesim, e hissopo. ⁵⁰ Ele matará uma das aves sobre água fresca em um jarro de barro. ⁵¹ Ele pegará a madeira de cedro, o hissopo, o carmesim e a ave viva e os mergulhará no sangue da ave morta, dentro da água fresca, e espargirá sobre a casa sete vezes.

⁵² Ele limpará a casa com o sangue da ave e com a água fresca, com a ave viva, a madeira de cedro, o hissopo e o carmesim. ⁵³ Mas ele libertará a ave viva fora da cidade, nos campos abertos. Assim, ele fará expiação pela casa, e ela estará pura.

⁵⁴ Esta é a lei para todos os tipos de infecção de pele que provoquem infecção e coceira ⁵⁵ e para lepra na roupa e na casa, ⁵⁶ para inchaço, para erupção cutânea e para mancha clara, ⁵⁷ que determinará quando qualquer desses casos for impuro ou quando for puro. Esta é a lei para infecções de pele e lepra".

Capítulo 15

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés e a Arão, dizendo: ² "Falai ao povo de Israel, dizei a eles: 'Quando algum homem tiver um fluxo imundo que saia do seu corpo, tornar-se-á impuro. ³ Sua impureza é devida ao fluxo imundo. Se seu corpo flui ou para de fluir, está imundo.

⁴ Toda cama na qual ele deitar ficará impura, tudo no qual ele sentar ficará impuro. ⁵ Qualquer um que tocar na sua cama deverá lavar suas roupas e banhar-se na água e ficará impuro até o entardecer.

⁶ Alguém que sentar em algum lugar no qual o homem com fluxo imundo sentou, aquela pessoa deverá lavar suas roupas e banhar-se na água, ele ficará impuro até o entardecer. ⁷ E qualquer que tocar o corpo de alguém que tem um fluido de fluxo imundo deverá lavar suas roupas e banhar-se na água, e ficará impuro até o entardecer.

⁸ Se a pessoa que tem tal fluxo imundo cuspir em alguém que está limpo, então aquela pessoa deverá lavar suas roupas e banhar-se na água, e ficará impura até o entardecer. ⁹ Qualquer que sentar onde aquele que tem fluxo cavalgar ficará impuro.

¹⁰ Quem tocar em qualquer coisa que estiver embaixo daquela pessoa ficará impuro até o entardecer, e alguém que carregar aquelas coisas deverá lavar suas roupas e banhar-se na água; ele ficará impuro até o entardecer. ¹¹ Toda pessoa em quem aquele que tiver tal fluxo tocar, sem ter antes lavado suas mãos na água, deverá lavar suas roupas e banhar-se na água e ficará impura até o entardecer. ¹² Qualquer vaso de barro que alguém com tal fluxo imundo tocar deverá ser quebrado, e todo contêiner de madeira deverá ser lavado na água.

¹³ Quando aquele que tiver um fluxo for limpo do seu próprio fluxo, então ele deverá contar sete dias para a sua purificação; então ele deverá lavar suas roupas e banhar seu corpo em água corrente. Então ficará limpo. ¹⁴ No oitavo dia ele deverá tomar duas pombas ou duas rolinhas e virá diante de Yahweh na entrada da tenda do encontro; nesse lugar ele deverá dar os pássaros ao sacerdote. ¹⁵ O sacerdote deverá oferecê-los, um como oferta pelo pecado e o outro como um holocausto, e o sacerdote deverá fazer expiação por ele diante de Yahweh por seu fluxo.

¹⁶ Se qualquer sêmen de homem sair de si espontaneamente, então ele deverá banhar todo seu corpo em água; ele ficará impuro até o entardecer. ¹⁷ Toda peça de roupa ou de couro na qual houver sêmen deverá ser lavada com água; ficará impura até o entardecer. ¹⁸ E se uma mulher e um homem dormirem juntos e houver uma transferência de sêmen para ela, ambos deverão banhar-se na água; ficarão impuros até o entardecer.

¹⁹ Quando uma mulher menstruar, sua impureza será contínua por sete dias, e qualquer que tocar nela ficará impuro até o entardecer. ²⁰ Todo lugar em que ela se deitar durante seu período menstrual ficará imundo; todo lugar em que ela se sentar ficará também imundo.

²¹ Qualquer que tocar na cama dela deverá lavar suas roupas e banhar-se na água; aquela pessoa ficará impura até o entardecer. ²² Quem tocar em quaquer lugar em que ela sentar deverá lavar suas roupas e banhar-se na água; aquela pessoa ficará impura até o entardecer. ²³ Na cama ou em algum lugar no qual ela sentar, se alguém tocar, aquela pessoa ficará impura até o entardecer.

²⁴ Se algum homem dormir com ela e se o fluxo impuro dela tocar nele, ele ficará impuro por sete dias. Toda cama na qual ele deitar ficará impura.

²⁵ Se uma mulher tiver um fluxo de sangue por muitos dias e aquele não for o tempo da sua menstruação ou se ela tiver um fluxo além do tempo da sua menstruação, durante todos os dias do fluxo de sua impureza, ela ficará como se estivesse nos dias do seu período. Está imunda. ²⁶ Toda cama na qual ela deitar durante o seu fluxo de sangue será para ela assim como a cama na qual ela deitar durante sua menstruação, e todo lugar no qual ela sentar ficará impuro, assim como a impureza da sua menstruação. ²⁷ E quem tocar em alguma daquelas coisas ficará impuro; deverá lavar suas roupas e banhar-se na água, contudo ficará impuro até o entardecer.

²⁸ Mas se ela estiver limpa do seu fluxo de sangue, então ela contará por si mesma sete dias e depois ela ficará limpa. ²⁹ No oitavo dia ela tomará para si duas pombas ou duas rolinhas e as levará ao sacerdote na entrada da tenda do encontro. ³⁰ O sacerdote oferecerá um pássaro como uma oferta pelo pecado e o outro em holocausto e fará expiação por ela diante de Yahweh para que fique limpa do fluxo de sangue.

³¹ Assim é que devereis separar o povo de Israel de suas impurezas, então eles não morrerão devido às suas impurezas, por contaminarem Meu tabernáculo, onde Eu vivo entre eles.

³² Esses são os regulamentos para todos que tiverem fluxo imundo, para qualquer homem de quem o sêmen for expelido e o fizer imundo. ³³ Para qualquer mulher que tiver um período menstrual, para qualquer pessoa com fluxo imundo, seja homem ou mulher, e por qualquer homem que dormir com uma mulher impura'".

Capítulo 16

¹ Yahweh falou com Moisés, isto depois da morte dos dois filhos de Arão, quando eles se aproximaram de Yahweh e morreram. ² Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Dize a Arão, teu irmão, que não entre a qualquer momento no santíssimo lugar além do véu, diante do propiciatório que está sobre a arca. Se ele entrar, ele morrerá, porque Eu apareceço na nuvem sobre o propiciatório.

³ Então será assim que Arão deverá entrar no lugar santíssimo: com um novilho, como oferta pelo pecado, e um carneiro, como holocausto. ⁴ Deverá vestir-se com a túnica de linho sagrada e com as roupas de baixo que são calções de linho, deverá usar cinto de linho e turbante de linho sobre a cabeça. Estas são as vestes sagradas. Ele deverá banhar-se em água e vestir-se com essas roupas. ⁵ Tomará da congregação de Israel dois bodes, como oferta pelo pecado, e um carneiro para holocausto.

⁶ Então Arão deverá apresentar o novilho como sua oferta pelo pecado, para fazer expiação por si mesmo e por sua família. ⁷ Então ele deverá tomar dois bodes e apresentá-los perante Yahweh na entrada da tenda do encontro.

⁸ Então Arão deverá lançar sorte sobre os dois bodes, uma por Yahweh e outra pelo bode expiatório. ⁹ Arão deverá apresentar o bode sobre o qual cair a sorte para Yahweh e sacrificá-lo como oferta pelo pecado. ¹⁰ Mas o bode sobre o qual a sorte cair como bode expiatório deverá ser levado vivo diante de Yahweh, para fazer a expiação enviando-o como o bode expiatório para o deserto.

¹¹ Então Arão deverá apresentar o novilho como sua oferta pelo pecado. Ele deve fazer expiação por si mesmo e por sua família, então matará o novilho como sua oferta pelo pecado.

¹² Arão tomará um incensário cheio de brasas de fogo tiradas do altar diante de Yahweh, com suas mãos cheias de incenso agradável bem moído, e trará para além do véu. ¹³ Ali ele colocará o incenso no fogo diante de Yahweh, para que a nuvem do incenso cubra o propiciatório sobre a arca do Testemunho, a fim de que não morra.

¹⁴ Então ele pegará um pouco de sangue do novilho e aspergirá com o seu dedo sobre a frente do propiciatório. Ele aspergirá um pouco de sangue com o seu dedo sete vezes diante do propiciatório.

¹⁵ Então ele matará o bode que for oferecido pelo pecado do povo e trará para além do véu. Ali ele fará com o sangue como fez com o sangue do novilho: aspergirá sobre o propiciatório na parte da frente. ¹⁶ Ele fará expiação pelo santo lugar por causa das ações impuras do povo de Israel, pela sua rebelião e todos os seus pecados. Ele também fará isso pela tenda do encontro, onde Yahweh habita entre eles, na presença de suas ações impuras.

¹⁷ Ninguém mais deverá estar na tenda do encontro quando Arão entrar para fazer a expiação no santíssimo lugar, e até ele sair e tiver terminado de fazer a expiação por si mesmo, por sua família e por toda a congregação de Israel. ¹⁸ Ele sairá ao altar que está diante de Yahweh e fará expiação pelo altar e deverá pegar um pouco de sangue do novilho, e um pouco do sangue de bode, e colocará sobre chifres em volta do altar. ¹⁹ Com o seu dedo aspergirá um pouco de sangue sete vezes sobre o altar, para purificá-lo das ações impuras do povo de Israel.

²⁰ Quando tiver terminado a expiação pelo santíssimo lugar, pela tenda do encontro e pelo altar, ele deverá apresentar o bode vivo. ²¹ Arão colocará as duas mãos sobre a cabeça do bode vivo e confessará sobre ele todas as fraquezas do povo de Israel, sua rebelião e todos os seus pecados. Então ele colocará sobre a cabeça do bode todos os pecados e mandará o bode embora aos cuidados de um homem que estiver pronto para conduzir o bode para o deserto. ²² O bode levará sobre si todas as fraquezas do povo para um lugar solitário. Lá no deserto, o homem deixará o bode ir livremente.

²³ Então Arão voltará à tenda do encontro, tirará as vestes de linho que ele havia colocado antes de entrar no santíssimo lugar e as deixará ali. ²⁴ Ele deverá banhar-se em água em um lugar sagrado e colocar suas próprias roupas; então ele deverá sair e oferecer seu holocausto e o holocausto pelo povo, e desta maneira, fazer expiação por si mesmo e pelo povo.

²⁵ Ele deverá queimar no altar a gordura da oferta pelo pecado. ²⁶ O homem que soltar o bode expiatório deverá lavar suas roupas e banhar-se em água; depois disso, poderá voltar ao acampamento.

²⁷ O novilho e o bode da oferta pelo pecado, cujo sangue foi trazido para fazer a expiação no santo lugar, irão ser levados para fora do acampamento. Serão queimados o couro, a carne e o excremento. ²⁸ O homem que queimar essas partes deverá lavar as suas roupas e banhar-se em água; depois disso, ele poderá voltar ao acampamento.

²⁹ Isto será um estatuto perpétuo para vós: no sétimo mês, no décimo dia do mês, devereis humilhar-vos e não trabalhareis, tanto o nativo quanto o estrangeiro que vive entre vós. ³⁰ Porque nesse dia a expiação será feita por vós, para vos purificar de todo pecado, então vós sereis limpos diante de Yahweh. Esse será um Sábado solene de descanso para vós, e devereis humilhar-vos e não trabalhareis. ³¹ Este será um estatuto para sempre entre vós.

³² O sumo sacerdote que for ungido e ordenado para ser o sumo sacerdote no lugar de seu pai, fará expiação e colocará as vestes de linho, que são vestes santas. ³³ Ele fará a expiação para o santíssimo lugar, para a tenda do encontro e para o altar, e fará expiação pelo sacerdote e por toda a congregação.

³⁴ Isto será um estatuto perpétuo para vós: para fazer expiação uma vez por ano pelo povo de Israel, por causa de todos os seus pecados." E isso foi feito como Yahweh ordenou a Moisés.

Capítulo 17

¹ Yahweh falou com Moisés, dizendo: ² "Fala a Arão, seus filhos e a todo o povo de Israel. Dize o que Yahweh tem lhes ordenado: ³ 'qualquer homem de Israel que matar um boi, um cordeiro ou um bode no arraial, ou que matá-lo fora do arraial, a fim de sacrificá-lo — ⁴ e não o trouxer à entrada da tenda do encontro para oferecê-lo como um sacrifício a Yahweh ante o Seu tabernáculo, esse homem é culpado de carnificina. Ele derramou sangue, e ele deverá ser excluído do meio do seu povo.

⁵ O propósito desse mandamento é de que o povo de Israel traga seus sacrifícios a Yahweh à entrada da tenda do encontro, ao sacerdote, para ser sacrificado como oferta pacífica a Yahweh, ao invés de oferecer sacrifícios em um campo aberto. ⁶ O sacerdote aspergirá o sangue sobre o altar de Yahweh à entrada da tenda do encontro, e queimará a gordura para produzir um aroma agradável a Yahweh.

⁷ O povo não deverá mais oferecer seus sacrifícios aos ídolos em forma de bode, pois, ao fazerem isso, agem como prostitutas. Esse será um estatuto permanente para eles e para suas gerações'.

⁸ Dize-lhes, pois: 'qualquer homem de Israel, ou qualquer estrangeiro que vive entre eles, que oferecer um holocausto ou sacrifício ⁹ e não o trouxer à entrada da tenda do encontro a fim de sacrificá-lo a Yahweh, esse homem será excluído de seu povo.

¹⁰ E qualquer um de Israel ou qualquer estrangeiro que vive entre eles que consumir sangue, presdipor-Me-ei contra essa pessoa que consumiu sangue e a excluirei do meio de seu povo, ¹¹ pois a vida de um animal está em seu sangue. Eu dei o sangue deste para vós fazerdes expiação ao altar por vossas vidas porque esse é o sangue que faz expiação, pois, esse é o sangue que expia para a vida.

¹² Assim sendo, Eu disse ao povo de Israel que ninguém dentre vós comerá sangue, como tampouco nenhum estrangeiro que vive entre vós o comerá. ¹³ E qualquer um dentre o povo de Israel ou qualquer um dos estrangeiros que vive entre eles, que caça e mata um animal ou ave que pode ser comida, essa pessoa deverá despejar o sangue do animal e cobri-lo com terra.

¹⁴ Pois a vida de cada criatura está em seu sangue. Por isso Eu disse ao povo de Israel: "vós não podeis comer o sangue de nenhuma criatura, pois a vida de toda criatura viva está em seu próprio sangue. Qualquer que comer, tem de ser excluído do povo".

¹⁵ Toda pessoa que comer um animal que morreu ou que tenha sido dilacerado por animais selvagens, seja essa pessoa um nativo, ou estrangeiro vivendo entre vós, precisará lavar suas roupas, banhar-se em água e estará impura até o entardecer. Depois disso, essa pessoa estará pura. ¹⁶ Mas se não lavar suas roupas ou banhar seu corpo, então deverá carregar essa culpa'".

Capítulo 18

¹ Disse Yahweh para Moisés, dizendo: ² "Fala para o povo de Israel e dize-lhes: 'Eu sou Yahweh vosso Deus. ³ Não fareis as mesmas coisas que as pessoas fazem no Egito, onde habitastes. E não fareis as mesmas coisas que fazem as pessoas de Canaã, terra para onde Eu estou vos levando, nem andareis segundo os seus costumes.

⁴ Minhas leis são o que vós deveis praticar, e os Meus mandamentos são o que deveis guardar, para andardes neles, porque Eu sou Yahweh vosso Deus. ⁵ Portanto, deveis guardar os Meus decretos e as Minhas leis. Quem obedecê-los, viverá. Eu sou Yahweh.

⁶ Nenhum homem deverá se aproximar de uma parente próxima para ter relações sexuais com ela. Eu sou Yahweh. ⁷ Não desonres o teu pai tendo relações com a tua mãe. Ela é a tua mãe! Não deves desonrá-la. ⁸ Não terás relações com qualquer uma das esposas de teu pai; não deves desonrar teu pai desse jeito.

⁹ Não terás relações com qualquer uma das tuas irmãs, não importa se ela é filha da parte do teu pai ou filha da parte da tua mãe, seja ela nascida em tua casa ou distante de ti. Não terás relações com as tuas irmãs. ¹⁰ Não terás relações com a filha de teu filho ou com a filha de tua filha. Isso seria a tua própria vergonha. ¹¹ Não terás relações com a filha da mulher de teu pai, gerada pelo teu pai. Ela é tua irmã, e não deves ter relações com ela.

¹² Não terás relações com a irmã de teu pai. Ela é parente próximo do teu pai. ¹³ Não terás relações com a irmã de tua mãe. Ela é parente próxima da tua mãe. ¹⁴ Não desonres o irmão do teu pai tendo relações com a esposa dele. Não te aproximes dela com este propósito; ela é tua tia.

¹⁵ Não terás relações com a tua nora. Ela é esposa do teu filho; não terás relações com ela. ¹⁶ Não terás relações com a esposa do teu irmão; não o desonres desse jeito.

¹⁷ Não terás relações com uma mulher e sua filha, ou com a filha de seu filho ou filha da sua filha. Eles são parentes próximos dela, e ter relações com elas seria maldade. ¹⁸ Não deverás casar com a irmã da tua mulher, como uma segunda mulher, e ter relações com ela enquanto a tua primeira esposa estiver viva.

¹⁹ Não terás relações com uma mulher no seu período de menstruação. Ela está impura durante este período. ²⁰ Não terás relações com a mulher do teu próximo contaminando-te com ela dessa forma.

²¹ Não entregarás nenhum dos teus filhos para passar através do fogo, a fim de serem sacrificados para Moloque, porque não deves profanar o nome do teu Deus. Eu sou Yahweh.

²² Não te deitarás com outro homem como se fosse mulher. Isso é abominação. ²³ Não te deitarás com nenhum animal, contaminando-te com isto. Nenhuma mulher deverá deitar-se com um animal. Isto é perversão.

²⁴ Não vos contamineis em nenhuma dessas maneiras, pois assim nações se contaminaram, as nações que expulsarei de diante de vós. ²⁵ A terra se tornou contaminada, então Eu puni os seus pecados e a terra vomitou seus habitantes.

²⁶ Vós, portanto, guardareis os Meus mandamentos e decretos, e não devereis fazer nenhuma destas coisas detestáveis, nem os nativos nem os estrangeiros que vivem entre vós. ²⁷ Porque esta é a abominação que as pessoas cometeram na terra, aqueles que viveram aqui antes de vós, e agora a terra está contaminada. ²⁸ Portanto, cuidado para que a terra não vos vomite também depois de a terdes contaminado, assim como ela vomitou as pessoas que estiveram aqui antes de vós.

²⁹ Todo aquele que fizer alguma dessas coisas detestáveis, sim, aqueles que fizerem tais coisas, serão eliminados do seu povo. ³⁰ Portanto, deveis guardar Meus mandamentos não praticando estes costumes detestáveis que foram praticados aqui antes de vós, então não sereis contaminados por eles. Eu sou Yahweh vosso Deus'".

Capítulo 19

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ² "Fale a toda a assembléia do povo de Israel e dize-lhes: 'Devei ser santo, porque Eu, Yahweh, sou Deus santo. ³ Todos vós deveis honrar a vossa mãe e vosso pai, e guardar os Meus Sábados. Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus. ⁴ Não vos volteis para os ídolos inúteis, não façais deuses de metal para vós. Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus.

⁵ Quando oferecerdes ofertas pacíficas a Yahweh, vós deveis oferecer de modo que seja aceitável. ⁶ Deve ser comida no mesmo dia em que oferecerdes, ou, no dia seguinte. Se alguma coisa restar para o terceiro dia, deveis queimar. ⁷ Se for comida no terceiro dia, ela está contaminada. Ela não será aceita. ⁸ Todavia, todo aquele que comê-la deverá carregar sua própria culpa, porque ele tem poluído o que foi dedicado a Yahweh. Esta pessoa deverá ser excluída do seu povo.

⁹ Quando tu colheres com tuas mãos, tu não deves colher completamente nas extremidades do campo, nem ajuntes toda a produção da sua colheita. ¹⁰ Não deves ajuntar toda a vinha do seu vinhedo, nem tampouco as uvas caídas no terreno do seu vinhedo. Tu deverás deixar para o pobre e para o estrangeiro. Eu sou Yahweh vosso Deus.

¹¹ Não furteis. Não mintais. Nem enganeis uns aos outros. ¹² Não jureis em meu nome falsamente, nem profaneis o nome do vosso Deus. Eu sou Yahweh.

¹³ Não oprimais o vosso próximo, nem o roubeis. O pagamento do empregado não ficará convosco toda a noite até pela manhã. ¹⁴ Não amaldiçoes o surdo, nem sejas pedra de tropeço ao cego. Ao invés disto, deveis temer o vosso Deus. Eu sou Yahweh.

¹⁵ Não crieis falsos julgamentos. Não devais favorecer alguém por ele ser pobre, ou por ser importante. Ao invés disto, julgai vosso próximo de forma justa. ¹⁶ Não propagueis calúnia entre as pessoas, procurai defender a vida do vosso próximo. Eu sou Yahweh.

¹⁷ Não odieis o vosso irmão em vossos corações. Devei honestamente repreender o vosso próximo, para que não compartilheis do pecado dele. ¹⁸ Não vingueis vós, nem guardeis nenhum rancor contra o vosso próximo, ao invés disto, amai vosso próximo como a vós mesmos. Eu sou Yahweh.

¹⁹ Vós deveis guardar os meus mandamentos. Não permitais que vossos animais procriem com diferentes outros tipos de animais. Não mistureis dois diferentes tipos de sementes, quando plantardes em vosso campo. Nem vistais roupa de dois tipos diferentes de materiais.

²⁰ Qualquer que dorme com uma mulher escrava comprometida com outro homem, mas que ainda não é resgatada nem liberta, eles deverão ser punidos. Não serão mortos, pois ela não era livre. ²¹ O homem deve oferecer uma oferta para Yahweh, à entrada da tenda do encontro, um cordeiro oferecei como oferta. ²² Para que o sacerdote faça expiação por ele diante de Yahweh, um cordeiro pela oferta do pecado cometido por ele. Então o pecado cometido por ele será perdoado.

²³ Quando tiverdes entrado na terra e tiverdes plantado todos os tipos de árvores para alimento. Então vós devereis proibir de serem comidos todos os frutos, por três anos. Eles não devem ser comidos. ²⁴ Contudo, no quarto ano, todo o fruto será consagrado, como oferta de louvor á Yahweh. ²⁵ No quinto ano, vós podereis comer do fruto, para que as árvores produzam mais. Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus.

²⁶ Não comais nenhuma carne com sangue. Não consulteis espíritos sobre o futuro, nem busqueis poderes sobrenaturais. ²⁷ Não sigais os hábitos pagãos, tais como aparar os lados do seu cabelo ou cortando as bordas de sua barba. ²⁸ Não corteis o corpo por causa dos mortos, nem coloqueis marca alguma em vosso corpo. Eu sou Yahweh.

²⁹ Não desonreis vossa filha fazendo ela se prostituir, para que a nação não se prostitua, nem a terra se encha de maldade. ³⁰ Vós deveis guardar os Meus Sábados e honrar o santuário do Meu tabernáculo. Eu sou Yahweh.

³¹ Não procureis os que procuram os mortos, nem espíritos. Não procureis, para que não sejais desonrados. Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus.

³² Vós deveis vos levantar diante de uma pessoa idosa e honrar a presença de uma pessoa mais velha. Vós deveis temer o vosso Deus. Eu sou Yahweh.

³³ Se um estrangeiro viver por um tempo em sua terra, vós não deveis maltratá-lo. ³⁴ O estrangeiro que viver convosco, vós o deveis amar como a vós mesmos, pois fostes estrangeiros na terra do Egito. Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus.

³⁵ Não useis medidas falsas quando medirdes do cumprimento, de peso ou de capacidade. ³⁶ Vós deveis usar balanças justas, pesos justos, efa justo, e him justo. Eu sou Yahweh, seu Deus, que vos tirei da terra do Egito. ³⁷ Vós deveis obedecerdes a todos os Meus mandamentos e todas as Minhas leis e os cumprirei. Eu sou Yahweh'".

Capítulo 20

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ² "Diga ao povo de Israel: 'Qualquer um entre o povo de Israel, ou qualquer estrangeiro que viva em Israel, que entregar qualquer um de seus filhos a Moloque, certamente será morto. O povo deste lugar o apedrejará.

³ E também voltarei o Meu rosto contra esse homem, o expulsarei do meio do povo, pois ele entregou seu filho a Moloque, assim contaminou Meu santo lugar e profanou Meu santo nome. ⁴ Se o povo deste lugar fechar os olhos a respeito deste homem que entregou algum de seus filhos a Moloque, e não o matar, ⁵ então Eu mesmo virarei Meu rosto contra ele e seu clã, e o expulsarei, bem como qualquer um que se prostituir seguindo a Moloque.

⁶ Aos que procuram aqueles que falam com os mortos, ou aqueles que falam com espíritos, prostituindo-se com eles, virarei Meu rosto e os expulsarei do meu do povo. ⁷ Assim sendo, consagrai-vos a Yahweh e sede santos, pois Eu sou Yahweh, o vosso Deus.

⁸ Deverei guardar Meus mandamentos e cumprí-los. Eu sou Yahweh, que vos santifico. ⁹ Todo aquele que amaldiçoar seu pai ou sua mãe, certamente morrerá. Visto que amaldiçoou seu pai ou sua mãe, então é dele a culpa e merece a morte.

¹⁰ O homem que comete adultério com a esposa de outro homem, isto é, qualquer um que cometer adultério com a esposa de teu próximo -- certamente devem ser condenados a morte, ele e a mulher adúltera. ¹¹ O homem que mantem relação sexual com a esposa do pai para dormir com ela desonrou seu próprio pai. Os dois, o filho e a esposa de seu pai, merecem morrer. ¹² Se um homem manter relação sexual com sua nora, os dois devem morrer. Estes cometeram perversão. Eles são culpados e merecem morrer.

¹³ Se um homem se deitar com um outro homem, como se fosse uma mulher, ambos cometeram uma abominação e certamente devem morrer. Eles são culpados e merecem a morte. ¹⁴ Se um homem se casar com uma mulher e também se casar com a mãe dela, isso é maldade. Eles devem ser queimados, ele e as mulheres, para que não haja maldade no meio de vós.

¹⁵ Se um homem manter relação com um animal, deverá ser morto, e matareis o animal. ¹⁶ Se uma mulher se aproxima de qualquer animal para dormir com ele, deveis matar a mulher e o animal. Eles certamente devem morrer. Eles são culpados e merecem a morte.

¹⁷ Se um homem manter relação com sua irmã, mesmo se for filha de seu pai ou filha de sua mãe —mantendo relação com ela e ela com ele, é uma coisa vergonhosa. Eles devem ser expulsos da presença do povo, porque ele teve relações sexuais com sua irmã. Ele levará a culpa. ¹⁸ Se um homem manter relação com uma mulher durante o período menstrual dela, ele está descobrindo o fluxo de sangue dela. Assim, ambos, o homem e a mulher, devem ser expulsos do meio do povo.

¹⁹ Não tereis relação com a irmã de tua mãe, nem com a irmã do teu pai, pois vós haveis de desgraçar vossos parentes próximos. Sobre vós caireis a culpa. ²⁰ Se um homem tiver relação com a esposa de seu tio, ele tem desgraçado seu tio. Eles levarão a culpa e morrerão sem filhos. ²¹ Se um homem se casar com a esposa do irmão, isso é impureza, pois ele tem violado as relações do casamento de seu irmão e eles não terão filhos.

²² Vós devereis, entretanto, guardar todos os meus estatutos; devereis obedecer-lhes na terra para onde Eu estou vos levando para que ela não vos vomite. ²³ Vós não devereis andar de acordo com o costume das nações, porque Eu vos conduzirei, pois essas nações têm feito todas essas coisas, e Eu as detesto.

²⁴ Eu vos digo: "Vós herdareis essa terra; Eu a darei por vossa possessão, uma terra da qual flui leite e mel. Eu sou Yahweh vosso Deus, que tem vos separado dos outros povos. ²⁵ Devereis, portanto, distinguir entre animais puros e impuros e entre aves puras e impuras. Vós não deveis vos contaminar com animais impuros ou aves ou com qualquer criatura que se rasteja pelo chão, os quais Eu tenho separado de vós como impuros.

²⁶ Vocês devem ser santos, pois Eu, Yahweh, sou santo, e Eu vos tenho separado dos outros povos, pois pertenceis a Mim.

²⁷ Um homem ou uma mulher que fala com os mortos ou fala com espíritos certamente devem morrer. O povo deverá apedrejá-los. Eles são culpados e merecem morrer'".

Capítulo 21

¹ Yahweh disse para Moisés: "Fale aos sacerdotes, os filhos de Arão, e dize-lhes: 'Ninguém entre vós se tornará impuro por causa daquele que morrer entre vosso povo, ² com excessão do parente próximo — tua mãe e pai, teu filho e filha, ou teu irmão ³ ou irmã virgem que esteja em tua casa e que não tem marido. Por ela, pode torna-se impuro.

⁴ Mas ele não se tornará impuro para outros parentes, pois profanaria a si mesmo. ⁵ Os sacerdotes não devem raspar os cabelos da cabeça ou cortar as extremidades das suas barbas, nem cortar os seus corpos. ⁶ Eles devem ser separados para o seu Deus, e não desonrarem o nome do seu Deus, porque os sacerdotes apresentam as ofertas queimadas para Yahweh, o pão do seu Deus. Então os sacerdotes devem ser santos.

⁷ Eles não devem se casar com nenhuma mulher que é prostituta e que é profana, e eles não devem se casar com uma mulher divorciada do seu marido, porque eles são separados para o seu Deus. ⁸ Tu santificarás porquanto oferece o pão ao vosso Deus. Ele deve ser santo à vossa vista, porque Eu, Yahweh, que os consagrei para Mim mesmo, Sou santo. ⁹ Qualquer filha de qualquer sacerdote que se profanar, transformando-se numa prostituta, desonra seu pai. Ela deve ser queimada.

¹⁰ Aquele que é o sumo sacerdote entre seus irmãos, sobre cuja cabeça o óleo da unção tem sido derramado e que tem sido consagrado para usar as vestimentas especiais do sumo sacerdote, não deve usar seus cabelos soltos ou rasgar as suas vestes. ¹¹ Ele não deve ir a qualquer lugar em que um corpo morto esteja presente e se profanar, mesmo se for seu pai ou sua mãe. ¹² O sumo sacerdote não deve sair da área do santuário do tabernáculo ou profanar o santuário do seu Deus, porque ele tem sido consagrado como sumo sacerdote pelo óleo da unção do seu Deus. Eu sou Yahweh.

¹³ O sumo sacerdote tomará por esposa uma mulher virgem. ¹⁴ Não deve se casar com uma viúva, uma mulher divorciada, ou uma mulher que seja prostituta. Ele não deve se casar com esses tipos de mulheres. Ele pode somente se casar com uma virgem do seu próprio povo. ¹⁵ Assim não profanará seus filhos entre seu povo, porque Eu sou Yahweh, quem o santifica"'.

¹⁶ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ¹⁷ "Fala a Arão e dize-lhe: 'Qualquer dos teus descendentes por todas as gerações que tiver um defeito físico, não deve se aproximar para oferecer o pão do seu Deus.

¹⁸ Nenhum homem que tenha um defeito físico deve aproximar-se de Yahweh, como um cego, manco, ou que seja desfigurado ou deformado, ¹⁹ ou um homem que seja inválido das mãos ou dos pés, ²⁰ corcunda ou anão, ou um homem com defeitos nos olhos, com uma doença, dor, cicatriz, ou algum testículo defeituoso. ²¹ Nenhum homem entre os descendentes do sacerdote Arão, que tenha um defeito físico poderá se aproximar para apresentar as ofertas queimadas para Yahweh. De igual modo, um homem tendo um defeito físico, não deve se aproximar para oferecer o pão para o seu Deus.

²² Ele pode comer o pão do seu Deus, tanto do santíssimo como do santo. ²³ De qualquer forma, ele não deverá ir além das cortinas ou se aproximar do altar, porque ele tem um defeito físico, então ele não profanará o Meu santo lugar, porque Eu sou Yahweh, que os santifica."' ²⁴ Então, Moisés falou estas palavras para Arão, para os seus filhos, e para todo o povo de Israel.

Capítulo 22

¹ Yahweh falou com Moisés, dizendo: ² "Fala com Arão e com seus filhos. Dize a eles para manterem-se longe das coisas sagradas do povo de Israel, as quais eles dedicaram a Mim. Eles não devem profanar Meu santo nome. Eu sou Yahweh. ³ Diga a eles: 'Qualquer pessoa, dentre todos os vossos descendentes, do começo ao fim das gerações do povo, que esteja suja, quando se aproximar das coisas sagradas que o povo de Israel consagrou a Yahweh, esta pessoa deverá ser excluída da Minha presença. Eu sou Yahweh.

⁴ Nenhum dos descendentes de Arão o qual tenha doença de pele contagiosa, ou uma infecção que flua de seu corpo, poderá comer qualquer um dos sacrifícios feitos a Yahweh até que ele esteja limpo. Qualquer um que tocar qualquer coisa suja pelo contato com os mortos, ou com um homem que tenha fluxo de sêmen, ⁵ ou qualquer um que toque em algum réptil que o faça sujo, ou em qualquer pessoa que o faça sujo, seja o tipo de impureza que for— ⁶ então, o sacerdote que tocar qualquer coisa suja estará sujo até o anoitecer. Ele não deve comer nenhuma das coisas sagradas, a não ser que tenha banhado seu corpo em água.

⁷ Quando o sol tiver se posto, ele, então, estará limpo. Depois do pôr do sol, ele poderá comer das coisas sagradas, pois elas são seu alimento. ⁸ Ele não deve comer nenhum animal encontrado morto ou que tenha sido morto por animais selvagens, para que não se contamine. Eu sou Yahweh. ⁹ Os sacerdotes devem seguir Minhas instruções, ou eles serão culpados de pecado e podem morrer por Me profanarem. Eu sou Yahweh, que os santifico para Mim.

¹⁰ Ninguém que não pertença à família do sacerdote, incluindo seus convidados ou seus empregados, deve comer qualquer coisa que seja sagrada. ¹¹ Mas, se um sacerdote comprar algum escravo com o seu próprio dinheiro, este escravo poderá comer das coisas reservadas para Yahweh. E os membros da família do sacerdote e os escravos nascidos em sua casa, eles também podem comer com ele destas coisas.

¹² Se a filha de um sacerdote casar-se com alguém que não seja um sacerdote, ela não poderá comer quaisquer das ofertas sagradas. ¹³ Mas, se a filha do sacerdote for viúva, ou divorciada, e se ela não tiver filhos, e voltar a viver na casa do pai como em sua juventude, ela poderá comer da comida do pai. Mas ninguém que não seja da família do sacerdote poderá comer da comida do sacerdote.

¹⁴ Se um homem comer da comida sagrada sem conhecimento, então ele deve recompensar o sacerdote por isto; ele deve adicionar um quinto ao que comeu e devolver ao sacerdote. ¹⁵ O povo de Israel não deve desonrar as coisas sagradas que eles ergueram e apresentaram a Yahweh, ¹⁶ e nem fazê-los carregarem o pecado que os faça culpados por comerem da comida sagrada, pois eu sou Yahweh, que os santifico para Mim'".

¹⁷ Yahweh falou com Moisés, dizendo: ¹⁸ "Fala a Arão e seus filhos, e a todo o povo de Israel e dize-lhes: 'Qualquer israelita, ou estrangeiro morando em Israel, quando apresentarem um sacrifício — quer seja dos seus votos, quer seja oferta voluntária, ou eles apresentem a Yahweh holocausto, ¹⁹ para que seja aceito, eles devem oferecer um animal macho sem defeito do rebanho de gado, ovelhas, ou cabras.

²⁰ Mas vós não deveis oferecer nada com defeito. Eu não aceitarei isto em vosso favor. ²¹ Qualquer um que oferecer sacrifício de ofertas pacíficas do gado ou do rebanho a Yahweh para cumprir um voto, ou uma oferta voluntária, este deve ser sem defeito para ser aceito. Não deve haver defeito no animal.

²² Não deveis oferecer animais que estejam cegos, mutilados ou deformados, ou que tenham imperfeições, feridas ou sarna. Não deveis oferecer estes a Yahweh como um sacrifício por fogo no altar. ²³ Poderás apresentar como ofertas voluntárias, um boi ou um cordeiro que seja comprido ou curto de membros, mas uma oferta como esta não será aceita no lugar de um voto.

²⁴ Não ofereçais animais a Yahweh que tenham tido os testículos esmagados, triturados, ou cortados. Não façais isso em vossas terras. ²⁵ Não apresenteis estes de mãos estrangeiras como comida ao vosso Deus, porque eles são defeituosos ou desfigurados. Eles não serão aceitos em vosso favor'".

²⁶ Yahweh falou com Moisés e disse: ²⁷ "Quando nascem um bezerro, uma ovelha ou uma cabra, estes devem permanecer sete dias com suas mães. Então, do oitavo dia em diante, poderão ser aceitos como sacrifício ou oferta feita no fogo para Yahweh.

²⁸ Não sacrifiqueis uma vaca ou uma ovelha com a sua cria, ambos no mesmo dia. ²⁹ Quando vós sacrificardes uma oferta de ação de graças, deveis sacrificar de uma maneira aceitável. ³⁰ Isto deverá ser comido no mesmo dia em que for sacrificado. Não deixeis sobrar nada até a próxima manhã. Eu Sou Yahweh.

³¹ Então, deveis guardar Meus mandamentos e cumpri-los. Eu sou Yahweh. ³² Não desonrareis o Meu santo nome. Eu deverei ser reconhecido como santo pelo povo de Israel. Eu sou Yahweh, que os santifico para Mim, ³³ Aquele que vos tirou da terra do Egito, para ser o vosso Deus. Eu sou Yahweh".

Capítulo 23

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés: " ² Dize ao povo de Israel, e fala a eles: 'Os festivais apontados por Yahweh, que tu deverás proclamar como assembéias santas, são Meus festivais regulares.

³ Trabalhareis por seis dias, mas no sétimo dia é o Sábado de completo descanso, a assembéia santa. Não trabalhareis porque é o Sábado para Yahweh em todos os locais onde viveis.

⁴ Estes são os festivais apontados por Yahweh, as assembléias santas que deverás anunciar nos momentos apropriados: ⁵ No primeiro mês, do décimo quarto dia ao entardecer, será a páscoa de Yahweh. ⁶ No décimo quinto dia do mesmo mês será o Festival dos Pães sem fermento à Yahweh. Por sete dias deverás comer pão sem fermento.

⁷ No primeiro dia vós tereis assembléia dedicada a Yahweh, não deveis trabalhar como de costume. ⁸ Devereis oferecer sacrifícios feitos no fogo durante sete dias para Yahweh. O sétimo dia é assembléia dedicada a Yahweh, no qual, não trabalhareis como de costume'".

⁹ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ¹⁰ "Fale ao povo de Israel e diga a eles, 'Quando vierdes a terra que vos darei, e quando ceifardes a colheita, então deveis trazer as primícias da colheita ao sacerdote. ¹¹ Ele erguerá as primícias na presença de Yahweh como oferta, para que seja aceita em vosso favor. Será depois do Sábado que o sacerdote erguerá e apresentará a Mim.

¹² No dia em que vós erguerdes as primícias em oferta a Mim, devem ser oferecido um cordeiro macho de um ano e sem defeito como sacrificio queimado a Yahweh. ¹³ A oferta de grãos será de dois décimos de efa da melhor farinha misturada ao óleo, uma oferta queimada a Yahweh, a fim de produzir aroma agradável, e juntamente com este uma oferta de libação, um quarto de um him. ¹⁴ Não comereis pão, nem grãos torrados ou frescos, até o mesmo dia que trouxerdes essa oferta a Deus. Este será um mandamento permanente por todas as vossas gerações, onde quer que viverdes.

¹⁵ Deverás contar do dia após o Sábado, do dia em que trouxeste a parte colhida para ser erguida em oferta e apresentada, sete semanas completas, sete Sábados, ¹⁶ até o dia após o sétimo Sábado. Ou seja, deverás contar cinquenta dias. Então deverás oferecer uma oferta queimada de novos grãos a Yahweh.

¹⁷ Deverás retirar de suas casas dois pães feitos de dois décimos de um efa. Deverão ser amassados com a melhor farinha e assados com trigo; estes serão uma oferta dos primeiros frutos que serão levantados e apresentados a Yahweh. ¹⁸ Apresentarás junto com os pães sete cordeiros de um ano sem defeito, touro jovem, e dois carneiros. Deverás queima-los em oferta a Yahweh, com a oferta de grãos e as ofertas de vinho, uma oferta queimada para produzir aroma agradável a Yahweh.

¹⁹ Deverás entregar um bode em oferta pelo pecado, e dois cordeiros de um ano para sacrifício, como oferta pacífica. ²⁰ O sacerdote deverá oferecê-los perante Yahweh, juntamente com os pães dos primeiros frutos, e apresenta-los como oferta junto aos dois cordeiros. Serão ofertas sagradas para Yahweh pelo sacerdote. ²¹ Deverás proclamar isto no mesmo dia. Haverá uma assembléia santa, portanto não trabalharás como de costume. Será ordenança perpétua por todas as vossas gerações em todos os lugares que habitardes.

²² Quando ceifardes a colheita de vossa terra, não deverás faze-lo até os limites dos vossos campos e não ajuntarás as espigas que ficarem pelo caminho. Deveis deixá-las para os pobres e estrangeiros. Eu Sou Yahweh seu Deus' ".

²³ Yahweh disse a Moisés, falando: ²⁴ "Fale ao povo de Israel e diga: 'No sétimo mês, o primeiro dia será de descanso solene para vós, um memorial ao toque de trombetas, e uma santa assembleia. ²⁵ Não devais trabalhar como de costume, e devais oferecer sacrificios queimados para Yahweh'".

²⁶ Então Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ²⁷ "Agora o décimo dia deste sétimo mês será o Dia de Expiação. Será uma assembléia dedicada a Yahweh, vós deverdes humilhar-vos e oferecer sacrifícios queimados para Yahweh.

²⁸ Não trabalhareis neste dia porque é Dia de Expiação, para expiar-vos diante de Yahweh vosso Deus. ²⁹ Qualquer que não se humilhar neste dia deverá ser excluído do vosso povo.

³⁰ Qualquer um que trabalhar neste dia, Eu, Yahweh, destruí-lo-ei do meio do vosso povo. ³¹ Vós não trabalhareis de forma alguma neste dia. Este será um mandamento permanente por todas as gerações do vosso povo onde quer que vós viverdes. ³² Este dia deverá ser o sábado de descanso solene, e vós vos humilhareis no entardecer do nono dia do mês. De uma tarde a outra tarde, o Sábado deve ser guardado".

³³ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ³⁴ "Fale ao povo de Israel, dizendo: 'Durante o décimo quinto dia do sétimo mês celebrareis o Festival dos Tabernáculos em homenagem a Yahweh. Ela terá duração de sete dias.

³⁵ No primeiro dia haverá santa assembléia. Não devereis fazer trabalho algum. ³⁶ Durante sete dias oferecereis sacrifícios queimados á Yahweh. No oitavo dia haverá santa assembléia, e fareis sacrifício queimado para Yahweh. Esta será uma assembléia solene, portanto não haverá trabalho algum.

³⁷ Estes são os festivais apontados por Yahweh, no qual vós proclamareis como assembléia santa para oferecerdes sacrifícios pelo fogo a Yahweh, oferta queimada e oferta de grãos, sacrifícios e libações, cada qual em seu próprio dia. ³⁸ Estes festivais vós os adicionareis aos sábados de Yahweh e suas ofertas, todos os vossos votos, e todas as vossas ofertas pacíficas que oferecerdes a Yahweh.

³⁹ Apesar do Festival dos Tabernáculos, no décimo quinto dia do sétimo mês, quando estiverdes reunidos os frutos da vossa terra, o Festival de Yahweh deverá ter duração de sete dias. O primeiro dia será de descanso solene e o oitavo dia também será de descanso solene.

⁴⁰ No primeiro dia vós deveis retirar o melhor fruto de vossas árvores, galhos de palmeiras, galhos com folhagem das árvores robustas, e salgueiro às margens do ribeiro, regorzijar-se-eis diante de Yahweh, seu Deus, por sete dias. ⁴¹ Durante sete dias a cada ano, celebrareis este festival a Yahweh. Este será um mandamento perpétuo por todas as gerações do vosso povo onde quer que viverdes. Devereis celebrar este festival no sétimo mês.

⁴² Vós devereis permanecer em pequenas tendas por sete dias. Todos os israelitas natos deverão permanecer em pequenas tendas por sete dias, ⁴³ para que teus descendentes, geração a geração, aprendam como Eu fiz o povo de Israel viver em pequenas tendas quando Eu os tirei da terra do Egito. Eu sou Yahweh, seu Deus'". ⁴⁴ Desta forma, Moisés anunciou para o povo de Israel o festival apontado por Yahweh.

Capítulo 24

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ² "Ordena ao povo de Israel para que te tragam óleo puro de oliva para suas lamparinas, a fim de que elas sempre queimem e iluminem.

³ Do lado de fora da cortina, diante dos decretos da aliança na Tenda do Encontro, Arão deve, continuamente, manter acesa a lâmpada desde a noite até o amanhecer, diante de Yahweh. Isso será um mandamento permanente ao longo das gerações do Teu povo. ⁴ O sumo sacerdote deve sempre manter as lâmpadas acesas diante de Yahweh, as lâmpadas do candelabro de ouro.

⁵ Tu deves pegar a boa farinha e usá-la para assar doze pães. Esses devem conter dois décimos de uma efa em cada pão. ⁶ Depois, deves colocá-lo em duas fileiras, seis pães em cada fileira, sobre a mesa de ouro puro diante de Yahweh.

⁷ Tu deves pôr incenso puro ao longo de cada fileira de pães como um símbolo dos pães. Esse incenso será queimado para Yahweh. ⁸ Todo dia de sábado, o sacerdote deverá regularmente apresentar o pão diante de Yahweh em nome do povo de Israel, como um sinal de uma aliança perpétua. ⁹ Essa oferta será de Arão e seus filhos. Eles devem comê-la em um lugar que é santo, pois é dedicada completamente a Mim, pois foram tomadas dentre as ofertas queimadas por fogo a Mim".

¹⁰ Aconteceu que o filho de uma mulher israelita, cujo o pai era um egípcio, estava entre o povo de Israel. Esse filho da mulher israelita brigou com um homem israelita no acampamento. ¹¹ O filho da mulher israelita blasfemou o nome de Yahweh e amaldiçoou a Deus, então, o povo o levou a Moisés. O nome de sua mãe era Selomite, a filha de Dibri, da tribo de Dã. ¹² Eles o mantiveram em custódia até que o próprio Yahweh declarasse sua vontade para com eles.

¹³ Então, Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ¹⁴ "Leva o homem que blasfemou contra Deus para fora do acampamento. Todos os que o ouviram devem colocar as mãos sobre sua cabeça e, depois, a assembléia inteira deve apedrejá-lo.

¹⁵ Tu deves explicar ao povo de Israel, dizendo: 'Qualquer um que blasfemar seu Deus deve carregar sua própria culpa. ¹⁶ Aquele que blasfemar o nome de Yahweh deve certamente ser condenado à morte. Toda a assembléia deve certamente apredejá-lo, seja ele um estrangeiro ou um israelita nativo. Se alguém blasfemar o nome de Yahweh, deverá ser condenado à morte.

¹⁷ E aquele que matar outro homem deve certamente ser condenado à morte. ¹⁸ Aquele que matar o animal de alguém pagará de volta, vida por vida.

¹⁹ Se um homem ferir a seu vizinho, deverá ser feito a ele como ele fez para com seu vizinho: ²⁰ fratura por fratura, olho por olho, dente por dente. Assim como ele causou um ferimento em uma pessoa, deverá também ser feito a ele. ²¹ Qualquer que matar um animal deverá pagá-lo de volta e qualquer que matar uma pessoa será condenado à morte.

²² Tu deves ter a mesma lei para ambos: o estrangeiro e o israelita nativo, pois Eu sou Yahweh, seu Deus'". ²³ Então Moisés falou com o povo de Israel, e o povo trouxe o homem para fora do acampamento, aquele que tinha blasfemado Yahweh. Eles o apedrejaram. O povo de Israel levou adiante o mandamento de Yahweh a Moisés.

Capítulo 25

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés no Monte Sinai, dizendo: ² "Fala com o povo de Israel e diga a eles: 'Quando entrares na terra que eu vos dou, guardareis um sábado para Yahweh.

³ Vós devereis plantar no campo por seis anos, e por seis anos podareis as vossas vinhas e colhereis os frutos. ⁴ Mas no sétimo ano, devereis observar um sábado solene de descanso para a terra, um sábado para Yahweh. Não devereis plantar em vosso campo ou podar vossas vinhas.

⁵ Não devereis organizar colheita de qualquer alimento que cresça por si mesma, vós não devereis conduzir colheita organizada de qualquer uva que cresça de vinhas não podadas. Este será um ano de descanso solene para a terra. ⁶ Qualquer fruto que a terra não trabalhada produza durante o ano sabático, será comida para vós. Vós, vossos servos e servas, vossos servos contratados e os estrangeiros que vivem convosco certamente colherão comida. ⁷ E vosso gado, e também os animais silvestres certamente comerão o que quer que a terra há de produzir.

⁸ Vós devereis contar sete sábados do ano, que serão, sete vezes sete anos, então tereis sete sábados de anos, totalizando quarenta e nove anos. ⁹ Então farás soar uma alta trombeta em todo lugar no décimo dia do sétimo ano. No Dia da Expiação certamente tocarás a trombeta por toda a tua terra.

¹⁰ Vós devereis dedicar o quinquagésimo ano para Yahweh e proclamareis liberdade entre as terras, e para todos os seus habitantes. Este será um ano jubileu para vós, no qual devolvereis propriedades para vossos donos e retornareis escravos para vossas famílias.

¹¹ O quinquagésimo ano será um jubileu para vós. Não devereis plantar ou conduzir colheita organizada. Comereis qualquer que nascer por si só, e colhereis as uvas que nascerem de vinhas não podadas. ¹² Pois é o ano jubileu, o qual será santo para vós. Comereis do campo o que crescer por si só.

¹³ Devolvereis a todos suas propriedades no ano jubileu. ¹⁴ Se vós venderdes alguma terra a vosso vizinho ou comprardes alguma terra de vosso vizinho, certamente não o enganareis ou trapaceareis uns aos outros.

¹⁵ Se vós comprardes terra de vosso vizinho, considereis o número de anos e safras que poderão ser colhidas até o próximo jubileu. Vosso vizinho o qual vende a terra considerará isto também. ¹⁶ Um grande número de anos até o próximo jubileu aumentará o valor da terra, e um menor número de anos até o próximo jubileu diminuirá o valor da terra, porque o número de colheitas que a terra produzirá para o novo proprietário está relacionado com o número de anos até o próximo jubileu. ¹⁷ Vós não sereis desonestos ou rudes com vosso próximo; pelo contrário, honrarás vosso Deus, pois Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus.

¹⁸ Portanto vós devereis obedecer aos meus decretos, guardareis as Minhas Leis e as levarei adiante. Então vós vivereis na terra em segurança. ¹⁹ A terra dará frutos, e vós comereis e vos fartareis e ali vivereis em segurança.

²⁰ Se vós disserdes: "O que haveremos de comer durante o sétimo ano? Veja, não podemos plantar ou colher ou produzir." ²¹ Eu vos ordenarei minha bênção sobre vós no sexto ano, e este ano produzirá safra suficiente para três anos. ²² Vós plantareis no oitavo ano e continuareis a comer a colheita do ano anterior e estocareis a comida. Até a próxima colheita do nono ano, podereis comer os mantimentos guardados do ano anterior.

²³ Não vendereis a terra para um novo dono permanente, porque a terra é Minha. Vós todos sois estrangeiros e residentes temporários em Minha terra. ²⁴ Vós deveis observar o direito de resgate para todas as terras que adquirirdes; devereis permitir que as terras sejam compradas de volta pela família da qual vós comprardes. ²⁵ Se vosso irmão israelita vier a ficar pobre e por esta razão lhe vender alguma propriedade sua, então seu parente mais próximo deverá vir e comprar de volta sua propriedade a que vos foi vendida.

²⁶ Se um homem não tiver parentes para resgatar sua propriedade, mas ele prosperou e tem capacidadede para resgatá-la, ²⁷ então ele calculará os anos desde que as terras foram vendidas e pagará o equivalente ao homem a quem vendeu. Então ele certamente voltará a sua propriedade. ²⁸ Mas se ele não for capaz de tomar a terra de volta para si, então a terra vendida permanecerá na posse daquele que a comprou até o ano jubileu. No ano jubileu, a terra será devolvida ao homem que a vendeu, e o seu dono original retornará à sua propriedade.

²⁹ Se um homem vender uma casa em uma cidade murada, então ele poderá comprá-la de volta dentro de um ano após ser vendida. Por um ano inteiro ele terá o direito de resgatá-la. ³⁰ Se a casa não for resgatada dentro de um ano inteiro, então a casa na cidade murada se tornará propriedade permanente do homem que a comprou, por toda geração de seus descendente. Esta casa não será devolvida no ano jubileu.

³¹ Mas as casas das vilas que não tiverem muros ao redor serão propriedades ligadas aos campos do país. Elas poderão ser compradas de volta, e deverão ser devolvidas durante o jubileu. ³² Entretanto, as casas pertencentes aos levitas em suas cidades poderão ser resgatadas a qualquer hora.

³³ Se algum dos levitas não resgatar a casa que ele vendeu, então a casa vendida, na cidade onde certamente está localizada, será devolvida no jubileu, pois as casas das cidades dos levitas são suas propriedades entre o povo de Israel. ³⁴ Mas os campos em volta das cidades não poderão ser vendidos porque eles são propriedades permanentes dos levitas.

³⁵ Se o vosso compatriota se empobrecer a ponto de não poder se sustentar, então devereis ajudá-lo como ajudarias um estrangeiro ou qualquer outro estranho vivendo entre vós. ³⁶ Não cobrareis juros nem tentareis obter lucro por meio dele de maneira alguma, mas honrareis vosso Deus e vosso irmão continuará vivendo convosco. ³⁷ Não empresteis dinheiro a ele com juros, nem vendais vossa comida visando ganhos. ³⁸ Eu sou Yahweh vosso Deus, quem vos tirou do Egito, para vos dar a terra de Canaã, para ser o vosso Deus.

³⁹ Se vosso compatriota vier a empobrecer e se vender para vós, não devereis tratá-lo como escravo. O tratareis como servo contratado. ⁴⁰ Ele será como alguém que vive temporariamente convosco. Ele servirá convosco até o ano jubileu. ⁴¹ Então ele vos deixará, ele e suas crianças com ele, e ele retornará para sua própria família e para a propriedade de seus pais.

⁴² Pois eles são Meus servos os quais os trouxe para fora da terra do Egito. Eles não serão vendidos como escravos. ⁴³ Não dominareis severamente sobre eles, mas certamente honrareis vosso Deus. ⁴⁴ Quanto aos vossos escravos e vossas escravas, podereis obtê-los das nações que vivem a vossa volta, certamente comprareis dos que tiverem ao vosso redor.

⁴⁵ Vós também podereis comprar escravos de estrangeiros que estão vivendo dentre vós, isto é, de suas famílias que estão no meio de vós, crianças que nasceram em vossas terras. Elas se tornarão vossa propriedade. ⁴⁶ Devereis providenciar escravos como herança para vossas crianças depois de vós, para manter como propriedade. Destes, sempre tomareis vossos escravos, mas não dominareis severamente sobre vossos irmãos dentre o povo de Israel.

⁴⁷ Se um estrangeiro ou alguém que vive temporariamente convosco se tornar rico, e um dos vossos irmãos israelitas se tornar pobre e vender a si mesmo para este estrangeiro, ou para alguém da família do estrangeiro, ⁴⁸ depois de vosso irmão israelita ter sido comprado, ele poderá ser comprado de volta. Alguém de sua família poderá resgatá-lo.

⁴⁹ Poderá ser seu tio, ou o filho de seu tio, a resgatá-lo ou qualquer outro parente que seja próximo a sua família. Ou se tiver se tornado próspero poderá resgatar a si mesmo. ⁵⁰ Ele terá que negociar com o homem que o comprou; eles devem contar os anos desde o ano em que ele se vendeu para seu senhor até o ano jubileu. O preço de sua redenção se baseará no preço de um servo contratado, pelo número de anos que ele trabalharia para aquele que o comprou.

⁵¹ Se faltarem muitos anos até o jubileu, ele deve pagar como preço por sua redenção a quantia proporcional ao número destes anos. ⁵² Se houver poucos anos para o ano jubileu, então ele deve negociar com seu senhor a quantidade de anos antes do jubileu, e pagará por sua redenção proporcionalmente ao número de anos.

⁵³ Ele deve ser tratado como um homem contratado anualmente. Vós deveis certificar que ele não será tratado severamente. ⁵⁴ Se ele não for remido sobre estes termos então ele deve servir até o ano jubileu e seus filhos com ele. ⁵⁵ Para Mim o povo de Israel é servo. Eles são Meus servos, os quais trouxe para fora da terra do Egito. Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus'".

Capítulo 26

¹ "Não farás ídolos, muito menos erguerás imagens esculpidas ou pilares sagrados de pedra, e não porás nenhuma imagem esculpida em sua terra para te curvares, pois Eu sou Yahweh, seu Deus. ² Deveis guardar os Meus Sábados e honrar o Meu santuário. Eu sou Yahweh.

³ Se andardes nas Minhas leis e guardardes os Meus mandamentos e os obedecerdes, ⁴ então, Eu darei chuva em sua estação; a terra entregará sua produção, e as árvores do campo entregarão seus frutos.

⁵ Debulharás continuamente até a época de colher uvas, e essa colheita se estenderá até a estação do plantio. Comereis todo vosso pão e vivereis seguramente no local onde construístes vosso lar na terra. ⁶ Eu darei paz na terra; deitar-vos-ei e nada temereis, afastarei os animais perigosos da vossa terra, e a espada não passará pela terra.

⁷ Perseguireis vossos inimigos, e eles cairão diante de vós pela espada. ⁸ Cinco de vós perseguirão a cem, e cem de vós perseguirão a dez mil; vossos inimigos cairão diante de vós pela espada.

⁹ Eu olharei para vós com favor e vos farei frutíferos e vos multiplicarei. Eu firmarei minha aliança convosco. Comerão por muito tempo da colheita estocada. ¹⁰ Tereis de retirar a colheita do depósito, porque precisareis de mais espaço para a nova colheita.

¹¹ Eu colocarei meu tabernáculo em vosso meio, e Eu não vos detestarei. ¹² Eu andarei em vosso meio e serei vosso Deus, e vós sereis meu povo. ¹³ Eu Sou Yahweh, seu Deus, que te trouxe da terra do Egito, para que não fostes seus escravos. Eu quebrei as barras dos vossos ombros, para fazer-vos andar de forma reta.

¹⁴ Porém se vós não Me ouvirdes a Mim, e não obedecerdes a todos esses mandamentos, ¹⁵ e rejeitar Meus decretos e detestardes Minhas Leis, de maneira que não obedeçais todos os Meus mandamentos, e quebrar Minha Aliança,

¹⁶ se fizerdes essas coisas, então Eu farei isto convosco: Eu infligirei terror em vós, doenças e febre que destruirão vossos olhos e drenarão vossas vidas. Vós plantareis vossas sementes por nada, porque vossos inimigos comerão de vossa produção. ¹⁷ Eu porei o Meu rosto contra vós, e vós sereis sobrepujados por vossos inimigos. Homens que vos odeiam governar-vos-ão, e vós correreis mesmo quando ninguém vos perseguir.

¹⁸ Se vós não ouvirdes aos meus mandamentos, então Eu os punirei sete vezes mais por vossos pecados. ¹⁹ Quebrarei vosso orgulho no vosso poder. Eu farei o céu sobre vós como aço e vossa terra, como bronze. ²⁰ Vossa força não servirá de nada, porque vossa terra não produzirá a sua colheita, e vossas árvores não produzirão seus frutos.

²¹ Se vós andardes contra Mim e não ouvirdes a Mim, Eu trarei sete vezes mais golpes sobre vós, proporcionalmente aos vossos pecados. ²² Eu enviarei animais perigosos contra vós, que tomarão vossos filhos, destruirão vosso rebanho, e farão vossa população diminuir.

²³ Se, mesmo assim, vós não aceitardes Meus ensinamentos, mas continuardes andando contra Mim, então Eu também andarei contra vós. ²⁴ Eu pessoalmente vos punirei sete vezes mais por vossos pecados.

²⁵ Eu trarei sobre vós a espada que executará vingança por teres quebrado Minha aliança. Vós sereis reunidos dentro de vossas cidades, e Eu enviarei doenças sobre vós, e então sereis derrotados pelo poder de vosso inimigo. ²⁶ Quando Eu cortar o vosso suprimento de comida, dez mulheres serão capazes de assar seu pão em um forno, e elas distribuirão o seu pão por peso. Vós comereis, mas não vos satisfareis.

²⁷ Se mesmo assim, vós não Me ouvirdes, mas continuardes contra Mim, ²⁸ então Minha ira se acenderá contra vós, e Eu vos punirei até sete vezes mais tanto quanto vossos pecados.

²⁹ Vós comereis a carne de vossos filhos; vós comereis a carne de vossas filhas. ³⁰ Eu destruirei vossos altares, derrubarei vossos altares de incenso, e lançarei vossos cadáveres sobre os cadáveres de vossos ídolos, e Eu pessoalmente vos abominarei.

³¹ Eu tornarei vossas cidades em ruínas e destruirei vossos santuários. Eu não me agradarei com o aroma de vossos ofertas. ³² Eu devastarei a terra. Vossos inimigos que viverão ali ficarão chocados com a devastação. ³³ Eu vos dispersarei de diante das nações, e Eu desembainharei Minha espada para vos perseguir. Vossa terra será abandonada e vossas cidades serão arruinadas.

³⁴ Então a terra desfrutará de seus sábados por todo o tempo que ficar abandonada, e vós estareis na terra de vossos inimigos. Durante este tempo, a terra descansará e aproveitará seus sábados. ³⁵ Pelo tempo que permanecer abandonada, terá seu descanso, será o descanso que não teve em vossos sábados enquanto vós vivestes ali. ³⁶ Aos remanescentes dentre vós, deixados nas terras de vossos inimigos, Eu enviarei medo em seus corações de modo que mesmo o som de uma folha lançada ao vento os amedrontará, e vós correreis como quem corre da espada. Vós caireis, mesmo quando ninguém estiver vos perseguindo.

³⁷ Vós tropeçareis em vós mesmos como se estivésseis correndo da espada, ainda que ninguém vos esteja perseguindo. Não tereis poder para resistir ao vosso inimigo. ³⁸ Vós perecereis entre as nações e a própria terra dos vossos inimigos vos devorará. ³⁹ O restante de vós se perderá em vossos pecados, na terra de vossos inimigos e, por conta dos pecados de vossos pais, perecerão também.

⁴⁰ Porém se eles confessarem os seus pecados e os pecados de seus pais, e sua traição pela qual eles foram infiéis a Mim, e também seus caminhos contra Mim — ⁴¹ os quais Me fizeram voltar contra eles e os entregar na terra de seus inimigos — se seus corações incircuncisos se tornarem humildes, e se eles aceitarem a punição por seus pecados, ⁴² então Eu Me lembrarei da Minha aliança com Jacó, Minha aliança com Isaque, e Minha aliança com Abraão; Eu também me lembrarei da terra.

⁴³ A terra será abandonada por eles, então ela desfrutará com seus sábados enquanto estiver abandonada sem eles. Eles deverão pagar a penalidade por seus pecados, porque eles próprios rejeitaram Meus decretos e detestaram Minhas leis.

⁴⁴ Mas, apesar de tudo isso, quando eles estiverem na terra de seus inimigos, Eu não os rejeitarei, nem os detestarei para destruí-los completamente e desfazer a minha aliança com eles, pois Eu sou Yahweh, seu Deus. ⁴⁵ Mas, por misericórdia, Eu me lembrarei da aliança que Eu fiz com seus antepassados, os quais Eu tirei da terra do Egito, à vista das nações, para que Eu seja seu Deus. Eu sou Yahweh".

⁴⁶ Estes são os mandamentos, decretos, e leis que Yahweh fez entre Ele mesmo e o povo de Israel no Monte Sinai, através de Moisés.

Capítulo 27

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ² "Fala ao povo de Israel e diz a eles: 'Quando um homem fizer um voto especial, que requer que ele use um valor padrão para uma pessoa, que ele dedique a Yahweh, usando os seguintes valores:

³ Seu valor padrão para um homem de vinte a sessenta anos de idade será de cinquenta siclos de prata, de acordo com o siclo do santuário. ⁴ Para uma mulher da mesma idade, seu valor padrão será de trinta siclos.

⁵ De cinco a vinte anos de idade, seu valor padrão para um homem, será de vinte siclos e para a mulher, dez siclos. ⁶ De um mês de idade até cinco anos, o valor padrão para um homem será de cinco siclos de prata e para a mulher, três siclos de prata.

⁷ A partir de sessenta anos de idade para um homem, o padrão de valor será de quinze siclos de pratas e para uma mulher, dez siclos. ⁸ Mas, se a pessoa que estiver fazendo o voto não puder pagar o valor padrão, então, a pessoa oferecida deverá ser apresentada ao sacerdote. O sacerdote avaliará a pessoa, de acordo com o valor que aquele que fez o voto seja capaz de pagar.

⁹ Se alguém quiser sacrificar um animal a Yahweh, e se Yahweh o aceitar, então aquele animal será dedicado a Ele. ¹⁰ A pessoa não deve alterar ou trocar o animal, um bom por um ruim ou um ruim por um bom. Se ele, de qualquer forma, trocar um animal pelo outro, ambos tornar-se-ão consagrados.

¹¹ No entanto, se o que foi ofertado a Yahweh for, de fato, impuro, de forma que Yahweh não irá aceitá-lo, então a pessoa deverá levá-lo ao sacerdote. ¹² O sacerdote irá avaliá-lo de acordo com o valor de mercado do animal. Qualquer valor que o sacerdote colocar sobre o animal, será o valor determinado. ¹³ E se o proprietário desejar resgatá-lo, então a quinta parte de seu valor será adicionada ao seu preço de redenção.

¹⁴ Quando um homem desejar dedicar sua casa para ser consagrada a Yahweh, então o sacerdote estimará seu valor. Qualquer que seja o valor estabelecido pelo sacerdote, este será seu valor. ¹⁵ Mas, se o proprietário dedicar sua casa e mais tarde desejar resgatá-la, então a quinta parte de seu valor, será adicionada ao seu valor de redenção. Desse modo, a casa será dele novamente.

¹⁶ Se um homem desejar dedicar a Yahweh parte de sua terra, então o cálculo de seu valor será feito de acordo com a quantidade de semente necessária para plantar nela. Um hômer de cevada será avaliado em cinquenta siclos de prata.

¹⁷ Se ele dedicar seu campo durante o ano jubileu, o valor estimado permanecerá. ¹⁸ Mas, se ele dedicar seu campo após o jubileu, então o sacerdote deverá calcular o valor da propriedade de acordo com o número de anos que restarem até o próximo ano do jubileu, e o valor estimado deverá ser reduzido.

¹⁹ Se o homem que dedicar seu campo, desejar resgatá-lo, então ele deverá adicionar a quinta parte do valor estimado e será dele novamente. ²⁰ Se ele não resgatar o campo, ou se o tiver vendido para outro homem, não poderá ser resgatado mais. ²¹ Em vez disso, o campo, quando for liberado no jubileu, será uma oferta santa a Yahweh, como um campo que tenha sido completamente ofertado a Yahweh. Este pertencerá ao sacerdote.

²² Se um homem dedicar a Yahweh um campo que ele tenha comprado, mas que não for parte da propriedade de sua família, ²³ então, o sacerdote irá determinar o valor até o ano do jubileu e o homem deverá pagar o seu valor, naquele dia, como uma oferta santa a Yahweh.

²⁴ No ano do jubileu, o campo retornará para o homem que comprou, para o proprietário do terreno. ²⁵ Todo o valor estimado, será baseado no peso do ciclo do santuário. Vinte geras deverá ser equivalente a um ciclo.

²⁶ Mas um primogênito entre os animais pertencerá a Yahweh e poderá dedicá-lo. Quer seja o boi ou ovelha, pertencerá a Yahweh. ²⁷ Se o animal estiver impuro, então o proprietário poderá comprá-lo de volta no valor estimado e a quinta parte será adicionada, naquele valor. Se o animal não é resgatado, então será vendido pelo valor determinado.

²⁸ No entanto, nada o que um homem dedicar a Yahweh, de tudo o que possui, seja humano ou animal, ou sua propriedade familiar, pode ser vendido ou resgatado. Tudo o que é dedicado é muito sagrado para Yahweh. ²⁹ Nenhum resgate pode ser pago ao anátema que está designado para ser destruído. Esta pessoa será morta.

³⁰ Todo o dízimo da terra, quer cereais na terra, quer o fruto das árvores, é de Yahweh. Isto é consagrado a Yahweh. ³¹ Se um homem quiser resgatar o dízimo, deverá adicionar a quinta parte do valor.

³² Quanto a todo o dízimo do rebanho doméstico, qualquer um que passar sob o cajado do pastor, será dedicado a Yahweh. ³³ O pastor não deverá procurar o melhor ou o pior dos animais, e ele não deverá substituir um pelo outro. Se ele trocar um pelo outro, ambos este ou aquele que for trocado será consagrado. E este não será resgatado.

³⁴ Estes são os mandamentos que Yahweh ordenou no Monte Sinai a Moisés, para o povo de Israel.

Numbers

Capítulo 1

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés na Tenda do Encontro no deserto do Sinai, no primeiro dia do segundo mês durante o segundo ano após o povo de Israel ter saído da terra do Egito. Yahweh disse: ² "Realiza um censo de todos os homens de Israel, conforme cada clã, de acordo com a família de seus pais. Conta nominalmente, homem por homem, ³ todos aqueles que tiverem de vinte anos de idade para cima, que são aptos a lutarem como soldados por Israel. Tu e Arão registrareis o número de homens de acordo com grupo armado.

⁴ Um homem de cada tribo, o cabeça do clã, deve servir convosco como o líder de sua tribo. Cada um deverá liderar os homens que lutarão por sua tribo. ⁵ Estes são os nomes dos líderes que lutarão convosco: da tribo de Rúben, Elizur, filho de Sedeur; ⁶ da tribo de Simeão, Selumiel, filho de Zurisadai;

⁷ da tribo de Judá, Nasom, filho de Aminadabe; ⁸ da tribo de Issacar, Netanel, filho de Zuar; ⁹ da tribo de Zebulom, Eliabe, filho de Helom;

¹⁰ da tribo de Efraim, filho de José, Elisama, filho de Amiúde; da tribo de Manassés, Gamaliel, filho de Pedazur; ¹¹ da tribo de Benjamim, Abidã, filho de Gideoni;

¹² da tribo de Dã, Aiezer, filho de Amisadai; ¹³ da tribo de Aser, Pagiel, filho de Ocrã; ¹⁴ da tribo de Gade, Eliasafe, filho de Deuel; ¹⁵ e, da tribo de Naftali, Airá, filho de Enã".

¹⁶ Esses foram os homens escolhidos pelo povo. Eles lideraram as tribos de seus antepassados. Eles foram os líderes dos clãs em Israel.

¹⁷ Moisés e Arão convocaram esses homens, que foram designados pelos seus nomes, ¹⁸ e, junto a eles, reuniram todos os homens de Israel, no primeiro dia do segundo mês. Depois, cada homem de vinte anos de idade para cima identificou seu antepassado, nomeando os clãs e as famílias descendentes de seus antepassados. ¹⁹ Então, Moisés registrou seus números no deserto do Sinai, como Yahweh lhe ordenara.

²⁰ Dos descendentes de Rúben, o primogênito de Israel, foram contados os nomes de todo homem de vinte anos de idade para cima apto a ir para a guerra, dos registros de seus clãs antepassados e famílias. ²¹ Foram contados quarenta e seis mil e quinhentos homens da tribo de Rúben.

²² Dos descendentes de Simeão, foram contados todos os nomes de cada homem de vinte anos de idade para cima apto a ir para a guerra, dos registros dos clãs e das famílias de seus antepassados. ²³ Foram contados cinquenta e nove mil e trezentos homens da tribo de Simeão.

²⁴ Dos descendentes de Gade, foram contados os nomes de todo homem de vinte anos de idade para cima apto a ir para a guerra, dos registros de seus clãs antepassados e famílias. ²⁵ Foram contados quarenta e cinco mil seiscentos e cinquenta homens da tribo de Gade.

²⁶ Dos descendentes de Judá, foram contados os nomes de todo homem de vinte anos de idade para cima apto a ir para a guerra, dos registros de seus clãs antepassados e famílias. ²⁷ Foram contados setenta e quatro mil e seiscentos homens da tribo de Judá.

²⁸ Dos descendentes de Issacar, foram contados os nomes de todo homem de vinte anos de idade para cima apto a ir para a guerra, dos registros de seus clãs antepassados e famílias. ²⁹ Foram contados cinquenta e quatro mil e quatrocentos homens da tribo de Issacar.

³⁰ Dos descendentes de Zebulom, foram contados os nomes de todo homem de vinte anos de idade para cima apto a ir para a guerra, dos registros de seus clãs antepassados e famílias. ³¹ Foram contados cinquenta e sete mil e quatrocentos homens da tribo de Zebulom.

³² Dos descendentes de Efraim, filho de José, foram contados os nomes de todo homem de vinte anos de idade para cima apto a ir para a guerra, dos registros de seus clãs antepassados e famílias. ³³ Foram contados quarenta mil e quinhentos homens da tribo de Efraim.

³⁴ Dos descendentes de Manassés, filho de José, foram contados os nomes de todo homem de vinte anos de idade para cima apto a ir para a guerra, dos registros de seus clãs antepassados e famílias. ³⁵ Foram contados trinta e dois mil e duzentos homens da tribo de Manassés.

³⁶ Dos descendentes de Benjamim, foram contados os nomes de todo homem de vinte anos de idade para cima apto a ir para a guerra, dos registros de seus clãs antepassados e famílias. ³⁷ Foram contados trinta e cinco mil e quatrocentos homens da tribo de Benjamim.

³⁸ Dos descendentes de Dã, foram contados os nomes de todo homem de vinte anos de idade para cima apto a ir para a guerra, dos registros de seus clãs antepassados e famílias. ³⁹ Foram contados sessenta e dois mil e setecentos homens da tribo de Dã.

⁴⁰ Dos descendentes de Aser, foram contados os nomes de todo homem de vinte anos de idade para cima apto a ir para a guerra, dos registros dos clãs e das famílias de seus antepassados. ⁴¹ contados quarenta e um mil e quinhentos homens da tribo de Aser.

⁴² Dos descendentes de Naftali, foram contados os nomes de todo homem de vinte anos de idade para cima apto a ir para a guerra, dos registros dos clãs e das famílias de seus antepassados. ⁴³ Foram contados cinquenta e três mil e quatrocentos homens da tribo de Naftali.

⁴⁴ Moisés e Arão contaram todos esses homens, junto aos doze homens que estavam liderando as doze tribos de Israel. ⁴⁵ Então, todos os homens de Israel de vinte anos de idade para cima, todos os que poderiam lutar na guerra, foram contados em cada uma de suas famílias. ⁴⁶ Foram contados seiscentos e três mil quinhentos e cinquenta homens.

⁴⁷ Mas os homens que eram descendentes de Levi não foram contados, ⁴⁸ porque Yahweh dissera a Moisés: ⁴⁹ "Tu não contarás a tribo de Levi, nem levantarás o censo deles entre os filhos de Israel.

⁵⁰ Em vez disso, encarregarás os levitas de cuidar do Tabernáculo do Testemunho, cuidando de todas as suas mobílias e de tudo que nele há. Eles transportarão o Tabernáculo e as suas mobílias, cuidarão dele e acamparão ao seu redor.

⁵¹ Quando o Tabernáculo tiver que ser transportado para outro lugar, os levitas o desarmarão. Quando o Tabernáculo tiver de ser armado, os levitas o farão. Qualquer estranho que chegar perto do Tabernáculo será morto. ⁵² Quando o povo de Israel montar suas tendas, cada homem o fará perto da bandeira que pertence ao seu grupo armado.

⁵³ Porém, os levitas armarão suas tendas ao redor do Tabernáculo do Testemunho, para que Minha fúria não caia sobre o povo de Israel. Os levitas guardarão o Tabernáculo do Testemunho". ⁵⁴ O povo de Israel fez todas essas coisas. Eles fizeram tudo que Yahweh ordenou através de Moisés.

Capítulo 2

¹ Yahweh falou novamente para Moisés e Arão, dizendo: ² "Todos os descendentes de Israel devem acampar envolta de sua bandeira, com o emblema da sua tribo. Suas tendas ficarão ao redor da tenda do encontro.

³ Aqueles que pertencem à tribo de Judá devem acampar ao redor da bandeira de Judá, a leste da Tenda do Encontro, na direção do nascer do sol. Nason, filho de Aminadabe será o líder do exército de Judá. ⁴ O exército de Judá tinha setenta e quatro mil e seiscentos homens.

⁵ A tribo de Issacar deve acampar ao lado de Judá. Netanel, filho de Zuar será o lider do exército de Issacar. ⁶ O exército dele tinha cinquenta e quatro mil e quatrocentos homens.

⁷ A tribo de Zebulom deve acampar ao lado de Issacar. Eliabe, filho de Helom será o lider do exército de Zebulom. ⁸ O exército dele tinha cinquenta e sete mil e quatrocentos homens.

⁹ O exército acampado junto as tendas de Judá, eram ao todo de cento e oitenta e seis mil e quatrocentos homens. Eles serão os primeiros a levantar o acampamento.

¹⁰ A tribo de Rúben acampará no lado sul, ao redor da sua bandeira. Elizur, filho de Sedeur será o líder do exército de Rúben. ¹¹ O exército dele tinha quarenta e seis mil e quinhentos homens.

¹² A tribo de Simeão acampará ao lado da tribo de Rúben. Selumiel, filho de Zurisadai será o líder do exército de Simeão. ¹³ O exército dele tinha cinquenta e nove mil e trezentos homens.

¹⁴ A tribo de Gade estará ao lado. Eliasafe, filho de Deuel será o líder do exército de Gade. ¹⁵ O exército dele tinha quarenta e cinco mil e seiscentos e cinquenta homens.

¹⁶ Os exércitos acampados junto as tendas de Rúben, eram ao todo de cento e cinquenta e um mil e quatrocentos e cinquenta homens. Eles serão os segundos a levantar acampamento.

¹⁷ Em seguida, a Tenda do Encontro levantará acampamento junto com os levitas, no centro de todos os acampamentos. Eles devem levantar acampamento na mesma ordem que eles acamparam. Cada homem deve estar em seu lugar, junto a sua bandeira.

¹⁸ A tribo de Efraim deverá acampar no lado oeste da tenda do encontro. Elisama, filho de Amiúde será o lider do exército de Efraim. ¹⁹ O exército dele tinha quarenta mil e quinhentos homens.

²⁰ A tribo de Manassés acampará ao lado de Efraim. Gamaliel, filho de Pedazur será o líder do exército de Manassés. ²¹ O exército dele tinha trinta e dois mil e duzentos homens.

²² A Tribo de Benjamim estará ao lado. Abidã, filho de Gideoni será o líder do exército de Benjamim. ²³ O exército dele tinha trinta e cinco mil e quatrocentos homens.

²⁴ Os exércitos acampados junto as tendas de Efraim eram ao todo de cento e oito mil e cem homens. Eles serão os terceiros a levantar acampamento.

²⁵ O tribo de Dã acampará na parte norte da tenda, ao redor da sua bandeira. Aiezer filho de Amisadai, será o líder do exército de Dã. ²⁶ O exército dele tinha sessenta e dois mil e setecentos homens.

²⁷ A tribo de Aser acampará ao lado da tribo de Dã. Pagiel, filho de Ocrã será o lider do exército de Aser. ²⁸ O exército dele tinha quarenta e um mil e quinhentos homens.

²⁹ A tribo de Naftali acampará ao lado. Airá, filho de Enã será o líder do exército de Naftali. ³⁰ O exército dele tinha cinquenta e três mil e quatrocentos homens.

³¹ Os exércitos acampados junto as tendas de Dã eram ao todo de cento e cinquenta e sete mil e seiscentos homens. Eles serão os últimos a levantar acampamento com sua bandeira".

³² Estes é o numero dos exércitos dos Israelitas contados de acordo com suas tribos. Todos os exércitos contados em seus acampamentos eram ao todo de seiscentos e três mil e quinhentos e cinquenta homens. ³³ Mas, os Levitas não foram contados entre as pessoas de Israel. Isso aconteceu como Yahweh tinha ordenado a Moisés.

³⁴ O povo de Israel fez tudo o que Yahweh ordenou a Moisés. Eles acamparam de acordo com suas bandeiras. Eles levantaram acampamento de acordo com a sequência das suas tribos.

Capítulo 3

¹ Essa é a história dos descendentes de Arão e Moisés, quando Yahweh falou com Moisés no Monte Sinai. ² Os nomes dos filhos de Arão eram Nadabe, o primogênito, e Abiú, Eleazar e Itamar.

³ Estes são os nomes dos filhos de Arão, que foram ungidos e ordenados a servir como sacerdotes. ⁴ Mas, Nadabe e Abiú caíram mortos diante de Yahweh, quando ofereceram fogo estranho no deserto do Sinai. Nadabe e Abiú não tinham filhos, portanto, somente Eleazar e Itamar serviram como sacerdotes com Arão, pai deles.

⁵ Yahweh falou a Moisés e disse-lhe: ⁶ "Traz a tribo de Levi e os apresentem a Arão, o sacerdote, para que eles o ajudem.

⁷ Eles cumprirão suas obrigações em nome de Arão e de toda a comunidade, diante da Tenda do Encontro. ⁸ Eles servirão no Tabernáculo. Eles cuidarão de todas as mobílias da Tenda do Encontro, e ajudarão as tribos de Israel, nos ofícios do Tabernáculo.

⁹ Tu dedicarás os levitas a Arão e seus filhos. Eles serão inteiramente separados para ajudá-los a servir o povo de Israel. ¹⁰ Tu escolherás, Arão e seus filhos como sacerdotes, mas qualquer estrangeiro que se aproximar, será morto".

¹¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés. Disse-lhe: ¹² "Eu escolhi os levitas do meio do povo de Israel. Eu fiz assim, ao invés de escolher cada primogênito masculino nascido no meio dos israelitas. Os levitas pertencem a Mim. ¹³ Todos os primogênitos pertencem a Mim. No dia em que matei todos os primogênitos na terra do Egito, Eu separei todos os primogênitos de Israel para Mim, tanto homens quanto animais. Eles pertencem a Mim. Eu sou Yahweh".

¹⁴ Yahweh falou a Moisés no deserto de Sinai. Disse-lhe: ¹⁵ "Conta os descendentes de Levi em cada família, nas casas de seus antepassados. Conta todos os homens que têm um mês de idade até o mais velho". ¹⁶ Moisés os contou, seguindo as direções dadas a ele pelas palavras de Yahweh, como Ele, o Senhor, lhe ordenara.

¹⁷ Os nomes dos filhos de Levi eram: Gérson, Coate e Merari. ¹⁸ Os clãs que vieram dos filhos de Gérson, foram Líbni e Simei. ¹⁹ Os clãs que vieram dos filhos de Coate, foram Anrão, Izar, Hebrom e Uziel. ²⁰ Os clãs que vieram dos filhos de Merari foram Mali e Musi. Esses eram os clãs dos levitas, listados clã por clã.

²¹ Os clãs dos Libnitas, a geraçâo dos Simeítas, vieram de Gérson. Esses são os clãs dos Gersonitas. ²² Todos os homens de um mês de idade até o mais velho foram contados, totalizando sete mil e quinhentos. ²³ Os clãs dos Gersonitas devem acampar, do lado oeste do Tabernáculo.

²⁴ Eliasafe, filho de Lael liderará os clãs dos descendentes dos gersonitas. ²⁵ A família de Gérson cuidará da Tenda do Encontro, incluindo o Tabernáculo. Eles cuidarão da Tenda, da sua cobertura e da cortina da entrada da Tenda da Congregação. ²⁶ Eles devem cuidar das tapeçarias do pátio, das cortinas da entrada do pátio, do pátio ao redor do santuário e do altar. Eles cuidarão das cordas da Tenda do Encontro e de todo seu conteúdo.

²⁷ Estes são os clãs vindos de Coate: o clã dos Anramitas, o clã dos Izaritas, o clã dos Hebronitas, o clã dos Uzielitas. Estes clãs pertencem aos Coatitas. ²⁸ Oito mil e seiscentos homens foram contados de um mês de idade até o mais velho, para cuidarem das coisas que pertenciam a Yahweh. ²⁹ As famílias dos descendentes de Coate devem acampar no lado sul do Tabernáculo.

³⁰ Elizafã, filho de Uziel liderará os clãs dos coatitas. ³¹ Eles cuidarão da arca, da mesa, do candelabro, dos altares, dos utensílios sagrados usados nos cultos, da cortina e de tudo que envolva esse trabalho. ³² Eleazar, filho de Arão, o sacerdote, será o homem que liderará os levitas. Ele supervisionará o homem responsável pelo lugar santo.

³³ Dois clãs vieram de Merari: o clã dos Malitas e o clã dos Musitas. Estes clãs vieram de Merari. ³⁴ Seis mil e duzentos homens foram contados de um mês de idade até o mais velho. ³⁵ Zuriel, filho de Abiail, deverá liderar os clãs de Merari. Eles devem acampar no lado norte do Tabernáculo.

³⁶ Os descendentes de Merari cuidarão do conjunto de estruturas do Tabernáculo, das barras transversais, colunas, bases, e tudo que está relacionado a isso, incluindo ³⁷ os pilares e colunas que estão nos arredores do Tabernáculo, com suas bases, estacas e cordas.

³⁸ Moisés, Arão e seus filhos devem acampar do lado leste do Tabernáculo, perante a Tenda do Encontro, voltados para o nascer do sol. Eles serão os responsáveis pelo cumprimento dos deveres do lugar santo, em prol do povo de Israel. Qualquer estrangeiro que se aproximar do lugar santo deverá ser morto. ³⁹ Moisés e Arão contaram todos os homens do clã de Levi que eram da idade de um mês até o mais velho, como Yahweh os ordenou. Eles contaram vinte e dois mil homens.

⁴⁰ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Conta todos os primogênitos do povo de Israel que são das idades de um mês até o mais velho. Lista-os por nome. ⁴¹ Tu dedicarás os levitas para Mim, ao invés de todos os primogênitos do povo de Israel. Eu sou Yahweh. E tu dedicarás o gado dos levitas, ao invés dos primogênitos dos animais dos descendentes de Israel.

⁴² Moisés contou todos os primogênitos do povo de Israel, como Yahweh lhe ordenara. ⁴³ Ele contou todos os primogênitos masculinos por nome, de um mês de idade até o mais velho, totalizando vinte e dois mil, duzentos e setenta e três homens.

⁴⁴ Novamente, Yahweh falou a Moisés. Ele disse: ⁴⁵ "Separa para Mim os levitas, ao invés de todos os primogênitos do meio do povo de Israel e separa para Mim os animais dos levitas, ao invés dos animais do povo. Os levitas pertencem a Mim. Eu sou Yahweh.

⁴⁶ Tu coletará cinco siclos pela redenção de cada um dos duzentos e setenta e três primogênitos de Israel, que excederam o número dos levitas. ⁴⁷ Tu usará os siclos do santuário como um padrão de peso. O siclo equivale a vinte geras. ⁴⁸ Tu dará o preço da redenção que tu pagastes a Arão e a seus filhos".

⁴⁹ Então Moisés coletou o pagamento de redenção do povo, que excedia o número de resgatados pelos levitas. ⁵⁰ Moisés coletou o dinheiro dos primogênitos do povo de Israel. Ele coletou mil trezentos e sessenta e cinco siclos, segundo o siclo do santuário. ⁵¹ Moisés deu a Arão e seus filhos o dinheiro recebido. Moisés fez tudo o que lhe foi dito para fazer, pela palavra de Yahweh, assim como Ele ordenara.

Capítulo 4

¹ Yahweh falou para Moises e Arão. Ele disse: ² "Conduzi o censo dos descendentes homens de Coate entre os levitas, por seus clãs e antepassados das famílias. ³ Contai todos os homens que têm entre trinta e cinquenta anos de idade. Esses homens entrarão para servir na Tenda do Encontro. ⁴ Os descendentes de Coate cuidarão das coisas mais santas, separadas por Mim, na Tenda do Encontro.

⁵ Quando o acampamento se preparar para avançar, Arão e seus filhos entrarão na Tenda, baixarão a cortina que separa o lugar mais santo do lugar santo, e cobrirão a Arca da Aliança com ela. ⁶ Eles a cobrirão com pele de peixe-boi e espalharão um tecido azul sobre ela e inserirão as varas nos anéis da Arca para carregá-la.

⁷ Eles forrarão a mesa dos pães da presença com um tecido azul. Sobre ela, colocarão as louças, as colheres, bacias, e as jarras para oferta. Os pães sempre estarão sobre a mesa. ⁸ Eles os cobrirão com um tecido vermelho escuro, novamente com pele de peixe-boi, e inserirão as varas nos anéis das mesas para carregá-la.

⁹ Tomarão um pano azul e cobrirão o candelabro da luminária, juntamente com seus lampiões, pegadores, bandejas, e todas as jarras de azeite para os lampiões. ¹⁰ Eles envolverão os candelabros e todos os seus acessórios com a pele do peixe-boi, e os colocarão em um suporte. ¹¹ Estenderão um pano azul sobre o altar de ouro e o cobrirão com pele de peixe-boi para, em seguida, inserir as varas de carregar.

¹² Eles juntarão todos os utensílios para o trabalho no lugar santo e os envolverão em um tecido azul, para, então, cobri-los com pele de peixe-boi e colocá-los no suporte de carregar. ¹³ Eles removerão as cinzas do altar e o cobrirão com um tecido roxo. ¹⁴ Colocarão nele todos os utensílios usados no serviço: os braseiros, garfos, pás, tigelas e todos os outros utensílios do altar. E cobrirão o altar com a pele de peixe-boi para, então, inserir as varas de carregar.

¹⁵ Quando Arão e seus filhos cobrirem completamente o lugar santo e todos os seus utensílios, e quando o acampamento avançar, então os descendentes de Coates devem carregar o lugar santo. Se eles tocarem os instrumentos santos, morrerão. Este é o trabalho dos descendentes de Coate, de carregar as mobílias da Tenda do Encontro. ¹⁶ Eliazar, filho do sacerdote Arão, carregará o azeite para o lampião. Ele deve supervisionar o carregamento do incenso doce, o cereal da oferta regular, o óleo da unção, todo o Tabernáculo e tudo que está nele, as mobílias santas e os utensílios".

¹⁷ Yahweh falou para Moisés e Arão. Ele disse: ¹⁸ "Não permitais que o clã tribal dos coatitas seja removido dentre os levitas. ¹⁹ Protegei-lhes, para que eles vivam e não morram fazendo isso. Quando eles se aproximarem das coisas mais santas, ²⁰ eles não entrarão para ver o lugar santo, nem sequer por um momento, ou, então, morrerão. Arão e seus filhos serão quem entrarão. Estes são os que atribuirão a cada coatita sua tarefa, sua habilidade especial".

²¹ Yahweh falou novamente para Moisés. Ele disse: ²² "Conduze também um censo dos descendentes de Gérson, dos ancestrais das famílias de seus clãs. ²³ Conta todos os que têm de trinta a cinquenta anos de idade. Conta todos os que entrarão no serviço para fazer o trabalho na Tenda do Encontro".

²⁴ Este é o trabalho da tribo dos gersonitas, o que devem fazer e o que devem carregar. ²⁵ Eles carregarão as cortinas do Tabernáculo, a Tenda do Encontro, suas cobertas, as cobertas do peixe-boi que estão sobre ela, e as cortinas para a entrada da Tenda do Encontro. ²⁶ Eles devem carregar as cortinas do pátio, as cortinas da entrada da porta do pátio, que está perto do Tabernáculo e próximo do altar, suas cordas, e todos os utensílios para o serviço. Servirão em tudo o que diz respeito a essas coisas.

²⁷ Arão e seus filhos direcionarão todo o serviço dos descendentes dos gersonitas, em todas as coisas que eles transportarem, e em todos os seus serviços. Vós deveis designá-los para todas as suas responsabilidades. ²⁸ Este é o serviço do clã dos descendentes dos gersonitas para a Tenda do Encontro. Itamar, filho de Arão, o sacerdote, deve liderá-los nos seus serviços.

²⁹ Tu contarás os descendentes de Merari por suas tribos, e os ordenarão pelas famílias de seus antepassados, de trinta anos de idade até cinquenta anos de idade. ³⁰ Conta cada um que se unirá ao grupo que servirá na Tenda do Encontro.

³¹ Esta é a responsabilidade e o trabalho deles em todo o serviço na Tenda do Encontro. Eles devem cuidar da estrutura do Tabernáculo, suas traves, suas varas e suas bases, ³² juntamente com as varas do pátio ao redor do Tabernáculo, suas bases, seus pegadores, suas cordas, com todos os seus objetos. Lista os nomes dos artigos que eles devem carregar.

³³ Este é o serviço dos clãs dos descendentes de Merari, o que eles devem fazer na Tenda do Encontro, sob a direção de Itamar, filho de Arão, o sacerdote.

³⁴ Moisés, Arão, e os líderes da comunidade contaram os descendentes dos Coates, pelos clãs dos antepassados de suas famílias. ³⁵ Eles contaram aqueles que tinham entre trinta a cinquenta anos de idade. Eles contaram todos que se juntariam para servir na Tenda do Encontro. ³⁶ Foram contados dois mil, setecentos e cinquenta homens nos seus clãs.

³⁷ Moisés e Arão contaram todos os homens nos clãs e famílias dos coatitas que servem na Tenda do Encontro. Fazendo isso, eles obedeceram ao que Yahweh, por intermédio de Moisés, havia ordenado que fizessem.

³⁸ Os descendentes de Gérson foram contados nos seus clãs, pelos antepassados de suas famílias, ³⁹ de trinta a cinquenta anos de idade, todos os que se uniriam para servir na Tenda do Encontro. ⁴⁰ Todos os homens, contados em suas tribos e nas famílias de seus antepassados, totalizaram dois mil, seiscentos e trinta.

⁴¹ Moisés e Arão contaram os clãs dos descendentes de Gerson que iriam servir na Tenda do Encontro. Fazendo isso, eles obedeceram ao que Yahweh havia ordenado, por intermédio de Moisés.

⁴² Os descendentes de Merari foram contados nos seus clãs pelos descendentes dos antepassados de cada família, ⁴³ de trinta a cinquenta anos de idade, todos que se uniriam para servir na Tenda do Encontro. ⁴⁴ Todos os homens, contados por clã e por seus antepassados familiares, totalizaram três mil e duzentos.

⁴⁵ Moisés e Arão contaram todos os homens, os descendentes de Merari. Fazendo isso, eles obedeceram ao que Yahweh havia ordenado, por intermédio de Moisés.

⁴⁶ Assim, Moisés e Arão, e os líderes de Israel, contaram todos os levitas nos seus clãs e pela família de seus antepassados ⁴⁷ de trinta a cinquenta anos. Eles contaram todos os que trabalhariam no Tabernáculo, e que iriam carregar e cuidar dos itens da Tenda do Encontro. ⁴⁸ Eles contaram oito mil, quinhentos e oitenta homens.

⁴⁹ Conforme Yahweh ordenara, Moisés contou cada homem, mantendo a contagem de acordo com o tipo de trabalho que cada um fazia. Ele contou cada homem conforme o tipo de responsabilidade que ele iria ter. E, fazendo isto, eles obedeceram ao que Yahweh havia ordenado, por intermédio de Moisés.

Capítulo 5

¹ Yahweh falou com Moisés. Ele disse: ² "Ordena ao povo de Israel para pôr para fora do acampamento todos com doenças infecciosas de pele, todo aquele que tiver uma ferida com pus e todos o que estiverem impuros por haver tocado em um cadáver. ³ Tanto homens quanto mulheres serão retirados do acampamento. Eles não devem contaminar o acampamento, no qual habito". ⁴ Assim fez o povo de Israel. Eles os tiraram do acampamento, como Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés. O povo de Israel obedeceu a Yahweh.

⁵ Novamente, Yahweh falou com Moisés. Ele disse: ⁶ "Fala ao povo de Israel. Quando um homem ou mulher cometer qualquer pecado com outra pessoa, e não for fiel a Mim, essa pessoa será culpada. ⁷ Ela confessará os pecados que cometeu e pagará o preço completo por sua culpa, acrescentando um quinto a mais. Ela pagará à pessoa contra quem tiver pecado.

⁸ Mas, se a pessoa culpada não tiver nenhum parente próximo para receber o pagamento, ela terá que pagar o preço de sua culpa para Mim por meio de um sacerdote, além do carneiro da expiação por ela. ⁹ Toda oferta apresentada para um sacerdote, de todas as coisas santas e as coisas separadas para Mim pelo povo de Israel, pertencerão àquele sacerdote. ¹⁰ As ofertas de todas as pessoas pertencerão ao sacerdote. Tudo o que qualquer homem der ao sacerdote pertencerá àquele sacerdote".

¹¹ Novamente, Yahweh falou a Moisés. Ele disse: ¹² "Fala ao povo de Israel. Dize-lhes: 'Se a esposa de um homem se desviar, pecando contra seu marido, e

¹³ se outro homem tiver dormido com ela, neste caso, ela está contaminada. Ainda que seu marido não veja ou saiba do ocorrido e isso ficar escondido e não tiver ninguém para testemunhar contra ela, ¹⁴ contudo, se o marido pode sentir ciúmes e ficar desconfiado que sua esposa está contaminada. Porém, o sentimento de ciúmes pode falsamente vir sobre um homem quando sua mulher não estiver contaminada.

¹⁵ Nesses casos, o homem deve trazer sua esposa ao sacerdote. O marido trará como oferta a décima parte de um efa de farinha de cevada. Ele não derramará azeite ou incenso sobre isso porque é uma oferta de cereais por ciúmes, como oferta de suspeita de pecado.

¹⁶ O sacerdote deverá aproximá-la e colocá-la diante de Yahweh. ¹⁷ O sacerdote trará uma jarra de água sagrada e tirar pó do chão do tabernáculo e colocará o pó dentro da água.

¹⁸ O sacerdote apresentará a mulher diante de Yahweh. A mulher descobrirá sua cabeça e desamarrará seu cabelo. O sacerdote colocará o grão em suas mãos como oferta memorial. Este é o grão oferecido por ciúmes. O sacerdote segurará, em suas mãos, a água amarga, que pode trazer uma maldição a ela. ¹⁹ O sacerdote ordenará que a mulher prometa um voto e falará para a mulher: 'Se nenhum outro homem tiver se relacionado sexualmente contigo e se tu não tiveres te perdido e cometido impureza, então, estarás livre da água amarga que pode levar-te à maldição.

²⁰ Mas, se tu, uma mulher estando sob autoridade do seu marido, te desviaste, se tiveres te contaminado e, se outro homem tiver dormido contigo, ²¹ (o sacerdote ordenará que a mulher prometa um voto que poderá trazer uma maldição e continuará falando com ela)' então, Yahweh te colocará uma maldição que será mostrada para seu povo. E acontecerá que Yahweh fará definhar a tua coxa e inchará o teu ventre. ²² Essa água que traz a maldição entrará em teu estômago, inchará teu abdome e enfraquecerá tua coxa'. A mulher há de responder: 'Sim, que isso aconteça se eu tiver culpa'.

²³ O sacerdote escreverá essas maldições em um rolo e, então, terá que lavar as palavras de maldições na água amarga.

²⁴ O sacerdote fará com que a mulher beba a água amarga que traz maldição. A água que traz maldição entrará nela e se tornará amarga. ²⁵ O sacerdote também pegará um punhado de oferta de grãos de ciúmes das mãos dela. Ele segurará a oferta de grãos diante de Yahweh e trazê-la até o altar. ²⁶ O sacerdote pegará um punhado da oferta de grãos, uma oferta representativa, e irá queimá-la no altar. Então, ele dará a mulher a água amarga para beber.

²⁷ Quando ele der-lhe a água para beber, se estiver contaminada porque cometeu um pecado contra seu marido, então, a água que traz maldição entrará nela e se tornará amarga. Seu ventre se inchará e sua coxa definhará. A mulher será amaldiçoada entre seu povo. ²⁸ Mas, se a mulher não estiver contaminada e estiver limpa, então, será liberada e será capaz de gerar filhos.

²⁹ Esta é a lei do ciúmes. Esta é a lei para uma mulher que trair seu marido e estiver contaminada. ³⁰ Esta é a lei para o homem com um sentimento de ciúmes quando ele estiver com ciúmes de sua esposa. Ele trará a mulher diante de Yahweh e o sacerdote fará com ela tudo o que esta lei dos ciúmes descreve.

³¹ O homem será eximido de culpa por trazer sua esposa para o sacerdote. A mulher terá que levar qualquer culpa que possa ter".

Capítulo 6

¹ Yahweh falou para Moisés. Ele disse: ² "Fala ao povo de Israel, dizendo: 'Quando um homem ou uma mulher se consagrarem para Yahweh com um voto especial de nazireu, ³ precisará manter-se longe de vinho e de bebida forte: não beberá vinagre feito de vinho ou de bebida forte. Não beberá nenhum tipo de suco de uva, nem comerá uvas frescas ou secas. ⁴ Durante todos os dias em que estiver separado para Mim, não comerá nada que seja feito de uvas, incluindo tudo que é feito das sementes e das cascas.

⁵ Por todo o tempo do seu voto de separação, não usará lâmina em sua cabeça até que se cumpram os seus dias de separação para Yahweh. Ele se dedicará a Yahweh, e deixará o cabelo crescer em sua cabeça.

⁶ Durante todo o tempo em que estiver separado para Yahweh, não se aproximará de nenhum cadáver. ⁷ Ele não se tornará impuro, mesmo que por seu pai, mãe, irmão ou irmã, se eles morrerem. Isso é porque ele está separado para Deus, como todos podem ver, por causa de seu cabelo longo. ⁸ Durante todo o tempo de sua separação, ele será santo, reservado para Yahweh.

⁹ Se alguém morrer de repente ao seu lado e profanar sua consagração, então ele raspará sua cabeça no dia de sua purificação - no sétimo dia, ele raspará sua cabeça.

¹⁰ No oitavo dia, ele trará duas rolinhas ou dois pombinhos ao sacerdote, na entrada da Tenda do Encontro. ¹¹ O sacerdote oferecerá um pássaro como oferta pelo pecado e o outro como oferta queimada. Esses farão expiação por ele, porque pecou por estar perto do corpo morto. Ele se consagrará novamente naquele mesmo dia.

¹² Ele se dedicará a Yahweh pelo tempo de sua consagração. Trará um cordeiro macho de um ano como oferta de culpa. Os dias antes dele se contaminar não serão contados, porque sua consagração foi profanada.

¹³ Esta é a lei do nazireu, para quando se completar o tempo de sua separação. Ele será trazido à entrada da Tenda do Encontro. ¹⁴ Apresentará sua oferta para Yahweh. Oferecerá como oferta queimada um cordeiro de um ano sem defeito. Trará como oferta pelo pecado uma ovelha de um ano sem defeito. Trará um carneiro que não tenha defeito como oferta pacífica. ¹⁵ Trará também uma cesta de pães feitos sem fermento, bolos da melhor farinha misturada com azeite, pães asmos untados com azeite, junto com sua oferta de cereais e libação.

¹⁶ O sacerdote apresentará tudo diante de Yahweh. Ele oferecerá a oferta pelo pecado e a oferta queimada. ¹⁷ Com a cesta de pães sem fermento, ele oferecerá o carneiro como sacrificio, como oferta pacífica para Yahweh. O sacerdote apresentará também a oferta de cereais e de libação.

¹⁸ O nazireu raspará a sua cabeça indicando sua separação para Deus, na entrada da Tenda do Encontro. Ele pegará o seu cabelo e o colocará no fogo que está debaixo do sacrificio da oferta pacífica.

¹⁹ O sacerdote pegará a espádua cozida do carneiro, um bolo sem fermento do cesto e um pão asmo. Ele os colocará nas mãos do nazireu, depois de haver raspado sua cabeça indicando separação. ²⁰ O sacerdote os moverá, apresentando-os como oferta diante de Yahweh; isto é comida sagrada, reservada para o sacerdote, junto com o peito e a coxa que foram apresentados. Depois disso, o nazireu poderá beber vinho.

²¹ Esta é a lei do nazireu, que faz o voto de oferta por sua separação para Yahweh. Além de qualquer outra coisa que ele possa dar, ele deve manter as obrigações do voto que fez, para manter sua promessa indicada pela lei do nazireu".

²² De novo Yahweh falou com Moisés, dizendo: ²³ "Fala com Arão e seus filhos. Diz: 'Vós abençoareis o povo de Israel dessa forma: ²⁴ Que Yahweh vos abençoe e vos guarde.

²⁵ Que Yahweh faça a Sua face brilhar sobre vós e seja gracioso convosco. ²⁶ Que Yahweh vos olhe com favor e vos dê a paz. ²⁷ É dessa forma que eles devem dar o meu nome ao povo de Israel. Então, Eu os abençoarei".

Capítulo 7

¹ No dia em que Moisés finalizou o Tabernáculo, ele o ungiu e dedicou-o a Yahweh, junto com toda sua mobília. Ele fez o mesmo com o altar e todos os seus utensílios. Ele os ungiu e dedicou-os a Yahweh. ² Naquele dia, os líderes de Israel, os cabeças das famílias dos antepassados, ofereceram sacrifícios. Esses homens estavam liderando as tribos. Foram eles que supervisionaram a contagem dos homens no censo. ³ Eles trouxeram suas ofertas diante de Yahweh. Eles trouxeram seis carros cobertos e doze bois. Eles trouxeram um carro para cada dois líderes, e cada líder trouxe um boi. Eles apresentaram essas coisas em frente do Tabernáculo.

⁴ Então Yahweh falou a Moisés. Ele disse: ⁵ "Aceite as ofertas deles e use as ofertas para o trabalho na Tenda do Encontro. Dê as ofertas para os levitas, para cada um segundo seu serviço".

⁶ Moisés pegou os carros e os bois, e os deu para os levitas. ⁷ Ele deu dois carros e quatro bois para os descendentes de Gérson, por conta daquilo que o trabalho deles necessitava. ⁸ Ele deu quatro carros e oito bois para os descendentes de Merari, aos cuidados de Itamar, filho de Arão, o sacerdote. Ele fez isso por conta daquilo que o trabalho deles requeria.

⁹ Mas, ele não deu nenhuma dessas coisas aos descendentes de Coate, porque deles seria o trabalho relacionado as coisas pertencentes a Yahweh, as quais carregariam em seus próprios ombros.

¹⁰ Os líderes ofereceram seus bens para a dedicação do altar, no dia que Moisés ungiu o altar. Os líderes ofereceram seus sacrifícios em frente ao altar. ¹¹ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Cada líder, em seu próprio dia, deve oferecer seu sacrifício para a dedicação do altar".

¹² No primeiro dia, Nasom, filho de Aminadabe, da tribo de Judá, ofereceu seu sacrifício. ¹³ O sacrifício dele foi uma bandeja de prata, pesando cento e trinta siclos e uma bacia de prata pesando setenta siclos, segundo o peso padrão do siclo do Santuário. Ambos objetos estavam cheios de flor de farinha amassada, misturada com azeite para a oferta de cereais. ¹⁴ Ele também deu um prato de ouro pesando dez siclos, cheio de incenso.

¹⁵ Ele deu como oferta queimada um novilho, um carneiro, e um cordeiro macho de um ano. ¹⁶ Ele deu um bode como oferta pelo pecado. ¹⁷ Ele deu dois bois, cinco carneiros, cinco bodes, e cinco cordeiros machos de um ano, como oferta pacífica. Esse foi o sacrifício de Nasom, filho de Aminadabe.

¹⁸ No segundo dia, Natanael filho de Zuar, líder de Issacar, ofereceu seu sacrifício ¹⁹ Ele ofereceu como seu sacrifício uma bandeja de prata pesando cento e trinta ciclos e uma bacia de prata de setenta siclos, pelo peso padrão do siclo do lugar santo. Ambos objetos estavam cheios de flor de farinha amassada, misturada com azeite para a oferta de cereais.

²⁰ Ele também ofereceu um prato de ouro, pesando dez siclos, cheio de incenso. ²¹ Ele ofereceu como oferta queimada um novilho, um carneiro, e um cordeiro macho de um ano de idade. ²² Ele ofereceu um bode como oferta pelo pecado. ²³ Ele ofereceu dois bois, cinco carneiros, cinco bodes e cinco cordeiros machos de um ano, como sacrifício para a oferta pacífica. Esse foi o sacrifício de Natanael, filho de Zoar.

²⁴ No terceiro dia, Eliabe, filho de Helom, líder dos descendentes de Zebulom, ofereceu seu sacrifício. ²⁵ Seu sacrifício foi uma bandeja de prata, pesando cento e trinta siclos e uma bacia de prata, pesando setenta siclos, conforme o peso padrão do siclo do santuário. Ambos objetos estavam cheios de flor de farinha amassada, misturada com azeite para a oferta de cereais. ²⁶ Ele também ofereceu um prato de ouro, pesando dez siclos, cheio de incenso.

²⁷ Ele ofereceu como oferta queimada um novilho, um carneiro e um cordeiro macho de um ano. ²⁸ Ele ofereceu um bode como oferta pelo pecado. ²⁹ Ele ofereceu dois bois, cinco carneiros, cinco bodes e cinco cordeiros machos de um ano, como sacrifício para a oferta pacífica. Esse foi o sacrifício de Eliabe, filho de Helom.

³⁰ No quarto dia, Elizur, filho de Sedeur, líder dos descendentes de Rúben, ofereceu seu sacrifício. ³¹ Seu sacrifício foi uma bandeja de prata, pesando cento e trinta siclos e uma bacia de prata, pesando setenta siclos, conforme o peso padrão do siclo do santuário. Ambos objetos estavam cheios de flor de farinha amassada com óleo para a oferta de cereais. ³² Ele também deu uma prato de ouro pesando dez siclos, cheia de incenso.

³³ Ele ofereceu como oferta queimada um novilho, um carneiro e um cordeiro macho de um ano. ³⁴ Ele deu um bode como oferta pelo pecado. ³⁵ Ele deu dois bois, cinco carneiros, cinco bodes, e cinco cordeiros machos de um ano, como sacrifício para a oferta pacífica. Esse foi o sacrifício de Elizur, filho de Sedeur.

³⁶ No quinto dia, Selumiel, filho de Zurisadai, líder dos descendentes de Simeão, ofereceu seu sacrifício. ³⁷ O sacrifício dele foi uma bandeja de prata, pesando cento e trinta siclos e uma bacia de prata, pesando setenta siclos, segundo o peso padrão do siclo do santuário. Ambos os objetos estavam cheios de flor de farinha misturada com óleo para a oferta de cereais. ³⁸ Ele também deu um prato de ouro pesando, dez siclos, cheio de incenso.

³⁹ Ele deu como oferta queimada um novilho, um carneiro e um cordeiro macho de um ano. ⁴⁰ Ele deu um bode como oferta pelo pecado. ⁴¹ Ele deu dois bois, cinco carneiros, cinco bodes, e cinco cordeiros machos de um ano, como o sacrifício para a oferta pacífica. Esse foi o sacrifício de Selumiel, filho de Zurisadai.

⁴² No sexto dia, Eliasafe, filho de Deuel, líder dos descendentes de Gade, ofereceu seu sacrifício. ⁴³ O sacrifício dele foi uma bandeja de prata, pesando cento e trinta siclos e uma bacia de prata, pesando setenta siclos, segundo o peso padrão do siclo do santuário. Ambos os objetos estavam cheios de flor de farinha misturada com óleo para a oferta de cereais. ⁴⁴ Ele também deu um prato de ouro, pesando dez siclos, cheio de incenso.

⁴⁵ Ele ofereceu como oferta queimada um novilho, um carneiro e um cordeiro de um ano. ⁴⁶ Ele deu um bode como oferta pelo pecado. ⁴⁷ Ele deu dois bois, cinco carneiros, cinco bodes, e cinco cordeiros machos de um ano, como sacrifício para a oferta pacífica. Esse foi o sacrifício de Eliasafe, filho de Deuel.

⁴⁸ No sétimo dia, Elisama, filho de Amiúde, líder dos descendentes de Efraim, ofereceu seu sacrifício. ⁴⁹ Seu sacrifício foi uma bandeja de prata, pesando cento e trinta siclos e uma bacia de prata, pesando setenta siclos, segundo o peso padrão do siclo do santuário. Ambos os objetos estavam cheio de flor de farinha misturada com óleo para a oferta de cereais. ⁵⁰ Ele também deu um prato de ouro, pesando dez siclos, cheio de incenso.

⁵¹ Ele deu como oferta queimada um novilho, um carneiro e um cordeiro macho de um ano. ⁵² Ele deu um bode como oferta pelo pecado. ⁵³ Ele deu dois bois, cinco carneiros, cinco bodes, e cinco cordeiros machos de um ano, como sacrifício para a oferta pacífica. Esse foi o sacrifício de Elisama, filho de Amiúde.

⁵⁴ No oitavo dia, Gamaliel, filho de Pedazur, líder dos descendentes de Manassés, ofereceu seu sacrifício. ⁵⁵ Seu sacrifício foi uma bandeja de prata, pesando cento e trinta siclos e uma bacia de prata pesando setenta siclos, segundo o peso padrão do siclo do santuário. Ambos os objetos estavam cheios de flor de farinha misturada com óleo para a oferta de cereais. ⁵⁶ Ele também deu um prato de ouro, pesando dez siclos, cheio de incenso.

⁵⁷ Ele deu como oferta queimada um novilho, um carneiro e um cordeiro macho de um ano. ⁵⁸ Ele deu um bode como oferta pelo pecado. ⁵⁹ Ele deu dois bois, cinco carneiros, cinco bodes, e cinco cordeiros machos de um ano, como sacrifício para a oferta pacífica. Esse foi o sacrifício de Gamaliel, filho de Pedazur.

⁶⁰ No nono dia, Abidã, filho de Gideoni, líder dos descendentes de Benajmim, ofereceu seu sacrifício. ⁶¹ Seu sacrifício foi uma bandeja de prata, pesando cento e trinta siclos e uma bacia de prata, pesando setenta siclos, segundo o peso padrão do siclo do santuário. Ambos os objetos estavam cheio de flor de farinha misturada com óleo para a oferta de cereais. ⁶² Ele também deu um prato de ouro, pesando dez siclos, cheio de incenso.

⁶³ Ele deu como oferta queimada um novilho, um carneiro e um cordeiro macho de um ano. ⁶⁴ Ele deu um bode como oferta pelo pecado. ⁶⁵ Ele deu dois bois, cinco carneiros, cinco bodes, e cinco cordeiros machos de um ano, como sacrifício para a oferta pacífica. Esse foi o sacrifício de Abidã, filho de Gideoni.

⁶⁶ No décimo dia, Aiezer, filho de Amisadai, líder dos descendentes de Dã, ofereceu seu sacrifício. ⁶⁷ Seu sacrifício foi uma bandeja de prata, pesando cento e trinta siclos e uma bacia de prata, pesando setenta siclos, segundo o peso padrão do siclo do santuário. Ambos os objetos estavam cheios de flor de farinha misturada com óleo para a oferta de cereais. ⁶⁸ Ele também deu um prato de ouro, pesando dez siclos, cheio de incenso.

⁶⁹ Ele ofereceu como oferta queimada um novilho, um carneiro e um cordeiro macho de um ano. ⁷⁰ Ele deu um bode como oferta pelo pecado. ⁷¹ Ele deu dois bois, cinco carneiros, cinco bodes, e cinco cordeiros machos de um ano, como sacrifício para a oferta pacífica. Esse foi o sacrifício de Aiezer, filho de Amisadai.

⁷² No décimo primeiro dia, Pagiel, filho de Ocrã, líder dos descendentes de Aser, ofereceu seu sacrifício. ⁷³ Seu sacrifício foi uma bandeja de prata, pesando cento e trinta siclos e uma bacia de prata, pesando setenta siclos, segundo o peso padrão do siclo do Santuário. Ambos os objetos estavam cheios de flor de farinha misturada com óleo para a oferta de cereais. ⁷⁴ Ele também deu um prato de ouro pesando dez siclos, cheio de incenso.

⁷⁵ Ele deu como oferta queimada um novilho, um carneiro e um cordeiro de um ano. ⁷⁶ Ele deu um bode como oferta pelo pecado. ⁷⁷ Ele deu dois bois, cinco carneiros, cinco bodes e cinco cordeiros machos de um ano, como sacrifício para a oferta de paz. Esse foi o sacrifício de Pagiel, filho de Ocrã.

⁷⁸ No décimo segundo dia, Airá, filho de Enã, líder dos descendentes de Naftali, ofereceu seu sacrifício. ⁷⁹ Seu sacrifício foi uma bandeja de prata, pesando cento e trinta siclos e uma bacia de prata, pesando setenta siclos, segundo o peso padrão do siclo do santuário. Ambos os objetos estavam cheios de flor de farinha misturada com óleo para a oferta de cereais. ⁸⁰ Ele também deu um prato de ouro, pesando dez siclos, cheio de incenso.

⁸¹ Ele ofereceu como oferta queimada um novilho, um carneiro e um cordeiro macho de um ano. ⁸² Ele deu um bode como oferta pelo pecado. ⁸³ Ele deu dois bois, cinco carneiros, cinco bodes, e cinco cordeiros machos de um ano, como sacrifício para a oferta pacífica. Esse foi o sacrifício de Airá, filho de Enã.

⁸⁴ Os líderes de Israel dedicaram todas estas coisas no dia que Moisés ungiu o altar. Eles dedicaram doze bandejas de prata, doze bacias de pratas e doze pratos de ouro. ⁸⁵ Cada bandeja de prata pesando cento e trinta siclos e cada bacia pesando setenta siclos. Todas as vasilhas de prata pesavam dois mil e quatrocentos siclos, segundo o peso padrão do siclo do santuário. ⁸⁶ Cada um dos doze pratos de ouro, cheios de incenso, pesavam dez siclos segundo o peso padrão do siclo do santuário. Todas os pratos de ouro pesavam cento e vinte siclos.

⁸⁷ Eles dedicaram como oferta queimada doze touros, doze carneiros, e doze cordeiros machos de um ano. Eles deram suas ofertas de grãos. Eles deram doze bodes como oferta pelo pecado. ⁸⁸ De todo seu rebanho, eles deram vinte e quatro touros, sessenta carneiros, sessenta bodes e sessenta cordeiros machos de um ano, como sacrifício para a oferta pacífica. Isso foi para a dedicação do altar, depois que este foi ungido.

⁸⁹ Quando Moisés entrou na Tenda do Encontro para falar com Yahweh, ele ouviu Sua voz falando com ele. Yahweh falou com ele de cima da tampa do propiciatório, da arca do testemunho, entre dois querubins. Ele falou com ele.

Capítulo 8

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés. Ele disse: ² "Fala a Arão e dize-lhe: 'As sete lâmpadas devem iluminar em frente ao candelabro quando tu acendê-las'".

³ Arão fez isso. Ele acendeu as lâmpadas no candelabro para iluminar em frente deste, como Yahweh tinha ordenado a Moisés. ⁴ O candelabro era feito de ouro batido desde a sua base até o seu topo, com copos batidos em forma de flores, como Yahweh mostrou a Moisés, assim Moisés fez o candelabro.

⁵ Novamente, Yahweh falou a Moisés. Ele disse: ⁶ "Toma os levitas dentre o povo de Israel e purifica-os.

⁷ Assim farás para purificá-los: Asperge a água da expiação neles. Faze-os rasparem todo o corpo, lavarem suas roupas, e dessa maneira ficarão purificados. ⁸ Então faze-os pegar um novilho com sua oferta de grãos de flor de farinha amassada com azeite. Permite que peguem outro novilho para oferta pelo pecado.

⁹ Apresentarás os levitas perante a Tenda do Encontro, e reunirás toda a comunidade do povo de Israel. ¹⁰ Quando apresentares os levitas diante de Yahweh, o povo de Israel colocará as suas mãos sobre os levitas. ¹¹ Arão oferecerá os levitas diante de Yahweh, apresentando-os como oferta movida do povo de Israel para que sirvam Yahweh.

¹² Os levitas colocarão suas mãos sobre as cabeças dos novilhos. Tu sacrificarás um novilho para oferta pelo pecado e o outro novilho para holocausto para Mim, para expiação dos levitas. ¹³ Apresenta os levitas diante de Arão e diante de seus filhos, e oferece-os como oferta movida para Mim.

¹⁴ Dessa maneira tu separarás os levitas dentre o povo de Israel. Os levitas pertencerão a Mim. ¹⁵ Depois disso, os levitas entrarão para servir na Tenda do Encontro. Tu os purificarás. Tu os oferecerás para Mim como oferta movida.

¹⁶ Faz isso, pois eles são inteiramente Meus dentre o povo de Israel. Eles tomarão o lugar de cada menino que abre o ventre, o primogênito de toda a descendência de Israel. Eu tenho tomado os levitas para Mim mesmo. ¹⁷ Todos os primogênitos entre o povo de Israel são Meus, tanto de homens quanto de animais. No dia em que Eu tirei as vidas de todos os primogênitos na terra do Egito, Eu os consagrei para Mim mesmo.

¹⁸ Eu tomei os levitas dentre o povo de Israel em lugar de todo o primogênito. ¹⁹ Concedi os levitas como presente para Arão e seus filhos. Eu os tomei, dentre o povo de Israel, para fazerem o trabalho do povo, na Tenda do Encontro. Eu os concedi para fazerem expiação pelo povo de Israel, para que nenhuma praga prejudique o povo de Israel, quando aproximarem-se do lugar santo".

²⁰ Assim Moisés, Arão, e toda comunidade do povo de Israel fizeram com os levitas. Eles fizeram tudo o que Yahweh ordenara a Moisés acerca dos levitas. Assim lhes fizeram o povo de Israel. ²¹ Os levitas purificaram a si mesmos dos pecados lavando suas roupas, e Arão apresentou-os por oferta movida para Yahweh e fez expiação por eles, para que fossem purificados.

²² Depois disso, os levitas entraram para fazer o serviço deles na Tenda do Encontro diante de Arão e de seus filhos. Assim era como Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés sobre os levitas. Assim eles fizeram.

²³ Yahweh falou novamente a Moisés: ²⁴ "Tudo isso é para os levitas que tenham vinte cinco anos ou mais. Estarão juntos para servirem na Tenda do Encontro.

²⁵ Eles devem parar de servir dessa maneira com a idade de cinquenta anos. Nesta idade eles não devem servir mais. ²⁶ Eles podem ajudar seus irmãos que continuam a trabalhar na Tenda do Encontro, mas não devem mais servir. Assim conduzirás os levitas em todos estes assuntos".

Capítulo 9

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés no deserto de Sinai, no primeiro mês do segundo ano, depois que eles saíram da terra do Egito. Ele disse: ² "Deixa o povo de Israel celebrar a Páscoa no tempo determinado do ano. ³ No décimo quarto dia deste mês, ao entardecer, vós celebrareis a Páscoa no tempo determinado do ano. Vós a guardareis, seguireis todos os estatutos e obedecereis a todos os decretos que estão relacionados a ela".

⁴ Então, Moisés disse ao povo de Israel que eles deveriam celebrar a Festa da Páscoa. ⁵ Então, eles celebraram a Páscoa no primeiro mês, no décimo quarto dia do mês, ao entardecer, no deserto de Sinai. O povo de Israel obedeceu a tudo que Yahweh ordenou a Moisés.

⁶ Havia certos homens que se tornaram impuros, por tocarem no cadáver de um homem. Eles não podiam celebrar a Páscoa naquele dia. Então, eles foram diante de Moisés e Aarão naquele mesmo dia. ⁷ Aqueles homens disseram a Moisés: "nós estamos impuros devido ao cadáver de um homem. Por que tu nos impedes de oferecer o sacrifício para Yahweh no tempo determinado do ano entre o povo de Israel?". ⁸ Moisés lhes disse: "Esperai para que eu ouça o que Yahweh instruirá acerca de vós".

⁹ Yahweh falou a Moisés. Ele disse: ¹⁰ "Fala ao povo de Israel. Diz: 'Se qualquer um de vós ou vossos descendentes estiverdes impuros, devido a um cadáver ou estiverdes em uma viagem longa, ainda podereis celebrar a Páscoa para Yahweh'.

¹¹ Eles guardarão a Páscoa, no segundo mês, no décimo quarto dia, ao entardecer. Eles comerão com pão sem fermento e ervas amargas. ¹² Eles não deixarão nenhuma sobra para a manhã seguinte ou quebrarão osso algum dos animais. Eles devem guardar todos as regras para a Páscoa.

¹³ Porém, qualquer pessoa que estiver pura e não estiver em viagem, mas que falhar em celebrar a Páscoa, essa pessoa será eliminada de seu povo; porque ele não ofereceu o sacrifício que Yahweh exige no tempo determinado do ano. Tal homem deve carregar seu pecado. ¹⁴ Se um estrangeiro vive entre vós e celebra a Páscoa em honra a Yahweh, ele deve celebrá-la e fazer tudo que Ele ordena, guardando os estatutos da Páscoa, obedecendo às leis. Vós tereis a mesma lei para o estrangeiro e para todo aquele que é nativo da terra".

¹⁵ No dia em que o Tabernáculo foi levantado, a nuvem cobriu o Tabernáculo, isto é, a própria Tenda do Testemunho. Ao entardecer, a nuvem permanecia sobre o Tabernáculo e tinha aparência de fogo até pela manhã. ¹⁶ Ela permanecia dessa forma. A nuvem cobria o Tabernáculo à noite, tinha a aparência de fogo. ¹⁷ Sempre que a nuvem se movia sobre a Tenda, o povo de Israel retomava sua viagem. Sempre que a nuvem parava, o povo acampava.

¹⁸ Ao comando de Yahweh, o povo de Israel viajava e, ao Seu comando, eles acampavam. Enquanto a nuvem parava sobre o Tabernáculo, eles ficavam em seu acampamento. ¹⁹ Quando a nuvem permanecia sobre o Tabernáculo por muitos dias, o povo de Israel obedecia às instruções de Yahweh e não viajava.

²⁰ Às vezes, a nuvem permanecia poucos dias sobre o Tabernáculo. Neste caso, eles obedeciam o comando de Yahweh — voltariam a acampar e viajar ao Seu comando. ²¹ Às vezes, a nuvem estava presente no acampamento desde o entardecer até de manhã. Quando a nuvem se elevava pela manhã, eles viajavam. Se ela continuava por um dia e por uma noite, apenas quando a nuvem se elevava, eles seguiam viagem.

²² Se a nuvem ficasse sobre o Tabernáculo por dois dias, um mês ou um ano, pelo tempo que ela permanecesse lá, o povo de Israel ficava no acampamento e não viajava. Mas, sempre que a nuvem se movia, eles seguiam viagem. ²³ Eles acampavam sob o comando de Yahweh e viajavam ao Seu comando. Eles obedeciam às ordens de Yahweh, entregues por meio de Moisés.

Capítulo 10

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés. Ele disse: ² "Faze duas trombetas de prata. Martela a prata para fazê-las e usa as trombetas para convocar o ajuntamento da comunidade e para chamar a comunidade a mover seus acampamentos.

³ Os sacerdotes tocarão as trombetas para juntar toda a comunidade diante de ti, à entrada da Tenda do Encontro. ⁴ Se os sacerdotes tocarem apenas uma trombeta, então os líderes, os cabeças dos clãs de Israel, devem reunir-se contigo. ⁵ Quando tocardes um sinal alto, os acampamentos do lado leste devem partir.

⁶ Quando tocardes um sinal alto pela segunda vez, os acampamentos do lado sul, devem partir. Eles devem tocar um sinal alto para suas jornadas. ⁷ Quando a comunidade se reunir, tocai a trombeta, mas não alto. ⁸ Os filhos de Arão, os sacerdotes, devem tocar a trombeta. Isto será sempre uma regra ao longo de todas as vossas gerações.

⁹ Quando fordes guerrear na vossa terra contra um adversário que vos oprime, então soareis um alarme com as trombetas. Eu, Yahweh, vosso Deus, me lembrarei de vós e vos salvarei dos vossos inimigos.

¹⁰ Também, nos tempos de celebração, tanto os vossos festivais regulares, quanto o começo dos meses, soareis as trombetas em honra das vossas ofertas queimadas e sobre os sacrifícios das vossas ofertas de comunhão. Isto será como uma recordação vossa para Mim, vosso Deus. Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus."

¹¹ No segundo ano, no segundo mês, no vigésimo dia do mês, a nuvem foi levantada do Tabernáculo dos decretos da aliança. ¹² O povo de Israel, então, partiu do deserto do Sinai em sua jornada. A nuvem parou no deserto de Parã. ¹³ Eles fizeram sua primeira jornada, seguindo o comando de Yahweh dado através de Moisés.

¹⁴ O acampamento sob a bandeira dos descendentes de Judá saiu primeiro, movendo seus exércitos individuais. Nasom, filho de Aminadabe, conduzia o exército de Judá. ¹⁵ Netanel, filho de Zuar, conduzia o exército da tribo dos descendentes de Issacar. ¹⁶ Eliabe, filho de Helom, conduzia o exército da tribo dos descendentes de Zebulom.

¹⁷ Os descendentes de Gérson e de Merari, que cuidavam do Tabernáculo, desmontaram o Tabernáculo e partiram em sua jornada. ¹⁸ Depois, os exércitos sob a bandeira do acampamento de Rúben, partiram em sua jornada. Elizur, filho de Sedeur, conduzia o exército de Rúben. ¹⁹ Selumiel, filho de Zurisadai, conduzia o exército da tribo dos descendentes de Simeão. ²⁰ Eliasafe, filho de Deuel, conduzia o exército da tribo dos descendentes de Gade.

²¹ Os coatitas partiram. Eles carregaram os utensílios do Santuário. Outros deviam montar o Tabernáculo, antes dos coatitas chegarem ao próximo acampamento. ²² Os exércitos sob a bandeira dos descendentes de Efraim, partiram depois. Elisama, filho de Amiúde, conduzia o exército de Efraim. ²³ Gamaliel, filho de Pedazur, conduzia o exército da tribo dos descendentes de Manassés. ²⁴ Abidã, filho de Gideoni, conduzia o exército da tribo dos descendentes de Benjamim.

²⁵ Os exércitos que acampavam sob a bandeira dos descendentes de Dã partiram por último. Aiezer, filho de Amisadai, conduzia o exército de Dã. ²⁶ Pegiel, filho de Ocrã, conduzia o exército da tribo dos descendentes de Aser. ²⁷ Airá, filho de Enã, conduzia o exército da tribo dos descendentes de Naftali. ²⁸ Esse era o modo como os exércitos do povo de Israel, partiram em sua jornada.

²⁹ Moisés falou com Hobabe, filho de Reuel, o midianita. Reuel era o pai da esposa de Moisés. Moisés falou com Hobabe e disse: "Nós estamos viajando para o lugar que Yahweh descreveu. Yahweh disse: 'Eu vos darei esse lugar'. Vem conosco e nós te faremos bem. Yahweh prometeu fazer o bem a Israel." ³⁰ Mas Hobabe disse a Moisés: "Eu não vou convosco. Eu vou para minha própria terra e para meu próprio povo".

³¹ Então Moisés respondeu: "Por favor, não nos deixe. Tu sabes como acampar no deserto. Tu cuidarás de nós. ³² Se tu fores conosco, nós faremos a ti o mesmo bem que Yahweh fizer a nós."

³³ Eles viajaram da montanha de Yahweh por três dias. A arca da aliança de Yahweh foi à frente deles por três dias, para encontrar um lugar para eles descansarem. ³⁴ A nuvem de Yahweh estava sobre eles, durante o dia enquanto eles viajavam.

³⁵ Sempre que a arca partia, Moisés dizia: "Levanta-Te, Yahweh. Dispersa os Teus inimigos. Faz correr de Ti aqueles que Te odeiam." ³⁶ Sempre que a arca parava, Moisés dizia: "Retorna, Yahweh, para as muitas dezenas de milhares de Israel."

Capítulo 11

¹ E aconteceu que o povo murmurava sobre seus problemas aos ouvidos de Yahweh. Yahweh ouviu o povo e ficou irado. Então fogo vindo de Yahweh incendiou no meio deles e consumiu alguns nas extremidades do acampamento. ² O povo clamou a Moisés, e Moisés orou a Yahweh, e o fogo cessou. ³ Aquele lugar foi chamado Teberá, porque o fogo de Yahweh se acendeu no meio eles.

⁴ Alguns estrangeiros vieram com os descendentes de Israel. Eles queriam uma comida melhor. Então as pessoas de Israel começaram a prantear e dizer: "Quem nos dará carne para comer? ⁵ Lembramos do peixe que comíamos de graça no Egito, os pepinos, os melões, os alhos-porós, as cebolas e o alho. Agora estamos fracos. ⁶ Nós não vemos nada além desse maná para comer".

⁷ O maná era como a semente de coentro, tinha a cor da semente de coentro e a cor da resina. ⁸ As pessoas caminhavam em volta e o colhia. Ele era triturado em moinhos, amassado em um pilão, cozido em panelas, e dele faziam bolos. Tinha o gosto do azeite de oliva fresco.

⁹ Quando o orvalho caía, à noite, no acampamento, o maná também caía. ¹⁰ Moisés ouviu as pessoas chorando com seus familiares, e todos os homens estavam na entrada de suas barracas. Yahweh ficou muito indignado. Aos olhos de Moisés, eles estavam errados em reclamar.

¹¹ Moisés disse a Yahweh: "Por que Tu trataste tão mal o teu servo? Porque Tu não estais satisfeito comigo? Tu me fizeste carregar a carga dessas pessoas. ¹² Por acaso eu dei à luz a todas estas pessoas? Eu as concebi para dizeres a mim: 'Carrega-as no peito como a ama carrega seu bebê?' Devo eu carregá-las para a terra que Tu juraste dar a teus antepassados?

¹³ Onde posso encontrar carne para todas estas pessoas? Elas estão pranteando na minha frente e dizendo-me: 'Dá-nos carne para comer'. ¹⁴ Eu não posso suportar todas estas pessoas sozinho. Isto é demais para mim! ¹⁵ Se Tu vais me tratar assim, mata-me agora, se Tu és bondoso para comigo, afasta o meu sofrimento".

¹⁶ Disse Yahweh a Moisés: "Traga-me setenta anciãos de Israel. Tenha certeza de que são anciãos e oficiais dessas pessoas. Traga-os para a Tenda do Encontro para ficarem lá com você. ¹⁷ Eu virei e falarei contigo lá. Eu tomarei um pouco do Espírito que está em ti e colocarei sobre eles. Eles carregarão a carga das pessoas contigo. E tu não terás que suportar mais sozinho.

¹⁸ Diga às pessoas: "Consagrem-se a Yahweh amanhã. Certamente vós comereis carne, vós lamentastes e Yahweh vos ouvistes. Tu disseste: 'Quem nos dará carne para comer? No Egito íamos bem.' Todavia, Yahweh vos dará carne, e vós ireis comê-la. ¹⁹ Vós não comereis carne por apenas um dia, nem dois dias, nem cinco dias, nem dez dias, ou vinte dias, ²⁰ mas comereis carne por um mês inteiro, até sair pelas vossas narinas. Isto será um desgosto para vós, porque rejeitastes Yahweh, que está no meio de vós, lamentando diante Dele dizendo: 'Por que saimos do Egito?'".

²¹ Então Moisés disse: "Eu estou com seiscentas mil pessoas, e tu disseste: 'Eu os alimentarei com carne o mês inteiro'. ²² Matarei eu os rebanhos para os satisfazer? Pescarei eu todos os peixes do oceano para os satisfazer?". ²³ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Por acaso a minha mão é curta? Agora tu verás se a minha palavra é verdade ou não".

²⁴ Moisés saiu e contou as palavras de Yahweh às pessoas. Ele reuniu setenta dos anciãos do povo e os posicionou em volta da Tenda. ²⁵ Yahweh desceu em uma nuvem e falou a Moisés. Yahweh tomou parte do Espírito que estava em Moisés e o colocou sobre os setenta anciãos. Quando o Espírito repousou sobre eles, profetizaram, mas somente naquela ocasião e nunca mais.

²⁶ Dois homens permanceram no acampamento. Eram Eldade e Medade. O Espírito também repousou sobre eles. Seus nomes estavam escritos na lista, mas eles não foram para fora da Tenda. Mesmo assim, profetizaram dentro do acampamento. ²⁷ Um jovem no acampamento correu e contou a Moisés: "Eldade e Medade estão profetizando no acampamento."

²⁸ Josué, filho de Num, assistente de Moisés, um de seus escolhidos, falou a Moisés: "Meu mestre Moisés, impeça-os". ²⁹ Moisés disse-lhe: "Tu estais com ciúmes por minha causa? Eu gostaria que todo o povo de Yahweh fosse profeta e que Ele colocasse Seu Espírito em todos eles". ³⁰ Então, Moisés e os anciãos de Israel voltaram para o acampamento.

³¹ Então, veio um vento de Yahweh e trouxe codornas do mar. Elas caíram perto do acampamento, a um dia de jornada de um lado, e a um dia de jornada do outro lado. As cordornas cercaram o acampamento sobre dois côvados acima do chão. ³² As pessoas estavam ocupadas reunindo as cordornas durante o dia todo, à noite, e no dia seguinte. Ninguém recolheu menos que dez ômeres de codornas. Eles as estenderam pelo acampamento.

³³ Enquanto a carne estava entre seus dentes e estavam ainda mastigando, Yahweh enfureceu-se contra eles. Ele os atacou com uma grave doença. ³⁴ Esse lugar foi chamado de Quibrote-Taavá, porque eles enterraram o povo que ansiava por carne. ³⁵ As pessoas viajaram de Quibrote-Taavá para Hazerote, onde ficaram.

Capítulo 12

¹ Miriã e Arão falaram contra Moisés, por causa de mulher etíope com quem ele se casou. ² E disseram: "Yahweh falou somente com Moisés? Ele não falou conosco também?". Então, Yahweh ouviu o que disseram. ³ Moisés era um homem humilde, o mais humilde de toda a terra.

⁴ Imediatamente, Yahweh falou a Moisés, Arão e Miriã: "Saí os três para a Tenda do Encontro". Então, os três saíram. ⁵ Depois, Yahweh desceu em uma coluna de nuvem. Colocando-Se na entrada da Tenda, chamou Arão e Miriã e ambos vieram à frente.

⁶ Yahweh disse: "Agora, ouvi as Minhas palavras. Quando um profeta Meu estiver entre vós, Eu revelarei a Mim mesmo a ele em visões e falarei com ele em sonhos. ⁷ Meu servo Moisés não é como esses. Ele é fiel a toda a Minha casa. ⁸ Eu falo diretamente com Moisés, não por visões ou enigmas. Ele vê a Minha forma. Então, por que não temestes falar contra Meu servo, contra Moisés?".

⁹ A ira de Yahweh se acendeu contra eles e, então, Ele os deixou. ¹⁰ A nuvem deixou a Tenda, e, subitamente, Miriã ficou com lepra — branca como a neve. Quando Arão se virou para Miriã, viu que ela estava com lepra.

¹¹ Arão disse a Moisés: "Ah, meu mestre, rogo-te, não nos imputes este pecado. Nós falamos tolices e pecamos. ¹² Por favor, não a deixes parecida com um recém-nascido morto, cuja carne está consumida pela metade quando sai do ventre de sua mãe".

¹³ Então, Moisés clamou a Yahweh. Disse ele: "Por favor, Deus, cura Miriã, por favor!". ¹⁴ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Se o seu pai cuspisse na face dela, ela seria desonrada por sete dias. Deixa sua irmã fora do acampamento por sete dias. Depois, traz Miriã de volta". ¹⁵ Então, Miriã foi retirada do acampamento por sete dias. O povo não partiu até que ela retornou ao acampamento.

¹⁶ Depois disso, o povo seguiu sua jornada para Hazerote e acampou no deserto de Parã.

Capítulo 13

¹ Então, Yahweh disse a Moisés: ² "Envia alguns homens para espiar a terra de Canaã, que Eu dei para o povo de Israel. Envia um homem de cada tribo de seus antepassados. Cada homem deve ser um líder entre eles".

³ Moisés enviou-lhes do deserto de Parã, em obediência à ordem de Yahweh. Todos eles eram líderes entre o povo de Israel. ⁴ Estes eram seus nomes: da tribo de Rúben, Samua, filho de Zacur;

⁵ Da tribo de Simeão, Safate, filho de Hori; ⁶ Da tribo de Judá, Calebe, filho de Jefoné; ⁷ da tribo de Issacar, Igal, filho de José; ⁸ da tribo de Efraim, Oseias, filho de Num.

⁹ Da tribo de Benjamim, Palti, filho de Rafu; ¹⁰ da tribo de Zebulom, Gadiel, filho de Sodi; ¹¹ dos descendentes de José, da tribo de Manassés, Gadi, filho de Susi; ¹² da tribo de Dã, Amiel, filho de Gemali;

¹³ Da tribo de Aser, Setur, filho de Micael; ¹⁴ da tribo de Naftali, Nabi, filho de Vofsi; ¹⁵ da tribo de Gade, Geuel, filho de Maqui. ¹⁶ Esses eram os nomes dos homens que Moisés enviou para espiar a terra. Moisés chamou Oseias, filho de Num, pelo nome de Josué.

¹⁷ Moisés os enviou para espiar a terra de Canaã. Ele lhes disse: "Aproximai-vos pelo Neguebe e subi até as montanhas. ¹⁸ Examinai como é a terra. Observai o povo que nela habita, se é forte ou fraco, e se são poucos ou muitos. ¹⁹ Vede como é a terra em que eles vivem. Ela é boa ou má? Como são as cidades ali? São como acampamentos ou são cidades fortificadas? ²⁰ Vede como é a terra, se é boa para o plantio ou não, e se há árvores nela ou não. Sede corajosos e trazei amostras do que a terra produz". Aquele tempo era a estação da colheita das primeiras uvas.

²¹ Então, os homens subiram e examinaram a terra desde o deserto de Zim até Reobe, perto de Lebo-Hamate. ²² Eles subiram de Neguebe e chegaram até Hebrom. Aimã, Sesai, e Talmai, clãs descendentes de Anaque, habitavam ali. Hebrom havia sido construída sete anos antes de Zoã, no Egito.

²³ Quando alcançaram o vale de Escol, cortaram um ramo de videira com um cacho de uvas. Eles o carregaram numa vara entre dois homens do grupo. Também trouxeram romãs e figos. ²⁴ Aquele lugar foi chamado Vale de Escol, por causa do cacho de uvas que o povo de Israel cortou ali.

²⁵ Após quarenta dias, eles retornaram de espiar a terra. ²⁶ Eles retornaram a Moisés, Arão, e a toda a comunidade do povo de Israel, que estava no deserto de Parã, em Cades. Relataram a eles e a toda a comunidade, e mostraram-lhes os frutos da terra.

²⁷ Eles contaram a Moisés: "Nós chegamos à terra que tu nos enviaste. Ela certamente mana leite e mel. Aqui estão alguns de seus frutos. ²⁸ Porém, os povos que nela residem são poderosos. As cidades são fortificadas e muito grandes. Nós também vimos ali os descendentes de Anaque. ²⁹ Os amalequitas vivem no Neguebe. Os heteus, os jebuseus, e amorreus residem nas montanhas. Os cananeus vivem próximo ao mar e às margens do rio Jordão".

³⁰ Então, Calebe fez calar o povo que estava reunido diante de Moisés. Ele disse: "Subamos e tomemos posse da terra, pois certamente somos capazes de conquistá-la". ³¹ Mas os outros homens que haviam ido com ele disseram: "Nós não somos capazes de atacar aquele povo, pois é muito mais forte que nós".

³² Então, eles disseminaram entre o povo de Israel um relato de desânimo sobre a terra que haviam espiado. Eles disseram: "A terra que espiamos é uma terra que devora seus próprios habitantes. E todos os que vimos lá são de grande estatura. ³³ Ali vimos gigantes, descendentes de Anaque, povo que descende de gigantes. Ao nosso ver, éramos como gafanhotos em comparação a eles, e isso é o que também éramos à vista deles".

Capítulo 14

¹ Naquela noite, toda a comunidade chorou em alta voz. ² Todo o povo de Israel criticou Moisés e Arão. Toda a comunidade, então, disse: "Seria melhor se tivéssemos morrido na terra do Egito ou aqui no deserto! ³ Por que Yahweh nos trouxe a esta terra para morrermos pela espada? Nossas esposas e nossos pequeninos se tornarão vítimas. Não seria melhor voltarmos para o Egito?".

⁴ Disseram uns aos outros: "Vamos escolher outro líder e retornar ao Egito". ⁵ Então, Moisés e Arão se curvaram diante da assembleia da comunidade do povo de Israel.

⁶ Josué, filho de Num, e Calebe, filho de Jefoné, que foram alguns daqueles mandados para examinar a terra, rasgaram suas vestes. ⁷ E falaram a toda comunidade do povo de Israel, dizendo: "A terra pela qual passamos e examinamos é muito boa. ⁸ Se Yahweh se agradar de nós, Ele nos levará à terra e a nós entregará; da terra, flui leite e mel.

⁹ Mas não vos rebeleis contra Yahweh e não tenhais medo do povo da terra. Nós os consumiremos facilmente, como se fossem comida. A proteção deles será removida, porque Yahweh está conosco. Não tenhais medo deles". ¹⁰ Mas toda a comunidade ameaçou a apedrejá-los até a morte. Então, a glória de Yahweh apareceu na Tenda do Encontro a todo o povo de Israel.

¹¹ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Por quanto tempo esse povo Me desprezará? Por quanto tempo ainda desconfiarão de Mim, a despeito de todos os sinais do Meu poder que Eu já lhes mostrei? ¹² Eu os atacarei com pragas, os deserdarei e farei de tua família uma nação que será superior e mais poderosa que a deles".

¹³ Moisés disse a Yahweh: "Se Tu fizeres isso, os egípcios ouvirão a respeito, porque Tu resgatastes este povo da mão deles, pelo Teu poder. ¹⁴ Eles contarão isso aos moradores desta terra. Tais moradores têm ouvido que Tu, Yahweh, estás presente com este povo, porque Tu és visto face a face. Tua nuvem permanece sobre nosso povo e vais diante deles numa coluna de nuvem durante o dia e em uma coluna de fogo durante a noite.

¹⁵ Agora, se matares este povo como a uma só pessoa, as nações que ouviram a Tua fama comentarão e dirão: ¹⁶ 'porque Yahweh não pôde levar Seu povo à terra que prometera, Ele os matou no deserto'.

¹⁷ Agora, imploro a Ti, usa Teu grande poder. Pois Tu disseste: ¹⁸ 'Yahweh é tardio em irar-se e abundante em misericórdia. Ele perdoa iniquidades e trangressões. De maneira nenhuma, Ele limpará a culpa quando Ele trouxer a punição do pecado dos antepassados sobre seus descendentes, até a terceira e quarta geração'. ¹⁹ Perdoa, eu Te imploro, o pecado deste povo por causa da grandeza da Tua misericórdia, assim como Tu sempre perdoaste este povo, desde o tempo em que estiveram no Egito até agora".

²⁰ Yahweh disse: "Tenho os perdoado, cumprindo, assim, o teu pedido. ²¹ Mas, tão certo quanto Eu vivo, bem como toda a terra será cheia da Minha glória, ²² todo esse povo que viu Minha glória e os sinais de poder que fiz no Egito e no deserto, eles ainda Me tentaram nestas dez vezes e não ouviram Minha voz.

²³ Eu digo que certamente não verão a terra sobre a qual fiz uma promessa a seus antepassados. Nenhum deles que Me odiou verá, ²⁴ exceto Meu servo Calebe, porque ele teve um outro espírito. Ele Me tem seguido inteiramente; Eu o levarei para terra que ele foi examinar. Seus descendentes a possuirão. ²⁵ (Ora, os amalequitas e os cananeus vivem no vale.) Amanhã, voltai e ide para o deserto pelo caminho do Mar Vermelho".

²⁶ Yahweh falou a Moisés e Arão, dizendo-lhes: ²⁷ "Por quanto tempo devo tolerar essa comunidade má que Me critica? Eu tenho ouvido as reclamações do povo de Israel contra Mim.

²⁸ Dize-lhes: 'Como Eu vivo', diz Yahweh, 'como tendes dito aos Meus ouvidos, farei isto para vós: ²⁹ Vossos corpos cairão mortos neste deserto, todos vós que reclamastes contra Mim, vós, que foram contados no censo, todo o povo de vinte anos para cima. ³⁰ Vós certamente não entrareis na terra em que Eu prometi que fariam suas casas, exceto Calebe, filho de Jefoné e Josué, filho de Num.

³¹ Mas vossos pequeninos aos quais dissestes que seriam vítimas, Eu os levarei à terra. Eles experimentarão da terra que tendes rejeitado! ³² Enquanto a vós, vossos corpos cairão neste deserto. ³³ Vossos filhos serão andarilhos no deserto por quarenta anos. Eles devem aguentar as consequências de vossos atos de rebelião até que o deserto mate seus corpos.

³⁴ Assim como o número de dias em que examinaram a terra — quarenta dias —, semelhantemente devei arcar com as consequências de vossos pecados por quarenta anos, um ano para cada dia e vós devei saber como é ser Meu inimigo. ³⁵ Eu, Yahweh, tenho dito. Eu certamente farei isto a toda esta comunidade má que tem se juntado contra Mim. Eles serão completamente consumidos e aqui morrerão".

³⁶ Então, os homens que Moisés havia mandado olhar a terra morreram pela praga diante Yahweh. ³⁷ Estes foram os homens que haviam retornado e trazido notícias ruins sobre a terra. Isto fez com que toda comunidade reclamasse contra Moisés. ³⁸ Daqueles homens que foram olhar a terra, somente Josué, filho de Num e Calebe, filho de Jefoné permaneceu vivo.

³⁹ Quando Moisés informou estas palavras ao povo de Israel, eles lamentaram profundamente. ⁴⁰ Eles levantaram cedo de manhã e foram ao topo da montanha e disseram: "Olha, nós estamos aqui, e iremos até o lugar que Yahweh prometeu, pois nós pecamos".

⁴¹ Porém, Moisés disse: "Por que agora estais violando o comando de Yahweh? Vós não tereis sucesso. ⁴² Não vades, porque Yahweh não está convosco para previnir que sejais derrotados pelos vossos inimigos. ⁴³ Os amalequitas e cananeus estão lá e vós morrereis pela espada porque vós tendes deixado de seguir a Yahweh. Então, Ele não estará no meio de vós".

⁴⁴ Mas eles ousaram subir a região montanhosa; porém, nem Moisés, nem a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh deixaram o acampamento. ⁴⁵ Então, os amalequitas desceram e também os cananeus que viviam naquelas montanhas. Eles atacaram os Israelitas e os derrotaram até Hormá.

Capítulo 15

¹ Então Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ² "Fala com o povo de Israel e dize-lhes: 'Quando entrardes na terra onde habitareis, a qual Yahweh vos dará, ³ preparareis uma oferta como aroma agradável a Ele: oferta queimada, ou um holocausto, ou sacrifício para cumprir um voto, ou uma oferta voluntária, ou uma oferta em alguma de vossas festas, e serão com vosso gado ou vosso rebanho.

⁴ Quando apresentardes uma oferta queimada, oferecei a Yahweh uma oferta de cereais de um décimo de um efa de flor de farinha misturada com um quarto de um him de azeite. ⁵ Oferecei também juntamente com a oferta queimada ou com o sacrifício, um quarto de um him de vinho como oferta de bebida para cada cordeiro.

⁶ Quando oferecerdes um carneiro, preparareis uma oferta de cereais de dois décimos de um efa de excelente farinha misturada com um terço de um him de azeite. ⁷ Para a oferta de bebida, oferecei um terço de um him de vinho, como aroma agradável a Yahweh.

⁸ Quando preparardes um novilho como holocausto ou como um sacrifício para cumprir um voto, ou como uma oferta pacífica a Yahweh, ⁹ então oferecei com o novilho, uma oferta de cereais de três décimos de um efa de flor de farinha misturada com a metade de um him de azeite. ¹⁰ Oferecei como oferta de bebida a metade de um him de vinho, como uma oferta queimada como aroma agradável a Yahweh.

¹¹ Fazei desta maneira para cada novilho, ou carneiro e para cada cordeiro, cabrito ou cabra. ¹² Todo sacrifício que preparardes e oferecerdes fazei-o como descrito aqui. ¹³ Todos os que são nascidos em Israel devem fazer essas coisas, quando qualquer um trouxer uma oferta queimada, como aroma que seja agradável a Yahweh.

¹⁴ Se um estrangeiro estiver convosco, ou qualquer um que esteja entre vós ao longo de vossas gerações, ele deve apresentar uma oferta queimada, como aroma agradável a Yahweh. Ele deve agir como vós agis. ¹⁵ Haverá a mesma lei para a vossa comunidade e para os estrangeiros que estão convosco, uma lei permanente ao longo das vossas gerações. Como vós sois, assim também deve ser o peregrino que está convosco. Ele deve agir como vós agis perante Yahweh. ¹⁶ A mesma lei e decreto deve aplicar-se a vós e ao estrangeiro que está convosco"'.

¹⁷ Novamente Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ¹⁸ "Fala ao povo de Israel e dize-lhes: 'Quando entrardes na terra que Eu vos colocarei, ¹⁹ quando comerdes do fruto da terra, apresentareis a Mim uma oferta.

²⁰ Das primícias de vossas farinhas deveis oferecer um bolo como oferta da mesma forma com que é feita a oferta da eira. ²¹ Dar-Me-eis das primícias da vossa massa como oferta ao longo das vossas gerações.

²² Algumas vezes, vós pecareis sem intenção de pecar, quando não obedecerdes todas estas ordens que Eu tenho falado a Moisés, ²³ ou seja, tudo que Eu tenho vos ordenado através de Moisés, desde o dia em que Eu comecei a vos dar ordens e daí em diante, ao longo das vossas gerações. ²⁴ Então toda a comunidade oferecerá um novilho como holacausto, como aroma agradável a Yahweh, no caso de pecado não intencional sem o conhecimento da comunidade. Junto com isso será realizada uma oferta de cereais e uma oferta de bebida, como ordenado pelo Meu decreto, e um bode como oferta pelo pecado.

²⁵ O sacerdote fará expiação por toda a comunidade de Israel. Eles serão perdoados porque o pecado foi um erro. Eles apresentarão, perante Mim, o sacrifício pelo seu erro, uma oferta queimada como oferta pelo pecado. ²⁶ Então toda a comunidade do povo de Israel será perdoada e também os estrangeiros que estão entre eles, porque todo o povo cometeu o pecado sem intenção.

²⁷ Se uma pessoa peca sem intenção de pecar, então ela oferecerá uma cabra de um ano como oferta de pecado. ²⁸ O sacerdote fará expiação perante Yahweh pela pessoa que pecou sem intenção. Essa pessoa será perdoada quando a expiação for feita. ²⁹ Tende a mesma lei para aquele que faz qualquer coisa sem intenção, a mesma lei para aquele nascido entre o povo de Israel e para os estrangeiros que estão entre eles.

³⁰ Mas a pessoa que fizer qualquer coisa em provocação, quer seja nascido de Israel, quer seja estrangeiro, blasfema contra Mim. Essa pessoa será expulsa do meio do seu povo. ³¹ Porque ela desprezou Minha palavra e desobedeceu Minhas ordens, essa pessoa deve ser eliminada. O seu pecado estará sobre ela'".

³² Enquanto o povo de Israel estava no deserto, eles encontraram um homem ajuntando madeira no dia de sábado. ³³ Aqueles que o acharam o trouxeram a Moisés, Arão, e à toda a comunidade. ³⁴ Eles o mantiveram retido porque ainda não havia sido declarado o que deveria ser feito com ele.

³⁵ Então Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Certamente o homem deve ser morto. Toda a comunidade deve apedrejá-lo do lado de fora do acampamento". ³⁶ Então toda a comunidade levou-o para fora do acampamento e apedrejaram-no até a morte como Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés.

³⁷ Novamente Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ³⁸ "Diz aos descendentes de Israel e ordena-lhes que façam para si franjas para pendurar nas bordas de suas vestes, e nas franjas das bordas colocarão um cordão azul. Eles farão isso continuamente ao longo das suas gerações. ³⁹ Quando olhares para ele, isso vos será uma lembrança especial de todas as minhas ordens, para levar-vos a não seguir o vosso próprio coração e os vossos próprios olhos que vos tem levado a prostituir.

⁴⁰ Fazei isso para lembrardes e obedecerdes todas as minhas ordenanças, e então sereis santos, separados para Mim, o seu Deus. ⁴¹ Eu sou Yahweh, o vosso Deus, Quem vos tirou da terra do Egito, para ser o vosso Deus. Eu sou Yahweh, o vosso Deus".

Capítulo 16

¹ Então, Coré, filho de Izar, filho de Coate, filho de Levi, junto de Datã e Abirão, filhos de Eliabe, e Om, filho de Pelete, descendentes de Rúben, reuniram alguns homens. ² Levantaram-se contra Moisés, junto de outros homens do povo de Israel, duzentos e cinquenta líderes da assembleia, membros renomados da comunidade. ³ Ajuntaram-se para confrontar Moisés e Arão. Disseram-lhes: "Basta! Isto é demais. Toda a assembleia é santa, todos eles são santos e Yahweh está no meio deles. Por que vos elevais sobre o resto da assembleia de Yahweh?".

⁴ Quando Moisés ouviu isto, caiu sobre o seu rosto. ⁵ Falou com Coré e com todo o seu grupo dizendo: "Pela manhã, Yahweh mostrará quem é Dele e quem é santo, este Ele trará para Si. Aquele a quem Ele escolher, Ele o trará para perto de Si.

⁶ Fazei isso, Coré e todo o vosso grupo. Pegai incensários ⁷ amanhã e colocai fogo e incenso diante de Yahweh. O homem que for escolhido, será dedicado a Yahweh. Vós fostes longe demais, descendência de Levi".

⁸ Novamente, Moisés disse a Coré: "Agora escutai, vós descendência de Levi, ⁹ por acaso é pouca coisa que o Deus de Israel tem vos separado da comunidade de Israel, para aproximar-vos Dele, para fazerdes os serviços no Tabernáculo, e estardes diante da comunidade para servi-los? ¹⁰ Ele vos trouxe para perto, trouxe toda a vossa parentela, os descendentes de Levi convosco, e ainda quereis o sacerdócio! ¹¹ É por este motivo que vós e todo vosso grupo têm reunido contra Yahweh. Então, por que estão murmurando contra Arão, que obedece a Yahweh?".

¹² Então, Moisés, chamou por Datã e Abirão, os filhos de Eliabe, mas disseram-lhe: "Não iremos! ¹³ Por acaso, é pouca coisa ter-nos tirado de uma terra de que flui leite e mel, para nos matar no deserto? Agora, quer te fazer líder sobre nós! ¹⁴ Portanto, Tu não nos trouxeste para uma terra de que flui leite e mel, nem nos deste campos nem vinhas como herança. Agora quer nos cegar com promessas vazias? Nós não iremos a ti".

¹⁵ Moisés se indignou e disse a Yahweh: "Não consideres sua oferta. Eu não lhes tomei nenhum jumento, nem sequer lhes causei dano". ¹⁶ Então, Moisés disse a Coré: "Amanhã, vós todos comparecei diante de Yahweh — tu, eles e Arão. ¹⁷ Cada um de vós, levará seus incensários e colocará incenso nele. Então, cada homem levará, diante de Yahweh, seu incensário, duzentos e cinquenta incensários. Tu e Arão também levareis vossos incensários".

¹⁸ Então, cada homem levou seu incensário, acendeu-o, colocou o incenso, e ficou na entrada da Tenda do Encontro com Moisés e Arão. ¹⁹ Coré reuniu toda a assembleia contra Moisés e Arão na entrada da Tenda do Encontro, e a glória de Yahweh apareceu para toda a assembleia.

²⁰ Então, Yahweh falou a Moisés e a Arão: ²¹ "Separai-vos do meio desta assembleia, para que Eu possa consumi-los imediatamente". ²² Prostraram-se ao chão, Moisés e Arão, e disseram: "Deus, o Deus dos espíritos e de toda humanidade, se um homem peca, deves Tu irar-te com toda a assembleia?".

²³ Yahweh respondeu a Moisés, dizendo: ²⁴ "Fala com a assembleia, diz: 'Afastai-vos das tendas de Coré, Datã e Abirão'".

²⁵ Então, Moisés se levantou e foi até Datã e Abirão; os anciãos de Israel o seguiram. ²⁶ E falou à assembleia: "Afastai-vos das tendas destes homens ímpios, não toqueis em nada que lhes pertença, ou vós sereis consumidos por causa de todos os pecados deles". ²⁷ Então, a comunidade de todos os lados das tendas de Coré, Datã e Abirão, os deixou. Datã e Abirão saíram e ficaram na entrada de suas tendas, com suas mulheres e filhos.

²⁸ Então, Moisés disse: "Por isso, sabereis que Yahweh me enviou para fazer todas essas obras, porque eu não as fiz de minha própria vontade. ²⁹ Se esses homens morrerem de morte natural, como acontece normalmente, Yahweh não me enviou. ³⁰ Mas, se Yahweh criar uma abertura na terra, que os engolirá como uma grande boca, junto de tudo o que é deles, e se eles descerem vivos ao Sheol, então, entendereis que estes homens desprezaram Yahweh".

³¹ Logo que Moisés terminou de falar essas palavras, a terra se abriu debaixo desses homens. ³² A terra abriu sua boca e os engoliu, suas famílias, e todas as pessoas que pertenciam a Coré, e também, todas as suas possessões.

³³ Eles e todos em suas famílias, desceram vivos ao Sheol. A terra se fechou sobre eles, e pereceram no meio da assembleia. ³⁴ E toda Israel em torno deles, fugiu de seus gritos. Exclamando: "A terra pode nos engolir também!". ³⁵ Então, acendeu o fogo da parte de Yahweh, e devorou os duzentos e cinquenta homens que ofereceram incenso.

³⁶ Outra vez, Yahweh falou a Moisés, e disse: ³⁷ "Fala com Eleazar, filho do sacerdote Arão, para que tire os incensários das chamas, e espalhe as brasas para longe, pois foram dedicados a Mim. ³⁸ Pega os incensários dos que perderam a vida por causa dos seus pecados, para que sejam como chapas marteladas e serem uma cobertura do altar. Aqueles homens os ofertaram diante de Mim, então eles são dedicados a Mim. Eles serão um sinal da minha presença ao povo de Israel.

³⁹ Eleazar, o sacerdote, pegou os incensários de bronze que foram usados pelos homens que foram queimados. Ele os martelou como uma cobertura para o altar, ⁴⁰ como Yahweh havia dito por meio de Moisés, para ser um lembrete ao povo de Israel, para que nenhuma pessoa que não descendesse de Arão se aproximasse para queimar incenso diante de Yahweh. Dessa maneira, nenhuma pessoa seria como Coré e seu grupo — exatamente como Yahweh havia ordenado por meio de Moisés.

⁴¹ Mas, na manhã seguinte, toda a comunidade do povo de Israel, murmurou contra Moisés e Arão dizendo: "Vós matastes o povo de Yahweh". ⁴² Então, aconteceu que a comunidade se reuniu contra Moisés e Arão, olharam em direção à Tenda do Encontro, e contemplaram que a nuvem estava cobrindo-a. A glória de Yahweh apareceu. ⁴³ Moisés e Arão foram até a frente da Tenda do Encontro.

⁴⁴ Então, Yahweh disse a Moisés: ⁴⁵ "Sai do meio desta comunidade para que eu possa consumi-los imediatamente". Então, Moisés e Arão se prostraram com seus rostos sobre a terra. ⁴⁶ Moisés disse a Arão: "Pega o incensário, acende-o em frente ao altar, coloca incenso, carrega-o rapidamente para a comunidade, e faze expiação por ela, pois a ira está vindo da parte de Yahweh. Iniciou-se a praga".

⁴⁷ Então, Arão fez como Moisés o direcionou. Correu em direção ao meio da comunidade. A praga começou rapidamente a espalhar-se entre o povo, então, colocou o incenso e expiou pelo povo. ⁴⁸ Arão se pôs entre a morte e a vida; dessa maneira, a praga cessou.

⁴⁹ Os que morreram pela praga, foram quatorze mil e setecentos, em números, tirando os que morreram pelas razões de Coré. ⁵⁰ Arão retornou a Moisés na entrada da Tenda do Encontro, e a praga teve seu fim.

Capítulo 17

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ² "Dize ao povo de Israel que apresentem varas, uma de cada tribo de seus antepassados. Toma doze varas, uma de cada líder escolhido de cada tribo. Escreve o nome de cada homem em sua vara.

³ Tu escreverás o nome de Arão na vara de Levi. Deverá ser uma vara de cada líder da sua tribo de antepassados. ⁴ Tu colocarás as varas na Tenda do Encontro em frente aos decretos da aliança, onde Me encontro contigo. ⁵ E acontecerá que a vara do homem que escolhi, florescerá. Eu farei parar as murmurações do povo de Israel, as quais eram contra ti".

⁶ Então, Moisés falou ao povo de Israel. Todos os líderes das tribos deram-lhe as varas, uma vara de cada líder, escolhida de cada tribo antepassada, doze varas ao todo. A vara de Arão estava entre elas. ⁷ E Moisés colocou as varas diante de Yahweh, na Tenda dos Decretos da Aliança.

⁸ No dia seguinte, Moisés entrou na Tenda dos Decretos da Aliança, e viu que a vara de Arão da tribo de Levi havia florescido. Brotou, produziu flores e amêndoas maduras! ⁹ Moisés trouxe todas as varas de diante de Yahweh para todo o povo de Israel e cada homem tomou a sua vara.

¹⁰ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Coloca a vara de Arão em frente aos decretos da Aliança. E mantém-na como um sinal de culpa contra as pessoas que se rebelaram, para que acabes com as murmurações contra Mim, ou então morrerão". ¹¹ Moisés fez assim como Yahweh havia lhe ordenado.

¹² O povo de Israel falou a Moisés, e disse-lhe: "Nós morreremos aqui. Iremos todos perecer! ¹³ Todo aquele que vem, que se aproxima do Tabernáculo de Yahweh morrerá. Teremos todos que perecer?".

Capítulo 18

¹ Yahweh disse a Arão: "Tu, teus filhos, e o clã dos teus antepassados sereis responsáveis por todos os pecados cometidos contra o santuário. Mas somente tu e teus filhos sereis responsabilizados por todos os pecados praticados por qualquer um no sacerdócio. ² E os membros da tribo de Levi, tribo de vossos antepassados, tu os trarás contigo, para que se juntem a ti quando tu e teus filhos servirdes em frente à Tenda dos Decretos da Aliança.

³ ervirão a ti e a toda a tenda. No entanto, eles não se aproximarão de qualquer coisa no lugar santo ou que seja relacionada ao altar, senão morrereis tanto eles quanto vós. ⁴ Juntar-se-ão a ti para cuidar da Tenda do Encontro, para todo trabalho relacionado à tenda. O estrangeiro não se aproximará de ti. ⁵ Terás que te responsabilizar pelo lugar santo e pelo altar, para que Minha ira não venha sobre o povo de Israel de novo.

⁶ Vede, Eu mesmo escolhi dentre os descendentes de Israel os vossos irmãos, os levitas. Eles são uma oferta dada a vós para Yahweh, a fim de fazerem o trabalho relacionado à Tenda do Encontro. ⁷ Mas somente tu e teus filhos exercereis o sacerdócio de acordo com tudo relacionado ao altar e tudo que há por dentro da cortina. Vós, vós mesmos, cumprirão aquelas responsabilidades. Dou a vós o sacerdócio como um presente, e qualquer estrangeiro que se aproximar deverá morrer".

⁸ Então, Yahweh disse a Arão: "Eis que te encarreguei de levantar ofertas para Mim, e toda a oferta santa que o povo de Israel Me der, Eu tenho dado a ti e a teus filhos como direito perpétuo. ⁹ Das coisas santíssimas, que não passaram pelo fogo, isto será teu: toda oferta deles, com toda oferta de cereal, com toda oferta pelo pecado e toda oferta pela culpa, são coisas santíssimas para vós e para vossos filhos.

¹⁰ Estas ofertas são santíssimas; todo homem deve comê-las, pois elas são santificadas para ti. ¹¹ Estas serão as ofertas que pertencerão a ti: seus presentes, todas as ofertas movidas dos filhos de Israel. Eu as dei para ti, para teus filhos e tuas filhas, como porção perpétua. Todos em tua família que estão ritualmente limpos podem comer qualquer uma dessas ofertas.

¹² O melhor do azeite, o melhor do vinho novo e dos cereais, as primícias que o povo Me der, todas estas coisas tenho dado a ti. ¹³ Os primeiros frutos maduros de toda a sua terra, que forem trazidos a Mim, serão teus. Todos na tua familia que estiverem limpos poderão comer estas coisas.

¹⁴ Todas as coisas consagradas em Israel serão tuas. ¹⁵ Todos aqueles que abrem o ventre, todo primogênito, seja de homem, seja de animal, que o povo oferecer a Yahweh, ambos serão teus. Porém, o povo deverá resgatar de volta todo filho primogênito e também todo primogênito de animal impuro. ¹⁶ Aqueles que serão resgatados pelo povo, serão resgatados depois de completar um mês de idade. Assim, o povo poderá resgatá-los por cinco siclos de prata, segundo o modelo de peso do siclo do santuário, que equivale a vinte geras.

¹⁷ O primogênito da vaca, da ovelha, ou da cabra, não poderão ser comprados de volta, estes são separados para Mim. Deverás aspergir seu sangue no altar e queimar sua gordura como oferta queimada de aroma agradável para Yahweh. ¹⁸ A carne será tua, bem como o peito de oferta movida e a coxa direita, a carne deles será tua.

¹⁹ Toda a oferta santificada que o povo de Israel apresentar a Yahweh, darei a ti, a teus filhos e filhas como herança perpétua. Isto é uma aliança perpétua de sal, uma aliança estabelecida para sempre perante Yahweh para contigo e para com os teus descendentes". ²⁰ Yahweh disse a Arão: "Tu não terás herança na terra do povo, nem terás qualquer porção de propriedade entre o povo. Eu sou tua porção e herança entre o povo de Israel.

²¹ Para os descendentes de Levi, vê, Eu dei todo dízimo em Israel como herança pelo serviço que fizeram na Tenda do Encontro. ²² De agora em diante, o povo de Israel não poderá chegar perto da Tenda do Encontro, ou serão responsabilizados por este pecado e morrerão.

²³ Os levitas farão o trabalho ligado à Tenda do Encontro. Serão responsabilizados por qualquer pecado relacionado a isto. Essa será uma lei permanente ao longo das gerações de vosso povo. Eles não possuirão herança entre o povo de Israel. ²⁴ Pois os dízimos do povo de Israel, que foram apresentados a Mim como oferta, dei aos levitas como herança. Por isso, disse-lhes: 'Não possuirão herança entre o povo de Israel'".

²⁵ Yahweh falou com Moisés, dizendo: ²⁶ "Fala com os levitas, dizendo-lhes: 'Quando receberdes do povo de Israel o dízimo que o Senhor vos deu como herança, oferecereis a Yahweh o dízimo disto, um dízimo dos dízimos. ²⁷ Essa vossa contribuição será considerada como se fosse a décima parte do grão da eira ou da produção do lagar.

²⁸ Assim, vós tamb; em apresentareis uma oferta a Yahweh de todos os dízimos que receberdes do povo de Israel. Destes, apresentareis a Arão, o sacerdote. ²⁹ De todos os presentes que receberdes, fareis ofertas a Yahweh. Farei esta oferta das coisas que Eu vos dei, escolhendo a melhor delas, e a sua parte santa'.

³⁰ Então, lhes dirás: 'Quando apresentardes o melhor do que receberdes, o restante das vossas ofertas deverá ser considerado pelos levitas como o produto da eira e produto do lagar. ³¹ Podereis comê-lo em qualquer lugar, vós e vossa família, porque isso é vossa recompensa por todo trabalho feito na Tenda do Encontro. ³² Não sereis culpados por comer ou beber isso, se apresentardes a Yahweh o melhor do que receberdes. Mas não profaneis a santa oferta oferecida pelo povo de Israel, ou morrereis'".

Capítulo 19

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés e a Arão, dizendo: ² "Este é um estatuto, uma lei que Eu vos ordeno. Dizei aos filhos de Israel que tragam uma novilha vermelha, sem mácula ou defeito, que nunca tenha carregado um jugo.

³ A novilha será entregue ao sacerdote Eleazar, que a levará para ser imolada fora do acampamento, à vista dele. ⁴ Eleazar, o sacerdote, pegará um pouco do sangue da vítima, e, com o dedo dele, aspergirá sete vezes, em direção à entrada da Tenda do Encontro. ⁵ Outro sacerdote queimará completamente a novilha: o couro, a carne, o sangue e até os excrementos dela. ⁶ O sacerdote pegará um pau de cedro, hissopo, lã escarlarte, e os lançará no meio do fogo, enquanto a novilha estiver sendo queimada.

⁷ Depois, ele lavará as suas vestes e se banhará nas águas. Assim, poderá entrar no acampamento, onde ficará impuro até ao anoitecer. ⁸ E aquele que incinerou a novilha, lavará as suas vestes nas águas e banhará a sua carne nas águas, mas ele permanecerá impuro até ao anoitecer.

⁹ Alguém que estiver limpo, ajuntará as cinzas do novilho e as depositará fora do acampamento, em um lugar limpo. Ali, elas serão guardadas pela comunidade do povo de Israel para o preparo da água purificadora, pois essas cinzas são de uma oferta pelo pecado. ¹⁰ Aquele que recolheu as cinzas da novilha, deverá lavar as suas roupas; e ele permanecerá impuro até ao anoitecer. Esta será uma lei permanente para os filhos de Israel e para os estrangeiros que vivem com eles.

¹¹ Aquele que tocar no cadáver de algum humano, ficará impuro por sete dias. ¹² Este deverá purificar-se, no terceiro e no sétimo dia, e se tornará limpo. Porém, se não se purificar no terceiro dia, ele não estará limpo no sétimo dia. ¹³ Qualquer pessoa que não se purificar, contaminará o Tabernáculo de Yahweh. Essa pessoa deverá ser eliminada de Israel, porque a água da purificação não lhe foi aspergida. Ele permanecerá imundo e sua impureza estará sobre ele.

¹⁴ Esta é a lei para quando alguém morre dentro de uma tenda. Todo aquele que já estiver dentro da tenda, e o que nela entrar, ficará impuro por sete dias; ¹⁵ todo recipiente aberto sem tampa, ficará impuro. ¹⁶ Da mesma maneira, se alguém, na parte externa da tenda, tocar em algum morto por espada, ou em qualquer outro cadáver, ou em osso humano, ou mesmo numa sepultura, essa pessoa se tornará impura por sete dias.

¹⁷ Para a purificação de uma pessoa impura, pegarás um pouco da cinza da oferta que foi queimada pelo pecado, e a misturarás com água corrente dentro de um jarro; ¹⁸ um homem limpo, mergulhará o hissopo na água e a aspergirá sobre a tenda, e sobre todos os recipientes dentro dela; também aspergirá sobre as pessoas que estiveram lá dentro, e sobre quem tiver tocado no corpo de pessoa assassinada, ou em osso, ou em qualquer cadáver, ou sepultura. ¹⁹ No terceiro e no sétimo dia, alguém que estiver limpo, deverá aspergir a pessoa impura. No sétimo dia, a pessoa impura deverá purificar-se; também lavará as suas roupas e banhar-se-á em água corrente. Ao anoitecer, ela ficará limpa.

²⁰ Mas toda pessoa impura que se recusar a se purificar será eliminada da comunidade, porquanto contaminará o santuário de Yahweh. Visto que a água da purificação não foi aspergida sobre ela, pemanecerá impura. ²¹ Isto será um estatuto perpétuo: aquele que aspergir a água da purificação, deverá lavar suas vestes; aquele que tocar a água da purificação, ficará impuro até o anoitecer. ²² Qualquer coisa que o impuro tocar, ficará impura. A pessoa que tocá-lo, também ficará impura até o anoitecer".

Capítulo 20

¹ Então, o povo de Israel — toda a comunidade — foi para o deserto de Zim, no primeiro mês. Eles ficaram em Cades. Ali, Miriã morreu e foi sepultada.

² Não havia água para a comunidade, por isso, juntaram-se contra Moisés e Arão. ³ O povo se queixou contra Moisés. Disseram: "Teria sido melhor se tivéssemos morrido quando os nossos irmãos morreram diante de Yahweh!".

⁴ Por que trouxeste a comunidade de Yahweh para este deserto para morrer aqui, nós e os nossos animais? ⁵ E por que tu nos fizeste sair do Egito para trazer-nos para este lugar horrível? Aqui não há sementes, figos, vinhas ou romãs, e não há água para beber".

⁶ Então, Moisés e Arão saíram da frente da assembleia. Eles foram para a entrada da Tenda do Encontro e se prostraram com as suas faces voltadas para o chão. Ali, a glória de Yahweh lhes apareceu.

⁷ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ⁸ "Pega o teu cajado e reúne a comunidade, tu e o teu irmão Arão. Fala à pedra diante dos olhos deles e ordena que dela flua água. Vocês tirarão água da rocha e a darão à comunidade e ao seu gado para beber". ⁹ Moisés pegou o cajado na presença de Yahweh, conforme Yahweh lhe ordenara.

¹⁰ Então, Moisés e Arão reuniram a assembleia diante da rocha. Moisés lhes disse: "Escutai agora, vós rebeldes. Devemos nós tirar água desta rocha para vós?". ¹¹ Então, Moisés levantou a sua mão e bateu na rocha duas vezes com o seu cajado, e saiu muita água. A comunidade e o seu gado a beberam.

¹² Então, Yahweh disse a Moisés e Arão: "Porque não confiastes em mim e não me honrastes como Santo diante dos olhos do povo de Israel, não levarei esta assembleia à terra que também lhes dei". ¹³ Esse lugar foi chamado águas de Meribá porque o povo de Israel contendeu com Yahweh ali, e Ele lhes mostrou a Sua santidade.

¹⁴ Moisés mandou mensageiros de Cades ao rei de Edom: "O teu irmão Israel diz isto: ¹⁵ 'Tu conheces todas as dificuldades que temos enfrentado. Tu sabes que nossos antepassados desceram para o Egito e viveram por lá um tempo longo. Os egípcios nos trataram asperamente e também aos nossos antepassados. ¹⁶ Quando clamamos a Yahweh, Ele ouviu a nossa voz e mandou um anjo e nos tirou do Egito. Vê, estamos em Cades, uma cidade na fronteira com a tua terra.

¹⁷ Eu estou te pedindo que nos deixes passar por tua terra. Não passaremos pelo campo ou pelo vinhedo, nem beberemos água dos teus poços. Passaremos ao longo da estrada real. Não nos desviaremos para a direita ou para a esquerda, até que tenhamos passado por tuas fronteiras".

¹⁸ Mas o rei de Edom lhe respondeu: "Não poderás passar por aqui. Se o fizeres, irei com a espada para te atacar". Então, o povo de Israel lhe disse: ¹⁹ "Nós iremos ao longo da estrada. Se nós ou as nossas manadas bebermos da tua água, nós pagaremos por isso. Apenas nos deixa passar a pé, sem fazer nada mais".

²⁰ Mas o rei de Edom respondeu: "Tu não poderás passar". Desse modo, o rei de Edom veio contra Israel com mão forte, com muitos soldados. ²¹ O rei de Edom se recusou a deixar Israel passar por sua fronteira. Por causa disso, Israel se afastou da terra de Edom.

²² Assim, o povo partiu de Cades. O povo de Israel — toda a comunidade — chegou ao Monte Hor. ²³ Yahweh falou a Moisés e Arão no Monte Hor, na fronteira do Edom dizendo: ²⁴ "Arão será reunido ao seu povo, porque ele não entrará na terra que dei ao povo de Israel. Isto porque vos rebelastes contra a Minha palavra nas águas de Meribá.

²⁵ Toma Arão e Eleazar, seu filho, e os leva para o Monte Hor. ²⁶ Tira as roupas sacerdotais de Arão e coloca-as em Eleazer, seu filho. Arão morrerá e será reunido ao seu povo".

²⁷ Moisés fez como Yahweh lhe ordenou. Eles subiram o Monte Hor diante de toda a comunidade. ²⁸ Moisés lhe tirou as roupas sacerdotais e as colocou em Eleazar, seu filho. Arão morreu no topo da montanha. E, então, Moisés e Eleazar desceram. ²⁹ Quando toda a comunidade viu que Arão estava morto, a nação inteira chorou por ele durante trinta dias.

Capítulo 21

¹ Quando o rei cananeu de Arade, que vivia no Neguebe, ouviu que Israel vinha pela estrada de Atarim, ele atacou Israel e tomou alguns deles como cativos. ² Israel jurou a Yahweh, e disse: "Se Tu nos deres a vitória sobre este povo, então destruiremos por completo suas cidades". ³ Yahweh ouviu a voz de Israel e concedeu-lhes a vitória sobre os Cananeus. Eles os destruiram completamente, e também suas cidades. O lugar foi chamado Hormá.

⁴ Eles viajaram do Monte Hor pelo caminho para o Mar Vermelho, ao redor da terra de Edom. E o povo ficou muito desanimado no caminho. ⁵ O povo mumurava contra Deus e Moisés: "Por que Tu nos tirastes do Egito para morrer no deserto? Não temos pão nem água, e odiamos essa comida miserável".

⁶ Então, Yahweh enviou serpentes venenosas contra o povo. As serpentes picaram as pessoas; muitas morreram. ⁷ O povo veio a Moisés e disse: "Nós pecamos, porque murmuramos contra Yahweh e contra ti. Ora a Yahweh para que Ele leve as serpentes para longe de nós". Então, Moisés orou pelo povo.

⁸ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Faz uma serpente e põe-na numa haste. Todo aquele que foi mordido sobreviverá, se olhar pra ela". ⁹ Então, Moisés fez uma serpente de bronze, e a colocou na haste. Quando uma serpente picava alguém, se ele olhasse para a serpente de bronze, sobrevivia.

¹⁰ Então, o povo de Israel viajou e acampou em Obote. ¹¹ Eles viajaram de Obote e acamparam no Ije-Abarim, no deserto de frente a Moabe, em direção ao leste.

¹² Dali, eles continuaram viajando, e acamparam no vale de Zerede. ¹³ E, partindo dali, prosseguiram viagem e acamparam no outro lado do rio Arnom, que está no deserto que se estende das fronteiras dos amorreus. O rio Arnom faz a fronteira entre Moabe e os amorreus.

¹⁴ Por isso, diz no Livro das Guerras de Yahweh: "Vaebe em Sufa, e os vales do Arnom, ¹⁵ na descida dos vales que leva à cidade de Ar e chega até a fronteira de Moabe".

¹⁶ Dali, eles partiram para Beer, e foi ali no poço que Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Reúna o povo, e Eu lhes darei água".

¹⁷ Então, Israel cantou esta canção: "Brota, ó poço. Cantai sobre isso. ¹⁸ O poço que nossos líderes cavaram, o poço que os nobres do povo cavaram com o cetro e as varas". Então, do deserto, eles viajaram para Matana.

¹⁹ De Matana eles viajaram para Naaliel, e de Naaliel para Bamote, ²⁰ e, de Bamote, ao vale na terra de Moabe. Ali, é onde o topo do monte Pisga defronta o deserto.

²¹ Então, Israel enviou messageiros a Siom, rei dos amorreus, dizendo: ²² "Deixe-nos passar por sua terra. Nós não entraremos em nenhuma plantação ou vinha. Não beberemos a água dos seus poços. Viajaremos pela estrada real, até que tenhamos cruzado sua fronteira". ²³ Mas o rei Siom não permitiu a Israel atravessar seu território. Ao invés disso, Siom reuniu todo o seu exército e atacou Israel no deserto. Ele veio a Jaza, onde lutou contra Israel.

²⁴ Israel atacou o exército de Siom no fio de espada, e tomou a terra de Arnom ao rio Jaboque, até a fronteira do povo de Amon, que era fortificada. ²⁵ Israel tomou todas as cidades dos amorreus, e habitou em todas elas, incluindo Hesbom e todas as suas aldeias. ²⁶ Hesbom era a cidade de Siom, rei dos amorreus, que havia lutado contra o antigo rei de Moabe, e tomado todo o seu território até o rio Arnom.

²⁷ Por isso, aqueles que falam por provérbios dizem: "Vinde a Hesbom. Que a cidade de Siom seja reconstruída e reestabelecida. ²⁸ Um fogo ardeu de Hesbom, uma chama da cidade de Siom que devorou Ar de Moabe, e os senhores dos altos de Arnom.

²⁹ Ai de ti, Moabe! Tu já perecestes, povo de Camos. Ele fez de seus filhos fugitivos e de suas filhas prisioneiras de Siom, rei dos amorreus. ³⁰ Mas nós conquistamos Siom. Hesbom está devastada por todo o caminho até Dibom. Nós os derrotamos até Nofá, que chega até Medeba".

³¹ Então, Israel habitou na terra dos amorreus. ³² E Moisés enviou homens para espiar Jazer. E Israel tomou suas aldeias e expulsou os amorreus que estavam ali.

³³ Então, eles voltaram e subiram pelo caminho de Basã. Ogue, rei de Basã, saiu contra eles, ele e todo o seu exercito, para lutar em Edrei. ³⁴ Então, Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Não o temas, porque Eu te dei a vitória sobre eles, e todo o seu exército, e toda a sua terra. Faça com ele o que tu fizestes com Siom, rei dos amorreus, que habitava em Hesbom". ³⁵ Então, eles o mataram, seus filhos e todo o seu exército, até que nenhum deles ficou vivo. E eles lhes tomaram a terra.

Capitulo 22

¹ O povo de Israel viajou até as planícies de Moabe, e ali acamparam, do outro lado do rio Jordão, nas proximidades da cidade de Jericó.

² Balaque, filho de Zipor, viu tudo que Israel havia feito com os amorreus. ³ Moabe estava com muito medo dos israelitas, pois eles eram muitos, e isto causava-lhes pavor. ⁴ O rei de Moabe disse aos anciãos de Midiã: "Essa multidão comerá tudo à nossa volta como um boi que devora as ervas do campo". Nessa época, Balaque, filho de Zipor, era rei de Moabe.

⁵ Ele mandou mensageiros para Balaão, filho de Beor, em Petor, que fica perto do rio Eufrates, na terra de sua nação e seu povo. Ele o chamou e disse-lhe: "Olha, uma nação veio aqui do Egito. Eles cobrem a face da terra e estão agora ao meu lado. ⁶ Então, por favor, vem e amaldiçoa essa nação por mim, porque são mais fortes do que eu. Talvez, então, eu consiga atacá-los e expulsá-los dessa terra. Eu sei que qualquer um que abençoares será abençoado, e qualquer um que amaldiçoares será amaldiçoado".

⁷ Então, os anciãos de Moabe e os anciãos de Midiã partiram, levando o pagamento pelos encantamentos. Eles foram até Balaão e falaram-lhe as palavras de Balaque. ⁸ Balaão disse: "Ficai aqui esta noite. Eu trarei o que Yahweh disser para mim". Então, os líderes de Moabe ficaram com Balaão naquela noite.

⁹ Veio Deus a Balaão e disse-lhe: "Quem são esses homens que vieram a ti?". ¹⁰ Balaão respondeu: "Balaque, filho de Zipor, rei de Moabe, enviou-os para que me dissessem: ¹¹ 'Olha, esse povo que veio do Egito cobre a superfície da terra. Agora vem e amaldiçoa esse povo para mim. Talvez eu consiga lutar contra eles e expulsá-los dessa terra'".

¹² Deus disse a Balaão: "Não irás com aqueles homens. Não amaldiçoarás o povo de Israel, porque eles foram abençoados". ¹³ Balaão se levantou pela manhã e disse aos líderes: "Voltai para vossa terra, pois Yahweh Se recusou a permitir que eu vá convosco". ¹⁴ Então, os líderes de Moabe partiram e voltaram a Balaque. Disseram-lhe: "Balaão se recusou a vir conosco".

¹⁵ Balaque enviou novamente líderes, que eram ainda mais honrados que o primeiro grupo. ¹⁶ Eles foram a Balaão e disseram-lhe: "Balaque, filho de Zipor, diz: 'Por favor, que nada te detenha de vir a mim, ¹⁷ porque eu te pagarei extremamente bem e te darei grandes honras, e farei tudo o que disseres. Então, por favor, vem e amaldiçoa esse povo para mim".

¹⁸ Balaão respondeu, e disse aos homens de Balaque: "Mesmo que Balaque me desse seu palácio cheio de prata e ouro, eu não poderia ir contra a palavra de Yahweh, meu Deus, e fazer nada mais e nada menos do que Ele me disser. ¹⁹ Então, por favor, esperem aqui também esta noite, para que eu compreenda o que mais Yahweh dirá a mim". ²⁰ Deus veio a Balaão naquela noite e disse-lhe: "Já que esses homens convocaram a ti, levanta-te e vai com eles. Mas faz apenas o que Eu lhe disser".

²¹ Balaão acordou pela manhã, preparou sua jumenta, e foi junto com os líderes de Moabe. ²² Mas, porque ele foi, a ira de Deus se acendeu. O anjo de Yahweh se colocou em frente ao caminho como alguém hostil a Balaão, que estava montado em sua jumenta. Os dois servos de Balaão estavam junto com ele. ²³ A jumenta viu o anjo de Yahweh posicionado no caminho, com a espada desembainhada em sua mão. A jumenta se desviou da estrada e foi para o campo. Balaão bateu na jumenta para que ela voltasse ao caminho.

²⁴ Então, o anjo de Yahweh ficou numa parte estreita do caminho entre alguns vinhedos, com uma parede à sua direita e outra à sua esquerda. ²⁵ A jumenta viu novamente o anjo de Yahweh. Ela foi em direção à parede e pressionou o pé de Balaão contra ela. Balaão bateu nela de novo.

²⁶ O anjo de Yahweh foi mais adiante, e posicionou-se em outra parte estreita, onde não havia saída em nenhum lado. ²⁷ A jumenta viu o anjo de Yahweh, e deitou-se debaixo de Balaão. A ira de Balaão se acendeu, e ele bateu na jumenta com seu cajado.

²⁸ Então, Yahweh abriu a boca da jumenta, e ela começou a falar. Ela disse a Balaão: "O que fiz para que julgasses necessário bater-me três vezes?". ²⁹ Balaão respondeu: "Foi porque agiste estupidamente comigo. Gostaria que houvesse uma espada em minha mão. Se tivesse, eu a teria matado. ³⁰ A jumenta disse a Balaão: "Não sou a jumenta em que montaste toda a tua vida até os dias de hoje? Já tive o hábito de fazer essas coisas contigo antes?". Balaão disse: "Não".

³¹ Então, Yahweh abriu os olhos de Balaão, e ele viu o anjo de Yahweh posicionado no caminho, com a espada desembainhada em sua mão. Balaão curvou sua cabeça, e deitou-se com a face na terra. ³² O anjo de Yahweh lhe disse: "Por que bateste em tua jumenta três vezes? Olha, vim como alguém hostil a ti, pois tuas ações perante minha presença foram perversas. ³³ A jumenta me viu três vezes, e desviou de mim as três vezes. Se ela não tivesse desviado, certamente o teria matado e poupado a vida dela".

³⁴ Balaão disse ao anjo de Yahweh: "Pequei. Não sabia que estavas parado no caminho contra mim. Então, se essa viagem o desagradar, retornarei ao lugar de onde vim". ³⁵ Porém, o anjo de Yahweh disse a Balaão: "Vá em frente com esses homens, mas tu falarás somente o que eu te disser". Então, Balaão foi junto com os líderes de Balaque.

³⁶ Quando Balaque ouviu que Balaão havia chegado, ele foi ao seu encontro na região de Moabe, que está na fronteira de Arnom. ³⁷ Balaque disse a Balaão: "Não mandei homens para te convocar? Por que tu não vieste a mim? Não sou capaz de honrá-lo?".

³⁸ Então, Balaão respondeu a Balaque: "Vê, eu vim a ti. Será que tenho algum poder para dizer qualquer coisa? Posso dizer somente as palavras que Deus coloca em minha boca". ³⁹ Balaão foi com Balaque, até Quiriate-Huzote. ⁴⁰ Então, Balaque sacrificou bois e ovelhas, e deu carne a Balaão e aos líderes que estavam com ele.

⁴¹ Durante a manhã, Balaque levou Balaão às colinas de Baal. De lá, Balaão viu somente uma parte dos israelitas em seu campo.

Capítulo 23

¹ Balaão disse para Balaque: "Edifica-me sete altares aqui e prepara sete novilhos e sete carneiros". ² Assim, Balaque fez como Balaão pediu. Então Balaque e Balaão ofereceram um novilho e um carneiro sobre cada altar. ³ Então, Balaão disse para Balaque: "Fica junto à tua oferta queimada e eu me afastarei. Talvez Yahweh venha e me encontre. Tudo o que Ele me mostrar eu te direi". Então ele se foi para o topo de uma montanha sem árvores.

⁴ Deus o encontrou, e Balaão lhe disse: "Eu preparei sete altares, e ofereci um novilho e um carneiro sobre cada um". ⁵ Yahweh colocou uma mensagem na boca de Balaão e disse: "Retorna a Balaque e fala para ele". ⁶ Assim, Balaão retornou a Balaque, que estava em pé junto à sua oferta queimada, e todos os lideres de Moabe estavam com ele.

⁷ Então Balaão começou a falar a sua profecia e disse: "Balaque trouxe-me de Arã. O rei de Moabe das montanhas do oriente. 'Vem, amaldiçoa Jacó para mim', ele disse: 'Vem, sentencia Israel'. ⁸ Como poderei amaldiçoar aqueles a quem Deus não amaldiçoou? Como poderei me opor àqueles a quem Yahweh não se opõe?

⁹ Pois do topo dos rochedos eu o vejo; das colinas eu o contemplo. Vede, existe um povo que vive sozinho e não se considera apenas uma nação comum.

¹⁰ Quem pode contar o pó de Jacó ou até mesmo o número da quarta parte de Israel? Que eu morra a morte dos justos, e que a minha vida termine como a dele!"

¹¹ Balaque disse para Balaão: "Que me fizeste? Eu te trouxe para amaldiçoar os meus inimigos, porém tu os abençoastes". ¹² Balaão respondeu e disse: "Não deveria eu ser cuidadoso de dizer apenas o que Yahweh coloca na minha boca?"

¹³ Assim, Balaque lhe disse: "Por favor, vem comigo para outro lugar onde tu os podes ver. Verás deles somente os mais próximos, não todos eles. Dali, tu os amaldiçoarás para mim". ¹⁴ Assim, ele levou Balaão para o campo de Zofim, ao cume do Monte Pisga, e edificou mais sete altares. Ele ofereceu um novilho e um carneiro sobre cada altar. ¹⁵ Então Balaão disse para Balaque: "Fica aqui junto à tua oferta queimada, enquanto eu me encontro com Yahweh ali".

¹⁶ Assim, Yahweh encontrou a Balaão e colocou uma mensagem em sua boca. Ele disse: "Retorna a Balaque e lhe dá minha mensagem". ¹⁷ Balaão retornou a ele, e eis que ele estava em pé junto à sua oferta queimada, e os líderes de Moabe estavam com ele. Então Balaque lhe disse: "O que Yahweh disse?" ¹⁸ Balaão começou a sua profecia. Ele disse: "Levanta-te, Balaque, e escuta. Ouve-me, filho de Zipor.

¹⁹ Deus não é homem, para que minta, nem ser humano, para que mude sua mente. Ele teria prometido alguma coisa sem cumpri-la? Ele teria dito que faria alguma coisa sem realizá-la? ²⁰ Olha, recebi uma ordem para abençoar. Deus deu uma benção, e eu não posso revertê-la.

²¹ Ele não enxergou dureza em Jacó nem problema em Israel. Yahweh, o seu Deus, está com eles, e no meio deles há aclamações ao seu rei. ²² Deus os tirou do Egito com a força de um boi selvagem.

²³ Não há encantamento que funcione contra Jacó, nem adivinhação que cause dano a Israel. Em vez disso, se dirá de Jacó e Israel: 'Vede o que Deus fez!'

²⁴ Vê, o povo se levanta como uma leoa, como um leão que sobe e ataca. Ele não se deitará até que coma a sua vítima e beba o sangue dos que ele matar".

²⁵ Então Balaque disse para Balaão: "Se não os amaldiçoares, também não os abençoes". ²⁶ Porém Balaão, respondendo, disse para Balaque: "Eu não te falei que tenho de dizer tudo o que Yahweh me falou para dizer?" ²⁷ Assim Balaque respondeu para Balaão: "Vem agora, eu te levarei a outro lugar. Talvez dali Deus Se agrade que os amaldiçoes para mim".

²⁸ Assim, Balaque levou Balaão para o cume do Monte Peor, com vista para o deserto. ²⁹ Balaão disse para Balaque: "Edifica-me sete altares aqui e prepara-me sete novilhos e sete carneiros". ³⁰ Assim, Balaque fez como Balaão lhe havia dito; ele ofereceu um novilho e um carneiro sobre cada altar.

Capítulo 24

¹ Quando Balaão viu que agradava a Yahweh em abençoar Israel, ele não fez, como das outras vezes, uso da feitiçaria. Ao invés disso, olhou em direção ao deserto.

² Levantou seus olhos e viu que Israel estava acampada, cada um em sua própria tribo, e o Espírito de Deus veio sobre ele. ³ Ele recebeu essa profecia e disse: "Balaão, filho de Beor, está para falar, o homem cujos olhos estão bem abertos.

⁴ Ele fala e ouve as palavras de Deus. Ele vê a visão do Todo Poderoso, diante de quem ele se ajoelha de olhos abertos. ⁵ Quão bonitas são suas tendas, Jacó, o lugar em que vives, Israel!

⁶ Como vales eles se espalham, como jardins à beira do rio, como aloés plantados por Yahweh, como cedros ao lado das águas.

⁷ Água flui de seus baldes, e suas sementes são bem regadas. Seu rei se elevará mais do que Agague, e seu reino será honrado.

⁸ Deus o traz do Egito com a força de um boi selvagem. Devorará as nações que lutam contra ele. Quebrará os seus ossos em pedaços, os atravessar'a com suas flechas.

⁹ Ele se agacha como um leão e como uma leoa, quem se atreve a perturbá-lo? Que todos os que o abençoarem sejam abençoados; que todos os que o amaldiçoarem sejam amaldiçoados".

¹⁰ Então, a ira de Balaque se acendeu contra Balaão e ele bateu suas mãos juntas em raiva. Balaque disse a Balaão: "Eu te chamei para amaldiçoar meus inimigos, mas vê, tu os tens abençoado três vezes. ¹¹ Então, deixa-me agora e vai para o teu lugar. Disse que te cobriria de honras, mas Yahweh te impediu de obter qualquer recompensa".

¹² Então, Balaão respondeu a Balaque: "Eu disse aos mensageiros que tu me enviaste: ¹³ 'Ainda que Balaque me desse seu palácio cheio de prata e ouro, não poderia ir além das palavras de Yahweh e fazer por mim mesmo bem ou mal. Direi apenas o que Yahweh me ordenar a dizer'. Não lhes disse isso? ¹⁴ Então, agora, vê, voltarei para meu povo, mas primeiro deixa-me avisar sobre o que estas pessoas farão ao teu povo nos dias à frente".

¹⁵ Balaão começou a profetizar. Ele disse: "Balaão, filho de Beor fala, o homem cujos olhos estão bem abertos. ¹⁶ Essa é a profecia de alguém que ouve as palavras de Deus, que tem o conhecimento do Altíssimo, que tem visões do Todo Poderoso, diante de Quem ele se ajoelha de olhos abertos.

¹⁷ Eu O vejo, mas Ele não está aqui agora. Eu olho para Ele, mas Ele não está perto. Uma estrela virá de Jacó, e um cetro subirá de Israel. Ele quebrará os líderes de Moabe e lhes destruirá a todos os descendentes de Sete.

¹⁸ Então, Edom se tornará posse de Israel, e Seir também será sua possessão, inimigos de Israel, a quem Israel conquistará com força. ¹⁹ De Jacó, virá um rei que terá domínio, e destruirá os sobreviventes da cidade".

²⁰ Então, Balaão olhou para Amaleque e começou a profetizar. Disse-lhe: "Amaleque já foi a maior das nações, mas seu fim será destruição".

²¹ Então, Balaão olhou em direção aos queneus e começou a profetizar. Disse-lhes: "O lugar em que viveis é forte, e vossos ninhos estão nas rochas. ²² No entanto, o queneu será arruinado quando Assur vos levar cativos".

²³ Então, Balaão começou sua última profecia. Ele disse: "Ai! Quem sobreviverá quando Deus fizer isso? ²⁴ Navios virão da costa de Quitim; eles atacarão Assur e conquistarão Éber, mas eles, também, acabarão em destruição". ²⁵ Então, Balaão se levantou e partiu. Retornou para sua casa, e Balaque também partiu.

Capítulo 25

¹ Israel ficou em Sitim, e os homens começaram a se prostituir com as mulheres de Moabe, ² pois os moabitas convidaram o povo aos sacrifícios dos seus deuses. E o povo comeu e se prostou diante dos deuses moabitas. ³ Os homens de Israel se juntaram em adoração a Baal-Peor, e a ira de Yahweh se acendeu contra Israel.

⁴ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Mata todos os líderes do povo e os pendura diante de Mim para expô-los à luz do dia, para que a Minha fúria se retire de Israel". ⁵ Então, Moisés disse aos juízes de Israel: "Cada um de vós executará os homens de sua tribo que se juntaram em adoração a Baal-Peor".

⁶ Então, um israelita veio e trouxe aos membros de sua família uma mulher midianita. Isso acontenceu à vista de Moisés e de toda a comunidade do povo de Israel, enquanto eles choravam diante da Tenda do Encontro. ⁷ Quando Fineias, filho de Eleazar, filho de Arão, o sacerdote, viu isso, levantou-se do meio da comunidade e pegou uma lança.

⁸ Ele seguiu o homem israelita até Tenda e atravessou ambos os corpos com a lança, o homem israelita e a mulher. Então, a praga que o Senhor havia mandado ao povo de Israel, cessou. ⁹ Aqueles que morreram pela praga foram vinte e quatro mil.

¹⁰ Yahweh falou com Moisés e disse: ¹¹ "Fineias, filho de Eleazar, filho de Arão, o sacerdote, desviou a Minha ira contra Israel, porque ele tinha paixão pelo Meu zelo entre eles. Assim, não consumi o povo de Israel em Minha ira.

¹² Portanto, dize: Yahweh diz: "Eu estou entregando a Fineias a Minha aliança de paz. ¹³ Esta será aliança de um sacerdócio perpétuo, para ele e sua descendência depois dele, pois foi zeloso a Mim, seu Deus. Ele fez expiação pelo povo de Israel"".

¹⁴ O nome do homem israelita que foi morto com a mulher midianita era Zinri, filho de Salu, líder de uma casa paterna dos simeonitas. ¹⁵ O nome da mulher midianita que foi morta era Cozbi, filha de Zur, cabeça de clã e família dentre os midianitas.

¹⁶ Também Yahweh falou com Moisés e lhe disse: ¹⁷ "Trata os midianitas como inimigos e os ataca, ¹⁸ pois eles vos trataram como inimigos, com seu engano. Eles vos conduziram à maldade, no caso de Peor e no caso de sua irmã Cozbi, a filha do líder de Midiã, que foi morta no dia da praga, no caso de Peor".

Capítulo 26

¹ Foi depois da praga que Yahweh falou com Moisés e Eleazar, filho do sacerdote Arão. Ele disse: ² "Contai toda a comunidade do povo de Israel, de vinte anos ou mais, pelas famílias de seus antepassados, todos que são aptos para guerrear por Israel".

³ Então, Moisés e o sacerdote Eleazar falaram a eles na planície de Moabe diante do Jordão em Jericó, e disseram: ⁴ "Contai o povo, de vinte anos de idade ou mais, como Yahweh ordenou a Moisés e ao povo de Israel, aqueles que saíram da terra do Egito".

⁵ Rúben era o primogênito de Israel. De seu filho Hanoque, veio o clã dos hanoquitas; de Palu, veio o clã dos paluítas; ⁶ de Hezrom, veio o clã dos hezronitas; de Carmi, veio o clã dos carmitas. ⁷ Esses são os clãs descendentes de Rúben, foram contados quarenta e três mil, setecentos e trinta homens.

⁸ Eliabe era o filho de Palu. ⁹ Os filhos de Eliabe eram Nemuel, Datã e Abirão. Esses eram os mesmos Datã e Abirão que seguiram Coré quando eles desafiaram Moisés e Arão e rebelaram-se contra Yahweh.

¹⁰ A terra abriu sua boca e os engoliu junto com Coré quando todos os seus seguidores morreram. Naquele momento, o fogo devorou duzentos e cinquenta homens, que se tornaram um sinal de advertência. ¹¹ Todavia, a linhagem de Coré não morreu.

¹² Os clãs dos descendentes de Simeão eram esses: de Nemuel, o clã dos Nemuelitas; de Jamim, o clã dos Jaminitas; de Jaquim, o clã do Jaquinitas; ¹³ de Zerá, o clã dos Zeraítas; de Saul, o clã dos Saulitas. ¹⁴ Esses eram os clãs descendentes de Simeão, foram contados vinte e dois mil e duzentos homens.

¹⁵ Os clãs descendentes de Gade eram estes: de Zefom, o clã dos zefonitas; de Hagui, o clã dos hagitas; de Suni, o clã do sunitas; ¹⁶ de Ozni, o clã dos oznitas; de Eri, o clã dos eritas; ¹⁷ de Arode, o clã dos aroditas; de Areli, o clã dos arelitas. ¹⁸ Esses eram os clãs descedentes de Gade, foram contados quarenta mil e quinhentos homens.

¹⁹ Os filhos de Judá eram Er e Onã, mas esses homens morreram na terra de Canaã. ²⁰ Os clãs dos outros descendentes de Judá eram estes: de Selá, o clã de selanitas; de Perez, o clã de perezitas; e de Zerá, o clã dos zeraítas. ²¹ Os descendentes de Perez eram estes: de Hezrom, o clã dos hezronitas; de Hamul, o clã dos hamulitas. ²² Esses eram os clãs dos descendentes de Judá, foram contados setenta e seis mil e quinhentos homens.

²³ Os clãs dos descendentes de Issacar eram estes: de Tola, o clã de Tolaítas; de Puá, o clã dos Punitas; ²⁴ de Jasube, o clã dos Jasubitas; de Sinrom, o clã dos Sinronitas. ²⁵ Esses eram os clãs de Issacar, foram contados sessenta e quatro mil e trezentos homens.

²⁶ Os clãs de descendentes de Zebulom eram estes: de Serede, o clã dos sereditas; de Elom, o clã dos elonitas; de Jaleel, o clã dos jaleelitas. ²⁷ Esses eram os clãs dos zebulonitas, foram contados sessenta mil e quinhentos homens.

²⁸ Os clãs de descendentes de José eram Manassés e Efraim. ²⁹ Os descendentes de Manassés eram estes: de Maquir, o clã dos maquiritas (Maquir foi o pai de Gileade); de Gileade, o clã dos gileaditas.

³⁰ Os descendentes de Gileade eram estes: de lezer, o clã dos iezeritas; de Heleque, o clã dos helequitas; ³¹ de Asriel, o clã dos asrielitas; de Siquém, o clã dos siquemitas; ³² de Semida, o clã dos semidaítas; de Hefer, o clã dos heferitas.

³³ Zelofeade, filho de Héfer, não teve filhos, apenas filhas. Os nomes de suas filhas eram Macla, Noa, Hogla, Milca e Tirza. ³⁴ Esses foram os clãs de Manassés, foram contados cinquenta e dois mil e setecentos homens.

³⁵ Os clãs dos descendentes de Efraim foram estes: De Sutela, o clã dos sutelaítas; de Bequer, o clã dos bequeritas; de Taã, o clã dos taanitas. ³⁶ Os descendentes de Sutela foram, de Erã, o clã dos eranitas. ³⁷ Esses foram os clãs dos descendentes de Efraim, foram contados trinta e dois mil e quinhentos homens. Esses foram os descendentes de José, contados em cada um dos seus clãs.

³⁸ Os clãs dos descendentes de Benjamim foram estes: de Belá, o clã dos belaítas; de Asbel, o clã dos asbelitas; de Airã, o clã dos airamitas; ³⁹ de Sufã, o clã dos sufamitas; de Hufã, o clã dos hufamitas. ⁴⁰ Os filhos de Belá eram Arde e Naamã. De Arde, veio o clã dos arditas, e, de Naamã, veio o clã dos naamanitas. ⁴¹ Esses foram os clãs dos descendentes de Benjamim. Foram contados quarenta e cinco mil e seiscentos homens.

⁴² Os clãs dos descendentes de Dã eram, de Suão, os clãs dos suamitas. Esses foram os clãs dos descendentes de Dã. ⁴³ Todos os clãs dos suamitas foram contados sessenta e quatro mil.

⁴⁴ Os clãs dos descendentes de Aser foram estes: de Imna, o clã dos imnaítas; de Isvi, o clã dos isvitas; de Berias, o clã dos beriaítas. ⁴⁵ Os descendentes de Berias foram estes: de Héber, o clã dos heberitas; de Malquiel, o clã dos malquielitas. ⁴⁶ O nome da filha de Aser era Sera. ⁴⁷ Esses foram os clãs dos descendentes de Aser, foram contados cinquenta e três mil e quatrocentos homens.

⁴⁸ Os clãs dos descendentes de Naftali foram estes: de Jazeel, o clã dos jazeelitas; de Guni, o clã dos gunitas; ⁴⁹ de Jezer, o clã dos jezeritas; de Silém, o clã dos silemitas. ⁵⁰ Esses foram os clãs dos descendentes de Naftali, foram contados quarenta e cinco mil e quatrocentos homens.

⁵¹ Esta foi a conta completa dos homens entre o povo de Israel: seiscentos e um mil, setecentos e trinta.

⁵² Yahweh falou com Moisés e disse: ⁵³ "A terra será dividida entre estes homens como uma herança de acordo com o número dos seus nomes.

⁵⁴ Para os clãs maiores, vós dareis maior herança, e, para os menores, dareis menor herança. Para toda família, dará uma herança de acordo com o número de homens que foram contados. ⁵⁵ Entretanto, a terra será dividida em lotes aleatórios. Eles herdarão a terra conforme a divisão feita entre as tribos dos antepassados. ⁵⁶ A herança deles será dividida entre os grandes e pequenos clãs, distribuídas para eles em lotes aleatórios.

⁵⁷ Os clãs dos levitas, contado clã por clã, foram estes: de Gérson, o clã dos gersonitas; de Coate, o clã dos coatitas; de Merari, o clã dos meraritas. ⁵⁸ Os clãs de Levi foram estes: o clã dos libnitas; o clã dos hebronitas; o clã dos malitas; o clã dos musitas; o clã dos coraítas. Coate era o antepassado de Anrão. ⁵⁹ O nome da esposa de Anrão era Joquebede, uma descendente de Levi, que nasceu dos levitas no Egito. Ela deu à luz aos filhos de Anrão, que eram Arão, Moisés e Miriã, irmã deles.

⁶⁰ De Arão, nasceram Nadabe e Abiú, Eleazar e Itamar. ⁶¹ Nadabe e Abiú morreram quando eles ofereceram fogo estranho diante de Yahweh. ⁶² Os homens que foram contados entre os levitas totalizaram vinte três mil, todos homens com um mês de idade pra cima. Mas eles não foram contados entre os descendentes de Israel porque não lhes foi dada herança entre o povo de Israel.

⁶³ Estes são os que foram contados por Moisés e pelo sacerdote Eleazar. Eles contaram o povo de Israel nas planícies de Moabe, junto ao Jordão em Jericó. ⁶⁴ Mas, entre eles, não havia nenhum homem que havia sido contado por Moisés e pelo sacerdote Arão quando os descendentes de Israel foram contados no deserto de Sinai.

⁶⁵ Pois Yahweh dissera que todo aquele povo certamente morreria no deserto. Não foi deixado nenhum homem entre eles, exceto Calebe, filho de Jefoné, e Josué, filho de Num.

Capítulo 27

¹ Então vieram a Moisés as filhas de Zelofeade, filho de Héfer, filho de Gileade, filho de Maquir, filho de Manassés, do clã de Manassés, filho de José. Estes eram os nomes de suas filhas: Macla, Noa, Hogla, Milca e Tirza.

² Elas ficaram diante de Moisés, do sacerdote Eleazar, dos líderes e diante de toda comunidade, na entrada da Tenda do Encontro. Elas disseram: ³ "Nosso pai morreu no deserto. Ele não estava entre aqueles que conspiraram contra Yahweh na companhia de Coré. Ele morreu por seu próprio pecado, e não teve filhos.

⁴ Por que o nome de nosso pai deveria ser tirado de seu clã por ele não ter tido nenhum filho? Dá-nos terra entre os parentes de nosso pai". ⁵ Então, Moisés levou o caso delas diante de Yahweh.

⁶ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ⁷ "As filhas de Zelofeade estão falando corretamente. Tu certamente darás terra a elas, como uma herança entre os parentes de seu pai. E te certifica de que a herança de seu pai passe para elas. ⁸ Tu falarás com o povo de Israel, dizendo: 'Se um homem morrer e não tiver filhos, então vós garantireis que sua herança passe para sua filha.

⁹ Se ele não tiver filha, então vós dareis sua herança ao seus irmãos; ¹⁰ se ele não tiver irmãos, então dareis sua herança para os irmãos de seu pai; ¹¹ se o seu pai não tiver irmãos, então dareis sua herança para o parente mais próximo em seu clã, e ele a tomará para si. Esta será uma lei estabelecida por decreto para o povo de Israel, como Yahweh ordenou a mim'".

¹² Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Sobe às montanhas de Abarim e olha para a terra que Eu dei ao povo de Israel. ¹³ Depois de vê-la, tu também serás reunido ao teu povo, assim como o teu irmão Arão. ¹⁴ Isto acontecerá porque vós vos rebelastes contra Meu comando no deserto de Zim. Lá, quando a água fluiu da rocha, em vossa ira, vós falhastes em honrar Minha santidade diante dos olhos de toda a comunidade". Estas são as águas de Meribá de Cades no deserto de Zim.

¹⁵ Então, Moisés falou com Yahweh e disse: ¹⁶ "Que Tu, Yahweh, Deus dos espíritos de toda a humanidade, aponte um homem sobre a comunidade, ¹⁷ um homem que saia e entre diante deles e os conduza para fora e os traga para dentro, para que Tua comunidade não seja como ovelhas que não têm pastor".

¹⁸ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Toma Josué, filho de Num, um homem em quem Meu Espírito vive, e impõe tua mão sobre ele. ¹⁹ Apresenta-o diante do sacerdote Eleazar e diante de toda a comunidade, e ordena-o diante de seus olhos para liderá-los.

²⁰ Tu colocarás parte de tua autoridade sobre ele, para que toda a comunidade do povo de Israel lhe obedeça. ²¹ Ele irá diante do sacerdote Eleazar para buscar Minha vontade para ele, pelas decisões de Urim. Será pelo comando de Josué que o povo sairá e entrará, ambos, ele e todo o povo de Israel com ele, toda a comunidade".

²² Então, Moisés fez como Yahweh lhe ordenara. Ele levou Josué e o colocou diante do sacerdote Eleazar e toda a comunidade, ²³ impôs suas mãos sobre ele e ordenou-lhe para liderar, assim como Yahweh lhe ordenara fazer.

Capítulo 28

¹ Yahweh falou para Moisés e disse: ² "Ordena ao povo de Israel e dize-lhes: 'Oferecei sacrifícios a Mim no tempo designado; a comida para Minhas ofertas queimadas de aroma agradável para Mim'.

³ Tu também lhes dirás: 'Esta é a oferta queimada que vós oferecereis para Yahweh: dois cordeiros machos de um ano de idade, sem defeito, todos os dias, como um holocausto contínuo. ⁴ Oferecei um cordeiro pela manhã, e o outro cordeiro ao entardecer. ⁵ Oferecei a décima parte de um efa da melhor farinha, como a oferta de cereais, misturado com um quarto de um him de azeite batido.

⁶ Esse é o holocausto contínuo que foi ordenado no monte Sinai como aroma agradável, uma oferta queimada para Yahweh. ⁷ A oferta de bebida será um quarto de um him para um dos cordeiros. Derramai, no lugar sagrado, uma oferta de bebida forte para Yahweh. ⁸ Oferecei o outro cordeiro ao entardecer, com uma oferta de cereais, como as oferecidas pela manhã. Oferecei também uma oferta de bebida com isso, uma oferta queimada, de aroma agradável para Yahweh.

⁹ No dia de Sábado, oferecei dois cordeiros machos, de um ano de idade cada, sem defeito, e dois décimos de um efa da melhor farinha, como uma oferta de cereais, misturada com azeite, juntamente com a oferta de bebida. ¹⁰ Esse será o holocausto de todo sábado, além do holocausto contínuo e a oferta de bebida.

¹¹ No início de cada mês, oferecei um holocausto para Yahweh. Oferecei dois novilhos, um carneiro, e sete cordeiros machos de um ano de idade, sem defeito. ¹² Oferecei também três décimos de um efa da melhor farinha, como oferta de cereais, misturada com azeite para cada novilho, e dois décimos da melhor farinha, como oferta de cereais, misturada com azeite para cada carneiro. ¹³ Oferecei também um décimo de um efa da melhor farinha, misturada com azeite, como oferta de cereais para cada cordeiro. É holocausto de aroma agradável; oferta queimada a Yahweh.

¹⁴ A oferta de bebida do povo será metade de um him de vinho para um novilho, um terço de um him para um carneiro, e um quarto de um him para um cordeiro. Essa será a oferta queimada, para todo mês de todos os meses do ano. ¹⁵ Como oferta pelo pecado, oferecei um bode a Yahweh. Esse será um acréscimo ao holocausto contínuo e à oferta de bebida.

¹⁶ Durante o primeiro mês, no décimo quarto dia do mês, acontece a Páscoa de Yahweh. ¹⁷ No décimo quinto dia desse mês haverá um banquete. Por sete dias, comei pão sem fermento. ¹⁸ No primeiro dia, haverá uma reunião santa para honrar Yahweh. Não fareis nenhum trabalho nesse dia.

¹⁹ Porém, oferecei uma oferta queimada em holocausto a Yahweh. Oferecei dois novilhos, um carneiro, e sete cordeiros machos de um ano de idade, sem defeito. ²⁰ Oferecei, junto com o novilho, oferta de cereais de três décimos de um efa da melhor farinha, misturada com azeite e dois décimos junto com o carneiro. ²¹ Para cada um dos sete cordeiros, oferecei um décimo de um efa da melhor farinha, misturada com azeite, ²² e um bode como uma oferta pelo pecado para fazer expiação por vós.

²³ Essas coisas oferecei além do holocausto da manhã, que é o holocausto contínuo. ²⁴ Assim, oferecei esses sacrifícios diariamente, durante os sete dias da Páscoa, a comida de oferta queimada de aroma agradável a Yahweh. Isso deve ser oferecido em acréscimo ao holocausto contínuo junto com a oferta de bebida. ²⁵ No sétimo dia, farei vós uma santa convocação para honrar Yahweh, e vós não trabalheis nesse dia.

²⁶ Além disso, no dia das primícias, quando vós oferecerdes uma nova oferta de cereais para Yahweh na vossa Festa das Semanas, tereis santa convocação para honrar Yahweh, e não fareis nenhum trabalho nesse dia. ²⁷ Oferecei uma oferta queimada de aroma agradável para Yahweh. Oferecei dois novilhos, um carneiro, e sete cordeiros machos de um ano de idade. ²⁸ Oferecei também oferta de cereais para acompanhar: da melhor farinha misturada com azeite, três décimos de um efa da melhor farinha misturada com azeite para cada novilho e dois décimos para um carneiro.

²⁹ Oferecei um décimo de um efa da melhor farinha misturada com azeite para cada um dos sete cordeiros, ³⁰ e um bode para fazer expiação por vós. ³¹ Quando vós oferecerdes esses animais sem defeitos, junto com as ofertas de bebida, isso será um acréscimo ao holocausto contínuo e à oferta de cereais'".

Capítulo 29

¹ "No primeiro dia do sétimo mês, vós tereis uma santa assembleia em honra a Yahweh. Não fareis trabalho regular neste dia, será para vós um dia com toque de trombetas.

² Oferecei a Yahweh uma oferta queimada, produzida com aroma suave; um novilho, um carneiro e sete cordeiros machos com um ano de idade, cada um deles sem defeito.

³ Oferecei, juntamente com estes, a oferta de cereais da melhor farinha fina misturada com azeite, três décimos de efa para o novilho, dois décimos para o carneiro; ⁴ e um décimo para cada um dos sete cordeiros. ⁵ Oferecei um bode como oferta para expiação do vosso pecado.

⁶ Consagrai essas ofertas no sétimo mês, incluindo todas as ofertas que fareis no primeiro dia de cada mês: a oferta queimada especial e a oferta dos grãos acompanharão essas ofertas. A oferta queimada, os grãos e bebidas ofertadas serão incluídas de forma regular. Assim como foi feito com as ofertas, vós obedecereis o que foi decretado para produzir um aroma suave, como oferta queimada a Yahweh.

⁷ No décimo dia do sétimo mês, realizai uma santa assembleia em honra de Yahweh, humilhai-vos e não trabalheis. ⁸ Oferecei uma oferta queimada para produzir um aroma suave a Yahweh. Oferecei um novilho, um carneiro e sete cordeiros machos de um ano de idade. Cada um deles será sem defeito.

⁹ Oferecei com eles a oferta de grãos, da melhor farinha misturada com azeite, três décimos de efa para o novilho, dois décimos para o carneiro ¹⁰ e, para os sete cordeiros, um décimo de efa para cada. ¹¹ Oferecei um bode macho. Isso será incluído na oferta pelo pecado para fazer a expiação, uma oferta queimada contínua, com a oferta de grãos e as ofertas de bebidas.

¹² No décimo quinto dia do sétimo mês, realizai uma santa assembleia em honra de Yahweh. Não façais trabalho regular e mantende uma festa a Ele por sete dias. ¹³ Oferecei uma oferta queimada, um sacrifício queimado para produzir um aroma suave a Yahweh. Oferecei treze novilhos, dois carneiros e quatorze cordeiros de um ano de idade. Cada um será sem defeito.

¹⁴ Oferecei, juntamente com estes, uma oferta de grãos, a flor da farinha misturada com azeite, três décimos de efa para cada um dos treze novilhos, dois décimos para cada um dos dois carneiros, ¹⁵ e um décimo de efa para cada um dos catorze cordeiros. ¹⁶ Oferecei um bode como oferta pelo pecado em adição à oferta queimada regular, sua oferta de cereais e a oferta de bebidas oferecidas juntamente com essa.

¹⁷ No segundo dia da assembleia, oferecei doze novilhos, dois carneiros e quatorze cordeiros machos de um ano de idade, cada um sem defeito. ¹⁸ Trazei com eles uma oferta de cereais e de bebidas oferecidas com os novilhos, os carneiros e os cordeiros, fazendo tantas ofertas quanto ordenadas. ¹⁹ Oferecei um bode macho como oferta pelo pecado incluindo a contínua oferta queimada, a oferta de grão e as ofertas de bebidas.

²⁰ No terceiro dia da assembleia, oferecei onze novilhos, dois carneiros, e quatorze cordeiros machos de um ano de idade, cada um sem defeito. ²¹ Fazei também uma oferta de grãos e de bebidas oferecidas com os novilhos, os carneiros e os cordeiros, fazendo tantas ofertas quanto ordenadas. ²² Oferecei um bode macho como oferta pelo pecado, incluindo a contínua oferta queimada, a oferta de grãos e as ofertas de bebidas.

²³ No quarto dia da assembleia, oferecei dez novilhos, dois carneiros e quatorze cordeiros machos de um ano de idade, cada um sem defeito. ²⁴ fazei também uma oferta de grãos e de bebidas oferecidas com os novilhos, os carneiros e os cordeiros, fazendo tantas ofertas quanto ordenadas. ²⁵ Oferecei um bode macho como oferta pelo pecado incluindo a contínua oferta queimada, a oferta de grão e as ofertas de bebidas.

²⁶ No quinto dia da assembleia, oferecei nove novilhos, dois carneiros e quatorze cordeiros machos de um ano de idade, cada um sem defeito. ²⁷ Fazei, com eles, uma oferta de grãos e de bebidas oferecidas com os novilhos, os carneiros e os cordeiros, fazendo tantas ofertas quanto ordenadas. ²⁸ Oferecei um bode macho como oferta pelo pecado incluindo a contínua oferta queimada, a oferta de grãos e as ofertas de bebidas.

²⁹ No sexto dia da assembleia, oferecei oito novilhos, dois carneiros e quatorze cordeiros machos de um ano de idade, cada um sem defeito. ³⁰ Fazei, com eles, uma oferta de grãos e de bebidas oferecidas com os novilhos, os carneiros e os cordeiros, fazendo tantas ofertas quanto ordenadas. ³¹ Oferecei um bode macho como oferta pelo pecado incluindo a contínua oferta queimada, a oferta de grãos e as ofertas de bebidas.

³² No sétimo dia de assembleia, oferecei sete novilhos, dois carneiros e quatorze cordeiros machos de um ano de idade, cada um sem defeito. ³³ Fazei, com eles, uma oferta de grãos e de bebidas oferecidas com os novilhos, os carneiros e os cordeiros, fazendo tantas ofertas quanto ordenadas. ³⁴ Oferecei um bode macho como oferta pelo pecado, incluindo a contínua oferta queimada, a oferta de grãos e as ofertas de bebidas.

³⁵ No oitavo dia, tereis uma outra assembleia solene. Não façais trabalho regular. ³⁶ Oferecei uma oferta queimada, para produzir um aroma suave a Yahweh. Oferecei um novilho, um carneiro e sete cordeiros machos com um ano de idade, cada um sem defeito.

³⁷ Fazei, juntamente com eles, uma oferta de grãos e de bebidas oferecidas com os novilhos, com os carneiros e com os cordeiros, fazendo tantas ofertas quanto ordenadas. ³⁸ Oferecei um bode macho como oferta pelo pecado incluindo a contínua oferta queimada, a oferta de grão e as ofertas de bebidas.

³⁹ São esses que vós oferecereis a Yahweh na festas fixas. Incluí vossos votos e ofertas voluntárias, assim como as vossas ofertas queimadas, grãos ofertados, bebidas ofertadas e ofertas pacíficas". ⁴⁰ Moisés disse ao povo de Israel tudo aquilo que Yahweh havia ordenado.

Capítulo 30

¹ Moisés falou aos líderes das tribos do povo de Israel, dizendo: "Isto é o que Yahweh ordenou. ² Quando alguém fizer um voto a Yahweh, ou fizer um juramento ligado a uma promessa, não quebrará a sua palavra. Manterá sua promessa para fazer tudo o que disser.

³ Quando uma jovem mulher, vivendo na casa de seu pai, fizer um voto a Yahweh e obrigar-se ao voto pela promessa, ⁴ e seu pai ouvir o voto e a promessa pela qual ela se obrigou, e se ele não disser nada em contrário, então os votos dela permanecerão válidos. Toda a promessa pela qual ela se obrigou permanecerá válida.

⁵ Se o seu pai ouvir o seu voto ou a promessa, e não lhe disser nada em contrário, então todos os votos ou promessas que ela tiver feito permanecerão válidos.

⁶ Contudo, se ela casar-se enquanto estiver sob os votos ou promessas de seus lábios, pelos quais se comprometeu, ⁷ e o seu marido souber disso e não disser coisa alguma quando ouvi-la, então os votos e obrigações com os quais se comprometeu continuarão válidos.

⁸ Mas se o marido desaprová-la quando a ouvir, então ele cancelará os votos que ela tiver feito, a fala precipitada dos seus lábios pela qual ela se obrigou. Yahweh a liberará.

⁹ Mas sobre a viúva ou a mulher divorciada, toda obrigação assumida por elas permanecerá válida contra ambas. ¹⁰ E se uma mulher casada fizer um voto, se ela se obrigar à promessa com juramento, ¹¹ e seu marido ficar sabendo disso e não desautorizá-la, se não cancelar o seu voto, então todos os seus votos serão válidos. Toda promessa pela qual ela se vinculou permanece válida.

¹² Mas se o marido, quando a ouvir, cancelar o que ela prometeu, então o que quer que seja, que terá sido dito pelos lábios dela, sobre os seus votos ou promessas não terá validade. Seu marido os terá cancelado. Yahweh a liberará.

¹³ Todo voto ou promessa que uma mulher fizer e que a force a negar alguma coisa, pode ser confirmado ou cancelado pelo seu marido. ¹⁴ Mas se ele não desautorizá-la no seu dia a dia, então, com isto, ele confirmará todas os votos e promessas que ela tiver feito. Ele as confirmou porque não lhe disse nada no tempo em que ele as ouviu sendo feitas.

¹⁵ E se o seu marido tentar cancelar os votos da sua esposa muito tempo depois de ter ouvido essas promessas, então ele será responsável pelo pecado dela. ¹⁶ Estes são os estatutos que Yahweh ordenou a Moisés para lhes anunciar; estatutos estabelecidos entre um homem e sua esposa, e entre o pai e a sua filha, quando ela ainda está na sua juventude e na casa do seu pai.

Capítulo 31

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo: ² "Vinga o povo de Israel contra os midianitas. Após isso, morrerás e te reunirás ao teu povo".

³ Então Moisés falou ao povo, dizendo: "Armai alguns de vossos homens para que saiam contra Midiã e executem a vingança de Yahweh. ⁴ Toda tribo dentro de Israel enviará mil soldados à guerra". ⁵ Assim, dentre os milhares e milhares de homens de Israel, foram fornecidos mil de cada tribo para a guerra. Doze mil homens ao todo.

⁶ Então, Moisés os enviou para a batalha, mil de cada tribo, juntamente com Fineias, filho do sacerdote Eleazar, com alguns utensílios do Lugar Santo e trombetas em sua posse, para soar os alarmes. ⁷ Guerrearam contra Midiã, como Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés. Mataram todos os homens. ⁸ Juntamente com os outros mortos, mataram os reis de Midiã, Evi, Requém, Zur, Hur e Reba, os cinco reis de Midiã. Também mataram Balaão, filho de Beor, pela espada.

⁹ Os exércitos de Israel capturaram as mulheres de Midiã, suas crianças, todo o gado, rebanho e todos os seus bens. Levaram isso como despojos. ¹⁰ Queimaram todas as suas cidades onde viviam, e todos os seus acampamentos.

¹¹ Levaram como despojos e prisioneiros, tanto as pessoas como os animais. ¹² Trouxeram os prisioneiros e os despojos, as coisas capturadas a Moisés, ao sacerdote Eleazar e à comunidade do povo de Israel. Trouxeram isso ao acampamento na planície de Moabe, ao lado do Jordão, próximo a Jericó.

¹³ Moisés, o sacerdote Eleazar e todos os líderes da comunidade foram ao encontro deles fora do acampamento. ¹⁴ Mas Moisés estava irado com os oficiais do exército, os comandantes dos mil e os capitães de cem, que vieram da batalha. ¹⁵ Moisés lhes disse: "Deixastes todas as mulheres vivas?

¹⁶ Vede, essas foram as mulheres que, por conselho de Balaão, fizeram com que o povo de Israel pecasse contra Yahweh no caso de Peor, quando a praga se espalhou entre a comunidade de Yahweh. ¹⁷ Agora, matai todos os meninos entre as crianças, e todas as mulheres que já dormiram com algum homem.

¹⁸ Mas tomai para si todas a moças que nunca dormiram com um homem. ¹⁹ Acampai do lado de fora do acampamento de Israel durante sete dias. Todos aqueles dentre vós que mataram alguém ou tocaram algum morto, deverão se purificar no terceiro dia e no sétimo dia, vós e vossos prisioneiros. ²⁰ Purificai todo vestuário, tudo feito de couro de animal, pelo de bode e tudo que é feito de madeira".

²¹ O sacerdote Eleazar disse aos soldados que foram para a guerra: "Esta é a lei decretada que Yahweh deu a Moisés: ²² o ouro, a prata, o bronze, o ferro, o latão e o chumbo, ²³ e tudo que for resistente ao fogo, deverão passar pelo fogo. Então estarão puros. Depois, purificareis essas coisas com a água da purificação. Tudo aquilo que não puder ser passado pelo fogo deverá ser limpo com aquela água. ²⁴ Lavareis as vossas vestes no sétimo dia, e então ficareis limpos. Depois, podereis entrar no acampamento de Israel".

²⁵ Então, Yahweh falou a Moisés dizendo: ²⁶ "Conta todos os despojos tomados, tanto de pessoas quanto de animais. Tu, com o sacerdote Eleazar, e os líderes da comunidade dos clãs dos antepassados ²⁷ dividireis os despojos em duas partes, entre os soldados que saíram para a batalha, e todo o resto da comunidade.

²⁸ Dos soldados que foram para a batalha, coleta um tributo a ser dado a Mim. Este tributo será um a cada quinhentos, dentre pessoas, gado, jumentos, ovelhas, ou bodes. ²⁹ Coleta este tributo da metade deles e o entrega ao sacerdote Eleazar, como uma oferta para ser apresentada a Mim.

³⁰ Também da metade do povo de Israel, tu separarás um de cada cinquenta, dentre pessoas, gado, jumento, ovelhas, e bodes. Entrega-os aos levitas que cuidam do meu Tabernáculo". ³¹ Então, Moisés e o sacerdote Eleazar fizeram como Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés.

³² Os despojos que restaram do que os soldados tomaram foram seiscentos e setenta e cinco mil ovelhas, ³³ setenta e dois mil bois, ³⁴ sessenta e um mil jumentos, ³⁵ e trinta e duas mil mulheres que nunca dormiram com homem algum.

³⁶ A metade que foi mantida com os soldados era em número de trezentos e trinta e sete mil ovelhas. ³⁷ A parte de Yahweh dentre as ovelhas foi seiscentos e setenta e cinco. ³⁸ Os bois eram trinta e seis mil, dos quais o tributo a Yahweh foi setenta e dois.

³⁹ Os jumentos eram trinta mil e quinhentos, dos quais a parte a Yahweh foi sessenta e um. ⁴⁰ As pessoas eram dezesseis mil mulheres, das quais o tributo a Yahweh foi trinta e duas pessoas. ⁴¹ Moisés tomou o tributo para ser uma oferta apresentada a Yahweh. Ele a entregou ao sacerdote Eleazar, como Yahweh ordenara Moisés.

⁴² Quanto à metade do povo de Israel que Moisés havia tomado dos soldados que tinham ido para a guerra: ⁴³ a metade da comunidade era de trezentas e trinta e sete mil e quinhentas ovelhas, ⁴⁴ trinta e seis mil bois, ⁴⁵ trinta mil e quinhentos jumentos, ⁴⁶ e dezesseis mil mulheres.

⁴⁷ Da metade do povo de Israel, Moisés tomou um de cada cinquenta, tanto de pessoas quanto de animais. Ele os entregou aos levitas que cuidavam do tabernáculo de Yahweh, assim como Yahweh lhe ordenara.

⁴⁸ Então os oficiais do exército, os comandantes de mil, e os capitães de cem, vieram a Moisés, ⁴⁹ e disseram-lhe: "Os teus servos contaram os soldados que estavam sob o nosso comando, e nenhum homem falta.

⁵⁰ Trouxemos a oferta para Yahweh, o que cada homem achou, artigos de ouro, pulseiras e braceletes, anéis, brincos e colares, para fazer expiação por nós diante de Yahweh". ⁵¹ Moisés e o sacerdote Eleazar receberam deles o ouro e todos os artigos trabalhados.

⁵² Todo o ouro da oferta que deram a Yahweh - as ofertas dos comandantes de mil e dos capitães de cem - pesava dezesseis mil setecentos e cinquenta siclos. ⁵³ Cada soldado tomou despojo, cada homem para si mesmo. ⁵⁴ Moisés e o sacerdote Eleazar tomou o ouro dos comandantes de mil e dos capitães de cem. Eles o levaram para a Tenda do Encontro, como memorial do povo de Israel para Yahweh.

Capítulo 32

¹ Os descendentes de Rúben e de Gade possuíam um grande número de gado. Quando eles viram que as terras de Jazer e de Gileade eram propícias para o gado, ² foram a Moisés, ao sacerdote Eleazar e aos líderes da comunidade e lhes disseram: ³ "Atarote, Dibom, Jazer, Ninra, Hesbom, Eleale, Sebã, Nebo e Beom,

⁴ estas terras que Yahweh conquistou perante a comunidade de Israel, são propícias para o gado. Nós, teus servos, temos uma grande quantidade de gado". ⁵ Disseram: "Se nós encontramos favor aos teus olhos, permitas que estas terras sejam entregues a vossos servos, como posse. Não nos façais atravessar o Jordão".

⁶ Moisés respondeu aos descendentes de Gade e Rúben: "Deveriam teus irmãos irem à guerra enquanto vos estabeleceis aqui? ⁷ Por que desencorajais o coração do povo de Israel para que não entrem na terra que Yahweh lhes entregou?

⁸ Vossos pais fizeram a mesma coisa quando os enviei de Cades-Barneia para examinar a terra. ⁹ Quando eles foram até o vale de Escol e viram a terra, desencorajaram o coração do povo de Israel para que não entrasse na terra que Yahweh lhes havia dado.

¹⁰ Então, a ira de Yahweh se acendeu naquele dia e Ele jurou dizendo: ¹¹ 'Certamente, nenhum dos homens que saíram do Egito, com vinte anos para cima verá a terra que Eu jurei a Abraão, a Isaque e a Jacó, porque eles não Me seguiram fielmente. ¹² Exceto Calebe, filho de Jefoné, o quenezeu, e Josué, filho de Num. Somente Calebe e Josué, porque perseveraram em Me seguir'.

¹³ Então, a ira de Yahweh se acendeu contra Israel. Ele os fez peregrinar errantes pelo deserto por quarenta anos, até que toda aquela geração que havia cometido o mal aos Seus olhos fosse destruída. ¹⁴ Agora, levantastes no lugar de vossos pais, como uma geração de homens pecadores para aumentar ainda mais a ardente ira de Yahweh contra Israel. ¹⁵ Se vós deixardes de segui-Lo, Ele novamente abandonará Israel no deserto e vós sereis o motivo da destruição de todo este povo".

¹⁶ Então, eles se aproximaram de Moisés e disseram: "Permita-nos construir currais para nosso gado e cidades para nossas famílias. ¹⁷ Porém, nós nos armaremos e iremos com o exército de Israel até o deixarmos em seu lugar. Mas nossas famílias viverão nas cidades fortificadas, devido aos habitantes que ainda residem nesta terra.

¹⁸ Nós não retornaremos às nossas casas até que cada homem do povo de Israel tenha obtido a sua herança. ¹⁹ Nós não herdaremos a terra com eles do outro lado do Jordão, pois a nossa herança é aqui no oriente do Jordão".

²⁰ Então, Moisés respondeu-lhes: "Se vós fizerdes o que dizeis, se vos armardes para a guerra perante Yahweh ²¹ e cada um de vós atravessardes o Jordão, armados perante Yahweh, até que Ele tenha removido todos os Seus inimigos diante de Si, ²² e a terra esteja submetida a Yahweh, só então podereis voltar. E vós estareis sem culpa perante Yahweh e Israel. Esta terra será vossa perante Yahweh.

²³ Entretanto, se não fizerdes isso, pecareis contra Yahweh. Estai certos de que vosso pecado vos achará. ²⁴ Edificai cidades para vossas famílias e currais para as vossas ovelhas e fazei aquilo que prometestes". ²⁵ Os descendentes de Gade e de Rúben disseram a Moisés: "Teus servos farão o que tu, nosso senhor, ordena.

²⁶ Nossas crianças, nossas mulheres, nossos rebanhos e todo nosso gado permanecerão nas cidades de Gileade. ²⁷ Porém, nós, teus servos, atravessaremos perante Yahweh para a batalha; todo homem que estiver preparado para a guerra, como tu, nosso senhor, dizes".

²⁸ Então, Moisés deu instruções a respeito deles ao sacerdote Eleazar, e Josué, filho de Num, e também aos líderes dos clãs de seus antepassados das tribos do povo de Israel. ²⁹ Moisés lhes disse: "Se os descendentes de Gade e Rúben atravessarem o Jordão convosco, todo homem armado para a guerra perante Yahweh, e, se a terra estiver subjugada, então, lhes darei a terra de Gileade como posse. ³⁰ Porém, se não atravessarem o Jordão armados convosco, então, adquirirão suas posse entre vós na terra de Canaã".

³¹ Os descendentes de Gade e Rúben responderam: "Conforme o que Yahweh nos disse, nós o faremos. ³² Nós atravessaremos o Jordão perante Yahweh para a terra de Canaã, mas a nossa herança será deste lado do Jordão".

³³ Assim, aos descendentes de Gade e de Rúben e à metade da tribo de Manassés, filho de José, Moisés entregou o reino de Siom, o reino dos amorreus e o reino de Ogue, rei de Basã. Ele lhes entregou a terra, e distribuiu todas as suas cidades, suas fronteiras e as cidades ao redor deles.

³⁴ Os descendentes de Gade reconstruíram Dibom, Atarote, Aroer, ³⁵ Atarote-Sofã, Jazer, Jogbeá, ³⁶ Bete-Ninra e Bete-Harã, como cidades fortificadas. Além disso, também construíram currais para suas ovelhas.

³⁷ Os descendentes de Rúben reconstruíram Hesbom, Eleale, e Quiriataim, ³⁸ Nebo, Baal-Meom (seus nomes foram posteriormente alterados) e Sibma. Eles deram outros nomes para as cidades que construíram. ³⁹ Os descendentes de Maquir, filho de Manassés, foram a Gileade e a conquistaram dos amorreus que habitavam ali.

⁴⁰ Então, Moisés entregou Gileade a Maquir, filho de Manassés, e os seus descendentes habitaram ali. ⁴¹ Jair, filho de Manassés, conquistou as cidades da região e as chamou de Havote-Jair. ⁴² Nobá conquistou Quenate e seus vilarejos e os chamou de Nobá, segundo seu nome.

Capítulo 33

¹ Estas foram as caminhadas do povo de Israel depois de deixarem a terra do Egito, segundo seus exércitos, sob a liderança de Moisés e Arão. ² Moisés registrou os lugares de onde partiram e para onde foram, como Yahweh ordenou. Estas eram suas caminhadas, partida após partida.

³ Viajaram de Ramessés durante o primeiro mês, saindo no décimo quinto dia. Na manhã seguinte da Páscoa, o povo de Israel partiu corajosamente, à vista de todos os egípcios. ⁴ Isso ocorreu enquanto os egípcios estavam enterrando todos os seus primogênitos, aqueles a quem Yahweh havia matado, depois de executar juízos também contra os seus deuses.

⁵ O povo de Israel saiu de Ramessés e acampou em Sucote. ⁶ Saíram de Sucote e acamparam em Etã, nos limites do deserto. ⁷ Saíram de Etã e voltaram para Pi-Hairote, que está oposta a Baal-Zefom, onde acamparam próximo de Migdol.

⁸ Então, saíram de Pi-Hairote e atravessaram pelo meio do mar, em direção ao deserto. Viajaram três dias pelo deserto de Etã e acamparam em Mara. ⁹ Saíram de Mara e chegaram a Elim. Em Elim, havia doze fontes de água e setenta palmeiras. Ali foi onde acamparam. ¹⁰ Saíram de Elim e acamparam junto ao mar Vermelho.

¹¹ Saíram do mar Vermelho e acamparam no deserto de Sim. ¹² Saíram do deserto de Sim e acamparam em Dofca. ¹³ Saíram de Dofca e acamparam em Alus. ¹⁴ Saíram de Alus e acamparam em Refidim, onde não foi encontrada nenhuma água para o povo beber.

¹⁵ Saíram de Redifim e acamparam no deserto do Sinai. ¹⁶ Saíram do deserto do Sinai e acamparam em Quibrote-Hataavá. ¹⁷ Saíram de Quibrote-Hataavá e acamparam em Hazerote. ¹⁸ Saíram de Hazerote e acamparam em Ritmá.

¹⁹ Saíram de Ritmá e acamparam em Rimom-Perez. ²⁰ Saíram de Rimom-Perez e acamparam em Libna. ²¹ Saíram de Libna e acamparam em Rissa. ²² Saíram de Rissa e acamparam em Queelata.

²³ Saíram de Queelata e acamparam no monte Sefer. ²⁴ Saíram do Monte Sefer e acamparam em Harada. ²⁵ Saíram de Harada e acamparam em Maquelote. ²⁶ Saíram de Maquelote e acamparam em Taate.

²⁷ Saíram de Taate e acamparam em Terá. ²⁸ Saíram de Terá e acamparam em Mitca. ²⁹ Saíram de Mitca e acamparam em Hasmona. ³⁰ Saíram de Hasmona e acamparam em Moserote.

³¹ Saíram de Moserote e acamparam em Bene-Jaacã. ³² Saíram de Bene-Jaacã e acamparam em Hor-Gidgade. ³³ Saíram de Hor-Gidgade e acamparam em Jotbatá. ³⁴ Saíram de Jotbatá e acamparam Abrona.

³⁵ Saíram de Abrona e acamparam em Eziom-Geber. ³⁶ Saíram de Eziom-Geber e acamparam no deserto de Zim, em Cades. ³⁷ Saíram de Cades e acamparam no Monte Hor, na fronteira da terra de Edom.

³⁸ Arão, o sacerdote, subiu ao Monte Hor, por ordem de Yahweh, e ali morreu, no quadragésimo ano, após a saída do povo de Israel da terra do Egito, no quinto mês, no primeiro dia do mês. ³⁹ Arão estava com cento e vinte e três anos quando morreu no Monte Hor.

⁴⁰ O Cananeu, rei de Arade, que vivia na região sul do deserto, na terra Canaã, ouviu sobre a vinda do povo de Israel.

⁴¹ Saíram do Monte Hor e acamparam em Zalmona. ⁴² Saíram de Zalmona e acamparam em Punom. ⁴³ Saíram de Punom e acamparam em Obote.

⁴⁴ Saíram de Obote e acamparam em Ijé-Abarim, na fronteira de Moabe. ⁴⁵ Saíram de Ijé-Abarim e acamparam em Dibom-Gade. ⁴⁶ Saíram de Dibom-Gade e acamparam em Almom-Diblataim.

⁴⁷ Saíram de Almom-Diblataim e acamparam nas montanhas de Abarim, em frente a Nebo. ⁴⁸ Saíram das montanhas de Abarim e acamparam nas planícies de Moabe, junto ao Jordão, em Jericó. ⁴⁹ Acamparam no Jordão, de Bete-Jesimote até Abel-Sitim, nas planícies de Moabe.

⁵⁰ Yahweh falou a Moisés na planície de Moabe junto ao Jordão em Jericó e disse: ⁵¹ "Fala ao povo de Israel e dize-lhes: 'Quando cruzardes o Jordão para entrardes na terra de Canaã, ⁵² expulsareis todos os moradores da terra de diante de vós. Destruireis todas as suas imagens esculpidas, todas as imagens fundidas e demolireis todos os seus santuários.

⁵³ E tomai posse da terra e habitai nela, porque Eu vos tenho dado a terra para a possuirdes. ⁵⁴ Herdai a terra por sorte, de acordo com cada clã. Para os clãs maiores, dai um grande pedaço de terra, e, para os grupos pequenos, dai um pequeno pedaço de terra. Em quaisquer clãs que a sorte cair, a terra lhes pertencerá. Vós herdareis a terra de acordo com as tribos de vossos antecessores.

⁵⁵ Mas, se não expulsardes os moradores da terra de diante de vós, então, as pessoas que permitirdes ficar se tornarão como farpas nos vossos olhos e espinhos nas vossas costelas. Elas tornarão a vossa vida difícil onde vos instalardes. ⁵⁶ Então, o que Eu intento fazer com esse povo, Eu farei também a vós'".

Capítulo 34

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés, dizendo-lhe: ² "Ordena ao povo de Israel e dize-lhes: 'Quando entrardes na terra de Canaã, a terra que pertencerá a vós, a terra de Canaã e suas fronteiras, ³ a fronteira sul se extenderá desde o deserto de Zim, ao longo de Edom. O extremo leste da fronteira sul será uma linha que terminará no extremo sul do mar Salgado.

⁴ Vossa fronteira rodeará ao sul do monte de Acrabim e continuará através do deserto de Zim. De lá, irá ao sul de Cades-Barneia e continuará até Hazar-Hadar e seguirá até Azmom. ⁵ E dali, a fronteira irá até o ribeiro do Egito e seguirá até o mar.

⁶ A fronteira oeste será no litoral do mar Grande. Essa será vossa fronteira oeste.

⁷ Vossa fronteira norte extenderá na linha que deve marcar o mar Grande até o monte Hor, ⁸ e do monte Hor até Lebo-Hamate, e dali até Zedade. ⁹ Então, a fronteira continuará até Zifrom, terminando em Hazer-Enã. Essa será vossa fronteira norte.

¹⁰ Então, demarcai vossa fronteira oriental de Hazar-Enã sul até Sefã. ¹¹ A fronteira oriental descerá de Sefã até Ribla, ao oriente de Aim. A fronteira continuará ao longo do oriente do mar de Quinerete. ¹² Então, a fronteira continuará para o sul ao longo do rio Jordão para o mar Salgado e continuará para fronteira oriental do mar Salgado. Essa será tua terra, ao longo de todas as tuas fronteiras'".

¹³ Então, Moisés ordenou ao povo de Israel, dizendo: "Essa é a terra que recebereis por sorteio, que Yahweh ordenara, que se desse às nove tribos e meia, ¹⁴ a tribo dos descendentes de Rúben, a tribo dos descendentes de Gade, e a meia tribo de Manassés, segundo a designação de propriedade para tribo de seus antepassados, já haviam recebido sua terra, segundo a designação de propriedade para a tribo de seus antepassados. ¹⁵ Isto é, as duas tribos e meia já receberam sua porção de terra, além do Jordão, do lado oriental de Jericó, em direção ao amanhecer".

¹⁶ Yahweh falou com Moisés, dizendo-lhe: ¹⁷ "Estes são os nomes dos homens que dividirão a terra para tua herança: Eleazar, o sacerdote, e Josué, filho de Num. ¹⁸ Tu escolherás um líder de cada tribo para dividir a terra para seus clãs.

¹⁹ Estes são os nomes dos homens: da tribo de Judá, Calebe, filho de Jefoné. ²⁰ Da tribo dos descendentes de Simeão, Semuel, filho de Amiúde.

²¹ Da tribo de Benjamim, Elidá, filho de Quislom. ²² Da tribo dos descendentes de Dã, o líder Buqui, filho de Jogli. ²³ Dos descendentes de José, da tribo dos descendentes de Manassés, o líder Haniel, filho de Éfode.

²⁴ Da tribo dos descendentes de Efraim, o líder Quemuel, filho de Siftã. ²⁵ Da tribo dos descendentes de Zebulom, o líder Elizafã, filho de Parnaque. ²⁶ Da tribo dos descendentes de Issacar, o líder Paltiel, filho de Azã.

²⁷ Da tribo dos descendentes de Aser, o líder Aiude, filho de Selomi. ²⁸ Da tribo dos descendentes de Naftali, o líder Pedael, filho de Amiúde". ²⁹ Yahweh ordenou a esses homens que dividissem a terra de Canaã e entregassem a cada tribo de Israel sua porção.

Capítulo 35

¹ Yahweh falou a Moisés nas planícies de Moabe, junto ao Jordão, em Jericó, e disse-lhe: ² "Manda o povo de Israel dar algumas de suas próprias terras aos levitas. Eles lhes darão cidades para habitar e pastagens em torno delas.

³ Os levitas habitarão nelas e as pastagens serão para seu gado, rebanhos, e todos os animais. ⁴ As pastagens se estenderão dos muros das cidades por mil côvados, em todas as direções.

⁵ Medi vós dois mil côvados de fora da cidade no lado leste, e dois mil côvados no lado sul, dois mil côvados no lado oeste, e dois mil côvados no lado norte. Estas serão as pastagens para as cidades. As cidades estarão no centro.

⁶ Seis das cidades que serão entregues aos levitas, servirão de cidades de refúgio. Vós deveis fornecê-las como lugares em que o homicida possa se proteger. Também forneçam quarenta e duas outras cidades. ⁷ As cidades que serão dadas aos levitas serão, no total, quarenta e oito. Vós lhes dareis as pastagens.

⁸ As maiores tribos do povo de Israel, as tribos que têm mais terra, devem fornecer mais cidades. As menores tribos fornecerão poucas cidades. Cada tribo deve fornecer aos levitas de acordo com o que receber".

⁹ Então, Yahweh falou a Moisés: ¹⁰ "Fala ao povo de Israel: 'Quando vós atravessardes o Jordão até a terra de Canaã, ¹¹ escolhereis cidades para servirem de refúgio, para que qualquer homem que mate alguém involuntariamente possa proteger-se nelas.

¹² Estas cidades serão para vós refúgio do vingador, para que o homem acusado não seja morto sem antes ser julgado perante a comunidade. ¹³ Escolhei vós seis cidades como cidades de refúgio.

¹⁴ Vós fornecereis três cidades além do Jordão e três na terra de Canaã. Elas serão cidades de refúgio. ¹⁵ Para o povo de Israel, para os estrangeiros, para qualquer um que esteja vivendo entre vós, essas seis cidades servirão como um refúgio a qualquer um que mate alguém involuntariamente.

¹⁶ Se algum homem for acusado de golpear sua vítima com um instrumento de ferro e esta vítima morrer, então, o acusado é, de fato, um assassino. Ele certamente morrerá. ¹⁷ Se um homem acusado golpear com uma pedra em suas mãos de maneira que possa matar a vítima, se a vítima morrer, então o acusado é, de fato, um assassino. Ele certamente morrerá. ¹⁸ Se o homem acusado golpear sua vítima com uma arma de madeira que possa matar a vítima, se esta morrer, então o acusado é, de fato, um assassino. Ele certamente morrerá.

¹⁹ O vingador do sangue pode, ele mesmo, matar o assassino. Quando o encontrar, poderá matá-lo. ²⁰ E, se o homem acusado empurrar uma pessoa com ódio, ou jogar alguma coisa nela, enquanto se esconde para emboscá-la, de modo que a vítima morra, ²¹ ou se ele atacá-la com ódio, com suas mãos, de modo que a vítima morra, então o acusado que a atacou certamente morrerá. Ele é um assassino. O vingador do sangue pode matá-lo se o encontrar.

²² Mas, se o homem acusado, de repente, empurrar a vítima sem ter ódio premeditado, ou jogar alguma coisa que acerte a vítima sem emboscada, ²³ ou se ele jogar uma pedra que poderia matar a vítima sem vê-la, então, o acusado não era inimigo da vítima; ele não estava tentando machucá-la.

²⁴ Neste caso, a comunidade julgará entre o acusado e o vingador do sangue com base nestas regras. ²⁵ A comunidade resgatará o acusado do poder do vingador do sangue. A comunidade retornará o acusado à cidade do refúgio ao qual ele estava originalmente protegido. Ele viverá lá até a morte do atual sacerdote, o qual foi ungido com óleo sagrado.

²⁶ Mas, se o homicida, a qualquer momento, for além do limite da cidade de refúgio para a qual ele fugiu, ²⁷ e se o vingador do sangue encontrá-lo fora do limite da sua cidade de refúgio, e se o vingador matar o homicida, ele não será acusado de assassinato. ²⁸ Isto porque o homicida deveria ter permanecido na cidade de refúgio até a morte do sacerdote. Depois da morte do sacerdote, o homicida deverá retornar à terra onde tem sua propriedade.

²⁹ Essas leis serão estatutos para vós e para todas as gerações do seu povo, em todos os lugares em que viverem. ³⁰ Quem matar qualquer pessoa deverá ser morto, conforme testificado pelas palavras das testemunhas. Mas, a palavra de apenas uma testemunha não deve causar a morte de uma pessoa.

³¹ Também, vós não aceitareis resgate pela vida de um homem que é culpado de homicídio. Ele certamente será morto. ³² E vós não aceitareis resgate por alguém que tenha ido para uma cidade de refúgio. Vós não deveis, desta maneira, permitir que ele resida em sua propriedade até que o sacerdote morra.

³³ Não poluireis, desta maneira, a terra em que estais vivendo, porque o sangue de homicida polui a terra. Não fareis nenhuma expiação na terra quando sangue for derramado, a não ser pelo sangue daquele que o derramou. ³⁴ Assim, vós não corrompereis a terra na qual habitais, porque Eu estou habitando nela. Eu, Yahweh, habito entre o povo de Israel'".

Capítulo 36

¹ Então, os líderes das famílias de seus antepassados, do clã de Gileade, filho de Maquir, filho de Manassés dos clãs dos descendentes de José, aproximaram-se e falaram diante de Moisés e dos líderes, que eram príncipes e chefes de famílias do povo de Israel. ² Eles disseram: "Yahweh te ordenou, nosso mestre, compartilhar uma parte da terra, por porção ao povo de Israel. Tu fostes ordenado por Yahweh, para dar a parte de Zelofeade, nosso irmão, para suas filhas.

³ Mas, se elas se casarem com homens de outras tribos, entre o povo de Israel, então, a porção da terra será removida da parte de nosso antepassado. E será acrescentada como parte da tribo a que se unirem. Neste caso, a parte será removida e diminuída de nossa herança. ⁴ E, quando chegar o ano do Jubileu do povo de Israel, a parte delas será somada à herança da tribo a que pertencerem. Assim, a parte delas será tirada da herança da tribo de nossos antepassados".

⁵ Moisés deu uma ordem ao povo de Israel, pela palavra de Yahweh. Ele disse: "O que a tribo dos descendentes de José diz está certo. ⁶ Isto é o que Yahweh ordenou a respeito das filhas de Zelofeade. Ele disse: 'Que elas se casem com quem escolherem, mas devem se casar somente com os da tribo de seu pai'.

⁷ Nenhuma herança do povo de Israel deve mudar de uma tribo para outra. Cada tribo do povo de Israel continuará com a herança da tribo de seu antepassado.

⁸ Cada mulher do povo de Israel que possuir herança de sua tribo, deve casar-se com alguém da família da tribo de seu pai. Assim, cada um entre o povo de Israel conservará herança de seus antepassados. ⁹ E nenhuma herança mudará de mãos, de uma tribo para outra. Cada uma das tribos do povo de Israel deve preservar a sua herança".

¹⁰ Assim, as filhas de Zelofeade fizeram como Yaweh havia ordenado a Moisés; ¹¹ Macla, Tirza, Holga, Milca e Noa, filhas de Zelofeade, casaram-se com os descendentes de Manassés. ¹² Casaram-se com familiares dos filhos de Manassés, filho de José. Dessa forma, a herança delas continuou na tribo do clã de seu pai.

¹³ São essas as ordens e as leis que Yahweh deu ao povo de Israel, por intermédio de Moisés, nas planícies de Moabe, junto ao Jordão, em Jericó.

Deuteronomy

Capítulo 1

¹ Estas são as palavras que Moisés disse a todo Israel, além do Jordão, no deserto, na planície do vale do rio Jordão, defronte de Sufe, entre Parã, Tofel, Labã, Hazerote e Di-Zaabe. ² São onze dias de viagem desde Horebe, pelo caminho do monte Seir para Cades-Barneia.

³ Aconteceu que, no quadragésimo ano, no primeiro dia do décimo primeiro mês, Moisés falou ao povo de Israel, dizendo-lhes tudo que Yahweh havia ordenado com relação a eles. ⁴ Isso foi depois que Yahweh atacou Siom, rei dos amorreus, que habitava em Hesbom, e Ogue, o rei de Basã, que habitava em Astarote, em Edrei.

⁵ Além do Jordão, na terra de Moabe, Moisés começou a anunciar estas instruções, dizendo: ⁶ "Yahweh, nosso Deus, falou conosco em Horebe, dizendo: 'Vós habitastes tempo suficiente nesta colina.

⁷ Levantai-vos e continuai a vossa jornada, e ide para a colina dos amorreus e a todos os lugares próximos na planície do vale do rio Jordão, nas colinas, na baixada, no Neguebe e na costa, na terra dos cananeus, e no Líbano, até o grande rio, o Eufrates. ⁸ Vede, eu coloquei esta terra diante de vós. Ide e tomai posse da terra que Yahweh jurou a vossos pais — a Abraão, Isaque e Jacó — para dar a eles e à sua descendência'.

⁹ Eu vos falei naquele tempo, dizendo: 'Eu mesmo não sou capaz de conduzir-vos sozinho. ¹⁰ Yahweh, vosso Deus, multiplicou-vos, e, vede, sois hoje como as estrelas do céu. ¹¹ Que Yahweh, o Deus de vossos pais, vos faça mil vezes mais numerosos do que sois, e vos abençoe, como Ele prometeu!

¹² Mas como posso eu, sozinho, carregar vossas cargas, vossos fardos e vossas disputas? ¹³ Escolhei homens sábios, homens de entedimento e de boa reputação, tribo por tribo, e eu os farei líderes sobre vós'. ¹⁴ Vós me respondestes, dizendo: 'Aquilo que disseste é bom para nós!'.

¹⁵ Então, eu tomei os líderes de vossas tribos, homens sábios e de boa reputação, e os fiz líderes sobre vós, capitães de mil, capitães de cem, capitães de cinquenta, capitães de dez, e oficiais, tribo por tribo. ¹⁶ Eu ordenei vossos juízes naquele tempo, dizendo: 'Ouvi as disputas entre vossos irmãos, e julgai retamente entre um homem e seu irmão, e também o estrangeiro que está com ele.

¹⁷ Vós não demonstrareis parcialidade para com ninguém em uma disputa; ouvireis o pequeno e o grande do mesmo modo. Não tereis medo de confrontar o homem, pois o julgamento é de Deus. A disputa que for muito difícil para vós, trareis a mim, e eu a ouvirei'. ¹⁸ Eu vos ordenei, naquele tempo, todas as coisas que deveríeis fazer.

¹⁹ Partimos de Horebe e passamos por todo aquele grande e terrível deserto que vistes, em nosso caminho pelas colinas dos amorreus, como Yahweh, nosso Deus, nos havia ordenado; e chegamos a Cades-Barneia.

²⁰ Eu vos disse: 'Viestes às colinas dos amorreus, as quais Yahweh, nosso Deus, nos deu. ²¹ Yahweh, vosso Deus, colocou a terra diante de vós; subi, tomai posse, como vos disse Yahweh, Deus de vossos pais; não temais, nem fiqueis desencorajados'.

²² Todos vós viestes até mim e dissestes: 'Enviemos alguns homens adiante de nós, para que observem a terra, e tragam-nos informações sobre a maneira como devemos atacar, e sobre as cidades que devemos atravessar'. ²³ A ideia agradou-me; escolhi doze homens dentre vós, um de cada tribo. ²⁴ E eles foram subindo em direção às colinas, chegaram ao vale de Escol, e sondaram a terra.

²⁵ Tomaram alguns dos frutos da terra em suas mãos e os trouxeram até nós. Disseram: 'A terra que Yahweh, nosso Deus, nos dá, é boa'.

²⁶ Apesar disso, recusastes a subir, rebelando-vos contra a ordem de Yahweh, vosso Deus. ²⁷ Vós murmurastes em vossas tendas, e dissestes: 'É porque Yahweh nos odeia, que nos trouxe da terra do Egito, para nos entregar nas mãos dos amorreus e nos destruir. ²⁸ Para onde iremos agora? Nossos irmãos nos fizeram perder a coragem, dizendo: 'Aquele povo é maior e mais alto do que nós; suas cidades são grandes e fortificadas até os céus; mais ainda, vimos lá os filhos dos anaqueus'.

²⁹ Então, eu vos disse: 'Não vos atemorizeis, nem tenhais medo deles. ³⁰ Yahweh, vosso Deus, que vai adiante de vós, lutará por vós, assim como fez no Egito, diante de vossos olhos, ³¹ e também no deserto, onde vistes como Yahweh, vosso Deus, cuidou de vós, como um homem cuida de seu filho, até chegardes a este lugar'.

³² Mesmo assim, não acreditastes em Yahweh, vosso Deus, ³³ que foi à vossa frente no caminho, pela noite como fogo, e como nuvem durante o dia, para achar-vos lugar para armardes a vossa tenda.

³⁴ Yahweh ouviu vossas palavras, indignou-se e jurou, dizendo: ³⁵ 'Certamente, nenhum dos homens desta geração perversa verá a boa terra que Eu jurei dar a seus antepassados, ³⁶ exceto Calebe, filho de Jefoné; Ele a verá, e a terra que pisou, darei a ele e a seus filhos, pois ele perseverou em seguir a Yahweh'.

³⁷ Yahweh também indignou-se comigo por vossa causa, dizendo: 'Tu também não entrarás ali. ³⁸ Josué, filho de Num, que está diante de ti como teu servo, ele ali entrará. Encoraja-o para que ele lidere Israel, a fim de tomar sua herança'.

³⁹ Vossas pequenas crianças, que vós dissestes que seriam vítimas, que hoje não possuem conhecimento do bem ou do mal, elas entrarão. Para elas, Eu a darei, e elas tomarão posse. ⁴⁰ Mas quanto a vós, dai meia volta, e levai vossa jornada ao deserto, pelo caminho para o mar Vermelho'.

⁴¹ Então, respondestes e me dissestes: 'Nós pecamos contra Yahweh; nós subiremos e lutaremos, e seguiremos tudo que Yahweh, nosso Deus, nos ordenou que fizéssemos'. Todos os homens no vosso meio tomaram vossas armas de guerra, e estáveis prontos para subir a montanha. ⁴² Yahweh disse a mim: 'Dize-lhes: 'Não os ataqueis e não luteis, pois não estarei convosco, e vós sereis feridos por vossos inimigos'.

⁴³ Eu falei convosco desta maneira, mas não me ouvistes. Vós vos rebelastes contra a ordem de Yahweh; fostes arrogantes e subistes a montanha. ⁴⁴ Mas os amorreus, que viviam naquela montanha, vieram contra vós, e vos perseguiram como fazem as abelhas, e vos atacaram de Seir até Hormá.

⁴⁵ Voltastes e lamentastes diante de Yahweh; mas Yahweh não deu ouvido ao vosso clamor, e não vos deu atenção. ⁴⁶ Assim, ficastes em Cades muitos dias, ficando ali muito tempo.

Capítulo 2

¹ Então, retornamos e continuamos nossa jornada deserto adentro, pelo caminho do mar Vermelho, como Yahweh me tinha falado. Rodeamos o monte Seir por vários dias. ² Yahweh falou a mim, dizendo: ³ 'Rodeaste esta montanha tempo suficiente; volta-te para o norte.

⁴ Ordena ao povo, dizendo: 'Passai pela fronteira de vossos irmãos, os descendentes de Esaú, que habitam em Seir. Eles terão medo de vós. Mas tende o cuidado ⁵ de não lutardes contra eles, porque não vos darei nada da terra deles, nem sequer o suficiente para a sola de um pé pisar, porque dei o monte Seir a Esaú como herança.

⁶ Comprareis comida deles com dinheiro, para que comais. Comprareis também água deles com dinheiro, para que bebais. ⁷ Pois Yahweh, vosso Deus, tem vos abençoado em todo trabalho de vossas mãos e tem conhecido vossa caminhada por este grande deserto. Pois, nestes quarenta anos, Yahweh, vosso Deus, esteve convosco e nada vos faltou'.

⁸ Então, passamos à distância de nossos irmãos, os descendentes de Esaú, que habitam em Seir, no caminho de Arabá, de Elate e de Ezion Geber. Voltamos e passamos pelo caminho do deserto de Moabe.

⁹ Yahweh me disse: 'Não incomodes Moabe e não lutes contra eles em batalha. Pois dele não te darei terra alguma por tua possessão, porque dei Ar para os descendentes de Ló, como sua possessão'.

¹⁰ (Habitaram anteriormente lá, os emins, povo numeroso e de grande estatura — tão altos quanto os anaqueus; ¹¹ também considerados refains, como os anaqueus; mas os moabitas os chamavam de emins.

¹² Os horeus também viveram lá, anteriormente, mas os descendentes de Esaú os expulsaram. Destruíram-nos e habitaram em seu lugar, como Israel fez com a terra de sua possessão que Yahweh lhes deu).

¹³ 'Agora, levantai-vos e atravessai o ribeiro de Zerede'. Atravessamos o ribeiro de Zerede. ¹⁴ Os dias, desde que chegamos de Cades-Barneia até atravessarmos o ribeiro de Zerede, foram trinta e oito anos. Isto foi naquele tempo em que toda a geração de homens preparados para a batalha havia desaparecido daquele povo, assim como Yahweh havia prometido. ¹⁵ Além disso, a mão de Yahweh era contra aquela geração, para destruir o povo até que desaparecesse.

¹⁶ Estas coisas aconteceram quando todo homem de guerra dentre o povo já havia morrido. ¹⁷ Sobre isso, Yahweh me falou, dizendo: ¹⁸ 'Passa hoje por Ar, fronteira de Moabe. ¹⁹ Quando te aproximares dos amonitas, não os incomodes ou lutes com eles, pois não te darei terra alguma dos amonitas como possessão, porque tenho dado aos descendentes de Ló como possessão'.

²⁰ (Esta também é considerada terra dos refains. Os refains habitaram lá anteriormente, mas os amonitas os chamavam de zanzumitas, ²¹ um povo grande e numeroso, tão alto quanto os anaqueus. Mas Yahweh os destruiu diante dos amonitas e os sucederam e habitaram no seu lugar. ²² Assim também, Yahweh fez ao povo de Esaú, que habita em Seir, quando destruiu os horeus de diante deles e os descendentes de Esaú os sucederam e habitaram em seu lugar até o dia de hoje.

²³ Quanto aos caftoritas, que vieram de Caftor, destruíram os aveus, que habitavam em povoados de Gaza, e habitaram no lugar deles).

²⁴ 'Agora, levanta-te, vai pelo caminho e atravessa o vale de Arnom; olha, tenho dado, em tuas mãos Siom, o amorreu, rei de Hesbon, e suas terras. Começa a possuí-las e luta contra eles em batalha. ²⁵ Hoje farei com que comecem a ter medo e terror de ti. Todo o povo, debaixo do céu inteiro, ouvirá notícias sobre ti e tremerá, e se angustiará por tua causa'.

²⁶ Enviei mensageiros do deserto de Quedemote para Siom, rei de Hesbom, com palavras de paz, dizendo: ²⁷ 'Deixa-me passar por tua terra. Irei somente pela estrada, não irei nem para direita e nem para a esquerda.

²⁸ Tu me venderás comida por dinheiro, para que eu coma e me darás água por dinheiro, para que beba. Apenas deixa-me atravessar a pé, ²⁹ assim como os descendentes de Esaú, que habitam em Seir, e os moabitas, que habitam em Ar, fizeram por mim, até que eu passe o Jordão para a terra que Yahweh, nosso Deus, nos dá'.

³⁰ Mas Siom, rei de Hesbom, não nos deixou passar por ele, pois Yahweh, nosso Deus, endureceu a sua mente e fez o seu coração ficar obstinado, para que o derrotasse pelo Seu poder, como aconteceu hoje. ³¹ Yahweh me disse: 'Olha, comecei a dar Siom e sua terra diante de ti, começa a possuí-la a fim de herdares a sua terra'.

³² Então, Siom veio contra nós, ele e todo o povo para lutar em Jaza. ³³ Yahweh, nosso Deus, o entregou a nós e o derrotamos, o ferimos de morte, com seus filhos e todo o seu povo.

³⁴ Tomamos todas as cidades naquele dia e destruímos completamente todos os habitantes, mulheres e crianças, não deixamos nenhum sobrevivente. ³⁵ Trouxemos somente o gado como despojo para nós mesmos, assim como os despojos das cidades que tomamos.

³⁶ Desde Aroer, que esta à beira do vale de Arnom e da cidade que está no vale, todo o caminho até Gileade, não existia cidade alta demais para nós. Yahweh nosso Deus nos deu vitória sobre todos os nossos inimigos diante de nós. ³⁷ Não fomos à cidade dos descendentes de Amom, assim como à margem do ribeiro de Jaboque nem às cidades das colinas ou a qualquer lugar que Yahweh, nosso Deus, tivesse nos proibido de ir.

Capítulo 3

¹ Depois, viramos e subimos o caminho de Basã. Ogue, rei de Basã, veio com todo o seu povo e atacou-nos, para lutar em Edrei. ² Então, disse-me Yahweh: 'Não o temas, porque Eu o entregarei em tuas mãos, ele e todo seu povo e sua terra. Farás a ele o mesmo que fizeste a Siom, rei dos amorreus, que habitava em Hesbom'.

³ Assim, Yahweh, nosso Deus, nos deu vitória sobre Ogue, rei de Basã, e todo o seu povo foi posto sobre nosso controle. E nós os derrotamos até que não ficou sobrevivente algum. ⁴ Então, naquele tempo, conquistamos todas suas cidades, e nenhuma cidade ficou que não conquistássemos: sessenta cidades em, toda a região de Argobe, o reino de Ogue em Basã.

⁵ Todas essas cidades eram protegidas por altos muros, portões e ferrolhos; além de muitas outras cidades sem muros. ⁶ Nós as destruímos completamente, como fizemos a Siom, rei de Hesbom, matando todos, homens, mulheres e crianças. ⁷ Porém, reservamos para nós todo o gado e o despojo das cidades.

⁸ Naquele tempo, tomamos a terra da mão de dois reis amorreus que estavam além do Jordão, desde o rio Arnom até o monte Hermom ⁹ (monte Hermom, que os sidônios chamam Siriom, e os amorreus o chamam Senir); ¹⁰ e todas as cidades do planalto, todo Gileade, e todo Basã, todo o caminho para Salca e Edrei, cidades do reino de Ogue, em Basã.

¹¹ Apenas Ogue, rei de Basã, havia restado dos refains; sua cama de ferro, que possuía nove côvados de comprimento e quatro côvados de largura, (de acordo com a medida usada naquele tempo) estava em Rabá, onde habitavam os descendentes de Amom.

¹² Naquele tempo, tomamos posse desta terra. Dei aos rubenitas e gaditas a região desde de Aroer, perto do vale de Arnom, e a metade das colinas de Gileade com as suas cidades. ¹³ O resto de Gileade e toda região de Basã, o reino de Ogue, isto é, toda a região de Argobe e todo Basã dei à meia-tribo de Manassés. (Este território era chamado de terra dos refains.

¹⁴ Jair, um descendente de Manassés, conquistou toda a região de Argobe até a fronteira com os gesuritas e os maacatitas. Ele chamou essa região, incluindo Basã, por seu próprio nome, Havote-Jair, até o dia de hoje).

¹⁵ E para Maquir, dei Gileade. ¹⁶ Aos rubenitas e aos gaditas, dei o território de Gileade até o vale de Arnom, tanto o meio do vale como a fronteira do território, até o rio de Jaboque, que é a fronteira com os descendentes de Amom.

¹⁷ Outra de suas fronteiras é também a planície do vale do rio Jordão, de Quinerete até o mar de Arabá, o mar Salgado, nas encostas orientais do monte Pisga.

¹⁸ Naquele tempo, eu vos ordenei: "Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos deu esta terra como posse. Vós, todos os guerreiros, passareis armados diante de vossos irmãos, o povo de Israel.

¹⁹ Todavia, ficarão nas cidades que dei a vós, somente vossas mulheres, vossas crianças, e vosso gado, porque sei que tendes muito gado, ²⁰ até que Yahweh dê descanso a vossos irmãos, assim como deu a vós, e eles também possuam a terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, lhes dá além do Jordão. Então, voltareis, cada um de vós, para a propriedade que Eu vos tenho dado'.

²¹ Também ordenei a Josué, naquele tempo, dizendo: 'Os teus olhos viram tudo o que Yahweh, teu Deus, fez a esses dois reis. Assim fará Yahweh a todos os reinos em que entrares. ²² Não os temas, pois Yahweh, teu Deus, é quem pelejará por ti'.

²³ Naquele tempo, eu supliquei a Yahweh, dizendo: ²⁴ 'Ó, Senhor Yahweh, Tu começaste a mostrar a teu servo, Tua grandeza e Tua forte mão; que Deus há na terra ou nos céus, que possa fazer obras como as que tens feito, e segundo Teus poderosos feitos? ²⁵ Deixa-me entrar! Deixa-me contemplar a boa terra que está além do Jordão, essa bela região montanhosa, e também o Líbano!'.

²⁶ Mas, por vossa causa, Yahweh se indignou comigo, e não me deu ouvidos. Yahweh me disse: 'Basta! Não fales mais sobre este assunto. ²⁷ Sobe ao cume do monte Pisga e olha para o ocidente, para o norte, para o sul e para o oriente; contempla com teus olhos, pois não atravessarás o Jordão.

²⁸ Em vez disso, dá ordens a Josué, encoraja-o e fortaleça-o, porque ele atravessará à frente deste povo, e o guiará na conquista da terra que tu verás'. ²⁹ Assim, nós ficamos no vale em frente a Bete-Peor.

Capítulo 4

¹ E agora, ó Israel, ouve as leis e decretos que eu te ensino a fim de cumpri-los; para que vivas e tomes posse da terra que Yahweh, o Deus de teus pais, está te dando. ² Não adicionarás nada às palavras que te ordeno, nem diminuirás nada, a fim de cumprir os mandamentos de Yahweh, teu Deus, os quais eu te ordeno.

³ Teus olhos viram o que Yahweh fez por causa de Baal-Peor; porque todos os homens que seguiram Baal-Peor, Yahweh, teu Deus, os destruiu do teu meio. ⁴ Todavia, tu, que te apegaste a Yahweh, teu Deus, estás vivo até hoje, cada um de vós.

⁵ Vede, eu já vos ensinei as leis e decretos, conforme Yahweh, meu Deus havia me ordenado, para obedecê-los no meio da terra que ireis, a fim de possuí-la. ⁶ No entanto, guardai-os e os cumpri; porque vossa sabedoria e vosso entendimento serão vistos diante das pessoas que ouvirão sobre esses estatutos e dirão: 'Certamente, essa grande nação é de pessoas sábias e de grande entendimento'.

⁷ Pois, que outra grande nação tem um deus tão próximo deles como Yahweh, nosso Deus, está, onde quer que o clamemos? ⁸ Qual outra grande nação tem leis e decretos tão justos como todas estas leis que coloco, hoje, diante vós?

⁹ Apenas prestai atenção e guardai, cuidadosamente, para não vos esquecerdes das coisas que vossos olhos viram, e para que isto não saia do vosso coração, todos os dias da vossa vida. Ao invés disso, tornai conhecido pelos vossos filhos e pelos filhos dos vossos filhos, ¹⁰ o dia em que ficastes diante de Yahweh, vosso Deus, em Horebe, quando Yahweh me disse: 'Reúna-os para Mim, e Eu farei com que ouçam as Minhas palavras, para aprenderem a temer-Me todos os dias em que viverem na terra, e para ensiná-las a seus filhos'.

¹¹ Vós vos aproximastes e ficastes ao pé da montanha, e esta ardia em fogo até o meio dos céus, com nuvens, densa escuridão e trevas. ¹² Yahweh falou convosco no meio do fogo; vós ouvistes o som destas palavras, mas não vistes forma alguma; somente ouvistes uma voz.

¹³ Ele vos declarou a aliança que vos ordenou cumprir, os Dez Mandamentos. Escreveu-os em duas tábuas de pedra. ¹⁴ Yahweh ordenou-me, naquele tempo, a vos ensinar os estatutos e as ordenanças, a fim de que vós os cumprísseis na terra que estais atravessando para tomar posse.

¹⁵ Prestai muita atenção, pois vós não vistes nenhum tipo de forma no dia em que Yahweh falou a vós em Horebe do meio do fogo, ¹⁶ para que não vos corrompais e façais imagens esculpidas semelhantemente a qualquer criatura, na forma de homem ou mulher; ¹⁷ ou, semelhantemente, a qualquer animal que está sobre a terra; ou, semelhantemente, a qualquer ave que voa nos céus; ¹⁸ ou, semelhantemente, a qualquer animal que rasteja sobre o chão; ou, semelhantemente, a qualquer peixe que está nas águas debaixo da terra.

¹⁹ Para que, quando levantardes os vossos olhos aos céus e, vendo o sol, a lua ou as estrelas, todo o exército celestial, não sejais levados a vos prostrardes para adorá-los, pois estas coisas Yahweh, vosso Deus, tem dado e compartilhado com todos as povos debaixo de todo o céu. ²⁰ Todavia, Yahweh tomou a vós, tirando-vos da fornalha de ferro, fora do Egito, para serdes um povo da Sua própria herança, assim como sois hoje.

²¹ Yahweh Se irou contra mim por vossa causa. Ele jurou que eu não passaria o Jordão, e que eu não entraria na boa terra, a terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá como herança. ²² Ao invés disso, morrerei nesta terra; não passarei o Jordão; mas vós o cruzareis e possuireis essa boa terra.

²³ Prestai atenção, vós mesmos, para não vos esquecerdes da aliança de Yahweh, vosso Deus, a qual Ele fez convosco, e não façais para vós nenhuma imagem esculpida na forma de tudo o que o Senhor vosso Deus vos proibiu de fazer. ²⁴ Pois o Senhor, vosso Deus é um fogo devorador, um Deus zeloso.

²⁵ Quando vós gerardes filhos e os filhos dos vossos filhos, e, quando vós estiverdes na terra por um longo tempo, e, se vos corromperdes a vós mesmos e fizerdes uma figura esculpida na forma de algo, e fizerdes o que é mau aos olhos de Yahweh, vosso Deus, para provocá-lo à ira — ²⁶ eu chamo os céus e a terra para testemunhar contra vós hoje que vós, em breve, perecereis completamente fora da terra, a qual estais passando pelo Jordão para a possuir; vós não prolongareis os vossos dias, mas sereis completamente destruídos.

²⁷ Yahweh vos espalhará entre os povos e sereis em número reduzido entre as nações para onde Yahweh vos levará. ²⁸ Lá, servireis outros deuses, obras das mãos humanas, deuses de madeira e pedra, os quais não veem, nem escutam, nem comem ou cheiram.

²⁹ Mas, de lá, buscareis Yahweh, vosso Deus, e vós o achareis, quando vós O buscardes com todo o vosso coração e todo a vossa alma.

³⁰ Quando estiverdes em sofrimento e quando todas estas coisas vierem sobre vós, nestes últimos dias, voltareis para Yahweh, vosso Deus, e ouvireis Sua voz. ³¹ Porque Yahweh, vosso Deus, é Deus misericordioso; Ele não falhará e nem vos destruirá, nem esquecerá da aliança que prometeu aos vossos pais.

³² Perguntai agora sobre os dias do passado, àqueles que existiram bem antes de vós. Desde o dia em que Deus criou o homem na terra, perguntai, de uma extremidade dos céus até a outra, se existiu algo grandioso parecido ou igual a isso que tendes ouvido? ³³ Algum povo ouviu a voz de Deus falar do meio do fogo assim como vós ouvistes e vivestes?

³⁴ Ou Deus se esforçou para ir e tomar para Si uma nação do meio de outras nações, por meio de provas, sinais e maravilhas, por meio de guerras e por mão poderosa, pelo braço estendido e por grande terror, como tudo o que Yahweh, vosso Deus, fez por vós no Egito diante dos vossos olhos?

³⁵ Estas coisas foram mostradas a vós, para que soubésseis que Yahweh é Deus e que não existe outro diante Dele. ³⁶ Ele fez ouvir a Sua voz acima dos céus, a fim de vos instruir; na terra, Ele vos mostrou Seu grande fogo; vós ouvistes Suas palavras do meio do fogo.

³⁷ Porque Ele amou vossos pais, não somente escolheu a descendência deles, mas também os resgatou do Egito com Sua presença e com Seu grande poder, ³⁸ a fim de expulsar diante de vós nações grandes e mais poderosas, para ali vos levar, para vos dar por herança a terra delas, como vedes neste dia.

³⁹ Hoje, todavia, sabei e considerai, em vosso coração, que só Yahweh é Deus, acima dos céus e embaixo, na terra. Não existe outro igual a Ele. ⁴⁰ Mantereis Seus estatutos e mandamentos, que hoje vos ordeno, para que vivais bem, vós e vossos filhos, e para prolongardes vossos dias na terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá para sempre".

⁴¹ Então, Moisés selecionou três cidades do lado leste do rio Jordão, ⁴² para as quais qualquer pessoa pudesse se refugiar, se ela matasse uma pessoa acidentalmente, sem que ela fosse sua inimiga anteriormente. Refugiando-se nessas cidades, ela poderia sobreviver. ⁴³ São elas: Bezer, no deserto, no planalto para os rubenitas; Ramote, em Gileade, para os gaditas; e Golã, em Basã, para os manassitas.

⁴⁴ Esta é a lei que Moisés apresentou diante do povo de Israel; ⁴⁵ esses são os estatutos, as leis e outros decretos que Moisés falou ao povo de Israel quando eles saíram do Egito, ⁴⁶ quando eles estavam no leste do Jordão, no vale defronte a Bete-Peor, na terra de Siom, rei dos amorreus, que viviam em Hesbom, a quem Moisés e o povo de Israel derrotaram quando saíram do Egito.

⁴⁷ Eles tomaram suas terras como uma posse e a terra de Ogue, rei de Basã, sendo esses dois reis dos amorreus, os quais estavam entre o Jordão, em direção ao leste. ⁴⁸ Este território veio desde Aroer, na beira do vale do Arnon, até o monte de Siom, que é o monte Hermon, ⁴⁹ e incluía toda a planície do vale do rio Jordão, para o leste, além do Jordão, em direção ao mar de Arabá, nas encostas do monte Pisga.

Capítulo 5

¹ Moisés chamou todo o povo de Israel e disse-lhes: "Ouvi, ó Israel, os estatutos e decretos que hoje vos falo, para que os aprendais e os guardeis. ² Yahweh, nosso Deus, fez uma aliança conosco no monte Horebe. ³ Yahweh não fez essa aliança com nossos antepassados, mas conosco, que estamos vivos aqui hoje.

⁴ Yahweh falou convosco face a face no monte, do meio do fogo ⁵ (Naquele momento, fiquei entre vós e Yahweh, para revelar-vos a palavra Dele; pois ficastes atemorizados por causa do fogo, e não subistes a montanha). Yahweh disse: ⁶ 'Eu sou Yahweh, teu Deus, que te tirei da terra do Egito, da casa da escravidão.

⁷ Não terás outros deuses diante de Mim. ⁸ Não farás para ti imagem de escultura, nem nada semelhante ao que está acima no céu, ou embaixo na terra, ou debaixo da água.

⁹ Não te curvarás diante delas, nem as adorarás, pois Eu, Yahweh, teu Deus, sou um Deus zeloso. Eu castigo o pecado dos pais punindo seus filhos até a terceira e a quarta geração daqueles que Me rejeitam, ¹⁰ e demonstro aliança de fidelidade a milhares daqueles que Me amam e guardam Meus mandamentos.

¹¹ Não tomarás o nome de Yahweh, teu Deus, em vão, pois Yahweh não deixará impune quem usar o nome Dele indevidamente.

¹² Guardarás o dia de sábado para o santificar, como ordenou Yahweh, teu Deus. ¹³ Trabalharás e farás tuas tarefas por seis dias; ¹⁴ mas o sétimo dia é um sábado para Yahweh, teu Deus. Nesse dia, não farás trabalho algum — nem tu, nem teu filho, nem tua filha, nem teu servo, nem tua serva, nem teu boi, nem teu jumento, nem qualquer gado teu, nem nenhum estrangeiro que estiver dentro dos teus portões. Isto é para que teu servo e tua serva descansem como tu.

¹⁵ Lembrarás que foste servo na terra do Egito, e Yahweh, teu Deus, te tirou dali, com a mão forte e o braço estendido. Por isso, Yahweh, teu Deus, te ordena a guardar o dia de sábado.

¹⁶ Honra teu pai e tua mãe, como Yahweh, teu Deus, ordenou que fizesses, e, assim, prolongarás tua vida na terra que Yahweh, teu Deus, te dá, e tudo te correrá bem

¹⁷ Não matarás. ¹⁸ Não adulterarás. ¹⁹ Não roubarás. ²⁰ Não darás falso testemunho contra o teu próximo.

²¹ Não cobiçarás a mulher do teu próximo, nem a sua casa, nem as suas terras, nem seu servo ou sua serva, nem seu boi, nem seu jumento, nem nada do que lhe pertença'.

²² Essas palavras Yahweh falou em alta voz a toda a congregação na montanha, do meio do fogo, da nuvem e da densa escuridão. E não acrescentou qualquer palavra. Ele as escreveu em duas tábuas de pedra, e as entregou a mim.

²³ Sucedeu que, quando ouvistes a voz em meio à escuridão, enquanto a montanha queimava, vos achegastes a mim, com todos os anciãos e líderes das vossas tribos. ²⁴ Dissestes: 'Yahweh, nosso Deus, mostrou-nos a Sua glória e a Sua grandeza, e ouvimos a Sua voz do meio do fogo; hoje, vimos Deus falar com o homem, e este ainda continuar vivo.

²⁵ Agora, pois, por que devemos morrer? Porque este imenso fogo nos consumirá; se continuarmos a ouvir a voz de Yahweh, nosso Deus, morreremos. ²⁶ Pois quem dentre os homens ouviu a voz do Deus vivo, falando do meio do fogo, e sobreviveu, como nós? ²⁷ Vai tu, e escuta tudo o que Yahweh, nosso Deus, disser; repete para nós tudo o que Yahweh, nosso Deus, disser, e nós ouviremos e obedeceremos'.

²⁸ Yahweh ouviu vossas palavras quando as falastes. Ele me disse: 'Eu ouvi as palavras desse povo, eles falaram bem em tudo que disseram. ²⁹ Quem dera o coração deles fosse sempre assim, que Me temessem e guardassem todos os Meus mandamentos, para que eles e seus filhos vivessem bem para sempre! ³⁰ Vai e dize-lhes: Retornai a vossas tendas.

³¹ Tu, porém, permanece aqui comigo, e Eu te direi todos os mandamentos, estatutos e decretos que deverás ensinar-lhes, para que possam cumpri-los na terra que Eu lhes darei'.

³² Cumprireis, portanto, o que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos ordenou; não desviareis nem para a direita, nem para a esquerda. ³³ Andareis em todo caminho que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos ordenou, para que vivais, sejais bem sucedidos, e para que se prolonguem vossos dias na terra que possuireis".

Capítulo 6

¹ Estes são os mandamentos, estatutos e decretos que Yahweh, o vosso Deus, me ordenou para vos ensinar, para os guardar na terra à qual estais indo, além do Jordão, para possuí-la; ² a fim de que temais Yahweh, vosso Deus, e guardais todos os seus estatutos e mandamentos que eu vos ordeno, vós, vossos filhos e os filhos dos vossos filhos, todos os dias de vossa vida e para que os vossos dias se prolonguem.

³ Portanto, escuta ó Israel, e guarda, para que te vás bem, e te multipliques grandemente na terra que mana leite e mel, como Yahweh, Deus de teus pais, te prometeu.

⁴ Escuta, Israel: Yahweh, nosso Deus, é o único Senhor. ⁵ Amarás a Yahweh, teu Deus, com todo o teu coração, com toda a tua alma e com todas as tuas forças.

⁶ As palavras, que hoje te ordeno, estarão sempre em teu coração; ⁷ e tu as ensinarás diligentemente aos teus filhos; falarás ao sentares em tua casa, quando andares no caminho, quando deitares, e quando acordares.

⁸ Tu as amarrarás como sinal em tua mão e elas te servirão como faixa entre teus olhos. ⁹ Escreverás nos batentes e nas portas de tuas casas.

¹⁰ Quando Yahweh, teu Deus, te estabelecer na terra que jurou a teus pais, Abraão, Isaque, e Jacó, que Ele te daria com grandes e boas cidades, que tu não edificaste ¹¹ e casas cheias de todos os tipos de bens, que tu não encheste, poços que tu não cavaste, e vinhedos e oliveiras que tu não plantaste, tu comerás e ficarás satisfeito. ¹² Então, tem cuidado para que não te esqueças de Yahweh, que te tirou da terra do Egito, da casa da escravidão.

¹³ Temerás Yahweh, teu Deus, a Ele prestarás culto e jurarás pelo Seu nome. ¹⁴ Não seguirás outros deuses, os deuses dos povos que estão à tua volta — ¹⁵ pois, Yahweh, teu Deus, que está no meio de ti, é um Deus zeloso; para que a ira de Yahweh, teu Deus, não se acenda contra ti e Ele te destrua da face da terra.

¹⁶ Não tentarás Yahweh, teu Deus, como fizeste em Massá. ¹⁷ Guardarás, diligentemente, os mandamentos de Yahweh, teu Deus, e os Seus solenes mandamentos e estatutos que Ele te ordenou.

¹⁸ Farás o que é reto e bom aos olhos de Yahweh, para que te vás bem, entres e possuas a boa terra que Yahweh jurou a teus pais, ¹⁹ para que expulses todos teus inimigos diante de ti, como disse Yahweh.

²⁰ Quando os teus filhos te perguntarem, no tempo que há de vir, dizendo: 'O que são os decretos da aliança, os estatutos, e os outros decretos que Yahweh, nosso Deus, te ordenou?'. ²¹ Então, tu dirás para teu filho: 'Fomos escravos de Faraó no Egito; Yahweh nos tirou do Egito com Sua poderosa mão, ²² e Ele fez sinais e maravilhas, grandes e terríveis, no Egito, contra Faraó, e em toda sua casa, diante de nossos olhos, ²³ e Ele nos tirou de lá, para nos estabelecer, para nos dar a terra que Ele jurou aos nossos pais.

²⁴ Yahweh nos ordenou guardar todos estes estatutos, temer Yahweh, nosso Deus, para o nosso bem, para sempre, para que Ele nos preserve vivos, como estamos hoje. ²⁵ Se nós guardarmos todos esses mandamentos diante de Yahweh, nosso Deus, assim como ele nos ordenou, essa será a nossa justiça'.

Capítulo 7

¹ Quando Yahweh, teu Deus, te introduzir na terra que possuirás, e houver expulsado muitas nações diante de ti — os heteus, os girgaseus, os amorreus, os cananeus, os perizeus, os heveus, e os jebuseus — sete nações maiores e mais poderosas do que tu;

² e, quando tu as encontrares na batalha e Yahweh, teu Deus, der a vitória sobre elas, tu as atacarás, e as destruirás completamente. Não farás nenhuma aliança com elas, nem demonstrarás misericórdia para com elas. ³ Não entres em acordo matrimonial algum com elas; não dês tuas filhas para os filhos delas, e não tomes as filhas delas para teus filhos.

⁴ Pois farão teus filhos se desviarem para longe de mim, vindo a adorar a outros deuses. Assim, a ira de Yahweh se acenderá contra ti, e te destruirá rapidamente. ⁵ É assim que lidará com elas: destruirás os seus altares, quebrarás em pedaços os seus pilares sagrados de pedras, cortarás os seus aserins e lançarás seus ídolos no fogo.

⁶ Pois tu és uma nação que foste separada por Yahweh, teu Deus. Ele vos escolheu para ser um povo de Sua posse, dentre todos os outros povos que estão na face da Terra.

⁷ Yahweh não colocou Seu amor sobre ti, ou te escolheu por ser mais numeroso que outros povos, pois eras o menor de todos os povos, ⁸ mas porque Ele te amou e te livrou para cumprir o juramento que havia feito para teus pais. Esta é a razão pela qual Yahweh te resgatou com poderosa mão, da casa de escravidão, das mãos de Faraó, rei do Egito.

⁹ Portanto, saberás que Yahweh, teu Deus, é Deus, o Deus fiel, que guarda a aliança e fidelidade por mil gerações com aqueles que O amam e guardam Seus mandamentos, ¹⁰ mas retribui pessoalmente àqueles que O odeiam para os destruir. Ele não será brando para com aqueles que O odeiam, prontamente retribuirá. ¹¹ Portanto, guardarás os mandamentos, os estatutos, e os decretos que hoje te ordeno, e assim o farás.

¹² Se ouvires estes decretos, e os guardares e os cumprires, Yahweh, teu Deus, manterá a aliança e a fidelidade que Ele jurou a teus pais. ¹³ Ele te amará, te abençoará, e te multiplicará; ele abençoará o fruto do teu ventre e o fruto da tua terra, teu grão, teu vinho novo, e teu azeite, e multiplicará teu gado e a força dos teus rebanhos, na terra que jurou a teus pais que te daria.

¹⁴ Serás mais abençoado que todos os outros povos; não haverá homem ou mulher estéril no meio de ti ou do teu gado. ¹⁵ Yahweh afastará de ti todas as enfermidades; Ele não colocará sobre ti nenhuma das doenças malignas do Egito, que tu bem conheces, mas Ele as colocará sobre todos aqueles que te odiarem.

¹⁶ Tu consumirás todos os povos, que Yahweh, teu Deus, entregar em tuas mãos, e teus olhos não se compadecerão deles. E tu não adorarás os seus deuses, pois isto seria uma armadilha para ti.

¹⁷ Se, em teu coração, disseres: 'Estas nações são mais numerosas que nós; como poderemos expulsá-las?'. ¹⁸ Não terás medo delas! Lembrarás do que Yahweh, teu Deus, fez a Faraó e a todo o Egito. ¹⁹ O grande sofrimento que teu olhos viram, os sinais, as maravilhas, a poderosa mão e a manifestação de poder pelos quais Yahweh, teu Deus, te tirou. Yahweh, teu Deus, fará assim para com todos os povos que tu temes.

²⁰ Além disso, Yahweh, teu Deus, enviará vespas entre eles, até que pereçam aqueles que houverem se escondido de ti. ²¹ Não te assustes por causa deles, pois Yahweh teu Deus está no meio de ti, um Deus grande e temível. ²² Yahweh, teu Deus, pouco a pouco, expulsará cada nação diante de ti. Não as vencerás todas de uma vez, pois os animais selvagens se multiplicariam em volta de ti.

²³ Mas Yahweh, teu Deus, te dará vitória sobre eles quando tu os encontrares em batalha; Yahweh os confundirá até que eles estejam destruídos. ²⁴ Ele colocará seus reis debaixo das tuas mãos e fará o nome deles desaparecer de debaixo dos céus. Nenhum deles será capaz de estar diante de ti, até que os tenhas destruído.

²⁵ Tu queimarás as imagens esculpidas de seus deuses; não cobiçarás a prata e o ouro que as recobrem, nem mesmo as tomarás para ti, pois isso seria uma armadilha para ti. Para Yahweh, o teu Deus, isso é uma abominação. ²⁶ Tu não trarás nenhuma abominação para dentro de tua casa, para que não venhas a adorá-la. Tu as rejeitarás completamente e as abominarás, pois toda abominação será separada para destruição.

Capítulo 8

¹ Guardarás todos os mandamentos que te dei hoje, para que tenhas vida e te multipliques, e entres e tomes posse da terra que Yahweh jurou a teus pais. ² Lembrarás de todos os caminhos que Yahweh, teu Deus, te conduziu nesses quarenta anos no deserto, para que Ele te humilhasse e te colocasse a prova, a fim de saber o que estava no teu coração, se tu guardarias os Seus mandamentos ou não.

³ Ele te humilhou, te deixou ter fome e te alimentou com maná, que tu nem conhecias, nem os teus pais conheciam. Ele fez estas coisas para que soubesses que o ser humano não vive somente de pão, mas de tudo que procede da boca de Yahweh é que o ser humano vive.

⁴ Tuas roupas não envelheceram em ti e teus pés não incharam durante esses quarentas anos. ⁵ considera, pois, no teu coração, que Yahweh, teu Deus, te corrige, assim como um homem corrige seu filho. ⁶ Guarda os mandamentos de Yahweh, teu Deus, para andares em Seus caminhos e O honrares.

⁷ Porque Yahweh, teu Deus, está te levando a uma boa terra, terra de ribeiros de águas, de fontes e nascentes, que brotam dos vales e nas colinas; ⁸ uma terra de trigo e cevada, de vinhas, de figueiras e romãzeiras; terra de oliveiras e mel.

⁹ É uma terra em que comerás pão sem escassez, e onde não te faltará nada; uma terra cujas pedras são feitas de ferro e de cujos montes poderás tirar cobre. ¹⁰ Comerás e te fartarás e bendirás a Yahweh, teu Deus, pela boa terra que Ele te deu.

¹¹ Cuidado para não te esqueceres de Yahweh, teu Deus, e negligenciares os Seus mandamentos, Suas ordenanças, e Seus estatutos, que hoje te ordeno. ¹² Senão, quando comeres e estiveres farto, e, quando construíres boas casas e nelas habitares, o teu coração fique elevado.

¹³ Cuidado, pois, quando as tuas manadas e teus rebanhos se multiplicarem, quando a tua prata e o teu ouro aumentarem, quando tudo que a ti pertence se multiplicar ¹⁴ e, assim, teu coração se tornar envaidecido, cuida para que não te esqueças de Yahweh, teu Deus, que te trouxe da terra do Egito, da casa da escravidão.

¹⁵ Não te esqueças Daquele que te conduziu pelo grande e terrível deserto, em que havia serpentes venenosas e escorpiões, e pela terra seca onde não havia água; Daquele que tirou água da dura rocha para ti. ¹⁶ Ele te alimentou no deserto com o maná que teus antepassados nunca conheceram, para te humilhar e te provar, mas, para mais tarde, fazer o bem a ti. ¹⁷ Portanto, não digas em teu coração: 'Meu poder e a força da minha mão conquistaram toda essa riqueza'.

¹⁸ Mas lembra-te de Yahweh, teu Deus, porque Ele te deu poder para conquistar riquezas; para estabelecer a Sua aliança que jurou aos teus pais como existe hoje. ¹⁹ Caso te esqueças de Yahweh, teu Deus, e sigas outros deuses, e os adores, e os reverencies, eu testemunho hoje contra ti, que, certamente perecerás. ²⁰ Como as nações que Yahweh está fazendo perecer diante de ti, assim perecerás, por não escutares a voz de Yahweh, teu Deus.

Capítulo 9

¹ Ouve, Israel: hoje atravessarás o Jordão, e tomarás posse de nações mais poderosas e fortes que tu, com cidades grandes e fortificadas até o céu, ² um povo grande e alto, os anaqueus, que tu conheces e dos quais ouviste dizer: 'Quem resistirá aos anaqueus?'.

³ Portanto, saberás hoje que Yahweh, o teu Deus, é Aquele que vai adiante de ti como um fogo devorador. Ele os destruirá, e os subjugará diante de ti; tu os expulsarás e farás com que desapareçam rapidamente, assim como Yahweh te disse.

⁴ Depois que Yahweh, o teu Deus, os tiver expulsado de diante de ti, não digas em teu coração: 'Por causa da minha justiça, Yahweh me trouxe para possuir esta terra'; mas é por causa da maldade dessas nações que Yahweh as expulsa de diante de ti.

⁵ Então, não é por causa da tua justiça ou da retidão do teu coração que possuirás a terra; mas sim por causa da maldade dessas nações que o teu Deus as expulsará de diante de ti, e para manter a palavra que jurou a teus antepassados Abraão, Isaque e Jacó.

⁶ Sabe, portanto, que não é por causa da tua justiça que Yahweh, o teu Deus, te dá esta boa terra para possuí-la, pois és um povo obstinado.

⁷ Lembra-te, e não te esqueças, de como provocaste à ira Yahweh, o teu Deus, no deserto. Desde o dia em que saíste da terra do Egito, até chegar a este lugar, foste rebelde contra Yahweh. ⁸ Também provocaste a ira de Yahweh em Horebe, tanto que Ele Se enfureceu contra ti para te destruir".

⁹ Quando eu subi à montanha para receber as tábuas de pedra, as tábuas da Aliança que Yahweh fez convosco, fiquei na montanha durante quarenta dias e quarenta noites, não comi pão, nem bebi água. ¹⁰ Yahweh me deu as duas tábuas de pedra escritas por Seu dedo; nelas estavam escritas todas as palavras que Yahweh anunciou a vós na montanha, do meio do fogo, no dia da assembleia.

¹¹ Isto aconteceu no fim dos quarenta dias e quarenta noites, nos quais Yahweh me deu as duas tábuas de pedra, as tábuas da Aliança. ¹² Yahweh me disse: "Levanta-te, desce rapidamente daqui, pois teu povo que tiraste do Egito se corrompeu. Desviaram-se rapidamente do caminho que Eu os ordenei; fizeram para si uma imagem de metal fundido".

¹³ Além disso, Yahweh me falou e disse: "Eu vi que este é um povo obstinado. ¹⁴ Deixa-Me destruí-lo e apagar seu nome de debaixo do céu, e Eu farei de ti uma nação mais poderosa e numerosa do que esta".

¹⁵ Então, voltei e desci da montanha. A montanha ardia em fogo. As duas tábuas da Aliança estavam em minhas mãos. ¹⁶ Olhei e vi que havíeis pecado contra Yahweh vosso Deus. Fizestes para vós um bezerro de metal fundido, e vos desviastes do caminho que Yahweh vos havia ordenado.

¹⁷ Então, peguei as duas tábuas, joguei-as das minhas mãos, e as quebrei diante de vossos olhos. ¹⁸ Novamente, prostrei-me diante de Yahweh por quarenta dias e quarenta noites. Não comi pão, nem bebi água, por causa de todo pecado que cometestes, fazendo aquilo que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, provocando a Sua ira.

¹⁹ Porém, Yahweh me ouviu ainda esta vez. Pois eu estava com medo da ira e do furor de Yahweh que tanto estava irado convosco para vos destruir. ²⁰ Yahweh Se irou contra Arão para o destruir, mas, naquela mesma hora, orei também em favor de Arão.

²¹ Então, tomei o vosso pecado, o bezerro que fizestes, e o lancei no fogo, esmaguei e o moí até que ficasse tão fino como o pó. E joguei seu pó no riacho que descia da montanha.

²² Em Taberá, em Massá e em Quibrote-Hataavá, provocastes a ira de Yahweh. ²³ Quando Yahweh vos enviou de Cabes-Barneia, disse: "Subi e tomai a terra que Eu vos dei"; vós vos rebelastes contra a ordem de Yahweh, vosso Deus, não acreditastes Nele e não ouvistes a Sua voz. ²⁴ Tendes sido rebeldes contra Yahweh desde o dia em que vos conheci.

²⁵ Então, prostrei-me diante de Yahweh, por quarenta dias e quarenta noites, porque Ele dissera que vos destruiria. ²⁶ Orei a Yahweh, dizendo: "Ó Senhor Yahweh, não destruas Teu povo ou Tua herança, que resgataste com toda a Tua grandeza; e os tiraste do Egito com Tua poderosa mão.

²⁷ Lembra-Te de Teus servos Abraão, Isaque e Jacó; não olhes para a obstinação deste povo, nem sua maldade, nem para seu pecado, ²⁸ para que a terra de onde nos tiraste não diga: 'Porque Yahweh não conseguiu levá-los para a terra que lhes prometeu, e, por isso, passou a odiá-los e os tirou daqui para matá-los no deserto'. ²⁹ Mas este é o Teu povo, Tua herança, que tiraste com Tua grande força, exibindo o Teu poder".

Capítulo 10

¹ Naquele tempo, Yahweh me disse: "Esculpe duas tábuas de pedra, como as primeiras, vem até a Mim na montanha, e faze uma arca de madeira. ² Eu escreverei nas tábuas as palavras que estavam nas primeiras tábuas que quebraste, e tu as colocarás na Arca".

³ Então, fiz a Arca de madeira de acácia, e esculpi duas tábuas de pedras, como as primeiras, e subi à montanha, tendo as duas tábuas em minhas mãos. ⁴ Então, o Senhor escreveu os Dez Mandamentos nas tábuas, como fizera nas primeiras, os mandamentos que Yahweh havia falado para vós no monte, no dia da assembleia, do meio do fogo. Então, Yahweh entregou-me as tábuas.

⁵ Virei-me, desci da montanha, e coloquei dentro da Arca as tábuas que havia feito. Ali estão elas, como Yahweh me ordenou.

⁶ (O povo de Israel viajou de Beerote-Bene-Jaacã para Mosera. Ali, Arão faleceu e foi enterrado. Eleazar, seu filho, serviu como sacerdote em seu lugar. ⁷ De lá, partiram para Gudgodá, e dali para Jotbatá, uma terra de riachos.

⁸ Naquele tempo, Yahweh escolheu a tribo de Levi para carregar a arca do testemunho de Yahweh, para servir diante de Yahweh, e abençoar as pessoas em Seu nome até hoje. ⁹ Portanto, Levi não teve a porção da herança da terra com seus irmãos. Yahweh é sua herança, como Yahweh, seu Deus lhe disse).

¹⁰ "Estive na montanha, como na primeira vez, quarenta dias e quarenta noites. Yahweh escutou-me ainda esta vez; Yahweh não desejou destruir-vos. ¹¹ Disse-me Yahweh: 'Levanta-te, vai na frente do teu povo para liderá-lo em sua jornada. Eles entrarão e possuirão a terra que Eu jurei dar a seus antepassados'.

¹² Agora, Israel, o que Yahweh, teu Deus, requer de ti, exceto que O temas, que andes em todos os Seus caminhos, que O ames, e O adores com todo o teu coração e com toda a tua alma, ¹³ guardes os mandamentos de Yahweh, e Seus estatutos, que hoje estou te ordenando para teu próprio bem?

¹⁴ A Yahweh, teu Deus, pertencem o céu e o céu dos Céus, a terra, e tudo o que há nela. ¹⁵ Somente Yahweh teve prazer em teus pais e os amou, e Ele vos escolheu, descendência deles, mais do que as outras pessoas, como Ele faz hoje.

¹⁶ Portanto, circuncidai o prepúcio do vosso coração, e não sejais teimosos. ¹⁷ Pois Yahweh, vosso Deus, é Deus dos deuses e Senhor dos senhores, o Poderoso Deus, o Temível, que não discrimina as pessoas e não aceita suborno.

¹⁸ Ele executa a justiça para o órfão e a viúva, e mostra Seu amor para o estrangeiro, alimentando-o e vestindo-o. ¹⁹ Portanto, amai o estrangeiro; porque fostes estrangeiros na terra do Egito.

²⁰ Temerás Yahweh, teu Deus; a Ele cultuarás e te apegarás, e, em Seu nome jurarás. ²¹ Ele é a razão do teu louvor, e Ele é teu Deus, que tem feito por ti grandes e temíveis coisas, as quais teus olhos têm visto.

²² Teus pais chegaram ao Egito, em setenta pessoas, e Yahweh, teu Deus, te tem feito mais numeroso do que as estrelas do céu.

Capítulo 11

¹ Então, amarás Yahweh teu Deus e guardarás as Suas instruções, Seus estatutos, Seus decretos, e Seus mandamentos, todos os dias.

² Considerai que eu não estou falando para vossos filhos, os quais não conheceram nem viram a disciplina de Yahweh vosso Deus, Sua grandeza, Sua mão poderosa, ou Seu braço estendido, ³ os sinais e as obras que Ele fez a Faraó, rei do Egito, e a toda sua terra.

⁴ Tão pouco viram o que Ele fez ao exército do Egito, aos seus cavalos, ou aos seus carros; e de como Ele fez a água do mar Vermelho inundá-los enquanto eles vos perseguiam, e como Yahweh tem os destruído até hoje; ⁵ ou o que Ele fez por vós no deserto antes de virdes para esse lugar.

⁶ Eles não viram o que Yahweh fez a Datã e Abirão, filhos de Eliabe, filho de Rúben; como a terra abriu a boca e os engoliu, com suas famílias, suas tendas, e todo ser vivo que os seguia, no meio de todo o Israel. ⁷ Mas vós vistes todas as grandes obras que Yahweh tem feito.

⁸ Portanto, guardai todos os mandamentos que Eu vos ordeno hoje, para que vos torneis fortes, entreis e possuais a terra a que estais indo; ⁹ e, assim, vós prolongareis vossos dias na terra em que Yahweh jurou dar aos vossos pais e aos seus descendentes, uma terra de que mana leite e mel.

¹⁰ Porque a terra que passais a possuir não se parece com a terra do Egito, de onde vós viestes, onde vós semeastes vossa semente e a regastes com vosso pé, como um jardim de ervas; ¹¹ mas a terra que passais a possuir é uma terra de colinas e vales, que bebe água da chuva do céu, ¹² a terra de que Yahweh, vosso Deus, cuida; os olhos de Yahweh, vosso Deus, estão sobre ela continuamente, desde o princípio até o fim do ano.

¹³ Se vós ouvirdes diligentemente aos meus mandamentos que eu vos ordeno hoje para amarem Yahweh, vosso Deus, e para servi-lo com todo o vosso coração e com toda vossa alma, ¹⁴ então, darei a chuva de vossa terra em suas estações, a primeira e a última, assim, devei reunir vossos cereais, vosso vinho novo, e vosso óleo. ¹⁵ Eu darei grama a vossos campos para vosso gado, e vós comereis e sereis fartos.

¹⁶ Guardai-vos para que o vosso coração não se engane, e vos desvieis, e sirvais a outros deuses, e vos curveis a eles, ¹⁷ assim, a ira de Yahweh se acenderá contra vós, e, então, Ele fechará os céus, não haverá chuva, e a terra não produzirá seus frutos, e depressa perecereis na boa terra que Yahweh está dando a vós.

¹⁸ Portanto, guardai essas minhas palavras em vosso coração e vossa alma; amarrai como um sinal em vossa mão, e deixai-las serem como faixas entre os vossos olhos. ¹⁹ Ensinareis a vossos filhos e falareis sobre elas quando vos sentardes em vossas casas, quando andardes pela estrada, quando vos deitardes, e quando vos levantardes.

²⁰ Escrevereis tais palavras nos batentes das portas de vossas casas e nos portões da vossa cidade, ²¹ para que se multipliquem vossos dias e os dias de vossos filhos na terra que Yahweh sob juramento deu a vossos antepassados, enquanto houver céu sobre a terra.

²² Pois, se vós diligentemente guardardes todos esses mandamentos que eu vos ordenei e cumpri-los, para amar Yahweh, o vosso Deus, para andardes em todos os Seus caminhos, e, se vos apegardes a Ele, ²³ então, Yahweh expulsará todas essas nações de diante de vós, e conquistareis nações maiores e mais poderosas que vós mesmos.

²⁴ Todo lugar onde a planta do vosso pé pisar será vosso; do deserto do Líbano, e do rio, o Eufrates, até o mar do oeste será vossa fronteira. ²⁵ Homem nenhum será capaz de ficar a vossa frente; Yahweh, vosso Deus, irá espalhar o medo e o terror de vós sobre toda a terra que pisardes, como Ele vos disse.

²⁶ Vede, eu hoje coloco diante de vós a benção e a maldição; ²⁷ a benção, se obedecerdes aos mandamentos de Yahweh, vosso Deus, que hoje eu vos ordeno; ²⁸ e a maldição, se não obedecerdes aos mandamentos de Yahweh, vosso Deus, e vos desviardes para ir atrás de outros deuses que não conhecestes.

²⁹ Quando Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos trouxer para a terra, a qual ireis possuir, colocareis a benção no monte Gerizim, e a maldição no monte Ebal. ³⁰ Não estão eles além do Jordão, oeste da estrada ocidental, na terra dos cananeus que moram em Arabá, de frente a Gilgal, ao lado dos carvalhos de Moré?

³¹ Pois vós estais para cruzar o Jordão, para irdes possuir a terra que Yahweh vosso Deus está vos dando, e vós ireis possuí-la e viver nela. ³² Guardareis todos os estatutos e todos os decretos que eu coloquei diante de vós hoje.

Capítulo 12

¹ Estes são os estatutos e os decretos que vós tereis que guardar na terra prometida que Yahweh, o Deus de vossos pais, vos entregou para possuirdes por todos os dias de vossas vidas nesta terra. ² Certamente, destruireis todos os lugares que as nações cultuaram seus deuses, nas altas montanhas, nas colinas, e debaixo de toda árvore.

³ Destruireis seus altares, destruireis seus postes sagrados, e queimareis suas imagens de Aserá. Derrubareis as imagens esculpidas dos seus deuses e extinguireis os seus nomes daquele lugar. ⁴ Não adorareis Yahweh dessa maneira.

⁵ Mas, para o lugar que Yahweh, vosso Deus, escolherá dentre todas as vossas tribos para ali colocar Seu nome, ali será o lugar de Sua habitação, ali será o lugar que devereis ir. ⁶ Ali será o local a que trareis vossos holocaustos, sacrifícios, dízimos, e vossas ofertas das vossas mãos, ofertas de juramento, ofertas voluntárias, e os primogênitos de vossos gados e rebanhos.

⁷ Ali será o local em que vós e vossas famílias comereis perante Yahweh, vosso Deus, e regozijareis nas obras das vossas mãos, onde Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos abençoar.

⁸ Não fareis as mesmas coisas como fazemos hoje aqui. Até então, todos fazem o que lhes parece certo aos próprios olhos, ⁹ pois ainda não entrastes no lugar de descanso, na herança que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá.

¹⁰ Mas, quando atravessardes o Jordão e habitardes na terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá como herança, e, quando Ele vos der descanso de todos os vossos inimigos ao redor, para viverdes em segurança, ¹¹ então, haverá um lugar que Yahweh, vosso Deus, escolherá, para ali fazer habitar Seu nome. Ali, levareis tudo o que vos ordeno: vossos holocaustos, sacrifícios, dízimos, e as ofertas das vossas mãos, e todas as ofertas em cumprimento aos vossos votos a Yahweh.

¹² Vós regozijareis perante Yahweh, vosso Deus, vós, vossos filhos e vossas filhas, vossos servos e vossas servas, e o levita que está em vossos portões, pois este não possui porção ou herança entre vós.

¹³ Atentai para não oferecerdes vossas ofertas queimadas em qualquer lugar, ¹⁴ mas, no lugar que Yahweh escolher em uma de vossas tribos, ali oferecerei vossas ofertas queimadas, e ali fareis tudo o que vos ordenar.

¹⁵ Porém, podereis abater e consumir os animais dentro de vossos portões, como desejais, recebendo a benção de Yahweh, vosso Deus, por tudo o que Ele tem vos dado. Animais como a gazela e o cervo, tanto a pessoa impura como a pura poderão comer. ¹⁶ Todavia, não comereis o sangue, mas o derramareis sobre a terra como água.

¹⁷ Não comereis, dentro dos vossos portões, do dízimo do vosso trigo, do vosso vinho novo e do vosso azeite, nem dos primogênitos de vosso gado ou rebanho; nem comereis de qualquer carne provinda de vossos sacrifícios como também dos vossos juramentos que fizeres, nem de vossas ofertas voluntárias, nem das ofertas das vossas mãos.

¹⁸ Mas tu, teu filho, tua filha, teus servos, tuas servas e o levita que reside dentro dos teus portões, comerei perante Yahweh, teu Deus, no lugar que Ele escolher, e regozijarás perante Yahweh, teu Deus, em todas as obras de tuas mãos. ¹⁹ Atenta para não te esqueceres do levita enquanto habitares na tua terra.

²⁰ Quando Yahweh, teu Deus, alargar tuas fronteiras, como Ele havia te prometido, e tu disseres: "Comerei carne", devido ao teu desejo de comer carne, poderás comer carne como desejares.

²¹ Se o lugar que Yahweh, teu Deus, escolher para colocar Seu nome estiver longe de ti, então, abaterás do teu gado e do teu rebanho que Yahweh deu a ti, como te ordenei; e poderás comer dentro dos teus portões, como desejares. ²² Comerás do mesmo modo com que se come a gazela e o cervo. Tanto a pessoa impura como o pura poderão comer deles.

²³ Porém, certifica-te de não comer o sangue, pois o sangue é vida; não comas a vida com a carne. ²⁴ Não o comerás, o despejarás na terra como água. ²⁵ Não o comerás, para que vivas bem, tu e teus filhos depois de ti, quando fizeres o que é correto aos olhos de Yahweh.

²⁶ Mas as coisas que pertencem a Yahweh e que estão contigo, e as tuas ofertas de juramento, levarás ao lugar que Yahweh escolher. ²⁷ Ali, oferecerás teus holocaustos, a carne e o sangue, no altar de Yahweh, teu Deus. O sangue dos teus sacrifícios serão derramados no altar de Yahweh, teu Deus e tu comerás a carne.

²⁸ Ouve e guarda todas estas palavras que te ordeno, para que vás bem, tu e teus filhos depois de ti para sempre, quando tu fizeres o que é bom e reto aos olhos de Yahweh, teu Deus.

²⁹ Quando Yahweh, teu Deus, eliminar as nações de diante de ti, quando fores para expulsá-los, e tu os expulsares, e habitares na terra deles, ³⁰ guarda-te para que não sejas seduzido a imitá-los, depois de terem sido destruídos diante de ti, atraído pelos seus deuses, caindo na armadilha de investigares e perguntares: "Como essas nações adoravam seus deuses? Eu farei da mesma maneira".

³¹ Tu não farás isso em respeito a Yahweh, teu Deus, pois eles fizeram tudo o que é repugnante a Yahweh, coisas que Ele odeia. Eles fizeram dessas coisas aos seus deuses, até mesmo queimaram seus filhos e suas filhas no fogo para seus deuses. ³² A tudo que eu te ordenar, atentarás. Nada acrescentarás nem diminuirás.

Capítulo 13

¹ Se surgir, no meio de ti, um profeta ou um adivinhador de sonhos, e, se ele te anunciar um sinal ou um prodígio, ² e, se o sinal ou prodígio sobre o qual te falou acontecer, e ele disser: 'Vamos seguir outros deuses, que não conhecestes, e vamos adorá-los', ³ não escutes as palavras desse profeta, nem desse adivinhador de sonhos; pois Yahweh, teu Deus, está te provando, se O amas com todo o teu coração e com toda a tua alma.

⁴ Segue Yahweh, teu Deus, honra-O, guarda os Seus mandamentos, obedece a Sua voz, adora-O e apega-te a Ele. ⁵ Esse profeta ou esse adivinhador de sonhos deverá morrer, pois pregou rebelião contra Yahweh, teu Deus, que te tirou da terra do Egito, e que te resgatou da casa da escravidão. Esse profeta quer afastar-te do caminho pelo qual Yahweh, teu Deus, te ordenou andar. Assim, tira o mal do meio de ti.

⁶ Suponha que teu irmão, o filho da tua mãe, ou teu filho, ou tua filha, ou a mulher do teu coração, ou o teu amigo que é muito chegado, te incitar em segredo, dizendo: 'Vamos adorar outros deuses que não conheces, nem tu nem teus antepassados; ⁷ qualquer um dos deuses dos povos que estão ao teu redor, perto ou longe de ti, de uma a outra extremidade da terra'.

⁸ Não concordes com ele nem o ouças. Nem tenhas piedade dele, nem o poupes, nem o protejas. ⁹ Ao invés disso, certamente, o matarás; tua mão será a primeira contra ele para matá-lo, e, depois, a mão de todo o povo.

¹⁰ Tu o apedrejarás até a morte, pois ele tentou afastar-te de Yahweh, teu Deus, que te tirou da terra do Egito, da casa da escravidão. ¹¹ Todo povo de Israel ouvirá e temerá, e não continuará a cometer esse tipo de maldade no meio de ti.

¹² Se ouvires alguém dizer que, em alguma das cidades que Yahweh, teu Deus, te dá para viver, ¹³ surgiram no meio de ti alguns homens perversos que incitaram os habitantes de tua cidade, dizendo: 'Vamos adorar outros deuses que tu não conheces'. ¹⁴ Então, examinarás as evidências, farás uma averiguação, investigando isso cuidadosamente. Se for verdade e comprovado que alguma coisa abominável foi feita no meio de ti.

¹⁵ Tu certamente atacarás os habitantes daquela cidade ao fio da espada, destruindo-a completamente e todo o povo que vive lá, juntamente com seus animais. ¹⁶ Tu ajuntarás todo o despojo deles no meio da rua e queimarás a cidade, bem como todo o seu despojo para Yahweh, teu Deus. A cidade será um monte ruínas para sempre; ela jamais será reconstruída.

¹⁷ Nenhuma das coisas que foram separadas para serem destruídas devem ficar na tua mão. Faze assim, para que Yahweh desvie o furor de Sua ira, te mostre misericórdia, tenha piedade de ti, e te multipliques, como Ele jurou a teus pais. ¹⁸ Ele fará isto porque tu ouviste a voz de Yahweh, teu Deus, para guardar todos os Seus mandamentos que eu tenho ordenado hoje, para fazeres o que é correto diante dos olhos de Yahweh, teu Deus.

Capítulo 14

¹ Vós sois o povo de Yahweh, vosso Deus. Não vos corteis, nem raspeis nenhuma parte do vosso rosto pelos mortos. ² Pois tu és povo separado para Yahweh, teu Deus, e Yahweh te escolheu para Sua posse, mais que todos os povos sobre a face da terra.

³ Não comereis nada de repugnante. ⁴ Estes são os animais que podereis comer: o boi, a ovelha, a cabra, ⁵ o veado, a gazela, a corça, o cabrito montês, o órix, o antílope e a ovelha selvagem.

⁶ Podereis comer quaisquer animais com casco partido, ou seja, que têm o casco dividido em dois, e que ruminam. ⁷ No entanto, não comereis alguns animais que ruminam ou que têm casco dividido em dois: o camelo, o coelho e o texugo da rocha. Porque eles ruminam, mas não têm o casco partido, eles são impuros para vós.

⁸ O porco também é impuro para vós, porque ele tem o casco partido, mas não rumina; ele é impuro para vós. Não comais carne de porco, e não toqueis suas carcaças.

⁹ Das coisas que estão na água, podereis comer qualquer coisa que tenha barbatanas e escamas; ¹⁰ mas qualquer coisa que não tenha barbatanas nem escamas, não comereis; elas são impuras para vós.

¹¹ Todos os pássaros limpos podereis comer. ¹² Mas estes são os pássaros que não comereis: a águia, o abutre, a águia pesqueira, ¹³ o açor, o milhano, e qualquer tipo de falcão.

¹⁴ Não comereis qualquer tipo de corvo, ¹⁵ o avestruz, a coruja, a gaivota, qualquer tipo de gavião, ¹⁶ o mocho, a íbis, a gralha, ¹⁷ o pelicano, o abutre, o corvo marinho.

¹⁸ Não comereis a cegonha, qualquer tipo de garça, a poupa e o morcego. ¹⁹ Todos os insetos alados são impuros para vós; eles não devem ser comidos. ²⁰ Vós podereis comer todas as aves puras.

²¹ Não comais nenhum animal que morreu por si; podereis dá-lo para o estrangeiro que estiver dentro de vossos portões, para que ele coma; ou podereis vendê-lo ao estrangeiro. Pois tu és povo separado para Yahweh, teu Deus. Não cozinharás um cabrito no leite de sua mãe.

²² Darás o dízimo de toda a semente da tua terra, produto da tua colheita, ano após ano. ²³ Comerás diante de Yahweh, teu Deus, no lugar que Ele escolher como Seu santuário, o dízimo do teu trigo, do teu vinho novo, do teu azeite, e o primogênito da tua manada ou do teu rebanho; Que tu aprendas a sempre honrar Yahweh, teu Deus.

²⁴ Se a jornada for muito longa para ti, de maneira que não possas carregar os dízimos, porque o lugar que Yahweh, teu Deus, escolherá como Seu santuário, for muito distante, ²⁵ converte a oferta em dinheiro, leva o dinheiro em tua mão, e vai para o lugar que Yahweh, teu Deus, escolherá.

²⁶ Gastarás o dinheiro no que desejares: no boi, na ovelha, no vinho, na bebida forte, ou no que desejares. Comerás diante de Yahweh, teu Deus, e alegra-te, tu e teus familiares. ²⁷ O levita que estiver dentro de teus portões — não o desampares, pois ele não tem parte nem herança contigo.

²⁸ Ao final de cada terceiro ano, tu apresentarás todo o dízimo da tua produção daquele ano, e o depositarás dentro dos teus portões; ²⁹ e o levita, por não ter herança nem parte contigo, e o estrangeiro, e o órfão, e a viúva que estiverem dentro dos teus portões, virão e comerão, e ficarão satisfeitos. Faze isto, para que Yahweh, teu Deus, abençoe a ti em todo trabalho que a tua mão fizer.

Capítulo 15

¹ Ao final de cada sete anos, cancelarás as dívidas. ² Assim praticarás a quitação das dívidas: todo credor perdoará algo que emprestou ao seu próximo; ele não cobrará a dívida de seu próximo ou de seu irmão, porque o perdão dessas dívidas foi proclamado por Yahweh. ³ Do estrangeiro, poderás exigir o pagamento das dívidas; mas perdoarás ao teu irmão, caso ele deva algo para ti.

⁴ Porém, não haverá pobre em teu meio (porque Yahweh certamente te abençoará na terra que te dá para possuir como herança), ⁵ se escutares diligentemente a voz de Yahweh, teu Deus, para guardar todos estes mandamentos que hoje te ordeno. ⁶ Pois, Yahweh, teu Deus, te abençoará, como Ele prometeu. Emprestarás a muitas nações, mas não tomarás emprestado; governarás muitas nações, porém elas não te governarão.

⁷ Se, dentro de qualquer dos portões da terra que Yahweh, teu Deus, te dá, houver um homem pobre dentre os teus irmãos, não endurecerás o teu coração nem fecharás a tua mão, negando-lhe ajuda; ⁸ mas abrirás a tua mão para emprestar-lhe o suficiente para suprir a sua necessidade.

⁹ Cuidado para não surgir pensamento perverso em teu coração, dizendo: "O sétimo ano, o ano da remissão, está perto", para que não sejas mesquinho em relação ao teu irmão pobre, negando-lhe ajuda; pois ele poderá clamar a Yahweh contra ti, e haverá pecado em ti. ¹⁰ Tu o ajudarás sem tristeza no teu coração, porque, em retorno, Yahweh, teu Deus, te abençoará em todo o trabalho que fizeres e em tudo aquilo que puseres a tua mão.

¹¹ Pois sempre haverá pobres na terra; por isso, eu te ordeno: "Abrirás a mão em favor de teu irmão, do necessitado, e do pobre em tua terra".

¹² Se um de teus irmãos, seja um homem hebreu ou uma mulher hebreia, for vendido a ti, poderá servir-te por seis anos, mas, no sétimo ano, o libertarás. ¹³ Quando o deixares ir, não o despedirás de mãos vazias. ¹⁴ Deverás prover-lhe generosamente do teu rebanho, do teu trigo e das tuas uvas. Assim como Yahweh, teu Deus, te abençoou, assim também o abençoarás.

¹⁵ Recordarás sempre que foste escravo na terra do Egito, e que Yahweh, teu Deus, te resgatou; por isso, hoje te ordeno que assim o faças. ¹⁶ E, se ele disser: 'Eu não me apartarei de ti', por causa do amor que tem por ti e por tua casa, e por causa da boa convivência contigo, ¹⁷ então, usarás uma agulha grossa e lhe furarás a orelha na porta, e ele será teu servo para sempre. E fará da mesma forma com a tua serva.

¹⁸ Não te pareça pesaroso libertá-lo, porque ele foi teu servo por seis anos e deu a ti duas vezes o valor de um assalariado. Yahweh, teu Deus, te abençoará em tudo o que fizeres.

¹⁹ Consagrarás todo primogênito macho do teu gado e do teu rebanho a Yahweh, teu Deus; não trabalharás com o primogênito do teu gado, nem tosquiarás o primogênito do teu rebanho. ²⁰ Tu o comerás a cada ano perante Yahweh, teu Deus, tu e a toda a tua casa, no local que Yahweh escolher. ²¹ Se houver qualquer imperfeição — se ele for coxo ou cego, ou tiver qualquer outro defeito — não o sacrificarás a Yahweh, teu Deus.

²² Tu o comerás dentro dos teus portões; tanto a pessoa pura quanto a impura poderão comer, como se fosse carne de uma gazela ou de um cervo. ²³ Somente tu não comerás o seu sangue, mas o despejarás sobre a terra como água.

Capítulo 16

¹ Observai o mês de Abibe, e celebrai a Páscoa para Yahweh vosso Deus, pois, no mês de Abibe, Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos tirou do Egito, durante a noite. ² Oferecei sacrifíicos da Páscoa para Yahweh, vosso Deus, com alguns do rebanho de ovelhas e vacas no lugar que Yahweh escolherá como Seu Santuário.

³ Vós comereis pão sem fermento com o sacrifício; por sete dias, vós comereis pão sem fermento com o sacrifício, o pão da aflição; pois saíste com pressa da terra do Egito. Fazei isto todos os dias das vossas vidas para lembrardes do dia em que saíste da terra do Egito. ⁴ Nenhum fermento deve ser encontrado entre vós, dentro de vossas fronteiras, durante sete dias; e nenhuma carne que vós sacrificardes ao anoitecer do primeiro dia deverá permanecer até a manhã seguinte.

⁵ Vós não sacrificareis a Páscoa dentro dos portões da cidade que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá. ⁶ Ao invés disto, sacrificai no lugar que Yahweh, vosso Deus, escolher como Seu Santuário. Nele, vós apresentareis o sacrifício da Páscoa à noite, no pôr do Sol, na época do ano em que saístes do Egito.

⁷ Vós a assareis e a comereis no lugar que Yahweh, vosso Deus, escolher; na manhã, vós ireis para as vossas tendas. ⁸ Por seis dias, vós comereis pão sem fermento; no sétimo dia, haverá uma assembleia solene para Yahweh, vosso Deus. Neste dia não trabalhareis.

⁹ Vós contareis sete semanas para vós mesmos; do tempo que começardes a colocar a foice na plantação, vós contareis sete semanas. ¹⁰ Vós guardareis a Festa das Semanas para Yahweh, vosso Deus, contribuindo com a oferta voluntária da vossa mão, de acordo com o que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos abençoou.

¹¹ Vós vos regozijareis perante Yahweh, vosso Deus, vós, vosso filho, vossa filha, vosso servo, vossa serva, o levita que está dentro dos portões da vossa cidade, o estrangeiro, o orfão e a viúva que estão entre vós, no lugar que Yahweh, vosso Deus, escolher para Seu santuário. ¹² Vós vos lembrareis que éreis escravos no Egito; observareis e seguireis esses estatutos.

¹³ Guardareis a Festa dos Tabernáculos por sete dias, depois que colherdes da plantação da vossa separação de grãos e das vossas uvas pisoteadas. ¹⁴ Regozijareis durante a Festa, vós, vosso filho, vossa filha, vosso servo, vossa serva, o levita, o estrangeiro, o orfão e a viúva que estão dentro dos vossos portões.

¹⁵ Por sete dias, observareis a Festa para Yahweh, vosso Deus, no lugar que Yahweh escolher, porque Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos abençoará em toda vossa colheita e em todo o trabalho de vossas mãos; e vos alegrareis.

¹⁶ Três vezes por ano, todos os vossos homens se apresentarão perante Yahweh, vosso Deus, no lugar que Ele escolher: na Festa do Pão sem Fermento, na Festa das Semanas e na Festa dosTabernáculos; e eles não aparecerão diante de Yahweh de mãos vazias; ¹⁷ ao invés disso, todo homem ofertará como puder, para conhecer a benção que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá.

¹⁸ Escolhereis juízes e oficiais entre todas as cidades que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá; eles serão escolhidos de cada uma das vossas tribos, e devem julgar as pessoas com um julgamento justo. ¹⁹ Não pervertereis a justiça; não mostrareis parcialidade, nem recebereis suborno, pois o suborno cega os olhos dos sábios e perverte as palavras do justo. ²⁰ Vós seguireis a justiça, somente a justiça, para viverdes e tomardes como herança a terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá.

²¹ Não levantareis para vós mesmos nenhum tipo de poste-ídolo, a não ser o altar de Yahweh, vosso Deus, que fareis para vós mesmos. ²² Nem mesmo levantareis para vós mesmos qualquer pilar de pedra sagrado, que Yahweh, vosso Deus, odeia.

Capítulo 17

¹ Vós não sacrificareis a Yahweh, vosso Deus, um boi ou uma ovelha que tenha qualquer mancha ou defeito, pois isso seria abominação para Yahweh, vosso Deus.

² Se for encontrado, no meio de vós, dentro de qualquer um dos portões da cidade que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vós dá, qualquer homem ou mulher que pratique o que é mal à vista de Yahweh, vosso Deus, quebrando a Sua aliança, ³ qualquer um que tenha ido e adorado outros deuses e se prostrado a eles, mesmo ao sol, à lua, ou a qualquer um dos astros do céu, nada do que eu tenho ordenado, ⁴ e, se alguém vos falar sobre isso, ou, se ouvirdes sobre isso, então, fareis uma investigação cuidadosa. Se for verdade e estiverdes certos de que tal coisa detestável foi feita em Israel, eis o que fareis.

⁵ Trareis o homem ou a mulher que tiver cometido tal maldade para os portões da vossa cidade, esse mesmo homem ou essa mesma mulher, e apedrejai essa pessoa até a morte. ⁶ Pela palavra de duas ou três testemunhas, essa pessoa será condenada à morte; mas não será condenada pela palavra de apenas uma testemunha. ⁷ A mão das testemunhas deve ser a primeira a condenar a pessoa à morte, e, a seguir, a mão de todo o povo; e vós removereis o mal do vosso meio.

⁸ Se surgir um assunto que seja muito difícil para vós julgardes, talvez uma questão de assassinato ou morte acidental, sobre o direito de uma pessoa ou o direito de outra pessoa, ou uma questão sobre algum tipo de dano feito, ou outro tipo de assunto, questões polêmicas no interior dos portões da vossa cidade, então, vós ireis ao lugar que Yahweh, vosso Deus, escolherá como Seu santuário. ⁹ Ide aos sacerdotes, os descendentes de Levi, e ao juiz que estiver trabalhando nesse período; buscai o conselho deles, e eles vos darão o veredito.

¹⁰ Seguireis a lei que vos foi dada, no lugar que Yahweh escolherá como Seu santuário. Vós sereis cuidadosos em fazer tudo o que eles vos direcionarem a fazer. ¹¹ Segui a lei que eles vos ensinarem, e façai de acordo com as decisões que eles vos informarem. Não vos afasteis do que eles vos disserem, nem para a direita nem para a esquerda.

¹² Qualquer um que agir arrogantemente, não ouvindo o sacerdote que está servindo diante de Yahweh, vosso Deus, ou não ouvindo o juiz, esse homem morrerá; vós eliminareis o mal do meio de Israel. ¹³ Todo o povo deve ouvir e temer, e não mais agir arrogantemente.

¹⁴ Quando vós chegardes à terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá, e, quando vós tomardes posse dela e começardes a viver nela, e disserdes: 'Designarei um rei sobre mim, como todas as outras nações que estão ao redor de mim', ¹⁵ então, vós certamente designareis um rei sobre vós, aquele que Yahweh, vosso Deus, escolherá. Designareis, como rei sobre vós, alguém do meio dos vossos irmãos. Não colocareis um estrangeiro, que não é vosso irmão, sobre vós.

¹⁶ Mas ele não poderá multiplicar cavalos para si, nem fazer o povo retornar ao Egito para que ele multiplique seus cavalos, pois Yahweh vos disse: 'Vós, de agora em diante, jamais retornareis por esse caminho'. ¹⁷ E ele não multiplicará esposas para si, para que seu coração não se desvie de Yahweh; nem acumulará para si grande quantidade de prata e ouro.

¹⁸ Quando se assentar sobre o trono do seu reino, ele deve escrever para si, em um livro, uma cópia desta lei, que está diante dos sacerdotes, que são levitas. ¹⁹ O livro estará com ele, e ele o lerá todos os dias da sua vida, para aprender a honrar Yahweh, seu Deus, assim como guardar todas as palavras desta lei e estes estatutos, para os cumprir.

²⁰ Ele fará isso e, assim, seu coração não se exaltará sobre o de seus irmãos, e ele não se desviará dos mandamentos, nem para a direita, nem para a esquerda. Assim, prolongará os dias do seu reinado, dele e de seus filhos, no meio de Israel.

Capítulo 18

¹ Os sacerdotes levitas, e toda a tribo de Levi, não terão porção nem herança com Israel; como sua herança, eles comerão das ofertas queimadas para Yahweh. ² Eles não terão herança entre seus irmãos; Yahweh é a sua herança, como Ele lhes disse.

³ Este será o direito dos sacerdotes, das ofertas do povo, daqueles que oferecem um sacrifício, quer seja boi ou ovelha: eles devem dar ao sacerdote a espádua, a queixada e as vísceras. ⁴ Darás aos sacerdotes as primícias dos teus grãos, do teu vinho novo, do teu azeite, e a primeira tosquia da tua ovelha. ⁵ Pois Yahweh, teu Deus, os escolheu dentre todas as tribos, ele e seus filhos, para ministrarem e servirem para sempre em nome de Yahweh.

⁶ Se um levita vier de qualquer uma das cidades de todo o Israel onde ele estiver morando, e desejar, com toda a sua alma, vir para o lugar que Deus escolher, ⁷ então, ele servirá em nome de Yahweh, seu Deus, como fazem todos os seus irmãos levitas, que estão diante de Yahweh. ⁸ Eles terão porções similares para comer, além do que vier da venda dos bens de sua família.

⁹ Quando entrares na terra que Yahweh, teu Deus, te dá, não imitarás as práticas abomináveis daquelas nações. ¹⁰ Não será encontrado entre vós ninguém que coloque seu filho ou sua filha no fogo, ninguém que use adivinhações, que pratique agouros, que lance feitiços, que pratique bruxaria, que faça magia, ¹¹ nenhum encantador, ninguém que fale com os mortos, ou com espíritos.

¹² Pois qualquer um que pratique essas coisas é abominável para Yahweh; é por causa dessas abominações que Yahweh, teu Deus, os está expulsando de diante de ti. ¹³ Serás inculpável diante de Yahweh, teu Deus. ¹⁴ Pois estas nações que conquistarás ouvem aqueles que praticam a feitiçaria e a adivinhação; mas a ti, Yahweh, teu Deus, não permitiu que o fizesses.

¹⁵ Yahweh, teu Deus, vai levantar um profeta do teu meio, um de teus irmãos, como eu. Tu o ouvirás. ¹⁶ Isso é o que pediste a Yahweh, teu Deus, no dia em que estiveram reunidos no Horebe, dizendo: "Não nos deixes ouvir novamente a voz de Yahweh, nosso Deus, e nunca mais ver este grande fogo, ou nós morreremos".

¹⁷ Yahweh disse a mim: "O que eles disseram é bom. ¹⁸ Eu levantarei um profeta para eles, dentre seus irmãos, semelhante a ti. Eu colocarei Minhas palavras em sua boca, e ele dirá a eles tudo que Eu ordenar. ¹⁹ Eu pedirei contas de qualquer um que não ouvir as palavras que este profeta pronunciar em Meu nome.

²⁰ Mas o profeta que disser uma palavra com arrogância em Meu nome, uma palavra que Eu não ordenei que ele dissesse, ou que falar em nome de outros deuses, este profeta morrerá". ²¹ Isso é o que dirás no teu coração: "Como saberemos se a mensagem desse profeta é de Yahweh?".

²² Se aquela coisa não acontecer nem se cumprir, então, saberás que é uma palavra que Yahweh não falou e esse profeta falou de forma arrogante, e tu não o temerás.

Capítulo 19

¹ Quando Yahweh, vosso Deus, remover as nações, daqueles cuja terra Yahweh, vosso Deus, está vos dando, e quando vierdes atrás delas e morardes em suas cidades e casas, ² selecionarei três cidades para vós no meio da terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, está dando para possuirdes. ³ Construirei uma estrada e dividir as fronteiras de vossa terra em três partes, a terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos fará possuir, para que qualquer um que mate outra pessoa possa refugiar-se nela.

⁴ Esta é a lei para aquele que comete homicídio e que se refugia nela para viver: qualquer que mate involuntariamente seu vizinho, sem previamente odiá-lo, ⁵ como quando um homem vai para a floresta com seu vizinho para cortar madeira, e sua mão dá um golpe com o machado para cortar a árvore, e a cabeça de ferro escapa do cabo e acerta o vizinho e ele morre, então, aquele homem deve refugiar-se em uma dessas cidades e viver nela.

⁶ Do contrário, o vingador do sangue pode ir atrás daquele que tirou a vida e, no calor da sua raiva, o alcançar, se o caminho for muito longo, o atacar e matar, ainda que o homem não mereça morrer, já que ele não odiava o seu vizinho anteriormente. ⁷ Por isso, eu ordeno que vós selecioneis três cidades para vós.

⁸ Se Yahweh, vosso Deus, ampliar as fronteiras da vossa terra, como Ele jurou aos vossos antepassados, e dar-vos toda a terra que Ele prometeu dar aos vossos antepassados; ⁹ se vós guardardes todos esses mandamentos para cumpri-los, os quais vos estou ordenando hoje, mandamentos para amar Yahweh, vosso Deus, e andar em Seus caminhos, então, vós adicionarei mais três cidades para vós, além daquelas três. ¹⁰ Fazei isto para que o sangue inocente não seja derramado no meio da terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá como herança, para que não haja culpa de sangue sobre vós.

¹¹ Mas, se alguém odeia o seu vizinho, armar-lhe uma cilada, levantar-se contra ele e, mortalmente, o ferir e matar, se este fugir para uma dessas cidades, ¹² então, os anciãos da cidade deverão enviá-lo e devolvê-lo de lá, e, entregá-lo nas mãos do parente responsável, para que ele morra. ¹³ Não o olharás com piedade. Ao invés disso, tirarás de Israel a culpa do sangue inocente, para que te vá bem.

¹⁴ Não removereis os marcos de vossos vizinhos, que eles colocaram há muito tempo, na herança que vós recebereis, na terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá como posse.

¹⁵ Uma testemunha não se levantará sozinha contra um homem, por qualquer iniquidade, nem por qualquer pecado, em nenhuma questão que ele peque. Qualquer questão será confirmada pela boca de duas testemunhas, ou pela boca de três testemunhas. ¹⁶ Suponhais que uma falsa testemunha se levante contra qualquer homem para testificar uma injustiça contra ele.

¹⁷ Então, ambos os homens, aqueles entre os quais existe a controvérsia, colocar-se-ão diante de Yahweh, diante dos sacerdotes e dos juízes que os servem naqueles dias. ¹⁸ Os juízes farão uma investigação cuidadosa. Se a testemunha for falsa e testificar falsamente contra seu irmão, ¹⁹ então, farei a ela o que ela desejava fazer ao seu irmão. Desse modo, removereis o mal do meio de vós.

²⁰ Então, aqueles que permanecerem escutarão e temerão. Não cometerão semelhante mal entre vós novamente. ²¹ Não olharás com piedade; vida pagará por vida, olho por olho, dente por dente, mão por mão, pé por pé.

Capítulo 20

¹ Quando vós marchardes para batalha contra os vossos inimigos, e virdes cavalos, carros, e um povo mais numeroso do que vós, vós não ficareis com medo deles; pois Yahweh, vosso Deus, está convosco, ele que vos tirou da terra do Egito.

² Quando vós chegardes perto da batalha, o sacerdote deve aproximar-se e falar ao povo, ³ e dizer-lhes: 'Escutai, Israel, hoje vós vos aproximais de uma batalha contra os vossos inimigos; não deixeis os vossos corações fraquejarem; não temais, nem tremais, nem tenhais medo deles; ⁴ pois Yahweh, vosso Deus, é quem vai convosco para lutar por vós contra os vossos inimigos e vos salvar'.

⁵ Os oficiais falarão com o povo e dirão: 'Que homem que construiu uma casa nova e não usufruiu dela? Deixai-o ir e retornar para sua casa, para que ele não morra na batalha e outro homem usufrua dela.

⁶ Que homem que plantou uma vinha e não desfrutou dela? Deixai ele ir e retornar para sua casa, para que ele não morra na batalha e outro homem desfrute dela. ⁷ Que homem que está noivo de uma mulher mas ainda não se casou com ela? Deixai ele ir e retornar à sua casa, para que ele não morra na batalha e outro homem se case com ela'.

⁸ Os oficiais falarão mais ao povo e dirão: 'Que homem que é medroso ou de coração fraco? Deixai ele ir e retornar à sua casa, para que o coração do seu irmão não seja influenciado pelo coração dele'. ⁹ Quando os oficiais terminarem de falar com o povo, eles escolherão comandantes sobre eles.

¹⁰ Quando vós marchardes para atacar uma cidade, fazei a eles uma oferta de paz. ¹¹ Se eles aceitarem a vossa oferta e abrirem seus portões para vós, todo o povo encontrado lá deve tornar-se vossos escravos e devem vos servir.

¹² Mas, se não fizerem oferta de paz para vós, mas, ao invés disso, guerrear contra vós, então, devei sitiá-los, ¹³ e, quando Yahweh, vosso Deus, dar-vos vitória e colocá-los debaixo do vosso controle, matai todo homem da cidade.

¹⁴ Mas as mulheres, as crianças, o gado, e toda coisa que há na cidade, e tudo que for valioso, pegareis como despojo para vós. Vós consumireis o despojo dos vossos inimigos, de quem Yahweh, vosso Deus, tem vos dado. ¹⁵ Agi dessa forma com todas as cidades que estão longe de vós, cidades que não são parte dessas nações.

¹⁶ Nas cidades desses povos que Yahweh, vosso Deus, está vos dando como herança, não deixeis com vida nada que respira. ¹⁷ Ao invés disso, devei destruí-los completamente: os heteus, os amorreus, os cananeus, os perizeus, os heveus e os jebuseus, como Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos ordenou. ¹⁸ Fazei isso para que eles não vos ensinem a agir igual aos seus costumes repugnantes, assim como eles têm feito aos seus deuses. Se vós agirdes como eles, vós pecareis contra Yahweh, vosso Deus.

¹⁹ Quando vós sitiardes uma cidade por um longo tempo, enquanto vós fazeis guerra para capturá-la, não destruais as árvores da cidade cortando-as com um machado. Pois vós podeis comer o fruto delas, então, não as corteis. É a árvore do campo como um homem que sitiareis? ²⁰ Apenas as árvores que sabeis que não dão fruto, podeis destruir e derrubar; construireis baluartes contra a cidade que fizer guerra contra vós, até que ela caia.

Capítulo 21

¹ Se alguém for encontrado morto na terra em que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá para possuir, se este estiver estirado no campo, e seu agressor for desconhecido, ² então, vossos anciãos e vossos juízes sairão e medirão as distâncias do corpo até as cidades ao redor do corpo que foi morto.

³ Os anciãos da cidade que está mais perto do homem que foi morto pegarão uma novilha da manada, uma que nunca foi colocada ao trabalho, nem tenha sido usado uma canga. ⁴ Os anciãos daquela cidade trarão a novilha para o vale com água corrente, um vale que nunca tenha sido cultivado nem semeado, e quebrarão o pescoço da novilha ali no vale.

⁵ Os sacerdotes, descendentes de Levi, se aproximarão, pois deles Yahweh, vosso Deus, os tem escolhido para servi-Lo e para abençoarem o povo em nome de Yahweh; ouvi seus conselhos, pois sua palavra será o veredito em toda disputa e caso de violência.

⁶ Todos os anciãos daquela cidade que está mais próxima ao homem morto, lavarão suas mãos sobre a novilha que teve seu pescoço quebrado no vale; ⁷ e responderão ao caso e dizer: 'Nossas mãos não derramaram este sangue, e nossos olhos não o viram.

⁸ Perdoa, Yahweh, Teu povo Israel, a quem Tu redimiste, e não coloques culpa no sangue inocente no meio de Seu povo Israel'. Então, o sangue derramado será perdoado. ⁹ Dessa forma, vós tirareis o sangue inocente de vosso meio, quando fizerdes o que é certo aos olhos de Yahweh.

¹⁰ Quando fordes à batalha contra vossos inimigos e Yahweh, vosso Deus, der-lhes a vitória e os colocardes debaixo de vosso controle, então, devereis levá-los cativos. ¹¹ Se virdes entre os cativos uma mulher bonita e tiverdes desejo por ela e quiserdes levá-la como esposa, ¹² então, a levareis para vossa casa, depois, ela raspará sua cabeça e cortará suas unhas.

¹³ Ela tirará as roupas que vestia quando foi levada cativa, e permanecerá na tua casa e lamentará por seu pai e sua mãe durante um mês. Depois disso, poderás dormir com ela tornando-te seu marido e ela será tua esposa. ¹⁴ Mas, se não te agradares dela, então, deverá deixar-la ir onde ela desejar. Mas não poderás vendê-la por dinheiro, e não a trates como escrava, pois a humilhaste.

¹⁵ Se um homem tem duas esposas e uma é amada e a outra é odiada e ambas lhe tiverem dado filhos e o primogênito for da desprezada ¹⁶ então, no dia em que o homem fizer seus filhos herdarem o que possui, ele não poderá fazer o filho da amada o primogênito antes do filho da odiada, que, de fato, é o primogênito. ¹⁷ Ao invés disso, ele reconhecerá o primogênito, o filho da esposa odiada, dando-lhe uma porção dobrada de tudo que ele possui; pois aquele filho é o começo de sua força; o direito da primogênitura pertence a ele.

¹⁸ Se um homem tem um filho teimoso e rebelde que não obedece a voz de teu pai ou a voz de tua mãe, e que, ainda que seja corrigido, não ouvir; ¹⁹ então, seu pai e sua mãe deverão pegá-lo e levá-lo para os anciãos de sua cidade e para o portão de sua cidade.

²⁰ Eles dirão para os anciãos de sua cidade: "Este nosso filho é teimoso e rebelde; ele não obedece nossa voz; ele é um glutão e bêbado". ²¹ Então, com pedras, todos os homens de sua cidade deverão apedrejá-lo até a morte; e tu removerás o mal de vosso meio. O povo de Israel ouvirá sobre isso e temerá.

²² Se um homem cometer um pecado digno de morte, e for morto, e o tiveres pendurado em uma árvore, ²³ então, seu corpo não deverá permanecer na árvore por toda noite. Ao invés disso, tu certamente deverás enterrá-lo no mesmo dia, pois quem for pendurado é amaldiçoado por Deus. Obedece este mandamento para que tua terra não seja contaminada, que Yahweh, teu Deus, está te dando como herança.

Capítulo 22

¹ Se vires o boi ou a ovelha de teu irmão israelita se afastar e se esconder dele, deve, certamente, trazê-los de volta para ele. ² Se o teu irmão israelita não estiver perto de ti, ou se não o conheceres, então, trarás o animal para a tua casa e ficará contigo até que ele o procure, e, então, o devolverás.

³ Faz o mesmo com o jumento, e com as vestimentas, e com cada coisa perdida de seu companheiro Israelita; nada do que o seu companheiro tiver perdido, que tu encontrares, deve guardar para ti. ⁴ Quando vires o jumento ou o boi de teu irmão israelita caído na estrada, certamente, deverás ajudá-lo a levantar-se.

⁵ A mulher não usará roupas de homem, e nem o homem vestirá roupas de mulher; porque qualquer que fizer isso é uma abominação para Yahweh, teu Deus.

⁶ Se encontrares um ninho de pássaros no caminho, numa árvore ou no chão, com filhotes ou com ovos dentro, e a mãe estiver sobre os filhotes ou os ovos, não pegar'as a mãe juntamente com os filhotes. ⁷ Certamente, deixarás a mãe ir, mas poderás pegar os filhotes. Obedece a esta ordem de modo que te vás bem, e se prolonguem os teus dias.

⁸ Quando construíres uma casa nova, farás um parapeito para o telhado, para que não traga sangue para tua casa, se alguém cair de lá.

⁹ Não plantes tua vinha com dois tipos de semente, para que não se degenere todo o produto, tanto da semente que semeaste como da produção da vinha. ¹⁰ Não lavres a terra com um boi e um jumento juntos. ¹¹ Não te vistas com tecido que seja mistura de lã e linho.

¹² Faze franjas nos quatro cantos do manto com que te cobrires.

¹³ Supõe que um homem se case com uma mulher, durma com ela, e depois a odeie, ¹⁴ acusando-a de coisas vergonhosas, colocando-lhe má reputação e dizendo: "Tomei esta mulher, mas, quando cheguei perto dela, não encontrei nenhuma prova de virgindade".

¹⁵ Então, o pai e a mãe da moça provarão a sua virgindade para os anciãos na porta da cidade.

¹⁶ O pai da moça dirá aos anciãos: "Entreguei minha filha a este homem como esposa, e ele a odeia. ¹⁷ Olha, ele a tem acusado de coisas vergonhosas, dizendo: 'Não encontrei na tua filha prova de virgindade'. Mas aqui está a comprovação da virgindade de minha filha". Então, estenderão a roupa íntima diante dos anciãos da cidade.

¹⁸ Os anciãos da cidade pegarão o homem e o castigarão; ¹⁹ ele será multado em cem ciclos de prata, que serão entregues ao pai da menina, porque o homem colocou má reputação em uma virgem de Israel. Deverá tê-la como sua esposa; não poderá mandá-la embora durante todos os seus dias.

²⁰ Mas, se a acusação for verdadeira, não se achando a prova da virgindade na moça, ²¹ a levarão até a porta da casa de seus pais, e os homens de sua cidade a apedrejarão até a morte, pois a mesma cometeu uma ação vergonhosa em Israel, por agir como uma prostituta na casa de seu pai; e, assim, removereis o mal do meio de vós.

²² Se um homem for encontrado dormindo com uma mulher que é casada com outro homem, então, ambos devem morrer, tanto o homem quanto a mulher, assim, removereis o mal diante de vós.

²³ Se houver uma moça virgem, noiva de um homem, e outro homem encontrá-la na cidade e ele dormir com ela, ²⁴ serão levados ambos à porta da cidade e apedrejados até a morte. Apedrejai a moça por não ter gritado, mesmo estando na cidade. Apedrejai o homem, por ter violado a mulher do próximo; assim, removereis o mal de diante de vós.

²⁵ Mas, se um homem encontrar no campo uma moça que é noiva, capturá-la e dormir com ela, apenas o homem que dormiu com a mesma deve morrer. ²⁶ Mas, à garota, não façais nada; não há nela pecado digno de morte. Neste caso, é como um homem que ataca seu vizinho e o mata. ²⁷ Pois ele encontrou a moça noiva em um campo; ela gritou, mas não havia ninguém para salvá-la.

²⁸ Se um homem encontrar uma moça virgem, e que não está noiva, e capturá-la, e dormir com ela e forem descobertos, ²⁹ o homem que se deitou com ela deve dar cinquenta ciclos para o pai da moça, deverá tomá-la como sua esposa porque a humilhou; não poderá mandá-la embora durante todos os dias dele.

³⁰ Um homem não deve tomar para si a mulher de seu pai; não deve tirar de seu pai os direitos do casamento.

Capítulo 23

¹ Qualquer homem cujas partes íntimas foram esmagadas ou cortadas não entrará na assembleia de Yahweh. ² Nenhuma criança ilegítima pode pertencer à assembleia de Yahweh; nem mesmo até a décima geração de seus descendentes, nenhum deles pode pertencer à assembleia de Yahweh.

³ Nenhum amonita ou moabita deve pertencer à assembleia de Yahweh; nem mesmo até a décima geração de seus descendentes, nenhum deles pode pertencer à assembleia de Yahweh. ⁴ Isso porque eles não foram ao vosso encontro com pão e água no caminho quando saístes do Egito, e porque contrataram contra vós Balaão, filho de Beor, de Petor, na Mesopotâmia, para vos amaldiçoar.

⁵ Mas Yahweh, vosso Deus, não ouviu a Balaão; ao contrário, Yahweh, vosso Deus, transformou a maldição em benção para vós, porque Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos ama. ⁶ Não procureis a paz ou prosperidade deles, durante todos os vossos dias.

⁷ Tu não odiarás um edomita, pois ele é teu irmão; nem odiarás um egípcio, porque foste estrangeiro em sua terra. ⁸ Os descendentes deles da terceira geração poderão pertencer à assembleia de Yahweh.

⁹ Quando marchardes, como um exército, contra vossos inimigos, então, guardareis de toda coisa má. ¹⁰ Se estiver entre vós um homem impuro por causa de algo que lhe aconteceu pela noite, então, ele sairá do acampamento do exército; ele não poderá voltar ao acampamento. ¹¹ Quando entardecer, ele se banhará com água; ao pôr do sol, ele voltará para o acampamento.

¹² Terás um lugar fora do acampamento para o qual possas ir; ¹³ e terás, entre as tuas ferramentas, uma pá para cavar; quando abaixares para te aliviar, cavarás e, então, colocarás de volta a terra para cobrir teus excrementos. ¹⁴ Porque Yahweh, teu Deus, anda no meio do teu acampamento para te dar vitória e entregar a ti os teus inimigos. Portanto, teu acampamento será santo, para que Ele não veja nenhuma coisa impura entre ti e não Se afaste de ti.

¹⁵ Não devolverás para teu senhor um escravo que escapou dele. ¹⁶ Que ele viva contigo, em qualquer cidade que ele escolher. Não o oprimas.

¹⁷ Não haverá prostitutas cultuais entre as filhas de Israel, nem haverá prostitutos ultuais entre aos filhos de Israel. ¹⁸ Não trareis os salários de uma prostituta, ou o salário de um cão para a casa de Yahweh, vosso Deus, por nenhum voto; pois ambos são abominações para Yahweh, vosso Deus.

¹⁹ Não emprestes com juros ao teu companheiro israelita — juros sobre dinheiro, comida, ou qualquer coisa que é emprestada com juros. ²⁰ Para o estrangeiro, poderás emprestar com juros; mas, para teu companheiro israelita, não emprestarás com juros, para que Yahweh, teu Deus, te abençoe em tudo que colocares tua mão, na terra que vais possuir.

²¹ Quando fizeres um voto para Yahweh, teu Deus, não demores em cumpri-lo, pois Yahweh, teu Deus, certamente requererá de ti; será pecado se não o cumprires. ²² Mas, se te abstiveres de fazer um voto, não será pecado. ²³ Aquilo que sair de teus lábios, observarás e cumprirás de acordo com o que prometeres a Yahweh, teu Deus, qualquer coisa que tenhas livremente prometido com tua boca.

²⁴ Quando fores à vinha de teu vizinho, comas quantas uvas quiseres, mas não coloques nenhuma no teu cesto. ²⁵ Quando fores à seara de teu vizinho, podes arrancar as espigas com tua mão, mas não uses foice na seara dele.

Capítulo 24

¹ Quando um homem tomar uma mulher e se casar com ela, e se ela não encontrar graça aos olhos dele, por haver descoberto alguma coisa vergonhosa a seu respeito, então, escreverá para ela uma carta de divórcio e a entregará em suas mãos, mandando-a embora de sua casa. ² Se ela sair da casa dele, ela poderá casar-se com outro homem.

³ Se o segundo marido a odiar e escrever-lhe uma carta de divórcio, e entregá-la na sua mão, e mandá-la para fora de sua casa; ou se este segundo marido, que a tomou para si como sua mulher, morrer, ⁴ então, seu primeiro marido, que a mandou embora, não poderá se casar novamente com essa mulher, depois que ela se tornou impura. Isto seria abominação para Yahweh. Não farás com que a terra se torne culpada; a terra que Yahweh, teu Deus, te dá por herança.

⁵ Quando um homem tomar uma nova mulher, ele não sairá à guerra com o exército, nem será requisitado para algum dever forçado. Ele estará livre para ficar em casa por um ano, e se alegrará com sua nova mulher.

⁶ Nenhum homem tomará como penhor as duas pedras de moinho, nem mesmo uma mó como garantia, pois, assim, estará penhorando a vida do devedor.

⁷ Se um homem raptar qualquer um dos seus irmãos dentre o povo de Israel, e tratá-lo como um escravo, e vendê-lo, esse ladrão morrerá, e tu removerás o mal do meio de ti.

⁸ Atenta sobre qualquer praga de lepra, para observares cuidadosamente, e seguires cada instrução dada a ti, as quais os sacerdotes levitas te ensinaram; como lhes ordenei, assim fareis. ⁹ Lembra-te do que Yahweh, teu Deus, fez a Miriã, quando saíste do Egito.

¹⁰ Quando deres a teu vizinho algum tipo de empréstimo, não entrarás em sua casa para tirar-lhe o penhor. ¹¹ Ficarás do lado de fora, e o homem a quem emprestaste levará o penhor para ti até o lado de fora.

¹² Se ele for um homem pobre, tu não dormirás com o penhor dele em tua posse. ¹³ Sem falta, tu lhe restituirás o penhor antes do sol se pôr; então, ele poderá dormir em sua roupa e te abençoará. Isto será justiça para ti diante de Yahweh, teu Deus.

¹⁴ Não oprimirás aquele servo que é pobre e necessitado, quer ele seja teu irmão israelita, ou estrangeiro na tua terra e dentro da tua cidade. ¹⁵ Cada dia darás a ele o seu salário, antes do pôr do sol, pois ele é pobre e está contando com isso. Faze isto, então, para que ele não clame contra ti a Yahweh, e isto não seja um pecado cometido por ti.

¹⁶ Os pais não serão mortos por causa dos filhos, nem os filhos serão mortos por causa dos pais. Cada um morrerá pelo próprio pecado.

¹⁷ Não perverterás a justiça que é devida ao estrangeiro ou ao órfão, nem tomarás a capa da viúva como um penhor. ¹⁸ Ao invés disso, trará à memória que tu foste um escravo no Egito, e que Yahweh, teu Deus, de lá te resgatou. Portanto, eu te instruo a obedecer a este mandamento.

¹⁹ Quando ajuntares tua colheita no teu campo, e esqueceres um feixe no campo, não voltarás para pegá-lo; deixa-o para o estrangeiro, para o órfão e para a viúva, para que Yahweh, teu Deus, te abençoe em toda obra das tuas mãos. ²⁰ Quando sacudires tua oliveira, não voltarás para colher o que ficar nos ramos; isto será para o estrangeiro, para o órfão, e para a viúva.

²¹ Quando colheres as uvas de tua vinha, não voltarás para colher de novo; o que ficar será para o estrangeiro, para o orfão, e para a viúva. ²² Lembra-te que foste escravo na terra do Egito. Por isso, te instruo a obedecer a este mandamento.

Capítulo 25

¹ Se houver uma disputa entre homens e eles forem para a corte, e os juízes os julgarem, então, eles absolvirão o justo e condenarão o mau. ² Se o homem culpado merecer ser espancado, então, o juiz o fará deitar e ser espancado em sua presença com um número ordenado de golpes, de acordo com o seu crime.

³ O juiz poderá lhe dar quarenta golpes, mas ele não poderá exceder esse número; pois, se ele exceder esse número e lhe der mais golpes, então, teu companheiro israelita será humilhado aos teus olhos.

⁴ Não amordaces o boi quando ele estiver debulhando o cereal.

⁵ Se irmãos morarem juntos, e um deles morrer sem ter nenhum filho, então, a esposa do homem morto não poderá se casar com nenhum outro fora da família. Em vez disso, o irmão de seu marido dormirá com ela e a terá pra si como esposa, e fará cumprir seu dever de irmão do marido para com ela. ⁶ Isso é para que o primogênito que ela der à luz suceda em nome do irmão morto, para que seu nome não pereça de Israel.

⁷ Mas, se o homem não desejar ter a esposa do seu irmão para si, então, ela irá ao portão, aos anciãos, e dirá: "O irmão de meu marido se recusa a preservar o nome do seu irmão em Israel; ele não quer desempenhar a obrigação de irmão do marido para comigo". ⁸ Então, os anciãos de sua cidade o chamarão e falarão com ele. Porém, se ele insistir e disser: "Eu não desejo tomá-la",

⁹ então, a esposa de seu irmão irá até ele na presença dos anciãos, tirará as suas sandálias dos pés, e cuspirá em sua face. Ela o responderá e dirá: "Isso é o que se faz com quem não constrói a casa de seu irmão". ¹⁰ Seu nome será chamado em Israel, "A casa de quem teve sua sandália tirada".

¹¹ Se homens brigarem um com o outro, e a esposa de um deles vier para livrar seu marido da mão de quem o agride, e, se ela estender sua mão e pegá-lo nas partes íntimas, ¹² então, cortarás a mão dela fora; que o teu olho não tenha piedade.

¹³ Não terás, em tua bolsa, pesos diferentes, um grande e um pequeno. ¹⁴ Não terás, em tua casa, diferentes medidas, uma grande e uma pequena.

¹⁵ Terás um peso perfeito e justo; terás uma medida perfeita e justa, para que teus dias sejam longos na terra que Yahweh, teu Deus, te dá. ¹⁶ Pois todos os que praticam tais coisas, todos os que agem injustamente, são abomináveis para Yahweh, teu Deus.

¹⁷ Lembra-te do que Amaleque te fez na estrada enquanto saías do Egito, ¹⁸ como ele te encontrou na estrada e te atacou por trás, todos os que estavam fracos na parte de trás, quando tu estavas debilitado e exausto. Ele não honrou a Deus. ¹⁹ Portanto, quando Yahweh, teu Deus, te der descanso de todos teus inimigos em redor, na terra que Yahweh, teu Deus, te dá para possuir como herança, não te esqueças de apagar a lembrança de Amaleque de debaixo do céu.

Capítulo 26

¹ Quando entrares na terra que Yahweh, teu Deus, te dará como herança, e, quando tomares posse dela e habitares nela, ² então, pegarás uma parte das primícias de toda a colheita da terra que Yahweh, teu Deus, te dá, a colocarás em um cesto e irás ao lugar que Yahweh, teu Deus, escolherá como Seu Santuário.

³ Irás ao sacerdote que estiver servindo nesses dias e dirás a ele: 'Eu reconheço hoje, perante Yahweh, teu Deus, que eu cheguei à terra que Yahweh jurou aos nossos antepassados que nos daria'. ⁴ O sacerdote tomará o cesto da tua mão e o depositará diante do altar de Yahweh, teu Deus.

⁵ E, diante de Yahweh, teu Deus, dirás: 'Meu antepassado era um arameu errante. Desceu ao Egito e permaneceu lá, e seu povo era pequeno em número. Lá, ele se tornou uma nação grande, poderosa, e populosa.

⁶ Os egípcios nos trataram mal e nos afligiram. Eles nos fizeram trabalhar como escravos. ⁷ Nós clamamos a Yahweh, o Deus de nossos pais. Ele ouviu a nossa voz e viu nossa aflição, nosso trabalho exaustivo e a nossa opressão.

⁸ Yahweh nos tirou do Egito com mão poderosa, braço estendido, grande temor, sinais e maravilhas; ⁹ e Ele nos trouxe a este lugar e nos deu esta terra; terra da qual mana leite e mel.

¹⁰ Eis que agora trago as primícias da colheita da terra que Yahweh me deu'. Tu as colocarás diante de Yahweh, teu Deus, e O adorarás. ¹¹ Regozijarão em todo o bem que Yahweh, teu Deus, tem feito por ti, por tua casa, pelo levita e o estrangeiro em teu meio.

¹² Quando terminares de entregar todo o dízimo da tua colheita no terceiro ano, ou seja, o ano de dizimar, então, darás ao levita, ao estrangeiro, ao órfão e à viúva, para que comam dentro dos portões da cidade e se fartem. ¹³ Dirás, diante de Yahweh, teu Deus: 'Trouxe da minha casa as coisas que pertecem a Yahweh, e as dei ao levita, ao estrangeiro, ao órfão e à viúva, de acordo com todos os mandamentos que Tu me destes. Não transgredi nenhum dos Teus mandamentos, nem me esqueci deles.

¹⁴ Dos dízimos, eu não comi no meu luto, e nem tirei quando eu estava impuro, nem dei nenhuma parte em honra aos mortos. Ouvi a voz de Yahweh, meu Deus; e obedeci a tudo que Tu me ordenaste. ¹⁵ Olha para cá do Lugar Santo em que vives, desde o céu, e abençoa o Teu povo, Israel, e a terra que nos deste; terra de que mana leite e mel, como juraste aos nossos pais'.

¹⁶ Hoje Yahweh, teu Deus, está te ordenando que obedeças a esses estatutos e decretos; guardando-os e cumprindo-os com todo o teu coração e com toda a tua alma. ¹⁷ Reconheceste, hoje, que Yahweh é o teu Deus, e que andarás nos Seus caminhos e guardarás Seus estatutos, Seus mandamentos, e Seus decretos, e que ouvirás a Sua voz.

¹⁸ E, hoje, Yahweh declarou que és o povo de Sua possessão, e que guardarás todos os Seus mandamentos. ¹⁹ Yahweh, hoje, reconheceu que Ele te elevará sobre todas as outras nações, em louvor, reputação, e honra. Tu serás um povo separado para Yahweh, teu Deus, assim como Ele disse".

Capítulo 27

¹ Moisés e os anciãos de Israel ordenaram ao povo e dizendo: "Guardai todos os mandamentos que hoje eu vos ordeno. ² No dia em que atravessardes o Jordão para a terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá, levantareis algumas pedras grandes e as pintareis com cal. ³ Quando atravessardes, escrevereis nelas todas as palavras desta lei; vós entrareis na terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos dá; uma terra de onde flui leite e mel, como Yahweh, Deus de vossos antepassados, vos prometeu.

⁴ Quando atravessardes o Jordão, levantareis estas pedras, que hoje vos ordeno, no monte Ebal, e as pintareis com cal. ⁵ Lá, construireis um altar para Yahweh, vosso Deus, um altar de pedras. Entretanto, não usareis nenhuma ferramenta para talhar as pedras.

⁶ Construireis o altar para Yahweh, vosso Deus, com pedras brutas; oferecereis ali ofertas queimadas para Yahweh, vosso Deus, ⁷ e sacrificareis ofertas pacíficas e comereis ali; vos alegrareis diante de Yahweh, vosso Deus. ⁸ E escrevereis, nitidamente nas pedras, todas as palavras desta lei".

⁹ Moisés e os sacerdotes, os levitas, falaram para todo o Israel, dizendo: "Fazei silêncio e escutai, Israel: hoje vos tornastes o povo de Yahweh, vosso Deus. ¹⁰ Todavia, vós obedecereis à voz de Yahweh, vosso Deus, e cumprireis Seus mandamentos e estatutos, que hoje vos ordeno".

¹¹ Moisés ordenou ao povo naquele mesmo dia, dizendo: ¹² "Estas tribos ficarão no monte Gerizim para abençoar o povo, depois de passardes pelo Jordão: a tribo de Simeão, Levi, Judá, Isacar, José e Benjamin.

¹³ Estas são as tribos que estarão no monte Ebal para pronunciar maldições: a tribo de Rúben, Gade, Aser, Zebulon, Dã e Naftali. ¹⁴ Os levitas responderão e dirão a todos os homens de Israel em alta voz:

¹⁵ 'Maldito o homem que esculpir ou fundir imagem. É abominação para Yahweh a obra da mão do artesão que a guarda em lugar escondido'. Então, todo o povo responderá, dizendo: 'Amém!'.

¹⁶ 'Maldito o homem que desonrar seu pai ou sua mãe'. Então, todo o povo responderá, dizendo: 'Amém!'. ¹⁷ 'Maldito o homem que remover as marcações da terra do seu vizinho'. Então, todo o povo responderá, dizendo: 'Amém!'.

¹⁸ 'Maldito o homem que fizer o cego desviar-se do caminho'. Então, todo o povo responderá: 'Amém!'. ¹⁹ 'Maldito o homem que usar a força para retirar a justiça do estrangeiro, do órfão ou da viúva'. Então, todo o povo responderá: 'Amém!'.

²⁰ 'Maldito o homem que se deitar com a esposa do seu pai, porque profanará os direitos do seu pai'. Então, todo o povo responderá: 'Amém!'. ²¹ Maldito o homem que tiver relação sexual com algum animal'. Então, todo o povo responderá: 'Amém!'.

²² 'Maldito o homem que tiver relação sexual com sua irmã, a filha de seu pai ou a filha de sua mãe'. Então, todo o povo responderá: 'Amém!'. ²³ 'Maldito o homem que dormir com sua sogra'. Então, todo o povo responderá: 'Amém!'.

²⁴ 'Maldito o homem que matar seu vizinho secretamente'. Então, todo o povo responderá: 'Amém!'. ²⁵ 'Maldito o homem que aceitar suborno para matar uma pessoa inocente'. Então, todo o povo responderá: 'Amém!'.

²⁶ 'Maldito o homem que não confirmar as palavras desta lei, para as cumprir'. Então, todo o povo responderá: 'Amém!'.

Capítulo 28

¹ Se, cuidadosamente, ouvires a voz de Yahweh, teu Deus, e guardares todos os Seus mandamentos que hoje te ordeno, Yahweh, teu Deus, te colocará sobre todas as outras nações da terra. ² Todas estas bençãos virão sobre ti e te alcançarão, se ouvires a voz de Yahweh, teu Deus.

³ Bendito serás na cidade, e bendito serás no campo. ⁴ Benditos serão os frutos do teu ventre, e os frutos das tuas terras, e os frutos de teus animais, as crias dos teus gados, e as crias dos teus rebanhos.

⁵ Benditos serão o teu cesto e a tua vasilha de amassar pão. ⁶ Bendito serás quando vieres, e bendito serás quando fores.

⁷ Yahweh fará teus inimigos, que se levantarem contra ti, serem derrubados diante de ti; eles sairão contra ti por um caminho, mas fugirão diante de ti por sete caminhos. ⁸ Yahweh mandará a benção ir sobre ti em teus celeiros e em tudo que tu colacares as mãos. Ele te abençoará na terra que Ele te deu.

⁹ Yahweh te estabelecerá como povo santo, como Ele te jurou, se guardares os mandamentos de Yahweh, teu Deus, e andares nos Seus caminhos. ¹⁰ Todos os povos da terra verão que tu és chamado pelo nome de Yahweh, e eles terão medo de ti.

¹¹ Yahweh fará muito próspero o fruto do teu ventre, o fruto dos teus gados e o fruto do teu solo na terra que Ele jurou aos teus pais que te daria. ¹² Yahweh abrirá para ti as comportas do céu para dar a chuva para tua terra no momento certo, e abençoará todo o trabalho das tuas mãos. Emprestarás para muitas nações, mas não tomarás emprestado.

¹³ Yahweh te porá como o cabeça, e não como cauda; estarás sempre por cima e não por baixo, se ouvires os mandamentos de Yahweh, teu Deus, que eu te ordeno hoje, tanto para observar como para cumpri-los, ¹⁴ e, se não desviares de nenhuma das palavras que eu te ordeno hoje, nem para a direita, nem para a esquerda, nem seguir outros deuses para servi-los.

¹⁵ Se, porém, não ouvires a voz de Yahweh, teu Deus, para guardares todos os Seus mandamentos e Seus estatutos, que hoje te ordeno, então, todas essas maldições virão sobre ti e te alcançarão.

¹⁶ Maldito serás na cidade, e maldito serás no campo. ¹⁷ Malditos serão teu cesto e tua vasilha de amassar pão.

¹⁸ Malditos serão o fruto do teu ventre, o fruto das tuas terras, as crias dos teus gados, e as crias dos teus rebanhos. ¹⁹ Maldito serás quando vieres e maldito serás quando fores.

²⁰ Yahweh enviará sobre ti maldições, confusões, e afastará tudo em que colocares as mãos para fazer, até que sejas destruído, e até que morras, rapidamente, por causa das ações maldosas pelas quais tu Me abandonaste. ²¹ Yahweh te fará contrair uma praga, até que Ele te destrua na terra em que tu estás entrando para possuir.

²² Yahweh te atacará com doenças infecciosas, com febres, inflamações, com seca e forte calor, com vento escaldante e com mofo. Estes te perseguirão até que tu morras.

²³ Teu céu, que está sobre tua cabeça, será de bronze; a terra, que está debaixo de ti, será de ferro. ²⁴ Yahweh fará a chuva de tua terra em pó e poeira, do céu isto descerá sobre ti, até que tu sejas destruído.

²⁵ Yahweh fará com que sejas derrotado diante dos teus inimigos; tu sairás por um caminho, e fugirás por sete caminhos. E serás motivo de horror para todos os reinos da terra. ²⁶ Teus cadaver se tornará comida para todos os pássaros dos céu e para os animais da terra; e não haverá ninguém para afugentá-los.

²⁷ Yahweh te atacará com as úlceras do Egito e com tumores, sarna e coceira, das quais não poderás ser curado. ²⁸ Yahweh te atacará com loucura, com cegueira, e com confusão mental. ²⁹ Ficarás confuso ao meio dia, como o cego se confunde na escuridão, e tu não prosperarás em teus caminhos. Serás sempre oprimido e roubado, e não terás ninguém para te salvar.

³⁰ Tu casarás com uma mulher, mas outro homem dormirá com ela. Tu construirás uma casa, mas não viverás nela; plantarás videiras, mas não desfrutarás do fruto. ³¹ Teu boi será morto diante dos teus olhos, mas não comerás sua carne; teu burro será levado para longe diante de ti, e não te será restituído. Tua ovelha será dada aos teus inimigos, e não terás ninguém para te ajudar.

³² Teus filhos e tuas filhas serão dados a outros povos; teus olhos irão procurar por eles o dia inteiro, mas cansarão de esperar por eles. E não terás força em tua mão.

³³ A colheita da tua terra e de todo o teu trabalho alimentará uma nação que não conheces. Serás sempre oprimido e esmagado. ³⁴ Então, enlouquecerás pelo que verás acontecer. ³⁵ Yahweh te atacará nos joelhos e nas pernas com úlceras severas, das quais não poderás ser curado, da planta dos teus pés até o alto da tua cabeça.

³⁶ Yahweh te levará junto com o rei que colocaste sobre ti, para uma nação que nunca conheceste, nem tu e nem teus antepassados. Ali, cultuarás deuses de madeira e de pedra. ³⁷ Tornarás motivo de horror, um provérbio, e como escárnio entre os povos aos quais Yahweh te levará.

³⁸ Plantarás muitas sementes no teu campo, mas colherás pouco, pois os gafanhotos as consumirão. ³⁹ Plantarás videiras e as cultivarás, mas não beberás nenhum vinho, nem colherás as uvas, pois os vermes as comerão.

⁴⁰ Terás oliveiras em todo o teu território, mas não te ungirás com azeite, pois os frutos cairão da tua oliveira antes de amadurecer. ⁴¹ Terás filhos e filhas, mas eles não pertencerão a ti, pois serão levados cativos.

⁴² Todas as tuas árvores e o todo fruto do teu solo, os gafanhotos consumirão. ⁴³ O estrangeiro que está em tua terra se multiplicará cada vez mais, e tu, cada vez mais, diminuirás. ⁴⁴ Ele emprestará a ti, mas não emprestarás a ele. Ele será a cabeça, e tu serás a cauda.

⁴⁵ Todas essas maldições virão sobre ti, e te perseguirão e te alcançarão até que sejas destruído. Isto acontecerá, pois não ouviste a voz de Yahweh, teu Deus, para guardar Seus mandamentos e Seus estatutos, que Ele te ordenou. ⁴⁶ Essas maldições serão como sinais e maravilhas sobre ti, e sobre teus descendentes para sempre.

⁴⁷ Pois não cultuaste a Yahweh, teu Deus, com alegria e prazer de coração quando eras próspero, ⁴⁸ portanto, servirás aos inimigos que Yahweh enviará contra ti; irás servi-los com fome, com sede, em nudez, e em pobreza. Ele colocará um jugo de ferro em teu pescoço, até te destruir.

⁴⁹ Yahweh trará uma nação contra ti, de longe, dos confins da terra, como uma águia que voa para sua vítima, uma nação cuja língua não compreenderás; ⁵⁰ uma nação feroz de rosto, que não respeitará o velho, nem terá pena do jovem. ⁵¹ Ela comerá os filhotes do teu gado e o fruto da tua terra até que sejas destruído. Não te deixará nenhum grão, nem vinho novo, ou azeite, nenhuma cria do teu gado ou do teu rebanho, até que te faça perecer.

⁵² Ela te sitiará em todos os portões da tua cidade, até que as tuas muralhas altas e fortes venham abaixo, em toda a tua terra, muralhas nas quais tu confiaste. Ela te sitiará em todos os portões da tua cidade, em toda a terra que Yahweh, teu Deus, havia te dado. ⁵³ Tu comerás o fruto de teu próprio corpo, a carne de teus filhos e de tuas filhas, que Yahweh, teu Deus te deu, no sitiamento e na desolação com a qual teus inimigos porão sobre ti.

⁵⁴ O homem que é gentil e refinado, ele será mesquinho para com o seu irmão e para com a mulher do seu amor, e para com qualquer filho que ele ainda tenha. ⁵⁵ Então, ele não dará para ninguém carne de seu próprio filho que ele estiver para comer, pois não sobrará nada para si mesmo, no sitiamento e na desolação que teu inimigo colocará sobre ti nos portões da tua cidade.

⁵⁶ A mulher mais gentil e refinada entre vós, que não ousaria colocar a planta do seu pé no solo por causa da delicadeza e fragilidade, ela será mesquinha para com o homem do seu coração, para com seu filho, e para com sua filha. ⁵⁷ Ela será mesquinha da placenta que sair por entre suas pernas, e dos filhos que ela gerar. Ela os comerá em privado pela falta de tudo, durante o sitiamento e desolação pelo qual teu inimigo colocará sobre ti nos portões da tua cidade.

⁵⁸ Se tu não guardares todas as palavras desta lei, que estão escritas neste livro, para honrar esse glorioso e temido nome Yahweh, teu Deus. ⁵⁹ Então, Yahweh fará que tuas pragas sejam terríveis, e as de teus descendentes; estas pragas serão grandes, de longa duração, e doenças severas, de longa duração.

⁶⁰ Novamente, Ele trará sobre ti todas as doenças do Egito que te assustaram; elas se apegarão a ti. ⁶¹ Além disso, cada doença e praga que não está escrita no livro desta lei, essa também Yahweh irá trazer sobre ti até que tu sejas destruído. ⁶² E vós sereis poucos em número, embora vós fostes como estrelas no céu em número, pois não ouvistes a voz de Yahweh, vosso Deus.

⁶³ Como Yahweh uma vez alegrou-se sobre vós em vos fazer o bem, e vos multiplicar, então, Ele se alegrará sobre vós em vos fazer morrer e em vos destruir. Vós sereis arrancados da terra que vós estais entrando para possuir. ⁶⁴ Yahweh vos dispersará entre todos os povos desde uma extremidade da terra até a outra. Lá, cultuareis outros deuses que vós não conheceis, nem vós, nem vossos antepassados, deuses de madeira e de pedra.

⁶⁵ Entre essas nações, não encontrarás facilidade e lá não haverá descanso para teus pés; ao invés disto, Yahweh te dará ali um coração angustiado, olhos sem esperança, e uma alma que chora. ⁶⁶ Tua vida estará suspensa, como por um fio, diante de ti; tu terás medo toda noite e todo dia, e não terás segurança em toda a sua vida.

⁶⁷ Pela manhã, dirás: 'Eu gostaria que fosse noite!' e, à noite, dirás: 'Eu gostaria que fosse manhã!' por causa do medo em teu coração e das coisas que teus olhos terão que ver. ⁶⁸ Yahweh te fará voltar para o Egito novamente, em navios, pela rota sobre a qual Eu te disse: 'tu não verás o Egito novamente'. Lá, oferecerás a ti mesmo para a venda para vossos inimigos, como escravos e escravas, mas ninguém vos comprará".

Capítulo 29

¹ Estas são as palavras que Yahweh ordenou a Moisés que dissesse ao povo de Israel na terra de Moabe. Palavras que foram adicionadas à aliança que Ele havia feito com os israelitas em Horebe.

² Moisés chamou todo Israel e disse-lhes: "Vós vistes tudo que Yahweh fez a Faraó diante de vossos olhos na terra do Egito, com todos os seus servos, e com toda a sua terra — ³ o grande sofrimento que vossos olhos viram, os sinais, e aquelas grandes maravilhas. ⁴ Mas, até hoje, Yahweh não vos deu um coração para entender, olhos para ver e ouvidos para ouvir.

⁵ Eu vos conduzi por quarenta anos no deserto; vossas roupas não se desgastaram sobre vós, nem as sandálias em vossos pés. ⁶ Vós não comestes pão, nem bebestes vinho ou bebidas alcoólicas, para que soubésseis que Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus.

⁷ Quando viestes a este lugar, Siom, o rei de Hesbom, e Ogue, o rei de Basã, saíram contra nós para lutar, e nós os derrotamos. ⁸ Nós tomamos as suas terras, e as demos como herança aos rubenitas, aos gaditas, e à meia tribo de Manassés. ⁹ Assim, guardai as palavras desta aliança e as cumpri, para que prospereis em tudo que fizerdes.

¹⁰ Vós estais hoje, todos vós, diante de Yahweh, vosso Deus; vossos chefes, vossas tribos, vossos anciãos, e vossos oficiais —todos os homens de Israel, ¹¹ vossos pequeninos, vossas esposas, e o estrangeiro que está entre vós em vosso acampamento, desde aqueles que cortam vossa madeira até os que tiram vossas águas.

¹² Vós estais aqui para entrardes na aliança de Yahweh, vosso Deus, e no juramento que Ele hoje faz convosco, ¹³ para hoje fazer de vós um povo Dele, e que Ele seja Deus para vós, como vos disse e jurou para vossos antepassados, Abraão, Isaque e Jacó.

¹⁴ Pois não é somente convosco que faço esta aliança e este juramento — ¹⁵ com todos que estão conosco hoje diante de Yahweh, nosso Deus — mas também com aqueles que não estão aqui conosco hoje. ¹⁶ Vós sabeis como vivemos na terra do Egito, e como passamos pelo meio das nações pelas quais passastes.

¹⁷ Vistes as suas abominações: seus ídolos de madeira e de pedra, de prata e de ouro, que estavam entre elas. ¹⁸ Que não haja entre vós nenhum homem, nenhuma mulher, família, ou tribo cujo coração se desvie hoje de Yahweh, nosso Deus, para adorar os deuses dessas nações, para que não haja entre vós nenhuma raiz que produza veneno ou fel, ¹⁹ para que, quando alguém ouvir as palavras deste juramento, ela não abençoe a si mesma em seu coração, dizendo: 'eu terei paz, mesmo que eu ande na teimosia de meu coração'. Isso destruirá a terra molhada, bem como a seca.

²⁰ Yahweh não o perdoará, mas, ao invés disso, a ira de Yahweh e Seu zelo fumegarão contra esse homem, e todas as maldições que estão escritas neste livro virão contra ele, e Yahweh apagará seu nome de sob o céu. ²¹ Yahweh o separará para a calamidade dentre todas as tribos de Israel, de acordo com todas as maldições da aliança que estão escritas neste livro da lei.

²² A geração vindoura, vossos filhos, que virão depois de vós, e o estrangeiro que vem de uma terra distante, falarão, quando virem as pragas nesta terra e as doenças com as quais Yahweh a afligirá — ²³ e, quando eles virem que toda a terra se abrasou em enxofre e sal, onde nada é semeado nem dá frutos, onde nenhuma vegetação cresce, como na destruição de Sodoma e Gomorra, Admá e Zeboim, que Yahweh destruiu na Sua ira e no Seu furor — ²⁴ eles dirão, juntamente com todas as outras nações: 'Por que Yahweh fez isso com esta terra? O que significa o furor de tamanha ira?'.

²⁵ Então, as pessoas dirão: 'Isto é porque eles abandonaram a aliança que Yahweh, o Deus de seus antepassados, fez com eles quando os tirou da terra do Egito, ²⁶ e porque eles foram e adoraram outros deuses, prostrando-se diante deles, deuses que eles não conheceram e que Ele não lhes havia dado.

²⁷ Por isso, a ira de Yahweh se acendeu contra esta terra, para trazer sobre ela todas as maldições escritas neste livro. ²⁸ Yahweh os arrancou de sua terra em ira, indignação e grande fúria, e os lançou em outra terra, como hoje se vê'.

²⁹ As coisas encobertas pertencem somente a Yahweh, nosso Deus; mas as coisas reveladas pertencem a nós e a nossos descendentes para sempre, para que cumpramos todas as palavras desta lei.

Capítulo 30

¹ Quando todas essas coisas te acontecerem, as bençãos e as maldições que agora coloquei diante de ti, e delas recordares mesmo em meio a outras nações que Yahweh, teu Deus, te vier a lançar; ² e, quando tu retornares para Yahweh, teu Deus, obedeceres à Sua voz e seguires tudo aquilo que hoje estou te ordenando — tu e teus filhos — com todo teu coração e com toda tua alma; ³ então, Yahweh, teu Deus, te libertará do cativeiro, terá compaixão de ti e, de novo, te reunirá dentre todos os povos entre os quais Yahweh, teu Deus, te havia espalhado.

⁴ Mesmo que alguém dos teus exilados esteja nos lugares mais distantes, de lá, Yahweh, teu Deus, o recolherá e o trará de volta. ⁵ Yahweh, teu Deus, o introduzirá na terra que teus antepassados possuíram e tu a possuirás novamente. Ele te fará bem e te multiplicará mais que a teus antepassados.

⁶ Yahweh, teu Deus, circuncidará o teu coração e o coração de teus descendentes, assim, amarás Yahweh, teu Deus, de todo o teu coração e de toda a tua alma, para que vivas. ⁷ Yahweh, teu Deus, colocará todas essas maldições sobre teus inimigos, sobre aqueles que te odeiam e perseguem. ⁸ Tu retornarás e obedecerás à voz de Yahweh e cumprirás todos os mandamentos que hoje te ordeno.

⁹ Yahweh, teu Deus, trará abundância a todo o trabalho de tuas mãos, no fruto de teu ventre, no fruto dos teus animais e no fruto da tua terra, para a prosperidade; pois Yahweh voltará a alegrar-Se em ti para tua prosperidade, assim como Ele se alegrou com teus antepassados. ¹⁰ Ele fará isso, se obedeceres à voz de Yahweh, teu Deus, guardando os Seus mandamentos e estatutos escritos neste livro da lei, se te voltares a Yahweh, teu Deus, de todo teu coração e de toda tua alma.

¹¹ Este mandamento que, hoje, te ordeno não é muito difícil para ti, nem está fora do teu alcance. ¹² Não está no céu, para que digas: 'Quem subirá ao céu por nós, nos trará e nos anunciará para que lhe obedeçamos?'.

¹³ Nem está do outro lado do mar, para que digas: 'Quem atravessará o mar por nós, nos trará e nos anunciará para que o obedeçamos?'. ¹⁴ Mas a palavra está muito próxima a ti, na tua boca e no teu coração, para que lhe obedeças.

¹⁵ Vê, hoje coloquei diante de ti a vida e o bem, a morte e o mal. ¹⁶ Se obedeceres aos estatutos que hoje te ordeno, para amar Yahweh, teu Deus, andar nos Seus caminhos e guardar Seus mandamentos, Seus estatutos e Seus preceitos, então, tu viverás e te multiplicarás, e Yahweh, teu Deus, abençoará a ti e a terra que estás tomando posse.

¹⁷ Mas, se teu coração se desviar e não quiseres ouvir e, ao invés disso, te afastares e adorar outros deuses, ¹⁸ então, hoje, te declaro que, certamente, perecerás; não se prolongarão teus dias na terra em que entrarás para possuir, depois que atravessares o Jordão.

¹⁹ Chamo, hoje, céus e terra como testemunhas contra ti, que coloquei diante de ti a vida e a morte, as bençãos e as maldições; portanto, escolhe a vida para que vivas, tu e a tua descendência. ²⁰ Faz isto para amar a Yahweh, teu Deus, para obedeceres à Sua voz e te apegares a Ele; pois Ele é a tua vida e a extensão dos teus dias; faz isto para que vivas na terra que Yahweh jurou dar a teus antepassados: Abraão, Isaque e Jacó.

Capítulo 31

¹ Moisés foi falar a todo o Israel estas palavra. ² Ele disse: "Tenho, agora, cento e vinte anos de idade; já não posso mais ir e vir. Yahweh me disse: 'Não atravessarás o Jordão'. ³ Yahweh, teu Deus, irá à tua frente; Ele destruirá as nações diante de ti, e tu as possuirás. Josué irá à tua frente, como Yahweh falou.

⁴ Yahweh lhes fará como fez com Siom e Ogue, os reis do amorreus, e com as terras deles, que destruiu. ⁵ Yahweh vos dará vitória sobre eles quando os encontrardes em batalha, e fareis com eles o que vos ordenei. ⁶ Sede fortes e corajosos, não temais, nem vos apavoreis, pois Yahweh, vosso Deus, é quem irá convosco. Ele não falhará nem vos abandonará".

⁷ Moisés chamou Josué e, na presença de todo o Israel, disse-lhe: "Sê forte e corajoso, pois irás com este povo para a terra que Yahweh jurou dar aos teus antepassados; e tu o farás herdá-la. ⁸ Yahweh irá à tua frente. Ele será contigo, não falhará, nem te abandonará. Não tenhas medo, nem te espantes".

⁹ Moisés escreveu esta lei e a entregou aos sacerdotes, filhos de Levi, que carregavam a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh; ele também deu cópias a todos os anciãos de Israel. ¹⁰ Moisés ordenou-lhes, dizendo: "No final de cada sete anos, no tempo do cancelamento das dívidas, durante a Festa dos Tabernáculos, ¹¹ quando todo o Israel aparecer diante de Yahweh, teu Deus, no lugar que Ele escolherá como Santuário, lerás esta lei diante de todo o Israel, para que ouçam.

¹² Reuni o povo, os homens, as mulheres, as crianças, e o estrangeiro que habita dentro dos portões das vossas cidades, para que ouçam e aprendam e, assim, honrem a Yahweh, vosso Deus, e guardem todas as palavras desta lei. ¹³ Fazei isto para que vossos filhos, que ainda não a conhecem, ouçam e aprendam a honrar Yahweh, vosso Deus, enquanto habitardes sobre a terra que ireis possuir quando atravessardes o Jordão.

¹⁴ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Vê, aproxima-se o dia em que morrerás. Chama Josué e apresentai-vos na Tenda do Encontro, para que Eu lhe ordene". Moisés e Josué apresentaram-se na Tenda do Encontro. ¹⁵ Yahweh apareceu na Tenda, numa coluna de nuvem. A coluna de nuvem pairou sobre a entrada da tenda.

¹⁶ Yahweh disse a Moisés: "Eis que descansarás com teus pais; os membros do povo se levantarão e agirão como uma prostituta, seguindo os deuses estranhos da terra para onde vão. Eles Me abandonarão e quebrarão a Aliança que fiz com eles.

¹⁷ Então, naquele dia, Minha ira se acenderá contra eles, e os abandonarei. Esconderei deles a Minha face e serão devorados. Muitos desastres e problemas os acharão, e dirão naquele dia: 'Será que esses desastres vieram sobre nós por que o nosso Deus não está no nosso meio?'. ¹⁸ Com certeza, esconderei Minha face deles naquele dia, por causa da maldade que farão, voltando-se para outros deuses.

¹⁹ Por isso, agora escrevei esta canção para vós mesmos e ensinai-a ao povo de Israel. Colocai-a em suas bocas, para que esta canção seja minha testemunha contra o povo de Israel. ²⁰ Pois, quando Eu os trouxer para a terra que jurei dar aos seus antepassados, a terra de que mana leite e mel, e, quando tiverem comido e ficarem satisfeitos e gordos, então, se voltarão a outros deuses para os servir. Eles Me desprezarão e quebrarão a Minha aliança.

²¹ Quando muitos males e problemas atingirem este povo, esta canção será como testemunha diante deles, pois não será esquecida da boca de seus descendentes, porque Eu sei, Eu conheço hoje, os planos que estão formando, mesmo antes de tê-los trazido para a terra que lhes prometi".

²² Então, Moisés escreveu esta canção no mesmo dia e a ensinou ao povo de Israel. ²³ Yahweh ordenou a Josué, filho de Num, dizendo: "Sê forte e corajoso, pois farei o povo de Israel entrar na terra que lhes jurei, e serei contigo".

²⁴ E aconteceu que, quando Moisés terminou de escrever as palavras desta lei num livro, ²⁵ ordenou aos levitas que carregassem a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh, dizendo: ²⁶ "Tomai este livro da lei e colocai ao lado da Arca da Aliança de Yahweh, vosso Deus, para que esteja lá como testemunha contra vós.

²⁷ Porque conheço vossa rebelião e teimosia. Se tendes sido rebeldes contra Yahweh enquanto estou convosco, quanto mais serão depois que eu morrer? ²⁸ Reuni a mim todos os anciãos das vossas tribos e vossos oficiais, para que fale estas palavras aos seus ouvidos, e chame os céus e a terra como testemunhas contra eles. ²⁹ Porque sei que, após a minha morte, certamente, vos corrompereis e desviareis do caminho que vos ordenei. Problemas virão sobre vós nos dias futuros. Isto acontecerá porque fareis o que é mau aos olhos de Yahweh, para provocar-Lhe à ira, através do trabalho de vossas mãos".

³⁰ Moisés recitou aos ouvidos de toda a assembleia de Israel as palavras desta canção, até o seu fim.

Capítulo 32

¹ Escutai, ó céus, e deixai-me falar. Deixai a terra ouvir as palavras de minha boca; ² e meus ensinamentos caírem como a chuva, e meu discurso descer como o orvalho, como a garoa sobre a grama macia, e como chuva sobre a relva.

³ Pois eu proclamarei o nome de Yahweh, e engrandecerei o nosso Deus. ⁴ Ele é a Rocha, Suas obras são perfeitas; todos os Seus caminhos são justos. Ele é Deus fiel, em quem não há iniquidade. Ele é justo e reto.

⁵ O povo corrompeu-se contra Ele. Eles não são Seus filhos. Esta é a sua desgraça. São uma geração perversa e depravada. ⁶ É assim que recompensas Yahweh, povo tolo e insensato? Não é Ele teu pai, que te criou? Ele te fez e te estabeleceu.

⁷ Lembra dos dias remotos, considera as gerações passadas. Pergunta a teu pai e Ele te mostrará, aos teus anciãos e eles te contarão. ⁸ Quando o Altíssimo dava a cada nação a sua herança — quando dividiu os homens e estabeleceu os limites de cada povo, e também fixou o número dos seus deuses.

⁹ Pois a porção de Yahweh é Seu povo; Jacó é a Sua herança. ¹⁰ Ele o encontrou em uma terra deserta, no deserto estéril de ventos uivantes; Ele o protegeu e cuidou dele; Ele o guardou como a pupila de Seus olhos.

¹¹ Como a águia que guarda seu ninho, e voa ao redor de seus filhotes, assim Yahweh abriu Suas asas, tomou-os e os carregou sobre elas. ¹² Yahweh sozinho o conduziu; nenhum deus estrangeiro o acompanhou.

¹³ Ele o fez cavalgar sobre as alturas da terra, e o alimentou com os frutos do campo; alimentou-o com mel da rocha, e azeite da pedra dura.

¹⁴ Ele comeu manteiga das vacas e tomou leite das ovelhas, com a gordura dos cordeiros, dos carneiros de Basã e dos bodes, com o melhor do trigo — e bebeste o vinho mais fino feito com o suco das uvas.

¹⁵ Mas Jesurum engordou e deu coices — tu engordaste, te engrossaste e te saciaste — ele abandonou a Deus, que o fez, e desprezou a Rocha da sua salvação. ¹⁶ Eles fizeram Yahweh ter ciúmes dos deuses estranhos, e O enfureceram com suas abominações.

¹⁷ Eles sacrificaram aos demônios, e não a Deus — deuses desconhecidos, que haviam aparecido recentemente, que seus pais não temiam. ¹⁸ Tu abandonaste a Rocha que te gerou e te esqueceste do Deus que te formou.

¹⁹ Yahweh viu isto e os desprezou, porque Seus filhos e Suas filhas O provocaram. ²⁰ "Eu esconderei deles a Minha face", Ele disse: "E verei qual será o seu fim, pois eles são uma geração perversa de filhos infiéis.

²¹ Eles provocaram o Meu ciúme com aquilo que não é deus, e iraram-Me com seus ídolos sem valor. Portanto, Eu os provocarei ciúmes com aquele que não é povo; Eu os irritarei com uma nação insensata.

²² Porque um fogo se acendeu na Minha ira, e queimará até o mais baixo Sheol; devorará a terra e a sua colheita; queimará os alicerces dos montes.

²³ Amontoarei desastres sobre eles, e esgotarei contra eles Minhas flechas. ²⁴ Serão devastados pela fome, e consumidos pelo calor ardente e terrível destruição; Eu enviarei contra eles animais selvagens, e animais venenosos que rastejam no chão.

²⁵ A espada devastará por fora, e por dentro das casas, o terror. Destruirá tanto os jovens quanto as virgens; tanto o bebê de peito quanto o ancião. ²⁶ Eu disse que os espalharia por todos os cantos, e apagaria sua memória dentre os homens.

²⁷ Se não receasse a provocação do inimigo, para que seus adversários não dissessem, iludindo-se: 'Nossa mão está erguida; não foi Yahweh quem fez tudo isso'.

²⁸ Pois Israel é uma nação sem sabedoria, e não há neles entendimento. ²⁹ Se fossem sábios, entenderiam isso e considerariam seu destino.

³⁰ Como poderia um só perseguir mil, e dois pôr em fuga dez mil, a não ser que sua Rocha os tivesse vendido, e Yahweh os tivesse entregado? ³¹ Pois a nossa Rocha não é como a dos nossos inimigos, como eles mesmos admitem.

³² Pois suas vinhas vêm das vinhas de Sodoma e dos campos de Gomorra; suas uvas são venenosas, e seus cachos são amargos.

³³ Seus vinhos são veneno de serpentes e peçonha mortal de víboras. ³⁴ Não tenho Eu guardado esses planos secretamente, selado em Meus tesouros?

³⁵ Minha será a vingança e a retribuição, quando seus pés tropeçarem; pois o dia do desastre está próximo, e as coisas que virão aproximam-se rapidamente".

³⁶ Pois Yahweh fará justiça ao Seu povo, e terá compaixão dos Seus servos, quando Ele vir que o poder deles se foi, e não sobrou ninguém, nem escravos, nem livres.

³⁷ Então, Ele dirá: "Onde estão seus deuses, a rocha em que se refugiavam? — ³⁸ os deuses que comiam a gordura de seus sacrifícios e bebiam o vinho de suas ofertas de libação? Que se levantem para ajudá-los, que sejam sua proteção.

³⁹ Vede agora que Eu, Eu mesmo, sou Deus, e não há outro além de Mim; Eu mato e faço viver; Eu firo e curo; E não há quem vos possa salvar da Minha mão. ⁴⁰ Pois Eu levanto Minha mão ao céu e digo: Assim como Eu vivo para sempre,

⁴¹ quando Eu afiar Minha espada reluzente, e quando Minhas mãos começarem a trazer justiça, Eu retribuirei vingança aos Meus inimigos, e recompensarei os que Me odeiam.

⁴² Embriagarei Minhas flechas com sangue, e a Minha espada devorará carne com o sangue dos mortos e cativos, e das cabeças dos líderes inimigos".

⁴³ Alegrai-vos, ó nações, com o povo de Deus, pois Ele vingará o sangue de vossos servos; Ele fará vingança aos vossos inimigos e Ele fará expiação por Sua terra e Seu povo.

⁴⁴ Moisés veio e recitou todas as palavras deste cântico na presença do povo, ele e Josué, filho de Num. ⁴⁵ Então, Moisés terminou de recitar essas palavras a todo Israel,

⁴⁶ e disse-lhes: "Aplicai vossas mentes a todas as palavras que hoje vos anuncio, para que ordeneis a vossos filhos que cumpram todas as palavras desta lei. ⁴⁷ Pois esta palavra não é sem valor para ti, porque é a vossa vida, e, através dela, prolongareis vossos dias nesta terra, que atravessareis o Jordão para possuir".

⁴⁸ Yahweh falou a Moisés naquele mesmo dia: ⁴⁹ "Sobe as montanhas de Abarim, ao monte Nebo, que está na terra de Moabe, em frente a Jericó. Tu verás a terra de Canaã, que Eu dou como propriedade ao povo de Israel.

⁵⁰ Tu morrerás na montanha que subirás, e serás reunido ao teu povo, assim como teu irmão, Arão, morreu no monte Hor e foi reunido ao seu povo. ⁵¹ Pois fostes infiéis a Mim, em meio ao povo de Israel, nas águas de Meribá em Cades, no deserto de Zim; porque tu não Me santificaste entre o povo de Israel. ⁵² Tu verás a terra diante de ti, mas tu não entrarás na terra que Eu dou ao povo de Israel".

Capítulo 33

¹ Esta é a benção com a qual Moisés, o homem de Deus, abençoou o povo de Israel antes de sua morte. ² Ele disse: "Yahweh veio do Sinai e Se levantou de Seir sobre eles. Ele raiou do monte Parã, e veio com dez mil dos Seus santos. Fogo saía da Sua mão direita.

³ De fato, Ele ama Seu povo; todos os Seus santos estão em Suas mãos e estão ajoelhados aos Seus pés; cada um receberá Suas palavras. ⁴ Eu, Moisés, vos ordeno uma lei, uma herança para a assembleia de Jacó.

⁵ Então, Yahweh se tornou o Rei em Jesurum, quando os cabeças do povo reuniram todas as tribos de Israel. ⁶ Deixa que Rúben viva e não morra, mas que sejam poucos os seus homens.

⁷ Esta é a benção para Judá. Moisés disse: "Ouve, Yahweh, a voz de Judá, que Tu o reúnas ao seu povo novamente. Lutes por ele; sejas um socorro contra seus inimigos".

⁸ Sobre Levi, Moisés disse: "O Teu Tumim e o Teu Urim pertencem ao Teu homem fiel, aquele que colocaste em teste em Massá, com quem lutaste nas águas de Meribá".

⁹ O homem que disse sobre seu pai e mãe: "Nunca os vi". Nem reconheceu seus irmãos, ou nem contou seus próprios filhos. Pois guardou a Tua palavra e manteve a Tua aliança.

¹⁰ Ele ensina a Jacó Teus decretos e, a Israel, Tua lei. Ele colocará incenso diante de Ti e ofertas completamente queimadas em Teu altar.

¹¹ Abençoa, Yahweh, suas possessões e aceita as obras das suas mãos. Fere os lombos daqueles que se levantam contra ele, daqueles do povo que o odeiam, para que não se levantem novamente.

¹² Sobre Benjamim, Moisés disse: "O amado de Yahweh habita em segurança ao lado dele; Yahweh o cercará o dia todo, e ele vive entre os braços de Yahweh".

¹³ Sobre José, Moisés disse: "Que sua terra seja abençoada por Yahweh, com as preciosas coisas dos céus, com o orvalho e com as profundezas que estão por baixo.

¹⁴ Que sua terra seja abençoada com as coisas preciosas da colheita feita do sol. Com as coisas preciosas dos produtos dos meses, ¹⁵ com as coisas mais excelentes dos montes antigos e com as coisas preciosas das eternas colinas.

¹⁶ Que sua terra seja abençoada com as coisas preciosas da terra e sua abundância e com a benevolência Daquele que estava na sarça. Deixa que a benção venha sobre a cabeça de José e sobre o topo da cabeça do que foi príncipe sobre seus irmãos.

¹⁷ Como o primogênito de um touro, ele é majestoso e seus chifres são os chifres de um touro selvagem. Com eles, irá pressionar os povos, todos eles, até os confins da terra. Estes são os dez milhares de Efraim; estes são os milhares de Manassés".

¹⁸ Sobre Zebulom, Moisés disse: "Alegra-te Zebulom, em tua saída, e tu, Issacar, em tuas tendas. ¹⁹ Eles chamarão os povos para as montanhas. Lá, eles vão oferecer sacrifícios de justiça. Pois sugarão a abundância dos mares e da areia da praia".

²⁰ Sobre Gade, Moisés disse: "Seja abençoado aquele que ampliar os domínios Gade. Ele habitará como a leoa e arrancará um braço ou uma cabeça.

²¹ Ele proveu a melhor parte para si mesmo, pois era a porção do líder da terra reservada. Ele veio com os cabeças do povo. Ele carregou a justiça de Yahweh e os decretos de Israel".

²² Sobre Dã, Moisés disse: "Dã é um filhote de leão que salta de Basã".

²³ Sobre Naftali, Moisés disse: "Naftali, satisfeito com favores e cheio das bençãos de Yahweh, toma posse da terra do oeste e sul".

²⁴ Sobre Aser, disse Moisés: "Abençoado seja Aser, mais que os outros filhos; que ele seja aceitável para seus irmãos e que ele mergulhe seu pé em azeite de oliva. ²⁵ Que as pilastras da cidade sejam de ferro e bronze; assim como os teus dias, tão longa será tua segurança.

²⁶ Não há outro como Deus, Jesurum — o mais alto, que cavalga sobre os céus para te ajudar, e, na Sua majestade, sobre as nuvens.

²⁷ O eterno Deus é o refúgio e, abaixo, estão Seus braços eternos. Ele derrotará o inimigo diante de vós, e dirá: 'Destrói-no!'.

²⁸ Habitará Israel em segurança. A fonte de Jacó estava segura em uma terra de grãos e vinho novo; de fato, que os céus gotejem o orvalho sobre ele.

²⁹ Abençoado és tu, Israel! Quem é como tu, um povo salvo por Yahweh, o escudo do teu socorro, e a espada de tua majestade? Teus inimigos tremerão diante de ti. Tu acabarás com seus lugares altos".

Capítulo 34

¹ Moisés subiu das planícies de Moabe ao monte Nebo, ao cume do Pisga, que fica de frente para Jericó. Ali, Yahweh mostrou-lhe toda a terra, desde Gileade até Dã, ² toda Naftali, e a terra de Efraim e Manassés, e toda a terra de Judá, até o mar ocidental, ³ e o Neguebe, e a planície do vale de Jericó, a cidade das palmeiras, até Zoar.

⁴ Yahweh lhe disse: "Esta é a terra que prometi a Abraão, a Isaque e a Jacó, dizendo: 'À tua descendência Eu a darei'. Eu te fiz vê-la com teus olhos, mas não irás para lá". ⁵ Então, Moisés, servo de Yahweh, morreu ali na terra de Moabe, conforme Yahweh havia prometido. ⁶ Yahweh enterrou-o no vale, nas terras de Moabe, de frente para Bete-Peor, mas ninguém conhece o local da sua sepultura até hoje.

⁷ Moisés tinha cento e vinte anos quando morreu, mas enxergava bem e não havia perdido o seu vigor. ⁸ O povo de Israel lamentou por Moisés por trinta dias nas planícies de Moabe, e, então, acabaram os dias de luto por Moisés.

⁹ Josué, filho de Num, estava cheio do espírito de sabedoria, pois Moisés havia imposto suas mãos sobre ele. O povo de Israel o ouviu, e obedeceu ao que Yahweh ordenara a Moisés.

¹⁰ Nunca mais, surgiu em Israel um profeta como Moisés, a quem Yahweh conhecia face a face. ¹¹ Nunca houve outro profeta igual a ele em todos os sinais e maravilhas que Yahweh o enviou para realizar na terra do Egito, a Faraó, a todos os seus servos, e a toda a sua terra. ¹² E jamais houve um profeta como ele nas grandes e terríveis coisas que ele fez aos olhos de todo Israel.

Joshua

Capítulo 1

¹ Aconteceu que, após a morte de Moisés, servo de Yahweh, Yahweh falou a Josué, filho de Num, auxiliar de Moisés, dizendo: ² "Moisés, meu servo, está morto. Prepara-te agora, levanta-te, atravessa esse Jordão, tu e todo esse povo, para a terra que estou dando ao povo de Israel. ³ Todo o lugar onde pisar a planta dos vossos pés, Eu vos darei, como prometi a Moisés.

⁴ Desde o deserto e Líbano até o grande rio, o Eufrates, todas as terras dos heteus até o mar Grande, onde o sol se põe, pertencerão a vós. ⁵ Ninguém será capaz de ir contra ti todos os dias de tua vida. Estarei contigo como estive com Moisés. Não te abandonarei e nem te deixarei.

⁶ Sê forte e corajoso. Porque tu farás este povo herdar a terra que prometi dar a teus antepassados. ⁷ Sê forte e muito corajoso. Sê cuidadoso para obedecer à lei que meu servo Moisés te ordenou. Não te desvies dela, nem para a direita nem para a esquerda. Assim, serás bem sucedido aonde quer que fores.

⁸ Tu sempre falarás sobre este livro da lei. Meditarás nele dia e noite, para que possas obedecer, por completo, o que nele está escrito. Então, tu serás próspero e bem sucedido. ⁹ Não te ordenei Eu? Sê forte e corajoso! Não tenhas medo. Não percas a coragem. Yahweh, teu Deus, é contigo aonde quer que andares".

¹⁰ Então, Josué ordenou aos líderes do povo: ¹¹ "Ide através do acampamento e ordenai às pessoas: 'Preparai provisões para vós mesmos. Em três dias, vós atravessareis o Jordão e possuireis a terra que Yahweh, nosso Deus, está dando para nós".

¹² Aos rubenitas, aos gaditas e à metade da tribo de Manassés, Josué disse: ¹³ "Lembrai-vos da palavra que Moisés, o servo de Yahweh, ordenou-vos quando disse: 'Yahweh, vosso Deus, está vos dando descanso e esta terra'.

¹⁴ Vossas esposas, crianças e vossos animais domésticos ficarão na terra que Moisés vos deu além do Jordão. Mas vossos guerreiros irão convosco e com vossos irmãos e os ajudarão ¹⁵ até que Yahweh tenha dado descanso a vossos irmãos, assim como deu a vós. Eles também tomarão posse da terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, lhes dará. Depois, voltareis para a vossa própria terra e a possuireis, a terra que Moisés, servo de Yahweh, vos deu além do Jordão, onde nasce o sol".

¹⁶ E eles responderam a Josué, dizendo: "Tudo o que tu nos ordenaste, nós o faremos e iremos para onde quer que tu nos enviares. ¹⁷ Obedeceremos a ti assim como obedecemos a Moisés. Que somente Yahweh, teu Deus, esteja contigo, assim como esteve com Moisés. ¹⁸ Quem se rebelar contra teus comandos e desobedecer às tuas palavras, será morto. Apenas sê forte e corajoso".

Capítulo 2

¹ Então, Josué, filho de Num, secretamente enviou, de Sitim, dois homens como espiões. Ele disse: "Ide, observai a terra, especialmente Jericó". Eles foram e chegaram na casa de uma prostituta, cujo nome era Raabe, e eles dormiram ali. ² Disseram ao rei de Jericó: "Vê, homens de Israel vieram aqui para espionar a terra". ³ O rei de Jericó mandou dizer a Raabe: "Traz os homens que foram à tua casa, pois eles vieram para espionar toda a terra".

⁴ Mas a mulher pegou os dois homens e os escondeu. Ela respondeu: "Sim, os homens vieram a mim, mas eu não sabia de onde eles eram. ⁵ Foram embora quando estava escurecendo, quando o portão da cidade estava fechando. Não sei para onde foram. Talvez os alcançareis se fordes, rapidamente, atrás deles".

⁶ Mas ela os havia colocado no terraço, e os escondido com talos de linho que havia arrumado ali. ⁷ Então, os homens os perseguiram pelo caminho do rio Jordão, e os portões foram fechados assim que os perseguidores saíram.

⁸ Os homens ainda não haviam se deitado para dormir quando ela subiu ao terraço. ⁹ Disse: "Eu sei que Yahweh vos deu esta terra, e que grande temor por vós veio sobre nós. Todos os que vivem nesta terra ficarão desencorajados diante de vós.

¹⁰ Nós ouvimos como Yahweh secou as águas do mar Vermelho para vós quando saístes do Egito. E ouvimos o que fizestes com os dois reis dos Amorreus, do outro lado do Jordão — Siom e Ogue — a quem destruístes completamente. ¹¹ Assim que ouvimos isso, nossos corações derreteram-se, e não restou coragem em ninguém —porque Yahweh, vosso Deus, é Deus em cima nos céus e embaixo na terra.

¹² Agora, peço que jurai-me por Yahweh que, como fui bondosa convosco, vós também sereis bondosos para com a casa de meu pai. Dai-me um sinal claro ¹³ de que protegereis as vidas de meu pai, minha mãe, meus irmãos, minhas irmãs e de todas as suas famílias, e nos salvareis da morte".

¹⁴ Os homens disseram a ela: "Nossas vidas pela tua até a morte! Se não falares sobre nosso acordo, então, quando Yahweh nos der esta terra, seremos misericordiosos e fiéis a ti".

¹⁵ Então, ela os deixou descer pela janela usando uma corda. A casa em que ela morava havia sido construída nos muros da cidade. ¹⁶ Ela lhes disse: "Ide para os montes e vos escondei, ou os perseguidores vos encontrarão. Escondei-vos lá por três dias, até que os perseguidores tenham retornado. Depois, segui vosso caminho". ¹⁷ Então, os homens lhe disseram: "Nós não ficaremos presos às promessas do juramento que nos fizeste jurar, se não fizeres isto:

¹⁸ Quando chegarmos à terra, tu amarrarás esta corda escarlate na janela pela qual descemos, e reunirás na casa contigo, teu pai, tua mãe, teus irmãos e todos os descendentes de teu pai. ¹⁹ Quem passar das portas da tua casa para a rua, seu sangue estará sobre sua própria cabeça, e não teremos culpa. Porém, se uma mão for posta sobre qualquer um que esteja em tua casa, seu sangue estará sobre nossas cabeças.

²⁰ Mas, se denunciares nosso trato, nós não estaremos ligados à promessa que nos fizeste jurar". ²¹ Raabe respondeu: "Que seja feito como vós dissestes". E eles foram embora. Depois, ela amarrou a corda escarlate na janela.

²² Eles foram embora e subiram a colina, e lá permaneceram por três dias, até que os perseguidores retornaram. Estes haviam procurado por toda a estrada e nada encontraram.

²³ Os dois homens retornaram, fizeram a travessia, e voltaram a Josué, filho de Num, e lhe contaram tudo o que havia acontecido. ²⁴ E eles disseram a Josué: "Verdadeiramente, Yahweh nos deu esta terra. Todos os seus habitantes estão tremendo de medo por nossa causa".

Capítulo 3

¹ Josué levantou-se de madrugada e todos partiram de Sitim. Chegaram ao rio Jordão, ele e todo povo de Israel, e acamparam ali antes de atravessá-lo.

² Após três dias, os oficiais passaram no meio do acampamento ³ e ordernaram ao povo, dizendo: "Quando virdes a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh, vosso Deus, carregada pelos sacerdotes levitas, partireis deste lugar e a seguireis. ⁴ Entretanto, conservai uma distância de dois mil côvados entre vós e ela. Não vos aproximeis dela. Assim, sabereis qual caminho seguir, caminho pelo qual nunca passastes".

⁵ Josué disse ao povo: "Santificai-vos porque amanhã Yahweh fará maravilhas no meio de vós". ⁶ Depois Josué disse aos sacerdotes: "Levantai a Arca da Aliança e passai em frente ao povo". Então, eles levantaram a Arca da Aliança e foram andando adiante do povo.

⁷ Yahweh disse a Josué: "Neste dia, te farei um grande homem aos olhos de todo o povo de Israel, para que vejam que estou contigo, como estive com Moisés. ⁸ Ordenarás aos sacerdotes que carregam a Arca da Aliança: 'Quando chegardes à beira das águas do rio Jordão, ali parareis”.

⁹ Então, Josué disse ao povo de Israel: "Chegai-vos e escutai as palavras de Yahweh, vosso Deus. ¹⁰ Deste modo, reconhecereis que o Deus Vivo está no meio de vós e, certamente, expulsará da vossa presença os cananeus, os heteus, os heveus, os perizeus, os girgaseus, os amorreus e os jebuseus. ¹¹ Eis que a Arca da Aliança do Senhor de toda a terra passará à vossa frente no Jordão.

¹² Agora escolhei doze homens das tribos de Israel, um de cada tribo. ¹³ Quando a planta dos pés dos sacerdotes que carregam a arca de Yahweh, o Senhor de toda a terra, tocarem as águas do Jordão, estas serão separadas; e ainda que as águas que fluem rio acima parem de fluir, formarão uma represa".

¹⁴ Então, quando o povo levantou acampamento para atravessar o Jordão, os sacerdotes que carregavam a Arca da Aliança foram à frente do povo. ¹⁵ Assim que os carregadores da Arca chegaram ao Jordão, e seus pés tocaram nas águas (o Jordão transbordava pelas suas margens durante a colheita), ¹⁶ as águas que vinham de cima pararam e formaram uma represa a uma longa distância, na altura de Adã, cidade ao lado de Zaretã, e até por todo o caminho abaixo do mar da Arabá, que é o mar Morto. E o povo atravessou diante de Jericó.

¹⁷ Os sacerdotes que carregavam a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh ficaram parados no leito seco, no meio do Jordão, enquanto todo o povo de Israel atravessava em terra seca, até que todos acabassem de passar.

Capítulo 4

¹ Quando todo o povo cruzou o Jordão, Yahweh disse a Josué: ² "Escolhe doze homens dentre o povo, um homem de cada tribo. ³ Ordena-lhes: 'Pegai doze pedras do meio do Jordão, de onde os sacerdotes estão parados em terra seca, trazei-as convosco e deixai-as no lugar onde passareis esta noite'".

⁴ Então, Josué chamou os doze homens que escolhera dentre as tribos de Israel, um de cada tribo. ⁵ Josué disse-lhes: "Ide adiante da Arca de Yahweh, vosso Deus, no meio do Jordão. Cada um de vós tomará uma pedra em vossos ombros, de acordo com o número de tribos do povo de Israel.

⁶ Isto será um sinal no meio de vós, e quando, nos dias vindouros, vossos filhos perguntarem: 'O que estas pedras significam para vós?' ⁷ direis a eles: 'As águas do Jordão foram divididas diante da Arca da Aliança de Yahweh. Quando esta passou pelo Jordão, as águas do Jordão foram divididas. Assim, estas pedras serão um memorial para o povo de Israel, eternamente”.

⁸ O povo de Israel fez como Josué ordenara: eles pegaram doze pedras do meio do Jordão, assim como Yahweh dissera a Josué. Então, eles as contaram conforme o número de tribos do povo de Israel, carregaram-nas consigo para o lugar onde acamparam, e as colocaram ali. ⁹ Então, Josué erigiu doze pedras do meio do Jordão, no lugar em que os pés dos sacerdotes que carregavam a Arca da Aliança pararam. O memorial está lá até o dia de hoje.

¹⁰ Os sacerdotes que carregavam a Arca permaneceram no meio do Jordão até que tudo o que Yahweh ordenara que Josué dissesse ao povo fosse cumprido, de acordo com tudo o que Moisés havia ordenado a Josué. O povo se apressou e atravessou. ¹¹ Quando todo o povo terminou de atravessar, a Arca de Yahweh e os sacerdotes atravessaram, diante do povo.

¹² A tribo de Rúben, a tribo de Gade, e a meia tribo de Manassés passaram como um exército, diante do povo de Israel, assim como Moisés dissera a eles. ¹³ Cerca de quarenta mil homens equipados para a guerra passaram diante de Yahweh, para a batalha nas planícies de Jericó. ¹⁴ Naquele dia, Yahweh fez Josué grande aos olhos de todo o Israel. Eles o honraram, assim como honraram a Moisés, por todos os dias da sua vida.

¹⁵ Assim Yahweh falou a Josué: ¹⁶ "Ordena aos sacerdotes que carregam a Arca do Testemunho que saiam do Jordão".

¹⁷ Então, Josué ordenou aos sacerdotes: "Saí do Jordão". ¹⁸ Quando os sacerdotes que carregavam a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh saíram do meio do Jordão, e as solas de seus pés pisaram em terra seca, as águas do Jordão retornaram ao seu lugar e transbordaram até as margens, exatamente como eram quatro dias antes.

¹⁹ O povo saiu do Jordão no décimo dia do primeiro mês. Eles ficaram em Gilgal, a leste de Jericó. ²⁰ As doze pedras que haviam sido tiradas do Jordão, Josué as empilhou em Gilgal. ²¹ Ele disse ao povo de Israel: "Quando vossos descendentes perguntarem aos seus pais nos tempos vindouros: 'O que são estas pedras?'

²² dizei a vossos filhos: 'Israel atravessou o Jordão em terra seca'. ²³ Yahweh, vosso Deus, fez secar as águas do Jordão para vós, até que passásseis, conforme Yahweh, vosso Deus, fez com o mar Vermelho, o qual secou para nós, até que passássemos, ²⁴ para que, assim, todos os povos da terra saibam que a mão de Yahweh é poderosa, e vós honrareis Yahweh, vosso Deus, eternamente".

Capítulo 5

¹ Quando todos os reis dos amorreus, do lado oeste do Jordão, e todos os reis dos cananeus, que estavam ao longo da costa do grande mar, ouviram que Yahweh havia secado as águas do Jordão até que o povo de Israel tivesse atravessado, seus corações se derreteram, e já não havia mais neles espírito algum, por causa do povo de Israel.

² Naquele tempo, Yahweh disse a Josué: "Faze facas de pedra e circuncida, mais uma vez, todos os homens de Israel". ³ Então, Josué fez facas de pedras e circuncidou os filhos de Israel em Gibeate-Haaralote.

⁴ Esta é a razão pela qual Josué os circuncidou: todos os filhos de Israel que vieram do Egito, incluindo os homens de guerra, haviam morrido no deserto durante a peregrinação, depois de terem saído do Egito. ⁵ Embora todos os machos que haviam vindo do Egito tivessem sido circuncidados, nenhum dos meninos nascidos no deserto havia sido.

⁶ Pois o povo de Israel peregrinou pelo deserto por quarenta anos, até que todas as pessoas, isto é, todos os homens de guerra que haviam saído do Egito morreram, pois eles não obedeceram à voz de Yahweh. E Yahweh jurou-lhes que não veriam a terra que Ele havia jurado aos seus antepassados que nos daria, uma terra que mana leite e mel. ⁷ Foram seus filhos, os que Yahweh levantou em seu lugar, que Josué circuncidou, pois eles ainda não haviam sido circuncidados no caminho.

⁸ E, quando foram todos circuncidados, permaneceram no acampamento até sararem. ⁹ E Yahweh disse a Josué: "Neste dia, Eu removi de vós toda a vergonha do Egito". Por isso, aquele lugar é chamado Gilgal, até o dia de hoje.

¹⁰ O povo de Israel acampou em Gilgal. Eles celebraram a Páscoa no décimo quarto dia do mês, ao anoitecer, nas planícies de Jericó. ¹¹ E, no dia seguinte à Páscoa, comeram alguns dos frutos da terra: pães sem fermento e cereais tostados.

¹² Um dia após eles comerem dos frutos da terra, o maná cessou. Já não havia mais maná para o povo de Israel, mas, naquele ano, eles comeram dos frutos da terra de Canaã.

¹³ Quando Josué estava perto de Jericó, ele ergueu seus olhos e viu, e eis um homem em pé na sua frente; ele possuía uma espada desembainhada na mão. Josué foi até ele, e disse: "És tu por nós ou pelos nossos adversários?".

¹⁴ Ele respondeu: "Nenhum dos dois, pois Eu sou Chefe do exército de Yahweh". Então, Josué prostrou-se, com o rosto no chão, para O adorar e perguntou-Lhe: "O que meu Senhor ordena ao Seu servo?". ¹⁵ Então, o Chefe do exército de Yahweh disse a Josué: "Tira as sandálias dos teus pés, porque o local que pisas é santo". E Josué assim o fez.

Capítulo 6

¹ Ora, todas as entradas de Jericó estavam fechadas por causa do exército de Israel. Ninguém saía, nem entrava. ² Yahweh disse a Josué: "Vê! Eis que Eu entreguei nas tuas mãos Jericó, o seu rei e os seus soldados.

³ Vós marchareis ao redor da cidade, todo homem de guerra, rodeando-a uma vez ao dia. Fazei isto durante seis dias. ⁴ Sete sacerdotes levarão sete trombetas de chifre de carneiro adiante da Arca. No sétimo dia, marchareis ao redor da cidade sete vezes, e os sacerdotes tocarão fortemente as trombetas.

⁵ Então, eles tocarão longamente a trombeta de chifre de carneiro, e, quando ouvirdes o som da trombeta, todo o povo gritará bem alto, e as muralhas da cidade cairão. Os soldados deverão atacar, cada um, o lugar que estiver à sua frente”.

⁶ Então, Josué, filho de Num, chamou os sacerdotes e disse-lhes: "Levai a Arca da Aliança, e sete sacerdotes carregarão sete trombetas de chifre de carneiro adiante da Arca de Yahweh". ⁷ E ele disse ao povo: "Ide em frente e marchai ao redor da cidade, e os homens armados irão à frente da Arca de Yahweh".

⁸ Assim como Josué havia dito ao povo, os sete sacerdotes carregavam as sete trombetas de chifre de carneiro diante de Yahweh. Enquanto eles avançavam, tocavam suas trombetas. A Arca da Aliança de Yahweh seguia atrás deles. ⁹ Os homens armados caminhavam adiante dos sacerdotes, e eles tocavam suas trombetas. A retaguarda seguia após a Arca, e os sacerdotes tocavam continuamente.

¹⁰ Mas Josué ordenou ao povo: "Não griteis vós. Nenhum som sairá da vossa boca até o dia em que eu disser para gritardes; só então gritareis". ¹¹ Então, ele fez a Arca de Yahweh rodear a cidade uma vez naquele dia. E entraram em seu acampamento e passaram a noite ali.

¹² No dia seguinte, Josué levantou-se de madrugada, e os sacerdotes levaram a Arca de Yahweh. ¹³ Os sete sacerdotes, que carregavam as sete trombetas de chifre de carneiro adiante da Arca de Yahweh, caminhavam continuamente e tocavam as trombetas. Soldados armados caminhavam adiante deles. Enquanto a retaguarda caminhava após a Arca de Yahweh, as trombetas soavam continuamente. ¹⁴ Eles marcharam ao redor da cidade uma vez no segundo dia, e retornaram ao acampamento. Eles fizeram isso por seis dias.

¹⁵ No sétimo dia, eles se levantaram ao raiar do dia, e marcharam ao redor da cidade da mesma maneira que fizeram antes. Desta vez, porém, por sete vezes. ¹⁶ Na sétima vez que os sacerdotes soaram as trombetas, Josué ordenou ao povo: "Gritai! Porque Yahweh vos entregou a cidade!

¹⁷ A cidade e tudo o que nela há serão condenados, por Yahweh, à destruição. Somente Raabe, a prostituta, viverá — ela e aqueles que estão com ela em sua casa — porque escondeu os homens que enviamos. ¹⁸ Quanto a vós, guardai-vos das coisas separadas à destruição, e, depois que as condenardes, não pegueis nenhuma delas. Se vós o fizerdes, tornareis maldito o acampamento de Israel, trazendo-lhe destruição. ¹⁹ Toda a prata, ouro e as coisas feitas de bronze e ferro são consagrados a Yahweh, e serão levados para o Seu tesouro".

²⁰ Quando os sacerdotes tocaram as trombetas, o povo gritou bem alto e as muralhas ruíram. Então, o povo entrou na cidade, cada um correndo para o lugar em frente de si, e tomaram a cidade. ²¹ Eles destruíram completamente, ao fio da espada, tudo o que havia: homem e mulher, jovem e velho, vaca, ovelha e jumento.

²² Então, Josué disse aos dois homens que espiaram a terra: "Ide até a casa da prostituta. Trazei a mulher e todos os que estão com ela, como jurastes".

²³ Os espias foram e trouxeram Raabe para fora, com seu pai, sua mãe, seus irmãos e todos os parentes que estavam com ela. Eles os levaram para um lugar fora do acampamento de Israel. ²⁴ E queimaram a cidade e tudo o que havia nela. Somente a prata, o ouro e os utensílios de bronze e ferro foram colocados no tesouro da casa de Yahweh.

²⁵ Mas Josué conservou com vida Raabe, a prostituta, a casa de seu pai, e todos os que com ela viviam. E ela vive em Israel até o dia de hoje, pois ela escondeu os homens a quem Josué enviara para espiar Jericó.

²⁶ Então, Josué ordenou que, naquele momento, fizessem um juramento, dizendo: "Maldito seja diante de Yahweh o homem que reconstruir esta cidade, Jericó. Com a perda de seu primogênito a fundará, e com a perda de seu filho mais novo ele levantará seus portões". ²⁷ Assim Yahweh estava com Josué, e sua fama se espalhou pela terra.

Capítulo 7

¹ Mas o povo de Israel foi infiel em relação ao que foi condenado para a destruição. Acã, filho de Carmi, filho de Zabdi, filho de Zerá da tribo de Judá, tomou para si algumas coisas que foram separadas para a destruição. Por isso, a ira de Yahweh acendeu-se contra o povo de Israel.

² Naqueles dias, Josué enviou homens para Ai, cidade próxima a Bete-Áven, leste de Betel. Ele lhes disse: "Subi e espiai a terra". Então, os homens subiram e espiaram Ai. ³ Quando retornaram a Josué, disseram-lhe: "Nem todo o povo deve subir para Ai. Subam apenas dois ou três mil homens para atacá-la. Não faças todo o povo se cansar em batalha, pois eles são poucos".

⁴ Assim, subiram cerca de três mil homens do exército de Israel, mas fugiram diante dos homens de Ai. ⁵ Os homens de Ai mataram cerca de trinta e seis israelitas enquanto os perseguiam desde o portão da cidade até as pedreiras; eles os mataram quando desciam a colina. E o coração do povo se derreteu de medo e perderam a coragem.

⁶ Então, Josué rasgou suas vestes. Ele e os anciãos de Israel jogaram pó em suas cabeças e se prostraram, com seus rostos em terra, perante a Arca de Yahweh, permanecendo lá até a tarde. ⁷ Josué disse: "Ah! Yahweh Senhor! Por que fizeste este povo atravessar o Jordão para nos entregares nas mãos dos amorreus e estes nos destruírem? Antes nós tivéssemos nos contentado em ficar do outro lado do Jordão!

⁸ Senhor, que posso eu dizer, depois que Israel retrocedeu diante dos seus inimigos? ⁹ Pois os cananeus e todos os habitantes da terra ouvirão isso. Irão nos cercar e fazer com que o povo da terra esqueça o nosso nome. E então, o que farás pelo Teu grande nome?"

¹⁰ Yahweh disse a Josué: "Levanta-te! Por que estás aí prostrado sobre teu rosto? ¹¹ Israel pecou! Eles violaram Minha aliança que lhes tinha ordenado. Eles roubaram das coisas que foram separadas. Eles roubaram, mentiram e esconderam seu pecado entre seus próprios pertences. ¹² Por isso o povo de Israel não pôde permanecer ante seus inimigos. Eles fugiram dos inimigos porque eles mesmos mereceram sua destruição. Não estarei mais convosco se não destruirdes as coisas que devem ser destruídas, que estão entre vós.

¹³ Levanta-te! Consagra-Me o povo e dize-lhes: 'Santificai-vos para amanhã, pois Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: Ainda há coisas separadas para a destruição no meio de vós, Israel. Não podereis resistir aos vossos inimigos até que removais dentre vós todas as coisas que foram separadas para a destruição.

¹⁴ Pela manhã, tereis de vos apresentar segundo suas tribos. A tribo que Yahweh escolher se aproximará por clãs. O clã que Yahweh escolher deverá se aproximar casa por casa. A casa que Yahweh escolher deverá se aproximar homem por homem. ¹⁵ E acontecerá que aquele que for encontrado com as coisas separadas para a destruição será queimado no fogo, ele e tudo o que tem, porque ele quebrou a aliança de Yahweh e porque causou desgraça em Israel”.

¹⁶ No dia seguinte, Josué acordou de madrugada e fez Israel se aproximar, tribo por tribo, e a tribo de Judá foi escolhida. ¹⁷ Ele aproximou os clãs de Judá, e o clã dos zeraítas foi escolhido. Ele fez o clã dos zeraítas se aproximar, pessoa por pessoa, e Zabdi foi escolhido. ¹⁸ Ele fez a família de Zabdi se aproximar, pessoa por pessoa, e Acã, filho de Carmi, filho de Zabdi, filho de Zerá, foi escolhido da tribo de Judá.

¹⁹ Então Josué disse a Acã: "Meu filho, dize a verdade diante de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, e confessa perante Ele. Dize-me o que tu fizeste, não escondas de mim". ²⁰ Acã respondeu a Josué: "Verdadeiramente, eu pequei contra Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. Eis o que fiz: ²¹ quando vi entre os despojos uma bela capa babilônica, duzentos ciclos de prata e uma barra de ouro no peso de cinquenta ciclos, desejei-os e os peguei. Eles estão escondidos no chão, no meio de minha tenda, e a prata está debaixo da capa".

²² Josué enviou mensageiros, que correram à tenda e lá estavam as coisas. Quando olharam, encontraram-nas escondidas em sua própria tenda e a prata estava embaixo da capa. ²³ Eles pegaram os objetos do meio da tenda e os levaram até Josué e todo o povo de Israel. Eles os puseram diante de Yahweh.

²⁴ Depois, Josué e todo o Israel com ele pegaram Acã, filho de Zerá, e a prata, a capa, a barra de ouro, seus filhos e filhas, seus bois, seus jumentos, suas ovelhas, sua tenda e tudo o que ele tinha e os levaram ao vale de Acor.

²⁵ Então, Josué disse: "Por que nos trouxeste esta desgraça? Hoje Yahweh trará desgraça sobre ti". Todo o Israel apedrejou Acã; e apedrejaram os seus e as demais coisas, e os queimaram no fogo. ²⁶ E levantaram sobre ele um grande monte de pedras, que permanece até o dia de hoje. Yahweh afastou Sua ira. Por isso o nome daquele lugar é vale de Acor, até o dia de hoje.

Capítulo 8

¹ Yahweh disse a Josué: "Não temas, não sejas covarde. Toma contigo todos os guerreiros. Sobe a Ai. Vê, eu tenho dado em tuas mãos o rei de Ai, seu povo, sua cidade e sua terra. ² Farás a Ai e ao seu rei como fizeste a Jericó e ao seu rei, exceto que tomarás para vós os despojos e o gado. Prepara uma emboscada atrás da cidade".

³ Então, Josué subiu com todos os seus guerreiros para Ai. Escolheu trinta mil homens fortes e corajosos, e os enviou à noite. ⁴ Ordenou-lhes: "Vede, ficai de emboscada contra a cidade, por detrás dela. Não vos afasteis muito da cidade, mas estejais todos em prontidão.

⁵ Eu e todos os homens que estão comigo nos aproximaremos da cidade, e quando eles saírem para nos atacar, nós fugiremos deles, como fizemos antes. ⁶ Eles virão atrás de nós até que os tenhamos atraído para longe da cidade. E dirão: 'Eles fogem de nós assim como fizeram da última vez'. E quando estivermos fugindo deles, ⁷ saireis do esconderijo e tomareis a cidade. Yahweh, vosso Deus, a entregará na vossa mão.

⁸ Quando tomardes a cidade, colocareis fogo nela. Fareis isto por obediência às ordens dadas por meio da palavra de Yahweh. Eis o que vos tenho ordenado". ⁹ Josué os enviou. Eles ficaram no local da emboscada, escondidos entre Betel e Ai, a oeste de Ai. Porém, naquela noite, Josué dormiu entre os guerreiros.

¹⁰ Josué levantou-se de madrugada, passou seu exército em revista e, então, com os anciãos de Israel, atacou o povo de Ai. ¹¹ Todos os guerreiros que estavam com ele avançaram e aproximaram-se da cidade. E ali acamparam, no lado norte de Ai. Havia um vale entre eles e Ai. ¹² Josué tomou cinco mil homens e os colocou de emboscada no lado oeste da cidade entre Betel e Ai.

¹³ Posicionaram-se todos os soldados, o exército principal, no lado norte da cidade, e a emboscada no lado oeste. Josué passou aquela noite no vale. ¹⁴ Sucedeu que, quando o rei de Ai os avistou, ele e o seu exército levantaram-se cedo e se apressaram para atacar Israel no lugar em frente ao vale do rio Jordão. Ele não sabia que haviam montado uma emboscada para atacá-los por detrás da cidade.

¹⁵ Josué e todo o Israel se passaram por derrotados diante deles, e fugiram até o deserto. ¹⁶ Todo o povo que estava na cidade foi convocado para persegui-los e, então, eles os perseguiram até que se afastassem da cidade. ¹⁷ Não ficou sequer um homem em Ai e Betel; todos saíram em perseguição a Israel. Eles abandonaram a cidade, deixando-a aberta, para perseguir Israel.

¹⁸ Yahweh disse a Josué: "Aponta a tua lança em direção a Ai, pois te darei Ai em tuas mãos". Josué estendeu a lança que estava em sua mão em direção à cidade. ¹⁹ Os soldados, escondidos em emboscada, rapidamente saíram do lugar onde estavam, no momento em que Josué estendeu a mão. Eles correram, entraram na cidade, a tomaram e, rapidamente, a incendiaram.

²⁰ Então, os homens de Ai se viraram e, olhando para trás, viram a fumaça vinda da cidade subindo pelo céu; e não podiam escapar por nenhum caminho, pois os soldados israelitas, que fugiam para o deserto, agora se voltavam contra aqueles que os perseguiam. ²¹ No instante em que Josué e todo o Israel viram que, pela emboscada, haviam capturado a cidade, por causa da fumaça que subia, voltaram e mataram os homens de Ai.

²² E os outros soldados de Israel, os que estavam na cidade, saíram para atacá-los. Então, os homens de Ai ficaram presos em meio ao exército de Israel, por um lado e pelo outro. Israel atacou os homens de Ai e nenhum deles sobreviveu ou escapou. ²³ Mas deixaram o rei de Ai vivo, a quem capturaram e levaram a Josué.

²⁴ Sucedeu que, quando Israel havia terminado de matar todos os habitantes de Ai no campo próximo ao deserto onde os perseguiram, e quando todos eles — até o último — haviam caído ao fio da espada, todo o Israel voltou para Ai, matando também os que ali estavam. ²⁵ Os que morreram naquele dia, homens e mulheres, foram doze mil, todos de Ai. ²⁶ Josué não abaixou sua mão. Permaneceu com a lança estendida até que o povo de Ai fosse completamente destruído.

²⁷ Israel tomou apenas o rebanho e o despojo da cidade para si, assim como Yahweh ordenara a Josué. ²⁸ Josué queimou Ai e tornou-a um monte de ruínas para sempre. Esse lugar está abandonado até o dia de hoje.

²⁹ Ele enforcou o rei de Ai em uma árvore e ali o deixou até o anoitecer. Quando o sol se pôs, por ordem de Josué, retiraram da árvore o corpo do rei, e o jogaram em frente aos portões da cidade. Fizeram uma grande pilha de pedras sobre o cadáver. Pilha esta que permanece até o dia de hoje.

³⁰ Então, Josué construiu um altar a Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, no monte Ebal, ³¹ conforme Moisés, o servo de Yahweh, ordenara ao povo de Israel, como está escrito no livro da lei de Moisés: "Um altar de pedras brutas, na qual ninguém tivesse usado uma ferramenta de ferro". Ele ofereceu holocaustos a Yahweh e eles sacrificaram ofertas pacíficas. ³² E ali, na presença do povo de Israel, ele escreveu nas pedras uma cópia da lei de Moisés.

³³ Todo o Israel, com seus anciãos, oficiais e juízes ficaram de um lado e outro da Arca, diante dos sacerdotes e levitas, que levavam a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh; tanto o estrangeiro quanto o natural, metade deles permaneceu em frente do monte Gerizim e a outra metade ficou em frente ao monte Ebal. Eles abençoaram o povo de Israel, assim como Moisés, o servo de Yahweh, havia ordenado.

³⁴ Depois, Josué leu todas as palavras da lei, as bênçãos e maldições, conforme elas foram escritas no Livro da Lei. ³⁵ Não houve nenhuma palavra, de tudo aquilo que Moisés havia ordenado, que Josué não lesse na frente da assembleia de Israel, incluindo as mulheres, as crianças pequenas e os estrangeiros que viviam no meio deles.

Capítulo 9

¹ Então, todos os reis que viviam além do Jordão, na região montanhosa e na baixada ao longo da costa do mar Grande, em direção ao Líbano, os reis dos heteus, dos amorreus, dos cananeus, dos perizeus, dos heveus e dos jebuseus, souberam disso, ² e ajuntaram-se, sob o mesmo comando, para batalhar contra Josué e Israel.

³ Mas, quando os moradores de Gibeão ouviram o que Josué havia feito a Jericó e a Ai, ⁴ eles agiram com um plano astuto. Mandaram mensageiros, que levavam alforjes velhos sobre seus jumentos e também levavam vinho em recipientes de couro velho, desgastados e rasgados, que haviam sido remendados. ⁵ Eles colocaram sandálias velhas e remendadas nos pés, e se vestiram com roupas velhas e desgastadas. Todo o pão que traziam era seco e mofado.

⁶ Então, eles foram até Josué no acampamento em Gilgal e disseram a ele e aos homens de Israel: "Nós viemos de uma região muito distante; então, fazei uma aliança conosco". ⁷ Os homens de Israel disseram aos heveus: "Talvez vós habiteis perto de nós. Como faremos uma aliança convosco?". ⁸ Eles disseram a Josué: "Nós somos teus servos". Josué lhes perguntou: "Quem sois vós? De onde viestes?".

⁹ Eles responderam: "Teus servos vieram de uma terra muito distante, por causa do nome do teu Deus, Yahweh. Ouvimos relatos sobre Ele e sobre tudo o que Ele fez no Egito, ¹⁰ e tudo o que fez aos dois reis dos amorreus do outro lado do Jordão, a Siom, rei de Hesbom, e a Ogue, rei de Basã, que estava em Astarote.

¹¹ Nossos anciãos e todos os habitantes da nossa terra nos disseram: ‘Tomai provisões para a jornada. Ide ao encontro deles e dizei-lhes: Nós somos vossos servos. Fazei um tratado conosco’. ¹² Este é o nosso pão. Ele ainda estava quente quando saímos de nossas casas, para nos encontrarmos convosco. Mas, agora, ele já está seco e mofado. ¹³ Estes recipientes de couro estavam novos quando os enchemos, e agora, vede, estão vazando. Nossas roupas e sandálias já se desgastaram por causa da longa jornada".

¹⁴ Então, os israelitas tomaram algumas de suas provisões, mas não pediram conselho a Yahweh. ¹⁵ Josué fez uma aliança de paz com eles, para deixá-los viver. Os líderes do povo também fizeram um juramento a eles.

¹⁶ Três dias depois de os israelitas terem feito aliança com eles, descobriram que eram seus vizinhos e que moravam perto deles. ¹⁷ Então, o povo de Israel partiu e chegou às suas cidades ao terceiro dia. Suas cidades eram Gibeão, Cefira, Beerote e Quiriate-Jearim.

¹⁸ O povo de Israel não os atacou, porque seus líderes haviam prestado juramento acerca deles diante de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. Todos os israelitas criticaram seus líderes. ¹⁹ Mas todos os líderes disseram ao povo: "Fizemos um juramento acerca deles perante Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, e agora não podemos tocar neles.

²⁰ Isto é o que lhes faremos: para evitar qualquer ira que possa vir sobre nós por causa do juramento que fizemos a eles, nós os deixaremos viver". ²¹ Os líderes disseram ao seu povo: "Que vivam!". Então, os gibeonitas tornaram-se lenhadores e tiradores de água para todos os israelitas, como os líderes lhes disseram.

²² Josué os chamou e disse-lhes: "Por que nos enganastes, dizendo: 'Moramos muito distante de vós', quando vivíeis perto de nós? ²³ Agora, por causa disso, sois malditos, e entre vós nunca deixará de haver escravos, que cortarão madeira e tirarão água para a casa do meu Deus".

²⁴ Eles responderam, dizendo: "Porque foi dito aos teus servos que Yahweh, vosso Deus, mandou Seu servo Moisés para vos dar toda esta terra, e destruir todos os moradores desta terra diante de vós. Então, temíamos muito pelas nossas vidas, por causa de vós. Então fizemos isso. ²⁵ Agora, vê, estamos em tuas mãos. Aquilo que parecer bom e correto para ti, faze conosco".

²⁶ Então, Josué fez isto com eles: impediu que os israelitas os matassem. ²⁷ Naquele dia, Josué fez dos gibeonitas lenhadores e tiradores de água para a comunidade e para o altar de Yahweh, até o dia de hoje, no lugar que Yahweh escolhesse.

Capítulo 10

¹ Adoni-Zedeque, rei de Jerusalém, ouviu que Josué havia capturado e destruído completamente a cidade de Ai (assim como ele havia feito com Jericó e seu rei), e ouviu que o povo de Gibeão havia feito acordo de paz com Israel e estava vivendo no meio deles. ² O povo de Jerusalém teve muito medo, pois Gibeão era uma cidade grande, como uma das cidades reais, e era maior que Ai, e todos os seus homens eram guerreiros fortes.

³ Então, Adoni-Zedeque, rei de Jerusalém, enviou mensagem para Hoão, rei de Hebrom, a Pirã, rei de Jarmute, a Jafia, rei de Laquis, e a Debir, rei de Eglom, dizendo-lhes: ⁴ "Vinde e me ajudai. Vamos atacar Gibeão, porque fez acordo de paz com Josué e com o povo de Israel".

⁵ Os cinco reis dos amorreus: o rei de Jerusalém, o rei de Hebrom, o rei de Jarmute, o rei de Laquis e o rei de Eglom vieram com todos os seus exércitos, posicionaram-se contra a cidade de Gibeão e a atacaram.

⁶ Os gibeonitas enviaram mensagem a Josué e ao acampamento em Gilgal, dizendo: "Não retires de teus servos a tua mão. Vem rapidamente, e salva-nos. Ajuda-nos, pois todos os reis dos amorreus que moram na região montanhosa se reuniram para nos atacar". ⁷ Josué partiu de Gilgal, e, junto dele, todos os homens de guerra, incluindo os seus melhores guerreiros.

⁸ Yahweh disse a Josué: "Não os temas. Eu os entreguei em tuas mãos. Nenhum deles poderá parar o teu ataque".

⁹ Depois de marchar a noite toda desde a cidade de Gilgal, Josué os atacou de surpresa. ¹⁰ E Yahweh confundiu os inimigos diante de Israel, que os matou em grande quantidade em Gibeão, perseguindo-os pelo caminho que sobe para Bete-Horom, matando-os até Azeca e Maqueda.

¹¹ Enquanto eles fugiam de Israel, descendo a montanha de Bete-Horom, Yahweh lançou grandes pedras do céu sobre eles por todo o caminho até Azeca, e morreram. E foram mais os que morreram das pedras de granizo do que aqueles que os homens de Israel mataram à espada.

¹² Então, Josué falou a Yahweh, no dia em que Ele deu a vitória aos homens de Israel contra os amorreus. Isto é o que ele disse a Yahweh, diante de Israel: "Sol, permanece em Gibeão, e lua, no vale de Aijalom".

¹³ O sol parou, também a lua parou de se mover, até a nação se vingar dos seus inimigos. Não está isso escrito no Livro de Jasar? O sol parou no meio do céu, e não se pôs por quase um dia inteiro. ¹⁴ E não houve nenhum dia como esse, nem antes nem depois dele, quando Yahweh atendeu, de tal forma, a voz de um ser humano. Pois Yahweh batalhava por Israel.

¹⁵ Josué e todo o Israel retornaram ao acampamento em Gilgal. ¹⁶ Então, os cinco reis escaparam e se esconderam na caverna em Maqueda. ¹⁷ E foi dito a Josué: "Foram encontrados! Os cinco reis estão escondidos na caverna de Maqueda!".

¹⁸ Josué disse: "Arrastai grandes pedras contra a boca da caverna e colocai soldados lá para os guardar. ¹⁹ Não fiqueis parados! Que persigais os vossos inimigos e ataqueis os que vão ficando atrás. Não os deixeis entrar nas cidades deles, pois Yahweh, vosso Deus, já os entregou em vossas mãos".

²⁰ Josué e os filhos de Israel continuaram a vencê-los em uma grande matança, até que fossem quase completamente destruídos. Apenas alguns sobreviventes que escaparam chegaram às cidades fortificadas. ²¹ Todo o exército retornou em paz para Josué, no acampamento de Maqueda. E nenhum se atreveu a dizer uma palavra contra o povo de Israel.

²² Então, Josué disse: "Abri, vós, a boca da caverna e trazei-me aqueles cinco reis". ²³ Fizeram como ele mandou e trouxeram da caverna os cinco reis: o rei de Jerusalém, o rei de Hebrom, o rei de Jarmute, o rei de Laquis e o rei de Eglom.

²⁴ E, quando trouxeram os reis a Josué, ele convocou cada homem de Israel, e disse aos comandantes dos soldados que foram para a batalha com ele: "Ponde vossos pés nos pescoços deles". Então, eles se aproximaram e puseram os pés nos pescoços dos reis. ²⁵ Então, Josué lhes disse: "Não temais e nem vos abaleis. Sede fortes e corajosos. Isso é o que Yahweh fará com todos os vossos inimigos, contra os quais haveis de lutar".

²⁶ Então, Josué feriu e matou os reis e os pendurou em cinco árvores até a tarde. ²⁷ Quando o sol se pôs, Josué deu ordens, e eles foram tirados das árvores onde estavam pendurados e foram lançados na caverna onde tinham se escondido. Eles colocaram grandes pedras na boca da caverna, que permanecem ali até o dia de hoje.

²⁸ Naquele mesmo dia, Josué tomou Maqueda e matou a todos ao fio de espada, inclusive o seu rei. Ele destruiu completamente todos os que nela havia. Não deixou nenhum sobrevivente. Ele fez com o reino de Maqueda como havia feito com o reino de Jericó.

²⁹ Josué e todo o Israel foram de Maqueda para Libna e lutaram contra a cidade. ³⁰ Yahweh também a entregou nas mãos de Israel, junto com seu rei. Josué atacou todas as pessoas que nela havia ao fio de espada. Ele não deixou nenhum sobrevivente ali e fez com o rei o mesmo que havia feito com o rei de Jericó.

³¹ Então, Josué e todo o Israel foram de Libna para Laquis. Eles a sitiaram e batalharam contra ela. ³² Yahweh deu Laquis nas mãos de Israel. Josué a tomou no segundo dia. Ele atacou, ao fio de espada, cada pessoa que estava lá, da mesma forma que ele havia feito em Libna.

³³ Horão, rei de Gezer, subiu para ajudar Laquis. Josué o atacou e também o seu exército, até que não restasse nenhum sobrevivente.

³⁴ Então, Josué e todo povo foram de Laquis para Eglom. Eles a sitiaram e lutaram contra ela, ³⁵ e a tomaram no mesmo dia. Eles a atacaram ao fio de espada e destruíram todos, completamente, como Josué havia feito a Laquis.

³⁶ Josué e todo o povo de Israel subiram de Eglom a Hebrom, e batalharam contra ela. ³⁷ Eles a tomaram e a atacaram ao fio de espada, incluindo o rei e todos os seus povoados, como também todos os que nela estavam. Eles destruíram completamente todos ali, sem deixar sobreviventes, assim como fizeram a Eglom.

³⁸ Então, Josué e todo o exército de Israel retornaram a Debir e batalharam contra ela. ³⁹ Eles a tomaram, bem como seu rei e todos os seus povoados. Eles os atacaram ao fio de espada e destruíram completamente todos os que estavam ali. Não deixaram sobreviventes, do mesmo modo que haviam feito a Hebrom, e como haviam feito a Libna e ao seu rei.

⁴⁰ Josué conquistou toda aquela terra, a região montanhosa, o Neguebe, a baixada e as encostas das montanhas. De todos os reis, ele não deixou nenhum sobrevivente. Destruiu completamente cada criatura viva, como Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, havia ordenado. ⁴¹ Josué os atacou desde Cades-Barneia até Gaza, e toda a região de Gósen até Gibeão.

⁴² E, de uma só vez, Josué derrotou todos esses reis e tomou suas terras, pois Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, lutou por Israel. ⁴³ Então, Josué e todo o povo de Israel voltaram ao acampamento em Gilgal.

Capítulo 11

¹ Quando Jabim, rei de Hazor, ouviu isso, ele enviou uma mensagem para Jobabe, rei de Madom, para o rei de Sinrom e para o rei de Acsafe. ² Ele também enviou a mensagem para os reis que estavam ao norte na região montanhosa, no vale do rio Jordão, ao sul de Quinerete, na baixada e na região montanhosa de Dor para o oeste. ³ Ele também enviou mensagem para os cananeus, do leste ao oeste, os amorreus, os heteus, os perizeus, os jebuseus, na região montanhosa, e para os heveus, perto da montanha de Hermom, na terra de Mispá.

⁴ Todos os seus exércitos saíram com eles, um grande número de soldados, um número como a areia da praia. Eles tinham grande quantidade de cavalos e carros de guerra. ⁵ Todos aqueles reis encontraram-se no tempo determinado e acamparam perto das águas de Merom, para batalhar contra Israel.

⁶ Yahweh disse para Josué: "Não tenhas medo da presença deles, porque amanhã, a esta hora, entregarei todos eles a Israel como homens mortos. Tu aleijarás seus cavalos e queimarás seus carros de guerra". ⁷ Josué e todos os homens de guerra vieram. Eles chegaram, de repente, às águas de Merom, e atacaram os inimigos.

⁸ Yahweh entregou os inimigos nas mãos de Israel, e eles os feriram e os perseguiram até Sidom, Misrefote-Maim, e até o vale de Mispá para o leste. Eles os feriram até que não restasse nenhum de seus sobreviventes. ⁹ Josué fez a eles como Yahweh lhe havia falado. Ele aleijou os cavalos e queimou os carros de guerra.

¹⁰ Josué retornou naquele tempo e tomou Hazor. Ele feriu o rei com a espada. (Hazor tinha sido a capital de todos esses reinos). ¹¹ Eles atacaram com a espada todas as criaturas vivas que existiam naquele lugar, e as destruíram. Assim, nenhuma criatura foi deixada viva. Então, ele queimou Hazor.

¹² Josué tomou todas as cidades daqueles reis. Ele também capturou todos aqueles reis e os feriu ao fio da espada. Destruiu-os completamente, assim como Moisés, o servo de Yahweh, havia ordenado. ¹³ Israel não queimou nenhuma cidade construída nos montes, exceto Hazor, que Josué queimou.

¹⁴ O exército de Israel apossou-se de todos os despojos dessas cidades, juntamente com o gado deles. Eles mataram todos os seres humanos ao fio da espada, até que todos morressem. Eles não deixaram sobreviver nenhuma criatura que respirasse. ¹⁵ Assim como Yahweh havia ordenado ao seu servo Moisés, do mesmo modo, Moisés ordenou a Josué, e assim Josué fez. Ele não deixou de fazer nada daquilo que Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés.

¹⁶ Josué tomou toda aquela terra, a região montanhosa, todo o Neguebe, toda a terra de Gósen, as encostas das montanhas, o vale do rio Jordão, a região montanhosa de Israel, e a baixada. ¹⁷ Desde o monte Halaque, perto de Seir, e indo para o norte até Baal-Gade no vale perto do Líbano, abaixo da montanha de Hermom, ele capturou todos os seus reis e os matou.

¹⁸ Josué travou batalhas por um longo tempo com todos esses reis. ¹⁹ Não houve cidade que fizesse paz com o exército de Israel, exceto os heveus que viviam em Gibeão. Israel tomou todas as cidades restantes nas batalhas. ²⁰ Porque foi Yahweh que endureceu os seus corações para saírem à guerra contra Israel, para que fossem completamente destruídos, sem misericórdia, assim como Ele havia ordenado a Moisés.

²¹ Josué veio naquele tempo e destruiu os anaqueus, da região montanhosa de Hebrom, de Debir, de Anabe, de toda a região montanhosa de Judá, e de toda a região montanhosa de Israel. Josué os destruiu completamente com as suas cidades. ²² Nenhum dos anaqueus foi deixado na terra de Israel, exceto em Gaza, em Gate e em Asdode.

²³ Assim, Josué tomou toda essa terra, como Yahweh dissera a Moisés. Josué a deu como herança a Israel, repartindo-a segundo cada uma de suas tribos. Então, a terra descansou da guerra.

Capítulo 12

¹ Ora, estes são os reis da terra, aos quais os homens de Israel derrotaram. Os israelitas possuíram as terras ao lado oeste do Jordão, no lado que o sol nasce, desde o vale do rio Arnom até o monte Hermom, e toda a Arabá do leste: ² Siom, rei dos amorreus que habitava em Hesbom, dominava desde Aroer, que está à borda do vale de Arnom, e desde o meio do vale, e metade de Gileade, até o ribeiro de Jaboque, na fronteira dos amonitas;

³ Siom também governava a Arabá oriental, até o mar de Quinerete, e até o mar da Arabá (o mar Salgado), incluindo o caminho de Bete-Jesimote; e, ao sul, alcançava as encostas do monte Pisga. ⁴ Ogue, o rei de Basã, era remanescente dos refains, que habitava em Astarote e em Edrei. ⁵ Ele dominava o monte Hermom, Salca, e toda a Basã, até a fronteira dos povos gesureus e dos maacateus, e metade de Gileade, até a fronteira de Siom, rei de Hesbom.

⁶ Moisés, servo de Yahweh, e o povo de Israel os derrotou; e Moisés, servo de Yahweh, distribuiu a terra como posse entre os rubenitas, os gaditas, e a meia-tribo de Manassés.

⁷ Estes são os reis da terra que Josué e o povo de Israel derrotaram, no lado oeste do Jordão, desde Baal-Gade, no vale perto do Líbano, até o monte Halaque perto de Edom. Josué deu a terra para as tribos de Israel para tomarem posse. ⁸ Deu-lhes a região montanhosa, a baixada, a Arabá, as encostas das montanhas, o deserto e o Neguebe: a terra dos heteus, amorreus, cananeus, perizeus, heveus e dos jebuseus.

⁹ Os reis derrotados foram os seguintes: o rei de Jericó, o rei de Ai, que está ao lado de Betel, ¹⁰ o rei de Jerusalém, o rei de Hebrom, ¹¹ o rei de Jarmute, o rei de Laquis, ¹² o rei de Eglom, o rei de Gezer,

¹³ o rei de Debir, e o rei de Geder, ¹⁴ o rei de Hormá, o rei de Arade, ¹⁵ o rei de Libna, e o rei de Adulão, ¹⁶ o rei de Maqueda, o rei de Betel,

¹⁷ o rei de Tapua, o rei de Hefer, ¹⁸ o rei de Afeque, o rei de Lassarom, ¹⁹ o rei de Madom, o rei de Hazor, ²⁰ o rei de Sinrom-Merom, o rei de Acsafe,

²¹ o rei de Taanaque, o rei do Megido, ²² o rei de Quedes, o rei do Jocneão do Carmelo, ²³ o rei de Dor, na colina de Dor, o rei de Goim, em Gilgal, ²⁴ e o rei de Tirza. Ao todo, trinta e um reis.

Capítulo 13

¹ Josué estava bem idoso quando Yahweh lhe disse: "Tu estás bem idoso, mas ainda há muitas terras para conquistar.

² Esta é a terra que ainda resta: todas as regiões dos filisteus e todas as dos gesureus; ³ desde Sior, que está ao leste do Egito, e ao norte até a fronteira de Ecrom, que é considerada propriedade dos cananeus; os cinco governantes filisteus: o de Gaza, o de Asdode, o de Asquelom, o de Gate e o de Ecrom — o território dos aveus.

⁴ No sul, ainda restam todas as terras dos cananeus, desde Meara, pertencente aos sidônios, até Afeca, na fronteira dos amorreus; ⁵ bem como a terra dos gebalitas e todo o Líbano; no leste, desde Baal-Gade, ao pé do monte Hermom até Lebo-Hamate;

⁶ também, todos os habitantes das regiões montanhosas desde o Líbano até Misrefote-Maim, incluindo todo o povo de Sidom. Eu os expulsarei diante do exército de Israel. Certifica-te de distribuir a terra a Israel, como uma herança, como te ordenei. ⁷ Distribui esta terra como herança às nove tribos e à meia tribo de Manassés".

⁸ Com a outra meia tribo de Manassés, os rubenitas e os gaditas já haviam recebido sua herança que Moisés dera a eles, no lado leste do Jordão, ⁹ desde Aroer, que está à borda do vale do rio Arnom (incluindo a cidade que está no meio do vale), e todo o planalto de Medeba até Dibom;

¹⁰ todas as cidades de Siom, rei dos amorreus, que reinou em Hesbom, até a fronteira dos amonitas; ¹¹ e Gileade, a região dos gesureus e maacateus, todo o monte Hermom, toda a Basã até Salca; ¹² todo o reino de Ogue, em Basã, que reinou em Astarote e Edrei — esses são os que restaram dos refains — que Moisés derrotou e expulsou.

¹³ Mas o povo de Israel não expulsou os gesureus nem os maacateus. Ao invés disso, eles vivem no meio de Israel até o dia de hoje.

¹⁴ Somente à tribo de Levi que Moisés não deu herança. As ofertas queimadas para Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, são a sua herança, como Deus dissera a Moisés.

¹⁵ Moisés deu uma herança à tribo de Rúben, conforme os seus clãs. ¹⁶ O território deles incluía desde Aroer, que está à beira do rio Arnom, a cidade que está no meio do vale, e todo o planalto até Medeba;

¹⁷ Rúben também recebeu Hesbom, e todas as cidades que estão no planalto: Dibom, Bamote-Baal, Bete-Baal-Meom, ¹⁸ Jaza, Quedemote, Mefaate, ¹⁹ Quiriataim, Sibma e Zerete-Saar, no monte do vale;

²⁰ Rúben recebeu, também, Bete-Peor, as encostas do monte Pisga e Bete-Jesimote; ²¹ todas as cidades do planalto e todo o reino de Siom, rei dos amorreus, que reinou em Hesbom, o qual Moisés havia derrotado juntamente com os líderes de Midiã, Evi, Requém, Zur, Hur e Reba, líderes de Siom, que haviam habitado na terra.

²² O povo de Israel também matou, com espada, Balaão, filho de Beor, que praticava adivinhações, dentre aqueles que eles haviam matado. ²³ A fronteira da tribo de Rúben é o rio Jordão. Essa foi a herança da tribo de Rúben, dada a cada família, incluindo suas cidades e povoados.

²⁴ Moisés deu como herança à tribo de Gade, segundo os seus clãs: ²⁵ o território de Jazer, todas as cidades de Gileade, incluindo a metade da terra dos amonitas, até Aroer, que está ao leste de Rabá; ²⁶ desde Hesbom até Ramá-Mispá e Betonim, desde Maanaim até a região de Debir.

²⁷ Ainda, no vale, Moisés lhes deu Bete-Arã, Bete-Ninra, Sucote e Zafom, o restante do reinado de Siom, rei de Hesbom, tendo o rio Jordão como fronteira, até a extremidade do mar de Quinerete, do lado oriental do Jordão. ²⁸ Essa foi a herança da tribo de Gade, segundo seus clãs, incluindo suas cidades e povoados.

²⁹ À meia-tribo de Manassés, Moisés deu uma herança distribuída segundo seus clãs. ³⁰ O território dela incluía desde Maanaim, toda a Basã, todo o reino de Ogue, rei de Basã, e todos os povoados de Jair, que estão em Basã, sessenta ao todo; ³¹ e a metade de Gileade, Astarote e Edrei (cidades do reino de Ogue, em Basã). Essa foi a herança repartida às famílias dos descendentes de Maquir, filho de Manassés, isto é, à metade do povo de Maquir.

³² Essa foi a herança que Moisés distribuiu nas planícies de Moabe, além do Jordão, ao leste de Jericó. ³³ Moisés não deu nenhuma herança para a tribo de Levi. Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, é a sua herança, como já lhes havia dito.

Capítulo 14

¹ Estas são as áreas que o povo de Israel recebeu como herança na terra de Canaã, distribuídas a eles por Eleazar, o sacerdote, por Josué, filho de Num, e pelos líderes dos clãs das tribos dentre o povo de Israel.

² A sua herança foi repartida por sorteio entre as nove tribos e meia, assim como Yahweh havia ordenado por intermédio de Moisés. ³ Porque Moisés já havia dado a herança das duas tribos e meia além do Jordão, mas não deu aos levitas herança alguma. ⁴ A tribo de José era, na verdade, duas tribos: Manassés e Efraim. Mas nenhuma parte da herança na terra foi dada aos levitas, exceto algumas cidades para que habitassem, e os seus arredores para o seu gado e para os seus bens materiais. ⁵ O povo de Israel fez como Yahweh havia ordenado a Moisés e, assim, repartiram a terra.

⁶ Então, a tribo de Judá veio até Josué em Gilgal. Calebe, filho de Jefoné, o quenezeu, disse-lhe: "Tu sabes o que Yahweh disse a Moisés, homem de Deus, a respeito de nós em Cades-Barneia. ⁷ Eu tinha quarenta anos quando Moisés, servo de Yahweh, me enviou de Cades-Barneia para espionar a terra. Eu lhe trouxe um relatório conforme estava no meu coração para fazer.

⁸ Porém, meus irmãos que subiram comigo fizeram o coração do povo derreter de medo. Mas eu perseverei em seguir Yahweh, meu Deus. ⁹ Moisés jurou naquele dia, dizendo: 'Certamente, a terra que pisou o teu pé será herança para ti e para teus filhos para sempre, porque seguiste completamente a Yahweh, meu Deus'.

¹⁰ Agora, eis que Yahweh me conservou vivo durante estes quarenta e cinco anos como Ele prometeu. Yahweh falou esta palavra a Moisés quando Israel ainda peregrinava no deserto. Hoje estou com oitenta e cinco anos de idade. ¹¹ E ainda sou tão forte hoje como era no dia em que Moisés me enviou. Tenho tanta força agora para guerrear, para ir e para vir, como eu tinha antes.

¹² Agora, dá-me essa região montanhosa que Yahweh me prometeu naquele dia. Porque tu ouviste naquele dia que os anaqueus ali habitavam em grandes cidades fortificadas. Se Yahweh estiver comigo, eu os expulsarei, assim como Yahweh disse".

¹³ Então, Josué abençoou Calebe, filho de Jofoné, e deu-lhe Hebrom como herança. ¹⁴ Assim, Hebrom tornou-se herança de Calebe, filho de Jefoné, o quenezeu, até o dia de hoje, porque ele seguiu fielmente a Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ¹⁵ O nome de Hebrom, anteriormente, era Quiriate-Arba (Arba havia sido o maior homem entre os anaqueus). E a terra descansou da guerra.

Capítulo 15

¹ A terra distribuída à tribo dos filhos de Judá, segundo os seus clãs, estendia-se ao sul até a fronteira de Edom, com o deserto de Zim sendo a extremidade do lado sul. ² Sua fronteira do sul ia desde a extremidade do mar Salgado, da baía que estava voltada para o sul,

³ estendia-se para o sul até a colina de Acrabim e ia ao longo de Zim; subia pelo sul de Cades-Barneia, passando por Hezrom, e subia até Adar e virava para Carca. ⁴ Passava ao longo de Azmom, chegando até o ribeiro do Egito e terminava no mar. Essa era a sua fronteira do lado sul.

⁵ A fronteira oriental ia do mar Salgado até a foz do Jordão. A fronteira ao norte percorria desde a baía do mar até a foz do Jordão. ⁶ E subia até Bete-Hogla, passando ao longo do norte de Bete-Arabá. Então, subia até a pedra de Boã, o filho de Rúben.

⁷ Assim, a fronteira subia a Debir, desde o vale de Acor, e ia para o norte, em direção a Gilgal, que estava de frente à colina de Adumim, que ficava do lado sul do vale. Dali, a fronteira continuava ao longo das nascentes de En-Semes e ia até En-Rogel. ⁸ Então, a fronteira subia pelo vale de Ben-Hinom para o lado sul da cidade dos jebuseus (que é Jerusalém), e subia até o cume do monte que estava em frente do vale de Hinom, no lado oeste, no fim do vale dos refains, ao norte.

⁹ A fronteira estendia-se do topo das colinas até a fonte de Neftoa e, de lá, ia para as cidades do monte Efrom. Então, a fronteira estendia-se até Baalá, isto é, Quiriate-Jearim. ¹⁰ Dali, a fronteira circundava a oeste de Baalá ao Monte Seir, e passava ao longo do lado do monte Jearim ao norte, isto é, Quesalom, descia para Bete-Semes e passava ao longo de Timna.

¹¹ A fronteira ia ao lado norte da colina de Ecrom, e então curvava-se para Siquerom e passava ao longo do monte Baalá, de onde ia a Jabneel. A fronteira acabava no mar. ¹² A fronteira ocidental era o grande Mar e a sua costa. Esta é a fronteira ao redor da tribo de Judá, clã por clã.

¹³ De acordo com o mandamento de Yahweh a Josué, Josué deu a Calebe, filho de Jefoné, uma porção de terra entre a tribo de Judá, Quiriate-Arba, que é Hebrom (Arba era o pai de Anaque). ¹⁴ Calebe expulsou dali os três filhos de Anaque: Sesai, Aimã e Talmai, descendentes de Anaque. ¹⁵ Ele subiu dali contra os habitantes de Debir (o nome de Debir era Quiriate-Sefer).

¹⁶ Calebe disse: “O homem que atacar Quiriate-Sefer e a tomar, para este darei Acsa, minha filha, como esposa”. ¹⁷ Otoniel, filho de Quenaz, irmão de Calebe, a tomou. Então Calebe deu a ele Acsa, sua filha, como esposa.

¹⁸ Depois, quando Acsa foi até Otoniel, ela o persuadiu para que pedisse a seu pai um campo. Quando ela saltou de seu jumento, Calebe perguntou-lhe: “O que queres?”.

¹⁹ Acsa respondeu-lhe: “Faze-me um favor especial. Já que tu me deste a terra de Neguebe, dá-me também algumas fontes d'água”. E Calebe lhe deu as fontes superiores e as fontes inferiores.

²⁰ Esta foi a herança da tribo de Judá, segundo os seus clãs.

²¹ As cidades pertencentes à tribo de Judá no extremo sul em direção à fronteira de Edom, eram: Cabzeel, Eder, Jagur, ²² Quiná, Dimona, Adada, ²³ Quedes, Hazor, Itnã, ²⁴ Zife, Telem, Bealote.

²⁵ Hazor-Hadada, Queriote-Hezrom (também conhecida como Hazor), ²⁶ Amã, Sema, Molada, ²⁷ Hazar-Gada, Hesmom, Bete-Pelete, ²⁸ Hazar-Sual, Berseba, Biziotiá.

²⁹ Baalá, Iim, Ezem, ³⁰ Eltolade, Quesil, Hormá, ³¹ Ziclague, Madmana, Sansana, ³² Lebaote, Silim, Aim e Rimom. Eram, ao todo, vinte e nove cidades, incluindo os seus vilarejos.

³³ Na região montanhosa mais baixa a oeste, havia Estaol, Zorá, Asná, ³⁴ Zanoa, En-Ganim, Tapua, Enã, ³⁵ Jarmute, Adulão, Socó, Azeca, ³⁶ Saraim, Aditaim, Gedera (que é, Gederotaim). Eram catorze cidades, incluindo os seus vilarejos.

³⁷ Zenã, Hadasa, Midgal-Gade, ³⁸ Dileã, Mispá, Jocteel, ³⁹ Laquis, Bozcate, Eglom.

⁴⁰ Cabom, Laamás, Quitlis, ⁴¹ Gederote, Bete-Dagom, Naama e Maqueda. Eram dezesseis cidades, incluindo os seus vilarejos.

⁴² Libna, Eter, Asã, ⁴³ Iftá, Asná, Nezibe, ⁴⁴ Queila, Aczibe e Maressa. Eram nove cidades, incluindo os seus vilarejos.

⁴⁵ Ecrom, com suas cidades e vilarejos ao redor, ⁴⁶ de Ecrom ao grande Mar, todos os seus assentamentos que eram perto de Asdode, incluindo seus vilarejos. ⁴⁷ Asdode, e as cidades e vilarejos ao redor, Gaza, com as suas cidades e vilarejos, para o ribeiro do Egito, e o grande Mar com sua costa.

⁴⁸ Na região montanhosa, Samir, Jatir, Socó, ⁴⁹ Daná, Quiriate-Saná (isto é, Debir), ⁵⁰ Anabe, Estemó, Anim, ⁵¹ Gosén, Holom e Gilo. Estas eram as onze cidades, incluindo os seus vilarejos.

⁵² Arabe, Dumá, Esã, ⁵³ Janim, Bete-Tapua, Afeca, ⁵⁴ Hunta, Quiriate-Arba (isto é, Hebrom) e Zior. Estas eram nove cidades, incluindo os seus vilarejos.

⁵⁵ Maom, Carmelo, Zife, Jutá, ⁵⁶ Jezreel, Jocdeão, Zanoa, ⁵⁷ Caim, Gibeá e Timna. Estas eram as dez cidades, incluindo os seus vilarejos.

⁵⁸ Halul, Bete-Zur, Gedor, ⁵⁹ Maarate, Bete-Anote e Eltecom. Estas eram seis cidades, incluindo os seus vilarejos.

⁶⁰ Quiriate-Baal (que é, Quiriate-Jearim), e Rabá. Eram duas cidades, incluindo os seus vilarejos. ⁶¹ No deserto, eram Bete-Arabá, Midim, Secaca, ⁶² Nibsã, a cidade do Sal, e En-Gedi. Eram seis cidades, incluindo os seus vilarejos.

⁶³ Porém, quanto aos jebuseus, os habitantes de Jerusalém, a tribo de Judá não os pôde expulsar. Assim, os jebuseus viveram com a tribo de Judá até o dia de hoje.

Capítulo 16

¹ A terra distribuída à tribo de José se estendia desde o Jordão até Jericó, ao leste das nascentes de Jericó, pelo deserto que sobe de Jericó através da região montanhosa de Betel. ² Ia de Betel até Luz e passava pela região dos arquitas até Atarote.

³ Então, descia para o oeste até o território dos jafletitas, até o território de Bete-Horom inferior, até Gezer, indo terminar no mar. ⁴ Assim, as tribos de José, Manassés e Efraim receberam sua herança.

⁵ A região da tribo de Efraim foi distribuída segundo seus clãs como segue: a fronteira da sua herança para o leste ia de Atarote-Adar até Bete-Horom superior, ⁶ e, dali, continuava até o mar. De Micmetá, ao norte, virava para o leste até Taanate-Siló e, passando por ela, a leste de Janoa; ⁷ E de Janoa descia até Atarote e Naarate, e chegava a Jericó, terminando no Jordão.

⁸ De Tapua, a borda se estendia para o oeste até o ribeiro de Caná e terminava no mar. Essa é a herança da tribo de Efraim, segundo seus clãs, ⁹ juntamente com as cidades que foram escolhidas para a tribo de Efraim que estavam no meio da herança da tribo de Manassés, todas as cidades, assim como suas vilas.

¹⁰ Eles não expulsaram os cananeus que habitavam em Gezer; então, os cananeus ficaram vivendo entre os efraimitas até o dia de hoje; porém, sujeitos a trabalho forçado.

Capítulo 17

¹ Esta foi a terra distribuída à tribo de Manassés (o qual era o primogênito de José), isto é, a Maquir, o primogênito de Manassés, pai de Gileade. Aos descendentes de Maquir, que era homem de guerra, foi distribuída a terra de Gileade e Basã. ² A terra também foi dada por herança aos outros filhos de Manassés, conforme seus clãs, isto é, aos descendentes de Abiezer, Heleque, Asriel, Siquém, Hefer e Semida. Esses foram os descendentes machos de Manassés, filho de José, segundo seus clãs.

³ Mas Zelofeade, filho de Hefer, filho de Gileade, filho de Maquir, filho de Manassés, não teve filhos, somentes filhas. Estes foram os nomes das suas filhas: Maalá, Noa, Hogla, Milca e Tirza. ⁴ Elas se apresentaram a Eleazar, o sacerdote, a Josué, filho de Num, e aos líderes, e disseram: "Yahweh ordenou a Moisés que nos desse herança entre os nossos irmãos". Então, seguindo a ordem de Yahweh, ele deu àquelas mulheres uma herança entre os irmãos do seu pai.

⁵ Manassés recebeu dez partes da terra em Gileade e Basã, a qual ficava do outro lado do Jordão, ⁶ por causa das filhas de Manassés que receberam herança entre os filhos dele. A terra de Gileade foi dividida entre o restante da tribo de Manassés.

⁷ O território de Manassés abrangia de Aser até Micmetá, que ficava ao leste de Siquém. Então, a fronteira estendia-se para o sul até os habitantes que moravam perto da fonte de Tapua. ⁸ (A terra de Tapua pertencia a Manassés, mas a cidade de Tapua, na fronteira de Manassés, pertencia à tribo de Efraim).

⁹ Depois, a fronteira descia ao longo do riacho de Caná. Estas cidades do sul do riacho no meio de Manassés pertenceram a Efraim. A fronteira de Manassés estava no lado norte do riacho e finalizava no mar. ¹⁰ A terra do sul pertencia a Efraim e a terra do norte, a Manassés; o mar era sua fronteira. O lado norte estendia-se de Aser e, ao leste, até Issacar.

¹¹ Também em Issacar e Aser, Manassés recebeu Bete-Seã e suas vilas, Ibleão e suas vilas, os habitantes de Dor e suas vilas, os habitantes de En-Dor e suas vilas, os habitantes de Taanaque e suas vilas, e os habitantes de Megido e suas vilas (e a terceira cidade é Nafete). ¹² Contudo, a tribo de Manassés não pôde tomar posse daquelas cidades, pois os cananeus continuavam a habitar naquela terra.

¹³ Mas, quando o povo de Israel tornou-se forte, sujeitou os cananeus a trabalhos forçados; porém, não os expulsou completamente.

¹⁴ Então, os descendentes de José disseram a Josué: "Por que nos deste somente uma porção de terra e uma porção por herança, visto que somos um povo grande em número e Yahweh sempre nos tem abençoado?". ¹⁵ Josué lhes disse: "Se sois um povo numeroso, subi vós mesmos à floresta e limpai um local para vós na terra dos perizeus e dos refains, já que as colinas de Efraim são pequenas demais para vós".

¹⁶ E os descendentes de José disseram: "A região montanhosa não é suficiente para nós. Porém, todos os cananeus que vivem no vale têm carros de ferro, tanto os de Bete-Seã e suas vilas, como os que estão no vale de Jezreel". ¹⁷ Então, Josué disse à casa de José, isto é, a Efraim e a Manassés: "Vós sois um povo numeroso e tendes grande poder. Não tereis apenas uma porção de terra distribuída. ¹⁸ A região montanhosa também será vossa. Embora seja uma floresta, vós a limpareis e tomareis posse dela até as suas fronteiras mais distantes. Expulsareis os cananeus, mesmo que eles tenham carros de ferro e sejam fortes".

Capítulo 18

¹ Então, toda a congregação de Israel se reuniu em Siló. Ali estabeleceram a Tenda do Encontro e conquistaram a terra diante deles. ² Havia sete tribos dentre os filhos de Israel que ainda não tinham recebido a sua herança.

³ Josué disse aos filhos de Israel: "Por quanto tempo adiareis a entrada e a posse da terra que Yahweh, Deus de vossos antepassados, vos deu? ⁴ Nomeai entre vós três homens de cada tribo, e eu os enviarei. Eles explorarão a terra de cima a baixo e escreverão uma descrição com a demarcação de sua herança. Então, retornarão a mim.

⁵ Eles dividirão a terra em sete partes. Judá permanecerá em seu território no sul, e a casa de José continuará em seu território no norte. ⁶ Demarcareis a terra em sete partes e me trareis a sua descrição para que eu vos faça um sorteio diante de Yahweh, nosso Deus.

⁷ Os levitas não têm parte no meio de vós, pois o sacerdócio de Yahweh é sua herança. Gade, Rúben e a metade da tribo de Manassés já receberam sua herança além do Jordão. Esta é a herança que Moisés, o servo de Yahweh, lhes deu”.

⁸ Então, os homens se levantaram e se foram. Josué ordenou àqueles que demarcariam a terra, dizendo: "Levantai-vos, descei à terra, fazei uma descrição dela e, então, voltai a mim. Eu vos farei um sorteio diante de Yahweh em Siló". ⁹ Os homens saíram e caminharam de um lado para o outro na terra e fizeram, em um rolo, uma descrição de suas cidades, em sete seções, listando-as em cada seção. Então, voltaram a Josué no acampamento de Siló.

¹⁰ Ali, Josué fez-lhes um sorteio diante de Yahweh. Assim, Josué designou a terra para o povo de Israel. A cada um deles foi dada a sua porção da terra.

¹¹ Saiu, por sorteio, a designação da terra para a tribo de Benjamim, clã por clã. E o território sorteado estava localizado entre os descendentes de Judá e os descendentes de José. ¹² No lado norte, suas fronteiras começavam no Jordão. A fronteira ia da encosta, ao norte de Jericó, e atravessava as regiões montanhosas do lado oeste. E alcançava o deserto de Bete-Áven.

¹³ De lá, a fronteira passava ao longo do sul na direção de Luz (o mesmo lugar que Betel) e, então, descia para Atarote-Adar, pela encosta do monte que está ao sul de Bete-Horom. ¹⁴ E a fronteira, então, ia em outra direção: no lado oeste, ela fazia uma curva para o sul, em direção do monte que está diante de Bete-Horom. E chegava a Quiriate-Baal (que é Quiriate-Jearim), uma cidade que pertencia à tribo de Judá. Assim era a fronteira do lado oeste.

¹⁵ O lado sul começava do lado de fora de Quiriate-Jearim. A fronteira ia até Efrom, até a fonte das águas de Neftoa. ¹⁶ A fronteira descia para a extremidade do monte que está na frente do vale de Ben-Hinom, o qual está no vale de refains, ao norte. E ia ao fim do vale de Hinom, para o sul do lado dos jebuseus, e descia até En-Rogel.

¹⁷ Passando para o norte, indo em direção de En-Semes e, de lá, para Gelilote, que está defronte da subida de Adumim. E descia até a pedra de Boã, filho de Rúben. ¹⁸ Passava pela encosta norte, margeando Bete Arabá, descendo até Arabá.

¹⁹ A fronteira passava na margem norte de Bete-Hogla, e seus extremos chegavam à baía norte do mar Salgado, ao fim do lado sul do Jordão. Esta era a fronteira do sul. ²⁰ O Jordão formava a fronteira do lado leste. Esta foi a herança da tribo de Benjamim, e foi-lhes dada, nos arredores, fronteiras por fronteiras, de acordo com os seus clãs.

²¹ As cidades da tribo de Benjamim conforme os seus clãs eram: Jericó, Bete-Hogla, Emeque-Queziz, ²² Bete-Arabá, Zemaraim, Betel, ²³ Avim, Pará, Ofra, ²⁴ Quefar-Ha-Amonai, Ofni e Gaba. Eram doze cidades, sem contar os vilarejos.

²⁵ Também havia as cidades de Gibeão, Ramá, Beerote, ²⁶ Mispá, Cefira, Moza, ²⁷ Requém, Irpeel, Tarala, ²⁸ Zela, Elefe, Jebus (isto é, Jerusalém), Gibeá e Quiriate. Havia catorze cidades, sem contar seus vilarejos. Essa é a herança de Benjamim para seus clãs.

Capítulo 19

¹ A segunda sorte saiu para Simeão, e foi distribuída a cada um segundo seus clãs. Sua herança estava no meio da que pertencia à tribo de Judá.

² E tiveram por herança Berseba, Seba, Molada, ³ Hazar-Sual, Balá, Ezem, ⁴ Eltolade, Betul e Hormá.

⁵ Simeão ainda recebeu Ziclague, Bete-Mercabote, Hazar-Susa, ⁶ Bete-Lebaote e Saruém; estas treze cidades incluíam seus povoados. ⁷ Simeão também recebeu Aim, Rimon, Eter e Asã; estas quatro cidades, incluindo seus povoados.

⁸ Todos estes, inclusive os vilarejos que estavam ao redor dessas cidades, até Baalate-Ber (que é Ramá do Neguebe). Essa foi a herança da tribo de Simeão, distribuída segundo seus clãs. ⁹ A herança da tribo de Simeão fazia parte do território da tribo de Judá. Por causa do grande tamanho da terra distribuída à tribo de Judá, a tribo de Simeão recebeu sua herança no meio da porção deles.

¹⁰ A terceira sorte saiu para a tribo de Zebulom, e foi distribuída segundo seus clãs. A fronteira de sua herança começava em Saride; ¹¹ a fronteira subia pelo oeste até Marala e tocava em Dabesete; dali, se estendia até o ribeiro próximo a Jocneão.

¹² De Saride, a fronteira seguia para o leste até o limite com Quislote-Tabor. ¹³ Dali, passava para o leste até Gate-Hefer e Ete-Cazim; depois, chegava a Rimom-Metoar e virava-se para Neá.

¹⁴ A fronteira norte se voltava em direção a Hanatom e terminava no vale de Iftael. ¹⁵ Esta região inclui as cidades de Catate, Naalal, Sinrom, Idala, e Belém. Eram doze cidades, incluindo seus povoados. ¹⁶ Essa foi a herança da tribo de Zebulom, segundo seus clãs, as cidades e os seus povoados.

¹⁷ A quarta sorte saiu para Issacar, segundo os seus clãs. ¹⁸ E seu território incluía Jezreel, Quesulote, Suném, ¹⁹ Hafaraim, Siom e Anaarate.

²⁰ Também incluía Rabite, Quisiom, Abes, ²¹ Remete, En-Ganim, En-Hada e Bete-Pazez. ²² A fronteira deles chegava até Tabor, Saazima, e Bete-Semes, e terminava no Jordão; eram dezesseis cidades e os seus povoados.

²³ Essa foi a herança da tribo de Issacar, segundo seus clãs; as cidades, incluindo seus povoados.

²⁴ A quinta sorte saiu para a tribo de Aser, segundo seus clãs. ²⁵ O seu território incluía Helcate, Hali, Bétem, Acsafe, ²⁶ Alameleque, Amade, e Misal. A sua fronteira se estendia ao oeste para Carmelo e Sior-Libnate.

²⁷ Depois se virava ao leste para Bete-Dagom e ia até Zebulom; e, então, para o vale de Iftael, ao norte até Bete-Emeque e Neiel; e chegava até Cabul em direção ao norte, ²⁸ e se estendia até Ebrom, Reobe, Hamom, e Caná, até a grande Sidom.

²⁹ A fronteira voltava-se em direção a Ramá; dali, para a cidade fortificada de Tiro; então, tornava-se para Hosa e, de lá, para o mar, na região de Aczibe, ³⁰ Umá, Afeca, e Reobe. Eram vinte e duas cidades, com seus povoados.

³¹ Essa foi a herança da tribo de Aser, segundo seus clãs, as cidades e seus povoados.

³² A sexta sorte saiu para a tribo de Naftali, segundo seus clãs. ³³ A fronteira deles ia desde Helefe, desde o carvalho até Zaananim, para Adâmi-Nequebe e Jabneel, assim como Lacum, e terminava no Jordão. ³⁴ A fronteira virava-se para o ocidente para Aznote-Tabor e ia para Hucoque; e chegava a Zebulom, no sul, e alcançava Aser no lado oeste e Judá a leste, à margem do rio Jordão.

³⁵ As cidades fortalecidas foram Zidim, Zer, Hamate, Recate, Quinerete, ³⁶ Adama, Ramá, Hazor. ³⁷ Quedes, Edrei, En-Hazor.

³⁸ Existiam também Irom, Migdal-El, Horem, Bete-Anate, e Bete-Semes. Eram dezenove cidades, com seus povoados. ³⁹ Essa foi a herança da tribo de Naftali, segundo seus clãs, as e cidades, incluindo seus povoados.

⁴⁰ A sétima sorte saiu para a tribo de Dã, segundo seus clãs. ⁴¹ O território de sua herança incluía Zorá, Estaol, Ir-Semes, ⁴² Saalabim, Aijalom, e Itla.

⁴³ Também incluía Elom, Timnate, Ecrom, ⁴⁴ Elteque, Gibetom, Baalate, ⁴⁵ Jeúde, Bene-Beraque, Gate-Rimom, ⁴⁶ Me-Jarcom, e Racom com o território defronte de Jope.

⁴⁷ O território da tribo de Dã foi pequeno para eles; então, os descendentes de Dã atacaram Lesem, lutaram contra ela, e a conquistaram. Eles mataram todos com espada, tomaram posse da terra, e se apoderaram dela. Eles mudaram o nome de Lesem, e a chamaram de Dã por causa de seu antepassado. ⁴⁸ Esta foi a herança da tribo de Dã, segundo seus clãs, e as cidades, incluindo seus povoados.

⁴⁹ Quando terminaram de repartir suas terras como herança, o povo de Israel deu uma herança dentre eles para Josué, filho de Num. ⁵⁰ Por ordem de Yahweh, eles lhe deram a cidade que ele pediu: Timnate-Sera, na região montanhosa de Efraim. Ele a reconstruiu e ali morou.

⁵¹ Estas foram as heranças que Eleazar, o sacerdote, Josué, filho de Num, e os líderes tribais de famílias de seus antepassados dentro do povo de Israel, distribuíram, por sorteio, em Siló, diante de Yahweh, na entrada da Tenda do Encontro. Assim, eles terminaram de repartir a terra.

Capítulo 20

¹ Então, Yahweh disse a Josué: ² "Fala ao povo de Israel, dizendo: 'Designai as cidades de refúgio de que Eu vos falei por meio de Moisés. ³ Fazei isto para que alguém que tenha matado uma pessoa involuntariamente possa ir para lá. Essas cidades serão lugar de refúgio contra qualquer um que procura vingar o sangue de alguém que foi morto.

⁴ Aquele que matou correrá para uma dessas cidades, ficará à entrada do seu portão e explicará seu caso aos anciãos daquela cidade. Então, eles o levarão para dentro da cidade e lhes darão um lugar para habitar entre eles.

⁵ E, se alguém vier tentar vingar o sangue de quem foi morto, as pessoas da cidade não lhe entregarão aquele que matou. Eles não o farão, pois matou seu próximo sem intenção e não tinha nenhum ódio por ele anteriormente. ⁶ O homicida deve permanecer naquela cidade até que compareça diante da assembleia para julgamento, e ali permanecerá até a morte do sumo sacerdote que estava servindo naqueles dias. Então, aquele que, acidentalmente, matou alguém poderá voltar à sua própria cidade e à sua casa, à cidade de onde fugiu'".

⁷ Então, os israelitas designaram Quedes, na Galileia, na região montanhosa de Naftali; Siquém, na região montanhosa de Efraim; e Queriate-Arba (que é Hebrom), na região montanhosa de Judá. ⁸ Além do Jordão, a leste de Jericó, designaram Bezer, no deserto no planalto da tribo de Rúben; Ramote, em Gileade, da tribo de Gade; e Golã, em Basã, da tribo de Manassés.

⁹ Essas foram as cidades designadas para todo o povo de Israel e para os forasteiros que habitam entre eles, para que aquele que matar alguém, sem intenção, possa fugir até elas, buscando segurança. Esse não morrerá pela mão daquele que deseja vingar o sangue que foi derramado, sem haver sido apresentado à assembleia para ser julgado.

Capítulo 21

¹ Então, os líderes tribais dos levitas foram até Eleazar, o sacerdote, e a Josué, filho de Num, e até os líderes das famílias de seus antepassados dentro do povo de Israel. ² E disseram-lhes em Siló, na terra de Canaã: "Yahweh vos ordenou, pela mão de Moisés, que nos désseis cidades para nela habitar, e pastagens para o nosso gado".

³ Então, pela ordem de Yahweh, o povo de Israel deu de suas heranças aos levitas as seguintes cidades e seus pastos:

⁴ O clã dos coatitas foi sorteado. Assim, os sacerdotes, os descendentes de Arão, que eram dos levitas, receberam treze cidades da tribo de Judá, da tribo de Simeão, e da tribo de Benjamim. ⁵ As outras famílias do clã coatita receberam, por meio de sorteio, dez cidades dos clãs das tribos de Efraim, Dã e da metade da tribo de Manassés.

⁶ E os descendentes de Gérson, por sorteio, receberam treze cidades dos clãs das tribos de Issacar, Aser, Naftali e da metade da tribo de Manassés em Basã. ⁷ O povo que era descendente de Merari, clã por clã, recebeu doze cidades das tribos de Rúben, Gade e Zebulom.

⁸ Assim, o povo de Israel deu essas cidades, incluindo os seus pastos, para os levitas, através de sorteio, como Yahweh os havia ordenado pela mão de Moisés. ⁹ Das tribos de Judá e Simeão, eles designaram mais algumas cidades da terra, aqui listadas por nome. ¹⁰ Elas foram dadas aos descendentes de Arão, que estavam entre os clãs dos coatitas, que eram da tribo de Levi. Porque eles foram os primeiros a serem sorteados.

¹¹ Os israelitas lhes deram Quiriate-Arba (Arba era o pai de Anaque), que é mesmo lugar que Hebrom, na região montanhosa de Judá, com as pastagens ao seu redor. ¹² Mas os campos da cidade e os seus vilarejos já haviam sido dados a Calebe, filho de Jefoné, como sua propriedade.

¹³ Para os descendentes de Arão, o sacerdote, deram Hebrom com suas pastagens, que era uma cidade de refúgio para quem matasse outro sem intenção, e Libna com suas pastagens, ¹⁴ Jatir com as suas pastagens e Estemoa com suas pastagens. ¹⁵ Também deram Holom com suas pastagens, Debir com suas pastagens, ¹⁶ Aim com suas pastagens, Jutá com os suas pastagens, Bete-Semes com suas pastagens. Foram dadas nove cidades dessas duas tribos.

¹⁷ Da tribo de Benjamim, foram dadas Gibeão com suas pastagens, Geba com suas pastagens, ¹⁸ Anatote com suas pastagens, e Almom com suas pastagens, quatro cidades. ¹⁹ As cidades que foram dadas aos sacerdotes, os descendentes de Arão, foram treze cidades ao todo, incluindo suas pastagens.

²⁰ Quanto ao restante das famílias dos filhos de Coate, levitas que pertencem aos clãs dos coatitas, receberam, por sorteio, estas cidades da tribo de Efraim: ²¹ Foram-lhes dadas Siquém com suas pastagens na região montanhosa de Efraim, cidade de refúgio para qualquer que matar alguém sem intenção, Gezer com suas pastagens, ²² Quibzaim com os suas pastagens e Bete-Horom com suas pastagens. Quatro cidades ao todo.

²³ Da tribo de Dã, foram dadas ao clã de Coate: Elteque com suas pastagens, Gibetom com suas pastagens, ²⁴ Aijalom com suas pastagens e Gate-Rimon com suas pastagens. Quatro cidades ao todo.

²⁵ Da meia tribo de Manassés, duas cidades foram dadas ao clã de Coate: Taanaque com suas pastagens e Gate-Rimon com suas pastagens. ²⁶ Houve dez cidades ao todo para os demais dos clãs coatitas, incluindo suas pastagens.

²⁷ Da meia tribo de Manassés, duas cidades foram dadas aos clãs de Gérson (que eram outros clãs de levitas): Golã, em Basã, com suas pastagens, uma cidade de refúgio para qualquer que matar alguém sem intenção, juntamente com Beesterá e suas pastagens.

²⁸ Para os clãs de Gérson também deram Quisiom, da tribo de Issacar, com suas pastagens, Daberate com suas pastagens, ²⁹ Jarmute com suas pastagens, e En-Ganim com suas pastagens. Quatro cidades ao todo. ³⁰ Da tribo de Aser, deram Misal com suas pastagens, Abdom com suas pastagens, ³¹ Helcate com suas pastagens, e Reobe com suas pastagens. Quatro cidades ao todo.

³² Da tribo de Naftali, foram dadas aos clãs de Gerson: Quedes com suas pastagens, na Galileia, cidade de refúgio para qualquer que matar alguém sem intenção; Hamote-Dor com suas pastagens, Cartã com os suas pastagens. Três cidades ao todo. ³³ Houve treze cidades ao todo, dos clãs de Gérson, incluindo suas pastagens.

³⁴ Para os demais levitas, os clãs de Merari, foram-lhes dadas da tribo de Zebulom: Jocneão com suas pastagens, Cartá com suas pastagens, ³⁵ Dimna com suas pastagens, e Naalal com suas pastagens. Quatro cidades ao todo.

³⁶ Para os clãs de Merari, quatro cidades foram dadas da tribo de Rúben: Bezer com suas pastagens, Jaza com suas pastagens, ³⁷ Quedemote com suas pastagens, Mefaate com suas pastagens. ³⁸ E, da tribo de Gade, foram-lhes dadas Ramote com suas pastagens, que fica em Gileade, cidade de refúgio para qualquer que matar alguém sem intenção, e Maanaim com suas pastagens.

³⁹ Aos clãs de Merari também foram dadas Hesbom com suas pastagens, e Jazer com suas pastagens. ⁴⁰ Todas essas cidades foram dadas aos vários clãs de Merari, que eram da tribo de Levi. Doze cidades ao todo lhes foram dadas por meio de sorteio.

⁴¹ As cidades dos levitas, localizadas no meio da terra que estava sob posse do povo de Israel, foram quarenta e oito cidades, incluindo suas pastagens. ⁴² Cada uma dessas cidades tinha suas pastagens ao redor. Assim foi com todas elas.

⁴³ Dessa maneira Yahweh deu a Israel toda a terra que Ele havia prometido dar aos seus antepassados. Os israelitas a possuíram e nela habitaram. ⁴⁴ Assim, Yahweh lhes deu descanso de todos os lados, conforme havia prometido aos seus antepassados. Nenhum de seus inimigos lhes pôde resistir. Yahweh entregou todos os seus inimigos nas suas mãos. ⁴⁵ Nenhuma das boas promessas que Yahweh falou para a casa de Israel falhou. Todas elas se cumpriram.

Capítulo 22

¹ Naquele momento, Josué chamou os rubenitas, os gaditas e a meia-tribo de Manassés. ² Ele lhes disse: "Vós tendes feito tudo o que Moisés, o servo de Yahweh, vos ordenou; vós tendes obedecido à minha voz em tudo o que vos ordenei. ³ Não abandonastes os vossos irmãos em momento nenhum desses muitos dias, até hoje. Em vez disso, vós tendes obedecido às instruções dos mandamentos de Yahweh, vosso Deus.

⁴ Agora Yahweh, vosso Deus, deu descanso a vossos irmãos, assim como lhes havia prometido. Portanto, voltai e ide para as vossas tendas em vossa própria terra, que Moisés, o servo de Yahweh, vos deu do outro lado do Jordão. ⁵ Apenas tende cuidado de guardar os mandamentos e a lei que Moisés, o servo de Yahweh, vos ordenou: amai Yahweh, vosso Deus, andai em Seus caminhos, guardai os Seus mandamentos, e apegai-vos a Ele, e servi-O com todo o vosso coração e com toda a vossa alma". ⁶ Então, Josué os abençoou e os despediu; e eles voltaram para suas tendas.

⁷ Para a meia-tribo de Manassés, Moisés dera por herança terras em Basã, mas para a outra metade, Josué deu herança entre seus irmãos, na terra ao oeste do Jordão. E Josué os enviou para suas tendas, e os abençoou, ⁸ dizendo: "Retornai para vossas tendas com muitas riquezas, rebanhos, prata e ouro, bronze e ferro, e com muitas vestes. Reparti com vossos irmãos o despojo dos vossos inimigos".

⁹ Então, os descendentes de Rúben, os descendentes de Gade e meia-tribo de Manassés voltaram para casa, deixando o povo de Israel em Siló, que está na terra de Canaã. Eles foram para a região de Gileade, para sua própria terra, da qual eles mesmos tomaram posse, em obediência ao mandamento de Yahweh, dado pelas mãos de Moisés.

¹⁰ Quando eles chegaram ao Jordão, na terra de Canaã, os rubenitas, os gaditas e a meia-tribo de Manassés edificaram um altar ao lado do Jordão, um altar grande e imponente. ¹¹ O povo de Israel ouviu sobre isso e disse: "Vede! Os povos de Rúben, Gade e da meia-tribo de Manassés edificaram um altar na frente da terra de Canaã, em Gileade, na região próxima ao Jordão, no lado pertencente ao povo de Israel".

¹² Quando o povo de Israel ouviu isso, toda a assembleia reuniu-se em Siló para fazer guerra contra eles.

¹³ Então, o povo de Israel enviou mensageiros aos rubenitas, aos gaditas e à meia-tribo de Manassés, na terra de Gileade. Eles também enviaram Finéias, filho de Eleazar, o sacerdote, ¹⁴ e, com ele, dez líderes, um de cada família das tribos de Israel, todos eles chefes de famílias entre os clãs de Israel.

¹⁵ Eles foram ao encontro dos povos de Rúben, Gade e da meia-tribo de Manassés, na terra de Gileade, e disseram-lhes: ¹⁶ "Toda a assembleia de Yahweh diz isto: 'Que desobediência é essa que vós cometestes contra o Deus de Israel, deixando de seguir Yahweh, edificando um altar para vos rebelardes hoje contra Yahweh?

¹⁷ Nosso pecado, em Peor, não bastou para nós? Até agora não nos purificamos dele. Por causa daquele pecado veio uma praga sobre a comunidade de Yahweh. ¹⁸ Vós abandonareis Yahweh no dia de hoje? Se vos rebelardes contra Yahweh hoje, amanhã Ele estará irado contra toda a comunidade de Israel.

¹⁹ Se a terra que recebestes está impura, então, passai para a terra onde fica o Tabernáculo de Yahweh e tomai posse de terras entre nós. Porém, não vos rebeleis contra Yahweh, nem contra nós, edificando um altar para vós, um altar que não seja o altar de Yahweh, nosso Deus. ²⁰ Não foi Acã, filho de Zerá, que quebrou a confiança em relação às coisas que foram reservadas para Deus? E não foi por isso que a ira caiu sobre o povo de Israel? Aquele homem não pereceu sozinho por sua iniquidade'".

²¹ Então, as tribos de Rúben, Gade e a meia-tribo de Manassés disseram em resposta aos cabeças dos clãs de Israel: ²² "O Poderoso Deus, Yahweh! O Poderoso Deus, Yahweh! Ele sabe e que Israel também saiba! Se isso foi em rebeldia ou infidelidade contra Yahweh, não nos poupe neste mesmo dia ²³ por termos edificado um altar para abandonar Yahweh. Se edificamos esse altar para oferecer holocausto, ofertas de cereais ou ofertas pacíficas, então, que Yahweh nos faça pagar por isso.

²⁴ Não! Nós o fizemos por receio de que, no futuro, os vossos filhos digam aos nossos filhos: 'O que tendes com Yahweh, o Deus de Israel?

²⁵ Pois Yahweh fez o Jordão como fronteira entre nós e vós. Vós, filhos de Rúben e filhos de Gade, não tendes parte com Yahweh'. Então, vossos filhos poderiam fazer com que os nossos filhos deixassem de adorar a Yahweh.

²⁶ Por isso, dissemos: 'Edifiquemos agora um altar, não para holocausto, nem para quaisquer sacrifícios, ²⁷ mas para ser testemunho entre nós e vós e entre as gerações futuras, para que cultuemos a Yahweh diante Dele, com nossos holocaustos, nossos sacrifícios e nossas ofertas pacíficas, para que os vossos filhos nunca digam aos nossos filhos, no futuro: 'Não tendes parte com Yahweh'.

²⁸ Então, dissemos: 'Se isto for dito a nós ou aos nossos descendentes, então diremos: Vede! Esta é uma cópia do altar de Yahweh, que nossos antepassados fizeram, não para holocaustos, nem para sacrifícios, mas como testemunho entre nós e vós’. ²⁹ Longe esteja de nós nos rebelarmos contra Yahweh e deixar de segui-Lo hoje, edificando um altar para holocaustos, ofertas de cereais ou para sacrifícios, além do altar de Yahweh, nosso Deus, que está perante o seu tabernáculo'".

³⁰ Quando Fineias, o sacerdote, e os líderes do povo, que são os cabeças dos clãs de Israel, ouviram as palavras que o povo de Rúben, Gade e Manassés disseram, isso foi agradável aos seus olhos. ³¹ Fineias, filho de Eleazar, o sacerdote, disse ao povo de Rúben, Gade e Manassés: "Hoje sabemos que Yahweh está entre nós, pois vós não fostes infiéis a Ele. Agora livrastes o povo de Israel da mão de Yahweh".

³² Assim, Fineias, filho de Eleazar, o sacerdote e os líderes retornaram do encontro dos rubenitas e dos gaditas, voltaram da terra de Gileade para a terra de Canaã, para o povo de Israel, e trouxeram resposta a eles. ³³ Sua resposta foi boa aos olhos do povo de Israel. O povo bendisse a Deus e não mais falou sobre fazer guerra contra os rubenitas e os gaditas, para destruir a terra na qual eles habitavam.

³⁴ Os rubenitas e os gaditas chamaram o altar de "Testemunho", pois disseram: "É um testemunho entre nós de que Yahweh é Deus".

Capítulo 23

¹ E depois de muitos dias, quando Yahweh deu descanso para Israel de todos os inimigos que o cercavam, Josué estava muito velho, de idade avançada. ² Josué chamou todo o Israel, com seus anciãos, seus líderes, seus juízes e seus oficiais e disse-lhes: "Eu estou muito velho. ³ Vós tendes visto tudo o que Yahweh, vosso Deus, fez a todas as nações para o vosso bem, pois foi Yahweh, vosso Deus, quem lutou por vós.

⁴ Vede! Eu distribuí entre vós as nações que restam ser conquistadas como uma herança para as vossas tribos, juntamente com todas as nações que já destruí, desde o Jordão até o grande Mar no oeste. ⁵ Yahweh, vosso Deus, as expulsará. Ele as expulsará de diante de vós. Ele tomará suas terras, e vós tomareis posse delas, assim como Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos prometeu.

⁶ Por isso, sede muito fortes, para que guardeis e façais assim como está escrito no Livro da Lei de Moisés, para que dela não desvieis nem para a direita, nem para a esquerda; ⁷ a fim de não vos misturardes com essas nações que restarem em vosso meio, nem mencionardes os nomes de seus deuses, nem jurardes por eles, nem os adorardes, nem vos prostrardes diante deles. ⁸ Mas apegai-vos a Yahweh, vosso Deus, assim como tendes feito até hoje.

⁹ Pois Yahweh expulsou de diante de vós grandes e poderosas nações. Ninguém foi capaz de vos resistir até hoje. ¹⁰ Um único homem dentre vós fará correr mil deles, pois Yahweh, vosso Deus, é Aquele que luta por vós, assim como Ele vos prometeu. ¹¹ Dedicai-vos a amar Yahweh, vosso Deus.

¹² Porém, se voltardes atrás e vos apegardes aos sobreviventes dessas nações que restarem no meio de vós, ou vos casardes com eles, ou vos unirdes com eles e eles convosco, ¹³ então, sabei que, certamente, Yahweh, vosso Deus, não mais expulsará essas nações do meio de vós. Em vez disso, elas se tornarão um laço e armadilha para vós, açoites para as vossas costas, e espinhos nos vossos olhos, até que pereçais nesta boa terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos deu.

¹⁴ Em breve, irei pelo caminho de toda a terra. Vós sabeis, de todo o vosso coração e alma, que nenhuma palavra falhou de todas as boas coisas que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos prometeu. Todas essas promessas se cumpriram. Nenhuma delas falhou. ¹⁵ Mas, assim como se cumpriu toda palavra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, prometeu, assim Yahweh trará sobre vós todo o mal, até que Ele vos tenha destruído sobre esta boa terra que Yahweh, vosso Deus, vos deu.

¹⁶ Ele fará isso se vós quebrardes a aliança de Yahweh, vosso Deus, a qual Ele ordenou que guardeis. Se adorardes outros deuses e vos prostardes diante deles, então, a ira de Yahweh se acenderá contra vós e, rapidamente, perecereis na boa terra que Ele vos deu".

Capítulo 24

¹ Então, Josué reuniu todas as tribos de Israel em Siquém, e chamou os anciãos de Israel, seus líderes, seus juízes e oficiais, e eles se apresentaram diante de Deus. ² Josué disse a todo o povo: "Isto é o que Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Vossos antepassados, Terá, pai de Abraão, e Naor viviam além do rio Eufrates, e adoravam outros deuses.

³ Porém, Eu tomei vosso pai Abraão de além do Eufrates e o conduzi para a terra de Canaã e lhe dei muitos descendentes através do seu filho Isaque. ⁴ E a Isaque dei Jacó e Esaú. Dei a Esaú a região de Seir como posse, mas Jacó e seus filhos desceram para o Egito.

⁵ Enviei Moisés e Arão, e afligi os egípcios com pragas. Após isso, Eu vos tirei de lá. ⁶ Eu trouxe vossos antepassados do Egito e vós chegastes até o mar. Os egípcios os perseguiram com carruagens e cavaleiros até o mar Vermelho.

⁷ Quando vossos antepassados clamaram a Yahweh, Ele pôs uma escuridão entre vós e os egípcios. Ele lançou o mar por cima deles e os cobriu. Vós vistes o que fiz no Egito. Depois, habitastes no deserto por um longo tempo.

⁸ Eu vos trouxe para a terra dos amorreus, que habitavam no outro lado do Jordão. Eles batalharam contra vós e Eu os entreguei em vossas mãos. Tomastes posse da terra deles e Eu os destruí diante de vós.

⁹ Então, Balaque, filho de Zipor, rei de Moabe, levantou-se e atacou Israel. Ele mandou chamar Balaão, filho de Beor, para que vos amaldiçoasse. ¹⁰ Mas Eu não ouvi Balaão. Na verdade, ele vos abençoou. Assim, Eu vos resgatei das mãos dele.

¹¹ Vós atravessastes o Jordão e fostes para Jericó. Os líderes de Jericó batalharam contra vós, assim como os amorreus, os perizeus, os cananeus, os heteus, os girgaseus, os heveus e os jebuseus. Eu vos dei a vitória e os coloquei debaixo de vosso controle. ¹² Enviei vespas adiante de vós, que os expulsaram, assim como os dois reis dos amorreus diante de vós. Isto não aconteceu por vossas espadas ou por vossos arcos.

¹³ Eu vos dei terras em que não trabalhastes e cidades que não edificastes e agora habitais nelas. Comestes do fruto de vinhas e oliveiras que não plantastes'.

¹⁴ Agora, temei a Yahweh e servi-O com toda integridade e fidelidade. Jogai fora os deuses que vossos antepassados serviram além do Eufrates e no Egito e cultuai Yahweh. ¹⁵ Se parecer errado aos vossos olhos cultuar Yahweh, escolhei hoje para vós mesmos a quem servireis. Se aos deuses que vossos antepassados serviram além do Eufrates, ou aos deuses dos amorreus, em cuja terra habitais. Mas, quanto a mim e a minha casa, nós serviremos a Yahweh".

¹⁶ O povo respondeu, dizendo: "Nós jamais abandonaríamos Yahweh para servir a outros deuses, ¹⁷ pois Yahweh é o nosso Deus, que nos trouxe, a nós e aos nossos ancestrais, da terra do Egito, da casa da escravidão, que fez esses grandes sinais à nossa vista, e que nos preservou em todo o caminho que andamos e entre todas as nações pelas quais passamos. ¹⁸ Depois, Yahweh expulsou diante de nós todos os povos, inclusive os amorreus que habitavam nesta terra. Então, nós também serviremos a Yahweh, porque Ele é o nosso Deus".

¹⁹ Josué disse ao povo: "Não podereis servir a Yahweh, porque Ele é um Deus santo. Ele é um Deus zeloso que não perdoará vossas transgressões e pecados. ²⁰ Se abandonardes Yahweh e servirdes a deuses estrangeiros, então, Ele Se voltará contra vós e vos afligirá. Ele vos consumirá, mesmo depois de ter feito o bem a vós".

²¹ Mas o povo disse a Josué: "Não, nós serviremos a Yahweh". ²² Então, Josué disse ao povo: "Sois testemunhas contra vós mesmos de que escolhestes servir a Yahweh". Eles disseram: "Somos testemunhas". Josué disse: ²³ "Agora, jogai fora os deuses estrangeiros que estão convosco e inclinai o vosso coração a Yahweh, o Deus de Israel".

²⁴ O povo disse a Josué: "Nós serviremos a Yahweh, nosso Deus. Ouviremos a Sua voz". ²⁵ Josué fez uma aliança com o povo naquele dia. Ele lhe deu estatutos e leis em Siquém. ²⁶ Josué escreveu essas palavras no Livro da Lei de Deus. Pegou uma grande pedra e pôs debaixo do carvalho que ficava ao lado do santuário de Yahweh.

²⁷ Josué disse a todo o povo: "Vede! Esta pedra será testemunha contra nós. Ela ouviu todas as palavras que Yahweh nos disse. Assim, ela será testemunha contra vós, para que nunca negueis o vosso Deus". ²⁸ Então, Josué despediu o povo, cada um para a sua herança.

²⁹ Depois dessas coisas, Josué, filho de Num, o servo de Yahweh, morreu, com cento e dez anos de idade; ³⁰ e o sepultaram no território de sua herança, em Timnate-Sera, que está na região montanhosa de Efraim, ao norte do monte Gáas.

³¹ Israel serviu a Yahweh por todos os dias de Josué e por todos os dias dos anciãos que sobreviveram a Josué, aqueles que vivenciaram tudo o que Yahweh havia feito por Israel.

³² Os ossos de José, que o povo de Israel trouxe do Egito, foram enterrados em Siquém, na parte de terra que Jacó comprara dos filhos de Hamor, o pai de Siquém. Ele a comprou por cem peças de prata, e ela se tornou herança para os descendentes de José. ³³ Eleazar, filho de Arão, também morreu e foi sepultado em Gibeá, a cidade que fora dada a Fineias, seu filho. Esta ficava na região montanhosa de Efraim.

Judges

Capítulo 1

¹ Após a morte de Josué, o povo de Israel perguntou a Yahweh, dizendo: "Quem de nós atacará primeiro os cananeus para lutar contra eles?". ² Yahweh disse: "Judá os atacará. Vede, Eu estou lhes dando o controle dessa terra". ³ Os homens de Judá disseram aos homens de Simeão, seus irmãos: "Vinde conosco ao território que nos foi designado, para juntos lutarmos contra os cananeus. E nós iremos também convosco ao território que vos foi designado". Então, a tribo de Simeão foi com eles.

⁴ Os homens de Judá atacaram, e Yahweh lhes deu vitória sobre os cananeus e os perizeus. Eles mataram dez mil homens em Bezeque. ⁵ Nessa cidade, encontraram Adoni-Bezeque e lutaram contra ele e derrotaram os cananeus e os perezeus.

⁶ Adoni-Bezeque escapou, mas eles o perseguiram e o pegaram e cortaram-lhe os dedos polegares das mãos e dos pés. ⁷ Então, Adoni-Bezeque disse: "Setenta reis que tiveram seus dedos polegares das mãos e dos pés cortados ajuntavam comida debaixo da minha mesa. Assim como eu fiz, também fez Deus a mim". Eles o levaram a Jerusalém, e lá ele morreu.

⁸ Os homens de Judá lutaram contra Jerusalém e a tomaram. Eles a atacaram ao fio da espada, e puseram fogo na cidade. ⁹ Depois disso, os homens de Judá desceram para lutar contra os cananeus que viviam na região montanhosa, no Neguebe, e na baixada ocidental. ¹⁰ Os homens de Judá avançaram contra os cananeus que viviam em Hebrom (o nome de Hebrom, anteriormente, era Quiriate-Arba) e derrotaram Sesai, Aimã e Talmai.

¹¹ De lá, os homens de Judá avançaram contra os habitantes de Debir (o nome de Debir, anteriormente, era Quiriate-Sefer). ¹² Calebe disse: "Quem atacar Quiriate-Sefer e a tomar, eu lhe darei Acsa, minha filha, para ser sua esposa". ¹³ Otoniel, filho de Quenaz (irmão mais novo de Calebe), capturou Debir. Então, Calebe lhe deu Acsa, sua filha, para ser sua esposa.

¹⁴ Um dia, Acsa veio a Otoniel e insistiu que pedisse ao pai dela que lhe desse um campo. Enquanto estava descendo do jumento, Calebe lhe perguntou: "O que posso fazer por ti?". ¹⁵ Ela lhe respondeu: "Dá-me uma bênção. Já que me deste a terra do Neguebe, dá-me também fontes de água". Então, Calebe lhe deu as fontes superiores e as inferiores.

¹⁶ Os descendentes do sogro de Moisés, o queneu, foram com o povo de Judá da cidade das Palmeiras até o deserto de Judá, que está no Neguebe, para viver com o povo de Judá, perto de Arade. ¹⁷ A tribo de Judá se uniu à de Simeão, seus irmãos, e atacaram os cananeus que habitavam Zefate, destruindo completamente a cidade. Por isso, ela passou a ser chamada Hormá.

¹⁸ O povo de Judá também capturou Gaza e a terra em torno dela, Asquelom e a terra em torno dela, e Ecrom e a terra em torno dela. ¹⁹ Yahweh estava com o povo de Judá. Eles tomaram posse da região montanhosa, mas não puderam expulsar os habitantes das planícies porque possuíam carruagens de guerra feitas de ferro.

²⁰ Hebrom foi dada a Calebe, conforme Moisés havia dito, e ele expulsou de lá os três filhos de Anaque. ²¹ Mas o povo de Benjamim não expulsou os jebuseus que habitavam Jerusalém. Por esta razão, os jebuseus têm vivido com o povo de Benjamim, em Jerusalém, até o dia de hoje.

²² A casa de José preparou-se para atacar Betel, e Yahweh estava com eles. ²³ Enviaram espiões a Betel, a cidade que antigamente chamava-se Luz. ²⁴ Os espiões viram um homem vindo de fora da cidade, e disseram-lhe: "Mostra-nos, por favor, como entrar na cidade, e seremos bondosos contigo".

²⁵ Ele lhes mostrou um caminho. Então, atacaram a cidade ao fio da espada, mas deixaram que aquele homem e sua família fugissem. ²⁶ O homem foi para a terra dos heteus, onde construiu uma cidade e a chamou de Luz, que é seu nome até hoje.

²⁷ O povo de Manassés não expulsou o povo que vivia nas cidades de Bete-Seã e suas vilas, ou Taanaque e suas vilas, ou aqueles que viviam em Ibleão e suas vilas, ou aqueles que viviam em Megido e suas vilas, porque os cananeus estavam determinados a viver naquela terra. ²⁸ Quando Israel tornou-se forte, eles forçaram os cananeus a servi-los com trabalhos forçados. Porém, nunca os expulsaram de lá completamente.

²⁹ Efraim também não expulsou os cananeus que viviam em Gezer. Assim, os cananeus continuaram a viver no meio deles.

³⁰ Zebulom não expulsou os habitantes de Quitrom, ou os habitantes de Naalol. Assim, os cananeus continuaram a viver entre eles, mas Zebulom os obrigou a servi- los com trabalhos forçados.

³¹ Aser não expulsou os habitantes de Aco, ou os habitantes de Sidom, nem os habitantes de Alabe, Aczibe, Helba, Afeca e Reobe. ³² Então, as tribos de Aser viveram entre os cananeus (aqueles que habitavam a terra) porque não os expulsaram.

³³ A tribo de Naftali não expulsou os habitantes de Bete-Semes, ou os habitantes de Bete-Anate. Assim, a tribo de Naftali viveu entre os cananeus (aqueles que habitavam a terra). No entanto, os habitantes de Bete-Semes e Bete-Anate foram submetidos a trabalhos forçados para o povo de Naftali.

³⁴ Os amorreus forçaram a tribo de Dã a viver na região montanhosa, não lhes permitindo descer à planície. ³⁵ Os amorreus habitaram no monte Heres, em Aijalom, e em Saalabim. Mas o poderio militar da casa de José os conquistou, e eles foram sujeitados a servi-los com trabalhos forçados. ³⁶ A fronteira dos amorreus ia do monte de Acrabim até Selá, da região montanhosa para cima.

Capítulo 2

¹ O Anjo de Yahweh subiu de Gilgal a Boquim, e disse: "Eu vos tirei do Egito, e vos trouxe para a terra que jurei dar aos vossos pais. Eu disse: 'Nunca quebrarei a Minha aliança convosco. ² Não façais aliança com aqueles que moram nesta terra. Derrubai os seus altares'. Porém, não ouvistes a Minha voz. Por que fizestes isso?

³ Então, agora, digo: Não tirarei os cananeus diante de vós, mas eles se tornarão espinhos ao vosso lado, e os seus deuses se tornarão uma pedra de tropeço para vós". ⁴ Quando o Anjo de Yahweh falou estas palavras a toda a comunidade de Israel, o povo levantou sua voz e chorou. ⁵ Chamaram aquele lugar de Boquim. Ali, ofereceram sacrifícios a Yahweh.

⁶ Depois que Josué despediu o povo, os filhos de Israel foram cada um para seus respectivos lugares, para possuir suas terras. ⁷ O povo serviu Yahweh durante o tempo de Josué e dos anciãos que continuaram vivos após ele, os quais viram as grandes obras que Yahweh havia feito a Israel. ⁸ Josué, filho de Num, servo de Yahweh, morreu com a idade de cento e dez anos.

⁹ Foi sepultado no território de sua herança em Timnate-Heres, na região montanhosa de Efraim, ao norte do monte Gaás. ¹⁰ Toda aquela geração também se juntou aos seus pais. E, após essa, levantou-se uma outra geração que não conhecia Yahweh, nem o que Ele fizera por Israel.

¹¹ O povo de Israel fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh e serviram aos baalins. ¹² Eles se separaram de Yahweh, o Deus de seus pais, Aquele que os havia tirado da terra do Egito. Eles foram atrás de outros deuses, os mesmos deuses dos povos que estavam em sua volta, e se inclinaram perante eles. Provocaram a ira de Yahweh, pois ¹³ se separaram de Yahweh e adoraram a Baal e a Astarotes.

¹⁴ A ira de Yahweh se acendeu contra Israel, e Ele os entregou aos ladrões, que roubaram suas posses. Ele os vendeu como escravos que foram tomados pela força dos inimigos ao seu redor, de maneira que não puderam mais se defender. ¹⁵ Toda vez que Israel saía para lutar, a mão de Yahweh estava contra eles para derrotá-los, assim como Ele lhes havia jurado. Estavam em uma terrível aflição.

¹⁶ Então, Yahweh levantou juízes que os salvaram das mãos daqueles que estavam roubando suas posses. ¹⁷ Mesmo assim, eles não ouviram os seus juízes. Eles foram infiéis a Yahweh, entregando-se a prostituição: adorando a outros deuses. Eles rapidamente se desviaram do caminho em que seus pais haviam vivido, pois seus pais obedeceram aos mandamentos de Yahweh, porém eles mesmos não o fizeram.

¹⁸ Quando Yahweh levantava juízes para eles, Ele ajudava os juízes e os resgatava das mãos dos seus inimigos em todos os dias em que o juiz vivia. Pois Yahweh tinha piedade deles e de como gemiam por causa daqueles que os oprimiam e afligiam. ¹⁹ Mas quando o juiz morria, eles se desviavam e faziam coisas que eram ainda mais depravadas do que aquelas que os seus pais haviam feito. Eles seguiam outros deuses para os servir e adorar. Eles se recusavam a se arrepender de suas práticas malignas e de seus caminhos teimosos.

²⁰ A ira de Yahweh se acendeu contra Israel. Ele disse: "Porque esta nação quebrou os termos da Minha aliança que fiz com seus pais, porque não escutaram a Minha voz, ²¹ de agora em diante, Eu não retirarei diante deles nenhuma das nações que Josué deixou quando morreu. ²² Farei isto para colocar Israel à prova, se eles guardarão, ou não, o caminho de Yahweh; se andarão nele, assim como seus pais o fizeram". ²³ Por isso, Yahweh deixou aquelas nações e não as expulsou rapidamente, nem as entregou nas mãos de Josué.

Capítulo 3

¹ Ora, Yahweh deixou estas nações para pôr Israel à prova, isto é, todos em Israel que não haviam lutado nas guerras em Canaã ² (Ele fez isto para que a nova geração de israelitas, que não tinha experiência, aprendesse a guerrear): ³ cinco reis dos filisteus, todos os cananeus, os sidônios e os heveus que habitavam nos montes do Líbano, desde o monte Baal-Hermom até Lebo-Hamate.

⁴ Estas nações foram deixadas por Yahweh para provar Israel, a fim de averiguar se obedeceriam aos mandamentos que Ele dera aos seus antepassados, por intermédio de Moisés. ⁵ Assim, o povo de Israel viveu entre os cananeus, os heteus, os amorreus, os perizeus, os heveus e os jebuseus. ⁶ Casaram-se com as filhas destes, assim como deram suas próprias filhas, em casamento, aos filhos deles. E adoraram os seus deuses.

⁷ O povo de Israel fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh e se esqueceu de Yahweh, o seu Deus. Eles adoraram os baalins e Aserá. ⁸ Por isso, a ira de Yahweh se acendeu contra Israel, e Ele os entregou nas mãos de Cuchã-Risataim, rei da Mesopotâmia. Eles serviram a Cuchã-Risataim por oito anos.

⁹ Quando o povo de Israel clamou a Yahweh, Yahweh levantou um libertador que viesse socorrê-los, o qual os libertaria: Otoniel, filho de Quenaz, irmão mais novo de Calebe. ¹⁰ O Espírito de Yahweh o capacitou, e ele julgou Israel e saiu para a guerra. Yahweh deu-lhe vitória sobre Cuchã-Risataim, rei da Mesopotâmia. A mão de Otoniel derrotou Cuchã-Risataim. ¹¹ A terra teve paz por quarenta anos. Então, Otoniel, filho de Quenaz, morreu.

¹² Depois disso, os israelitas fizeram, novamente, o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh. Então, Yahweh deu forças a Eglom, rei de Moabe, para se apoderar dos israelitas, porque haviam feito o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh. ¹³ Eglom se uniu aos amonitas e aos amalequitas e, juntos, derrotaram Israel e tomaram a posse da cidade das Palmeiras. ¹⁴ Os israelitas serviram a Eglom, rei de Moabe, por dezoito anos.

¹⁵ Quando o povo de Israel clamou a Yahweh, Yahweh levantou um libertador que os socorreria: Eúde, filho de Gera, um benjamita, homem canhoto. O povo de Israel o enviou, junto com os tributos, a Eglom, rei de Moabe.

¹⁶ Eúde fez para si uma espada de dois gumes, com um côvado de comprimento. Ele amarrou-a, por baixo da roupa, na sua coxa direita. ¹⁷ Ele entregou os tributos ao rei Eglom, de Moabe. Ora, Eglom era um homem muito gordo. ¹⁸ Após Eúde ter deixado ali os tributos, ele saiu com os homens que haviam ajudado a carregá-los.

¹⁹ Todavia, o próprio Eúde, quando chegou ao lugar onde havia imagens esculpidas perto de Gilgal, voltou e disse: "Tenho uma mensagem secreta para ti, meu rei". Eglom disse: "Silêncio!". Então, todos que o serviam deixaram a sala. ²⁰ Eúde veio até ele. O rei se encontrava sentado sozinho num quarto superior de verão. Eúde disse: "Tenho uma mensagem de Deus para ti". O rei levantou-se da sua cadeira.

²¹ Eúde estendeu a mão esquerda e tirou a espada que estava amarrada na sua coxa direita, e a cravou no corpo do rei. ²² O cabo da espada também entrou nele com a lâmina. A ponta da espada saiu pelas suas costas e a gordura se fechou sobre ela, pois Eúde não tirou a espada da barriga do rei. ²³ Então, Eúde saiu para o pórtico, fechou e trancou as portas do quarto superior atrás de si.

²⁴ Após sua saída, os servos do rei vieram e, vendo que as portas da sala superior estavam trancadas, pensaram: "Certamente ele está fazendo as necessidades no quarto de verão". ²⁵ Mas eles foram ficando cada vez mais preocupados até sentirem que estavam negligenciando seus deveres, pois o rei ainda não havia aberto as portas do quarto superior. Então, tomaram a chave e abriram-nas, e ali estava o seu senhor, caído no chão, morto.

²⁶ Enquanto seus servos estavam esperando, imaginando o que deveriam fazer, Eúde escapou, passando pelo lugar onde havia as imagens esculpidas de ídolos e, dali, fugiu para Seirá. ²⁷ Quando ele chegou, soou a trombeta na região montanhosa de Efraim. Então, o povo de Israel desceu das colinas, e Eúde os liderava.

²⁸ Ele lhes disse: "Segui-me, pois Yahweh derrotará os vossos inimigos, os moabitas". Eles o seguiram, tomaram as passagens do Jordão dos moabitas e não permitiram que ninguém atravessasse o rio. ²⁹ Naquele tempo, mataram cerca de dez mil homens de Moabe. Todos fortes e hábeis, porém, nenhum deles escapou. ³⁰ Foi assim que, naquele dia, Moabe foi subjugado pela força de Israel. E a terra teve descanso por oitenta anos.

³¹ Depois de Eúde, o juiz seguinte foi Sangar, filho de Anate, que matou seiscentos filisteus com uma vara utilizada para conduzir bois. Ele também libertou Israel do perigo.

Capítulo 4

¹ Após a morte de Eúde, o povo de Israel novamente fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh. ² Yahweh os entregou nas mãos de Jabim, rei de Canaã, que reinava em Hazor. O comandante do seu exército era Sísera, que morava em Harosete-Hagoim. ³ O povo de Israel clamou a Yahweh por ajuda, pois Sísera tinha novecentas carruagens de guerra, feitas de ferro, e ele oprimiu fortemente o povo de Israel durante vinte anos.

⁴ Ora, Débora, uma profetisa, esposa de Lapidote, era quem julgava Israel naquela época. ⁵ Ela se assentava debaixo da palmeira de Débora, entre Ramá e Betel, na região montanhosa de Efraim, e o povo de Israel vinha até ela, para que julgasse suas disputas.

⁶ Débora mandou chamar Baraque, filho de Abinoão, de Quedes em Naftali. Ela lhe disse: "Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, te ordena: 'Vai ao monte Tabor e leva contigo dez mil homens de Naftali e Zebulom. ⁷ Farei Sísera, o comandante do exército de Jabim, sair para te encontrar ao lado do rio Quisom, com suas carruagens e seu exército, e darei a ti a vitória sobre ele'".

⁸ Baraque lhe disse: "Se tu fores comigo, eu irei. Mas se não fores comigo, não irei”. ⁹ Ela respondeu: "Certamente irei contigo. Todavia, o caminho em que tu irás não te levará à honra, pois Yahweh derrotará Sísera pela mão de uma mulher". Então, Débora levantou-se e foi com Baraque a Quedes.

¹⁰ Baraque convocou os homens de Zebulom e Naftali para juntarem-se em Quedes. Dez mil homens o seguiram, e Débora foi com ele.

¹¹ Ora, Héber, o queneu, havia se separado dos queneus, que eram os descendentes de Hobabe, sogro de Moisés. Ele armou sua tenda junto ao carvalho em Zaananim, próximo de Quedes.

¹² Quando disseram a Sísera que Baraque, filho de Abinoão, havia subido ao monte Tabor, ¹³ Sísera convocou todas as suas carruagens, novecentas carruagens de ferro, e todos os soldados que estavam com ele, de Harosete-Hagoim até o rio Quisom.

¹⁴ Débora disse a Baraque: "Vai! Pois este é o dia em que Yahweh deu a ti vitória sobre Sísera. Não é Yahweh que te conduz?". Então, Baraque desceu do monte Tabor com os dez mil homens que o seguiam.

¹⁵ Yahweh confundiu Sísera, com todas as suas carruagens e todo o seu exército. E Sísera desceu da sua carruagem e correu a pé. ¹⁶ Baraque perseguiu as carruagens e o exército até Harosete-Hagoim, e todo o exército de Sísera foi morto ao fio da espada, e nenhum homem sobreviveu.

¹⁷ Mas Sísera correu a pé para a tenda de Jael, a esposa de Héber, o queneu, pois havia paz entre Jabim, o rei de Hazor, e a casa de Héber, o queneu. ¹⁸ Jael foi até Sísera e disse-lhe: "Detém-te, meu mestre; detém-te a mim, e não tenhas medo". Então, ele se deteve e entrou na tenda de Jael. E ela o cobriu com um cobertor.

¹⁹ Ele lhe disse: "Por favor, dá-me um pouco de água para beber, pois tenho sede". Ela abriu uma bolsa de couro com leite, deu-lhe de beber, e o cobriu novamente. ²⁰ Ele lhe disse: "Fica na entrada da tenda. Se alguém vier e te perguntar: 'Há alguém aí?', responde: 'Não'".

²¹ Então Jael, esposa de Héber, pegou uma estaca da tenda e um martelo. Foi, secretamente, até Sísera, que estava em sono profundo, e martelou a estaca na lateral da sua cabeça, até fazê-la fincar no chão. E ele morreu. ²² Enquanto Baraque estava perseguindo Sísera, Jael foi ao seu encontro e disse-lhe: "Vem, mostrarei a ti o homem que procuras". Então, ele entrou na tenda com ela, e ali estava Sísera, morto, com a estaca da tenda na lateral da sua cabeça.

²³ Naquele dia, Deus derrotou Jabim, rei de Canaã, diante do povo de Israel. ²⁴ O poder do povo de Israel se fortaleceu, cada vez mais, contra Jabim, o rei de Canaã, até que eles o destruíram.

Capítulo 5

¹ Naquele dia, Débora e Baraque, filho de Abinoão, cantaram esta música: ² "Quando os líderes assumiram a liderança de Israel, quando o povo alegremente voluntariou-se para a guerra, nós louvamos Yahweh!

³ Ouvi, ó reis! Atentai, ó líderes! Eu cantarei a Yahweh! Cantarei louvores a Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ⁴ Yahweh, quando saíste de Seir, quando Tu marchaste de Edom, a terra se abalou e os céus também se estremeceram; e as nuvens derramaram água.

⁵ As montanhas tremeram diante da face de Yahweh. Até o Monte Sinai tremeu diante da face de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ⁶ Nos dias de Sangar, filho de Anate, nos dias de Jael, as principais estradas foram abandonadas, e aqueles que passavam usavam somente caminhos tortuosos.

⁷ Havia poucos guerreiros em Israel, até que eu, Débora, tomei o comando. Uma mãe assumiu o comando em Israel! ⁸ Quando eles escolheram novos deuses, havia guerra nos portões da cidade. Não se viam escudos nem lanças entre os quarenta mil, em Israel.

⁹ Meu coração vai junto com os comandantes de Israel, junto com o povo que, alegremente, se voluntariou. Nós bendizemos a Yahweh por eles! ¹⁰ Pensai sobre isso, vós que cavalgais em jumentas brancas, sentados em tapetes como selas, e vós que andais ao longo do caminho.

¹¹ Ouvi as vozes dos que cantam entre os bebedouros. Ali eles falam novamente dos justos feitos de Yahweh, e das justas ações dos Seus guerreiros em Israel. Então, o povo de Yahweh desceu aos portões da cidade.

¹² Desperta, desperta, Débora! Desperta, desperta, entoa um cântico! Levanta-te, Baraque, e captura os teus prisioneiros, filho de Abinoão. ¹³ Então, os sobreviventes desceram aos nobres; o povo de Yahweh desceu a mim com os soldados.

¹⁴ Vieram de Efraim, aqueles que tinham sua raiz em Amaleque; o povo de Benjamim vos seguiu. De Maquir desceram comandantes, e de Zebulom, aqueles que carregam uma vara de comando.

¹⁵ Meus príncipes de Issacar estavam com Débora; e Issacar estava com Baraque, seguindo-o, apressadamente, ao vale. Junto aos clãs de Rúben, havia grande inquietação de coração.

¹⁶ Por que sentastes entre as fogueiras, ouvindo os pastores tocando apitos para seus rebanhos? Os clãs de Rúben estavam em grande inquietação de coração.

¹⁷ Gileade ficou do outro lado do Jordão. E Dã, por que foi de um lado para o outro sobre os navios? Aser permaneceu na costa e morou perto de seus portos. ¹⁸ Zebulom foi a tribo que arriscou suas vidas até a morte, assim como Naftali, no campo de batalha.

¹⁹ Reis vieram e lutaram, os reis cananeus lutaram em Taanaque, junto às águas do Megido. Todavia, eles não levaram nenhuma prata como saque. ²⁰ Dos céus, as estrelas lutaram; de seus caminhos, cruzando os céus, elas lutaram contra Sísera.

²¹ O rio Quisom os varreu; aquele antigo rio, o rio Quisom. Marcha, minha alma, sê forte! ²² Então, veio o som dos cascos dos cavalos galopando, o galope dos seus poderosos.

²³ 'Amaldiçoai Meroz!', diz o Anjo de Yahweh. 'Certamente, amaldiçoai seus habitantes! Porque não vieram para ajudar Yahweh, para ajudar Yahweh na batalha contra os poderosos soldados'.

²⁴ Jael é mais abençoada do que todas as outras mulheres. Jael, a esposa de Héber, o queneu, é mais abençoada do que todas as mulheres que vivem nas tendas. ²⁵ O homem pediu água, e ela lhe deu leite. Ela lhe trouxe manteiga em um prato adequado para príncipes.

²⁶ Ela colocou sua mão na estaca e sua mão direita no martelo de trabalhador. Com o martelo, ela golpeou Sísera, e esmagou a sua cabeça. Ela rachou seu crânio em pedaços quando o perfurou na lateral da cabeça. ²⁷ Ele desabou entre os seus pés. Ele caiu e ficou ali. Entre os seus pés caiu estirado. O lugar onde caiu é onde foi violentamente morto.

²⁸ Para fora da janela, ela olhou, a mãe de Sísera olhou através da grade, e gritou em tristeza: 'Por que o seu carro demora tanto para vir? Por que as batidas dos cascos dos cavalos que puxam a sua carruagem se atrasam?'.

²⁹ Sua mais sábia princesa lhe respondeu, e ela repetia essas palavras a si mesma: ³⁰ 'Por acaso não encontraram e dividiram a pilhagem? Uma virgem, duas virgens para cada homem; uma pilhagem de roupas coloridas para Sísera, uma pilhagem de roupas coloridas e de bordados, duas peças de roupas bordadas para os pescoços daqueles que pilharam?'.

³¹ Que pereçam todos os Teus inimigos, Yahweh! Mas que aqueles que Te amam sejam como o sol quando nasce em seu poder". E a terra teve paz por quarenta anos.

Capítulo 6

¹ O povo de Israel fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, e Ele os entregou nas mãos dos midianitas por sete anos. ² O poder dos midianitas oprimiu Israel. Por causa deles, o povo de Israel fez abrigos para si nas covas das colinas, nas cavernas e nas fortalezas.

³ Acontecia que, toda vez que os israelitas faziam o seu plantio, os midianitas, os amalequitas e o povo do leste atacavam os israelitas. ⁴ Eles acampavam seus exércitos na terra e destruíam as plantações até Gaza. Não deixavam nenhuma comida em Israel, nem ovelhas, nem bois, nem jumentos.

⁵ Esses inimigos, com seus rebanhos e tendas, vinham como enxame de gafanhotos, e era impossível contar, tanto as pessoas como os seus camelos. Eles invadiam a terra para destruí-la. ⁶ Midiã enfraqueceu os israelitas tão severamente que o povo de Israel clamou a Yahweh.

⁷ Quando os israelitas clamaram a Yahweh por causa de Midiã, ⁸ Yahweh enviou-lhes um profeta que disse: "Isto é o que Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Eu vos trouxe do Egito; vos livrei da casa da escravidão.

⁹ Eu vos resgatei das mãos dos egípcios e das mãos de todos os que vos oprimiam. Eu os expulsei diante de vós, e vos dei a terra deles'. ¹⁰ Eu vos disse: 'Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus. Eu vos ordenei não adorardes os deuses dos amorreus, em cuja terra vós habitais. Mas não obedecestes à Minha voz'".

¹¹ Então, o Anjo de Yahweh veio e se sentou debaixo de um carvalho em Ofra, que pertencia a Joás, o abiezrita. Gideão, filho de Joás, estava separando os grãos dos feixes de trigo, batendo-os no chão, no tanque de espremer uvas, para escondê-los dos midianitas. ¹² O Anjo de Yahweh apareceu a ele e disse-lhe: "Yahweh está contigo, forte guerreiro!".

¹³ Gideão disse-Lhe: "Ó, meu Mestre, se Yahweh está conosco, por que tudo isto nos aconteceu? Onde estão todas as Suas grandes maravilhas que nossos pais nos contaram quando disseram: 'Não foi Yahweh que nos tirou do Egito?'. Mas agora Yahweh nos abandonou e nos entregou nas mãos de Midiã".

¹⁴ Yahweh olhou para ele e disse: "Vai na força que tu já tens. Livra Israel das mãos dos midianitas. Não sou Eu que te enviei?". ¹⁵ Gideão disse-Lhe: "Por favor, Senhor, como poderei livrar Israel? Vê, minha família é a mais fraca em Manassés e eu sou o menos importante na casa do meu pai".

¹⁶ Yahweh disse-lhe: "Eu estarei contigo, e tu derrotarás o exército inteiro dos midianitas, como se fossem um só homem". ¹⁷ Gideão disse-Lhe: "Se encontrei favor aos Teus olhos, então, dá-me um sinal de que és Tu que estás falando comigo. ¹⁸ Por favor, não vás embora até que eu volte trazendo a minha oferta e a coloque diante de Ti". Yahweh disse: "Esperarei até que voltes".

¹⁹ Gideão foi e preparou um cabrito e, com um efa de farinha, fez pães sem fermento. Colocou a carne em um cesto e o caldo em uma panela. Trouxe-os para Ele, que estava debaixo do carvalho, e os apresentou. ²⁰ O Anjo de Yahweh disse-lhe: "Pega a carne e o pão sem fermento, coloca-os sobre esta rocha, e derrama o caldo sobre eles". E Gideão assim o fez.

²¹ O Anjo de Yahweh estendeu a ponta do cajado que estava em sua mão, tocando-a na carne e no pão sem fermento. Um fogo subiu da rocha e consumiu a carne e o pão sem fermento. Então, o Anjo de Yahweh foi embora e Gideão não O viu mais.

²² Gideão entendeu que Aquele era o Anjo de Yahweh, e disse: "Ó, Senhor Yahweh! Vi o Anjo de Yahweh face a face!". ²³ Yahweh disse-lhe: "Paz esteja contigo! Não tenhas medo, tu não morrerás". ²⁴ Então, Gideão construiu ali um altar para Yahweh. Ele o chamou de "Yahweh é Paz". Até hoje, o altar está em Ofra, do clã dos abiezritas.

²⁵ Naquela noite, Yahweh disse-lhe: "Pega o boi de teu pai e um segundo boi que tenha sete anos, derruba o altar de Baal que pertence a teu pai, e corta a Aserá que fica ao lado. ²⁶ Constrói um altar a Yahweh, teu Deus, no topo deste lugar de refúgio, construindo-o da forma correta. Oferece o segundo boi como holocausto, usando a lenha do poste de Aserá que tu cortarás".

²⁷ Então, Gideão levou dez dos seus servos e fez como Yahweh lhe ordenara. Mas, por estar com medo da casa de seu pai e dos homens da cidade, não fez isso durante o dia, ele o fez à noite.

²⁸ De manhã, quando os homens da cidade se levantaram, o altar de Baal estava derrubado, o poste de Aserá havia sido cortado, e o segundo boi havia sido oferecido sobre o altar que fora construído. ²⁹ Então, disseram uns aos outros: "Quem fez isto?". Quando conversaram com os outros buscando respostas, ouviram: "Gideão, filho de Joás, fez esta coisa".

³⁰ Eles foram até Joás e lhe disseram: "Traz para fora o teu filho para que ele seja morto, porque destruiu o altar de Baal e cortou o poste de Aserá que ficava ao lado".

³¹ Joás falou a todos os que se opunham a ele: "Defendereis vós a causa de Baal? Vós o salvareis? Quem defender a causa dele, que seja morto enquanto ainda é manhã. Se Baal é deus, que ele defenda a si mesmo quando alguém derrubar o seu altar". ³² Então, naquele dia, chamaram Gideão de Jerubaal porque ele disse: "Que Baal defenda a si mesmo contra ele", porque Gideão derrubou o altar de Baal.

³³ Ora, todos os midianitas, os amalequitas e o povo do leste ajuntaram-se. Eles cruzaram o Jordão e acamparam no vale de Jezreel.

³⁴ Todavia, o Espírito de Yahweh veio sobre Gideão. Gideão tocou a trombeta, convocando o clã dos abiezritas para que o seguissem. ³⁵ Ele enviou mensageiros por toda a tribo de Manassés e eles foram convocados para segui-lo. Também enviou mensageiros para Aser, Zebulom e Naftali; e todos foram ao seu encontro.

³⁶ Gideão disse a Deus: "Se Tu pretendes me usar para salvar Israel, como disseste, ³⁷ vê, eu estou colocando uma porção de lã na eira. Se pela manhã existir orvalho apenas na porção de lã e o chão estiver completamente seco, então saberei que Tu me usarás para salvar Israel, como disseste".

³⁸ Isto foi o que aconteceu: Gideão levantou-se cedo na manhã seguinte, apertou a porção de lã, e espremeu da lã o orvalho, o suficiente para encher uma tigela de água.

³⁹ Então, Gideão disse a Deus: "Não fiques irado contra mim, falarei mais uma vez. Por favor, permite-me mais um teste usando a porção de lã. Desta vez, faz ficar seca a porção de lã e que haja orvalho em todo o chão ao seu redor". ⁴⁰ Deus fez o que havia sido pedido naquela noite. A porção de lã estava seca e havia orvalho em todo o chão ao seu redor.

Capítulo 7

¹ Então, Jerubaal (que é Gideão), levantou-se cedo, assim como todo o povo que estava com ele, e acamparam ao lado da fonte de Harode. O acampamento dos midianitas estava ao norte, no vale, próximo da colina de Moré.

² Yahweh disse a Gideão: "Há soldados demais para que Eu te dê a vitória sobre os midianitas; para que Israel não se glorie contra Mim, dizendo: 'Nosso próprio poder nos salvou'. ³ Agora, portanto, proclama aos ouvidos do povo e dize: 'Qualquer um que esteja com medo, qualquer um que trema, volte e saia do monte Gileade'". Então, vinte e duas mil pessoas se foram, e dez mil permaneceram.

⁴ Yahweh disse a Gideão: "Ainda há pessoas demais. Faze-os descer às águas, e ali Eu diminuirei o número para ti. Se Eu te disser: 'Este irá contigo', ele irá contigo; mas se Eu disser: 'Este não irá contigo', ele não irá".

⁵ Então, Gideão fez o povo descer às águas, e Yahweh lhe disse: "Separa todos aqueles que lamberem a água, como um cachorro lambe, daqueles que se ajoelharem para beber”. ⁶ Trezentos homens lamberam, levando a mão à boca. O resto dos homens se ajoelhou para beber a água.

⁷ Yahweh disse a Gideão: "Com os trezentos homens que lamberam a água, Eu vos resgatarei e vos darei a vitória sobre os midianitas. Todos os outros voltem cada um para o seu lugar". ⁸ Então, esses que foram escolhidos pegaram suas provisões e suas trombetas. Gideão despediu os demais homens de Israel, cada um para sua tenda, mas manteve os trezentos. Ora, o acampamento dos midianitas estava abaixo dele, no vale.

⁹ Na mesma noite, Yahweh lhe disse: "Levanta-te! Ataca o acampamento, porque Eu te darei vitória sobre ele. ¹⁰ Mas se estiveres com medo de descer, desce ao acampamento acompanhado de Purá, o teu servo, ¹¹ e escuta o que dizem; e a tua coragem se fortalecerá para atacar o acampamento". Então, Gideão desceu com o seu servo Purá até os postos dos vigias do acampamento.

¹² Os midianitas, os amalequitas, e todo o povo do leste estavam situados ao longo do vale, tão numerosos como uma nuvem de gafanhotos. Seus camelos eram mais do que se podia contar; em número maior do que os grãos de areia da praia.

¹³ Quando Gideão chegou ali, um homem estava contando seu sonho ao seu companheiro. O homem disse: "Olha! Eu tive um sonho, e vi um pão de cevada rolando pelo acampamento dos midianitas. Veio sobre a tenda e bateu nela com tanta força que ela caiu e virou de cima para baixo, de maneira que ficou estendida na terra". ¹⁴ O outro homem disse: "Isto não é outra coisa senão a espada de Gideão, filho de Joás, o israelita. Deus lhe entregou a vitória sobre os midianitas e sobre todo o seu exército".

¹⁵ Quando Gideão ouviu a narração do sonho e sua interpretação, inclinou-se em adoração. Ele voltou ao acampamento de Israel e disse: "Levantai-vos! Yahweh vos deu vitória sobre o exército dos midianitas". ¹⁶ Ele dividiu os trezentos homens em três grupos, e deu a todos trombetas e jarras vazias, com tochas dentro de cada jarra.

¹⁷ E lhes disse: "Olhai para mim e fazei o que eu fizer. Observai! Quando eu chegar ao limite do acampamento, fazei o que eu fizer. ¹⁸ Quando eu tocar a trombeta, tanto a minha como a de todos os que estiverem comigo, tocai as vossas trombetas também, em todos os lados do acampamento, e gritai: 'Por Yahweh e por Gideão!'".

¹⁹ Então, Gideão e os cem homens que estavam com ele chegaram ao limite do acampamento, no princípio da vigília da meia-noite. No momento em que os midianitas estavam trocando de guarda, eles tocaram as trombetas e quebraram os jarros que estavam em suas mãos.

²⁰ As três companhias tocaram as trombetas e quebraram os jarros. Eles seguravam suas tochas na mão esquerda e as trombetas na mão direita para as tocarem. E bradaram: "À espada de Yahweh e de Gideão". ²¹ Todos ficaram em seus lugares ao redor do acampamento e todo o exército midianita correu. Eles gritavam e fugiam.

²² Quando tocaram as trezentas trombetas, Yahweh pôs a espada de cada homem midianita contra os seus companheiros e contra todo o seu próprio exército. O exército fugiu até Bete-Sita, em direção a Zererá, até os limites de Abel-Meolá, perto de Tabate. ²³ Os homens de Israel, de Naftali, de Aser e de todo o Manassés foram convocados e perseguiram os midianitas.

²⁴ Gideão enviou mensageiros por toda a região montanhosa de Efraim, dizendo: "Descei contra os midianitas e tomai o controle do rio Jordão, até Bete-Bara, para detê-los". Então, todos os homens de Efraim se juntaram e tomaram controle das águas até Bete-Bara, e do rio Jordão. ²⁵ Eles capturaram os dois príncipes de Midiã, Orebe e Zeebe. Mataram Orebe na rocha de Orebe, e mataram Zeebe no tanque de espremer uvas de Zeebe. Eles perseguiram os midianitas, e trouxeram as cabeças de Orebe e de Zeebe para Gideão, que estava do outro lado do Jordão.

Capítulo 8

¹ Os homens de Efraim disseram a Gideão: "O que é isto que tu fizeste conosco? Não nos chamaste quando foste lutar contra Midiã". E tiveram uma dura discussão com ele.

² Ele lhes disse: "O que eu fiz agora comparado ao que vós fizestes? Por acaso as sobras das colheitas de uvas de Efraim não são melhores do que toda a colheita de uvas de Abiezer? ³ Deus vos deu a vitória sobre os príncipes de Midiã, Orebe e Zeebe! O que eu realizei, comparado a vós?". A ira deles contra Gideão se acalmou assim que ele disse isso.

⁴ Gideão foi até o Jordão e o atravessou, com os trezentos homens que estavam com ele. Todos estavam exaustos, mas ainda continuaram a perseguição. ⁵ Ele disse aos homens de Sucote: "Por favor, dai pães às pessoas que me seguem, pois estão exaustas, e estou perseguindo Zeba e Zalmuna, reis dos midianitas".

⁶ Os líderes de Sucote disseram: "Por acaso as mãos de Zeba e de Zalmuna já estão em teu poder? Por que devemos nós dar pão ao teu exército?". ⁷ Gideão disse: "Quando Yahweh nos der a vitória sobre Zeba e Zalmuna, eu rasgarei a vossa carne com os espinhos e as sarças do deserto".

⁸ Dali, ele foi a Peniel e falou da mesma maneira ao povo daquele lugar, mas os homens de Peniel lhe responderam como os homens de Sucote lhe haviam respondido. ⁹ Ele falou também aos homens de Peniel e disse: "Quando eu vier de volta em paz, derrubarei esta torre".

¹⁰ Ora, Zeba e Zalmuna estavam em Carcor, com o seu exército de cerca de quinze mil homens. Esses eram os que haviam restado de todo o exército do povo do leste, porque haviam sido mortos cento e vinte mil homens que foram treinados para lutar com espada.

¹¹ Gideão foi pelo caminho dos que habitavam em tendas, além de Nobá e Jogbeá. Ele derrotou o exército inimigo, pois não estavam esperando um ataque. ¹² Zeba e Zalmuna fugiram. Gideão continuou perseguindo-os e capturou os dois reis dos midianitas, Zeba e Zalmuna, colocando em pânico todo o exército deles.

¹³ Gideão, filho de Joás, voltou da batalha indo pelo caminho de Heres. ¹⁴ Ele encontrou um jovem do povo de Sucote e lhe fez perguntas. O jovem lhe descreveu os líderes e anciãos de Sucote, setenta e sete homens.

¹⁵ Gideão foi aos homens de Sucote e disse: "Vede aqui Zeba e Zalmuna, a respeito dos quais vós zombastes de mim, dizendo: ‘Por acaso tu já venceste Zeba e Zalmuna? Não sabemos que devemos dar pão ao teu exército'". ¹⁶ Gideão capturou os anciãos da cidade e puniu os homens de Sucote com os espinhos e as sarças do deserto. ¹⁷ Em seguida, derrubou a torre de Peniel e matou os homens daquela cidade.

¹⁸ Então, Gideão disse a Zeba e Zalmuna, "Como eram os homens que matastes em Tabor?". Eles responderam: "Eram como tu, cada um deles. Todos eles pareciam filhos de rei". ¹⁹ Gideão disse: "Eles eram meus irmãos, filhos da minha mãe. Assim como Yahweh vive, se tivésseis poupado a vida deles, eu não vos mataria".

²⁰ Ele disse a Jéter, seu primogênito, "Levanta-te e mata-os!". Mas o jovem não desembainhou a sua espada, pois estava com medo, porque ele ainda era um menino. ²¹ Então, Zeba e Zalmuna disseram: "Levanta-te e mata-nos! Pois como um homem é, assim é a sua força". Gideão se levantou e matou Zeba e Zalmuna. Ele também tirou os ornamentos em forma de lua crescente que estavam no pescoço dos camelos.

²² Então, os homens de Israel disseram a Gideão: "Que tu reines sobre nós; tu, teu filho e teu neto, pois tu nos salvaste das mãos de Midiã". ²³ Gideão lhes disse: "Não reinarei sobre vós, nem meu filho reinará sobre vós. Yahweh reinará sobre vós".

²⁴ Disse-lhes ainda: "Deixai-me fazer um pedido: que todos vós me deis os brincos do despojo". Os midianitas tinham brincos de ouro, pois eram ismaelitas. ²⁵ Eles responderam: "Estamos felizes em dá-los a ti". Eles estenderam uma capa, e todo homem colocou ali os brincos do seu despojo.

²⁶ O peso dos brincos de ouro que ele pediu foi de mil e setecentos siclos de ouro. Este despojo foi adicionado aos ornamentos em forma de lua crescente, os pendentes, as roupas de púrpura que os reis de Midiã usavam e aos colares que estavam em volta do pescoço dos camelos.

²⁷ Gideão fez uma veste sacerdotal com os brincos de ouro e colocou-a na sua cidade, em Ofra, e todo Israel se prostituiu adorando aquela veste. Isso se tornou uma armadilha para Gideão e para os de sua casa. ²⁸ Assim, os midianitas foram subjugados perante o povo de Israel, e não levantaram a cabeça novamente. Então, a terra teve paz por quarenta anos nos dias de Gideão.

²⁹ Jerubaal, filho de Joás, partiu e morou em sua própria casa. ³⁰ Gideão foi pai de setenta filhos, pois tinha muitas mulheres. ³¹ Sua concubina, que morava em Siquém, também lhe deu um filho, a quem Gideão deu o nome de Abimeleque.

³² Gideão, filho de Joás, morreu numa boa velhice e foi enterrado na tumba de Joás, seu pai, em Ofra, do clã dos abiezritas. ³³ Aconteceu que, assim que Gideão morreu, o povo de Israel voltou a prostituir-se, adorando a baalins. Fizeram de Baal-Berite o seu deus.

³⁴ Os israelitas não se lembraram de honrar a Yahweh, o seu Deus, que os havia resgatado das mãos de todos os seus inimigos, que estavam por todo lado. ³⁵ Eles não guardaram suas promessas para com a família de Jerubaal, o outro nome de Gideão, em retribuição a todo o bem que ele havia feito em Israel.

Capítulo 9

¹ Abimeleque, filho de Jerubaal, foi para os parentes de sua mãe em Siquém e para todo o clã da família de sua mãe e disse-lhes: ² "Por favor, dizei isto para que todos os líderes em Siquém ouçam: 'Que é melhor para vós? Que todos os setenta filhos de Jerubaal dominem sobre vós, ou que somente um domine sobre vós?' Lembrai-vos de que eu sou vosso osso e vossa carne".

³ Os parentes de sua mãe falaram por ele aos líderes de Siquém, e eles consentiram em seguir Abimeleque, porque disseram: "Ele é nosso irmão". ⁴ Deram-lhe setenta peças de prata tiradas da casa de Baal-Berite, e Abimeleque as usou para contratar homens inescrupulosos e imprudentes, e estes o seguiram.

⁵ Abimeleque foi para a casa de seu pai em Ofra e, sobre uma pedra, ele assassinou os seus setenta irmãos, os filhos de Jerubaal. Somente Jotão, o filho mais novo de Jerubaal, sobreviveu, porque se escondeu. ⁶ Todos os líderes de Siquém e de Bete-Milo ajuntaram-se e fizeram Abimeleque rei, junto ao carvalho perto da coluna que está em Siquém.

⁷ Quando Jotão foi avisado sobre isso, ele foi e ficou de pé no cume do monte Gerizim. Ele gritou, dizendo-lhes: "Ouvi-me vós, líderes de Siquém, a fim de que Deus vos ouça. ⁸ Certa vez, as árvores foram ungir um rei para si. Elas disseram para a oliveira: 'Reina sobre nós'.

⁹ Mas a oliveira lhes disse: 'Deveria eu deixar o meu azeite, o qual é usado para honrar deuses e homens, a fim de balançar de um lado para o outro sobre as outras árvores?'. ¹⁰ As árvores disseram para a figueira: 'Vem e reina sobre nós'. ¹¹ Porém, a figueira lhes disse: 'Deveria eu deixar a minha doçura e o meu bom fruto, a fim de balançar de um lado para o outro sobre as outras árvores?'.

¹² As árvores disseram para a videira: 'Vem e reina sobre nós'. ¹³ A videira lhes disse: 'Deveria eu deixar o meu vinho novo, o qual alegra deuses e homens, a fim de balançar de um lado para o outro sobre as outras árvores?'. ¹⁴ Então, todas as árvores disseram ao espinheiro: 'Vem e reina sobre nós'.

¹⁵ O espinheiro disse para as árvores: 'Se verdadeiramente quereis me ungir rei sobre vós, vinde e encontrai segurança debaixo da minha sombra. Do contrário, que do espinheiro saia fogo e queime os cedros do Líbano'. ¹⁶ Ora, será que agistes com verdade e honestidade, quando fizestes Abimeleque vosso rei? Será que agistes bem com Jerubaal e com a sua casa, como ele merecia?

¹⁷ Ora, meu pai lutou por vós, arriscando a própria vida, e vos resgatou das mãos dos midianitas. ¹⁸ Mas hoje vos levantastes contra a casa do meu pai e matastes os seus filhos, setenta pessoas, sobre uma pedra. Depois, fizestes Abimeleque, filho de sua serva, rei sobre os líderes de Siquém, por ser ele vosso parente.

¹⁹ Se, de fato, agistes com honestidade e integridade com Jerubaal e a sua casa, então, alegrai-vos com Abimeleque, e que ele se alegre convosco. ²⁰ Mas, se não, que de Abimeleque saia fogo e queime os homens de Siquém e de Bete-Milo, e que dos homens de Siquém e de Bete-Milo saia fogo para queimar Abimeleque". ²¹ Jotão fugiu e escapou, indo para Beer. Ele morou ali porque era longe de Abimeleque, seu irmão.

²² Abimeleque governou sobre Israel por três anos. ²³ Deus enviou um espírito mau entre Abimeleque e os líderes de Siquém. Os líderes de Siquém traíram a confiança que Abimeleque tinha neles. ²⁴ Deus fez isso para que a violência cometida contra os setenta filhos de Jerubaal fosse vingada, e Abimeleque, seu irmão, fosse responsabilizado pelo assassinato deles; e os homens de Siquém também fossem responsabilizados, porque o ajudaram a assassinar os seus irmãos.

²⁵ Assim, os líderes de Siquém posicionaram homens para fazer emboscadas no alto das colinas. Eles roubavam todos os que passavam ao longo da estrada. E isso foi relatado a Abimeleque.

²⁶ Gaal, filho de Ebede, veio com seus parentes e estabeleceram-se em Siquém. Os líderes de Siquém confiaram nele. ²⁷ Eles foram para o campo, colheram uvas dos vinhedos e as pisaram. Fizeram um festival na casa de seu deus, onde comeram e beberam, e amaldiçoaram Abimeleque.

²⁸ Gaal, filho de Ebede, disse: "Quem é Abimeleque, e quem é Siquém, que devemos servi-lo? Ele não é o filho de Jerubaal? E Zebul não é o seu oficial? Servi aos homens de Hamor, pai de Siquém! Por que deveríamos servir a Abimeleque? ²⁹ Eu gostaria que este povo estivesse sob meu comando! Então, eu removeria Abimeleque. Eu diria para Abimeleque: 'Convoca todo o teu exército'".

³⁰ Quando Zebul, o oficial da cidade, ouviu as palavras de Gaal, filho de Ebede, acendeu-lhe a ira. ³¹ Ele, secretamente, enviou mensageiros para Abimeleque, dizendo: "Eis que Gaal, filho de Ebede, e seus parentes estão vindo para Siquém, e estão agitando a cidade contra ti.

³² Agora, levanta-te durante a noite, tu e teus soldados contigo, e preparai uma emboscada nos campos. ³³ Então, pela manhã, ao nascer do sol, levanta-te cedo e faze um ataque repentino à cidade. Quando ele e o povo que estiver com ele saírem contra ti, faze a eles o que tu puderes".

³⁴ Assim, Abimeleque levantou-se durante a noite, ele e todos os homens que estavam com ele, e fizeram uma emboscada contra Siquém, dividindo-se em quatro unidades. ³⁵ Gaal, filho de Ebede, saiu e ficou de pé no portão de entrada da cidade. Abimeleque e os homens que estavam com ele saíram de seu esconderijo.

³⁶ Quando Gaal viu os homens, disse para Zebul: "Vê, homens estão descendo do alto dos montes!". Zebul disse-lhe: "Estás vendo as sombras dos montes como se fossem homens". ³⁷ Gaal falou novamente: "Olha, homens estão descendo no meio da terra, e uma unidade está descendo do caminho do carvalho dos Adivinhos".

³⁸ Então, Zebul lhe disse: "Onde estão agora tuas palavras orgulhosas, que diziam: 'Quem é Abimeleque, para que o sirvamos?'. Não são estes os homens que desprezaste? Sai agora e luta contra eles". ³⁹ Gaal saiu liderando os homens de Siquém, e enfrentou Abimeleque. ⁴⁰ Abimeleque o perseguiu, e Gaal fugiu dele. Muitos caíram com feridas mortais ao longo do caminho até o portão de entrada da cidade.

⁴¹ Abimeleque ficou em Arumá; Zebul expulsou Gaal e seus parentes de Siquém. ⁴² No dia seguinte, o povo de Siquém saiu ao campo, e isso foi relatado a Abimeleque. ⁴³ Ele tomou seu povo e o dividiu em três unidades, e fizeram uma emboscada nos campos. Ele olhou e viu o povo descendo da cidade. Ele os atacou e os matou.

⁴⁴ Abimeleque e a unidade que estava com ele atacaram e bloquearam o portão de entrada da cidade. As outras duas unidades atacaram todos os que estavam no campo e os mataram. ⁴⁵ Abimeleque lutou contra a cidade por todo aquele dia. Ele a tomou e matou o povo que estava ali. E derrubou seus muros e espalhou sal sobre ela.

⁴⁶ Quando todos os líderes da torre de Siquém ouviram isso, entraram na fortaleza da casa de El-Berite. ⁴⁷ Quando Abimeleque foi avisado de que os líderes haviam se reunido na torre de Siquém,

⁴⁸ subiu ao Monte Zalmon com todos os homens que estavam com ele. Então, pegou um machado e cortou os galhos, colocou-os em seus ombros e ordenou aos homens: "O que me vistes fazer, fazei depressa também". ⁴⁹ Cada um cortou um galho e seguiu Abimeleque. Eles os empilharam junto às paredes da torre e atearam fogo. Assim, todo o povo da torre de Siquém também morreu, cerca de mil homens e mulheres.

⁵⁰ Então, Abimeleque foi para Tebez, sitiou-a, e a conquistou. ⁵¹ Mas havia uma torre forte na cidade. Todos os homens, mulheres e todos os líderes da cidade fugiram para lá. Trancaram-se e subiram até o terraço da torre.

⁵² Abimeleque foi até a torre e a atacou. Mas, quando ele se aproximou da porta da torre para incendiá-la, ⁵³ uma mulher jogou sobre sua cabeça uma pedra de moinho que quebrou-lhe o crânio. ⁵⁴ Rapidamente ele chamou o jovem que era o seu escudeiro e disse-lhe: "Desembainha tua espada e mata-me, assim, ninguém dirá sobre mim: Uma mulher o matou”. O jovem o transpassou, e ele morreu.

⁵⁵ Quando os homens de Israel viram que Abimeleque estava morto, foram para casa. ⁵⁶ Assim, Deus vingou o mal que Abimeleque havia feito ao seu pai, ao assassinar os seus setenta irmãos. ⁵⁷ Deus fez com que todo o mal dos homens de Siquém retornasse sobre suas próprias cabeças, e veio sobre eles a maldição de Jotão, filho de Jerubaal.

Capítulo 10

¹ Após Abimeleque, Tolá, filho de Puá, filho de Dodô, um homem de Issacar, que habitava em Samir, na região montanhosa de Efraim, levantou-se para libertar Israel. ² Julgou Israel durante vinte e três anos, morreu e foi sepultado em Samir.

³ Ele foi sucedido por Jair, o gileadita, que julgou Israel durante vinte e dois anos. ⁴ Este tinha trinta filhos, que cavalgavam em trinta jumentos, e possuíam trinta cidades na terra de Gileade, as quais até hoje são chamadas cidades de Jair. ⁵ Jair morreu e foi enterrado em Camom.

⁶ Mais uma vez, os israelitas fizeram o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, e adoraram os baalins, Astarote, os deuses da Síria, os deuses de Sidom, os deuses de Moabe, os deuses do povo de Amom e os deuses dos filisteus. Abandonaram Yahweh e não mais O adoraram. ⁷ A ira de Yahweh se acendeu contra Israel, e Ele os entregou nas mãos dos filisteus e dos amonitas.

⁸ Eles arrasaram e oprimiram o povo de Israel naquele ano. Durante dezoito anos, oprimiram todo o povo de Israel que estava além do Jordão, na terra dos amorreus, em Gileade. ⁹ Os amonitas atravessaram o Jordão para lutar contra Judá, contra Benjamim e contra a casa de Efraim, de maneira que Israel estava em grande desolação.

¹⁰ Então, o povo de Israel clamou a Yahweh, dizendo: "Pecamos contra Ti, pois abandonamos o nosso Deus e adoramos os baalins". ¹¹ Yahweh disse ao povo de Israel: "Não vos livrei dos egípcios, dos amorreus, dos amonitas, dos filisteus, ¹² e também dos sidônios? Quando os amalequitas e os maonitas vos oprimiram, clamastes a Mim, e vos livrei do poder deles.

¹³ Porém, novamente Me abandonastes e adorastes outros deuses. Portanto, não vos livrarei mais. ¹⁴ Ide e clamai aos deuses que tendes adorado. Que eles vos salvem quando estiverdes em perigo".

¹⁵ Os israelitas disseram a Yahweh: "Nós pecamos. Faze o que Te parecer melhor. Somente suplicamos que nos resgates hoje". ¹⁶ Eles se livraram dos deuses estrangeiros que possuíam e adoraram a Yahweh, e Ele não mais suportou a miséria de Israel.

¹⁷ Então, os amonitas reuniram-se e acamparam em Gileade. Os israelitas ajuntaram-se e acamparam em Mispá. ¹⁸ Os líderes do povo de Gileade disseram uns aos outros: "Quem será o homem que começará a lutar contra os amonitas? Ele se tornará o líder sobre todos os que vivem em Gileade".

Capítulo 11

¹ Ora, Jefté, o gileadita, era um guerreiro poderoso, mas ele era filho de uma prostituta. Seu pai era Gileade. ² A esposa de Gileade também lhe deu outros filhos. Quando estes cresceram, forçaram Jefté a deixar a casa e lhe disseram: "Tu não herdarás nada da nossa família. Tu és filho de outra mulher". ³ Então, Jefté fugiu dos seus irmãos e morou na terra de Tobe. Homens sem lei se juntaram a Jefté e foram com ele.

⁴ Alguns dias depois, o povo de Amom entrou em guerra contra Israel. ⁵ Quando os amonitas atacaram Israel, os anciãos de Gileade foram buscar Jefté na terra de Tobe. ⁶ Eles lhe pediram: "Vem e sê nosso líder para lutarmos contra o povo de Amom".

⁷ Jefté disse aos líderes de Gileade: "Vós me odiastes e me obrigastes a deixar a casa do meu pai. Por que vindes a mim agora que estais em apuros?". ⁸ Responderam-lhe: "É por isso que viemos a ti agora. Vem conosco e luta contra o povo de Amom, e tu serás o líder sobre todos os que habitam em Gileade".

⁹ Jefté disse-lhes: "Se vós me levardes de volta para casa para lutar contra os amonitas, e se Yahweh nos der a vitória sobre eles, eu serei o vosso líder". ¹⁰ Os anciãos de Gileade disseram a Jefté: "Seja Yahweh testemunha entre nós se não agirmos como prometemos!". ¹¹ Então, Jefté foi com os anciãos de Gileade, e o povo lhe fez líder e comandante sobre eles. Quando estava diante de Yahweh em Mispá, Jefté repetiu todas as promessas que havia feito.

¹² Então, Jefté enviou mensageiros ao rei do povo de Amom, dizendo: "Qual é o conflito entre nós? Por que tu vens à força para tomar a nossa terra?". ¹³ O rei dos amonitas respondeu aos mensageiros de Jefté: "Porque, quando Israel veio do Egito, eles tomaram minha terra de Arnom até o Jaboque, além do Jordão. Agora devolve essas terras em paz”.

¹⁴ Novamente, Jefté enviou mensageiros ao rei do povo de Amom, ¹⁵ que disseram: "Isto é o que Jefté afirma: ‘Israel não tomou a terra de Moabe e a terra do povo de Amom, ¹⁶ mas quando eles vieram do Egito, Israel passou pelo deserto para o mar Vermelho e, dali, para Cades.

¹⁷ Então, Israel enviou mensageiros ao rei de Edom, dizendo: 'Por favor, deixa-nos passar por tua terra', mas o rei de Edom não lhes deu ouvidos. Eles também enviaram mensageiros ao rei de Moabe. Porém, ele também recusou. Assim, Israel ficou em Cades. ¹⁸ Então, eles foram pelo deserto e contornaram a terra de Edom e a terra de Moabe, foram ao longo do lado leste da terra de Moabe e acamparam do outro lado de Arnom. Mas eles não entraram no território de Moabe, pois Arnom era a fronteira de Moabe.

¹⁹ Israel enviou mensageiros a Siom, rei dos amorreus, que governava em Hesbom. Israel disse-lhe: 'Por favor, deixa-nos passar pela tua terra para o lugar que é nosso'. ²⁰ Mas Siom não confiou em Israel para passar pelo seu território. Siom juntou todo o seu exército e o moveu para Jaza, e ali ele lutou contra Israel.

²¹ Então, Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, entregou Siom e todo o seu povo nas mãos de Israel, que os derrotou. Assim, Israel tomou toda a terra dos amorreus que viviam naquele país. ²² Eles assumiram o controle de tudo no território dos amorreus, desde Arnom até o Jaboque, e desde o deserto até o Jordão.

²³ Portanto, foi Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, que expulsou os amorreus da presença do Seu povo, os israelitas. Por que tu tomarias posse da terra deles agora? ²⁴ Por acaso tu não tomarás posse da terra que Camos, teu deus, te der? Portanto, toda a terra que Yahweh, nosso Deus, nos deu, nós tomaremos posse dela. ²⁵ Ora, és tu melhor que Balaque, filho de Zipor, rei de Moabe? Por acaso ele ousou discutir com os israelitas, ou declarou guerra contra eles?

²⁶ Enquanto Israel viveu por trezentos anos em Hesbom e nas suas vilas, e em Aroer e nas suas vilas, e em todas as cidades que estão ao longo das margens de Armom, por que, então, tu não as tomaste de volta naquele tempo? ²⁷ Eu não te fiz nada de errado, mas tu estás cometendo um erro contra mim ao me atacar. Yahweh, o Juiz, decidirá hoje entre o povo de Israel e o povo de Amom’”. ²⁸ Mas o rei dos amonitas rejeitou a advertência que Jefté enviou a ele.

²⁹ Então, o Espírito de Yahweh veio sobre Jefté e ele passou por Gileade e Manassés, e passou por Mispá de Gileade, e de Mispá de Gileade ele passou pelos amonitas. ³⁰ Jefté fez um voto a Yahweh e disse: “Se Tu me deres a vitória sobre os amonitas, ³¹ então, qualquer um que sair da porta da minha casa para ir ao meu encontro, quando eu voltar em paz dos amonitas, pertencerá a Yahweh, e eu o oferecerei como holocausto”.

³² Jefté passou pelos amonitas para lutar contra eles, e Yahweh lhe deu a vitória. ³³ Ele os atacou e causou uma grande matança, desde Aroer até Minite, vinte cidades, e até Abel-Queramim. Assim, os amonitas foram colocados sob o controle do povo de Israel.

³⁴ Jefté foi à sua casa em Mispá, e de lá sua filha saiu para encontrá-lo com tambores e danças. Ela era sua única filha. Além dela, ele não tinha nenhum outro filho ou filha. ³⁵ Assim que ele a viu, rasgou suas vestes e disse: "Oh! Minha filha! Tu me entristeceste muito, e te tornaste aquela que me causa dor! Pois eu fiz um juramento a Yahweh, e não posso voltar atrás na minha promessa".

³⁶ Ela lhe disse: "Meu pai, tu fizeste um voto a Yahweh; faze comigo o que prometeste, porque Yahweh te vingou dos teus inimigos, os amonitas". ³⁷ Ela disse ainda ao seu pai: "Seja-me concedida esta promessa. Deixa-me sozinha por dois meses, para que eu vá e desça pelos montes, lamentando pela minha virgindade, eu e as minhas companheiras”.

³⁸ Ele disse: "Vai". Ele a mandou embora por dois meses. Ela o deixou, ela com as suas companheiras, e lamentaram a sua virgindade nos montes. ³⁹ No final dos dois meses, ela voltou ao seu pai, que fez com ela de acordo com a promessa do voto que ele fizera. Ora, ela nunca havia se deitado com homem algum, e isto se tornou um costume em Israel: ⁴⁰ que as filhas de Israel, todo ano, por quatro dias, recontariam a história da filha de Jefté, o gileadita.

Capítulo 12

¹ Uma convocação veio para os homens de Efraim. Eles passaram por Zafom e disseram para Jefté: "Por que tu guerreaste contra o povo de Amom e não nos chamaste para ir contigo? Queimaremos a tua casa sobre ti". ² Jefté lhes disse: "Eu e o meu povo estávamos em grande conflito com os povo de Amom. Quando eu vos chamei, não me livrastes deles.

³ Quando eu vi que vós não me livraríeis, confiei minha vida em minha própria força e combati o povo de Amom, e Yahweh me deu vitória. Por que viestes lutar contra mim hoje?". ⁴ Jefté juntou todos os homens de Gileade e lutou contra Efraim. Os homens de Gileade atacaram os homens de Efraim porque eles disseram: "Vós, gileaditas, sois fugitivos em Efraim e Manassés".

⁵ Os gileaditas tomaram as passagens do Jordão que levavam a Efraim. Quando qualquer um dos sobreviventes de Efraim dizia: "Deixai-me atravessar o rio", os homens de Gileade lhe diziam: "Tu és um efraimita?". Se ele respondesse: "Não", ⁶ então, eles diriam para ele: "Dize: chibolete". E se ele dissesse: "sibolete", porque não conseguia pronunciar a palavra corretamente, os gileaditas o prenderiam e o matariam nas passagens do Jordão. Quarenta e dois efraimitas foram mortos naquele tempo.

⁷ Jefté serviu como juiz sobre Israel por seis anos. Então, Jefté, o gileadita, morreu, e foi enterrado em uma das cidades de Gileade.

⁸ Depois dele, Ibsã, de Belém, serviu como juiz sobre Israel. ⁹ Ele tinha trinta filhos e trinta filhas. Estas foram dadas em casamento a outros homens de fora; e também de fora trouxe trinta mulheres para os seus filhos. Ele julgou Israel por sete anos.

¹⁰ Ibsã morreu e foi enterrado em Belém. ¹¹ Depois dele, Elom, o zebulonita, serviu como juiz sobre Israel. Ele julgou Israel por dez anos. ¹² Elom, o zebulonita, morreu e foi enterrado em Aijalom, na terra de Zebulom.

¹³ Depois dele, Abdom, filho de Hilel, o piratonita, serviu como juiz sobre Israel. ¹⁴ Ele teve quarenta filhos e trinta netos, que montavam setenta jumentos. Ele julgou Israel por oito anos. ¹⁵ Abdom, filho de Hilel, o piratonita, morreu, e foi enterrado em Piratom, na terra de Efraim, na região montanhosa dos amalequitas.

Capítulo 13

¹ O povo de Israel, mais uma vez, fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, e Ele os entregou nas mãos dos filisteus por quarenta anos. ² Havia um homem de Zorá, do clã dos danitas, cujo nome era Manoá. Sua esposa, como era estéril, nunca havia dado à luz.

³ O Anjo de Yahweh apareceu à mulher e disse-lhe: “Até agora, tu não tens conseguido engravidar e não deste à luz. Porém, tu ficarás grávida e darás à luz um filho. ⁴ Agora, sê cuidadosa para não beber vinho ou bebida forte, nem comer qualquer coisa impura. ⁵ Vê, tu ficarás grávida e darás à luz um filho. Nenhuma navalha passará pela cabeça dele, porque o menino será nazireu para Deus, desde o ventre. Ele começará a libertar Israel das mãos dos filisteus.

⁶ Então, a mulher veio e disse ao seu marido: "Um homem de Deus veio até mim, e sua aparência era como de um anjo de Deus, e ele me causou muito medo. Eu não perguntei de onde veio e ele não me disse o seu nome. ⁷ Ele me disse: 'Vê! Tu ficarás grávida e darás à luz um filho. Então, não bebas vinho nem bebida forte, e não comas nenhuma comida que a Lei declara como impura, porque a criança será um nazireu de Deus, desde o tempo em que estiver no teu ventre até o dia da sua morte'".

⁸ Então, Manoá orou a Yahweh e disse: "Ó, Senhor, por favor, faze com que o homem de Deus que Tu enviaste venha outra vez a nós e que ele nos ensine o que devemos fazer à criança que vai nascer". ⁹ Deus ouviu a oração de Manoá, e o Anjo de Deus veio novamente até a mulher quando ela estava sentada no campo. Mas Manoá, seu marido, não estava com ela.

¹⁰ A mulher correu rapidamente e disse ao seu marido: "Olha! O homem apareceu a mim, aquele que veio a mim outro dia!". ¹¹ Manoá se levantou e seguiu sua esposa. Quando ele chegou até o homem, disse: "És tu o homem que falou com a minha esposa?”. O homem disse: "Sou eu".

¹² Então, Manoá disse: "Que as tuas palavras se tornem verdade; mas quais serão a regras para a criança, e qual será seu trabalho?". ¹³ O Anjo de Yahweh disse a Manoá: "Ela precisa fazer cuidadosamente tudo o que lhe disse. ¹⁴ Ela não poderá comer nada que venha da vinha e não poderá beber vinho ou bebida forte; não poderá comer nenhuma comida que a lei declara como impura. Ela deve obedecer tudo o que lhe ordenei para fazer".

¹⁵ Manoá disse ao Anjo de Yahweh: "Por favor, fica mais um pouco, para nos dar tempo para te preparar um cabrito". ¹⁶ O Anjo de Yahweh disse a Manoá: "Mesmo que Eu fique, não comerei da vossa comida, mas se tu preparares um holocausto, consagra-o para Yahweh". Manoá não sabia que era o Anjo de Yahweh.

¹⁷ Manoá disse ao Anjo de Yahweh: "Qual é o teu nome, para que te honremos quando a tua palavra se cumprir?”. ¹⁸ O Anjo de Yahweh lhe disse: "Por que perguntas o Meu nome? Ele é maravilhoso!".

¹⁹ Então, Manoá pegou o cabrito com a oferta de cereal e ofereceu-os em cima da pedra a Yahweh. Ele fez algo maravilhoso enquanto Manoá e sua esposa estavam observando. ²⁰ Quando a chama subiu do altar em direção ao céu, o Anjo de Yahweh subiu na chama do altar. Manoá e sua esposa viram isso e se prostraram com seus rostos em terra.

²¹ O Anjo de Yahweh não apareceu mais a Manoá nem à sua esposa. Então, Manoá soube que ele era o Anjo de Yahweh. ²² Manoá disse à sua esposa: "Certamente morreremos, porque vimos a Deus".

²³ Mas sua esposa lhe disse: "Se Yahweh quisesse nos matar, Ele não teria recebido o holocausto e a oferta de cereais que nós Lhe demos. Ele não teria nos mostrado todas essas coisas, nem nos teria feito ouvir tais coisas neste tempo".

²⁴ Algum tempo depois, a mulher deu à luz um menino, e chamou-lhe Sansão. O menino cresceu, e Yahweh o abençoou. ²⁵ O Espírito de Yahweh começou a movê-lo em Maané-Dã, entre Zorá e Estaol.

Capítulo 14

¹ Sansão desceu a Timnate e ali viu uma mulher, uma das filhas dos filisteus. ² Quando retornou, disse a seu pai e à sua mãe: "Vi uma mulher em Timnate, uma das filhas dos filisteus. Agora, tomai-a para ser minha esposa".

³ Seu pai e sua mãe lhe disseram: "Não existe mulher entre as filhas de nossos parentes ou entre todo o nosso povo? Tomarás esposa dentre os incircuncisos filisteus?". Sansão disse a seu pai: "Traze-a para mim porque, quando eu a vejo, é ela quem me agrada". ⁴ Mas seu pai e sua mãe não sabiam que isso vinha de Yahweh, pois Ele desejava criar conflito com os filisteus porque, naquele tempo, os filisteus dominavam Israel.

⁵ Então, Sansão desceu a Timnate com seus pais, e chegaram às vinhas de Timnate. Ali, um leão novo veio até ele, rugindo. ⁶ O Espírito de Yahweh veio repentinamente sobre Sansão, e ele, sem nada nas mãos, rasgou o leão ao meio, tão facilmente como se rasgasse um cabrito. Porém, não disse nada do que fizera ao seu pai ou à sua mãe.

⁷ Depois disso, ele foi e falou com a mulher, e ela foi agradável à vista de Sansão. ⁸ Alguns dias depois, quando voltou para casar-se com a mulher, desviou-se do caminho para ver a carcaça do leão; e eis que dentro dela havia um enxame de abelhas e mel. ⁹ Ele raspou o mel com as mãos e foi comendo pelo caminho. Quando aproximou-se de seu pai e de sua mãe, deu-lhes um pouco do mel e eles comeram, mas não lhes disse que havia tirado o mel do que havia sobrado do corpo do leão.

¹⁰ O pai de Sansão desceu para onde estava a mulher, e Sansão deu uma festa ali, pois esse era o costume dos noivos. ¹¹ Assim que os parentes da mulher o avistaram, trouxeram trinta dos seus amigos para estarem com ele.

¹² Sansão disse-lhes: "Vou contar-lhes um enigma. Se um de vós descobrir e me contar a resposta durante os sete dias da festa, distribuirei trinta vestes de linho e trinta conjuntos de roupas. ¹³ Mas, se não me responderdes, então vós me dareis trinta vestes de linho e trinta conjuntos de roupas". Responderam-lhe: "Dize-nos o enigma para o ouvirmos".

¹⁴ Ele lhes disse: "Do que come saiu comida, do forte saiu doçura". Mas seus convidados não descobriram a resposta em três dias.

¹⁵ No quarto dia, disseram à esposa de Sansão: "Engana teu marido para que nos forneça a resposta do enigma, ou queimaremos a ti e a casa do teu pai. Por acaso nos convidastes aqui para nos empobrecer?”.

¹⁶ A mulher de Sansão começou a chorar na frente dele, dizendo: "Tu me odeias! Tu não me amas! Falaste um enigma a alguns do meu povo, mas não me revelaste a resposta". Sansão disse-lhe: “Olha aqui, se não revelei nem ao meu pai ou à minha mãe, por que revelaria a ti?". ¹⁷ Ela chorou durante os sete dias da sua festa. No sétimo dia, Sansão deu-lhe a resposta porque ela o pressionou muito. E ela contou aos parentes do seu povo.

¹⁸ Então, no sétimo dia, antes do sol se pôr, os homens da cidade responderam a Sansão: "O que é mais doce do que o mel? O que é mais forte do que um leão?". Sansão lhes disse: "Se não tivésseis arado com a minha novilha, não teríeis descoberto a resposta do meu enigma".

¹⁹ Então, o Espírito de Yahweh veio com poder sobre Sansão. Este desceu a Asquelom e matou trinta homens daquele lugar. Ele tomou despojo de roupas deles, e as deu aos que haviam respondido o enigma. Ardendo em furor, ele subiu para a casa do seu pai. ²⁰ A mulher de Sansão foi entregue como esposa ao melhor amigo dele.

Capítulo 15

¹ Depois de alguns dias, durante o tempo da colheita de trigo, Sansão pegou um cabrito e foi visitar sua esposa. Ele disse para si mesmo: "Eu irei ao quarto da minha esposa". Mas o pai dela não lhe permitiu entrar. ² O pai dela disse: "Eu realmente pensei que tu a odiavas, então, entreguei-a ao teu amigo. Sua irmã mais nova é mais bonita do que ela, não achas? Toma-a em seu lugar".

³ Sansão disse-lhe: "Desta vez, serei inocente se fizer algum mal aos filisteus". ⁴ Sansão foi e pegou trezentas raposas e as amarrou juntas pelas caudas, em pares. Então, pegou tochas e prendeu-as no meio de cada par de caudas.

⁵ Quando ele pôs fogo nas tochas, soltou as raposas dentro da plantação dos filisteus e elas colocaram fogo tanto nos feixes de grãos quanto nos cereais que havia no campo. As vinhas e os olivais também foram queimados. ⁶ Os filisteus perguntaram: "Quem fez isso?". Disseram-lhes: "Sansão, o genro do timnita, fez isso porque ele tomou a esposa de Sansão e a deu ao seu amigo". Então, os filisteus foram e a queimaram com o seu pai.

⁷ Sansão disse-lhes: "Se é isso o que vós fazeis, eu terei a minha vingança contra vós e depois de feita, pararei”. ⁸ Ele os atacou e cortou-lhes em pedaços, quadril e coxa, com uma grande matança. Depois, desceu e foi habitar em uma caverna na rocha de Etã.

⁹ Então, os filisteus subiram e prepararam-se para a batalha em Judá e posicionaram o seu exército em Leí. ¹⁰ Os homens de Judá disseram: "Por que viestes nos atacar?". Eles responderam: "Estamos atacando para capturar Sansão e fazermos a ele o que ele fez conosco".

¹¹ Então, três mil homens de Judá desceram à caverna na rocha de Etã e disseram a Sansão: "Tu não sabes que os filisteus dominam sobre nós? O que é isso que fizeste conosco?". Sansão respondeu-lhes: "Eles fizeram comigo e então eu fiz com eles".

¹² Disseram a Sansão: "Viemos aqui para te amarrar e te entregar nas mãos dos filisteus". Sansão disse-lhes: "Jurai-me que vós não me matareis". ¹³ Responderam-lhe: "Só iremos amarrar-te com cordas e te entregar a eles. Prometemos que não te mataremos". Então, amarraram-no com duas cordas novas e o tiraram da rocha.

¹⁴ Quando Sansão chegou a Leí, os filisteus vieram gritando assim que o encontraram. Mas o Espírito de Yahweh veio sobre ele de tal maneira que as cordas em seus braços tornaram-se como linho queimado e caíram de suas mãos.

¹⁵ Sansão encontrou uma queixada de jumento ainda fresca e, apanhando-a, matou com ela mil homens. ¹⁶ E disse: "Com a queixada de um jumento, montões sobre montões; com a queixada de um jumento matei mil homens".

¹⁷ Quando Sansão terminou de falar, lançou fora a queixada e chamou o lugar de Ramate-Leí. ¹⁸ Ele estava com muita sede e clamou a Yahweh, dizendo: "Tu deste esta grande vitória ao teu servo. Todavia, agora eu morrerei de sede e cairei nas mãos desses incircuncisos?".

¹⁹ E Deus abriu uma fonte em um lugar que fica em Leí, e saiu água. Quando ele bebeu, sua força retornou e ele reviveu. Então, ele chamou aquele lugar de En-Hacoré e está em Leí até hoje. ²⁰ Sansão julgou Israel nos dias dos filisteus durante vinte anos.

Capítulo 16

¹ Sansão foi a Gaza e viu lá uma prostituta; então, deitou-se com ela. ² E falaram aos gazitas: "Sansão está aqui". Os gazitas cercaram o lugar em segredo, e o esperaram durante toda a noite junto ao portão da cidade. Eles se mantiveram quietos durante toda a noite. Disseram: "Esperemos até o dia amanhecer, então o mataremos".

³ Mas Sansão ficou na cama só até a meia-noite. Então, ele se levantou e pegou os portões da cidade e suas duas colunas. Ele os arrancou do chão, com tranca e tudo, colocou-os sobre os ombros, e carregou-os até o topo da colina defronte de Hebrom.

⁴ Algum tempo depois, Sansão apaixonou-se por uma mulher que habitava no vale de Soreque. Seu nome era Dalila. ⁵ Os chefes dos filisteus vieram até ela e lhe disseram: "Engana Sansão para ver de onde vem a sua grande força, e como poderemos prevalecer sobre ele, como amarrá-lo sem que se solte, a fim de humilhá-lo. Faze isso, e cada um de nós te daremos mil e cem peças de prata".

⁶ Então, Dalila disse a Sansão: "Por favor, conta-me por que tu és tão forte, e como alguém poderia amarrar-te para que fosses dominado?". ⁷ Sansão disse a ela: "Se me amarrarem com sete cordas frescas de arco, que não forem secas, então me tornarei fraco, como qualquer outro homem".

⁸ Então, os governantes dos filisteus trouxeram a Dalila sete cordas frescas de arco, que ainda não se haviam secado, com as quais ela amarrou Sansão. ⁹ Dalila mantinha homens escondidos no interior do seu quarto. Ela disse a Sansão: "Os filisteus estão vindo sobre ti, Sansão!". Mas ele arrebentou as cordas frescas de arco como um fio de estopa quando toca o fogo. Assim, o segredo de sua força não foi descoberto.

¹⁰ Dalila disse a Sansão: "Tu me enganaste e me contaste mentiras. Por favor, conta-me como tu podes ser dominado". ¹¹ Ele lhe disse: "Se me amarrarem com cordas novas, que nunca foram usadas para o trabalho, eu me tornarei fraco como qualquer outro homem". ¹² Então, Dalila pegou cordas novas e o amarrou com elas. Depois disse: "Os filisteus estão vindo sobre ti, Sansão!". Homens estavam à espera no interior do quarto. Mas Sansão rompeu as cordas dos seus braços como se fossem um pedaço de linha.

¹³ Dalila disse a Sansão: "Até agora tu me enganaste e me contaste mentiras. Conta-me como podes ser dominado". Sansão lhe disse: "Se teceres as sete tranças do meu cabelo com um tecido em um tear, e pregar-lhe ao tear, serei como qualquer outro homem". ¹⁴ Enquanto ele dormia, Dalila amarrou as setes tranças do seu cabelo com um tecido em um tear, e pregou-as ao tear. Depois, ela lhe disse: "Os filisteus estão vindo sobre ti, Sansão!". Ele acordou do seu sono e arrancou o tecido e o prego do tear.

¹⁵ Disse-lhe ela: "Como podes dizer-me, 'Eu te amo', quando não compartilhas os teus segredos comigo? Tu zombaste de mim estas três vezes, e não me disseste como tens tão grande força". ¹⁶ Todos os dias, ela o pressionava com suas palavras; e o pressionou tanto, que ele desejava estar morto.

¹⁷ Então, Sansão contou tudo a ela, dizendo: "Nunca foi passada navalha em minha cabeça, pois sou nazireu de Deus desde o útero de minha mãe. Se a minha cabeça for raspada, então minha força me deixará e eu me tornarei fraco como qualquer outro homem".

¹⁸ Quando Dalila viu que ele tinha contado toda a verdade, ela chamou os governantes dos filisteus, dizendo: "Vinde outra vez, pois ele me disse tudo". E eles foram até ela, trazendo a prata em suas mãos. ¹⁹ Ela havia feito Sansão adormecer em seu colo. Assim, chamou um homem para raspar suas sete tranças da cabeça. Ela começou a subjugá-lo, pois a força dele o havia deixado.

²⁰ Dalila disse: "Os filisteus estão vindo sobre ti, Sansão!". Ele acordou do seu sono, dizendo: "Sairei como as outras vezes, e ficarei livre". Mas ele não sabia que Yahweh o havia deixado. ²¹ Os filisteus capturaram-no e arrancaram-lhe os olhos. Levaram-no para Gaza, amarraram-no com grilhões de bronze e o fizeram girar a pedra de moinho da prisão. ²² Mas o cabelo em sua cabeça começou a crescer novamente, depois que havia sido raspado.

²³ Então, os governantes filisteus reuniram-se para oferecer um grande sacrifício a Dagom, seu deus, para comemorar. Eles diziam: "Nosso deus derrotou Sansão, nosso inimigo, e o deu em nossas mãos". ²⁴ Quando o povo o viu, louvaram o seu deus, e disseram: "Nosso deus derrotou o nosso inimigo e o entregou a nós; o destruidor do nosso país, que matou muitos dos nossos".

²⁵ Quando eles estavam celebrando, disseram: "Chamai Sansão, para que ele nos faça rir". Chamaram Sansão para fora da prisão, para fazê-los rir. Fizeram-no ficar de pé entre os pilares. ²⁶ Sansão disse ao jovem que segurava sua mão: "Deixa-me tocar os pilares nos quais o prédio se sustenta, para que eu me apoie neles".

²⁷ Ora, a casa estava cheia de homens e mulheres, e todos os governantes dos filisteus estavam lá. No terraço, havia cerca de três mil homens e mulheres olhando, enquanto Sansão os estava entretendo.

²⁸ Sansão clamou a Yahweh, dizendo: "Senhor Yahweh, lembra-Te de mim! Por favor, fortalece-me somente esta única vez, Deus, para que eu me vingue, em um só golpe, dos filisteus, por arrancarem os meus dois olhos". ²⁹ Sansão agarrou-se aos dois pilares do meio, nos quais o prédio se sustentava, e ele os empurrou, um pilar com sua mão direita, e o outro com a esquerda.

³⁰ Sansão disse: "Que eu morra com os filisteus!". Ele empurrou com sua força, e o prédio caiu sobre os governantes e sobre todas as pessoas que lá estavam. Assim, as pessoas que ele matou quando morreu foram em maior número do que as que ele matou durante a sua vida. ³¹ Então, seus irmãos e toda a casa de seu pai desceram, tomaram-no e o levaram de volta. Eles o enterraram entre Zorá e Estaol, no túmulo de Manoá, seu pai. Sansão julgou Israel por vinte anos.

Capítulo 17

¹ Havia um homem na região montanhosa de Efraim, e seu nome era Mica. ² Ele disse à sua mãe: "As mil e cem peças de prata que foram tiradas de ti, pelas quais falaste uma maldição (eu a escutei), olha aqui: eu tenho a prata comigo. Fui eu que a roubei". Sua mãe lhe disse: "Que Yahweh te abençoe, meu filho!".

³ Ele devolveu as mil e cem peças de prata à sua mãe, e ela disse: "Dedico esta prata à Yahweh, para que meu filho faça imagens de escultura e de metal de fundição. Assim, agora eu a devolvo a ti". ⁴ Quando ele devolveu o dinheiro à sua mãe, ela tomou duzentas peças de prata e as deu a um ourives. Ele fez delas imagens de escultura e de metal de fundição, que foram colocadas na casa de Mica.

⁵ Esse homem, Mica, tinha uma casa de ídolos. Ele fez um colete sacerdotal e alguns deuses da casa, e constituiu um de seus filhos como sacerdote. ⁶ Não havia rei em Israel naqueles dias, e todos faziam o que lhes parecia certo aos seus próprios olhos.

⁷ Havia um jovem de Belém de Judá, da família de Judá, que era levita. Ele estava ali para cumprir seus deveres. ⁸ Esse homem deixou Belém de Judá para ir encontrar um lugar para morar. Enquanto viajava, ele veio à casa de Mica, na região montanhosa de Efraim. ⁹ Mica disse-lhe: "De onde vens?". O homem lhe respondeu: "Eu sou um levita de Belém de Judá, e estou viajando para encontrar um lugar em que possa morar".

¹⁰ Mica disse-lhe: "Mora comigo e sê para mim um pai e sacerdote. Eu te darei dez peças de prata por ano, um conjunto de roupas e tua comida". Então, o levita aceitou ficar em sua casa. ¹¹ O levita estava contente em morar com aquele homem, e o jovem tornou-se para Mica como um de seus filhos.

¹² Mica separou o levita para os deveres sagrados, e o jovem tornou-se o seu sacerdote, e ficou na casa de Mica. ¹³ Então, Mica disse: "Agora eu sei que Yahweh me fará bem, porque este levita tornou-se o meu sacerdote".

Capítulo 18

¹ Não havia rei em Israel naqueles dias. A descendência da tribo de Dã buscava um território para habitar, pois ainda não havia recebido nenhuma herança entre as tribos de Israel. ² O povo de Dã enviou cinco homens dentre todos da sua tribo, homens que eram guerreiros experientes de Zorá e de Estaol, para espionar a terra a pé, e observá-la. Disseram-lhes: "Ide e observai a terra". Eles foram à região montanhosa de Efraim, para a casa de Mica, e passaram a noite ali.

³ Quando estavam perto da casa de Mica, reconheceram a fala do jovem levita. Então, pararam-no e perguntaram-lhe: "Quem te trouxe aqui? Que fazes neste lugar? Por que estás aqui?". ⁴ Ele lhes respondeu: "Isto é o que Mica fez a mim: ele me contratou para ser o seu sacerdote".

⁵ Eles pediram-lhe: "Por favor, busca conselho de Deus, para que saibamos se a nossa jornada será bem-sucedida". ⁶ O sacerdote lhes disse: "Ide em paz. Yahweh vos conduzirá no caminho em que deveis ir".

⁷ Então, os cinco homens saíram e foram para Laís, e avistaram os habitantes que viviam em segurança, da mesma maneira que os sidônios viviam: seguros e sem perturbações. Não existia ninguém que os houvesse conquistado, nem que os incomodasse por coisa alguma naquela terra. Viviam distantes dos sidônios e não tinham negócios com ninguém. ⁸ Os homens voltaram para a sua tribo em Zorá e Estaol. Seus parentes perguntaram-lhes: "Qual é o vosso relato?".

⁹ Eles lhes disseram: "Vinde! Vamos atacá-los! Vimos a terra e é muito boa. Não estais fazendo nada? Não demoreis para atacar e conquistar a terra. ¹⁰ Quando fordes, chegareis até um povo que pensa estar seguro. Aquela terra é extensa! Deus a entregou a vós. Um lugar onde não falta nada".

¹¹ Seiscentos homens da tribo de Dã, armados com armas de guerra, partiram de Zorá e Estaol. ¹² Subiram e acamparam em Quiriate-Jearim, em Judá. Por isso, as pessoas chamam aquele lugar de Maané-Dã até hoje. Isso fica a oeste de Quiriate-Jearim.

¹³ Dali, eles partiram para a região montanhosa de Efraim e foram para a casa de Mica. ¹⁴ Então, os cinco homens que haviam espionado a região de Laís disseram aos seus parentes: "Por acaso vós sabeis que nestas casas há um colete sacerdotal, alguns deuses da casa, uma imagem de escultura, e uma imagem de metal de fundição? Tomai decisão agora do que ireis fazer".

¹⁵ Então, eles partiram dali e foram à casa do jovem levita, à casa de Mica, e o cumprimentaram. ¹⁶ Ora, os seiscentos danitas, armados com armas de guerra, ficaram de pé à entrada da porta.

¹⁷ Os cincos homens que foram espionar as terras, chegaram ali e tomaram a imagem de escultura, o colete sacerdotal, os deuses da casa, e a imagem de metal de fundição, enquanto o sacerdote ficou de pé à entrada da porta, com os seiscentos homens armados com armas de guerra. ¹⁸ Quando eles entraram na casa de Mica e tomaram a imagem de escultura, o colete sacerdotal, os deuses da casa, e a imagem de metal de fundição, o sacerdote perguntou-lhes: "O que estais fazendo?".

¹⁹ Eles disseram-lhe: "Silêncio! Coloca tua mão sobre a boca e vem conosco, e sê para nós como pai e sacerdote. É melhor que sejas sacerdote da casa de um só homem ou o sacerdote de uma tribo e de um clã em Israel?". ²⁰ O coração do sacerdote alegrou-se. Ele tomou o colete sacerdotal, os deuses da casa, e a imagem de escultura, e foi junto com o povo.

²¹ Então, eles se viraram e partiram, colocando as crianças pequenas à frente, assim como o gado e suas posses. ²² Quando estavam a uma boa distância da casa de Mica, os homens que estavam nas casas próximas de Mica foram convocados e alcançaram os danitas. ²³ Eles gritaram aos danitas e estes, voltando-se, perguntaram a Mica: "Por que convocaste teus homens?".

²⁴ Ele disse: "Roubastes os deuses que eu fiz, tomastes o meu sacerdote, e partistes. Que mais me restou? Como podeis me perguntar: 'O que te incomoda?'". ²⁵ O povo de Dã lhe disse: "Não nos faças ouvir coisa alguma do que tu dizes, se não, alguns homens enfurecidos te atacarão, e tu e a tua família morrereis". ²⁶ Então, o povo de Dã seguiu o seu caminho. Quando Mica viu que eles eram fortes demais para ele, virou-se e voltou para a sua casa.

²⁷ O povo de Dã tomou o que Mica havia feito, assim como o seu sacerdote, e foram para Laís, para um povo que estava seguro, sem perturbações, e os mataram ao fio de espada e queimaram a cidade. ²⁸ Não havia ninguém para resgatá-los, pois era um longo caminho até Sidom, e não tinham negócios com ninguém. Isso foi no vale perto de Bete-Reobe. Os danitas reconstruíram a cidade e se estabeleceram ali. ²⁹ Chamaram a cidade de Dã, em homenagem a Dã, seu ancestral, aquele que fora um dos filhos de Israel. Anteriormente, o nome da cidade era Laís.

³⁰ O povo de Dã levantou para si a imagem de escultura; e Jônatas, filho de Gérson, filho de Moisés, ele e seus filhos, foram sacerdotes da tribo de Dã até o dia em que o povo foi para o cativeiro. ³¹ Assim, eles adoraram a imagem de escultura que Mica havia feito, durante todo o tempo em que a casa de Deus esteve em Siló.

Capítulo 19

¹ Naqueles dias, quando não havia rei em Israel, havia um homem, um levita, que morava na área mais remota da região montanhosa de Efraim. Ele tomou para si uma mulher, uma concubina, de Belém de Judá. ² Mas sua concubina foi infiel a ele. Ela o deixou e voltou para a casa do seu pai, em Belém de Judá. E lá permaneceu por quatro meses.

³ Então, seu marido levantou-se e foi atrás dela, a fim de convencê-la a voltar. Seu servo o acompanhou com um par de jumentos. Quando seu marido chegou, ela o trouxe até seu pai, que ficou feliz quando o viu. ⁴ Seu sogro o convenceu a permanecer ali por três dias. Comeram, beberam e dormiram.

⁵ No quarto dia, ele se levantou cedo e se preparou para partir, mas o pai da mulher disse: "Fortalece-te com um pedaço de pão, depois poderás ir". ⁶ Então, os dois sentaram-se para comer e beber juntos. O pai da moça disse ao genro: "Por favor, fica esta noite para te divertires”.

⁷ Quando o levita preparou-se para sair, o pai da jovem insistiu que ficasse. Então, ele mudou seu plano e passou a noite ali novamente. ⁸ No quinto dia, ele acordou cedo para sair, mas o pai da moça disse: "Fortalece-te, e espera até a tarde". Então, os dois fizeram uma refeição.

⁹ Quando o levita, sua concubina e seu servo levantaram-se para partir, o seu sogro, o pai da moça, disse-lhe: "Olha, agora o dia está avançando para a noite. Por favor, fica outra noite e alegra-te. Poderás levantar-te cedo amanhã e voltar para casa".

¹⁰ Mas o levita não estava disposto a ficar naquela noite. Ele levantou-se e saiu. Partiu em direção a Jebus (que é Jerusalém). Ele tinha um par de jumentos com selas, e sua concubina estava com ele. ¹¹ Quando aproximaram-se de Jebus, já era quase o fim do dia, e o servo disse ao seu mestre: "Desviemos o nosso percurso para a cidade dos jebuseus, e passemos a noite ali".

¹² Seu mestre lhe disse: "Não nos desviaremos para nenhuma cidade de estrangeiros que não pertença ao povo de Israel. Iremos até Gibeá". ¹³ O levita disse ainda ao seu jovem: "Vamos a um desses outros lugares e passaremos a noite em Gibeá ou Ramá".

¹⁴ Assim prosseguiram, e o sol se pôs quando se aproximavam de Gibeá, no território de Benjamim. ¹⁵ Eles se desviaram para lá a fim de passarem a noite em Gibeá. Eles entraram e se sentaram na praça da cidade, pois ninguém os recebeu em sua casa.

¹⁶ Então, ao anoitecer, um homem idoso estava vindo do seu trabalho. Ele era da região montanhosa de Efraim, mas estava morando por um tempo em Gibeá. Porém, os homens que moravam naquele lugar eram benjamitas. ¹⁷ Ele levantou seus olhos e, vendo o viajante na praça da cidade, disse: "Para onde vais? E de onde vens?".

¹⁸ O levita respondeu-lhe: "Estamos viajando de Belém de Judá para a parte mais remota da região montanhosa de Efraim, que é de onde eu sou. Fui a Belém de Judá e estou indo para a casa de Yahweh, mas não há ninguém que me receba em sua casa. ¹⁹ Temos palha e forragem para os nossos jumentos, e há pão e vinho para mim e para a tua serva que aqui está e para este jovem que acompanha os teus servos. Não nos falta nada".

²⁰ O idoso os cumprimentou, dizendo: "Que a paz esteja convosco! Cuidarei de todas as vossas necessidades, só não passeis a noite na praça". ²¹ Então, o homem trouxe o levita para a sua casa e deu forragem aos seus jumentos. Lavaram seus pés, comeram e beberam.

²² Enquanto se divertiam, alguns homens da cidade, homens imprestáveis, rodearam a casa, batendo à porta. Falaram ao homem idoso, o senhor da casa: "Traze para fora o homem que trouxeste para a tua casa, para que tenhamos relações sexuais com ele". ²³ O homem, o senhor da casa, foi até eles e disse-lhes: "Não, meus irmãos, por favor, não façais esse mal! Porque este homem é um hóspede na minha casa, não façais essa coisa maldosa!

²⁴ Vede, minha filha virgem e a concubina dele estão aqui. Deixai-me trazê-las para fora agora. Violentai-as, fazei o que quiserdes com elas, mas não façais essa coisa maldosa com este homem!". ²⁵ Porém, os homens não lhe deram ouvidos. Então, o homem tomou a sua concubina e a trouxe para fora para eles. Eles a tomaram, estupraram-na e abusaram dela durante a noite e, ao amanhecer, a deixaram ir. ²⁶ Ao amanhecer, a mulher veio e caiu à porta da casa do homem, onde o senhor dela estava, e permaneceu deitada ali até o dia clarear.

²⁷ Seu senhor levantou-se pela manhã, abriu as portas da casa e saiu para seguir a viagem. Ele viu a sua concubina deitada ali no chão com as suas mãos na soleira da porta. ²⁸ O levita disse a ela: "Levanta-te. Vamos", mas não houve resposta. Ele a colocou sobre o jumento, e o homem partiu para casa.

²⁹ Quando o levita chegou à sua casa, pegou uma faca, tomou a sua concubina e a cortou, membro por membro, em doze pedaços, e enviou os pedaços por todo o Israel. ³⁰ Todos os que viram disseram: "Nunca se fez ou se viu tal coisa em todo o Israel, desde o dia em que o povo de Israel subiu da terra do Egito até hoje. Pensai nisto! Dai-nos conselho! Contai-nos o que se deve fazer!".

Capítulo 20

¹ Então, todo o povo de Israel saiu, como um só homem, de Dã até Berseba, incluindo a terra de Gileade, e se reuniram diante de Yahweh, em Mispá. ² Os líderes de todo o povo e de todas as tribos de Israel tomaram os seus lugares na assembleia do povo de Deus. Quatrocentos mil homens a pé, capazes de lutar com a espada.

³ Ora, o povo de Benjamim soube que o povo de Israel havia subido a Mispá. E os israelitas disseram: "Contai-nos como essa maldade ocorreu?". ⁴ O levita, marido da mulher que havia sido assassinada, respondeu: "Eu cheguei a Gibeá no território que pertence a Benjamim, eu e a minha concubina, para passarmos a noite.

⁵ Durante a noite, os líderes de Gibeá me atacaram, cercando a casa com a intenção de me matar. Eles violentaram a minha concubina, e ela morreu. ⁶ Eu tomei a minha concubina, cortei o seu corpo em pedaços e os enviei para cada região da herança de Israel, por tamanho mal e ultraje por eles cometido em Israel. ⁷ Agora, todos vós, israelitas, dai aqui o vosso parecer e conselho!".

⁸ Todo o povo se levantou como um só homem, e disse: "Nenhum de nós irá para a sua tenda, e nenhum de nós voltará para casa! ⁹ Porém, faremos isto a Gibeá: nós a atacaremos, conforme o que o sorteio nos determinar.

¹⁰ Tomaremos dez homens de cada cem de todas as tribos de Israel, e cem de mil, e mil de dez mil, para fornecerem provisões para estes homens, para que, quando chegarem a Gibeá de Benjamim, eles os punam pela maldade que cometeram em Israel". ¹¹ Então, todos os soldados de Israel ajuntaram-se contra a cidade, unidos como se fossem um só homem.

¹² As tribos de Israel enviaram homens por toda a tribo de Benjamim, dizendo: "Que maldade é essa que ocorreu entre vós? ¹³ Portanto, entregai-nos esses perversos homens de Gibeá, para que os matemos e, assim, removamos por completo o mal de Israel". Porém, os benjamitas não deram ouvidos aos seus irmãos, o povo de Israel. ¹⁴ Então, o povo de Benjamim saiu das cidades e se reuniu em Gibeá, a fim de se preparar para lutar contra o povo de Israel.

¹⁵ O povo de Benjamim trouxe consigo, vindos de suas cidades para lutar naquele dia, vinte e seis mil soldados, que eram treinados para lutar com a espada. Além desses, havia setecentos homens selecionados dos habitantes de Gibeá. ¹⁶ Entre todos esses soldados, havia setecentos homens selecionados que eram canhotos, cada um dos quais era capaz de atirar uma pedra, com a funda, num fio de cabelo sem errar.

¹⁷ Os homens de Israel, sem incluir os de Benjamim, foram contados em quatrocentos mil. Todos treinados para lutar com a espada. Eram homens de guerra. ¹⁸ O povo de Israel levantou-se, subiu a Betel e consultou a Deus. Perguntaram-Lhe: "Quem de nós atacará o povo de Benjamim primeiro?". Yahweh disse: "Judá atacará primeiro".

¹⁹ Os israelitas levantaram-se ao amanhecer e moveram o seu acampamento para próximo de Gibeá. ²⁰ Eles saíram para lutar contra Benjamim e tomaram seus postos de batalha contra eles, em Gibeá. ²¹ Os benjamitas saíram de Gibeá e mataram vinte e dois mil homens do exército de Israel naquele dia.

²² Mas os israelitas se fortaleceram e formaram uma linha de batalha no mesmo local em que haviam tomado suas posições no primeiro dia. ²³ Então, os israelitas subiram e choraram perante Yahweh até a tarde e buscaram a direção de Yahweh. Eles perguntaram: "Devemos nos levantar novamente contra os nossos irmãos, os benjamitas?". Yahweh disse: "Atacai-os!".

²⁴ Então, os israelitas foram enfrentar os benjamitas no segundo dia. ²⁵ Nesse segundo dia, o exército de Benjamim veio de Gibeá ao encontro deles, e matou dezoito mil homens do povo de Israel. Todos esses eram treinados para lutar com a espada.

²⁶ Então, todos os guerreiros de Israel, e todo o povo, subiram a Betel e choraram. E ali ficaram sentados diante de Yahweh. Eles jejuaram naquele dia até a tarde e ofereceram holocaustos e ofertas pacíficas perante Yahweh.

²⁷ O povo de Israel perguntou a Yahweh (porque, naqueles dias, a Arca da Aliança de Deus estava presente ali, ²⁸ e Fineias, filho de Eleazar, filho de Arão, estava ministrando perante a Arca naqueles dias): "Devemos partir para a batalha mais uma vez contra os benjamitas, nossos irmãos, ou devemos parar?". Yahweh disse: "Atacai, porque amanhã Eu vos auxiliarei a derrotá-los".

²⁹ Então, Israel posicionou homens em locais secretos ao redor de Gibeá. ³⁰ Os israelitas lutaram contra os benjamitas no terceiro dia, e formaram suas linhas de batalha contra Gibeá, como haviam feito antes.

³¹ Os benjamitas saíram e lutaram contra o povo, e foram atraídos para longe da cidade. Eles começaram a matar alguns do povo. Ali, cerca de trinta homens de Israel morreram nos campos e nas estradas. Uma das estradas subia para Betel e outra ia para Gibeá.

³² Então, os benjamitas disseram: "Eles estão derrotados e fogem de nós, como antes". Mas os soldados de Israel disseram: "Vamos recuar e atraí-los para fora da cidade, para as estradas". ³³ Todos os homens de Israel levantaram-se de seus postos e formaram-se em linha de batalha em Baal-Tamar. Então, os soldados de Israel que se encontravam escondidos nos locais estratégicos atacaram de suas posições, a oeste de Gibeá.

³⁴ Saíram dez mil homens selecionados de todo o Israel, contra Gibeá, e a batalha tornou-se feroz, mas os benjamitas não sabiam que o desastre estava próximo deles. ³⁵ Yahweh derrotou Benjamim perante Israel. Naquele dia, os soldados de Israel mataram vinte e cinco mil e cem homens de Benjamim. Todos esses que morreram foram treinados para lutar com a espada.

³⁶ Assim, os soldados de Benjamim viram que estavam derrotados. Os homens de Israel haviam cedido terreno a Benjamim, pois estavam contando com os homens que haviam-se posicionado nos locais secretos fora de Gibeá. ³⁷ Então, os homens que estavam se escondendo levantaram-se e avançaram em direção a Gibeá e, ao fio de espada, mataram todos os que estavam na cidade. ³⁸ O sinal combinado entre os soldados de Israel e os que estavam escondidos era que uma grande nuvem de fumaça subiria da cidade.

³⁹ Quando o sinal foi enviado, os soldados de Israel se afastaram da batalha. Ora, os homens de Benjamim já haviam começado a atacar, e mataram em torno de trinta homens de Israel, e disseram: "É certo que estão derrotados perante nós, como na primeira batalha".

⁴⁰ Mas, quando a coluna de fumaça começou a subir, os benjamitas viraram-se para trás e viram a fumaça subindo ao céu, vinda da cidade. ⁴¹ Então, os israelitas voltaram-se contra eles. Os homens de Benjamim ficaram aterrorizados, pois viram que o desastre havia chegado sobre eles.

⁴² Eles fugiram dos homens de Israel, escapando rumo ao deserto. Mas a batalha os alcançou. Os soldados de Israel saíram das cidades e os mataram onde eles estavam.

⁴³ Cercaram os benjamitas e foram atrás deles, e os esmagaram em Noá, ao longo do caminho, até o leste de Gibeá. ⁴⁴ Da tribo de Benjamim, dezoito mil morreram. Todos eles eram homens que se destacavam na batalha.

⁴⁵ Eles se viraram e fugiram rumo ao deserto para a rocha de Rimom. Mas os israelitas mataram ainda cinco mil deles ao longo das estradas. E continuaram a perseguição, seguindo-os de perto até Gidom, e ali mataram mais dois mil. ⁴⁶ Todos os soldados de Benjamim que caíram naquele dia foram vinte e cinco mil homens treinados para lutar com a espada. Todos esses se destacavam na batalha.

⁴⁷ Mas seiscentos homens se viraram e fugiram para o deserto, rumo à rocha de Rimom, e ali ficaram por quatro meses. ⁴⁸ Os soldados de Israel se voltaram contra os benjamitas e os mataram a fio de espada, incluindo os que estavam nas cidades, o gado, e tudo o que encontravam. Por fim, queimaram todos os povoados pelo caminho.

Capítulo 21

¹ Ora, os homens de Israel haviam feito uma promessa em Mispá: "Nenhum de nós dará sua filha para casar-se com um benjamita". ² Então, o povo foi para Betel e ficou ali sentado diante de Deus até o anoitecer e, com altas vozes, choraram amargamente. ³ Eles clamaram: "Por que, Yahweh, Deus de Israel, isto aconteceu a Israel, que uma de nossas tribos esteja faltando hoje?".

⁴ No dia seguinte, o povo levantou-se cedo, construiu ali um altar, e ofereceu holocaustos e ofertas pacíficas. ⁵ O povo de Israel disse: "Qual de todas as tribos de Israel não subiu para a assembleia de Yahweh?". Pois eles haviam feito uma promessa importante a respeito de quem deixasse de se reunir perante Yahweh, em Mispá. Eles haviam dito: "Ele certamente será condenado à morte".

⁶ O povo de Israel teve compaixão de seu irmão Benjamim. Eles disseram: "Hoje uma tribo foi cortada de Israel. ⁷ Quem dará esposas para aqueles que sobraram, sendo que nós fizemos uma promessa a Yahweh de que não permitiríamos que nenhum deles se casasse com nossas filhas?".

⁸ E disseram: "Qual das tribos de Israel não subiu até Yahweh, em Mispá?". Foi descoberto que ninguém de Jabes-Gileade havia ido para a assembleia. ⁹ Pois, quando o povo foi posto de forma ordenada, viram que nenhum dos habitantes de Jabes-Gileade estava lá. ¹⁰ A assembleia mandou doze mil dos homens mais valentes com instruções para irem atacar os habitantes de Jabes-Gileade e matá-los, até mesmo as mulheres e as crianças.

¹¹ Fazei isto: “Vós matareis todo homem e toda mulher que já dormiu com um homem". ¹² Os homens acharam entre os que moravam em Jabes-Gileade quatrocentas moças que nunca tinham dormido com um homem e as levaram para o acampamento em Siló, em Canaã.

¹³ A assembleia inteira enviou uma mensagem ao povo de Benjamim, que estava na rocha de Rimom: que lhes estavam oferecendo paz. ¹⁴ Então, os benjamitas retornaram naquela hora e receberam as mulheres de Jabes-Gileade. Mas não havia mulheres suficientes para todos eles. ¹⁵ O povo teve pena do que havia acontecido com Benjamim, porque Yahweh fez uma divisão entre as tribos de Israel.

¹⁶ Então os líderes da assembleia disseram: "Como nós arranjaremos esposas para os benjamitas que restaram, já que as mulheres de Benjamim foram mortas?". ¹⁷ Disseram: "Deve haver herdeiros para os sobreviventes de Benjamim, para que uma tribo de Israel não seja destruída.

¹⁸ Nós não podemos lhes dar nossas filhas como esposas, pois o povo de Israel fez uma promessa: 'Maldito seja qualquer um que der uma esposa a Benjamim”. ¹⁹ Então disseram: "Vós sabeis que todo ano se realiza uma festa para Yahweh, em Siló (que é ao norte de Betel, a leste da estrada que sobe de Betel para Siquém, ao sul de Lebona)".

²⁰ Eles instruíram os homens de Benjamim, dizendo: "Ide, escondei-vos e esperai nas vinhas. ²¹ Prestai atenção para o tempo em que as moças de Siló sairão para dançar. Então, correi para fora das vinhas e cada um de vós devereis tomar uma esposa das moças de Siló. Depois, voltai para a terra de Benjamim”.

²² Quando seus pais ou seus irmãos vierem para protestar a nós, diremos a eles: 'Tende piedade deles por nós! Deixai que elas fiquem, pois não conseguimos esposas para cada um deles durante a guerra. E vós sois inocentes, pois não fostes vós que destes as vossas filhas para eles’”.

²³ Os benjamitas assim fizeram. Dentre as moças que estavam dançando, eles tomaram o número de mulheres que precisavam e as levaram para serem suas esposas. Eles foram e voltaram para o lugar de sua herança. E reconstruíram as cidades e moraram nelas. ²⁴ Então, o povo de Israel deixou aquele lugar e foi para casa, cada um para sua tribo e clã, e cada um para sua própria herança.

²⁵ Naqueles dias, não havia rei em Israel. Todos faziam o que achavam certo aos seus próprios olhos.

¹Algumas versões modernas lê: por favor, deixa-me recolher e reunir entre os feixes de grãos após os ceifeiros .

1 Samuel

Capítulo 1

¹ Havia um certo homem de Ramataim-Zofim, da região montanhosa de Efraim; seu nome era Elcana, filho de Jeroão, filho de Eliú, filho de Toú, filho de Zufe, um efraimita. ² Ele teve duas esposas: o nome da primeira era Ana, e o nome da segunda, Penina. Penina teve filhos, mas Ana não os teve.

³ Esse homem ia de sua cidade, ano após ano, para adorar e sacrificar a Yahweh dos Exércitos, em Siló. Os dois filhos de Eli, Hofni e Fineias, sacerdotes de Yahweh, estavam lá. ⁴ Quando o dia do sacrifício anual vinha a Elcana, ele sempre trazia porções de carne para Penina, sua mulher, e para todos os seus filhos e filhas.

⁵ Mas para Ana ele sempre trazia uma porção dobrada, pois a amava, embora Yahweh tivesse fechado o seu útero. ⁶ Sua rival a provocava severamente a fim de irritá-la, pois Yaweh fechara seu útero.

⁷ Então, ano após ano, quando ela subia à casa de Yahweh com sua família, sua rival sempre a provocava. Assim, ela costumava chorar e não comer nada. ⁸ Elcana, seu marido, sempre lhe falava: "Ana, por que choras? Por que não comes? Por que o seu coração está triste? Não sou eu para ti melhor do que dez filhos?".

⁹ Em uma dessas ocasiões, Ana levantou-se quando eles terminaram de comer e beber, em Siló. Eli, o sacerdote, estava sentado em sua cadeira, junto à porta da casa de Yahweh. ¹⁰ Profundamente angustiada, Ana orou a Yahweh e chorou amargamente.

¹¹ Ela fez um voto e disse: "Yahweh dos Exércitos, se Tu olhares a aflição de Tua serva e Te lembrares de mim, e não esqueceres de Tua serva, mas deres um filho à Tua serva, então o entregarei a Ti todos os dias de sua vida; e navalha alguma tocará sua cabeça".

¹² Enquanto ela estava orando a Yahweh, Eli observava sua boca. ¹³ Ana falava em seu coração. Seus lábios moviam-se, porém, sua voz não era ouvida. Eli pensou que ela estivesse bêbada. ¹⁴ Ele falou a ela: "Por quanto tempo ficarás embriagada? Livra-te de teu vinho!".

¹⁵ Ana respondeu: "Não, meu mestre, eu sou uma mulher de espírito abatido. Não bebi vinho nem bebida forte, mas estou derramando minha alma diante de Yahweh. ¹⁶ Não considere tua serva como uma mulher sem vergonha; tenho falado da minha grande preocupação e provocação".

¹⁷ Então, Eli respondeu e disse: "Vá em paz. Que o Deus de Israel conceda o que pediste a Ele". ¹⁸ Ela disse: "Que tua serva ache favor à tua vista". Então, a mulher seguiu no seu caminho e comeu; seu semblante não mais era triste.

¹⁹ Eles se levantaram cedo pela manhã e adoraram a Yahweh. E voltaram para sua casa, em Ramá. Elcana dormiu com Ana, sua esposa, e Yahweh lembrou-se dela. ²⁰ Quando veio o tempo, Ana concebeu e deu à luz um filho. Ela o chamou de Samuel, dizendo: "Porque pedi por ele a Yahweh".

²¹ Uma vez mais, Elcana e toda a sua casa foram oferecer a Yahweh o sacrifício anual e pagar seu voto. ²² Mas Ana não foi. Ela havia falado ao seu marido: "Eu não irei até que a criança desmame; então, eu o levarei para que ele possa aparecer perante Yahweh e viver lá para sempre". ²³ Elcana falou-lhe: "Faça o que te parecer bem. Espere até desmamá-lo; somente possa Yahweh confirmar Sua palavra". Então, a mulher ficou e cuidou de seu filho até desmamá-lo.

²⁴ Quando ela o desmamou, levou-o com ela, juntamente com um touro de três anos, uma efa de refeição e uma garrafa de vinho, e o levou à casa de Yahweh, em Siló. A criança ainda era nova. ²⁵ Eles mataram o touro, e trouxeram a criança para Eli.

²⁶ Ela disse: "Ó, meu mestre! Assim como vives, meu mestre, eu sou a mulher que esteve aqui, próxima a ti, orando a Yahweh. ²⁷ Por essa criança eu orei e Yahweh me concedeu a petição que fiz a Ele. ²⁸ Eu o entreguei a Yahweh; enquanto ele viver será cedido a Yahweh". E Elcana e sua família adoraram a Yahweh ali.

Capítulo 2

¹ 1 Ana orou e disse: "O meu coração exulta em Yahweh. Minha força é exaltada em Yahweh. A minha boca sorri de meus inimigos, porquanto me alegro na Tua salvação.

² Não há santo como Yahweh, pois não há ninguém além de Ti; não há rocha como o nosso Deus.

³ Não mais te vanglories tão orgulhosamente; não permitas que qualquer arrogância saia de tua boca. Pois Yahweh é um Deus de sabedoria; por meio Dele as ações são julgadas. ⁴ Os arcos dos homens poderosos são quebrados, mas aqueles que tropeçam são revestidos de força, como um cinto.

⁵ Os que eram fartos alugam-se por pão; aqueles que eram famintos não mais têm fome. Mesmo a estéril dá à luz sete, mas a mulher que tem muitos filhos se enfraquece.

⁶ Yahweh mata e traz à vida. Ele leva à sepultura e ressuscita. ⁷ Yahweh faz o pobre, e faz o rico. Ele humilha, mas Ele também levanta.

⁸ Ele levanta o pobre do pó. Ele levanta o necessitado do monte de cinzas para fazê-lo sentar-se com príncipes e herdar o assento de honra. Porque os pilares da terra são de Yahweh e Ele estabeleceu o mundo sobre eles.

⁹ Ele guardará os pés daqueles que Lhe são fiéis, mas o ímpio será colocado para silenciar em trevas, porque ninguém prevalecerá por força.

¹⁰ Aqueles que se opõem a Yahweh serão quebrados em pedaços; Ele vai trovejar contra eles do céu. Yahweh julgará as extremidades da terra; dará força ao Seu rei e exaltará o poder do Seu ungido".

¹¹ Então, Elcana foi para sua casa em Ramá. A criança servia Yahweh na presença de Eli, o sacerdote.

¹² Os filhos de Eli eram homens ímpios. Eles não conheciam Yahweh. ¹³ O costume dos sacerdotes com o povo era que, quando qualquer homem oferecia um sacrifício, o servo do sacerdote vinha com um garfo de três dentes em sua mão, enquanto a carne estava cozinhando. ¹⁴ Ele a espetava dentro da panela, ou tacho, ou caldeirão, ou pote. Tudo o que o garfo trouxesse, o sacerdote levaria para si mesmo. Eles faziam isto em Siló com todos os israelitas que ali vinham.

¹⁵ Porém, em vez disso, antes que eles queimassem a gordura, o servo do sacerdote vinha e dizia ao homem que estava sacrificando: "Dá carne de assar para o sacerdote, pois ele não aceitará carne cozida de ti, mas somente crua". ¹⁶ Se o homem dissesse para ele: "Eles devem queimar a gordura primeiro, e depois levarás tanto quanto tu quiseres", então ele dizia: "Não. Tu me darás agora, senão vou tomá-la por força". ¹⁷ O pecado desses jovens era muito grande diante de Yahweh, pois eles desprezavam a oferta de Yahweh.

¹⁸ Mas Samuel servia Yahweh como uma criança, vestido de um colete sacerdotal de linho. ¹⁹ Sua mãe lhe fazia uma pequena túnica e a trazia, ano após ano, quando ela e seu marido subiam para oferecer o sacrifício anual.

²⁰ Eli abençoava Elcana e sua mulher e dizia: "Que Yahweh te dê mais filhos desta mulher, por causa do pedido que ela fez a Yahweh". Então, eles retornavam à sua própria casa. ²¹ Yahweh novamente ajudou Ana, e ela novamente engravidou. Ela teve três filhos e duas filhas. Enquanto isso, o menino Samuel crescia diante de Yahweh.

²² Eli estava muito velho; ele ouvia a respeito de tudo o que seus filhos faziam a todo o Israel e como se deitavam com as mulheres que serviam à entrada da Tenda de encontro. ²³ Ele lhes disse: "Por que fazeis tais coisas? Pois de todas as pessoas ouço sobre seus maus procedimentos. ²⁴ Não, meus filhos, não é bom esse comentário que ouço. Vós fazeis o povo de Yahweh desobedecer a Ele.

²⁵ Se um homem peca contra outro, Deus o julgará; mas se um homem peca contra Yahweh, quem vai falar por ele?". Mas eles não queriam ouvir a voz de seu pai, porque Yahweh tinha intenção de matá-los. ²⁶ O menino Samuel crescia em estatura e graça diante de Yahweh e também dos homens.

²⁷ Um homem de Deus veio a Eli e disse-lhe: "Yahweh diz: 'Eu não me revelei à casa de teu antepassado quando, no Egito, eles estavam em cativeiro, sob domínio de Faraó? ²⁸ Eu o escolhi dentre todas as tribos de Israel para ser Meu sacerdote, subir ao Meu altar, queimar incenso e vestir um colete sacerdotal perante Mim. Eu dei à família de teu ancestral todas as ofertas queimadas do povo de Israel.

²⁹ Por que, então, tu desprezas os sacrifícios e ofertas que exigi no lugar onde Eu moro? Por que tu honras teus filhos acima de mim, engordando-os com o melhor de toda a oferta do Meu povo Israel?' ³⁰ Porque Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Eu prometi que a tua família e a casa de teu ancestral andariam diante de mim perpetuamente'. Mas agora Yahweh diz: 'Longe de Mim fazer isso, porque Eu honrarei aqueles que Me honram, mas os que Me desprezam serão desprezados.

³¹ Vê, estão chegando os dias em que cortarei teu poder e o poder da família de teu pai, de modo que não haverá qualquer homem de idade em tua família. ³² Tu verás sofrimento no local onde Eu moro. Embora prosperidade será dada a Israel, não haverá idoso algum em tua família. ³³ Qualquer de vós que eu não eliminar do Meu altar, Eu farei com que ele consuma os teus olhos, e trarei desgosto para a tua vida. Todos os homens nascidos em tua família morrerão.

³⁴ Este será para ti o sinal que virá sobre teus dois filhos, Hofni e Fineias: ambos irão morrer no mesmo dia. ³⁵ Eu levantarei para Mim um sacerdote fiel, que vai fazer o que está no Meu coração e na Minha alma. Eu lhe edificarei uma casa firme; e ele andará para sempre diante do Meu rei ungido.

³⁶ Todo aquele que restar de tua família se inclinará a ele, pedindo-lhe uma moeda de prata e um pedaço de pão, e dirá: 'Suplico-te que me dês algum cargo sacerdotal, para que eu possa comer um pedaço de pão"'.

Capítulo 3

¹ O menino Samuel servia Yahweh sob a supervisão de Eli. A mensagem de Yahweh era rara naqueles dias; não havia frequente visão profética. ² Eli, cuja vista começava a ficar ruim, de modo que ele não podia ver bem, estava dormindo em sua cama. ³ A lâmpada de Deus ainda não havia se apagado e Samuel estava deitado para dormir na casa de Yahweh, onde estava a Arca de Deus. ⁴ Então, Yahweh chamou Samuel, que disse: "Aqui estou".

⁵ Samuel correu até Eli e disse: "Aqui estou, pois me chamaste". Eli disse: "Não te chamei; deita-te novamente". Então, Samuel voltou e deitou-se. ⁶ Yahweh o chamou novamente: "Samuel". De novo, Samuel levantou-se e foi até Eli e disse: "Aqui estou, pois me chamaste". Eli respondeu: "Não te chamei, meu filho; deita-te novamente".

⁷ Samuel ainda não tivera nenhuma experiência com Yahweh; nenhuma mensagem de Yahweh havia sido revelada a ele. ⁸ Yahweh o chamou pela terceira vez. De novo, Samuel levantou-se, foi até Eli e disse: "Aqui estou, pois me chamaste". Então Eli percebeu que Yahweh havia chamado o menino.

⁹ Eli disse a Samuel: "Vai e deita-te novamente; se Ele te chamar de novo, deves dizer: 'Fala, Yahweh, pois o Teu servo está ouvindo'". Samuel voltou e deitou-se mais uma vez.

¹⁰ Yahweh veio e permaneceu; Ele o chamou como nas outras vezes: "Samuel, Samuel". Então Samuel disse: "Fala, pois o Teu servo está ouvindo". ¹¹ Yahweh disse a Samuel: "Vê, vou fazer algo em Israel que tinirá nos ouvidos de todos os que ouvirem a respeito.

¹² Naquele dia, cumprirei contra Eli tudo o que Eu disse a ele sobre sua casa, do começo ao fim. ¹³ Eu lhe disse que estava prestes a julgar sua casa, de uma vez por todas, pelos crimes que ele conhece; porque seus filhos trouxeram uma maldição sobre eles mesmos e Eli não os impediu. ¹⁴ Por causa disso, Eu jurei à casa de Eli que os pecados de sua casa jamais serão perdoados, nem por sacrifício, nem por oferta."

¹⁵ Samuel deitou-se até o amanhecer; depois, abriu as portas da casa de Yahweh. Mas Samuel estava com medo de contar a Eli sobre a visão. ¹⁶ Então, Eli o chamou e disse: "Samuel, meu filho". Samuel respondeu: "Aqui estou".

¹⁷ Eli perguntou: "Qual foi a palavra que Ele falou contigo? Por favor, não me escondas. Que Deus te castigue ainda mais, se tu esconderes alguma coisa de mim das palavras que Ele falou a ti". ¹⁸ Samuel contou-lhe tudo; não escondeu nada dele. Eli disse: "Ele é Yahweh. Que Ele faça o que Lhe parecer bom".

¹⁹ Samuel crescia. Yahweh estava com ele e não permitiu que nenhuma de Suas palavras proféticas deixassem de acontecer. ²⁰ Todo o Israel, desde Dã até Berseba, soube que Samuel foi escolhido para ser um profeta de Yahweh. ²¹ Yahweh apareceu novamente, em Siló, pois ele Se revelou a Samuel em Siló pela Sua palavra.

Capítulo 4

¹ A palavra de Samuel veio a todo o Israel. Naqueles dias, Israel saiu para batalhar contra os filisteus. Eles montaram acampamento em Ebenézer e os filisteus acamparam em Afeque. ² Os filisteus se enfileiraram para batalhar contra Israel. Quando a batalha se espalhou, Israel foi derrotado pelos filisteus, que mataram cerca de quatro mil homens no campo de batalha.

³ Quando o povo voltou ao acampamento, os anciãos de Israel disseram: "Por que Yahweh nos derrotou hoje diante dos filisteus? Vamos trazer para cá a Arca do testemunho de Yahweh, que está em Siló, para que ela esteja conosco e nos mantenha a salvo do poder dos nossos inimigos". ⁴ Então, o povo enviou homens à Siló; de lá, eles carregaram a Arca do testemunho de Yahweh dos Exércitos, que se assenta sobre os querubins. Os dois filhos de Eli, Hofni e Fineias, estavam lá com a Arca do testemunho de Deus.

⁵ Quando a Arca do testemunho de Yahweh chegou ao acampamento, todo o povo de Israel deu um grande brado e a terra ressoou. ⁶ Quando os filisteus ouviram o barulho dos gritos, se perguntaram: "O que significam esses altos gritos no acampamento dos hebreus?". Então, perceberam que a Arca de Yahweh fora trazida ao acampamento.

⁷ Os filisteus estavam com medo; eles disseram: "Deus veio ao acampamento. Ai de nós! Nada parecido com isso aconteceu antes! ⁸ Ai de nós! Quem nos protegerá da força desse poderoso Deus? Esse é o Deus que atacou os egípcios com muitos diferentes tipos de pragas no deserto. ⁹ Tende coragem e sede homens, filisteus! Ou vos tornareis escravos dos hebreus, como eles têm sido vossos escravos. Sede homens e lutai!".

¹⁰ Os filisteus lutaram e Israel foi derrotado. Cada homem fugiu para sua casa, e a matança foi muito grande, pois trinta mil homens de Israel caíram. ¹¹ A Arca de Deus foi tomada e os dois filhos de Eli, Hofni e Fineias, morreram.

¹² Um homem de Benjamim correu da linha de batalha e veio a Siló no mesmo dia, chegando com suas roupas rasgadas e com terra em sua cabeça. ¹³ Quando ele chegou, Eli estava sentado na sua cadeira perto da estrada, olhando, pois seu coração preocupou-se por causa da Arca de Deus. Quando o homem entrou na cidade e contou as notícias, toda a cidade lamentou.

¹⁴ Quando Eli ouviu o barulho do lamento, disse: "O que significa esse alvoroço?". O homem veio rapidamente e contou a Eli. ¹⁵ Nesse tempo, Eli tinha noventa e oito anos de idade; seus olhos não focalizavam e ele não podia ver.

¹⁶ O homem disse a Eli: "Eu sou o que veio da linha de batalha. Eu fugi da batalha hoje". Eli perguntou: "Como foi isso, meu filho?". ¹⁷ O homem que trouxe as notícias respondeu, dizendo: "Israel fugiu dos filisteus. Também houve uma grande derrota entre o povo. Teus dois filhos, Hofni e Fineias, estão mortos, e a Arca de Deus foi tomada".

¹⁸ Quando ele mencionou a Arca de Deus, Eli caiu da sua cadeira para trás, ao lado do portão. Seu pescoço se quebrou e ele morreu, porque ele era velho e pesado. Ele havia julgado Israel por quarenta anos.

¹⁹ Sua nora, esposa de Fineias, estava grávida e prestes a dar à luz. Quando ela ouviu as notícias de que a Arca de Deus foi capturada e que seu sogro e seu marido estavam mortos, ela se agachou e deu à luz, mas as dores do parto a sufocaram. ²⁰ Perto da hora da sua morte, as mulheres que a auxiliavam disseram: "Não temas, porque tu deste à luz um filho". Ela não respondeu nem considerou em seu coração o que lhe disseram.

²¹ Mas, chamou a criança Icabode, dizendo: "A glória de Israel se foi!". Porque a Arca de Deus havia sido capturada, e por causa de seu sogro e de seu marido. ²² Ela disse: "A glória de Israel se foi, porque a Arca de Deus foi capturada".

Capítulo 5

¹ Os filisteus capturaram a Arca da Aliança e a trouxeram de Ebenézer a Asdode. ² Eles a levaram para dentro da casa de Dagom e a colocaram ao seu lado. ³ Quando as pessoas de Asdode acordaram, no dia seguinte, observaram que Dagom havia caído, com o rosto em terra, diante da Arca de Yahweh. Então, eles o levantaram e o puseram de volta no seu lugar.

⁴ Quando acordaram pela manhã do dia seguinte, observaram que Dagom havia caído, com o rosto em terra, diante da Arca de Yahweh. Sua cabeça e ambas as mãos haviam sido cortadas e deixadas na entrada. Somente o tronco de Dagom permaneceu. ⁵ Esse é o motivo pelo qual, até hoje, os sacerdotes de Dagom e qualquer um que chegue à sua casa não pisam na entrada da casa de Dagom, em Asdode.

⁶ A mão de Yahweh pesou sobre os habitantes de Asdode. Ele destruiu e afligiu com tumores Asdode juntamente com seus territórios. ⁷ Quando os homens de Asdode perceberam o que estava acontecendo, eles disseram: "A Arca do Deus de Israel não deve ficar conosco, pois Sua mão é dura contra nós e contra Dagom, nosso deus".

⁸ Então, eles mandaram reunir todos os governantes dos filisteus, e lhes disseram: "O que devemos fazer com a Arca do Deus de Israel?". Eles responderam: "Deixe que a Arca do Deus de Israel seja levada para Gate". E eles carregaram a Arca do Deus de Israel até lá. ⁹ Mas, depois que eles a levaram, a mão de Yahweh foi contra a cidade, causando grande confusão. Ele afligiu os homens da cidade, tanto o grande quanto o pequeno, e tumores apareceram neles.

¹⁰ Então, eles enviaram a Arca da Aliança para Ecrom. Mas, assim que a Arca da Aliança chegou lá, os ecronitas clamaram, dizendo: "Eles nos trouxeram a Arca do Deus de Israel, para matar a nós e ao nosso povo".

¹¹ Então, eles mandaram reunir todos os governantes dos filisteus, e lhes disseram: "Mandem embora a Arca do Deus de Israel, e deixai-a retornar ao seu lugar, para que não mate a nós e ao nosso povo". Pois havia pânico mortal por toda a cidade, e a mão de Deus foi muito pesada lá. ¹² O homem que não morreu foi afligido por tumores, e o choro da cidade subiu aos céus.

Capítulo 6

¹ A Arca de Yahweh estava na terra dos filisteus há sete meses. ² Então, os filisteus chamaram os sacerdotes e adivinhadores, e disseram-lhes: "O que deveremos fazer com a Arca de Yahweh? Dizei-nos como devemos mandá-la de volta à sua terra".

³ Os sacerdotes e adivinhadores disseram: "Se mandardes a Arca do Deus de Israel de volta, não a mandeis sem um presente; deveis enviar uma oferta pela culpa. Assim, ficareis curados e sabereis por que motivo Deus não tirou Sua mão de vós até agora". ⁴ Então, o povo disse: "Que oferta pela culpa devemos enviar-lhes de volta?". Eles responderam: "Cinco tumores de ouro e cinco ratos de ouro, pois cinco é o mesmo número dos governantes dos filisteus. Porque a mesma praga afligiu a vós e a vossos governantes.

⁵ Então, deveis fazer moldes de vossos tumores e moldes dos ratos que estão destruindo vossa terra; e dar glória ao Deus de Israel. Talvez Ele retire Sua mão de vós, de vossos deuses e de vossa terra. ⁶ Por que endureceríeis vosso coração, como os egípcios e o Faraó endureceram o deles? Quando o Deus de Israel lidou severamente com eles, os egípcios não deixaram o povo sair, e eles não saíram?

⁷ Agora, pois, preparai uma nova carroça com duas vacas leiteiras que nunca foram colocadas debaixo de jugo. Amarrai as vacas à carroça, mas levai os bezerros para casa, longe delas. ⁸ Então, pegai a Arca de Yahweh e colocai-a na carroça. Ao seu lado, colocai, dentro de uma caixa, as peças de ouro que estais retornando a Ele como uma oferta pela culpa. Então, deixai-a seguir seu caminho. ⁹ E observai: se ela seguir no caminho de sua própria terra, Bete-Semes, então, foi Yahweh que executou esse grande desastre. Mas se não, então saberemos que não foi Sua mão que nos afligiu; ao contrário, saberemos que isso aconteceu a nós por acaso".

¹⁰ Os homens fizeram como eles disseram: pegaram duas vacas leiteiras, amarraram-nas à carroça e confinaram seus bezerros em casa. ¹¹ Eles colocaram a Arca de Yahweh na carroça, juntamente com uma caixa contendo os tumores e os ratos de ouro. ¹² As vacas seguiram em direção a Bete-Semes. Elas foram por aquela estrada, mugindo todo o caminho, e não mudaram o trajeto nem para direita nem para a esquerda. Os governantes dos filisteus as seguiram até a fronteira de Bete-Semes.

¹³ O povo de Bete-Semes estava ceifando seu trigo no vale. Quando levantaram seus olhos e viram a Arca, eles se regozijaram.

¹⁴ A carroça foi até o campo de Josué, da cidade de Bete-Semes, e parou ali, onde havia uma grande rocha; eles cortaram a madeira da carroça e ofereceram as vacas em holocausto a Yahweh. ¹⁵ Os levitas tomaram a Arca de Yahweh e a caixa que estava com ela, onde estavam as peças de ouro, e as colocaram sobre a grande rocha. Naquele mesmo dia, os homens de Bete-Semes ofereceram holocaustos e fizeram sacrifícios para Yahweh.

¹⁶ Quando os cinco governantes dos filisteus viram isso, eles retornaram no mesmo dia a Ecrom.

¹⁷ Esses são os tumores de ouro que os filisteus retornaram como oferta a Yahweh, pela culpa: um para Asdode, um para Gaza, um para Asquelom, um para Gate, e um para Ecrom. ¹⁸ Os ratos de ouro eram, em número, iguais ao número de todas as cidades que pertenciam aos cinco governantes dos filisteus, tanto das cidades fortificadas quanto das aldeias do interior. A grande rocha, onde eles colocaram a Arca de Yahweh, permanece até hoje como testemunha no campo de Josué, o bete-semita.

¹⁹ Yahweh atacou alguns dos homens de Bete-Semes porque eles olharam para dentro de Sua Arca. Ele matou setenta homens. As pessoas lamentaram porque Yahweh havia dado a elas um grande castigo. ²⁰ Os homens de Bete-Semes disseram: "Quem é digno de estar diante de Yahweh, esse Deus Santo? E para quem a Arca irá de nós?".

²¹ Eles enviaram mensageiros para os habitantes de Quiriate-Jearim, dizendo: "Os filisteus trouxeram de volta a Arca de Yahweh; vinde e levai-a para vós".

Capítulo 7

¹ Os homens de Quiriate-Jearin trouxeram a Arca de Yahweh, e a colocaram na casa de Abinadabe, na colina. Eles consagraram seu filho Eleazar para guardar a Arca de Yahweh. ² A Arca permaneceu em Quiriate-Jearin por muito tempo, a saber, vinte anos. Toda a casa de Israel lamentava e desejava retornar a Yahweh.

³ Disse Samuel a todo o povo de Israel: "Se vós retornardes a Yahweh com todo o vosso coração, remover dentre vós os deuses estrangeiros e a Astarote, voltar os vossos corações a Yahweh e adorar somente a Ele, então, Ele vos resgatará da mão dos filisteus". ⁴ Assim, o povo de Israel removeu os Baalins e a Astarote e adoraram somente a Yahweh.

⁵ Então, Samuel disse: "Congregue todo Israel em Mispá e eu orarei por vós a Yahweh. ⁶ Eles se reuniram em Mispá, tiraram água e a derramaram diante de Yahweh. Eles jejuaram aquele dia e disseram: "Nós temos pecado contra Yahweh". Ali, Samuel decidia as disputas de todo o povo de Israel e liderava o povo.

⁷ Quando os filisteus ouviram que o povo de Israel havia se reunido em Mispá, os governantes dos filisteus atacaram Israel. Quando o povo de Israel ouviu isso, eles sentirammedo dos filisteus. ⁸ Então, disseram a Samuel: "Não pares de clamar a Yahweh, nosso Deus, por nós. Assim, Ele nos livrará da mão dos filisteus".

⁹ Samuel tomou um cordeiro que ainda mamava e o ofereceu como uma oferta queimada completa a Yahweh. Samuel, então, clamou a Yahweh por Israel, e Yahweh lhe respondeu.

¹⁰ Enquanto Samuel estava oferecendo a oferta queimada, os filisteus se aproximaram para atacar Israel; mas Yahweh trovejou, com grande estrondo, naquele dia contra os filisteus; lançou-os em confusão, e eles foram derrotados diante de Israel. ¹¹ Os homens de Israel perseguiram os filisteus, desde Mispá, e os mataram até debaixo de Bete-Car.

¹² Então, Samuel tomou uma pedra e a colocou entre Mispá e Sem. Ele chamou esse lugar de Ebenézer e disse: "Até aqui, Yahweh tem nos ajudou".

¹³ Então, os filisteus foram subjugados e não entraram nas fronteiras de Israel. A mão de Yahweh foi contra os filisteus, todos os dias de Samuel. ¹⁴ As cidades que os filisteus haviam tomado de Israel, desde Ecrom até Gate, foram restauradas; Israel tomou de volta seu território dos filisteus. E houve paz entre Israel e os amorreus.

¹⁵ Samuel julgou Israel todos os dias de sua vida. ¹⁶ A cada ano, ele percorria um circuito de Betel a Gilgal e a Mispá. Ele decidia as disputas para Israel em todos esses lugares. ¹⁷ Então, ele retornava a Ramá, porque sua casa era ali. Nesse lugar, ele também decidia as disputas por Israel e construiu um altar a Yahweh.

Capítulo 8

¹ Quando Samuel já era velho, ele fez seus filhos juízes sobre Israel. ² O nome do seu primogênito era Joel, e o nome do seu segundo filho era Abias. Eles eram juízes em Berseba. ³ Seus filhos não andaram em seus caminhos, mas foram atrás de ganhos desonestos. Eles recebiam subornos e pervertiam a justiça.

⁴ Então, todos os anciãos de Israel se reuniram e vieram a Samuel, em Ramá. ⁵ Eles lhe disseram: "Vede, tu estás velho, e teus filhos não andam em teus caminhos. Nomeia para nós um rei para nos julgar, como em todas as nações".

⁶ Porém, isso desagradou a Samuel, quando eles disseram: "Dá-nos um rei para nos julgar". Então, Samuel orou a Yahweh. ⁷ Yahweh disse a Samuel: "Obedece à voz do povo em todas as coisas que eles te disserem; porque eles não têm rejeitado a ti, mas eles têm rejeitado a Mim como rei sobre eles.

⁸ Eles estão agindo, agora, da mesma forma que vêm agindo desde o dia em que Eu os tirei do Egito: abandonando-Me, e servindo a outros deuses. Do mesmo modo, eles estão fazendo contigo. ⁹ Agora, ouve-os; porém, adverte-os solenemente e deixa-os saber a forma com a qual o rei governará sobre eles".

¹⁰ Então, Samuel disse todas as palavras de Yahweh ao povo que estava pedindo um rei. ¹¹ Ele disse: "Assim será como o rei reinará sobre vós. Ele tomará vossos filhos e os nomeará sobre os seus carros e para ser seus cavaleiros, e para correrem adiante dos seus carros. ¹² nomerá para si mesmo capitães de mil soldados, e capitães de cinquenta soldados. Ele fará alguns deles arar seus campos, colher suas colheitas e outros para fazer suas armas de guerra e os equipamentos para seus carros.

¹³ Ele também tomará vossas filhas para serem perfumistas, cozinheiras e padeiras. ¹⁴ Tomará o melhor dos vossos campos, das vossas vinhas e dos vossos olivais para dar aos seus servos. ¹⁵ Ele tomará o dízimo dos vossos grãos e das vossas vinhas para dar a seus oficiais e a seus servos.

¹⁶ Ele tomará vossos servos e vossas servas e o melhor dos vossos homens jovens e vossos jumentos; Ele colocará todos para trabalhar para si. ¹⁷ Ele tomará o dízimo do vosso rebanho, e vós sereis seus escravos. ¹⁸ Então, naquele dia, vós clamareis por causa do vosso rei, a quem escolhestes para vós mesmos; porém, Yahweh não vos responderá naquele dia".

¹⁹ Mas o povo recusou a ouvir Samuel; eles disseram: "Não! Deve haver um rei sobre nós, ²⁰ para que possamos ser como as outras nações, e para que o nosso rei possa julgar-nos e sair adiante de nós e lutar as nossas batalhas".

²¹ Quando Samuel ouviu todas as palavras do povo, ele as repetiu aos ouvidos de Yahweh. ²² Yahweh disse a Samuel: "Obedeça à voz deles e faça-lhes um rei". Então, Samuel disse aos homens de Israel: "Cada homem deve voltar para a sua própria cidade".

Capítulo 9

¹ Havia um homem de Benjamim, um homem de influência. Seu nome era Quis, filho de Abiel, filho de Zeror, filho de Becorate, filho de Afias, o filho de um benjamita. ² Ele tinha um filho chamado Saul, um belo rapaz. Não havia um homem entre o povo de Israel que fosse mais bonito que ele. Era o mais alto de todo o povo; dos seus ombros para cima, sobressaía a todos.

³ As jumentas de Quis, Pai de Saul, estavam perdidas. Então, Quis disse para Saul, seu filho: "Leve um dos servos contigo; levanta-te e vá procurar pelas jumentas". ⁴ Assim, Saul passou pela região montanhosa de Efraim e foi pela terra de Salisa, mas, eles não as encontraram. Depois, eles passaram pelas terras de Saalim. Porém, elas também não estavam lá. Posteriormente, eles passaram pelas terras dos benjamitas, mas ali também não as encontraram.

⁵ Quando eles foram para a terra de Zufe, Saul disse para o servo que estava com ele: "Vem, vamos voltar, ou meu pai pode parar de se importar com as jumentas e começar a se preocupar conosco". ⁶ Porém, o servo lhe disse: "Escuta, existe um homem de Deus nesta cidade. Ele é um homem honrado; tudo o que ele diz torna-se verdade. Vamos até lá. Talvez, ele possa nos dizer qual caminho devemos seguir em nossa jornada".

⁷ Então, Saul disse ao seu servo: "Mas, se formos, o que podemos levar ao homem? Pois o pão de nossa cesta acabou e não há presente para levarmos para o homem de Deus. O que nós temos?" ⁸ O servo respondeu, dizendo: "Aqui, tenho comigo um quarto de siclo de prata, que darei ao homem de Deus, para nos dizer que caminho devemos seguir".

⁹ (Antigamente, em Israel, quando um homem buscava vontade de Deus, ele dizia: "Vem, vamos ao vidente". Pois, os profetas de hoje em dia eram, antigamente, chamados de videntes). ¹⁰ Então, Saul disse ao seu servo: "Falaste bem. Vem, vamos". Logo, eles foram para a cidade onde estava o homem de Deus. ¹¹ Assim que subiram o morro da cidade, eles acharam jovens mulheres que vinham para retirar água; Saul e seu servo lhes perguntaram: "O vidente está aqui?".

¹² Elas responderam, dizendo: "Ele está; vede, ele está à vossa frente. Apressai-vos, pois hoje ele está vindo para a cidade, porque, no lugar alto, as pessoas estão fazendo sacrifício. ¹³ Assim que entrardes na cidade, o achareis, antes que ele vá ao lugar alto para comer. As pessoas não comerão até que ele chegue, porque ele abençoará o sacrifício; após isso, os que forem convidados comerão. Agora subi, pois ireis encontrá-lo imediatamente".

¹⁴ Então, eles subiram para a cidade. Enquanto entravam na cidade, viram Samuel vindo em direção a eles, indo para o lugar alto.

¹⁵ Um dia antes de Saul chegar, Yahweh havia revelado a Samuel: ¹⁶ "Amanhã, por volta dessa hora, irei te mandar um homem da terra de Benjamim, e tu irás ungi-lo para ser o rei sobre o Meu povo Israel. Ele salvará Meu povo das mãos dos filisteus. Pois tenho olhado com compaixão para o Meu povo, porque o clamor deles chegou a mim".

¹⁷ Quando Samuel viu Saul, Yahweh lhe disse: "Aqui está o homem de quem te falei! Será ele que governará Meu povo". ¹⁸ Então, Saul se aproximou de Samuel no portão e disse: "Diz onde é a casa do vidente?". ¹⁹ Samuel respondeu a Saul, dizendo: "Eu sou o vidente. Suba antes de mim ao lugar alto, pois hoje comerás comigo. Pela manhã, eu te deixarei ir e te direi todas as coisas que estão em tua mente.

²⁰ A respeito das jumentas que se perderam há três dias atrás, não te preocupes, pois elas foram achadas. Em quem estão todos os desejos de Israel? Não está em ti e em todos os da casa de teu pai?". ²¹ Saul respondeu, dizendo: "Não sou eu um benjamita, da menor tribo de Israel? O meu clã, não é o clã menos importante da tribo de Benjamim? Por que, então, estás falando dessa maneira comigo?".

²² Então, Samuel pegou Saul e seu servo, levou-lhes para dentro do salão, e lhes sentou no principal lugar entre os que foram convidados, que eram por volta de trinta pessoas.

²³ Samuel disse ao cozinheiro: "Traz a porção que eu te dei, sobre a qual eu te disse: 'Coloca isso de lado'". ²⁴ Então, o cozinheiro pegou a coxa que havia sido levada em sacrifício e a colocou diante de Saul. Samuel disse: "Olha o que tem sido guardado para ti! Coma isso, porque tem sido guardado até o tempo marcado para ti. Por agora, pode dizer: 'Eu convidei o povo'". Então, Saul comeu com Samuel naquele dia.

²⁵ Quando eles desceram do lugar alto para a cidade, Samuel falou com Saul no terraço. ²⁶ Ao amanhecer, Samuel chamou Saul e disse: "Levanta-te, para que eu possa enviar-te no teu caminho". Então Saul levantou-se, e ele e Samuel foram para a estrada.

²⁷ Quando eles estavam indo para os arredores da cidade, Samuel disse a Saul: "Diz ao servo para ir à nossa frente" — e ele foi à frente — "mas tu deves ficar aqui por um tempo, para que eu possa anunciar-te a mensagem de Deus".

Capítulo 10

¹ Em seguida, Samuel pegou um frasco de azeite e despejou sobre a cabeça de Saul e o beijou. Ele disse: "Yahweh não te ungiu para liderares a Sua herança? ² Quando te afastares de mim hoje, encontrarás dois homens perto do túmulo de Raquel, no território de Benjamim, em Zelza. Eles te dirão: 'As jumentas que procurais foram encontradas. Acabou a preocupação de teu pai sobre as jumentas, e está aflito acerca de ti, dizendo: "Que poderei eu fazer por meu filho?'"

³ Portanto, tu irás mais adiante dali, e tu chegarás ao carvalho de Tabor. Três homens, indo a Deus em Betel, te encontrarão ali; um levando três cabritos, outro levando três pães, e outro carregando um odre de vinho. ⁴ Eles te saudarão e te darão dois pães, que tu receberás das mãos deles.

⁵ Depois disso, tu te chegarás ao monte de Deus, onde está a guarnição dos filisteus. Quando chegares à cidade, tu encontrarás um grupo de profetas descendo do lugar alto com harpa, tamborim, flauta e lira adiante deles; eles estarão profetizando. ⁶ O Espírito de Yahweh sobre ti virá, e tu profetizarás com eles, e tu serás mudado em um homem diferente.

⁷ Então, quando esses sinais se cumprirem em ti, faze o que a tua mão encontrar para fazer, pois Deus é contigo. ⁸ Desça a Gilgal adiante de mim. Depois eu descerei a ti para oferecer holocaustos e ofertas pacíficas. Espere sete dias até que eu venha a ti e mostre o que deverás fazer".

⁹ Quando Saul virou as costas para deixar Samuel, Deus lhe deu um outro coração. Então, todos aqueles sinais se cumpriram naquele dia. ¹⁰ Quando eles vieram ao monte, um grupo de profetas o encontrou, e o Espírito de Deus veio sobre ele, de modo que ele profetizou com eles.

¹¹ Quando os que antes conheciam Saul o viram profetizando com os profetas, perguntaram uns aos outros: "O que aconteceu ao filho de Quis? É Saul um dos profetas agora?". ¹² Um homem daquele mesmo lugar respondeu: "E quem é o pai dele?". Por causa desse acontecimento, surgiu o dizer: "É Saul também um dos profetas?". ¹³ Quando acabou de profetizar, ele foi ao lugar alto.

¹⁴ O tio de Saul perguntou a ele e ao seu servo: "Aonde fostes?" E ele respondeu: "Procurar as jumentas; quando nós percebemos que não as encontraríamos, fomos a Samuel". ¹⁵ O tio de Saul disse: "Por favor, dizei-me o que Samuel vos disse". ¹⁶ Saul respondeu ao seu tio: "Ele nos disse claramente que as jumentas tinham sido achadas". Mas Saul não lhe disse sobre os assuntos do reino, dos quais Samuel havia falado.

¹⁷ Então, Samuel convocou o povo para apresentar-se a Yahweh em Mispá. ¹⁸ Ele disse ao povo de Israel: "Isto é o que Yahweh, o Deus de Israel diz: 'Eu fiz Israel subir para fora do Egito, e vos resgatei das mãos dos egípcios, e da mão de todos os reinos que vos oprimiam'. ¹⁹ Mas hoje vós tendes rejeitado o vosso Deus, que vos livrou de todas as vossas calamidades e aflições; e vós tendes falado a Ele: 'Estabeleça um rei sobre nós.' Agora apresentem-se perante Yahweh, por tribos e por clãs".

²⁰ Assim, Samuel fez chegar perto todas as tribos de Israel, e a tribo de Benjamim foi a escolhida. ²¹ Daí ele fez aproximar a tribo de Benjamim por clãs; e o clã de Matri foi escolhido; e Saul filho de Quis foi escolhido. Mas quando eles foram procurá-lo, ele não foi encontrado.

²² O povo, então, quis fazer mais perguntas a Deus: "Há ainda um outro homem para vir?". Yahweh respondeu: "Ele escondeu-se entre as bagagens". ²³ Eles correram e retiraram Saul de lá. Quando ele ficou de pé no meio do povo, ele era mais alto que qualquer pessoa, dos ombros para cima.

²⁴ Então, Samuel falou ao povo: "Vistes que homem Yahweh escolheu? Não há ninguém igual a ele entre todo o povo!". Todo o povo gritou: "Vida longa ao rei!".

²⁵ Depois, Samuel falou ao povo os direitos e as regras do reinado, escreveu-os num livro, e colocou-o perante Yahweh. Samuel despediu todo o povo, e cada homem foi para a sua própria casa.

²⁶ Saul também foi para a sua casa, em Gibeá, e com ele foram alguns homens fortes, cujo coração Deus tocara. ²⁷ Mas alguns homens indignos disseram: "Como pode esse homem salvar-nos?". Essas pessoas desprezaram Saul e não lhe trouxeram presente algum. Mas Saul manteve-se em silêncio.

Capítulo 11

¹ Então Naás, o amonita, saiu e sitiou Jabes Gileade. Todos os homens de Jabes disseram para Naás: "Faça um pacto conosco e nós te serviremos". ² Naás, o amonita, replicou: "Eu farei um acordo convosco, sob a condição de eu extrair o olho direito de todos vós, pois, desta maneira, trarei desgraça sobre todo o Israel".

³ Os anciãos de Jabes lhe responderam: "Deixa-nos a sós por sete dias, e enviaremos mensageiros para todo o território de Israel. Então, se não houver alguém que nos ajude, nós nos renderemos a ti".

⁴ Os mensageiros vieram para Gibeá, onde Saul morava, e falaram ao povo o que havia acontecido. Todo o povo chorou em alta voz. ⁵ Eis que Saul vinha do campo acompanhando os bois. Saul disse: "O que há de errado com as pessoas, pois estão chorando?". Eles contaram a Saul o que os homens de Jabes haviam dito.

⁶ Quando Saul ouviu o que eles disseram, o Espírito de Deus veio sobre ele, e ele ficou muito irado. ⁷ Tomou uma junta de bois, cortou-os em pedaços, e enviou as partes por todo o território de Israel, pelos mensageiros. Ele disse: "Isto é o que acontecerá aos bois de qualquer de vós que não sair após Saul e após Samuel". Logo, o temor de Yahweh caiu sobre o povo, e eles saíram juntos, como um só homem. ⁸ Quando ele os reuniu em Beseque, todo o povo de Israel era trezentos mil, e os homens de Judá, trinta mil.

⁹ Eles disseram aos mensageiros: "Vós direis aos homens de Jabes Gileade: 'Amanhã, quando o sol estiver quente, vós sereis resgatados'". Então, os mensageiros saíram e falaram aos homens de Jabes, e eles se alegraram. ¹⁰ Então, os homens de Jabes disseram a Naás: "Amanhã nós nos renderemos a ti, e tu farás conosco o que bem te parecer".

¹¹ No dia seguinte, Saul pôs o povo em três grupos. Eles vieram para o meio do acampamento durante a guarda matinal. Então, atacaram e derrotaram os amonitas até o calor do dia. Aqueles que sobreviveram foram dispersos, de maneira que não deixaram dois deles juntos.

¹² E o povo disse a Samuel: "Quem foi aquele que falou: 'Reinará Saul sobre nós?'. Trazei os homens! Assim, serão postos para morrer". ¹³ Mas Saul falou: "Ninguém será morto neste dia, porque hoje Yahweh livrou Israel".

¹⁴ Então, Samuel falou ao povo: "Vinde, vamos a Gilgal e renovemos ali a monarquia". ¹⁵ E o povo foi para Gilgal e fez Saul rei diante de Yahweh, em Gilgal. Lá, eles sacrificaram ofertas pacíficas diante de Yahweh. Saul, com todos os homens de Israel, regozijaram-se grandemente.

Capítulo 12

¹ Disse Samuel a todo o Israel: "Eu tenho escutado tudo quanto vós me dissestes e eu estabeleci um rei sobre vós. ² Agora, aqui está o rei que vai diante de vós; eu estou velho e de cabelo grisalho; e meus filhos estão convosco. Eu tenho caminhado diante de vós desde a minha juventude até o dia de hoje.

³ Eu estou aqui; testemunhai contra mim diante de Yahweh e diante do Seu ungido. De quem tomei um boi? De quem tomei um jumento? A quem eu drefaudei? A quem tenho eu oprimido? Da mão de quem tenho eu recebido suborno para cobrir meus olhos? Testificai essas coisas contra mim, e eu vos restituirei".

⁴ Eles disseram: "Tu não nos defraudaste, não nos oprimiste e não roubaste coisa alguma das mãos de nenhum homem. ⁵ Ele lhes disse: "Yahweh é testemunha contra vós, e Seu ungido é testemunha, hoje, de que vós não encontrastes nada em minhas mãos". E eles lhe responderam: "Yahweh é testemunha".

⁶ Samuel disse ao povo: "Foi Yahweh quem apontou Moisés e Arão, e quem trouxe vossos pais da terra do Egito. ⁷ Agora, pois, apresentai-vos, para que eu entre em juízo diante de Yahweh sobre todas as obras de justiça de Yahweh, as quais Ele fez por vós e vossos pais.

⁸ Quando Jacó veio ao Egito, e vossos ancestrais clamaram a Yahweh, Ele enviou Moisés e Arão, que tiraram vossos pais do Egito e eles se acamparam neste lugar. ⁹ Mas eles se esqueceram de Yahweh seu Deus; Ele os entregou na mão de Sísera, capitão do exército de Hazor, na mão dos filisteus, e na mão do rei de Moabe; todos esses lutaram contra vossos ancestrais.

¹⁰ Eles clamaram a Yahweh e Lhe disseram: 'Nós temos pecado, porque nós abandonamos Yahweh e temos servido aos Baalins e aos Astarotes. Mas agora livra-nos da mão de nossos inimigos e nós Te serviremos'. ¹¹ Então, Yahweh enviou Jerubaal, Baraque, Jefté, Samuel e lhes deu vitória sobre os inimigos ao redor, para que, assim, vivessem em segurança.

¹² Quando vistes que Naás, o rei dos amonitas, vinha contra vós, vós me dissestes: 'Não! Ao invés disso, reine um rei sobre nós' — apesar de o vosso Deus Yahweh ser o vosso Rei. ¹³ Agora, aqui está o rei que vós escolhestes, quem vós pedistes e o qual Yahweh estabeleceu como rei sobre vós.

¹⁴ Se vós temerdes a Yahweh, servi-Lo, obedecerdes à Sua voz, e não vos rebelardes contra os Seus mandamentos, então, ambos, vós e o rei que reina sobre vós, serão seguidores de Yahweh vosso Deus. ¹⁵ Se vós não obedecerdes à voz de Yahweh, antes, rebelardes contra os mandamentos de Yahweh, então, a mão de Yahweh será contra vós, assim como foi contra vossos ancestrais.

¹⁶ Agora mesmo, apresentai-vos e vede que grande coisa Yahweh irá fazer diante de vossos olhos. ¹⁷ Não é tempo da colheita de trigo? Clamarei a Yahweh para que Ele envie trovões e chuva. Então, sabereis e vereis quão grande são vossas maldades, as quais vós tendes feito diante de Yahweh, pedindo-Lhe um rei sobre vós". ¹⁸ Então, Samuel invocou Yahweh; e, no mesmo dia, Yahweh enviou trovão e chuva. O povo todo temeu grandemente a Yahweh e a Samuel.

¹⁹ Então, todo o povo disse a Samuel: "Interceda a Yahweh teu Deus por teus servos, para que nós não morramos. Pois nós temos acrescentado a todos os nossos pecados este mal, pedindo para nós um rei". ²⁰ Samuel lhes respondeu: "Não temais. Vós cometestes todo este mal, mas não vos afasteis de Yahweh, ao contrário, servi a Ele com todo o vosso coração. ²¹ Não vos desvieis para seguir ídolos inúteis, que não podem vos livrar, por serem inúteis.

²² Por amor do Seu grandioso nome, Yahweh não rejeitará Seu povo, porque Yahweh Se agradou em fazer de vós um povo para Si mesmo. ²³ Quanto a mim, longe de mim que possa pecar contra Yahweh, cessando de orar por vós. Ao contrário, eu vos ensinarei o caminho que é bom e correto.

²⁴ Apenas temei e servi a Yahweh em verdade, com todo o vosso coração. Considerai as grandiosas coisas que Ele vos tem feito. ²⁵ Porém, se vós persistires em fazer o mal, tanto vós como vosso rei morrerão".

Capítulo 13

¹ Saul tinha trinta anos quando começou a reinar; quando ele havia reinado quarenta anos sobre Israel, ² ele escolheu três mil homens. Dois mil estavam com ele em Micmás e na região montanhosa de Betel, enquanto mil estavam com Jônatas, em Gibeá de Benjamim. O restante dos soldados, ele enviou para casa, cada homem para sua tenda.

³ Jônatas derrotou as tropas dos filisteus que estavam em Geba, e os filisteus souberam disso. Então, Saul soou a trombeta por toda a terra, dizendo: "Deixe os hebreus ouvirem". ⁴ Todo o Israel ouviu que Saul havia derrotado as tropas dos filisteus, e também que Israel havia se tornado uma ofensa para os filisteus. Então, os soldados foram convocados para se juntarem a Saul, em Gilgal.

⁵ Os filisteus se reuniram para lutar contra Israel: três mil carruagens, seis mil homens para dirigir as carruagens, e tropas numerosas como a areia na costa. Eles vieram e acamparam em Micmás, leste de Bete-Áven.

⁶ Quando os homens de Israel viram que eles estavam com problemas— pois o povo estava aflito — esconderam-se nas cavernas, nas vegetações, em rochas, em poços e em cisternas. ⁷ Alguns dos hebreus passaram pelo Jordão até a terra de Gade e Gileade. Mas Saul estava ainda em Gilgal, e todo o povo o seguia, tremendo.

⁸ Ele esperou sete dias, o tempo que Samuel havia determinado. Mas Samuel não foi até Gilgal, e o povo estava se dispersando de Saul. ⁹ Saul disse: "Trazei o holocausto e as ofertas pacíficas". Então ele ofereceu o holocausto. ¹⁰ Assim que ele acabaou de oferecer o holocausto, Samuel chegou. Saul saiu para encontrá-lo e cumprimentá-lo.

¹¹ Então, Samuel lhe perguntou: "O que tu fizeste?" Saul respondeu: "Quando vi que as pessoas estavam me deixando, que tu não vieste no tempo determinado, e que os filisteus haviam se ajuntado em Micmás, eu disse: ¹² 'Agora os filisteus vão descer contra mim em Gilgal, e eu não tenho procurado o favor de Yahweh'. Então eu me forcei a oferecer o holocausto".

¹³ Samuel disse a Saul: "Tu tens agido de forma tola. Não tens mantido o comando que Yahweh, o teu Deus, te deu. Pois Yahweh teria estabelecido teu reinado sobre Israel para sempre. ¹⁴ Mas agora seu reinado não continuará. Yahweh procurou um homem segundo Seu próprio coração, e Yahweh o nomeou para ser príncipe de Seu povo, pois tu não obedeceste ao que Ele te ordenou."

¹⁵ Então, Samuel se levantou e foi de Gilgal até Gibeá de Benjamin. Depois, Saul contou o povo que estava presente com ele, cerca de seiscentos homens. ¹⁶ Saul, seu filho Jônatas, e o povo que estava presente com eles, ficaram em Gibeá de Benjamin. Mas os filisteus acamparam em Micmás.

¹⁷ Saqueadores vieram do campo dos filisteus em três grupos. Um grupo foi em direção a Ofra, para a terra de Sual. ¹⁸ Outro grupo foi rumo a Bete-Horom, e outro grupo, em direção à fronteira que contempla o vale de Zeboim, rumo ao deserto.

¹⁹ Nenhum ferreiro podia ser encontrado em nenhuma parte de Israel, pois os filisteus disseram: "Caso contrário, os hebreus fariam espadas e lanças para si". ²⁰ Mas todos os homens de Israel tinham que descer até os filisteus, cada um para afiar suas relhas, suas enxadas, machados e suas foices. ²¹ O custo era de dois terços de um siclo para afiar machados e para amolar aguilhadas.

²² Então, no dia da batalha, não foram encontradas espadas ou lanças nas mãos dos soldados que estavam com Saul e Jônatas; somente Saul e seu filho Jônatas as tinham. ²³ As tropas dos filisteus foram até a passagem de Micmás.

Capítulo 14

¹ Um dia, Jônatas, filho de Saul, disse ao seu jovem escudeiro: "Vem, vamos até as tropas militares dos filisteus, que estão do outro lado". Mas ele não contou a seu pai.

² Saul estava nas fronteiras de Gibeá, debaixo da romeira em Migrom. Havia cerca de seiscentos homens com ele, ³ incluindo Aías, filho de Aitube, irmão de Icabode, filho de Finéias, filho de Eli, sacerdote de Yahweh em Siló, que vestia um manto sacerdotal. O povo não sabia que Jônatas havia ido.

⁴ De cada lado do desfiladeiro que Jônatas pretendia atravessar para alcançar a tropa dos filisteus, havia um penhasco rochoso, de um lado e de outro. O nome de um penhasco era Bozez, e o do outro era Sené. ⁵ Um desses penhascos se localizava ao norte, defronte de Micmás, e o outro ao sul defronte de Gibeá.

⁶ Jônatas disse ao seu jovem escudeiro: "Vem, vamos atravessar o exército desses incircuncisos. Pode ser que Yahweh trabalhe a nosso favor, pois nada pode impedir Yahweh de salvar, com muitas ou com poucas pessoas. ⁷ Seu escudeiro respondeu: "Faze tudo quanto estiver em teu coração. Vá em frente, vê, eu estarei contigo, para obedecer a todas as tuas ordens".

⁸ Então, Jônatas disse: "Nós atravessaremos até aqueles homens, e nos mostraremos a eles. ⁹ Se eles disserem: 'Esperem até que os alcancemos', - então ficaremos em nosso lugar e não atravessaremos até eles. ¹⁰ Mas, se eles responderem: 'Vinde até nós', então os alcançaremos, porque Yahweh os entregou em nossas mãos. Este será o nosso sinal".

¹¹ Então, os dois revelaram-se à tropa dos filisteus, que disseram: "Olhem! Os hebreus estão saindo dos buracos onde haviam se escondido." ¹² Então, os homens do exército disseram a Jônatas e a seu escudeiro: "Vinde até nós, e lhes mostraremos algo". Jônatas disse ao seu escudeiro: "Segue-me, porque Yahweh os entregou nas mãos de Israel".

¹³ Então, Jônatas subiu engatinhando, e seu escudeiro o seguiu. Os filisteus caíram mortos diante de Jônatas, e seu escudeiro os matava atrás deles. ¹⁴ Neste primeiro ataque, Jônatas e seu escudeiro mataram cerca de vinte homens, dentro de meia jeira de terra.

¹⁵ Houve terror no acampamento, no campo e entre o povo. Até mesmo as tropas e os invasores estremeceram. A terra tremeu e houve grande desespero.

¹⁶ Os vigias de Saul, em Gibeá de Benjamim, olharam; a multidão de soldados filisteus estava se dispersando, e fugiam para lá e para cá. ¹⁷ Então, Saul disse ao povo que estava com ele: "Ora, contai e vede quem está faltando entre nós". Quando eles contaram, Jônatas e seu escudeiro não estavam ali.

¹⁸ Saul disse a Aías: "Traze a Arca de Deus aqui" — porque a Arca estava com o povo de Israel naqueles dias. ¹⁹ Enquanto Saul falava com o sacerdote, crescia cada vez mais o tumulto no acampamento filisteu. Então, Saul disse ao sacerdote: "Retira a tua mão".

²⁰ Saul e todo o povo que estava com ele reuniram-se e foram para a batalha. Cada espada dos filisteus estava contra seus próprios companheiros, e havia grande confusão. ²¹ Os hebreus que, anteriormente, se juntaram aos filisteus, e que haviam ido com eles para o acampamento, uniram-se aos israelitas que estavam com Saul e Jônatas.

²² Quando todos os homens de Israel, que haviam se escondido nas montanhas próximas a Efraim, ouviram que os filisteus estavam fugindo, eles também os perseguiram em batalha. ²³ Então, Yahweh livrou Israel naquele dia, e a batalha passou além de Bete-Áven.

²⁴ Naquele dia, os homens de Israel estavam angustiados, porque Saul havia colocado o povo sob juramento e dito: "Maldito seja aquele que comer qualquer comida antes do anoitecer e até que eu me vingue dos meus inimigos". Por isso, nenhum dos soldados se alimentou. ²⁵ Então, todo o povo chegou a uma floresta onde havia mel no chão. ²⁶ Quando o povo entrou na floresta, o mel escorria, mas ninguém o tocou nem o levou à boca, porque temiam o juramento.

²⁷ Mas Jônatas não tinha ouvido que seu pai colocara o povo sob juramento. Ele estendeu a ponta da vara que estava em sua mão e a mergulhou no favo de mel. Ele levou a mão à boca, e seus olhos brilharam. ²⁸ Então, alguém do povo disse: "Seu pai jurou rigorosamente, dizendo: 'Maldito seja o homem que comer comida neste dia', embora o povo estivesse fraco de fome".

²⁹ Então, Jônatas disse: "Meu pai trouxe perturbação sobre a terra. Veja como meus olhos tornaram-se brilhantes, porque eu provei um pouco deste mel. ³⁰ Quão bem faria ao povo, se tivesse comido hoje dos despojos achados dos seus inimigos? Por essa razão, o massacre não foi maior entre os filisteus".

³¹ Eles atacaram os filisteus, naquele dia, desde Micmás até Aijalom. O exército estava exausto. ³² O povo avançou vorazmente sobre os despojos e pegou ovelhas, bois e bezerros, matando -os no chão, e os comendo com sangue.

³³ Então, disseram a Saul: "Veja, o exército está pecando contra Yahweh ao comer com sangue. "Saul disse: "Vós agistes de maneira infiel. Agora, trazei-me uma grande pedra. ³⁴ Saul disse: "Ide entre o povo, e dizei-lhe: 'deixe cada homem trazer seu boi e sua ovelha, matai-os aqui, e comei. Não pequeis contra Yahweh comendo-os com sangue". Assim, naquela noite, cada pessoa trouxe consigo seu próprio boi e o matou ali.

³⁵ Saul ergueu um altar a Yahweh. Este foi o primeiro altar que edificou a Ele.

³⁶ Então, Saul disse: "Desçamos e persigamos os filisteus à noite e os saqueemos até o amanhecer; não deixemos nenhum deles vivo". Eles responderam: "Faz o que lhe parecer melhor". Mas o sacerdote disse: "Busquemos a Deus aqui". ³⁷ Saul consultou a Deus, dizendo: "Descerei atrás dos filisteus? Tu os entregarás nas mãos de Israel?". Mas Deus não lhe respondeu naquele dia.

³⁸ Então, Saul disse: "Vinde aqui, todos os líderes do povo; vede e sabei como este pecado aconteceu hoje. ³⁹ Porque, assim como Yahweh vive e salva Israel, mesmo sendo Jônatas meu filho, ele morrerá". Mas nenhum homem dentre o povo lhe respondeu.

⁴⁰ Ele disse a todo o Israel: "Vós estareis de um lado, e eu e Jônatas, meu filho, estaremos do outro". E o povo disse a Saul: "Faz o que te parecer bom". ⁴¹ Por isso, Saul disse a Yahweh, o Deus de Israel: "Mostra-nos a verdade". E a sorte caiu sobre Jônatas e Saul, e o povo escapou de ser escolhido. ⁴² Depois, Saul disse: "Lançai sorte entre mim e meu filho, Jônatas". E a sorte caiu sobre Jônatas.

⁴³ E Saul disse a Jônatas: "Dize-me o que fizeste". Jônatas lhe disse: "Eu provei um pouco de mel com a ponta da vara que estava em minha mão. Aqui estou eu. Eu morrerei". ⁴⁴ Saul disse: "Deus me castigue ainda mais se tu não morreres, Jônatas."

⁴⁵ Então, o povo disse a Saul: "Deveria Jônatas morrer, ele que trouxe tamanha glória a Israel? Longe disso! Assim como Yahweh vive, que nenhum fio de seu cabelo caia no chão, pois ele trabalhou com Deus hoje". Então o povo resgatou Jônatas, e ele não morreu. ⁴⁶ E Saul parou de perseguir os filisteus, e eles foram para a sua terra.

⁴⁷ Quando Saul começou a reinar sobre Israel, ele lutou contra todos os seus inimigos de todos os lados. Lutou contra Moabe, os amonitas, Edom, os reis de Zobá e os filisteus. Onde quer que fosse, ele se impunha sobre eles e os vencia. ⁴⁸ Ele agiu com grande coragem e derrotou os amalequitas. Ele resgatou Israel das mãos daqueles que os saqueavam.

⁴⁹ Os filhos de Saul eram Jônatas, Isvi e Malquisua. Os nomes de suas duas filhas eram: Merabe, a mais velha, e Mical, a mais nova. ⁵⁰ O nome da esposa de Saul era Ainoã, filha de Aimaás. O nome do comandante de seu exército era Abner, filho de Ner, tio de Saul. ⁵¹ Quis era o pai de Saul; e Ner, pai de Abner, era filho de Abiel.

⁵² Houve guerra intensa contra os filisteus durante os dias do reinado de Saul. Quando Saul via um homem forte e valente, ele o juntava ao seu exército.

Capítulo 15

¹ Samuel disse a Saul: "Yahweh me enviou para ungir-te rei sobre Israel. Agora, ouve a palavra de Yahweh. ² Isto é o que Yahweh dos Exércitos diz: 'Eu tenho visto o que Ameleque fez a Israel e a oposição que fizeram no caminho ao voltarem do Egito. ³ Agora, vai e ataca Ameleque e destrói completamente a todos e a tudo que eles têm. Não poupes ninguém, mas mata tanto homens quanto mulheres, crianças e bebês, gado e ovelhas, camelos e jumentos'".

⁴ Saul convocou uma multidão dentre o povo na cidade de Telaim: duzentos mil homens a pé e dez mil homens de Judá. ⁵ Então, Saul veio à cidade de Ameleque e se espreitou no vale.

⁶ Então, Saul disse aos queneus: "Ide, parti, saí do meio dos amalequitas, e eu não vos destruirei junto com eles. Pois vós mostrastes misericórdia com o povo de Israel, quando ele estava no Egito". Então, os queneus fugiram do meio dos amalequitas. ⁷ Saul, então, atacou os amalequitas, desde Havilá até as fronteiras de Sur, que está ao leste do Egito.

⁸ Em seguida, ele capturou vivo Agague, rei dos amalequitas, e destruiu completamente todo o povo ao fio da espada. ⁹ Mas Saul e os Israelitas pouparam Agague e também o melhor do rebanho de ovelhas, gado, bezerros cevados e cabras. Tudo que estava bom eles não destruiram. Mas, destruíram totalmente qualquer coisa que estava desprezada ou danificada.

¹⁰ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a Samuel, dizendo: ¹¹ "Estou angustiado por ter feito Saul rei, porque ele desistiu de Me seguir e não executou Meus mandamentos". Samuel ficou furioso e clamou ao Senhor a noite inteira.

¹² Samuel levantou-se cedo para encontrar Saul, pela manhã. Disseram a Samuel: "Saul veio ao Carmelo e ergueu um monumento a ele mesmo; em seguida, continuou a descer a Gilgal". ¹³ Então, Samuel veio a Saul, e Saul lhe disse: "Sejas bendito por Yahweh! Eu tenho cumprido o mandamento de Yahweh".

¹⁴ Samuel disse: "Então, o que é este balido de ovelha em meus ouvidos e este mugido de bois que tenho ouvido?". ¹⁵ Saul replicou: "Eles os trouxeram dos amalequitas. Porque o povo preservou o melhor das ovelhas e bois para sacrificar a Yahweh, nosso Deus. O restante, nós destruímos completamente". ¹⁶ Samuel disse a Saul: "Espera e eu te direi o que Yahweh disse a mim esta noite". Saul disse a ele: "Fala".

¹⁷ Samuel disse: "Embora sejas pequeno aos teus próprios olhos, tu não fostes chamado para ser um cabeça da tribo em Israel? Yahweh te ungiu rei sobre Israel. ¹⁸ Yahweh te enviou pelo teu caminho e disse: 'Segue e destrói completamente os pecadores, os amalequitas e luta contra eles até que sejam destruídos'. ¹⁹ Por que tu não obedeceste à voz de Yahweh, mas, ao invés disso, preservaste para si os despojos e fizeste o que é mau perante os olhos do Senhor?".

²⁰ Saul disse a Samuel: "Decerto, eu tenho obedecido à voz de Yahweh e tenho seguido pelo caminho que Yahweh me enviou. Eu capturei a Agague, rei de Amaleque, e destruí completamente os amalequitas. ²¹ Mas o povo reteve parte dos despojos, ovelhas e gado, e as melhores coisas de lá destinadas à destruição, para sacrificar a Yahweh seu Deus em Gilgal".

²² Samuel respondeu: "Tem Yahweh mais prazer em holocaustos e sacrifícios do que na obediência à Sua voz? Obediência é melhor que sacrifício, e ouvi-Lo é melhor do que a gordura de carneiros. ²³ Porque a rebelião é como pecado de adivinhação e a teimosia é como maldade e iniquidade. Porque tu tens rejeitado a palavra de Yahweh, Ele também rejeitou a ti como rei.

²⁴ Então, Saul disse a Samuel: "Eu pequei, pois eu desobedeci aos mandamentos de Yahweh e às Suas palavras, porque tive medo do povo e obedeci à voz deles. ²⁵ Agora, por favor, perdoa meu pecado e volta-te a mim para que eu possa adorar a Yahweh".

²⁶ Samuel disse a Saul: "Eu não irei voltar a ti, pois tens rejeitado a palavra de Yahweh, e Yahweh o rejeitou como rei de Israel". ²⁷ Assim que Samuel se virou para partir, Saul segurou sua veste e a rasgou.

²⁸ Samuel disse a ele: "Yahweh, hoje, tomou de ti o reino de Israel e o deu a um vizinho teu, alguém que é melhor que tu. ²⁹ Também, a Força de Israel não mentirá ou mudará de ideia; porque Ele não é homem, que muda de opinião".

³⁰ Então, Saul disse: "Eu pequei. Mas, por favor, me honra, agora, diante dos anciãos de meu povo e diante de Israel. Volta-te a mim, e eu adorarei a Yahweh nosso Deus". ³¹ Então, Samuel voltou-se novamente a favor de Saul e Saul adorou a Yahweh.

³² Então, Samuel disse: "Traz Agague, rei dos amalequitas até mim". Agague veio, acorrentado, até ele e disse: "Certamente, a amargura da morte passou". ³³ Samuel respondeu: "Como tua espada fez mulheres sem filhos, logo, tua mãe, em meio às outras mulheres, ficará sem filhos". Então, Samuel feriu Agague, esquartejando-o diante de Yahweh.

³⁴ Samuel partiu para Ramá, e Saul foi para a casa dele em Gibeá. ³⁵ Samuel não viu Saul até o dia de sua morte, e pranteou por Saul. E Yahweh lamentou por ter ungido Saul como rei sobre Israel.

Capítulo 16

¹ Yahweh disse a Samuel: "Por quanto tempo te lamenterás por Saul, sendo que o rejeitei para ser rei sobre Israel? Encha teu vaso de azeite e vai. Eu te enviarei a Jessé de Belém, pois Eu escolhi para Mim um rei entre seus filhos".

² Samuel disse: "Como eu posso ir? Se Saul ouvir sobre isso, ele me matará". Yahweh disse: "Leve um bezerro contigo e diz: 'Eu vim para sacrificar a Yahweh'. ³ Chame Jessé para o sacrifício, e Eu lhe mostrarei o que deves fazer. Tu ungirás para Mim aquele que Eu lhe disser".

⁴ Samuel fez como Yahweh disse e foi a Belém. Os anciãos da cidade estavam tremendo enquanto vinham para encontrá-lo e disseram: "Tu estás vindo em paz?" ⁵ Ele disse: "Em paz. Eu vim para sacrificar a Yahweh. Santificai-vos para o sacrifício a Yahweh e vinde comigo". E ele consagrou Jessé e seus filhos a Yahweh. Depois, ele os chamou para o sacrifício.

⁶ Quando eles vieram, ele olhou para Eliabe e disse a si mesmo que o ungido de Yahweh certamente estava diante dele. ⁷ Mas Yahweh disse a Samuel: "Não olhe para a sua aparência externa, ou para a sua estatura, porque Eu o rejeitei. Pois Yahweh não vê como o homem vê; o homem olha para a aparência externa, mas Yahweh olha dentro do coração".

⁸ Então, Jessé chamou Abinadabe e o fez passar diante de Samuel. E Samuel disse: "Nem a este Yahweh escolheu". ⁹ Jessé fez passar Samá. E Samuel disse: "Nem a este Yahweh escolheu". ¹⁰ Jessé fez sete de seus filhos passarem diante de Samuel. E Samuel disse a Jessé: "Yahweh não escolheu nenhum destes".

¹¹ Então Samuel disse a Jessé: "Estão todos os teus filhos aqui?". Ele respondeu: "Ainda falta o mais novo, mas ele está cuidando das ovelhas". Samuel disse a Jessé: "Mande que o busquem, pois nós não nos sentaremos até que ele venha aqui". ¹² Jessé mandou que o trouxessem. Esse filho era ruivo e tinha olhos bonitos e uma bonita aparência. Yahweh disse: "Levanta-te e unge-o, pois ele é o escolhido".

¹³ Então, Samuel pegou o vaso de azeite e ungiu-o no meio de seus irmãos. O Espírito de Yahweh esteve em Davi daquele dia em diante. Então, Samuel se levantou e foi para Ramá.

¹⁴ O Espírito de Yahweh deixou Saul, e um espírito maligno vindo de Yahweh o perturbava. ¹⁵ Os servos de Saul lhe disseram: "Vê, um espírito maligno vindo de Yahweh te perturba. ¹⁶ Nosso mestre, manda agora teus servos que estão diante de ti procurarem por um homem que seja um exímio tocador de harpa. Então, quando o espírito maligno, vindo de Deus, estiver em ti, ele a tocará e tu ficarás bem".

¹⁷ Saul disse a seus servos: "Encontrai para mim um homem que saiba tocar bem e trazei-o a mim". ¹⁸ Então, um dos jovens respondeu, dizendo: "Eu vi um filho de Jessé, o belemita, que tem o dom de tocar. Um homem forte e corajoso, um homem de guerra, de discurso prudente, um homem de boa aparência; e Yahweh é com ele". ¹⁹ Então, Saul mandou os mensageiros a Jessé, e disse: "Envia a mim teu filho Davi, que é pastor de ovelhas".

²⁰ Jessé pegou um jumento carregado com pão, um recipiente com vinho, e um novilho, e os mandou a Saul, juntamente com seu filho Davi. ²¹ E Davi veio para Saul e entrou a seu serviço. Saul o amou grandemente, e ele se tornou seu escudeiro.

²² Saul enviou um mensageiro a Jessé, dizendo: "Deixa que Davi esteja diante de mim, pois ele achou favor aos meus olhos". ²³ Sempre que o espírito maligno vindo de Deus estava sobre Saul, Davi pegava a harpa e a tocava. Assim, Saul se acalmava e ficava bem, pois o espírito maligno se afastava dele.

Capítulo 17

¹ Os filisteus ajuntaram seus exércitos para a batalha. Eles estavam reunidos em Socó, que pertence a Judá. Eles haviam acampado entre Socó e Azeca, em Efes-Damim.

² Saul e os homens de Israel acamparam-se no vale de Elá e formaram sua linha de batalha para encontrar os filisteus. ³ Os filisteus se posicionaram em uma montanha, e Israel se posicionou na montanha do outro lado, com um vale entre eles.

⁴ Um homem forte, cuja altura era de seis côvados e um palmo, saiu do acampamento filisteu. Ele era chamado Golias, de Gate. ⁵ Ele tinha um capacete de bronze em sua cabeça e estava vestido com uma couraça de ferro. A couraça pesava cinco mil siclos de bronze.

⁶ Ele tinha uma armadura de bronze em suas pernas e uma lança de bronze nos ombros. ⁷ A vara de seu arpão era grande, com um laço de corda para lançá-la, como a corda em um suporte de tear. A ponta de sua lança pesava seis mil siclos de ferro. Seu escudo ia à sua frente.

⁸ Golias se levantou e gritou para as tropas de Israel: "Por que vos posicionastes para a batalha? Não sou eu um filisteu, e não sois vós servos de Saul? Escolhei um homem entre vós e o fazei descer até mim. ⁹ Se ele for capaz de lutar comigo e me matar, então nós nos tornaremos vossos escravos. Mas, se eu derrotá-lo e o matar, então vós sereis nossos escravos, e nos servireis".

¹⁰ Novamente, o filisteu disse: "Eu desafio os exércitos de Israel hoje. Dai-me um homem para que lutemos juntos". ¹¹ Quando Saul e todo o Israel ouviram o que disse o filisteu, eles ficaram desencorajados e grandemente amedrontados.

¹² Davi era filho de Jessé, um efrateu de Belém de Judá. Jessé tinha oito filhos e era um homem idoso nos dias de Saul, avançado em anos entre os homens. ¹³ Os três filhos mais velhos de Jessé seguiram Saul na batalha. Seus nomes eram: Eliabe, o primogênito, o segundo, Abinadabe e o terceiro, Samá.

¹⁴ Davi era o mais novo. Os três mais velhos seguiram Saul. ¹⁵ Então, Davi ia e voltava — por entre o exército de Saul e o rebanho de seu pai, em Belém — para levar alimento aos irmãos. ¹⁶ Por quarenta dias, o homem forte dos filisteus vinha pela manhã e à tarde se apresentar para a batalha.

¹⁷ Então, Jessé disse a seu filho Davi: "Leva para os teus irmãos um efa deste grão tostado e estes dez pães; leva-os rapidamente para o campo para teus irmãos. ¹⁸ Leva também estes dez queijos para o capitão dos mil deles. Vê como teus irmãos estão indo e traz alguma prova de que estão passando bem.

¹⁹ Teus irmãos estão com Saul e todos os homens de Israel no vale de Elá, lutando contra os filisteus". ²⁰ Davi se levantou cedo pela manhã e deixou o rebanho aos cuidados de um pastor. Ele pegou os suprimentos e saiu, como Jessé lhe havia ordenado. Ele veio ao campo enquanto o exército estava saindo do campo de batalha, gritando o lamento de guerra. ²¹ E Israel e os filisteus se alinharam para a batalha, exército contra exército.

²² Davi deixou seus pertences com o guarda de suprimentos, correu até o exército e cumprimentou seus irmãos. ²³ Enquanto falava com eles, o homem forte, o filisteu de Gate chamado Golias, saiu do meio das tropas dos filisteus e disse as mesmas palavras de antes. E Davi as ouviu. ²⁴ Quando todos os homens de Israel viram Golias, esquivaram-se dele, pois estavam com muito medo.

²⁵ Os homens de Israel disseram: "Vistes este homem que se levantou? Ele veio para desafiar Israel. E o rei dará ao homem que o matar grandes riquezas, e também lhe dará sua filha em casamento, e fará a casa de seu pai livre dos impostos em Israel".

²⁶ Davi disse aos homens que que estavam perto dele: "O que será feito pelo homem que matar esse filisteu e tirar a desgraça de sobre Israel? Quem é esse filisteu incircunciso, para que desafie o exército do Deus vivo?". ²⁷ Então, o povo repetiu o que estavam falando e lhe disseram: "E isso será feito ao homem que o matar".

²⁸ Eliabe, seu irmão mais velho, ouviu quando ele falou aos homens. Eliabe ficou irado com Davi e disse: "Por que desceste até aqui? Com quem deixaste as poucas ovelhas no deserto? Eu conheço teus anseios e as travessuras de teu coração; pois tu desceste aqui para que pudesse ver a batalha". ²⁹ Davi disse: "O que fiz eu agora? Não foi apenas uma pergunta?". ³⁰ Davi se desviou dele para outro, e falou da mesma forma. As pessoas responderam com as mesmas palavras de antes.

³¹ As palavras que Davi disse foram ouvidas, os soldados as repetiram a Saul e ele mandou buscar Davi. ³² Então, Davi disse a Saul: "Não deixe que o coração de nenhum homem desfaleça por causa desse filisteu; teu servo irá e lutará com esse filisteu". ³³ Saul disse a Davi: "Não és capaz de ir contra o filisteu para lutar com ele, pois és apenas um jovem, e ele, um homem de guerra desde a juventude".

³⁴ Mas Davi disse a Saul: "Teu servo costumava cuidar das ovelhas de seu pai. Quando um leão ou um urso veio para tomar um cordeiro dentre o rebanho, ³⁵ eu o persegui, o ataquei e o resgatei de sua boca. E, quando se levantou contra mim, eu o peguei pela sua juba, o feri e o matei.

³⁶ Teu servo matou ambos, o leão e o urso. Este filisteu incircunciso será como um deles, uma vez que ele desafiou o exército do Deus vivo".

³⁷ Davi disse: "Yahweh me resgatou das garras do leão e das garras do urso. Ele me resgatará das mãos desse filisteu". Então, Saul disse a Davi: "Vai, e que Yahweh seja contigo". ³⁸ Saul vestiu Davi com sua armadura. Ele colocou o capacete de bronze sobre sua cabeça e o vestiu com uma couraça.

³⁹ Davi assentou sua espada em sua armadura. Mas ele não era capaz de andar, pois não havia sido treinado para usá-la. Então, Davi disse a Saul: "Eu não posso ir à luta com isto, pois não tenho costume de usá-la". Então, Davi as tirou. ⁴⁰ Ele tomou sua vara nas mãos e pegou cinco pedras polidas do córrego; ele as colocou em sua bolsa de pastor. Sua funda estava em suas mãos e ele se aproximou do filisteu.

⁴¹ O filisteu veio e se aproximou de Davi, com seu escudeiro à sua frente. ⁴² Quando o filisteu olhou e viu Davi, ele o desprezou, pois era apenas um menino ruivo, com uma aparência agradável. ⁴³ Então, o filisteu disse a Davi: "Sou eu um cão, para que venhas a mim com gravetos?". E o filisteu amaldiçoou Davi em nome de seus deuses.

⁴⁴ O filisteu disse ainda: "Vem até mim e eu darei a tua carne aos pássaros do céu e às bestas do campo". ⁴⁵ Davi respondeu ao filisteu: "Tu vens a mim com uma espada, uma lança e um dardo. Mas eu venho a ti, no nome de Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus dos exércitos de Israel, a quem desafiaste.

⁴⁶ Hoje, Yahweh me dará vitória sobre ti, e eu te matarei e tirarei a cabeça de teu corpo. Hoje, eu darei os corpos do exército dos filisteus aos pássaros nos céus e às bestas feras da terra; ⁴⁷ e toda esta multidão saberá que há Deus em Israel; e toda esta multidão saberá que Yahweh dá a vitória não através de espadas ou lanças, pois a batalha é de Yahweh, e Ele vos entregará em nossas mãos".

⁴⁸ Quando o filisteu se levantou e veio ao encontro de Davi, este correu rapidamente em direção ao exército inimigo, para encontrá-lo. ⁴⁹ Davi colocou sua mão em sua bolsa, pegou uma pedra, lançou-a com o estilingue, e acertou o filisteu na testa. A pedra entrou na testa do filisteu, e ele caiu com o rosto no chão.

⁵⁰ Davi derrotou o filisteu com um estilingue e uma pedra. Ele acertou o filisteu e o matou. Não havia espada nas mãos de Davi. ⁵¹ Então, Davi correu e se pôs sobre o filisteu, desembainhou a espada dele e o matou, cortando-lhe fora a cabeça. Quando os filisteus viram que seu guerreiro forte estava morto, eles fugiram.

⁵² Então, os homens de Israel e de Judá se levantaram com gritos e perseguiram os filisteus até o vale e os portões de Ecrom. E os filisteus mortos caíram no caminho para Saraim, em todo o caminho de Gate a Ecrom. ⁵³ Então, os homens de Israel voltaram da perseguição aos filisteus e saquearam seu acampamento. ⁵⁴ Davi pegou a cabeça do filisteu e a trouxe a Jerusalém, mas colocou sua armadura em sua tenda.

⁵⁵ Quando Saul viu Davi sair em direção ao filisteu, ele disse a Abner, o capitão do exército: "Abner, de quem este jovem é filho?". Abner disse: "Como tu vives, rei, eu não o sei". ⁵⁶ O rei disse: "Pergunta a quem deve saber, de quem este é filho".

⁵⁷ Quando Davi retornou após matar o filisteu, Abner o tomou e o trouxe para diante de Saul, com a cabeça do filisteu em sua mão. ⁵⁸ Saul lhe perguntou: "De quem és filho, meu jovem?". Davi respondeu: "Eu sou filho do teu servo Jessé, o belemita".

Capítulo 18

¹ Depois de ter falado com Saul, a alma de Jônatas se uniu à de Davi e Jônatas o amou como sua própria alma. ² Naquele dia, Saul introduziu Davi em seu serviço e não o deixou retornar à casa de seu pai.

³ Em consequência disso, Jônatas e Davi fizeram entre si um pacto de amizade, porque Jônatas amou Davi como sua própria alma. ⁴ Jônatas se despiu do manto que usava e presenteou Davi juntamente com sua armadura, bem como sua espada, seu arco e seu cinto.

⁵ Davi ia a todos os lugares para onde Saul o enviava e era bem sucedido. Saul o colocou como chefe dos seus guerreiros. Isto agradou a todos, até mesmo aos servos de Saul.

⁶ Ao retornarem para casa, vindo da vitória contra os filisteus, as mulheres de todas as cidades de Israel vieram, com júbilo, cantando e dançando ao som de tamborins e instrumentos musicais. ⁷ As mulheres cantavam e diziam umas às outras: "Saul matou seus milhares, mas Davi dez milhares".

⁸ Saul ficou extremamente furioso, pois essa canção o incomodou. "Eles renderam a Davi dez milhares, mas a mim apenas os milhares. O que mais pode ele almejar senão o reinado?", disse Saul. ⁹ E, a partir daquele dia, Saul olhava Davi com suspeita.

¹⁰ No dia seguinte, um espírito maligno da parte de Deus se apoderou de Saul, e ele se encheu de ira dentro de casa. Então, Davi tocou seu instrumento exatamente como sempre fazia. ¹¹ Saul tinha na mão uma lança. Ele a arremessou contra Davi enquanto pensava no seu coração: "Vou encravá-lo na parede". Porém, Davi escapou dele por duas vezes. ¹² Saul temia Davi porque Yahweh estava com ele, e não mais com Saul.

¹³ Saul, então, o removeu de sua presença e o comissionou como comandante de mil homens. Desta forma, Davi entrava e saía diante do povo. ¹⁴ Ele prosperava em tudo o que fazia porque Yahweh era com ele.

¹⁵ Saul, ao perceber que Davi prosperava em tudo, o admirou. ¹⁶ Toda a nação de Israel e Judá amava Davi, pois ele saía e entrava diante deles.

¹⁷ Saul, então, disse a Davi: "Vê, aqui está Merabe minha filha mais velha. Eu a darei a ti como esposa. Tão somente sê corajoso e guerreia as batalhas de Yahweh". O raciocínio de Saul era: "Não caia sobre ele minhas mãos e, sim, a dos filisteus". ¹⁸ Davi disse a Saul: "Quem sou eu, e o que significa minha vida ou a família do meu pai em Israel para que eu seja genro do rei?"

¹⁹ Porém, quando chegou o tempo para que Merabe fosse entregue a Davi, ela foi dada como esposa a Adriel, o meolatita.

²⁰ Mical, no entanto, a outra filha de Saul, amava Davi. Disseram isto a Saul, o que lhe agradou. ²¹ Saul pensou: "Vou dar Mical a Davi para que ela sirva de armadilha e, assim, a mão dos filisteus esteja contra ele". Então, Saul disse a Davi pela segunda vez: "Tu serás meu genro".

²² Saul ordenou aos seus servos, dizendo: "Conversai em particular com Davi e dizei-lhe: 'Vê, o rei gosta muito de ti, e todos os seus servos te amam também. Ora, pois, aceita o convite para ser genro do rei'".

²³ Então, os servos de Saul falaram essas palavras a Davi, mas este retrucou: "Por acaso, vos parece coisa trivial ser genro do rei, já que sou pobre e de pouca estima em Israel"? ²⁴ Os servos de Saul contaram a ele as palavras que Davi dissera.

²⁵ Ao que Saul disse: "Assim direis a Davi: 'O rei não está interessado em nenhum dote, tão somente em cem prepúcios dos filisteus como forma de vingança contra os inimigos dele". Saul pensou que desse modo pudesse fazer Davi cair pelas mãos dos filisteus. ²⁶ Quando seus servos disseram a Davi tais palavras, ele ficou feliz em tornar-se genro do rei.

²⁷ Antes mesmo de esgotar o prazo, Davi saiu com seus homens e matou duzentos filisteus. Ele trouxe os prepúcios, que foram todos entregues ao rei, para que Davi pudesse se tornar seu genro. Assim, Saul o presenteou com Mical, sua filha, que se tornou sua esposa. ²⁸ Saul viu e percebeu que Yahweh era com Davi. E Mical, filha de Saul, o amava. ²⁹ Saul temeu ainda mais Davi e, de contínuo, o odiava.

³⁰ Os príncipes dos filisteus saíram, depois disso, para a luta; e todas as vezes que isto acontecia, Davi era mais bem sucedido do que todos os servos de Saul; desta forma, seu nome passou a ser altamente estimado.

Capítulo 19

¹ Saul disse a Jônatas, seu filho, e a todos os seus servos que eles deveriam matar Davi. Mas Jônatas, filho de Saul, tinha grande afeição por Davi. ² Então, Jônatas disse a Davi: "Meu pai Saul busca te matar. Portanto, protege-te pela manhã, e esconde-te em um lugar secreto. ³ Eu sairei e ficarei junto a meu pai no campo onde tu estiveres, e eu falarei com meu pai sobre ti. Se eu for informado sobre algo, eu te direi."

⁴ Jônatas falou bem de Davi a Saul, seu pai, e lhe disse: "Não permitas que o rei peque contra teu servo Davi. Pois ele não tem pecado contra ti, e seus atos fizeram bem a ti. ⁵ Pois ele expôs sua própria vida quando matou o filisteu. Yahweh trouxe uma grande vitória para todo o Israel. Tu viste e te alegraste. Por que tu pecarias contra sangue inocente matando Davi, sem motivo?"

⁶ Saul ouviu Jônatas. Saul jurou: "Assim como Yahweh vive, ele não será colocado para morrer". ⁷ Depois, Jônatas chamou Davi e disse-lhe todas estas coisas. Jônatas trouxe Davi a Saul, e ele ficou em sua presença como antes.

⁸ E houve guerra novamente. Davi saiu e lutou contra os filisteus, e os derrotou com grande massacre. Eles fugiram diante dele. ⁹ Um espírito mau, enviado por Yahweh, veio sobre Saul quando ele estava sentado em sua casa, com sua lança na mão. Davi tocava seu instrumento.

¹⁰ Saul tentou prender Davi à parede com a lança, mas ele escapou para longe da presença de Saul. Então, Saul perfurou a parede com a lança. Davi fugiu e escapou naquela noite. ¹¹ Saul enviou mensageiros à casa de Davi para vigiá-lo, para que ele pudesse matá-lo pela manhã. Mical, esposa de Davi, lhe disse: "Se tu não salvares tua vida esta noite, amanhã tu serás morto."

¹² Então, Mical baixou Davi pela da janela. Ele fugiu e escapou. ¹³ Mical pegou um ídolo doméstico e o deitou na cama; colocou um travesseiro de pelo de cabra na cabeceira e os cobriu com roupas.

¹⁴ Quando Saul enviou seus mensageiros para pegarem Davi, ela disse: "Ele está doente". ¹⁵ Mais tarde, Saul enviou novamente os mensageiros; ele disse: "Tragam-no para mim na cama, para que eu possa matá-lo".

¹⁶ Quando os mensageiros entraram, viram que um ídolo doméstico estava sobre a cama com o travesseiro de pelo de cabra em sua cabeceira. ¹⁷ Saul disse a Mical: "Por que tu me enganaste e deixaste que meu inimigo escapasse de mim?". Mical respondeu a Saul: "Ele me disse: 'Deixa-me ir. Por que deveria matá-la?'".

¹⁸ Davi fugiu e escapou, indo até Samuel, em Ramá. Ele lhe contou tudo o que Saul havia feito. Depois, ele e Samuel ficaram em Naiote. ¹⁹ Isto foi dito a Saul: "Vê, Davi está em Naiote, em Ramá". ²⁰ Então, Saul enviou mensageiros para capturar Davi. Quando eles viram o grupo de profetas profetizando, e Samuel levantando-se como cabeça sobre eles, o Espírito de Deus veio sobre os mensageiros de Saul, e eles também profetizaram.

²¹ Quando contaram a Saul, ele enviou outros mensageiros, e eles também profetizaram. Então, Saul enviou mensageiros pela terceira vez, e eles também profetizaram. ²² Depois, Saul também foi a Ramá e chegou ao poço profundo que está em Sécu. Ele pergunto: "Onde estão Samuel e Davi?". Alguém disse: "Vê, eles estão em Naiote, em Ramá".

²³ Saul foi para Naiote, em Ramá. E o Espírito de Deus veio também sobre ele. E Saul profetizava enquanto ia para Naiote, em Ramá. ²⁴ E ele também tirou as roupas, e profetizou diante de Samuel, e deitou-se nu, durante todo aquele dia e toda aquela noite. Por causa disso, eles diziam: "Está também Saul entre os profetas?".

Capítulo 20

¹ Então, Davi fugiu de Naiote em Ramá e veio e disse a Jônatas: "O que eu fiz? Qual é minha iniquidade? Qual é o meu pecado perante teu pai, para que me persiga para tirar-me a vida?". ² Jônatas disse a Davi: "Longe disso. Tu não morrerás. Meu pai não faz nada grande nem pequeno que não me diga. Por que meu pai esconderia isso de mim? Não é assim".

³ Davi, contudo, fez novamente um juramento e disse: "Teu pai bem sabe que tenho achado graça aos teus olhos. Ele disse: 'Não permitas que Jônatas saiba disso, ou ele ficará entristecido'. Mas, assim como é verdade que Yahweh vive, como tu vives, existe apenas um passo entre mim e a morte".

⁴ Então, Jônatas disse a Davi: "Qualquer coisa que tu disseres, eu farei por ti". ⁵ Davi disse a Jônatas: "Amanhã será lua nova, e eu deveria sentar-me e comer com o rei. Mas deixa-me ir, para que eu me esconda nos campos até o terceiro dia ao anoitecer.

⁶ Se teu pai sentir minha falta, então, dize-lhe: 'Davi disse seriamente que deveria partir para ir até Belém, sua cidade, porque lá acontecerá o sacrifício anual para toda a família'. ⁷ Se ele disser 'tudo bem', o teu servo terá paz. Mas se ele se enfurecer, sabes que ele decidiu fazer-me mal.

⁸ Assim, trata com zelo o teu servo. Porque tu tens levado o teu servo a ter uma aliança com Yahweh. Mas se houver pecado em mim, mata-me tu. Por que deverias tu apresentar-me ao teu pai?". ⁹ Jônatas disse: "Que isso esteja longe de ti. Se eu soubesse que meu pai decidiu ferir-te, por acaso, eu não te diria?".

¹⁰ Então, Davi disse a Jônatas: "Quem me dirá se, por acaso, o teu pai vai responder-te com rispidez? ¹¹ Jônatas disse a Davi: "Vamos, saiamos para o campo". E ambos foram para o campo.

¹² Jônatas disse a Davi: "Que Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, seja testemunha. Quando eu questionar meu pai por este tempo, amanhã ou pelo terceiro dia, se não existir boa vontade para contigo, não te faria saber? ¹³ Se meu pai se agrada de fazer-te algum mal, que Yahweh faça a mim o que Lhe aprouver se eu não te der a conhecer e te enviar para longe, de modo que possas ir em paz. Que Yahweh seja contigo, assim como Ele tem estado com meu pai.

¹⁴ Como eu ainda estou vivo, tu não me mostrarias a aliança de fé de Yahweh, para que eu não morra? ¹⁵ E não interrompas a aliança de fé duradoura de minha casa, mesmo quando Yahweh exterminar da face da terra cada um dos inimigos de Davi". ¹⁶ Então, Jônatas fez uma aliança com a casa de Davi e disse: "Que Yahweh exija uma prestação de contas dos inimigos de Davi".

¹⁷ Jônatas fez com que Davi reafirmasse os votos de amor por ele, porquanto ele o amava também como amava sua própria alma. ¹⁸ Então, Jônatas lhe disse: "Amanhã é lua nova. Sentirão tua falta, porque o teu lugar ficará vazio. ¹⁹ Quando ficares por três dias, desce rapidamente e vem ao local onde havias te escondido quando tudo começou, e permanece junto à pedra de Ezel.

²⁰ Eu lançarei três flechas para o lado como se estivesse mirando um alvo. ²¹ E enviarei meu jovem e lhe direi: 'Vai e acha as flechas'. Se eu disser ao jovem rapaz: 'Vê, pega as flechas. Elas estão deste teu lado", então vem. Porquanto, certo como vive Yahweh, haverá segurança para ti e nenhum perigo.

²² "Mas se eu disser ao jovem rapaz: 'Vê, as flechas estão depois de ti', então vai pelo teu caminho, pois Yahweh te manda ir. ²³ Sobre o acordo firmado entre mim e ti, vê, Yahweh está entre mim e ti para sempre".

²⁴ Então, Davi escondeu-se no campo. Quando a lua nova chegou, o rei assentou-se para comer. ²⁵ O rei assentou-se perto da parede, como fazia sempre. Jônatas se levantou e Abner sentou-se ao lado de Saul. Mas o lugar de Davi estava vazio.

²⁶ Saul ainda não havia dito nada naquele dia, porque ele pensava: "Algo aconteceu-lhe. Com certeza, ele não está limpo". ²⁷ Mas no segundo dia, o dia depois da lua nova, o lugar de Davi continuava vazio. Saul perguntou a Jônatas, seu filho: "Por que o filho de Jessé não veio para o jantar, nem ontem nem hoje?".

²⁸ Jônatas respondeu-lhe: "Davi seriamente pediu-me permissão para ir a Belém. ²⁹ Ele disse: 'Por favor, deixa-me ir. Porquanto nossa família tem um sacrifício na cidade, e meu irmão ordenou que eu estivesse lá. Agora, se encontrei graça em teus olhos, por favor deixa-me ir e ver meus irmãos'. Por essa razão ele não veio à mesa do rei".

³⁰ Então, a raiva de Saul ardeu contra Jônatas, e ele lhe disse: "Filho de uma perversa, de uma mulher rebelde! Não sei eu que tu escolheste o filho de Jessé para tua própria vergonha, e para a vergonha da nudez de tua mãe? ³¹ Pelo tempo que o filho de Jessé viver sobre a terra, nem tu nem o teu reino serão estabelecidos. Agora, traga-o para mim, porque ele certamente morrerá".

³² Jônatas respondeu a Saul, seu pai: "Por qual razão ele deveria morrer? O que ele fez?". ³³ Então, Saul atirou-lhe sua lança para matá-lo. Assim, Jônatas soube que seu pai estava determinado a matar Davi. ³⁴ Jônatas, tomado de raiva, levantou-se da mesa e não comeu da comida no segundo dia do mês, porque estava entristecido por Davi, pois seu pai o havia desonrado.

³⁵ Pela manhã, Jônatas foi para o campo encontrar-se com Davi, e um jovem rapaz estava com ele. ³⁶ E disse ao jovem rapaz: "Corre e encontra as flechas que eu lancei". Enquanto o jovem rapaz corria, ele lançou uma flecha para além dele. ³⁷ Quando o jovem rapaz chegou ao local onde as flechas caíram, Jônatas chamou o jovem rapaz e lhe perguntou: "A flecha não está para lá de ti?".

³⁸ E Jônatas gritou para o jovem rapaz: "Corre! Sê rápido! Não fique!". Então, o jovem rapaz recolheu as flechas e voltou para o seu senhor. ³⁹ Mas ele não sabia de nada. Somente Jônatas e Davi sabiam do assunto. ⁴⁰ Jônatas deu suas armas ao jovem rapaz e disse-lhe: "Vai, leva-as até a cidade".

⁴¹ Assim que o jovem rapaz partiu, Davi ficou em pé no lado do sul, prostou seu rosto no chão, e curvou-se três vezes. Eles se beijaram e lamentaram-se, mas Davi lamentava-se mais. ⁴² Jônatas disse a Davi: "Vai em paz, porque juramos em nome de Yahweh, dizendo: 'Que Yahweh esteja entre mim e ti, e entre os meus e os teus descendentes para sempre". Então, Davi levantou-se e partiu, e Jônatas retornou para a cidade.

Capítulo 21

¹ Então, Davi veio a Nobe para ver Aimeleque, o sacerdote. Aimeleque veio, trêmulo, encontrar-se com Davi e lhe disse: "Por que estás sozinho e não há ninguém contigo?". ² Davi disse a Aimeleque, o sacerdote: "O rei me mandou em uma missão e disse-me: 'Não deixes que ninguém saiba sobre o negócio que eu estou te enviando, e o que te ordenei.' Estou sozinho porque encaminhei os jovens para um certo lugar.

³ Agora, o que tens nas mãos? Dá-me cinco fatias de pão, ou qualquer coisa que tiveres aí". ⁴ O sacerdote respondeu a Davi e disse: "Não há pão comum, porém há pão santo — se os jovens tiverem se privado de mulheres".

⁵ Davi respondeu ao sacerdote: "Certamente estamos privados de mulheres durante estes três dias. Quando eu parti, os corpos dos jovens foram dedicados a Yahweh, ainda que fosse uma jornada comum. Quanto mais hoje seus corpos serão dedicados a Yahweh?". ⁶ Então, o sacerdote lhe deu o pão que foi dedicado a Yahweh. Pois não havia pão ali, apenas o pão da presença, que foi removido de diante de Yahweh a fim de que se colocasse pão quente em seu lugar.

⁷ Um dos servos de Saul estava lá naquele dia, detido perante Yahweh. Seu nome era Doegue, o edomeu, o chefe dos pastores de Saul.

⁸ Davi disse a Aimeleque: "Não haveria aqui alguma lança ou espada? Pois eu não trouxe nem minha espada nem minhas armas comigo, porque o negócio do rei era urgente". O sacerdote disse: ⁹ "A espada de Golias, o filisteu a quem tu mataste no vale de Elá, está aqui, embalada em um pano atrás do manto sacerdotal. Se tu quiseres levá-la, pega-a, pois não há outra arma aqui". Davi disse: "Não há outra espada como aquela; dá-me, pois."

¹⁰ Davi levantou-se e escapou de Saul naquele dia e foi a Áquis, o rei de Gate. ¹¹ Os servos de Áquis lhe disseram: "Não é este Davi o rei da terra? Eles não cantaram uns para os outros sobre ele com danças: 'Saul matou seus milhares, e Davi seus dez milhares'?"

¹² Davi levou essas palavras a sério e teve muito medo de Áquis, o rei de Gate. ¹³ Ele mudou seu comportamento diante deles e fingiu ser louco nas mãos deles; e ele fez marcas nas portas e deixou que sua saliva escorresse por sua barba.

¹⁴ Então Áquis disse a seus servos: "Vós não vedes que o homem é louco? Por que vós o trouxestes para mim? ¹⁵ Teria eu necessidade de homens loucos para que vós trouxésseis este indivíduo para agir como um em minha presença? Este indivíduo realmente entrará na minha casa?".

Capítulo 22

¹ Depois disso, Davi saiu dali e se escondeu na caverna de Adulão. Ao ouvirem isso, seus irmãos e toda a casa de seu pai desceram para estar ali com ele. ² Todos os que estavam angustiados, todos os que estavam endividados e qualquer pessoa que estivesse descontente, todos se juntaram a Davi. Ele se tornou o capitão deles. Havia cerca de quatrocentos homens com ele.

³ Davi, então, partiu dali e foi para Mispá, em Moabe. Ele disse ao rei de Moabe: "Por favor, permite que meu pai e minha mãe permaneçam convosco até que eu saiba a vontade de Deus para mim". ⁴ Ele deixou seus pais ali com o rei de Moabe. Seu pai e sua mãe ficaram com o rei durante todo o tempo em que Davi esteve na fortaleza. ⁵ Depois disso, o profeta Gade disse a Davi: "Não fiques na tua fortaleza. Sai daí e vá até a terra de Judá". E Davi saiu daquele lugar e foi até a floresta de Herete.

⁶ Saul ficou sabendo que alguém descobriu onde Davi e seus homens estavam. Naquele momento, Saul se encontrava sentado debaixo de um tamarindeiro, em Gibeá, com sua lança na mão, na região de Ramá, e todos os seus servos estavam ao seu redor.

⁷ Saul disse a eles: "Ouve, povo de Benjamim! Porventura, o filho de Jessé dará a cada um de vós campos e vinhas? Ele será capaz de fazer de vós todos capitães de milhares e de centenas, ⁸ em troca de tudo o que vós estais tramando contra mim? Nenhum de vós me informa quando meu filho firma um pacto com o filho de Jessé. Ninguém de vós sente compaixão por mim; ninguém de vós me informa que meu filho tem incitado meu servo Davi contra mim. Hoje ele se esconde e espera para poder me atacar".

⁹ Então respondeu Doegue, o edomita, que se encontrava ao lado dos servos de Saul: "Vi o filho de Jessé ir até Nobe, a Aimeleque, filho de Aitube. ¹⁰ Ele orou a Yahweh pedindo por ajuda e Ele lhe concedeu suprimentos e lhe deu a espada de Golias, o filisteu".

¹¹ Depois disso, o rei enviou alguém para buscar o sacerdote Aimeleque, filho de Aitube, e todos os que pertenciam à casa de seu pai, os sacerdotes que estavam em Nobe. Todos vieram até o rei. ¹² Disse Saul: "Ouve agora, filho de Aitube". Ao que ele respondeu: "Aqui estou, meu senhor". ¹³ Saul lhe disse: "Por que razão tu e o filho de Jessé maquinastes o mal contra mim? Deste-lhe pão, a espada de Golias e ainda pediste a Deus para que Ele se levantasse contra mim, escondendo-se como ele faz hoje?".

¹⁴ Aimeleque respondeu ao rei, dizendo: "Quem entre seus servos é tão fiel a ti como Davi, genro do rei, e que está sobre tua guarda, e é honrado na vossa casa? ¹⁵ Por acaso, esta é a primeira vez, hoje, que orei a Deus para ajudá-lo? Longe de mim tal coisa! Que o rei não atribua tal coisa a seus servos ou a toda casa de meu pai, porque vossos servos desconhecem tal assunto".

¹⁶ O rei retrucou: "Tu certamente morrerás, Aimeleque; não somente tu, mas toda a casa de teu pai". ¹⁷ O rei disse ao guarda que estava do lado dele: "Tornai e matai os sacerdotes de Yahweh, porque suas mãos estão também com Davi, e porque eles sabiam que ele escapou, mas não me informaram isso". Porém, os servos do rei recusaram-se a estender suas mãos para ferirem os sacerdotes de Yahweh.

¹⁸ O rei, então, disse a Doegue: "Tornai e matai os sacerdotes". Doegue, o edomita, virou-se e atacou os sacerdotes. Naquele dia, ele matou oitenta e cinco pessoas que usavam o manto sacerdotal. ¹⁹ Ao fio da espada, ele atacou Nobe, a cidade dos sacerdotes, matando homens, mulheres, crianças, crianças de colo, bois, jumentos e ovelhas. Ele matou a todos ao fio da espada.

²⁰ Porém, um dos filhos de Aimeleque, filho de Aitube, chamado Abiatar, conseguiu escapar e fugiu para onde estava Davi. ²¹ Abiatar contou a Davi que Saul havia assassinado os sacerdotes de Yahweh.

²² Davi disse a Abiatar: "Naquele dia, quando Doegue, o edomita, estava ali, eu sabia que, com toda a certeza, ele iria contar tudo a Saul. Sou responsável por cada uma das mortes na família de teu pai! ²³ Permaneça aqui comigo e não tenhas medo, pois quem buscar destruir tua vida vai fazer o mesmo com a minha. Tu estarás seguro comigo".

Capítulo 23

¹ Disseram a Davi: "Vê, os filisteus estão lutando contra Queila e estão saqueando as eiras". ² Então Davi clamou a Yahweh por ajuda e perguntou-Lhe: "Devo ir e atacar esses filisteus?". Yahweh disse a Davi: "Vai, ataca os filisteus e salva o povo de Queila".

³ Os homens de Davi disseram a ele: "Vê, estamos amedrontados aqui em Judá. Quanto mais, então, ficaremos se formos para Queila contra o exército dos filisteus?". ⁴ Então Davi novamente clamou a Yahweh por ajuda, Yahweh respondeu-lhe: "Levanta-te e desce a Queila, pois Eu te darei vitória sobre os filisteus".

⁵ Davi e seus homens foram a Queila e lutaram contra os filisteus. Conduziram os rebanhos deles e atacaram-nos com grande matança. Assim, Davi salvou os habitantes de Queila. ⁶ Quando Abiatar, filho de Aimeleque, fugiu para encontrar Davi em Queila, veio com um manto sacerdotal em suas mãos.

⁷ Foi dito a Saul que Davi havia partido para Queila. Saul disse: "Deus o entregou nas minhas mãos. Ele está confinado, pois entrou numa cidade que tem portões e trancas". ⁸ Saul convocou todos do seu exército para o combate, em direção a Queila, para cercar Davi e seus homens. ⁹ Davi sabia que Saul estava conspirando o mal contra ele. Então, disse ao sacerdote Abiatar: "Traze aqui o manto sacerdotal".

¹⁰ Davi disse: "Yahweh, Deus de Israel, de fato o Teu servo tem ouvido que Saul busca vir a Queila, para destruir a cidade por minha causa. ¹¹ Será que os homens de Queila me entregarão em suas mãos? Será que Saul descerá, conforme Teu servo tem ouvido? Yahweh, Deus de Israel, Te imploro, agrada-Te em falar com Teu servo". Yahweh disse: "Ele descerá".

¹² Assim, disse Davi: "Será que os homens de Queila entregarão a mim e a meus homens nas mãos de Saul?". Yahweh disse: "Eles vos entregarão".

¹³ Davi e seus homens, que eram cerca de seiscentos, levantaram-se e saíram de Queila, e iam de lugar em lugar. Foi dito a Saul que Davi havia escapado de Queila; então, ele parou de persegui-lo. ¹⁴ Davi permaneceu em lugares seguros no deserto, numa região montanhosa do deserto de Zife. Saul procurava por ele todos os dias, mas Deus não o entregava em suas mãos.

¹⁵ Davi percebeu que Saul havia saído a fim de tirar-lhe a vida; nesse momento, Davi estava no deserto de Zife, em Horesa. ¹⁶ Então, Jônatas, filho de Saul, levantou-se e foi até Davi em Horesa e o fortaleceu em Deus.

¹⁷ Ele lhe disse: "Não temas! Pois as mãos do meu pai, Saul, não te encontrarão. Serás rei sobre Israel, e eu estarei próximo a ti. Saul, meu pai, também sabe disso". ¹⁸ Fizeram eles um pacto diante de Yahweh. Davi permaneceu em Horesa, e Jônatas foi para casa.

¹⁹ Os Zifeus vieram a Saul em Gibeá e disseram: "Não está Davi escondido entre nós no forte de Horesa, no monte de Haquila, no sul de Jesimom? ²⁰ Agora desce, rei! De acordo com teu desejo, desce! Nossa parte será entregá-lo nas mãos do rei".

²¹ Disse Saul: "Sede abençoados por Yahweh, pois tivestes compaixão de mim. ²² Ide, certificai-vos. Informai-vos e descobri onde está seu lugar escondido e quem o viu lá. Tenho sido informado de que ele é muito astuto. ²³ Então, vede e tomai cohecimento de todos os lugares onde ele se esconde. Voltai a mim com a informação certa, e, então, eu retornarei convosco. Se ele estiver na terra, eu o buscarei entre todos os milhares de Judá".

²⁴ Então, levantaram-se e foram a Zife, adiante de Saul. Ora, Davi e seus homens estavam no deserto de Maom, em Arabá, no sul de Jesimom. ²⁵ Saul e seus homens saíram em busca dele. E foi dito a Davi sobre isso; então, ele desceu para um monte rochoso e habitou no deserto de Maom. Quando Saul soube disso, perseguiu Davi no deserto de Maom.

²⁶ Saul ia por um lado da montanha, enquanto Davi e seus homens iam por outro lado. Davi se apressava para fugir de Saul. Enquanto Saul e seus homens estavam cercando Davi e seus homens para pegá-los, ²⁷ um mensageiro veio a Saul e disse: "Apressa-te e vem, pois os filisteus atacaram repentinemante contra a terra".

²⁸ Assim, Saul retornou da perseguição a Davi e saiu contra os filisteus. Por isso, aquele lugar é chamado de Rocha de Fuga. ²⁹ Davi subiu e habitou nos lugares seguros de En-Gedi.

Capítulo 24

¹ Quando Saul retornou da caçada aos filisteus, foi dito a ele: "Davi está no deserto de En-Gedi". ² Então, Saul pegou três mil homens, escolhidos de todo o Israel, e foi em busca de Davi e seus homens, nas rochas das cabras selvagens.

³ No caminho, ele veio para o cercado das ovelhas, onde havia uma caverna. Saul foi à parte interna para se aliviar. Davi e seus homens estavam assentados no interior da caverna. ⁴ Os homens de Davi disseram a ele: "Este é o dia sobre o qual Yahweh falou quando te disse: 'Entregarei teu inimigo nas tuas mãos, farás com ele o que quiseres". Então, Davi se levantou e, silenciosamente, avançou e cortou a ponta do manto de Saul.

⁵ Logo após isso, o coração de Davi ficou aflito, porque ele cortou a ponta do manto de Saul. ⁶ Ele disse aos seus homens: "Que Yahweh me impeça de fazer alguma coisa ao meu mestre, ungido de Yahweh, para estender a minha mão contra ele, sabendo que ele é o ungido de Yahweh". ⁷ Assim, Davi repreendeu seus homens com estas palavras e não permitiu que eles atacassem Saul. Este se levantou, saiu da caverna e seguiu seu caminho.

⁸ Mais tarde, Davi também se levantou, saiu da caverna e gritou por Saul: "Meu senhor, o rei". Quando Saul olhou para trás, Davi se inclinou com o rosto na terra e demonstrou respeito. ⁹ Davi disse a Saul: "Por que tens escutado teus homens que dizem: 'Vê, Davi está procurando fazer-te mal?'.

¹⁰ Hoje, teus olhos estão vendo como Yahweh te colocou em minhas mãos, quando estávamos na caverna. Alguns me disseram para matar-te, mas te poupei. Eu disse: 'Não usarei minhas mãos contra meu senhor, pois ele é ungido de Yahweh'. ¹¹ Observa, meu pai! Vê a ponta do teu manto em minhas mãos. É verdade que cortei a ponta do teu manto e não te matei. Podes ver e saber que não há mal ou transgressão em minhas mãos; não cometi pecado contra ti, ainda que procuraste tirar a minha vida.

¹² Que Yahweh julgue entre mim e ti, e Yahweh me vingue contra ti; porém, minhas mãos não deverão ser contra ti. ¹³ Conforme o provérbio dos antigos, que diz: 'Do mal, vem a maldade'. Mas minha mão não será contra ti.

¹⁴ À procura de quem o rei de Israel tem estado? Quem tu persegues? Um cachorro morto! Uma pulga! ¹⁵ Que Yahweh seja o juiz e julgue entre mim e ti, examine esta questão, defenda a minha causa e me permita escapar da tua mão".

¹⁶ Quando Davi terminou de falar essas palavras, Saul disse: "Esta é a tua voz, meu filho Davi?". Saul levantou a voz e chorou.

¹⁷ Ele disse a Davi: "Tu és mais justo que eu, pois tens me retribuído com o bem pelo mal que te tenho feito. ¹⁸ Declarastes hoje como tens sido bom para mim, pois não me mataste quando Yahweh colocou-me em tuas mãos.

¹⁹ Que homem encontra seu inimigo e o deixa ir em segurança? Que Yahweh te recompense com a bondade que tivestes comigo hoje. ²⁰ Agora sei que, certamente, serás rei e que o reino de Israel será estabelecido em tuas mãos.

²¹ Jura-me por Yahweh que não eliminarás meus descedentes depois de mim, e que não destruirás meu nome da casa do meu pai". ²² Então, Davi fez uma promessa a Saul. Em seguida, Saul foi para casa, mas Davi e seus homens seguiram para o lugar seguro.

Capítulo 25

¹ Samuel morreu. Todo o Israel se juntou, chorou por ele e o enterrou em sua casa, em Ramá. Então, Davi se levantou e desceu para o deserto de Parã.

² Havia um homem em Maom, cujos bens estavam em Carmelo. Ele era muito rico. Tinha três mil ovelhas e mil cabras. Ele estava tosquiando suas ovelhas em Carmelo. ³ Seu nome era Nabal e o de sua esposa, Abigail. A mulher era inteligente e de boa aparência. Mas o homem era rude e cruel no trato. Ele era um descendente da casa de Calebe.

⁴ Ouvindo Davi, no deserto, que Nabal estava tosquiando suas ovelhas, ⁵ enviou dez jovens e lhes disse: "Subi ao Carmelo, ide a Nabal, e cumprimentai-o em meu nome. ⁶ Direis a ele: 'Vive em prosperidade. Paz para ti, paz para tua casa e paz seja para tudo o que tens.

⁷ Sei que tu tens tosquiadores. Teus pastores estiveram conosco e nós não lhes causamos danos. Eles não perderam nada em todo o tempo em que estiveram em Carmelo. ⁸ Pergunta aos teus jovens e eles te contarão. Agora, deixa meus jovens acharem favor aos teus olhos, pois viemos em um dia festivo. Por favor, dá alguma coisa que tens em mãos para teus servos e teu filho Davi'".

⁹ Quando os jovens de Davi chegaram, disseram tudo isso em nome de Davi e aguardaram. ¹⁰ Nabal respondeu aos servos de Davi: "Quem é Davi? Quem é esse filho de Jessé? Existem tantos servos que escapam de seus senhores. ¹¹ Eu deveria pegar o meu pão, minha água e a carne dos animais que matei para meus tosquiadores e dar a um homem que não sei de onde vem?".

¹² Então, os jovens de Davi se viraram, voltaram e contaram a ele tudo quanto foi dito. ¹³ Davi disse a seus homens: "Todo vós, homens, embainhai vossas espadas". E cada homem embainhou a sua espada. E Davi também embainhou a dele. Quatrocentos homens seguiram Davi e duzentos ficaram perto das bagagens.

¹⁴ Mas um dos jovens contou a Abigail, a esposa de Nabal, dizendo: "Davi enviou mensageiros de fora do deserto para cumprimentar nosso senhor, e ele os ofendeu. ¹⁵ Porém, o homem foi muito bom para nós. Ele não nos causou dano e não perdemos nada em todo o tempo em que estiveram conosco, quando estávamos nos campos.

¹⁶ Eles foram uma fortaleza para nós, tanto de dia quanto de noite, todo o tempo enquanto estivemos com eles, tosquiando as ovelhas. ¹⁷ Portanto, sabe disso e considera o que irás fazer, pois foi tramado o mal contra nosso mestre e toda a sua casa. Ele é tão desonrado que ninguém o convence".

¹⁸ Então, Abigail se apressou e pegou duzentos pães, duas garrafas de vinho, cinco ovelhas preparadas, cinco medidas de trigo tostado, cem cachos de uva, duzentos bolos de figo e pôs sobre os jumentos. ¹⁹ Disse a seu jovem: "Vai à minha frente, que eu vou atrás". Mas ela não disse nada a seu marido Nabal.

²⁰ Enquanto ela montava em seu jumento e descia pela curva da montanha, Davi e seus homens vieram em sua direção e ela os encontrou.

²¹ Davi disse: "Certamente, não adiantou eu ter guardado todas os pertences desse homem no deserto. Nada foi perdido de tudo quanto lhe pertencia, e me retornou o bem com o mal. ²² Que Deus castigue severamente a mim, Davi, se, pela manhã, eu deixar vivo um só homem que pertencer a ele".

²³ Quando Abigail avistou Davi, rapidamente, desceu de seu jumento e se prostrou diante dele, com o rosto em terra. ²⁴ Aos seus pés, ela lhe disse: "Apenas eu, meu senhor, seja a culpada. Por favor, deixa tua serva lhe falar e ouve as palavras de tua serva.

²⁵ Meu senhor, desconsidera esse homem sem honra, Nabal. Como é o seu nome, assim ele é: um tolo. Mas tua serva nem sequer viu seus homens, meu senhor, os que foram enviados. ²⁶ Agora, então, meu senhor, como Yahweh vive, e, como meu senhor vive desde que Yahweh te conteve de derramar sangue, e de vingar-te com tuas próprias mãos, tornem-se como Nabal teus inimigos e aqueles que buscam fazer-te mal.

²⁷ E, agora, aceita os presentes que tua serva trouxe para meu senhor. Que sejam dados aos jovens, os quais são companheiros de meu senhor. ²⁸ Por favor, perdoa a intromissão de tua serva. Yahweh certamente fará uma casa firme a meu senhor, porque meu mestre tem lutado as guerras de Yahweh; e o mal não te encontrará enquanto viveres.

²⁹ E, se surgir algum homem que o persiga para tomar sua vida, a vida de meu mestre será atada a um feixe dos que vivem por Yahweh, nosso Deus; e Ele lançará para longe a vida dos teus inimigos, como uma pedra lançada.

³⁰ E irá suceder que, quando Yahweh tiver cumprido para meu senhor todas as coisas boas, as quais Ele tem prometido a ti, e, quando Ele fizer de ti o líder sobre todo o Israel, ³¹ essas coisas não serão tristes para ti. Também não guardarás arrependimento do meu senhor, por ter derramado sangue sem causa, e por ter te vingado por ti mesmo. E, quando Yahweh tiver trazido sucesso a meu senhor, lembra-te de tua serva".

³² Davi disse a Abigail: "Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, seja bendito! Ele te enviou a meu encontro hoje. ³³ E bendita seja tua sabedoria, e tu sejas abençoada, porque me impedistes de pecar derramando sangue, e vingar-me com minhas próprias mãos.

³⁴ Verdadeiramente, como Yahweh vive, o Deus de Israel, que me impediu de ferir-te, a menos que tu não houvesses te apressado para vir ao meu encontro, certamente não teria deixado nenhum dos de Nabal, nem os bebês teriam sobrevivido pela manhã". ³⁵ Então, Davi recebeu de suas mãos o que ela trouxera para ele. E lhe disse: "Vai em paz para tua casa. Vê, eu ouvi o teu pedido e o aceitei".

³⁶ Abigail voltou para Nabal. Ele estava fazendo um banquete em sua casa. Banquete como de um rei. O seu coração estava alegre, pois ele estava muito bêbado. Assim, ela não lhe contou nada até o amanhecer.

³⁷ Sucedeu que, pela manhã, quando o vinho saiu de Nabal, sua esposa lhe contou o que havia acontecido. Seu coração morreu dentro dele e se tornou como uma pedra. ³⁸ Dez dias depois, Yahweh feriu Nabal e ele morreu.

³⁹ E, quando Davi ouviu que Nabal estava morto, disse: "Yahweh sê bendito, que tomou a causa do meu insulto vindo de Nabal, e livrou o teu servo de fazer o mal. E trouxe sobre a própria cabeça de Nabal a sua má ação". Então, Davi enviou servos, que falaram a Abigail que ele desejava tomá-la como sua esposa. ⁴⁰ Quando os servos de Davi foram a Abigail em Carmelo, eles lhe disseram: "Davi nos enviou a ti para que ele a tome como sua esposa".

⁴¹ Ela se ajoelhou, prostrou-se com o rosto sobre a terra e disse: "Vê, sou serva. Uma serva para lavar os pés dos servos de meu senhor". ⁴² Abigail, rapidamente, montou seu jumento, com cinco jovens servas que a acompanhavam; e ela seguiu os mensageiros que Davi enviara e se tornou sua esposa.

⁴³ Davi também havia se casado com Ainoã de Jezreel; ambas se tornaram suas esposas, ⁴⁴ porque Saul havia dado Mical, sua filha, esposa de Davi, para Palti, filho de Laís, que era de Galim.

Capítulo 26

¹ Os zifeus vieram a Saul, em Gibeá, dizendo: "Não está Davi se escondendo no monte Haquila, que está diante de Jesimon? ² Então, Saul levantou-se e foi para o deserto de Zife; havia com ele três mil homens, escolhidos de Israel, para procurar por Davi, no deserto de Zife.

³ Saul acampou no monte Haquila, que está diante de Jesimon, à beira da estrada. Porém, Davi estava no deserto, e viu que Saul vinha após ele pelo deserto. ⁴ Davi enviou espias ao deserto e compreendeu que, de fato, Saul vinha.

⁵ Davi levantou-se e foi para o local onde Saul estava acampado; ele viu onde estavam deitados Saul e Abner, filho de Ner, o general de seu exército; Saul estava deitado, e o povo estava acampado ao seu redor; todos estavam adormecidos.

⁶ Então, Davi disse a Aimeleque, o heteu, e a Abisai, filho de Zeruia, irmão de Joabe: "Quem descerá comigo ao acampamento de Saul?". Abisai respondeu: "Eu descerei contigo". ⁷ Davi e Abisai desceram, à noite, ao acampamento: e lá estava Saul, dormindo, sua lança cravada no chão ao lado de sua cabeça. Abner e seus soldados estavam deitados ao seu redor. ⁸ Então, Abisai disse a Davi: "Hoje, Deus colocou teu inimigo em tuas mãos. Agora, por favor, me permita encravá-lo ao chão com minha lança, com apenas um golpe. Não será necessário um segundo golpe".

⁹ Davi disse a Abisai: "Não o destruas, pois quem pode estender a sua mão contra o ungido de Yahweh e ficar inocente?". ¹⁰ Davi continuou: "Assim como Yahweh vive, Yahweh o matará; ou chegará o dia de sua morte, ou ele irá a batalha e perecerá.

¹¹ Que Yahweh não me permita estender minha mão contra o Seu ungido; mas, agora, eu te rogo: peguemos a lança que está ao lado de sua cabeça e a jarra de água, e saiamos". ¹² E Davi pegou a lança e o jarro de água que estavam ao lado da cabeça de Saul, e saíram. Ninguém os viu ou soube que estiveram ali. Todos estavam adormecidos porque um profundo sono, da parte de Yahweh, viera sobre eles.

¹³ Então, Davi foi para o outro lado do acampamento e ficou de pé no topo de uma montanha, ao longe; havia uma grande distância entre eles. ¹⁴ Davi gritou para o povo e para Abner, filho de Ner, dizendo: "Não responderás, Abner?" Então Abner respondeu dizendo: "Quem és tu, que gritas ao rei?".

¹⁵ Davi disse a Abner: "Não és tu um homem corajoso? Quem é semelhante a ti em Israel? Por que, então, não vigiaste teu mestre, o rei? Pois alguém veio para matar o rei, teu mestre. ¹⁶ Não é bom o que fizeste. Como vive Yahweh, tu mereces morrer, por não protegeres o teu mestre, o ungido de Yahweh. Agora, vê onde está a lança do rei, e a jarra de água que estavam ao lado de sua cabeça".

¹⁷ Saul reconheceu a voz de Davi e disse: "Esta é sua voz, meu filho Davi?". Davi respondeu: "Esta é a minha voz, meu mestre, rei". ¹⁸ Ele disse: "Por que meu mestre persegue seu servo? O que tenho feito? Que maldade há em minhas mãos?

¹⁹ Agora, pois, eu rogo que meu mestre ouça as palavras de seu servo. Se foi Yahweh que o enviou contra mim, que Ele aceite uma oferta; mas se foram homens, que eles sejam amaldiçoados em sinal de Yahweh, pois eles têm me lançado fora, para que eu não suba à herança de Yahweh, como que dizendo: 'Vai e adora outros deuses'. ²⁰ Agora, pois, não permitas que meu sangue se derrame pela terra, longe da presença de Yahweh; pois o rei de Israel tem saído em busca de uma pulga, como um caçador procura uma perdiz nas montanhas".

²¹ Então Saul disse: "Tenho pecado. Volta, meu filho Davi, pois não te farei mais mal, porque hoje tu preservaste minha vida. Vê, tenho agido como um tolo e cometido grande e terrível erro".

²² Davi respondeu: "Vê, tua lança está aqui, rei! Envia um dos jovens para buscá-la e te entregar. ²³ Que Yahweh pague a cada homem por sua justiça e fidelidade; porque Ele te colocou hoje em minhas mãos, mas eu não feriria o Seu ungido.

²⁴ E vê, assim como tua vida foi preciosa aos meus olhos hoje, assim também tem a minha vida mais valor aos olhos de Yahweh, e que Ele me livre de todos os problemas". ²⁵ Então Saul disse a Davi: "Sejas abençoado, Davi, meu filho, para que faças grandes coisas, e que tenhas sucesso". Então, Davi seguiu seu caminho, e Saul retornou para o seu lugar.

Capítulo 27

¹ Davi disse em seu coração: "Algum dia perecerei pela mão de Saul; não há melhor escolha do que fugir para a terra dos filisteus; Saul desistirá de me procurar nos arredores de Israel; assim, escaparei de sua mão".

² Davi levantou-se e saiu — ele e os seiscentos homens que o acompanhavam — para Áquis, filho de Maoque, o rei de Gate. ³ Davi habitou em Gate — ele e seus homens, cada homem com toda a sua casa, e Davi com suas duas esposas, Aionã, a jezreelita, e Abigail a carmelita, esposa de Nabal. ⁴ Saul, sendo informado de que Davi havia fugido para Gate, não o procurou mais.

⁵ Davi disse a Áquis: "Se encontrei favor aos teus olhos, dá-me um lugar em uma das cidades do país, para que lá eu possa habitar. Por que deveria o teu servo habitar na cidade real contigo?". ⁶ Então, Áquis lhe deu Ziclague naquele dia; por isso, Ziclague pertence aos reis de Judá até estes dias. ⁷ O tempo em que Davi habitou na terra dos filisteus foi de um ano e quatro meses.

⁸ Davi e seus homens atacaram vários lugares; saquearam os gezuritas, e os amalequitas, pois estas nações eram os habitantes da terra, conforme se vai para Sur, tão longe quanto a terra do Egito. Eles habitavam nessa terra desde o tempo dos anciãos. ⁹ Davi atacou a terra e não poupou a vida de homens nem de mulheres; ele tomou as ovelhas, o gado, os jumentos, os camelos e as roupas. Ele atacava e retornava a Áquis.

¹⁰ Áquis perguntava: "Contra quem atacastes hoje?". Davi respondia: "Contra o sul de Judá", ou "Contra o sul dos jerameleus", ou "Contra o sul dos queneus".

¹¹ Davi não manteria vivos nem homens, nem mulheres para trazê-los a Gate, dizendo: "Assim, não poderão dizer de nós: 'Davi fez assim e assim'". Fez isto durante todo o tempo em que morou no país dos filisteus. ¹² Áquis acreditava em Davi, pois dizia: "Ele tem feito com que seu povo em Israel o odeie; assim, ele será meu servo para sempre".

Capítulo 28

¹ Aconteceu naqueles dias que os filisteus juntaram os seus exércitos para lutar contra Israel. Áquis disse a Davi: "Certamente tu sabes que sairás a lutar comigo. ² Davi disse a Áquis: "Saberás tu o que teu servo pode fazer". Áquis disse a Davi: "Então, eu irei, permanentemente, fazer de ti meu guarda pessoal".

³ Samuel estava morto; todo o Israel estava se lamentando por ele; sepultaram-no em Ramá, cidade de seu nascimento. Ora, Saul havia expulsado da terra aqueles que haviam falado com os mortos, ou com os espíritos. ⁴ Os filisteus ajuntaram-se e vieram acampar em Suném; e Saul reuniu todo o Israel, e acamparam-se em Gilboa.

⁵ Quando Saul viu o exército dos filisteus, ele ficou com medo, e seu coração se afligiu muito. ⁶ Saul orou a Yahweh por socorro; no entanto, Yahweh não lhe respondeu— nem por sonhos, nem por Urim, nem por profetas. ⁷ Portanto, Saul disse aos seus servos: "Encontrai-me uma mulher que fale com os mortos, para que eu vá até ela e busque seus conselhos". Seus servos disseram-lhe: "Vê, em En-Dor há uma mulher que fala com os mortos".

⁸ Saul disfarçou-se, vestindo outra roupa, e foi — ele estava com dois dos seus homens. Eles foram ao anoitecer ao encontro da mulher. Disse-lhe: "Adivinha para mim, peço-te, fala tu com os mortos e faze subir o nome que eu der a ti. ⁹ A mulher disse-lhe: "Vê, sabes tu o que Saul fez: ele baniu da terra todos os que falam com os mortos ou com os espíritos. Então, por que preparas uma armadilha para minha vida, para me fazer morrer?". ¹⁰ Saul jurou-lhe por Yahweh e disse-lhe: "Assim como Yahweh vive, nenhuma punição te acontecerá por estas coisas".

¹¹ Então, a mulher perguntou-lhe: "Quem devo fazer subir até ti? Disse-lhe Saul: "Faze subir Samuel até mim". ¹² Quando a mulher viu Samuel, ela gritou em alta voz e perguntou a Saul: "Por que tu me enganaste? Pois tu és Saul".

¹³ O rei disse-lhe: "Não tenhas medo. O que tu vês?". A mulher disse a Saul: "Eu vejo um deus que vem subindo de dentro da terra". ¹⁴ Perguntou-lhe Saul: "Como ele é?" Ela disse: "Um homem velho está vindo; ele está vestido com um manto". Saul entendeu que era Samuel, e curvou-se com a face no chão, mostrando respeito.

¹⁵ O homem velho disse: "Por que me perturbas e faze-me subir?". Saul respondeu: "Estou muito angustiado, pois os filisteus guerreiam contra mim. E Deus afastou-se de mim e não mais me responde, nem por profetas, nem por sonhos. Por este motivo, te chamei, para que me faças saber o que devo fazer".

¹⁶ Disse-lhe o homem velho: "Por que me perguntas, uma vez que Yahweh afastou-se de ti, e tornou-se teu inimigo? ¹⁷ Fez Yahweh o que disse que faria. Yahweh tem rasgado o reino de tuas mãos e tem entregue a alguém —a Davi.

¹⁸ Porque não obecedeste à voz de Yahweh e não fizeste o que Ele, no ardor da Sua ira, ordenou contra Amaleque. Assim, Ele te fez isso. ¹⁹ Yahweh tirará a Sua mão sobre Israel e a colocará sobre os filisteus. Amanhã, tu e teus filhos estarão comigo. Yahweh entregará o exército de Israel nas mãos dos filisteus".

²⁰ Então, Saul imediatamente prostrou-se no chão e foi tomado de medo ao ouvir essas palavras. Não houve força nele, pois ele não havia comido nenhum alimento o dia inteiro, nem a noite inteira. ²¹ A mulher foi a Saul e viu que ele ficou muito perturbado; ela lhe disse: "Vê, tua serva ouviu a tua voz e, colocando a minha vida em perigo, fiz o que tuas palavras me disseram.

²² Agora, pois, eu te imploro, ouve a voz de uma mulher serva, e deixa-me preparar um pouco de comida para ti. Come para que possas ter força quando fores em teu caminho". ²³ Porém, Saul recusou e lhe disse: "Não comerei". No entanto, seus servos, juntos com a mulher, convenceram-no, e ele os ouviu. Então, ele levantou-se do chão e sentou-se na cama.

²⁴ A mulher tinha um novilho gordo em casa; ela apressou-se e o matou; tomando a farinha e o fermento, os amassou e cozeu o pão com ele. ²⁵ Ela os trouxe diante de Saul e de seus servos, e eles comeram. Então, eles se levantaram e saíram naquela noite.

Capítulo 29

¹ Os filiteus recolheram todo o seu exército em Afeque; os israelistas acamparam-se junto à fonte que estava em Jezreel. ² Os príncipes dos filisteus passaram por centenas e milhares; Davi e seus homens passaram na retaguarda com Áquis.

³ Então, os príncipes dos filisteus disseram: "O que esses hebreus estão fazendo aqui?". Áquis disse para os outros príncipes dos filisteus: "Não é este Davi, servo de Saul, o rei de Israel, que tem estado comigo nestes dias, ou nestes anos, e em quem eu não tenho encontrado nenhuma culpa desde que ele veio a mim até hoje?".

⁴ Mas os príncipes dos filisteus estavam zangados com ele; eles lhe disseram: "Faze este homem ir embora, que ele vá de volta para o lugar que tu lhe deste; não deixes que ele vá conosco na batalha, de modo que ele não se torne um inimigo para nós durante a batalha. Por quanto mais poderia esse homem fazer as pazes com seu mestre? Não estaria com a cabeça dos nossos homens?

⁵ Não é este o Davi de quem cantam um ao outro em danças, dizendo: 'Saul feriu os seus milhares, e Davi os seus dez milhares?'"

⁶ Então, Áquis chamou Davi e lhe disse: "Como Yahweh vive, tu tens sido bom, e, no meu ponto de vista, a tua saída e a tua entrada comigo no exército é boa; pois não encontro nada de errado contigo desde o dia em que vieste a mim até hoje. Todavia, os príncipes não são favoráveis a ti. ⁷ Então, retorna e vai em paz, para que não desagrades os príncipes dos filisteus".

⁸ Davi disse a Áquis: "Mas o que eu tenho feito? O que encontraste em teu servo desde o dia em que eu vim ter contigo até este dia, que eu não possa ir e lutar contra os inimigos do meu senhor rei?". ⁹ Áquis respondeu, dizendo: "Eu sei que tu és tão irrepreensível diante dos meus olhos quanto um anjo de Deus, embora os príncipes dos filisteus tenham dito, 'ele não deve ir conosco à batalha'.

¹⁰ Então, levanta-te de manhã cedo, tu e os servos de teu mestre que vieram contigo; assim que estiveres levantado de manhã cedo, quando tiver luz, ide embora". ¹¹ Então, Davi levantou-se cedo, ele e os homens, para, de manhã, retornarem à terra dos filisteus. Mas os filisteus foram para Jezreel.

Capítulo 30

¹ E aconteceu que, quando Davi e os homens dele chegaram a Ziclague, no terceiro dia, os amalequitas haviam invadido Neguebe e Ziclague. Eles atacaram Ziclague, queimando-a; ² e capturaram as mulheres e todos os outros que estavam lá, do menor ao maior. Eles não mataram ninguém, mas os levaram para fora e seguiram seu caminho.

³ Quando Davi e seus homens chegaram à cidade, ela estava queimada— e suas esposas, filhos e filhas foram levados cativos. ⁴ Então, Davi e o povo que estava com ele ergueram suas vozes e choraram até não terem mais forças.

⁵ As duas mulheres de Davi foram levadas, Ainoã a jezreelita e Abigail a esposa de Nabal, o carmelita. ⁶ Davi estava em grande angústia, pois o povo estava falando sobre apedrejá-lo, porque o espírito de todos estava entristecido, cada homem pelos seus filhos e filhas; mas Davi fortaleceu-se em Yahweh, seu Deus

⁷ Davi disse a Abiatar filho de Aimeleque, o sacerdote: "Eu te imploro, traze o manto sacerdotal aqui para mim". Abiatar trouxe o manto sacerdotal a Davi. ⁸ Davi orou a Yahweh por uma direção, dizendo: "Se eu perseguir a esse bando, os alcançarei?". Yahweh respondeu: "Persegue-os, pois tu certamente os alcançarás, e certamente irás recuperar tudo".

⁹ Então, Davi foi — ele e os seiscentos homens que estavam com ele; eles foram ao riacho de Besor, onde ficaram aqueles que foram deixados para trás. ¹⁰ Mas Davi continuou a perseguição, ele e quatrocentos homens, pois duzentos deles haviam ficado para trás — os que eram tão fracos que não podiam ir além do riacho de Besor.

¹¹ Eles acharam um egípcio em um campo e o trouxeram a Davi; eles lhe deram pão, e ele comeu; e lhe deram água para beber; ¹² e eles lhe deram um pedaço de bolo de figos e duas porções de uvas passas. Quando ele comeu, retomou a força, pois não havia comido nem pão e nem bebido água por três dias e três noites.

¹³ Davi lhe perguntou: "A quem tu pertences? De onde vens?". Ele disse: "Eu sou um jovem homem do Egito, servo de um amalequita; meu mestre me deixou porque há três dias fiquei doente. ¹⁴ Nós fizemos uma invasão no Neguebe dos queretitas, que pertence a Judá, e ao Neguebe de Calebe; e nós queimamos Ziclague".

¹⁵ Davi lhe disse: "Irás me levar aos invasores". O egípcio respondeu: "Jura por Deus que não me matarás ou trairás, nem me mandarás para as mãos de meu mestre, e te levarei aos invasores".

¹⁶ Quando o egípcio levou Davi, os invasores estavam espalhados por todo o campo, comendo e bebendo, e dançando, por causa de todos os despojos que haviam pegado na terra dos filisteus e na terra de Judá. ¹⁷ Davi os atacou desde o crepúsculo até a tarde do dia seguinte. Nenhum homem escapou, exceto quatrocentos deles, que fugiram montados em camelos.

¹⁸ Davi recuperou tudo o que os amalequitas levaram e resgatou suas duas esposas. ¹⁹ Nada ficou perdido, nem o menor ou o maior, nem os filhos e as filhas, nem os despojos, nem mesmo o que os invasores pegaram para si mesmos. Davi trouxe tudo de volta. ²⁰ Davi pegou todos os rebanhos de gado e ovelhas. Eles os conduziam diante de Davi e diziam: "Este é o despojo de Davi".

²¹ Davi veio até os duzentos homens que, por serem fracos, não puderam seguir, ficando no riacho de Besor. Estes homens foram à frente para encontrar Davi e os que estavam com ele. Quando Davi aproximou -se, ele os cumprimentou. ²² Então, todos os homens perversos e os companheiros inúteis entre aqueles que foram com Davi disseram: "Porque estes homens não foram conosco, nós não lhes daremos nada dos despojos que nós recuperamos. Exceto que cada homem deve pegar sua esposa e suas crianças e levá-los para fora daqui".

²³ Então disse Davi: "Vós não deveis agir deste modo, meus irmãos, com o que Yahweh nos tem dado. Ele nos tem preservado e colocou em nossas mãos os invasores que vieram até nós. ²⁴ Quem vos escutará nesta questão? Porque o que exigis para todos os que foram na batalha, também será exigido para todos os que guardaram os mantimentos; eles receberão a mesma porção". ²⁵ E foi assim desde aquele dia até o dia de hoje, pois Davi fez disso um estatuto e decreto para Israel.

²⁶ Quando Davi voltou a Ziclague, ele enviou alguns dos despojos aos anciãos de Judá, seus amigos, dizendo: "Vede, aqui está um presente para vós dos despojos dos inimigos de Yahweh". ²⁷ Para os anciãos que estavam em Betel, e para aqueles que estavam em Ramote do Sul, e para aqueles que estavam em Jatir, ²⁸ e para aqueles que estavam em Aroer, e para aqueles que estavam em Sifmote, e para aqueles que estavam em Estemoa.

²⁹ Também para os anciãos que estavam em Racal, e para aqueles que estavam nas cidades dos jerameelitas, e para aqueles que estavam na cidades dos queneus, ³⁰ e para aqueles que estavam em Hormá, e para aqueles que estavam em Corasã, e para aqueles que estavam em Atace, ³¹ e para aqueles que estavam em Hebrom, e para todos os lugares onde o próprio Davi e seus homens costumavam ir.

Capítulo 31

¹ Ora, os filisteus lutaram contra Israel. Os homens de Israel fugiram de diante dos filisteus e caíram mortos no monte Gilboa. ² Os filisteus perseguiram, de perto, Saul e seus filhos. Eles mataram Jônatas, Abinadabe e Malquisua, filhos de Saul. ³ A batalha contra Saul foi severa, e os arqueiros o acertaram. Ele estava com fortes dores por causa deles.

⁴ Então, Saul disse ao seu escudeiro: "Tira tua espada e golpeia-me com ela. Caso contrário, estes incircuncisos virão e abusarão de mim". Mas seu escudeiro não o fez, pois ele estava com muito medo. Então, Saul pegou sua própria espada e se jogou em cima dela. ⁵ Quando seu escudeiro viu que Saul estava morto, ele também se jogou sobre sua espada e morreu com ele. ⁶ Assim, morreram Saul, seus três filhos e seu escudeiro — todos estes homens morreram juntos no mesmo dia.

⁷ Quando os homens de Israel, que estavam do outro lado do vale e do outro lado do Jordão, viram que os homens de Israel haviam fugido, e que Saul e seus filhos estavam mortos, eles abandonaram suas cidades e fugiram, e os filisteus vieram e habitaram nelas. ⁸ No dia seguinte, aconteceu que, quando os filisteus se aproximaram para despojar os mortos, estes encontraram Saul e seus três filhos caídos no monte Gilboa.

⁹ Eles cortaram fora sua cabeça, despojaram sua armadura, e mandaram mensageiros por toda a terra dos filisteus para levar as notícias aos templos dos seus ídolos e para o povo. ¹⁰ Eles colocaram a armadura dele no templo de Astarote e fixaram seu corpo na muralha da cidade de Bete-Seã.

¹¹ Quando os habitantes de Jabes-Gileade ouviram sobre o que os filisteus haviam feito com Saul, ¹² todos os homens de combate caminharam, por toda a noite, e pegaram o corpo de Saul e os corpos dos seus filhos da muralha de Bete-Seã. Eles voltaram para Jabes e, lá, os queimaram. ¹³ Então, eles pegaram seus ossos, os enterraram debaixo de uma tamareira, e jejuaram por sete dias.

2 Samuel

Capítulo 1

¹ Depois da morte de Saul, Davi retornou do ataque aos amalequitas e permaneceu em Ziclague por dois dias. ² No terceiro dia, um homem veio do acampamento de Saul com suas roupas rasgadas e com pó sobre sua cabeça. Quando ele chegou até Davi, prostou-se com o rosto no chão.

³ Davi disse-lhe: "De onde vens?". Ele respondeu: "Eu escapei do acampamento de Israel". ⁴ Disse-lhe Davi: "Por favor, dize-me o que ocorreu". Ele respondeu: "O povo fugiu da batalha. Muitos caíram e muitos estão mortos. Saul e Jônatas, seu filho, também estão mortos". ⁵ Davi disse ao jovem: "Como sabes que Saul e Jônatas, seu filho, estão mortos?".

⁶ O jovem respondeu: "Por coincidência, eu estava no Monte Gilboa, e lá Saul estava se apoiando sobre sua lança; carruagens e cavaleiros estavam quase o alcançando. ⁷ Saul virou-se, viu-me e chamou-me. Eu respondi: 'Eis me aqui'.

⁸ Ele me disse: 'Quem és tu?'. Eu lhe respondi: 'Sou um amalequita'. ⁹ Ele me disse: 'Por favor, aproxima-te e mata-me, pois estou em grande sofrimento, porém continuo vivo'. ¹⁰ Então, aproximei-me dele e o matei, pois eu sabia que ele não viveria depois de ter caído. Então, eu peguei a coroa que estava em sua cabeça e a faixa que estava em seu braço e as trouxe aqui para ti, meu mestre".

¹¹ Então, Davi rasgou suas roupas, e todos os homens que estavam com ele fizeram o mesmo. ¹² Eles prantearam, choraram e jejuaram até o entardecer por Saul, por Jônatas filho de Saul, pelo povo de Yahweh e pela casa de Israel, por terem caído pela espada. ¹³ Davi disse ao jovem: "De onde és?". Ele respondeu: "Sou filho de um estrangeiro amalequita".

¹⁴ Davi lhe disse: "Por que não temeste matar o rei ungido de Yahweh com sua própria mão?". ¹⁵ Davi chamou um dos jovens e disse: "Vai e mata-o". Então, aquele homem foi e o atingiu, e o amalequita morreu. ¹⁶ Davi disse ao amalequita morto: "Teu sangue está sobre tua cabeça, pois tua própria boca testificou contra ti e disse: 'Eu matei o rei ungido de Yahweh'".

¹⁷ Então, Davi cantou esta música fúnebre a respeito de Saul e Jônatas, filho de Saul. ¹⁸ Ele ordenou que o povo ensinasse esta Canção do Arco aos filhos de Judá, a qual foi escrita no Livro de Jasar. ¹⁹ "Tua glória, Israel, está morta, assassinada em lugares altos! Como os poderosos caíram! ²⁰ Não conteis isso em Gate, não o proclameis nas ruas de Asquelom, para que não regozijem as filhas dos filisteus, e as filhas dos incircuncisos não celebrem.

²¹ Montanhas de Gilboa, que não haja orvalho nem chuva sobre vós, nem campos que deem grãos para ofertas, pois lá o escudo do poderoso foi profanado. O escudo de Saul não mais será ungido com óleo. ²² Do sangue daqueles que foram mortos, dos corpos dos poderosos, o arco de Jônatas não recuou, e a espada de Saul não retornou vazia.

²³ Saul e Jônatas foram amados e graciosos em vida, e, em sua morte, não foram separados. Eles eram mais ágeis que águias, eram mais fortes que leões. ²⁴ Vós, filhas de Israel, chorai por Saul, que vos vestiu de luxuosas roupas escarlates, que colocou ornamentos de ouro em vossas vestes.

²⁵ Como os poderosos caíram no meio da batalha! Jônatas foi morto nos lugares altos. ²⁶ Estou angustiado por ti, meu irmão Jônatas. Tu eras muito querido por mim. Teu amor era maravilhoso para mim, excedendo o amor de mulheres. ²⁷ Como os poderosos caíram, e as armas de guerra pereceram!".

Capítulo 2

¹ Depois disto, Davi perguntou a Yahweh e disse: "Devo eu subir a uma das cidades de Judá?". Yahweh o respondeu: "Sobe”. Davi disse: "Para qual cidade devo ir?". Yahweh respondeu: "Para Hebrom". ² Então, Davi subiu com suas duas esposas, Ainoã de Jezreel, e Abigail a viúva de Nabal, o carmelita. ³ Davi trouxe os homens que estavam com ele; cada um trouxe sua família, para as cidades de Hebrom, onde começaram a morar.

⁴ Então, homens de Judá vieram e ungiram Davi rei sobre a casa de Judá. Eles falaram a Davi: "Os homens de Jabes-Gileade enterraram Saul". ⁵ Então, Davi enviou mensageiros aos homens de Jabes-Gileade e disse a eles: "Vós sois abençoados por Yahweh, já que mostrastes esta lealdade ao vosso senhor Saul, e o enterrastes.

⁶ Agora, que Yahweh vos mostre Seu amor leal e Sua fidelidade. Eu também vos mostrarei esta bondade porque fizestes essa boa obra. ⁷ Agora, então, que vossas mãos sejam fortes; sede corajosos, pois Saul, vosso senhor, está morto, e a casa de Judá me ungiu rei sobre eles".

⁸ Mas Abner, filho de Ner, comandante do exército de Saul, tomou Isbosete, filho de Saul, e o trouxe para Maanaim; ⁹ ele constituiu Isbosete rei sobre Gileade, Aser, Jezreel, Efraim, Benjamim e sobre todo o Israel.

¹⁰ Isbosete, filho de Saul, tinha quarenta anos de idade quando começou a reinar sobre Israel, e reinou por dois anos. Todavia, a casa de Judá seguiu Davi. ¹¹ O tempo em que Davi foi rei em Hebrom sobre a casa de Judá foi de sete anos e seis meses.

¹² Abner, filho de Ner, e os servos de Isbosete, filho de Saul, saíram de Maanaim para Gibeão. ¹³ Joabe, filho de Zeruia, e os servos de Davi saíram e se encontraram perto do tanque de Gibeão. Ali, eles sentaram-se ao lado do tanque, um grupo de cada lado.

¹⁴ Abner disse a Joabe: "Deixa os jovens se levantarem e competirem diante de nós". Então, Joabe disse: "Que se levantem". ¹⁵ Então, os jovens levantaram-se e se reuniram: doze para Benjamim e Isbosete, filho de Saul, e doze dos servos de Davi.

¹⁶ Cada homem agarrou seu oponente pela cabeça e enfiou sua espada no lado do seu oponente, e eles caíram juntos. Assim, aquele lugar foi chamado, em hebraico, de "Helcate-Hazurim" ou "Campo das Espadas", que está em Gibeão. ¹⁷ A batalha foi muito severa naquele dia e Abner e os homens de Israel foram derrotados diante dos servos de Davi.

¹⁸ Os três filhos de Zeruia estavam ali: Joabe, Abisai, e Asael. Asael era rápido nos pés, como uma gazela selvagem. ¹⁹ Asael perseguiu de perto Abner e o seguiu sem se desviar nem para a direita e nem para a esquerda.

²⁰ Abner olhou para trás e disse: "És tu, Asael?". Ele respondeu: "Sou eu". ²¹ Abner disse para ele: "Desvia-te para tua direita ou para esquerda, e agarra um dos jovens e pega sua armadura". Mas Asael não mudou de direção.

²² Então, Abner disse novamente a Asael: "Para de me perseguir. Por que eu deveria te derrubar ao chão? Como eu me apresentaria diante de Joabe, teu irmão?". ²³ Mas, Asael recusou-se a desviar e, então, Abner o apunhalou com a sua lança e ela atravessou-lhe o estômago. Asael caiu e ali morreu. E aconteceu que todos que chegavam ao lugar em que Asael caíra morto, ficavam parados.

²⁴ Mas Joabe e Abisai perseguiram Abner. Quando o sol estava se pondo, eles vieram para a colina de Amá, que é perto de Giá, próximo à estrada para o deserto de Gibeão. ²⁵ Os homens de Benjamim reuniram-se atrás de Abner e ficaram no topo da colina.

²⁶ Então, Abner chamou Joabe e disse: "Será que a espada deve devorar para sempre? Tu não sabes que isto será amargo no final? Quanto tempo isto levará até que tu digas para teus homens pararem de perseguir seus irmãos?". ²⁷ Joabe respondeu: "Assim como Deus vive, se tu não tivesses dito isso, meus soldados teriam perseguido seus irmãos até pela manhã!".

²⁸ Então, Joabe tocou a trombeta, e todos os seus homens pararam e não mais perseguiram Israel, nem lutaram mais. ²⁹ Abner e seus homens viajaram toda aquela noite, por Arabá; eles cruzaram o Jordão, marcharam durante toda a manhã seguinte e, então, alcançaram Maanaim.

³⁰ Joabe retornou da perseguição a Abner. Ele reuniu todos os seus homens, dos quais estavam faltando Asael e dezenove dos soldados de Davi. ³¹ Todavia, os homens de Davi mataram trezentos e sessenta homens de Benjamim, dentre os homens de Abner. ³² Então, eles pegaram Asael e o enterraram no túmulo de seu pai, que era em Belém. Joabe e seus homens viajaram toda a noite, e amanheceu-lhes o dia em Hebrom.

Capítulo 3

¹ Então, houve uma longa guerra entre a casa de Saul e a casa de Davi. Davi se fortalecia mais e mais; todavia, a casa de Saul se enfraquecia cada vez mais.

² Davi teve filhos em Hebrom. Seu primogênito foi Amnon, de Ainoã, a jezreelita; ³ seu segundo filho, Quileabe, de Abigail, que havia sido mulher de Nabal, o carmelita; o terceiro, Absalão, era filho de Maaca, filha de Talmai, rei de Gesur;

⁴ o quarto filho de Davi, Adonias, filho de Hagite; o quinto filho era Sefatias, filho de Abital; ⁵ e o sexto, Itreão, de Eglá, também mulher de Davi. Estes são os filhos de Davi que nasceram em Hebrom.

⁶ Aconteceu que, durante a guerra entre a casa de Saul e a casa de Davi, Abner tornou-se forte na casa de Saul. ⁷ Saul tinha uma concubina, cujo nome era Rizpa, filha de Aiá. Isbosete disse a Abner: "Por que te deitaste com a concubina de meu pai?".

⁸ Então, Abner ficou muito irritado com as palavras de Isbosete e disse-lhe: "Sou eu um cão que pertence a Judá? Hoje eu estou mostrando fidelidade à casa de Saul, teu pai, teus irmãos e teus amigos, e não te entreguei nas mãos de Davi, e agora você me acusa sobre essa mulher?

⁹ Que Deus faça comigo muito pior, se eu não fizer por Davi como Yahweh jurou a ele: ¹⁰ transferir o reino da casa de Saul e estabelecer o trono de Davi sobre Israel e sobre Judá, desde Dã até Berseba". ¹¹ Isbosete não pôde responder a Abner mais nenhuma palavra, porque o temia.

¹² Então, Abner enviou mensageiros a Davi para lhe falarem, dizendo: "De quem é a terra? Faz um pacto comigo, eu serei contigo e tu verás que minha mão estará contigo para trazer todo o Israel a ti". ¹³ Davi respondeu: "Está bem, eu farei um pacto contigo; entretanto, uma coisa eu exijo de ti: não verás minha face, a menos que primeiro traga Mical, filha de Saul, quando tu vieres me ver".

¹⁴ Então, Davi mandou mensageiros para Isbosete, filho de Saul, dizendo: "Dá-me minha mulher Mical, por quem eu paguei o preço de cem prepúcios de filisteus". ¹⁵ Assim, Isbosete mandou tirar Mical de seu marido, Paltiel, filho de Laís. ¹⁶ Seu marido foi com ela, chorando, ao longo do caminho, e seguiu-a até Baurim. Então, Abner lhe disse: "Retorna para casa, agora". Então, ele retornou.

¹⁷ Abner falou com os anciãos de Israel, dizendo: "No passado, vós queríeis fazer Davi reinar sobre vós. ¹⁸ Agora, fazei isso. Porque o Senhor falou a Davi, dizendo: 'Pela mão do meu servo Davi, Eu livrarei o meu povo de Israel das mãos dos filisteus e das mãos de todos os vossos inimigos'".

¹⁹ Abner também falou pessoalmente ao povo de Benjamim. Então, Abner também foi falar com Davi em Hebrom, para explicar tudo o que Israel e toda a casa de Benjamim haviam resolvido. ²⁰ Quando Abner e vinte de seus homens chegaram a Hebrom para ver Davi, ele havia preparado um banquete para eles.

²¹ Abner expicou a Davi: "Eu me levantarei e protegerei todo o Israel por ti, meu rei, de modo que eles façam um pacto contigo, para que tu reines sobre tudo o que desejares". Assim, Davi dispensou Abner, e ele foi embora em paz.

²² Em seguida, os soldados de Davi e Joabe vieram de uma investida e trouxeram grande despojo com eles. Entretanto, Abner não estava com Davi, em Hebrom; ²³ Davi o tinha dispensado, e Abner havia saído em paz. Quando Joabe e todo o exército chegaram, disseram a Joabe: "Abner, filho de Ner, veio ao rei, o rei o dispensou e Abner saiu em paz".

²⁴ Então, Joabe foi ao rei e disse: "O que fizeste? Vê, Abner veio a teu encontro! Por que o deixaste ir embora, e ele se foi? ²⁵ Tu não sabes que Abner veio enganar-te para descobrir teus planos e saber tudo que estás fazendo?". ²⁶ Quando Joabe deixou Davi, ele enviou mensageiros atrás de Abner, e o fizeram voltar do poço de Sira, mas Davi não sabia disso.

²⁷ Quando Abner voltou a Hebrom, Joabe o levou à parte, no portão, para lhe falar em particular, e ali Joabe o esfaqueou no estômago e o matou. Dessa forma, Joabe vingou o sangue de Asael, seu irmão.

²⁸ Quando Davi ouviu a respeito disso, falou: "Eu e meu reino somos inocentes perante Yahweh, para sempre, em relação ao sangue de Abner, filho de Ner. ²⁹ Que a culpa da morte de Abner caia sobre a cabeça de Joabe e sobre toda a casa de seu pai. Que jamais deixe de haver na família de Joabe quem tenha feridas ou doenças de pele, ou quem seja manco e deva andar de muletas, ou quem seja morto pela espada, ou quem passe fome". ³⁰ Pois Joabe e Abisai, seu irmão, mataram Abner, porque ele havia matado seu irmão Asael na batalha em Gibeão.

³¹ Davi disse a Joabe e a todo o povo que estava com ele: "Rasgai vossas vestes, vesti-vos de sacos e chorai pelo corpo de Abner". Então, o rei Davi seguiu após o caixão no funeral. ³² Sepultaram Abner em Hebrom. O rei chorou e gritou bem alto, perante o túmulo de Abner, e todas as pessoas também choraram.

³³ O rei lamentou por Abner e cantou: "Deveria Abner morrer como morre um tolo? ³⁴ Suas mãos não estavam atadas; seus pés não estavam algemados. Como cai um homem diante dos filhos da injustiça, assim caíste". Mais uma vez, todo o povo chorou sobre ele.

³⁵ Todo o povo veio fazer Davi comer enquanto ainda era dia, mas Davi jurou: "Que Deus me castigue como quiser, se eu provar pão ou qualquer outra coisa antes de o sol se pôr". ³⁶ Todas as pessoas tomaram conhecimento do luto de Davi, e isto pareceu-lhes bem, assim como ficaram satisfeitos com tudo o que o rei fizera.

³⁷ Então, todas as pessoas de todo o Israel entenderam, naquele dia, que não era desejo do rei matar Abner, filho de Ner. ³⁸ O rei disse aos seus servos: "Não sabeis que hoje caiu em Israel um líder, um príncipe e um grande homem? ³⁹ E hoje eu estou fraco, embora eu seja um rei ungido. Esses homens, os filhos de Zeruia, são fortes demais para mim. Que Yahweh retribua ao malfeitor, punindo-o por sua maldade, como ele merece".

Capítulo 4

¹ Quando Isbosete, filho de Saul, ouviu que Abner havia morrido em Hebrom, suas mãos se enfraqueceram, e todo o Israel ficou preocupado. ² Ora, os filhos de Saul tinham dois homens que eram capitães de grupos de soldados. O nome de um deles era Baaná, e o outro, Recabe, filhos de Rimom, o beerotita, do povo de Benjamim. Beerote também é considerada parte de Benjamim, ³ e os beerotitas fugiram para Gitaim e vivem lá até hoje.

⁴ Jônatas, filho de Saul, tinha um filho que era aleijado dos pés. Ele tinha cinco anos de idade quando as notícias sobre Saul e Jônatas chegaram de Jezreel. Sua ama o pegou e fugiu, mas, enquanto ela estava correndo, o filho de Jônathas caiu, e se tornou aleijado. Seu nome era Mefibosete.

⁵ Recabe e Baaná, os filhos de Rimom, o beerotita, viajaram durante o calor do dia para a casa de Isbosete, enquanto ele descansava na hora mais quente do dia. ⁶ A mulher que vigiava a porta adormeceu, enquanto descansava, e, Recabe e Baaná entraram silenciosamente, e passaram por ela. ⁷ Logo após entrarem na casa, eles o atacaram e o mataram, enquanto ele estava deitado em sua cama, em seu quarto. Então, eles cortaram sua cabeça e a carregaram, viajando, por toda a noite, até Arabá.

⁸ Eles trouxeram a cabeça de Isbosete até Davi, em Hebrom, e disseram ao rei: "Olha, essa é a cabeça de Isbosete, filho de Saul, seu inimigo, o qual atentava por tua vida. Hoje Yahweh vingou o rei, nosso senhor, contra Saul e seus descendentes". ⁹ Davi respondeu a Recabe e Baaná; ele lhes disse: "Assim como Yahweh vive, Aquele que livrou minha vida de toda angústia, ¹⁰ quando alguém me contou: 'Olhe, Saul está morto', pensando que estava trazendo boas notícias, eu o capturei e o matei em Ziclague. Aquela foi a recompensa que dei a ele por sua notícia.

¹¹ Quantos outros mais — quando homens perversos que mataram uma pessoa inocente na sua cama, em sua própria casa — não deveria eu requerer o sangue de suas mãos, e removê-los da terra?". ¹² Então, Davi deu ordens aos seus moços, e eles os mataram, cortaram fora suas mãos e pés e os penduraram ao lado do tanque, em Hebrom. Todavia, tomaram a cabeça de Isbosete e a enterraram no sepulcro de Abner, em Hebrom.

Capítulo 5

¹ Então, todas as tribos de Israel vieram até Davi, em Hebrom, e disseram: "Vê, somos tua carne e teu osso. ² Num passado recente, quando Saul reinava sobre nós, eras tu quem lideravas o exército de Israel. Yahweh te disse: 'Tu pastorearás Meu povo Israel e tu governarás sobre Israel'".

³ Então, todos os anciãos de Israel vieram ao rei, em Hebrom, e o rei Davi celebrou uma aliança diante de Yahweh. Ungiram Davi rei sobre Israel. ⁴ Davi tinha trinta anos quando começou a reinar e reinou quarenta anos. ⁵ Em Hebrom, ele reinou sobre Judá sete anos e seis meses; em Jerusalém, ele reinou trinta e três anos sobre todo o Israel e Judá.

⁶ O rei e seus homens foram até Jerusalém contra os Jebuseus, os habitantes da terra. Eles disseram a Davi: "Tu não virás aqui, exceto para seres expulso pelos cegos e aleijados. Davi não poderá vir aqui". ⁷ No entanto, Davi capturou a fortaleza de Sião, a qual é, agora, a cidade de Davi.

⁸ Naquele tempo, Davi disse: "Qualquer que atacar os Jebuseus deverá passar pelo duto de água para alcançar aqueles 'cegos e aleijados', que são inimigos de Davi". É por isso que o povo diz: "Os cegos e aleijados não poderão vir para o palácio". ⁹ Então, Davi passou a viver na fortaleza e a chamou de cidade de Davi. Ele fortificou seus arredores, desde o terraço até o interior. ¹⁰ Davi se tornou muito poderoso porque Yahweh, o Deus dos Exércitos, estava com ele.

¹¹ Então, Hirão, rei de Tiro, enviou mensageiros a Davi e cedros, carpinteiros e pedreiros. Eles construíram uma casa para Davi. ¹² Davi sabia que Yahweh o tinha estabelecido como rei de Israel e que Ele havia exaltado seu reino por amor do Seu povo de Israel.

¹³ Após Davi ter deixado Hebrom e ido para Jerusalém, ele tomou mais cocumbinas e esposas em Jerusalém, e mais filhos e filhas nasceram. ¹⁴ Estes foram os nomes dos filhos que lhe nasceram em Jerusalém: Samua, Sabote, Natã, Salomão, ¹⁵ Ibar, Eliusa, Nefegue, Jafia, ¹⁶ Elisma, Eliadá e Elifelete.

¹⁷ Quando os filisteus ouviram que Davi havia sido ungido como rei sobre Israel, todos eles saíram à sua procura. Mas Davi ouviu sobre isso e desceu para a sua fortaleza. ¹⁸ Os filisteus foram e se espalharam pelo vale de Refaim.

¹⁹ Então, Davi pediu ajuda de Yahweh. Davi disse: "Deverei atacar os filisteus? Tu me darás vitória sobre eles?". Yahweh disse a Davi: "Ataca, pois Eu certamente te darei vitória sobre os filisteus". ²⁰ Então, Davi atacou em Baal-Perazim, e ali os derrotou. Davi comentou: "Yahweh derrotou meus inimigos diante de mim, como águas de um dilúvio destruidor". Então, aquele lugar foi chamado Baal-Perazim. ²¹ Os filisteus deixaram seus ídolos lá, e Davi e seus homens os levaram dali.

²² Então, os filisteus subiram outra vez e se espalharam pelo vale de Refaim. ²³ Davi buscou ajuda de Yahweh novamente, e Yahweh disse a ele: "Tu não os atacarás pela frente; em vez disso, dá a volta e encontra-os perto das amoreiras.

²⁴ Quando tu ouvires o som de marcha no soprar do vento, através do topo das amoreiras, então ataca com força. Faze isto porque Yahweh terá saído antes de ti, para atacar o exército dos filisteus". ²⁵ E Davi fez como Yahweh ordenou. Ele matou os filisteus desde Geba em todo o caminho até Gezer.

Capítulo 6

¹ Então, Davi reuniu novamente todos os homens escolhidos de Israel, trinta mil homens ao todo. ² Davi levantou-se e foi com todos os homens que estavam com ele, de Baalá de Judá, para de lá trazer a Arca de Deus, que é chamado pelo nome de Yahweh dos Exércitos, que se assenta entronizado sobre os querubins.

³ Eles puseram a Arca de Deus sobre um carro novo e a levaram da casa de Abinadabe, que está sobre uma colina. Uzá e Aiô, seus filhos, conduziam o carro novo. ⁴ Eles trouxeram o carro da casa de Abinadabe, da colina, com a Arca de Deus sobre ele. Aiô andava à frente da arca. ⁵ Então, Davi e toda a casa de Israel começaram a tocar diante de Yahweh, celebrando com instrumentos feitos de madeira de pinho, harpas, liras, tamborins, pandeiros e címbalos.

⁶ Quando eles chegaram à eira de Nacom, os bois tropeçaram. Uzá estendeu a mão, pegou a Arca de Deus e a segurou. ⁷ Então, a ira de Yahweh se acendeu contra Uzá. Deus o atacou ali, por causa do seu pecado. Uzá morreu ali, ao lado da Arca de Deus.

⁸ Davi ficou zangado porque Yahweh havia atacado Uzá, e ele chamou aquele lugar pelo nome de Perez-Uzá. Aquele lugar é chamado de Perez-Uzá até o dia de hoje. ⁹ Davi temeu a Yahweh naquele dia. Ele disse: "Como a Arca de Deus pode vir até mim?".

¹⁰ Assim, Davi não estava desejoso de levar a Arca de Yahweh com ele para a cidade de Davi; em vez disso, ele a deixou na casa de Obede-Edom, o geteu. ¹¹ A Arca de Yahweh permaneceu na casa de Obede-Edom, o geteu, por três meses. Então, Yahweh o abençoou e a toda a sua casa.

¹² Disseram ao rei Davi: "Yahweh tem abençoado a casa de Obede-Edom e tudo que pertence a ele por causa da Arca de Deus". Então, Davi foi e trouxe a Arca de Deus da casa de Obede-Edom para a cidade de Davi, com alegria. ¹³ Quando aqueles que estavam carregando a Arca de Yahweh davam seis passos, ele sacrificava um boi e um novilho gordo.

¹⁴ Davi dançou perante Yahweh, com todas as suas forças; ele estava vestindo somente um colete de linho. ¹⁵ Então, Davi e toda a casa de Israel trouxeram a Arca de Yahweh com gritos e ao som de trombetas.

¹⁶ Nesse momento, quando a Arca de Yahweh chegou à cidade de Davi, Mical, filha de Saul, olhou pela janela. Ela viu o rei Davi saltando e dançando diante de Yahweh, então, ela o desprezou em seu coração. ¹⁷ Eles trouxeram a Arca de Yahweh e a colocaram no seu lugar, no meio da tenda que Davi havia preparado para ela. E Davi ofereceu holocaustos e ofertas pacíficas diante de Yahweh.

¹⁸ Quando Davi terminou de oferecer os holocaustos e as ofertas pacíficas, abençoou o povo no nome de Yahweh dos Exércitos. ¹⁹ Então, distribuiu entre todo o povo, toda a multidão de Israel, tanto para homens quanto para mulheres, um pão, uma porção de carne e um bolo de passas: então, todo o povo saiu; cada um retornou à sua própria casa.

²⁰ Depois, Davi retornou para abençoar sua família. Mical, a filha de Saul, veio para encontrar Davi e disse: "Quão honrado foi o rei de Israel hoje, despindo-se diante dos olhos das escravas, entre seus servos, como um sujeito qualquer que vergonhosamente se despe!".

²¹ Davi respondeu a Mical: "Eu fiz isso diante de Yahweh, que me escolheu no lugar do teu pai e no lugar de toda a sua família, que me designou como líder sobre o povo de Yahweh, sobre Israel. Diante de Yahweh eu me alegrarei! ²² Eu serei ainda mais indigno que isso. Eu me humilharei aos meus próprios olhos, mas, aos olhos das escravas que tu mencionaste, eu serei honrado". ²³ Então, Mical, a filha de Saul, não teve filhos até o dia da sua morte.

Capítulo 7

¹ Aconteceu que, depois que o rei se estabeleceu em sua casa, e, depois que Yahweh lhe havia dado descanso de todos os seus inimigos ao redor, ² o rei disse a Natã, o profeta: "Vê, eu moro em uma casa de cedro, mas a Arca de Deus está numa tenda".

³ Então, Natã disse ao rei: "Vai, faz o que está em teu coração, porque Yahweh é contigo". ⁴ Mas, naquela mesma noite, a palavra de Yahweh veio a Natã, dizendo: ⁵ "Vai e diz a Davi, meu servo: 'Isto é o que Yahweh diz: Tu Me edificarás uma casa para habitar?

⁶ Porque Eu não habitei em uma casa, desde o dia em que tirei o povo de Israel do Egito até este dia; em vez disso, Eu tenho andado de lá para cá em uma tenda, num tabernáculo. ⁷ Por todos os lugares por onde Eu Me movi, entre o povo de Israel, disse Eu alguma coisa a algum dos líderes que designei para pastorear meu povo Israel, dizendo: 'Por que vós não Me edificastes uma casa de cedro?'".

⁸ Agora, pois, diz a meu servo Davi: "Isto é o que Yahweh dos Exércitos diz: 'Eu te tirei das pastagens, de detrás das ovelhas, para que tu fosses governante sobre o Meu povo Israel. ⁹ Eu estive contigo por onde foste e eliminei todos os teus inimigos de diante de ti. Agora, farei o teu nome grande, como os nomes dos grandes da terra.

¹⁰ Eu designarei um lugar para o Meu povo Israel e o plantarei, para que eles vivam no seu próprio lugar e não sejam mais perturbados. Nunca mais os povos perversos os oprimirão, como fizeram antes, ¹¹ como faziam desde os dias em que Eu designei juízes sobre o Meu povo Israel. Agora, te darei descanso de todos os teus inimigos. Ademais, Eu, Yahweh, declaro a ti que te edificarei uma casa.

¹² Quando teus dias se completarem e tu descansares com teus pais, Eu levantarei um descendente depois de ti, um que sairá de ti, e estabelecerei seu reino. ¹³ Ele edificará uma casa ao Meu nome, e Eu estabelecerei o trono do seu reino para sempre. ¹⁴ Eu serei um pai para ele, e ele será Meu filho. Quando ele pecar, o disciplinarei com a vara de homens e com os açoites dos filhos dos homens.

¹⁵ Mas Minha aliança de fidelidade não o deixará, como a retirei de Saul, o qual Eu removi de diante de ti. ¹⁶ Tua casa e teu reino serão confirmados para sempre perante ti. Teu trono será estabelecido para sempre". ¹⁷ Natã falou com Davi e lhe relatou todas essas palavras, e lhe contou toda a visão.

¹⁸ Então, Davi, o rei, entrou e se assentou diante de Yahweh e disse: "Quem sou eu, Senhor Yahweh, e o que é minha família para que Tu me trouxesses a este ponto? ¹⁹ Isso foi pouco aos Teus olhos, Senhor Yahweh. Tu ainda falaste sobre a família de Teu servo para tempos distantes e me mostraste gerações futuras, Senhor Yahweh! ²⁰ O que mais posso eu, Davi, Te dizer? Tu honraste Teu servo, ó Senhor Yahweh.

²¹ Por causa da Tua palavra e para cumprir Teu propósito, Tu fizeste esse grande feito e o revelaste a Teu servo. ²² Por essa razão, Tu és grande, Senhor Yahweh, porque não há ninguém igual a Ti, e não há outro Deus além de Ti, como ouvimos com nossos próprios ouvidos. ²³ E que nação é como o Teu povo Israel, a única nação na terra que Tu, Deus, foste e resgataste para Ti mesmo? Tu fizeste isso para que eles se tornassem um povo para Ti, para fazer um nome para Ti mesmo e realizar grandes e terríveis feitos para Tua terra. Tu expulsaste nações e seus deuses de diante do Teu povo, que resgataste do Egito.

²⁴ Tu estabeleceste Israel como Teu próprio povo para sempre e Tu, Yahweh, Te tornaste o seu Deus. ²⁵ Então, agora, Yahweh Deus, que a promessa que fizeste com respeito a Teu servo e sua família seja estabelecida para sempre. Faz conforme disseste. ²⁶ Que o Teu nome seja para sempre grande e que as pessoas digam: 'Yahweh dos Exércitos é o Deus de Israel', enquanto a casa de Teu servo Davi é estabelecida diante de Ti.

²⁷ Porque Tu, Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, revelaste a Teu servo que Tu lhe edificarás uma casa. É por isso que eu, Teu servo, encontrei coragem para orar a Ti. ²⁸ Agora, Senhor Yahweh, Tu és Deus e Tuas palavras são dignas de confiança, e fizeste essa boa promessa a Teu servo. ²⁹ Agora, pois, se for do Teu agrado, abençoa a casa de Teu servo, para que ela continue para sempre diante de Ti. Pois Tu, Senhor Yahweh, disseste essas coisas, e, com Tua bênção, a casa de Teu servo será abençoada para sempre".

Capítulo 8

¹ Depois disso, aconteceu que Davi atacou os filisteus e os derrotou. Assim, Davi tomou Gate e suas aldeias do controle dos filisteus.

² Então, ele derrotou Moabe, fez com que seus homens se deitassem no chão e os mediu com uma corda, dessa forma: duas medidas de corda para matar, e uma medida inteira para manter com vida. Assim, os moabitas tornaram-se servos de Davi e lhe pagaram tributo.

³ Davi, então, derrotou Hadadezer, filho de Reobe, o rei de Zobá, enquanto Hadadezer estava viajando para recuperar o seu domínio ao longo do rio Eufrates. ⁴ Davi capturou mil e setecentas carruagens de guerra e vinte mil soldados de infantaria. Davi mutilou todos os cavalos das carruagens, mas reservou um número suficiente deles para cem carruagens.

⁵ Quando os sírios de Damasco vieram para ajudar a Hadadezer, rei de Zobá, Davi matou vinte e dois mil sírios. ⁶ Então, Davi pôs guarnições na Síria de Damasco, e os sírios tornaram-se servos dele e lhe pagavam tributos. Yahweh deu vitória a Davi onde quer que ele fosse.

⁷ Davi tomou os escudos de ouro que estavam sobre os servos Hadadezer e os trouxe a Jerusalém. ⁸ De Betá e de Berotai, cidades de Hadadezer, o rei Davi tomou grande quantidade de bronze.

⁹ Quando Toí, rei de Hamate, ouviu que Davi havia derrotado todo o exército de Hadadezer, ¹⁰ enviou seu filho Jorão ao rei Davi para saudá-lo e abençoá-lo; porque Davi lutou contra Hadadezer e o derrotou. Também porque Hadadezer havia declarado guerra contra Toí. Jorão trouxe consigo objetos de prata, ouro e bronze.

¹¹ O rei Davi consagrou esses objetos a Yahweh, bem como a prata e o ouro de todas as nações que ele conquistou — ¹² da Síria, de Moabe, de Amom, dos filisteus e de Amaleque, juntamente com todos os bens saqueados de Hadadezer, filho de Reobe, o rei de Zobá.

¹³ O nome de Davi ficou bem conhecido após retornar, com seus dezoito mil homens, da conquista dos sírios no vale do Sal. ¹⁴ Ele colocou guarnições em Edom e todos os edomitas tornaram-se servos dele. Yahweh dava vitória a Davi por onde ele ia.

¹⁵ Davi reinou sobre todo o Israel; ele governava com justiça e equidade sobre todo o seu povo. ¹⁶ Joabe, filho de Zeruia, era o comandante do exército; e Jeosafá, filho de Ailude, era cronista. ¹⁷ Zadoque, filho de Aitube, e Aimeleque, filho de Abiatar, eram sacerdotes; Seraías era escriba; ¹⁸ Benaia, filho de Joiada, liderava sobre os quereteus e peleteus; e os filhos de Davi eram conselheiros do rei.

Capítulo 9

¹ Davi disse: "Existe ainda alguém da família de Saul a quem eu possa mostrar bondade, por amor de Jônatas?". ² Na família de Saul havia um servo que se chamava Ziba, e o levaram para Davi. O rei lhe disse: "Tu és Ziba?". Ele respondeu: "Sim, sou teu servo".

³ Então, o rei disse: "Existe alguém ainda da família de Saul a quem eu possa mostrar a bondade de Deus?". Ziba respondeu para o rei: "Jônatas ainda tem um filho, que é aleijado dos pés". ⁴ O rei lhe disse: "Onde ele está?". Ziba respondeu ao rei: "Está na casa de Maquir, filho de Amiel, em Lo-Debar".

⁵ Então, o rei Davi mandou trazê-lo, e o trouxeram da casa de Maquir, filho de Amil, de Lo-Debar. ⁶ Então, Mefibosete, filho de Jônatas, filho de Saul, veio a Davi e prostrou-se com a face no chão em honra a Davi. Davi disse: "Mefibosete!". Ele respondeu: "Sim, sou teu servo!".

⁷ Davi lhe disse: "Não tenhas medo, pois certamente te mostrarei bondade por amor de Jônatas, teu pai, e restituirei todas as terras de Saul, teu avô, e comerás sempre à minha mesa". ⁸ Mefibosete se prostrou e disse: "Quem é o teu servo, para teres olhado com favor para um cachorro morto como eu?".

⁹ Então, o rei chamou por Ziba, o servo de Saul, e lhe disse: "Tudo o que pertencia a Saul e à sua família eu darei ao neto do teu senhor. ¹⁰ Tu, teus filhos e teus servos lavrareis a terra para ele e tu colherás a safra para que o neto do teu senhor tenha sempre o que comer. Todavia, Mefibosete, neto do teu senhor, sempre comerá à minha mesa". Ziba tinha quinze filhos e vinte servos.

¹¹ Então, Ziba disse ao rei: "Teu servo fará tudo o que meu mestre, o rei, ordenar". O rei acrescentou: "A respeito de Mefibosete, ele comerá à minha mesa, como um dos filhos do rei". ¹² Mefibosete tinha um filho jovem que se chamava Mica. Todos os que viviam na casa de Ziba foram servos de Mefibosete. ¹³ Então, Mefibosete viveu em Jerusalém e sempre comia à mesa do rei, mesmo sendo aleijado de ambos os pés.

Capítulo 10

¹ E aconteceu que, após um tempo, o rei dos amonitas morreu, e seu filho, Hanum, tornou-se rei em seu lugar. ² Davi disse: "Eu mostrarei bondade para Hanum, filho de Naás, como seu pai mostrou bondade para comigo". Então, Davi enviou seus servos para confortar Hanum, por causa de seu pai. Seus servos entraram na terra dos amonitas. ³ Entretanto, os líderes dos amonitas disseram a seu senhor, Hanum: "Tu realmente pensas que Davi está honrando teu pai por haver mandado homens para te confortar? Não teria Davi enviado seus servos a ti para que observassem a cidade, para espiá-la, a fim de tomá-la?".

⁴ Então, Hanum tomou os servos de Davi, raspou-lhes a metade das barbas, cortou-lhes fora as vestes até suas nádegas e mandou que fossem embora. ⁵ Quando Davi se reuniu com eles, explicaram que foram profundamente humilhados. O rei disse: "Permanecei em Jericó, até que vossa barba cresça novamente e, então, retornai".

⁶ Quando os amonitas perceberam que se tornaram odiosos perante Davi, enviaram mensageiros e contrataram vinte mil soldados dos arameus, de Bete-Reobe e Zobá, mil homens do rei de Maaca e doze mil homens de Tobe. ⁷ Quando Davi soube disso, mandou Joabe e todo o exército de soldados. ⁸ Os amonitas vieram e formaram uma linha de batalha na entrada do portão da cidade, enquanto os arameus de Zobá e de Reobe e os homens de Tobe e de Maaca, ficaram em campo aberto.

⁹ Quando Joabe viu as linhas de batalha formadas, tanto à sua frente, quanto atrás, escolheu alguns dos melhores guerreiros e os organizou contra os arameus. ¹⁰ E o restante do exército ele entregou ao comando de seu irmão, Abisai, que os colocou na linha de batalha contra o exército dos amonitas.

¹¹ Joabe disse: "Se os arameus forem tão fortes para comigo, então tu, Abisai, deves socorrer-me. Porém, se o exército dos amonitas for tão forte para contigo, eu irei te socorrer. ¹² Sê forte e deixa que nos mostremos fortes para o nosso povo e pelas cidades de nosso Deus, pois Yahweh fará o que é bom, segundo Seu propósito".

¹³ Então, Joabe e os soldados do seu exército avançaram para a batalha contra os arameus, que foram forçados a fugir diante do exército de Israel. ¹⁴ Quando o exército dos amonitas viram que os arameus fugiram, eles também fugiram de Abisai e voltaram para a cidade. Então, Joabe retornou do povo de Amom e voltou para Jerusalém.

¹⁵ Quando os arameus viram que estavam sendo derrotados por Israel, eles se reuniram novamente. ¹⁶ Então, Hadadezer enviou as tropas dos arameus para além do rio Eufrates. Eles vieram a Helã, acompanhados por Sobaque, comandante do exército de Hadadezer.

¹⁷ Quando Davi foi informado disso, reuniu todo o Israel, atravessou o Jordão e chegou a Helã. Os arameus se agruparam em linhas na batalha contra Davi e lutaram contra ele. ¹⁸ Os arameus fugiram de Israel. Davi matou setecentos soldados arameus que conduziam as carruagens e quarenta mil soldados de cavalaria. Sobaque, o comandante do exército arameu, foi ferido e ali morreu. ¹⁹ Quando todos os reis que foram servos de Hadadezer viram que foram derrotados por Israel, declararam paz e se tornaram submissos a ele. Assim, os arameus temeram em continuar a ajudar os amonitas.

Capítulo 11

¹ Por ocasião da primavera, na época em que os reis normalmente vão à guerra, Davi enviou Joabe, seu servo, e todo o exército de Israel. Eles destruíram o exército de Amon e cercaram Rabá. Mas Davi ficou em Jerusalém.

² Aconteceu que, em uma tarde, Davi levantou-se de sua cama e andou até o terraço de seu palácio. De lá, ele acabou vendo uma mulher que estava se banhando, e ela era muito bonita de se olhar. ³ Davi mandou perguntar às pessoas quem conheceria a mulher. Alguém disse: "Não é essa Bate-Seba, filha de Eliã, e não é ela a mulher de Urias, o heteu?".

⁴ Davi enviou mensageiros, e a trouxeram; ela veio até ele, e ele dormiu com ela, que havia acabado de se purificar do período menstrual. Depois, ela retornou à sua casa. ⁵ A mulher concebeu e mandou avisar a Davi; ela disse: "Estou grávida".

⁶ Então, Davi enviou mensagem a Joabe, dizendo: "Traze-me Urias, o heteu". Joabe trouxe Urias a Davi. ⁷ Quando Urias chegou, Davi lhe perguntou como Joabe estava, como o exército estava e como a guerra ia. ⁸ Davi disse a Urias: "Vai à tua casa e lava teus pés". Assim, Urias deixou o palácio do rei, e este enviou um presente a Urias logo após sua saída.

⁹ Porém, Urias dormiu às portas do palácio do rei, junto a todos os servos de seu senhor, e não foi para sua casa. ¹⁰ Quando disseram a Davi: "Urias não foi para sua casa", Davi disse a Urias: "Não vieste tu de uma jornada? Por que não foste para tua casa?". ¹¹ Urias respondeu a Davi: "A arca, Israel e Judá estão em tendas, meu mestre Joabe e os seus servos estão acampados em campo aberto. Como, então, posso ir para minha casa para comer, beber e dormir com minha esposa? Tão certo como tu vives, não farei isso".

¹² Davi disse a Urias: "Fica aqui também hoje, e amanhã deixarei que tu vás". Então, Urias permaneceu em Jerusalém naquele dia e no dia seguinte. ¹³ Quando Davi o chamou, ele comeu e bebeu diante dele, e Davi o embebedou. Ao anoitecer, Urias foi dormir em sua cama, com os servos de seu senhor; ele não retornou à sua casa.

¹⁴ Logo pela manhã, Davi escreveu uma carta para Joabe e a enviou pelas mãos de Urias. ¹⁵ Davi escreveu na carta, dizendo: "Coloca Urias na frente mais intensa da batalha e, então, aparta-te dele, para que seja ferido e morto".

¹⁶ Assim, ao observavar o cerco da cidade, Joabe designou Urias para o local onde sabia que os mais fortes soldados inimigos estariam batalhando. ¹⁷ Quando os homens da cidade saíram e lutaram contra o exército de Joabe, alguns dos soldados de Davi caíram, e Urias, o heteu, também foi morto lá.

¹⁸ Quando Joabe enviou notícias a Davi sobre tudo o que acontecia na guerra, ¹⁹ ordenou ao mensageiro, dizendo: "Quando tu terminares de contar todas as coisas sobre a guerra ao rei, ²⁰ pode acontecer que ele fique com raiva e te diga: 'Por que fostes tão perto da cidade para lutar? Não sabíeis que eles atirariam da muralha?

²¹ Quem matou Abimeleque, filho de Jerubesete? Não foi uma mulher que jogou uma pedra de moinho nele, do alto do muro, de forma que ele morreu em Tébez? Por que fostes tão perto da muralha?'. Então, deves responder: 'Teu servo Urias, o heteu, também está morto'".

²² Então, o mensageiro saiu e foi a Davi e lhe contou tudo o que Joabe mandou que dissesse. ²³ E o mensageiro disse a Davi: "O inimigo era mais forte do que nós no começo; eles saíram de encontro a nós, na batalha, mas os fizemos retroceder até à entrada do portão.

²⁴ Então, os arqueiros deles atiraram em teus soldados, do alto da muralha; alguns dos servos do rei foram mortos e o teu servo Urias, o heteu, também foi morto". ²⁵ Davi, então, disse ao mensageiro: "Diz isto a Joabe: 'Não deixes que isso te aflija, porque a espada devora um assim como o outro. Continua tua batalha ainda mais forte contra a cidade e supera isso' e encoraja-o".

²⁶ Quando a mulher de Urias soube que seu marido estava morto, ela lamentou profundamente por seu marido. ²⁷ Quando seu luto passou, Davi mandou que a trouxessem da sua casa ao palácio; ela tornou-se sua esposa e lhe deu um filho. Mas o que Davi fez desagradou Yahweh.

Capítulo 12

¹ Então, Yahweh enviou Natã a Davi. Ele veio a Davi e disse: "Havia dois homens numa cidade. Um homem era rico e o outro pobre. ² O rico tinha grande número de rebanhos e manadas, ³ mas o homem pobre não tinha nada, exceto uma pequena cordeirinha, a qual ele havia comprado, alimentado e criado. Ela cresceu junto com ele e seus filhos. A cordeira até comia com ele e bebia do seu próprio copo, e dormia em seus braços. Era como uma filha para ele.

⁴ Um dia, o homem rico recebeu um visitante; porém, o homem rico não quis tomar de seus próprios rebanhos e manadas para lhe providenciar alimento. Ao invés disso, ele tomou a cordeirinha do homem pobre e a cozinhou para o seu visitante". ⁵ Davi ficou cheio de raiva contra o homem rico, e se enfureceu diante de Natã: "Como vive Yahweh, o homem que fez isso merece ser condenado à morte. ⁶ E pela cordeira ele deve restituir quatro vezes mais, por ter feito tal coisa e porque ele não teve piedade do homem pobre".

⁷ Então, Natã disse a Davi: "Tu és esse homem! Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Eu o ungi rei sobre Israel, e Eu o resgatei da mão de Saul. ⁸ Eu te dei a casa de teu senhor, e, em teus braços, dei as esposas de teu senhor. Eu também te dei a casa de Israel e Judá. Porém, se isso fosse pouco, Eu teria te dado muitas outras coisas.

⁹ Por que, então, tens desprezado os comandos de Yahweh, para fazer o que é mau aos Seus olhos? Tu mataste Urias, o heteu, com a espada, e tomaste sua esposa para ser a tua própria esposa. Tu o mataste com a espada do exército de Amom. ¹⁰ Então, agora, a espada nunca deixará a tua casa, porque tens Me desprezado, e tomaste a esposa de Urias, o heteu, como tua esposa'.

¹¹ Yahweh diz: 'Vê, Eu levantarei desastre contra ti dentro de tua própria casa. Diante dos teus próprios olhos, Eu tomarei tuas esposas e as darei ao teu vizinho, e ele dormirá com tuas esposas em plena luz do dia. ¹² Porque tu cometeste teu pecado secretamente, porém Eu farei isto diante de todo o Israel, à luz do dia'". ¹³ Então, Davi disse a Natã: "Eu pequei contra Yahweh". Natã respondeu a Davi: "Yahweh também perdoou teu pecado. Tu não serás morto.

¹⁴ Contudo, porque com a tua atitude desprezaste Yahweh, o filho que de ti nascer, certamente morrerá". ¹⁵ Então, Natã saiu e foi para casa. Yahweh feriu o filho de Davi com a esposa de Urias, e ele ficou muito doente.

¹⁶ Davi, então, implorou a Deus pelo menino. Davi jejuou, e entrou, e prostou-se no chão toda a noite. ¹⁷ Os anciãos de sua casa se levantaram e se puseram do lado dele, para lhe fazer levantar do chão, porém ele não levantou, e nem comeu com eles. ¹⁸ No sétimo dia, aconteceu que a criança morreu. Os servos de Davi estavam com medo de dizer-lhe que a criança havia morrido, pelo que eles disseram: "Vede, enquanto a criança ainda estava viva, nós falávamos com ele, e ele não ouvia a nossa voz. O que poderá ele fazer a si mesmo se dissermos que o menino está morto?".

¹⁹ Mas, quando Davi viu que seus servos estavam sussurrando entre si, ele percebeu que a criança havia morrido. Ele disse a seus servos: "A criança está morta?". Eles responderam: "Ela está morta". ²⁰ Então, Davi se levantou do chão e lavou-se, ungiu-se e mudou as suas roupas. Ele foi ao tabernáculo de Yahweh e adorou ali, e depois voltou para o seu palácio. Quando ele pediu, colocaram o alimento diante dele e ele comeu.

²¹ Então, seus servos lhe disseram: "Por que fizeste isso? Tu jejuaste e choraste pela criança enquanto ela estava viva, mas, quando a criança morreu, tu levantaste e comeste". ²² Davi respondeu: "Enquanto a criança ainda estava viva, eu jejuei e orei. Eu disse: 'quem sabe se Yahweh será gracioso comigo, e a criança poderá viver?'. ²³ Mas, agora, ela está morta; por que devo jejuar? Posso eu trazê-la de volta? Eu irei até ela, porém ela não retornará a mim".

²⁴ Davi confortou Bate-Seba, sua esposa, foi até ela e dormiu com ela. E ela gerou um filho, e o menino foi chamado Salomão. Yahweh o amou, ²⁵ e Ele enviou sua palavra através de Natã, o profeta, para chamá-lo Jedidias, porque Yahweh o amou.

²⁶ Então, Joabe lutou contra Rabá, a cidade real do povo de Amom, e ele conquistou sua fortaleza. ²⁷ Joabe enviou mensageiros a Davi, e disse: "Eu lutei contra Rabá, e tomei as fontes de água da cidade. ²⁸ Portanto, junta o resto do exército e cerca a cidade e toma-a, porque se eu tomar a cidade, ela será chamada por meu nome".

²⁹ Então, Davi juntou todo o exército e foi a Rabá; ele lutou contra a cidade e a conquistou. ³⁰ Davi tomou a coroa da cabeça do rei; ela pesava um talento de ouro e nela havia uma pedra preciosa. A coroa foi colocada na cabeça de Davi. Então, ele trouxe grande quantidade de despojo para a cidade.

³¹ Ele trouxe o povo que estava na cidade e forçou-os a trabalhar com serras, picaretas de ferro, e machados; ele os fez trabalhar também em fornos de tijolos. Davi cobrou de todas as cidades do povo de Amom que fizesse esse trabalho. Depois, Davi e todo o exército retornaram para Jerusalém.

Capítulo 13

¹ Aconteceu que, depois disso, Amnom, filho de Davi, ficou muito atraído por sua bonita meia irmã Tamar, que era irmã legítima de Absalão, um dos outros filhos de Davi. ² Amnom estava tão frustrado que ficou doente por causa de sua irmã Tamar. Ela era virgem, e parecia impossível a Amnom lhe fazer alguma coisa.

³ Mas Amnom tinha um amigo cujo nome era Jonadabe, filho de Simeia, irmão de Davi. Jonadabe era um homem muito astuto. ⁴ Ele disse a Amnom: "Por que, filho do rei, estás deprimido toda manhã? Não queres me contar?". Amnom lhe respondeu: "Eu amo Tamar, irmã de meu irmão Absalão".

⁵ Então, Jonadabe lhe disse: "Deita-te na tua cama e finge estar doente. Quando teu pai vier te ver, pede-lhe: 'Poderias enviar, por favor, minha irmã Tamar para me dar alguma coisa de comer e cozinhar diante de mim, para que eu veja e coma da sua mão?'". ⁶ Amnom se deitou e fingiu estar doente. Quando o rei veio vê-lo, Amnom disse ao rei: "Por favor, envia minha irmã Tamar para fazer alguma comida diante de mim, para que eu possa comer das mãos dela".

⁷ Davi, então, mandou Tamar, que estava no palácio, e disse-lhe: "Vai à casa de teu irmão Amnom e prepara-lhe algum alimento". ⁸ Assim, Tamar foi à casa de seu irmão Amnom, que estava deitado. Ela pegou a massa e a amassou, fez pão à sua vista, e o assou. ⁹ Ela tomou a forma e deu o pão a ele; porém, ele se recusou a comer. Então, Amnom disse aos outros presentes: "Saí todos para longe de mim". Então, todos se retiraram dele.

¹⁰ Então, Amnom disse a Tamar: "Traz o alimento ao meu quarto para que eu possa comer de tua mão". Então, Tamar tomou o pão que havia feito e o levou ao quarto de Amnom, seu irmão. ¹¹ Quando ela lhe trouxe o alimento, ele a segurou e disse: "Vem, deita-te comigo, minha irmã". ¹² Ela lhe respondeu: "Não, meu irmão, não me forces! Não se faz isso em Israel. Não faças essa coisa horrível!

¹³ Como eu poderia esconder a minha vergonha? E tu? Tu serias como um dos loucos de Israel! Agora, por favor, fala com o rei! Ele não me negará a ti". ¹⁴ Amnon não a ouviu. Como ele era mais forte do que Tamar, ele a segurou e deitou-se com ela.

¹⁵ Então, Amnom odiou Tamar com extrema aversão. Ele a odiou mais do que a havia desejado. Amnom lhe disse: "Levanta e sai". ¹⁶ Ela lhe respondeu: "Não! Porque este grande mal de me fazer sair é pior do que o que me fizeste!". Mas Amnom não a ouviu. ¹⁷ Ao invés disso, ele chamou seu servo pessoal e lhe disse: "Tira esta mulher de diante de mim, e tranca a porta após ela".

¹⁸ Então, seu servo a colocou para fora e trancou a porta após ela. Tamar estava usando uma túnica toda trabalhada, porque era assim que as filhas virgens do rei se vestiam. ¹⁹ Ela colocou cinzas em sua cabeça e rasgou a sua túnica; colocou as mãos sobre sua cabeça e se foi, chorando alto enquanto ia.

²⁰ Absalão, seu irmão lhe disse: "Esteve Amnom, teu irmão, contigo? Porém, agora fica calada, minha irmã. Ele é teu irmão. Não leves essas coisas ao teu coração". Então, Tamar permaneceu sozinha na casa de seu irmão, Absalão. ²¹ Mas, quando o rei Davi ouviu sobre todas essas coisas, ele se enfureceu muito. ²² Absalão não disse nada a Amnom porque Absalão o odiou pelo que ele havia feito a Tamar, e como ele havia desonrado sua irmã.

²³ Aconteceu que, depois de dois anos inteiros, Absalão tinha tosquiadores trabalhando em Baal-Hazor, que fica perto de Efraim. Absalão convidou todos os filhos do rei para visitá-lo ali. ²⁴ Absalão foi ao rei e disse: "Agora vê, teus servos estão tosquiando as ovelhas. Por favor, que venham o rei e seus servos comigo, o teu servo".

²⁵ O rei respondeu a Absalão: "Não, meu filho, não devemos ir todos nós, porque nós seríamos um peso para ti". Absalão encorajou o rei, mas este não foi; entretanto, ele abençoou Absalão. ²⁶ Então, Absalão disse: "Se não, por favor deixa meu irmão Amnom ir conosco". O rei lhe perguntou: "Por que Amnom deve ir contigo?".

²⁷ Absalão pressionou Davi, e ele deixou Amnom e todos os outros filhos irem com ele. ²⁸ Absalão ordenou aos seus servos, dizendo: "Ouvi atentamente: quando Amnom se embriagar com vinho e quando eu vos disser 'atacai Amnom', então, matai-o. Não fiqueis com medo. Não sou eu quem vos ordenei? Sede bravos e corajosos!". ²⁹ Os servos de Absalão fizeram a Amnom conforme as suas ordens. Então, todos os filhos do rei se levantaram, e cada homem montou em sua mula e fugiu.

³⁰ E aconteceu que, enquanto eles estavam na estrada, as notícias chegaram a Davi, que disse: "Absalão matou todos os filhos do rei, e não sobrou nenhum". ³¹ Então, o rei se levantou, rasgou suas vestes e se prostrou no chão, e todos os seus servos estavam com suas vestes rasgadas.

³² Jonadabe, filho de Simeia, irmão de Davi, respondeu e disse: "Meu senhor, não deves acreditar que mataram todos os jovens, filhos do rei, pois só Amnom está morto. Absalão planejou isso desde o dia em que Amnon violentou sua irmã Tamar. ³³ Por isso, meu senhor, o rei não deve colocar essas coisas no coração e acreditar que todos os filhos do rei estão mortos, pois só Amnom está morto".

³⁴ Absalão fugiu. Um servo que estava de guarda levantou os olhos e viu muita gente vindo no caminho, na encosta, a oeste dele. ³⁵ Então, Jonadabe disse ao rei: "Vê, os filhos do rei estão vindo, assim como teu servo disse". ³⁶ Assim, aconteceu que, acabando de falar, os filhos do rei chegaram, levantaram sua voz e choraram. O rei e todos os seus servos também choraram amargamente.

³⁷ Porém, Absalão fugiu para Talmai, filho de Amiur, rei de Gesur. Davi lamentou por seu filho todos os dias. ³⁸ Absalão fugiu e foi para Gesur, onde ficou por três anos. ³⁹ Em seu pensamento, o rei Davi desejava ir e ver Absalão, porque ele estava confortado sobre a morte de Amnom.

Capítulo 14

¹ Joabe, filho de Zeruia, percebeu que o coração do rei desejava ver Absalão. ² Então, Joabe mandou trazer, de Tecoa, uma mulher sábia. Ele disse a ela: "Por favor, finge que estás de luto e põe vestes de luto. Não te unjas com óleo; antes, finge ser uma mulher que há muito pranteia pelo falecido. ³ Depois, vai até o rei e fala sobre o que descreverei". Então, Joabe disse a ela as palavras que ela deveria dizer ao rei.

⁴ Quando a mulher de Tecoa falou com o rei, ela se prostrou com o rosto no chão e disse: "Ajuda-me, rei!". ⁵ O rei disse a ela: "O que está errado?". Ela respondeu: "A verdade é que sou uma viúva, meu marido está morto. ⁶ Eu, tua serva, tive dois filhos. Eles brigaram entre si no campo, e não havia ninguém que os separasse. Um feriu o outro e o matou.

⁷ Agora, todo o clã se levantou contra a tua serva, dizendo: 'Entrega-nos o homem que matou seu irmão, para que o matemos, para pagar pela vida de seu irmão, a quem ele matou'. Assim, eles matariam também o herdeiro. Desse modo, eles apagarão também a brasa que me restou, não deixando ao meu marido nem nome, nem descendência na face da terra".

⁸ Então, o rei disse à mulher: "Vai para a tua casa, e eu ordenarei que algo seja feito por ti." ⁹ A mulher de Tecoa replicou: "Ó rei, meu senhor, que toda a culpa recaia sobre mim e sobre a família de meu pai. O rei e seu trono sejam inocentes".

¹⁰ O rei respondeu: "Qualquer um que disser alguma coisa a ti, traz a mim, e não mais te importunará". ¹¹ Então, ela disse: "Por favor, ó rei, lembra-te de Yahweh, teu Deus, para que o vingador do sangue não destrua mais ninguém, a fim de que não destrua o meu filho". O rei replicou: "Tão certo quanto Yahweh vive, nem um fio de cabelo de teu filho cairá no chão".

¹² Então, a mulher disse: "Por favor, deixa que a tua serva diga mais uma coisa ao rei, meu senhor". Disse ele: "Pois fala". ¹³ A mulher disse: "Por que pensas tal coisa contra o povo de Deus? Ao dizer isso, o rei se culpou por não ter trazido para casa seu filho banido. ¹⁴ Pois é certo que todos morreremos, e somos como água derramada no chão, que não se pode ajuntar novamente. Porém, Deus não tira a vida; ao invés disso, Ele acha uma forma de fazer retornarem aqueles que foram expulsos.

¹⁵ Se agora vim falar essa palavra ao rei, meu senhor, é porque as pessoas me amedrontaram. Então, tua serva disse a si mesma: 'Falarei agora com o rei. Pode ser que o rei atenda ao pedido de sua serva. ¹⁶ Pois o rei me ouvirá, a fim de tirar sua serva das mãos do homem que queria destruir a mim e ao meu filho, e nos tirar da herança de Deus'. ¹⁷ Então, a tua serva orou: 'Yahweh, por favor, permite que a palavra do rei, o meu senhor, me alivie; como um anjo de Deus, assim o meu senhor, o rei, está discernindo o bem do mal'. Que Yahweh, teu Deus, esteja contigo".

¹⁸ O rei respondeu à mulher: "Por favor, não escondas de mim nada do que te perguntarei". A mulher replicou: "Que o rei, meu senhor, fale agora". ¹⁹ O rei disse: "Acaso não está a mão de Joabe contigo em tudo isso?". A mulher respondeu, dizendo: "Assim como tu vives, ó rei, meu senhor, ninguém pode escapar, para a direita nem para a esquerda, de nada que o rei, meu senhor, tenha dito. Foi o teu servo Joabe que me mandou e me disse para falar estas coisas que tua serva disse. ²⁰ O teu servo Joabe fez isso para mudar o curso do que está acontecendo. Meu senhor é sábio, como a sabedoria de um anjo de Deus, para entender tudo o que está acontecendo na terra".

²¹ Então, o rei disse a Joabe: "Vê agora, eu farei assim. Vai, portanto, e traz de volta o jovem Absalão". ²² Então, Joabe se prostrou com o rosto no chão, em honra e gratidão ao rei. Joabe disse: "Hoje o teu servo sabe que achou graça aos teus olhos, rei, senhor meu, porque o rei atendeu ao pedido do teu servo".

²³ Então, Joabe se levantou, foi à Gesur e trouxe Absalão de volta a Jerusalém. ²⁴ O rei disse: "Ele poderá retornar à sua casa; porém, não poderá ver a minha face". Então, Absalão retornou à sua casa, mas não viu a face do rei.

²⁵ Em todo o Israel, não havia ninguém mais aprazível e belo do que Absalão. Da sola de seu pé ao topo de sua cabeça, não havia nele defeito algum. ²⁶ Quando ele cortava o cabelo, ao final de cada ano, por lhe ser pesado, e o pesava, dava cerca de duzentos siclos, segundo a medida real. ²⁷ De Absalão nasceram três filhos e uma filha, cujo nome era Tamar. Ela era uma bela mulher.

²⁸ Absalão viveu dois anos inteiros em Jerusalém sem ver a face do rei. ²⁹ Então, Absalão mandou chamar Joabe para enviá-lo ao rei, mas Joabe não foi até ele. Absalão mandou chamá-lo uma segunda vez, mas Joabe não foi.

³⁰ Então, Absalão disse aos seus servos: "Vede! O campo de Joabe é próximo ao meu e tem cevada. Ide e ateai fogo ao campo". Então, os servos de Absalão atearam fogo no campo. ³¹ Depois, Joabe se levantou e veio até a casa de Absalão e lhe disse: "Por que teus servos atearam fogo ao meu campo?".

³² Absalão respondeu a Joabe: "Vê, eu mandei te chamar dizendo: 'Vem aqui, para que eu te mandasse ao rei para dizer-lhe: 'Por que vim de Gesur? Teria sido melhor que eu tivesse ficado lá. Agora, então, deixa-me ver a face do rei e, se sou culpado, que ele me mate'". ³³ Então, Joabe foi até o rei e lhe falou. Quando o rei chamou Absalão, ele foi até o rei e se prostrou diante dele, e o rei beijou Absalão.

Capítulo 15

¹ Aconteceu que, pouco depois disso, Absalão preparou para si uma carruagem de guerra e cavalos, e cinquenta homens para irem adiante dele. ² Absalão se levantava cedo e ficava parado à beira da estrada que levava ao portão da cidade. Quando passava algum homem, levando uma causa para o rei julgar, Absalão o chamava e dizia: "De que cidade vieste?". E ele respondia: "Teu servo é de uma das tribos de Israel".

³ Então, Absalão lhe dizia: "Olha, a tua causa é boa e reta, mas não há ninguém competente da parte do rei para ouvir-te". ⁴ Absalão dizia: "Quisera eu ser juiz na terra, a fim de que qualquer um que tivesse alguma causa ou contestação viesse a mim, e eu lhe faria justiça!".

⁵ Então, quando qualquer homem vinha ter com Absalão para honrá-lo, Absalão estendia a mão e o beijava. ⁶ Ele agia assim com todos de Israel que vinham levar uma causa para o rei julgar. Dessa forma, Absalão conquistou os corações dos homens de Israel.

⁷ No final de quatro anos, Absalão disse ao rei: "Por favor, deixa-me ir pagar um voto que fiz a Yahweh em Hebrom. ⁸ Porque teu servo fez um voto enquanto ainda estava vivendo em Gesur, na Síria, dizendo: 'Se Yahweh, de fato, me fizer voltar a Jerusalém, eu O cultuarei'".

⁹ Então, o rei lhe disse: "Vai em paz". Logo, Absalão se levantou e foi para Hebrom. ¹⁰ E ele enviou espiões por todas as tribos de Israel, dizendo: "Assim que ouvirdes o som da trombeta, vós direis: 'Absalão é rei em Hebrom!'".

¹¹ Junto de Absalão, havia duzentos homens de Jerusalém que foram convidados. Esses homens foram na sua inocência, sem saber nada do que Absalão havia planejado. ¹² Enquanto Absalão oferecia sacrifícios, mandou chamar Aitofel, de Siló, sua cidade natal. Ele era conselheiro de Davi. A conspiração de Absalão se fortalecia porque aumentava cada vez mais a quantidade de pessoas que o seguia.

¹³ Um mensageiro veio até Davi dizendo: "Os corações dos homens de Israel estão com Absalão". ¹⁴ Então, Davi disse a todos os seus servos que estavam com ele em Jerusalém: "Levantai! Fujamos, ou nenhum de nós escapará de Absalão. Preparai para partir sem demora, ou ele nos alcançará rapidamente. Ele trará sobre nós desastre e atacará a cidade com a ponta da espada". ¹⁵ Os servos do rei lhe disseram: "Olha, os teus servos estão prontos para fazer o que nosso senhor, o rei, decidir".

¹⁶ O rei partiu e, com ele, toda a sua família; porém, deixou dez concubinas para cuidarem do palácio. ¹⁷ Tendo, pois, o rei saído e todo o povo após ele, pararam na última casa. ¹⁸ Todo o seu exército marchava com ele, e adiante dele iam todos os quereteus, todos os peleteus e todos os giteus; seiscentos homens que o seguiram de Gate.

¹⁹ Então, o rei disse para Itai, o giteu: "Por que queres ir conosco? Volta e fica com o que se tornar rei, porque és estrangeiro e exilado. Retorna ao teu lugar. ²⁰ Como saíste somente ontem, por que eu deveria te fazer vagar conosco? Nem mesmo eu sei aonde estou indo; então, retorna e leva teus compatriotas de volta. Que a lealdade e a fidelidade estejam convosco".

²¹ Mas Itai respondeu ao rei, dizendo: "Tão certo como Yahweh vive, e o meu senhor, o rei, vive, aonde quer que o meu senhor, o rei, vá, lá também teu servo irá, mesmo que isso signifique viver ou morrer". ²² Então, Davi disse para Itai: "Vai, passa adiante e continua conosco". Assim, Itai, o giteu, o acompanhou, juntamente com os seus homens e todas as famílias que estavam com ele. ²³ Todo o país pranteou em alta voz enquanto passavam pelo ribeiro de Cedrom, e enquanto o próprio rei o atravessava. Todos viajavam na estrada rumo ao deserto.

²⁴ Até mesmo Zadoque e todos os levitas estavam presentes, carregando a Arca da Aliança. Eles puseram a Arca de Deus no chão e, então, Abiatar se juntou a eles. Eles esperaram até que todas as pessoas tivessem saído da cidade. ²⁵ O rei disse a Zadoque: "Carregai a Arca de Deus de volta para a cidade. Se eu achar graça aos olhos de Yahweh, Ele me trará de volta aqui e me mostrará novamente a Arca, o lugar onde Ele mora. ²⁶ Mas, se Ele disser: 'Não me agrado de ti', vê, aqui estou. Que Ele faça de mim o que Lhe aprouver".

²⁷ O rei também disse a Zadoque, o sacerdote: "Acaso não és vidente? Retorna à cidade em paz e leva os teus dois filhos contigo: Aimaaz, teu filho, e Jônatas, filho de Abiatar. ²⁸ Vê, eu esperarei nos desfiladeiros do deserto até receber notícias de vós". ²⁹ Então, Zadoque e Abiatar carregaram a Arca de Deus de volta a Jerusalém e ficaram lá.

³⁰ Mas Davi subiu o monte das Oliveiras descalço, chorando e com a cabeça coberta. Todos os homens do povo que estavam com ele cobriram as suas cabeças e subiram chorando, enquanto caminhavam. ³¹ Alguém falou com Davi, dizendo: "Aitofel está envolvido na conspiração de Absalão". Então, Davi orou: "Ó, Yahweh, por favor, torna o conselho de Aitofel em loucura".

³² Aconteceu que, quando Davi chegou ao topo da estrada, onde Deus costumava ser adorado, Husai, o arquita, veio a ele, com o seu casaco rasgado e com terra na cabeça. ³³ Davi disse lhe disse: "Se viajares comigo, serás um peso para mim, ³⁴ mas, se retornares à cidade e disseres a Absalão: 'Serei teu servo, ó rei; como fui servo de teu pai no passado, do mesmo modo serei teu servo', assim, confundirás o conselho de Aitofel para mim.

³⁵ Porventura, não terás os sacerdotes Zadoque e Abiatar contigo? Assim, o que ouvirdes no palácio do rei deverás contar a Zadoque e a Abiatar, os sacerdotes. ³⁶ Vê, ali com eles estão também os seus dois filhos, Aimaaz, filho de Zadoque, e Jônatas, filho de Abiatar. Tu deverás enviar-me, pelas mãos deles, tudo quanto ouvirdes". ³⁷ Então, Husai, amigo de Davi, voltou para a cidade, assim que Absalão chegou e entrou em Jerusalém.

Capítulo 16

¹ Quando Davi havia subido uma pequena distância do topo da montanha, Ziba, o servo de Mefibosete, veio ao seu encontro com dois jumentos selados. Sobre os jumentos, havia duzentos pães, cem cachos de passas, cem cachos de figo e um recipiente de couro com vinho. ² O rei disse a Ziba: "Por que trouxeste estas coisas?". Ziba respondeu: "Os jumentos são para o transporte da família do rei, o pão e os cachos de figo são para teus homens comerem e o vinho é para beberem aqueles que estão debilitados no deserto".

³ O rei disse: "E onde está o neto de teu senhor?". Ziba respondeu: "Ele ficou em Jerusalém, dizendo: 'Hoje, a casa de Israel restaurará, para mim, o reino de meu pai'". ⁴ Então, o rei disse a Ziba: "Tudo o que pertencia a Mefibosete agora pertence a ti". Ziba respondeu: "Eu me prostro humildemente a ti, meu senhor e rei. Que eu encontre favor aos teus olhos".

⁵ Quando o rei Davi se aproximou de Baurim, de lá saiu um homem do clã de Saul, cujo nome era Simei, filho de Gera. Este saiu amaldiçoando enquanto andava. ⁶ Atirava pedras em Davi e em todos os oficiais do rei, apesar do exército e dos guarda-costas que estavam à direita e à esquerda do rei.

⁷ Simei gritava amaldiçoando: "Vai embora, sai daqui, vilão sanguinário! ⁸ Yahweh retribuiu a todos vós pelo sangue da família de Saul, cujo trono tomaste. Yahweh entregou o reino nas mãos de Absalão, teu filho. Agora, tu estás arruinado, pois és um homem sanguinário".

⁹ Então, Abisai, filho de Zeruia, disse ao rei: "Por que deveria este cachorro morto amaldiçoar meu senhor, o rei? Por favor, deixa-me ir lá e tirar a cabeça dele". ¹⁰ Mas o rei disse: "O que tenho convosco, filhos de Zeruia? Talvez ele esteja me amaldiçoando porque Yahweh lhe disse: 'Amaldiçoa Davi'. Quem, então, poderia lhe dizer: "Por que estás amaldiçoando o rei?".

¹¹ Então, Davi disse a Abisai e a todos os seus servos: "Se meu filho, que foi gerado do meu corpo, quer tirar-me a vida, quanto mais este benjamita pode, agora, desejar minha ruína? Deixai-o sozinho e que amaldiçoe, pois Yahweh lhe ordenou que fizesse isso. ¹² Talvez, Yahweh verá a miséria lançada sobre mim, e me retribuirá com bondade pela sua maldição deste dia".

¹³ Então, Davi e seus homens viajaram pela estrada, enquanto Simei o seguia, na encosta do monte, amaldiçoando e lançando areia e pedras nele. ¹⁴ Então, o rei e todas as pessoas que estavam com ele ficaram cansadas. O rei descansou quando pararam à noite.

¹⁵ Quanto a Absalão e todos os homens de Israel que estavam com ele, chegaram a Jerusalém. E Aitofel estava com eles. ¹⁶ Quando Husai, o arquita, amigo de Davi, encontrou Absalão, disse-lhe: "Vida longa para o rei! Vida longa para o rei!".

¹⁷ Absalão disse a Husai: "Esta é a tua lealdade para com teu amigo? Por que não foste com ele?". Husai disse a Absalão: ¹⁸ "Não. O único a quem Yahweh escolheu, assim como o povo, e todos os homens de Israel, esse é o homem a quem eu pertencerei, e permanecerei com ele.

¹⁹ Também, a que homem eu deveria servir? Não deveria servir na presença de seu filho? Assim como eu servi na presença de teu pai, eu servirei em tua presença".

²⁰ Então, Absalão disse a Aitofel: "Dá-nos o teu conselho sobre o que deveríamos fazer". ²¹ Aitofel respondeu: "Dorme com as concubinas de teu pai, as quais ele deixou para cuidar do palácio, e todo o Israel ouvirá que te tornaste detestável diante de teu pai. Então, as mãos de todos os que estão contigo se fortalecerão".

²² Assim, eles armaram uma tenda para Absalão no terraço do palácio, e Absalão dormiu com as concubinas de seu pai diante dos olhos de todo o Israel. ²³ Os conselhos que Aitofel dava naqueles dias eram como se um homem os ouvisse da boca do próprio Deus. Assim eram vistos todos os conselhos de Aitofel, tanto por Davi como por Absalão.

Capítulo 17

¹ Então, Aitofel disse a Absalão: "Agora, deixa-me escolher doze mil homens. Eu me levantarei e perseguirei Davi hoje à noite. ² Irei a ele enquanto estiver cansado e o aterrorizarei; o povo que está com ele fugirá e eu atacarei somente o rei. ³ Eu trarei todo o povo de volta a ti, como uma noiva que vem ao seu marido, e todo o povo estará em paz contigo". ⁴ O que Aitofel disse agradou a Absalão e a todos os anciãos de Israel.

^5-7 Capítulo 15

⁸ Husai complementou: "Tu sabes que teu pai e seus homens são guerreiros fortes, implacáveis; são como uma ursa roubada de seus filhotes em um campo. Teu pai é um homem de guerra; ele não dormirá com o exército esta noite. ⁹ Agora, ele provavelmente está escondido em alguma cisterna ou em um outro lugar. Acontecerá que, quando alguns dos seus homens forem mortos no começo de um ataque, qualquer um que ouvir dirá: 'Aconteceu um massacre entre os soldados que seguem Absalão'. ¹⁰ Então, até os soldados mais corajosos, os de coração como de um leão, ficarão com medo; porque todo o Israel sabe que teu pai é um homem poderoso, e que os homens que estão com ele são muito fortes.

¹¹ Assim, eu recomendo que todo o Israel se reúna a ti, de Dã a Berseba, tão numeroso quanto a areia que está no mar, e que tu vás à batalha pessoalmente. ¹² Então, nós iremos até ele, onde quer que se encontre, e cairemos sobre ele como o orvalho cai sobre o chão. Nós não deixaremos nem ele, nem qualquer um de seus homens vivo.

¹³ Se ele se refugiar em alguma cidade, então, todo o Israel trará cordas para essa cidade, e nós a arrastaremos até o rio, até que não se encontre nem uma pequena pedra lá". ¹⁴ Absalão e os homens de Israel disseram: "O conselho de Husai, o arquita, é melhor do que o conselho de Aitofel". Yahweh determinara a rejeição do bom conselho de Aitofel para trazer destruição sobre Absalão.

¹⁵ Depois, Husai disse a Zadoque e a Abiatar, os sacerdotes: "Aitofel aconselhou Absalão e os anciãos de Israel de tal e tal maneira, mas eu o aconselhei de outra forma. ¹⁶ Agora, vai rapidamente e avisa a Davi, dizendo: 'Não acampes hoje à noite nos desfiladeiros de Araba, mas atravessa, sem demora, ou o rei será consumido, bem como todos os que estiverem com ele".

¹⁷ Jônatas e Aimaaz estavam perto de uma fonte em En-Rogel. Uma serva costumava ir e informar-lhes o que necessitavam saber, para que não fossem vistos entrando na cidade. Quando recebiam a mensagem, iam e contavam ao rei Davi. ¹⁸ Mas, desta vez, um jovem os viu e contou a Absalão. Então, Jônatas e Aimaaz saíram rapidamente e foram à casa de um homem, em Baurim, que tinha um poço no seu pátio, pelo qual eles desceram.

¹⁹ A esposa do homem tomou uma coberta, a estendeu sobre a boca do poço e jogou grãos sobre ela, para que ninguém soubesse que Jônatas e Aimaaz estavam no poço. ²⁰ Os homens de Absalão foram à mulher da casa e disseram: "Onde estão Aimaaz e Jônatas?". A mulher lhes disse: "Eles cruzaram o rio". Então, depois de olharem em volta e não encontrá-los, retornaram a Jerusalém.

²¹ Depois que eles partiram, Jônatas e Aimaaz saíram do poço e foram contar ao rei Davi, e disseram: "Levanta-te e atravessa rapidamente as águas, porque Aitofel deu tal e tal conselho a teu respeito". ²² Então, Davi se levantou, com todas as pessoas que estavam com ele, e cruzaram o Jordão. Até o amanhecer, nenhum deles havia falhado em cruzar o Jordão.

²³ Quando Aitofel viu que seu conselho não fora seguido, selou seu jumento e saiu. Ele foi para sua própria cidade e, em casa, colocou seus afazeres em ordem e se enforcou. Deste modo, ele morreu e foi enterrado na tumba de seu pai.

²⁴ Então, Davi veio a Maanaim. Quanto a Absalão, ele atravessou o Jordão e com ele todos os homens de Israel. ²⁵ Então, Absalão colocou Amasa no comando do exército, no lugar de Joabe. Amasa era o filho de Jéter, o ismaelita que dormira com Abigail, filha de Naás e irmã de Zeruia, a mãe de Joabe. ²⁶ Então, Israel e Absalão acamparam na terra de Gileade.

²⁷ Aconteceu que, quando Davi veio a Maanaim, Sobi, filho de Naás, de Rabá dos Amonitas, Marquir, o filho de Amiel de Lo-Debar, e Barzilai, o gileadita de Rogelim, ²⁸ trouxeram esteiras para dormir, cobertores, tigelas e potes, trigo, farinha de cevada, grãos torrados, vagem, lentilhas, ²⁹ mel, manteiga, ovelhas e derivados de leite, para que Davi e o povo que estava com ele pudessem comer. Esses homem haviam dito: "O povo está faminto, cansado e sedento no deserto".

Capítulo 18

¹ Davi contou o número de soldados que estavam com ele e nomeou-lhes capitães de mil e capitães de cem. ² Ele enviou um terço do seu exército sob o comando de Joabe, outro terço sob o comando de Abisai, filho de Zeruia, irmão de Joabe, e ainda outro terço sob o comando de Itai, o geteu. O rei disse ao exército: "Certamente, irei pessoalmente convosco".

³ Mas os homens lhe disseram: "Não deverás ir à batalha, pois, se nós fugirmos, eles não se importarão conosco, ou, se metade de nós perecer, ainda não se importarão. Porém, tu és digno de dez mil de nós! Por isso, será melhor que, na cidade, tu estejas pronto para nos ajudar". ⁴ Então, o rei respondeu-lhes: "Farei o que lhes parecer melhor". O rei estava ao lado dos portões da cidade, enquanto todo o exército saía às centenas e aos milhares.

⁵ O rei ordenou a Joabe, Abisai e Itai dizendo: "Sede cuidadosos, por minha causa, com o jovem Absalão". E todo o povo ouviu o rei ordenando isso aos capitães, a respeito de Absalão.

⁶ Então, o exército saiu para o campo, contra Israel, e a batalha se espalhou pela floresta de Efraim. ⁷ O exército de Israel foi derrotado ali, diante dos soldados de Davi e, naquele dia, houve um grande massacre de vinte mil homens. ⁸ A batalha se estendeu por todas as partes do campo e mais homens foram mortos pela floresta do que pela espada.

⁹ Absalão encontrou alguns soldados do exército de Davi. Ele montava sua mula, a qual passou sob grossos galhos de um grande carvalho. Aconteceu que a cabeça de Absalão ficou presa nos galhos da árvore; ele ficou pendurado ali, entre os galhos e o chão, enquanto a mula seguiu pelo caminho. ¹⁰ Alguém viu isso e disse a Joabe. "Olha, eu vi Absalão pendurado num carvalho!". ¹¹ Joabe disse ao homem que lhe contara sobre Absalão: "Tu o vistes! Por que não o abatestes, lançando-o por terra? Eu teria lhe dado dez siclos de prata e um cinto".

¹² O homem respondeu a Joabe: "Ainda que eu recebesse mil siclos de prata, eu não teria estendido as mãos contra o filho do rei, pois nós todos ouvimos as ordens do rei a ti, Abisai e Itai, dizendo: 'Ninguém deve tocar no jovem Absalão'. ¹³ Se eu arriscasse minha vida por essa desobediência (e nada fica em oculto ao rei), tu terias me abandonado".

¹⁴ Então, Joabe disse: "Eu não esperarei por ti". Assim, Joabe pegou três dardos e os lançou no coração de Absalão, atravessando-o quando este ainda estava vivo, pendurado no carvalho. ¹⁵ Então, dez jovens que carregavam a armadura de Joabe cercaram Absalão e o atacaram, matando-o.

¹⁶ Joabe tocou a trombeta e o exército regressou da perseguição a Israel, porque Joabe o reteve. ¹⁷ Tomaram Absalão e o lançaram numa grande cova, na floresta. Eles enterraram seu corpo sob uma grade pilha de pedras, enquanto todo o Israel fugia, cada homem para sua própria casa.

¹⁸ Ora, Absalão, quando vivo, construiu para si mesmo um grande altar no vale do rei, e disse: "Eu não tenho filho para perpetuar a memória do meu nome". Logo, ele colocou seu próprio nome naquele altar, que é chamado de Monumento a Absalão até o dia de hoje.

¹⁹ Então, Aimaaz, filho de Zadoque, disse: "Deixa-me ir correndo ao rei para levar as boas notícias, de como Yahweh o resgatou da mão dos seus inimigos". ²⁰ Joabe respondeu a ele: "Tu não serás, hoje, o portador das notícias; tu o farás em outro dia. Hoje, tu não darás nenhuma notícia porque o filho do rei está morto".

²¹ Então, Joabe disse ao cuxita: "Vai, dize ao rei o que vistes". O cuxita curvou-se diante de Joabe e correu. ²² Aimaaz, filho de Zadoque, disse novamente a Joabe: "Independentemente do que possa acontecer, por favor, deixa-me também correr e seguir o cuxita". Joabe respondeu: "Por que tu desejas correr, meu filho, visto que não terás nenhuma recompensa pela notícia?". ²³ E disse Aimaaz: "Aconteça o que for, irei". Joabe, então, respondeu: "Corra". Aimaaz correu pelo caminho da planície e ultrapassou o cuxita.

²⁴ Davi estava sentado entre os portões internos e externos. O sentinela subiu ao telhado do portão e levantou seus olhos por cima dos muros. Quando olhou, viu um homem se aproximando, correndo sozinho. ²⁵ O sentinela anunciou e disse ao rei. Então, o rei disse: "Se ele está só, deve haver notícias em seus lábios". O corredor se aproximou da cidade.

²⁶ Logo, o sentinela viu outro homem correndo, e o sentinela anunciou ao vigia do portão. Ele disse: "Olha, há outro homem correndo sozinho". O rei disse: "Ele está trazendo notícias também". ²⁷ O sentinela, disse: "Eu penso que o homem que corre na frente se parece com Aimaaz, filho de Zadoque". O rei disse: "Ele é um homem bom e está vindo com boas notícias".

²⁸ Então, Aimaaz chamou o rei: "Está tudo bem". E ele se curvou diante do rei com seu rosto na terra e disse: "Bendito seja Yahweh teu Deus! Ele entregou os homens que se levantaram contra meu senhor, o rei". ²⁹ Então, o rei respondeu: "Está tudo bem com o jovem Absalão?". Aimaaz respondeu: "Quando Joabe, o servo do rei, me enviou a ti, rei, eu vi uma grande confusão, mas eu não sabia o que era". ³⁰ O rei disse: "Fica aqui ao lado". Então, Aimaaz aguardou ali ao lado.

³¹ Imediatamente, o cuxita chegou e disse: "Tenho boas notícias ao meu senhor, o rei, pois hoje Yahweh te vingou de todos os que se levantaram contra ti". ³² O rei, então, disse ao cuxita: "Está tudo bem com o jovem Absalão?". O cuxita respondeu: "Os inimigos do meu senhor, o rei, e todos os que se levantaram contra ti para fazer-te mal sejam como aquele jovem". ³³ Então, o rei ficou profundamente abalado, subiu aos aposentos acima do portão e chorou. Andando de um lado para outro, lamentava: "Meu filho Absalão, meu filho, meu filho Absalão! Meu desejo é que eu tivesse morrido em teu lugar, Absalão, meu filho, meu filho!".

Capítulo 19

¹ Disseram a Joabe: "Vê, o rei está pranteando e lamentando por Absalão". ² Assim, a vitória daquele dia transformou-se em lamento para todo o exército, pois ouviram dizer: "O rei está chorando por seu filho".

³ Naquele dia, os soldados tiveram que entrar sorrateiramente na cidade, como povo que foge envergonhado de uma batalha. ⁴ O rei cobriu seu rosto e clamava em alta voz: "Meu filho Absalão, Absalão, meu filho, meu filho".

⁵ Então, Joabe entrou na casa do rei e lhe disse: "Tu envergonhaste os teus soldados hoje, que salvaram a tua vida e a vida dos teus filhos e filhas, e a vida de tuas esposas e de tuas concubinas, ⁶ porque amas aqueles que te odeiam, e odeias aqueles que te amam. Pois, hoje, tu demonstraste que comandantes e soldados não significam nada para ti. Acredito que, hoje, se Absalão tivesse vivido e nós todos tivéssemos morrido, isso teria te agradado.

⁷ Agora, pois, levanta-te e vai e fala bondosamente a teus soldados; porque, juro por Yahweh, se não fores, nenhum homem permanecerá contigo esta noite. Isto seria pior para ti do que todos os desastres que te aconteceram, desde a tua mocidade até agora. ⁸ Então, o rei se levantou e sentou-se no portão da cidade. Foi avisado a todos os homens: "Vede, o rei está sentado no portão". Então, o povo veio diante do rei. Os israelitas haviam fugido, cada homem para sua casa.

⁹ Todo o povo estava discutindo entre si por todas as tribos de Israel, dizendo: "O rei nos resgatou das mãos dos nossos inimigos". Ele nos livrou das mãos dos filisteus, mas fugiu da terra por causa de Absalão. ¹⁰ E Absalão, a quem ungimos sobre nós, foi morto na batalha. Então, por que não estamos considerando trazer o rei de volta?".

¹¹ O rei Davi mandou dizer aos sacerdotes Zadoque e a Abiatar: "Falai aos anciãos de Judá: 'Por que sois os últimos a trazer o rei de volta para o palácio, uma vez que os comentários de todo o Israel são favoráveis ao rei para que volte ao palácio? ¹² Vós sois meus irmãos, minha carne e meus ossos. Por que, então, sois os últimos a trazer de volta o rei?'.

¹³ Dizei a Amasa: 'Não és minha carne e meus ossos? Que Deus me castigue, ainda mais, se eu não te tornar o comandante do meu exército no lugar de Joabe'". ¹⁴ E ele conquistou o coração de todos os homens de Judá, como se fossem o coração de um só homem, de forma que disseram ao rei: "Retornai, tu e todos os teus homens". ¹⁵ Então, o rei retornou e veio para o Jordão. E os homens de Judá vieram para Gilgal para encontrarem-se com o rei e acompanhá-lo na travessia do Jordão.

¹⁶ Simei, filho de Gera, benjamita, que era de Baurim, apressou-se com os homens de Judá para encontrar o rei Davi. ¹⁷ Estavam com ele mil homens de Benjamim, também Ziba, o servo de Saul, seus quinze irmãos e vinte servos. Eles atravessaram o Jordão na presença do rei. ¹⁸ Eles atravessaram para trazer a família do rei e para fazer o que ele desejasse. Simei, filho de Gera, prostrou-se diante do rei antes que ele começasse a atravessar o Jordão.

¹⁹ Simei disse ao rei: "Meu senhor, não julgues teu servo culpado, nem traga à memória os atos que teu criado teimosamente fez naquele dia em que meu senhor, o rei, deixou Jerusalém. Porque o teu servo sabe que pecou. ²⁰ É por esta razão que, hoje, eu venho diante de ti, como o primeiro da família de José, para encontrá-lo, meu senhor, rei".

²¹ Mas Abisai, filho de Zeruia, respondeu: "Não deveria Simei ser condenado à morte por isso, por que ele amaldiçoou o ungido de Yahweh?". ²² Então, Davi disse: "O que tenho convosco, filhos de Zeruia, para que, agora, sejais meus adversários? Alguém será condenado hoje em Israel? Não sei eu que sou o rei de Israel?". ²³ Então, o rei disse a Simei: "Tu não morrerás". Isto o rei lhe prometeu com um juramento.

²⁴ Mefibosete, filho de Jônatas, filho de Saul, desceu para encontrar-se com o rei. Ele não se barbeou, nem lavou seus pés e suas vestes desde o dia em que o rei partiu até o dia em que voltou em paz para casa. ²⁵ Quando ele veio para Jerusalém para encontrar o rei, este lhe perguntou: "Por que não foste comigo, Mefibosete?".

²⁶ Ele respondeu: "Meu senhor, ó rei, meu servo enganou-me, pois eu disse: 'Selarei um burro para montar nele e ir com o rei', porque teu servo é aleijado. ²⁷ Meu servo Ziba me difamou diante do meu amado rei. Mas meu senhor, o rei, é como um anjo de Deus. Portanto, faze o que parecer bem aos teus olhos. ²⁸ Porque toda a casa de meu pai foi morta diante do meu senhor, o rei, mas tu colocaste teu servo entre todos os que comem em tua mesa. Que direito, portanto, teria eu de reclamar alguma coisa ao rei?".

²⁹ Então, o rei lhe disse: "Por que explicar mais alguma coisa? Eu decidi que tu e Ziba dividireis as terras". ³⁰ Então, Mefibosete respondeu ao rei: "Deixa que ele fique com tudo. Para mim, importa que meu senhor, o rei, tenha voltado para casa em segurança".

³¹ Barzilai, o gileadita, desceu de Rogelim e atravessou o Jordão com o rei, acompanhando-o até o outro lado. ³² Barzilai era, agora, um ancião de oitenta anos. Ele havia provido o rei com bens enquanto este esteve em Maanaim, pois era um homem muito rico. ³³ O rei disse a Barzilai: "Vem comigo e eu providenciarei para que fiques comigo em Jerusalém".

³⁴ Barzilai respondeu ao rei: "Quantos dias me restam na vida, para que eu vá com o rei para Jerusalém? ³⁵ Tenho oitenta anos. Ainda posso distinguir entre o bem e o mal? Pode o teu servo sentir o sabor do que come ou bebe? Ainda posso ouvir a voz de cantores ou cantoras? Por que, então, deveria teu servo ser um peso para meu senhor, o rei? ³⁶ Teu servo queria apenas atravessar o Jordão com o rei. Por que deveria o rei me recompensar com tão grande galardão?

³⁷ Por favor, deixa teu servo retornar ao lar para que possa morrer em minha própria cidade, diante do túmulo do meu pai e da minha mãe. Mas, vê, aqui está teu servo Quimã. Deixa-o atravessar com meu senhor, o rei, e faze-lhe o que te parecer bom".

³⁸ O rei respondeu: "Quimã irá comigo, e farei com ele o que parecer bom para ti; e tudo o que desejares de mim, eu farei a ti." ³⁹ Então, todo o povo atravessou o Jordão e o rei também o fez; o rei beijou Barzilai e o abençoou. Então, Barzilai retornou para sua própria casa.

⁴⁰ Então, o rei atravessou para Gilgal e Quimã atravessou com ele. Todo o exército de Judá e também metade do exército de Israel, trouxeram o rei. ⁴¹ Logo, todos os homens de Israel começaram a vir ao rei e dizer-lhe: "Por que nossos irmãos, homens de Judá, te roubaram de nós e trouxeram o rei e sua família além do Jordão e todos os homens de Davi com eles?".

⁴² Então, os homens de Judá responderam aos homens de Israel: "É porque o rei tem mais intimidade conosco. Por que estais com raiva disso? Comemos algo às custas do rei? Ele nos deu presentes?". ⁴³ Os homens de Israel responderam aos homens de Judá: "Temos dez tribos aparentadas com o rei; por isso, temos mais direitos a Davi que vós. Então, por que nos desprezastes? Não era nosso propósito primeiro trazer nosso rei para ser ouvido?". Mas as palavras dos homens de Judá foram ainda mais severas que as dos homens de Israel.

Capítulo 20

¹ Aconteceu de estar no mesmo lugar um homem problemático, cujo o nome era Sebá, filho de Bicri, um benjamita. Ele tocou a trombeta e disse: "Nós não temos parte com Davi, nem temos herança alguma com o filho de Jessé. Que todos os homens voltem às suas casas, Israel". ² Então, todos os homens de Israel deixaram Davi e seguiram Sebá, filho de Bicri. Mas os homens de Judá seguiram de perto o seu rei, desde o Jordão até Jerusalém.

³ Quando Davi veio ao seu palácio em Jerusalém, ele tomou as dez concubinas que havia deixado para cuidar do palácio, e as colocou em uma casa, sob guarda. Ele provia suas necessidades, mas não dormiu mais com elas. Então, elas ali ficaram até o dia de suas mortes, vivendo como se fossem viúvas.

⁴ Então, o rei disse a Amasa: "Convoca os homens de Judá dentro de três dias; Tu deverás estar aqui, também". ⁵ Então, Amasa foi convocar os homens de Judá, mas ele ficou mais tempo do que o rei havia lhe ordenado.

⁶ Então, Davi disse a Abisai: "Agora, Sebá, filho de Bicri, nos fará mais mal do que Absalão nos fez. Pega os servos do teu senhor, meus soldados, e o persiga, ou ele encontrará cidades fortificadas e escapará de nossa vista". ⁷ Então, os homens de Joabe, junto com os quereteus e os peleteus, e todos os guerreiros poderosos foram atrás de Sebá. Eles deixaram Jerusalém para perseguir o filho de Bicri.

⁸ Quando eles estavam na pedra grande que fica em Gibeão, Amasa foi encontrá-los. Joabe estava vestindo a armadura, a qual incluía um cinto ao redor da sua cintura com uma espada embainhada a ela. Enquanto ele andava, a espada caiu.

⁹ Então, Joabe disse a Amasa: "Está tudo bem contigo, meu primo?". Joabe pegou Amasa pela barba, com a mão direita, para beijá-lo. ¹⁰ Amasa não notou o punhal que estava na mão esquerda de Joabe. Joabe apunhalou Amasa no estômago e suas entranhas derramaram-se no chão. Joabe não o atingiu novamente, e Amasa morreu. Então, Joabe e Abisai, seu irmão, perseguiram Sebá, filho de Bicri.

¹¹ Um dos homens de Joabe ficou ao lado de Amasa, e disse: "Quem é a favor de Joabe e quem é a favor de Davi, siga Joabe". ¹² Amasa se revolvia sobre o seu próprio sangue no meio da estrada. Quando o homem viu que as pessoas ficavam paradas, ele carregou Amasa da estrada para dentro de um campo. Então, jogou uma capa sobre ele, porque viu que todas as pessoas que passavam por ali paravam. ¹³ Depois que Amasa foi removido da estrada, todos os homens seguiram Joabe na perseguição de Sebá, filho de Bicri.

¹⁴ Sebá passou por todas as tribos de Israel até Abel de Bete-Maaca, e por toda a terra dos beritas. Os beritas se reuniram e seguiram Sebá. ¹⁵ Joabe e seus homens o alcançaram e o cercaram em Abel de Bete Maaca. Eles construíram uma rampa junto ao muro da cidade, e todo o exército que estava com Joabe bateu contra o muro para derrubá-lo. ¹⁶ Então, uma sábia mulher gritou de dentro da cidade: "Ouve, por favor! Ouve, Joabe! Vem perto de mim para que eu possa falar contigo".

¹⁷ Então, Joabe chegou próximo a ela, e a mulher disse: "És tu, Joabe?". Ele respondeu: "Sou eu". Então, ela lhe disse: "Ouve as palavras da tua serva". Ele respondeu: "Estou ouvindo". ¹⁸ Ela continuou: "Eles costumavam dizer antigamente: 'Procura por conselhos em Abel', e aquele conselho resolveria o problema. ¹⁹ Nós somos uma das cidades mais pacíficas e fiéis em Israel. Tu estás tentando destruir uma cidade que é mãe em Israel. Por que tu queres devorar a herança de Yahweh?".

²⁰ Joabe respondeu: "Longe de mim, longe de mim que eu devore ou destrua. ²¹ Isto não é verdade. Mas um homem dos montes de Efraim, chamado Sebá, filho de Bicri, tem levantado a sua mão contra o rei, contra Davi. Entrega-me esse homem e eu me retirarei da cidade". A mulher disse a Joabe: "A cabeça dele será jogada a ti por sobre o muro". ²² E a mulher, com sua sabedoria, foi a todo o povo. Eles cortaram fora a cabeça de Sebá, filho de Bicri, e a jogaram para Joabe. Então, ele tocou a trombeta e os homens de Joabe saíram da cidade, cada um para a sua casa. E Joabe retornou a Jerusalém, para o rei.

²³ Joabe comandava todo o exército de Israel, e Benaia, filho de Joiada, comandava os quereteus e os peleteus. ²⁴ Adorão era comandante dos homens que faziam trabalhos forçados, e Josafá, filho de Ailude, era o cronista. ²⁵ Seva era escriba e Zadoque e Abiatar eram sacerdotes. ²⁶ Ira, o jairita, era ministro-chefe de Davi.

Capítulo 21

¹ No tempo do reinado de Davi, houve fome por três anos consecutivos, e Davi buscou a face de Yahweh. Então, Yahweh disse: "Essa fome está sobre vós por causa de Saul e sua família assassina, que matou os gibeonitas".

² Os gibeonitas não pertenciam ao povo de Israel, eles eram remanescentes dos amorreus. O povo de Israel jurou não matá-los, mas, mesmo assim, Saul, em seu zelo pelo povo de Israel e Judá, tentou matar todos. ³ Então, o rei Davi reuniu os gibeonitas e disse-lhes: "O que eu posso fazer por vós? Como posso fazer expiação, para que abençoeis o povo de Yahweh, que herda Sua bondade e promessas?".

⁴ Os gibeonitas responderam: "Não se trata de prata ou ouro entre nós e Saul ou sua família. E não compete a nós matar ninguém em Israel". Davi respondeu: "O que quereis que vos faça?".

⁵ Eles responderam ao rei: "O homem que tentou nos matar, que planejou contra nós para que fôssemos destruídos e ficássemos sem lugar dentro das fronteiras de Israel, ⁶ deixa que sete homens de seus descendentes nos sejam entregues, e os enforcaremos diante de Yahweh, em Gibeá de Saul, o escolhido de Yahweh". Então, o rei disse: "Eu os entregarei a vós".

⁷ Mas o rei poupou Mefibosete, filho de Jônatas, filho de Saul, por causa do juramento, feito perante Yahweh, entre Davi e Jônatas, filho de Saul. ⁸ Assim, o rei tomou os dois filhos de Rispa, filha de Aías, filhos que ela concebeu de Saul — os nomes dos dois filhos eram Armoni e Mefibosete; e Davi também pegou os cinco filhos de Mical, filha de Saul, que ela tivera com Adriel, filho de Barzilai, o meolatita. ⁹ O rei os entregou nas mãos dos gibeonitas e eles os enforcaram no monte, diante de Yahweh, e todos os sete morreram juntos. Eles foram mortos durante a época da colheita, nos primeiros dias do início da colheita da cevada.

¹⁰ Então, Rispa, filha de Aías, pegou um pano de saco e o estendeu para si sobre o monte ao lado dos corpos, desde o início da colheita, até que a chuva caiu sobre os corpos. Ela não permitiu que as aves do céu se aproximassem dos corpos durante o dia, nem animais selvagens à noite. ¹¹ Foi dito a Davi o que Rispa, filha de Aías, a esposa escrava de Saul, havia feito.

¹² Então, Davi tomou os ossos de Saul e os de seu filho Jônatas. Davi os tomou dos homens de Jabes Gileade que os havia furtado da praça de Bete-Seã, onde os filisteus haviam pendurado seus corpos, após os filisteus terem matado Saul, em Gilboa. ¹³ Davi levou dali os ossos de Saul e os ossos de seu filho Jônatas, e também juntaram os ossos dos sete homens que foram enforcados.

¹⁴ Eles enterraram os ossos de Saul e de seu filho Jônatas na terra de Benjamim, em Zela, na sepultura de Quis, seu pai. Eles fizeram tudo que o rei ordenou. Depois disso, Deus respondeu suas orações em favor da terra.

¹⁵ Os filisteus foram à guerra outra vez contra Israel. Davi foi com o seu exército e lutou contra os filisteus. Davi ficou cansado pela fadiga da batalha. ¹⁶ Isbi-Benobe, um descendente de gigantes, tinha uma lança que pesava trezentos ciclos de bronze; ele estava armado com uma espada nova e tentou matar Davi. ¹⁷ Mas Abisai, filho de Zeruia, socorreu Davi, atacou o filisteu e o matou. Então, os homens de Davi juraram para ele, dizendo: "Nunca mais sairás à batalha conosco, para que tu não apagues a lâmpada de Israel".

¹⁸ Depois disso, houve outra batalha contra os filisteus, em Gobe, quando Sibecai, o husatita, matou Safe, que era um dos descendentes de Refaim. ¹⁹ Numa outra batalha contra os filisteus, em Gobe, Elanã, filho de Jaaré-Oregim, o belemita, matou Golias, o geteu, cuja lança parecia com uma lançadeira de tecelão.

²⁰ Houve mais outra batalha em Gate, onde estava um homem de grande estatura que tinha seis dedos em cada mão e seis dedos em cada pé: vinte e quatro ao todo. Ele também era descendente de Refaim. ²¹ Quando ele desafiou Israel, Jônatas, filho de Simei, irmão de Davi, o matou. ²² Esses eram descendentes de Refaim, de Gate, e eles foram mortos pelas mãos de Davi e pelas mãos de seus soldados.

Capítulo 22

¹ Davi louvou a Yahweh, com as palavras desta canção, quando Yahweh o livrou das mãos de todos os seus inimigos e da mãos de Saul. ² Orou Davi dizendo: "Yahweh é meu rochedo, minha fortaleza e meu libertador.

³ Deus é minha rocha; Nele eu me refugio. Ele é meu escudo e a força da minha salvação, minha fortaleza e meu refúgio, Aquele que me livra da violência. ⁴ Clamarei a Yahweh, que é digno de louvor, e serei salvo dos meus inimigos.

⁵ Pois as ondas da morte me cercaram; as ondas impetuosas da destruição me submergiram. ⁶ Os cordões do Sheol me cercaram; as armadilhas de morte me prenderam.

⁷ Na minha angústia, clamei a Yahweh; clamei ao meu Deus e, do Seu Templo, Ele ouviu a minha voz, e meu clamor por socorro subiu até os Seus ouvidos.

⁸ Então, a terra sacudiu e tremeu. Os fundamentos dos céus tremeram e foram abalados, porque Deus estava irado. ⁹ Das Suas narinas, subiu fumaça, e fogo abrasador saiu de Sua boca; e essas brasas ficaram em chamas.

¹⁰ Ele abriu os céus e desceu, e, debaixo dos Seus pés, havia densas trevas. ¹¹ Ele montou num querubim e voou. Ele foi visto voando nas asas do vento. ¹² Fez das trevas uma tenda ao redor Dele, ajuntando densas nuvens de chuva no firmamento.

¹³ Do relâmpago, diante Dele, caíram brasas de fogo. ¹⁴ Yahweh trovejou dos céus. O Altíssimo bradou. ¹⁵ Ele atirou flechas e espalhou Seus inimigos com raios, e os dispersou.

¹⁶ Então, surgiram os canais de água; os fundamentos do mundo foram expostos ao brado de guerra de Yahweh, ao estrondo do sopro de Suas narinas.

¹⁷ Das alturas, estendeu Sua mão e me segurou! Ele me tirou das águas profundas. ¹⁸ Ele me resgatou do meu inimigo poderoso, daqueles que me odiavam, pois eles eram demasiadamente fortes para mim.

¹⁹ Eles vieram contra mim no dia da minha angústia, mas Yahweh foi meu suporte. ²⁰ Ele também me levou a um lugar espaçoso e me salvou porque Se agradou de mim. ²¹ Yahweh me recompensou conforme minha justiça; me restaurou conforme a pureza das minhas mãos.

²² Pois tenho guardado os caminhos de Yahweh e não ajo perversamente, desviando-me do meu Deus. ²³ Pois todos os Seus atos de justiça têm estado diante de mim; acerca dos Seus estatutos, não me desviei deles.

²⁴ Eu fui inocente diante Dele e tenho me afastado do pecado. ²⁵ Por isto, Yahweh me restaurou segundo a minha justiça, segundo a minha pureza de coração diante dos Seus olhos.

²⁶ Ao fiel, Tu te mostras fiel; ao homem íntegro, Tu te mostras íntegro. ²⁷ Com o puro de coração, Tu te mostras puro; porém, Tu te mostras implacável com o perverso.

²⁸ Tu livras o aflito, mas os Teus olhos estão contra o soberbo para humilhá-lo. ²⁹ Pois Tu, Yahweh, és minha lâmpada. Yahweh ilumina minha escuridão.

³⁰ Pois Contigo, eu posso pular uma barreira; com meu Deus, eu posso saltar uma muralha. ³¹ Quanto a Deus, Seu caminho é perfeito. A palavra de Yahweh é pura. Ele é escudo para todos os que Nele se refugiam.

³² Pois quem é Deus senão Yahweh? E quem é rocha senão nosso Deus? ³³ Deus é o meu refúgio e Ele conduz o justo no Seu caminho.

³⁴ Ele faz meus pés velozes como os da corça e me põe sobre as montanhas. ³⁵ Ele treina minhas mãos para a guerra e meus braços para vergar um arco de bronze.

³⁶ Tu me deste o escudo da Tua salvação, e o Teu favor me fez grande. ³⁷ Tu fizeste um amplo lugar debaixo dos meus pés, para que eles não escorreguem.

³⁸ Eu persegui meus inimigos e os destruí. Não recuei até que eles foram derrotados. ³⁹ Eu os devorei e os despedacei; eles não conseguiram se levantar; eles caíram debaixo dos meus pés.

⁴⁰ Tu me fortaleceste para a batalha; subjugaste debaixo dos meus pés aqueles que se levantaram contra mim. ⁴¹ Tu me deste o pescoço dos meus inimigos; eu aniquilei os que me odeiam.

⁴² Eles suplicaram por ajuda, mas ninguém os socorreu; eles gritaram por Yahweh, mas Ele não os respondeu. ⁴³ Eu os despedacei e fiz deles como poeira no chão. Eu os amassei como lama nas ruas.

⁴⁴ Tu também me resgataste das contendas do meu próprio povo. Tu tens me mantido por cabeça das nações. Um povo que não conheci, me serve. ⁴⁵ Estrangeiros foram obrigados a me reverenciar. Tão logo eles ouviram a meu respeito, me obedeceram. ⁴⁶ Os estrangeiros saíram tremendo de suas fortalezas.

⁴⁷ Yahweh vive! Seja exaltada a minha Rocha! Seja Deus exaltado, a Rocha da minha salvação! ⁴⁸ Este é o Deus que executa vingança em meu favor; Aquele que sujeita povos a mim. ⁴⁹ Ele me liberta dos meus inimigos. Na verdade, Tu me ergueste acima daqueles que se levantaram contra mim. Tu me resgatas do homem violento.

⁵⁰ Por isso, eu Te darei graças, ó Yahweh, entre as nações; cantarei louvores ao Teu nome. ⁵¹ Deus concede grande vitória ao Seu rei, e Ele revela Sua aliança de lealdade ao Seu ungido, a Davi e aos seus descendentes, para sempre".

Capítulo 23

¹ Estas são as últimas palavras de Davi — Davi, filho de Jessé, o homem que foi altamente honrado, aquele que foi ungido pelo Deus de Jacó, o amável salmista de Israel: ² "O Espírito de Yahweh falou por mim, e Sua palavra estava em minha boca.

³ O Deus de Israel falou, a Rocha de Israel me disse: 'Aquele que governa corretamente sobre os homens, que governa no temor de Deus, ⁴ é como a luz da manhã quando o sol nasce, como uma manhã sem nuvens, quando a tenra grama nasce na terra, através da brilhante luz do sol, depois da chuva'.

⁵ De fato, minha família não é assim diante de Deus? Não fez Ele um pacto eterno comigo, ordenando segurança por todo o caminho? Não me dará Ele êxito?

⁶ Porém, o indigno será como espinhos para serem lançados fora, porque não podem ser colhidos com as mãos. ⁷ O homem que os tocar deve usar uma ferramenta de ferro, ou o cabo de uma lança. Devem ser queimados onde se encontram".

⁸ Estes são os nomes dos soldados de elite de Davi: Josebe-Bassete, o taquemonita, era o líder dos soldados de elite; ele matou oitocentos homens em certa ocasião.

⁹ Depois dele, estava Eleazar, filho de Dodô, um dos três poderosos homens de Davi. Estava presente quando desafiaram os filisteus que haviam se concentrado para batalhar, quando os homens de Israel retrocederam. ¹⁰ Eleazar se levantou e combateu os filisteus até sua mão ficar cansada, e ficar grudada no cabo de sua espada. Yahweh trouxe uma grande vitória naquele dia. O exército retornou após Eleazar, apenas para despojar os corpos.

¹¹ Depois dele, era Samá, filho de Agé, o hararita. Os filisteus se concentraram onde havia um campo de lentilhas, e o exército fugiu deles. ¹² Porém, Samá se levantou no meio do campo e o defendeu. Ele matou os filisteus, e Yahweh trouxe grande vitória.

¹³ Três dos trinta soldados desceram a Davi no tempo da colheita, na caverna de Adulão. O exército dos filisteus estava acampado no vale de Refaim. ¹⁴ Naquele tempo, Davi estava em sua fortaleza, uma caverna, enquanto os filisteus se estabeleceram em Belém.

¹⁵ Davi estava desejoso por água, e disse: "Se ao menos alguém me desse água para beber do poço em Belém, o poço que está perto do portão!". ¹⁶ Então, esses três poderosos homens romperam por entre o exército dos filisteus, e tiraram água do poço de Belém, o poço do portão. Pegaram a água e a levaram a Davi; este, porém, recusou-se a beber. Ao invés disso, ele a derramou para Yahweh. ¹⁷ Então, ele disse: "Longe de mim, Yahweh, que eu fizesse isso. Deveria eu beber o sangue de homens que arriscaram suas vidas?". Assim, ele se recusou a beber. Essas são coisas que os três homens poderosos fizeram.

¹⁸ Abisai, irmão de Joabe e filho de Zeruia, era o capitão sobre os três. Uma vez, combateu com sua lança contra trezentos homens, e os matou. Foi mencionado muitas vezes com os três soldados. ¹⁹ Não era ainda mais famoso do que os três? Foi feito capitão deles. De qualquer forma, sua fama não se igualava à fama dos três soldados mais famosos.

²⁰ Benaia, de Cabzeel, era filho de Joiada; ele era um homem forte que realizou poderosos feitos. Matou os dois filhos de Ariel, de Moabe. Também desceu em uma cova e matou um leão, enquanto nevava. ²¹ Matou um homem egípcio muito grande. O egípcio tinha uma lança em sua mão, e Benaia o combateu com apenas um cajado. Ele arrancou a lança da mão do egípcio, e o matou com ela.

²² Benaia, filho de Joiada, realizou esses feitos e foi nomeado ao lado dos três homens poderosos. ²³ Foi mais estimado que os trinta soldados em geral, mas não foi tão estimado quanto os três soldados de elite. Ainda assim, Davi o colocou encarregado de sua guarda.

²⁴ Os trinta incluíam os seguintes homens: Asael, irmão de Joabe; Elanã, filho de Dodô, de Belém; ²⁵ Samá, o harodita; Elica, o harodita; ²⁶ Heles, o paltita; Ira, filho de Iques, o tecoíta; ²⁷ Abiezer, o anatotita; Mebunai, o husatita; ²⁸ Zalmom, o aoíta; Maarai, o netofatita;

²⁹ Helebe, filho de Baaná, o neofatita; Itai, filho de Ribai, de Gibeá, dos filhos de Benjamin; ³⁰ Benaia, o piratonita; Hidai, do ribeiro de Gaás; ³¹ Abi-Albom, o arbatita; Azmavete, o barumita; ³² Eliaba, o saalbonita; os filhos de Jasém; Jônatas;

³³ Sama, o hararita; Aião, filho de Sarar, o hararita; ³⁴ Elifelete, filho de Aasbai, o maacatita; Eliã, filho de Aitofel, o gilonita; ³⁵ Hezrai, o carmelita; Paarai, o arbita; ³⁶ Igal, filho de Natã, de Zobá; Bani da tribo de Gade,

³⁷ Zeleque, o amonita; Naarai, o beerotita, o carregador de armas de Joabe, filho de Zeruia; ³⁸ Ira, o itrita; Garebe, o itrita; ³⁹ Urias, o heteu — trinta e sete ao todo.

Capítulo 24

¹ Novamente, a ira de Yahweh se acendeu contra Israel, e incitou Davi contra eles, dizendo: "Vai, faz a contagem em Israel e Judá". ² O rei disse a Joabe, comandante do exército, que estava com ele: "Vai a todas as tribos de Israel, desde Dã até Berseba, e conta todo o povo; assim, saberás o número total de homens capacitados para a batalha".

³ Joabe disse ao rei: "Que Yahweh, teu Deus, multiplique cem vezes o número de pessoas e que os olhos do meu senhor, o rei, vejam isto acontecer. Porém, por que meu rei quer isto?". ⁴ Mesmo assim, a palavra do rei foi contra Joabe e contra os comandantes do exército. Então, Joabe e os comandantes saíram da presença do rei para contar o povo.

⁵ Eles atravessaram o Jordão e acamparam perto de Aroer, num vale ao sul da cidade. Viajaram por Gade até Jazer. ⁶ Foram a Gileade e para a terra de Cades dos heteus, e depois dali, foram para Da-Jaã e rodearam até Sidom. ⁷ Depois, foram à fortaleza de Tiro e a todas as cidades dos heveus e dos cananeus; foram a Berseba, ao sul de Judá.

⁸ Quando eles passaram por toda a terra, voltaram para Jerusalém ao final de nove meses e vinte dias. ⁹ Então, Joabe apresentou ao rei o total da contagem dos guerreiros. Havia ali oitocentos mil homens valentes que usavam a espada, e quinhentos mil em Judá.

¹⁰ Mas o coração de Davi se entristeceu depois de ter feito a contagem dos homens. Ele disse a Yahweh: "Pequei gravemente por fazer isto. Agora, Yahweh, perdoa o Teu servo, porque o que fiz foi uma loucura".

¹¹ Quando Davi se levantou pela manhã, a palavra de Yahweh veio ao profeta Gade, vidente de Davi, dizendo: ¹² "Vai e dize a Davi: 'Assim diz Yahweh: Eu te dou três escolhas; escolhe uma delas'".

¹³ Então, Gade foi a Davi e lhe disse: "Preferes três anos de fome na tua terra? Ou três meses de perseguição dos teus inimigos? Ou três dias de peste na tua terra? Decide qual é a resposta que vou dizer a quem me enviou". ¹⁴ Então, disse Davi a Gade: "Estou com uma grande angústia. Prefiro que caiamos nas mãos de Yahweh, melhor do que nas mãos dos homens, porque Suas misericórdias são muitas".

¹⁵ Então, Yahweh enviou a peste sobre Israel, de manhã até o tempo determinado, e morreram setenta mil homens do povo, desde Dã até Berseba. ¹⁶ Quando o anjo estendeu a sua mão sobre Jerusalém para destruí-la, Yahweh se arrependeu, por causa do prejuízo que iria causar, e disse ao anjo que estava destruindo o povo: "Basta! Agora, retira tua mão". Naquela hora, o Anjo de Yahweh estava ao longo da eira de Araúna, o jebuseu.

¹⁷ Davi falou a Yahweh, quando viu o anjo que havia atacado o povo, e disse: "Pequei e agi irresponsavelmente. Mas estas ovelhas o que fizeram? Por favor, castiga a mim e à família do meu pai!".

¹⁸ Então, naquele dia, Gade veio a Davi e lhe disse: "Vai e levanta um altar para Yahweh na eira de Araúna, o jebuseu". ¹⁹ Então, Davi fez conforme Gade lhe instruiu, assim como Yahweh ordenara. ²⁰ Araúna viu o rei e seus soldados se aproximando; então, saiu e se prostrou ao rei, com o rosto no chão.

²¹ Então, disse Araúna: "Por que veio o rei, meu senhor, a teu servo?". Davi respondeu: "Para comprar a tua eira, assim poderei levantar um altar para Yahweh, para que a peste seja removida do povo". ²² Araúna disse a Davi: "Toma-a como tua propriedade, meu senhor e rei; faz com ela o que bem lhe parecer. Vê, aqui estão os bois para oferecer, e o debulhador e a madeira para a lenha. ²³ Tudo isto, meu rei, eu, Araúna, darei a ti". Disse ele ainda: "Yahweh, teu Deus, se agrade de ti".

²⁴ O rei disse a Araúna: "Não. Eu insisto em comprar pelo seu valor. Não oferecerei a Yahweh holocausto que não me custou nada". Assim, Davi comprou a eira e os bois por cinquenta ciclos de prata. ²⁵ Davi construiu o altar a Yahweh e ofereceu o holocausto e a oferta queimada. Assim, Yahweh tornou-Se favorável para com a terra, e a peste parou em Israel.

1 Kings

Capítulo 1

¹ O rei Davi já estava velho e avançado em idade. Eles o cobriam com cobertores, mas ele não conseguia se manter aquecido. ² Então, seus servos disseram a ele: "Deixa que procuremos uma jovem virgem, para nosso mestre, o rei; que ela sirva ao rei e cuide dele, que ela deite em seus braços, para que o rei se mantenha aquecido".

³ Então eles procuraram uma linda moça dentro de todas as fronteiras de Israel. Eles encontraram Abisague, a sunamita, e a levaram para o rei. ⁴ A moça era muito bonita. Ela serviu o rei e cuidou dele, mas o rei não teve relações sexuais com ela.

⁵ Naquele tempo, Adonias, filho de Hagite, exaltava a si mesmo, dizendo: "Eu serei o rei". Então preparou para si carruagens e cavaleiros, com cinquenta homens, que corressem adiante dele. ⁶ Seu pai nunca o tinha confrontado, dizendo: "Por que fizeste isto ou aquilo?". Adonias era também um homem muito bonito, e nasceu depois de Absalão.

⁷ Ele discutiu seus planos com Joabe, filho de Zeruia, e com Abiatar, o sacerdote. Eles seguiram Adonias e o ajudaram. ⁸ Mas Zadoque, o sacerdote, Benaia, filho de Joiada, o profeta Natã, Simei, Reí, e os homens poderosos que pertenciam a Davi não seguiram a Adonias.

⁹ Adonias sacrificou, junto à pedra de Zoe-lete que está junto a En-Rogel, ovelhas, bois, e bezerros engordados. Ele convidou todos os seus irmãos, os filhos do rei, e todos os homens de Judá, os servos do rei; ¹⁰ mas ele não convidou o profeta Natã, Benaia, os homens poderosos, e nem seu irmão, Salomão.

¹¹ Então Natã falou com Bate-Seba, mãe de Salomão, dizendo: "Tu não ouviste que Adonias, filho de Hagite, tornou-se rei; e Davi, nosso senhor, não sabe disso? ¹² Agora, portanto, deixa-me te dar um conselho, para que salves a tua própria vida, e a vida de teu filho, Salomão.

¹³ Vai até o rei Davi, e dize-lhe: 'Meu senhor, o rei, tu não juraste a tua serva dizendo: 'Certamente, teu filho, Salomão, reinará depois de mim, e, ele sentará no meu trono?' Por que, então, está Adonias reinando?' ¹⁴ Enquanto tu estiveres ali falando com o rei, eu entrarei depois de ti, e confirmarei tuas palavras".

¹⁵ Então Bate-Seba entrou no quarto do rei. O rei estava muito velho, e Abisague, a sunamita, estava servindo o rei. ¹⁶ Bate-seba se inclinou e se prostrou perante o rei. E o rei disse: "O que desejas?" ¹⁷ Ela disse-lhe: "Meu mestre, tu juraste à tua serva por Yahweh, teu Deus, dizendo: 'Certamente, Salomão, teu filho, reinará depois de mim e sentará no meu trono'.

¹⁸ Agora veja, Adonias é rei, e tu, meu senhor, o rei, não sabes disso. ¹⁹ Ele sacrificou bois, bezerros engordados, e ovelhas em abundância, e convidou todos os filhos do rei, Abiatar (o sacerdote), e Joabe (o capitão do exército), mas ele não convidou Salomão, teu servo.

²⁰ Porém, meu mestre, o rei, os olhos de todo Israel estão em ti, esperando que tu digas a eles quem vai sentar no trono, depois de ti, meu senhor. ²¹ De outro modo, quando meu senhor, o rei, repousar com seus pais, eu e meu filho Salomão seremos considerados criminosos".

²² Enquanto ela ainda falava com o rei, o profeta Natã entrou. ²³ Os servos disseram ao rei: "O profeta Natã está aqui". Quando ele veio diante do rei, prostrou-se perante o rei com seu rosto no chão.

²⁴ Natã disse: "Meu senhor, o rei, tu disseste: 'Adonias reinará depois de mim, e sentará no meu trono?' ²⁵ Pois ele desceu hoje e sacrificou bois, bezerros engordados, e ovelhas em abundância, e convidou todos os filhos do rei, os capitães do exército, e Abiatar, o sacerdote. Eles estão comendo e bebendo diante dele, e dizendo: 'Viva o rei Adonias!'

²⁶ Mas, quanto a mim, teu servo, Zadoque (o sacerdote), Benaia (filho de Joiada) e o teu servo Salomão, ele não nos convidou. ²⁷ Meu senhor, o rei, tu fizeste isso sem contar a nós, teus servos, quem sentaria no trono depois de ti?"

²⁸ Então o rei Davi respondeu a ele, e disse: "Chama Bate-Seba de volta a mim". Ela veio até a presença do rei, e ficou em pé diante dele. ²⁹ O rei fez um juramento, dizendo: "Assim como vive Yahweh, que me redimiu de toda angústia, ³⁰ assim como eu te jurei por Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, dizendo: 'Salomão, teu filho, reinará depois de mim e sentará no meu trono, no meu lugar'. Eu farei isso hoje!" ³¹ Então Bate-Seba inclinou seu rosto no chão, e se prostrou diante do rei, e disse: "Que meu senhor, o rei Davi, viva para sempre!"

³² O rei Davi disse: "Chamai a mim Zadoque (o sacerdote), Natã (o profeta), e Benaia (filho de Joiada)". Então, eles vieram perante o rei. ³³ O rei lhes disse: "Levai convosco os servos de vosso mestre e fazei com que Salomão, meu filho, monte em minha própria mula, e levai-o para Giom. ³⁴ Deixai que o sacerdote Zadoque e o profeta Natã o unjam rei sobre Israel, e tocai a trombeta, e dizei: 'Viva o rei Salomão!'

³⁵ Então vinde vós depois dele, e ele virá e se sentará no meu trono, pois ele será rei no meu lugar. Eu o designei para governar sobre todo Israel e Judá". ³⁶ Benaia, filho de Joiada, respondeu ao rei, dizendo: "Que assim seja! Que Yahweh, o Deus do meu senhor, o rei, confirme isto. ³⁷ Como Yahweh esteve com meu mestre, o rei, que assim Ele esteja com Salomão, e faça seu trono maior do que o trono do meu senhor, o rei Davi".

³⁸ Então o sacerdote Zadoque, o profeta Natã, Benaia, filho de Joiada, os quereteus, e os peleteus desceram e fizeram com que Salomão andasse na mula do rei Davi; eles o levaram para Giom. ³⁹ Zadoque, o sacerdote, tirou o vaso de azeite do tabernáculo e ungiu Salomão. Então eles tocaram a trombeta, e todo o povo disse: "Viva o rei Salomão!" ⁴⁰ Todo o povo subiu após ele tocando flautas e regozijando-se com grande alegria, de modo que a terra tremia com o barulho.

⁴¹ Enquanto terminavam de comer, Adonias e todos os convidados que estavam com ele ouviram o barulho. Quando Joabe ouviu o som da trombeta, disse: "Por que a cidade está tão barulhenta?" ⁴² Enquanto ele ainda falava, Jônatas, filho de Abiatar, o sacerdote, chegou. Adonias disse: "Entra, pois tu és um homem honrado e traz boas notícias".

⁴³ Jônatas respondeu e disse a Adonias: "Nosso senhor, o rei Davi, constituiu a Salomão como rei. ⁴⁴ E o rei enviou com ele o sacerdote Zadoque, o profeta Natã, Benaia, filho de Joiada, os quereteus e os peleteus. Eles fizeram com que Salomão cavalgasse na mula do rei. ⁴⁵ O sacerdote Zadoque e o profeta Natã ungiram Salomão como rei em Giom, e estão subindo de lá regozijando, por isso é que a cidade está barulhenta. Esse é o barulho que tu estás ouvindo.

⁴⁶ Também Salomão está sentando no trono do reino. ⁴⁷ Além disso, os servos do rei vieram abençoar nosso senhor, rei Davi, dizendo: 'Que o teu Deus faça o nome de Salomão maior que o teu nome, e faça o trono dele maior do que o teu trono'. E o rei inclinou-se na cama. ⁴⁸ O rei também disse: 'Bendito seja Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, que providenciou uma pessoa para sentar no meu trono neste dia, e que meus próprios olhos pudessem ver isso".

⁴⁹ Então todos os convidados de Adonias ficaram apavorados. Eles se levantaram, e cada homem seguiu seu caminho. ⁵⁰ Adonias ficou com medo de Salomão e, levantando-se, foi e agarrou as pontas do altar. ⁵¹ Então disseram a Salomão: "Vê, Adonias está com medo do rei Salomão, pois ele está agarrado às pontas do altar dizendo: 'Que o rei Salomão jure-me primeiramente que não matará seu servo com a espada'".

⁵² Salomão disse: "Se ele se mostrar um homem digno, nenhum fio de seu cabelo cairá em terra, mas, se for encontrado nele maldade, ele morrerá". ⁵³ Então o rei Salomão enviou homens que fizeram Adonias descer do altar. Ele veio e se inclinou ao rei Salomão, e Salomão disse-lhe: "Vai para tua casa!"

Capítulo 2

¹ Quando o dia da morte de Davi se aproximou, ele deu ordens a Salomão seu filho, dizendo: ² "Eu estou indo no caminho de toda a terra. Portanto sê forte, e age como homem. ³ Guarda os mandamentos de Yahweh, teu Deus, para andar em Seus caminhos, para obedecer Seus estatutos, Seus mandamentos, Suas decisões e Seus decretos da aliança, tendo o cuidado de fazer o que está escrito na lei de Moisés, para que prosperes em tudo que fizeres, aonde quer que fores, ⁴ para que Yahweh cumpra a palavra que Ele falou acerca de mim, dizendo: 'Se teus filhos, cuidadosamente, observarem seus comportamentos, para andarem diante de Mim, fielmente, com todo o seu coração e com toda a sua alma, nunca cessarás de ter um homem no trono de Israel'.

⁵ Sabes também o que Joabe, filho de Zeruia, me fez. Ele matou os dois comandantes dos exércitos de Israel: Abner, filho de Ner, e Amasa, filho de Jéter. Ele derramou o sangue de guerra em tempo de paz e colocou o sangue de guerra no cinto em volta de sua cintura e nos sapatos que ele calçava. ⁶ Faze com Joabe conforme a tua sabedoria, mas não deixes que a sua cabeça grisalha desça à sepultura em paz.

⁷ Contudo, mostra bondade com os filhos de Barzilai, o gileadita, e coloca-os entre aqueles que comem à tua mesa, pois eles vieram a mim, quando eu fugi de Absalão, teu irmão.

⁸ Vê, está contigo Simei, filho de Gera, o benjamita de Baurim, o qual me amaldiçoou com uma terrível maldição, no dia em que eu ia para Maanaim. Simei desceu para me encontrar no rio Jordão, e eu jurei pelo nome de Yahweh, dizendo: 'Não te matarei pela espada'. ⁹ Agora, portanto, não o deixes escapar sem punição. Tu és um homem sensato, e saberás o que deves fazer com ele. Tu farás que sua cabeça grisalha desça à sepultura com sangue".

¹⁰ Então Davi morreu e foi sepultado com seus antepassados, na cidade de Davi. ¹¹ O reinado de Davi foi de quarenta anos. Ele reinou por sete anos em Hebrom e por trinta e três anos em Jerusalém. ¹² Então Salomão assentou-se no trono de Davi, seu pai, e seu governo foi firmemente estabelecido.

¹³ Então Adonias, filho de Hagite, veio a Bate-Seba, mãe de Salomão. Ela perguntou: "Vieste pacificamente?" Ele respondeu: "Pacificamente". ¹⁴ Ele disse: "Tenho algo para dizer-te". Ela respondeu: "Fala". ¹⁵ Adonias disse: "Tu sabes que o reino era meu e que todo o Israel esperava que me tornasse rei. Contudo o reino foi transferido para meu irmão, porque ele o recebeu de Yahweh.

¹⁶ Agora um só pedido te faço, não me rejeites". Bate-Seba disse-lhe: "Fala". ¹⁷ Ele disse: "Por favor, fala com o rei Salomão, pois ele não te recusará, para que ele me dê Abisague, a sunamita, como minha esposa". ¹⁸ Bate-Seba disse: "Muito bem, falarei com o rei".

¹⁹ Então Bate-Seba foi até o rei Salomão para falar com ele em favor de Adonias. O rei levantou-se para saudá-la e inclinou-se diante dela. Então ele se assentou em seu trono e mandou que trouxessem um trono para sua mãe. Ela se assentou à sua direita. ²⁰ Ela lhe disse: "Desejo fazer um pequeno pedido para ti. Não me recuses". O rei respondeu: "Pede, minha mãe, porque não te recusarei". ²¹ Ela disse: "Permite que Abisague, a sunamita, seja dada como mulher para Adonias, teu irmão".

²² O rei Salomão respondeu para sua mãe: "Por que tu me pedes Abisague, a sunamita, para Adonias? Por que não me pedes o reino também para ele, porque ele é meu irmão mais velho; para ele, para o sacedorte Abiatar e para Joabe, filho de Zeruia?". ²³ Então o rei Salomão jurou por Yahweh, dizendo: "Que Deus faça comigo, e também mais, se Adonias não falou essa palavra contra a sua própria vida.

²⁴ Agora, portanto, como Yahweh vive, que me estabeleceu e me colocou no trono de Davi, meu pai, e que me fez uma casa, como Ele prometeu, certamente, hoje Adonias será morto". ²⁵ Assim, o rei Salomão enviou Benaia, filho de Joiada, e ele achou Adonias e o matou.

²⁶ Depois, o rei disse ao sacerdote Abiatar: "Vai para Anatote, para os teus campos. Tu és digno de morte, mas não te matarei agora, porque tu carregaste a arca do Senhor Yahweh diante de Davi, meu pai, e participaste de todas as aflições de meu pai". ²⁷ Assim, Salomão expulsou Abiatar para que não fosse sacerdote de Yahweh, para que se cumprisse a palavra de Yahweh, a qual Ele dissera acerca da família de Eli, em Siló.

²⁸ As notícias chegaram para Joabe, pois Joabe tinha apoiado Adonias, embora não tivesse apoiado Absalão. Assim, Joabe fugiu para a Tenda de Yahweh e segurou-se nas pontas do altar. ²⁹ Disseram ao rei Salomão que Joabe fugira para o Tabernáculo de Yahweh e agora estava ao lado do altar. Então Salomão enviou Benaida, filho de Joiada, dizendo: "Vai e mata-o!"

³⁰ Então Benaia chegou até o Tabernáculo de Yahweh e disse-lhe: "O rei disse: 'Sai'". Joabe respondeu: "Não. Morrerei aqui". Então, Benaia retornou para o rei, dizendo: "Joabe disse que ficará e morrerá no altar". ³¹ O rei disse para Benaia: "Faze como ele disse. Mata-o e enterra-o, para que tires de mim, e da casa de meu pai, o sangue que Joabe derramou sem causa.

³² Que Yahweh faça recair seu sangue sobre a sua própria cabeça, porque ele atacou dois homens mais justos e melhores que ele e matou-os com a espada: Abner, filho de Ner, o capitão do exército de Israel, e Amasa, filho de Jéter, o capitão do exército de Judá, sem que meu pai soubesse disso. ³³ Assim o sangue deles recaia sobre a cabeça de Joabe e sobre a cabeça de seus descendentes para sempre. Mas, para Davi e sua descendência, e para sua casa, e para seu trono, haja paz de Yahweh para sempre".

³⁴ Então, Benaia filho de Joiada, subiu e atacou Joabe e o matou. Ele foi enterrado em sua própria casa, no deserto. ³⁵ O rei colocou Benaia, filho de Joiada, sobre o exército, no lugar de Joabe, e colocou Zadoque, o sacerdote, no lugar de Abiatar.

³⁶ Então o rei mandou chamar Simei e lhe disse: "Constrói para ti uma casa em Jerusalém e habita lá, e não saias dela para nenhum outro lugar. ³⁷ Porque, no dia em que saíres e atravessares o vale de Cedrom, sabe tu que certamente morrerás. Teu sangue será sobre tua própria cabeça". ³⁸ Então, Simei respondeu ao rei: "O que disseste é bom. Como meu senhor, o rei, disse, assim teu servo fará". Assim, Simei habitou em Jerusalém por muitos dias.

³⁹ Ao fim de três anos, porém, dois dos servos de Simei fugiram para Aquis, filho de Maaca, o rei de Gate. E disseram a Simei: "Vê, teus servos estão em Gate". ⁴⁰ Então Simei se levantou, selou seu jumento e foi ao encontro de Aquis, em Gate, para buscar seus servos. Ele foi e os trouxe de volta de Gate.

⁴¹ Quando Salomão soube que Simei havia saído de Jerusalém para Gate e havia retornado, ⁴² o rei mandou chamá-lo e lhe disse: "Eu não te fiz jurar por Yahweh e testifiquei contra ti, dizendo: 'Sabe que, certamente, no dia em que saíres e fores para algum outro lugar, tu certamente morrerás'? Então tu me falaste: 'O que tu disseste é bom'.

⁴³ Por que, então, não guardaste teu juramento a Yahweh e a ordem que eu dei para ti?" ⁴⁴ O rei também disse para Simei: "Tu sabes, no teu coração, toda a maldade que fizeste a Davi, meu pai. Portanto Yahweh retornará tua maldade sobre tua própria cabeça.

⁴⁵ Todavia o rei Salomão será abençoado, e o trono de Davi será estabelecido perante Yahweh para sempre". ⁴⁶ Então o rei deu ordem a Benaia, filho de Joiada, ele saiu e matou Simei. Assim foi confirmado o reino na mão de Salomão.

Capítulo 3

¹ Salomão aliou-se por casamento a Faraó, rei do Egito. Tomou a filha do Faraó e trouxe-a para a cidade de Davi, até que ele terminasse de construir seu próprio palácio, a casa de Yahweh, e o muro ao redor de Jerusalém. ² As pessoas sacrificavam nos lugares altos, porque, até então, nenhuma casa havia sido construída para o nome de Yahweh. ³ Salomão demonstrava seu amor por Yahweh, andando nos estatutos de Davi, seu pai. Porém ele sacrificava e queimava incenso nos lugares altos.

⁴ O rei foi a Gibeão para ali sacrificar, pois lá estava o altar mais importante do monte. Salomão ofereceu mil ofertas queimadas sobre aquele altar. ⁵ Em Gibeão, Yahweh apareceu à noite a Salomão, em um sonho, e lhe disse: "Pede! O que deveria eu dar a ti?"

⁶ Então Salomão disse: "Tu demonstraste grande fidelidade à aliança com Teu servo Davi, meu pai, porque ele andou diante de Ti em fidelidade, em justiça e em retidão de coração. Tu o preservaste em Teu grande amor leal e lhe deste um filho para hoje sentar no trono dele.

⁷ Agora, Yahweh, meu Deus, Tu fizeste Teu servo como rei no lugar de Davi, meu pai, ainda que eu seja apenas uma criança. Eu não sei direito como sair nem como entrar. ⁸ Teu servo está no meio do povo que Tu escolheste, um povo grande, numeroso demais para ser numerado ou contado. ⁹ Portanto, dá a Teu servo um coração sábio para julgar o Teu povo, para que eu possa discernir entre o bem e o mal. Pois quem seria capaz de julgar este Teu grande povo?"

¹⁰ Esse pedido de Salomão agradou ao Senhor. ¹¹ Então Deus disse a ele: "Porque tu pediste esta coisa e não pediste para ti uma vida longa ou riquezas ou a vida dos teus inimigos, mas pediste para ti entendimento para discernir a justiça, ¹² vê, agora, farei tudo o que tu me pediste segundo as tuas palavras. Eu te darei um coração de sabedoria e entendimento, como ninguém teve antes de ti, e ninguém igual a ti se levantará depois de ti.

¹³ Eu também te dou o que não pediste, tanto riquezas quanto honra, de modo que não haverá entre os reis ninguém igual a ti durante todos os teus dias. ¹⁴ Se tu andares nos Meus caminhos, para guardares os Meus estatutos e os Meus mandamentos, como teu pai Davi andou, então, prolongarei os teus dias".

¹⁵ Então Salomão acordou, e eis que era um sonho. Ele foi a Jerusalém e se pôs diante da Arca da Aliança do Senhor. Fez ofertas queimadas e ofertas de paz e fez um banquete para todos os seus servos.

¹⁶ Depois disso, duas mulheres prostitutas vieram ao rei e se puseram diante dele. ¹⁷ Uma mulher lhe disse: "Ah, meu senhor, esta mulher e eu moramos na mesma casa, e eu dei à luz uma criança, com ela na casa.

¹⁸ Aconteceu que, no terceiro dia depois do parto, essa mulher também deu à luz. Nós estávamos juntas. Não havia mais ninguém conosco na casa, mas somente nós duas na casa. ¹⁹ Então o filho dessa mulher morreu numa noite, porque ela se deitou sobre ele. ²⁰ Então ela se levantou à meia-noite e tomou o meu filho do meu lado, enquanto a tua serva dormia, deitou-o no seio dela e deitou o filho morto dela em meu seio.

²¹ Quando eu levantei pela manhã, para amamentar meu filho, ele estava morto. Mas, quando eu olhei cuidadosamente para ele, ao amanhecer, ele não era o filho que eu dei à luz". ²² Em seguida, a outra mulher disse: "Não, o vivo é meu filho, e o morto é teu filho". A primeira mulher disse: "Não, o que está morto é teu filho, e o vivo é meu filho". E, assim, elas falaram perante o rei.

²³ Então o rei disse: "Uma de vós diz: 'Este é o meu filho, o que está vivo, e, teu filho está morto', e a outra diz: 'Não, teu filho está morto, e o meu filho é o que está vivo'". ²⁴ O rei disse: "Trazei-me uma espada". Assim, eles trouxeram uma espada diante do rei. ²⁵ Em seguida, o rei disse: "Dividi em duas a criança que vive. Dai metade a uma mulher e metade à outra".

²⁶ Então a mulher cujo filho estava vivo falou ao rei, pois seu coração estava cheio de compaixão por seu filho, e ela disse: "Ah, meu mestre, dá a criança viva a ela, e de modo algum a mates". Mas a outra mulher disse: "Ela não será minha nem tua. Divide-a". ²⁷ Então o rei respondeu e disse: "Dai à primeira mulher a criança viva; de modo algum, a mates. Ela é a mãe". ²⁸ Quando todo o Israel ouviu o julgamento que o rei havia tomado, eles temeram o rei, porque viram que a sabedoria de Deus estava nele para dar julgamentos.

Capítulo 4

¹ O rei Salomão era rei sobre todo o Israel. ² Estes eram seus oficiais: Azarias, filho de Zadoque, era o sacerdote; ³ Eliorefe e Aías, filhos de Sisa, eram secretários; Josafá, filho de Ailude, foi cronista; ⁴ Benaia, filho de Joiada, era chefe do exército; Zadoque e Abiatar eram sacerdotes. ¹

⁵ Azarias, filho de Natã, era chefe dos oficiais. Zabude, filho de Natã, era sacerdote e amigo do rei. ⁶ Aisar era mordomo da casa. Adonirão, filho de Abda, era chefe dos homens sujeitos a trabalhos forçados.

⁷ Salomão tinha doze oficiais que governavam sobre todo o Israel, que forneciam alimentos para o rei e toda a sua casa. Cada um tinha o dever de prover durante um mês no ano. ⁸ Estes eram os seus nomes: Ben-Hur, nos montes de Efraim; ⁹ Ben-Dequer, em Macaz, Saalabim, Bete-Semes, e Elom-Bete-Hanã; ¹⁰ Ben-Hesede, em Arubote (a ele pertencia Socó e toda a terra de Hefer);

¹¹ Ben-Abinadabe, em todo distrito de Nafote Dor (ele era casado com Tafate, a filha de Salomão); ¹² Baaná, filho de Ailude, em Taanaque e Megido, e em toda a Bete-Seã, que está ao lado de Zaretã, abaixo de Jezreel, desde Bete-Seã até Abel-Meolá, para além de Jocmeão; ¹³ Ben-Geber, em Ramote-Gileade (a ele pertenciam os povoados de Jair, filho de Manassés, que estão em Gileade, e a região de Argobe pertencia a ele, que está em Basã, sessenta grandes cidades com muros e ferrolhos de bronze); ¹⁴ Ainadabe, filho de Ido, em Maanaim;

¹⁵ Aimaaz, em Naftali (ele também se casou com Basemate, filha de Salomão); ¹⁶ Baaná, filho de Hasai, em Aser e em Bealote; ¹⁷ Josafá, filho de Paruá, em Issacar;

¹⁸ Simei, filho de Elá, em Benjamin; ¹⁹ e Geber filho de Uri, na terra de Gileade, a terra de Siom, rei dos Amorreus, e de Ogue, rei de Basã; e ele era o único oficial naquela terra.

²⁰ Judá e Israel eram tão numerosos quanto a areia do mar. Eles estavam comendo e bebendo, e estavam felizes. ²¹ Salomão reinava sobre todos os reinos, desde o rio Eufrates até a terra dos filisteus e até a fronteira do Egito. Eles entregaram tributo e serviram a Salomão todos os dias da sua vida. ²² A provisão diária de Salomão era de trinta coros de farinha fina e sessenta coros de farinha mais grossa, ²³ dez bois gordos, vinte bois de pasto, e cem ovelhas, além de veados, gazelas, cabritos monteses, e aves gordas.

²⁴ Pois ele tinha domínio sobre toda a região deste lado do rio Eufrates, desde Tifsa até Gaza, sobre todos os reis do lado de cá do rio Eufrates, e tinha paz por todos os lados ao redor dele. ²⁵ Judá e Israel viveram em segurança, cada um debaixo da sua videira e debaixo da sua figueira, desde Dã até Berseba, todos os dias de Salomão.

²⁶ Salomão tinha quarenta mil baias para os cavalos dos carros de guerra, e doze mil cavaleiros. ²⁷ Esses oficiais forneciam alimentos para o rei Salomão e para todos aqueles que comiam à mesa do rei Salomão, cada um no seu mês. Eles não permitiam que nada faltasse. ²⁸ Também traziam ao lugar certo cevada e a palha para os cavalos dos carros de guerra, e cavalos de sela; cada um trazendo o que fora capaz.

²⁹ Deus deu grande sabedoria e entendimento a Salomão, e amplitude de compreensão como a areia na praia. ³⁰ A sabedoria de Salomão excedeu a sabedoria de todos os povos do leste e toda a sabedoria do Egito. ³¹ Ele era mais sábio que todos os homens — mais que Etã o ezraíta, Hemã, Calcol e Darda, filhos de Maol — e a sua fama atingiu todas as nações ao redor.

³² Ele disse três mil provérbios, e seus cânticos foram no número de mil e cinco. ³³ Ele descreveu as plantas, desde o cedro que se encontra no Líbano, até o hissopo que brota na parede. Ele também explicou sobre os animais, pássaros, répteis e peixes. ³⁴ As pessoas vieram de todas as nações para ouvir a sabedoria de Salomão. Elas vieram de todos os reis da terra que haviam ouvido da sua sabedoria.

¹Algumas versões tratam Zadoque e Abiatar eram sacerdotes como uma adição posteriormente ao texto.

Capítulo 5

¹ Hirão, rei de Tiro, enviou seus servos até Salomão, quando escutou que o haviam ungido rei no lugar de seu pai, porque Hirão sempre amou a Davi. ² Salomão mandou uma mensagem a Hirão, dizendo: ³ "Tu sabes que Davi, meu pai, não pôde construir uma casa para o nome de Yahweh, seu Deus, por causa das guerras que o cercavam, até que, durante sua vida, Yahweh pôs seus inimigos debaixo de seus pés.

⁴ Mas agora, Yahweh, meu Deus, tem me dado descanso por todos os lados. Não há nem adversários, nem desastres. ⁵ Então eu pretendo construir um templo ao nome de Yahweh meu Deus, como Yahweh falou para Davi, meu pai, dizendo: 'Teu filho, que colocarei no teu trono em teu lugar, construirá o templo ao Meu nome'.

⁶ Portanto ordena que cortem cedros do Líbano para mim. E meus servos se juntarão aos teus servos, e eu pagarei de forma justa para os teus servos conforme tudo o que concordares. Porque tu sabes que não há ninguém entre nós que saiba cortar madeira como os sidônios".

⁷ Quando Hirão ouviu estas palavras de Salomão, regozijou-se grandemente e disse: "Bendito seja hoje Yahweh, que deu a Davi um filho sábio sobre este tão grande povo". ⁸ Hirão enviou esta palavra a Salomão, dizendo: "Ouvi a mensagem que me enviaste. Providenciarei tudo que desejares a respeito da madeira de cedro e de cipreste.

⁹ Meus servos levarão as árvores do Líbano até o mar, e as farei como jangadas para ir pelo mar até o lugar que me designares. Chegando lá, eu as desamarrarei e tu as tirarás. Tu realizarás meu desejo, dando sustento para minha casa".

¹⁰ Então Hirão deu a Salomão toda a madeira de cedro e cipreste que desejara. ¹¹ Salomão deu a Hirão vinte mil medidas de trigo para sustento de sua casa e vinte medidas de óleo puro. Salomão deu isto para Hirão ano após ano. ¹² Yahweh deu sabedoria a Salomão, como lhe prometera. Havia paz entre Hirão e Salomão, e os dois fizeram uma aliança.

¹³ O rei Salomão recrutou trabalhadores de todo o Israel. Os trabalhadores forçados foram trinta mil homens. ¹⁴ Ele enviou ao Líbano dez mil por mês em turnos. Um mês eles estavam no Líbano e dois meses em casa. E Adonirão era o encarregado sobre os trabalhadores forçados.

¹⁵ Salomão teve setenta mil que carregaram cargas e oitenta mil que cortavam as rochas nas montanhas. ¹⁶ Além de três mil e trezentos chefes-oficiais de Salomão, que estavam encarregados da obra e supervisionavam os trabalhadores.

¹⁷ E o rei mandou que eles extraíssem grandes pedras de alta qualidade com as quais fariam a fundação do templo. ¹⁸ Então os edificadores de Salomão, os de Hirão e os gebalitas cortaram e prepararam as madeiras e as pedras para construir o templo.

Capítulo 6

¹ Então, Salomão começou a construir o templo de Yahweh. Isso aconteceu quatrocentos e oitenta anos após o povo de Israel ter deixado a terra do Egito, no quadragésimo ano do reinado de Salomão sobre Israel, no mês de Zive, que é o segundo mês. ² O templo que o rei Salomão construiu para Yahweh era de sessenta côvados de comprimento, vinte côvados de largura e trinta côvados de altura.

³ O pórtico em frente ao salão principal do templo era de vinte côvados de comprimento, igual à largura do templo, e dez côvados de profundidade em frente ao templo. ⁴ Para a casa, ele fez janelas com molduras.

⁵ Junto aos muros da câmara principal, ele construiu salas, ao redor da sala externa e da sala interna. Ele construiu salas ao redor das paredes. ⁶ A sala do térreo tinha cinco côvados de largura, a central tinha seis côvados de largura, e a terceira era de sete côvados de largura. Na parte de fora, ele fez pilastras para reforço das paredes, para que as vigas não fossem inseridas nas paredes da casa.

⁷ O templo foi construído com pedras preparadas na pedreira. Nenhum martelo, machado, ou nenhuma ferramenta de ferro foi ouvida enquanto ele estava sendo construído. ⁸ No lado sul do templo, havia uma entrada na parte térrea, então subia-se pelas escadas até a parte central, e da parte central até o terceiro nível.

⁹ Assim, Salomão construiu o templo e o terminou; ele o cobriu com vigas e tábuas de cedro. ¹⁰ Ele construiu salas ao redor de todo o templo, cada lado com cinco côvados de altura; elas estavam ligadas ao templo com madeiras de cedro.

¹¹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a Salomão, dizendo: ¹² "No que concerne a este templo que estás construindo, se andares nos Meus estatutos e praticares a justiça, guardares todos os Meus mandamentos e andares neles, então Eu confirmarei a Minha promessa que fiz a Davi, teu pai. ¹³ Habitarei no meio do povo de Israel e não os abandonarei".

¹⁴ Então, Salomão construiu o templo e o terminou. ¹⁵ Ele construiu as paredes do interior com tábuas de cedro. Desde o piso até o teto, ele as cobriu por dentro com madeira; e o piso, cobriu com tábuas de cipreste.

¹⁶ Ele construiu vinte côvados na parte de trás do templo com tábuas de cedro desde o piso até o teto. Ele construiu essa sala para que fosse uma sala interna, o Santíssimo Lugar. ¹⁷ O salão principal, que é o Santo Lugar, que estava em frente ao Santíssimo Lugar, era de quarenta côvados de comprimento. ¹⁸ Havia cedro dentro do templo, esculpido em forma de frutos e flores da cabaça. Por dentro, tudo era de cedro. Nenhum trabalho de pedra era visto no seu interior.

¹⁹ Salomão preparou a sala interior do templo para que ali fosse colocada a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh. ²⁰ A sala interior era de vinte côvados de comprimento, e vinte côvados de largura e vinte de altura. Salomão revestiu as paredes com ouro puro e cobriu o altar com madeira de cedro.

²¹ Salomão revestiu o interior do templo com ouro puro, e colocou correntes de ouro na frente da sala interior, e revestiu-a com ouro. ²² Ele revestiu todo o interior com ouro, até que todo o templo foi terminado. Ele também revestiu com ouro todo o altar que pertencia à sala interior.

²³ Salomão fez dois querubins de madeira de oliveira, cada um deles com dez côvados de altura, para a sala interior. ²⁴ Uma das asas do primeiro querubim era de cinco côvados de comprimento, e outra asa dele tinha também cinco côvados de comprimento. Então, da ponta de uma asa até a ponta da outra, havia a distância de dez côvados. ²⁵ O outro querubim também tinha asas de dez côvados. Os dois querubins tinham as mesmas dimensões e formas. ²⁶ A altura de um querubim era de dez côvados, e o outro tinha a mesma altura.

²⁷ Salomão colocou o querubim na sala mais interior. As asas dos querubins eram estendidas, de forma que a asa de um tocava uma parede, e a asa de outro querubim tocava a outra parede. Suas asas tocavam uma na outra no meio do Santíssimo Lugar. ²⁸ Salomão revestiu os querubins com ouro.

²⁹ Ele entalhou todas as paredes da casa com figuras de querubim, palmeiras e flores abertas, na sala interior e exterior. ³⁰ Salomão revestiu o piso da casa com ouro, em ambas as salas, interior e exterior.

³¹ Salomão fez portas de madeira de oliveira para entrada da sala interior. As vigas e batentes tinham cinco seções recuadas. ³² Então ele fez duas portas de madeira de oliveira, e fez nelas esculturas de querubim, palmeiras, e flores abertas. Ele revestiu-as com ouro, e espalhou o ouro no querubim e nas palmeiras.

³³ Dessa forma, Salomão também fez, para entrada do templo, batentes de madeira de oliveira de quadro seções recuadas, ³⁴ e duas portas de madeira de cipreste. As duas folhas de uma das portas moviam-se por dobradiça, como também as duas folhas da outra porta. ³⁵ Ele esculpiu nelas querubim, palmeiras e folhas abertas, e, uniformemente, as revestiu com ouro na escultura.

³⁶ Ele construiu o pátio interior com três fileiras de pedra cortada e um fileira de vigas de cedro.

³⁷ A fundação do templo de Yahweh foi lançada no quadragésimo ano, no mês de Zive. ³⁸ No décimo primeiro ano, no mês de Bul, que é o oitavo mês, o templo foi concluído em todas as suas partes de acordo com todas as suas especificações. Salomão levou sete anos para construir o templo.

Capítulo 7

¹ Salomão levou treze anos para construir seu próprio palácio. ² Ele construiu o palácio do bosque do Líbano. Sua medida era cem côvados de comprimento, cinquenta de largura e trinta de altura. O palácio foi construído sobre quatro fileiras de pilares de cedro com vigas de cedro sobre os pilares.

³ A cobertura da casa foi feita com cedro apoiado sobre vigas. Essas vigas eram sustentadas por pilares. Havia quarenta e cinco vigas, quinze sucessivamente. ⁴ Havia três vigas em três fileiras, e cada janela ficava oposta a outra janela, em três conjuntos. ⁵ Todas as portas e postes eram quadrados; e janela era oposta à janela, em cada conjunto.

⁶ Havia um pátio de cinquenta côvados de comprimento, com um pórtico na frente e pilares e um teto.

⁷ Salomão construiu a sala do trono onde ele ficava para julgar, ísto é, a sala da justiça que era coberta com cedro desde o chão até às vigas.

⁸ A casa residencial de Salomão, em outro pátio dentro do recinto do palácio, foi projetada de maneira similar. Ele também construiu uma casa semelhante para a filha do Faraó, a quem ele havia tomado como esposa.

⁹ Essas edificações eram adornadas com valiosas pedras lavradas, de medidas exatas, e cortadas com uma serra, e polidas em todos os lados. Essas pedras foram usadas desde o alicerce até as pedras no topo, e também no lado de fora para o grande átrio. ¹⁰ Os alicerces foram construídos com enormes pedras de alto custo de oito e dez côvados de comprimento.

¹¹ Por cima, ficavam valiosas pedras lavradas, cortadas sob medida, e vigas de cedro. ¹² O grande pátio que cercava o palácio tinha três fileiras de pedras cortadas e uma fileira de vigas de cedro, como no pátio interior do templo de Yahweh e no pórtico do templo.

¹³ O rei Salomão mandou trazer Hirão, de Tiro. ¹⁴ Hirão era o filho de uma viúva na tribo de Naftali; seu pai era um homem de Tiro, um artesão em bronze. Hirão era cheio de sabedoria, entendimento e habilidade para fazer um bom trabalho com bronze. Ele veio ao rei Salomão para trabalhar com bronze para o rei.

¹⁵ Hirão fez os dois pilares de bronze, cada um com dezoito côvados de altura e doze côvados de circunferência. ¹⁶ Ele fez dois acabamentos de bronze polido para colocar no alto dos pilares. A altura de cada acabamento era de cinco côvados. ¹⁷ Haviam treliças e correntes entrelaçadas para os acabamentos que decoravam o alto dos pilares, sete para cada acabamento.

¹⁸ Então Hirão fez duas fileiras de romãs de bronze em volta do topo de cada pilar para decorar os acabamentos. ¹⁹ Os acabamentos no topo dos pilares do pátio eram decorados com lírios de bronze, de quatro côvados de altura.

²⁰ Os acabamentos ao redor dos dois pilares também incluíam, perto do topo, uma fileira de duzentas romãs de bronze. ²¹ Ele levantou os pilares do pátio do templo. O pilar da direita foi chamado de Jaquim e o da esquerda foi chamado Boaz. ²² Os topos dos pilares foram decorados com lírios de bronze. O trabalho dos pilares foi concluído dessa maneira.

²³ Hirão fez um tanque de metal, dez côvados de diâmetro. Sua altura era de cinco côvados e o tanque tinha trinta côvados de circunferência. ²⁴ Abaixo da borda do tanque, a cada dez côvados, ao longo de sua circunferência, foram fundidas flores e frutos de cabaça, juntas em uma só peça, quando o tanque foi feito.

²⁵ O tanque se apoiava em doze bois, três olhando em direção ao norte, três olhando em direção ao oeste, três voltados em direção ao sul e três voltados em direção ao leste. O tanque estava em cima deles e suas ancas estavam para dentro. ²⁶ O tanque tinha quatro dedos de espessura e sua borda era como a borda de um copo, como uma flor de lírio. O tanque tinha capacidade para dois mil batos de água.

²⁷ Hirão fez os dez suportes de bronze. Cada suporte tinha quatro côvados de comprimento, quatro de largura e três de altura. ²⁸ O trabalho dos suportes era assim: tinham painéis que estavam fixados entre molduras, ²⁹ e, nos painéis e nas molduras, havia leões, bois e querubins. Acima e abaixo dos leões e bois, havia grinaldas esculpidas.

³⁰ Cada suporte tinha quatro rodas e eixos de bronze e seus quatro cantos tinham apoio para a bacia. Os apoios eram fundidos com grinaldas em cada lado. ³¹ A abertura ficava como um pedestal, com um côvado e meio de largura, dentro de uma coroa de um côvado de altura. Na abertura, havia gravuras esculpidas e seus painéis eram quadrados, não redondos.

³² As quatro rodas ficavam debaixo dos painéis e os eixos das rodas e seus aros ficavam no suporte. A altura de uma roda era de um côvado e meio. ³³ As rodas foram forjadas como as de uma carruagem. Seus eixos, seus aros, seus raios e seus cubos eram todos de metal fundido.

³⁴ As quatro alças nos quatro cantos de cada suporte foram forjadas em uma só peça. ³⁵ No topo dos suportes havia um cinto redondo de meio côvado de profundidade; no topo do suporte foram anexados apoios e painéis.

³⁶ Nas placas dos apoios e dos painéis, Hirão entalhou querubins, leões e palmeiras que cobriam o espaço disponível, circundada com grinaldas. ³⁷ Ele fez os dez suportes desta maneira: todos eles foram fundidos nos mesmos moldes, tinham o mesmo tamanho e forma.

³⁸ Hirão fez as dez bacias de bronze. Uma bacia podia suportar quarenta batos de água. Cada bacia era de quatro côvados e havia uma bacia em cada um dos dez suportes. ³⁹ Ele fez cinco suportes voltados para o sul do templo e cinco voltados para o norte. Ele pôs o tanque no canto leste, voltado para o sul do templo.

⁴⁰ Hirão fez as bacias, as pás e as caldeiras. Então ele finalizou toda a obra feita para o rei Salomão no templo de Yahweh: ⁴¹ os dois pilares e os acabamentos em forma de taças que ficavam no topo, e os dois conjuntos de treliças decorativas para cobrir os acabamentos em forma de tigela no topo dos pilares.

⁴² Ele fez quatrocentas romãs para os dois conjuntos de treliças decorativas: duas fileiras de romãs para cada conjunto de treliça, para cobrir as duas taças de acabamento que estavam nos pilares; dez suportes ⁴³ e dez bacias sobre os suportes.

⁴⁴ Ele fez o tanque e os doze bois em baixo dele; ⁴⁵ também as vasilhas, pás, bacias e todos os outros utensílios. Hirão os fez de bronze polido, para o rei Salomão, para o templo de Yahweh.

⁴⁶ O rei os fez fundir na planície do Jordão, num terreno argiloso entre Sucote e Zaretã. ⁴⁷ Salomão não pesou todos os utensílios pois eram muitos para pesar, por isso o peso do bronze não pôde ser calculado.

⁴⁸ Salomão fez de ouro toda a mobília que estava no templo de Yahweh: o altar de ouro e a mesa dos pães da presença. ⁴⁹ Os castiçais, cinco do lado direito e cinco do lado esquerdo, em frente ao santuário interior, eram feitos de ouro puro; e as flores, as lâmpadas e as pinças eram de ouro.

⁵⁰ As taças, os aparadores das lâmpadas, bacias e braseiros eram todos feitos de ouro puro. E também as dobradiças das portas do santuário, que era o Santíssimo Lugar, e as das portas do templo, eram todas feitas de ouro.

⁵¹ Dessa maneira, todo o trabalho que o rei Salomão fez pela casa de Yahweh foi finalizado. Então Salomão trouxe as coisas que foram dedicadas a Yahweh por Davi, seu pai, a prata, o ouro, as mobílias e os depositou nos tesouros da casa de Yahweh.

Capítulo 8

¹ Então Salomão reuniu diante de si, em Jerusalém, os anciãos de Israel, todos os líderes das tribos e os líderes das famílias do povo de Israel, para fazerem subir a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh da cidade de Davi, que é Sião. ² Todos os homens de Israel se reuniram diante do rei Salomão, na festa, no sétimo mês, no Mês de Etanim.

³ Todos os anciãos de Israel vieram, e os sacerdotes fizeram subir a Arca. ⁴ Eles trouxeram a Arca de Yahweh, a Tenda do Encontro e todos os utensílios sagrados que ficavam na Tenda. Os sacerdotes e os levitas os trouxeram. ⁵ O rei Salomão e toda a congregação de Israel se reuniram diante da Arca e sacrificaram ovelhas e bois que não se podiam contar.

⁶ Os sacerdotes levaram a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh para o lugar dela, ao santuário interior, no Lugar Santíssimo, debaixo das asas dos querubins. ⁷ Pois os querubins estendiam as suas asas para o lugar da Arca. Eles cobriam a Arca e as varas pelas quais ela era transportada. ⁸ As varas eram tão longas que as suas pontas eram vistas de dentro do Lugar Santo, em frente ao Lugar Santíssimo, mas, de fora, não eram vistas; e ali estão até o dia de hoje.

⁹ Nada havia na Arca, exceto as duas tábuas de pedra que Moisés ali depositara, quando Yahweh fez uma aliança com o povo de Israel, junto a Horebe, depois que eles saíram da terra do Egito. ¹⁰ Aconteceu que, ao saírem os sacerdotes do Lugar Santo, uma nuvem encheu o templo de Yahweh. ¹¹ Os sacerdotes não podiam permanecer de pé para ministrar, por causa da nuvem; pois a glória de Yahweh enchera o templo.

¹² Então, Salomão disse: "Yahweh falou que habitaria numa nuvem escura. ¹³ Mas eu edifiquei para Ti uma casa exaltada, um lugar para Tua morada eterna".

¹⁴ Virando-se, então, o rei para o povo, que estava de pé, abençoou toda a congregação de Israel. ¹⁵ Ele disse: "Seja louvado Yahweh, o Deus de Israel! Pois falou com Davi, meu pai, e cumpriu isso com as Suas próprias mãos, dizendo: ¹⁶ 'Desde o dia em que Eu tirei o Meu povo Israel do Egito, não escolhi qualquer cidade dentre todas as tribos de Israel onde edificar uma casa para ali estabelecer o Meu Nome; porém escolhi Davi para governar sobre o Meu povo, Israel.

¹⁷ Estava no coração de Davi, meu pai, edificar uma casa em nome de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ¹⁸ Mas Yahweh disse para Davi, meu pai: 'fizeste bem, nisso que estava no teu coração, para construir uma casa em Meu Nome; ¹⁹ porém tu não edificarás o templo; teu filho, que procederá de ti, edificará um templo ao Meu Nome'.

²⁰ Yahweh cumpriu a palavra que Ele havia falado, porque eu me levantei em lugar de Davi, meu pai, e me assentei no trono de Israel, como Yahweh prometera, e edifiquei um templo ao nome de Yahweh, Deus de Israel. ²¹ Eu edifiquei um lugar ali para a Arca, na qual está a aliança de Yahweh, a qual Ele fez com os nossos pais quando os tirou da terra do Egito".

²² Salomão pôs-se diante do altar de Yahweh, perante toda a comunidade de Israel, e estendeu as suas mãos para os céus. ²³ Ele disse: "Yahweh, Deus de Israel, não existe Deus como Tu, acima dos céus nem abaixo da terra, que guarda fielmente a Sua aliança com os Teus servos que caminham diante de Ti com todo o coração; ²⁴ Tu, que tens mantido o que prometeste a Teu servo Davi, meu pai. Sim, Tu, que disseste com a Tua boca e tens executado isso com a Tua mão, como se vê hoje.

²⁵ Agora, Yahweh, Deus de Israel, cumpre o que prometeste ao Teu servo Davi, meu pai, quando disseste: 'Não te faltará sucessor diante de Mim que se assente no trono de Israel, contanto que os teus descendentes tenham cuidado de andar diante de Mim, como tu andaste diante de Mim'. ²⁶ Assim, Deus de Israel, eu oro para que se cumpra o que Tu prometeste ao Teu servo Davi, meu pai.

²⁷ Todavia habitará Deus na terra? Eis que o universo inteiro e o céu em si mesmo não podem contê-Lo; muito menos este templo que edifiquei! ²⁸ Porém atenta para esta oração do Teu servo e sua súplica. Ó, Yahweh, meu Deus, atenta para o clamor e a oração que o Teu servo faz hoje, diante de Ti!

²⁹ Que os Teus olhos permaneçam abertos noite e dia, em direção a este templo, o lugar sobre o qual Tu disseste: 'Meu Nome e Minha presença estarão lá'; para ouvires a oração que o Teu servo fizer, voltado para este lugar. ³⁰ Assim, escuta o pedido do Teu servo e do Teu povo quando nós orarmos em direção a este lugar. Sim, ouve do lugar onde habitas, desde os céus; e quando ouvires, perdoa.

³¹ Se um homem pecar contra o seu próximo, e lhe for exigido que jure, e ele jurar diante do Teu altar, neste templo, ³² ouve então, do céu, e age; julga os Teus servos, condena o culpado, fazendo o seu proceder recair sobre a sua própria cabeça, e inocenta o justo, retribuindo-lhe segundo a sua justiça.

³³ Quando o Teu povo Israel for derrotado por um dos seus inimigos, por ter pecado contra Ti, se eles voltarem para Ti, confessarem o Teu nome, orarem e clamarem por Teu perdão neste templo, ³⁴ então, por favor, escuta nos céus e perdoa o pecado do Teu povo Israel; torna a trazê-lo à terra que deste aos seus antepassados.

³⁵ Quando os céus se fecharem e não houver chuva, quando Tu os afligires, por causa do pecado contra Ti, e eles orarem, voltados para este lugar, confessarem o Teu Nome e se converterem dos seus pecados, ³⁶ então escuta dos céus e perdoa a transgressão dos Teus servos e do Teu povo Israel; ensinando-lhes o bom caminho no qual eles devem andar. Envia chuva sobre a Tua terra, a qual deste em herança ao Teu povo.

³⁷ Se houver fome na terra, enfermidade, praga, mofo, gafanhoto ou lagarta; ou se algum de seus inimigos os cercar nos portões das suas cidades; ou, se acontecer qualquer praga ou doença ³⁸ e suceder, então, que orações e súplicas sejam feitas por qualquer indivíduo ou por todo o Teu povo Israel, conhecendo cada um a aflição do seu próprio coração enquanto estende as suas mãos para este templo,

³⁹ ouve dos céus, o lugar onde Tu habitas; perdoa e age, retribui a cada um de acordo com toda a sua conduta, porque só Tu conheces o coração de todos os humanos. És o único que sabes o que procede de cada coração; ⁴⁰ para que eles temam a Ti todos os dias em que viverem na terra que deste aos nossos pais.

⁴¹ Também, quanto ao estrangeiro que não pertence ao Teu povo Israel: quando vier de terras distantes, por causa do Teu Nome ⁴² (porque eles ouvirão quão grande é o Teu Nome, da Tua poderosa mão e do Teu braço estendido), quando ele vier e orar em direção a este templo, ⁴³ então, por favor, ouve dos céus, o lugar onde habitas, e faze conforme tudo o que o estrangeiro a Ti clamar, a fim de que todos os povos da terra conheçam o Teu nome e temam a Ti, assim como ao Teu povo, Israel; e saibam que Teu Nome é invocado nesta casa que edifiquei.

⁴⁴ Quando o Teu povo sair à guerra contra os seus inimigos, seja qual for a orientação que Tu deres, e orar a Yahweh, voltado para a cidade que escolheste e para o templo que edifiquei ao Teu Nome, ⁴⁵ então escuta, dos céus, suas orações e seus pedidos, e defenda a causa deles.

⁴⁶ Se acontecer de pecarem contra Ti (pois não há homem que não peque), e Tu te indignares contra eles e os entregares ao inimigo, de modo que os levem cativos para a terra do inimigo, distante ou próxima; ⁴⁷ e, na terra aonde forem levados em cativeiro, caírem em si e se converterem; se do cativeiro suplicarem a Ti, dizendo: 'transgredimos e pecamos; agimos perversamente';

⁴⁸ e, se verdadeiramente retornarem a Ti de todo o coração e de toda a alma, na terra em que estiverem cativos, e orarem a Ti, voltados para a sua terra, que deste aos seus pais, para a cidade que escolheste e para o templo que edifiquei ao Teu Nome;

⁴⁹ então lá dos céus, o lugar onde habitas, escuta suas orações, seus pedidos; e defende a causa deles. ⁵⁰ Perdoa o Teu povo, que tem pecado contra ti, e todas as suas transgressões contra os Teus mandamentos. Tem compaixão do Teu povo no cativeiro, para que os seus inimigos os tratem com compaixão.

⁵¹ Eles são Teu povo, a quem Tu escolheste, a quem libertaste do Egito, do meio da fornalha de forjar ferro. ⁵² Eu oro para que os Teus olhos estejam atentos à súplica dos Teus servos e escutes os pedidos do Teu povo, Israel, quando eles clamarem a Ti. ⁵³ Porque Tu os separaste como Tua herança, Senhor Yahweh, dentre todos os povos da terra, para que pertençam a Ti e recebam Tuas promessas, como Tu nos instruíste por Moisés, Teu servo, quando do Egito tiraste os nossos pais".

⁵⁴ Assim que terminou de orar e suplicar a Yahweh, Salomão levantou-se de diante do altar de Yahweh, tendo estado de joelhos e com as mãos estendidas para os céus. ⁵⁵ Levantou-se e abençoou em alta voz toda a congregação, dizendo: ⁵⁶ "Louvado seja Yahweh, que tem dado o descanso para o Seu povo Israel, cumprindo todas as Suas promessas. Nenhuma palavra tem falhado de todas as boas promessas que Ele fez por intermédio do Seu servo Moisés.

⁵⁷ Que Yahweh, nosso Deus, esteja conosco, assim como Ele esteve com os nossos antepassados. Que Ele nunca nos deixe ou nos abandone; ⁵⁸ que Ele faça inclinar para Si o nosso coração, para viver em todos os Seus caminhos e guardar os Seus mandamentos, e os Seus estatutos, e os Seus decretos, que Ele ordenou aos nossos pais.

⁵⁹ Que estas palavras que tenho falado e orado perante Yahweh estejam sempre diante de Yahweh, nosso Deus, dia e noite, para que Ele defenda a causa de Seu servo e a causa do Seu povo, Israel, assim como cada dia exigir; ⁶⁰ que todos os povos da terra conheçam que Yahweh é Deus, e não há outro Deus! ⁶¹ Portanto, que o vosso coração seja verdadeiro para com Yahweh, nosso Deus, para andar nos Seus estatutos e guardar os Seus mandamentos, como neste dia".

⁶² Então, o rei e todo o Israel com ele ofereceram sacrifícios a Yahweh. ⁶³ Salomão ofereceu um sacrifício de oferta de comunhão a Yahweh: vinte e dois mil bois e cento e vinte mil ovelhas. Assim, o rei e todo o povo de Israel dedicaram o templo de Yahweh.

⁶⁴ No mesmo dia, o rei consagrou a parte central do pátio em frente do templo de Yahweh; ele ofereceu o holocausto, a oferta de cereais e a gordura das ofertas de comunhão, já que o altar de bronze que está diante do templo de Yahweh era muito pequeno para caber nele o holocausto, a oferta de cereais e a gordura das ofertas de comunhão.

⁶⁵ Então, na mesma ocasião, ofereceu Salomão uma festa, e todo o Israel com ele, uma grande congregação, desde Lebo-Hamate até o rio do Egito, por sete dias e também por outros sete dias, um total de catorze dias, perante Yahweh, nosso Deus. ⁶⁶ No oitavo dia, o povo abençoou o rei; ele despediu o povo, e foram para suas casas, com regozijo e coração alegre por todas as boas coisas que Yahweh havia mostrado a Davi, Seu servo, e a Israel, Seu povo.

Capítulo 9

¹ Depois que Salomão terminou de construir o templo de Yahweh e o palácio do rei, e depois que realizou tudo que o queria fazer, ² Yahweh apareceu a ele pela segunda vez, como havia aparecido em Gibeão.

³ E Yahweh lhe disse: "Eu tenho escutado a oração e a súplica que tens feito diante de Mim. Estou consagrando este templo, o qual tu construíste para Mim, para colocar o Meu nome ali para sempre; Meus olhos e Meu coração estarão ali para sempre.

⁴ Se andares diante de Mim, como teu pai Davi andou, em integridade de coração e em retidão, obedecendo a tudo o que Eu te tenho ordenado e guardando Meus estatutos e Meus decretos, ⁵ então estabelecerei para sempre o trono de teu reino sobre Israel, como prometi a Davi, teu pai, dizendo: 'Nunca te faltará sucessor sobre o trono de Israel.'

⁶ Mas, se tu ou teus filhos se afastarem de Mim e não guardarem Meus mandamentos e Meus estatutos que tenho estabelecido diante de ti, e se tu fores e adorares outros deuses e te curvares diante deles, ⁷ então Eu eliminarei Israel da terra que lhes dei; e este templo que consagrei ao Meu Nome, Eu o expulsarei para fora da minha presença; então Israel se tornará um motivo de zombaria e um objeto ridicularizado entre os povos.

⁸ Este templo se tornará um monte de ruínas, e todos que passarem por ele ficarão chocados, assobiarão e perguntarão: 'Por que Yahweh fez isto a esta terra e a esta casa?' ⁹ Outros responderão: 'Porque eles abandonaram Yahweh, seu Deus, que trouxe seus antepassados para fora da terra do Egito, e eles se apegaram a outros deuses, curvaram-se diante eles, e os adoraram; por isso Yahweh trouxe toda esta calamidade sobre eles'."

¹⁰ Aconteceu que, ao fim de vinte anos, Salomão havia terminado de construir os dois edifícios: o templo de Yahweh e o palácio do rei. ¹¹ Hirão, rei de Tiro, forneceu para Salomão árvores de cedro e de pinho, além de todo o ouro que Salomão desejava. Então o rei Salomão deu a Hirão vinte cidades na terra da Galiléia.

¹² E Hirão saiu de Tiro para ver as cidades que Salomão tinha lhe dado, mas elas não o agradaram. ¹³ Então, Hirão perguntou a Salomão: "Que cidades são estas que me destes, meu irmão?" Hirão as chamou de Terra de Cabul, como são chamadas ainda hoje. ¹⁴ Hirão havia enviado ao rei cento e vinte talentos de ouro.

¹⁵ Estas são as razões pelas quais Salomão impôs trabalhos forçados: para construir o templo de Yahweh e seu próprio palácio, para construir o Milo e o muro de Jerusalém, e ainda construir as defesas de Hazor, Megido e Gezer. ¹⁶ Faraó, rei do Egito, tinha subido e tomado Gezer; ele a destruiu com fogo e matou os cananeus na cidade. Então Faraó deu a cidade para sua filha, esposa de Salomão, como presente de casamento.

¹⁷ Assim Salomão reconstruiu Gezer e Bete-Horom, a Baixa, ¹⁸ Baalate e Tadmor, no deserto na terra de Judá, ¹⁹ e todas as cidades-armazéns que ele possuia, e as cidades para suas carruagens e as cidades para seus cavaleiros, e tudo que ele desejava construir para seu prazer em Jerusalém, no Líbano, e em todas as terras sob seu domínio.

²⁰ Quanto a todos os que restaram dos amorreus, dos heteus, dos perizeus, dos heveus e dos jebuseus, que não eram do povo de Israel — ²¹ os descendentes daqueles que, depois deles, ficaram na terra, a quem o povo de Israel não conseguiu destruir totalmente — Salomão os recrutou como trabalhadores forçados, e é assim até os dias de hoje.

²² Entretanto Salomão não fez trabalhadores forçados do povo de Israel. Em vez disso, eles se tornaram seus soldados e seus servos, seus funcionários, seus oficiais e comandantes de seus batalhões de carruagens e seus cavaleiros.

²³ Eles eram também os chefes oficiais, administrando os supervisores que estavam sobre as obras de Salomão — quinhentos e cinquenta deles — que supervisionavam o povo que fazia o trabalho.

²⁴ A filha do Faraó se mudou da cidade de Davi para a casa que Salomão havia construído para ela. Depois, Salomão construiu o Milo.

²⁵ E oferecia Salomão, três vezes por ano, ofertas queimadas e ofertas de paz no altar que ele construiu para Yahweh, queimando incenso com elas no altar, que estava diante de Yahweh. Assim ele completou a construção do templo.

²⁶ O rei Salomão construiu uma frota de navios em Eziom Geber, que fica perto de Elate, na costa do Mar Vermelho, na terra de Edom. ²⁷ Hirão enviou servos para a frota de Salomão, marinheiros que entendiam do mar, com os próprios servos de Salomão. ²⁸ Eles foram a Ofir com os servos de Salomão. De lá eles trouxeram quatrocentos e vinte talentos de ouro para o rei Salomão.

Capítulo 10

¹ Quando a rainha de Sabá soube da fama de Salomão, por causa do nome de Yahweh, veio pô-lo a prova com questões difíceis. ² Ela veio a Jerusalém com uma grande caravana, com camelos carregados de especiarias, muito ouro e muitas pedras preciosas. Quando ela chegou, contou a Salomão tudo o que estava em seu coração.

³ Salomão respondeu todas as suas perguntas; não houve nada que ela perguntasse que o rei não respondesse. ⁴ Quando a rainha de Sabá viu toda a sabedoria de Salomão, o palácio que ele construiu, ⁵ a comida em sua mesa, o lugar dos seus oficiais, o trabalho dos seus servos e seus trajes, também os copeiros, e a maneira como ele oferecia sacrifícios na casa de Yahweh, ela ficou impressionada.

⁶ Ela disse ao rei: "É verdade o que eu ouvi no meu próprio país a respeito de tuas palavras e tua sabedoria. ⁷ Eu não acreditei no que ouvi, até chegar aqui, e agora meus olhos viram isso. Nem metade me foi contada a respeito de tua sabedoria e riqueza! Tu excedes a fama da qual eu ouvi falar.

⁸ Quão bem-aventuradas são as tuas mulheres e quão abençoados são os teus servos que constantemente estão diante de ti, porque ouvem a tua sabedoria. ⁹ Bendito seja Yahweh, teu Deus, que se agradou de ti e te colocou no trono de Israel. Porque Yahweh amou Israel para sempre, Ele te fez rei para que praticasses a justiça e a retidão!"

¹⁰ Ela deu ao rei cento e vinte talentos de ouro, uma grande quantidade de especiarias e pedras preciosas. Nenhuma quantidade tão grande de especiarias como essa que a rainha de Sabá deu ao rei Salomão foi dada a ele novamente.

¹¹ A frota de Hirão, que trazia ouro de Ofir, também trazia de Ofir uma boa quantidade de madeira de sândalo e pedras preciosas. ¹² O rei usou a madeira de sândalo para fazer colunas para o Templo de Yahweh e para o palácio do rei, e harpas e liras para os cantores; nunca veio tão grande quantidade de madeira de sândalo como a que foi vista nesse dia.

¹³ O rei Salomão deu à rainha de Sabá tudo o que ela desejou, tudo o que pediu e além daquilo que Salomão lhe dera segundo a sua generosidade real. Então ela retornou ao seu país com seus servos.

¹⁴ O peso do ouro que foi levado a Salomão em um ano foi de seiscentos e sessenta e seis talentos de ouro, ¹⁵ além do ouro que os negociantes e mercadores traziam. Todos os reis da Arábia e governadores do país também trouxeram ouro e prata para Salomão.

¹⁶ O rei Salomão fez duzentos grandes escudos de ouro batido; seiscentos ciclos de ouro foram usados em cada um. ¹⁷ Ele também fez trezentos escudos de ouro batido; três minas de ouro foram usadas em cada escudo; o rei colocou esses escudos dentro do palácio do bosque do Líbano.

¹⁸ Então o rei fez um grande trono de marfim e o revestiu com o mais puro ouro. ¹⁹ Havia seis degraus para o trono, e o encosto dele tinha um topo arredondado. Em cada lado do assento, havia apoio para os braços e dois leões em pé ao lado de cada apoio. ²⁰ Doze leões ficavam nos degraus, um em cada lado de cada um dos seis degraus. Não existia trono semelhante a este em reino algum.

²¹ Todas as taças que o rei Salomão usava para beber eram de ouro, e todas as taças para beber no Palácio da Floresta do Líbano eram de ouro puro; nenhuma delas era de prata, porque a prata não era considerada valiosa nos dias de Salomão. ²² O rei tinha no mar uma frota de navios oceânicos, junto com a frota de Hirão. Uma vez a cada três anos, a frota trazia ouro, prata e marfim, além de macacos e babuínos.

²³ Então o rei Salomão excedeu a todos os reis do mundo em riquezas e sabedoria. ²⁴ Todo o mundo procurava a presença de Salomão para ouvir sua sabedoria, a que Deus colocou em seu coração. ²⁵ Aqueles que lhe visitavam traziam tributos, objetos de prata e ouro, vestes, armaduras e especiarias, assim como cavalos e mulas, ano após ano.

²⁶ Salomão ajuntou carruagens e cavaleiros. Ele tinha mil e quatrocentos carros, além de doze mil cavaleiros que ele distribuiu nas cidades para carruagens e junto ao rei em Jerusalém. ²⁷ O rei tinha prata em Jerusalém, tanta prata como pedras no chão. Ele fez o cedro ser tão abundante como os sicômoros que haviam nas campinas.

²⁸ Salomão possuia cavalos que havia comprado do Egito e de Cilícia. Os mercadores do rei compravam os cavalos em manadas, cada manada a um determinado preço. ²⁹ As carruagens eram compradas do Egito por seiscentos siclos de prata cada, e os cavalos por cento e cinquenta siclos cada. Muitos destes foram, então, vendidos a todos os reis dos hititas e aramitas.

Capítulo 11

¹ Então o rei Salomão amou muitas mulheres estrangeiras: a filha de Faraó, e mulheres moabitas, amonitas, edomitas, sidônias e heteias — ² nações concernentes as que Yahweh tinha dito para o povo de Israel: "Vós não ireis entre elas para casar, nem elas virão até vós, porque elas certamente farão voltar o teu coração para os seus deuses". Mas Salomão amou essas mulheres.

³ Salomão teve setecentas esposas reais e trezentas concubinas. E suas mulheres desviaram o seu coração. ⁴ Na velhice de Salomão, suas esposas desviaram o seu coração para outros deuses; seu coração já não era totalmente rendido a Yahweh, seu Deus, assim como era o coração de Davi seu pai.

⁵ Pois Salomão seguiu Astarote, a deusa dos sidônios, e ele seguiu Moloque, o ídolo detestável dos amonitas. ⁶ Salomão fez o que era mau a vista de Yahweh; ele não seguiu totalmente a Yahweh, como Davi, seu pai fez.

⁷ Então Salomão construiu um lugar alto para Camos, o ídolo detestável de Moabe, na colina leste de Jerusalém, e também para Moloque, o ídolo detestável dos amonitas. ⁸ Ele também construiu lugares altos para todas suas esposas estrangeiras, que queimavam incenso e sacrificavam para seus deuses.

⁹ Yahweh estava irado com Salomão, porque seu coração havia se desviado Dele, o Deus de Israel, mesmo tendo aparecido para Salomão duas vezes ¹⁰ e ordenado exatamente sobre isso, que ele não deveria seguir outros deuses. Mas Salomão não obedeceu o que Yahweh lhe ordenou.

¹¹ Portanto, Yahweh disse a Salomão: "Porque tu tens desobedecido e não tens mantido a aliança e Meus estatutos que Eu te ordenei, certamente tirarei o reino de ti e o darei para teu servo. ¹² Contudo, por causa de Davi teu pai, Eu não farei isso em tua vida, mas o tirarei da mão de teu filho. ¹³ E ainda não tirarei todo o reino; Eu darei uma tribo para teu filho por causa de Davi meu servo, e por causa de Jerusalém, que Eu escolhi".

¹⁴ Então Yahweh levantou um adversário para Salomão, Hadade, o edomita. Ele era da família real de Edom. ¹⁵ Quando Davi estava em Edom, Joabe, o capitão do exército, subiu para sepultar os mortos daqueles que haviam sido mortos em Edom. ¹⁶ Joabe e todo o Israel permaneceram seis meses até que ele matou cada homem em Edom. ¹⁷ Mas Hadade foi levado para o Egito com outros edomitas pelos servos de seu pai, quando Hadade ainda era criança.

¹⁸ Eles deixaram Midiã e foram para Parã, de onde levaram homens com eles para o Egito, ao Faraó, rei do Egito, que lhes deu casa, terra e sustento. ¹⁹ Hadade achou grande graça à vista de Faraó, então Faraó lhe deu uma esposa, irmã de sua própria mulher, a irmã de Tafnes, a rainha.

²⁰ A irmã de Tafnes deu à luz um filho de Hadade. Eles o chamaram de Genubate. Tafnes o criou no palácio de Faraó. Então Genubate viveu no palácio de Faraó, entre os filhos de Faraó. ²¹ Quando Hadade estava no Egito, ele ouviu que Davi estava dormindo com seus antepassados, e que Joabe o capitão do exército estava morto; Hadade disse a Faraó: "Deixa-me partir, então poderei ir ao meu próprio país". ²² Então Faraó disse a ele: "Mas o que tem te faltado da minha parte, que agora buscas ir para teu próprio país?" Hadade respondeu: "Nada. Por favor, deixa-me partir".

²³ Deus também levantou outro adversário para Salomão, Rezom, filho de Eliada, que havia fugido de seu mestre Hadadezer, rei de Zobá. ²⁴ Rezom reuniu homens para ele mesmo e tornou-se capitão sobre uma pequena força, quando Davi derrotou os homens de Zobá. Os homens de Rezom foram para Damasco para morar lá, e Rezom controlou Damasco. ²⁵ Ele foi um inimigo de Israel todos os dias de Salomão, junto com o problema que Hadade causou. Rezom aborreceu Israel e reinou sobre a Síria.

²⁶ Então Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, um efrateu de Zeredá, um oficial de Salomão, cujo nome da mãe era Zerua, uma viúva, também levantou sua mão contra o rei. ²⁷ A razão pela qual ele levantou sua mão contra o rei foi porque Salomão construiu o Milo e reparou a abertura do muro da cidade de Davi, seu pai.

²⁸ Jeroboão era poderoso homem de valor. Salomão viu que o jovem era diligente, então deu-lhe um comando sobre todo o trabalho da casa de José. ²⁹ Naquele tempo, quando Jeroboão saiu de Jerusalém, o profeta Aías, o silonita, o encontrou na estrada. Então Aías vestiu uma veste nova e os dois estavam sozinhos no campo. ³⁰ Então Aías agarrou a veste nova que estava sobre ele, e a rasgou em doze pedaços.

³¹ Ele disse a Jeroboão: "Pega dez pedaços, porque Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Vê, Eu rasgarei o reino das mãos de Salomão, e darei dez tribos a ti, ³² (mas Salomão terá uma tribo, por causa do Meu servo Davi e por causa de Jerusalém—a cidade que Eu tenho escolhido de todas as tribos de Israel) ³³ porque eles Me abandonaram e adoraram Astarote, a deusa dos sidônios, Camos, o deus de Moabe, e Moloque, o deus do povo amonita. Eles não andaram nos Meus caminhos, para fazer o que é certo aos Meus olhos e guardar os Meus estatutos e Meus decretos, como fez Davi, seu pai.

³⁴ Contudo, não tirarei todo o reino das mãos de Salomão. Em vez disso, Eu o farei reinar todos os dias de sua vida, por causa de Davi, Meu servo, que Eu escolhi, aquele que guardou Meus mandamentos e Meus estatutos. ³⁵ Mas Eu tirarei o reino das mãos de seu filho, e Eu darei a ti dez tribos. ³⁶ Eu darei uma tribo para o filho de Salomão; então Davi, Meu servo, terá sempre uma lâmpada diante de Mim em Jerusalém, a cidade a qual Eu escolhi para colocar o Meu nome.

³⁷ Eu te tomarei, e tu reinarás para cumprir tudo o que tu desejas, e tu serás rei sobre Israel. ³⁸ Se escutares tudo o que Eu te ordenar, e se andares em Meus caminhos e fizeres o que é certo aos Meus olhos, e se mantiveres Meus estatutos e Meus mandamentos, como Davi Meu servo fez, então Eu serei contigo e construirei para ti uma casa firme, como construi para Davi e darei Israel a ti. ³⁹ Eu punirei os descendentes de Davi, mas não para sempre."

⁴⁰ Então Salomão tentou matar Jeroboão. Mas Jeroboão levantou-se e fugiu para o Egito, para Sisaque, rei do Egito, e permaneceu no Egito até a morte de Salomão.

⁴¹ Quanto aos outros assuntos concernentes a Salomão, tudo que ele fez e sua sabedoria, não estão eles escritos no livro de feitos de Salomão? ⁴² Salomão reinou em Jerusalém sobre todo o Israel por quarenta anos. ⁴³ Ele adormeceu com seus antepassados e foi sepultado na cidade de Davi seu pai. Roboão, seu filho, se tornou rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 12

¹ Roboão foi para Siquém, pois todo Israel estava vindo pra Siquém para torná-lo rei. ² E aconteceu que Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, ouviu isto (pois ele continuava no Egito, para onde ele havia fugido da presença do rei Salomão) e voltou do Egito.

³ Então eles foram e o chamaram, e Jeroboão e toda a assembleia de Israel veio e disse a Roboão: ⁴ "O teu pai fez o nosso jugo pesado. Agora, torna o trabalho duro de teu pai mais fácil a nós, e alivia o jugo pesado que ele colocou sobre nós, e nós te serviremos". ⁵ Roboão disse a eles: "Ide embora por três dias; depois voltai a mim". Então o povo se foi.

⁶ O rei Roboão consultou os anciãos que aconselhavam Salomão, seu pai, enquanto ele estava vivo, e disse: "Como vós me aconselhariam para que eu dê uma resposta a esse povo?" ⁷ Eles falaram com ele e disseram: "Se te tornares servo deste povo hoje e os servires, e os responderes dizendo palavras boas para eles, então eles sempre serão teus servos".

⁸ Mas Roboão ignorou o conselho que os anciãos deram a ele e foi consultar os jovens que cresceram com ele e estavam com ele. ⁹ Roboão disse a eles: "Qual conselho me daríeis, para que possamos responder às pessoas que falaram comigo e disseram: 'Alivia o jugo que teu pai colocou sobre nós?'"

¹⁰ Os jovens que cresceram com Roboão falaram a ele, dizendo: "Fala a este povo que disse que teu pai, Salomão, fez seu jugo pesado, mas que deve torná-lo mais leve, deve dizer a eles: 'Meu dedo mínimo é maior que a cintura do meu pai. ¹¹ Então, embora meu pai vos tenha sobrecarregado com um jugo pesado, eu aumentarei o vosso jugo. O meu pai vos castigou com chicotes, mas eu vos castigarei com escorpiões'".

¹² Então, Jeroboão e todo o povo vieram a Roboão no terceiro dia, como o rei os tinha instruido dizendo: "Voltai a mim no terceiro dia". ¹³ O rei respondeu ao povo rudemente e ignorou o conselho que os anciãos deram a ele. ¹⁴ Ele lhes falou seguindo o conselho dos jovens, e disse: "O meu pai vos sobrecarregou com jugo pesado, mas eu aumentarei o vosso jugo. O meu pai vos castigou com chicotes, mas eu vos castigarei com escorpiões".

¹⁵ Então o rei não ouviu ao povo, pois isso foi um evento causado por Yahweh, para que se cumprisse a palavra que Ele falou através de Aías, o silonita, para Jeroboão, filho de Nebate.

¹⁶ Quando todo o Israel viu que o rei não os ouvia, o povo respondeu a ele dizendo: "Que parte temos em Davi? Nós não temos herança com o filho de Jessé! Volta as tuas tendas, Israel. Olha pela tua própria casa, Davi". Então, Israel voltou às suas tendas. ¹⁷ Mas, quanto ao povo de Israel que vivia nas cidades de Judá, Roboão tornou-se rei sobre ele.

¹⁸ Então o rei Roboão enviou Adorão, encarregado dos trabalhadores forçados, mas todo Israel o apedrejou até a morte. O rei Roboão fugiu rapidamente em sua carruagem para Jerusalém. ¹⁹ Israel se rebelou contra a casa de Davi até os dias de hoje.

²⁰ Quando todo Israel ouviu que Jeroboão havia voltado, eles mandaram chamá-lo para sua assembleia e fizeram-no rei sobre todo o Israel. Não houve ninguém que seguiu a família de Davi, exceto a tribo de Judá.

²¹ Quando Roboão chegou a Jerusalém, ele convocou toda a casa de Judá e a tribo de Benjamim; estavam ali cento e oitenta mil homens escolhidos que eram soldados, prontos para lutar contra a casa de Israel, a fim de restaurar o reino a Roboão, filho de Salomão.

²² Mas a palavra de Deus veio a Semaías, o homem de Deus, dizendo: ²³ "Fala a Roboão, filho de Salomão, rei de Judá, para toda a casa de Judá e Benjamim, e ao resto do povo: ²⁴ 'Assim diz Yahweh: Não atacareis nem lutareis contra vossos irmãos o povo de Israel. Cada homem retornará a sua casa, pois Eu mesmo fiz isto acontecer'". Então eles ouviram a palavra de Yahweh, voltaram e seguiram o seu caminho, e obedeceram a Sua palavra.

²⁵ Então Jeroboão construiu Siquém, na região montanhosa de Efraim, e morou ali. Saindo dali, foi e construiu Peniel. ²⁶ Jeroboão pensou: "Agora o reino voltará para a casa de Davi. ²⁷ Se este povo subir para oferecer sacrifícios no templo de Yahweh, em Jerusalém, então o coração deles se voltará outra vez ao seu senhor, para Roboão, rei de Judá. Eles me matarão e retornarão a Roboão, rei de Judá".

²⁸ Então o rei Joroboão buscou conselhos e fez dois bezerros de ouro, e disse para o povo: "É demasiado que vós vades e subais a Jerusalém. Vede, estes são os vossos deuses, Israel, que vos tiraram da terra do Egito". ²⁹ Ele colocou um em Betel e outro em Dã. ³⁰ Assim, este ato se tornou um pecado. O povo foi para um ou outro até Dã.

³¹ Jeroboão fez santuários idólatras nos lugares altos; ele também constituiu sacerdotes dentre todo o povo, que não eram filhos de Levi. ³² Jeroboão ordenou uma festa no oitavo mês, no décimo quinto dia do mês, como a festa que há em Judá, e ele foi ao altar. Ele fez em Betel, sacrificando aos bezerros que fizera, e colocou em Betel os sacerdotes dos lugares altos que ele instituiu.

³³ Jeroboão subiu ao altar que ele fez em Betel no décimo quinto dia do oitavo mês, no mês em que ele planejou na sua própria mente; ele ordenou uma festa para o povo de Israel e subiu até o altar para queimar incenso.

Capítulo 13

¹ Um homem de Deus veio de Judá, pela palavra de Yahweh, para Betel. Jeroboão estava junto ao altar para queimar incenso. ² O homem de Deus gritou contra o altar, pela palavra de Yahweh: "Altar, altar! Isto é o que Yahweh disse: 'Vê, um filho nascerá para a família de Davi, com o nome de Josias, e ele sacrificará os sacerdotes dos lugares altos que agora queimam incenso aqui, e, sobre ti, queimarão ossos humanos'". ³ Então o homem de Deus deu um sinal no mesmo dia, dizendo: "Esse é o sinal que Yahweh falou: 'Olha, o altar se partirá, e as cinzas sobre ele se derramarão'".

⁴ Quando o rei ouviu o que o homem de Deus falou, que ele havia gritado contra o altar de Betel, Jeroboão estendeu a mão sobre o altar, dizendo: "Prendei-o!" Então a mão que ele estendeu contra o homem secou, e ele não conseguiu recolhê-la para si mesmo. ⁵ (O altar também estava partido, e as cinzas se derramaram do altar, conforme o sinal que o homem de Deus havia dado por meio da palavra de Yahweh).

⁶ O rei Jeroboão respondeu e disse para o homem de Deus: "Intercede pelo favor de Yahweh, teu Deus, e ora por mim, para que a minha mão seja restaurada novamente". Então o homem de Deus orou a Yahweh, e a mão do rei foi restaurada a ele novamente e ficou como estava antes. ⁷ O rei falou para o homem de Deus: "Vem para casa comigo, refresca-te e te darei uma recompensa".

⁸ O homem de Deus disse ao rei: "Mesmo se tu me deres a metade de tuas posses, eu não irei contigo, não comerei e nem beberei água neste lugar, ⁹ pois Yahweh ordenou-me com Sua palavra: 'Tu não comerás pão ou beberás água, nem retornarás pelo caminho que tu vieste'". ¹⁰ Então o homem de Deus foi por outro caminho e não retornou à sua casa pelo caminho por onde ele tinha vindo para Betel.

¹¹ Havia um velho profeta vivendo em Betel, e um de seus filhos veio e lhe falou todas as coisas que o homem de Deus tinha feito naquele dia em Betel. Seus filhos também falaram para ele o que o homem de Deus havia falado para o rei. ¹² O pai deles lhes disse: "Por qual caminho ele foi?" Seus filhos tinham visto o caminho por onde o homem do Deus de Judá havia ido. ¹³ Então, ele falou para os seus filhos: "Selai o jumento para mim". Então eles selaram o jumento, e ele foi embora cavalgando.

¹⁴ O velho profeta foi atrás do homem de Deus, achou-o sentado debaixo de um carvalho e lhe disse: "És tu o homem de Deus que veio de Judá?" Ele respondeu: "Sou eu". ¹⁵ Então o velho profeta lhe disse: "Vem embora para a casa comigo e coma alguma coisa". ¹⁶ O homem de Deus respondeu: "Eu não devo retornar contigo, nem ir contigo, nem comer ou beber água contigo, neste lugar, ¹⁷ pois foi ordenado a mim, pela palavra de Yahweh: 'Tu não comerás, nem beberás água lá, nem retornarás pelo caminho pelo qual tu vieste'".

¹⁸ Então o velho profeta lhe disse: "Eu também sou um profeta como tu és, e um anjo falou comigo, pela palavra de Yahweh, dizendo: 'Traze-o de volta contigo, para tua casa, para que ele coma algo e beba água'". Mas ele estava mentindo para o homem de Deus. ¹⁹ Então o homem de Deus voltou com o velho profeta e comeu e bebeu água em sua casa.

²⁰ Quando eles se sentaram à mesa, a palavra de Yahweh veio para o profeta que o havia trazido de volta, ²¹ e ele clamou para o homem de Deus que veio de Judá, dizendo: "Yahweh disse: 'Porque tu foste desobediente à palavra de Yahweh e não guardaste o mandamento que Yahweh, teu Deus, te deu, ²² mas voltaste, comeste e bebeste água no lugar em que Yahweh disse para não comer nem beber água, teu corpo não será enterrado no túmulo de teus pais'".

²³ Depois de ele ter comido e bebido, o profeta selou o jumento do homem de Deus, o homem que tinha voltado com ele. ²⁴ Quando o homem de Deus foi embora, um leão veio até ele na estrada e o matou, e seu corpo ficou na estrada. Então o jumento ficou perto dele, e o leão também ficou diante do corpo. ²⁵ Quando homens passaram perto, e viram o corpo deixado na estrada e o leão diante do corpo, vieram e contaram isso na cidade onde o velho profeta vivia.

²⁶ Quando o profeta que o trouxe de volta do caminho ouviu, ele disse: "É o homem de Deus, que desobedeceu à palavra de Yahweh. Portanto Yahweh entregou-o ao leão, que o rasgou em pedaços e o matou, como a palavra de Yahweh o tinha avisado". ²⁷ Então o velho profeta falou aos seus filhos, dizendo: "Selai o meu jumento", e eles o selaram. ²⁸ Ele foi e encontrou o corpo deixado na estrada, e o jumento e o leão diante do corpo. O leão não tinha comido o corpo, nem atacado o jumento.

²⁹ O profeta pegou o corpo do homem de Deus, colocou no jumento e o trouxe de volta. Ele foi para sua cidade para chorar por ele e para enterrá-lo. ³⁰ Ele enterrou o corpo em seu próprio túmulo, e eles choravam sobre ele, dizendo: "Ai, meu irmão!"

³¹ Então, depois de o haver enterrado, o velho profeta falou aos seus filhos, dizendo: "Quando eu estiver morto, enterrai-me num túmulo em que o homem de Deus estiver enterrado. Colocai meus ossos ao lado dos ossos dele. ³² Porque a mensagem que ele declarou pela palavra de Yahweh contra o altar em Betel e contra todas as casas nos lugares altos nas cidades de Samaria certamente acontecerá".

³³ Depois disso Jeroboão não se arrependeu dos seus maus caminhos, mas ainda nomeou sacerdotes comuns para os lugares altos, entre todos os tipos de pessoas. Ele consagrou qualquer um que quisesse servir como sacerdote. ³⁴ Isso tornou-se pecado para a família de Jeroboão e resultou na destruição dessa família, bem como no seu extermínio da face da terra.

Capítulo 14

¹ Naquele tempo Abias, filho de Jeroboão, ficou muito doente. ² Jeroboão disse para sua esposa: "Por favor, levanta-te e disfarça-te, para que não sejas reconhecida como minha esposa, e vá a Siló, porque o profeta Aías está lá; ele disse a meu respeito, dizendo que eu seria rei sobre este povo. ³ Leva contigo dez pães, alguns bolos e uma vasilha de mel e vai até Aías. Ele dirá o que acontecerá com a criança".

⁴ A esposa de Jeroboão fez isso; ela levantou e foi para Siló e entrou na casa de Aías. Entretanto Aías não enxergava; ele perdeu a visão devido a sua idade. ⁵ Yahweh disse para Aías: "Vê, a mulher de Jeroboão está vindo para consultar-te sobre o filho dela que está doente. Tu lhe falarás assim e assim, porque, quando ela entrar, fingirá ser outra mulher".

⁶ Quando Aías ouviu o som dos passos dela entrando pela porta, ele disse: "Entre, mulher de Jeroboão. Por que finges ser outra pessoa que não és? Eu fui enviado a ti com más notícias. ⁷ Vai, dize a Jeroboão que Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Eu te exaltei entre o povo e te constituí líder sobre o Meu povo, Israel. ⁸ E resgatei o reino da família de Davi e o dei a ti, mas tu não tens sido como Meu servo Davi, que guardou os Meus mandamentos e Me seguiu de todo o coração, para fazer somente o que era reto aos Meus olhos.

⁹ Em vez disso, tens feito o mal, pior do que os que foram antes de ti. Fizeste outros deuses e imagens de fundição para provocar-Me a ira, e Me deste as costas. ¹⁰ Por isso, trarei desastre à tua família; exterminarei em Israel todo menino, escravo ou livre, e removerei completamente tua família, como alguém que queima estrume, até que desapareça.

¹¹ Qualquer um pertencente a tua família que morrer na cidade será comido pelos cães, e quem morrer no campo, será comido pelos passáros dos céus, porque eu, Yahweh, disse isso'. ¹² Então levanta-te, esposa de Jeroboão, e volta para tua casa; quando os teus pés entrarem na cidade, a criança morrerá. ¹³ Todo o Israel chorará por ele, e o sepultará. Ele é o único da família de Jeroboão que será sepultado, porque, somente nele, da casa de Jeroboão, foi encontrada alguma coisa boa aos olhos de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel.

¹⁴ Também Yahweh levantará um rei de Israel, que destruirá a família de Jeroboão, nesse dia. Hoje é este dia, agora mesmo. ¹⁵ Porque Yahweh atacará Israel, como se agita a cana nas águas, e Ele arrancará Israel desta boa terra, que deu a seus antepassados. Ele lhes espalhará além do rio Eufrates, pois, eles fizeram postes para Asterote, e provocaram a ira de Yahweh. ¹⁶ Ele abandonará Israel por causa dos pecados de Jeroboão; os pecados que ele tem cometido, e, através dos quais ele conduziu Israel a pecar".

¹⁷ Então a esposa de Jeroboão levantou-se e partiu, e foi para Tirza. Assim que chegou à entrada da sua casa, o menino morreu. ¹⁸ Todo o Israel o enterrou e chorou por ele, conforme a palavra de Yahweh, a qual ele falou por meio de seu servo Aías, o profeta.

¹⁹ Quanto aos demais assuntos concernentes a Jeroboão, como ele guerreou e como ele reinou, estão escritos no livro da história dos reis de Israel. ²⁰ Jeroboão reinou vinte e dois anos, e, depois, dormiu com seus antepassados, e Nadabe seu filho se tornou rei no seu lugar.

²¹ Então Roboão, filho de Salomão, reinou em Judá. Roboão tinha quarenta e um anos quando se tornou rei, e ele reinou dezessete anos em Jerusalém, a cidade que Yahweh escolheu, de todas as tribos de Israel, para colocar Seu nome. Sua mãe era Amonita e se chamava Naamá. ²² Judá fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh; e, pelos pecados que cometeram, provocaram Seu ciúmes, mais do que fizeram os seus pais.

²³ Pois também edificaram, por si mesmos, lugares altos, pilares de pedra e postes de Astarote, sobre toda colina alta e debaixo de toda árvore verde. ²⁴ Existiam também prostitutas cultuais na terra. Eles fizeram as mesmas práticas abomináveis, como as outras nações, as quais Yahweh havia expulsado diante do povo de Israel.

²⁵ No quinto ano do rei Roboão, Sisaque, rei do Egito, veio contra Jerusalém. ²⁶ Ele levou embora as riquezas da casa de Yahweh, e as riquezas da casa do rei. Ele levou todas as coisas embora; ele também levou todos os escudos de ouro, que Salomão tinha feito.

²⁷ O rei Roboão fez escudos de bronze no lugar deles, e os entregou nas mãos dos comandantes da guarda que vigiavam as portas da casa do rei. ²⁸ A partir de então, quando o rei entrava na casa de Yahweh, os guardas levavam os escudos; depois os devolviam para dentro da sala da guarda.

²⁹ Quanto aos demais assuntos referentes a Roboão, e de tudo que ele fez, não estão escritos no livro dos eventos dos reis de Judá? ³⁰ Houve guerra constante entre Roboão e Jeroboão. ³¹ Então Roboão dormiu com seus antepassados e foi sepultado com eles, na cidade de Davi. O nome da sua mãe era Naamá, a amonita. Abias, seu filho, reinou em seu lugar.

Capítulo 15

¹ No décimo oitavo ano do rei Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, Abias começou a reinar sobre Judá. ² Ele reinou por três anos em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Maaca. Ela era filha de Absalão. ³ Ele andou em todos os pecados que seu pai havia cometido antes de seu tempo; seu coração não era devotado a Yahweh, seu Deus, como o coração de Davi, seu antepassado, havia sido.

⁴ Mesmo assim, por causa de Davi, Yahweh, seu Deus, deu-lhe uma lâmpada em Jerusalém, levantando seu filho após ele, para fortalecer Jerusalém. ⁵ Deus falou isso porque Davi fez o que era certo aos Seus olhos; por todos os dias de sua vida, ele não virou as costas para nada que lhe havia sido ordenado, exceto no caso de Urias, o hitita. ⁶ Houve guerra entre Roboão e Jeroboão durante todos os dias da vida de Abias.

⁷ Os demais atos de Abias, tudo o que ele fez, não estão escritos no livro de eventos dos reis de Judá? Houve guerra entre Abias e Jeroboão. ⁸ Abias dormiu com seus antepassados, e eles o sepultaram na cidade de Davi. Asa, seu filho, se tornou rei em seu lugar.

⁹ No vigésimo ano de Jeroboão, rei de Israel, Asa começou a reinar sobre Judá. ¹⁰ Ele reinou por quarenta e um anos em Jerusalém. O nome de sua avó era Maaca, a filha de Absalão. ¹¹ Asa fez o que era certo aos olhos de Yahweh, assim como Davi, seu antepassado, havia feito.

¹² Ele expulsou as prostitutas cultuais da terra e removeu todos os ídolos que seus antepassados haviam feito. ¹³ Ele também removeu Maaca, sua avó, da posição de rainha, pois ela havia feito uma abominável imagem de um poste a Astarote. Asa destruiu esta imagem e a queimou no vale de Cedrom.

¹⁴ Mas os altares das colinas não foram removidos. Mesmo assim, o coração de Asa era completamente devotado a Yahweh, durante todos os seus dias. ¹⁵ Ele trouxe para o templo de Yahweh as coisas que foram dedicadas a Yahweh, por seu pai, e as coisas que ele mesmo havia dedicado, objetos feitos de prata e ouro, e vasos.

¹⁶ Houve guerra entre Asa e Baasa, rei de Israel, durante todos os seus dias. ¹⁷ Baasa, rei de Israel, agiu agressivamente contra Judá e construiu Ramá, para que ninguém pudesse entrar ou sair da terra de Asa, o rei de Judá.

¹⁸ Então Asa pegou toda a prata e o ouro que foram deixados nos tesouros do templo de Yahweh, e os tesouros do palácio do rei. Ele os colocou nas mãos de seus servos e enviou a Ben-Hadade, filho de Tabrimom, filho de Heziom, o rei da Síria que habitava em Damasco. Ele disse: ¹⁹ "Façamos uma aliança entre mim e ti, assim como houve entre meu pai e teu pai. Vê, eu te enviei um presente de prata e ouro. Quebra a tua aliança com Baasa, o rei de Israel, para que ele se afaste de mim".

²⁰ Ben-Hadade ouviu ao rei Asa e enviou comandantes de seus exércitos, e eles atacaram as cidades de Israel. Eles atacaram Ijom, Dã, Abel-Bete-Maaca e toda Quinerete, junto com todo o território de Naftali. ²¹ Quando Baasa ouviu isso, ele parou a construção de Ramá e voltou para Tirza. ²² Então o rei Asa fez uma proclamação a todo o Judá. Ninguém foi excluído. Eles levaram as pedras e madeiras de Ramá, com as quais Baasa havia edificado a cidade. Então o rei Asa usou aquele material de construção para edificar Geba de Benjamim, e Mispá.

²³ Os demais atos de Asa, toda a sua força, e tudo o que fez, as cidades que construiu, não estão escritos no livro dos eventos dos reis de Judá? Porém, durante sua velhice, ele teve uma doença nos pés. ²⁴ Então Asa dormiu com seus antepassados e foi sepultado com eles na cidade de Davi, seu pai. Josafá, seu filho, se tornou rei em seu lugar.

²⁵ Nadabe, filho de Jeroboão, começou a reinar sobre Israel no segundo ano do reinado de Asa, rei de Judá; ele reinou sobre Israel durante dois anos. ²⁶ Ele fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh e andou no caminho de seu pai, e no seu próprio pecado, pelo qual ele levou Israel a pecar.

²⁷ Baasa, filho de Aías, da família de Issacar, conspirou contra Nadabe; Baasa o matou em Gibetom, que pertencia aos filisteus, pois Nadabe e todo Israel cercavam Gibetom. ²⁸ No terceiro ano de Asa, o rei de Judá, Baasa matou Nadabe, e se tornou rei em seu lugar.

²⁹ Logo que se tornou rei, Baasa matou toda a família de Jeroboão. Ele não deixou que nenhum dos descendentes de Jeroboão respirasse; desta maneira ele destruiu sua linhagem real, como Yahweh havia falado através de seu servo Aías, o silonita, ³⁰ por causa dos pecados que Jeroboão havia cometido e pelos quais ele fez Israel pecar, pois provocou a ira de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel.

³¹ Os demais atos de Nadabe, e tudo o que ele fez, não estão escritos no livro de eventos dos reis de Israel? ³² Houve guerra entre Asa e Baasa, rei de Israel, durante todos os seus dias.

³³ No terceiro ano de Asa, o rei de Judá, Baasa, filho de Aías, começou a reinar sobre todo Israel em Tirza e ele reinou durante vinte e quatro anos. ³⁴ Ele fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh e andou no caminho de Jeroboão e em seus pecados, pelos quais levou Israel a pecar.

Capítulo 16

¹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a Jeú, filho de Hanani, contra Baasa, dizendo: ² "Apesar de exaltar-te do pó e ter feito de ti um líder sobre o Meu povo Israel, tu tens andado no caminho de Jeroboão e tens feito Meu povo de Israel pecar, de modo que Me provocaste a ira com teus pecados.

³ Vê, Eu exterminarei completamente Baasa e sua família, farei com sua família assim como fiz à família de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate. ⁴ Os cachorros comerão qualquer que pertence a Baasa que morrer na cidade, e as aves dos céus comerão os que morrerem nos campos".

⁵ Quanto aos demais eventos de Baasa, o que ele fez e seu poderio, não estão escritos no livro dos eventos dos reis de Israel? ⁶ Baasa dormiu com seus antepassados e foi sepultado em Tirza, e Elá seu filho tornou-se rei em seu lugar.

⁷ Então, pelo profeta Jeú, filho de Hanani, a palavra de Yahweh veio contra Baasa e sua família, não só por causa de todo o mal que ele fez à vista de Yahweh e que O provocou à ira com o trabalho de suas mãos, semelhantemente à família de Jeroboão, mas também porque Baasa tinha matado toda a familia de Jeroboão.

⁸ No vigésimo sexto ano de Asa, rei de Judá, Elá filho de Baasa, começou a reinar sobre Israel em Tirza; e reinou por dois anos. ⁹ Seu servo Zinri, capitão da metade dos carros de guerra, conspirou contra ele. Elá estava em Tirza, bebendo e embriagando-se na casa de Arza, que era seu mordomo em Tirza. ¹⁰ Zinri foi para lá e o atacou, e o matou, no vigésimo sétimo ano de Asa, rei de Judá, e Zinri tornou-se rei no lugar de Elá.

¹¹ Quando Zinri começou a reinar e estava assentado em seu trono, ele matou toda a família de Baasa. Não deixou nenhum homem que pertencesse aos parentes ou os amigos de Baasa. ¹² Assim Zinri destruiu toda a família de Baasa, como foi dito pelas palavras de Yahweh, as quais Ele tinha falado contra Baasa por Jeú, o profeta, ¹³ por todos os pecados de Baasa e os pecados de Elá, seu filho, que eles cometeram, pelos quais induziram Israel a pecar, de modo que provocaram Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, à ira em razão dos seus ídolos.

¹⁴ Quanto aos demais eventos de Elá e tudo o que ele fez, não estão escritos no livro de eventos dos reis de Israel?

¹⁵ No vigésimo sétimo ano de Asa, rei de Judá, Zinri reinou, por somente sete dias, em Tirza. O exército estava acampado perto de Gibetom, que pertencia aos filisteus. ¹⁶ O exército que se acampou ali ouviu dizer: "Zinri conspirou contra o rei e o assassinou". Então, naquele dia, no acampamento, todo o Israel declarou Onri, o comandante do exército, rei sobre Israel. ¹⁷ Onri subiu de Gibetom, e todo o Israel com ele, e eles sitiaram Tirza.

¹⁸ Quando Zinri viu que a cidade havia sido tomada, entrou na fortaleza adjacente ao palácio do rei, e tocou fogo no prédio sobre ele. Dessa maneira ele morreu nas chamas. ¹⁹ Isso foi por causa dos pecados que ele havia cometido, por fazer o que era mau à vista de Yahweh, e andar pelo caminho de Jeroboão e no pecado que ele havia cometido, de modo a induzir Israel a pecar. ²⁰ Quanto aos demais atos de Zinri e a traição que executou, não estão escritos no livro de eventos dos reis de Israel?

²¹ O povo de Israel estava dividido em duas partes. Metade do povo seguiu Tibni, filho de Ginate, para fazer dele rei; e a outra metade seguiu Onri. ²² Mas o povo que seguiu Onri era mais forte que o povo que seguiu Tibni, filho de Ginate. Tibni morreu, e Onri tornou-se rei.

²³ Onri começou reinar sobre Israel no trigésimo primeiro ano de Asa, rei de Judá, e reinou por doze anos. Ele reinou por seis anos em Tirza. ²⁴ Onri comprou a colina de Samaria de Semer por dois talentos de prata. Ele construiu uma cidade na colina e deu-lhe o nome de Samaria, depois do nome de Semer, o antigo proprietário da colina.

²⁵ Onri fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh e agiu mais maliciosamente do que todos os que reinaram antes dele. ²⁶ Pois ele andou em todos os caminhos de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, e nos seus pecados pelos quais ele induziu Israel a pecar, para provocar Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, à ira em razão dos seus ídolos inúteis.

²⁷ Quanto aos demais atos de Onri, o que ele fez e o poderio que ele demonstrou, não estão escritos no livro de eventos dos reis de Israel? ²⁸ Então Onri dormiu com seus antepassados e foi sepultado em Samaria; Acabe, seu filho, tornou-se rei em lugar de Onri.

²⁹ No trigésimo oitavo ano de Asa, rei de Judá, Acabe, filho de Onri, começou a reinar sobre Israel. Acabe, filho de Onri, reinou sobre Israel, em Samaria, vinte e dois anos. ³⁰ Acabe, filho de Onri, fez o que era mau à vista de Yahweh, mais que todos os que reinaram antes dele.

³¹ Era para Acabe algo trivial andar nos pecados de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate; assim, ele tomou como sua esposa Jezabel, a filha de Etbaal, rei dos sidônios; ele foi e adorou Baal e curvou-se diante dele. ³² Acabe construiu um altar para Baal, no templo de Baal, que ele havia edificado em Samaria. ³³ Fez um poste dedicado a Astarote. Acabe fez ainda mais para provocar Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, provocando-Lhe ira, mais que todos os reis de Israel que reinaram antes dele.

³⁴ Durante o reinado de Acabe, Hiel, o betelita, reconstruiu Jericó. Hiel lançou os alicerces da cidade ao custo da vida de Abirão, seu primogênito; e Segube, seu filho mais jovem, perdeu sua vida enquanto Hiel estava construindo os portões da cidade, de acordo com a palavra de Yahweh, pela qual Ele falou através de Josué, filho de Num.

Capítulo 17

¹ Elias, o tesbita, de Tisbé, em Gileade, disse a Acabe: "Assim como Yahweh, o Deus de Israel vive, diante de quem estou, não haverá orvalho ou chuva nestes anos, a menos que eu o diga".

² A palavra de Yahweh veio a Elias, dizendo: ³ "Sai daqui e vai para o leste; esconde-te ao lado do ribeiro de Querite, no lado leste do Jordão. ⁴ Acontecerá que tu beberás do ribeiro, e Eu ordenei aos corvos que te alimentem lá".

⁵ Então Elias foi e fez como a palavra de Yahweh ordenou. Ele foi viver ao lado do ribeiro Querite, no lado leste do Jordão. ⁶ Os corvos traziam para ele pão e carne pela manhã e pão e carne à noite, e ele bebia do ribeiro. ⁷ Mas, depois de um tempo, o ribeiro secou porque não havia nenhuma chuva na terra.

⁸ A palavra de Yahweh veio a ele dizendo: ⁹ "Levanta-te, vai para Sarepta, que pertence a Sidom, e habita lá. Vê, Eu ordenei a uma viúva que te sustente". ¹⁰ Então ele levantou-se e foi para Sarepta e, quando ele chegou ao portão da cidade, a viúva estava lá, juntando lenha. Então ele a chamou e disse: "Por favor, traze-me um pouco de água em uma jarra, para que eu possa beber".

¹¹ Enquanto ela estava indo pegar água, ele a chamou e disse: "Por favor, traze-me um pedaço de pão em tua mão". ¹² Ela respondeu: "Assim como Yahweh, teu Deus, vive, eu não tenho nenhum pão, mas apenas um punhado de farinha em um pote e um pouco de azeite em uma jarra. Vê, eu estou juntando dois pedaços de lenha para que eu vá e cozinhe para mim e meu filho, para comermos e morrermos". ¹³ Elias disse a ela: "Não temas. Vai e faz como tens dito, mas faz-me um pouco de pão primeiramente e traz para mim. Então, depois faz um para ti e teu filho.

¹⁴ Pois Yahweh, o Deus de Israel diz: 'O pote de farinha não se esvaziará, nem mesmo a jarra de azeite parará de fluir, até o dia que Yahweh mandar chuva na terra'". ¹⁵ Então ela fez como Elias lhe havia dito. Ela, Elias e o filho dela comeram por muitos dias. ¹⁶ O pote de farinha não se esvaziou, nem a jarra de azeite secou, assim como a palavra de Yahweh tinha dito, como Ele falou por meio de Elias.

¹⁷ Depois dessas coisas, o filho da mulher, a dona da casa, ficou doente. Sua doença era tão severa que não havia mais fôlego restando nele. ¹⁸ Então a mãe dele disse a Elias: "O que tens contra mim, homem de Deus? Vieste aqui para me lembrar do meu pecado e matar meu filho?"

¹⁹ Então Elias respondeu-lhe: "Dá-me teu filho". Ele pegou o menino dos braços dela e o carregou subindo até o quarto onde ele ficava e o deitou na sua cama. ²⁰ Elias clamou a Yahweh, dizendo: "Yahweh, meu Deus, Tu trouxeste desastre até mesmo para esta viúva que me hospedou, matando seu filho?" ²¹ Então Elias deitou-se sobre o menino três vezes; ele clamou a Yahweh e disse: "Yahweh, meu Deus, eu Te imploro, por favor, que a vida deste menino retorne a ele".

²² Yahweh ouviu a voz de Elias; a vida do menino retornou, e ele reviveu. ²³ Elias tomou a criança e desceu do seu quarto trazendo-a para dentro da casa, entregou o menino à sua mãe e disse: "Vê, teu filho está vivo". ²⁴ A mulher disse a Elias: "Agora eu sei que és um homem de Deus e que a palavra de Yahweh em tua boca é verdadeira".

Capítulo 18

¹ Então, depois de muitos dias, a palavra de Yahweh veio a Elias, no terceiro ano da seca, dizendo: "Vai, apresenta-te a Acabe, e Eu enviarei chuva sobre a terra." ² Elias foi apresentar-se a Acabe; naquela época, a fome era severa em Samaria.

³ Acabe chamou Obadias, que estava no comando do palácio. Obadias honrava muito a Yahweh, ⁴ pois, quando Jezabel estava matando os profetas de Yahweh, Obadias pegou cem profetas e os escondeu de cinquenta em cinquenta em cavernas e alimentou-os com pão e água.

⁵ Acabe disse a Obadias: "Vai pela terra a todas as fontes de água e ribeiros, pode ser que acharemos pasto para conservar vivos os cavalos e mulas, e assim não perderemos todos os animais". ⁶ Então eles dividiram a terra entre si para a percorrerem procurando água. Acabe foi por um caminho sozinho, e Obadias foi por outro caminho.

⁷ Enquanto Obadias ia pela estrada, Elias, sem esperar, encontrou-o. Obadias o reconheceu e colocou o rosto em terra, e disse: "És tu o meu senhor Elias?" ⁸ Elias respondeu: "Sou eu. Vai e diz a teu senhor: 'Olha, Elias está aqui'".

⁹ Obadias respondeu: "Em que pequei eu, para entregares o teu servo nas mãos de Acabe, para ele me matar? ¹⁰ Assim como vive Yahweh, teu Deus, não há nação ou reino que meu senhor não tenha enviado homens para te procurar. Sempre que uma nação ou reino diz: 'Elias não está aqui', Acabe faz com que eles jurem que não te acharam. ¹¹ Mas agora tu dizes: 'vai dizer ao teu senhor que Elias está aqui'.

¹² Assim que eu te deixar, o Espírito de Yahweh te levará para lugares onde eu não sei; e, indo eu dizer isso a Acabe, e ele não podendo te achar, ele me matará. Porém eu, teu servo, tenho adorado Yahweh desde minha juventude. ¹³ Não foi dito a ti, meu mestre, o que eu fiz quando Jezabel matou os profetas de Yahweh, como eu escondi cem profetas de Yahweh divididos entre cinquenta em cinquenta nas cavernas e os alimentei com pão e água?

¹⁴ E agora tu dizes: 'Vai, fala ao teu senhor que Elias está aqui'. Assim ele me matará." ¹⁵ Então Elias respondeu: "Tão certo como Yahweh dos Exércitos vive, em cuja presença estou, hoje eu me apresentarei a Acabe".

¹⁶ Assim Obadias foi se encontrar com Acabe e disse a ele o que Elias lhe dissera. Então o rei foi ao encontro de Elias. ¹⁷ Quando Acabe viu Elias, disse-lhe: "És tu, o pertubador de Israel?"

¹⁸ Elias respondeu: "Eu não tenho perturbado Israel, porém tu e a família de teu pai é que são os perturbadores, abandonando os mandamentos de Yahweh e seguindo os ídolos de Baal. ¹⁹ Agora, ordena e reúne para mim todo Israel no monte Carmelo, junto a quatrocentos e cinquenta profetas de Baal e os quatrocentos profetas de Aserá, que se alimentam da mesa de Jesabel.

²⁰ Então Acabe ordenou a todo o povo de Israel e aos profetas que se reunissem no monte Carmelo. ²¹ Elias se aproximou de todo o povo e disse: "Até quando ficareis indecisos entre dois pensamentos? Se Yahweh é Deus, segui-o. Mas, se Baal é deus, então segui-o". E o povo não respondeu a ele palavra alguma.

²² Então Elias disse ao povo: "Eu sou o último profeta de Yahweh, mas os profetas de Baal são quatrocentos e cinquenta homens. ²³ Então deixai que eles tragam dois bois. Deixai que eles escolham um boi para eles e cortem em pedaços e coloquem sobre a lenha, mas não ponham fogo nela. Então eu prepararei o outro boi, colocarei sobre a lenha e não colocarei fogo. ²⁴ Então vós clamareis pelo nome de vosso deus e eu clamarei pelo nome de Yahweh, e o deus que responder por meio de fogo, esse é Deus." E todo o povo respondeu: "Está bem".

²⁵ Então Elias disse aos profetas de Baal: "Escolhei primeiro um boi para vós e o preparai, pois vós sois muitas pessoas. Então clamai pelo nome de vosso deus, mas não colocai fogo sob o boi". ²⁶ Eles pegaram o boi que lhes fora entregue e o prepararam, e clamaram no nome de Baal desde a manhã até ao meio-dia, dizendo: "Baal, responde-nos!" Mas não houve voz, nem ninguém que respondesse; e dançavam em volta do altar que haviam feito.

²⁷ Ao meio dia, Elias zombava deles dizendo: "Gritai mais alto! Ele é um deus! Talvez ele esteja pensando, ou atendendo alguma necessidade, ou em viagem, ou talvez esteja dormindo e precisa ser despertado". ²⁸ Então eles gritaram mais alto, e, conforme o seu costume, cortaram-se com facas e lancetas, até escorrer sangue sobre si. ²⁹ O meio dia se passou, e eles ainda estavam delirantes até o momento do sacrifício da tarde, mas não havia qualquer voz ou alguém que respondesse; não havia quem prestasse atenção aos seus pedidos.

³⁰ Então Elias disse a todo o povo: "Chegai-vos a mim", e todo o povo se aproximou dele. E ele reparou o altar de Yahweh, que estava em ruínas. ³¹ Elias pegou doze pedras, cada pedra representando uma das doze tribos dos filhos de Jacó — foi para Jacó que a palavra de Yahweh veio dizendo: "Teu nome será Israel". ³² Com as pedras, ele construiu um altar em nome de Yahweh, cavou uma cova em volta do altar, larga o suficiente para semear duas medidas de semente.

³³ A seguir, ele armou a lenha para o fogo, dividiu o novilho em pedaços, e colocou os pedaços sobre a lenha. Ele disse: "Enchei quatro cântaros de água e despejai sobre o sacrifício e sobre a lenha". ³⁴ Então disse: "Façai pela segunda vez", e eles fizeram isto pela segunda vez. Mais uma vez, ele disse: "Façai uma terceira vez", e eles fizeram pela terceira vez. ³⁵ A água correu ao redor do altar e encheu a cova.

³⁶ Aconteceu que, na hora da oferta do sacrifício da tarde, o profeta Elias se aproximou e disse: "Yahweh, Deus de Abraão, de Isaque e de Israel, manifesta hoje que tu és Deus em Israel, que eu sou Teu servo, e que eu tenho feito todas essas coisas conforme a Tua palavra. ³⁷ Responde-me, Yahweh, responde-me, para que esse povo saiba que tu, Yahweh, és Deus e que tu fizeste o coração deles se voltar para Ti".

³⁸ Então o fogo de Yahweh caiu e consumiu tanto o sacrifício, quanto a lenha, as pedras, o pó, e até a água que estava na cova. ³⁹ Quando todo o povo viu isso, todos se prostraram com o rosto em terra e disseram: "Yahweh, Ele é Deus! Yahweh, Ele é Deus!" ⁴⁰ Elias disse ao povo: "Agarrai os profetas de Baal; não deixai nenhum deles escapar". Então eles os agarraram e Elias trouxe esses profetas para perto do ribeiro de Quison e os matou lá.

⁴¹ Elias disse à Acabe: "Sobe, come e bebe, pois há som de muita chuva". ⁴² Assim sendo, Acabe subiu para comer e beber; enquanto isso, Elias subiu ao topo do monte Carmelo, inclinou-se na terra, colocou seu rosto entre seus joelhos,

⁴³ e disse ao seu servo: "Sobe agora, olha na direção do mar". O seu servo subiu, olhou e disse: "Não há nada". Então Elias disse: "Vai de novo" e assim por sete vezes. ⁴⁴ Na sétima vez, o servo disse: "Olha, há uma nuvem subindo do mar, pequena como a mão de um homem". Elias respondeu: "Sobe e diz a Acabe: 'Prepara a tua carruagem e desce antes que a chuva te pare'".

⁴⁵ Aconteceu que, em pouco tempo, os céus se escureceram com nuvens e vento, e caiu uma forte chuva. Acabe entrou em sua carruagem e foi para Jezreel, ⁴⁶ mas a mão de Yahweh estava sobre Elias. Ele enfiou o manto no seu cinto, depois correu, e ainda chegou antes de Acabe na entrada de Jezreel.

Capítulo 19

¹ Acabe contou a Jezabel tudo o que Elias havia feito e como matara todos os profetas com a espada. ² Então Jezabel enviou um mensageiro a Elias, dizendo: "Que os deuses façam comigo, e ainda mais, se eu não fizer com tua vida até amanhã a esta hora o mesmo que foi feito com a vida daqueles profetas mortos". ³ Quando Elias ouviu isso, temendo, fugiu para salvar sua vida e chegou a Berseba, que pertence a Judá; e deixou seu servo ali.

⁴ Elias se foi ao deserto numa jornada de um dia e sentou-se debaixo de um arbusto. Ele pediu para si mesmo que morresse e disse: "Já basta, Yahweh; toma a minha vida, pois não sou melhor do que meus antepassados mortos". ⁵ Logo ele deitou e dormiu debaixo do arbusto; inesperadamente, um anjo lhe tocou e disse: "Levanta-te e come". ⁶ Elias olhou e perto de sua cabeça havia um pão assado em brasas e um jarro de água. A seguir, ele comeu, bebeu e depois deitou-se novamente.

⁷ O Anjo de Yahweh veio uma segunda vez e o tocou, dizendo: "Levanta-te e come, pois tua jornada será muito difícil". ⁸ Então ele se levantou, comeu, bebeu e viajou com a força daquele alimento por quarenta dias e quarenta noites até Horebe, o monte de Deus.

⁹ Ali, ele entrou em uma caverna e nela permaneceu. Depois, a palavra de Yahweh veio a ele e lhe disse: "O que fazes aqui, Elias?" ¹⁰ Elias respondeu: "Eu tenho sido muito zeloso por Yahweh, Deus dos Exércitos, pois o povo de Israel abandonou Tua aliança, destruiu Teus altares e matou Teus profetas com a espada. Agora apenas eu fiquei, e eles ainda estão tentando tirar a minha vida".

¹¹ Yahweh respondeu: "Sai e sobe o monte diante de Mim". Então Yahweh passou, e um forte vento se abateu sobre as montanhas quebrando as pedras em pedaços diante de Yahweh, mas Yahweh não estava no vento. Depois do vento, veio um terremoto, mas Yahweh não estava no terremoto. ¹² Depois do terremoto veio um fogo, mas Yahweh não estava no fogo. Depois do fogo, veio uma voz mansa e suave.

¹³ Quando Elias ouviu a voz, ele cobriu o rosto com sua capa, saiu e ficou em pé à entrada da caverna. Então veio uma voz dizendo: "Que fazes aqui, Elias?" ¹⁴ Elias respondeu: "Eu tenho sido muito zeloso por Yahweh, Deus dos Exércitos, pois o povo de Israel abandonou Tua Aliança, destruiu Teus altares e matou Teus profetas à espada. Agora apenas eu fiquei, e eles ainda estão tentando tirar a minha vida".

¹⁵ Então Yahweh disse a ele: "Vai, retorna por onde vieste, para o deserto de Damasco, e, quando lá chegares, ungirás a Hazel para ser rei sobre a Síria. ¹⁶ Ungirás, também, a Jeú, filho de Ninsi, para ser rei sobre Israel, e ungirás a Eliseu, filho de Safate de Abel-Meloá, para ser profeta em teu lugar.

¹⁷ Acontecerá que Jeú matará quem escapar da espada de Hazael, e Eliseu matará quem escapar da espada de Jeú. ¹⁸ Porém Eu deixarei para Mim sete mil pessoas em Israel, cujos joelhos não se dobraram a Baal e cujas bocas não lhe beijaram.

¹⁹ Então Elias partiu dali e encontrou Eliseu, filho de Safate, que lavrava com doze juntas de bois adiante dele e, ele mesmo, lavrava com a décima segunda junta. Elias foi até Eliseu e colocou sua capa sobre ele. ²⁰ Depois Eliseu deixou os bois e correu até Elias e disse: "Deixa que eu beije meu pai e minha mãe e depois te seguirei". Então Elias lhe disse: "Vai e volta, mas pensa sobre o que fiz contigo".

²¹ Então Eliseu voltou a Elias, pegou a junta de bois, matou os animais, cozinhou a carne com a madeira do jugo dos bois, deu ao povo e eles comeram. Desde então, ele se levantou, passou a seguir Elias e o serviu.

Capítulo 20

¹ Ben-Hadade, rei da Síria, reuniu todo o seu exército. Havia trinta e dois reis de menor importância com ele, cavalos e carruagens. Ele subiu, cercou Samaria e lutou contra ela. ² Enviou mensageiros à cidade de Acabe, rei de Israel, e lhe disse: "Ben-Hadade te diz: ³ 'Tua prata e teu ouro são meus. Também tuas mulheres e crianças, as melhores, agora são minhas'".

⁴ O rei de Israel respondeu: "Conforme o que disseste, meu mestre, rei. Eu e tudo o que tenho somos teus". ⁵ Os mensageiros voltaram e disseram: "Ben-Hadade assim diz: 'Enviei a palavra a ti dizendo que tu deverás me entregar tua prata, teu ouro, tuas mulheres e crianças. ⁶ Mas eu enviarei meus servos a ti amanhã, nesta hora, e eles vasculharão tua casa e as casas de teus servos. Eles pegarão, com suas próprias mãos, e levarão tudo o que agradar seus olhos'".

⁷ Então o rei de Israel reuniu todos os anciãos da terra e disse: "Por favor, anotai e vede como esse homem procura problemas. Ele enviou mensagens para mim pedindo minhas mulheres, crianças, minha prata e meu ouro, e eu não os neguei". ⁸ Todos os anciãos e todo o povo disseram a Acabe: "Não o ouças nem atendas suas exigências".

⁹ Então Acabe disse aos mensageiros de Ben-Hadade: "Dizei ao meu mestre, o rei: 'Concordo com tudo o que mandaste teu servo fazer pela primeira vez, mas eu não posso aceitar essa segunda ordem'". Então os mensageiros saíram e levaram a resposta a Ben-Hadade. ¹⁰ Este enviou sua resposta a Acabe e disse: "Que os deuses façam comigo e ainda mais, se até as cinzas de Samaria forem suficientes para todo o povo que me segue ter um punhado em suas mãos".

¹¹ O rei de Israel respondeu, dizendo: "Dizei a Ben-Hadade: 'Ninguém que está apenas colocando sua armadura deveria se gabar como quem a está tirando'". ¹² Ben-Hadade ouviu a mensagem enquanto estava bebendo, ele e os reis abaixo dele, que estavam em suas tendas. Assim, ordenou aos seus homens: "Alinhai-vos em posição para a batalha". Então eles se prepararam em posição de batalha para atacar a cidade.

¹³ Eis que um profeta veio a Acabe, o rei de Israel, e disse: "Yahweh diz: 'Tu viste este grande exército? Vê, eu o entregarei em tua mão hoje, e saberás que Eu sou Yahweh'". ¹⁴ Acabe respondeu: "Por meio de quem?" Yahweh respondeu: "Pelos jovens oficiais que servem os governadores dos distritos". Então Acabe disse: "Quem iniciará a batalha?" Yahweh respondeu: "Tu". ¹⁵ Então Acabe convocou os jovens oficiais que serviam aos governadores dos distritos. Eles eram duzentos e trinta e dois. Depois ele convocou todos os soldados, todo o exército de Israel, eram sete mil em número.

¹⁶ Eles saíram ao meio-dia. Ben-Hadade havia bebido e se embriagado em sua tenda, ele e os trinta e dois reis menores, que o estavam apoiando. ¹⁷ Os jovens oficiais que serviam os governadores dos distritos foram para a frente primeiro. Então Ben-Hadade foi informado pelos espias que havia enviado: "Os homens estão vindo de Samaria".

¹⁸ Ben-Hadade disse: "Quer eles venham pela paz, quer pela guerra, trazei-os vivos". ¹⁹ Então os jovens oficiais que serviam aos governadores dos distritos saíram da cidade, e o exército os seguiu.

²⁰ Eles mataram cada um de seus inimigos, e os sírios fugiram. Israel os perseguiu. Ben-Hadade, o rei da Síria, escapou em um cavalo, junto com alguns cavaleiros. ²¹ Então o rei de Israel saiu, atacou os cavalos e carruagens e matou os sírios, impondo sobre eles um grande massacre.

²² Então, o profeta veio ao rei de Israel e lhe disse: "Vai, fortalece-te, entende e planeja o que estarás fazendo, pois, após um ano, o rei da Síria virá contra ti novamente". ²³ Os servos do rei da Síria disseram a ele: "O deus deles é deus dos montes. Por isso eles foram mais fortes que nós. Mas agora lutemos contra eles na planície e certamente seremos mais fortes que eles.

²⁴ Assim, deve fazer isto: tira os reis, cada um de suas posições de autoridade, e substitui-os por comandantes do exército. ²⁵ Levanta um exército como aquele que tu perdeste — cavalo por cavalo e carruagem por carruagem — para que possamos combatê-los na planície. Certamente, seremos mais fortes que eles". Então Ben-Hadade ouviu o conselho dos servos e fez o que eles recomendaram.

²⁶ Após o começo do novo ano, Ben-Hadade convocou os sírios e foi a Afeque para lutar contra Israel. ²⁷ O povo de Israel, que estava convocado e provido de suprimento para lutar, acampou defronte deles como dois pequenos rebanhos de cabras, mas os sírios enchiam a terra.

²⁸ Então, um homem de Deus aproximou-se e disse ao rei de Israel: "Assim diz Yahweh: 'Porque os sírios disseram que Yahweh é o deus dos montes, mas não é o deus dos vales, Eu colocarei esse grande exército em tua mão e saberás que Eu sou Yahweh'".

²⁹ Assim, os exércitos acamparam, uns em frente aos outros, durante sete dias. No sétimo dia, a batalha começou. O povo de Israel matou cem mil sírios de infantaria em um dia. ³⁰ O restante fugiu para Afeque, entrou na cidade e o muro caiu sobre vinte e sete mil homens que restavam. Ben-Hadade fugiu e entrou na cidade, dentro de uma sala interna.

³¹ Os servos de Ben-Hadade disseram a ele: "Agora vê, nós ouvimos que os reis da casa de Israel são misericordiosos. Vamos nos vestir de panos de saco e cordas em volta de nossas cabeças e iremos ao rei de Israel. Talvez, ele poupe tua vida". ³² Assim, eles puseram pano de saco e cordas em torno de suas cabeças e depois foram ao rei de Israel e disseram: "Teu servo Ben-Hadade diz: 'Deixa-me viver'". Acabe disse: "Ele ainda vive? Ele é meu irmão".

³³ Os homens ouviram isso como um bom sinal de Acabe, então, rapidamente lhe responderam: "Sim, teu irmão Ben-Hadade está vivo". Então, Acabe disse: "Ide e trazei-o". Assim, Ben-Hadade veio a ele, e Acabe o convidou para entrar em sua carruagem. ³⁴ Ben-Hadade disse a Acabe: "Eu te restituirei as cidades que meu pai tomou de teu pai e podes fazer para ti praças em Damasco, assim como meu pai fez em Samaria". Acabe respondeu: "Eu te deixarei ir com esta aliança". Então, Acabe fez uma aliança com ele e o deixou ir.

³⁵ Um certo homem, um dos filhos dos profetas, disse a um de seus companheiros profetas pela palavra de Yahweh: "Por favor, bate em mim". Mas o homem se recusou a fazê-lo. ³⁶ Então, o profeta disse ao seu seu companheiro profeta: "Porque não obedeceste a voz de Yahweh, assim que me deixares, serás morto por um leão". E, assim que aquele homem o deixou, um leão o encontrou e o matou.

³⁷ Depois, o profeta encontrou outro homem e disse: "Por favor, bate em mim". Então, o homem bateu nele e o feriu. ³⁸ Assim, o profeta saiu e esperou pelo rei na estrada; ele havia se disfarçado com uma bandagem cobrindo os olhos.

³⁹ Quando o rei passava, o profeta clamou a ele, dizendo: "Teu servo estava em plena batalha, e um soldado parou e trouxe um inimigo a mim, dizendo: 'Vigia este homem. Se ele escapar, tua vida será dada pela vida dele, ou então pagarás um talento de prata'. ⁴⁰ Mas, porque teu servo estava ocupado, indo aqui e ali, o soldado inimigo escapou". Então, o rei de Israel disse a ele: "Esta será tua punição — tu mesmo a decidiste".

⁴¹ Então, o profeta rapidamente removeu a bandagem de seus olhos, e o rei de Israel reconheceu que ele era um dos profetas. ⁴² O profeta disse ao rei: "Yahweh diz: 'Porque deixaste escapar de tua mão o homem que Eu havia sentenciado à morte, tua vida será tomada no lugar da vida dele, e teu povo por seu povo'". ⁴³ Então, o rei de Israel foi para sua casa ressentido e irado, e chegou a Samaria.

Capítulo 21

¹ Algum tempo depois, Nabote, o jezreelita, tinha uma vinha em Jezreel, próxima ao pálacio de Acabe, rei de Samaria. ² Acabe falou para Nabote, dizendo: "Dá-me a tua vinha, para que possa transformá-la em uma horta, porque está próxima à minha casa. Em troca, eu te darei uma vinha muito melhor, ou, se tu preferires, te pagarei o valor dela em dinheiro".

³ Nabote respondeu a Acabe: "Que Yahweh me proíba de te dar a herança dos meus antepassados". ⁴ Assim, Acabe foi ao seu palácio ressentido e furioso por causa da resposta que Nabote, o jezreelita, deu a ele, quando disse: "Eu não te darei a herança dos meus antepassados". Ele se deitou em sua cama, virou seu rosto e se recusou a comer.

⁵ Jezabel, sua esposa, veio e disse a ele: "Por que o teu coração está tão entristecido, que não comes?". ⁶ Ele respondeu a ela: "Eu falei para Nabote, o jezreelita e disse a ele: 'Dá-me a tua vinha por dinheiro, ou, se for do teu agrado, eu te darei outra vinha para que seja tua'. Então ele respondeu a mim: 'Eu não te darei a minha vinha'". ⁷ Assim, Jezabel, sua esposa, respondeu a ele: "Tu não és o governante do reino de Israel? Levanta e come; alegra o teu coração. Eu obterei a vinha de Nabote, o jezreelita, para ti".

⁸ Assim, Jezabel escreveu cartas em nome de Acabe, selando-as com o selo dele e as enviou aos anciãos e aos nobres que se reuniam com ele e que viviam perto de Nabote. ⁹ Ela escreveu nas cartas, dizendo: "Proclamai um jejum e colocai Nabote acima do povo. ¹⁰ Também colocai dois homens desonestos com ele e deixai-os testemunharem contra ele, dizendo: 'Tu amadiçoaste a Deus e ao rei'". Depois, tirai-o para fora e apedrejai-o até a morte.

¹¹ Assim, os homens da cidade dele, os anciãos e os nobres que viviam na cidade de Nabote fizeram como Jezabel descrevera nas cartas que ela havia enviado para eles. ¹² Eles proclamaram um jejum e colocaram Nabote acima do povo. ¹³ Os dois homens desonestos entraram e sentaram diante de Nabote; eles testificaram contra Nabote, na presença do povo, dizendo: "Nabote amaldiçoou a Deus e ao rei". Então, eles o levaram para fora da cidade e o apedrejaram até a morte. ¹⁴ Então, os anciãos mandaram uma palavra para Jezabel, dizendo: "Nabote foi apedrejado e está morto".

¹⁵ Assim, quando Jezabel ouviu que Nabote havia sido apedrejado e estava morto, ela disse a Acabe: "Levanta-te e toma posse da vinha de Nabote, o jezreelita, a qual ele recusou te dar por dinheiro, porque Nabote não está mais vivo, mas morto". ¹⁶ Quando Acabe ouviu que Nabote estava morto, levantou-se e desceu à vinha de Nabote, o jezreelita e tomou posse dela.

¹⁷ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a Elias, o tesbita, dizendo: ¹⁸ "Levanta-te e vai encontrar Acabe, rei de Israel, que vive em Samaria. Ele está na vinha de Nabote, aonde foi para tomar posse dela.

¹⁹ Fala com ele e diz: "Assim diz Yahweh: 'Tu mataste e tomaste posse?'". Então, dirás a ele: "Assim diz Yahweh: 'No lugar onde os cães lambem o sangue de Nabote, os cães lamberão teu sangue; sim, o teu sangue".' ²⁰ Acabe disse a Elias: "Achaste-me, meu inimigo?". Elias respondeu: "Achei-te, porque te vendeste para fazer o que é mau à vista de Yahweh.

²¹ Yahweh diz isto a ti: 'Olha, Eu trarei desgraça a ti e tu serás completamente consumido e cada um dos teus meninos, escravos e homem livre em Israel serâo cortados de ti. ²² Farei da tua família como à familia de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, e como à família de Baasa, filho de Aías, porque tu provocaste a Minha ira e conduziste Israel ao pecado'.

²³ Yahweh também falou com relação a Jezabel, dizendo: 'Os cães comerão Jezabel ao lado do muro de Jezreel.' ²⁴ Todo aquele que pertence a Acabe e que morrer na cidade, os cães o comerão; e as aves do céu comerão qualquer um que morrer no campo".

²⁵ Não havia ninguém como Acabe, que vendeu a si mesmo para fazer o que era mau à vista de Yahweh, a quem Jezabel, sua esposa, incitou a pecar. ²⁶ Acabe fez coisas repugnantes para os ídolos que ele seguiu, tal como todos aqueles amorreus haviam feito, aqueles que Yahweh havia expulsado de diante do povo de Israel.

²⁷ Quando Acabe ouviu essas palavras, rasgou suas vestes, cobriu-se de pano de saco, jejuou, deitou-se em pano de saco e se entristeceu muito. ²⁸ Então, veio a palavra do Senhor a Elias, o tesbita, dizendo: ²⁹ "Viste como Acabe se humilhou diante de Mim? Porque ele se humilhou diante de Mim, Eu não trarei essa desgraça nos dias dele; será nos dias de seu filho que Eu trarei desastre à sua família".

Capítulo 22

¹ Três anos se passaram sem guerra entre a Síria e Israel. ² E aconteceu que, no terceiro ano, Josafá, o rei de Judá, foi até o rei de Israel.

³ O rei de Israel disse para seus servos: "Vós sabeis que Ramote-Gileade é nossa, mas não fazemos nada para tomar das mãos do rei da Síria?". ⁴ Assim, ele disse para Josafá: "Irás tu comigo para a guerra em Ramote-Gileade?". Josafá respondeu para o rei de Israel: "Eu sou como tu és, meu povo é como o teu povo e meus cavalos são como os teus cavalos".

⁵ Josafá disse para o rei de Israel: "Por favor, busca a direção da palavra de Yahweh para o que farás primeiro". ⁶ E o rei de Israel reuniu os profetas, quatrocentos homens, e lhes disse: "Eu deveria ou não ir a Ramote-Gileade para batalhar?". Eles disseram: "Ataca, porque o Senhor a entregará na mão do rei".

⁷ Mas Josafá disse: "Ainda não há aqui outro profeta de Yahweh de quem nós devemos buscar conselho?". ⁸ O rei de Israel disse para Josafá: "Ainda há um homem de quem nós podemos buscar conselho de Yahweh para ajudar, Micaías, filho de Inlá, mas eu o odeio porque ele não profetiza nada de bom sobre mim, mas somente dificuldades". Mas Josafá disse: "O rei não pode dizer isto". ⁹ Então, o rei de Israel chamou um oficial e ordenou: "Traz Micaías, filho de Inlá, imediatamente".

¹⁰ Então, Acabe, o rei de Israel, e Josafá, o rei de Judá, estavam sentados cada um em um trono, vestidos em seus trajes reais, em um lugar aberto, na entrada do portão de Samaria e todos os profetas estavam profetizando diante deles. ¹¹ Zedequias, filho de Quenaaná, fez ele mesmo chifres de ferro e disse: "Diz Yahweh: 'Com estes, empurrarás os sírios até que eles sejam consumidos"'. ¹² E todos os profetas profetizaram o mesmo, dizendo: "Ataca Ramote-Gileade e ganha, porque Yahweh a entregou nas mãos do rei".

¹³ O mensageiro que foi chamar Micaías falou para ele, dizendo: "Agora veja, as palavras dos profetas declaram coisas boas para o rei com uma só voz. Por favor deixe sua palavra ser como a de um deles e diga coisas boas". ¹⁴ Micaías respondeu: "Como Yahweh vive, o que Yahweh me disser, direi". ¹⁵ Quando ele veio ao rei, o rei lhe disse: "Micaías, deveríamos nós ir para Ramote-Gileade para batalhar, ou não?" Micaías lhe respondeu: "Ataca e ganha. Yahweh a entregará na mão do rei".

¹⁶ Então, o rei disse para ele: "Quanto tempo devo te exigir para jurar e dizer para mim nada além da verdade em nome de Yahweh?". ¹⁷ Assim, Micaías disse: "Eu vi todo o Israel disperso para as montanhas, como ovelhas que não têm pastor e Yahweh disse: 'Estas não têm pastor. Permite que todos os homens retornem para suas casas em paz'".

¹⁸ Então, o rei de Israel disse para Josafá: "Eu não te disse que ele não profetizaria coisas boas concernentes a mim, mas somente desastre?". ¹⁹ Então, Micaías disse: "Assim sendo, escutai as palavras de Yahweh: Eu vi Yahweh, sentando, em Seu trono, e todo o exército do céu estava em pé junto a Ele em sua mão direita e esquerda. ²⁰ Yahweh disse: 'Quem enganará Acabe, para que, então, ele suba e caia em Ramote-Gileade?'. Um deles respondeu desse jeito e outro respondeu daquele jeito.

²¹ Então, um espírito veio adiante, ficou diante de Yahweh, e disse: 'Eu o enganarei'. Yahweh disse-lhe: 'Como?'. ²² O espírito respondeu: 'Eu sairei e serei um espírito de mentira na boca de todos os seus profetas'. Yahweh respondeu: 'Tu o enganarás e tu também terás sucesso. Vai agora e faz assim'. ²³ Agora, vê, Yahweh colocou um espírito mentiroso na boca de todos estes teus profetas e Yahweh decretou desgraça para ti".

²⁴ Então, Zedequias, filho de Quenaana, apareceu, bateu na bochecha de Micaías e disse: "De que jeito o Espírito de Yahweh saiu de mim para falar contigo?". ²⁵ Micaías disse: "Veja, tu saberás naquele dia, quando correres para alguma sala interior para esconder".

²⁶ O rei de Israel disse para seu servo: "Apreende Micaías e leva-o para Amom, o governador da cidade, e Joás, meu filho. ²⁷ Dize-lhe: 'O rei diz: Coloca este homem na prisão e o alimenta somente com um pedaço de pão e um pouco de água, até que eu volte em paz"'. ²⁸ Então, Micaías disse: "Se retornares seguro, então, Yahweh não tem falado por mim". E adicionou: "Escutai isso, todos vós".

²⁹ Assim, Acabe, rei de Israel, e Josafá, rei de Judá, subiram para Ramote-Gileade. ³⁰ O rei de Israel disse para Josafá: "Eu me disfarçarei e entrarei na batalha, mas tu veste teus trajes reais". Assim, o rei de Israel se disfarçou e foi para a batalha.

³¹ Então, o rei da Síria havia ordenado aos trinta e dois capitães de suas carruagens, dizendo: "Não ataqueis os soldados sem importância ou com importância. Em vez disso, atacai somente o rei de Israel". ³² E aconteceu que, quando os capitães das carruagens viram Josafá, eles disseram: "Certamente, ele é rei de Israel". Eles voltaram a atacá-lo, então, Josafá gritou. ³³ Quando os comandantes das carruagens viram que não era o rei de Israel, eles pararam de persegui-lo.

³⁴ Mas um certo homem preparou o seu arco e, atirando ao acaso, acertou o rei de Israel, entre as juntas de sua armadura. Então, Acabe disse para o condutor de sua carruagem: "Dê a volta e leva-me para fora da batalha, pois estou gravemente ferido".

³⁵ A batalha ficou pior naquele dia e o rei foi mantido em sua carruagem voltada para os sírios. Ele morreu naquela tarde. O sangue de sua ferida escorreu para o fundo da carruagem. ³⁶ Então, quando o sol estava se pondo, um clamor subiu do exército, dizendo: "Todo homem deve voltar para sua cidade; e todo homem deve voltar para sua região!".

³⁷ O rei Acabe morreu e foi levado para Samaria; eles o sepultaram lá. ³⁸ Eles lavaram a carruagem ao lado do tanque de Samaria e os cachorros lamberam seu sangue (e isto foi no local onde as prostitutas se banhavam), assim como a palavra de Yahweh havia declarado.

³⁹ Quanto aos outros assuntos concernentes a Acabe, tudo que ele fez, a casa de marfim que ele construiu e todas as cidades que ele construiu não foram escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Israel? ⁴⁰ Assim, Acabe dormiu com seus antepassados e Acazias, seu filho, se tornou rei em seu lugar.

⁴¹ Então, Josafá, filho de Asa, começou a reinar sobre Judá no quarto ano de Acabe rei de Israel. ⁴² Josafá tinha trinta e cinco anos quando começou a reinar e ele reinou em Jerusalém por vinte e cinco anos. O nome de sua mãe era Azuba, a filha de Sili.

⁴³ Ele andou nos caminhos de Asa, seu pai; e não se desviou deles; ele fez o que era certo aos olhos de Yahweh. Contudo, os lugares altos ainda não haviam sido tirados. O povo ainda estava sacrificando e queimando incenso nos lugares altos. ⁴⁴ Josafá fez paz com o rei de Israel.

⁴⁵ Quanto aos outros assuntos concernentes a Josafá, e o poder que ele mostrou, e como ele promoveu uma guerra, não estão escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Judá? ⁴⁶ Ele tirou da terra o resto das prostitutas cultuais que haviam permanecido nos dias de seu pai, Asa. ⁴⁷ Não havia rei em Edom, mas apenas um governador lá.

⁴⁸ Josafá construiu navios; eles eram para ir a Ofir em busca de ouro, mas eles não foram porque os navios naufragaram em Eziom-Geber. ⁴⁹ Então, Acazias, filho de Acabe, disse para Josafá: "Deixa que meus servos velejem com teus servos nos navios". Mas Josafá não permitiu isso. ⁵⁰ Josafá dormiu com seus antepassados e foi sepultado com eles na cidade de Davi, seu antepassado, Jeorão, seu filho, tornou-se rei em seu lugar.

⁵¹ Acazias, filho de Acabe, começou a reinar sobre Israel, em Samaria, no décimo sétimo ano de Josafá, rei de Judá, e ele reinou dois anos sobre Israel. ⁵² Ele fez o que era mau à vista de Yahweh e andou no caminho de seu pai, no caminho de sua mãe, e no caminho de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, pelo qual ele conduziu Israel ao pecado. ⁵³ Ele serviu a Baal e o adorou e, assim, provocou Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, à ira, exatamente como seu pai havia feito.

2 Kings

Capítulo 1

¹ Moabe rebelou-se contra Israel depois da morte de Acabe. ² Então, Acazias caiu da grade da sua sacada superior em Samaria e com isso ficou ferido. Então, ele enviou mensageiros e disse-lhes: "Ide, consultai a Baal-Zebube, o deus de Ecrom, se eu me recuperarei destes ferimentos".

³ Mas o Anjo de Yahweh disse a Elias, o tesbita: "Levanta-te, sobe ao encontro dos mensageiros do rei de Samaria e dize-lhes: 'Por acaso não há Deus em Israel para que consulteis a Baal-Zebube, o deus de Ecrom?'. ⁴ Por essa razão, assim diz Yahweh: 'Não descerás desta cama para onde subiste, mas, certamente, morrerás"'. Então, Elias saiu.

⁵ Quando os mensageiros retornaram a Acazias, este lhes perguntou: "Por que retornastes?". ⁶ Eles lhe disseram: "Um homem veio ao nosso encontro e nos disse: 'Voltai ao rei que vos enviou e dizei-lhe: 'Assim diz Yahweh: 'Por acaso não há Deus em Israel para que teus homens consultem a Baal-Zebube, o deus de Ecrom? Por essa razão, não sairás desta cama para a qual subistes, mas certamente morrerás'".

⁷ Acazias disse aos seus mensageiros: "Qual a aparência do homem que veio ao vosso encontro e vos disse essas palavras?". ⁸ Responderam-lhes: "Ele vestia uma roupa feita de pelos e tinha um cinto de couro amarrado em volta da cintura". Então, o rei replicou: "Este é Elias, o tesbita".

⁹ Então, o rei enviou um capitão com cinquenta soldados a Elias. Este subiu a Elias, que estava sentado no cume do monte, e lhe disse: "Tu, homem de Deus, o rei diz: 'Desce"'. ¹⁰ Elias respondeu e disse ao capitão: "Se eu sou homem de Deus, desça fogo do céu e consuma a ti e também os teus cinquenta homens". Então, desceu fogo do céu e consumiu a ele e aos seus cinquenta homens.

¹¹ Novamente, o rei Acazias enviou para Elias outro capitão com cinquenta soldados. Esse capitão também disse a Elias: "Tu, homem de Deus, o rei diz: 'Desce rapidamente'". ¹² Elias respondeu e lhe disse: "Se eu sou homem de Deus, desça fogo do céu e consuma a ti e também os teus cinquenta homens". Outra vez, o fogo de Deus desceu do céu e o consumiu juntamente com seus cinquenta homens.

¹³ Ainda outra vez, o rei enviou um terceiro grupo de cinquenta guerreiros. Esse capitão subiu, pôs-se de joelhos diante de Elias e implorou, dizendo-lhe: "Tu, homem de Deus, suplico-te, livra minha vida, e as vidas destes cinquenta guerreiros sejam preciosas à tua vista. ¹⁴ Certamente, o fogo caiu do céu e consumiu os primeiros dois capitães com seus homens, mas agora permite que minha vida seja preciosa aos teus olhos".

¹⁵ Então, o Anjo de Yahweh disse a Elias: "Desce com eles. Não tenhas medo deles". Então, Elias se levantou e desceu com eles ao rei. ¹⁶ Elias disse a Acazias: "Assim diz Yahweh: 'Tens enviado mensageiros para consultar Baal-Zebube, o deus de Ecrom. Por acaso não há Deus em Israel para que teus homens consultem a Baal-Zebube, o deus de Ecrom? Por essa razão, não sairás desta cama para a qual subistes, mas certamente morrerás'".

¹⁷ Então, o rei Acazias morreu, de acordo com a palavra de Yahweh que Elias havia falado. Jorão começou a reinar em seu lugar, no segundo ano de Jeorão, filho de Jeosafá, rei de Judá, pois Acazias não tinha filho. ¹⁸ O restante dos atos de Acazias não estão escritos no livro das Crônicas dos reis de Israel?

Capítulo 2

¹ Quando Yahweh estava para tomar Elias aos céus, por meio de um redemoinho de vento, aconteceu que Elias saiu de Gilgal com Eliseu. ² Elias disse a Eliseu: "Por favor, fica aqui, porque Yahweh me enviou para Betel". Eliseu respondeu: "Assim como vive Yahweh e tu vives também, eu não te abandonarei". Então, eles desceram para Betel.

³ Os filhos dos profetas que estavam em Betel vieram até Eliseu e lhe disseram: "Tu sabes que hoje Yahweh tirará teu senhor de ti?". Eliseu respondeu: "Sim, eu sei, porém não faleis nisso". ⁴ Elias lhe disse: "Por favor, Eliseu, espera aqui, pois Yahweh me enviou a Jericó". E Eliseu respondeu: "Assim como vive Yahweh e assim como tu também vives, eu não te deixarei". Então, eles foram para Jericó.

⁵ Então, os filhos dos profetas que estavam em Jericó vieram até Eliseu e lhe disseram: "Tu sabes que Yahweh tirará hoje teu senhor de ti?". Eliseu respondeu: "Sim, eu sei, mas não faleis sobre isso". ⁶ Então, Elias lhe disse: "Por favor, fica aqui, pois Yahweh me enviou ao Jordão". Eliseu respondeu: "Assim como vive Yahweh e assim como tu também vives, eu não te deixarei". Então, eles partiram.

⁷ Depois, cinquenta dos filhos dos profetas ficaram em pé, de frente para eles, a uma certa distância, enquanto eles dois permaneceram em pé, diante do Jordão. ⁸ Elias pegou seu manto, enrolou e tocou a água com ele. O rio se dividiu em ambos os lados, de forma que eles dois o atravessaram em terra seca.

⁹ Depois de terem atravessado, Elias disse a Eliseu: "Pergunta-me o que devo fazer por ti antes que eu seja de ti tomado". Eliseu respondeu: "Por favor, peço-te que haja porção dobrada de teu espírito sobre mim". ¹⁰ Elias respondeu: "Coisa difícil me pediste. Apesar disso, se tu me vires quando eu for tomado de ti, isso te acontecerá; caso contrário, isso não te acontecerá".

¹¹ Enquanto eles ainda desciam e conversavam, viram aparecer uma carruagem de fogo com cavalos de fogo que os separou um do outro e Elias subiu em um redemoinho de vento até os céus. ¹² Eliseu viu isso e clamou: "Meu pai, meu pai, as carruagens de Israel e seus cavaleiros!". Ele não o viu mais, pegou para si as roupas de Elias e rasgou-as em duas peças.

¹³ Ele pegou a capa que Elias deixara cair e foi de volta para a beira do Jordão. ¹⁴ Tocou a água com a capa de Elias e disse: "Onde está Yahweh, o Deus de Elias?". Quando ele tocou as águas, estas se dividiram em ambos os lados e Eliseu atravessou.

¹⁵ Quando os filhos dos profetas que eram de Jericó viram-no atravessar, disseram: "O espírito de Elias repousa sobre Eliseu!". Então, vieram ao seu encontro e prostraram-se diante dele. ¹⁶ E disseram: "Eis que há entre teus servos cinquenta homens fortes. Pedimos-te que os deixes ir em busca de teu senhor, pode ser que o Espírito de Yahweh o tenha tomado e o tenha deixado em alguma montanha ou em algum vale". Eliseu respondeu: "Não, não os envieis".

¹⁷ Mas insistiram com Eliseu e o constrangeram até ficar envergonhado, então lhes disse: "Enviai-os". Assim, eles enviaram cinquenta homens e, por três dias, procuraram, mas não o encontraram. ¹⁸ Voltaram a Eliseu, enquanto ele estava em Jericó, e ele lhes disse: "Não falei eu para vós, 'Não vades'?".

¹⁹ Os homens da cidade disseram a Eliseu: "Vê, nós imploramos, a situação desta cidade é favorável, como meu senhor pode ver, mas as águas são ruins, e a terra não é fértil". ²⁰ Eliseu respondeu: "Trazei-me uma tigela nova e ponde sal nela". Então, eles lhe trouxeram.

²¹ Eliseu foi até a nascente de água e pôs o sal nela; então, ele disse: "Assim diz Yahweh: 'Eu sarei estas águas. De agora em diante, não haverá mais morte ou terra infrutífera'". ²² Assim, as águas foram saradas até o dia de hoje, segundo a palavra de Eliseu.

²³ Então, Eliseu subiu dali a Betel. E, subindo ele pelo caminho, alguns jovens saíram da cidade zombaram dele, dizendo: "Sobe, careca! Sobe, careca!". ²⁴ Virando-se ele para trás, viu-os e os amaldiçoou em nome de Yahweh. Então, duas ursas saíram da floresta e feriram quarenta e dois dos garotos. ²⁵ E dali foi para o monte Carmelo e de lá retornou para Samaria.

Capítulo 3

¹ No décimo oitavo ano de Josafá, rei de Judá, Jorão, filho de Acabe, começou a reinar sobre Israel, em Samaria. Jorão reinou por doze anos. ² E fez aquilo que era mau à vista de Yahweh, mas não como seu pai e sua mãe; pois ele removeu a coluna sagrada de Baal que seu pai havia feito. ³ Entretanto, ele se manteve no pecado de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, que fizera pecar a Israel e não se afastou desses pecados.

⁴ Então, Messa, rei dos moabitas, criador de ovelhas, deu ao rei de Israel cem mil cordeiros e cem mil lãs de carneiros. ⁵ Mas, depois que Acabe morreu, o rei de Moabe se rebelou contra o rei de Israel. ⁶ Então, o rei Jorão saiu de Samaria naquele tempo e mobilizou todo o Israel para a guerra.

⁷ Ele enviou uma mensagem para Josafá, rei de Judá, dizendo: "O rei de Moabe tem se rebelado contra mim. Irás comigo contra Moabe para o combate?". Josafá replicou: "Irei. Estarei contigo, meu povo irá como teu povo, meus cavalos, como teus cavalos". ⁸ Então, ele disse: "Por qual caminho devemos atacar?". Josafá respondeu: "Pelo caminho do deserto de Edom".

⁹ Os reis de Israel, Judá e Edom marcharam em círculo por sete dias. Não encontraram água para o exército, nem para os cavalos e os animais. ¹⁰ Então, o rei de Israel disse: "O que é isso? Será que Yahweh reuniu três reis para nos entregar nas mãos de Moabe?".

¹¹ Mas Josafá falou: "Não existe aqui um profeta de Yahweh, para que possamos consultar Yahweh por meio dele?". Um dos escravos do rei de Israel respondeu e disse: "Eliseu, filho de Safate, está aqui, que derramava água sobre as mãos de Elias". ¹² Josafá disse: "A palavra de Yahweh está com ele". Então, o rei de Israel Josafá, e o rei de Edom desceram até ele.

¹³ Eliseu falou para o rei de Israel: "O que eu tenho contigo? Ide aos profetas de teu pai e de tua mãe". Então, o rei de Israel lhe disse: "Não, porque Yahweh nos reuniu, os três reis, para nos entregar nas mãos de Moabe". Eliseu replicou: ¹⁴ "Assim como vive Yahweh dos Exércitos, em cuja presença estou, que se não fosse por honra à presença de Josafá, rei de Judá, eu não te daria atenção e nem te olharia.

¹⁵ No entanto, trazei-me um músico". E, enquanto o harpista tocava, a mão de Yahweh veio sobre Eliseu. ¹⁶ Ele disse: "Assim diz Yahweh: 'Fazei este vale de rio seco encher de trincheiras'. ¹⁷ Pois assim diz Yahweh: 'Não verás vento, nem verás chuva, mas este vale será cheio de água e beberás tu e todos os teus animais'.

¹⁸ Isto é pouco aos olhos de Yahweh. Ele também vos concederá a vitória sobre os moabitas. ¹⁹ Atacareis todas as cidades fortificadas e todas as cidades escolhidas, cortareis todas as árvores frutíferas, interrompereis todas as fontes de água, e arruinareis com pedras toda a terra de cultivo".

²⁰ Na manhã seguinte, quase na hora de oferecer o sacrificío, as águas vinham descendo na direção de Edom, e a região se encheu de água.

²¹ Quando todos os moabitas ouviram que os reis tinham vindo para combatê-los, reuniram-se todos os que eram capazes de se armar, e permaneceram na fronteira. ²² Despertaram cedo de manhã, e o sol refletia na água; viram os moabitas a água, diante si, vermelha como sangue. ²³ Eles exclamaram: "Isto é sangue! Certamente os reis foram destruídos, eles se mataram uns aos outros! Agora, pois, Moabe, vamos despojá-los!".

²⁴ Quando os moabitas chegaram ao acampamento de Israel, os israelitas os surpreenderam e os atacaram, os quais fugiram diante deles. O exército de Israel avançou contra os moabitas por terra matando-os. ²⁵ Israel destruiu as cidades e toda terra fértil, e cada homem lançou uma pedra e encheu os campos produtivos. Interromperam todos as fontes de água e cortaram todas as árvores frutíferas, apenas as pedras de Quir-Haresete ficaram no lugar. Porém, os soldados armados com estilingues a cercaram e a atacaram.

²⁶ Quando Messa, rei de Moabe, viu que estava perdendo a batalha ficou perdido. Tomou consigo setecentos homens com espadas para romperem contra o rei de Edom, mas eles falharam. ²⁷ Então, ele tomou seu filho mais velho, que deveria reinar em seu lugar, e o ofereceu como sacrifício sobre o muro. E houve grande ira contra Israel, e o exército israelita deixou o rei Messa e retornou para sua terra.

Capítulo 4

¹ A esposa de um dos filhos dos profetas veio chorando a Eliseu, dizendo: "Teu servo, meu marido, morreu, e tu sabes que teu servo era temente a Yahweh. Agora veio o credor para levar meus dois filhos como seus escravos". ² Então, Eliseu lhe disse: "O que posso fazer por ti?". Ela disse: "Tua serva não tem nada em casa, senão um pote de azeite".

³ Então, Eliseu disse: "Vai, e pede vasilhas vazias emprestadas aos teus vizinhos, tantas quantas forem necessárias. ⁴ Então, deves entrar, fechar a porta sobre ti e teus filhos, e colocar o azeite dentro de todas as vasilhas. Põe à parte as vasilhas que estiverem cheias".

⁵ Ela deixou Eliseu e fechou a porta sobre si e seus filhos. Eles traziam as vasilhas e ela as enchia com azeite. ⁶ Quando as vasilhas estavam cheias, disse a seu filho: "Traze-me outra vasilha". Mas ele lhe disse: "Não há mais vasilhas". Então, o azeite parou de fluir.

⁷ Então, ela veio e contou ao homem de Deus. Ele disse: "Vai, vende o azeite, paga tuas dívidas, e, tu e teus filhos vivei do restante".

⁸ Um certo dia, Eliseu foi para Suném, onde vivia uma mulher importante, que insistiu que ele fosse comer com ela. Então, sempre que Eliseu passava por ali, parava para comer. ⁹ A mulher disse a seu marido: "Agora entendo que este, que sempre passa por aqui, é um santo homem de Deus".

¹⁰ Façamos um pequeno quarto no telhado, para Eliseu, coloquemos dentro uma cama, uma mesa, uma cadeira e uma lâmpada. Então, quando ele vier até nós, ficará ali". ¹¹ Assim, quando chegou o dia em que Eliseu parou ali, ficou no quarto e descansou.

¹² Eliseu mandou o seu servo, Geazi, chamar a sunamita. Então, ele a chamou e, quando ela veio, ¹³ Eliseu mandou que dissesse a ela: "Tu tiveste todo este trabalho por nossa causa. O que podemos fazer por ti? Podemos falar, por ti, com o rei ou com o comandante do exército?". Ela respondeu: "Eu habito no meio do meu próprio povo".

¹⁴ Eliseu disse: "O que podemos fazer por ela, então?" Geazi respondeu: "Ora, ela não tem filho, e seu esposo é velho". ¹⁵ Então, Eliseu respondeu: "Chama-a". Quando ele a chamou, ela se colocou de pé, à porta. ¹⁶ Eliseu disse: "Por esse tempo, no próximo ano, você segurará um filho". Ela disse: "Não, meu senhor é homem de Deus, não mintas para tua serva".

¹⁷ Porém a mulher concebeu e deu à luz um filho, no ano seguinte, naquele mesmo período, como Eliseu lhe havia dito. ¹⁸ Quando a criança cresceu, saiu um dia a ter com seu pai, que estava com os ceifeiros. ¹⁹ Ele disse a seu pai: "Minha cabeça! Minha cabeça!" O pai disse a seu servo: "Leva-o para a mãe dele". ²⁰ Quando o servo pegou o menino e o trouxe para sua mãe, a criança se assentou no colo dela até o meio dia e, então, morreu.

²¹ Então, a mulher se levantou e deitou o menino na cama do homem de Deus, fechou a porta e saiu. ²² Ela chamou seu marido e disse: "Por favor, envia-me um dos servos e uma das jumentas, para que eu possa correr até o homem de Deus e, então, voltarei".

²³ O marido disse: "Por que queres vê-lo hoje? Não é lua nova, nem mesmo sábado". Ela respondeu: "Vai ficar tudo bem". ²⁴ Então, ela selou a jumenta e disse para seu servo: "Guia rapidamente; não pares a não ser que eu o diga".

²⁵ Assim, ela saiu e foi ao encontro do homem de Deus, no monte Carmelo. Quando o homem de Deus a viu de longe, disse a Geazi, seu servo: "Eis aí a mulher sunamita. ²⁶ Por favor, corre ao seu encontro e dize: 'Está tudo bem contigo, com teu marido e com a criança?'". Ela respondeu: "Tudo está bem".

²⁷ Quando ela chegou ao homem de Deus, na montanha, ela se agarrou aos seus pés. Geazi se aproximou para afastá-la, mas o homem de Deus disse: "Deixa-a sozinha, pois ela está muito angustiada e Yahweh me ocultou o problema e não me disse nada".

²⁸ Disse ela: "Te pedi eu por um filho, meu senhor? Não disse eu: 'Não me enganes?'". ²⁹ Então, Eliseu disse a Geazi: "Põe tuas vestes de viagem e pega meu cajado em tua mão. Vai para a casa dela. Se encontrares algum homem, não o cumprimentes e, se alguém te cumprimentar, não lhe respondas. Deita meu cajado sobre a face da criança".

³⁰ Mas a mãe da criança disse: "Como vive Yahweh e como tu vives, não te deixarei". Então, Eliseu se levantou e a seguiu. ³¹ Geazi se apressou à frente deles e deitou o cajado sobre a face da criança, mas a criança não falou, nem ouviu. Então, Geazi retornou para encontrar Eliseu e lhe disse: "O menino não despertou".

³² Quando Eliseu chegou à casa, a criança estava morta e continuava sobre a cama. ³³ Então, Eliseu entrou e fechou a porta sobre ele e a criança e orou a Yahweh. ³⁴ Subiu e deitou sobre a criança: colocou a boca sobre sua boca, os olhos sobre seus olhos, e as mãos sobre suas mãos. Ele se estendeu sobre o menino, e o corpo do menino se aqueceu.

³⁵ Então, Eliseu se levantou e andou pelo quarto e, novamente, se deitou e se estendeu sobre o garoto. A criança espirrou sete vezes e abriu os olhos! ³⁶ Eliseu chamou Geazi e disse: "Chama a sunamita!" Então, ele a chamou e, quando ela entrou no quarto, lhe disse: "Pega teu filho". ³⁷ Ela prostrou-se com o rosto ao chão, curvando-se aos seus pés, pegou seu filho e saiu.

³⁸ Eliseu voltou a Gilgal. E havia fome na terra; e os filhos dos profetas estavam sentados perante ele. Ele disse a seu servo: "Coloca uma grande panela no fogo e prepara um cozido para os filhos dos profetas". ³⁹ Um deles foi ao campo para colher vegetais e encontrou uma trepadeira selvagem, colheu frutos suficientes para encher a dobra de seu manto. Eles os cortaram e colocaram no cozido, mas não sabiam de que tipo eram.

⁴⁰ Assim serviram o cozido para os homens comerem. Mais tarde, enquanto comiam, eles gritaram dizendo: "Homem de Deus, há morte na panela!". E eles não puderam mais comer. ⁴¹ Eliseu disse: "Trazei um pouco de farinha". Ele a jogou dentro da panela e disse: "Servi isto ao povo, então eles poderão comer". E não havia mais nada perigoso na panela.

⁴² Um homem veio de Baal-Salisa e trouxe ao homem de Deus vinte pães de cevada da nova colheita, e espigas frescas em seu alforje. Ele disse: "Dá isto ao povo, para que possam comer". ⁴³ Seu servo disse: "O quê? Como poderei eu servir isto a cem homens?". Mas Eliseu disse: "Dá isto ao povo, para que possam comer, pois assim diz Yahweh: 'Eles comerão e sobrará'". ⁴⁴ Então, o seu servo os serviu, eles comeram, e ainda sobrou um pouco, conforme a palavra que Yahweh prometera.

Capítulo 5

¹ Naamã, comandante do exército do rei da Síria, era um grande e honrado homem diante de seu senhor, porque por ele Yahweh deu vitória aos sírios. Ele também era um forte e corajoso homem, mas estava com lepra. ² Os sírios haviam atacado em bando e tomado uma menina das terras de Israel. Ela servia à esposa de Naamã.

³ A menina disse a sua senhora: "Eu queria muito que meu senhor estivesse com o profeta que vive em Samaria! Ele poderia ser curado de sua lepra". ⁴ Então, Naamã foi e disse ao rei o que a menina da terra de Israel havia dito.

⁵ O rei da Síria disse a Naamã: "Vai agora e enviarei uma carta ao rei de Israel". Naamã saiu e levou com ele dez talentos de prata, seis mil peças de ouro e dez mudas de roupas. ⁶ Ele também levou para o rei de Israel a carta, que dizia: "Logo que chegar a ti esta carta, saberás que eu te enviei Naamã, meu servo, para que o cures da sua lepra".

⁷ Quando o rei de Israel leu a carta, ele rasgou as suas vestes e disse: "Eu sou Deus, para matar ou fazer viver, para que o rei da Síria me envie um homem a fim de que eu o cure de sua lepra? Parece que ele está buscando motivo para se desentender comigo".

⁸ Quando Eliseu, o homem de Deus, ouviu que o rei de Israel havia rasgado suas vestes, enviou um recado para o rei dizendo: "Por que rasgaste tuas vestes? Deixe-o vir a mim agora e ele saberá que há profeta em Israel". ⁹ Veio, pois, Naamã, com seus cavalos e com suas carruagens, e ficou à porta da casa de Eliseu. ¹⁰ Eliseu enviou um mensageiro a ele, dizendo: "Vai e mergulha no Jordão sete vezes e tua carne será restaurada; tu ficarás limpo".

¹¹ Mas Naamã ficou furioso, foi embora e disse: "Vede! Eu estava certo de que ele sairia até mim e clamaria pelo nome de Yahweh, seu Deus e, ao tocar sua mão sobre o local, curaria minha lepra. ¹² Não são Abana e Farfar, os rios em Damasco, melhores que todas as águas de Israel? Não posso me banhar neles e ficar limpo?". Então, ele retornou e foi embora irado.

¹³ Os servos de Naamã se aproximaram e disseram: "Meu pai, se o profeta mandasse fazer algo difícil, tu não farias? Quanto mais uma coisa tão simples! Mergulha e fica limpo'." ¹⁴ Então, ele desceu e mergulhou sete vezes no Jordão, obedecendo às instruções do homem de Deus. Sua carne foi restaurada, como a carne de uma criança e ele foi curado.

¹⁵ Naamã retornou ao homem de Deus, ele e toda a sua companhia, e veio e ficou diante dele. Ele disse: "Vê, agora eu sei que não há Deus em toda a terra, exceto em Israel. Portanto, por favor, toma um presente de teu servo". ¹⁶ Mas Eliseu respondeu: "Como vive Yahweh, diante do qual estou, eu nada receberei". Naamã insistiu com veemência para que Eliseu tomasse o presente, mas ele recusou.

¹⁷ E Naamã disse: "Se não, eu te peço que deixe teu servo levar duas mulas de terra daqui. Teu servo não mais oferecerá nenhum holocausto para nenhum outro deus, mas a Yahweh. ¹⁸ Mas, em uma coisa, que Yahweh perdoe teu servo: quando meu rei vai à casa de Rimom, para lá adorar, ele se apoia em minha mão e eu me ajoelho no templo de Rimom. Quando eu me ajoellhar na casa de Rimom, que Yahweh perdoe teu servo nessa questão". ¹⁹ Eliseu lhe disse: "Vai em paz". Naamã se foi.

²⁰ Quando Naamã já ia a uma pequena distância, Geazi, servo de Eliseu, o homem de Deus, disse consigo mesmo: "Vê, meu senhor isentou a Naamã, o sírio, não recebendo das suas mãos os presentes que ele trouxe. Como vive Yahweh, eu correrei após ele e receberei dele alguma coisa". ²¹ Então, Geazi seguiu após Naamã. Quando Naamã avistou alguém correndo atrás dele, desceu de sua carruagem para encontrá-lo e disse: "Está tudo bem?". ²² Geazi lhe respondeu: "Meu senhor me enviou a ti, dizendo: 'Olha, agora mesmo vieram a mim, do alto da montanha de Efraim, dois jovens dos filhos dos profetas. Por favor, dá a eles um talento de prata e duas peças de roupa'".

²³ Naamã respondeu: "Estou muito feliz em lhe dar dois talentos". Naamã insistiu com Geazi e amarrou dois talentos de prata em duas bolsas, com duas peças de roupas e as entregou a dois de seus servos, os quais carregavam as bolsas com a prata à frente de Geazi. ²⁴ Quando subiu a montanha, Geazi tomou as bolsas das mãos deles e as escondeu em sua casa, mandou os homens embora e eles sairam. ²⁵ Quando Geazi entrou, parou diante de seu senhor. Eliseu lhe disse: "De onde vens?". Ele respondeu: "Teu servo não foi a lugar algum".

²⁶ Eliseu disse a Geazi: "Não estava meu espírito contigo, quando o homem desceu da carruagem para te encontrar? Era este o momento de aceitares dinheiro e roupas, plantação de oliveiras e de uvas, ovelhas e gados, servos e servas? ²⁷ Então, a lepra de Naamã virá sobre ti e teus descendentes para sempre". Então, Geazi saiu de sua presença, com lepra tão branca como a neve.

Capítulo 6

¹ Os filhos dos profetas disseram a Eliseu: "O lugar onde nós vivemos contigo é muito pequeno para todos nós. ² Por favor, deixa-nos ir para o Jordão e permite que cada homem corte uma árvore lá, e edifiquemos um lugar onde possamos viver". Eliseu respondeu: "Vós podeis ir adiante". ³ Um deles disse: "Por favor, vai com teus servos". Eliseu respondeu: "Eu irei".

⁴ Então, foi com eles, e, quando foram para o Jordão, eles começaram a cortar árvores. ⁵ Mas, enquanto um cortava, o machado caiu na água; ele gritou e disse: "Oh não, meu senhor! Era emprestado!".

⁶ Então, o homem de Deus disse: "Onde caiu o machado?". O homem mostrou a Eliseu o lugar. Então, ele cortou um pau, jogou na água e fez o ferro flutuar. Eliseu disse: "Pega-o". ⁷ Então, o homem estendeu a sua mão e o pegou.

⁸ Ora, o rei da Síria estava em guerra contra Israel. Ele consultou os seus servos, dizendo: "O meu acampamento será nesse e naquele lugar". ⁹ Então, o homem de Deus enviou ao rei de Israel, dizendo: "Sê cuidadoso, não passe por aquele lugar, porque os sírios estão descendo para lá".

¹⁰ Então, o rei de Israel enviou homens para aquele lugar, sobre o qual o homem de Deus o havia advertido. A advertência o salvou muitas vezes. ¹¹ O rei da Síria ficou enfurecido sobre esse aviso. Ele chamou os seus servos e lhes disse: "Não me contareis quem entre vós é a favor do rei de Israel?".

¹² Então, um dos seus servos disse: "Não, rei meu senhor, é o profeta Eliseu, de Israel, quem conta para o rei de Israel as palavras que tu falas dentro do teu quarto!". ¹³ O rei replicou: "Vai e vê onde Eliseu está. Então, eu enviarei homens para capturá-lo". E lhe disseram: "Vê, ele está em Dotã".

¹⁴ Então, o rei enviou para Dotã cavalos, carruagens e um grande exército. Eles vieram à noite e cercaram a cidade. ¹⁵ Quando o servo do homem de Deus levantou-se bem cedo pela manhã e, quando saiu, eis que um grande exército com seus cavalos e suas carruagens cercaram a cidade. E o seu servo lhe disse: "Oh, meu senhor! O que faremos?". ¹⁶ Eliseu respondeu: "Não temas, porque os que estão conosco são muito mais numerosos do que os que estão com eles".

¹⁷ Eliseu orou e disse: "Yahweh, eu Te rogo que abras seus olhos para que veja". Assim Yahweh abriu os olhos do servo e ele viu. A montanha estava cheia de cavalos e carruagens de fogo cercando Eliseu! ¹⁸ Quando os sírios desceram até ele, Eliseu orou a Yahweh e disse: "Torna esse povo cego, eu te peço". Então, Yahweh os cegou como Eliseu pediu. ¹⁹ E Eliseu disse aos sírios: "Este não é o caminho, tampouco esta é a cidade. Segui-me, e eu vos levarei ao homem ao qual vós procurais". E ele os conduziu até Samaria.

²⁰ E aconteceu que, quando eles chegaram a Samaria, Eliseu disse: "Yahweh abre os olhos desses homens para que eles vejam". Yahweh abriu seus olhos e eles viram, e eis que eles estavam no meio da cidade de Samaria. ²¹ Assim que o rei de Israel os viu, disse a Eliseu: "Meu pai, eu deveria matá-los? Eu deveria matá-los?".

²² Eliseu respondeu: "Tu não os matarás. Matarias tu aqueles a quem tens capturado com tua espada e o teu arco? Coloca pão e água diante deles, para que eles possam comer e beber, e deixa que voltem ao seu senhor". ²³ Então, o rei preparou mais comida para eles, e, quando eles terminaram de comer e beber, ele os despediu, e voltaram para o seu senhor. Aquelas tropas de soldados sírios, por um longo tempo, não retornaram à terra de Israel.

²⁴ Depois disso, Ben-Hadade, rei da Síria reuniu todo o seu exército atacou Samaria e a cercou. ²⁵ Então, houve uma grande fome em Samaria. Eis que o cerco durou tanto e causou tamanha fome, que uma cabeça de jumento chegou a valer oitenta peças de prata, e uma caneca de esterco de pomba, cinco peças de prata. ²⁶ Enquanto o rei de Israel estava passando por um muro, uma mulher gritou-lhe, dizendo: "Ajuda-me, meu senhor e rei".

²⁷ Ele disse: "Se Yahweh não te ajudar, como eu poderei socorrê-la? Acaso há trigo na eira ou vinho no lagar?". ²⁸ O rei continuou: "O que está te preocupando?". Ela respondeu: "Esta mulher me disse: 'Dá-me o teu filho para que o comamos hoje, e nós comeremos o meu filho amanhã'". ²⁹ Então, nós cozinhamos o meu filho e o comemos, e eu lhe disse no dia seguinte: "Entrega teu filho para que possamos comê-lo, mas ela escondeu o seu filho".

³⁰ Então, quando o rei ouviu as palavras da mulher, ele rasgou suas vestes (ora, ele estava passando pelo muro), e as pessoas olharam e viram que ele estava usando roupa de saco por baixo, cobrindo sua pele. ³¹ Então, ele disse: "Assim me faça Deus, e ainda mais, se a cabeça de Eliseu, filho de Safate, permanecer com ele hoje".

³² Estava, porém, Eliseu assentado em sua casa, e também os anciãos estavam assentados com ele. O rei enviou um homem adiante de si, mas, antes que o mensageiro chegasse a Eliseu, este disse aos anciãos: "Vede como esse filho de um assassino mandou cortar minha cabeça? Vede: quando o mensageiro chegar, fechai a porta, e a mantende fechada. Não é o som dos passos do seu senhor atrás dele? ³³ Enquanto ele ainda estava falando com eles, eis que o mensageiro chegou e disse: "O rei falou: 'Eis que este problema vem de Yahweh, que mais, pois, esperaria de Yahweh?'".

Capítulo 7

¹ Eliseu disse: "Ouvi a palavra de Yahweh. Assim diz Yahweh: 'Amanhã, por volta deste horário, uma medida de farinha fina será vendida por um siclo, e duas medidas de cevada por um siclo, no portão de Samaria'". ² Então, o capitão em cuja mão o rei se apoiava respondeu ao homem de Deus e disse: "Vê, ainda que Yahweh fizesse janelas no céu, isso poderia acontecer?" Eliseu respondeu: "Eis que verás com teus próprios olhos isso acontecer, mas não comerás nada disso".

³ Ora, havia quatro homens com lepra do lado de fora do portão de entrada da cidade. Eles disseram uns aos outros: "Por que devemos ficar aqui sentados até morrermos? ⁴ Se dissermos que devemos entrar na cidade enquanto há fome na cidade, morreremos lá. Mas, se ficarmos sentados aqui, também morreremos. Então, vamos ao exército dos sírios. Se eles nos deixarem viver, nós viveremos, e, se eles nos matarem, nós apenas morreremos".

⁵ E, ao anoitecer, eles se levantaram para ir ao acampamento sírio. Quando eles chegaram ao ponto mais afastado do acampamento, não havia ninguém por lá. ⁶ Pois o Senhor havia feito com que o exército sírio ouvisse um ruído de carruagem de guerra e de cavalos — o ruído de outro grande exército — e eles disseram uns aos outros: "Eis que o rei de Israel pagou os reis dos heteus e dos egípcios para virem contra nós".

⁷ Desse modo, os soldados se levantaram e fugiram, ao anoitecer, e deixaram suas tendas, seus cavalos, seus jumentos; deixando o acampamento como estava, fugiram para salvar suas vidas. ⁸ Quando os homens com lepra chegaram à parte mais afastada do acampamento, eles entraram numa tenda, comeram, beberam e foram embora levando de lá prata, ouro e roupas e esconderam tudo. Eles voltaram e entraram em outra tenda e dali também levaram o que encontraram e o esconderam.

⁹ Então, disseram uns aos outros: "Não é certo o que estamos fazendo. Este é um dia de boas-novas, mas estamos calados acerca disso. Se nós esperarmos até o romper do dia, o castigo virá sobre nós. Agora, então, vamos e anunciemos à casa do rei". ¹⁰ Assim, eles foram e chamaram os porteiros da cidade. Eles lhes disseram: "Nós fomos ao acampamento dos sírios, mas não havia ninguém lá, somente cavalos e jumentos amarrados, e as tendas estavam como eles deixaram". ¹¹ E os porteiros, gritando, anunciaram as notícias, e, então, elas foram ditas dentro da casa do rei.

¹² Dessa forma, o rei levantou-se de noite e disse aos seus servos: "Agora eu vos direi o que os sírios nos fizeram. Eles sabem que nós estamos com fome. Então, eles saíram do acampamento para se esconderem nos campos. Eles estão dizendo: 'Quando eles saírem da cidade, nós os pegaremos vivos e entraremos na cidade'". ¹³ Então, um dos servos do rei respondeu, dizendo: "Eu te suplico que deixes alguns homens pegarem cinco dos cavalos que ainda restam, dos que foram deixados na cidade. Eles são todos como o resto da população de Israel que foi deixada—a maioria agora está morta; vamos enviá-los e vejamos".

¹⁴ Assim, eles pegaram duas carruagens com cavalos e o rei os enviou atrás do exército dos sírios, dizendo: "Ide e vede". ¹⁵ Eles foram atrás deles, até ao Jordão, e todo o caminho estava cheio de roupas e de utensílios que os sírios, na sua pressa, haviam abandonado. Assim, os mensageiros retornaram e anunciaram ao rei.

¹⁶ O povo saiu e saqueou o acampamento dos sírios. Logo, uma medida de farinha fina foi vendida por um siclo, e duas medidas de cevada, por um siclo, assim como a palavra de Yahweh disse. ¹⁷ O rei havia ordenado que o capitão, em cuja mão ele se apoiava, ficasse encarregado do portão, mas as pessoas o pisotearam no portão. Ele morreu como o homem de Deus havia dito, quando o rei havia descido ao seu encontro.

¹⁸ Dessa forma, isso aconteceu como o homem de Deus havia dito ao rei, dizendo: "Por volta deste horário, no portão de Samaria, duas medidas de cevada estarão disponíveis por um siclo, e uma medida de farinha fina, por um siclo". ¹⁹ Aquele capitão havia respondido ao homem de Deus, dizendo: "Vê, ainda que Yahweh fizesse janelas no céu, isso poderia acontecer?". Eliseu disse: "Eis que tu verás isso acontecer com teus próprios olhos, mas não comerás nada disso". ²⁰ E foi exatamente o que aconteceu com ele, pois o povo o pisoteou no portão e ele morreu.

Capítulo 8

¹ Eliseu havia falado para a mulher, cujo filho ele havia restaurado a vida. E disse-lhe: "Levanta-te e vai com a tua família, e fica onde puderes em outra terra, porque Yahweh enviará fome sobre esta terra durante sete anos". ² Então, a mulher levantou-se e obedeceu a palavra do homem de Deus. Ela foi com a sua família e viveu na terra dos filisteus, durante sete anos.

³ No final dos sete anos, a mulher retornou da terra dos filisteus, e foi até o rei para suplicá-lo por sua casa e por sua terra de volta. ⁴ Ora, o rei estava falando com Geazi, servo do homem de Deus, dizendo: "Por favor, conta-me todas as grandes coisas que Eliseu tem feito".

⁵ Então, quando ele estava dizendo como Eliseu restaurou a vida da criança que estava morta, a mulher, cujo filho ele havia restaurado a vida, veio suplicar ao rei pela sua casa e pela sua terra. Então, disse Geazi: "Meu senhor, rei, esta é a mulher e este é o filho dela, a quem Eliseu restaurou a vida". ⁶ Quando o rei perguntou à mulher acerca de seu filho, ela lhe explicou tudo. Então, o rei ordenou um oficial para ela, dizendo: "Restitui-lhe tudo o que era dela e todas as suas colheitas dos seus campos, desde o dia em que ela deixou a terra até agora".

⁷ Depois, foi Eliseu a Damasco, onde Ben-Hadade, rei da Síria, estava doente. E lhe disseram: "O homem de Deus chegou aqui". ⁸ O rei disse para Hazael: "Leva contigo um presente e vai ao encontro do homem de Deus e, através dele, consulta a Yahweh, dizendo: 'Serei eu curado desta doença?'". ⁹ Então, Hazael foi ao encontro dele e levou consigo um presente de tudo de bom que havia em Damasco, carregado por quarenta camelos. Então, Hazael foi e ficou diante de Eliseu e disse: "Teu filho, Ben-Hadade, rei da Síria, enviou-me a ti, perguntando: 'sararei eu dessa doença?'"

¹⁰ Eliseu disse: "Vai, diz para Ben-Hadade: 'Tu certamente recuperarás a saúde', mas Yahweh mostrou-me que ele certamente morrerá". ¹¹ Então, Eliseu olhou fixamente para Hazael até que ele ficou envergonhado, e o homem de Deus chorou. ¹² Hazael perguntou: "Por que choras, meu senhor?" Ele respondeu: "Porque eu sei as maldades que farás ao povo de Israel. Colocarás fogo às suas fortalezas e matarás os seus jovens à espada; despedaçarás os seus pequeninos, e rasgarás o ventre das mulheres grávidas".

¹³ Hazael respondeu: "Quem teu servo é para fazer essas grandes coisas? Ele é apenas um cão". Eliseu respondeu: "Yahweh mostrou-me que tu serás o rei da Síria". ¹⁴ Então, Hazael deixou Eliseu e foi ao encontro do seu senhor, e este disse para ele: "O que Elizeu te disse?" Ele respondeu: "Ele me disse que tu certamente te recuperarás". ¹⁵ Então, no dia seguinte, Hazael pegou um cobertor e molhou com água e cobriu o rosto de Ben-Hadade e, em seguida, ele morreu. Dessa forma, Hazael se tornou rei no lugar dele.

¹⁶ No quinto ano de Jorão, filho de Acabe, rei de Israel, Jeorão começou a reinar. Ele era filho de Josafá, rei de Judá. Ele começou a reinar quando Josafá era o rei de Judá. ¹⁷ Jeorão tinha trinta e dois anos de idade quando começou a reinar, e reinou durante oito anos em Jerusalém.

¹⁸ Jeorão andou nos caminhos dos reis de Israel, conforme a família de Acabe; pois ele tinha como mulher a filha de Acabe, e ele fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh. ¹⁹ Contudo, por causa de seu servo Davi, Yahweh não quis destruir Judá, pois Ele lhe havia dito que sempre lhe daria descendentes.

²⁰ Nos dias de Jeorão, Edom, sob a mão de Judá, se revoltou, e eles estabeleceram um rei para si. ²¹ Então, Jeorão atravessou Zair com os seus comandantes e todas suas carruagens de guerra. Aconteceu que ele se levantou durante a noite, atacou e subjugou os edomitas que o haviam cercado e os comandantes das carruagens de guerra. Então, o exército de Jeorão escapou para as suas tendas.

²² Assim, Edom se rebelou contra o domínio de Judá até o dia de hoje, e, ao mesmo tempo, também Libna se rebelou. ²³ Os outros atos concernentes a Jeorão, tudo o que ele fez, não estão escritos no livro das Crônicas dos reis de Judá? ²⁴ Jeorão morreu e descansou com seus pais e foi enterrado junto a eles, na cidade de Davi. Então, Acazias, seu filho, tornou-se rei no lugar dele.

²⁵ No décimo segundo ano de Jorão, filho de Acabe, rei de Israel, Acazias filho de Jeorão, rei de Judá, começou a reinar. ²⁶ Acazias tinha vinte e dois anos de idade quando começou a reinar; e reinou por um ano em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Atalia, filha de Onri, rei de Israel. ²⁷ Acazias andou nos caminhos da casa de Acabe e fez o que era mau aos olhos de Deus, conforme a família de Acabe, pois Acazias era seu genro.

²⁸ Acazias foi com Jorão, filho de Acabe, para lutar contra Hazael, rei da Síria, em Ramote-Gileade. Os sírios feriram Jorão. ²⁹ O rei Jorão voltou para ser curado em Jezreel das feridas que os sírios o tinham ferido em Ramá, quando ele lutou contra Hazael, rei da Síria. Então, Acazias, filho de Jeorão, rei de Judá, desceu a Jezreel para ver Jorão, filho de Acabe, porque havia sido ferido.

Capítulo 9

¹ O profeta Eliseu chamou um dos filhos dos profetas e lhe disse: "Prepara-te para viajar. Então, pega esse pequeno vaso de azeite em tuas mãos e vai para Ramote-Gileade. ² Quando chegares lá, procura por Jeú, filho de Josafá, filho de Ninsi; entra, faze-o levantar dentre seus companheiros e conduze-o ao interior de um quarto. ³ Então, pega o vaso de azeite e derrama-o sobre a cabeça dele e dize: "Assim diz Yahweh: 'Eu te ungi rei sobre Israel'". Por isso, abre a porta e foge; não demores".

⁴ Então, o moço, o jovem profeta, foi para Ramote-Gileade. ⁵ Quando ele chegou, observou que os capitães do exército estavam sentados. Então, o jovem profeta disse: "Capitão, eu venho com uma mensagem para ti". Jeú perguntou: "Para qual de nós?" O jovem profeta respondeu: "Para ti, capitão". ⁶ Assim Jeú entrou na casa, subiu, e o profeta derramou o azeite na cabeça de Jeú e lhe disse: "Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Eu te ungi rei sobre o povo de Yahweh, sobre Israel.

⁷ Deves matar a família de Acabe, teu senhor. Assim Eu terei vingado o sangue dos Meus servos, os profetas, e o sangue de todos os servos de Yahweh que foram assassinados pela mão de Jezabel. ⁸ Assim toda a família de Acabe perecerá, e matarei todos os descendentes do sexo masculino, quer seja escravo, quer seja pessoa livre.

⁹ Eu farei a casa de Acabe como a casa de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate e como a casa de Baasa, filho de Aías. ¹⁰ Os cães comerão Jezabel em Jezreel, e lá não haverá ninguém para enterrá-la'". Então, o profeta abriu a porta e fugiu.

¹¹ Então, Jeú saiu e foi até os servos de seu senhor, e um deles disse-lhe: "Está tudo bem? Por que este louco veio a ti?" Jeú lhes respondeu: "Vós conheceis o homem e os tipos de coisas que ele diz". ¹² Eles disseram: "Isso é mentira; conta-nos tudo". Jeú respondeu: "Ele disse isso para mim e também disse: 'Assim diz Yahweh: 'Eu te ungi como rei sobre Israel'". ¹³ Então, cada um deles rapidamente tirou seus mantos e os colocaram embaixo de Jeú no topo dos degraus. E tocaram a trombeta e disseram: "Jeú é rei".

¹⁴ Assim Jeú, filho de Josafá, filho de Ninsi, conspirou contra Jorão. Ora, Jorão estava defendendo Ramote-Gileade, ele e todo Israel, por causa de Hazael, rei da Síria. ¹⁵ Mas o rei Jorão havia voltado a Jezreel para ser curado dos ferimentos que os sírios lhe haviam feito, quando ele pelejou contra o rei da Síria, Hazael. Jeú disse aos servos de Jorão: "Se essa é a vossa opinião, então não deixeis ninguém escapar e sair da cidade, para ir e contar as notícias a Jezreel". ¹⁶ Assim Jeú viajou em uma carruagem para Jezreel, pois Jorão estava em repouso lá. Ora, Acazias, rei de Judá, havia descido para ver Jorão.

¹⁷ O vigia estava posicionado na torre, em Jezreel e viu a tropa de Jeú vindo à distância. Ele anunciou: "Eu vejo um grupo de homens chegando". Jorão disse: "Pega um cavaleiro, e envia-o para encontrá-los. Dize a ele para perguntar: 'Vós vindes em paz?'". ¹⁸ Assim Jeú disse: "O que tu tens a ver com a paz? Vira-te e cavalga atrás de mim". Então, o vigia contou ao rei: "O mensageiro os encontrou, mas ele não está retornando".

¹⁹ Então, ele mandou um segundo homem montado a cavalo, que foi até eles e disse: "O rei diz isto: 'Vós vindes em paz?'". Jeú respondeu: "O que tu tens a ver com a paz? Vira-te e cavalga atrás de mim". ²⁰ De novo, o vigia reportou: "Ele os encontrou, mas ele não está voltando. E, pelo andar da carruagem, ela está sendo guiada por Jéu, filho de Ninsi; está dirigindo como louco".

²¹ Assim, Jorão disse: "Deixa minha carruagem pronta". Eles prepararam sua carruagem, e Jorão, rei de Israel, e Acazias, rei de Judá, guiaram, cada um a sua carruagem, para encontrar Jeú. Eles o encontraram na propriedade de Nabote, o jezreelita. ²² Quando Jorão viu Jeú, ele disse: "Estás vindo em paz, Jeú?". Ele respondeu: "Que paz pode haver, com os muitos atos idólatras de prostituição e bruxaria de tua mãe Jezabel?".

²³ Assim Jorão virou sua carruagem, fugiu e disse para Acazias: "Há traição, Acazias". ²⁴ Então, Jeú puxou seu arco com toda força e atingiu Jorão entre seus ombros; a flecha atravessou seu coração e ele caiu de sua carruagem.

²⁵ Então, Jeú disse a Bidcar, seu capitão: "Pega-o e lança-o no campo de Nabote, o jezreelita. Lembra-te de quando tu e eu guiávamos juntos atrás de Acabe, teu pai, e Yahweh estabeleceu esta profecia contra ele: ²⁶ 'Tão certo como Eu vi ontem o sangue de Nabote e o sangue de seus filhos, diz Yahweh, assim Eu te retribuirei neste campo', diz Yahweh. Agora, então, pega e lança-o neste campo, de acordo com a palavra de Yahweh".

²⁷ Quando Acazias, rei de Judá, viu isso, fugiu pelo caminho de Bete-Hagã. Mas Jeú o seguiu e disse: "Matai-o, também, sobre a carruagem", então eles atiraram nele na subida de Gur, que é próxima de Ibleão. Acazias fugiu para Megido e lá morreu. ²⁸ Os servos dele carregaram seu corpo em uma carruagem para Jerusalém e o enterraram em seu túmulo, junto a seus pais, na cidade de Davi.

²⁹ Isso aconteceu no décimo primeiro ano de Jorão, filho de Acabe, tendo Acazias começado a reinar sobre Judá.

³⁰ Quando Jeú veio para Jezreel, Jezabel ouviu sobre isso e pintou seus olhos, arrumou seus cabelos, e olhou para fora da janela. ³¹ Quando Jeú estava entrando no portão, ela lhe disse: "Estás vindo em paz, tu, Zinri, assassino do teu senhor?". ³² Jeú levantou os olhos para a janela e disse: "Quem está do meu lado? Quem?". Então, dois ou três eunucos olharam para fora.

³³ Então, Jeú disse: "Lançai-a daí abaixo". Então, eles lançaram Jezabel para baixo, e um pouco do sangue dela se espalhou pela parede e pelos cavalos, e Jeú a pisoteou. ³⁴ Quando Jeú entrou no palácio, ele comeu e bebeu. Então, ele disse: "Olhai agora aquela mulher maldita e a enterrai, pois ela é filha de rei".

³⁵ Eles foram enterrá-la, mas não encontraram mais nada dela, senão o crânio, os pés e as palmas de suas mãos. ³⁶ Assim eles voltaram e contaram a Jeú. Ele disse: "Esta é a palavra que Yahweh falou ao seu servo Elias, o tesbita, dizendo: 'Na terra de Jezreel, os cães comerão a carne de Jezabel, ³⁷ e o corpo de Jezabel será como esterco, sobre a superfície dos campos na terra de Jezreel; assim, ninguém será capaz de dizer: 'Esta é Jezabel'".

Capítulo 10

¹ Acabe tinha setenta descendentes em Samaria. Jeú escreveu cartas e as enviou a Samaria, aos governantes de Jezreel, incluindo os anciãos e os tutores dos descendentes de Acabe, dizendo: ² "Vós, que estais com os descendentes do vosso senhor, e tendes carruagens de guerra, cavalos, uma cidade fortificada e armas, assim que receberdes esta carta, ³ escolhei o melhor e mais capaz dos descendentes de vosso senhor e colocai-o no trono de seu pai, e lutai pela linhagem real de vosso senhor".

⁴ Todavia, eles ficaram aterrorizados e disseram entre si: "Vede, dois reis não puderam resistir diante de Jeú. Então, como podemos resistir?". ⁵ Em seguida, o homem responsável pelo palácio, o homem que governava a cidade, os anciãos e os tutores dos filhos enviaram uma resposta de volta a Jeú: "Somos teus servos. Faremos tudo o que pedires. Não faremos nenhum homem rei. Faz o que é bom aos teus olhos".

⁶ Então, Jeú escreveu uma segunda carta para eles, dizendo: "Se estiverdes do meu lado e, se ouvirdes a minha voz, deveis tomar a cabeça dos descendentes de vosso senhor e trazei a mim, em Jezreel, até amanhã, neste horário". Os descendentes do rei, que eram setenta, estavam com os homens importantes da cidade, que os criavam. ⁷ Quando a carta chegou até eles, pegaram os filhos do rei e os mataram, colocaram as setenta cabeças em cestos, e as enviaram a Jeú, em Jezreel.

⁸ Um mensageiro veio a Jeú, dizendo: "Trouxeram as cabeças dos filhos do rei". Então, disse-lhe: "Coloca-as em dois montões à entrada dos portões até o amanhecer". ⁹ De manhã, Jeú saiu e se pôs de pé, e disse para todo o povo: "Vós sois inocentes. Vede, conspirei contra o meu senhor e o matei, mas quem matou a todos esses?

¹⁰ Agora, certamente, podeis compreender que nenhuma das palavras que Yahweh falou acerca da família de Acabe cairá por terra, pois Yahweh tem cumprido o que Ele falou através do seu servo Elias". ¹¹ Então, Jeú matou todos os que restavam da família de Acabe em Jezreel, e todos os seus oficiais importantes, seus amigos próximos, e seus sacerdotes. Nenhum deles sobreviveu.

¹² Em seguida, Jeú se levantou, saiu e foi para Samaria. Quando estava chegando a Bete-Equede dos pastores, ¹³ ele encontrou os irmãos do rei Acazias, de Judá. Jeú disse-lhes: "Quem sois vós?" Eles responderam: "Somos irmãos de Acazias, e estamos descendo para saudar os filhos do rei e os filhos da rainha Jezabel". ¹⁴ Jeú disse aos seus homens: "Apanhai-os vivos". Então, eles os apanharam vivos e os mataram junto ao poço de Bete-Equede, todos os quarenta e dois homens. Nenhum deles escapou.

¹⁵ Quando Jeú havia deixado o lugar, encontrou Jonadabe, filho de Recabe, que vinha ao seu encontro. Jeú cumprimentou-o e disse-lhe: "Teu coração está comigo, assim como o meu está contigo?". Jonadabe respondeu: "Sim". Jeú disse: "Se ele estiver, dá-me a tua mão". E Jonadabe deu-lhe sua mão, então Jeú tomou-o e colocou-o na carruagem com ele. ¹⁶ Jeú disse: "Vem comigo e vê o meu zelo para com Yahweh". Então, ele levou Jonadabe em sua carruagem. ¹⁷ Quando ele retornou a Samaria, Jeú matou todos os descendentes de Acabe que restavam em Samaria, até destruir toda a linhagem real de Acabe, assim como Yahweh lhes havia anunciado anteriormente, por intermédio de Elias.

¹⁸ Então, Jeú reuniu todo o povo e lhes disse: "Acabe serviu pouco a Baal, mas Jeú o servirá muito mais. ¹⁹ Agora, portanto, chamai para mim todos os profetas de Baal, todos os seus adoradores e todos os seus sacerdotes. Não deixeis nenhum faltar, pois eu tenho um grande sacrifício para oferecer a Baal. Quem faltar não viverá". No entanto, Jeú fez isso enganosamente, com intenção de matar todos os adoradores de Baal. ²⁰ Jeú disse: "Separai um tempo para fazer uma reunião solene para prestar culto a Baal". Então, eles anunciaram isso.

²¹ Então, Jeú enviou por todo o Israel, e todos os adoradores de Baal vieram, de modo que nenhum homem faltou. Eles vieram até o templo de Baal, e este ficou lotado de uma extremidade à outra. ²² Jeú disse para o homem que guardava as roupas dos sacerdotes: "Traz as vestimentas para todos os adoradores de Baal". Então, o homem trouxe vestimentas para eles.

²³ Assim, Jeú foi com Jonadabe, filho de Recabe, até a casa de Baal, e ele disse aos adoradores de Baal: "Examinai e observai que não se encontre aqui, entre vós, nenhum dos servos de Yahweh, mas somente os adoradores de Baal". ²⁴ Então, eles foram para oferecer sacrifícios e holocaustos. Jeú havia escolhido oitenta homens que ficariam do lado de fora e disse-lhes: "Se algum dos homens que entrego em tuas mãos escapar, seja quem for que deixares escapar, a tua vida será tirada pela vida daquele que escapou".

²⁵ Então, assim que Jeú terminou de oferecer o holocausto, ele disse para os guardas e os capitães: "Ide e matai-os. Não deixeis ninguém sair". Então, eles os mataram ao fio de espada, e os guardas e os capitães os lançaram para fora e entraram na sala interior da casa de Baal. ²⁶ E eles levaram para fora os postes que estavam na casa de Baal, e os queimaram. ²⁷ Eles derrubaram o poste de Baal, destruíram sua casa e fizeram dela uma latrina; e assim o é até o dia de hoje. ²⁸ Foi assim que Jeú destruiu de Israel a adoração a Baal.

²⁹ Contudo Jeú não abandonou os pecados de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, os quais fizeram Israel pecar, isto é, a adoração a bezerros de ouro em Betel e Dã. ³⁰ Então, Yahweh disse a Jeú: "Porque fizeste bem em executar o que era certo aos Meus olhos e fizeste à casa de Acabe conforme tudo o que estava em Meu coração, teus descendentes sentarão no trono de Israel por quatro gerações". ³¹ Todavia Jeú não teve o cuidado de caminhar na Lei de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, com todo o seu coração. Ele não se afastou dos pecados de Jeroboão, que fizeram Israel pecar.

³² Naqueles dias, Yahweh começou a cortar as regiões de Israel, e Hazael derrotou os israelitas nas fronteiras de Israel, ³³ do Jordão para o oriente, toda a terra de Gileade, os gaditas e os rubenitas, e os manassitas, de Aroer, que é junto ao vale do Arnom, de Gileade a Basã.

³⁴ Quanto às outras questões acerca de Jeú, e tudo quanto ele fez, e todo o seu poder, não estão elas escritas no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Israel? ³⁵ Jeú adormeceu com os seus ancestrais, e eles o sepultaram em Samaria. Então, Jeoacaz, seu filho, reinou em seu lugar. ³⁶ O período que Jeú reinou sobre Israel, em Samaria, foi de vinte e oito anos.

Capítulo 11

¹ Quando Atalia, a mãe de Acazias, viu que seu filho estava morto, levantou-se e matou todas as crianças de descendência real. ² Mas Jeoseba, filha do rei Jeorão e irmã de Acazias, tomou Joás, filho de Acazias, do meio dos filhos do rei, que seriam mortos, e escondeu-o de Atalia em um quarto, junto com a sua ama, para que o menino não fosse morto. ³ Ele esteve com Jeoseba, escondido na casa de Yahweh, durante seis anos, enquanto Atalia governava sobre a terra.

⁴ No sétimo ano, Joiada enviou mensagens, trouxe os comandantes de cem dos cários e da guarda e levou-os consigo ao templo de Yahweh. Ele fez uma aliança com os comandantes, e os fez jurar solenemente na casa de Yahweh. Então, lhes mostrou o filho do rei, ⁵ e ordenou-lhes dizendo: "Eis o que deveis fazer: A terça parte de vós que vem no sábado manterá guarda na casa real, ⁶ e a terça parte estará no portão de Sur e a outra terça parte estará no portão atrás da guarita.

⁷ E os dois outros grupos que não irão servir no sábado farão a guarda da casa de Yahweh para o rei. ⁸ Fazei um círculo em volta do rei, cada homem com armas na mão. Qualquer pessoa que entrar no interior das fileiras seja morto. Deveis permanecer com o rei, quando ele sair e quando entrar".

⁹ Os comandantes de cem obedeceram a tudo o que Joiada, o sacerdote, havia ordenado: cada um tomou seus homens, aqueles que serviriam no sábado e aqueles que deixariam de servir no sábado; e vieram a Joiada, o sacerdote. ¹⁰ Então, o sacerdote Joiada entregou aos comandantes de cem as lanças e os escudos que pertenceram ao rei Davi e que estavam no templo de Yahweh.

¹¹ Dessa forma, os guardas se levantaram, cada homem com sua arma na mão, desde o lado direito do templo até o lado esquerdo, próximo ao altar e ao templo, ficando em volta do rei. ¹² Então, Joiada trouxe o filho do rei, Joás, colocou-lhe a coroa e deu-lhe os decretos da Aliança. Eles o fizeram rei e o ungiram. Eles bateram palmas e disseram: "Vida longa ao rei!".

¹³ Quando Atalia ouviu o barulho da guarda e do povo, ela veio até o povo na casa de Yahweh. ¹⁴ Ela olhou e eis que o rei estava de pé junto à coluna, como era de costume, e os capitães e os trombeteiros estavam ao lado do rei. Todo o povo da terra regozijava-se e tocava trombetas. Então, Atalia rasgou suas vestes e gritou: "Traição! Traição!".

¹⁵ Assim, Joiada, o sacerdote, ordenou aos comandantes de cem que estavam sobre o exército; ele lhes disse: "Levai-a para fora das fileiras. Matai à espada os que a seguirem". Pois o sacerdote havia dito: "Não a mateis na casa de Yahweh". ¹⁶ Então, eles a agarraram quando ela chegou ao local onde os cavalos entram no palácio, e ali foi morta.

¹⁷ Dessa forma, Joiada fez uma aliança entre Yahweh, o rei e o povo, segundo a qual eles deveriam ser o povo de Yahweh; e também uma aliança entre o rei e o povo. ¹⁸ Então, todo o povo da terra foi à casa de Baal e a derrubou. Eles demoliram os altares de Baal, despedaçaram suas imagens e mataram Matã, sacerdote de Baal, em frente aqueles altares. Então, o sacerdote Joiada designou guardas sobre o templo de Yahweh.

¹⁹ Joiada pegou os comandantes de cem, os cários, a guarda e todo o povo da terra. E juntos levaram o rei do templo de Yahweh, pelo caminho dos portões da guarda, até o palácio do rei. Então, Joás sentou no trono real. ²⁰ E todo o povo da terra se regozijou, e a cidade ficou tranquila depois de Atalia ter sido morta com a espada no palácio do rei.

²¹ Joás tinha sete anos de idade quando ele começou a reinar.

Capítulo 12

¹ No sétimo ano de Jeú, Joás iniciou o seu reinado; ele reinou por quarenta anos em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Zíbia, de Berseba. ² Joás fez o que era reto aos olhos de Yahweh durante todo o tempo, pois o sacerdote Joiada o estava instruindo. ³ Entretanto os altares não foram retirados. O povo ainda continuava oferecendo sacrifícios e queimando incenso nos lugares altos.

⁴ Joás disse aos sacerdotes: "Todo o dinheiro das ofertas consagradas que for trazido ao templo de Yahweh, tanto os impostos do censo, pagamentos de votos quanto as ofertas voluntárias. ⁵ Cada sacerdote deverá receber o dinheiro dessas ofertas de um dos seus tesoureiros e reparar qualquer estrago que for encontrado no templo".

⁶ Mas, no vigésimo terceiro ano do rei Joás, os sacerdotes não tinham reparado nada no templo. ⁷ Então, o rei Joás chamou o sacerdote Joiada e os outros sacerdotes; e disse-lhes: "Por que não tens consertado nada no templo? Agora não pegueis mais o dinheiro de seus contribuintes, mas pegai o que tem sido coletado para reparar o templo e dai àqueles que podem realizar os reparos". ⁸ Então, os sacerdotes consentiram em não pegar mais dinheiro do povo e não reparar o templo eles mesmos.

⁹ Em vez disso, o sacerdote Joiada tomou um baú, abriu um buraco na tampa e colocou-o junto ao altar, do lado direito que as pessoas entravam na casa de Yahweh. Os sacerdotes que guardavam a entrada do templo colocaram todo o dinheiro que foi trazido, dentro do templo de Yahweh. ¹⁰ Sempre que eles viam que havia muito dinheiro no baú, o escriba do rei e o sumo sacerdote vinham e colocavam o dinheiro em sacos, e eles contavam o dinheiro encontrado no templo de Yahweh.

¹¹ Eles deram o dinheiro contabilizado para as mãos dos homens que tomavam conta do templo de Yahweh. Eles pagaram aos carpinteiros e aos construtores que trabalharam no templo de Yahweh, ¹² e aos pedreiros e aos cortadores de pedras, para comprar madeira e pedras lavradas para reparar o templo de Yahweh, e para pagar todas as coisas que fossem necessárias para repará-lo.

¹³ Mas o dinheiro que foi trazido ao templo de Yahweh não pagava a fabricação de quaisquer taças de prata, aparadores de lâmpadas, bacias, trombetas, ou qualquer utensílio de ouro ou prata. ¹⁴ Eles davam esse dinheiro para aqueles que faziam o trabalho de reparação do templo de Yahweh.

¹⁵ Além disso, eles não exigiam a prestação de contas do dinheiro pago aos homens que recebiam e pagavam os trabalhadores, pois esses homens eram honestos. ¹⁶ Mas o dinheiro para as ofertas pela culpa e o dinheiro para as ofertas pelos pecados não era trazido para dentro do templo de Yahweh, porque este pertencia aos sacerdotes.

¹⁷ Então, Hazael, rei da Síria, atacou e lutou contra Gate, e a tomou. Hazael, então se voltou para atacar Jerusalém. ¹⁸ Joás, rei de Judá tomou todas as coisas consagradas que Josafá, Jeorão e Acazias, seus pais, reis de Judá, haviam consagrado, bem como todo ouro que foi encontrado nos tesouros do templo de Yahweh e do palácio do rei e os enviou para Hazael, rei da Síria; então, Hazael foi embora de Jerusalém.

¹⁹ Quanto às outras questões acerca de Joás, tudo o que ele fez, não estão escritas no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Judá? ²⁰ Seus servos se levantaram e conspiraram juntos; eles atacaram Joás em Bete-Millo, no caminho que desce para Sila. ²¹ Jozacar, filho de Simeate, e Jozabade, filho de Somer, seus servos, o atacaram e ele morreu. Eles sepultaram Joás com seus ancestrais na cidade de Davi, e Amazias, seu filho, veio a ser rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 13

¹ No vigésimo terceiro ano do reinado de Joás (filho de Acazias, rei de Judá), Jeoacaz, filho de Jeú, passou a reinar sobre Israel em Samaria, e reinou por dezessete anos. ² Ele fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh e seguiu os pecados de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, com os quais ele havia levado Israel a pecar; e Jeoacaz não os abandonou.

³ A ira de Yahweh se acendeu contra Israel, e Ele os entregou repetidamente às mãos do rei Hazael, da Síria, e a Ben-Hadade, filho de Hazael. ⁴ Portanto, Jeoacaz implorou a Yahweh pedindo ajuda, e Yahweh ouviu as suas súplicas, pois viu o quanto o rei da Síria oprimia a Israel cruelmente. ⁵ Então, Yahweh deu um libertador a Israel, libertando-os do poder dos sírios, e o povo de Israel passou a habitar em suas casas como antes.

⁶ No entanto, não se desviaram dos pecados da casa de Jeroboão, que levou Israel a pecar, e continuaram neles. E o poste-ídolo permaneceu em Samaria. ⁷ Os sírios deixaram Jeoacaz com apenas cinquenta cavaleiros, dez carros e dez mil homens de infantaria, pois o rei da Síria os havia destruído e os fez como pó debaixo dos seus pés.

⁸ Com relação aos demais acontecimentos do reinado de Jeoacaz, seus feitos e poder, não estão eles escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Israel? ⁹ Então, Jeoacaz descansou com seus antepassados e foi enterrado em Samaria. Jeoás, seu filho, tornou-se rei em seu lugar.

¹⁰ No trigésimo sétimo ano do reinado de Joás, rei de Judá, Jeoás, filho de Jeoacaz, passou a reinar sobre Israel, em Samaria; ele reinou por dezesseis anos. ¹¹ Ele fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh. Não abandonou nenhum dos pecados de Jeroboão, pelos quais ele levou Israel a pecar, contudo persistiu neles.

¹² Com relação aos demais acontecimentos do reinado de Jeoás, seus feitos e o poder com qual lutou contra Amazias, rei de Judá, não estão eles descritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Israel? ¹³ Jeoás descansou com seus antepassados e Jeroboão se assentou em seu trono. Jeoás foi sepultado em Samaria, junto aos reis de Israel.

¹⁴ Eliseu ficou doente e tal enfermidade, posteriormente, causou sua morte. Então, Jeoás, rei de Israel, foi ao seu encontro e por ele chorou. Ele disse: "Meu pai, meu pai, os carros de Israel e os cavaleiros o estão levando embora!". ¹⁵ Assim disse Eliseu: "Pega um arco e algumas flechas". Então, Jeoás pegou um arco e algumas flechas. ¹⁶ Eliseu disse ao rei de Israel: "Coloca a tua mão no arco", e ele o fez. Então, Eliseu pôs suas mãos sobre as do rei.

¹⁷ Assim disse Eliseu: "Abre a janela para o oriente" e ele o fez. Então, Eliseu disse: "Atira!", e ele o fez. Em seguida, ele disse: "Esta é a flecha da vitória de Yahweh, a flecha da vitória sobre a Síria, eis que irás atacar os sírios em Afeque até a sua consumação". ¹⁸ Então, Eliseu disse: "Pega as flechas", e Jeoás o fez. Ele disse ao rei de Israel: "Bate no chão", Jeoás bateu três vezes e parou. ¹⁹ Mas o homem de Deus se zangou com ele e disse: "Deverias ter batido cinco ou seis vezes; assim, atacarias a Síria até sua total aniquilação, mas agora os atacarás apenas três vezes".

²⁰ Então, Eliseu faleceu e foi sepultado. Tropas moabitas invadiram a terra no início do ano. ²¹ Enquanto enterravam certo homem, viram um grupo de moabitas e jogaram o corpo na sepultura de Eliseu. Assim que o homem tocou os ossos de Eliseu, ele reviveu e ficou em pé.

²² Hazael, rei da Síria, oprimiu Israel durante todos os dias de Jeoacaz. ²³ Mas Yahweh foi gracioso com Israel, e Se compadeceu deles, preocupou-Se com eles, por causa da Sua aliança com Abraão, Isaque e Jacó. Yahweh não os destruiu e ainda não os expulsou da Sua presença. ²⁴ Hazael, rei da Síria, faleceu e Ben-Hadade, seu filho, se tornou rei em seu lugar. ²⁵ Jeoás, filho de Jeoacaz, tomou de Ben-Hadade, filho de Hazael, as cidades que haviam sido tomadas por guerra de Jeoacaz, seu pai. Jeoás o atacou três vezes e recuperou essas cidades de Israel.

Capítulo 14

¹ No segundo ano de Jeoás filho de Jeoacaz, rei de Israel, Amazias filho de Joás, começou a reinar. ² Ele tinha vinte e cinco anos quando começou a reinar; reinou durante vinte e nove anos em Jerusalém. Sua mãe se chamava Jeodã de Jerusalém. ³ Ele fez o que era certo aos olhos de Yahweh, embora, não como Davi, seu antepassado. Ele fez tudo o que seu pai, Joás, havia feito.

⁴ Porém os altares não foram destruídos. O povo continuava a sacrificar e queimar incenso neles. ⁵ Aconteceu que, logo que seu governo foi estabelecido, ele matou os servos que assassinaram seu pai, o rei.

⁶ Contudo, não matou os filhos dos assassinos, pelo contrário, agiu em obediência ao que está escrito na Lei de Moisés, segundo a ordem de Yahweh: "Os pais não serão mortos em lugar de seus filhos, nem os filhos serão mortos por causa dos pais. Entretanto, cada um será morto por seu próprio pecado". ⁷ Ele mandou matar dez mil soldados de Edom no vale do Sal, também conquistou Selá em batalha e a chamou de Jocteel, como ainda é chamada nos dias de hoje.

⁸ Então, Amazias enviou mensageiros a Jeoás, filho de Jeoacaz, filho de Jeú, rei de Israel dizendo: "Vem, vamos nos enfrentar face a face na batalha". ⁹ Mas Jeoás, o rei de Israel, enviou mensageiros a Amazias, rei de Judá, dizendo: "O espinheiro do Líbano mandou dizer ao cedro do Líbano: 'Dá tua filha como esposa para meu filho', mas uma fera selvagem pisoteou o espinheiro. ¹⁰ De fato, atacaste Edom e teu coração se encheu de orgulho. Orgulha-te em tua vitória, porém fica em casa. Por que te causarías problemas para caírdes tu e Judá contigo?

¹¹ Amazias, porém, não lhe deu atenção. Então, Jeoás, rei de Israel, atacou; ele e Amazias se enfrentaram face a face em Bete-Semes, no território de Judá. ¹² Judá foi derrotado por Israel e todos os homens fugiram para casa.

¹³ Jeoás, rei de Israel, prendeu Amazias, rei de Judá, filho de Joás, filho de Acazias em Bete-Semes. Ele foi a Jerusalém e derrubou o muro de Jerusalém desde o portão de Efraim até a porta da esquina, destruiu quatrocentos côvados de seu muro. ¹⁴ Ele tomou todo ouro e toda prata, todos os objetos encontrados no templo de Yahweh e os utensílios de valor do palácio do rei, como também os reféns, e voltou para Samaria.

¹⁵ Os demais atos de Jeoás, tudo o que fez, seu poder e como lutou com Amazias, rei de Judá, não estão escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Israel? ¹⁶ Então, Jeoás descansou com seus antepassados e foi sepultado juntamente com os reis de Israel, e Jeroboão, seu filho, reinou em seu lugar.

¹⁷ Amazias, filho de Joás, rei de Judá, viveu mais quinze anos depois da morte de Jeoás, filho de Jeocaz, rei de Israel. ¹⁸ Os outros atos de Amazias não estão escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Judá? ¹⁹ Eles conspiraram contra Amazias em Jerusalém, e ele fugiu para Laquis. Ele fugiu para Laquis, mas mandaram persegui-lo em Laquis, onde o mataram.

²⁰ Eles o trouxeram sobre cavalos, e ele foi sepultado com seus antepassados na cidade de Davi. ²¹ Todo o povo de Judá tomou Azarias, que estava com dezesseis anos, e o fizeram rei em lugar de seu pai Amazias. ²² Foi Azarias que reconstruiu Elate e a restaurou para Judá, depois que o rei Amazias descansou com seus antepassados.

²³ No décimo quinto ano de Amazias, filho de Joás, rei de Judá, Jeroboão, filho de Jeoás, rei de Israel, começou a reinar em Samaria; ele reinou por quarenta e um anos. ²⁴ Fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh. Ele não se apartou de nenhum dos pecados de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, com os quais fez Israel pecar. ²⁵ Ele restaurou a fronteira de Israel desde Lebo-Hamate até o mar de Arabá, seguindo os comandos da palavra de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, que falou por meio de seu servo Jonas, filho de Amitai, o profeta, que era de Gate-Héfer.

²⁶ Pois Yahweh viu como era imenso o sofrimento de Israel para todos, tanto para escravos como para livres, e que não havia quem resgatasse Israel. ²⁷ Então, Yahweh disse que Ele não iria apagar o nome de Israel debaixo do céu; em vez disso, Ele os salvou pelas mãos de Jeroboão, filho de Jeoás.

²⁸ Quanto às outras questões relativas a Jeroboão, tudo o que ele fez, seu poder, como ele travou guerra e recuperou Damasco e Hamate, as quais estavam pertencendo a Judá, para Israel, não estão escritas no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Israel? ²⁹ Jeroboão descansou com seus antepassados, com os reis de Israel, e Zacarias, seu filho, se tornou rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 15

¹ No ano vinte sete de Jeroboão, rei de Israel, Azarias, filho de Amazias, rei de Judá, começou a reinar. ² Azarias tinha dezesseis anos de idade quando começou a reinar. Ele reinou por cinquenta e dois anos em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Jecolias, natural de Jerusalém. ³ Ele fez o que era correto aos olhos de Yahweh, assim como seu pai, Amazias, havia feito.

⁴ Entretanto, os altares das colinas não foram retirados. As pessoas continuavam a sacrificar e a queimar incenso neles. ⁵ Yaweh afligiu o rei com lepra, até o dia de sua morte, e ele viveu em uma casa separada. Jotão, o filho do rei, ficou responsável pelo palácio e governou o povo da terra.

⁶ Quanto aos demais assuntos relacionados a Azarias, e a tudo o que ele fez, acaso não estão escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Judá? ⁷ Azarias dormiu com seus pais e foi sepultado na cidade de Davi, junto a seus ancestrais. Jotão, seu filho, reinou em seu lugar.

⁸ No ano trinta e oito de Azarias, rei de Judá, Zacarias, filho de Jeroboão, reinou por seis meses sobre Israel, em Samaria. ⁹ Ele praticou o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, assim como seus pais haviam praticado. Ele não se apartou dos pecados de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, que havia conduzido Israel a pecar.

¹⁰ Salum, filho de Jabes, conspirou contra Zacarias, atacou-o em Ibleão e o matou. Então, ele reinou em seu lugar. ¹¹ Os demais atos relacionados a Zacarias estão escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Israel. ¹² Esta foi a palavra que Yahweh falou a Jeú, dizendo: "Os teus descendentes até a quarta geração se assentarão no trono de Israel". E assim aconteceu.

¹³ Salum, filho de Jabes, começou a reinar no ano trinta e nove de Uzias, rei de Judá, e reinou apenas um mês em Samaria. ¹⁴ Menaém, filho de Gadi, veio de Tirza para Samaria. Ele atacou e matou Salum, filho de Jabes, e reinou em seu lugar.

¹⁵ Os demais assuntos relacionados a Salum e a conspiração que ele tramou estão escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Israel. ¹⁶ Então, Menaém, vindo de Tirza, atacou Tifsa e seus arredores, com todos os seus habitantes, porque não lhe abriram a cidade. Menaém saqueou Tifsa e rasgou o ventre de todas as mulheres grávidas da cidade.

¹⁷ No ano trinta e nove de Azarias, rei de Judá, Menaém, filho de Gadi, começou a reinar sobre Israel. Ele reinou dez anos em Samaria. ¹⁸ Menaém praticou o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh. Por toda a sua vida, ele não se apartou dos pecados de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, que havia levado Israel a pecar.

¹⁹ Então, Pul, rei da Assíria, atacou a terra, e Menaém entregou a Pul mil talentos de prata, a fim de conquistar o apoio dele e manter-se no reino de Israel. ²⁰ Para entregar essa soma ao rei da Assíria, Menaém obrigou cada homem rico de Israel a pagar cinquenta siclos de prata. Assim, o rei da Assíria suspendeu a invasão e retirou-se da terra.

²¹ Quanto aos demais assuntos relacionados a Menaém, e a tudo o que ele fez, não estão porventura escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Israel? ²² Então, Menaém dormiu com seus ancestrais, e Pecaías, seu filho, reinou em seu lugar.

²³ No ano cinquenta de Azarias, rei de Judá, Pecaías, filho de Menaém, começou a reinar sobre Israel, ele reinou dois anos em Samaria. ²⁴ Praticou o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh e não se apartou dos pecados de Jerobão, filho de Nebate, que havia levado Israel a pecar.

²⁵ Pecaías tinha um oficial chamado Peca, filho de Remalias, que conspirou contra ele e o matou, junto com Argobe e Arié, em Samaria, a cidadela do palácio do rei. Com ele estavam cinquenta homens gileaditas. Ele o matou e reinou em seu lugar. ²⁶ Os demais assuntos relacionados a Pecaías e a tudo o que ele fez estão escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Israel.

²⁷ No ano cinquenta e dois de Azarias, rei de Judá, Peca, filho de Remalias, começou a reinar sobre Israel; reinou vinte anos em Samaria. ²⁸ Ele praticou o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh e não se apartou dos pecados de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, que levou Israel a pecar.

²⁹ Nos dias de Peca, rei de Israel, Tiglate-Pileser, rei da Assíria, atacou e tomou Ijon, Abel-Bete-Maaca, Janoa, Quedes, Hazor, Gileade, a Galileia e toda a terra de Naftali e levou os seus habitantes cativos para a Assíria. ³⁰ Então, Oseias, filho de Elá, tramou uma conspiração contra Peca, filho de Remalias, atacou-o e o matou. Assim, no ano vinte de Jotão, filho de Uzias, Oseias começou a reinar. ³¹ Os demais assuntos relacionados a Peca e a tudo o que ele fez estão escritos no livro de Crônicas do reis de Israel.

³² No ano dois de Peca, filho de Remalias, rei de Israel, Jotão, filho de Uzias, rei de Judá, começou a reinar. ³³ Ele tinha vinte e cinco anos de idade quando começou a reinar, reinou dezesseis anos em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Jerusa, a filha de Zadoque.

³⁴ Jotão fez o que era correto aos olhos de Yahweh. Ele seguiu todo o exemplo de seu pai, Uzias. ³⁵ Porém os altares das colinas não foram retirados. O povo continuava sacrificando e queimando incenso nos altares. Jotão edificou o portão superior do templo de Yahweh. ³⁶ Os demais assuntos sobre Jotão e sobre tudo o que ele fez, acaso não estão escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Judá?

³⁷ Naqueles dias Yahweh começou a enviar Rezim, rei da Síria, e Peca, filho de Remalias, contra Judá. ³⁸ Jotão dormiu com seus pais e foi sepultado junto a seus antepassados na cidade de Davi, seu antepassado. Então, Acaz, seu filho, reinou em seu lugar.

Capítulo 16

¹ No décimo sétimo ano de Peca, filho de Ramalias, Acaz, filho de Jotão, rei de Judá, começou a reinar. ² Acaz tinha vinte anos de idade quando ele começou a reinar, e reinou por dezesseis anos em Jerusalém. Ele não fez o que era reto aos olhos de Yahweh, seu Deus, assim como Davi, seu antecessor havia feito.

³ Ao invés disso, ele andou no caminho dos reis de Israel; até colocou seu filho no fogo como holocausto, seguindo as abomináveis práticas das nações, que Yahweh expulsara do povo de Israel. ⁴ Ele sacrificou e queimou incenso nos lugares altos, nos outeiros e debaixo de qualquer árvore verde.

⁵ Então, Rezim, rei da Síria e Peca, filho de Remalias, rei de Israel, veio até Jerusalém para atacar. Eles cercaram Acaz, mas não puderam conquistar. ⁶ Naquela ocasião, Rezim, rei da Síria, recuperou Elate da Síria e expulsou os homens de Judá para fora de Elate. Então, os arameus vieram para Elate, onde moram até hoje.

⁷ Então, Acaz enviou mensageiros a Tiglate-Pileser, rei da Assíria dizendo: "Sou teu servo e teu filho. Vem e me salva das mãos do rei da Síria e da mão do rei de Israel, que me atacou". ⁸ Acaz, então, pegou a prata e o ouro que foi achada no templo de Yahweh, e no meio dos tesouros do palácio do rei, e os mandou como presente ao rei da Assíria. ⁹ O rei da Assíria o ouviu, e subiu contra Damasco, a conquistou e aprisionou os habitantes para Quir. Também matou Rezim, o rei da Síria.

¹⁰ O rei Acaz foi a Damasco para encontrar Tiglate-Pileser, rei da Assíria. Em Damasco, ele viu um altar. Ele enviou a Urias, o sacerdote, um modelo do altar com seu padrão e o desenho de todas as ferramentas necessárias. ¹¹ Urias, o sacerdote, construiu o altar para ser como as plantas que o rei Acaz lhe enviou de Damasco. Ele terminou antes que o rei Acaz retornasse de Damasco. ¹² Quando o rei, regressou de Damasco, viu o altar e ofereceu sacrifícios sobre ele.

¹³ Ele fez seu holocausto e sua oferta de cereais, derramou sua oferta de bebida e aspergiu o sangue de sua oferta pacífica no altar. ¹⁴ O altar de bronze que estava diante de Yahweh, ele o trouxe da frente do templo, dentre o altar e o templo de Yahweh, e o pôs no lado norte do altar.

¹⁵ Então, o rei Acaz mandou Urias, o sacerdote, dizendo: "No grande altar, queima o holocausto matinal e de tarde, a oferta de cereais, o holocausto do rei e sua oferta de cereais, com o holocausto de todos da terra, suas ofertas de cereais e suas ofertas de bebida. Aspergirás nele todo o sangue de todos os holocaustos e o sangue dos sacrifícios. Porém, no altar de bronze, eu pedirei orientação a Deus". ¹⁶ Urias, o sacerdote, fez como o rei Acaz ordenara.

¹⁷ O rei Acaz removeu os painéis e as bases das estantes portáteis; e o mar, detrás das costas dos bois de bronze que estava embaixo, e o colocou sobre um pavimento de pedra. ¹⁸ Ele removeu a cobertura para o sábado que eles construiram no templo, por toda a entrada do rei, fora do templo de Yahweh, por causa do rei da Assíria.

¹⁹ Para as outras questões relativas a Acaz e o que ele realizou, não estão elas escritas no Livro de Crônicas dos reis de Judá? ²⁰ Acaz morreu e foi sepultado junto com os seus antepassados na cidade de Davi. Ezequias, seu filho, se tornou rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 17

¹ No décimo segundo ano de Acaz, rei de Judá, Oseias, filho de Elá, começou a reinar. Ele governou em Samaria sobre Israel por nove anos. ² Ele fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, contudo, não como os reis de Israel que foram antes dele. ³ Salmanasar, rei da Assíria, o atacou, e Oseias ficou sendo servo dele e lhe pagava tributos.

⁴ Então, o rei da Assíria percebeu que Oseias estava conspirando contra ele, porque Oseias havia enviado mensageiros a Sô, rei do Egito; além disso, ele não pagava tributos ao rei da Assíria, a cada ano como fazia antes. ⁵ Então, o rei da Assíria o amarrou e o encarcerou na prisão. Depois disso, o rei da Assíria subiu por toda a terra, atacou Samaria e a sitiou por três anos. ⁶ No nono ano de Oseias, o rei da Assíria tomou Samaria e levou Israel cativo para a Assíria. Ele os colocou em Hala, próximo a Habor, rio de Gozã, e nas cidades dos medos.

⁷ Esse cativeiro aconteceu porque o povo de Israel havia pecado contra Yahweh, o seu Deus, que os fez subir da terra do Egito, de debaixo do poder de Faraó, rei do Egito. O povo estava adorando outros deuses ⁸ e andaram nas práticas das nações que Yahweh havia expulsado de diante do povo de Israel e em outras práticas que os reis de Israel introduziram.

⁹ O povo de Israel fez secretamente coisas que não eram retas contra Yahweh, seu Deus. Eles edificaram santuários em todas as suas cidades, desde a torre dos vigias até a cidade fortificada. ¹⁰ Eles também criaram pilares sagrados de pedra e postes a Asera em todo outeiro alto e debaixo de todas as árvores verdes.

¹¹ Eles queimaram incenso em todos os santuários, como as nações fizeram, aquelas que Yahweh expulsou de diante deles. Os israelitas fizeram coisas más para provocarem a ira de Yahweh; ¹² eles adoraram ídolos, sobre os quais Yahweh lhes dissera: "Não façais isso".

¹³ Ainda assim, Yahweh advertiu a Israel e a Judá por intermédio de todos os profetas e de todos os videntes, dizendo: "Convertei-vos de vossos maus caminhos, guardai Meus estatutos e mandamentos, tende cuidado para guardar toda a Lei que ordenei a vossos pais e que Eu vos enviei por intermédio dos Meus servos, os profetas".

¹⁴ Mas eles não quiseram ouvir; ao invés disso, eles foram muito teimosos como seus pais, que não confiaram em Yahweh, seu Deus. ¹⁵ Eles rejeitaram os Seus estatutos, a aliança que havia feito com os seus antepassados e os decretos da aliança que Ele lhes havia dado. Eles seguiram práticas inúteis, tornando-se inúteis. Eles seguiram as nações pagãs que estavam ao redor deles, aquelas às quais Yahweh lhes havia ordenado não imitar.

¹⁶ Eles ignoraram todos os mandamentos de Yahweh, seu Deus. Fizeram imagens de metal fundido de dois bezerros para cultuar. Fizeram um poste a Aserá e adoraram todas as estrelas dos céus e a Baal. ¹⁷ Eles sacrificaram seus filhos e suas filhas no fogo em holocaustos, usaram adivinhação e encantamentos, venderam-se para fazer o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, provocando-Lhe à ira. ¹⁸ Portanto, Yahweh ficou muito indignado com Israel e os tirou diante da Sua face. Não ficou mais ninguém, além da tribo de Judá.

¹⁹ Nem mesmo Judá guardou os mandamentos de Yahweh, seu Deus, mas, em vez disso, seguiu as mesmas práticas pagãs que Israel estava seguindo. ²⁰ Assim, Yahweh rejeitou todos os descendentes de Israel; Ele os afligiu e os entregou nas mãos daqueles que tomariam posse do despojo, até que os expulsou da Sua presença.

²¹ Yahweh rasgou Israel da linhagem real de Davi; e eles fizeram rei a Jeroboão, filho de Nebate. Jeroboão afastou Israel de seguir Yahweh e os fez cometer um grande pecado. ²² O povo de Israel seguiu todos os pecados de Jeroboão e eles não se afastaram deles, ²³ assim, Yahweh, tirou Israel da Sua presença, como Ele havia dito por meio de todos os Seus servos, os profetas, que Ele faria. Por isso, Israel foi transportado da sua própria terra para a Assíria, e assim é até o dia de hoje.

²⁴ O rei da Assíria trouxe gente da Babilônia, de Cuta, de Ava, de Hamate e de Sefarvaim, e os colocou nas cidades de Samaria, em lugar do povo de Israel. Eles ocuparam Samaria e viveram em suas cidades. ²⁵ Aconteceu que, quando começaram a morar ali, não honraram a Yahweh. Então, Yahweh enviou leões que mataram alguns deles. ²⁶ Por isso, falaram ao rei da Assíria, dizendo: "As nações que tens levado e colocado nas cidades de Samaria não conhecem as práticas exigidas pelo Deus da terra. Assim, ele enviou leões entre eles e, eis que, os leões estão matando pessoas lá porque eles não conhecem as práticas exigidas pelo Deus da terra".

²⁷ Então, o rei da Assíria ordenou, dizendo: "Levai para lá um dos sacerdotes que trouxestes, e deixai-o ir e viver lá, deixai-o ensinar as práticas exigidas pelo Deus da terra". ²⁸ Desse modo, um dos sacerdotes que eles haviam transportado de Samaria veio e habitou em Betel; ele os ensinou como deveriam temer Yahweh.

²⁹ Cada povo fez seus próprios deuses, e os colocaram nos santuários que os samaritanos tinham feito—todos os povos das cidades onde viviam. ³⁰ O povo da Babilônia fez Sucote-Benote; o povo de Cuta fez Nergal; o povo de Hamate fez Asima; ³¹ os aveus fizeram Nibaz e Tartaque; e os sefarvitas queimavam seus filhos em holocausto a Adrameleque e Anameleque, deuses de Sefarvaim.

³² Eles também temiam a Yahweh, e nomearam entre si sacerdotes para os lugares altos, os quais sacrificavam em favor deles, nos santuários dos templos. ³³ Temiam a Yahweh e também adoravam os seus próprios deuses, segundo os costumes das nações do meio das quais haviam sido retirados.

³⁴ Até hoje, eles persistem em seus antigos costumes. Eles nem temem a Yahweh, nem seguem os estatutos, os decretos, a Lei ou os mandamentos que Yahweh deu ao Seu povo Jacó—a quem Ele deu o nome de Israel— ³⁵ e com quem Yahweh havia feito uma aliança e Lhes ordenara: "Não temais outros deuses, nem vos inclineis diante deles, nem os adoreis, nem sacrifiqueis a eles.

³⁶ Mas Yahweh, que vos fez subir da terra do Egito com grande poder e braço estendido, é a Quem vós deveis honrar; é perante Ele que vos prostrareis, e é a Ele que sacrificareis. ³⁷ Os estatutos e decretos, a Lei e os mandamentos que Ele vos escreveu, os guardareis para sempre. E não devais temer outros deuses, ³⁸ e a aliança que fiz convosco, não esquecereis; nem temereis outros deuses.

³⁹ Mas a Yahweh, vosso Deus, é a Quem temereis. E Ele vos livrará das mãos de todos os vossos inimigos". ⁴⁰ Contudo, eles não ouviram, pois continuaram a fazer o que haviam feito no passado. ⁴¹ Dessa forma, essas nações temiam a Yahweh e também adoravam as suas imagens esculpidas, e seus filhos fizeram o mesmo—como fizeram os filhos de seus filhos. Eles continuaram a fazer o que seus antepassados fizeram, até o dia de hoje.

Capítulo 18

¹ No terceiro ano de Oseias, filho de Elá, rei de Israel, Ezequias, filho de Acaz, rei de Judá começou a reinar. ² Tinha vinte e cinco anos quando começou a reinar; reinou vinte e nove anos em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Abi; ela era filha de Zacarias. ³ Ele fez o que era certo aos olhos de Yahweh, seguindo o exemplo de tudo que Davi, seu antepassado, havia feito.

⁴ Ele removeu os santuários, destruiu os pilares sagrados de pedra e derrubou as imagens de Aserá. Quebrou em pedaços a serpente de pedra que Moisés havia feito, porque naqueles dias o povo de Israel queimava incenso a ela; era chamada de "Neustã". ⁵ Ezequias confiava em Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, de maneira que, depois dele, não houve ninguém parecido dentre todos os reis de Judá, tampouco dentre os reis que reinaram antes dele.

⁶ Ele se manteve fiel a Yahweh. Não parou de segui-Lo, mas guardou Seus mandamentos, os quais Yahweh ordenou a Moisés. ⁷ Assim, Yahweh estava com Ezequias e, por onde ele foi, prosperou. Ele se rebelou contra o rei da Assíria e não o serviu. ⁸ Atacou os filisteus até Gaza e suas fronteiras, desde a torre de vigia até a cidade fortificada.

⁹ No quarto ano do reinado do rei Ezequias, que era o sétimo de Oseias, filho de Elá, rei de Israel, Salmanasar, rei da Assíria, atacou Samaria e a cercou. ¹⁰ No fim de três anos, eles a tomaram, no sexto ano de Ezequias, que era o nono de Oseias, rei de Israel; dessa forma, Samaria foi capturada.

¹¹ Assim, o rei da Assíria levou Israel cativo para Assíria e o colocou em Hala, junto a Habor, rio de Gozã, e nas cidades dos medos. ¹² Ele assim o fez porque eles não obedeceram à voz de Yahweh, seu Deus, mas transgrediram Sua aliança, tudo o que Moisés, servo de Yahweh, havia ordenado. Eles se recusaram a ouvir ou fazer.

¹³ No décimo quarto ano do rei Ezequias, Senaqueribe, rei da Assíria, atacou todas as cidades fortificadas de Judá e as tomou. ¹⁴ Então, Ezequias, rei de Judá, enviou uma mensagem ao rei da Assíria, que estava em Laquis, dizendo: "Eu te ofendi. Retira-te de mim. Tudo o que me impuseres eu suportarei". O rei da Assíria impôs a Ezequias, rei de Judá, o pagamento de trezentos talentos de prata e trinta talentos de ouro. ¹⁵ Então, Ezequias deu-lhe toda a prata que encontrou na casa de Yahweh e nos tesouros do palácio do rei.

¹⁶ Depois, Ezequias retirou todo o ouro das portas do templo de Yahweh e dos pilares que ele havia revestido; ele deu o ouro ao rei da Assíria. ¹⁷ Mas o rei da Assíria mobilizou seu grande exército, enviando Tartã, Rabsaris e o comandante chefe de Laquis ao rei Ezequias em Jerusalém. Eles viajaram pelas estradas e chegaram a Jerusalém, aproximando-se do aqueduto do açude superior, na estrada que dava no campo dos lavandeiros e permaneceram ali. ¹⁸ Tendo eles chamado pelo rei Ezequias, vieram Eliaquim, filho de Hilquias, que era encarregado de cuidar da casa; Sebna, o escriba; e Joá, filho de Asafe, o cronista, ao encontro deles.

¹⁹ Então, o comandante chefe disse-lhes: "falai a Ezequias que o grande rei, o rei da Assíria, disse: 'Qual é a fonte da tua confiança? ²⁰ Tu falas apenas palavras inúteis, dizendo que tens aliados e força para a guerra. Em quem estás confiando? Quem te deu coragem para se rebelar contra mim? ²¹ Eis, que tu confias neste caniço quebrado que é o Egito, o qual, se alguém nele se apoiar, atravessará sua mão e o perfurará. Isso é o que o Faraó, rei do Egito, é para qualquer um que confiar nele.

²² Se, porém, me dissesses: 'Nós confiamos em Yahweh, nosso Deus', não é Ele cujos altares e santuários Ezequias retirou e disse a Judá e a Jerusalém: 'Devei adorar perante esse altar em Jerusalém'? ²³ Agora, pois, eu quero fazer uma boa oferta do meu senhor, o rei da Assíria. Eu te darei dois mil cavalos, se fores capaz de encontrar cavaleiros para eles.

²⁴ Como poderias resistir a um só capitão dos menores dos servos de meu senhor? Tu colocaste tua confiança no Egito por causa de carros e cavaleiros! ²⁵ Porventura, viajei até aqui, sem Yahweh, para atacar este lugar e o destruir? Assim disse Yahweh: 'Ataca esta terra e a destrua'".

²⁶ Então, Eliaquim, filho de Hilquias, Sebna e Joá disseram ao comandante chefe: "Por favor, fala com teus servos em aramaico, para que possamos compreender. Não fales conosco na língua de Judá, aos ouvidos do povo que está em cima do muro". ²⁷ Mas o comandante chefe lhes disse: "Por acaso, meu senhor me enviou para falar essas palavras a vosso senhor e a vós? Não me enviou ele para os homens que se assentam sobre a muralha, que juntamente convosco terão que comer seus próprios excrementos e beber sua própria urina?".

²⁸ Assim, o comandante chefe permaneceu e bradou em alta voz na língua dos judeus, dizendo: "Escutai a palavra do grande rei, o rei de Assíria. ²⁹ O rei diz: 'Não deixeis que Ezequias vos engane, pois ele não é capaz de vos resgatar do meu poder. ³⁰ Não deixeis que Ezequias vos faça confiar em Yahweh, dizendo: 'Yahweh certamente nos resgatará; esta cidade não será entregue as mãos do rei da Assíria'".

³¹ Não escuteis a Ezequias, pois isto é o que o rei da Assíria diz: 'Fazei paz comigo e vinde até mim. Então, todos dentre vós comerão de sua própria vide e de sua própria figueira e beberão água de sua própria cisterna. ³² Assim, fareis até que eu venha e vos leve embora para uma terra semelhante à vossa, uma terra de grãos e vinho novo, uma terra de pão e vinhas, uma terra de oliveiras e mel, de forma que vivais e não morrais'. Não deis ouvidos a Ezequias quando ele vos tentar persuadir, dizendo: 'Yahweh nos resgatará'.

³³ Por acaso algum dos deuses dos povos os resgatou do poder do rei da Assíria? Onde estão os deuses de Hamate e de Arpade? ³⁴ Onde estão os deuses de Sefarvaim, de Hena e de Iva? Algum desses resgatou Samaria de minha mão? ³⁵ Dentre todos os deuses das terras, há algum deus que resgatou sua terra do meu poder? Como poderia Yahweh salvar Jerusalém do meu domínio?'".

³⁶ Mas o povo permaneceu em silêncio e não respondeu, porque o rei ordenara: "Não lhe respondais". ³⁷ Então, Eliaquim, filho de Hilquias, que era encarregado de cuidar da casa; Sebna, o escriba; e Joá, filho de Asafe, o cronista, foram a Ezequias com suas vestes rasgadas e reportaram a ele as palavras do comandante chefe.

Capítulo 19

¹ Aconteceu que o rei Ezequias ouviu o relatório deles, rasgou as suas vestes, cobriu-se com pano de saco e entrou no templo de Yahweh. ² Ele enviou Eliaquim, o mordomo, e Sebna, o escriba, e os anciãos dos sacerdotes, todos cobertos de sacos, a Isaías, filho de Amós, o profeta.

³ Eles lhe disseram: "Ezequias diz: 'Este dia é um dia de aflição, repreensão e desgraça, porque as crianças estão no tempo de nascer, mas não há nenhuma força para que nasçam. ⁴ Pode ser que Yahweh ouça todas as palavras do chefe comandante, que o rei da Assíria enviou para provocar o Deus vivo, e repreenda essas palavras. Agora, levanta teu clamor pelos remanescentes que ainda estão aqui'".

⁵ Assim, os servos do rei Ezequias vieram para Isaías. ⁶ E Isaías lhes disse: "Dizei ao teu senhor: 'Yahweh diz: 'Não temas as palavras que tu ouviste, com as quais os servos do rei da Assíria tem me insultado. ⁷ Vê, Eu colocarei um espírito nele, e ele ouvirá uma certa notícia e voltará para a sua própria terra. Eu farei ele cair pela espada em sua própria terra"'.

⁸ Então, o principal comandante retornou e encontrou o rei da Assíria lutando contra Libna, porque ele havia ouvido que o rei havia saído de Laquis. ⁹ Então, Senaqueribe ouviu que Tiraca, rei da Etiópia e Egito, havia se mobilizado para lutar contra ele. Assim, ele enviou mensageiros novamente para Ezequias com uma mensagem:

¹⁰ "Diz para Ezequias, rei de Judá: 'Não deixes o teu Deus, em quem tu confiaste, enganar-te dizendo, 'Jerusalém não será dada na mão do rei da Assíria'. ¹¹ Vê, tu tens ouvido o que os reis da Assíria têm feito a todas as terras, destruindo-as completamente. Assim sendo, serás tu poupado?

¹² Os deuses das nações os têm poupado? As nações que meus pais destruíram: Gozã, Harã, Rezefe e o povo do Eden, em Telassar? ¹³ Onde estão os reis de Hamate, o rei Arpade, o rei das cidades de Sefarvaim, de Hena e de Iva?'".

¹⁴ Ezequias recebeu essa carta dos mensageiros e a leu. Então, ele foi para o templo de Yahweh e a colocou diante Dele. ¹⁵ Então, Ezequias orou diante de Yahweh e disse: "Yahweh dos exércitos, Deus de Israel, Tu que sentas acima dos querumbins, Tu és o único Deus sobre todos os reinos da terra. Tu fizeste os céus e a terra.

¹⁶ Inclina o Teu ouvido, Yahweh, e ouve. Abre os Teus olhos, Yahweh, e vê; ouve todas as palavras de Senaqueribe, que ele tem enviado para zombar do Deus vivo. ¹⁷ Verdadeiramente, Yahweh, o rei da Assíria tem destruído as nações e suas terras. ¹⁸ Eles têm colocado seus deuses no fogo, porque eles não eram deuses, mas o trabalho das mãos dos homens, apenas madeira e pedra. Assim, os assírios os têm destruído.

¹⁹ Agora então Yahweh, nosso Deus, salva-nos do seu poder, eu imploro, de forma que todos os reinos da terra saibam que Tu, Yahweh, és o único Deus".

²⁰ Então, Isaías, filho de Amoz, enviou uma mensagem para Ezequias, dizendo: "Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Visto que tu tens orado a Mim acerca de Senaqueribe, rei da Assíria, Eu te ouvi. ²¹ Esta é a palavra que Yahweh disse sobre ele: 'A virgem, filha de Sião, despreza e ri de ti para escarnecer. A filha de Jerusalém meneia sua cabeça para ti. ²² A quem tens desafiado e insultado? E contra quem tu tens orgulhosamente exaltado a tua voz e levantado os teus olhos? Contra o Santo de Israel!

²³ Por meio dos teus mensageiros, tens desafiado o Senhor e dito: 'Com a multidão de minhas carruagens, eu tenho subido às alturas das montanhas, às elevações mais altivas do Líbano. Eu cortarei os altos cedros e os melhores ciprestes ali. Entrarei nas suas partes mais remotas, na sua floresta mais frutífera. ²⁴ Cavei cisternas e bebi águas estrangeiras. Sequei todos os rios do Egito sob a sola dos meus pés'.

²⁵ Tu não tens ouvido que Eu determinei isso há muito tempo e como tenho operado em tempos antigos? Agora, Eu estou executando estas coisas. Tu estás aqui para reduzir as cidades impenetráveis a montes de ruínas. ²⁶ Seus habitantes, de pouca força, são despedaçados e envergonhados. Eles são plantas no campo, grama verde, a grama sobre o telhado ou grama no campo, queimadas antes de crescerem.

²⁷ Mas Eu conheço o teu sentar, o teu ir e vir e a tua fúria contra Mim. ²⁸ Por causa dessa fúria contra Mim e por causa da tua arrogância que tem chegado aos Meus ouvidos, Eu colocarei um anzol no teu nariz e Meu cabresto na tua boca; Eu te farei voltar pelo caminho de onde vieste".

²⁹ Este será o Meu sinal para ti: Neste ano, comereis do que nascer naturalmente e, no segundo ano, comereis do que brotar disso. Porém, no terceiro ano, tereis de plantar e colher, plantar vinhas e comer do seu fruto. ³⁰ O remanescente da casa de Judá que sobreviver fincará raízes e dará frutos. ³¹ Porque, de Jerusalém, virá um remanescente, e, do monte Sião, virão os sobreviventes. O zelo de Yahweh dos Exércitos fará isto.

³² Portanto, acerca do rei da Assíria, Yahweh diz: "Ele não entrará nesta cidade, nem disparará flecha alguma aqui. Tampouco ele virá diante dela com escudo ou edificará uma trincheira contra ela. ³³ Ele vai sair pelo mesmo caminho por onde entrou; ele não entrará nesta cidade. Esta é a declaração de Yahweh". ³⁴ Porque Eu defenderei esta cidade e a livrarei por Mim e por causa de Davi, Meu servo'".

³⁵ E aconteceu que, naquela noite, o Anjo de Yahweh saiu e atacou o acampamento dos assírios, matando cento e oitenta e cinco mil soldados. Quando os homens se levantaram pela manhã, havia corpos espalhados por toda parte. ³⁶ Assim, Senaqueribe, rei da Assíria, deixou Israel e foi embora e ficou em Nínive. ³⁷ Mais tarde, quando ele estava adorando na casa do seu deus, Nisroque, seus filhos Adrameleque e Sarezer o mataram ao fio da espada. Então, eles fugiram para a terra de Ararate. Depois disso, Esar-Hadom seu filho, tornou-se rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 20

¹ Naqueles dias, Ezequias ficou doente ao ponto de morrer. Assim, Isaías, filho de Amoz, o profeta, veio a ele e lhe disse: "Yahweh diz: 'Põe tua casa em ordem; porque tu morrerás e não viverás'". ² Então, Ezequias virou sua face para a parede e orou a Yahweh, dizendo: ³ "Por favor, Yahweh, lembra-Te de como eu andei fielmente diante de Ti, com todo o meu coração, e eu fiz o que era bom à Tua vista". E Ezequias chorou alto.

⁴ Antes de Isaías ter saído do meio do pátio, a palavra de Yahweh veio a ele, dizendo: ⁵ "Volta e diz a Ezequias, o líder do meu povo: 'Isto é o que Yahweh, o Deus de Davi, teu antepassado, diz: Ouvi tua oração e vi tuas lágrimas. Estou prestes a curar-te no terceiro dia, e tu subirás ao templo de Yahweh.

⁶ Acrescentarei quinze anos à tua vida, resgatarei a ti e a esta cidade da mão do rei da Assíria e defenderei esta cidade por Minha causa e por causa de Meu servo Davi'". ⁷ Assim, Isaías disse: "Tomai uma pasta de figos". Eles fizeram assim e puseram-na em sua úlcera, e ele se recuperou.

⁸ Ezequias disse a Isaías: "Qual será o sinal de que Yahweh irá me curar e de que eu deva subir ao templo de Yahweh no terceiro dia?". ⁹ Isaías replicou: "Este será o sinal de Yahweh para ti, que Yahweh fará aquilo que tem dito. Deve a sombra avançar dez passos ou retroceder dez passos?".

¹⁰ Ezequias respondeu: "É algo fácil para a sombra avançar dez passos. Não, que a sombra retroceda dez passos". ¹¹ Assim, Isaías, o profeta, clamou a Yahweh, e Ele retrocedeu a sombra em dez passos, do ponto em que ela se havia movido na escadaria de Acaz.

¹² Naquele tempo, Meradoque-Baladã, filho de Baladã rei da Babilônia, enviou cartas e um presente a Ezequias, porque havia ouvido que Ezequias estava doente. ¹³ Ezequias ouviu aquelas cartas e, então, mostrou aos mensageiros todo o palácio e suas coisas valiosas: a prata, o ouro, as finas especiarias, o óleo precioso, o depósito de suas armas e tudo que foi achado em seus tesouros. Não houve nada em sua casa nem em todo o seu reino que Ezequias não mostrasse a eles.

¹⁴ Então, Isaías, o profeta, veio ao rei Ezequias e perguntou-lhe: "O que esses homens disseram a ti? De onde eles vieram?". Ezequias disse: "Eles vieram do país distante da Babilônia". ¹⁵ Isaías perguntou: "O que eles viram em tua casa?". Ezequias respondeu: "Eles viram tudo em minha casa. Não há nada entre meus bens valiosos que eu não tenha mostrado a eles".

¹⁶ Assim, Isaías disse a Ezequias: "Ouve a palavra de Yahweh: ¹⁷ 'Olha, os dias estão prestes a chegar em que tudo em teu palácio, as coisas que teus antepassados armazenaram até o presente dia, será carregado para a Babilônia. Nada será deixado, diz Yahweh. ¹⁸ E os filhos nascidos de ti, aqueles que tu criaste, serão levados, e eles se tornarão eunucos no palácio do rei da Babilônia'".

¹⁹ Então, Ezequias disse a Isaías: "Boa é a palavra de Yahweh que tu falaste". Porque pensei: "Haverá paz e segurança em meus dias". ²⁰ Quanto aos demais assuntos relacionados a Ezequias — todo o seu poder, e como ele construiu o reservatório de água e o túnel para abastecer a cidade com água —, não estão escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Judá? ²¹ Ezequias dormiu com seus antepassados, e Manassés, seu filho, tornou-se rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 21

¹ Manassés tinha doze anos quando começou a reinar. Ele reinou por cinquenta e cinco anos em Jerusalém. Sua mãe se chamava Hefzibá. ² Ele fez o que era mau à vista de Yahweh, como as coisas abomináveis das nações que Yahweh havia tirado diante do povo de Israel. ³ Pois ele reconstruiu os lugares altos que Ezequias, seu pai, havia destruído, e ele construiu altares a Baal, fez um poste a Astarote, como o que Acabe, rei de Israel, havia feito, e ele se prostrou a todas as estrelas do céu e as adorou.

⁴ Manassés contruiu altares pagãos na casa de Yahweh, apesar do comando de Yahweh: "Em Jerusalém, é onde Meu nome será para sempre". ⁵ Ele construiu altares para todas as estrelas do céu nos dois pátios do templo de Yahweh. ⁶ Ele ofereceu seu filho no fogo; ele praticou feitiçaria e encantamento, e se consultou com aqueles que falam com os mortos e aqueles que falam com os espíritos. Ele praticou muitos atos malignos diante de Yahweh, e ele provocou a ira de Deus.

⁷ A imagem esculpida de Astarote que ele fez, ele a pôs no templo de Yahweh. Foi sobre esse templo que Yahweh havia dito a Davi e a Salomão, seu filho. Ele disse: "Neste templo e em Jerusalém, a qual Eu escolhi de todas as tribos de Israel, que Eu colocarei Meu nome para sempre. ⁸ Não mais deixarei que os pés de Israel andem fora da terra que dei aos seus antepassados, caso eles obedeçam cuidadosamente tudo o que Eu os comandei, e sigam toda Lei que Meu servo Moisés ordenou a eles". ⁹ Mas as pessoas se recusaram a escutar, e Manassés os levou a fazer coisas bem piores, muito mais do que as nações que Yahweh havia destruído diante do povo de Israel.

¹⁰ Assim, Yahweh falou por meio de Seus servos, os profetas, dizendo: ¹¹ "Porque Manassés, rei de Judá, tem feito essas coisas abomináveis, e tendo agido perversamente, que todos os amorreus antes dele fizeram, e também havia feito Judá pecar com seus ídolos, ¹² então, Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Vê, Eu estou para trazer tal mal sobre Jerusalém e Judá que qualquer que ouvir isto, ambos os ouvidos retinarão.

¹³ Eu estenderei sobre Jerusalém a corda de medidas usada contra Samaria, e a corda de prumo contra a casa de Acabe; Eu irei limpar Jerusalém, da mesma maneira que um homem lava a louça, lavando-a e virando-a de cabeça para baixo. ¹⁴ Eu lançarei fora o remanescente da Minha herança e os entregarei na mão de seus inimigos. Eles se tornarão vítimas e despojo para todos os seus inimigos, ¹⁵ porque eles fizeram o mal à Minha vista, e Me provocaram à ira, desde o dia em que seus ancestrais vieram do Egito, até o dia de hoje'".

¹⁶ Além disso, Manassés derramou muito sangue inocente, até encher Jerusalém de morte de um extremo ao outro. Isto foi em adição ao pecado pelo qual ele fez Judá pecar, quando ela fez o que era mal à vista de Yahweh. ¹⁷ Quanto aos demais atos relacionados a Manassés, tudo que ele fez, e o pecado cometido, não estão escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Judá? ¹⁸ Manassés dormiu com seus antepassados e foi sepultado no jardim de sua própria casa, no jardim de Uzá. Amom seu filho tornou-se rei em seu lugar.

¹⁹ Amom tinha vinte e dois anos quando começou a reinar; ele reinou por dois anos em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Mesulemete; ela era a filha de Haruz de Jobtá. ²⁰ Ele fez o que era mau à vista de Yahweh, da mesma maneira que Manassés, seu pai, fez.

²¹ Amom seguiu o caminho em que seu pai andou e adorou aos ídolos que seu pai adorou, e se prostrou a eles. ²² Ele abandonou Yahweh, o Deus de seus pais, e não andou no caminho de Yahweh. ²³ Os servos de Amom conspiraram contra ele e o mataram em sua própria casa.

²⁴ Mas o povo da terra matou todos aqueles que conspiraram contra o rei Amom, e fizeram de Josias, seu filho, rei em seu lugar. ²⁵ Quanto às demais situações relacionadas aos atos de Amom, os mesmos não estão escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Judá? ²⁶ O povo o sepultou na sua tumba no jardim de Uzá, e Josias seu filho se tornou rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 22

¹ Josias tinha oito anos quando iniciou seu reinado; ele reinou por trinta e um anos em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Jedida (ela era filha de Adaías, de Bozcate). ² Ele fez o que era correto aos olhos de Yahweh. Andou nos caminhos de Davi, seu antepassado, e não se desviou nem para a direita nem para a esquerda.

³ E aconteceu que, no oitavo ano do reinado do rei Josias, ele enviou Safã filho de Azalias, filho de Mesulão, o escriba, ao templo de Yahweh, dizendo: ⁴ "Sobe a Hilquias, o sumo sacerdote e dize-lhe para contar o dinheiro, que os guardas do templo recolheram do povo, por eles trazido ao templo de Yahweh. ⁵ Deixa que o dinheiro seja entregue nas mãos dos trabalhadores que estão encarregados do templo, para que eles façam reparos no templo de Yahweh.

⁶ Que eles entreguem dinheiro aos carpinteiros, aos construtores e aos pedreiros e que comprem também madeira e pedras cortadas para reparar o templo". ⁷ Porém não foi requerida a prestação de contas pelo dinheiro que lhes foi dado, pois eles agiam fielmente.

⁸ Hilquias, o sumo sacerdote, disse a Safã, o escriba: "Encontrei o Livro da Lei no templo de Yahweh". Assim Hilquias entregou o livro a Safã, e ele o leu. ⁹ Safã foi e levou o livro ao rei e também contou a ele, dizendo: "Vossos servos já gastaram o dinheiro que se achava no templo, eles o entregaram na mão dos trabalhadores que supervisionam o cuidado do templo de Yahweh". ¹⁰ Então, Safã, o escriba disse ao rei: "Hilquias, o sacerdote, deu-me um livro". Então, Safã o leu para o rei.

¹¹ Aconteceu que, quando o rei ouviu as palavras da lei, rasgou suas vestes. ¹² O rei ordenou a Hilquias, o sacerdote, a Aicam, filho de Safã, a Acbor, filho de Micaías, a Safã, o escriba, e a Asaías, seu próprio servo, dizendo: ¹³ "Ide e consultai Yahweh por mim, pelo povo e por toda Judá, por causa das palavras deste livro que foi encontrado. Pois grande é a ira de Yahweh que se acendeu contra nós, porque nossos ancestrais não escutaram as palavras deste livro, de modo a obedecer tudo o que foi escrito sobre nós".

¹⁴ Assim o sacerdote Hilquias, Aicam, Acbor, Safã e Asaías foram a Hulda, a profetisa, mulher de Salum, filho de Ticvá, filho de Harás, guardador das vestes (ela vivia em Jerusalém, no segundo quarteirão) e falaram com ela. ¹⁵ Ela lhes disse: "Isto é o que Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Diga ao homem que os enviou a Mim: ¹⁶ Assim diz Yahweh: Vede, Eu trarei desastre a este lugar e a seus habitantes, de acordo com tudo que está escrito neste livro que o rei de Judá leu.

¹⁷ Pois eles Me abandonaram e queimaram incenso para outros deuses, de modo que provocaram a Minha ira diante de tudo o que cometeram; assim sendo, Minha ira se acendeu contra este lugar e não se extinguirá'. ¹⁸ Mas para o rei de Judá, que os enviou para consultar a vontade de Yahweh, isso é o que a ele dirão: 'Yahweh, o Deus de Israel diz isso: Sobre as palavras que ouviste, ¹⁹ porque o teu coração foi sensível e porque humilhaste a ti mesmo diante de Yahweh; quando ouviste o que falei contra este lugar e seus habitantes, que eles se tornariam em desolação e maldição, e porque rasgaste tuas vestes e choraste diante de Mim, Eu também te ouvi' — essa é a declaração de Yahweh.

²⁰ Olha, Eu te recolherei para teus antepassados, e serás recolhido à tua sepultura em paz. Teus olhos não verão todo o desastre que Eu trarei a este lugar'". Assim os homens levaram essa mensagem de volta para o rei.

Capítulo 23

¹ Assim, o rei enviou mensageiros que reuniram até ele todos os anciãos de Judá e de Jerusalém. ² Então, o rei subiu ao templo de Yahweh e com ele todos os homens de Judá, todos os habitantes de Jerusalém, os sacerdotes, os profetas e todas as pessoas, do pequeno ao grande. Ele, então, leu aos ouvidos deles todas as palavras do Livro da Aliança, que havia sido encontrado no templo de Yahweh.

³ O rei ficou ao lado da coluna e fez uma aliança perante Yahweh, de andar após Yahweh e guardar os Seus mandamentos, Seus regulamentos e Seus estatutos, com todo seu coração e toda a sua alma, para confirmar as palavras da aliança que foram escritas neste livro. Assim todo o povo concordou em apoiar a aliança.

⁴ O rei ordenou ao sumo sacerdote Hilquias, aos sacerdotes abaixo dele e aos porteiros a levarem para fora do templo de Yahweh todos os vasos que haviam sido feitos para Baal e Aserá e para todas as estrelas do céu. Ele os queimou fora de Jerusalém, nos campos de Cedrom, e carregou suas cinzas para Betel. ⁵ Ele destituiu os sacerdotes idólatras que os reis de Judá haviam escolhido para queimar incenso nos lugares altos nas cidades de Judá e nos lugares ao redor de Jerusalém — aqueles que queimaram incensos para Baal, para o sol e a lua, para os planetas e para todas as estrelas do céu.

⁶ Ele levou o poste de Aserá para fora do templo de Yahweh, para o Vale de Cedrom, fora de Jerusalém, e o queimou lá. Reduziu-o a pó e jogou o pó dentro dos túmulos do povo comum. ⁷ Ele limpou as salas das prostitutas cultuais que estavam no templo de Yahweh, onde as mulheres teciam vestimentas para Aserá.

⁸ Josias levou todos os sacerdotes para fora da cidade de Judá e profanou os lugares altos onde os sacerdotes haviam queimado incenso, desde Geba até Berseba. Destruiu os lugares altos que estavam na entrada da porta de Josué (o governador da cidade), que estava à esquerda da porta da cidade. ⁹ Apesar de os sacerdotes daqueles lugares altos não poderem servir no altar de Yahweh em Jerusalém, eles comiam pão sem fermento, no meio de seus irmãos.

¹⁰ Josias profanou Tofete, que estava no Vale do Ben Hinom, para que ninguém pudesse oferecer seu filho ou sua filha como holocausto a Moloque. ¹¹ Ele tirou os cavalos que os reis de Judá haviam dado ao sol. Eles estavam na área da entrada do templo de Yahweh, próxima à sala de Natã-Meleque, o camareiro. Josias queimou as carruagens do sol.

¹² O rei Josias destruiu os altares que estavam no terraço na parte superior de Acaz, que os reis de Judá haviam feito, e os altares que Manassés havia feito nos dois pátios do templo de Yahweh. Josias esmagou-os em pedaços e jogou-os no Vale de Cedrom. ¹³ O rei profanou os lugares altos que estavam ao leste de Jerusalém, ao sul do monte da Destruição, que Salomão, o rei de Israel, havia construído para Astarote, o repugnante ídolo dos sidônios; para Camos, o repugnante ídolo de Moabe; e para Milcom, o repugnante ídolo dos amonitas. ¹⁴ O rei Josias quebrou em pedaços os pilares de pedra, cortou os postes de Aserá e preencheu o lugar com ossos humanos.

¹⁵ Josias também destruiu completamente o altar que estava em Betel e os lugares altos que Jeroboão, filho de Nebate (aquele que fez Israel pecar), havia construído. Ele queimou o altar e o lugar alto e os reduziu a pó. Ele também queimou o poste de Aserá. ¹⁶ Enquanto Josias olhava ao redor, notou os túmulos que estavam ao lado do monte. Ele enviou homens para pegarem os ossos dos túmulos; depois os queimou no altar, e, assim, o profanou. Isso ocorreu de acordo com a palavra de Yahweh que o homem de Deus havia falado, o homem que falara dessas coisas anteriormente.

¹⁷ Depois ele disse: "O que é aquele monumento que vejo?". Os homens da cidade disseram-lhe: "Aquele é o túmulo do homem de Deus que veio de Judá e falou sobre essas coisas que acabaste de fazer contra o altar de Betel". ¹⁸ Assim Josias disse: "Deixai-o estar. Ninguém deve mover os ossos dele". Assim deixaram os ossos como estavam, juntamente com os ossos do profeta que havia vindo de Samaria.

¹⁹ Então, Josias removeu todas as casas dos lugares altos que estavam na cidade de Samaria, as quais os reis de Israel haviam feito, e que haviam provocado Yahweh à ira. Ele lhes fez exatamente o mesmo que havia feito em Betel. ²⁰ Matou todos os sacerdotes dos lugares altos, nos altares, e queimou ossos humanos neles. Depois ele retornou a Jerusalém.

²¹ Então, o rei ordenou a todas as pessoas, dizendo: "Mantende a Páscoa para Yahweh, vosso Deus, como está escrito neste Livro da Aliança". ²² Tal celebração de Páscoa nunca havia sido realizada desde os dias dos juízes que governaram Israel, nem em todos os dias dos reis de Israel ou Judá. ²³ Mas, no décimo oitavo ano do rei Josias, essa Páscoa de Yahweh foi celebrada em Jerusalém.

²⁴ Josias também baniu aqueles que falavam com os mortos ou com os espíritos. Ele também proibiu os feiticeiros, os ídolos e todas as coisas repugnantes que foram vistas na terra de Judá e em Jerusalém, para confirmar as palavras da lei que foram escritas no livro que o sacerdote Hilquias havia achado no templo de Yahweh. ²⁵ Antes de Josias, não houve nenhum rei como ele, que se voltou para Yahweh com todo o seu coração, toda a sua alma e toda a sua força, que seguiu toda a lei de Moisés. E nunca mais houve um rei como ele.

²⁶ No entanto, Yahweh não Se desfez da ferocidade de Sua ira, que havia sido acendida contra Judá por toda a adoração pagã com que Manassés O havia provocado. ²⁷ Então, Yahweh disse: "Eu removerei Judá de diante da minha vista, assim como removi Israel, e rejeitarei Jerusalém, a cidade que escolhi, e o templo sobre a qual Eu havia dito: 'Meu nome estará lá'".

²⁸ Quanto aos outros assuntos relativos a Josias, todas as coisas que ele fez, não estão escritas no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Judá? ²⁹ Em seus dias, Faraó Neco, rei do Egito, lutou contra o rei da Assíria no rio Eufrates. O rei Josias encontrou Neco em batalha, e Neco o matou em Megido. ³⁰ Os servos de Josias o carregaram morto em uma carruagem desde Megido, trouxeram-lhe para Jerusalém e sepultaram-no em seu próprio túmulo. Então, o povo da terra tomou Jeocaz, filho de Josias, ungiram-no, e o fizeram rei no lugar de seu pai.

³¹ Joacaz tinha vinte e três anos quando começou a reinar e reinou três meses em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Hamutal; ela era filha de Jeremias de Libna. ³² Joacaz fez o que era mau à vista de Yahweh, como todas as coisas que seus antepassados haviam feito. ³³ Faraó Neco o colocou na prisão em Ribla, na terra de Hamate, para que ele não pudesse reinar em Jerusalém. Então, Neco multou Judá com cem talentos de prata e um talento de ouro.

³⁴ Faraó Neco fez Eliaquim, filho de Josias, rei no lugar de Josias seu pai, e mudou seu nome para Jeoaquim. Porém ele levou Joacaz para o Egito, e Joacaz morreu ali. ³⁵ Jeoaquim pagou a prata e o ouro para o Faraó. A fim de obedecer às ordens do Faraó, ele estabeleceu impostos sobre a terra e forçou cada homem entre o povo da terra a pagar a prata e o ouro, de acordo com os impostos.

³⁶ Jeoaquim tinha vinte e cinco anos de idade quando começou a reinar e reinou por onze anos em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Zebida; ela era filha de Pedaías de Ruma. ³⁷ Jeoaquim fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, como todos os seus antepassados haviam feito.

Capítulo 24

¹ Nos dias de Jeoaquim, Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, atacou Judá, levando Jeoaquim a se sujeitar a ele por três anos. Então, Jeoaquim voltou para trás e se rebelou contra Nabucodonosor. ² Yahweh enviou contra Jeoaquim tropas dos babilônios, dos sírios, dos moabitas e dos amonitas; Ele os enviou contra Judá para a sua destruição. Foi em conformidade com a palavra de Yahweh, falada por intermédio de seus servos, os profetas.

³ Certamente, foi a comando de Yahweh que isto ocorreu a Judá, para removê-lo da Sua vista, por causa dos pecados de Manassés, e tudo que ele fez, ⁴ e também pelo sangue inocente que derramou, pois encheu Jerusalém com sangue inocente. Yahweh não estava disposto a perdoar isso.

⁵ Com relação aos demais acontecimentos do reinado de Jeoaquim e seus feitos, não estão eles escritos no livro de Crônicas dos reis de Judá? ⁶ Jeoaquim dormiu com seus antepassados, e Joaquim, seu filho, se tornou rei em seu lugar.

⁷ O rei do Egito não mais atacou fora de suas terras, pois o rei da Babilônia havia conquistado todas as terras que estavam sob o controle do rei do Egito, desde o ribeiro do Egito até o rio Eufrates.

⁸ Joaquim tinha dezoito anos quando começou a reinar; reinou em Jerusalém por três meses. Sua mãe se chamava Neusta; e era filha de Elnatã, de Jerusalém. ⁹ Ele fez o que era mau à vista de Yahweh, fazendo tudo que seu pai havia feito.

¹⁰ Naquele tempo, o exército de Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, atacou Jerusalém e sitiou a cidade. ¹¹ Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, foi à cidade enquanto seus soldados a estavam sitiando. ¹² Joaquim, rei de Judá, entregou-se ao rei da Babilônia, juntamente com sua mãe, seus servos, seus príncipes e seus oficiais. No oitavo ano de seu reinado, o rei da Babilônia o capturou.

¹³ Nabucodonosor saqueou todos os itens valiosos do templo de Yahweh, e do palácio do rei. Ele tornou em pedaços todos os objetos de ouro que Salomão, rei de Israel, havia colocado no templo de Yahweh, assim como Yahweh havia dito que aconteceria. ¹⁴ Ele levou para o exílio toda Jerusalém, todos os líderes, todos os soldados, dez mil cativos, e todos os artesãos e ferreiros. Ninguém ficou, com excessão dos pobres daquela terra.

¹⁵ Nabucodonosor levou Joaquim cativo para a Babilônia, assim como a mãe do rei, suas esposas, oficiais e os poderosos da terra. Ele os levou para o exílio de Jerusalém para a Babilônia. ¹⁶ Todos os soldados, sete mil deles, e mil artesãos e ferreiros, todos aptos para guerrear, o rei da Babilônia os levou para o exílio na Babilônia. ¹⁷ O rei da Babilônia instituiu Matanias, tio paterno de Joaquim, rei em seu lugar, e mudou seu nome para Zedequias.

¹⁸ Zedequias tinha vinte e um anos quando começou a reinar; e reinou por onze anos em Jerusalém. Sua mãe se chamava Hamutal, ela era a filha de Jeremias, da Libna. ¹⁹ Ele fez o que era mau à vista de Yahweh, fazendo tudo o que Jeoaquim havia feito. ²⁰ Por causa da ira de Yahweh, todos esses eventos ocorreram em Jerusalém e Judá, até que Ele os expulsou da sua presença. Então, Zedequias se rebelou contra o rei da Babilônia.

Capítulo 25

¹ No nono ano do reinado do rei Zedequias, no décimo mês, no décimo dia do mês, Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, veio com todo seu exército contra Jerusalém. Ele acampou em frente, e construíram um muro sitiando-os ao redor. ² Assim, a cidade ficou sitiada até o décimo primeiro ano do reinado do rei Zedequias. ³ No nono dia do quarto mês daquele ano, a fome era tão severa na cidade que não havia comida para o povo da terra.

⁴ Então, a cidade foi invadida, e todos os homens de guerra fugiram de noite pelo caminho do portão entre dois muros no jardim do rei, embora os babilônios estivessem ao redor da cidade. O rei foi em direção a Arabá. ⁵ Mas o exército dos babilônios perseguiu o rei Zedequias e o alcançou nas planícies do rio Jordão, no vale próximo a Jericó. Todo seu exército estava disperso do rei.

⁶ Eles capturaram o rei e o conduziram para o rei da Babilônia em Ribla, onde ele foi sentenciado. ⁷ Quanto aos filhos de Zedequias, eles os massacraram diante de seus olhos. Então, arrancaram seus olhos, prenderam-no com correntes de bronze e o levaram para Babilônia.

⁸ No sétimo dia do quinto mês, que era o décimo nono ano do reinado de Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, Nebuzaradã, um servo do rei da Babilônia e comandante de sua guarda, chegou em Jerusalém. ⁹ Ele queimou o templo de Yahweh, o palácio real e todas as casas de Jerusalém; também ele queimou cada construção importante na cidade, ¹⁰ e todas as paredes em volta de Jerusalém foram destruídas pelo exército da Babilônia, que estava sob a autoridade do comandande da guarda.

¹¹ Quanto ao resto das pessoas que foram deixadas na cidade e aqueles que tinham se rendido ao rei da Babilônia, e o resto da população, Nebuzaradã, comandante da guarda, os levou para o exílio. ¹² Mas o comandante da guarda deixou alguns dos mais pobres da terra para trabalharem nos vinhedos e nos campos.

¹³ Quanto aos pilares de bronze que estavam no templo de Yahweh, os suportes e o tanque de bronze que estavam no templo de Yaweh, os babilônios os quebraram em partes e levaram o bronze para Babilônia. ¹⁴ Vasos, pás, apagadores, vasilhas e todos os utensílios de bronze com que cada sacerdote havia servido no templo, os babilônios levaram todos. ¹⁵ Os potes para remoção de cinzas e as bacias que eram feitas de ouro, e tudo o que era feito de prata, o comandante da guarda do rei também levou.

¹⁶ Os dois pilares, o tanque de bronze e os suportes que Salomão havia feito para o templo de Yahweh continham mais bronze do que podia ser pesado. ¹⁷ A altura do primeiro pilar era de dezoito côvados, e havia um capitel de bronze sobre ele. O capitel tinha três côvados de altura, com treliças e romãs ao seu redor, tudo feito de bronze. O outro pilar e sua treliça era como o do primeiro.

¹⁸ O comandante da guarda levou Seraías, o sumo sacerdote, junto com Sofonias, o segundo sacerdote, e os três guardas do portão. ¹⁹ Da cidade, ele levou um oficial que estava no comando dos soldados como prisioneiro, e cinco dos homens que aconselhavam o rei que ainda estavam na cidade. Ele também levou o oficial responsável por selecionar homens para o exército como prisioneiro, juntamente com sessenta homens importantes da terra que ainda estavam na cidade.

²⁰ Então, Nebuzaradã, comandante da guarda, os pegou e os levou ao rei da Babilônia em Ribla. ²¹ O rei da Babilônia os matou em Ribla, na terra de Hamate. Desta forma, Judá foi levado em exílio para fora da sua terra.

²² Quanto ao povo que permaneceu na terra de Judá, os que Nabucodonozor, rei da Babilônia, havia deixado, ele colocou Gedalias, filho de Aicam, filho de Safã, encarregado por eles. ²³ Ora, quando todos os comandantes de soldados, eles e seus homens, ouviram que o rei da Babilônia havia feito de Gedalias governador, eles foram até Gedalias em Mispá. Esses homens eram Ismael, filho de Netanias, Joanã, filho de Careá, Seraías, filho de Tanumete, o netofatita, e Jazanias, filho do maacatita, eles e seus homens. ²⁴ Gedalias fez um juramento a eles e seus homens, e lhes disse: "Não tenhais medo dos oficiais babilônios. Vivei na terra e servi ao rei da Babilônia, e tudo irá bem convosco".

²⁵ Mas, isso aconteceu no sétimo mês, Ismael, filho de Netanias, filho de Elisama, da família real, veio com dez homens e atacou Gedalias. Gedalias morreu, assim como os homens de Judá e os babilônios que estavam com ele em Mispá. ²⁶ Então, todo o povo, desde o menor até o maior, e os comandantes de soldados, levantaram e foram para o Egito, porque eles estavam com medo dos babilônios.

²⁷ Isto aconteceu depois, no trigésimo sétimo ano do exílio de Joaquim, rei de Judá, no décimo segundo mês, no vigésimo sétimo dia do mês; Evil-Merodaque, rei da Babilônia libertou Joaquim, rei de Judá, da prisão. Isto aconteceu no ano em que Evil-Merodaque começou a reinar.

²⁸ Ele falou gentilmente com ele e lhe deu um lugar mais honrado que o dos outros reis que estavam com ele na Babilônia. ²⁹ Evil-Merodaque retirou as roupas de prisioneiro de Joaquim, e Joaquim comeu regularmente na mesa do rei pelo resto de sua vida. ³⁰ E, regularmente, ele recebia alimentos e uma pensão era dada a ele todos os dias, pelo resto de sua vida.

1 Chronicles

Capítulo 1

¹ Adão, Sete, Enos, ² Quenã, Maalalel, Jarede, ³ Enoque, Matusalém, Lameque, ⁴ Noé, Sem, Cam e Jafé. ¹ .

⁵ Os filhos de Jafé foram Gomer, Magogue, Madai, Javã, Tubal, Meseque e Tiras. ⁶ Os filhos de Gomer foram Asquenaz, Rifate e Togarma. ² ⁷ Os filhos de Javã foram Elisá, Társis, Quitim e Dodanim.

⁸ Os filhos de Cam foram Cuxe, Mizraim, Pute e Canaã. ⁹ Os filhos de Cuxe foram Seba, Havilá, Sabtá, Raamá e Sabtecá. Os filhos de Raamá foram Sebá e Dedã. ¹⁰ Cuxe gerou Ninrode, que foi o primeiro poderoso na terra.

¹¹ Mizraim gerou os luditas, os anamitas, os leabitas, os naftuítas, ¹² os patrusitas, os casluítas (dos quais vieram os filisteus) e os caftoritas.

¹³ Canaã gerou Sidom, seu primogênito, e Hete. ¹⁴ Ele também gerou os jebuseus, os amorreus, os girgaseus, ¹⁵ os heveus, os arqueus, os sineus, ¹⁶ os arvadeus, os zemareus e os hamateus.

¹⁷ Os filhos de Sem foram Elão, Assur, Arfaxade, Lude, Arã, Uz, Hul, Geter e Meseque. ¹⁸ Arfaxade gerou Selá, e Selá gerou Héber. ¹⁹ Héber teve dois filhos; o nome de um era Pelegue, porque em seus dias a Terra foi dividida, e o nome de seu irmão era Joctã.

²⁰ Joctã gerou Almodá, Salefe, Hazarmavé, Jerá, ²¹ Hadorão, Uzal, Dicla, ²² Ebal, Abimael, Sebá, ²³ Ofir, Havilá e Jobabe. Todos esses eram filhos de Joctã.

²⁴ Sem, Arfaxade, Selá, ²⁵ Héber, Pelegue, Reú, ²⁶ Serugue, Naor, Terá, ²⁷ Abrão, que é Abraão.

²⁸ Os filhos de Abraão foram Isaque e Ismael. ²⁹ Esses são os seus filhos: o primogênito de Ismael era Nebaiote, depois Quedar, Adbeel, Mibsão, ³⁰ Misma, Dumá, Massá, Hadade, Tema, ³¹ Jetur, Nafis e Quedemá. Esses foram os filhos de Ismael.

³² Os filhos de Quetura, concubina de Abraão, foram Zinrã, Jocsã, Medã, Midiã, Isbaque e Suá. Os filhos de Jocsã foram Sabá e Dedã. ³³ Os filhos de Midiã foram Efá, Efer, Enoque, Abida e Elda. Todos esses foram descendentes de Quetura.

³⁴ Abraão gerou Isaque. Os filhos de Isaque foram Esaú e Israel. ³⁵ Os filhos de Esaú foram Elifaz, Reuel, Jeús, Jalão e Corá. ³⁶ Os filhos de Elifaz foram Temã, Omar, Zefi, Gatã, Quenaz, Timna e Amaleque. ³⁷ Os filhos de Reuel foram Naate, Zerá, Samá e Mizá.

³⁸ Os filhos de Seir foram Lotã, Sobal, Zibeão, Anás, Disom, Eser e Disã. ³⁹ Os filhos de Lotã foram Hori e Homã, e Timna era irmã de Lotã. ⁴⁰ Os filhos de Sobal foram Aliã, Manaate, Ebal, Sefi e Onã. Os filhos de Zibeão foram Aías e Anás.

⁴¹ O filho de Anás foi Disom. Os filhos de Disom foram Hanrão, Esbã, Itrã e Querã. ⁴² Os filhos de Eser foram Bilã, Zaavã e Jaacã. Os filhos de Disã foram Uz e Arã.

⁴³ Estes foram os reis que reinaram na terra de Edom, antes de qualquer rei ter reinado sobre os israelitas: Belá, filho de Beor; o nome de sua cidade era Dinabá. ⁴⁴ Quando Belá morreu, então, Jobabe, filho de Zerá, de Bozra, reinou em seu lugar. ⁴⁵ Quando Jobabe morreu, Husão, da terra dos temanitas, reinou em seu lugar.

⁴⁶ Quando Husão morreu, Hadade, filho de Bedade, que derrotou os midianitas na terra de Moabe, reinou em seu lugar. O nome de sua cidade era Avite. ⁴⁷ Quando Hadade morreu, então, Sâmela, de Masreca, reinou em seu lugar. ⁴⁸ Quando Sâmela morreu, então, Saul, de Reobote, que vivia junto ao rio, reinou em seu lugar.

⁴⁹ Quando Saul morreu, então, Baal-Hanã, filho de Acbor, reinou em seu lugar. ⁵⁰ Quando Baal-Hanã, filho de Acbor, morreu, então, Hadade reinou em seu lugar. O nome de sua cidade era Paú. O nome de sua mulher era Meetabel, a filha de Matrede, a neta de Mezaabe.

⁵¹ Hadade morreu. Os chefes do clã em Edom eram Timna, Aliá, Jetete, ⁵² Aolíbama, Elá, Pinom, ⁵³ Quenaz, Temã, Mibzar, ⁵⁴ Magdiel e Irão. Esses eram os chefes dos clãs em Edom.

¹Algumas versões trazem a expressão Os filhos de Noé foram... , mas outras omitem

²Algumas versões trazem Difate em vez de Rifate . Entretanto, Difate era, provavelmente, um erro ortográfico. Muitas cópias antigas corrigiram para Rifate , para concordar com o mesmo nome em Gn. 10:3

Capítulo 2

¹ Estes foram os filhos de Israel: Rúben, Simeão, Levi, Judá, Issacar, Zebulom, ² Dã, José, Benjamim, Naftali, Gade e Aser.

³ Os filhos de Judá foram Er, Onã e Selá, gerados com a filha de Suá, o cananeu. Er, o primogênito de Judá, era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, e Yahweh o matou. ⁴ Tamar, nora de Judá, gerou Perez e Zerá. Judá teve cinco filhos.

⁵ Os filhos de Perez foram Hezrom e Hamul. ⁶ Os filhos de Zerá foram Zinri, Etã, Hemã, Calcol e Dara, cinco ao todo. ⁷ O filho de Carmi foi Acar, que trouxe desgraça sobre Israel quando roubou o que era dedicado a Deus. ⁸ O filho de Etã foi Azarias.

⁹ Os filhos de Hezrom foram Jerameel, ¹⁰ Rão e Quelubai. Rão foi pai de Aminadabe, e Aminadabe, de Nasom, um líder dentre os descendentes de Judá. ¹¹ Nasom foi pai de Salma, e Salma, de Boaz. ¹² Boaz foi pai de Obede, e Obede, de Jessé.

¹³ Jessé foi pai de Eliabe, seu primogênito; Abinadabe foi seu segundo filho; Simeia, o terceiro; ¹⁴ Netanel, o quarto; Radai, o quinto; ¹⁵ Ozen, o sexto; e Davi, o sétimo.

¹⁶ As irmãs deles eram Zeruia e Abigail. Os três filhos de Zeruia foram Abisai, Joabe e Asael. ¹⁷ Abigail gerou Amasa, cujo pai era Jéter, o ismaelita.

¹⁸ Calebe, filho de Hezrom, teve filhos com Azuba, sua mulher, e com Jeriote; seus filhos foram Jeser, Sobabe e Ardom. ¹⁹ Azuba morreu e, então, Calebe casou-se com Efrata, que gerou Hur. ²⁰ Hur foi pai de Uri, e Uri foi pai de Bezalel.

²¹ Mais tarde, Hezrom, quando tinha sessenta anos de idade, casou-se com a filha de Maquir, pai de Gileade. ²² Ela gerou Segube, que foi pai de Jair, que liderou vinte e três cidades na terra de Gileade.

²³ Gesur e Arã tomaram as cidades de Jair e Quenate, assim como também os sessenta povoados ao redor. Todos esses habitantes eram descendentes de Maquir, pai de Gileade. ²⁴ Após a morte de Hezrom, em Calebe Efrata, Abia, esposa de Hezrom, gerou Asur, que foi pai de Tecoa. ¹ .

²⁵ Os filhos de Jerameel, o primogênito de Hezrom, foram: Rão, seu primogênito, Buna, Orém, Ozém e Aías. ²⁶ Jerameel teve outra esposa, cujo nome era Atara. Ela foi mãe de Onã. ²⁷ Os filhos de Rão, o primogênito de Jerameel, foram Maaz, Jamim e Equer. ²⁸ Os filhos de Onã foram Samai e Jada. Os filhos de Samai foram Nadabe e Abisur.

²⁹ A mulher de Abisur se chamava Abiail; ela gerou Abã e Molide. ³⁰ Os filhos de Nadabe foram Selede e Apaim; Selede morreu sem filhos. ³¹ O filho de Apaim foi Isi. O filho de Isi foi Sesã. O filho de Sesã foi Alai. ³² Os filhos de Jada, irmão de Samai, foram Jéter e Jônatas. Jéter morreu sem filhos. ³³ Os filhos de Jônatas foram Pelete e Zaza. Estes foram os descendentes de Jerameel.

³⁴ Sesã não teve filhos, apenas filhas. Sesã teve um servo egípcio, cujo nome era Jará. ³⁵ Sesã deu sua filha por mulher a Jará, seu servo; ela lhe gerou Atai.

³⁶ Atai foi pai de Natã, e Natã de Zabade. ³⁷ Zadabe foi pai de Eflal, e Eflal de Obede. ³⁸ Obede foi pai de Jeú, e Jeú de Azarias.

³⁹ Azarias foi pai de Helez, e Helez, de Eleasá. ⁴⁰ Eleasá foi pai de Sismai, e Sismai, de Salum. ⁴¹ Salum foi pai de Jecamias, e Jecamias, de Elisama.

⁴² Os filhos de Calebe, irmão de Jerameel, foram Messa, seu primogênito, que foi pai de Zife, e Maressa, seu segundo filho, que foi o pai de Hebrom. ⁴³ Os filhos de Hebrom foram Corá, Tapua, Requém e Sema. ⁴⁴ Sema gerou Raão, pai de Jorqueão. Requém gerou Samai.

⁴⁵ O filho de Samai foi Maom, e Maom foi pai de Bete-Zur. ⁴⁶ Efá, concubina de Calebe, gerou Harã, Moza e Gazez. Harã foi pai de Gazez. ⁴⁷ Os filhos de Jadai foram Regém, Jotão, Gesã, Pelete, Efá e Saafe.

⁴⁸ Maacá, concubina de Calebe, gerou Seber e Tiraná. ⁴⁹ Ela também gerou Saafe, pai de Madmana, Seva, pai de Macbena e de Gibeá. A filha de Calebe foi Acsa. Esses foram os descendentes de Calebe. ⁵⁰ Os filhos de Hur foram estes: seu primogênito Efrata, Sobal, pai de Quiriate-Jearim,

⁵¹ Salma, pai de Belém, e Harefe, pai de Bete-Gader.

⁵² Sobal, pai de Quiriate-Jearim, teve descendentes: Haroé, metade dos manaatitas ⁵³ e os clãs de Quiriate-Jearim: os itritas, os fateus, os sumateus e os misraeus. Os zoratitas e os estaoleus descenderam destes.

⁵⁴ Os clãs de Salma foram os habitantes de Belém, os netofatitas, Atarote-Bete-Joabe, metade dos manaatitas, os zoritas, ⁵⁵ os clãs dos escribas que viviam em Jabes: os tiratitas, os simeatitas e os sucatitas. Esses foram os queneus, que descenderam de Hamate, o antecessor de Recabe.

¹Algumas versões trazem: Após a morte de Hezrom, Calebe deitou-se com Efrata, a esposa de seu pai, Hezrom. Ela gerou Asur, que foi pai de Tecoa

Capítulo 3

¹ Estes são os filhos de Davi que nasceram em Hebrom: o primôgenito foi Amnom, de Ainoã de Jezreel; o segundo, Daniel, de Abigail de Carmel; ² o terceiro foi Absalão, cuja mãe era Maacá, filha de Talmai, rei de Gesur; o quarto foi Adonias, filho de Hagite; ³ o quinto, Sefatias, de Abital; o sexto, Itreão, de sua esposa Eglá.

⁴ Esses seis nasceram para Davi em Hebrom, onde ele reinou por sete anos e seis meses. Ele, então, reinou por trinta e três anos em Jerusalém. ⁵ Estes quatro filhos, de Bate-Seba, filha de Amiel, nasceram em Jerusalém: Simeia, Sobabe, Natã e Salomão.

⁶ Os outros nove filhos de Davi eram Ibar, Elisua, Elpalete, ⁷ Nogá, Nefegue, Jafia, ⁸ Elisama, Eliadá e Elifelete. ⁹ Esses foram os filhos de Davi, sem incluir os filhos de suas concubinas. Tamar era irmã deles.

¹⁰ O filho de Salomão foi Roboão. O filho de Roboão foi Abias. O filho de Abias foi Asa. O filho de Asa foi Josafá. ¹¹ O filho de Josafá foi Jorão. O filho de Jorão foi Acazias. O filho de Acazias foi Joás. ¹² O filho de Joás foi Amazias. O filho de Amazias foi Azarias. O filho de Azarias foi Jotão.

¹³ O filho de Jotão foi Acaz. O filho de Acaz foi Ezequias. O filho de Ezequias foi Manassés. ¹⁴ O filho de Manassés foi Amom. O filho de Amom foi Josias.

¹⁵ O filho primôgenito de Josias foi Joanã; seu segundo filho, Jeoaquim; seu terceiro filho, Zedequias; e seu quarto filho, Salum. ¹⁶ O filho de Jeoaquim foi Jeconias. O último rei foi Zedequias.

¹⁷ Os filhos de Jeconias, o cativo, foram Sealtiel, ¹⁸ Malquirão, Pedaías, Senazar, Jecamias, Hosama e Nedabias.

¹⁹ Os filhos de Pedaías foram Zorobabel e Simei. Os filhos de Zorobabel foram Mesulão, Hananias e Selomite, irmã deles. ²⁰ Seus outros cinco filhos foram Hasubá, Oel, Berequias, Hasadias e Jusabe-Hesede. ²¹ Os filhos de Hananias foram Pelatias e Jesaías; e os filhos Refaías, os filhos de Arnã, os filhos de Obadias, os filhos de Secanias.

²² O filho de Secanias foi Semaías. Os filhos de Semaías foram Hatus, Igal, Bariá, Nearias e Safate. ²³ Os três filhos de Nearias foram Elioenai, Ezequias e Azricão. ²⁴ Os sete filhos de Elioenai foram Hodavias, Eliasibe, Pelaías, Acube, Joanã, Delaías e Anani.

Capítulo 4

¹ Os descendentes de Judá foram Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur e Sobal. ² Sobal foi o pai de Reaías. Reaías foi o pai de Jaate. Jaate foi o pai de Aumai e Laade. Esses foram os antepassados que originaram os clãs dos zoratitas.

³ Estes foram os antepassados que originaram os clãs na cidade de Etã: Jezreel, Ismá e Idbás; e o nome da irmã deles, Hazelelponi. ⁴ Penuel foi o antepassado que originou os clãs na cidade de Gedor. Ezer foi o que originou os clãs na cidade de Husa. Esses foram os descendentes de Hur, o primogênito de Efrata, que deu origem a Belém.

⁵ Asur, o pai de Tecoa, teve duas esposas, Hela e Naara. ⁶ Naara gerou Auzão, Héfer, Temeni e Haastari; esses foram os filhos de Naara. ⁷ Os filhos de Hela foram Zerete, Izar, Etnaã ⁸ e Koz, que foi o pai de Anube, de Zobeba e dos clãs que descenderam de Acarel, filho de Harum.

⁹ Jabez foi mais respeitado que seus irmãos. Sua mãe o chamou Jabez. Ela disse: "Porque eu o gerei em dores". ¹⁰ Jabez clamou ao Deus de Israel e disse: "Que Tu tão somente me abençoes, amplies meu território e que a Tua mão esteja comigo; assim, não serei afligido pelo mal e não terei que suportar a dor!". Então, Deus atendeu a sua oração.

¹¹ Quelube, irmão de Suá, gerou Meir, que foi o pai de Estom. ¹² Estom gerou Bete-Rafa, Paseia e Teína, que iniciou a cidade de Ir-Naás. Esses foram os homens que viveram em Reca.

¹³ Os filhos de Quenaz foram Otoniel e Seraías. Os filhos de Otoniel foram Hatate e Meonotai. ¹ ¹⁴ Meonotai gerou Ofra e Seraías, que gerou Joabe, que originou Ge-Harasim, cujo povo era artesão. ¹⁵ Os filhos de Calebe, filho de Jefoné, foram Iru, Elá e Naã. O filho de Elá foi Quenaz. ¹⁶ Os filhos de Jealelel foram Zife, Zifá, Tiria e Asareel.

¹⁷ Os filhos de Ezra foram Jéter, Merede, Éfer e Jalon. A esposa egípcia de Merede gerou Miriã, Samai e Isbá, que se tornou pai de Estemoa. ¹⁸ Esses foram os filhos de Bitia, filha de Faraó, com quem Merede se casou. A esposa judia de Merede gerou Jerede, que foi pai de Gedor; Héber, que foi pai de Socó; e Jecutiel, que foi pai de Zanoa.

¹⁹ Dos dois filhos da esposa de Hodias, irmã de Naã, um gerou Queila, o garmita; o outro, Estemoa, o maacatita. ²⁰ Os filhos de Simão foram Amnom, Rina, Bene-Hanã e Tilom. Os filhos de Isi foram Zoete e Bene-Zoete.

²¹ Os descendentes de Selá, filho de Judá, foram Er, pai de Leca, Lada, pai de Maressa, e os clãs dos que fabricavam tecidos em Bete-Asbeia, ²² Joquim, os homens de Cozeba, Joás e Sarafe, que tinham propriedades em Moabe, mas retornaram a Belém. Essa informação é dos registros antigos. ²³ Alguns desses povos foram oleiros que viveram em Netaim e Gedera e trabalharam para o rei.

²⁴ Os descendentes de Simeão foram Nemuel, Jamim, Jaribe, Zerá e Saul. ²⁵ Salum era filho de Saul; Mibsão era filho de Salum; e Misma era filho de Mibsão. ²⁶ Os descendentes de Misma foram seu filho, Hamuel; seu neto, Zacur; e seu bisneto, Simei.

²⁷ Simei teve dezesseis filhos e seis filhas. Os irmãos dele não tiveram mais filhos; por isso, seus clãs não cresceram em número como o povo de Judá cresceu. ²⁸ Eles viveram em Berseba, Molada e Hazar-Sual.

²⁹ Eles também habitaram em Bila, Ezem, Tolade, ³⁰ Betuel, Hormá, Ziclague, ³¹ Bete-Marcabote, Hazar-Susim, Bete-Biri e Saraim; essas foram suas cidades até o reino de Davi.

³² Suas cinco aldeias foram Etã, Aim, Rimom, Toquem e Asã, ³³ junto com os vilarejos isolados, distantes como Baal. Esses eram os lugares em que moraram e onde registraram suas genealogias.

³⁴ Os líderes do clã foram Mesobabe, Janleque, Josa, filho de Amazias, ³⁵ Joel, Jeú, filho de Josibias, filho de Seraías, filho de Asiel, ³⁶ Elioenai, Jaacobá, Jesoaías, Asaías, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaia ³⁷ e Ziza, filho de Sifi, filho de Alom, filho de Jedaías filho de Sinri, filho de Semaías. ³⁸ Esses foram os nomes dos líderes dos clãs, e seus clãs foram numerosos.

³⁹ Eles foram até o vale no lado leste, próximo a Gedor, para procurar pastagens para seus rebanhos, ⁴⁰ e encontraram boas e abundantes pastagens. A terra era ampla, tranquila e pacífica. Antigamente, os descendentes de Cam, viviam nesse lugar. ⁴¹ Essa é somente uma lista por nome dos que, nos dias do rei Ezequias, rei de Judá, vieram e atacaram os acampamentos dos descendentes de Cam e de Meun, que também estavam naquele lugar. Eles os destruíram totalmente e permaneceram ali por causa das pastagens para seus rebanhos.

⁴² Quinhentos homens da tribo de Simeão foram ao monte Seir, com seus líderes Pelatias, Nearias, Refaías e Uziel, filhos de Isi. ⁴³ Eles derrotaram os remanescentes dos amalequitas e têm vivido ali até os dias atuais.

¹A maioria das versões insere Meonotai neste verso, acreditando que ele foi deixado fora por um erro do copista

Capítulo 5

¹ No caso dos filhos de Rúben, o primogênito de Israel — embora Rúben fosse o primogênito de Israel, seus direitos de primogenitura foram dados aos filhos de José, filho de Israel, pois Rúben havia contaminado a cama de seu pai. Então, ele não é registrado como sendo o filho mais velho. ² Judá era o mais forte de seus irmãos, e dele viria o líder, mas os direitos de primogenitura foram dados a José. ³ Os filhos de Rúben, o primogênito de Israel, foram Hanoque, Palu, Hezrom e Carmi.

⁴ Os descendentes de Joel foram estes: o filho de Joel foi Semaías. O filho de Semaías foi Gogue. O filho de Gogue foi Simei. ⁵ O filho de Simei foi Mica. O filho de Mica foi Reaías. O filho de Reaías foi Baal. ⁶ O filho de Baal foi Beera, a quem Tiglate-Pileser, rei da Assíria, levou para o exílio. Beera foi um líder na tribo de Rúben.

⁷ Os parentes de Beera, por seus clãs, são os seguintes, listados nos seus registros genealógicos: Jeiel, o mais velho, Zacarias, e ⁸ Belá, filho de Azaz, filho de Sema, filho de Joel. Eles viveram em Aroer, tão longe quanto Nebo e Baal-Meom, ⁹ e, no lado leste, até o início do deserto, que se estende até o rio Eufrates. Isso porque eles possuíam muito gado na terra de Gileade.

¹⁰ Nos dias de Saul, a tribo de Rúben atacou os hagarenos, e os derrotou. Eles viveram nas tendas dos hagarenos ao longo de toda a terra leste de Gileade.

¹¹ Os membros da tribo de Gade viveram perto deles, na terra de Basã, até Salca. ¹² Seus líderes eram Joel, cabeça de um clã, Safã, cabeça de outro clã, e Janai, e Safate, em Basã. ¹³ Seus parentes, pelas famílias de seus pais, foram Micael, Mesulão, Sebá, Jorai, Jacã, Ziá e Héber, sete ao todo.

¹⁴ Essas pessoas nomeadas acima foram os descendentes de Abihail, e Abihail foi o filho de Huri. Huri foi o filho de Jaroá. Jaroá foi o filho de Gileade. Gileade foi o filho de Micael. Micael foi o filho de Jesisai. Jesisai foi filho de Jado. Jado foi o filho de Buz. ¹⁵ Aí, filho de Abdiel, filho de Guni, foi cabeça da família de seu pai.

¹⁶ Eles viveram em Gileade, em Basã e suas terras, e em todas as pastagens de Sarom, até suas fronteiras. ¹⁷ Todos esses foram listados pelos registros genealógicos dos dias de Jotão, rei de Judá, e de Jeroboão, rei de Israel.

¹⁸ Os rubenitas, os gaditas, e a meia tribo de Manassés, tinham quarenta e quatro mil soldados treinados para a guerra, que carregavam escudos e espadas, e sacavam o arco. ¹⁹ Eles atacaram os hagarenos, Jetur, Nafis e Nodabe.

²⁰ Eles receberam ajuda divina contra seus inimigos. Nesse caminho, os hagarenos e todos que estavam com eles foram derrotados; isso porque os israelitas clamaram a Deus na batalha, e Ele os respondeu, porque colocaram sua confiança Nele. ²¹ Eles capturaram seus animais, incluindo cinquenta mil camelos, duzentas e cinquenta mil ovelhas, dois mil burros e cem mil homens. ²² Porque Deus lutou por eles, eles mataram muitos inimigos, e viveram na terra deles até o cativeiro.

²³ A meia tribo de Manassés viveu na terra de Basã, até Baal-Hermom, Senir e o monte Hermom. ²⁴ Estes foram os líderes de suas famílias: Éfer, Isi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremias, Hodavias e Jadiel. Eles eram homens fortes e corajosos, homens famosos, líderes de suas famílias.

²⁵ Mas eles não foram fiéis ao Deus de seus ancestrais. Ao invés disso, adoraram os deuses do povo da terra, a quem Deus havia destruído diante deles. ²⁶ O Deus de Israel agitou o espírito de Pul, rei da Assíria, também chamado Tiglate-Pileser, rei da Assíria. Ele levou ao exílio os rubenitas, gaditas e a meia tribo de Manassés. Ele os levou a Hala, Habor, Hara e para o rio de Gozã, onde permanecem até o dia de hoje.

Capítulo 6

¹ Os filhos de Levi foram Gérson, Coate e Merari. ² Os filhos de Coate foram Anrão, Izar, Hebrom e Uziel. ³ Os filhos de Anrão foram Arão, Moisés e Miriã; e os filhos de Arão foram Nadabe, Abiú, Eleazar e Itamar.

⁴ Eleazar gerou Fineias, e Fineias, Abisua. ⁵ Abisua gerou Buqui, e Buqui, Uzi. ⁶ Uzi gerou Zeraías, e Zeraías, Meraiote.

⁷ Meraiote gerou Amarias, e Amarias, Aitube. ⁸ Aitube gerou Zadoque, e Zadoque, Aimaaz. ⁹ Aimaaz gerou Azarias, e Azarias, Joanã.

¹⁰ Joanã gerou Azarias, que serviu no templo que Salomão construiu em Jerusalém. ¹¹ Azarias gerou Amarias, e Amarias, Aitube. ¹² Aitube gerou Zadoque, e Zadoque, Salum.

¹³ Salum gerou Hilquias, e Hilquias, Azarias. ¹⁴ Azarias gerou Seraías, e Seraías, Jeozadaque. ¹⁵ Jeozadaque foi levado cativo quando Yahweh exilou Judá e Jerusalém pela mão de Nabucodonosor.

¹⁶ Os filhos de Levi foram Gérson, Coate e Merari. ¹⁷ Os filhos de Gérson foram Libni e Simei. ¹⁸ Os filhos de Coate foram Anrão, Izar, Hebrom e Uziel.

¹⁹ Os filhos de Merari foram Mali e Musi, que se tornaram o clã dos levitas pelas famílias de seus pais. ²⁰ Os descendentes de Gérson começaram com seu filho Libni. O filho de Libni, Jaate; o filho de Jaate, Zima; ²¹ o filho de Zima, Joá; o filho de Joá, Ido; o filho de Ido, Zerá; o filho de Zerá, Jeaterai.

²² A descendência de Coate começou com seu filho Aminadabe. O filho de Aminadabe, Corá; o filho de Corá, Assir; ²³ o filho de Assir, Elcana; o filho de Elcana, Ebiasafe; o filho de Ebiasafe, Assir; ²⁴ o filho de Assir, Taate; o filho de Taate, Uriel; o filho de Uriel, Uzias e o filho de Uzias, Saul.

²⁵ Os filhos de Elcana foram Amasai, Aimote e Elcana. ²⁶ O filho do segundo Elcana foi Zofai; o filho de Zofai, Naate; ²⁷ o filho de Naate, Eliabe; o filho de Eliabe, Jeroão; o filho de Jeroão, Elcana.

²⁸ Os filhos de Samuel foram o primogênito Joel, e Abias, o segundo filho. ²⁹ O filho de Merari, Mali; o filho de Mali, Libni; o filho de Libni, Simei; o filho de Simei, Uzá; ³⁰ o filho de Uzá, Simeia; o filho de Simeia, Hagias; o filho de Hagias, Asaías.

³¹ Esses são os nomes dos homens a quem Davi colocou no comando da música, na casa de Yahweh, depois que arca fora descansar ali. ³² Eles serviam por meio do canto diante do tabernáculo da Tenda do Encontro, até que Salomão construiu a casa de Yahweh em Jerusalém. Eles cumpriam seus deveres seguindo as instruções dadas a eles.

³³ Estes foram os que serviram com seus filhos, dos clãs dos Coatitas vieram Hemã, o musicista; aqui estavam seus ancestrais, voltando no tempo, Hemã filho de Joel; Joel, filho de Samuel; ³⁴ Samuel, filho de Elcana; Elcana, filho de Jeroão; Jeroão filho de Eliel. Eliel, filho de Toá; ³⁵ Toá filho de Zufe; Zufe filho de Elcana; Elcana, filho de Maate; Maate, filho de Amasai; Amasai, filho de Elcana.

³⁶ Elcana, o filho de Joel. Joel, filho de Azarias; Azarias, filho de Sofonias; ³⁷ Sofonias, filho de Taate; Taate, filho de Assir; Assir, filho de Ebiasafe; Ebiasafe, filho de Corá; ³⁸ Corá, filho de Izar; Izar, filho de Coate; Coate, filho de Levi; Levi, filho de Israel.

³⁹ O irmão de Hemã foi Asafe, que foi sua mão direita. Asafe, filho de Berequias; Berequias, filho de Simeia; ⁴⁰ Simeia, filho de Micael; Micael, filho de Baaseias; Baaseias, filho de Malquias; ⁴¹ Malquias, filho de Etni; Etini, filho de Zerá; Zerá, filho da Adaías; ⁴² Adaías, filho de Etã; Etã, filho de Zima; Zima, filho de Simei; ⁴³ Simei, filho de Jaate; Jaate, filho de Gérson. Gérson, filho de Levi.

⁴⁴ À esquerda de Hemã, estavam seus irmãos, filhos de Merari. Entre eles se incluiam Etã, filho de Quisi; Quisi, filho de Abdi; Abdi, filho de Maluque; ⁴⁵ Maluque, filho de Hasabias; Hasabias, filho de Amazias; Amazias, filho de Hilquias; ⁴⁶ Hilquias, filho de Anzi; Anzi, filho de Bani; Bani, filho de Semer; ⁴⁷ Semer, filho de Mali; Mali, filho de Musi; Musi, filho de Merari; Merari, filho de Levi.

⁴⁸ Seus irmãos, os levitas, eram designados para fazer todo o trabalho do tabernáculo, a Casa de Deus.

⁴⁹ Arão e seus filhos fizeram a oferta referente ao Santo Lugar; fizeram ofertas no altar, ofertas queimadas; fizeram as ofertas no altar de incenso; tudo isso era para fazer expiação para Israel. Eles seguiram tudo que Moisés, servo de Deus, havia ordenado.

⁵⁰ A descendência de Arão é contada como segue: o filho de Arão foi Eleazar; o filho de Eleazar foi Fineias; o filho de Fineias foi Abisua; ⁵¹ o filho de Abisua foi Buqui; o filho de Buqui foi Uzi; o filho de Uzi foi Zeraías; ⁵² o filho de Zeraías foi Meraiote; o filho de Meraiote foi Amarias; o filho de Amarias foi Aitube; ⁵³ o filho de Aitube foi Zadoque; o filho de Zadoque foi Aimaaz.

⁵⁴ Estes foram os lugares designados aos descendentes de Arão; para os clãs dos coatitas (os primeiros lotes foram designados a eles); ⁵⁵ eles designaram Hebrom na terra de Judá e suas pastagens; ⁵⁶ mas os campos da cidade e as aldeias ao redor foram dadas a Calebe, filho de Jefoné.

⁵⁷ A esses descendentes de Arão, foram dados Hebrom, que era a cidade de refúgio, Libna, com suas pastagens, Jatir e Estemoa, com suas pastagens; ⁵⁸ e Hilém, com suas pastagens; Debir com suas pastagens.

⁵⁹ A esses descendentes de Arão, foram dados Asã, com suas pastagens; Bete-Senues, com suas pastagens; ⁶⁰ da tribo de Benjamim lhes foi dado Geba, com suas pastagens; Alemete, com suas pastagens; Anatote, com suas pastagens; os clãs coatitas receberam treze cidades ao todo.

⁶¹ Para o restante dos descendentes coatitas, foram dadas, por sorteio, dez cidades da meia-tribo de Manassés; ⁶² aos descendentes de Gérson, em seus clãs variados, foram dadas treze cidades das tribos de Issacar, Aser, Naftali e da meia-tribo de Manassés em Basã.

⁶³ Aos descendentes de Merari, foram dadas doze cidades por sorteio nos seus vários clãs das tribos de Rúben, Gade e Zebulom; ⁶⁴ então, o povo de Israel deu essas cidades com suas pastagens aos levitas; ⁶⁵ eles nomearam por sorte as cidades mencionadas anteriormente das tribos de Judá, Simeão e Benjamim.

⁶⁶ A alguns dos clãs dos coatitas, foram dadas cidades da tribo de Efraim; ⁶⁷ deram-lhes Siquém (a cidade de refúgio), com suas pastagens, na região montanhosa de Efraim, Gezer, com suas pastagens, ⁶⁸ Jocmeão, com suas pastagens, Bete-Horom, com suas pastagens, ⁶⁹ Aijalom, com suas pastagens, e Gate-Rimom e suas pastagens.

⁷⁰ A meia tribo de Manassés deu aos coatitas: Aner, com suas pastagens, Bileã, com suas pastagens; essas se tornaram posses do restante dos clãs coatitas.

⁷¹ Aos descendentes de Gérson foram dados, dos clãs da meia-tribo de Manassés; Golã, em Basã, com suas pastagens, Astarote, com suas pastagens; ⁷² da tribo de Issacar, os descendentes de Gérson receberam Quedes, com suas pastagens, Daberate, com suas pastagens, ⁷³ Ramote, com suas pastagens e Aném, com suas pastagens.

⁷⁴ Da tribo de Aser, eles receberam Masal, com suas pastagens, Abdom, com suas pastagens, ⁷⁵ Hucoque, com suas pastagens, e Reobe, com suas pastagens; ⁷⁶ da tribo de Naftali, eles receberam Quedes, na Galileia, com suas pastagens, Hamom, com suas pastagens, e Quiriataim, com suas pastagens.

⁷⁷ Ao restante dos Levitas, aos descendentes de Merari, foi dado da tribo de Zebulom, Rimono, com suas pastagens e Tabor, com suas pastagens; ⁷⁸ lhes foi dado também, no outro lado do Jordão em Jericó, no lado leste do rio, Bezer, no deserto, com suas pastagens; Jaza, com suas pastagens; ⁷⁹ Quedemote, com suas pastagens; Mefaate, com suas pastagens. A esses, foram dados da tribo de Rúben.

⁸⁰ Da tribo de Gade, foram dados, Ramote, em Gileade, com suas pastagens, Maanaim, com suas pastagens, ⁸¹ Hesbom, com suas pastagens e Jazer, com suas pastagens.

Capítulo 7

¹ Os quatro filhos de Issacar eram Tolá, Pua, Jasube e Sinrom. ² Os filhos de Tolá eram Uzi, Refaías, Jeriel, Jamai, Ibisão e Samuel. Eles eram os chefes das casas de seus pais, dos descedentes de Tolá. Eles eram conhecidos como homens fortes e corajosos na sua geração. Eles chegaram ao número de vinte e dois mil e seiscentos nos dias de Davi. ³ O filho de Uzi era Izraías, cujos filhos eram Micael, Obadias, Joel e Issias; os cinco eram chefes de clãs.

⁴ Junto deles, havia trinta e seis mil homens para batalha, de acordo com as listas dos descendentes do seu clã, pois tinham muitas esposas e filhos. ⁵ Seus irmãos, a tribo de Issacar, tinham oitenta e sete mil guerreiros, de acordo com as listas dos descendentes do seu clã.

⁶ Os três filhos de Benjamin foram Belá, Bequer e Jadiael. ⁷ Os cinco filhos de Belá foram Ezbom, Uzi, Uziel, Jerimote e Iri. Eles foram soldados que deram origem a clãs. O registro dos seus homens de guerra era de vinte e dois mil e trinta e quatro, de acordo com a lista dos seus descendentes.

⁸ Os filhos de Bequer foram Zemira, Joás, Eliézer, Elioenai, Onri, Jerimote, Abias, Anatote e Alemete; todos estes foram seus filhos. ⁹ As listas dos seus clãs contavam vinte mil e duzentos chefes de famílias e homens de guerra. ¹⁰ O filho de Jediael foi Bilã. Os filhos de Bilã foram Jeús, Benjamin, Eúde, Quenaaná, Zetã, Társis e Aisaar.

¹¹ Todos esses foram filhos de Jediael. Listados em seus clãs foram dezessete mil e duzentos líderes e guerreiros preparados para a guerra. ¹² (Supim e Hupim foram filhos de Ir e Husim foi filho de Aer).

¹³ Os filhos de Naftali foram Jaziel, Guni, Jezer e Salum. Esses foram netos de Bila.

¹⁴ Manassés teve um filho chamado Asriel, o qual sua concubina Aramite deu à luz. Ela deu à luz também a Maquir, pai de Gileade. ¹⁵ Maquir tomou por esposa uma irmã de Hupim e Supim, cujo nome era Maacá. Outro descendente de Manassés foi Zelofeade, que teve somente filhas. ¹⁶ Maacá, esposa de Maquir, gerou um filho e ela o chamou de Peres. O nome do seu irmão foi Seres, cujos filhos eram Ulão e Raquém.

¹⁷ O filho de Ulão era Bedã. Estes foram os descendentes de Gileade, filho de Maquir, filho de Manassés. ¹⁸ Hamolequete, a irmã de Gileade, gerou Isode, Abiezer e Maclá. ¹⁹ Os filhos de Semida foram Aiã, Siquém, Líqui e Anião.

²⁰ Os decendentes de Efraim foram estes: o filho de Efraim foi Sutela. O filho de Sutela foi Berede. O filho de Berede foi Taate. O filho de Taate foi Eleadá. O filho de Eleadá foi Taate. ²¹ O filho de Taate foi Zabade. O filho de Zabade foi Sutela (Ézer e Eleade foram mortos pelos homens de Gate, nativos da terra, quando foram roubar seu gado. ²² Efraim, pai deles, lamentou por muitos dias e seus irmãos vieram para confortá-lo.

²³ Ele deitou-se com sua esposa. Ela concebeu e deu à luz um filho. Efraim chamou-o de Beriá, porque uma tragédia veio à sua família. ²⁴ Sua filha foi Seerá, que edificou a Baixa e a Alta Bete-Horom e também Uzem-Seerá).

²⁵ Seu filho foi Refa. O filho de Refa foi Resefe. O filho de Resefe foi Telá. O filho de Tela foi Taã. ²⁶ O filho de Taã foi Ladã. O filho de Ladã foi Amiúde. O filho de Amiúde foi Elisama. ²⁷ O filho de Elisama foi Num. O filho de Num foi Josué.

²⁸ Suas posses e residências foram Betel e seus povoados ao redor. Eles estenderam-se ao leste para Naarã e ao oeste para Gezer e seus povoados, e Siquém e seus povoados até Gaza e seus povoados. ²⁹ Na fronteira com Manassés, estavam Bete-Seã e seus povoados, Taanaque e seus povoados, Megido e seus povoados e Dor e seus povoados. Nessas cidades, viveram os descendentes de José, filho de Israel.

³⁰ Os filhos de Aser foram Imná, Isvá, Isvi e Berias. Sera foi a irmã deles. ³¹ Os filhos de Berias foram Héber e Malquiel, que foi o pai de Birzavite. ³² Os filhos de Héber foram Jaflete, Somer, Hotão. Suá foi a irmã deles.

³³ Os filhos de Jaflete foram Pasaque, Bimal e Asvate. Estes foram os filhos de Jaflete. ³⁴ Semer, irmão de Jaflete, teve esses filhos: Aí, Roga, Jeubá e Arã. ³⁵ O irmão de Semer, Helém, teve estes filhos: Zofa, Imna, Seles e Amal.

³⁶ Os filhos de Zofa foram Suá, Harnefer, Sual, Beri, Inra, ³⁷ Bezer, Hode, Samá, Silsa, Itrã e Beera. ³⁸ Os filhos de Jéter foram Jefoné, Pispa e Ara.

³⁹ Os filhos de Ula foram Ará, Haniel e Rízia. ⁴⁰ Todos estes foram descendentes de Aser. Eles foram ancestrais de clãs, líderes de suas famílias, homens destacados, guerreiros e chefes dentre os líderes. Havia vinte e seis mil homens listados para o serviço militar, de acordo com suas listas numeradas.

Capítulo 8

¹ Os cinco filhos de Benjamin foram Belá seu primogênito, Asbel, Aará, ² Noá e Rafa. ³ Os filhos de Belá foram Adar, Gera, Abiúde, ⁴ Abisua, Naamã, Aoá, ⁵ Gera, Sefufã, e Hurão.

⁶ Estes foram os descendentes de Eúde, que foram cabeças dos clãs dos habitantes de Geba, os quais foram forçados a ir para Manaate: ⁷ Naamã, Aías e Gera. O último, Gera, os conduziu na sua mudança. Ele foi o pai de Uzá e Aiúde.

⁸ Saaraim se tornou pai de filhos na terra de Moabe, depois que ele se divorciou de suas esposas Husim e Baara. ⁹ De sua esposa Hodes, Saaraim gerou Jobabe, Zíbia, Messa, Malcã, ¹⁰ Jeuz, Saquias, e Mirma. Estes foram seus filhos, líderes nos seus clãs. ¹¹ Ele já era o pai de Abitube e Elpaal, filhos de Husim.

¹² Os filhos de Elpaal eram Héber, Misã e Semede (que construiu Ono e Lode com seus povoados vizinhos). Havia também Berias e Sema. ¹³ Eles foram cabeças dos clãs que viveram em Aijalom, os quais expulsaram os habitantes de Gate.

¹⁴ Berias teve estes filhos: Aiô, Sasaque, Jerimote, ¹⁵ Zebadias, Arade, Eder, ¹⁶ Micael, Ispá, e Joá. ¹⁷ Elpaal teve estes filhos: Zebadias, Mesulão, Hizqui, Héber, ¹⁸ Ismerai, Izlias, e Jobabe.

¹⁹ Simei teve estes filhos: Jaquim, Zicri, Zabdi, ²⁰ Elienai, Ziletai, Eliel, ²¹ Adaías, Beraías, e Sinrate.

²² Sasaque teve estes filhos: Ispã, Éber, Eliel, ²³ Abdom, Zicri, Hanã, ²⁴ Hananias, Elão, Antotias, ²⁵ Ifdeias, e Penuel.

²⁶ Jeroão teve estes filhos: Sanserai, Searias, Atalias, ²⁷ Jaaresias, Elias, e Zicri. ²⁸ Estes foram os cabeças dos clãs e líderes que viveram em Jerusalém.

²⁹ O pai de Gibeão, Jeiel, cuja esposa se chamava Maacá, viveu em Gibeão. ³⁰ Seu primogênito foi Abdom, seguido de Zur, Quiz, Baal, Nadabe, ³¹ Gedor, Aiô, e Zequer.

³² O outro filho de Jeiel era Miclote, que gerou Simeia. Eles também habitaram perto de seus parentes em Jerusalém. ³³ Ner foi o pai de Quis. Quis foi o pai de Saul. Saul foi o pai de Jônatas, Malquisua, Abinadabe, e Es-Baal. ³⁴ O filho de Jônatas foi Meribe-Baal. Meribe-Baal foi o pai de Mica.

³⁵ Os filhos de Mica foram Pitom, Meleque, Tareá, e Acaz. ³⁶ Acaz gerou Jeoada. Jeoada foi o pai de Alemete, Azmavete, e Zinri. Zinri foi o pai de Moza. ³⁷ Moza foi o pai de Bineá. Bineá foi o pai de Rafa. Rafa foi o pai de Eleasá. Eleasá foi o pai de Azel.

³⁸ Azel teve seis filhos: Azricão, Bocru, Ismael, Searias, Obadias, e Hanã. Todos esses eram filhos de Azel. ³⁹ Os filhos de Eseque, seu irmão, foram Ulão seu primogênito, Jeús o segundo, e Elifelete o terceiro. ⁴⁰ Os filhos de Ulão foram lutadores e arqueiros. Eles tiveram muitos filhos e netos, no total de cento e cinquenta. Todos estes foram descendentes de Benjamim.

Capítulo 9

¹ Então, todo o Israel foi registrado em genealogias. Eles foram registrados no livro dos reis de Israel. E, Judá foi levado em exílio para a Babilônia, por causa do seu pecado. ² Os primeiros a se restabelecerem em suas cidades foram alguns israelitas, sacerdotes, levitas e servidores do templo. ³ Alguns descendentes de Judá, Benjamim, Efraim e Manassés habitaram em Jerusalém.

⁴ Entre eles, estavam Utai, filho de Amiúde, filho de Onri, filho de Inri, filho de Bani, um dos descendentes de Perez, filho de Judá. ⁵ Entre os silonitas, estavam Asaías, o primogênito, e seus filhos. ⁶ Entre os descendentes de Zerá estava Jeuel. O número de seus descendentes foi seiscentos e noventa.

⁷ Entre os descendentes de Benjamim, estavam Salu, filho de Mesulão, filho de Hodavias, filho de Hassenuá. ⁸ Também estavam Ibneias, filho de Jeroão; Elá, filho de Uzi, filho de Micri; Mesulão, filho de Sefatias, filho de Reuel, filho de Ibnijas. ⁹ Seus parentes, inscritos nas genealogias, foram novecentos e cinquenta e seis. Todos esses homens eram líderes nos clãs de seus antepassados.

¹⁰ Os sacerdores foram Jedaías, Jeoiaribe e Jaquim. ¹¹ Azarias, filho de Hilquias, filho de Mesulão, filho de Zadoque, filho de Meraiote, filho de Aitube, era responsável pela Casa de Deus.

¹² Adaías, filho de Jeroão, filho de Pasur, filho de Malquias; Maasai, filho de Adiel, filho de Jareza, filho de Mesulão, filho de Mesilemite, filho de Imer; ¹³ e seus parentes, eram líderes nos clãs de seus antepassados, e foram mil setecentos e sessenta. Eles foram homens capacitados no trabalho da Casa de Deus.

¹⁴ Entre os levitas, havia Semaías, filho de Hassube, filho de Azricão, filho de Hasabias, entre os descendendes de Merari. ¹⁵ Havia também Baquebacar, Heres, Galal e Matanias, filho de Mica, filho de Zicri, filho de Asafe. ¹⁶ Obadias, filho de Samaías, filho de Galal, filho de Jedutum; e Berequias, filho de Asa, filho de Elcana, que habitou nos povoados dos netofatitas.

¹⁷ Os porteiros foram Salum, Acube, Talmom, Aimã, e seus descendentes. Salum foi o líder deles. ¹⁸ Antes, eles ficavam de guarda à porta do rei, ao lado leste do campo dos descendentes de Levi. ¹⁹ Salum, filho de Coré, filho de Ebiasafe, filho de Corá, e seus irmãos, do clã de seu pai, os coraítas, foram responsáveis pelo serviço no templo, como guardas da entrada da tenda, assim como seus descendentes guardaram o acampamento de Yahweh, e também a sua entrada.

²⁰ Fineias, filho de Eleazar, foi responsável por eles no passado, e Yahweh era com ele. ²¹ Zacarias, filho de Meselemias, guardava a entrada do templo, a "Tenda do Encontro".

²² Todos os escolhidos como porteiros das entradas foram duzentos e doze. Seus nomes foram registrados nas genealogias nos seus povoados. Davi e o vidente Samuel, os colocaram em posições de confiança. ²³ Então, eles e seus filhos guardaram os portões da Casa de Yahweh, o Tabernáculo. ²⁴ Os porteiros estavam posicionados em todos os quatro lados, na direção leste, oeste, norte e sul.

²⁵ Seus irmãos, que habitavam nos seus povoados, vinham em turnos de sete dias. ²⁶ Mas os quatro líderes dos porteiros, que eram levitas, foram encarregados de guardar as salas e os armazéns da Casa de Deus. ²⁷ Eles passavam a noite em seus postos, ao redor da Casa de Deus, porque eram responsáveis por guardá-la e abri-la a cada manhã.

²⁸ Alguns deles eram responsáveis pelos untensílios do templo; eles os contavam quando eram trazidos e quando eram retirados. ²⁹ Alguns deles também foram encarregados de cuidar das coisas santas, os utensílios do templo e os suprimentos, incluindo a farinha, o vinho, o óleo, o incenso e as especiarias.

³⁰ Alguns dos filhos dos sacerdotes misturavam as especiarias. ³¹ Matitias, um dos levitas, que era o primogênito de Salum, o coraíta, era responsável por preparar pão para as ofertas. ³² Alguns de seus irmãos, decendentes dos coraítas, eram responsáveis pelo pão da presença, para o preparar todo sábado.

³³ Os cantores e os chefes da família dos levitas moravam em quartos no santuário, eles estavam isentos de trabalho porque realizavam suas tarefas dia e noite. ³⁴ Estes foram líderes de família entre os levitas, como listados em seus registros genealógicos. Eles habitavam em Jerusalém.

³⁵ O pai de Gibeão, Jeiel, cuja mulher se chamava Maaca, habitava em Gibeão. ³⁶ Seu primogênito foi Abdom, depois seus filhos Zur, Quis, Baal, Ner, Nadabe, ³⁷ Gedor, Aiô, Zacarias e Miclote.

³⁸ Miclote foi o pai de Simeão. Eles também habitaram perto de seus irmãos em Jerusalém. ³⁹ Ner foi o pai de Quis. Quis foi o pai de Saul. Saul foi o pai de Jônatas, Malquisua, Abinadabe e Es-Baal. ⁴⁰ O filho de Jônatas foi Meribe-Baal. Meribe-Baal foi o pai de Mica.

⁴¹ Os filhos de Mica foram Pitom, Meleque, Tareá e Acaz. ⁴² Acaz foi o pai de Jará. Jará foi o pai de Alemete, Azmavete e Zinri. Zinri foi o pai de Moza. ⁴³ Moza foi o pai de Bineá. Bineá foi o pai de Refaías. Refaías foi o pai de Eleasa. Eleasa foi o pai de Azel. ⁴⁴ Os seis filhos de Azel foram Azricão, Bocru, Ismael, Searias, Obadias e Hanã. Estes foram os filhos de Azel.

Capítulo 10

¹ Os filisteus lutaram contra Israel. Todos os homens de Israel fugiram de diante dos filisteus e caíram mortos no Monte Gilboa. ² Os filisteus perseguiram Saul e seus filhos. Mataram Jônatas, Abinadabe e Malquisua, filhos de Saul, ³ A batalha contra Saul foi severa, e os arqueiros o alcançaram. Ele foi gravemente ferido por eles.

⁴ Então, Saul disse ao seu escudeiro: "Tira a tua espada e mata-me. De outra maneira, esses incircuncisos virão e abusarão de mim". Mas seu escudeiro não o fez, porque estava com muito medo. Então, Saul tomou sua própria espada e jogou-se sobre ela.

⁵ Quando o seu escudeiro viu que Saul estava morto, ele também jogou-se sobre sua espada e morreu. ⁶ Assim morreram Saul e seus três filhos; todos os membros de sua casa morreram juntos.

⁷ Quando todos os homens de Israel que estavam no vale viram que eles fugiram e que Saul e seus filhos estavam mortos, eles abandonaram suas cidades e fugiram. Então, os filisteus vieram e habitaram nelas. ⁸ No dia seguinte, quando os filisteus vieram saquear os mortos, eles encontraram os corpos de Saul e seus filhos no monte Gilboa.

⁹ Eles saquearam seu corpo, cortaram sua cabeça e tiraram sua armadura. Enviaram mensageiros por toda a Filístia para levarem a notícia aos seus ídolos e ao povo. ¹⁰ Eles colocaram a armadura de Saul no templo de seus deuses e pregaram sua cabeça no templo de Dagom.

¹¹ Quando todos em Jabes-Gileade ouviram tudo o que os filisteus fizeram a Saul, ¹² todos os guerreiros foram e pegaram o corpo de Saul e de seus filhos e os trouxeram para Jabes. Eles enterraram seus ossos debaixo do carvalho em Jabes e jejuaram por sete dias.

¹³ Assim, Saul morreu porque foi infiel a Yahweh. Ele não obedeceu as instruções de Yahweh, mas pediu conselhos a alguém que consultava os mortos. ¹⁴ Ele não buscou a orientação de Yahweh, por isso, Yahweh o matou e entregou o reino a Davi, filho de Jessé.

Capítulo 11

¹ Então, todo o Israel veio a Davi em Hebrom e disse: "Olha, nós somos tua carne e teus ossos. ² Num passado recente, quando Saul reinava sobre nós, tu lideravas o exército israelita. Yahweh, nosso Deus, te disse: 'Tu pastorearás meu povo Israel, e tu te tornarás governador sobre meu povo Israel'". ³ Então, todos os anciãos de Israel vieram ao rei em Hebrom, e Davi fez um pacto com eles diante de Yahweh. Eles ungiram a Davi rei sobre Israel. Dessa maneira, a palavra de Yahweh que havia sido declarada por Samuel tornou-se verdadeira.

⁴ Davi e todo o Israel foram a Jerusalém, que é Jebus. Estavam ali os jebuseus, habitantes da terra. ⁵ Os habitantes de Jebus disseram a Davi: "Tu não entrarás aqui". Mas Davi tomou a fortaleza de Sião, que é a cidade de Davi. ⁶ E disse: "Quem primeiro atacar os jebuseus se tornará comandante". E Joabe, filho de Zeruia, atacou primeiro, sendo, então, feito comandante.

⁷ Então, Davi passou a morar na fortaleza. E eles a chamaram a cidade de Davi. ⁸ Ele fortificou a cidade ao redor, desde Milo até as muralhas, e Joabe, o restante da cidade. ⁹ Davi se tornou cada vez mais poderoso porque Yahweh dos Exércitos era com ele.

¹⁰ Estes eram os líderes de Davi, os quais se mostraram fortes com ele em seu reino, juntamente com todo o Israel, para fazê-lo rei, obedecendo a palavra de Yahweh acerca de Israel. ¹¹ Esta é a lista da elite dos guerreiros de Davi: Jasobeão, o filho de um Hacmonita, comandante de trinta, o qual, numa ocasião, matou trezentos homens com a sua lança.

¹² Depois dele, Eleazar, filho de Dodô, o aoíta, o qual foi um dos três guerreiros. ¹³ Ele estava com Davi em Pas-Damim, onde os filisteus se reuniram para a batalha. Havia ali um campo de cevada e o exército fugiu diante dos filisteus. ¹⁴ Eles se colocaram no meio do campo, defenderam-no e mataram os filisteus. Yahweh os salvou com uma grande vitória.

¹⁵ Então, três dos líderes de trinta desceram a Davi no penhasco, na caverna de Adulão. O exército dos filisteus estava acampado no vale de Refaim. ¹⁶ Naquele tempo, Davi estava em sua fortaleza, a caverna, enquanto os filisteus haviam estabelecido o seu acampamento em Belém. ¹⁷ Davi teve sede e disse: "Quem me dera beber da água do poço de Belém, o poço que está próximo do portão!".

¹⁸ Então, esses três guerreiros romperam o exército dos filisteus e tiraram água do poço de Belém, que está próximo do portão. Eles pegaram a água e a trouxeram a Davi, mas ele se recusou a bebê-la. Ao invés disso, derramou-a diante de Yahweh. ¹⁹ Então, ele disse: "Longe de mim, Yahweh, que eu bebesse disso! Beberia eu do sangue desses homens, que arriscaram suas vidas?". Porque eles arriscaram suas vidas, Davi recusou-se a beber da água. Assim fizeram os três guerreiros.

²⁰ Abisai, irmão de Joabe, foi capitão sobre os três. Certa vez, ele usou sua lança contra trezentos e os matou. Ele é mencionado juntamente com os três guerreiros. ²¹ Dos três, a ele foi dada dupla honra e o tornaram seu capitão, ainda que não fosse um deles.

²² Benaia, filho de Joiada, foi um homem poderoso de grandes feitos. Ele matou os dois filhos de Ariel de Moabe e também desceu à caverna e matou um leão enquanto estava nevando. ²³ Foi ele quem matou um egípicio, um homem de cinco côvados de altura. O egípicio tinha uma lança como um lançador de tecelão, mas ele o atacou com o seu cajado, arracando a lança da mão do egípicio e matando-o com a sua própria lança.

²⁴ Benaia, filho de Joiada, fez esses feitos e ganhou nome ao lado dos três guerreiros. ²⁵ Ele era mais estimado que os trinta soldados em geral, mas não era tão reconhecido como os três maiores guerreiros da elite. Mesmo assim, Davi o colocou encarregado da sua guarda pessoal.

²⁶ Os guerreiros foram Asael, irmão de Joabe; Elanã filho de Dodô, de Belém; ²⁷ Samote, o harorita; Heles, o pelonita; ²⁸ Ira, filho de Iques, o tecoíta; Abiezer, o anatotita; ²⁹ Sibecai, o husatita; Ilai, o aoíta;

³⁰ Maarai, o netofatita; Helede, filho de Baaná, o netofatita; ³¹ Itai, filho de Ribai, de Gibeá, dos descendentes de Benjamim; Benaías, o piratonita; ³² Hurai, dos vales de Gaás; Abiel, o arbatita, ³³ Azmavete, o baarumita; Eiabá, o saalbonita;

³⁴ os filhos de Hasem, o gizonita; Jônatas, filho de Sage, o hararita; ³⁵ Aião, filho de Sacar, o hararita; Elifal, filho de Ur; ³⁶ Hefer, o mequeratita; Aías, o pelonita; ³⁷ Hezro, o carmelita; Naarai, filho de Ezbai;

³⁸ Joel, irmão de Natã; Mibar, filho de Hagri; ³⁹ Zeleque, o amonita; Naarai, o berotita, escudeiro de Joabe, filho de Zeruia; ⁴⁰ Ira, o itrita; Garebe, o itrita; ⁴¹ Urias, o heteu; Zabade, filho de Alai;

⁴² Adina, filho de Ziza, o rubenita (um chefe dos rubenitas) e trinta com ele; ⁴³ Hanã, filho de Maacá, e Jeosafá, o mitnita; ⁴⁴ Uzias, o asteratita; Sama e Jeiel, filhos de Hotão, o aroerita;

⁴⁵ Jediael, filho de Sinri, e Joá, seu irmão, o tizita; ⁴⁶ Eliel, o maavita; Jeribai e Josavias, filhos de Elnaão; Itma, o moabita; ⁴⁷ Eliel, Obede e Jaasiel, o mezobaíta.

Capítulo 12

¹ Estes foram os homens que vieram a Davi em Zicagle, enquanto ele ainda estava fugindo da presença de Saul, filho de Quis. Eles estavam entre os soldados, seus ajudantes na batalha; ² estavam armados com arcos e usavam tanto a mão direita quanto a esquerda para atirar pedras com fundas e flechas com os arcos. Eram benjamitas, companheiros da tribo de Saul.

³ Aizer, o chefe, e Joás eram filhos de Semaá, o gibeatita. Havia Jeziel e Pelete, filhos de Azmavete. Havia também Beraca e Jéu, o anatotita; ⁴ Ismaías, o gibeonita, soldado entre os trinta e, no comando dos trinta, Jeremias, Jaaziel, Joanã, Jozabade, o gederatita;

⁵ Eluzai, Jerimote, Bealias, Semarias e Sefatias, o harufita, ⁶ os coraítas Elcana, Issias, Azarel, Joezer e Jasobeão, ⁷ e Joela e Zebadias, filhos de Jeroão de Gedor.

⁸ Alguns gaditas se juntaram a Davi na fortaleza do deserto. Eles eram homens de guerra, treinados para a batalha, que sabiam usar escudo e lança; suas faces eram ferozes como as faces de leões. Eles eram ágeis como gazelas das montanhas.

⁹ Havia Ézer, o líder; Obadias, o segundo; Eliabe o terceiro; ¹⁰ Mismana, o quarto; Jeremias, o quinto; ¹¹ Atai, o sexto; Eliel, o sétimo; ¹² Joanã, o oitavo; Elzabade, o nono; ¹³ Jeremias, o décimo; Macbanai, o décimo primeiro.

¹⁴ Esses filhos de Gade foram os líderes do exército; o menor conduzia cem, e o maior conduzia mil. ¹⁵ Eles atravessaram o Jordão no primeiro mês, quando transbordava pelas margens, e afugentaram todos os que moravam nos vales, tanto na direção leste quanto na direção oeste.

¹⁶ Alguns dos homens de Benjamim e Judá vieram para a fortaleza de Davi. ¹⁷ Davi foi ao encontro deles e lhes disse: "Se viestes em paz para me ajudar, podeis vos juntar a mim; mas, se viestes para me entregar para meus adversários, que o Deus de nossos antepassados veja e vos repreenda, já que eu não fiz nada errado".

¹⁸ Então, o Espírito veio sobre Amasai, que era o chefe dos trinta. Amasai disse: "Nós somos teus, Davi. Estamos do teu lado, filho de Jessé. Paz! Que a paz esteja com quem quer que te ajudar. Que a paz esteja com teus ajudantes, porque o teu Deus está te ajudando". Então, Davi os recebeu e os fez comandantes sobre seus homens.

¹⁹ Alguns de Manassés se uniram a Davi quando ele veio com os filisteus para a batalha contra Saul. Eles não os ajudaram porque os chefes filisteus se consultaram entre si e mandaram Davi embora. Eles disseram: "Ele irá se unir a Saul, colocando em risco nossas vidas". ²⁰ Quando ele foi a Ziclague, os homens de Manassés que se juntaram a ele foram Adna, Jozabade, Jediael, Micael, Jozabade, Eliú e Ziletai, capitães de milhares de Manassés.

²¹ Eles ajudaram Davi a lutar contra os saqueadores, pois eram homens de guerra. Mais tarde, eles se tornaram comandantes no exército. ²² Dia após dia, chegavam homens para ajudar Davi, até que se formou um grande exército, como o exército de Deus.

²³ Este é o registro dos soldados armados para batalha, que vieram a Davi, em Hebrom, para passar o reino de Saul para ele, de acordo com a promessa de Yahweh. ²⁴ De Judá, aqueles que carregavam escudo e lança eram seis mil e oitocentos armados para a guerra. ²⁵ Dos simeonitas, eram sete mil e cem homens de guerra.

²⁶ Dos levitas, eram quatro mil e seiscentos soldados. ²⁷ Joiada era o líder dos descendentes de Arão, e com ele havia três mil e setecentos. ²⁸ Com Zadoque, um homem jovem, forte e corajoso, estavam vinte e dois líderes da familia de seu pai.

²⁹ De Benjamim, tribo de Saul, havia três mil. A maioria deles se manteve fiel a Saul até esse momento. ³⁰ De Efraim, havia vinte mil e oitocentos soldados, homens famosos na família de seus pais. ³¹ Da meia tribo de Manassés, havia dezoito mil homens famosos, que vieram para tornar Davi rei.

³² De Issacar, eram duzentos líderes, conhecedores do tempo e que sabiam o que Israel devia fazer. Todos os seus parentes estavam sob seu comando. ³³ De Zebulom, eram cinquenta mil soldados preparados para a batalha, com todas as armas de guerra, e prontos para demonstrar sua total lealdade.

³⁴ De Naftali, havia mil oficiais, e, com eles, trinta e sete mil homens com escudos e lanças. ³⁵ De Dã, havia vinte e oito mil homens preparados para a batalha.

³⁶ De Aser, havia quarenta mil homens preparados para a batalha. ³⁷ Vindo do outro lado do Jordão, dos rubenitas, gaditas e da meia tribo de Manassés, havia cento e vinte mil homens portando todo tipo de armas para a batalha.

³⁸ Todos estes soldados, equipados para a batalha, vieram de Hebrom com a intenção de tornar Davi rei de todo o Israel. O restante de Israel também estava de acordo em tornar Davi rei. ³⁹ Eles estiveram com Davi por três dias, comendo e bebendo, pois seus parentes haviam enviado provisões. ⁴⁰ Também, os que estavam próximos a eles, e os que estavam longe, como em Issacar, Zebulom e Naftali, trouxeram pães em jumentos, camelos, mulas e bois; bolos de figos, cachos de uvas passas, vinho, óleo, bois e ovelhas, pois Israel estava celebrando.

Capítulo 13

¹ Davi se consultou com os comandantes de milhares e de centenas, com cada líder. ² Ele disse para toda a assembleia de Israel: "Se parecer bem para vós, e se isto vem de Yahweh, nosso Deus, enviaremos mensageiros de todos os lugares para nossos irmãos que permanecem em todas as regiões de Israel e para os sacerdotes e levitas que estão em suas cidades, para que se reúnam conosco. ³ Tragamos a arca do nosso Deus de volta para nós, porque não buscamos Sua vontade nos dias do reinado de Saul". ⁴ Toda a assembleia concordou em fazer essas coisas, porque pareceu certo aos olhos de todo o povo.

⁵ Então, Davi reuniu todo o Israel, desde o rio Sior, no Egito, até Lebo-Hamate, para trazer a arca de Deus de Quiriate-Jearim. ⁶ Davi e todo o Israel subiram a Baalá, que é Quiriate-Jearim, que pertence a Judá, para trazer de lá a arca de Deus, sobre a qual se invoca o nome de Yahweh, que está entronizado sobre os querubins.

⁷ Então, eles colocaram a arca de Deus em uma carroça nova e a trouxeram da casa de Abinadabe; Uzá e Aiô estavam guiando a carroça. ⁸ Davi e todo o Israel estavam celebrando diante de Deus com todas as suas forças. Eles estavam cantando com instrumentos de cordas, tamborins, címbalos e trombetas.

⁹ Quando chegaram à eira de Quidom, Uzá estendeu sua mão para segurar a arca, porque os bois tropeçaram. ¹⁰ Imediatamente, a ira de Yahweh se acendeu contra Uzá, e Yahweh o matou, porque ele tinha estendido sua mão para a arca. Ele morreu ali, diante de Deus. ¹¹ Davi ficou irritado porque Yahweh tinha punido Uzá. Aquele lugar é chamado Perez-Uzá até os dias de hoje.

¹² Davi teve medo de Deus naquele dia. Ele disse: "Como posso levar a arca de Deus para minha casa?". ¹³ Então, Davi não moveu a arca para a sua cidade, mas propôs deixá-la na casa de Obede-Edom, o geteu. ¹⁴ A arca de Deus permaneceu na casa de Obede-Edom, por três meses. Então, Yahweh abençoou sua casa e tudo que possuía.

Capítulo 14

¹ Então, Hirão, rei de Tiro, enviou a Davi mensageiros, árvores de cedro, carpinteiros e pedreiros. Eles construíram uma casa para ele. ² Davi soube que Yahweh o tinha estabelecido como rei sobre Israel e que seu reino tinha sido exaltado por causa de Seu povo Israel.

³ Em Jerusalém, Davi tomou outras esposas, e se tornou pai de mais filhos e filhas. ⁴ Estes foram os nomes dos filhos dele, que nasceram em Jerusalém: Samua, Sobabe, Natã, Salomão, ⁵ Ibar, Elisua, Elpelete, ⁶ Nogá, Nefegue, Jafia, ⁷ Elisama, Beeliada e Elifelete.

⁸ Quando os filisteus ouviram que Davi tinha sido ungido como rei sobre todo o Israel, todos eles saíram a procurá-lo. Mas Davi soube disso e saiu contra eles. ⁹ Os filisteus vieram e invadiram o vale de Refaim.

¹⁰ Então, Davi pediu ajuda a Deus. Ele disse: "Devo atacar os filisteus? Tu darás vitória sobre eles?". Yahweh lhe disse: "Ataca, pois Eu certamente os darei a ti". ¹¹ Então, eles foram a Baal-Perazim, e lá ele os derrotou. Ele comentou: "Yahweh destruiu meus inimigos por minha mão, como uma explosão de torrentes de água". Então, o nome daquele lugar se tornou Baal-Perazim. ¹² Os filisteus abandonaram seus deuses os quais foram queimados por ordem de Davi.

¹³ Então, os filisteus invadiram o vale novamente. ¹⁴ Naquela ocasião, Davi pediu ajuda a Deus outra vez. Deus lhe disse: "Não ataques pela frente, mas dá a volta por trás, e passa pela floresta de amoreira.

¹⁵ Quando tu ouvires o som de marcha pelo vento, soprando nas copas das amoreiras, ataca com força. Faze isso, pois Deus terá saído antes de ti para atacar o exército dos filisteus". ¹⁶ Então, Davi fez conforme Deus havia ordenado. Ele derrotou o exército dos filisteus desde Gibeão até Gezer. ¹⁷ Assim, a fama de Davi percorreu por todas as terras, e Yahweh fez com que todas as nações o temessem.

Capítulo 15

¹ Davi construiu casas para si, na cidade de Davi. Ele preparou um lugar para a Arca de Deus e lhe montou uma tenda. ² Então, disse Davi: "Somente os levitas podem carregar a Arca de Deus, porque Yahweh os escolheu para carregá-la e servi-Lo para sempre". ³ Assim, Davi reuniu todo o Israel em Jerusalém, para trazer a Arca de Yahweh ao lugar que foi preparado para ela.

⁴ Davi reuniu os descendentes de Arão e os levitas. ⁵ Dos descendentes de Coate, havia Uriel, o chefe, e seus parentes, cento e vinte homens. ⁶ Dos descendentes de Merari, havia Asaías, o chefe, e seus parentes, duzentos e vinte homens.

⁷ Dos descendentes de Gérson, havia Joel, o chefe, e seus parentes, cento e trinta homens. ⁸ Dos descendentes de Elizafã, havia Semaías o chefe e seus parentes, duzentos homens. ⁹ Dos descendentes de Hebrom, havia Eliel, o chefe, e seus parentes, oitenta homens. ¹⁰ Dos descendentes de Uziel, havia Aminadabe, o chefe, e seus parentes, cento e doze homens.

¹¹ Davi chamou os sacerdotes Zadoque e Abiatar, e os levitas Uriel, Asaías, Joel, Semaías, Eliel, e Aminadabe. ¹² Ele lhes disse: "Vós sois os chefes das famílias dos levitas; dedicai-vos a Yahweh, vós e vossos irmãos, para que tragais a Arca de Yahweh, Deus de Israel, para o lugar que eu tenho preparado para ela.

¹³ Vós não a carregastes na primeira vez, por isso, Yahweh, nosso Deus, veio contra nós, porque nós não O buscamos ou obedecemos o Seu decreto". ¹⁴ Então, os sacerdotes e os levitas consagraram-se para trazer a Arca de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ¹⁵ Os levitas carregaram a Arca de Deus em seus ombros com as varas, como Moisés tinha ordenado — conforme a palavra de Yahweh.

¹⁶ Davi falou com os líderes dos levitas para nomear seus irmãos para tocarem instrumentos musicais de corda, harpas e címbalos, tocando alto e cantando alegremente. ¹⁷ Então, os levitas nomearam Hemã, filho de Joel, e um de seus irmãos, Asafe, filho de Berequias. Eles também nomearam os parentes dos descendentes de Merari e Etã, filho de Cusaías. ¹⁸ Com eles, estavam seus parentes de segunda ordem: Zacarias, Jaaziel, Semiramote, Jaiel, Uni, Eliabe, Benaia, Maaseias, Matitias, Elifeleu, Micneias, Obede-Edom e Jeiel, os porteiros.

¹⁹ Os músicos Hemã, Asafe e Etã foram nomeados para tocarem os címbalos de bronze. ²⁰ Zacarias, Aziel, Semiramote, Jaiel, Uni, Eliabe, Maaseias e Benaia tocavam instrumentos de cordas, definidos para soprano. ²¹ Matitias, Elifeleu, Micneias, Obede-Edom, Jeiel e Azazias os dirigiam, tocando harpas, definidas para o baixo.

²² Quenanias, chefe dos levitas, foi o diretor de canto porque era professor de música. ²³ Berequias e Elcana foram os guardas da arca. ²⁴ Sebanias, Josafá, Netanel, Amasai, Zacarias, Benaia e Eliézer, os sacerdotes, tocavam as trombetas diante da Arca de Deus, e Obede-Edom e Jeías guardavam a arca.

²⁵ Então, Davi, os anciãos de Israel e os comandantes de milhares trouxeram a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh da casa de Obede-Edom com alegria. ²⁶ Enquanto Deus ajudava os levitas que carregavam a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh, eles sacrificavam sete touros e sete carneiros.

²⁷ Davi vestiu um manto de linho fino, assim como os levitas que carregavam a arca, os cantores e Quenanias, o líder do canto, com os cantores. Davi também vestiu um éfode de linho. ²⁸ Então, todo o Israel trouxe a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh com júbilos e com som de trombetas, com címbalos e instrumentos de corda e harpas.

²⁹ Mas, quando a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh chegou à cidade de Davi, Mical, filha de Saul, olhou pela janela e viu o rei Davi dançando e celebrando, ela, então, o desprezou em seu coração.

1 Crônicas 16

¹ Eles trouxeram a Arca de Deus e a colocaram no meio da tenda que Davi havia montado para ela. Então, ofereceram holocaustos e ofertas pacíficas diante de Deus. ² Quando Davi terminou os sacríficios de holocaustos e ofertas pacíficas, ele abençoou o povo em nome de Yahweh. ³ Ele distribuiu para todo israelita, tanto para homens como para mulheres, uma porção de pão, um pedaço de carne e bolo de uva passas.

⁴ Davi designou determinados levitas para servir, diante da Arca de Yahweh, celebrar, agradecer e louvar Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ⁵ Esses levitas foram Asafe, o líder, e, depois dele, Zacarias, Jeiel, Semiramote, Jaiel, Matitias, Eliabe, Benaia, Obede-Edom e Jeiel. Estes tocavam instrumentos de cordas e harpas. Asafe devia tocar os címbalos bem alto. ⁶ Os sarcedotes Benaia e Jaaziel tocavam as trombetas regularmente, diante da Arca da Aliança de Deus.

⁷ Então, naquele dia, Davi primeiro nomeou a Asafe e seus irmãos para entoar esse cântico de agradecimento a Yahweh. ⁸ Dai graças a Yahweh, invocai o Seu nome, fazei conhecidos Seus atos entre as nações. ⁹ Cantai a Ele, cantai louvores a Ele, falai de todos os Seus maravilhosos atos.

¹⁰ Gloriai-vos em Seu santo nome, deixai que se alegre o coração daqueles que buscam a Yahweh. ¹¹ Buscai a Yahweh e Sua força, buscai a Sua presença continuamente.

¹² Lembrai-vos das coisas maravilhosas que Ele fez, Seus milagres e os decretos de Sua boca, ¹³ vós, descendentes de Israel, Seu servo, vós, povo de Jacó, Seus escolhidos. ¹⁴ Ele é Yahweh, nosso Deus. Seus decretos estão por toda a terra.

¹⁵ Guardai Sua aliança na mente para sempre, a palavra que Ele ordenou por mil gerações. ¹⁶ Ele traz à lembrança a aliança que Ele fez com Abraão, e Seu juramento a Isaque; ¹⁷ o que Ele confirmou a Jacó por estatuto, e a Israel como um pacto eterno. ¹⁸ Ele disse: "Dar-vos-ei a terra de Canaã como parte da vossa herança".

¹⁹ Eu disse isso quando vós éreis apenas um pequeno grupo, tão poucos, e eram estranhos na terra. ²⁰ Eles foram de nação em nação, de um reino a outro. ²¹ Ele não permitiu que ninguém os oprimisse, Ele puniu reis pelo bem do povo. ²² Ele disse: "não toqueis nos meus ungidos e não causeis dano aos Meus profetas".

²³ Cantai a Yahweh, toda a terra, anunciai Sua salvação dia após dia. ²⁴ Declarai a Sua glória entre as nações, Seus maravilhosos atos entre as nações.

²⁵ Pois Yahweh é grande e digno de ser louvado, e será temido entre todos os outros deuses. ²⁶ Porque todos os deuses das nações são ídolos, mas foi Yahweh quem criou os céus. ²⁷ Esplendor e majestade estão em Sua presença. Força e alegria estão diante dEle.

²⁸ Tributai a Yahweh, vós clãs dos povos, tibutai a Yahweh glória e força. ²⁹ Tributai a Yahweh a glória devida ao Seu nome. Trazei uma oferta e vinde diante dele. Curvai-vos diante de Yahweh em Seu santo esplendor.

³⁰ Tremei diante Dele toda a terra. O mundo também está estabelecido, não pode ser abalado. ³¹ Alegrem-se os céus, regozige-se a terra; seja dito entre as nações, "Yahweh reina".

³² Que o mar ruja, e as suas criaturas gritem com alegria. Que os campos sejam alegres, e tudo o que neles há. ³³ Que as árvores das florestas gritem de alegria diante de Yahweh, porque Ele vem julgar a terra.

³⁴ Louvai a Yahweh, porque Ele é bom, porque a fidelidade da Sua aliança dura para sempre. ³⁵ Então, dizei: "Salva-nos, Deus da nossa salvação. Ajunta-nos e livra-nos das outras nações, para que possamos dar graças ao Teu santo nome e glória em Teus louvores".

³⁶ Seja Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, louvado de eternidade a eternidade. Todos que estavam ali disseram: "Amém" e louvaram a Yahweh.

³⁷ Então, Davi deixou Asafe e seus irmãos diante da Arca da Aliança de Yahweh, para servirem continuamente diante da arca, como requeria a obra de todos os dias. ³⁸ Obede-Edom com seus sessenta e oito parentes estavam incluídos. Obede-Edom, filho de Jedutum, junto com Hosa, seria porteiro. ³⁹ Zadoque, o sarcedote, e seus irmãos sacerdotes, serviriam diante do tabernáculo de Yahweh, no lugar alto, em Gibeão.

⁴⁰ Eles ofereceriam holocaustos para Yahweh no altar apropriado, continuamente, pela manhã e à tarde, conforme tudo quanto estava escrito na lei de Yahweh, a qual Ele deu por mandamento a Israel. ⁴¹ Hemã e Jedutum estavam com eles, juntamente com os restantes que foram escolhidos pelo nome, para dar graças a Yahweh, porque a fidelidade da Sua aliança dura para sempre.

⁴² Hemã e Jedutum estavam no comando daqueles que tocavam trombetas, címbalos e outros instrumentos para a música sagrada. Os filhos de Jedutum guardavam o portão. ⁴³ Então, todo o povo se foi para as suas casas, e Davi voltou para abençoar sua própria casa.

Capítulo 17

¹ Aconteceu que, após o rei ter se estabelecido em sua casa, ele disse ao profeta Natã: "Olha, eu estou morando em uma casa de cedro, mas a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh está sob uma tenda". ² Então, Natã disse a Davi: "Vai e faz o que está em teu coração, pois Deus é contigo".

³ Mas, naquela mesma noite, a palavra de Deus veio a Natã, dizendo: ⁴ "Vai e diz a Meu servo Davi: 'Assim diz Yahweh: Tu não construirás uma casa para Eu morar, ⁵ pois Eu não morei em casa alguma desde o dia em que tirei Israel do Egito até o dia de hoje. Em vez disso, tenho morado em uma tenda, um tabernáculo, em vários lugares. ⁶ Em todos os lugares para os quais Me mudei, entre todo o Israel, porventura, falei alguma palavra aos líderes de Israel que designei para pastorear o Meu povo, dizendo: 'Por que não Me edificaste uma casa de cedro?"'"

⁷ Agora, pois, diz a Meu servo Davi: 'Assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos: "Eu te tirei da pastagem, de andar atrás das ovelhas, para que fosses governador do Meu povo Israel. ⁸ Eu tenho estado contigo por onde quer que foste e tenho eliminado todos os teus inimigos de diante de ti, e farei teu nome tão grande quanto o nome dos maiores líderes na Terra;

⁹ Eu designarei um lugar para Meu povo Israel e o plantarei lá para que possam viver em seu próprio lugar e não sejam mais perturbados; não serão mais oprimidos por perversos, como antes, ¹⁰ desde os dias em que ordenei juízes sobre o Meu povo Israel. Então, Eu subjugarei todos os teus inimigos; também te digo, que Eu, Yahweh, edificarei uma casa para ti.

¹¹ Quando teus dias forem cumpridos para ires a teus pais, suscitarei um descendente depois de ti, um dos teus filhos, e Eu estabelecerei o seu reino; ¹² ele construirá uma casa para Mim e Eu estabelecerei o trono dele para sempre.

¹³ Eu lhe serei por Pai e ele será Meu filho; não retirarei dele Minha misericórdia, como a retirei de Saul, que governou antes de ti; ¹⁴ Eu o confirmarei na Minha casa em Meu reino para sempre, seu trono será estabelecido para sempre"'. ¹⁵ Natã falou a Davi, relatou-lhe todas essas palavras e lhe contou toda a visão.

¹⁶ Então, o rei Davi entrou, ficou diante de Yahweh e disse: "Quem sou eu, Deus Yahweh, e quem é minha família para que me tenhas trazido até aqui? ¹⁷ Pois isso foi pouco aos Teus olhos, Deus, falar sobre a família de Teu servo sobre um maravilhoso futuro, e me mostrar as gerações futuras, Deus Yahweh. ¹⁸ Que mais posso eu, Davi, dizer a Ti? Tens honrado Teu servo. Tu tens dado reconhecimento especial ao Teu servo.

¹⁹ Yahweh, por causa de Teu servo e para cumprir Teu propósito, tens feito grandes coisas para revelar todos os Teus grandes feitos. ²⁰ Yahweh, não há ninguém como Tu e não há outro Deus além de Ti, assim como sempre ouvimos. ²¹ Que nação na Terra é como Teu povo Israel a quem Tu, Deus, resgataste do Egito para ser Teu povo, e engrandeceste Teu próprio Nome pelos grandes e maravilhosos feitos? Tu expulsaste nações diante de Teu povo a quem resgataste do Egito.

²² Fizeste Israel, Teu povo para sempre, e Tu, Yahweh, Te tornaste o seu Deus. ²³ Então, agora, Yahweh, que a promessa que fizeste a respeito de Teu servo e sua família, seja estabelecida para sempre. Faze como falaste. ²⁴ Que Teu nome seja estabelecido para sempre e seja engrandecido. Assim, o povo dirá: 'Yahweh dos Exércitos é o Deus de Israel', e que a casa de Teu servo Davi permaneça firme diante de Ti.

²⁵ Pois Tu, meu Deus, revelaste a Teu servo que lhe construirás uma casa; por isso encontrei eu, Teu servo, coragem para orar a Ti. ²⁶ Agora, Yahweh, Tu és Deus e tens feito essa boa promessa a Teu servo. ²⁷ Agora, Te agradaste abençoar a casa de Teu servo, e que possa continuar para sempre diante de Ti; pois Tu, Yahweh, a tens abençoado e será abençoada para sempre".

Capítulo 18

¹ Depois disso, aconteceu que Davi atacou os filisteus e os derrotou. Ele tomou Gate e suas vilas do controle dos filisteus; ² então, derrotou Moabe, e os moabitas se tornaram servos de Davi e pagavam tributos a ele.

³ Davi também derrotou Hadadezer, rei de Zobá, em Hamate, enquanto Hadadezer estava viajando para estabelecer seu domínio no rio Eufrates. ⁴ Davi capturou dele mil carros, sete mil cavaleiros e vinte mil soldados. Davi aleijou todos os cavalos dos carros, mas reservou o suficiente deles para cem carros.

⁵ Quando os sírios de Damasco vieram socorrer Hadadezer, rei de Zobá, Davi matou vinte e dois mil deles. ⁶ Então, Davi pôs guarnições entre os sírios de Damasco, os quais se tornaram seus servos e lhe trouxeram tributos, e Yahweh dava vitória a Davi por onde quer ele fosse.

⁷ Davi tomou os escudos de ouro que estavam com os servos de Hadadezer e os trouxe a Jerusalém; ⁸ de Tibate e de Cum, cidades de Hadadezer, Davi tomou muito bronze. Foi com esse bronze que Salomão, mais tarde, fez o mar de bronze, os pilares e os utensílios de bronze.

⁹ Quando Toú, rei de Hamate, soube que Davi havia derrotado todo o exército de Hadadezer, rei de Zobá, ¹⁰ Toú mandou Hadorão seu filho ao rei Davi para cumprimentá-lo e abençoá-lo, porque Davi havia lutado contra Hadadezer e derrotado, pois Hadadezer já havia travado guerra contra Toú. Hadorão trouxe com ele objetos de ouro, prata e bronze; ¹¹ os quais o rei Davi consagrou a Yahweh, junto com o ouro e a prata que tomou de todas as nações: Edom, Moabe, o povo de Ammon, os filisteus, e os amalequitas.

¹² Abisai, filho de Zeruia matou dezoito mil edomitas no vale do Sal. ¹³ Ele colocou guarnições em Edom, e todos os edomitas se tornaram servos de Davi. Yahweh dava vitória a Davi em qualquer lugar a que ele fosse.

¹⁴ Davi reinou sobre todo o Israel, e ele administrava justiça e retidão a todo o povo. ¹⁵ Joabe, filho de Zeruia, era o comandante do exército, e Josafá, filho de Ailude, era escrivão; ¹⁶ Zadoque, filho de Aitube, e Abimeleque, filho de Abiatar, eram sacerdotes; Sausa era escriba; ¹⁷ Benaia, filho de Joiada, estava sobre os quereteus e peleteus, e os filhos de Davi eram os conselheiros do rei.

Capítulo 19

¹ E sucedeu que Naás, rei do povo amonita, morreu, e seu filho se tornou rei em seu lugar. ² Davi disse: "Eu vou mostrar bondade com Hanum, filho de Naás, porque seu pai mostrou bondade para comigo". Então, Davi enviou mensageiros para consolá-lo a respeito de seu pai. Os servos de Davi chegaram à terra dos amonitas e foram até Hanum, para consolá-lo, ³ mas os líderes dos amonitas disseram a Hanum: "Tu acreditas que Davi está honrando teu pai porque ele enviou homens para te confortar? Não vieram os servos dele até ti para explorar e examinar as terras a fim de destruí-las?".

⁴ Então, Hanum tomou os servos de Davi, rapou-os, cortou suas roupas da cintura até as nádegas, e mandou-os embora. ⁵ Quando explicaram isso a Davi, ele enviou mensageiros para encontrá-los, porque estavam profundamente envergonhados. O rei disse: "Permanecei em Jericó até que vossas barbas cresçam novamente, e, então, retornai".

⁶ Quando os amonitas viram que provocaram ódio em Davi, Hanum e os amonitas enviaram mil talentos de prata para alugar carros e cavaleiros da Mesopotânia, de Arã-Maacá e Zobá. ⁷ Eles alugaram trinta e dois mil carros com o rei de Arã-Maacá e seu povo, que vieram e acamparam diante de Medeba. Os amonitas se uniram em suas cidades e saíram para a guerra.

⁸ Quando Davi ouviu isso, ele enviou Joabe e seu exército para encontrá-lo. ⁹ O povo amonita saiu e se posicionou para a batalha no portão da cidade, enquanto os reis que vieram, estavam sozinhos no campo.

¹⁰ Quando Joabe viu as linhas de batalha voltadas para ele, na frente e atrás, ele escolheu alguns dos melhores soldados de Israel e os organizou contra os sírios. ¹¹ Quanto ao restante do exército, ele entregou para o comando de Absai, seu irmão, e ele os colocou na linha de batalha contra o exército dos amonitas.

¹² Joabe disse: "Se os sírios forem muitos fortes para mim, então tu, Absai, deve me resgatar. Mas, se o exército dos amonitas for muito forte para vós, então, eu virei e vos resgatarei. ¹³ Sejamos fortes, e nos mostremos fortes para o nosso povo e para as cidades do nosso Deus, pois Yahweh fará o que for melhor para o Seu propósito".

¹⁴ Então, Joabe e os soldados de seu exército avançaram para a batalha contra os sírios, que foram forçados a fugir diante do exército de Israel. ¹⁵ Quando o exército dos amonitas viu que os sírios haviam fugido, eles também fugiram do irmão de Joabe, Abisai, e voltaram para dentro da cidade. Então, Joabe deixou os amonitas e voltou para Jerusalém.

¹⁶ Quando os sírios viram que haviam sido derrotados por Israel, eles enviaram reforços de além do rio Eufrates, com Sofaque, comandante do exército de Hadadezer. ¹⁷ Quando Davi soube disso, ele reuniu todo o Israel, atravessou o Jordão, e veio sobre eles. Ele organizou o exército para a batalha contra os sírios, e estes lutaram contra ele.

¹⁸ Os sírios fugiram de Israel, e Davi matou sete mil condutores de carros e quarenta mil soldados da infantaria. Ele também matou Sofaque, o comandante do exército. ¹⁹ Quando todos os reis, que eram servos de Hadadezer, viram que eles haviam sido derrotados por Israel, eles fizeram paz com Davi e o serviram. Então, os sírios não estiveram mais dispostos a ajudar os amonitas.

Capítulo 20

¹ Chegada a primavera, no tempo em que normalmente os reis vão à guerra, Joabe liderou o exército na batalha, devastou o território dos amonitas e sitiou Rabá. Davi, porém, permaneceu em Jerusalém. Joabe atacou Rabá e a derrotou.

² Davi tirou a coroa da cabeça do rei deles, e ele descobriu nela o peso de um talento de ouro, e nela havia pedras preciosas. A coroa foi colocada na cabeça de Davi, e ele trouxe o despojo da cidade em grande quantidade. ³ Ele trouxe o povo que estava na cidade, e o forçou a trabalhar com serras, picaretas de ferro e machados. Davi exigiu que todas as cidades dos amonitas fizessem esse trabalho. Então, Davi e todo o exército retornaram para Jerusalém.

⁴ E aconteceu que, mais tarde, estavam guerreando em Gezer contra os filisteus. Sibecai, o husatita, matou Sipai, um dos descendentes dos refains, e os filisteus foram subjugados. ⁵ Aconteceu, novamente, outra guerra contra os filisteus em Gobe, e, Elanã, filho de Jair, matou Lami, irmão de Golias, o geteu, cuja lança era como a haste de tecelão.

⁶ Aconteceu, novamente, outra guerra em Gate. Lá havia um homem de grande estatura, que tinha seis dedos em cada mão, e seis dedos em cada pé. Ele também era descendente dos refains. ⁷ Quando ele zombou do exército de Israel, Jônatas, filho de Simeia, irmão de Davi, o matou. ⁸ Esses foram descendentes dos refains de Gate, e foram mortos pela mão de Davi e pela mão de seus soldados.

Capítulo 21

¹ Satanás se levantou contra Israel e incitou Davi a fazer a contagem de Israel. ² Davi disse a Joabe e aos comandantes do exército: "Ide, contai o povo de Israel, de Berseba até Dã e reportai de volta a mim, para que eu saiba seu número". ³ Joabe disse: "Que Yahweh faça seu exército cem vezes maior do que já é. Mas, meu senhor, o rei, não servem todos eles ao meu senhor? Por que meu senhor quer isso? Por que trazer culpa sobre Israel?".

⁴ Mas a palavra do rei foi final contra Joabe. Então, saiu Joabe e percorreu todo o Israel e depois voltou para Jerusalém. ⁵ Joabe relatou o total da contagem de todos os homens de combate a Davi. Havia em Israel um milhão e cem mil homens que manejavam a espada. Somente em Judá havia quatrocentos e setenta mil soldados.

⁶ Porém, Levi e Benjamim não foram contados entre eles, pois a ordem do rei foi abominável a Joabe. ⁷ Deus não se agradou desta ação. Por isso Ele atacou Israel. ⁸ Davi disse a Yahweh: "Eu pequei grandemente fazendo isso; agora retira a culpa de Teu servo, pois eu agi tolamente".

⁹ Yahweh disse a Gade, o profeta de Davi: ¹⁰ "Vai e diz a Davi: 'Assim diz Yahweh: Eu te dou três opções, escolhe uma delas'".

¹¹ Gade foi até Davi e disse a ele: "Assim diz Yahweh: 'Faz a tua escolha: ¹² ou três anos de escassez, três meses de perseguição por teus inimigos, sendo atacado por suas espadas, ou então, três dias da espada de Yahweh, isto é, uma praga em toda a terra, com o Anjo de Yahweh destruindo toda a terra de Israel'. Agora, decide qual a resposta que levarei àquele que me enviou'".

¹³ Então, Davi disse a Gade: "Eu estou em grande aflição, deixa-me cair nas mãos de Yahweh ao invés de cair nas mãos dos homens, pois grandes são Seus misericordiosos feitos". ¹⁴ Então, Yahweh enviou uma praga sobre Israel e setenta mil pessoas morreram. ¹⁵ Yahweh enviou um anjo para destruir Jerusalém; porém, quando ele estava prestes a destruí-la, Yahweh olhou e mudou Sua opinião sobre aquele castigo. Ele falou ao anjo destruidor: "Basta! Agora recolhe a tua mão". E, naquela hora, o Anjo de Yahweh estava em pé na eira de Ornã, o jebuseu.

¹⁶ Davi olhou para cima e viu o Anjo de Yahweh em pé entre a terra e o céu, com a espada desembainhada em suas mãos levantada sobre Jerusalém. Então, Davi e os anciãos, vestidos em sacos, se prostraram com o rosto em terra. ¹⁷ Davi disse a Yahweh: "Não fui eu que ordenei que numerasse o exército? Eu fiz algo abominável, mas estas ovelhas, o que elas fizeram? Yahweh, meu Deus, que a Tua mão castigue a mim e a minha família, mas não castigue o Teu povo.

¹⁸ Então, o Anjo de Yahweh ordenou Gade que dissesse a Davi que ele deveria subir e contruir um altar para Yahweh na eira de Ornã, o Jebuseu. ¹⁹ Então, Davi subiu como Gade o instruiu a fazer em nome de Yahweh. ²⁰ Enquanto Ornã estava malhando trigo, ele se virou e viu o anjo; então, ele e seus quatro filhos se esconderam.

²¹ Quando Davi se aproximava, Ornã olhou e viu Davi. Ele deixou a eira e se prostrou diante de Davi com seu rosto no chão. ²² Então, Davi disse a Ornã: "Vende-me esta eira, para que eu possa construir um altar para Yahweh, eu pagarei o devido valor, para que a praga seja removida do povo".

²³ Ornã disse a Davi: "Toma-a para ti, meu senhor, o rei, faz com ela o que for bom aos teus olhos. Olha, eu te darei bois para os holocaustos e o debulhador como lenha e o trigo para oferta de cereais; te darei tudo". ²⁴ O rei Davi disse a Ornã: "Não, eu insisto em comprar pelo devido valor, eu não tomarei o que é teu e oferecerei como sacrifício a Yahweh o que não me custar nada".

²⁵ Então, Davi pagou seiscentos siclos de ouro pelo terreno. ²⁶ Ele construiu um altar para Yahweh ali e ofereceu holocaustos e ofertas pacíficas sobre o altar. Davi invocou Yahweh, que respondeu com fogo dos céus sobre o altar dos holocautos. ²⁷ Então, Yahweh deu ordem a Seu anjo e ele embainhou sua espada.

²⁸ Então, Davi viu que Yahweh o respondeu no meio da eira de Ornã, o jebuseu; ele ofereceu ali, os seus sacrifícios ao mesmo tempo. ²⁹ Naquele tempo, o tabernáculo de Yahweh, que Moisés fez no deserto, e o altar dos holocaustos estavam no lugar alto de Gibeão. ³⁰ Contudo, Davi não pôde pedir direção para Deus, pois estava com medo da espada do Anjo de Yahweh.

Capítulo 22

¹ Então, Davi disse: "Este é o lugar onde o Templo de Yahweh ficará, com o altar de holocaustos de Israel". ² E Davi ordenou aos seus servos que reunissem os estrangeiros que viviam na terra de Israel. Ele os nomeou pedreiros, para cortar blocos de pedra, a fim de construir o Templo de Deus.

³ Davi proveu uma grande quantidade de ferro para os pregos das portas que iriam nas entradas, e para dobradiças. Ele também proveu mais bronze do que poderia ser pesado ⁴ e mais cedro do que poderia ser contado. (Os sidônios e os tírios traziam muitas toras de cedro para Davi contar). ⁵ Davi disse: "Meu filho Salomão é novo e sem experiência, e o Templo que será construído para Yahweh deve ser especialmente magnífico, de modo que seja famoso e glorioso em todas as outras terras. Então, eu prepararei para a construção". E Davi fez grandes preparativos antes de sua morte.

⁶ Então, ele chamou seu filho, Salomão e ordenou que ele construísse um Templo para Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ⁷ Davi disse a Salomão: "Meu filho, era a minha intenção eu mesmo construir um templo sozinho, para o nome de Yahweh, meu Deus. ⁸ Mas Yahweh veio até mim e disse: 'Tu derramaste muito sangue e lutaste muitas batalhas. Tu não construirás um templo ao Meu nome, porque tu derramaste muito sangue na terra diante de Mim.

⁹ Contudo, tu terás um filho que será um homem pacífico. Eu darei a ele descanso de todos os inimigos ao seu redor. O nome dele será Salomão, e Eu darei paz e descanso a Israel durante seus dias. ¹⁰ Ele construirá um templo ao Meu nome. Ele será Meu filho, e Eu serei seu Pai. Eu estabelecerei o trono do seu reino sobre Israel para sempre'.

¹¹ Agora, meu filho, que Deus esteja contigo e te capacite para ter sucesso. Que tu construas o Templo de Yahweh, Teu Deus, como Ele falou. ¹² Que Yahweh te dê discernimento e entendimento, para que tu obedeças a Lei de Yahweh, Teu Deus, quando Ele te colocar para governar Israel. ¹³ Então, tu terás sucesso, se cuidadosamente obedecerdes os estatutos e decretos que Yahweh deu a Moisés acerca de Israel. Sê forte e corajoso; não temas, nem desanimes.

¹⁴ Agora, vê, com grande esforço, eu preparei para o Templo de Yahweh cem mil talentos de ouro, um milhão de talentos de prata, e bronze e ferro em grande quantidade. Eu também provi madeira e pedra. Deve adicionar mais a tudo isso.

¹⁵ Tu terás muitos trabalhadores: pedreiros, engenheiros, carpinteiros e inúmeros artesãos habilidosos de todos os tipos, ¹⁶ que podem trabalhar com ouro, prata, bronze e ferro. Então, começa a trabalhar e que Yahweh esteja contigo".

¹⁷ Davi também ordenou que todos os chefes de Israel ajudassem seu filho Salomão, dizendo: ¹⁸ "Yahweh, vosso Deus, está convosco e tem vos dado paz em todos os lados. Ele entregou, em minhas mãos, os habitantes da região, que é subjugada diante de Yahweh e seu povo. ¹⁹ Agora, buscai a Yahweh Teu Deus com todo vosso coração e com toda a vossa alma. Levantai e construí o Lugar Santo de Yahweh. Assim, podereis trazer a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh e as coisas que pertencem a Yahweh para a casa construída ao nome de Yahweh".

Capítulo 23

¹ Quando Davi estava velho e perto do final de sua vida, ele fez seu filho Salomão, rei sobre Israel. ² Ele reuniu todos os líderes de Israel, com os sacerdotes e levitas. ³ Os levitas que tinham trinta anos ou mais foram contados, o número total foi de trinta e oito mil.

⁴ "Destes, vinte e quatro mil supervisionaram o trabalho da casa de Yahweh, e seis mil foram oficiais e juízes. ⁵ Quatro mil foram porteiros; e quatro mil louvavam Yahweh com instrumentos que eu fiz para a adoração.", disse Davi. ⁶ Davi os dividiu em grupos que correspondiam aos filhos de Levi: Gérson, Coate e Merari.

⁷ Dos clãs decendentes de Gérson, havia Ladã e Simei. ⁸ Havia três filhos de Ladã: Jeiel, o chefe, Zetão e Joel. ⁹ Havia três filhos de Simei: Selomite, Haziel e Arã. Esses foram os líderes do clã de Ladã.

¹⁰ Havia quatro filhos de Simei: Jaate, Ziza, Jeús e Berias. ¹¹ Jaate era o mais velho, e Ziza o segundo, mas Jeús e Berias não tiveram muitos filhos, então, eram considerados como um único clã com as mesmas obrigações.

¹² Havia quatro filhos de Coate: Anrão, Izar, Hebrom e Uziel. ¹³ Estes eram os filhos de Anrão: Arão e Moisés. Arão foi escolhido para consagrar as coisas santíssimas, e ele e seus descendentes ofereceriam incenso diante de Yahweh, O serviriam e pronunciariam bençãos em Seu nome, para sempre. ¹⁴ Mas, quanto a Moisés, homem de Deus, seus filhos foram considerados levitas.

¹⁵ Os filhos de Moisés foram Gérson e Eliézer. ¹⁶ O descendente de Gérson foi Sebuel, o mais velho. ¹⁷ O descendente de Eliézer foi Reabias. Eliézer não teve outros filhos, mas Reabias teve muitos descendentes. ¹⁸ O descendente de Izar foi Selomite, o líder.

¹⁹ Os descendentes de Hebrom foram Jerias, o mais velho; Amarias, o segundo; Jaaziel, o terceiro; e Jecameão, o quarto. ²⁰ Os filhos de Uziel foram Mica, o mais velho, e Issias, o segundo.

²¹ Os filhos de Merari foram Mali e Musi. Os filhos de Mali foram Eleazar e Quis. ²² Eleazar morreu sem ter filhos. Ele teve apenas filhas. Os filhos de Quis casaram com elas. ²³ Os três filhos de Musi foram Mali, Eder e Jerimote.

²⁴ Estes foram os descendentes de Levi correspondentes aos seus clãs. Eles eram os líderes, contados e listados pelo nome, do clãs que trabalhavam no serviço da Casa de Yahweh, de trinta anos para cima. ²⁵ Davi disse: "Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, deu descanso ao Seu povo. Ele estabelece a Sua Casa em Jerusalém para sempre. ²⁶ Os levitas não precisarão mais carregar o Tabernáculo nem os utensílios usados para seu serviço".

²⁷ Pelas últimas palavras de Davi, os levitas foram contados, de vinte anos de idade para cima. ²⁸ O dever deles era auxiliar os descendentes de Arão no serviço da Casa de Yahweh. Eles cuidavam dos pátios, dos aposentos, da purificação cerimonial de todas as coisas pertencentes a Yahweh, e outras obras a serviço da casa de Deus. ²⁹ Eles também tomavam conta dos Pães da Proposição, e do trigo fino para as ofertas de cereal, dos pães sem fermento e ofertas assadas, das ofertas misturadas com óleo, e todo tipo de medidas e pesos das coisas.

³⁰ Eles também se levantavam toda manhã para agradecer e adorar Yahweh. Eles faziam isso também ao entardecer ³¹ e sempre que holocaustos eram oferecidos para Yahweh, no sábado, nas Festas de Lua Nova e nos dias de celebração. Um número fixo, designado por decreto, sempre tinha que estar presente diante de Yahweh.

³² Eles estavam no comando da Tenda do Encontro, o Santo Lugar, e ajudavam seus companheiros, descendentes de Arão, no serviço da Casa de Yahweh.

Capítulo 24

¹ Os grupos de trabalho, baseados nos descendentes de Arão, foram estes: Nadabe, Abiú, Eleazar e Itamar. ² Nadabe e Abiú morreram antes de seu pai. Eles não tiveram filhos, então, Eleazar e Itamar serviam como sacerdotes. ³ Davi, juntamente com Zadoque, descendente de Eleazar, e Aimeleque, descendente de Itamar, dividiu-os em grupos para o seu trabalho como sacerdotes.

⁴ Havia mais homens influentes entre os descendentes de Eleazar do que entre os descendentes de Itamar, então, eles dividiram os descendentes de Eleazar em dezesseis grupos. Eles fizeram isso pelos cabeças dos clãs e pelos descendentes de Itamar. Estas divisões eram oito em número, correspondendo aos seus clãs. ⁵ Eles os dividiram imparcialmente por sorte, porque havia chefes do santuário e chefes escolhidos por Deus, ambos descendentes de Eleazar e de Itamar.

⁶ Semaías, filho de Netanel, o escriba, um levita, registrou o nome deles na presença do rei, dos oficiais, de Zadoque, o sacerdote, de Aimeleque, filho de Abiatar, e dos líderes do sacerdócio e das famílias dos levitas. Um clã foi sorteado, dos descendentes de Eleazar e, então, o próximo seria sorteado dos descendentes de Itamar.

⁷ A primeira sorte foi para Jeoiaribe, a segunda para Jedaías, ⁸ a terceira para Harim, a quarta para Seorim, ⁹ a quinta para Malquias, a sexta para Miamim, ¹⁰ a sétima para Hacoz, a oitava para Abias,

¹¹ a nona para Jesuá, a décima para Secanias, ¹² a décima primeira para Eliasibe, a décima segunda para Jaquim, ¹³ a décima terceira para Hupá, a décima quarta para Jesebeabe, ¹⁴ a décima quinta para Bilga, a décima sexta para Imer,

¹⁵ a décima sétima para Hezir, a décima oitava para Hapizes, ¹⁶ a décima nona para Petaías, a vigésima para Jeezquel, ¹⁷ a vigésima primeira para Jaquim, a vigésima segunda para Gamul, ¹⁸ a vigésima terceira para Delaías e a vigésima quarta para Maazias.

¹⁹ Esta era a ordem do culto deles quando vinham ao Templo de Yahweh, segundo o procedimento dado a eles por Arão, seu antepassado, como Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, o havia instruído.

²⁰ Este era o restante dos descendentes de Levi: dos filhos de Anrão, Subael. Dos filhos de Subael, Jedeías. ²¹ Dos filhos de Reabias, Issias, que foi o líder. ²² Dos izaritas, Selomote. Dos filhos de Selomote, Jaate.

²³ Os filhos de Hebrom, Jerias, o primogênito, Amarias, o segundo, Jaaziel, o terceiro e Jecameão, o quarto. ²⁴ Os filhos de Uziel incluíam Mica. Os filhos de Mica incluíam Samir. ²⁵ O irmão de Mica foi Issias. Os filhos de Issias incluíam Zacarias.

²⁶ Os filhos de Merari, Mali e Musi. O filho de Jaazias, Beno. ²⁷ Os filhos de Merari: Jaazias, Beno, Soão, Zacur e Ibri. ²⁸ Os filhos de Mali: Eleazar, que não teve filhos.

²⁹ Dos filhos de Quis, Jerameel. ³⁰ Dos filhos de Musi, Mali, Eder e Jerimote. Estes foram levitas, listados por suas famílias. ³¹ Estes homens, tanto para os chefes de família, como também para os irmãos mais novos, lançaram sortes na presença do rei Davi, de Zadoque e de Aimeleque, juntamente com os líderes das famílias dos sacerdotes e levitas. Eles lançaram sortes, assim como os descendentes de Aarão tinham feito.

Capítulo 25

¹ Davi e os líderes do serviço no tabernáculo selecionaram alguns dos filhos de Asafe, de Hemã e de Jedutum. Estes profetizavam com harpas, instrumentos de cordas e címbalos. Aqui está a lista de homens que fizeram esse serviço: ² dos filhos de Asafe: Zacur, José, Netanias e Asarela, filhos de Asafe, sob a sua direção, que profetizavam sob a supervisão do rei; ³ dos filhos de Jedutum: Gedalias, Zeri, Jesaías, Simei, Hasabias e Matitias, que eram seis, sob a direção de seu pai, Jedutum, que tocava harpa para dar graças e louvar Yahweh;

⁴ dos filhos de Hemã: Buquias, Matanias, Uziel, Sebuel, Jerimote, Hananias, Hanani, Eliatá, Gidalti, Romanti-Ezer, Josbecasa, Maloti, Hotir e Maaziote, ⁵ todos esses eram filhos de Hemã, o profeta do rei. Deus deu a Hemã catorze filhos e três filhas para honrá-lo.

⁶ Todos esses estavam debaixo da direção de seus pais. Eles eram músicos na casa de Yahweh, com címbalos e instrumentos de cordas, enquanto serviam na casa de Deus. Asafe, Jedutum e Hemã estavam sob a supervisão do rei. ⁷ Eles e seus irmãos, que foram habilitados e treinados para fazer músicas para Yahweh, somavam duzentos e oitenta e oito. ⁸ Eles designaram seus serviços por sortes, tanto os jovens como os velhos, os mestres como os estudantes.

⁹ Dos filhos de Asafe, a primeira sorte caiu para a família de José; a segunda, para a família de Gedalias, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ¹⁰ A terceira caiu para Zacur, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ¹¹ A quarta, para Izri, seus filhos e seus parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ¹² A quinta, para Netanias, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo.

¹³ A sexta, para Buquias, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ¹⁴ A sétima, para Jesarela, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ¹⁵ A oitava, para Jesaías, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ¹⁶ A nona para Matanias, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo.

¹⁷ A décima, para Simei, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ¹⁸ A décima primeira, para Azarel, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ¹⁹ A décima segunda, para Hasabias, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ²⁰ A décima terceira, para Subael, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo.

²¹ A décima quarta, para Matitias, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ²² A décima quinta, para Jerimote, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ²³ A décima sexta, para Hananias, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ²⁴ A décima sétima, para Josbecasa, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo.

²⁵ A décima oitava, para Hanani, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ²⁶ A décima nona, para Maloti, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ²⁷ A vigésima, para Eliata, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ²⁸ A vigésima primeira, para Hotir, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo.

²⁹ A vigésima segunda, para Gidalti, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ³⁰ A vigésima terceira, para Maaziote, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze pessoas ao todo. ³¹ A vigésima quarta, para Romanti-Ezer, seus filhos e parentes, que eram doze ao todo.

Capítulo 26

¹ Estas foram as divisōes dos porteiros: dos coraítas, Meselemias, filho de Coré, um descendente de Asafe. ² Meselemias teve filhos: Zacarias, o primogênito; Jediael, o segundo; Zebadias, o terceiro; Jatniel, o quarto; ³ Elão, o quinto; Jeoanã, o sexto; Elioenai, o sétimo.

⁴ Obede-Edom teve filhos: Semaías, o primogênito; Jeozabade, o segundo; Joá, o terceiro; Sacar, o quarto; Netanel, o quinto; ⁵ Amiel, o sexto; Issacar, o sétimo; Peuletai, o oitavo; pois Yahweh o tinha abençoado. ⁶ Seu filho Semaíais também teve filhos, que foram chefes de suas famílias; eles foram homens com muitas habilidades.

⁷ Os filhos de Semaías foram Otni, Rafael, Obede e Elzabade. Seus parentes Eliú e Semaquias, também eram homens com muitas habilidades. ⁸ Todos eles foram descendentes de Obede-Edom. Eles, seus filhos e parentes foram homens capazes de fazer seus deveres nos serviços do tabernáculo; eram ao todo sessenta e dois descendentes de Obede-Edom. ⁹ Meselemias teve filhos e parentes, homens capazes; dezoito ao todo.

¹⁰ Hosa, um descendente de Merari, teve filhos: Sinri, o líder (embora não fosse o primogênito, seu pai o fez líder), ¹¹ Hilquias, o segundo; Tebalias, o terceiro; Zacarias, o quarto. Todos os filhos de Hosa e parentes, foram treze, ao todo.

¹² Essas divisōes dos porteiros, correspondendo ao seus líderes, tinham responsabilidades, como seus parentes, para servir na casa de Yahweh. ¹³ Eles lançaram sortes, tanto para jovens, como para idosos, correspondentes a suas famílias, para cada portão. ¹⁴ Quando as sortes foram lançadas para o portão leste, caiu para Selemias. Depois, lançaram sortes para Zacarias, seu filho, um conselheiro prudente, e sua sorte caiu para o portão norte.

¹⁵ A Obede-Edom foi designado o portão sul; e a seus filhos foram designados os depósitos. ¹⁶ A Supim e Hosa foram designados o portão oeste, junto ao portão Salequete, na estrada de cima. Vigias foram estabelecidos para cada família.

¹⁷ A leste, ficavam seis levitas; ao norte, quatro, por dia; ao sul quatro, por dia, e nos depósitos ficavam duas duplas. ¹⁸ No pátio a oeste, ficavam quatro na estrada, e dois no pátio. ¹⁹ Foram estas as divisōes dos porteiros. Eles foram ocupados pelos descendentes de Coré e Merari.

²⁰ Dos levitas, Aías estava encarregado dos tesouros da Casa de Yahweh e dos tesouros das coisas que pertenciam a Yahweh. ²¹ Os descendentes de Ladã, dos gersonitas líderes das famílias de Ladã, eram Jeieli e seus filhos; ²² Zetão e Joel, seu irmão, eram encarregados de vigiar os depósitos na Casa de Yahweh.

²³ Também havia guardas dos clãs de Anrão, de Isar, de Hebrom e de Uziel. ²⁴ Sebuel, filho de Gérson, o filho de Moisés, era o supervisor dos depósitos. ²⁵ Seus parentes por parte de Eliézer foram: seu filho Reabias; o filho de Reabias, Jesaías; o filho de Jesaías, Jorão; o filho de Jorão, Zicri; e o filho de Zicri, Selomote.

²⁶ Selomote e seus parentes estavam encarregados de todos os depósitos que pertenciam a Yahweh, que o rei Davi, os líderes das famílias, os comandantes de milhares e de centenas de soldados, e os comandantes do exército haviam separado. ²⁷ Eles separaram os despojos ganhos em batalhas, para manutenção da Casa de Yahweh. ²⁸ Eles também eram encarregados de tudo que havia sido separado para Yahweh pelo profeta Samuel, Saul, filho de Quis, Abner, filho de Ner, e Joabe, filho de Zeruia. Tudo quanto havia sido separado para Yahweh estava sob a guarda de Selomote e seus parentes.

²⁹ Dos descendentes de Isar, Quenanias e seus filhos ficaram encarregados das questões civis de Israel. Eles eram oficiais e juízes. ³⁰ Dos descendentes de Hebrom, Hasabias e seus irmãos eram mil e setecentos homens valentes, que estavam a oeste do Jordão, encarregados dos serviços de Yahweh e do rei.

³¹ Dos descendentes de Hebrom, Jerias era líder de seus descendentes, contados das listas de suas famílias. No ano quarenta do reinado de Davi, eles examinaram os registros e acharam entre eles homens valentes em Jazer de Gileade. ³² Jerias tinha dois mil e setecentos parentes, que eram valentes líderes de suas famílias. Então, Davi lhes designou para chefiarem as tribos de Rúben e de Gade, e a meia tribo de Manassés, em todos os serviços de Deus e para as questões do rei.

Capítulo 27

¹ Esta é a lista dos líderes das famílias israelitas, comandantes de milhares e de centenas, assim como dos oficiais armados que serviram ao rei de várias formas. Cada divisão militar servia mês a mês durante o ano. Havia vinte e quatro mil homens. ² Sobre a divisão do primeiro turno do mês, estava Jasobeão, filho de Zabdiel; em sua divisão, havia vinte e quatro mil homens. ³ Ele foi descendente de Perez e estava no comando de todos os oficiais do exército no primeiro mês.

⁴ Sobre a divisão do segundo turno do mês, estava Dodai, o aoíta; o segundo no comando era Miclote. Em sua divisão, havia vinte e quatro mil homens. ⁵ O terceiro comandante do exército era Benaia, filho de Joiada, sacerdote e líder; em sua divisão, havia vinte e quatro mil homens. ⁶ Esse é o Benaia que era líder dos trinta, e estava sobre os trinta. Seu filho Amizabade estava em sua divisão.

⁷ O comandante para o quarto mês era Asael irmão de Joabe; seu filho Zebadias foi comandante depois dele. Em sua divisão, havia vinte e quatro mil homens. ⁸ O comandante para o quinto mês era Samute, o israíta; em sua divisão, havia vinte e quatro mil homens. ⁹ O comandante para o sexto mês era Ira, filho de Iques, o tecoíta; em sua divisão, havia vinte e quatro mil homens.

¹⁰ O comandante para o sétimo mês era Helez, o pelonita, dos efraimitas; em sua divisão, havia vinte e quatro mil homens. ¹¹ O comandante para o oitavo mês era Sibecai, o husatita, dos zeraítas; em sua divisão, havia vinte e quatro mil homens. ¹² O comandante para o nono mês era Abiezer, o anatotita, dos benjamitas; em sua divisão, havia vinte e quatro mil homens.

¹³ O comandante do décimo mês era Maarai, o netofatita, dos zeraítas; em sua divisão, havia vinte e quatro mil homens. ¹⁴ O comandante do décimo primeiro mês era Benaías, o piratonita, dos efraimitas; em sua divisão, havia vinte e quatro mil homens. ¹⁵ O comandante do décimo segundo mês era Heldai, o netofatita, dos descendentes de Otniel; em sua divisão, havia vinte e quatro mil homens.

¹⁶ Estes eram os líderes das tribos de Israel: sobre a tribo de Rúben, Eliézer, filho de Zicri, era o líder; sobre a tribo de Simeão, Sefatias, filho de Maaca, era o líder; ¹⁷ sobre a tribo de Levi, Hasabias, filho de Quemuel, era o líder; e Zadoque liderava os aronitas; ¹⁸ sobre a tribo de Judá, Eliú, um dos irmãos de Davi, era o líder; sobre a tribo de Issacar, Onri, filho de Micael, era o líder;

¹⁹ sobre a tribo de Zebulom, Ismaías, filho de Obadias, era o líder; sobre a tribo de Naftali, Jerimote, filho de Azriel, era o líder; ²⁰ sobre a tribo de Efraim, Oseias, filho de Azazias, era o líder; sobre a meia tribo de Manassés, Joel, filho de Pedaías, era o líder; ²¹ sobre a meia tribo de Manassés, em Gileade, Ido, filho de Zacarias, era o líder; sobre a tribo de Benjamin, Jaasiel, filho de Abner, era o líder; ²² sobre a tribo de Dã, Azarel, filho de Jeroão, era o líder. Esses eram os líderes das tribos de Israel.

²³ Davi não contou aqueles que tinham menos de vinte anos, porque Yahweh havia prometido aumentar Israel como as estrelas do céu; ²⁴ Joabe, filho de Zeruia, começou a contar os homens mas não terminou; por causa disso, veio a fúria sobre Israel. Esse número não foi escrito nas Crônicas do rei Davi.

²⁵ Azmavete, filho de Adiel, era encarregado dos tesouros do rei; Jônatas, filho de Uzias, era encarregado dos depósitos nos campos, nas cidades, nos vilarejos e nas torres fortificadas; ²⁶ Ezri, filho de Quelube, era encarregado dos trabalhadores, daqueles que cuidavam da terra; ²⁷ Simei, o ramatita, era encarregado dos vinhedos, e Zabdi, o sifmita, era encarregado das uvas e das adegas.

²⁸ Sobre os olivais e os sicômoros que havia nas campinas, estava Baal-Hanã, o gederita; e, sobre os depósitos de azeite, estava Joás; ²⁹ sobre os rebanhos que estavam pastando em Sarom, estava Sitrai, o saronita; e, sobre os rebanhos que se encontravam nos vales, estava Safate, filho de Adlai;

³⁰ sobre os camelos, estava Obil, o ismaelita; sobre as jumentas, estava Jedias, o merononita; sobre os rebanhos, estava Jaziz, o hagrita. ³¹ Todos esses estavam supervisionando as propriedades do rei Davi.

³² Jônatas, tio de Davi, era um conselheiro, já que era um homem sábio e escriba. Jeiel, filho de Hacmoni, cuidava dos filhos do rei; ³³ Aitofel era o conselheiro do rei, Husai, o arquita, era o conselheiro privado do rei. ³⁴ A posição de Aitofel foi tomada por Joiada, filho de Benaia, e por Abiatar. Joabe era comandante do exército do rei.

Capítulo 28

¹ Davi reuniu todos os oficiais de Israel em Jerusalém, tanto os oficiais das tribos como os das fronteiras, que serviam ao rei no trabalho planejado, os comandantes de milhares e de centenas, os gestores de todas as propriedades e possessões do rei e de seus filhos, e os oficiais e guerreiros mais valentes.

² Então, o rei Davi levantou-se e disse: "Ouvi-me, meus irmãos e meu povo. Era a minha intenção construir um templo para a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh, um estrado para nosso Deus, e eu fiz os preparativos para construí-lo. ³ Mas Deus me disse: 'Tu não construirás um templo em Meu nome, porque tu és um homem de guerra e já derramaste muito sangue'.

⁴ No entanto, Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, me escolheu de toda a família de meu pai para ser o rei sobre Israel para sempre. Ele escolheu a tribo de Judá como cabeça. Da tribo de Judá, e da casa do meu pai, de todos os filhos do meu pai, Ele escolheu a mim para ser rei sobre todo o Israel. ⁵ Dentre todos os muitos filhos que Yahweh me deu, Ele escolheu Salomão, meu filho, para sentar-se no trono do reino de Yahweh, sobre Israel.

⁶ Ele me disse: 'Salomão, teu filho, construirá a Minha casa e os Meus pátios, pois Eu o escolhi para ser Meu filho, e Eu serei seu Pai. ⁷ Eu estabelecerei o seu reino para sempre, se ele continuar comprometido em obedecer a Meus mandamentos e decretos, como tu fazes hoje'.

⁸ Agora, então, à vista de todo o Israel, a assembleia de Yahweh, e na presença do nosso Deus que ouve, devei guardar e vos empenhar em cumprir todos os mandamentos de Yahweh, vosso Deus. Fazei isso para que possuais esta boa terra e a deixeis como uma herança para vossos filhos depois de vós para sempre.

⁹ Quanto a ti, Salomão, meu filho, conhece o Deus de teu pai, e serve-O com todo o teu coração e com uma alma disposta. Faz isso, pois Yahweh examina todos os corações e discerne toda motivação de todos os pensamentos. Se O buscares, tu O encontrarás, mas, se O abandonares, Ele te rejeitará permanentemente. ¹⁰ Considera que Yahweh te escolheu para construíres um templo como Seu santuário. Sê forte e faz isso'".

¹¹ Então, Davi deu a Salomão, seu filho, o projeto para a entrada do templo, para a construção do templo, dos depósitos, dos cômodos, das salas internas e do lugar da propiciação. ¹² Deu ele a Salomão os projetos que havia desenhado para: o pátio do templo de Yahweh; todas as salas vizinhas; os depósitos do templo de Deus. Além dos tesouros para as coisas que pertencem a Yahweh.

¹³ Davi deu a ele ordens para a divisão dos sacerdotes e levitas, para as responsabilidades designadas para o trabalho do templo de Yahweh, e para todos os objetos para o trabalho no templo de Yahweh. ¹⁴ Deu a ele o peso de todos os vasos de ouro para todo o tipo de trabalho, de todos os vasos de prata e de todos os objetos de todos os tipos de trabalho. ¹⁵ Ele especificou de forma detalhada as quantidades necessárias de ouro para: os candelabros de ouro e suas lâmpadas, os candelabros de prata e suas lâmpadas; para o uso adequado de cada candelabro.

¹⁶ Ele deu o peso do ouro para as mesas dos pães da proposição, para cada mesa, e o peso da prata para as mesas de prata. ¹⁷ Ele deu o peso do ouro puro para os garfos de carne, as vasilhas e as taças. Ele deu o peso para cada tigela de ouro e para cada tigela de prata.

¹⁸ Ele deu o peso do ouro refinado para o altar do incenso, e o ouro para o modelo dos querubins que estendiam suas asas e cobriam a arca da Aliança de Yahweh. ¹⁹ Davi disse: "Eu escrevi tudo isso conforme a direção e o entendimento que Yahweh me deu a respeito do modelo".

²⁰ Davi disse para Salomão, seu filho: "Sê forte e corajoso. Faz o trabalho. Não tenhas medo ou ansiedade, pois Yahweh, meu Deus, é contigo. Ele não te deixará nem te abandonará até que todo o trabalho para a obra do templo de Yahweh esteja finalizado. ²¹ Vê, aqui está a divisão dos sacerdotes e levitas para todo o trabalho no templo de Deus. Eles estarão contigo, juntamente com todos os homens dispostos e habilidosos, para te auxiliarem no trabalho e para realizarem a obra. Os oficiais e todas as pessoas estão prontas para seguir os teus comandos".

Capítulo 29

¹ O rei Davi disse a toda assembleia: "Salomão, meu filho, a quem Deus tem escolhido, ainda é jovem e inexperiente, e a tarefa é grande. Pois o templo não é para o povo, mas para Deus Yahweh. ² Portanto, eu fiz o meu melhor para prover para o templo do meu Deus. Estou dando ouro para as coisas a serem feitas de ouro, prata para as coisas a serem feitas de prata, bronze para as coisas a serem feitas de bronze, ferro para as coisas a serem feitas de ferro, e madeira para as coisas a serem feitas de madeira. Eu também estou dando pedras de ônix, pedras para serem incrustadas, pedras para o trabalho de sobreposição de várias cores, todo tipo de pedras preciosas e pedra mármore em abundância.

³ Agora, por causa da minha alegria pelo templo do meu Deus, eu estou dando o meu tesouro pessoal de ouro e prata. Estou fazendo isso complementando a tudo o que eu já tenho preparado para este Santo Templo: ⁴ três mil talentos de ouro de Ofir, e sete mil talentos de prata refinada, para revestir as paredes dos cômodos. ⁵ Estou doando ouro para as coisas que serão feitas de ouro, e prata para as coisas que serão feitas de prata, e coisas para todos os tipos de trabalho feitos pelos artesãos. Quem mais quer contribuir, voluntariamente, para Yahweh e se consagrar a Ele, hoje?

⁶ Então, foram feitas ofertas voluntárias pelos líderes das famílias dos antepassados, os líderes das tribos de Israel, os comandantes de milhares e de centenas, e pelos oficiais sobre os trabalhos do rei. ⁷ Eles deram, para a obra do templo de Deus, cinco mil talentos e dez mil dáricos de ouro, dez mil talentos de prata, dezoito mil talentos de bronze e cem mil talentos de ferro.

⁸ Aqueles que possuíam pedras preciosas deram-nas para o tesouro do templo de Yahweh, debaixo da supervisão de Jeiel, descendente de Gerson. ⁹ O povo se alegrou por causa das ofertas voluntárias, porque eles tinham contribuído com sinceridade para Yahweh. O rei Davi também se alegrou grandemente.

¹⁰ Davi bendisse a Yahweh diante de toda a assembleia. Ele disse: "Seja louvado Yahweh, Deus de nosso antepassado Israel, para sempre e sempre. ¹¹ Tua, Yahweh, é a grandeza, o poder, a glória, a vitória e a majestade. Porque tudo o que está nos céus e na terra é Teu. Teu é o reino, Yahweh, e Tu és exaltado como soberano sobre tudo.

¹² Tanto riquezas como honra vêm de Ti, e Tu dominas sobre todos os povos. Nas Tuas mãos, estão o poder e a força. Tu possuis a força e o poder de engrandecer as pessoas e dar força a quem quiser. ¹³ Agora, então, nosso Deus, nós Te agradecemos e louvamos o Teu glorioso Nome.

¹⁴ Mas quem sou eu, e quem é o meu povo, para que pudéssemos ser capazes de oferecer tão voluntariamente estas coisas? Na verdade, todas as coisas vêm de Ti, e nós simplesmente Te devolvemos o que é Teu. ¹⁵ Porque nós somos estranhos e peregrinos diante de Ti, assim como foram todos os nossos antepassados. Nossos dias na terra são como uma sombra, e não há esperança em permanecer na terra.

¹⁶ Yahweh, nosso Deus, toda essa riqueza que nós coletamos para construir o templo, em honra ao Teu Santo Nome — ela vem de Ti e pertence a Ti. ¹⁷ Eu também sei, meu Deus, que Tu examinas o coração e tem prazer na retidão. Quanto a mim, na retidão do meu coração eu ofereci, voluntariamente, todas essas coisas, e agora vejo com alegria que o Teu povo que está presente aqui, voluntariamente, oferece presentes a Ti.

¹⁸ Yahweh, Deus de Abraão, Isaque e Israel — nossos antepassados — preserva isto para sempre na mente do Teu povo. Orienta os corações deles na Tua direção. ¹⁹ Dá a Salomão, meu filho, o desejo de todo o coração para guardar os Teus mandamentos, os decretos da Tua Aliança e Teus estatutos, e cumprir todos esses planos de construir o palácio para o qual eu tenho feito provisão".

²⁰ Davi disse a toda assembleia: "Agora, bendiga Yahweh, seu Deus". Toda a assembleia bendisse a Yahweh, o Deus de seus antepassados; curvaram suas cabeças e adoraram Yahweh e prostraram-se diante do rei. ²¹ No dia seguinte, eles fizeram sacrifícios a Yahweh e ofereceram ofertas queimadas a Ele. Eles ofereceram mil touros, mil carneiros, e mil cordeiros, com suas ofertas de vinho e seus sacrifícios em abundância por todo Israel.

²² Naquele dia, eles comeram e beberam diante de Yahweh, com grande celebração. Eles fizeram a Salomão, filho de Davi, rei pela segunda vez, e o ungiram com a autoridade de Yahweh para governar. Eles também ungiram Zadoque para ser sacerdote. ²³ Então, Salomão se assentou no trono de Yahweh, como rei no lugar de seu pai, Davi. Ele prosperou, e todo Israel obedeceu a ele.

²⁴ Todos os líderes, soldados, e os filhos do rei Davi foram leais ao rei Salomão. ²⁵ Yahweh honrou grandemente a Salomão diante de todo Israel e conferiu a ele maior poder do que jamais havia dado a qualquer rei diante Dele em Israel.

²⁶ Davi, filho de Jessé reinou sobre todo Israel. ²⁷ Davi foi rei de Israel por quarenta anos. Ele reinou por sete anos em Hebrom e por trinta e três anos em Jerusalém. ²⁸ Ele morreu em boa velhice, depois de uma vida longa, com riquezas e honra. Salomão, seu filho, o sucedeu.

²⁹ Os feitos do rei Davi estão escritos na história de Samuel, o profeta, na história de Natã, o profeta, e na história de Gade, o profeta. ³⁰ Lá estão registradas as obras do seu governo, seus feitos e os eventos que afetaram a ele, Israel e todos os reinos das outras terras.

2 Chronicles

Capítulo 1

¹ Salomão, filho de Davi, se fortaleceu no seu governo e Yahweh, seu Deus, era com ele e o engrandeceu muito.

² Salomão falou a todo o Israel, aos comandantes de mil e de cem, aos juízes, a todo príncipe em todo o Israel e aos chefes das famílias. ³ Então, Salomão e toda a congregação foram ao lugar alto que estava em Gibeão, pois lá estava a Tenda do Encontro de Deus, que Moisés, o servo de Yahweh, fizera no deserto. ⁴ Mas, Davi tinha levado a Arca de Deus de Quiriate-Jearim para o lugar que tinha preparado, pois ele tinha levantado uma tenda para ela em Jerusalém. ⁵ Além disso, o altar de bronze que Bezalel, filho de Uri, filho de Ur, tinha feito, estava diante do Tabernáculo de Yahweh; Salomão e a congregação foram até ele.

⁶ Salomão foi até o altar de bronze, diante de Yahweh, que estava na Tenda do Encontro e ofereceu mil sacrifícios sobre ele. ⁷ Deus apareceu a Salomão naquela noite e disse-lhe: "Pede! O que tu queres?".

⁸ Salomão disse a Deus: "Tu mostraste grande aliança de fidelidade para com meu pai, Davi, e me fizestes rei em seu lugar. ⁹ Agora, Deus Yahweh, cumpra-se Tua promessa a Davi meu pai, pois Tu me fizeste rei sobre um povo tão numeroso como o pó da terra. ¹⁰ Agora, dá-me sabedoria e conhecimento, para que eu possa liderar esse povo, pois quem pode julgar Teu povo, que é tão numeroso?". ¹¹ Deus disse a Salomão: "Porque isso estava em teu coração e porque não pediste por riquezas, bens ou honra, nem pela vida daqueles que te odeiam, nem por uma vida longa para ti, mas porque tu pediste por sabedoria e conhecimento para ti, para que possas governar meu povo, sobre o qual eu te fiz rei, isto é o que te farei.

¹² Sabedoria e conhecimento te darei; Eu também lhe darei riquezas, bens, honra, como nenhum rei teve antes de ti e nenhum outro terá, depois de ti. ¹³ Então, Salomão saiu de diante da Tenda do Encontro, no lugar alto que estava em Gibeá, veio para Jerusalém e reinou sobre Israel.

¹⁴ Salomão reuniu carros e cavaleiros: e ele tinha mil e quatrocentos carros e doze mil cavaleiros e os colocou nas cidades dos carros e junto de si, em Jerusalém. ¹⁵ O rei fez com que o ouro e a prata se tornassem tão comuns como as pedras em Jerusalém, e ele fez madeira de cedro tão comum como os sicômoros que há nas terras baixas. ¹⁶ Quanto às importações de cavalos do Egito e Coa para Salomão seus mercadores compravam de Coa por um preço determinado. ¹⁷ Eles importavam um carro do Egito por seiscentos siclos de prata, e um cavalo por cento e cinquenta siclos. E também exportavam esses carros e cavalos para os reis dos heteus e arameus.

Capítulo 2

¹ Salomão determinou a construção de uma casa ao nome de Yahweh e a construção de um palácio para seu reino. ² Salomão designou setenta mil homens para o carregamento, oitenta mil homens como cortadores de madeira nas montanhas e três mil e seiscentos homens para os supervisionarem. ³ Salomão enviou uma mensagem a Hirão, rei de Tiro, dizendo: "Assim como tu fizeste com Davi meu pai, enviando-lhe cedros para construir uma casa para morar, faça o mesmo comigo.

⁴ Vê, eu vou construir uma casa ao nome de Yahweh, meu Deus, para dedicar a Ele, para queimar diante Dele especiarias de aroma suave, apresentar continuamente o pão da proposição e para queimar ofertas nas manhãs e ao entardecer, aos sábados, nas luas novas e nas festas fixas de Yahweh, nosso Deus. Esta lei será eterna para Israel. ⁵ A casa que construirei será bem grande, porque o nosso Deus é maior que todos os outros deuses.

⁶ Mas quem é capaz de construir a Deus uma casa, sendo que o universo inteiro e todo o céu não podem contê-lo? Quem sou eu para lhe construir uma casa, a não ser que seja para queimar sacrifícios? ⁷ Então, envia-me um homem que seja habilidoso no trabalho com ouro, prata, bronze, ferro, e tecido púrpura, carmesim e lã azul, um homem que saiba como fazer todo tipo de entalhe em madeira. Ele se juntará aos especialistas que estão comigo em Judá e Jerusalém, os quais meu pai, Davi, providenciou.

⁸ Me mande também cedro, ciprestes e sândalo do Líbano, pois eu sei que os teus servos sabem como cortar mandeira do Líbano. Vê, meus servos estarão com teus servos, ⁹ para preparar para mim madeira em abundância, pois a casa a qual eu estou construindo será grande e maravilhosa. ¹⁰ Vê, eu darei para teus servos, os homens que cortarão madeira, vinte mil coros de trigo malhado, vinte mil coros de cevada, vinte mil batos de vinho e vinte mil batos de óleo".

¹¹ Então Hirão, o rei de Tiro, respondeu a Salomão: "Porque Yahweh ama Seu povo, Ele tem te feito rei sobre ele". ¹² Além disso, Hirão disse: "Abençoado seja Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, que fez o céu e a terra, que deu a Davi, o rei, um filho sábio, presentando-o com prudência e entendimento, o qual construirá uma casa para Yaweh e uma casa para seu reino.

¹³ Agora, tenho te enviado um homem talentoso, dotado de inteligência, Hurão-Abi, meu especialista. ¹⁴ Ele é o filho de uma mulher das filhas de Dã. Seu pai foi um homem de Tiro. Ele é habilidoso para trabalhar com ouro, prata, bronze, ferro, pedra, com madeira e com tecido de púrpura, lãs carmesim e azul, e linho fino. Ele também é talentoso para fazer qualquer tipo de entalhe e também projetos. Coloque-o para trabalhar entre os teus especialistas e também com os trabalhadores do meu senhor, Davi, teu pai.

¹⁵ Agora, então, o trigo e a cevada, o óleo e o vinho, os quais meu senhor havia dito, deixe-me enviar essas coisas a teus servos. ¹⁶ Nós iremos cortar madeira do Líbano, o quanto lhe for necessário. Nós a levaremos por jangadas pelo mar até Jope e tu a transportarás para Jerusalém". ¹⁷ Salomão contou todos os estrangeiros que estavam na terra de Israel, segundo o método que Davi seu pai, já havia feito. Eles encontraram cento e cinquenta e três mil, e seiscentos. ¹⁸ Ele designou setenta mil dos seus como carregadores, oitenta mil como cortadores de madeira nas montanhas e três mil e seiscentos como supervisores, para fazerem o povo trabalhar.

Capítulo 3

¹ Então, Salomão começou a construir a casa de Yahweh em Jerusalém, no monte Moriá, onde Yahweh apareceu a seu pai, Davi. ² Ele preparou o lugar que Davi planejou para isto, na eira de Ornã, o jebuseu. Ele começou a construir no segundo dia do segundo mês, no quarto ano do seu reino. ³ Estas foram as dimensões da fundação que Salomão colocou para a casa de Deus. Usando o velho estilo de côvado, e eram sessenta côvados de comprimento e vinte côvados de largura.

⁴ O comprimento do pórtico na frente da casa era de vinte côvados, combinando com a largura do prédio. Sua altura também era de vinte côvados, e Salomão revestiu o interior com ouro puro. ⁵ Ele decorou o forro da entrada principal com cipreste, os quais ele revestiu de ouro fino, e entalhou com palmeiras e correntes.

⁶ Ele decorou a casa com pedras preciosas; o ouro era ouro de Parvaim. ⁷ Ele também revestiu as vigas, batentes, paredes e portas com ouro; ele entalhou querubins nas suas paredes.

⁸ Também construiu o Lugar Santíssimo. Seu comprimento combinava com a largura da casa, vinte côvados, e sua largura também era de vinte côvados. Revestiu-a com outro fino, totalizando seiscentos talentos. ⁹ O peso dos pregos eram cinquenta siclos de ouro. Ele revestiu suas superfícies altas com ouro.

¹⁰ Fez duas imagens de querubins para o Lugar Santíssimo; artesãos revestiram-no com ouro. ¹¹ As asas dos querubins eram de vinte côvados de comprimento juntas; a asa de um querubim era de cinco côvados de comprimento, alcançando a parede da casa; a outra asa, era da mesma maneira, de cinco côvados de comprimento, alcançando a asa do outro querubim. ¹² A asa do outro querubim também era de cinco côvados, alcançando a parede da casa; sua outra asa também era de cinco côvados, tocando a asa do primeiro querubim.

¹³ As asas desses querubins tomavam um total de vinte côvados. Os querubins foram postos de pé, com suas faces viradas à entrada principal. ¹⁴ Fez um véu de azul, púrpura, lã de carmesim e linho fino, e ele decorou querubins nele.

¹⁵ Salomão também fez dois pilares, cada um com trinta e cinco côvados de altura, para a frente da casa; os capitéis que eram no topo deles, cada um, tinha cinco côvados de altura. ¹⁶ Fez correntes para os pilares e os colocou no topo deles; ele também fez cem romãs e as juntou as correntes. ¹⁷ Colocou os pilares na frente do templo, um ao lado direito, e outro no lado esquerdo; nomeou o pilar da direita de Jaquim, e o pilar da esquerda de Boaz.

Capítulo 4

¹ Além disso, fez um altar de bronze de vinte côvados de comprimento e vinte côvados de largura e dez côvados de altura. ² Fez também um mar de fundição, que media dez côvados de uma borda a outra. A altura tinha cinco côvados e o mar redondo tinha trinta côvados de circunferência. ³ Abaixo das bordas ao redor do mar estavam figuras de bois, dez em cada côvado, fundidas em uma só peça junto com o mar.

⁴ Este mar estava posto sobre doze bois, três olhavam para o norte, três olhavam para o oeste, três olhavam para o sul e três olhavam para o leste. O mar estava posicionado em cima deles, e as partes posteriores estavam voltadas para dentro. ⁵ O mar era grosso da largura como de uma mão, e sua borda foi moldada como a borda de um copo, como a flor de um lírio. O mar cabia três mil batos de água. ⁶ Fez também dez pias para lavar coisas; colocou cinco no lado direito e cinco no lado esquerdo; utensílios usados na queima de oferendas eram lavados nelas. O mar, no entanto, era para os sacerdotes se lavarem.

⁷ Fez dez candeeiros de ouro a partir das instruções para o desenho, colocou-os no templo, cinco do lado esquerdo e cinco do lado direito. ⁸ Fez dez mesas e as colocou no templo, cinco no lado direito e cinco no lado esquerdo. Ele fez cem bacias de ouro.

⁹ Além disso, fez o pátio dos sacerdotes e o grande pátio, e as portas para o pátio foram revestidas de bronze. ¹⁰ Colocou o mar no lado direito da casa, no leste, de frente para o sul.

¹¹ Hirão fez os vasos, as pás e as bacias para aspersão. Assim, Hirão completou o trabalho que fez para o rei Salomão na casa de Deus: ¹² os dois pilares, e os capitéis que estavam no alto dos dois pilares, e os dois conjuntos de treliças decoradas para cobrir os capitéis que estavam em cima dos pilares. ¹³ Fez quatrocentas romãs para os dois conjuntos de treliças decoradas: duas fileiras de romãs para cada conjunto de treliça para cobrir os dois capitéis que estavam nos pilares.

¹⁴ Também fez bases e bacias para colocar em cima da base, ¹⁵ um mar e os doze bois debaixo dele, ¹⁶ também os potes, pás, os garfos de carne, e todos os outros utensílios. Hurão-Abi, o habilidoso, fez estes para o rei Salomão, para a casa de Yahweh, de bronze polido.

¹⁷ O rei os fundiu na planície do Jordão, na terra argilosa entre Sucote e Zeredá. ¹⁸ Portanto, Salomão fez todos estes utensílios em grande quantidade; de fato, o peso do bronze não pode ser conhecido.

¹⁹ Salomão fez todos os móveis que estavam na casa de Yahweh, o altar de ouro também, e as mesas onde o pão da presença deveria ser colocado; ²⁰ os candeeiros com sua lâmpadas que foram desenhados para queimar diante da sala interior, estes foram feitos com ouro puro; ²¹ e as flores, as lâmpadas e as tenazes, de ouro, ouro puro. ²² Também os apagadores, as bacias, colheres, e os queimadores de incenso foram feitos de ouro puro. Quanto a entrada da casa, as portas do interior do Lugar Santíssimo e as portas da casa, que é, do templo, foram feitas de ouro.

Capítulo 5

¹ Quando todo o trabalho que Salomão havia feito para a casa de Yahweh estava terminado, ele trouxe as coisas que Davi, seu pai, havia dedicado para esse propósito, incluindo a prata, o ouro e toda a mobília. Ele os colocou dentro dos armazéns da casa de Deus.

² Então, Salomão reuniu em assembleia os anciãos de Israel, todos os chefes das tribos e os líderes das famílias do povo de Israel, em Jerusalém, para trazer a arca da aliança de Yahweh da cidade de Davi, isto é, Sião. ³ Todos os homens de Israel reuniram-se diante do rei na festa, que aconteceu no sétimo mês.

⁴ Todos os anciãos de Israel vieram e os levitas carregaram a arca. ⁵ Eles trouxeram a Arca, a Tenda do Encontro e todos os utensílios sagrados que estavam na Tenda. Os sacerdotes da tribo de Levi trouxeram essas coisas. ⁶ O rei Salomão e toda a assembleia de Israel se reuniram perante a Arca, sacrificando ovelhas e bois que não podiam ser contados.

⁷ Os sacerdotes trouxeram a Arca da Aliança de Yahweh para o seu lugar, dentro da sala interna da casa, o Lugar Santíssimo, debaixo das asas dos querubins; ⁸ pois os querubins estendiam suas asas sobre o lugar da Arca e cobriram a Arca e suas hastes, pelas quais era carregada.

⁹ As hastes eram tão longas que suas extremidades eram vistas do Lugar Santo, em frente da sala interna, mas elas não podiam ser vistas de fora. Elas estão ali até hoje. ¹⁰ Não havia nada na Arca, exceto as duas tábuas que Moisés havia colocado em Horebe, quando Yahweh fez uma aliança com o povo de Israel, ao saírem do Egito.

¹¹ Depois disso, todos os sacerdotes saíram do Lugar Santo. Então, todos os sacerdotes que estavam presentes se dedicaram a Yahweh, sem observar a ordem de suas divisões. ¹² Também os levitas que eram cantores, todos eles, incluindo Asafe, Hemã, Jedutum, bem como seus filhos e irmãos, vestidos de linho fino e tocando címbalos, harpas e liras, estavam ao lado leste do altar. Com eles estavam cento e vinte sacerdotes soprando trombetas. ¹³ Aconteceu que os que tocavam trombetas e os cantores ministraram juntos, louvando e agradecendo a Yahweh. Eles levantaram suas vozes, com trombetas, címbalos e outros instrumentos, e louvaram a Yahweh. Eles cantaram "Pois Ele é bom, pois Sua lealdade à Aliança dura para sempre." Então, a casa de Yahweh se encheu com uma nuvem. ¹⁴ Os sacerdotes não puderam permanecer em pé para servir, por causa da nuvem, pois a glória de Yahweh encheu a Casa.

Capítulo 6

¹ Então Salomão disse: "Yahweh disse que moraria em densa escuridão, ² mas eu tenho construído uma residência exaltada para Ti, um lugar em que habitarás para sempre". ³ Então, o rei virou-se e abençoou toda a assembleia de Israel, enquanto toda a assembléia de Israel estava de pé.

⁴ Ele disse: "Que Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, seja louvado, Aquele que falou a Davi, meu pai, e cumpriu Sua palavra com Suas próprias mãos, dizendo: ⁵ 'Desde o dia que Eu trouxe Meu povo da terra do Egito, Eu não escolhi nenhuma cidade, de todas as tribos de Israel, para construir uma casa, a fim de que Meu nome esteja ali. Tampouco, escolhi qualquer homem para ser príncipe sobre Meu povo Israel. ⁶ Porém, Eu tenho escolhido Jerusalém, para que Meu nome possa estar lá e Eu escolhi Davi para ficar sobre Meu povo, Israel.'

⁷ Agora, estava no coração de Davi, meu pai, construir uma casa para o nome de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ⁸ Mas Yahweh disse a Davi, meu pai: 'Já que estava no teu coração construir uma casa para o Meu nome, bem fizeste de ter isso no teu coração. ⁹ Mesmo assim, não deverás construir a casa; ao invés disso, teu filho, que virá de ti, construirá a casa para o Meu nome'.

¹⁰ Yahweh cumpriu a palavra que Ele disse, pois a construí, em lugar de Davi, meu pai, e eu sento no trono de Israel, como Yahweh prometeu. Eu construí a casa para o nome de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ¹¹ Eu coloquei a Arca ali, onde está a Aliança de Yahweh, que Ele fez com o povo de Israel".

¹² Salomão ficou em pé diante do altar de Yahweh na presença de toda a assembleia de Israel, e estendeu suas mãos. ¹³ Pois ele havia feito uma plataforma de bronze, de cinco côvados de comprimento, cinco de largura e três de altura. Ele a tinha posto no meio do pátio. Subiu nela, ajoelhou-se diante de toda a assembleia de Israel e, então, estendeu suas mãos para os céus.

¹⁴ Ele disse: "Yahweh, Deus de Israel, não há outro Deus como Tu, nem nos céus e nem na terra, que guardas Tua Aliança e Tua benignidade com Teus servos que andam diante de Ti com todo o coração. ¹⁵ Tu que guardaste a promessa que fizeste ao Teu servo Davi, meu pai. Sim, Tu falaste com Tua boca e cumpriste com Tua mão, como é hoje.

¹⁶ Agora, então, Yahweh, Deus de Israel, cumpra o que prometeste ao Teu servo Davi, meu pai, quando Tu disseste: 'Tu não falharás em ter um homem diante de minha vista, para sentar-se no trono de Israel; se apenas seus descendentes tiverem cuidado em andar na Minha lei como tu tens andado diante de Mim.' ¹⁷ Agora, então, Deus de Israel, eu oro para que a promessa que fizeste ao Teu servo Davi se torne realidade.

¹⁸ Mas Deus morará mesmo com a humanidade na terra? Veja, o universo inteiro e nem mesmo os céus podem conter-Te, muito menos este templo que construí! ¹⁹ Por favor, considera esta oração de Teu servo e seu pedido, Yahweh, meu Deus; ouve o clamor e a oração que Teu servo ora diante de Ti. ²⁰ Que Teus olhos possam se abrir dia e noite para este templo, para o lugar em que Tu prometeste colocar o Teu nome. Tu podes ouvir a oração que Teu servo ora para este lugar.

²¹ Ouve as solicitações do Teu servo e do Teu povo, Israel; quando orarmos em direção a este lugar. Sim, ouve do lugar onde moras, dos céus; e, quando ouvires, perdoa.

²² Se um homem pecar contra seu vizinho e for requerido dele fazer um juramento, e se ele vier e fizer um juramento diante de Teu altar nesta casa; ²³ ouve dos céus, age e julga Teus servos, devolvendo a quem é mal, para trazer sua conduta sobre sua própria cabeça. Declara os justos inocentes, para dar-lhes a recompensa por sua justiça.

²⁴ Quando o Teu povo Israel for derrotado pelo inimigo, porque eles pecaram contra Ti, — se eles retornarem a Ti, confessarem o Teu nome, orarem e pedirem perdão diante de Ti neste templo — ²⁵ então, por favor, ouve dos céus e perdoa os pecados de Teu povo Israel; traze-os de volta para a terra que deste a eles e a seus ancestrais.

²⁶ Quando os céus estiverem fechados e não houver chuva, porque o povo pecou contra Ti, — se eles orarem, voltados para este lugar, confessarem o Teu nome, e converterem-se de seu pecado, quando Tu os afligires — ²⁷ então, ouça nos céus a perdoa o pecado dos Teus servos e do Teu povo, Israel; quando Tu os direcionares no bom caminho no qual devem andar. Manda chuva na Tua terra, que deste ao Teu povo como herança.

²⁸ Suponha que haja fome na terra ou que haja doença, ferrugem ou mofo, gafanhotos ou lagartas; ou suponha que seus inimigos ataquem os portões da cidade em sua terra, ou que haja qualquer praga ou enfermidade; ²⁹ suponha, então, que orações e pedidos sejam feitos por uma pessoa ou por todo o Teu povo de Israel — cada um sabendo a praga e a tristeza em seu próprio coração enquanto estende suas mãos para este templo. ³⁰ Então, ouça do céu, o lugar onde moras; perdoa e restitua a cada pessoa segundo os seus caminhos. Tu conheces seu coração, porque Tu, e somente Tu, conheces os corações do seres humanos. ³¹ Faze isso para que eles temam a Ti, para que possam andar em Teus caminhos todos os dias que viverem na terra que Tu deste aos nossos antepassados.

³² Quanto ao estrangeiro, que não pertence ao Teu povo, Israel, mas que — por causa de Teu grande nome, Tua mão poderosa e Teu braço erguido — vier e orar em direção a esta casa, ³³ então, por favor, ouve dos céus, o lugar onde moras, e faze conforme tudo o que o estrangeiro pedir a Ti, para que todo o povo da terra possa conhecer o Teu nome e temer a Ti, assim como o Teu povo, Israel, e para que eles possam saber que esta casa que eu construí é chamada pelo Teu nome.

³⁴ Suponha que Teu povo vá a batalha contra seus inimigos, por qualquer caminho que possa mandar-lhes; e suponha que eles orem a Ti em direção a esta cidade que escolhestes e em direção a esta casa que construí em Teu nome. ³⁵ Então, ouve, dos céus, suas orações, suas súplicas e ajuda suas causas.

³⁶ Suponha que eles pequem contra Ti — já que não há ninguém que não peque — e suponha que Tu estejas bravo com eles e entregue-os ao inimigo, para que o inimigo os leve e os tome como cativos de suas terras, sejam elas distantes ou próximas. ³⁷ Então, suponha que eles percebam que estão na terra para onde foram levados em exílio; e suponha que eles se arrependam e busquem o Teu favor na terra para qual foram levados em cativeiro. Suponha que digam: 'Nós agimos de forma perversa e pecamos. Nós agimos com maldade.' ³⁸ Suponha que eles retornem a Ti com todo seu coração e com toda sua alma na terra de seu cativeiro, para onde eles foram levados cativos, e suponha que eles orem na direção da terra que lhes pertence, a qual Tu deste aos seus antepassados, e em direção à cidade que Tu escolheste, e em direção à casa que construí para o Teu nome. ³⁹ Então, ouve dos céus, o lugar onde moras, a sua oração e as suas súplicas e ajuda sua causa. Perdoa Teu povo, que pecou contra Ti.

⁴⁰ Agora, meu Deus, eu imploro a Ti: abre os Teus olhos e mantém os Teus ouvidos atentos à oração que é feita neste lugar. ⁴¹ Agora, então, levanta Deus Yahweh para o lugar de descanso teu e da Arca da Tua força. Deixa Teus sacerdotes, Deus Yahweh, serem vestidos com salvação e deixa Teus santos regozijarem-se em Tua bondade. ⁴² Deus Yahweh não desvie a face de Teu ungido de Ti. Guarde em Teus pensamentos as Tuas ações de Aliança leal para com Davi, Teu servo."

Capítulo 7

¹ Quando Salomão terminou sua oração, fogo desceu dos céus e consumiu os holocaustos e sacrifícios, e a glória de Yahweh encheu a Casa. ² Os sacerdotes não podiam entrar na casa de Yahweh, porque a Sua glória encheu Sua casa. ³ Todas as pessoas de Israel olhavam enquanto o fogo descia, e a glória de Yahweh estava sobre a Casa. Eles prostaram-se com o rosto no chão, sobre o pavimento de pedra, adoraram e deram graças a Yahweh; eles disseram: "Porque Ele é bom, porque Sua aliança de lealdade dura para sempre".

⁴ Então, o rei e todo o povo ofereceram sacrifícios para Yahweh. ⁵ O rei Salomão ofereceu um sacrifício de vinte e dois mil bois e cento e vinte mil ovelhas e bodes. Assim, o rei e todo o povo consagraram a casa de Deus. ⁶ Os sacerdotes ficaram de pé, cada um no lugar onde servia; os levitas também, com instrumentos de música a Yahweh, os quais Davi, o rei, havia feito para dar graças a Yahweh na canção "Pois Sua aliança de lealdade dura para sempre". Todos os sacerdotes soaram as trombetas diante deles, e todo o Israel ficou de pé.

⁷ Salomão consagrou o meio do pátio em frente à casa de Yahweh. Lá, ele ofereceu as ofertas queimadas e a gordura das ofertas pacíficas, porque o altar de bronze que ele havia feito não foi capaz de suportar as ofertas queimadas, as ofertas de cereais, e a gordura.

⁸ Assim, Salomão manteve, naquele tempo, as festas por sete dias, e todo o Israel estava com ele, uma grande assembleia, desde Lebo-Hamate até o ribeiro do Egito. ⁹ No oitavo dia, eles realizaram a congregação solene porque mantiveram a consagração do altar por sete dias, e a festa por sete dias. ¹⁰ No vigésimo terceiro dia do sétimo mês, Salomão enviou as pessoas para suas casas com os corações contentes e cheios de alegria por causa da bondade que Yahweh havia mostrado a Davi, Salomão e a Israel, Seu povo.

¹¹ Assim, Salomão terminou a casa de Yahweh e sua própria casa. Todas as coisas que vieram ao coração de Salomão para fazer na casa de Yahweh e na sua própria, ele completou com sucesso. ¹² Yahweh apareceu a Salomão à noite, dizendo: "Eu ouvi tua oração, e Eu escolhi este lugar para Mim mesmo como uma casa de sacrifício.

¹³ Se Eu fechar os céus e não houver chuva, ou se Eu ordenar aos gafanhotos que devorem a terra, ou se Eu mandar doenças no meio do Meu povo; ¹⁴ então, se Meu povo, que é chamado pelo Meu Nome, se humilhar, orar, buscar a Minha face, e se voltar de seu mau caminho, Eu ouvirei do céu, perdoarei seu pecado e sararei sua terra. ¹⁵ Agora, Meus olhos estarão abertos e Meus ouvidos atentos para as orações feitas neste lugar.

¹⁶ Pois Eu tenho escolhido e dedicado esta casa para que Meu Nome esteja lá para sempre, e Meus olhos e Meu coração estarão lá todo o tempo. ¹⁷ No que se refere a ti, se andares diante de Mim, como Davi, teu pai, andou, obedecendo a tudo que Eu te ordenei e guardando Meus estatutos e Meus decretos, ¹⁸ então, estabelecerei o trono do teu reino, como Eu disse na aliança com Davi, teu pai, quando Eu disse: 'Um descendente teu nunca deixará de reinar em Israel'.

¹⁹ Mas, se vos afastardes e abandonardes Meus estatutos e Meus mandamentos que coloquei diante de vós, e se fordes e adorardes outros deuses e vos curvardes diante deles, ²⁰ então, Eu vos arrancarei da Minha terra que Eu vos dei. Esta Casa que Eu tenho dedicado para Meu Nome, vou lançar para longe de Mim, e farei com que isto seja um provérbio e uma piada no meio de todos os povos. ²¹ E, mesmo que este templo seja tão exaltado agora, todos os que passarem por ele ficarão chocados, e perguntarão: 'Por que Yahweh fez isto com esta terra e com esta Casa?'. ²² Outros responderão: 'Porque eles abandonaram Yahweh, seu Deus, que tirou seus ancestrais da terra do Egito, e se apegaram a outros deuses, e se curvaram a eles e os adoraram. Essa é a razão pela qual Yahweh trouxe todo esse desastre sobre eles'".

Capítulo 8

¹ Aconteceu que, ao final de vinte anos, durante os quais Salomão construiu a casa de Yahweh e sua própria casa, ² Salomão reconstruiu as cidades que Hirão deu a ele, e fez o povo de Israel viver ali.

³ Salomão atacou Hama-Zobá e a derrotou. ⁴ Ele construiu Tadmor no deserto, e todas as cidades armazéns em Hamate.

⁵ Também construiu Bete-Horom, a alta, e Bete-Horom, a baixa, cidades fortificadas com muros, portões e ferrolhos. ⁶ Ele construiu Baalate e todas as cidades armazéns que possuía, e todas as cidades para seus carros e as cidades para seus cavaleiros, e tudo que quis construir para seu prazer em Jerusalém, no Líbano e em todas as terras sob seu domínio.

⁷ Quanto a todas as pessoas que sobraram dos heteus, dos amorreus, dos perizeus, dos heveus e dos jebuseus, que não pertenciam a Israel, ⁸ seus descendentes que haviam ficado na terra depois deles, que o povo de Israel não destruiu, Salomão fez deles trabalhadores forçados, o que são até hoje.

⁹ Entretanto, Salomão não fez do povo de Israel trabalhadores forçados; ao invés disso, eles se tornaram seus soldados, seus comandantes, seus oficiais e comandantes da cavalaria e seus cavaleiros. ¹⁰ Esses foram também os oficiais comandantes que dirigiam os encarregados do rei Salomão — duzentos e cinquenta deles —, que supervisionavam o povo que fazia o trabalho.

¹¹ Salomão tirou a filha do Faraó da cidade de Davi, e levou para a casa que ele havia construído para ela, pois disse: "Minha esposa não deve viver na casa de Davi, rei de Israel, porque onde quer que a arca de Yahweh esteve é santo".

¹² Então, Salomão ofereceu holocaustos a Yahweh em Seu altar, que ele construiu em frente ao pórtico. ¹³ Ele ofereceu sacrifícios de acordo com a programação diária requerida; ele os ofereceu segundo as orientações encontradas nos mandamentos de Moisés sobre o Sábado, as luas novas e as festas fixas, três vezes a cada ano: a festa dos Pães Sem Fermento, a festa das Semanas e a festa dos Cabanas.

¹⁴ Seguindo os decretos de Davi, seu pai, Salomão designou as divisões dos trabalhos dos sacerdotes, e as posições dos levitas para louvar a Deus e para servir diante dos sacerdotes, de acordo com a programação diária requerida. Ele também designou os porteiros de acordo com suas divisões em cada portão, pois Davi, o homem de Deus, também havia ordenado isso. ¹⁵ Essas pessoas não se desviaram das ordens do rei aos sacerdotes e levitas, em relação a qualquer coisa, ou concernente aos armazéns.

¹⁶ Todo o trabalho ordenado por Salomão foi realizado, do dia da fundação da casa de Yahweh até a sua conclusão — a casa de Yahweh foi concluída. ¹⁷ Então, Salomão foi a Eziom-Geber e a Elate, na costa da terra do Edom. ¹⁸ Hirão lhe mandou navios comandados por oficiais que entendiam do mar; eles foram para Ofir, com os servos de Salomão; de lá eles trouxeram quatrocentos e cinquenta talentos de ouro para o rei Salomão.

Capítulo 9

¹ Quando a rainha de Sabá ouviu sobre a fama de Salomão, ela veio até Jerusalém para testá-lo com perguntas difíceis. Veio com grande caravana, com camelos carregados de especiarias, muito ouro e pedras preciosas. ² Quando chegou até Salomão, ela lhe contou tudo o que estava em seu coração. Salomão lhe respondeu todas as perguntas; nenhuma pergunta era tão difícil para Salomão; não houve pergunta que ele não respondesse.

³ Quando a rainha de Sabá viu a sabedoria de Salomão, o palácio que ele construíu, ⁴ a comida em sua mesa, o assento de seus servos, o trabalho de seus servos, os trajes deles, seus copeiros, os trajes deles e a maneira como ele oferecia holocausto na Casa de Yahweh, ela ficou como que fora de si.

⁵ Ela disse ao rei: "É verdadeiro o relato que ouvi em minha própria terra sobre tuas palavras e tua sabedoria. ⁶ Não acreditei no que ouvi até chegar aqui, e agora meus olhos têm visto. Nem a metade da tua grandeza e sabedoria me foi dita! Ultrapassaste a fama que ouvi sobre ti.

⁷ Quão abençoado são o teu povo e teus servos que, constantemente, estão diante de ti e ouvem a tua sabedoria. ⁸ Bendito seja Yahweh, teu Deus, o qual tomou prazer em ti e te colocou em Seu trono, para ser rei para Yahweh, teu Deus. Porque teu Deus amou Israel para o estabelecer para sempre, Ele te fez rei sobre eles, para que fizesses juízo e justiça!".

⁹ Ela deu ao rei cento e vinte talentos de ouro e uma grande quantidade de especiarias e pedras preciosas. E jamais foi dada a Salomão tamanha quantidade de especiarias como a que a rainha de Sabá lhe deu.

¹⁰ Os servos de Hirão e os servos de Salomão, que trouxeram ouro de Ofir, também trouxeram madeira de sândalo e pedras preciosas. ¹¹ Com a madeira, o rei fez degraus para a casa de Yahweh e para sua casa, assim como harpas e liras para os músicos. Nenhuma madeira como esta havia sido vista antes, na terra de Judá. ¹² O rei Salomão deu à rainha de Sabá tudo que ela desejou, tudo que ela pediu, mais do que ela trouxe ao rei. Então, ela e seus servos retornaram à sua terra.

¹³ Ora, o peso do ouro que trouxeram a Salomão, em um ano, foi de seiscentos e sessenta e seis talentos de ouro, ¹⁴ fora o ouro que os negociantes e mercadores trouxeram. Todos os reinos da Arábia e os governadores dos países também trouxeram ouro e prata a Salomão.

¹⁵ O rei Salomão fez duzentos grandes escudos de ouro batido, cada um deles tinha seiscentos siclos de ouro. ¹⁶ Fez também trezentos escudos de ouro batido, cada um com trezentos siclos de ouro, e o rei os colocou no palácio do bosque do Líbano.

¹⁷ Então, o rei fez um grande trono de marfim e o revestiu com o mais fino ouro. ¹⁸ Havia seis degraus até o trono, e a parte de cima do trono era arredondada atrás. Havia braços em cada lado do assento, e dois leões ficavam ao lado dos braços.

¹⁹ Doze leões ficavam nos degraus, um em cada lado dos seis degraus. Não havia um trono como este em nenhum outro reino. ²⁰ Todas as taças do rei Salomão eram de ouro, e todos as taças do palácio do bosque do Líbano eram de ouro puro. Nenhuma era de prata, porque a prata não era considerada valiosa nos dias de Salomão. ²¹ O rei tinha ao mar uma frota de navios oceânicos, juntamente com a frota de Hirão. A cada três anos, a frota trazia ouro, prata, marfim, assim como macacos e pavões.

²² Então, o rei Salomão excedeu a todos os reis da terra, tanto em riqueza como em sabedoria. ²³ Toda a terra buscava a presença de Salomão para ouvir sua sabedoria, que Deus havia colocado em seu coração. ²⁴ Aqueles que o visitavam traziam tributos, utensílios de prata e de ouro, vestes, armaduras, especiarias, assim como cavalos e mulas, ano após ano.

²⁵ Salomão tinha quatro mil estábulos para cavalos e carros e doze mil cavaleiros, os quais ele distribuiu nas cidades dos carros e consigo mesmo, em Jerusalém. ²⁶ Ele dominava sobre todos os reis, desde o rio Eufrates à terra dos filisteus e até a fronteira do Egito.

²⁷ O rei tinha prata em Jerusalém, tanto quanto as pedras no chão. Fez o cedro ser tão abundante quanto as figueiras de sicômoros que estão nas planícies. ²⁸ Trouxeram cavalos a Salomão, do Egito e de todas as terras.

²⁹ Quanto aos outros atos de Salomão, os primeiros e os últimos, porventura, não estão escritos no livro da história de Natã, o profeta, na profecia de Aías, o silonita e nas visões de Ito, o vidente, acerca de Jeroboão, filho de Nebate? ³⁰ Salomão reinou em Jerusalém, sobre todo Israel por quarenta anos. ³¹ Ele descansou com seus antepassados, e o sepultaram na cidade de Davi, seu pai; Roboão, seu filho, se tornou rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 10

¹ Roboão foi para Siquém, pois todo o Israel estava indo até lá para fazê-lo rei. ² Aconteceu que Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, ouviu sobre isso e voltou do Egito (pois tinha ido para lá, fugindo da presença do rei Salomão).

³ Então, eles mandaram chamá-lo. Jeroboão e todo o Israel foram, falaram com Roboão e disseram: ⁴ "Teu pai fez nosso jugo difícil. Agora, faz com que o trabalho pesado de teu pai seja fácil, alivia o jugo pesado que ele colocou em nós, e nós te serviremos". ⁵ Roboão lhes disse: "Voltai a mim depois de três dias". Então, o povo saiu.

⁶ O rei Roboão consultou os anciãos que estiveram perante Salomão, seu pai, quando ele ainda vivia. Ele disse: "Como me aconselharíeis a dar uma resposta a esse povo?". ⁷ Eles lhe disseram: "Se tu fores bom para com esse povo, o agradares e disseres boas palavras a eles, então eles sempre serão teus servos".

⁸ Roboão, porém, ignorou o conselho que os anciãos tinham lhe dado e consultou os jovens que cresceram com ele e que estiveram perante ele. ⁹ Ele lhes disse: "Que conselho me daríeis para que possamos responder ao povo que falou comigo e me disse: 'Alivia o jugo que teu pai colocou sobre nós'?".

¹⁰ Os jovens que cresceram com Roboão disseram: "Isso falarás ao povo que disse que teu pai, Salomão, fez pesado o jugo sobre eles, mas que tu deverias fazê-lo mais leve. Dize-lhes: 'Meu dedo mínimo é mais grosso que a cintura do meu pai. ¹¹ Agora, no entanto, se a carga de meu pai foi um jugo pesado, eu irei aumentá-lo. Meu pai vos puniu com açoites, porém eu vos punirei com escorpiões'".

¹² Então, Jeroboão e todo o povo vieram a Roboão no terceiro dia, como o rei instruíra, dizendo: "Voltai a mim no terceiro dia". ¹³ Roboão lhes respondeu rudemente, ignorando o conselho dos anciãos. ¹⁴ Ele lhes falou, seguindo o conselho dos jovens: "Meu pai fez pesado o vosso jugo, mas eu irei aumentá-lo. Meu pai vos puniu com açoites, porém eu vos punirei com escorpiões".

¹⁵ Assim, o rei não ouviu ao povo; pois essa mudança nos acontecimentos vinha de Deus, a fim de que Yahweh cumprisse a Sua palavra, que Aías, o silonita, falara a Jeroboão, filho de Nebate.

¹⁶ Quando todo o Israel viu que o rei não os ouvia, o povo lhe respondeu, dizendo: "Que parte temos nós com Davi? Não temos nós herança com o filho de Jessé! Cada um de vós deve voltar à sua própria tenda, Israel. Agora, vê a tua própria casa, Davi". Então, todo o Israel retornou para suas tendas. ¹⁷ Mas, quanto ao povo de Israel que habitava nas cidades de Judá, Roboão reinou sobre eles. ¹⁸ Então, o rei Roboão enviou Adorão, que era encarregado dos trabalhos forçados, porém o povo de Israel o apedrejou até a morte. O rei Roboão fugiu rapidamente, em sua carruagem, para Jerusalém. ¹⁹ Então, Israel se rebelou contra a casa de Davi até o dia de hoje.

Capítulo 11

¹ Quando Roboão chegou a Jerusalém, ele convocou as casas de Judá e Benjamim para lutar contra Israel, cento e oitenta mil homens que eram soldados, a fim de reconquistar o domínio para Roboão.

² Mas veio a palavra de Yahweh a Semaías, o homem de Deus, dizendo: ³ "Fala ao rei de Judá, Roboão, filho de Salomão, e a todo o Israel em Judá e Benjamim: ⁴ 'Yahweh diz: Tu não deves atacar ou fazer guerra contra teus irmãos. Cada homem deve retornar à sua casa, pois por minha vontade isso aconteceu.'". Assim, eles obedeceram às palavras de Yahweh e desistiram de atacar Jeroboão.

⁵ Roboão viveu em Jerusalém e construiu cidades em Judá para defesa. ⁶ Ele fortificou Belém, Etã, Tecoa, ⁷ Bete-Zur, Socó, Adulão, ⁸ Gate, Maressa, Zife, ⁹ Adoraim, Laquis, Azeca, ¹⁰ Zorá, Aijalom e Hebrom. Essas são as cidades fortificadas em Judá e em Benjamim.

¹¹ Ele reforçou as fortalezas e pôs comandantes nelas, com armazéns para a provisão de azeite e de vinho. ¹² Ele colocou escudos e lanças em cada cidade e edificou as cidades fortemente. Então, Judá e Benjamim lhe pertenceram.

¹³ Os sacerdotes e os levitas que estavam em todo o Israel vieram ter com ele dentro de suas fronteiras. ¹⁴ Os levitas deixaram seus pastos e propriedades, a fim de vir para Judá e Jerusalém, pois Jeroboão e seus filhos os tinham expulsado para longe, para que eles não pudessem mais exercer seus deveres sacerdotais para com Yahweh. ¹⁵ Jeroboão designou para si sacerdotes para os altares dos lugares altos e fez ídolos nas formas de bezerro e de cabra.

¹⁶ Pessoas de todas as tribos de Israel, aqueles que haviam colocado em seus corações buscar Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, seguiram os sacerdotes e vieram até Jerusalém para sacrificar a Yahweh, o Deus de seus pais. ¹⁷ Assim, eles fortaleceram o reino de Judá e fizeram Roboão, filho de Salomão, forte, durante três anos, pois eles seguiram, por três anos, o caminho de Davi e Salomão.

¹⁸ Roboão tomou como esposa Maalate, filha de Jeremote, filho de Davi com Abiail, filha de Eliabe, filho de Jessé. ¹⁹ Maalate lhe deu filhos: Jeús, Semarias e Zaão.

²⁰ Depois de Maalate, Roboão tomou Maacá, filha de Absalão. Ela lhe deu filhos: Abias, Atai, Ziza e Selomite. ²¹ Roboão amava Maacá, filha de Absalão, mais que todas as suas outras esposas e concubinas (ele tomou dezoito mulheres e sessenta concubinas e tornou-se pai de vinte e oito filhos e sessenta filhas).

²² Roboão designou Abias, filho de Maacá para ser chefe, um líder entre seus irmãos; ele pretendia fazê-lo rei. ²³ Roboão decidiu sabiamente: ele espalhou todos os seus filhos pela terra de Judá e de Benjamim, em cada cidade fortificada. Ele também lhes deu suprimentos em abundância e procurou muitas esposas para eles.

Capítulo 12

¹ Aconteceu que, quando o reinado de Roboão estava consolidado e no auge do poder, ele abandonou as leis de Yahweh e todo o Israel com ele.

² No quinto ano do reinado de Roboão, o rei do Egito, Sisaque, subiu para atacar Jerusalém, isso por causa da infidelidade do povo para com Yahweh. ³ Ele veio com mil e duzentas carruagens e sessenta mil cavaleiros; as tropas que vinham do Egito eram incontáveis, compostas de: líbios, suquitas e etíopes. ⁴ Ele conquistou as cidades fortificadas de Judá e alcançou Jerusalém.

⁵ Então, o profeta, Semaías, veio a Roboão e aos líderes de Judá que estavam reunidos em Jerusalém por causa de Sisaque. Semaías falou: "Assim diz Yahweh: 'Porque vós abandonastes a Mim, Eu vos entreguo nas mãos de Sisaque'". ⁶ Assim, os princípes de Israel e o rei se humilharam e disseram: "Yahweh é justo".

⁷ Quando Yahweh viu que eles se humilharam, a palavra de Yahweh veio a Semaías, dizendo: "Porque eles se humilharam, não mais os destruirei, Eu os pouparei parcialmente; isto é, a minha ira não será derramada sobre Jerusalém pelas mãos de Sisaque. ⁸ Porém, eles serão seus servos, para aprenderem a diferença entre servir Mim e servir a reinos estrangeiros".

⁹ Dessa forma, Sisaque, rei do Egito, atacou Jerusalém e apoderou-se dos tesouros da casa de Yahweh, e dos tesouros da casa do rei. Ele levou tudo, inclusive os escudos de ouro feitos por Salomão. ¹⁰ Para substituí-los, então, o rei Roboão mandou fazer escudos de bronze, e confiou-os nas mãos dos capitães da guarda, que cuidavam das portas da casa do rei.

¹¹ Toda vez que o rei dirigia-se à casa de Yahweh, vinham os guardas levando os escudos; depois os depositavam na casa dos guardas. ¹² Por ter Roboão se humilhado, a ira de Yahweh desviou-se dele, para não destruí-lo completamente. Além disso, em Judá, ainda havia algo bom a ser encontrado.

¹³ Assim, o rei Jeroboão, reinou e fortaleceu seu reinado em Jerusalém. Roboão tinha quarenta e um anos quando começou a reinar. O nome da sua mãe era Naamá, a amonita. Ele reinou durante dezessete anos em Jerusalém, a cidade que Yahweh escolheu dentre todas as tribos de Israel, para ali colocar o Seu nome. ¹⁴ Ele praticou o que era mau, porque não dispôs o coração para buscar a Yahweh. ¹⁵ Quanto aos demais assuntos, relacionados a Roboão, do começo ao fim, acaso não estão nas crônicas escritas por Semaías, o profeta, e por Ido, o vidente, que também registram as genealogias e as constantes guerras entre Roboão e Jeroboão? ¹⁶ Roboão morreu e foi sepuldado na cidade de Davi, junto com seus pais. Abias, seu filho, reinou em seu lugar.

Capítulo 13

¹ No décimo oitavo ano do rei Jeroboão, Abias começou a reinar sobre Judá. ² Ele governou por três anos em Jerusalém; o nome de sua mãe era Micaías, filha de Uriel, de Gibeá. Houve guerra entre Abias e Jeroboão. ³ Abias entrou na batalha com um exército de soldados corajosos e fortes; eram quatrocentos mil homens escolhidos. Jeroboão preparou as linhas de batalha contra ele com oitocentos mil homens escolhidos, soldados corajosos e fortes.

⁴ Abias ficou no monte Zemaraim, que fica na região montanhosa de Efraim, e disse: "Escutai-me, Jeroboão e todo o Israel! ⁵ Não sabeis que Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, deu a Davi o reinado sobre Israel para sempre, para ele e para os seus filhos através de uma Aliança formal?

⁶ Porém, Jeroboão, filho de Nebate, servo de Salomão, filho de Davi, se levantou e se rebelou contra seu senhor; ⁷ a ele se juntaram homens desocupados e perversos. Eles vieram contra Roboão, filho de Salomão, que era jovem e inexperiente e não poderia lhes resistir.

⁸ Agora, vós dizeis que podeis resistir ao governo poderoso de Yahweh, que está nas mãos dos filhos de Davi. Vós sois um grande exército, e tendes convosco os bezerros de ouro que Jeroboão fez como deuses para vós. ⁹ Não expulsastes os sacerdotes de Yahweh, os descendentes de Arão e os levitas? Não fizestes para vós sacerdotes semelhantes aos povos das outras terras? Quem quer que venha e se consagre com um novilho e sete carneiros pode tornar-se sacerdote dos que não são deuses.

¹⁰ Mas, quanto a nós, Yahweh é nosso Deus, e nós não O abandonamos. Nós temos sacerdotes, descendentes de Arão, servindo Yahweh, e os levitas, que estão no Seu trabalho. ¹¹ Todas as manhãs e todas as tardes eles oferecem a Yahweh ofertas queimadas e incensos aromáticos. Eles também organizam o pão sobre a mesa purificada cerimonialmente, e acendem o candelabro de ouro com as suas lâmpadas para queimarem toda tarde. Nós guardamos os mandamentos de Yahweh, nosso Deus, mas vós o deixastes.

¹² Deus está conosco, à nossa frente, e os seus sacerdotes estão aqui com as suas trombetas para soar o alarme contra vós. Povo de Israel, não luteis contra Yahweh, o Deus dos vossos antepassados, pois vós não tereis sucesso".

¹³ Mas Jeroboão preparou uma emboscada por trás deles; seu exército estava à frente de Judá, e a emboscada estava atrás deles. ¹⁴ Quando Judá olhou novamente, o combate estava adiante e a retaguarda deles. Eles clamaram a Yahweh, e os sacerdotes tocaram as trombetas. ¹⁵ Então, os homens de Judá gritaram e enquanto eles gritavam, aconteceu que, Deus feriu Jeroboão e todo o Israel diante de Abias e Judá.

¹⁶ O povo de Israel fugiu de Judá, pois Deus os entregou em suas mãos. ¹⁷ Abias e seu exército realizaram um grande massacre, e quinhentos mil homens escolhidos de Israel morreram. ¹⁸ Dessa maneira, o povo de Israel foi derrotado naquele tempo; o povo de Judá venceu porque eles confiaram em Yahweh, Deus de seus ancestrais.

¹⁹ Abias perseguiu Jeroboão e tomou cidades dele: Betel, Jesana e Efrom com suas respectivas vilas. ²⁰ Jeroboão não recuperou poder novamente durante todos os dias de Abias; Yahweh feriu Jeroboão e ele morreu. ²¹ Abias, porém, se tornou poderoso; ele tomou para si catorze mulheres e tornou-se o pai de vinte e dois filhos e dezesseis filhas. ²² O restante dos feitos de Abias, seus atos e palavras, estão escritos no livro da história do profeta Ido.

Capítulo 14

¹ Abias descansou com seus antepassados, e eles o enterraram na cidade de Davi. Asa, seu filho, se tornou rei em seu lugar. Em seus dias a terra esteve em paz por dez anos. ² Asa fez o que era bom e certo aos olhos de Yahweh, seu Deus, ³ pois ele removeu os altares estrangeiros e os lugares altos; ele derrubou as colunas de pedra e cortou os postes de Aserá. ⁴ Ele ordenou Judá a buscar Yahweh, o Deus de seus antepassados, e a obedecer as leis e os mandamentos.

⁵ Ele também removeu de todas as cidades de Judá os lugares altos e altares de incenso. O reino estava em paz sob seu governo. ⁶ Ele construiu cidades fortificadas em Judá, pois a terra estava em paz, e ele não teve guerra naqueles anos, pois Yahweh deu-lhe paz.

⁷ Asa disse a Judá: "Vamos construir estas cidades e fazer muros ao redor delas, torres, portões e trancas; a terra ainda é nossa, pois nós buscamos Yahweh, nosso Deus. Nós O buscamos, e Ele nos deu paz de todos os lados". Então eles construíram e tiveram êxito. ⁸ Asa tinha um exército que carregava escudos e lanças; de Judá ele tinha trezentos mil homens, e de Benjamim, duzentos e oitenta mil homens que carregavam escudos e atiravam com arcos. Todos esses eram homens corajosos e fortes.

⁹ Zerá, o etíope, veio contra eles com um exército de um milhão de soldados e trezentas carruagens, e chegou a Maressa. ¹⁰ Então, Asa foi ao encontro dele, e eles estabeleceram as linhas de batalha no vale de Zefatá em Maressa. ¹¹ Asa clamou a Yahweh, seu Deus, e disse: "Yahweh, não existe ninguém como Tu para socorrer os que não tem força, quando este está diante de muitos. Ajuda-nos, Yahweh, nosso Deus, pois confiamos em Ti, e em Teu nome viemos contra esse imenso número. Yahweh, Tu és nosso Deus; não deixa nenhum homem derrotar-Te".

¹² Então, Yahweh derrotou os etíopes diante de Asa e Judá; e os etíopes fugiram. ¹³ Asa, e os seus soldados, os perseguiram até Gerar. Caíram tantos etíopes que eles não puderam se recuperar, pois eles foram completamente destruídos diante de Yahweh e de Seu exército. O exército recolheu muito despojo. ¹⁴ O exército destruiu todas as vilas ao redor de Gerar, pois o terror de Yahweh veio sobre os habitantes. Também saqueou todas as vilas, pois havia muito despojo nelas. ¹⁵ O exército também destruiu as tendas nômades; eles levaram ovelhas em abundância, assim como camelos, e, então, eles retornaram a Jerusalém.

Capítulo 15

¹ O Espírito de Deus veio a Azarias, filho de Odede. ² Ele saiu ao encontro de Asa e lhe disse: "Ouvi-me, Asa, toda Judá e Benjamim: Yahweh é convosco, enquanto vós permanecerdes com Ele. Se vós, O buscardes, Ele será encontrado por vós; mas, se vós o abandonardes, Ele vos abandonará.

³ Ora, por um longo período, Israel estava sem o Deus verdadeiro, sem um sacerdote que os ensinasse, e sem a Lei. ⁴ Mas, em sua angústia eles se voltaram para Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, e O buscaram, Ele foi encontrado por eles. ⁵ Naqueles dias, não havia paz para os que saíam, nem para os que chegavam, em vez disso, grandes perturbações estavam sobre todos os habitantes das terras.

⁶ Eles estavam se despedaçando, nação contra nação, e cidade contra cidade, pois Deus os aflingiu com todos os tipos de sofrimento. ⁷ Mas, sede fortes e não deixeis que vossas mãos se cansem, pois o vosso trabalho será recompensado".

⁸ Quando Asa ouviu essas palavras, a profecia de Odede, o profeta, tomou coragem e se desfez de todas as coisas repugnantes da terra de Judá e Benjamim, e das cidades que ele havia conquistado da região montanhosa de Efraim; reconstruiu o altar de Yahweh, que estava em frente ao pórtico da Casa de Yahweh. ⁹ Ele reuniu todo o Judá e Benjamim, e todos os que ficaram com eles, de Efraim, Manassés e de Simeão. Eles vieram de Israel a ele em grande número, quando eles viram que Yahweh, seu Deus, estava com ele.

¹⁰ Então, se reuniram em Jerusalém no terceiro mês, no décimo quinto ano do reinado de Asa. ¹¹ Eles sacrificaram a Yahweh naquele dia alguns dos despojos que eles trouxeram: setecentos bois e sete mil ovelhas e cabras.

¹² Eles entraram em aliança para buscar Yahweh, o Deus de seus antepassados, de todo seu coração e de toda sua alma. ¹³ Eles concordaram que todo aquele que se recusasse a buscar Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, deveria ser morto, tanto pequeno como grande, tanto homem como mulher.

¹⁴ Eles juraram a Yahweh em alta voz, com júbilos, com trombetas e cornetas. ¹⁵ Todos de Judá se alegraram com o juramento, pois eles tinham jurado de todo coração, e eles buscaram a Deus com toda vontade, e Ele foi achado por eles. Yahweh deu-lhes paz a todos ao seu redor.

¹⁶ Ele também removeu Maacá, sua avó, de ser rainha, porque ela tinha feito uma imagem repugnante de Astarote. Asa destruiu a imagem repugnante, a reduziu a pó e a queimou junto ao ribeiro de Cedrom. ¹⁷ Porém, os lugares altos não foram retirados de Israel. No entanto, o coração de Asa foi totalmente devoto todos os seus dias. ¹⁸ Ele trouxe até a Casa de Deus as coisas de seu pai e suas próprias coisas que pertenciam a Yahweh: objetos de prata e ouro. ¹⁹ Não houve mais guerra até o trigésimo quinto ano do reinado de Asa.

Capítulo 16

¹ No trigésimo sexto ano do reinado de Asa, sendo Baasa o rei de Israel, este invadiu Judá e fortificou Ramá, para que ninguém pudesse sair do território de Asa, rei de Judá, ou entrar nele.

² Então, Asa trouxe a prata e o ouro dos depósitos da casa de Yahweh e da casa do rei e enviou a Ben-Hadade, rei da Síria, que morava em Damasco. Ele disse: ³ "Haja uma aliança entre mim e ti, como havia entre meu pai e teu pai. Olha, eu te enviei prata e outro. Quebra a aliança com Baasa, rei de Israel, para que assim ele possa me deixar em paz".

⁴ Ben-Hadade deu ouvidos ao rei Asa e enviou os comandantes dos seus exércitos contra as cidades de Israel. Eles atacaram Ijom, Dã, Abel-Maim e todas as cidades de armazenamento de Naftali. ⁵ Quando Baasa ouviu isso, ele parou de fortificar Ramá e cessou esse trabalho. ⁶ Então o rei Asa levou todo o Judá consigo, eles pegaram as pedras e as madeiras de Ramá, com as quais Baasa estava fortificando essa cidade, e usaram esse material para construir Geba e Mispá.

⁷ Naquele tempo o vidente Hanani veio a Asa, rei de Judá, e lhe disse: "O exército do rei da Síria escapou das tuas mãos porque tu confiaste no rei da Síria e não confiaste em Yahweh, teu Deus. ⁸ Não eram os etíopes e os líbios um exército enorme, com muitos carros de guerra e cavaleiros? Contudo, porque tu confiaste em Yahweh, Ele te deu a vitória sobre eles.

⁹ Os olhos de Yahweh percorrem todos os lugares sobre toda a terra, a fim de mostrar que Ele é forte para aqueles cujos corações são íntegros para com ele. Mas tu procedeste de forma tola nessa questão. Portanto, de ora em diante, tu terás guerra." ¹⁰ Então, irado por causa dessa questão, Asa lançou o vidente na prisão. Ao mesmo tempo, Asa oprimiu alguns do povo.

¹¹ Eis que os feitos de Asa, do primeiro ao último, estão escritos no Livros dos Reis de Judá e Israel. ¹² No trigésimo nono ano do seu reinado, Asa foi acometido de uma doença muito grave nos pés. Mesmo assim, ele não buscou ajuda de Yahweh, mas apenas dos médicos.

¹³ No quadragésimo primeiro ano do seu reinado, Asa morreu e descansou com seus antepassados. ¹⁴ Ele foi sepultado no mesmo túmulo que havia cavado para si na cidade de Davi. Seu corpo foi colocado num esquife cheio de incensos doces e vários tipos de especiarias preparadas por perfumistas habilidosos, e fizeram uma grande fogueira, em sua homenagem.

Capítulo 17

¹ Josafá, filho de Asa, reinou em seu lugar e se fortaleceu contra Israel. ² Ele colocou tropas em todas as cidades fortificadas de Judá e colocou guarnições na terra de Judá e nas cidades de Efraim, que Asa, seu pai, havia capturado.

³ Yahweh era com Josafá, porque ele andou nos primeiros caminhos de Davi, seu ancestral, e não seguiu os baalins. ⁴ Ao invés disso, ele buscou o Deus de seu ancestral, andou conforme seus mandamentos, e não de acordo com as obras de Israel.

⁵ Então, Yahweh estabeleceu o reino em sua mão; todo o Judá o trouxe tributos a Josafá. Ele teve riquezas e honra em abundância. ⁶ Seu coração estava comprometido com os caminhos de Yahweh. Ele também removeu os altares e os postes-ídolos de Aserá de Judá.

⁷ No terceiro ano de seu reinado, enviou seus oficiais Bene-Hail, Obadias, Zacarias, Netanel e Micaías para ensinarem nas cidades de Judá. ⁸ Com eles, estavam os levitas: Semaías, Netanias, Zebadias, Asael, Semiramote, Jônatas, Adonias, Tobias e Tobadonias; e com esses levitas, os sacerdotes Elisama e Jeorão. ⁹ Eles ensinaram em Judá, tendo o Livro da Lei de Yahweh com eles. Eles percorriam todas cidades de Judá e ensinavam o povo.

¹⁰ O temor de Yahweh caiu sobre todas os reinos das terras que estavam ao redor de Judá, de maneira que não guerrearam contra Josafá. ¹¹ Alguns dos filisteus trouxeram presentes a Josafá e prata como tributo. Os árabes também trouxeram a ele rebanhos, sete mil e setecentos carneiros e sete mil e setecentos bodes.

¹² Josafá tornou-se muito poderoso. Construiu fortalezas e cidades-celeiros em Judá. ¹³ Ele tinha muitos suprimentos nas cidades de Judá e soldados, homens fortes e corajosos, em Jerusalém.

¹⁴ Aqui está uma lista deles ordenada pelo nome das suas familias: em Judá, eram comandantes de mil: com o comandante Adná, trezentos mil guerreiros; ¹⁵ com o comandante Joanã, duzentos e oitenta mil homens; ¹⁶ e depois, com Amasias, filho de Zicri, que voluntariamente se ofereceu para servir a Yahweh, duzentos mil guerreiros.

¹⁷ De Benjamim: Eliadá, homem poderoso e destemido, e com ele, duzentos mil armados com arcos e escudos; ¹⁸ depois dele, Jozabade e, com ele, cento e oitenta mil preparados para a guerra; ¹⁹ Esses foram os que serviram ao rei Josafá, além daqueles a quem o rei designou para as cidades fortificadas por todo o Judá.

Capítulo 18

¹ Josafá possuía grandes riquezas e honra; ele aliou-se com Acabe, por ter casado sua filha com alguém da família dele. ² Depois de alguns anos, ele foi a Acabe em Samaria. Acabe matou muitas ovelhas e bois para ele e para o povo que estava com ele. Acabe também o persuadiu para, com ele, atacar Ramote-Gileade. ³ Acabe, rei de Israel, disse a Josafá, rei de Judá: "Tu virás comigo para Ramote-Gileade?". Josafá lhe respondeu: "Eu sou como tu, e meu povo é como o vosso povo; estaremos contigo na batalha".

⁴ Josafá disse ao rei de Israel: "Por favor, busca uma palavra de Yahweh como uma resposta para ti". ⁵ Então, o rei de Israel ajuntou os profetas, quatrocentos homens, e disse-lhes: "Devemos ir a Ramote-Gileade para a batalha ou não?". Eles lhe responderam: "Ataca, porque Deus vos dará vitória".

⁶ Mas, Josafá lhes disse: "Há ainda aqui algum outro profeta de Yahweh, de quem possamos buscar conselho?". ⁷ O rei de Israel disse a Josafá: "Ainda há um homem a quem podemos buscar conselho de Yahweh: Micaías, filho de Inlá. Mas eu o odeio porque ele nunca profetiza algo bom sobre mim, mas apenas dificuldades". Mas Josafá lhe disse: "Não digas isso, rei". ⁸ Então, o rei de Israel chamou um oficial comandante: "Traz Micaías, filho de Inlá, agora mesmo".

⁹ Acabe, rei de Israel, e Josafá, rei de Judá, estavam sentados cada um em um trono, vestidos com seus mantos, em um lugar aberto na entrada do portão de Samaria, e todos os profetas estavam profetizando diante deles. ¹⁰ Zedequias, filho de Quenaaná, fez para si chifres de ferro e disse-lhes: "Yahweh diz isto: 'Com estes ferirás os sírios até que sejam consumidos'". ¹¹ E todos os profetas profetizavam o mesmo, dizendo: "Ataca Ramote-Gileade e vence, porque Yahweh a entregará nas mãos do rei".

¹² O mensageiro que foi chamar Micaías lhe disse: "Agora, olha as palavras dos profetas que declaram coisas boas ao rei a uma só voz. Por favor, que tua palavra seja como a palavra de um deles e diz coisas boas". ¹³ Micaías lhe respondeu: "Assim como Yahweh vive, o que Deus disser é o que eu lhe direi". ¹⁴ Quando ele veio ao rei, o rei lhe disse: "Micaías, devemos ir a Ramote-Gileade para a batalha ou não?" Micaías lhe respondeu: "Ataca e sê vitorioso! Pois será uma grande vitória".

¹⁵ Então, o rei lhe disse: "Quantas vezes devo exigir que jures me dizer apenas a verdade no Nome de Yahweh?". ¹⁶ Então, Micaías lhe respondeu: "Eu vi todo Israel disperso nas montanhas, como ovelhas sem pastor, e Yahweh disse: 'Estes não têm pastor. Que todo homem retorne à sua casa em paz'".

¹⁷ Então, o rei de Israel disse a Josafá: "Não te disse que ele não profetizaria coisas boas sobre mim, mas apenas dificuldades?". ¹⁸ Então, Micaías disse: "Portanto, todos vós deveis ouvir a palavra de Yahweh! Eu vi Yahweh sentando em Seu trono, e todo o exército celestial em pé à Sua direita e à Sua esquerda.

¹⁹ Yahweh lhes disse: 'Quem enganará Acabe, rei de Israel, para que suba e caia em Ramote-Gileade?'. Um lhe respondeu de uma maneira, e outro de outra meneira.

²⁰ Então, um espírito veio, ficou perante Yahweh, e lhe disse: 'Eu os enganarei'. Yahweh lhe disse: 'Como?' ²¹ O espírito lhe respondeu: 'Irei e me tornarei um espírito mentiroso na boca de todos os seus profetas'. Yahweh lhe respondeu: 'Tu os enganarás, e ainda serás bem sucedido. Vai agora e faz isto'.

²² Então, Yahweh colocou um espírito mentiroso na boca destes profetas, e Yahweh decretou desastres a teu respeito".

²³ Então, Zedequias, filho de Quenaaná, veio a Micaías e lhe deu um tapa no rosto, e lhe disse: "De que caminho o Espírito de Yahweh saiu de mim para falar a ti?". ²⁴ Micaías lhe disse: "Tu saberás naquele dia, quando correres para alguma sala interna para esconder-te".

²⁵ O rei de Israel disse a alguns servos: "Pegai Micaías e levai-o a Amom, o governador da cidade, e a Joás, meu filho. ²⁶ Dizei-lhe: 'O rei vos fala: colocai este homem na prisão e alimentai-o com apenas um pouco de pão e um pouco de água, até que eu retorne a salvo'". ²⁷ Então, Micaías lhe disse: "Se retornares a salvo, então, Yahweh não falou por mim", e ainda acrescentou: "Ouvi isso, todos do povo!".

²⁸ Então, Acabe, rei de Israel, e Josafá, rei de Judá, subiram contra Ramote-Gileade. ²⁹ O rei de Israel disse a Josafá: "Eu me disfarçarei e entrarei na batalha mas, tu, veste os trajes reais". Então, o rei de Israel disfarçou-se, e foram à batalha. ³⁰ O rei da Síria havia mandado aos capitães de seus carros, dizendo: "Não ataqueis os soldados menos importantes e nem os mais importantes; em vez disso, atacai apenas o rei de Israel".

³¹ Sucedeu que, quando os capitães dos carros viram Josafá, disseram: "Este é o rei de Israel". Viraram-se para atacá-lo, mas Josafá clamou e Yahweh o ajudou; Deus os desviou dele. ³² E aconteceu que, quando os comandantes dos carros viram que não era o rei de Israel, desistiram de persegui-lo.

³³ Mas um certo homem puxou seu arco ao acaso e atirou no rei de Israel entre as juntas da sua armadura. Então, Acabe disse ao condutor de seu carro: "Volta e leva-me desta batalha, pois estou gravemente ferido". ³⁴ A batalha piorou naquele dia, e o rei de Israel manteve-se em seu carro, encarando os sírios até a noite. Por volta do tempo em que o sol estava se pondo, ele morreu.

Capítulo 19

¹ Josáfa, rei de Judá, retornou em paz para sua casa em Jerusalém. ² Então, Jeú, filho de Hanani, o vidente, foi ao encontro do rei Josafá e lhe disse: "Deverias tu ajudar o perverso? Deverias tu amar aqueles que odeiam Yahweh? Por isso, a ira de Yahweh está sobre ti. ³ No entanto, alguma bondade pode ser encontrada em ti, porque tiraste os postes de Aserá da terra e dispuseste teu coração a buscar a Deus".

⁴ Josafá viveu em Jerusalém e foi novamente passar pelo meio do povo, de Berseba até as regiões montanhosas de Efraim, e os trouxe de volta a Yahweh, o Deus de seus pais. ⁵ Ele estabeleceu juízes na terra de uma a outra extremidade, em todas as cidades fortificadas de Judá, cidade por cidade.

⁶ Ele disse aos juízes: "Considerai o que fareis, porque não julgareis para homens, mas para Yahweh! Ele está convosco nos julgamentos. ⁷ Que o temor de Yahweh esteja sobre vós. Sede cuidadosos quando julgardes, pois não há iniquidade com Yahweh, vosso Deus, nem qualquer favoritismo ou barganha".

⁸ Além disso, em Jerusalém, Josafá nomeou alguns dos levitas, sacerdotes e alguns dos ancestrais das famílias de Israel para cuidar dos julgamentos para Yahweh e por causa das disputas. Então, retornaram a Jerusalém. ⁹ Ele os instruiu, dizendo-lhes: "Deveis servir em reverência a Yahweh, com fidelidade e com um coração perfeito. Isso é o que deveis fazer:

¹⁰ Sempre que chegar até vós alguma controvérsia de vossos irmãos que vivem em vossas cidades, seja sobre derramamento de sangue, sobre leis e mandamentos, sobre estatutos ou decretos, devereis avisá-los para que não cometam pecado contra Yahweh, e então Sua ira não virá sobre vós e sobre vossos irmãos. Se agirdes dessa forma, não sereis culpados.

¹¹ Vede! Amarias, o chefe dos sacerdotes, presidirá sobre vós nos negócios que pertencem a Yahweh; Zebadias, filho de Ismael, chefe da tribo de Judá, está encarregado de todos os assuntos do rei; e também os levitas serão oficiais a vosso serviço. Procedei corajosamente, e que Yahweh esteja com aqueles que são bons".

Capítulo 20

¹ Aconteceu que, depois disso, o povo de Moabe, de Amom e com eles alguns meunitas, vieram contra Josafá para guerrear. ¹ ² Então, alguém veio a Josafá, dizendo: "Uma grande multidão está vindo contra ti de além do mar Morto, de Harã. Vê, eles estão em Hazazom-Tamar", que é En-Gedi. ²

³ Josafá começou a temer, pôs-se a buscar Yahweh e proclamou um jejum em toda Judá. ⁴ Judá se reuniu para buscar Yahweh; eles vieram de todas as cidades de Judá.

⁵ Josafá permaneceu na congregação de Judá e Jerusalém, na casa de Yahweh, de frente ao novo pátio, ⁶ e disse: "Yahweh, Deus de nossos ancestrais, não és Deus nos céus? Não és Tu o soberano de todos os reinos das nações? Poder e força estão em Tuas mãos, para que ninguém Te resista. ⁷ Deus nosso, não lançaste fora os habitantes desta terra diante do povo de Israel, e os deste para sempre aos descendentes de Abraão?

⁸ Habitaram nela e edificaram lá um santuário para o Teu Nome, dizendo: ⁹ 'Se um desastre vier a nós — a espada do Teu julgamento, ou praga, ou fome —, nós nos apresentaremos diante desta Casa, diante de Ti, pois o Teu Nome está nesta Casa, e clamaremos em nossa angústia, e Tu nos ouvirás e nos livrarás'. ³ .

¹⁰ Ora, aqui está o povo de Amom, Moabe e monte Seir, os quais não deixaste que Israel os invadisse, quando saíram da terra do Egito; ao invés disso, Israel se afastou deles e não os destruiu. ¹¹ Vê como eles nos retribuem: estão vindo para expulsar-nos da terra que nos destes por herança.

¹² Nosso Deus, não os julgarás? Pois não possuímos poder contra o grande exército que está vindo contra nós. Não sabemos o que fazer, mas nossos olhos estão voltados para Ti". ¹³ Todo povo estava em pé diante de Yahweh, com os seus pequeninos, esposas e crianças.

¹⁴ Então, no meio da congregação, o Espírito de Yahweh veio sobre Jaaziel, filho de Zacarias, filho de Benaia, filho de Matanias, o levita, um dos filhos de Asafe. ¹⁵ E Jaaziel lhes disse: "Escutai, todo Judá e todos vós, habitantes de Jerusalém, e o rei Josafá! Isto é o que Yahweh vos diz: 'Não temais, nem vos assusteis por causa desse grande exército; pois a batalha não vos pertence, mas a Deus.

¹⁶ Descereis amanhã contra eles. Vede, estão subindo pelo caminho da passagem de Ziz! Vós os encontreis na extremidade do vale, em frente ao deserto de Jeruel. ¹⁷ Não tereis de lutar nesta batalha. Ficai em vossas posições! Ficai parados, e vede Yahweh vos resgatar — a Judá e a Jerusalém. Não temais nem fiqueis desencorajados. Ide contra eles amanhã, pois Yahweh está convosco'".

¹⁸ Josafá prostrou sua cabeça e sua face ao chão. Todo Judá e os habitantes de Jerusalém se ajoelharam diante de Yahweh para O adorar. ¹⁹ Os levitas, dos descendentes dos coatitas e coraítas, se levantaram e adoraram a Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, em alta voz.

²⁰ Logo de manhã, eles se levantaram e saíram para o deserto de Tecoa. Quando saíam, Josafá levantou-se e disse: "Escutai-me, Judá e vós, habitantes de Jerusalém! Confiai em Yahweh, vosso Deus, e sereis amparados; confiai em Seus profetas e sereis bem sucedidos." ²¹ Quando ele consultou o povo, designou aqueles que iriam cantar para Yahweh e dar-Lhe graças por Sua santidade e glória, quando saíram à frente do exército, e disse-lhes: "Dai graças a Yahweh, pois Sua fiel aliança dura para sempre".

²² Quando começaram a cantar e render graças, Yahweh preparou homens para emboscar o povo de Amom, Moabe e monte Seir, que foram contra Judá. Eles foram derrotados ²³ pois o povo de Amom e o povo de Moabe se levantaram para lutar contra os habitantes de monte Seir, para que fossem completamente destruídos e mortos. Quando terminaram com os habitantes do monte Seir, todos ajudaram a se destruirem uns aos outros.

²⁴ Quando Judá chegou ao posto de vigilância no deserto, eles procuraram o exército, observaram, e estavam todos mortos, caídos pelo chão; ninguém escapou.

²⁵ Quando Josafá e seu povo vieram saquear os despojos, encontraram entre eles grande abundância de riquezas, roupas e joias preciosas, que tomaram para si, mais do que poderiam carregar. Levou três dias para eles carregarem os despojos, porque eram muitos. ⁴ ²⁶ No quarto dia, eles se ajuntaram em uma assembleia no vale de Beraca. Ali adoraram a Yahweh; por isso o nome daquele lugar é vale de Beraca, até os dias de hoje.

²⁷ Então eles retornaram, todos os homens de Judá e Jerusalém, com Josafá à frente, para ir novamente a Jerusalém com alegria, pois Yahweh lhes fez regozijar sobre seus inimigos. ²⁸ Vieram a Jerusalém e à casa de Yahweh com liras, harpas e trombetas.

²⁹ O temor de Deus veio sobre todos os reinos das nações quando ouviram que Yahweh havia lutado contra os inimigos de Israel. ³⁰ Então, o reino de Josafá se aquietou pois seu Deus lhe deu paz com todos ao seu redor.

³¹ Josafá reinou sobre Judá; ele tinha trinta e cinco anos de idade quando começou a reinar, e reinou em Jerusalém durante vinte e cinco anos. O nome de sua mãe era Azuba, filha de Sili. ³² Ele andou nos caminhos de Asa, seu pai; não se desviou deles. Fez o que era bom aos olhos de Yahweh; ³³ porém, os santuários não foram removidos, nem o povo voltou seus corações ao Deus de seus antepassados.

³⁴ Já os outros assuntos a respeito de Josafá, do começo ao fim, foram escritos na história de Jeú, filho de Hanani, que foi escrito no Livro dos Reis de Israel.

³⁵ Depois disso, Josafá, rei de Judá, se aliou com Acazias, o rei de Israel, que havia cometido muita maldade. ³⁶ Ele se aliou com ele para construir navios para ir a Társis; eles os construíram em Enziom-Geber. ³⁷ Então Eliézer, filho de Dodavá, de Maressa, profetizou contra Josafá, dizendo-lhe: "Porque te aliastes com Acazias, Yahweh destruiu todos os teus projetos". Os navios foram despedaçados de forma que não foi possível navegar.

¹A expressão alguns meunitas representa uma correção do texto hebraico, que traz alguns amonitas . Acredita-se que meunitas era o original, e que um copista mudou para alguns amonitas ; mas esta última forma não faz sentido porque os amonitas já foram mencionados nesse versículo. Entretanto, diferentes versões lidam com este problema de diferentes formas.

²Em vez de Harã, algumas versões antigas e modernas trazem Edom.

³Em vez de julgamento , algumas versões antigas e modernas trazem dilúvio

⁴Em vez de entre eles , algumas versões antigas e modernas trazem gado . Em vez de roupas , algumas versões trazem corpos mortos .

Capítulo 21

¹ Josafá dormiu com seus ancestrais e foi sepultado com eles, na cidade de Davi; Jeorão, seu filho, tornou-se rei em seu lugar. ² Jeorão tinha irmãos, filhos de Josafá: Azarias, Jeiel, Zacarias, Azarias, Micael e Sefatias. Todos eram filhos de Josafá, rei de Israel. ³ Seu pai tinha lhes dado grandes presentes de prata, ouro, outras coisas preciosas e também as cidades fortificadas de Judá; mas ele deu o trono a Jeorão porque ele era seu primogênito.

⁴ Quando Jeorão assumiu o reino de seu pai e se estabeleceu firmemente como rei, matou todos os seus irmãos com a espada e também vários outros líderes de Israel. ⁵ Jeorão tinha trinta e dois anos quando começou a reinar e reinou por oito anos em Jerusalém.

⁶ Ele andou pelos caminhos dos reis de Israel, como a casa de Acabe estava fazendo, pois havia tomado a filha de Acabe como sua esposa, ele fez o que era mau à vista de Yahweh. ⁷ No entanto, Yahweh não quis destruir a casa de Davi, por causa da aliança que tinha feito com Davi; pois Ele havia prometido que sempre lhe daria vida e aos seus descendentes.

⁸ Nos dias de Jeorão, Edom se revoltou do controle de Judá e instituiu um rei. ⁹ Então, Jeorão atravessou com o seus comandantes e todas as suas carruagens. Isso aconteceu quando se levantou à noite e lutou contra os edomitas, os quais tinham cercado a ele e aos comandantes de suas carruagens. ¹⁰ Assim, Edom tinha estado em rebelião do poder de Judá até este presente dia. Libna também se revoltou ao mesmo tempo do seu controle, porque Jeorão tinha deixado Yahweh, o Deus de seus antepassados.

¹¹ Além disso, Jeorão tinha construído lugares altos nas montanhas de Judá e fez os habitantes de Jerusalém viverem como prostitutas. Ele levou Judá à perdição.

¹² Então veio a Jeorão a carta do profeta Elias. Ela dizia: "Isto é o que Yahweh, o Deus de Davi, teu ancestral, diz: Porque não andaste nos caminhos de Josafá, teu pai, nem nos caminhos de Asa, rei de Judá, ¹³ mas tens andado nos caminhos dos reis de Israel e fizeste Judá e seus habitantes de Jerusalém agirem como uma prostituta, como a casa de Acabe fez, e porque mataste com a espada teus irmãos na família de teu pai, homens que eram melhores que tu, ¹⁴ vê, Yahweh atacará com uma grande praga o teu povo, tuas crianças, tuas mulheres e todos os teus bens. ¹⁵ Tu mesmo ficarás muito enfermo por causa de uma doença em teus intestinos, até teus intestinos cairão fora por causa da doença, dia após dia'".

¹⁶ Yahweh despertou contra Jeorão os espíritos dos filisteus e dos árabes que estavam perto dos etíopes. ¹⁷ Eles atacaram Judá, invadiram seu território e levaram todos os bens que foram encontrados na casa do rei. Eles também carregaram seus filhos e suas mulheres. Nenhum filho foi deixado a ele, exceto Jeoacaz, o mais novo.

¹⁸ Depois de tudo disso, Yahweh o feriu com uma doença incurável no intestino. ¹⁹ Aconteceu, no devido tempo, no final de dois anos, que seus intestinos caíram fora por conta da sua doença, e ele morreu dessa doença severa. Seu povo não fez fogo em sua honra como tinha feito para os seus antepassados. ²⁰ Ele começou a reinar quando tinha trinta e dois anos, reinou em Jerusalém por oito anos e morreu sem lamentação. Foi sepultado na cidade de Davi, mas não nos túmulos reais.

Capítulo 22

¹ Os habitantes de Jerusalém fizeram rei, em lugar de seu pai, a Acazias, seu filho mais novo, pois a tropa de homens que vieram com os árabes ao acampamento tinha matado todos os seus filhos mais velhos. Assim, Acazias, filho de Jeorão, rei de Judá, tornou-se rei. ² Acazias tinha quarenta e dois anos quando começou a reinar; ele reinou por um ano em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Atalia, filha de Onri. ³ Ele também andou nos caminhos da casa de Acabe, pois sua mãe era sua conselheira em fazer coisas más.

⁴ Acazias fez o que era mau à vista de Yahweh, como os da casa de Acabe estavam fazendo, pois eles eram seus conselheiros depois da morte de seu pai, para sua destruição. ⁵ Ele também seguiu seus conselhos. Foi com Jorão, filho de Acabe, rei de Israel, para lutar contra Hazael, rei da Síria, em Ramote-Gileade. Os sírios feriram Jorão.

⁶ Jorão voltou para ser curado em Jezreel das feridas que lhe fizeram em Ramá, quando ele lutou contra Hazael, rei da Síria. Assim, Acazias, filho de Jeorão, rei de Judá, desceu até Jezreel para ver Jorão, filho de Acabe, pois Jorão havia sido ferido.

⁷ Ora, a destruição de Acazias foi feita por meio de Deus, pela da visita a Jorão. Quando ele chegou, foi com Jorão para atacar Jeú, filho de Ninsi, a quem Yahweh havia escolhido para destruir a casa de Acabe. ⁸ Aconteceu quando Jeú estava executando o julgamento de Deus, na casa de Acabe, que ele encontrou os líderes de Judá e os filhos dos irmãos de Acazias servindo Acazias. Jeú os matou.

⁹ Jeú procurou por Acazias; encontraram-no escondendo-se em Samaria, trouxeram-no para Jeú e o mataram. Então, sepultaram-no, pois disserm: "Ele é um filho de Josafá, que buscava Yahweh com todo o coração. Assim, a casa de Acazias não tinha mais poder para governar o reino.

¹⁰ Ora, quando Atalia, mãe de Acazias, viu que seu filho estava morto, levantou-se e matou todas as crianças reais na casa de Judá. ¹¹ Mas Jeosabeate, uma filha do rei, tomou Joás, filho de Acazias, e o levou do meio dos filhos do rei que foram mortos. Ela o colocou em um quarto com sua ama. Assim, Jeosabeate, uma filha do rei Jeorão, a esposa de Joiada, o sacerdote (pois ela era irmã de Acazias), escondeu-o de Atalia, para que Atalia não o matasse. ¹² Joás estava com eles, escondido na Casa de Deus, por seis anos, enquanto Atalia reinava sobre a terra.

Capítulo 23

¹ No sétimo ano, Joiada mostrou sua força e entrou numa aliança com os comandantes de centenas, Azarias filho de Jeroão, Ismael filho de Joanã, Azarias filho de Obede, Maaseias filho de Adaías, e Elisafate, filho de Zicri. ² Eles foram sobre Judá e reuniram os levitas de todas as cidades de Judá, assim como os cabeças das casas ancestrais de Israel, e eles vieram para Jerusalém. ³ Toda a assembleia fez uma aliança com o rei na casa de Deus. Joiada lhes disse: "Veja, o filho do rei reinará, assim como Yahweh havia dito a respeito dos descententes de Davi.

⁴ Isso é o que deveis fazer: um terço de seus sacerdotes e dos levitas que vieram para servir no sábado, serão guardas das portas, ⁵ outro terço será na casa do rei e o outro terço será à Porta do Fundamento. Todo o povo estará no pátio da casa de Yahweh.

⁶ Não deixeis que ninguém entre na casa de Yahweh, exceto os sacerdotes e os levitas que estão servindo. Eles podem entrar, pois eles são consagrados. Todas as outras pessoas devem obedecer os mandamentos de Yahweh. ⁷ Os levitas rodearão o rei de todos os lados, todos os homens, cada um com sua arma em mãos. Qualquer que entrar na casa, que seja morto. Fique com o rei quando ele entrar e quando ele sair".

⁸ Assim, os levitas e toda a Judá fizeram tudo conforme o sacerdote Joiada ordenou. Cada um tomou seus homens, aqueles que estavam indo servir no sábado, e aqueles que estavam deixando de servir no sábado, pois Joiada, o sacerdote, não dispensou nenhuma das suas divisões. ⁹ Então Joiada, o sacerdote, trouxe aos comandantes lanças e pequenos e grandes escudos, que pertenciam ao rei Davi que estavam na casa de Deus.

¹⁰ Joiada colocou todos os soldados, cada homem com sua arma em sua mão, do lado direito do templo até o lado esquerdo do templo, do lado do altar e o templo, ao redor do rei. ¹¹ Então, trouxeram para fora o filho do rei, puseram-lhe a coroa, e entregaram-lhe os decretos da aliança. Então eles o fizeram rei, e Joiada e seus filhos o ungiram. Então eles disseram: "Vida longa ao rei".

¹² Quando Atalia ouviu o barulho das pessoas correndo e adorando o rei, ela veio ao povo na casa de Yahweh. ¹³ E ela olhou, e eis que o rei estava junto a seu pilar na entrada e os comandantes e trompetistas estavam com o rei. Todo o povo da terra estava regozijando e tocando trompetes; os cantores estavam tocando instrumentos musicais e dirigiam o canto de louvores. Então Atalia rasgou suas vestes e gritou: "Traição! Traição!".

¹⁴ Então, Joiada, o sacerdote, trouxe para fora os comandantes de centenas que estavam sobre o exército e disse-lhes: "Traga ela para fora das fileiras; qualquer um que a seguir, deixe-o ser morto com a espada". Pois o sacerdote disse: "Não a matem na casa de Yahweh". ¹⁵ Assim, eles a prenderam e a levaram até a entrada da porta do cavalo da casa do rei, e ali a mataram.

¹⁶ Então, Joiada fez uma aliança entre si mesmo, todo o povo e com o rei, que eles deveriam ser o povo de Yahweh. ¹⁷ Todo o povo foi à casa de Baal e a destruiu. Eles quebraram os altares de Baal e suas imagens em pedaços e eles mataram Matã, o sacerdote de Baal, em frente daqueles altares.

¹⁸ Joiada apontou oficiais para a casa de Yahweh sobre a mão dos sacerdotes, os quais eram levitas, o qual Davi tinha designado a casa de Yahweh, para ofertar as ofertas queimadas a Yahweh, assim como estava escrito na lei de Moisés, junto com regozijos e canções, assim como Davi direcionou. ¹⁹ Joiada montou guardas nos portões da casa de Yahweh, assim, ninguém que estava impuro, de qualquer maneira, deveria entrar.

²⁰ Joiada levou com ele os comandantes de centenas, os nobres, os governadores do povo e todas as pessoas da terra. Conduziu o rei da casa de Yahweh; o povo veio através da porta superior para a casa do rei e colocou o rei no trono do reino. ²¹ Assim todo o povo da terra se regozijou, e a cidade estava tranquila. Quanto a Atalia, eles a mataram à espada.

Capítulo 24

¹ Joás tinha sete anos quando começou seu reinado; reinou por quarenta anos em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Zíbia, de Berseba. ² Joás fez o que era bom aos olhos de Yahweh em todos os dias do sacerdote Joiada. ³ Joiada tomou duas mulheres para ele, e tornou-se pai de filhos e filhas.

⁴ Aconteceu, depois dessas coisas, que Joás decidiu restaurar a casa de Yahweh. ⁵ Ele reuniu os sacerdotes e levitas, e disse-lhes: "Ide todos os anos nas cidades de Judá e recolham de todo o Israel dinheiro para a restauração da casa de vosso Deus. Tenham certeza de começar logo". De inicio os levitas nada fizeram.

⁶ Assim, o rei chamou Joiada, o sumo sacerdote, e disse-lhe: "Por que não requerestes dos levitas que trouxessem de Judá e Jerusalém a taxa estabelecida por Moisés, o servo de Yahweh, e pela assembleia de Israel, para a tenda dos decretos da aliança?". ⁷ Pois os filhos de Atalia, aquela mulher ímpia, que arruinaram a Casa de Deus, e deram todas as coisas sagradas da Casa de Yahweh aos cultos aos baalins.

⁸ Assim, o rei ordenou e fizeram um baú e o colocaram do lado de fora da entrada da casa de Yahweh. ⁹ Então, anunciaram em Judá e Jerusalém, para que o povo trouxesse para Yahweh as taxas que Moisés o servo de Deus estabeleceu para Israel no deserto. ¹⁰ Todos os líderes e todo o povo regozijaram e trouxeram o dinheiro e colocaram no baú até terminar de enchê-lo.

¹¹ Aconteceu que, sempre que traziam o baú aos oficiais do rei pela mão dos levitas, e sempre que viam que havia muito dinheiro nele, o escriba do rei e o oficial do sumo sacerdote vinham e esvaziavam o baú, e o levavam de volta ao seu lugar. Fizeram isso dia após dia, juntando uma grande quantidade de dinheiro. ¹² O rei e Joiada deram o dinheiro para aqueles que fizeram o trabalho de servir na casa de Yahweh. Esses homens contrataram pedreiros e carpinteiros para restaurar a casa de Yahweh, e também aqueles que trabalhavam com ferro e bronze.

¹³ Aqueles que tinham o encargo do trabalho faziam que o trabalho de reparação fosse crescendo por suas mãos. Eles restauraram a casa de Deus em seu desenho original e o fortaleceu. ¹⁴ Quando terminaram, trouxeram o resto do dinheiro ao rei e a Joiada. Este dinheiro foi usado para fazer movéis para a casa de Yahweh, utensílios nas quais para servir e fazer ofertas, colheres e utensílios de ouro e prata. Ofereceram ofertas queimadas na Casa de Yahweh continuamente, todos os dias de Joiada.

¹⁵ Joiada envelheceu e estava com idade avançada de cento e trinta anos de idade quando morreu. ¹⁶ O sepultaram na cidade de Davi, junto com os reis, porque ele havia feito o bem em Israel, para com Deus, e à Casa de Deus.

¹⁷ Após a morte de Joiada, os lideres de Judá vieram e honraram o rei. E o rei os ouviu. ¹⁸ Eles abandonaram a Casa de Yahweh, o Deus de seus ancestrais, e louvaram aos deuses de Astarote e os ídolos. A ira de Deus veio sobre Judá e Jerusalém por causa dos erros deles. ¹⁹ Mesmo assim Ele lhes enviou profetas para os trazer de volta a Yahweh. Os profetas testificaram contra o povo, mas, eles se recusaram a ouví-los.

²⁰ O Espírito de Deus veio sobre Zacarias filho do sacerdote Joiada. Zacarias se levantou sobre o povo e disse-lhes: "Disse Deus: 'Por que vós estais transgredindo os mandamentos de Yahweh, fazendo com que não prospereis? Desde quando abandonaram Yahweh, Ele também vos abandonou'". ²¹ Mas eles conspiraram contra ele. Sob a ordem do rei, eles o apredejaram no pátio da casa de Yahweh. ²² Desta forma, o rei Joás ignorou a bondade que Joiada, pai de Zacarias, fizera com ele. Ao invés disso, ele matou o filho de Joiada. Quando Zacarias estava morrendo, disse: "Que Yahweh veja e te faça prestar contas disso".

²³ E aconteceu que, no final do ano, o exército da Síria se levantou contra Joás. Eles vieram a Judá e Jerusalém; mataram todos os líderes do povo, e enviaram todos os despojos ao rei de Damasco. ²⁴ O exército de sírios vieram com um exército pequeno, mas Yahweh os deu a vitória sobre um grande exército, pois Judá abandonou Yahweh, o Deus de seus ancestrais. Dessa forma, os sirios trouxeram o julgamento sobre Joás.

²⁵ Quando os sírios se foram, deixaram Joás gravemente ferido. E seus próprios servos conspiraram contra ele, por causa do assassinato do filho do sacerdote Joiada. Eles o mataram em sua cama e o sepultaram na cidade de Davi, mas não nas tumbas dos reis. ²⁶ Estes foram os que conspiraram contra ele: foram Zabade, filho de Simeate, a amonita, e Jeozabade, filho de Sinrite, a moabita.

²⁷ Quanto aos filhos de Joás, as importantes profecias ditas sobre ele e a reconstrução da casa de Deus, eis que estão escritos no livro dos reis. E Amazias, seu filho, tornou-se rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 25

¹ Amazias tinha vinte e cinco anos quando começou a reinar. Reinou por vinte e nove anos em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Jeoadã, de Jerusalém. ² Ele fez o que era reto aos olhos de Yahweh, mas não com um coração completamente devotado.

³ Aconteceu que, assim que seu governo ficou bem estabelecido, ele matou os servos que haviam assassinado seu pai, o rei. ⁴ Porém ele não matou os filhos dos assassinos, mas agiu de acordo com o que está escrito na Lei, no Livro de Moisés, assim como Yahweh ordenou: "Os pais não devem morrer pelos filhos, nem os filhos pelos pais. Em vez disso, cada pessoa deverá morrer pelo seu próprio pecado".

⁵ Além do mais, Amazias reuniu Judá e registrou-o conforme os seus clãs familiares, sob os comandantes de mil e comandantes de cem, todos de Judá e Benjamim. Ele contou os que tinham de vinte anos para cima e encontrou trezentos mil homens aptos para irem à guerra e manejar lança e escudo. ⁶ Também contratou cem mil guerreiros de Israel por cem talentos de prata.

⁷ Mas um homem de Deus veio a ele, dizendo: "Rei, não deixes o exército de Israel ir contigo, pois Yahweh não está com Israel, isto é, com nenhum dos filhos de Efraim. ⁸ Mas, mesmo que tu vás e sejas forte e corajoso na batalha, Deus te fará cair diante do inimigo, pois Deus tem poder para ajudar e poder para derrubar".

⁹ Disse Amazias ao homem de Deus: "Mas o que faremos acerca dos cem talentos que eu havia entregue ao exército de Israel?". O homem de Deus respondeu: "Yahweh pode te dar muito mais do que isso". ¹⁰ Então, Amazias separou o exército que tinha vindo de Efraim até ele e mandou-os para casa. Então, acendeu-se neles grande ira contra Judá e voltaram com grande fúria para sua terra.

¹¹ Amazias criou coragem e conduziu seu povo para ir ao Vale do Sal; lá ele derrotou dez mil homens de Seir. ¹² O exército de Judá capturou vivos outros dez mil. Eles os levaram à beira do abismo e os jogaram de lá, para que todos fossem quebrados aos pedaços.

¹³ Mas os homens do exército que Amazias tinha mandado de volta, para que não fossem com ele para a batalha, atacaram as cidades de Judá, desde Samaria até Bete-Horom. Eles feriram três mil pessoas e levaram muitos despojos.

¹⁴ E aconteceu que, depois que Amazias voltou da matança dos edomitas, trouxe consigo os deuses do povo de Seir e os colocou como seus próprios deuses. Curvou-se diante deles e queimou-lhes. ¹⁵ Então, a ira de Yahweh veio contra Amazias. Enviou-lhe um profeta que disse: "Por que buscaste os deuses que não salvaram nem mesmo o seu próprio povo de tuas mãos?".

¹⁶ E aconteceu que, enquanto o profeta estava falando para ele, o rei lhe disse: "Nós te constituímos conselheiro do rei? Para! Por que tu deverias morrer?". Então o profeta parou e disse: "Sei que Deus decidiu te destruir, porque fizeste isso e não ouviste o meu conselho".

¹⁷ Então Amazias, rei de Judá, consultou seus conselheiros e mandou mensageiros a Jeoás, filho de Jeoacaz, filho de Jeú, rei de Israel, dizendo: "Encontremos um ao outro, face a face, em batalha".

¹⁸ Mas Jeoás, rei de Israel, enviou mensageiros de volta a Amazias, rei de Judá, dizendo: "O espinheiro que estava no Líbano mandou mensagem ao cedro no Líbano, dizendo: 'Dá tua filha a meu filho como esposa', mas uma fera selvagem no Líbano passou e pisoteou o espinheiro. ¹⁹ Tu tens dito: 'Vede, eu destruí Edom', e teu coração te elevou para teres orgulho de tua vitória. Mas fica em casa, por que deverias causar problemas a ti mesmo e caírem juntos tanto tu quanto Judá?".

²⁰ Mas Amazias não deu ouvidos, pois isso vinha de Deus, assim Ele entregaria o povo de Judá nas mãos dos seus inimigos, pois procuraram conselhos entre os deuses de Edom. ²¹ Então, Jeoás, rei de Israel, atacou; ele e Amazias, rei de Judá, encontraram-se frente a frente, em Bete-Semes, que pertence a Judá. ²² Judá foi destruído diante de Israel, e todos os homens fugiram para casa.

²³ Jeoás, rei de Israel, capturou Amazias, filho de Joás, neto de Jeoacaz, rei de Judá, em Bete-Semes. Ele o trouxe a Jerusalém e derrubou os muros de Jerusalém, desde o portão de Efraim até o portão da esquina, quatrocentos côvados de distância. ²⁴ Ele tomou todo o ouro e prata, todos os objetos que foram encontrados na casa de Deus com Obede-Edom e as coisas valiosas da casa do rei, também fez reféns e voltou para Samaria.

²⁵ Amazias, filho de Joás, rei de Judá, viveu quinze anos depois da morte de Jeoás, filho de Jeoacaz, rei de Israel. ²⁶ Sobre os outros acontecimentos de Amazias, dos primeiros aos últimos, eis que não foram escritos no livro dos reis de Judá e Israel?

²⁷ Assim, desde o tempo em que Amazias deixou de seguir Yahweh, começaram a conspirar contra ele em Jerusalém. Ele fugiu para Laquis, mas enviaram homens atrás dele em Laquis e lá o mataram. ²⁸ Trouxeram-no de volta em cavalos e o enterraram junto com seus ancestrais na cidade de Judá.

Capítulo 26

¹ Todo o povo de Judá tomou Uzias, que tinha dezesseis anos, e fizeram dele rei no lugar de seu pai, Amazias. ² Foi ele quem reconstruiu Elate e a restaurou para Judá. Depois disso, o rei descansou com seus ancestrais. ³ Uzias tinha dezesseis anos quando começou a reinar. Ele reinou por cinquenta e dois anos em Jerusalém. O nome de sua mãe era Jecolias e ela era de Jerusalém.

⁴ Ele fez o que era correto aos olhos de Yahweh, seguindo o exemplo de seu pai, Amazias, em tudo. ⁵ Ele se dispôs a seguir a Deus nos dias de Zacarias, que deu a ele instruções para obedecer a Deus. Enquanto ele buscou Yahweh, Deus o fez próspero.

⁶ Uzias foi à luta contra os filisteus e destruiu os muros da cidade de Gate, de Jabné e Asdode; ele construiu cidades no país de Asdode e junto aos filisteus. ⁷ Deus o ajudou contra os filisteus, contra os árabes que viviam em Gur-Baal e contra os meunitas. ⁸ Os amonitas pagaram tributos a Uzias, e o seu nome se espalhou, até a entrada do Egito, pois ele se tornou muito poderoso.

⁹ Além disso, Uzias construiu torres em Jerusalém, no portão da Esquina, no portão do Vale, no canto do muro e os fortificou. ¹⁰ Ele construiu torres de vigia no deserto e cavou muitos poços, pois ele tinha muito gado, tanto nas terras baixas como nas planícies. Ele tinha lavradores e vinhateiros nas terras das colinas e nos campos frutíferos, pois ele amava agricultura.

¹¹ Além do mais, Uzias tinha um exército de guerreiros que iam à guerra em grupos que eram organizados por seus números e contados por Jeiel, o escriba, e Maaseias, o oficial, sob a autoridade de Hananias, um dos comandantes do rei. ¹² O número total de cabeças das casas de famílias e guerreiros era dois mil e seiscentos. ¹³ Sob sua mão estava um exército de trezentos e sete mil e quinhentos homens, que guerreavam poderosamente, para ajudar o rei contra o inimigo.

¹⁴ Uzias preparou para todo o exército: escudos, lanças, capacetes, couraças, arcos e pedras para atirar. ¹⁵ Em Jerusalém, ele construiu máquinas, inventadas por homens habilidosos, para ficarem nas torres e nos cantos das muralhas, para atirar flechas e grandes pedras. Sua fama se espalhou por terras distantes, pois ele foi grandemente ajudado até se tornar poderoso.

¹⁶ Mas, quando Uzias se tornou poderoso, seu coração se encheu de orgulho e então ele agiu corruptamente; ele pecou contra Yahweh, seu Deus, pois ele foi à casa de Yahweh e queimou incensos no altar de incensos. ¹⁷ Azarias, o sacerdote, foi atrás dele e com ele oitenta sacerdotes de Yahweh, homens corajosos. ¹⁸ Eles se opuseram a Uzias, o rei, e disseram-lhe: "Não compete a ti, Uzias, queimar incenso para Yahweh, mas aos sacerdotes, os filhos de Arão, que foram consagrados para queimar incenso. Sai do Santo Lugar, pois tu foste infiel e não receberás honra de Yahweh Deus".

¹⁹ Então, Uzias se irou. Ele estava segurando um incensário em sua mão para queimar incenso. Enquanto ele estava irado com os sacerdotes, apareceu lepra em sua testa, diante dos sacerdotes na casa de Yahweh, ao lado do altar de incenso. ²⁰ Azarias, o sacerdote chefe, e todos os sacerdotes olharam pra ele, e, então, ele se tornou leproso em sua testa. Eles rapidamente o tiraram de lá. De fato, ele se apressou em sair, porque Yahweh o atingira.

²¹ Uzias, o rei, ficou leproso até o dia de sua morte e viveu numa casa separada, porque era leproso, pois ele foi tirado da casa de Yahweh. Jotão, seu filho, se encarregou da casa do rei e governou o povo da terra.

²² Quanto aos outros feitos de Uzias, do primeiro ao último, estão no que Isaías, filho de Amoz, o profeta, escreveu. ²³ Então, Uzias descansou com seus ancestrais; eles o enterraram com seus ancestrais no túmulo pertencente aos reis, pois disseram: "Ele é um leproso". Jotão, seu filho, se tornou rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 27

¹ Jotão tinha vinte e cinco anos quando começou a reinar; ele reinou dezesseis anos em Jerusalém. Sua mãe se chamava Jerusa; ela era filha de Zadoque. ² Ele fez o que era reto aos olhos de Yahweh, seguindo o exemplo de seu pai, Uzias, em tudo. Ele também se negou a entrar no Templo de Yahweh. Mas o povo prosseguiu em suas práticas malignas.

³ Ele construiu o portão superior da casa de Yahweh e construiu muito nas colinas de Ofel. ⁴ Também construiu cidades na região montanhosa de Judá e nas florestas ele construiu castelos e torres.

⁵ Ele também lutou contra o rei do povo de Amom e os derrotou. Naquele mesmo ano, o povo de Amom lhe deu cem talentos de prata, dez mil coros de trigo e dez mil de cevada. O povo de Amom lhe deu o mesmo no segundo e terceiro ano.

⁶ Então, Jotão tornou-se poderoso porque andava firmemente diante de Yahweh, seu Deus. ⁷ Quanto aos outros atos de Jotão, todas as suas guerras e seus caminhos, eles estão escritos no livro dos reis de Israel e Judá.

⁸ Ele tinha vinte e cinco anos quando começou a reinar e reinou por dezesseis anos em Jerusalém. ⁹ Jotão dormiu com seus antepassados, e o enterraram na cidade de Davi. Acaz, seu filho, tornou-se rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 28

¹ Acaz tinha vinte anos de idade quando começou a reinar, e reinou por dezesseis anos em Jerusalém. Ele não fez o que era reto aos olhos de Yahweh, assim como Davi, seu pai, havia feito; ² em vez disso, ele andou nos caminhos dos reis de Israel, e até fez imagens de fundição para os baalins.

³ Além disso, ele queimou incenso no vale do filho de Hinom, e sacrificou seus filhos no fogo, de acordo com as práticas idólatras do povo que Yahweh expulsara de suas terras, diante do povo de Israel. ⁴ Ele sacrificou e queimou incenso nos lugares altos, nas colinas e debaixo de toda árvore verde;

⁵ pelo que Yahweh, o Deus de Acaz, o entregou nas mãos do rei da Síria. Os sírios o derrotaram e levaram um grande número de prisioneiros cativos para Damasco. Acaz também foi entregue nas mãos do rei de Israel, que o derrotou em um grande massacre. ⁶ Pois Peca, filho de Remalias, matou em Judá cento e vinte mil soldados em um dia, todos eles homens corajosos, porque tinham abandonado Yahweh, o Deus de seus antepassados.

⁷ Zicri, um homem poderoso de Efraim, matou Maaseias, filho do rei, e Azricão, o oficial do palácio, e Elcana, o segundo depois do rei. ⁸ O exército de Israel levou cativos de seus parentes duzentas mil esposas, filhos e filhas. Eles também levaram muitos despojos, que carregaram até Samaria.

⁹ Mas havia um profeta de Yahweh, seu nome era Odede; ele foi encontrar-se com o exército que entrava em Samaria, e disse-lhes: "Porque Yahweh, o Deus de vossos antepassados, estava irado com Judá, Ele os entregou em vossas mãos; mas vós os matastes com uma fúria que alcançou os céus. ¹⁰ E agora, pretendeis manter os homens e as mulheres de Judá e Jerusálem como vossos escravos. Mas não sois culpado de vossos próprios pecados contra Yahweh, vosso Deus? ¹¹ Agora, então, ouvi-me: mandai os prisioneiros de volta, aqueles que tens tomado de vosso próprio irmão, pois o ardor da ira de Yahweh está sobre vós."

¹² Então, certos líderes do povo de Efraim — Azarias, filho de Joanã, Berequias, filho de Mesilemote, Jeizquias, filho de Salum, e Amasa, filho de Hadlai — se levantaram contra os que voltavam da guerra, ¹³ e lhes disseram: "Não trareis os prisioneiros aqui, pois além das nossas transgressões, o que quereis fazer acrescentaria ainda mais aos nossos pecados e às nossas culpas; pois nossa transgressão é grande, e temos o ardor da ira contra Israel."

¹⁴ Então, os homens armados deixaram os prisioneiros e o despojo diante dos líderes e de toda a congregação. ¹⁵ Os homens que foram designados por nome levantaram-se, levaram os prisioneiros e vestiram todos que estavam nus entre eles com o despojo. Vestiram-nos e lhes deram sandálias, além de comida e água para beber. Trataram suas feridas, colocaram os fracos sobre os jumentos e os levaram de volta para suas famílias em Jericó, chamada a cidade das Palmeiras. Então, voltaram para Samaria.

¹⁶ Naquele tempo, o rei Acaz mandou mensageiros aos reis da Assíria, pedindo ajuda, ¹⁷ pois novamente os edomitas atacaram Judá e levaram prisioneiros. ¹⁸ Os filisteus também invadiram as cidades da planície e do sul de Judá. Eles tomaram Bete-Semes, Aijalom, Gederote, Socó e seus vilarejos, Timna e seus vilarejos, também Ginzo e seus vilarejos, estabelecendo-se ali.

¹⁹ Pois Yahweh humilhou a Judá por causa de Acaz, o rei de Israel, já que ele agiu com maldade em Judá, e pecou contra Yahweh muito fortemente. ²⁰ Tiglate-Pileser, rei da Assíria, veio a ele e o afligiu ao invés de fortalecê-lo; ²¹ pois Acaz saqueou a casa de Yahweh, e as casas do rei e dos líderes, para dar as coisas valiosas aos reis da Assíria, mas isso não o beneficiou.

²² Este mesmo rei Acaz pecou ainda mais contra Yahweh em seu tempo de sofrimento; ²³ pois ele sacrificou aos deuses de Damasco, os deuses que o derrotaram. Ele disse: "Porque os deuses dos reis da Síria os ajudaram, farei sacrifícios a eles, para que eles possam também me ajudar." Mas eles foram a ruína dele e de todo Israel.

²⁴ Acaz juntou todos os utensílios do templo de Deus e os despedaçou. Ele fechou as portas da casa de Yahweh, e fez para si altares em todos os cantos de Jerusalém. ²⁵ Em cada cidade de Judá, ele fez altares para queimar sacrifícios para outros deuses e, dessa forma, provocou a ira de Yahweh, o Deus de seus antepassados.

²⁶ Agora, o restante dos seus feitos e todos os seus caminhos, tanto os primeiros como os últimos, estão escritos no Livro dos Reis de Judá e Israel. ²⁷ Acaz descansou com seus antepassados, e o enterraram na cidade, em Jerusalém; mas não o trouxeram para os túmulos dos reis de Israel. Ezequias, seu filho, tornou-se rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 29

¹ Ezequias começou a reinar quando tinha vinte e cinco anos de idade; ele reinou vinte e nove anos em Jerusalém. Sua mãe se chamava Abia, filha de Zacarias. ² Ele fez o que era reto aos olhos de Yahweh, seguindo o exemplo de Davi, seu pai.

³ No primeiro ano de seu reinado, no primeiro mês, Ezequias abriu as portas da casa de Yahweh e as reparou. ⁴ Ele trouxe os sacerdotes e levitas e os reuniu no pátio no lado leste. ⁵ Disse-lhes: "Ouvi-me, vós levitas! Consagrai-vos a Yahweh, consagrai a casa de Yahweh, o Deus de vossos antepassados, e tirai a imundícia desse santo lugar.

⁶ Pois nossos antepassados pecaram e fizeram o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, nosso Deus; abandonaram-no, desviaram o rosto do lugar onde habita Yahweh e deram-lhe as costas. ⁷ Também fecharam as portas do pórtico e apagaram as lâmpadas; não queimaram incenso nem ofereceram sacrifícios no santo lugar ao Deus de Israel.

⁸ Por isso, a ira de Yahweh caiu sobre Judá e Jerusalém, e Ele os fez objeto de terror, de horror e de escárnio, como podeis ver com vossos próprios olhos. ⁹ É por isso que nossos pais caíram à espada; nossos filhos, nossas filhas e nossas esposas estão em cativeiro.

¹⁰ Agora, está em meu coração fazer uma aliança com Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, para que Sua ira se desvie de nós. ¹¹ Meus filhos, não sejais negligentes agora, pois Yahweh vos escolheu para estardes diante Dele, para O adorardes, para serdes seus ministros e queimardes incenso".

¹² Então, os Levitas se levantaram: do povo do coatitas: Maate, filho de Amasai, e Joel, filho de Azarias; do povo de Merari: Quis, filho de Abdi, e Azarias, filho de Jealelel; dos filhos de Gérson: Joá, filho de Zima, e Éden, filho de Joá; ¹³ dos filhos de Elizafã: Sinri e Jeuel; dos filhos de Asafe: Zacarias e Matanias; ¹⁴ dos filhos de Hemã: Jeuel e Simei; dos filhos de Jedutum, Semaías e Uziel.

¹⁵ Eles ajuntaram seus irmãos, consagraram-se e entraram, conforme o rei lhes ordenou, seguindo as palavras de Yahweh, para limpar a casa de Yahweh. ¹⁶ Os sacerdotes entraram na casa de Yahweh para limpá-la; tiraram toda a sujeira que encontraram no templo de Yahweh para o pátio da casa. Os levitas pegaram toda a imundícia e a lançaram no ribeiro de Cedrom. ¹⁷ Começaram a consagração no primeiro dia do primeiro mês. No oitavo dia do mês, chegaram ao pórtico de Yahweh. Então, por mais oito dias, consagraram a casa de Yahweh. No décimo sexto dia do primeiro mês, terminaram.

¹⁸ Então, foram até Ezequias, o rei, dentro do palácio, e disseram: "Limpamos toda a casa de Yahweh, o altar de sacrifícios, com todos os seus utensílios, e a mesa do pão da proposição, com todos os seus utensílios. ¹⁹ E ainda preparamos e consagramos todos os itens que o rei Acaz havia jogado fora quando agiu com infidelidade, durante seu reinado. Vê, eles estão em frente ao altar de Yahweh".

²⁰ Então, Ezequias, o rei, levantou-se cedo de manhã e reuniu os líderes da cidade; ele subiu à casa de Yahweh. ²¹ Trouxeram sete novilhos, sete carneiros, sete ovelhas e sete bodes como oferta pelos pecados do reino, pelo santuário e por Judá. Ordenou aos sacerdotes, os filhos de Arão, que os oferecessem sobre o altar de Yahweh.

²² Então, eles mataram os novilhos, os carneiros e as ovelhas. Os sacerdotes receberam o sangue e o aspergiram sobre o altar. ²³ Trouxeram os bodes para oferta pelo pecado, diante do rei e da assembleia, e colocaram suas mãos sobre eles. ²⁴ Os sacerdotes os mataram e fizeram uma oferta pelo pecado com o sangue no altar, para fazer expiação por todo o Israel, pois o rei tinha ordenado que fizessem um sacrifício e uma oferta pelo pecado por todo o Israel.

²⁵ Ezequias colocou os Levitas na casa de Yahweh, com címbalos, harpas e liras, organizando-os pela ordem de Davi, de Gade, o vidente do rei, e Natã, o profeta; porque a ordem vinha de Yahweh, por meio de Seus profetas. ²⁶ Os levitas se levantaram com os instrumentos de Davi, e os sacerdotes com as trombetas.

²⁷ Ezequias ordenou-lhes que oferecessem holocausto no altar. Quando o sacrifício começou, o cântico de Yahweh também começou, com trombetas, junto com os instrumentos de Davi, rei de Israel. ²⁸ Toda a comunidade adorou, os cantores cantaram e as trombetas soaram; tudo isso continuou até o fim do sacrifício.

²⁹ Quando eles terminaram as ofertas, o rei e todos os que estavam presentes com ele se curvaram e adoraram. ³⁰ Além disso, Ezequias, o rei, e os líderes ordenaram aos levitas que cantassem louvores a Yahweh com as palavras de David e de Asafe, o vidente. Eles cantaram louvores com alegria, curvaram-se e adoraram.

³¹ Então, Ezequias disse: "Agora vós vos consagrastes a Yahweh. Vinde e trazei sacrifícios e ofertas de gratidão na casa de Yahweh". A assembleia trouxe sacrifícios e ofertas de gratidão, e todos os que tinham um coração voluntário trouxeram holocaustos.

³² O número de holocaustos que a assembleia trouxe foi de setenta novilhos, cem carneiros e duzentos cordeiros. Todos esses foram para ofertas queimadas a Yahweh. ³³ Os animais que foram consagrados a Yahweh foram seiscentos bois e três mil ovelhas.

³⁴ Porém eram poucos os sacerdotes para esfolar todos os holocaustos; então, os seus irmãos levitas os ajudaram até o trabalho terminar e os sacerdotes terminarem de se consagrar a Yahweh; pois os levitas eram mais cuidadosos em se consagrar do que os sacerdotes.

³⁵ Além disso, havia muitos holocaustos; eles foram feitos com a gordura das ofertas pacíficas, e havia ofertas de libação para cada um dos sacrifícios. Assim, o serviço na casa de Yahweh foi posto em ordem. ³⁶ Ezequias alegrou-se, com todo o povo, por causa daquilo que Deus havia preparado para o povo, pois a obra foi feita rapidamente.

Capítulo 30

¹ Ezequias enviou mensageiros para todo o Israel e Judá, e também escreveu cartas para Efraim e Manassés, para que eles fossem à casa de Yahweh em Jerusalém, para celebrar a Páscoa a Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ² Porque o rei, seus líderes, e toda a assembléia em Jerusalém resolveram juntos, e decidiram celebrar a páscoa no segundo mês. ³ Eles não puderam celebrar imediatamente, porque não havia sacerdotes consagrados em número suficiente, e o povo não havia se reunido em Jerusalém.

⁴ Esta proposta pareceu boa aos olhos do rei e de toda assembléia. ⁵ Então, eles concordaram em fazer uma proclamação por todo o Israel, de Berseba até Dã, para que o povo viesse celebrar a Páscoa de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, em Jerusalém. Pois, um grande número deles não havia celebrado, segundo o que estava escrito.

⁶ Assim, os mensageiros levaram as cartas do rei e de seus líderes por todo o Israel e Judá, conforme a ordem do rei. Eles falaram: "Vós, povo de Israel, voltai para Yahweh, o Deus de Abraão, Isaque e Israel, para que Ele se volte para o restante de vós que escapastes das mãos dos reis da Assíria.

⁷ Não sejais como vossos ancestrais ou como vossos irmãos, que pecaram contra Yahweh, o Deus de seus ancestrais, por isso Ele lhes entregou à destruição, como vós podeis ver. ⁸ Agora, não sejais teimosos, como vossos ancestrais foram, ao invés disso, sujeitai-vos a Yahweh e venhais para Seu Santo Lugar, o qual Ele tem santificado para sempre, e adorem Yahweh, vosso Deus, para que a Sua fúria se afaste de vós. ⁹ Pois, se vos voltardes para Yahweh, vossos irmãos e crianças encontrarão compaixão diante daqueles que os levaram para longe como prisioneiros, e eles voltarão para esta terra. Porque Yahweh, vosso Deus, é gracioso e misericordioso, e não virará Sua face de vós, se vós retornardes para Ele".

¹⁰ Assim, os mensageiros foram de cidade em cidade pelas regiões de Efraim e Manassés, todo o caminho até Zebulom, mas o povo riu e caçoou deles. ¹¹ Entretanto, certos homens de Aser, de Manassés e de Zebulom se humilharam, e vieram até Jerusalém. ¹² A mão de Deus também veio sobre Judá, para lhes dá um só coração, para cumprirem as ordens do rei e dos líderes conforme a palavra de Yahweh.

¹³ Muitas pessoas, se reuniram em uma grande assembleia em Jerusalém para celebrar a Festa dos Pães sem Fermento no segundo mês. ¹⁴ Eles se levantaram e tiraram os altares que estavam em Jerusalém e todos os altares de incenso; e eles os lançaram dentro do ribeiro de Cedrom. ¹⁵ Então, eles mataram os cordeiros da Páscoa no décimo quarto dia do segundo mês. Os sacerdotes e levitas estavam envergonhados, e eles consagraram-se e trouxeram sacrifícios para a casa de Yahweh.

¹⁶ Eles se posicionaram em seus lugares segundo suas divisões, seguindo as direções que foram dadas na lei de Moisés, o homem de Deus. Os sacerdotes aspergiram o sangue que eles receberam das mãos dos levitas, ¹⁷ porque havia muitos na assembleia que não tinham se consagrado. Por isso, os Levitas sacrificaram os cordeiros da Páscoa por aqueles que não estavam purificados e não podiam consagrar seus sacrifícios a Yahweh.

¹⁸ Um grande número de pessoas, muitos deles de Efraim e Manassés, Issacar e Zebulom, não havia se purificado, mesmo assim, eles comeram a Páscoa, contrariando as instruções que estavam escritas. Mas Ezequias orou por eles dizendo: "Que o bom Yahweh, possa perdoar a todos aqueles ¹⁹ que colocam em seu coração buscar a Deus, Yahweh, o Deus de seus ancestrais, mesmo que não tenham se purificado conforme os ritos de purificação do Santo Lugar." ²⁰ Então, Yahweh ouviu Ezequias e curou o povo.

²¹ O povo de Israel que estava presente em Jerusalém celebrou o Festival dos Pães sem Fermento por sete dias com grande alegria. Os levitas e os sacerdotes adoraram Yahweh dia após dia, cantando para Yahweh, com instrumentos possantes. ²² Ezequias encorajou todos os levitas que entenderam o serviço de Yahweh. Assim, eles comeram por todo o festival, por sete dias, oferecendo sacrifícios de ofertas pacíficas e fazendo confissões a Yahweh, o Deus de seus ancestrais.

²³ Toda a assembleia decidiu celebrar por outros sete dias, e assim o fizeram com alegria. ²⁴ Pois, Ezequias, rei de Judá, deu para a assembleia mil novilhos e sete mil ovelhas para sacrifício; os líderes deram para a assembleia mil novilhos e dez mil ovelhas e bodes. Um grande número de sacerdotes se consagraram.

²⁵ Toda a assembleia de Judá, com os sacerdotes e levitas, e todo o povo que se reuniu de Israel, como também os estrangeiros que vieram das terras de Israel e aqueles que viviam em Judá; todos se alegraram. ²⁶ Assim, houve grande alegria em Jerusalém, pois, nem no tempo de Salomão, filho de Davi, rei de Israel, houve algo igual em Jerusalém. ²⁷ Então, os sacerdotes, os levitas, se levantaram e abençoaram o povo. Suas vozes foram ouvidas e suas orações se elevaram ao céu, Lugar Santo onde Deus vive.

Capítulo 31

¹ Assim, quando tudo terminou, todo o povo de Israel que estava presente foi para as cidades de Judá, e eles quebraram em pedaços os pilares de pedra, destruíram os postes ídolos, derrubaram os lugares altos e os altares em toda a Judá e Benjamim. Eles também fizeram isso em Efraim e Manassés, até que destruíram a todos. Então, todo o povo de Israel retornou, cada um para a sua própria terra e para sua própria cidade.

² Ezequias estabeleceu as divisões dos sacerdotes e dos levitas organizados por suas divisões, cada homem designado ao seu trabalho, tanto sacerdotes quanto levitas. Ele os designou para fazer holocaustos e ofertas pacíficas, para servir, para agradecer, e para louvar nos portões do Templo de Yahweh. ³ Ele também designou a porção do rei para os holocaustos das suas próprias posses, isto é, para os holocaustos da manhã e da tarde e os holocaustos para os dias de sábado, das luas novas e dos festivais fixos, como estava escrito na lei de Yahweh.

⁴ Além disso, ele ordenou ao povo que vivia em Jerusalém que desse a porção para os sacerdotes e os levitas, para que eles se concentrassem em obedecer a lei de Yahweh. ⁵ Assim que a ordem saiu, o povo de Israel deu em abundância a primícia dos cereais, do vinho novo, do óleo, do mel e de toda sua colheita do campo. Eles trouxeram em grande quantidade o dízimo de tudo.

⁶ O povo de Israel e Judá que vivia nas cidades de Judá também trouxe o dízimo dos bois, das ovelhas, das coisas santas dedicadas a Yahweh, o seu Deus, e as ajuntaram em pilhas. ⁷ No terceiro mês, eles começaram a ajuntar sua contribuição em pilhas e terminaram no sétimo mês. ⁸ Quando Ezequias e os líderes vieram e viram as pilhas, eles bendisseram Yahweh e Seu povo Israel.

⁹ Então, Ezequias questionou os sacerdotes e os levitas sobre as pilhas. ¹⁰ Azarias, o sacerdote chefe, da casa de Zadoque, respondeu-lhe e disse: "Desde que o povo começou a trazer as ofertas para a casa de Yahweh, temos comido e tem sido o suficiente, e tem sobrado bastante, pois Yahweh tem abençoado Seu povo. O que sobrou foi essa grande quantidade aqui".

¹¹ Assim, Ezequias ordenou que fossem preparados depósitos na casa de Yahweh, e eles os prepararam. ¹² Então, eles fielmente trouxeram as ofertas, os dízimos e as coisas que pertenciam a Yahweh. Conanias, o levita, era o encarregado geral; e Simei, seu irmão, era o auxiliar. ¹³ Jeiel, Azazias, Naate, Asael, Jerimote, Jozabade, Eliel, Ismaquias, Maate e Benaia eram encarregados sob a direção de Conanias e Simei, seu irmão, por determinação de Ezequias, o rei, e Azarias, o oficial sobre a casa de Deus.

¹⁴ Coré, filho de Imná, o levita, o guarda do portão oriental, estava encarregado das ofertas voluntárias de Deus, responsável por distribuir as ofertas a Yahweh e as ofertas santíssimas. ¹⁵ Debaixo dele, estavam Éden, Miniamim, Jesuá, Semaías, Amarias e Secanias, nas cidades dos sacerdotes. Eles ocuparam posições de confiança; para que pudessem dar essas ofertas para seus irmãos, divisão por divisão, tanto para os importantes quanto não importantes.

¹⁶ Eles também deram para os homens de três anos para cima, que eram listados nas genealogias de seus antepassados que entravam na casa de Yahweh, como requerido na escala diária, para fazer seus trabalhos segundo suas divisões.

¹⁷ Eles distribuíram aos sacerdotes de acordo com a genealogia de seus antepassados; e fizeram o mesmo para os levitas de vinte anos para cima, de acordo com seus cargos e suas divisões. ¹⁸ Incluíram todos os seus pequeninos, suas esposas, seus filhos e suas filhas, por toda a comunidade, pois eles foram fiéis em se santificarem. ¹⁹ Para os sacerdotes, os descendentes de Arão, que estavam nos campos dos povoados pertencentes às suas cidades, ou em toda cidade, homens foram designados por nome, para dar porções a todo varão entre os sacerdotes e para todos os registrados na genealogia dos seus antepassados entre os levitas.

²⁰ Ezequias fez isso por todo o Judá e fez o que era bom, certo e fiel diante de Yahweh, seu Deus. ²¹ Em todo projeto que ele começou no serviço da casa de Deus, a lei e os mandamentos para buscar seu Deus, ele trabalhou com todo o seu coração e foi bem-sucedido.

Capítulo 32

¹ Depois dessas coisas e desses atos de fidelidade, Senaqueribe, rei da Assíria, veio e entrou em Judá, ele acampou para atacar as cidades fortificadas que ele intencionava capturar para si.

² Quando Ezequias viu que Senaqueribe tinha vindo com a intenção de lutar contra Jerusalém, ³ ele consultou os seus líderes e os seus homens poderosos sobre a ideia de interromper as nascentes de água que estavam fora da cidade; eles o ajudaram a fazer isso. ⁴ Assim, muitas pessoas se juntaram e interromperam todas as nascentes e o riacho que estava fluindo pelo meio da terra. Eles disseram: "Por que os reis da Assíria viriam e encontrariam bastante água?".

⁵ Ezequias tomou coragem e fortificou o muro que estava danificado. Ele construiu as torres mais altas, e também o outro muro de fora. Ele também reforçou a Milo, na cidade de Davi, e produziu grandes quantidades de armas e escudos.

⁶ Ele colocou comandantes militares sobre o povo, e os reuniu juntamente a ele na praça, junto à porta da cidade, e falou, encorajando-os. Ele disse: ⁷ "Sede fortes e de boa coragem. Não temais, nem fiqueis desencorajados, por causa do rei da Assíria e de todo o exército que está com ele, porque conosco está Alguém que é maior do que os que estão com ele. ⁸ Com ele há apenas um braço humano, mas conosco está Yahweh, nosso Deus, para nos ajudar, e para lutar as nossas batalhas". Então, o povo se confortou com as palavras de Ezequias, rei de Judá.

⁹ Depois disso, Senaqueribe, rei da Assíria, enviou seus servos para Jerusalém — ele, porém, estava em frente a Laquis, e todo o seu exército estava com ele —, para Ezequias, rei de Judá, e para todo o Judá que estava em Jerusalém. Ele disse: ¹⁰ "Isso é o que Senaqueribe, rei da Assíria, diz: 'Em quem confiais para permanecerdes sitiados em Jerusalém?

¹¹ Não está Ezequias vos enganando, para que ele vos deixe morrer de fome e de sede, ao dizer: 'Yahweh, nosso Deus, nos livrará da mão do rei da Assíria'? ¹² Esse não é o mesmo Ezequias que tirou os seus lugares altos e os seus altares, e ordenou a Judá e a Jerusalém: 'Em um único altar ireis adorar, e nele queimareis os vossos sacrifícios'?

¹³ Não sabeis vós o que eu e meus antepassados fizemos a todos os grupos de povos das outras terras? Eram os deuses desses outros povos capazes, de alguma forma, de livrar a terra deles do meu poder? ¹⁴ Entre todos os deuses daquelas nações, que meus antepassados destruíram completamente, havia algum deus que poderia livrar o seu povo da minha mão? Por que deveria o vosso Deus ser capaz de vos livrar do meu poder? ¹⁵ Agora, não deixeis que Ezequias vos engane ou vos iluda desta maneira. Não acrediteis nele, pois não há deus em qualquer nação ou reino que tenha sido capaz de livrar o seu povo da minha mão, ou da mão dos meus antepassados. Quanto menos o vosso Deus vos livrará da minha mão?'".

¹⁶ Os servos de Senaqueribe falaram ainda mais contra Deus Yahweh e contra o Seu servo Ezequias. ¹⁷ Senaqueribe também escreveu cartas para debochar de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, e para falar contra Ele. Senaqueribe disse: "Como os deuses das nações das terras não livraram o seu povo da minha mão, assim, o Deus de Ezequias não vai livrar o seu povo da minha mão".

¹⁸ Eles gritaram na língua dos judeus ao povo de Jerusalém que estava no muro, para assustá-los e inquietá-los, a fim de capturar a cidade. ¹⁹ Eles falaram do Deus de Jerusalém, assim como eles falaram dos deuses dos povos da terra, que são meramente o trabalho das mãos de homens.

²⁰ Ezequias, o rei, e Isaías, filho de Amós, o profeta, oraram sobre esse assunto e clamaram ao céu. ²¹ Yahweh enviou um anjo, que matou os guerreiros, os comandantes e os oficiais do rei no campo. Assim, Senaqueribe retornou envergonhado para sua própria terra. Quando ele tinha chegado na casa do seu deus, alguns dos seus próprios filhos o mataram a espada.

²² Desse modo, Yahweh salvou Ezequias e os habitantes de Jerusalém da mão de Senaqueribe, rei da Assíria, e da mão de todos os outros, e lhes deu descanso por todos os lados. ²³ Muitos trouxeram ofertas para Yahweh em Jerusalém, e presentes preciosos para Ezequias, rei de Judá, e assim ele foi exaltado aos olhos de todas as nações dali em diante.

²⁴ Naqueles dias, Ezequias ficou doente a ponto de morrer. Ele orou a Yahweh, que falou com ele e lhe de um sinal de que ele seria curado. ²⁵ Mas, Ezequias não retribuiu a Yahweh pela ajuda dada a ele, pois seu coração se exaltou. Assim, ira veio sobre ele, sobre Judá e Jerusalém. ²⁶ Ezequias se humilhou pelo orgulho do seu coração, ambos, ele e os habitantes de Jerusalém. Assim, a ira de Yahweh não veio sobre eles durante os dias de Ezequias.

²⁷ Ezequias teve muitas riquezas e muita honra. Ele construiu para si muitos depósitos para prata, ouro, pedras preciosas e especiarias, assim como de escudos e todo tipo de objetos valiosos. ²⁸ Ele também teve celeiros para a colheita dos cereais, vinho novo e óleo, e baias para todo tipo de animal. Ele também teve rebanhos em seus cercados. ²⁹ Além disso, ele construiu para si cidades e possuiu rebanhos e manadas em abundância, pois Deus tinha dado a ele muita riqueza.

³⁰ Foi esse mesmo Ezequias que tapou as nascentes superiores de água em Giom, e as canalizou pelo lado oeste da cidade de Davi. Ezequias teve sucesso em todos os seus projetos. ³¹ Contudo, na questão dos embaixadores dos príncipes da Babilônia, que foram enviados a ele para fazerem perguntas sobre os sinais milagrosos que foram feitos na terra, Deus o deixou sozinho, para testá-lo e para saber tudo que estava em seu coração.

³² As demais questões que dizem respeito a Ezequias, incluindo seus atos de lealdade à aliança, podem ser encontrados escritos na visão do profeta Isaías, filho de Amós, e no livro dos reis de Judá e Israel. ³³ Ezequias descansou com os seus ancestrais, e o sepultaram no sepulcro dos descendentes de Davi. Todo Judá e os habitantes de Jerusalém o honraram na sua morte. Manassés, seu filho, se tornou rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 33

¹ Manassés estava com doze anos de idade quando começou a reinar; reinou cinquenta e cinco anos em Jerusalém. ² Ele fez o que era mau à vista de Yahweh, como as repugnantes coisas das nações que Yahweh havia expulsado de diante do povo de Israel. ³ Pois ele reconstruiu os lugares altos que Ezequias, seu pai, havia destruído, construiu altares para Baal, fez postes de Aserá, prostrou-se diante de todas as estrelas do céu e as adorou.

⁴ Manassés construiu altares pagãos na casa de Yahweh, embora Yahweh tenha ordenado: "É em Jerusalém que Meu nome será estabelecido para sempre". ⁵ Ele construiu altares para todas as estrelas do céu nos dois pátios da casa de Yahweh. ⁶ Ofereceu seus filhos como ofertas queimadas no vale de Ben-Hinom. Praticou adivinhação e feitiçaria, leu presságios e consultou aqueles que falam com os mortos e aqueles que falam com espíritos. Ele praticou muitos males à vista de Yahweh e provocou a ira de Deus.

⁷ Ele colocou na casa de Deus uma figura de Aserá que ele próprio havia esculpido. Era sobre essa casa que Deus havia falado para Davi e Salomão, seu filho, dizendo: "Nesta casa e em Jerusalém, a qual Eu escolhi de todas as tribos de Israel, que Eu porei o Meu nome para sempre. ⁸ Eu nunca mais removerei o povo de Israel para fora da terra que destinei para seus antepassados, se eles tão somente tiverem o cuidado de manter tudo que Eu lhes tenho ordenado, seguindo toda a lei, estatutos e decretos, os quais Eu dei por meio de Moisés". ⁹ Manassés levou Judá e os habitantes de Jerusalém a fazerem o mal mais do que as nações que Yahweh havia destruído diante do povo de Israel.

¹⁰ Yahweh falou a Manassés e a seu povo, mas eles não deram atenção. ¹¹ Assim, Yahweh trouxe a eles os comandantes do exército do rei da Assíria, que prenderam Manassés em correntes, amarraram-no com grilhões e o levaram para a Babilônia.

¹² Quando Manassés estava em angústia, implorou a Yahweh, seu Deus, e humilhou-se grandemente diante do Deus de seus antepassados. ¹³ Ele orou e suplicou a Deus, que ouviu sua súplica e o trouxe de volta para Jerusalém, ao seu reino. Então, Manassés soube que Yahweh era Deus.

¹⁴ Depois disso, Manassés construiu um muro do lado de fora da cidade de Davi, a oeste de Giom, no vale, para a entrada da porta do Peixe. Ele o fez passar em volta do monte Ofel e o levantou até uma grande altura. Pôs comandantes corajosos em todas as cidades fortificadas de Judá. ¹⁵ Tirou os deuses estrangeiros, como também o ídolo da casa de Yahweh e todos os altares que ele havia construído no monte da casa de Yahweh e em Jerusalém e jogou-os para fora da cidade.

¹⁶ Manassés reconstruiu o altar de Yahweh e ofereceu nele sacrifícios de ofertas pacíficas e de ações de graças. Ele ordenou Judá a servir Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ¹⁷ Porém o povo ainda sacrificava nos lugares altos, mas somente para Yahweh, seu Deus.

¹⁸ Os demais feitos concernentes a Manassés, sua oração a Deus e as palavras dos videntes que falaram a ele em nome de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, estão escritas entre os feitos dos reis de Israel. ¹⁹ Sua oração e como Deus foi favorável a ele, todos os seus pecados e transgressões e os locais onde ele havia construído lugares altos e ergueu os postes de Aserá e as imagens esculpidas, antes de ter-se humilhado, estão escritos nas crônicas dos videntes. ²⁰ Assim, Manassés descansou com seus antepassados, e o sepultaram em sua própria casa. Amom, seu filho, tornou-se rei em seu lugar.

²¹ Amom tinha vinte e dois anos quando começou a reinar. Reinou dois anos em Jerusalém. ²² Ele fez o que era mau à vista de Yahweh, como Manassés, seu pai, havia feito. Amom sacrificou a todas as imagens esculpidas que Manassés seu pai havia feito e as adorou. ²³ Ele não se humilhou diante de Yahweh, como Manassés, seu pai, havia feito. Em vez disso, pecou mais e mais.

²⁴ Seus servos conspiraram contra ele e o mataram em sua casa. ²⁵ Mas os habitantes da terra mataram todos os que haviam conspirado contra o rei Amom e fizeram de Josias, seu filho, rei em seu lugar.

Capítulo 34

¹ Josias tinha oito anos quando começou a reinar e reinou por trinta e um anos em Jerusalém. ² Fez o que era reto aos olhos de Yahweh e andou nos caminhos de Davi, seu ancestral; não se desviou nem para a direita nem para a esquerda. ³ No oitavo ano de seu reinado, quando ainda era jovem, começou a buscar o Deus de Davi, seu ancestral. No duodécimo ano, começou a purificar Judá e Jerusalém dos altares, dos postes-ídolos, das imagens de escultura e de metal fundido.

⁴ O povo quebrou os altares dos baalins na presença dele; despedaçou os altares de incenso que estavam sobre ele. Quebrou os postes-ídolos e as imagens de escultura e lançou fora as figuras de metal em pedaços, até ficarem como pó. Espalhou o pó sobre as sepulturas dos que lhes haviam sacrifícado. ⁵ Queimou os ossos dos sacerdotes sobre os seus altares. Dessa forma, ele purificou Judá e Jerusalém.

⁶ Ele fez o mesmo nas cidades de Manassés, Efraim e Simeão, em todo o caminho até Naftali e nas ruínas que as cercavam. ⁷ Quebrou os altares, derrubou os postes-ídolos e as imagens de escultura em pó e cortou em partes os altares de incensos em toda a terra de Israel. Depois, voltou a Jerusalém.

⁸ Aconteceu que, no décimo oitavo ano de reinado, depois de Josias haver purificado a terra e o templo, ele enviou Safã, filho de Azalias, Maaseias, o governador da cidade, e Joá, filho de Joacaz, o secretário; para reparar a casa de Yahweh, seu Deus. ⁹ Estes foram a Hilquias, sumo sacerdote, e lhe confiaram o dinheiro que haviam trazido para a casa de Deus, que os levitas, os guardas dos portas, haviam recebido de Manassés, de Efraim, de todos os remanescentes de Israel, de toda a Judá, de Benjamim e dos habitantes de Jerusalém.

¹⁰ Eles confiaram o dinheiro aos homens que supervisionavam o trabalho do templo de Yahweh. Esses homens pagaram aos trabalhadores que reconstruíam e restauravam o templo. ¹¹ Deram-no aos carpinteiros e construtores, para comprarem pedras cortadas, madeiras para juntas e vigas para a estrutura, que era a mesma que o rei de Judá tinha separado.

¹² Os homens faziam o trabalho fielmente. Os supervisores eram Jaate e Obadias, os levitas, filhos de Merari; e Zacarias e Mesulão, filhos de Coate. Outros levitas, todos os que eram muito bons músicos, de perto dirigiam os trabalhadores. ¹³ Esses levitas estavam encarregados dos que carregavam o material de construção e de todo e qualquer trabalho. Lá também havia levitas que eram secretários, administradores e guardas dos portões.

¹⁴ Quando eles tiraram o dinheiro que tinham levado à casa de Yahweh, Hilquias, o sacerdote, achou o livro da Lei de Yahweh, que tinha sido dado por meio de Moisés. ¹⁵ Hilquias disse a Safã, o escriba: "Achei o livro da lei da casa de Yahweh". Hilquias trouxe o livro a Safã. ¹⁶ Safã levou o livro ao rei e também lhe disse: "Teus servos estão fazendo tudo o que lhes foi confiado.

¹⁷ Ajuntaram o dinheiro que se achou na casa de Yahweh e o entregaram nas mãos dos supervisores e trabalhadores". ¹⁸ Safã, o escriba, disse ao rei: "Hilquias, o sacerdote, deu-me um livro". Safã, então, leu-o para o rei. ¹⁹ Aconteceu que, ouvindo o rei as palavras da Lei, rasgou suas vestes.

²⁰ O rei ordenou a Hilquias, Aicam, filho de Safã, Abdom, filho de Mica, Safã, o escriba, e Asaías, o servo dele, dizendo: ²¹ "Ide e perguntai a Yahweh por mim e por aqueles que deixaram Israel e Judá, por causa das palavras do livro que foi encontrado. Grande é a ira que Yahweh tem derramado sobre nós. Grande ela é, porque nossos antepassados não ouviram as palavras do livro, para obedecer tudo que foi escrito ali".

²² Então, Hilquias e aqueles a quem o rei havia ordenado foram a Hulda, a profetisa, mulher de Salum, filho de Tocate, encarregado das vestes (ela vivia em Jerusalém no Segundo Distrito), e falaram com ela dessa maneira.

²³ Ela lhes disse: "Isto é o que Yahweh, o Deus de Israel diz: 'Dizei ao homem que vos mandou a Mim, ²⁴ isto é o que Yahweh diz: Vê, estou a ponto de destruir este lugar e trazer aos seus habitantes todas as maldições que foram escritas no livro e que foram lidas perante o rei de Judá. ²⁵ Porque Me abandonaram e queimaram incenso a outros deuses, provocaram-Me à ira, com todos os atos que cometeram, derramarei Meu furor sobre este lugar, e não se apagará. ¹

²⁶ Porém, ao rei de Judá, que vos enviou a perguntar a Yahweh o que ele deveria fazer, isto deveis dizer a ele: Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, assim diz: Sobre as palavras que tu ouviste, ²⁷ porque teu coração é terno e te humilhaste diante de Deus, quando ouviste as palavras Dele contra este lugar e seus habitantes, porque te humilhaste perante a Mim e rasgaste as vestes e choraste diante de Mim, Eu também te ouvi. Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ²⁸ Vê, Eu vou te reunir aos teus antepassados; tu serás recolhido em tua sepultura em paz, e teus olhos não verão nenhum dos desastres que irei trazer sobre este lugar e seus habitantes'". Os homens trouxeram essa mensagem ao rei.

²⁹ O rei enviou os mensageiros e os colocou juntos com todos anciãos de Judá e Jerusalém. ³⁰ Então, o rei foi à casa de Yahweh, assim como todos os homens de Judá e os habitantes de Jerusalém, sacerdotes, levitas e todo o povo, do grande ao pequeno. Então, ele leu aos ouvidos de todos as palavras do Livro da Aliança, que tinha sido encontrado na casa de Yahweh.

³¹ O rei permaneceu em seu lugar e fez uma aliança perante Yahweh, de andar segundo Yahweh e guardar Seus mandamentos, os decretos da Sua aliança e Seus estatutos, com todo o coração e toda a sua alma, de obedecer à palavra de aliança que fora escrita no Livro. ³² Ele fez com que todo aquele que fosse achado em Jerusalém e em Benjamim permanecesse na aliança. Os habitantes de Jerusalém agiram em obediência para com a aliança de Deus, do Deus de seus antepassados.

³³ Josias retirou todas as coisas repugnantes das terras que pertenciam ao povo de Israel. Ele fez todos em Israel adorarem Yahweh, o Deus deles. Enquanto ele viveu, eles não deixaram de seguir Yahweh, o Deus de seus ancestrais.

¹Ao invés de será derramado neste lugar , algumas versões têm, será acesa contra este lugar .

Capítulo 35

¹ Josias celebrou a Páscoa a Yahweh em Jerusalém; mataram os cordeiros para a Páscoa, no décimo quarto dia do primeiro mês. ² Ele colocou os sacerdotes em suas posições e os encorajou no seu serviço na casa de Yahweh.

³ Disse aos levitas que ensinavam todo Israel e que eram dedicados a Yahweh: "Ponde a Arca sagrada na casa que Salomão, filho de Davi, rei de Israel, construiu. Não a leveis em vossos ombros para lugar algum. Agora, adorai a Yahweh, vosso Deus, e servi ao seu povo em Israel. ⁴ Organizai-vos pelos nomes das casas de vossos ancestrais e suas divisões, seguindo as instruções de Davi, rei de Israel, e as de Salomão, seu filho.

⁵ Levantai-vos no lugar sagrado, tomando vossas posições com as divisões dentro das casas dos ancestrais dos vossos irmãos, os descendentes do povo, e assumindo vossos postos com suas divisões entre os acestrais da casa dos levitas. ⁶ Matai os cordeiros da Páscoa e consagrai-vos, preparai os cordeiros para os irmãos, fazendo conforme a palavra de Yahweh, que foi dada pelas mãos de Moisés.

⁷ Josias deu a todo o povo trinta mil cordeiros e cabritos do rebanho, para as ofertas de Páscoa, a todos os presentes. Também deu três mil bezerros que pertenciam ao rei. ⁸ Seus líderes deram uma oferta voluntária ao povo, sacerdotes e levitas. Hilquias, Zacarias e Jeiel, os oficiais da casa de Deus, deram aos sacerdotes, para a Páscoa, ofertas de dois mil e seiscentos novilhos e trezentos bois. ⁹ Também, Conanias, Semaías e Netanel, seus irmãos, e Hasabias, Jeiel e Jozabade, chefes dos levitas, deram aos levitas, cinco mil novilhos e quinhentos bois para as ofertas de Páscoa.

¹⁰ Então, o serviço estava preparado e, os sacerdotes assumiram seus postos, com os levitas em suas divisões, em resposta às ordens reais. ¹¹ Mataram os cordeiros da Páscoa, e os sacerdotes aspergiram o sangue que receberam das mãos dos levitas. Estes retiraram a pele dos cordeiros. ¹² Removeram as ofertas queimadas, para dividi-las na ordem das divisões de casas dos ancestrais de seu povo, para oferecê-los a Yahweh, como está escrito no Livro de Moisés. Fizeram o mesmo com os bois.

¹³ Assaram os cordeiros da Páscoa com fogo, seguindo as instruções. Assim como as ofertas consagradas, cozinharam em potes, caldeirões e panelas e rapidamente as levaram para todo o povo. ¹⁴ Mais tarde, prepararam para si e para os sacerdotes; porque os sacerdotes, os descendentes de Arão, estavam ocupados em oferecer as ofertas queimadas e a gordura até o anoitecer. Então, os levitas prepararam para si e para os sacerdotes, os descendentes de Arão.

¹⁵ Os cantores, descendentes de Asafe, estavam em seus postos, direcionados por Davi, Asafe, Hemã, e Jedutum, o vidente do rei, e os guardas estavam em cada portão. Não precisavam sair de seus postos, porque seus irmãos, os levitas, lhes preparavam suas ofertas.

¹⁶ Naquele tempo, todo o serviço para Yahweh estava sendo realizado para a celebração da Páscoa e para oferecer ofertas queimadas no altar de Yahweh, como o rei Josias havia ordenado. ¹⁷ O povo de Israel, que estava presente, celebrou a Páscoa naquele momento e depois a festa dos pães sem fermento por sete dias.

¹⁸ Nunca uma celebração de Páscoa em Israel havia sido tão grande desde os dias do profeta Samuel; ou tivera qualquer um dos reis de Israel celebrado a Páscoa como Josias o fez, juntamente com os sacerdotes, levitas e todo o povo de Judá e Israel, que estava presente, e os habitantes de Jerusalém. ¹⁹ Essa Páscoa foi celebrada no décimo oitavo ano do reinado de Josias.

²⁰ Após tudo isso, depois que Josias colocou o templo em ordem, Neco, rei do Egito, levantou-se para lutar contra Carquêmis, no rio Eufrates, e Josias foi lutar contra ele. ²¹ Mas Neco enviou embaixadores a ele, dizendo: "O que fiz eu contigo, rei de Judá? Não estou indo te atacar hoje, mas sim ao reino contra o qual estou em guerra. Deus me ordenou que eu me apressasse, não te oponhas a Deus, que está comigo, pois Ele pode te destruir".

²² No entanto, Josias se negou a recuar. Disfarçou-se a fim de lutar contra ele. Não ouviu as palavras de Neco, que vieram da boca de Deus; então, foi lutar no vale do Megido.

²³ Arqueiros atiraram no rei Josias, e o rei disse aos seus servos: "Levai-me daqui, estou gravemente ferido". ²⁴ Então, seus servos o tiraram de seu carro e o colocaram em seu carro extra. Levaram-no para Jerusalém, onde ele morreu. Foi ele sepultado na tumba de seus ancestrais. Toda a Judá e Jerusalém choraram por Josias.

²⁵ Jeremias lamentou por Josias; todos os cantores e cantoras lamentam por ele até o dia de hoje. Essas canções se tornaram costume em Israel; elas foram escritas nas canções de lamentações. ²⁶ Quanto às outras coisas relacionadas a Josias, seus bons atos, sua obediência ao que está escrito nos livros da Lei de Yahweh ²⁷ e os seus feitos do início ao fim, estão escritos no livro dos reis de Judá e Israel.

Capítulo 36

¹ O povo da terra tomou Jeoacaz, filho de Josias, e o fez rei em Jerusalém, no lugar de seu pai. ² Jeoacaz começou a reinar em Jerusalém quando tinha vinte três anos de idade. Reinou apenas três meses,

³ porque o rei do Egito o removeu de Jerusalém e impôs ao povo um tributo de cem talentos de prata e um talento de ouro. ⁴ E o rei do Egito deu a Eliaquim, irmão de Jeoacaz, o reinado sobre Judá e Jerusalém além de mudar seu nome para Jeoaquim. Quanto a Jeoacaz, Neco o prendeu e o levou para o Egito.

⁵ Jeoaquim começou a reinar quando tinha vinte e cinco anos e reinou durante onze anos em Jerusalém. Ele praticou o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, seu Deus. ⁶ Então, Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, o atacou e o prendeu em correntes, a fim de levá-lo para a Babilônia. ⁷ Nabucodonosor também carregou alguns objetos do templo de Yahweh para a Babilônia e os colocou em seu palácio.

⁸ Os demais assuntos relacionados a Jeoaquim, as coisas abomináveis que ele praticou e o que mais lhe aconteceu estão escritos no livro dos reis de Israel e Judá. Então, Joaquim, seu filho, reinou em seu lugar.

⁹ Joaquim, quando começou a reinar, tinha oito anos de idade; reinou durante três meses e dez dias em Jerusalém. Ele praticou o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh. ¹⁰ Na primavera, o rei Nabucodonosor enviou homens e o trouxe para Babilônia, com os utensílios valiosos do templo de Yahweh; o rei da Babilônia constituiu Zedequias para substituir seu irmão Joaquim como rei sobre Judá e Jerusalém.

¹¹ Zedequias, quando começou a reinar, tinha vinte e um anos de idade. Reinou por onze anos em Jerusalém. ¹² Ele praticou o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, seu Deus. Não se humilhou diante de Jeremias, o profeta, que falou palavras enviadas pela boca de Yahweh.

¹³ Zedequias também rebelou-se contra Nabucodonosor, que o tinha feito jurar lealdade perante Deus. Com o coração obstinado e endurecido, Zedequias não se converteu a Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ¹⁴ Além disso, as transgressões de todos os líderes dos sacerdotes e do povo aumentavam mais e mais, pois imitavam as práticas repugnantes das nações pagãs. Eles contaminaram o templo de Yahweh, que Ele tinha santificado para Si, em Jerusalém.

¹⁵ Yahweh, o Deus de seus pais, falou-lhes repetidas vezes, insistindo em adverti-los por meio de Seus mensageiros, porque Ele tinha compaixão do Seu povo e do lugar da Sua habitação. ¹⁶ Porém, eles zombaram dos mensageiros de Deus, desprezaram Suas palavras e ridicularizavam Seus profetas, provocando a ira de Yahweh, que se inflamou contra Seu povo, até que não houvesse mais remédio.

¹⁷ Por isso, Deus trouxe sobre eles o rei dos caldeus, que matou os seus jovens à espada no santuário e não poupou jovens, nem virgens, nem homens velhos, nem homens com cabelos grisalhos. Deus os entregou a todos nas mãos dele.

¹⁸ Ele levou para a Babilônia todos os utensílios grandes e pequenos do templo de Deus, os tesouros da habitação de Yahweh e os tesouros do rei e seus oficiais. ¹⁹ Eles incendiaram o templo de Deus, destruíram os muros de Jerusalém, queimaram todos os palácios e destruíram todas as coisas belas que havia ali.

²⁰ O rei levou para a Babilônia todos aqueles que escaparam da espada. Foram feitos escravos do rei e de seus filhos até o tempo do reino da Pérsia. ²¹ Isso aconteceu para que se cumprisse a palavra de Yahweh pela boca de Jeremias: "até que a terra receba compensação por seus sábados, durante todo o tempo em que ela repousar, até que se cumpram os setenta anos".

²² No primeiro ano de Ciro, o rei da Pérsia, cumpriu-se a palavra de Yahweh dita pela boca de Jeremias. Yahweh despertou o espírito de Ciro, o rei da Pérsia, e este mandou proclamar por todo o seu reino — e o fez também por escrito — o seguinte decreto: ²³ "Isto é o que Ciro, o rei da Pérsia, diz: 'Yahweh, o rei dos céus, entregou-me todos os reinos da terra. Ele me encarregou de construir uma templo para Si em Jerusalém, que fica em Judá. Quem dentre vós pertence ao Seu povo fique livre para ir, e que Yahweh, vosso Deus, esteja convosco'".

Nehemiah

Capítulo 1

¹ As palavras de Neemias, filho de Hacalias. Ora, aconteceu no mês de quisleu, no vigésimo ano, enquanto eu estava na fortaleza de Susã, ² quando um dos meus irmãos, Hanani, veio com algumas pessoas de Judá, e eu perguntei-lhes sobre os judeus que haviam escapado, o remanescente dos judeus que estava lá, e sobre Jerusalém.

³ Eles me disseram: "Aqueles na província que sobreviveram ao cativeiro estão em grande dificuldade e desgraça, porque os muros de Jerusalém foram arrombados, e os portões foram incendiados".

⁴ E, assim que ouvi essas palavras, sentei-me e chorei por vários dias. Continuei de luto e de jejum, orando perante o Deus dos céus. ⁵ Eu disse: "Yahweh, Deus dos céus, o Deus que é grande e maravilhoso, Tu que manténs a Tua aliança e a Tua benignidade com aqueles que Te amam e guardam os Teus mandamentos.

⁶ Escuta a minha oração e abre os Teus olhos, para que Tu possas escutar a oração do Teu servo, que oro diante de Ti, dia e noite, pelo povo de Israel, Teus servos. Eu estou confessando os pecados do povo de Israel, pois nós temos pecado contra Ti. Eu e a casa do meu pai pecamos. ⁷ Nós temos agido perversamente contra Ti, e não temos guardado os mandamentos, as leis e os decretos que Tu ordenaste ao Teu servo Moisés.

⁸ Por favor, lembra-Te da palavra que ordenaste ao Teu servo Moisés: 'Se agirdes infielmente, Eu irei espalhar-vos entre as nações, ⁹ mas, se retornardes a Mim e seguirdes os Meus mandamentos e os praticardes, embora o vosso povo tenha sido espalhado pelos lugares mais distantes debaixo do céu, Eu irei juntá-los e os trarei para o lugar que Eu escolhi para estabelecer o Meu Nome'.

¹⁰ Eles são os Teus servos e o Teu povo, a quem Tu resgataste pelo Teu grande poder e pela Tua mão forte. ¹¹ Yahweh, eu Te imploro, ouve agora a oração do Teu servo e a oração dos Teus servos que se deleitam em honrar o Teu Nome. Faz com que Teu servo seja bem-sucedido hoje, e concede-lhe misericórdia às vistas deste homem". Eu servia como copeiro do rei.

Capítulo 2

¹ No Mês de Nisã, no vigésimo ano do rei Artaxerxes, quando o rei selecionou o vinho, peguei-o e dei-o ao rei. Ora, eu nunca havia ficado triste na presença dele. ² Então o rei me disse: "Por que o seu rosto está tão triste? Tu não pareces estar doente. Isso deve ser tristeza do coração". Então, fiquei com muito medo.

³ Eu disse ao rei: "Que o rei viva para sempre! Como o meu rosto não estaria triste? A cidade, onde estão os sepulcros dos meus pais, está em ruínas, e os portões foram destruídos pelo fogo".

⁴ Então, o rei me disse: "O que queres que eu faça?" Eu orei ao Deus dos céus. ⁵ Então, eu respondi ao rei: "Se parecer bom ao rei, e se o teu servo tem sido agradável aos teus olhos, vossa majestade poderia enviar-me para Judá, cidade dos selpucros dos meus pais, para que eu possa reconstruí-la". ⁶ O rei respondeu-me (e a rainha estava sentada ao lado dele): "Por quanto tempo ficarás fora e quando tu retornarás?" O rei ficou feliz em me enviar quando eu lhe dei as datas.

⁷ Então, eu disse ao rei: "Se for do agrado do rei, que cartas possam ser entregues a mim para os governadores das províncias situadas além do rio, para que eles me permitam passar pelos seus territórios, no meu caminho para Judá. ⁸ Que, dentre elas, haja também uma carta para Asafe, o guarda da floresta do rei, para que ele me dê madeira para fazer as vigas das portas da fortaleza perto do templo, e para o muro da cidade, e para a casa onde morarei". Então, pela boa mão de Deus sobre mim, o rei atendeu aos meus pedidos.

⁹ Eu fui até os governadores das províncias situadas além do rio, e dei-lhes as cartas do rei. Ora, o rei tinha enviado comigo oficiais do exército e cavaleiros. ¹⁰ Quando Sambalate, o horonita, e Tobias, o oficial amonita, ouviram isso, eles ficaram muito irritados pelo fato de ter chegado alguém que queria ajudar o povo de Israel.

¹¹ Então, fui a Jerusalém, e fiquei lá por três dias. ¹² Levantei-me à noite, eu e alguns poucos homens. Não contei a ninguém o que Deus tinha colocado no meu coração para fazer por Jerusalém. Não tinha nenhum animal comigo, além do animal no qual eu estava montado.

¹³ Saí de noite pela porta do Vale, em direção à fonte do Dragão e pela porta do Esterco, e examinei os muros de Jerusalém, que haviam sido derrubados, e as portas de madeira haviam sido destruídas pelo fogo. ¹⁴ Então, fui até à porta da Fonte, e para o tanque do rei. Mas, devido ao lugar ser muito estreito, não havia como passar com o animal no qual eu estava montado.

¹⁵ Então, fomos naquela noite pelo vale e examinamos o muro, e eu voltei e entrei pela porta do Vale, e assim retornei. ¹⁶ Os governantes não sabiam aonde eu tinha ido ou o que eu tinha feito, e eu ainda não tinha informado aos judeus, nem aos sacerdotes, nem aos nobres, nem aos governantes, e nem aos demais que fariam o trabalho.

¹⁷ Eu lhes disse: "Vós vedes o problema em que estamos, como Jerusalém está em ruínas e como os seus portões foram destruídos pelo fogo. Vinde, vamos reconstruir o muro de Jerusalém para que não estejamos mais em desgraça". ¹⁸ Contei-lhes que a boa mão do meu Deus estava sobre mim, e também sobre as palavras do rei, que ele me tinha dito. Eles disseram: "Levantemo-nos e construamos". Então, eles fortaleceram as mãos para a boa obra.

¹⁹ Mas, quando Sambalate, o horonita, e Tobias, o oficial, e Gesém, o árabe, ouviram isso, eles zombaram de nós, desprezaram-nos e disseram: "O que vós estais fazendo? Vós estais vos rebelando contra o rei?". ²⁰ E eu lhes respondi: "O Deus dos céus nos fará bem-sucedidos. Nós somos os Seus servos e nos levantaremos e construiremos. Mas vós não tendes parte, nem direito e nem memorial em Jerusalém".

Capítulo 3

¹ Então, Eliasibe, o sumo sacerdote, dispôs-se com seus irmãos sacerdotes, e eles reconstruíram a Porta das Ovelhas. Consagraram-na e colocaram as portas no lugar. Depois continuaram até consagrar a Torre dos Cem e prosseguiram até a Torre de Hananel. ² Perto dele trabalharam os homens de Jericó e, logo adiante deles, Zacur, filho de Inri.

³ Os filhos de Hassenaá reconstruíram a Porta do Peixe. Colocaram as vigas no lugar e instalaram as portas com seus ferrolhos e trancas. ⁴ Meremote reparou o trecho seguinte; ele é o filho de Urias, filho de Hacoz. E o próximo trecho foi reparado por Mesulão; ele é filho de Berequias, o qual é filho de Mesezabel. E o próximo trecho foi reparado por Zadoque; ele é filho de Baamá. ⁵ Os tecoítas fizeram a reconstrução próximo deles, mas os líderes deles recusaram-se a fazer o trabalho ordenado pelos seus supervisores.

⁶ Joiada, filho de Paseia, e Mesulão, filho de Besodeias, repararam a Porta Velha. Colocaram as vigas e puseram as portas, os ferrolhos e as trancas. ⁷ Próximo a eles, Melatias, o gibeonita, e Jadom, o merenotita, homens de Gibeão e Mispá, fizeram reparos na porção onde o governador da província dalém do rio morava.

⁸ Próximo a ele, Uziel, filho de Haraías, um dos ourives, fez a reconstrução; e, próximo a ele, estava Hananias, um perfumista. Eles reconstríram Jerusalém até o muro Largo. ⁹ Refaías, filho de Hur, fez a reconstrução próximo a eles. Ele era o governador de metade do distrito de Jerusalém. ¹⁰ Próximo a ele, Jedaías, filho de Harumafe, reconstruiu perto de sua casa. Próximo a ele reconstruiu Hatus, filho de Hasabneias.

¹¹ Malquias, filho de Harim, e Hassube, filho de Paate-Moabe, reconstruíram outro trecho juntamente com a Torre dos Fornos. ¹² Próximo a eles, Salum filho de Haloés, o governador da outra metade do distrito de Jerusalém, fizeram a reconstrução com a ajuda de suas filhas.

¹³ Hanum e os moradores de Zanoa reconstruíram o Portão do Vale. Eles o reconstruíram, colocaram as portas, os ferrolhos e as trancas. Eles repararam mil côvados até o Portão do Esterco.

¹⁴ Malquias, filho de Recabe, o governador do distrito de Bete-Haquerém, reparou a Porta do Esterco. Ele a construiu, colocou as portas, os ferrolhos e as trancas. ¹⁵ Salum, filho de Col-Hoze, o governador do distrito de Mispá, reconstruiu a Porta da Fonte. Ele a construiu, a cobriu, colocou as portas, os ferrolhos e as trancas. Ele também reconstuiu o muro do tanque de Siloé, do jardim do rei, até os degraus que descem da cidade de Davi.

¹⁶ Neemias, filho de Azbuque, governador da metade do distrito de Bete-Zur, fez os reparos até em frente ao sepulcro de Davi, até o açude artificial, e até a casa dos soldados. ¹⁷ Depois dele, os levitas, incluindo Reum, filho de Bani e próximo a ele Hasabias, o governador da metade do distrito de Queila, fizeram os reparos no seu distrito.

¹⁸ Depois dele, seus compatriotas, incluindo Bavai, filho de Henadade, o governador da metade do distrito de Queila fizeram reparos. ¹⁹ Próximo a ele Ézer, filho de Jesua, governador de Mispá, reparou outro trecho em frente à subida para a casa de armas, até a esquina do muro.

²⁰ Depois dele, Baruque, filho de Zabai, com muita dedicação fez reparos em outro trecho, desde a esquina do muro até a porta da casa de Eliasibe, o sumo sacerdote. ²¹ Depois dele, Meremote, filho de Urias, filho de Hacoz, fez reparos em outro trecho, desde a porta da casa de Eliasibe até o fim dela.

²² Próximo a ele, os sacerdotes que habitavam nos arredores de Jerusalém fizeram reparos. ²³ Depois deles, Benjamim e Hassube fizeram reparos defronte de suas próprias casas. Depois deles Azarias, filho de Maaseias, filho de Ananias, fez reparos perto de sua própria casa. ²⁴ Depois dele, Binuí, filho de Henadade fez reparos em outro trecho, desde a casa de Azarias até a esquina do muro.

²⁵ Palal, filho de Uzai, fez reparos defronte da esquina e da torre que sai da casa real superior, perto do pátio da guarda. Após ele, Pedaías, filho de Parós, fez reparos. ²⁶ Os servos do templo que moravam em Ofel, fizeram reparos até defronte da Porta da Água ao leste da grande torre. ²⁷ Depois deles, os tecoítas fizeram reparos em outro trecho, oposto à grande torre, que sobressai até o muro de Ofel.

²⁸ Os sacerdotes fizeram reparos em cima da Porta dos Cavalos; cada um em frente à sua própria casa. ²⁹ Depois deles Zadoque, filho de Imer, reparou o trecho em frente à sua própria casa. E, depois dele, Semaías, filho de Secanias, o guarda da porta leste, fez reparos. ³⁰ Depois deles, Hananias, filho de Selemias, e Hanum, o sexto filho de Zalafe, repararam outro trecho. Depois deles, Mesulão, filho de Berequias, fez reparos em frente à sua morada.

³¹ Depois dele, Malquias, um dos ourives, fez reparos na casa dos servos do templo e dos mercadores que estava em frente à Porta da Guarda até a torre de vigia da esquina. ³² E os ourives e comerciantes fizeram reparos entre a torre de vigia da esquina e a Porta das Ovelhas.

Capítulo 4

¹ E, quando Sambalate ouviu que estávamos construindo o muro, isso ardeu em seu interior, ficou furiosamente irado e zombou dos judeus. ² Na presença de seus irmãos e do exército de Samaria, ele disse: "O que esses fracos judeus estão fazendo? Eles vão restaurar a cidade para eles mesmos? Irão oferecer sacrifícios? Irão finalizar o trabalho em um dia? Trarão à vida as pedras dos montes de entulhos, depois de terem sido queimadas?". ³ Tobias, o amonita estava com ele e lhe disse: "Se apenas uma raposa subir no que estão construindo, isso poderia quebrar seu muro de pedra!".

⁴ Ouve, nosso Deus, pois somos desprezados. Faze voltar as ofensas sobre suas próprias cabeças e entregue-os a serem saqueados em uma terra onde sejam prisioneiros. ⁵ Não cubras suas iniquidades e não apagues os seus pecados de diante de Ti, pois eles provocaram a ira dos que edificavam. ⁶ Então, nós construímos o muro em toda sua extensão até a metade da sua altura, porque o povo tinha ânimo para trabalhar.

⁷ Mas, quando Sambalate, Tobias, o árabe, os amonitas e os asdoditas ouviram que o trabalho de reparos dos muros de Jerusalém estava avançando e que os lugares quebrados no muro estavam sendo fechados, arderam-se em grande ira. ⁸ Todos eles conspiraram juntos; então vieram para lutar contra Jerusalém e causar nela confusão. ⁹ Mas nós oramos ao nosso Deus e colocamos guardas para proteger-nos contra eles dia e noite, por causa das suas ameaças.

¹⁰ Então, as pessoas de Judá disseram: "A força daqueles que carregam os fardos está diminuindo, há muito entulho e nós não somos capazes de reconstruir o muro". ¹¹ E nossos inimigos disseram: "Eles não saberão ou não verão até que entremos no meio deles, e os matemos, e parem o trabalho".

¹² Naquele tempo, os judeus que moravam perto deles vieram de todas as direções e falaram conosco dez vezes, advertindo-nos do esquema que eles estavam tramando contra nós. ¹³ Então, posicionei pessoas nas partes mais baixas do muro, nas áreas expostas. Posicionei cada família com suas espadas, lanças e arcos. ¹⁴ Então, olhei, coloquei-me de pé e disse aos nobres, aos governadores e ao resto do povo: "Não tenhais medo deles. Lembrai-vos do Senhor, que é grande e maravilhoso. Lutai por vossas famílias, vossos filhos e vossas filhas, vossas esposas e vossas casas".

¹⁵ E aconteceu que, após nossos inimigos ouvirem que seus planos se tornaram conhecidos por nós e que Deus havia frustrado os deles, todos nós retornamos para o muro, cada um ao seu trabalho. ¹⁶ Desde aquele dia, metade dos meus servos trabalhavam exclusivamente para reconstruir o muro, e a outra metade dos homens segurava lanças, escudos e arcos e usavam armaduras, enquanto os líderes apoiavam todo o povo de Judá.

¹⁷ Os mesmos trabalhadores que construíam o muro e carregavam cargas também guardavam suas posições. Cada um trabalhava com uma mão e, com a outra mão, segurava uma arma. ¹⁸ Cada construtor usava sua espada ao lado e era assim que trabalhava. O que tocava trombeta permanecia ao meu lado.

¹⁹ Eu disse aos nobres, aos oficiais, e ao resto do povo: "O trabalho é grande e extenso, e nós estamos separados no muro, distantes uns do outros. ²⁰ Devei correr ao lugar de onde ouvirdes o som da trombeta e ajuntai-vos lá. Nosso Deus lutará por nós".

²¹ Então, nós estávamos fazendo o trabalho. A metade deles segurava lanças desde o alvorecer até o anoitecer. ²² Eu também disse ao povo naquele tempo: "Que cada homem e seu servo passe a noite no meio de Jerusalém, para que eles possam ser nossos guardas durante a noite e trabalhem durante o dia". ²³ Então, nem eu, nem meus irmãos, nem meus servos, nem os homens da guarda que me seguiam, nenhum de nós trocou a roupa, e cada um de nós carregava sua arma, mesmo quando buscava água.

Capítulo 5

¹ Então, os homens e suas esposas levantaram um grande clamor contra seus companheiros judeus. ² Pois lá havia alguns que diziam: "Nós com nossos filhos e filhas, somos muitos. Então, deixai-nos pegar grãos para que possamos comer e permaneçamos vivos". ³ Também havia alguns que diziam: "Estamos dando como garantia nossos campos, nossos vinhedos e nossas casas para obter grãos durante a fome".

⁴ Alguns também diziam: "Fizemos empréstimos de dinheiro para pagar o imposto do rei sobre nossos campos e nossos vinhedos. ⁵ No entanto, nós somos da mesma carne e sangue que nossos irmãos, e nossas crianças são as crianças deles. Somos forçados a vender nossos filhos e nossas filhas para que se tornem escravos. Algumas de nossas filhas já foram escravizadas. Mas não está em nosso poder ajudar porque agora, outros homens possuem nossos campos e nossos vinhedos".

⁶ Eu fiquei muito irado quando ouvi seu clamor e essas palavras. ⁷ Então, pensei sobre isso e trouxe acusações contra os nobres e oficiais. Eu disse a eles: "Vós cobrais juros, cada um de seu próprio irmão". Organizei uma grande assembleia contra eles ⁸ e disse-lhes: "Nós, tanto quanto fomos capazes, compramos de volta nossos irmãos judeus da escravidão, que foram vendidos às nações, mas vós mesmos vendem vossos irmãos e irmãs, para que eles sejam vendidos de volta a nós!". Eles permaneceram em silêncio e não encontraram uma palavra para dizer.

⁹ Eu também disse: "O que estão fazendo não é bom. Não devíeis caminhar no temor do nosso Deus, para evitar a difamação das nações que são nossas inimigas? ¹⁰ Eu, meus irmãos e meus servos lhes estamos emprestando dinheiro e grãos. Mas devemos parar de cobrar juros sobre esses empréstimos. ¹¹ Devolvei a eles, hoje mesmo, seus campos, seus vinhedos, seus pomares de oliva, suas casas e a porcentagem do dinheiro, dos grãos, do vinho novo e do azeite que exigiram deles".

¹² Então, eles disseram: "Devolveremos o que tiramos deles e não exigiremos nada deles. Faremos como dizes". Então, chamei os sacerdotes e os fiz jurar para fazerem como prometeram. ¹³ Sacudi a dobra do meu manto e disse: "Então, que Deus sacuda da sua casa e das suas posses todo homem que não mantiver sua promessa. Que ele possa ser sacudido e esvaziado". Toda a assembleia disse: "Amém", e eles louvaram a Yahweh, e o povo fez como haviam prometido.

¹⁴ Então, desde o tempo em que fui indicado para ser o governador na terra de Judá, do vigésimo ano até o trigésimo-segundo ano do rei Artaxerxes, durante doze anos, nem eu nem meus irmãos comemos a comida fornecida para o governador. ¹⁵ Mas os governadores anteriores, que estavam antes de mim, colocaram obrigações pesadas sobre o povo e tomaram deles quarenta siclos de prata por sua comida e vinho diários. Até os servos deles oprimiam o povo. Mas eu não fiz assim por causa do temor a Deus.

¹⁶ Eu também continuei a trabalhar no muro, e não compramos nenhuma terra. E todos os meus servos estavam reunidos lá para o trabalho. ¹⁷ À minha mesa, estavam os judeus e os oficiais, cento e cinquenta homens, além daqueles que nos visitaram dentre as nações que estavam ao nosso redor.

¹⁸ Ora, o que era preparado a cada dia era um boi, seis ovelhas escolhidas e também aves e, a cada dez dias, todos os tipos de vinho em abundância. E, mesmo assim, para tudo isso, eu não exigi o alimento permitido do governador, porque as exigências eram muito pesadas sobre o povo. ¹⁹ Lembra-te de mim, para o bem, meu Deus, por tudo o que eu fiz por esse povo.

Capítulo 6

¹ Agora, quando Sambalate, Tobias e Gesém, o árabe, e o restante dos nossos inimigos ouviram que eu reconstruí o muro e que não havia mais nenhuma brecha deixada aberta, embora eu ainda não tivesse colocado as portas nos portões, ² Sambalate e Gesém enviaram mensagem a mim, dizendo: "Vem, encontremo-nos em algum lugar na planície de Ono". Mas eles pretendiam fazer mal a mim.

³ Eu enviei mensageiros a eles, dizendo: "Estou fazendo um grande trabalho e não posso descer. Por que o trabalho seria interrompido enquanto eu o deixasse para descer até vós?" ⁴ Eles me enviaram a mesma mensagem quatro vezes, e eu lhes respondi da mesma maneira cada vez.

⁵ Sambalate enviou seu servo a mim da mesma maneira pela quinta vez, com uma carta aberta em sua mão. ⁶ Nela estava escrito: "É dito entre as nações, e Gesém também diz, que tu e os judeus estão planejando se rebelar, por isto estás reconstruindo o muro. Pelo que dizem estes relatos, tu estás para se tornar o rei deles.

⁷ E tu também designaste profetas para proclamar sobre ti em Jerusalém, dizendo: 'Há um rei em Judá!' Estejas certo de que o rei ouvirá este relato. Portanto vem, e falemos um com o outro".

⁸ Então eu enviei uma mensagem para ele, dizendo: "As coisas não aconteceram como disseste, pois, em teu coração, as inventaste". ⁹ Pois todos eles queriam nos deixar com medo, pensando: "Eles retirarão as mãos de fazer o trabalho, e não será concluído". Mas agora, Deus, por favor, fortaleça minhas mãos.

¹⁰ Fui à casa de Semaías, filho de Delaías, filho de Meetabel, que estava em sua casa. Ele disse: "Encontremo-nos na casa de Deus, dentro do templo, e fechemos as portas do templo, pois eles estão vindo para te matar. À noite, eles virão para matá-lo". ¹¹ Respondi: "Um homem, como eu, fugiria? E um homem, como eu, entraria no templo somente para salvar a própria vida? Eu não entrarei!".

¹² E percebi que não era Deus que o enviou, mas que ele havia profetizado contra mim. Tobias e Sambalate o haviam contratado. ¹³ Eles o contrataram para me deixar com medo, para que eu pudesse fazer o que ele disse e pecasse, então eles poderiam me dar uma má reputação a fim de me humilhar. ¹⁴ Lembra-te de Tobias e Sambalate, meu Deus, e de tudo o que eles fizeram. Também lembra-te da profetisa Noádia e do restante dos profetas que tentaram me amedrontar.

¹⁵ Então o muro foi finalizado no vigésimo-quinto dia do mês de Elul, depois de cinquenta e dois dias. ¹⁶ Quando todos os nossos inimigos ouviram sobre isso, todas as nações ao nosso redor, eles ficaram com medo e sentiram-se humilhados. Pois eles sabiam que o trabalho foi feito com a ajuda do nosso Deus.

¹⁷ Também, naqueles dias, os nobres de Judá enviaram muitas cartas a Tobias, e as cartas de Tobias vieram até eles. ¹⁸ Pois havia muitos em Judá que eram vinculados a ele por um juramento, pois ele era o genro de Secanias, filho de Ara. Seu filho, Joanã, tinha tomado como sua esposa a filha de Mesulão, filho de Berequias. ¹⁹ Eles também me falavam bem dele e relataram minhas palavras de volta a ele. Cartas foram enviadas a mim por Tobias para me amedrontar.

Capítulo 7

¹ Quando o muro foi concluído e eu havia colocado as portas no lugar, e os porteiros, os cantores e os levitas foram designados, ² dei a meu irmão Hanani o encargo de administração de Jerusalém, juntamente com Hananias, que era chefe da fortaleza, pois ele era um homem fiel e temia a Deus mais que muitos.

³ E disse-lhes: "Não abrais os portões de Jerusalém até que o sol esteja alto. Enquanto os porteiros estão em guarda, deveis fechar as portas e trancá-las. Designai guardas dos que moram em Jerusalém, alguns em seus postos de guarda e outros em frente a suas próprias casas". ⁴ Ora, a cidade era ampla e grande, porém havia poucas pessoas nela e as casas não haviam sido reconstruídas ainda.

⁵ Meu Deus colocou, em meu coração, de reunir os nobres, os oficiais e o povo para registrá-los conforme suas famílias. E encontrei o livro da genealogia daqueles que haviam retornado primeiro e nele achei escrito o seguinte:

⁶ "Este é o povo da província que saiu do cativeiro em que Nabucodonosor, o rei da Babilônia, os levou para o exílio. Eles retornaram a Jerusalém e a Judá, cada um para sua cidade. ⁷ Eles vieram com Zorobabel, Jesua, Neemias, Azarias, Raamias, Naamani, Mardoqueu, Bilsã, Misperete, Bigvai, Neum e Baaná. O número dos homens do povo de Israel incluía o seguinte:

⁸ os descendentes de Parós, dois mil cento e setenta e dois; ⁹ os descendentes de Sefatias, trezentos e setenta e dois; ¹⁰ os descendentes de Ara, seissentos e cinquenta e dois;

¹¹ os descendentes de Paate-Moabe, por meio da descendência de Jesua e de Joabe, dois mil oitocentos e dezoito; ¹² os descendentes de Elão, mil duzentos e cinquenta e quatro; ¹³ os descendentes de Zatu, oitocentos e quarenta e cinco; ¹⁴ os descendentes de Zacai, setecentos e sessenta;

¹⁵ os descendentes de Binuí, seiscentos e quarenta e oito; ¹⁶ os descendentes de Bebai, seissentos e vinte e oito; ¹⁷ os descendentes de Azgade, dois mil trezentos e vinte e dois; ¹⁸ os descendentes de Adonicão, seiscentos e sessenta e sete;

¹⁹ os descendentes de Bigvai, dois mil e sessenta e sete; ²⁰ os descendentes de Adim, seiscentos e cinquenta e cinco; ²¹ os descendentes de Ater, de Ezequias, noventa e oito; ²² os descendentes de Hasum, trezentos e vinte e oito;

²³ os descendentes de Bezai, trezentos e vinte e quatro; ²⁴ os descendentes de Harife, cento e doze; ²⁵ os descendentes de Gibeão, noventa e cinco; ²⁶ os homens de Belém e de Netofá, cento e oitenta e oito;

²⁷ os homens de Anatote, cento e vinte e oito; ²⁸ os homens de Bete-Azmavete, quarenta e dois; ²⁹ os homens de Quiriate-Jearim, Cefira e Beerote, setecentos e quarenta e três; ³⁰ os homens de Ramá e Geba, seiscentos e vinte e um;

³¹ os homens de Micmás, cento e vinte e dois; ³² os homens de Betel e Ai, cento e vinte e três; ³³ os homens do outro Nebo, cinquenta e dois; ³⁴ o povo do outro Elão, mil duzentos e cinquenta e quatro;

³⁵ os homens de Harim, trezentos e vinte; ³⁶ os homens de Jericó, trezentos e quarenta e cinco; ³⁷ os homens de Lode, Hadide e Ono, setecentos e vinte e um; ³⁸ os homens de Senaá, três mil novecentos e trinta.

³⁹ Os sacerdotes: os descendentes de Jedaías (da casa de Jesua), novecentos e setenta e três; ⁴⁰ os descendentes de Imer, mil e cinquenta e dois; ⁴¹ os descendentes de Pasur, mil duzentos e quarenta e sete; ⁴² os descendentes de Harim, mil e dezessete.

⁴³ Os levitas: os descendentes de Jesua, por meio de Cadmiel, da descendencia de Binuí e de Hodevá, setenta e quatro. ¹ ⁴⁴ Os cantores: os descendentes de Asafe, cento e quarenta e oito. ⁴⁵ Os porteiros dos descendentes de Salum, os descendentes de Ater, os descendentes de Talmom, os descendentes de Acube, os descendentes de Hatita, os descendentes de Sobai, cento e trinta e oito.

⁴⁶ Os servos do templo: os descendentes de Zia, os descendentes de Hasufa, os descendentes de Tabaote, ⁴⁷ os descendentes de Queros, os descendentes de Sai, os descendentes de Padom, ⁴⁸ os descendentes de Lebana, os descendentes de Hagaba, os descendentes de Salmai, ⁴⁹ os descendentes de Hanã, os descendentes de Gidel, os descendentes de Gaar;

⁵⁰ os descendentes de Reaías, os descendentes de Rezim, os descendentes de Necoda, ⁵¹ os descendentes de Gazão, os descendentes de Uzá, os descendentes de Paseia, ⁵² os descendentes de Besai, os descendentes de Meunim, os descendentes de Nefusesim;

⁵³ os descendentes de Baquebuque, os descendentes de Hacufa, os descendentes de Harur, ⁵⁴ os descendentes de Baslite, os descendentes de Meída, os descendentes de Harsa, ⁵⁵ os descendentes de Barcos, os descendentes de Sísera, os descendentes de Tamá, ⁵⁶ os descendentes de Nesias, os descendentes de Hatifa.

⁵⁷ Os descendentes dos servos de Salomão: os descendentes de Sotai, os descendentes de Soferete, os descendentes de Perida, ⁵⁸ os descendentes de Jaala, os descendentes de Darcom, os descendentes de Gidel, ⁵⁹ os descendentes de Sefatias, os descendentes de Hatil, os descendentes de Poquerete-Hazebaim, os descendentes de Amom. ⁶⁰ Todos os servos do templo e os descendentes dos servos de Salomão, eram trezentos e noventa e dois.

⁶¹ E estes foram os que vieram de Tel-Melá, Tel-Harsa, Querube, Adom e Imer, porém eles não puderam provar que eles ou seus antepassados eram descendentes de Israel: ⁶² os descendentes de Delaías, os descendentes de Tobias, e os descendentes de Necoda, seiscentos e quarenta e dois. ⁶³ E dos sacerdotes: os descendentes de Hobaías, de Hacoz e de Barzilai, o qual tomou como esposa uma das filhas de Barzilai, o gileadita, e passou a ser chamado por esse nome.

⁶⁴ Estes buscaram seus registros entre aqueles que foram registrados segundo sua genealogia, todavia, não encontraram, por isso foram excluídos do sacerdócio como impuros. ⁶⁵ E o governador disse-lhes que não deveriam ser autorizados a comer a quota de comida dos sacerdotes, provenientes dos sacrifícios, até que se levantasse um sacerdote com Urim e Tumim.

⁶⁶ Toda a assembleia reunida era quarenta e dois mil trezentos e sessenta, ⁶⁷ além dos seus servos e das suas servas, os quais eram sete mil trezentos e trinta e sete. Eles tinham duzentos e quarenta e cinco cantores e cantoras.

⁶⁸ Eles tinham setecentos e trinta e sete cavalos; duzentos e quarenta e cinco mulas; ⁶⁹ quatrocentos e trinta e cinco camelos e seis mil setecentos e vinte jumentos.

⁷⁰ Alguns dos chefes das famílias paternas deram ofertas para a obra. O governador deu à tesouraria mil dáricos de ouro, cinquenta bacias e quinhentos e trinta túnicas sacerdotais. ² ⁷¹ Alguns dos chefes das famílias paternas deram para a tesouraria da obra vinte mil dáricos de ouro e duas mil e duzentas minas de prata. ⁷² O restante do povo deu vinte mil dáricos de ouro, duas mil minas de prata e sessenta e sete túnicas sacerdotais.

⁷³ Os sacerdotes, os levitas, os porteiros, os cantores, alguns do povo, os servos do templo e todo o Israel, estabeleceram-se em suas cidades. Ao sétimo mês, o povo de Israel estava instalado em suas cidades".

¹Em lugar de da descendencia de Binuí e de Hodevá , algumas versões modernas adotam da descendência de Hodevá .

²O texto hebraico registra trinta túnicas sacerdotais , mas é difícil de entender. A maioria das versões modernas adotam quinhentos e trinta túnicas sacerdotais . No entanto, alguns sugerem a leitura como trinta túnicas sacerdotais e quinhentas minas de prata .

Capítulo 8

¹ Todo o povo se reuniu como um só homem na praça em frente à Porta das Águas. Eles pediram que Esdras, o escriba, trouxesse o livro da Lei de Moisés, o qual Yahweh ordenou a Israel. ² No primeiro dia do sétimo mês, Esdras, o sacerdote, trouxe a Lei perante a assembleia, homens e mulheres, e todos os que podiam ouvir e entender. ³ Ele se pôs diante da praça em frente à Porta das Águas, e leu desde manhã cedo até o meio dia, na presença de homens e mulheres, e de todo aquele que podia entendê-la. E todo o povo ouviu atentamente o Livro da Lei.

⁴ Então, Esdras, o escriba, subiu num palco de madeira que o povo havia feito para aquele propósito. Estando de pé ao seu lado direito, Matitias, Sema, Anaías, Urias, Hilquias e Maaseias, e estando de pé ao seu lado esquerdo, Pedaías, Misael, Malquias, Hasum, Hasbadana, Zacarias e Mesulão. ⁵ Esdras abriu o livro à vista de todo o povo, pois ele estava elevado acima do povo, e, quando ele o abriu, todo o povo levantou-se.

⁶ Esdras agradeceu a Yahweh, o grandioso Deus, e todo o povo levantou as mãos, e respondeu: "Amém! Amém!". Então, eles inclinaram suas cabeças e adoraram Yahweh com o rosto voltado para o chão. ⁷ Também Jesua, Bani, Serebias, Jamim, Acube, Sabetai, Hodias, Maaseias, Quelita, Azarias, Jozabade, Hanã, Pelaías —os levitas— ajudaram o povo a entender a Lei, enquanto o povo permanecia no seu lugar. ⁸ Eles leram no livro, a Lei de Deus, tornando-a clara com a interpretação, e fornecendo o sentido para que eles entendessem a leitura.

⁹ Neemias, o governador, e Esdras, o sacerdote e escriba, e os levitas que interpretavam disseram para o povo: "Este dia é santo para Yahweh, vosso Deus. Não lamenteis, nem choreis". Pois, todo o povo chorava enquanto ouvia as palavras da Lei. ¹⁰ Então, Neemias disse-lhes: "Ide, comei carnes gordas e bebei bebidas doces, e enviai porções para quem não tiver nada preparado, pois este dia é santo ao nosso Senhor. Não vos entristeçais, pois a alegria de Yahweh é a vossa força".

¹¹ Então, os levitas fizeram o povo se aquietar, dizendo: "Aquientem-se! Pois este dia é santo. Não vos entristeçais". ¹² Então, todo o povo foi comer, beber, repartir a comida e celebrar com grande alegria, porque eles entenderam as palavras que lhes foram explicadas.

¹³ No segundo dia, os líderes das famílias dos antepassados de todo o povo, os sacerdotes e os levitas, vieram juntos a Esdras, o escriba, para aprenderem sobre as palavras da Lei. ¹⁴ E eles encontraram escrito na Lei como Yahweh tinha ordenado através de Moisés, que o povo de Israel deveria habitar em tendas durante a festa do sétimo mês. ¹⁵ Eles deveriam proclamar em todas as suas cidades e em Jerusalém, dizendo: "Ide às montanhas, e trazei ramos de oliveira cultivadas, e de oliveiras silvestres, e de murtas, e folhas de palmeira e de árvores frondosas, para fazerem tendas, como está escrito".

¹⁶ Então, as pessoas saíram e trouxeram os ramos; e fizeram para si tendas, cada um em seu próprio terraço, em seus pátios, e nos átrios da casa de Deus, e na praça da Porta das Águas, e na praça do Porta de Efraim. ¹⁷ E a assembleia dos que tinham retornado do cativeiro fez tendas e habitou nelas. Pois, desde os dias de Josué, filho de Num, até aquele dia, o povo de Israel não havia celebrado essa festa. Por isso a alegria do povo foi muito grande.

¹⁸ E dia após dia, desde o primeiro dia até o último, Esdras leu do livro da Lei de Deus. Eles celebraram a festa por sete dias, e no oitavo dia houve uma assembleia solene em obediência ao decreto.

Capítulo 9

¹ No vigésimo quarto dia do mesmo mês, o povo de Israel se reuniu para um jejum usando roupas de saco e colocando pó sobre as suas cabeças. ² Os descendentes de Israel separam-se de todos os estrangeiros. Eles se levantaram e confessaram os seus próprios pecados e as iniquidades dos seus antepassados.

³ Eles se levantaram nos seus lugares, e por uma quarta parte do dia, leram o Livro da Lei de Yahweh, seu Deus. Na outra quarta parte do dia, eles ficaram confessando-se e curvando-se perante Yahweh, seu Deus. ⁴ Os levitas Jesua, Bani, Cadmiel, Sebanias, Buni, Serebias, Bani e Quenani ficaram de pé nas escadas e chamaram em voz alta a Yahweh, seu Deus.

⁵ Então, os levitas Jesua, Cadmiel, Bani, Hasabneias, Serebias, Hodias, Sebanias e Petaías disseram: "Levantai-vos e louvai a Yahweh, vosso Deus, para sempre e sempre. Que eles bendigam ao Teu glorioso nome, e que seja exaltado acima de toda benção e louvor. ⁶ Tu és Yahweh. Somente Tu. Tu fizestes o céu, os mais altos céus, com todos os seus exércitos, e a Terra e tudo o que nela há, e os mares e tudo o que neles há. Tu destes vida a todos, e os exércitos do céu Te adoram.

⁷ Tu és Yahweh, o Deus que escolheu Abrão e o tirou de Ur dos caldeus e deu-lhe o nome de Abraão. ⁸ Vistes que o coração dele era fiel diante de Ti e fizestes com ele uma aliança pela qual daria aos seus descendentes a terra dos cananeus, dos heteus, dos amorreus, dos perizeus, dos jebuseus e dos girgaseus. Tu cumpriste a Tua promessa porque És justo.

⁹ Tu vistes a aflição de nossos antepassados no Egito e ouvistes o seu clamor junto ao mar Vermelho. ¹⁰ Fizeste sinais e maravilhas contra o Faraó, todos os seus servos e todo o povo da sua terra, porque sabias que os egípcios agiam com arrogância contra eles. Mas Tu fizeste para Ti mesmo um nome, que permanece até hoje.

¹¹ Tu dividiste o mar diante deles, de modo que passaram pelo meio do mar em terra seca; e lançaste os seus perseguidores nas profundezas, como uma pedra em águas profundas.

¹² Tu os guiaste com uma coluna de nuvem durante o dia, e uma coluna de fogo durante a noite, para iluminar o caminho onde deveriam ir. ¹³ No monte Sinai Tu desceste e falaste com eles do céu e deste-lhes decretos justos e leis verdadeiras, bons estatutos e mandamentos.

¹⁴ Tu fizeste conhecido a eles o Teu santo sábado e deste-lhes mandamentos, estatutos e leis através de Moisés, Teu servo. ¹⁵ Tu deste-lhes pão do céu para sua fome e água da rocha para sua sede, e Tu lhes disseste para irem e tomarem posse da terra que juraste lhes dar.

¹⁶ Mas eles e os nossos antepassados agiram desrespeitosamente, e foram teimosos e não escutaram os Teus mandamentos. ¹⁷ Eles se recusaram a escutar e não lembraram das maravilhas que fizeste entre eles, mas tornaram-se teimosos, e na sua rebeldia escolheram um líder para retornar à sua escravidão. Mas Tu és um Deus cheio de perdão, graça e compaixão, demoras a ficar irado e és cheio de amor. Tu não os abandonastes.

¹⁸ Mesmo quando eles fundiram um bezerro de metal e disseram: 'Este é vosso Deus que vos tirou do Egito', e cometeram grandes blasfêmias; ¹⁹ Tu, na Tua compaixão, não os abandonaste no deserto. A coluna de nuvem para guiá-los no caminho não os deixava durante o dia, e nem a coluna de fogo durante noite para iluminar o caminho em que eles deveriam andar.

²⁰ Tu deste o teu bom Espírito para instruí-los e o Teu maná Tu não negaste à boca deles, e deste água para a sede deles. ²¹ Por quarenta anos Tu proveste para eles no deserto e não lhes faltava nada. As suas roupas não envelheceram e os seus pés não incharam.

²² Tu lhes deste reinos e povos, e distribuiste para eles cada canto da terra. Então, eles tomaram posse da terra de Siom, rei de Hesbom, e a terra do Ogue, rei de Basã.

²³ Tu fizestes os seus filhos tão numerosos quantos as estrelas do céu, e os trouxe para a terra que Tu falaste aos seus antepassados para entrar e possuir. ²⁴ Então, o povo entrou e possuiu a terra e Tu subjugaste diante deles os habitantes da terra, os cananeus. Tu os deste nas suas mãos, com os seus reis e os povos da terra, para que Israel pudesse fazer com eles o que bem quisesse.

²⁵ Eles capturaram as cidades fortes e uma terra produtiva, e capturaram casas cheias de todo tipo de bens, cisternas já cavadas, vinhas e olivais e árvores frutíferas em abundância. Então, eles comeram e ficaram satisfeitos, e engordaram, e deleitaram-se em Tua grande bondade.

²⁶ Ainda assim, eles se tornaram desobedientes e se rebelaram contra Ti. Lançaram a Tua Lei para trás das costas. Eles assassinaram Teus profetas que os alertaram para voltar-se a Ti, e cometeram grandes blasfêmias. ²⁷ Então, Tu os entregaste nas mãos dos seus inimigos, que os fizeram sofrer. E no tempo do seu sofrimento, eles clamaram a Ti, e Tu os ouviste do céu; e, por causa das Tuas grandes misericórdias, Tu enviaste libertadores que os livraram das mãos dos seus inimigos.

²⁸ Mas, depois que eles descansaram, fizeram o mal novamente diante de Ti, e Tu os abandonaste nas mãos dos seus inimigos; então os seus inimigos dominaram sobre eles. No entanto, quando eles retornaram e clamaram a Ti, Tu os ouviste do céu; muitas vezes, por causa da Tua compaixão, Tu os resgataste. ²⁹ Tu os alertaste para que voltassem à Tua Lei. Contudo eles agiram arrogantemente e não escutaram os Teus mandamentos. Eles pecaram contra os Teus decretos que dão vida a qualquer um que obedecê-los. Eles viraram as costas obstinadamente e endureceram seus pescoços e se recusaram a ouvir.

³⁰ Por muitos anos os suportaste e os advertiste pelo Teu Espírito através dos Teus profetas. Mesmo assim eles não escutaram. Então, Tu os entregaste nas mãos dos povos vizinhos. ³¹ Mas, nas Tuas grandes misericórdias, Tu não os destruíste completamente, nem os abandonaste, pois Tu és um Deus gracioso e misericordioso.

³² Agora nosso Deus, o grande, o poderoso e maravilhoso Deus, que mantém a Sua aliança e grande amor, não deixe que pareça pequena para a Ti toda essa dificuldade que veio sobre nós, nossos reis, nossos príncipes, e sobre nossos sacerdotes e nossos profetas e nossos antepassados e todo o povo desde os dias dos reis da Assíria até o dia de hoje. ³³ Tu és justo em tudo que nos tem acontecido, pois Tu tens agido com fidelidade, mas nós temos agido perversamente. ³⁴ Nossos reis, nossos príncipes, nossos sacerdotes, e nossos antepassados não têm guardado a Tua Lei, nem prestado atenção aos Teus mandamentos ou aos decretos da Tua aliança pela qual Tu os advertiste.

³⁵ Mesmo no seu próprio reino, enquanto eles desfrutavam da Tua grande bondade para com eles, na grande e produtiva terra que Tu colocaste diante deles, eles não Te serviram ou deixaram os seus maus caminhos.

³⁶ Agora nós somos escravos na terra que deste aos nossos antepassados para desfrutar seus frutos e suas boas dádivas, e eis que nós somos escravos nela! ³⁷ A rica produção das nossas terras vai para os reis que Tu colocaste sobre nós por causa dos nossos pecados. Eles reinam sobre os nossos corpos e sobre o nossos gados como eles querem. Nós estamos em grande angústia.

³⁸ Por causa de tudo isso, nós firmamos uma aliança por escrito. No documento selado estão os nomes dos nossos príncipes, levitas, e sacerdotes".

Capítulo 10

¹ Aqueles que puseram seus nomes nos documentos selados foram: Neemias, o governador, filho de Hacalias, Zedequias, ² Seraías, Azarias, Jeremias, ³ Pasur, Amarias, Malquias,

⁴ Hatus, Sebanias, Maluque, ⁵ Harim, Meremote, Obadias, ⁶ Daniel, Ginetom, Baruque, ⁷ Mesulão, Abias, Miamim, ⁸ Maazias, Bilgai, e Semaías. Estes foram os sacerdotes.

⁹ Os levitas foram: Jesua, filho de Azanias, Binui, da família de Henadade, Cadmiel ¹⁰ e seus colegas levitas, Sebanias, Hodias, Quelita, Pelaías, Hanã, ¹¹ Mica, Reobe, Hasabias, ¹² Zacur, Serebias, Sebanias, ¹³ Hodias, Bani e Beninu. ¹⁴ Os líderes do povo foram: Parós, Paate-Moabe, Elão, Zatu, Bani,

¹⁵ Buni, Azgade, Bebai, ¹⁶ Adonias, Bigvai, Adim, ¹⁷ Ater, Ezequias, Azur, ¹⁸ Hodias, Hasum, Bezai, ¹⁹ Harife, Anatote, Nebai, ²⁰ Magpias, Mesulão, Hezir, ²¹ Mesezabel, Zadoque, Jadua,

²² Pelatias, Hanã, Anaías, ²³ Oseias, Hananias, Hassube, ²⁴ Haloês, Pílea, Sobeque, ²⁵ Reum, Hasabna, Maaseias, ²⁶ Aías, Hanã, Anã, ²⁷ Maluque, Harim e Baaná.

²⁸ E o resto do povo, os que eram sacerdotes, levitas, porteiros, cantores, servos do templo, e todos os que tinham se separado do povo das terras vizinhas e se devotado à lei de Deus, inclusive suas esposas, seus filhos e suas filhas, todos os capazes de entender e compreender, ²⁹ eles se juntaram com seus irmãos e seus nobres, e se comprometeram juntos, sob pena de maldição e sob juramento, a andarem na lei de Deus, que foi entregue por Moisés, o servo de Deus, e a observarem e obedecerem todos os mandamentos de Yahweh nosso Senhor, seus decretos e seus estatutos.

³⁰ Nós prometemos que não daríamos nossas filhas aos povos da terra nem tomaríamos suas filhas para os nossos filhos. ³¹ Nós também prometemos que, se o povo da terra trouxesse mercadoria ou qualquer grão para vender no dia de sábado, nós não compraríamos deles no sábado nem em qualquer dia santo. Todo sétimo ano deixaremos que nossos campos descansem e cancelaremos todas as dívidas contraídas por outros judeus.

³² Nós aceitamos os mandamentos de dar a cada ano um terço de um siclo para o serviço da casa do nosso Deus, ³³ de provê-la dos pães consagrados, das ofertas regulares de cereais, dos holocaustos, das ofertas para os sábados, para as festas de lua nova, para as festas fixas e também das ofertas sagradas e das ofertas pelo pecado, a fim de fazer propiciação por Israel, bem como para todo o trabalho da casa do nosso Deus.

³⁴ Os sacerdotes, os levitas e o povo lançaram sortes para a oferta da lenha. As sortes lançadas escolheriam quais das nossas famílias trariam lenha para a casa de nosso Deus nos tempos estabelecidos a cada ano. A lenha seria queimada no altar de Yahweh, nosso Deus, como está escrito na lei. ³⁵ Prometemos trazer à casa de Yahweh os primeiros frutos produzidos do nosso solo e os primeiros frutos de todas as árvores a cada ano. ³⁶ E como está escrito na lei, prometemos trazer à casa de Deus e aos sacerdotes que alí servem os primogênitos dos nossos filhos e dos nossos rebanhos de gado, ovelhas e cabras.

³⁷ Nós traremos as primícias da nossa massa de trigo, de nossas ofertas de cereal e do fruto de toda árvore. E as primícias do vinho novo e do óleo nós traremos aos sacerdotes, aos depósitos da casa do nosso Deus. Nós traremos aos levitas os dízimos do nosso solo, porque os levitas recolhem os dízimos em todas as cidades onde nós trabalhamos. ³⁸ Um sacerdote, descendente de Arão, deverá estar com os levitas quando eles receberem os dízimos. Os levitas devem trazer a décima parte dos dízimos à casa do nosso Deus, aos depósitos da tesouraria.

³⁹ E o povo de Israel e os descendentes de Levi devem trazer as contribuições de cereais, vinho novo e óleo aos armazéns onde estão guardados os utensílios do santuário e onde os sacerdotes estão servindo e os porteiros e os cantores ficam. Nós não vamos negligenciar a casa do nosso Deus.

Capítulo 11

¹ Os líderes do povo viviam em Jerusalém, e o restante do povo lançou sorte para trazer uma entre cada dez pessoas para viver em Jerusalém, a cidade santa, e as outras nove restantes permaneceriam em outras cidades. ² E o povo abençoou todos aqueles que se ofereceram de boa vontade para morar em Jerusalém.

³ Estes são os oficiais das províncias que viviam em Jerusalém. Entretanto, nas cidades de Judá, cada qual vivia em sua própria terra, incluindo alguns israelitas, sacerdotes, levitas, servos do templo e descendentes dos servos de Salomão. ⁴ Em Jerusalém viviam alguns dos descendentes de Judá e alguns dos descendentes de Benjamim. O povo de Judá incluía: Ataías, filho de Uzias, filho de Zacarias, filho de Amarias, filho de Sefatias, filho de Maalelel, descendente de Perez.

⁵ E havia Maaseias, filho de Baruque, filho de Col-Hose, filho de Hazaías, filho de Adaías, filho de Joiaribe, filho de Zacarias, filho do silonita. ⁶ Todos os filhos de Perez que viviam em Jerusalém eram quatrocentos e sessenta e oito. Eles eram homens valentes.

⁷ Estes são os descendentes de Benjamim: Salu, filho de Mesulão, filho de Joede, filho de Pedaías, filho de Colaías, filho de Maaseias, filho de Itiel, filho de Jesaías. ⁸ E, após ele, Gabai e Salai, um total de novecentos e vinte e oito homens. ⁹ Joel, filho de Zicri era superintendente sobre eles, e Judá filho de Senua era o segundo no governo da cidade.

¹⁰ E dos sacerdotes: Jedaías, filho de Joiaribe, Jaquim, ¹¹ Seraías, filho de Hilquias, filho de Mesulão, filho de Zadoque, filho de Meraiote, filho de Aitube, príncipe da casa de Deus, ¹² e seus companheiros que faziam o trabalho da casa, oitocentos e vinte e dois homens. Seguindo vem Adaías, filho de Jeroão, filho de Pelalias, filho de Anzi, filho de Zacarias, filho de Pasur, filho de Malquias.

¹³ Seus irmãos, que eram os cabeças das familias, duzentos e quarenta e dois homens, e Amassai, filho de Azarel, filho de Aazai, filho de Mesilemote, filho de Imer, ¹⁴ e seus irmãos, homens valentes e corajosos, cento e vinte e oito em número, e o superintendente sobre eles era Zabdial, filho de Gedolim.

¹⁵ Dentre os levitas: Semaías, filho de Hassube, filho de Azricão, filho de Hasabias, filho de Buni, ¹⁶ e Sabetai e Jozabade, que vinham dos líderes dos levitas e estavam com a responsabilidade do trabalho externo da casa de Deus.

¹⁷ E havia Matanias, filho de Mica, filho de Zabdi, filho de Asafe, que era o diretor que liderava os momentos de ações de graças na oração, e Babebuquias, o segundo entre seus irmãos, e Abda, filho de Samua, filho de Galal, filho de Jedutum. ¹⁸ Todos os levitas na cidade santa eram duzentos e oitenta e quatro.

¹⁹ Os porteiros eram: Acube, Talmon e seus irmãos que guardavam as portas, cento e setenta e dois homens. ²⁰ E os restantes de Israel e dos sacerdotes e levitas estavam em todas as cidades de Judá. Cada um vivia na propriedade da sua herança. ²¹ Os trabalhadores do templo moravam em Ofel, e Ziá e Gispa eram os chefes deles.

²² O superintendente dos levitas que serviam em Jerusalém era Uzi, filho de Bani, filho de Hasabias, filho de Matanias, filho de Mica, dos descendentes de Asafe, que eram cantores no serviço da casa de Deus. ²³ Eles estavam debaixo da autoridade do rei. Todos os dias, eram dadas ordens firmes para os cantores, conforme se requeria. ²⁴ E Petaías, filho de Mesezabel, da descendência de Zerá, filho de Judá, estava ao lado do rei em todas as questões referentes ao povo.

²⁵ E sobre as vilas e seus campos, alguns do povo de Judá viviam em Quiriate-Arba e suas vilas, em Dibom e suas vilas, e em Jecabzeel e suas vilas. ²⁶ Eles também viviam em Jesua, Molada, em Bete-Palete, ²⁷ em Hasar-Sual e em Berseba e suas vilas.

²⁸ Alguns do povo de Judá viviam em Ziclague, Mecona e em suas vilas: ²⁹ En-Rimom, Zorá, Jarmute; ³⁰ Zanoa, Adulão e suas vilas, em Laquis e seus campos e Azeca e suas vilas. E assim eles viviam desde Berseba até o vale de Hinom.

³¹ O povo de Benjamim também vivia em Geba, Micmás, Aia, Betel e suas vilas. ³² Eles também viviam em Anatote, Nobe, Ananias, ³³ Hazor, Ramá, Gitaim, ³⁴ Hadide, Zeboim, Nebalate, ³⁵ Lode e Ono, o vale dos artífices. ³⁶ Alguns dos levitas que viviam em Judá estavam distribuídos também entre o povo de Benjamim.

Capítulo 12

¹ Estes são os sacerdotes e os levitas que voltaram com Zorobabel, filho de Sealtiel, e com Jesua: Seraías, Jeremias, Esdras, ² Amarias, Maluque, Hatus, ³ Secanias, Reum e Meremote.

⁴ Estavam também Ido, Ginetom, Abias, ⁵ Miamim, Maadias, Bilga, ⁶ Semaías, Joiaribe e Jedaías. ⁷ Salu, Amoque, Hilquias e Jedaías. Esses eram os líderes dos sacerdotes e os seus companheiros, nos dias de Jesua.

⁸ Os levitas eram Jesua, Binui, Cadmiel, Serebias, Judá e Matanias, que estavam encarregados dos cânticos de ações de graças, junto com os seus companheiros. ⁹ Baquebuquias e Uni, seus companheiros, ficaram à frente deles durante o culto.

¹⁰ Jesua era o pai de Joiaquim, Joiaquim era o pai de Eliasibe, Eliasibe era o pai de Joiada, ¹¹ Joiada era o pai de Jonatã, e Jonatã era o pai de Jadua.

¹² Nos dias de Joiaquim, estes eram os sacerdotes, os chefes de famílias: Meraías era o líder da família de Seraías, Hananias era o líder da família de Jeremias, ¹³ Mesulão era o líder da família de Esdras, Jeoanã era o líder da família de Amarias, ¹⁴ Jonatã era o líder da família de Maluqui e José era o líder da família de Sebanias.

¹⁵ Adna era o líder da família de Harim, Helcai era o líder da família de Meraiote, ¹⁶ Zacarias era o líder da família de Ido, Mesulão era o líder da família de Ginetom, e ¹⁷ Zicri era o líder da família de Abias. Havia também o líder da família de Miniamim. ¹ . Piltai era o líder da família de Maadias. ¹⁸ Samua era o líder da família de Bilga, Jeonatã era o líder da família de Semaías, ¹⁹ Matenai era o líder da família de Joiaribe, Uzi era o líder da família de Jedaías, ²⁰ Calai era o líder da família de Salai, Eber era o líder da família de Amoque, ²¹ Hasabias era o líder da família de Hilquias, e Netanel era o líder da família de Jedaías.

²² Nos dias de Eliasibe, os levitas Eliasibe, Joiada, Joanã e Jadua foram resgistrados como chefes de famílias, e os sacerdotes foram registrados durante o reinado de Dario, o persa. ²³ Os descendentes de Levi e os chefes das suas famílias foram registrados no livro das crônicas, até os dias de Joanã, filho de Eliasibe.

²⁴ Os líderes dos levitas eram Hasabias, Serebias e Jesua, filho de Cadmiel, com seus companheiros que ficaram à frente deles para louvarem e darem graças, respondendo seção por seção, em resposta à ordem de Davi, o homem de Deus. ²⁵ Matanias, Baquebuquias, Obadias, Mesulão, Talmom e Acube eram os porteiros que guardavam os armazéns dos portões. ²⁶ Eles serviram nos dias de Joiaquim, filho de Jesua, filho de Jozadaque, e nos dias de Neemias, o governador, e de Esdras, o sacerdote e escriba.

²⁷ Na dedicação do muro de Jerusalém, o povo procurou levitas de todos os lugares, para trazê-los à Jerusalém para celebrar a dedicação com alegria, com ações de graças e cantando com címbalos, harpas e com liras. ²⁸ Os cantores se ajuntaram vindo dos arredores de Jerusalém e das vilas dos netofatitas.

²⁹ Eles também vieram de Bete-Gilgal e dos campos de Geba e Azmavete, pois os cantores tinham construído para si mesmos vilas ao redor de Jerusalém. ³⁰ Os sacerdotes e os levitas se purificaram e, então, purificaram o povo, os portões e o muro.

³¹ Então, fiz os líderes de Judá subirem até o topo do muro e formei dois grandes coros, que davam graças. Um deles foi para a direita do muro em direção à porta do Esterco.

³² Hosaías e metade dos líderes de Judá os seguiram, ³³ e depois deles foram Azarias, Esdras, Mesulão, ³⁴ Judá, Benjamim, Semaías, Jeremias ³⁵ e alguns dos filhos dos sacerdotes com trombetas, e Zacarias, filho de Jônatas, filho de Semaías, filho de Matanias, filho de Micaías, filho de Zacur, filho de Asafe.

³⁶ Estavam também os parentes de Zacarias, Semaías, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Netanel, Judá, Hanani, com os instrumentos de música de Davi, o homem de Deus. Esdras, o escriba, estava na frente deles. ³⁷ Na Porta da Fonte, eles subiram as escadas da cidade de Davi, pelas escadas que levavam ao muro acima do palácio de Davi, até a Porta das Águas, ao leste.

³⁸ O outro coro, daqueles que davam graças, foi na outra direção. Eu segui por cima do muro, com metade do povo, pela torre dos Fornos, até a muralha Larga, ³⁹ e pela Porta de Efraim, e pela porta Velha, e pela Porta do Peixe, e pela torre de Hananel, e pela torre dos Cem, até a Porta das Ovelhas; e eles pararam na Porta da Guarda.

⁴⁰ Assim, ambos os coros daqueles que davam graças posicionaram-se no seu lugar na casa de Deus, e eu também posicionei-me no meu lugar, com metade dos oficias comigo. ⁴¹ E os sacerdotes posicionaram-se no seu lugar: Eliaquim, Maaseias, Miniamim, Micaías, Elioenai, Zacarias e Hananias, com as trombetas, ⁴² Maaseias, Semaías, Eleazar, Uzi, Jeoanã, Malquias, Elão e Ézer. Os cantores cantavam sob a regência de Jezraías.

⁴³ E eles ofereceram grandes sacrifícios naquele dia e se alegraram, pois Deus lhes fez alegrar com grande alegria. As mulheres e as crianças também se alegraram. Então, a alegria de Jerusalém podia ser ouvida de longe.

⁴⁴ Naquele dia, homens foram designados para cuidar dos depósitos para as contribuições, os primeiros frutos e os dízimos dos campos das cidades, para colocar neles as porções exigidas por lei para os sacerdotes e para os levitas. Pois Judá estava alegre por causa dos sacerdotes e dos levitas que estavam diante deles. ⁴⁵ Eles realizaram o serviço do seu Deus e o serviço da purificação, e assim também fizeram os cantores e os porteiros, conforme o mandamento de Davi e de Salomão, seu filho.

⁴⁶ Há muito tempo, nos dias de Davi e Asafe, havia os regentes dos cantores, e havia canções de louvor e ações de graças para Deus. ⁴⁷ Nos dias de Zorobabel e nos dias de Neemias, todo o Israel dava as porções diárias para os cantores e para os porteiros. Eles separavam a porção que era para os levitas, e os levitas separavam a porção que era para os descendentes de Arão.

¹A expressão ... de Miniamim está incompleta, porque não há o nome do líder dessa família no texto hebraico

Capítulo 13

¹ Naquele dia, eles leram o livro de Moisés diante do povo. Foi encontrado nos escritos que nenhum dos amonitas ou moabitas deveria juntar-se ao povo de Deus, para sempre. ² Isso ocorreu porque eles não vieram até o povo de Israel com pão e com água, mas contrataram Balaão para amaldiçoar Israel. Contudo, nosso Deus transformou a maldição em bênção. ³ Assim que eles ouviram a Lei, separaram de Israel cada pessoa estrangeira.

⁴ Antes disso, o sacerdote Eliasibe tinha sido encarregado dos depósitos da casa do nosso Deus. Ele era parente de Tobias. ⁵ Eliasibe preparou para Tobias uma sala grande onde, anteriormente, eles guardavam as ofertas de cereais, o incenso, os utensílios, os dízimos dos cereais, vinho novo e o óleo, que foram designados para os levitas, os cantores, os porteiros, e as contribuições para os sacerdotes.

⁶ Mas, durante todo esse tempo, eu não estava em Jerusalém. No trigésimo segundo ano do reinado de Artaxerxes, rei da Babilônia, fui ao rei. Depois de algum tempo, pedi ao rei permissão para partir, ⁷ e, então, retornei para Jerusalém. Eu percebi o mal que Eliasibe havia feito, dando a Tobias uma sala no pátio da casa de Deus.

⁸ Eu estava muito irado e lancei todos os artigos domésticos da casa de Tobias para fora da sala. ⁹ Ordenei que purificassem as salas e recoloquei nelas os utensílios da casa de Deus, as ofertas de cereais e o incenso.

¹⁰ Fiquei sabendo que as porções dos levitas não lhes estavam sendo dadas, e que retornaram cada um para o seu campo, os levitas e os cantores que faziam a obra. ¹¹ Então, confrontei os oficiais e disse: "Por que a casa de Deus é negligenciada?". Juntei-os e os coloquei nos seus postos.

¹² Então, todo o Judá trouxe o dízimo dos cereais, o vinho novo e o azeite para os depósitos. ¹³ Designei como tesoureiros dos depósitos Selemias, o sacerdote, e Zadoque, o escriba; e dos levitas, Pedaías. Junto a eles estavam Hanã, filho de Zacur, filho de Matanias, pois eram considerados confiáveis. Seus deveres eram distribuir os suprimentos a seus colegas. ¹⁴ Lembra-te, meu Deus, a respeito disso e não esqueças as boas obras que fiz para a casa de Deus e seus cultos.

¹⁵ Naqueles dias, vi em Judá o povo pisando lagar no sábado, trazendo montões de cereais que eram carregados sobre os jumentos como também vinho, uvas, figos e todo tipo de carga pesada que traziam à Jerusalém no dia de sábado. Eu protestei por estarem vendendo alimento naquele dia.

¹⁶ Homens de Tiro que moravam em Jerusalém trouxeram peixes e todo o tipo de mercadorias e as vendiam no sábado para as pessoas de Judá e na cidade! ¹⁷ Então, confrontei os líderes de Judá: "Que mal é este que estais fazendo, profanando o dia de sábado? ¹⁸ Acaso vossos pais também não fizeram isso? E nosso Deus não trouxe todo este mal sobre nós e sobre esta cidade? Agora, estais trazendo ira sobre Israel, profanando o sábado".

¹⁹ Quando escureceu sobre os portões de Jerusalém, antes do sábado, ordenei que as portas fossem fechadas e que não fossem abertas até depois do sábado. Posicionei alguns dos meus servos nos portões, para que nenhuma carga pudesse entrar no dia de sábado. ²⁰ Os mercadores e vendedores de todos os tipos de mercadorias acamparam fora de Jerusalém uma ou duas vezes.

²¹ Mas eu lhes avisei: "Por que vós acampastes fora do muro? Se o fizerdes novamente, eu lançarei mão sobre vós!". Daquele tempo em diante, não tornaram a vir no sábado. ²² Então, ordenei aos levitas que se purificassem e viessem guardar as portas, para santificar o dia de sábado. Também nisso, Deus meu, lembra-te de mim; e tem misericórdia de mim, por causa da Aliança de lealdade que tens mostrado a mim.

²³ Naqueles dias, também vi Judeus que haviam se casado com mulheres de Asdode, Amom e Moabe. ²⁴ Metade dos filhos deles falavam a língua de Asdode. Nenhum deles podia falar a língua de Judá, mas somente a língua de um dos outros povos.

²⁵ Eu os confrontei e os amaldiçoei, bati em alguns deles e arranquei-lhes os cabelos. Eu os fiz jurar por Deus, dizendo: "Não deis vossas filhas aos filhos deles, nem tomareis as filhas deles para os vossos filhos. ²⁶ Salomão, rei de Israel, não pecou por causa dessas mulheres? Entre muitas nações não havia rei como ele, e ele foi amado pelo seu Deus, e Deus o fez rei sobre todo o Israel. No entanto, suas esposas estrangeiras fizeram com que ele pecasse. ²⁷ Deveríamos, então, escutar-vos, fazer todo esse mal e agir de maneira traiçoeira contra nosso Deus, casando-nos com mulheres estrangeiras?".

²⁸ Um dos filhos de Joiada, filho de Eliasibe, o sumo sacerdote, era genro de Sambalate, o horonita. Por isso fiz com que ele fugisse da minha presença. ²⁹ Lembra-te deles, meu Deus, porque contaminaram o sacerdócio, a aliança do sacerdócio e os levitas.

³⁰ Assim, eu os purifiquei de todas as coisas estrangeiras e estabeleci deveres para os sacerdotes e os levitas, cada um na sua própria tarefa. ³¹ Providenciei também deveres para a oferta de madeiras nos tempos designados e para as prímicias. Lembra-te de mim, meu Deus, para meu o bem.

Job

Capítulo 1

¹ Havia um homem na terra de Uz chamado Jó. Homem íntegro e reto que temia a Deus e se afastava do mal. ² Jó teve sete filhos e três filhas. ³ Tinha sete mil ovelhas, três mil camelos, quinhentas juntas de bois, quinhentas jumentas e uma multidão de empregados. Ele era o maior de todos os homens do oriente.

⁴ Os filhos, no dia determinado para cada um, ofereciam uma festa em sua casa. Eles convidavam também suas três irmãs para comerem e beberem com eles. ⁵ Quando os dias da festa terminavam, Jó os chamava e os consagrava. Levantava-se cedo de manhã e oferecia holocaustos para cada um dos seus filhos, pois ele dizia: "Talvez os meus filhos tenham pecado e blasfemado contra Deus em seus corações". Jó sempre fazia isso.

⁶ Então, chegou o dia em que os filhos de Deus apresentaram-se diante de Yahweh, e, com eles, veio também Satanás. ⁷ Yahweh disse a Satanás: "De onde vens?". E Satanás respondeu a Yahweh, dizendo: "De rodear a Terra e andar por ela". ⁸ Yahweh disse a Satanás: "Observaste o meu servo Jó? Porque não existe ninguém como ele na Terra, homem íntegro e reto, que teme a Deus e se afasta do mal".

⁹ E Satanás respondeu a Yahweh: "Por acaso, Jó teme a Deus sem motivo? ¹⁰ Não fizeste um muro em volta dele, ao redor da sua casa e em tudo que está a sua volta? Abençoaste as obras das suas mãos e seu rebanho aumentou na terra. ¹¹ Todavia, estende a Tua mão sobre tudo o que ele possui e vê se ele não blasfema contra Ti na Tua face". ¹² Yahweh disse a Satanás: "Então, tudo o que ele possui está em teu poder. Só não estendas a tua mão sobre ele". E Satanás retirou-se da presença de Yahweh.

¹³ Em certo dia, os filhos e as filhas de Jó estavam comendo e bebendo vinho na casa do irmão mais velho. ¹⁴ Um mensageiro veio a Jó e disse: "Os bois estavam lavrando e as jumentas pastando ao lado deles; ¹⁵ de repente, chegaram os sabeus e os atacaram e os levaram embora. Também mataram os servos ao fio de espada e só eu escapei para trazer-te a notícia".

¹⁶ Enquanto ele falava, um outro mensageiro veio e disse: "Fogo de Deus caiu dos céus e queimou todas ovelhas e os servos; e só eu escapei para trazer-te a notícia". ¹⁷ Enquanto este ainda falava, um outro mensageiro chegou e disse: "Os caldeus formaram três grupos, atacaram os camelos e os levaram. Quanto aos servos, mataram ao fio espada e só eu escapei para trazer-te a notícia".

¹⁸ Enquanto este ainda falava, outro também chegou, dizendo: "Os teus filhos e as tuas filhas estavam comendo e bebendo vinho na casa do irmão mais velho, ¹⁹ veio um vento forte do deserto, atingiu os quatro cantos da casa, que caiu sobre eles e eles morreram; só eu escapei para trazer-te a notícia".

²⁰ Então, Jó levantou-se, rasgou sua túnica, rapou a sua cabeça, prostrou-se em terra e adorou a Deus. ²¹ E disse: "Nu, eu vim do ventre da minha mãe e, nu, eu voltarei para lá. Yahweh deu e Yahweh tirou. Bendito seja o nome de Yahweh". ²² Em tudo isso, Jó não pecou e nem acusou a Deus por qualquer maldade.

Capítulo 2

¹ Chegou o dia em que os filhos de Deus se apresentaram diante de Yahweh e, com eles, veio também Satanás se apresentar diante de Yahweh. ² Yahweh disse a Satanás: "De onde vens?". E Satanás respondeu a Yahweh: "De rodear a Terra e andar por ela".

³ Yahweh disse a Satanás: "Observaste o meu servo Jó? Porque não existe ninguém como ele na Terra, homem íntegro e reto, que teme a Deus e se afasta do mal. Ele continua firme em sua integridade, embora tu Me persuadiste contra ele, para destruí-lo sem causa".

⁴ Satanás respondeu a Yahweh: "De fato, pele por pele, um homem dará tudo o que tem pela sua vida. ⁵ Mas estende Tua mão agora e toca seus ossos e sua carne e vê se ele não Te amaldiçoa na Tua face". ⁶ Yahweh disse a Satanás: "Vê, ele está em tuas mãos, somente poupe-lhe a vida".

⁷ Então, Satanás saiu da presença de Yahweh e feriu Jó com terríveis feridas, da sola dos pés até o alto da sua cabeça. ⁸ Jó pegou um pedaço de telha para se coçar e sentou-se no meio das cinzas.

⁹ Então, sua esposa disse-lhe: "Tu continuas com tua integridade? Amaldiçoa Deus e morre". ¹⁰ Mas ele lhe disse: "Tu falas com uma mulher louca. Receberíamos as coisas boas de Deus e não as más?". Em tudo isto, Jó não pecou com seus lábios.

¹¹ Quando os três amigos de Jó ouviram sobre todo o mal que lhe sobreviera, cada um veio de seu próprio lugar: Elifaz, o temanita; Bildade, o suita; Zofar, o naamatita. Eles determinaram um certo tempo para vir chorar com ele e o confortar.

¹² Quando, de longe, eles ergueram seus olhos, não o reconheceram. Então, levantaram a voz e choraram, rasgaram os seus mantos e lançaram pó para o ar e sobre suas próprias cabeças. ¹³ E sentaram com ele no chão, por sete dias e sete noites e não lhe disseram palavra alguma; pois viram que o seu sofrimento era muito grande.

Capítulo 3

¹ Depois disso, Jó abriu sua boca e amaldiçoou o dia do seu nascimento. ² Ele disse: ³ "Que pereça o dia em que eu nasci e a noite que disse: 'Um menino foi concebido!'.

⁴ Que aquele dia seja escuro; e que Deus, lá do alto, não o considere, nem deixe a luz do sol brilhar sobre ele. ⁵ Que as trevas e a sombra da morte reivindiquem-no para eles mesmos; que a nuvem viva sobre ele; que todas as coisas que fazem o dia negro possam verdadeiramente aterrorizá-lo.

⁶ Que densas trevas se apoderem daquela noite; que não se regozije ela entre os dias do ano; nem seja contada entre os dias dos meses. ⁷ Seja aquela noite estéril; e, nela, não se ouça som de júbilo.

⁸ Que eles amaldiçoem aquele dia, aqueles que sabem como acordar o Leviatã. ⁹ Que as estrelas do amanhecer se tornem escuras. Que aquele dia olhe em direção à luz, mas não o encontre; nem o deixe ver as pálpebras dos olhos do amanhecer, ¹⁰ porque não fechou as portas do ventre da minha mãe, nem escondeu o sofrimento diante dos meus olhos.

¹¹ Por que eu não morri quando eu sai do ventre da minha mãe? Por que não rendi o espírito quando minha mãe me deu à luz? ¹² Por que seus joelhos me receberam? Por que me amamentariam os seios da minha mãe?

¹³ Agora eu estaria repousando tranquilamente. Eu dormiria e descansaria ¹⁴ com reis e conselheiros da terra, que construíram tumbas para si que agora estão em ruínas.

¹⁵ Ou eu estaria deitado com príncipes que uma vez tiveram ouro, que encheram suas casas com prata. ¹⁶ Ou, talvez, eu seria como aborto que nunca teria nascido, como uma criança que nunca viu a luz.

¹⁷ Ali, o perverso cessa de perturbar; e, ali, repousam os cansados. ¹⁸ Ali, os prisioneiros ficam à vontade juntos; eles não houvem a voz do feitor. ¹⁹ Pequenos e grandes estão lá; o servo está livre de seu senhor.

²⁰ Por que se dá luz aquele que está em miséria? Por que se concede vida àquele que está com a alma amargurada; ²¹ para aquele que anseia pela morte, mas ela não vem; para aqueles que procuram pela morte mais que os que procuram por tesouro escondido? ²² Por que a luz é concedida à aquele que se alegra muito e fica feliz quando encontra a sepultura?

²³ Por que a luz é concedida ao homem cujo caminho está escondido, um homem a quem Deus o encobriu? ²⁴ O meu suspiro vem antes da minha comida; o meu gemido é derramado como água.

²⁵ Aquilo que eu temia veio sobre mim; o que eu receava me aconteceu. ²⁶ Eu não estou tranquilo, eu não estou calmo; eu não tenho descanso; pelo contrário, tenho problemas".

Capítulo 4

¹ Então, Elifaz, o temanita respondeu, dizendo: ² "Se alguém tentar falar contigo, serás impaciente? Mas quem pode conter sua própria fala? ³ Eis que tens ensinado a muitos; tens fortalecido mãos fracas.

⁴ Tuas palavras têm sustentado os que estavam caindo, tens feito fortes os joelhos vacilantes. ⁵ Mas agora os problemas chegaram a ti e sofres; e, ao ser atingido, te aflinges. ⁶ Não poderia o teu temor a Deus te dar confiança? Não poderia a integridade dos teus caminhos te dar esperança?

⁷ Pensa sobre isto: quem alguma vez pereceu sendo inocente? Ou qual dos íntegros foi destruído? ⁸ Baseado no que tenho observado, aquele que pratica iniquidade e que planta o mal também o colherá. ⁹ Pelo sopro de Deus, eles perecem; pelo vento da Sua ira, são consumidos.

¹⁰ Cessa o rugido do leão e a voz do leão feroz; os dentes dos leões novos se quebram. ¹¹ O leão perece por falta de presas; os filhotes da leoa são espalhados por todos os lados.

¹² Então, ouvi uma questão que alguém me trouxe secretamente, os meus ouvidos ouviram o segredo disso. ¹³ Ele me falou em visões durante a noite, quando as pessoas caem em sono profundo.

¹⁴ Temor e tremor vieram a mim e fizeram todos os meus ossos estremecerem. ¹⁵ Então, um espírito passou diante da minha face; os pêlos do meu corpo levantaram-se.

¹⁶ O espírito permaneceu em pé, mas eu não pude discernir a sua aparência. Um vulto estava diante dos meus olhos; houve silêncio e eu ouvi uma voz que dizia: ¹⁷ Pode um homem mortal ser mais justo que Deus? Pode um homem ser mais puro que seu Criador?

¹⁸ Eis que Deus não confia nos Seus servos; se até a Seus anjos atribui loucura, ¹⁹ quanto mais aos que habitam em casas de barro, cuja fundação é o pó, que irão se desfazer mais rapidamente que a ferrugem?

²⁰ Entre a manhã e a noite, eles são destruídos; eles perecem para sempre sem que ninguém se lembre deles. ²¹ As tendas deles não estão montadas entre eles? Eles morrem; eles morrem sem sabedoria.

Capítulo 5

¹ Chama agora, será que há alguém que te responderá? A qual dos santos tu te dirigirás? ² Porque a raiva mata o homem imprudente. A inveja mata o tolo. ³ Eu já vi uma pessoa tola lançar raízes, mas subitamente amaldiçoei o seu lar.

⁴ Os seus filhos estão longe da segurança, eles são esmagados no portão da cidade. Não há quem lhes resgatem. ⁵ Os famintos devoraram a sua colheita; eles a tiram até dos espinhos. Os sedentos anseiam pela sua riqueza.

⁶ Porque os problemas não vêm do solo; nem as tribulações vêm do chão; ⁷ Ao invés disso, a humanidade faz a sua própria tribulação, como as faíscas voam.

⁸ Quanto a mim, voltaria para Deus; para Ele, entregaria a minha causa — ⁹ Ele, que faz coisas grandes e insondáveis, maravilhas inumeráveis. ¹⁰ Ele dá chuva à terra e envia água aos campos.

¹¹ Ele faz isto para elevar às alturas aqueles que estão abatidos; para levantar à segurança aqueles que estão de luto. ¹² Ele frustra os planos dos astutos, de modo que as suas mãos não possam obter êxito. ¹³ Ele apanha os sábios na sua própria astúcia; os planos dos perversos logo se findam.

¹⁴ Eles encontram trevas durante o dia, e, ao meio dia, tateam como cegos como se fosse à noite. ¹⁵ Mas Ele salva os pobres da espada que está na boca deles e as pessoas necessitadas das mãos dos fortes. ¹⁶ Assim, o pobre tem esperança e a injustiça tapa a sua própria boca.

¹⁷ Abençoado é o homem que Deus corrige, portanto, não desprezes a disciplina do Todo Poderoso. ¹⁸ Porque Ele fere e ata o ferimento; Ele fere e depois as Suas mãos curam. ¹⁹ Ele irá te salvar de seis problemas; e, em sete dificuldades, nenhum mal te tocará.

²⁰ Na fome, Ele te resgatará da morte; na guerra, do poder da espada. ²¹ Tu estarás escondido do perigo da língua; e tu não temerás a destruição quando vier. ²² Tu rirás da destruição e da fome; tu não temerás os animais devoradores.

²³ Porque terás uma aliança com as pedras do teu campo; e os animais selvagens estarão em paz contigo. ²⁴ Tu saberás que a tua tenda está protegida, visitarás o seu aprisco e, nele, nada faltará. ²⁵ Tu saberás também que a tua posteridade será grande e os teus descendentes serão como o capim no solo.

²⁶ Tu morrerás com uma idade avançada como uma semente que é colhida no tempo certo. ²⁷ Vê, nós já examinamos este caso e assim é, ouve e sabe disso por ti mesmo".

Capítulo 6

¹ Então, Jó respondeu, dizendo: ² "Ó! Se apenas a minha angústia fosse pesada, se toda a minha calamidade fosse colocada na balança! ³ Por agora, seriam mais pesadas que a areia dos mares. Por isso, minhas palavras foram precipitadas.

⁴ Já que as flechas do Todo Poderoso estão em mim, meu espírito bebe o veneno delas; o terror de Deus está posto contra mim. ⁵ O jumento selvagem vai ficar desesperado quando tem grama? Ou vai ficar o boi com fome quando ele tem pasto? ⁶ Pode aquilo que não tem sabor ser comido sem sal? Ou tem qualquer sabor a clara de um ovo?

⁷ Eu me recuso tocá-los pois são como comida desagradáveis para mim. ⁸ Ó, quem dera que se cumprisse o meu pedido; ó, como desejaria que Deus respondesse a pergunta que eu lhe fiz. ⁹ Eu desejaria que Deus me esmagasse de uma vez, que me soltasse de Suas mãos e me tirasse desta vida.

¹⁰ Que ainda seja este o meu consolo — mesmo que eu exulte numa dor implacável: que eu não tenha negado as palavras do Santo. ¹¹ Que força eu tenho para tentar esperar? Qual é o meu fim, para que eu possa prolongar a minha vida?

¹² É minha força a força das pedras? Ou é minha carne feita de bronze? ¹³ Não é verdade que eu não tenho ajuda em mim mesmo e que a sabedoria tenha sido tirada de mim?

¹⁴ Para a pessoa que está a desfalecer, compaixão deveria ser mostrada pelo seu amigo; mesmo que ele tenha abandonado o temor do Todo Poderoso. ¹⁵ Mas meus irmãos me traíram como um ribeiro de água no deserto, ¹⁶ como canais de água que transbordam para nada, os quais ficam turvos por causa do gelo sobre eles, como a neve que nela se esconde. ¹⁷ Quando ela descongela, desaparece; quando está quente, ela se derrete para fora do seu lugar.

¹⁸ As caravanas que viajam pelos seus caminhos, elas desviam seu caminho da água, caminham para terra seca e perecem. ¹⁹ Caravanas de Temá olharam para lá, enquanto os viajantes de Sabá esperaram por eles. ²⁰ Eles ficaram desapontados porque estavam certos de que encontrariam água; eles foram lá, mas foram enganados.

²¹ Pois agora vós, amigos, não são nada para mim; vós vedes a minha terrível situação e estais com medo. ²² Por acaso, eu disse: 'dai-me alguma coisa?'. Ou: 'oferecei-me um presente da vossa riqueza?'; ²³ ou: 'salvai-me das mãos dos meus adversários?'; ou, 'resgatai-me das mãos dos meus opressores?'.

²⁴ Ensinai-me e manter-me-ei em paz; fazei-me entender onde eu tenho errado. ²⁵ Como são dolorosas as palavras verdadeiras! Mas os vossos argumentos, como eles realmente me corrigem?

²⁶ Vós planejais ignorar minhas palavras, tratando as palavras de um homem desesperado como o vento? ²⁷ De fato, lançastes sorte sobre o órfão e negociastes vosso amigo como mercadoria.

²⁸ Agora, portanto, por favor, olhai para mim, certamente eu não mentiria na vossa face. ²⁹ Mudai de parecer, eu vos peço; que não deixeis alguma injustiça convosco, pois, de fato a minha causa é justa. ³⁰ Está o mal em minha língua? Não pode minha boca discernir coisas maliciosas?

Capítulo 7

¹ Não é penoso o trabalho para os homens da terra? Não são seus dias como de um assalariado? ² Como o servo que anseia pelas sombras da noite e, como o assalariado que olha o seu pagamento, ³ assim me deram como herança, meses de miséria e noites de aflição.

⁴ Quando me deito, digo a mim mesmo: quando me levantarei? e quando a noite se vai? Estou cansado de me revirar na cama até o amanhecer. ⁵ Minha carne está coberta de vermes e crostas de sujeira; as feridas da minha pele se ressecam e voltam a se abrir.

⁶ Meus dias são mais velozes que a lançadeira do tecelão, passam sem esperança. ⁷ Deus, lembra-Te que minha vida é somente um sopro e meus olhos não mais verão o bem.

⁸ Os olhos de Deus, que me veem, não mais me verão; Seus olhos estarão sobre mim, mas eu não mais existirei. ⁹ Assim como a nuvem é consumida e desaparece, quem vai para o Sheol nunca mais voltará. ¹⁰ Não retornará mais para sua casa, nem seu lugar o conhecerá novamente.

¹¹ Portanto, não conterei minha boca; falarei da angústia do meu espírito; queixarei no mais amargo da minha alma. ¹² Porventura sou eu o mar ou um monstro marinho, para colocares um guarda sobre mim?

¹³ Quando digo: 'Minha cama me confortará e meu leito facilitará a minha queixa'; ¹⁴ então, Tu me assustas com sonhos e me aterrorizas com visões. ¹⁵ Prefiro ser estrangulado e morrer que preservar os meus ossos.

¹⁶ A minha vida é odiosa; eu não desejaria estar sempre vivo. Deixa-me sozinho porque meus dias são inúteis. ¹⁷ Que é o homem para que atentes para ele e ponhas sobre ele Teus pensamentos, ¹⁸ para que o observes toda manhã e o testes a cada momento?

¹⁹ Quanto tempo vai demorar antes que olhes para mim, antes que me deixes sozinho o suficiente para que eu possa respirar um pouco? ²⁰ Mesmo que eu peque contra Ti, o que isto Te seria, Tu, que guardas os homens? Por que fizeste de mim um alvo para que eu seja uma carga para Ti?

²¹ Por que não perdoas minhas transgressões e levas embora minhas iniquidades? Por isso, eu me deitarei no pó; Tu me buscarás, porém não mais existirei".

Capítulo 8

¹ Então, respondeu Bildade, o suíta, dizendo: ² "Até quando falarás tais coisas? Até quando serão as palavras da tua boca como vento impetuoso? ³ Pode Deus perverter o direito e o Todo Poderoso corromper a justiça?

⁴ Teus filhos pecaram contra Ele; nós sabemos disso, pois Ele os entregou às suas transgressões. ⁵ Mas, se buscares diligentemente a Deus e apresentares ao Todo Poderoso a tua petição;

⁶ se o teu coração e tuas ações forem retas, Ele certamente te faria o bem, te recompensaria dando novamente tua família e te fazendo próspero. ⁷ Embora os teus planos iniciais fossem humildes, ainda tua condição final seria grandiosa.

⁸ Por favor, pergunta às gerações passadas e considera o que os antepassados aprenderam! ⁹ Nós sabemos que nascemos ontem e que não sabemos nada pois nossos dias na terra são apenas sombra. ¹⁰ Eles não te ensinarão, nem te contarão? Eles não dirão palavras vindas dos seus corações?

¹¹ Pode o papiro crescer sem lodo ou o junco crescer sem água? ¹² Estando ainda eles verdes, sem ter sido cortados, secam-se antes de qualquer outra planta.

¹³ São assim também os passos de todo que se esquece de Deus, a esperança do corrupto perecerá. ¹⁴ Sua confiança se desfará e sua segurança será frágil como uma teia de arranha. ¹⁵ Ele se apoia em sua casa, mas ela não permanecerá em pé; segura-se nela, mas ela não se sustentará.

¹⁶ Sob o sol, eles são verdes e seus ramos passam para além de todo o jardim; ¹⁷ suas raízes envolvem os montes de pedras e procuram bons lugares nas rochas. ¹⁸ Mas, se esta pessoa é destruida fora de seu lugar, então, aquele lugar irá negá-lo e dirá: 'nunca te vi'.

¹⁹ Eis a "alegria" das pessoas com esses comportamentos; outras plantas brotarão em seu lugar no mesmo solo. ²⁰ Deus nunca castigará um homem inocente, nem segurará pela mão o malfeitor.

²¹ Ele irá encher sua boca de risos e seus lábios de gritos de júbilo. ²² Aqueles que te odeiam se vestirão de vergonha e a tenda dos corrupto não mais existirá".

Capítulo 9

¹ Então, Jó respondeu, dizendo: ² "Verdadeiramente, eu sei que é assim. Mas como é que a pessoa pode estar correta diante de Deus? ³ Se ela quer discutir com Deus, Ele não lhe responde uma vez em mil vezes.

⁴ Deus é prudente no coração, forte e poderoso, quem já se endureceu contra Ele e foi bem sucedido? ⁵ Ele é quem tira as montanhas sem avisar a ninguém quando as move na Sua ira, ⁶ Ele é quem move a Terra para fora do seu lugar faz suas colunas estremecerem.

⁷ É o mesmo Deus que diz ao sol para não nascer e não nasce e quem cobre as estrelas, ⁸ Quem, por si mesmo, estende os céus, pisoteia e subjuga as ondas do mar, ⁹ Quem faz a Ursa, Orion, Plêiades e as constelações do sul.

¹⁰ É o mesmo Deus que faz grandes coisas, coisas incompreensíveis — coisas maravilhosas incontáveis. ¹¹ Vê, Ele passa por mim e eu nem O vejo; Ele segue adiante também, mas eu não O percebo. ¹² Se Ele remove alguma coisa, quem pode O impedir? Quem pode Lhe dizer: 'o que Tu fazes?'.

¹³ Deus não irá retirar a Sua ira; os ajudadores de Raabe se curvam diante Dele. ¹⁴ Quanto menos eu poderia Lhe responder, poderia escolher palavras para discutir com Ele? ¹⁵ Mesmo que eu fosse justo, eu não Lhe responderia; eu pediria somente misericórdia ao meu Juiz.

¹⁶ Mesmo que eu clamasse e Ele me respondesse, não acredito que Ele estaria ouvindo a minha voz. ¹⁷ Porque Ele me quebra com tempestade e multiplica-me as feridas sem causa. ¹⁸ Ele nem me permite retomar o fôlego e me enche de amargura.

¹⁹ Se é uma questão de força, saiba! Ele é poderoso! Se for uma questão de justiça, quem pode intimá-Lo? ²⁰ Mesmo estando com a razão, minha própria boca me condenaria; mesmo que eu não tenha culpa, minhas palavras me provariam culpado.

²¹ Estou sem culpa, mas já não me interesso mais por mim mesmo; eu desprezo a minha própria vida. ²² Não faz diferença nenhuma, é por isso que eu disse que Ele destrói ambos, os justos e os maus. ²³ Se qualquer flagelo mata subitamente, Ele rirá da aflição dos inocentes. ²⁴ A Terra está entregue nas mãos dos perversos; Deus cobre os rostos dos Seus juízes. Se não for Ele que faz isso, então, quem é?

²⁵ Meus dias são mais velozes que um mensageiro corredor; os meus dias desaparecem, eles não veem nenhum bem. ²⁶ Eles são tão rápidos quanto barcos de juncos e tão rápidos quanto a águia que se lança em sua vítima.

²⁷ Se eu dissese que vou esquecer minhas queixas, que vou tirar a minha face triste e estar feliz, ²⁸ estaria com medo de todas minhas tristezas porque eu sei que Tu não irás me considerar inocente. ²⁹ Eu serei condenado; por que, então, tentaria em vão?

³⁰ Se me lavasse com água de neve e tornasse as minhas mãos limpas, ³¹ Deus me mergulharia numa vala e a minha própria roupa ficaria com nojo de mim.

³² Porque Deus não é homem, como eu sou; eu poderia respondê-L; não poderíamos nos apresentar juntos ao tribunal. ³³ Não há juiz entre nós que possa por as mãos sobre ambos.

³⁴ Não há um outro juiz que tire a vara de Deus de cima de mim, que possa evitar o Seu terror de me assustar. ³⁵ Então, eu poderia falar alto e não O temer. Mas, com as coisas desse jeito, eu não posso fazer isto.

Capítulo 10

¹ Estou cansado da minha vida; darei renda solta à minha reclamação; falarei na amargura da minha alma. ² Direi a Deus: 'Não me condene apenas; mostra-me a razão porque me acusas. ³ Será que é bom que me oprimas; desprezar a obra de Tuas mãos enquanto Tu sorris nos planos dos corruptos?

⁴ Tens Tu olhos de carne? Vês Tu como o homem vê? ⁵ Os Teus dias são como os dias da humanidade ou os Teus anos, como os anos de homens, ⁶ para inquerir a minha iniquidade e averiguar o meu pecado, ⁷ mesmo sabendo que não sou culpado e não há ninguém que pode me resgatar de Tuas mãos?

⁸ Tuas mãos me formaram e me moldaram por completo, mas Tu estás me destruindo. ⁹ Lembra-Te, eu Te imploro, que Tu me modelaste como barro; Tu irás me trazer ao pó novamente?

¹⁰ Não me derramaste como leite e me coalhaste como queijo? ¹¹ Tu me vestiste com pele e carne, de ossos e tendões, teceste a mim.

¹² Tu tens me concedido vida e aliança de fidelidade; Tua ajuda tem guardado o meu espírito. ¹³ Mas ainda estas coisas escondeste no Teu coração — Eu sei que isto é o que pensavas: ¹⁴ que, se eu pecasse, Tu notarias; Tu não me perdoarias das minhas iniquidades.

¹⁵ Ai de mim, se sou corrupto; mesmo se eu fosse íntegro, não poderia levantar minha cabeça, uma vez que estou cheio de desgraça e olhando meu próprio sofrimento. ¹⁶ Se a minha cabeça se levantar, Tu me caçarás como um leão; outra vez, Tu Te mostras poderoso a mim.

¹⁷ Tu trazes novas testemunhas contra mim e aumentas Tua ira contra mim; Tu me atacas com novos exércitos.

¹⁸ Então, porque me tirastes do ventre? Quem me dera eu tivesse entregue meu espírito e que nenhum olho nunca tivesse me visto. ¹⁹ Eu seria como quem nunca existiu, teria sido levado do ventre para a sepultura.

²⁰ Não são poucos os meu dias? Para, deixa-me, sozinho, para que eu descanse um pouco. ²¹ Antes que eu vá para o lugar de onde nunca voltarei, para a terra das trevas e da sombra da morte; ²² para a terra escura como a meia noite, a terra da sombra da morte, desordenada, onde a luz parece com a meia noite'".

Capítulo 11

¹ Então, Zofar, o naamatita, respondeu, dizendo: ² "Não deveria tal multidão de palavras serem respondidas? Deveria acreditar neste homem, cheio de palavras? ³ Deveria tua vanglória fazer outros permanecerem em silêncio? Quando tu zombas de nossos ensinamentos, ninguém fará com que te sintas envergonhado?

⁴ Pois dizes a Deus: 'Minhas doutrinas são puras, estou eu sem culpa diante dos Teus olhos'. ⁵ Mas, ah, se Deus falasse Deus e abrisse Seus lábios contra ti; ⁶ Ele te mostraria os segredos da sabedoria! Pois Ele é grande em entendimento. Sabe que Deus exige menos de ti que a tua iniquidade merece.

⁷ Podes tu entender a Deus por procurar por Ele? Podes tu compreender perfeitamente o Todo Poderoso? ⁸ Este assunto é tão alto quanto o céu; que poderás fazer? Isso é mais profundo que o Sheol; o que podes tu saber? ⁹ Isso mede mais que a Terra e é mais amplo que o mar.

¹⁰ Se Ele passar por alguém e calá-lo, se Ele chamar alguém para o julgamento, então, quem poderá impedi-lo? ¹¹ Pois Ele conhece pessoas falsas; quando Ele vê a iniquidade, Ele não a percebe? ¹² Mas o povo tolo não tem entendimento; eles vão obtê-lo quando um jumento selvagem der cria a um homem.

¹³ Mas, imagina que tu tenhas posto certo o teu coração e tenhas alcançado com as tuas mãos em direção a Deus; ¹⁴ imagina que a iniquidade estivesse em tuas mãos, mas que, depois, tu a tenhas posto longe de ti e não tenhas deixado que a injustiça habite em tuas tendas.

¹⁵ Então, certamente, tu levantarias teu rosto sem sinal de vergonha; de fato, tu estarias firme e sem medo. ¹⁶ Tu esquecerias o teu sofrimento; tu te lembrarias disto apenas como águas que passaram. ¹⁷ Tua vida seria mais brilhante que o meio dia; embora houvesse trevas, tornariam-se como a manhã.

¹⁸ Tu estarias seguro porque há esperança; de fato, tu terias encontrado segurança sobre ti e descansarias seguro. ¹⁹ Também tu te deitarias em descanso e ninguém te faria medo, certamente, muitos buscariam o teu favor.

²⁰ Mas os olhos dos perversos vão fracassar, eles não terão como fugir; a sua única esperança será o último suspiro de vida".

Capítulo 12

¹ Então, Jó respondeu, dizendo: ² "Sem dúvida, vós sois o povo; a sabedoria morrerá convosco. ³ Mas eu tenho entendimento tanto quanto vós; eu não sou inferior a vós. Na verdade, quem não sabe coisas como estas?

⁴ Eu sou motivo de riso para o meu próximo. Eu, aquele que chamou Deus e foi respondido por Ele! Eu, um justo e inocente; sou agora motivo de riso. ⁵ No pensamento de quem está tranquilo, há desprezo pela calamidade; um empurrão para aqueles cujos os pés estão escorregando. ⁶ As tendas dos bandidos prosperam e aqueles que provocam a Deus sentem-se seguros; as suas próprias mãos são os seus deuses.

⁷ Mas agora pergunta aos animais e eles te ensinarão; pergunta às aves dos céus e elas te contarão. ⁸ Ou fale para a Terra e ela te ensinará; os peixes do mar irão declarar-te isto.

⁹ Qual animal entre todos estes não sabe que a mão de Yahweh fez isto? ¹⁰ Em Sua mão, está a vida de todo ser vivo e o fôlego de toda humanidade.

¹¹ O ouvido não examina as palavras como o paladar prova a comida? ¹² Com os homens velhos, há sabedoria; com o passar dos dias, há entendimento.

¹³ Com Deus, estão a sabedoria e o poder; Ele tem conselho e entendimento. ¹⁴ Vê, Ele destrói algo e aquilo não pode ser construído novamente; se Ele aprisiona alguém, não pode ser liberto. ¹⁵ Vê, se Ele retém as águas, elas se secam; e, se Ele as solta, elas inundam a terra.

¹⁶ Com Ele, estão a força e a sabedoria; as pessoas que são enganadas e o enganador, ambas pertencem a Ele. ¹⁷ Ele conduz os conselheiros para longe, entristecidos, com os pés descalços; Ele torna juízes em tolos. ¹⁸ Ele toma a autoridade dos reis; Ele enrola um pano nas cinturas deles.

¹⁹ Ele conduz os sacerdotes para longe, entristecidos, com os pés descalços e derruba pessoas poderosas. ²⁰ Ele remove o discurso daqueles que são confiados a falar e tira o entendimento dos anciãos. ²¹ Ele derrama desprezo sobre os príncipes e afrouxa o cinto dos poderosos.

²² Ele revela coisas profundas da escuridão e traz à luz as sombras de onde as pessoas estão mortas. ²³ Ele faz nações fortes e Ele também as destrói; Ele faz crescer nações e Ele também as faz prisioneiras.

²⁴ Ele tira o entendimento dos líderes do povo da Terra; e os faz vaguear por um deserto, onde não existe caminho. ²⁵ Eles apalpam no escuro, sem luz, e Ele os faz cambalear como um bêbado.

Capítulo 13

¹ Vê, meu olho tem visto tudo isso; meu ouvido tem ouvido e entendido isso. ² O que vós sabeis, também sei; não sou inferior a vós.

³ No entanto, eu preferiria falar com o Todo Poderoso; desejo a razão diante de Deus. ⁴ Mas vós mascarais a verdade com mentiras; vós sois médicos sem valor. ⁵ Ó, que vós pudésseis permanecer em silêncio! Assim, passaríeis por sábios.

⁶ Ouvi agora a minha defesa; escutai os argumentos dos meus próprios lábios. ⁷ Vós falareis injustamente para Deus e direis mentiras a Ele? ⁸ Vós poderíeis mostrar bondade a Ele? Poderíeis realmente argumentar no tribunal como advogados de Deus?

⁹ Seria realmente bom para vós se Ele vos examinasse? Poderíeis enganar Deus como se enganam homens? ¹⁰ Ele certamente vos reprovaria se secretamente vós mostrásseis parcialidade.

¹¹ Não poderia Sua majestade vos amedrontar? Não poderia Seu pavor cair em vós? ¹² Vossas memoráveis palavras são provérbios feitos de cinzas; vossas defesas são torres feitas de barro.

¹³ Calai-vos, deixai-me sozinho, assim, posso falar, deixai vir sobre mim o que vier. ¹⁴ Tomarei minha própria carne nos meus dentes; tomarei minha vida nas minhas mãos. ¹⁵ Vê, se Ele me mata, não terei mais esperança, no entanto, eu defenderei meus caminhos diante Dele.

¹⁶ Esta será a razão da minha absolvição: eu não virei diante Dele como homem sem Deus. ¹⁷ Deus, ouve cuidadosamente meu discurso; permite que minhas declarações cheguem aos Teus ouvidos.

¹⁸ Vê, agora, tenho colocado minha defesa em ordem; eu sei que sou inocente. ¹⁹ Quem é a pessoa que poderia levantar-se contra mim no tribunal? Se Tu vens para fazer isso e, se fosse provado que estou errado, então, eu me silenciaria e desistiria da vida.

²⁰ Deus, faz apenas duas coisas por mim e, então, não me esconderei da Tua face: ²¹ retira Tua mão opressiva de mim e não deixes os Teus terrores me amedrontarem. ²² Então, chama-me e responderei; ou deixa-me falar-Te e Tu me respondes.

²³ Quantas são as minhas iniquidades e meus pecados? Deixa-me saber minhas transgressões e meus pecados. ²⁴ Por que escondes Tua face de mim e me tratas como Teu inimigo? ²⁵ Poderás perseguir uma folha voando? Irás Tu perseguires uma palha seca?

²⁶ Pois escreves coisas amargas contra mim; tens me feito herdar as iniquidades da minha juventude. ²⁷ Também pões os meus pés no tronco; Tu, que observas todos os meus passos, examinas o chão onde as solas dos meus pés têm andado, ²⁸ embora eu seja como uma coisa apodrecida, como uma vestimenta que as traças tenham comido.

Capítulo 14

¹ O homem, que é nascido de mulher, vive apenas alguns dias e está cheio de problemas. ² Ele brota do chão como uma flor e é cortado, foge como uma sombra e não dura. ³ Tu olhas para alguém assim? E me levas a julgamento contigo?

⁴ Quem pode tirar coisa limpa a partir de uma coisa suja? Ninguém. ⁵ Os dias do homem são determinados. O número dos seus meses estão Contigo. Tu apontaste os limites dos quais ele não pode passar. ⁶ Desvia-te dele para que possa descansar, para que possa aproveitar seu dia como um diarista, se puder fazê-lo.

⁷ Pode haver esperança para uma árvore; se for cortada, poderá brotar de novo, para que seu caule tenro não desapareça. ⁸ Embora sua raiz envelheça na terra e seu toco morra no chão, ⁹ apenas com o cheiro das águas, brotará e dará ramos como uma planta.

¹⁰ Mas o homem morre. Ele se torna fraco. De fato, o homem para de respirar e onde está? ¹¹ Como a água desaparece de um lago e como o rio perde água e seca, ¹² assim as pessoas se deitam e não se levantam novamente. Até que os céus não existam mais, eles não acordarão nem se despertarão do seu sono.

¹³ Ah! Se Tu me escondesses no Sheol longe dos problemas, se me escondesses até que a Tua ira passasse, fixasses o tempo da minha permanência lá e Te lembrasses de mim! ¹⁴ Se um homem morre, ele viverá novamente? Se assim for, desejaria esperar todo o meu tempo penoso até que minha libertação chegasse.

¹⁵ Tu chamarias e eu responderia. Desejarias ver a obra de Tuas mãos. ¹⁶ Tu contarias e cuidaria dos meus passos; não vigiarias meu pecado. ¹⁷ Minha transgressão seria selada em uma bolsa. Tu cobririas a minha iniquidade.

¹⁸ Mas até montanhas caem e não dão em nada; até as rochas são removidas do seu lugar; ¹⁹ as águas desgastam as pedras e suas enchentes lavam o pó da terra e Tu destróis a esperança do homem.

²⁰ Tu sempre o derrotas e ele passa. Tu mudas o rosto dele e o mandas para morrer. ²¹ Se seus filhos são honrados, ele não sabe disso. E, se são humilhados, ele não os vê. ²² Ele sente apenas a dor do próprio corpo e lamenta por si mesmo".

Capítulo 15

¹ Então, Elifaz, o temanita, respondeu e disse: ² "Deveria um homem sábio responder com conhecimento inútil e se saciar com o vento do leste? ³ Deveria argumentar com conversa inútil ou com discursos com os quais ele não faça o bem?

⁴ Na verdade, tu diminuis o respeito por Deus; tu obstruis a devoção a Ele, ⁵ a tua iniquidade ensina à tua boca; tu escolhes ter a língua de um homem astuto. ⁶ Tua própria boca te condena, não a minha; de fato, teus próprios lábios testificam contra ti.

⁷ És tu o primeiro homem que nasceu? Vieste tu à existência antes das montanhas? ⁸ Tens ouvido o conhecimento secreto de Deus? Tu limitas a sabedoria a ti mesmo? ⁹ O que sabes que nós não sabemos? O que compreendes o que nós já não compreendemos?

¹⁰ Conosco estão ambos: os grisalhos e os homens idosos, os quais são bem mais velhos que teu pai. ¹¹ As consolações de Deus são pequenas demais para ti; palavras muito brandas para ti?

¹² Por que teu coração te leva para longe? Por que teus olhos brilham ¹³ e voltas teu espírito contra Deus e deixas sair tais palavras de tua boca? ¹⁴ O que é o homem para estar limpo? Como o nascido de mulher pode ser justo?

¹⁵ Vê, Deus não confia nem mesmo em Seus santos; de fato, os céus não são puros à Sua vista. ¹⁶ Quanto menos limpo é aquele que é abominável e corrupto, que bebe a iniquidade como a água!

¹⁷ Escuta-me e eu te mostrarei; eu te anunciarei o que tenho visto, ¹⁸ coisas que os sábios ensinaram, as quais vieram de seus pais, coisas que seus ancestrais não ocultaram.

¹⁹ Estes eram seus antepassados, aos quais tão somente, a terra foi dada; entre eles, nenhum estranho jamais passou. ²⁰ O homem perverso torce de dor todos os dias, o número de anos que estão reservados para o opressor sofrer. ²¹ Um som de terrores está em seus ouvidos; enquanto ele está na prosperidade, o destruidor vem sobre ele.

²² Ele não acha que retornará das trevas; a espada espera por ele. ²³ Ele vai a vários lugares à procura de pão, dizendo: 'Onde está?'. Ele sabe que o dia da escuridão está perto. ²⁴ Desespero e angústia o deixam com medo; prevalecem contra ele, como um rei pronto para a batalha.

²⁵ Porque ele estendeu a mão contra Deus e se comportou orgulhosamente contra o Todo Poderoso. ²⁶ Esse homem perverso corre até Deus com teimosia, com um escudo espesso.

²⁷ Isto é verdade, mesmo que ele tenha coberto o rosto com sua gordura, acumule-a em sua cintura ²⁸ e tenha vivido em cidades desoladas; em casas nas quais ninguém mais habita e que estavam prontas para se tornarem montes.

²⁹ Ele não será rico; sua riqueza não durará; nem mesmo sua sombra durará na Terra. ³⁰ Ele não se afastará das trevas; ¹ ; uma chama incendiará seus ramos; irá embora pelo sopro da boca de Deus. ²

³¹ Que ele não confie em coisas inúteis, enganando a si mesmo; porque a inutilidade será sua recompensa. ³² Isso acontecerá antes do tempo de sua morte; seu ramo não se tornará verde. ³³ Suas uvas verdes serão derrubadas como as da videira; ele deixará cair as suas flores como as da oliveira.

³⁴ A companhia de pessoas sem Deus será estéril; o fogo consumirá suas tendas de propina. ³⁵ Elas concebem o mal e dão luz à iniquidade; seus ventres concebem engano".

¹Várias versões modernas deixam de fora Ele não se afastará das trevas , porque eles acreditam que esta expressão foi erroneamente copiada de 15:22

²O texto hebraico tem irá embora pelo sopro da boca de Deus , algumas versões modernas, incluindo a ULB e a UDB, interpretam como significando o sopro da boca de Deus. No entanto, outras versões modernas seguem uma antiga leitura grega, sua flor cairá com o vento .

Capítulo 16

¹ Então, Jó respondeu: ² "Eu tenho ouvido muitas coisas como essas; sois todos consoladores miseráveis. ³ Não terão fim essas palavras inúteis? O que está errado convosco para responderdes assim?

⁴ Eu também poderia falar como vós, se estivésseis em meu lugar; eu poderia amontoar palavras contra vós e menear minha cabeça zombando de vós. ⁵ Ah, como eu poderia encorajar-vos com a minha boca! Como a consolação de meus lábios poderia aliviar a vossa dor!

⁶ Se falo, a minha dor não é aliviada; se não falo, como posso ter auxílio? ⁷ Mas agora, Deus, Tu me tornaste alguém sem nenhum vigor; Tu fizeste a minha família desolada. ⁸ Fizeste-me secar, isso constitui uma testemunha contra mim, o emagrecimento do meu corpo depõe contra mim e testifica contra meu rosto.

⁹ Deus, em Sua ira, me deixou em pedaços e me perseguiu; Ele tem rangido Seus dentes contra mim; e meu inimigo fixa seus olhos em mim enquanto Ele me deixa em pedaços. ¹⁰ Pessoas estão de boca aberta para mim, elas me esmurram no queixo; elas se reuniram contra mim.

¹¹ Deus me entregou nas mãos dos perversos e me faz cair nas mãos dos corruptos. ¹² Eu estava tranquilo, mas Ele me despedaçou. Então, Ele me agarrou pelo pescoço, deixou-me em pedaços e também fez de mim o Seu alvo.

¹³ Seus flecheiros me rodeiam; Deus penetra os meus rins, não me poupa; derrama no chão a minha bilis. ¹⁴ Ele me esmaga contra o muro uma vez e de novo. Ele corre contra mim como um guerreiro.

¹⁵ Costurei vestes de luto sobre minha pele; enterrei minha testa na terra. ¹⁶ O meu rosto está vermelho de tanto choro. A sombra da morte circunda os meus olhos. ¹⁷ Mesmo que não haja violência nas minhas mãos e seja pura a minha oração.

¹⁸ Terra, não cubras o meu sangue! Que meu choro não tenha lugar de descanso. ¹⁹ Eis que agora, minha testemunha está nos céus; alguém, que me defende, está nas alturas.

²⁰ Meus amigos zombam de mim, mas os meus olhos derramam lágrimas diante de Deus. ²¹ Eu peço para que uma testemunha no céu defenda a causa deste homem diante de Deus, como um homem faz com seu próximo. ²² Pois, em alguns poucos anos, irei a um lugar de onde não mais voltarei.

Capítulo 17

¹ Meu espírito está desfalecido e meus dias estão se acabando; meu túmulo está pronto. ² Certamente, os zombadores estão comigo; e tenho que ficar vendo suas provocações. ³ Dá-me um defensor que seja para mim uma garantia diante de Ti. Quem mais poderá me ajudar?

⁴ Pois Tu, Deus, mantiveste os seus corações sem entendimento; por isso, Tu não os exaltarás acima de mim. ⁵ Aquele que denuncia seus amigos por uma recompensa, os olhos dos seus filhos falharão.

⁶ Mas Ele fez de mim um escárnio para as pessoas; elas cospem no meu rosto. ⁷ Minha visão também está turva de tanta tristeza; todas as partes do meu corpo estão tão finas como sombras. ⁸ Os justos ficarão pasmos com isso; e o inocente se levantará contra esses homens sem Deus.

⁹ O justo seguirá o seu caminho; o que tem mãos limpas crescerá, ficando cada vez mais forte. ¹⁰ Mas, quanto a todos vós, vinde agora! Eu não encontrarei nenhum homem sábio entre vós.

¹¹ Foram-se os meus dias; meus planos fracassaram, assim como os desejos do meu coração. ¹² Essas pessoas, esses zombadores, trocam a noite pelo dia; a luz ficou próxima da escuridão.

¹³ Vejo o Sheol como minha casa; tenho estendido minha cama na escuridão; ¹⁴ tenho dito à cova: 'Tu és meu pai'; aos vermes: 'Vós sois minha mãe ou minha irmã', ¹⁵ onde está, então, a minha esperança? A minha esperança: quem poderá ver? ¹⁶ Descerá a esperança comigo aos portões do Sheol quando descermos ao pó?".

Capítulo 18

¹ Então, Bildade, o suíta, respondeu: ² "Quando irás parar de falar? Considera, depois falaremos".

³ Por que nós somos tratados como animais; por que nos tornamos ignorantes na tua presença? ⁴ Tu, que te despedaças na tua ira, poderia a Terra ser abandonada por tua causa ou poderiam as pedras serem removidas de seus lugares?

⁵ Realmente, a luz de uma pessoa corrupta será apagada; a faísca do seu fogo não brilhará. ⁶ A luz se escurecerá na sua tenda e a lâmpada sobre ela será tirada.

⁷ Os seus passos firmes ficarão curtos; os seus próprios planos o lançarão para baixo. ⁸ Porque, por seus próprios pés, será lançado na rede e andará nos fios enredados.

⁹ A armadilha o pega pelo calcanhar; o laço o prende firme. ¹⁰ Uma corda está escondida para ele no chão; e uma armadilha no caminho. ¹¹ Terrores o farão sentir medo por todos os lados; eles o perseguirão pelo calcanhar.

¹² Suas riquezas se tornarão em fome e a calamidade estará pronta ao seu lado. ¹³ As partes do seu corpo serão devoradas; realmente, o primogênito da morte o devorará.

¹⁴ Ele é arrancado da segurança da sua tenda, levado para o rei dos terrores. ¹⁵ Um povo que não é seu habitará na sua tenda depois que eles virem o enxofre espalhado dentro de sua casa.

¹⁶ Suas raízes secarão por baixo; por cima, serão cortados os seus ramos. ¹⁷ Sua memória perecerá na Terra; e, pelas ruas, não terá nome.

¹⁸ Ele será tirado da luz para as trevas e será expulso deste mundo. ¹⁹ Ele não terá filhos ou netos em sua geração e também nenhuma lembrança dos parentes de onde morava. ²⁰ Aqueles que vivem no ocidente serão amedrontados pelo que lhe acontece em um dia; aqueles que vivem no oriente ficarão amedrontados por isso.

²¹ Certamente, tais são as casas dos corruptos, lugares daqueles que não conhecem a Deus".

Capítulo 19

¹ Então, Jó respondeu: ² "Até quando me fareis sofrer e me atormentareis com palavras?

³ Por dez vezes, repreendestes a mim e não estais envergonhados de tratar-me duramente. ⁴ Se, de fato, eu errei, meu erro permanece comigo.

⁵ Se, na verdade, quereis exaltar-vos sobre mim e usar a minha humilhação contra mim, ⁶ então, deveríeis saber que Deus fez algo errado comigo e me pegou em Sua rede.

⁷ Vede, clamo: 'Violência!', mas não obtenho resposta; clamo por socorro, mas não há justiça. ⁸ Ele fez um muro no meu caminho, para que eu não passe e colocou trevas em minhas veredas. ⁹ Despojou-me da minha glória e tirou-me a coroa da cabeça.

¹⁰ Quebrou-me por todos lados e fui destruído; arrancou-me as esperanças como a uma árvore. ¹¹ Também acendeu a Sua ira contra mim e me considera um dos Seus adversários. ¹² Suas tropas se reúnem, levantam um cerco contra mim e acampam ao redor da minha tenda.

¹³ Ele pôs meus irmãos longe de mim; e meus conhecidos estão completamente afastados de mim. ¹⁴ Meus parentes falharam comigo; e meus amigos mais próximos se esqueceram de mim.

¹⁵ Aqueles que se hospedaram em minha casa e também minhas servas me consideram como um estrangeiro; sou um estranho aos seus olhos. ¹⁶ Chamo meu servo, mas ele não me responde, ainda que eu o suplique com minha boca.

¹⁷ O meu hálito é desagradável à minha mulher; sou repugnante para os que nasceram da minha mãe. ¹⁸ Até as crianças me desprezam; se me levanto para falar, elas falam contra mim. ¹⁹ Todos meus amigos íntimos me odeiam; os que amo se viraram contra mim.

²⁰ Os meus ossos se apegaram à minha pele e à minha carne; escapei só com a pele dos meus dentes. ²¹ Tende compaixão de mim! Tende compaixão de mim, meus amigos! Pois a mão de Deus me tocou. ²² Por que me perseguis como se fossem Deus? Por que não estais satisfeitos com a ruína da minha carne?

²³ Ó, se as minhas palavras fossem escritas! Ó, se fossem registradas num livro! ²⁴ Ó, se, com pena de ferro e com chumbo, fossem gravadas numa rocha para sempre!

²⁵ Quanto a mim, sei que o meu Redentor vive e que, por fim, Ele se levantará sobre a Terra. ²⁶ Depois que a minha pele, ou seja, este corpo, for destruído, então, na minha carne, verei a Deus. ²⁷ Eu, O verei com meus próprios olhos; eu e não outra pessoa. Meu coração se enfraquece dentro de mim.

²⁸ Se dizeis: 'Como o perseguiremos! A origem da sua aflição está nele'; ²⁹ então, tende medo da espada, porque a ira traz a punição da espada, para saberdes que existe um julgamento".

Capítulo 20

¹ Então, Zofar, o naamatita, respondeu: ² "Os meus pensamentos me fazem responder rapidamente, por causa da minha preocupação. ³ Ouço uma repreensão que me ofende, mas um espírito que procede do meu entendimento me responde.

⁴ Tu não sabes que, desde tempos antigos, quando Deus colocou o homem na Terra, ⁵ o triunfo do corrupto é curto e a alegria do homem sem Deus permanence apenas por um instante?

⁶ Mesmo que a sua altura alcance os céus e a sua cabeça toque as nuvens, ⁷ tal pessoa perecerá permanentemente como suas próprias fezes; todos aqueles que o viram, dirão: 'Onde ele está?'.

⁸ Ele voará como um sonho e não será encontrado; na verdade, será dissipado como a visão da noite. ⁹ Os olhos que o viram não o verão mais; mesmo o seu lugar não o verá mais.

¹⁰ Seus filhos procurarão o favor dos pobres; e suas mãos terão que devolver sua riqueza. ¹¹ Os seus ossos estão cheios do vigor da mocidade, mas esse vigor se deitará com ele no pó.

¹² Mesmo que a maldade seja doce na boca dele; mesmo que ele a esconda debaixo da língua, ¹³ segurando-a, sem deixá-la sair, mantendo-a em sua boca — ¹⁴ a comida se torna amarga em seu intestino; torna-se veneno de cobra dentro dele.

¹⁵ Ele engole riquezas, mas irá vomitá-las; Deus as expulsará de seu ventre. ¹⁶ Ele sugará o veneno das cobras e a língua da víbora o matará.

¹⁷ Ele não viverá para desfrutar das correntes e dos rios de mel e manteiga. ¹⁸ Restituirá o fruto do seu trabalho e não poderá comê-lo; não desfrutará da riqueza que adquiriu com seu comércio. ¹⁹ Pois ele oprimiu e rejeitou os pobres; tomou violentamente casas que não construiu.

²⁰ Porque ele não experimentou nenhuma satisfação, ele não será capaz de guardar qualquer coisa que lhe proporcione prazer. ²¹ Nada sobrou que ele não tenha consumido. E, assim, sua prosperidade não permanecerá. ²² Na abundância de sua riqueza, cairá em dificuldade; a mão de cada um que está em pobreza virá sobre ele.

²³ Quando ele estiver enchendo seu estômago, Deus derramará a fúria da Sua ira sobre ele; como chuva, cairá sobre ele enquanto come. ²⁴ Ainda que esse homem fuja da arma de ferro, um arco de bronze o atingirá. ²⁵ A flecha penetrará as suas costas e emergirá; de fato, a ponta resplandecente sairá através do seu fígado. Terrores virão sobre ele.

²⁶ Escuridão total está reservada para os seus tesouros; um fogo não abanado o consumirá e acabará com o que restou na sua tenda. ²⁷ Os céus revelarão sua iniquidade e a Terra se levantará contra ele como testemunha.

²⁸ A riqueza da sua casa desaparecerá; os seus bens se derramarão no dia da ira do Senhor. ²⁹ Esta é a recompensa de Deus para o homem corrupto, a herança que lhe foi reservada por Deus".

Capítulo 21

¹ Então, Jó, respondeu e disse: ² "Ouvi cuidadosamente meu discurso e que ele seja o conforto que vós oferecereis a mim. ³ Tolerai-me e eu também falarei; depois que eu falar, podeis zombar.

⁴ Quanto a mim, é a minha reclamação para uma pessoa? Por que eu não estaria impaciente? ⁵ Olhai para mim, ficai espantado e colocai vossa mão à boca. ⁶ Quando penso em meus sofrimentos, fico aterrorizado e tremedeiras tomam conta do meu corpo.

⁷ Por que as pessoas malvadas continuam a viver, tornam-se velhas e crescem em poder? ⁸ Seus descendentes são estabelecidos com eles às suas vistas e sua posteridade é estabelecida ante seus olhos. ⁹ Suas casas estão salvas do medo; e a vara de Deus não está sobre eles.

¹⁰ Seus bois se reproduzem e isso não falha; suas vacas dão à luz e não perdem seus bezerros prematuramente. ¹¹ Eles enviam seus pequenos como rebanhos e suas crianças dançam. ¹² Eles cantam ao som do tamborim, da harpa e se regozijam com a música da flauta.

¹³ Eles gastam seus dias em prosperidade e vão, calmamente, ao Sheol. ¹⁴ Dizem a Deus: 'Aparta-Te de nós, pois não desejamos nenhum conhecimento dos Teus caminhos. ¹⁵ Quem é o Altíssimo para que O adoremos? Que vantagem teríamos se tivéssemos orado a Ele?'.

¹⁶ Vede, não está a prosperidade deles em suas próprias mãos? Eu não tenho o que fazer com o conselho dos maus. ¹⁷ Quantas vezes a lâmpada dos maus se apaga ou a calamidade vem sobre eles? Quantas vezes Deus lhes dá dar tristeza na Sua ira? ¹⁸ Quantas vezes eles se tornam como palha ante o vento ou como os ciscos que a tempestade leva para longe?

¹⁹ Vós dizeis: 'Deus coloca a culpa de outro para Seus filhos pagarem'. Deixai-o pagar por si mesmo, para que ele saiba que é culpado. ²⁰ Deixai que seus próprios olhos vejam sua destruição e deixai-o beber da ira do Altíssimo. ²¹ Por que ele se preocuparia com sua família quando o número de seus meses for cortado?

²² Poderá alguém ensinar conhecimento a Deus, já que Ele julga até mesmo aqueles que estão em posição elevada? ²³ Um homem morre com toda a sua energia, ficando completamente quieto e à vontade. ²⁴ Seu corpo está cheio de leite e a medula de seus ossos está umedecida e saudável.

²⁵ Outro homem morre em amargura de alma, alguém que nunca experimentou algo de bom. ²⁶ Eles, da mesma maneira, descansam na poeira; os vermes vêm sobre ambos.

²⁷ Vede, eu conheço os vossos pensamentos e os caminhos nos quais desejais enganar-me. ²⁸ Pois vós dizeis: 'Onde está a casa do príncipe agora? Onde está a tenda em que o homem mau uma vez habitou?'

²⁹ Vós nunca perguntastes aos viajantes? Vós não sabeis as evidências que eles falam, ³⁰ que o homem mau está guardado do dia da calamidade e que ele é guiado para longe do dia da ira?

³¹ Quem condenará os caminhos do homem mau perante a sua face? Quem o recompensará pelo que ele tem feito? ³² Ele será carregado à sepultura; homens guardarão seu túmulo. ³³ O solo do vale será doce para ele; todas as pessoas virão depois dele, assim como há inúmeras pessoas que foram antes dele.

³⁴ Como, então, vós podeis consolar-me com estes absurdos, já que, em vossas repostas, não há nada além de falsidade?".

Capítulo 22

¹ Então, Elifaz, o temanita, respondeu: ² "Pode o homem ser útil a Deus? Pode o sábio ser útil a Ele? ³ Há algum prazer para o Todo Poderoso se fores justo? Há algum proveito para Ele se tornares teus caminhos irrepreensíveis?

⁴ É por causa da tua reverência por Ele, que Ele te repreende e te leva a juízo? ⁵ Não é grande a tua malícia? E sem fim as tuas iniquidades?

⁶ Pois tu tens exigido segurança de teus irmãos sem razão; tu tens retirado as roupas daquele que estava nú. ⁷ Tu não destes água ao sedento e negastes pão ao faminto, ⁸ mesmo sendo tu um homem poderoso, possuindo a terra; mesmo sendo tu um homem honrado, viveu nela.

⁹ Tu despediste as viúvas de mãos vazias; o braço dos orfãos foi quebrado. ¹⁰ Portanto, as armadilhas estão à tua volta e medo repentino te aflinge. ¹¹ Há trevas, para que tu não vejas; uma abundância de águas te cobrem.

¹² Não está Deus nas alturas do céu? Olha para a altura das estrelas, quão altas estão! ¹³ Tu dizes: 'O que Deus sabe? Pode Ele julgar por meio de densa escuridão? ¹⁴ Nuvens carregadas O cobrem para que Ele não nos veja; Ele anda nos altos céus'.

¹⁵ Guardarás os antigos caminhos, nos quais andaram os homens corruptos — ¹⁶ os quais foram arrebatados antes do seu tempo, cuja fundação tem sido arrastada como um rio, ¹⁷ aqueles que disseram a Deus: 'Aparta-Te de nós'; aqueles que disseram: 'O que pode nos fazer o Todo Poderoso?'.

¹⁸ Mesmo assim, Ele encheu suas casas com bens, os planos dos corruptos estão longe de mim. ¹⁹ Os justos veem a sua destruição e se alegram; pessoas inocentes riem deles até o escárneo. ²⁰ Eles dizem: 'Na verdade, aqueles que se levantam contra nós são exterminados; o fogo tem consumido suas posses'.

²¹ Agora, concorda com Deus e fica em paz com Ele; assim, o bem virá para ti. ²² Rogo-te: recebe instruções da Sua boca; guarda a Sua palavra no teu coração.

²³ Se retornares ao Todo Poderoso e, se puseres a iniquidades longe das tuas tendas, tu serás edificado. ²⁴ Lança fora o teu tesouro no pó, o ouro de Ofir entre as pedras dos ribeiros, ²⁵ e o Todo Poderoso será o teu tesouro e a tua prata preciosa.

²⁶ Então, terás prazer no Todo Poderoso; tu levantarás o teu rosto a Deus. ²⁷ Tu farás a tua oração a Ele e Ele te ouvirá; Tu cumprirás os teus votos diante Dele. ²⁸ Tu também ordenarás qualquer coisa e esta será confirmada a ti; a luz brilhará em teus caminhos.

²⁹ Deus humilha o homem orgulhoso e salva aqueles com olhos baixos. ³⁰ Ele resgatará o homem inocente; tu serás resgatado através da pureza das tuas mãos".

Capítulo 23

¹ Depois, Jó respondeu e disse: ² "Ainda hoje, a minha queixa é amarga; minha mão é pesada por causa do meu sofrimento.

³ Ah, se eu soubesse onde encontrá-Lo! Ah, se eu pudesse ir ao Seu lugar! ⁴ Eu apresentaria o meu caso diante Dele e encheria a minha boca com argumentos. ⁵ Eu aprenderia as palavras com as quais Ele me responderia e entenderia o que Ele me diria.

⁶ Ele iria argumentar contra mim segundo a grandeza do Seu poder? Não, Ele prestaria atenção em mim. ⁷ Então, um homem reto poderia argumentar com Ele. Assim, eu seria liberto para sempre pelo meu juiz.

⁸ Vê, eu vou para o oriente, mas Ele não está lá; vou para o ocidente, mas não consigo achá-Lo. ⁹ Mesmo para o norte, onde Ele está a trabalhar, não posso vê-Lo; e, para o sul, onde Ele se esconde, eu não posso vê-Lo.

¹⁰ Mas Ele conhece o caminho em que ando; quando Ele me prova, eu saio como o ouro. ¹¹ Os meus pés seguiram apressadamente as Suas pisadas; eu guardei o Seu caminho e não me desviei dele. ¹² Não abadonei o mandamento dos Seus lábios; Eu guardei como um tesouro as palavras da Sua boca mais que minha porção de comida.

¹³ Mas Ele é único, quem pode Lhe virar as costas? Aquilo que Ele deseja, faz. ¹⁴ Ele carrega Seu decreto contra mim; e há muitas outras coisas como essas.

¹⁵ Por isso, estou aterrorizado em Sua presença; quando eu penso Nele, fico com medo. ¹⁶ Pois Deus fez enfraquecer o meu coração; oTodo Poderoso aterrorizou-me. ¹⁷ Porém, eu não fui destruído pelas trevas, as densas trevas que encobrem o meu rosto.

Capítulo 24

¹ Por que os tempos para o julgamento dos corruptos não são marcados pelo Todo Poderoso? Por que os fiéis não veem seus dias de julgamento chegar?

² Há corruptos que removem os marcos de fronteira; há corruptos que roubam à força os rebanhos e colocam nos seus próprios pastos. ³ Eles roubam o jumento dos órfãos; eles levam o boi da viúva como penhor. ⁴ Eles forçam os necessitados para fora do caminho; os pobres da Terra se escondem deles.

⁵ Vê, como jumentos selvagens no deserto, esse pobre povo sai para o seu trabalho, procurando, atentamente, por comida; talvez, o deserto proverá comida para seus filhos. ⁶ Povo pobre que colhe durante a noite nos campos dos outros; eles recolhem restos de uvas da colheita dos corruptos. ⁷ Eles se deitam nus toda noite; eles não têm cobertor no frio.

⁸ Eles são molhados pela chuva das montanhas; eles se deitam perto das grandes rochas porque não têm habitação. ⁹ Há corruptos que arrancam os órfãos do peito das suas mães e também corruptos que levam as crianças dos pobres como penhor. ¹⁰ Mas os pobres andam quase nus sem vestimenta; embora com fome, eles carregam os feixes de cereais de outros.

¹¹ Os pobres fazem óleo dentro dos muros daqueles corruptos; eles pisam os lagares dos corruptos, mas eles mesmos sofrem com a sede. ¹² Na cidade, as pessoas gemem; os feridos clamam, mas Deus não Se atenta para as suas orações.

¹³ Alguns desses corruptos rebelam-se contra a luz; eles não sabem seus caminhos e nem permanecem nos mesmos. ¹⁴ Antes de amanhecer, o homicida se levanta e mata pessoas pobres e necessitadas; de noite, ele é como um ladrão.

¹⁵ Também, o olho do adúltero espera pelo crepúsculo; ele diz: 'Nenhum olho me verá'. Ele disfarça sua face. ¹⁶ Na escuridão, os corruptos invadem casas; eles se escondem durante o dia; eles não se importam com a luz. ¹⁷ Pois, para todos eles, a manhã é como densas trevas; eles são amigos dos terrores das densas trevas.

¹⁸ Rapidamente, eles morrem como espuma na superfície das águas; sua porção da terra está amaldiçoada; ninguém vai trabalhar nas suas vinhas. ¹⁹ Como a seca e o calor derretem a neve em água; também o Sheol consome aqueles que pecaram.

²⁰ O ventre que o gerou o esquecerá; o verme se deliciará dele; ele nunca mais será lembrado. Dessa forma, o corrupto será quebrado como a árvore. ²¹ O corrupto devora a mulher estéril que nunca teve filhos; ele não faz o bem para a viúva.

²² Ainda assim, Deus arrasta as pessoas poderosas com o Seu poder; Ele Se levanta e não fortalece suas vidas. ²³ Deus lhes permite achar que estão seguras; e elas são felizes por isso, mas os Seus olhos estão em seus caminhos.

²⁴ Essas pessoas são exaltadas; mas, em pouco tempo, e elas se vão; certamente, elas serão rebaixadas; serão reunidas como todas as outras; serão cortadas como as pontas das espigas dos cereais. ²⁵ Se assim não for, quem pode provar-me que sou mentiroso; quem pode fazer o meu discurso inválido?".

Capítulo 25

¹ Então, Bildade, o suíta respondeu e disse: ² "Domínio e temor estão com Ele; Ele coloca ordem nos Seus altos lugares do céu. ³ Há fim ao número dos Seus exércitos? Sobre quem a Sua luz não resplandece?

⁴ Então, como o homem pode ser justo perante Deus? Como pode ele, que é nascido de mulher ser limpo, aceitável a Ele? ⁵ Vê, mesmo a lua não tem brilho para Ele; as estrelas não são puras aos Seus olhos. ⁶ Quanto menos o homem que é um verme --- um filho de homem, que é uma minhoca!".

Capítulo 26

¹ Então, Jó respondeu e disse, ² "Como tu tens ajudado ao que não tem força! Como tens salvado o braço que não tem força! ³ Como tens aconselhado ao que não tem sabedoria e revelado a ele melhor conhecimento! ⁴ Com ajuda de quem proferiste estas palavras? E de quem era o espírito que saiu de ti?

⁵ Os mortos tremem, aqueles que estão debaixo das águas e todos que habitam nelas. ⁶ O Sheol está nu perante Deus; a própria destruição não tem cobertura contra Ele.

⁷ Ele estende os céus do norte sobre espaço vazio e suspende a Terra acima do nada. ⁸ Ele prende as águas nas Suas densas nuvens, mas as nuvens não se rasgam debaixo delas.

⁹ Ele encobre a face da lua e espalha as suas nuvens sobre ela. ¹⁰ Ele marcou um limite circular por cima das águas como a linha entre a luz e as trevas.

¹¹ Os pilares do céu estremecem e são surpreendidos pela Sua repreensão. ¹² Ele acalmou o mar pela Sua força; pelo Seu conhecimento, despedaça a Raabe.

¹³ Pelo Seu sopro, limpou os céus; a Sua mão feriu a serpente fugitiva. ¹⁴ Vê, esses são apenas a beirada dos Seus caminhos. Quão pequeno é um sussurro que podemos ouvir Dele! Quem pode compreender o trovão do Seu poder?".

Capítulo 27

¹ Jó, retmou sua fala e disse: ² "Tão certo como Deus vive, Quem arrancou a minha justiça, o Todo Poderoso, que tornou minha vida amarga, ³ pois, enquanto a minha vida ainda estiver em mim e o fôlego de Deus em minhas narinas, é isto que farei.

⁴ Meus lábios não falarão iniquidade, nem a minha língua falará engano. ⁵ Nunca vou admitir que vós três estáveis certos; até que eu morra, eu nunca negarei minha integridade.

⁶ Eu me apego à minha justiça e não a deixarei ir; meus pensamentos não me repreenderão enquanto eu viver. ⁷ Que o meu inimigo seja como o homem corrupto; e aquele que se levanta contra mim seja como o homem injusto.

⁸ Pois qual é a esperança de um homem corrupto quando Deus o destrói, quando Deus tira-lhe a vida? ⁹ Poderá Deus ouvir seu choro quando a aflição vier sobre ele? ¹⁰ Alegrar-se-á ele no Todo Poderoso e clamará a Deus em todos os tempos?

¹¹ Eu vos ensinarei a respeito da mão de Deus; não ocultarei os pensamentos do Todo Poderoso. ¹² Vede, todos vós tendes visto isto pessoalmente; por que, então, tendes falado tudo isso sem nenhum sentido?

¹³ Este é o destino do homem corrupto com Deus, a herança do opressor que ele recebe do Todo Poderoso: ¹⁴ se seus filhos se multipicarem, será para a espada; sua prole nunca terá comida suficiente.

¹⁵ Todos os que sobreviverem serão sepultados pela praga e suas viúvas não farão lamentação alguma por eles. ¹⁶ Ainda que o homem corrupto acumule prata como o pó e acumule roupas como barro, ¹⁷ ele poderá acumular roupas, mas pessoas justas as vestirão e as pessoas inocentes dividirão a prata entre elas.

¹⁸ Ele constrói sua casa como a da aranha, como a cabana que um guarda faz. ¹⁹ Ele se deita em riquezas, mas não fará isto para sempre; ele abre seus olhos e tudo se foi.

²⁰ Terrores o inundam como águas; uma tempestade o arrasta pela noite. ²¹ O vento do leste o leva para longe e ele sai; e o varre do seu lugar.

²² O vento do leste se joga sobre ele e não pára; ele tenta escapar das suas mãos. ²³ O vento bate palmas a ele em gozação; seus assobios o tiram do seu lugar.

Capítulo 28

¹ Certamente, existe uma mina para a prata e um lugar onde se refina o ouro. ² O ferro é tirado da terra; e o cobre é fundido da pedra.

³ Um homem põe fim às trevas e procura, no limite mais distante, as pedras na escuridão e nas densas trevas. ⁴ Ele abre um túnel afastado de onde as pessoas vivem, lugares esquecidos, nos quais as pessoas não colocam seus pés. Ele se dependura longe dos homens, ele balança para lá e para cá.

⁵ A terra, de onde procede o pão, é revolvida em baixo como por fogo. ⁶ As suas pedras são lugares onde se encontra a safira e sua poeira contém ouro.

⁷ Nenhuma ave da rapina conhece este caminho, nem o olho do falcão pode vê-los. ⁸ O animal orgulhoso não andou por tais caminhos, nem o leão feroz passou por lá.

⁹ O homem estende a mão sobre as pedras duras; ele revolve as montanhas pelas suas raízes. ¹⁰ Ele corta canais no meio das pedras; os seus olhos veem todas as coisas valiosas lá. ¹¹ Ele fecha os rios para que não corram. O que está escondido lá ele traz para a luz.

¹² Onde se achará a sabedoria? Onde está o lugar do entendimento? ¹³ O homem não conhece o seu preço; e nem é este encontrado na terra dos viventes. ¹⁴ As águas profundas embaixo da terra dizem: 'Não está em mim'; o mar diz: 'Também não está em mim'.

¹⁵ Não pode ser conseguida com ouro; e nem pode a prata ser pesada como seu preço. ¹⁶ Também não pode ser comprada com o ouro de Ofir, nem com o precioso ônix, ou com a safira. ¹⁷ O ouro e o cristal não podem ser igualados em valor à sabedoria; nem se pode trocar por joias de ouro fino.

¹⁸ Não vale a pena fazer menção ao coral ou jaspe; certamente, o preço da sabedoria é mais que rubis. ¹⁹ O topázio da Etiópia não se compara com ela; nem pode ser valorizada em termos de ouro puro.

²⁰ De onde, pois, vem a sabedoria? Onde está o lugar do entendimento? ²¹ A sabedoria está escondida dos olhos de todos os seres viventes e está guardada em oculto das aves dos céus. ²² A destruição e a morte dizem: 'Temos escutado somente um rumor acerca disto com os nossos ouvidos'.

²³ Deus entende o caminho para ela; Ele conhece o seu lugar. ²⁴ Pois Ele vê os limites da Terra e vê abaixo de todos os céus. ²⁵ No passado, Ele fez a força do vento e dividiu as águas por medidas.

²⁶ Ele colocou um limite para a chuva e um caminho para o relâmpago dos trovões. ²⁷ Então, Ele viu a sabedoria e a anunciou; Ele a estabeleceu e a examinou de fato. ²⁸ Para as pessoas, Ele disse: 'Vê, o temor do Senhor é sabedoria; e apartar-se do mal é entendimento'".

Capítulo 29

¹ Jó continuou o discurso e disse: ² "Ó, quem me dera eu fosse o que era nos meses passados quando Deus cuidava de mim, ³ quando a Sua luz brilhava sobre a minha cabeça, e quando eu andava pelas trevas guiado pela Sua luz.

⁴ Ó, quem me dera fosse como era nos dias da minha colheita, quando a amizade de Deus estava sobre a minha tenda, ⁵ quando o Todo Poderoso ainda estava comigo e meus filhos estavam à minha volta, ⁶ quando meus caminhos eram cobertos de nata e a rocha derramava sobre mim rios de azeite!

⁷ Quando eu ia ao portal da cidade, quando me sentava na praça da cidade, ⁸ os jovens me viam e mantinham distância de mim por respeito e os idosos se levantavam e ficavam de pé diante de mim.

⁹ Os príncipes paravam suas falas quando eu chegava; eles colocavam as mãos sobre suas bocas. ¹⁰ As vozes dos nobres eram silenciadas e as suas línguas grudavam no céu da boca.

¹¹ Porque, depois que os seus ouvidos me ouviam, eles me abençoavam; depois que os seus olhos me viam, eles testemunhavam a meu respeito e me aprovavam; ¹² pois eu resgatava o pobre quando ele clamava e também os órfão que não tinham ninguém para o ajudar. ¹³ A bênção daquele que estava prestes a morrer vinha sobre mim e eu fazia com que o coração da viúva cantasse de alegria.

¹⁴ Eu vestia a justiça e ela me cobria; a minha justiça era como um manto e um turbante. ¹⁵ Eu era olhos dos cegos; pés para os coxos; ¹⁶ e pai dos necessitados. Eu examinava a causa até mesmo dos que eu não conhecia.

¹⁷ Eu quebrava as mandíbulas do corrupto; arrancava a vítima dentre os seus dentes. ¹⁸ E eu falava: 'morrerei no meu ninho; multiplicarei os meus dias como os grãos de areia. ¹⁹ As minhas raízes se espalharam pelas águas, o orvalho ficava sobre os meus ramos a noite inteira.

²⁰ A honra em mim era sempre nova e o arco da minha força estava sempre novo em minha mão. ²¹ Os homens me escutavam; eles esperavam por mim; ficavam em silêncio para ouvir o meu conselho. ²² Depois que eu acabava de falar, eles não falavam mais; o meu discurso caía como água sobre eles.

²³ Eles sempre esperavam por mim como esperavam pela chuva; eles abriam largamente as suas bocas para beberem as minhas palavras, como fariam para a chuva tardia. ²⁴ Eu lhes sorria quando menos esperavam; eles não rejeitavam a luz do meu rosto.

²⁵ Eu selecionava os caminhos para eles e me sentava como o chefe deles; eu vivia como rei no seu exército, como alguém que consola os enlutados.

Capítulo 30

¹ Agora, os que são mais novos que eu não possuem nada, mas zombam de mim — esses jovens, cujos pais que trabalhassem ao lado dos cães de guarda do meu rebanho. ² Pois de que me serveria a força das mãos dos seus pais, homens cuja força da sua idade madura já pereceu? ³ Eles eram magros por causa da pobreza e fome, andavam roendo em lugares secos na escuridão do deserto e na desolação.

⁴ Apanhavam malvas e folhas de arbustos; e o seu alimento eram as raízes dos arbustos. ⁵ Eles eram expulsos do meio dos homens, que gritavam para eles, como se grita para ladrões. ⁶ Por isso, eles tinham que viver nos vales dos rios, em buracos da terra e das rochas.

⁷ Entre os arbustos, urravam como jumentos e, debaixo dos arbustos, se ajuntavam. ⁸ Eles eram filhos de tolos, verdadeiramente eram filhos de homens sem nome. Eles eram expulsos da terra com chicotes.

⁹ Mas, agora, para os seus filhos, tornei-me canção de zombaria; na verdade, eu agora sou piada para eles. ¹⁰ Eles me abominam, ficam distantes de mim e não se privam de cuspir no meu rosto. ¹¹ Portanto, Deus afroxou a corda do meu arco e me afligiu, por isso, aqueles que zombam de mim não se detêm diante de minha face.

¹² À minha direita, levanta-se gente vil; eles levantam contra mim o seu cerco. ¹³ Eles destroem meu caminho, promovem desastres para mim, homens que ninguém pode deter.

¹⁴ Eles vêm contra mim como um exército por meio de grande buraco na muralha da cidade; no meio das ruínas, se lançam contra mim. ¹⁵ Terrores vieram sobre mim; a minha honra foi retirada como se pelo vento; a minha prosperidade se foi como as nuvens.

¹⁶ Agora, a minha vida se derrama dentro de mim; muitos dias de sofrimento se prederam a mim. ¹⁷ De noite, os meus ossos são perfurados, as dores que me corroem não descansam.

¹⁸ A poderosa força de Deus desfigurou as minhas vestes; esta me envolve como a gola da minha túnica. ¹⁹ Ele me lançou na lama; tornei-me como pó e cinza.

²⁰ Clamo a Ti, Deus, mas Tu não me respondes; Eu me levanto e Tu não olhas para mim. ²¹ Tu mudaste e Te tornaste cruel a mim; com a força da Tua mão, Tu me persegues.

²² Tu me levantas no vento e fazes com que ele me leve para longe; lanças a mim para um lado e outro na tempestade. ¹ ²³ Pois eu sei que me trarás à morte, para casa destinada a todos seres viventes.

²⁴ Porventura, não estende alguém sua mão para implorar por ajuda quando cai? Não clama por socorro aquele que está atribulado? ²⁵ Não chorei por aquele que se encontrava em tribulação? Não lamentei pelo homen necessitado? ²⁶ Quando procurei pelo bem, o mal me sobreveio, quando eu esperei pela luz, sobreveio a mim a escuridão.

²⁷ O meu coração está atribulado e não descansa; dias de aflição vieram sobre mim. ²⁸ Tenho passado como alguém que vive nas trevas, mas não por causa do sol; levanto-me na assembleia e clamo por socorro. ²⁹ Tornei-me irmão de chacais e companheiro de avestruzes.

³⁰ A minha pele é escura e se desfaz; os meus ossos estão queimados pelo calor. ³¹ Por isso, a minha harpa foi afinada para hinos de lamento e a minha flauta para tocar aos que se queixam.

¹Algumas versões modernas adotam Tu me derretes na tempestade .

Capítulo 31

¹ Eu fiz uma aliança com os meus olhos; como, então, olharia a virgem com desejo? ² Qual é a porção que tenho do Deus lá de cima, a herança do Todo Poderoso das alturas?

³ Eu pensava que a calamidade fosse para os injustos e os desastres para os corruptos. ⁴ Será que Deus não vê os meus caminhos e conta todos os meus passos?

⁵ Se eu andei em falsidade, se o meu pé se apressou para o engano, ⁶ que Deus me pese numa balança para que saiba da minha integridade.

⁷ Se o meu passo se desviou do caminho certo, se o meu coração seguiu as atrações dos meus olhos, se alguma mancha de impureza se apegou às minhas mãos, ⁸ de fato, que outros comam o que plantei, inclusive, que a colheita seja arrancada das minhas plantações.

⁹ Se o meu coração se atraiu por outra mulher, se espreitei à porta do próximo para tomar a sua esposa, ¹⁰ então, que a minha esposa moa o grão de cereais de outro homem e que outros se deitem com ela.

¹¹ Certamente, isso seria um crime terrível; portanto, digno de castigo pelos juízes. ¹² Porque isso é fogo que consome tudo para o Sheol e que queimaria toda a minha colheita.

¹³ Se ignorei o direito de justiça do meu servo ou da minha serva, quando reclamaram. ¹⁴ O que farei quando Deus Se levantar para me julgar? Quando Ele vier me julgar, como Lhe responderia? ¹⁵ Aquele que me formou no ventre não lhes formou também? Não é O mesmo que nos moldou no ventre?

¹⁶ Se eu neguei o desejo dos pobres, ou, se causei lágrimas nos olhos da viúva, ¹⁷ ou, se eu comi sozinho e não permiti que os órfãos comessem também. ¹⁸ No entanto, os órfãos cresceram comigo na minha juventude como se fosse com um pai e cuidei da mãe deles, uma viúva, do ventre da minha própria mãe.

¹⁹ Se vi alguém perecendo por falta de cobertor, ou um homem necessitado de roupa; ²⁰ e, se seu coração não me abençou porque não se aqueceu com a lã do meu rebanho, ²¹ se levantei a minha mão contra os órfãos, porque vi o meu sustento no portão da cidade, então, trazei as acusações contra mim!

²² Que meu ombro caia das minhas costas e que o meu braço aparte-se das juntas. ²³ Porque a calamidade de Deus seria um terror para mim; por causa da Sua majestade, eu não faria nenhuma destas coisas.

²⁴ Se fiz do ouro a minha confiança, e, se disse ao ouro puro: 'Tu és a minha segurança'; ²⁵ se me alegrei por causa da minha grande riqueza, pelas muitas posses que as minhas mãos obtiveram, então, trazei as acusações contra mim!

²⁶ Se vi o sol quando brilhou, ou a lua caminhando em seu fulgor, ²⁷ e, se o meu coração foi atraído secretamente, para que a minha boca beijasse a minha mão em adoração a eles — ²⁸ isso também seria um crime a ser punido pelos juízes, pois teria negado ao Deus que está no alto.

²⁹ Se me alegrei com a ruína do inimigo ou celebrei o desastre que lhe tomou, ³⁰ certamente, não permiti que a minha boca pecasse por desejar maldição sobre a vida dele.

³¹ Se o homem da minha tenda nunca tivesse dito: 'Quem encontrará alguém que não foi saciado com os alimentos de Jó?' ³² (Até os estrangeiros nunca tiveram que ficar ao relento, pois sempre abri minha porta aos viajantes), se não fui assim, então, trazei as acusações contra mim!

³³ Se como ser humano, ocultei os meus pecados, escondendo a minha culpa nas minhas túnicas, ³⁴ (porque temi a grande multidão e porque o desprezo das famílias me aterrorizou, para que me mantivesse calado e não mais saísse), então, trazei as acusações contra mim!

³⁵ Ó, quem me dera se tivesse alguém para me ouvir, esta é a minha declaração da verdade; que o Altíssimo me responda! Se eu tivesse apenas a nota escrita pelos meus inimigos! ³⁶ Certamente, a exibiria abertamente nos meus ombros. A usaria como uma coroa. ³⁷ Eu Lhe declararia os meus passos, como um príncipe seguro, iria até Ele.

³⁸ Se a minha terra clamar contra mim e os seus canais chorarem juntos, ³⁹ se consumi os seus frutos sem pagar ou causei a perda da vida dos donos, ⁴⁰ que cresçam espinhos ao invés do trigo e a erva ao invés da cevada". Acabaram-se as palavras de Jó.

Capítulo 32

¹ Então, estes três homens deixaram de responder a Jó porque ele se considerava justo aos seus próprios olhos. ² Então, inflamou-se a ira de Eliú, filho de Baraquel de Buz, o buzita, da família de Rão; ele se irou contra Jó, porque este se justificava a si mesmo em vez de Deus.

³ A ira de Eliú se inflamou também contra os seus três amigos porque não haviam achado a resposta para Jó e, ainda assim, o condenaram. ⁴ Eliú esperou para falar com Jó porque os outros homens eram mais velhos que ele. ⁵ Contudo, quando Eliú viu que não havia resposta na boca destes três homens, inflamou-se sua ira.

⁶ Então, Eliú filho de Baraquel de Buz falou: "Eu sou jovem e vós sois velhos. Por isso, ponderei e não ousei dar a minha opinião. ⁷ Eu disse: 'que a longevidade dos dias fale, a multidão dos anos ensine sabedoria.

⁸ Mas é o espírito dentro do homem que lhe dá entendimento, o sopro do Todo Poderoso. ⁹ Não são só os mais velhos que são os sábios, não são só os de idade que entendem o que é justo. ¹⁰ Por isso, eu vos digo: 'Escutai-me; também vos direi o meu conhecimento'.

¹¹ Eis que esperei por vossas palavras, escutei vossos argumentos enquanto estáveis pensando acerca do que dizer. ¹² De fato, eu prestei atenção em vós; eis que não havia dentre vós quem pudesse convencer Jó ou quem pudesse responder às suas palavras.

¹³ Cuidado para não dizer: 'Nós achamos a sabedoria!'. Deus irá derrotar a Jó; homem comum não pode fazer isso. ¹⁴ Porque Jó não direcionou suas palavras contra mim, por isso, não irei responder a ele com vossas palavras.

¹⁵ Estes três homens estão sem palavras, não conseguem mais responder a Jó, não têm mais palavra para dizer. ¹⁶ Poderia eu esperá-los porque eles não estão falando, porque estão ali em silêncio e não conseguem mais responder?

¹⁷ Não, eu também responderei minha parte, expressarei meu conhecimento. ¹⁸ Pois estou cheio de palavras, o espírito em mim me impulsiona. ¹⁹ Eis que meu peito está como o vinho fermentando e sem brechas, como novos odres prestes a explodir.

²⁰ Falarei, para que ache alívio; abrirei meus lábios e responderei. ²¹ Que não faça eu acepção de pessoas, nem adularei homem algum. ²² Porque não sei como adular, se eu o fizesse, meu Criador em breve me levaria.

Capítulo 33

¹ Mas agora, Jó, suplico-te, escuta meu discurso; ouve todas as minhas palavras. ² Eu abri minha boca; minha língua falou na minha boca. ³ Minhas palavras declaram a justiça do meu coração; os meus lábios falam puro conhecimento.

⁴ O Espírito de Deus me fez; o sopro do Todo Poderoso me deu vida. ⁵ Se tu podes, responde-me; define tuas palavras diante de mim.

⁶ Vê, eu estou apenas como tu estás sob a vista de Deus; eu também fui formado do barro. ⁷ Eis que o meu terror não te farás temer; nem uma pressão pesada sobre ti.

⁸ Tu falaste ao meu ouvido; tenho ouvido o som das tuas palavras, dizendo: ⁹ 'Eu estou limpo e sem transgressão; eu sou inocente e não há pecado em mim.

¹⁰ Eis que Deus encontra oportunidades para me atacar; Ele me considera como seu inimigo. ¹¹ Ele prende os meus pés; Ele vigia todos os meus caminhos'. ¹² Vê, nisto não estás correto — porque Deus é maior que o homem.

¹³ Por que lutas contra Ele? Deus não tem que explicar nenhum dos Seus feitos. ¹⁴ Pois Deus fala uma — sim, duas, embora o homem não perceba. ¹⁵ Em um sonho, em uma visão da noite, quando sono profundo cai sobre os homens, totalmente adormecidos nas suas camas —

¹⁶ então, Deus abre os ouvidos dos homens e os assusta com ameaças, ¹⁷ para tirar o homem dos seus propósitos pecaminosos e do seu orgulho. ¹⁸ Deus afasta a vida dos homens do poço, de caminhar para a morte.

¹⁹ O homem é punido também com dor na sua cama, com constante agonia em seus ossos, ²⁰ para que sua vida abomine comida e sua alma abomine iguarias.

²¹ Sua carne é consumida e isto não pode ser visto; seus ossos, que não se viam, agora aparecem. ²² De fato, sua alma se aproxima do poço; sua vida, daqueles que a desejam destruir.

²³ Mas, se houver um anjo que pode ser mediador para ele, um mediador, um dentre os milhares de anjos, para mostrar a ele o que é certo fazer, ²⁴ e, se o anjo for gentil com ele e disser a Deus: 'Salva esta pessoa de ir ao fundo do poço; eu encontrei redenção para ela',

²⁵ sua carne se restaurará como carne de uma criança; ele retornará aos dias de força da juventude. ²⁶ Ele orará a Deus e Deus será generoso com ele, para que veja, com alegria, o rosto de Deus. Deus dará à pessoa sua vitória.

²⁷ Então, essa pessoa cantará em frente a outras e dirá: 'Eu pequei e perverti o que era justo, mas meu pecado não foi punido. ²⁸ Deus resgatou a minha alma de ir ao fundo do poço; minha vida continuará a ver a luz'.

²⁹ Eis que Deus fez todas estas coisas com uma pessoa, duas e três vezes para com o homem, ³⁰ para trazer de volta sua alma do poço, para que ele seja iluminado com a luz da vida.

³¹ Presta atenção, Jó, e ouve-me; fica em silêncio e eu falarei. ³² Se tiveres qualquer coisa para dizer, responde-me; fala, porque eu desejo provar que estás correto. ³³ Se não tiver, então, escuta-me; permanece em silêncio e eu te ensinarei a sabedoria".

Capítulo 34

¹ Além disso, Eliú continuou a falar: ² "Ouvi as minhas palavras, homens sábios; escutai-me, vós, que tendes conhecimento. ³ Pois o ouvido distingue as palavras assim como o paladar saboreia a comida.

⁴ Que escolhamos por nós mesmos o que é justo: que descubramos entre nós o que é bom. ⁵ Pois Jó disse: 'Eu sou justo, mas Deus tirou meus direitos. ⁶ Apesar dos meus direitos, eu sou considerado um mentiroso. Minhas feridas são incuráveis, embora sem pecado'.

⁷ Que homem é como Jó, que bebe zombaria como água, ⁸ que anda na companhia daqueles que fazem o mal e dos homens perversos? ⁹ Pois ele disse: 'É inútil uma pessoa ter prazer fazendo o que Deus quer'.

¹⁰ Escutai-me, vós, homens de entendimento: longe de Deus fazer maldade; longe do Todo Poderoso cometer pecado. ¹¹ Porque Ele paga o trabalho de uma pessoa; recompensa a todo homem nos seus próprios caminhos. ¹² Certamente, Deus não faz maldade, o Todo Poderoso nunca perverte a justiça.

¹³ A quem Deus entregou autoridade para governar toda a Terra? Quem colocou todo mundo sob Sua autoridade? ¹⁴ Se as Suas intenções fossem definidas somente Nele, e, se Ele juntasse de volta para Si mesmo o Seu espírito e Seu sopro, ¹⁵ então, toda carne junta pereceria; a humanidade voltaria ao pó.

¹⁶ Se agora tendes entendimento, escutai isto: escutai o som das minhas palavras. ¹⁷ Pode alguém que odeia justiça governar? Condenarás a Deus, que é justo e poderoso?

¹⁸ Deus, que fala ao rei: 'Tu és vil', ou aos nobres: 'Vós sois maus'? ¹⁹ Deus, que não faz acepção entre pessoas e os líderes; não estima as pessoas ricas mais que as pobres, porque todos são obras de Suas mãos. ²⁰ Num momento, eles morrerão; à meia noite, pessoas serão agitadas e morrerão; pessoas poderosas morrerão, mas não por mãos humanas.

²¹ Porque os olhos de Deus estão sobre os caminhos das pessoas; Ele vê todos os seus passos. ²² Não há escuridão ou densas trevas onde os praticantes da iniquidade podem esconderem-se. ²³ Porque Deus não precisa examinar mais a pessoa; não há necessidade de comparecer diante Dele para o julgamento.

²⁴ Ele quebra homens poderosos em pedaços; seus caminhos não precisam de mais investigação; põe os outros em seus lugares. ²⁵ Dessa forma, Ele tem conhecimento dos seus feitos; Ele lança essas pessoas na escuridão, elas são destruídas.

²⁶ À vista dos outros, Ele os mata devido aos seus maus feitos como criminosos. ²⁷ Porque deixaram de segui-Lo e não quiseram reconhecer nenhum dos Seus caminhos. ²⁸ Assim, eles fazem o clamor do povo pobre chegar a Ele. Ele ouve o choro do povo aflito.

²⁹ Quando Ele fica em silêncio, quem pode Lhe condenar? Se Ele esconde a Sua face, quem O pode encontrar? Ele reina sobre as nações e todas as pessoas, ³⁰ de modo que o homem corrupto não reine e não haja ninguém que engane o povo.

³¹ Imagina que alguém diga a Deus: 'Certamente sou culpado, mas não irei pecar mais; ³² ensina-me o que eu não posso ver; eu cometi pecado, mas não farei mais'. ³³ Tu pensas que Deus irá punir o pecado dessa pessoa, ainda que tu não gostes do que Deus faz? Deve escolher, não eu. Assim, diz aquilo que tu sabes.

³⁴ Homens de entendimento me dirão — de fato, qualquer homem sábio que me ouvir dirá: ³⁵ 'Jó fala sem conhecimento, suas palavras são sem entendimento'.

³⁶ Se tão somente Jó colocado em julgamento, nos pequenos detalhes, devido à sua fala como dos homens maus. ³⁷ Ele adiciona rebelião ao seu pecado; aplaude, zombando no nosso meio; ele continuou falando palavras más contra Deus".

Capítulo 35

¹ Posteriormente, Eliú continuou, dizendo: ² "Pensas que é justo dizer: 'Meu direito perante Deus'? ³ Pois perguntas: 'Qual utilidade isso tem para mim?' e 'Eu estaria melhor se tivesse pecado?'.

⁴ Eu vos responderei, a ti e aos teus amigos. ⁵ Olhai para os céus e vede; eis que as núvens estão muitos mais altas que vós.

⁶ Se tu pecares, que mal tu fazes a Deus? Se as tuas transgressões se amontoam, que fazes a Ele? ⁷ Se és justo, que podes dar a Ele? Que receberá Ele da tua mão? ⁸ A tua maldade só pode ferir um homem, já que tu és homem; e a a tua justiça só pode favorecer a outro filho de um homem.

⁹ Por causa de muitos atos de opressão, pessoas lamentam; elas clamam por socorro dos braços de homens poderosos. ¹⁰ Mas ninguém diz: 'Onde está Deus, meu Criador, que nos dá canções à noite, ¹¹ que nos ensina mais que às feras do campo e que nos faz mais sábios que os pássaros dos céus?'.

¹² Ali eles lamentam, mas Deus não responde por causa do orgulho do homem mau. ¹³ Deus certamente não ouvirá um clamor insensato, o Todo Poderoso não prestará atenção a isso. ¹⁴ Quanto menos Ele lhe responderá se disseres que não O vê, que o teu caso está diante Dele e que estás esperando por Ele!

¹⁵ Quanto menos Ele te responderá se disseres que Ele nunca pune a ninguém com ira e que Ele não está muito preocupado com o orgulho das pessoas. ¹⁶ Então, Jó abre a sua boca apenas para falar tolice, ele amontoa palavras sem entendimento".

Capítulo 36

¹ Eliú continuou e disse: ² "Permite-me que alongue o meu discurso e te mostrarei algumas coisas, pois tenho um pouco mais a dizer em defesa de Deus. ³ Adquirirei o meu conhecimento lá de longe; reconhecerei que justiça pertence ao meu Criador.

⁴ Por isso, minhas palavras não serão falsas; alguém que é maduro em conhecimento está contigo. ⁵ Vê, Deus é grande e não despreza a ninguém; Ele é poderoso em entendimento.

⁶ Ele não preserva a vida de pessoas pecadoras; pelo contrário, faz o que é reto para aqueles que sofrem. ⁷ Ele não retira os Seus olhos das pessoas justas, mas assenta-os em tronos como reis para sempre; eles são exaltados.

⁸ Se forem presos por correntes e amarrados em cordas de sofrimento, ⁹ então, Ele lhes revela o que fizeram, suas transgressões e seu orgulho.

¹⁰ Ele também abre os ouvidos deles para as Suas instruções e os comanda para retornarem da iniquidade. ¹¹ Se eles O ouvirem e O adorarem, passarão os seus dias em prosperidade e os seus anos em contentamento. ¹² Porém, se eles não ouvirem, perecerão pela espada, morrerão porque não têm conhecimento.

¹³ Aqueles que são corruptos guardam sua ira no coração; não clamam por ajuda mesmo quando Deus os amarra. ¹⁴ Eles morrem em sua juventude; as suas vidas terminam entre os prostitutos de cultos.

¹⁵ Deus resgata pessoas aflitas por meio de suas aflições; Ele abre os ouvidos delas por meio de suas opressões. ¹⁶ Por isso, Ele deseja tirar-te do desespero para um lugar amplo, onde não exista tribulação e onde a sua mesa será preparada com comida cheia de gorduras.

¹⁷ Mas tu estás cheio de julgamento acerca de pessoas más; julgamento e justiça estão diante de ti. ¹⁸ Não permitas que a tua ira te seduza para a zombaria ou que a grandeza do resgate te atraia.

¹⁹ Pode a tua riqueza te beneficiar, de maneira que não te aches em desgraça ou pode toda a força do teu empenho te ajudar? ²⁰ Não anseies pela noite para cometer pecado contra outros, quando as pessoas são tiradas das suas casas. ²¹ Sê cuidadoso para que não te voltes ao pecado, porque estás sendo testado através do sofrimento para que tu fiques distante do pecado.

²² Vê, Deus é exaltado em Seu poder; quem é um mestre igual a Ele? ²³ Quem alguma vez instruiu-Lhe acerca do Seu caminho? Quem pode dizer a Ele: 'Tu cometeste injustiça'? ²⁴ Lembra-te de exaltar as obras Dele, sobre as quais as pessoas têm cantado.

²⁵ Todas as pessoas olharam para estas obras, mas vêm estas obras apenas de longe. ²⁶ Vê, Deus é grande, mas nós não O entendemos bem; o número dos Seus anos é incalculável.

²⁷ Ele faz subir as gotas de água que Ele destila como chuva do Seu vapor; ²⁸ gotas que as nuvens descarregam e gotejam em abundância sobre a raça humana. ²⁹ De fato, poderá alguém entender a extensa propagação das nuvens e dos relâmpagos da Sua habitação?

³⁰ Vê, Ele espalha o Seu relâmpago em volta Dele e cobre os fundamentos do oceano. ³¹ Desta maneira, Ele julga as pessoas e dá comida em abundância.

³² Ele segura em Suas mãos o relâmpago até que ordena a atingir os seus alvos. ³³ Seu trovão avisa sobre a tempestade e o gado também pode ouvir que ela se aproxima.

Capítulo 37

¹ De fato, nisto, meu coração treme; sai do seu lugar. ² Ouve, ó, ouve o barulho da Sua voz, o som que sai da Sua boca. ³ Ele o envia abaixo do céu e envia Seu relâmpago para as fronteiras da Terra.

⁴ Uma voz ruge depois; Ele troveja com a voz da Sua majestade; Ele não restringe Seu relâmpago quando Sua voz é ouvida. ⁵ Deus troveja maravilhosamente com Sua voz. Ele faz grandes coisas que não podemos compreender. ⁶ Pois Ele diz à neve: 'Cai sobre a terra!'; da mesma forma, Ele diz à chuva: 'Sê uma grande chuva!'.

⁷ Ele pára a mão de cada homem no trabalho, para que todas as pessoas que Ele fez possam ver Seus atos. ⁸ Então, os animais começam a se esconder em suas tocas. ⁹ A tempestade vem de sua câmara do sul e o frio dos ventos que se espalham no norte.

¹⁰ Pelo sopro de Deus, o gelo é formado; a expansão das águas é congelada como metal. ¹¹ De fato, Ele sobrecarrega a densa nuvem com umidade; Ele espalha Seus relâmpagos através das nuvens.

¹² Ele guia as nuvens ao redor por Sua orientação, para fazer o que Ele manda sobre a superfície de todo o mundo. ¹³ Ele faz tudo isso acontecer; às vezes, para correção, às vezes, em favor de sua Terra e, às vezes, como ações de fidelidade à aliança.

¹⁴ Ouve isto, Jó! Pára e pensa sobre as ações maravilhosas de Deus. ¹⁵ Sabes como Deus força Sua vontade sobre as nuvens e faz os relâmpagos iluminá-las?

¹⁶ Tu compreendes o equilíbrio das nuvens, as maravilhosas ações de Deus, que é perfeito em conhecimento? ¹⁷ Tu compreendes como tuas vestes esquentam quando a terra se torna ainda calma por causa do vento que vem do sul?

¹⁸ Tu podes espalhar o céu, como Ele pode — o céu, que é forte como um espelho de metal fundido? ¹⁹ Ensina-nos o que devemos dizer a Ele, pois não podemos estabelecer argumentos por causa da escuridão das nossas mentes. ²⁰ Ele deveria ser informado de que desejo falar com Ele? Poderia uma pessoa desejar ser engolida?

²¹ Agora, pessoas não podem olhar para o sol quando está brilhando no céu, depois de o vento passar e limpá-lo de suas nuvens. ²² Para fora do norte, vem esplendido ouro — acima de Deus, há espantosa majestade.

²³ No que diz respeito ao Todo Poderoso, não podemos encontrá-Lo; Ele é grande em poder e justiça. Ele não oprime as pessoas; ²⁴ portanto, as pessoas O temem. Ele não presta qualquer atenção àqueles que são sábios em suas próprias mentes".

Capítulo 38

¹ Então, Yahweh chamou Jó para fora de uma tempestade violenta e disse: ² "Quem é este que traz escuridão aos Meus planos com palavras sem sentido? ³ Agora, cinge teus lombos como homem porque te farei perguntas e tu deverás Me responder.

⁴ Onde estavas quando coloquei os fundamentos da Terra? Dize-Me, já que tens tanto entendimento! ⁵ Quem determinou suas dimensões? Dize-Me, se sabes! Quem esticou a linha de medida sobre ela?

⁶ Sobre o que foram colocados seus alicerces? Quem colocou a pedra angular ⁷ quando as estrelas da manhã cantaram juntas e todos os filhos de Deus gritaram de alegria?

⁸ Quem fechou o mar com portas quando ele se arrebentou, como se tivesse saído do ventre — ⁹ quando lhe revesti de nuvens e fiz da densa escuridão suas fraldas?

¹⁰ Isso foi quando marquei Meus limites para o mar e quando coloquei suas grades e portas; ¹¹ quando lhe disse: 'Podes vir até aqui, mas não além! Aqui é onde colocarei um limite para o orgulho das tuas ondas'.

¹² Alguma vez, desde o inicio de teus dias, deste ordens à manhã para começar? E já fizeste com que o nascer do sol conhecesse seu devido lugar, no funcionamento das coisas, ¹³ para que segurasse os cantos da Terra, de forma que os corruptos pudessem ser sacudidos para fora dela?

¹⁴ A Terra muda sua aparência como o barro muda com a marca do carimbo; todas as coisas nela se levantam claramente como as dobras de um pedaço de roupa. ¹⁵ A 'luz' dos corruptos é tirada; seu braço levantado é quebrado.

¹⁶ Tu já foste pelas fontes das águas do mar? Já andaste pelas partes mais baixas das profundezas? ¹⁷ Os portões da morte já foram revelados a ti? Já viste os portões da sombra da morte? ¹⁸ Já percebeste a Terra em sua expansão? Dize-Me, já que sabes tudo isso!

¹⁹ Onde está o caminho para o lugar de descanso da luz? E, para as trevas, onde está seu lugar? ²⁰ Tu podes levar a luz e as trevas para seus lugares de trabalho? Podes levá-las de volta para suas casas? ²¹ Sem dúvida, sabes porque já tinhas nascido; o número de teus dias é tão grande!

²² Já entraste nas reservas para a neve ou já viste as reservas para o granizo — ²³ essas coisas que guardei para os tempos da aflição, para os tempos da batalha e de guerra? ²⁴ Qual é o caminho pelo qual os relâmpagos são distribuídos? Ou por onde os ventos são espalhados do leste sobre a Terra?

²⁵ Quem criou os canais para as inundações da chuva? Ou quem criou os caminhos para o relâmpagos do trovão, ²⁶ para fazer com que chova nas terras onde não existem pessoas e nos desertos onde ninguém vive, ²⁷ para suprir as necessidades das regiões inférteis e solitárias; para fazer crescer os renovos da erva?

²⁸ Existe um pai da chuva? Que criou as gotas do orvalho? ²⁹ De que ventre surgiu o gelo? Quem gerou a geada branca do céu? ³⁰ As águas se escondem e se tornam como pedra; as superfícies das profundezas se congelam.

³¹ Podes apertar as correntes do Sete Estrelos ou desfazer os cordéis do Órion? ³² Podes fazer com que as constelações apareçam no tempo certo? Podes guiar a Ursa com seus filhos? ³³ Conheces as leis dos céus? Podes ordenar as normas do céu sobre a Terra?

³⁴ Podes levantar tua voz até as nuvens, para que a abundância das águas da chuva te cubram? ³⁵ Podes mandar relâmpagos para que saiam e te digam: 'Estamos aqui'?

³⁶ Quem colocou sabedoria nas nuvens ou deu entendimento à névoa? ³⁷ Quem pode contar as nuvens com sua habilidade? Quem pode derramar água dos odres celestiais ³⁸ quando o pó se torna uma dura massa e os torrões da Terra se colam?

³⁹ Podes caçar presa para as leoas ou satisfazer o apetite dos leõezinhos, ⁴⁰ quando se inclinam nos seus covis e se juntam escondidos para se deitar e esperar?

⁴¹ Quem providencia presas para os corvos quando seus pequeninos clamam a Deus e cambaleiam por falta de comida?

Capítulo 39

¹ Tu sabes a que horas cabras silvestres dão à luz na rocha? Podes observar as corças quando dão suas crias? ² Podes tu contar os meses da sua gestação? Tu sabes a hora que dão à luz as suas crias?

³ Elas se encurvam, dão à liuz as suas crias e, depois, terminam as suas dores de parto. ⁴ Os seu filhotes se tornam fortes e crescem num campo aberto; elas saem e não voltam.

⁵ Quem deixa o jumento selvagem ir livremente? Quem soltou as cadeias do jumento bravo, ⁶ cujo lar Eu fiz no deserto e cuja casa fiz na terra salgada?

⁷ Ele ri com desprezo do ruído na cidade; ele não ouve o grito do condutor. ⁸ Ele vagueia sobre as montanhas como seu pasto; lá, ele procura por toda planta verde para comer.

⁹ Estará o búfalo feliz em te servir? Consentirá ele em estar no teu cural? ¹⁰ Com a corda, poderás controlar o búfalo para cultivar a terra? Irá ele arar os vales para ti?

¹¹ Poderás confiar nele porque a força dele é grande? Poderás deixar o teu trabalho para ele fazer? ¹² Poderás depender dele para trazer os teus grãos para casa, para juntar os grãos no teu celeiro?

¹³ As asas da avestruz batem orgulhosamente, mas as suas asas e penas são de amor? ¹⁴ Ela deixa os seus ovos na terra e ela os deixa aquecidos no pó. ¹⁵ Ela se esquece de que um pé pode esmagá-los ou uma besta selvagem poderá pisoteá-los.

¹⁶ Ela lida duramente com os seus filhos como se não fossem dela. Ela não teme que o seu trabalho seja em vão, ¹⁷ porque Deus a privou da sabedoria e não lhe deu nenhum entendimento. ¹⁸ Quando ela corre rapidamente, ela ri com desprezo do cavalo em que monta.

¹⁹ Tu deste ao cavalo a sua força? Vestiste o seu pescoço com as suas crinas? ²⁰ Fizeste com que ele saltasse como gafanhoto? A majestade do seu respirar é temível.

²¹ Pateando, escava o chão e se alegra com a sua força; ele corre ao encontro das armas. ²² Ele zomba do medo e não se espanta; ele não recua diante da espada. ²³ Ao som da aljava soando contra o seu flanco, junto da lança e do dardo.

²⁴ Ele engole o chão com ferocidade e raiva; ao som da trombeta, ele não poderá ficar em pé num lugar. ²⁵ No entanto, sempre que a trombeta toca, ele diz: 'Ah!'. Ele cheira a guerra de longe — os gritos trovejantes dos comandantes e os gritos de guerra.

²⁶ É por tua sabedoria que o gavião voa para que estenda as suas asas para o sul?

²⁷ É por tuas ordens que a águia voa alto e faz o seu ninho no alto? ²⁸ Ela vive no penhasco e faz a sua casa no cume do penhasco, uma fortaleza.

²⁹ De lá, ela procura as suas vítimas; os seus olhos as vêm de muito longe. ³⁰ E seus filhos também bebem o sangue, onde estão pessoas mortas, ali está ela".

Capítulo 40

¹ Yahweh continuou a falar para Jó; Ele disse: ² "Pode alguém que deseja criticar tentar corrigir ao Altíssimo? Aquele que argumenta com Deus, que ele responda".

³ Então, Jó respondeu a Yahweh e disse: ⁴ "Vê, eu sou insignificante; como posso responder a Ti? Eu ponho a minha mão sobre a minha boca. ⁵ Falei uma vez e não responderei; aliás, duas vezes, mas não procederei adiante".

⁶ Depois, Yahweh respondeu a Jó no meio de uma tempestade e disse: ⁷ "Agora, cinge os teus lombos como homem, porque vou te fazer perguntas e tu deverás Me responder.

⁸ Irás realmente dizer que sou injusto? Irás Me condenar para que tu declares que estás certo? ⁹ Tens tu um braço como Deus? Podes tu trovejar com uma voz como a Dele?

¹⁰ Agora, veste-te de glória e dignidade; cobre-te de honra e majestade. ¹¹ Derrama o excesso de tua ira; olha para todo aquele que é soberbo e humilha-o.

¹² Olha para todo aquele que é orgulhoso e humilha-o; pisa sobre as pessoas perversas onde elas ficam de pé. ¹³ Enterra-os na terra juntos, aprisiona as suas faces em lugar escondido. ¹⁴ Depois, irei também reconhecer a ti que a tua mão direita pode te salvar.

¹⁵ Contempla agora o brutamonte que Eu fiz assim como te fiz; ele come capim tal como o boi. ¹⁶ Vê, a sua força está nos seus lombos; o seu poder está nos músculos da sua barriga.

¹⁷ Ele movimenta a sua cauda tal como um cedro; os tendões da sua coxa estão bem juntos. ¹⁸ Os seus ossos são como tubos de bronze; as suas pernas são como barras de ferro.

¹⁹ Ele é o chefe das criaturas de Deus. Apenas Deus, que o fez, pode vencê-lo. ²⁰ Os montes lhe provêm alimento; as bestas do campo brincam por perto. ²¹ Ele se deita debaixo dos lotus no abrigo do mato, nos pântanos.

²² As plantas de lotus cobrem-lhe com a sua sombra; os salgueiros do riacho estão a sua volta. ²³ Se o rio inunda as suas margens, ele não estremece; ele é confiante, ainda que o rio Jordão venha a subir até a sua boca. ²⁴ Poderá alguém capturá-lo com um gancho ou perfurar o seu nariz com uma armadilha?

Capítulo 41

¹ Tu podes tirar o leviatã com um anzol? Ou amarrar a sua mandíbula com uma corda? ² Tu podes colocar uma corda em seu nariz ou furar a sua mandíbula com um gancho? ³ Será que ele vai fazer muitos pedidos para ti? Ele falará suaves palavras para ti?

⁴ Fará ele um acordo contigo, de maneira que irás levá-lo como servo para sempre? ⁵ Brincarás com ele como farias com um pássaro? Tu vais laçá-lo para suas servas? ⁶ Irão os grupos de pescadores negociar por ele? Irão eles dividi-lo no comércio entre os mercadores?

⁷ Poderás tu preencher seu couro com arpões ou sua cabeça com lanças de pescador? ⁸ Coloca tua mão sobre ele apenas uma vez e irás lembrar a batalha e não o farás mais. ⁹ Vê, a esperança de qualquer um que faz isso é mentira; ou não seria alguém jogado jogado para baixo ao avistá-lo?

¹⁰ Nenhum é tão feroz que se atreva a agitar o leviatã; quem pois é ele que pode ficar de pé diante de Mim? ¹¹ Quem primeiro Me deu qualquer coisa que Eu precisasse retribuir? Tudo que está abaixo dos céus é Meu. ¹² Eu não vou manter o silêncio em relação às pernas do leviatã, nem sobre a questão da força, nem sobre sua graciosa forma.

¹³ Quem pode tirar seus revestimentos externos? ¹⁴ Quem pode penetrar sua dupla armadura? Quem pode abrir as portas do seu rosto — rodeado por seus dentes, que são um terror? ¹⁵ Suas costas são compostas de linhas de escudos, apertados como um estreito selo.

¹⁶ Um está tão perto do outro que o ar não pode passar entre eles. ¹⁷ Eles estão unidos; permanecem juntos, de modo que não podem ser separados. ¹⁸ Seu forte espirro emite lampejo brilhante; seus olhos são como as pálpebras do amanhecer.

¹⁹ De sua boca, saem tochas queimando, faísca de fogo saltam dela. ²⁰ De suas narinas, saem fumaça como uma panela em ebulição sobre um fogo abanado para ficar bem quente. ²¹ Sua respiração acende carvão em chamas; o fogo sai da sua boca.

²² Em seu pescoço, está a força e o terror dança em sua frente. ²³ As dobras da sua carne estão unidas; elas estão firmes nele; elas não podem ser movidas. ²⁴ Seu coração é tão duro como uma pedra — de fato, tão duro como uma pedra de moinho.

²⁵ Quando ele se levanta, até os deuses têm medo; por causa do medo, eles fogem. ²⁶ Se uma espada toca nele, não faz nada — nem a lança faz, nem a seta, ou qualquer outra arma apontada. ²⁷ Ele pensa no ferro como se fosse palha e, no bronze, como se fosse madeira podre.

²⁸ Uma flecha não pode fazê-lo fugir; para ele, pedras lançadas tornam-se restolhos. ²⁹ Cacetes são considerados como palha; ele ri do zumbido do voo de uma lança. ³⁰ As suas partes inferiores são como pedaços pontiagudos de cerâmica quebrada; Ele deixa uma trilha de lama espalhada como se fosse um máquina de debulhar.

³¹ Ele faz o profundo espumar como um pote de água fervente; ele torna o mar como caldera de ungento. ³² Ele cria uma rastro de ondas brilhantes após si; alguém poderia pensar que a profundeza tinha cabelo acinzentado.

³³ Na Terra, não há igual a ele, que foi feito para viver sem medo. ³⁴ Ele vê tudo o que é orgulhoso; ele é rei sobre todos os filhos do orgulho".

Capítulo 42

¹ Então, Jó respondeu a Yahweh, dizendo: ² "Eu sei que Tu podes fazer todas as coisas, que nenhum propósito Teu pode ser impedido. ³ Tu me perguntaste: 'Quem é este que, sem conhecimento, encobre planos?'. De fato, falei coisas que eu não entendia, coisas muito difíceis de compreender, sobre as quais eu nada sabia.

⁴ Tu me disseste: 'Escuta, agora, e Eu falarei; perguntar-te-ei e tu me dirás'. ⁵ Eu Te conhecia pelo escutar de meus ouvidos, mas agora meus olhos Te veem. ⁶ Eu me desprezo; arrependo-me no pó e na cinza".

⁷ Aconteceu que depois de ter dito estas palavras para Jó, Yahweh disse a Elifaz, o temanita: "Minha ira inflamou-se contra ti e contra teus dois amigos por não terdes dito coisas certas acerca de Mim como fez meu servo Jó. ⁸ Agora, então, levai para vós sete touros e sete carneiros, ide ao meu servo Jó e oferecei-os para vós em holocausto. Meu servo Jó intercederá por vós e Eu aceitarei a sua oração para que Eu não vos trate conforme a vossa insensatez. Pois não dissestes o que é certo a Meu respeito, como Meu servo Jó fez". ⁹ Então, Elifaz, o temanita, Bildad, o suíta, e Zofar, o naamatita, foram e fizeram o que Yahweh havia lhes ordenado e Yahweh aceitou a intercessão de Jó.

¹⁰ Quando Jó orou pelos seus amigos, Yahweh restaurou seus bens. Yahweh deu-lhe o dobro do que ele possuía antes. ¹¹ Então, todos os irmãos de Jó e todas as suas irmãs e todos os que antes o conheciam vieram e comeram com ele uma refeição em sua casa. Consolaram e confortaram-lhe sobre todas as desgraças que Yahweh lhe trouxera. Cada pessoa deu a Jó uma moeda de prata e um anel de ouro.

¹² Yahweh abençoou o final da vida de Jó mais que o começo; ele tinha catorze mil ovelhas, seis mil camelos, mil juntas de bois e mil jumentas. ¹³ Ele tinha também sete filhos e três filhas. ¹⁴ A primeira filha chamou-lhe Jemima, a segunda, Quézia e a terceira, Quéren-Hapuque.

¹⁵ Em toda a Terra, não foram achadas mulheres tão formosas como as filhas de Jó. Seu pai deu-lhes uma herança bem como aos seus irmãos. ¹⁶ Depois disso, Jó viveu cento e quarenta anos; ele viu seus filhos e os filhos dos seus filhos até a quarta geração. ¹⁷ Então, Jó morreu, sendo velho e cheio de dias.

Psalms

Capítulo 1

¹ Como é abençoado o homem que não anda no conselho dos maus, não permanece no caminho dos pecadores, nem se assenta na roda dos zombadores. ² Mas o seu prazer está na Lei de Yahweh e, na Sua Lei, medita dia e noite.

³ Ele será como a árvore plantada perto das correntes das águas, que produz seu fruto na estação certa e cujas folhas não murcham. Ele terá êxito em tudo o que fizer.

⁴ Com os perversos não é assim. Eles são como a palha que o vento leva. ⁵ Por isso, os perversos não permanecerão de pé no julgamento, nem os pecadores no ajuntamento dos justos.

⁶ Pois Yahweh aprova o caminho dos justos, mas o caminho dos perversos perecerá.

Capítulo 2

¹ Por que as nações estão em rebelião e os povos conspiram em vão? ² Os reis da terra juntos se levantam, e os governadores se unem e conspiram contra Yahweh e contra o Seu Messias, dizendo: ³ "Vamos quebrar as algemas que eles nos colocaram e arrancar suas correntes".

⁴ Aquele que se assenta nos céus ri deles. Yahweh zomba deles. ⁵ Então, na Sua ira, Ele lhes falará e, com Sua fúria, os aterrorizará, dizendo:

⁶ "Eu mesmo ungi Meu rei em Sião, Meu santo monte". ⁷ Eu anunciarei o decreto de Yahweh. Ele me disse: "Tu és Meu Filho! Neste dia Eu Te gerei.

⁸ Pede-Me e Eu Te darei as nações por herança e as regiões mais distantes da terra por Tua posse. ⁹ Tu as quebrarás com o cetro de ferro. Tu as esmagarás como um pote de barro."

¹⁰ Agora, ó reis, estais avisados; sede corrigidos vós, governadores da terra. ¹¹ Adorai a Yahweh com temor e regozijai-vos com tremor.

¹² Beijai o Filho para que Ele não Se ire convosco, e não sejais mortos quando Sua ira rapidamente se acender. Abençoados são todos aqueles que se refugiam Nele.

Capítulo 3

Salmo de Davi, quando fugiu de seu filho Absalão.

¹ Yahweh, como tem crescido o número dos meus inimigos! Muitos se levantam contra mim.

² Muitos dizem a meu respeito: "Deus não o ajudará."

Interlúdio

³ Mas Tu, Yahweh, és um escudo em volta de mim, és a minha glória e Quem me ergue a cabeça. ⁴ Levanto a voz para Yahweh, e Ele me responde do Seu santo monte.

Interlúdio

⁵ Eu deito e durmo; acordo, pois Yahweh me sustém. ⁶ Não temerei as multidões que se levantaram contra mim por todos os lados.

⁷ Levanta, Yahweh! Salva-me, meu Deus! Pois Tu acertarás o maxilar de todos os meus inimigos; Tu quebrarás os dentes dos perversos. ⁸ A salvação vem de Yahweh. Que Tuas bênçãos estejam sobre o Teu povo.

Interlúdio

Capítulo 4

Para o regente musical; com instrumentos de cordas. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Responde-me quando clamo, Deus da minha justiça; em minha aflição, Tu tens me aliviado. Tem misericórdia de mim e escuta a minha oração.

² Ó povo, até quando transformareis minha honra em vergonha? Até quando amareis aquilo que é inútil e procurareis mentiras?

Interlúdio

³ Sabei que Yahweh separa os piedosos para Si mesmo; Yahweh ouvirá quando eu clamar por Ele.

⁴ Irai-vos, mas não pequeis! Meditai em vosso coração na vossa cama e em silêncio.

Interlúdio

⁵ Oferecei sacrifícios de justiça e colocai vossa confiança em Yahweh.

⁶ Muitos dizem: "Quem vai nos mostrar algo bom?". Yahweh, levanta a luz do Teu rosto sobre nós. ⁷ Tu tens dado mais alegria ao meu coração que a alegria deles quando abundantes são seus grãos e vinhos novos. ⁸ É em paz que eu me deitarei e dormirei, pois somente Tu, Yahweh, me trazes segurança e proteção.

Capítulo 5

Para o regente musical; com instrumentos de sopro. Salmo de David.

¹ Escuta meu clamor, Yahweh, considera o meu gemer.

² Ouve o som do meu clamor, meu Rei e meu Deus, pois é a Ti que eu oro. ³ Yahweh, pela manhã, Tu ouves o meu choro; pela manhã, eu trago a Ti minha petição e aguardo com expectativa.

⁴ Certamente, Tu és um Deus que não aprova o mal; quem o pratica não habitará Contigo. ⁵ O arrogante não ficará de pé em Tua presença; Tu odeias todo comportamento malicioso. ⁶ Tu destróis os mentirosos; Yahweh despreza a violência e o homem falso.

⁷ Mas, quanto a mim, por causa do Teu amor leal, eu entrarei em Tua casa e, em reverência, me prostrarei ante Teu santo templo. ⁸ Yahweh, guia-me em Tua justiça por causa dos meus inimigos; faze o Teu caminho reto diante de mim.

⁹ Não há verdade na boca dos meus adversários; seu interior é mau, suas gargantas são como um sepulcro aberto, e eles seduzem com suas palavras. ¹⁰ Declara-os culpados, ó Deus; que seus esquemas sejam a sua queda! Expulsa-os por suas muitas transgressões, pois se rebelaram contra Ti.

¹¹ Todavia, alegrem-se todos aqueles que se refugiam em Ti; permite que sempre gritem de júbilo porque Tu os defendes; deixa que se regozijem em Ti todos os que amam o Teu nome. ¹² Pois Tu, Yahweh, abençoas o justo e, como um escudo, o cercas com Teu favor.

Capítulo 6

Para o regente musical; com instrumentos de cordas. Adaptado para o estilo Seminite. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Yahweh, não me repreendas com raiva ou me disciplines em Tua ira.

² Tem misericórdia de mim, Yahweh, pois sou frágil. Cura-me, Yahweh, pois meus ossos estão tremendo.

³ Minha alma também está muito perturbada. Yahweh, até quando isso vai continuar? ⁴ Retorna, Yahweh, e resgata-me! Salva-me por causa do Teu amor leal! ⁵ Pois, na morte, não há lembrança de Ti. No Sheol, quem Te louvará?

⁶ Estou cansado do meu gemido; todas as noites, molho minha cama com lágrimas, lavo o meu leito com elas. ⁷ Meus olhos escurecem de tristeza; eles enfraquecem por causa dos meus adversários.

⁸ Afastai-vos de mim, todos vós que praticais a iniquidade, pois Yahweh tem escutado o som do meu choro. ⁹ Yahweh escutou meu apelo por misericórdia; Yahweh aceitou minha oração. ¹⁰ Todos os meus inimigos estão envergonhados e muito atribulados. Eles serão humilhados e se afastarão repentinamente.

Capítulo 7

Composição musical de Davi, a qual ele cantou a Yahweh acerca das palavras de Cuxe, o benjamita.

¹ Yahweh, meu Deus, refugio-me em Ti! Salva-me de todos aqueles que me perseguem, resgata-me!

² De outra forma, eles me atacarão como um leão, rasgando-me em pedaços, e ninguém mais será capaz de me livrar.

³ Yahweh, meu Deus, se eu cometi injustiça e existe culpa em minhas mãos, ⁴ se fiz algum mal para aquele que estava em paz comigo ou prejudiquei meu adversário sem motivo,

⁵ então, que meu inimigo persiga a minha vida e a destrua; que ele pisoteie o meu corpo no chão e deixe-me desonrado no pó.

Interlúdio

⁶ Levanta-Te, Yahweh, na Tua ira! Ergue-Te contra o furor dos meus inimigos! Desperta-Te em meu favor e cumpre Teus justos decretos! ⁷ Todos os países se reúnam ao Teu redor; toma o Teu lugar de autoridade sobre eles.

⁸ Tu, Yahweh, que julgas as nações, justifica-me porque eu sou justo e inocente, ó Altíssimo! ⁹ Que as obras más dos perversos cheguem ao fim, mas que estabeleças os justos, ó justo Deus, Tu, que examinas corações e mentes.

¹⁰ Meu escudo vem de Deus, Aquele que salva o reto de coração. ¹¹ Deus é um justo juiz. A cada dia, mostra-Se indignado.

¹² Se alguém não se arrepender, Ele afiará Sua espada e preparará Seu arco para a batalha. ¹³ Deus Se prepara para usar armas contra ele; faz Suas flechas flamejantes.

¹⁴ O perverso gera a maldade, concebe planos destrutivos e dá à luz a falsidade. ¹⁵ Ele cava um buraco, aprofunda-o e, então, cai no buraco que fez. ¹⁶ Seus planos destrutivos se voltam contra si mesmo, pois sua violência cairá sobre sua própria cabeça.

¹⁷ Eu darei graças a Yahweh por Sua justiça; eu cantarei louvores a Yahweh Altíssimo!

Capítulo 8

Para o regente musical; adaptado ao estilo Gitite. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Yahweh, nosso Deus, quão majestoso em toda a terra é o Teu nome! Tu, que revelas Tua glória acima dos céus.

² Da boca das crianças e dos pequeninos, Tu fazes brotar força contra os Teus adversários, a fim de silenciar os inimigos e os rebeldes.

³ Quando olho para o céu e contemplo o que os Teus dedos fizeram, a lua e as estrelas que fixaste no lugar, ⁴ que importância tem a raça humana para que dela Te lembres? E o ser humano para que o visites? ⁵ No entanto, Tu o fizeste apenas um pouco menor que os seres celestiais, e, de glória e honra, o coroaste.

⁶ Tu o fizeste dominar sobre o trabalho das Tuas mãos; Tu puseste todas as coisas debaixo dos seus pés: ⁷ todas as ovelhas e bois e até os animais selvagens, ⁸ as aves dos céus e os peixes do mar, tudo o que percorre as correntes dos mares.

⁹ Yahweh, Senhor nosso, quão magnífico em toda a terra é o Teu nome!

Capítulo 9

Para o regente musical; adaptado para o estilo Mute-laben. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Eu darei graças a Yahweh com todo o meu coração! Contarei todos os Seus atos maravilhosos.

² Eu estarei alegre, regozijarei em Ti; cantarei louvores ao Teu nome, ó Altíssimo!

³ Quando meus inimigos retrocedem, eles caem e perecem diante de Ti. ⁴ Pois tu tens defendido minha justa causa; Tu sentas no Teu trono, ó justo juiz!

⁵ Tu aterrorizaste as nações com o Teu grito de guerra; Tu destruíste os ímpios e apagaste suas memórias para sempre. ⁶ Os inimigos caíram como ruínas, quando Tu derrubaste suas cidades. Todas as suas lembranças pereceram.

⁷ Mas Yahweh permanece para sempre; Ele estabelece o Seu trono para julgar. ⁸ Ele julga o mundo de forma justa. Ele faz decisões justas para as nações.

⁹ Yahweh também será uma fortaleza para os oprimidos, uma fortaleza em tempos difíceis. ¹⁰ Aqueles que conhecem o Seu nome confiam em Ti, pois Tu, Yahweh, não abandonas aqueles que Te procuram.

¹¹ Adorai a Yahweh, que reina em Sião; anunciai às nações o que Ele tem feito. ¹² Pois Deus, que vinga o sangue derramado, lembra-Se deles e não Se esquece do choro dos oprimidos.

¹³ Tem misericórdia de mim, Yahweh; vê como sou oprimido por aqueles que me odeiam, Tu, que podes me levantar dos portões da morte. ¹⁴ Ó, que eu possa proclamar todo o Seu louvor! Nos portões da filha de Sião, eu me regozijarei em Tua salvação!

¹⁵ As nações afundaram na cova que elas mesmas criaram; seus pés estão presos nas armadilhas que elas esconderam. ¹⁶ Yahweh fez-Se conhecido; Ele executa os Seus julgamentos; os maus caem nas armadilhas de suas próprias ações.

Interlúdio

¹⁷ Os corruptos voltam para trás, são mandados ao Sheol; este é o destino de todas as nações que se esquecem de Deus. ¹⁸ Mas os necessitados nem sempre serão esquecidos, nem a esperança dos oprimidos será frustrada.

¹⁹ Levanta-te, Yahweh; não deixes o homem nos vencer; que as nações sejam julgadas na Tua presença. ²⁰ Apavora-os, Yahweh; que as nações saibam que são meramente mortais.

Interlúdio

Capítulo 10

¹ Por que, Yahweh, permaneces distante? Por que Te escondes nos momentos difíceis? ² Os corruptos, em sua arrogância, perseguem o oprimido; que eles fiquem presos nas armadilhas que eles mesmos prepararam. ³ Pois o corrupto se orgulha dos desejos do seu coração; ele bendiz ao ganancioso e insulta Yahweh.

⁴ O corrupto é orgulhoso; ele não busca a Deus; ele não pensa a respeito de Deus porque não se importa com Ele. ⁵ Seus caminhos sempre são prósperos, mas Teus julgamentos estão distantes da sua vista. Ele ridiculariza todos os seus adversários.

⁶ E diz, em seu coração: “Eu nunca serei abalado! Eu e minhas gerações não enfrentaremos adversidades”. ⁷ Sua boca está cheia de maldição, de engano e de palavras maldosas e perigosas; sua língua fere e destrói.

⁸ Ele arma emboscada perto das vilas; nos lugares secretos, ele mata o inocente; seus olhos buscam alguma vítima indefesa. ⁹ Como um leão à espreita na toca, ele aguarda para pegar o oprimido. Ele o captura quando este cai em sua rede. ¹⁰ Suas vítimas são abatidas e esmagadas; elas caem em suas fortes redes.

¹¹ Ele diz, em seu coração: "Deus se esqueceu; Ele escondeu a Sua face e não se importa de olhar isso". ¹² Levanta-Te, Yahweh; ergue Tua mão, Deus! Não te esqueças dos oprimidos.

¹³ Por que o corrupto blasfema de Deus, em seu coração, dizendo: "Tu não me responsabilizarás"? ¹⁴ Tu, porém, tomaste conhecimento, porque sempre vês aquele que inflige miséria e tristeza; o desamparado confia em Ti; Tu proteges o órfão.

¹⁵ Quebra o braço do homem corrupto e mau; faze-o prestar contas de toda a sua maldade, a qual ele achou que Tu não descobririas. ¹⁶ Yahweh é o Rei para todo o sempre, as nações são expulsas de Sua terra.

¹⁷ Yahweh, Tu tens ouvido as necessidades dos oprimidos; Tu fortaleces o seu coração, Tu escutas as suas orações; ¹⁸ Tu defendes o órfão e o oprimido, para que ninguém na terra cause terror novamente.

Capítulo 11

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Eu me refugio em Yahweh. Como dizeis vós a mim: "Foge como um pássaro para a montanha”?

² Vede! Os corruptos preparam seus arcos. Eles colocam suas flechas nas cordas para, da escuridão, atirarem nos retos de coração.

³ Pois, se os alicerces estiverem destruídos, o que pode o justo fazer? ⁴ Yahweh está em Seu santo templo. O trono de Yahweh está nos céus. Seus olhos veem, Seus olhos examinam os filhos dos homens.

⁵ Yahweh examina ambos, os justos e os maus, porém odeia aqueles que amam praticar a violência. ⁶ Sobre os ímpios, Ele fará chover brasas vivas e enxofre; um vento escaldante será para eles a porção do Seu cálice! ⁷ Porque Yahweh é justo e ama a justiça; os justos verão a Sua face.

Capítulo 12

Para o regente musical; adaptado para Sheminite. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Salva-nos, Yahweh! Porque não existem mais homens bons; desapareceram os homens fiéis.

² Todos dizem palavras vãs uns aos outros; falam com lábios bajuladores e com duplo sentido. ³ Que Yahweh corte todos os lábios bajuladores e toda língua que declara palavras orgulhosas. ⁴ Esses são os que dizem: "Com nossas línguas, venceremos. Quando nossos lábios falam, quem pode ser senhor sobre nós?".

⁵ "Por causa da violência contra os pobres e dos gemidos dos necessitados, Eu Me levantarei", diz Yahweh, "Eu providenciarei a segurança para aqueles que anseiam por ela."

⁶ As palavras de Yahweh são puras, como prata purificada em uma fornalha na terra, refinada sete vezes. ⁷ Tu és Yahweh! Tu nos sustentarás e, desta geração perversa, nos preservarás para sempre. ⁸ Os perversos rondam por todos os lados, quando o mal é exaltado entre os filhos dos homens.

Capítulo 13

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Por quanto tempo, Yahweh, Te esquecerás de mim? Por quanto tempo, esconderás de mim a Tua face?

² Por quanto tempo, irei me preocupar e terei pesar no meu coração o dia todo? Por quanto tempo, meu inimigo triunfará sobre mim?

³ Olha para mim e responde-me, Yahweh, meu Deus! Ilumina os meus olhos ou dormirei o sono da morte. ⁴ Não deixes meus inimigos dizerem: "Eu o derrotei"; que meus inimigos não digam: "Eu prevaleci sobre o meu adversário". Do contrário, eles se alegrarão quando eu for derrubado.

⁵ Mas eu confio em Tua fiel aliança; meu coração se regozija em Tua salvação! ⁶ Eu cantarei a Yahweh porque Ele tem me tratado com muita generosidade.

Capítulo 14

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Diz o tolo, em seu coração: "Não há Deus". Eles são corruptos e cometeram atos abomináveis; não há ninguém que faça o bem.

² Yahweh olha do céu para os filhos dos homens para ver se há alguém que entenda, que busque a Deus. ³ Todos se desviaram, todos se tornaram corruptos; não há um que faça o bem, nenhum sequer!

⁴ Será que não conhecem nada, esses que cometem iniquidades, que devoram meu povo como quem come pão, e não invocam Yahweh?

⁵ Eles tremem de medo, porque Deus está no ajuntamento dos justos! ⁶ Vós quereis humilhar o pobre. Todavia, Yahweh é o seu refúgio.

⁷ Ah, se a salvação de Israel viesse de Sião! Quando Yahweh trouxer de volta Seu povo do cativeiro, então, Jacó exultará e Israel se alegrará!

Capítulo 15

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Yahweh, quem poderá habitar no Teu tabernáculo? Quem poderá morar no Teu santo monte?

² O que anda irrepreensivelmente, fazendo o que é reto e, de coração, fala a verdade.

³ O que não calunia com sua língua, prejudicando os outros, nem insulta seu próximo.

⁴ O que despreza quem tem uma conduta vã, mas honra os que temem a Yahweh; o que mantém sua palavra, mesmo quando fica prejudicado. ⁵ O que não empresta dinheiro buscando lucro e não aceita suborno para testemunhar contra o inocente. Aquele que faz essas coisas nunca será abalado.

Capítulo 16

Miktam de Davi.

¹ Protege-me, ó Deus, pois me refugio em Ti.

² Digo a Yahweh: "Tu és o meu Senhor. Vem de Ti tudo o que tenho de bom". ³ Quanto às pessoas santas que estão na terra, elas é que são nobres; todo o meu prazer está na companhia delas.

⁴ Os que buscam outros deuses aumentarão suas aflições. Não derramarei ofertas de sangue aos seus deuses, nem exaltarei seus nomes com os meus lábios.

⁵ Yahweh, Tu és a minha porção escolhida e meu cálice; Tu sustentas o meu destino. ⁶ As divisas caíram para mim em lugares agradáveis; certamente, a minha herança é prazerosa.

⁷ Glorificarei a Yahweh, que me aconselha; até mesmo à noite, minha mente me instrui. ⁸ Em todo o tempo, tenho Yahweh diante de mim; não serei abalado, pois Ele está à minha direita.

⁹ Portanto, o meu coração se alegra e o meu espírito exulta. Certamente, vou viver em segurança. ¹⁰ Pois não abandonarás a minha alma no Sheol, nem permitirás que o Teu fiel experimente a decomposição.

¹¹ Tu me ensinas o caminho da vida; na Tua presença, há alegria abundante; na Tua mão direita, há prazer eterno.

Capítulo 17

Oração de Davi.

¹ Escuta a minha súplica por justiça, Yahweh; inclina Teus ouvidos ao meu pedido de ajuda! Ouve minha oração, que vem de lábios sinceros.

² Que a minha sentença venha da Tua presença; que Teus olhos vejam o que é correto!

³ Se Tu examinares o meu coração, se vieres a mim durante a noite, Tu me purificarás e não acharás nenhum plano mau; minha boca não transgredirá.

⁴ Quanto aos feitos da humanidade, pela palavra dos Teus lábios, mantive-me fora dos caminhos do homem perverso. ⁵ Meus passos ficaram firmes em Teus caminhos; meus pés não vacilaram.

⁶ Clamo a Ti, ó Deus, pois me respondes; inclina os Teus ouvidos para mim e me escuta quando falo. ⁷ Mostra, de maneira maravilhosa, a Tua fidelidade à aliança; Tu, que salvas com a Tua mão direita aqueles que em Ti se refugiam dos seus inimigos.

⁸ Protege-me como a menina dos Teus olhos; esconde-me, à sombra das Tuas asas, ⁹ dos maus que me agridem, dos inimigos que me cercam. ¹⁰ Eles não têm misericórdia de ninguém; suas bocas falam com orgulho.

¹¹ Eles cercam meus passos, fixam seus olhos sobre mim para me derrubarem no chão. ¹² São como um leão ansioso por uma vítima, como um leão novo à espreita no esconderijo.

¹³ Levanta-Te, Yahweh! Ataca-os! Derruba-os! Com a Tua espada, resgata a minha vida dos perversos! ¹⁴ Com a Tua mão, Yahweh, livra-me dos homens deste mundo, cuja herança está somente nesta vida! Enche-lhes o ventre de tudo o que lhes reservaste; que seus filhos sejam saciados com suas riquezas, e deixem o que sobrar às suas crianças.

¹⁵ Quanto a mim, verei a Tua face em retidão. Quando eu despertar, ficarei satisfeito ao ver a Tua semelhança.

Capítulo 18

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi, servo de Yahweh, quando ele cantou para Yahweh as palavras desta canção. No dia em que Yahweh o livrou das mãos de todos os seus inimigos e das mãos de Saul, ele cantou:

¹ Eu te amo, Yahweh, minha força.

² Yahweh é minha rocha, minha fortaleza, o único que me traz à segurança; o meu Deus é a minha força; Nele eu me refugio. Ele é meu escudo, a força da minha salvação e o meu lugar seguro. ³ Eu invocarei Yahweh, que é digno de ser adorado, e serei salvo dos meus inimigos.

⁴ As cordas da morte me cercaram, as correntezas da perdição me fizeram temer. ⁵ As cordas do Sheol me envolveram; as armadilhas da morte me prenderam.

⁶ Na minha aflição, eu clamei por Yahweh; eu clamei por ajuda ao meu Deus. Do Seu templo, Ele ouviu a minha voz; meu clamor por socorro chegou à Sua presença, chegou aos Seus ouvidos.

⁷ Então, a terra se abalou e tremeu, e os fundamentos das montanhas foram sacudidos pela fúria de Deus. ⁸ Fumaça saiu de Suas narinas; fogo ardente saiu de Sua boca; brasas foram acesas por isso.

⁹ Ele abriu os céus e desceu, e uma densa escuridão estava debaixo de Seus pés. ¹⁰ Ele montou em um querubim e voou, deslizando nas asas do vento.

¹¹ Ele fez da escuridão uma tenda ao Seu redor, fez morada em pesadas nuvens de chuva nos céus. ¹² Granizos e brasas de fogo caíram do trovão diante Dele.

¹³ Yahweh trovejou nos céus! A voz do Altíssimo ressoou. ¹⁴ Ele atirou Suas flechas e dissipou Seus inimigos; muitos raios os dispersaram.

¹⁵ Então, ao Teu grito de guerra, Yahweh, e no sopro do vento de Tuas narinas, os canais de águas apareceram e os fundamentos do mundo foram expostos.

¹⁶ Ele estendeu a mão das alturas e me segurou! Ele me tirou da correnteza das águas. ¹⁷ E me resgatou da força dos meus inimigos, daqueles que me odiavam, que eram mais fortes que eu.

¹⁸ Eles vieram contra mim no dia da minha aflição, mas Yahweh foi meu apoio! ¹⁹ Ele me colocou em um grande lugar aberto. Ele me salvou, pois Se agradou de mim.

²⁰ Yahweh me recompensou por causa da minha retidão; Ele me restaurou, pois minhas mãos estavam limpas. ²¹ Pois permaneci nos caminhos de Yahweh e não me afastei perversamente do meu Deus.

²² Todos os Seus decretos de justiça estão diante de mim. Quanto aos Seus estatutos, eu não me apartei deles. ²³ Sou inocente diante Dele e me mantive afastado do pecado. ²⁴ Yahweh me restaurou por causa da minha retidão, pois minhas mãos estavam limpas diante dos Seus olhos.

²⁵ Para aqueles que são fiéis, Tu Te mostras fiel; para um homem íntegro, mostras integridade. ²⁶ Para aquele que é puro, Tu Te revelas puro; mas Tu reages à altura para com o perverso.

²⁷ Pois Tu salvas o aflito, mas humilhas aqueles que têm olhos orgulhosos. ²⁸ Tu dás luz para minha lamparina; Yahweh, meu Deus, ilumina minha escuridão. ²⁹ Pois, contigo, posso ultrapassar barreiras; pelo meu Deus, eu posso saltar por cima de muralhas.

³⁰ Quanto a Deus, Seu caminho é perfeito. A palavra de Yahweh é pura! Ele é um escudo para aqueles que se refugiam Nele. ³¹ Pois quem é Deus senão Yahweh? Quem é a rocha senão nosso Deus? ³² É Deus quem me cinge de força; Ele coloca o justo no seu caminho.

³³ Ele faz meus pés rápidos como um cervo e me coloca sobre as alturas! ³⁴ Ele treina minhas mãos para a guerra e meus braços para dobrar um arco de bronze.

³⁵ Tu me deste o escudo da Tua salvação. Tua mão direita me sustenta e o Teu favor me exalta. ³⁶ Tu fizeste um lugar plano para os meus pés, de modo que eles não escorreguem.

³⁷ Eu persegui meus inimigos e os capturei; e não retornei até que fossem destruídos. ³⁸ Eu os esmaguei até que não pudessem se levantar; eles caíram debaixo dos meus pés. ³⁹ Pois Tu me cingiste de força para a batalha; subjugaste todos aqueles que se levantaram contra mim.

⁴⁰ Tu me entregaste o pescoço dos meus inimigos; eu aniquilei os que me odiavam. ⁴¹ Eles chamaram por socorro, mas ninguém os salvou; eles chamaram por Yahweh, mas Ele não respondeu. ⁴² Eu os reduzi a pequenos pedaços, como poeira diante do vento; eu os lancei fora como lama nas ruas.

⁴³ Tu me resgataste das contendas do povo. Tu me fizeste cabeça entre as nações. Povos que eu não conhecia sujeitaram-se a mim. ⁴⁴ Assim que me ouvem, eles me obedecem; estrangeiros foram forçados a se curvarem diante de mim. ⁴⁵ Os estrangeiros, tremendo, saem de seus esconderijos.

⁴⁶ Yahweh vive! Bendita seja minha Rocha! Que o Deus da minha salvação seja exaltado! ⁴⁷ Este é o Deus que executa vingança por mim, que a mim sujeita nações.

⁴⁸ Eu fui liberto de meus inimigos! Certamente, Tu me exaltas sobre aqueles que se levantam contra mim! Tu me resgataste do homem violento. ⁴⁹ Por isso, te darei graças, Yahweh, diante das nações; cantarei louvores ao Teu nome!

⁵⁰ Deus dá grandes vitórias ao Seu rei e mostra Sua fidelidade à aliança ao seu ungido: por Davi e por seus descendentes, para sempre.

Capítulo 19

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Os Céus declaram a glória de Deus, e o firmamento faz conhecidas as obras das Suas mãos.

² Dia após dia esse discurso se manifesta; noite após noite revelam seu conhecimento. ³ Não há som ou palavras, suas vozes não são ouvidas.

⁴ Sua mensagem, porém, vai por toda a terra e seu discurso, até os confins do mundo. Deus armou uma tenda para o sol entre eles. ⁵ O sol é como um noivo saindo de seu aposento e como um homem forte que se regozija quando corre em sua jornada. ⁶ O sol nasce de um horizonte e atravessa o céu de uma ponta a outra, nada escapa do seu calor.

⁷ A lei de Yahweh é perfeita e refrigera a alma; o testemunho de Yahweh é fiel e torna sábio o simples. ⁸ As instruções de Yahweh são justas e alegram o coração; o mandamento de Yahweh é límpido e traz luz para os olhos.

⁹ O temor de Yahweh é puro e duradouro; as justas declarações de Yahweh são verdadeiras e totalmente corretas! ¹⁰ São mais valiosas do que ouro, mais do que muito ouro puro; são mais doces do que o mel quando este goteja dos favos.

¹¹ Sim, por elas teu servo é advertido; na obediência há grande recompensa. ¹² Quem pode discernir todos os próprios erros? Limpa-me das falhas escondidas.

¹³ Livra teu servo também dos pecados da arrogância, não permita que ela governe sobre mim. Então eu serei perfeito e serei inocente das minhas transgressões. ¹⁴ Que as palavras da minha boca e os pensamentos do meu coração sejam aceitáveis aos Teus olhos, Yahweh, minha Rocha e meu Redentor.

Capítulo 20

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Que Yahweh te ajude no dia da tribulação; que o nome do Deus de Jacó te proteja.

² Que, do Seu santuário, te envie socorro e te ampare desde Sião.

³ Que Ele Se lembre de todas as tuas ofertas e aceite os teus holocaustos.

Interlúdio

⁴ Que Ele te conceda o desejo do teu coração e realize todos os teus planos.

⁵ Então nos alegraremos em tua vitória e, no nome do nosso Deus, levantaremos bandeiras. Que Yahweh conceda todas as tuas petições. ⁶ Agora sei que Yahweh salva o Seu ungido; Ele responde do Seu santo céu e o resgata com a força da Sua mão direita.

⁷ Alguns confiam em carruagens, outros, em cavalos, mas nós invocamos o nome de Yahweh, nosso Deus. ⁸ Eles tropeçam e caem, mas nós nos erguemos e ficamos de pé.

⁹ Yahweh, salva o rei; ajuda-nos quando clamarmos.

Capítulo 21

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ O rei regozija-se na Tua força, Yahweh! Quão grandemente ele exulta na Tua salvação!

² Tu lhe concedeste o desejo de seu coração e não lhe negaste a petição dos lábios.

Interlúdio

³ Pois Tu lhe trouxeste ricas bênçãos; puseste em sua cabeça uma coroa do mais puro ouro. ⁴ Ele Te pediu vida e Tu lhe deste; concedeste-lhe longos dias para sempre e sempre.

⁵ A glória dele é grande por causa da Tua vitória; Tu lhe conferiste esplendor e majestade. ⁶ A ele deste infinitas bênçãos e a alegria da Tua presença.

⁷ Pois o rei confia em Yahweh; por causa do amor leal do Altíssimo ele não será abalado. ⁸ Tua mão alcançará Teus inimigos; Tua mão direita alcançará todos aqueles que Te odeiam.

⁹ No tempo da Tua ira, Tu os queimarás como em uma fornalha ardente. Yahweh os consumirá na Sua ira, e o fogo os devorará. ¹⁰ Tu eliminarás seus filhos da terra; eles não terão descendentes entre a raça humana.

¹¹ Se eles tramarem o mal contra Ti, não serão bem sucedidos, ¹² pois Tu lhes farás correr de volta; Tu apontarás o Teu arco para eles.

¹³ Sê exaltado, Yahweh, na Tua força! Nós cantaremos e louvaremos o Teu poder.

Capítulo 22

Para o regente musical; adaptado para "o ritmo do cervo". Salmo de Davi.

¹ Deus meu, Deus meu, por que me abandonaste? Por que estás tão longe de me salvar e distante dos meus gritos de angústia?

² Deus meu, eu clamo de dia, mas Tu não me respondes; e de noite eu não estou em silêncio, mas não encontro alívio.

³ Ainda assim, Tu és santo; entronizado entre os louvores de Israel. ⁴ Nossos ancestrais confiaram em Ti; confiaram, e Tu os livraste. ⁵ Clamaram a Ti, e foram resgatados. Confiaram em Ti, e não se desapontaram.

⁶ Mas eu sou um verme e não um homem; uma desgraça para a humanidade e desprezado pelo povo. ⁷ Todos aqueles que me veem zombam de mim; eles me insultam; balançam sua cabeça para mim e dizem: ⁸ "Ele confia em Yahweh; que Yahweh o resgate. Que Ele o livre, pois regozija-se Nele."

⁹ Pois Tu me trouxeste do ventre; Tu me deste segurança quando eu estava no seio de minha mãe. ¹⁰ A Ti fui entregue desde que nasci; Tu és meu Deus desde que eu estava no ventre de minha mãe!

¹¹ Não fiques longe de mim, pois as dificuldades estão perto; não há ninguém para me ajudar. ¹² Muitos touros me cercaram; fortes touros de Basã me rodeiam. ¹³ Eles abrem suas bocas contra mim como o bramido do leão rasgando sua vítima.

¹⁴ Estou sendo derramado como água, e todos os meus ossos estão deslocados. Meu coração é como cera que se derrete nas minhas entranhas. ¹⁵ Minha força secou-se como um pedaço de cerâmica; minha língua gruda no céu da boca. Tu me deitaste no pó da morte.

¹⁶ Cães me cercaram, fui rodeado por um bando de homens maus; eles perfuraram minhas mãos e pés. ¹⁷ Eu posso contar todos os meus ossos. Eles me olham e me encaram.

¹⁸ Dividem minhas vestes entre si; jogaram sortes pelas minhas roupas. ¹⁹ Não fiques longe, Yahweh; por favor, apressa-Te em ajudar-me, minha força!

²⁰ Resgata minha alma da espada e minha vida das garras dos cães selvagens. ²¹ Salva-me da boca do leão; resgata-me dos chifres de bois selvagens.

²² Declararei Teu nome para meus irmãos; no meio da assembleia eu Te louvarei. ²³ Vós que temeis a Yahweh, louvai-O! Todos os descendentes de Jacó, honrai-O! Temei-O, todos vós, descendentes de Israel!

²⁴ Pois Ele não desprezou nem abominou o sofrimento do aflito; Yahweh não escondeu Sua face dele; quando o aflito clamou a Ele, Ele ouviu. ²⁵ Meu louvor será por Ti na grande assembleia; eu cumprirei minhas promessas diante daqueles que O temem.

²⁶ Os oprimidos comerão e ficarão satisfeitos; aqueles que buscam Yahweh O louvarão. Que vossos corações vivam para sempre. ²⁷ Todos os povos da terra se lembrarão e se voltarão para Yahweh. Todas as famílias das nações se curvarão diante de Ti.

²⁸ Pois o reino é de Yahweh; Ele é quem governa sobre as nações. ²⁹ Todas as pessoas prósperas da terra celebrarão um banquete e O adorarão; todos os que descem ao pó, aqueles que não podem preservar sua própria vida, se curvarão diante Dele.

³⁰ A geração futura também O servirá; e eles contarão para a geração seguinte sobre Yahweh. ³¹ Eles virão e proclamarão a Sua justiça; contarão sobre os Seus feitos para aqueles que ainda não nasceram.

Capítulo 23

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Yahweh é o meu pastor; de nada terei falta.

² Ele me faz deitar em verdes pastos e me guia às águas tranquilas.

³ Ele restaura a minha vida; Ele me guia pelos caminhos justos por amor ao Seu nome.

⁴ Mesmo se eu andar por um vale da mais escura sombra, não temerei mal algum, pois Tu estás comigo; Tua vara e Teu cajado me consolam.

⁵ Preparas um banquete para mim, na presença dos meus inimigos. Unges a minha cabeça com óleo, o meu cálice transborda.

⁶ Certamente, Tua bondade e amor leal me acompanharão todos os dias da minha vida; e morarei na casa de Yahweh para sempre!

Capítulo 24

Salmo de Davi.

¹ A terra e toda a sua plenitude são de Yahweh; o mundo e todos os que vivem nele;

² pois sobre os mares Ele fundou a terra e a estabeleceu sobre os rios.

³ Quem subirá ao monte de Yahweh? Quem ficará de pé em Seu santuário? ⁴ Aquele que tem as mãos limpas e um coração puro; aquele que não deu testemunho falso e não faz um juramento enganador.

⁵ Ele receberá a bênção de Yahweh e a justiça do Deus de sua salvação. ⁶ Assim será a geração daqueles que O buscam, daqueles que buscam a face do Deus de Jacó.

Interlúdio

⁷ Levantai vossas cabeças, ó portões; levantai-vos, ó portas eternas, para que entre o Rei da glória. ⁸ Quem é o Rei da glória? Yahweh, forte e poderoso; Yahweh, poderoso nas batalhas.

⁹ Levantai vossas cabeças, ó portões; levantai-vos, ó portas eternas, para que entre o Rei da glória. ¹⁰ Quem é o Rei da glória? Yahweh dos Exércitos; Ele é o Rei da glória!

Interlúdio

Capítulo 25

Salmo de Davi.

¹ A Ti, Yahweh, eu elevo a minha alma!

² Meu Deus, confio em Ti. Não permitas que eu seja humilhado, nem que meus inimigos se regozijem triunfantes sobre mim. ³ Nenhum dos que esperam em Ti sejam desonrados, mas que sejam envergonhados aqueles que agem traiçoeiramente, sem motivo.

⁴ Faze-me conhecer os Teus caminhos, Yahweh; ensina-me Tuas veredas. ⁵ Guia-me em Tua verdade e ensina-me, pois Tu és o Deus da minha salvação; em Ti está minha esperança o tempo todo.

⁶ Lembra-Te, Yahweh, dos Teus atos de compaixão e da Tua fidelidade à aliança, pois eles sempre existiram. ⁷ Não Te lembres dos pecados ou da rebelião da minha juventude; lembra-Te de mim pela fidelidade à aliança, Yahweh, por causa da Tua bondade.

⁸ Yahweh é bom e justo; por isso, Ele ensina o caminho aos pecadores. ⁹ Ele guia os humildes naquilo que é justo e lhes ensina o Seu caminho.

¹⁰ Todos os caminhos de Yahweh são de amor constante e de fidelidade àqueles que guardam Sua aliança e Seus testemunhos. ¹¹ Por amor do Teu nome, Yahweh, perdoa meu pecado, que é tão grande!

¹² Quem é o homem que teme a Yahweh? O Senhor o instruirá no caminho que deve escolher. ¹³ Ele habitará em prosperidade, e seus descendentes herdarão a terra.

¹⁴ A intimidade de Yahweh é para aqueles que O temem; Ele os faz conhecer a Sua aliança. ¹⁵ Meus olhos estão sempre em Yahweh, pois Ele tirará meus pés da armadilha. ¹⁶ Volta-Te para mim e tem misericórdia de mim, pois estou sozinho e aflito.

¹⁷ As tribulações do meu coração têm-se multiplicado; livra-me do meu sofrimento! ¹⁸ Vê minha aflição e minha fadiga; perdoa todos os meus pecados. ¹⁹ Vê como são muitos os meus inimigos; eles me odeiam com ódio cruel.

²⁰ Protege minha vida e me resgata; não permitas que eu seja humilhado, pois em Ti me refugio! ²¹ Que a integridade e a retidão me protejam, pois eu espero em Ti.

²² Ó Deus, resgata Israel de todas as suas tribulações!

Capítulo 26

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Julga-me, Yahweh, pois tenho caminhado com integridade; eu tenho confiado em Yahweh, sem vacilar.

² Examina-me, Yahweh, e prova-me; prova a pureza da minha mente e do meu coração! ³ Pois Tua fidelidade à aliança está sempre diante dos meus olhos e tenho caminhado em Tua verdade.

⁴ Eu não me associo com pessoas fraudulentas, nem me misturo com pessoas desonestas. ⁵ Odeio a reunião dos malfeitores, e não vivo com os maus.

⁶ Eu lavo minhas mãos na inocência, e vou para o Teu altar, Yahweh, ⁷ cantando uma canção de louvor e relatando todas as Tuas maravilhas. ⁸ Yahweh, eu amo a casa onde Tu moras, o lugar onde a Tua glória habita!

⁹ Não me removas com os pecadores, nem minha vida com os homens sanguinários, ¹⁰ cujas mãos executam conspirações, cuja mão direita pratica subornos.

¹¹ Mas, quanto a mim, andarei em integridade. Resgata-me e tem misericórdia de mim. ¹² Meus pés estão firmes em um terreno plano; nas assembleias, eu louvarei a Yahweh!

Capítulo 27

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Yahweh é a minha luz e a minha salvação; de quem terei medo? Yahweh é o refúgio da minha vida; de quem teria pavor?

² Quando os malfeitores se achegaram para devorar a minha carne, meus adversários e inimigos é que tropeçaram e caíram. ³ Embora um exército se acampe contra mim, meu coração não terá medo; embora declarem guerra contra mim, mesmo assim eu continuarei confiante.

⁴ Uma coisa eu peço a Yahweh e isto buscarei: que eu possa viver na casa de Yahweh todos os dias da minha vida, para ver a beleza de Yahweh e meditar no Seu templo.

⁵ Pois no dia da tribulação, Ele me esconderá no Seu abrigo; Ele me esconderá no interior de Sua tenda. Ele me levantará sobre o alto de uma rocha! ⁶ Então, minha cabeça estará erguida acima dos inimigos que me cercam. Com alegria, oferecerei sacrifícios em Sua tenda; cantarei e louvarei a Yahweh!

⁷ Ouve, Yahweh, minha voz quando a Ti clamo! Tem misericórdia de mim e responde-me. ⁸ Meu coração fala sobre Ti: "Buscai a Minha presença!" A Tua presença, Yahweh, eu buscarei!

⁹ Não escondas a Tua face de mim; não rejeites Teu servo com ira; Tu tens sido o meu ajudador; não me deixes nem me abandones, Deus da minha salvação! ¹⁰ Mesmo que meu pai e minha mãe me abandonem, Yahweh me acolherá.

¹¹ Ensina-me o Teu caminho, Yahweh! Conduze-me em um caminho plano por causa dos meus inimigos. ¹² Não me entregues aos desejos dos meus inimigos, pois testemunhas falsas têm-se levantado contra mim, respirando violência.

¹³ O que teria acontecido comigo se eu não acreditasse que veria a bondade de Yahweh na terra dos viventes? ¹⁴ Espera por Yahweh! Sê forte e valente em teu coração! Espera por Yahweh!

Capítulo 28

Salmo de Davi.

¹ A Ti clamo, Yahweh, minha rocha; não me ignores, pois, se Tu não me responderes, eu me juntarei aos que descem à sepultura.

² Ouve a voz da minha súplica quando eu clamo a Ti por socorro, quando eu levanto as minhas mãos em direção ao Teu santuário!

³ Não me arrastes com os ímpios, aqueles que praticam a iniquidade, que falam de paz com o seu próximo, mas têm ódio no coração. ⁴ Dá-lhes o que, por suas obras, merecem, e retribui-lhes pelos seus atos de maldade; retribui-lhes, dando a eles o que lhes é devido. ⁵ Porque eles não entendem os feitos de Yahweh, nem as obras de Suas mãos, Ele os derrubará e nunca mais os reerguerá.

⁶ Bendito seja Yahweh porque ouviu a voz da minha súplica! ⁷ Yahweh é a minha força e o meu escudo. Nele confia o meu coração e sou socorrido. Por isso, meu coração se regozija grandemente, e eu O louvarei com cânticos. ⁸ Yahweh é a força do Seu povo; Ele é o refúgio de salvação do Seu ungido.

⁹ Salva o Teu povo e abençoa a Tua herança; sê Tu o pastor deles e conduze-os para sempre.

Capítulo 29

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Tributai a Yahweh, vós, filhos de Deus; tributai a Yahweh glória e poder!

² Tributai a Yahweh a glória que Seu nome merece; prostrai-vos diante de Yahweh no esplendor da Sua santidade.

³ A voz de Yahweh é ouvida sobre as águas. O Deus da glória troveja; Yahweh troveja sobre as muitas águas. ⁴ A voz de Yahweh é poderosa; a voz de Yahweh é majestosa. ⁵ A voz de Yahweh quebra os cedros; Yahweh despedaça os cedros do Líbano.

⁶ Ele faz o Líbano saltar como bezerro e Siriom, como um novilho. ⁷ A voz de Yahweh lança labaredas de fogo. ⁸ A voz de Yahweh estremece o deserto; Yahweh faz tremer o deserto de Cades.

⁹ A voz de Yahweh faz os carvalhos retorcerem e despe as florestas. Todos em Seu templo dizem: "Glória!" ¹⁰ Yahweh assentou-Se como Rei sobre o dilúvio; Yahweh se assenta como Rei para sempre.

¹¹ Yahweh dá força ao Seu povo; Yahweh abençoa o Seu povo com paz.

Capítulo 30

Salmo. Cântico na dedicação do Templo. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Eu Te exaltarei, Yahweh, pois me ergueste e não permitiste que meus inimigos se regozijassem sobre mim;

² Yahweh, meu Deus, eu clamei a Ti por socorro e Tu me curaste. ³ Yahweh, Tu tiraste a minha alma do Sheol, Tu me mantiveste vivo para eu não descer ao túmulo.

⁴ Cantai louvores a Yahweh, vós que sois Seu povo fiel! Dai graças quando vos lembrardes da Sua santidade. ⁵ Pois Sua ira é apenas por um momento, mas Seu favor é por toda a vida. O choro vem por uma noite, mas a alegria vem pela manhã.

⁶ Confiantemente, eu disse: "Nunca serei abalado". ⁷ Yahweh, por Teu favor, Tu me estabeleceste como uma montanha forte; mas quando escondeste a Tua face, fiquei perturbado. ⁸ Clamei a Ti, Yahweh, e busquei o favor do meu Senhor!

⁹ Que vantagem há em minha morte, se eu descer para o túmulo? Será que o pó Te louvará? Declarará Tua fidelidade? ¹⁰ Ouve, Yahweh, e tem misericórdia de mim! Yahweh, sê meu ajudador!

¹¹ Tu transformaste meu pranto em júbilo; Tu removeste minha roupa de saco e me vestiste com alegria. ¹² Então, agora, meu coração honrado cantará louvores a Ti e não ficará em silêncio. Yahweh, meu Deus, eu Te agradecerei para sempre!

Capítulo 31

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Em Ti, Yahweh, me refugio; nunca deixes que eu seja humilhado. Salva-me pela Tua justiça.

² Ouve-me e salva-me depressa! Seja minha rocha de refúgio, uma fortaleza para me salvar.

³ Pois Tu és a minha rocha e a minha fortaleza; por causa do Teu nome, conduze-me e guia-me. ⁴ Arranca-me das armadilhas que eles prepararam para mim, pois Tu és o meu refúgio.

⁵ Em Tuas mãos confio meu espírito; Tu me resgatarás, Yahweh, Deus fiel. ⁶ Odeio aqueles que servem a ídolos inúteis; mas eu confio em Yahweh. ⁷ Eu me alegrarei e me regozijarei na Tua fidelidade à aliança, pois Tu viste minha aflição, conheceste a angústia da minha alma.

⁸ Não me entregaste nas mãos do meu inimigo. Tu colocaste meus pés em um lugar amplo. ⁹ Tem misericórdia de mim, Yahweh, pois estou aflito; definham de tristeza os meus olhos, a minha alma e o meu corpo.

¹⁰ Pois minha vida está cansada da tristeza e meus anos, dos gemidos. Minha força falha por causa do meu pecado e meus ossos estão definhando. ¹¹ Por causa de todos os meus inimigos, o povo me despreza; meus vizinhos estão assustados com minha situação, e todos os que me conhecem estão horrorizados. Fogem de mim quando me veem na rua.

¹² Sou esquecido como um homem morto, do qual ninguém se lembra. Sou como um vaso quebrado. ¹³ Pois tenho ouvido sussurro de muitos, notícias terríveis de todos os lados, como se, juntos, tramassem contra mim. Eles planejam tirar-me a vida.

¹⁴ Mas eu confio em Ti, Yahweh, e digo: "Tu és o meu Deus". ¹⁵ Meu destino está em Tuas mãos. Resgata-me dos meus inimigos e daqueles que me perseguem. ¹⁶ Faze Tua face brilhar sobre o Teu servo; salva-me por Teu amor leal.

¹⁷ Não me deixes ser humilhado, Yahweh, pois eu clamo a Ti! Que os ímpios sejam humilhados. Que eles fiquem em silêncio no Sheol. ¹⁸ Sejam silenciados os lábios mentirosos, que contra o justo falam coisas insolentes, com arrogância e desprezo.

¹⁹ Quão grande é a Tua bondade, que tens guardado para aqueles que Te reverenciam; Tu as concedes, diante dos filhos dos homens, àqueles que em Ti se refugiam. ²⁰ No abrigo de Tua presença, esconde-os das tramas dos homens. Tu os proteges, em um abrigo, da violência das línguas.

²¹ Bendito seja Yahweh, pois Ele mostrou Sua maravilhosa fidelidade à aliança quando eu estava na cidade sitiada. ²² Embora tenha dito na minha pressa: "Estou eliminado dos Teus olhos", ainda ouviste o meu apelo por ajuda quando clamei a Ti.

²³ Ó, amai Yahweh, todos os Seus fiéis seguidores. Yahweh protege os fiéis, mas castiga por completo os orgulhosos. ²⁴ Sede fortes e confiantes, todos vós que esperais pela ajuda de Yahweh.

Capítulo 32

Salmo de Davi. Masquil.

¹ Abençoada é a pessoa cuja transgressão é perdoada, cujo pecado é coberto.

² Abençoado é o homem que Yahweh não considera culpado e, em cujo espírito, não há engano.

³ Enquanto permaneci em silêncio, meus ossos enfraqueciam por eu gemer o dia todo. ⁴ Pois, dia e noite, Tua mão pesava sobre mim; minha força foi se esgotando como no tempo seco do verão.

Interlúdio

⁵ Então, reconheci o meu pecado diante de Ti e não mais escondi a minha iniquidade. Eu disse: "Confessarei minhas transgressões a Yahweh", e Tu perdoaste a culpa do meu pecado.

Interlúdio

⁶ Portanto, todos os que são piedosos devem orar a Ti no tempo de grande aflição. Assim, quando as águas transbordarem, elas não lhes alcançarão.

⁷ Tu és meu esconderijo; Tu me protegerás da tribulação. Tu me cercarás com as canções de vitória.

Interlúdio

⁸ Eu te instruirei e te ensinarei o caminho que deves seguir. Eu te instruirei com Meus olhos fixos em ti.

⁹ Não sejas como um cavalo ou uma mula, que não têm entendimento e somente com cabresto e freio são controlados. ¹⁰ O corrupto tem muitas tristezas, mas o amor leal de Yahweh cercará aqueles que Nele confiam.

¹¹ Alegrai-vos em Yahweh, e regozijai-vos, ó justos; gritai de alegria todos os que são retos de coração.

Capítulo 33

¹ Regozijai-vos em Yahweh, ó justos! É apropriado aos corretos que O louvem. ² Louvai a Yahweh com a harpa; entoai louvores a Ele com a harpa de dez cordas. ³ Cantai a Ele novas canções; tocai habilidosamente e cantai com júbilo.

⁴ Pois a palavra de Yahweh é reta, e tudo o que Ele faz é justo. ⁵ Ele ama a retidão e a justiça. A terra está cheia da fidelidade de Yahweh à aliança. ⁶ Pela palavra de Yahweh, os céus foram criados e todas as estrelas foram feitas pelo sopro de Sua boca.

⁷ Ele ajunta as águas do mar como um amontoado; Ele coloca os oceanos em depósitos. ⁸ Que toda a terra tema a Yahweh; que todos os habitantes do mundo O reverenciem. ⁹ Pois Ele falou e tudo foi feito; Ele ordenou e tudo tomou o seu lugar.

¹⁰ Yahweh frustra as alianças das nações; Ele anula os planos dos povos. ¹¹ O propósito de Yahweh permanece para sempre, os planos de Seu coração, para todas as gerações. ¹² Abençoada é a nação cujo Deus é Yahweh, o povo a quem Ele escolheu como Sua própria herança.

¹³ Yahweh olha dos céus e vê todas as pessoas. ¹⁴ Do lugar em que mora, Ele observa os que vivem na terra. ¹⁵ Ele, que molda o coração de todos eles, observa todos os seus feitos.

¹⁶ Nenhum rei está a salvo pelo seu vasto exército; um guerreiro não é salvo por sua grande força. ¹⁷ O cavalo é falsa segurança de vitória; apesar de sua grande força, ele não pode resgatá-lo.

¹⁸ Vede! Os olhos de Yahweh estão sobre aqueles que O temem, sobre aqueles que esperam em Seu amor leal, ¹⁹ para livrar suas vidas da morte e mantê-los vivos em tempos de fome.

²⁰ Nós esperamos por Yahweh; Ele é nossa ajuda e nosso escudo. ²¹ Nossos corações se regozijam Nele, pois confiamos em Seu santo nome.

²² Que Teu amor leal, Yahweh, esteja conosco, assim como colocamos nossa esperança em Ti.

Capítulo 34

Salmo de Davi, quando ele fingiu estar louco perante Abimeleque, que o expulsou de sua presença.

¹ Eu louvarei Yahweh em todo o tempo; Seu louvor estará sempre em minha boca.

² Eu louvarei Yahweh! Que os oprimidos ouçam e regozijem-se. ³ Louvai Yahweh comigo; exaltemos juntos o Seu nome.

⁴ Eu busquei Yahweh e Ele me respondeu; deu-me vitória sobre todos os meus medos. ⁵ Aqueles que olham para Ele ficam radiantes e suas faces não são envergonhadas. ⁶ Este homem oprimido clamou e Yahweh o ouviu; Ele o libertou de todas as suas angústias.

⁷ O Anjo de Yahweh acampa-se ao redor dos que O temem e os livra. ⁸ Experimentai e vede que Yahweh é bom; feliz é o homem que Nele se refugia. ⁹ Temei Yahweh, vós os Seus santos; nada falta aos que O temem.

¹⁰ Aos leões jovens, às vezes, falta comida e sofrem com a fome, mas àqueles que buscam Yahweh nada de bom faltará. ¹¹ Vinde, filhos, escutai-me; eu ensinarei a vós o temor de Yahweh.

¹² Qual homem que deseja a vida, e anseia viver muitos dias para ver o bem? ¹³ Guarda a tua língua do mal e os teus lábios de proferirem engano. ¹⁴ Afasta-te do mal e faze o bem; busca a paz e segue-a.

¹⁵ Os olhos de Yahweh estão sobre os justos e Seus ouvidos, atentos ao seu clamor. ¹⁶ A face de Yahweh está contra aqueles que praticam o mal, a fim de remover a sua memória da terra. ¹⁷ Os justos clamam e Yahweh ouve, e os livra de todas as suas aflições.

¹⁸ Yahweh está próximo dos quebrantados de coração e salva os de espírito abatido. ¹⁹ Muitas são as aflições do justo, mas Yahweh o livra de todas. ²⁰ Ele protege seus ossos; nenhum deles será quebrado.

²¹ A maldade matará o corrupto; aqueles que odeiam o justo serão condenados. ²² Yahweh redime a alma dos seus servos; dos que Nele se refugiam, nenhum será condenado.

Capítulo 35

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Yahweh, defende-me daqueles que contendem comigo; luta contra os que lutam contra mim.

² Pega o Teu escudo pequeno e o escudo grande; levanta-Te e me ajuda. ³ Usa Tua lança e Teu machado de batalha contra aqueles que me perseguem; dize para minha alma: "Eu Sou tua salvação."

⁴ Que aqueles que procuram tirar-me a vida sejam envergonhados e desonrados; os que planejam machucar-me que retornem e se confundam. ⁵ Que eles sejam como a palha diante do vento, enquanto o anjo de Yahweh os leva para longe. ⁶ Que o caminho deles seja escuro e escorregadio, enquanto o anjo de Yahweh os persegue.

⁷ Sem motivo, eles estenderam sua rede para mim; eles cavaram uma cova para minha vida. ⁸ Que a destruição os pegue de surpresa; e a rede que eles estenderam os pegue inesperadamente; que caiam nela, para sua própria destruição.

⁹ Mas eu me alegrarei e rejubilarei na Tua salvação. ¹⁰ Todos os meus ossos dirão: "Yahweh, quem é igual a Ti, que resgata os oprimidos dos que são mais fortes do que eles, e livra os pobres e necessitados daqueles que tentam roubá-los?"

¹¹ Falsas testemunhas se levantam; elas me acusam falsamente. ¹² Elas me pagam o mal pelo bem, o que me deixa triste.

¹³ Todavia, quando estavam doentes, eu usei roupa de saco; jejuei por eles com minha cabeça curvada sobre meu peito. ¹⁴ Eu estive de luto como se fossem meus irmãos; eu lamentei como pela minha mãe.

¹⁵ Mas, quando eu tropecei, eles se alegraram e se ajuntaram; eles se uniram contra mim, e eu fui surpreendido por eles, que me rasgaram sem parar. ¹⁶ Sem respeito algum, zombaram de mim, rangeram raivosamente seus dentes para mim.

¹⁷ Senhor, por quanto tempo contemplarás? Resgata minha alma desses ataques destrutivos; resgata minha vida dos leões. ¹⁸ Então, eu agradecerei a Ti na grande assembleia; eu O louvarei entre muitas pessoas.

¹⁹ Não deixes meus inimigos enganadores se alegrarem sobre mim; não deixes que sigam em frente com seus esquemas cruéis. ²⁰ Pois eles não falam de paz, mas inventam palavras enganosas contra os que vivem em paz na nossa terra.

²¹ Eles abrem suas bocas contra mim, dizendo: "Ah! Nossos olhos viram isso". ²² Tu tens visto isso, Yahweh, não fiques em silêncio; Senhor, não estejas longe de mim. ²³ Levanta-Te e desperta para minha defesa; meu Deus e meu Senhor, defende minha causa.

²⁴ Defende-me, Yahweh meu Deus, por Tua retidão, não deixes que se alegrem sobre mim. ²⁵ Não permitas que digam em seus corações: "Ah, nós temos o que desejávamos". Não deixes que digam: "Nós o devoramos". ²⁶ Que sejam postos em vergonha e sejam confundidos os que se alegram com a minha angústia. Sejam cobertos de vergonha e desonra os que me insultam.

²⁷ Os que desejam minha defesa gritem de alegria e sejam contentes; que eles falem continuamente: "Yahweh seja louvado! Ele que se regozija no bem-estar de Seu servo". ²⁸ Então, eu falarei da Tua justiça e Te louvarei durante todo o dia.

Capítulo 36

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi, servo de Yahweh.

¹ O pecado fala como um oráculo no coração do homem ímpio; não há temor de Deus em seus olhos.

² Pois consola a si mesmo, pensando que seus pecados não serão descobertos, nem odiados.

³ Suas palavras são pecaminosas e enganadoras; ele não deseja ser sábio nem fazer o bem. ⁴ Quando deita na sua cama, planeja caminhos para o pecado; ele segue por um caminho maligno, e não rejeita o mal.

⁵ Teu amor leal, Yahweh, alcança os céus; Tua lealdade alcança as nuvens. ⁶ Tua justiça é como as montanhas de Deus; Tua justiça é como o mais profundo mar. Yahweh, Tu conservas tanto a humanidade quanto os animais.

⁷ Quão precioso é o Teu amor leal, Deus! Os homens se refugiam sob a sombra das Tuas asas. ⁸ Eles serão abundantemente satisfeitos com a comida da Tua casa; Tu os deixarás beber do Teu rio de delícias. ⁹ Pois, Contigo, está a fonte da vida; em Tua luz, veremos a luz.

¹⁰ Prolonga o Teu amor leal a todos aqueles que Te conhecem e a Tua justiça, aos retos de coração. ¹¹ Não permitas que o pé do homem orgulhoso chegue até mim. Não permitas que a mão do ímpio me leve embora. ¹² Ali caíram os malfeitores; eles estão abatidos no chão e não podem se levantar.

Capítulo 37

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Não te irrites por causa dos malfeitores; não invejes os que agem injustamente.

² Pois eles logo secarão como a grama e murcharão como as plantas verdes.

³ Confia em Yahweh e faze o bem. Habita na terra e alimenta-te em fidelidade. ⁴ Então, deleita-te em Yahweh, e Ele te concederá os desejos do teu coração.

⁵ Entrega os teus caminhos a Yahweh; confia Nele e Ele agirá em teu favor. ⁶ Ele demonstrará a tua justiça como a luz do dia e a tua inocência como o meio-dia.

⁷ Aquieta-te perante Yahweh e espera pacientemente por Ele. Não te enfureças se alguém obtiver sucesso no que fizer, nem se alguém realizar seus planos maldosos.

⁸ Não te ires nem te enfureças. Não te preocupes; isso só causa problemas. ⁹ Os malfeitores serão eliminados, mas os que esperam em Yahweh herdarão a terra. ¹⁰ Em pouco tempo, o homem mau desaparecerá; Tu olharás para o seu lugar, mas ele terá sumido.

¹¹ Mas os humildes herdarão a terra, e se deleitarão em paz abundante. ¹² O corrupto trama contra o justo e range seus dentes contra ele. ¹³ O Senhor ri dele, pois vê que seu dia está chegando.

¹⁴ Os ímpios desembainham suas espadas e preparam seus arcos para derrubar o oprimido e o necessitado, para matar os que são justos. ¹⁵ Suas espadas perfurarão seus próprios corações e seus arcos serão quebrados.

¹⁶ Melhor é o pouco que o justo possui que a abundância de muitos corruptos. ¹⁷ Pois os braços dos corruptos serão quebrados, mas Yahweh sustenta os justos.

¹⁸ Yahweh toma conta dos íntegros, dia após dia, e a herança deles será para sempre. ¹⁹ Eles não serão envergonhados quando os tempos forem ruins. Quando a fome vier, eles terão o suficiente para comer.

²⁰ Mas os homens maus perecerão. Os inimigos de Yahweh serão como o viço dos pastos; eles serão consumidos e desaparecerão como fumaça. ²¹ O corrupto pega emprestado e não paga, mas o justo é generoso e dá.

²² Aqueles que são abençoados por Deus herdarão a terra; aqueles que são amaldiçoados por Ele serão eliminados. ²³ É por Yahweh que os passos de um homem são estabelecidos, o homem em cujo caminho Ele tem prazer. ²⁴ Se ele cair, não ficará prostrado, pois Yahweh o segura pela mão.

²⁵ Eu era jovem e agora sou velho, mas nunca vi o justo ser abandonado, nem seus filhos implorando por pão. ²⁶ O dia todo ele é generoso e empresta, e seus filhos serão uma bênção. ²⁷ Volta-te para longe do mal e faze o que é certo; então, estará seguro para sempre.

²⁸ Pois Yahweh ama a justiça e não abandona seus seguidores fiéis. Eles são preservados para sempre, mas os descendentes dos ímpios serão eliminados. ²⁹ Os justos herdarão a terra e nela viverão para sempre. ³⁰ A boca do justo fala sabedoria e multiplica a justiça.

³¹ A lei de Deus está em seu coração; seus pés não escorregarão. ³² O corrupto vigia o justo e busca matá-lo. ³³ Yahweh não o abandonará nas mãos do perverso ou o condenará quando for julgado.

³⁴ Espera por Yahweh e permanece em Seu caminho, e Ele te levantará para que possuas a terra. Tu verás quando os ímpios forem eliminados.

³⁵ Vi um homem corrupto e terrível se espalhar como uma árvore verdejante em seu solo nativo, ³⁶ mas, quando passei novamente, ele não estava lá. Eu o procurei, mas ele não pôde ser encontrado.

³⁷ Observa o homem íntegro e presta atenção ao justo; há um futuro bom para o homem de paz. ³⁸ Os pecadores serão totalmente destruídos; o futuro para os ímpios será eliminado.

³⁹ A salvação dos justos vem de Yahweh; Ele os protege em tempos de aflição. ⁴⁰ Yahweh os ajuda e os resgata. Ele os resgata dos homens perversos e os salva porque se refugiam Nele.

Capítulo 38

Salmo de Davi, para trazer à memória.

¹ Yahweh, não me repreendas em Tua ira, não me castigues em Tua fúria.

² Pois as Tuas flechas me perfuram e a Tua mão me pressiona.

³ Meu corpo todo está enfermo por causa da Tua ira; não há saúde em meus ossos por causa dos meus pecados. ⁴ Pois minhas iniquidades me afogam; elas são um fardo pesado demais para mim.

⁵ Minhas feridas estão infectadas e cheiram mal por causa da minha insensatez. ⁶ Estou curvado e humilhado; lamento constantemente o dia todo.

⁷ Pois meu interior está ardendo, e não há nada saudável em minha carne. ⁸ Estou entorpecido e completamente esmagado. Meu coração angustiado me faz gemer.

⁹ Senhor, Tu entendes os anseios mais profundos do meu coração e meus gemidos não estão escondidos de Ti. ¹⁰ Meu coração bate depressa, minha força se vai e minha visão diminui.

¹¹ Meus amigos e companheiros se afastam por causa da minha condição, meus vizinhos se mantêm longe. ¹² Aqueles que buscam tirar-me a vida colocam armadilhas para mim. Eles buscam me machucar; falam palavras destrutivas, dizem palavras enganosas o dia inteiro.

¹³ Todavia, eu sou como um surdo e não escuto nada; sou como um mudo, que não diz nada. ¹⁴ Eu sou como um homem que não ouve e que não dá resposta.

¹⁵ Certamente espero por Ti, Yahweh; Tu responderás, Senhor meu Deus. ¹⁶ Eu digo isto para que meus inimigos não se regozijem sobre mim. Se meu pé escorregar, eles farão coisas terríveis contra mim.

¹⁷ Pois estou prestes a tropeçar e estou constantemente em dor. ¹⁸ Eu confesso minha culpa, estou ciente do meu pecado.

¹⁹ Mas meus inimigos são numerosos; aqueles que me odeiam injustamente são muitos. ²⁰ Eles me pagam o bem com o mal; proferem acusações contra mim, mesmo que eu tenha buscado o que é correto.

²¹ Não me abandones, Yahweh; meu Deus, não Te afastes de mim. ²² Vem rapidamente me ajudar, ó Senhor, minha salvação.

Capítulo 39

Para o regente musical, para Jedutum. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Eu decidi: "Terei cuidado com a minha conduta para não pecar com a língua; porei mordaça em minha boca enquanto estiver na presença de um homem mau."

² Mas, enquanto fiquei calado, sem dizer sequer as coisas boas, e minha dor piorou. ³ Meu coração ardia; quando pensava sobre estas coisas, ardia como fogo; então, finalmente, eu disse:

⁴ "Yahweh, faz-me saber quando será o fim da minha vida e a extensão dos meus dias; mostra-me quão passageiro eu sou. ⁵ Eis que Tu fizeste meus dias do tamanho de alguns palmos da mão; a duração da minha vida é nada diante de Ti. De fato, o homem é como um sopro.

Interlúdio

⁶ Sim, todo homem anda como uma sombra; todos se apressam para acumular riquezas, embora não saibam quem as receberá. ⁷ Agora, Senhor, pelo que estou aguardando? Tu és minha única esperança.

⁸ Livra-me de todos os meus pecados; não faças de mim objeto de zombaria dos tolos. ⁹ Eu estou em silêncio, não consigo abrir a minha boca por causa do que Tu fizeste.

¹⁰ Para de me açoitar, pois estou sendo consumido com o golpe de Tua mão. ¹¹ Quando disciplinas os homens por causa do pecado, Tu consomes, como uma traça, as coisas que eles mais valorizam; sim, certamente todas as pessoas são apenas como um sopro.

Interlúdio

¹² Ouve a minha oração, Yahweh, e escuta o meu clamor! Ouve o meu choro! Não fiques indiferente a mim, pois sou como um estranho para Contigo, um estrangeiro, como foram todos os meus antepassados. ¹³ Desvia o Teu olhar de mim, para que eu possa voltar a sorrir antes de morrer."

Capítulo 40

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Esperei com paciência por Yahweh; Ele Se inclinou para mim e ouviu o meu clamor.

² Tirou-me de uma horrível cova, de um lamaçal; pôs os meus pés numa rocha e fez os meus passos seguros.

³ Ele pôs uma nova canção em minha boca para louvar o nosso Deus. Muitos verão isso e O honrarão, e confiarão em Yahweh. ⁴ Abençoado é o homem que põe a sua confiança em Yahweh e que não honra os orgulhosos nem aqueles que se voltam para as mentiras.

⁵ Yahweh, meu Deus, muitas são as maravilhas que tens feito; os Teus pensamentos sobre nós não podem ser enumerados; se eu os declarasse e falasse sobre eles, seriam mais do que se pode contar. ⁶ Não Te deleitas em sacrifícios ou ofertas, abriste os meus ouvidos; não tens exigido holocaustos nem sacrifícios pelo pecado.

⁷ Então, eu disse: "Vê, aqui estou; no rolo do livro está escrito a meu respeito. ⁸ Meu deleite é fazer a Tua vontade, meu Deus; Tuas leis estão no meu coração". ⁹ Proclamei as boas notícias da Tua justiça na grande assembleia; Yahweh, Tu sabes que meus lábios não se detiveram de fazer isso.

¹⁰ Não ocultei a Tua justiça em meu coração; declarei a Tua fidelidade e a Tua salvação; não escondi da grande assembleia o Teu amor leal nem a Tua verdade. ¹¹ Não retires de mim Teus atos de misericórdia, Yahweh; que o Teu amor leal e a Tua verdade me preservem sempre.

¹² Inúmeros problemas me cercam; minhas iniquidades têm me alcançado de maneira que não consigo mais enxergar; elas são mais que os cabelos da minha cabeça, e meu coração está desanimado. ¹³ Agrada-Te, Yahweh, em me resgatar; e apressa-Te em me ajudar.

¹⁴ Que sejam completamente envergonhados e desapontados os que buscam tirar-me a vida. Recuem em desonra todos aqueles que têm prazer em me machucar. ¹⁵ Fiquem escandalizados, por conta da sua vergonha, todos aqueles que me dizem: "Bem feito! Bem feito!"

¹⁶ Mas regozijem-se e alegrem-se em Ti todos aqueles que Te procuram; aqueles que amam a Tua salvação digam continuamente: "Yahweh seja louvado!” ¹⁷ Sou pobre e necessitado; ainda assim, o Senhor se preocupa comigo. Tu és a minha ajuda, e Tu vens em meu resgate; não Te demores, meu Deus.

Capítulo 41

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Abençoado é aquele que se preocupa com o necessitado. No dia da aflição, Yahweh o salvará.

² Yahweh o preservará e o manterá vivo, e ele será abençoado na terra; Yahweh não o entregará ao desejo dos seus inimigos. ³ Yahweh lhe dará suporte no leito de sofrimento; Tu farás do seu leito de doença um leito de cura.

⁴ Eu disse: “Yahweh, tem misericórdia de mim! Cura-me, porque eu pequei contra Ti." ⁵ Meus inimigos falam mal de mim, dizendo: “Quando morrerá e perecerá o seu nome?” ⁶ Se meu inimigo vem me ver, ele diz coisas inúteis; seu coração investiga a minha situação de calamidade e, quando vai embora, ele revela para outros a minha situação.

⁷ Os que me odeiam juntam-se e cochicham a meu respeito; esperam que o mal venha sobre mim. ⁸ Eles dizem: "Uma doença horrível veio fortemente sobre ele; agora que ele está prostrado, não se levantará mais." ⁹ Na verdade, até o meu amigo mais íntimo, em quem eu confiava, que comia do meu pão, levantou seu calcanhar contra mim.

¹⁰ Mas Tu, Yahweh, tem misericórdia de mim e me levanta, para que eu lhes retribua. ¹¹ Nisto sei que Tu tens prazer em mim, que meus inimigos não triunfem sobre mim. ¹² Quanto a mim, Tu me sustentas em minha integridade e me manténs diante de Tua face para sempre.

¹³ Que Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, seja louvado de eternidade em eternidade. Amém e Amém!

Capítulo 42

Livro 2

Para o regente musical. Masquil dos filhos de Corá.

¹ Assim como a corça anseia por correntes de água, também tenho sede de Ti, ó Deus.

² Tenho sede de Deus, do Deus vivo. Quando virei e me apresentarei diante de Deus?

³ Minhas lágrimas têm sido o meu alimento dia e noite, enquanto meus inimigos estão sempre me dizendo: "Onde está o teu Deus?" ⁴ Derrama-se em pranto a minha alma, quando trago à mente as lembranças de como eu andava com a multidão, guiando o povo à casa de Deus, com vozes de alegria e louvor; uma multidão celebrando em festa.

⁵ Por que estás abatida, ó minha alma? Por que estás angustiada dentro de mim? Espera em Deus, pois ainda O louvarei. Ele é a minha salvação. ⁶ Meu Deus, minha alma está abatida dentro de mim; por isso, eu Te trago à memória nas terras do Jordão, nos três picos do Monte Hermom e no monte Mizar.

⁷ Um abismo chama outro abismo ao barulho de Tuas cachoeiras; todas as Tuas ondas e vagalhões vieram sobre mim. ⁸ Ainda assim, Yahweh ordenará Seu amor leal durante o dia; à noite, Sua canção estará comigo, uma oração ao Deus da minha vida.

⁹ Eu direi a Deus, minha Rocha: "Por que Te esqueceste de mim? Por que ando lamentando por causa da opressão do inimigo?” ¹⁰ Semelhante a uma espada em meus ossos é quando meus adversários me insultam, sempre a perguntar: “Onde está o teu Deus?”

¹¹ Por que estás abatida, ó minha alma? Por que estás angustiada dentro de mim? Espera em Deus, pois ainda O louvarei. Ele é a minha salvação e o meu Deus.

Capítulo 43

¹ Faze-me justiça, ó Deus, e defende minha causa contra uma nação perversa; livra-me dos falsos e injustos. ² Pois Tu és o Deus da minha fortaleza. Por que Tu me rejeitaste? Por que ando lamentando por causa da opressão do inimigo?

³ Ó, envia Tua luz e Tua verdade; que elas me guiem; que elas me levem para o Teu santo monte e para a Tua habitação. ⁴ Então, eu irei ao altar de Deus, ao Deus da minha intensa alegria; Eu Te louvarei com a harpa, ó Deus, meu Deus!

⁵ Por que estás abatida, ó minha alma? Por que estás angustiada dentro de mim? Espera em Deus, pois ainda O louvarei. Ele é a minha salvação e o meu Deus.

Capítulo 44

Para o regente musical. Salmo dos filhos de Corá. Masquil.

¹ Com nossos próprios ouvidos, ó Deus, ouvimos nossos ancestrais nos contarem sobre os feitos que Tu realizaste em seus dias, nos tempos antigos.

² Com a Tua mão, expulsaste as nações para plantar o Teu povo; Tu afligiste povos e espalhaste nosso povo pela terra deles.

³ Pois eles não conquistaram a terra por suas espadas, nem os seus próprios braços os salvaram, mas, por Tua mão direita, pelo Teu braço e pela luz do Teu rosto, por causa do Teu amor por eles. ⁴ Tu és o meu Rei, ó Deus; ordena a vitória para Jacó!

⁵ Por Ti, derrubaremos nossos adversários; pelo Teu nome, pisotearemos aqueles que se levantarem contra nós. ⁶ Porque não confiarei no meu arco, nem a minha espada me salvará.

⁷ Mas Tu nos salvaste de nossos adversários, e envergonhaste aqueles que nos odeiam. ⁸ Em Deus, nos gloriamos o dia todo, e daremos graças ao Teu nome para sempre.

Interlúdio

⁹ Mas agora Tu nos rejeitaste e nos trouxeste desonra, e já não sais acompanhando nossos exércitos. ¹⁰ Tu nos fizeste fugir do nosso adversário; e aqueles que nos odeiam nos saqueiam. ¹¹ Tu nos entregaste como ovelhas para serem abatidas, e nos espalhaste entre as nações.

¹² Tu vendeste o Teu povo por nada, e nem por isso Tua riqueza aumentou. ¹³ Tu nos fizeste objeto de vergonha para os nossos vizinhos, desprezados e escarnecidos por aqueles que nos rodeiam. ¹⁴ Tu nos tornaste um insulto entre as nações; somos o motivo pelo qual os povos balançam a cabeça.

¹⁵ Minha desonra está sempre diante de mim e a vergonha cobre o meu rosto, ¹⁶ por causa da voz do que zomba e insulta, por causa do inimigo e do vingador. ¹⁷ Tudo isso nos sobreveio, ainda que não tivéssemos nos esquecido de Ti ou procedido infielmente à Tua aliança.

¹⁸ Nosso coração não voltou atrás; nossos passos não se desviaram do Teu caminho. ¹⁹ Porém, Tu nos esmagaste no lugar dos chacais e nos cobriste com a sombra da morte. ²⁰ Se tivéssemos nos esquecido do nome do nosso Deus, ou estendido nossas mãos para um deus estranho, ²¹ Deus não saberia disso? Pois Ele conhece os segredos do coração. ²² De fato, por Tua causa somos entregues à morte o dia todo; somos considerados como ovelhas para o abate.

²³ Desperta! Por que dormes, Senhor? Levanta-Te, não nos rejeites para sempre. ²⁴ Por que escondes a Tua face e Te esqueces da nossa aflição e da nossa opressão?

²⁵ Somos rebaixados até o pó; nossos corpos agarram-se à terra. ²⁶ Levanta-Te para nos ajudar! Resgata-nos por causa do Teu amor leal.

Capítulo 45

Para o regente musical; adaptado para Shoshanim. Salmo dos filhos de Corá. Masquil. Um cântico de amores.

¹ Meu coração transborda de boas palavras. Lerei em alta voz as palavras que compus acerca do Rei; minha língua é como a caneta de um habilidoso escritor.

² Tu és mais justo que os filhos dos homens; graça é derramada em Teus lábios. Por isso, nós sabemos que Deus Te abençoou para sempre.

³ Coloca Tua espada na Tua coxa, ó Poderoso, em Tua glória e majestade. ⁴ Em Tua majestade, cavalgas triunfantemente, por causa da Tua verdade, mansidão e justiça; Tua mão justa Te ensinará coisas formidáveis.

⁵ Tuas flechas estão afiadas; os povos caem diante de Ti; Tuas flechas estão nos corações dos reis inimigos. ⁶ Teu trono, ó Deus, é para sempre e sempre; um cetro de justiça é o cetro do Teu reino. ⁷ Tu amaste a justiça e odiaste a maldade; por isso, Deus, o Teu Deus, Te ungiu com óleo de alegria mais que a Teus companheiros.

⁸ Todas as Tuas peças de roupa cheiram mirra, aloés e cássia; fora dos palácios de marfim, os instrumentos de cordas têm Te alegrado. ⁹ As filhas dos reis estão entre as Tuas damas de honra; à Tua mão direita está a rainha, vestida em ouro de Ofir.

¹⁰ Ouve, filha, considera e inclina teus ouvidos; esquece-te do teu próprio povo e da casa de teu pai. ¹¹ Desta maneira o Rei desejará a tua beleza; Ele é o teu Senhor, reverencia-O.

¹² A filha de Tiro estará lá com um presente; os ricos dentre o povo implorarão Teu favor. ¹³ A filha real no palácio está toda esplendorosa; sua veste é trabalhada em ouro.

¹⁴ Ela será conduzida ao Rei em vestidos bordados; as virgens, suas companheiras, a seguirão; serão trazidas a Ti. ¹⁵ Elas serão conduzidas em alegria e regozijo, e entrarão no palácio do Rei.

¹⁶ No lugar de Teus pais, estarão Teus filhos, que Tu farás príncipes em toda a terra. ¹⁷ Eu farei Teu nome ser lembrado em todas as gerações; por isso, os povos Te darão graças para sempre e sempre.

Capítulo 46

Para o regente musical. Salmo dos filhos de Corá; adaptado para Alamote.

¹ Deus é o nosso refúgio e a nossa força, socorro bem presente em tempos de angústia.

² Por isso, não teremos medo, mesmo que a terra trema e as montanhas sejam lançadas até o coração dos mares, ³ mesmo que as águas rujam e se enfureçam, e as montanhas tremam em sua fúria.

Interlúdio

⁴ Há um rio, cujas correntes alegram a cidade de Deus, o Santo Lugar do Tabernáculo do Altíssimo. ⁵ Deus está no meio dela; não será abalada. Deus a ajudará desde o amanhecer.

⁶ As nações se enfurecem e os reinos foram abalados. Ele ergueu a Sua voz e a terra se dissolveu. ⁷ Yahweh dos Exércitos está conosco; o Deus de Jacó é o nosso refúgio.

Interlúdio

⁸ Vinde e vede os atos de Yahweh, a desolação que Ele trouxe sobre a terra. ⁹ Ele põe fim às guerras até os confins da terra; Ele quebra o arco e corta a lança em pedaços; Ele queima as carruagens no fogo.

¹⁰ Aquietai-vos e sabei que Eu sou Deus! Eu serei exaltado entre as nações; Eu serei exaltado na terra. ¹¹ Yahweh dos Exércitos está conosco; o Deus de Jacó é o nosso refúgio.

Interlúdio

Capítulo 47

Para o regente musical. Salmo dos filhos de Corá.

¹ Batei palmas, todos os povos; exultai, celebrando a Deus com som de triunfo.

² Porque Yahweh, o Altíssimo, é tremendo! Ele é o grande Rei sobre toda a terra.

³ Ele subjuga os povos a nós, e põe as nações sob nossos pés. ⁴ Ele escolheu para nós uma herança, a glória de Jacó, a quem Ele amou.

Interlúdio

⁵ Deus subiu em meio às aclamações, Yahweh Se elevou ao som de trombetas.

⁶ Cantai louvores a Deus, cantai louvores! Cantai louvores ao nosso Rei, cantai louvores! ⁷ Porque Deus é Rei sobre toda a terra; cantai louvores com entendimento.

⁸ Deus reina sobre as nações; Deus se assenta em Seu santo trono. ⁹ Os príncipes dos povos se uniram ao povo do Deus de Abraão, pois os escudos da terra pertencem a Deus. Ele é grandemente exaltado!

Capítulo 48

Cântico. Salmo dos filhos de Corá.

¹ Grande é Yahweh, e digno de ser louvado na cidade de nosso Deus, em Seu santo monte.

² Belo em elevação, e alegria de toda a terra, é o monte Sião, sobre os lados do norte, a cidade do grande Rei. ³ Deus se fez conhecido em seus palácios, como um refúgio.

⁴ Pois, vede, os reis se reuniram e juntos passaram. ⁵ Quando eles viram isso, ficaram maravilhados e, assombrados, fugiram apressadamente. ⁶ O temor tomou conta deles; sentiram dores como as da mulher em trabalho de parto.

⁷ Com o vento oriental Tu quebraste os navios de Társis. ⁸ Como nós ouvimos, assim temos visto na cidade de Yahweh dos Exércitos, na cidade do nosso Deus; Deus a estabelece para sempre.

Interlúdio

⁹ Nós meditamos em Teu amor leal, ó Deus, no meio do Teu templo. ¹⁰ Assim como é o Teu nome, Deus, também o Teu louvor se estende até os confins da terra. Tua mão direita está cheia de retidão.

¹¹ Que o monte Sião se alegre, que as filhas de Judá se regozijem por causa dos Teus justos decretos.

¹² Andai em volta do Monte Sião, caminhai ao redor dele, contai suas torres, ¹³ observai bem suas muralhas e notai seus palácios, para contardes à próxima geração.

¹⁴ Porque este Deus é o nosso Deus para sempre e sempre. Ele será nosso guia até a morte.

Capítulo 49

¹ Ouvi isto, vós, todos os povos; dai ouvidos, vós, todos os habitantes do mundo, ² humildes e nobres, ricos e pobres.

³ Minha boca falará com sabedoria, e a meditação do meu coração será com entendimento. ⁴ Inclinarei meus ouvidos a uma parábola, começarei meu enigma com a harpa. ⁵ Por que temerei os dias maus, quando a iniquidade me envolver até os calcanhares?

⁶ Por que temerei àqueles que confiam em suas riquezas e se vangloriam com a quantidade de seus bens? ⁷ É certo que ninguém pode remir seu irmão ou dar a Deus resgate por ele, ⁸ pois a redenção de uma vida é custosa e ninguém pode pagar o que devemos.

⁹ Ninguém pode viver para sempre, de modo que seu corpo não se deteriore, ¹⁰ pois ele verá deterioração. Homens sábios morrem; o tolo e o estúpido também perecem e deixam suas riquezas para os outros.

¹¹ Em seus pensamentos íntimos, suas famílias continuarão para sempre e os lugares onde vivem serão para todas as gerações. Eles dão seus próprios nomes às suas terras.

¹² Mas, mesmo tendo riquezas, o homem não permanece vivo para sempre; ele é como as feras que perecem. ¹³ O caminho deles é sua insensatez; ainda assim, os homens que os seguem aprovam o que eles dizem.

Interlúdio

¹⁴ Como ovelhas, eles são destinados ao Sheol, a morte será o seu pastor; os justos terão poder sobre eles pela manhã, e seus corpos serão consumidos no Sheol, sem lugar para eles morarem. ¹⁵ Mas Deus redimirá minha vida do poder do Sheol. Ele me acolherá.

Interlúdio

¹⁶ Não temas quando alguém se tornar rico, quando o poder de sua casa aumentar, ¹⁷ pois, quando morrer, nada levará consigo; sua glória não irá com ele.

¹⁸ Ele bendisse à sua alma enquanto viveu; e homens te louvam quando vives para ti mesmo; ¹⁹ ele se juntará à geração de seus pais e nunca mais verão a luz. ²⁰ Aquele que tem riqueza, mas não tem entendimento, é como as feras que perecem.

Capítulo 50

Salmo de Asafe.

¹ Falou o Poderoso Deus, Yahweh, e chamou toda a terra, de onde o sol nasce até onde se põe.

² Desde Sião, a perfeição da beleza, Deus resplandece.

³ Nosso Deus vem e não se mantém em silêncio; adiante Dele arde um fogo devorador, e ao Seu redor há uma grande tempestade. ⁴ Do alto, Ele chama os céus e a terra para que Ele julgue o Seu povo: ⁵ "Reuni Meus fiéis para Mim, aqueles que fizeram uma aliança Comigo pelo sacrifício."

⁶ Os céus declaram a Tua justiça, pois Deus mesmo é o Juiz.

Interlúdio

⁷ "Ouve, povo Meu, e eu te direi; Eu sou Deus, o teu Deus. ⁸ Não te repreenderei por teus sacrifícios; os teus holocaustos estão sempre diante de Mim.

⁹ Não levarei nenhum touro de tua casa, ou bodes para fora do teu curral. ¹⁰ Pois todos os animais da floresta são Meus, e o gado sobre as milhares de colinas. ¹¹ Eu conheço todos os pássaros das montanhas, e os animais ferozes do campo são Meus.

¹² Se Eu tivesse fome, não te contaria; pois o mundo é Meu, e tudo o que nele está. ¹³ Acaso, comerei Eu da carne de touros ou beberei do sangue de bodes?

¹⁴ Oferece a Deus sacrifício de ações de graças, e paga teus votos ao Altíssimo. ¹⁵ Clama a mim nos dias de angústia. Eu te resgatarei e tu Me glorificarás."

¹⁶ Mas ao ímpio Deus diz: "Por que declaras Meus estatutos e tomas Minha aliança em tua boca, ¹⁷ tu que odeias a instrução e jogas Minhas palavras fora?

¹⁸ Quando vês um ladrão, o apoias; tomas parte entre os que cometem adultério. ¹⁹ Entregas tua boca ao mal, e tua língua expressa engano. ²⁰ Tu te assentas e falas contra teu irmão; difamas o filho de tua própria mãe.

²¹ Enquanto tens feito essas coisas, Eu Me mantive calado; então pensavas que Eu era alguém como tu. Mas te reprovarei e trarei à tona, diante de teus olhos, tudo o que tens feito. ²² Agora considera isto, tu que te esqueces de Deus; senão, te despedaçarei e não haverá ninguém para te ajudar!

²³ Aquele que oferece sacrifício de ações de graças Me glorifica, e para quem planeja o seu caminho do modo correto, Eu mostrarei a salvação de Deus."

Capítulo 51

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi, quando o profeta Natã veio até Davi, depois que este se deitou com Bate-Seba.

¹ Tem misericórdia de mim, ó Deus, por causa do Teu amor leal; por amor das Tuas muitas misericórdias, apaga as minhas transgressões.

² Lava-me completamente da minha iniquidade e purifica-me do meu pecado.

³ Pois eu conheço as minhas transgressões, e o meu pecado está sempre diante de mim. ⁴ Contra Ti, contra Ti somente, eu pequei e fiz o que é mau à Tua vista, de maneira que és justo quando falas, e correto quando julgas.

⁵ Eis que eu nasci em iniquidade; em pecado minha mãe me concebeu. ⁶ Eis que Tu desejas a verdade no meu íntimo, e no coração me ensinas a sabedoria.

⁷ Purifica-me com hissopo e ficarei limpo; lava-me, e eu ficarei mais branco do que a neve. ⁸ Faze-me ouvir júbilo de alegria para que os ossos que Tu quebraste se regozijem. ⁹ Esconde a Tua face dos meus pecados e apaga todas as minhas iniquidades.

¹⁰ Cria em mim, ó Deus, um coração puro, e renova em mim um espírito reto. ¹¹ Não me lances fora da Tua presença, e não retires o Teu Santo Espírito de mim.

¹² Restaura-me a alegria da Tua salvação, e sustém-me com um espírito disposto a obedecer. ¹³ Então eu ensinarei aos transgressores os Teus caminhos, e os pecadores se converterão a Ti.

¹⁴ Perdoa-me por derramar sangue, Deus da minha salvação, e eu aclamarei de alegria pela Tua justiça. ¹⁵ Senhor, abre os meus lábios, e a minha boca proclamará o Teu louvor. ¹⁶ Pois Tu não Te agradas de sacrifício, senão eu o daria; Tu não tens prazer em holocaustos.

¹⁷ Os sacrifícios que agradam a Deus são um espírito quebrantado; um coração contrito e arrependido Tu não desprezarás, ó Deus. ¹⁸ Faze o bem a Sião, segundo a Tua boa vontade; reconstrói os muros de Jerusalém. ¹⁹ Então Tu Te alegrarás nos sacrifícios de justiça, nas ofertas queimadas e nos holocaustos; e nosso povo oferecerá novilhos em Teu altar.

Capítulo 52

Para o regente musical. Masquil de Davi, quando Doegue, o edomita, veio e contou a Saul, dizendo-lhe: "Davi foi à casa de Abimeleque."

¹ Por que te orgulhas em criar problemas, ó homem poderoso? Pois a fidelidade de Deus à aliança nunca tem fim.

² Tua língua planeja destruição, como uma lâmina afiada, trabalhando enganosamente.

³ Tu amas mais o mal do que o bem, o mentir, ao invés do falar retamente.

Interlúdio

⁴ Tu amas todas as palavras devoradoras, ó língua enganosa. ⁵ Deus te destruirá para sempre. Ele te pegará e te arrancará para fora da tua tenda e te expulsará da terra dos viventes.

Interlúdio

⁶ Os justos verão isso e temerão; rirão dele e dirão: ⁷ "Vede! Este é o homem que não fez de Deus o seu refúgio; antes, confiou na abundância de sua própria riqueza e se fortaleceu destruindo os outros."

⁸ Mas eu sou como uma oliveira verde na casa de Deus; confiarei no amor leal de Deus, para sempre e sempre. ⁹ Te louvarei para sempre, ó Deus, pelo que fizeste. Eu esperarei em Teu nome, porque é bom, na presença dos Teus fiéis.

Capítulo 53

Para o regente musical; adaptado para Maalate. Masquil de Davi.

¹ O tolo diz em seu coração: “Não existe Deus." Eles são corruptos e cometem iniquidades abomináveis; não há quem faça o bem.

² Deus olha dos céus para os filhos da humanidade para ver se há algum que tenha entendimento, alguém que O busque. ³ Todos eles se afastaram, todos se corromperam; não existe ninguém que faça o bem, nenhum deles.

⁴ Aqueles que cometem iniquidade não têm entendimento? Eles devoram o Meu povo como se estivessem comendo pão, e não clamam por Deus! ⁵ Eles estavam apavorados, apesar de não haver razão para ter medo. Foi Deus quem espalhou os ossos daqueles que acamparam contra ti; essas pessoas foram envergonhadas porque Deus as rejeitou.

⁶ Oh, que a salvação de Israel venha de Sião! Quando Deus trouxer de volta Seu povo do cativeiro, então Jacó se regozijará e Israel se alegrará!

Capítulo 54

Para o regente musical, com instrumentos de cordas. Masquil de Davi, quando os zifeus vieram e disseram a Saul: "Por acaso, não está Davi escondido entre nós?"

¹ Salva-me, ó Deus, pelo Teu nome, e julga-me pelo Teu poder.

² Ouve minha oração, ó Deus; dá ouvidos às palavras da minha boca. ³ Pois estrangeiros se levantaram contra mim, e homens sem piedade procuram tirar-me a vida. Eles não se importam com Deus.

Interlúdio

⁴ Eis que Deus é o meu auxílio; Yahweh é quem me sustenta. ⁵ Ele retribuirá meus inimigos com o mal; na Tua fidelidade, destrói-os.

⁶ A Ti, voluntariamente, oferecerei sacrifícios; darei graças ao Teu nome, Yahweh, porque és bom. ⁷ Pois me resgataste de toda tribulação; meus olhos viram a derrota dos meus inimigos.

Capítulo 55

Para o regente musical, com instrumentos de cordas. Masquil de Davi.

¹ Dá ouvidos à minha oração, ó Deus, e não Te escondas da minha súplica.

² Presta atenção em mim e responde-me; eu não tenho descanso dos meus problemas, ³ por causa da voz dos meus inimigos, por causa da opressão dos maus; pois eles me trazem problemas e, com raiva, me perseguem.

⁴ Dentro do peito, meu coração se angustia, e os terrores da morte caíram sobre mim. ⁵ Temor e tremor vieram sobre mim; o horror tem-me envolvido por completo.

⁶ Eu disse: "Ó, se eu tivesse asas como uma pomba, então eu voaria até encontrar repouso! ⁷ Eis que eu poderia vaguear bem distante e ficaria no deserto.

Interlúdio

⁸ Eu me apressaria em ir para um abrigo longe do vendaval e da tempestade." ⁹ Destrói, Yahweh, e confunde a linguagem deles, pois eu tenho visto violência e contendas na cidade.

¹⁰ Dia e noite eles percorrem suas muralhas; iniquidade e injúria estão dentro dela. ¹¹ A maldade está em seu meio; opressão e engano não deixam suas ruas.

¹² Pois não é um inimigo que me afronta, isso eu poderia suportar; nem é aquele que me odeia o que se levanta contra mim, porque dele eu teria me escondido. ¹³ Mas és tu, homem igual a mim, meu companheiro e amigo íntimo. ¹⁴ Nós tínhamos uma agradável comunhão; íamos juntos à casa de Deus, com a multidão.

¹⁵ Que a morte venha repentinamente sobre eles; que eles desçam vivos ao Sheol, pois a maldade está onde eles vivem, bem no meio deles.

¹⁶ Quanto a mim, eu invocarei a Deus, e Yahweh me salvará. ¹⁷ Ao entardecer, pela manhã e ao meio-dia eu me queixarei e lamentarei, e Ele ouvirá a minha voz. ¹⁸ Ele, em segurança, resgatará a minha vida da batalha, pois são muitos os que lutam contra mim.

¹⁹ Deus, Aquele que governa desde a eternidade, ouvirá e lhes responderá.

Interlúdio

Pois eles não mudam sua conduta e não temem a Deus.

²⁰ Meu amigo levantou suas mãos contra aqueles que estavam em paz com ele, não respeitando o seu acordo. ²¹ Sua boca era macia como manteiga, mas seu coração era hostil; suas palavras eram mais suaves do que o azeite, mas, na verdade, eram como espadas desembainhadas.

²² Coloca teus fardos sobre Yahweh, e Ele te sustentará; Ele nunca permitirá que o justo se abale. ²³ Mas Tu, ó Deus, trarás os perversos para a cova da destruição; os homens sanguinários e enganosos não viverão nem a metade do que os outros. Mas eu confiarei em Ti.

Capítulo 56

Para o regente musical; adaptado para Jonate-elem-recoquim. Salmo de Davi, quando os filisteus o prenderam em Gate. Um mictam.

¹ Tem misericórdia de mim, ó Deus, pois os homens estão me atacando; aqueles que lutam contra mim me oprimem.

² Meus inimigos tentam me esmagar o dia todo; pois há muitos que, arrogantemente, lutam contra mim.

³ Mas quando eu estiver com medo, em Ti confiarei. ⁴ Em Deus, cuja palavra eu louvo, em Deus eu coloquei a minha confiança e não temerei; o que poderia me fazer um simples homem?

⁵ O dia todo eles distorcem minhas palavras; todos os seus pensamentos são para fazer o mal contra mim. ⁶ Reúnem-se, escondem-se, e observam os meus passos, esperando para tirar-me a vida.

⁷ Não deixes escapar esses que praticam iniquidade. Derruba os povos na Tua ira, ó Deus. ⁸ Tu contaste as minhas vagueações e colocaste minhas lágrimas em Teu odre; não estão elas no Teu livro?

⁹ Meus inimigos retrocederão no dia em que eu Te invocar; isto eu sei: que Yahweh é por mim. ¹⁰ Em Deus, cuja palavra eu louvo, em Yahweh, cuja palavra eu louvo, ¹¹ em Deus eu ponho a minha confiança e não temerei; o que poderia me fazer um simples homem?

¹² Tenho o dever de cumprir os votos que fiz, ó Deus; a Ti oferecerei ações de graças. ¹³ Pois Tu resgataste minha vida da morte; Tu guardaste meus pés da queda, para que eu ande diante de Deus na luz dos vivos.

Capítulo 57

Para o regente musical; adaptado para Al-Tachete. Salmo de Davi, quando ele fugia de Saul, na caverna. Um mictam.

¹ Tem misericórdia de mim, ó Deus, tem misericórdia de mim, pois eu me refugio em Ti até que estas tribulações se acabem. Eu permaneço sob as Tuas asas protetoras, até que essa calamidade termine.

² Eu clamarei ao Deus Altíssimo, ao Deus que faz todas as coisas por mim. ³ Ele enviará ajuda do céu e me salvará; Ele está irado com aqueles que me oprimem.

Interlúdio

Deus enviará Sua graça e Sua fidelidade.

⁴ Minha vida está cercada por leões; estou entre aqueles que estão prontos para me devorar; seus dentes são como lanças e flechas, e suas línguas, como espadas afiadas. ⁵ Sê exaltado, ó Deus, acima dos céus; que a Tua glória permaneça sobre toda a terra!

⁶ Eles prepararam uma armadilha para os meus pés, e eu estava aflito. Eles cavaram uma cova para mim, porém, eles mesmos caíram nela!

Interlúdio

⁷ Meu coração está firme; Deus, meu coração está firme! Cantarei, sim, cantarei louvores. ⁸ Desperta, meu coração, desperta com alaúde e harpa; eu despertarei o amanhecer.

⁹ Eu Te louvarei, ó Yahweh, entre os povos; cantarei louvores a Ti entre as nações. ¹⁰ Pois a Tua misericórdia chega até os céus, e a Tua fidelidade alcança as nuvens. ¹¹ Sê exaltado, ó Deus, sobre os céus; que a Tua glória seja exaltada sobre toda a terra!

Capítulo 58

Para o regente musical; adaptado para Al Tachete. Salmo de Davi. Um mictam.

¹ Vós, governantes, falais com justiça? Julgais vosso povo com retidão?

² Não! Vós cometeis maldade em vossos corações; com as vossas mãos espalhais violência sobre a terra.

³ Os ímpios se desviam desde o ventre; eles erram o caminho desde que nasceram, falando mentiras. ⁴ O veneno deles é como o veneno de cobra; eles são como a víbora surda, que tapa seus ouvidos ⁵ para não ouvir a voz dos encantadores, não importa o quão habilidosos sejam.

⁶ Quebra os dentes deles em suas bocas, ó Deus; arranca os caninos dos leões jovens, Yahweh. ⁷ Que eles escorram como as águas que escorrem continuamente; quando eles armarem suas flechas, que elas fiquem sem pontas. ⁸ Sejam como a lesma que se derrete enquanto vai, como uma criança abortada que nunca viu a luz do sol.

⁹ Antes que vossas panelas sintam o calor dos espinhos, Ele os arrancará como um redemoinho de vento, tanto os espinhos verdes como os secos. ¹⁰ O justo se alegrará quando vir a vingança de Deus; lavará seus pés no sangue dos maus, ¹¹ para que os homens digam: "Certamente, há uma recompensa para o justo; certamente, há um Deus que julga a terra."

Capítulo 59

Para o regente musical; adaptado para Al Tachete. Salmo de Davi, quando Saul mandou que vigiassem a sua casa para matá-lo. Um mictam.

¹ Resgata-me dos meus inimigos, meu Deus; defende-me daqueles que se levantam contra mim.

² Mantém-me a salvo dos que praticam a iniquidade e salva-me dos homens sanguinários.

³ Pois eles esperam em uma emboscada para tirar-me a vida. Homens poderosos se reúnem contra mim, mas não por causa das minhas transgressões ou dos meus pecados, Yahweh. ⁴ Eles se preparam para me atacar, embora eu esteja sem culpa. Desperta, vê e ajuda-me!

⁵ Tu, Yahweh, Deus dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, levanta e pune todas as nações; não sejas misericordioso para com nenhum transgressor perverso.

Interlúdio

⁶ Eles retornam ao entardecer, uivam como cães e andam ao redor da cidade. ⁷ Vê, eles ameaçam com suas bocas; seus lábios são como espadas, pois dizem: "Quem pode nos escutar?"

⁸ Mas Tu, Yahweh, escarneces deles. Tu zombas de todas as nações. ⁹ Deus, minha força, eu esperarei por Ti; Tu és minha torre alta!

¹⁰ Meu Deus virá me encontrar com Seu amor leal; Deus me fará ver o meu desejo sobre meus inimigos. ¹¹ Não os mates, ou o meu povo se esquecerá. Espalha-os pelo Teu poder e faze-os cair, Yahweh, nosso escudo.

¹² Pelos pecados de suas bocas e pelas palavras de seus lábios, sejam eles capturados em seu orgulho e pelas maldições e mentiras que relatam. ¹³ Consome-os em ira, consome-os até que eles não mais existam; que eles saibam que Deus reina em Jacó e até os confins da terra.

Interlúdio

¹⁴ Ao entardecer, eles retornam, uivando como cães e contornando a cidade. ¹⁵ Eles vagueiam procurando comida e, enquanto não estão satisfeitos, rosnam como cachorros.

¹⁶ Todavia, eu cantarei sobre a Tua força, e pela manhã cantarei sobre o teu amor constante! Pois Tu tens sido minha torre alta e refúgio no dia da minha angústia. ¹⁷ A Ti, minha força, eu cantarei louvores, pois Deus é a minha torre alta, o Deus de amor leal.

Capítulo 60

Para o regente musical; adaptado para Susã Edute. Mictam de Davi, para o ensino. Quando ele lutou contra Arã Naaraim e com Arã Zobá, e quando Joabe voltou e matou doze mil edomitas no vale do Sal.

¹ Ó Deus, Tu nos rejeitaste e rompeste nossas defesas; tens estado irado. Restaura-nos novamente!

² Fizeste a terra tremer e abriste-lhe fendas; repara suas brechas, pois ela está estremecendo. ³ Tu mostraste coisas severas a Teu povo; fizeste-nos beber o vinho cambaleante.

⁴ Tu deste uma bandeira para aqueles que Te honram, para ser exibida por causa da verdade.

Interlúdio

⁵ Para que aqueles que Tu amas sejam libertos, resgata-nos com a Tua mão direita e responde-me.

⁶ Deus falou em Sua santidade: "Eu Me alegrarei; dividirei Siquém e repartirei o vale de Sucote. ⁷ Gileade é Meu, Manassés é Meu também; Efraim é Meu capacete, e Judá é o Meu cetro.

⁸ Moabe é Minha bacia de lavar; sobre Edom atirarei minha sandália; darei Meu grito de vitória sobre a Filístia." ⁹ Quem me levará à cidade fortificada? Quem me guiará a Edom?

¹⁰ Não foste Tu, ó Deus, que nos rejeitaste? Tu não tens ido com nosso exército para a batalha. ¹¹ Ajuda-nos contra o inimigo, pois o socorro do homem é inútil. ¹² Nós triunfaremos com a ajuda de Deus; Ele pisoteará nossos inimigos.

Capítulo 61

Para o regente musical, com instrumentos de cordas. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Ouve meu clamor, ó Deus, e atende à minha oração.

² Desde os confins da Terra eu clamo a Ti, quando meu coração está oprimido; guia-me à rocha, que é mais alta do que eu. ³ Pois Tu tens sido meu refúgio, uma torre forte contra o inimigo.

⁴ Que eu habite no Teu tabernáculo para sempre, e me refugie sob o abrigo de Tuas asas.

Interlúdio

⁵ Pois Tu, ó Deus, ouviste meus votos; me deste a herança daqueles que honram o Teu nome.

⁶ Tu prolongarás a vida do rei; os seus dias serão como muitas gerações. ⁷ Ele habitará para sempre diante de Deus; que a misericórdia e a verdade o preservem.

⁸ Eu cantarei louvores ao Teu nome para sempre, para que eu cumpra meus votos todos os dias.

Capítulo 62

Para o regente musical, à maneira de Jedutum. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Somente em Deus a minha alma espera em silêncio, pois Dele vem a minha salvação.

² Somente Ele é a minha rocha e a minha salvação; Ele é a minha fortaleza e eu não serei fortemente abalado.

³ Até quando vós todos atacareis um homem para o derrubardes, como um muro inclinado ou uma cerca prestes a cair? ⁴ Eles só pensam em como derrubá-lo da sua posição honrosa, e amam contar mentiras; eles o bendizem com suas bocas, mas em seus corações o maldizem.

Interlúdio

⁵ Somente em Deus a minha alma espera em silêncio, pois minha esperança está depositada Nele. ⁶ Somente Ele é a minha rocha e a minha salvação; Ele é a minha torre alta. Não serei abalado!

⁷ Em Deus está a minha salvação e a minha honra; Deus é a minha rocha forte e o meu refúgio. ⁸ Confiai Nele em todo o tempo, ó povo, derramai diante Dele o vosso coração. Deus é um refúgio para nós.

Interlúdio

⁹ Certamente, os homens humildes são como um sopro, e os homens de alta posição, uma mentira; eles serão pesados na balança; quando pesados juntos são mais leves que um sopro. ¹⁰ Não confieis na opressão nem no roubo. Não ponhais inutilmente vossa esperança nas riquezas, pois elas não darão frutos; não coloqueis nelas o vosso coração.

¹¹ Uma vez Deus falou, duas vezes eu ouvi isto: o poder pertence a Deus. ¹² Senhor, a Ti também pertence a fidelidade à aliança, porque retribuis a cada um segundo as suas ações.

Capítulo 63

Salmo de Davi, quando ele estava no deserto de Judá.

¹ Deus, Tu és o meu Deus! Eu Te procuro diligentemente; minh'alma tem sede de Ti. A minha carne anseia por Ti em uma terra seca e cansada, onde não há água.

² Então eu olhei para Ti no santuário, para ver Teu poder e Tua glória.

³ A Teu amor leal é melhor do que a vida; por isso, os meus lábios Te louvarão. ⁴ Eu Te bendirei enquanto viver; em Teu nome levantarei as minhas mãos.

⁵ A minha alma se fartará, como de tutano e de gordura; com lábios alegres, a minha boca Te louvará, ⁶ quando eu pensar em Ti em minha cama e meditar em Ti durante a noite.

⁷ Pois Tu tens sido o meu socorro, e na sombra das Tuas asas eu me alegro. ⁸ Minha alma se apega a Ti; Tua mão direita me ampara.

⁹ Mas aqueles que procuram destruir a minha vida cairão nas profundezas da terra. ¹⁰ Eles serão entregues ao poder da espada e se tornarão comida para os chacais.

¹¹ Mas o rei se alegrará em Deus; todos os que juram em Seu nome se gloriarão Nele; mas a boca daqueles que falam mentiras será fechada.

Capítulo 64

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Ouve, ó Deus, a voz do meu clamor; preserva a minha vida da ameaça dos meus inimigos.

² Esconde-me da conspiração secreta dos malfeitores, do tumulto daqueles que praticam a iniquidade;

³ os quais afiam suas línguas como espadas e apontam, como flechas, palavras amargas ⁴ para, de lugares secretos, atirarem no inocente; eles atiram de repente, sem temor algum.

⁵ Encorajam-se uns aos outros num plano maligno. Juntos e secretamente, eles combinam como colocar armadilhas, dizendo: "Quem nos verá?" ⁶ Eles inventam planos pecaminosos e dizem: "Nós terminamos um plano cuidadoso." Os pensamentos e o íntimo do coração dos homens são profundos.

⁷ Mas Deus atirará neles uma flecha; de repente, serão feridos. ⁸ Ele os fará tropeçar, pois suas línguas estão contra eles; todos os que os virem, balançarão suas cabeças, zombando deles. ⁹ Todo o povo temerá e declarará os feitos de Deus. Os homens sabiamente considerarão as obras que Ele tem feito.

¹⁰ O justo se alegrará em Yahweh e Nele se refugiará; todos os retos de coração se gloriarão Nele.

Capítulo 65

Para o regente musical. Salmo e cântico de Davi.

¹ Nosso louvor espera por Ti em Sião, ó Deus; a Ti pagaremos nossos votos.

² Tu que ouves a oração, a Ti todos os homens virão. ³ As iniquidades prevalecem contra nós; quanto às nossas transgressões, Tu as perdoarás.

⁴ Feliz é o homem a quem Tu escolhes para trazê-lo para perto de Ti, para que viva em Teus átrios. Nós ficaremos satisfeitos com a bondade da Tua casa, Teu santo templo.

⁵ Em retidão, Tu nos responderás realizando coisas maravilhosas, Deus da nossa salvação; Tu és a esperança de todas as extremidades da terra, dos que estão distantes, do outro lado do mar.

⁶ Tu firmaste as montanhas; Tu que estás cingido de força. ⁷ Tu que acalmas o rugido dos mares, o rugido das ondas e a comoção dos povos.

⁸ Aqueles que vivem nas extremidades da terra estão amedrontados com as evidências das Tuas obras; Tu trazes alegria desde o nascer do sol até o seu poente. ⁹ Tu socorres a terra regando-a e enriquecendo-a abundantemente. As correntes de Deus estão cheias de água para prover de grãos as pessoas, pois assim ordenaste.

¹⁰ Tu molhas os seus sulcos abundantemente; Tu reestabeleces as valas; Tu amoleces a terra com chuva e abençoas os frutos no meio dela. ¹¹ Tu coroas o ano com a Tua bondade. Os Teus caminhos transbordam de fartura. ¹² As pastagens do deserto gotejam como o orvalho, e as colinas cingem-se de alegria.

¹³ As pastagens estão cobertas de rebanhos, e os vales, cobertos de grãos; eles gritam e cantam de alegria.

Capítulo 66

Para o regente musical. Um cântico e salmo.

¹ Aclamai a Deus com alegria, toda a Terra;

² Cantai a glória de Seu nome; fazei Seu louvor glorioso.

³ Dizei a Deus: "Quão temíveis são os Teus atos! Pela grandeza do Teu poder, Teus inimigos se submeterão a Ti. ⁴ Toda a Terra Te adorará e cantará a Ti; eles cantarão louvores ao Teu nome."

Interlúdio

⁵ Vinde e vede as obras de Deus; Como são formidáveis os Seus atos para com os filhos dos homens. ⁶ Ele tornou o mar em terra seca; Seu povo passou a pé pelo rio; ali nos regozijamos Nele. ⁷ Ele governa para sempre por Seu poder; Seus olhos observam as nações; que os rebeldes não exaltem a si mesmos.

Interlúdio

⁸ Bendizei a Deus, ó povos, fazei o som de Seu louvor ser ouvido. ⁹ Ele nos mantém entre os vivos, e não permite que nossos pés tropecem.

¹⁰ Pois Tu, ó Deus, nos provaste; provaste-nos como a prata é provada. ¹¹ Tu nos trouxeste para uma armadilha; Tu colocaste um fardo severo em nossas costas. ¹² Tu fizeste pessoas cavalgarem sobre nossas cabeças; nós passamos pelo fogo e pela água, mas Tu nos trouxeste a um lugar de abundância.

¹³ Eu virei para Tua casa com holocaustos; Eu pagarei meus votos a Ti, ¹⁴ os quais meus lábios prometeram e minha boca falou quando eu estava em aflição. ¹⁵ Eu oferecerei a Ti holocaustos de animais gordos, com o doce aroma de carneiros; eu oferecerei touros e cabras.

Interlúdio

¹⁶ Vinde e escutai, todos vós que temem a Deus, e declararei o que Ele tem feito pela minha alma. ¹⁷ A Ele clamei com minha boca e Ele foi louvado com minha língua. ¹⁸ Se eu tivesse mantido o pecado em meu coração, o Senhor não teria me ouvido.

¹⁹ Mas Deus realmente ouviu; Ele deu atenção à voz da minha oração. ²⁰ Bendito seja Deus, que não rejeitou a minha oração, nem Seu amor leal para comigo.

Capítulo 67

Para o regente musical, com instrumentos de cordas. Salmo e cântico.

¹ Que Deus seja misericordioso e nos abençoe, e faça resplandecer a Sua face sobre nós,

Interlúdio

² para que todos os Teus caminhos sejam conhecidos na terra, e a Tua salvação, entre todas as nações.

³ Que os povos Te louvem, ó Deus; que todos os povos Te louvem! ⁴ Oh, que as nações regozijem-se e cantem de alegria, pois Tu julgarás os povos com justiça e governarás as nações na terra.

Interlúdio

⁵ Que os povos Te louvem, ó Deus; que todos os povos Te louvem! ⁶ Que a terra produza sua colheita, e Deus, o nosso Deus, nos abençoe.

⁷ Deus nos tem abençoado, e que todos os confins da terra O honrem.

Capítulo 68

Para o regente musical. Salmo e cântico de Davi.

¹ Que Deus Se levante e que Seus inimigos sejam espalhados; fujam de diante Dele aqueles que O odeiam.

² Como a fumaça se dissipa, assim sejam eles dissipados; assim como a cera se derrete no fogo, que os perversos pereçam na presença de Deus. ³ Mas que os justos se alegrem; exultem diante de Deus! Que se regozijem e se alegrem!

⁴ Cantai a Deus, cantai louvores ao Seu nome. Louvai Aquele que cavalga sobre as planícies do vale do rio Jordão. Yahweh é o Seu nome; regozijai-vos diante Dele! ⁵ Um pai para os órfãos e juiz para as viúvas é Deus na Sua santa habitação. ⁶ Deus coloca o solitário em família; Ele liberta os prisioneiros para a prosperidade, mas os rebeldes vivem em uma terra seca.

⁷ Deus, quando Tu foste diante do Teu povo, quando marchaste pelo deserto,

Interlúdio

⁸ a terra estremeceu; os céus derramaram chuva na presença de Deus, o Sinai estremeceu na presença de Deus, o Deus de Israel.

⁹ Tu, ó Deus, enviaste chuva abundante; fortaleceste Tua herança quando estava enfraquecida. ¹⁰ Teu povo habitou nela; Tu, ó Deus, deste da Tua bondade ao pobre.

¹¹ Yahweh deu as ordens e um grande exército as anunciou. ¹² Reis de exércitos fogem. Eles fogem e as mulheres que esperam em casa dividem os despojos: pombas cobertas com prata e suas asas, com ouro amarelo. ¹³ Quando alguns de vós ficastes entre os currais, por que fizestes isso?

¹⁴ O Onipotente espalhou reis ali. Foi como neve no monte Zalmom. ¹⁵ O monte de Deus é o monte de Basã; alta montanha é o monte de Basã. ¹⁶ Por que olhas com inveja, tu, ó região montanhosa, para o monte em que Deus deseja habitar? Certamente, Yahweh viverá nele para sempre.

¹⁷ As carruagens de Deus são incontáveis, milhares de milhares; Yahweh está entre eles no santo lugar, como no Sinai. ¹⁸ Tu subiste às alturas; Tu levaste muitos cativos; Tu recebeste presentes dentre os homens, até daqueles que lutavam contra Ti, para habitar ali, ó Yahweh Deus.

¹⁹ Bendito seja Yahweh que, diariamente, carrega nossos fardos, o Deus que é a nossa salvação.

Interlúdio

²⁰ Nosso Deus é Deus que salva; Yahweh, o Senhor, é o único capaz de nos resgatar da morte. ²¹ Certamente, Deus esmagará a cabeça de Seus inimigos, o couro cabeludo daqueles que caminham em ofensas contra Ele.

²² O Senhor disse: "Eu trarei de volta Meus inimigos de Basã; Eu os trarei de volta das profundezas dos mares, ²³ para que tu os esmagues, mergulhando teus pés no sangue deles, assim como as línguas dos teus cachorros terão sua porção no sangue dos teus inimigos."

²⁴ Eles têm visto suas procissões, ó Deus, as procissões de meu Deus, meu Rei, para o santo lugar. ²⁵ Os cantores foram à frente, depois os instrumentistas e, no meio, as moças solteiras tocando tamborins.

²⁶ Bendizei a Deus nas assembleias; louvai a Yahweh, vós que sois a fonte de Israel. ²⁷ Primeiro vem Benjamim, a menor das tribos, então, os líderes de Judá e suas multidões, os líderes de Zebulom e os líderes de Naftali.

²⁸ Teu Deus, Israel, decretou tua força; revela a nós o Teu poder, ó Deus, como revelaste nos tempos passados. ²⁹ Revela-nos o Teu poder do Teu templo, em Jerusalém, onde reis trazem presentes a Ti.

³⁰ Grita na batalha contra as bestas selvagens nos juncos, contra os povos, aquelas multidões de touros e bezerros. Humilha-os e faze-os trazer presentes a Ti; espalha os povos que amam fazer guerra. ³¹ Príncipes virão do Egito; a Etiópia se apressará para estender suas mãos para Deus.

³² Cantai a Deus, vós reinos da terra;

Interlúdio

Cantai louvores a Yahweh! ³³ Àquele que cavalga no céu dos céus, que existe desde os tempos antigos; vede, Ele levanta Sua voz com poder!

³⁴ Atribuí força a Deus; Sua majestade está sobre Israel e Sua força está nos céus. ³⁵ Deus, tu és temível em Teu santo lugar; o Deus de Israel, Ele dá força e poder para Seu povo. Bendito seja Deus!

Capítulo 69

Para o regente musical; adaptado a Shoshanim. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Salva-me, ó Deus, pois as águas têm colocado minha vida em perigo.

² Eu me afundo na lama profunda, onde não há lugar para ficar de pé; eu cheguei às águas profundas, onde as correntezas passam sobre mim.

³ Estou cansado de tanto clamar; minha garganta está seca; meus olhos desfalecem enquanto espero por meu Deus. ⁴ Aqueles que me odeiam sem razão são mais do que os cabelos da minha cabeça; aqueles que querem me eliminar, sendo meus inimigos pelos motivos errados, são poderosos; tenho que devolver o que não roubei.

⁵ Deus, Tu conheces minha insensatez, e meus pecados não Te são ocultos. ⁶ Que aqueles que esperam em Ti não sejam envergonhados por minha causa, Senhor, Yahweh dos Exércitos; que aqueles que Te buscam não sejam postos em desonra por minha causa, Deus de Israel.

⁷ Por causa de Ti eu tenho suportado repreensões; a vergonha tem coberto minha face. ⁸ Tornei-me um estranho para os meus irmãos, um desconhecido para os filhos da minha mãe. ⁹ Pois o zelo de Tua casa me consome, e os insultos dos que Te insultam têm caído sobre mim.

¹⁰ Quando eu chorei e jejuei, eles me insultaram. ¹¹ Quando eu fiz do pano de saco a minha vestimenta, fui objeto de zombaria para eles. ¹² Aqueles que se assentam no portão da cidade falam de mim; eu sou uma canção para os bêbados.

¹³ Mas quanto a mim, minha oração é para Ti, Yahweh. No tempo em que a aceitares, ó Deus, pela grandeza da Tua misericórdia, responde-me na fidelidade da Tua salvação. ¹⁴ Tira-me da lama, não me deixes afundar; que eu seja liberto daqueles que me odeiam e resgatado das águas profundas. ¹⁵ Que as correntezas de águas não me façam submergir, e que a profundeza não me trague; que a cova não feche sua boca sobre mim.

¹⁶ Responde-me, Yahweh, pois boa é Tua fidelidade à Tua aliança; porque muitas são as Tuas misericórdias para mim, volta-Te para mim. ¹⁷ Não escondas Tua face de Teu servo, pois estou aflito. Responde-me depressa.

¹⁸ Aproxima-Te de mim e me redime. Por causa dos meus inimigos, resgata-me. ¹⁹ Tu conheces minha repreensão, minha vergonha e minha desonra; meus adversários estão todos diante de Ti.

²⁰ A repreensão tem partido meu coração, eu estou cheio do peso da angústia. Procurei alguém que tivesse compaixão, mas não havia ninguém; procurei por consoladores, mas não encontrei nenhum. ²¹ Deram-me veneno como alimento; na minha sede, eles me deram vinagre para beber.

²² Que a mesa diante deles se torne em armadilha; quando pensarem que estão em segurança, que ela se torne uma cilada. ²³ Que seus olhos sejam escurecidos para que não possam ver; e faze com que os lombos deles tremam constantemente.

²⁴ Derrama Tua indignação sobre eles, e que a fúria de Tua vingança os ataque. ²⁵ Que os lugares deles sejam desolados; que ninguém viva em suas tendas.

²⁶ Pois eles perseguiram aquele que Tu feriste; eles relatam aos outros sobre a dor daqueles a quem Tu machucaste. ²⁷ Acusa-os de terem cometido iniquidade após iniquidade; não os deixes alcançar vitória no Teu julgamento.

²⁸ Que eles sejam apagados do Livro da Vida e não sejam inscritos junto com os justos. ²⁹ Mas eu estou aflito e triste; que a Tua salvação, ó Deus, me leve a um lugar alto.

³⁰ Eu louvarei o nome de Deus com uma canção e O exaltarei com ações de graças. ³¹ Isso agradará Yahweh mais do que um boi ou um touro com chifres e cascos.

³² Os mansos verão isso e ficarão alegres; vós que buscais a Deus, revivam os vossos corações. ³³ Pois Yahweh ouve os necessitados e não despreza Seus prisioneiros.

³⁴ Que o céu e a terra O louvem, os mares e tudo que neles se move. ³⁵ Pois Deus salvará Sião e reconstruirá as cidades da terra de Judá; o povo viverá ali e a possuirá. ³⁶ Os descendentes de Seus servos a herdarão; e aqueles que amam o Seu nome ali viverão.

Capítulo 70

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi, para trazer à memória.

¹ Salva-me, ó Deus! Yahweh, vem rápido e ajuda-me.

² Que todos os que tentam tirar-me a vida sejam envergonhados e humilhados; que eles voltem atrás, e sejam desonrados os que têm prazer na minha miséria. ³ Que retornem por causa de sua vergonha aqueles que dizem: "Bem feito! Bem feito!"

⁴ Que todos os que Te buscam alegrem-se e sejam felizes em Ti; aqueles que amam a Tua salvação sempre digam: "Deus seja louvado!" ⁵ Todavia, eu sou pobre e necessitado; apressa-Te a mim, ó Deus; Tu és o meu socorro e o meu resgatador. Yahweh, não demores.

Capítulo 71

¹ Em Ti, Yahweh, eu me refugio; que eu nunca seja envergonhado. ² Resgata-me e protege-me em Tua retidão; inclina Teus ouvidos para mim e salva-me. ³ Sê minha rocha de refúgio, aonde eu sempre possa ir; Tu deste uma ordem para salvar-me, pois Tu és minha rocha e minha fortaleza.

⁴ Resgata-me, meu Deus, das mãos dos perversos, das mãos dos homens injustos e cruéis. ⁵ Pois Tu és minha esperança, Senhor Yahweh. Eu tenho confiado em Ti desde que eu era criança.

⁶ Desde o ventre, tenho sido sustentado por Ti; Tu és Aquele que me tiraste do ventre de minha mãe; meu louvor será continuamente a Teu respeito. ⁷ Tornei-me um exemplo para muitas pessoas; Tu és meu forte refúgio.

⁸ Minha boca se encherá com Teu louvor, todo o dia com Tua glória. ⁹ Não me rejeites em minha velhice; não me abandones quando minha força falhar.

¹⁰ Pois meus inimigos estão falando sobre mim; aqueles que espreitam a minha vida estão conspirando juntos. ¹¹ "Deus o desamparou”, dizem eles, “persegui-o e tomai-o, pois não há ninguém para salvá-lo."

¹² Deus, não Te afastes de mim, meu Deus, apressa-Te para ajudar-me! ¹³ Sejam envergonhados e consumidos aqueles que são hostis à minha vida; sejam cobertos com repreensão e desonra aqueles que buscam o meu mal.

¹⁴ Mas eu sempre esperarei em Ti e Te adorarei mais e mais. ¹⁵ Minha boca falará sobre Tua justiça e Tua salvação durante todo o dia, embora eu não consiga compreendê-las. ¹⁶ Virei com os feitos poderosos do Senhor Yahweh; farei menção da Tua justiça, somente a Tua.

¹⁷ Deus, Tu tens me ensinado desde a minha mocidade; mesmo agora eu declaro as Tuas obras maravilhosas. ¹⁸ De fato, agora que estou velho e de cabelos grisalhos, ó Deus, não me abandones; para que eu declare a Tua força à próxima geração, e Teu poder para todos os que estão por vir.

¹⁹ Também a Tua justiça, ó Deus, é muito elevada! Tu que tens feito grandes coisas, ó Deus, quem se compara a Ti? ²⁰ Tu, que me fizeste ver muitos problemas severos, nos ressuscitarás novamente, nos trarás de volta das profundezas da Terra.

²¹ Que Tu aumentes minha grandeza e voltes a me confortar. ²² Eu também Te louvarei com a harpa por Tua fidelidade, meu Deus; a Ti cantarei louvores com a harpa, ó Santo de Israel.

²³ Meus lábios gritarão de alegria quando eu cantar louvores a Ti, assim como a minha alma, que Tu redimiste. ²⁴ Minha língua também falará sobre Tua justiça por todo o dia; pois foram envergonhados e estão confusos aqueles que procuravam o meu mal.

Capítulo 72

Salmo de Salomão.

¹ Dá ao rei Teus justos decretos, ó Deus, e Tua justiça, ao filho do rei.

² Que ele julgue o Teu povo com retidão e os Teus pobres com justiça. ³ Que as montanhas produzam paz para o povo, e as colinas produzam retidão.

⁴ Que ele julgue os pobres do povo, salve os filhos dos necessitados e esmague o opressor. ⁵ Que eles Te honrem enquanto durar o sol e enquanto houver a lua, por todas as gerações.

⁶ Que ele desça como a chuva sobre a erva ceifada, como o aguaceiro que rega a terra. ⁷ Que os justos floresçam nos seus dias, e haja uma abundância de paz até que não mais exista a lua.

⁸ Que ele tenha domínio de um mar a outro, do rio até as extremidades da terra. ⁹ Que aqueles que vivem no deserto se inclinem diante dele, e seus inimigos lambam o pó. ¹⁰ Que os reis de Társis e das ilhas paguem-lhe tributos, e os reis de Sabá e de Seba ofereçam-lhe presentes.

¹¹ Que todos os reis se prostrem diante dele, que todas as nações o sirvam. ¹² Pois ele ajuda o necessitado, que clama, e o aflito, pois não têm quem os socorra.

¹³ Ele se compadece do pobre e do necessitado, e salva a vida dos que estão em necessidade. ¹⁴ Ele resgata as suas vidas da opressão e da violência, o sangue deles é precioso aos seus olhos.

¹⁵ Que viva o rei! Que o ouro de Sabá lhe seja dado. Que as pessoas sempre orem por ele, e Deus o abençoe em todo o dia. ¹⁶ Haja abundância de grãos na terra, no topo das montanhas, suas plantações se ondulem; que o seu fruto seja como o do Líbano, e que os habitantes das cidades floresçam como a relva no campo.

¹⁷ Que o seu nome permaneça para sempre, que seu nome continue assim como o sol; que as pessoas o abençoem e todas as nações o chamem de abençoado.

¹⁸ Bendito seja Yahweh Deus, o Deus de Israel, o único que faz maravilhas. ¹⁹ Que Seu glorioso nome seja exaltado para sempre, e toda a terra se encha com a Sua glória! Amém e amém! ²⁰ As orações de Davi, filho de Jessé, terminam aqui.

Capítulo 73

Livro Três

Salmo de Asafe.

¹ Certamente, Deus é bom para Israel, para aqueles cujo coração é puro.

² Mas quanto a mim, meus pés quase deslizaram; meus pés quase escorregaram debaixo de mim, ³ porque eu tinha inveja dos arrogantes quando eu vi a prosperidade dos perversos.

⁴ Pois eles não passam por aflições nem na morte, mas são fortes e bem alimentados. ⁵ Eles são livres das cargas dos outros mortais; não são afligidos como os outros homens.

⁶ O orgulho os adorna como um colar em volta de seus pescoços; a violência os veste como um manto. ⁷ De tal cegueira vem o pecado; maus pensamentos passam através de seus corações.

⁸ Zombeteiramente, dizem coisas más; orgulhosamente, eles ameaçam com violência. ⁹ Com a boca falam contra os céus, e suas línguas perambulam pela terra.

¹⁰ Desta forma, o seu povo se volta para eles e bebe, abundantemente, de suas palavras. ¹¹ Eles dizem: "Como Deus sabe? Tem algum conhecimento o Altíssimo?" ¹² Essas pessoas são perversas; elas estão sempre despreocupadas, tornando-se cada vez mais ricas.

¹³ Certamente, foi em vão eu ter guardado meu coração e lavado minhas mãos na inocência. ¹⁴ Pois tenho sido afligido o dia todo, e sou disciplinado a cada manhã. ¹⁵ Se eu tivesse dito: "Eu falarei essas coisas", eu teria traído a geração dos Teus filhos.

¹⁶ Embora eu tentasse compreendê-las, isto era muito difícil para mim. ¹⁷ Então eu entrei no santuário de Deus e entendi o destino deles.

¹⁸ Certamente, Tu os colocas em lugares escorregadios; Tu os fazes cair na ruína. ¹⁹ Eles se tornam uma desolação num momento, e são totalmente consumidos de pavor. ²⁰ Eles são como um sonho depois que se acorda; Yahweh, quando Te levantares, Tu nada pensarás sobre eles.

²¹ Pois meu coração estava aflito, e eu estava profundamente ferido. ²² Eu era estúpido e ignorante; eu era como um animal selvagem diante de Ti.

²³ Todavia, estou sempre Contigo; Tu seguras minha mão direita. ²⁴ Tu me guiarás com Teu conselho e, depois, me receberás em glória.

²⁵ Quem tenho nos céus senão a Ti? Não há ninguém na terra que eu deseje senão a Ti. ²⁶ Minha carne e meu coração se enfraquecem, mas Deus é a força do meu coração para sempre.

²⁷ Aqueles que estão longe de Ti perecerão; Tu destruirás todos os que são infiéis a Ti. ²⁸ Mas quanto a mim, tudo o que eu preciso fazer é me aproximar de Deus. Eu fiz de Yahweh Deus o meu refúgio. Eu proclamarei todos os Teus feitos.

Capítulo 74

Masquil de Asafe.

¹ Deus, por que nos rejeitaste eternamente? Por que Tua ira queima contra as ovelhas de Teu pasto?

² Traz à lembrança o Teu povo, aquele que redimiste nos tempos antigos, aquele que adquiriste para ser Tua própria herança, e o monte Sião, onde Tu habitas.

³ Vem ver as ruínas completas, todo o dano que o inimigo fez no lugar santo. ⁴ Teus adversários rugiram no meio do lugar que Tu designaste; eles hastearam suas bandeiras de batalha. ⁵ Eles o destruíram com machados, como se fosse uma densa floresta. ⁶ Eles esmagaram e quebraram todos os entalhes de madeira; eles os quebraram com machados e martelos.

⁷ E atearam fogo em Teu santuário; eles profanaram o local onde vives, lançando-o ao chão. ⁸ Disseram em seus corações: "Nós destruiremos todos eles". E queimaram todos os Teus santuários no país.

⁹ Nós não vemos mais nenhum sinal milagroso de Deus; não há mais profetas, e ninguém dentre nós sabe quanto tempo isso vai durar. ¹⁰ Até quando, ó Deus, o inimigo continuará a insultar-Te? O inimigo blasfemará o Teu nome para sempre? ¹¹ Por que reténs a Tua mão, a Tua mão direita? Tira a Tua mão direita das Tuas vestes e os destrói.

¹² Mas Deus tem sido meu Rei desde os tempos antigos, trazendo salvação à terra. ¹³ Tu dividiste o mar pela Tua força; esmagaste as cabeças dos monstros marinhos nas águas.

¹⁴ Tu esmagaste a cabeça do Leviatã e o deste como alimento para aqueles que vivem no deserto. ¹⁵ Abriste fontes e córregos; secaste rios perenes.

¹⁶ O dia é Teu, e a noite é Tua também; colocaste o sol e a lua em seu lugar. ¹⁷ Estabeleceste todos os limites da terra; Tu fizeste o verão e o inverno.

¹⁸ Relembra-Te como o inimigo diz insultos contra Ti, Yahweh, como aquele povo tolo que blasfemou Teu nome. ¹⁹ Não entregues a vida de Tua pomba a um animal selvagem. Não Te esqueças para sempre da vida do Teu povo oprimido.

²⁰ Traz à mente Tua aliança, pois as regiões escuras da terra estão cheias de violência. ²¹ Não deixes que o oprimido retorne envergonhado. Que o pobre e o oprimido louvem o Teu nome.

²² Levanta-Te, Deus; defende Tua própria honra; lembra-Te como os tolos Te insultam o dia todo. ²³ Não Te esqueças da voz de Teu adversário ou do alvoroço dos que continuam a desafiar-Te.

Capítulo 75

Para o regente musical; adaptado para Al Tachete. Salmo de Asafe, um cântico.

¹ Damos-Te graças, ó Deus; agradecemos, pois Teu nome está perto; os homens declaram as Tuas maravilhas.

² Quando Eu escolher o tempo determinado, julgarei com retidão. ³ Ainda que a terra e todos os que nela habitam tremam de medo, Eu sustento os pilares da terra.

Interlúdio

⁴ Eu disse aos soberbos: “Não sejais arrogantes!” E aos perversos: “Não vos vanglorieis! ⁵ Não vos exalteis, nem faleis com arrogância." ⁶ Pois a vitória não vem do leste, nem do oeste, nem do deserto.

⁷ Mas Deus é o Juiz; Ele humilha um e exalta outro. ⁸ Pois há um cálice na mão de Yahweh, com vinho espumante misturado com especiarias, e Ele o derrama. Certamente, todos os perversos da terra o beberão até a última gota.

⁹ Mas, quanto a mim, anunciarei para sempre o que fizeste, cantarei louvores ao Deus de Jacó. ¹⁰ Ele diz: “Aniquilarei as forças do perverso, mas as forças do justo serão exaltadas."

Capítulo 76

Para o regente musical, com instrumentos de cordas. Salmo de Asafe. Um cântico.

¹ Deus tornou-Se conhecido em Judá; Seu nome é grande em Israel.

² Sua tenda fica em Salém; Sua morada está em Sião. ³ Ali, Ele quebrou as flechas dos arcos, o escudo, a espada e as outras armas de guerra.

Interlúdio

⁴ Tu és mais glorioso e excelente que as montanhas de despojos. ⁵ Aqueles que têm o coração valente foram saqueados; eles caíram no sono. Todos os guerreiros foram inúteis.

⁶ Diante da Tua repreensão, ó Deus de Jacó, cavaleiros e cavalos adormecem. ⁷ Somente Tu és temido. Quem pode ficar ao Teu lado quando estás irado?

⁸ Dos céus, fizeste Teu julgamento ser ouvido; a terra ficou temerosa e em silêncio ⁹ quando Tu, ó Deus, Te levantaste para executar julgamento e para salvar todos os oprimidos da terra.

Interlúdio

¹⁰ Certamente, a Tua ira contra os homens será para o Teu louvor, e, com o restante da ira, Te cingirás.

¹¹ Fazei votos a Yahweh, vosso Deus, e os cumpri. Que todos os que estão ao Seu redor tragam presentes, pois Ele deve ser temido. ¹² Ele retira o espírito dos príncipes; Ele é temido pelos reis da terra!

Capítulo 77

Para o regente musical, à maneira de Jedutum. Salmo de Asafe.

¹ Com minha voz, clamo a Deus; com minha voz, clamo a Deus e Ele me escuta.

² No dia da minha aflição, eu busco a Yahweh; à noite, eu estendo minhas mãos para fora e elas não se cansam. Minha alma se recusa a ser consolada. ³ Eu me lembro de Deus enquanto eu gemo; penso Nele enquanto eu desfaleço.

Interlúdio

⁴ Tu manténs meus olhos abertos; eu estou muito perturbado para falar. ⁵ Penso sobre os dias antigos, sobre tempos que já passaram.

⁶ Durante a noite, eu me relembro da canção que um dia cantei. Penso cuidadosamente e tento compreender o que aconteceu. ⁷ Yahweh me rejeitará para sempre? Ele nunca mais me mostrará Seu favor novamente?

⁸ Seu amor leal se foi para sempre? Sua promessa falhou para sempre? ⁹ Yahweh Se esqueceu de ser gracioso? Sua fúria excluiu Sua compaixão?

Interlúdio

¹⁰ Eu digo: “Este é o meu pesar: a mão direita do Altíssimo mudou para conosco."

¹¹ Mas eu trarei à mente os Teus feitos, Yahweh, eu pensarei sobre Tuas maravilhosas obras da antiguidade. ¹² Meditarei sobre todos os Teus feitos e refletirei neles.

¹³ Teu caminho, ó Deus, é santo; que deus se compara ao nosso grandioso Deus? ¹⁴ Tu és o Deus que realiza maravilhas; Tu tens revelado Tua força entre os povos. ¹⁵ Pelo Teu grande poder, Tu deste vitória ao Teu povo, os descendentes de Jacó e José.

Interlúdio

¹⁶ As águas Te viram, ó Deus, as águas Te viram e tiveram medo; os abismos tremeram. ¹⁷ As nuvens derramaram água, os céus nublados trovejaram, Tuas flechas reluziram.

¹⁸ Tua voz de trovão foi ouvida nos ventos; os relâmpagos iluminaram o mundo; a terra tremeu e se abalou. ¹⁹ Tua vereda passou pelo mar e Teu caminho pelas águas em ascensão, mas Tuas pegadas não foram vistas. ²⁰ Tu guiaste o Teu povo como um rebanho, pelas mãos de Moisés e Arão.

Capítulo 78

Masquil de Asafe.

¹ Escutai meus ensinamentos, povo meu, ouvi as palavras da minha boca.

² Abrirei minha boca em parábolas; contarei sobre coisas ocultas do passado.

³ O que ouvimos e aprendemos, o que os nossos pais nos contaram, ⁴ não ocultaremos dos nossos descendentes. Contaremos às próximas gerações sobre os atos louváveis de Yahweh, Sua força, e as maravilhas que Ele fez.

⁵ Pois Ele estabeleceu os decretos da aliança em Jacó e instituiu uma lei em Israel, ordenando que os nossos antepassados a ensinassem aos seus filhos. ⁶ Assim ordenou para que a geração seguinte conhecesse Seus decretos, os filhos ainda não nascidos, que também deveriam contar aos seus próprios filhos.

⁷ Então, eles colocariam sua esperança em Deus e não se esqueceriam dos Seus feitos, mas guardariam Suas ordenanças. ⁸ Eles não seriam como seus antepassados, que foi uma geração teimosa e rebelde; uma geração cujo coração não era reto, e cujo espírito não era comprometido com Deus, nem fiel a Ele.

⁹ Os filhos de Efraim estavam armados com arcos, mas retrocederam no dia da batalha. ¹⁰ Eles não guardaram a aliança de Deus, e se recusaram a obedecer à Sua lei. ¹¹ Eles se esqueceram dos Seus feitos e das maravilhas que lhes havia mostrado.

¹² Maravilhas que foram feitas diante dos olhos dos seus antepassados na terra do Egito, na terra de Zoã. ¹³ Ele dividiu o mar e os guiou ao atravessá-lo; Ele fez as águas se levantarem como muros. ¹⁴ Durante o dia, os guiava com uma nuvem e, durante a noite, com a luz do fogo.

¹⁵ Ele partiu as rochas no deserto, e lhes deu água em abundância, suficiente para encher as profundezas do mar. ¹⁶ Ele fez ribeiros fluírem da pedra e fez a água fluir como rios.

¹⁷ Ainda assim, continuaram a pecar contra Ele, rebelando-se contra o Altíssimo no deserto. ¹⁸ Eles desafiaram a Deus em seus corações ao pedirem comida para satisfazerem sua vontade.

¹⁹ Eles falaram contra Deus: "Poderia Deus, realmente, preparar uma mesa para nós no deserto? ²⁰ Sabemos que, quando Ele bateu na pedra, águas brotaram e ribeiros fluíram, mas poderá Ele também dar-nos pão? Proverá carne para Seu povo?"

²¹ Quando Yahweh ouviu isso, irou-Se; então, Seu fogo ardeu contra Jacó e Sua ira atacou Israel, ²² pois eles não acreditaram em Deus e não confiaram em Sua salvação.

²³ Então, Ele ordenou aos altos céus e abriu as suas portas. ²⁴ Ele fez chover maná para que comessem, e deu-lhes os grãos do céu. ²⁵ O povo comeu o pão dos anjos. Ele lhes enviou comida em abundância.

²⁶ Fez com que o vento do leste soprasse no céu e, por Seu poder, guiou o vento sul. ²⁷ Fez chover carne sobre eles como pó, pássaros tão numerosos quanto a areia do mar. ²⁸ Estes caíram no meio do acampamento, ao redor das tendas.

²⁹ Então, comeram até se fartarem, pois Ele lhes deu o que haviam desejado. ³⁰ Mas, antes que eles estivessem satisfeitos, quando a comida ainda estava em suas bocas,

³¹ a ira de Deus os atacou e matou seus mais fortes. Ele derrubou os jovens de Israel. ³² Apesar disso, eles continuaram a pecar e não acreditaram em Seus feitos maravilhosos.

³³ Por isso, Deus encurtou os seus dias; seus anos foram cheios de terror. ³⁴ Sempre que Deus os afligia, eles começavam a buscá-Lo, e voltavam e, fervorosamente, O buscavam.

³⁵ Eles lembravam que Deus era a sua Rocha e que o Altíssimo era o seu Resgatador. ³⁶ Eles O bajulavam com suas bocas, mas Lhe mentiam com suas palavras. ³⁷ Pois seus corações não eram plenamente sinceros com Ele, e eles não eram fiéis à Sua aliança.

³⁸ Mesmo assim, Deus, sendo misericordioso, perdoou suas iniquidades e não os destruiu. Sim, muitas vezes, Ele reteve Sua ira e não acendeu todo o Seu furor.

³⁹ Lembrou-se de que eles foram feitos de carne, como um vento que passa e não retorna. ⁴⁰ Quantas vezes se rebelaram contra Ele no deserto e O entristeceram nas regiões infrutíferas! ⁴¹ Repetidamente, eles desafiaram a Deus e ofenderam o Santo de Israel.

⁴² Não pensaram no Seu poder, nem como Ele os resgatou do inimigo, ⁴³ quando mostrou Seus terríveis sinais no Egito e Suas maravilhas na região de Zoã.

⁴⁴ Ele transformou os rios dos egípcios em sangue, para que eles não bebessem de suas correntes. ⁴⁵ Enviou enxames de moscas para devorá-los, e sapos que assolaram suas terras. ⁴⁶ Deu suas colheitas às larvas e seu trabalho, aos gafanhotos.

⁴⁷ Ele destruiu suas vinhas com granizo e seus sicômoros com mais granizo ainda. ⁴⁸ Entregou seu gado ao granizo e seus rebanhos aos raios. ⁴⁹ O ardor da Sua ira queimou contra eles, enviando Seu furor, Sua fúria e Sua aflição como agentes que traziam desastre.

⁵⁰ Ele abriu caminho para Sua ira; não os poupou da morte, mas os entregou à praga. ⁵¹ Matou todos os primogênitos do Egito, o primogênito de suas forças nas tendas de Cam.

⁵² Conduziu Seu próprio povo para fora como ovelhas e os guiou através do deserto, como a um rebanho. ⁵³ Conduziu Seu povo, com segurança e sem temor, e o mar cobriu seus inimigos.

⁵⁴ Então, os trouxe para as fronteiras da Sua terra santa, até o monte que Sua mão direita adquiriu. ⁵⁵ Expulsou as nações de diante deles e deu sua herança, estabelecendo as tribos de Israel em suas tendas.

⁵⁶ Ainda assim, eles contestaram e desafiaram o Altíssimo Deus e não mantiveram Suas promessas solenes. ⁵⁷ Foram infiéis e agiram traiçoeiramente como seus pais; eram tão incertos quanto um arco defeituoso.

⁵⁸ Eles O irritaram com seus altares pagãos e provocaram Sua ira com seus ídolos. ⁵⁹ Quando Deus ouviu isso, irou-se, e rejeitou completamente Israel.

⁶⁰ Ele abandonou o tabernáculo de Siló, a tenda onde havia vivido entre o povo. ⁶¹ Ele permitiu que Sua Arca fosse capturada e entregou Sua glória na mão do inimigo.

⁶² Entregou Seu povo à espada, e enfureceu-se contra Seus herdeiros. ⁶³ Fogo devorou seus jovens, e suas jovens não tiveram canto nupcial.

⁶⁴ Seus sacerdotes caíram à espada, e suas viúvas não puderam chorar. ⁶⁵ Então, Yahweh acordou como se dormisse, como um guerreiro que grita por causa de vinho. ⁶⁶ Ele expulsou Seus adversários e os entregou à vergonha eterna.

⁶⁷ Rejeitou a tenda de José, e não escolheu a tribo de Efraim. ⁶⁸ Escolheu a tribo de Judá e o Monte Sião, que Ele amava. ⁶⁹ Ele edificou Seu santuário como os céus, como a terra que Ele estabeleceu para sempre.

⁷⁰ Escolheu Davi, Seu servo, e o tomou do pastoreio de ovelhas. ⁷¹ Tirou-o do trabalho com as ovelhas e seus filhotes, e o trouxe para ser pastor de Jacó, Seu povo, e de Israel, Sua herança. ⁷² Davi os pastoreou com a integridade de seu coração e os guiou com a habilidade de suas mãos.

Capítulo 79

Salmo de Asafe.

¹ Ó Deus, nações estrangeiras invadiram Tua herança; eles contaminaram Teu santo templo e transformaram Jerusalém em um monte de ruínas.

² Eles deram os cadáveres dos Teus servos como alimento às aves do céu, os corpos de Teu povo fiel, às bestas da terra. ³ Eles derramaram o sangue dos cadáveres como água, em torno de Jerusalém, e não havia ninguém para os enterrar.

⁴ Nós nos tornamos motivo de repreensão para nossos vizinhos, motivo de zombaria e escárnio daqueles que nos cercam. ⁵ Por quanto tempo, Yahweh? Tu ficarás irado para sempre? Por quanto tempo, arderá o Teu ciúme como fogo?

⁶ Derrama Tua ira sobre as nações que não Te conhecem e sobre os reinos que não invocam o Teu nome. ⁷ Pois eles devoraram Jacó e destruíram suas vilas.

⁸ Não cobres de nós os pecados dos nossos antepassados; que Teus atos misericordiosos venham a nós, pois estamos muito desanimados. ⁹ Ajuda-nos, Deus da nossa salvação, por causa da glória do Teu nome; salva-nos e perdoa nossos pecados por amor do Teu nome.

¹⁰ Por que as nações diriam: “Onde está o Deus deles?”. Que o sangue derramado de Teus servos seja vingado nas nações, diante dos nossos olhos. ¹¹ Que os lamentos dos prisioneiros venham diante de Ti; com a grandeza de Teu poder, preservas os condenados à morte.

¹² Retribui às nossas nações vizinhas sete vezes o insulto que fizeram a Ti, Senhor. ¹³ Então, nós, o Teu povo e Tuas ovelhas do Teu pasto, Te daremos graças para sempre. Nós contaremos os Teus louvores a todas as gerações.

Capítulo 80

Para o regente musical; adaptado para o estilo Shoshanim Edut. Salmo de Asafe.

¹ Escuta, ó Pastor de Israel, Tu, que, como um rebanho, guias José; Tu, que assentas acima dos querubins, brilha sobre nós!

² Perante Efraim, Benjamim e Manassés, desperta o Teu poder, vem e salva-nos. ³ Ó Deus, restaura-nos; brilha a Tua face sobre nós, e seremos salvos.

⁴ Yahweh, Deus dos Exércitos, até quando ficarás zangado com as orações do Teu povo? ⁵ Tu os alimentaste com pão de lágrimas e deste-lhes grande quantidade de lágrimas para beber. ⁶ Tu nos colocaste por objeto de disputa para os nossos vizinhos, e nossos inimigos caçoam de nós entre si.

⁷ Deus dos Exércitos, restaura-nos; brilha a Tua face sobre nós, e seremos salvos. ⁸ Trouxeste uma videira do Egito; Tu expulsaste as nações e a plantaste.

⁹ Limpaste a terra para ela, que lançou raízes e encheu a terra. ¹⁰ As montanhas foram cobertas com a sua sombra e os cedros de Deus, com os seus galhos. ¹¹ Ela estendeu seus galhos até o mar e seus ramos até o rio Eufrates.

¹² Por que derrubaste seus muros para que todos os que passam colham suas uvas? ¹³ O javali da floresta as destrói, e os animais selvagens do campo alimentam-se delas.

¹⁴ Volta-Te, ó Deus dos Exércitos; olha do céu abaixo, vê e cuida dessa videira. ¹⁵ Esta é a raiz que a Tua mão direita plantou, o broto que fizeste crescer. ¹⁶ Ela está queimada e cortada; que todos os Teus inimigos pereçam, por causa da Tua repreensão.

¹⁷ Que a Tua mão esteja sobre o homem que está à Tua direta, sobre o filho do homem que fortaleceste para Ti. ¹⁸ Então, não nos afastaremos de Ti; vivifica-nos, e invocaremos o Teu nome.

¹⁹ Restaura-nos, Yahweh, Deus dos Exércitos; faze a Tua face brilhar sobre nós, e seremos salvos.

Capítulo 81

Para o regente musical; adapatado ao estilo Gitite. Salmo de Asafe.

¹ Cantai, em voz alta, a Deus, nossa força; aclamai de alegria ao Deus de Jacó.

² Cantai uma canção e tocai o tamborim, a lira prazerosa e a harpa. ³ Tocai a trombeta no dia da lua nova e no dia da lua cheia, quando nossos dias de festa começarem.

⁴ Pois é um estatuto para Israel, um decreto dado pelo Deus de Jacó. ⁵ Ele ordenou como uma regra a José, quando foi contra a terra do Egito, onde ouvi uma língua que não conhecia.

⁶ "Eu removi o fardo do seu ombro; suas mãos foram libertas dos cestos. ⁷ Na tua aflição, clamaste e Eu te ajudei; Eu te respondi de uma nuvem escura de trovão. Eu te provei nas águas de Meribá.

Interlúdio

⁸ Escuta, Meu povo, pois Eu estou te advertindo, ó Israel. Se apenas me ouvisses! ⁹ Não tenhas deuses estranhos no meio de ti; não adores nenhum deus estrangeiro. ¹⁰ Eu sou Yahweh, teu Deus, que te trouxe da terra do Egito. Abre a tua boca e Eu a encherei.

¹¹ Mas Meu povo não ouviu as Minhas palavras; Israel não Me obedeceu. ¹² Então, Eu os entreguei à sua própria teimosia, para fazerem o que lhes parecesse certo.

¹³ Ó, se Meu povo Me escutasse! Ó, se Meu povo andasse em Meus caminhos! ¹⁴ Então, Eu rapidamente subjugaria seus inimigos e viraria Minha mão contra seus opressores.

¹⁵ Que aqueles que odeiam Yahweh se encolham de medo diante Dele! Que eles sejam humilhados para sempre. ¹⁶ Eu alimentaria Israel com o melhor do trigo; Eu te satisfaria com o mel da rocha”.

Capítulo 82

Salmo de Asafe.

¹ Deus põe-Se de pé na divina assembleia; no meio dos deuses, Ele profere o julgamento.

² Até quando vós julgareis injustamente e mostrareis favoritismo aos ímpios?

Interlúdio

³ Defendei os pobres e os órfãos; garanti os direitos dos aflitos e dos desamparados. ⁴ Resgatai o pobre e o necessitado; tirai-os da terra dos perversos.

⁵ Eles não sabem, nem entendem; eles vagueiam na escuridão; todas as fundações da terra sucumbem.

⁶ Eu disse: "Vós sois deuses e todos vós sois filhos do Altíssimo. ⁷ No entanto, morrerão como homens e cairão como qualquer um dos príncipes."

⁸ Levanta-Te, ó Deus, julga a terra, pois Tu tens uma herança em todas as nações.

Capítulo 83

Salmo de Asafe. Um cântico.

¹ Deus, não fiques em silêncio! Não nos ignores, nem Te mantenhas imóvel, ó Deus.

² Vê, Teus inimigos estão fazendo um tumulto e aqueles que Te odeiam levantaram suas cabeças.

³ Eles conspiram contra o Teu povo e, juntos, planejam contra os protegidos. ⁴ Eles disseram: "Vinde, vamos destruí-los como nação. Então, o nome de Israel não será mais lembrado". ⁵ Juntos, eles tramaram uma estratégia e fizeram uma aliança contra Ti.

⁶ Isso inclui as tendas de Edom e os ismaelitas, o povo de Moabe e os hagarenos, que tramam juntos a ⁷ Gebal, Amom, Amaleque; isso também inclui a Filístia e os habitantes de Tiro.

⁸ Assíria também está aliada a eles; estão ajudando os descendentes de Ló.

Interlúdio

⁹ Faze a eles como fizeste a Midiã; como fizeste a Sísera e a Jabim no rio Quisom. ¹⁰ Eles pereceram em En-Dor e se tornaram esterco para a terra.

¹¹ Faze a seus nobres como a Orebe e a Zeebe, e a todos os seus príncipes, como a Zebá e a Zalmuna. ¹² Eles disseram: "Deixai-nos tomar as pastagens de Deus."

¹³ Meu Deus, torna-os como o redemoinho, como palha ante o vento, ¹⁴ como o fogo que queima a floresta e como a chama que incendeia as montanhas. ¹⁵ Persegue-os com o Teu vento forte, e apavora-os com a Tua tempestade de vento.

¹⁶ Cobre seus rostos com vergonha para que busquem Teu nome, Yahweh. ¹⁷ Que sejam envergonhados e aterrorizados para sempre; que pereçam em desgraça.

¹⁸ Então, saberão que somente Tu, Yahweh, és o Altíssimo sobre toda a terra!

Capítulo 84

Para o regente musical; adaptado ao estilo Gitite. Salmo dos filhos de Corá.

¹ Quão amável é o lugar da Tua habitação, Yahweh dos Exércitos!

² Minha alma anseia e desfalece pelos átrios de Yahweh; meu coração e todo o meu ser clamam pelo Deus vivo.

³ Até o pardal achou casa, e a andorinha, ninho para si, onde possa abrigar seus filhotes; eu encontrei Teus altares, Yahweh dos Exércitos, meu Rei e meu Deus! ⁴ Abençoados são aqueles que vivem em Tua casa; aqueles que Te louvam continuamente.

Interlúdio

⁵ Abençoado é o homem cuja força está em Ti, em cujo coração, estão os caminhos retos. ⁶ Passando pelo vale de Baca, eles encontram fontes de água para beber, como as primeiras chuvas fazem ao transbordar as cisternas.

⁷ Eles caminham com vigor crescente, até que cada um se apresente a Deus em Sião. ⁸ Yahweh, Deus dos Exércitos, ouve minha oração; escuta o que estou dizendo, Deus de Jacó!

Interlúdio

⁹ Ó Deus, nosso escudo, mostra preocupação pelo Teu ungido. ¹⁰ Pois mais vale um dia em Teus átrios que mil em outro lugar. Eu prefiro ficar à porta da casa do meu Deus a viver nas tendas dos ímpios.

¹¹ Pois Yahweh Deus é sol e escudo; Yahweh dá graça e honra; Ele não recusa nenhum bem àqueles que caminham em integridade. ¹² Yahweh dos Exércitos, abençoado é o homem que em Ti confia.

Capítulo 85

Ao regente musical. Salmo dos filhos de Corá.

¹ Yahweh, Tu mostraste favor à Tua terra; restauraste o bem-estar de Jacó.

² Perdoaste a iniquidade do Teu povo; cobriste todos os seus pecados.

Interlúdio

³ Retiraste toda a Tua ira; desviaste o Teu furor. ⁴ Restaura-nos, Deus da nossa salvação, e retira de nós a Tua ira. ⁵ Ficarás irado conosco para sempre? Permanecerás irado através das gerações futuras?

⁶ Não nos vivificará novamente? Então, o Teu povo se regozijará em Ti. ⁷ Mostra-nos a Tua fidelidade, Yahweh, concede-nos a Tua salvação.

⁸ Eu ouvirei o que Deus Yahweh diz, porque Ele fará as pazes com o Seu povo, Seus fiéis seguidores. No entanto, eles não devem voltar aos caminhos insensatos. ⁹ Certamente, Sua salvação está próxima dos que O temem; então, a glória permanecerá em nossa terra.

¹⁰ A fidelidade e a verdade se encontraram; a justiça e a paz se beijaram. ¹¹ A verdade brotará do chão e a justiça olhará desde o céu.

¹² Sim, Yahweh dará Suas boas dádivas e nossa terra produzirá seus frutos. ¹³ A justiça irá adiante Dele e fará um caminho para as Suas pegadas.

Capítulo 86

Oração de Davi.

¹ Escuta, Yahweh, e me responda, pois eu sou pobre e oprimido.

² Proteja-me, pois eu sou fiel; meu Deus, salva Teu servo que confia em Ti.

³ Seja misericordioso comigo, Senhor, pois a Ti eu clamo o dia todo. ⁴ Alegra o teu servo, pois a Ti, Senhor, eu oro.

⁵ Senhor, Tu és bom. Pronto a perdoar, mostras grande benignidade para com todos os que Te invocam. ⁶ Yahweh, escuta minha oração e atende à voz das minhas súplicas. ⁷ No dia da minha angústia, eu clamarei a Ti e Tu me responderás.

⁸ Não há ninguém entre os deuses que se compare a Ti, Senhor; Não há obras como as Tuas. ⁹ Todas as nações que criastes virão e se prostrarão diante de Ti, Senhor, e honrarão o Teu nome.

¹⁰ Pois Tu és grande e Teus feitos são maravilhosos; somente Tu és Deus! ¹¹ Ensina-me, Yahweh, os Teus caminhos e, então, eu andarei na Tua verdade. Prepara meu coração para temer o Teu nome. ¹² Senhor, meu Deus, eu Te louvarei com todo o meu coração e glorificarei Teu nome para sempre.

¹³ Pois grande é a Tua fidelidade para comigo; Tu resgataste minha vida das profundezas do Sheol. ¹⁴ Deus, o arrogante se levantou contra mim. Muitos homens violentos atentam contra a minha vida. Eles não respeitam a Ti.

¹⁵ Mas Tu, Senhor, és um Deus misericordioso e gracioso, tardio para irar-Te e abundante em fidelidade e verdade. ¹⁶ Volta-Te para mim e tenha misericórdia de mim; dá forças ao Teu servo; salva o filho de Tua serva. ¹⁷ Mostra-me um sinal do Teu favor. Então, aqueles que me odeiam verão e se envergonharão, pois Tu, Yahweh, tens me ajudado e me confortado.

Capítulo 87

Cântico. Salmo dos filhos de Corá.

¹ Sobre o monte santo fica a cidade por Ele fundada.

² Yahweh ama os portões de Sião mais do que todas as tendas de Jacó. ³ Coisas gloriosas são ditas sobre Ti, cidade de Deus.

Interlúdio

⁴ Mencionei Raabe e Babilônia aos meus seguidores. Vê, eis a Filístia e Tiro, juntamente com a Etiópia – e direi: "Este aqui nasceu lá."

⁵ De Sião será dito: "Cada um destes nasceu nela; e o próprio Altíssimo a estabelecerá." ⁶ Yahweh escreve no livro de registro das nações: "Este, nasceu lá."

Interlúdio

⁷ Então, tanto os cantores quanto os dançarinos dizem: "Todas as minhas fontes estão em Ti."

Capitulo 88

Cântico: Salmo dos filhos de Corá; ao regente musical, adaptado para Maalate Leanote. Masquil de Hemã, o ezraíta.

¹ Yahweh, Deus da minha salvação, eu clamo dia e noite diante de Ti.

² Escuta a minha oração, ouve o meu choro.

³ Estou cheio de aflições e minha vida atingiu o Sheol. ⁴ As pessoas me tratam como aquele que vai para a cova; eu sou um homem sem forças.

⁵ Estou abandonado entre os mortos; sou como os mortos deitados no túmulo, sobre quem não Te importas mais, porque eles estão afastados do Teu cuidado. ⁶ Colocaste-me no fundo da cova, no escuro e nas profundezas.

⁷ Tua ira repousa pesada sobre mim e todas as Tuas ondas se quebram sobre mim.

Interlúdio

⁸ Por causa de Ti, meus conhecidos me evitam. Tu me fizeste uma abominação para eles. Estou cercado e não posso escapar.

⁹ Meus olhos estão enfraquecidos por causa das minhas aflições; o dia todo eu clamo a Ti, Yahweh. Eu ergo minhas mãos a Ti. ¹⁰ Farás maravilhas pelos mortos? Os que já morreram se levantarão e adorarão a Ti?

Interlúdio

¹¹ Será a Tua fidelidade proclamada na sepultura e a Tua lealdade, no lugar dos mortos? ¹² Será que as Tuas maravilhas serão conhecidas na escuridão, ou a Tua retidão no lugar de esquecimento?

¹³ Mas eu clamo a Ti, Yahweh; pela manhã, minha oração chega perante Ti. ¹⁴ Yahweh, por que me rejeitas? Por que escondes Tua face de mim?

¹⁵ Desde a minha juventude, eu sempre estive afligido e à beira da morte. Sofri sob Teus horrores; eu estou desesperado. ¹⁶ A Tua ira veio sobre mim e os Teus terrores me aniquilaram.

¹⁷ Rodeiam-me como água o dia todo; todos têm-me cercado. ¹⁸ Tiraste de mim todo amigo e conhecido. Minha única conhecida é a escuridão.

Capítulo 89

Masquil de Etã, o ezraíta.

¹ Eu cantarei para sempre as bondades de Yahweh. Proclamarei Sua verdade às futuras gerações.

² Pois, disse eu: "A fidelidade foi estabelecida para sempre; Tu estabeleceste a Tua verdade nos céus."

³ "Fiz uma aliança com o Meu escolhido, fiz um juramento ao Meu servo Davi. ⁴ Estabelecerei seus descendentes para sempre e firmarei seu trono por todas as gerações."

Interlúdio

⁵ Os céus louvam as Tuas maravilhas, Yahweh; aTua verdade é louvada na assembleia dos santos. ⁶ Quem nos céus se compara a Yahweh? Quem entre os seres celestiais é como Yahweh?

⁷ Ele é um Deus grandemente honrado no conselho dos santos e temido entre todos os que O cercam. ⁸ Yahweh Deus dos Exércitos, quem é poderoso como Tu, Yahweh? A Tua verdade Te envolve.

⁹ Tu governas o mar revolto; quando as ondas se levantam, Tu as acalmas. ¹⁰ Tu esmagaste Raabe como alguém que foi morto. Dispersaste os Teus inimigos com Teu braço forte.

¹¹ Os céus e a terra pertencem a Ti. Tu fizeste o mundo e tudo o que nele há. ¹² Tu criaste o norte e o sul. Tabor e Hermom regozijam-se no Teu nome.

¹³ Tens um braço poderoso e uma mão forte, e a Tua destra é exaltada. ¹⁴ Retidão e justiça são os fundamentos do Teu trono. A fidelidade e a verdade vêm diante de Ti.

¹⁵ Felizes os que Te adoram! Yahweh, eles andam na luz da Tua face. ¹⁶ Eles se regozijam no Teu nome durante todo o dia, e Te exaltam na Tua justiça.

¹⁷ Tu és a sua força majestosa e pelo Teu favor eles são vitoriosos. ¹⁸ Pois o nosso escudo pertence a Yahweh; ao Santo de Israel pertence o nosso rei.

¹⁹ Há muito tempo atrás, falaste em visão aos Teus fiéis; dizendo: "Coloquei uma coroa sobre alguém poderoso; levantei um escolhido entre o povo. ²⁰ Escolhi Meu servo Davi, e com Meu santo óleo o ungi. ²¹ Minha mão o sustentará; Meu braço o fortalecerá. ²² Nenhum inimigo o enganará; nenhum filho da impiedade o oprimirá. ²³ Esmagarei os inimigos dele na sua presença; matarei todos aqueles que o odiarem.

²⁴ Minha verdade e minha fidelidade estarão com ele; pelo Meu nome, ele será vencedor. ²⁵ Colocarei a sua mão sobre o mar e a sua mão direita sobre os rios. ²⁶ Ele Me chamará: 'Tu és meu Pai, meu Deus e a rocha da minha salvação.'

²⁷ Também o colocarei como Meu primogênito, o mais exaltado dos reis da terra. ²⁸ Estenderei Minha fidelidade para com ele para sempre; e Minha aliança permanecerá segura com ele. ²⁹ Farei seus descendentes subsistirem para sempre, e seu trono durará assim como os céus.

³⁰ Se seus filhos abandonarem a Minha lei e desobedecerem aos Meus decretos, ³¹ se eles quebrarem Minhas regras e desobedecerem às Minhas ordens, ³² então, punirei sua rebelião com vara e suas iniquidades com açoites.

³³ Mas não removerei dele o Meu amor, nem serei infiel à Minha promessa. ³⁴ Não quebrarei Minha aliança ou mudarei as palavras dos Meus lábios.

³⁵ Jurei uma vez por todas pela Minha santidade — Eu não mentirei a Davi — ³⁶ seus descendentes continuarão para sempre em seu trono, assim como o sol perante Mim. ³⁷ Ele será estabelecido para sempre, assim como a lua, testemunha fiel no céu."

Interlúdio

³⁸ Mas Tu o recusaste e o rejeitaste; e Te iraste contra o Teu rei ungido. ³⁹ Renunciaste à aliança do Teu servo. Profanaste a sua coroa e a jogaste no chão. ⁴⁰ Derrubaste todas as suas paredes e arruinaste suas fortalezas.

⁴¹ Todos que passaram o roubaram. Ele se tornou um objeto de escárnio para seus vizinhos. ⁴² Exaltaste a mão direita dos seus inimigos; fizeste todos os seus inimigos se alegrarem. ⁴³ Voltaste o fio da sua espada, e não o sustentaste na batalha.

⁴⁴ Levaste seu esplendor ao fim; derrubaste seu trono no chão. ⁴⁵ Abreviaste os dias da sua juventude e o cobriste com vergonha.

Interlúdio

⁴⁶ Até quando, Yahweh? Tu Te esconderás para sempre? Até quando a Tua ira queimará como fogo? ⁴⁷ Oh, pensa quão curto é o meu tempo e como criaste em vão todos os filhos dos homens! ⁴⁸ Quem pode viver e não morrer, ou resgatar sua própria vida do poder do Sheol?

Interlúdio

⁴⁹ Senhor, onde estão os Teus antigos atos de fidelidade que juraste a Davi? ⁵⁰ Lembra-Te, ó Senhor, das afrontas feitas contra Teu servo e como eu suportei em meu coração os muitos insultos das nações. ⁵¹ Teus inimigos insultaram, Yahweh, e zombaram do Teu ungido.

⁵² Bendito seja Yahweh para sempre. Amém e amém.

Capítulo 90

Livro Quatro.

Oração de Moisés, o homem de Deus.

¹ Senhor, Tu tens sido o nosso refúgio por todas as gerações.

² Antes das montanhas serem formadas, ou antes de formaste a terra e o mundo, de eternidade a eternidade, Tu és Deus.

³ Tu fazes o homem retornar ao pó, e dizes: "Voltai, vós, filhos dos homens." ⁴ Pois, para Ti, mil anos são como o dia de ontem que passou, e como uma vigília da noite.

⁵ Tu os varres como uma inundação e eles adormecem; pela manhã, eles são como a grama que brota. ⁶ Pela manhã, ela brota e cresce; à tarde, ela murcha e seca.

⁷ Na verdade, somos consumidos pela Tua ira, e na Tua fúria ficamos aterrorizados. ⁸ Tu colocaste nossas iniquidades diante de Ti; nossos ocultos pecados, na luz da Tua presença.

⁹ Nossa vida passa sob a Tua fúria; nossos anos se vão rapidamente, como um suspiro. ¹⁰ Nossos anos chegam a setenta ou, se formos saudáveis, a oitenta, mas até mesmo nossos melhores anos são marcados por aflições e tristeza. Sim, eles passam rapidamente e nós voamos.

¹¹ Quem conhece a intensidade da Tua ira e a Tua fúria, conforme o temor que ela incita? ¹² Então, ensina-nos a considerar nossa vida, de modo que vivamos sabiamente. ¹³ Volta-te, Yahweh! Até quando? Tem compaixão dos Teus servos.

¹⁴ Pela manhã, satisfaz-nos com Tua fidelidade para que nos regozijemos e nos alegremos todos os nossos dias. ¹⁵ Alegra-nos pelos dias que nos afligiste e pelos anos em que sofremos. ¹⁶ Que os Teus servos vejam o Teu trabalho e que as nossas crianças vejam a Tua majestade.

¹⁷ Que a graça do Senhor, nosso Deus, seja sobre nós e faça prosperar o trabalho de nossas mãos; sim, que faça prosperar a obra das nossas mãos.

Capítulo 91

¹ Aquele que habita no abrigo do Altíssimo descansará à sombra do Onipotente, e ² dirá de Yahweh: "Ele é meu refúgio e minha fortaleza, meu Deus, em Quem confio."

³ Pois Ele te resgatará do laço do caçador e da praga mortal. ⁴ Ele te protegerá com Suas penas e, sob Suas asas, encontrarás refúgio. Sua verdade é um escudo e proteção.

⁵ Tu não temerás o terror da noite ou a flecha lançada de dia, ⁶ nem a praga que se alastra na escuridão ou a doença que vem ao meio-dia. ⁷ Ainda que milhares caiam ao teu lado e dezenas de milhares, à tua direita, tu não serás atingido.

⁸ Tu apenas observarás e verás a recompensa dos ímpios. ⁹ Pois disseste: "Yahweh é meu refúgio", e fizeste do Altíssimo a tua habitação.

¹⁰ Nenhum mal te sucederá, nem praga alguma chegará à tua tenda. ¹¹ Pois Ele dará ordem a Seus anjos para te protegerem e guardarem em todos os teus caminhos.

¹² Eles te sustentarão com suas mãos para que não tropeces em alguma pedra. ¹³ Esmagarás leões e víboras debaixo de teus pés; pisotearás leões jovens e serpentes.

¹⁴ Porque a Mim se apegou com amor, Eu o livrarei. Eu o protegerei porque ele é leal a Mim. ¹⁵ Quando ele Me invocar, eu lhe responderei. Estarei com ele nas tribulações; Eu lhe darei vitória e o honrarei. ¹⁶ Eu o satisfarei com vida longa e lhe mostrarei a Minha salvação.

Capítulo 92

Salmo. Cântico para o dia de sábado.

¹ É bom render graças a Yahweh e cantar louvores ao Teu nome, ó Altíssimo!

² E proclamar pela manhã o teu amor leal e, todas as noites, a Tua fidelidade, ³ com uma harpa de dez cordas e com a melodia da lira.

⁴ Pois Tu, Yahweh, me alegraste com Teus atos. Exultarei pelas obras das Tuas mãos. ⁵ Como são grandes os Teus atos, Yahweh! Teus pensamentos são muito profundos.

⁶ Uma pessoa violenta não percebe, nem mesmo um tolo entende isto: ⁷ o perverso que cresce como a erva, e mesmo todos os malfeitores que prosperam, estão condenados à destruição eterna.

⁸ Mas Tu, Yahweh, reinarás para sempre. ⁹ De fato, olha para Teus inimigos, Yahweh! De fato, olha para Teus inimigos. Eles perecerão! Todos os que praticam a iniquidade serão dispersos.

¹⁰ Tu tens aumentado o meu poder, como o poder do boi selvagem; fui ungido com óleo fresco. ¹¹ Meus ouvidos têm ouvido e meus olhos têm visto a queda e a destruição de meus cruéis inimigos.

¹² O justo florescerá como a palmeira e crescerá como um cedro do Líbano. ¹³ Eles estão plantados na casa de Yahweh e florescerão nos átrios do nosso Deus.

¹⁴ Eles produzirão frutos mesmo quando idosos; permanecerão viçosos e vigorosos ¹⁵ para proclamarem que Yahweh é justo. Ele é a minha rocha e não há injustiça Nele.

Capítulo 93

¹ Yahweh reina; Ele está vestido de majestade. Yahweh está vestido de força; Ele está cingido de poder. O mundo está firmemente estabelecido; não pode ser abalado. ² Teu trono está estabelecido desde tempos antigos; Tu és desde a eternidade.

³ Os oceanos se levantam, Yahweh; eles levantaram sua voz; suas ondas batem e rugem. ⁴ Acima do ruído de muitas ondas, mais poderoso que as rebentações do mar, mais poderoso é Yahweh nas alturas.

⁵ Teus solenes comandos são extremamente fiéis; a santidade ornamenta Tua Casa, Yahweh, para sempre.

Salmo 94

¹ Yahweh, Deus que vinga, brilha sobre nós, Deus que vinga. ² Levanta-te, juiz da terra! Dá aos orgulhosos o que eles merecem.

³ Até quando os ímpios, Yahweh, até quando os ímpios se alegrarão? ⁴ Eles proferem palavras arrogantes; Todos aqueles que praticam o mal se orgulham.

⁵ Eles esmagam o Teu povo, Yahweh; eles afligem as nações que pertencem a Ti. ⁶ Eles matam a viúva e o estrangeiro, e assassinam o órfão. ⁷ Eles dizem: "Yahweh não verá, o Deus de Jacó não terá conhecimento disso."

⁸ Entendei, ó estúpidos! E vós, tolos, quando tereis sabedoria? ⁹ Aquele que fez os ouvidos não ouvirá? Aquele que formou os olhos não verá?

¹⁰ Aquele que disciplina as nações não corrige? É Ele que dá conhecimento ao homem. ¹¹ Yahweh conhece os pensamentos dos homens, que são como um sopro.

¹² Abençoado é aquele a quem Tu repreendes, Yahweh, aquele a quem ensinas a Tua lei. ¹³ Tu dás a ele descanso em tempos de dificuldade, até que se abra a cova para o ímpio.

¹⁴ Porque Yahweh não renunciará ao Seu povo ou abandonará a Sua herança. ¹⁵ Pois o julgamento será novamente justo; e todos os retos de coração o seguirão. ¹⁶ Quem se levantará para me defender contra os malfeitores? Quem se levantará por mim contra os perversos?

¹⁷ Se Yahweh não tivesse sido minha ajuda, em breve eu estaria deitado no lugar do silêncio. ¹⁸ Quando eu disse: "Meu pé escorrega", Teu amor leal, Yahweh, me sustentou. ¹⁹ Quando as preocupações dentro de mim são muitas, Teu conforto me faz feliz.

²⁰ Pode um trono de iniquidade, o qual cria injustiça em nome da lei, associar-se Contigo? ²¹ Eles conspiram juntos para tirar a vida do justo, e condenam o inocente à morte.

²² Mas Yahweh tem sido minha torre alta; o meu Deus é a rocha do meu refúgio. ²³ Ele lhes trará a sua própria iniquidade e os destruirá em sua própria maldade. Yahweh, nosso Deus, os exterminará.

Salmo 95

¹ Vinde, cantemos a Yahweh; cantemos com alegria à Rocha da nossa salvação. ² Apresentemo-nos diante Dele com ações de graças; cantemos a Ele com salmos de louvor, ³ porque Yahweh é o grande Deus, o grande Rei acima de todos os deuses.

⁴ Em Suas mãos estão as profundezas da terra; os altos das montanhas Lhe pertencem. ⁵ O mar é Dele, pois Ele o fez, e Suas mãos formaram a terra seca.

⁶ Vinde, adoremos e prostemo-nos; ajoelhemos diante de Yahweh, nosso criador. ⁷ Porque Ele é o nosso Deus, e nós somos povo do Seu pasto, e ovelhas das Suas mãos. Hoje – oh, que escutais a Sua voz!

⁸ "Não endureçais o vosso coração, como em Meribá, ou como no dia de Massá, no deserto, ⁹ onde seus antepassados desafiaram a Minha autoridade e provaram a Minha paciência, apesar de terem visto as Minhas obras.

¹⁰ Por quarenta anos, Eu estive irado com aquela geração e disse: 'Esse é um povo cujo coração se desvia; não conhece os Meus caminhos.' ¹¹ Por isso, jurei na Minha ira que eles não entrariam no Meu lugar de descanso."

Salmo 96

¹ Oh! Cantai a Yahweh um cântico novo, cantai a Yahweh toda a terra. ² Cantai a Yahweh, bendizei o Seu nome; anunciai a Sua salvação dia após dia.

³ Declarai a Sua gloria entre as nações, Suas maravilhosas obras entre todas as nações. ⁴ Pois Yahweh é grande e digno de ser louvado; Ele é mais temível que todos os deuses.

⁵ Pois todos os deuses das nações são ídolos, mas Yahweh fez os céus; ⁶ esplendor e majestade estão em Sua presença; força e beleza estão em Seu santuário.

⁷ Tributai a Yahweh, vós famílias das nações, tributai a Yahweh glória e força. ⁸ Tributai a Yahweh a glória que Seu nome merece; trazei uma oferta e entrai em Seu átrios.

⁹ Prostrai-vos diante de Yahweh, na beleza da Sua santidade. Tremei diante Dele toda a terra. ¹⁰ Falai entre as nações: "Yahweh reina". O mundo está estabelecido e não pode ser abalado. Ele julga os povos com justiça.

¹¹ Alegrem-se os céus, e regozije-se a terra; ruja o mar e tudo o que nele há. ¹² Exultem os campos e tudo que neles há; todas as árvores na floresta gritem de alegria ¹³ diante de Yahweh, pois Ele está vindo; Ele está vindo para julgar a terra, Ele julgará o mundo com justiça e os povos com a Sua fidelidade.

Capítulo 97

¹ Yahweh reina; alegre-se a terra, alegrem-se as muitas ilhas. ² Nuvens e escuridão O cercam; retidão e justiça são a base do Seu trono.

³ Fogo vai adiante Dele e consome Seus adversários por todos os lados. ⁴ Sua luz ilumina o mundo; a terra vê e treme. ⁵ As montanhas derretem como cera diante de Yahweh, o Senhor de toda a terra.

⁶ Os céus declaram Sua justiça, e todas as nações veem a Sua glória. ⁷ Sejam envergonhados todos os que servem os ídolos e se orgulham de imagens inúteis. Prostem-se diante Dele todos os deuses. ⁸ Yahweh, Sião ouviu e se orgulhou, e as filhas de Judá se alegraram por causa dos Teus julgamentos.

⁹ Pois tu, Yahweh, és o Altíssimo sobre a terra. Tu és exaltado sobre todos os deuses. ¹⁰ Vós que amais Yahweh, odiai o mal! Ele protege a vida de Seus santos, e Ele os tira da mão do perverso. ¹¹ A luz é espalhada sobre os justos e a alegria, sobre os retos de coração.

¹² Alegrai-vos em Yahweh, vós justos, e dai graças ao lembrar do Seu santo nome.

Capítulo 98

Salmo.

¹ Cantai a Yahweh um cântico novo, pois Ele tem feito coisas maravilhosas. Sua mão direita e Seu braço santo Lhe deram a vitória.

² Yahweh tornou conhecida a Sua salvação; Ele, abertamente, mostrou Sua justiça para todas as nações.

³ Lembrou-se do Seu amor leal e da Sua fidelidade à casa de Israel; todos os confins da terra viram a salvação do nosso Deus. ⁴ Celebrai com alegria a Yahweh, toda a terra; aclamai, regozijai-vos, cantai louvores!

⁵ Cantai louvores a Yahweh com a harpa, com a harpa e sons melodiosos. ⁶ Com trombetas e ao som de buzinas, celebrai diante do Rei, Yahweh.

⁷ Brame o mar e tudo o que ele contém, o mundo e aqueles que nele vivem! ⁸ Os rios batam palmas, e as montanhas cantem de alegria. ⁹ Yahweh está vindo julgar a terra; Ele julgará o mundo com justiça e as nações com equidade.

Capítulo 99

¹ Yahweh reina; tremam as nações. Ele está entronizado sobre os querubins. ² Yahweh é grande em Sião; Ele é exaltado acima de todas as nações. ³ Louvem Seu grande e impressionante nome; Ele é santo.

⁴ O Rei é forte e ama a justiça. Tu estabeleceste equidade; Tu executaste o direito e a justiça em Jacó. ⁵ Louvai Yahweh, nosso Deus, e adorai diante do estrado de Seus pés, pois Ele é santo.

⁶ Moisés e Arão estavam entre Seus sacerdotes, e Samuel estava entre aqueles que invocavam a Yahweh e Ele lhes respondia. ⁷ Da coluna de nuvem, Ele lhes falava e eles obedeciam aos Seus mandamentos e aos estatutos que Ele lhes dava.

⁸ Tu lhes respondeste, Yahweh, nosso Deus. Tu fostes para eles um Deus perdoador, mas, também, puniste os atos pecaminosos deles. ⁹ Louvai Yahweh, nosso Deus, e adorai em Seu santo monte, pois Yahweh, nosso Deus, é santo.

Salmo 100

Salmo de agradecimento.

¹ Celebrai com júbilo a Yahweh, toda a terra.

² Servi a Yahweh com alegria; vinde diante de Sua presença com cânticos de júbilo.

³ Sabei que Yahweh é Deus, Ele nos fez e somos Dele. Somos Seu povo e ovelhas do Seu pasto.

⁴ Entrai por Suas portas com ações de graças e em Seus átrios com louvor; dai graças a Ele e bendizei o Seu nome, ⁵ pois Yahweh é bom. Seu amor leal dura para sempre e Sua fidelidade permanece por todas as gerações.

Salmo 101

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Cantarei o amor leal e a justiça; a Ti, Yahweh, eu cantarei louvores.

² Eu andarei no caminho da integridade. Oh, quando Tu virás a mim? Andarei em minha casa com integridade de coração. ³ Eu não colocarei transgressão diante dos meus olhos; odeio a conduta daqueles que se desviam; isso não se apegará a mim.

⁴ Longe de mim o perverso de coração; não me envolverei com o mal. ⁵ Eu calarei aquele que calunia seu vizinho secretamente. Não vou tolerar ninguém que tenha um comportamento orgulhoso e uma atitude arrogante. ⁶ Meus olhos estarão sobre os fiéis da terra para que habitem comigo. Aquele que anda no caminho perfeito me servirá.

⁷ Pessoas enganadoras não permanecerão dentro da minha casa; os mentirosos não se estabelecerão diante dos meus olhos. ⁸ Manhã após manhã, destruirei todos os ímpios da terra; exterminarei todos os malfeitores da cidade de Yahweh.

Salmo 102

Oração do aflito, quando está angustiado e derrama sua lamentação diante de Yahweh.

¹ Ouve a minha oração, Yahweh; chegue a Ti o meu clamor.

² Não escondas Tua face de mim no dia da tribulação. Ouve-me, quando a Ti clamar, responde-me rapidamente!

³ Pois os meus dias passam como fumaça e os meus ossos queimam como fogo. ⁴ Meu coração está ferido, sou como a grama seca; esqueço até de comer meu pão.

⁵ Por causa dos meus gemidos contínuos, meus ossos se apegam à minha pele. ⁶ Sou como o pelicano do deserto; tornei-me como a coruja das ruínas.

⁷ Não durmo; sou como um pardal solitário sobre o telhado. ⁸ Meus inimigos me afrontam o dia todo; aqueles que zombam de mim usam meu nome para lançar maldição.

⁹ Tenho comido cinzas como se fosse pão e misturado a minha bebida com lágrimas; ¹⁰ por causa da Tua ira e da Tua indignação me levantaste e me derrubaste.

¹¹ Meus dias são como uma sombra que desaparece e, como a grama, vou secando. ¹² Mas Tu, Yahweh, vives para sempre e Teu nome permanecerá por todas as gerações.

¹³ Tu Te levantarás e terás misericórdia de Sião. Agora é o momento de ter misericórdia dela; o tempo determinado chegou. ¹⁴ Porque Teus servos amam suas pedras e sentem compaixão pelo pó das suas ruínas. ¹⁵ As nações respeitarão o Teu nome, Yahweh, e todos os reis da terra honrarão a Tua glória. ¹⁶ Yahweh reconstruirá Sião e aparecerá em Sua glória.

¹⁷ Nesse tempo, Ele responderá as orações dos desamparados; Ele não rejeitará suas orações. ¹⁸ Isto será escrito para as gerações futuras e um povo ainda não nascido louvará a Yahweh.

¹⁹ Pois Ele olhou das alturas do Seu santuário; do céu Yahweh olhou a terra, ²⁰ para ouvir os gemidos dos prisioneiros, para libertar aqueles que foram condenados à morte.

²¹ Então, homens proclamarão o nome de Yahweh em Sião e Seus louvores em Jerusalém ²² quando os povos e reinos se reunirem para servir a Yahweh.

²³ Ele enfraqueceu minha força no meio da minha vida. Ele encurtou os meus dias. ²⁴ Eu disse: "Meu Deus, não me leves no meio da minha vida; Tu permaneces por todas as gerações.

²⁵ Desde os tempos antigos, Tu fundaste a terra; os céus são obras de Tuas mãos. ²⁶ Eles perecerão, mas Tu permanecerás; todos ficarão velhos como uma vestimenta; como roupas, Tu os removerás e eles desaparecerão. ²⁷ Mas Tu és o mesmo e Teus anos não terão fim.

²⁸ Os filhos de Teus servos viverão seguros e seus descendentes viverão em Tua presença."

Salmo 103

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Louva a Yahweh, ó minha alma! Tudo o que há dentro de mim louve Seu santo nome.

² Louva a Yahweh, ó minha alma, e não te esqueças de nenhum dos Seus beneficíos.

³ Ele é quem perdoa todos os teus pecados; Ele é quem cura todas as tuas doenças. ⁴ Ele redime tua vida da destruição e te coroa com amor leal e com ternos atos de misericórdia. ⁵ Ele satisfaz tua vida com boas coisas, de modo que tua juventude é renovada como a da águia.

⁶ Yahweh faz justiça e juízo para todos os oprimidos. ⁷ Ele fez os Seus caminhos conhecidos a Moisés e Seus atos, aos descendentes de Israel. ⁸ Yahweh é misericordioso e gracioso; Ele é paciente e grande é o Seu amor leal.

⁹ Ele não disciplinará para sempre; Ele não ficará irado para sempre. ¹⁰ Ele não nos trata como merecemos, por causa da nossa iniquidade; não nos retribui conforme nossos pecados exigem.

¹¹ Assim como os céus estão muito acima da terra, assim é grande o Seu amor leal para aqueles que O honram. ¹² Como está distante o oriente do ocidente, assim Ele tem removido de nós a culpa dos nossos pecados. ¹³ Como um pai tem compaixão dos seus filhos, assim Yahweh tem compaixão daqueles que O honram.

¹⁴ Porque Ele sabe como nós fomos formados; Ele sabe que somos pó. ¹⁵ Quanto ao homem, seus dias são como a grama; ele floresce como a flor do campo, ¹⁶ o vento sopra sobre ela, e ela desaparece, e ninguém sabe onde ela havia crescido.

¹⁷ Mas o amor fiel de Yahweh é de eternidade a eternidade sobre aqueles que O honram. Sua retidão se estende aos Seus descendentes, ¹⁸ aqueles que guardam Sua aliança e se lembram de obedecer às Suas instruções. ¹⁹ Yahweh estabeleceu Seu trono nos céus e as leis de Seu reino sobre todos.

²⁰ Louvai a Yahweh, vós anjos poderosos, que obedeceis à Sua palavra, que obedeceis aos Seus comandos. ²¹ Louvai a Yahweh todos os Seus exércitos de anjos, vós que sois Seus servos, que executais a Sua vontade. ²² Louvai a Yahweh todas as Suas criaturas, em todos os lugares onde Ele reina. Eu louvarei a Yahweh com toda a minha vida.

Salmo 104

¹ Eu Te louvarei, Yahweh, com toda a minha vida! Yahweh meu Deus, Tu és magnífico; Tu estás vestido de esplendor e majestade. ² Estás coberto de luz como de um manto; Tu estendes os céus como uma tenda. ³ Tu colocas nas nuvens as vigas da Tua morada; Tu fazes das nuvens Tua carruagem; Tu andas sobre as asas do vento.

⁴ Tu fazes dos ventos Teus mensageiros, e de Teus servos, chamas de fogo. ⁵ Tu lançaste os fundamentos da terra, e ela jamais será abalada.

⁶ Tu cobriste a terra com água como um vestido; as águas cobriram as montanhas. ⁷ À Tua reprovação, as águas retrocederam; ao som trovejante da Tua voz, elas fugiram.

⁸ As montanhas subiram, e os vales se expandiram em direção aos lugares que Tu determinaste para eles. ⁹ Estabeleceste um limite que não podem ultrapassar, para que jamais cubram a terra novamente.

¹⁰ Fazes brotar as fontes nos vales que correm entre as montanhas. ¹¹ Elas saciam todos os animais do campo; os jumentos selvagens matam a sede. ¹² Junto às suas margens, as aves do céu fazem seus ninhos e, entre os galhos, põem-se a cantar.

¹³ Tu regas os montes desde a Tua morada no céu. A terra se enche com o fruto do Teu trabalho. ¹⁴ Tu fazes crescer o pasto para o gado e plantas para o cultivo do homen, que tira da terra o seu alimento: ¹⁵ vinho que faz o homen alegre, óleo que faz sua face brilhar e alimento para sustentar sua vida.

¹⁶ As árvores de Yahweh são bem regadas; Ele plantou os cedros do Líbano; ¹⁷ ali, os pássaros fazem seus ninhos. As cegonhas fazem seu lar nos pinheiros. ¹⁸ As cabras selvagens vivem no alto das montanhas; os penhascos dão abrigo aos animais roedores.

¹⁹ Determinaste a lua para marcar as estações; o sol sabe quando deve se pôr. ²⁰ Trazes a escuridão da noite, quando todas as bestas das florestas saem.

²¹ Os leões novos rugem por sua presa e buscam em Deus seu alimento. ²² Quando o sol sobe, eles se retiram e dormem em suas cavernas.

²³ O homem sai para o seu trabalho e labuta até a noite. ²⁴ Yahweh, quão numerosas são as Tuas obras! Com sabedoria fizeste todas elas; a terra está cheia das Tuas riquezas.

²⁵ Eis o mar, grande e extenso, repleto de inúmeras criaturas, grandes e pequenas. ²⁶ Ali passam os navios e o Leviatã, que Tu formaste para nele brincar.

²⁷ Todos eles esperam em Ti para que lhes dês o alimento na hora certa. ²⁸ Se Tu lhes dás, eles o recolhem; se abres a Tua mão, eles ficam satisfeitos.

²⁹ Quando escondes Tua face, eles ficam perturbados; quando retira-lhes o fôlego, eles morrem e retornam ao pó. ³⁰ Quando envias o Teu Espírito, eles são criados, e renovas a face da terra.

³¹ A glória de Yahweh durará para sempre; Yahweh se alegrará em Suas obras. ³² Ele olha para a terra e ela treme; toca as montanhas e elas fumegam.

³³ Cantarei a Yahweh por toda a minha vida; eu cantarei louvores ao meu Deus enquanto eu viver. ³⁴ Que meus pensamentos sejam agradáveis a Ti; eu me alegrarei em Yahweh.

³⁵ Que sejam eliminados os pecadores da face da terra e que os ímpios não existam mais. Eu louvorei a Yahweh com toda a minha vida. Louvai a Yahweh!

Salmo 105

¹ Louvai a Yahweh, invocai o Seu nome, fazei Suas obras conhecidas entre as nações. ² Cantai-lhe, cantai-lhe louvores; fazei conhecidas todas as Suas maravilhosas obras. ³ Gloriai-vos no Seu santo nome, alegre-se o coração daqueles que buscam a Yahweh.

⁴ Buscai Yahweh e Sua força; buscai Sua presença continuamente. ⁵ Lembrai-vos das coisas maravilhosas que Ele fez, de Seus milagres e os decretos de Sua boca, ⁶ vós descendentes de Abraão, Seu servo, vós povo de Jacó, Seus escolhidos.

⁷ Ele é Yahweh, nosso Deus. Seus decretos estão por toda a terra. ⁸ Ele se lembra para sempre da Sua aliança, da palavra que Ele ordenou para mil gerações.

⁹ Ele traz à memória a aliança que fez com Abraão, e seu juramento à Isaque. ¹⁰ Isto é o que Ele confirmou a Jacó como estatuto, e a Israel como uma aliança eterna. ¹¹ Ele disse: "Eu vos darei a terra de Canaã como porção de vossa herança."

¹² Ele lhes disse isso quando eram poucos em número; pouquíssimos e estrangeiros na terra. ¹³ Eles saíram de nação em nação e de um reino a outro.

¹⁴ Ele não permitiu que ninguém os oprimissem; e repreendeu reis por causa deles. ¹⁵ Ele disse: "Não toqueis nos meus ungidos e não façais mal aos meus profetas."

¹⁶ Chamou a fome sobre a terra, cortou todo o suprimento de pão. ¹⁷ Ele enviou um homem à frente deles; José foi vendido como servo.

¹⁸ Seus pés foram presos por correntes, correntes de ferro foram colocadas nele, ¹⁹ até o tempo em que sua predição se cumpriu. A palavra de Yahweh o colocou à prova.

²⁰ O rei enviou servos para soltá-lo, o governador do povo o libertou. ²¹ Ele o pôs encarregado de sua casa como governador de todas as suas posses, ²² para instruir seus príncipes conforme quisesse e para ensinar a sabedoria a seus anciãos. ²³ Então, Israel entrou no Egito e Jacó morou por um tempo na terra de Cam.

²⁴ Deus aumentou Seu povo grandemente e o fez mais numeroso do que seus adversários. ²⁵ Ele fez com que seus inimigos odiassem Seu povo, maltratassem Seus servos. ²⁶ Ele enviou Moisés, Seu servo, e Arão, a quem havia escolhido. ²⁷ Eles executaram Seus sinais entre os egípcios, Suas maravilhas na terra de Cam.

²⁸ Ele enviou trevas e escureceu aquela terra, mas seu povo não obedeceu aos Seus mandamentos. ²⁹ Ele transformou as águas em sangue e matou seus peixes. ³⁰ Suas terras se encheram de sapos, até mesmo nos quartos dos governadores.

³¹ Ele falou e enxames de moscas e mosquitos cobriram seu território. ³² Ele enviou granizo e chuva, com raios e trovões para suas terras. ³³ Ele destruiu suas vinhas e suas figueiras, quebrou as árvores de seus territórios.

³⁴ Ele falou e vieram os gafanhotos, muitos gafanhotos ³⁵ que comeram toda a vegetação do país, toda a colheita da terra. ³⁶ Ele matou todos os primogênitos em suas terras, as primícias de toda a força deles.

³⁷ Retirou os israelitas, que saíram com prata e ouro; e nenhuma de suas tribos tropeçou no caminho. ³⁸ O Egito se alegrou quando eles saíram, pois os egípcios estavam com medo deles. ³⁹ Yahweh estendeu uma nuvem para cobri-los e fogo para iluminá-los de noite.

⁴⁰ Os israelitas pediram por comida e Ele trouxe codornizes e os saciou com pão do céu. ⁴¹ Dividiu a rocha e águas jorraram dela, fluíram no deserto como um rio. ⁴² Pois Ele trouxe à mente Sua santa promessa que fez a Abraão, Seu servo.

⁴³ Ele liderou Seu povo com alegria, Seu escolhido com gritos de triunfo. ⁴⁴ Deu-lhes as terras das nações, tomaram posse das riquezas dos povos ⁴⁵ para que guardassem Seus estatutos e obedecessem às Suas leis. Louvado seja Yahweh!

Capítulo 106

¹ Louvai a Yahweh. Rendei graças a Yahweh, pois Ele é bom, porque Sua fidelidade dura para sempre. ² Quem poderá descrever os poderosos atos de Yahweh ou proclamar integralmente todos os seus atos de louvor?

³ Felizes são aqueles que agem corretamente, e cujas ações são sempre justas. ⁴ Lembra-Te de mim, Yahweh, quando Tu mostrares favor ao Teu povo; visita-me com a Tua salvação. ⁵ Assim, verei a prosperidade dos Teus escolhidos, e me regozijarei na alegria do Teu povo, e me gloriarei com a Tua herança.

⁶ Nós pecamos, como nossos ancestrais; nós temos errado e temos feito o mal. ⁷ Nossos pais não apreciaram Teus feitos maravilhosos no Egito; eles ignoraram Teus muitos atos de fidelidade; eles foram rebeldes contra o Altíssimo, junto ao mar Vermelho.

⁸ No entanto, Ele os salvou, por amor de Teu nome, para que pudesse revelar o Teu poder. ⁹ Ele repreendeu o mar Vermelho, e o secou. Em seguida, os guiou pelas profundezas, como por um deserto.

¹⁰ Ele os salvou das mãos daqueles que os odiavam, e os resgatou do poder do inimigo. ¹¹ Mas as águas cobriram seus adversários; nenhum deles sobreviveu. ¹² Então, eles creram em Tuas palavras, e cantaram louvores a Ti.

¹³ Mas eles, rapidamente, esqueceram-se do que havias feito, e não esperaram pelas Tuas instruções. ¹⁴ Eles tinham desejos insaciáveis no deserto, e desafiaram a Deus na região árida. ¹⁵ Ele lhes deu o que pediram, mas enviou uma doença que consumiu os seus corpos.

¹⁶ No acampamento, invejaram Moisés e Arão, os santos sacerdotes de Yahweh. ¹⁷ A terra se abriu e engoliu Datã, cobrindo os seguidores de Abirão. ¹⁸ Um fogo começou entre eles, e consumiu os ímpios.

¹⁹ Eles fizeram um bezerro em Horebe, e adoraram essa imagem de metal fundido. ²⁰ Eles trocaram a glória de Deus pela imagem de um touro que come grama. ²¹ Eles se esqueceram de Deus, seu salvador, o qual havia feito grandes coisas no Egito.

²² Ele havia feito maravilhas na terra de Cam, e atos poderosos no mar Vermelho. ²³ Ele teria decretado a destruição do povo se Moisés, Seu escolhido, não houvesse intercedido, com Ele na brecha, para desviar Sua ira de destruí-los.

²⁴ Então, eles desprezaram a terra frutífera; eles não confiaram na Sua promessa, ²⁵ mas murmuraram em suas tendas, e não obedeceram à Yahweh.

²⁶ Portanto, Ele levantou a Sua mão e jurou que iria deixá-los morrer no deserto; ²⁷ dispersaria seus descendentes entre as nações, e os espalharia em terras estrangeiras.

²⁸ Eles adoraram a Baal-Peor e comeram sacrifícios oferecidos aos mortos. ²⁹ E provocaram a Sua ira, com suas ações, e uma praga se espalhou entre eles.

³⁰ Então, Finéias se levantou para intervir, e a praga cessou. ³¹ Isto lhe foi imputado como um ato de justiça para todas as gerações.

³² Eles também enfureceram Yahweh nas águas de Meribá, e Moisés foi castigado por causa deles. ³³ Eles fizeram Moisés amargo, e ele falou de forma imprudente. ³⁴ Eles não destruiram as nações, como Yahweh lhes havia ordenado, ³⁵ mas se misturaram com as nações, e aprenderam seus caminhos. ³⁶ Adoraram seus ídolos, que se tornaram em armadilha para eles.

³⁷ Eles sacrificaram seus filhos e suas filhas à demônios. ³⁸ Eles derramaram sangue inocente, o sangue de seus filhos e filhas, os quais sacrificaram aos ídolos de Canaã, profanando a terra com sangue. ³⁹ Eles foram contaminados por seus atos; em suas ações, eles se prostituíram.

⁴⁰ Então, Yahweh Se irou contra o Seu povo, e desprezou a sua herança. ⁴¹ Ele os entregou nas mãos das nações, e aqueles que os odiavam dominaram sobre eles.

⁴² Seus inimigos os oprimiram e eles foram submetidos à sua autoridade. ⁴³ Muitas vezes, Ele veio para ajudá-los, mas eles continuaram se rebelando e foram abatidos pelos seus próprios pecados.

⁴⁴ No entanto, Ele atentou à sua angústia, quando os ouviu clamando por socorro. ⁴⁵ Ele Se lembrou da aliança com eles e Se arrependeu, por causa do Seu amor leal. ⁴⁶ Ele fez com que seus conquistadores tivessem pena deles.

⁴⁷ Salva-nos, Yahweh, nosso Deus. Nos reúna dentre as nações para que possamos dar graças ao Teu santo nome, e glória em Teus louvores. ⁴⁸ Que Yahweh, Deus de Israel, seja louvado de eternidade em eternidade. Todos dizem: "Amém". Louvem a Yahweh.

Capítulo 107

Livro Cinco

¹ Rendei graças a Yahweh porque Ele é bom e Seu amor leal dura para sempre. ² Que repitam isso os redimidos de Yahweh, aqueles que Ele resgatou do poder do inimigo. ³ Ele os reuniu das terras estrangeiras, do leste e do oeste, do norte e do sul.

⁴ Eles vagaram no deserto, por terras áridas, e não encontraram cidade para habitar. ⁵ Eles estavam famintos, sedentos e desmaiavam de exaustão. ⁶ Então, nas suas dificuldades, clamaram a Yahweh e Ele os resgatou das suas aflições. ⁷ Ele os guiou pelo caminho reto. Então, encontraram uma cidade para viver.

⁸ Que todos louvem a Yahweh por Seu amor leal e pelas maravilhas que Ele tem feito pela humanidade! ⁹ Porque Ele sacia os sedentos e o apetite dos famintos, e os enche com bondade. ¹⁰ Alguns se assentaram na escuridão e na sombra da morte, oprimidos em aflição e correntes.

¹¹ Isso porque eles se rebelaram contra a Palavra de Deus e rejeitaram os mandamentos do Altíssimo. ¹² Ele abateu os seus corações com trabalhos pesados; eles tropeçaram e não houve quem os erguesse. ¹³ Assim, em suas dificuldades, eles clamaram a Yahweh. E Ele os livrou das suas aflições.

¹⁴ Ele os tirou da escuridão e das sombras da morte; e quebrou as suas algemas. ¹⁵ Oh! Que o povo louve a Yahweh por Seu amor leal e pelas maravilhas que Ele tem feito pela humanidade! ¹⁶ Pois Ele quebrou os portões de bronze e cortou as barras de ferro.

¹⁷ Eles foram insensatos em seus caminhos de rebelião e afligidos por causa dos seus pecados; ¹⁸ perderam o apetite por qualquer comida e chegaram perto dos portões da morte. ¹⁹ Então, na sua dificuldade, eles clamaram a Yahweh; Ele os livrou das suas aflições.

²⁰ Ele enviou a Sua Palavra e os curou; Ele os resgatou das suas tribulações. ²¹ Oh! Que o povo louve a Yahweh pelo Seu amor leal e pelas maravilhas que Ele tem feito pela humanidade! ²² Que ofereçam sacrifícios de gratidão e proclamem, com alegria, os Seus feitos.

²³ Os que viajam, em navios pelos mares, para negociar além-mar ²⁴ viram os feitos de Yahweh e as suas maravilhas nas profundezas.

²⁵ Porque Ele ordenou e a tempestade se levantou nos mares. ²⁶ Os navios alcançaram o céu, desceram às profundezas. Suas vidas se derreteram em aflição. ²⁷ Eles foram balançados e cambaleavam como bêbados; por fim, perderam toda a esperança de salvação.

²⁸ Assim, na dificuldade, eles clamaram a Yahweh que os tirou da aflição. ²⁹ Ele acalmou a tempestade e as ondas se aquietaram. ³⁰ Então, eles se regozijaram porque o mar se acalmou; Ele os levou ao porto desejado.

³¹ Oh! Quisera que todas as pessoas louvassem a Yahweh por Seu amor leal e pelas maravilhas que Ele tem feito para a humanidade! ³² Que elas O exaltem na assembleia do povo e O louvem no conselho dos anciãos!

³³ Ele transformou rios em um deserto, fontes de águas em terra seca, ³⁴ e uma terra frutífera em um lugar estéril, por causa da maldade desse povo. ³⁵ Ele transformou o deserto em poços de água e terra seca em mananciais.

³⁶ Ele estabeleceu famintos ali, e eles edificaram uma cidade para viver. ³⁷ Plantaram campos, vinhas e produziram colheitas abundantes. ³⁸ Ele os abençoou, de modo que eles se multiplicaram grandemente; não permitiu que seu rebanho diminuisse.

³⁹ Eles foram reduzidos e humilhados por dolorosa aflição e sofrimento. ⁴⁰ Ele derramou desprezo sobre os líderes e os fez vaguear por lugares desertos, onde não há caminho.

⁴¹ Ele ergueu o necessitado da miséria e multiplicou suas famílias, como um rebanho. ⁴² O justo verá isso e se alegrará, e todo o ímpio fechará a sua boca. ⁴³ Quem é sábio considere tudo isso e medite nos bondosos atos de Yahweh.

Salmo 108

Cântico. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Meu coração, ó Deus, está firme; eu cantarei, sim, eu também cantarei louvores, com o meu coração honrado.

² Acordai, saltério e harpa; eu acordarei o amanhecer.

³ A Ti, Yahweh, eu darei graças entre os povos! Eu cantarei louvores a Ti entre as nações. ⁴ Pois o Teu amor leal é grande e se eleva acima do firmamento, e a Tua fidelidade alcança os céus.

⁵ Sê exaltado, ó Deus, acima dos céus, e que a Tua glória seja exaltada sobre toda a terra. ⁶ Para que sejam resgatados aqueles a quem Tu amas; resgata-nos com a Tua mão direita e responde-nos.

⁷ Deus, em Sua santidade, falou: "Eu Me regozijarei; Eu dividirei Siquém e repartirei o vale de Sucote. ⁸ Gileade é Meu e Manassés é Meu; também Efraim é Meu capacete e Judá é Meu cetro.

⁹ Moabe é a bacia em que Me lavo; sobre Edom Eu atirarei Meu sapato; Eu gritarei vitória sobre a Filístia." ¹⁰ Quem me trará para a cidade forte? Quem me conduzirá a Edom?

¹¹ Deus, Tu nos rejeitaste? Tu que já não sais com o nosso exército para a batalha. ¹² Ajuda-nos contra o adversário, pois o socorro do homem é inútil. ¹³ Nós triunfaremos com a ajuda de Deus. Ele pisará nossos inimigos.

Capítulo 109

Para o regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Ó, Deus, a quem eu louvo, não fiques em silêncio.

² Pois os perversos me atacam e falam mentiras contra mim. ³ Eles me cercam e dizem coisas odiosas e me atacam sem motivo.

⁴ Em troca do meu amor, eles me difamam, mas eu oro por eles. ⁵ Eles me pagam o mal pelo bem, e eles odeiam o meu amor.

⁶ Aponta um homen ímpio contra tal inimigo; que um acusador esteja à sua direita. ⁷ Quando ele for julgado, que seja culpado; que sua oração seja considerada pecaminosa.

⁸ Que sejam poucos os seus dias; que outro pegue o seu oficio. ⁹ Que seus filhos fiquem órfãos e sua esposa, viúva. ¹⁰ Que seus filhos andem sem destino, pedindo esmolas, e sejam expulsos de suas casas em ruínas.

¹¹ Que o credor pegue tudo o que ele possui; que estranhos saqueiem o que ele ganha. ¹² Ninguém prolongue nenhuma bondade para com ele; que ninguém tenha piedade dos seus órfãos. ¹³ Que sua descendência desapareça; que seu nome seja apagado da próxima geração.

¹⁴ Que o pecado de seus ancestrais sejam mencionados a Yahweh; e os pecados de sua mãe não sejam esquecido. ¹⁵ Que sua culpa esteja sempre diante de Yahweh; que Yahweh corte sua memória da terra. ¹⁶ Que Yahweh faça isto porque esse homen nunca se preocupou em mostrar alguma bondade; pelo contrário, atormenta o oprimido, o necessitado e o desencoraja até a morte.

¹⁷ Ele amou a maldição; que ela se volte para ele. Ele odiou a benção; que a benção não venha a ele. ¹⁸ Ele se vestiu de maldição, como uma roupa; que ela penetre em seu interior como água, como óleo em seus ossos.

¹⁹ Que a maldição seja para ele como roupas que ele usa para se cobrir, como o cinto que ele sempre usa. ²⁰ Que essa seja a recompensa de Yahweh para meus acusadores, para aqueles que falam mal de mim.

²¹ Yahweh, meu Deus, tem misericórdia de mim por amor do Teu nome. Salva-me por Teu amor leal. ²² Porque sou oprimido e necessitado e meu coração está ferido dentro de mim. ²³ Eu estou desaparecendo como a sombra no anoitecer; sou jogado para longe como um gafanhoto.

²⁴ Meus joelhos estão enfraquecidos pelo jejum, estou ficando pele e ossos. ²⁵ Estou sendo desdenhado pelos meus acusadores; quando me veem, eles balançam suas cabeças.

²⁶ Ajuda-me, Yahweh meu Deus; salva-me por Teu amor leal. ²⁷ E que eles saibam o que estais fazendo; que Tu, Yahweh, tens feito isto.

²⁸ Ainda que eles me amaldiçoem, Tu me abençoas; quando eles me atacarem, que sejam expostos à vergonha, e que Teu servo se alegre. ²⁹ Que meus adversários sejam vestidos de vergonha; que usem sua vergonha como um manto.

³⁰ Com minha boca darei graças a Yahweh; eu o louvarei no meio da multidão. ³¹ Porque Ele estará à direita daquele que é necessitado, para salvá-lo daqueles que o julgam.

Salmo 110

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Yahweh disse ao meu Senhor: "Assenta-te à Minha direita até que Eu ponha os Teus inimigos debaixo de Teus pés."

² De Sião, Yahweh tomará o cetro de Sua força; governará entre os Teus inimigos. ³ Com vestes santas, o Teu povo Te seguirá voluntariamente no dia do Teu poder; os Teus jovens virão como o orvalho emergindo do amanhecer.

⁴ Yahweh jurou e não se arrependerá: "Tu és um sacerdote eterno, à maneira de Melquizedeque."

⁵ O Senhor, que está à Tua direita, destruirá reis no dia da Sua ira. ⁶ Ele julgará as nações; Ele encherá os campos de batalha com cadáveres; destruirá os líderes em muitas nações.

⁷ Ele beberá do riacho pelo caminho e, então, levantará a Sua cabeça depois da vitória.

Capítulo 111

¹ Louvai a Yahweh. Darei graças a Yahweh, com todo o meu coração, na assembleia dos justos, em suas reuniões. ² As obras de Yahweh são grandiosas, ansiosamente aguardadas por todos aqueles que as desejam. ³ Sua obra é majestosa e gloriosa, e sua justiça perdura para sempre.

⁴ Ele faz coisas maravilhosas que serão lembradas; Yahweh é gracioso e misericordioso. ⁵ Dá alimento aos Seus servos fiéis. Ele sempre Se lembrará da Sua aliança. ⁶ Mostrou Suas poderosas obras ao Seu povo, dando-lhes a herança das nações.

⁷ As obras de Suas mãos são fiéis e justas; todas as Suas instruções são confiáveis. ⁸ Elas são estabelecidas para sempre, para serem observadas fielmente e adequadamente. ⁹ Ele deu vitória ao Seu povo; estabeleceu Sua aliança para sempre; santo e maravilhoso é o Seu nome!

¹⁰ O temor de Yahweh é o princípio da sabedoria; aqueles que seguem Suas instruções têm bom entendimento. Seu louvor dura para sempre.

Capítulo 112

¹ Louvai a Yahweh. Bendito é o homem que obedece a Yahweh, que tem grande prazer em Seus mandamentos. ² Seus descendentes serão poderosos na terra; os descendentes dos justos serão abençoados.

³ Prosperidade e riqueza estão em sua casa; Sua justiça durará para sempre. ⁴ A luz brilha nas trevas para os justos; Ele é gracioso, misericordioso e justo. ⁵ Feliz é o homem que se compadece e empresta dinheiro, que conduz seus negócios com honestidade.

⁶ Pois ele nunca será abalado; o homem justo será lembrado para sempre. ⁷ Ele não teme notícias ruins; ele é seguro, pois confia em Yahweh.

⁸ Seu coração é tranquilo e não sente medo, até que ele triunfe sobre seus adversários. ⁹ Ele dá generosamente aos pobres; sua justiça dura para sempre; ele será exaltado com honra.

¹⁰ O perverso verá isso e ficará furioso; ele rangerá seus dentes e fugirá; o desejo dos perversos perecerá.

Capítulo 113

¹ Louvai a Yahweh. Louvai-o, vós, servos de Yahweh; louvai o nome de Yahweh. ² Bendito seja o nome de Yahweh, agora e para sempre.

³ Desde o nascer ao pôr do sol, louvado seja o nome de Yahweh. ⁴ Yahweh é exaltado sobre todas as nações, e Sua glória alcança acima dos céus.

⁵ Quem é como Yahweh, nosso Deus, que está entronizado nas alturas ⁶ e, do alto, olha para o céu e a terra?

⁷ Do pó, Ele levanta o pobre, e do monturo ergue o necessitado, ⁸ para que ele possa assentar-se com príncipes, com os príncipes do Seu povo.

⁹ Ele dá um lar à mulher estéril, e a faz uma alegre mãe de filhos. Louvado seja Yahweh!

Capítulo 114

¹ Quando Israel saiu do Egito, e a casa de Jacó do meio daquele povo estrangeiro, ² Judá tornou-se Seu santuário e Israel, Seu reino.

³ O mar viu e fugiu; o Jordão recuou. ⁴ As montanhas saltaram como carneiros, as colinas saltaram como cordeiros.

⁵ Mar, por que fugiste? Jordão, por que recuaste? ⁶ Montanhas, por que saltastes como carneiros? Colinas, por que saltastes como cordeiros? ⁷ Terra, estremece diante do Senhor, na presença do Deus de Jacó.

⁸ Ele transformou a rocha em um lago de águas, e a dura rocha em uma fonte de água.

Capítulo 115

¹ Não a nós, Yahweh, não a nós, mas ao Teu nome seja a glória, por causa do Teu amor e da Tua fidelidade. ² Por que as nações diriam: "Onde está o Deus deles?"

³ Nosso Deus está nos Céus; Ele faz conforme Lhe agrada. ⁴ Os ídolos das nações são ouro e prata, obra das mãos dos homens.

⁵ Esses ídolos têm boca, mas não falam; têm olhos, mas não veem; ⁶ têm ouvidos, mas não ouvem; têm nariz, mas não cheiram;

⁷ eles têm mãos, mas não sentem; eles têm pés, mas não andam, nem falam com suas próprias bocas. ⁸ Aqueles que os fazem são semelhantes a eles, assim como todos os que neles confiam.

⁹ Israel, confia em Yahweh; Ele é teu socorro e escudo. ¹⁰ Casa de Aarão, confia em Yahweh; Ele é teu socorro e escudo. ¹¹ Tu que honras Yahweh, confia Nele; Ele é o teu socorro e escudo.

¹² Yahweh tem-se lembrado de nós e nos abençoará. Ele abençoará a casa de Israel, abençoará a casa de Aarão. ¹³ Ele abençoará aqueles que O honram, tanto jovens como velhos. ¹⁴ Que Yahweh vos multiplique mais e mais, vós e vossos descendentes.

¹⁵ Que sejais abençoados por Yahweh, que fez os céus e a terra. ¹⁶ Os céus pertencem a Yahweh, mas a terra foi dada à humanidade.

¹⁷ Os mortos não louvam a Yahweh, nem os que descem ao silêncio; ¹⁸ mas nós bendiremos a Yahweh, agora e para sempre. Louvai a Yahweh!

Capítulo 116

¹ Eu amo Yahweh; Ele escuta a minha voz e minhas súplicas por misericórdia. ² Porquanto Ele me escuta, eu O invocarei enquanto viver.

³ Laços de morte me cercaram, e as armadilhas do Sheol me confrontaram; eu me senti angustiado e triste. ⁴ Então, invoquei o nome de Yahweh: "Ó, Yahweh, salva a minha vida!"

⁵ Yahweh é misericordioso e justo; nosso Deus é compassivo. ⁶ Yahweh protege os simples; eu estava abatido, e Ele me salvou.

⁷ Minha alma pode retornar ao seu lugar de descanso, pois Yahweh tem sido bondoso comigo. ⁸ Livraste a minha vida da morte, meus olhos das lágrimas e meus pés do tropeço.

⁹ Servirei a Yahweh na terra dos viventes. ¹⁰ Eu cri Nele, mesmo quando disse: "Estou em grande aflição." ¹¹ Em minha perturbação, disse: "Todos os homens são mentirosos."

¹² Como retribuirei a Yahweh por toda a Sua bondade para comigo? ¹³ Levantarei o cálice da salvação e invocarei o nome de Yahweh. ¹⁴ Cumprirei meus votos a Yahweh na presença de todo o Seu povo. ¹⁵ Preciosa, aos olhos de Yahweh, é a morte dos Seus santos.

¹⁶ Yahweh, certamente, sou Teu servo. Sou Teu servo, o filho da Tua serva; Tu me livras das minhas amarras. ¹⁷ Eu Te oferecerei sacrifícios de ação de graças, e invocarei o Teu nome.

¹⁸ Cumprirei meus votos feitos a Yahweh na presença de todo o Seu povo, ¹⁹ nos átrios da casa de Yahweh, no meio de ti, Jerusalém. Louvai a Yahweh.

Capítulo 117

¹ Louvai a Yahweh, todas as nações; exaltai-O, todos os povos. ² Pois Sua fidelidade é grande para conosco, e a verdade de Yahweh dura para sempre. Louvai a Yahweh!

Capítulo 118

¹ Dai graças a Yahweh, pois Ele é bom, pois Sua fidelidade dura para sempre. ² Que Israel diga: "Sua fidelidade dura para sempre."

³ Que a casa de Arão diga: "Sua fidelidade dura para sempre." ⁴ Que os fiéis seguidores de Yahweh digam: "Sua fidelidade dura para sempre."

⁵ Na minha angústia, clamei a Yahweh, Ele me respondeu e me libertou. ⁶ Yahweh está comigo, eu não temerei; o que o homem pode me fazer? ⁷ Yahweh está ao meu lado, é meu ajudador; triunfarei sobre os que me odeiam.

⁸ É melhor buscar refúgio em Yahweh do que confiar no homem. ⁹ É melhor se refugiar em Yahweh do que colocar sua fé em príncipes.

¹⁰ Todas as nações me cercaram, mas, em nome de Yahweh, eu as exterminei. ¹¹ Elas me cercaram, sim, elas me cercaram; em nome de Yahweh, eu as exterminei. ¹² Elas me cercaram como abelhas, e desapareceram tão rapidamente quanto os espinhos no fogo; em nome de Yahweh, eu as exterminei.

¹³ Elas me atacaram para me derrubar, mas Yahweh me ajudou. ¹⁴ Yahweh é minha força e alegria; é Ele quem me resgata.

¹⁵ O grito alegre de vitória é ouvido nas tendas dos justos; a mão direita de Yahweh domina. ¹⁶ A mão direita de Yahweh é exaltada; a mão direita de Yahweh conquista.

¹⁷ Não morrerei, mas viverei e declararei os atos de Yahweh. ¹⁸ Yahweh me puniu severamente, mas Ele não me entregou à morte.

¹⁹ Abri as portas da justiça para mim, entrarei por elas e darei graças a Yahweh. ²⁰ Esta é a porta de Yahweh; o justo entra por ela. ²¹ Eu te darei graças, pois Tu me respondeste e te tornaste a minha salvação.

²² A pedra que os construtores rejeitaram se tornou a pedra angular. ²³ Isto é obra de Yahweh, e é maravilhoso aos nossos olhos.

²⁴ Este é o dia em que Yahweh agiu; nele nos regozijaremos e nos alegraremos. ²⁵ Ó, Yahweh, faz-nos vitoriosos! Faz-nos prosperar!

²⁶ Bendito é o que vem em nome de Yahweh; da casa de Yahweh nós vos abençoamos. ²⁷ Yahweh é Deus. Ele resplandece sobre nós; amarrai com cordas o sacrifício no altar. ²⁸ Tu és o meu Deus, e eu Te darei graças; Tu és o meu Deus; Eu Te exaltarei.

²⁹ Oh, dai graças a Yahweh, pois Ele é bom. Seu amor leal dura para sempre.

Salmo 119

Álef

¹ Como são felizes aqueles cuja conduta é irrepreensível, que andam na lei de Yahweh!

² Como são felizes aqueles que guardam os decretos da Sua aliança, que O buscam de todo o coração,

³ que não praticam o mal, mas andam em Seus caminhos. ⁴ Tu nos ordenaste a guardar Teus preceitos, para cumpri-los fielmente.

⁵ Que eu seja estabelecido firmemente para cumprir Teus estatutos! ⁶ Então, não me envergonharei quando meditar em todos os Teus mandamentos.

⁷ Eu Te louvarei com um coração sincero, quando aprender Teus justos juízos. ⁸ Cumprirei Teus estatutos; não me desampares jamais!

Bet

⁹ Como poderá um jovem manter sua conduta irrepreensível? Guardando-se de acordo com a Tua palavra.

¹⁰ Com todo o meu coração Te busco; não me deixes desviar dos Teus mandamentos.

¹¹ Escondi Tuas palavras no meu coração para não pecar contra Ti. ¹² Bendito és Tu, Yahweh! Ensina-me Teus estatutos!

¹³ Com meus lábios tenho declarado todos os juízos da Tua boca. ¹⁴ No caminho dos decretos da Tua aliança, tenho mais alegria que em todas as riquezas.

¹⁵ Meditarei nos Teus preceitos e contemplarei os Teus caminhos. ¹⁶ Tenho prazer nos Teus estatutos; não me esquecerei da Tua palavra.

Guímel

¹⁷ Sê generoso com Teu servo, para que eu viva e guarde a Tua palavra.

¹⁸ Desvenda os meus olhos para que eu contemple as maravilhas da Tua lei.

¹⁹ Sou um peregrino na terra; não escondas de mim os Teus mandamentos. ²⁰ Minha alma sempre anseia por todos os Teus juízos.

²¹ Tu repreendes os soberbos, que são malditos, e que se desviam dos Teus mandamentos. ²² Aparta de mim a desgraça e a humilhação, pois guardo os decretos da Tua aliança.

²³ Ainda que governantes tramem e falem contra mim, Teu servo medita nos Teus estatutos. ²⁴ Os decretos da Tua aliança são o meu prazer, são meus conselheiros.

Dálet

²⁵ Minha alma está apegada ao pó! Vivifica-me segundo a Tua palavra!

²⁶ Eu Te relatei minha conduta, e Tu me respondeste. Ensina-me os Teus estatutos!

²⁷ Faz-me entender o caminho dos Teus preceitos, para que eu medite em Teus maravilhosos ensinamentos. ²⁸ Minha alma se derrete de tristeza. Consola-me, segundo a Tua palavra.

²⁹ Afasta-me do caminho da falsidade e ensina-me graciosamente a Tua lei! ³⁰ Escolhi o caminho da fidelidade e decidi seguir os Teus juízos.

³¹ Eu me apego aos decretos da Tua aliança; que eu não seja envergonhado, Yahweh. ³² Percorrerei o caminho dos Teus mandamentos, pois Tu amplias meu entendimento.

³³ Ensina-me, Yahweh, o caminho dos Teus estatutos, e eu os seguirei até o fim.

³⁴ Dá-me entendimento para seguir a Tua lei e a guardarei com todo o meu coração.

³⁵ Guia-me no caminho dos Teus mandamentos, pois neles me deleito. ³⁶ Inclina o meu coração para os decretos da Tua aliança, e não para a cobiça.

³⁷ Desvia os meus olhos de contemplarem coisas inúteis! Vivifica-me no Teu caminho. ³⁸ Confirma ao Teu servo a promessa que fizeste aos que Te temem.

³⁹ Afasta de mim as reprovações que me deixam temeroso, pois sei que Teus juízos são bons. ⁴⁰ Almejo por Teus preceitos; vivifica-me com Tua justiça!

Vav

⁴¹ E venham sobre mim, Yahweh, o Teu amor leal e a Tua salvação, conforme a Tua promessa;

⁴² assim, saberei responder aos que me desafiam, pois confio em Tua palavra.

⁴³ Jamais tires da minha boca a palavra da verdade, pois espero por Teus juízos. ⁴⁴ Assim, observarei a Tua lei, sem cessar, para todo o sempre;

⁴⁵ andarei em segurança, pois busco os Teus preceitos; ⁴⁶ e falarei dos decretos da Tua aliança diante dos reis, e não serei envergonhado.

⁴⁷ Teus mandamentos, que eu amo, são o meu prazer. ⁴⁸ Levantarei as mãos para os Teus mandamentos, que eu amo, e meditarei em Teus estatutos.

Zain

⁴⁹ Lembra-Te da palavra dada ao Teu servo, pela qual me deste esperança!

⁵⁰ Este é o meu consolo na aflição: que a Tua palavra me dá vida!

⁵¹ Os soberbos zombam de mim, mas não me afasto da Tua lei. ⁵² Yahweh, lembro-me dos Teus juízos do passado, e sou consolado.

⁵³ Indignação apoderou-se de mim, por causa dos ímpios, pois rejeitam Tua lei. ⁵⁴ Teus estatutos têm sido as minhas canções na casa da minha peregrinação.

⁵⁵ Durante a noite, lembro-me do Teu nome, Yahweh, e guardo Tua lei; ⁵⁶ esse tem sido o meu propósito, porque guardo Teus preceitos.

Het

⁵⁷ Yahweh, Tu és a minha herança! Prometi guardar as Tuas palavras.

⁵⁸ De todo o coração, imploro a Tua graça; tem misericórdia de mim, segundo a Tua palavra.

⁵⁹ Examinei meus caminhos e dirigi meus passos para os decretos da Tua aliança. ⁶⁰ Apresso-me e não demoro em cumprir Teus mandamentos.

⁶¹ Os laços do ímpio me prendem, contudo não me esqueço da Tua lei. ⁶² À meia-noite, levanto-me para dar-Te graças por Teus justos juízos.

⁶³ Sou amigo de todos os que Te temem e cumprem Teus preceitos. ⁶⁴ A terra está cheia do Teu amor leal, Yahweh. Ensina-me Teus estatutos!

Tet

⁶⁵ Tens sido bondoso para com o Teu servo, segundo a Tua Palavra, Yahweh.

⁶⁶ Ensina-me o discernimento e a entendedimento, pois creio nos Teus estatutos.

⁶⁷ Antes de ser afligido, eu andava errado mas, agora, obedeço à Tua palavra. ⁶⁸ Tu és bondoso e fazes o bem. Ensina-me os Teus mandamentos.

⁶⁹ Os soberbos inventam mentiras contra mim, porém, de todo o meu coração, obedeço aos Teus preceitos. ⁷⁰ O coração deles tornou-se endurecido; eu, porém, me deleito na Tua lei.

⁷¹ Foi bom para mim ter sofrido para que aprendesse os Teus estatutos. ⁷² Mais preciosa para mim é a palavra da Tua boca do que milhões em ouro e prata.

Iode

⁷³ Tuas mãos me criaram e me formaram; dá-me entendimento para aprender os Teus mandamentos.

⁷⁴ Os que Te temem se alegrarão quando me virem, porque espero em Tua palavra.

⁷⁵ Reconheço, Yahweh, que Teus juízos são justos, e que me afligiste por causa da Tua fidelidade. ⁷⁶ Oro para que eu seja confortado por Teu amor leal, segundo a palavra que deste ao Teu servo.

⁷⁷ Venha sobre mim a Tua compaixão e viverei, pois tenho prazer na Tua lei. ⁷⁸ Envergonhados sejam os soberbos, que me difamam com calúnias; eu, porém, meditarei nos Teus preceitos.

⁷⁹ Voltem-se para mim, os que Te temem; aqueles que conhecem os decretos da Tua aliança. ⁸⁰ Que meu coração seja irrepreensível com respeito aos Teus estatutos, para que eu não seja envergonhado.

Kaf

⁸¹ Minha alma anseia por Teu livramento; espero em Tua palavra.

⁸² Meus olhos esperam por Tua promessa: quando me consolarás?

⁸³ Embora eu tenha me tornado como um odre de vinho na fumaça, ainda assim, não me esqueço dos Teus estatutos. ⁸⁴ Quantos serão os dias do Teu servo? Quando executarás os Teus juízos contra aqueles que me perseguem?

⁸⁵ Os soberbos, que não andam segundo a Tua lei, abriram covas para mim. ⁸⁶ Todos os Teus mandamentos são fiéis. Socorre-me dos que me perseguem injustamente.

⁸⁷ Eles quase me eliminaram da terra; eu, porém, não abandono os Teus preceitos. ⁸⁸ Por Teu amor leal, vivifica-me, para que eu guarde os decretos de Tua boca.

Lámed

⁸⁹ Yahweh, por toda a eternidade a Tua palavra permanece nos céus.

⁹⁰ A Tua fidelidade se estende de geração em geração. Tu estabeleceste a terra, e ela permanece;

⁹¹ por Teus juízos, ela continua até hoje, pois todas as coisas estão a Teu serviço. ⁹² Se a Tua lei não fosse o meu prazer, eu teria perecido em minha aflição.

⁹³ Jamais me esquecerei dos Teus preceitos, pois por eles Tu tens me dado vida. ⁹⁴ Sou Teu; salva-me porque busco os Teus preceitos.

⁹⁵ Os ímpios espreitam para me destruir, mas me concentro nos decretos da Tua aliança. ⁹⁶ Tenho visto há limites em toda perfeição; porém, Teus mandamentos são ilimitados.

Mem

⁹⁷ Como amo a Tua lei! É minha meditação todo o dia.

⁹⁸ Teus mandamentos, que estão sempre comigo, me fazem mais sábio do que meus inimigos.

⁹⁹ Tenho mais entendimento que todos os meus mestres, porque medito nos decretos da Tua aliança. ¹⁰⁰ Compreendo mais que os anciãos, porque guardo os Teus preceitos.

¹⁰¹ Guardo os meus pés de todo o mau caminho para obedecer à Tua palavra. ¹⁰² Não me aparto dos Teus juízos, pois Tu me tens instruído.

¹⁰³ Quão doces são as Tuas palavras ao meu paladar! Sim, mais doces que o mel para a minha boca. ¹⁰⁴ Por meio dos Teus preceitos, adquiro entendimento, por isso detesto todo caminho falso.

Nun

¹⁰⁵ A Tua Palavra é lâmpada para os meus pés e luz para o meu caminho.

¹⁰⁶ Fiz um voto e o cumprirei: obedecerei aos Teus justos juízos.

¹⁰⁷ Estou muito aflito! Yahweh, vivifica-me segundo Tua palavra. ¹⁰⁸ Aceita, Yahweh, as ofertas voluntárias da minha boca, e ensina-me Teus justos juízos.

¹⁰⁹ Minha vida está sempre em perigo; todavia, não me esqueço da Tua lei. ¹¹⁰ O ímpio montou uma armadilha contra mim, porém, não me desviei dos Teus preceitos.

¹¹¹ Tomei como herança eterna os decretos da Tua aliança, pois eles são alegria para o meu coração. ¹¹² Meu coração está decidido a obedecer aos Teus estatutos para sempre e sempre.

Samekh

¹¹³ Detesto aqueles que agem de forma inconstante, mas amo a Tua lei.

¹¹⁴ Tu és o meu abrigo e o meu escudo; espero na Tua palavra.

¹¹⁵ Apartai-vos de mim, malfeitores! Quero cumprir os mandamentos do meu Deus. ¹¹⁶ Sustenta-me segundo as Tuas promessas para que eu viva; não permitas que eu seja envergonhado na minha esperança.

¹¹⁷ Ampara-me e serei salvo; meditarei continuamente nos Teus estatutos. ¹¹⁸ Tu rejeitas a todos que se desviam dos Teus estatutos, porque são pessoas falsas e astutas.

¹¹⁹ Tu rejeitas, como escória, todos os ímpios da terra; por isso, amo os decretos da Tua aliança. ¹²⁰ Meu corpo estremece de temor diante de Ti, e tenho medo dos Teus justos juizos.

Áyin.

¹²¹ Pratico o que é justo e correto; não me entregues aos meus opressores.

¹²² Garante o bem-estar do Teu servo; não permitas que o arrogante me oprima.

¹²³ Os meus olhos desfalecem à espera da Tua salvação e da Tua justa promessa. ¹²⁴ Trata o Teu servo conforme a Tua aliança fiel, e ensina-me os Teus estatutos.

¹²⁵ Sou Teu servo; dá-me entendimento para que eu conheça os decretos da Tua aliança. ¹²⁶ É hora de agires, Yahweh, pois eles violaram a Tua lei.

¹²⁷ Amo os Teus mandamentos mais que o ouro, mais que o puro ouro. ¹²⁸ Por isso, em tudo sigo os Teus preceitos, e aborreço todo o caminho de falsidade.

¹²⁹ Os decretos da Tua aliança são maravilhosos, por isso eu os observo.

¹³⁰ A explicação das Tuas palavras ilumina e dá entendimento aos simples.

¹³¹ Abro a minha boca e suspiro, pois desejo Teus mandamentos. ¹³² Volta-Te para mim e tem misericórdia de mim, como costumas fazer aos que amam o Teu nome!

¹³³ Conduze os meus passos na Tua palavra; não deixes nenhum pecado me governar. ¹³⁴ Livra-me da opressão dos homens; assim, obedecerei aos Teus preceitos.

¹³⁵ Faz resplandecer o Teu rosto sobre o Teu servo e ensina-me Teus estatutos. ¹³⁶ Rios de lágrimas correm dos meus olhos, porque as pessoas não cumprem a Tua lei.

Tsade

¹³⁷ Tu és justo, Yahweh, e Teus juízos são retos.

¹³⁸ Tu ordenaste os decretos da Tua aliança com justiça e com grande fidelidade.

¹³⁹ Meu zelo me consome porque meus adversários esqueceram as Tuas palavras. ¹⁴⁰ Tua palavra é totalmente pura e o Teu servo a ama.

¹⁴¹ Embora pequeno e desprezado, não me esqueço dos Teus preceitos. ¹⁴² Tua Justiça é justiça eterna, e a Tua lei é a verdade.

¹⁴³ Embora a aflição e a angústia tenham me atingido, Teus mandamentos são o meu prazer. ¹⁴⁴ Os decretos da Tua aliança são justos para sempre; dá-me entendimento para que eu viva.

Kuf

¹⁴⁵ Com todo o meu coração, clamo a Ti. Atende-me, Yahweh, e guardarei os Teus estatutos!

¹⁴⁶ Eu suplico: salva-me, e cumprirei os decretos da Tua aliança.

¹⁴⁷ Levanto antes do amanhecer e clamo por ajuda. Em Tua palavra coloco minha esperança. ¹⁴⁸ Mantenho os meus olhos abertos nas vigílias da noite, para meditar em Tua palavra.

¹⁴⁹ Ouve a minha voz segundo o Teu amor leal, Yahweh; vivifica-me conforme Teus juízos! ¹⁵⁰ Meus perseguidores se aproximam; eles estão afastados da Tua lei.

¹⁵¹ Tu estás perto, Yahweh, e todos os Teus mandamentos são verdade. ¹⁵² Há muito tempo, aprendi os decretos da Tua aliança, os quais Tu estabeleceste para sempre.

Resh

¹⁵³ Vê minha aflição e livra-me, pois não me esqueço da Tua lei!

¹⁵⁴ Advoga minha causa e defende-me; vivifica-me de acordo com as Tuas promessas.

¹⁵⁵ A salvação está longe dos ímpios porque não procuram os Teus estatutos. ¹⁵⁶ Grandes são os Teus atos de misericórdia, Yahweh! Vivifica-me segundo os Teus mandamentos.

¹⁵⁷ Numerosos são os meus inimigos e aqueles que me perseguem; porém, não me desvio dos decretos da Tua aliança. ¹⁵⁸ Vejo os traidores e sinto desgosto porque não guardam a Tua palavra.

¹⁵⁹ Vê como amo os Teus preceitos, Yahweh! Vivifica-me segundo o Teu amor leal! ¹⁶⁰ A essência da Tua palavra é a verdade; e todos os Teus justos juízos são eternos.

Shin

¹⁶¹ Príncipes me perseguem sem motivo; porém, meu coração reverencia a Tua palavra.

¹⁶² Regozijo-me em Tuas promessas, como alguém que encontra um grande tesouro.

¹⁶³ Eu detesto e aborreço a falsidade, mas amo a Tua lei. ¹⁶⁴ Sete vezes ao dia, Te louvo porque Teus juízos são justos.

¹⁶⁵ Grande paz têm os que amam a Tua lei: para eles não há tropeço. ¹⁶⁶ Eu espero por Tua salvação, Yahweh, e cumpro os Teus mandamentos.

¹⁶⁷ Obedeço aos decretos da Tua aliança e os amo intensamente. ¹⁶⁸ Guardo os Teus preceitos e os decretos da Tua aliança, pois todos os meus caminhos estão diante de Ti.

Taf

¹⁶⁹ Chegue a Ti o meu clamor, Yahweh. Dá-me entendimento de acordo com a Tua palavra.

¹⁷⁰ Chegue a minha súplica à Tua presença. Ajuda-me, conforme a Tua palavra.

¹⁷¹ Que transborde louvor dos meus lábios, pois Tu me ensinas os Teus estatutos! ¹⁷² Que a minha língua cante a Tua palavra, porque todos os Teus mandamentos são justos.

¹⁷³ Que a Tua mão me socorra, pois escolhi os Teus preceitos. ¹⁷⁴ Desejo o Teu livramento, Yahweh; Tua lei é o meu prazer.

¹⁷⁵ Que eu viva para Te louvar, e que os Teus justos juízos me socorram. ¹⁷⁶ Ando sem destino, como ovelha desgarrada; procura o Teu servo, pois não me esqueço dos Teus mandamentos.

Capítulo 120

Cântico dos degraus.

¹ Em minha aflição, clamei a Yahweh e Ele me respondeu.

² Livra-me, Yahweh, dos que mentem com seus lábios e enganam com sua língua.

³ Como Ele vos punirá, e o que mais Ele vos fará, vós que tendes uma língua mentirosa? ⁴ Ele atirará em vós com flechas afiadas de guerreiros, que foram forjadas sobre as brasas de zimbro.

⁵ Ai de mim, porque fui peregrino em Meseque, e habitei nas tendas de Quedar. ⁶ Por muito tempo vivi com os que odeiam a paz. ⁷ Sou pela paz, mas, quando falo, eles são pela guerra.

Capítulo 121

Cântico dos degraus.

¹ Elevo meus olhos para os montes. De onde virá o meu socorro?

² O meu socorro vem de Yahweh, que fez os céus e a terra.

³ Ele não permitirá que teus pés escorreguem; Aquele que te protege não dormirá. ⁴ Vê, o guardião de Israel nunca pega no sono ou dorme.

⁵ Yahweh é teu guardião; Yahweh é a sombra à tua direita. ⁶ O sol não te prejudicará de dia, nem a lua de noite.

⁷ Yahweh te protegerá de todo mal, Ele protegerá tua vida. ⁸ Yahweh te protegerá em tudo o que fizeres, agora e para sempre.

Capítulo 122

Cântico dos degraus. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Alegrei-me quando me disseram: "Vamos à Casa de Yahweh."

² Jerusalém, nossos pés estão dentro de teus portões. ³ Jerusalém, que foste cuidadosamente construída.

⁴ As tribos sobem para Jerusalém — as tribos de Yahweh — como um testemunho para Israel, para dar graças ao nome de Yahweh. ⁵ Lá, tribunais foram definidos, tribunais da casa de Davi.

⁶ Orai pela paz de Jerusalém! Terão paz aqueles que te amam. ⁷ Haja paz dentro das muralhas que te defendem; que tenham paz dentro das tuas fortalezas.

⁸ Pelo bem dos meus irmãos e amigos direi: "Haja paz em ti." ⁹ Pelo bem da casa de Yahweh, nosso Deus, buscarei o teu bem.

Capítulo 123

Cântico dos degraus.

¹ A Ti elevo os meus olhos, Tu que estás entronizado nos céus.

² Vede, assim como os olhos dos servos estão atentos à mão de seu mestre, e os olhos da serva, à mão de sua senhora, assim nossos olhos estão voltados para Yahweh, nosso Deus, até que Ele tenha misericórdia de nós.

³ Tem misericórdia de nós, Yahweh, tem misericórdia de nós, pois estamos fartos de tanta humilhação. ⁴ Estamos mais do que cheios da zombaria dos insolentes e do desprezo dos orgulhosos.

Capítulo 124

Cântico dos degraus. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Se Yahweh não estivesse ao nosso lado — Israel o diga —

² se Yahweh não estivesse ao nosso lado quando os homens se levantaram contra nós, ³ então, eles nos teriam engolido vivos, quando se enfureceram contra nós.

⁴ A água nos teria arrastado para longe; a torrente teria passado sobre nós. ⁵ Então, as águas abundantes teriam nos afogado.

⁶ Bendito seja Yahweh, que não nos deu por presas aos dentes deles. ⁷ Escapamos como pássaros do laço dos caçadores; o laço foi rompido, e nós escapamos.

⁸ Nosso socorro está em Yahweh, que fez o céu e a terra.

Capítulo 125

Cântico dos degraus.

¹ Aqueles que confiam em Yahweh são como o monte Sião: inabalável, que permanece para sempre.

² Como as montanhas cercam Jerusalém, assim Yahweh cerca o Seu povo, agora e para sempre. ³ O cetro da impiedade não governará na terra dos justos. Caso contrário, os justos poderiam se corromper.

⁴ Faz o bem, Yahweh, para aqueles que são bons e para aqueles que têm um coração justo; ⁵ mas, aqueles que seguem caminhos tortuosos, Yahweh os levará com os malfeitores. Que a paz esteja sobre Israel.

Capítulo 126

Cântico dos degraus.

¹ Quando Yahweh restaurou a sorte de Sião, ficamos como os que sonham.

² Então, a nossa boca se encheu de riso e a nossa língua, de cânticos. E disseram entre as nações: "Yahweh fez grandes coisas por eles." ³ Sim! Yahweh fez grandes coisas por nós. Por isso, estamos tão felizes!

⁴ Restaura nossa sorte, Yahweh, como as correntes no Neguebe. ⁵ Aqueles que semeiam com lágrimas colherão com brados de alegria. ⁶ Aquele que sai chorando, carregando sementes para plantar, voltará com regozijo, trazendo consigo os seus feixes.

Salmo 127

Cântico de degraus. De Salomão.

¹ Se Yahweh não edificar a casa, inutilmente trabalham aqueles que a edificam. Se Yahweh não guardar a cidade, em vão o vigia montará guarda.

² Inútil vos será acordar de madrugada e voltar tarde para casa, trabalhando arduamente pelo pão; aos Seus amados, Yahweh provê enquanto eles dormem.

³ Os filhos são herança de Yahweh, e o fruto do ventre é a Sua recompensa. ⁴ Como flechas nas mãos de um guerreiro, assim são os filhos da juventude. ⁵ Como é abençoado o homem que tem a sua aljava cheia deles. Ele não será envergonhado quando confrontar seus inimigos à porta.

Salmos 128

Cântico de degraus.

¹ Como é feliz aquele que honra Yahweh, aquele que anda em Seus caminhos.

² O que o teu trabalho te fornecer, tu desfrutarás; serás abençoado e próspero.

³ Tua esposa será como videira frutífera em tua casa; teus filhos serão como plantas de oliveira que se sentam ao redor da tua mesa. ⁴ Sim, certamente, o homem que honra Yahweh será abençoado. ⁵ Que Yahweh te abençoe desde Sião; que tu vejas a prosperidade de Jerusalém todos os dias da tua vida. ⁶ Que tu vivas para ver os filhos dos teus filhos. Que a paz esteja sobre Israel.

Salmo 129

Cântico dos degraus.

¹ Desde a minha juventude, eles têm-me afligido frequentemente — que Israel o diga.

² Desde a minha juventude, eles têm-me afligido frequentemente; todavia, não me derrotaram. ³ Os lavradores araram sobre minhas costas; eles abriram longos sulcos.

⁴ Todavia, Yahweh é justo; Ele cortou as cordas dos perversos. ⁵ Que eles retornem envergonhados — todos os que odeiam Sião.

⁶ Que sejam como o capim nos telhados, que murcha antes de crescer, ⁷ e não enche a mão do ceifador, nem os braços daquele que ata os feixes. ⁸ Que todos aqueles que passam não digam: "A benção de Yahweh esteja sobre vós. Nós vos abençoamos em Nome de Yahweh."

Salmo 130

Cântico de degraus.

¹ Das profundezas eu clamo a Ti, Yahweh.

² Senhor, escuta a minha voz; estejam os Teus ouvidos atentos aos meus pedidos de súplica.

³ Yahweh, se Tu notasses as iniquidades, quem de nós resistiria? ⁴ Contudo, em Ti há perdão, para que sejas reverenciado.

⁵ Eu espero por Yahweh; minha alma espera e, na Tua palavra, tenho esperança. ⁶ Minha alma espera pelo Senhor mais do que os vigias esperam pela manhã.

⁷ Israel, espera em Yahweh. Yahweh é misericordioso e está totalmente disposto a perdoar. ⁸ É Ele quem redimirá Israel de todos os seus pecados.

Capítulo 131

Cântico dos degraus.

¹ Yahweh, meu coração não é orgulhoso, e meus olhos não são altivos. Eu não espero por grandes coisas ou me preocupo com questões demasiadamente difíceis para mim.

² Na verdade, eu acalmei e aquietei a minha alma; como uma criança desmamada de sua mãe; a minha alma, dentro de mim, é como essa criança. ³ Israel, espera em Yahweh, agora e para sempre.

Capítulo 132

Cântico dos degraus.

¹ Yahweh, por amor a Davi, relembra de todas as suas aflições.

² Relembra como ele jurou a Yahweh, como ele fez voto ao Poderoso de Jacó.

³ Ele disse: "Não entrarei em minha casa ou deitarei em minha cama, ⁴ não darei sono aos meus olhos ou descanso às minhas pálpebras ⁵ até que eu encontre um lugar para Yahweh, um tabernáculo ao Poderoso de Jacó."

⁶ Ouvimos dizer que a arca está em Efrata. ⁷ Nós a encontramos nos campos de Jaar. Iremos ao tabernáculo de Deus; adoraremos no estrado de Seus pés. ⁸ Levanta-Te, Yahweh. Vem ao Teu lugar de repouso, Tu e a arca da Tua fortaleza!

⁹ Que os Teus sacerdotes se vistam de integridade; que Teus fiéis bradem de alegria. ¹⁰ Por causa do Teu servo Davi, não Te afastes do Teu rei ungido.

¹¹ Yahweh jurou firmemente a Davi; Ele não voltará atrás: "Colocarei um de teus descendentes em teu trono. ¹² Se teus filhos guardarem a Minha aliança e as leis que Eu lhes ensinarei, os filhos deles também sentarão sobre teu trono para todo o sempre."

¹³ Certamente, Yahweh escolheu Sião; Ele a desejou para Seu trono. ¹⁴ "Este é o Meu lugar de descanso para sempre; viverei aqui, pois a escolhi.

¹⁵ Eu a abençoarei abundantemente com provisões; ¹⁶ saciarei seus pobres com pão. Vestirei seus sacerdotes com salvação; seus fiéis bradarão de alegria.

¹⁷ Ali, farei crescer a força de Davi; e colocarei uma lâmpada para o Meu ungido. ¹⁸ Envergonharei seus inimigos, mas a coroa dele brilhará."

Capítulo 133

Cântico dos degraus. De Davi.

¹ Vede quão bom e agradável é que os irmãos vivam juntos, em união!

² É como o óleo precioso sobre a cabeça e que desce sobre a barba, a barba de Arão, e desce até a gola de suas vestes. ³ É como o orvalho de Hermom, que cai sobre os montes de Sião. De lá, Yahweh ordenou a bênção: vida para sempre.

Capítulo 134

¹ Bendizei a Yahweh, todos os Seus servos! Todos vós que servis na Casa do Senhor durante a noite. ² Erguei as mãos para o santo lugar e bendizei a Yahweh.

³ Yahweh te abençoe de Sião, Ele que fez os céus e a terra.

Capítulo 135

¹ Louvai Yahweh. Louvai o nome de Yahweh. Louvai-o, servos de Yahweh, ² vós que servis na Casa de Yahweh, nos pátios da Casa de nosso Deus.

³ Louvai Yahweh, pois Ele é bom; cantai louvores ao Seu nome, pois é prazeroso fazê-lo. ⁴ Pois Yahweh escolheu Jacó para Si e Israel como Sua posse.

⁵ Eu sei que Yahweh é grande, que nosso Senhor é sobre todos os deuses. ⁶ Tudo o que Yahweh deseja, Ele o faz nos céus, na terra, nos mares e nas profundezas do oceano.

⁷ Ele traz as nuvens de longe, fazendo com que raios acompanhem a chuva, e trazendo os ventos para fora de Seus depósitos.

⁸ Ele matou o primogênito do Egito, tanto dos homens quanto dos animais. ⁹ Ele enviou sinais e maravilhas ao Egito, contra Faraó e todos os seus servos.

¹⁰ Ele atacou muitas nações e matou reis poderosos: ¹¹ Siom, rei dos amorreus, e Ogue, rei de Basã, e todos os reinos de Canaã.

¹² Ele deu sua terra como herança, uma herança para Israel, o Seu povo. ¹³ Seu nome, Yahweh, dura para sempre; Sua reputação, Yahweh, perdura por todas as gerações. ¹⁴ Pois Yahweh defende Seu povo e tem compaixão de Seus servos.

¹⁵ Os ídolos das nações são prata e ouro, trabalho das mãos dos homens. ¹⁶ Esses ídolos têm boca, mas não falam; têm olhos, mas não vêem; ¹⁷ eles têm ouvidos, mas não ouvem, nem há respiração em suas bocas. ¹⁸ Aqueles que o fazem são como eles, assim como todos os que confiam neles.

¹⁹ Descendentes de Israel, bendizei Yahweh; descendentes de Arão, bendizei Yahweh. ²⁰ Descendentes de Levi, bendizei Yahweh; tu que honras Yahweh, bendizei Yahweh. ²¹ Bendito seja Yahweh em Sião, Ele que vive em Jerusalém. Louvai Yahweh.

Capítulo 136

¹ Oh, dai graças a Yahweh, porque Ele é bom, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre. ² Oh, dai graças ao Deus dos deuses, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre. ³ Oh, dai graças ao Senhor dos senhores, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre.

⁴ Àquele que, sozinho, faz grandes maravilhas, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre. ⁵ Àquele que com sabedoria fez os céus, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre.

⁶ Àquele que estendeu a terra sobre as águas, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre. ⁷ Àquele que fez os grandes luminares, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre,

⁸ o sol para governar o dia, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre, ⁹ a lua e a as estrelas para governarem a noite, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre.

¹⁰ Àquele que matou os primogênitos do Egito, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre, ¹¹ e tirou Israel do seu meio, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre, ¹² com uma forte mão e um braço erguido, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre.

¹³ Àquele que dividiu o mar Vermelho, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre, ¹⁴ e fez Israel atravessá-lo ao meio, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre, ¹⁵ mas derrubou Faraó e o seu exército no mar Vermelho, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre.

¹⁶ Àquele que conduziu Seu povo pelo deserto, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre. ¹⁷ Àquele que matou grandes reis, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre,

¹⁸ e matou reis famosos, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre, ¹⁹ Siom, rei dos Amorreus, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre, ²⁰ e Ogue, rei de Basã, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre,

²¹ e deu a terra deles como herança, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre, ²² uma herança para Israel, seu servo, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre. ²³ Àquele que se lembrou de nós e nos ajudou em nossa humilhação, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre,

²⁴ e que nos deu vitória sobre nossos inimigos, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre, ²⁵ que dá alimento a todos os seres vivos, pois o Seu amor leal dura para sempre. ²⁶ Oh, dai graças ao Deus dos céus, pois o Seu amor dura para sempre.

Capítulo 137

¹ Sentamos às margens dos rios da Babilônia e choramos quando pensamos em Sião. ² Nos salgueiros daquele lugar penduramos nossas harpas.

³ Lá, aqueles que nos capturaram nos pediam canções, e aqueles que zombavam de nós pediam que ficássemos alegres, dizendo: "Cantai a nós uma das canções de Sião." ⁴ Como podíamos cantar uma canção sobre Yahweh em terra estrangeira?

⁵ Se eu ignorar tua memória, Jerusalém, que a minha mão direita perca a destreza. ⁶ Que a minha língua se prenda ao céu da minha boca se eu não pensar mais sobre ti, se eu não preferir Jerusalém aos meus maiores deleites.

⁷ Relembra, Yahweh, o que os edomitas fizeram no dia em que Jerusalém caiu. Eles disseram: "Destruí-a, destruí-a até seus alicerces."

⁸ Filha da Babilônia, prestes a ser destruída — que seja abençoado quem quer que retribua o que fizeste a nós. ⁹ Que seja abençoado quem quer que pegue os teus filhos pequenos e os arremesse contra a rocha.

Capítulo 138

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Darei graças a Ti com todo o meu coração! Diante de deuses eu cantarei louvores a Ti.

² Eu me prostrarei em direção ao Teu santo templo e darei graças ao Teu nome, por causa do Teu amor leal e da Tua verdade, pois magnificaste, acima de tudo, a Tua palavra e o Teu nome.

³ No dia em que eu clamei a Ti, Tu me respondeste; Tu me encorajaste e fortificaste a minha alma. ⁴ Todos os reis da terra darão graças a Ti, Yahweh, porque eles ouvirão as palavras da Tua boca.

⁵ De fato, eles celebrarão os caminhos de Yahweh, porque grande é a glória de Yahweh. ⁶ Yahweh é supremo e, ainda assim, preocupa-Se com o humilde; mas o soberbo, Ele o conhece de longe.

⁷ Ainda que eu ande no meio ao perigo, Tu preservarás a minha vida; Tu estendes a Tua mão contra a raiva dos meus inimigos, e a Tua mão direita me salvará. ⁸ Yahweh estará comigo até o fim; Teu amor leal, Yahweh, dura para sempre. Não abandones o que as Tuas mãos fizeram.

Capítulo 139

Ao regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Yahweh, Tu me examinas e me conheces.

² Tu sabes quando me assento e quando me levanto; mesmo de longe, Tu conheces os meus pensamentos.

³ Tu observas o meu andar e o meu deitar; Tu conheces todos os meus caminhos. ⁴ E antes que uma palavra chegue à minha língua, Tu já a conheces completamente, Yahweh. ⁵ Tu me cercas por trás e pela frente, e sobre mim colocas a Tua mão. ⁶ Tal conhecimento é maravilhoso demais para mim; é muito elevado e não consigo alcançá-lo.

⁷ Para onde irei a fim de escapar do Teu Espírito? Para onde fugirei da Tua presença? ⁸ Se eu subir aos céus, Tu ali estás; se eu fizer minha cama no Sheol, Tu estás lá também.

⁹ Se eu voar nas asas da manhã e habitar nos confins dos mares, ¹⁰ ainda ali Tua mão me guiará; Tua mão direita me sustentará.

¹¹ Se eu disser: "Certamente as trevas me encobrirão e a luz se tornará noite ao meu redor", ¹² nem mesmo a escuridão me esconderá de Ti. A noite resplandecerá como o dia, pois a escuridão e a luz são iguais para Ti.

¹³ Tu formaste o meu interior; Tu me teceste no ventre de minha mãe. ¹⁴ Eu Te darei graças, pois me formaste de um modo incrivelmente maravilhoso! Teus feitos são admiráveis e minha alma o sabe muito bem.

¹⁵ Meus ossos não estavam escondidos de Ti quando, em secreto, fui formado e tecido, como nas profundezas da terra. ¹⁶ Tu me viste dentro do ventre, um ser ainda sem forma, e todos os dias determinados a mim já estavam escritos no Teu livro, mesmo antes de qualquer um deles existir.

¹⁷ Quão preciosos são Teus pensamentos para comigo, ó Deus! Como é grande a soma deles! ¹⁸ Se eu tentasse contá-los, eles seriam mais numerosos do que a areia. E quando eu acordo, ainda estou Contigo.

¹⁹ Quem dera matasses os perversos, ó Deus! Afastai-vos de mim, homens violentos! ²⁰ Eles falam contra Ti maliciosamente e tomam o Teu nome em vão.

²¹ Não odeio aqueles que Te odeiam, Yahweh? Não odeio aqueles que se levantam contra Ti? ²² Eu os odeio profundamente; eles se tornaram meus inimigos.

²³ Examina-me, ó Deus, e conhece o meu coração; prova-me e conhece os meus pensamentos. ²⁴ Vê se existe alguma maldade em mim e me guia pelo caminho eterno.

Capítulo 140

Ao regente musical. Salmo de Davi.

¹ Yahweh, salva-me do ímpio; preserva-me dos homens violentos.

² Em seu coração, eles planejam o mal; eles provocam brigas todos os dias. ³ Sua língua fere como serpente; veneno de víboras está em seus lábios.

Interlúdio

⁴ Livra-me das mãos dos ímpios, Yahweh; preserva-me dos homens violentos que planejam me derrubar. ⁵ Os arrogantes prepararam uma armadilha para mim; estenderam-me uma rede; eles armaram uma cilada para mim.

Interlúdio

⁶ Eu disse para Yahweh: Tu és o meu Deus! Escuta meu clamor por misericórdia. ⁷ Yahweh, meu Senhor, Tu és poderoso para salvar-me; Tu proteges minha cabeça no dia da batalha. ⁸ Yahweh, não concedas ao ímpio os seus desejos; não permitas que seus planos tenham êxito.

Interlúdio

⁹ Todos os que me cercam erguem a cabeça; deixa que a maldade dos seus lábios os cubra. ¹⁰ Permite que as brasas quentes caiam sobre eles; lança-os dentro do fogo, dentro de poços sem fundo, para nunca mais se erguerem. ¹¹ Que os caluniadores não estejam seguros na terra; ao homem violento, que o mal o persiga e o derrube.

¹² Eu sei que Yahweh julgará em favor do aflito, e que Ele exercerá justiça aos necessitados. ¹³ Certamente, os justos darão graças ao Teu nome; os retos viverão na Tua presença.

Capítulo 141

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Yahweh, eu clamo a Ti; vem rápido. Ouça-me quando eu chamo por Ti.

² Que minha oração seja como incenso perante Ti; que minhas mãos levantadas sejam como o sacrifício da tarde.

³ Yahweh, coloca guarda sobre a minha boca; guarda a porta dos meus lábios. ⁴ Não deixes que meu coração deseje nenhum mal, ou participe de atos pecaminosos junto aos ímpios. Não me deixes comer nenhuma das suas iguarias.

⁵ Deixa que o homem justo me bata; será uma bondade para mim. Deixa que ele me corrija; será como um óleo sobre minha cabeça; que minha mente não se recuse em aceitar, pois minha oração é sempre contra as práticas perversas. ⁶ Seus líderes serão lançados do topo dos penhascos; eles ouvirão as minhas palavras, que são agradáveis. ⁷ Eles dirão: "Como alguém que ara e lavra a terra, assim nossos ossos foram espalhados à boca do Sheol."

⁸ Certamente, meus olhos Te contemplam, Yahweh, Senhor Deus; em Ti me refugio; não deixes minha alma indefesa. ⁹ Protege-me das ciladas que armaram para mim, armadilhas dos malfeitores. ¹⁰ Deixa os ímpios caírem nas suas próprias redes, enquanto eu escapo.

Capítulo 142

Masquil de Davi, quando ele estava na caverna. Uma oração.

¹ Com minha voz, clamo a Yahweh; com minha voz suplico a Yahweh em meu favor.

² Coloco diante Dele o meu lamento; conto-Lhe as minhas tribulações.

³ Quando meu espírito está fraco dentro de mim, Tu sabes o meu caminho. No caminho que ando, esconderam uma armadilha para mim. ⁴ Olho para a minha direita e vejo que não há ninguém que se importe comigo. Não há saída para mim; ninguém se importa com a minha vida. ⁵ Clamei a Ti, Yahweh, e disse: "Tu és o meu refúgio, minha porção na terra dos viventes.

⁶ Ouça o meu clamor, pois eu estou muito abatido; resgata-me dos meus perseguidores, pois são mais fortes do que eu. ⁷ Tira a minha alma da prisão. Então, darei graças ao Teu nome. Os justos se juntarão à minha volta porque Tu tens sido bom para mim".

Capítulo 143

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Escuta minha oração, Yahweh; ouve minhas súplicas. Por causa da Tua fidelidade e justiça, responde-me!

² Não entres em juízo com o Teu servo, pois à Tua vista ninguém é justo.

³ O inimigo perseguiu a minha alma; ele me derrubou no chão; ele me fez viver nas trevas como aqueles que estão mortos há muito tempo. ⁴ Meu espírito está desfalecido dentro de mim; meu coração se desespera.

⁵ Trago à lembrança os dias antigos; medito em todas as Tuas obras; reflito nos Teus feitos. ⁶ Estendo minhas mãos a Ti em oração; minha alma tem sede de Ti como uma terra seca. (Selá.)

⁷ Responde-me depressa, Yahweh, porque meu espírito desfalece. Não escondas a Tua face de mim, ou me tornarei como aqueles que descem à cova. ⁸ Faze-me ouvir da Tua bondade pela manhã, pois eu confio em Ti. Mostra-me o caminho onde devo andar, pois elevo a minha alma a Ti.

⁹ Livra-me dos meus inimigos, Yahweh; eu me refugio em Ti. ¹⁰ Ensina-me a fazer a Tua vontade, pois és meu Deus. Que Teu bom Espírito me guie na terra da retidão.

¹¹ Yahweh, vivifica-me por amor do Teu nome; na Tua justiça, livra a minha alma da tribulação. ¹² Na Tua fidelidade, aniquila os meus adversários e destrói os meus inimigos, pois sou Teu servo.

Capítulo 144

Salmo de Davi.

¹ Bendito seja Yahweh, minha Rocha, que treina as minhas mãos para a guerra, e os meus dedos para a batalha.

² Tu és o meu refúgio e a minha fortaleza; minha torre alta e meu libertador; meu escudo e Aquele em quem me refugio; Aquele que submete as nações a mim.

³ Yahweh, o que é o homem para que Tu tomes conhecimento dele, ou o filho do homem, para que o consideres? ⁴ O homem é como um sopro; seus dias são como a sombra que passa.

⁵ Faz o céu baixar e descer, Yahweh; toca as montanhas e as faz fumegar. ⁶ Envia relâmpagos e dispersa meus inimigos; atira Tuas flechas e faça com que eles fujam em confusão.

⁷ Estende Tua mão do alto, e me resgata das muitas águas e da mão dos estrangeiros. ⁸ Suas bocas falam mentiras, e sua mão direita é a destra da falsidade.

⁹ Cantarei um cântico novo a Ti, ó Deus; com a harpa de dez cordas, cantarei louvores a Ti. ¹⁰ Tu deste salvação aos reis; salvaste Davi, Teu servo, da espada maligna. ¹¹ Salva-me e livra-me das mãos dos estrangeiros; suas bocas falam mentiras, e sua destra é falsidade.

¹² Que nossos filhos sejam como plantas crescidas na sua mocidade, e nossas filhas sejam como colunas angulares esculpidas, lavradas como as de um palácio. ¹³ Que nossos celeiros estejam repletos de todos os tipos de mantimentos, e nossas ovelhas se reproduzam aos milhares e dezenas de milhares, em nossos campos.

¹⁴ Então, nossos bois serão fortes para o trabalho. Ninguém invadirá nossos muros, e não haverá fugas e nem lamentações em nossas ruas. ¹⁵ Feliz é o povo com tais bênçãos. Feliz é o povo que tem Yahweh como seu Deus.

Capítulo 145

Salmo de louvor. De Davi.

¹ Eu te exaltarei, meu Deus, meu Rei; bendirei o Teu nome para todo o sempre.

² Todos os dias te bendirei e adorarei o Teu nome para todo o sempre. ³ Grande é Yahweh e digno de ser louvado; Sua grandeza é insondável.

⁴ Uma geração louvará os Teus feitos e a próxima proclamará os Teus atos poderosos. ⁵ Meditarei na majestade da Tua glória e em Tuas obras maravilhosas.

⁶ Elas proclamarão o poder dos Teus feitos tremendos, e eu declararei a Tua grandeza. ⁷ Eles declararão a Tua grande bondade, e cantarão sobre a Tua justiça.

⁸ Yahweh é gracioso e misericordioso, tardio em se irar e abundante em Sua bondade. ⁹ Yahweh é bom para com todos; Suas ternas misericórdias estão em todos os Seus feitos.

¹⁰ Tudo o que Tu criaste te louvará, Yahweh; os Teus fiéis te bendirão. ¹¹ Os Teus fiéis anunciarão a glória do Teu reino, e falarão do Teu poder. ¹² Farão conhecidos aos homens os feitos poderosos de Deus e o glorioso esplendor de Seu reino.

¹³ O Teu reino é um reino eterno, e o Teu domínio dura por todas as gerações.

¹⁴ Yahweh sustenta todos os que estão caídos e levanta todos aqueles que estão abatidos. ¹⁵ Os olhos de todos esperam por Ti; e Tu lhes dás comida no devido tempo. ¹⁶ Abres a mão e satisfazes o desejo de todos os viventes.

¹⁷ Yahweh é justo em todos os Seus caminhos e gracioso em tudo o que faz. ¹⁸ Yahweh está perto de todos aqueles que O invocam, de todos os que O invocam com sinceridade. ¹⁹ Ele cumpre o desejo daqueles que O temem; Ele ouve seus clamores e os salva.

²⁰ Yahweh vela sobre todos aqueles que O amam, mas destruirá todos os ímpios. ²¹ Minha boca proclamará o louvor de Yahweh. Que todos os homens bendigam Seu santo nome, para sempre e sempre.

Capítulo 146

¹ Louvado seja Yahweh. Louva, ó minha alma, a Yahweh. ² Eu louvarei Yahweh enquanto eu viver; eu cantarei louvores ao meu Deus enquanto eu existir.

³ Não deposites tua confiança em príncipes ou na humanidade, nos quais não há salvação. ⁴ Quando o fôlego de vida de uma pessoa para, ela retorna ao pó; nesse dia, os planos terminam.

⁵ Feliz é aquele que tiver o Deus de Jacó como auxílio, aquele cuja esperança está em Yahweh, seu Deus. ⁶ Yahweh fez os céus e a terra, o mar e tudo o que neles há; Ele mantém Sua fidelidade para sempre.

⁷ Ele executa justiça aos oprimidos e alimenta os famintos. Yahweh liberta os prisioneiros; ⁸ Yahweh abre os olhos do cego; Yahweh eleva aqueles que foram humilhados; Yahweh ama as pessoas justas.

⁹ Yahweh protege os estrangeiros na terra; Ele eleva os órfãos e as viúvas; Ele se opõe aos perversos. ¹⁰ Yahweh reinará para sempre; o teu Deus, ó Sião, reinará por todas as gerações. Louvai a Yahweh.

Capítulo 147

¹ Louvai a Yahweh, porque é bom cantar louvores ao nosso Deus; é prazeroso e apropriado louvá-Lo.

² Yahweh edifica Jerusalém e reúne os dispersos do povo de Israel. ³ Ele cura os corações quebrantados e sara-lhes as feridas.

⁴ Ele conta as estrelas e dá nome a todas elas. ⁵ Grande é o nosso Deus e maravilhoso em poder; Seu entendimento não pode ser medido.

⁶ Yahweh restaura os oprimidos; Ele lança ao chão os perversos. ⁷ Cantai para Yahweh com ações de graças; cantai louvores ao nosso Deus com a harpa.

⁸ Ele cobre os céus com nuvens e prepara chuva para a terra, fazendo com que a relva cresça nas montanhas. ⁹ Ele alimenta os animais e os filhotes dos corvos, quando choram.

¹⁰ Ele não se deleita na força do cavalo; Ele não encontra prazer nos fortes músculos de um homem. ¹¹ Yahweh tem prazer naqueles que O honram, que esperam em Sua bondade.

¹² Louvai a Yahweh, Jerusalém! Louvai a Yahweh, Sião! ¹³ Ele reforça as trancas de seus portões; Ele abençoa as crianças que habitam entre vós; ¹⁴ Ele traz paz para dentro de vossas fronteiras; Ele vos satisfaz com o melhor do trigo.

¹⁵ Ele envia Seus mandamentos à terra; Sua palavra corre com muita rapidez. ¹⁶ Ele faz cair a neve como lã; Ele espalha a geada como cinzas.

¹⁷ Ele lança o granizo como migalhas. Quem pode suportar o frio que Ele envia? ¹⁸ Ele envia Sua palavra e os faz derreter; Ele faz o vento soprar e as águas fluírem.

¹⁹ Ele proclamou Sua palavra a Jacó, Seus estatutos e Seus justos decretos a Israel. ²⁰ Ele não fez isso com nenhuma outra nação e elas nada conhecem sobre os Seus decretos. Louvai a Yahweh!

Capítulo 148

¹ Aleluia! Louvai a Yahweh do alto dos céus; louvai-O nas alturas. ² Louvai-O, todos os Seus anjos, louvai-O, todos os Seus exércitos.

³ Louvai-O, sol e lua; louvai-O, todas as estrelas reluzentes. ⁴ Louvai-O, altos céus; e vós, águas que estão acima dos céus.

⁵ Louvai o nome de Yahweh, pois Ele ordenou, e foram criados. ⁶ Ele também os estabeleceu para todo o sempre; Ele estabeleceu um decreto que nunca mudará.

⁷ Louvai a Yahweh, toda a terra, monstros marinhos e todas as profundezas do oceano, ⁸ fogo e granizo, neve e nuvens, ventos tempestuosos que obedecem à Sua palavra,

⁹ montanhas e todas as colinas, árvores frutíferas e todos os cedros, ¹⁰ animais selvagens e domésticos, criaturas que rastejam e pássaros,

¹¹ reis da terra e todas as nações, príncipes e todos os que governam sobre a terra, ¹² moços e moças, anciãos e crianças.

¹³ Todos vós, louvai o nome de Yahweh, pois somente o Seu nome é exaltado e a Sua glória se estende sobre a terra e os céus. ¹⁴ Ele reforça o vigor do Seu povo, para o louvor dos Seus santos, os israelitas, povo que Lhe é íntimo. Louvai a Yahweh!

Capítulo 149

¹ Louvai a Yahweh. Cantai a Yahweh um novo cântico; cantai Seu louvor na assembleia dos santos.

² Alegra-te, ó Israel, em teu Criador; regozijai-vos, filhos de Sião, em vosso Rei. ³ Adorai Seu nome com danças; cantai e louvai-O com tamborim e harpa.

⁴ Pois Yahweh tem prazer no Seu povo; Ele coroa o humilde com a salvação. ⁵ Que os fiéis regozijem-se em vitória; que eles cantem de alegria em suas camas.

⁶ Que os louvores a Deus estejam em suas bocas, e a espada de dois gumes, em suas mãos, para ⁷ executar vingança entre as nações e castigo sobre os povos.

⁸ Eles amarrarão seus reis com correntes e seus nobres com algemas de ferro. ⁹ Eles executarão o julgamento que foi escrito. Isto será uma honra para todos os seus fiéis. Louvai a Yahweh!

Capítulo 150

¹ Louvai a Yahweh. Louvai a Deus em Seu santuário, louvai-O nos altos céus. ² Louvai-O pelos Seus atos grandiosos; louvai-O pela Sua imensa grandeza.

³ Louvai-O com o sopro da trombeta; louvai-O com alaúde e harpa. ⁴ Louvai-O com tamborins e danças; louvai-O com instrumentos de cordas e de sopro. ⁵ Louvai-O com címbalos sonoros; louvai-O com címbalos retumbantes.

⁶ Todo o ser que respira, louve a Yahweh. Louve a Yahweh!

Proverbs

Chapter 1

¹ Provérbios de Salomão, filho de Davi, rei de Israel. ² Estes provérbios são para ensinar a sabedoria e a instrução, para ensinar palavras de entendimento, ³ para que recebas correção, de forma que faças o que é direito, justo e correto.

⁴ Estes provérbios também são para dar sabedoria aos simples, entendimento e prudência aos jovens. ⁵ Para que os sábios ouçam e aumentem seu aprendizado, e para que as pessoas com discernimento sejam guiadas, ⁶ para que entendam os provérbios, os dizeres e as palavras dos sábios, e seus enigmas.

⁷ O temor de Yahweh é o princípio do conhecimento, mas os tolos desprezam a sabedoria e a disciplina. ⁸ Meu filho, ouve o ensino de teu pai e não desprezes a instrução de tua mãe; ⁹ eles serão como uma coroa graciosa para a tua cabeça e colares para o teu pescoço.

¹⁰ Meu filho, se pecadores tentarem te persuadir a pecar junto com eles, recusa-te a segui-los. ¹¹ Se disserem: "Vem conosco! Armemos uma emboscada para matar alguém; fiquemos escondidos e ataquemos um inocente.

¹² Vamos tragá-lo vivo, como a sepultura engole aqueles que estão saudáveis, como os que descem à cova. ¹³ Encontraremos todo tipo de coisas valiosas, encheremos nossas casas com o que roubamos de outros. ¹⁴ Vem conosco! Teremos tudo em comum".

¹⁵ Meu filho, não andes neste caminho com eles, nem deixes teu pé tocar por onde eles passam; ¹⁶ Pois seus pés correm para o mal e eles se apressam em derramar sangue. ¹⁷ É inútil armar uma rede para pegar um pássaro enquanto o pássaro está atento.

¹⁸ Esses homens, que ficam à espreita para se matarem, armam armadilhas para eles mesmos. ¹⁹ Assim são os caminhos de todo aquele que se enriquece com injustiça; o ganho injusto tira a vida daqueles que o buscam.

²⁰ A sabedoria clama intensamente nas ruas e levanta a sua voz nas praças; ²¹ nas esquinas tumultuadas, ela brada; nos portões da entrada da cidade, ela proclama: ²² "Até quando, vós que não possuís sabedoria, continuareis a amar a tolice? Até quando, vós zombadores, vos deleitareis na zombaria, e até quando, vós tolos, odiareis o conhecimento?

²³ Prestai atenção na minha repreensão; Eu vos derramarei meus pensamentos e vos revelarei as minhas palavras. ²⁴ Chamei, mas recusastes a me ouvir; estendi a minha mão e ninguém prestou atenção. ²⁵ Ignorastes toda a minha instrução e desconsiderastes a minha repreensão.

²⁶ Rirei na vossa calamidade, zombarei de vós quando o terror vier, ²⁷ quando o pavor vier como uma tempestade e o desastre varrer como um redemoinho, então, a angústia e a aflição cairão sobre vós.

²⁸ Clamareis a mim, e não responderei; Vós me procurareis desesperadamente, mas não me achareis. ²⁹ Pois odiastes o conhecimento e não escolhestes o temor de Yahweh. ³⁰ Não seguistes meus conselhos e desprezastes toda a minha repreensão.

³¹ Comereis o fruto dos vossos caminhos e, com o fruto das vossas intrigas, vos enchereis. ³² Pois os ingênuos são mortos quando se desviam, e a prosperidade dos tolos os destruirá. ³³ Mas aquele que ouvir a mim viverá em segurança e descansará tranquilo, sem temer o mal".

Chapter 2

¹ Filho meu, se tu receberes minhas palavras e entesourares meus mandamentos contigo, ² conserva teus ouvidos atentos à sabedoria e inclina teu coração ao entendimento.

³ Se clamares por entendimento e elevares tua voz por isso, ⁴ se buscares isso como quem busca prata e, procurares entendimento como quem procura tesouros escondidos, ⁵ então, tu entenderás o temor de Yahweh e encontrarás o conhecimento de Deus.

⁶ Pois Yahweh dá sabedoria; de Sua boca, vêm conhecimento e entendimento. ⁷ Ele reserva a verdadeira sabedoria para aqueles que Lhe agradam; Ele é um escudo para os que andam em integridade. ⁸ Ele guarda as veredas da justiça e preservará o caminho dos que são fiéis a Ele.

⁹ Então, tu entenderás a retidão, a justiça, a equidade e todo bom caminho. ¹⁰ Pois a sabedoria entrará no teu coração, e o conhecimento será agradável à tua alma.

¹¹ O discernimento te vigiará, o entendimento te guardará. ¹² Eles te resgatarão do caminho do mal, daqueles que falam coisas perversas, ¹³ daqueles que abandonam os caminhos justos e andam nos caminhos da escuridão.

¹⁴ Esses se alegram em fazer o mal e deleitam-se nas perversidades da maldade. ¹⁵ Eles seguem caminhos tortuosos e, usando o engano, escondem seus percursos.

¹⁶ A sabedoria e a discrição te salvarão da mulher adúltera, da mulher imoral e de suas palavras sedutoras. ¹⁷ Ela abandona o companheiro de sua mocidade e se esquece da aliança de seu Deus.

¹⁸ Pois a sua casa se inclina para a morte e as suas trilhas, para a sepultura. ¹⁹ Todos os que se dirigirem a ela não retornarão, nem encontrarão os caminhos da vida.

²⁰ Porém, tu andarás no caminho dos bons e seguirás as veredas dos justos. ²¹ Pois os que agem corretamente habitarão na terra e os íntegros nela permanecerão. ²² Mas os perversos serão eliminados da terra, e dela os infiéis serão arrancados.

Chapter 3

¹ Meu filho, não te esqueças dos meus mandamentos e mantém meus ensinamentos em teu coração, ² para que longos dias, anos de vida e paz, lhe sejam acrescentados.

³ Que a fidelidade e a lealdade à aliança jamais te abandonem; amarra-as ao teu pescoço e escreve-as na tábua do teu coração. ⁴ Então, acharás favor e boa reputação perante os olhos de Deus e do homem.

⁵ Confia em Yahweh com todo o teu coração e não te apoies em teu próprio entendimento; ⁶ reconhece-O em todos os teus caminhos e Ele fará retas as tuas veredas.

⁷ Não sejas sábio aos teus próprios olhos, teme Yahweh e afasta-te do mal. ⁸ Isso será cura para tua carne e repouso para o teu corpo.

⁹ Honra a Yahweh com tuas riquezas e com os primeiros frutos de toda a tua produção, ¹⁰ e teus celeiros se encherão, e teus barris transbordarão de vinho novo.

¹¹ Meu filho, não desprezes a disciplina de Yahweh e não odeies Sua repreensão, ¹² pois Yahweh disciplina a quem ama, como um pai lida com um filho que lhe agrada.

¹³ Abençoado é aquele que encontra a sabedoria, este também alcança entendimento. ¹⁴ O que tu ganhas com a sabedoria é melhor que a recompensa da prata e o seu lucro, melhor que o ouro.

¹⁵ A sabedoria é mais preciosa que joias e nada do que desejas se compara a ela. ¹⁶ Ela tem longevidade em sua mão direita; em sua mão esquerda, riquezas e honra.

¹⁷ Seus caminhos são caminhos de bondade e todas as suas veredas são de paz. ¹⁸ Ela é uma árvore de vida para aqueles que a pegam; aqueles que a mantêm são abençoados.

¹⁹ Pela sabedoria, Yahweh fundou a Terra; pelo entendimento, Ele estabeleceu os céus. ²⁰ Pelo Seu conhecimento, os abismos se abriram e as nuvens pingaram o seu orvalho.

²¹ Meu filho, mantém o bom senso e o discernimento, e não os perca de vista. ²² Eles serão vida para a tua alma e um adorno de favor para o teu pescoço.

²³ Então, andarás em segurança no teu caminho e teus pés não tropeçarão; ²⁴ quando deitares, não terás medo; tu te deitarás e o teu sono será suave.

²⁵ Não tenhas medo do terror repentino, nem da devastação causada pelo perverso quando ela vier, ²⁶ pois Yahweh estará ao teu lado e guardará os teus pés de serem pegos em uma armadilha.

²⁷ Não retenhas o bem aos que merecem, quando estiver em teu poder fazê-lo. ²⁸ Não digas ao teu próximo: "Vai e volta de novo, e amanhã te darei", quando tiveres o dinheiro contigo.

²⁹ Não faças plano algum contra o teu próximo, que vive perto de ti e confia em ti. ³⁰ Não brigues, sem razão, com alguém, quando este nada fez para prejudicar-te.

³¹ Não invejes o homem violento, nem escolhas nenhum de seus caminhos. ³² Pois o homem desonesto é detestável para Yahweh, mas Ele faz do justo o Seu confidente.

³³ A maldição de Yahweh está sobre a casa do perverso, mas Ele abençoa a casa dos justos. ³⁴ Ele faz de tolos os zombadores, mas concede o Seu favor aos humildes.

³⁵ Os sensatos herdarão honra, mas os tolos serão expostos em sua vergonha.

Chapter 4

¹ Escutai, filhos, a instrução do pai, e prestai atenção; assim conhecereis o que é o entendimento. ² Estou vos dando boas instruções; não abandoneis o meu ensino.

³ Quando eu era o menino do meu pai, o tenro e único filho da minha mãe, ⁴ ele me ensinava e me dizia: "Que teu coração se agarre em minhas palavras; guarda meus mandamentos e vive.

⁵ Adquire sabedoria e entendimento; não te esqueças nem rejeites as palavras de minha boca; ⁶ não abandones a sabedoria, e ela te protegerá; ama-a, e ela te manterá em segurança.

⁷ A sabedoria é a coisa mais importante. Portanto, adquire sabedoria e usa tudo o que possuis para adquirir o entendimento. ⁸ Valoriza a sabedoria e ela te exaltará; ela te honrará quando tu a abraçares. ⁹ Ela colocará uma coroa de honra em tua cabeça; ela te dará um diadema de glória".

¹⁰ Ouve, meu filho, e presta atenção às minhas palavras, e tu terás muitos anos de vida. ¹¹ Eu te conduzi no caminho da sabedoria; eu te guiei pelos caminhos justos. ¹² Quando andares, ninguém impedirá os teus caminhos, e, se correres, tu não tropeçarás.

¹³ Apega-te à instrução, não a soltes; guarda-a, pois ela é a tua vida. ¹⁴ Não sigas a vereda dos perversos e não andes pelo caminho dos que fazem o mal. ¹⁵ Evita-o, não passes por ele; afasta-te dele e vai por outro caminho.

¹⁶ Pois eles não conseguem dormir até que façam o mal, e seu sono é roubado até que façam alguém tropeçar. ¹⁷ Pois eles comem o pão da maldade e bebem o vinho da violência.

¹⁸ Mas a vereda dos justos é como a primeira luz do dia, que tem brilho crescente; ela brilha mais e mais até que a plenitude do dia chegue. ¹⁹ O caminho dos perversos é como a escuridão; eles não sabem em que tropeçam.

²⁰ Meu filho, presta atenção às minhas palavras; inclina o teu ouvido aos meus dizeres. ²¹ Que eles não se afastem de teus olhos; guarda-os em teu coração.

²² Pois as minhas palavras são vida para aqueles que as encontram e saúde para o seu corpo inteiro. ²³ Mantém o teu coração seguro e guarda-o com toda a diligência, porque dele fluem as fontes da vida.

²⁴ Remove de ti as palavras falsas e afasta de ti a fala perversa. ²⁵ Que os teus olhos olhem para frente e fixa o teu olhar no que está diante de ti.

²⁶ Faz um trajeto reto para os teus pés; então, todos os teus caminhos estarão seguros. ²⁷ Não te desvies nem para a direita nem para a esquerda; afasta os teus pés do mal.

Chapter 5

¹ Meu filho, presta atenção à minha sabedoria; inclina os teus ouvidos ao meu entendimento, ² para que aprendas sobre a discrição, e teus lábios protejam o conhecimento.

³ Pois os lábios da mulher adúltera destilam mel, e a sua boca é mais suave que o azeite, ⁴ mas, no final, é amarga como o absinto, e afiada como a espada.

⁵ Seus pés descem à morte, seus passos levam para o caminho do Sheol. ⁶ Ela não se preocupa com o rumo da vida; seus passos vagam, ela não sabe para onde vai.

⁷ Agora, meus filhos, escutai a mim; não desvieis das palavras da minha boca. ⁸ Mantém o teu caminho longe dela, e não te aproximes da porta da sua casa.

⁹ Faz desta maneira para não acontecer que dês tua honra a outros, ou teus anos de vida a uma pessoa cruel; ¹⁰ estranhos se fartem da tua riqueza; aquilo pelo qual trabalhaste vá para a casa de estranhos;

¹¹ e, no fim da tua vida, gemas quando tua carne e corpo se esvaírem; ¹² e digas: "Como odiei a disciplina e meu coração rejeitou a correção!

¹³ Não obedeci aos meus professores, nem inclinei os meus ouvidos aos que me instruíram. ¹⁴ Quase fui completamente arruinado no meio da assembleia, entre a congregação".

¹⁵ Bebe água da tua própria cisterna, e água corrente do teu próprio poço. ¹⁶ Por acaso, deveriam as tuas fontes se derramarem por todo lado, e teus ribeiros correrem em praça pública? ¹⁷ Sejam somente para ti, e não para estranhos contigo.

¹⁸ Que a tua fonte seja abençoada, e alegra-te com a esposa da tua mocidade; ¹⁹ porque ela é uma corça amorosa, uma gazela graciosa. Que os seios dela sempre te encham de prazer e tu estejas continuamente embriagado pelo seu amor.

²⁰ Pois, por que tu, meu filho, serias cativado por uma adúltera? Por que abraçarias os seios de uma mulher imoral? ²¹ Yahweh vê tudo o que uma pessoa faz e observa todos os caminhos em que anda.

²² O corrupto será capturado por suas próprias iniquidades; as cordas do seu pecado o prenderão firmemente. ²³ Ele morrerá por causa da sua falta de disciplina, e, pela sua insensatez, se desviará.

Chapter 6

¹ Meu filho, se puseste o teu dinheiro como garantia do empréstimo que o teu próximo pediu, se deste a tua palavra para o empréstimo de alguém que não conheces, ² então, terás feito uma armadilha para ti mesmo por tua promessa, e tu foste pego pelas palavras de tua boca.

³ Neste caso, meu filho, faz isto e livra-te, pois caíste nas mãos do teu próximo. Vai, humilha-te e defende o teu caso perante o teu próximo.

⁴ Não dês aos teus olhos sono algum, e às tuas pálpebras, nenhum descanso. ⁵ Livra-te como uma gazela das mãos do caçador, como um pássaro da mão do passarinheiro.

⁶ Olha para a formiga, preguiçoso, considera os caminhos dela, e sê sábio. ⁷ Ela não tem comandante, oficial ou governante, ⁸ contudo, prepara seu alimento no verão, e, durante a colheita, armazena o que irá comer.

⁹ Quanto tempo dormirás, preguiçoso? Quando levantarás do teu sono? ¹⁰ "Um pouco mais de sono, um pouco mais de descanso, um pouco mais de braços cruzados para descansar"; ¹¹ e a tua pobreza te alcançará como um ladrão e as tuas necessidades, como um soldado armado.

¹² A pessoa inútil, o homem perverso, vive com um discurso tortuoso, ¹³ piscando seus olhos, fazendo sinais com seus pés e apontando com seus dedos.

¹⁴ Ele planeja o mal com o seu coração enganoso; ele sempre atiça a discórdia. ¹⁵ Por isso, sua desgraça o alcançará em um instante; em um momento, ele será quebrado sem possibilidade de cura.

¹⁶ Há seis coisas que Yahweh odeia, sete que são abomináveis a Ele:

¹⁷ os olhos do orgulhoso, a língua que mente, as mãos que derramam sangue dos inocentes, ¹⁸ o coração que inventa planos perversos, os pés que correm apressadamente para fazer o mal, ¹⁹ a testemunha que expira mentiras e aquele que semeia discórdia entre irmãos.

²⁰ Meu filho, obedece ao mandamento de teu pai e não abandones o ensinamento de tua mãe. ²¹ Liga-os sempre ao teu coração; amarra-os ao redor do teu pescoço.

²² Quando andares, eles te guiarão; quando dormires, eles zelarão por ti, e, quando acordares, eles te ensinarão. ²³ Pois o mandamento é lâmpada, e o ensinamento é luz; as repreensões que vêm da disciplina são o caminho de vida.

²⁴ Ela te preserva da mulher imoral, das suaves palavras da adúltera. ²⁵ Em teu coração, não cobice a sua beleza, e não sejas capturado por seus cílios.

²⁶ Dormir com uma prostituta pode custar-te um pedaço de pão, mas a esposa de outro pode custar a tua própria vida. ²⁷ Por acaso pode um homem transportar fogo junto ao seu peito sem queimar as suas roupas?

²⁸ Pode um homem andar sobre brasas sem queimar seus pés? ²⁹ Assim é o homem que dorme com a mulher do seu próximo; aquele que dormir com ela não ficará impune.

³⁰ As pessoas não desprezam um ladrão se ele furta para saciar sua necessidade, quando está faminto. ³¹ Contudo, se for pego, pagará sete vezes o que furtou. Ele deverá entregar tudo de valor em sua casa.

³² Aquele que comete adultério não tem juízo; quem age assim destrói a si próprio. ³³ Feridas e vergonha são o que ele merece, e sua desgraça não se apagará.

³⁴ Pois o ciúme faz um homem ficar furioso; ele não mostrará nenhuma misericórdia quando se vingar. ³⁵ Ele não aceitará nenhuma compensação, e não poderá ser comprado, ainda que tu lhe ofereças muitos presentes.

Chapter 7

¹ Meu filho, guarda as minhas palavras e conserva os meus mandamentos contigo. ² Obedece aos meus mandamentos e vive; guarda a minha instrução como a menina dos teus olhos. ³ Amarra-os aos teus dedos; escreve-os na tábua do teu coração.

⁴ Diz à sabedoria: "És minha irmã", e chama ao entendimento o teu parente, ⁵ para te guardares da mulher adúltera, da mulher imoral e das suas suaves palavras.

⁶ Da janela de minha casa, eu estava olhando através das grades, ⁷ e, vendo os ingênuos, percebi, entre os jovens, um rapaz sem juízo.

⁸ Aquele rapaz passou pela rua, perto da esquina dela, e foi em direção à sua casa. ⁹ Era o crepúsculo, no final do dia, no tempo da noite e da escuridão.

¹⁰ Ali a mulher o encontrou, vestida como prostituta, com um coração enganoso. ¹¹ Ela era barulhenta e teimosa, seus pés não paravam em casa, ¹² ora nas ruas, ora no mercado, em toda esquina ela ficava à espreita.

¹³ Então, ela o agarrou e o beijou e, atrevidamente, disse: ¹⁴ "Fiz minha oferta pacífica hoje, paguei os meus votos. ¹⁵ Então, saí para encontrar-te, procurando, ansiosamente, o teu rosto, e te achei.

¹⁶ Estendi cobertas em minha cama, lençóis coloridos do Egito. ¹⁷ Perfumei o meu leito com mirra, aloés e canela. ¹⁸ Vem! Embriaguemo-nos de amor até o amanhecer; saciemo-nos fazendo amores.

¹⁹ Pois meu marido não está em casa; ele foi fazer uma longa viagem. ²⁰ Ele pegou uma bolsa com dinheiro e voltará no dia de lua cheia". ²¹ Com seu falar sedutor, ela o persuadiu, e, com seus suaves lábios, o convenceu.

²² Imediatamente, ele a seguiu, como um boi que vai ao matadouro ou como um cervo pego em uma armadilha, ²³ até que uma flecha lhe perfure o fígado, ou como um pássaro que corre para o laço, sem saber que isso lhe custará a vida.

²⁴ Agora, meus filhos, escutai-me, prestai atenção às palavras da minha boca. ²⁵ Que teu coração não se desvie para os caminhos dela; não andes perdido em suas veredas.

²⁶ Ela já causou a queda de muitos; não são poucas as suas vítimas fatais. ²⁷ Sua casa está nos caminhos para o Sheol, que descem até as câmaras escuras da morte.

Chapter 8

¹ Por acaso a sabedoria não está exclamando? O entendimento não está levantando a sua voz? ² No topo das colinas, ao lado da estrada, nas encruzilhadas, a sabedoria se posiciona. ³ Perto dos portões da entrada da cidade, à entrada dos portões, ela exclama:

⁴ "Povo, é a vós que eu clamo; a minha voz é para os filhos dos homens. ⁵ Vós que sois ingênuos, aprendei a sabedoria; e vós que sois insensatos, acrescentai entendimento à vossa mente.

⁶ Escutai, porque falarei de coisas nobres e, quando meus lábios se abrirem, direi coisas que são corretas, ⁷ pois minha boca fala o que é confiável e meus lábios odeiam a maldade.

⁸ Todas as palavras da minha boca são justas, não há nada torcido ou enganoso nelas. ⁹ Todas as minhas palavras são retas para aquele que as entende; minhas palavras são corretas para aqueles que acham o conhecimento.

¹⁰ Escolhei a minha instrução acima da prata e o conhecimento mais do que o ouro puro. ¹¹ Pois a sabedoria é melhor que joias; nenhum tesouro se compara a ela.

¹² Eu, a sabedoria, vivo com a prudência, e possuo conhecimento e discrição. ¹³ O temor de Yahweh é odiar o mal; eu odeio o orgulho e a arrogância, o caminho maligno e o discurso perverso. Eu os odeio.

¹⁴ Eu tenho o bom conselho e a verdadeira sabedoria; eu tenho discernimento e a força pertence a mim. ¹⁵ Por mim, os reis reinam, e os governantes fazem leis que são justas. ¹⁶ Por mim, os príncipes lideram e os nobres governam com justiça.

¹⁷ Eu amo os que me amam, e encontram-me os que, diligentemente, me buscam. ¹⁸ Comigo há riquezas, honra, fartura duradoura e justiça.

¹⁹ Meu fruto é melhor que o ouro, melhor até mesmo que o ouro refinado; o que eu produzo é melhor do que a prata pura. ²⁰ Eu ando no caminho que é correto, nas veredas que conduzem à justiça, ²¹ para que eu dê uma herança aos que me amam e encha os seus tesouros.

²² Yahweh me criou no princípio; antes de Seus feitos antigos. ²³ Em eras passadas, fui feita, desde o princípio, desde o começo da Terra.

²⁴ Antes que existissem os oceanos, eu fui gerada, antes que houvesse abundantes nascentes de água. ²⁵ Antes que os montes fossem firmados, e antes das colinas, eu nasci.

²⁶ Nasci antes que Yahweh tivesse feito a Terra ou os campos, ou mesmo a primeira poeira no mundo. ²⁷ Eu estava lá quando Ele estabeleceu os céus, quando Ele desenhou o horizonte sobre a superfície do abismo.

²⁸ Eu estava lá quando Ele estabeleceu as nuvens acima e quando as fontes do abismo foram firmadas. ²⁹ Eu estava lá quando Ele fez o limite do mar, de modo que as águas não se espalhassem além de onde Ele as ordenou, e quando Ele pôs o limite dos fundamentos da terra seca.

³⁰ Eu estava ao Seu lado, como um mestre artesão; eu era Seu deleite dia após dia, sempre me alegrando diante Dele. ³¹ Eu estava me alegrando em todo o Seu mundo, e meu deleite era nos filhos dos homens.

³² Agora, meus filhos, escutai-me, pois aqueles que mantêm meus caminhos serão benditos. ³³ Escutai a minha instrução e sede sábios; não a negligencieis. ³⁴ Aquele que me escuta será abençoado, vigiando a cada dia aos meus portões, esperando junto aos batentes das minhas portas.

³⁵ Pois quem quer que me encontre, encontra vida, e encontrará o favor de Yahweh. ³⁶ Mas aquele que falhar, faz mal à sua própria vida; todos os que me odeiam amam a morte".

Chapter 9

¹ A sabedoria já edificou sua própria casa; ela talhou sete pilares de pedras. ² Ela já abateu seus animais para a refeição, misturou seu vinho e pôs a mesa.

³ Ela enviou convites com suas criadas e exclamou dos pontos mais altos da cidade: ⁴ "Vós que sois ingênuos, vinde para cá!". Ela fala aos que não têm bom senso:

⁵ "Vinde! Comei da minha comida e bebei do vinho que misturei. ⁶ Deixai vossas atitudes insensatas e vivei; andai no caminho do entendimento.

⁷ Quem corrige um zombador recebe afronta, e quem repreende uma pessoa maldosa recebe insultos. ⁸ Não repreendas o zombador, ou ele te odiará; repreende o sábio, e ele te amará. ⁹ Dá instrução a um sábio, e ele se tornará ainda mais sábio; ensina o justo, e ele crescerá em seu conhecimento.

¹⁰ O temor de Yahweh é o princípio da sabedoria, e o conhecimento do Santo é o entendimento. ¹¹ Pois, através de Mim, teus dias serão multiplicados, e anos de vida te serão acrescentados. ¹² Se tu fores sábio, serás sábio para ti mesmo, mas, se tu fores zombador, suportarás isso sozinho”.

¹³ A insensatez é mulher ignorante; ela é indisciplinada e não sabe de nada. ¹⁴ Ela se assenta à porta de sua casa, toma um assento nos lugares altos da cidade. ¹⁵ Ela chama os que passam, aqueles que andam em linha reta em seus caminhos.

¹⁶ "Vinde aqui, vós que sois ingênuos!", ela diz para aqueles que não têm sensatez: ¹⁷ "As águas roubadas são doces, e o pão comido em secreto é delicioso". ¹⁸ Eles, porém, não sabem que a morte está ali, que seus convidados estão nas profundezas do mundo dos mortos.

Chapter 10

¹ Provérbios de Salomão. Um filho sábio alegra o seu pai, mas um filho tolo traz aflição à sua mãe. ² Tesouros acumulados por meio de perversidade não têm valor, mas fazer o que é correto te livra da morte. ³ Yahweh não deixa passar fome a alma do justo, mas frustra os desejos dos perversos.

⁴ A mão preguiçosa faz a pessoa empobrecer, mas a mão do diligente ganha riquezas. ⁵ O filho sábio ajunta a colheita no verão, mas aquele que dorme durante a colheita é vergonhoso.

⁶ Presentes de Deus estão sobre a cabeça do justo, mas a boca dos perversos encobre a violência. ⁷ A pessoa justa faz tornarem-se felizes os que se lembram dela, mas o nome dos perversos apodrecerá.

⁸ Aqueles que são sensíveis aceitam ordens, mas o tolo que fala muito irá à ruína. ⁹ Aquele que caminha em integridade caminha em segurança, mas aquele que faz seus caminhos tortos, este será descoberto.

¹⁰ Aquele que pisca o olho causa aflição, e o tolo que muito fala será derrubado. ¹¹ A boca do justo é uma fonte de água de vida, mas a boca do perverso encobre a violência.

¹² O ódio provoca conflitos, mas o amor cobre todas as ofensas. ¹³ A sabedoria é achada nos lábios da pessoa que tem discernimento, mas a vara é para as costas daquele que não tem juízo.

¹⁴ Os sábios acumulam conhecimento, mas a boca do tolo faz aproximar a destruição. ¹⁵ A riqueza do rico é sua cidade fortificada; a pobreza dos pobres é a sua miséria.

¹⁶ O salário do justo conduz à vida; o lucro dos perversos conduz ao pecado. ¹⁷ Está no caminho para a vida os que seguem a disciplina, mas aquele que rejeita a repreensão se desvia.

¹⁸ Quem esconde o ódio tem lábios mentirosos e o que espalha calúnias é tolo. ¹⁹ Quando há muitas palavras, transgressão não falta, mas aquele que é cuidadoso com o que diz é sábio.

²⁰ A língua do justo é prata pura; há pouco valor no coração do perverso. ²¹ Os lábios do justo alimentam a muitos, mas os tolos morrem por causa da sua falta de bom senso.

²² Os bons presentes de Yahweh trazem riqueza, sem dor. ²³ A perversidade é um jogo que o tolo pratica, mas a sabedoria é prazer ao homem de entendimento.

²⁴ O medo do perverso virá sobre ele, mas o desejo dos justos será concedido. ²⁵ Como a tempestade que passa, assim deixam de existir os perversos; mas o justo é como um fundamento que dura para sempre.

²⁶ Como vinagre para os dentes e fumaça para os olhos, assim é o preguiçoso para aqueles que o enviam. ²⁷ O temor a Yahweh prolonga a vida, mas os anos dos perversos serão curtos.

²⁸ A esperança dos justos é sua alegria, mas a expectativa dos perversos perecerá. ²⁹ O caminho de Yahweh protege os que possuem integridade, mas a destruição é para os perversos. ³⁰ O justo nunca será derrotado, mas os perversos não permanecerão na terra.

³¹ Da boca do justo sai o fruto de sabedoria, mas a língua perversa será cortada fora. ³² Os lábios do justo sabem o que é aceitável, mas da boca dos perversos só vêm más palavras.

Chapter 11

¹ Yahweh odeia balanças que não são precisas, mas se alegra com um peso justo. ² Quando vem o orgulho, vem a desgraça, mas com a humildade está a sabedoria.

³ A integridade dos justos os guia, mas as atitudes perversas dos traiçoeiros os destroem. ⁴ A riqueza é inútil no dia da ira, mas fazer o que é certo te protege da morte.

⁵ A conduta correta do inocente faz seu caminho reto, mas o perverso cairá por sua própria perversidade. ⁶ A integridade daqueles que agradam a Deus os manterá seguros, mas os traiçoeiros cairão em suas próprias cobiças.

⁷ Quando um homem perverso morre, sua esperança perece, e a esperança que estava em sua força se transforma em nada. ⁸ O justo é mantido longe da angústia, e esta recai sobre o perverso.

⁹ Com sua boca, o ímpio destrói o seu próximo, mas, por meio do conhecimento, os justos são mantidos em segurança. ¹⁰ Quando os justos prosperam, a cidade se alegra; quando os perversos perecem, há gritos de júbilo. ¹¹ Através dos bons presentes dos que agradam a Deus, a cidade se torna grandiosa; pela boca dos perversos, a cidade é derrubada.

¹² O homem que despreza seu amigo não tem bom senso, mas o homem de entendimento permanece quieto. ¹³ Aquele que espalha calúnias revela segredos, mas a pessoa fiel mantém o segredo guardado.

¹⁴ Quando não há direção sábia, a nação cai, mas a vitória vem por se consultar muitos conselheiros.

¹⁵ Aquele que se faz de fiador de empréstimo para um estranho, certamente, sofrerá, mas aquele que evita fazer parte desse tipo de promessa estará seguro. ¹⁶ A mulher graciosa é honrada, mas as pessoas impiedosas se agarram à riqueza.

¹⁷ A pessoa gentil beneficia a si mesma, mas aquele que é cruel machuca a si próprio. ¹⁸ O perverso mente para ganhar seu salário, mas aquele que semeia o que é justo colhe o salário da verdade.

¹⁹ A pessoa que faz o que é certo viverá, mas aquele que busca o mal morrerá. ²⁰ Yahweh odeia aqueles cujos corações são perversos, mas se deleita nos que são inocentes.

²¹ Certamente, os perversos não passarão impunes, mas os descendentes dos justos serão mantidos seguros. ²² A mulher bonita, mas sem discrição, é como um anel de ouro no nariz de um porco.

²³ Os desejos dos justos resultam no bem, mas os perversos podem esperar somente a ira. ²⁴ Existe aquele que espalha, e acumulará ainda mais; existe outro que retém o que deveria dar, e se dirige para a pobreza.

²⁵ A pessoa generosa prosperará, e aquele que dá água aos outros terá água para si mesmo. ²⁶ O povo amaldiçoa o que se recusa a vender grãos, mas bons presentes coroam a cabeça do que os vende.

²⁷ Aquele que busca, diligentemente, o bem encontra o favor, mas aquele que busca o mal, este o achará. ²⁸ Os que confiam em suas próprias riquezas cairão, mas, à semelhança das folhas, os que fazem o bem florescerão.

²⁹ O que traz problemas à sua própria casa herdará o vento, e o tolo será servo do sábio de coração.

³⁰ O fruto do justo será como uma árvore de vida, e aquele que é sábio cativa almas. ³¹ Se o justo recebe o que merece, quanto mais o perverso e o pecador!

Chapter 12

¹ Aquele que ama a disciplina e o conhecimento, mas odeia a correção é estúpido. ² Yahweh concede favor ao homem bom, mas condena o homem que faz planos maus.

³ Uma pessoa não pode se firmar pela maldade, mas os justos não podem ter suas raízes arrancadas. ⁴ Uma esposa digna é a coroa do seu marido, mas a que traz vergonha é como uma doença que lhe apodrece os ossos.

⁵ Os planos dos justos são corretos, mas o conselho dos imorais é enganoso. ⁶ As palavras dos corruptos são uma emboscada, esperando uma chance para matar, mas as palavras dos honestos os mantêm seguros.

⁷ Os corruptos são derrubados e se vão, mas a casa dos justos se manterá em pé. ⁸ Uma pessoa é elogiada pela sabedoria que possui, mas o que faz escolhas perversas é desprezado.

⁹ É melhor ter uma posição sem importância — ser somente um servo — do que te gabares da tua importância, mas não tiveres nenhuma comida. ¹⁰ O justo se importa com as necessidades do seu animal, mas até a compaixão do corrupto é falha.

¹¹ O que lavra a sua terra terá abundância de comida, mas aquele que segue projetos inúteis não tem bom senso. ¹² O corrupto deseja o que homens maus roubaram de outros, mas o fruto dos justos vem deles mesmos.

¹³ A pessoa má se prende em sua conversa maliciosa, mas o justo escapa da angústia. ¹⁴ Do fruto de suas palavras, uma pessoa se enche de boas coisas, assim como o trabalho de suas mãos a recompensa.

¹⁵ O caminho do tolo é correto aos seus próprios olhos, mas o sábio ouve o conselho. ¹⁶ O tolo mostra a sua ira imediatamente, mas o que ignora um insulto é prudente.

¹⁷ Aquele que fala a verdade diz o que é certo, mas a falsa testemunha diz mentiras. ¹⁸ As palavras do que fala precipitadamente são como golpes de uma espada, mas a língua dos sábios traz cura.

¹⁹ Os lábios verdadeiros duram para sempre, mas a língua mentirosa dura somente um momento. ²⁰ Há engano nos corações dos que planejam fazer o mal, mas a alegria vem para os conselheiros de paz.

²¹ Nenhum mal vem ao justo, mas os corruptos estão cheios de dificuldades. ²² Yahweh odeia lábios mentirosos, mas os que vivem fielmente são Seu deleite.

²³ O prudente esconde o seu conhecimento, mas o coração dos tolos exclama a insensatez. ²⁴ As mãos dos diligentes governarão, mas os preguiçosos serão sujeitos ao trabalho forçado.

²⁵ A ansiedade no coração de uma pessoa pesa sobre ela, mas uma boa palavra a alegra. ²⁶ O justo é um guia para seu amigo, mas o caminho dos corruptos os desvia.

²⁷ O preguiçoso não assará a sua caça, mas o diligente obterá preciosa riqueza. ²⁸ Na vereda da justiça está a vida, e no caminho da sua carreira não há morte.

Chapter 13

¹ O filho sábio ouve a instrução do seu pai, mas o zombador não escuta a repreensão. ² Do fruto de sua boca, o homem desfruta de coisas boas, mas o apetite do traiçoeiro é para a violência.

³ Aquele que guarda a sua boca protege sua vida, mas o que abre muito seus lábios arruinará a si mesmo. ⁴ O desejo do preguiçoso anseia e nada ganha, mas a vontade dos diligentes será ricamente satisfeita.

⁵ O justo odeia mentiras, mas o perverso torna-se repugnante, e o que faz é vergonhoso. ⁶ A justiça protege aqueles que são irrepreensíveis em seus caminhos, mas a perversidade desvia os pecadores.

⁷ Há quem diz ser rico, mas nada tem; há outro que entrega tudo o que tem, mas é, verdadeiramente, rico. ⁸ O resgate da vida de um homem rico é a sua fortuna, mas um homem pobre não escuta a ameaça.

⁹ A luz dos justos resplandece, mas a lâmpada dos perversos será apagada. ¹⁰ O orgulho só produz contenda, mas a sabedoria está com aqueles que ouvem bons conselhos.

¹¹ As riquezas são diminuídas quando há excesso de vaidade, mas aquele que ganha trabalhando com as suas mãos fará seu dinheiro aumentar. ¹² Quando a esperança é adiada, faz adoecer o coração, mas o desejo realizado é árvore de vida.

¹³ Aquele que despreza a instrução trará destruição a si mesmo, mas quem honra o mandamento será recompensado. ¹⁴ O ensino de uma pessoa sábia é fonte de vida que afasta dos laços da morte.

¹⁵ O bom conhecimento conquista favor, mas o caminho dos desleais é intransitável. ¹⁶ As pessoas prudentes agem com conhecimento em todas as suas decisões, mas o tolo expõe sua insensatez.

¹⁷ O mensageiro perverso cai em problemas, mas o enviado fiel traz reconciliação. ¹⁸ Quem ignora a disciplina terá pobreza e vergonha, mas a honra virá para aquele que aprende com a correção.

¹⁹ Um desejo realizado é doce para a alma, mas os tolos odeiam afastar-se do mal. ²⁰ Caminha com pessoas sábias e tu serás sábio, mas o companheiro dos tolos sofrerá dano.

²¹ O desastre corre atrás dos pecadores, mas os justos são recompensados com o bem. ²² Uma boa pessoa deixa herança para seus netos, mas a riqueza do pecador é armazenada para a pessoa justa.

²³ Um campo não arado na propriedade dos pobres poderia produzir muito alimento, mas é destruído pela injustiça. ²⁴ Aquele que não disciplina seu filho o odeia, mas aquele que ama seu filho tem o cuidado de discipliná-lo.

²⁵ O justo come até satisfazer o seu apetite, mas o estômago dos ímpios está sempre com fome.

Chapter 14

¹ A mulher sábia constrói a sua casa, mas a mulher tola a destrói com suas próprias mãos. ² O que anda em retidão teme a Yahweh, mas o que é desonesto em seus caminhos O despreza.

³ Na boca do tolo está a vara do seu orgulho, mas a boca do sábio o preservará. ⁴ Onde não há boi, o celeiro fica limpo, mas uma colheita abundante pode vir pela força de um boi.

⁵ Uma testemunha verdadeira não mentirá, mas a falsa testemunha respira mentiras. ⁶ O zombador procura sabedoria e não a encontra, mas o conhecimento vem fácil ao prudente.

⁷ Foge da presença do homem insensato, pois tu não acharás conhecimento em seus lábios. ⁸ A sabedoria do prudente é entender seu próprio caminho, mas a tolice do tolo é engano.

⁹ Tolos zombam quando o sacrifício de culpa é oferecido, mas, entre os justos, o favor é boa vontade. ¹⁰ O coração conhece sua própria amargura e nenhum estranho partilha de sua alegria.

¹¹ A casa dos perversos será destruída, mas a tenda dos justos florescerá. ¹² Há um caminho que parece correto aos olhos do homem, mas o fim dele leva à morte.

¹³ Até no riso tem dor o coração, e o fim da alegria é a tristeza. ¹⁴ O que não é fiel terá aquilo que merece, mas uma pessoa boa terá o que é seu.

¹⁵ O homem que não foi ensinado acredita em tudo, mas o prudente pensa em seus passos. ¹⁶ O sábio teme e se afasta do mal, mas o tolo rejeita, confiantemente, um aviso.

¹⁷ O que se ira com facilidade cometerá erros, e o que planeja o mal será odiado. ¹⁸ Os ingênuos herdam a tolice, mas os prudentes são coroados de conhecimento.

¹⁹ Os maus se curvarão diante dos bons, e os perversos se curvarão aos portões dos justos. ²⁰ O pobre é odiado até pelos próprios vizinhos, mas o rico tem muitos amigos.

²¹ O que mostra desprezo pelo seu vizinho está pecando, mas o que favorece o pobre encontra a felicidade. ²² Acaso, os que planejam o mal não erram? Mas aqueles que planejam fazer o bem receberão um compromisso de fidelidade e confiança.

²³ Em todo o trabalho, haverá proveito, mas, quando só há conversa, isto leva à pobreza. ²⁴ A coroa dos sábios é a sua riqueza, mas a loucura dos tolos só traz mais insensatez.

²⁵ Uma testemunha verdadeira salva vidas, mas a falsa testemunha respira mentiras.

²⁶ No temor de Yahweh, o homem forte tem esperança, e seus filhos terão local de proteção. ²⁷ O temor de Yahweh é fonte de vida que afasta o homem dos laços da morte.

²⁸ A glória do rei é achada no grande número de seu povo, mas sem o povo o príncipe está arruinado. ²⁹ O paciente tem grande entendimento, mas o precipitado exalta a tolice.

³⁰ Um coração tranquilo é vida para o corpo, mas a inveja apodrece os ossos. ³¹ O que oprime o pobre insulta o seu Criador, mas o que favorece o necessitado O honra.

³² O perverso cai pela sua má conduta, mas o justo tem refúgio mesmo na sua morte. ³³ A sabedoria repousa no coração do prudente, mas o que existe no coração dos tolos será conhecido.

³⁴ Fazer o que é correto exalta uma nação, mas o pecado é a vergonha para qualquer povo. ³⁵ O favor do rei é com o servo que age com sabedoria, mas sua ira será para aquele que age vergonhosamente.

Chapter 15

¹ A resposta suave afasta a ira, mas a palavra áspera atiça a raiva. ² A língua dos sábios honra o conhecimento, mas a boca dos tolos derrama loucura.

³ Os olhos de Yahweh estão por toda parte, observando os maus e os bons. ⁴ A língua que cura é uma árvore de vida, mas a língua enganadora esmaga o espírito.

⁵ O tolo despreza a disciplina de seu pai, mas aquele que aprende com a correção é prudente. ⁶ Na casa do justo, há um grande tesouro, mas os ganhos do ímpio lhe trazem aflições.

⁷ Os lábios dos sábios espalham conhecimento, mas o coração dos tolos nada oferece. ⁸ Yahweh odeia os sacrifícios dos corruptos, mas a oração dos justos é Seu deleite.

⁹ Yahweh odeia o caminho dos corruptos, mas Ele ama os que buscam o que é correto. ¹⁰ Haverá dura disciplina para qualquer um que abandonar o caminho, e o que odeia a correção morrerá.

¹¹ O Sheol e a destruição estão abertos diante de Yahweh, quanto mais o coração dos filhos dos homens! ¹² O escarnecedor se ofende com a correção; ele não vai ao encontro do sábio.

¹³ O coração feliz torna o rosto alegre, mas a dor do coração esmaga o espírito. ¹⁴ O coração do que entende procura conhecimento, mas a boca dos tolos se alimenta de loucura.

¹⁵ Todos os dias dos oprimidos são miseráveis, mas o coração alegre tem um banquete interminável. ¹⁶ Melhor é o pouco com temor a Yahweh, do que um grande tesouro com inquietação.

¹⁷ Melhor é uma refeição com verduras onde há amor que um boi cevado acompanhado de ódio. ¹⁸ O homem com raiva atiça brigas, mas o que demora a irar-se acalma as desavenças.

¹⁹ O caminho do preguiçoso é como um lugar cheio de espinhos, mas o caminho dos justos é uma estrada plana. ²⁰ O filho sábio traz alegria ao seu pai, mas o tolo despreza sua mãe.

²¹ A insensatez diverte a pessoa que carece de bom senso, mas aquele que tem entendimento anda pelo caminho reto. ²² Os planos falham onde não há conselho, mas, com muitos conselheiros, os planos têm êxito.

²³ A pessoa encontra alegria quando dá uma resposta pertinente; quão boa é uma palavra no tempo certo! ²⁴ O caminho da vida leva o prudente para cima, para que ele se afaste do Sheol, que fica abaixo.

²⁵ Yahweh derruba a casa dos orgulhosos, mas protege a propriedade da viúva. ²⁶ Yahweh odeia os pensamentos dos corruptos, mas as palavras de bondade são puras.

²⁷ O ladrão traz problema para sua família, mas aquele que odeia os subornos viverá. ²⁸ O coração do justo pensa antes de responder, mas a boca dos corruptos derrama toda a sua maldade.

²⁹ Yahweh está longe dos corruptos, mas ouve a oração dos justos. ³⁰ A luz dos olhos traz alegria ao coração, e as boas notícias são saúde para o corpo.

³¹ Se prestares atenção quando alguém te corrige acerca de como vives, permanecerás entre os sábios. ³² Aquele que rejeita a disciplina despreza a si mesmo, mas aquele que escuta a correção ganha entendimento.

³³ O temor a Yahweh ensina sabedoria, e a humildade vem antes da honra.

Chapter 16

¹ Os planos do coração pertencem ao homem, mas a resposta da língua vem de Yahweh. ² Todos os caminhos de uma pessoa são puros ao seus próprios olhos, mas Yahweh pesa o espírito.

³ Submete os teus trabalhos a Yahweh, e teus planos serão bem sucedidos. ⁴ Yahweh fez tudo para o Seu propósito, até os homens maus para o dia da tribulação.

⁵ Yahweh odeia todos os que têm um coração arrogante. Certamente, eles não ficarão impunes. ⁶ Pela fidelidade à aliança, pela lealdade a ela, a iniquidade é expiada e, pelo temor a Yahweh, as pessoas se afastam do mal.

⁷ Quando os caminhos de uma pessoa são agradáveis a Yahweh, Ele faz com que até seus inimigos tenham paz com ela. ⁸ Melhor é ter pouco de uma forma correta que muito rendimento com injustiça.

⁹ No coração, uma pessoa planeja seu caminho, mas Yahweh dirige seus passos. ¹⁰ Decisões de autoridade estão nos lábios de um rei; sua boca não deve trair a justiça.

¹¹ As balanças honestas vêm de Yahweh; todos os pesos da bolsa são obra Dele. ¹² Praticar a perversidade é desprezível para os reis, pois o trono é estabelecido por fazer o que é certo.

¹³ Um rei tem prazer em lábios que falam o que é correto, e ama aquele que fala a verdade. ¹⁴ A fúria de um rei é um mensageiro da morte, mas o homem sábio tentará aplacar a sua ira.

¹⁵ Na luz da face de um rei está a vida, e o seu favor é como a nuvem que traz uma chuva da primavera. ¹⁶ É melhor adquirir sabedoria que ouro. Obter entendimento deve ser preferível à prata.

¹⁷ A estrada das pessoas corretas as afasta do mal; aquele que protege a sua vida guarda o seu caminho. ¹⁸ O orgulho vem antes da destruição, e o espírito altivo, antes da queda.

¹⁹ É melhor ser humilde entre os pobres que dividir os despojos com os orgulhosos. ²⁰ Quem considera atentamente o que lhe é ensinado encontra o que é bom, e aqueles que confiam em Yahweh serão abençoados.

²¹ Aquele que é sábio de coração é chamado de prudente; a doçura da voz melhora a capacidade de ensinar. ²² O entendimento é uma fonte de vida para aqueles que o têm, mas a correção dos tolos é a sua própria tolice.

²³ O coração da pessoa sensata instrui a sua boca e acrescenta conhecimento aos seus lábios. ²⁴ As palavras agradáveis são como um favo de mel — doçura para a alma e cura para os ossos.

²⁵ Há caminho que parece correto para o homem, mas o seu fim é caminho para a morte. ²⁶ O apetite do trabalhador trabalha por ele, pois a sua fome o motiva.

²⁷ A pessoa inútil escava o problema, e seu discurso é como fogo abrasador. ²⁸ O perverso semeia o conflito; quem espalha boatos separa amigos próximos.

²⁹ Um homem de violência mente ao seu próximo e o conduz para um caminho que não é bom. ³⁰ Aquele que pisca o olho trama perversidades; aquele que morde os lábios fará o mal acontecer.

³¹ Os cabelos grisalhos são uma coroa de glória que se ganha vivendo de maneira correta. ³² É melhor ser lento para irar-se que ser um guerreiro; quem domina seu espírito é mais forte do que aquele que conquista uma cidade.

³³ As sortes são lançada no colo, mas a decisão vem de Yahweh.

Chapter 17

¹ É melhor ter tranquilidade com um pedaço de pão seco que uma casa cheia de banquetes e conflitos. ² O servo sábio governará sobre o filho que age vergonhosamente, e terá parte na herança como um dos filhos de seu senhor.

³ O crisol é para a prata, e a fornalha é para o ouro, mas Yahweh refina os corações. ⁴ A pessoa que faz o mal presta atenção aos lábios maliciosos; o mentiroso dá ouvidos à língua destruidora.

⁵ Quem zomba do pobre insulta ao seu Criador, e aquele que se regozija com a desgraça não ficará sem punição. ⁶ Os netos são a coroa dos idosos e os pais trazem honra a seus filhos.

⁷ O discurso eloquente não é apropriado ao tolo; muito menos os lábios mentirosos à realeza. ⁸ O suborno é como uma pedra mágica para aquele que o oferece; para onde quer que ele se volte, será bem sucedido.

⁹ Quem decide ignorar a ofensa busca o amor, mas aquele que repete o assunto separa amigos íntimos. ¹⁰ Uma repreensão penetra mais fundo na pessoa que tem entendimento do que cem golpes num tolo.

¹¹ Uma pessoa má busca apenas a rebelião, por isso, um mensageiro cruel será enviado contra ela. ¹² É melhor encontrar-se com uma ursa roubada dos seus filhotes que com um tolo na sua insensatez.

¹³ Quando alguém retribui o bem com o mal, o mal nunca deixará a sua casa. ¹⁴ O começo do conflito é como aquele que libera água por todo lugar; portanto, foge da disputa antes que ela se inicie.

¹⁵ Aquele que absolve o ímpio e aquele que condena o justo — ambos são abominação a Yahweh. ¹⁶ Por que o tolo pagaria para aprender a sabedoria se ele não tem capacidade de aprendê-la?

¹⁷ O amigo ama em todo o tempo, e um irmão nasce nos tempos de dificuldades. ¹⁸ O homem que não tem juízo faz promessas que impõem obrigações a si mesmo, e torna-se responsável pelas dívidas de seu próximo.

¹⁹ Aquele que ama o conflito ama o pecado; aquele que faz muito alta a soleira da sua porta causa ossos quebrados. ²⁰ A pessoa que tem o coração corrupto não encontra nada de bom; aquele que tem a língua perversa cai na calamidade.

²¹ Aquele que gera um tolo traz sofrimento a si mesmo; quem quer que seja pai de um insensato não terá alegria. ²² O coração alegre é um bom remédio, mas o espírito abatido seca os ossos.

²³ O homem perverso aceita o suborno secreto para perverter os caminhos da justiça. ²⁴ Aquele que tem entendimento volta o seu rosto para a sabedoria, mas os olhos do tolo perdem-se nos confins da terra.

²⁵ O filho tolo é o sofrimento do seu pai e a amargura da mãe que o gerou. ²⁶ Nunca é bom punir o justo, nem açoitar os nobres que têm integridade.

²⁷ Aquele que tem conhecimento usa poucas palavras, e aquele com entendimento tem um temperamento equilibrado. ²⁸ Até um tolo é tido por sábio quando fica calado; se mantém a boca fechada, ele é considerado inteligente.

Chapter 18

¹ Aquele que se isola busca seu próprio desejo, e luta contra todo o bom senso. ² O tolo não encontra satisfação no entendimento, mas apenas em revelar o que está em seu próprio coração.

³ Quanto ao ímpio, o desprezo vem com ele — juntamente com a vergonha e a repreensão. ⁴ As palavras da boca de um homem são águas profundas; a fonte da sabedoria é um ribeiro corrente.

⁵ Não é bom ser parcial com o perverso, nem negar justiça ao justo. ⁶ Os lábios do tolo trazem-lhe conflito, e a sua boca convida o golpe.

⁷ A boca do tolo é a sua ruína, e ele é pego na armadilha dos seus lábios. ⁸ As palavras do difamador são como deliciosos pedaços de comida que descem para as partes internas do corpo.

⁹ Quem é desleixado em seu trabalho é um irmão para aquele que o destrói. ¹⁰ O nome de Yahweh é uma torre forte; o justo corre para ela e fica seguro.

¹¹ A riqueza do rico é a sua cidade fortificada e, em sua imaginação, é como um muro alto. ¹² O orgulho precede a ruína, a humildade vem antes da honra.

¹³ Aquele que responde antes de ouvir mostra insensatez e passa vergonha. ¹⁴ O espírito de uma pessoa sobreviverá à doença, mas um espírito abatido, quem o pode suportar?

¹⁵ O coração do inteligente adquire conhecimento, e o ouvido do sábio o buscará. ¹⁶ O presente que homem der pode abrir-lhe o caminho, e trazê-lo até uma pessoa importante.

¹⁷ O primeiro a defender seu caso parece correto até que seu oponente venha e o questione. ¹⁸ Lançar a sorte faz cessar disputas e separa fortes oponentes.

¹⁹ Um irmão ofendido é mais difícil de conquistar que uma cidade forte, e a desavença é como as barras de um castelo. ²⁰ O estômago de cada um é cheio do fruto de sua boca; da colheita dos seus lábios, ele fica satisfeito.

²¹ A morte e a vida são controladas pela língua, e aqueles que a amam comerão do seu fruto. ²² Aquele que encontra uma esposa encontra um bem, e alcança a benevolência de Yahweh.

²³ O pobre implora por misericórdia, mas o rico responde duramente. ²⁴ Aquele que acredita ter muitos amigos é levado à ruína por eles, mas há amigo que está mais próximo que um irmão.

Chapter 19

¹ Melhor é o pobre que anda em sua integridade que o tolo que fala de modo perverso. ² Não é bom ter desejo sem conhecimento, e aquele que corre muito rápido perde o caminho.

³ É a insensatez de uma pessoa que arruína sua vida, mas seu coração se irrita contra Yahweh. ⁴ A riqueza traz muitos amigos; mas o pobre é deixado por seus amigos.

⁵ A falsa testemunha não ficará impune, e aquele que despeja mentiras não escapará. ⁶ Muitos pedirão favor à pessoa generosa, e todos são amigos daquele que dá presentes.

⁷ Se até os irmãos do pobre o odeiam, quanto mais os seus amigos se afastarão dele! Ele os chama, mas já foram embora. ⁸ Aquele que obtém sabedoria ama sua própria vida; aquele que guarda o conhecimento achará o que é bom.

⁹ A falsa testemunha não sairá impune; aquele que fala mentiras perecerá. ¹⁰ Não é adequado que o tolo viva no luxo; muito menos que o escravo domine príncipes.

¹¹ A discrição faz a pessoa não perder a calma, e a sua glória é ignorar a ofensa. ¹² A ira do rei é como o bramido de um leão jovem, mas seu favor é como orvalho sobre a relva.

¹³ O filho tolo é a ruína do seu pai, e a esposa rixosa é uma goteira constante. ¹⁴ A casa e a riqueza são heranças dos pais, mas a esposa prudente vem de Yahweh.

¹⁵ A preguiça lança a pessoa para um sono profundo, mas aquele que não é disposto a trabalhar terá fome. ¹⁶ Aquele que obedece ao mandamento guarda sua vida, mas a pessoa que não pensa a respeito de seus caminhos morrerá.

¹⁷ Quem é benevolente com os pobres empresta a Yahweh, e Ele lhe retribuirá pelo que houver feito. ¹⁸ Disciplina teu filho enquanto há esperança, não queiras levá-lo à morte.

¹⁹ A pessoa de temperamento forte deve pagar a pena; se tu o resgatares, terás que fazê-lo uma segunda vez. ²⁰ Escuta o conselho e aceita a instrução, para te tornares sábio ao fim de tua vida.

²¹ Muitos são os planos no coração da pessoa, mas é o propósito de Yahweh que permanecerá. ²² A lealdade é o que uma pessoa deseja, e um pobre é melhor que um mentiroso.

²³ O temor a Yahweh leva pessoas à vida; aquele que o tiver estará satisfeito e não afligido pelo perigo. ²⁴ O preguiçoso põe a sua mão no prato, mas nem a levará de volta à boca.

²⁵ Golpeia o zombador, e o ingênuo se tornará prudente; corrige o que tem discernimento, e ele ganhará conhecimento.

²⁶ Aquele que rouba seu pai e faz sua mãe fugir é o filho que traz vergonha e reprovação. ²⁷ Se parares de ouvir a instrução, meu filho, então, te desviarás das palavras de conhecimento.

²⁸ A testemunha corrupta zomba da justiça, e a boca dos ímpios engole iniquidade. ²⁹ A condenação está preparada para os zombadores, e os açoites, para as costas dos tolos.

Chapter 20

¹ O vinho é zombador e a bebida forte é briguenta; quem se deixar desviar por eles não é sábio. ² O furor de um rei é como o rugido de um leão jovem; quem lhe provoca a ira peca contra a própria vida.

³ É uma honra para alguém evitar o conflito, mas os tolos saltam para dentro da briga. ⁴ O preguiçoso não lavra no outono; ele busca a produção na estação da colheita, mas não terá nada.

⁵ O propósito que está no coração humano é como águas profundas, mas a pessoa com entendimento trará isso para fora. ⁶ Muitas pessoas proclamam que são leais, mas quem achará alguém que seja fiel?

⁷ O justo caminha em sua integridade, seus filhos serão felizes se o seguirem. ⁸ Um rei que se assenta no trono para julgar separa todo o mal que está diante dos seus olhos.

⁹ Quem pode dizer: "Eu mantenho o meu coração puro; estou limpo do meu pecado"? ¹⁰ Pesos diferenciados e medidas desiguais; Yahweh odeia ambos.

¹¹ Até um jovem é conhecido por suas ações, se a sua conduta for pura e correta. ¹² Ouvidos que ouvem e olhos que veem, Yahweh fez ambos.

¹³ Não ames dormir ou tu ficarás pobre; abre os teus olhos e tu terás muito para comer. ¹⁴ "Ruim! Ruim!" diz o comprador, mas, quando vai embora, se gaba.

¹⁵ Há ouro e pedras preciosas em abundância, mas os lábios de conhecimento são uma joia preciosa. ¹⁶ Pega a roupa daquele que se fez fiador da dívida de um estranho; que ela sirva de penhor por ele garantir a dívida de quem não conhece.

¹⁷ O pão adquirido por meio do engano tem sabor doce, mas, depois, sua boca se encherá de pedrinhas. ¹⁸ Os planos são estabelecidos por meio de conselho e, somente com orientação sábia, deve-se fazer guerra.

¹⁹ O mexeriqueiro revela segredos; por isso, não te associes com pessoas que falam demais. ²⁰ Se uma pessoa amaldiçoa seu pai ou sua mãe, sua lâmpada será apagada no meio das trevas.

²¹ Uma herança recebida antecipadamente não será uma bênção no final. ²² Não digas: "Eu te retribuirei por esse mal!". Espera por Yahweh, e Ele te resgatará.

²³ Yahweh odeia pesos desiguais; Ele não Se agrada de balanças desonestas. ²⁴ Os passos de uma pessoa são direcionados por Yahweh; como, então, ela poderá entender o seu caminho?

²⁵ É uma armadilha falar precipitadamente: “Está consagrado a Deus", e pensar sobre o que isso significa somente depois de ter feito seu voto. ²⁶ O rei sábio espalha os perversos e, depois, faz passar a roda sobre eles.

²⁷ O espírito humano é a lâmpada de Yahweh, que busca o mais íntimo do coração. ²⁸ A piedade e a lealdade preservam o rei; o seu trono é assegurado pelo amor.

²⁹ A glória do jovem está na sua força, e o esplendor dos idosos, em seus cabelos grisalhos. ³⁰ Pancadas que fazem uma ferida purificam do mal, e golpes limpam o mais íntimo do corpo.

Chapter 21

¹ O coração do rei é uma corrente de água na mão de Yahweh; Ele o dirige para onde deseja. ² O caminho de cada um parece correto aos seus próprios olhos, mas é Yahweh que sonda os corações.

³ Fazer o que é correto e justo é mais aceitável para Yahweh do que o sacrifício. ⁴ Os olhos altivos e o coração orgulhoso — a lâmpada dos corruptos — são pecado.

⁵ Os planos do diligente, certamente, conduzem à prosperidade, mas quem se apressa excessivamente se dirige à pobreza. ⁶ Adquirir riquezas por meio da língua mentirosa é neblina passageira e um laço que mata.

⁷ A violência dos maus os varrerá, porque se recusam a fazer o que é justo. ⁸ O caminho do culpado é tortuoso, mas aquele que é puro faz o que é correto.

⁹ É melhor viver num canto do terraço que na casa compartilhada com uma esposa briguenta. ¹⁰ O coração dos corruptos anseia o mal; seu vizinho não acha favor em seus olhos.

¹¹ Quando o zombador é punido, o simples se torna sábio, e quando o sábio é instruído, ele recebe o conhecimento. ¹² Deus, o Justo, observa a casa do corrupto e leva os maus à ruína.

¹³ Aquele que tapa os ouvidos ao clamor do pobre também clamará, mas não será ouvido. ¹⁴ Um presente entregue em secreto abranda a ira, um presente às escondidas aplaca o grande furor.

¹⁵ Quando a justiça é feita, ela traz alegria ao justo, mas traz terror para os malfeitores. ¹⁶ Aquele que vagueia afastando-se do caminho do entendimento descansará na assembleia dos mortos.

¹⁷ Quem ama o prazer se tornará pobre; aquele que ama o vinho e o azeite não será rico. ¹⁸ O corrupto é a redenção para o justo, e o traiçoeiro é a redenção para os que são corretos.

¹⁹ É melhor viver no deserto do que com uma esposa briguenta e raivosa. ²⁰ Há azeite e tesouro precioso na casa do sábio, mas o homem insensato os devora por completo.

²¹ Aquele que pratica o que é justo e é benevolente encontra vida, justiça e honra. ²² O homem sábio escala a cidade dos poderosos e derruba a fortaleza em que confiavam.

²³ Quem guarda sua boca e sua língua mantém-se longe de aflições. ²⁴ O orgulhoso e altivo — cujo nome é "Zombador" — atua com orgulho arrogante.

²⁵ O desejo do preguiçoso o mata, porque as suas mãos se recusam a trabalhar. ²⁶ Todo o dia, ele anseia por mais e mais, mas aquele que é justo dá e não retém para si.

²⁷ O sacrifício do corrupto já é detestável; torna-se mais ainda quando é oferecido com intenções malignas. ²⁸ A falsa testemunha perecerá, mas aquele que escuta falará por todo o tempo.

²⁹ O homem mau se mostra com uma face dura, mas a pessoa correta tem certeza de seus caminhos.

³⁰ Não há sabedoria, nem entendimento, nem conselho que possa permanecer contra Yahweh. ³¹ O cavalo é preparado para o dia da batalha, mas a vitória vem de Yahweh.

Chapter 22

¹ O bom nome vale mais que grandes riquezas e o favor é melhor que prata e ouro. ² Ricos e pobres têm algo em comum: Yahweh é o Criador de todos eles.

³ Um homem prudente percebe o perigo e se esconde, mas o tolo avança e sofre por isso. ⁴ A recompensa da humildade e do temor de Yahweh são riquezas, honra e vida.

⁵ Espinhos e laços se encontram no caminho do perverso; quem guarda sua vida se manterá longe deles. ⁶ Ensina a criança no caminho em que deve andar e, quando envelhecer, não se desviará dessa instrução.

⁷ Os ricos governam sobre os pobres e o que pega emprestado é escravo daquele que lhe empresta. ⁸ Quem semeia injustiça colherá problemas e a vara de sua fúria desaparecerá.

⁹ Aquele que tem olhos generosos será abençoado, pois compartilha do seu pão com os pobres. ¹⁰ Afasta o zombador e a contenda acabará, as disputas e os insultos cessarão.

¹¹ Aquele que ama um coração puro e cujo discurso é gracioso terá o rei como seu amigo. ¹² Os olhos de Yahweh preservam o conhecimento, mas as palavras do traiçoeiro, Ele as derruba.

¹³ O preguiçoso diz: "Há um leão na rua! Se eu sair, serei morto". ¹⁴ A boca da mulher adúltera é um poço profundo; aquele que está sob a ira de Yahweh cairá nela.

¹⁵ A tolice está ligada ao coração da criança, mas a vara da disciplina a afastará dela. ¹⁶ Aquele que oprime os pobres para aumentar sua riqueza, ou presenteia os ricos, empobrecerá.

¹⁷ Inclina o teu ouvido e escuta as palavras dos sábios e aplica o teu coração ao meu conhecimento, ¹⁸ pois será agradável para ti mantê-las em teu interior e estarem todas prontas em teus lábios. ¹⁹ Para que a tua confiança esteja em Yahweh, eu as ensino hoje, a ti mesmo.

²⁰ Já não te escrevi trinta ditados de instrução e conhecimento, ²¹ para te ensinar a verdade nessas palavras de confiança, para que dês respostas confiáveis a quem te enviou?

²² Não roubes o pobre, porque ele é pobre, nem esmagues o aflito no portão, ²³ pois Yahweh defenderá a causa deles e tirará a vida de quem os roubar.

²⁴ Não sejas amigo de alguém que é dominado pela raiva e não andes com quem se enfurece, ²⁵ para que tu não aprendas seus costumes, nem tua alma se envolva em alguma armadilha.

²⁶ Não sejas aquele que logo aperta as mãos fazendo promessa, nem aquele que fica por fiador de dívidas. ²⁷ Se tu não tens como pagar, o que impediria alguém de tirar a tua cama debaixo de ti?

²⁸ Não removas o limite de pedra antigo que teus pais fixaram. ²⁹ Já observaste um homem habilidoso em seu trabalho? Ele estará diante de reis, não no meio de pessoas comuns.

Chapter 23

¹ Quando te assentares para comer com um governador, observa cuidadosamente o que está diante de ti, ² e coloca uma faca contra tua garganta, se tu fores uma pessoa que gosta de comer muita comida. ³ Não desejes as delícias dele, porque é a comida das mentiras.

⁴ Não trabalhes excessivamente para ganhar riqueza; sê sábio o suficiente para saber quando parar. ⁵ Por acaso, farás teus olhos brilharem pelo que, certamente, cria asas como a águia e sai voando pelo céu.

⁶ Não comas a comida daquele que tem o olho mau, nem desejes suas delícias, ⁷ porque ele é o tipo de homem que conta o preço da comida. "Come e bebe!", ele te diz, mas o coração dele não está contigo. ⁸ Tu vomitarás o pouco que comeste e terás desperdiçado teus elogios.

⁹ Não fales aos ouvidos de um tolo, porque ele desprezará a sabedoria de tuas palavras. ¹⁰ Não movas nenhuma pedra de limite antiga, nem invadas os campos dos órfãos, ¹¹ porque o seu Redentor é forte, e Ele defenderá a causa deles contra ti.

¹² Aplica o teu coração à instrução e os teus ouvidos, às palavras de conhecimento.

¹³ Não negues disciplina à criança, pois, se tu a castigares com uma vara, ela não morrerá. ¹⁴ Bata-lhe com uma vara, e salvarás a alma dela do Sheol.

¹⁵ Meu filho, se o teu coração for sábio, então, o meu coração também estará contente; ¹⁶ meu íntimo se alegrará quando os teus lábios falarem o que é correto.

¹⁷ Que o teu coração não inveje os pecadores, mas continue no temor a Yahweh o dia todo. ¹⁸ Certamente, há um futuro e a tua esperança não será eliminada.

¹⁹ Escuta, meu filho — tu mesmo! — sê sábio e dirige o teu coração no caminho. ²⁰ Não te associes com os bêbados ou com os gulosos, comilões de carne, ²¹ pois bêbados e gulosos ficam pobres, e a sonolência os vestirá com trapos.

²² Escuta o teu pai, que te gerou, e não desprezes a tua mãe quando ela estiver velha. ²³ Compra a verdade, mas não a vendas; compra sabedoria, instrução e entendimento.

²⁴ O pai do justo grandemente se alegrará, e aquele que gera um filho sábio estará contente nele. ²⁵ Que teu pai e tua mãe se alegrem, e que aquela que te concebeu se regozije.

²⁶ Meu filho, dá-me o teu coração, e que os teus olhos observem os meus caminhos. ²⁷ Pois a prostituta é uma cova profunda, e a mulher imoral, um poço estreito. ²⁸ Ela fica à espreita como um ladrão e aumenta o número de traidores entre a humanidade.

²⁹ Quem tem o “Ai”? Quem tem a tristeza? Quem tem as lutas? Quem está reclamando? Quem tem feridas sem causa? Quem tem olhos vermelhos? ³⁰ Aqueles que passam horas bebendo vinho, aqueles que experimentam o vinho misturado.

³¹ Não olhes para o vinho quando está vermelho, quando ele brilha no copo e escorre suavemente. ³² No fim, ele morde como uma serpente e dá picada à semelhança da víbora. ³³ Teus olhos verão coisas estranhas e o teu coração falará perversidades.

³⁴ Tu serás como um que dorme em alto mar ou deita-se no topo do mastro. ³⁵ "Golpearam-me!”, tu dirás, "mas não me machucaram. Bateram-me, mas não senti. Quando despertarei para buscar outra bebida?".

Chapter 24

¹ Não sintas inveja daqueles que são maus, nem desejes associar-te a eles, ² porque seus corações planejam violência, e seus lábios falam sobre o mal.

³ Por meio da sabedoria, uma casa é construída e, pelo entendimento, é estabelecida. ⁴ Pelo conhecimento, seus cômodos se enchem com todas as riquezas preciosas e agradáveis.

⁵ O guerreiro de sabedoria é forte, e a pessoa de conhecimento aumenta sua força, ⁶ porque, pela direção sábia, tu podes fazer a tua guerra e, com muitos conselheiros, há vitória.

⁷ A sabedoria é alta demais para o tolo, entre os líderes, no portão, ele não abre sua boca.

⁸ Há um que planeja fazer o mal; as pessoas o chamam de mestre das intrigas. ⁹ Um plano insensato é pecado, e os homens desprezam o zombador.

¹⁰ Se te mostrares fraco e com medo no dia de dificuldade, então, a tua força é pequena.

¹¹ Resgata aqueles que são levados à morte, e segura aqueles que cambaleiam para a matança. ¹² Se disseres: "Eis que não sabemos nada sobre isso", por acaso, Aquele que pesa os corações não entende o que estás dizendo? E Aquele que guarda tua vida não sabe? Por acaso, Deus não dará a cada um o que merece?

¹³ Meu filho, come mel, porque é bom, porque o gotejamento do favo de mel é doce para o teu paladar. ¹⁴ Assim é a sabedoria para tua alma; se tu a achares, haverá um futuro, e tua esperança não será cortada.

¹⁵ Não fiques à espreita, como o corrupto que ataca a casa do justo. Não destruas a casa dele. ¹⁶ Porque o justo cai sete vezes e se levanta de novo, mas os corruptos são abatidos pela calamidade.

¹⁷ Não celebres quando teu inimigo cair, e que o teu coração não fique contente quando ele tropeçar, ¹⁸ Yahweh verá e desaprovará e desviará Sua fúria dele.

¹⁹ Não te preocupes por causa dos malfeitores, nem invejes os corruptos, ²⁰ porque a pessoa má não tem futuro, e a lâmpada dos corruptos se apagará.

²¹ Teme a Yahweh e teme o rei, meu filho; não te associes com aqueles que se rebelam contra eles, ²² pois, de repente, seu desastre virá, e quem sabe o tamanho da destruição que virá para ambos?

²³ Estes também são dizeres dos sábios: parcialidade no julgamento de um caso da lei não é bom.

²⁴ Quem diz ao corrupto: "Tú és justo" será amaldiçoado pelos povos e odiado pelas nações. ²⁵ Mas aqueles que repreendem o corrupto terão deleite e presentes de bondade virão para eles.

²⁶ Uma resposta honesta é como um beijo de amizade. ²⁷ Prepara o teu trabalho de fora e deixa tudo pronto para ti mesmo no campo; depois disso, constrói a tua casa.

²⁸ Não dês testemunho contra teu próximo sem causa, nem enganes com teus lábios. ²⁹ Não digas: "Farei a ele o que ele fez a mim; eu lhe pagarei de volta pelo que ele fez".

³⁰ Eu passei pelo campo do homem preguiçoso, passei pela vinha do homem sem entendimento. ³¹ Espinhos cresceram em todo o lugar, a terra estava coberta com urtigas e seu muro de pedra estava derrubado.

³² Então, eu vi e considerei isso; eu olhei e recebi instrução. ³³ Um pouco dormindo, uma pouco cochilando, um pouco descansando de braços cruzados; ³⁴ e a pobreza vem sobre ti como um ladrão, e as tuas necessidades, como um soldado armado.

Chapter 25

¹ Estes também são provérbios de Salomão, copiados pelos homens de Ezequias, rei de Judá. ² A glória de Deus é encobrir as coisas, mas a glória dos reis é investigá-las. ³ Como os céus estão em altura e a terra em profundidade, assim o coração dos reis é indecifrável.

⁴ Remove a escória da prata e o fundidor poderá usar prata em sua obra. ⁵ Assim também, remove os ímpios da presença do rei e seu trono será estabelecido fazendo o que é justo.

⁶ Não honres a ti mesmo na presença do rei e não te coloques num lugar designado para os grandes.

⁷ É melhor que ele te diga: "Sobe aqui", do que tu seres humilhado por ele na presença de um nobre. O que tu testemunhaste ⁸ não tragas, apressadamente, diante do tribunal. O que tu farás no final, quando o teu próximo te envergonhar?

⁹ Discute o teu caso entre ti e teu próximo e não reveles o segredo de outrem, ¹⁰ ou aquele que te ouve trará vergonha sobre ti e a má fama a teu respeito não poderá ser silenciada.

¹¹ Como maçãs de ouro em engastes de prata, assim é a palavra falada no tempo certo. ¹² Como um brinco de ouro ou uma joia feita de ouro fino, assim é a repreensão sábia para um ouvido atento.

¹³ Como o frio da neve no tempo da colheita, assim é o mensageiro fiel para aqueles que o enviam, ele restaura a vida dos seus senhores. ¹⁴ Como nuvens e vento sem chuva, assim é aquele que se gaba de um presente que ele não deu.

¹⁵ Com paciência, um comandante pode ser persuadido, e uma língua suave pode quebrar um osso.

¹⁶ Se tu encontrares mel, come só o suficiente, senão, terás demais e vomitarás. ¹⁷ Não ponhas o teu pé com muita frequência na casa do teu próximo, ele poderá se cansar de ti e te odiar.

¹⁸ O homem que levanta falso testemunho contra o seu próximo é como um bastão usado na guerra, ou uma espada, ou uma flecha afiada. ¹⁹ Um homem infiel no qual tu confias no tempo de dificuldades é como um dente quebrado ou um pé que escorrega.

²⁰ Como a pessoa que tira a roupa no tempo frio, ou como vinagre derramado sobre a soda, assim é aquele que canta canções para um coração pesado.

²¹ Se o teu inimigo está faminto, dá-lhe alimento para comer e, se ele está com sede, dá-lhe água para beber, ²² porque tu colocarás brasas ardentes sobre a sua cabeça e Yahweh te recompensará.

²³ Tão certo como o vento norte traz a chuva, assim a língua que conta segredos produz rostos enraivecidos. ²⁴ É melhor viver no canto do terraço que compartilhar a casa com uma mulher briguenta.

²⁵ Como água fria para o que está com sede, assim são as boas notícias de um país distante. ²⁶ Como a nascente suja ou a fonte arruinada, assim é o justo que cambaleia diante dos ímpios.

²⁷ Não é bom comer muito mel, assim como buscar honra sobre honra. ²⁸ A pessoa sem domínio próprio é como uma cidade com brechas ou sem muros.

Chapter 26

¹ Como a neve no verão ou a chuva na colheita, assim o tolo não merece honra. ² Como o pardal bate asas e a andorinha se move ao voar, assim também a maldição injusta não se cumpre.

³ O chicote é para o cavalo, a rédea é para o jumento, e a vara é para as costas dos tolos. ⁴ Não respondas ao tolo conforme a sua insensatez, ou te tornarás como ele.

⁵ Responde ao tolo conforme é apropriado à insensatez dele, para que ele não se torne sábio aos seus próprios olhos. ⁶ Quem envia uma mensagem pela mão do tolo corta seus próprios pés e bebe violência.

⁷ Como as pernas de um paralítico, que pendem frouxas, assim é um provérbio na boca dos tolos. ⁸ Como amarrar uma pedra na funda, assim é dar honra ao tolo.

⁹ Como um espinho que entra na mão de um bêbado, assim é um provérbio na boca dos tolos. ¹⁰ Como um arqueiro que fere todos ao seu redor, assim é aquele que contrata um tolo ou qualquer um que passa.

¹¹ Como um cachorro que retorna ao seu próprio vômito, assim é o tolo que repete a sua insensatez. ¹² Vês alguém que é sábio a seus próprios olhos? Há mais esperança para o tolo do que para ele.

¹³ O preguiçoso diz: "Há um leão na estrada! Há um leão entre os lugares abertos!". ¹⁴ Assim como a porta vira nas dobradiças, assim é o preguiçoso sobre sua cama.

¹⁵ O preguiçoso põe sua mão no prato e nem sequer tem força para levá-la à boca. ¹⁶ O preguiçoso é mais sábio aos seus próprios olhos do que sete homens que respondem com bom senso.

¹⁷ Como aquele que segura as orelhas de um cão, assim é quem está passando e se enfurece numa disputa que não é sua.

¹⁸ Como o louco que atira flechas flamejantes, ¹⁹ assim é aquele que engana seu próximo e diz: "Eu estava brincando!".

²⁰ Por falta de madeira, o fogo se apaga e, onde não há mexeriqueiro, a rixa cessa. ²¹ Como o carvão é para a brasa e a madeira para o fogo, assim é o briguento para acender um conflito.

²² As palavras do mexeriqueiro são como iguarias deliciosas, que descem ao interior do corpo. ²³ Como a cobertura brilhante de um vaso de barro, assim são os lábios ardentes com um coração mau.

²⁴ Aquele que odeia os outros disfarça, com os lábios, os seus sentimentos e armazena o engano dentro de si. ²⁵ Ele falará graciosamente, mas não acredites nele, pois há sete abominações em seu coração. ²⁶ Apesar de seu ódio estar encoberto pelo engano, sua perversidade será exposta na assembleia.

²⁷ Aquele que cava uma cova, nela cairá; e a pedra rolará de volta ao que a empurrou. ²⁸ A língua mentirosa odeia as pessoas que ela oprime, e a boca bajuladora causa a ruína.

Chapter 27

¹ Não te gabes sobre o amanhã, pois não sabes o que o dia poderá trazer. ² Que outros te elogiem, não a tua própria boca, um estranho, e não teus próprios lábios.

³ Considera o peso de uma pedra e o peso da areia; a provocação do tolo é mais pesada que ambas. ⁴ Existe a crueldade da raiva e o transbordar da ira, mas quem é capaz de suportar o ciúme?

⁵ É melhor a repreensão aberta que o amor escondido. ⁶ Fiéis são as feridas causadas por um amigo, mas um inimigo pode beijar-te abundantemente.

⁷ Uma pessoa que está saciada rejeita até mesmo o favo de mel, mas, para o faminto, todo amargo é doce. ⁸ Como um pássaro que vai sem rumo, longe de seu ninho, assim é o homem que se afasta de onde vive.

⁹ Perfume e incenso fazem o coração alegrar-se, mas a doçura de um amigo vem de seu conselho sincero. ¹⁰ Não abandones teu amigo e o amigo de teu pai, e não vás à casa de teu irmão no dia da tua calamidade. Melhor é um vizinho que está próximo que um irmão que está longe.

¹¹ Sê sábio, meu filho, e faz meu coração alegrar-se; então, eu responderei àquele que zomba de mim. ¹² O homem prudente vê a adversidade e se esconde, mas os ingênuos seguem adiante e sofrem por causa disso.

¹³ Toma a veste daquele que se pôs por fiador de um estranho; e toma-a em penhor quando ele se tornar fiador de uma mulher imoral. ¹⁴ Aquele que bendisser seu vizinho em alta voz pela manhã, essa bênção será considerada uma maldição!

¹⁵ Uma esposa briguenta é como uma goteira constante em dia de chuva; ¹⁶ impedi-la é como tentar impedir o vento, ou tentar pegar óleo com a mão direita.

¹⁷ Ferro afia ferro; do mesmo modo, o homem afia seu amigo. ¹⁸ O que cuida da figueira comerá seu fruto, e o que protege seu senhor será honrado.

¹⁹ Como a água reflete a face de uma pessoa, assim o coração da pessoa reflete o que ela é. ²⁰ Como o Sheol e Abaddon nunca estão satisfeitos, assim os olhos do homem nunca se satisfazem.

²¹ O crisol é para a prata e o forno é para o ouro; e uma pessoa é testada quando é elogiada. ²² Mesmo que tritures o tolo com o pilão, junto com o grão, ainda assim, a insensatez não o deixará.

²³ Certifica-te de conheceres a condição de teus rebanhos, e preocupa-te com tuas manadas, ²⁴ pois a riqueza não é para sempre. Por acaso uma coroa dura por todas as gerações? ²⁵ Tu deves saber quando o feno é removido e os novos brotos aparecem, e o tempo em que a grama das montanhas é colhida.

²⁶ Aqueles cordeiros fornecerão tuas roupas, e os bodes fornecerão o preço do campo. ²⁷ Haverá leite das cabras para tua alimentação — o alimento de tua casa — e nutrição para tuas servas.

Chapter 28

¹ Os corruptos fogem quando ninguém os persegue, mas os justos são ousados como um leão jovem. ² Por causa da transgressão da terra, ela possui muitos governantes, mas, com um homem de entendimento e conhecimento, ela durará muito tempo.

³ O pobre que oprime outro pobre é como chuva forte que não deixa alimento. ⁴ Aqueles que abandonam a lei elogiam os corruptos, mas aqueles que guardam a lei lutam contra eles.

⁵ Os homens maus não entendem a justiça, mas aqueles que buscam a Yahweh entendem tudo. ⁶ É melhor o pobre que anda em sua integridade que o rico que é tortuoso em seus caminhos.

⁷ Aquele que guarda a lei é um filho com entendimento, mas aquele que é companheiro dos gulosos envergonha seu pai. ⁸ Aquele que faz sua fortuna cobrando muitos juros ajunta sua riqueza para outro que terá compaixão dos pobres.

⁹ Se alguém desvia o ouvido de ouvir a lei, até a sua oração é detestável. ¹⁰ Quem fizer desviar o justo para o mau caminho cairá em sua própria cova, mas os irrepreensíveis terão uma boa herança.

¹¹ O rico é sábio aos seus próprios olhos, mas o pobre que tem entendimento o avaliará. ¹² Quando os justos triunfam, há grande glória, mas, quando os corruptos se levantam, o povo se esconde.

¹³ Aquele que esconde seus pecados não prosperará, mas aquele que os confessa e os abandona alcançará misericórdia. ¹⁴ Abençoado será aquele que sempre vive com reverência, mas quem endurece seu coração cairá em dificuldades.

¹⁵ Como um leão rugindo ou um urso quando ataca, assim é o governante corrupto sobre os pobres. ¹⁶ O governante a quem falta entendimento é um opressor cruel, mas aquele que odeia a desonestidade prolongará seus dias.

¹⁷ Se um homem é culpado porque derramou o sangue de alguém, ele será um fugitivo até a morte, e ninguém o ajudará. ¹⁸ Quem caminha com integridade será mantido a salvo, mas aquele que tem o caminho torto cairá logo.

¹⁹ Aquele que lavra a sua terra terá muita comida, mas quem segue objetivos inúteis terá muita pobreza. ²⁰ O homem fiel terá grandes bênçãos, mas aquele que se enriquece rapidamente não ficará impune.

²¹ Não é bom mostrar parcialidade, mas, por um pedaço de pão, o homem cometerá uma transgressão. ²² O homem mesquinho corre atrás de riquezas, mas ele não sabe que a pobreza virá sobre ele.

²³ Quem repreende alguém alcançará dele mais favor do que alguém que o bajule com sua língua. ²⁴ Qualquer um que rouba seu pai e sua mãe e diz: "Isso não é pecado", esse é companheiro do que destrói.

²⁵ O homem ganancioso provoca conflitos, mas o que confia em Yahweh prosperará. ²⁶ Aquele que confia em seu próprio coração é um tolo, mas quem anda em sabedoria será mantido longe do perigo.

²⁷ Àquele que dá aos pobres não lhe faltará nada, mas quem fecha os olhos para eles receberá muitas maldições. ²⁸ Quando os corruptos se levantam, o povo se esconde, mas quando eles perecem, os justos aumentam.

Chapter 29

¹ A pessoa que recebeu muitas repreensões, mas endurece seu pescoço, será quebrada a tal ponto que não poderá ser curada. ² Quando os justos se multiplicam, o povo se alegra, mas quando um ímpio é o governante, o povo suspira.

³ Aquele que ama a sabedoria faz seu pai regozijar-se, mas o que mantém a companhia de prostitutas destrói sua riqueza. ⁴ O rei estabelece a terra pela justiça, mas o que exige subornos a destrói.

⁵ O homem que bajula seu vizinho espalha uma rede para seus pés. ⁶ No pecado de uma pessoa má, existe uma armadilha, mas o justo canta e regozija-se.

⁷ O justo conhece os direitos do pobre; o corrupto não entende tal conhecimento. ⁸ Os zombadores incendeiam uma cidade, mas os que são sábios afastam a ira.

⁹ Quando um sábio tem uma discussão com um tolo, ele ri e se irrita, e não haverá descanso. ¹⁰ Os sanguinários odeiam o que não tem culpa e buscam a vida dos justos.

¹¹ O tolo revela toda a sua ira, mas o homem sábio a contém e se acalma. ¹² Se um governante presta atenção a mentiras, todos os seus oficiais serão corruptos.

¹³ O pobre e o opressor têm algo em comum, pois Yahweh dá luz aos olhos de ambos. ¹⁴ Se um rei julga os pobres com a verdade, seu trono será estabelecido para sempre.

¹⁵ A vara e a reprovação dão sabedoria, mas uma criança livre de disciplina envergonha sua mãe. ¹⁶ Quando os corruptos estão no poder, a transgressão aumenta, mas os justos verão a queda desses ímpios.

¹⁷ Dá disciplina ao teu filho, e ele te dará descanso; ele trará deleite para a tua vida. ¹⁸ Onde não há profecia, o povo perde o controle próprio, mas aquele que mantém a lei é abençoado.

¹⁹ O escravo não será corrigido por palavras, pois, apesar de ele entender, não haverá resposta. ²⁰ Vês um homem precipitado em suas palavras? Há mais esperança para o tolo que para ele.

²¹ O que mima seu escravo desde a infância, no final disso, terá problemas. ²² Uma pessoa irada provoca conflito, e o enfurecido comete muitos pecados.

²³ O orgulho de uma pessoa a humilha, mas o que tem um espírito humilde receberá honra. ²⁴ O que é cúmplice de um ladrão odeia sua própria vida; ele ouve a maldição e não diz nada.

²⁵ O medo do homem monta uma armadilha, mas o que confia em Yahweh será protegido. ²⁶ Muitos são os que buscam a face do governante, mas o homem recebe a justiça que vem de Yahweh.

²⁷ O homem injusto é uma abominação para os justos, mas aquele cujo caminho é correto é detestável para o corrupto.

Chapter 30

¹ As palavras de Agur, filho de Jaque — um enunciado. Este homem declarou para Itiel, Itiel e Ucal: ² Certamente, eu sou mais como um animal do que como ser humano; não tenho o entendimento do ser humano. ³ Não aprendi a sabedoria, e não tenho o conhecimento do Santo.

⁴ Quem subiu ao céu e, de lá, desceu? Quem recolheu o vento no vazio de suas mãos? Quem reuniu as águas em um manto? Quem estabeleceu todas as extremidades da terra? Qual é o seu nome, e qual é o nome do seu filho? Se é que o sabes.

⁵ Toda palavra de Deus é pura. Ele é um escudo para os que Nele se refugiam. ⁶ Nada adiciones às Suas palavras, ou Ele te repreenderá e provará que és mentiroso.

⁷ Duas coisas eu peço a ti, não as retenhas de mim antes que eu morra. ⁸ Coloca a vaidade e a mentira longe de mim. Não me dês nem a pobreza nem a riqueza, somente a comida de que preciso. ⁹ Porque se eu tiver muito, Te negarei e direi: "Quem é Yahweh?" Ou se ficar pobre, roubarei e profanarei o Teu nome.

¹⁰ Não difameis um escravo diante do seu senhor, ou ele vos amaldiçoará, e vós sereis culpados.

¹¹ A geração que amaldiçoa seu pai e não abençoa sua mãe ¹² é a geração que é pura aos seus próprios olhos, mas não é lavada da sua imundícia.

¹³ Esta é a geração — quão altivos são seus olhos e levantadas as suas pálpebras! — ¹⁴ cujos dentes são espadas e suas mandíbulas são facas. Assim, eles podem devorar da terra os pobres e, da humanidade, os necessitados.

¹⁵ A sanguessuga tem duas filhas, "Dá e Dá", elas choram. Há três coisas que nunca estão satisfeitas, quatro que nunca dizem: “Basta!” ¹⁶ O Sheol, o útero estéril, a terra sedenta por água e o fogo que nunca diz: "Basta". ¹⁷ Os olhos que zombam do pai e desprezam a obediência da mãe; seus olhos serão arrancados pelos corvos do vale e comidos por abutres.

¹⁸ Há três coisas que são maravilhosas demais para mim, quatro que eu não entendo: ¹⁹ o caminho da águia para o céu, o caminho da cobra para a rocha, o caminho do navio no meio do mar e o caminho do homem com uma mulher virgem.

²⁰ Este é o caminho de uma adúltera — ela come, limpa seus lábios, e diz: "Não fiz nada de errado".

²¹ Há três coisas que fazem a terra estremecer e a quarta, ela não pode suportar: ²² um escravo quando se torna rei; um tolo quando se farta de comer; ²³ uma mulher odiada quando se casa; e uma empregada quando ela toma o lugar da sua senhora.

²⁴ Quatro coisas são pequenas na terra e, ainda assim, são muito sábias: ²⁵ as formigas, criaturas que não são fortes, mas preparam a comida no verão; ²⁶ os coelhos, criaturas que não são poderosas, mas fazem suas casas nas rochas.

²⁷ Os gafanhotos que não têm rei, mas todos eles marcham enfileirados. ²⁸ Quanto ao lagarto, podes segurá-lo em tuas mãos, ainda assim, eles são encontrados nos palácios dos reis.

²⁹ Há três coisas que são imponentes em seu caminhar, quatro que são imponentes na forma que andam: ³⁰ o leão, o mais forte entre os animais selvagens, não foge de nada; ³¹ um galo firmado em esporas, um bode, e um rei, cujos soldados estão ao seu lado.

³² Se tens sido um tolo, exaltando-te a ti mesmo, ou se tens concebido o mal — coloca tuas mãos sobre a boca. ³³ Assim como bater o leite produz manteiga, e o nariz produz sangue se for torcido, assim as obras feitas com raiva produzem conflito.

Chapter 31

¹ Palavras do rei Lemuel, um oráculo ensinado por sua mãe. ² O quê, meu filho? O quê, filho do meu ventre? O quê, filho dos meus votos? ³ Não dês tua força às mulheres, ou os teus caminhos àqueles que destroem reis.

⁴ Não convém a reis, Lemuel, não convém a reis beber vinho, nem a governantes desejar a bebida forte; ⁵ porque quando eles bebem, esquecem-se do que foi decretado, e pervertem os direitos de todos os aflitos.

⁶ Dai bebida forte ao que está perecendo e vinho aos amargurados. ⁷ Ele beberá e se esquecerá de sua pobreza, e não se lembrará de suas dificuldades.

⁸ Fala por aqueles que não podem falar, pelas causas de todos os que estão perecendo. ⁹ Fala e julga pela medida do que é justo, e defende a causa dos pobres e necessitados.

¹⁰ Quem pode achar uma esposa virtuosa? Seu valor vai muito além de joias. ¹¹ O coração de seu marido confia nela e ele não terá falta de nada. ¹² Ela faz coisas boas por ele e não más, todos os dias de sua vida.

¹³ Ela escolhe lã e linho, e trabalha com o deleite de suas mãos. ¹⁴ Ela é como os navios mercantes, traz comida de longe. ¹⁵ Ela se levanta enquanto é noite, dá comida à sua família e distribui as tarefas entre suas servas.

¹⁶ Ela avalia um campo e o compra, com o fruto de suas mãos, planta uma vinha. ¹⁷ Ela se veste de força e fortalece os seus braços.

¹⁸ Ela percebe o que lhe trará bom lucro; durante toda a noite, sua lâmpada não se apaga. ¹⁹ Ela põe suas mãos no fuso e segura a roca de fiar.

²⁰ Ela estende sua mão aos pobres, estende suas mãos aos necessitados. ²¹ Ela não teme a neve por sua família, pois toda a sua família está vestida com lã escarlate.

²² Ela faz cobertas para sua cama e veste-se de roupas de linho púrpura. ²³ Seu marido é conhecido junto aos portões, quando ele se assenta com os anciãos da terra.

²⁴ Ela faz vestes de linho e as vende, fornece faixas aos comerciantes. ²⁵ Ela se veste de força e honra e ri para o futuro.

²⁶ Ela abre sua boca com sabedoria e a lei dos benevolentes está em sua língua. ²⁷ Ela vigia os caminhos de sua casa e não come do pão da preguiça.

²⁸ Seus filhos crescem e a chamam de abençoada; seu marido a elogia, dizendo: ²⁹ "Muitas mulheres fizeram o bem, mas tu a todas superas".

³⁰ A elegância é enganosa, a beleza é fútil, mas a mulher que teme a Yahweh, essa será elogiada. ³¹ Dai a ela o fruto de suas mãos e que seu trabalho a engrandeça nos portões.

¹Versões modernas interpretam a última parte desse verso de diferentes maneiras: tudo que agrada pessoas , concubinas e tudo o que agrada homens etc.

¹Em vez de Deus faz o homem buscar coisas escondidas , outras versões modernas traduzem esse verso de diferentes formas

²Algumas versões modernas trazem Quem conhece o espírito do homem, que vai para cima, e o espírito dos animais, que vai para debaixo da terra?

¹Ao invés de cumprirá todas as suas obrigações algumas versões modernas apresentam diferentes traduções para essa difícil passagem.

¹Algumas versões trazem: Ninguém controla o vento, de forma a fazê-lo cessar

²Algumas versões modernas trazem: para sua infelicidade (da pessoa que sofre a opressão). O texto hebraico pode ser traduzido de ambas as formas.

³Algumas versões modernas apresentam outras traduções desse difícil versículo: Vi pessoas más indo e vindo ao lugar santo. Eles orgulhosamente falaram sobre as coisas que os maus haviam feito na cidade... Outras versões trazem: Vi os maus indo e vindo ao lugar santo. Eles foram louvados na cidade pelas coisas que tinham feito...

¹Algumas versões modernas copiam versões antigas, de maneira que a frase se torne completa. Os tradutores podem decidir copiá-los

²Algumas versões modernas trazem: O que é preferível? Para todos os viventes, isso é certo: um cachorro vivo é melhor que um leão morto

¹Algumas versões modernas trazem: Como não sabes o caminho do espírito aos ossos de um criança no útero materno

Isaiah

Capítulo 1

¹ Visão de Isaías, filho de Amoz, que teve a respeito de Judá e Jerusalém, nos dias de Uzias, Jotão, Acaz e Ezequias, reis de Judá.

² Ouvi, ó céus, e escuta, ó terra, porque Yahweh disse: "Tenho nutrido e criado filhos, mas eles se rebelaram contra Mim. ³ O boi conhece o seu dono, e o jumento, o seu cocho, mas Israel não tem conhecimento, Israel não entende".

⁴ Ai da nação pecadora! Povo carregado de iniquidade, descendência de malfeitores, filhos que agem corruptamente! Eles abandonaram Yahweh, desprezaram o Santo de Israel e afastaram-se Dele.

⁵ Por que seríeis ainda castigados? Por que vos rebelais cada vez mais? A cabeça toda está doente, todo o coração está fraco. ⁶ Da sola do pé até a cabeça, não há parte sã, senão feridas, contusões e chagas abertas, que não foram limpas nem fechadas, nem atadas e tratadas com óleo.

⁷ Vosso país está arruinado, vossas cidades estão queimadas, vossos campos — em vossa presença, destruídos por estrangeiros — abandonados e devastados, tomados por estrangeiros. ⁸ A filha de Sião foi abandonada como uma cabana na vinha, como uma choupana no pepinal, como uma cidade sitiada.

⁹ Se Yahweh dos Exércitos não nos tivesse deixado alguns remanescentes, seríamos como Sodoma, e semelhantes a Gomorra.

¹⁰ Ouvi a palavra de Yahweh, vós governantes de Sodoma; escutai a lei do vosso Deus, ó povo de Gomorra: ¹¹ "O que são as multidões de sacrifícios para Mim?", diz Yahweh. "Eu estou farto dos sacrifícios de carneiro e da gordura de animais cevados; não Me agrado do sangue de bois, cordeiros ou bodes.

¹² Quando viestes a Mim, quem vos pediu que pisásseis nos Meus átrios? ¹³ Não continueis a trazer sacrifícios inúteis; o incenso é abominação para Mim, vossas luas novas e assembleias de sábado. Eu não suporto vossas reuniões solenes, todas repletas de perversidade.

¹⁴ Eu odeio vossas luas novas e vossas festas solenes. Elas são um fardo para Mim; estou cansado de aturá-las! ¹⁵ Assim, quando levantardes vossas mãos em oração, esconderei Meus olhos de vós; mesmo que façais muitas orações, não as ouvirei, pois vossas mãos estão cheias de sangue.

¹⁶ Lavai-vos e limpai-vos! Removei toda a maldade das vossas obras diante de Mim! Parai com a maldade; ¹⁷ aprendei a fazer o bem; buscai a justiça; acabai com a opressão; ¹ fazei justiça ao órfão; defendei a viúva.

¹⁸ Vinde agora, e raciocinemos juntos" — diz Yahweh — "ainda que os vossos pecados sejam como o escarlate, eles se tornarão brancos como a neve; mesmo que eles sejam vermelhos como o carmesim, eles se tornarão como a branca lã.

¹⁹ Se estiverdes dispostos a obedecer, comereis o melhor da terra, ²⁰ mas se recusardes e vos rebelardes, a espada vos devorará", pois a boca de Yahweh o disse.

²¹ Como a cidade fiel se tornou prostituta! Ela — que era cheia de justiça, que era cheia de retidão — agora está cheia de assassinos. ²² Tua prata tornou-se impura, teu vinho misturou-se com água.

²³ Teus príncipes são rebeldes e companheiros de ladrões; todos amam subornos e correm atrás de recompensas. Não defendem os órfãos, nem a petição da viúva que chega diante deles.

²⁴ Portanto, esta é a declaração do Senhor, Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Poderoso de Israel: "Ai deles! Buscarei vingança contra os Meus adversários. Sim, Eu Me vingarei dos Meus inimigos! ²⁵ Voltarei Minha mão contra vós, purificarei vossa escória com potassa e tirarei todas as vossas impurezas.

²⁶ Eu restaurarei vossos juízes como antes, e vossos conselheiros como no início; depois disso, sereis chamados de cidade de retidão, uma cidade fiel.

²⁷ Sião será redimida com justiça; e com retidão, os arrependidos. ²⁸ Os rebeldes e pecadores serão esmagados juntos, e aqueles que abandonarem Yahweh também o serão.

²⁹ Sereis envergonhados pelos carvalhos sagrados que desejastes e ficareis envergonhados pelos jardins que escolhestes. ³⁰ Pois sereis como um carvalho que perde suas folhas, e como um jardim que não tem água.

³¹ O homem forte será como a estopa, e seu trabalho, como uma fagulha; ambos queimarão juntos, e ninguém apagará o fogo".

¹No lugar de acabai com a opressão algumas versões têm: ajudai o oprimido

Capítulo 2

¹ As coisas que Isaías, filho de Amoz, viu, relacionadas a Judá e a Jerusalém. ² Acontecerá que, nos últimos dias, o monte da casa de Yahweh será estabelecido como o mais alto dos montes, será exaltado sobre as colinas, e todas as nações correrão para ele.

³ Muitos povos virão e dirão: "Vinde! Subamos ao monte de Yahweh, à casa do Deus de Jacó. Ali, Ele nos ensinará os Seus caminhos e andaremos em Suas veredas". Pois de Sião sairá a lei, a palavra de Yahweh virá de Jerusalém.

⁴ Ele julgará entre as nações e dará vereditos para muitos povos; eles converterão suas espadas em arados e suas lanças, em foices; nação nenhuma levantará a espada contra outra nação, nem jamais treinará para a guerra.

⁵ Vinde, ó casa de Jacó, e andemos na luz de Yahweh. ⁶ Pois Tu abandonaste o Teu povo, a casa de Jacó, porque eles estão cheios dos costumes do leste e de adivinhadores, como os filisteus, e fazem acordos com os filhos dos estrangeiros.

⁷ A terra deles está cheia de prata e ouro, e não há limites para sua riqueza; também está repleta de cavalos, não há limites para as suas carruagens. ⁸ Sua terra está cheia de ídolos; eles adoram o trabalho das próprias mãos, objetos que seus dedos fizeram.

⁹ O povo se curvará e indivíduos cairão; portanto, não os levantes. ¹⁰ Vai até os locais rochosos e esconde-te no chão por causa do terror que vem de Yahweh, de Sua glória e majestade. ¹¹ O olhar altivo do homem será humilhado, a arrogância do homem será derrubada, e somente Yahweh será exaltado naquele dia.

¹² Pois haverá um dia em que Yahweh dos Exércitos irá contra todo aquele que é orgulhoso e exaltado e contra todo aquele que é arrogante — e este será humilhado; ¹³ contra todos os cedros do Líbano, que são altos e elevados, e contra todos os carvalhos de Basã.

¹⁴ Naquele dia, Yahweh dos Exércitos será contra todos os altos montes, contra todas as colinas elevadas, ¹⁵ contra toda torre alta, contra todo muro fortificado, ¹⁶ contra todos os navios de Társis e contra todas as belas embarcações.

¹⁷ O orgulho do homem será humilhado e a sua arrogância cairá. Somente Yahweh será exaltado naquele dia. ¹⁸ Os ídolos passarão completamente. ¹⁹ Os homens fugirão para as cavernas nas rochas e para os buracos no chão, por causa do terror que vem de Yahweh e do esplendor da Sua majestade, quando Ele Se levantar para aterrorizar a terra.

²⁰ Naquele dia, o povo jogará fora os seus ídolos de prata e de ouro — que fizeram para serem adorados. Eles vão lançá-los às toupeiras e aos morcegos. ²¹ O povo correrá para as cavernas nas rochas e para dentro das fendas dos penhascos, devido ao terror que vem de Yahweh e da Sua glória e majestade, quando Ele Se levantar para aterrorizar a terra. ²² Parai de confiar no homem, cujo sopro de vida está em suas narinas, pois que valor ele tem?

Capítulo 3

¹ Eis que o Senhor Yahweh dos Exércitos está prestes a tirar de Jerusalém e de Judá o sustento e o apoio: todo o suprimento de pão, todo o suprimento de água; ² e o homem poderoso, o guerreiro, o juiz, o profeta, o adivinhador, o ancião; ³ o capitão de cinquenta, o cidadão respeitado, o conselheiro, o hábil artesão e o mago.

⁴ "Colocarei jovens para serem seus líderes, e os meninos governarão sobre eles. ⁵ As pessoas serão oprimidas umas pelas outras, cada um pelo seu vizinho; as crianças insultarão os idosos e os corrompidos desafiarão pessoas de honra.

⁶ Um homem agarrará seu irmão na casa do seu pai e dirá: 'Tu tens um casaco, sê o nosso comandante. Que estas ruínas fiquem sob o teu poder'. ⁷ Naquele dia, ele gritará e dirá: 'Não sou médico, eu não tenho pão ou vestimenta. Não me faças comandar este povo'".

⁸ Pois Jerusalém está arruinada, e Judá caiu, porque suas falas e suas ações são contra Yahweh, para desafiarem a glória de Seus olhos. ⁹ O olhar em suas faces os denuncia; e eles falam dos seus pecados como o povo de Sodoma, eles não os escondem. Ai deles! Trouxeram o mal para si mesmos.

¹⁰ Dizei aos justos que isto será bom para eles, pois comerão do fruto de suas ações. ¹¹ Ai do corrupto! Tudo lhe irá mal, pois ele receberá do que suas mãos têm feito. ¹² Quanto ao Meu povo, crianças são seus opressores e mulheres governam sobre eles. Ó, Meu povo, teus líderes te enganam e te confundem o caminho.

¹³ Yahweh Se levanta para pleitear; Ele Se levanta para julgar as nações. ¹⁴ Yahweh virá com julgamento contra os anciãos e os líderes do Seu povo. "Vós tendes devorado a vinha. O que foi saqueado dos pobres está em vossas casas. ¹⁵ Por que esmagais o Meu povo e triturais a face dos pobres?" — Esta é a declaração do Senhor, Yahweh dos Exércitos.

¹⁶ Yahweh diz que as filhas de Sião são orgulhosas, caminham de cabeça erguida, flertam com seus olhos, dão passos curtos ao andar, fazendo um tinir com os enfeites de seus pés. ¹⁷ Porque elas são assim, o Senhor formará feridas nas cabeças das filhas de Sião, Yahweh raspará suas cabeças.

¹⁸ Naquele dia, o Senhor removerá suas lindas joias dos tornozelos, os turbantes, os colares, ¹⁹ os pingentes das orelhas, os braceletes e os véus, ²⁰ os lenços de cabelo, os ornamentos do tornozelo, os cintos, as caixas de perfumes e os amuletos de sorte.

²¹ Ele removerá os anéis e as joias do nariz, ²² as vestes festivas, os mantos, os véus e as bolsas, ²³ os espelhos de mão, os linhos finos, os enfeites da cabeça e os xales.

²⁴ Em vez de perfumes doces haverá mau cheiro; em vez de cinto, uma corda; em vez de cabelo bem penteado, calvície; em vez de um manto, uma cobertura de pano de saco; e cicatriz, em vez de beleza. ²⁵ Teus homens cairão pela espada e teus guerreiros cairão na guerra. ²⁶ Os portões de Jerusalém lamentarão e chorarão. Desolada, Sião se sentará no chão.

Capítulo 4

¹ Naquele dia, sete mulheres tomarão um só homem, e dirão: "Comeremos nosso próprio alimento, vestiremos nossa própria roupa, mas permita que tomemos teu nome para remover nossa vergonha". ² Naquele dia, o renovo de Yahweh será lindo e glorioso e o fruto da terra será saboroso e agradável para os sobreviventes em Israel.

³ Então, o que ficar em Sião e o que permanecer em Jerusalém será chamado santo, isto é, todo aquele que for registrado entre os vivos em Jerusalém, ⁴ quando o Senhor tiver lavado a imundice das filhas de Sião e limpado as manchas de sangue do meio de Jerusalém, pelo espírito de justiça e pelo espírito de fogo ardente.

⁵ Então, sobre todo o monte Sião e sobre suas assembleias, Yahweh criará nuvem e fumaça de dia, e o brilho de uma chama de fogo à noite. Isto será uma cobertura sobre toda a glória; ⁶ será um abrigo contra o sol durante o calor do dia; um refúgio e uma cobertura contra a tempestade e a chuva.

Capítulo 5

¹ Cantarei ao meu amado uma canção de amor sobre a Sua vinha. Meu amado possuía uma vinha em uma colina fértil. ² Ele a cavou, removeu as pedras e a plantou com uma videira da melhor qualidade. Construiu uma torre no meio dela e edificou também um lagar. Ele esperava que ela produzisse uvas boas, porém, produziu uvas selvagens.

³ E agora, habitantes de Jerusalém e homens de Judá, julgai entre Mim e a Minha vinha. ⁴ O que mais poderia ser feito à Minha vinha que Eu já não tenha feito? Quando Eu esperava boas uvas, por que produziu uvas selvagens?

⁵ Agora Eu vos direi o que farei com a Minha vinha: removerei a cerca e será transformada num pasto; derrubarei o seu muro e ela será pisada. ⁶ Eu a devastarei, e ela não será podada nem capinada; mas sarças e espinhos brotarão nela, e ordenarei às nuvens que não derramem chuva sobre ela.

⁷ Pois a videira de Yahweh dos Exércitos é a casa de Israel, e os homens de Judá são Sua agradável plantação. Ele esperou por justiça, mas, em vez disso, houve matança; esperou por retidão, mas houve clamor por socorro.

⁸ Ai daqueles que juntam casa a casa, campo a campo, até que não haja mais nenhum lugar, e se tornam os únicos donos da terra! ⁹ Yahweh dos Exércitos me disse que muitas casas ficarão vazias, até mesmo as grandiosas e impressionantes ficarão sem moradores. ¹⁰ Pois uma vinha de dez jeiras dará apenas um bato, e um ômer de semente dará apenas um efa.

¹¹ Ai daqueles que se levantam de manhã cedo para buscar bebida forte, aqueles que se demoram noite adentro até que o vinho os inflame! ¹² Eles fazem banquetes com harpas, liras, tamborins, flautas e vinho; mas não reconhecem o trabalho de Yahweh, nem consideram os feitos de Suas mãos.

¹³ Portanto, o Meu povo foi levado ao cativeiro por falta de entendimento; seus nobres estão com fome, e o povo comum não tem nada para beber. ¹⁴ Por isso, o Sheol aumentou o seu apetite e abriu grandemente a sua boca; seus nobres, o povo, seus líderes e os foliões, e os que estão felizes entre eles descem para o Sheol.

¹⁵ O homem se curvará e a humanidade será humilhada; os olhos dos altivos serão rebaixados. ¹⁶ Yahweh dos Exércitos será exaltado em Sua justiça, e Deus, o Santo, Se mostrará santo por meio de Sua justiça. ¹⁷ Então as ovelhas pastarão como em seu próprio pasto, e os cordeiros pastarão nas ruínas como estrangeiros. ¹

¹⁸ Ai daqueles que puxam a iniquidade com cordas de futilidade, e puxam o pecado com corda de carroça! ¹⁹ Ai daqueles que dizem: "Que Deus Se apresse, que Ele aja com rapidez para que vejamos isso acontecer; e que os planos do Santo de Israel se aproximem e cheguem, para que os conheçamos!".

²⁰ Ai daqueles que chamam o mal de bem e o bem de mal; que representam a escuridão como luz e a luz como escuridão; que representam o amargo como doce e o doce como amargo! ²¹ Ai daqueles que são sábios aos seus próprios olhos e prudentes em seu próprio entendimento!

²² Ai daqueles que são campeões em beber vinho e mestres em misturar bebidas fortes; ²³ daqueles que absolvem o culpado em troca de dinheiro, e privam o inocente de seus direitos!

²⁴ Portanto, assim como a língua de fogo devora o restolho, e como a palha se queima, assim suas raízes apodrecerão e sua flor será levada como a poeira. Pois eles rejeitaram a lei de Yahweh dos Exércitos e desprezaram a palavra do Santo de Israel.

²⁵ Por isso, a ira de Yahweh está acesa contra o Seu povo, e Ele levantou Sua mão contra eles e os puniu; as montanhas tremem, e seus cadáveres são como lixo nas ruas. Apesar de tudo isso, Sua ira não retrocede, e Sua mão continua estendida.

²⁶ Ele levantará uma bandeira para as nações distantes e assobiará aos que estão nos confins da terra. Olhai, eles virão rápida e prontamente.

²⁷ Não há entre eles cansados ou quem tropece; ninguém sente sono ou dorme; nem seus cintos se afrouxam, nem suas sandálias se arrebentam; ²⁸ suas flechas são afiadas e seus arcos estão curvados; os cascos de seus cavalos são como pederneiras e suas carruagens correm como redemoinho.

²⁹ Seu rugido será como de leão. Eles rugirão como leões jovens; rugirão e agarrarão suas presas, e as levarão para longe, sem ninguém para resgatá-las. ³⁰ Naquele dia, eles rugirão contra a presa, como o rugido do mar. Se alguém olhar para a terra, verá escuridão e aflição, pois até a luz será escurecida pelas nuvens.

¹Nota: algumas versões modernas trazem e, nas ruínas dos ricos, os cordeiros pastarão .

Capítulo 6

¹ No ano em que o rei Uzias morreu, eu vi o Senhor assentado em um trono alto e sublime; e a bainha do Seu manto enchia o templo. ² Acima Dele, estavam os serafins; cada um tinha seis asas: com duas cobriam o rosto, com duas cobriam os pés, e com duas voavam.

³ E diziam, em alta voz, uns aos outros: "Santo, Santo, Santo é Yahweh dos Exércitos! Toda a terra está cheia da Sua glória".

⁴ As bases das portas tremiam à voz dos que clamavam, e a casa se encheu de fumaça. ⁵ Então eu disse: "Ai de mim, pois estou perdido! Porque sou um homem de lábios impuros e vivo no meio de um povo de lábios impuros, e os meus olhos viram o Rei, Yahweh dos Exércitos!".

⁶ Então, um dos serafins voou até mim, trazendo em sua mão uma brasa que havia tirado do altar com uma tenaz. ⁷ Ele tocou minha boca com a brasa e disse: "Vê! Isto tocou os teus lábios, tua culpa foi removida e teu pecado, perdoado".

⁸ Ouvi a voz do Senhor dizendo: "A quem enviarei? Quem irá por Nós?" Então eu disse: "Aqui estou eu, envia-me". ⁹ Ele disse: "Vai e dize a este povo: 'Ouvireis, mas não entendereis; vereis, mas não percebereis'.

¹⁰ Torna o coração deste povo insensível; seus ouvidos fiquem surdos e seus olhos, cegos, para que eles não vejam com seus olhos, não ouçam com seus ouvidos, não entendam com o coração, e não se voltem e sejam curados".

¹¹ Então eu disse: "Senhor, por quanto tempo?". Ele me respondeu: "Até que as cidades fiquem devastadas e sem habitantes, as casas fiquem sem moradores e a terra se torne despovoada; ¹² e até que Yahweh mande o povo para longe, e grande seja a solidão da terra.

¹³ Mesmo que um décimo do povo permaneça nela, será novamente destruída; como o terebinto e o carvalho que são derrubados, e seu tronco permanece, assim a santa semente estará nesse toco".

Capítulo 7

¹ Durante os dias de Acaz, filho de Jotão, filho de Uzias, rei de Judá, aconteceu que Rezim, rei da Síria, e Peca, filho de Remalias, rei de Israel, subiram a Jerusalém para atacá-la, mas não conseguiram prevalecer contra ela. ² Foi relatado à casa de Davi que a Síria era aliada de Efraim. O seu coração e o coração do seu povo agitaram-se, como as árvores do bosque se agitam com o vento. ¹

³ Então, Yahweh disse a Isaías: "Sai com o teu filho Sear-Jasube para te encontrares com Acaz, no final do canal do tanque superior, no caminho do campo do Lavandeiro. ⁴ Dize-lhe: Sê cuidadoso e acalma-te. Não temas nem te intimides por causa desses dois pedaços de lenha fumegantes; nem pela ira ardente de Rezim e da Síria, nem por Peca, filho de Remalias.

⁵ A Síria, Efraim e o filho de Remalias têm planejado o mal contra ti, dizendo: ⁶ 'Vamos atacar e aterrorizar Judá; vamos conquistá-la e fazer reinar sobre ela o nosso rei, o filho de Tabeel'.

⁷ O Senhor Yahweh diz: Isso não sucederá, jamais acontecerá, ⁸ pois a capital da Síria é Damasco e o cabeça de Damasco é Rezim. Dentro de sessenta e cinco anos, Efraim será destruída e deixará de ser povo. ⁹ A capital de Efraim é Samaria, e o cabeça de Samaria é o filho de Remalias. Se não persistirdes na fé, certamente, não permanecereis seguros”.

¹⁰ O Senhor falou novamente a Acaz ² , dizendo: ¹¹ "Pede um sinal a Yahweh, teu Deus; um sinal que seja nas profundezas ou nas alturas". ¹² Porém, Acaz respondeu: "Não pedirei, nem porei Yahweh à prova".

¹³ Então, Isaías respondeu: "Ouvi, ó casa de Davi. Não vos é o bastante que testeis a paciência das pessoas? Deveis ainda testar a paciência do meu Deus? ¹⁴ Portanto, o próprio Senhor vos dará um sinal: eis que a virgem conceberá e dará à luz um filho, e ele será chamado Emanuel. ¹⁵ Ele comerá coalhada e mel até que saiba recusar o mal e escolher o bem.

¹⁶ Pois antes que a criança saiba recusar o mal e escolher o bem, a terra desses dois reis, a quem temes, será desolada. ¹⁷ Yahweh trará sobre ti, sobre o teu povo e sobre a casa do teu pai, dias como nunca houve, desde que Efraim se separou de Judá — Ele vos trará o rei da Assíria".

¹⁸ Naquele tempo, Yahweh assobiará às moscas das extremidades dos rios do Egito e às abelhas da terra da Assíria. ¹⁹ Elas virão e pousarão nos desfiladeiros, dentro das fendas das rochas, sobre os arbustos espinhosos, em todas as pastagens.

²⁰ Naquele tempo, o Senhor usará uma navalha que foi alugada para além do rio Eufrates — que é o rei da Assíria — para raspar a cabeça, assim como os pelos das pernas e também removerá a barba. ²¹ Naquele dia, um homem criará uma novilha e duas ovelhas, ²² e, por causa da abundância de leite, ele comerá coalhada, pois todo aquele que restar na terra comerá coalhada e mel.

²³ Naquele tempo, onde havia mil vinhas no valor de mil siclos de prata, não haverá nada além de sarças e espinhos. ²⁴ Os homens entrarão ali para caçar com arco e flecha, pois toda aquela terra será sarças e espinhos. ²⁵ Eles permanecerão distantes de todas as colinas que antes cultivavam com a enxada, por medo das sarças e dos espinhos; mas ali será lugar onde os bois e as ovelhas pastarão.

¹Nota: Em vez de ... que a Síria era aliada de Efraim , algumas versões têm ... que a Síria havia acampado em Efraim .

²Nota: Em vez de o Senhor falou , em muitas versões está Yahweh falou

Capítulo 8

¹ Yahweh me disse: "Toma uma grande tábua e escreve nela: ‘Maer-Salal-Has-Baz’". ² Convocarei testemunhas fiéis para atestar por mim, chamarei Urias, o sacedorte, e Zacarias, filho de Jeberequias.

³ Deitei-me com a profetisa, ela concebeu e deu à luz um filho. Então, Yahweh me disse: "Dá-lhe o nome de Maer-Salal-Has-Baz. ⁴ Pois, antes que a criança saiba dizer 'papai' ou 'mamãe', as riquezas de Damasco e os despojos de Samaria serão levados pelo rei da Assíria".

⁵ Yahweh tornou a falar comigo: ⁶ "Porque este povo rejeitou as águas calmas de Siloé, e alegrou-se com Rezim e com o filho de Remalias, ⁷ eis que o Senhor fará vir sobre ele as poderosas e impetuosas águas do rio — o rei da Assíria e toda a sua glória —, que transbordarão ao longo de todos os canais e extravasarão por suas margens.

⁸ O rio passará por Judá e a inundará até que alcance o pescoço. A extensão de suas margens encherá a sua terra por completo, ó Emanuel".

⁹ Ó povos, sereis destruídos! Ouvi, todos vós que sois de lugares distantes: armai-vos para a guerra, mas sereis quebrados em pedaços; sim, mesmo prontos para a guerra, sereis despedaçados. ¹⁰ Mesmo que façais um plano, este será frustrado. Mesmo que deis ordens, nada se cumprirá, pois Deus está conosco!

¹¹ Pois Yahweh, com Sua mão forte sobre mim, advertiu-me a não andar pelo caminho deste povo, dizendo: ¹² "Não chames tudo de conspiração, como faz este povo; não temas o que eles temem, e não fiques aterrorizado. ¹³ É a Yahweh dos Exércitos a Quem deves santificar-te; seja Ele o teu temor, pois Ele é o único de Quem deves ter pavor.

¹⁴ Ele te será por santuário, mas servirá como uma pedra de tropeço e uma rocha de escândalo para as duas casas de Israel, e de armadilha e de laços para o povo de Jerusalém. ¹⁵ Muitos tropeçarão e cairão; e serão destruídos, enlaçados e capturados.

¹⁶ Conserva o testemunho, sela o registro, entrega-o aos Meus discípulos". ¹⁷ Esperarei por Yahweh, que esconde Sua face da casa de Jacó, e O aguardarei com confiança. ¹⁸ Vede! Aqui estou, com os filhos que Yahweh me deu, para sinais e maravilhas em Israel, da parte de Yahweh dos Exércitos, que habita no monte Sião.

¹⁹ Quando vos falarem: "Consultai os médiuns e os feiticeiros, aqueles que sussurram e murmuram encantamentos! Porventura, não deveria um povo consultar seus deuses? Não se deveria consultar os mortos em favor dos vivos?" ²⁰ Respondei: "Consultai a Lei e o Testemunho!" Se não falarem dessa forma, é porque não há luz neles.

²¹ Eles passarão pela terra em grande fome e aflição. Quando tiverem fome, ficarão irados e, ao olharem para cima, amaldiçoarão o seu rei e o seu Deus. ²² Eles olharão para a terra e verão sofrimento, escuridão e tristeza de aflição. E serão lançados em densas trevas.

Capítulo 9

¹ Não haverá mais escuridão para aquela que estava angustiada. Em tempos antigos, Deus humilhou a terra de Zebulom e a terra de Naftali; porém, depois disso, Ele a tornará gloriosa, desde o mar, além do Jordão, Galileia das nações. ² O povo que andava em trevas viu uma grande luz; e, sobre os que habitavam na terra da sombra da morte, resplandeceu a luz. ¹

³ Tu multiplicaste a nação e lhe aumentaste a alegria; eles se alegrarão diante de Ti, como se regozijam no tempo da colheita e como se alegram os homens quando repartem os despojos.

⁴ Pois Tu tens quebrado o jugo de sua carga, a trave dos seus ombros, o bastão do seu opressor, como fizeste no dia de Midiã. ⁵ Pois todo calçado daqueles que andavam em combate e toda capa revolvida em sangue serão queimados, como lenha no fogo.

⁶ Porque um menino nos nasceu, um filho nos foi dado; o governo estará sobre os Seus ombros; e o Seu nome será: Maravilhoso Conselheiro, Deus Forte, Pai da Eternidade, Príncipe da Paz. ⁷ O crescimento do Seu governo e da Sua paz não terá fim; Seu governo será sobre o trono de Davi e sobre o seu reino, para o estabelecer e sustentá-lo com justiça e retidão, desde agora e para sempre. O zelo de Yahweh dos Exércitos fará isso.

⁸ O Senhor enviou uma palavra contra Jacó, e ela caiu sobre Israel. ⁹ Todos saberão, inclusive Efraim e os habitantes de Samaria, que, com orgulho e coração arrogante, dizem: ¹⁰ "Os tijolos caíram, mas reconstruiremos com pedras lavradas; os sicômoros foram cortados, mas colocaremos cedros no lugar".

¹¹ Portanto, Yahweh suscitará contra eles os adversários de Rezim e instigará seus inimigos. ¹² Os sírios do leste e os filisteus do oeste devorarão Israel com a boca aberta. Com tudo isso, porém, a ira de Yahweh não será apaziguada, e Sua mão continuará estendida.

¹³ Mas o povo não se voltou para quem o atingiu, nem buscou Yahweh dos Exércitos. ¹⁴ Portanto, Yahweh cortará de Israel a cabeça e a cauda, seu ramo e seu junco, num único dia. ¹⁵ O líder e os nobres são a cabeça; o profeta que ensina mentiras é a cauda.

¹⁶ Aqueles que guiam este povo o desencaminham, e aqueles que são conduzidos por eles são engolidos. ¹⁷ Portanto, o Senhor não Se alegrará com seus jovens, nem terá compaixão de seus órfãos e viúvas, visto que todos são corruptos e malfeitores, e toda boca profere tolices. Mesmo assim, não cessou a Sua ira, e permanece estendida a Sua mão.

¹⁸ A maldade queima como fogo, que devora os cardos e os espinhos, incendiando as matas da floresta, fazendo crescer uma coluna de fumaça. ¹⁹ Através da transbordante ira de Yahweh dos Exércitos, a terra é queimada e o povo é como combustível para o fogo; nenhum homem poupa seu irmão.

²⁰ Eles agarrarão a comida da direita e ainda estarão com fome, comerão a comida da esquerda, mas não ficarão satisfeitos. Cada homem comerá a carne de seu próprio braço. ² ²¹ Manassés devorará Efraim e Efraim devorará Manassés; e, juntos, atacarão Judá. Mas, mesmo com tudo isso, a ira de Yahweh não se apartará, pois Sua mão continuará estendida.

¹Nota: em vez de sombra da morte , algumas versões têm escuridão .

²Nota: Em vez de a carne de seu próprio braço , algumas versões têm a carne de seus próprios filhos .

Capítulo 10

¹ Ai daqueles que promulgam leis injustas e prescrevem decretos desonestos. ² Eles privam de justiça os necessitados, roubam os direitos dos pobres do Meu povo, despojam as viúvas e fazem de presa o órfão!

³ O que vós fareis no dia do julgamento quando a destruição vier de longe? A quem vós correreis em busca de ajuda, e onde deixareis as vossas riquezas? ⁴ Nada restará, e vos humilhareis entre os prisioneiros ou caireis entre os mortos. Com tudo isso, Sua ira não cessará e a Sua mão continuará estendida.

⁵ Ai da Assíria, o cajado da Minha ira, a vara pela qual Eu aplico a Minha fúria! ⁶ Eu a envio contra uma nação arrogante, contra o povo que fez transbordar a Minha ira. Eu lhe ordenei pegar o espólio, arrebatar a presa e pisá-los como lama nas ruas.

⁷ Mas essa não é a intenção do rei da Assíria, nem é esse o seu pensamento; antes, está em seu coração destruir e eliminar muitas nações. ⁸ Pois ele diz: "Por acaso, todos os meus príncipes não são reis? ⁹ Não é Calno como Carquêmis? Não é Hamate como Arpade? Não é Samaria como Damasco?

¹⁰ Assim como a minha mão derrotou os reinos idólatras, os quais esculpiram imagens melhores do que as de Jerusalém e Samaria, ¹¹ assim como fiz a Samaria e a seus ídolos sem valor, não irei também fazer o mesmo a Jerusalém e aos seus ídolos?".

¹² Quando o Senhor tiver terminado o Seu trabalho no monte Sião e em Jerusalém, Ele dirá: "Eu punirei o discurso do coração arrogante do rei da Assíria e seu olhar orgulhoso". ¹³ Pois ele diz: "Por meio da minha força e da minha sabedoria, eu agi, pois tenho compreensão; removi as fronteiras dos povos, roubei seus tesouros e, como um homem poderoso, abati seus habitantes.

¹⁴ Minha mão capturou as riquezas das nações, como a um ninho e, como quem junta ovos abandonados, eu juntei toda a terra. E ninguém bateu suas asas, ou abriu sua boca, ou murmurou".

¹⁵ Terá o machado orgulho de si mesmo contra aquele que o manuseia? Aplaudirá o serrote a si mesmo mais do que àquele que o usa? É como se a vara pudesse levantar aquele que a levanta, ou como se um bastão de madeira pudesse levantar uma pessoa. ¹⁶ Por essa razão, o Senhor Yahweh dos Exércitos enviará magreza entre Seus guerreiros de elite; e, debaixo de Sua glória, haverá um incêndio queimando como fogo.

¹⁷ A luz de Israel se tornará um fogo, e seu Santo, uma chama; queimará e devorará seus espinhos e arbustos em um dia. ¹⁸ Yahweh consumirá a glória de sua floresta e de sua terra frutífera, a alma e o corpo; será como a vida de um homem doente que se esvai. ¹⁹ O restante das árvores de sua floresta será tão pouco, que uma criança poderá contar.

²⁰ Naquele dia, o restante de Israel, os da família de Jacó que escaparam, não mais confiarão naquele que os derrotou, mas, certamente, dependerão de Yahweh, o Santo de Israel. ²¹ O restante de Jacó retornará ao Deus poderoso.

²² Pois ainda que teu povo, Israel, seja como a areia da praia, somente um remanescente deles retornará. A destruição está decretada, como uma demanda transbordante de justiça. ²³ Pois o Senhor, Yahweh dos Exércitos, executará a destruição determinada sobre toda esta terra.

²⁴ Por isso, o Senhor Yahweh dos Exércitos diz: "Meu povo que vive em Sião, não tenhais medo do assírio. Ele vos golpeará com a vara e elevará seu cajado contra vós, como os egípcios fizeram. ²⁵ Não tenhais medo dele, pois, em um curto período de tempo, a Minha indignação contra vós acabará e a Minha ira servirá para a destruição dele".

²⁶ Naquele tempo, Yahweh dos Exércitos usará um chicote contra eles, como quando Ele derrotou Midiã junto à rocha de Orebe. Ele estenderá Seu cajado sobre o mar e o levantará, como fez no Egito. ²⁷ Naquele dia, a carga será tirada do teu ombro e o jugo será destruído do teu pescoço, e o jugo será destruído por causa da gordura. ¹

²⁸ Os inimigos chegaram a Aiate e passaram por Migrom; armazenaram suas provisões em Micmás. ²⁹ Eles atravessaram o desfiladeiro e se alojaram em Geba. Ramá treme e Gibeá de Saul fugiu.

³⁰ Chora em alta voz, ó filha de Galim! Dá ouvidos, ó Laís! Pobre de ti, Anatote! ³¹ Madmena está fugindo, e os habitantes de Gebim correm em busca de segurança. ³² Hoje os inimigos pararão em Nobe e agitarão o punho junto à montanha da filha de Sião, o monte de Jerusalém.

³³ Eis que o Senhor, Yahweh dos Exércitos, cortará fora os ramos com um horripilante estrondo; as maiores árvores serão derrubadas e os elevados serão abatidos. ³⁴ Ele derrubará o matagal da floresta com um machado, o Líbano cairá pela mão do Poderoso.

¹Nota: A última linha deste verso é difícil porque não parece se encaixar no contexto. Algumas versões modernas deixam de fora por causa da gordura . Outras versões modernas têm e o jugo será destruído do teu pescoço. Ele subiu de Rimom . Aqui, Ele significa o rei assírio e seu exército.

Capítulo 11

¹ Um ramo brotará a partir do tronco de Jessé, um arbusto crescerá da sua raiz e dará fruto. ² O Espírito de Yahweh repousará sobre Ele, o Espírito de sabedoria e de entendimento, o Espírito de instrução e de poder, o Espírito de conhecimento e de temor a Yahweh.

³ Seu prazer será o temor a Yahweh. Ele não julgará pelo que Seus olhos veem, nem decidirá pelo que Seus ouvidos ouvem. ⁴ Ao invés disso, Ele julgará os pobres com justiça e decidirá, de forma justa, a favor dos humildes da terra. Ele ferirá a terra com a vara da Sua boca, e, com o sopro dos Seus lábios, matará o corrupto. ⁵ A justiça será o cinto dos Seus lombos, e a fidelidade, o cinto ao redor da Sua cintura.

⁶ O lobo habitará com o cordeiro, o leopardo se deitará com o cabrito, o bezerro, o leãozinho e o bezerro engordado, juntos. Uma criança pequena os conduzirá. ⁷ A vaca e o urso pastarão juntos, os seus filhotes deitarão um ao lado do outro, o leão comerá palha, como o boi.

⁸ Um bebê brincará em cima do buraco da cobra e a criança desmamada colocará a mão na toca da serpente. ⁹ Ninguém ferirá nem causará destruição em todo o Meu santo monte; pois a terra será cheia do conhecimento de Yahweh, como as águas cobrem o mar.

¹⁰ Naquele dia, a raiz de Jessé será como uma bandeira para os povos. As nações A procurarão, e Seu lugar de descanso será glorioso. ¹¹ Naquele dia, o Senhor, novamente, estenderá Sua mão para resgatar o remanescente do Seu povo, que permanece na Assíria, no Egito, em Patros, na Etiópia, em Elão, em Sinar, em Hamate e nas ilhas do mar.

¹² Ele levantará uma bandeira para as nações e recolherá os desterrados de Israel e os dispersos de Judá desde os quatro cantos da terra. ¹³ Ele cessará a inveja de Efraim e as hostilidades de Judá serão eliminadas. Efraim não invejará Judá, e Judá não será hostil a Efraim.

¹⁴ Em vez disso, eles se lançarão sobre as colinas dos filisteus ao oeste e, juntos, saquearão o povo do leste. Eles atacarão Edom e Moabe, e o povo de Amom lhes obedecerá. ¹⁵ Yahweh destruirá completamente o golfo do mar do Egito. Com Seu vento ardente, Ele moverá a mão sobre o rio Eufrates e o dividirá em sete correntes. Assim, este poderá ser atravessado de sandálias.

¹⁶ Haverá uma estrada para o remanescente do Seu povo que voltar da Assíria, como foi para Israel na sua vinda da terra do Egito.

Capítulo 12

¹ Naquele dia, dirás: "Darei graças a Ti, Yahweh. Pois, embora estejas irado comigo, a Tua ira se afastou de mim, e tens me confortado. ² Deus é a minha salvação; confiarei Nele e não temerei, pois Yahweh, sim, Yahweh é a minha força e o meu cântico. Ele é a minha salvação".

³ Com alegria, tirareis água do poço da salvação. ⁴ Naquele dia, direis: "Dai graças a Yahweh e invocai o Seu nome; declarai os Seus atos entre os povos; proclamai quão exaltado é o Seu nome.

⁵ Cantai a Yahweh, porque Ele tem feito coisas gloriosas; seja isso conhecido em toda a terra. ⁶ Exultai e cantai com alegria, habitantes de Sião, pois grande é o Santo de Israel no meio de vós".

Capítulo 13

¹ Uma advertência para a Babilônia, que Isaías, filho de Amoz, recebeu. ² Levantai uma bandeira em sinal na montanha árida; clamai, em voz alta, para eles; acenai com as mãos para que entrem nas portas dos nobres. ³ Eu dei ordens aos Meus consagrados, sim, Eu chamei Meus poderosos homens para executar a Minha ira, os que se alegram em Me exaltar.

⁴ Ouve-se o barulho da multidão nas montanhas, como de muitas pessoas; o som de um tumulto dos reinos, como muitas nações reunidas! Yahweh dos Exércitos está convocando as tropas para a batalha. ⁵ Eles vêm de um país distante, de além da extremidade do horizonte. Yahweh está com as armas de Sua indignação para destruir toda a terra.

⁶ Uivai, pois o dia de Yahweh está próximo; do Todo-Poderoso, virá a destruição. ⁷ Portanto, todas as mãos ficarão frouxas e todo coração se derreterá. ⁸ Ficarão assombrados; dores e aflições os tomarão, como as dores de uma mulher no parto. Olharão atônitos uns para os outros e os seus rostos estarão ardentes como fogo.

⁹ O dia de Yahweh vem com furor cruel, transbordando de ira ardente, para pôr a terra em assolação e para destruir os pecadores que nela estão. ¹⁰ As estrelas do céu e suas constelações não darão sua luz. O sol será escurecido desde a aurora, e a lua não resplandecerá.

¹¹ Eu castigarei o mundo por sua maldade e os corruptos por sua iniquidade. Colocarei fim à arrogância dos orgulhosos e abaterei a arrogância dos perversos. ¹² Farei os homens serem mais escassos que ouro puro, e a humanidade mais difícil de achar que o ouro fino de Ofir.

¹³ Portanto, farei os céus tremerem, e a terra será sacudida do seu lugar, pelo furor de Yahweh dos Exércitos, no dia da fúria de Sua ira. ¹⁴ Como uma corça perseguida ou como uma ovelha sem pastor, assim todo homem voltará em direção ao seu próprio povo e fugirá para a sua terra.

¹⁵ Todo aquele que for achado será morto, e todo aquele que for capturado morrerá pela espada. ¹⁶ Suas crianças serão despedaçadas diante de seus olhos; suas casas serão saqueadas e suas esposas, violentadas.

¹⁷ Eis que estou prestes a incitar os guerreiros da Média para atacá-los, os quais não terão interesse na prata nem se deleitarão com ouro. ¹⁸ Seus arcos despedaçarão os jovens. Não terão pena dos bebês e não pouparão as crianças.

¹⁹ Então, a Babilônia, a mais admirada dos reinos, o esplendor do orgulho dos caldeus, será devastada por Deus, como Sodoma e Gomorra. ²⁰ Não será povoada nem habitada, geração após geração. O árabe não armará ali a sua tenda, nem os pastores farão descansar os seus rebanhos nela.

²¹ Mas os animais selvagens do deserto repousarão ali. Suas casas se encherão de corujas; avestruzes e cabras selvagens pularão ali. ²² As hienas uivarão nos seus castelos, e os chacais, nos seus lindos palácios. Bem perto está o tempo dela; os seus dias não tardarão.

Capítulo 14

¹ Yahweh terá compaixão de Jacó; Ele escolherá Israel novamente e o restaurará à sua própria terra. Estrangeiros se unirão a eles e se tornarão parte da casa de Jacó. ² As nações os trarão ao seu próprio lugar. Então, a casa de Israel os possuirá como servos e servas na terra de Yahweh. Eles tornarão cativos aqueles que os haviam capturado, e reinarão sobre os seus opressores.

³ No dia em que Yahweh te der descanso do teu sofrimento e angústia, e do árduo trabalho que te obrigaram a executar, ⁴ tu cantarás esta canção de insulto contra o rei da Babilônia: "Como o opressor chegou ao fim; a fúria arrogante terminou! ¹

⁵ Yahweh quebrou a vara da maldade, o cetro daqueles governantes, ⁶ que, furiosos, feriram as pessoas com golpes incessantes e, com raiva, reinavam sobre as nações, com um ataque desenfreado.

⁷ Toda a terra descansa e está quieta; todos começam a celebrar com canções. ⁸ Até as árvores de cipreste e os cedros do Líbano se alegram sobre ti; eles exclamam: 'Desde que caíste, nenhum lenhador sobe aqui para nos cortar'. ⁹ O Sheol abaixo está ávido para te encontrar quando fores para lá. Despertou, por tua causa, os mortos que foram reis da terra, e fez levantar dos seus tronos todos os que haviam sido reis das nações.

¹⁰ Todos eles falarão, dizendo: 'Tu estás fraco como nós. Tu te tornaste como nós. ¹¹ Tua grandiosidade foi lançada para o Sheol com o som dos teus instrumentos de cordas. Larvas estão espalhadas abaixo de ti, e vermes te cobrem'.

¹² Como tu caíste do céu, estrela da alva, filho da manhã! Como foste lançado por terra, tu que conquistaste as nações! ¹³ Disseste em teu coração: 'Eu subirei aos céus, exaltarei meu trono acima das estrelas de Deus e me assentarei no monte da assembleia, nas distâncias longínquas do norte. ¹⁴ Subirei acima das alturas das nuvens; eu farei a mim mesmo semelhante ao Deus Altíssimo'.

¹⁵ Todavia, tu descerás ao Sheol, para a profundidade do abismo. ¹⁶ Aqueles que te virem te contemplarão e prestarão atenção em ti. Eles dirão: 'É este o homem que fez a terra tremer, que abalou os reinos, ¹⁷ que fez do mundo um deserto, que derrubou as suas cidades e não deixou os prisioneiros voltarem para as suas casas?'.

¹⁸ Todos os reis das nações, todos eles, deitam em honra, cada um na sua própria tumba. ¹⁹ Mas tu foste expulso da tua sepultura como um galho jogado fora. Os mortos te cobrem como uma veste, os perfurados pela espada, que descem às pedras do abismo. Tu foste como um cadáver pisoteado. ²⁰ Tu não te juntarás a eles no túmulo, porque destruíste a própria terra e mataste o teu próprio povo. Os filhos dos malfeitores nunca serão mencionados novamente".

²¹ Preparai um massacre para os filhos dele! Pela iniquidade dos seus ancestrais, que eles não se levantem para possuir a terra, para encher o mundo com cidades. ²² "Eu Me levantarei contra eles" — esta é a declaração de Yahweh dos Exércitos. "Eu cortarei da Babilônia o nome, a descendência e a posteridade" — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ²³ "Eu também farei dela um lugar para corujas, um lugar de pântanos; Eu a varrerei com a vassoura da destruição" — esta é a declaração de Yahweh dos Exércitos.

²⁴ Yahweh dos Exércitos jurou: "Certamente, como Eu planejei, acontecerá; como Eu propus, assim será: ²⁵ Eu quebrarei o assírio em Minha terra e, sobre Minhas montanhas, o esmagarei debaixo dos Meus pés. Então, o seu jugo será levado para longe do Meu povo, a sua carga, para longe dos seus ombros".

²⁶ Este é o plano que está determinado para toda a terra, e esta é a mão levantada sobre todas as nações. ²⁷ Pois Yahweh dos Exércitos planejou isto. Quem poderá impedi-Lo? Sua mão está levantada. Quem a fará recuar?

²⁸ Esta declaração veio no ano em que o rei Acaz morreu: ²⁹ "Não te alegres, Filístia, porque a vara que te batia foi quebrada. Pois da raiz da serpente crescerá uma víbora, e o seu fruto será uma serpente voadora. ³⁰ Os primogênitos dos pobres vão alimentar suas ovelhas no Meu pasto, e os necessitados se deitarão seguros. Eu matarei de fome a tua raiz e isso aniquilará teus sobreviventes.

³¹ Lamenta, portão; chora, cidade; todos vós estareis derretidos, Filístia; pois vem do norte uma nuvem de fumaça, e não há desertores em suas fileiras. ³² Que resposta será dada aos mensageiros daquela nação? Dizei-lhes que Yahweh estabeleceu Sião, e nela os aflitos de Seu povo encontrarão refúgio.

¹Nota: Em vez de a fúria arrogante terminou , algumas versões têm a cidade dourada terminou , a agitação terminou ou a arrogância terminou

Capítulo 15

¹ Uma declaração sobre Moabe: De fato, em uma noite, Ar de Moabe foi devastada e destruída; certamente, em uma só noite, Quir de Moabe foi devastada e destruída. ² Eles foram ao templo, o povo de Dibom foi aos altos lugares para chorar. Moabe pranteia sobre Nebo e Medeba. Todas as suas cabeças estão calvas e todas as barbas estão cortadas.

³ Em suas ruas, eles vestem panos de saco; em seus terraços e na praça, todos lamentam, derretem-se em lágrimas. ⁴ Hesbom e Eleale clamam por ajuda; suas vozes são ouvidas tão longe quanto em Jaaz. Por isso, os homens armados de Moabe clamam por ajuda; eles tremem em seu interior.

⁵ Meu coração chora por Moabe; seus fugitivos fogem para Zoar e para Eglate-Selisia. Eles sobem chorando para Luíte; na estrada para Horonaim, eles lamentam, em alta voz, por sua destruição. ⁶ As águas de Ninrim secaram-se, a grama está seca e a vegetação morre; nada está verde. ⁷ A fartura que cultivaram e estocaram, eles a levam para além do riacho dos salgueiros.

⁸ O choro espalha-se por todo a terra de Moabe; a lamentação, tão longe quanto Eglaim e Beer-Elim. ⁹ Pois as águas de Dimom estão cheias de sangue; mas Eu trarei ainda mais sobre Dimom. Um leão atacará tanto os que escaparem de Moabe quanto os que restarem na terra.

Capítulo 16

¹ Enviai carneiros ao governador da terra, desde Selá, no deserto, até ao monte da filha de Sião. ² Como pássaros errantes, como ninhada dispersa, assim são as filhas de Moabe nos vaus do rio de Arnom.

³ "Dá conselhos!", elas clamam. "Executa justiça; providencia alguma sombra como a noite no meio do dia; esconde os refugiados; não traias os fugitivos. ⁴ Que os refugiados de Moabe vivam entre vós; sê para eles um esconderijo contra o destruidor". Pois, quando a opressão for interrompida, e a destruição cessar, e desaparecer da terra aqueles que oprimem,

⁵ um trono será estabelecido em fidelidade à aliança; alguém vindo da tenda de Davi se assentará com fidelidade. Ele julgará enquanto busca a justiça e pratica o que é correto.

⁶ Temos ouvido falar do orgulho de Moabe, sua arrogância, sua soberba e sua ira. Porém, seu discurso soberbo são palavras vazias. ⁷ Assim, Moabe geme por Moabe, todos eles lamentam. Vós, que fostes completamente devastados, chorai pelos bolos de passas de Quir-Haresete.

⁸ Os campos de Hesbom estão secos, bem como as videiras de Sibma. Os governantes das nações pisaram as videiras selecionadas, que alcançavam Jazer e espalhavam-se até o deserto. Seus brotos se espalhavam e iam além do mar.

⁹ Na verdade, chorarei juntamente com Jazer pela vinha de Sibma. Eu vos regarei com Minhas lágrimas, Hesbom e Eleale. Pois, em vossos campos de frutas de verão e de colheita, Eu acabei com os gritos de alegria. ¹⁰ O regozijo e a alegria desapareceram dos pomares; e, nas vinhas, não se canta nem há gritos alegres. Não há quem pise vinho nos lagares. Eu fiz cessar os gritos de júbilo dos pisadores.

¹¹ Então, Meu coração suspira como uma harpa por Moabe, e Meu íntimo, por Quir-Heres. ¹² Quando Moabe se apresentar cansado no lugar alto, e entrar em seu templo para orar, suas orações nada alcançarão.

¹³ Esta é a palavra que Yahweh disse, anteriormente, a respeito de Moabe. ¹⁴ Novamente, Yahweh diz: "Dentro de três anos, a glória de Moabe desaparecerá; a despeito de seus muitos habitantes, os remanescentes serão pouquíssimos e insignificantes".

Capítulo 17

¹ Uma declaração acerca de Damasco. Eis que Damasco deixará de ser cidade e se tornará um montão de ruínas. ² As cidades de Aroer serão abandonadas. Serão lugares para os rebanhos se deitarem e ninguém os assustará. ³ Fortalezas desaparecerão de Efraim, do reino de Damasco e do remanescente da Síria; eles serão como a glória do povo de Israel. Esta é a declaração de Yahweh dos Exércitos.

⁴ Naquele dia, a glória de Jacó definhará e a gordura da sua carne se tornará magra. ⁵ Será como quando o ceifeiro ajunta os grãos e colhe espigas com seu braço. Será como alguém que colhe espigas no vale de Refaim.

⁶ No entanto, algumas espigas serão deixadas, como acontece quando a oliveira é sacudida: duas ou três azeitonas na ponta do galho mais alto, quatro ou cinco nos ramos mais altos de uma árvore frutífera — esta é a declaração de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel. ⁷ Naquele dia, os homens atentarão para o seu Criador e seus olhos olharão para o Santo de Israel.

⁸ Eles não olharão para os altares, o trabalho de suas mãos, nem olharão para o que seus dedos fizeram, os postes-ídolos ou imagens do sol. ⁹ Naquele dia, as suas fortalezas serão abandonadas como os matagais das encostas, que foram abandonados por causa dos filhos de Israel. Elas se tornarão uma desolação.

¹⁰ Pois esqueceste o Deus da tua salvação e ignoraste a rocha Daquele que é a tua fortaleza. Então, mesmo que tu semeies lindas lavouras e cultives nelas videiras importadas, ¹¹ quando as plantares, protegeres e delas cuidares, logo tua semente crescerá, mas não haverá colheita no dia da dor e do desespero.

¹² Ouvi! Este é o alvoroço de muitos povos, que rugem como o bramido dos mares, e o estrondo das nações, que rugem como o bramido das águas impetuosas! ¹³ As nações rugirão como o bramido de muitas águas. Porém, Deus as repreenderá e elas fugirão para longe; serão dispersadas pelo vento como palhas nas montanhas, como a vegetação seca perante uma tempestade. ¹⁴ Ao anoitecer, o terror virá! Antes do amanhecer, terão ido embora. Essa é a porção daqueles que nos saqueiam, o fim de quem nos rouba.

Capítulo 18

¹ Ai da terra de asas ruidosas, que está ao longo dos rios da Etiópia; ² que envia embaixadores pelo mar, em navios de papiros sobre as águas. Ide, vós mensageiros velozes, para uma nação alta e de pele lisa, para um povo temido pelos de perto e pelos de longe, para uma nação forte e esmagadora, cuja terra os rios dividem.

³ Todos vós, habitantes do mundo, vós que viveis sobre a terra, quando um sinal for levantado nas montanhas, vede; e quando a trombeta soar, ouvi.

⁴ Isto é o que Yahweh disse para mim: "Da Minha casa observarei, silenciosamente, como o ardor do sol resplandecente, como o orvalho no calor, em tempos de colheita". ⁵ Antes da colheita, quando a florada terminar e as flores amadurecerem como uvas, Ele cortará os ramos com ganchos de poda, cortará e tirará os galhos espalhados.

⁶ Eles serão deixados juntos para as aves das montanhas e para os animais da terra. As aves de rapina passarão o verão com eles e os animais da terra passarão o inverno. ⁷ Naquele tempo, serão levados tributos a Yahweh dos Exércitos — por um povo alto e de pele lisa, povo temido por todos, de longe e de perto, por uma nação forte e esmagadora, cuja terra é dividida por rios — ao monte Sião, o lugar do nome de Yahweh dos Exércitos.

Capítulo 19

¹ Uma declaração acerca do Egito. Eis que Yahweh avança para o Egito, montado em uma nuvem ligeira. Os ídolos do Egito tremem diante Dele e o coração dos egípcios se derrete em seu interior. ² "Eu colocarei os egípcios uns contra os outros: um homem lutará contra o seu irmão, lutará contra o seu próximo; cidade contra cidade e reino contra reino.

³ O ânimo do Egito será enfraquecido dentro dele e Eu destruirei o seu conselho; eles pedirão conselhos aos ídolos, invocarão os espíritos dos mortos, consultarão videntes e espiritualistas. ⁴ Eu entregarei os egípcios nas mãos de um senhor implacável; um rei poderoso os governará" — esta é a declaração de Yahweh, o Senhor dos Exércitos.

⁵ As águas do mar secarão e o rio ficará seco e árido. ⁶ Os rios exalarão mau cheiro; os riachos do Egito diminuirão e secarão; as canas e os juncos murcharão.

⁷ As canas ao longo do Nilo, das margens do Nilo, e tudo o que foi semeado junto ao Nilo secará, será removido e não mais existirá. ⁸ Os pescadores gemerão e prantearão; todos os que lançarem anzóis ao Nilo lamentarão, e aqueles que lançam redes nas águas se entristecerão.

⁹ Aqueles que trabalham com linho fino e os que tecem algodão se envergonharão. ¹⁰ Os tecelões do Egito serão esmagados; todos os que trabalham por salário ficarão com o espírito conturbado.

¹¹ Os príncipes de Zoã são completamente tolos. Tornou-se insensato o conselho dos mais sábios conselheiros do faraó. Como podeis dizer ao faraó: "Eu sou filho de um homem sábio, filho dos antigos reis"? ¹² Onde estão os vossos sábios? Que eles vos façam saber o que Yahweh dos Exércitos determinou a respeito do Egito.

¹³ Tornaram-se tolos os príncipes de Zoã, os príncipes de Mênfis estão enganados; aqueles que são as pedras angulares de suas tribos fizeram o Egito errar. ¹ ¹⁴ Yahweh lançou no meio deles um espírito perverso, e eles fizeram o Egito errar em tudo o que fizesse, como um bêbado cambaleando em seu vômito. ¹⁵ Não há nada que alguém possa fazer pelo Egito, seja cabeça ou seja cauda, seja ramo de palma ou seja junco.

¹⁶ Naquele dia, os egípcios serão como mulheres. Eles tremerão e temerão porque a mão de Yahweh dos Exércitos Se erguerá contra eles. ¹⁷ A terra de Judá se tornará motivo para o Egito cambalear. Quando se lembrarem dela, temerão, por causa do plano de Yahweh contra eles.

¹⁸ Naquele dia, haverá cinco cidades no território do Egito que falarão o idioma de Canaã e jurarão lealdade a Yahweh dos Exércitos. Uma delas será chamada Cidade do Sol. ²

¹⁹ Naquele dia, haverá um altar para Yahweh no meio da terra do Egito e, em sua fronteira, um pilar de pedra para Yahweh. ²⁰ Será um sinal e um testemunho para Yahweh dos Exércitos na terra do Egito. Quando clamarem a Yahweh por causa dos opressores, Ele lhes enviará um salvador e um defensor que os livrará.

²¹ Yahweh será conhecido pelo Egito e os egípcios conhecerão a Yahweh naquele dia. Eles adorarão com sacrifícios e ofertas, farão votos a Yahweh e os cumprirão. ²² Yahweh afligirá o Egito, afligindo-os e curando-os. Eles se voltarão para Yahweh, Ele ouvirá suas orações e os curará.

²³ Naquele dia, haverá uma estrada do Egito até a Assíria; os assírios virão ao Egito e os egípcios, à Assíria. Os egípcios adorarão com os assírios.

²⁴ Naquele dia, Israel será o terceiro, juntamente com o Egito e a Assíria, uma bênção no meio da terra. ²⁵ Yahweh dos Exércitos os abençoará e dirá: "Abençoado seja o Egito, povo Meu; Assíria, trabalho das Minhas mãos; e Israel, Minha herança".

¹Nota: Em vez de Mênfis , algumas versões têm Nofe , o nome hebraico para a mesma cidade no Egito.

²Nota: Em vez de Cidade do Sol que, provavelmente, refere-se a Heliópolis, algumas versões antigas e modernas têm Cidade da Destruição .

Capítulo 20

¹ No ano em que Tartã, enviado por Sargão, rei da Assíria, veio a Asdode, ele a atacou e a tomou. ² Nessa mesma ocasião, Yahweh falou por meio de Isaías, filho de Amoz, dizendo: "Vai e tira a veste de saco da tua cintura, e também as sandálias dos teus pés". Assim ele fez, passando a caminhar descalço e nu.

³ Yahweh disse: "Assim como o Meu servo Isaías caminhou nu e descalço por três anos, este é um sinal e um presságio contra o Egito e contra a Etiópia, ⁴ desta mesma forma, o rei da Assíria conduzirá os prisioneiros do Egito e os exilados da Etiópia — jovens e idosos — nus e descalços, com as nádegas descobertas, para a vergonha do Egito.

⁵ Eles ficarão aterrorizados e envergonhados pela Etiópia, sua esperança, e pelo Egito, sua glória. ⁶ Naquele dia, os que habitam na região costeira dirão: 'Vede o que aconteceu com a nossa fonte de esperança, a quem pedimos ajuda para sermos resgatados do reino da Assíria. E agora, como poderemos escapar?'"

Capítulo 21

¹ Declaração acerca do deserto que fica junto ao mar. Como tempestades de vento varrendo o Neguebe, ele vem do deserto, de uma terra horrível. ² Foi-me dada uma terrível visão: o homem traidor continua traindo e o destruidor destrói. Sobe e ataca, ó Elão; sitia, ó Média; Eu cessarei todo o seu gemido.

³ Por isso, meus lombos estão cheios de dores; dores como de uma mulher na hora do parto se apoderaram de mim; fiquei abatido pelo que ouvi e estou transtornado pelo que vi. ⁴ Meu coração se agita; o horror me apavora; a noite que eu desejava se tornou terror para mim.

⁵ Eles preparam a mesa, estendem os tapetes, comem e bebem; levantai-vos, príncipes, e ungi vossos escudos com óleo.

⁶ Pois isto é o que o Senhor me disse: "Vai, coloca uma sentinela, que deve relatar o que vir. ⁷ Quando esse vigia vir uma carruagem, um par de cavaleiros, pessoas montadas em jumentos e camelos, então, ele ficará atento e muito alerta".

⁸ Então, gritou a sentinela: "Senhor, na torre de vigia, eu fico o dia todo, todos os dias, e permaneço no meu posto durante a noite toda". ⁹ Aí vem uma carruagem com um homem e um par de cavaleiros. Ele exclama: "Caiu! A Babilônia caiu! E todas as imagens esculpidas de seus deuses estão quebradas no chão!"

¹⁰ Ó meu povo, debulhado e peneirado, filhos da minha eira! O que eu ouvi de Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, isso eu vos declarei.

¹¹ Declaração acerca de Dumá. Alguém de Seir me chama: "Sentinela, o que resta da noite? Sentinela, o que resta da noite?". ¹² A sentinela disse: "A manhã vem e também a noite. Se quiseres perguntar, então, volta e pergunta novamente".

¹³ Uma declaração acerca da Arábia. No deserto da Arábia passais a noite, vós, caravanas de dedanitas. ¹⁴ Trazei água para os sedentos, ó habitantes da terra de Tema, encontrai os fugitivos com pão. ¹⁵ Pois eles fugiram da espada, da espada desembainhada, do arco armado e da pressão da guerra.

¹⁶ Pois isto é o que o Senhor me disse: "Dentro de um ano, como o ano de um trabalhador assalariado, toda a glória de Quedar despedaçará. ¹⁷ Restarão apenas poucos flecheiros, os valentes de Quedar", pois Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, assim falou.

Capítulo 22

¹ Declaração acerca do vale da Visão: Por qual razão agora todos os teus foram aos telhados? ² É para que ouças uma cidade barulhenta, uma cidade cheia de folia? Teus cadáveres não foram mortos pela espada, nem morreram em batalha.

³ Todos os teus governantes fugiram juntos, mas foram capturados sem o uso de um arco; todos eles foram capturados juntos, ainda que tenham fugido para longe. ⁴ Por isso, eu disse: "Não olheis para mim, eu chorarei amargamente; não tenteis me consolar acerca da destruição da filha do meu povo".

⁵ Pois há um dia de tumulto, de atropelo e de confusão, vindo do Senhor Yahweh dos Exércitos, no vale da Visão; um dia de derrubada de muros e de pessoas gritando para as montanhas. ⁶ Elão pega a aljava, com carruagens de homens e cavaleiros, e Quir expõe o escudo. ⁷ E teus vales férteis estarão cheios de carruagens, e os cavaleiros se posicionarão junto ao portão.

⁸ Ele tirou a proteção de Judá e, naquele dia, tu olhaste para as armas do palácio da floresta. ⁹ Viste as brechas da cidade de Davi, que eram muitas, e coletaste a água do açude inferior.

¹⁰ Vós contastes as casas de Jerusalém e as demolistes para fortificar os muros. ¹¹ Vós fizestes um reservatório entre os dois muros para a água do açude antigo, mas não considerastes o construtor da cidade, que havia planejado isso há muito tempo.

¹² O Senhor Yahweh dos Exércitos vos chamou naquele dia para chorar, para lamentar, para raspar as cabeças e para vestir panos de saco. ¹³ Mas, vede, em vez disso, há celebração e alegria, matança de gado e de ovelhas; carne para comer e vinho para beber; comamos e bebamos, pois amanhã morreremos. ¹⁴ Isto foi revelado aos meus ouvidos por Yahweh dos Exércitos: "Certamente, esta iniquidade não será perdoada, mesmo quando vós morrerdes", diz o Senhor Yahweh dos Exércitos.

¹⁵ O Senhor Yahweh dos Exércitos diz isto: "Vai para este administrador, para Sebna, o qual está sobre a casa, e diz: ¹⁶ 'O que estás fazendo aqui, e quem te deu permissão para talhar uma sepultura no lugar alto, escavando na rocha um lugar de descanso para ti mesmo?'".

¹⁷ Vê, homem forte: Yahweh está prestes a te arremessar, prestes a te lançar abaixo; Ele te pegará firmemente. ¹⁸ Certamente, Ele te rodará em voltas e voltas e te lançará como uma bola em um vasto país. Lá, tu morrerás, e lá estarão as tuas gloriosas carruagens; tu serás a vergonha da casa do teu senhor! ¹⁹ "Eu te removerei do teu ofício e do teu posto. Tu serás derrubado.

²⁰ Eu chamarei Meu servo Eliaquim, filho de Hilquias. ²¹ Eu o vestirei com a tua túnica e colocarei nele a tua faixa; e transferirei a tua autoridade para a mão dele. Ele será um pai para os habitantes de Jerusalém e para a casa de Judá. ²² Eu colocarei a chave da casa de Davi sobre o ombro dele; ele abrirá e ninguém fechará; ele fechará e ninguém abrirá.

²³ Eu o fixarei como um prego em um lugar seguro, e ele se tornará um trono de glória para a casa de seu pai. ²⁴ Colocarão sobre ele toda a glória da casa de seu pai, a prole e os descendentes, todo pequeno recipiente, desde os copos até todos os jarros.

²⁵ Naquele dia — isto é uma declaração de Yahweh dos Exércitos — o prego firmado em um lugar fixo será quebrado e cairá, e o peso que estava nele se soltará — pois Yahweh falou.

Capítulo 23

¹ Uma declaração sobre Tiro: Lamentai, navios de Társis, pois não há casa nem porto; da terra de Chipre, foi-lhes revelado. ¹ ² Calai-vos, habitantes do litoral; os mercadores de Sidom, que viajam pelo mar, vos encheram. ² ³ Sobre as grandes águas estavam os cereais de Sior, a colheita do Nilo era o seu produto; e isso se tornou o comércio das nações.

⁴ Envergonha-te, Sidom, porque o mar falou, o poderoso entre os mares. Ele diz: "Eu não entrei em trabalho de parto, nem dei à luz, também não criei meninos, nem eduquei meninas". ⁵ Quando a notícia chegar ao Egito, haverá luto em relação a Tiro.

⁶ Atravessai até Társis; lamentai, habitantes do litoral. ⁷ É esta a vossa cidade jubilante, cujas origens são de tempos antigos, cujos pés a carregaram a lugares distantes, para peregrinar no exterior?

⁸ Quem planejou isso contra Tiro, a doadora de coroas, cujos comerciantes são príncipes, cujos negociantes são os honrados da terra? ⁹ Yahweh dos Exércitos planejou isso para desonrar seu orgulho e toda a sua glória, para envergonhar todos os seus honrados da terra.

¹⁰ Arai a vossa terra, como aram o Nilo, filha de Társis. Não há mais um mercado em Tiro. ³ ¹¹ Yahweh estendeu Sua mão sobre o mar, Ele abalou os reinos; quanto a Canaã, Ele deu ordem para que destruíssem as fortalezas. ¹² Ele disse: "Não te alegrarás novamente, virgem oprimida, filha de Sidom; levanta-te, vai para Chipre; mas nem lá terás descanso".

¹³ Vede a terra dos caldeus. Esse povo deixou de existir; os assírios fizeram dela um deserto para animais selvagens. Eles montaram um cerco de torres, destruíram seus palácios,7 fizeram uma pilha de ruínas. ¹⁴ Lamentai, navios de Társis, pois vosso refúgio foi destruído.

¹⁵ Naquele dia, Tiro será esquecida por setenta anos, como os dias de vida de um rei. Após o final dos setenta anos, acontecerá em Tiro algo como na canção da prostituta. ¹⁶ Pega uma harpa, vai pela cidade, ó prostituta esquecida; toca bem, canta muitas canções para que, talvez, tu sejas lembrada.

¹⁷ Acontecerá que, depois dos setenta anos, Yahweh ajudará Tiro e ela voltará, novamente, a ganhar dinheiro pelo seu trabalho de prostituta, e oferecerá seus serviços a todos os reinos da terra. ¹⁸ Seus lucros e ganhos serão dedicados a Yahweh. Eles não serão armazenados ou guardados no tesouro, pois serão dados àqueles que vivem na presença de Yahweh, e serão usados para supri-los com abundância de comida e para que tenham roupas da melhor qualidade.

¹Nota: Em vez de Chipre , algumas versões traduzem por Quitim , o nome hebraico para essa ilha.

²Nota: Algumas traduções antigas e modernas traduzem por: Calai-vos, vós habitantes do litoral; os mercadores de Sidom, que viajam pelo mar, vos encheram ou Calai-vos, habitantes do litoral, e vós, mercadores de Sidom, a quem os que viajam pelo mar encheram .

³Nota: Em vez de Arai a vossa terra , algumas versões traduzem por Percorrei a vossa terra ou Inundai a vossa terra .

Capítulo 24

¹ Vede, Yahweh está prestes a esvaziar a terra, a devastá-la, desfigurar sua superfície, dispersar seus habitantes. ² Isso acontecerá tanto ao povo quanto ao sacerdote; tanto ao servo quanto ao seu mestre; tanto à serva quanto à sua senhora; tanto ao comprador quanto ao vendedor; tanto ao credor quanto ao devedor; tanto ao que recebe juros quanto ao que paga juros.

³ A terra será completamente devastada e completamente despida, pois Yahweh assim o disse. ⁴ A terra lamenta e seca, o mundo murcha e dispersa, seu povo importante desvanece. ⁵ A terra está poluída pelos seus habitantes porque eles transgrediram as leis, violaram os estatutos e quebraram a aliança eterna.

⁶ Portanto, a maldição devora a terra e seus habitantes são achados culpados. Os habitantes da terra queimam e poucas pessoas sobram. ⁷ O vinho novo seca, a vinha murcha e gemem todos os que tinham coração alegre.

⁸ O som de júbilo dos pandeiros cessa e a festança daqueles que se regozijam também; a alegria da lira cessa. ⁹ Eles já não bebem vinho nem cantam, e a bebida forte é amarga para aqueles que a bebem.

¹⁰ A cidade do caos foi destruída; todas as casas estão fechadas e vazias. ¹¹ Há um clamor nas ruas por causa do vinho; toda a alegria acabou, o contentamento da terra desapareceu.

¹² Na cidade ficou a desolação e o portão está quebrado em ruína. ¹³ Pois assim será toda a terra entre as nações, como quando as oliveiras são sacudidas, como o recolher das uvas quando a colheita é feita.

¹⁴ Eles levantarão suas vozes e gritarão de alegria à majestade de Yahweh; alegremente, gritarão do mar. ¹⁵ Portanto, glorificai Yahweh no oriente e, nas ilhas do mar, dai glória ao nome de Yahweh, o Deus de Israel.

¹⁶ Da parte mais distante da terra, nós ouvimos canções: "Glória ao Justo!". Mas eu disse: "Eu estou esgotado, eu estou esgotado, ai de mim! O traidor tem lidado traiçoeiramente, sim, o traidor tem agido muito traiçoeiramente".

¹⁷ O terror, a cova e o laço vêm sobre vós, habitantes da terra. ¹⁸ Aquele que foge do som do terror cairá na cova, e aquele que conseguir subir da cova será capturado pelo laço. As janelas dos céus se abrirão e as fundações da terra tremerão.

¹⁹ A terra será completamente quebrada e rasgada; e será violentamente sacudida. ²⁰ A terra cambaleará como um homem bêbado e balançará de um lado para o outro como uma barraca. A transgressão dela será pesada sobre si mesma; cairá e não levantará novamente.

²¹ Naquele dia, Yahweh punirá as hostes celestiais nas alturas e os reis terrenos. ²² Eles serão ajuntados, aprisionados em uma cova e trancados em uma prisão; após muitos dias, serão castigados. ²³ Então, a lua será envergonhada, o sol, humilhado, pois Yahweh dos Exércitos reinará em glória no monte Sião, em Jerusalém, e diante de Seus anciãos.

Capítulo 25

¹ Yahweh, Tu és o meu Deus! Eu Te exaltarei! Louvarei o Teu nome porque Tu tens feito coisas maravilhosas, coisas planejadas há muito tempo, em perfeita fidelidade. ² Porque Tu fizeste da cidade um monte de pedras; de uma cidade fortificada, uma ruína; e, de uma fortaleza de estrangeiros, uma cidade destruída. ³ Portanto, um povo forte Te glorificará; a cidade das nações cruéis Te temerá.

⁴ Pois Tu tens sido um lugar de proteção para aquele que é pobre, um abrigo para o necessitado na sua angústia, um refúgio na tempestade e uma sombra no calor. Porque o sopro do cruel é como uma tormenta contra uma parede, ⁵ como o calor na seca. Tu dominaste o barulho dos forasteiros; assim como o calor se abranda pela sombra de uma nuvem, assim o cântico dos cruéis cessará.

⁶ Nesse monte, Yahweh dos Exércitos fará, para todos os povos, um banquete de coisas gordurosas, de vinhos selecionados, de carnes macias; um banquete com os mais finos vinhos. ⁷ Sobre esse monte, Ele destruirá o manto que cobre todos os povos e a teia tecida sobre todas as nações. ⁸ Ele engolirá a morte para sempre; o Senhor Yahweh enxugará dos rostos todas as lágrimas; Ele tirará de toda a terra a desgraça contra o Seu povo, porque Yahweh assim o disse.

⁹ Naquele dia, será dito: "Vede, este é o nosso Deus! Temos esperado por Ele e Ele nos salvará. Este é Yahweh! Temos esperado Nele, nós exultaremos e nos alegraremos na Sua salvação". ¹⁰ Pois a mão de Yahweh repousará sobre este monte, e Moabe será pisada no Seu lugar, assim como a palha é pisada em um poço cheio de estrume.

¹¹ Eles estenderão suas mãos, como um nadador as estende para nadar; mas Yahweh abaterá o orgulho deles, apesar da habilidade de suas mãos. ¹² Os muros altos da sua fortaleza, Ele os derrubará por terra, até o pó.

Capítulo 26

¹ Naquele dia, será entoado este cântico na terra de Judá: Nós temos uma cidade forte; Deus colocou a salvação por seus muros e colunas. ² Abri, vós, os portões, para que entre a nação justa, que mantém a fé.

³ Todo aquele que tem a mente alicerçada em Ti, Tu o manterás em perfeita paz, porque ele confia em Ti. ⁴ Confiai em Yahweh para sempre; porque Yah, que é Yahweh, é a Rocha eterna.

⁵ Ele derrubará aqueles que vivem orgulhosamente; Ele lançará ao chão a cidade fortificada; Ele a reduzirá ao pó. ⁶ Ela será pisada pelos pés dos pobres e trilhada pelos necessitados.

⁷ A vereda do justo é plana; Tu, que és Justo, nivelas o caminho de quem é reto. ⁸ Sim, no caminho dos Teus julgamentos esperamos por Ti, Yahweh; Teu nome e Tua reputação são o nosso desejo. ⁹ Minha alma anseia por Ti durante a noite; sim, dentro de mim, meu espírito Te busca diligentemente. Porque quando Teus juízos vêm à terra, os habitantes do mundo aprendem a justiça.

¹⁰ Ainda que o favor seja mostrado ao corrupto, ele não aprenderá sobre a justiça. Na terra da retidão, ele age de maneira má, e não enxerga a majestade de Yahweh.

¹¹ Yahweh, Tua mão está levantada, mas eles não percebem. Porém, eles verão o zelo que tens pelo Teu povo e serão envergonhados; porque o fogo reservado aos Teus adversários os devorará. ¹² Yahweh, Tu nos trarás paz. De fato, Tu também realizaste por nós todos os nossos feitos.

¹³ Yahweh, nosso Deus, outros senhores além de Ti dominaram sobre nós; mas nós adoramos somente o Teu nome. ¹⁴ Eles estão mortos e não mais se levantarão. Na verdade, Tu vieste em julgamento e os destruíste; e fizeste perecer toda a sua memória.

¹⁵ Tu aumentaste a nação, Yahweh, Tu aumentaste a nação! Tu és honrado! Tu estendeste todas as fronteiras de nossa terra.

¹⁶ Yahweh, eles, angustiados, olharam para Ti e sussurraram orações quando estavam sob Tua disciplina. ¹⁷ Como uma grávida perto de dar à luz, que está em dores e grita em seu trabalho de parto, assim estamos nós diante de Ti, Yahweh.

¹⁸ Nós engravidamos, estivemos em dores de parto, mas é como se tivéssemos dado à luz o vento. Nós não trouxemos salvação à terra, nem caíram os habitantes do mundo.

¹⁹ Teus mortos viverão; seus corpos ressuscitarão. Despertai e cantai com alegria, vós que habitais no pó, pois Teu orvalho é o orvalho da luz, e a terra trará de volta os seus mortos.

²⁰ Vai, povo meu, entra em teus quartos e fecha tuas portas atrás de ti; esconde-te por um tempo, até que passe a indignação. ²¹ Porque eis que Yahweh está para sair de Seu lugar para punir os habitantes da terra por causa da sua iniquidade; a terra revelará o sangue nela derramado e não mais esconderá os que foram mortos.

Capítulo 27

¹ Naquele dia, Yahweh, com Sua espada grande, forte e resistente, punirá o Leviatã, a serpente fugitiva, o Leviatã, a serpente tortuosa e matará o monstro, o dragão do mar. ² Naquele dia, cantai sobre a videira. ³ "Eu, Yahweh, sou Seu protetor; Eu a rego continuamente. Portanto, ninguém a danifique, pois Eu a vigio noite e dia.

⁴ Eu não estou irado. Ó, se na batalha houver tão somente espinhos e abrolhos, marcharei contra eles; Eu os queimarei todos juntos, ⁵ a menos que eles busquem Minha proteção e façam paz Comigo. Que eles façam paz Comigo.

⁶ No dia vindouro, Jacó lançará raízes; Israel florescerá e brotará, enchendo de frutos toda a terra".

⁷ Porventura, Yahweh já atacou Israel do modo como feriu as nações que lhe atacaram? Foram os israelitas mortos como no massacre dessas nações, que foram mortas por eles? ⁸ Na medida exata, Tu os contestaste, enviando Israel embora; Tu os expulsaste com Teu impetuoso vento leste. ¹ .

⁹ Desta maneira, a iniquidade de Jacó será expiada e este será o fruto da remoção do seu pecado: quando Ele fizer todas as pedras do altar como pedaços de pedras de cal, nenhum poste de Aserá e nenhum altar de incenso permanecerão de pé.

¹⁰ Pois a cidade fortificada está desolada, a habitação está deserta e abandonada como o deserto. Ali, o bezerro comerá; ali, ele se deitará e consumirá os seus ramos. ¹¹ Os galhos se quebrarão quando estiverem secos. Mulheres virão e farão fogo com eles, porque não é um povo com entendimento. Portanto, seu Criador não Se compadecerá; Aquele que os fez não terá misericórdia deles.

¹² E virá o dia em que Yahweh debulhará as suas espigas desde a correnteza do rio Eufrates até o ribeiro do Egito; e vós, povo de Israel, sereis colhidos um por um. ¹³ Naquele dia, uma grande trombeta tocará; os que estiverem perecendo na terra da Assíria e os exilados na terra do Egito virão e adorarão Yahweh no monte santo em Jerusalém.

¹Nota: Ao invés de Na medida exata , muitas versões modernas têm uma ideia similar de Ao afastá-los

Capítulo 28

¹ Ai da coroa majestosa usada pelos bêbados de Efraim, da flor desbotada da sua gloriosa beleza, que está sobre a cabeça do vale exuberante, dos que são dominados pelo vinho! ² Eis que o Senhor envia alguém que é poderoso e forte; como chuva de granizo, e tempestade destruidora, como tempestade torrencial, Ele esmagará cada coroa no chão.

³ A coroa majestosa dos bêbados de Efraim será pisada. ⁴ A flor desbotada da sua gloriosa beleza, que está sobre a cabeça do rico vale, será como o primeiro figo maduro antes do verão: quando alguém o vê, enquanto ainda está em sua mão, ele o engole.

⁵ Naquele dia, Yahweh dos Exércitos Se tornará uma bela coroa e um diadema de beleza para o remanescente do Seu povo; ⁶ um espírito de justiça para aquele que está assentado para julgar e força para aqueles que fazem seus inimigos voltarem dos seus portões.

⁷ Mas mesmo estes cambaleiam com vinho e se desequilibram com bebida forte. O sacerdote e o profeta cambaleiam com bebida forte e são engolidos pelo vinho. Eles se desequilibram com a bebida forte, cambaleiam com a visão e erram nas decisões. ⁸ Verdadeiramente, todas as mesas estão cobertas com vômito, não havendo nenhum lugar limpo.

⁹ A quem ele ensinará conhecimento e a quem explicará a mensagem? Para aqueles que foram desmamados ou àqueles que acabaram de ser retirados do peito? ¹⁰ Porque é mandamento em cima de mandamento, mandamento em cima de mandamento; regra em cima de regra, regra em cima de regra; um pouco aqui, um pouco lá.

¹¹ De fato, Ele falará ao povo com lábios que gaguejam e em língua estrangeira. ¹² No passado, Ele lhes disse: "Este é o descanso, dai descanso ao que está cansado; e nisto está o renovo", mas eles não deram ouvidos.

¹³ Então, a palavra de Yahweh será para eles mandamento em cima de mandamento; mandamento em cima de mandamento; regra em cima de regra, regra em cima de regra; um pouco aqui, um pouco lá; para que possam ir e cair novamente, e sejam quebrados, laçados e capturados.

¹⁴ Ouvi, pois, a palavra de Yahweh, vós que zombais, que governais esse povo em Jerusalém. ¹⁵ Tendes dito: "Fizemos uma aliança com a morte, e com o Sheol chegamos a um acordo. Então, quando o chicote avassalador passar, não nos atingirá. Porque fizemos da mentira nosso refúgio e nos escondemos na falsidade".

¹⁶ Portanto, o Senhor Yahweh diz: "Eu colocarei em Sião uma pedra fundamental, uma pedra já provada, pedra preciosa, uma fundação segura. Aquele que crê, não será envergonhado.

¹⁷ Eu farei da justiça a vara de medir e, da retidão, o prumo. A Saraiva varrerá o refúgio das mentiras e as águas da inundação sufocarão o esconderijo.

¹⁸ Vossa aliança com a morte será dissolvida, e vosso acordo com o Sheol não subsistirá. Quando a inundação furiosa passar, sereis engolidos por ela. ¹⁹ Sempre que ela passar, irá vos engolir, manhã após manhã, passará e, de dia e de noite, virá. Quando a mensagem for entendida, causará terror.

²⁰ Pois a cama é muito curta para um homem se esticar e o cobertor estreito demais para ele se enrolar". ²¹ Yahweh se levantará como no monte Perazim; Ele mostrará Sua ira como no vale de Gibeão, para fazer Sua obra, Sua obra estranha, e para executar a tarefa Dele, a estranha tarefa Dele.

²² Agora, portanto, não zombeis, ou vossas amarras serão apertadas. Eu tenho ouvido do Senhor Yahweh dos Exércitos um decreto de destruição contra toda a terra.

²³ Escutai e dai ouvidos à minha voz; estai atentos e escutai as minhas palavras. ²⁴ O fazendeiro que ara o dia todo para plantar, somente ara o solo? Ele, continuamente, cava e ara o campo?

²⁵ Tendo ele preparado o solo, não espalha a semente de cominho, semeia o cominho, coloca o trigo nas eiras, a cevada no lugar certo e a espelta nas margens? ¹ ²⁶ O Seu Deus o instrui; Ele o ensina sabiamente.

²⁷ Além disso, o cominho não é debulhado com instrumento de trilhar, nem rodas passam por cima do cominho, mas batem-se o endro e o cominho com a vara. ²⁸ O grão é moído para o pão, mas não fino demais e, apesar de as rodas do seu carro e seus cavalos o espalharem, os cavalos não o trituram.

²⁹ Isto também vem de Yahweh dos Exércitos, que é maravilhoso em conselho e excelente em sabedoria.

¹A identificação de algumas dessas especiarias são duvidosas, então, as versões têm uma variedade de traduções. Além disso, algumas versões fornecem diferentes interpretações para as expressões traduzidas aqui como em linhas e no lugar certo , porque essas expressões são incertas em hebraico.

Capítulo 29

¹ Ai de Ariel! Ariel, a cidade onde Davi acampou! Acrescentai ano a ano, deixai que os festivais completem o seu ciclo. ² Eu sitiarei Ariel, e ela pranteará e lamentará; ela será para Mim como uma fornalha.

³ Eu acamparei ao teu redor, Eu te sitiarei com baluartes e farei um cerco contra ti. ⁴ Então, serás derrubada e do chão falarás; a tua fala sairá do pó. A tua voz será como a de um fantasma em sua cova, e tua fala será muito fraca, vinda do pó.

⁵ A multidão dos teus invasores será como o pó e a multidão dos cruéis será fraca, como a palha que passa. Isto acontecerá de repente, em um momento. ⁶ Vós sereis punidos por Yahweh dos Exércitos com trovões, terremotos, grandes ruídos, ventos fortes e tempestades violentas, e com as chamas de um fogo devorador.

⁷ Como um sonho, uma visão da noite, será a multidão de todas as nações que lutará contra Ariel e sua fortaleza. Eles vão lutar contra ela, contra suas fortificações, para pressioná-la. ⁸ Será como um homem faminto que sonha que está comendo, porém, quando acorda, seu estômago está vazio. Será como um homem sedento que sonha que está bebendo, porém, quando acorda, está ofegante com sua sede ainda não saciada. Sim, assim será também a multidão das nações que lutam contra o monte Sião.

⁹ Surpreendei-vos e ficai atônitos; cegai-vos e permanecei cegos! Estais embriagados, mas não com vinho; cambaleais, mas não com bebida forte. ¹⁰ Porque Yahweh derramou sobre vós um espírito de profundo sono. Ele fechou os vossos olhos profetas, e cobriu as vossas cabeças, videntes.

¹¹ Toda revelação tornou-se para vós como as palavras de um livro que está selado, que se dá a alguém que é capaz de ler, dizendo: "Lê isto". Ele também dirá: "Eu não posso, pois está selado". ¹² Se o livro é dado a alguém que não é capaz de ler, dizendo: "Lê isto", ele dirá: "Eu não sou capaz de ler".

¹³ O Senhor disse: "Este povo se aproxima de Mim e Me honra com sua boca, com seus lábios, mas seu coração está longe de Mim. Seu culto a Mim é um mandamento ensinado por homens. ¹⁴ Portanto, vede, Eu continuarei a fazer uma obra maravilhosa no meio deste povo, maravilha após maravilha. A sabedoria de seus homens perecerá e o entendimento dos homens prudentes desaparecerá".

¹⁵ Ai daqueles cujas obras estão em trevas, que cavam profundamente e escondem seus planos de Yahweh. Eles dizem: "Quem nos vê, e quem nos conhece?".

¹⁶ Vós virais as coisas de cabeça para baixo! Deveria o oleiro ser considerado como barro, de modo que a coisa que é feita dissesse sobre aquele que a fez: "Ele não me fez", ou a coisa formada dissesse sobre aquele que a formou: "Ele não entende"?

¹⁷ Em pouco tempo, o Líbano será transformado em campo, e o campo se transformará em floresta. ¹⁸ Naquele dia, os surdos ouvirão as palavras de um livro, e, das profundezas das trevas, os olhos dos cegos verão. ¹⁹ Os oprimidos se regozijarão em Yahweh, e os pobres dentre os homens se regozijarão no Santo de Israel.

²⁰ Os cruéis cessarão e o escarnecedor desaparecerá. Todos aqueles que amam fazer o mal serão eliminados; ²¹ os quais, por causa de uma palavra, acusam um homem e o fazem criminoso; preparam armadilhas para aquele que procura justiça no portão, e abatem o justo com mentiras vazias.

²² Portanto, isto é o que Yahweh diz acerca da casa de Jacó — Yahweh, que redimiu Abraão: "Jacó não mais se envergonhará nem ficará pálida a sua face. ²³ Mas, quando ele vir suas crianças, o trabalho de Minhas mãos, eles honrarão o Meu nome. Eles santificarão o nome do Santo de Jacó e permanecerão no temor do Deus de Israel. ²⁴ Os desobedientes no espírito chegarão ao entendimento, e os que murmuram aprenderão as instruções".

Capítulo 30

¹ "Ai dos filhos rebeldes!" — esta é a palavra de Yahweh: "Eles fazem planos que não procedem de Mim, fazem alianças com outras nações que não foram direcionados pelo Meu Espírito e, assim, acrescentam pecado sobre pecado. ² Eles se preparam para descer ao Egito, mas não buscaram Minha direção. Procuram proteção do Faraó e buscam refúgio à sombra do Egito.

³ Por isso, a proteção de Faraó será sua vergonha, e o refúgio à sombra do Egito, sua humilhação, ⁴ embora seus príncipes estejam em Zoã e os seus mensageiros tenham chegado a Hanes. ⁵ Todos serão envergonhados por causa de um povo que não pode ajudá-los, que não lhes serve de ajuda nem de auxílio, mas de vergonha e, até mesmo, desgraça".

⁶ Uma mensagem sobre as feras do Neguebe: "Ao longo da terra de tristezas e perigos, da leoa e do leão, da víbora e da serpente voadora, eles carregam suas riquezas nos lombos dos jumentos e seus tesouros nas corcovas dos camelos, para um povo que não poderá ajudá-los. ⁷ A proteção do Egito é inútil, por isso, o tenho chamado de Raabe, aquele que nada faz.

⁸ Agora, vai, escreve isto em sua presença em uma tábua e escreve em um pergaminho, para que seja preservado como testemunho para um tempo que ainda virá. ⁹ Pois este é um povo rebelde, filhos mentirosos, filhos que não ouvirão o conselho de Yahweh.

¹⁰ Eles dizem aos videntes: 'Não tenhais visões!' e aos profetas: 'Não profetizeis a verdade para nós! Dizei-nos coisas agradáveis. Profetizai ilusões. ¹¹ Desviai o caminho. Apartai-vos da vereda; afastai da nossa presença o Santo de Israel'.

¹² Porém, assim diz o Santo de Israel: 'Porque rejeitais esta palavra e confiais na opressão e no engano, e vos apegastes a isso, ¹³ então, este pecado será para vós como uma rachadura de muro que está prestes a cair, como uma saliência em um muro alto, cuja queda acontecerá de repente, subitamente'".

¹⁴ Ele o quebrará como se quebra um vaso do oleiro; Ele não o poupará, de modo que não se encontre, entre seus pedaços, nem um caco que possa raspar as cinzas da lareira ou tirar água de uma cisterna.

¹⁵ Pois assim diz o Senhor Yahweh, o Santo de Israel: "Ao retornar e descansar, sereis salvos; na tranquilidade e na confiança estará a vossa força. Porém, vós não quisestes. ¹⁶ Dissestes: 'Não, fugiremos a cavalo', então, fugireis; e 'Cavalgaremos em cavalos velozes', então, aqueles que vos perseguem serão velozes.

¹⁷ Mil fugirão da ameaça de um; e, pela ameaça de cinco, fugireis, até que sejais deixados como um mastro no topo da montanha ou como uma bandeira numa colina".

¹⁸ Yahweh ainda espera para ser bondoso convosco; por isso, Ele está pronto para ter misericórdia de vós; pois Yahweh é um Deus de justiça. Benditos são todos os que esperam Nele. ¹⁹ Pois um povo viverá em Sião, em Jerusalém, e nunca mais chorareis. Ele certamente Se compadecerá de vós ao ouvir o vosso clamor; e, quando o ouvir, vos responderá.

²⁰ Ainda que Yahweh vos dê o pão da adversidade e a água da aflição, mesmo assim, o vosso Mestre não mais Se esconderá, mas O vereis com vossos próprios olhos. ²¹ Vossos ouvidos ouvirão uma palavra atrás de vós, dizendo: "Este é o caminho, andai nele!", quando vos virardes para a direita ou para a esquerda.

²² Profanareis vossas imagens esculpidas, revestidas de prata e vossas imagens fundidas de ouro, vós as jogareis fora como trapo de imundície. Direis a elas: "Fora daqui!".

²³ Ele trará chuva sobre a vossa semente, quando semeardes a terra; e haverá pão em abundância na terra, e a colheita será abundante. Neste dia, vosso rebanho pastará em amplos pastos. ²⁴ Os bois e os jumentos que lavram a terra comerão forragens temperadas, que foram separadas com uma pá e uma forquilha.

²⁵ Do topo de cada montanha e do topo de cada colina, fluirão rios e correntes de águas, no dia da grande matança, quando as torres caírem. ²⁶ A luz da lua será como a luz do sol, e a luz do sol brilhará sete vezes mais, como a luz de sete dias. Yahweh cuidará das fraturas do Seu povo e sarará as feridas que lhes fez.

²⁷ Vede, o nome de Yahweh vem de um lugar distante, ardendo com Sua ira e em densa fumaça. Seus lábios estão cheios de fúria e Sua língua é como um fogo consumidor. ²⁸ Seu respirar é como um rio transbordante que cobre até o pescoço, que peneira as nações com a peneira da destruição. Seu respirar é como um freio nos queixos dos povos que os faz perderem o rumo.

²⁹ Tereis uma canção como na noite em que se observa uma festa santa, e alegria de coração, como alguém que vai com uma flauta à montanha de Yahweh, à Rocha de Israel.

³⁰ Yahweh fará o esplendor da Sua voz ser ouvido e mostrará a força do Seu braço em fúria impetuosa e labaredas de fogo, com vendaval, tempestade e granizo.

³¹ Pois, pela voz de Yahweh, a Assíria será despedaçada; Ele a acertará com uma vara. ³² E cada golpe da vara do castigo que Yahweh lhes der será acompanhado com música de tamborins e harpas, enquanto Ele guerreia e luta contra eles.

³³ Pois o lugar destinado à queima foi preparado há muito tempo. Na verdade, estava preparado para o rei, e Deus o fez profundo e largo. A fogueira está preparada com fogo e muita lenha. O sopro de Yahweh, como uma corrente de enxofre, a acenderá.

Capítulo 31

¹ Ai daqueles que descem para o Egito em busca de ajuda, que dependem de cavalos. Colocam sua confiança em carros, por serem muitos, e em cavaleiros, por serem incontáveis, mas não se preocupam com o Santo de Israel e não buscam Yahweh! ² Porém, Ele é sábio e trará desastre, e não retirará as Suas palavras. Ele se levantará contra a casa dos perversos e contra aqueles que ajudam os que cometem pecado.

³ Os egípcios são homens, e não Deus. Seus cavalos são carne, e não espírito. Quando Yahweh estender Sua mão, tanto quem ajuda tropeçará, quanto quem busca ajuda cairá; ambos perecerão juntos.

⁴ Isto é o que Yahweh me diz: "Como um leão, mesmo um jovem leão, que rosna sobre sua presa, não se assusta e nem foge quando um grupo de pastores se reúne contra ele, com suas vozes e barulho, assim Yahweh dos Exércitos descerá para lutar no monte Sião, sobre sua colina.

⁵ Como pássaros em voo, assim Yahweh dos Exércitos protegerá Jerusalém. Yahweh a protegerá e a resgatará; enquanto voa por cima dela, a preservará. ⁶ Voltai-vos para Ele, contra quem vos rebelastes profundamente, povo de Israel. ⁷ Porque, naquele dia, cada um jogará fora seus ídolos de prata e deuses de ouro, feitos pelas vossas mãos pecaminosas.

⁸ A Assíria cairá pela espada; uma espada, feita não por homens, a consumirá. Ela fugirá da espada e seus jovens serão submetidos a trabalhos forçados. ⁹ Eles perderão toda a confiança por causa do terror, e seus príncipes temerão quando virem a bandeira de guerra de Yahweh — essa é a declaração de Yahweh, cujo fogo está em Sião, e cuja fornalha está em Jerusalém".

Capítulo 32

¹ Um rei reinará com retidão, e príncipes governarão com justiça. ² Cada um será como um abrigo contra o vento e refúgio contra a tempestade, como correntes de água em local seco e como a sombra de uma grande rocha em terra árida. ³ Então, os olhos dos que veem não se escurecerão e os ouvidos dos que ouvem estarão atentos.

⁴ O imprudente terá entendimento e o gago falará com clareza. ⁵ O tolo não será mais chamado de nobre, nem o enganador, de respeitável. ⁶ Pois o tolo fala tolices e, em seu coração, trama o mal e profere difamações contra Yahweh. Ele deixa o faminto com fome e impede o sedento de beber.

⁷ As artimanhas do enganador são más; ele trama maldades para arruinar o pobre com mentiras, mesmo quando a petição do pobre é justa. ⁸ Mas o homem nobre planeja coisas nobres e, por causa da sua nobreza, ele será estabelecido.

⁹ Levantai-vos, ó mulheres sossegadas, e ouvi a minha voz; e vós, filhas despreocupadas, dai ouvidos a mim. ¹⁰ Em pouco mais de um ano, ó mulheres tão descuidadas, vossa confiança será quebrada, pois a colheita de uvas falhará, e não haverá ceifa.

¹¹ Tremei, mulheres tranquilas; preocupai-vos, vós que estais tão confiantes; despi-vos de suas finas roupas e vesti-vos de panos de saco ao redor de vossas cinturas. ¹² Ireis prantear pelos campos deleitosos e pelas vinhas frutíferas. ¹³ A terra do meu povo se encherá de espinheiros e sarças, até mesmo em todas as casas de alegria, na cidade jubilosa.

¹⁴ Porque o palácio será abandonado, a cidade populosa ficará deserta; o monte e a torre da guarda se tornarão cavernas perpétuas, para o deleite dos jumentos selvagens e para pasto dos rebanhos, ¹⁵ até que, do alto, seja derramado sobre nós o Espírito, e o deserto se torne um campo fértil, e o campo fértil seja considerado um bosque.

¹⁶ Então, a justiça habitará no deserto e a retidão viverá no campo fértil. ¹⁷ O fruto da retidão será a paz, e o resultado da justiça será o sossego e a segurança, para sempre. ¹⁸ Meu povo viverá em habitação de paz, em moradas seguras e em locais tranquilos.

¹⁹ Mesmo que haja granizo, que o bosque seja destruído e a cidade seja totalmente aniquilada, ²⁰ sereis abençoados, vós que semeais próximo aos ribeiros e que deixais pastar, soltos, o boi e o jumento.

Capítulo 33

¹ Ai de ti, destruidor que não foste destruído! Ai de ti, traidor que não foste traído! Quando parares de destruir, serás destruído. Quando parares de trair, eles te trairão.

² Yahweh, sê benevolente conosco; esperamos por Ti! Sê Tu nosso braço a cada manhã, nossa salvação no tempo de tribulação.

³ Ao grande barulho, os povos fogem; quando Te levantas, as nações se dispersam. ⁴ Vosso despojo é colhido como os gafanhotos colhem; os homens saltam sobre ele como os gafanhotos saltam.

⁵ Yahweh é exaltado. Ele vive nas alturas. Ele encherá Sião de justiça e retidão. ⁶ Ele será, ó Sião, a estabilidade em teu tempo, abundância de salvação, sabedoria e conhecimento; o temor de Yahweh é o seu tesouro.

⁷ Vede! Seus enviados gritam nas ruas; os embaixadores, que esperavam a paz, choram amargamente. ⁸ As estradas estão desertas, não há mais viajantes. As alianças são quebradas, as testemunhas são desprezadas e a humanidade é desrespeitada. ¹

⁹ A terra pranteia e murcha; o Líbano envergonha-se e murcha; ² Sarom é como um deserto; Basã e Carmelo perdem suas folhas.

¹⁰ "Agora Me levantarei", diz Yahweh; "Agora serei exaltado! Agora serei elevado! ¹¹ Vós concebeis palha e dais à luz restolho; vosso fôlego é um fogo que vos consumirá. ¹² Os povos serão queimados como se queima a cal, como espinheiros que são cortados e queimados.

¹³ Vós que estais longe, ouvi o que fiz; e vós que estais perto, reconhecei o Meu poder". ¹⁴ Os pecadores em Sião temem; o tremor apoderou-se dos ímpios. Quem dentre nós pode habitar com o fogo devorador? Quem dentre nós pode habitar com chamas eternas?

¹⁵ Aquele que anda em justiça e fala honestamente, aquele que rejeita o ganho da opressão, aquele que acena com as mãos para não aceitar o suborno, que tapa os ouvidos para não ouvir falar de crimes de sangue, e que fecha os olhos para não contemplar o mal. ¹⁶ Esse habitará nas alturas; seu local de defesa será as fortalezas das rochas; sua comida e sua água estarão em constante provisão.

¹⁷ Teus olhos verão o rei em sua beleza, e contemplarão a vasta terra. ¹⁸ Teu coração refletirá sobre o terror. Onde está o escriba, onde está aquele que pesou o dinheiro? Onde está aquele que contou as torres? ¹⁹ Tu já não verás as pessoas provocadoras, um povo de língua diferente, a quem tu não compreendes.

²⁰ Olha para Sião, a cidade de nossos banquetes; teus olhos verão Jerusalém como uma habitação calma, como uma tenda cujas estacas não serão arrancadas ou nenhuma de suas cordas arrebentadas: uma tenda que não será removida. ²¹ Em vez disso, Yahweh, em Sua majestade, estará conosco num lugar de largos rios e córregos, nos quais nenhum barco com remos viajará e nenhum grande navio de guerra navegará.

²² Porque Yahweh é o nosso juiz, Yahweh é o nosso legislador, Yahweh é o nosso rei; Ele nos salvará.

²³ As tuas cordas estão frouxas; elas não podem segurar o mastro em seu lugar, não podem estender a vela. Quando o grande despojo for dividido, até os coxos levarão sua parte. ²⁴ O povo não dirá: "Estou doente", pois o povo que vive ali terá sua iniquidade perdoada.

¹Nota: Em vez de as testemunhas são desprezadas , algumas versões têm: as cidades são desprezadas

²Nota: Algumas versões têm: A terra se seca e murcha .

Capítulo 34

¹ Chegai-vos, ó nações, e ouvi; prestai atenção, ó povos! A terra e tudo o que nela há, ouvi! O mundo e todas as coisas que provêm dele. ² Yahweh está irado com todas as nações e furioso com todos os exércitos delas; Ele as destruiu completamente. Ele as entregou para a matança.

³ Seus mortos não serão enterrados; o cheiro dos seus cadáveres estará em todo o lugar e as montanhas serão encharcadas com o sangue deles. ⁴ Todas as estrelas do céu desaparecerão, o céu será enrolado como um pergaminho; e todas as suas estrelas vão se apagar, como a folha que desvanece da videira e os figos podres, da figueira.

⁵ Porquanto a Minha espada embriagou-se no céu. Olhai! Ela descerá sobre Edom e o povo que separei para a destruição. ⁶ A espada de Yahweh está pingando sangue; coberta de gordura, está pingando o sangue dos cordeiros e bodes, coberta com a gordura dos rins dos carneiros. Porque Yahweh tem um sacrifício em Bozra e uma grande matança na terra de Edom.

⁷ Os bois selvagens serão abatidos junto a eles, e os touros, com os novilhos. A sua terra será embriagada com sangue e nela ficará a grossa poeira com a gordura.

⁸ Este será o dia da vingança para Yahweh, o ano em que vai retribuí-los por causa de Sião. ⁹ Os riachos de Edom se tornarão em piche, a sua poeira, em enxofre, sua terra se tornará um piche ardente. ¹⁰ E queimará dia e noite; a sua fumaça subirá para sempre; de geração em geração, será uma terra devastada; ninguém passará por ela, para todo o sempre.

¹¹ Mas os pássaros selvagens e os animais viverão ali; a coruja e o corvo farão lá os seus ninhos. Ele estenderá sobre ela a linha de medição da ruína e o prumo de destruição. ¹² Seus nobres não terão algo para chamar de reino e todos os seus príncipes nada serão.

¹³ Espinhos crescerão em seus palácios, urtigas e ervas daninhas em suas fortalezas. Será uma habitação de chacais, um lugar para avestruzes. ¹⁴ Os animais selvagens e as hienas se encontrarão ali, os bodes selvagens clamarão uns aos outros. Animais noturnos se assentarão e encontrarão esse lugar de descanso para si mesmos. ¹⁵ Corujas farão seus ninhos, colocarão seus ovos e os chocarão, e protegerão os seus filhotes. Sim, falcões se reunirão ali, cada um com o seu par.

¹⁶ Consultai o livro de Yahweh; nenhum destes será esquecido. Nenhum ficará sem um parceiro; porque a Sua boca ordenou isso e foi o Seu Espírito que os ajuntou. ¹⁷ Ele lançou sorte para seus lugares e a Sua mão mediu a terra com uma corda. Eles a possuirão para sempre, de geração em geração, viverão ali.

Capítulo 35

¹ O deserto e a terra seca ficarão felizes; o deserto se regozijará e florescerá. ² Florescerá abundantemente e se regozijará, cantando com alegria; a glória do Líbano lhe será dada, o esplendor do Carmelo e Sarom; eles verão a glória de Yahweh, o esplendor do nosso Deus.

³ Fortalecei as mãos fracas e firmai os joelhos que tremem. ⁴ Dizei àqueles de coração aflito: "Sede fortes, não temais! Vede! Vosso Deus virá com vingança, com recompensa; Ele virá e vos salvará".

⁵ Então, os olhos dos cegos verão e os ouvidos dos surdos ouvirão. ⁶ O homem manco saltará como um cervo e a língua muda cantará, pois água brotará nos lugares desolados e rios, no deserto. ⁷ A areia, que queima, se tornará um lago e a terra sedenta, mananciais de água. Na habitação dos chacais, onde uma vez se deitaram, haverá gramado com canas e juncos.

⁸ Haverá ali uma estrada que será chamada o Caminho Santo. O impuro não passará por lá. Será para aqueles que andam no caminho de Deus, nenhum tolo andará nele. ⁹ Nenhum leão estará lá, nenhuma besta feroz andará nele; eles não serão achados no caminho; porém, o redimido caminhará nele.

¹⁰ Os resgatados de Yahweh retornarão e virão cantando para Sião, a alegria eterna estará em suas cabeças; felicidade e alegria tomarão conta deles; tristeza e pranto fugirão.

Capítulo 36

¹ No décimo quarto ano do rei Ezequias, Senaqueribe, rei da Assíria, atacou todas as cidades fortificadas de Judá e as conquistou. ² Então, o rei da Assíria enviou o comandante chefe de Laquis a Jerusalém, ao rei Ezequias, com um grande exército. Ele se aproximou do canal da piscina superior, na estrada para o campo dos lavadores, e ficou ali. ³ Os oficiais israelitas que saíram da cidade para falar com eles eram: Eliaquim, filho de Hilquias, o administrador do palácio; Sebna, o secretário do rei e Joá, filho de Asafe, que escreveu as decisões do governo.

⁴ O comandante chefe lhes disse: "Dizei a Ezequias que o grande rei, o rei da Assíria, diz: 'Qual é a origem da tua confiança? ⁵ Falas somente palavras inúteis, dizendo que há conselho e poder para a guerra. Agora, em quem confias? Quem te deu coragem para te rebelares contra mim?

⁶ Vê! Tu confias no Egito, aquela cana quebrada na qual te apoias para caminhar, mas, se o homem se apoiar nela, será como um pedaço de pau que furará a sua mão. Isso é o que Faraó, rei do Egito, é para qualquer um que nele confia. ⁷ Mas, se me disseres: 'Confiamos em Yahweh, nosso Deus'; não é Ele cujos santuários e altares Ezequias levou embora, e disse para Judá e Jerusalém: 'Vós deveis adorar diante desse altar em Jerusalém'?

⁸ Agora, pois, quero te oferecer uma boa oferta do meu senhor, o rei da Assíria: Eu te darei dois mil cavalos, se fores capaz de encontrar cavaleiros para eles.

⁹ Como poderás resistir a um só capitão dos menores servos do meu senhor? Colocaste tua confiança no Egito por causa de seus carros e cavaleiros! ¹⁰ Agora, então, eu viajei até aqui sem Yahweh, para lutar contra essa terra e destruí-la? Yahweh me disse: 'Ataca essa terra e destrói-a!'".

¹¹ Então, Eliaquim, filho de Hilquias; Sebna e Joá disseram ao comandante chefe: "Por favor, fala a teus servos na linguagem dos arameus, o aramaico, para que possamos entender. Não fales conosco na linguagem de Judá, aos ouvidos das pessoas que estão no muro". ¹² Mas o comandante chefe disse: "Meu senhor enviou-me ao teu senhor e a vós para falar essas palavras? Não me enviou para esses homens que estão sentados no muro, que terão que comer seus próprios excrementos e beber sua própria urina convosco?".

¹³ Então, o comandante chefe levantou e gritou, na língua judaica, dizendo: "Ouvi as palavras do grande rei, o rei da Assíria. ¹⁴ O rei diz: 'Não deixeis Ezequias vos enganar, porque ele não será capaz de vos resgatar. ¹⁵ Não deixeis Ezequias vos fazer confiar em Yahweh, dizendo: 'Yahweh certamente nos resgatará; esta cidade não será entregue nas mãos do rei da Assíria'.

¹⁶ Não deis ouvidos a Ezequias, pois isto é o que o rei da Assíria diz: "Fazei paz comigo e vinde a mim. Então, cada um de vós comerá da vossa própria videira e da própria figueira, e beberá água da vossa própria cisterna. ¹⁷ Fareis isso até que eu venha e vos leve para uma terra como a vossa própria terra, uma terra de trigo e vinho novo, uma terra de pão e vinhedos.

¹⁸ Não deixeis que Ezequias vos induza ao erro, dizendo: 'Yahweh nos resgatará'. Porventura, algum dos deuses dos povos os resgatou do poder do rei da Assíria? ¹⁹ Onde estão os deuses de Hamate e de Arpade? Onde estão os deuses de Sefarvaim? Eles resgataram Samaria do meu poder? ²⁰ Dentre todos os deuses dessas terras, há algum deus que resgatou sua terra do meu poder, como se Yahweh pudesse salvar Jerusalém do meu poder?".

²¹ Mas o povo permaneceu em silêncio e não lhe respondeu, porque a ordem do rei era: "Não respondais". ²² Então, Eliaquim, filho de Hilquias, o mordomo; Sebna, o escriba; e Joá, filho de Asafe, o oficial de registro, foram a Ezequias com suas roupas rasgadas e lhe relataram as palavras do comandante chefe.

Capítulo 37

¹ Quando o rei Ezequias ouviu seus relatos, ele rasgou suas roupas, cobriu-se com pano de saco e foi para o templo de Yahweh. ² Ele enviou Eliaquim, que estava a cargo do palácio; Sebna, o escriba, os anciãos e os sacerdotes, todos cobertos com panos de saco, a Isaías, filho de Amoz, o profeta.

³ Eles lhe disseram: "Ezequias disse: 'Este dia é o dia da aflição, repreensão e desgraça, como quando um filho está pronto para nascer, mas a mãe não tem forças para dar à luz. ⁴ Talvez Yahweh, teu Deus, ouça as palavras do comandante-chefe, a quem o seu superior, o rei da Assíria, enviou para afrontar o Deus vivo, e repreenda as palavras que Yahweh, teu Deus, ouviu. Agora, eleva tua oração pelos que ainda restam aqui'".

⁵ Então, os servos do rei Ezequias vieram até Isaías, ⁶ e Isaías lhes disse: "Dizei a vosso senhor o que Yahweh diz: 'Não temais as palavras que ouvistes, com as quais os servos do rei da Assíria têm insultado a Mim. ⁷ Eis que Eu colocarei um espírito nele, e ele, ao ouvir um certo relato, voltará para a sua própria terra. Eu farei que ele caia pela espada em sua própria terra'".

⁸ Então, o comandante-chefe retornou e encontrou o rei da Assíria lutando contra Libna, pois ouvira que o rei havia saído de Laquis. ⁹ Ora, Senaqueribe ouviu que Tiraca, rei da Etiópia e do Egito, havia mobilizado uma luta contra ele; então, ele novamente enviou mensageiros para Ezequias com esta mensagem: ¹⁰ "Dizei a Ezequias, rei de Judá: Que o teu Deus, em quem confias, não te engane, dizendo: 'Jerusalém não será entregue às mãos do rei da Assíria'.

¹¹ Vê! Ouviste o que os reis da Assíria fizeram a todas as terras, destruindo-as completamente. Então, tu pensas que serás livrado? ¹² Por acaso, os deuses das nações livraram as que meus pais destruíram: Gozã, Harã, Rezefe e o povo do Éden, em Telassar? ¹³ Onde está o rei de Hamate, o rei de Arpade, o rei das cidades de Sefarvaim, de Hena e Iva?".

¹⁴ Ezequias recebeu esta carta das mãos dos mensageiros e a leu. Então, subiu ao templo de Yahweh e a abriu diante Dele. ¹⁵ Ezequias orou a Yahweh: ¹⁶ "Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel, Tu que estás assentado acima dos querubins, Tu que és o único Deus sobre todos os reinos da terra, Tu que criaste os céus e a terra,

¹⁷ inclina Teu ouvido, Yahweh, e ouve. Abre Teus olhos, Yahweh, e vê; ouve as palavras de Senaqueribe, as quais mandou para zombar do Deus vivo. ¹⁸ Isso é verdade, Yahweh: os reis da Assíria destruíram todas as nações e suas terras.

¹⁹ Eles queimaram seus deuses, pois não eram deuses, mas o trabalho das mãos de homens, apenas madeira e pedra. Por isso, os assírios os destruíram. ²⁰ Agora, Yahweh, nosso Deus, salva-nos do seu poder, para que todos os reinos da terra saibam que Tu és o Único, Yahweh".

²¹ Então, Isaías, filho de Amoz, enviou uma mensagem a Ezequias, dizendo: "Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Porque oraste a Mim a respeito de Senaqueribe, rei da Assíria, ²² esta é a palavra que Yahweh falou sobre ele: 'A filha virgem de Sião te despreza e ri escarnecendo de ti; a filha de Jerusalém meneia a cabeça zombando de ti. ²³ A quem tu afrontaste e insultaste? E contra quem exaltaste tua voz, levantando teus olhos com orgulho? Contra o Santo de Israel.

²⁴ Por meio dos teus servos, afrontaste o Senhor, e disseste: 'Com a multidão das minhas carruagens, subi até o alto das montanhas, até as mais altas elevações do Líbano. Eu cortarei seus altos cedros e os ciprestes selecionados e entrarei no mais distante dos altos lugares, na mais frutífera floresta. ²⁵ Eu cavei poços e bebi água; ¹ sequei todos os rios do Egito debaixo das solas dos meus pés'.

²⁶ Não ouviste como Eu determinei isso há muito tempo e planejei isso em tempos antigos? Agora, estou fazendo isso acontecer. Tu estás aqui para reduzir as cidades fortificadas a um monte de ruínas. ²⁷ Seus habitantes, de pouca força, são despedaçados e envergonhados. Eles são plantas no campo, grama verde, o mato no telhado ou no campo, antes do vento do leste.

²⁸ Mas Eu conheço o teu assentar, a tua saída, a tua chegada e a tua fúria contra Mim. ²⁹ Por causa da tua fúria contra Mim, e porque tua arrogância chegou aos Meus ouvidos, Eu colocarei Meu anzol em teu nariz, Meu freio em tua boca; Eu farei com que voltes pelo mesmo caminho pelo qual vieste.

³⁰ Isto será um sinal para ti: neste ano, comereis o que crescer na terra, e, no segundo ano, o que crescer a partir deste. Mas, no terceiro ano, deveis plantar e colher, plantar vinhas e comer dos seus frutos.

³¹ O remanescente da casa de Judá que sobreviver lançará raiz novamente, e produzirá fruto. ³² Pois, a partir de Jerusalém, um remanescente sairá; os sobreviventes virão do monte Sião. O zelo de Yahweh dos Exércitos fará isso'".

³³ Portanto, Yahweh disse assim sobre o rei da Assíria: "Ele não entrará nesta cidade, nem lançará flecha aqui. Nem virá até ela com escudo ou levantará rampa de cerco contra ela. ³⁴ O caminho pelo qual veio será o mesmo caminho pelo qual sairá; ele não entrará nesta cidade" — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

³⁵ "Eu defenderei esta cidade e a resgatarei, por amor de Mim e por amor do Meu servo Davi".

³⁶ Então, o anjo de Yahweh saiu e atacou o acampamento dos assírios, matando cento e oitenta e cinco mil soldados. Quando os homens se levantaram cedo de manhã, havia cadáveres deitados por toda parte. ³⁷ Então, Senaqueribe, rei da Assíria, deixou Israel e foi para casa. Voltou para Nínive e ali ficou.

³⁸ Depois, enquanto Senaqueribe estava adorando na casa de seu deus — Nisroque —, seus filhos Adrameleque e Sarezer o mataram com a espada. Então, eles fugiram para a terra de Ararate. Esar-Hadom, seu filho, reinou em seu lugar.

¹Nota: Algumas versões antigas e modernas trazem Eu cavei poços e bebi água em terras estrangeiras

Capítulo 38

¹ Naqueles dias, Ezequias estava doente a ponto de morrer. Então, Isaías, filho de Amoz, o profeta, veio a ele e lhe disse: "Yahweh diz: 'Coloca tua casa em ordem, pois tu morrerás; não viverás!'". ² Então, Ezequias virou sua face para a parede e orou a Yahweh. ³ Ele disse: "Por favor, Yahweh, traz à memória como tenho andado fielmente diante de Ti, com todo o meu coração, e como tenho feito o que é bom aos Teus olhos"; e Ezequias chorou em alta voz.

⁴ Então a palavra de Yahweh veio a Isaías, dizendo: ⁵ "Vai e diz a Ezequias, o líder do Meu povo: 'Isto é o que Yahweh, o Deus de Davi, teu ancestral, diz: ‘Eu ouvi tua oração, e vi tuas lágrimas. Vê! Eu acrescentarei quinze anos à tua vida. ⁶ E Eu resgatarei a ti e a esta cidade do poder do rei da Assíria e defenderei esta cidade.

⁷ E este será o sinal para ti, da parte de Yahweh, de que Eu farei o que prometi: ⁸ Olha! Eu farei a sombra na escada de Acaz retroceder dez degraus'". Então, a sombra retrocedeu dez degraus na escada, na qual havia avançado.

⁹ Esta foi a oração escrita de Ezequias, rei de Judá, quando ficou doente e se recuperou: ¹⁰ "Eu disse que, na metade da minha vida, passaria pelos portões do Sheol; e sou enviado até lá pelo resto dos meus anos. ¹¹ Eu disse que não veria mais Yahweh na terra dos vivos; não mais contemplaria a humanidade ou os habitantes do mundo. ¹

¹² Minha vida foi removida e tomada de mim, como uma tenda de pastor; minha vida foi enrolada como um tecedor. Tu me cortastes do Teu tear; entre o dia e a noite, Tu estás terminando com minha vida. ¹³ Clamei ² até o amanhecer; como um leão, Ele quebra todos os meus ossos. Entre o dia e a noite, Tu estás acabando com minha vida.

¹⁴ Como uma andorinha, eu gorjeio; arrulho como uma pomba; meus olhos se tornam cansados de olhar para cima. Senhor, estou oprimido; ajuda-me. ¹⁵ O que devo dizer? Ele também falou comigo e Ele mesmo fez isso; andarei lentamente todos os meus anos, pois estou sobrecarregado de aflição.

¹⁶ Senhor, os sofrimentos que me enviaste são bons para mim; que minha vida me seja restituída. Tu restauraste minha vida e minha saúde. ¹⁷ Foi para meu benefício que experimentei tamanha aflição. Tu me resgataste da cova da destruição, pois Tu lançaste todos os meus pecados para trás de Ti.

¹⁸ Pois o Sheol não Te agradece; a morte não Te louva; aqueles que descem até a sepultura não esperam na Tua fidelidade. ¹⁹ A pessoa viva, a pessoa viva, ela é que Te agradece, como faço neste dia; o pai faz conhecer aos filhos a Tua fidelidade.

²⁰ Yahweh está prestes a me salvar, e celebraremos com música, todos os dias de nossas vidas, na casa de Yahweh".

²¹ Ora, Isaías havia dito: "Tragam uma pasta de figos amassados, coloquem-na na úlcera e ele será curado". ²² Ezequias também havia perguntado: "Qual será o sinal indicando que deverei subir ao templo de Yahweh?".

¹Nota: os habitantes do mundo : a maioria das versões modernas têm este significado. Cópias hebraicas antigas têm: os habitantes do lugar da não-existência , isto é, da existência breve.

²Nota: O hebraico pode ser traduzido por: Clamei ou Acalmei-me

Capítulo 39

¹ Naquele tempo, Merodaque Baladão, filho de Baladão, rei da Babilônia, enviou cartas e um presente para Ezequias, pois ouviu que ele esteve enfermo e havia se recuperado. ² Ezequias ficou feliz com aquilo. Ele mostrou aos mensageiros onde armazenava suas coisas de valor — prata, ouro, especiarias e azeite fino — e mostrou também seu arsenal e tudo que existia em seus depósitos. Não ficou nada em sua casa, nem em toda extensão de seu reinado, que Ezequias não tenha mostrado aos mensageiros.

³ Depois disso, o profeta Isaías veio até onde estava Ezequias e indagou: "O que esses homens te disseram? De onde vieram?". Respondeu Ezequias: "Eles vieram de uma terra distante, da Babilônia". ⁴ Isaías perguntou: "O que viram em tua casa?". Ezequias respondeu: "Eles viram tudo que existe em minha casa. Não ficou nada de valor entre minhas coisas que não tenham visto".

⁵ Isaías, então, disse a Ezequias: "Ouve a palavra de Yahweh dos Exércitos: ⁶ ‘Logo chegarão os dias quando tudo que estiver no teu palácio, as coisas que teus pais guardaram até o presente, serão levadas para Babilônia. Nada será deixado para trás’, diz Yahweh.

⁷ “E os teus descendentes, que tu mesmo geraste, eles os levarão embora, e se tornarão eunucos no palácio do rei da Babilônia”. ⁸ Ezequias disse para Isaías: “É boa a palavra de Yahweh a qual tu disseste”; pois pensava consigo: “Haverá paz e estabilidade durante os meus dias”.

Capítulo 40

¹ "Consolai, consolai Meu povo", diz vosso Deus. ² "Falai com ternura a Jerusalém; proclamai a ela que sua guerra terminou, que sua iniquidade está perdoada, que ela, por todos os seus pecados, recebeu em dobro da mão de Yahweh".

³ Uma voz clama: "No deserto, preparai o caminho de Yahweh; fazei uma estrada reta no deserto para o nosso Deus". ¹ ⁴ Todo vale será levantado; toda montanha e colina será nivelada; a terra acidentada será feita plana e os lugares íngremes serão aplanados; ⁵ a glória de Yahweh será revelada e todos juntos a verão, pois assim a boca de Yahweh falou.

⁶ Uma voz diz: "Clama!". Outra responde: "O que eu deveria clamar?". "Toda carne é relva e toda a sua fama é como a flor do campo. ⁷ A relva seca e a flor murcha quando o fôlego de Yahweh sopra sobre elas; certamente, a humanidade é relva. ⁸ A relva seca, a flor murcha, mas a palavra do nosso Deus permanecerá para sempre".

⁹ Vai para uma alta montanha, Sião, portadora das boas notícias. ² Grita em voz alta, Jerusalém. Tu, que trazes boas notícias, levanta a tua voz, não tenhas medo. ³ Dize às cidades de Judá: "Eis aqui vosso Deus!" ¹⁰ Vede, o Senhor Yahweh vem como um guerreiro vitorioso, e Seu braço forte governa por Ele. Vede! Seu galardão está com Ele, e aqueles que Ele resgatou vão diante Dele.

¹¹ Ele alimentará Seu rebanho como um pastor; reunirá, em Seus braços, os cordeiros e os carregará perto de Seu coração; mansamente, conduzirá as ovelhas que amamentam seus filhotes.

¹² Quem já mediu as águas na concha de Sua mão, mediu a expansão do céu a palmos, conteve o pó da terra em uma cesta, pesou as montanhas com balanças ou as colinas com pratos?

¹³ Quem compreendeu a mente de Yahweh, ou O instruiu como Seu conselheiro? ¹⁴ De quem Ele já recebeu instrução? Quem O ensinou a fazer coisas corretas, ou Lhe ensinou a sabedoria, ou Lhe mostrou o caminho do entendimento?

¹⁵ Vede! As nações são como uma gota em um balde; são consideradas como pó nas balanças. Vede! Ele pesa as ilhas como um grão de poeira. ¹⁶ O Líbano não é combustível suficiente, nem os animais selvagens são bastantes para serem queimados como ofertas. ¹⁷ Todas as nações são insuficientes diante Dele; elas são consideradas por Ele como nada.

¹⁸ A quem, então, comparareis Deus? A qual ídolo O comparareis? ¹⁹ Um ídolo, que um artesão molda, o ourives o cobre de ouro e forja correntes de prata para ele. ²⁰ A fim de fazer uma oferta, alguém escolhe uma madeira que não apodrece e procura um artesão habilidoso para fazer um ídolo que não tombe.

²¹ Por acaso vós não sabeis? Não tendes ouvido? Isso não vos foi dito desde o início? Não entendestes desde a fundação da terra? ²² Ele é o que Se assenta acima do horizonte da terra; os habitantes são como gafanhotos diante Dele. Ele estende os céus como uma cortina e os espalha como uma tenda para nela habitar.

²³ Ele reduz os governantes a nada; torna insignificantes os juízes da terra. ²⁴ Mal foram plantados, mal foram semeados, mal seus caules firmam raízes na terra, quando Ele sopra sobre eles, então murcham e o vento os leva como palha.

²⁵ "A quem, então, Me comparareis? A quem Me assemelho?", diz o Santo. ²⁶ Olhai para o céu! Quem criou todas essas estrelas? Ele faz sair o exército delas e chama todas pelo nome. Pela grandeza de Sua força e pelo vigor de Seu poder, nenhuma delas se perde.

²⁷ Por que dizes, Jacó, e declaras, Israel: "Meu caminho está escondido de Yahweh", e "Meu Deus não está preocupado com o meu direito"? ²⁸ Por acaso não sabes? Não ouviste? O eterno Deus, Yahweh, o Criador dos confins da terra, não Se cansa nem Se fatiga; não há limite para o Seu entendimento.

²⁹ Ao cansado, Ele dá força, e ao fraco, restaura o vigor. ³⁰ Até os jovens se cansam e fatigam, e os moços tropeçam e caem. ³¹ Mas aqueles que esperam por Yahweh renovarão suas forças; eles subirão com asas como águias; correrão e não se cansarão; caminharão e não se enfraquecerão.

¹Nota: Algumas versões modernas e antigas trazem Uma voz clama no deserto...

²Nota: Em vez de Vai para uma alta montanha, Sião, portadora das boas notícias , algumas versões trazem Tu, que trazes boas notícias a Sião, sobe a uma alta montanha .

³Nota: Em vez de Jerusalém. Tu que trazes boas notícias , algumas versões trazem proclama boas notícias a Jerusalém .

Capítulo 41

¹ "Calai-vos diante de Mim, terras costeiras; que as nações renovem suas forças; que se aproximem e falem; ajuntemo-nos para discutir uma questão. ² Quem instigou aquele que vem do leste, chamando-o em justiça para o Seu serviço? Ele lhe entrega nações e o ajuda a subjugar reis; com a sua espada, Ele os faz como pó; com o seu arco, Ele os faz como a palha levada pelo vento.

³ Ele os persegue e passa adiante deles em segurança, percorrendo com agilidade um caminho que seus pés pouco tocaram. ⁴ Quem realizou e completou esses feitos? Quem convocou as gerações desde o princípio? Eu, Yahweh, o primeiro e com os últimos, Eu o Sou.

⁵ As ilhas viram isso e temeram; os confins da terra tremem; eles se aproximam e vêm chegando. ⁶ Cada um ajuda o seu próximo e todos dizem um para o outro: 'Sê corajoso'. ⁷ Assim o carpinteiro encoraja o ourives, e o que trabalha com o martelo encoraja o que trabalha com a bigorna, dizendo acerca da solda: 'É boa'. Eles a prendem com pregos para que não tombe.

⁸ Mas tu, Israel, Meu servo, Jacó, a quem Eu escolhi, descendência de Abraão, Meu amigo, ⁹ tu, a quem Eu trouxe de volta dos confins da terra, a quem Eu chamei de lugares distantes e a quem Eu disse: 'Tu és Meu servo', Eu te escolhi e não te rejeitei.

¹⁰ Não temas, pois Eu sou contigo. Não fiques ansioso, pois Eu sou teu Deus. Eu te fortalecerei e te ajudarei; Eu te sustentarei com a Minha mão direita de justiça.

¹¹ Vê, todos que estavam irados contra ti ficarão envergonhados e desonrados; aqueles que se opõem a ti serão como o nada e perecerão.

¹² Tu procurarás e não encontrarás aqueles que disputavam contra ti; aqueles que guerreavam contra ti serão como nada, absolutamente nada. ¹³ Pois Eu, Yahweh, teu Deus, segurarei tua mão direita e te direi: 'Não temas; Eu estou te ajudando'.

¹⁴ Não temas, vermezinho de Jacó, e vós, homens de Israel; Eu te ajudarei — esta é a declaração de Yahweh, o teu Redentor, o Santo de Israel. ¹⁵ Vê, Eu te farei como uma lâmina de debulhar, afiada, nova e com dois gumes; tu debulharás as montanhas e as moerás; tu farás das colinas como palha.

¹⁶ Tu os peneirarás e o vento os levará; o vento os dispersará. Tu te regozijarás em Yahweh e te gloriarás no Santo de Israel.

¹⁷ Os oprimidos e necessitados procuram água, mas não há; suas línguas estão secas de sede. Eu, Yahweh, responderei às orações deles; Eu, o Deus de Israel, não os abandonarei. ¹⁸ Farei os ribeiros fluírem descendo as encostas e as fontes no meio dos vales; transformarei o deserto em um tanque de água e a terra seca, em fontes de água.

¹⁹ No deserto, Eu porei o cedro, a acácia, a murta e a oliveira; no deserto, colocarei pinheiros, ciprestes e buxos. ²⁰ Eu farei isso para que todos vejam, reconheçam e juntos entendam que a mão de Yahweh fez isso, o Santo de Israel criou tudo".

²¹ "Apresentai a vossa causa", diz Yahweh; "Trazei vossos melhores argumentos", diz o Rei de Jacó. ²² Que eles apresentem seus melhores argumentos; que eles se apresentem para nos declarar o que acontecerá, para que saibamos bem acerca dessas coisas. Que eles nos contem predições do futuro, para que possamos refletir sobre elas e saibamos como terão se cumprido.

²³ Contai a respeito do futuro, para que saibamos se sois deuses; fazei coisas boas ou más, para que fiquemos espantados e impressionados. ²⁴ Vede, vossos ídolos são nada; vossos feitos são nada; aquele que vos escolhe é abominável.

²⁵ "Eu levantei alguém do norte e ele vem; de onde o sol nasce, Eu convocarei aquele que chama pelo Meu nome, e ele pisará os governantes como lama, como um oleiro que pisa o barro. ²⁶ Quem anunciou isso desde o início, para que saibamos? E, antes do tempo, para que disséssemos: 'Ele é justo?'. De fato, nenhum deles decretou nem predisse isso; sim, ninguém vos ouviu dizer coisa alguma.

²⁷ Eu fui o primeiro que disse a Sião: 'Vede, aqui estão eles'; enviei um arauto a Jerusalém. ²⁸ Quando olho, não há ninguém dentre eles que dê bom conselho, e, quando Eu pergunto, ninguém responde palavra alguma. ²⁹ Vede, todos eles são nada e seus feitos são nada; as suas imagens de metal são vazias como o vento".

Capítulo 42

¹ Eis aqui o Meu Servo, a Quem Eu sustento; o Meu Escolhido, em Quem tenho alegria. Eu pus o Meu Espírito sobre Ele; Ele trará justiça às nações. ² Não clamará, nem gritará; não fará Sua voz ser ouvida nas ruas.

³ A cana esmagada, Ele não a quebrará e o pavio que fumega, Ele não o apagará; Ele estabelecerá a justiça com fidelidade. ⁴ Não Se cansará, nem desanimará, até que tenha estabelecido a justiça na terra; e as terras costeiras esperarão por Sua Lei.

⁵ Assim diz Deus Yahweh — Aquele que criou os céus e os estendeu, que fez a terra e tudo que ela produz, que dá fôlego às pessoas que nela vivem e vida aos que nela habitam: ⁶ “Eu, Yahweh, Te chamei em justiça e segurarei a Tua mão. Eu Te guardarei e Te estabelecerei como aliança para o povo, como uma luz para os gentios,

⁷ para abrires os olhos dos cegos, para libertares os cativos da prisão e, do cárcere, aqueles que estão nas trevas.

⁸ Eu sou Yahweh, este é o Meu nome; Minha glória Eu não darei a nenhum outro, nem Meu louvor aos ídolos de escultura. ⁹ Eis que as primeiras coisas já se passaram; agora, Eu anuncio coisas novas. Antes que aconteçam, Eu vos contarei sobre elas.

¹⁰ Cantai a Yahweh uma nova canção e Seu louvor desde os confins da terra; vós, os que navegais pelo mar e tudo quanto nele há; vós, terras costeiras, e aqueles que lá vivem. ¹¹ Que o deserto e as cidades clamem, as aldeias onde Quedar habita gritem de alegria! Que os moradores de Selá cantem; gritem do alto dos montes.

¹² Que eles deem glória a Yahweh e anunciem Seu louvor nas ilhas. ¹³ Yahweh sairá como um guerreiro; como um homem de guerra, Ele despertará Seu zelo. Gritará, sim, dará Seus gritos de guerra; Ele mostrará Seu poder aos Seus inimigos.

¹⁴ Eu Me calei por um longo tempo, e tenho ainda Me contido; agora darei gritos como uma mulher que está em trabalho de parto; Eu gemerei e suspirarei ofegantemente. ¹⁵ Arrasarei montanhas e colinas e farei secar toda a sua vegetação; transformarei rios em ilhas e secarei os pântanos.

¹⁶ Guiarei os cegos por um caminho que eles não conhecem; Eu os conduzirei por veredas que eles não conhecem. Transformarei as trevas em luz diante deles e farei retos os caminhos tortuosos. Essas coisas Eu farei e não os abandonarei.

¹⁷ Mas voltarão, e serão completamente envergonhados, aqueles que confiam em imagens de esculturas, aqueles que dizem às imagens de fundição: "Vós sois nossos deuses".

¹⁸ Surdos, ouvi; olhai, vós, cegos, para que vejam. ¹⁹ Quem é cego, senão o Meu servo? Ou surdo como o mensageiro que Eu enviei? Quem é tão cego quanto Meu parceiro de aliança, ou cego como o servo de Yahweh?

²⁰ Tu vês muitas coisas, mas não as compreendes; os ouvidos estão abertos, mas nada ouves. ²¹ Agradou a Yahweh louvar Sua justiça e fazer Sua Lei gloriosa.

²² Este é um povo roubado e saqueado; todos eles estão presos em covas, mantidos cativos em prisões; eles se tornaram um despojo sem ninguém para os salvar, e ninguém disse: "Traze-os de volta!".

²³ Quem dentre vós ouvirá isso? Quem ouvirá e atenderá no futuro? ²⁴ Quem deu Jacó por despojo e Israel aos saqueadores? Não foi Yahweh, contra quem nós temos pecado, em cujos caminhos eles se recusaram a andar e cuja Lei se recusaram a obedecer?

²⁵ Portanto, Ele derramou a indignação de Sua ira contra eles, com devastação de guerra, e ardeu em chamas ao redor deles, mas não perceberam isso. Queimou-os, mas eles não colocaram isso no coração.

Capítulo 43

¹ Mas agora, é isto o que Yahweh diz. Ele, que vos criou, ó Jacó; Ele, que vos formou, ó Israel: "Não temais, porque Eu vos redimi; Eu vos chamei pelo vosso nome. Sois Meus.

² Quando passares pelas águas, Eu estarei contigo; quando passares pelos rios, eles não te submergirão; quando passares pelo fogo, não te queimarás, nem as chamas te causarão dano. ³ Porque Eu Sou Yahweh, teu Deus, o Santo de Israel, teu Salvador. Eu dei o Egito para te resgatar, a Etiópia e Seba em teu lugar.

⁴ Visto que és precioso e especial aos Meus olhos, porque Eu te amo; por isso, darei pessoas em teu lugar e outros povos em troca de tua vida. ⁵ Não temas, pois estou contigo. Eu trarei tua descendência do leste, e te ajuntarei desde o oeste.

⁶ Direi ao norte: 'Entrega-os' e, ao sul: 'Não retenhas ninguém! Trazei Meus filhos de longe e Minhas filhas das regiões remotas da terra ⁷ — todos os que são chamados pelo Meu Nome, os que Eu criei para Minha glória, aqueles que Eu formei, sim, aqueles que Eu fiz'.

⁸ Trazei o povo que tem olhos, mas é cego, que tem ouvidos, mas é surdo. ⁹ Todas as nações se ajuntem e os povos se reúnam. Quem dentre eles declarou isto e anunciou eventos passados? Que tragam suas testemunhas para provarem que estão certos, que eles ouçam e afirmem: 'Isso é verdade'.

¹⁰ Vós sois Minhas testemunhas", declara Yahweh; "e Meu servo, a quem escolhi, para que conheçam e acreditem em Mim e entendam quem Eu Sou. Antes de Mim, nenhum deus se formou, e não haverá nenhum depois de Mim. ¹¹ Eu, Eu Sou Yahweh e não há salvador além de Mim.

¹² Eu declarei, salvei e proclamei e não há nenhum outro deus entre vós. Vós sois Minhas testemunhas", declara Yahweh; "Eu Sou Deus. ¹³ Desde toda a eternidade, Eu o Sou e não há quem possa resgatar alguém das Minhas mãos. Agindo Eu, quem pode mudar o que Eu faço?"

¹⁴ Isto é o que Yahweh diz, vosso Redentor, o Santo de Israel: "Por vossa causa, Eu enviei um exército contra a Babilônia e conduzi todos os fugitivos de lá, transformando em lamentação as expressões de alegria dos babilônios. ¹⁵ Eu Sou Yahweh, vosso Santo, o Criador de Israel, vosso Rei".

¹⁶ Isto é o que Yahweh diz — Aquele que abriu um caminho no mar e uma vereda nas águas impetuosas, ¹⁷ Aquele que conduziu o carro, o cavalo, o exército e a tropa poderosa. Eles caíram juntos, nunca se levantarão novamente; foram extintos, apagados como um pavio queimado.

¹⁸ "Não penseis sobre essas coisas antigas, nem considereis as coisas de tempos atrás. ¹⁹ Vede, Eu estou prestes a fazer uma coisa nova; agora, isso começou a acontecer; vós não o percebestes? Eu vou fazer uma estrada na terra seca e correntes de água no deserto.

²⁰ Os animais selvagens do campo Me honrarão, e também os chacais e os avestruzes, porque Eu dei água ao deserto e rios para a terra seca, para Meus escolhidos beberem, ²¹ pessoas que Eu formei para Mim a fim de declararem Meu louvor.

²² Mas vós não Me chamastes, Jacó; vós vos cansastes de Mim, Israel. ²³ Não Me trouxeste algumas das tuas ovelhas, como ofertas queimadas, nem Me honraste com vossos sacrifícios. Eu não te sobrecarreguei com ofertas de grãos, nem te cansei com ofertas de incenso.

²⁴ Não compraste cana de cheiro doce, nem derramaste para Mim a gordura de teus sacrifícios; mas Me sobrecarregaste com teus pecados, Me cansaste com tuas maldades.

²⁵ Eu, sim, Eu Sou aquele que apaga tuas ofensas por causa de Mim; e Eu não trarei à mente teus pecados. ²⁶ Lembra-Me do que aconteceu. Vamos debater juntos; apresenta tua causa para que tua inocência seja provada.

²⁷ Teu primeiro pai pecou e teus primeiros líderes se rebelaram contra Mim. ²⁸ Por isso, Eu profanei os líderes do santuário; entreguei Jacó para a destruição completa e Israel para humilhação extrema".

Capítulo 44

¹ Agora ouve, Jacó, Meu servo, ó Israel, a quem Eu escolhi: ² Isto é o que Yahweh diz, Aquele que te criou e te formou no ventre e que te ajudará: "Não temas, Jacó, Meu servo; e tu, Jesurum, a quem Eu escolhi.

³ Porque Eu derramarei água na terra sedenta e ribeiros sobre a terra seca; Eu derramarei Meu Espírito sobre a tua descendência e a Minha bênção sobre os teus filhos. ⁴ Eles brotarão em meio à grama, como salgueiros junto a correntes de águas.

⁵ Um dirá: 'Eu pertenço a Yahweh'; outro se chamará pelo nome de Jacó; outro escreverá, em sua mão, 'Pertenço a Yahweh', e será chamado pelo nome de Israel".

⁶ Isto é o que Yahweh diz, o Rei de Israel e seu Redentor, Yahweh dos Exércitos: "Eu Sou o primeiro e o último. Não há outro Deus além de Mim.

⁷ Quem é igual a Mim? Que o anuncie e explique os eventos que ocorreram desde que Eu estabeleci Meu povo antigo; que declarem os eventos que estão por vir.

⁸ Não temais, nem vos espanteis. Eu não declarei isso há muito tempo e não o anunciei? Vós sois Minhas testemunhas: há outro Deus além de Mim? Não há outra Rocha; Eu não conheço nenhuma".

⁹ Todos os que fazem ídolos são nada. As coisas nas quais se deleitam são inúteis; suas testemunhas não podem ver ou saber de nada, e eles serão envergonhados. ¹⁰ Quem formaria um deus ou fundiria um ídolo que é inútil?

¹¹ Eis que todos os seus companheiros serão envergonhados. Os artesãos são apenas homens. Que eles se apresentem juntos; eles se acovardarão e serão envergonhados.

¹² O ferreiro trabalha com suas ferramentas e forma o ídolo, trabalhando sobre as brasas. Ele o molda com os martelos e trabalha nisso com seu braço forte. Ele passa a ter fome e sua força diminui; ele não bebe água e fica enfraquecido.

¹³ O carpinteiro mede a madeira com uma linha e a marca com um lápis. Ele lhe dá forma com suas ferramentas e a marca com um compasso. Ele a molda conforme a figura de um homem, com a beleza de um ser humano, para ficar em uma casa.

¹⁴ Ele corta os cedros, ou escolhe um cipreste ou um carvalho. Ele mesmo busca árvores na floresta; planta um pinheiro e a chuva o faz crescer.

¹⁵ E utiliza a madeira para fogo e para aquecer a si próprio. Sim, ele acende o fogo e assa o pão. Então, dela, ele faz um deus, e se curva perante ele; faz um ídolo e se prostra diante dele. ¹⁶ Ele queima parte da madeira no fogo, onde assa sua carne. Então, come e se satisfaz. Ele se aquece e diz: "Ah, eu me aqueço, estou vendo o fogo".

¹⁷ Com o restante da madeira, ele faz um deus, uma imagem esculpida; ele se curva perante ela e a reverencia; ora a ela, dizendo: "Resgata-me, porque tu és o meu deus".

¹⁸ Eles não sabem, nem mesmo entendem, porque seus olhos estão cegos e não podem ver, e seus corações não podem perceber.

¹⁹ Ninguém pensa; não há compreensão para dizer: "Eu queimei parte da madeira no fogo; sim, eu também assei pão sobre as suas brasas. Eu assei carne sobre essas brasas e comi. Agora deveria eu fazer da outra parte da madeira alguma coisa repugnante para adorar? Deveria eu me prostrar a um pedaço de madeira?".

²⁰ É como se ele estivesse comendo cinzas; seu coração enganoso o desviou. Ele não pode resgatar a si mesmo, nem dizer: "Esta coisa na minha mão direita é um falso deus".

²¹ Pensa sobre essas coisas, ó Jacó, pois tu és o Meu servo, ó Israel: Eu te formei, tu és Meu servo. Israel, tu não serás esquecido por Mim. ²² Eu desfiz teus atos rebeldes como uma nuvem espessa; e os teus pecados, como uma nuvem. Volta-te para Mim, porque Eu te redimi.

²³ Cantai, ó céus, porque Yahweh fez isto; exultai, regiões mais baixas da terra. Irrompam com júbilo, vós, montes, e também vós, florestas e todas as vossas árvores, porque Yahweh redimiu Jacó e mostrará a Sua glória em Israel.

²⁴ Isto é o que Yahweh diz, o teu Redentor, Aquele que te formou desde o ventre: "Eu sou Yahweh, que fiz todas as coisas; que, sozinho, estendi os céus; sozinho, formei a terra. ²⁵ Eu que frustro os presságios dos faladores fúteis e desonro aqueles que leem premunições; Eu que derrubo a sabedoria dos sábios e faço dos seus conselhos tolices.

²⁶ Eu, Yahweh, que cumpro as declarações do Meu servo e trago o conselho dos Meus mensageiros; que digo de Jerusalém: 'Ela será habitada', e, das cidades de Judá: 'Elas serão construídas novamente e Eu levantarei os seus lugares devastados'; ²⁷ que digo ao profundo mar: 'Seca-te, e Eu secarei as tuas correntes'.

²⁸ Yahweh é quem diz de Ciro: 'Ele é o Meu pastor, e fará tudo o que Eu desejo; ele decretará sobre Jerusalém: 'Ela será reconstruída'; e, sobre o templo: 'Suas fundações serão estabelecidas'".

Capítulo 45

¹ Isto é o que Yahweh disse a Ciro, Seu ungido, cuja mão direita Eu seguro, a fim de subjugar as nações diante dele, uma após outra, desarmar os reis e abrir portas diante dele, de modo que portões permanecerão abertos:

² "Eu irei adiante de vós e nivelarei as montanhas; Eu quebrarei em pedaços as portas de bronze e despedaçarei as trancas de ferro, ³ e darei a ti o tesouro das trevas e as riquezas escondidas no caminho; e saberás que sou Eu, Yahweh, quem te chamou pelo nome. Eu, o Deus de Israel.

⁴ Por amor de Jacó, Meu servo, de Israel, Meu escolhido, te chamei pelo nome: dei a ti um título de honra, embora não Me conheças. ⁵ Eu sou Yahweh, e não há outro; não há outro Deus além de Mim. Eu te prepararei para a batalha, mesmo que tu não Me conheças; ⁶ para que o povo saiba que, do nascer do sol até o poente, não há outro Deus além de Mim. Eu sou Yahweh, e não há outro.

⁷ Eu formo a luz e crio as trevas; Eu faço a paz e crio a calamidade; Eu sou Yahweh, que faço todas essas coisas. ⁸ Derramai, ó céus, chuvas do alto; derrama do céu a justiça. Deixa que a terra a absorva e produza a salvação, e, junto com ela, brote a retidão. Eu, Yahweh, as criei.

⁹ Ai de quem discutir com Aquele que o formou! Para Ele, não passa de vaso de barro entre outros vasos de barro no chão! Poderia o barro dizer ao oleiro: 'O que tu fazes?' ou: 'O que estás fazendo?', 'Teu trabalho não teve mãos quando foi feito?'.

¹⁰ Ai daquele que diz para um pai: 'O que geras?' ou para uma mulher: 'O que dás à luz?'.

¹¹ Isto é o que Yahweh diz, o Único Santo de Israel, seu Criador: 'Por que tu perguntas o que farei sobre Meus filhos? Falarás para Mim sobre o que farei com o trabalho das Minhas mãos?

¹² Eu fiz a terra e nela criei o homem. Foram as Minhas mãos que estenderam para fora os céus e Eu dei ordem para as estrelas brilharem.

¹³ Eu levantei Ciro na Minha justiça e Eu endireitarei todos os seus caminhos. Ele edificará a Minha cidade; ele deixará os exilados do Meu povo irem para casa, não por preço nem por suborno'", diz Yahweh dos Exércitos.

¹⁴ Isto é o que Yahweh diz: "Os ganhos do Egito e as mercadorias da Etiópia, com os sabeus, homens de grande estatura, serão trazidos a ti. Eles serão teus. Eles te seguirão, chegando acorrentados. Eles se curvarão a ti e suplicarão, dizendo: 'Certamente, Deus é contigo e não há outro além Dele'". ¹⁵ Verdadeiramente, Tu és o Deus que Te escondes, o Deus de Israel, o Salvador.

¹⁶ Eles serão envergonhados e desonrados juntos; estes que esculpem ídolos caminharão em humilhação. ¹⁷ Mas Israel será salvo por Yahweh, com salvação eterna; tu nunca mais serás envergonhado ou humilhado.

¹⁸ Porquanto, assim diz Yahweh, que criou os céus, o verdadeiro Deus que criou a terra, que a criou e a estabeleceu; Ele a criou, não como um desperdício, mas a projetou para ser habitada: "Eu sou Yahweh, e não há outro.

¹⁹ Eu não falei em algum lugar particular ou oculto; Eu não falei para os descendentes de Jacó: 'Busquem-Me em vão'. Eu sou Yahweh, que falo com sinceridade; Eu declaro as coisas que estão certas.

²⁰ Congregai-vos e vinde! Reuni-vos todos vós, refugiados entre as nações! Não têm conhecimento os que carregam imagens de escultura e oram para deuses que não podem salvar.

²¹ Aproximai-vos e declarai isso para Mim; apresentai a evidência! Deixai que conspirem juntos. Quem mostrou essas coisas há muito tempo atrás? Quem as anunciou? Não fui Eu, Yahweh? Não existe Deus além de Mim, um Deus justo e Salvador; não há outro além de Mim.

²² Voltai-vos para Mim e sereis salvos, vós, de todos os confins da terra; pois Eu sou Deus, e não há outro. ²³ Juro por Mim mesmo, declaro Meus justos decretos e não voltarei atrás: 'todo joelho se dobrará, toda língua jurará.

²⁴ Dirão a Mim: 'Só em Yahweh há salvação e força'". Todos os que com Ele estão zangados O servirão, envergonhados. ²⁵ Em Yahweh, toda a descendência de Israel será justificada; Nele, eles se gloriarão.

Capítulo 46

¹ Bel se curva, Nebo se inclina; seus ídolos são transportados sobre animais de carga. Esses ídolos que vós carregais são cargas pesadas sobre os animais exaustos. ² Juntos, eles se curvam e se ajoelham; não podem livrar-se dessas imagens e eles próprios foram para o cativeiro.

³ Ouvi-Me, casa de Jacó, todos vós, o remanescente da casa de Israel, que tenho carregado antes do vosso nascimento, desde o ventre. ⁴ E, mesmo na vossa velhice, Eu sou o mesmo; até quando vossos cabelos se tornarem brancos, Eu vos carregarei. Eu vos fiz e vos sustentarei e vos protegerei.

⁵ A quem Me comparareis? Com que vós achais que Me pareço, a fim de ser comparado? ⁶ O povo tira ouro de suas sacolas e pesa prata na balança; eles contratam um ferreiro, que transforma isso em um deus; inclinam-se diante dele e o adoram.

⁷ Eles o colocam sobre os ombros e o levam; colocam-no em seu lugar; ali permanece, não se move. Clamam a ele, mas este não pode responder nem salvar ninguém dos seus problemas.

⁸ Pensai nestas coisas, nunca as ignoreis, vós rebeldes! ⁹ Pensai nas coisas passadas, naquelas dos tempos antigos, porque Eu Sou Deus e não há outro, Eu Sou Deus e não há ninguém semelhante a Mim.

¹⁰ Eu anuncio o fim desde o início, e antecipo aquilo que ainda não aconteceu. Eu digo: "Meu plano acontecerá, e faço como Eu desejo". ¹¹ Chamo uma ave de rapina do leste, o homem da Minha escolha de uma terra distante; sim, Eu disse, Eu também o cumprirei; Eu designei por propósito, Eu também o farei.

¹² Ouvi-Me, vós, insubordinados que estão longe de fazer o que é correto. ¹³ Estou trazendo para perto a Minha justiça; ela não está longe e Minha salvação não demora; Eu trarei salvação a Sião e a Minha glória, a Israel.

Capítulo 47

¹ Desce e senta-te no pó, virgem filha da Babilônia; senta-te no chão sem um trono, filha dos caldeus. Tu não mais serás chamada graciosa e delicada. ² Pega o moinho e mói a farinha; remove teu véu e a cauda de teu vestido, descobre tuas pernas, atravessa os ribeiros.

³ Tua nudez será descoberta, sim, tua vergonha será vista: Eu Me vingarei e não pouparei um homem sequer. ⁴ Nosso Redentor, Yahweh dos Exércitos, é o Seu nome, o Santo de Israel. ⁵ Senta-te em silêncio e vai para a escuridão, filha dos caldeus; pois não mais serás chamada rainha de reinos.

⁶ Eu estava furioso com Meu povo; corrompi a Minha herança e a dei em tuas mãos, mas tu não mostraste qualquer misericórdia; colocaste pesada opressão sobre os idosos. ⁷ Disseste: "Dominarei para sempre como rainha soberana". E, até agora, não levaste a sério essas coisas, nem consideraste como elas terminariam.

⁸ Então, agora ouve isto, tu que amas o prazer e estás segura, tu que dizes em teu coração: "Eu existo, e não há ninguém como eu; nunca me tornarei viúva, nem jamais experimentarei a perda de filhos". ⁹ Mas ambas estas coisas acontecerão num momento, num dia: a perda de filhos e a viuvez; virão com grande força, apesar das tuas feitiçarias, teus muitos encantos e amuletos.

¹⁰ Tu confiaste na tua maldade e disseste: "Ninguém me vê"; tua sabedoria e teu conhecimento te desviaram, mas tu dizes em teu coração: "Eu existo e não há ninguém igual a mim". ¹¹ O desastre te sobrevirá; tu não serás capaz de evitá-lo com teus encantamentos. A destruição virá e tu não serás capaz de desviar-te dela, e a calamidade te atacará de repente, antes que tu saibas.

¹² Persiste em lançar teus encantamentos e tuas muitas feitiçarias, as quais tens recitado fielmente desde tua infância; talvez tu serás bem sucedida, talvez espantarás o desastre. ¹³ Tu estás cansada com tuas muitas consultas; que esses homens te levantem e te salvem, esses que mapeiam os céus e olham para as estrelas, esses que anunciam as luas novas — que eles te salvem do que te acontecerá.

¹⁴ Vê, eles se tornarão como restolho e o fogo os queimará. Eles não salvarão a si mesmos do poder das chamas. Não há carvão para aquecê-los e nem fogo para se sentarem em volta! ¹⁵ Isso é o que eles se tornaram para ti, aqueles com quem tu trabalhaste, com quem fizeste comércio desde a tua juventude; cada um deles continua cometendo suas próprias tolices; e, quando tu clamares por socorro, não haverá ninguém para te salvar.

Capítulo 48

¹ Ouvi isto, casa de Jacó, vós que sois chamados pelo nome Israel, que viestes da semente de Judá; vós que jurais pelo nome de Yahweh e invocais o Deus de Israel, mas não com sinceridade nem de maneira justa. ² Pois eles chamam a si mesmos povo da cidade santa e confiam no Deus de Israel; Yahweh dos Exércitos é o Seu nome.

³ "Declarei as coisas de tempos atrás; elas saíram da Minha boca e as fiz conhecidas; então, de repente, agi, e elas aconteceram. ⁴ Porque Eu sabia que tu eras obstinada, os músculos de teu pescoço são rígidos como ferro e tua testa, como o bronze. ⁵ Por isso, Eu te declarei essas coisas antecipadamente; antes de acontecerem, Eu te informei para que não dissesses: 'Meu ídolo as fez', ou: 'Minha imagem esculpida e minha imagem de metal fundido ordenaram essas coisas'.

⁶ Tu ouviste sobre elas, vês toda essa evidência, e não admitirás que aquilo que Eu disse é verdade? De agora em diante, mostrarei a ti coisas novas, antes escondidas, que não sabias. ⁷ Agora, e não em tempos passados, elas foram criadas e, antes de hoje, não ouviste falar sobre elas para que não digas: 'Sim, eu já sabia'.

⁸ Tu nunca as ouviste, delas não soubeste; estas coisas não foram abertas aos teus ouvidos anteriormente. Pois Eu sabia que sois muito falsa e que tens sido rebelde desde o nascimento.

⁹ Por amor do Meu nome, adiarei a Minha ira e, pela Minha honra, Me guardarei de destruir-te. ¹⁰ Vê, Eu te refinei, mas não como prata; Eu te purifiquei no forno da aflição. ¹¹ Por amor a Mim, por amor a Mim, agirei; pois como posso permitir que Meu nome seja desonrado? Não darei Minha glória a ninguém.

¹² Ouve-Me, Jacó! Israel, a quem chamei: Eu sou o mesmo; sou o Primeiro e também sou o Último. ¹³ Sim, Minha mão estabeleceu a fundação da terra, Minha mão direita estendeu os céus; quando os chamo, eles atendem juntos.

¹⁴ Juntai-vos, vós todos, e ouvi! Quem dentre vós anunciou estas coisas? O aliado de Yahweh cumprirá seu propósito contra a Babilônia. Ele conduzirá a vontade de Yahweh contra os caldeus. ¹⁵ Eu, Eu falei! Sim, Eu o convoquei. Eu o trouxe, e ele vencerá.

¹⁶ Vinde para perto de Mim e ouvi isto; desde o início, não falei em segredo; quando isto acontecer, Eu estarei lá". Agora, o Senhor Yahweh me enviou junto com o Seu Espírito.

¹⁷ Isto é o que Yahweh, teu Redentor, o Santo de Israel diz: "Eu sou Yahweh, teu Deus, que te ensina como vencer, que te guia pelo caminho que deves andar. ¹⁸ Ah! Se apenas tivesses obedecido aos Meus mandamentos! Tua paz e tua prosperidade teriam fluído como um rio, e tua justiça, como as ondas do mar.

¹⁹ Teus descendentes seriam tão numerosos quanto a areia, os filhos do teu ventre tão numerosos quanto os grãos de areia; teu nome não teria sido cortado nem desaparecido diante de Mim.

²⁰ Saí da Babilônia! Fugi dos caldeus! Com gritos de júbilo, anunciai isto! Fazei-o conhecido! Levai-o até os confins da terra! Dizei: 'Yahweh redimiu Seu servo Jacó'.

²¹ Eles não tiveram sede quando Yahweh os conduziu pelos desertos; para eles, fez a água fluir da rocha; Ele partiu a rocha e as águas jorraram. ²² Não há paz para os maus", diz Yahweh.

Capítulo 49

¹ Ouvi-me, vós, moradores do litoral! Prestai atenção, vós, povos distantes. Yahweh me chamou pelo nome antes do nascimento, desde o ventre da minha mãe. ² Ele tornou minha boca como espada afiada; escondeu-me na sombra da Sua mão; Ele me fez como uma flecha polida, e, na Sua aljava, escondeu-me.

³ Ele me disse: "Tu és Meu servo, Israel, por meio de quem Eu mostro Minha glória". ⁴ Mas eu respondi: "Ainda que eu acredite que tenha trabalhado em vão, que tenha gastado inutilmente minha energia, contudo, minha justiça vem de Yahweh, e minha recompensa repousa com meu Deus".

⁵ Agora, diz Yahweh, Aquele que me formou desde o nascimento para ser Seu servo, a fim de restaurar Jacó novamente para Si, para juntar Israel a Ele. Sou honrado aos olhos de Yahweh e o meu Deus Se tornou minha força. ⁶ Ele diz: "É muito pouco para ti ser Meu servo para restabelecer as tribos de Jacó e restaurar os sobreviventes de Israel. Eu te tornarei luz aos gentios, para que sejas Minha salvação até os confins da terra".

⁷ Isto é o que Yahweh diz, o Redentor de Israel, o seu Santo, àquele que é desprezado, odiado pelas nações e escravo dos governadores: "Reis te verão e se levantarão, príncipes te contemplarão e te reverenciarão por causa de Yahweh, que é fiel, o Santo de Israel, que te escolheu".

⁸ Isto é o que Yahweh diz: "No momento em que Eu decidir te mostrar Meu favor, te responderei, e, no dia da salvação, te ajudarei; protegerei a ti e te farei mediador de uma aliança, para reconstruir a terra e transferir ao povo a herança desolada.

⁹ Dirás aos prisioneiros: 'Saí'; àqueles que estão nos calabouços: 'Mostrai-vos'. Eles pastarão ao longo das estradas e todas as encostas descobertas serão suas pastagens.

¹⁰ Eles não sentirão fome ou sede; tampouco serão assolados pelo calor do sol, porque Quem deles tem compaixão os conduzirá; Ele os guiará para as fontes de água. ¹¹ E transformarei num caminho plano todas as Minhas montanhas; Eu nivelarei Minhas estradas".

¹² Vê, estes virão de uma terra distante; alguns virão do norte e do oeste, enquanto outros virão da terra de Sinim. ¹³ Louvai, céus, e regozija-te, terra; cantai, ó montanhas! Porque Yahweh consola o Seu povo e terá compaixão dos Seus aflitos.

¹⁴ Porém, Sião disse: "Yahweh me abandonou e o Senhor Se esqueceu de mim". ¹⁵ Por acaso, pode uma mulher esquecer-se de seu bebê, que ainda é amamentado, de forma que ela não tenha compaixão do filho a quem deu à luz? Mas, mesmo que ela se esqueça, Eu jamais Me esquecerei de vós.

¹⁶ Escrevi o vosso nome nas palmas das Minhas mãos e vossos muros estão continuamente diante de Mim. ¹⁷ Vossos filhos virão depressa, enquanto aqueles que vos destruíram estão indo embora. ¹⁸ Olhai ao redor e vede, todos eles estão se ajuntando e vindo até vós. Tão certo como Eu vivo — isto é o que Yahweh declara — vós, certamente, os usareis como joias e, como uma noiva, vos adornareis com eles.

¹⁹ Embora tu foste um deserto desolado, uma terra em ruínas, agora, serás demasiadamente pequena para os habitantes, e os que te devoraram estarão longe de ti. ²⁰ Os filhos que nasceram de ti, durante o teu tempo de lamento, dirão aos teus ouvidos: 'Este lugar é muito apertado para nós; dá-nos um espaço maior para morar'.

²¹ Então, vós fareis esta pergunta: "Quem deu à luz estes filhos para mim? Era estéril e desolada, exilada e abandonada. Quem criou estes filhos? Olhai, fui deixada sozinha; de onde vieram estes?".

²² Eis o que diz Yahweh: "Vede, erguerei Minha mão às nações; levantarei Minha bandeira de alerta aos povos. Eles trarão vossos filhos em seus braços e carregarão vossas filhas em seus ombros.

²³ Reis serão vossos pais adotivos e as rainhas deles serão vossas amas; eles vos reverenciarão com o rosto no chão e lamberão a poeira dos vossos pés; e vós sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh; os que esperam por Mim não serão envergonhados".

²⁴ Podem os despojos serem subtraídos do guerreiro, ou os cativos serem libertos de um tirano? ²⁵ Mas isto é o que diz Yahweh: "Sim, os cativos serão tomados do guerreiro e os despojos serão resgatados, porque estarei em oposição a vossos adversários e salvarei vossos filhos.

²⁶ Alimentarei vossos opressores com sua própria carne; eles se embriagarão com o próprio sangue, como se fosse vinho. E todos saberão que Eu, Yahweh, sou vosso Salvador e Redentor, o Todo-Poderoso de Jacó".

Capítulo 50

¹ Isto é o que Yahweh diz: "Onde está o certificado de divórcio, com que Me divorciei de vossa mãe? Ou para qual dos Meus credores Eu vos vendi? Vede, vós fostes vendidos por causa dos vossos pecados e, por causa da vossa rebeldia, vossa mãe foi mandada embora.

² Por que ninguém estava lá quando Eu cheguei? Por que ninguém respondeu quando Eu chamei? Era Minha mão muito curta para vos redimir? Não havia poder em Mim para vos resgatar? Vede, na Minha repreensão, Eu sequei o mar; Eu transformo os rios em um deserto; os peixes morrem por falta de água e apodrecem. ³ Eu visto os céus com escuridão; Eu os cubro com pano de saco".

⁴ O Senhor Yahweh Me deu a língua como a de um daqueles que são ensinados, de modo que Eu falo palavras de conforto para os cansados. Ele Me desperta manhã após manhã, Ele desperta Meus ouvidos para ouvir como aqueles que são ensinados.

⁵ O Senhor Yahweh abriu Meus ouvidos e Eu não fui rebelde, nem Me desviei. ⁶ Eu dei Minhas costas para aqueles que Me feriram e Meu rosto para aqueles que arrancaram Minha barba. Eu não escondi Minha face dos insultos e dos cuspes.

⁷ Pois o Senhor Yahweh Me ajudará. Portanto, não serei desonrado; por isso, pus Minha face como uma rocha, pois sei que não serei envergonhado.

⁸ Aquele que Me justificará está por perto. Quem Me resistirá? Levantemos e confrontemos uns aos outros. Quem é Meu acusador? Que ele se aproxime de Mim. ⁹ Vede, o Senhor Yahweh Me ajudará. Quem Me declarará culpado? Vede, todos se desgastarão como uma roupa; a traça os comerá.

¹⁰ Quem dentre vós teme a Yahweh? Quem obedece à voz do Seu servo? Quem dentre vós anda na escuridão e não tem luz? Ele deve confiar no nome de Yahweh e confiar no Seu Deus.

¹¹ Vede, todos vós que acendeis fogo, que vos equipais com tochas, andai na luz do vosso fogo e nas chamas que acendestes. Isto é o que vós recebereis de Mim: vós deitareis em um lugar de tormento.

Capítulo 51

¹ Ouvi-me, vós que procurais a retidão, vós que buscais Yahweh. Olhai para a rocha da qual fostes formados, para a pedreira de onde fostes extraídos.

² Olhai para Abraão, vosso pai, e para Sara, que vos deu à luz. Quando Eu o chamei, ele era um indivíduo solitário. Eu o abençoei e o fiz numeroso.

³ Sim, Yahweh consolará Sião; Ele confortará todos os seus lugares assolados; fará seu deserto como o Éden; sua região seca, ao lado do vale do rio Jordão, como o jardim de Yahweh. Alegria e contentamento serão encontrados nela, ações de graças e som de cânticos.

⁴ "Atentai a Mim, povo Meu; ouvi-Me, povo Meu! Pois emitirei um decreto e farei Minha justiça como luz para as nações. ⁵ Minha justiça está perto, Minha salvação chegará, Meu braço julgará as nações; as terras costeiras esperarão, ansiosamente, por Mim e pelo Meu braço.

⁶ Elevai os vossos olhos para o céu e olhai para a terra embaixo. Os céus sumirão como a fumaça, a terra se desgastará como uma roupa, e seus habitantes morrerão como as moscas. Mas Minha salvação continuará para sempre e Minha justiça nunca falhará.

⁷ Ouvi-Me, vós que sabeis o que é correto, vós que tendes a Minha lei no coração. Não temais os insultos dos homens, nem desanimeis com a ofensa deles. ⁸ Porque a traça os devorará como a uma roupa e o verme os comerá como a lã; mas a Minha justiça será para sempre e Minha salvação, para todas as gerações".

⁹ Desperta, desperta, veste-Te de força, braço de Yahweh! Desperta como nos dias antigos, como nas gerações passadas. Não foste Tu que despedaçaste Raabe, o monstro do mar, que perfuraste o dragão? ¹⁰ Não foste Tu que fizeste secar o mar, as águas do grande abismo, que fizeste das profundezas do mar um caminho para os redimidos atravessarem?

¹¹ Os remidos de Yahweh retornarão a Sião e entrarão nela com gritos de júbilo e a alegria eterna coroará suas cabeças; o regozijo e a alegria os alcançarão, a tristeza e o luto fugirão.

¹² "Eu, Eu Sou Aquele que te conforta. Por que tens medo de um homem que morrerá, de filhos de homens, que são como a relva?

¹³ Por que te esqueceste de Yahweh, teu Criador, que estendeu os céus e lançou as fundações da terra? Todo dia, tu estás em constante pavor por causa da fúria ardente do opressor quando ele decide te destruir. Onde está a fúria do opressor?

¹⁴ Quanto ao que está cativo, Yahweh se apressará para libertá-lo. Ele não morrerá e nem descerá à cova, nem lhe faltará o pão. ¹⁵ Pois Eu Sou Yahweh, teu Deus, que agita o mar de modo que suas ondas rujam — Yahweh dos Exércitos é o Seu nome.

¹⁶ Eu coloquei as Minhas palavras em tua boca e te cobri com a sombra da Minha mão; Eu estabeleci os céus, coloquei os alicerces da terra e disse a Sião: 'Tu és Meu povo'".

¹⁷ Desperta, desperta! Levanta-te, Jerusalém, que bebeste das mãos de Yahweh, da taça da Sua ira; que bebeste do cálice, até o resto da taça da embriaguez. ¹⁸ Não há, dentre os filhos que ela gerou, nenhum que a guie. De todos os filhos que ela criou, nenhum a toma pela mão.

¹⁹ Estes dois problemas te aconteceram; quem lamentará contigo? A desolação e a destruição, a fome e a espada. Quem te consolará? ¹ ²⁰ Teus filhos desmaiaram; eles se deitam em cada esquina, como um antílope em uma rede; eles estão cheios da ira de Yahweh, da repreensão do teu Deus.

²¹ Agora, porém, ouve isto, tu que estás aflita e embriagada, mas não com vinho: ²² Assim diz o teu Senhor Yahweh, teu Deus, que defende a causa de Seu povo: "Vê, Eu tiro a taça da vertigem da tua mão — o cálice, que é a taça da Minha ira — para que não bebas dela novamente.

²³ Eu a colocarei nas mãos de teus atormentadores, aqueles que te disseram: 'Deita-te, para que caminhemos sobre ti'; os que fizeram de tuas costas como o chão e como rua, para que andassem por cima".

¹O texto hebraico e algumas versões modernas têm Como Eu te consolarei? , a maioria das versões modernas corrige esta passagem para Quem te consolará?

Capítulo 52

¹ Desperta, desperta! Reveste-te de força, Sião; põe teus belos vestidos, Jerusalém, cidade santa; porque nunca mais os impuros e os incircuncisos entrarão por teus portões.

² Sacode de ti mesma a poeira, levanta-te e assenta-te, Jerusalém; arranca a corrente do teu pescoço, ó cativa filha de Sião. ³ Porque isto é o que Yahweh diz: "Tu foste vendida por nada e serás redimida sem dinheiro".

⁴ Isto é o que diz o Senhor Yahweh: "No início, Meu povo desceu para viver temporariamente no Egito; recentemente, a Assíria os tem oprimido.

⁵ Agora, o que Eu tenho aqui — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — visto que o Meu povo foi levado embora por nada? Aqueles que os dominam zombam — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — e o Meu Nome é blasfemado continuamente, o dia todo. ¹ ⁶ Entretanto, Meu povo conhecerá o Meu nome; eles saberão, naquele dia, que sou Eu quem fala: 'Sim, sou Eu'".

⁷ Como são bonitos, sobre os montes, os pés do mensageiro que traz boas novas, que anuncia a paz, que testemunha boas novas, que anuncia a salvação, que diz a Sião: "Teu Deus reina!" ⁸ Ouve! Teus sentinelas levantam a voz e, juntos, gritam de alegria; pois eles verão, com os próprios olhos, o retorno de Yahweh a Sião.

⁹ Rompei em júbilo, cantando juntas, vós, ruínas de Jerusalém; porque Yahweh confortou o Seu povo; Ele redimiu Jerusalém. ¹⁰ Yahweh despiu Seu santo braço à vista de todas as nações; toda a terra verá a salvação do nosso Deus.

¹¹ Afastai-vos, afastai-vos! Saí daí; não toqueis em nada impuro; saí do meio dela! Purificai-vos, vós que carregais os vasos de Yahweh. ¹² Não partireis correndo, nem saireis em pânico, porque Yahweh irá adiante de vós; o Deus de Israel será a vossa retaguarda.

¹³ Vê! Meu Servo agirá sabiamente; Ele será engrandecido e elevado; Ele será exaltado. ¹⁴ Assim como muitos ficaram horrorizados diante Dele, pois Sua aparência estava tão desfigurada que não parecia de um homem (Seu aspecto não mais parecia humano),

¹⁵ assim Meu servo causará admiração a muitas nações; reis fecharão suas bocas por causa Dele, porque eles verão o que não lhes havia sido contado, e entenderão aquilo que nunca tinham ouvido.

¹Nota: em vez de zombam , algumas versões modernas identificam uma palavra hebraica diferente que significa lamentam .

Capítulo 53

¹ Quem acreditou em nossa mensagem? E a quem foi revelado o braço de Yahweh? ² Pois Ele cresceu diante de Yahweh como um rebento e como o germinar de um broto na terra seca. Ele não tinha nenhuma aparência notável nem esplendor; quando O vimos, não havia beleza Nele que pudesse nos atrair.

³ Ele foi desprezado e rejeitado pelas pessoas, um homem de sofrimento, familiarizado com a dor. Como um de quem os homens escondem o rosto, Ele foi desprezado e O consideramos insignificante.

⁴ Mas Ele, certamente, suportou nossas doenças e carregou nosso sofrimento; ainda que achássemos que Ele estava sendo punido por Yahweh, atingido e afligido por Yahweh.

⁵ Ele foi perfurado por causa de nossa rebeldia; Ele foi esmagado por causa de nossos pecados. A punição que nos traz a paz estava sobre Ele e, por Suas feridas, fomos sarados.

⁶ Nós todos, como ovelhas, havíamos nos desviado; cada um em direção a seu próprio caminho; e Yahweh colocou sobre Ele a iniquidade de todos nós.

⁷ Ele foi oprimido; contudo, quando foi humilhado, não abriu a Sua boca. Como um cordeiro que é conduzido para o abate, e como ovelhas que, diante de seus tosquiadores, ficam em silêncio, Ele não abriu a Sua boca.

⁸ Por opressão e julgamento, Ele foi condenado. Quem daquela geração pensava mais sobre Ele? Ele foi cortado da terra dos viventes; por causa das ofensas do meu povo, a punição foi colocada sobre Ele. ⁹ Eles colocaram Sua sepultura com os criminosos, e com o homem rico em Sua morte, embora Ele não tivesse cometido nenhuma violência, nem houvesse engano em Sua boca.

¹⁰ No entanto, foi a vontade de Yahweh esmagá-Lo e fazê-Lo adoecer. Quando Ele fizer de Sua vida uma oferta pelo pecado, Ele verá Sua descendência, prolongará Seus dias e o propósito de Yahweh se cumprirá através Dele. ¹¹ Depois do sofrimento de Sua vida, verá o que Ele fez e ficará satisfeito com isso. ¹ Meu justo Servo justificará muitos e carregará suas iniquidades. ²

¹² Portanto, darei Sua porção entre as multidões e Ele dividirá os despojos com muitos, porque Ele Se expôs à morte e foi contado com os transgressores. Ele carregou os pecados de muitos e intercedeu pelos transgressores.

¹Nota: Em vez de depois do sofrimento de Sua vida , algumas versões modernas trazem a partir do sofrimento de Sua vida Ele verá o resultado .

²Nota: Muitas versões modernas trazem luz . Algumas versões modernas trazem Por seu conhecimento, Meu servo justo justificará muitos .

Capítulo 54

¹ "Canta, mulher estéril, tu que não deste à luz! Canta alegremente e clama, tu que nunca tiveste dores de parto. Porque os filhos da desamparada são mais do que os da mulher casada", diz Yahweh.

² "Alarga a tua tenda e abre livremente as suas cortinas; estica suas cordas e firma bem as suas estacas. ³ Porque te espalharás para a direita e para a esquerda; teus descendentes conquistarão nações e reassentarão cidades desoladas.

⁴ Não temas, pois não serás envergonhada, nem desanimes, pois não serás desonrada; tu esquecerás a vergonha da tua juventude e a desgraça do teu abandono.

⁵ Pois o teu Criador é o teu marido; o Seu nome é Yahweh dos Exércitos. O Santo de Israel é o teu Redentor; Ele é chamado o Deus de toda a terra. ⁶ Porque Yahweh te chamou de volta como se fosses uma esposa abandonada e aflita de espírito, como uma mulher jovem que se casou e foi rejeitada", diz o teu Deus.

⁷ "Por um breve momento, Eu te abandonei, mas, com grande compaixão, Eu te trarei de volta. ⁸ Num transbordar de ira, escondi Meu rosto de ti por um momento, mas, com eterno amor leal, terei misericórdia de ti" — diz Yahweh, Aquele que te salva.

⁹ "Pois isto é para Mim como as águas de Noé; como jurei que as águas de Noé não mais inundariam a terra, assim também jurei que não mais me irarei contra ti ou te castigarei. ¹⁰ Ainda que as montanhas caiam e os montes sejam sacudidos, ainda assim, Meu amor inabalável não se afastará de ti, nem Minha aliança de paz será abalada" — diz Yahweh, que tem misericórdia de ti.

¹¹ "Ó, aflita, açoitada pela tempestade e desconsolada, vê! Eu assentarei tuas pedras com turquesas e edificarei teus alicerces com safiras. ¹² Farei as tuas colunas de rubis, as tuas portas de pedras brilhantes e as tuas muralhas de pedras preciosas.

¹³ Todos os teus filhos serão ensinados por Yahweh; e a paz de teus filhos será grande. ¹⁴ Serás restabelecida em retidão; não mais experimentarás a perseguição; não temerás, pois nada amedrontador chegará a ti.

¹⁵ Vê! Se alguém levantar contenda, não virá de Mim; qualquer que levantar contenda contra ti cairá em derrota. ¹⁶ Olha! Fui Eu Quem criou o ferreiro, que sopra as brasas e produz ferramentas para o seu trabalho, e fui Eu Quem criou o devastador, para destruir.

¹⁷ Nenhuma arma forjada contra ti prosperará; e tu condenarás todos os que te acusarem. Esta é a herança dos servos de Yahweh e a sua defesa diante de Mim" — declara Yahweh.

Capítulo 55

¹ "Vinde, todos vós que estais com sede, vinde às águas! E vós que não tendes dinheiro, vinde, comprai e comei; sim, vinde e comprai vinho e leite, sem dinheiro e sem custo.

² Por que gastais dinheiro com aquilo que não é pão e trabalhais por aquilo que não satisfaz? Ouvi-Me, atentamente, comei o que é bom, desfrutai da fartura.

³ Inclinai vossos ouvidos e vinde a Mim! Ouvi, para que possais viver! Eu farei uma aliança eterna convosco: Minha fidelidade prometida a Davi. ⁴ Vede, Eu o pus como uma testemunha às nações, como um líder e comandante para os povos.

⁵ Vede, chamareis uma nação que não conheceis; e uma nação que não vos conhecia correrá para vós, por causa de Yahweh, vosso Deus, O Santo de Israel, que vos glorificou".

⁶ Buscai a Yahweh enquanto Ele pode ser encontrado; invocai-O enquanto Ele está perto. ⁷ Que o ímpio deixe seu caminho e o homem mau, os seus pensamentos. Que ele se volte para Yahweh, que Se compadecerá dele; o nosso Deus é Quem o perdoará abundantemente.

⁸ "Pois os Meus pensamentos não são os vossos pensamentos, nem os vossos caminhos, Meus caminhos" — diz Yahweh. ⁹ "Porque, assim como os céus são mais altos que a terra, os Meus caminhos são mais altos que os vossos caminhos e os Meus pensamentos são mais altos que os vossos pensamentos.

¹⁰ Assim como a chuva e a neve caem do céu e não retornam para lá sem que reguem a terra, fazendo-a germinar e dar semente ao semeador e pão ao que come, ¹¹ assim também será a palavra que sair da Minha boca: não voltará a Mim sem efeito, mas cumprirá aquilo que desejo e terá êxito no propósito para o qual Eu a enviei.

¹² Saireis com alegria e sereis conduzidos pacificamente; montanhas e vales romperão em cânticos diante de vós e todas as árvores dos campos baterão palmas. ¹³ No lugar dos espinheiros, crescerão pastagens e, no lugar da urtiga, a murta crescerá; e serão, pelo nome de Yahweh, um sinal eterno que jamais será cortado".

Capítulo 56

¹ Porque assim diz Yahweh: "Observai o que é reto, fazei o que é justo; porque a Minha salvação está perto e a Minha justiça está prestes a ser revelada. ² Abençoado é o homem que assim o faz e persevera firmemente. Ele guarda o sábado, sem o profanar e guarda a sua mão de fazer o mal".

³ Nenhum estrangeiro que se uniu a Yahweh diga: "Yahweh, certamente, me excluirá do Seu povo". Que o eunuco não fale: "Vê, eu sou uma árvore seca."

⁴ Porque assim diz Yahweh: "Aos eunucos que guardam os Meus sábados e escolhem o que Me agrada, e guardam a Minha aliança, ⁵ Eu construirei para eles, na Minha casa e dentro dos Meus muros, um monumento que é melhor do que ter filhos e filhas; Eu lhes darei um nome eterno que nunca lhes será retirado".

⁶ Também os estrangeiros que se aliam a Yahweh para servi-Lo e que amam o nome de Yahweh para adorá-Lo, todos os que observam o sábado e não o violam, e guardam a Minha aliança, ⁷ Eu os trarei ao Meu santo monte e os alegrarei na Minha casa de oração; seus holocaustos e sacrifícios serão aceitos no Meu altar, porque a Minha casa será chamada casa de oração para todas as nações.

⁸ Esta é a declaração do Senhor Yahweh, que ajunta os rejeitados de Israel — Eu ainda trarei outros para acrescentar a eles".

⁹ Todos vós, animais do campo, todos os animais da floresta, vinde e devorai! ¹⁰ Todos os vossos guardas são cegos; eles não entendem; são como cães mudos que não conseguem latir; deitando-se, sonham, e amam dormir.

¹¹ Eles são cães gulosos que nunca estão satisfeitos; são pastores sem discernimento; todos se desviaram para seu próprio caminho, cada um busca seu próprio interesse. ¹² "Vinde", eles dizem: "Tomemos vinho e bebida forte; amanhã será como hoje, um dia sem igual”.

Capítulo 57

¹ O justo perece, mas ninguém se importa; as pessoas que são fiéis a Deus são recolhidas e ninguém entende que os justos são retirados da presença do mal. ² Os justos entram na paz; descansam em suas camas aqueles que andam em retidão.

³ Mas vinde aqui, filhos das feiticeiras, filhos da adúltera e da mulher que se prostituiu. ⁴ De quem estais zombando? Para quem estais abrindo vossa boca e mostrando a língua? Não sois vós filhos da rebelião e filhos do engano?

⁵ Vós ardeis de desejo, juntos, sob os carvalhos, embaixo de toda árvore verde; vós que matais vossos filhos nos vales secos, debaixo das fendas das rochas.

⁶ Entre as pedras lisas do vale do rio está a tua porção. Verdadeiramente, estas são a tua recompensa. Derramaste tua bebida de sacríficio para elas e levantaste uma oferta de cereal. Teria Eu prazer nestas coisas?

⁷ Preparaste a tua cama no alto da montanha, e foste lá para oferecer sacrifícios. ⁸ Colocaste teus símbolos atrás da porta e dos umbrais; tu Me abandonaste; ficaste nu, subiste e alargaste a tua cama. Fizeste uma aliança com eles; amaste a cama deles e viste a sua nudez.

⁹ Foste a Moloque, com óleo, e multiplicaste perfumes. ¹ Mandaste teus embaixadores para longe; desceste até o Sheol. ¹⁰ Tu te cansaste das tuas muitas jornadas, mas nunca disseste: "Não há esperança". Encontraste vida em tuas mãos, por isso não enfraqueceste.

¹¹ "Com quem estás preocupado? De quem tens tanto medo para que ajas tão falsamente, a ponto de não te lembrares de Mim ou pensares a Meu respeito? Porque fiquei em silêncio por tanto tempo, não Me temes mais. ¹² Eu proclamarei a tua justiça, contarei os teus feitos, mas eles não te ajudarão.

¹³ Quando tu clamares, que teus muitos ídolos te salvem. O vento os carregará e um sopro os levará para longe. Mas aquele que se refugia em Mim herdará a terra e possuírá o Meu santo monte.

¹⁴ Ele dirá: 'Aplanai, aplanai! Preparai o caminho! Tirai todos os tropeços do caminho do Meu povo!'". ¹⁵ Pois assim diz Aquele que é alto e sublime, que habita eternamente, cujo nome é Santo: "Eu habito num alto e santo lugar e também com o contrito e humilde de espírito, para restaurar o espírito dos humildes e reanimar o coração dos contritos.

¹⁶ Porque não acusarei para sempre, nem ficarei irado o tempo todo, para que o espírito do homem, a vida que Eu criei, não desfaleça diante de Mim. ¹⁷ Por causa do pecado do seu ganho injusto, Eu estive irado e o castiguei; escondi a Minha face e Me indignei, mas ele se rebelou e seguiu o caminho do seu coração.

¹⁸ Eu tenho visto os seus caminhos, mas o curarei. Eu o guiarei e o confortarei, e consolarei todos os que lamentaram por ele, ¹⁹ trazendo alegria aos lábios. Paz, paz para os de longe e para os de perto — diz Yahweh — Eu os curarei.

²⁰ Mas os corruptos são como o mar agitado, que não se aquieta, e suas águas lançam lodo e lama. ²¹ Não há paz para o ímpio — diz Deus".

¹Nota: Em vez de a Moloque , algumas versões têm ao rei .

Capítulo 58

¹ "Clama bem alto, não te detenhas! Levanta a tua voz como uma trombeta! Declara ao Meu povo a sua transgressão e à casa de Jacó, os seus pecados. ² No entanto, eles ainda Me buscam diariamente e se deleitam em conhecer os Meus caminhos, como uma nação que pratica a justiça e não abandona a Lei do seu Deus. Eles Me pedem por julgamentos retos e têm prazer em se aproximar de Deus.

³ E dizem: 'Por que temos jejuado, mas Tu não vês? Por que temos nos humilhado, mas não percebes?'. Vede, no dia do vosso jejum, buscais o vosso próprio prazer e oprimis todos os vossos trabalhadores.

⁴ Vede, vós jejuais para contender, brigar e ferir com punho de iniquidade; jejuando como fazes hoje, não tereis a vossa voz ouvida lá no alto. ⁵ É este o jejum que, de fato, Eu escolhi? Um dia para o homem humilhar a si mesmo, para curvar sua cabeça como um junco e deitar em panos de saco e cinzas? Vós, realmente, chamais isso de jejum, de um dia que agrada a Yahweh?

⁶ Não é este o jejum que Eu escolhi, que quebres as cadeias da impiedade, desfaças as cordas da opressão, libertes os oprimidos e despedaces todo o jugo? ⁷ Não é para que dividas o teu pão com o faminto e tragas o pobre e o desabrigado para a tua casa?" Não é que quando vires alguém nu, vista-o e não te recuses socorrer o próximo?

⁸ Então, a tua luz surgirá como o nascer do sol e a tua cura virá depressa; a tua retidão virá adiante de ti, e a glória de Yahweh será a tua retaguarda.

⁹ Então, tu invocarás e Yahweh te responderá; clamarás e Ele dirá: "Estou aqui". Se arrancares do teu meio o jugo, o dedo acusador e a fala maliciosa, ¹⁰ se proveres para o faminto e satisfizeres a alma aflita, então, a tua luz brilhará nas trevas e serás como o meio dia.

¹¹ Então, Yahweh te guiará continuamente e te satisfará numa terra seca, fortalecerá os teus ossos. Tu serás como um jardim regado e como um manancial, cujas águas jamais faltam.

¹² Alguns reconstruirão as antigas ruínas, tu restaurarás os fundamentos de muitas gerações; serás chamado "o reparador de muro", "o restaurador de ruas para habitação".

¹³ "Se impedires os teus pés de profanarem o sábado, se não fizeres o que te agrada no Meu santo dia, se tu chamares o sábado de deleite e as coisas de Yahweh de santas e honradas, se honrares o sábado, deixando os teus próprios negócios, não buscando o teu próprio prazer e não falando palavras vãs,

¹⁴ então, terás satisfação em Yahweh; Eu te farei cavalgar sobre os mais altos lugares da terra, e te sustentarei com a herança do teu pai Jacó — pois a boca de Yahweh falou".

Capítulo 59

¹ Eis que a mão de Yahweh não está tão encolhida, para que não possa salvar, nem tão surdo o Seu ouvido, para que não consiga ouvir. ² Contudo, vossas maldades fazem separação entre vós e vosso Deus; por causa dos vossos pecados, Ele escondeu de vós o Seu rosto para não vos ouvir.

³ Porque as vossas mãos estão contaminadas com sangue e vossos dedos, com pecado. Vossos lábios falam mentiras e vossas línguas falam o que é mau. ⁴ Não há quem clame com justiça e ninguém apela por seus direitos com verdade; eles confiam em palavras vãs e contam mentiras; concebem maldades e dão à luz o pecado.

⁵ Eles chocam ovos de cobras venenosas e tecem teias de aranha; os que comem dos seus ovos morrerão; e, se um ovo é esmagado, sai dele uma cobra venenosa. ⁶ As suas teias não podem ser usadas como roupa, eles não poderão se vestir com o próprio trabalho; suas obras são pecaminosas e atos de violência estão em suas mãos.

⁷ Seus pés correm para o mal e se apressam em derramar sangue inocente. Seus pensamentos são pensamentos de pecado; violência e destruição são os seus caminhos. ⁸ Eles não conhecem o caminho da paz e não há justiça em seus passos. Fizeram para si estradas tortuosas; quem anda por elas não sabe o que é paz.

⁹ Por isso, a justiça está longe de nós, e a retidão não nos alcança. Esperamos pela luz, eis que só há trevas; procuramos pelo resplendor, mas andamos na escuridão. ¹⁰ Nós tocamos as paredes como os cegos, como aqueles que não conseguem ver. Nós tropeçamos ao meio-dia como se fosse noite; entre os fortes, nós somos como os mortos.

¹¹ Rugimos como ursos e gememos como pombos; esperamos por justiça, mas não há nenhuma; por salvação, mas ela está longe de nós.

¹² Pois as nossas transgressões se multiplicam diante de Ti e os nossos pecados dão testemunho contra nós; pois as nossas transgressões estão conosco e conhecemos os nossos pecados. ¹³ Transgredimos negando a Yahweh e nos desviamos de seguir o nosso Deus. Pregamos a opressão e a rebelião, dando à luz a reclamação do coração e palavras mentirosas.

¹⁴ A justiça retrocedeu e a integridade está longe; pois a verdade tropeça em praças públicas e a retidão não pode vir. ¹⁵ A verdade desfalece, e aquele que vira as costas para a maldade torna-se uma vítima. Yahweh viu isso e ficou insatisfeito, pois não havia justiça.

¹⁶ Ele viu que não havia nenhum homem e ficou surpreso por não haver ninguém que intercedesse. Por isso, o Seu próprio braço trouxe a salvação, e a Sua retidão O sustentou.

¹⁷ Vestiu-Se de justiça como de uma couraça e pôs na cabeça o capacete da salvação; vestiu-Se com roupas de vingança e Se cobriu de zelo, como de um manto. ¹⁸ Ele os retribuiu segundo as suas obras; ira aos Seus adversários e vingança aos Seus inimigos; às ilhas, punição como recompensa.

¹⁹ Então temerão o nome de Yahweh desde o oeste, e a Sua glória, desde o nascer do sol; porque Ele virá como uma correnteza impetuosa, dirigida pelo Espírito de Yahweh. ²⁰ "Um Redentor virá até Sião e virá para aqueles que se desviam dos atos rebeldes de Jacó". Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

²¹ "E, quanto a Mim, este é a Minha aliança com eles" — diz Yahweh: "O Meu Espírito está sobre ti e as Minhas palavras, que coloquei em tua boca, não se apartarão dela, nem da boca de teus filhos, nem da boca dos filhos dos teus filhos, desde agora e para sempre" — diz Yahweh.

Capítulo 60

¹ Levanta-te, resplandece! Porque chegou a tua luz e a glória de Yahweh nasce sobre ti.

² Embora a escuridão cubra a terra e as densas trevas envolvam os povos, ainda assim, Yahweh resplandecerá sobre ti e a Sua glória será vista em ti. ³ As nações caminharão para a tua luz e os reis, para o resplendor da tua aurora.

⁴ Olha ao redor e vê. Todos eles se reúnem e vêm a ti. Teus filhos virão de longe e tuas filhas serão carregadas nos braços. ⁵ Então, verás e ficarás radiante; o teu coração regozijará e transbordará de alegria, porque as riquezas do mar afluirão a ti e os tesouros das nações a ti virão.

⁶ Caravanas de camelos te inundarão, os camelinhos de Midiã e Efá. Todos virão de Sabá, trazendo ouro e incenso, e cantarão louvores a Yahweh. ⁷ Todos os rebanhos de Quedar serão trazidos para junto de ti, os carneiros de Nebaiote te servirão. Serão ofertas agradáveis sobre o Meu altar, e Eu cobrirei de glória a Minha casa.

⁸ Quem são esses que voam como nuvens, como pombas aos seus pombais? ⁹ As terras costeiras esperam em Mim; os navios de Társis vêm à frente para trazer os teus filhos de longe e, com eles, sua prata e seu ouro, para o nome de Yahweh, teu Deus, para o Santo de Israel, porque Ele te glorificou.

¹⁰ Filhos de estrangeiros reconstruirão os teus muros, e os seus reis te servirão; pois, se te castiguei em Minha ira, agora, na Minha graça, Eu terei misericórdia de ti. ¹¹ Tuas portas permanecerão abertas continuamente; nem de dia nem de noite serão fechadas, para que a riqueza das nações seja trazida a ti, sendo conduzida por seus reis.

¹² De fato, as nações e os reinos que não te servirem perecerão; essas nações serão totalmente destruídas. ¹³ A glória do Líbano virá a ti; o cipreste, o pinheiro e o abeto virão juntos para enfeitar o Meu santuário; e farei glorioso o lugar onde pisam Meus pés.

¹⁴ Os filhos daqueles que te oprimiram virão e se curvarão diante de ti; todos os que te desprezavam se curvarão aos teus pés; eles te chamarão de Cidade de Yahweh, a Sião do Santo de Israel.

¹⁵ Ao invés de permanecer abandonada e odiada, sem ninguém passando por ti, Eu te farei eterno motivo de orgulho e alegria, de geração em geração. ¹⁶ Tu beberás o leite das nações e te alimentarás do peito dos reis. Tu saberás que Eu, Yahweh, Sou teu Salvador e teu Redentor, o Poderoso de Jacó.

¹⁷ Em vez de bronze, trarei ouro, em vez de ferro, trarei prata; em vez de madeira, bronze e, em vez de pedras, ferro; farei pacíficos os teus oficiais e justos os teus governantes. ¹⁸ Não mais se ouvirá sobre a violência em tua terra, nem sobre devastação ou destruição dentro de tuas fronteiras; mas aos teus muros chamarás Salvação, e às tuas portas, Louvor.

¹⁹ O sol não mais te servirá para luz durante o dia, nem o brilho da lua te iluminará à noite, mas Yahweh será a tua luz perpétua, o teu Deus será a tua glória. ²⁰ Teu sol não mais voltará a se pôr, nem a tua lua se retirará e desaparecerá, porque Yahweh será a tua luz para sempre, e os teus dias de luto cessarão.

²¹ Todo o teu povo será justo; eles tomarão a posse da terra para sempre; serão o ramo da Minha plantação, obras das Minhas mãos, para que Eu seja glorificado. ²² O menor virá a ser mil, e o mínimo, uma nação forte. Eu, Yahweh, farei estas coisas quando chegar a hora.

Capítulo 61

¹ O Espírito do Senhor Yahweh está sobre Mim, porque Yahweh Me ungiu para pregar as boas novas aos oprimidos; Ele Me enviou para curar os de coração quebrantado, para proclamar liberdade aos cativos e para abrir as cadeias dos que estão presos.

² Ele Me enviou para proclamar o ano aceitável de Yahweh, o dia da vingança do nosso Deus, e para consolar todos os que choram.

³ Ele Me enviou para dar a todos os que choram, em Sião, uma coroa ao invés de cinzas, óleo de alegria ao invés de luto, veste de louvor em lugar de um espírito angustiado; a fim de que se chamem carvalhos de justiça, plantados por Yahweh, para a Sua glória.

⁴ Eles reconstruirão as antigas ruínas, restaurarão os lugares antes destruídos e reedificarão as cidades assoladas — desolações de muitas gerações anteriores. ⁵ Os estrangeiros ficarão de pé e alimentarão os vossos rebanhos, e os filhos dos estrangeiros trabalharão nos vossos campos e vinhedos.

⁶ Vós sereis chamados sacerdotes de Yahweh e vos chamarão como servos do nosso Deus. Comereis a fartura das nações e vos gloriareis nas riquezas delas. ⁷ Ao invés de vergonha, tereis dupla honra; em lugar de desonra, exultareis em vossa herança; por isso, na vossa terra possuireis o dobro, e tereis eterna alegria.

⁸ Porque Eu, Yahweh, amo a justiça, odeio o roubo e toda a maldade. Eu, fielmente, lhes retribuirei e farei com eles uma aliança eterna. ⁹ A sua posteridade será conhecida entre as nações e os seus descendentes, entre os povos; todos quantos os virem os reconhecerão como o povo que Yahweh abençoou.

¹⁰ Eu me regozijarei muito em Yahweh; eu me alegrarei muito em meu Deus, porque Ele me vestiu com vestes de salvação e me envolveu com o manto de justiça, como um noivo que se adorna com um turbante e como uma noiva que se adorna com as suas joias. ¹¹ Porque assim como a terra produz as plantas que brotam e como o jardim faz crescer o seu plantio, assim o Senhor Yahweh fará brotar a justiça e o louvor perante todas as nações.

Capítulo 62

¹ Por amor a Sião, não me silenciarei; por amor a Jerusalém, não descansarei até que a sua justiça resplandeça como o nascer do sol, e a sua salvação queime como uma tocha acesa. ² As nações verão a tua justiça e todos os reis, a tua glória. Tu serás chamada por um novo nome, que Yahweh escolherá.

³ Tu também serás como uma bela coroa real na mão de Yahweh, como um turbante de realeza na mão do teu Deus. ⁴ De ti, nunca mais será dito "Abandonada"; de tua terra, nunca mais será dito "Desolada". Certamente, tu serás chamada "Meu prazer está nela", e a tua terra se chamará "Casada", pois Yahweh Se alegra em ti e a tua terra se casará.

⁵ Verdadeiramente, como um homem jovem que se casa com uma mulher jovem, assim teus filhos se casarão contigo; como um noivo se alegra com sua noiva, teu Deus Se alegrará contigo.

⁶ Tenho colocado vigias nas tuas muralhas, ó Jerusalém; eles não estão em silêncio nem de dia, nem de noite. Vós, que continuamente vos lembrais de Yahweh, não pareis. ⁷ Não permitais que Ele descanse até que restabeleça Jerusalém e faça dela um louvor na terra.

⁸ Yahweh declarou pela Sua mão direita e pelo Seu braço forte: "Certamente, não darei mais os teus grãos como comida aos teus inimigos. Estrangeiros não mais beberão teu vinho novo, para o qual tens trabalhado. ⁹ Pois aqueles que colherem grãos, deles comerão e louvarão a Yahweh, e aqueles que colherem uvas, delas beberão vinho nos pátios do Meu santuário".

¹⁰ Passai, passai pelos portões! Preparai o caminho para o povo! Construí a estrada, construí-a! Ajuntai as pedras! Levantai uma bandeira como sinal para as nações!

¹¹ Vede, Yahweh anuncia aos confins da terra: "Dizei à filha de Sião: Vê, teu Salvador está vindo! Vê, tua recompensa vem com Ele e tua recompensa está indo à frente Dele". ¹² Eles vos chamarão de "Povo santo, os redimidos de Yahweh". E tu, Sião, serás chamada de "Procurada, uma cidade que não está abandonada".

Capítulo 63

¹ Quem é este que vem de Edom, vestido em vivas cores, vindo de Bozra? Quem é Ele que, com majestosas roupas reais, marcha com absoluta confiança por causa da Sua grande força? “Este sou Eu, falando de justiça, e poderosamente capaz de salvar”. ² Por que Tuas roupas estão vermelhas, como se Tu tivesses pisado uvas em um lagar?

³ “Eu pisei no lagar sozinho; das nações, nenhum homem se juntou a Mim. Eu pisei as uvas em Minha ira e as esmaguei no Meu furor. Seu sangue respingou em Minha roupa e a manchou completamente. ⁴ Pois Eu olhei ansioso para o dia da vingança e vi que o ano para a Minha redenção havia chegado.

⁵ Procurei, mas não havia ninguém para Me ajudar. Fiquei surpreso por não ter encontrado alguém para ajudar, mas Meu próprio braço Me trouxe a vitória, e Minha forte ira Me conduziu adiante. ⁶ Esmaguei os povos na Minha ira e os embriaguei no Meu furor, derramando seu sangue pela terra”.

⁷ Celebrarei o glorioso amor fiel de Yahweh e as Suas obras dignas. Contarei tudo o que Yahweh fez por nós e sobre Sua grande bondade para com a casa de Israel. Mostrou-nos compaixão por causa da Sua misericórdia, de Seu amor fiel. ⁸ Pois Ele disse: "Com certeza, eles são Meu povo, filhos que não são infiéis". Ele Se tornou o Salvador deles.

⁹ Até o fim de todo o sofrimento deles, Ele sofreu também, e o anjo de Sua presença os salvou. Em Seu amor e misericórdia, Ele os salvou, os levantou e os carregou desde os tempos antigos.

¹⁰ Mas eles se rebelaram e ofenderam Seu Santo Espírito. Assim, Ele Se tornou inimigo e lutou contra eles.

¹¹ Seu povo meditou sobre os antigos tempos de Moisés. Disseram: "Onde está Deus, O qual lhes tirou do mar com os pastores e seus rebanhos? Onde está Deus, O qual colocou Seu Santo Espírito sobre eles?

¹² Onde está Deus, O qual fez Seu glorioso poder ir com a mão direita de Moisés e dividiu a água diante deles, para fazer um nome perpétuo para Ele mesmo? ¹³ Onde está Deus, O qual lhes guiou até o fim da água profunda? Como um cavalo correndo em uma superfície plana, eles não caíram.

¹⁴ Como o gado que desce pelo vale, o Espírito de Yahweh lhes deu descanso. Assim, Tu guiaste Teu povo para fazer a Ti mesmo um nome de louvor.

¹⁵ Do céu, olha para baixo e observa de Tua santa e gloriosa habitação. Onde estão o Teu zelo e Teus atos poderosos? Tuas ações piedosas e compassivas foram guardadas de nós. ¹⁶ Pois Tu és nosso Pai, embora Abraão não nos conheça e Israel nos ignore, Tu, Yahweh, és o nosso Pai. “Nosso Redentor”, este tem sido o Teu Nome desde os tempos antigos.

¹⁷ Yahweh, por que Tu nos fazes vagar longe dos Teus caminhos e endureces nossos corações, para que nós não obedeçamos a Ti? Volta, pelo bem dos Teus servos, pelas tribos da Tua herança.

¹⁸ Teu povo possuiu o Teu santo lugar por um curto tempo. Então, nossos inimigos pisaram nele. ¹⁹ Nós nos tornamos como aqueles sobre quem Tu nunca governaste, como aqueles que nunca foram chamados pelo Teu Nome.

Capítulo 64

¹ Oh, se tivesses aberto os céus e descido! As montanhas se abalariam com Tua presença, ² assim como o fogo acende os gravetos e faz ferver a água. Oh, que Teu nome seja conhecido por Teus adversários, que as nações tremam em Tua presença!

³ Anteriormente, quando fizeste coisas admiráveis que não esperávamos, desceste, e as montanhas tremeram em Tua presença. ⁴ Desde os tempos antigos, ninguém ouviu ou percebeu, ninguém viu outro Deus além de Ti, que trabalha para os que Nele esperam.

⁵ Tu vens para ajudar aqueles que se alegram em fazer o que é correto, aqueles que Lhe obedecem e se dedicam aos Teus caminhos. Tu te iraste quando pecamos. Em Teus caminhos nós sempre seremos resgatados.

⁶ Nós somos todos como imundos e toda nossa justiça é como um trapo de imundície. Todos nós murchamos como folhas, e nossas iniquidades, como o vento, transportam-nos para longe. ⁷ Não há ninguém que invoque o Teu nome, que faça um esforço para apegar-se a Ti, pois escondeste Tua face de nós e nos entregaste aos nossos pecados.

⁸ Ainda assim, Yahweh, Tu és o nosso Pai. Somos barro e Tu és nosso oleiro; e todos nós somos obras de Tuas mãos. ⁹ Não fiques demasiadamente irado, Yahweh, nem te lembres sempre dos nossos pecados. Por favor, olha para nós, Teu povo.

¹⁰ Tua santa cidade tornou-se um deserto; Sião tornou-se um deserto, sim, Jerusalém é uma desolação. ¹¹ Nosso santo e lindo templo, onde nossos pais oravam a Ti, foi destruído pelo fogo, e tudo que era tão precioso está em ruínas. ¹² Como podes ainda Te conter, Yahweh? Como podes permanecer em silêncio e continuar a nos humilhar?

Capítulo 65

¹ "Eu estava pronto a ser procurado por aqueles que não perguntavam por Mim, a ser achado por aqueles que não Me procuravam. Eu disse: 'Eu estou aqui! Eu estou aqui!' para uma nação que não chamava pelo Meu nome. ² Estendi as Minhas mãos o dia todo a um povo teimoso, que anda em um caminho que não é bom, que tem andado segundo os seus próprios pensamentos e planos!

³ Eles são um povo que Me ofende continuamente, oferecendo sacrifícios em jardins e queimando incenso sobre tijolos. ⁴ Eles se sentam entre as sepulturas e passam a noite toda comendo carne de porco com o caldo de carne impura em seus pratos.

⁵ Eles dizem: 'Afasta-Te, não chega perto de mim, porque sou mais santo do que Tu'. Essas coisas são como fumaça no Meu nariz, um fogo que arde durante todo o dia.

⁶ Eis que está escrito diante de Mim: Eu não me calarei, vou pagar-lhes de volta; Eu lhes darei a recompensa ⁷ por seus pecados e pelos pecados de seus pais", diz Yahweh. "Eu vou pagar-lhes por queimarem incenso nos montes e zombarem de Mim nas colinas. Portanto, retribuirei completamente as suas obras passadas".

⁸ Assim diz Yahweh: "Como quando o suco é encontrado em um cacho de uvas e se diz: 'Não o danifiques, pois há algo bom nele', isto é o que Eu farei por amor de Meus servos: não destruirei todos eles.

⁹ Trarei descendentes de Jacó e de Judá, que possuirão as Minhas montanhas. Meus escolhidos herdarão a terra e os Meus servos viverão lá. ¹⁰ Sarom se tornará um pasto para as ovelhas e o vale de Acor, um lugar de descanso para os rebanhos, para o Meu povo que Me procura.

¹¹ Mas vós que abandonais Yahweh, que vos esqueceis do Meu santo monte, que preparais uma mesa para a deusa Sorte e encheis copos de vinho misturado para o deus chamado Destino,

¹² vou destinar-vos para a espada. E todos vós se curvarão ao matadouro porque, quando chamei, vós não respondestes; quando falei, não Me ouvistes; em vez disso, fizestes o que era mau perante Mim e escolhestes fazer aquilo em que Eu não tenho prazer".

¹³ Assim diz o Senhor Yahweh: "Eis que os Meus servos comerão, mas vós passareis fome; os Meus servos beberão, mas vós ficareis sedentos; Meus servos se alegrarão, mas vós sereis envergonhados. ¹⁴ Os Meus servos gritarão felizes por terem um coração alegre, mas vós chorareis pela dor do vosso coração e vos lamentareis por terem um espírito angustiado.

¹⁵ Vós deixareis para trás o vosso nome como uma maldição para Meus escolhidos falarem; Eu, o Senhor Yahweh, vos matarei; Eu chamarei Meus servos por outro nome. ¹⁶ Aquele que pronunciar uma bênção sobre a terra será abençoado por Mim, o Deus da verdade. Aquele que fizer um juramento sobre a terra jurará por Mim, o Deus da verdade, porque os problemas passados serão esquecidos, pois estarão escondidos de Meus olhos.

¹⁷ Eis que Eu estou prestes a criar novos céus e uma nova terra; e as primeiras coisas não serão lembradas nem trazidas à memória. ¹⁸ Mas vós sereis felizes e vos regozijareis sempre no que Eu estou prestes a criar. Eis que Eu estou prestes a criar alegria para Jerusalém e, para o seu povo, contentamento. ¹⁹ Eu Me regozijarei em Jerusalém e serei feliz com o Meu povo; choro e gritos de desespero não mais serão ouvidos nela.

²⁰ Nunca mais uma criança viverá lá apenas por alguns dias; nem um idoso morrerá antes de seu tempo. Aquele que morrer aos cem anos de idade será considerado ainda jovem. Quem não atingir a idade de cem anos será considerado amaldiçoado. ²¹ Eles construirão casas e nelas habitarão; plantarão vinhas e comerão dos seus frutos.

²² Eles não mais construirão uma casa e outra pessoa viverá nela; não plantarão e outros comerão. Como o tempo de vida das árvores, serão os dias do Meu povo. Os Meus escolhidos desfrutarão plenamente do trabalho de suas mãos. ²³ Eles não trabalharão em vão, nem darão à luz filhos para a ruína. Pois eles são os filhos dos abençoados por Yahweh, e os seus descendentes estarão com eles.

²⁴ Antes de eles clamarem, Eu responderei; e enquanto eles estiverem ainda falando, Eu os ouvirei. ²⁵ O lobo e o cordeiro pastarão juntos e o leão comerá palha como o boi, mas o pó será a comida da serpente. Não mais farão o mal, nem dano algum, em todo o Meu santo monte", diz Yahweh.

Capítulo 66

¹ Isto é o que Yahweh diz: "O céu é o Meu trono e a terra é o estrado dos Meus pés. Então, onde está a casa que construireis para Mim? Onde é o lugar para o Meu descanso?

² Minha mão fez todas essas coisas e, assim, elas vieram a existir — esta é uma declaração de Yahweh. Este é o homem que Eu aprovo: o quebrantado e contrito de espírito e que treme com a Minha palavra.

³ Aquele que mata um boi também mata um homem; aquele que sacrifica um cordeiro também quebra o pescoço de um cachorro; aquele que oferece uma oferta de cereais também oferece o sangue de porco; aquele que oferece um memorial de incenso também bendiz a idolatria. Eles escolheram seus próprios caminhos e se agradaram em suas abominações.

⁴ Da mesma forma, Eu escolhi puni-los. Eu trarei o que eles temem porque, quando Eu os chamei, eles não responderam; quando Eu falei, eles não escutaram. Eles fizeram o que era mau aos Meus olhos e escolheram fazer aquilo que Me desagrada".

⁵ Ouvi a palavra de Yahweh, vós que tremeis com a Sua palavra: "Vossos irmãos que vos odeiam e vos excluem por causa do Meu nome disseram: 'Que Yahweh seja glorificado. Então, veremos a vossa alegria', mas eles serão envergonhados.

⁶ Um som de grande tumulto vem da cidade, um som do templo, o som de Yahweh retribuindo aos Seus inimigos.

⁷ Antes que entrasse em trabalho de parto, ela deu à luz; antes que viessem as dores, ela deu à luz um filho. ⁸ Quem ouviu tal coisa? Quem viu tais coisas? Nascerá uma povo em um dia? Poderá uma nação ser estabelecida em um momento? Todavia, assim que Sião entrar em trabalho de parto, dará à luz aos seus filhos.

⁹ Eu geraria e não permitiria que o bebê nascesse?” — pergunta Yahweh; ou “Eu traria uma criança para o momento do parto e a deteria?” — pergunta o teu Deus.

¹⁰ Alegrai-vos com Jerusalém e ficai felizes por ela, todos vós que a amam; alegrai-vos com ela, todos vós que por ela lamentaram! ¹¹ Pois ireis mamar e ficareis satisfeitos; nos seus seios, vós sereis confortados, pois bebereis até que vos farteis e tereis prazer na abundância da sua glória.

¹² Isto é o que Yahweh diz: "Eu estou prestes a derramar prosperidade sobre ela como um rio, e as riquezas das nações, como uma inundação. Vós mamareis nela, sereis levados em seus braços e sereis afagados em seus joelhos. ¹³ Como uma mãe conforta seu filho, Eu vos confortarei; em Jerusalém, sereis confortados".

¹⁴ Vós vereis isso e o vosso coração se alegrará; vossos ossos brotarão como a tenra grama. A mão de Yahweh será revelada aos Seus servos, mas Ele mostrará Sua ira contra os Seus inimigos.

¹⁵ Eis que Yahweh virá com fogo, e Suas carruagens são como vendaval trazendo o calor da Sua ira, e Sua repreensão com chamas de fogo. ¹⁶ Pois Yahweh executa o juízo sobre o homem com fogo e com Sua espada. Os mortos por Yahweh serão muitos.

¹⁷ Eles se dedicam a Yahweh e se fazem puros para entrarem nos jardins, seguindo aqueles que comem carne de porco e outras coisas abomináveis, como ratos. "Todos eles perecerão” — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

¹⁸ “Pois Eu conheço seus feitos e seus pensamentos. Chegará o tempo em que Eu juntarei todas as nações e línguas; elas virão e verão a Minha glória. ¹⁹ Eu porei um poderoso sinal no meio delas. Então, Eu enviarei os sobreviventes para as nações: para Társis, Pul e Lude (de grandes arqueiros), para Tubal, Javã e para o litoral distante, onde eles não ouviram sobre mim nem viram Minha glória. Eles proclamarão Minha glória entre as nações.

²⁰ Eles trarão de volta todos os vossos irmãos, de todas as nações, como uma oferta a Yahweh. Eles virão em cavalos e em carruagens, em charretes, sobre mulas e camelos, para Jerusalém, o Meu monte santo” — diz Yahweh. “Pois o povo de Israel trará uma oferta de cereais, em um vaso puro, à casa de Yahweh. ²¹ Eu escolherei alguns deles como sacerdotes e levitas” — diz Yahweh.

²² “Assim como os novos céus e a nova terra, que Eu vou criar, permanecerão diante de Mim” — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — “assim sua descendência e seu nome permanecerão. ²³ De um mês para o outro, e de um sábado para o próximo, todas as pessoas virão e se curvarão diante de Mim” — diz Yahweh.

²⁴ “Eles sairão e verão os corpos mortos dos homens que se rebelaram contra Mim, pois o verme que os comem não morrerá, e o fogo que os consome não se extinguirá; e isso será abominação para toda a carne".

Jeremiah

Capítulo 1

¹ Estas são as palavras de Jeremias, filho de Hilquias, um dos sacerdotes em Anatote, na terra de Benjamim. ² A palavra de Yahweh veio a ele nos dias de Josias, filho de Amom, rei de Judá, no décimo terceiro ano do seu reinado. ³ Ela também veio nos dias de Jeoaquim, filho de Josias, rei de Judá, até o quinto mês do décimo primeiro ano de Zedequias, filho de Josias, rei de Judá, quando o povo de Jerusalém foi levado como prisioneiro.

⁴ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ⁵ "Antes que Eu te formasse no ventre, Eu te escolhi; antes que tu saísses do ventre, Eu te separei; Eu te fiz um profeta para as nações". ⁶ Eu disse: "Ah, Senhor Yahweh, eu não sei como falar, porque sou muito jovem".

⁷ Mas Yahweh me disse: "Não digas: 'Eu sou muito jovem'. Tu irás para todos os lugares aonde Eu te enviar, e dirás tudo o que Eu te ordenar! ⁸ Não tenhas medo deles, pois Eu estou contigo para te socorrer" — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

⁹ Então, Yahweh estendeu Sua mão, tocou minha boca e me disse: "Agora, Eu coloquei Minha palavra na tua boca. ¹⁰ Hoje, Eu estou te nomeando sobre as nações e reinos para arrancar e quebrar, para destruir e derrubar, para construir e plantar".

¹¹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: "O que vês, Jeremias?". Eu disse: "Vejo um ramo de amendoeira". ¹² Yahweh me disse: "Viste bem, pois Eu estou vigiando para que a Minha palavra se cumpra".

¹³ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim uma segunda vez, e disse: "O que vês?". Eu disse: "Vejo uma panela fervente, cuja superfície está agitada, que se inclina do norte para cá". ¹⁴ Yahweh me disse: "O desastre virá do norte sobre todos os que habitam nesta terra.

¹⁵ Pois Eu estou chamando todas as tribos dos reinos do norte, declara Yahweh. Elas virão, e todos colocarão seus tronos junto aos portões de entrada de Jerusalém, contra todos os muros que a cercam, e contra todas as cidades de Judá. ¹⁶ Eu pronunciarei uma sentença contra elas por todo o mal em abandonarem-Me, por queimarem incenso a outros deuses e por adorarem o que fizeram com as próprias mãos.

¹⁷ Prepara-te! Levanta-te e dize-lhes tudo o que Eu te ordenar. Não te abales diante deles, ou serei Eu que te abalarei diante deles! ¹⁸ Vê que hoje Eu fiz de ti uma cidade fortificada, uma coluna de ferro, e muros de bronze contra toda a terra — contra os reis de Judá, seus oficiais, seus sacerdotes e o povo desta terra. ¹⁹ Eles lutarão contra ti, mas não te derrotarão, pois Eu estarei contigo para te resgatar" — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

Capítulo 2

¹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Vai e proclama aos ouvidos de Jerusalém. E diz: 'Assim diz Yahweh: Eu Me lembro, em teu favor, da fidelidade à aliança na tua juventude, do teu amor no tempo em que éramos noivos, quando tu seguias atrás de Mim no deserto, por uma terra não semeada. ³ Israel era consagrado a Yahweh, os primeiros frutos da Sua colheita! Todos aqueles que os comiam eram tidos por culpados e a calamidade vinha sobre eles — esta é a declaração de Yahweh".

⁴ Ouvi a palavra de Yahweh, casa de Jacó e todas as famílias na casa de Israel. ⁵ Assim diz Yahweh: "O que vossos pais acharam de errado Comigo, para que se afastassem de Me seguir? Por que eles seguiram ídolos inúteis e eles mesmos tornaram-se inúteis? ⁶ Eles não perguntaram: 'Onde está Yahweh, que nos trouxe da terra do Egito? Onde está Yahweh, que nos guiou no deserto, pela terra de Arabá e de covas, uma terra árida e de profunda escuridão, uma terra por onde ninguém passa e ninguém habita?'

⁷ Mas Eu vos trouxe para a terra do Carmelo, para comer de seu fruto e outras coisas boas! No entanto, quando chegastes, contaminastes minha terra e fizestes da minha herança uma abominação! ⁸ O sacerdote não perguntou: 'Onde está Yahweh?' Mas os intérpretes da lei não se importaram Comigo! Os pastores se rebelaram contra Mim. Os profetas profetizaram por Baal e andaram atrás de coisas sem proveito.

⁹ Então, Eu ainda vos acusarei — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — e acusarei os filhos dos vossos filhos. ¹⁰ Atravessai para a costa de Quitim e olhai; enviai mensageiros a Quedar, descobri e vede se ali já houve algo assim. ¹¹ Por acaso, houve alguma nação que trocou seus deuses, mesmo estes não sendo deuses? Mas Meu povo trocou sua Glória por aquilo que não lhes pode ajudar.

¹² Tremei, céus, por causa disto! Ficai chocados e aterrorizados — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ¹³ Pois Meu povo cometeu dois males contra Mim: eles abandonaram a Mim, a fonte de águas vivas, e cavaram cisternas para si mesmos, cisternas quebradas que não podem reter água.

¹⁴ Por acaso, Israel é um escravo? Por acaso, nasceu ele na casa de seu senhor? Então, por que ele se tornou pilhagem? ¹⁵ Os leões jovens rugiram contra ele. Eles fizeram muito barulho e fizeram da sua terra um lugar horrível! Suas cidades estão destruídas, sem nenhum habitante. ¹⁶ Além disso, o povo de Mênfis e de Tafnes raspou-vos a cabeça. ¹⁷ Por acaso, não fostes vós mesmos que fizestes isso quando abandonastes Yahweh, vosso Deus, enquanto Ele vos guiava pelo caminho?

¹⁸ Então, agora, por que pegar a estrada para o Egito e beber as águas de Sior? Por que pegar a estrada para a Assíria e beber as águas do rio Eufrates? ¹⁹ É a tua perversidade que te repreende, e a tua incredulidade que te pune. Então, pensa nisso e entende o quanto é mau e amargo abandonar Yahweh, teu Deus, e não Me temer mais — esta é a declaração do Senhor, Yahweh dos Exércitos.

²⁰ Pois Eu quebrei o teu jugo, o que tinhas nos tempos antigos; Eu rompi os teus grilhões. Ainda assim, disseste: 'Eu não servirei!', visto que tu te curvaste em todas as altas colinas e debaixo de toda árvore frondosa, como uma adúltera. ²¹ Eu mesmo plantei a ti como uma videira escolhida, uma semente completamente verdadeira. No entanto, como te tornaste uma vinha corrupta e imprestável? ²² Mesmo que te limpes no rio ou te laves com sabão forte, tua iniquidade é uma mancha perante Mim — esta é a declaração do Senhor Yahweh.

²³ Como podes dizer: 'Eu não estou contaminada! Eu não sigo os baalins'? Olha o que fizeste nos vales! Considera o que tens feito — tu és como a veloz fêmea do camelo, correndo para lá e para cá; ²⁴ és como uma jumenta selvagem no cio, acostumada com o deserto, farejando o vento! Quem poderá conter o seu desejo? Nenhum dos machos precisa se cansar procurando-a, pois no tempo do acasalmento a acharão. ²⁵ Não deixes que os teus pés fiquem descalços, nem tua garganta tenha sede! Mas tu disseste: 'Não há esperança! Não! Eu amo os estranhos e vou atrás deles!'

²⁶ Como a vergonha de um ladrão quando é encontrado, assim a casa de Israel será envergonhada — ela, seus reis, seus príncipes, seus sacerdotes e profetas! ²⁷ Esses são os que dizem para a árvore: 'Tu és meu pai'; e para a pedra: 'Tu me deste à luz'. Suas costas estão viradas para Mim, e não os seus rostos. Todavia, eles dizem nos tempos de transtorno: 'Levanta-Te e salva-nos'! ²⁸ Mas onde estão os deuses que fizestes para vós mesmos? Eles que se levantem se quiserem salvar-vos nos tempos de transtorno, pois vossos ídolos são tão numerosos quanto as vossas cidades, Judá!

²⁹ Então, por que Me acusais de agir errado? Todos vós pecastes contra Mim — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ³⁰ Eu puni vosso povo em vão. Eles não quiseram aceitar a disciplina. Vossa espada devorou vossos profetas como um leão destruidor. ³¹ Vós que pertenceis a esta geração, prestai atenção em Minha palavra, a palavra de Yahweh! Por acaso, Eu tenho sido um deserto para Israel, ou uma terra de profunda escuridão? Por que Meu povo diz: 'Vamos vagar por aí, não voltaremos mais a Ti'?

³² Por acaso, uma virgem se esqueceria de suas joias ou uma noiva de seus véus? Contudo, Meu povo se esqueceu de Mim por incontáveis dias! ³³ Quão bem te preparaste para procurar o amor! Até mesmo ensinaste os teus caminhos para mulheres perversas. ³⁴ O sangue da vida dos inocentes e pobres foi encontrado nas tuas roupas, mesmo não sendo eles flagrados em arrombamentos de casas.

³⁵ No entanto, dizes: 'Eu sou inocente; com certeza a ira de Yahweh se desviará de mim'. Mas vê! Serás julgado pelo que dizes: 'Não pequei'. ³⁶ Por que tratas tão levianamente esta mudança nos teus caminhos? Tu te frustrarás com o Egito, assim como te frustraste com a Assíria. ³⁷ Tu também sairás de lá abatida, com as tuas mãos na cabeça, pois Yahweh rejeitou aqueles em quem confiaste, então não serás ajudada por eles".

Capítulo 3

¹ "Se um homem divorciar-se de sua esposa, e ela se separar dele e tornar-se esposa de outro homem, por acaso ele voltará a ela novamente? Não já estaria aquela terra completamente contaminada? Tu viveste como prostituta com muitos amantes, e queres voltar para Mim? — Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ² Levanta teus olhos para os lugares altos e estéreis e vê! Existe algum lugar onde não praticaste ato sexual ilícito? Na beira das estradas te sentas e esperas por teus amantes, como um nômade no deserto. Tu tens contaminado a terra com a tua prostituição e maldade.

³ Então as chuvas da primavera foram retidas, e as chuvas tardias não chegaram. Mas a tua face é arrogante, como a face de uma mulher promíscua. Tu te recusas a sentir vergonha. ⁴ Por acaso agora mesmo não me chamaste: 'Meu pai, meu mais próximo amigo de minha juventude, ⁵ ficará irritado para sempre? Ele guardará Sua raiva até o fim?' Vê! Isso é o que disseste, mas tu cometes todo o mal possível!"

⁶ Então, Yahweh me disse nos dias do rei Josias: "Tu vês o que a infiel Israel tem feito? Ela sobe para toda montanha alta e debaixo de toda árvore frondosa, e ali ela age como uma prostituta. ⁷ Eu disse: 'Depois dela fazer todas essas coisas, ela voltará para mim', mas ela não voltou. Então Judá, sua irmã infiel, viu isso.

⁸ Eu vi que, apesar de a infiel Israel haver cometido adultério, e Eu haver lhe dado uma certidão de divórcio, mesmo assim, Judá, a sua irmã infiel, não teve medo e também foi para fora e agiu como uma prostituta. ⁹ Ela não se importava em nada com a sua prostituição; ela contaminou a terra, cometeu adultério com pedras e árvores, adorando-as. ¹⁰ E, depois de tudo isso, Judá, a sua irmã infiel, voltou para Mim; porém, não com todo o seu coração, mas com uma mentira — esta é a declaração de Yahweh".

¹¹ Então, Yahweh me disse: "A infiel Israel tem sido mais justa que a infiel Judá! ¹² Vai e proclama essas palavras para o norte. Dize: 'Volta, infiel Israel! —Esta é a declaração de Yahweh — Eu não estarei irado contigo para sempre, porque sou fiel — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — Eu não ficarei irado para sempre.

¹³ Reconhece a tua iniquidade, porque tu tens transgredido contra Yahweh, teu Deus; tens compartilhado teus caminhos com estranhos embaixo de toda árvore frondosa! Pois não tens escutado Minha voz! — Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ¹⁴ Volta, povo infiel! — Esta é a declaração de Yahweh — Porque Eu sou teu marido. Eu vos trarei, um de uma cidade e dois de um clã, e vos trarei a Sião. ¹⁵ Eu vos darei pastores segundo o Meu coração, e eles vos apascentarão com conhecimento e percepção.

¹⁶ Então, acontecerá que, naqueles dias, aumentareis e dareis fruto na terra — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — Não mais se dirá: "A arca da aliança de Yahweh!" Esse assunto não mais surgirá em vosso coração, nem será lembrado; ela não fará falta, e não será feita uma outra'.

¹⁷ Naquele tempo, proclamarão a respeito de Jerusalém: 'Este é o trono de Yahweh', e todas as outras nações se reunirão em Jerusalém, em nome de Yahweh. Elas não mais andarão na teimosia de seus perversos corações. ¹⁸ Nesses dias, a casa de Judá andará com a casa de Israel. Elas virão juntas da terra do norte para a terra que Eu dei como herança aos vossos ancestrais.

¹⁹ Eu disse a Mim mesmo: 'Como Eu quero te honrar como Meu filho e te dar uma terra agradável, a herança mais bonita do que há em qualquer outra nação!' Eu teria dito: 'Tu me chamarás de meu Pai'. Teria dito que tu não te desviarias de Me seguir. ²⁰ Porém, como uma mulher infiel ao seu marido, tu Me traíste, casa de Israel — esta é a declaração de Yahweh".

²¹ Ouve-se uma voz nos lugares altos e estéreis, o choro e a súplica de Israel! Porque eles mudaram seus caminhos, eles se esqueceram de Yahweh, seu Deus. ²² "Voltai, povo infiel! Eu vos curarei da infidelidade!" "Eis que nós viremos para Ti, porque Tu és Yahweh, nosso Deus!

²³ Certamente, as mentiras vêm das colinas, um ruído de confusão das montanhas. Certamente, Yahweh, nosso Deus, é a salvação de Israel. ²⁴ Mas os ídolos vergonhosos consumiram aquilo pelo qual nossos ancestrais trabalharam: seus rebanhos e gado, seus filhos e filhas! ²⁵ Deitemo-nos em vergonha. Que a vergonha nos cubra porque pecamos contra Yahweh, nosso Deus! Nós mesmos e nossos ancestrais, desde a nossa juventude até hoje, não escutamos a voz de Yahweh, nosso Deus!"

Capítulo 4

¹ Se voltares, ó Israel — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — então, é a Mim a quem tu deves voltar. Se tirares tuas coisas abomináveis de diante de Mim e não te desviares de Mim novamente, ² se jurares: 'Tão certo como Yahweh vive', com fidelidade, justiça e retidão, então, Nele as nações serão abençoadas e Nele se gloriarão. ³ Porque assim diz Yahweh a cada pessoa de Judá e de Jerusalém: 'Lavrai vosso campo e não semeeis entre espinhos.

⁴ Circuncidai-vos a Yahweh e removei os prepúcios do vosso coração, ó homens de Judá e habitantes de Jerusalém, senão Minha fúria se espalhará como fogo e queimará, sem que ninguém possa apagá-la, por causa das maldades dos vossos atos. ⁵ Anunciai em Judá e seja proclamado em Jerusalém; dizei: 'Tocai a trombeta na terra'. Proclamai: 'Reuni-vos. Vamos às cidades fortificadas'. ⁶ Levantai o sinal, apontai-o para Sião, correi para a vossa segurança! Não permaneçais, porque estou trazendo do norte o desastre, e uma grande destruição.

⁷ Um leão está saindo do seu matagal e alguém que destruirá as nações está de partida. Ele deixou o seu lugar para trazer horror à tua terra, para tornar as tuas cidades em ruínas, onde ninguém viverá. Por isso vesti-vos de pano de saco, lamento e pranto; ⁸ porque a força da ira de Yahweh não se desviou de nós.

⁹ Acontecerá que, naquele dia — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — os corações do rei e de seus oficiais estarão como mortos. Os sacerdotes ficarão aterrorizados e os profetas, horrorizados". ¹⁰ Então eu disse: "Ó, Senhor Yahweh, certamente enganaste este povo e Jerusalém quando disseste: 'Haverá paz para vós'. Entretanto, a espada está golpeando contra suas vidas".

¹¹ Naquele tempo será dito a este povo e a Jerusalém: "Um vento abrasador virá dos planaltos do deserto para a filha do Meu povo. Não para peneirar nem para limpar. ¹² Um vento muito mais forte do que este virá sob o Meu comando e, agora, Eu pronunciarei uma sentença contra eles.

¹³ Vede! Ele avança como as nuvens, e suas carruagens são como uma tempestade. Seus cavalos são mais rápidos do que as águias. Ai de nós, porque seremos devastados! ¹⁴ Limpa teu coração da maldade, Jerusalém, para que sejas salva. Por quanto tempo os teus pensamentos serão sobre como pecar? ¹⁵ Pois uma voz está trazendo notícias de Dã e o desastre que virá já pode ser ouvido das montanhas de Efraim.

¹⁶ Informai às nações a respeito disto: Vede! Anunciai a Jerusalém que os adversários vêm de uma terra distante para darem o seu grito de guerra contra as cidades de Judá. ¹⁷ Eles serão como vigias de uma plantação, ao redor dela por todos os lados, pois ela se rebelou contra Mim — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ¹⁸ A tua conduta e os teus atos que te fizeram isto. Esta será a tua punição. Quão terrível será! Atingirá o teu próprio coração.

¹⁹ Meu coração, meu coração! Eu estou angustiado em meu coração. Meu coração está conturbado dentro de mim. Não consigo ficar calado, pois ouço o som da trombeta, um alarme para a batalha. ²⁰ Haverá desastre após desastre, pois toda a terra está devastada. Repentinamente, são destruídas as minhas tendas e, num instante, as minhas cortinas.

²¹ Até quando verei a bandeira e ouvirei o som da trombeta? ²² "Pois o Meu povo é tolo e não Me conhece. São insensatos e não têm entendimento. São habilidosos para o mal, mas não sabem fazer o bem.

²³ Olhei para a terra. Vede! Ela era sem forma e vazia. Não havia luz nos céus. ²⁴ Olhei para as montanhas. Vede! Elas tremiam, e todas as colinas estremeciam. ²⁵ Eu olhei. Vede! Não havia ninguém, e todas as aves dos céus haviam fugido. ²⁶ Eu olhei. Vede! Os pomares haviam-se transformado em desertos e todas as cidades estavam arrasadas diante de Yahweh, diante do furor de Sua ira".

²⁷ Pois assim diz Yahweh: "Toda a terra será devastada, mas Eu não a destruirei completamente. ²⁸ Por esta razão, a terra lamentará, e os céus, acima, escurecerão. Pois Eu anunciei as Minhas intenções; não voltarei atrás, nem desistirei de realizá-las. ²⁹ Todas as cidades fugirão do barulho dos cavaleiros e dos flecheiros com arcos; elas fugirão para as florestas; todas as cidades escalarão as rochas. As cidades serão abandonadas, pois não haverá ninguém para habitá-las.

³⁰ Agora que foste devastada, o que farás? Pois, embora te vistas de púrpura e te adornes com joias de ouro e, com pinturas, faças teus olhos parecerem maiores, os homens que te cobiçavam, agora te rejeitam. Eles estão tentando tirar tua vida. ³¹ Então, ouço um som de angústia; a aflição como a do parto do primeiro filho; a voz da filha de Sião, que está ofegante. Ela estende as mãos: 'Ai de mim! Estou desfalecendo por causa desses assassinos".

Capítulo 5

¹ Correi pelas ruas de Jerusalém, procurai também nas praças da cidade; então, olhai e pensai sobre isto: se puderes achar um homem ou qualquer um que aja com justiça, ou esteja tentando agir fielmente, então, perdoarei Jerusalém. ² Mesmo que eles digam: 'Tão certo quanto Yahweh vive', ainda assim, estão jurando falsamente". ³ Yahweh, por acaso Teus olhos não buscam fidelidade? Tu golpeias as pessoas, mas elas não sentem dor. Tu os tens derrotado completamente, mas eles ainda se recusam a receber disciplina. Eles tornam suas faces mais duras que a rocha, pois se recusam a se arrepender.

⁴ Então eu disse: "Certamente, apenas o povo pobre é assim. Esses são tolos, pois não conhecem os caminhos de Yahweh, os decretos do seu Deus. ⁵ Irei para as pessoas importantes e lhes declararei as mensagens de Yahweh porque, pelo menos, eles conhecem os caminhos de Yahweh, os decretos do seu Deus. Mas, todos eles quebraram o jugo juntos, todos eles romperam as correntes que os ligavam a Deus. ⁶ Por isso, um leão da mata os atacará. Um lobo de Arabá os arruinará. Uma pantera à espreita atacará suas cidades. Qualquer um que sair da cidade será dilacerado, porque suas transgressões aumentam e seus atos de infidelidade são ilimitados.

⁷ Por que Eu deveria perdoar essas pessoas? Seus filhos Me abandonaram e fizeram juramento pelos que não são deuses. Eu os tenho alimentado por completo, mas eles cometeram adultério e andaram em grande número para as casas de prostituição. ⁸ Eles eram como cavalos bem nutridos, perambulando a fim de se acasalarem, cada um relinchando à mulher de seu próximo. ⁹ Por acaso, Eu não os deveria punir? —Esta é a declaração de Yahweh — e Eu não deveria Me vingar de uma nação como esta?

¹⁰ Subi até os terraços de suas vinhas e destruí-as, mas não façais uma destruição total sobre elas. Aparai suas videiras, uma vez que essas videiras não vieram de Yahweh. ¹¹ Pois as casas de Israel e de Judá têm-Me traído completamente — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ¹² Elas têm falado falsamente de Yahweh e dizem: 'Ele não fará nada. O mal não virá sobre nós, nem veremos a espada ou a fome. ¹³ Os profetas têm-se tornado como o vento; a palavra não está neles; por isso, que caiam sobre eles mesmos o que eles dizem que acontecerá".

¹⁴ Assim diz Yahweh, o Deus dos Exércitos: "Por que falastes isso, vede, Eu estou prestes a colocar a Minha palavra na tua boca, e ela será como um fogo e este povo será como madeira, pois ela os consumirá. ¹⁵ Vede! Eu trarei uma nação de longe contra vós, casa de Israel — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — uma nação duradoura, uma nação antiga. Uma nação cuja língua tu não conheces, nem entendes o que eles dizem.

¹⁶ Sua aljava é como um túmulo aberto. Todos eles são guerreiros. ¹⁷ Então, tua colheita será consumida, teus filhos e tuas filhas também, e a tua comida. Eles comerão teus rebanhos e gados; eles comerão do fruto de tuas vinhas e figueiras. Com a espada, eles demolirão tuas cidades fortificadas, nas quais tu confias.

¹⁸ Mas, mesmo naqueles dias — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — Eu não pretendo destruir-vos completamente. ¹⁹ Quando vós, Israel e Judá, disserdes: 'Por que Yahweh, nosso Deus, tem feito todas estas coisas conosco?' Então tu, Jeremias, lhes dirás: 'Assim como vós abandonastes a Yahweh e servistes a deuses estrangeiros em vossa terra, assim, vós também servireis a estranhos em uma terra que não é a vossa'.

²⁰ Relata isso à casa de Jacó e seja ouvido em Judá. Diz: ²¹ 'Ouvi isto vós, ó povo tolo, que não tendes entendimento; que tendes olhos, mas não podeis ver, e tendes ouvidos, mas não podeis ouvir. ²² Vós não Me temeis? — Esta é a declaração de Yahweh — nem tremeis diante da Minha face? Eu coloquei a areia como limite para o mar, um decreto contínuo que não se pode violar, ainda que as ondas subam e desçam, mesmo assim, não o violam. Embora as ondas rujam, elas não o ultrapassam.

²³ Mas este povo tem um coração obstinado. Eles se desviaram em rebelião e foram embora. ²⁴ Pois eles não dizem em seus corações: 'Temamos a Yahweh, nosso Deus, Aquele que traz a chuva, as primeiras chuvas e as chuvas tardias, no seu tempo certo, nas semanas determinadas de nossa colheita'. ²⁵ Vossas iniquidades têm impedido que essas coisas aconteçam. Vossas iniquidades têm impedido que as coisas boas venham até vós.

²⁶ Pois homens ímpios são achados com o Meu povo. Eles ficam à espreita como alguém que se agacha para capturar pássaros; eles põem uma armadilha para apanhar o povo. ²⁷ Como uma gaiola cheia de pássaros, assim também todas as suas casas estão cheias de engano. Por isso, eles crescem e se enriquecem. ²⁸ Eles se tornaram gordos e satisfeitos por estarem em boas condições. Eles ultrapassaram todos os limites da maldade; não defendem a causa do povo, nem a causa dos órfãos. Eles prosperam, mesmo não dando justiça aos necessitados. ²⁹ Por acaso, não devo Eu castigá-los por essas coisas? — Esta é a declaração de Yahweh — E, por acaso, não Me vingarei de uma nação como esta?

³⁰ Atrocidades e horrores têm ocorrido nesta terra. ³¹ Os profetas profetizam engano e os sacerdotes governam com seu próprio poder. Meu povo ama isso, mas, no fim, o que há de acontecer?

Capítulo 6

¹ Buscai segurança, povo de Benjamim, deixando Jerusalém. Tocai a trombeta em Tecoa. Levantai um sinal sobre Bete-Haquerém, porque o mal vem surgindo do norte; uma grande destruição está vindo. ² A filha de Sião, a bela e delicada mulher, será destruída. ³ Contra ela irão os pastores e seus rebanhos; armarão tendas ao seu redor; cada homem apascentará com a sua própria mão.

⁴ Dirão: "Consagrai-vos para a batalha. Levantai-vos, ataquemos ao meio-dia. É muito ruim que a luz do dia esteja esmaecendo, que as sombras da tarde estejam caindo. ⁵ Mas ataquemos à noite e destruamos a fortaleza dela".

⁶ Pois assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos: "Cortai suas árvores e levantai rampas de cerco contra Jerusalém. Esta é a cidade certa para se atacar, porque ela está cheia de opressão. ⁷ Como um poço que faz brotar água fresca, assim esta cidade continua produzindo iniquidade. A violência e a desordem são ouvidas nela. As doenças e as feridas estão, continuamente, diante da Minha face. ⁸ Aceita a disciplina, Jerusalém, ou Eu Me desviarei de ti e te farei uma ruína, uma terra desabitada".

⁹ Assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos: "Certamente, eles recolherão, como numa vinha, aqueles que restaram em Israel. Examina novamente e estende a tua mão para coletar as uvas que deixou escapar das vinhas. ¹⁰ A quem eu devo declarar e advertir para que ouçam? Vede! Seus ouvidos são incircuncisos, eles não são capazes de prestar atenção! Vede! A palavra de Yahweh veio a eles para corrigi-los, mas eles não a quiseram".

¹¹ Mas eu estou cheio com a fúria de Yahweh. Estou cansado de retê-la. Ele me disse: "Derrama-a sobre as crianças nas ruas e nos grupos de jovens. Pois cada homem será levado cativo com sua esposa; e cada idoso e os de idade muito avançada. ¹² Suas casas serão dadas a outros, juntamente com seus campos e suas esposas. Pois Eu atacarei os habitantes da terra com a Minha mão — esta é declaração de Yahweh.

¹³ Desde o menor até o maior, todos eles são ávidos pelo ganho desonesto. Do profeta ao sacerdote, todos eles praticam a falsidade. ¹⁴ Eles têm curado as feridas do Meu povo apenas superficialmente, quando dizem: 'Paz, paz!' quando não há paz. ¹⁵ Por acaso, eles se envergonharam quando praticaram abominações? Eles não se envergonharam; nem sequer sabem o que é ficar de rosto corado! Por isso, eles cairão entre os que caírem; eles serão derrubados quando forem punidos, diz Yahweh.

¹⁶ Assim diz Yahweh: "Ficai de pé na encruzilhada e vede; perguntai pelos caminhos antigos. 'Onde fica o bom caminho?' Então ide por ele e encontrai um lugar de descanso para vós. Mas o povo dirá: 'Não iremos'. ¹⁷ Eu designei para ti guardas para ouvirem a trombeta. Mas eles disseram: 'Não ouviremos'. ¹⁸ Por isso, nações, ouvi! Vede, vós testemunhas, o que lhes acontecerá. ¹⁹ Ouve, ó terra! Vê, Eu trarei o desastre a esse povo, o fruto dos seus pensamentos. Eles não prestaram atenção à Minha palavra ou à lei; pelo contrário, eles a rejeitaram.

²⁰ O que este incenso subindo de Sabá significa para Mim? Ou estes cheiros suaves de uma terra distante? Vossos holocaustos não são aceitáveis a Mim, nem o são os vossos sacrifícios". ²¹ Pois Yahweh diz: "Vê, Eu colocarei uma pedra de tropeço contra este povo. Eles tropeçarão nela, pais e filhos juntamente. Os habitantes e seus vizinhos também perecerão". ²² Assim diz Yahweh: "Vê, um povo está vindo da terra do norte. Pois uma grande nação tem sido provocada para vir de uma terra distante.

²³ Eles estarão armados de arcos e lanças. Eles são cruéis e não têm compaixão. Seu som é como o barulho do mar, e estão cavalgando em formação como homens de guerra contra ti, ó filha de Sião." ²⁴ Nós temos ouvido as notícias sobre eles. Nossas mãos caem flácidas de aflição. A angústia se apodera de nós como as dores de uma mulher em trabalho de parto.

²⁵ Não saiais para o campo, nem andeis pelas estradas, pois as espadas do inimigo e o terror estão em todo o redor. ²⁶ "Ó, filha do Meu povo, veste-te de saco, rolando em cinzas, como o funeral de um filho único. Faze para ti um funeral amargo, porque o destruidor virá, repentinamente, sobre nós.

²⁷ "Eu te criei, Jeremias, aquele que examina o Meu povo como quem testa o metal, para que examines e testes o caminho deles. ²⁸ Ele é o mais teimoso dos povos, que sai ao redor difamando os outros. Todos eles são bronze e ferro, agindo corruptamente. ²⁹ Os foles já se queimaram pelo fogo que os aquecia; o chumbo já foi consumido nas chamas. O refino continua entre eles, mas é inútil, porque o mal não é removido. ³⁰ Eles serão chamados prata rejeitada, pois Yahweh os tem rejeitado".

Capítulo 7

¹ Esta é a palavra que veio a Jeremias da parte de Yahweh: ² "Põe-te à porta da casa de Yahweh e proclama esta palavra! Dize: 'Ouvi a palavra de Yahweh, todos de Judá que entram por estes portões para adorar Yahweh.

³ Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel, diz: Endireitai os vossos caminhos e praticai o que é bom, e vos deixarei viver aqui neste lugar. ⁴ Não confieis em palavras enganosas, dizendo: 'Templo de Yahweh! Templo de Yahweh! Templo de Yahweh!'

⁵ Mas se endireitardes completamente os vossos caminhos e praticardes o que é bom; se realmente praticardes a justiça entre um homem e o seu próximo, ⁶ se não explorardes os que estão na terra, o órfão ou a viúva, e não derramardes sangue inocente neste lugar, e nem seguirdes outros deuses para o seu próprio mal, ⁷ então, Eu vos deixarei habitar neste lugar, na terra que dei aos vossos antepassados desde a antiguidade e para sempre.

⁸ Vede! Vós confiais em palavras enganosas e inúteis que não vos ajudam. ⁹ Vós roubais, matais e cometeis adultério? Jurais falsamente e ofereceis incenso a Baal, e seguis outros deuses que não conhecestes? ¹⁰ E, depois vós vindes diante de Mim nesta casa, onde Meu nome é proclamado, e dizeis: 'Estamos salvos', para continuardes a praticar todas essas abominações? ¹¹ Nesta casa, que leva o Meu nome, um covil de ladrões aos vossos olhos? Mas eu tenho visto isto — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

¹² Portanto, vai ao Meu lugar que estava em Siló, onde permiti que o Meu nome habitasse no início, e olha o que Eu fiz por causa da maldade do Meu povo Israel. ¹³ Agora, porque fizestes todas essas coisas — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — Eu vos falei repetidas vezes, mas não Me ouvistes. Eu os convoquei, mas não Me respondestes. ¹⁴ Portanto, o que fiz a Siló, também farei a esta casa, que se chama pelo Meu nome, a casa em que confiastes, este lugar que dei a vós e a vossos pais. ¹⁵ Eu vos expulsarei da Minha presença, como expulsei todos os vossos irmãos, todos os descendentes de Efraim.

¹⁶ E tu, Jeremias, não ores por este povo, e não levantes um lamento ou oração em seu favor, nem intercedas a Mim, pois não te ouvirei. ¹⁷ Não vês o que eles fazem nas cidades de Judá e nas ruas de Jerusalém? ¹⁸ Os filhos juntam a lenha e os pais acendem o fogo! As mulheres amassam a farinha para fazerem bolos à rainha dos céus, e colocam ofertas de bebidas aos deuses, a fim de Me provocarem.

¹⁹ Estão realmente me provocando? — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — não é a si mesmos que provocam, para sua própria vergonha? ²⁰ Portanto, o Senhor Yahweh diz isto: 'Vê, a minha raiva e a minha ira se derramarão sobre este lugar, sobre os homens e animais, sobre as árvores nos campos e os frutos da terra. Queimará e não se apagará'.

²¹ Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Juntai os vossos holocaustos aos vossos sacrifícios e comei a carne'. ²² Pois quando tirei os vossos pais da terra do Egito, não exigi nada deles. Eu não ordenei coisa alguma sobre holocaustos e sacrifícios. ²³ Apenas lhes dei esta ordem: 'Ouvi a Minha voz, e serei o vosso Deus e vós sereis o Meu povo. Então, andai no caminho que Eu lhes guiar, para que tudo vá bem a vós'.

²⁴ Mas não me ouviram, nem prestaram atenção. Viveram nos seus próprios planos, no propósito do seu coração perverso. Andaram para trás e não para frente. ²⁵ Desde o dia em que vossos ancestrais saíram da terra do Egito até hoje, Eu enviei todos os Meus servos e profetas até vós. Persisti em enviá-los, ²⁶ mas não Me ouviram, não prestaram atenção, foram teimosos. Foram mais perversos do que seus ancestrais'.

²⁷ Anuncia essas palavras a eles, mas não te ouvirão. Anuncia essas coisas a eles, mas eles não te responderão. ²⁸ Dize a eles que esta é uma nação que não ouve a voz de Yahweh, seu Deus, e não recebe a correção; a verdade foi destruída e desapareceu de seus lábios.

²⁹ Cortai vossos cabelos e jogai fora. Cantai uma canção fúnebre sobre os lugares abertos. Pois Yahweh rejeitou e abandonou esta geração na Sua ira. ³⁰ Os filhos de Judá fizeram o que era mau aos Meus olhos — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — eles colocaram suas imagens detestáveis na casa onde Meu nome é anunciado, para corrompê-la.

³¹ Construíram o santuário de Tofete, que está no vale de Ben-Hinom. Fizeram isto para queimar seus filhos e filhas como sacrifício, coisa que nunca ordenei, que nunca Me veio à mente. ³² Então vede, vem os dias — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — em que não se chamará Tofete ou vale de Ben-Hinom, mas vale da Matança; enterrarão cadáveres em Tofete até que não haja mais lugar.

³³ E os cadáveres deste povo servirão de comida para as aves do céu e para os animais da terra, e não haverá ninguém para espantá-los. ³⁴ Darei fim às cidades de Judá e às ruas de Jerusalém, à voz de alegria e júbilo, à voz do noivo e da noiva; porque a terra se tornará em deserto".

Capítulo 8

¹ "Naquele tempo, eles tirarão das sepulturas os ossos dos reis de Judá e de seus oficiais, os ossos dos sacerdotes e profetas, e os ossos dos habitantes de Jerusalém — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ² Então, eles os espalharão à luz do sol, da lua e de todas as estrelas dos céus; estas coisas no céu às quais eles têm seguido e servido, e às quais eles têm inquirido e adorado. Os ossos não serão reunidos e enterrados novamente. Eles serão como esterco na superfície da terra. ³ Em cada lugar remanescente onde Eu os tenho lançado, eles escolherão para si mesmos a morte, ao invés da vida, todos os que ainda restaram desta terrível nação – esta é a declaração de Yahweh dos Exércitos.

⁴ Então diga a eles: 'Yahweh diz isto: Cai alguém e não se levanta? Fica alguém perdido e não tenta retornar? ⁵ Por que este povo, Jerusalém, tem virado as costas em permanente infidelidade? Eles agarram-se à mentira e não querem se arrepender.

⁶ Eu prestei atenção e ouvi, mas eles não falaram direito; ninguém estava triste por sua maldade, ninguém para dizer: 'O que eu tenho feito?' Todos eles vão para onde desejam, como um cavalo correndo em direção a batalha. ⁷ Até mesmo a cegonha no céu conhece as estações certas, e as pombas, andorinhas, e tordos. Eles migram no tempo certo, mas Meu povo não conhece os decretos de Yahweh.

⁸ Por que vós dizeis: 'Nós somos sábios! E a lei de Yahweh está conosco?' Na verdade, vede! A pena enganosa dos escribas tem criado mentira. ⁹ Os homens sábios serão envergonhados. Eles estão consternados e presos. Vede! Eles rejeitam a palavra de Yahweh; então, qual é a utilidade da sabedoria deles? ¹⁰ Assim, Eu darei as esposas deles para outros, e os seus campos para aqueles que irão possuí-los; desde o mais jovem até o maior, todos eles se dão à avareza! Desde o profeta até o sacerdote, todos eles praticam o engano.

¹¹ Eles curaram superficialmente a ferida do Meu povo. Eles disseram: 'Paz! Paz!', mas não havia paz. ¹² Eles estavam envergonhados quando eles praticavam abominações? Eles não estavam envergonhados. Eles não tiveram humildade. Então eles cairão no tempo da punição deles, com aqueles que já haviam caído. Eles serão derrubados, diz Yahweh. ¹³ Eu irei removê-los completamente e não haverá uvas na vinha, nem haverá figos nas figueiras. Pois a folha secará, e o que Eu tenho dado a eles morrerá – esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

¹⁴ O povo dirá: 'Por que nós estamos assentados aqui? Vamos juntos; vamos para as cidades fortificadas, e lá nos tornaremos silenciosos na morte. Pois Yahweh nosso Deus nos silenciará. Ele nos fará tomar veneno, desde que nós pecamos contra Ele. ¹⁵ Nós estamos esperando por paz, mas não haverá nada bom. Nós estamos esperando por um tempo de cura, mas vede, haverá terror.

¹⁶ O bufar dos Seus cavalos são ouvidos desde Dã. Toda a terra treme ao som do relinchar dos Seus cavalos fortes. Pois eles virão e consumirão a terra e sua riqueza, a cidade e os que vivem nela'. ¹⁷ Pois vede, Eu estou enviando cobras no meio de vós, víboras que vós não podeis encantar, e elas vos morderão – esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

¹⁸ Minha tristeza não tem fim, e meu coração está doente. ¹⁹ Vde! A voz estridente da filha do Meu povo de uma terra distante! Não está Yahweh em Sião? Ou não está nela o seu Rei? Por que, então, eles Me ofendem com as suas figuras esculpidas e os ídolos estrangeiros sem valor?

²⁰ A colheita já passou, o verão terminou. Mas nós não fomos salvos. ²¹ Eu estou ferido devido à ferida da filha do Meu povo. Eu choro diante das coisas horríveis que têm acontecido a ela; eu estou consternado. ²² Não há bálsamo em Gileade? Não há médico lá? Por que a cura da filha do Meu povo não acontece?

Capítulo 9

¹ Se, ao menos, eu chorasse sem parar, e meus olhos fossem uma fonte de lágrimas! Pois choraria de dia e de noite pelos mortos da filha do meu povo. ² Se, ao menos, alguém me desse um lugar para os viajantes no deserto ficarem, onde eu pudesse ir e abandonar o meu povo. Se, ao menos, eu pudesse largá-los, já que todos são adúlteros, um bando de traidores! ³ Yahweh declara: "Eles dizem coisas falsas com suas línguas, que são seus arcos fraudulentos, mas não é por causa de nenhuma fidelidade deles que se tornam fortes na terra. Eles vão de um ato perverso para outro. Eles não Me conhecem.

⁴ Ficai atentos, cada um de vós, contra vosso companheiro, e não confieis em qualquer irmão, pois todos os irmãos são enganadores, e cada companheiro anda caluniando. ⁵ Cada homem zomba do seu companheiro, e não fala a verdade. Suas línguas ensinam coisas fraudulentas; eles estão exaustos de cometer iniquidades. ⁶ Vossa habitação está no meio do engano; pelo engano, recusam a conhecer-Me – esta é a declaração de Yahweh".

⁷ Yahweh dos Exércitos diz: "Vede! Estou prestes a refinar-vos e a vos testar, pois o que mais Eu posso fazer por causa do que Meu povo fez? ⁸ Suas línguas são flechas afiadas, eles falam coisas infiéis. Com suas bocas, proclamam paz a seus vizinhos, mas com seus corações armam ciladas para eles. ⁹ Eu não deveria puni-los por causa dessas coisas? – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh – Eu não deveria Me vingar de uma nação como esta?

¹⁰ Eu cantarei uma canção de luto e lamentação às montanhas, e uma canção fúnebre será cantada aos pastos. Pois estão queimados para que ninguém possa passar por eles. Já não se ouvirá o som de nenhum gado. Os pássaros dos céus e todos os animais fugiram. ¹¹ Pois Eu transformarei Jerusalém em pilhas de ruínas, um esconderijo de chacais. Eu farei das cidades de Judá lugares de ruínas, sem habitantes". ¹² Que homem é sábio o suficiente para entender isso? O que a boca de Yahweh proclama para ele, e ele a declarará? Por que a terra pereceu, e está destruída como o deserto, por onde ninguém pode passar?

¹³ Yahweh diz: "É porque eles abandonaram Minha lei, que Eu coloquei diante deles, porque eles não ouvem a Minha voz e não caminham de acordo com ela. ¹⁴ É porque eles caminham de acordo com seus corações teimosos e seguem baalins, como seus pais lhes ensinaram a fazer.

¹⁵ Por essa razão, Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz isto: 'Vede! Eu estou prestes a fazer este povo comer algo amargo e beber água envenenada. ¹⁶ Então, Eu os dispersarei entre as nações que eles não conhecem, nem eles e nem seus ancestrais. Eu enviarei uma espada atrás deles até que Eu os tenha destruído completamente".

¹⁷ Yahweh dos Exércitos diz: "Pensai nisto: chamai as cantoras de funerais; deixai que elas venham. Mandai procurar as mulheres habilidosas em lamentar. ¹⁸ Que elas se apressem e cantem uma canção de lamento sobre nós; assim, nossos olhos se encherão de lágrimas e nossas pálpebras fluirão com água.

¹⁹ Porque o som do lamento é ouvido em Sião: 'Como estamos devastados! Estamos grandemente envergonhados porque abandonamos a terra, uma vez que derrubaram nossas casas'. ²⁰ Então vós, mulheres, escutai a palavra de Yahweh; prestai atenção às mensagens que vêm da Sua boca. Então, ensinai vossas filhas uma canção de lamentação, e a cada companheira, uma canção fúnebre.

²¹ A morte veio por nossas janelas; ela entra nos nossos palácios. Ela destrói crianças de fora, e jovens nas praças da cidade. ²² Declara isto: 'Os cadáveres dos homens cairão como esterco nos campos, e como talos de grãos após os ceifeiros, e não haverá ninguém para recolhê-los' – esta é a declaração de Yahweh".

²³ Yahweh diz isto: "Que o sábio não se orgulhe de sua sabedoria, ou o guerreiro de sua força; que o rico não se orgulhe da sua riqueza. ²⁴ Pois, se um homem se orgulhar de alguma coisa, que seja disto: de Me conhecer e saber que Eu sou Yahweh, que ajo com amor leal, justiça e retidão na terra. Pois é nisto que Eu tenho prazer – esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

²⁵ Eis que vêm dias, quando Eu punirei todos os que são apenas circuncidados em seu corpo. ²⁶ Eu punirei o Egito e Judá, Edom, amonitas e moabitas, todas as pessoas que cortam seus cabelos, que habitam no deserto. Pois todas as nações são incircuncisas e toda a casa de Israel tem um coração incircunciso".

Capítulo 10

¹ Escuta a palavra que Yahweh está anunciando para ti, ó casa de Israel. ² Yahweh diz isto: "Não aprendais os caminhos das outras nações, e não fiqueis desanimados com os sinais nos céus, pois as nações estão atemorizadas com isso.

³ Porque os costumes religiosos desses povos são inúteis. Eles cortam uma árvore em uma floresta; obra das mãos do artífice, feita com machado. ⁴ Então, eles a decoram com prata e ouro. Eles a reforçam com martelo e pregos, para que ela não caia. ⁵ Esses ídolos são como espantalhos em um pepinal, pois eles também não podem dizer nada. Eles precisam ser carregados porque não podem andar. Não tenhais medo deles, pois eles não podem vos trazer o mal, nem são capazes de fazer qualquer coisa boa."

⁶ Não existe ninguém igual a Ti, Yahweh. Tu és grande, e Teu nome é grande em poder! ⁷ Quem não Te teme, Rei da nações? Pois isso é o que Tu mereces! Não há nenhum igual a Ti, dentre todos os sábios das nações, ou em todo o reino deles.

⁸ Eles são todos brutos e estúpidos, discípulos de ídolos, que não são nada além de um pedaço de madeira. ⁹ Eles trazem prata batida de Társis, e ouro de Ufaz; são feitos por artífices, pelas mãos dos fundidores. Suas roupas são azuis e púrpuras. Seus homens hábeis fizeram todas essa coisas. ¹⁰ Mas Yahweh é o verdadeiro Deus. Ele é o Deus vivo e o eterno Rei. A terra treme com Sua ira, e as nações não podem suportar o Seu furor.

¹¹ Assim direis a eles: 'Os deuses que não fizeram o céu e a terra iráo desaparecer da terra e debaixo dos céus.' ¹² Mas foi Ele quem fez a terra pelo Seu poder, e Ele estabeleceu o mundo pela Sua sabedoria, e pelo Seu entendimento estendeu os céus. ¹³ Ao som da voz do Seu trovão, as águas no céu rugem, e Ele traz as névoas dos fins da Terra. Ele faz os relâmpagos para a chuva e manda os ventos do Seu depósito.

¹⁴ Todo homem se tornou ignorante, sem conhecimento. Todo artesão é envergonhado por seus ídolos. Porque a imagem que eles fizeram são fraudes; não há vida nelas. ¹⁵ Elas são inúteis, o trabalho de escarnecedores; eles irão perecer no tempo de sua punição. ¹⁶ Mas Deus, a porção de Jacó, não é assim, pois Ele é o moldador de todas as coisas. Israel é a tribo de Sua herança. Yahweh dos Exércitos é Seu nome.

¹⁷ Recolhe o teu pacote e deixa a tua terra, tu, povo que estás vivendo num lugar sitiado. ¹⁸ Pois Yahweh diz isso: "Vê! Eu estou prestes a lançar fora os habitantes dessa terra. Eu lhes causarei aflição, e eles se encontrarão assim."

¹⁹ Ai de mim! Por causa dos meus ossos quebrados, minha ferida está infectada. Então, eu disse: "Certamente isso é agonia, mas eu devo suportá-la". ²⁰ Minha tenda está devastada, e todas as cordas da minha tenda foram cortadas. Eles tiraram meus filhos para longe de mim; então, eles já não existem mais. Não existe mais ninguém para levantar minha tenda e levantar minhas lonas.

²¹ Pois os pastores se tornaram estúpidos. Eles não buscam Yahweh; então, eles não têm sucesso e todos os seus rebanhos foram espalhados. ²² Vêm rumores: "Vede! Está chegando! Um grande terremoto vindo da terra do norte para tornar a cidade de Judá em ruínas, esconderijo de chacais".

²³ Eu sei, Yahweh, que o caminho do homem não vem dele mesmo. Nenhuma pessoa que caminha dirige seus próprios passos. ²⁴ Disciplina-me, Yahweh, com justiça, mas não com a Tua ira, para não me destruires. ²⁵ Derrama a Tua indignação sobre as nações que não Te conhecem, e sobre as famílias que não chamam pelo Teu nome. Pois eles devoraram Jacó; eles o consumiram e destruíram completamente a sua habitação.

Capítulo 11

¹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a Jeremias, dizendo: ² "Escuta as palavras desta aliança, e as declara para cada homem de Judá e para os habitantes de Jerusalém.

³ Diz a eles: 'Yahweh, Deus de Israel, diz isto: Maldito serão todos os que não escutarem as palavras desta aliança. ⁴ Esta é a aliança que ordenei a vossos ancestrais para guardarem o dia em que Eu os trouxe da terra do Egito, do forno de fundição de ferro. Eu disse: "Escutai a Minha voz e fazei todas as coisas, como vos tenho ordenado, pois vós sereis Meu povo e Eu serei vosso Deus". ⁵ Obedecei-Me para que Eu confirme o juramento que fiz a vossos ancestrais, de que Eu daria a eles a terra que mana leite e mel, onde vós morais hoje". Então, eu, Jeremias, respondi: "Sim, Yahweh!".

⁶ Yahweh me disse: "Proclama todas estas coisas nas cidades de Judá e nas ruas de Jerusalém. Diz: 'Escutai as palavras desta aliança e obedecei. ⁷ Eu dei uma ordem para vossos ancestrais desde o dia em que Eu os trouxe da terra do Egito até o presente tempo, falando e persistindo em avisá-los: "Ouvi a Minha voz". ⁸ Mas eles não ouviram nem prestaram atenção. Cada um andou na teimosia do seu coração perverso. Então, Eu trouxe todas as maldições desta aliança que ordenei que viriam contra vós. Mesmo assim, não obedeceram".

⁹ E Yahweh me disse: "Uma conspiração foi descoberta entre os homens de Judá e os habitantes de Jerusalém. ¹⁰ Eles voltaram para a iniquidade dos seus ancestrais, que se recusaram a ouvir as Minhas palavras e andaram após outros deuses para adorá-los. A casa de Israel e a casa de Judá quebraram a Minha aliança, que Eu havia estabelecido com seus ancestrais.

¹¹ Portanto, Yahweh diz isto: 'Eis que estou para trazer uma calamidade sobre eles, desastre do qual não serão capazes de escapar. Então, eles clamarão a Mim, mas Eu não os ouvirei. ¹² As cidades de Judá e os habitantes de Jerusalém irão e clamarão aos deuses a quem ofertaram, mas, certamente, não serão por eles salvos no momento do seu desastre. ¹³ Pois, Judá, o número dos teus deuses são como o número de tuas cidades. E como o número de ruas em Jerusalém, são os altares vergonhosos que ali levantaste, para queimares incenso a Baal.

¹⁴ Então, tu, Jeremias, não deves orar por eles. Não deves lamentar ou orar em favor deles, pois Eu não ouvirei quando eles clamarem a Mim na sua calamidade. ¹⁵ Por que Meu povo amado pratica tanta maldade na Minha casa? A carne dos teus sacrifícios não pode te ajudar. Tu te alegras por causa de tuas más ações. ¹⁶ No passado, Yahweh te chamou de oliveira frondosa e bela, com frutos deliciosos, mas Ele acenderá um fogo contra essa árvore, que soará como brado de uma tempestade, e seus galhos serão quebrados.

¹⁷ Pois Yahweh dos Exércitos, Aquele que te plantou, tem decretado a calamidade que virá sobre ti, por causa da maldade que a casa de Israel e a casa de Judá têm cometido — eles têm provocado a Minha ira, entregando ofertas a Baal".

¹⁸ Yahweh me fez conhecer estas coisas, então, as conheci. Tu, Yahweh, me fizeste ver as ações deles. ¹⁹ Eu estava como um cordeiro manso indo para um abatedouro. Eu não sabia que eles tinham feito planos contra mim: "Vamos destruir a árvore com os seus frutos! Vamos cortá-la da terra dos viventes; assim, o nome dela não será mais lembrado". ²⁰ Mas Yahweh dos Exércitos é o Justo Juiz, que examina o coração e a mente. Eu testemunharei Tua vingança contra eles, porque tenho apresentado minha causa a Ti.

²¹ Portanto, Yahweh diz isto sobre as pessoas de Anatote que estão procurando me matar: "Eles disseram: 'Tu não deves profetizar em nome de Yahweh, ou morrerás por nossas mãos'. ²² Então, Yahweh dos Exércitos diz isto: 'Vê, estou prestes a puni-los. Seus jovens morrerão pela espada; seus filhos e filhas morrerão de fome. ²³ Nenhum deles sobrará, porque Eu estou trazendo uma calamidade contra as pessoas de Anatote, o ano da sua punição."

Capítulo 12

¹ Tu és justo, Yahweh, sempre que eu trago contendas a Ti. Devo, certamente, contar a Ti minha razão de reclamar: Por que o caminho dos pecadores tem sucesso? Todas as pessoas sem fé são bem sucedidas. ² Tu os plantaste e eles criaram raízes. Eles continuam a produzir frutos. Tu estás perto da boca deles, mas bem longe de seus corações.

³ No entanto, Tu me conheces, Yahweh. Tu tens me visto e examinaste o meu coração para Contigo. Leva-os embora como ovelhas para o abate, e os separa para o dia do abate! ⁴ Por quanto tempo a terra continuará secando e as plantas de todos os campos murchando? Por causa da maldade de seus habitantes, animais selvagens e pássaros desapareceram. De fato, as pessoas falam: "Deus não sabe o que irá acontecer conosco".

⁵ Yahweh disse: "De fato, se tu, Jeremias, te cansaste correndo com os homens, como poderás competir com os cavalos? Se tu caíste no campo seguro, como farás na floresta ao longo do Jordão? ⁶ Porque até teus irmãos e a família do teu pai têm te traído e te denunciado em voz alta. Não confies neles, mesmo que te digam coisas boas.

⁷ Eu abandonei a Minha casa; eu rejeitei a Minha herança. Eu dei Meu próprio povo amado nas mãos dos seus inimigos. ⁸ Minha herança se tornou para Mim como leão na floresta; ela levantou sua voz contra Mim, então, Eu a odeio. ⁹ Não se tornou o Meu bem precioso como uma ave de rapina colorida, atrás da qual outras aves, abutres, perseguem por toda parte? Vai e traze todos os animais selvagens para devorá-la.

¹⁰ Muitos pastores têm destruído Meu vinhedo. Eles têm destruído Minha porção de terra; eles tornaram Minha agradável porção em um deserto, uma desolação. ¹¹ Eles fizeram dela uma desolação. Eu lamento por ela, pois está devastada. Toda a terra se tornou desolada, pois não há quem se importe.

¹² Destruidores vieram contra todos os lugares do deserto, porque a espada de Yahweh devora de uma ponta à outra da terra. Não há nenhuma segurança na terra para qualquer criatura viva. ¹³ Eles semearam trigo, mas colheram arbustos espinhosos. Eles estão cansados de trabalhar e não ganhar nada. Então, humilhados sejam vossos ganhos, por causa da ira de Yahweh".

¹⁴ Yahweh diz isso contra todos os Meus vizinhos, os iníquos que atacam a posse que Eu fiz Meu povo Israel herdar: "Vede, Eu sou aquele que vos arranca da própria terra, e irá arrancar a casa de Judá dentre eles. ¹⁵ Então, depois de arrancar aquelas nações, irá acontecer que Eu terei compaixão deles e irei trazê-los de volta, cada um à sua herança e à sua terra.

¹⁶ Acontecerá que, se essas nações, cuidadosamente, aprenderem o caminho do Meu povo, para jurar sobre Meu nome: 'Yahweh vive', assim como eles têm ensinado o Meu povo a jurar por Baal, então, serão estabelecidos no meio do Meu povo. ¹⁷ Mas se alguém não ouvir, irei arrancar aquela nação. Certamente, será arrancada e destruída" — essa é a declaração de Yahweh.

Capítulo 13

¹ Yahweh disse a mim: "Vai e compra um cinto de linho e põe-no sobre os teus lombos, mas não o coloques na água". ² Então, eu comprei um cinto, como Yahweh havia ordenado, e pus sobre os meus lombos. ³ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim pela segunda vez e disse: ⁴ "Pega o cinto que compraste, que está sobre teus lombos, levanta-te e viaja para o Eufrates. Esconde-o na fenda de uma rocha".

⁵ Então, fui e o escondi no Eufrates, assim como Yahweh me havia ordenado. ⁶ Após muitos dias, Yahweh disse a mim: "Levanta-te e volta ao Eufrates, retira de lá o cinto que Eu lhe disse para esconder". ⁷ Então, voltei ao Eufrates e tirei o cinto de onde o havia escondido. Eis que o cinto estava apodrecido, não servia para nada.

⁸ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim de novo e disse: ⁹ "Assim diz Yahweh: Da mesma maneira, Eu destruirei a grande arrogância de Judá e Jerusalém. ¹⁰ Este povo perverso que recusa a ouvir a Minha palavra, que caminha na dureza de seus corações, que vai atrás de outros deuses para adorá-los e se curvar diante deles, eles serão como esse cinto que não serve para nada. ¹¹ Assim como o cinto se apega aos lombos do homem, Eu tenho feito toda a casa de Israel e toda a casa de Judá se apegar a Mim, para serem Meu povo, para Me darem louvor e honra. Mas eles não quiseram Me ouvir — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

¹² Assim, tu deves dizer esta palavra a eles: 'Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz assim: "Todo jarro se encherá de vinho". Eles te dirão: "Não sabemos, de fato, que todo jarro se encherá de vinho?". ¹³ Então, dize-lhes: Assim diz Yahweh: Vede, Eu encherei com embriaguez cada habitante desta terra, os reis que assentaram no trono de Davi, os sacerdotes, profetas e todos os habitantes de Jerusalém. ¹⁴ Então, Eu mesmo colocarei uns contra os outros, tanto os pais quanto os filhos. Não terei pena ou compaixão deles e não os pouparei da destruição — esta é a declaração de Yahweh".

¹⁵ Ouvi e prestai atenção. Não sejais arrogantes, pois Yahweh tem dito. ¹⁶ Dai honra a Yahweh, vosso Deus, antes que Ele traga escuridão e faça vossos pés tropeçarem nas montanhas, ao anoitecer. Pois estais esperando por luz, mas Ele transformará o lugar em escuridão profunda, em uma nuvem escura. ¹⁷ Portanto, se não ouvirdes, chorareis em segredo por causa de vossa arrogância. Meus olhos, certamente, chorarão e derramarão lágrimas, pois o rebanho de Yahweh foi levado cativo.

¹⁸ "Diz ao rei e à rainha mãe: 'Humilhai-vos e assentai-vos, pois as coroas de vossas cabeças, vosso orgulho e glória, cairão'. ¹⁹ As cidades do Neguebe serão fechadas, e não terá ninguém para abri-las. Judá será levada cativa, totalmente em exílio.

²⁰ Levantai vossos olhos e olhai os que vêm do norte. Onde está o rebanho que foi dado a vós, o rebanho que era tão belo? ²¹ Que dirás quando Deus colocar sobre vós aqueles a quem educastes para serem vossos amigos? Não será este o início das dores que vos acometereis, assim como uma mulher que está em trabalho de parto?

²² Então, podereis dizer em vosso coração: 'Por que estas coisas estão acontecendo conosco?' Por causa da multidão de vossas iniquidades é que vossas saias estão levantadas e fostes violentadas. ²³ Podem as pessoas da Etiópia mudarem sua cor da pele, ou o leopardo mudar suas pintas? Assim também vós, acostumados com a maldade, serão capazes de fazer o bem? ²⁴ Então, Eu os espalharei como a palha levada pelo vento do deserto.

²⁵ Isto é o que tenho vos dado, a porção que determinei para vós, porque tendes Me esquecido e confiado em mentiras. ²⁶ Portanto, Eu mesmo arrancarei as vossas saias e vossas partes íntimas serão vistas. ²⁷ Vossos adultérios e relinchos, a infâmia da vossa prostituicão sobre as colinas e nos campos. Eu tenho visto essas coisas abomináveis! Ai de ti, Jerusalém! Até quando ainda não te purificarás?".

Capítulo 14

¹ Essa é a palavra de Yahweh que veio a Jeremias a respeito da seca: ² "Judá lamenta e suas portas estão enfraquecidas. Eles estão lamentando sentados no chão. Seu choro por Jerusalem está subindo. ³ Os poderosos enviam seus servos em busca de água. Quando vão até as trincheiras, não encontram água. Todos eles retornam sem sucesso; envergonhados e frustrados, cobrem suas cabeças.

⁴ Por não haver chuva, a terra está rachada. Os lavradores estão envergonhados e cobrem suas cabeças. ⁵ Até a corça deixa seus filhotes nos campos e os abandona, pois não há erva. ⁶ Os burros selvagens ficam nas planícies lisas e farejam no vento, como chacais. Seus olhos desfalecem porque não há vegetação".

⁷ Mesmo que nossas iniquidades testemunhem contra nós, Yahweh, age por causa do Teu nome. Nossas ações infiéis aumentaram; nós temos pecado contra Ti. ⁸ Ó esperança de Israel, quem o salvou no tempo da angústia. Por que serás como um estrangeiro na terra, como um viajante estrangeiro que vem e passa apenas uma noite? ⁹ Por que serás como um homem confuso, como um guerreiro que não é capaz de resgatar ninguém? Pois Tu estás em nosso meio, Yahweh! Teu nome foi proclamado sobre nós. Não nos abandone.

¹⁰ Yahweh disse sobre este povo: "Uma vez que eles amam vaguear, eles não têm impedido seus pés de fazê-lo". Yahweh não Se agrada deles. Agora, Ele Se lembrará de suas iniquidades e punirá os seus pecados. ¹¹ Yahweh disse a mim: "Não ore pelo bem desse povo. ¹² Quando jejuarem, não ouvirei sua lamentação e, se eles oferecerem holocausto e ofertas de alimento, não terei prazer neles. Vou destruí-los pela espada, pelo fome e pela praga".

¹³ Então eu disse: "Oh, Senhor Yahweh! Eis que os profetas estão dizendo ao povo: 'Vós não vereis a espada, não haverá fome para vós, pois eu lhes darei a verdadeira segurança neste lugar'. ¹⁴ Yahweh disse a mim: "Os profetas profetizaram mentiras em Meu nome. Eu não os enviei, nem lhes dei ordem alguma ou falei com eles. Eles vos profetizam falsas visões, adivinhações, doutrinas inúteis e o engano de suas próprias mentes e corações!”

¹⁵ Portanto, Yahweh disse: "Sobre os profetas que estão profetizando em Meu nome, sem que Eu os tenha enviado, aqueles que dizem que não haverá espada e nem fome nesta terra, estes profetas irão perecer por espada e fome; ¹⁶ e o povo a quem eles profetizaram serão jogados nas ruas de Jerusalém por conta da fome e da espada, pois não haverá ninguém para enterrá-los, nem eles, nem suas esposas, seus filhos e suas filhas; porque eu derramarei sobre eles sua própria iniquidade.

¹⁷ Diga esta palavra a eles: 'Deixai que meus olhos fluam em lágrimas, noite e dia. Que elas não cessem, pois haverá um grande colapso da filha virgem do Meu povo; uma profunda e incurável ferida. ¹⁸ Se Eu sair pelos campos, verei aqueles que foram mortos pela espada. E se eu for à cidade, verei aqueles que estão doentes de fome. O profeta e o sacerdote vagueiam sobre a terra, mas não sabem para onde vão".

¹⁹ Tu rejeitaste Judá completamente? Tu odeias Sião? Por que nos aflige quando não há cura para nós? Nós esperamos por paz, mas não há nada bom; por um tempo de cura, mas vê, há apenas terror. ²⁰ Nós admitimos, Yahweh, nossas ofensas, e a iniquidade de nossos antepassados, pois temos pecado contra Ti.

²¹ Não nos rejeites! Por causa do Teu nome, não faças do Teu glorioso trono uma desgraça. Lembra-Te daTua aliança conosco e não a anules. ²² Há entre os ídolos de outras nações, alguém que possa fazer cair chuva dos céus? Tu não és o único, Yahweh nosso Deus, quem o fazes? Nossa esperança está em Ti, pois Tu fazes todas estas coisas.

Capítulo 15

¹ Então, Yahweh me disse: "Ainda que Moisés e Samuel estivessem diante de Mim, ainda assim Eu não seria favorável a este povo. Manda-os para longe de Mim. Que eles saiam. ² E acontecerá que eles te dirão: 'Para onde iremos?' Então, tu lhes dirás: 'Yahweh disse: Aqueles destinados à morte devem ir para a morte; aqueles destinados à espada devem ir para a espada. Aqueles destinados à fome devem ir para a fome; e aqueles destinados ao cativeiro devem ir para o cativeiro".

³ Porque Eu os punirei com quatro grupos: espada para abater, cães para dilarecerar, pássaros dos céus e bestas da terra para consumir e destruir — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ⁴ Eu farei deles um espetáculo terrível para todos os reinos da terra, por causa de tudo que Manassés, filho de Ezequias, rei de Judá, fez em Jerusalém.

⁵ Quem terá compaixão de ti, Jerusalém? Quem chorará por ti? Quem voltará a perguntar sobre teu bem estar? ⁶ Tu Me abandonaste — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — tu Me deste as costas. Então, Eu te golpearei com Minha mão e te destruirei. Eu estou cansado de ter compaixão de ti. ⁷ Então, Eu os espalharei com uma pá nos portões da terra. Eu os despojarei de seus filhos. Eu destruirei Meu povo, pois eles não deixaram os seus caminhos.

⁸ Eu farei o número das suas viúvas maior do que a areia das praias. Contra as mães dos jovens, Eu mandarei o destruidor ao meio-dia; trarei angústia e terror repentinamente sobre eles. ⁹ A mãe que deu à luz sete filhos enfraquecerá; ela suspirará, seu sol se escurecerá enquanto ainda é dia. Ela será envergonhada e confundida, pois Eu darei à espada aqueles que lhe restarem na presença dos seus inimigos — esta é a declaração de Yahweh".

¹⁰ Ai de mim, minha mãe! Porque tu me deste à luz? Pois sou um homem de contendas e discussões diante de toda a terra. Eu não emprestei e nem tomei emprestado de ninguém, mas todos eles me amaldiçoam. ¹¹ Yahweh disse: "Eu não te resgataria para o bem? Eu, certamente, farei os teus inimigos te implorarem por socorro, no tempo da calamidade e da angústia. ¹² Pode alguém esmagar o ferro? Especialmente o ferro do norte que é misturado com bronze?

¹³ Aos teus inimigos Eu darei, livremente como despojo, tua riqueza e teus tesouros. Eu farei isto por causa de todos os teus pecados cometidos dentro de tuas fronteiras. ¹⁴ Então, Eu farei com que tu sirvas teus inimigos em uma terra que não conheces, porque um fogo se acenderá, arderá na Minha ira contra ti". ¹

¹⁵ Yahweh, Tu sabes! Lembra-Te de mim e socorre-me. Traz vingança para mim contra os meus perseguidores. Na Tua longanimidade, não permitas que me levem embora; sabes que sofro acusações por Tua causa. ¹⁶ Encontrei Tuas palavras e as consumi. Tuas palavras tornaram-se uma alegria para mim e delícia para o meu coração, pois, sou chamado pelo Teu nome, ó Yahweh, Deus dos Exércitos.

¹⁷ Não me assentei na roda daqueles que celebram e regozijam. Eu me sentei sozinho por causa da Tua mão poderosa, porque Tu me encheste de indignação. ¹⁸ Por que é contínua a minha dor e minha ferida incurável, e se recusa a ser curada? Tu serás para mim como águas enganosas, águas que secam?

¹⁹ Portanto, assim disse Yahweh: "Se te arrependeres, Jeremias, Eu te restaurarei e te colocarei de pé diante de Mim e tu Me servirás. Se tu separares as coisas tolas das coisas preciosas, serás Minha boca. O povo voltará a ti, mas tu mesmo não retornarás a eles. ²⁰ Eu farei de ti como um muro de bronze impenetrável para este povo, e eles farão guerra contra ti. Mas eles não te derrotarão porque Eu Sou contigo para te salvar e te resgatar. ²¹ Eu te salvarei das mãos dos ímpios e te resgatarei da mão dos tiranos — esta é a declaração de Yahweh".

¹Nota: Ao invés de Então, Eu farei com que tu sirvas teus inimigos , algumas versões dizem Então, Eu farei teus inimigos te capturarem .

Capítulo 16

¹ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Não tomes uma esposa para ti e não tenhas filhos ou filhas neste lugar. ³ Porque assim diz Yahweh a respeito dos filhos e filhas que nascem neste lugar, para as mães que dão à luz a eles e para os pais que geraram nesta terra: ⁴ 'Eles morrerão de enfermidades terríveis, não serão lamentados ou enterrados, serão como esterco no chão. Eles morrerão por espada e fome, e seus corpos serão alimento para os pássaros dos céus e para as feras da terra".

⁵ Assim diz Yahweh: "Não entres em nenhuma casa que esteja em luto; não lamentes e não se compadeça deles. Pois Eu levei para longe dessas pessoas a Minha paz, Meu amor leal e a Minha misericórdia! — Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ⁶ Ambos, grandes e pequenos, morrerão nesta terra. Eles não serão enterrados, nem serão lamentados por ninguém; não cortarão a si mesmos e nem rasparão as suas cabeças por eles.

⁷ Ninguém deve compartilhar alimento com os que estiverem pranteando para confortá-los por causa dos mortos e, ninguém deve dar de beber o cálice de consolação pela morte de seu pai ou mãe, a fim de confortá-los. ⁸ Tu não entrarás numa casa de banquete para sentar-se com eles, para comer e beber. ⁹ Pois, Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel, disse isto: Vede, diante de vossos olhos, em vossos dias e neste lugar, Eu farei cessar o som de alegria e celebração, e também a voz do noivo e da noiva.

¹⁰ Então, acontecerá que tu falarás todas estas palavras para esse povo, e eles te dirão: 'Por que Yahweh decretou esse grande mal contra nós? Qual é a nossa iniquidade? Qual é nossa iniquidade e pecado contra Yahweh nosso Deus?' ¹¹ Então, responde-lhes: 'É porque vossos ancestrais Me abandonaram!' — Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. 'Eles foram atrás de outros deuses e os adoraram, e curvaram-se diante deles; eles Me abandonaram e não guardaram a Minha lei.

¹² Todavia, vós mesmos fizestes mais maldades do que vossos ancestrais, cada pessoa está caminhando pela obstinação do seu coração perverso; não há ninguém que Me escute. ¹³ Portanto, Eu vos tirarei desta terra para uma terra que não conheceis, nem vós, nem vossos ancestrais; e vós adorareis os deuses de lá, dia e noite, e não vos darei nenhum favor.

¹⁴ Vede! Os dias estão chegando — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — quando não mais se dirá: 'Tão certo como vive Yahweh, Aquele que trouxe o povo de Israel da terra de Egito'; ¹⁵ mas, 'tão certo como vive Yahweh, Aquele que livrou o povo de Israel da terra do norte e das terras por onde Ele os espalhou!' Eu vos trarei de volta à terra que dei aos vossos ancestrais.

¹⁶ Vede! Eu enviarei muitos pescadores — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — e eles pescarão o povo. Depois disso, Eu enviarei muitos caçadores, e eles vos caçarão em todas as montanhas, morros e fendas de rochas. ¹⁷ Porque Meus olhos estão sobre todos os vossos caminhos; não podereis esconder-vos de Mim; vossa iniquidade não será oculta diante dos Meus olhos. ¹⁸ Primeiramente, Eu vos retribuirei em dobro por vossa iniquidade e pecado, por contaminar a Minha terra com vossas imagens detestáveis, e por encherem minha herança com vossos ídolos abomináveis."

¹⁹ Yahweh, Tu és minha fortaleza e meu refúgio, meu lugar seguro no dia da angústia. As nações virão a Ti dos confins da terra e dirão: 'Certamente, os nossos ancestrais herdaram mentira, vaidade e coisas que não servem para nada'. ²⁰ "O povo faz para si deuses que, na verdade, não são deuses? ²¹ Portanto, vede! Eu farei com que eles, nesse tempo, conheçam a Minha mão e o Meu poder; então, eles saberão que Yahweh é Meu nome".

Capítulo 17

¹ "O pecado de Judá está escrito com um ponteiro de ferro, com uma ponta de diamante; está gravado nas tábuas de seus corações e nas pontas de seus altares. ² Seus filhos lembram-se dos altares e dos postes ídolos, junto às árvores verdejantes nos altos montes.

³ Os postes ídolos estão na Minha montanha e nas campinas. Tua riqueza e todo o teu tesouro, darei como despojo, juntamente com teus lugares altos, por causa do teu pecado cometido em todos os teus territórios. ⁴ Tu perderás a herança que te dei. Farei com que teus inimigos te levem como escravo para uma terra que não conheces, pois acendeste o fogo da Minha ira, o qual queimará eternamente".

⁵ Disse Yahweh: "Maldito é o homem que confia no homem, faz da carne sua força e desvia o coração para longe de Yahweh. ⁶ Ele será como um pequeno arbusto no deserto, e não perceberá quando vier o bem. Ele ficará nos lugares pedregosos do deserto, em terras estéreis e desabitadas.

⁷ Mas bendito é o homem que confia em Yahweh, cuja esperança é Yahweh. ⁸ Ele será como uma árvore plantada ao lado das águas, que estende suas raízes ao longo de um riacho; não temerá quando o calor vier, porque suas folhas estarão sempre verdes; Não temerá o ano da seca, nem cessará de produzir frutos.

⁹ O coração humano é mais enganoso do que qualquer outra coisa, e é perverso; quem pode conhecê-lo? ¹⁰ Eu sou Yahweh, o único que sonda a mente, que prova os corações, a fim de dar a cada um de acordo com os seus caminhos, de acordo com os frutos de suas ações. ¹¹ Como uma perdiz que choca um ovo que ela não pôs, assim é alguém que enriquece desonestamente; mas quando estiver bem, na metade de sua vida, suas riquezas o abandonarão e, no fim, será um tolo."

¹² O lugar de nosso santuário é um trono de glória, exaltado desde o princípio. ¹³ Yahweh é a esperança de Israel. Todos que Te abandonam serão envergonhados. Aqueles na terra que deixarem a Ti, serão escritos no pó. Porque eles estão abandonando Yahweh, a Fonte das águas vivas. ¹⁴ Cura-me, Yahweh, e ficarei curado! Salva-me, e serei salvo. Porque Tu és meu cântico de louvor.

¹⁵ Vê, eles dizem para mim: 'Onde está a palavra de Yahweh? Que venha!' ¹⁶ Quanto a mim, eu não fugi de ser um pastor seguindo-Te. Eu não desejei pelo dia da calamidade. Tu sabes as proclamações que vieram de meus lábios; elas foram feitas em Tua presença.

¹⁷ Não sejas um terror para mim; Tu és meu refúgio no dia da calamidade. ¹⁸ Que meus perseguidores sejam envergonhados, mas não me deixes ser envergonhado. Que eles sejam desanimados, mas não me deixes desanimar. Envia o dia da calamidade contra eles e despedaça-os com uma destruição dobrada".

¹⁹ Yahweh me disse isto: "Vai e põe-te em pé no portão do povo, onde os reis de Judá entram e saem, e em todos os outros portões de Jerusalém. ²⁰ Dize-lhes: 'Ouvi as palavras de Yahweh, reis de Judá e todo o povo de Judá, e todos os moradores de Jerusalém que passam por estes portões.

²¹ Assim diz Yahweh: "Sede cuidadosos pelo amor de vossas vidas e não carregueis carga no dia de sábado, nem as leveis até os portões de Jerusalém, ²² nem as tireis de vossas casas no dia de sábado. Não façais nenhum trabalho, mas consagrai o sábado para Yahweh, assim como Eu ordenei que vossos ancestrais fizessem. ²³ Eles não deram ouvidos nem prestaram atenção; antes, endureceram a cerviz, não Me ouvindo, nem aceitando a disciplina.

²⁴ Acontecerá que, se vós realmente me ouvirdes — esta é declaração de Yahweh — e não trouxerdes carga para os portões desta cidade no dia de sábado, mas, ao invés disso, consagrardes o dia de sábado a Yahweh e não fizeres qualquer trabalho nele, ²⁵ então, os reis, príncipes e aqueles que se assentarem no trono de Davi, virão para os portões desta cidade, nas carruagens com seus cavalos, eles e seus líderes, homens de Judá e moradores de Jerusalém, e esta cidade será habitada eternamente.

²⁶ Eles virão das cidades de Judá, de todos arredores os de Jerusalém, das terras de Benjamim e das planícies, das montanhas e do Neguev e queimarão holocaustos, sacrifícios, oferta de cereais e incenso, e ofertas de gratidão à Casa de Yahweh. ²⁷ Mas, se não Me ouvirdes para consagrar o dia de sábado a Yahweh, e levardes vossas cargas, e entrardes nos portões de Jerusalém no dia de sábado, então, Eu queimarei seus portões, um fogo consumirá as fortalezas de Jerusalém, e não será apagado".

Capítulo 18

¹ Esta é a palavra de Yahweh que veio a Jeremias, dizendo: ² “Levanta-te e vai à casa do oleiro, pois lá te farei ouvir Minha palavra". ³ Então, fui para a casa do oleiro e eis que ele estava trabalhando em sua roda. ⁴ Mas o vaso de barro que ele estava moldando se estragou em suas mãos; então, ele mudou de ideia e fez outro vaso, que pareceu bom aos seus olhos.

⁵ E a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ⁶ "Não poderia Eu agir contigo, ó casa de Israel, da mesma maneira que o oleiro? – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. Vede! Como o barro na mão do oleiro, assim sois vós na Minha mão, ó casa de Israel. ⁷ Em um momento, Eu posso proclamar algo sobre uma nação ou reino que irei arrancar, derrubar ou destruir. ⁸ Mas se a nação sobre a qual Eu fizer essa proclamação se converter de seu mal, então, Eu Me arrependerei da calamidade que planejava trazer sobre ela.

⁹ Em outro momento, Eu posso proclamar algo sobre uma nação ou reino que irei edificar ou plantar. ¹⁰ Mas, se eles fizerem mal diante dos Meus olhos, por não ouvirem a Minha voz, então, Eu não mais farei o bem que havia dito que lhes faria.

¹¹ Então, agora, fala aos homens de Judá e aos moradores de Jerusalém dizendo: 'Assim diz Yahweh: Vede, Eu estou planejando uma calamidade contra vós. Arrependei-vos, cada um, do seu mau caminho, para que vossos caminhos e práticas vos tragam coisas boas'. ¹² Mas eles dirão: 'Não há esperança. Agiremos de acordo com os nossos próprios planos, de acordo com o que deseja cada coração perverso e teimoso'.

¹³ Portanto, assim diz Yahweh: 'Perguntai às nações: quem, alguma vez, ouviu tal coisa? A virgem de Israel cometeu um ato terrível. ¹⁴ Por acaso, a neve do Líbano desaparece nas encostas dos montes rochosos? Por acaso, os riachos das montanhas, que vêm de longe, perdem suas águas frias?

¹⁵ Contudo, Meu povo se esqueceu de Mim. Eles têm dado ofertas a ídolos falsos, que os fizeram tropeçar em seus caminhos; eles deixaram os caminhos antigos para andar em atalhos não aplainados. ¹⁶ Suas terras se tornarão um terror, um objeto de eterno desprezo. Todos os que passarem por ela irão estremecer e balançar suas cabeças. ¹⁷ Eu os dispersarei diante de seus inimigos como o vento oriental. Eu lhes mostrarei minhas costas e não minha face, no dia da sua calamidade."

¹⁸ Então, o povo disse: "Vinde e façamos planos contra Jeremias, uma vez que a lei dos sacerdotes, ou o conselho dos sábios, ou as palavras dos profetas, nunca se acabarão. Vinde e o ataquemos com nossas palavras e não prestemos atenção em nada do que ele proclamar". ¹⁹ Atenta para mim, Yahweh, e escuta a voz de meus inimigos. ²⁰ Será que a sua calamidade, realmente, será minha recompensa por ser bondoso para com eles? Pois eles cavaram uma cova para mim. Lembra-Te como me levantei diante de Ti para falar em favor deles e fazer Tua fúria se desviar deles.

²¹ Portanto, entrega seus filhos à fome e lhes entrega ao poder da espada. Que suas mulheres fiquem sem os filhos e se tornem viúvas; que seus homens e seus jovens sejam mortos pela espada na batalha; ²² que um grito de angústia seja ouvido de suas casas, quando, de repente, trouxeres invasores contra eles. Pois cavaram uma cova para me capturar e esconderam armadilhas para meus pés. ²³ Mas Tu, Yahweh, conheces todos os seus planos para me matar. Não perdoes suas iniquidades e pecados; não apagues seus pecados diante de Ti. Em vez disso, que eles sejam derrotados diante de Ti. Age contra eles no tempo da Tua ira.

Capítulo 19

¹ Disse Yahweh: "Vá e compra uma botija de barro do oleiro, e leva contigo os anciãos do povo e os sacerdotes. ² Então, vá até o vale de Ben-Hinom que está à entrada do portão dos Cacos e lá proclama as palavras que Eu te direi. ³ Assim dirás: 'Ouvi a palavra de Yahweh, reis de Judá e moradores de Jerusalém! Assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel: Eis que Eu estou para trazer calamidade sobre este lugar, e os ouvidos de todos que ouvirem sobre isso irão formigar.

⁴ Eu farei isso porque eles têm Me abandonado e profanaram este lugar. Neste lugar, eles ofereceram sacrifícios para deuses que nunca conheceram. Eles e seus ancestrais e os reis de Judá também têm enchido este lugar com sangue inocente. ⁵ Eles construíram os lugares altos de Baal para queimarem seus filhos como um holocausto, algo que Eu nunca mandei, nem falei e nem me passou pela cabeça.

⁶ Portanto, eis que os dias estão chegando – isto é uma declaração de Yahweh – quando este lugar não será mais chamado de Tofete, nem o vale de Ben-Hinom, mas será vale da Matança. ⁷ Neste lugar, frustrarei os planos de Judá e Jerusalém; Eu os farei cair pela espada diante de seus inimigos e pela mão dos que procuram tirar-lhes a vida. Então, darei seus cadáveres como comida para os pássaros dos céus e para as feras da terra. ⁸ E farei desta cidade uma ruína e um objeto de desprezo; todo aquele que passar por ela se espantará e zombará por causa de todas as suas pragas. ⁹ E os farei comer a carne dos seus filhos e filhas, cada homem consumirá a carne do seu próximo, no cerco e na angústia provocados pelos seus inimigos, por aqueles que querem tirar-lhes a vida".

¹⁰ Então, quebrarás a botija na presença dos homens que foram contigo. ¹¹ Tu dirás a eles: 'Assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos: Eu farei a mesma coisa com este povo e com esta cidade – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – assim como Jeremias despedaçou a botija de barro, de modo que ela não possa ser reparada novamente, o povo enterrará os mortos em Tofete, até que não haja mais lugar para enterrá-los.

¹² Isto é o que farei com este lugar e com os seus moradores; esta cidade será como Tofete – esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ¹³ As casas de Jerusalém e dos reis de Judá serão imundas como Tofete, assim como todas as casas daqueles que, nos terraços, adoram todas as estrelas dos céus e oferecem ofertas de bebida a outros deuses."

¹⁴ Então, Jeremias regressou de Tofete, lugar para onde Yahweh o havia enviado para profetizar. Pondo-se em pé no pátio da Casa de Yahweh, disse a todo o povo: ¹⁵ "Assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel: Eis que, trarei sobre esta cidade e sobre todas as cidades, toda a calamidade que proclamei contra ela, pois endureceram seus pescoços e se recusaram a ouvir as minhas Palavras".

Capítulo 20

¹ Pasur, filho de Imer, o mais alto sacerdote da Casa de Yahweh, ouviu Jeremias profetizando essas palavras. ² Então, Pasur açoitou Jeremias, o profeta, e colocou-o no tronco que estava no portão superior de Benjamim, na Casa de Yahweh.

³ E aconteceu que, no dia seguinte, Passur tirou Jeremias do tronco. Então, Jeremias lhe disse: "Yahweh não o chama mais Pasur, mas tu és Magor-Missabibe. ⁴ Porque assim diz Yahweh: 'Eis que farei de ti um objeto de terror para ti e para todos os teus amigos; pois eles cairão pela espada de seus inimigos e teus olhos verão isso. Entregarei todo o Judá nas mãos do rei da Babilônia. Ele os levará cativos à Babilônia ou os matará à espada.

⁵ Eu entregarei toda a riqueza dessa cidade e todo o fruto do seu trabalho, tudo o que há de precioso e todos os tesouros dos reis de Judá. Tudo isso colocarei nas mãos de teus inimigos, eles te saquearão e tudo levarão para a Babilônia. ⁶ Mas tu, Pasur, e todos os moradores de tua casa ireis para o cativeiro. Tu irás para a Babilônia e ali morrerás. Tu e todos os teus amigos, para quem profetizastes falsamente, serão enterrados ali."

⁷ "Tu me enganaste, ó Yahweh, e enganado fiquei. Tu foste mais forte do que eu e prevaleceste. Tornei-me motivo de riso o dia inteiro; todos zombam de mim. ⁸ Pois sempre que eu falo, grito e proclamo: 'Violência e destruição', a palavra de Yahweh tem-se tornado para mim reprovação e zombaria, todos os dias. ⁹ Quando eu disse: 'Eu não me lembrarei mais de Yahweh, e não falarei mais o Seu nome', meu coração se tornou como o fogo, retido em meus ossos. Eu tenho me esforçado para contê-lo, mas não consigo.

¹⁰ Eu ouço rumores de terror vindo de muitas pessoas, por todos os lados: 'Denunciai! Nós devemos denunciá-lo!' Aqueles que estão próximos me observam, esperando a minha queda: 'Talvez ele possa ser enganado. Se assim for, poderemos dominá-lo e e nos vingarmos dele'. ¹¹ Mas Yahweh está comigo, como um poderoso guerreiro; por isso, os meus perseguidores serão confundidos. Eles não me derrotarão e ficarão muito envergonhados porque não tiveram sucesso. Eles sofrerão uma vergonha interminável, que nunca será esquecida.

¹² Mas Tu, Yahweh dos Exércitos, Tu que examinas os justos e vês os pensamentos e o coração, deixa-me ver Tua vingança sobre eles, pois apresentei a minha causa a Ti. ¹³ Cantai a Yahweh! Louvai a Yahweh! Porque Ele tem resgatado as vidas dos que são oprimidos pelas mãos dos malfeitores.

¹⁴ Maldito o dia em que nasci. Não seja bendito o dia em que minha mãe me deu à luz. ¹⁵ Que seja amaldiçoado o homem que contou a meu pai, dizendo: 'Um menino te nasceu', trazendo grande alegria.

¹⁶ Que esse homem seja como as cidades que Yahweh derrubou, quando Ele não tinha misericórdia. E ouça ele um clamor de ajuda ao amanhecer e um grito de guerra ao meio-dia, ¹⁷ porque Yahweh não me matou no ventre ou fez de minha mãe minha sepultura. Quem dera ela ficasse grávida eternamente. ¹⁸ Por que eu saí do ventre de minha mãe? Para ver sofrimentos e aflições, para que meus dias fossem cheios de vergonha?"

Capítulo 21

¹ Esta é a palavra que veio de Yahweh para Jeremias, quando o rei Zedequias enviou Pasur, filho de Malquias, e o sacerdote Sofonias, filho de Maaseias, que lhe disseram: ² "Procura o conselho de Yahweh a nosso favor, pois Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, está levantando guerra contra nós. Talvez Yahweh realize milagres por nós, como no passado, e faça com que ele se afaste de nós".

³ Então, Jeremias lhes disse: "Isto é o que deves dizer a Zedequias: ⁴ 'Yahweh, Deus de Israel, diz: Vede, estou prestes a voltar contra vós os instrumentos de guerra que estão em vossas mãos, com os quais estais lutando contra o rei da Babilônia e os caldeus que vos estão cercando do outro lado dos muros! Eu os reunirei no meio desta cidade. ⁵ Então, Eu mesmo lutarei contra vós, com a mão erguida e o braço forte e com indignação, fúria e grande ira.

⁶ Pois Eu atacarei os habitantes desta cidade, tanto homens como animais, e eles morrerão com uma praga severa. ⁷ Depois disso – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – Zedequias, rei de Judá, seus servos, o povo, e qualquer remanescente nesta cidade depois da praga, da espada e da fome, Eu entregarei todos nas mãos de Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, de seus inimigos e daqueles que buscam tirar-lhes a vida. Então, ele os matará ao fio da espada. Ele não terá piedade, não os poupará ou terá compaixão.'

⁸ Então, para este povo devereis dizer: 'Assim diz Yahweh: Vede, Eu estou prestes a colocar diante de vós o caminho da vida e o caminho da morte. ⁹ Qualquer um que permanecer nesta cidade morrerá pela espada, fome e praga; mas, qualquer um que sair e se ajoelhar diante dos babilônios que vos têm cercado, viverá. Este escapará com vida. ¹⁰ Pois eu estabeleci minha face contra esta cidade, em ordenança, para trazer desastre e não trazer o bem –esta é a declaração de Yahweh. Ela está sendo entregue nas mãos do rei da Babilônia, e ele a queimará.'

¹¹ Acerca da casa do rei de Judá, escutai a palavra de Yahweh: ¹² 'Casa de Davi', diz Yahweh, 'executa a justiça pela manhã e resgata os que foram roubados pelas mãos do opressor, ou Minha fúria virá como fogo e te queimará, pois não há ninguém que possa apagá-la, por causa da maldade de tuas práticas.

¹³ Vede, habitantes do vale, planalto rochoso, Eu estou contra vós – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – Eu estou contra qualquer um que está dizendo: "Quem subirá para nos atacar?" ou "Quem entrará em nossas casas?" ¹⁴ Eu vos castigarei segundo o fruto de vossas práticas – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – e Eu acenderei nos arvoredos um fogo que consumirá tudo à sua volta."

Capítulo 22

¹ Assim diz Yahweh: "Descei à casa do rei de Judá e proclamai ali esta palavra. ² Dizei: 'Rei de Judá, que te assentas no trono de Davi, ouve a palavra de Yahweh. Ouvi também vós, servos do rei, e vós, povo do rei, que passais por estes portões. ³ Assim diz Yahweh: 'Exerce a justiça e a retidão e resgata das mãos do opressor todo aquele que é explorado. Não maltrates nenhum estrangeiro, órfão ou viúva em tua terra. Não pratiques a violência, nem derrames sangue inocente neste lugar.

⁴ Pois se, verdadeiramente, fizeres o que digo, os reis que se assentam no trono de Davi entrarão pelas portas desta casa em carruagens e cavalos, acompanhados de seus servos e de seu povo! ⁵ Mas, se não ouvires as Minhas palavras, o que tenho anunciado – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – então, este palácio real se tornará em desolação.

⁶ Pois assim diz Yahweh acerca do palácio do rei de Judá: 'És para mim como Gileade ou como o alto da montanha do Líbano. Ainda assim, certamente, o transformarei em um deserto, em uma cidade desabitada. ⁷ Pois preparei destruidores para se levantarem contra ti! Homens com suas armas cortarão teus melhores cedros e os lançarão no fogo.

⁸ Então, muitas nações passarão por esta cidade e perguntarão umas às outras: 'Por que Yahweh agiu dessa maneira com esta grande cidade?' ⁹ Responderão: 'Porque abandonaram a aliança de Yahweh, seu Deus, e se prostraram e adoraram outros deuses.'

¹⁰ Não choreis pelo morto, nem lastimeis por ele, mas pranteai por todo aquele que for levado cativo, porque nunca mais retornará, nem verá novamente a terra em que nasceu.

¹¹ Pois assim diz Yahweh acerca de Salum, filho de Josias, rei de Judá, que reinou em lugar de Josias, seu pai: 'Ele partiu deste lugar e não mais voltará. ¹² Ele morrerá no lugar para onde o levaram cativo e nunca mais verá esta terra.

¹³ Ai daquele que edifica sua casa sem retidão, e seus aposentos com injustiça, que faz seu vizinho trabalhar para ele de graça. ¹⁴ Ai daquele que diz: 'Eu construirei para mim uma casa ampla, com cômodos espaçosos'. Então, abre-lhe largas janelas, cobre-a com cedro, e a pinta de vermelho.

¹⁵ Por acaso, é ter painéis de cedro que faz com que sejas um bom rei? Não foi teu pai que comeu e bebeu, e mesmo assim agiu com justiça e retidão? Por isso, as coisas iam bem para ele. ¹⁶ Ele julgou em favor do pobre e do necessitado; por isso, as coisas iam bem. Não é isso o que significa me conhecer? – essa é a declaração de Yahweh.

¹⁷ Mas não tens olhos ou coração para nada, exceto para o teu ganho desonesto e para derramar sangue inocente, para oprimir e esmagar os outros. ¹⁸ Portanto, assim diz Yahweh acerca de Jeoaquim, filho de Josias, rei de Judá: Não o lamentarão com 'Ai, meu irmão!' ou 'Ai, minha irmã!' Nem o lamentarão com 'Ai, senhor!' ou 'Ai, majestade!' ¹⁹ Ele será sepultado como se sepulta um asno, será arrastado e jogado para fora das portas de Jerusalém.

²⁰ Subi aos montes do Líbano e clamai, levantai as vossas vozes em Basã. Clamai desde as montanhas de Abarim, pois todos os vossos amigos serão destruídos. ²¹ Eis que falei convosco em vossa prosperidade, mas dissestes: 'Não ouviremos'. Este tem sido o vosso comportamento desde a juventude, não ouvis a Minha voz.

²² O vento apascentará todos os vossos pastores, e vossos amigos irão para o cativeiro. Eis que, certamente, sereis envergonhados e humilhados por todos os vossos atos perversos. ²³ Ó tu, que habitas no Líbano, que fazes o teu ninho nos cedros, como terão pena de ti quando te vierem dores e aflições como as de uma mulher em trabalho de parto!'

²⁴ "Como eu vivo!", diz Yahweh, "ainda que tu, Joaquim, filho de Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, fosses o anel de selar em minha mão direita, eu te arrancaria. ²⁵ Pois te entreguei nas mãos daqueles que procuram tirar tua vida, e daqueles a quem temes: nas mãos de Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, e dos caldeus. ²⁶ Eu expulsarei a ti e à tua mãe, que te gerou, para outra terra, diferente da qual nascestes e ali morrereis.

²⁷ À terra para a qual eles desejavam voltar, não mais retornarão. ²⁸ É esse homem, Jeoaquim, um vaso inútil e quebrado? É esse homem um vaso que ninguém deseja? Por que o expulsaram, bem como sua descendência, e os lançaram em uma terra que não conheciam?'

²⁹ Terra, terra, terra! Ouve a palavra de Yahweh! ³⁰ Yahweh diz: 'Escreve sobre esse homem, Joaquim: 'ele não terá filhos, não prosperará nos seus dias, e nenhum de seus descendentes alcançará o sucesso ou se sentará novamente no trono de Davi e governará sobre Judá".

Capítulo 23

¹ "Ai dos pastores que destroem e dispersam as ovelhas do Meu pasto – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh." ² Por isso, Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz a respeito dos pastores que estão pastoreando seu povo: "Vós estais dispersando Meu rebanho e o afastando. Vós não vos importastes com eles. Eu vos punirei pelo mal de vossas práticas –Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

³ Eu mesmo recolherei o remanescente do Meu rebanho de todas as terras para onde Eu os expulsei e os conduzirei de volta à sua pastagem, onde eles frutificarão e se multiplicarão. ⁴ Então, Eu levantarei pastores sobre eles, que irão pastoreá-los; assim, eles não temerão nem serão aniquilados. Nenhum deles será perdido – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

⁵ Vede, dias estão chegando quando Eu levantarei Davi, um Ramo Justo. Ele reinará como Rei; Ele agirá com sabedoria e executará justiça e retidão na terra – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ⁶ Em Seus dias, Judá será resgatada e Israel viverá em segurança. E este é o nome pelo qual Ele será chamado: Yahweh, Nossa Justiça.

⁷ Portanto, vede! Dias estão chegando quando eles já não dirão: 'Vive Yahweh, que fez o povo de Israel subir da terra do Egito'. ⁸ Em vez disso, eles dirão: "Vive Yahweh, que fez subir e trouxe de volta os descendentes da casa de Israel da terra do norte e de todas as terras onde eles haviam sido expulsos'. E eles viverão em suas próprias terras" – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

⁹ Em relação aos profetas, meu coração está partido, e todos os meus ossos estremecem. Eu me tornei como um homem bêbado, como um homem ao qual o vinho tem dominado, por causa de Yahweh e Suas santas palavras. ¹⁰ Pois a terra está cheia de adúlteros. Por causa deles a terra secou. As campinas nos desertos secam. Os caminhos desses profetas são perversos; seu poder não é usado da maneira correta.

¹¹ "Pois ambos, os profetas e os sacerdotes, estão contaminados. Eu encontrei sua perversidade até em Minha casa! – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ¹² Portanto, seus caminhos serão como lugares escorregadios na escuridão. Eles serão empurrados e cairão nele. Pois Eu enviarei desgraça sobre eles no ano de seu castigo – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

¹³ Pois Eu vi os profetas de Samaria fazendo o que é repulsivo: eles profetizaram por Baal e desviaram Meu povo Israel dos caminhos corretos. ¹⁴ Entre os profetas em Jerusalém, Eu tenho visto coisas horríveis: eles cometem adultério e andam em engano; eles fortalecem as mãos dos malfeitores; ninguém se converte de sua maldade; todos eles têm-se tornado como Sodoma para Mim, e seus habitantes, como Gomorra!" ¹⁵ Portanto, Yahweh dos Exércitos diz isso acerca dos profetas: "Vede, Eu estou prestes a fazê-los comer erva amarga e beber água envenenada, pois a contaminação tem saído dos profetas de Jerusalém para toda a terra."

¹⁶ Yahweh dos Exércitos diz isto: "Não deis ouvidos às palavras dos profetas que vos profetizam. Eles têm vos iludido! Eles estão anunciando visões de suas próprias mentes, não da boca de Yahweh. ¹⁷ Eles estão, constantemente, dizendo aos que me desonram: 'Yahweh declara que haverá paz para vós'. Pois todos os que andam na teimosia de seus próprios corações dizem: 'Desgraças não virão sobre vós'. ¹⁸ Quem esteve no conselho de Yahweh? Quem vê e ouve Sua palavra? Quem presta atenção em Sua palavra e a escuta?

¹⁹ Vede! Há uma tempestade vindo de Yahweh! Sua fúria está se movendo, e a tempestade está girando. Ela está girando sobre a cabeça dos perversos. ²⁰ A ira de Yahweh não retornará até que Ele a tenha executado e trazido à existência as intenções de Seu coração. No fim dos dias, vós compreendereis isto claramente.

²¹ Eu não enviei esses profetas. Eles apenas apareceram. Eu não proclamei nada a eles, mas eles ainda têm profetizado. ²² Pois se eles tivessem ficado em Meu conselho, eles teriam feito Meu povo ouvir Minha palavra; eles os teriam levado a se arrependerem do seu mau caminho, e da maldade das suas ações.

²³ Esta é a declaração de Yahweh – Sou Eu apenas Deus de perto e não também Deus de longe? ²⁴ Pode alguém se esconder em um lugar secreto de tal modo que Eu não possa vê-lo? – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh – E Não preencho Eu os Céus e a Terra? –Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

²⁵ Eu tenho ouvido o que os profetas dizem, esses que estão profetizando engano em Meu nome. Eles disseram: 'Sonhei! Sonhei!' ²⁶ Por quanto tempo isto permanecerá, profetas que profetizam mentiras de suas mentes, e que profetizam do engano de seu coração? ²⁷ Eles estão planejando fazer Meu povo se esquecer do Meu nome com os sonhos que eles contam cada um ao seu companheiro; assim como seus antepassados se esqueceram do Meu nome por causa do nome de Baal.

²⁸ O profeta que teve um sonho, deixa que conte o sonho. Mas aquele a quem Eu tenho proclamado algo, que declare Minha palavra com verdade. O que tem em comum a palha com o grão? – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ²⁹ E minha palavra não é como o fogo? Não é como um martelo que despedaça uma rocha? –Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ³⁰ Portanto, vede, Eu estou contra os profetas, contra qualquer um que rouba palavras de outra pessoa e diz que elas vêm de Mim – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

³¹ Vede! Eu estou contra os profetas, os que usam suas línguas para profetizar decretos – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ³² Vede, Eu estou contra os profetas que sonham enganosamente e proclamam os sonhos e, desta forma, corrompem o Meu povo com engano e vaidade – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. Eu sou contra eles porque não os enviei nem lhes dei ordens. Então, eles, certamente, não ajudarão esse povo – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

³³ Quando esse povo, ou um profeta, ou um sacerdote te perguntar: 'Qual é o fardo de Yahweh?' Então deverás dizer a eles: 'Tu és o fardo e Eu vou te desamparar' – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ³⁴ Quanto aos profetas, sacerdotes e ao povo que estão dizendo: 'Este é o fardo de Yahweh', a estes Eu punirei, a eles e à sua casa.

³⁵ Vós continuareis a dizer, cada um ao seu companheiro, e cada homem ao seu irmão: 'Qual foi a resposta de Yahweh?' e 'O que Yahweh declarou?' ³⁶ Mas não devereis continuar a falar sobre o 'fardo de Yahweh', porque o fardo é a palavra própria de cada homem, e vós distorceis as palavras do Deus vivo, Yahweh dos Exércitos, nosso Deus.

³⁷ Isto é o que tu dirás ao profeta: 'O que Yahweh te respondeu? ou 'O que Yahweh disse?' ³⁸ Mas se disseres: 'O fardo de Yahweh', assim diz o Senhor: Porque tu disseste estas palavras: 'O fardo de Yahweh', quando te enviei, dizendo: 'Não dirás: "O fardo do Senhor". ³⁹ Por isso, vede! Eu estou prestes a vos levantar e vos arrojarei para longe de Mim, juntamente com a cidade que dei a vós e aos vossos antepassados. ⁴⁰ Então, porei sobre vós eterna vergonha e insultos que jamais serão esquecidos."

Capítulo 24

¹ Yahweh mostrou-me duas cestas de figos que estavam diante do templo de Yahweh. (Esta visão aconteceu depois que Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, levou para exílio Joaquim, filho de Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, os oficiais de Judá, o artesão e os ferreiros de Jerusalém e os trouxe à Babilônia). ² Uma das cestas de figos era muito boa, como os primeiros figos maduros, mas na outra cesta os figos eram tão ruins que eles não podiam ser comidos. ³ Yahweh me disse: "O que vês, Jeremias?" Eu respondi: "Figos. Figos que estão muito bons e figos que estão tão ruins que não podem ser comidos."

⁴ Então a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ⁵ "Yahweh, Deus de Israel, diz isto: Eu olharei para os exilados de Judá, para o benefício deles, justamente como estes bons figos, os exilados que mandei para fora deste lugar, para a terra dos babilônios. ⁶ Eu colocarei neles os Meus olhos para o bem e os restaurarei a esta terra. Eu os edificarei, e não os derrubarei. Eu os plantarei e não os arrancarei. ⁷ Então, Eu lhes darei um coração para Me conhecer, pois Eu sou Yahweh. Eles serão Meu povo e Eu serei seu Deus. Eles se voltarão a Mim com todo o seu coração.

⁸ Mas como os figos ruins, que estão tão ruins que não podem ser comidos, isso é o que Yahweh diz: 'Eu agirei desta maneira com Zedequias, rei de Judá, com seus oficiais e o resto de Jerusalém que restar nesta terra ou que ficar na terra do Egito. ⁹ Eu os transformarei em algo assustador, um desastre à vista de todos os reinos da terra, uma desgraça e assunto para provérbios, provocações e maldições em todos os lugares onde Eu os levar. ¹⁰ Eu enviarei a espada, a fome e a praga contra eles, até que sejam destruídos da terra que dei a eles e aos seus antepassados."

Capítulo 25

¹ Esta é a palavra que veio a Jeremias sobre todo o povo de Judá. Veio no quarto ano de Jeoaquim, filho de Josias, rei de Judá. Este foi o primeiro ano de Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia. ² Jeremias, o profeta, proclamou isto a todo o povo de Judá e a todos os habitantes de Jerusalém.

³ Ele disse: "Por vinte e três anos, desde o décimo terceiro ano de Josias, filho de Amom, rei de Judá até este dia, as palavras de Yahweh têm vindo a mim, e eu as tenho falado continuamente, mas vós não escutastes. ⁴ Yahweh vos enviou todos os Seus servos, os profetas, de novo e de novo, mas vós não ouvistes nem prestastes atenção.

⁵ Esses profetas disseram: 'Deixai que cada homem volte de seu caminho ímpio e da corrupção de suas práticas e retorne à terra que Yahweh deu, em tempos antigos, a vossos antepassados e a vós, como um presente permanente. ⁶ Assim, não andeis após outros deuses para adorá-los ou curvarem-se a eles, e não Me provoqueis com a obra de vossas mãos; deste modo, não vos farei mal algum.

⁷ Mas não Me ouvistes e Me provocastes com o trabalho de vossas mãos. Então, Eu os punirei – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ⁸ Yahweh dos Exércitos diz isto: 'Porque não ouvistes Minhas palavras, ⁹ vede, estou prestes a enviar uma ordem para mandar buscar todas as pessoas do norte, como também Nabucodonosor, Meu servo, rei da Babilônia, e trazê-los contra esta terra e contra seus habitantes, e contra todas as nações ao redor. Pois vou separá-las para destruição. Eu as transformarei em horror, um objeto de zombaria e interminável desolação – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

¹⁰ Os sons de alegria e celebração, as vozes do noivo e da noiva, o som das pedras de moinho e da luz das lamparinas, Eu farei todas essas coisas desaparecerem. ¹¹ Depois, toda esta terra se tornará desolação e horror, e estas nações servirão ao rei da Babilônia por setenta anos.

¹² Então, acontecerá que, quando os setenta anos se completarem, Eu punirei o rei da Babilônia e aquela nação, a terra dos babilônios, por sua iniquidade, e farei deles uma eterna desolação – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ¹³ E executarei contra a terra todas as palavras que falei, tudo o que está escrito neste livro que Jeremias profetizou contra as nações. ¹⁴ Porque também muitas outras nações e grandes reis farão deles escravos. Eu lhes retribuirei por conta de seus atos e pela obra de suas mãos."

¹⁵ Pois Yahweh, Deus de Israel, disse a mim: "Pega esta taça de vinho de fúria de Minhas mãos e faze com que todas as nações às quais estou te mandando bebam-na. ¹⁶ Beberão e tropeçarão, reclamando loucamente diante da espada que estou enviando contra eles."

¹⁷ Então, peguei a taça da mão de Yahweh e fiz com que todas as nações, às quais Yahweh mandou-me, bebessem o vinho. ¹⁸ Jerusalém, as cidades de Judá e seus reis e oficiais, para transformá-los em ruínas e algo terrível, em objetos de zombaria e maldição, assim como o são nos dias atuais.

¹⁹ Outras nações também tiveram que beber do vinho: Faraó, rei do Egito, e seus servos; seus oficiais e todo o seu povo; ²⁰ todo o povo de herança mista e todos os reis da terra de Uz; todos os reis da terra dos filisteus, Asquelom, Gaza, Ecrom e o remanescente de Asdode; ²¹ Edom, Moabe e os amonitas.

²² Os reis de Tiro e Sidom, os reis das costas do outro lado do mar, ²³ Dedã, Temá e Buz com todos aqueles que cortam os cabelos nos lados de suas cabeças.

²⁴ Estes povos também tiveram que beber do vinho: todos os reis da Arábia e todos os reis do povo de herança mista que vivem no deserto; ²⁵ todos os reis de Zinri, todos os reis de Elão, e todos os reis da Média; ²⁶ todos os reis do norte, aqueles que estão perto e os que estão longe, todos com seus irmãos e todos os reinos do mundo que estão na superfície da terra. Finalmente, o rei da Babilônia beberá o vinho, após todos estes.

²⁷ Yahweh disse a mim: "Agora, tu precisas dizer a eles: 'Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel, diz isto: Bebei e embebedai-vos e vomitai, caí e e não torneis a levantar-vos diante da espada que estou enviando contra vós'. ²⁸ Então, acontecerá que se eles recusarem-se a pegar a taça de tuas mãos e beberem, tu dirás a eles: 'Yahweh dos Exércitos diz isto: Tu, certamente, deves bebê-lo. ²⁹ Pois, vede, estou prestes a trazer desastre na cidade que é chamada pelo Meu nome, e vós deveis ficar livres de punição? Vós não sereis livres, pois eu estou enviando uma espada contra todos os habitantes da terra! – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh dos Exércitos.'

³⁰ Tu deves profetizar a eles todas estas palavras e dizer: 'Yahweh rugirá das alturas e gritará com Sua voz da Sua santa morada, e rugirá poderosamente contra o Seu rebanho; e Ele gritará, como os que pisam as uvas, contra todos os que vivem na terra. ³¹ O barulho da batalha vai ressoar até os confins da terra, pois Yahweh está trazendo acusações contra as nações, e Ele irá trazer juízo à toda carne. Ele entregará os ímpios à espada – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.'

³² Yahweh dos Exércitos diz isto: 'Vede! O desastre está indo de nação a nação, e uma grande tempestade se levanta dos confins da terra. ³³ Então, naquele dia, aqueles que foram mortos por Yahweh se estenderão de uma extremidade da terra à outra; eles não serão pranteados, recolhidos ou enterrados. Eles serão como esterco no chão.

³⁴ Lamentai, pastores, e gritai por socorro! Rolai na poeira, vós líderes do rebanho, pois o dia de serdes abatidos chegou. Vós sereis dispersos quando cairdes como um vaso precioso. ³⁵ O refúgio para os pastores se foi. Não há escapatória para os líderes do rebanho. ³⁶ Ouvi os gritos dos pastores e os lamentos dos líderes do rebanho, porque Yahweh está destruindo os seus pastos.

³⁷ Assim, as pastagens pacíficas serão devastadas por causa da ira feroz de Yahweh. ³⁸ Como um jovem leão, deixou sua morada, pois a terra deles se tornará um horror por causa da ira do opressor, por causa da ira feroz de Yahweh."

Capítulo 26

¹ No começo do reinado de Jeoaquim, filho de Josias, rei de Judá, esta palavra veio de Yahweh. ² Assim diz Yahweh: "Coloca-te de pé no pátio da Minha casa e dize a todas as cidades de Judá, que vêm adorar em Minha casa. Proclama todas as palavras que te ordenei falar a eles. Não omitas nenhuma palavra! ³ Pode ser que eles escutem e que cada homem abandone seus caminhos maus; então, Eu me compadecerei com relação ao desastre que estou planejando trazer sobre eles, por causa da maldade das suas práticas.

⁴ Dirás a eles: 'Assim diz Yahweh: Se não Me ouvirdes para andardes de acordo com a Minha lei, que coloquei diante de vós; ⁵ se não ouvirdes as palavras dos Meus servos, os profetas, que Eu envio persistentemente – mas não ouvistes – ⁶ então, Eu farei a esta casa igual à Siló; tornarei esta cidade em uma maldição perante todas as nações da terra."

⁷ Os sacerdotes, os profetas e todo o povo ouviu Jeremias anunciando estas palavras na Casa de Yahweh. ⁸ Então, ocorreu que, quando Jeremias terminou de anunciar tudo o que Yahweh o havia mandado dizer a todo o povo, os sacerdotes, os profetas e todo o povo o agarraram e disseram: "Certamente morrerás! ⁹ Por que profetizastes em nome de Yahweh e dissestes que esta casa será como Siló, e esta cidade ficará em ruínas e sem habitantes?" Todo o povo juntou-se contra Jeremias na Casa de Yahweh.

¹⁰ Ao ouvirem estas palavras, oficiais de Judá subiram da casa do rei para a Casa de Yahweh, e se assentaram à entrada da Porta Nova da Casa de Yahweh. ¹¹ Os sacerdotes e os profetas falaram aos oficiais e a todo o povo, dizendo: "É correto que este homem morra, visto que profetizou contra esta cidade, como ouvistes com vossos próprios ouvidos!" ¹² Então, Jeremias falou a todos os oficiais e a todo o povo, dizendo: "Yahweh me mandou para profetizar contra esta casa e esta cidade, para proferir todas as palavras que ouvistes.

¹³ Portanto, agora, endireitai os vossos caminhos e práticas, e ouvi a voz de Yahweh, vosso Deus, a fim de que Ele se compadeça com relação ao desastre que proclamou contra vós. ¹⁴ Eu mesmo – olhai para mim! – estou em vossas mãos. Fazei comigo o que é bom e correto aos vossos olhos. ¹⁵ Mas estais plenamente cientes de que se matardes a mim, estareis trazendo sangue inocente sobre vós, esta cidade e seus habitantes, pois, de fato, Yahweh me enviou para proclamar todas estas palavras aos vossos ouvidos."

¹⁶ Então, os oficiais e todo o povo falaram aos sacerdotes e profetas: "Não é correto que este homem morra, pois nos proclamou coisas em nome de Yahweh, nosso Deus". ¹⁷ Logo, alguns homens dentre os anciãos da terra se levantaram e falaram a toda a assembleia do povo.

¹⁸ Eles disseram: "Miqueias, de Moresete, profetizou nos dias de Ezequias, rei de Judá. Ele falou a todo o povo de Judá, dizendo: 'Assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos: Sião será lavrada como um campo, Jerusalém se tornará um amontoado de entulho e o monte do templo se tornará uma colina coberta de matagais. ¹⁹ Por acaso, Ezequias, rei de Judá, e todo o povo o matou? Por acaso, ele não temia Yahweh e intercedia, clamando que Yahweh tivesse misericórdia? Faremos nós, então, mal maior contra as nossas próprias vidas?"

²⁰ Enquanto isso, havia outro homem profetizando em nome de Yahweh: Urias, filho de Semaías, de Quiriate-Jearim. Ele também profetizou contra essa cidade e essa terra, em concordância com as palavras de Jeremias. ²¹ Quando o rei Jeoaquim e todos os seus soldados e oficiais ouviram suas palavras, o rei tentou matá-lo, mas, ouvindo isso, Urias afligiu-se e fugiu para o Egito.

²² O rei Jeoaquim enviou ao Egito Elnatá, filho de Acbor, e alguns outros homens com ele. ²³ Eles tiraram Urias do Egito e o levaram ao rei Jeoaquim, que o matou à espada, e lançou seu corpo nas sepulturas das pessoas comuns. ²⁴ Mas Aicã, filho de Safã, protegeu Jeremias, para que não caísse nas mãos do povo e fosse morto.

Capítulo 27

¹ No início do reinado de Zedequias, filho de Josias, rei de Judá, esta palavra veio de Yahweh a Jeremias. ² Isto é o que Yahweh me disse: "Faze para ti grilhões e jugos, e coloca-os em teu pescoço. ³ E manda também grilhões e jugos para o rei de Edom, para o rei de Moabe, para o rei de Amom, para o rei de Tiro e para o rei de Sidom. Envia-os através das mãos dos mensageiros que vieram a Jerusalém ter com Zedequias, rei de Judá. ⁴ Ordena-lhes que falem aos seus senhores, dizendo: Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel, diz: Assim direis aos vossos senhores:

⁵ Eu fiz a terra com Meu grande poder e com o Meu braço estendido. Também fiz as pessoas e os animais sobre a terra, e os dou a quem me apraz. ⁶ E, agora, entrego todas estas terras nas mãos de Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, meu servo. Também lhe dou os seres vivos dos campos para servi-lo. ⁷ Todas as nações servirão a ele, a seu filho e a seus netos até o tempo final de sua terra, quando muitas nações e poderosos reis o subjugarão.

⁸ Se alguma nação e reino não servirem a Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, e não se submeterem ao rei da Babilônia, eu os castigarei com espada, fome e praga — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — até que Eu, pelas suas mãos, a destrua.

⁹ E vós, não mais escuteis vossos profetas, vossos adivinhos, vossos videntes, intérpretes de sonhos e feiticeiros que vos falam: 'Não sirvais o rei da Babilônia'. ¹⁰ Eles profetizam mentiras a fim de enviar-vos para longe de vossas terras, para que Eu vos expulse e, assim, pereçais. ¹¹ Mas a nação que se submeter ao rei da Babilônia e o servir, permitirei que descansem na sua terra — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — e eles a cultivarão e nela farão moradias."

¹² Então, falei com Zedequias, rei de Judá, e lhe entreguei esta mensagem: "Submete-te ao jugo do rei da Babilônia, serve a ele e ao seu povo e viverás. ¹³ Por que morreríeis — tu e teu povo — pela espada, fome e praga, como declarou Yahweh a respeito da nação que se recusar a submeter-se ao rei da Babilônia?

¹⁴ Não deis ouvidos às palavras dos profetas que vos dizem: 'Não sirvais ao rei da Babilônia', pois eles estão profetizando mentiras. ¹⁵ Porque não os enviei — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — eles profetizam mentiras em Meu nome, para que Eu vos expulse e pereçais, vós e os profetas que vos profetizam.

¹⁶ Proclamei aos sacerdotes e a todo povo dizendo: "Yahweh diz: não deis ouvidos às palavras de vossos profetas que dizem: 'Vede! Os objetos pertencentes à Casa de Yahweh estão voltando da Babilônia agora!' Eles vos profetizam mentiras. ¹⁷ Não lhes deis ouvidos, servi ao rei da Babilônia e vivereis. Por que trazer ruína à cidade? ¹⁸ Se eles são profetas e se, de fato, a palavra de Yahweh está com eles, que intercedam a Yahweh dos Exércitos, para que não sejam levados à Babilônia os objetos que ainda estão em sua casa, na casa do rei de Judá e em Jerusalém.

¹⁹ Assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos sobre as colunas, o tanque, os suportes e o que sobrou dos utensílios nesta cidade, ²⁰ os quais Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, não tomou quando levou cativo Jeconias, filho de Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, de Jerusalém para a Babilônia com todos os nobres de Judá e de Jerusalém.

²¹ Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel, diz a respeito dos utensílios que permaneceram na Casa de Yahweh, na casa do rei de Judá e em Jerusalém: ²² 'Eles serão trazidos para Babilônia, e ali ficarão até o dia em que Eu determinar — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — então, Eu os trarei e os devolverei a este lugar."

Capítulo 28

¹ Aconteceu que, no início do reinado de Zedequias, rei de Judá, no quinto mês do quarto ano, o profeta Hananias, filho de Azur, que era de Gibeão, falou-me na Casa de Yahweh, na presença dos sacerdotes e de todo povo, dizendo: ² "Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz isto: Eu tenho quebrado o jugo imposto pelo rei da Babilônia.

³ Dentro de dois anos, Eu trarei de volta a este lugar todos os utensílios pertencentes à Casa de Yahweh, que Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, levou para Babilônia. ⁴ Então, trarei de volta a este lugar Jeconias, filho de Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, e todos os exilados de Judá que foram levados para Babilônia — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — pois quebrarei o jugo do rei da Babilônia."

⁵ Então, Jeremias, o profeta, respondeu ao profeta Hananias, na presença dos sacerdotes e de todo o povo que estava na Casa de Yahweh. ⁶ Jeremias, o profeta, disse: "Que Yahweh faça isto: que Yahweh confirme as palavras que tens profetizado e traga de volta a este lugar os utensílios pertencentes à Casa de Yahweh, e todos os exilados da Babilônia. ⁷ Contudo, ouve as palavras que proclamo a ti e a todo o povo.

⁸ Os profetas que existiram antes de mim e de ti, desde a antiguidade, também profetizaram sobre muitas nações e contra poderosos reinos, sobre guerras, fome e praga. ⁹ Então, o profeta que profetizar que haverá paz, se sua palavra se cumprir, saberá que, de fato, ele é um profeta enviado por Yahweh."

¹⁰ Mas o profeta Hananias pegou o jugo do pescoço de Jeremias, o profeta, e o quebrou. ¹¹ Então, Hananias disse na presença do povo: "Yahweh diz isto: Deste modo, em dois anos, Eu quebrarei o jugo do pescoço de toda a nação, imposto por Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia." Então, Jeremias, o profeta, seguiu o seu caminho.

¹² Depois que o profeta Hananias quebrou o jugo do pescoço de Jeremias, o profeta, a palavra de Yahweh veio até Jeremias, dizendo: ¹³ "Vai e fala a Hananias: Yahweh diz isto: Tu quebraste um jugo de madeira; porém, Eu farei um jugo de ferro. ¹⁴ Pois Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel, diz: Eu tenho colocado um jugo de ferro no pescoço de todas as nações para servirem a Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, e elas o servirão. Eu também lhe dei os animais do campo, para que governe sobre eles."

¹⁵ Depois, Jeremias, o profeta, disse ao profeta Hananias: "Ouve, Hananias! Yahweh não te enviou, mas fizeste este povo acreditar em mentiras. ¹⁶ Então, Yahweh diz isto: 'Vê que estou te mandando para fora da Terra. Tu morrerás neste ano, porque proclamastes rebelião contra Yahweh." ¹⁷ E o profeta Hananias morreu naquele ano, no sétimo mês.

Capítulo 29

¹ Estas são as palavras da carta que Jeremias, o profeta, enviou de Jerusalém para os anciãos remanescentes entre os cativos, aos sacerdotes, aos profetas e a todo o povo que Nabucodonosor exilou de Jerusalém para a Babilônia. ² Isso aconteceu após o rei Jeconias, a rainha mãe, os altos oficiais, os príncipes de Judá e de Jerusalém, os carpinteiros e os ferreiros terem saído de Jerusalém. ³ Ele enviou essa carta pelas mãos de Elasa, filho de Safã, e de Gemarias, filho de Hilquias, os quais Zedequias, rei de Judá, tinha enviado a Nabucodonosor rei da Babilônia.

⁴ A carta dizia: "Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz a todos os cativos, os quais exilei de Jerusalém para a Babilônia: ⁵ 'Construí casas e vivei nelas, plantai jardins e comei seus frutos.

⁶ Tomai mulheres e gerai filhos e filhas. Tomai mulheres para vossos filhos e dai vossas filhas em casamento. Deixai-os gerar filhos e filhas, e multiplicai para que não sejais poucos. ⁷ Buscai a paz na cidade para onde vos deportei, e orai a Mim, para que tenhais paz, na medida em que ela estiver em paz.'

⁸ Pois Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Não deixeis que vossos profetas, que estão no meio de vós, e vossos adivinhos vos enganem, e não deis importância aos sonhos que vós mesmos estais tendo. ⁹ Pois estão profetizando enganos para vós em Meu nome. Eu não os enviei' — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

¹⁰ Pois assim diz Yahweh: 'Quando se completarem os setenta anos designados para a Babilônia, Eu vos ajudarei e cumprirei Minha boa palavra para convosco, trazendo-vos de volta a este lugar. ¹¹ Pois Eu bem sei os pensamentos que tenho a vosso respeito — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — pensamentos de paz e não de desgraça, para vos dar um futuro e esperança.

¹² Então, vós Me invocareis e orareis, e Eu vos ouvirei. ¹³ E Me buscareis e Me achareis, quando Me buscardes de todo o vosso coração. ¹⁴ Então, serei achado por vós — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. Eu trarei de volta a vossa sorte, e vos reunirei dentre todas as nações e lugares para onde vos espalhei — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. Pois, vos trarei de volta do lugar de onde vos exilei.'

¹⁵ Vós dizeis que Yahweh levantou profetas para nós, na Babilônia; ¹⁶ todavia, Yahweh diz para o rei que se assenta no trono de Davi, e para todo o povo que habita nesta cidade, vossos irmãos que não foram levados ao cativeiro; ¹⁷ assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos: 'Eu lhes mandarei espada, fome e peste; Eu lhes farei como figos podres que não podem ser comidos.

¹⁸ Eu lhes perseguirei com espada, fome e peste, e eles serão uma visão terrível aos olhos de todos os reinos da terra. Eles serão objeto de horror, maldição, ofensa e vergonha dentre todas as nações por onde Eu os espalhar. ¹⁹ Isto porque não ouviram as Minhas palavras — assim diz Yahweh — as quais lhes enviei através de Meus servos, os profetas. Eu as enviei repetidamente, mas vós não ouvistes — assim diz Yahweh.

²⁰ Então, escutai a palavra de Yahweh, vós todos os que fostes exilados de Jerusalém para a Babilônia: ²¹ 'Eu, Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, vos digo acerca de Acabe, filho de Colaías, e Zedequias, filho de Maaseias, que a vós profetizaram mentiras em Meu nome: Vede, estou prestes a vos entregar nas mãos de Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia. Ele vos matará diante de vossos olhos.

²² Uma maldição será lançada, por causa dessas pessoas, a todos os cativos de Judá na Babilônia, dizendo: 'Que Yahweh vos faça como a Zedequias, e como a Acabe, os quais o rei da Babilônia queimou no fogo.' ²³ Isto acontecerá por causa das coisas terríveis que fizestes a Israel, quando cometestes adultério com as esposas de vossos vizinhos, e declarastes falsas palavras em Meu nome, coisas que não vos mandei dizer. Pois Eu sou Aquele que sabe, Eu sou a testemunha – esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

²⁴ Sobre Semaías, o neelamita, dizei: ²⁵ Assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel: Porque enviaste cartas em teu próprio nome a todo o povo em Jerusalém, como também a Sofonias, filho de Maaseias, o sacerdote, e a todos os sacerdotes dizendo: ²⁶ 'Yahweh o fez sacerdote no lugar de Jeoiada, o sacerdote, para que fosse responsável pela Casa de Yahweh.' Deveis controlar todas as pessoas que deliram e se fazem de profetas. Deveis prendê-los com correntes no pescoço.

²⁷ Então, por que não repreendestes Jeremias de Anatote, que se nomeou profeta entre vós? ²⁸ Pois ele nos enviou à Babilônia, e disse: "Será um longo tempo; construí casas e vivei nelas, plantai jardins e comei seus frutos.' ²⁹ Sofonias, o sacerdote, leu essa carta para Jeremias, o profeta.

³⁰ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a Jeremias dizendo: ³¹ "Envia a Palavra a todos os exilados e dize: 'Assim diz Yahweh sobre Semaías, o neelamita: Porque Semaías profetizou a vós, quando Eu mesmo não o enviei, levando-vos a crer em mentiras, ³² porém, assim diz Yahweh: Vede, estou para castigar Semaías, o neelamita, e seus descendentes. Não haverá em sua família nenhum homem que habitará entre este povo, nem verá o bem que farei pelo Meu povo – essa é a declaração de Yahweh – pois ele proclamou rebeldia contra Yahweh."

Capítulo 30

¹ Esta é a palavra que de Yahweh veio a Jeremias, dizendo: ² "Isto é o que Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: Escreve para ti, em um livro, as palavras que te declarei. ³ Vede! Dias virão – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – quando Eu mudarei o destino do Meu povo, Israel e Judá. Eu, Yahweh, já disse isso. Pois os trarei de volta à terra que dei aos vossos antepassados, e eles a possuirão."

⁴ Estas são as palavras que Yahweh declarou acerca de Israel e de Judá: ⁵ "Pois Yahweh diz isto: Ouvimos uma voz trêmula de pavor, não de paz.

⁶ Perguntai e observai se um homem pode dar à luz uma criança. Por que eu vejo todos os homens jovens com as mãos no ventre, como uma mulher em trabalho de parto? Por que todos os seus rostos ficaram pálidos? ⁷ Ah! Como aquele dia será grandioso, como nenhum igual. Será um tempo de angústia para Jacó, mas ele será livre dela.

⁸ Porque será naquele dia, esta é a declaração de Yahweh dos Exércitos, que quebrarei o jugo sobre o teu pescoço, e quebrarei tuas correntes, para que estrangeiros não os escravizem mais. ⁹ Mas irão adorar a Yahweh, seu Deus, e servir a Davi, a quem Eu levantarei como rei sobre eles.

¹⁰ Portanto, tu, meu servo Jacó, não temas, esta é a declaração de Yahweh, e não te espantes, Israel. Pois eu vos trarei de volta de terras distantes, e vossos descendentes, da terra dos cativos. Jacó retornará e estará em paz; ele estará seguro, e não haverá mais terror. ¹¹ Pois Eu estou convosco – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – para vos salvar. Destruirei totalmente todas as nações onde Eu vos espalhei. Mas, certamente, não darei fim a vós, mas vos disciplinarei de maneira justa; certamente, não vos deixarei impunes.

¹² Pois Yahweh diz isto: "Tua injúria é incurável, tua ferida está infectada. ¹³ Não há ninguém para defender o teu caso; não há quem possa curá-lo, não tem remédio para a tua ferida.

¹⁴ Todos os teus amantes se esqueceram de ti. Eles não te procurarão, pois Eu te feri com a ferida de um inimigo e a disciplina de um mestre cruel, por causa das tuas muitas iniquidades e incontáveis pecados. ¹⁵ Por que gritas de dor? Tua ferida é incurável. Por causa de tuas muitas iniquidades, teus incontáveis pecados, Eu fiz estas coisas a ti.

¹⁶ Então, todos os que te consumirem serão consumidos, e todos os teus adversários irão para o cativeiro. E os que te despojam, serão despojados. Todos os que te saqueiam, entregarei para o saque. ¹⁷ Pois restaurarei a ti; Eu curarei as tuas feridas – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – Eu farei isto porque eles chamaram-te: Rejeitada. Ninguém se importa com Sião."

¹⁸ Yahweh diz isto: "Vede! Estou prestes a mudar o destino das tendas de Jacó e de ter compaixão de seus lares. Então, uma cidade será construída sobre um monte de ruínas, e um palácio no seu devido lugar. ¹⁹ Uma canção de louvor e um som de alegria sairão deles, porque Eu os multiplicarei e não serão diminuídos; Eu os honrarei para que não sejam humilhados.

²⁰ Então, seu povo será como antes, e sua comunidade será estabelecida diante de mim, quando Eu punir todos aqueles que, agora, os atormentam. ²¹ Seu príncipe procederá deles. Ele virá do meio deles, e o farei aproximar-se, e ele se chegará a Mim; se Eu não fizer isto, quem se atreverá a chegar perto de Mim? – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ²² E vós sereis Meu povo, e Eu serei vosso Deus.

²³ Vede! A tempestade de Yahweh, sua fúria, já foi liberada. É uma tempestade contínua, e isso cairá na cabeça dos ímpios. ²⁴ A ira de Yahweh não retornará até que tenham se cumprido todos os propósitos de Seu coração. Nos últimos dias, entendereis isto."

Capítulo 31

¹ Esta é a declaração de Yahweh: "Naquele tempo, Eu serei o Deus de todas as famílias de Israel e eles serão Meu povo." ² Assim diz Yahweh: "O povo que sobreviveu à espada, achou favor no deserto; Eu darei descanso a Israel." ³ Yahweh me apareceu no passado e disse: "Eu te amei, Israel, com amor eterno. Por isso te atraí a Mim com amor leal.

⁴ Edificarei novamente a ti e serás edificada, ó virgem Israel! Ainda pegarás teus tamborins e sairás com danças alegres. ⁵ Plantarás vinhas novamente nas montanhas de Samaria; os agricultores plantarão e colherão os frutos. ⁶ Porque virá o dia em que as sentinelas, nas montanhas de Efraim, proclamarão: 'Levantai-vos, subamos à Sião para Yahweh, nosso Deus."

⁷ Pois, Yahweh diz isto: "Exultai de alegria por Jacó! Exultai por causa da cabeça das nações! Que seja ouvido o louvor! Dizei: 'Yahweh tem salvado Seu povo, o remanescente de Israel.'

⁸ Vede, estou prestes a trazê-los das terras do norte. Eu os ajuntarei das partes mais distantes da Terra. Os cegos e os aleijados estarão entre eles; mulheres grávidas e as que estão prestes a dar à luz também. Uma grande multidão retornará aqui. ⁹ Eles virão chorando, e os conduzirei enquanto fazem suas súplicas. Eu vou guiá-los aos ribeiros de águas, por um caminho reto em que não tropeçarão, pois serei um pai para Israel, e Efraim será meu primogênito."

¹⁰ "Escutai, nações, a palavra de Yahweh! E anunciai nas ilhas distantes. Vós, nações, deveis dizer: 'Aquele que espalhou Israel o reunirá e o guardará, como um pastor que guarda suas ovelhas." ¹¹ Porque Yahweh resgatou Jacó e o livrou da mão do que era mais forte do que ele.

¹² Então, eles virão e se regozijarão nas alturas de Sião. Seus rostos brilharão por causa da bondade de Yahweh; por causa do trigo e do vinho novo, do óleo e da cria de cordeiros e bezerros. Pois suas vidas se tornarão como um jardim regado, e eles nunca mais sentirão tristeza.

¹³ Então, as virgens se alegrarão com danças e os jovens e velhos ficarão juntos, porque tornarei o luto deles em celebração. Terei compaixão deles e os farei regozijarem-se, ao invés de se lamentarem. ¹⁴ Então, saciarei a vida dos sacerdotes com fartura. Meu povo se satisfará com a Minha bondade – esta é a declaração de Yahweh."

¹⁵ Assim diz Yahweh: "Uma voz é ouvida em Ramá, lamento e choro amargo: Raquel está chorando por seus filhos e se recusa a ser consolada sobre eles, pois não vivem mais."

¹⁶ Assim diz Yahweh: "Reprime tua voz de choro e teus olhos das lágrimas, porque há uma recompensa para o teu sofrimento— esta é a declaração de Yahweh— teus filhos retornarão da terra do inimigo. ¹⁷ Há esperança para o teu futuro— esta é a declaração de Yahweh— teus filhos retornarão para os seus territórios."

¹⁸ "Eu, certamente, ouvi Efraim lamentando: 'Tu me castigaste e fui punido. Traze-me de volta como um novilho não domado e voltarei, pois Tu és Yahweh, meu Deus. ¹⁹ Porque, depois que me voltei para Ti, me arrependi; depois de ser domado, bati em minha coxa com pesar. Eu estava envergonhado e humilhado por carregar a culpa da minha juventude.' ²⁰ Não é Efraim Meu filho precioso? Não é ele Meu filho querido e agradável? Pois quando falo contra ele, certamente, ainda Me lembro com amor. Assim, Meu coração lhe deseja. Eu, certamente, terei compaixão dele — esta é a declaração de Yahweh."

²¹ Coloca marcos e põe sinais que te guiem; coloca a tua mente no caminho pelo qual andaste. Volta, virgem de Israel! Volta para as tuas cidades! ²² Por quanto tempo continuarás a fraquejar, filha rebelde? Pois, Yahweh criou algo novo na terra: uma mulher cercará um homem.

²³ Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz: "Quando Eu trouxer de volta o povo para sua terra, dirão isto na terra de Judá e nas suas cidades: 'Que Yahweh te abençoe, ó morada da justiça, ó monte santo!' ²⁴ Pois Judá e todas as suas cidades viverão juntas ali, assim como os lavradores e pastores com seus rebanhos. ²⁵ Pois, Eu darei aos cansados água para beber, e vou saciar todos os que sofrem de sede." ²⁶ Depois disto, acordei e percebi que meu sono havia sido agradável.

²⁷ Eis que, dias virão – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – quando Eu semearei as casas de Israel e de Judá, com semente de homens e de animais. ²⁸ No passado, Eu os mantive sob vigilância, a fim de arrancá-los, derrubá-los, demoli-los, destruí-los e prejudicá-los. Mas nos dias que virão, Eu os vigiarei, a fim de edificá-los e plantá-los – esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

²⁹ Naqueles dias ninguém mais dirá: 'Os pais comeram uvas verdes e os dentes dos filhos ficaram opacos.' ³⁰ Pois, cada homem morrerá em sua própria iniquidade; todos os que comerem uvas verdes, terão seus dentes opacos.

³¹ Eis que virão dias – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – quando estabelecerei uma nova aliança com a casa de Israel e com a casa de Judá. ³² Não será como a aliança que Eu estabeleci com seus pais, nos dias em que os tomei pela mão, para trazê-los para fora da terra do Egito. Aqueles foram dias em que quebraram minha aliança; embora Eu fosse o Senhor deles — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

³³ Mas esta é a aliança que estabelecerei com a casa de Israel depois desses dias, esta é a declaração de Yahweh: 'Eu colocarei a Minha lei no meio deles e a escreverei em seus corações, pois Eu serei o seu Deus e eles serão o Meu povo. ³⁴ Então, cada homem não ensinará mais ao seu próximo, nem cada um ao seu irmão, dizendo: 'Conhece a Yahweh!' Pois todos eles, do menor até o maior, conhecerão quem Eu sou – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – pois Eu perdoarei a sua iniquidade e não Me lembrarei mais dos seus pecados."

³⁵ Yahweh diz isto – Yahweh, Aquele que faz o sol brilhar durante o dia, e organiza a lua e as estrelas para brilharem à noite. Ele é quem coloca o mar em movimento para que suas ondas rujam. Yahweh dos Exércitos é o Seu nome. Ele diz: ³⁶ "Somente se estas coisas permanentes desaparecerem da minha vista – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – os descendentes de Israel deixarão de ser, para sempre, uma nação perante Mim."

³⁷ Assim diz Yahweh: "Somente se os mais altos céus puderem ser medidos, e a fundação da Terra puder ser descoberta, rejeitarei todos os descendentes de Israel, por causa de tudo o que eles fizeram – esta é a declaração de Yahweh."

³⁸ "Eis que dias virão – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – quando a cidade será reconstruída para Mim, da torre de Hananel até o portão da Esquina. ³⁹ Então, a corda de medir será estendida até a colina de Garebe, e contornará Goa. ⁴⁰ Todo o vale de cadáveres e de cinzas, todos os campos, passando pelo vale de Cedrom até a esquina do portão dos Cavalos, no oriente, serão consagrados a Mim, Yahweh. A cidade nunca mais será arrancada ou destruída novamente."

Capítulo 32

¹ Esta é a palavra que veio de Yahweh a Jeremias no décimo ano de Zedequias, rei de Judá, no décimo oitavo ano de Nabucodonosor. ² Naquele tempo, o exército do rei da Babilônia estava sitiando Jerusalém, e Jeremias, o profeta, estava preso no pátio da guarda, na casa do rei de Judá.

³ Zedequias, rei de Judá, o prendeu, dizendo: "Por que profetizas e dizes: 'Yahweh diz: Eu estou prestes a entregar esta cidade nas mãos do rei da Babilônia e ele a conquistará. ⁴ Zedequias, rei de Judá, não escapará das mãos dos babilônios, mas certamente será entregue na mãos do rei da Babilônia. Sua boca falará à boca do rei, e seus olhos verão os olhos do rei. ⁵ Ele levará Zedequias para a Babilônia e ficará lá, até que Eu cuide dele – essa é a declaração de Yahweh – ainda que lutes contra os babilônios, tu não serás bem sucedido."

⁶ Jeremias disse: "A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ⁷ 'Eis que Hanameel, filho de teu tio Salum, está vindo a ti e dirá: "Compra o meu campo que está em Anatote, pois a ti pertence o direito de comprá-lo."

⁸ Então, como Yahweh declarou, Hanameel, filho do meu tio, veio a mim no pátio da guarda e me disse: "Compra meu campo que está em Ananote, na terra de Benjamim, pois o direito de herança é teu. Compra-o para ti." Então, eu soube que esta era a palavra de Yahweh. ⁹ Eu comprei de Hanameel, o filho do meu tio, o campo em Ananote, e pesei para ele dezessete siclos de prata.

¹⁰ Assinei a escritura, a selei, e chamei testemunhas para conferirem. Então pesei a prata numa balança. ¹¹ Depois, peguei a escritura da compra que estava selada, seguindo os termos e estatutos, bem como a escritura aberta. ¹² Entreguei a escritura selada a Baruque, filho de Nerias, filho de Maseias, na frente de Hanameel, filho do meu tio, e das testemunhas que assinaram na escritura selada, e diante de todos os judeus que estavam sentados no pátio da guarda.

¹³ Então, ordenei a Baruque diante deles, dizendo: ¹⁴ "Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz isto: 'Pegue estes documentos com a escritura de compra, tanto a selada como a aberta, os ponha em um jarro de barro, para que durem por muito tempo.' ¹⁵ Porque Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz: "Casas, campos e vinhas serão comprados novamente nesta terra."

¹⁶ Depois de entregar a escritura de compra a Baruque, filho de Nerias, eu orei a Yahweh e disse: ¹⁷ "Ah, Senhor Yahweh! Vê! Tu sozinho fizeste os céus e a terra pelo Teu grande poder e com Teu braço estendido. Nada que digas é difícil demais para que faças. ¹⁸ Tu demonstras misericórdia a milhares e retribuis a iniquidade dos pais nos filhos. Tu és o Grande e Poderoso Deus, Yahweh dos Exércitos é o Teu nome!

¹⁹ Tu és grande em sabedoria e poderoso em obras, pois Teus olhos estão abertos para todas as pessoas, para dar a cada homem aquilo que ele merece, segundo a sua conduta. ²⁰ Tu fizeste sinais e maravilhas na terra do Egito, até o dia de hoje; aqui em Israel e entre toda a humanidade, fizeste Teu nome conhecido. ²¹ Pois trouxeste o teu povo, Israel, para fora do Egito com sinais e maravilhas, com mão forte, com braço estendido e com grande terror.

²² Então, deste a eles esta terra, a qual jurou que daria aos antepassados deles, uma terra que jorra leite e mel. ²³ E entraram e tomaram posse dela; mas eles não obedeceram à Tua voz, nem viveram em obediência à Tua lei. Eles não fizeram nada daquilo que ordenaste que fizessem, então trouxeste toda essa desgraça sobre eles.

²⁴ Olhai! Os cercos chegaram à cidade para conquistá-la. Pois pela espada, fome e peste a cidade foi entregue nas mãos dos babilônios, que lutam contra ela. Pois o que disseste que aconteceria, está acontecendo; e vede, Tu mesmo o vês. ²⁵ E Tu me disseste: "Compre um campo para ti com prata, e tenha testemunhas, mesmo que a cidade esteja sendo entregue nas mãos dos babilônios."

²⁶ Esta é a palavra de Yahweh que veio a Jeremias, dizendo: ²⁷ "Olhai! Eu sou Yahweh, Deus de toda a humanidade. Existe algo que seja difícil demais para mim?" ²⁸ Portanto, Yahweh diz isto: "Vede, vou entregar esta cidade nas mãos dos babilônios, e Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, a conquistará.

²⁹ Os babilônios que estão lutando contra esta cidade, entrarão e a incendiarão. Eles a queimarão, junto com as casas em cujos telhados as pessoas adoravam Baal e derramavam ofertas de bebidas a outros deuses, para Me provocarem. ³⁰ Pois o povo de Israel e de Judá, certamente, tem sido um povo que, desde a sua juventude, faz o que é mau diante dos Meus olhos. O povo de Israel, certamente, Me ofendeu com as práticas de suas mãos – esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

³¹ Pois esta cidade tem sido uma provocação à Minha ira e fúria desde o dia em que eles a construíram. E tem sido assim até o dia de hoje. Então, Eu a removerei de diante de Mim, ³² por causa de toda a maldade do povo de Israel e Judá, das coisas que eles fizeram para Me provocar; eles, seus reis, príncipes, sacerdotes, profetas e todos os habitantes de Judá e de Jerusalém.

³³ Eles voltaram suas costas para Mim, ao invés de suas faces, mesmo que zelosamente os ensinasse. Eu tentei ensiná-los, mas nenhum deles escutou para receber instrução. ³⁴ Eles colocaram seus ídolos abomináveis na casa que se chama pelo Meu nome, para contaminá-la. ³⁵ Depois, edificaram os altos de Baal no vale de Ben-Hinom, para sacrificar seus filhos e filhas a Moloque, algo que Eu não lhes ordenei, nem me passou pela mente que fizessem tal abominação, para fazerem Judá pecar."

³⁶ Portanto, Eu, Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, digo isto a respeito desta cidade, a cidade da qual vós falais: 'Está entregue nas mãos do rei da Babilônia pela espada, fome e peste.' ³⁷ Vede, Eu estou prestes a reuni-los de todas as terras de onde os dispersei na Minha ira, fúria e grande raiva. Certamente, os trarei de volta a este lugar e permitirei que vivam em segurança.

³⁸ E eles serão o Meu povo, e Eu serei o seu Deus. ³⁹ Eu lhes darei um só coração e uma só forma de Me honrarem todos os dias, para o seu bem e o bem de seus filhos. ⁴⁰ E Eu estabelecerei uma aliança eterna com eles, não deixarei de fazer-lhes o bem. Porei o Meu temor no seu coração, e eles nunca mais se afastarão de Mim.

⁴¹ E Me regozijarei, fazendo o bem a eles. Eu os plantarei firmemente nesta terra com todo o Meu coração e toda a Minha vida. ⁴² Pois Yahweh diz isto: 'Assim como Eu trouxe essa grande desgraça sobre este povo, trarei sobre eles todo o bem que lhes tenho prometido.

⁴³ Então, campos serão comprados nesta terra, sobre a qual dizeis: "Esta é uma terra arruinada, que não tem nem homens, nem animais. Ela foi entregue nas mãos dos babilônios." ⁴⁴ Eles comprarão campos com prata; escrituras serão assinadas e seladas. Eles chamarão testemunhas na terra de Benjamim, nos lugares ao redor de Jerusalém, nas cidades de Judá, nas cidades da região montanhosa, nas cidades das planícies e nas cidades do sul. Pois Eu mudarei o destino deles, esta é a declaração de Yahweh."

Capítulo 33

¹ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a Jeremias, pela segunda vez, enquanto ele ainda estava preso no pátio da guarda, dizendo: ² "Yahweh, o Criador que faz estas coisas, que as forma a fim de estabelecê-las, Yahweh é o Seu nome, diz isto: ³ 'Clama a Mim e te responderei; revelarei coisas grandes para ti, mistérios que não conheces.'

⁴ Pois Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz isto acerca das casas desta cidade, e das casas dos reis de Judá, que foram derrubadas para a defesa contra as rampas de cercos e a espada. ⁵ Os babilônios estão chegando para lutar e para encher as casas com cadáveres, a quem Eu matarei com Minha ira e fúria, porque escondi Minha face desta cidade, por causa de todas as suas maldades.

⁶ Mas, vede, Eu estou prestes a trazer saúde e cura, pois Eu irei curá-los e lhes trarei abundância, paz e fidelidade. ⁷ Eu trarei de volta a sorte de Judá e Israel, e os reedificarei como no princípio. ⁸ Então, os purificarei de toda maldade que eles cometeram contra Mim; perdoarei todas as iniquidades que praticaram, e todas as maneiras pelas quais se rebelaram contra Mim. ⁹ Então, esta cidade se tornará para Mim um objeto de alegria, uma canção de louvor e honra diante das nações da terra, que ouvirão todas as coisas boas que Eu farei para ela. Então, elas tremerão espantadas por causa de todo o bem e da paz que lhes darei.'

¹⁰ Yahweh diz isto: "Neste lugar sobre o qual agora vós estás dizendo: 'É uma desolação. Não existe nenhum homem, nem animal nas cidades de Judá; e as ruas de Jerusalém são inabitáveis, sem nenhum homem ou animal.' ¹¹ Novamente, serão ouvidos os sons de alegria e celebração, sons de noivos e noivas, sons das vozes de pessoas que fazem ofertas de agradecimento à Casa de Yahweh: "Dai graças a Yahweh dos Exércitos, porque Ele é bom, o Seu amor leal não tem fim". Pois mudarei o destino desta terra, tornando-a como era no princípio', diz Yahweh.

¹² Assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos: "Neste lugar desolado, onde agora não existe homem nem animal, haverá novamente, em todas as cidades, pastos onde os pastores poderão repousar seus rebanhos. ¹³ Nas cidades da região montanhosa, nas cidades das planícies, nas cidades do Sul, na terra de Benjamim, nas vilas ao redor de Jerusalém e nas cidades de Judá ainda passarão os rebanhos pelas mãos de quem os conte", diz Yahweh.

¹⁴ Olhai! Eis que vêm dias – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – quando Eu farei o que prometi à casa de Israel e à casa de Judá. ¹⁵ Naqueles dias e naquele tempo, farei brotar de Davi um Renovo Justo, e ele fará justiça e retidão na terra. ¹⁶ Naqueles dias, Judá será salva e Jerusalém viverá em segurança, pois este é o nome pela qual será chamada: "Yahweh é a nossa justiça."

¹⁷ Pois assim diz Yahweh: "Nunca faltará um homem da linhagem de Davi para assentar-se no trono da casa de Israel, ¹⁸ nem faltará um homem dos sacerdotes levitas, diante de Mim, para levantar holocaustos, para queimar ofertas de alimentos, e realizar ofertas de cereais em todo o tempo."

¹⁹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a Jeremias, dizendo: ²⁰ "Assim diz Yahweh: Se puderdes quebrar Minha aliança com o dia e com a noite, de modo que não haja nem dia nem noite a seu tempo, ²¹ então, vós também quebrareis Meu pacto com Davi, Meu servo, para que ele não tenha um filho para reinar em seu trono; como também o Meu pacto com os pastores levitas, Meus servos. ²² Como as estrelas do céu não podem ser contadas, e como a areia do mar não pode ser medida, assim aumentarei os descendentes de Davi, Meu servo, e dos levitas que Me servem."

²³ A palavra de Yahweh veio a Jeremias, dizendo: ²⁴ "Não tens considerado o que este povo tem declarado quando dizem: 'As duas famílias que Yahweh escolheu, agora Ele tem rejeitado?' Assim, desprezam Meu povo, dizendo que eles não são mais uma nação.

²⁵ Eu, Yahweh, digo isto: 'Se a minha aliança com o dia e a noite não vale mais, e se Eu não manter a harmonia do céu e terra, ²⁶ então, Eu rejeitarei os descendentes de Jacó e Davi, Meu servo, e não trarei uma pessoa para governar sobre os descendentes de Abraão, Isaque e Jacó. Porque lhes restaurarei a sorte e lhes mostrarei misericórdia."

Capítulo 34

¹ Esta é a palavra que veio de Yahweh a Jeremias, quando Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia e todo o seu exército, juntamente com todos os reinos da terra, os domínios sob o seu poder, e todo o seu povo que atacavam Jerusalém e todas as suas cidades, dizendo: ² "Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz assim: 'Vai, fala com Zedequias, rei de Judá, e dize-lhe: Assim diz Yahweh: 'Olhai, Eu estou prestes a entregar esta cidade nas mãos do rei da Babilônia, e Ele a queimará. ³ Tu não escaparás da mão dele, pois, certamente, serás capturado e entregue em suas mãos. Teus olhos verão o rei da Babilônia; ele falará diretamente contigo. E irás para a Babilônia."

⁴ Ouve a palavra de Yahweh, Zedequias, rei de Judá! Yahweh diz isto a respeito de ti: "Tu não morrerás pela espada. ⁵ Tu morrerás em paz. Assim como queimavam seus antepassados, os reis antes de ti, em funerais, eles queimarão seu corpo. E dirão: "Ah, mestre!" Eles lamentarão por ti. Pois eu falei isto – essa é a declaração de Yahweh."

⁶ Então, Jeremias, o profeta, proclamou para Zedequias, rei de Judá, todas estas palavras em Jerusalém. ⁷ Quando o exército do rei da Babilônia guerreava contra Jerusalém e contra as cidades remanescentes de Judá: Laquis e Azeca, cidades fortificadas, haviam permanecido.

⁸ Esta é a palavra que veio de Yahweh a Jeremias, depois que o rei Zedequias havia estabelecido um acordo com todo o povo de Jerusalém para proclamar liberdade: ⁹ Que cada homem libertasse seus escravos hebreus, tanto homens quanto mulheres. Ninguém mais deve escravizar um judeu, que era seu irmão.

¹⁰ Então, todos os líderes e pessoas que assinaram o acordo obedeceram. Cada pessoa libertaria seu escravo, homem e mulher e não mais os escravizaria. Eles ouviram e os mandaram embora. ¹¹ Mas depois disso, mudaram de idéia. Eles trouxeram de volta os escravos que haviam libertado e os forçaram a se tornarem escravos novamente.

¹² Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a Jeremias, dizendo: ¹³ "Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz isto: Eu mesmo estabeleci uma aliança com vossos antepassados no dia em que os tirei da terra do Egito, da casa da escravidão, dizendo: ¹⁴ 'Ao final de sete anos, cada homem deve mandar embora seu irmão, seu companheiro hebreu que se vendeu a ti, e te serviu por seis anos. Manda-o embora em liberdade'. Mas vossos antepassados não Me ouviram, nem prestaram atenção.

¹⁵ Agora, vós mesmos estais arrependidos e começais a fazer o que é certo perante Meus olhos. Proclamastes liberdade, cada homem ao seu vizinho. E vós estabelecestes um acordo perante Mim, na casa que é chamada pelo Meu nome. ¹⁶ Mas profanastes Meu nome e voltastes atrás; fizestes cada homem trazer de volta seu escravo, homem e mulher, os que mandaram embora, para irem onde desejassem. Vós os forçastes a vos servirem novamente."

¹⁷ Portanto, Yahweh diz isto: 'Vós mesmos não têm Me escutado. Deverias ter proclamado liberdade, cada um de vós, a teus irmãos e companheiros israelitas. Olhai! Estou prestes a proclamar liberdade, esta é a declaração de Yahweh; liberdade pela espada, pela peste e pela fome; pois Eu farei de vós uma coisa horrível aos olhos de todos os reinos da terra. ¹⁸ Então, eu lidarei com as pessoas que transgrediram Minha aliança, que não mantiveram as palavras do acordo que estabeleceram diante de Mim, quando cortaram um bezerro em dois, e andaram entre suas partes, ¹⁹ isto é, os líderes de Judá e Jerusalém, os oficiais e os sacerdotes, e todo o povo da terra que andaram entre as partes do bezerro.

²⁰ Eu os entregarei nas mãos dos seus inimigos e dos que querem suas vidas. Seus corpos serão alimento para os pássaros dos céus e para as feras da terra. ²¹ Então, entregarei Zedequias, rei de Judá, e os seus líderes nas mãos dos seus inimigos, e daqueles que procuram matá-los, e na mão do exército do rei da Babilônia, que tem-se levantado contra vós. ²² Olhai, estou prestes a dar-lhes uma ordem – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – e os trarei de volta a esta cidade para guerrear contra vós, tomá-los, e queimá-los. Porque tornarei as cidades de Judá em ruínas, onde não haverá habitantes."

Capítulo 35

¹ A palavra veio a Jeremias, da parte de Yahweh, nos dias de Jeoaquim, filho de Josias, rei de Judá, dizendo: ² "Vai à família dos recabitas e fala com eles. Então, leva-os à Minha casa, até uma das salas e dá vinho para que bebam."

³ Então, eu trouxe Jazanias, filho de Jeremias, filho de Habazinias, e seus irmãos, todos os seus filhos, e toda a família dos recabitas. ⁴ Eu os levei à Casa de Yahweh, à sala dos filhos de Hanã, filho de Jigdalias, homem de Deus. Essa sala ficava ao lado da sala dos líderes, que ficava acima da sala de Maaseias, filho do porteiro Salum.

⁵ Então, eu coloquei jarras e cálices cheios de vinho perante os recabitas e lhes disse: "Bebam um pouco de vinho." ⁶ Mas eles disseram: "Nós não beberemos vinho algum, pois nosso antepassado, Jonadabe, filho de Recabe, nos ordenou: 'Jamais bebereis vinho, nem vós, nem vossos descendentes. ⁷ Também não construireis casas, semeareis semente alguma ou plantareis vinhas; isto não é para vós. Pois deveis viver em tendas por todos os vossos dias; assim, vivereis muitos dias na terra onde permanecereis como estrangeiros.'

⁸ Nós obedecemos à voz de Jonadabe, filho de Recabe, nosso antepassado, em tudo o que ele nos ordenou: para não bebermos vinho em todos os nossos dias; nem nós, nem nossas mulheres, nem nossos filhos e nem nossas filhas. ⁹ E nós nunca construiremos casas para morar, e nunca haverá vinha, campo ou semente em nossa posse. ¹⁰ Nós temos vivido em tendas, ouvido e feito tudo aquilo que Jonadabe, nosso antepassado, nos ordenou. ¹¹ Mas quando Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, atacou a terra, nós dissemos: 'Vinde, vamos a Jerusalém para escaparmos dos exércitos dos babilônios e dos sírios.' Então, estamos vivendo em Jerusalém."

¹² Então, veio a palavra de Yahweh a Jeremias, dizendo: ¹³ "Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz isto: 'Vai, dize aos homens de Judá e aos habitantes de Jerusalém: "Não recebereis Minha correção e não ouvireis Minhas palavras? – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ¹⁴ As palavras de Jonadabe, filho de Recabe, que ele deu ordem a seus filhos para não beberem vinho, foram acatadas até os dias de hoje. Eles obedeceram à ordem de seu antepassado. Mas, quanto a Mim, Eu vos tenho falado insistentemente, mas não ouvis.

¹⁵ Eu vos enviei todos os Meus servos, os profetas. Eu fui persistente ao enviá-los para dizer: 'Cada um se afaste do seu mau caminho e faça boas obras; ninguém mais siga e adore outros deuses. Assim, ficareis na terra que vos dei a vós outros e a vossos antepassados'. Ainda assim, não ouvistes ou prestastes atenção em Mim. ¹⁶ Porque os descendentes de Jonadabe, filho de Recabe, observaram as ordens que seus antepassados lhes deram, mas este povo se recusa a Me ouvir."

¹⁷ Então, Yahweh, o Deus dos Exércitos e Deus de Israel, diz: 'Olhai, trarei sobre Judá e sobre todos os moradores de Jerusalém todos os desastres que proclamei contra eles; porque lhes falei, mas se recusaram a ouvir. Eu os chamei, mas não responderam."

¹⁸ Jeremias disse à família dos recabitas: "Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz isto: Vós ouvistes os mandamentos de Jonadabe, vosso antepassado, e os guardastes; vós obedecestes a tudo o que ele vos ordenou, ¹⁹ então, Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz isto: Sempre haverá alguém da linhagem de Jonadabe, filho de Recabe, para Me servir."

Capítulo 36

¹ No quarto ano de Jeoaquim, filho de Josias, rei de Judá, veio esta palavra de Yahweh a Jeremias: ² "Pegue um rolo para ti e escrevas nele todas as palavras que Eu te falei sobre Israel e Judá, e sobre todas as nações. Tudo o que Eu tenho dito, desde os dias de Josias até o dia de hoje. ³ Talvez, quando o povo de Judá ouvir sobre todos os desastres que pretendo trazer sobre eles, cada um se desvie do mau caminho, e assim Eu possa perdoar a sua iniquidade e seu pecado."

⁴ Então, Jeremias chamou Baruque, filho de Nerias; e Baruque escreveu no rolo, todas as palavras ditadas por Jeremias, que Yahweh lhe havia falado. ⁵ Em seguida, Jeremias ordenou a Baruque dizendo: "Estou proibido de ir à Casa de Yahweh. ⁶ Assim, tu deves ir e ler o rolo que escreveste pela minha ordem. No dia do jejum, tu deverás ler as palavras de Yahweh perante o povo, na Casa de Yahweh, e também as lerás perante todos de Judá, que vêm das suas cidades. Proclame essas palavras para eles.

⁷ Talvez seus pedidos de misericórdia cheguem perante Yahweh, e cada pessoa se desvie do seu mau caminho, uma vez que a ira que Yahweh proclamou contra este povo é severa." ⁸ Assim, Baruque, filho de Nerias, fez tudo o que o profeta Jeremias havia ordenado. Ele leu em voz alta as palavras de Yahweh na Casa de Yahweh.

⁹ Sucedeu que, no quinto ano, no nono mês, de Jeoaquim, filho de Josias, rei de Judá, todas as pessoas em Jerusalém e as pessoas que vieram para Jerusalém das cidades de Judá, proclamaram um jejum em honra a Yahweh. ¹⁰ Baruque leu em voz alta as palavras de Jeremias na Casa de Yahweh, na sala de Gemarias, filho de Safã, o escriba, no pátio superior, junto ao portão de entrada da Casa de Yahweh.

¹¹ Quando Micaías, filho de Gemarias, filho de Safã, ouviu todas as palavras de Yahweh que estavam no rolo, ¹² desceu para a casa do rei, para a sala do escriba. Eis que, todos os oficiais estavam sentados ali: Elisama, o escriba, Delaías, filho de Semaías, Elnatã, filho de Acbor, Gemarias, filho de Safã, Zedequias, filho de Hananias, e todos os oficiais.

¹³ Então, Micaías relatou a eles todas as palavras que ouvira quando Baruque leu em voz alta para o povo. ¹⁴ Assim, todos os oficiais enviaram Jeúdi, filho de Netanias, filho de Selemias, filho de Cuxe, à Baruque. Jeúdi disse a Baruque: "Pegue o rolo em tuas mãos, o rolo que tu estavas lendo ao povo e venha." Então, Baruque, filho de Nerias, pegou o rolo em suas mãos e foi até os oficiais. ¹⁵ E eles disseram: "Senta-te e lê o rolo para nós." Então, Baruque leu o rolo.

¹⁶ Aconteceu que, quando eles ouviram todas aquelas palavras, entreolharam-se com medo e disseram para Baruque: "Nós, certamente, precisamos relatar todas essas palavras ao rei." ¹⁷ Eles perguntaram a Baruque: "Diga-nos, como escreveste todas essas palavras, Jeremias as ditou?" ¹⁸ Baruque disse: "Ele ditou todas estas palavras para mim, e eu as escrevi com tinta neste rol.". ¹⁹ Então, os oficiais disseram a Baruque: "Vai, esconde-te, e Jeremias também. Não deixeis ninguém saber onde estais."

²⁰ Colocaram o rolo na sala de Elisama, o escriba. Depois, foram para ao pátio do palácio, e relataram tudo ao rei. ²¹ Então, o rei enviou Jeúdi para buscar o rolo. Jeúdi o trouxe da sala de Elisama, o escriba, e o leu em voz alta para o rei e para todos os oficiais que estavam em pé ao lado dele. ²² Naquele momento, o rei estava em sua casa de inverno, pois era mês nono, e um braseiro estava queimando diante dele.

²³ Aconteceu que, conforme Jeúdi lia três ou quatro colunas, o rei as cortava com uma faca e as atirava dentro do fogo no braseiro, até que todo o rolo foi destruído. ²⁴ Porém, nem o rei e nenhum dos seus servos que ouviram todas aquelas palavras ficaram assustados, nem rasgaram suas roupas.

²⁵ Ainda que Elnatã, Delaías e Gemanias tivessem pedido ao rei que não queimasse o rolo, ele não os ouviu. ²⁶ O rei ordenou a Jerameel, seu filho, Seraías, filho de Azriel, e a Selemias, filho de Abdeel, que prendessem Baruque, o escriba, e Jeremias, o profeta, mas Yahweh os havia escondido.

²⁷ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a Jeremias, depois que o rei queimara o rolo e as palavras que Baruque escrevera, ditadas por Jeremias, dizendo: ²⁸ "Volta, pega outro rolo para ti, e escreve nele todas as palavras que estavam no rolo original que Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, queimou. ²⁹ Dirás isto para Jeoaquim, rei de Judá: 'Tu queimaste aquele rolo e disseste: Por que tens escrito que o rei da Babilônia, certamente, virá e destruirá esta terra? Por que ele acabará com os homem e os animais dela?"

³⁰ Portanto, Yahweh diz isto em relação a ti, Jeoaquim, rei de Judá: "Nenhum descendente teu sentará no trono de Davi. Quanto a ti, teu cadáver será jogado fora no calor do dia e na geada da noite. ³¹ Punirei a ti, teus descendentes e teus servos, por causa da maldade de todos vós. Trarei sobre vós, sobre todos os habitantes de Jerusalém, e sobre todos os habitantes de Judá os desastres que tenho falado e não ouviram."

³² Assim, Jeremias pegou outro rolo e deu a Baruque, filho de Nerias, o escriba. E Baruque escreveu nele todas as palavras ditadas por Jeremias que estavam no rolo queimado por Jeoaquim, rei de Judá. Além disso, muitas outras palavras semelhantes foram acrescentadas a este rolo.

Capítulo 37

¹ Ora, Zedequias, filho de Josias, reinou no lugar de Joaquim, filho de Jeoaquim. Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, fez Zedequias rei sob a terra de Judá. ² Mas Zedequias, seus servos, e o povo da terra não escutaram as palavras de Yahweh, que foram proclamadas pelas mãos do profeta Jeremias.

³ Assim, o rei Zedequias enviou Jeucal, filho de Selemias e Sofonias, filho de Maaseias, o sacerdote, ao profeta Jeremias, para lhe dizerem: "Ore em nosso favor para Yahweh, nosso Deus". ⁴ Jeremias estava indo e vindo entre as pessoas, pois não havia sido preso ainda. ⁵ O exército do Faraó saíra do Egito, e quando os caldeus, que sitiavam Jerusalém, ouviram a notícia sobre eles, deixaram a cidade.

⁶ Então, veio a palavra de Yahweh a Jeremias, o profeta, dizendo: ⁷ "Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, diz: 'Isto é o que tu dirás ao rei de Judá, porque ele te enviou para buscar Meu conselho: Vê, o exército do Faraó, que veio para te ajudar, está prestes a voltar para o Egito, a sua própria terra. ⁸ Os caldeus irão retornar, lutarão contra essa cidade, a conquistarão e a queimarão.'

⁹ Yahweh diz isto: Não se enganem dizendo: 'Os caldeus com certeza estão nos deixando'. Porque eles, certamente, não irão embora. ¹⁰ Mesmo que derrotásseis todo o exército babilônico, que luta contra vós, até que só homens feridos sejam deixados em suas tendas, eles se levantariam e queimariam esta cidade."

¹¹ Foi então que o exército babilônico deixou Jerusalém enquanto o exército do Faraó estava vindo; ¹² então, Jeremias saiu de Jerusalém para ir à terra de Benjamim. Ele queria tomar posse de um pedaço de terra lá entre seu povo. ¹³ Enquanto ele estava no Portão de Benjamim, um capitão da guarda que estava lá – seu nome era Jerias, filho de Selemias, filho de Hananias – agarrou o profeta Jeremias e disse: "Tu estás fugindo para o lado dos babilônios."

¹⁴ Mas Jeremias disse: "Isso não é verdade. Eu não estou fugindo para o lado dos babilônios". Mas Jerias não o escutou. Prendeu Jeremias e o levou aos oficiais. ¹⁵ Os oficiais estavam bravos com Jeremias. Eles o açoitaram e o colocaram na casa de Jônatas, o escriba, que havia sido transformada em uma prisão.

¹⁶ Jeremias foi colocado numa cela subterrânea, onde ficou por muitos dias. ¹⁷ Então, o rei Zedequias mandou alguém trazê-lo ao palácio. Em sua casa, o rei perguntou-lhe secretamente: "Há alguma palavra de Yahweh?"Jeremias respondeu: "Há uma palavra: Tu serás entregue na mão do rei da Babilônia."

¹⁸ Então, Jeremias disse ao rei Zedequias: "Qual foi meu pecado contra ti, contra teus servos ou contra este povo para que me pusesses na prisão? ¹⁹ Onde estão os teus profetas, aqueles que profetizaram para ti e disseram que o rei da Babilônia não atacará a vós, nem a esta terra? ²⁰ Mas, agora, escute, meu senhor, ó rei! Deixo meu pedido diante de ti. Não me coloques novamente na casa de Jônatas, o escriba, senão morrerei lá."

²¹ Então, o rei Zedequias deu uma ordem. Seus servos confinaram Jeremias no pátio da guarda. Um pedaço de pão era entregue a ele todos os dias, da rua dos padeiros, até que todo o pão da cidade acabasse. E Jeremias permaneceu no pátio da guarda.

Capítulo 38

¹ Sefatias, filho de Matã, Gedalias, filho de Pasur, Jeucal, filho de Selemias, e Pasur, filho de Malquias, ouviram as palavras que Jeremias estava declarando para todo o povo. Ele dizia: ² Assim diz Yahweh: "Quem permanecer nesta cidade será morto pela espada, fome e peste. Porém, quem for com os babilônios, sobreviverá. Ele escapará com sua própria vida e viverá." ³ Assim diz Yahweh: "Esta cidade será entregue nas mãos do exército do rei da Babilônia e ele a conquistará."

⁴ Então, os oficiais disseram ao rei: "Deixa este homem morrer, pois o que ele diz está enfraquecendo as mãos dos soldados que permanecem nesta cidade e de todo o povo. Ele está proclamando estas palavras, pois não está trabalhando pela segurança deste povo, mas, sim, para a destruição." ⁵ Então, o rei Zedequias disse: "Olhai, ele está em vossas mãos, pois não há rei capaz de resistir a vós."

⁶ Então, pegaram Jeremias e o jogaram dentro da cisterna de Malquias, filho do rei. A cisterna ficava no pátio da guarda. Eles desceram Jeremias com cordas. Não havia água na cisterna, mas lama, e ele afundou nela.

⁷ Ora, Ebede-Meleque, o etíope, que era um dos eunucos do palácio do rei, ouviu que eles tinham colocado Jeremias na cisterna. Quando o rei estava assentado no Portão de Benjamim, ⁸ Ebede-Meleque saiu do palácio e foi falar com ele. Ele disse: ⁹ "Ó rei, meu senhor, estes homens têm tratado mal o profeta Jeremias. Eles o lançaram numa cisterna para que morra de fome, pois não há mais comida na cidade."

¹⁰ Então, o rei deu uma ordem para Ebede-Meleque, o etíope. Ele disse: "Tome trinta homens daqui e tire o profeta Jeremias da cisterna antes que ele morra." ¹¹ Assim, Ebede-Meleque reuniu os homens e foi para a casa do rei, para um depósito de roupas debaixo da casa. De lá, pegaram trapos e roupas desgastadas, e os desceu a Jeremias na cisterna, por meio de cordas.

¹² Ebede-Meleque, o etíope, disse a Jeremias: "Ponha as roupas desgastadas e os trapos debaixo de seus braços e sobre as cordas." E Jeremias fez isso. ¹³ Então, eles puxaram Jeremias com as cordas, desta forma o tiraram da cisterna e o trouxeram para cima. E Jeremias permaneceu no pátio da guarda.

¹⁴ Em seguida, o rei Zedequias mandou trazer o profeta Jeremias à sua presença, à terceira entrada da Casa de Yahweh. O rei disse a Jeremias: "Quero perguntar-te algo. Não escondas a resposta de mim." ¹⁵ Jeremias disse a Zedequias: "Se eu te responder, certamente, não me matarás? Mas se eu te der conselhos, não me ouvirás." ¹⁶ Mas o rei Zedequias jurou secretamente a Jeremias, dizendo: "Assim como Yahweh vive, aquele que nos criou, não te matarei, nem te entregarei nas mãos dos homens que estão buscando tua vida."

¹⁷ Jeremias disse a Zedequias: Yahweh, o Deus dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz assim: "Se te renderes aos oficiais do rei da Babilônia, então vivereis, e esta cidade não será queimada. Tu e tua família viverão. ¹⁸ Mas, se não te renderes aos oficiais do rei da Babilônia, então esta cidade será entregue nas mãos dos caldeus. Eles a queimarão e tu não escaparás das mãos deles."

¹⁹ O rei Zedequias disse a Jeremias: "Mas tenho medo do povo de Judá, que já se rendeu aos caldeus, porque se eu for entregue nas mãos deles, eles me maltratarão".

²⁰ Jeremias respondeu: "Eles não o entregarão. Obedeça à ordem de Yahweh que estou lhe dizendo, e tudo te irá bem e tu viverás. ²¹ Mas se não te renderes, isto é o que Yahweh tem me mostrado:

²² Olhai! Todas as mulheres que ficaram na casa do rei de Judá serão levadas aos oficiais do rei da Babilônia. E elas lhe dirão: 'Tens sido enganado por teus amigos; e eles têm te arruinado. Teus pés estão afundados na lama, e os teus amigos fugiram.' ²³ Pois todas as tuas esposas e filhos serão levados aos caldeus e não poderás escapar de suas mãos. Serás capturado pela mão do rei da Babilônia e esta cidade será queimada."

²⁴ Então, Zedequias disse a Jeremias: "Não contes a ninguém sobre estas palavras, para que não morras. ²⁵ Se os oficiais souberem que falei contigo, se eles vierem e te disserem: 'Conta-nos sobre o que conversaste com o rei. Não nos escondas nada ou te mataremos. E conta-nos o que o rei disse a ti', ²⁶ então, deves dizer a eles: 'Eu supliquei ao rei que não me deixasse voltar à casa de Jônatas, para não morrer ali."

²⁷ Então, todos os oficiais vieram a Jeremias e o interrogaram, e ele respondeu como o rei o instruíra. Assim, eles pararam de falar com ele, pois não haviam escutado a conversa entre Jeremias e o rei. ²⁸ E Jeremias permaneceu no pátio da guarda até o dia em que Jerusalém foi invadida.

Capítulo 39

¹ No nono ano, no décimo mês de Zedequias, rei de Judá, Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, veio com todo o seu exército contra Jerusalém e a cercaram. ² No décimo primeiro ano e quarto mês de Zedequias, no nono dia do mês, a cidade foi invadida. ³ Então, todos os oficiais do rei da Babilônia vieram e se assentaram no Portão do Meio: Nergal-Sarezer de Sangar, Nebo-Sarsequim, um oficial importante. Nergal Sarezer, alto oficial, e com eles todos os outros oficiais do rei da Babilônia.

⁴ Aconteceu que, quando Zedequias, rei de Judá e todos os seus guerreiros os viram, fugiram. Eles saíram da cidade à noite, pelo caminho do jardim do rei, através do portão entre os dois muros. O rei saiu na direção da Arabá, ⁵ mas o exército dos caldeus perseguiu-os e alcançou Zedequias nas planícies do vale do rio Jordão, perto de Jericó. Eles o capturaram e o trouxeram até Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, em Ribla, na terra de Hamate, onde Nabucodonosor o sentenciou.

⁶ O rei matou os filhos de Zedequias diante dele, em Ribla. Ele também matou todos os homens nobres de Judá. ⁷ Cegou os olhos de Zedequias e o prendeu com correntes de bronze para levá-lo à Babilônia.

⁸ Então, os babilônios queimaram a casa do rei e as casas do povo. Eles também derrubaram os muros de Jerusalém. ⁹ Nebuzaradã, capitão da guarda do rei, levou para o exílio o resto do povo que havia ficado na cidade. Isso incluía os que se renderam aos babilônios e o restante da população. ¹⁰ Mas Nebuzaradã, o capitão da guarda do rei, permitiu que as pessoas mais pobres, que não possuíam nada, permanecessem na terra de Judá. Deu-lhes vinhas e campos naquele mesmo dia.

¹¹ Nabucodonosor, o rei da Babilônia, havia dado uma ordem sobre Jeremias para Nebuzaradã, o capitão da guarda do rei. Ele dissera: ¹² "Leva-o e cuida bem dele. Não o machuque. Faça por ele tudo o que te disser." ¹³ Então, Nebuzaradã, capitão da guarda do rei, Nebusazbã, Rabe-Sáris, Nergal-Sarezer, Rabe-Mague e todos os oficiais mais importantes do rei da Babilônia ¹⁴ mandaram retirar Jeremias do pátio e o entregaram a Gedalias, filho de Aicam, filho de Safã, para que o levasse para casa; assim, Jeremias permaneceu entre o povo.

¹⁵ Ora, a palavra de Yahweh viera a Jeremias enquanto estava preso no pátio da guarda, dizendo: ¹⁶ "Fala com Ebede-Meleque, o etíope, e diz: Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz isto: Vede, Eu estou prestes a cumprir minhas palavras contra esta cidade, para o mal e não para o bem. Pois todas elas se cumprirão perante ti naquele dia.

¹⁷ Mas eu te resgatarei naquele dia, esta é a declaração de Yahweh, e não serás entregue nas mãos dos homens a quem temes. ¹⁸ Pois Eu, certamente, te salvarei. Tu não cairás pela espada. Escaparás com vida, pois confias em Mim" – esta foi a declaração de Yahweh."

Capítulo 40

¹ Esta foi a palavra de Yahweh, que veio a Jeremias, depois que Nebuzaradã, o capitão da guarda do rei, o libertou em Ramá. Ele o encontrara acorrentado no meio dos exilados de Jerusalém e de Judá, que estavam sendo conduzidos para o exílio na Babilônia. ² O chefe da guarda levou Jeremias e lhe disse: "Yahweh, teu Deus, decretou este desastre contra este lugar.

³ Agora, Yahweh o trouxe, e fez como havia decretado. Portanto, tudo isso vos aconteceu porque pecastes contra Ele e não obedecestes à Sua voz. Esse é o motivo pelo qual essas coisas têm acontecido convosco. ⁴ Mas, agora vê! Eu te liberto hoje das correntes que estão em tuas mãos. Se for bom aos teus olhos que venhas comigo até a Babilônia, vem, e cuidarei de ti. Mas se não for bom aos teus olhos que venhas comigo para a Babilônia, então não venhas. Olha, toda a terra está diante de ti. Vá para onde for bom e direito aos teus olhos."

⁵ Mas, visto que Jeremias demorava a se decidir, Nebuzaradã lhe disse: "Volta a Gedalias, filho de Aicam, filho de Safã, a quem o rei da Babilônia nomeou governador das cidades de Judá. Habita com ele entre o povo, ou vai para onde for bom aos teus olhos." O comandante da guarda do rei deu a ele comida e um presente, e o deixou ir. ⁶ Então, Jeremias foi a Gedalias, filho de Aicam, em Mispá. Ele ficou com Gedalias entre o povo que foi deixado para trás na terra.

⁷ Quando alguns comandantes dos soldados de Judá que ainda estavam no campo, e seus homens, ouviram que o rei da Babilônia havia feito de Gedalias, filho de Aicam, governador da terra, e que lhe havia confiado homens, mulheres e crianças que eram os mais pobres da terra, que não haviam sido exilados na Babilônia, ⁸ foram até ele em Mispá. Eram eles: Ismael, filho de Netanias; Joanã e Jônatas, filhos de Careá; Seraías, filho de Tanumete; os filhos de Efai, o netofatita; e Jazanias, filho do Maacatita, todos eles e seus homens.

⁹ Gedalias, filho de Aicam, filho de Safã, jurou a eles e seus homens: "Não tenhais medo de servir os oficiais babilônios. Vivei na terra e servi o rei da Babilônia, e isso será bom para vós. ¹⁰ E, vede, eu continuarei morando em Mispá para me encontrar com os babilônios que vierem a nós. Então, colhei as uvas para fazer vinho, frutas de verão e azeite, e armazenem em vossas vasilhas. Vivei nas cidades que vós tendes ocupado."

¹¹ Todos os judeus em Moabe, entre os amonitas, e em Edom, e em toda terra, ouviram que o rei da Babilônia havia deixado um remanescente em Judá e que ele havia nomeado Gedalias, filho de Aicam, filho de Safã, como governador sobre eles. ¹² Então, todos os judeus retornaram dos lugares para onde eles haviam se dispersado. Voltaram à terra de Judá, para Gedalias, em Mispá, e colheram uvas para o vinho e frutas de verão em grande quantidade.

¹³ Joanã, filho de Careá, e todos os comandantes dos exércitos no campo, vieram a Gedalias, em Mispá. ¹⁴ Eles disseram-lhe: "Tu percebes que Baalis, rei dos amonitas, enviou Ismael, filho de Netanias para assassinar-te?" Mas Gedalias, filho de Aicam, não acreditou neles.

¹⁵ Então, Joanã, filho de Careá, falou em segredo a Gedalias, em Mispá, e disse: "Permita que eu vá matar Ismael, filho de Netanias. Ninguém suspeitará de mim. Por que deveria ele matar-te? Por que permitir que todos de Judá que têm estado junto a ti sejam dispersados e os remanescentes de Judá sejam destruídos?" ¹⁶ Mas Gedalias, filho de Acaim, disse a Joanã, filho de Careá: "Não faças isso, pois tu estás dizendo mentiras a respeito de Ismael."

Capítulo 41

¹ No sétimo mês, Ismael, filho de Netanias, filho de Elisama, da família real, e alguns oficiais do rei, vieram — dez homens estavam com ele — a Gedelias, filho de Aicam, em Mispá. Ali, eles comeram juntos. ² Mas Ismael, filho de Netanias, e os dez homens que estavam com ele, levantaram-se e atacaram Gedalias, filho de Aicam, filho de Safã, com a espada. Ismael matou Gedalias, a quem o rei da Babilônia havia posto como responsável pela terra. ³ Então, Ismael matou todos os judeus que estavam com Gedalias, em Mispá, e os soldados caldeus encontrados lá.

⁴ Esse era o segundo dia, depois da morte de Gedalias, mas ninguém sabia. ⁵ Alguns homens vieram de Siquém, de Siló e de Samaria; oitenta homens que tinham raspado a barba, rasgado suas vestes e cortado a si mesmos, trazendo ofertas de alimento e incenso em suas mãos, para irem à Casa de Yahweh.

⁶ Ismael, filho de Netanias, saiu de Mispá para encontrá-los, chorando enquanto caminhava. Então, aconteceu que encontrando-os, disse a eles: "Venham a Gedalias, filho de Aicam!" ⁷ Quando eles entraram na cidade, Ismael, filho de Netanias, abateu-os e jogou-os dentro de uma cova, ele e os homens que estavam com ele.

⁸ Mas lá havia dez homens entre eles, os quais disseram para Ismael: "Não nos mate, pois existem mantimentos nossos em um campo: trigo e cevada, azeite e mel." Então, ele não os matou, com seus outros companheiros. ⁹ A cova onde Ismael jogou todos os corpos dos homens que ele matou, juntamente com o corpo de Gedalias, era uma cova larga que tinha sido cavada pelo Rei Asa, quando ele foi atacado pelo Rei Baasa, de Israel. Ismael, filho de Netanias, a encheu com aqueles que ele havia matado.

¹⁰ Depois, Ismael capturou todo o restante do povo, que estava em Mispá, as filhas do rei e todas as pessoas que foram deixadas em Mispá, que Nebuzaradã, chefe da guarda, havia confiado a Gedalias, filho de Aicam. Então, Ismael, filho de Netanias, levou-os cativos e atravessou o território de Amom.

¹¹ Mas Joanã, filho de Careá, e os comandantes do exército que estavam com ele ouviram sobre todo o dano que Ismael, filho de Netanias, havia feito. ¹² Então, ele juntou os seus homens e foi lutar contra Ismael, filho de Netanias. E o encontraram no grande tanque de Gibeão.

¹³ E aconteceu que, quando todas as pessoas que estavam com Ismael viram Joanã, filho de Careá, e os comandantes do exército que estavam com ele, ficaram muito felizes. ¹⁴ Então, todos os que Ismael havia capturado em Mispá, viraram as costas e foram para o lado de Joanã, filho de Careá.

¹⁵ Mas Ismael, filho de Netanias, fugiu de Joanã com oito homens, e foi ao povo de Amom. ¹⁶ Joanã, filho de Careá e todos os comandantes do exército que estavam com ele levaram de Mispá todas as pessoas que haviam sido resgatadas de Ismael, filho de Netanias. Isto foi depois de Ismael ter matado Gedalias, filho de Aicam. Joanã e seus companheiros levaram os homens fortes, os homens de luta, as mulheres, as crianças e os eunucos que haviam sido resgatados em Gibeão.

¹⁷ Então, eles partiram e ficaram por um tempo em Gerute-Quimã – que fica perto de Belém – para, dali, entrarem no Egito ¹⁸ por causa dos caldeus. Estavam com medo deles desde que Ismael, filho de Netanias, matou Gedalias, filho de Aicam, a quem o rei da Babilônia havia posto como responsável pela terra.

Capítulo 42

¹ Então, todos os comandantes do exército e Joanã, filho de Careá, e Jezanias, filho de Hosaías, e todo o povo, desde o menor até o maior, aproximaram-se de Jeremias, o profeta. ² Eles lhe disseram: "Deixa nossa súplica vir diante de ti. Ora por nós, para Yahweh teu Deus, por este povo que restou, pois, como podes ver, somos poucos em número. ³ Pergunta a Yahweh, teu Deus, para que nos diga o caminho que devemos ir e o que devemos fazer."

⁴ Então, Jeremias, o profeta, disse a eles: "Eu tenho vos ouvido. Vede, eu orarei a Yahweh, vosso Deus, assim como vós pedistes. O que Yahweh disser, eu vos direi; não vs ocultarei nada." ⁵ Eles disseram a Jeremias: "Que Yahweh seja uma testemunha verdadeira e fiel contra nós, se não agirmos sob cada palavra que Yahweh, teu Deus, nos ordenar a fazer. ⁶ Quer seja boa ou má, obedeceremos à voz de Yahweh, nosso Deus, a quem te enviamos, para que tudo nos vá bem ao obedecermos à voz de Yahweh, nosso Deus."

⁷ Depois de dez dias, a palavra de Yahweh veio a Jeremias. ⁸ Então, Jeremias chamou Joanã, filho de Careá e todos os comandantes do exército com ele, e todo o povo, do menor ao maior. ⁹ E lhes disse: "Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, a quem me enviastes para apresentar vosso pedido diante dEle, diz: ¹⁰ Se voltardes e permanecerdes nesta terra, então, vos edificarei e não vos derrubarei; Eu vos plantarei e não vos arrancarei, pois Me arrependi do desastre que trouxe sobre vós.

¹¹ Não temais o rei da Babilônia, a quem vós temeis. Não o temais – essa é a declaração de Yahweh – desde que estou convosco para vos salvar e vos resgatar da mão dele. ¹² Pois vos concederei misericórdia, terei compaixão e vos levarei de volta à vossa terra.

¹³ Mas, se disserdes: "Não ficaremos nesta terra", se não escutardes a Minha voz, a voz de Yahweh, vosso Deus, ¹⁴ se disserdes: "Não! Nós iremos para a terra do Egito, onde não veremos nenhuma guerra, onde não ouviremos o som da trombeta e não teremos fome de alimento. Nós viveremos ali",

¹⁵ Então, ouvi esta palavra de Yahweh, aos remanescentes de Judá. Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel, diz: 'Se, realmente, vos preparardes para ir ao Egito e viverdes lá, ¹⁶ então, a espada que temeis vos atingirá na terra do Egito. A fome que vos preocupa vos perseguirá até o Egito, e ali morrereis. ¹⁷ Então, acontecerá que todos os homens que se prepararam para ir ao Egito, a fim de lá morarem, morrerão por espada, fome ou praga. Não haverá sobreviventes deles; nenhum escapará do desastre que lhes trarei.

¹⁸ Porque, assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel: Assim como a minha ira e a minha fúria foram derramadas sobre os habitantes de Jerusalém, da mesma maneira, minha fúria será derramada sobre vós, se fordes para o Egito. Vós vos tornareis um objeto de maldição e horror, um objeto de maldições e desgraça. E nunca mais vereis este lugar." ¹⁹ Então, Jeremias disse: "Yahweh tem falado a vosso respeito, ó remanescentes de Judá. Não entreis no Egito! Certamente, sabeis que hoje tenho sido testemunha contra vós.

²⁰ Pois enganastes a vós mesmos quando me enviastes a Yahweh, vosso Deus, e dissestes: 'Ora a Yahweh, nosso Deus, por nós. Tudo o que Yahweh, nosso Deus, te disser, dize-nos e nós faremos.' ²¹ Pois eu tenho falado a vós hoje, mas não obedecestes à voz de Yahweh, vosso Deus, em nada do que Ele me enviou para vos dizer. ²² Agora, certamente, sabei que morrereis pela espada, fome e praga, no lugar onde desejais viver."

Capítulo 43

¹ Quando Jeremias terminou de proclamar ao povo todas as palavras que Yahweh, seu Deus, o mandou dizer, ² Azarias, filho de Hosaías, Joanã, filho de Careá, e todos os homens arrogantes disseram para Jeremias: "Tu estás dizendo mentiras. Yahweh, nosso Deus, não te enviou para dizer: 'Não entreis no Egito para viverdes lá.' ³ Mas é Baruque, filho de Nerias, que está te incitando contra nós, para nos entregar nas mãos dos caldeus, para que causem nossa morte e nos façam cativos na Babilônia."

⁴ Então, Joanã, filho de Careá, todos os príncipes do exército e todas as pessoas, desobedeceram à voz de Yahweh e habitaram na terra de Judá. ⁵ Joanã, filho de Careá e todos os comandantes dos exércitos tiraram todos os remanescentes de Judá, que retornaram das nações para onde eles foram dispersados, para viverem na terra de Judá. ⁶ Eles tiraram os homens e as mulheres, as crianças e as filhas do rei, e toda pessoa a quem Nebuzaradã, o capitão da guarda do rei, havia deixado permanecer com Gedalias, filho de Aicam, filho de Safã. Eles também tiraram Jeremias, o profeta, e Baruque, filho de Nerias. ⁷ Eles foram à terra do Egito, à Tafnes, porque desobedeceram à voz de Yahweh.

⁸ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a Jeremias, em Tafnes, e disse: ⁹ "Pega algumas pedras largas em tuas mãos e, à vista do povo de Judá, esconda-as no pavimento de cimento, na entrada da casa de Faraó, em Tafnes. ¹⁰ Então, dize-lhes: 'Assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel: Vede, Eu estou prestes a enviar mensageiros e trazer Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, Meu servo. Colocarei seu trono sobre essas pedras que tu, Jeremias, enterraste. Nabucodonosor colocará seu pavilhão real sobre elas.

¹¹ Pois ele virá e atacará a terra do Egito. Qualquer um que estiver destinado à morte, será entregue à morte. Qualquer um que estiver destinado ao cativeiro, será levado cativo. E qualquer um que estiver destinado à espada, será entregue à espada. ¹² Então, Eu colocarei fogo nos templos dos deuses do Egito. Nabucodonosor os queimará ou os capturará. Ele limpará a terra do Egito, assim como os pastores limpam os insetos de suas vestes. Ele sairá daquele lugar intacto. ¹³ Quebrará os pilares sagrados de Bete-Semes na terra do Egito. Ele queimará os templos dos deuses egípicios."

Capítulo 44

¹ Esta é a palavra que veio a Jeremias, concernente aos judeus que viviam na terra do Egito, os que estavam em Migdol, Tafnes, Mênfis e na terra de Patros. ² Assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel: "Vós mesmos tendes visto todos os desastres que Eu trouxe sobre Jerusalém e sobre todas as cidades de Judá. Vede, elas hoje são ruínas. Não há ninguém que viva nelas. ³ Isto é por causa das coisas iníquas que eles fizeram para Me ofenderem, queimando incenso e adorando outros deuses. Esses eram deuses que nem eles mesmos, nem vós, nem os vossos antepassados conhecestes.

⁴ Então, repetidamente, enviei a eles todos os Meus servos, os profetas. Eu os enviei para dizer: 'Parem de fazer essas coisas abomináveis que Eu odeio.' ⁵ Mas eles não ouviram, recusaram-se a prestar atenção e não se converteram da sua iniquidade em queimar incenso a outros deuses. ⁶ Então, a Minha fúria e a Minha ira se derramaram, acendendo uma fogueira nas cidades de Judá e nas ruas de Jerusalém, tornando-as em ruínas e devastações até o dia de hoje."

⁷ Agora, assim diz Yahweh, o Deus dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel: "Por que estais cometendo grandes iniquidades contra vós mesmos? Por que estais causando a exterminação de Judá, homens e mulheres, crianças e bebês? Nenhum remanescente restará. ⁸ Pela vossa iniquidade tens Me ofendido com as obras de vossas mãos, ao queimardes incenso a outros deuses na terra do Egito, onde vivestes. Fostes para lá para serdes destruídos, então, sereis uma maldição e um opróbrio entre todas as nações da terra.

⁹ Esquecestes das iniquidades cometidas por vossos antepassados e as iniquidades cometidas pelos reis de Judá e suas esposas? Esquecestes das maldades cometidas por vós mesmos e vossas esposas nas terras de Judá e nas ruas de Jerusalém? ¹⁰ Até hoje, eles ainda não se humilharam. Eles não honraram a Minha lei e o decreto que Eu estabeleci diante deles e de seus antepassados, e também não andaram neles."

¹¹ Portanto, assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel: Vede, Eu estou a ponto de virar a Minha face contra vós e vos trazer desastre para destruir todos de Judá. ¹² Removerei o remanescente de Judá que decidiu ir à terra do Egito para viver lá. Eu farei isso, de modo que todos eles perecerão na terra do Egito. Eles cairão pela espada e pela fome. Do menor ao maior, eles perecerão pela espada e pela fome. Eles morrerão e se tornarão objeto de blasfêmia, maldição, opróbrio e uma coisa horrível.

¹³ Eu castigarei o povo que habita na terra do Egito, assim como Eu puni Jerusalém com a Minha espada, com a fome e com a praga. ¹⁴ Nenhum fugitivo ou sobrevivente dos remanescentes de Judá que foram viver na terra do Egito retornarão para a terra de Judá, mesmo que queiram voltar a viver lá. Nenhum deles retornará, com exceção dos poucos que escaparão."

¹⁵ Então, todos os homens que sabiam que suas esposas queimavam incenso a outros deuses, e todas as mulheres que estavam na grande assembleia, e todo o povo que estava vivendo na terra do Egito, em Patros, responderam a Jeremias, ¹⁶ dizendo: "Sobre a palavra que falaste em nome de Yahweh, nós não te ouviremos. ¹⁷ Certamente, faremos todas as coisas que dissemos que faríamos: queimar incenso para a Rainha dos Céus e derramar libações para ela, assim como os nossos antepassados, nossos reis e nossos líderes fizeram nas cidades de Judá e nas ruas de Jerusalém. Então, seremos fartos com comida e prosperaremos, sem experimentar nenhum desastre.

¹⁸ Quando nos abstivemos de fazer estas coisas, de oferecer incenso à Rainha dos Céus e derramar ofertas de libações para ela, todos sofremos com a pobreza e estávamos morrendo pela espada e pela fome." ¹⁹ As mulheres disseram: "Quando estávamos ofertando incenso diante da Rainha dos Céus e derramando ofertas de libações para ela, acaso foi contra a vontade de nossos maridos que fizemos essas coisas, fazendo bolos à sua imagem e derramando oferendas de libações para ela?"

²⁰ Então, Jeremias disse a todo o povo, aos homens e às mulheres, e a todas as pessoas que lhe responderam, proclamando: ²¹ "Yahweh não se lembraria dos incensos que vós queimastes nas cidades de Judá e nas ruas de Jerusalém, vós e vossos antepassados, vossos reis, vossos líderes e o povo dessa terra? Pois o Senhor chama isso à memória e isso vem aos Seus pensamentos.

²² Ele não poderia mais suportar isso, por causa das vossas práticas iníquas e das abominações que cometestes. Por isso, a vossa terra tornou-se uma desolação, um horror, e uma maldição; por causa disso, não há nenhum habitante até os dias de hoje. ²³ Porque vós queimastes incenso, pecastes contra Yahweh e não quisestes ouvir à Sua voz, Sua lei, Seus estatutos e os decretos da Sua aliança. Este desastre tem acontecido contra vós, até os dias de hoje."

²⁴ Jeremias, disse a todo o povo e a todas as mulheres: "Ouvi a palavra de Yahweh, todos de Judá que estão na terra do Egito. ²⁵ Assim diz Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel: 'Vós e as vossas esposas falastes com as bocas e cumpristes com as mãos, dizendo: Certamente cumpriremos os votos que fizemos de adorar à Rainha dos Céus e derramar ofertas de libações a ela. Agora, fazei o que prometestes, cumpri os vossos votos.

²⁶ Agora, ouvi a palavra de Yahweh, todos de Judá que habitais na terra do Egito: Vede, Eu tenho jurado pelo Meu grande nome, diz Yahweh. Meu nome não será chamado pela boca de qualquer um dos homens de Judá em toda a terra do Egito, vós que agora dizeis: assim como o Senhor Yahweh vive. ²⁷ Vede, Eu estou vos vigiando para o desastre e não para o bem. Cada pessoa de Judá na terra do Egito perecerá pela espada e pela fome até que todos sejam consumidos. ²⁸ Então, os sobreviventes da espada retornarão da terra do Egito para a terra de Judá, apenas um pequeno número deles. Todos os remanescentes de Judá que foram à terra do Egito para viverem lá saberão qual a palavra que se tornará realidade: a Minha ou a deles.

²⁹ Este será o sinal para vós – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – Eu vos castigarei neste lugar. Certamente, sabereis que as Minhas palavras virão contra vós com desastre. ³⁰ Assim diz Yahweh: Vede, Eu estou prestes a entregar Faraó Hofra, rei do Egito, nas mãos dos seus inimigos e daqueles que o perseguem. E será como Eu entreguei a Zedequias, rei de Judá, nas mãos de Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, seu inimigo que procurava matá-lo."

Capítulo 45

¹ Esta é a palavra que Jeremias, o profeta, disse a Baruque, filho de Nerias, quando este escreveu no rolo as palavras de Jeremias — isto foi no quarto ano de Jeoaquim, filho de Josias, rei de Judá – ele disse: ² "Yahweh, Deus de Israel, diz isto para ti, Baruque: ³ Tu dissestes: 'Ai de mim, pois Yahweh acrescentou agonia à minha dor. Meu gemido me cansou; eu não encontro descanso.'

⁴ Isso é o que deves dizer: Yahweh diz isto: Vê, o que Eu construí, agora destruo. O que Eu plantei, agora arranco. Farei isto em toda a terra. ⁵ Mas esperas grandes coisas para ti mesmo? Não esperes por isso, pois vem desastre sobre toda a humanidade — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — mas Eu te dou a tua vida como teu despojo por onde quer que fores."

Capítulo 46

¹ Esta é a palavra de Yahweh que veio a Jeremias, o profeta, a respeito das nações, ² para o Egito: "Isto é sobre o exército do Faraó Neco, rei do Egito, que estava em Carquêmis, junto ao rio Eufrates. Este era o exército que Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, derrotou no quarto ano de Jeoaquim, filho de Josias, rei de Judá. ³ Preparai os pequenos e os grandes escudos, e ide adiante para lutar. ⁴ Colocai as selas nos cavalos e montai neles, vós cavaleiros. Tomai vossos lugares com capacetes nas cabeças. Afiai as lanças e colocai vossa armadura.

⁵ O que Eu estou vendo aqui? Eles estão cheios de terror e estão fugindo, pois seus soldados estão derrotados. Eles estão correndo por segurança e não estão olhando para trás. O terror está por toda parte — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — ⁶ o rápido não pode fugir, e os soldados não podem escapar. Eles tropeçam no norte e caem junto ao rio Eufrates.

⁷ Quem é este que sobe como o Nilo, quando as águas se agitam e caem como os rios? ⁸ O Egito sobe como o Nilo, e suas águas se agitam e caem como os rios. E o Egito diz: 'Eu subirei; eu cobrirei a terra; eu destruirei cidades e seus habitantes. ⁹ Avançai, cavalos. Ficai zangadas, carruagens. Que os soldados avancem, Etiópia e Líbia, homens habilidosos com o escudo; e Lídia, homens habilidosos em usar seus arcos.'

¹⁰ Esse dia será o Dia da Vingança do Senhor Yahweh dos Exércitos, e Ele Se vingará de Seus inimigos. A espada devorará e ficará satisfeita. Ela beberá do sangue deles. Pois haverá um sacrifício ao Senhor Yahweh dos Exércitos na terra do norte, junto ao rio Eufrates.

¹¹ Avança para Gileade e consegue remédios, filha virgem do Egito. É inútil colocar muito remédio em ti mesma. Não há cura para ti. ¹² As nações têm ouvido de tua vergonha. A terra está cheia com teus lamentos, pois tropeçam soldado contra soldado; ambos caem juntos."

¹³ Essa é a palavra que Yahweh disse a Jeremias, o profeta, quando Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia veio e atacou a terra do Egito: ¹⁴ "Anuncia no Egito e proclama em Migdol, Mênfis, e Tafnes. Posiciona-te e prepara-te, pois a espada está devorando tudo à tua volta.

¹⁵ Por que teus poderosos estão de bruços no chão? Não resistirão, porque Eu, Yahweh, os abati. ¹⁶ Ele aumenta o número daqueles que tropeçam. Os soldados caem uns sobre os outros. Eles estão dizendo: 'Levantai-vos. Deixai-nos voltar para casa. Deixai-nos voltar para nosso próprio povo, para nossa terra nativa. Permiti que deixemos esta espada que está nos abatendo.' ¹⁷ Ali, eles dirão: 'Faraó, o rei do Egito, só faz barulho; deixou passar a sua oportunidade.'

¹⁸ Como vivo Eu — declara o Rei, cujo nome é Yahweh dos Exércitos — alguém virá, que é como monte Tabor e Carmelo, pelo mar. ¹⁹ Estai prontos vós mesmos e vossas bagagens para o cativeiro, vós que viveis no Egito. Pois Mênfis se tornará uma desolação e uma destruição e, por isso, ninguém viverá lá.

²⁰ O Egito é uma bonita novilha, mas um inseto que machuca vem do norte. Ele está vindo. ²¹ Os soldados mercenários em seu meio estão como um touro engordado, mas eles também vão se afastar e fugir. Eles não ficarão juntos, pois o dia de seu desastre está vindo contra eles, o tempo de sua punição. ²² O Egito chia e rasteja como uma cobra, pois seus inimigos estão marchando contra ele. Eles estão indo em sua direção, como cortadores de lenha com machados.

²³ Eles cortarão as florestas, embora seja impenetrável — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. Pois os inimigos serão mais numerosos do que gafanhotos, incapazes de serem contados. ²⁴ A filha do Egito será envergonhada; será entregue nas mãos do povo do norte."

²⁵ Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz: "Vede, Eu estou a ponto de punir Amom, de Tebas, Egito e seus deuses; seus reis, os faraós, e aqueles que confiam neles. ²⁶ Eu estou entregando-lhes nas mãos dos que procuram suas vidas, e na mão de Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, e seus servos. Então, depois disso, o Egito será habitado como nos dias anteriores — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

²⁷ Mas tu, Meu servo Jacó, não temas. Não desanimes, Israel, pois vê, Eu estou a ponto de trazer-te de volta de tão longe, e tua descendência da terra de seus cativos. Então, Jacó retornará, encontrará paz, e estará seguro, e não haverá ninguém para aterrorizá-lo. ²⁸ Tu, Meu servo Jacó, não temas — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. Pois Eu sou contigo. Eu trarei completa destruição contra todas as nações de onde Eu te dispersei. Mas não te destruirei completamente. Ainda irei disciplinar-te justamente. É certo que não te deixarei impune."

Capítulo 47

¹ Esta é a palavra de Yahweh que veio para Jeremias, o profeta, a respeito dos Filisteus. Esta palavra veio antes do ataque de Faraó a Gaza. ² Yahweh diz: "Vede! Dilúvios estão se levantando no norte. Eles serão como um rio transbordando! Eles inundarão a terra e tudo o que há nela, suas cidades e seus habitantes! Todos gritarão por socorro, e todos as habitantes lamentarão.

³ Ao som do estrondo dos cascos de fortes cavalos, ao rugido dos suas carruagens e ao ruído de suas rodas, pais não ajudarão seus filhos por causa de suas próprias fraquezas. ⁴ Pois o dia está vindo em que devastará todos os Filisteus, para eliminar de Tiro e de Sidom todo sobrevivente que quiser ajudá-los. Pois Yahweh está devastando os Filisteus, aqueles que restam na ilha de Caftor.

⁵ Rasparão a cabeça em Gaza. Quanto a Asquelom, as pessoas que são deixadas em seu vale ficarão em silêncio. Até quando retalharás o próprio corpo? ⁶ Ah, espada de Yahweh! Quanto tempo será até que te silencies? Volta para a tua bainha. ⁷ Como podes ficar em silêncio? Pois Yahweh deu ordens a ti. Ele te enviou para atacar Asquelom e o litoral."

Capítulo 48

¹ Sobre Moabe, Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel, diz: "Ai de Nebo, porque foi devastada. Quiriataim foi capturada e envergonhada. Sua fortaleza foi esmagada e desgraçada. ² A honra de Moabe não mais existe. Seus inimigos em Hesbom planejaram um desastre contra ela. Eles disseram: 'Vinde e vamos destruí-la como nação. Homens loucos também perecerão. Uma espada irá atrás de ti."

³ Ouvi! Um som de grito vem de Horonaim, onde há ruína e grande destruição. ⁴ Moabe foi destruída e o choro de seus filhos foi ouvido. ⁵ Eles sobem a colina de Luíte chorando, pois no caminho de Horonaim gritos são ouvidos por causa da destruição.

⁶ Fugi! Salvai vossas vidas e vos torneis como árvores de zimbro no deserto. ⁷ Por causa da confiança em vossas obras e riquezas, vós também sereis capturados. Então, Quemós sairá para o cativeiro junto com os seus sacerdotes e líderes.

⁸ Porque o destruidor virá a cada cidade e nenhuma delas escapará. O vale perecerá e a planície será devastada, como Yahweh disse. ⁹ Dai asas a Moabe, pois ela, certamente, sairá voando. Suas cidades se tornaram em terrenos baldios, onde não há ninguém para viver. ¹⁰ Qualquer preguiçoso em fazer a obra de Yahweh será amaldiçoado! Qualquer que retiver sua espada para derramar sangue será amaldiçoado!

¹¹ Moabe se sente seguro desde que era jovem. Ele é como seu vinho que nunca foi derramado de vasilha em vasilha. Ele nunca foi para o cativeiro. Portanto, tem gosto bom, como sempre, e seu sabor permanece inalterado. ¹² Vede, os dias vêm – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – quando Eu enviarei a ele aqueles que o derrubarão, derramarão todas as suas panelas e quebrarão os seus potes.

¹³ Então, Moabe terá vergonha de Quemós da mesma forma que Israel teve vergonha de Betel, sua confiança. ¹⁴ Como podes tu dizer: 'Nós somos soldados, poderosos homens de luta'?

¹⁵ Moabe será devastada e suas cidades atacadas. Pois os melhores jovens foram para o local de abate –Essa é a declaração do Rei! Yahweh dos Exércitos é o Seu Nome. ¹⁶ O desastre de Moabe está prestes a acontecer; a calamidade corre rapidamente. ¹⁷ Todos vós, que estais ao redor de Moabe, gemei. E vós, todos os que conhecem sua fama, gritai: 'Ai, o bastão forte e a vara honrada se quebraram.'

¹⁸ Desce do teu lugar honrado e senta-te em terra seca, tu, filha moradora de Dibom. Porque o destruidor de Moabe te ataca; aquele que destruirá tuas fortalezas. ¹⁹ Ficai em pé na estrada e observai, vós, povo que vive em Aroer. Perguntai àqueles que estão fugindo e escapando: 'O que está havendo?' ²⁰ Moabe foi envergonhado, pois foi destruído. Ruído e lamento; gritos por ajuda. Dizei ao povo às margens do rio Arnom que Moabe está devastada.

²¹ Agora, a punição veio sobre a terra do planalto, sobre Holom, Jaza, Mefaate, ²² Dibom, Nebo, Bete-Diblataim, ²³ Quiriataim, Bete-Gamul, Bete-Meom, ²⁴ Queriote, Bozra e todas as cidades na terra de Moabe, as cidades distantes e as próximas. ²⁵ O chifre de Moabe foi cortado; seu braço foi quebrado — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

²⁶ Embriagai-o, porque agiu orgulhosamente contra Yahweh. Que Moabe se revolva no seu vômito; deixai que ele se torne objeto de riso. ²⁷ Pois Israel não se tornou um objeto de riso para vós? Israel foi encontrado entre ladrões, para que, frequentemente, balanceis vossa cabeça ao falar dele?

²⁸ Abandonai as cidades e acampai nos penhascos, habitantes de Moabe. Sede como uma pomba, que faz o ninho nas beiras seguras dos penhascos. ²⁹ Nós temos ouvido sobre a soberba de Moabe, sua arrogância, sua altivez, seu orgulho, sua vanglória e o conceito em seu coração.

³⁰ Esta é a declaração de Yahweh — Eu mesmo conheço seu discurso desafiador, o qual equivale a nada, como seus atos. ³¹ Então, Eu vou uivar e lamentar por Moabe, e gritar em socorro por todos de Moabe. Eu lamentarei pelas pessoas de Quir-Heres. ³² Chorarei por ti mais do que chorei por Jazer, vinha de Sibma! Teus ramos passaram pelo mar de sal e chegaram tão longe quanto Jazer. Os destruidores atacaram teu fruto de verão e tua vinha.

³³ Então, celebração e regozijo foram tirados das árvores frutíferas e da terra de Moabe. Eu coloquei um fim para o vinho de seus lagares. Eles não pisarão com gritos de alegria. Quaisquer gritos não serão gritos de alegria.

³⁴ Desde os gritos em Hesbom, tanto quanto em Elealé, seu som é ouvido até Jaza, de Zoar até Horonaim e Eglate-Silíssia, uma vez que mesmo as águas do Ninrim secaram. ³⁵ Porque eu colocarei um fim a qualquer um, em Moabe, que faça sacrifícios em santuários e a qualquer um que queime incenso aos seus deuses — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

³⁶ Meu coração está lamentando por Moabe como uma flauta. Meu coração está lamentando como flautas pelas pessoas de Quir-Heres. As riquezas que eles ganharam se foram. ³⁷ Pois toda cabeça é calva e toda barba, raspada. Incisões estão em cada mão, e panos de saco estão em volta de suas cinturas.

³⁸ Há luto em todos os lugares, nos telhados e nas praças de Moabe, pois Eu destruí Moabe como vasos que ninguém quer — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ³⁹ Como tem sido destruído! Como eles uivam em suas lamentações! Moabe deu as costas em vergonha! Então, Moabe se tornará um objeto de escárnio e terror para todos aqueles que estão ao redor dele."

⁴⁰ Yahweh diz: "Vê, o inimigo virá voando como uma águia, estendendo suas asas sobre Moabe. ⁴¹ Queriote foi capturado, e suas fortalezas foram conquistadas. Porque naquele dia, o coração dos soldados de Moabe serão como o coração de mulheres em dores de parto.

⁴² Então, Moabe será destruído para que não seja mais povo, uma vez que ele se engrandeceu contra Mim, Yahweh. ⁴³ Terror, cova e armadilha estão vindo sobre vós, habitantes de Moabe — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ⁴⁴ Qualquer um que fugir por causa do terror cairá na cova, e qualquer um que escalar a cova será capturado na armadilha, pois Eu os trarei isso no ano da Minha vingança contra eles — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

⁴⁵ Aqueles que fogem ficarão na sombra de Hesbom, sem qualquer força, pois o fogo sairá de Hesbom, e a chama do meio de Siom para devorar a fronte de Moabe e o topo das cabeças do povo prepotente.

⁴⁶ Ai de ti, Moabe! O povo de Quemós está destruído, pois seus filhos são levados como cativos e suas filhas para o cativeiro. ⁴⁷ Mas Eu restaurarei as fortunas de Moabe nos últimos dias – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh." O julgamento sobre Moabe termina aqui.

Capítulo 49

¹ A respeito do povo amonita, Yahweh diz isto: "Israel não tem filhos? Não há nenhum herdeiro em Israel? Por que Milcom ocupa Gade, e seu povo vive nessas cidades? ² Esta é a declaração de Yahweh: Vede, dias virão quando Eu soar o sinal da batalha contra Rabá (entre os amonitas), a qual virá a ser um montão de ruínas e suas vilas serão incendiadas. Pois Israel possuirá todos os que o possuíram", diz Yahweh.

³ Uiva e lamenta, Hesbon, pois Ai será devastada! Gritai, filhas de Rabá! Vesti pano de saco. Lamentai e dai voltas pelos muros, pois Milcom está indo para o cativeiro, junto com seus sacerdotes e líderes. ⁴ Por que estás orgulhosa da tua força? Tua força escoará pelo caminho, filha rebelde, tu que confias em tua riqueza. Tu dizes: 'Quem virá contra mim?'

⁵ Vê, Eu estou prestes a trazer terror sobre ti — essa é a declaração de Yahweh, o Senhor dos Exércitos. Esse terror virá de todos os que estão à tua volta. Cada um de vós será disperso diante disso. Não haverá ninguém para reunir todos os que estão fugindo. ⁶ Mas, depois disso, restaurarei a sorte do povo amonita — essa é a declaração de Yahweh."

⁷ Sobre Edom, Yahweh dos Exércitos diz isto: "Não há mais sabedoria a ser encontrada em Temã? Os bons conselhos desapareceram para todos os que têm entendimento? Toda sabedoria foi corrompida? ⁸ Fugi! Retornai! Ficai em buracos no chão, habitantes de Dedã. Pois trarei o desastre de Esaú sobre ele, no momento em que Eu o punir.

⁹ Se colhedores de uva viessem a ti, eles não deixariam um pouco para trás? Se ladrões viessem à noite, não levariam somente o quanto procuravam? ¹⁰ Mas Eu despojei Esaú nu. Revelei seus lugares escondidos. Então, ele não será capaz de se esconder. Seus filhos, seus irmãos e seus vizinhos estão destruídos, e ele se foi. ¹¹ Deixa teus órfãos para trás, Eu os guardarei em vida, e tuas viúvas podem confiar em Mim."

¹² Pois Yahweh diz isto: "Vede, todos os que não merecem isso, certamente, devem beber deste copo. Tu pensas que irás livrar-te da punição? Não irás, pois certamente, beberás. ¹³ Pois Eu tenho jurado por Mim mesmo – esta é a declaração de Yahweh – que Bozra se tornará em horror, em desgraça, em devastação, em objeto de maldição. Todas as cidades se tornarão em devastação, para sempre."

¹⁴ Eu ouvi notícias de Yahweh e a mensagem que foi enviada às nações: 'Ajuntai-vos todos e atacai-a. Preparai-vos para a batalha'. ¹⁵ "Pois, vede, Eu te fiz pequena, comparada a outras nações, desprezada pelo povo.

¹⁶ Quanto ao medo que tens causado, o orgulho do teu coração tem te enganado, tu que habitas nos penhascos, que ocupas as altas colinas, de modo que podes fazer teu ninho como uma águia. Eu te trarei para baixo — esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

¹⁷ Edom se tornará em horror para todos os que passarem por ele. Todos tremerão e assobiarão por causa desses desastres. ¹⁸ Como a destruição de Sodoma e Gomorra e suas vizinhas, diz Yahweh, ninguém viverá lá; nenhuma pessoa ficará lá.

¹⁹ Vede, ele irá para cima como um leão vindo da floresta de verdes pastagens do Jordão. Pois eu, rapidamente, farei Edom correr de lá e colocarei no comando alguém que escolherei. Pois quem é semelhante a Mim e quem Me convocará? Qual pastor é capaz de resistir a Mim?

²⁰ Então, escuta os planos que Yahweh decidiu contra Edom, os planos que Ele formou contra os habitantes de Temã. Eles, certamente, serão arrastados no caminho, até mesmo o menor rebanho. Suas pastagens se tornarão em ruínas.

²¹ Ao som de sua queda a terra estremece. O som dos gritos angustiados são ouvidos até o mar Vermelho. ²² Vede, alguém atacará, rapidamente, como uma águia, descerá e abrirá suas asas sobre Bozra. Então, naquele dia, os corações dos soldados de Edom se tornarão como o coração de uma mulher em dores de parto."

²³ A respeito de Damasco: "Hamate e Arpade serão envergonhados, pois eles têm ouvido notícias do desastre. Estão assustados! Eles se tornaram perturbados como o mar, que não pode ficar calmo. ²⁴ Damasco se tornou muito frágil. Isso a fez fugir, acometida de terror! Aflição e dor tomou para si, como a dor de uma mulher dando à luz. ²⁵ Como está abandonada a cidade do louvor, a cidade da minha alegria!

²⁶ Portanto, esses jovens homens cairão nessas praças e todos os guerreiros perecerão naquele dia — esta é a declaração de Yahweh dos Exércitos ²⁷ Pois, no muro de Damasco, atearei fogo que devorará as fortalezas de Ben-Hadade."

²⁸ Sobre Kedar e os reinos de Hazor que Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, feriu, Yahweh diz isto: "Levantai e atacai Quedar e destruí todo o povo do Oriente. ²⁹ Eles pegarão suas tendas e seus rebanhos, as cortinas de suas tendas e todo o seu equipamento; seus camelos serão levados e os homens lhes gritarão: 'O terror está ao redor!'

³⁰ Fugi! Ide para um caminho distante! Ficai nos buracos no chão, habitantes de Hazor — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — pois Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, idealizou um plano contra vós. Fugi! Retornai! ³¹ Levantai! Atacai a nação tranquila, que habita em segurança, diz Yahweh. Eles não têm portões ou trancas e seu povo vive por si mesmo.

³² Pois seus camelos e a abundância de suas propriedades se tornarão em despojo. Então, Eu espalharei ao vento todos os que cortam as pontas dos seus cabelos e Eu trarei desastre de todos os lados — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ³³ Hazor se tornará um covil de chacais, uma terra permanentemente vazia. Ninguém viverá lá; nenhum ser humano ficará lá."

³⁴ Esta é a palavra de Yahweh que veio a Jeremias, o profeta, sobre Elão. Isto aconteceu no início do reinado de Zedequias, rei de Judá, e ele disse: ³⁵ "Yahweh dos Exércitos diz isto: Vede, Eu estou prestes a quebrar o arqueiro de Elão, a fonte do seu poder. ³⁶ Pois Eu trarei os quatro ventos dos quatro cantos da terra e Eu espalharei o povo de Elão ao vento. Não há nação para a qual os que foram dispersos de Elão não irão.

³⁷ Então, Eu despedaçarei Elão diante dos seus inimigos e diante de todos os que procuram sua vida. Pois Eu trarei desastre contra eles, a fúria da Minha ira — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. Enviarei a espada atrás deles até que Eu os tenha aniquilado. ³⁸ Então, colocarei Meu trono em Elão e destruirei o rei e os líderes de lá —esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ³⁹ E acontecerá, nos últimos dias, que Eu mudarei a sorte de Elão — esta é a declaração de Yahweh."

Capítulo 50

¹ Esta é a palavra que Yahweh declarou a respeito da Babilônia, a terra dos babilônios, pela mão de Jeremias, o profeta: ² "Relatai às nações e fazei com que escutem. Levantai um sinal e fazei com que ouçam. Não escondais isto. Dizei: 'A Babilônia está tomada, Bel está humilhado, Marduque está desanimada. Seus ídolos estão humilhados; suas imagens estão assustadas.'

³ A nação do norte se levantará contra ela para transformá-la numa terra desolada. Ninguém, nem homem ou fera, viverá nela. Eles fugirão. ⁴ Naqueles dias e naquele tempo, o povo de Israel e o povo de Judá voltarão, reunidos e em choro, à procura de Yahweh, seu Deus – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ⁵ Eles perguntarão o caminho para Sião e irão em direção a ela. Eles se juntarão para Yahweh, em uma eterna aliança que não será esquecida.

⁶ Meu povo era como ovelhas perdidas. Seus pastores as desviavam nas montanhas; eles as fizeram errar de colina a colina. Elas foram e se esqueceram do lugar onde viveram. ⁷ Todos os que foram até elas as devoraram. Seus adversários disseram: 'Nós não somos culpados, porque elas pecaram contra Yahweh, seu verdadeiro lar; Yahweh, a esperança de seus ancestrais.'

⁸ Deixai o meio da Babilônia; saí da terra dos babilônios; sede como bodes que vão antes do resto do rebanho. ⁹ Pois, vede, estou prestes a movimentar e levantar um grupo de grandes nações do norte contra a Babilônia. Eles se vingarão contra ela. Babilônia será capturada de lá. Suas flechas são como um guerreiro habilidoso, que não volta de mãos vazias. ¹⁰ A Babilônia será saqueada. Todos aqueles que a saquearem ficarão satisfeitos –Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

¹¹ Regozijai-vos, celebrai, ó saqueadores da minha herança; pulai ao redor como um bezerro em seu pasto; relinchai como um cavalo poderoso. ¹² Então, vossa mãe será grandemente envergonhada; aquela que vos concebeu ficará envergonhada. Vede! ela será a menor das nações, um deserto, uma terra seca, um ermo. ¹³ Por causa da vingança de Yahweh, a Babilônia não ficará inabitada, mas será completamente devastada. Todos os que passarem por ali estremecerão por causa da Babilônia e gemerão por causa de todas as suas feridas.

¹⁴ Ajeitai-vos contra a Babilônia, ao redor dela. Todos os que inclinam seus arcos devem atirar nela. Não fique para trás nenhuma de suas flechas, pois ela tem pecado contra Yahweh. ¹⁵ Gritai vitória contra ela, todos em sua volta! Ela já rendeu seu poder; suas torres caíram; suas paredes estão no chão, pois essa é a vingança de Yahweh. Tomai vingança nela! Fazei a ela assim como ela fez às outras nações!

¹⁶ Destruí o semeador e aquele que usa a foice no tempo da colheita na Babilônia. Que cada pessoa volte para seu próprio povo, por causa da espada do opressor, e fuja para sua própria terra.

¹⁷ Israel é uma ovelha desgarrada e guiada por leões. Primeiro, o rei da Assíria o devorou e, depois disso, Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, quebrou seus ossos. ¹⁸ Portanto, Yahweh dos Exércitos, o Deus de Israel, diz assim: Vede! Eu estou prestes a punir o rei da Babilônia e sua terra, assim como Eu puni o rei da Assíria.

¹⁹ Eu restaurarei Israel e sua terra natal; ele pastará no Carmelo e em Basã. Então, ele ficará satisfeito nas regiões montanhosas de Efraim e Gileade. ²⁰ Naqueles dias e naquele tempo, diz Yahweh, iniquidade será procurada em Israel, mas nada será encontrada. Eu perguntarei sobre os pecados de Judá, mas nenhum será encontrado. Pois Eu perdoarei os remanescentes que eu poupar."

²¹ Subi contra a terra de Merataim, contra ela e os habitantes de Pecode. Colocai-os à espada e preparai-os para a destruição. Fazei tudo o que Eu vos mando – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ²² Os sons da batalha e uma enorme destruição estão na terra.

²³ Como o martelo de todas as terras tem sido cortado fora e destruído, como a Babilônia tem-se tornado um terror entre as nações, ²⁴ Eu tenho preparado uma armadilha para vós. Tu foste capturada, Babilônia, e não sabes disso! Foste encontrada e capturada, porque se opôs a Yahweh.

²⁵ Yahweh abriu Seu arsenal e tirou os instrumentos da Sua ira. Há uma obra para o Senhor Yahweh dos Exércitos na terra dos babilônios. ²⁶ Atacai-a de longe. Abri seus celeiros e amontoai-a como montes de grãos. Preparai-a para destruição. Não deixeis remanescentes dela.

²⁷ Matai todos os seus bois. Mandai-os para o lugar de matança. Ai deles, pois seu dia chegou, tempo de sua punição. ²⁸ Há o som daqueles que fogem, daqueles que são sobreviventes, da terra da Babilônia. Esses relatarão a vingança de Yahweh, nosso Deus, para Sião, e vingança para Seu templo.

²⁹ Convocai os arqueiros contra a Babilônia, todos aqueles que inclinam seus arcos. Acampai ao redor dela, e não deixeis que ninguém escape. Retribuí a ela pelo que tem feito. Fazei a ela na mesma proporção que ela fez, pois ela tem desafiado Yahweh, o único Santo de Israel. ³⁰ Então, seus homens jovens cairão nas praças da cidade, e todos os seus homens de guerra serão destruídos nesse dia – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

³¹ Vede! Eu estou contra ti, ó orgulhosa, pois teu dia chegou, ó orgulhosa, o tempo em que Eu irei punir-te. Esta é a declaração do Senhor Yahweh dos Exércitos. ³² Então, os orgulhosos tropeçarão e cairão. Ninguém os levantará. Eu acenderei um fogo em suas cidades; ele devorará tudo em sua volta.

³³ Yahweh dos Exércitos diz assim: O povo de Israel está oprimido, juntamente com o povo de Judá. Todos aqueles que os capturaram ainda os mantêm; eles se recusaram a deixá-los ir. ³⁴ O único que os resgata é forte. Yahweh dos Exércitos é Seu nome. Ele, verdadeiramente, defenderá a causa deles, para trazer descanso à terra, e trará inquietação aos habitantes da Babilônia.

³⁵ Uma espada está contra os babilônios; contra os habitantes da Babilônia, seus líderes, e seus homens sábios – Esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ³⁶ Uma espada está vindo contra aqueles que dizem palavras de adivinhação, assim como para aqueles que se revelam como tolos. Uma espada está vindo contra seus soldados, e eles se encherão de terror. ³⁷ Uma espada está vindo contra seus cavalos, suas carruagens e todo o povo que está no meio da Babilônia, e eles se tornarão como mulher. Uma espada está vindo contra seus tesouros, e eles serão saqueados.

³⁸ Uma estiagem está vindo sobre suas águas e elas ficarão secas. Pois ela é a terra de ídolos inúteis, e eles agem como loucos por seus ídolos inúteis. ³⁹ Então, bestas do deserto, junto com os chacais, habitarão ali, e os jovens avestruzes viverão nela. Pois em todo o tempo, ela não será habitada. De geração em geração, ela não será moradia. ⁴⁰ Assim como Deus destruiu Sodoma e Gomorra e seus vizinhos, ninguém viverá ali, nenhuma pessoa ficará nela – esta é a declaração de Yahweh."

⁴¹ "Vede, um povo vem do norte, pois uma grande nação e muitos reis foram despertados de uma terra distante. ⁴² Eles pegarão arcos e lanças. Eles são cruéis e não têm compaixão. O som dele é como o rugido do mar e, como homens de guerra, eles estão cavalgando em formação contra ti, filha da Babilônia. ⁴³ O rei da Babilônia ouviu o seu relato e suas mãos enfraqueceram. A angústia o apreendeu como a uma mulher em parto.

⁴⁴ Contemplai! Ele sobe como um leão das margens do rio Jordão para o local de pastagem permanente. Pois Eu irei, rapidamente, fazer com que eles fujam de lá, e colocarei alguém que será escolhido para o comando. Pois quem é semelhante a Mim e quem Me convocará? Que pastor é capaz de Me resistir?

⁴⁵ Portanto, ouvi os planos que Yahweh estabeleceu contra a Babilônia, os planos que Ele planejou contra a terra dos babilônios. Eles, certamente, serão arrastados, até mesmo o menor rebanho. Seus pastos se tornarão lugares de ruína. ⁴⁶ Ao som da conquista da Babilônia a terra estremece, e seu grito de aflição é ouvido entre as nações."

Capítulo 51

¹ Yahweh diz: "Vede, estou prestes a despertar um vento de destruição sobre a Babilônia e sobre aqueles que vivem nela. ² Eu enviarei estrangeiros à Babilônia. Eles irão espalhar e devastar a terra, pois virão sobre ela de todos os lados, no dia do desastre.

³ Não deixeis que os arqueiros dobrem seus arcos; não deixeis que eles coloquem armadura. Não poupeis os jovens; destruí todo o seu exército, ⁴ Pois os feridos cairão na terra dos caldeus; aqueles que morrerem cairão em suas ruas.

⁵ Porque Israel e Judá não foram abandonados pelo seu Deus, por Yahweh dos Exércitos, ainda que a terra deles esteja cheia de ofensas cometidas contra o Santo de Israel. ⁶ Fugi do meio da Babilônia; deixai que cada homem salve a si mesmo. Não pereçais na iniquidade dela, pois este é o tempo da vingança de Yahweh. Ele lhe dará a sua paga.

⁷ A Babilônia era uma taça de ouro na mão de Yahweh, que fez toda a terra embriagada; nações beberam seu vinho e se tornaram insanas. ⁸ A Babilônia cairá de repente, e será destruída. Lamentai por ela! Dai a ela remédios para sua dor; talvez ela possa ser curada.

⁹ 'Nós desejávamos curar a Babilônia, porém ela não foi curada. Deixai-a e vamo-nos para nossa própria terra. Pois sua culpa alcança os céus; está acumulada até as nuvens. ¹⁰ Yahweh declarou nossa inocência. Vinde, contemos em Sião os atos de Yahweh nosso Deus.'

¹¹ Afiai as flechas e pegai os escudos. Yahweh está agitando o espírito do rei da Média em um plano para destruir a Babilônia. Isto é por causa da vingança de Yahweh, vingança pela destruição de Seu Templo. ¹² Levantai a bandeira sobre os muros da Babilônia; colocai os guardas; posicionai as sentinelas; preparai as emboscadas, pois Yahweh fará o que planejou. Ele fará o que tem anunciado contra os habitantes da Babilônia.

¹³ Tu, povo que vive próximo a muitas correntes de água, povo que és rico com tesouros; teu fim chegou. O fio de tua vida é, agora, encurtado. ¹⁴ Yahweh dos Exércitos jurou por Sua própria vida: 'Eu vos encherei de inimigos, como uma praga de gafanhotos; eles levantarão um grito de guerra contra vós.'

¹⁵ Ele fez a terra por Seu poder; Ele colocou o mundo no lugar por Sua sabedoria. Por Seu entendimento, estendeu os céus. ¹⁶ Quando Ele brada como trovão, há o rugido das águas nos céus, pois Ele traz as nuvens dos confins da terra. Ele faz os relâmpagos para a chuva e envia o vento de Seus tesouros.

¹⁷ Todo homem torna-se como um animal absolutamente ignorante; todo ferreiro é envergonhado por seus ídolos. Seus ídolos fundidos e derramados são fraudes; não há vida neles. ¹⁸ Eles são inúteis, trabalho dos zombadores; eles perecerão no tempo de sua punição. ¹⁹ Mas Deus, a porção de Jacó, não é como eles, pois Ele é quem molda todas as coisas. Israel é a tribo de Sua herança; Yahweh dos Exércitos é o Seu nome.

²⁰ Tu, Babilônia, és Meu martelo de guerra, Minha arma para a batalha. Contigo esmagarei nações e destruirei reinos. ²¹ Contigo esmagarei cavalos e seus cavaleiros; contigo esmagarei carruagens e seus condutores.

²² Contigo esmagarei cada homem e mulher; contigo esmagarei os velhos e os novos. Contigo esmagarei os jovens e as virgens. ²³ Contigo esmagarei os pastores e seus rebanhos; contigo esmagarei o lavrador e sua junta de bois. Contigo esmagarei os governadores e oficiais.

²⁴ À sua vista, Eu pagarei à Babilônia e a todos os seus habitantes por todo o mal que fizeram em Sião. Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

²⁵ Vede, Eu sou contra ti, montanha de destruição; tu que destróis toda a terra – esta é a declaração de Yahweh. Eu a atingirei com Minha mão e a rolarei para baixo dos penhascos. Depois, farei de ti uma montanha completamente queimada. ²⁶ Eles não tirarão de ti qualquer pedra para a construção, nem pedra angular nem alicerce, pois tu te tornarás uma eterna devastação – esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

²⁷ Levantai um estandarte sobre a terra. Tocai a trombeta sobre as nações. Chamai as nações para atacá-la. Convocai contra ela os reinos de Ararate, Mini e Asquenaz; indicai um comandante para atacá-la; trazei cavalos como enxame de gafanhotos. ²⁸ Preparai as nações para atacá-la: os reis dos medos e seus governantes, todos os seus oficiais e todas as terras sob seu comando.

²⁹ Porque a terra tremerá e se angustiará, visto que os planos de Yahweh continuam contra a Babilônia, para fazer da terra da Babilônia uma terra devastada, onde não há morador.

³⁰ Os soldados da Babilônia pararam de guerrear; eles ficaram nas fortalezas. Suas forças falharam; eles se tornaram como mulheres; suas casas estão em chamas; as barras de seus portões estão quebradas. ³¹ Um emissário corre para proclamar a outro emissário, e um mensageiro conta a outro mensageiro, para reportar ao rei da Babilônia que sua cidade foi tomada de ponta a ponta. ³² Assim, as travessias sobre o rio estão dominadas; o inimigo queima os pântanos de junco, e os guerreiros da Babilônia ficam amedrontados.

³³ Pois Yahweh dos Exércitos, Deus de Israel, diz: A filha da Babilônia é como eira no tempo da debulha. É o tempo de pisá-la. Em breve, o tempo da colheita virá para ela.

³⁴ 'Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, me devorou, me drenou, me secou e me transformou em um vaso vazio. Ele me engoliu como um monstro marinho. Ele encheu seu estômago com minhas comidas finas e me vomitou.' ³⁵ Os habitantes de Sião dirão: 'Que a violência feita a mim e à minha família seja contra a Babilônia', Jerusalém dirá: 'Que o meu sangue seja contra os habitantes da Babilônia.'

³⁶ Portanto Yahweh diz: "Vede, estou prestes a defender teu caso e trazer vingança para ti, pois secarei as águas da Babilônia e farei com que suas nascentes sequem. ³⁷ A Babilônia se tornará uma pilha de entulho, uma morada de chacais, um horror, objeto de zombaria, onde não há habitantes.

³⁸ Os babilônios rugirão juntos como leões jovens. Eles rosnarão como filhotes de leão. ³⁹ Quando eles estiverem excitados com a ganância, Eu farei para eles um banquete; Eu os farei embriagarem-se para que fiquem felizes e, depois, durmam um sono interminável e não acordem – esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ⁴⁰ Eu os farei descer como cordeiros ao matadouro, como carneiros e bodes.

⁴¹ Como a Babilônia foi capturada, então, o louvor de toda a terra foi confiscado. Como a Babilônia se tornou um lugar de ruínas entre as nações. ⁴² O mar veio sobre a Babilônia! Ela está coberta com o tumulto das suas ondas.

⁴³ Suas cidades tornaram-se desolações, uma terra seca e um deserto, uma terra que ninguém habita, e nenhum ser humano passa através dela. ⁴⁴ Então, eu punirei Bel na Babilônia; Eu trarei para fora de sua boca o que ele engoliu, e as nações deixarão de ir até ele com suas ofertas. Os muros da Babilônia cairão.

⁴⁵ Saí do meio dela, Meu povo. Deixai que cada um salve sua própria vida do furor de Minha ira. ⁴⁶ Não deixeis que vossos corações fiquem tímidos ou temerosos das notícias que são ouvidas na terra, pois as notícias virão em um ano. Após isso, no próximo ano, haverá novidades, e a violência estará na terra. Dominador contra dominador.

⁴⁷ Portanto, vede, vêm os dias quando punirei os ídolos esculpidos da Babilônia. Toda sua terra será envergonhada, e todos os seus abatidos cairão em seu meio. ⁴⁸ Depois, os céus e a terra e tudo neles se regozijarão sobre a Babilônia. Pois os destruidores virão por ela do norte – esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ⁴⁹ Assim como a Babilônia fez os mortos de Israel caírem, os mortos de sua terra cairão na Babilônia.

⁵⁰ Sobreviventes da espada, ide! Não permaneçais. Lembrai-vos de Yahweh de longe; deixai Jerusalém vir à vossa mente. ⁵¹ Nós estamos envergonhados, pois ouvimos insultos; a repreensão cobriu nossas faces, pois os estrangeiros entraram nos lugares sagrados da Casa de Yahweh.

⁵² Portanto, vede, dias virão quando eu punirei seus ídolos esculpidos. Os feridos irão gemer em toda a sua terra – esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ⁵³ Porque, mesmo que a Babilônia suba aos céus ou fortifique suas fortalezas mais altas, os destruidores virão por Mim contra ela – esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

⁵⁴ Um grito de socorro veio da Babilônia, uma grande ruína da terra dos caldeus. ⁵⁵ Porque Yahweh destrói a Babilônia e faz a sua grande voz perecer. Seus inimigos rugem como as ondas de muitas águas; seu barulho torna-se muito forte. ⁵⁶ Porque os destruidores vieram contra ela, contra a Babilônia; e seus guerreiros foram capturados. Seus arcos estão quebrados, pois Yahweh é o Deus da vingança. Ele, certamente, realizará essa retribuição.

⁵⁷ Pois eu farei seus príncipes, seus sábios, seus oficiais e seus soldados embriagarem-se, e eles dormirão um interminável sono e nunca acordarão. Esta é a declaração do Rei! Yahweh dos Exércitos é o seu nome. ⁵⁸ Yahweh dos Exércitos diz: Os largos muros da Babilônia serão completamente demolidos, e seus altos portões serão queimados. Então, os povos que vierem em sua ajuda farão o seu trabalho em vão; tudo o que as nações tentarem fazer por ela, será queimado."

⁵⁹ Esta é a palavra que Jeremias, o profeta, ordenou a Seraías, filho de Nerias, filho de Maseias quando ele foi com Zedequias, rei de Judá, à Babilônia, no quarto ano de seu reinado. Seraías era o chefe dos oficiais. ⁶⁰ Porque Jeremias escreveu em um livro sobre todo o desastre que estava por vir sobre a Babilônia; todas estas palavras estão escritas a respeito da Babilônia.

⁶¹ Jeremias disse a Seraías: "Quandos fores à Babilônia, verás e lerás essas palavras em voz alta. ⁶² E dirás: 'Yahweh, Tu mesmo declaraste que destruirias este lugar. Não haverá habitantes, nem pessoas, nem animais. Será, permanentemente, desolada.'

⁶³ Então, quando terminares de ler este livro, amarra uma pedra nele e o joga no meio do Eufrates. ⁶⁴ Dize: 'A Babilônia afundará como isto. E não surgirá por causa do desastre que estou enviando contra ela, e eles cairão." As palavras de Jeremias terminam aqui.

Capitulo 52

¹ Zedequias tinha vinte e um anos quando começou a reinar e reinou onze anos em Jerusalém. Sua mãe se chamava Hamutal; ela era filha de Jeremias, de Libna. ² Ele fez o que era mau aos olhos de Yahweh, fez tudo o que Jeoaquim havia feito. ³ Por causa da ira de Yahweh, todos esses eventos aconteceram em Jerusalém e Judá, até que Ele os expulsou de sua presença. Então, Zedequias se rebelou contra o rei da Babilônia.

⁴ Aconteceu que, no nono ano do reinado de Zedequias, no décimo dia do décimo mês, Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, veio a Jerusalém com todo o seu exército. Eles acamparam em frente à cidade e construíram rampas até o topo das muralhas. ⁵ Assim, a cidade foi sitiada até o décimo primeiro ano do reinado de Zedequias.

⁶ No nono dia do quarto mês daquele ano, a fome havia-se tornado tão severa na cidade que já não restava comida para o povo daquela terra. ⁷ Então, a cidade foi invadida e, mesmo com os babilônios cercando a cidade, todos os guerreiros fugiram, saindo durante a noite, através do portão que estava entre as duas paredes, ao lado do jardim real. Eles foram em direção a Arabá, ⁸ mas o exército dos babilônios perseguiu o rei Zedequias e o alcançou na planície do rio Jordão, perto de Jericó. Todo o seu exército se dispersou e o abandonou.

⁹ Eles capturaram o rei Zedequias e o trouxeram ao rei da Babilônia, em Ribla, na terra de Hamate, onde ordenou sentença sobre ele. ¹⁰ O rei da Babilônia matou os filhos de Zedequias diante de seus olhos e, em Ribla, também matou todos os líderes de Judá. ¹¹ E cegou Zedequias e o prendeu em correntes de bronze e o levou para a Babilônia. Zedequias permaneceu preso até o dia de sua morte.

¹² No décimo dia do quinto mês, do décimo nono ano do reinado de Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, Nebuzaradã chegou em Jerusalém. Ele era o comandante da guarda real e um servo do rei da Babilônia. ¹³ Ele queimou a Casa de Yahweh, o palácio real e todas as casas de Jerusalém; todas as construções importantes da cidade também foram queimadas. ¹⁴ E ele comandou o exército babilônico na destruição dos muros em volta de Jerusalém.

¹⁵ Quanto aos mais pobres e o restante do povo que ficou na cidade, os desertores de Judá que se entregaram ao rei da Babilônia e o restante dos artesãos, Nebuzaradã, o comandante da guarda real, levou alguns deles para o exílio. ¹⁶ Mas Nebuzaradã, o comandante da guarda real, deixou os mais pobres da terra para trabalharem no campo e nas vinheiras.

¹⁷ A respeito dos pilares de bronze pertencentes à Casa de Yahweh, e as bases do tanque de bronze que estavam na Casa de Yahweh, os babilônios os quebraram em pedaços e carregaram todo o bronze de volta a Babilônia. ¹⁸ As jarras, pás, aparadores de lâmpadas, bacias e todos os utensílios de bronze que os sacerdotes usavam no templo, os babilônios levaram embora. ¹⁹ As bacias e os braseiros, as jarras, as vasilhas, candelabros e bacias que eram feitas de ouro ou de prata, o comandante da guarda real também levou embora.

²⁰ Os dois pilares, o tanque e os doze bois de bronze que estavam em baixo das bases, objetos que Salomão havia feito para a Casa de Yahweh, continham mais bronze do que podiam pesar. ²¹ Os pilares tinham, cada um deles, dezoito côvados de altura e a circunferência de doze côvados. Cada um tinha quatro dedos grossos e era oco.

²² Um capitel de bronze estava no topo. Ele tinha cinco côvados de altura, com rede e romãs em volta. Tudo feito de bronze. O outro pilar e romãs eram iguais ao primeiro. ²³ Havia noventa e seis romãs nos lados do capitel e cem romãs acima e ao redor da rede.

²⁴ O comandante da guarda real aprisionou Seraías, o sumo sacerdote, juntamente com Sofonias, o segundo sacerdote, e os três guardas da porta. ²⁵ Dos que ainda estavam na cidade, ele aprisionou um oficial que estava no comando dos soldados e sete conselheiros do rei. Também aprisionou o chefe do exército, responsável por recrutar homens, além de sessenta outros homens importantes.

²⁶ Então, Nebuzaradã, o comandante da guarda real, levou-os para o rei da Babilônia, em Ribla. ²⁷ Nessa cidade, a terra de Hamate, Nabucodonosor ordenou a morte de todos eles. Desta forma, Judá saiu de sua terra para o exílio.

²⁸ Esses são os números de pessoas que Nabucodonosor exilou: no sétimo ano, três mil e vinte três judeus; ²⁹ no oitavo ano, Nabucodonosor prendeu oitocentos e trinta e duas pessoas de Jerusalém; ³⁰ no vigésimo terceiro ano de Nabucodonosor, Nebuzaradã, o capitão da guarda real, exilou setecentos e quarenta e cinco judeus. No total, foram exiladas quatro mil e seiscentas pessoas.

³¹ No trigésimo sétimo ano do exílio de Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, no vigésimo quinto dia do décimo segundo mês, Evil-Merodaque, rei da Babilônia, libertou da prisão Jeoaquim, rei de Judá. Isto aconteceu no ano em que Evil-Merodaque começou a reinar.

³² O rei falou gentilmente com ele e lhe deu o assento de honra mais elevado do que os de outros reis que estavam com ele, na Babilônia. ³³ Evil-Merodaque trocou as roupas de prisioneiro de Jeoaquim e ele passou a comer regularmente na mesa do rei, pelo resto de sua vida. ³⁴ Uma porção alimentar e uma pensão lhe foram dadas durante o resto de seus dias, até a sua morte.

Ezekiel

Capítulo 1

¹ No trigésimo ano, no quarto mês, ao quinto dia do mês, eu estava vivendo entre os cativos, no rio Quebar. Os céus se abriram e tive visões de Deus. ² Ao quinto dia daquele mês — era o quinto ano do exílio do rei Joaquim —, ³ a palavra de Yahweh veio a Ezequiel, filho de Buzi, o sacerdote, na terra dos caldeus, junto ao rio Quebar, e a mão de Yahweh estava sobre ele naquele lugar.

⁴ Olhei e havia um vendaval vindo do norte, uma nuvem enorme com fogo cintilante dentro dela, com brilho ao redor e dentro dela; o fogo era da cor de âmbar dentro da nuvem. ⁵ No meio, havia a semelhança de quatro seres viventes. Eis a sua aparência: tinham a semelhança de um homem; ⁶ porém cada uma tinha quatro rostos e cada uma das criaturas tinha quatro asas.

⁷ Suas pernas eram retas, mas as plantas dos seus pés eram como as patas de um bezerro que brilhava como bronze polido. ⁸ Além disso, tinham mãos humanas debaixo das suas asas em todos os quatro lados; os rostos e as asas dos quatro eram assim: ⁹ as asas tocavam as asas da próxima criatura e não se viravam enquanto andavam; pelo contrário, cada uma andava para frente.

¹⁰ A semelhança dos seus rostos era como o rosto humano. Os quatro tinham rosto de leão ao lado direito, e os quatro tinham rosto de boi ao lado esquerdo. Os quatro tinham também o rosto de uma águia. ¹¹ Seus rostos eram assim e as suas asas estavam abertas de modo que cada uma tinha um par de asas que tocava as asas da outra criatura e também um par de asas que cobria os seus corpos. ¹² Cada uma ia para frente, para onde o Espírito fosse, elas andavam sem se virar.

¹³ Os seres viventes pareciam brasas ardentes, eram como tochas; o fogo respladecia e se movia entre os seres e havia clarões de relâmpago. ¹⁴ Os seres viventes se moviam rapidamente para frente e para trás e tinham a semelhança de relâmpago!

¹⁵ Depois, olhei para os seres viventes; havia uma roda no chão, ao lado dos seres viventes. ¹⁶ Assim era a aparência e a estrutura das rodas: cada roda era como berilo e as quatro tinham a mesma semelhança; a sua aparência e a sua estrutura eram como uma roda interligada à outra.

¹⁷ Enquanto as rodas se moviam, elas iam a uma das suas quatro direções, sem se virar enquanto iam. ¹⁸ Quanto aos seus aros, eram altos e assustadores, porque os aros estavam cheios de olhos ao seu redor.

¹⁹ Sempre que os seres viventes se moviam, as rodas se moviam com eles. Quando os seres viventes erguiam-se da terra, as rodas também se erguiam. ²⁰ Aonde quer que o Espírito fosse, eles iam, e as rodas se erguiam com eles, porque o Espírito do ser vivente estava nas rodas. ²¹ Quando os seres se moviam, as rodas também se moviam; e, quando os seres paravam, as rodas paravam; quando os seres se erguiam da terra, as rodas se erguiam com eles, porque o Espírito do ser vivente estava nas rodas.

²² Sobre as cabeças dos seres viventes, havia uma redoma como cristal refulgente, estendida sobre as suas cabeças. ²³ Debaixo da redoma, cada uma das asas dos seres esticava-se e tocava nas asas do outro ser. Cada um dos seres viventes também tinha um par de asas para se cobrir; cada um tinha um par para cobrir o seu próprio corpo.

²⁴ Então, ouvi o som das suas asas como o barulho de muitas águas; como a voz do Onipotente, sempre que se moviam; como o som de um exército. Sempre que paravam, abaixavam as suas asas. ²⁵ Uma voz vinha por cima da redoma, sobre as suas cabeças, sempre que paravam e abaixavam as suas asas.

²⁶ Sobre a redoma que estava acima das suas cabeças, havia algo semelhante a um trono que era da aparência de uma safira, e, sobre esse trono, havia alguém que parecia um homem.

²⁷ Vi que esse homem, da cintura para cima, parecia um metal brilhante cheio de fogo e, da cintura para baixo, vi um fogo que brilhava ao seu redor. ²⁸ Como a aparência de um arco-íris nas nuvens em um dia chuvoso, havia a aparência da luz cintilante que a rodeava. Era a aparência da glória de Yahweh. Quando vi isso, caí com o rosto em terra e ouvi a voz de Quem falava.

Capítulo 2

¹ E Ele me disse: "Filho do homem, põe-te em pé, e falarei contigo". ² Então, enquanto me falava, o Espírito entrou em mim e me pôs em pé, e O ouvi falando comigo. ³ Ele me disse: "Filho do homem, estou te enviando ao povo de Israel, às nações rebeldes que têm se rebelado contra Mim. Tanto eles como seus antepassados têm pecado contra Mim até o dia de hoje!

⁴ Seus descendentes têm semblantes teimosos e corações duros. Eu te envio a eles, para que lhes digas: 'Isto é o que Yahweh Deus diz', ⁵ quer te ouçam, quer não, pois são uma casa rebelde. Ao menos, saberão que um profeta esteve no meio deles.

⁶ Tu, filho do homem, não tenhas medo deles nem das suas palavras. Não temas, embora estejas entre sarças e espinhos e vivas entre escorpiões. Não tenhas medo das suas palavras, nem desfaleças por causa dos seus rostos, pois são uma casa rebelde.

⁷ Porém, tu lhes dirás Minhas palavras, quer ouçam, quer não, pois são muito rebeldes. ⁸ Mas tu, filho do homem, ouve o que Eu te digo, não sejas rebelde como aquela casa rebelde. Abre a tua boca e come o que Eu estou para te dar!".

⁹ Então olhei, e uma mão me foi estendida; nela, havia um rolo de um livro. ¹⁰ Ele o desenrolou diante de mim. O livro estava escrito por dentro e por fora e, nele, estavam escritos prantos, lamentações e tristezas.

Capítulo 3

¹ Ele me disse: "Filho do homem, come o que achares, come este rolo; vai e fala à casa de Israel". ² Então abri a minha boca e Ele me deu o rolo para comer. ³ Ele me disse: "Filho do homem, dá de comer ao teu estômago e enche as tuas entranhas deste rolo que dei a ti!". Então eu comi, e era, na minha boca, doce como o mel.

⁴ Então, Ele disse: "Filho do homem, vai à casa de Israel e fala as Minhas palavras a eles. ⁵ Porque não estás sendo enviado a um povo de uma fala estranha ou de uma língua difícil, mas à casa de Israel; ⁶ não a uma nação poderosa, de fala estranha ou língua difícil, cujas palavras não possas entender! Se Eu te enviasse a eles, eles te ouviriam. ⁷ Mas a casa de Israel não estará disposta a ouvir-te, pois não estão dispostos a Me ouvir, porque toda casa de Israel é obstinada e dura de coração.

⁸ Eis que fiz teu rosto tão teimoso como os seus rostos e a tua testa tão dura quanto a deles. ⁹ Eu fiz a tua testa como um diamante, mais duro que a pedra! Não os temais, nem fiques desencorajado pelos seus rostos, porque são uma casa rebelde".

¹⁰ Então, Ele me disse: "Filho do homem, todas as palavras que Eu te anunciar, guarda no coração e, com os teus ouvidos, escuta. ¹¹ Então, vai aos cativos, ao teu povo; tu lhes falarás e lhes dirás: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus', quer te ouçam, quer não".

¹² Depois, o Espírito me levantou e ouvi atrás de mim o estrondo de um grande terremoto: "Bendita seja a glória de Yahweh em Sua habitação!". ¹³ Era o som das asas dos seres viventes enquanto tocavam uma na outra, o som das rodas que estavam com elas e o estrondo do grande terremoto.

¹⁴ O Espírito me levantou, levou-me embora e saí amargurado com meu espírito indignado; a mão de Yahweh me pressionava fortemente. ¹⁵ Então, fui aos cativos em Tel-Abibe, que moravam junto ao rio Quebar, e lá fiquei por sete dias, sobrecarregado de espanto.

¹⁶ Depois desses sete dias, aconteceu que a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ¹⁷ "Filho do homem, Eu te fiz um sentinela para a casa de Israel; assim, escuta a palavra da Minha boca e dá-lhes o Meu aviso. ¹⁸ Quando Eu disser ao ímpio: 'Certamente morrerás', e não lhe avisares ou não deres a advertência ao perverso sobre suas más ações, para que ele viva, o ímpio morrerá no seu pecado, mas exigirei o sangue dele da tua mão. ¹⁹ Entretanto, se advertires o corrupto e ele não se desviar da sua maldade ou das suas ações perversas, então ele morrerá por causa do seu pecado, mas tu terás salvado a tua vida.

²⁰ Se o justo se desviar da sua justiça e agir injustamente, colocarei uma pedra de tropeço diante dele, e ele morrerá. Porque tu não o advertiste, ele morrerá em seu pecado e Eu não trarei à memória as ações justas que executou, mas exigirei o sangue dele da tua mão. ²¹ Entretanto, se advertires o homem justo que pare de pecar, e ele não pecar, ele certamente viverá, uma vez que foi avisado, e tu salvarás tua própria vida".

²² A mão de Yahweh estava ali sobre mim e me disse: "Levanta-te e sai para o vale! Lá, falarei contigo". ²³ Levantei-me e saí para o vale; lá, a glória de Yahweh estava, como a glória que eu tinha visto junto ao rio Quebar; então caí com o rosto em terra.

²⁴ Então, entrou em mim o Espírito e me pôs em pé, e falou comigo dizendo: "Vai e te tranca dentro da tua casa, ²⁵ porque agora, filho do homem, colocarão cordas sobre ti e te amarrarão para que não possas sair dentre eles.

²⁶ Farei que tua língua grude no céu da tua boca, de forma que ficarás mudo e não poderás repreendê-los, uma vez que são uma casa rebelde. ²⁷ Mas, quando Eu falar contigo, abrirei a tua boca para que lhes digas: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus'. Quem quiser ouvir que ouça; aquele que não quiser não ouça, porque são uma casa rebelde!".

Capítulo 4

¹ E Tu, filho do homem, leva contigo um tijolo e coloca-o à tua frente. Nele, desenha a cidade de Jerusalém. ² Em seguida, põe um cerco e edifica fortificações perante ela. Levanta uma rampa de assalto contra a cidade e põe acampamentos em torno dela e coloca os aríetes ao seu redor. ³ Então, pega para ti uma panela de ferro e usa como um muro de ferro entre ti e a cidade e dirige o teu rosto para ela, pois estará sitiada, e tu colocarás o cerco contra ela. Isso será um sinal para a casa de Israel.

⁴ Então, deita-te sobre o teu lado esquerdo e coloca sobre ele o pecado da casa de Israel; carregarás o seu pecado conforme o número dos dias em que te deitares, em frente à casa de Israel. ⁵ Eu mesmo estou atribuindo a ti um dia para representar cada ano de sua punição: trezentos e noventa dias. Dessa forma, tu carregarás o pecado da casa de Israel.

⁶ E, quando completares esses dias, deita-te outra vez, agora sobre o teu lado direito. Assim, carregarás o pecado da casa de Judá por quarenta dias. Eu te atribuirei um dia para cada ano. ⁷ Põe o teu rosto em direção a Jerusalém, que está sob o cerco e, com o teu braço descoberto, profetiza contra ela. ⁸ Eis que Eu estou pondo cordas em ti. Assim, tu não virarás de um lado para o outro, até que tenhas completado os dias de teu cerco.

⁹ Toma para ti trigo, cevada, feijão, lentilhas, painço e espelta; coloca-os numa vasilha e faze pão para ti, segundo o número dos dias em que te deitares sobre o teu lado. Por trezentos e noventa dias, tu comerás isso. ¹⁰ A comida que comerás será por peso, vinte siclos por dia, e comerás em horários determinados a cada dia. ¹¹ Então, beberás água pela medida de um sexto de him e beberás em horários determinados.

¹² Tu a comerás como bolos de cevada, mas a assarás sobre excremento humano, à vista deles!". ¹³ Assim diz Yahweh: "Isso significa que o pão que o povo de Israel comerá ali será imundo entre as nações, para onde os banirei".

¹⁴ Então, eu disse: "Ah, Senhor Yahweh! Eu nunca fui impuro! Também nunca comi nada morto, nem qualquer coisa morta por animais. Desde a minha juventude até agora, carne suja nunca entrou na minha boca!". ¹⁵ Então, Ele me disse: "Olha! Eu te dou esterco de vaca em vez de excremento humano; assim, tu prepararás teu pão sobre ele".

¹⁶ Ele também me disse: "Filho do homem, eis que estou tirando o sustento de pão em Jerusalém e eles, com ansiedade, farão racionamento de pão e, com desespero, beberão água racionada. ¹⁷ Porque terão falta de pão e de água, todo homem ficará apavorado com o seu irmão e serão consumidos por causa da sua iniquidade".

Capítulo 5

¹ "Então, tu, filho do homem, pega uma espada afiada como uma navalha de barbeiro; passa a navalha sobre tua cabeça e tua barba e toma uma balança para pesar e dividir teus cabelos. ² Queima um terço deles com fogo no meio da cidade, quando os dias do cerco estiverem completos; toma um terço dos cabelos e corta-os com a espada ao redor da cidade. Então, espalha um terço ao vento e Eu puxarei a espada para perseguir o povo.

³ Mas tira uma mecha de cabelos dali e amarra-a nas dobras de tua veste. ⁴ Então, pega um pouco mais desse cabelo e joga-o no meio do fogo; queima-o no fogo. Dali, sairá um fogo contra toda a casa de Israel".

⁵ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: "Esta é Jerusalém no meio das nações, onde a coloquei, cercada por outras terras. ⁶ Mas ela tem, maldosamente, rejeitado Meus decretos mais que as nações, e rejeitado Meus estatutos mais que os países que a cercam. O povo rejeitou Meus juízos e não andou nos Meus estatutos".

⁷ Portanto, assim diz Yahweh Deus: "Porque és mais rebelde que as nações que te rodeiam e não andaste nos Meus estatutos, nem agiste segundo Meus decretos e até agiste segundo os decretos das nações que te cercam," ⁸ por isso, assim diz Yahweh Deus: eis que Eu mesmo agirei contra ti! Executarei juízos no meio de ti, para que as nações possam ver.

⁹ Farei a ti o que Eu nunca fiz e nunca farei outra vez, por causa de todas as tuas abominações. ¹⁰ Portanto, os pais comerão os filhos no meio de ti e os filhos comerão seus pais, uma vez que executarei juízo sobre ti e espalharei em todas as direções todos os teus sobreviventes.

¹¹ Portanto, tão certo como Eu vivo — esta é uma declaração de Yahweh Deus — porque contaminaste o Meu santuário com todas as tuas coisas detestáveis e com todas as tuas abominações, por isso, Eu mesmo te reduzirei em número. Eu retirarei, sem piedade, os olhos sobre ti e não te pouparei. ¹² Um terço dos teus morrerá pela praga; no meio de ti, eles serão consumidos pela fome; um terço cairá pela espada que está ao teu redor, então, espalharei um terço em todas as direções e puxarei uma espada para persegui-los também.

¹³ Então, Minha ira se completará e farei que a Minha fúria se apodere deles. Ficarei satisfeito e saberão que Eu, Yahweh, falei na Minha ira quando completei a Minha fúria contra eles. ¹⁴ Farei de ti uma desolação e uma vergonha para as nações que te rodeiam, aos olhos de todos os que passam.

¹⁵ Então, Jerusalém se tornará algo para os outros condenarem e zombarem, um aviso e um horror às nações que a rodeiam. Executarei juízos contra ti com ira e fúria; com uma repreensão furiosa. Eu, Yahweh, assim declarei. ¹⁶ Enviarei flechas ásperas de fome contra vós, que se tornará o meio com o qual vos destruirei. Porque aumentarei a fome sobre vós e farei cessar a vossa provisão de pão. ¹⁷ Enviarei fome e bestas-feras contra vós para destruir vossos filhos. Peste e sangue passarão por vós e trarei uma espada contra ti. Eu, Yahweh, declarei isso".

Capítulo 6

¹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, vira o teu rosto para os montes de Israel e profetiza. ³ E dize: 'Montes de Israel, ouvi a palavra de Yahweh Deus! Assim diz Yahweh Deus aos montes e aos outeiros, aos ribeiros e aos vales. Eis que trago uma espada contra vós e destruirei os vossos altares nas colinas.

⁴ Então, vossos altares serão desolados e os altares de incenso serão destruídos; destroçarei os vossos mortos diante de seus ídolos. ⁵ Lançarei os mortos de Israel diante de seus ídolos e espalharei vossos ossos em redor de vossos altares.

⁶ Em todo lugar onde viverem, cidades serão destruídas e os altares das colinas serão arruinados, de tal modo que vossos altares serão destruídos e desolados. Depois, vossos ídolos serão quebrados e desaparecerão, vossos altares de incenso serão cortados e vossas obras serão desfeitas. ⁷ Os mortos cairão no vosso meio e sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh.

⁸ Mas preservarei o remanescente dentre vós e haverá alguns que escaparão da espada dentre as nações, quando fordes espalhados por entre os países. ⁹ Então, os que escaparem, lembrarão de Mim entre as nações onde serão postos em cativeiro, que fiquei entristecido pelos seus corações imorais que se desviaram de Mim, e pelos seus olhos que se prostituíram seguindo seus ídolos. Depois, mostrarão nojo em seu rosto por causa da impiedade que cometeram com todas as suas abominações. ¹⁰ Assim, saberão que Eu sou Yahweh. Foi por esta razão que Eu disse que lhes traria este mal.

¹¹ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Bate com as mãos e com os pés. E dize: 'Ah!', por causa de todas as abominações malignas da casa de Israel, eles cairão pela espada, fome e praga. ¹² O que estiver longe morrerá pela praga e o que estiver perto morrerá pela espada. O remanescente que for poupado morrerá pela fome. Dessa forma, cumprirei a Minha fúria contra eles.

¹³ Então, sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh, quando os seus mortos estiverem estendidos no meio dos seus ídolos, em redor dos seus altares, em toda montanha alta, em todos os picos dos montes e debaixo de toda a árvore viçosa e carvalho frondoso, os lugares onde queimaram incensos a todos os seus ídolos. ¹⁴ Estenderei a mão contra eles e deixarei a terra desolada e destruída, do deserto a Dibla, em todos os lugares onde vivem. Então, eles saberão que Eu sou Yahweh". ¹

¹Em vez de Dibla , algumas cópias antigas e versões modernas trazem Ribla .

Capítulo 7

¹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Tu, filho do homem, Yahweh Deus diz isto à terra de Israel: 'O fim, o fim chegou aos quatro cantos da terra'.

³ O fim sobreveio a ti, eis que derramarei Minha ira sobre ti, e te julgarei de acordo com os teus caminhos; e trarei sobre ti todas as tuas abominações. ⁴ Os Meus olhos não terão compaixão de ti, e não te pouparei. Pelo contrário, trarei sobre ti os teus caminhos, e as tuas abominações estarão no meio de ti. Então, sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh.

⁵ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Desastre! Um desastre ímpar! Vede, está vindo. ¹ Eis que vem. ⁶ O fim certamente está vindo. O fim despertou contra ti. Eis que está vindo! ⁷ A sentença vem para ti que habita na terra. O tempo chegou! Próximo está o dia da destruição e os montes não mais se regozijarão.

⁸ Em breve, lançarei Minha fúria contra ti e encherei Minha ira sobre ti; quando Eu te julgar de acordo com os teus caminhos e trouxer todas as tuas abominações sobre ti. ⁹ Porque Meu olho não olhará compassivamente e Eu não te pouparei. Conforme os teus caminhos, farei a ti; e as tuas abominações estarão no meio de ti. E sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh, aquele que vos está castigando.

¹⁰ Eis o dia! Eis que está vindo! Veio a tua ruína, já floresceu a vara, já brotou a soberba. ¹¹ A violência se levantou para servir de vara de impiedade; nenhum deles e nenhum da sua multidão; nada da sua riqueza, e nada do seu valor perdurará.

¹² O tempo está vindo; o dia está próximo. Não deixes o comprador se alegrar, nem que o vendedor se lamente, porque Minha ira está sobre a multidão inteira! ¹³ Porquanto o vendedor nunca mais voltará a ter o que vendeu, ainda que vivam, pois a profecia é contra toda a multidão. Eles não retornarão, porque nenhum homem, vivendo em seu pecado, será fortalecido!

¹⁴ Tocaram a trombeta e prepararam tudo, mas ninguém está marchando para a batalha; porque Minha ira está sobre toda a multidão. ¹⁵ A espada está fora, mas a praga, e a fome estão dentro da casa. Os que estão no campo morrerão à espada, enquanto a fome e a praga consumirão os que estão na cidade. ¹⁶ Mas sobreviventes escaparão dentre eles e irão aos montes. Como as pombas dos vales, todos eles gemerão, cada um pela sua iniquidade.

¹⁷ Todas as mãos se tornarão débil e todos os joelhos esmorecerão como água; ¹⁸ e vestirão pano de saco, terror lhes cobrirá, vergonha estará em todos os rostos, calvície em todas as cabeças. ¹⁹ Lançarão a sua prata nas ruas e o seu ouro será como sujeira. A sua prata e o seu ouro não os poderão resgatar no dia da ira de Yahweh. Suas vidas não serão salvas e sua fome não será satisfeita, porque sua iniquidade tornou-se uma pedra de tropeço.

²⁰ Em sua soberba, levaram a beleza dos seus ornamentos de joias e, com elas, fizeram suas imagens de idolatria e coisas detestáveis. Portanto, Eu estou tornando isso em coisas impuras para eles. ²¹ Depois, entregarei essas coisas nas mãos dos estrangeiros, como presa, e, aos corruptos da terra, como presa, e eles os profanarão. ²² Então, desviarei deles a Minha face quando eles profanarem o Meu lugar secreto; salteadores entrarão e o profanarão.

²³ Faze uma cadeia; porque a terra está cheia de juízo de sangue e a cidade está repleta de violência. ²⁴ Portanto, trarei os mais iníquos das nações, os quais tomarão as suas casas e porei um fim à soberba dos seus valentes, porquanto os seus lugares santos serão profanados! ²⁵ Haverá angústia! Buscarão paz, mas paz nenhuma haverá.

²⁶ Virá desastre sobre desastre, e haverá rumor sobre rumor. Então, procurarão uma visão do profeta, mas a lei do sacerdote perecerá e o conselho dos anciãos perecerá. ²⁷ O rei lamentará e o príncipe se vestirá de desespero, enquanto as mãos do povo da terra tremerão de medo. Assim, procederei com eles: segundo os seus próprios caminhos. Com seus próprios juízos, Eu os julgarei, até que saibam que Eu sou Yahweh'".

¹Em vez de desastre único , alguns manuscritos antigos trazem desastre sobre desastre .

Capítulo 8

¹ Aconteceu que, no sexto ano, no sexto mês, no quinto dia do mês, quando me sentei em minha casa e os anciãos de Judá se assentaram diante de mim, novamente, a mão de Yahweh Deus caiu sobre mim. ² Olhei, e eis que havia algo com a aparência de um homem. Da cintura para baixo, era fogo e, da cintura para cima, era a aparência de algo que brilha, como metal brilhante.

³ Então, ele estendeu para mim o que parecia uma mão e pegou-me pelos cabelos da minha cabeça; o Espírito me levantou entre a terra e o céu e, em visões de Deus, ele me levou para Jerusalém, à entrada do portão interior ao norte, onde o ídolo que provoca grande ciúme estava colocado. ⁴ E eis que a glória do Deus de Israel estava ali, conforme a semelhança que eu havia visto no vale.

⁵ Então, Ele me disse: "Filho do homem, levanta os teus olhos para o norte". Então, levantei os meus olhos para o norte e, ao norte do portão que leva ao altar; à entrada, estava o ídolo do ciúme. ⁶ Ele me disse então: "Filho do homem, vês o que estão fazendo? Estas são grandes abominações que a casa de Israel está fazendo aqui para Me afastar do Meu santuário. Mas tu verás maiores abominações ainda".

⁷ Então, ele me trouxe à porta do pátio e olhei; havia um buraco na parede. ⁸ Ele me disse: "Filho do homem, cava nesta parede". Então, cavei na parede e havia uma porta. ⁹ Então, Ele me disse: "Vai e vê as abominações corruptas que estão fazendo aqui".

¹⁰ Então, entrei e olhei, e eis que havia toda a sorte de animais que se arrastam, e de animais abomináveis, e todos os ídolos da casa de Israel estavam esculpidos na parede em todo o derredor. ¹¹ Setenta anciãos da casa de Israel estavam lá e Jazanias, filho de Safã, estava em pé meio deles. Eles estavam em pé diante das imagens e cada um tinha o incensário na mão para que o aroma do incenso subisse em uma nuvem.

¹² Ele me disse: "Filho do homem, vês o que os anciãos da casa de Israel estão fazendo nas trevas? Cada um faz isso na câmara oculta do seu ídolo, porque dizem: 'Yahweh não nos vê! Yahweh abandonou a terra'". ¹³ Então, Ele me disse: "Vira novamente e vê as outras grandes abominações que estão fazendo".

¹⁴ Em seguida, levou-me à entrada da porta da casa de Yahweh, que estava no lado do norte, e eis que as mulheres estavam sentadas lá, de luto por Tamuz. ¹⁵ Então, disse-me: "Vês isso, filho do homem? Vira de novo e vê ainda maiores abominações do que essas".

¹⁶ Ele me pôs no pátio interior da casa de Yahweh e, eis que à entrada do templo de Yahweh, entre o pórtico e o altar, havia cerca de vinte e cinco homens de costas para o templo de Yahweh; com seus rostos para o leste, eles estavam adorando o sol.

¹⁷ Ele me disse: "Vês isso, filho do homem? É algo pequeno para a casa de Judá fazer essas abominações que eles estão fazendo aqui? Porque encheram a terra com violência e voltaram a provocar-Me à ira, colocando o ramo aos seus narizes. ¹⁸ Assim também Eu agirei entre eles com furor; Meus olhos não terão compaixão e não os pouparão. Ainda que gritem em Meus ouvidos em alta voz, não os ouvirei".

Capítulo 9

¹ Então, Ele clamou aos meus ouvidos em alta voz, dizendo: "Deixa que os guardas subam à cidade, cada um com suas armas de destruição nas mãos". ² Eis que vinham seis homens do caminho da porta superior do lado norte, cada um trazendo a sua arma destruidora. Havia um homem no meio deles vestido de linho com um estojo de escrivão em sua cintura. Eles entraram e pararam ao lado do altar de bronze.

³ Então, a glória do Deus de Israel se levantou de sobre o querubim, do lugar onde ele estava, e foi para a entrada da casa. Ele chamou o homem vestido de linho, o que tinha um estojo de escrivão na cintura. ⁴ E Yahweh disse: "Passa pelo meio da cidade de Jerusalém e marca com um sinal a testa dos homens que suspiram e gemem por causa de todas as abominações que cometem no meio dela".

⁵ Enquanto eu escutava, Ele falou para os outros: "Passai no meio da cidade após ele, e matai. Não deixeis que vossos olhos tenham compaixão e não poupeis, ⁶ nem homens idosos, nem jovens, nem virgens, nem crianças ou mulheres. Matai todos! Mas não vos aproximeis de ninguém que tenha o sinal na testa. Começai pelo Meu Santuário!". Então, eles começaram pelos anciãos que estavam em frente à casa de Deus.

⁷ Ele lhes disse: "Profanai a casa, enchei o pátio com os mortos. Ide!" Então, eles foram e atacaram a cidade. ⁸ Assim que eles a atacaram, encontrei-me sozinho, caí com rosto em terra e lamentei dizendo: "Ah, Senhor Yahweh, Tu destruirás todo o remanescente de Israel no derramamento da Tua ira em Jerusalém?"

⁹ Ele me disse: "A iniquidade da casa de Israel e Judá é excessivamente grande. A terra está cheia de sangue e a cidade, cheia de perversões; eles dizem: 'Yahweh esqueceu da terra, Yahweh não vê!' ¹⁰ Por isso, Meus olhos não verão com compaixão e Eu não lhes pouparei. Pelo contrário, trarei tudo isso sobre a cabeça deles". ¹¹ E e eis que o homem, vestido de linho que tinha o estojo de escrivão na cintura, voltou. Ele voltou com a resposta dizendo: "Eu fiz tudo o que me mandaste".

Capítulo 10

¹ Quando eu olhei para a redoma que estava acima das cabeças dos querubins, algo apareceu por cima deles, como se fosse uma pedra de safira, com a aparência semelhante a um trono. ² Então, Yahweh falou com o homem vestido de linho e disse: "Vai para o meio das rodas, por baixo dos querubins, e pega em tuas mãos as brasas acesas que estão entre os querubins, e as espalhe sobre a cidade". Então, enquanto eu olhava, o homem entrou.

³ Os querubins estavam em pé, ao lado direito da casa, quando o homem entrou e uma nuvem cobriu o pátio interior. ⁴ A glória do Senhor saiu dos querubins, parou sobre a entrada da casa e a encheu com a nuvem; o pátio ficou cheio do brilho da glória do Senhor. ⁵ Ouvia-se o som das asas dos querubins até o pátio exterior, como a voz do Deus Poderoso quando Ele fala.

⁶ Aconteceu que, quando Deus ordenou ao homem vestido de linho, dizendo: "Pega o fogo do meio das rodas que está entre os querubins", o homem entrou e parou ao lado das rodas. ⁷ Então, um querubim estendeu sua mão para o fogo que estava no meio deles, apanhou as brasas e as colocou nas mãos daquele que estava vestido de linho. O homem pegou as brasas e saiu. ⁸ Vi, sobre os querubins, algo como se fosse a mão de um homem por baixo de suas asas.

⁹ Então, olhei e eis que quatro rodas estavam ao lado dos querubins, uma roda ao lado de cada querubim; a aparência das rodas parecia com uma pedra de berilo. ¹⁰ Sua aparência era a mesma: cada uma das quatro como se fosse uma roda dentro da outra. ¹¹ Quando elas se moviam, iam em qualquer das quatro direções sem se virar, mas andavam para onde a cabeça se dirigisse; não se viraram em nenhuma outra direção enquanto iam.

¹² Todo o corpo deles, incluindo suas costas, mãos e asas, estava coberto de olhos; e os olhos cobriam as quatro rodas em todo o redor delas também. ¹³ E ouvi que as rodas eram chamadas de "giratórias". ¹⁴ Cada querubim tinha quatro faces: a primeira era a face de um querubim, a segunda era a face de um homem, a terceira era a face de um leão, e a quarta era a face de uma águia.

¹⁵ E os querubins, que eram os seres viventes que vi junto ao rio Quebar, elevaram-se ao alto. ¹⁶ Quando os querubins se moviam, as rodas iam ao lado deles; e, quando os querubins levantavam suas asas da terra, as rodas não mudavam de direção, mas continuavam ao lado deles. ¹⁷ Quando os querubins paravam, as rodas também paravam e, quando se elevavam, as rodas também se elevavam, porque o Espírito do ser vivente estava nelas.

¹⁸ Então, a glória do Senhor saiu da entrada da casa e parou sobre os querubins. ¹⁹ Os querubins levantaram suas asas, subindo da terra, enquanto eu os via saindo, e as rodas fizeram o mesmo ao lado deles. Pararam à entrada do oriente da casa de Yahweh e a glória do Deus de Israel veio sobre eles do alto.

²⁰ São esses os seres viventes que vi abaixo do Deus de Israel, perto do rio Quebar, e percebi que eram querubins. ²¹ Cada um deles tinha quatro faces e quatro asas e, debaixo das asas, havia algo semelhante a mãos humanas. ²² E a semelhança de seus rostos era como a daqueles que vi na visão do rio Quebar e cada um andava para a sua frente.

Capítulo 11

¹ Então, o Espírito me levantou e me trouxe para a porta oriental da casa de Yahweh, voltada ao oriente. Eis que contemplei, diante do portão, vinte e cinco homens. Vi Jazanias, filho de Azur, e Pelatias, filho de Benaías, líderes do povo, no meio deles.

² Deus me disse: "Filho do homem, estes são os homens que fazem planos de iniquidade e aconselham perversamente nesta cidade. ³ Eles dizem: 'Não é agora o tempo de edificar casas; esta cidade é a panela e nós somos a carne'. ⁴ Por isso, profetiza contra eles. Profetiza, filho do homem".

⁵ Então, o Espírito de Yahweh veio sobre mim e me disse: "Dize: 'Assim diz Yahweh': Como vós dizeis, ó casa de Israel, porque Eu sei o que pensais. ⁶ Multiplicastes os vossos mortos nesta cidade e, com eles, enchestes as estradas. ⁷ Por isso, Yahweh Deus diz: As pessoas que matastes, cujos corpos colocastes no meio de Jerusalém, são a carne, e esta cidade é a panela. Mas vós sereis arrancados para fora desta cidade.

⁸ Vós temeis a espada, portanto, Eu trago espada sobre vós, esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus. ⁹ Eu vos tirarei do meio da cidade e vos colocarei nas mãos de estranhos e trarei julgamento contra vós. ¹⁰ Caireis à espada. Eu vos julgarei no interior das fronteiras de Israel e sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh.

¹¹ Esta cidade não será vossa panela, nem vós sereis a carne dentro dela. Eu vos julgarei no interior das fronteiras de Israel. ¹² Então, vós sabereis que Eu Sou Yahweh, Aquele cujos estatutos vós não andastes neles, e cujos decretos não obedecestes. Ao contrário, tendes procedido conforme os decretos das nações que vos rodeiam".

¹³ Aconteceu que, enquanto eu profetizava, Pelatias filho de Benaías, morreu. Então, caí sobre o meu rosto e chorei em alta voz dizendo: "Ah, Senhor Yahweh, destruirás completamente o resto de Israel?".

¹⁴ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ¹⁵ Filho do homem, os teus irmãos! Os teus próprios irmãos! Os homens de teu parentesco e de toda casa de Israel! Todos eles são aqueles de quem os habitantes de Jerusalém disseram: 'Eles estão longe de Yahweh! Esta terra nos foi dada como possessão'.

¹⁶ Portanto, dize: "Assim diz Yahweh Deus: 'Apesar de tê-los removido para longe entre as nações, e, embora Eu os tenha espalhalho entre as terras, mesmo assim, Eu tenho sido um santuário para eles por pouco tempo nas terras para onde foram'. ¹⁷ Portanto dize: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eu vos juntarei dentre os povos e vos congregarei das terras para onde fostes espalhados; darei a vós a terra de Israel'. ¹⁸ Então, eles irão e removerão todas coisas detestáveis e todas as abominações deste lugar.

¹⁹ Eu lhes darei um só coração e porei neles um espírito novo. Tirarei deles o coração de pedra e lhes darei um coração de carne, ²⁰ para que eles andem nos Meus estatutos, guardem os Meus decretos e os pratiquem. Eles serão Meu povo e Eu serei o seu Deus. ²¹ Mas para aqueles que andam com os corações voltados para as suas coisas detestáveis e suas abominações, Eu farei recair as suas obras sobre as suas cabeças, esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus".

²² Os querubins levantaram suas asas, e as rodas ao seu lado os acompanhavam, e a glória do Deus de Israel estava sobre eles. ²³ Então, a glória de Yahweh subiu desde o meio da cidade e ficou no monte que está ao oriente da cidade.

²⁴ O Espírito me levantou e me levou até a Babilônia, junto com os exilados, em visão pelo Espírito de Deus, e a visão que havia tido desapareceu. ²⁵ E eu declarei aos exilados todas as coisas que Yahweh havia me mostrado.

Capítulo 12

¹ Veio a mim a palavra de Yahweh, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, tu vives no meio da casa rebelde, que tem olhos para ver mas não vêem, e ouvidos para ouvir mas não ouvem, porque é casa rebelde.

³ Quanto a ti, filho do homem, prepara as tuas coisas para o exílio, e prepara para sair de dia, à vista deles, porque Eu te enviarei ao exílio à vista deles, do lugar que vives para um outro lugar. Talvez eles comecem a perceber, embora sejam casa rebelde.

⁴ Tu tirarás tuas coisas para o exílio de dia à vista deles; sairás de tarde à vista deles, como alguém que vai para o exílio. ⁵ Faze um buraco na parede, à vista deles, e sai através dele. ⁶ Levarás os teus pertences em teus ombros, à vista deles; às escuras os transportarás. Cobre a tua face, para que não vejas a terra, porque Eu te coloquei como sinal para a casa de Israel".

⁷ E eu fiz como fui ordenado. Durante o dia eu tirei os meus pertences, como se fosse para o exílio, e de tarde fiz um buraco na parede com as mãos. Tirei meus pertences na escuridão, e levantei-os e coloquei nos ombros à vista deles.

⁸ Então, veio a mim a palavra de Yahweh pela manhã, dizendo: ⁹ "Filho do homem, não te perguntou a casa de Israel, esta casa rebelde: 'O que estás fazendo?' ¹⁰ Dize-lhes: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Esta ação profética se refere aos príncipes em Jerusalém, e a toda casa de Israel que está no meio deles'.

¹¹ Dize: 'Eu sou um sinal para vós. Assim como fiz, será feito a eles; eles irão para o exílio e para o cativeiro. ¹² O príncipe que está no meio deles levantará seus pertences nos ombros, na escuridão, e sairá pela parede. Eles escavarão a parede e tirarão as suas coisas. Ele cobrirá a sua face, e não verá a terra com seus olhos. ¹³ Também estenderei a minha rede sobre ele e será apanhado em minha armadilha; e então, o levarei para Babilônia, a terra dos Caldeus, mas ele não a verá, ele morrerá ali.

¹⁴ Espalharei também, em toda direção, todos os que estiverem ao redor dele para seu socorro, bem como todo seu exército, e enviarei a espada atrás deles. ¹⁵ Então, eles saberão que Eu sou Yahweh, quando lhes espalhar no meio das nações e os dispersar por toda parte da terra. ¹⁶ Mas pouparei alguns homens no meio deles, da espada e da praga, para que contem todas as suas abominações entre as nações para onde forem, e saberão que Eu sou Yahweh'".

¹⁷ Veio a mim a palavra de Yahweh, dizendo: ¹⁸ "Filho do homem, come o teu pão com tremor, e bebe a tua água com estremecimento e com receio.

¹⁹ Então, dize ao povo da terra: "Assim diz Yahweh Deus acerca dos habitantes de Jerusalém e da terra de Israel: Eles comerão o seu pão com tremor e beberão a sua água estremecendo, pois a terra será despojada da sua abundância, por causa da violência daqueles que vivem nela. ²⁰ E as cidades onde habitam serão desoladas; a terra será improdutiva; e sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh".

²¹ Veio outra vez a palavra do Senhor a mim dizendo: ²² "Filho do homem, que provérbio é este que vós tendes na terra de Israel que diz: 'Os dias estão prolongados e toda visão falhou'? ²³ Portanto, dize-lhes: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eu porei fim neste provérbio e o povo de Israel não o usará mais'. Fala para eles: 'Os dias estão próximos, quando toda visão será cumprida'.

²⁴ Porque não haverá mais falsas visões ou adivinhações no meio da casa de Israel. ²⁵ Porque Eu, Yahweh, falo e realizo as palavras que digo. Não será mais adiada. Pois Eu falarei essa palavra em vossos dias, casa rebelde, e cumprirei! Esta é a declaração de Yahweh'".

²⁶ E veio, de novo, a palavra de Yahweh a mim, dizendo: ²⁷ "Filho do homem! Vê, a casa de Israel tem dito: 'A visão que ele vê é para muitos dias no futuro e ele profetiza sobre os tempos que estão longe'. ²⁸ Portanto, dize-lhes: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: As Minhas palavras não serão mais adiadas; a palavra que Eu falei se cumprirá — essa é a declaração de Yahweh Deus'".

Capítulo 13

¹ Outra vez, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, profetiza contra os profetas que estão profetizando em Israel e dize-lhes que estão profetizando a partir das suas próprias imaginações. 'Ouvi a palavra de Yahweh. ³ Yahweh Deus diz isto: Ai dos falsos profetas que segue seu próprio espírito, mas não veem nada! ⁴ Ó, Israel, os seus profetas têm sido como raposas numa terra inóspita.

⁵ Tu não subiste às brechas do muro ao redor da casa de Israel para repará-la, para que ela resista à batalha no dia de Yahweh. ⁶ O povo tem falsas visões e faz falsas previsões; e aqueles que dizem: 'Esta é a declaração de Yahweh'. Yahweh não os enviou; eles, todavia, têm trazido mensagens mentirosas ao povo. ⁷ Acaso não tivestes falsas visões e falsas previsões, quando dissestes: 'Tal é a declaração de Yahweh', quando Eu não falei isso?'.

⁸ Portanto, assim diz Yahweh Deus: 'Porque tendes tido falsas visões e tendes mentido, esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus contra vós: ⁹ Minha mão será contra os profetas com visões falsas e aqueles com falsas previsões. Eles não estarão na assembleia do Meu povo ou inscritos no registro da casa de Israel; não irão para terra de Israel. Pois sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh Deus!

¹⁰ Por isso, porque eles levam Meu povo a se desviar, dizendo: 'Paz!' quando não há paz, eles constroem uma parede e a rebocam com cal'. ¹¹ Dize àqueles que estão rebocando a parede com cal: 'Esta vai cair; virá uma pancada de chuva e enviarei granizo para derrubá-la e um vento tempestuoso a rachará. ¹² Vede, o muro vai cair. Os outros não vos disseram: 'Onde está o cal que foi colocado nele?'.

¹³ Portanto, assim diz Yahweh Deus: Trarei uma tempestade em Meu furor, e, na Minha ira, haverá inundação de chuva! No Meu furor, a chuva de granizo o destruirá completamente. ¹⁴ Eu derrubarei a parede coberta com cal e a demolirei, para que seja descoberta a sua fundação. Assim, cairá e vós perecereis no meio dela. E sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh.

¹⁵ Assim, cumprirei o Meu furor contra a parede e contra aqueles que colocaram cal nela. Eu direi a vós: 'A parede não existe mais e nem o povo que a cobriu com cal, ¹⁶ os profetas de Israel que profetizaram acerca de Jerusalém e que tiveram visões de paz para ela. Mas não há paz! — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus".

¹⁷ Então, tu, filho do homem, põe o teu rosto contra as filhas do teu povo, que profetizam de seu próprio entendimento, e profetiza contra elas. ¹⁸ E dize: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Ai das mulheres que costuram pulseiras mágicas para todas as juntas das mãos e que fazem véus da medida de suas cabeças, usadas para caçarem o povo. Caçarás o Meu povo, mas salvarás as tuas próprias vidas?

¹⁹ Vós Me profanastes no meio do Meu povo por punhados de cevada e migalhas de pão, para matar o povo que não deveria morrer e para manter vivos os que não deveriam viver, por causa das vossas mentiras para o Meu povo que vos escutava.

²⁰ Portanto, assim diz Yahweh Deus: Estou contra as vossas pulseiras mágicas que são usadas para caçar vidas, como se fossem pássaros. Certamente, Eu as rasgarei de vossos braços; e o povo, a quem caçastes como pássaros, Eu os livrarei. ²¹ Eu também rasgarei vossos véus e salvarei Meu povo das vossas mãos; e eles nunca mais serão presas em vossas mãos. E vós sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh.

²² Visto que entristecestes o coração das pessoas justas com mentiras, mesmo Eu não desejando isso, e fortalecestes os perversos para não deixarem o seu caminho e salvarem sua vida — ²³ portanto, não tereis mais visões falsas nem continuareis a fazer previsões, pois Eu resgatarei o Meu povo das vossas mãos. E sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh'".

Capítulo 14

¹ Alguns dos anciãos de Israel vieram e se sentaram diante de mim. ² A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ³ "Filho do homem, estes homens deram lugar em seus corações aos ídolos e colocaram o tropeço de sua maldade diante de sua própria face. Deveria Eu ser consultado por eles?

⁴ Portanto, anuncia isto a eles: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Qualquer homem de Israel que, depois de guardar seus ídolos no coração, ou colocar tropeço de maldade diante de sua face, vier consultar os profetas, Eu, Yahweh, lhes responderei conforme a multidão de seus ídolos. ⁵ Eu farei isto para reconquistar os corações da casa de Israel, que foram afastados de Mim, através dos seus ídolos'.

⁶ Portanto, diz à casa de Israel: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Arrependei-vos e deixai os vossos ídolos! Desviai o rosto de todas as vossas abominações.

⁷ Pois a todos os da casa de Israel e a todos os estrangeiros que vivem em Israel, que Me abandonam, guardam seus ídolos no coração, colocam tropeço de maldade diante deles e que, depois, vêm consultar o profeta, Eu mesmo, Yahweh, lhes responderei. ⁸ Virarei Meu rosto contra esses homens e farei deles um sinal e um provérbio, Eu os eliminarei do meio do Meu povo e vós sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh.

⁹ Se um profeta for enganado e falar a mensagem, então, Eu, Yahweh, enganarei este profeta; estenderei Minha mão contra ele e o destruirei do meio do Meu povo. ¹⁰ Eles levarão suas próprias iniquidades; e a iniquidade do profeta será a mesma iniquidade daquele que consultá-lo. ¹¹ Para que a casa de Israel não se desvie de seguir-Me e nem se contamine por estas transgressões. Eles serão o Meu povo e Eu serei o seu Deus, esta é a palavra de Yahweh Deus".

¹² A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ¹³ "Filho do homem, quando um povo pecar contra Mim, cometendo graves transgressões, Eu estenderei Minha mão contra ele e cortarei sua provisão, enviando fome sobre ele e seus animais, exterminando-os da terra; ¹⁴ e, mesmo se estes três homens — Noé, Daniel e Jó — estivessem ali, poderiam somente livrar suas próprias vidas, por sua justiça" — esta é a palavra de Yahweh.

¹⁵ "Se Eu enviar animais selvagens pela terra e eles a devastarem, e ela se tornar improdutiva por causa dos animais, ¹⁶ mesmo se esses três homens estivessem nela — assim como Eu vivo, diz Yahweh Deus — eles não poderiam salvar nem mesmo seus próprios filhos ou suas filhas; apenas suas vidas seriam poupadas e a terra seria desolada.

¹⁷ Ou, se Eu trouxer a espada contra aquela terra e disser: 'Espada, passa pela terra e extermina o homem e o animal dela', ¹⁸ mesmo se esses três homens estivessem nela — assim como Eu vivo, diz Yahweh — eles não poderiam salvar nem mesmo seus próprios filhos ou suas filhas; apenas suas vidas seriam resgatadas.

¹⁹ Ou, se Eu enviar a peste sobre esta terra e derramar meu furor contra ela com derramamento de sangue, para eliminar homem e animal, ²⁰ mesmo se Noé, Daniel e Jó estivessem nessa terra — assim como Eu vivo, declara Yahweh Deus — eles não poderiam nem mesmo salvar seus filhos ou suas filhas; apenas suas próprias vidas seriam resgatadas, pela sua justiça".

²¹ Porque assim diz Yahweh Deus: "Certamente, irei piorar a situação enviando contra Jerusalém Minhas quatro punições — fome, espada, animais selvagens e peste — para eliminar todo homem e todo animal.

²² Mas, se houver sobreviventes que levem para fora os filhos e as filhas que foram deixados na cidade, eis que, quando eles vierem a vosso encontro, vereis seus caminhos e suas ações; e ficareis consolados da punição que Eu enviei para Jerusalém e de tudo que Eu enviei sobre ela. ²³ Os sobreviventes irão consolar-vos quando virdes os seus caminhos e suas ações, e sabereis que não fiz isto em vão — esta é a palavra de Yahweh Deus".

Capítulo 15

¹ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, como pode a videira ser melhor que qualquer árvore com galhos que está entre as árvores da floresta? ³ O povo tira madeira da videira para fazer alguma coisa? Ou fazem eles uma estaca para pendurar alguma coisa? ⁴ Olha! Se ela é jogada no fogo como combustível, e, se o fogo queima tanto o meio como o fim dela, seria útil para alguma coisa?

⁵ Vê! Quando estava inteira, não servia para nada; quando o fogo queimar, aí é que não servirá para nada. ⁶ Portanto, Yahweh Deus diz: Ao invés de entregar as árvores do bosque, entreguei a videira como combustível para ser queimada; do mesmo jeito farei com os habitantes de Jerusalém.

⁷ Voltarei a Minha face contra eles. Mesmo que tenham saído do fogo, ainda assim, o fogo os consumirá; então, tu saberás que Eu sou Yahweh, quando Eu virar a Minha face contra eles. ⁸ Então, Eu farei com que a terra fique abandonada e sem serventia, porque eles têm cometido pecado — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus".

Capítulo 16

¹ Então, veio a mim a palavra de Yahweh, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, informa a Jerusalém sobre as suas abominações ³ e declara: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus a respeito de Jerusalém: A tua origem e o teu nascimento vêm da terra dos cananeus; teu pai era amorreu e tua mãe, heteia.

⁴ No dia em que nasceste, a tua mãe não cortou teu umbigo, nem foste lavada com água, para tua purificação, nem esfregada com sal; nem foi embrulhada com vestes. ⁵ Nenhum olho se compadeceu de ti para fazer qualquer uma dessas coisas a teu favor, mas, com nojo de ti, te lançaram em campo aberto.

⁶ Mas Eu passei por ti, vi-te manchada no teu sangue; então, disse a ti: 'Vive!', Eu te disse quando estava ainda ensanguentada, 'vive!'. ⁷ Eu te fiz crescer como a planta na terra. Tu te multiplicaste e te engradeceste tornando jóia das jóias. Os teus seios tornaram-se firmes e seu cabelo cresceu, mas tu estavas nua e estéril.

⁸ Passei novamente por ti. Vê! O tempo de amor veio a ti, então, Eu estendi sobre ti o Meu manto e cobri a tua nudez. Então, jurei e fiz aliança contigo — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — e passaste a ser Minha.

⁹ Então, Eu te lavei com água, enxuguei teu sangue de ti e ungi com óleo. ¹⁰ Eu te vesti com roupas bordadas, calcei teus pés com sandálias de couro nobre. Eu te envolvi com linho fino e te cobri com seda. ¹¹ De joias, Eu te adornei, coloquei braceletes em teus braços e um colar em teu pescoço. ¹² Eu coloquei um pendente em teu nariz, brincos nas tuas orelhas e uma linda coroa em tua cabeça.

¹³ Assim foste adornada com ouro e prata; e foste vestida com linho fino, seda e roupas bordadas; comeste de farinha excelente, mel e óleo; eras muito formosa e te tornaste rainha. ¹⁴ E a tua fama correu entre as nações por causa da tua beleza, pois eras perfeita pela majestade que te dei — assim diz Yahweh Deus.

¹⁵ Mas confiaste em tua formosura e te corrompestes como uma prostituta por causa da tua fama, prostituindo-te a todos que passavam por ti e tua beleza se tornou deles. ¹⁶ Depois, tomaste as tuas vestes e, com elas, adornaste, de várias cores, os lugares altos e te comportaste como uma prostituta. Isso não deveria ter acontecido. Nem deveria tal coisa ter existido.

¹⁷ Tu tomaste das excelentes jóias de ouro e de prata que te dei; fizeste imagens de homens e te prostituiste como querias com elas. ¹⁸ Tu tomaste as tuas vestes bordadas e as cobriste; puseste, diante delas, Meus óleos e perfumes. ¹⁹ O Meu pão que te dei — feito de farinha fina, óleo e mel — puseste diante dos ídolos como cheiro suave, isso foi o que aconteceu — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus.

²⁰ Além disso, tomaste teus filhos e tuas filhas que gerastes para Mim e os sacrificaste às imagens para serem devorados como comida. Será que era tão pequena a tua fama de prostituição, ²¹ que ainda tinhas que matar Meus filhos e entregá-los como oferta queimada? ²² Em todas as tuas abominações e nos atos da tua prostituição, não lembraste dos dias da tua mocidade, quando estavas nua e estéril, debatendo-te em teu sangue.

²³ Ai! Ai de ti! — esta é a palavra de Yahweh Deus — além de todo esse pecado, ²⁴ tu edificaste lugar de adoração e altares em todos os locais públicos.

²⁵ Edificaste o teu lugar alto em todo começo de caminho e profanaste tua formosura, ofereceste o teu corpo a todos que passavam e multiplicaste tua prostituição. ²⁶ Agiste como uma prostituta com os egípcios, com teus vizinhos com corpos avantajados, e praticaste muitos outros atos de prostituição, provocando-Me a ira.

²⁷ Olha! Eu te destruirei com a Minha mão e tirarei a tua porção. Entregarei a tua vida aos teus inimigos, as filhas dos filisteus, as quais se envergonharam do teu comportamento obceno. ²⁸ Agiste como uma prostituta com os assírios, porque eras insaciável. Agiste como uma prostituta e, mesmo assim, não te saciaste. ²⁹ Tu te prostituíste muito mais na terra dos mercadores da Caldeia, e, mesmo assim, não te saciaste.

³⁰ Quão fraco é o teu coração — assim diz Yahweh Deus — fazendo tu estas coisas e agindo como uma prostituta sem vergonha? ³¹ Edificaste o teu prostíbulo em cada caminho e fizeste o teu altar em cada rua; não foste nem mesmo como uma prostituta, pois recusaste até teu pagamento.

³² Tu, mulher adúltera, aceitaste os estranhos em lugar de teu marido. ³³ Homens pagam para toda prostituta, mas tu dá salários a todos os teus amantes e os subornas para que venham prostituirem-se contigo. ³⁴ Então, esta é a diferença entre tu e todas outras mulheres, pois nenhum homem vai pedir que durmas com eles. Ao invés disso, tu fazes o contrário, pagas a eles. Ninguém te paga.

³⁵ Portanto, tu prostituta, escuta a palavra de Yahweh. ³⁶ Yahweh Deus diz: Porque tens derramado tua volúpia e descoberto tua nudez para a prostituição com teus amantes e com teus ídolos abomináveis, por causa do sangue dos teus filhos que lhe destes; ³⁷ por este motivo, Eu ajuntarei todos teus amantes com os quais te encontraste, todos os que amaste, junto com aqueles os quais tu odiaste, Eu os ajuntarei contra ti de todos os lados. Exporei tuas partes íntimas diante deles, para que vejam toda tua nudez.

³⁸ Eu te punirei por adultério e derramamento de sangue e trarei sobre ti o derramar de sangue da Minha ira e paixão. ³⁹ E te entregarei nas mãos de teus inimigos e eles derrubarão os teus lugares de adoração a ídolos e demolirão os teus altares, desnudarão as tuas vestes, tomarão todas as tuas jóias, deixando-te nua e despida.

⁴⁰ Então, subirá uma multidão contra ti, apedrejarão e cortarão a ti com suas espadas. ⁴¹ Queimarão tuas casas, executarão juízos e julgamentos a ti aos olhos de muitas mulheres; farei cessar a tua prostituição e já não mais pagarás aos seus amantes. ⁴² Então, acalmarei a Minha fúria contra ti; Minha ira se desviará de ti, sossegarei e não mais Me indignarei.

⁴³ Porque não te lembraste dos dias da tua mocidade e Me provocaste a ira por causa de todas estas coisas, por isso, cuidado! Eu farei a punição por tudo aquilo que fizeste — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus. Não acrescentaste infidelidade para todas as tuas outras práticas detestáveis?

⁴⁴ Eis que todos aqueles que falam em provérbios a teu respeito dirão: "Tal como é a mãe, também é a filha". ⁴⁵ Tu és a filha de tua mãe, que detestou seu marido e seus filhos, tu és a irmã de tuas irmãs, que detestaram seus maridos e seus filhos. Tua mãe era heteia e teu pai amorreu.

⁴⁶ Tua irmã mais velha era Samaria e suas filhas era as que habitavam ao norte; enquanto a tua irmã mais nova era a única que vivia ao teu lado sul, isto é, Sodoma e suas filhas.

⁴⁷ Tu não só andavas nos caminhos deles, como imitavas as práticas de suas abominações, mas, em todos teus caminhos, foste pior que eles. ⁴⁸ Assim como Eu vivo — diz Yahweh Deus — tua irmã Sodoma e suas filhas não fizeram tanto quanto tu e tuas filhas fizestes.

⁴⁹ Eis que este era o pecado da tua irmã Sodoma: ela era arrogante em seu ócio, distraída, despreocupada de qualquer coisa. Ela nunca estendeu a mão para o pobre e o necessitado. ⁵⁰ Ela era arrogante e praticava abominações diante de Mim, então, Eu as removi do seu lugar, como tu viste.

⁵¹ E nem mesmo Samaria praticou metade de teus pecados; tu fizeste coisas mais abomináveis que ela e mostraste que tuas irmãs eram melhores que tu, por causa das abominações que fizeste! ⁵² E tu, mostra a tua vergonha; dessa maneira, tu tens mostrado que tuas irmãs foram melhores que tu, por causa dos pecados que cometeste em todos caminhos abomináveis. Tuas irmãs agiram de melhor forma; especialmente tu, mostra a tua vergonha, pois, dessa maneira, mostra que tuas irmãs têm agido melhor que tu.

⁵³ Pois Eu restaurarei a sorte de Sodoma — a sorte de Sodoma e suas filhas; a sorte de Samaria e suas filhas; e a tua sorte ficará entre elas. ⁵⁴ E, por causa destas coisas, serás envergonhada de todas as coisas que cometeste e isso será um conforto para elas. ⁵⁵ Tua irmã Sodoma e suas filhas serão restauradas, como Samaria e suas filhas serão restauradas em suas posses. Assim como tu e tuas filhas também serão restauradas à tua condição anterior.

⁵⁶ Sodoma, tua irmã, nem foi mencionada por ti, nos dias em que eras orgulhosa, ⁵⁷ antes que tua corrupção fosse revelada. Mas, agora, tu és objeto do desprezo pelas filhas de Edom e de todos os filisteus ao seu redor, todos te desprezam. ⁵⁸ Tu serás envergonhada por causa das tuas obras repugnantes! — assim diz Yahweh!".

⁵⁹ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: "Tratarei contigo da forma que mereces, pois tu desprezaste o teu juramento quebrando a aliança.

⁶⁰ Eu, contudo, Me lembrarei da Minha aliança que fiz contigo, nos dias da tua mocidade, e estabelecerei contigo a Minha aliança eterna. ⁶¹ Então, tu te lembrarás dos teus caminhos e te evergonharás, quando receberes tuas irmãs mais velhas e as mais novas, porque Eu as darei a ti por filhas, mas não por causa da tua aliança.

⁶² Eu estabelecerei Minha aliança contigo e tu saberás que Eu sou Yahweh. ⁶³ Por esta razão, tu te lembrarás e ficarás envergonhada; nunca mais abrirás a tua boca por causa da tua vergonha, quando Eu te perdoar por tudo que fizeste — assim diz Yahweh Deus'".

Capítulo 17

¹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, apresenta um enigma e conta uma parábola à casa de Israel. ³ Dize-lhes: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Uma grande águia com grandes asas e plumagem comprida, cheia de penas de várias cores, foi para o Líbano e pegou um ramo no topo de uma árvore de cedro. ⁴ Arrancou-lhe a ponta dos seus ramos e a levou para a terra de Canaã; ela a plantou numa cidade de comerciantes.

⁵ Ela também pegou semente da terra e a plantou num solo fértil. Ela a plantou junto a muitas águas, como um salgueiro. ⁶ Então, brotou e se tornou uma videira baixa, espalhada pelo chão. Seus ramos viraram-se para a águia e suas raízes cresceram debaixo dela. Assim, tornou-se uma videira e produziu ramos e brotos.

⁷ Mas havia outra grande águia com asas grandes e muitas penas. Eis que esta videira voltou suas raízes para águia e espalhou seus ramos em sua direção, do lugar em que tinha sido plantada, assim seria regada. ⁸ Ela tinha sido plantada em terra boa, junto a muitas águas, assim produziria ramos e brotaria frutos, para tornar-se uma magnífica videira'.

⁹ Dize ao povo: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Isto prosperará? A águia não lhe arrancará as suas raízes e não lhe apanhará o seu fruto, para que todas as folhas de seus brotos sequem? Nem braço forte ou muitas pessoas serão necessárias para puxá-la pelas suas raízes. ¹⁰ Então, vê! Depois que foi plantada, crescerá? Não murchará quando o vento oriental tocá-la? Secará completamente onde foi plantada'".

¹¹ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ¹² "Dize à casa rebelde: 'Não sabeis o significado destas coisas? Eis que o rei da Babilônia chegou a Jerusalém e tomou seu rei e seus príncipes e os levou consigo para Babilônia.

¹³ Então, ele tomou um descendente real, fez uma aliança com ele e o fez jurar, também tirou o povo poderoso da terra, ¹⁴ para humilhar o reino, para que não se levantasse. Ao manter sua aliança, a terra sobreviverá.

¹⁵ Mas o rei de Jerusalém se revoltou contra o rei da Babilônia, ao enviar seus embaixadores ao Egito para que lhe mandassem cavalos e um exército. Será que ele prosperará? Aquele que faz essas coisas escapará? Se ele quebrar a aliança, escapará? ¹⁶ Tão certo como Eu vivo! — assim diz Yahweh Deus — certamente ele morrerá na terra do rei que o constituiu como rei, aquele cujo juramento desprezou e cuja aliança quebrou, ele morrerá no meio da Babilônia.

¹⁷ Faraó, com seu poderoso exército e com sua tropas de muitos homens para a guerra, não o protegerá na batalha, quando o exército da Babilônia construir trincheiras e sitiar os muros a fim de destruir muitas vidas. ¹⁸ Assim, o rei desprezou o seu juramento ao quebrar a aliança. Eis que ele estendeu a sua mão para fazer uma promessa, e, no entanto, ele fez todas essas coisas; ele não escapará.

¹⁹ Portanto, assim diz Yahweh Deus: Tão certo como Eu vivo, não foi o Meu juramento que ele desprezou e a Minha aliança que ele quebrou? Então, trarei a punição sobre a sua cabeça! ²⁰ Espalharei a Minha rede sobre ele e será pego no Meu laço. Então, o levarei à Babilônia e, lá, executarei juízo sobre ele, pela trapaça que cometeu quando ele Me traiu! ²¹ Todos seus refugiados em seus exércitos cairão pela espada e os que permanecerem serão espalhados em todas as direções. Então, sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh; Eu declarei que isto aconteceria".

²² Assim diz Yahweh Deus: "Então, tirarei um broto da parte mais alta da árvore de cedro e a plantarei longe de seus ramos tenros. Eu a cortarei e Eu mesmo a plantarei em um alto e sublime monte. ²³ A plantarei no alto monte de Israel, então, produzirá ramos e dará frutos e se tornará um cedro majestoso, para que cada pássaro que voa, viva debaixo dele; e se aninharão na sombra de seus ramos.

²⁴ Então, todas as árvores do campo saberão que Eu sou Yahweh. Abati a árvore alta e elevei a árvore baixa, sequei a árvore verde e fiz a árvore seca florescer. Eu sou Yahweh, declarei que isso aconteceria; e o tenho feito".

Capítulo 18

¹ Veio a mim, mais uma vez, a palavra de Yahweh, dizendo: ² "Que quereis dizer, vós que usais este provérbio em relação à terra de Israel: 'Os pais comeram uvas verdes e os dentes dos filhos ficaram ásperos'?

³ Tão certo como eu vivo — esta é uma declaração de Yahweh Deus — não mais haverá ocasião alguma para usardes este provérbio em Israel. ⁴ Eis que toda a vida pertence a Mim — tanto a vida do pai quanto a vida do filho, ambas pertencem a Mim! A alma que pecar, esta morrerá!

⁵ O que pode ser dito de um homem que é reto e pratica a justiça e retidão — ⁶ se ele não come nos montes, nem ergue os seus olhos aos ídolos da casa de Israel, e não contamina a mulher do seu próximo, muito menos se unir com uma mulher durante a menstruação, ele é um homem correto?

⁷ Que dizer do homem que a ninguém oprime, que devolve ao devedor o que foi posto como penhor num empréstimo, não rouba, mas dá a sua comida ao faminto e cobre o nu com roupas? ⁸ Que dizer do homem que não cobra juros altos pelo dinheiro emprestado e não ganha lucros exagerados com o que vende? Diz-se dele que este homem pratica a justiça e estabelece fidelidade entre as pessoas. ⁹ Se tal homem anda em Meus estatutos e guarda os Meus decretos para agir fielmente, então, a promessa para este homem reto é: Ele certamente viverá! — assim declara Yahweh Deus.

¹⁰ Porém, imagina que ele tenha um filho violento, que derrama sangue e pratica muitas dessas faltas aqui mencionadas, ¹¹ ainda que seu pai não o tenha feito, o filho come nos montes e profana a esposa do seu próximo.

¹² Este homem oprime o pobre e o necessitado, extorque, rouba, não devolve o penhor, levanta seus olhos aos ídolos e comete abominações, ¹³ empresta dinheiro com juros elevadíssimos e ganha lucro exagerado com aquilo que vende. Será que este homem deveria viver? É certo que não! Ele, certamente, morrerá e o seu sangue estará nele porque fez todas estas coisas detestáveis. Será culpado por sua própria morte.

¹⁴ Imagina que haja um homem que tenha um filho e o filho vê todos os pecados que o pai cometeu e, embora os veja, ele não os pratica. ¹⁵ Este filho não come nos montes, não ergue seus olhos aos ídolos da casa de Israel e não profana a esposa do seu próximo.

¹⁶ Este filho não oprime a ninguém, não pega penhor, nem toma coisas roubadas; pelo contrário, dá a sua comida ao faminto e cobre de roupas o nu. ¹⁷ Não retira do pobre a sua mão, não cobra juros que seja muito elevado, nem ganha muito lucro por um empréstimo, mas guarda os Meus decretos e anda de acordo com os Meus estatutos; este filho não morrerá pelo pecado do seu pai: certamente, viverá!

¹⁸ Seu pai, uma vez que oprimiu aos outros por extorsão, roubou o seu irmão e fez o que não é reto entre o seu povo — eis que ele morrerá na sua iniquidade.

¹⁹ Todavia, vós dizeis: 'Por que o filho não carrega a iniquidade do seu pai?'. Porque o filho pratica a justiça e a retidão e guarda todos os Meus estatutos; ele os põe em prática. Ele, certamente, viverá! ²⁰ Aquele que pecar é o que morrerá. Um filho não carregará a iniquidade do seu pai e o pai não carregará a iniquidade do seu filho. A retidão de quem age retamente, nele mesmo, estará; e a corrupção do mau estará nele mesmo.

²¹ Mas, se o corrupto se desviar de todos os pecados que praticou, guardar todos os Meus estatutos e praticar a justiça e a retidão, ele, certamente, viverá e não morrerá. ²² Todas as transgressões que ele cometeu não serão lembradas contra ele. Ele viverá pela retidão que pratica.

²³ Acaso, Eu Me regozijo na morte do corrupto — assim declara Yahweh Deus — e não em que ele se arrependa do seu mau caminho para que possa viver?

²⁴ Mas, se um homem justo se desviar da sua retidão, cometer iniquidade e praticar abominações, como todas as abominações que um corrupto comete, será que ele viverá? Toda a retidão que ele tiver praticado não será lembrada quando ele Me trair em sua transgressão. Portanto, morrerá nos pecados que ele cometeu.

²⁵ Mas vós dizeis: 'O caminho de Yahweh não é justo!'. Ouvi, casa de Israel! Será que os Meus caminhos são injustos? Não serão os vossos caminhos que são injustos? ²⁶ Quando o homem justo desviar-se da sua retidão e cometer iniquidade e morrer por causa dela, então, ele morrerá na iniquidade que ele tiver praticado.

²⁷ Mas, se um homem perverso se desviar da injustiça que tiver praticado e praticar justiça e retidão, então, preservará a sua vida. ²⁸ Porque ele viu e se desviou de todas as transgressões que fez. Ele, certamente, viverá e não morrerá.

²⁹ Mas a casa de Israel diz: 'O caminho de Yahweh não é justo!'. Por que o Meu caminho não é justo, casa de Israel? São os vossos caminhos que não são justos. ³⁰ Portanto, julgarei a cada um dentre vós de acordo com os seus caminhos, casa de Israel — assim declara Yahweh Deus. Arrependei-vos e vos desviai de todas as vossas transgressões, para que elas não sejam pedras de tropeço contra vós.

³¹ Tirai de vós todas as transgressões que cometestes; e tende um novo coração e um novo espírito. Por que devíeis morrer, casa de Israel? ³² Porque não tenho prazer na morte de ninguém — assim declara Yahweh Deus — então, arrependei-vos e vivei!".

Capítulo 19

¹ "Agora, pois, levantai uma lamentação contra os líderes de Israel ² e dizei: 'Quem foi a vossa mãe? Uma leoa entre os leões; no meio de leõezinhos, ela criou os seus filhotes. ³ Ela criou um dos seus filhotes para que se tornasse um leão forte, um leão que aprendeu a capturar as suas presas e, depois, se tornou devorador de homens. ⁴ As nações ouviram a respeito dele. Ele foi preso em uma armadilha e, com ganchos, o levaram para a terra de Egito.

⁵ Depois, ela viu que, embora tenha esperado pelo seu retorno, suas expectativas já estavam esgotadas, por isso, tomou outro dos seus filhotes e o criou para que se tornasse um leão forte. ⁶ Esse jovem leão vagava entre os leões. Era um leão jovem e aprendeu a apanhar as suas presas; ele devorava homens. ⁷ Ele prendia as suas viúvas e arruinava as suas cidades. A terra e a sua plenitude foram abandonadas por causa do soar do seu rugido.

⁸ Mas as nações vieram contra ele vindas das províncias vizinhas; espalharam seus laços sobre ele. Ele foi apanhado na sua armadilha. ⁹ Com ganchos, colocaram-no numa gaiola e o levaram ao rei da Babilônia. Levaram-no às fortalezas para que a sua voz não mais fosse ouvida nos montes de Israel.

¹⁰ Vossa mãe era como uma videira plantada no vosso sangue à borda da água. Era frutífera e cheia de ramos por causa da abundância de água. ¹¹ Tinha ramos fortes, que eram usados como cetros de governantes e o seu tamanho era exaltado sobre os ramos; sua altura foi vista pela grandeza da sua folhagem.

¹² Mas a videira foi desarraigada com fúria e deixada terra abaixo; um vento oriental fez secar os seus frutos. Seus ramos fortes foram quebrados e se secaram; foram consumidos pelo fogo. ¹³ Por isso, agora, está plantada no deserto, numa terra seca e sedenta.

¹⁴ Pois o fogo saiu dos seus ramos longos e consumiu os seus frutos. Não há nenhum ramo forte nela, nenhum cetro para governar'. Esta é a lamentação que será cantada como lamentação".

Capítulo 20

¹ Por volta do sétimo ano, no décimo dia do quinto mês, os anciãos de Israel vieram consultar Yahweh e se assentaram diante de mim.

² Então, veio a mim a palavra de Yahweh, dizendo: ³ "Filho do homem, declara aos anciãos de Israel, dizendo: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Viestes consultar-Me? Tão certo como Eu vivo, não serei consultado por vós! — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus'.

⁴ Tu irás julgá-los? Julgarás tu, filho do homem? Que eles saibam sobre as abominações de seus pais. ⁵ Dize-lhes: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: No dia em que Eu escolhi Israel e levantei a Minha mão para jurar aos descendentes da casa de Jacó e Me fiz conhecer na terra do Egito, quando Eu ergui Minha mão e jurei para eles, Eu disse: 'Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus' — ⁶ naquele dia, levantei a Minha mão para jurar que os tiraria da terra do Egito para uma terra que Eu, cuidadosamente, havia escolhido para eles, da qual flui leite e mel; foi o mais belo ornamento entre todas as terras.

⁷ Eu disse a eles: 'Que cada homem tire as coisas detestáveis que seduzem os seus olhos e também os ídolos do Egito. Não vos torneis imundos. Eu sou Yahweh, o vosso Deus'.

⁸ Mas eles se rebelaram contra Mim e relutaram em ouvir-Me. Cada homem não jogou fora as coisas detestáveis que seduzem os seus olhos, nem abandonou os ídolos do Egito. Então, Eu decidi derramar a Minha fúria para satisfazer a Minha ira contra eles, no meio da terra do Egito. ⁹ Agi por amor do Meu nome, para que não fosse profanado aos olhos das nações em que eles estavam. Fiz-Me conhecer a eles, aos seus olhos, tirando-os da terra do Egito.

¹⁰ Então, Eu os tirei da terra do Egito e os trouxe ao deserto. ¹¹ Ali, Eu lhes dei os Meus estatutos e lhes fiz conhecer os Meus decretos, pelos quais o homem viverá, se lhes obedecer. ¹² Também lhes dei os Meus sábados como um sinal entre Mim mesmo e eles, para que soubessem que Eu sou Yahweh, que os santifica.

¹³ Mas a casa de Israel se rebelou contra Mim no deserto. Não andaram nos Meus estatutos. Em vez disso, rejeitaram os Meus decretos, pelos quais o homem viverá, se lhes obedecer. Eles profanaram os Meus sábados. Então, Eu disse que derramaria sobre eles a Minha fúria, no deserto, para acabar com eles. ¹⁴ Eu agi por amor do Meu nome, para que não fosse profanado aos olhos das nações, diante das quais Eu os havia tirado do Egito.

¹⁵ Eu também levantei a Minha mão para jurar-lhes, no deserto, que não os traria para a terra que Eu ia lhes dar; uma terra de que flui leite e mel, que era o mais belo ornamento entre todas as terras. ¹⁶ Jurei isso porque rejeitaram os Meus decretos e não andaram nos Meus estatutos; profanaram os Meus sábados, já que seus corações seguiam seus ídolos. ¹⁷ Mas os Meus olhos se compadeceram deles por causa da sua destruição e não os aniquilei no deserto.

¹⁸ Eu disse a seus filhos e suas filhas no deserto: 'Não andeis conforme os estatutos de vossos pais; não guardeis os seus decretos, nem vos contamineis com seus ídolos. ¹⁹ Eu sou Yahweh, vosso Deus, andai nos Meus estatutos; guardai os Meus decretos e obedecei a eles. ²⁰ Guardai os Meus sábados santos, para que sejam um sinal entre Mim e vós, para que saibais que Eu sou Yahweh, o vosso Deus'.

²¹ Mas os seus filhos e suas filhas se rebelaram contra Mim. Não andaram nos Meus estatutos, nem guardaram os Meus decretos, segundo os quais o homem pode viver se lhes obedecer. Eles profanaram os Meus sábados. Então, Eu decidi derramar sobre eles a Minha fúria para satisfazer a Minha ira contra eles no deserto. ²² Mas Eu desviei a Minha mão e agi por amor do Meu nome, para que não fosse profanado aos olhos das nações que Me viram trazendo os israelitas.

²³ Eu também levantei a Minha mão para eles no deserto, para jurar que os espalharia entre as nações e os dispersaria entre as terras. ²⁴ Eu decidi fazer isso, pois eles não obedeceram aos Meus decretos, rejeitaram os Meus estatutos e profanaram os Meus sábados. Seus olhos desejavam os ídolos de seus pais.

²⁵ Então, também lhes dei estatutos que não eram bons e decretos pelos quais eles não poderiam viver. ²⁶ Eu os fiz impuros por suas ofertas, quando eles fizeram um sacrifício de cada primogênito no ventre e os puseram no fogo. Fiz isso para aterrorizá-los, para que eles saibam que Eu sou Yahweh!'.

²⁷ Portanto, filho do homem, anuncia isto à casa de Israel; dize-lhes: ‘Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Vossos pais Me blasfemaram, traindo-Me. E assim o fizeram: ²⁸ quando os trouxe para a terra que Eu levantei as mãos para lhes entregar, e, quando viram todos os altos montes e as árvores frondosas, ofereceram ali os seus sacrifícios e Me provocaram com as suas ofertas. Lá eles também queimaram incenso perfumado e derramaram ofertas de bebida. ²⁹ Então, Eu lhes disse: 'Que lugar alto é este, para onde ireis?'. Assim, é chamado de Bamá até hoje'.

³⁰ Portanto, dize à casa de Israel: ‘Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Por que vos contaminais com os caminhos de vossos pais? E por que vós agis como prostitutas, procurando por coisas repugnantes? ³¹ Pois, quando ofereceis as vossas ofertas e pondes vossos filhos no fogo, até o dia de hoje, vós vos tornais imundos com todos os vossos ídolos. Então, por que Eu deveria deixar que vós Me questioneis, casa de Israel? Assim como Eu vivo — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus — Eu não deixarei que vós Me questioneis. ³² O vosso pensamento jamais se tornará realidade. Vós dizeis: 'Sejamos como as outras nações, como os clãs das outras terras que adoram madeira e pedra'.

³³ Assim como Eu vivo — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus — certamente, reinarei sobre vós com mão poderosa, braço levantado e fúria que se derramará sobre vós. ³⁴ Eu vos tirarei dos outros povos e vos reunirei dentre os países aos quais fostes espalhados. Eu farei isto com mão poderosa e com fúria derramada. ³⁵ Então, Eu vos levarei ao deserto dos povos e, ali, vos julgarei face a face.

³⁶ Assim como julguei vossos pais no deserto da terra do Egito, assim também Eu vos julgarei — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus. ³⁷ Eu farei com que passeis debaixo da Minha vara e Eu vos farei obedecer às exigências da aliança. ³⁸ Purificarei dentre vós os rebeldes e os que se revoltam contra Mim. Eu os tirarei para a terra em que permanecerão como estrangeiros, mas eles não entrarão na terra de Israel. Então, sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh.

³⁹ Assim, a vós, casa de Israel, diz Yahweh Deus: Cada um de vós deve ir para os seus próprios ídolos. Adorai-os, se vos recusardes a ouvir a Mim, mas vós não deveis mais profanar o Meu santo nome com vossas ofertas e vossos ídolos.

⁴⁰ Pois, no Meu santo monte, no pico da montanha de Israel — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus —, toda a casa de Israel Me adorará. Eu estarei satisfeito em requerer as vossas ofertas e também os primeiros frutos do vosso tributo, com todas as vossas coisas santas, naquele lugar. ⁴¹ Eu vos aceitarei como incenso perfumado, quando Eu vos tirar dos povos e vos ajuntar fora dos países onde fostes espalhados. Eu Me mostrarei santo entre vós para que as nações vejam.

⁴² Então, quando Eu vos trouxer à terra de Israel, à terra que levantei a Minha mão para dar a vossos pais, vós sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh. ⁴³ Ali, vos lembrareis dos vossos maus caminhos e todas as vossas obras pelas quais vos tornastes imundos e vos odiareis aos vossos próprios olhos por todas as más ações que haveis cometido. ⁴⁴ Pois sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh quando vos faço isto por amor do Meu nome, não por vossos maus caminhos, nem por vossas ações corruptas, casa de Israel — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus".

⁴⁵ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ⁴⁶ "Filho do homem, volta o teu rosto para as terras do sul e fala contra o sul; profetiza contra a floresta do Neguebe. ⁴⁷ Diz à floresta do Neguebe: 'Esta é a declaração de Yahweh — assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eis que porei fogo entre vós. Consumirá toda árvore fresca e toda árvore seca entre vós. A chama de fogo não se apagará e toda a face do sul e do norte será queimada.

⁴⁸ Então, toda a carne verá que eu sou Yahweh, quando Eu acender o fogo e ele não se apagar'". ⁴⁹ Então, eu disse: "Ah! Yahweh Deus, eles estão dizendo de mim: 'Não é um mero narrador de parábolas?'".

Capítulo 21

¹ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, vira o teu rosto contra Jerusalém e fala contra os santuários; profetiza contra a terra de Israel. ³ Diz à terra de Israel: 'Assim diz Yahweh: Eis que estou contra vós! Tirarei a Minha espada da bainha e eliminarei de ti tanto o homem justo quanto o homem ímpio!

⁴ Para que Eu elimine de ti tanto o homem justo quanto o homem corrupto, a Minha espada sairá da bainha contra toda a carne desde o sul até ao norte. ⁵ Então, toda a carne saberá que Eu, Yahweh, tirei a Minha espada da bainha. Ela não mais recuará!'.

⁶ E tu, filho do homem, suspira até que os teus lombos se quebrem! ⁷ E, depois, eles te perguntarão: 'Por que razão estás suspirando?'. E tu lhes dirás: 'Por causa da notícia que está vindo, pois todo o coração desmaiará e toda a mão esmorecerá! Todo o espírito desmairá e todo o joelho se desfará em águas. Eis que está vindo e será assim! — declara Yahweh Deus".

⁸ Depois, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ⁹ "Filho do homem, profetiza e diz: 'Assim diz Yahweh: Diz: Uma espada! Uma espada! A espada será afiada e polida!

¹⁰ A espada será afiada para que faça uma grande chacina! Será polida para que seja como relâmpago! Deveríamos nos regozijar no cetro do Meu filho? A espada que vem odeia todo o madeiro como tal! ¹¹ Assim, a espada será dada para que seja polida, para depois ser agarrada pela mão! A espada é afiada, é polida e é dada à mão daquele que mata!'.

¹² Pede ajuda e lamenta, filho do homem! Pois aquela espada veio contra o Meu povo! Ela está contra todos os líderes de Israel. Eles são lançados contra a espada juntamente com o povo. Portanto, bate na tua coxa! ¹³ Porque há uma prova, mas, e se o cetro não perdurar? — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus.

¹⁴ Tu, porém, filho do homem, profetiza e bate as tuas mãos juntas, porque a espada atacará mesmo pela terceira vez! Uma espada para os que serão abatidos! É uma espada para que muitos sejam massacrados, atravessando-os por todo o lado!

¹⁵ Para que derretam os seus corações e se multiplique a sua queda, enviei a chacina da espada contra as suas portas! Ai! É feito como relâmpago, libera para o matadouro! ¹⁶ Tu, espada! Vira-te à direita! Vira-te à esquerda! Vai aonde quer que o teu rosto vire. ¹⁷ Pois também baterei as Minhas mãos e trarei descanso à Minha fúria! Eu, Yahweh, declaro isto!".

¹⁸ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, mais uma vez, dizendo: ¹⁹ "Agora tu, filho do homem, designa duas estradas à espada para o rei da Babilônia, que está a caminho. As duas estradas começarão na mesma terra e um marco indicará a uma delas como a que leva à cidade. ²⁰ Marca uma estrada ao exército da Babilônia para que venha a Rabá, a cidade dos amonitas. Marca a outra para que leve ao exército de Judá e à cidade de Jerusalém, que está fortificada.

²¹ Pois o rei da Babilônia parará numa encruzilhada, no cimo dos dois caminhos, para fazer adivinhação. Ele mexerá algumas flechas, consultará alguns ídolos e examinará as entranhas. ²² Na sua mão direita, será como uma adivinhação sobre Jerusalém, para bater com aríetes contra ela, para abrir a sua mão e ordenar a chacina, para soar um grito de guerra e para erguer os aríetes contra as portas, para edificar uma rampa e para erguer torres. ²³ Parecerá uma adivinhação inútil aos olhos dos que estão em Jerusalém, os que juraram em blasfêmia aos da Babilônia! Porém, ele se lembrará da iniquidade, para que sejam apanhados!

²⁴ Portanto, assim diz Yahweh Deus: Porque trazeis a vossa iniquidade à Minha memória, as vossas transgressões serão reveladas! Vossos pecados serão vistos em todas as vossas ações! Por esta razão, lembrareis a todos que sereis capturados pela mão do vosso inimigo!

²⁵ E vós, profanos e ímpios governantes de Israel, cujo dia de castigo chegou e cujo tempo de cometer iniquidade terminou, ²⁶ Yahweh Deus vos diz: Removei o turbante e tirai a coroa! As coisas não serão do mesmo jeito! Exaltai os humildes e humilhai os exaltados! ²⁷ Uma ruína! Uma ruína! Farei uma ruína! Ela não será restaurada até que venha aquele designado para executar o juízo.

²⁸ Assim, tu, filho do homem, profetiza e dize: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus ao povo de Amom em relação à desgraça que lhes sobrevirá: 'Uma espada, uma espada é desembainhada! É afiada para a chacina para que devore e será como relâmpago! ²⁹ Enquanto profetas veem visões ocas para vós, enquanto fazem rituais para vos trazerem mentiras, esta espada estará nos pescoços dos ímpios que estão para serem mortos, cujo dia do castigo veio e cujo tempo da iniquidade está para terminar.

³⁰ Devolvei a espada à sua bainha. Ao lugar da vossa criação, à terra da vossa origem, Eu vos julgarei! ³¹ Derramarei a Minha indignação sobre vós! Lançarei o fogo da Minha ira contra vós e Eu vos entregarei na mão de homens cruéis, gênios da destruição!

³² Vós vos tornareis combustível para o fogo! O vosso sangue estará no meio da terra. Não sereis lembrados, pois Eu, Yahweh, declarei isto!'".

Capítulo 22

¹ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Agora, filho do homem, irás tu julgar? Julgarás tu a cidade de sangue? Faze-lhe conhecer todas as suas abominações. ³ Tu deves dizer: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Esta é uma cidade que derrama sangue no meio de si mesma, para que venha o seu tempo; é uma cidade que faz ídolos, para tornar-se impura.

⁴ És culpada pelo sangue que derramaste e te tornaste impura pelos ídolos que fizeste. Pois fizeste chegar o teu dia e aproximaste o fim dos teus anos. Por isso, Eu te tornarei vergonha para as nações e zombaria à vista de toda a terra. ⁵ Ambos os que estão perto como aqueles que estão longe, zombarão de ti, tu, cidade imunda, com a reputação conhecida em todos os lugares como sendo cheia de confusão.

⁶ Vê! Os príncipes de Israel, cada um, pelo seu próprio poder, vieram a ti para derramar sangue. ⁷ Eles desonraram pais e mães dentro de ti e oprimiram os estrangeiros em seu meio. Eles maltrataram os órfãos e as viúvas dentro de ti. ⁸ Desprezaste as Minhas coisas santas e profanaste os Meus sábados. ⁹ Homens caluniosos vieram ao meio de ti para derramar sangue e eles comem nos montes. Eles praticam maldade no meio de ti.

¹⁰ A nudez de um pai é revelada em ti. Eles abusaram da mulher impura no meio de ti durante a impureza dela. ¹¹ Homens que cometem abominações com as esposas dos seus próximos e homens que tornam vergonhosamente impuras suas próprias noras; homens que abusam das suas próprias irmãs — filhas dos seus próprios pais — todos estes estão entre vós. ¹² Estes homens aceitam subornos entre vós para derramar sangue. Ganhastes e obtivestes lucro exagerado, danificastes vosso próximo por meio da opressão e vos esquecestes de Mim — declara Yahweh Deus.

¹³ Vê! Com a Minha mão, Eu ataquei o ganho desonesto que tu fizeste e o derramamento de sangue que está em teu meio. ¹⁴ Teu coração ficará de pé? Tuas mãos serão fortes nos dias em que Eu mesmo lidarei contigo? Eu, Yahweh, estou declarando isto e Eu vou fazer isto. ¹⁵ Assim, te espalharei entre as nações e te dispersarei pelas terras. Desta maneira, Eu purificarei a tua imundície. ¹⁶ Assim, tu te tornarás imunda aos olhos da nação. Então, tu saberás que Eu sou Yahweh'".

¹⁷ Depois, veio a mim a palavra de Yahweh, dizendo: ¹⁸ "Filho do homem, a casa de Israel tornou-se escória para Mim. Todos eles são os restos de bronze e estanho; ferro e chumbo no meio de ti. Serão como a escória de prata na tua fornalha. ¹⁹ Por isso, assim declara Yahweh Deus: 'Pois todos vós vos tornastes como escória. Eis que estou prestes a vos reunir no centro de Jerusalém.

²⁰ Assim como uma coleção de prata, bronze, ferro, chumbo e estanho no meio do forno deve ter fogo soprado contra ela, Eu vou vos derreter. Assim, Eu vos reunirei em Minha ira e fúria. Irei vos colocar lá e soprar o fogo para derretê-la, por isso, irei vos reunir na Minha raiva e na minha ira; lá, Eu vos lançarei fora. ²¹ Assim, Eu vos reunirei e soprarei com o fogo da Minha ira, de modo que sereis derramados no meio dela. ²² Como prata fundida no meio de uma fornalha, eis que vos derretereis no meio dela e sabereis que Eu, Yahweh, derramei a Minha fúria contra vós!'".

²³ Veio a mim a palavra de Yahweh, dizendo: ²⁴ "Filho do homem, dize-lhe: 'És uma terra que não foi purificada. Não há chuva no dia da ira! ²⁵ Há uma conspiração de seus profetas no meio dela, como um leão rugindo rasgando uma vítima. Eles consomem vidas e tomam riquezas preciosas; fazem muitas viúvas dentro dela!

²⁶ Os seus sacerdotes violam a Minha lei e profanam as Minhas coisas santas. Eles não distinguem entre coisas santas e coisas profanas e não ensinam a diferença entre o imundo e o puro. Eles escondem os seus olhos dos Meus sábados para que Eu seja profanado em seu meio. ²⁷ Seus príncipes dentro dela são como lobos que rasgam suas vítimas. Eles derramam sangue e destroem a vida, para fazer lucro desonestamente. ²⁸ Os seus profetas nos pintaram com cal; eles veem falsas visões e predizem mentiras para eles. Dizem: 'Declara Yahweh Deus' sendo que Yahweh não falou.

²⁹ Então, as pessoas da terra oprimiram pela extorsão e arracam por meio de roubo e maltratam o pobre e o necessitado; oprimem o estrangeiro sem justiça.

³⁰ Assim, procurei por um homem entre eles que construísse uma parede e que estaria diante de Mim em sua brecha para a terra, para que Eu não a destruísse, mas a ninguém encontrei. ³¹ Então, derramarei sobre eles a Minha indignação. Eu os exterminarei com o fogo do Meu furor e fiz que o seu caminho recaísse à sua própria cabeça — declara Yahweh Deus'".

Capítulo 23

¹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, havia duas mulheres, filhas da mesma mãe. ³ Agiram como prostitutas no Egito durante a sua juventude. Lá, agiram como prostitutas. Os seus seios foram espremidos e seus mamilos virgens foram acariciados. ⁴ Seus nomes eram Oolá— a irmã mais velha — e Oolibá — sua irmã mais nova. Então, elas se tornaram Minhas e deram à luz filhos e filhas. Seus nomes significam: Oolá significa Samaria e Oolibá significa Jerusalém.

⁵ Mas Oolá agiu como uma prostituta mesmo sendo Minha; ela cobiçou seus amantes, os assírios que a dominavam, ⁶ o governador que vestia violeta, e os seus príncipes, que eram fortes e formosos, todos eles homens andando a cavalos. ⁷ Então, ela se entregou a eles como uma prostituta, a todos os melhores dos homens assírios e se tornou imunda com todo mundo que ela cobiçou — com todos seus ídolos.

⁸ Pois ela não tinha deixado o seu comportamento de prostituta no Egito, quando quiseram dormir com ela quando era uma menina, quando começaram a acariciar seus seios virgens, quando começaram a derramar seu comportamento promíscuo sobre ela. ⁹ Portanto, a entreguei na mão dos seus amantes, nas mãos dos assírios aos quais ela cobiçou. ¹⁰ Eles a despiram. Tomaram seus filhos e suas filhas e a mataram à espada; ela se tornou vergonhosa para outras mulheres, então, eles passaram o julgamento sobre ela.

¹¹ Sua irmã Oolibá viu isso, mas ela cobiçou ainda mais apaixonadamente e agiu como uma prostituta ainda mais que sua irmã. ¹² Ela cobiçou os assírios, os governantes e os príncipes dominantes, os quais se vestiam impressionantemente, eram homens montando cavalos. Todos eram fortes, homens formosos. ¹³ Vi que ela se tornou imunda. Foi o mesmo para as duas irmãs.

¹⁴ Então, ela aumentou a sua prostituição ainda mais. Ela viu homens esculpidos nos muros, imagens dos caldeus pintados de vermelho, ¹⁵ usando cintos em torno de sua cintura, com turbantes compridos nas suas cabeças. Todos tinham aparência de príncipes de carruagem, à semelhança dos filhos da Babilônia, naturais da Caldeia.

¹⁶ Assim que os viu, ela os cobiçou e enviou mensageiros para eles na Babilônia. ¹⁷ Então, os babilônios vieram a ela e para sua cama de cobiça e a tornaram imunda com a sua promiscuidade. Pelo que ela havia feito, ela se tornou imunda, então, ela se virou para longe deles em desgosto.

¹⁸ Ela exibiu seus atos de prostituição e mostrou o seu corpo nu, então, Eu me afastei dela, assim como Minha alma se afastou de sua irmã. ¹⁹ Então, ela cometeu muito mais atos da prostituição, enquanto trazia à mente e imitava os dias da sua juventude, quando se comportou como uma prostituta na terra do Egito.

²⁰ Então, ela cobiçou os seus amantes, cujas partes íntimas eram como as dos jumentos e cujas emissões reprodutivas eram como as dos cavalos. ²¹ É assim que cometeste atos vergonhosos de tua juventude, quando os egípcios acariciaram teus mamilos e apertaram teus seios jovens.

²² Portanto, à Oolibá, assim diz Yahweh Deus: 'Eis que colocarei teus amantes contra ti. Aqueles de quem tu te afastaste trarei contra ti de todos os lados: ²³ os babilônios, os caldeus de Pecode, Soá, Coa e todos os assírios com eles, homens fortes e formosos, governantes e comandantes, todos os príncipes e homens de reputação, todos eles montando a cavalos.

²⁴ Virão contra ti armados em carruagens, vagões, e com grande multidão de pessoas. Eles irão armar grandes escudos, pequenos escudos e capacetes contra ti por toda parte. Eu lhes darei oportunidade de te punir e eles te punirão com suas ações. ²⁵ Colocarei a Minha ira zelosa sobre ti e eles lidarão contigo em fúria. Eles cortão teus narizes, tuas orelhas e os teus sobreviventes cairão pela espada. Tomarão de ti teus filhos e tuas filhas, teus sobreviventes serão devorados pelo fogo.

²⁶ Eles tirarão suas roupas e todas as suas jóias. ²⁷ Então, removerei de ti teu comportamento vergonhoso e teus atos de prostituição da terra do Egito. Não erguerás teus olhos para eles com saudade, e não mais pensarás no Egito'.

²⁸ Pois assim declara Yahweh Deus: 'Eis que te entregarei à mão daqueles que tu odeias, de volta à mão daqueles de quem tinhas te afastado. ²⁹ Eles lidarão contigo com ódio; tomarão todas as tuas posses e te abandonarão despida e nua. A vergonha da nudez e da tua prostituição será revelada, seu comportamento vergonhoso e tua promiscuidade.

³⁰ Estas coisas serão feitas na tua ação como prostituta, cobiçando as nações pelas quais te tornaste imunda com os seus ídolos. ³¹ Andaste no caminho da tua irmã, por isso, entregarei o cálice de punição dela na tua mão'.

³² Assim declara Yahweh Deus: 'Beberás o cálice da tua irmã que é profundo e grande. Tu te tornarás motivo de riso e assunto para deboche — neste copo, cabe muita coisa.

³³ Serás cheia de embriaguez e tristeza, do cálice de horror e devastação; do cálice da tua irmã Samaria. ³⁴ Beberás e o deixarás vazio; então, irás quebrá-lo e rasgarás teus seios com os cacos. Pois Eu declarei isto — assim declara Yahweh Deus'.

³⁵ Portanto, assim declara Yahweh Deus: 'Porque tu te esqueceste de Mim e me lançaste atrás, nas tuas costas; então, também suportarás as consequências de teu comportamento vergonhoso e de teus atos de imoralidade sexual"'.

³⁶ Yahweh me disse: "Filho do homem, julgarás Oolá e Oolibá? Então, apresenta a elas as suas ações abomináveis, ³⁷ já que cometeram adultério e há sangue nas suas mãos. Cometeram adultério com seus ídolos e até colocaram seus filhos no fogo, como comida para seus ídolos.

³⁸ Então, elas continuam fazendo isto Comigo: Tornaram o Meu santuário imundo e, no mesmo dia, profanaram os Meus sábados. ³⁹ Pois, quando degolaram suas crianças para seus ídolos, no mesmo dia, vieram ao Meu santuário para profaná-lo! Então, eis que é isto que fizeram no seio da Minha casa.

⁴⁰ Enviaste homens que vieram de muito longe, a quem os mensageiros tinham sido enviados, agora, eis que eles realmente vieram, aqueles para quem banhaste, pintaste os teus olhos e te adornaste com jóias. ⁴¹ Sentaste numa cama bonita e numa mesa arranjada diante deles, onde tu colocaste o Meu incenso e o Meu óleo.

⁴² Assim, o som de uma multidão barulhenta estava ao seu redor; incluindo todo tipo de homens, até beberrões foram trazidos do deserto com homens de classe baixa e puseram nos teus braços braceletes e coroas bonitas nas tuas cabeças.

⁴³ Então, eu disse àquela que fora desgastada por adultério: 'Agora com ela serão sexualmente imorais, e ela com eles'. ⁴⁴ Eles chegaram e dormiram com ela, como homens fazem com uma prostituta. Dessa forma, dormiram com Oolá e Oolibá, que eram mulheres imorais. ⁴⁵ Mas homens justos julgarão e as punirão como adúlteras e as castigarão com a sentença para os que derramaram sangue, porque são adúlteras e o sangue está em suas mãos.

⁴⁶ Então, assim declara Yahweh Deus: Levantarei uma multidão contra elas e as entregarei para serem aterrorizadas e saqueadas. ⁴⁷ Então, aquela multidão as apedrejará com pedras e com suas espadas as cortará. Eles matarão seus filhos e suas filhas, também queimarão as suas casas.

⁴⁸ Então, removerei o comportamento vergonhoso da terra e disciplinarei todas as mulheres para que não mais ajam como prostitutas. ⁴⁹ Então, colocarão o teu comportamento vergonhoso contra ti. Suportareis a culpa de teus pecados com teus ídolos e, assim, sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh Deus".

Capítulo 24

¹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim no nono ano, no décimo mês e ao décimo dia do mês, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, registra a data de hoje, porque exatamente neste dia o rei da Babilônia sitiou Jerusalém.

³ Fala uma parábola contra esta casa rebelde. Dize-lhe: 'Assim declara Yahweh Deus: 'Põe uma panela no fogo e coloca água nela. ⁴ põe pedaços de carne nela, todos os bons pedaços, as pernas e as espáduas; enche-a com os melhores ossos. ⁵ Toma o melhor do rebanho e ajunta um monte de lenha debaixo da panela de ossos, ferve bem a carne e cozinha os ossos nela.

⁶ Portanto, assim declara Yahweh Deus: Ai da cidade sanguinária, da panela, que está enferrujada por dentro e cuja ferrugem não vai sair dela. Tira a carne dela pedaço a pedaço, mas não lança sorte sobre ela.

⁷ Pois o seu sangue está no meio dela. Ela o derramou sobre uma rocha nua; não a derramou na terra para tapá-la com poeira, ⁸ para aumentar a Minha ira e Me vingar. Derramei o seu sangue na rocha nua para que não fosse coberto.

⁹ Portanto, assim declara Yahweh Deus: Ai da cidade sanguinária. Eu também aumentarei a fogueira. ¹⁰ Amontoa a lenha e acende o fogo. Cozinha bem a carne e mistura com especearias; deixa que os ossos se queimem.

¹¹ Depois, coloca a panela vazia sobre as brasas, para que aqueça e arda o seu bronze, para que a sua imundície seja derretida e a sua ferrugem consumida'. ¹² Ela se tornou exausta pelo trabalho, pois sua espessa ferrugem não saiu mesmo com fogo.

¹³ Teu comportamento vergonhoso está na tua imundície, porque quis purificarte, mas ainda não te tornaste pura. Tu ainda não estarás livre da tua imundície até que a Minha ira se retire de ti.

¹⁴ Eu, Yahweh, declarei isso e assim farei. Não voltarei atrás, nem Me arrependerei. Assim como foram os teus caminhos e as tuas práticas, eles te julgarão! — assim declara Yahweh Deus".

¹⁵ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ¹⁶ "Filho do homem! Eis que estou tirando o desejo dos teus olhos com um golpe, mas não deves lamentar nem chorar e não se derramem as tuas lágrimas. ¹⁷ Deve gemer silenciosamente. Não faças uma lamentação pelos mortos. Amarra o teu turbante em ti e calça as tuas sandálias nos teus pés, mas não cubras os cabelos do teu rosto com véu e não comas do pão dos homens que choram por terem perdido as suas esposas".

¹⁸ Então, falei ao povo pela manhã e a minha esposa morreu à noite. E, na manhã seguinte, fiz o que me havia sido ordenado fazer.

¹⁹ O povo me perguntou: "Não dirás a nós o que isto significa, estas coisas que estás fazendo?". ²⁰ Eu lhes disse: "A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ²¹ 'Dize à casa de Israel, assim declara Yahweh Deus: Eis que profanarei o Meu santuário — o orgulho do vosso poder, o deleite dos vossos olhos e o anelo da vossa alma; e os vossos filhos e as vossas filhas a quem deixastes para trás, cairão pela espada.

²² Fareis exatamente como eu fiz: não cobrireis os cabelos do vosso rosto com véu, nem comereis do pão dos homens que lamentam! ²³ Em vez disso, vossos turbantes estarão em vossas cabeças e as vossas sandálias nos vossos pés; não lamentareis, nem chorareis, pois definhareis nas vossas iniquidades e cada homem gemerá pelo seu irmão. ²⁴ Assim, Ezequiel vos será um sinal, uma vez que tudo que ele fez, fareis também vós quando isto vier. Então, sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh Deus!'".

²⁵ "Tu, porém, filho do homem, no dia em que Eu lhes tirar o seu templo, que é a sua alegria, o seu orgulho, e o prazer de seus olhos, e o desejo do seu coração — e, quando Eu lhes tirar seus filhos e suas filhas — ²⁶ naquele dia, um sobrevivente virá a vós para vos dar as notícias! ²⁷ Naquele dia, a vossa boca se abrirá para com aquele sobrevivente e falarás — não mais estareis em silêncio. Sereis um sinal para eles para que saibam que Eu sou Yahweh".

Capítulo 25

¹ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, vira teu rosto contra o povo de Amom e profetiza contra eles.

³ Dize ao povo de Amom: 'Amonitas, ouvi a palavra de Yahweh Deus. Isto é o que Yahweh Deus diz: Porque dissestes, 'Bem feito!' contra o Meu santuário, quando foi profanado, contra a terra de Israel quando foi desolada e contra a casa de Judá quando foi ao exílio; ⁴ por isso, entregar-vos-ei como propriedade ao povo do oriente. Eles se estabelecerão em vossos acampamentos, morarão no meio de vós, comerão vossos frutos e beberão vosso leite. ⁵ Farei de Rabá pasto para camelos e, dos amonitas, campos para rebanhos. Então, sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh.

⁶ Assim declara Yahweh Deus: Tu bateste palmas, sapateaste os teus pés e alegraste de contentamento no teu íntimo contra a terra de Israel. ⁷ Por isso, eis que te derrubarei com Minha mão, Eu te darei por despojo às nações. Cortarei a ti dentre os povos e te farei perecer em meio dos países. Destruirei a ti e tu saberás que sou Yahweh'.

⁸ Assim declara Yahweh Deus: 'Porque Moabe e Seir dizem: 'Eis que a casa de Judá é como qualquer outra nação'. ⁹ Por isso, eis que abrirei a encosta de Moabe, começando nas fonteiras de suas cidades, desde a glória da terra de Bete-Jesimote, Baal-Meom e Quiriataim. ¹⁰ Ao povo do oriente que estava contra o povo de Amom, Eu vos darei como propriedade, de modo que os amonitas não serão lembrados entre as nações. ¹¹ Então, Eu executarei juízos contra Moabe e saberão que Eu Sou Yahweh'.

¹² Assim declara Yahweh Deus: 'Edom se vingou da casa de Judá e cometeu erro fazendo isto. ¹³ Por isso, assim declara Yahweh Deus: Destruirei Edom com Minha mão e destruirei todas pessoas e animais de lá. Farei deles uma ruína, lugar abandonado, desde Temã até Dedã cairão pela espada.

¹⁴ Exercerei a Minha vingança em Edom, pela mão do Meu povo Israel e eles farão com Edom de acordo com Minha ira e fúria; conhecerão a Minha vingança — assim declara Yahweh Deus'.

¹⁵ Assim declara Yahweh Deus: 'Os filisteus tomaram vingança com despeito e, em seu íntimo, tentaram destruir Judá de novo e de novo. ¹⁶ Então, isto é o que diz Yahweh Deus: Eis que estenderei a Minha mão contra os filisteus, eliminarei os quereteus e destruirei todo o restante deles que está no litoral. ¹⁷ Porque tomarei grande vingança contra eles com fúria de destruição. Então, saberão que Eu Sou Yahweh, quando Me vingar deles'".

Capítulo 26

¹ No décimo primeiro ano, no primeiro dia do mês, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, visto que Tiro falou contra Jerusalém: 'Ah! A porta do povo está destruída! Ela está destruída. Eu vou me enriquecer porque ela está arruinada'.

³ Por isso, assim declara Yahweh Deus: 'Eu estou contra ti, Tiro, e levantarei contra ti muitas nações, como se levanta uma tempestade no mar. ⁴ Eles destruirão os muros de Tiro, derrubarão as suas torres. Eu varrerei o seu pó e farei dela uma rocha nua.

⁵ Ela será um enxugadouro de redes no meio do mar, pois assim declarei — assim declara Yahweh Deus — e ela servirá de despojo para as nações. ⁶ Suas filhas que estão nos campos serão mortas com a espada e elas saberão que Eu sou Yahweh'.

⁷ Pois assim diz Yahweh: Eis que, do norte, trago Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, rei dos reis, contra Tiro; com cavalos, carros, cavaleiros e grande multidão. ⁸ Ele matará tuas filhas nos campos, cercará tua cidade, construirá uma rampa contra teus muros e levantará escudos contra ti.

⁹ Ele porá os seus aríetes contra os teus murros e, com seus instrumentos, destruirá as tuas torres. ¹⁰ Seus cavalos serão muitos, de modo que o pó deles te cobrirá. Os teus muros serão abalados pelo estrondo dos cavaleiros, das carruagenss e dos carros. Quando ele entrar nos teus portões, entrará como um homem que entra numa cidade com muros derrubados. ¹¹ Com os cascos de seus cavalos, pisará todas as tuas ruas. Ele matará teu povo à espada e as tuas colunas fortes cairão por terra.

¹² Eles saquearão todas as tuas riquezas e mercadorias; destruirão todos os teus muros e tuas casas luxuosas. Tuas pedras, tua madeira e teu cascalho serão lançados nas águas. ¹³ Eu silenciarei o ruído das tuas músicas, de modo que a tua harpa não será ouvida mais. ¹⁴ Farei de ti uma rocha nua e tu te tornarás como um enxugadouro de redes. Não serás construída novamente, porque Eu, Yahweh Deus, falei — assim declara Yahweh Deus.

¹⁵ Assim declara Yahweh Deus para Tiro: 'Não estremecerão as ilhas com o estrondo da tua destruição e com os lamentos dos feridos quando a grande destruição estiver no vosso meio? ¹⁶ Então, todos os príncipes do mar descerão dos seus tronos, tirarão os seus mantos e despirão suas vestes bordadas. Eles se vestirão com roupas de tremor, assentar-se-ão no chão, estremecerão sem parar e ficarão apavorados por vossa causa.

¹⁷ Eles levantarão um lamento contra ti e dirão: Como tu, que eras povoada por mercadores, foste destruída. A famosa cidade, que era muito poderosa — desapareceu do mar. Teus moradores espalharam um terror sobre si mesmos e sobre todos que moravam perto deles. ¹⁸ Agora, o litoral estremece no dia da tua queda. As ilhas no mar estão aterrorizadas, porque tu morreste'.

¹⁹ Porque, assim declara Yahweh Deus: Quando Eu fizer de ti uma cidade isolada, como outras cidades desabitadas, quando levantar os abismos contra ti e, quando as vastas águas te cobrirem, ²⁰ então, Eu te abaterei como o povo antigo, como aqueles já lançados na cova, porque te farei habitar nas mais baixas partes da terra como as ruínas dos tempos antigos. Por causa disso, tu não retornarás nem retomarás teu lugar na terra dos vivos. ²¹ Eu colocarei sobre ti o desastre e já não mais serás. Então, serás procurada, mas não serás achada nunca mais — assim declara Yahweh Deus".

Capítulo 27

¹ Novamente veio a palavra de Yahweh a mim, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, começa uma lamentação sobre Tiro, ³ e dize a Tiro, aquele que vive na entrada do mar, que negocia com povos de muitas ilhas, assim te diz Yahweh Deus: Tiro, tu dizes: 'Sou perfeita em formosura'.

⁴ Tuas fronteiras estão no coração dos mares; os que te construíram aperfeiçoaram a tua beleza. ⁵ Fizeram todas as tuas tábuas com cipreste do monte Hermon; buscaram cedro do Líbano para fazer um mastro para ti.

⁶ Os teus remos eram feitos com os carvalhos de Basã; os teus bancos de madeira de cipreste do Chipre, e eram cobertos com marfim. ⁷ Tuas velas eram de linho colorido vindas do Egito, que serviam como tua bandeira; de azul e púrpura das ilhas do Egito eram os teus toldos!

⁸ Aqueles que vivem em Sidom e Arvade eram teus remadores; os peritos de Tiro, que estavam no meio de ti, eram teus pilotos. ⁹ Os artesãos experientes de Gebal eram os calafetadores de tuas fendas; e seus marinheiros no teu meio negociavam por ti.

¹⁰ Persas, lídios e os da Líbia eram parte de teu exército, teus homens de guerra. Eles penduraram seus escudos e capacetes junto com os teus, aumentando teu esplendor. ¹¹ Os homens de Arvade e Heleque, no teu exército, estavam sobre os teus muros ao teu redor, e os gamaditas nas tuas torres. Eles penduravam seus escudos nos teus muros, à tua volta, completando a tua beleza.

¹² Társis era teu parceiro de comércio, por causa da tua abundante riqueza em mercadoria: prata, ferro, estanho e chumbo. Eles compravam e vendiam as tuas mercadorias! ¹³ Javã, Tubal e Meseque comercializavam escravos e artigos feitos de bronze. Eles negociavam tuas mercadorias.

¹⁴ Togarma negociava cavalos, garanhões e mulas pelas tuas mercadorias. ¹⁵ Os homens de Rodes eram teus mercadores e muitas ilhas teus fregueses. Eles traziam, em retorno, chifres de marfim e ébano como tributo!

¹⁶ A Síria negociava muitos de teus produtos e eles trocavam por esmeraldas, púrpura, tecidos coloridos, panos finos, pérolas e rubis, como mercadoria. ¹⁷ Judá e a terra de Israel trocavam mercadorias contigo. Davam em troca: trigo de Minite, bolos, mel, óleo e bálsamo. ¹⁸ Damasco comercializava todos teus produtos, por causa de tua grande riqueza e davam em troca vinho de Helbom e lã do Zahar.

¹⁹ Dã e Javã de Uzal trocavam mercadorias de ferro trabalhado, canela e cálamo. ²⁰ Dedã era teu negociador de cobertores de sela. ²¹ A Arábia e todos os chefes de Quedar eram mercadores contigo e negociavam cordeiros, carneiros e bodes.

²² Os comerciantes de Sebá e Raamá vinham vender as melhores especiarias e todo tipo de jóias preciosas; negociavam ouro pelas tuas mercadorias. ²³ Harã, Cané e Éden negociavam contigo, junto com Sebá, Assur e Quilmade.

²⁴ Estes eram teus mercadores em mantos finos, em tecidos violeta feitos à mão, cobertores coloridos, bordados e tapetes feitos de cordões trançados. ²⁵ Os navios de Társis transportavam as mercadorias! Tu estavas cheia, com carga pesada no coração dos mares!

²⁶ Os teus remadores te conduziram até grandes mares; e o vento oriental te quebrou no meio deles. ²⁷ Tuas riquezas, mercadorias e teu comércio; teus marinheiros, pilotos e fazedores de navios; teus fregueses e todos os homens de guerra contigo; toda a tua equipe de navio — eles afundarão até as profundezas do mar, no dia da tua destruição.

²⁸ As cidades dos mares tremerão ao som dos gritos de teus pilotos; ²⁹ todos teus remadores descerão dos navios; marinheiros e todos os pilotos no mar ficarão em terra. ³⁰ Então, eles te farão ouvir as suas vozes e irão prantear amargamente; lançarão o pó sobre as suas cabeças e se revolverão nas cinzas.

³¹ Eles raparão suas cabeças por ti; eles se amarrarão com pano de saco, chorarão amargamente por ti e gritarão. ³² Eles se lamentarão por ti e cantarão seu luto, dizendo: quem é como Tiro, que foi reduzido ao silêncio no meio do mar? ³³ Quando as tuas mercadorias chegavam nos portos, satisfaziam a muitos povos; pois enriquecia os reis da terra com tuas riquezas e mercadorias!

³⁴ Mas, quando foste quebrantada pelos mares, pelas águas profundas, tua mercadoria e toda a tua equipe afundaram! ³⁵ Todos os habitantes da costa ficaram chocados por tua causa e os reis estremeceram horrorizados! Seus rostos tremiam! ³⁶ Os comerciantes dos povos zombam de ti; pois te tornaste um horror e deixarás de existir para sempre".

Capítulo 28

¹ E veio a mim a palavra de Yahweh, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, dize ao rei de Tiro, 'assim declara Yahweh Deus: O teu coração é arrogante, pois disseste: 'Eu sou deus! Eu me assentarei no trono dos deuses no meio dos mares!'. Mesmo sendo homem e não deus, em teu coração, consideras a ti como deus. ³ Tu pensas que és mais sábio que Daniel e que não há mistério algum que te supreenda!

⁴ Enriqueceste com sabedoria e habilidade, adquiriste ouro e prata nos teus tesouros! ⁵ Pela grande sabedoria e por teu comércio, multiplicaste as tuas riquezas, por isso o teu coração é arrogante por causa da tua riqueza.

⁶ Portanto, assim declara Yahweh Deus: porque igualaste o teu coração a de um deus, ⁷ trarei estrangeiros contra ti, homens terríveis dentre outras nações. Eles trarão as suas espadas contra a beleza da tua sabedoria e zombarão do teu esplendor.

⁸ Eles te farão cair na cova e morrerás como aqueles que morrem no coração do mar. ⁹ Verdadeiramente, dirás: 'Eu sou um deus' para aqueles que te matam? Tu és homem e não Deus e estarás nas mãos daquele que te perfura. ¹⁰ Morrerás como um incircunciso pelas mãos dos estranhos — pois Eu assim declaro — assim declara Yahweh Deus”.

¹¹ Mais uma vez, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ¹² “Filho do homem, levanta uma lamentação sobre o rei de Tiro e dize para ele: 'Assim declara Yahweh Deus: Tu eras o modelo da perfeição, cheio de sabedoria e perfeito em formosura. ¹³ Estavas no Éden, o jardim de Deus. Toda pedra preciosa te cobria: rubi, topázio, esmeralda, crisólito, ônix, jaspe, safira, turquesa e berilo. Suas guarnições e montagens eram feitas de ouro e foram preparados no dia em que foste criado.

¹⁴ Eu te coloquei no monte santo de Deus como querubim ungido para guardar a humanidade. Estavas no meio de pedras brilhantes e nelas andavas. ¹⁵ Eras íntegro em teus caminhos, desde o dia em que foste criado até que se achou injustiça em ti.

¹⁶ Por meio da grandeza do teu comércio, tu te encheste de violência e pecaste. Portanto, Eu te expulsei do monte de Deus, como um que se contaminou e te destruí, querubim da guarda, e te expulsei do meio das pedras brilhantes. ¹⁷ Teu coração foi arrogante por causa da tua formosura; arruinaste a tua sabedoria por causa do teu esplendor. Eu te lancei por terra. Eu te coloquei diante dos reis para que possam te ver.

¹⁸ Por causa dos teus muitos pecados e desonestidade no comércio, profanaste os teus santuários. Por causa disso, fiz sair fogo de ti; que te consumirá. Eu te tornarei cinza na terra à vista de todos. ¹⁹ Todos os que te conhecem se espantarão; ficarão chocados e tu não mais existirás'".

²⁰ Então, veio a mim a palavra de Yahweh, dizendo: ²¹ “Filho do homem, profetiza contra Sidom. ²² Dize-lhe: 'assim declara Yahweh Deus: Eis que Eu sou contra ti, Sidom! Para que Eu seja glorificado no meio de ti e teu povo saiba que Eu sou Yahweh, quando executar justiça e demonstrar a Minha santidade no meio de ti.

²³ Enviarei sobre ti uma praga, sangue em tuas ruas e os mortos cairão no meio de ti. Quando a espada vier contra ti por todos os lados, saberás que Eu sou Yahweh. ²⁴ Então, não haverá mais espinhos pontiagudos e abrolhos que causem dor à casa de Israel entre os povos que a rodeiam e a desprezam; e saberão que Eu sou Yahweh Deus!'.

²⁵ Assim declara Yahweh Deus: 'Quando Eu juntar a casa de Israel dentre os povos nos quais foram espalhados e, quando Me santificar no meio deles, diante das nações, eles edificarão as suas casas na terra que darei ao Meu servo Jacó. ²⁶ Então, habitarão seguros nela e edificarão casas, plantarão vinhas e viverão seguros quando Eu executar a justiça em todos aqueles ao seu redor que a desprezaram; e eles saberão que Eu sou Yahweh, o seu Deus!'".

Capítulo 29

¹ No décimo ano, no décimo mês, no dia doze, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, dirige o teu rosto contra Faraó, o rei do Egito; profetiza contra ele e contra todo o Egito, ³ dizendo: 'assim declara Yahweh Deus: Vê, estou contra ti, Faraó, rei do Egito. Tu, grande monstro, que vives no meio do rio, que dizes: 'o meu rio é somente para mim, eu o fiz para mim mesmo'.

⁴ Mas Eu colocarei anzóis no teu queixo e o peixe do teu Nilo pegará nas tuas escamas; Eu te tirarei do meio do teu rio, juntamente com todos os peixes que pegaram nas tuas escamas. ⁵ Eu te lançarei para um lugar selvagem, tu e todos os peixes do teu rio. Tu cairás na terra vazia; não será recolhido ou levantado. Entregar-te-ei como alimento para animais da terra e para as aves dos céus.

⁶ Então, todos os moradores do Egito saberão que Eu sou Yahweh, porque eles têm sido um bordão de cana para a casa de Israel. ⁷ Quando eles te tomaram nas mãos, tu te quebraste e rasgaste os ombros deles; e, quando eles encostaram em ti, tu foste quebrado, mas fizeste as pernas deles ficarem instáveis.

⁸ Portanto, assim declara Yahweh Deus: Vê! Eu trarei a espada contra ti. Eliminarei de ti tanto homem como animal. ⁹ E a terra do Egito se tornará vazia e em ruína. E eles saberão que Eu Sou Yahweh, porque o monstro do mar havia falado: 'O rio é meu, porque eu o fiz'. ¹⁰ Portanto, vê! Estou contra ti e o teu rio e entregarei a terra do Egito para desolação e perda, e se tornará um deserto, desde Migdol até Sevene e as fronteiras da Etiópia.

¹¹ Nenhum pé de homem passará por ela e nem pé de animal passará por ela. Não será habitada durante quarenta anos. ¹² Porque Eu tornarei a terra do Egito em desolação no meio das terras não habitadas e as suas cidades serão desoladas por quarenta anos no meio das cidades arruinadas; e espalharei os egípcios entre as nações e os dispersarei pelas terras.

¹³ Porque assim declara Yahweh Deus: No fim de quarenta anos, juntarei o Egito no meio dos povos entre os quais fora espalhado. ¹⁴ Eu restaurarei as fortunas do Egito e os trarei de volta para a região de Patros, para suas terras de origem. E, ali, serão um reino humilde.

¹⁵ Será o mais humilde entre os reinos e não será mais levantado entre as nações. Eu os diminuirei para que não mais governem sobre as nações. ¹⁶ Os egípcios não terão mais a confiança da casa de Israel. Ao invés disso, eles serão uma lembrança da iniquidade que Israel cometeu quando olhou para o Egito à procura de socorro. E eles saberão que Eu sou Yahweh Deus'".

¹⁷ Isso aconteceu no ano vinte e sete, no primeiro dia do primeiro mês, quando a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ¹⁸ "Filho do homem, Nabucodonosor, o rei da Babilônia, enviou o seu exército num trabalho duro contra Tiro. Toda cabeça se gastou até ficar calva e todo ombro esfolou a pele. Ele e o seu exército não tiveram nenhum benefício pelo trabalho árduo que fizeram contra Tiro.

¹⁹ Portanto, assim diz Yahweh Deus: 'Vê! Darei a terra do Egito a Nabucodonosor, o rei da Babilônia, e ele tirará a sua riqueza, roubará suas possessões, e levará tudo o que ele encontrar ali; essa será a recompensa para seu exército. ²⁰ Eu lhe dei a terra do Egito como a recompensa do trabalho que ele prestou para Mim — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus.

²¹ Neste dia, Eu farei brotar um chifre da casa de Israel; Eu farei com que tu fales no meio deles e eles saberão que sou Yahweh'".

Capítulo 30

¹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo, ² "Filho do homem, profetiza e diz, 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Lamentai, 'Maldito é o dia que está por vir'. ³ O dia está perto sim, o dia de Yahweh. Será um dia de nuvens, uma hora de julgamento das nações.

⁴ Depois uma espada virá contra o Egito e haverá angústia na Etiópia quando os mortos cairem no Egito, quando eles levarem a sua riqueza, e quando as suas fundações forem destruídas. ⁵ Etiópia, Líbia, Lídia e todos os estrangeiros, junto com o povo pertecente à aliança, todos cairão pela espada.

⁶ Assim diz Yahweh: Os que apoiam o Egito cairão e o orgulho da sua força cairá. Desde Migdol até Sevene seus exércitos cairão pela espada — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus. ⁷ Eles serão desolados no meio das terras abandonadas e as suas cidades estarão entre as cidades aruinadas.

⁸ E eles saberão que Eu sou Yahweh, quando Eu puser fogo no Egito e quando os que a ajudavam forem destruidos. ⁹ Neste dia, enviarei mensageiros em navios para aterrorizar a segurança da Etiópia e haverá angústia entre eles no dia do juízo do Egito. Eis que está vindo.

¹⁰ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eu darei fim às multidões do Egito pela mão de Nabucodonosor, o rei da Babilônia. ¹¹ Ele, junto ao seu exército, o terror das nações, serão trazidos para destruir a terra; eles desembainharão as suas espadas contra o Egito e encherão a terra de mortos.

¹² Eu secarei os rios e venderei a terra para o homem mau. Eu farei a terra e a sua plenitude desolada pela mão de estranhos — Eu, Yahweh, falei.

¹³ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Destruirei os ídolos e cessarei as imagens do ídolo de Mênfis. Não haverá mais um príncipe na terra do Egito e Eu trarei terror ao meio dela. ¹⁴ E assolarei a Patros, colocarei fogo em Zoã e executarei atos de juízo em Nô.

¹⁵ Pois Eu derramarei o Meu furor sobre Pelúsio, a fortaleza do Egito, eliminarei a multidão de Tebas. ¹⁶ E colocarei fogo no Egito; Pelúsio estará em grande angústia, Tebas será destruída e Mênfis terá inimigos todos os dias.

¹⁷ Os jovens no Áven e Pi-Besete cairão à espada e suas cidades cairão em cativeiro. ¹⁸ Em Táfnes, o dia escurecerá, quando ali Eu quebrar o jugo do Egito; e o orgulho do seu poder será eliminado. Uma nuvem a cobrirá e suas filhas serão levadas ao cativeiro. ¹⁹ Assim, executarei atos de juízo no Egito e eles saberão que Eu sou Yahweh"'.

²⁰ Então, no décimo primeiro ano, no primeiro mês, no sétimo dia do mês, a palavra do Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ²¹ "Filho do homem, Eu quebrei o braço do Faraó, o rei do Egito. Vê! Não foi atado e nem foram colocadas curativos para sarar, para tornar-se forte e conseguir manejar a espada.

²² Portanto, assim diz Yaweh Deus: 'Eis que Eu estou contra o Faraó, o rei do Egito. E Eu quebrarei os seus braços, tanto o forte quanto o quebrado e farei a espada cair da sua mão. ²³ Espalharei os egípcios no meio das nações e os dispersarei pelas terras. ²⁴ Fortalecerei os braços do rei da Babilônia e colocarei Minha espada na sua mão para destruir os braços do Faraó. Ele gemerá diante do rei da Babilônia como geme o que está morrendo.

²⁵ Eu fortificarei os braços do rei da Babilônia, mas os braços do Faraó cairão. E eles saberão que Eu sou Yahweh, quando puser a Minha espada na mão do rei da Babilônia; e ele atacará a terra do Egito com ela. ²⁶ Então, Eu espalharei os egípcios entre as nações e os dispersarei pelas terras. E eles saberão que Eu sou Yahweh'".

Capítulo 31

¹ Sucedeu acerca disto que, no décimo primeiro ano, no terceiro mês, no primeiro dia do mês, veio a mim a palavra de Yahweh, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, dize ao Faraó, o rei do Egito, e à multidão em sua volta: 'Quem é semelhante a ti em sua grandeza?

³ Eis que a Assíria era um cedro no Líbano, com ramos formosos, de sombrosa folhagem, de alta estatura, com seus ramos expessos. ⁴ Muitas águas o fizeram crescer; as profundezas das águas o fez crescer; rios corriam nesta área e os seus canais eram estendidos para todas árvores do campo.

⁵ Era mais alta que qualquer outras árvores do campo e se multiplicaram os seus ramos e as suas varas se alongaram por causa das muitas águas em suas raízes. ⁶ Todas as aves do céu se aninhavam nos seus ramos, todos os animais do campo davam cria debaixo das suas folhagens. E as nações se assentavam à sua sombra. ⁷ Era formosa na sua grandeza e na extensão dos seus ramos e, nas muitas águas, estavam as suas raízes.

⁸ Os cedros no jardim de Deus não se igualavam a ele. Nenhuma árvore de cipreste se assemelhava aos seus ramos, plátanos não se comparavam aos seus galhos. Não havia outra árvore no jardim de Deus como esta em sua formosura. ⁹ Eu o fiz formoso com a multidão de ramos; e todas árvores do Éden, que estavam no jardim de Deus, tiveram inveja dele.

¹⁰ Portanto, assim diz Yahweh Deus: Porque te elevaste em tua estatura, te levantaste no teu topo entre seus ramos e exaltaste teu coração por causa da tua altura. ¹¹ Eu te entreguei na mão da mais poderosa das nações, que te dará o tratamento merecido pela tua corrupção. Já te lançei fora.

¹² Estrangeiros, que eram terror de todas as nações, te cortaram e te deixaram morrer. Os teus ramos caíram sobre os montes e em todos os vales; os teus renovos foram quebrados por todas as correntes da terra. Então, todas as nações da Terra se retiraram debaixo das tuas sombras e te deixaram.

¹³ Todas as aves do céu pousavam no tronco da árvore caída e todos os animais do campo se vieram sobre os seus ramos. ¹⁴ Isso aconteceu para que nenhuma outra árvore que crescesse junto às águas, se exaltasse pelas suas folhagens ou por sua altura, para que nenhuma outra árvore que cresce junto às águas crescesse até o alto. Pois todas elas estão destinadas à morte abaixo da terra, no meio dos filhos dos homens, com os que descem à cova.

¹⁵ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: No dia em que o cedro desceu para o Sheol, Eu trouxe luto para a terra, cobrí as suas águas profundas e retive as águas do oceano. Retive as águas profundas e fiz aparecer luto para o Líbano, por causa dele. E todas as árvores do campo desfaleceram por causa dele.

¹⁶ Eu trouxe tremor para as nações ao som da sua queda, quando o fiz descer ao inferno, com aqueles que descem à cova. Eu consolei todas as árvores do Éden e o melhor do Líbano, todas as árvores que beberam as águas, dos lugares mais baixos da terra.

¹⁷ Pois elas também desceram com o cedro para o Sheol, para se unir aos que foram mortos pela espada. Estes foram seu braço forte, as nações que viviam às suas sombras. ¹⁸ Qual das árvores do Éden que era semelhante a ti em glória e em grandeza? Também tu serás derrubada com as árvores do Éden nas mais baixas partes da terra; no meio dos incircuncisos, morarás com aqueles que foram mortos pela espada'. Este é Faraó e toda sua multidão — essa é a declaração de Yahweh Deus".

Capítulo 32

¹ E sucedeu que, no décimo segundo ano, no décimo segundo mês, no primeiro dia do mês, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, levanta uma lamentação por Faraó, o rei do Egito; dize-lhe: 'Foste comparado a um filho de leão entre as nações, mas és como um monstro nos mares; feres e agitas as águas, sujando-as com teus pés.

³ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: 'Estenderei Minha rede sobre ti no ajuntamento de muitos povos e vão te recolher na Minha rede. ⁴ Vou te abandonar na terra e te lançar no campo, farei com que as aves do céus morem em ti; e os animais famintos da terra sejam saciados por ti.

⁵ E, porei tua carne sobre as montanhas e encherei os vales com a podridão do teu corpo. ⁶ Depois, derramarei teu sangue sobre os montes e as nascentes dos vales se encherão com teu próprio sangue.

⁷ Quando te destruir, cobrirei os céus e escurecerei tuas estrelas; cobrirei o sol com uma nuvem e a lua não resplandecerá sua luz. ⁸ Todas as estrelas brilhantes do céu escurecerei sobre ti e trarei trevas sobre tua terra — assim diz Yahweh Deus.

⁹ Afligirei o coração de muitos povos, de terras que não conheces, quando Eu causar tua destruição entre as nações. ¹ ¹⁰ E muitos povos ficarão perplexos por tua causa; seus reis tremerão de terror, quando Eu agitar Minha espada diante deles. A todo instante, um tremerá por causa de ti, no dia da tua queda.

¹¹ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: 'A espada do rei da Babilônia virá contra ti. ¹² Farei cair, pela espada dos valentes, a tua multidão, e cada valente aterrorizará as nações. Eles tirarão o orgulho do Egito e destruirão toda a sua multidão.

¹³ Destruirei todos os animais que estão junto às muitas águas; nem pés de homem, nem cascos de animais agitarão mais as águas. ¹⁴ Então, acalmarei suas águas e farei com que seus rios corram como azeite — assim diz Yahweh Deus.

¹⁵ Quando Eu fizer da terra do Egito um lugar de abandono, quando a terra for despojada de tudo, quando Eu ferir todos os que habitam nela, saberão que Eu sou Yahweh. ¹⁶ Haverá um lamento. As filhas das nações lamentarão por causa do Egito e por causa de toda a sua multidão — assim diz Yahweh Deus'".

¹⁷ E aconteceu que, no décimo segundo ano, no décimo quinto dia do mês, veio a palavra de Yahweh a mim, dizendo: ¹⁸ "Filho do homem, pranteia pela multidão do Egito e faz com que desçam — ela e as filhas das nações poderosas — às profundezas da terra, juntamente com aqueles que descem à cova.

¹⁹ 'Acaso és mais formosa que qualquer outra? Desce e deita-te com o incircunciso'. ²⁰ Eles cairão entre aqueles que foram mortos pela espada; o Egito foi entregue à espada! Eles o medirão juntamente com sua multidão. ²¹ Os valentes poderosos de dentro do Sheol declararão a respeito do Egito e de sua aliada: 'Eles desceram juntamente com os incircuncisos e com aqueles que foram mortos pela espada'.

²² A Assíria está lá com toda sua assembleia. Os sepulcros a cercaram. Todos foram mortos pela espada. ²³ Aqueles cujos sepulcros foram colocados no interior das covas, com toda a sua assembleia. Sua sepultura cerca todos os que tinham sido mortos pela espada, causando espanto na terra dos viventes.

²⁴ Ali está Elão com toda a sua multidão, a sepultura o cercou; todos foram mortos. Todos aqueles que foram mortos pela espada, que desceram incircuncisos até as partes mais baixas da terra, que trouxeram terrores à terra dos viventes e carregam sua própria vergonha, juntamente com aqueles que descem à cova. ²⁵ Eles puseram uma cama para Elão e sua multidão no meio dos mortos; sua sepultura o cercou. Todos esses incircuncisos foram mortos pela espada, porque trouxeram terrores à terra dos viventes. Portanto, levarão sua própria vergonha, com aqueles que descem à cova. Elão está entre todos os que foram mortos.

²⁶ Ali estão Meseque, Tubal e toda sua multidão! Suas sepulturas os cercam. Todos eles são incircuncisos, mortos pela espada, porque trouxeram terrores à terra dos viventes. ²⁷ Eles não estarão com os valentes que caíram incircuncisos, que desceram ao Sheol com seus instrumentos de guerra, colocaram suas espadas debaixo de suas cabeças e suas iniquidades sobre seus ossos. Porque eram o terror dos valentes na terra dos viventes.

²⁸ Mas tu, Egito, serás abatido no meio dos incircuncisos! Estarás com os que foram atravessados pela espada. ²⁹ Edom está ali com seus reis e com todos os seus líderes. Eles foram colocados com todos aqueles que foram mortos pela espada. Estarão com os incircuncisos e com aqueles que descem à cova.

³⁰ Ali estão os príncipes do norte, todos eles e todos os sidônios, que desceram com aqueles que foram atravessados pela espada. Eram poderosos e causavam medo nos outros, mas agora estão lá, envergonhados, incircuncisos com aqueles que foram atravessados pela espada. Eles levaram sua própria vergonha com os que descem à cova.

³¹ Faraó olhará e será consolado por toda sua multidão que havia perecido pela espada — Faraó e todo seu exército — assim diz Yahweh Deus. ³² Eu o coloquei como terror na terra dos viventes, mas ele vai ser jogado no meio do incircunciso, entre aqueles atravessados pela espada, Faraó e toda sua multidão — assim diz Yahweh Deus".

¹Em vez de quando Eu causar tua destruição entre as nações , algumas versões antigas e modernas trazem quando Eu te levar ao cativeiro entre as nações

Capítulo 33

¹ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, declara isto ao seu povo; dize-lhes: 'Quando trago uma espada contra uma certa terra, o povo dessa terra leva um homem dentre eles e fazem dele a sua sentinela. ³ Ele vê que a espada vem sobre a terra e toca a sua trombeta para avisar o povo! ⁴ Se o povo ouvir o som da trombeta, mas não der atenção e, se a espada vier e os matar, o sangue de cada um está sobre sua própria cabeça.

⁵ Se alguém ouvir o som da trombeta e não o levar em conta, o seu sangue será sobre ele; mas se ele atentar, ele salvará a sua própria vida. ⁶ Contudo, se o sentinela não tocar a trombeta quando vir a espada, fazendo com que o povo não seja avisado e se a espada vier e levar uma vida, então, essa pessoa morrerá em seus próprios pecados, mas exigirei o seu sangue do sentinela'.

⁷ Mas quanto a ti, filho do homem! Coloquei-te por sentinela sobre a casa de Israel; ouvirás as palavras da Minha boca e os avisarás em Meu nome. ⁸ Se Eu disser ao corrupto: 'Certamente morrerás!' mas, não anunciares isto como advertência ao corrupto, acerca do seu caminho, então, ele que é corrupto morrerá em seu pecado, mas exigirei o seu sangue da tua mão! ⁹ Tu, porém, se avisares ao corrupto sobre o seu caminho, para que se aparte dele e ele não se apartar do seu caminho, então, ele morrerá em seu pecado, mas tu terás salvo a tua vida.

¹⁰ E tu, filho do homem, diz à casa de Israel: 'Assim falarás: 'Nossas transgressões e nossos pecados estão sobre nós e estamos desfalecendo neles! Como viveremos?'. ¹¹ Dize-lhes: 'Tão certo como Eu vivo — assim diz Yahweh Deus — não tenho prazer na morte do corrupto, pois, se o corrupto se arrepender do seu caminho, ele viverá! Arrependei-vos! Arrependei-vos dos vossos maus caminhos! Pois, por que devíeis morrer, casa de Israel?'

¹² Tu, agora, filho do homem, diz ao povo: 'A retidão do homem reto não o salvará quando ele pecar! A corrupção do homem mau não o fará perecer caso se arrependa do seu pecado! Pois o homem reto não viverá por causa da sua retidão, quando ele pecar. ¹³ Se eu disser ao reto: Ele certamente viverá! e, se ele confiar na sua retidão e depois cometer injustiça, não Me lembrarei de nenhuma obra da sua retidão. Ele morrerá pela corrupção que cometeu.

¹⁴ Então, se eu disser ao corrupto: Certamente morrerás, mas, se ele se arrepender dos seus pecados e fizer o que é justo e reto — ¹⁵ se ele devolver o que emprestou ou restituir o que roubou e, se andar nos estatutos da vida e não mais cometer pecado, então, certamente viverá, ele não morrerá. ¹⁶ Nenhum dos pecados que ele tiver cometido será lembrado contra ele; ele fez o que é justo e reto e certamente viverá!

¹⁷ Mas vós dizeis: O caminho do Senhor não é justo! Porém, são os vossos caminhos que não são justos! ¹⁸ Quando um homem reto se desviar da sua retidão e cometer pecado, então, ele morrerá! ¹⁹ Quando o corrupto se afastar da sua corrupção e fizer o que é justo e reto, ele viverá por causa dessas coisas! ²⁰ Mas vós dizeis: O caminho do Senhor não é justo! Eu julgarei a cada um segundo o seu caminho, casa de Israel!'".

²¹ E aconteceu, no décimo segundo ano, no quinto dia do décimo mês do cativeiro, veio um fugitivo de Jerusalém e disse: "A cidade foi capturada!". ²² A mão de Yahweh havia estado sobre mim na noite anterior à vinda do fugitivo e a minha boca foi aberta no momento em que ele veio pela manhã. Assim, a minha boca foi aberta; não mais fiquei em silêncio!

²³ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ²⁴ "Filho do homem, os que habitam naquelas ruínas na terra de Israel estão falando e dizem: 'Abraão era uma só pessoa e herdou a terra, mas nós somos muitos! A terra nos foi dada por possessão'.

²⁵ Portanto, dize-lhes: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Vós comeis sangue e ergueis os vossos olhos aos vossos ídolos, também derramais sangue de pessoas. Será que tereis a posse da terra? ²⁶ Vós dependestes das vossas espadas e fizestes coisas abomináveis; cada um profana a esposa do seu próximo. Será que tereis a posse da terra?'.

²⁷ Assim lhes dirás: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Tão certo como Eu vivo, os que vivem entre as ruínas morrerão pela espada e Eu darei esses nos campos para que sejam devorados pelas feras e os que estão nas fortalezas e nas cavernas morrerão de pragas. ²⁸ Então, tornarei a terra numa desolação e horror; e a soberba do seu poder findará, pois os montes de Israel ficarão desertos e ninguém passará por eles'. ²⁹ Assim, saberão que Eu sou Yahweh, quando Eu fizer da terra uma desolação e um horror por causa de todas as abominações que fizeram.

³⁰ E tu, agora, filho do homem — teu povo fala sobre ti nos muros e nos portões das casas e cada um diz ao outro — cada homem ao seu irmão: 'Vamos ouvir a palavra que procede de Yahweh!'. ³¹ Por isso, o Meu povo virá a ti, como costumam fazer, e se sentarão diante de ti e ouvirão as tuas palavras, mas não as obedecerão. Pois palavras certas estão na suas bocas, mas os seus corações estão atrás de lucro.

³² Pois tu és como uma bela canção para eles, um maravilhoso som que é tocado com um instrumento de corda, por isso ouvirão as tuas palavras, mas nenhum deles as obedecerão. ³³ Então, quando tudo isto acontecer, eis que vai acontecer — aí eles saberão que um profeta esteve no meio deles".

Capítulo 34

¹ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, profetiza contra os pastores de Israel. Profetiza e dize-lhes: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus, aos pastores: Ai dos pastores de Israel que pastoreiam a si mesmos. Não deviam os pastores guardar o rebanho? ³ Vós comeis as gorduras e vos vestis de lã. Matais o cevado do rebanho; mas não cuidais das ovelhas.

⁴ Não fortalecestes as que têm doenças, nem sarastes as enfermas. Não ligastes as quebradas, não procurastes as desgarradas, nem buscastes as perdidas. Pelo contrário, liderais sobre elas com rigor e violência. ⁵ Então, foram espalhadas por falta de um pastor e se tornaram comida para todas as feras dos campos após terem sido espalhadas. ⁶ O Meu rebanho se espalha pelas montanhas e em cada monte elevado, e se dispersam por toda a superfície da terra. Ainda assim, ninguém os procura.

⁷ Portanto, pastores, ouvi a palavra de Yahweh: ⁸ Tão certo como Eu vivo — declara Yahweh Deus — já que o Meu povo se tornou presa e alimento para todas as feras nos campos, porque não havia um pastor e nenhum dos Meus pastores procuraram o Meu rebanho, mas cuidam de si mesmos, guardam a si mesmos e não pastorearam o Meu rebanho.

⁹ Portanto, pastores, ouvi a palavra de Yahweh: ¹⁰ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eis que estou contra os pastores e exigirei o Meu rebanho das suas mãos. Então, farei com que deixem de pastorear o Meu rebanho; os pastores não mais pastorearão a si mesmos, uma vez que tirarei o Meu rebanho das suas mãos, para que o Meu rebanho não mais lhes sirva de alimento.

¹¹ Porque assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eis que Eu mesmo procurarei pelo Meu rebanho e cuidarei dele. ¹² Assim como um pastor procura pelo seu rebanho, no dia em que está no meio do seu rebanho espalhado, assim buscarei pelo Meu rebanho e os resgatarei de todos os lugares por onde foram espalhados no dia de nuvens e de escuridão. ¹³ Então, os trarei para fora dentre os povos; Eu os congregarei de diversas partes das terras e os trarei de volta à sua terra. Eu os colocarei em pastos à beira dos montes de Israel, junto às fontes, e em todos os lugares habitados da terra.

¹⁴ Eu os colocarei em verdes pastos; os altos montes de Israel serão a sua pastagem. Ali, descansarão em bons lugares para a pastagem, em pastos abundantes, e pastarão nos montes de Israel. ¹⁵ Eu mesmo pastorearei o Meu rebanho e lhes darei descanso — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus. ¹⁶ Buscarei os perdidos e restaurarei os desgarrados. Unirei os quebrados e sararei os enfermos, mas os gordos e fortes serão destruídos. Eu os pastorearei com justiça.

¹⁷ Agora tu, Meu rebanho — assim diz Yaweh Deus: eis que Eu serei um Juiz entre as ovelhas e entre carneiros e bodes. ¹⁸ Não basta se alimentar num bom pasto, precisais pisotear o que restar do pasto; e não vos é suficiente beber de águas limpas, precisais enlamear os rios com os vossos pés? ¹⁹ As Minhas ovelhas deverão comer o que pisoteastes e beber o que enlameastes com os pés?

²⁰ Portanto, assim lhes diz Yahweh Deus: Eis que Eu mesmo julgarei entre as ovelhas gordas e as magras, ²¹ porquanto puxastes com os vossos quadris e ombros e empurrais com chifres as fracas, até as espalhardes para longe da terra.

²² Salvarei as Minhas ovelhas e não servirão mais de presa; julgarei entre uma ovelha e outra! ²³ Colocarei no meio deles um só pastor, o Meu servo Davi. Ele os alimentará e será o seu pastor. ²⁴ Pois Eu, Yahweh, serei o seu Deus e o Meu servo Davi será um príncipe no meio deles — Eu, Yahweh, assim declarei.

²⁵ Então, farei um acordo de paz com eles e tirarei os animais selvagens da terra, para que vivam em segurança no deserto e durmam seguros nas florestas. ²⁶ Também farei deles e do lugar ao redor do Meu monte, bênção; mandarei chuvas no tempo certo. Essas serão chuvas de bênção. ²⁷ Depois, as árvores do campo darão o seu fruto e a terra dará o seu produto. As Minhas ovelhas estarão seguras na sua terra; então, saberão que Eu sou Yahweh, quando quebrar as varas do seu jugo, e, quando os resgatar da terra dos que os escravizaram.

²⁸ Não mais serão presa para as nações e os animais selvagens da terra não mais os devorarão, pois viverão em segurança e ninguém os intimidará. ²⁹ Pois Eu lhes darei um bom lugar para o plantio, assim, nunca mais morrerão de fome na terra e as nações não mais trarão insultos contra eles.

³⁰ Então, saberão que Eu, Yahweh seu Deus, estou com eles. Eles são o Meu povo, a casa de Israel — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus. ³¹ Porque vós sois ovelhas do Meu pasto e Meu povo e Eu sou vosso Deus — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus'".

Capítulo 35

¹ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, põe a tua face contra o monte Seir e profetiza contra ele. ³ Dize-lhe: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eis que Eu sou contra ti, monte Seir, e te golpearei com a Minha mão e te farei uma desolação e um horror.

⁴ Farei de tuas cidades ruínas, e vós tornareis desolados; então, sabereis que eu sou Yahweh. ⁵ Porque sempre foste hostil ao povo de Israel e porque os espalhaste pelas mãos da espada, no tempo da sua angústia, no momento em que o castigo era maior. ⁶ Assim como Eu vivo — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus — Eu te prepararei para o derramamento de sangue e o sangue vai te perseguir! Já que tu não odeias o derramamento de sangue, o sangue te perseguirá.

⁷ Farei do monte Seir uma desolação completa, um deserto e eliminarei qualquer um que passar e retornar. ⁸ Então, encherei as suas montanhas com os seus mortos. Todos aqueles mortos pela espada, cairão em teus altos montes e vales, e em todos os teus córregos. ⁹ Farei de vós uma perpétua desolação. Vossas cidades não serão habitadas, assim vós sabereis que eu sou Yahweh.

¹⁰ Tu disseste: "Estas duas nações e estas duas terras se tornarão minhas e nós as possuiremos", mesmo que Yahweh esteja presente com eles. ¹¹ Portanto, tão certo como Eu vivo — declara Yahweh Deus — assim farei segundo a tua ira e segundo o teu zelo que tiveste no teu ódio a Israel e Me mostrarei a eles quando Eu te julgar.

¹² Assim saberás que Eu sou Yahweh. Eu ouvi todos os insultos que tu falaste contra os montes de Israel, quando tu disseste: "Eles foram destruídos, eles foram entregues a nós, para os devorar". ¹³ Tu te exaltaste contra Mim com o que disseste e tu multiplicaste as palavras que falaste contra Mim; e Eu ouvi tudo.

¹⁴ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Farei de ti uma desolação, enquanto toda terra se regozija. ¹⁵ Como te alegraste com a destruição da herança do povo de Israel, farei o mesmo a ti. Tu te tornarás uma desolação, monte Seir, e todo o Edom; sim todo ele! Então, eles saberão que Eu sou Yahweh".

Capítulo 36

¹ "Agora tu, filho do homem, profetiza aos montes de Israel e dize: 'Montes de Israel, ouvi a palavra de Yahweh. ² Assim diz Yahweh Deus: O inimigo disse contra ti: "Bem feito!" e "Os teus antigos lugares altos tornaram-se nossa possessão'". ³ Portanto, profetiza e dize: "Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Por causa da vossa desolação e por causa dos ataques que vieram sobre vós de todos os lados, vós vos tornastes uma possessão das outras nações; fostes sujeitos aos lábios, às línguas caluniosas e às histórias do povo.

⁴ Portanto, montes de Israel, ouvi a palavra de Yahweh Deus: Assim diz Yahweh Deus aos montes e às colinas, às correntes de água e aos vales, aos desertos assolados e às cidades abandonadas que se tornaram presa e alvo de zombaria para as outras nações, que os rodeiam — ⁵ portanto, assim diz Yahweh Deus: 'Certamente, falei, no fogo e na Minha fúria, contra outras nações e contra Edom e todos que tomaram a Minha terra para eles como sua possessão, contra todos que tiveram ao mesmo tempo júbilo em seu coração e desdém em seu espírito, para saquearem a Minha terra'. ⁶ Portanto, profetiza à terra de Israel e dize aos montes e às colinas, às correntes de água e aos vales: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eis que falei em Minha fúria e em Minha ira, porque vós levastes vexame às nações.

⁷ Portanto, assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eu mesmo levantarei a Minha mão para jurar que as nações que estão ao redor de vós certamente, carregarão a sua própria vergonha.

⁸ Vós, porém, montes de Israel, produzireis ramos e dareis fruto para o meu povo Israel, uma vez que, em breve, retornarão. ⁹ Eis que Eu estou convosco e vos trato com graça; sereis lavrados e semeados.

¹⁰ Assim, multiplicarei em vós homens dos montes em toda a casa de Israel, as cidades serão habitadas e as ruínas reedificadas. ¹¹ Multiplicarei homem e animais em vossos montes, para que eles multipliquem e sejam frutíferos. Depois, farei com que sejais habitada, como antes, Eu vos farei prosperar mais do que fostes no passado e sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh. ¹² Trarei homens, meu povo Israel, para andarem sobre vós. Eles vos possuirão e vós sereis sua herança e não mais causarão morte dos seus filhos.

¹³ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Porque a vós eles dizem: "Vós devorais pessoas e os filhos da vossa nação morreram", ¹⁴ portanto, não mais devorareis as pessoas e não mais fareis a vossa nação ficar sem filhos. Esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus. ¹⁵ Nem mais vos deixarei ouvir insultos das nações; não mais levarás sobre vós o vexame dos povos ou fará com que a vossa nação caia — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus'".

¹⁶ Depois, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ¹⁷ "Filho do homem, quando a casa de Israel habitou em sua terra, eles profanaram os seus caminhos e seus feitos. Seus caminhos eram como a impureza de uma mulher na menstruação, assim eram diante de Mim. ¹⁸ Por isso, derramei a Minha fúria contra eles, por causa do sangue que derramaram na terra e porque contaminaram com seus ídolos.

¹⁹ Espalhei-os pelas nações; foram dispersos pelas terras. Julguei-os segundo os seus caminhos e seus feitos. ²⁰ Depois, foram às nações, e onde quer que foram, profanaram o Meu santo nome, quando o povo deles dizia: 'São estes realmente o povo de Yahweh? Pois foram lançados para fora da sua terra'. ²¹ Mas tive compaixão do Meu santo nome, que a casa de Israel havia profanado dentre as nações, quando lá estiveram.

²² Portanto, diz à casa de Israel: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Não procedo assim por causa de vós, casa de Israel, mas pelo Meu santo nome, que vós profanastes dentre as nações por onde fostes. ²³ Porque santificarei o Meu grande nome, que vós profanastes dentre as nações; no meio das quais vós profanastes. Então, as nações saberão que Eu sou Yahweh — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus — quando vós virdes que Eu sou santo.

²⁴ Eu vos tirarei dentre as nações e vos ajuntarei de toda a terra e vos reunirei na vossa terra. ²⁵ Depois, aspergirei água pura sobre vós e ficareis purificados de todas as vossas impurezas e de todos os vossos ídolos.

²⁶ Dar-vos-ei um novo coração e porei, no vosso íntimo, um novo espírito e tirarei o vosso coração de pedra e vos darei um coração de carne. ²⁷ Colocarei o Meu Espírito em vós e vos farei andar em Meus estatutos e guardar os Meus mandamentos, para que os cumprais. ²⁸ Depois, habitareis na terra que Eu dei aos vossos antepassados; sereis Meu povo e Eu serei vosso Deus.

²⁹ Porque, Eu vos livrarei de toda a vossa imundície. Trarei trigo e o multiplicarei; não mais porei fome sobre vós. ³⁰ Multiplicarei o fruto das árvores e a produção do campo, para que não mais tenhais vergonha e fome entre as nações. ³¹ Então, lembrareis dos vossos caminhos corruptos e vossos feitos que não eram bons; mostrareis nojo em vossos rostos, por causa do vosso próprio pecado e vossas obras abomináveis.

³² Não faço isto por causa de vós — esta é a declaração de Yahweh — sabeis disso. Então, ficai envergonhados e humilhai-vos por causa dos vossos caminhos, casa de Israel. ³³ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: No dia em que Eu vos purificar de toda a vossa iniquidade, Eu vos farei habitar nas cidades e reedificar os lugares arruinados. ³⁴ Pois lavrareis a terra arruinada até que não mais seja uma ruína, diante dos olhos de todos que passam.

³⁵ Então, eles dirão: "Esta terra estava desolada, mas tornou-se como o jardim do Éden; as cidades desoladas e as ruínas desabitadas que foram derribadas são agora fortificadas e habitadas". ³⁶ E as outras nações ao vosso redor saberão que Eu sou Yahweh, que edifiquei as ruínas e replantei os lugares abandonados. Eu sou Yahweh. Assim declarei e assim farei.

³⁷ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Vou novamente ser procurado pela casa de Israel, para fazer isto para eles, para lhes multiplicar como um rebanho de pessoas. ³⁸ Como rebanho é separado para sacrifícios, como rebanho de Jerusalém nas suas festas solenes, assim serão as cidades arruinadas, cheias de rebanhos de pessoas e saberão que Eu sou Yahweh'".

Capítulo 37

¹ A mão de Yahweh estava sobre mim, Ele me levou pelo Espírito de Yahweh e me colocou no meio de um vale; estava cheio de ossos. ² Depois, Ele me fez passar ao redor deles; eram muitos no grande vale, e estavam sequíssimos. ³ Ele me disse: "Filho do homem, poderão estes ossos voltar a viver?". E eu disse: "Senhor Yahweh, só Tu o sabes".

⁴ Então, Ele me disse: "Profetiza sobre estes ossos e dize-lhes: 'Ossos secos, ouvi a palavra de Yahweh. ⁵ Assim diz Yahweh Deus a estes ossos: Eis que porei o espírito em vós e vivereis. ⁶ Colocarei tendões sobre vós e porei carne; revestir-vos-ei de pele e porei em vós o espírito, para que vivais. Então, sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh'".

⁷ Então, profetizei como me fora ordenado; enquanto profetizava, eis que houve um ruído, como de alguma coisa se mexendo. Depois, os ossos se ajuntaram — cada um ao seu osso. ⁸ Olhei e eis que tendões já estavam neles; a carne cresceu e a pele lhes cobriu; mas ainda não havia neles o espírito.

⁹ Então, Yahweh me disse: "Profetiza ao espírito, profetiza, filho do homem, e dize-lhe: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Vem dos quatro ventos, ó espírito e assopra nestes mortos, para que vivam". ¹⁰ Assim, profetizei como me ordenara; o espírito entrou neles e viveram. Então, ficaram de pé, um exército muito numeroso.

¹¹ Depois, Yahweh me disse: "Filho do homem, estes ossos são toda a casa de Israel. Eis que dizem: 'Nossos ossos secaram, foi-se a nossa esperança. Fomos derrubados'. ¹² Portanto, profetiza e dize-lhes: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eis que abrirei as vossas sepulturas e vos tirarei delas, Meu povo. E vos trarei à terra de Israel.

¹³ Depois, sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh, quando abrir as vossas sepulturas e vos tirar delas, povo Meu. ¹⁴ Porei o Meu Espírito em vós e vivereis, e vos farei descansar na vossa terra, e sabereis que Eu sou Yahweh. Assim declaro e assim farei — esta é a declaração de Yahweh'".

¹⁵ Então, a palavra de Yahweh veio a mim, dizendo: ¹⁶ "Agora, pois, pega um pedaço de madeira e escreve nele: 'Para Judá e para todo o povo de Israel, seus companheiros'. Depois, toma outro pedaço de madeira e escreve nele: 'Para José, ramo de Efraim, e para todo o povo de Israel, seus companheiros'. ¹⁷ Junta ambos num só pedaço de madeira, para que se tornem um só em tua mão.

¹⁸ Quando o teu povo falar a ti e disser: 'Não nos revelarás o que estas coisas significam?' ¹⁹ Então, dize-lhes: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eis que levarei o ramo de José, que está na mão de Efraim, e as tribos de Israel, seus companheiros, e os ajuntarei ao ramo de Judá, e serão um só ramo, e se tornarão um só na Minha mão'. ²⁰ Segura, na tua mão, os ramos nos quais escreveste diante dos seus olhos.

²¹ Declara-lhes: 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eis que estou prestes a tirar o povo de Israel dentre as nações para onde foram; Eu os ajuntarei de todas as terras em derredor e os trarei para sua terra. ²² Farei deles uma só nação na terra, nos montes de Israel, e haverá um só rei, será rei sobre todos eles, e não mais serão duas nações. Não mais estarão divididos em dois reinos. ²³ Então, não mais se profanarão com os seus ídolos, nem com suas coisas abomináveis, nem com outros pecados. Porquanto, os livrarei de todas as suas ações de incredulidade com as quais pecaram, e os purificarei. Então, serão Meu povo e Eu serei seu Deus.

²⁴ Davi, meu servo, reinará sobre eles. Então, haverá um só pastor sobre eles e andarão segundo os Meus decretos e guardarão os Meus estatutos e os obedecerão. ²⁵ Viverão na terra que dei ao Meu servo Jacó, onde os seus pais habitaram. Nela viverão para sempre, eles, seus filhos e seus netos, porque Davi, Meu servo, será seu líder para sempre.

²⁶ Estabelecerei um acordo de paz com eles. Será um acordo eterno com eles. Irei estabelecê-los e os multiplicarei e colocarei o Meu santo lugar no meio deles para sempre. ²⁷ A Minha habitação será com eles; serei seu Deus, e eles serão Meu povo. ²⁸ Então, as nações saberão que Eu sou Yahweh que santifico Israel, quando o Meu santo lugar estiver no meio deles'".

Capítulo 38

¹ A palavra de Yahweh veio a mim dizendo: ² "Filho do homem, vira o teu rosto para Gogue, a terra de Magogue, o principal chefe de Meseque e Tubal; e profetiza contra ele, dizendo: ³ 'Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Eis que sou contra ti, Gogue, principal chefe de Meseque e Tubal.

⁴ Então, Eu te farei voltar e porei anzóis em teus queixos; Eu te levarei com todas as tuas armas, teus cavalos e cavaleiros, toda armadura completa, uma grande companhia com grandes e pequenos escudos, todos manejando espada! ⁵ Pérsia, Cuxe e Pute estarão com eles, todos com escudos e capacetes! ⁶ Omer e todas suas tropas e a casa de Togarma, das partes distantes do norte e todas as suas tropas! Muitas pessoas estarão contigo!

⁷ Prepara-te! Sim, dispõe-te tu e tuas tropas reunidas contigo e sê o comandante deles. ⁸ Tu, Israel, serás visitado depois de muitos dias; e, depois de muitos anos, tu irás à terra que se recuperou da espada e que foi reunida dentre muitos povos, junto às montanhas de Israel, as quais foram arruinadas; mas aquela terra foi tirada dentre os povos, e todos eles viverão em segurança! ⁹ Então, subirás, virás como a tempestade, e serás como uma nuvem que cobre a terra, tu, todas as tuas tropas e muitos soldados contigo.

¹⁰ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Acontecerá naquele dia que terás planos ambiciosos no teu coração e farás projetos perversos. ¹¹ Então, dirás: 'subirei contra a terra aberta; eu irei contra as pessoas tranquilas, que vivem em segurança, todos vivendo onde não há muros ou trancas e onde não há portões na cidade. ¹² Eu vou capturar despojos e roubar as pilhagens, para pôr a mão contra as ruínas recentemente habitadas, contra as pessoas reunidas das nações, pessoas que estão adquirindo gado e propriedades e vivem no centro da terra'.

¹³ Sabá, Dedã e os comerciantes de Társis, juntamente com todos os jovens guerreiros dirão: 'Vens tu para tomar o despojo? Reuniste teus exércitos para remover o despojo, para levar a prata e o ouro, para pegar gado e as propriedades e transportar grande despojo?'.

¹⁴ Poranto, profetiza, filho do homem, e dize para Gogue: Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Naquele dia, quando Meu povo Israel estiver vivendo em segurança, tu não o saberás? ¹⁵ Virás do teu lugar, do extremo norte com um grande povo contigo, todos montados a cavalos, uma grande companhia, um grande exército. ¹⁶ Atacarás Meu povo Israel, como uma nuvem que cobre a terra. Nos últimos dias, Eu o trarei contra Minha terra, então, as nações saberão quando Eu manifestar Minha santidade através de ti, Gogue, para ser santo diante de teus olhos.

¹⁷ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Não és tu aquele de quem falei antigamente, por intermédio de Meus servos, os profetas de Israel, que profetizaram em seu próprio tempo durante anos contra eles? ¹⁸ Assim acontecerá naquele dia, quando Gogue atacar a terra de Israel — assim diz Yahweh Deus — Minha indignação elevará a Minha ira.

¹⁹ No Meu zelo e no fogo da Minha ira, declaro que, naquele dia, haverá um grande terremoto na terra de Israel. ²⁰ Tremerão diante de Mim, os peixes do mar, os pássaros dos céus, os animais dos campos e todas as criaturas que se arrastam na terra, bem como todas as pessoas que estão na superfície da terra. As montanhas serão derrubadas e os penhascos cairão, todos os muros cairão por terra.

²¹ Convocarei contra ele a espada, em todas as Minhas montanhas. Assim diz Yahweh Deus — a espada de cada homem se voltará contra seu irmão. ²² Então, Eu o julgarei por meio da praga e do sangue; chuva transbordante e pedras de granizo e fogo, e enxofre ardente sobre ele, suas tropas, e as muitas nações que com ele estão. ²³ Assim, mostrarei a Minha grandeza e a Minha santidade, e Me tornarei conhecido aos olhos de muitas nações e eles saberão que Eu sou Yahweh'".

Capítulo 39

¹ "Tu, pois, filho do homem, profetiza contra Gogue e dize: Assim diz Yahweh Deus: 'Eis que Eu sou contra ti, Gogue, chefe de Meseque e Tubal. ² Eu te farei retornar e te guiarei; Eu te levarei do extremo norte até as montanhas de Israel. ³ Então, arrancarei o teu arco da tua mão esquerda e farei cair as flechas da tua mão direita.

⁴ Morrerás nas montanhas de Israel, tu e todas as tuas tropas e os soldados que estão contigo. Eu te entregarei às aves de rapina e aos animais selvagens dos campos, para que te devorem. ⁵ Tu morrerás na superfície do campo, pois Eu mesmo declaro isto — assim diz Yahweh Deus. ⁶ Então, enviarei fogo sobre Magogue e os que vivem em segurança nas ilhas e eles saberão que Eu sou Yahweh.

⁷ Pois Eu farei o Meu santo nome conhecido no meio do Meu povo Israel e não permitirei mais que Meu santo nome seja profanado; as nações saberão que Eu sou Yahweh, o santo de Israel. ⁸ Eis que virá o dia e isso acontecerá — assim diz Yahweh Deus.

⁹ Então, aqueles que habitam as cidades de Israel sairão e farão incêndios com suas armas, com escudos grandes e pequenos, arcos e flechas, bastões e lanças, e, por sete anos, eles queimarão tudo. ¹⁰ Eles não trarão lenha dos campos ou cortarão árvores das florestas, mas com as armas farão fogo; tomarão daqueles que os despojaram; saquearão aqueles que os saquearam — assim diz Yahweh Deus".

¹¹ "Naquele dia, darei a Gogue, uma sepultura em Israel, o vale daqueles que viajam para o leste do mar, que espantará aqueles que o desejarem atravessar. Lá eles irão sepultar Gogue com toda a sua multidão. Eles irão chamá-lo de vale de Hamom-Gogue.

¹² Por sete meses, a casa de Israel os sepultará, para purificar a terra. ¹³ Pois, todos os povos da terra os sepultarão; e será um dia memorável para eles quando Eu for glorificado — assim diz Yahweh Deus".

¹⁴ "Então, eles designarão homens para que atravessem a terra sem parar, e juntamente com os que viajam, procurem os que morreram, a fim de sepultá-los e purificar a terra. No final do sétimo mês, eles farão a busca. ¹⁵ Ao atravessarem a terra, vendo algum osso humano, eles colocarão um sinal à sua volta, até que os coveiros o enterrem no vale de Hamom-Gogue. ¹⁶ E o nome da cidade será Hamoná. Dessa forma, eles purificarão a terra".

¹⁷ Tu, pois, ó filho do homem, assim diz Yahweh Deus: dize a todas as aves de toda espécie e a todos os animais selvagens nos campos: "Ajuntai-vos e vinde; reuni-vos de todos os lados para o Meu sacrifício, que faço por ti, um grande sacrifício nas montanhas de Israel, para que tu comas carne e bebas sangue. ¹⁸ Tu comerás a carne dos poderosos e beberás o sangue dos príncipes da terra; dos carneiros, dos cordeiros, das cabras e dos touros engordados em Basã.

¹⁹ Então, comereis gordura para vos satisfazerdes; e bebereis sangue até a embriaguez; com o sacrifício que vos ofereço. ²⁰ Vós ficareis satisfeitos de cavalos, de cavaleiros e todo homem de guerra, à Minha mesa, assim diz Yahweh Deus".

²¹ "Eu estabelecerei a Minha glória entre as nações e todas as nações verão o juízo que Eu executo e a Minha mão que Eu farei cair sobre elas. ²² A casa de Israel saberá que Eu sou Yahweh, seu Deus, desde aquele dia em diante".

²³ As nações saberão que a casa de Israel foi levada em cativeiro por causa da sua iniquidade, com a qual eles Me traíram, então, escondi o Meu rosto deles e os entreguei nas mãos de seus adversários e todos caíram à espada. ²⁴ Eu os tratei de acordo com as suas imundícies e os seus pecados, escondi deles o Meu rosto.

²⁵ Por isso, assim diz Yahweh Deus: agora restaurarei a sorte de Jacó e terei compaixão de toda a casa de Israel, quando Eu agir com zelo pelo Meu santo nome. ²⁶ Então, eles se esquecerão de toda a sua vergonha e deslealdade com as quais Me traíram. E descansarão, em suas terras, em segurança, sem ninguém para assustá-los. ²⁷ Quando Eu os restaurar dos povos e os reunir das terras dos seus inimigos, Eu Me mostrarei santo neles, aos olhos de muitas nações.

²⁸ Então, eles saberão que Eu sou Yahweh, seu Deus, porque Eu os enviei ao cativeiro entre as nações, mas, depois, Eu os trouxe de volta às suas terras. Não deixarei nenhum deles em outras nações. ²⁹ Não lhes esconderei mais o Meu rosto, quando derramar o Meu Espírito sobre a casa de Israel — assim diz Yahweh Deus".

Capítulo 40

¹ No início do vigésimo quinto ano de nosso cativeiro, no décimo dia do mês, no décimo quarto ano depois da tomada da cidade, no mesmo dia, a mão de Yahweh veio sobre mim; ² em visões, Deus me levou à terra de Israel; Ele me pôs sobre um monte muito alto; para o sul e havia algo que parecia ser as edificações de uma cidade.

³ Depois, Ele me levou para lá, onde havia um homem, cuja aparência era como a do bronze. Uma corda de linho e uma vara de medir estavam em sua mão e ele permanecia de pé no porta da cidade. ⁴ Disse-me o homem: "Filho do homem, vê com teus olhos e ouve com teus ouvidos, e atenta tua mente em tudo que estou te revelando, pois Eu te trouxe até aqui para te mostrar isso. Conta tudo quanto vires à casa de Israel".

⁵ Havia um muro ao redor da área do templo. E, na mão do homem, havia uma vara de medir de seis côvados de comprimento, tendo cada côvado quatro dedos a mais. Ele mediu o muro, que era a medida de uma vara de largura e uma de altura. ⁶ Então, ele veio para o portão do templo, que é de frente para o oriente. Ele subiu os degraus e mediu a soleira do portão, que tinha uma vara de largura e a outra soleira, uma vara de largura. ⁷ As câmaras de guarda, cada uma media uma vara de comprimento e uma de largura e o espaço entre as câmaras tinha cinco côvados e na soleira do portão do templo, perto do pórtico, tinha uma vara.

⁸ Ele mediu o pórtico do portão, que era uma vara de comprimento. ⁹ Então, mediu o pórtico do portão, que era de oito côvados. Os pilares eram de dois côvados de largura; e o pórtico do portão estava na direção do templo. ¹⁰ Havia três câmaras de guarda de cada lado, e cada uma delas tinha a mesma medida, e os muros que as separavam tinham a mesma medida.

¹¹ Então, o homem mediu a largura da porta de entrada, que era de dez côvados; e mediu o comprimento do portão de entrada, treze côvados. ¹² Ele mediu o muro, de um côvado de altura, que faz fronteira com a frente das câmaras; as câmaras mediam seis côvados de cada lado. ¹³ Depois, ele mediu a porta, desde o telhado de uma câmara até da outra, que era de vinte e cinco côvados, da entrada da primeira até a segunda.

¹⁴ Ele mediu também, o muro que estava entre as câmaras de guarda, sessenta côvados de comprimento; e mediu, ainda, o pórtico da portão. ¹⁵ A distância da entrada frontal do portão até o fim do pórtico do portão era de cinquenta côvados. ¹⁶ Havia também janelas fechadas em frente às câmaras, e em frente aos pilares, dentro dos portões e ao redor, como também nos pátios. Havia janelas ao redor, pelo lado de dentro, e cada batente era decorado com palmeiras.

¹⁷ Então, o homem me levou para o pátio externo do templo; vi que havia salas e também um pavimento no pátio, com trinta salas naquele pavimento. ¹⁸ O pavimento inferior dos portões e a sua largura era a mesma do comprimento dos portões. ¹⁹ Então, o homem mediu a distância da frente do portão inferior até o interior do pátio de dentro, que era de cem côvados do lado do oriente, e o mesmo do lado do norte.

²⁰ Em seguida, ele mediu o comprimento e a largura do portão, que estava ao norte do pátio exterior. ²¹ Havia três câmaras de cada lado do portão; seus pilares e seu pórtico, tinham a mesma medida do portão principal, que era de cinquenta côvados no comprimento e vinte e cinco côvados na largura.

²² Suas janelas, seu pórtico e suas palmeiras, eram da medida do portão de frente para o oriente; subiam sete degraus até ele, e seu pórtico ficava do lado oposto. ²³ Havia um portão para dentro do pátio, em frente ao portão voltado para o norte, justamente onde também havia o portão do oriente; o homem mediu de um portão ao outro, cem côvados de distância.

²⁴ Em seguida, o homem me levou para o portão da entrada do sul; seus pilares e pórtico tinham a mesma medida dos portões de fora. ²⁵ Havia janelas fechadas na entrada e em seus pórticos, assim como nos portões. O portão do sul e seu pórtico mediam cinquenta côvados de comprimento e vinte cinco de largura.

²⁶ Havia sete degraus que subiam até o portão e seu pórtico, e havia palmeiras entalhadas nas paredes em ambos os lados. ²⁷ Havia um portão para dentro do pátio do lado sul e o homem mediu desse portão até o portão da entrada sul, cem côvados de distância.

²⁸ Então, o homem me levou para dentro do pátio no caminho do portão do sul, que tinha a mesma medida dos outros portões. ²⁹ Suas câmaras, seus pilares e pórticos, tinham as mesmas medidas de outros portões; havia janelas ao redor do pórtico; que mediam cinquenta côvados de comprimento e vinte cinco de largura. ³⁰ Havia também pórticos ao redor da parede interior; estes mediam vinte e cinco côvados de comprimento e cinco de largura. ³¹ Este pórtico ficava de frente para o pátio externo, com palmeiras esculpidas em suas paredes, oito degraus subiam até ele.

³² Depois, o me homem levou ao pátio interior pelo caminho oriental e mediu o portão, que tinha a mesma medida dos anteriores. ³³ Seus portões, pilares e pórtico também tinham a mesma medida dos outros portões e havia janelas ao seu redor. O portão interior e seu pórtico mediam cinquenta côvados de comprimento e vinte e cinco de largura. ³⁴ Seu pórtico ficava de frente para o pátio externo e tinha palmeiras em ambos lados e oito degraus subindo até ele.

³⁵ Em seguida, o homem me levou ao portão norte, e o mediu, como também os outros portões. ³⁶ Suas câmaras, seus pilares e seu pórtico mediam o mesmo que os outros portões e havia janelas ao redor. A entrada e seu pórtico mediam cinquenta côvados de comprimento, e vinte e cinco de largura. ³⁷ Seu pórtico ficava de frente ao pátio externo e tinha palmeiras em ambos lados e oito degraus subindo até ele.

³⁸ Havia uma câmara com uma porta para cada entrada interna, onde eles lavavam os holocaustos. ³⁹ Havia duas mesas, em ambos lados de cada pórtico, nas quais o holocausto era imolado e era realizada a oferta pela culpa e pelo pecado.

⁴⁰ Ao lado da entrada do átrio, subindo para o portão do norte, havia duas mesas. Também do outro lado, havia duas mesas no pórtico do portão. ⁴¹ Havia quatro mesas em ambos os lados, perto da portão; eles imolavam animais em oito mesas.

⁴² Havia quatro mesas de pedra lavrada para os holocaustos, com um côvado e meio de comprimento, um côvado e meio de largura e um côvado de altura. Nelas, eles colocavam os instrumentos, com os quais imolavam os sacrifícios para o holocausto. ⁴³ Ganchos de duas pontas de um palmo de comprimento, pendurados por dentro em toda a volta; e a carne dos sacrifícios estava sobre as mesas.

⁴⁴ Perto do portão interior, no pátio interno, estavam as câmaras dos cantores. Uma dessas câmaras estava do lado norte e uma do lado sul. ⁴⁵ Então, o homem me disse: "Esta sala de frente para o sul é para os sacerdotes que estão a serviço do templo.

⁴⁶ A sala de frente para o norte é para os sacerdotes a serviço do altar. Estes são os filhos de Zadoque, que dentre os levitas, se aproximaram de Yahweh, para O servirem". ⁴⁷ Em seguida, ele mediu o pátio, com cem côvados de comprimento e cem de largura; era quadrado, com um altar em frente do templo.

⁴⁸ Depois, o homem me levou ao pórtico do templo e mediu os batentes dos portões, que tinham cinco côvados de espessura nos dois lados. Sua entrada tinha três côvados de um lado e três côvados do outro. ⁴⁹ O comprimento do pórtico era de vinte côvados e sua profundidade era de onze côvados. Havia degraus que subiam até ele e colunas erguidas de um lado e do outro.

Capítulo 41

¹ Depois disso, o homem me levou para o lugar santo do templo e mediu os pilares das portas, seis côvados de largura para cada lado. ² A largura do corredor da entrada era de dez côvados; a parede de cada lado era de cinco côvados de comprimento. Então, o homem mediu as dimensões do santo lugar — quarenta côvados de comprimento e vinte côvados de largura.

³ Então, o homem entrou no lugar santo e mediu os pilares da entrada: dois côvados e a entrada era de seis côvados de largura; e a parede media sete côvados de largura. ⁴ Então, ele mediu o comprimento dos quartos — vinte côvados; e a sua largura — vinte côvados para a frente do muro do templo. Daí, ele me disse: "Este é o Lugar Santíssimo".

⁵ Então, o homem mediu a parede do templo, que tinha seis côvados de espessura e a largura de cada lado dos quartos, em volta do templo, era de quatro côvados de comprimento. ⁶ As salas laterais estavam em três níveis, uma sala por cima da outra, e trinta salas em cada andar. Havia camadas em volta da parede do templo para apoiar todos os lados, porque não haviam sido colocados suportes na parede da casa. ⁷ As câmaras laterais aumentavam em largura, de andar para andar, de andar em andar ao redor e para cima. Assim, subia do andar inferior até o superior, passando pelo nível do meio.

⁸ Então, vi uma parte elevada em volta do templo, as fundações das salas laterais, que mediam a espessura de seis côvados. ⁹ A largura externa da parede das salas laterais, era de cinco côvados. Havia um espaço aberto do outro lado desta sala, no templo.

¹⁰ E as salas mediam vinte côvados de largura, por todo o redor do templo. ¹¹ Havia portas nos lados das entradas das salas laterais para uma área aberta, para o lado norte havia uma porta e outra para o lado do sul. A largura desta área aberta era de cinco côvados ao redor.

¹² O edifício que estava separado, do lado ocidental, tinha setenta côvados de largura. A sua parede media cinco côvados de espessura em todo redor e noventa côvados de comprimento. ¹³ Assim, o templo media de cem côvados de comprimento. Os edifícios separados, suas paredes e o pátio mediam cem côvados de comprimento. ¹⁴ A largura da frente oriental do templo, também era de cem côvados.

¹⁵ Então, o homem mediu o comprimento do edifício por trás do templo, ao oriente, com suas galerias da cada lado; mediam cem côvados. O templo e o pórtico do átrio, ¹⁶ as paredes interiores e janelas e as galerias ao redor, eram em três níveis, amadeiradas. ¹⁷ Acima da porta, para o interior do templo e o espaço ao longo das paredes, tinham uma medida pré-determinada.

¹⁸ Estava decorado de querubins e palmeiras; e havia uma palmeira entre cada querubim, e cada querubim tinha duas faces; ¹⁹ a face humana era voltada para a palmeira de um lado, e a face de leão, voltada para a palmeira do outro lado. Era assim em toda a volta do templo. ²⁰ Desde o chão até em cima da entrada, os querubins e as palmeiras, estavam posicionados no exterior da parede do templo.

²¹ Os pilares do templo eram quadrados. Sua aparência, era semelhante a de ²² um altar de madeira em frente do templo, que tinha três côvados de altura, e dois côvados de comprimento de cada lado. Seus cantos, sua base, e suas paredes eram feitas de madeira. Então, o homem me disse: "Esta é a mesa que fica diante de Yahweh". ²³ Havia portas duplas, para o templo e para o Santíssimo Lugar. ²⁴ Essas portas tinham dois painéis dobráveis cada, dois painéis para uma porta e dois painéis para a segunda.

²⁵ Esculpidas nelas, nas portas do templo, havia querubins e palmeiras, assim como era a decoração das paredes e havia uma cobertura de madeira, na parte de fora do pórtico da entrada. ²⁶ Havia janelas estreitas e palmeiras de cada lado do pórtico, e nos cômodos laterais do templo, como também nas suas soleiras.

Capítulo 42

¹ Em seguida, o homem me levou para o exterior do pátio, no lado norte, para as salas, em frente ao exterior do pátio, que dá para o norte. ² Aquelas salas mediam cem côvados em frente e cinquenta côvados de largura. ³ Algumas delas se pocisionavam no interior do pátio e se distanciavam vinte côvados do templo. Havia três níveis de salas e as que estavão por cima direcionavam-se às de baixo e estavão abertas para elas, mas tendo uma passagem. Algumas das salas tinham vista para o pátio exterior.

⁴ A passagem era de dez côvados de largura e cem côvados de comprimento do corredor, em frente das salas. As portas das salas pocisionavam-se para o norte. ⁵ Mas as salas de cima eram pequenas, porque os corredores tomavam muito espaço, mais que o espaço ocupado pelos corredores das salas de baixo e do meio do edifício. ⁶ Porque as salas do terceiro andar não tinham colunas, como as do pátio, que tinham as colunas. Então, as salas do nível mais alto era pequena, em comparação, as salas do nível de baixo e do meio.

⁷ O muro de fora subiu ao longo das salas, em direção ao exterior do pátio. Aquele muro tinha cinquenta côvados de comprimento. ⁸ E o comprimento das salas, no exterior do pátio, era de cinquenta côvados e as salas direcionadas ao santuário mediam cem côvados. ⁹ Havia uma entrada para as salas de baixo, no lado oriental, vindo do exterior do pátio.

¹⁰ Ao longo do muro do pátio exterior, no lado oriental, em frente ao pátio interior do templo, havia também salas, ¹¹ com uma passagem na frente delas. Eram da mesma aparência das salas do lado norte, tinham o mesmo comprimento e largura, as mesmas saídas, mesmos os arranjos e portas. ¹² No lado sul, havia portas nas salas, que eram semelhantes às do lado norte. Uma passagem no interior, tinha uma porta acima dela e a passagem abria para várias salas. No lado oriental, havia uma entrada na passagem numa extremidade.

¹³ Então, o homem me disse: "As salas do norte e as salas do sul, que estão na frente do pátio exterior, são as salas sagradas, onde os sacerdotes que se aproximam de Yahweh comerão a comida santa. Lá colocarão as coisas santíssimas; a oferta de cereais, a oferta pelo pecado e a oferta pela culpa, pois este é um lugar sagrado. ¹⁴ Quando os sacerdotes entrarem, eles não sairão do lugar sagrado para a pátio exterior, sem deixarem ali as roupas com as quais ministram, uma vez que elas são sagradas, e vestirão outras roupas antes de se aproximarem do povo".

¹⁵ O homem completou a medição da casa interior e, em seguida, levou-me para o portão que dá para o oriente e mediu a área ao redor.

¹⁶ Ele mediu o lado oriental, com uma vara de medição, quinhentos côvados. ¹⁷ Ele mediu o lado norte, quinhentos côvados, mediu com a vara de medição. ¹⁸ Ele também mediu o lado sul, quinhentos côvados, mediu com a vara de medição. ¹⁹ Ele também virou e mediu o lado ocidental, quinhentos côvado, com a vara de medição.

²⁰ Ele mediu os quatro lados. Havia uma parede em torno dela, que media quinhentos côvados de comprimento e quinhentos côvados de largura, para fazer separação entre o sagrado e o profano.

Capítulo 43

¹ Então, o homem veio e me levou à porta que está aberta para o oriente. ² Eis que, a glória do Deus de Israel vinha do oriente; Sua voz era como o som de muitas aguás, e a terra brilhava por causa da Sua glória.

³ E pareceu com a visão que tive, quando vi o homem que veio para destruir a cidade e as visões eram como a visão que tive no rio Quebar e caí com o rosto em terra. ⁴ E a glória de Yahweh veio ao templo pelo caminho da porta que abre para o oriente. ⁵ Então, o Espírito me levantou e me levou até o pátio interno. Eis que a glória de Yahweh encheu o templo.

⁶ O homem estava parado ao meu lado e ouvi alguém falando comigo dentro do templo. ⁷ E me disse: "Filho do homem, esta é a casa do Meu trono e da sola dos Meus pés, onde viverei no meio do Meu povo Israel para sempre. A casa de Israel não profanará mais o Meu nome, nem eles e nem seus reis, com suas infidelidades ou com os cadáveres dos seus reis nos seus lugares altos. ⁸ Não profanarão mais o Meu santo nome pondo o seu limiar perto do Meu limiar e seu umbral perto do Meu umbral, havendo apenas uma parede entre Eu e eles. Eles profanaram o Meu santo nome com atos desagradáveis e por isso os consumi na Minha ira.

⁹ Agora, que eles removam para longe de Mim as suas infidelidades e os cadáveres dos seus reis; e Eu viverei no meio deles para sempre.

¹⁰ Filho do homem, diz à casa de Israel acerca deste templo para que se envergonhem das suas iniquidades; eles deveriam pensar acerca deste relato. ¹¹ Pois se eles estão envergonhados de tudo que fizeram, então, revela-lhes o desenho do templo, seus detalhes, suas saídas, suas entradas e todos seus decretos e suas leis. Escreve isto, diante de seus olhos, para que guardem todos os aspectos e todas as leis e as obedeçam.

¹² Esta é a lei do templo: Do pico do monte à sua borda ao redor, será santíssimo. Eis que esta é a lei do templo.

¹³ Estas serão as medidas do altar em côvados, este será um côvado regular, a largura de um palmo de comprimento. E a parte inferior ao redor do altar será um côvado profundo e sua largura será também de um côvado. A borda em todo seu contorno será de um palmo; e esta será a base do altar. ¹⁴ Da parte inferior do nível elevado, para base mais baixa do altar são dois côvados e esta base é um côvado de largura. Então, da pequena base até a base larga do altar, são quatro côvados e a base larga é um côvado de largura.

¹⁵ A lareira do altar para queimar ofertas será da altura de quatro côvados e haverá quatro chifres apontando para cima da lareira. ¹⁶ A lareira é de doze côvados de comprimento e doze côvados quadrados de largura. ¹⁷ Sua àrea é de catorze côvados de comprimento e catorze côvados de largura cada um dos quatro lados, e seu aro é a metade da largura. A lareira é um côvado de largura ao redor, com seus degraus virados para o oriente".

¹⁸ Depois, ele me disse: "Filho do homem, assim diz Yahweh Deus: Estas são as instruções do altar no dia em que eles o fizerem, para oferecerem a oferta queimada em cima dele e para espalharem sangue sobre ele. ¹⁹ Darás um bezerro por oferta pelo pecado aos sacerdotes levitas que são da descendência de Zadoque, que se chegam a Mim para Me servirem — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus.

²⁰ Então, levarás do seu sangue e o porás nos quatro chifres do altar, nos quatro lados à sua margem e no contorno ao redor; o purificarás e farás a sua expiação. ²¹ Então, levarás o bezerro de oferta pelo pecado e queima no lugar indicado no templo, do lado de fora do santuário.

²² Então, no segundo dia, oferecerás um bode macho sem mancha, os bodes serão ofertas pelo pecado; os sacerdotes purificarão o altar como purificaram o bode. ²³ Quando terminarem a purificação, oferecerão um gado sem defeito do rebanho, e um carneiro sem mancha do rebanho. ²⁴ E os oferecerão perante Yahweh; os sacerdotes deitarão sal neles e os oferecerão como oferta queimada a Yahweh.

²⁵ Prepara um bode macho como oferta pelo pecado todos os dias, durante sete dias, e os sacerdotes também prepararão um bezerro e um carneiro do rebanho. ²⁶ Eles expiarão o altar por sete dias e o purificarão e, deste modo, irão consagrá-lo. ²⁷ Eles devem cumprir esses dias e, do oitavo dia em diante, os sacerdotes prepararão as vossas ofertas queimadas e as vossas ofertas pacíficas sobre o altar, e Eu vos aceitarei — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus".

Capítulo 44

¹ Então, o homem me levou de volta para a porta do exterior do santuário, que dá para o oriente a qual estava fechada. ² E disse-me Yahweh: "Esta porta foi fechada; não será aberta. Ninguém entrará por ela, porque Yahweh, o Deus de Israel, entrou por ela, por isso estará bem fechada. ³ O rei de Israel se sentará ali para comer perante Yahweh; ele entrará pelo caminho do pórtico, e sairá pelo mesmo caminho".

⁴ Depois, ele me levou pelo caminho da porta do norte que olha para o templo. Olhei e eis que a glória de Yahweh encheu o templo de Yahweh e caí com meu rosto em terra. ⁵ Então, Yahweh me disse: "Filho do homem, pondera em teu coração; vê, com teus olhos, e ouve, com teus ouvidos, tudo que Eu estou declarando a ti, todos os estatutos do templo de Yahweh e todas as leis; considera as entradas e as saídas do santuário.

⁶ E dize aos rebeldes, da casa de Israel, 'assim diz Yahweh Deus: Que sejam suficientes para ti, todas as vossas ações abomináveis, ó casa de Israel — ⁷ trouxestes estranhos com coração incircunciso, e carne incircuncisa para estarem no Meu santuário, profanando a Minha casa, quando Me oferecestes comida, gordura e sangue — quebrastes a Minha aliança com todas as vossas ações abomináveis.

⁸ Tu não cumpriste tuas tarefas, considerando as Minhas coisas santas, mas nomeaste os outros para o fazer, e os designaste para cuidar do Meu santo lugar. ⁹ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Nenhum estranho, incircunciso de coração e incircunciso de carne, de todos aqueles que vivem no meio de Israel, entrarão no lugar santo.

¹⁰ Mas os levitas que foram para longe e se desviaram para longe de Mim, indo para os seus ídolos, eles pagarão pelos seus pecados. ¹¹ Entretanto, eles serão servos no Meu santuário, vigiando as portas da casa e servindo nela. E eles imolarão as ofertas queimadas e sacrificarão ao povo, e estarão diante dele para lhes servir. ¹² E, porque eles ofereceram os sacrifícios diante dos seus ídolos e serviram de pedra de tropeço e de pecado para casa de Israel, por isso, Eu levantarei a Minha mão para prestar um juramento contra eles — esta é a palavra de Yahweh Deus — eles terão sua punição.

¹³ Eles não virão a Mim como Meus sacerdotes, nem se aproximarão das Minhas coisas santas, nem das coisas santíssimas; pelo contrário, eles sofrerão a sua repreensão e a culpa das ações abomináveis que fizeram. ¹⁴ Mas os colocarei como guardas do trabalho na casa, por todos os seus direitos e todas as coisas que nela são feitas.

¹⁵ Então, os sacerdotes levitas, os filhos de Zadoque que cumpriram os deveres do Meu santuário quando o povo de Israel estava longe de Mim, eles virão a Mim para Me adorarem. Eles virão diante de Mim para Me oferecerem gordura e sangue — esta é a declaração de Yahweh. ¹⁶ Eles virão ao Meu santuário; se aproximarão da Minha mesa para Me adorarem e cumprirem os seus deveres para comigo.

¹⁷ Quando vierem pelas portas do átrio interior, terão que se vestir de roupas de linho e não virão de lã, dentro das portas no interior do pátio e do templo. ¹⁸ Devem estar de touca de linho nas suas cabeças e linho nas roupas de baixo, até as suas coxas. Eles não deverão vestir roupas que os fazem suar.

¹⁹ Quando saírem para o exterior do pátio, para o outro pátio do exterior para ir ao povo, deverão tirar as roupas que vestiram quando serviam; e as deixar nas câmaras santas, para que não santifiquem outras pessoas pelo contato das suas roupas sagradas.

²⁰ E não raparão as suas cabeças, nem deixarão os seus cabelos soltos, mas deverão arrumar os cabelos das suas cabeças. ²¹ Nenhum sacerdote deve beber o vinho, quando vier para dentro do pátio. ²² Nem devem casar com mulheres viúvas ou divorciadas e tomá-las como esposa, mas só as virgens da linhagem da casa de Israel ou as viúvas que foram anteriormente casadas com um sacerdote.

²³ Portanto, eles ensinarão o Meu povo a diferença entre o santo e o profano; eles os farão saber entre o impuro e o puro. ²⁴ Em caso de disputa, eles se levantarão para julgar com os Meus decretos; eles deverão ser justos. Guardarão a Minha lei e os Meus estatutos em todas as festas e celebrarão os Meus santos sábados.

²⁵ Eles não irão onde estiver um morto para que não se contaminem, a não ser seus pais ou suas mães, filho ou filha, irmão ou irmã, que não se casaram. ²⁶ Depois de o sacerdote se purificar, contará um periodo de sete dias para ele. ²⁷ No dia em que ele entrar no lugar santo, dentro do pátio interior para servir no lugar santo, trará ofertas pelo seu pecado — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus.

²⁸ Esta será a sua herança: Eu sou a sua herança e não devais dar propriedade a eles em Israel; Eu serei a propriedade deles! ²⁹ Eles comerão das ofertas, ofertas pelo pecado, ofertas pela culpa e toda coisa dedicada a Yahweh em Israel será deles.

³⁰ O melhor de todos os primeiros frutos de toda espécie e de toda oferta, tudo isso será dos sacerdotes, também dareis o melhor da vossa farinha, para que repouse a bênção sobre vossa casa. ³¹ Os sacerdotes não comerão carcaça ou animal dilacerado, seja ave ou fera.

Capítulo 45

¹ Quando usardes sortes para dividir a terra como herança, fareis uma oferta para Yahweh; esta oferta será uma santa porção da terra, vinte e cinco mil côvados de comprimento e dez mil côvados de largura. Será santo todo este lugar. ² A partir disso, será quinhentos côvados por quinhentos côvados quadrado rodeando o lugar santo, com cinquenta côvados de largura da borda ao redor.

³ A partir deste lugar santo, medireis uma porção de vinte e cinco mil côvados de comprimento e dez mil de largura; ali será o santuário, o lugar santíssimo. ⁴ Será o lugar santo na terra para os sacerdotes que servem a Yahweh, que se aproximam de Yahweh para servi-Lo; servirá de lugar para suas casas e lugar santo para o santuário. ⁵ Terão vinte cinco mil côvados de comprimento e dez mil de largura e serão as cidades dos levitas que ministram no templo.

⁶ Vós designareis uma área para cidade, cinco mil côvados de largura e vinte cinco mil de comprimento, será próximo da porção reservada para o santuário; esta cidade pertencerá a toda a casa de Israel. ⁷ A terra do príncipe será nos dois lados da área reservada para o santuário e cidade, estarão no seu ocidente e no seu oriente. O comprimento corresponderá ao comprimento de uma das porções, do ocidente para o oriente.

⁸ Esta terra será de propriedade do príncipe em Israel; Meus príncipes nunca mais oprimirão Meu povo; ao invés disso, eles darão esta terra à casa de Israel, por suas tribos.

⁹ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Basta, príncipes de Israel! Removei a violência e a opressão; fazei justiça e juízo! Parai com a opressão sobre Meu povo — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus — ¹⁰ Tereis balanças precisas, o efa justo e o bato justo. ¹¹ O efa e o bato serão da mesma quantidade, para que o bato seja a décima parte do ômer; o efa será a décima parte do ômer, as suas quantidades serão correspondentes ao ômer. ¹² O siclo será de vinte geras; sessenta siclos serão uma mina para vós.

¹³ Esta é a contribuição que ireis apresentar: a sexta parte do efa para cada ômer de trigo e dareis a sexta parte de um efa de cada cevada. ¹⁴ As leis da oferta do azeite serão a décima parte do bato de cada coro (que são dez batos), ou para cada ômer, visto que o ômer também é de dez batos. ¹⁵ Uma ovelha ou cabrito de cada rebanho de duzentos animais das regiões mais regadas de Israel será usado para oferta queimada ou oferta pacífica para fazer expiação pelo povo — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus.

¹⁶ Todo povo da terra dará esta oferta para o príncipe de Israel. ¹⁷ Será a responsabilidade do príncipe dar os animais para ofertas queimadas, ofertas de manjares, ofertas de libações nas festas e celebrações de lua nova, nos dias de sábado e em todas as festas marcadas da casa de Israel. Ele fará ofertas pelo pecado, ofertas de manjares, ofertas queimadas e ofertas pacíficas para fazer expiação pela casa de Israel.

¹⁸ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: No primeiro mês, no primeiro dia do mês, levarás um bezerro sem mancha do rebanho e o ofercerás pelo pecado no santuário. ¹⁹ O sacerdote levará do sangue da oferta pelo pecado e porá nas ombreiras da casa e nos quatro cantos da listra do altar e nas ombreiras da porta do átrio interior. ²⁰ Farás isto no sétimo dia do mês pelo pecado de cada um, por acidente ou ignorância; assim, expiarás o templo.

²¹ No primeiro mês, no décimo quarto dia do mês, haverá festa, uma festa de sete dias; comereis pão sem fermento. ²² Neste dia, o príncipe preparará, para ele mesmo e para todo povo da terra, um bezerro como oferta pelo pecado.

²³ E, nos sete dias da festa, o príncipe preparará oferta queimada para Yahweh: sete bezerros e sete carneiros sem mancha, cada dia, por sete dias e um bode cada dia como oferta pelo pecado. ²⁴ Então, o príncipe preparará oferta de manjares do efa para cada bezerro e efa para cada carneiro e um him de azeite para cada efa.

²⁵ No sétimo mês, no décimo quinto dia do mês, na festa, o príncipe oferecerá nestes sete dias: ofertas pelo pecado, ofertas queimadas, ofertas de manjares e ofertas de azeite.

Capítulo 46

¹ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: "A porta do átrio interno virado para o oriente será fechada por seis dias de trabalho, mas, no sábado, será aberta e também no dia de lua nova. ² O príncipe entrará no átrio de fora pelo caminho da porta, pela entrada de fora e parará diante da ombreira da porta do interior, enquanto os sacerdotes oferecem sua oferta queimada e a oferta pacífica. Então, ele adorará no umbral da porta interior, e sairá, mas a porta não será fechada até o anoitecer.

³ E o povo da terra também adorará diante de Yahweh na entrada desta porta aos sábados e luas novas. ⁴ As ofertas queimadas, que os príncipes oferecem a Yahweh no dia de sábado, serão seis cordeiros sem mancha e um carneiro sem mancha. ⁵ A oferta de manjares com o carneiro será um efa e a oferta de manjares com cordeiro será o que quiser dar e um him de azeite com cada efa de trigo.

⁶ No dia de lua nova, deve oferecer um bezerro sem mancha do rebanho, seis cordeiros e um carneiro sem mancha. ⁷ Ele deve fazer oferta de manjares de um efa pelo bezerro e um efa pelo carneiro e o que quiser dar pelo cordeiro e um him de azeite por cada efa de trigo. ⁸ Quando o príncipe entrar pelo caminho da porta e por seu pórtico, ele deve sair pelo mesmo caminho.

⁹ Mas, quando o povo da terra vier diante de Yahweh nas festas marcadas, aquele que entrar na porta do norte para adorar deve sair pela porta do sul; aquele que entrar pela porta do sul deve sair pela porta do norte. Ninguém deverá voltar pela porta que entrou, pois deverá sair pela porta que está em frente dele. ¹⁰ O príncipe deve estar no meio deles; quando entrarem, ele deve entrar e, quando saírem, ele deve deve sair.

¹¹ Nas festas, a oferta de manjares deve ser um efa de trigo pelo bezerro e um efa pelo carneiro e tudo que quiser dar juntamente com os cordeiros; um him de azeite por cada efa. ¹² Quando o príncipe fizer oferta voluntária ou oferta queimada ou oferta pacífica para Yahweh, a porta virada ao oriente será aberta para ele. Ele oferecerá suas ofertas queimadas ou suas ofertas pacíficas, como faz no dia de sábado. Então, sairá e, depois de ter saído, a porta será fechada.

¹³ Além disso, darás um cordeiro sem mancha de um ano como oferta queimada para Yahweh, todos os dias; e farás isso todas manhãs. ¹⁴ Juntamente com ele, darás ofertas de manjares todas as manhãs, a sexta parte de um efa e um terço de um him de azeite para misturar com a oferta de flor de farinha para Yahweh, em estatuto permanente. ¹⁵ Eles prepararão o cordeiro, a oferta de manjares e o azeite todas manhãs, uma oferta queimada permanente.

¹⁶ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: 'Se o príncipe der um presente a algum dos seus filhos, esta é sua herança. Esta será a propriedade dos seus filhos, é uma herança. ¹⁷ Mas, se der um presente de sua herança a um dos seus servos, então, isso será seu até o ano da liberdade e, depois, será devolvido ao príncipe. Sua herança será certamente para seus filhos. ¹⁸ O príncipe não tomará a herança do povo, da sua própria possessão; ele deve dar a seus filhos sua própria possessão, para que o Meu povo não seja espalhado cada homem da sua possessão".

¹⁹ Depois, o homem me trouxe pela entrada da porta para o lugar das câmaras santas dos sacerdotes, que olhavam para o norte, e eis que havia um lugar para o lado do ocidente. ²⁰ E ele me disse: “Este é o lugar onde os sacerdotes cozerão a oferta pela culpa e a oferta pelo pecado, e onde cozerão a oferta de manjares. Eles não trarão as ofertas ao átrio exterior, pois assim o povo será consagrado”.

²¹ Então, ele me trouxe para o átrio exterior e me fez passar às quatro esquinas do átrio e vi que, em todas as esquinas do átrio, havia outro átrio. ²² Nas quatro esquinas do átrio exterior, havia quatro átrios pequenos, quarenta cúbitos de comprimento e trinta de largura, todos os quatro átrios tinham as mesmas dimensões ¹ ²³ Havia uma parede feita de pedra ao redor de todos os quatro e uma cozinha abaixo da parede feita de pedra. ²⁴ E o homem me disse: "Estes são os lugares onde os servos do templo cozinharão os sacrifícios do povo".

¹A palavra em hebraico traduzida aqui por pequenos não é clara. É traduzida assim em algumas versões antigas e algumas modernas. Entretanto, outras versões modernas a traduzem diferente.

Capítulo 47

¹ Depois, o homem me levou de volta à entrada do templo e havia água que saía por baixo do limiar do templo, em direção ao oriente, pois a face do templo estava voltada para o oriente e as águas saíam do lado sul do templo, pela direita do altar. ² Então, levou-me para fora pelo portão norte e me fez dar uma volta para a porta do oriente, ali as águas corriam para o lado sul.

³ Saiu o homem para o lado do oriente, tinha uma linha de medir em sua mão; e mediu mil côvados e me fez passar pelas águas e as águas davam na altura dos tornozelos. ⁴ Novamente, ele mediu mil côvados e me atravessou, as águas davam na altura dos joelhos; outra vez, mediu mil côvados e as águas na altura da cintura; as águas eram profundas. ⁵ Em seguida, mediu ainda outros mil côvados, mas já era um rio que não se podia atravessar a nado, porque as águas já eram muito profundas e não se podia atravessar.

⁶ Então, ele me perguntou: "Viste isso, filho do homem?". E me levou para fora e me fez voltar à margem do rio. ⁷ Enquanto voltava pela margem do rio, vi muitas árvores, de um lado e do outro. ⁸ O homem me disse: "Estas águas estão indo para o oriente, descendo para Arabá; e entram no mar Morto, cujas aguás se tornarão saudáveis.

⁹ E será que por onde este rio passar toda criatura viverá e haverá muitos peixes, e, quando estas águas chegarem, elas tornarão as águas salgadas em águas saudáveis; e tudo viverá por onde o rio passar. ¹⁰ Então, acontecerá que os pescadores de En-Gedi permanecerão nas águas e haverá lugar para estender as redes de pesca em En-Eglaim. Haverá uma grande variedade de peixes no mar Morto, como os peixes do mas Grande que serão em abundância.

¹¹ Mas os pântanos e os charcos do mar salgado não serão renovados; serão para prover o sal. ¹² Junto desse rio, à sua margem, em ambos os lados, crescerão todos os tipos de árvores que dão frutos para alimento. Suas folhas não murcharão e seus frutos não deixarão de crescer. Em cada mês, as árvores darão seus frutos, porque suas águas saem do santuário. Seus frutos servirão de alimento e suas folhas servirão de cura.

¹³ Assim diz Yahweh Deus: Este será o limite que dividirás para a terra das doze tribos de Israel: José terá duas partes. ¹⁴ Vós dividireis por igual aquilo que Eu edifiquei pela Minhas mãos e jurei dar a vossos pais. Esta terra vos será por herança.

¹⁵ Este será o limite da terra: para o norte, desde o mar Grande, pelo caminho de Hetlom, e depois até Zedade. ¹ ¹⁶ Então, o limite irá de Berota para Sibraim, que está entre Damasco e Hamate e depois para Hazer-Haticom, que fica ao lado do limite de Haurã. ¹⁷ Assim, o limite partirá do mar para Hazar-Enom, na fronteira com Damasco e Hamate para o norte. Este será o limite do lado norte.

¹⁸ No lado oriental, entre Haurã e Damasco, e entre Gileade e a terra de Israel, será o rio Jordão. Tu medirás desde o limite até o mar oriental; tudo isso será o limite do oriente. ² ¹⁹ E o limite do lado sul: o sul de Tamar para as águas de Meribote-Cades, ao longo do ribeiro do Egito para o Grande Mar, este será o limite do lado sul. ²⁰ E o limite do ocidente estará o Grande Mar, onde vai em direção oposta a Hamate. Este será o limite do lado ocidental.

²¹ Assim, repartireis esta terra entre vós e para as tribos de Israel. ²² Vós a repartireis em herança, entre vós e entre os estrangeiros que vivem em vosso meio, aqueles que tiveram filhos entre vós, e que são como povo nativo entre os filhos de Israel. Terão herança convosco, entre as tribos de Israel. ²³ Então, na tribo onde o estrangeiro habitar, ali dareis a sua herança — esta é a declaração de Yahweh Deus".

¹Nota: O texto hebraico lê por meio de Hetlom e depois para Zedade , mas algumas versões modernas imitam 48.1 e acrescentam Lebo Hamate

²O texto hebraico lê Você deve medir da beira ao mar oriental . No entanto, algumas versões antigas e modernas diziam para o mar oriental até Tamar

Capítulo 48

¹ Estes são os nomes das tribos: a tribo de Dã receberá uma porção da terra; sua fronteira vai ao longo do norte da fronteira de Israel pelo caminho de Hetlom e Lebo-Hamate. Sua fronteira vai desde Hazar-Enom, ao longo do limite com Damasco ao norte e até Hamate. A fronteira de Dã será desde o lado leste a todo caminho do Grande Mar. ² E, junto ao limite de Dã, desde o leste até ao lado oeste, Aser terá uma porção. ³ E, junto ao limite de Aser, desde o lado leste para o lado oeste, Naftali terá uma porção.

⁴ E, junto ao limite de Naftali desde o leste para o lado oeste, Manassés terá um porção. ⁵ E, junto ao limite de Manassés desde o lado leste para o oeste, Efraim terá uma porção. ⁶ E, junto ao limite de Efraim desde o lado leste para o o este, Rúben terá uma porção. ⁷ E, junto do limite de Rúben desde o lado leste para o oeste, Judá terá uma porção.

⁸ A oferta da terra que fizeres será ao longo do limite com Judá, que se estende do lado leste para o oeste; e será de vinte e cinco mil côvados de largura. Seu comprimento corresponde a uma porção de tribo, desde o lado leste até o lado oeste, e o templo estará no meio dela. ⁹ Esta é terra que oferecerás a Yahweh; será de vinte e cinco mil côvados de comprimento e dez mil côvados de largura.

¹⁰ Estas serão as tarefas das atribuições da porção santa da terra: os sacerdotes terão terras separadas para eles, medindo vinte e cinco mil côvados de comprimento para o lado do norte; dez mil côvados de largura para o lado oeste; dez mil côvados de largura para o lado leste; vinte e cinco mil côvados de comprimento para o lado sul, com o lugar santo de Yahweh no meio dela. ¹¹ Isto será para a consagração dos sacerdotes da linhagem de Zadoque, que têm Me servido fielmente e não se desviaram quando o povo de Israel se desviou, como os levitas também fizeram. ¹² A oferta para eles será a porção desta santíssima terra, estendendo-se ao limite dos levitas.

¹³ A terra dos levitas, ao longo do limite da terra, dos sacerdotes será de vinte e cinco mil côvados de comprimento e dez mil côvados de largura. Todo o comprimento das duas extensões de terra será de vinte e cinco mil côvados de comprimento e vinte mil côvados de largura. ¹⁴ E eles não a venderão nem a trocarão; nenhuma destas primícias da terra de Israel podem ser transferidas a outros, pois tudo isto é santidade a Yahweh.

¹⁵ A terra restante, cinco mil côvados de largura e vinte e cinco mil côvados de comprimento, será para o uso comum da cidade, das casas e das pastagens; a cidade estará no meio dela. ¹⁶ Estas serão as medidas da cidade: o lado do norte terá quatro mil e quinhentos côvados de comprimento; o lado do sul terá quatro mil e quinhentos côvados de comprimento; o lado do leste terá quatro mil e quinhentos côvados de comprimento; e o lado do oeste terá quatro mil e quinhentos côvados de comprimento.

¹⁷ Haverá pastagem para a cidade, duzentos e cinquenta côvados em direção ao norte, duzentos e cinquenta côvados em direção ao sul, duzentos e cinquenta côvados em direção ao leste e duzentos e cinquenta côvados em direção ao oeste. ¹⁸ E, quanto à área restante da oferta santa, ela terá dez mil côvados para o leste e dez mil côvados para o oeste. Ela se estenderá ao longo do limite da santa oferta e esta produzirá alimentos para todos que trabalham na cidade.

¹⁹ O povo que serve na cidade, dentre todas as tribos de Israel, cultivará aquela terra. ²⁰ Todas as terras oferecidas medirão vinte e cinco mil côvados por vinte e cinco mil côvados. Desse modo, farás uma oferta santa da terra, juntamente com a terra da cidade.

²¹ O resto da terra, em cada lado da oferta santa e da área da cidade, será para o príncipe. O trecho da terra do príncipe do lado leste terá vinte e cinco mil côvados, desde do limite da oferta santa para o leste e o trecho do oeste será de vinte e cinco mil côvados para o limite do oeste. A oferta santa e o santuário do templo estarão no meio dele. ²² A terra que se estende da propriedade dos levitas e a área do meio da cidade será para o príncipe; estará entre o limite de Judá e o limite de Benjamim, essa terra será para o príncipe.

²³ E, quanto ao resto das tribos, as suas porções tambem irão do lado do leste para o lado oeste. Benjamim receberá uma porção. ²⁴ E, junto do limite de Benjamim desde o lado leste para o oeste, Simeão terá uma porção. ²⁵ Junto do limite de Simeão desde o lado leste para o oeste, Issacar terá uma porção. ²⁶ E, junto do limite de Issacar desde o lado leste para o lado oeste, Zebulom terá uma porção.

²⁷ Ao sul do limite de Zebulom, do lado leste para o lado oeste, a tribo de Gade terá uma porção. ²⁸ O limite sul de Gade se estenderá desde Tamar até as águas de Meribá de Cades, para ao lado do ribeiro de Egito e até ao mar Grande. ²⁹ Essa é a terra a qual lançareis sortes e será a herança das tribos de Israel. Estas serão as suas porções. Esta é a declaração de Yahweh.

³⁰ E estas são as saídas da cidade: do lado norte a medida terá quatro mil e quinhentos côvados de comprimento, ³¹ serão três portas com os nomes das tribos de Israel: uma porta de Rúben, uma porta de Judá, uma porta de Levi. ³² Do lado leste, a medida terá quatro mil e quinhentos côvados de comprimento, serão três portas: uma porta de José, uma porta de Benjamim e uma porta de Dã.

³³ No lado leste, a medida será de quatro mil e quinhentos côvados de comprimento e serão três portas: uma porta de Simeão, uma porta de Issacar e uma porta de Zebulom. ³⁴ Do lado oeste, a medida será de quatro mil e quinhento côvados e serão três portas: uma porta de Gade, uma porta de Aser e uma porta de Naftali. ³⁵ A distância ao redor da cidade será de dezoito mil côvados; desde aquele dia, o nome da cidade será chamado "Yahweh está ali".

Daniel

Capítulo 1

¹ No terceiro ano do reinado de Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, veio a Jerusalém e sitiou a cidade para lhe cortar o abastecimento. ² O Senhor deu a Nabucodonosor vitória sobre Jeoaquim, rei de Judá, e lhe deu alguns dos objetos sagrados da casa de Deus. Ele os trouxe para a terra da Babilônia, para a casa do seu deus, e colocou os objetos sagrados na casa do tesouro do seu deus.

³ O rei falou a Aspenaz, seu oficial chefe, para trazer alguns do povo de Israel, tanto da família real como da nobreza; ⁴ jovens sem defeito, de boa aparência, habilitados em toda sabedoria, cheios de conhecimento e entendimento e qualificados para servir no palácio do rei. Ele deveria ensiná-los sobre a literatura e a língua babilônica. ⁵ O rei separou para eles uma porção diária de suas iguarias e do vinho que ele bebia. Esses jovens deveriam ser treinados por três anos e, depois disso, serviriam ao rei.

⁶ Entre eles, estavam Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias, vindos de Judá. ⁷ O oficial chefe lhes deu outros nomes: a Daniel, o de Beltessazar; a Hananias, o de Sadraque; a Misael, o de Mesaque; e a Azarias, o de Abednego.

⁸ Mas, Daniel resolveu não se contaminar com as finas iguarias do rei e com o vinho que ele bebia. Assim, ele pediu permissão ao oficial chefe para que não se contaminasse. ⁹ Então, Deus deu a Daniel favor e compaixão da parte do oficial chefe. ¹⁰ E ele disse a Daniel: "Tenho medo do rei, meu senhor, pois ele ordenou quais iguarias e bebidas tu deverias comer e beber. Por que ele deveria ele te ver mais abatido que os outros jovens da tua idade? O rei poderia cortar minha cabeça por tua causa".

¹¹ Então, Daniel falou ao mordomo a quem o oficial chefe havia designado sobre ele, Hananias, Misael e Azarias. ¹² Ele disse: "Por favor, faz uma experiência conosco, teus servos, por dez dias. Dá-nos somente vegetais para comer e água para beber. ¹³ Então, compara nossa aparência com a aparência dos jovens que comem as iguarias do rei, e trata-nos, teus servos, baseado no que tu observares".

¹⁴ Assim, o mordomo concordou com Daniel em fazer isso e os testou por dez dias. ¹⁵ Ao fim dos dez dias, suas aparências estavam mais saudáveis, e eles estavam mais bem nutridos que todos os jovens que comeram das iguarias do rei. ¹⁶ Dessa forma, o mordomo retirou as iguarias e seus vinhos e lhes deu apenas vegetais.

¹⁷ Então, para esses quatro jovens, Deus deu conhecimento e discernimento em toda a literatura e sabedoria, e Daniel tinha discernimento sobre todos os tipos de visões e sonhos. ¹⁸ No fim do período dado pelo rei, o oficial chefe os trouxe perante Nabucodonosor.

¹⁹ O rei conversou com eles e, entre todo o grupo, não havia ninguém comparável a Daniel, Hananias, Misael e Azarias. Eles permaneceram perante o rei, prontos para servi-lo. ²⁰ Em todas as questões de sabedoria e entendimento que o rei lhes perguntava, ele os achou dez vezes mais sábios que todos os magos e videntes que estavam em todo o seu reino. ²¹ Daniel permaneceu ali até o primeiro ano do rei Ciro.

Capítulo 2

¹ No segundo ano do seu reinado, Nabucodonosor teve sonhos. Ele ficou com sua mente perturbada e não conseguiu dormir. ² Assim, o rei convocou os magos e os adivinhos, chamou os feiticeiros e sábios para lhes contar sobre os seus sonhos. Então, eles vieram e se apresentaram perante o rei.

³ O rei lhes disse: "Eu tive um sonho e minha mente está ansiosa para saber o seu significado". ⁴ Então, os sábios falaram ao rei em aramaico: "Ó Rei, vive para sempre! Conta o sonho para nós, os teus servos, e revelaremos o significado".

⁵ O rei respondeu aos sábios: "Este assunto já está resolvido. Se vós não me revelardes o sonho e a sua interpretação, vossos corpos serão dilacerados e vossas casas serão transformadas em um monte de lixo. ⁶ Mas, se me contardes o sonho e o seu significado, vós recebereis de mim presentes, uma recompensa e grande honra. Então, dizei-me o sonho e o seu significado".

⁷ Eles lhe pediram novamente: "Rei, conta o sonho a nós, teus servos, e lhe diremos o seu significado". ⁸ O rei respondeu: "Eu tenho certeza de que vós quereis mais tempo, porque sabeis da minha firme decisão. ⁹ Mas, se não me contardes o meu sonho, só há uma sentença para vós. Vós decidistes preparar palavras falsas e enganosas que, juntos, concordastes em dizer-me até que eu mude de ideia. Então, dizei-me o sonho e eu saberei que vós podeis interpretá-lo para mim".

¹⁰ Os sábios responderam ao rei: "Não há nenhum homem na terra capaz de atender à exigência do rei. Não há rei grande e poderoso que tenha exigido uma coisa dessas de algum mago, ou de qualquer adivinho, ou de um sábio. ¹¹ O que o rei exige é difícil e não há ninguém que possa dizer ao rei, exceto os deuses e eles não vivem entre os humanos".

¹² Isso fez o rei ficar irado e muito enfurecido, e ele deu ordens para destruir, na Babilônia, todos aqueles que eram conhecidos por sua sabedoria. ¹³ Então, saiu um decreto dizendo que todos aqueles conhecidos por sua sabedoria seriam condenados à morte. Por causa desse decreto, eles procuraram Daniel e seus amigos para que fossem condenados à morte também.

¹⁴ Então, Daniel respondeu com prudência e discrição para Arioque, o comandante do corpo da guarda do rei, que havia vindo matar todos aqueles que eram conhecidos na Babilônia por sua sabedoria. ¹⁵ Daniel perguntou ao comandante do rei: "Por que o decreto do rei é tão urgente?". Então, Arioque disse a Daniel o que havia acontecido. ¹⁶ Daniel foi e solicitou uma audiência com o rei para que pudesse lhe apresentar a interpretação.

¹⁷ Então, Daniel foi para sua casa e explicou a Hananias, Misael e Azarias o que havia acontecido. ¹⁸ Ele os exortou a buscarem a misericórdia do Deus do céu acerca deste mistério, para que eles não fossem mortos juntamente com os outros sábios da Babilônia.

¹⁹ Naquela noite, o mistério foi revelado a Daniel, numa visão. Então, Daniel louvou ao Deus do céu ²⁰ e disse: "Louvado seja o nome de Deus para todo o sempre, pois toda a sabedoria e todo poder pertencem a Ele.

²¹ Ele muda os tempos e as estações, Ele remove reis e coloca reis em seus tronos. Ele dá sabedoria ao sábio e conhecimento àqueles que têm entendimento. ²² Ele revela as coisas profundas e escondidas, porque Ele sabe o que está em trevas, e a luz vive com Ele.

²³ Deus dos meus pais, eu te agradeço e te louvo pela sabedoria e por tudo o que me deste. Agora, Tu me fizeste saber o que te pedimos; Tu nos fizeste saber o assunto que concerne ao rei".

²⁴ Então, Daniel foi ver Arioque (aquele que o rei designou para matar todos os sábios na Babilônia). Ele foi e lhe disse: "Não mates os sábios na Babilônia. Leva-me ao rei e eu lhe mostrarei a interpretação do seu sonho".

²⁵ Rapidamente, Arioque trouxe Daniel à presença do rei e lhe disse: "Encontrei, entre os exilados de Judá, um homem que vai revelar o significado do sonho do rei. ²⁶ O rei disse a Daniel (que era chamado Beltessazar): "Tu és capaz de me revelar o sonho que tive e o seu significado?".

²⁷ Daniel respondeu: "O mistério que o rei requer não pode ser revelado nem por aqueles que têm a sabedoria, nem pelos adivinhos, nem por mágicos ou por astrólogos. ²⁸ No entanto, há um Deus que vive no céu, que revela os mistérios, e Ele te fez conhecer, rei Nabucodonosor, o que irá acontecer nos dias que virão. Estes foram os teus sonhos e as visões de tua mente, enquanto tu estavas deitado em tua cama.

²⁹ Quanto a ti, ó rei, teus pensamentos sobre tua cama eram sobre coisas futuras, e Aquele que revela segredos te fez saber o que está prestes a acontecer. ³⁰ Quanto a mim, este mistério não me foi revelado por eu ter mais sabedoria que qualquer outra pessoa viva. Este segredo me foi revelado para que tu, rei, possas entender o significado e, assim, conhecer os pensamentos profundos dentro de ti.

³¹ Rei, tu olhaste para cima e viste uma grande estátua. Essa estátua, que era muito poderosa e brilhante, estava diante de ti. Seu brilho era tremendo. ³² A cabeça da estátua era feita de ouro fino. O peito e os braços eram feitos de prata. Seu ventre e coxas eram feitos de bronze, ³³ e suas pernas eram feitas de ferro. Seus pés eram, em parte, de ferro e, em parte, de barro.

³⁴ Tu olhavas para cima e uma pedra foi cortada, apesar de não ter sido por mãos humanas, e atingiu a estátua nos pés de ferro e argila, e os destruiu. ³⁵ Então, o ferro, a argila, o bronze, a prata e o ouro foram quebrados em pedaços ao mesmo tempo, tornando-se como palha de eiras no verão. O vento os levou embora e não houve mais vestígios restantes deles. Mas a pedra que feriu a estátua se tornou uma grande montanha e encheu toda a terra.

³⁶ Esse foi o teu sonho. Agora diremos ao rei o seu significado. ³⁷ Tu, rei, és rei dos reis a quem o Deus dos céus tem dado o reino, o poder, a força e a honra. ³⁸ Ele tem dado, em tuas mãos, o lugar onde os seres humanos vivem. Ele tem dado todos os animais dos campos e os pássaros dos céus em tuas mãos, e tem feito de ti governante sobre todos eles. Tu és a cabeça de ouro da estátua.

³⁹ Depois de ti, outro reino inferior ao teu se levantará, e ainda um terceiro reino de bronze governará sobre toda a terra.

⁴⁰ Haverá um quarto reino, forte como o ferro, porque o ferro quebra outras coisas em pedaços, ele despedaça tudo. O reino despedaçará todas as coisas e as esmagará.

⁴¹ Assim como tu viste que os pés e os dedos eram feitos, em parte, de barro e, em parte, de ferro, esse será um reino dividido; algumas das forças de ferro estarão nele, assim como viste uma mistura com barro. ⁴² Como os dedos dos pés eram, em parte, feitos de ferro e, em parte, feitos de barro, da mesma forma o reino será, em parte, forte e, em parte, frágil. ⁴³ Assim como viste o ferro misturado com barro, as pessoas também serão uma mistura; elas não ficarão juntas, assim como o ferro não se mistura com o barro.

⁴⁴ Nos dias daqueles reis, o Deus do céu levantará um reino que nunca será destruído, nem mesmo será conquistado por outro povo. Ele quebrará os outros reinos em pedaços e porá um fim em todos eles, e permanecerá para sempre. ⁴⁵ Assim como viste, uma pedra foi cortada da montanha, mas não por mãos humanas, e ela quebrou em pedaços o ferro, o bronze, o barro, a prata, e o ouro; o grande Deus te fez saber, rei, o que acontecerá depois disso. O sonho é verdadeiro e a interpretação é confiável".

⁴⁶ O rei Nabucodonosor caiu sobre sua face perante Daniel e o honrou; ele ordenou que uma oferta fosse feita e que incenso fosse oferecido a ele. ⁴⁷ O rei disse a Daniel: "Verdadeiramente teu Deus é o Deus dos deuses, o Senhor dos reis, e o único que revela segredos, pois fostes capaz de revelar esse mistério".

⁴⁸ Então, o rei fez Daniel altamente honrado e deu a ele muitos presentes maravilhosos. Ele o fez governador sobre toda a província da Babilônia e também o fez governador chefe sobre todos os demais sábios da Babilônia. ⁴⁹ A pedido de Daniel, o rei nomeou Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego administradores sobre toda a província da Babilônia. Mas Daniel permaneceu no palácio do rei.

Capítulo 3

¹ O rei Nabucodonosor fez uma estátua de ouro que media sessenta côvados de altura e seis côvados de largura. Ele a levantou na planície de Dura, na província da Babilônia. ² Então, Nabucodonosor enviou mensagens aos sátrapas, prefeitos, governadores, conselheiros, tesoureiros, juízes, magistrados e a todos os oficiais das províncias, para que viessem à dedicação da estátua que ele havia levantado.

³ Então, os sátrapas, prefeitos, governadores, conselheiros, tesoureiros, juízes, magistrados e todos os oficiais das províncias se juntaram para a dedicação da estátua que o rei Nabucodonosor erguera. Todos estavam de pé diante da estátua. ⁴ Então, o arauto clamou em alta voz: "Ordena-se a todos os povos, nações e línguas, ⁵ que, ao ouvirem o som da trombeta, da flauta, da harpa, da cítara, do saltério, da gaita de foles e de todo tipo de música, se prostrem e adorem a estátua de ouro que o rei Nabucodonosor ergueu.

⁶ Qualquer um que não se prostrar e não a adorar, será lançado na mesma hora numa fornalha de fogo ardente". ⁷ Então, quando todos os povos ouviram os sons da trombeta, da flauta, da harpa, da cítara, do saltério, da gaita de foles e de todo tipo de música, todos os povos, nações e línguas se prostraram e adoraram a estátua de ouro que o rei Nabucodonosor levantara.

⁸ Nessa hora, alguns caldeus vieram e fizeram acusações contra os judeus. ⁹ Eles disseram ao rei Nabucodonosor: "Ó rei, vive para sempre!". ¹⁰ O rei fez um decreto que toda pessoa que ouvisse os sons da trombeta, da flauta, da harpa, da cítara, do saltério, da gaita de fole e de todo tipo de música deveria prostrar-se e adorar a estátua de ouro.

¹¹ Quem não se prostrasse e adorasse deveria ser lançado numa fornalha de fogo ardente. ¹² Há alguns judeus que designaste para os negócios da província da Babilônia — seus nomes são Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego. Esses homens, ó rei, não fazem caso de ti, pois não adoram nem servem aos teus deuses, nem se prostram diante da estátua de ouro que ergueste".

¹³ Então, Nabucodonosor, cheio de ira, ordenou que Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego fossem trazidos a ele. Assim, esses homens foram trazidos diante do rei. ¹⁴ Nabucodonosor lhes perguntou: "Vós decidistes, Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego, não adorar aos meus deuses, nem se prostrar diante da estátua de ouro que levantei?

¹⁵ Agora, se estais prontos, quando ouvirdes os sons da trombeta, da flauta, da harpa, da cítara, do saltério, da gaita de fole e de todo tipo de música, vos prostrareis e adorareis a estátua que fiz, e tudo ficará bem. Mas, se não adorardes, sereis imediatamente lançados em uma fornalha de fogo ardente. E quem é o deus que será capaz de vos salvar das minhas mãos?".

¹⁶ Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego responderam ao rei: "Ó Nabucodonosor, não temos necessidade de te responder sobre esse assunto. ¹⁷ Se há uma resposta, é que o nosso Deus, a Quem servimos, é capaz de nos livrar da fornalha de fogo ardente, e Ele nos livrará da tua mão, ó rei. ¹⁸ Mas, se não, fica sabendo, ó rei, que não adoraremos os vossos deuses e não nos prostraremos diante da estátua de ouro que levantaste".

¹⁹ Então, Nabucodonosor se encheu de ira e seu rosto mudou contra Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego. Ele ordenou que a fornalha fosse aquecida sete vezes mais do que normalmente se aquecia. ²⁰ Então, ordenou a alguns homens fortes do seu exército que amarrassem Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego e os jogassem na fornalha de fogo ardente.

²¹ Eles foram amarrados ainda vestindo suas vestes — túnicas, turbantes e outras roupas —, e jogados na fornalha de fogo ardente. ²² A ordem do rei foi estritamente seguida, e a fornalha estava tão quente que as chamas mataram os homens que carregaram Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego. ²³ Estes três homens, Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego, caíram amarrados dentro da fornalha de fogo ardente.

²⁴ Então, o rei Nabucodonosor se espantou e se levantou rapidamente. Ele perguntou a seus conselheiros: "Não jogamos três homens amarrados no fogo?". Eles responderam ao rei: "Certamente, rei". ²⁵ Ele disse: "Mas vejo quatro homens que não estão amarrados andando no fogo, e eles não estão feridos. O brilho do quarto é como de um filho dos deuses".

²⁶ Então, Nabucodonosor chegou perto da porta da fornalha de fogo ardente e gritou: "Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego, servos do Deus Altíssimo, saí! Vinde para cá!". Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego saíram do fogo. ²⁷ Os sátrapas, prefeitos, governadores e conselheiros do rei que estavam ali reunidos viram esses homens. O fogo não feriu seus corpos; os cabelos de suas cabeças não estavam chamuscados; suas vestes não foram prejudicadas e não havia cheiro de fumaça neles.

²⁸ Nabucodonosor disse: "Louvemos o Deus de Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego, que enviou o Seu anjo e livrou os Seus servos. Eles confiaram Nele quando deixaram de lado a minha ordem, e entregaram os seus corpos em vez de adorar ou se prostrar a qualquer deus, exceto seu Deus.

²⁹ Portanto, eu decreto que qualquer povo, nação ou língua que fale alguma coisa contra o Deus de Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego seja dilacerado, e que suas casas sejam transformadas em monturos, porque não há outro deus que seja capaz de salvar como Este". ³⁰ Então, o rei fez prosperar a Sadraque, Mesaque e Abednego na província de Babilônia.

Capítulo 4

¹ O rei Nabucodonosor enviou este decreto a todos os povos, nações, e línguas que viviam sobre a terra: "Que a vossa paz seja multiplicada. ² Pareceu-me bem contar a vocês acerca dos sinais e maravilhas que me fez o Altíssimo. ³ Quão grandes são os Seus sinais e quão poderosas são as Suas maravilhas! Seu Reino é um reino eterno e o Seu domínio vai de geração a geração".

⁴ Eu, Nabucodonosor, vivia alegremente em minha casa e desfrutava de prosperidade no meu palácio. ⁵ Mas tive um sonho e fiquei com medo. Enquanto eu estava ali deitado, as imagens que eu vi e as visões em minha mente me perturbaram. ⁶ Então, expedi um decreto para que trouxessem diante de mim todos os sábios da Babilônia, a fim de que interpretassem o sonho para mim.

⁷ Então, vieram os magos, os adivinhadores, os sábios e os astrólogos. Eu lhes contei o sonho, mas eles não puderam interpretá-lo. ⁸ Por fim, veio Daniel (chamado Beltessazar, segundo o nome do meu deus, e em quem está o espírito dos deuses santos) e contei-lhe o sonho. ⁹ "Beltessazar, chefe dos magos, eu sei que o espírito dos deuses santos está em ti, e que nenhum mistério é muito difícil para ti. Dize-me o que eu vi em meu sonho e o que significa".

¹⁰ Estas foram as visões que tive em minha mente enquanto dormia: olhei e havia uma árvore no meio da terra e ela era muito alta. ¹¹ A árvore cresceu e se tornou forte. O seu topo alcançou os céus e podia ser vista até os confins da terra. ¹² Suas folhas eram lindas, seus frutos eram abundantes e nela havia comida para todos. Os animais do campo achavam sombra sob ela e as aves do céu viviam em seus ramos. Todas as criaturas se alimentavam dela.

¹³ Enquanto estava deitado em minha cama, eu vi, em minha mente, um mensageiro descendo dos céus. ¹⁴ Ele clamou e disse: 'Abatei a árvore e cortai seus ramos, sacudi as suas folhas e espalhai seus frutos. Que os animais fujam dela e os pássaros voem para longe de seus ramos.

¹⁵ Deixai o tronco e suas raízes na terra, cercai-a com uma cinta de ferro e bronze no meio da grama verde do campo; que seja molhada com o orvalho dos céus; que viva com os animais entre as plantas da terra. ¹⁶ Que a sua mente seja mudada, deixando de ser humana, e lhe seja dada uma mente de animal, até que se passem sete anos.

¹⁷ Esta decisão veio do decreto apresentado pelo mensageiro. É uma decisão tomada pelo Santíssimo, para que aqueles que estão vivos saibam que o Altíssimo governa sobre os reinos dos povos, e os dá a quem Ele quer, para os governar, até ao homem mais humilde'. ¹⁸ Eu, rei Nabuconodosor, tive esse sonho. Agora tu, Beltessazar, conta-me a interpretação, porque nenhum dos sábios no meu reino pode o interpretar para mim. Mas tu és capaz de fazê-lo, porque o espírito dos deuses santos está em ti".

¹⁹ Então Daniel, também chamado de Beltessazar, ficou triste por algum tempo, seus pensamentos o perturbaram. O rei disse: "Beltessazar, não deixe que o sonho ou sua interpretação te perturbem". Beltessazar respondeu: "Meu senhor, que este sonho seja para aqueles que te odeiam; que esta interpretação seja para os teus inimigos.

²⁰ A árvore que tu viste — a que cresceu e se tornou forte, e cujo topo alcançou os céus, e que podia ser vista até os confins da terra, ²¹ cujas folhas eram lindas, e cujos frutos eram abundantes, e nela havia comida para todos e, debaixo dela, animais do campo achavam sombra, e na qual as aves do céu viviam — ²² tu és esta árvore, rei. Tu cresceste e te fortaleceste. Tuas grandezas se espalharam alcançando os céus e tua autoridade alcançou os confins da terra.

²³ Tu, rei, viste um santo mensageiro que desceu do céu e disse: 'Cortai a árvore e a destruí, mas deixai o tronco e suas raízes na terra, cercai-a com cinta de ferro e bronze, no meio da grama verde do campo. Que seja molhada com o orvalho dos céus. Que ela viva com os animais selvagens no campo até que sete anos se passem'.

²⁴ Esta é a interpretação, rei. Este é o decreto do Altíssimo que te alcançou, ó rei e meu senhor. ²⁵ Tu serás expulso do meio dos homens e viverás com os animais do campo; comerás grama como um boi e serás molhado com o orvalho dos céus. Sete anos se passarão até que tu saibas que o Altíssimo governa sobre os reinos dos povos e Ele os dá a quem quiser.

²⁶ Como foi ordenado que fossem deixados o tronco e as raízes da árvore, da mesma forma, o teu reino será devolvido a ti a partir do momento em que tu aprenderes que é o céu que governa. ²⁷ Portanto, ó rei, aceita o meu conselho: deixa de pecar e faz o que é certo. Afasta-te de tuas iniquidades e mostra misericórdia ao oprimido. Talvez, assim, a tua prosperidade seja prolongada".

²⁸ Todas essas coisas aconteceram ao rei Nabucodonosor. ²⁹ Doze meses depois, ele estava caminhando no palácio real, na Babilônia, ³⁰ e disse: "Esta não é a grande Babilônia que eu construí para ser minha residência real, para a glória da minha majestade?".

³¹ Enquanto o rei ainda estava dizendo isso, uma voz veio do céu: "rei Nabucodonosor, foi decretado que este reino foi tirado de ti. ³² Tu serás afastado das pessoas e o seu lar será com os animais do campo. Tu comerás grama como o boi. Sete anos se passarão até reconheceres que o Altíssimo governa sobre os reinos dos povos, e os dá a quem Ele deseja".

³³ Este decreto contra Nabucodonosor se cumpriu imediatamente. Ele foi expulso do meio do povo, comeu grama como boi e o seu corpo foi molhado com o orvalho dos céus. O seu cabelo cresceu como as penas das águias e as suas unhas, como as das aves.

³⁴ "Ao fim dos dias, eu, Nabucodonosor, levantei meus olhos para o céu e a minha sanidade voltou a mim. Eu louvei ao Altíssimo, honrei e glorifiquei Àquele que vive para sempre, pois Seu reinado é um reinado eterno. O Seu reino dura de geração em geração.

³⁵ Para Ele, todos os habitantes da terra são considerados como nada; Ele faz o que Lhe apraz entre os exércitos do céu e os habitantes da terra. Ninguém pode pará-Lo, nem desafiá-Lo. Ninguém pode dizer-Lhe: 'Por que Tu fizeste isso?'.

³⁶ No mesmo momento em que a minha sanidade retornou, minha majestade e o meu esplendor me foram devolvidos para a glória do meu reino. Os meus conselheiros e os meus nobres solicitaram o meu favor. Fui colocado de volta no meu trono e ainda mais grandeza me foi dada. ³⁷ Agora eu, Nabucodonosor, louvo, exalto e honro ao Rei do céu, porque todas as Suas obras são retas e Seus caminhos são justos. Ele pode humilhar aqueles que andam em orgulho".

Capítulo 5

¹ Belsazar, o rei, fez um grande banquete para mil de seus nobres e bebeu vinho em frente de todos os mil homens. ² Enquanto Belsazar provava o vinho, deu ordens para que trouxessem as taças feitas de ouro e prata que Nabucodonosor, seu pai, havia tirado do templo em Jerusalém, para que ele, seus nobres, suas esposas e concubinas pudessem beber.

³ Os servos trouxeram as taças de ouro que haviam sido tiradas do templo de Israel, a casa de Deus, em Jerusalém. O rei, seus nobres, suas esposas e suas concubinas beberam nelas. ⁴ Eles beberam o vinho e louvaram seus ídolos feitos de ouro, prata, bronze, ferro, madeira e pedra.

⁵ Naquele momento, os dedos de uma mão humana apareceram diante do castiçal, e escreveram no reboco da parede do palácio do rei. O rei podia ver parte da mão enquanto escrevia. ⁶ Então, a fisionomia do rei mudou e seus pensamentos o perturbaram; suas pernas não o puderam suportar, e seus joelhos ficaram batendo um no outro.

⁷ O rei gritou, ordenando que trouxessem os adivinhos, sábios e astrólogos. O rei disse aos sábios da Babilônia: "Aquele que explicar esta inscrição e a interpretar, será vestido de púrpura e terá uma corrente de ouro no pescoço. Ele terá a autoridade como do terceiro governante do reino".

⁸ Então, todos os homens do rei, que eram conhecidos por sua sabedoria vieram, mas não puderam ler a escrita ou explicar o significado ao rei. ⁹ Então, o rei Belsazar ficou muito alarmado e sua fisionomia mudou. Seus nobres estavam perplexos.

¹⁰ Ao saber o que o rei e seus nobres estavam falando, a rainha entrou no salão do banquete e disse: "Rei, vive para sempre! Não deixes que teus pensamentos te perturbem. Não deixes que tua fisionomia mude.

¹¹ Há um homem em teu reino que tem o espírito dos santos deuses. Nos dias de teu pai, foram encontrados nele luz, entendimento e sabedoria como a sabedoria dos deuses. O rei Nabucodonosor, teu pai, fez dele chefe dos magos, assim como chefe dos adivinhos, dos sábios e dos astrólogos. ¹² Neste Daniel, ao qual o rei pôs o nome de Beltessazar, foram encontrados um espírito excelente, conhecimento, entendimento para interpretar sonhos, explicar enigmas e resolver problemas. Agora, chama Daniel e ele te dirá o significado do que está escrito".

¹³ Então, Daniel foi trazido diante do rei. O rei lhe disse: "Tu és Daniel, um dos exilados de Judá, ao qual meu pai, o rei, tirou de Judá. ¹⁴ Eu ouvi sobre ti, que o espírito dos deuses está em ti e que a luz, o entendimento e a excelente sabedoria foram achados em ti.

¹⁵ Os sábios e os adivinhos acabaram de ser trazidos à minha presença para ler a escrita e saber interpretar para mim, mas eles não puderam fazer conhecida a interpretação disso. ¹⁶ Eu ouvi que tu podes dar interpretações e resolver problemas. Agora, se tu puderes ler a escrita e me dizer seu significado, serás vestido de púrpura e terás uma corrente de ouro no pescoço, e terás a autoridade como do terceiro governante do reino".

¹⁷ Então, Daniel respondeu diante do rei: "Que os teus presentes fiquem contigo e dá tuas recompensas para outra pessoa. Entretanto, eu lerei a escrita para ti, rei, e direi o significado. ¹⁸ Quanto a ti, ó rei, o Deus Altíssimo deu a Nabucodonosor, teu pai, o reino, a grandeza, a glória e a majestade. ¹⁹ Por causa da grandeza que Deus deu a ele, todos os povos, todas as nações e línguas tremiam e temiam diante dele. Ele matava aqueles que desejava que morressem e mantinha vivos aqueles que ele desejava que vivessem. Ele exaltava e abatia a quem queria.

²⁰ Mas, quando o seu coração foi arrogante e seu espírito se endureceu para agir presunçosamente, ele foi derrubado de seu trono real e sua majestade lhe foi tirada. ²¹ Ele foi expulso do meio dos homens, teve a mente semelhante a de um animal e viveu com os jumentos selvagens. Ele comeu grama como os bois e seu corpo foi molhado com orvalho do céu, até que aprendeu que o Deus Altíssimo governa sobre os reinos do povo e constitui sobre eles a quem deseja.

²² Mas tu, seu filho, Belsazar, não humilhaste o teu coração, mesmo que soubesses de tudo isso. ²³ Tu te elevaste contra o Senhor do céu. Da sua Casa foram trazidas as taças que tu, teus nobres, suas esposas e suas concubinas beberam vinho, e tu deste louvores aos ídolos feitos de prata, ouro, bronze, ferro, madeira e pedra — ídolos que não veem, não ouvem nem sabem de nada. Tu não honraste o Deus que segura a tua respiração em Sua mão e que conhece todos os teus caminhos. ²⁴ Então, Deus enviou uma mão de Sua presença e fez a inscrição.

²⁵ Esta é a escrita que foi feita: Mene, Mene, Tequel e Parsim. ²⁶ Este é o significado: Mene: Deus enumerou teu reino e trouxe fim a ele. ²⁷ Tequel: foste pesado na balança e encontrado em falta. ²⁸ Peres: teu reino será dividido e entregue aos medos e persas".

²⁹ Então, Belsazar deu uma ordem e eles vestiram Daniel com púrpura. Uma corrente de ouro foi colocada em seu pescoço e o rei fez uma proclamação sobre ele, de que teria a autoridade como o terceiro maior governante do reino. ³⁰ Aquela noite, Belsazar, o rei da Babilônia, foi morto, ³¹ e Dario, o medo, recebeu o reino, quando tinha cerca de sessenta e dois anos de idade.

Capítulo 6

¹ Dario decidiu colocar sobre o reino cento e vinte governadores de províncias que governariam sobre todo o reino. ² Sobre eles, havia três administradores chefes e Daniel era um deles. Esses administradores chefes foram colocados para supervisionar os governadores das províncias, para que o rei não tivesse perdas. ³ Daniel se destacava sobre os outros administradores chefes e os governadores provinciais, porque tinha um espírito extraordinário. O rei planejava o colocar sobre todo o reino.

⁴ Então, os outros administradores chefes e os governadores das províncias procuraram por erros no trabalho que Daniel fazia para o reino, mas não puderam achar nenhuma corrupção ou falha no seu trabalho, porque ele era fiel; nenhum erro ou negligência foram encontrados nele. ⁵ Então, aqueles homens disseram: "Não conseguimos achar nenhuma razão para nos queixarmos desse Daniel, a não ser que achemos algo contra ele em relação à lei do seu Deus".

⁶ Então, esses administradores e governadores apresentaram um plano ao rei. Eles lhe falaram: "Rei Dario, vive para sempre! ⁷ Todos os administradores chefes do reino, os governadores regionais, os governadores provinciais, os conselheiros e os governadores consultaram juntos e decidiram que tu, o rei, deves fazer um decreto e deves fazer cumpri-lo, para que quem fizer um pedido para qualquer deus ou homem, dentro de trinta dias, senão a ti, rei, essa pessoa seja lançada na cova dos leões.

⁸ Agora, rei, faz um decreto e assina o documento para que não possa ser alterado, como manda a lei dos medos e persas, de modo que este não possa ser revogado". ⁹ Então, o rei Dario assinou o documento tornando o decreto em uma lei.

¹⁰ Quando Daniel soube que o documento havia sido assinado como lei, ele foi para dentro da sua casa — suas janelas ficavam abertas em seu quarto superior em direção a Jerusalém —, dobrou os joelhos, como fazia três vezes ao dia, orou e deu graças a Deus, como antes. ¹¹ Então, esses homens, que juntos formaram a conspiração, viram Daniel fazer pedidos e clamar por ajuda a Deus.

¹² Então, eles se aproximaram do rei e falaram com ele sobre seu decreto: "Tu não fizeste um decreto no qual todos os que fizessem um pedido para qualquer deus ou homem durante os próximos trinta dias, exceto a ti, ó rei, deveriam ser jogados na cova dos leões?". O rei respondeu: "O assunto está resolvido, conforme foi indicado pela lei dos medos e persas, que não poderá ser anulada".

¹³ Então, eles responderam ao rei: "Aquele Daniel, uma das pessoas do exílio de Judá, não dá atenção a ti, rei, ou ao decreto que assinaste. Ele ora ao Deus dele três vezes ao dia". ¹⁴ Quando o rei ouviu isso, ficou terrivelmente angustiado e pensou em como poderia livrar Daniel dessa regra. Ele trabalhou até o pôr do sol para tentar salvar Daniel.

¹⁵ Aqueles homens, que juntos formaram a conspiração, se reuniram com o rei e lhe disseram: "Sabe, rei, esta é uma lei dos medos e persas, que nenhum decreto ou estatuto que o rei estabelecer pode ser mudado".

¹⁶ Então, o rei deu uma ordem, e trouxeram Daniel e o jogaram na cova dos leões. O rei disse a Daniel: "Que o teu Deus, ao Qual tu serves continuamente, te livre dos leões".

¹⁷ Uma pedra foi colocada sobre a entrada da cova, e o rei selou a cova com o seu anel e com os anéis dos seus nobres, para que nada pudesse ser mudado a respeito de Daniel. ¹⁸ Então, o rei foi ao seu palácio e, durante a noite, ficou em jejum. Nenhum entretenimento foi trazido a sua presença, e ele não conseguiu dormir.

¹⁹ Então, no dia seguinte cedo, o rei se levantou e rapidamente foi até a cova dos leões. ²⁰ Quando chegou perto da cova, chamou por Daniel com a voz triste, e disse: "Daniel, servo do Deus Vivo, o teu Deus, a Quem serves continuamente, foi capaz de te salvar dos leões?".

²¹ Então, Daniel disse ao rei: "Ó rei, vive para sempre! ²² O meu Deus mandou um anjo e fechou a boca dos leões, e eles não me machucaram, porque fui achado inocente perante Ele e também perante ti, rei, e eu não te fiz mal algum".

²³ O rei ficou muito feliz e ordenou que tirassem Daniel da cova. Então, Daniel foi tirado da cova. Nenhum dano foi encontrado nele, pois ele havia confiado no seu Deus.

²⁴ O rei deu uma ordem e eles trouxeram aqueles homens que haviam acusado Daniel e os jogaram na cova dos leões — eles, seus filhos e suas esposas. Antes de alcançarem o chão, os leões os atacaram e quebraram todos os seus ossos em pedaços. ²⁵ Então, o rei Dario escreveu para todos os povos, todas as nações e línguas que vivem em toda a terra: "Que a paz aumente em vós.

²⁶ Faço um decreto, em todo o domínio de meu reino, pelo qual os homens tremam e temam perante o Deus de Daniel, pois Ele é o Deus Vivo e Ele vive para sempre, e o Seu reino nunca será destruído; Seu domínio não terá fim. ²⁷ Ele nos protege e nos salva; Ele faz sinais e maravilhas nos céus e na terra; Ele protegeu Daniel do poder dos leões".

²⁸ Então, Daniel prosperou durante o reinado de Dario e durante o reinado de Ciro, o persa.

Capítulo 7

¹ No primeiro ano de Belsazar, rei da Babilônia, Daniel teve um sonho e visões em sua mente, enquanto estava deitado em sua cama. Então, ele escreveu o que viu em seu sonho e registrou os mais importantes acontecimentos. ² Daniel explicou: "Em minha visão à noite, eu vi que os quatro ventos do céu agitavam o mar Grande. ³ Quatro grandes animais, cada um diferente do outro, ergueram-se do mar.

⁴ O primeiro era semelhante a um leão, mas tinha asas de águia. Enquanto eu estava olhando, as asas lhe foram arrancadas, e o mesmo foi erguido do chão, para se firmar sobre os dois pés, como um homem. A mente de um homem lhe foi dada. ⁵ Houve um segundo animal, semelhante a um urso, e estava curvado, e tinha três costelas entre os dentes da sua boca. E lhe foi dito: 'Te levanta e devora multidões'.

⁶ Depois disso, eu olhei novamente. Havia um outro animal que era semelhante a um leopardo. Sobre suas costas havia quatro asas, como asas de uma ave. Ele tinha quatro cabeças, e lhe foi dada autoridade para governar. ⁷ Depois disso, eu vi, em meu sonho à noite, um quarto animal, terrível, assustador e muito forte. Ele tinha grandes dentes de ferro; devorava e quebrava em pedaços tudo que sobejava. Ele era diferente dos outros animais e tinha dez chifres.

⁸ Enquanto eu observava os chifres, vi outro chifre, que crescia entre eles, um chifre pequeno. Três dos primeiros chifres foram arrancados pelas raízes. Vi, nesse chifre, olhos semelhantes ao de um homem, e uma boca, que falava com arrogância.

⁹ Permaneci olhando: eis que surgiram tronos, e o Ancião dos dias se assentou. Suas vestes eram brancas como a neve e os cabelos da sua cabeça, como a pura lã; seu trono era como chamas de fogo e as rodas dele, como fogo ardente.

¹⁰ Um rio de fogo fluía diante dele; milhões o serviam, e centenas de milhões estavam diante dele. O tribunal estava em sessão e os livros foram abertos.

¹¹ Permaneci observando, por causa das palavras arrogantes pronunciadas pelo chifre. Eu olhava, enquanto o animal era morto, e o seu corpo destruído e entregue para ser queimado. ¹² Quanto aos outros quatro animais, sua autoridade lhes foi tirada, porém suas vidas foram prolongadas por um período de tempo.

¹³ Em minhas visões, naquela noite, vi alguém, semelhante ao filho do homem, vindo com as nuvens do céu; então, ele se aproximou do Ancião de dias e foi apresentado diante Dele. ¹⁴ Autoridade, glória e poder real Lhe foram dados para que todos os povos, todas as nações e línguas Lhe servissem. Sua autoridade para governar é uma autoridade eterna, que não passará, e Seu reino nunca será destruído.

¹⁵ Quanto a mim, Daniel, meu espírito se abateu dentro de mim, e as visões que eu vi em minha mente me perturbaram. ¹⁶ Aproximei-me de um deles e pedi para me mostrar o significado de todas essas coisas.

¹⁷ Esses grandes animais, os quatro, são quatro reis que se levantarão sobre a terra. ¹⁸ Mas os santos do Altíssimo receberão o reino e eles o possuirão para sempre e sempre.

¹⁹ Então, eu desejei saber mais sobre o quarto animal — que era tão diferente dos outros e terrível com os seus dentes de ferro e garras de bronze — ele devorava, despedaçava e pisoteava o que era deixado aos seus pés. ²⁰ Eu queria saber sobre os dez chifres, em sua cabeça, e sobre o outro chifre, que cresceu quando caíram os outros três. Eu queria saber sobre o chifre que tinha olhos e sobre a boca que falava com arrogância sobre grandes coisas, os quais pareciam ser maiores que seus companheiros.

²¹ Enquanto eu olhava, o chifre travava uma guerra contra os santos e os derrotava, ²² até que o Ancião de dias veio, e a justiça foi dada aos santos do Altíssimo. Então, chegou o tempo em que os santos receberam o reino.

²³ Isto é o que aquela pessoa disse: 'Quanto ao quarto animal, será um quarto reino, na terra, que será diferente de todos os outros reinos. Ele devorará toda a terra, a pisoteará e a quebrará em pedaços. ²⁴ Quanto aos dez chifres, dez reis se levantarão do reino, e um outro se levantará depois deles. Ele será diferente dos anteriores e dominará sobre os três reis.

²⁵ Falará palavras contra o Altíssimo e oprimirá os santos do Deus Altíssimo. Tentará mudar suas festas e leis. Essas coisas serão dadas em suas mãos por um tempo, dois tempos e meio tempo. ²⁶ Mas o tribunal estará em sessão, e o poder lhe será tirado, e será aniquilado e destruído até o fim.

²⁷ O reino, o domínio e a grandeza dos reinos sob todo o céu serão dados aos santos do Altíssimo. Seu reino é um reino eterno e todos os outros reinos o servirão e o obedecerão'. ²⁸ Aqui está o final da visão. Quanto a mim, Daniel, meus pensamentos ficaram alarmados e meu rosto mudou de aparência, mas eu guardei essas coisas comigo".

Capítulo 8

¹ No terceiro ano do reinado de Belsazar, eu, Daniel, tive uma visão, depois da que tive antes. ² Na visão, estava na cidade fortificada de Susã, na província do Elão, pois eu estava à margem do rio Ulai.

³ Ergui os olhos e vi, diante de mim, um carneiro com dois chifres à margem do rio. Um chifre era maior que o outro, porém, o mais comprido cresceu mais devagar, sendo ultrapassado em comprimento pelo mais curto. ⁴ Eu vi o carneiro dando cabeçadas para o oeste, para o norte e para o sul; nenhum animal conseguiu prevalecer contra ele. Nenhum deles foi capaz de resgatar alguém de suas mãos. Ele fez o que quis, e se tornou grande.

⁵ Enquanto eu pensava sobre isso, vi que um bode veio do oeste, atravessando toda a face da terra, correndo rápido e não parecia tocar no chão. O bode tinha um grande chifre entre seus olhos. ⁶ Ele veio ao carneiro que tinha dois chifres, o qual eu vi à margem do rio, e o bode correu em direção ao carneiro com uma terrível fúria.

⁷ Vi o bode se aproximar do carneiro com muita fúria. Ele o atingiu e quebrou seus dois chifres. O carneiro perdeu seu poder de resistir ao bode. O bode derrubou o carneiro no chão e pisou nele. Não havia ninguém que pudesse livrar o carneiro de seu poder. ⁸ Então, o bode se tornou muito grande; porém, quando ele se tornou forte, o chifre grande foi quebrado. Em seu lugar, outros quatro grandes chifres cresceram e apontavam para os quatros cantos dos céus.

⁹ De um desses chifres, cresceu um outro chifre, pequeno a princípio, mas que se tornou muito grande e apontava em direção ao sul, ao leste e em direção à terra gloriosa. ¹⁰ Ele se tornou tão grande que entrou em guerra com o exército celestial. Uma parte desse exército e algumas das estrelas do céu foram atiradas na terra e pisoteadas pelo bode.

¹¹ Ele se tornou grande, tão grande quanto o comandante do exército divino. O holocausto contínuo foi tirado dele, e o lugar de seu santuário foi contaminado. ¹² Por causa da sua rebeldia, o exército será entregue ao chifre do bode, e os sacrifícios serão interrompidos. O chifre lançará a verdade por terra, e ele terá êxito no que fizer.

¹³ Então, ouvi um anjo falando com outro anjo: "Por quanto tempo durará a visão sobre os holocaustos, o pecado que traz destruição, a entrega do santuário e o exército celestial sendo pisoteado?". ¹⁴ Ele me disse: "Durará por duas mil e trezentas noites e manhãs. Depois disso, o santuário será restaurado".

¹⁵ Quando eu, Daniel, tive essa visão, tentei compreendê-la. E apareceu diante de mim alguém semelhante a um homem. ¹⁶ Eu ouvi a voz do homem falando, da outra margem do rio Ulai. Ele disse: "Gabriel, ajuda esse homem a compreender a visão". ¹⁷ Então, ele veio perto de onde eu estava. Quando chegou, eu estava apavorado e prostrado ao chão. Ele me disse: "Compreende, filho do homem, que a visão é do tempo do fim".

¹⁸ Quando ele falou comigo, caí em sono profundo com meu rosto no chão. Então, ele me tocou e me fez ficar em pé. ¹⁹ Ele disse: "Vê, eu te mostrarei o que acontecerá depois, no tempo da ira, porque a visão se trata do tempo determinado para o fim.

²⁰ Quanto ao carneiro que viste, o que tinha dois chifres, eles são os reis da Média e da Pérsia. ²¹ O bode é o rei da Grécia. O grande chifre entre seus olhos é o primeiro rei.

²² A respeito do chifre que foi quebrado no lugar em que outros quatro surgiram, quatro reinos surgirão dessa nação, mas não com seu grande poder. ²³ Nos últimos tempos desses reinos, quando os transgressores alcançarem seu limite, um rei com expressão sombria e muito inteligente surgirá.

²⁴ Seu poder será grande, mas não por seu próprio poder. Ele será incrível naquilo que destrói; ele vai agir e ter sucesso. Ele destruirá pessoas poderosas, pessoas entre os santos. ²⁵ Pela sua astúcia, fará com que o engano prospere sob sua mão. Ele se tornará grande em sua própria mente e irá destruir muitas pessoas inesperadamente. Ele até se levantará contra o Rei dos reis e será quebrado, mas não por qualquer mão humana.

²⁶ A visão a respeito das noites e manhãs é verdade, mas sela a visão, pois se refere a muitos dias no futuro".

²⁷ Então, eu, Daniel, desmaiei e fiquei doente por muitos dias; depois me levantei e fui tratar dos negócios do rei. Mas eu estava chocado com a visão e não havia ninguém que a entendesse.

Capíulo 9

¹ Dario era o filho de Assuero, um descendente dos medos. Foi Assuero que se tornou rei sobre o reino dos babilônios. ² No primeiro ano do reinado de Dario, eu, Daniel, estava estudando os livros que contêm a palavra de Yahweh, a palavra que veio a Jeremias, o profeta. Eu observei que seriam setenta anos até a desolação de Jerusalém acabar.

³ Voltei meu rosto para o Senhor Deus, para buscá-Lo em oração, com pedidos, em jejum, usando roupas feitas de saco e sentado em cinzas. ⁴ Orei para Yahweh, meu Deus, e fiz a confissão dos nossos pecados. Eu disse: "Senhor, Tu és o grande e maravilhoso Deus que manténs Tua aliança e és fiel com aqueles que Te amam e guardam os Teus mandamentos.

⁵ Nós pecamos e fizemos o que é errado. Agimos de forma perversa e nos rebelamos, nos desviando dos Teus mandamentos e decretos. ⁶ Não ouvimos os Teus servos, os profetas, que falaram em Teu nome para nossos reis, nossos líderes, nossos antepassados e para todo o povo da terra.

⁷ A Ti, Deus, pertence a justiça. A nós, hoje, no entanto, pertence a vergonha, em nossos rostos — ao povo de Judá, àqueles que vivem em Jerusalém e a todos em Israel. Isso inclui aqueles que estão perto e aqueles que estão longe, em todas as terras aonde os espalhaste. Isso é por causa da grande traição que nós cometemos contra Ti. ⁸ A nós, Yahweh, pertence a vergonha em nossos rostos — aos nossos reis, nossos líderes e nossos pais — porque temos pecado contra Ti.

⁹ Ao Senhor, nosso Deus, pertencem a compaixão e o perdão, pois temos nos rebelado contra Ele. ¹⁰ Nós não obedecemos a voz de Yahweh, nosso Deus, andando em Suas leis, que nos deu, através dos Seus servos, os profetas. ¹¹ Todo Israel transgediu a Tua Lei e se recusou a obedecer a Tua voz. A maldição e o juramento que estão escritos na Lei de Moisés, o servo de Deus, foram derramados sobre nós, porque nós pecamos contra Ele.

¹² Yahweh confirmou as palavras que Ele falou contra nós e contra nossos governadores, trazendo sobre nós grande desgraça. Pois, debaixo de todo o céu não foi feito nada que se pudesse comparar com o que foi feito a Jerusalém. ¹³ Como está escrito na lei de Moisés, todo esse desastre nos sobreveio; contudo, nós não imploramos pela misericórdia de Yahweh, nosso Deus, afastando-nos das nossas iniquidades e prestando atenção à Sua verdade. ¹⁴ Portanto, Yahweh preparou o desastre e o trouxe sobre nós; porque Yahweh, nosso Deus, é justo em todos os atos que faz, ainda que nós não tenhamos obedecido à Sua voz.

¹⁵ Agora, Senhor, nosso Deus, Tu tiraste o Teu povo da terra do Egito com mão poderosa e Tu fizeste Teu nome grande como neste dia. Mas, mesmo assim, nós pecamos; nós fizemos coisas perversas. ¹⁶ Senhor, por causa de todas as Tuas obras de justiça, deixa a Tua raiva e a Tua ira se afastarem da Tua cidade, Jerusalém, Teu santo monte. Por causa dos nossos pecados e por causa das iniquidades dos nossos antepassados, Jerusalém e o Teu povo se tornaram um objeto de desprezo para todos ao nosso redor.

¹⁷ Agora, nosso Deus, escuta a oração do Teu servo e os seus pedidos por misericórdia; por teu amor, Senhor, faze o Teu rosto brilhar no Teu santuário, que está desolado. ¹⁸ Meu Deus, abre os Teus ouvidos e ouve; abre os Teus olhos e vê. Nós fomos destruídos; olha para a nossa cidade, que é chamada pelo Teu nome. Nós não pedimos a Ti ajuda por causa da Tua justiça, mas por causa da Tua grande misericórdia. ¹⁹ Senhor, escuta! Senhor, perdoa! Senhor, presta atenção e age! Por amor a Ti, não demores, meu Deus, pois a Tua cidade e o Teu povo são chamados pelo Teu nome".

²⁰ Enquanto eu falava, orava e confessava o meu pecado e o pecado do meu povo, Israel, e apresentava os meus pedidos diante de Yahweh, meu Deus, em favor do monte santo do meu Deus; ²¹ enquanto eu orava, Gabriel — o homem que eu já havia visto na minha visão, no princípio — voou em minha direção, rapidamente, no momento do sacrifício da tarde.

²² Ele me deu entendimento e me disse: "Daniel, eu vim agora para te dar conhecimento e entendimento. ²³ Quando tu começaste a pedir por misericórdia, a ordem foi dada, e eu vim para te dar a resposta, pois tu és muito amado. Portanto, considera esta palavra e entende a revelação.

²⁴ Setenta semanas estão decretadas para o teu povo e para a tua santa cidade para acabar com a culpa, pôr um fim ao pecado, expiar a iniquidade, trazer a justiça eterna, encerrar a visão e a profecia e consagrar o Lugar Santíssimo. ²⁵ Sabe e compreende que, desde a emissão da ordem para restaurar e reconstruir Jerusalém até a vinda do ungido (que será um líder), haverá sete semanas e sessenta e duas semanas. Jerusalém será reconstruída com ruas e um fosso, apesar dos tempos de aflição.

²⁶ Após as sessenta e duas semanas, o ungido será destruído e não haverá nada. O exército de um governante vindouro destruirá a cidade e o Lugar Santo. O seu fim será com uma inundação e haverá guerra até o fim. Desolações foram decretadas.

²⁷ Ele confirmará uma aliança com muitos por uma semana. No meio da semana, ele colocará um fim ao sacrifício e às ofertas. Nas asas das abominações, virá alguém que fará desolações. O fim e a destruição estão decretados para serem derramados sobre aquele que fez a desolação".

Capítulo 10

¹ No terceiro ano de Ciro, rei da Pérsia, uma mensagem foi revelada a Daniel, quem também era chamado de Beltessazar e essa mensagem era verdadeira. Era sobre uma grande guerra. Daniel entendeu a mensagem quando teve compreensão da visão.

² Naqueles dias, Eu, Daniel, estive lamentando por três semanas. ³ Eu não comi iguarias, nem carne, não bebi vinho e não me ungi com óleo até o fim de três semanas inteiras.

⁴ No vigésimo quarto dia do primeiro mês, enquanto eu estava ao lado do grande rio, o Tigre, ⁵ eu olhei para cima e vi um homem vestido de linho, com um cinto de ouro puro de Ufaz em volta de sua cintura. ⁶ Seu corpo era como topázio, sua face como raio, seus olhos eram como tochas flamejantes, seus braços e seus pés eram como bronze polido e o som de suas palavras era como o som de uma grande multidão.

⁷ Eu, Daniel, vi sozinho a visão, pois os homens que estavam comigo não a viram. Contudo, um grande temor veio sobre eles e eles correram para se esconder. ⁸ Então, eu estava só e vi a grande visão. Nenhuma força permaneceu em mim, minha aparência radiante mudou pavorosamente e nenhuma força restou em mim. ⁹ Então, eu ouvi suas palavras e enquanto eu as ouvia, caí sobre a minha face em sono profundo com o rosto ao chão.

¹⁰ Uma mão me tocou e fez tremer os meus joelhos e as minhas mãos. ¹¹ O anjo me disse: "Daniel, homem muito amado, entende as palavras que te digo e levanta, pois eu fui enviado a ti". Quando me disse essas palavras, eu me levantei tremendo.

¹² Então, ele me disse: "Não temas, Daniel. Desde o primeiro dia em que inclinaste tua mente para entender e te humilhar diante do teu Deus, tuas palavras foram ouvidas e eu vim por causa de tuas palavras. ¹³ O príncipe do reino da Pérsia me resistiu e fui mantido lá com os reis da Pérsia por vinte e um dias. Mas Miguel, um dos maiores príncipes, veio para me ajudar.

¹⁴ Agora, eu vim para te ajudar a entender o que acontecerá ao teu povo nos últimos dias. Pois, a visão é para os dias que ainda virão". ¹⁵ Quando ele falou comigo, usando essas palavras, eu virei meu rosto para o chão e fui incapaz de falar.

¹⁶ Alguém parecido com um humano me tocou os lábios e eu abri a minha boca e falei com ele, que estava perante mim: "Meu senhor, a visão me deixou aflito e eu não tenho mais forças. ¹⁷ Eu sou teu servo. Como posso falar contigo? Pois eu já não tenho mais forças e não há mais fôlego em mim".

¹⁸ Aquele com a aparência humana me tocou e me fortaleceu. ¹⁹ Ele disse: "Homem muito amado, não temas. A paz seja contigo. Sê forte agora, sê forte!" Enquanto ele falava comigo, fui fortalecido e disse: "Fala meu senhor, pois me fortaleceste".

²⁰ Ele disse: "Sabes por que vim a ti? Em breve retornarei para lutar contra o príncipe da Pérsia. Quando eu for, o príncipe da Grécia virá. ²¹ Mas eu vou te dizer o que está escrito no Livro da Verdade. Não há ninguém que se mostre forte diante de mim, exceto Miguel, vosso príncipe".

Capítulo 11

¹ "No primeiro ano de Dario, o medo, Eu mesmo vim apoiar e proteger Miguel. ² E agora, revelarei a verdade para ti. Três reis surgirão na Pérsia, e o quarto será muito mais rico que todos os outros. Quando ele ganhar poder através de suas riquezas, ele incitará todos contra o reino da Grécia.

³ Um poderoso rei se levantará e governará um grande reino, e agirá de acordo com os seus desejos. ⁴ Quando ele se levantar, seu reino será quebrado e dividido para os quatro ventos do céu, e não para seus descendentes, e não terá a autoridade de antes. Pois seu reino será desenraizado e dado a outros que não são seus descendentes.

⁵ O rei do sul se tornará forte, mas um dos seus comandantes será ainda mais forte do que ele, e governará seu reino com grande poder. ⁶ Depois de alguns anos, no tempo certo, eles farão uma aliança. A filha do rei do sul virá ao rei do norte para confirmar o acordo. Mas ela não conservará o seu poder, nem manterá o dele. Ela será abandonada; ela e aqueles que a trouxeram, seu pai e aqueles que a apoiaram naqueles tempos.

⁷ Mas, das suas raízes, um ramo crescerá em seu lugar. Ele atacará o exército e entrará na fortaleza do rei do norte, guerreará contra eles e os conquistará. ⁸ Ele levará seus deuses para o Egito, junto com suas figuras de metal fundido e seus preciosos vasos de prata e de ouro e, por alguns anos, evitará atacar o rei do norte. ⁹ O rei do norte invadirá a região do reino do sul, mas retornará à sua própria terra.

¹⁰ Seus filhos se prepararão e montarão um grande exército, o qual avançará e arrasará tudo. Ele percorrerá todo o caminho até chegar à sua fortaleza.

¹¹ Então, o rei do sul ficará muito irado e lutará contra o rei do norte. E este levantará um grande exército, mas será derrotado. ¹² O exército será arrasado, o coração do rei do sul se exaltará e derrotará dezenas de milhares, mas, mesmo assim, ele não será vitorioso.

¹³ O rei do norte erguerá um outro exército, maior que o primeiro. Alguns anos depois, o rei do norte, certamente, voltará com um exército maior, com fortes armamentos.

¹⁴ Naqueles tempos, muitos se levantarão contra o rei do sul. Os mais violentos entre o teu povo se juntarão a eles para cumprir a visão, mas eles tropeçarão.

¹⁵ O rei do norte virá, construirá rampas e conquistará uma cidade fortificada. As forças do sul, nem mesmo os seus melhores soldados, não serão capazes de resistir. ¹⁶ O invasor fará tudo o quiser contra ele, e ninguém poderá detê-lo. Ele se estabelecerá na gloriosa terra de Israel e a destruição estará na sua mão.

¹⁷ O rei do norte virá com determinação e com a força de todo o seu reino, e fará um acordo com o rei do sul. A este, ele dará a sua filha em casamento para lhe destruir o reino. Porém, o plano não terá sucesso nem o ajudará. ¹⁸ Depois disso, o rei do norte atentará às regiões costeiras e dominará muitas delas. Mas um comandante porá fim à sua insolência e, com audácia, lhe retribuirá. ¹⁹ Então, ele atentará às fortalezas da sua própria terra, mas tropeçará e cairá, e não será encontrado.

²⁰ Então, alguém se levantará em seu lugar e aumentará os impostos pagos para manter o esplendor do reino. Porém, em pouco dias ele será destruído, sem ira ou batalhas. ²¹ Em seu lugar, se levantará um desprezado, a quem o povo não deu a honra da realeza; ele virá tranquilamente e tomará o reino, com astúcia. ²² Um exército será varrido, como uma inundação, perante ele. Ambos, exército e líder, estabelecidos pela aliança, serão destruídos.

²³ A partir do momento em que for feita a aliança, ele agirá enganosamente; com apenas um pequeno número de pessoas se tornará forte. ²⁴ Sem aviso, ele virá para a parte mais rica da província e fará o que nem seu pai, nem seu avô fizeram; dividirá, entre seus seguidores, o saque, a pilhagem e a riqueza. Ele tramará a derrubada das fortalezas, mas somente por um tempo.

²⁵ Ele juntará seu poder e sua coragem e reunirá um grande exército contra o rei do sul. O rei do sul travará batalha com um grande e poderoso exército, mas ele não será capaz de resistir por causa dos planos feitos contra ele. ²⁶ Mesmo aqueles que comem suas finas comidas tentarão destruí-lo. Seu exército será varrido como uma inundação e muitos deles serão mortos. ²⁷ Com seus corações voltados para o mal, esses reis se sentarão na mesma mesa, mas mentirão um ao outro. Tal diálogo não os ajudará, pois o fim virá no tempo determinado.

²⁸ Então, o rei do norte retornará para sua terra com muitas riquezas; porém, seu coração estará contra a santa aliança. Ele fará o que desejar e retornará para sua terra.

²⁹ No tempo determinado, ele voltará e invadirá o sul novamente. Porém, desta vez não será como antes. ³⁰ Pois ele terá medo dos navios de Quitim e voltará atrás. Ele se enfurecerá contra a santa aliança e mostrará benevolência para com aqueles que abandonarem a santa aliança.

³¹ Seus exércitos se levantarão e profanarão o Santuário, isto é, a fortaleza; eles farão cessar os holocaustos contínuos e estabelecerão a abominação, que causará completa desolação. ³² Ele enganará aqueles que tiverem violado a aliança e os seduzirá, mas o povo que conhece o seu Deus será forte e tomará uma atitude.

³³ Os sábios entre o povo instruirão a muitos. Mas tropeçarão pela espada, pelo fogo, pelo cativeiro, e serão roubados de suas posses. ³⁴ Ao caírem, receberão uma pequena ajuda, mas muitos se juntarão a eles com falsidade. ³⁵ Alguns dos sábios tropeçarão para que sejam refinados, limpos e purificados até o fim do tempo. Pois o tempo determinado ainda virá.

³⁶ O rei fará o que desejar. Ele exaltará e magnificará a si mesmo acima de todos os deuses, falará coisas surpreendentes contra o Deus dos deuses e prosperará até que a ira esteja completa, pois o que foi decretado se cumprirá. ³⁷ Ele não mostrará respeito pelo Deus de seus pais, nem pelo deus preferido das mulheres, ou por qualquer outro deus, pois agirá orgulhosamente e se proclamará acima de tudo.

³⁸ Ao invés deles, ele honrará o deus das fortalezas. Ele honrará com prata e ouro, com pedras preciosas e presentes caros, um deus a quem seus antepassados não conheceram. ³⁹ Ele atacará a fortaleza mais forte com a ajuda de um deus estrangeiro. Ele dará muita honra a qualquer um que o reconheça. Ele os fará governar sobre muitos e dividirá a terra como recompensa.

⁴⁰ No tempo do fim, o rei do sul atacará. O rei do norte virá contra ele como tempestade, com carros e cavaleiros e muitos navios. Ele virá contra as terras, as atravessará e arrasará tudo. ⁴¹ Ele virá para a terra gloriosa de Israel e dezenas de milhares de israelitas cairão, mas muitos de Edom e Moabe, e os remanescentes do povo de Amom escaparão de suas mãos.

⁴² Ele estenderá sua mão para as terras; a terra do Egito não escapará. ⁴³ Terá autoridade sobre os tesouros de ouro e prata, e sobre todas as riquezas do Egito; os líbios e os etíopes o servirão.

⁴⁴ Porém, notícias do leste e do norte o alarmarão e ele seguirá com grande fúria para destruir e separar muitos para a destruição. ⁴⁵ Ele assentará barracas em seu palácio, entre os mares e o glorioso monte santo. Seu fim virá e não haverá quem o socorra".

Capítulo 12

¹ Naquele tempo, Miguel, o grande príncipe que guarda o teu povo se levantará. Haverá um tempo de tribulação como nunca houve desde o início de qualquer nação até então. Naquele tempo, teu povo será salvo, todo aquele cujo nome for achado escrito no Livro. ² Muitos desses que dormem no pó da terra ressuscitarão, alguns para a vida eterna e outros para vergonha e desprezo eterno.

³ Aqueles que são sábios resplandecerão como o brilho do céu acima, e aqueles que convertem muitos para a justiça brilharão como as estrelas, para sempre e sempre. ⁴ Mas tu, Daniel, sela estas palavras; guarda o livro selado até o fim do tempo. Muitos correrão aqui e ali, e o conhecimento aumentará".

⁵ Então, eu, Daniel, olhei e havia outros dois em pé; um ficou de um lado da margem do rio e o outro do outro lado. ⁶ Um deles disse para o homem vestido de linho, aquele que estava rio acima: "Quanto tempo haverá até o fim desses eventos maravilhosos?".

⁷ Eu ouvi o homem vestido de linho, que estava rio acima, ele levantou suas mãos para o céu e jurou por Aquele que vive para sempre, que haveria um tempo, tempos e metade de um tempo. Quando o poder do povo santo tiver sido destruído, todas essas coisas terão acontecido.

⁸ Eu ouvi, mas não entendi. Então, perguntei: "Meu senhor, qual será o resultado de todas essas coisas?". ⁹ Ele disse: "Vai-te, Daniel, porque essas palavras estão lacradas e seladas até o fim dos tempos.

¹⁰ Muitos serão purificados, limpos e refinados, mas os maus agirão com maldade. Nenhum dos maus entenderá, mas aqueles que são sábios entenderão. ¹¹ Desde o tempo que o sacrifício diário for tirado e a abominação que causa completa desolação estiver estabelecida, haverá um mil duzentos e noventa dias.

¹² Bendito é o que espera até o fim de mil trezentos e trinta e cinco dias. ¹³ Tu deves seguir teu caminho até o fim, e descansarás. Tu descansarás e te levantarás no lugar designado para ti no fim dos dias".

¹Algumas versões modernas dizem: Os rebeldes cavaram um poço profundo , Os rebeldes cavaram fundo em Shittim , ou, continuando no verso anterior, um poço escavado profundamente em Shittim

¹Em vez de Eles se ajuntam , que o texto hebraico traz, algumas cópias antigas e muitas versões modernas trazem Eles se cortam , numa alusão ao costume pagão dos adoradores de ídolos se ferirem em uma adoração frenética

¹Algumas das versões mais modernas bem como algumas versões antigas apresentam: eles se afastavam de Mim . O texto hebraico traz eles se afastavam deles

¹Nota: Normalmente, nas Bíblias católicas, o livro de Joel tem 4 capítulos, e nas protestantes, 3; mas o conteúdo é o mesmo: Joel 2:28-32 corresponde a Joel 3:1-5, enquanto o capítulo 3 corresponde ao 4 das católicas

¹Nota: Em vez de libertadores , muitas versões modernas seguem alguns antigos intérpretes, trazendo aqueles que serão libertos .

¹Nota: Em vez de ajunta-te em posição de batalha , alguns intérpretes traduzem cortam a si mesmos , referindo-se à prática pagã de se cortar enquanto se reza para os ídolos. Além disso, algumas versões modernas seguem uma versão antiga que diz construa tuas fortificações .

²Nota: O texto hebraico tem em suas entradas , isto é, em seus portões. No entanto, algumas versões modernas supõem que uma palavra hebraica diferente se pretendia: com uma espada desembainhada .

¹Partes deste versículo são dificeis de entender, porque há duas palavras hebraicas das quais o significado não é conhecido. Assim, várias outras leituras têm sido propostas, as quais algumas versões modernas seguem

¹O texto hebraico aqui traduzido como suas multidões vão como o vento do deserto é muito difícil; muitas versões modernas têm outras interpretações.

¹Em vez de como devo agir com a minha queixa , que é o que o texto hebraico traz, algumas versões modernas trazem como eu deveria responder quando ele responde à minha queixa ou como eu deveria responder quando ele me repreende .

¹O texto hebraico acrescenta a expressão al shigionoth , que pode se referir a um direcionamento musical aos cantores.

¹Algumas versões antigas e a maioria das modernas trazem suas iniquidades . O texto hebraico traz seu olho , mas é amplamente considerado um erro.

¹Em vez de repreenderei vossos descendentes , que o texto hebraico traz, algumas versões antigas e modernas trazem cortarei fora vosso ombro (ou braço ); outras versões modernas trazem corromperei vossos descendentes .

²Em vez de sereis lançados fora com eles , algumas versões antigas e modernas trazem Eu vou tirar-vos do meu lado , isto é, da Minha presença , conforme o texto hebraico.

Matthew

Capítulo 1

¹ Livro da genealogia de Jesus Cristo, Filho de Davi, Filho de Abraão. ² Abraão foi o pai de Isaque; Isaque, o pai de Jacó; Jacó, o pai de Judá e seus irmãos; ³ Judá foi o pai de Farés e Zará, gerados de Tamar. Farés foi o pai Esrom; Esrom foi o pai de Arão;

⁴ Arão foi o pai de Aminadabe; Aminadabe, pai de Nasom; Nasom, pai de Salmom; ⁵ Salmom foi o pai de Boaz, gerado de Raabe; Boaz, o pai de Obede, gerado de Rute; Obede, pai de Jessé, e ⁶ Jessé foi o pai do rei Davi. Davi foi pai de Salomão, gerado pela esposa de Urias.

⁷ Salomão foi o pai de Roboão; Roboão, pai de Abias; Abias, pai de Asa. ⁸ Asa, pai de Josafá; Josafá foi o pai de Jorão, e Jorão foi um ancestral de Ozias.

⁹ Ozias, foi o pai de Jotão; Jotão, pai de Acaz; Acaz, pai de Ezequias; ¹⁰ Ezequias foi o pai de Manassés; Manassés, pai de Amom; Amom, pai de Josias, e ¹¹ Josias foi um ancestral de Jeconias e seus irmãos, no tempo da deportação para a Babilônia.

¹² E, após a deportação para a Babilônia, Jeconias foi o pai de Salatiel; Salatiel, foi um ancestral de Zorobabel; ¹³ Zorobabel, foi o pai de Abiúde; Abiúde, pai de Eliaquim; Eliaquim, pai de Azor; ¹⁴ Azor foi o pai de Sadoque; Sadoque, pai de Aquim; Aquim, pai de Eliúde;

¹⁵ Eliúde foi o pai de Eleazar; Eleazar, pai de Matã; Matã, pai de Jacó, e ¹⁶ Jacó foi o pai de José, marido de Maria, da qual nasceu Jesus, aquele que é chamado Cristo. ¹⁷ Todas as gerações: de Abraão até Davi, foram catorze gerações; de Davi até a deportação para a Babilônia, foram catorze gerações; e da deportação para a Babilônia até Cristo, foram catorze gerações.

¹⁸ O nascimento de Jesus Cristo aconteceu assim: Maria, sua mãe, estava noiva de José, mas antes de se unirem em casamento, ela achou-se grávida pelo Espírito Santo. ¹⁹ José, seu marido, era um homem justo, e não querendo desonrá-la publicamente, decidiu terminar seu noivado secretamente.

²⁰ Enquanto pensava nessas coisas, um anjo do Senhor apareceu para ele em um sonho, dizendo: "José, filho de Davi, não temas receber Maria como tua mulher, porque o que nela foi gerado é concebido pelo Espírito Santo. ²¹ Ela dará à luz um filho e tu o chamarás de Jesus, porque Ele salvará Seu povo dos seus pecados".

²² Tudo isso aconteceu para que se cumprisse o que foi dito pelo Senhor por meio do profeta: ²³ "Eis que a virgem conceberá e dará à luz um filho, e o chamarão Emanuel, que significa 'Deus conosco'".

²⁴ José ao acordar de seu sono, fez como o anjo do Senhor lhe havia ordenado e a recebeu como sua esposa. ²⁵ Entretanto não teve relações sexuais com ela, até que deu à luz um filho. E ele deu-lhe o nome de Jesus.

Capítulo 2

¹ Depois do nascimento de Jesus, em Belém da Judéia, nos tempos do rei Herodes, os sábios do Oriente chegaram a Jerusalém, dizendo: ² "Onde está aquele que nasceu, o Rei dos Judeus? Nós vimos a sua estrela no Oriente e viemos adorá-Lo." ³ Quando o rei Herodes ouviu isso, ficou perturbado, e com ele toda a Jerusalém.

⁴ Herodes reuniu todos os chefes dos sacerdotes e os mestres do povo, e perguntou: "Onde o Cristo vai nascer?" ⁵ Eles disseram: "Em Belém da Judeia, porque está escrito pelo profeta: ⁶ 'E tu, Belém, na terra de Judá, não és a menor dentre as principais cidades de Judá, porque de ti virá um líder que irá pastorear o Meu povo de Israel'".

⁷ Então Herodes chamou secretamente os sábios para perguntar-lhes exatamente quando a estrela tinha aparecido. ⁸ Ele os enviou a Belém, dizendo: "Ide e procurai pelo menino com cuidado. Quando o achardes, avisai-me, para que eu possa ir e adorá-Lo".

⁹ Depois de terem ouvido o rei, partiram, e a estrela que eles tinham visto no Oriente foi adiante deles até que parou acima do lugar onde o menino estava. ¹⁰ Quando eles viram a estrela, regozijaram-se com grande alegria.

¹¹ Eles entraram na casa, viram o menino com Maria, Sua mãe, curvaram-se e O adoraram. Eles abriram seus tesouros e ofereceram-Lhe presentes: ouro, incenso e mirra. ¹² Deus os alertou em sonho que não retornassem a Herodes, e eles partiram para o seu próprio país por outro caminho.

¹³ Depois de partirem, um anjo do Senhor apareceu a José em sonho e disse: "Levante-te, pega o menino e sua mãe, e foge para o Egito. Permanece lá até que eu te diga, porque Herodes procurará o menino para destruí-Lo". ¹⁴ Naquela noite, José levantou-se, pegou o menino com Sua mãe e partiu para o Egito. ¹⁵ Ele permaneceu lá até a morte de Herodes. Isso cumpriu o que o Senhor dissera por meio do profeta: "Do Egito chamei Meu Filho".

¹⁶ Então Herodes, quando viu que tinha sido enganado pelos sábios, ficou furioso. Ele mandou matar todos os meninos de dois anos ou menos que estavam em Belém e em toda aquela região, de acordo com o tempo indicado com precisão pelos sábios.

¹⁷ Então cumpriu-se o que havia sido falado pelo profeta Jeremias: ¹⁸ "Uma voz de lamento e de grande gemido foi ouvida em Ramá, era Raquel lamentando por seus filhos, e ela recusou-se a ser confortada porque eles não mais existiam".

¹⁹ Quando Herodes morreu, eis que um anjo do Senhor apareceu em um sonho a José no Egito e disse: ²⁰ "Levanta-te e pega o menino e Sua mãe e vai para a terra de Israel, porque aqueles que tentaram tirar a vida do menino estão mortos". ²¹ José levantou-se, pegou o menino e Sua mãe, e foi para a terra de Israel.

²² Entretanto, quando ele ouviu que Arquelau estava reinando sobre a Judéia, no lugar de seu pai Herodes, ficou com medo de ir para lá. Depois que Deus o avisou em um sonho, ele saiu para a região da Galiléia, ²³ e foi viver em uma cidade chamada Nazaré. Cumpriu-se o que disseram os profetas, que ele se chamaria o Nazareno.

Capítulo 3

¹ Naqueles dias, surgiu João Batista pregando no deserto da Judeia, dizendo: ² "Arrependei-vos, pois o Reino dos Céus está próximo". ³ Pois este é aquele sobre o qual o profeta Isaías falou: "A voz do que clama no deserto: 'Preparai o caminho do Senhor, fazei retos os Seus caminhos'".

⁴ João vestia roupas de pele de camelo, um cinto de couro em volta da cintura e seu alimento era gafanhotos e mel silvestre. ⁵ Então Jerusalém, toda a Judéia e toda a região em volta do Rio Jordão foram a ele. ⁶ Eles foram batizados por João no Rio Jordão, confessando os seus pecados.

⁷ Quando ele viu muitos dos fariseus e dos saduceus, vindo a ele para serem batizados, disse-lhes: "Raça de víboras, quem vos induziu a tentar fugir da ira que está vindo? ⁸ Produzi, pois, frutos dignos de arrependimento. ⁹ E não penseis em dizer entre vós: 'Nós temos Abraão como nosso pai'. Pois eu vos digo que Deus é capaz de fazer surgir filhos a Abraão até mesmo dessas pedras.

¹⁰ O machado já foi posto à raiz das árvores. Toda árvore que não produz bom fruto é cortada e lançada ao fogo. ¹¹ Eu vos batizo com água para arrependimento, mas Aquele que vem depois de mim é mais poderoso do que eu e eu não sou digno nem de carregar Suas sandálias. Ele vos batizará com o Espírito Santo e com fogo. ¹² A pá está em Sua mão para limpar completamente Sua eira e ajuntar Seu trigo no celeiro, mas Ele queimará a palha com fogo que nunca poderá ser apagado".

¹³ Então Jesus veio da Galileia para o Rio Jordão para ser batizado por João, ¹⁴ todavia João tentou impedi-Lo, dizendo: "Eu preciso ser batizado por Ti, e Tu vens a mim?" ¹⁵ Jesus respondeu e disse-lhe: "Permita isto agora, pois é correto a nós cumprir toda a justiça". Então João O permitiu.

¹⁶ Depois que foi batizado, Jesus saiu imediatamente da água e eis que os céus foram abertos sobre Ele, e viu o Espírito de Deus descendo como uma pomba e pousando sobre Si. ¹⁷ Uma voz vinda dos céus disse: "Este é o Meu Filho amado. Dele muito me agrado."

Capítulo 4

¹ Então Jesus foi guiado pelo Espírito ao deserto para ser tentado pelo diabo. ² Após ter jejuado por quarenta dias e quarenta noites, Ele teve fome. ³ O diabo veio e disse-Lhe: "Se Tu És o Filho de Deus, ordena a estas pedras que se transformem em pães". ⁴ Mas Jesus, respondendo, disse-lhe: "Está escrito: 'Não só de Pão viverá o homem, mas de toda palavra que procede da boca de Deus'".

⁵ Então o diabo O levou para a cidade santa, colocou-O no ponto mais alto do templo ⁶ e disse-Lhe: "Se Tu És o Filho de Deus, lança-Te daqui abaixo, pois está escrito: 'Ele dará ordem aos Seus anjos para que tomem conta de ti,’ e 'Eles irão segurá-lo em suas mãos, para que teu pé não tropece contra uma pedra'".

⁷ Disse-lhe Jesus: "Também está escrito: 'Tu não deves colocar o Senhor teu Deus à prova'". ⁸ Novamente o diabo O levou para um lugar alto e mostrou a Ele todos os reinos do mundo juntamente com seu esplendor. ⁹ Ele disse a Jesus: "Todas estas coisas te darei, se te prostrares e me adorares".

¹⁰ Então Jesus disse-lhe: "Sai daqui Satanás! Pois está escrito: 'Adorarás ao Senhor teu Deus e somente a Ele darás culto'". ¹¹ Então o diabo O deixou e anjos vieram e O serviram.

¹² Quando Jesus soube que João havia sido preso, retirou-se para a Galiléia. ¹³ Saindo de Nazaré foi viver em Cafarnaum, que fica junto ao mar da Galileia, nos territórios de Zebulom e Naftali.

¹⁴ Isto aconteceu para que se cumprisse o que foi dito pelo profeta Isaías: ¹⁵ "Terra de Zebulom e terra de Naftali, caminho do mar, além do Jordão, Galileia dos Gentios! ¹⁶ O povo que estava em trevas viu uma grande luz, e sobre aqueles que estavam na região da sombra da morte surgiu uma luz".

¹⁷ A partir daquele momento, Jesus começou a pregar e a dizer: "Arrependei-vos, pois o Reino dos Céus está próximo".

¹⁸ Enquanto caminhava à beira do mar da Galileia, viu dois irmãos, Simão, que é chamado Pedro, e André, que lançavam as redes ao mar, pois eram pescadores. ¹⁹ Disse-lhes Jesus: "Vinde, segui-me e eu vos farei pescadores de homens". ²⁰ Imediatamente eles deixaram as redes e O seguiram.

²¹ Enquanto Jesus caminhava, viu outros dois irmãos, Tiago, o filho de Zebedeu, e João. Eles estavam em um barco com Zebedeu, seu pai, consertando suas redes. Ele os chamou ²² e, imediatamente, eles deixaram o barco e seu pai, e O seguiram.

²³ Jesus percorreu toda a Galileia, ensinando nas sinagogas deles, pregando as boas novas do Reino e curando todos os tipos de enfermidades e de doenças entre o povo. ²⁴ As notícias sobre Ele correram por toda a Síria, e as pessoas trouxeram-Lhe todos aqueles que estavam doentes, com diversas enfermidades e tormentos: endemoninhados, epilépticos e paralíticos; e Jesus os curou. ²⁵ Grandes multidões O seguiram da Galileia, Decápolis, Jerusalém e Judeia e dalém do Jordão.

Capítulo 5

¹ Quando Jesus viu a multidão, subiu ao monte, sentou-se, e seus discípulos vieram até Ele. ² Então Ele abriu a sua boca e os ensinou, dizendo: ³ "Felizes são os pobres em espírito, pois deles é o Reino dos Céus. ⁴ Felizes os profundamente entristecidos, pois eles serão confortados.

⁵ Felizes são os mansos, pois eles herdarão a terra. ⁶ Felizes os que têm fome e sede de justiça, porque eles serão satisfeitos. ⁷ Felizes são os misericordiosos, pois eles obterão misericórdia. ⁸ Felizes são os puros de coração, pois eles verão a Deus.

⁹ Felizes são os pacificadores, pois eles serão chamados filhos de Deus. ¹⁰ Felizes os que são perseguidos por causa da justiça, pois deles é o Reino dos Céus.

¹¹ Felizes sois vós quando as pessoas vos ofenderem e vos perseguirem, ou disserem todo tipo de maldades e falsidades contra vós por serdes meus seguidores. ¹² Regozijai-vos e alegrai-vos, pois grande é a vossa recompensa no céu. Pois dessa maneira as pessoas perseguiram os profetas que viveram antes de vós.

¹³ Vós sois o sal da terra, mas se o sal perder o seu sabor, como poderá ser usado outra vez? Jamais será útil para alguma coisa, exceto para ser jogado fora e ser pisado pelas pessoas. ¹⁴ Vós sois a luz do mundo. Uma cidade edificada sobre a colina não pode ficar escondida.

¹⁵ Ninguém acende uma lamparina e coloca-a debaixo de um cesto, mas, em vez disso, coloca-a na candeia, e brilha para todos na casa. ¹⁶ Que a vossa luz brilhe diante das pessoas de tal forma que elas vejam as vossas boas obras e louvem ao vosso Pai que está no céu.

¹⁷ Não penseis que Eu vim para destruir a Lei ou os profetas; não vim para destruí-los, mas para cumpri-los. ¹⁸ Por isso, verdadeiramente, Eu vos digo que, até que os céus e a terra passem, nem um ponto ou til irá, de alguma forma, ser mudado na Lei, até que todas as coisas sejam cumpridas.

¹⁹ Portanto qualquer um que quebrar o menor desses mandamentos e ensinar os outros a fazer o mesmo será chamado menor no Reino dos Céus. Mas qualquer um que guardar estes mandamentos e os ensinar será chamado grande no Reino dos Céus. ²⁰ Por isso Eu vos digo que, se a vossa justiça não exceder a justiça dos escribas e fariseus, de forma alguma entrareis no Reino dos Céus.

²¹ Ouvistes o que foi dito nos tempos antigos: 'Não matarás', e 'Qualquer um que matar estará sujeito a julgamento.' ²² Mas Eu vos digo que qualquer um que se irar contra seu irmão estará sujeito a julgamento; e qualquer que disser para seu irmão: 'Tu és um idiota!' estará sujeito a ser julgado no tribunal; e qualquer que disser: 'Seu tolo!' estará sujeito ao fogo do inferno.

²³ Portanto se estiveres levando a tua oferta para o altar e ali te lembrares que o teu irmão tem algo contra ti, ²⁴ deixa a tua oferta lá, na frente do altar, e vai primeiro reconciliar-te com o teu irmão, e depois volta e apresenta a tua oferta.

²⁵ Entra em acordo com o teu acusador rapidamente, enquanto estás com ele no caminho para o tribunal, para que o teu acusador não te entregue ao juiz, e o juiz te entregue aos oficiais, e sejas lançado na prisão. ²⁶ Verdadeiramente eu te digo: não sairás dali até que pagues o último centavo.

²⁷ Ouvistes o que foi dito: 'Não adulterarás'. ²⁸ Mas Eu vos digo que qualquer um que olhar para uma mulher com intenção impura já cometeu adultério com ela em seu coração.

²⁹ E, se o teu olho direito te leva a pecar, tira-o e joga-o fora, porque é melhor uma parte do teu corpo perecer do que todo o teu corpo ser lançado no inferno. ³⁰ E, se a tua mão direita te leva a pecar, corta-a e joga-a fora, pois é melhor uma das partes do teu corpo perecer do que todo o teu corpo ser lançado no inferno.

³¹ Também foi dito: 'Qualquer um que mandar embora a sua esposa dê a ela uma carta de divórcio.' ³² Mas Eu vos digo que todo aquele que se divorciar de sua esposa, exceto por causa de imoralidade sexual, faz dela uma adúltera; e qualquer um que casar com ela, depois que ela se divorciou, comete adultério.

³³ Também ouvistes o que foi dito para aqueles nos tempos antigos: 'Não jureis falsamente, mas cumpri os vossos juramentos ao Senhor.' ³⁴ Mas Eu vos digo que não jureis por nada: nem pelo céu, pois é o trono de Deus; ³⁵ nem pela terra, pois é o firmamento dos Seus pés; nem por Jerusalém, pois é a cidade do Grande Rei.

³⁶ Nem jures pela tua cabeça, pois não podes tornar um fio de cabelo preto ou branco. ³⁷ Mas que a tua palavra seja: 'Sim, sim,' ou 'Não, não.' Qualquer coisa a mais do que isso vem do maligno.

³⁸ Ouvistes o que vos disseram: 'Olho por olho e dente por dente.' ³⁹ Entretanto Eu vos digo: não resistais a quem é mau; pelo contrário, a qualquer um que der um tapa no lado direito da tua face, oferece a ele o outro lado também.

⁴⁰ E, se alguém quiser te levar ao tribunal e tomar a tua túnica, deixa essa pessoa tomar também a tua capa. ⁴¹ E, se alguém te obrigar a caminhar uma milha, vai com ele duas. ⁴² Dá a qualquer um que te pedir, e não vires as tuas costas para qualquer pessoa que deseja te pedir algo emprestado.

⁴³ Ouvistes o que foi dito: 'Ama o teu próximo e odeia o teu inimigo'. ⁴⁴ Contudo Eu vos digo: amai os vossos inimigos e orai por aqueles que vos perseguem, ¹ ⁴⁵ para que sejais filhos do vosso Pai que está nos céus, pois Ele faz o Seu sol nascer sobre os maus e os bons e manda chuva para os justos e os injustos.

⁴⁶ Porque, se amardes apenas aqueles que vos amam, que recompensa ganhareis? Não é verdade que até os cobradores de impostos fazem a mesma coisa? ⁴⁷ E, se saudardes apenas os vossos irmãos, o que fazeis a mais do que os outros? Não é verdade que até os gentios fazem a mesma coisa? ⁴⁸ Portanto sede perfeitos, como é perfeito o vosso Pai celestial.

¹abençoai os que vos amaldiçoam, fazei o bem para aqueles que vos odeiam,

Capítulo 6

¹ Tende cuidado que não façais obras de justiça diante das pessoas para serdes vistos por elas, pois não tereis recompensa do vosso Pai que está no céu. ² Então, quando derdes esmolas, não toqueis a trombeta diante de vós mesmos como fazem os hipócritas nas sinagogas e nas estradas, a fim de terem o louvor das pessoas. Verdadeiramente eu vos digo: eles já receberam a sua recompensa.

³ Todavia, quando derdes esmolas, não deixeis a vossa mão esquerda saber o que a vossa mão direita está fazendo, ⁴ para que as vossas esmolas sejam dadas em segredo; então o vosso Pai, que vê em segredo, vos recompensará.

⁵ E, quando orardes, não sejais como os hipócritas, pois eles amam orar em pé nas sinagogas e nas esquinas das ruas, para serem vistos pelas pessoas. Verdadeiramente eu vos digo que eles já receberam a sua recompensa. ⁶ Mas, quando orardes, entrai nos vossos quartos, fechai a porta, e orai a vosso Pai, que está em segredo; então vosso Pai, que vê em segredo, vos recompensará. ⁷ E, quando orardes, não façais repetições inúteis, como fazem os gentios; pois eles pensam que serão ouvidos por causa de suas muitas palavras.

⁸ Portanto não sejais como eles, pois o vosso Pai sabe do que precisais antes de pedirdes a Ele. ⁹ Portanto orai assim: 'Nosso Pai celestial, santificado seja o Teu nome. ¹⁰ Que o Teu reino venha. Que a Tua vontade seja feita na terra assim como é feita no céu.

¹¹ Dá-nos hoje o nosso pão diário. ¹² Perdoa as nossas dívidas, assim como nós perdoamos aos nossos devedores. ¹³ E não nos conduzas à tentação, mas livra-nos do maligno.'

¹⁴ Porque se perdoardes as ofensas das pessoas, vosso Pai celestial também vos perdoará. ¹⁵ Mas se não perdoardes as ofensas das pessoas, vosso Pai não perdoará as vossas ofensas.

¹⁶ Além disso, quando jejuardes, não apresenteis tristeza no rosto, como fazem os hipócritas, pois eles desfiguram os seus rostos para demonstrar aparência de pessoas que jejuam. Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo que já receberam a recompensa deles. ¹⁷ Entretanto vós, quando jejuardes, ungi as vossas cabeças e lavai os vossos rostos, ¹⁸ para que não demonstreis às pessoas que estais jejuando, mas apenas ao vosso Pai, que está em segredo. E vosso Pai, que vos vê em segredo, vos recompensará.

¹⁹ Não acumuleis para vós tesouros na terra, onde traça e ferrugem os consomem, e onde ladrões invadem e roubam. ²⁰ Em vez disso, acumulai tesouros no céu, onde nem traça nem ferrugem destroem, e onde ladrões não invadem nem roubam. ²¹ Pois onde estiver o vosso tesouro, ali estará também o vosso coração.

²² Os olhos são a lâmpada do corpo. Portanto, se os vossos olhos são bons, todo o vosso corpo se encherá com luz. ²³ Mas, se os vossos olhos são maus, todo o vosso corpo se encherá de trevas. Assim, se a luz que está em vós são na verdade trevas, quão grandes são essas trevas! ²⁴ Ninguém pode servir a dois senhores, pois irá odiar a um e amar o outro, ou será devoto de um e desprezará o outro. Não podeis servir a Deus e às riquezas.

²⁵ Portanto Eu vos digo: não vos preocupeis com a vossa vida, o que comereis ou o que bebereis, ou acerca do vosso corpo, o que vestireis. Pois a vida não é mais do que a comida, nem o corpo mais do que as roupas? ²⁶ Vede as aves do céu: elas não semeiam, nem colhem, nem se ajuntam em celeiros, contudo vosso Pai celestial as alimenta. Não sois muito mais valiosos do que elas?

²⁷ E qual dentre vós que, sendo ansioso, pode adicionar um côvado a seu tempo de vida? ²⁸ E por que estais ansiosos com o vestuário? Considerai os lírios dos campos, como eles crescem: eles não trabalham e não tecem roupa. ²⁹ Ainda assim eu vos digo: até mesmo Salomão em toda a sua glória não se vestiu como um deles.

³⁰ Se Deus veste a grama dos campos, que existe hoje e amanhã é lançada ao forno, quanto mais Ele vos vestirá, homens de pequena fé? ³¹ Portanto não estejais ansiosos, dizendo: 'O que comeremos?' ou, 'O que beberemos?' ou, 'Com o que nos vestiremos?'

³² Pois os gentios buscam todas essas coisas, e o vosso Pai celestial sabe que precisais de todas elas. ³³ Mas buscai primeiro o Seu reino e a Sua justiça e então todas essas coisas vos serão providenciadas. ³⁴ Portanto não estejais ansiosos pelo amanhã, pois o amanhã trará suas próprias ansiedades. É suficiente ao dia de hoje o seu próprio mal.

Capítulo 7

¹ Não julgueis para que não sejais julgados, ² pois com o julgamento com que julgardes sereis julgados, e com a medida com que medirdes sereis medidos.

³ E por que enxergas o cisco que está no olho do teu irmão, mas não percebes a tora de madeira que está no teu próprio olho? ⁴ Como podes dizer a teu irmão: 'Deixa-me tirar o cisco que está em teu olho', enquanto tens uma tora de madeira em teu próprio olho? ⁵ Hipócrita! Tira primeiro a tora de madeira do teu próprio olho e então verás claramente, para que possas tirar o cisco que está no olho do teu irmão.

⁶ Não deis o que é santo aos cães, nem lanceis as vossas pérolas aos porcos, para que eles não as pisem com os pés e voltando-se contra vós, vos despedacem.

⁷ Pedi, e vos será dado; buscai, e achareis; batei, e vos será aberto. ⁸ Pois todo aquele que pede, recebe; e aquele que busca, encontra; e para o que bater será aberto. ⁹ Ou qual homem entre vós que, se o filho pedir um pedaço de pão, dará a ele uma pedra? ¹⁰ Ou se o filho pedir um peixe, lhe dará uma cobra?

¹¹ Portanto se vós, sendo maus, sabeis dar boas dádivas aos vossos filhos, quanto mais vosso Pai celestial, que está nos céus, não dará coisas boas para aqueles que Lhe pedirem? ¹² Portanto tudo aquilo que desejais que as pessoas vos façam, deveis também fazer para elas; porque essa é a Lei e os Profetas.

¹³ Entrai pela porta estreita, porque larga é a porta e espaçoso é o caminho que leva à destruição, e existem muitas pessoas que passam por ele. ¹⁴ Mas estreita é a porta, e apertado é o caminho que leva à vida, e poucos são aqueles que o encontram.

¹⁵ Cuidado com os falsos profetas, os quais chegam com roupas de ovelhas, mas na verdade são lobos famintos. ¹⁶ Pelos seus frutos os conhecereis. As pessoas colhem uvas de espinheiros, ou figos de urtigas? ¹⁷ Do mesmo modo, toda árvore boa produz bons frutos, mas a árvore má produz frutos maus.

¹⁸ Não existe árvore boa que produza frutos maus, e também não existe árvore má que produza frutos bons. ¹⁹ Toda árvore que não produz bom fruto é cortada e lançada ao fogo. ²⁰ Então é pelos seus frutos que os conhecereis.

²¹ Nem todo que Me diz: 'Senhor, Senhor,' entrará no Reino dos Céus, mas apenas o que faz a vontade de Meu Pai que está nos céus. ²² Muitas pessoas Me dirão naquele dia: 'Senhor, Senhor, nós não profetizamos em Teu nome? Em Teu nome não expulsamos demônios e não fizemos muitos milagres?' ²³ Então Eu lhes direi abertamente: 'Eu nunca vos conheci! Afastai-vos de Mim, vós que praticais a iniquidade!'

²⁴ Portanto todo aquele que ouve as Minhas palavras e as obedece será como o homem sábio que construiu a sua casa sobre a rocha. ²⁵ Veio a chuva, transbordaram os rios, e os ventos sopraram e bateram sobre aquela casa; mas ela não caiu, pois tinha sido alicerçada sobre a rocha.

²⁶ Mas todo aquele que ouve as Minhas palavras e não obedece, será como um homem tolo que construiu a sua casa sobre a areia. ²⁷ Veio a chuva, transbordaram os rios, os ventos sopraram e bateram sobre aquela casa, e ela caiu; e a sua destruição foi completa."

²⁸ E aconteceu que, quando Jesus acabou de falar essas palavras, as multidões estavam maravilhadas pelo Seu ensino, ²⁹ porque Ele ensinava como alguém que tinha autoridade, e não como os escribas.

Capítulo 8

¹ Quando Jesus desceu do monte, uma grande multidão O seguiu. ² Então veio um leproso e ajoelhou-se diante Dele, dizendo: "Senhor, se Tu queres, podes me purificar". ³ Jesus estendeu Sua mão e o tocou, dizendo: "Eu quero. Sê purificado". Imediatamente ele foi curado da sua lepra.

⁴ Jesus disse-lhe: "Vê que não digas nada a homem algum. Segue o teu caminho, mostra-te para o sacerdote e apresenta a oferta que Moisés ordenou, como um testemunho para eles".

⁵ Quando Jesus entrou em Cafarnaum, um centurião veio a Ele e suplicou: ⁶ "Senhor, meu servo está prostrado em casa paralisado em terrível sofrimento". ⁷ Jesus disse-lhe: "Eu irei e o curarei".

⁸ O centurião respondeu: "Senhor, eu não sou digno de que entres na minha casa, mas apenas diz uma palavra e meu servo será curado, ⁹ pois eu também sou um homem sujeito à autoridade e tenho soldados abaixo de mim. Eu digo a este: 'Vai,' e ele vai, e para outro: 'Vem,' e ele vem, e para meu servo: 'Faz isso,' e ele faz." ¹⁰ Quando Jesus ouviu isso, ficou admirado e disse à aqueles que o estavam seguindo: "Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo que nem mesmo em Israel encontrei alguém com tanta fé.

¹¹ Eu vos digo: muitos virão do Leste e do Oeste, e sentarão à mesa com Abraão, Isaque e Jacó, no Reino do Céu. ¹² Mas os filhos do reino serão lançados nas trevas exteriores, onde haverá choro e ranger de dentes". ¹³ Jesus disse ao centurião: "Vai! Assim como crestes, assim seja feito a ti". E o servo foi curado naquela mesma hora.

¹⁴ Quando Jesus entrou na casa de Pedro, viu a sogra deste deitada com febre. ¹⁵ Jesus tocou a mão dela, e a febre a deixou; então ela se levantou e começou a servi-Lo.

¹⁶ Ao anoitecer, as pessoas trouxeram a Jesus muitos que eram controlados por demônios, e Ele expulsou os espíritos com uma palavra, e curou todos os que estavam doentes. ¹⁷ Dessa forma, cumpriu-se o que foi dito por Isaías, o profeta: "Ele tomou sobre Si nossas doenças e carregou nossas enfermidades".

¹⁸ Quando Jesus viu a multidão em Sua volta, deu instruções que partissem para o outro lado do mar da Galiléia. ¹⁹ Então um escriba veio a Ele e disse: "Mestre, eu Te seguirei para qualquer lugar que fores". ²⁰ Jesus disse-lhe: "As raposas têm tocas, e os pássaros do céu possuem ninhos, mas o Filho do Homem não tem onde repousar a Sua cabeça".

²¹ Outro dos discípulos disse-Lhe: "Senhor, permita-me primeiro ir e enterrar meu pai". ²² Mas Jesus disse-lhe: "Segue-Me, e deixa os mortos enterrarem seus próprios mortos".

²³ Quando Jesus entrou em um barco, Seus discípulos O seguiram. ²⁴ Então veio uma grande tempestade no mar, de tal forma que as ondas cobriam o barco; contudo Jesus estava dormindo. ²⁵ Os discípulos vieram a Ele e O acordaram, dizendo: "Salva-nos Senhor; nós estamos prestes a morrer!"

²⁶ Jesus disse-lhes: "Por que estais com medo? Sois de pequena fé?" Então Ele se levantou, repreendeu os ventos e o mar, e houve uma grande calmaria. ²⁷ Os homens maravilharam-se e disseram: "Que tipo de homem é este, que até mesmo os ventos e o mar Lhe obedecem?"

²⁸ Quando Jesus chegou ao outro lado, na região dos gadarenos, dois homens que eram controlados por demônios O encontraram. Eles estavam vindo dos sepulcros e eram muito violentos, de tal forma que nenhum viajante podia passar por aquele caminho. ²⁹ Então eles gritaram e disseram: "O que temos nós Contigo, Filho de Deus? Vieste aqui para nos atormentar antes do tempo determinado?"

³⁰ Não muito longe dali, uma grande manada de porcos estava se alimentando. ³¹ Os demônios imploravam a Jesus dizendo: "Se nos expulsares, manda-nos para aquela manada de porcos". ³² Jesus disse-lhes: "Ide!" Os demônios saíram e foram para os porcos; e então toda a manada precipitou-se pela ladeira íngreme em direção ao mar e os porcos morreram na água.

³³ Os homens que tomavam conta dos porcos fugiram e, quando entraram na cidade, contaram tudo, inclusive o que tinha acontecido com os endemoninhados. ³⁴ Então toda a cidade veio para se encontrar com Jesus. Quando eles O viram, suplicaram-Lhe para que deixasse a região deles.

Capítulo 9

¹ Jesus entrou em um barco, cruzou o mar e veio à Sua própria cidade. ² Então trouxeram a Ele um homem paralítico deitado numa esteira. Vendo a fé deles, Jesus disse ao homem paralítico: "Filho, tem bom ânimo. Os teus pecados foram perdoados".

³ Então alguns dos escribas disseram entre si: "Este homem está blasfemando". ⁴ Jesus conhecia seus pensamentos e disse: "Por que estais pensando o mal em vossos corações? ⁵ O que é mais fácil dizer: 'Teus pecados estão perdoados' ou dizer: 'Levanta-te e anda'? ⁶ Mas, para que saibais que o Filho do Homem tem autoridade na terra para perdoar pecados..." — disse então ao paralítico — "Levanta-te, pega a tua esteira e vai para tua casa".

⁷ Então o homem se levantou e saiu para a sua casa. ⁸ Quando as multidões viram isso, ficaram maravilhadas e louvaram a Deus, que tinha dado tamanha autoridade às pessoas. ⁹ Saindo dali, Jesus viu um homem chamado Mateus, que estava sentado no local de coletar impostos, e disse-lhe: "Segue-me". Ele se levantou e O seguiu.

¹⁰ Estando Jesus em uma casa, sentado à mesa para comer, muitos coletores de impostos e pecadores vieram e jantaram com Ele e seus discípulos. ¹¹ Quando os fariseus viram isso, disseram aos Seus discípulos: "Por que vosso mestre come com os coletores de impostos e os pecadores?"

¹² Ao ouvir isso, Jesus disse: "Os que têm saúde não precisam de um médico, apenas os doentes. ¹³ Vós deveríeis aprender o que significa isto: 'Eu desejo misericórdia e não sacrifício', pois Eu não vim para chamar os justos para o arrependimento, mas sim os pecadores".

¹⁴ Então os discípulos de João vieram a Jesus e disseram: "Por que nós e os fariseus jejuamos com frequência, mas Teus discípulos não jejuam?" ¹⁵ Jesus disse-lhes: "Podem os convidados de um casamento ficarem tristes enquanto o noivo ainda está com eles? Mas virão os dias em que o noivo será tirado deles, e então eles jejuarão.

¹⁶ Ninguém coloca um pedaço de tecido novo em uma roupa velha, pois o remendo se romperá da roupa, e um rasgo pior será feito.

¹⁷ Ninguém coloca vinho novo em odres velhos; se fizer isso, as peles vão se romper, o vinho será derramado, e os odres serão destruídos. Ao invés disso, coloca-se vinho novo em odres novos, e ambos serão preservados".

¹⁸ Enquanto Jesus dizia essas coisas, um oficial veio e ajoelhou-se diante Dele, dizendo: "Minha filha acabou de falecer, mas vem e coloca Tua mão sobre ela, e ela viverá". ¹⁹ Então Jesus se levantou e o seguiu com Seus discípulos.

²⁰ Eis que uma mulher, que há doze anos sofria de hemorragia, veio atrás de Jesus e tocou a borda de Sua roupa; ²¹ pois ela disse para si: "Se eu apenas tocar em Sua roupa, serei curada". ²² Todavia Jesus virou-se, e ao vê-la disse: "Ânimo, filha, tua fé te curou". E a mulher foi curada instantaneamente.

²³ Quando Jesus entrou na casa do oficial, viu que os flautistas e as multidões estavam fazendo muito barulho; ²⁴ Ele disse: "Retirai-vos daqui, pois a menina não está morta, mas dorme". Porém eles riram Dele em zombaria.

²⁵ Quando a multidão foi retirada, Ele entrou no quarto, pegou a menina pela mão e ela se levantou. ²⁶ Essa notícia espalhou-se por toda aquela região.

²⁷ Enquanto Jesus seguia adiante, dois homens cegos O seguiram, gritando e dizendo: "Tenha compaixão de nós, Filho de Davi!" ²⁸ Quando Jesus entrou em casa, os homens cegos vieram a Ele. Jesus disse-lhes: "Credes que Eu posso fazer isso?" Eles responderam: "Sim, Senhor."

²⁹ Então Jesus tocou nos olhos deles e disse: "Seja feito conforme a vossa fé". ³⁰ E os olhos deles foram abertos. Então Jesus ordenou terminantemente a eles: "Vede que ninguém fique sabendo disso." ³¹ Mas os dois homens saíram e espalharam essa notícia por toda aquela região.

³² Enquanto aqueles dois homens iam embora, um homem mudo possuído por um demônio foi trazido a Jesus. ³³ Quando o demônio foi expulso, o homem mudo falou. As multidões estavam atônitas e disseram: "Isso nunca foi visto anteriormente em Israel!" ³⁴ Mas os fariseus disseram: "É pelo chefe dos demônios que Ele expulsa demônios".

³⁵ Jesus foi por todas as cidades e povoados, ensinando em suas sinagogas, pregando o Evangelho do reino e curando todo tipo de doenças e enfermidades. ³⁶ Quando viu as multidões, teve compaixão delas, porque estavam abatidas e confusas, pois eram como ovelhas sem um pastor.

³⁷ Ele disse a Seus discípulos: "A seara é grande, mas os trabalhadores são poucos. ³⁸ Portanto rogai ao Senhor da seara, para que envie trabalhadores para Sua seara".

Capítulo 10

¹ Jesus reunindo seus doze discípulos, deu-lhes autoridade sobre os espíritos imundos, para expulsá-los, e para curar todos os tipos de doenças e enfermidades.

² Os nomes dos doze apóstolos eram estes: o primeiro, Simão, também chamado Pedro, e André, seu irmão; Tiago, filho de Zebedeu, e João, seu irmão; ³ Filipe e Bartolomeu; Tomé e Mateus, o coletor de impostos; Tiago, filho de Alfeu, e Tadeu; ⁴ Simão, o zelote, e Judas Iscariotes, que O iria trair.

⁵ Jesus enviou esses doze; Ele os instruiu dizendo: "Não vades a nenhum lugar onde os gentios vivem, e não entreis em nenhuma das cidades dos samaritanos. ⁶ Em vez disso, ide às ovelhas perdidas da casa de Israel. ⁷ E à medida que seguirdes, pregai e dizei: 'O Reino dos Céus está próximo'.

⁸ Curai os enfermos, ressuscitai os mortos, purificai os leprosos, e expulsai demônios. De graça recebestes, de graça dai. ⁹ Não leveis ouro, prata, nem bronze em vossos cintos; ¹⁰ nenhuma bolsa para suas jornadas, nem duas túnicas, nem sandálias, nem cajado, pois digno é o trabalhador do seu alimento.

¹¹ Qualquer cidade ou povoado em que entrardes, encontrai quem é digno ali, e ficai lá até partirdes. ¹² Quando entrardes na casa, saudai-a. ¹³ Se a casa é digna, deixai a vossa paz sobre ela; mas, se não é digna, que a vossa paz volte para vós.

¹⁴ E para aqueles que não vos receberem ou ouvirem as vossas palavras, quando partirdes daquela casa ou cidade, batei a poeira de vossos pés. ¹⁵ Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo: haverá mais tolerância para a terra de Sodoma e Gomorra no dia do julgamento do que para essa cidade.

¹⁶ Vede que Eu vos envio como ovelhas para o meio de lobos, portanto sede sábios como serpentes e dóceis como pombas. ¹⁷ Estai alerta contra as pessoas, pois elas vos entregarão aos tribunais e nas suas sinagogas, sereis chicoteados. ¹⁸ Por minha causa vos trarão perante governantes e reis, como um testemunho a eles e aos gentios.

¹⁹ Quando eles vos entregarem, não fiqueis ansiosos sobre como ou o que ireis falar, pois vos será dado o que haveis de dizer naquele momento. ²⁰ Pois não sereis vós que falareis, mas o Espírito do vosso Pai que falará por vós.

²¹ Irmãos entregarão irmãos para a morte, e o pai ao seu filho. Filhos se levantarão contra seus pais e os matarão. ²² Vós sereis odiados por todos por causa do Meu Nome, mas aquele que persistir até o fim será salvo. ²³ Quando eles vos perseguirem nessa cidade, fugi para a próxima, pois verdadeiramente eu vos digo: não tereis ido a todas as cidades de Israel, antes que o Filho do Homem venha.

²⁴ O discípulo não é maior que seu mestre, nem o servo está acima de seu senhor. ²⁵ É suficiente para o discípulo que ele seja como seu mestre, e o servo como seu senhor. Se eles chamaram o mestre da casa de Belzebu, bem pior serão os nomes que eles darão aos membros da sua casa!

²⁶ Portanto não os temais, pois não há nada oculto que não será revelado, e nada escondido que não será conhecido. ²⁷ O que eu vos digo na escuridão, dizei-o à luz do dia e o que ouvis em sussurro aos vossos ouvidos, proclamai-o sobre o topo das casas.

²⁸ Não tenhais medo daqueles que matam o corpo, mas não conseguem matar a alma. Ao invés disso, temei Aquele que pode destruir tanto a alma quanto o corpo no inferno. ²⁹ Não são dois pardais vendidos por uma pequena moeda? Mesmo assim nenhum deles cai ao chão sem o conhecimento do vosso Pai. ³⁰ Mas mesmo os cabelos da vossa cabeça, estão todos contados. ³¹ Não temais. Vós sois muito mais valiosos que muitos pardais.

³² Portanto todo aquele que Me confessar diante dos homens, Eu também o confessarei diante de Meu Pai que está no céu, ³³ entretanto aquele que Me negar diante dos homens, Eu também o negarei diante de Meu Pai que está no Céu.

³⁴ Não penseis que Eu vim trazer paz sobre a terra; não vim trazer paz, mas espada. ³⁵ Eu vim para colocar o homem contra seu pai, e a filha contra sua mãe, e a nora contra a sua sogra. ³⁶ Os inimigos do homem serão os da sua própria casa.

³⁷ Aquele que ama o pai ou a mãe mais do que a Mim não é digno de Mim; e aquele que ama o filho ou a filha mais do que a Mim não é digno de Mim. ³⁸ Aquele que não pegar sua cruz e Me seguir não é digno de Mim. ³⁹ Aquele que achar sua vida irá perdê-la; mas aquele que perder sua vida por Minha causa irá achá-la.

⁴⁰ Aquele que vos receber, a Mim receberá, e aquele que receber a Mim, também receberá Aquele que Me enviou. ⁴¹ Aquele que receber um profeta, porque ele é um profeta, receberá recompensa de profeta, e aquele que receber um homem justo, porque ele é um homem justo, receberá recompensa de homem justo.

⁴² Quem der até mesmo um copo de água a um destes pequeninos, por ele ser um discípulo, verdadeiramente eu vos digo: ele não perderá a sua recompensa de modo alguma".

Capítulo 11

¹ Quando Jesus terminou de instruir os doze discípulos, partiu dali para ensinar e pregar nas cidades deles. ² João, ao ouvir na prisão sobre os feitos de Jesus, enviou uma mensagem por meio dos seus discípulos ³ e disse-Lhe: "Tu És o que estava por vir, ou há outra pessoa que devemos esperar?"

⁴ Jesus respondeu-lhes: "Ide e anunciai a João o que vedes e ouvis: ⁵ cegos recebem a vista, coxos andam, leprosos são purificados, surdos ouvem, mortos são trazidos de volta à vida, e aos necessitados são anunciadas as boas novas. ⁶ E abençoado é aquele que não encontra motivo de tropeço em Mim".

⁷ Enquanto eles iam por seu caminho, Jesus começou a dizer às multidões sobre João: "O que fostes ver no deserto? Uma cana sendo balançada pelo vento? ⁸ O que fostes ver? Um homem vestido com roupas finas? Na verdade, aqueles que vestem roupas finas vivem em casas de reis.

⁹ Mas, o que fostes ver? Um profeta? Sim, Eu vos digo: muito mais que profeta. ¹⁰ Este é aquele sobre quem está escrito: 'Vê, Eu estou enviando Meu mensageiro diante da tua face, o qual irá preparar o caminho diante de ti'.

¹¹ Em verdade vos digo: entre os nascidos de mulher, ninguém é maior do que João Batista; porém a pessoa menos importante no Reino dos Céus é maior do que ele. ¹² Desde os dias de João Batista até hoje, o Reino dos Céus sofre violência, e homens que se utilizam de violência o tomam à força.

¹³ Pois todos os profetas e a lei profetizaram até João. ¹⁴ E, se vós quereis aceitar isso, este é Elias, o que havia de vir. ¹⁵ Aquele que tiver ouvidos para ouvir ouça.

¹⁶ A que devo comparar esta geração? É como crianças brincando no mercado, que sentam e chamam uns aos outros ¹⁷ e dizem: 'Nós tocamos flauta a vós, e não dançastes. Nós lamentamos, e não pranteastes'.

¹⁸ Pois veio João, não comendo, nem bebendo, e eles disseram: 'Ele tem demônio'. ¹⁹ O Filho do Homem veio comendo e bebendo, e eles disseram: 'Olhem, Ele é um homem glutão e um beberrão, um amigo de coletores de impostos e de pecadores! Todavia a sabedoria é justificada por suas obras'.

²⁰ Então Jesus começou a repreender as cidades onde a maioria de seus milagres foram realizados, porque elas não se arrependeram. ²¹ "Ai de ti, Corazim! Ai de ti, Betsaida! Se os milagres que foram realizados em vós fossem realizados em Tiro e Sidom, eles teriam se arrependido há muito tempo com roupas de saco e cinza. ²² Porém haverá mais tolerância para Tiro e Sidom no dia do julgamento do que para vós.

²³ Tu, Cafarnaum, serás exaltada ao céu? Não! Serás lançada para baixo, ao inferno; pois, se em Sodoma se realizassem os milagres que foram realizados em ti, ela teria permanecido até hoje. ²⁴ Mas Eu te digo que será mais fácil para a terra de Sodoma, no dia do juízo, do que para ti".

²⁵ Naquele momento, Jesus disse: "Eu Te louvo, Pai, Senhor do céu e da terra, pois ocultaste estas coisas aos sábios e entendidos, e as revelastes às criancinhas. ²⁶ Sim, Pai, pois assim foi do Teu agrado. ²⁷ Todas as coisas foram confiadas a Mim por Meu Pai, e ninguém conhece o Filho, exceto o Pai, e ninguém conhece o Pai, exceto o Filho e aquele a quem o Filho desejar revelar.

²⁸ Vinde a Mim todos os que estais cansados e sobrecarregados, e Eu vos darei descanso. ²⁹ Tomai o Meu jugo sobre vós e aprendei de Mim, pois Sou manso e humilde de coração, e encontrareis descanso para as vossas almas, ³⁰ porque o meu jugo é suave e a minha carga é leve".

Capítulo 12

¹ Naquele tempo, Jesus passou pelas plantações de cereais, no dia de sábado. Seus discípulos estavam com fome e começaram a colher espigas e comê-las. ² Mas, quando os fariseus viram isso, disseram a Jesus: "Olha, Teus discípulos fazem o que não é permitido fazer no sábado".

³ Todavia Jesus disse-lhes: "Nunca lestes o que Davi fez quando ele e seus homens estavam com fome? ⁴ Ele entrou na casa de Deus e comeu os pães consagrados, os quais não eram permitidos a ele comer, nem aos que estavam com ele, mas permitido somente aos sacerdotes.

⁵ E não lestes na lei que, no sábado, os sacerdotes profanam esse dia no templo, contudo ficam sem culpa? ⁶ Todavia eu vos digo: está aqui Aquele que é maior do que o templo.

⁷ Se soubésseis o que significa: 'Eu desejo misericórdia e não sacrifício', não condenaríeis inocentes, ⁸ pois o Filho do Homem é Senhor do sábado".

⁹ Então Jesus partiu de lá e entrou na sinagoga. ¹⁰ Eis que lá havia um homem com uma mão atrofiada. Os fariseus perguntaram a Jesus: "É permitido curar no sábado?" de forma que eles pudessem acusá-Lo de pecar.

¹¹ Jesus disse-lhes: "Que homem entre vós, o qual tendo apenas uma ovelha, e, se essa ovelha cair em um buraco profundo, no sábado, não a agarraria e a tiraria dali? ¹² Quanto mais valor, então, tem um homem do que uma ovelha! Logo, é permitido fazer o bem no sábado".

¹³ Então Jesus disse ao homem: "Estende a tua mão". Ele a estendeu e ela foi restaurada, ficando exatamente como a outra mão. ¹⁴ Mas os fariseus saíram e conspiravam contra Ele, sobre como poderiam tirar-Lhe a vida.

¹⁵ Jesus, percebendo isso, afastou-se dali. Muitas pessoas O seguiram, e Ele curou a todas ¹⁶ e ordenou-lhes que não O fizesse conhecido aos outros, ¹⁷ para se tornar verdade o que foi dito por Isaías, o profeta:

¹⁸ "Vede Meu servo a quem escolhi, O Meu amado, em quem Minha alma tem prazer. Eu colocarei Meu Espírito sobre Ele, e Ele anunciará justiça aos gentios.

¹⁹ Ele não discutirá, nem gritará, nem alguém ouvirá Sua voz nas ruas. ²⁰ Ele não quebrará uma cana torcida, Ele não apagará o pavio que fumega, até que Ele leve a justiça à vitória, ²¹ e os gentios terão confiança em Seu nome".

²² Então foi levado a Ele um homem cego e mudo, possuído por um demônio, e Jesus o curou. O resultado foi que o homem mudo passou a ver e a falar. ²³ Todas as multidões ficaram maravilhadas e disseram: "Pode este homem ser o Filho de Davi?"

²⁴ Mas, quando os fariseus ouviram desse milagre, disseram: "Este homem não expulsa demônios senão por Belzebu, o príncipe dos demônios". ²⁵ Jesus, conhecendo os seus pensamentos, disse-lhes: "Todo reino dividido contra si mesmo ficará desolado, e toda cidade ou casa dividida contra si mesma não permanecerá.

²⁶ Se Satanás expulsa Satanás, ele está dividido contra si mesmo; como o seu reino permanecerá? ²⁷ E se Eu expulso demônios por Belzebu, por quem expulsam os vossos filhos? Por causa disso, eles serão vossos juízes.

²⁸ Mas se Eu expulso os demônios pelo Espírito de Deus, então o Reino de Deus chegou a vós. ²⁹ E como pode alguém entrar na casa do homem forte e roubar seus pertences sem amarrá-lo primeiro? Então, ele roubará os pertences de sua casa. ³⁰ Aquele que não está comigo é contra Mim, e aquele que comigo não ajunta espalha.

³¹ Por isso, vos digo: todo pecado e blasfêmia serão perdoados aos homens, mas a blasfêmia contra o Espírito não será perdoada. ³² Qualquer um que falar alguma palavra contra o Filho do Homem, isso lhe será perdoado; mas aquele que falar contra o Espírito Santo, isso não lhe será perdoado, nem neste mundo, nem no mundo que está por vir.

³³ Se uma árvore é boa, o seu fruto será bom; se uma árvore é má, o seu fruto será mau, pois uma árvore é conhecida por seus frutos. ³⁴ Raça de víboras, se vós sois maus, como podeis dizer coisas boas? Pois a boca fala do que o coração está cheio. ³⁵ O homem bom, do seu bom tesouro, tira o que é bom, já o homem mau, do seu mau tesouro, tira o que é mau.

³⁶ E eu vos digo que, no dia do juízo, as pessoas prestarão contas por cada palavra inútil que elas disserem. ³⁷ Portanto, pelas tuas palavras sereis justificados, e pelas tuas palavras sereis condenados".

³⁸ Então, certos escribas e fariseus disseram a Jesus: "Mestre, nós queremos ver um sinal Teu". ³⁹ Contudo Jesus respondeu-lhes: "Uma geração má e adúltera procura por sinal; mas nenhum sinal lhe será dado, exceto o sinal de Jonas, o profeta. ⁴⁰ Porque assim como Jonas esteve três dias e três noites na barriga do grande peixe, assim estará o Filho do Homem três dias e três noites no coração da terra.

⁴¹ Os homens de Nínive se levantarão, no juízo, contra essa geração de pessoas e a condenarão, pois eles se arrependeram com a pregação de Jonas, e vede: está aqui alguém maior do que Jonas.

⁴² A rainha do Sul se levantará, no juízo, com os homens dessa geração e a condenará, pois ela veio dos confins da terra para ouvir a sabedoria de Salomão, e vede: está aqui alguém maior do que Salomão.

⁴³ Quando um espírito imundo sai de um homem, anda por lugares secos e procura por descanso, mas não encontra. ⁴⁴ Então diz: 'Eu voltarei para a minha casa, de onde vim'. Tendo voltado, encontra a casa varrida e posta em ordem. ⁴⁵ Então vai e leva consigo outros sete espíritos piores que ele mesmo, e todos eles entram para viver lá. Então a condição final desse homem se torna pior do que a primeira. Assim será com essa geração má".

⁴⁶ Enquanto Jesus ainda falava às multidões, eis que sua mãe e seus irmãos estavam do lado de fora, procurando falar com ele. ⁴⁷ Alguém lhe disse: "Olha, Tua mãe e Teus irmãos estão do lado de fora, procurando falar contigo".

⁴⁸ Mas Jesus disse ao que falou com Ele: "Quem é Minha mãe? E quem são Meus irmãos?" ⁴⁹ Então Ele estendeu as mãos aos Seus discípulos e disse: "Olhai, aqui estão minha mãe e meus irmãos! ⁵⁰ Pois aquele que faz a vontade do meu Pai que está no céu, essa pessoa é Meu irmão, irmã e mãe".

Capítulo 13

¹ Naquele dia Jesus saiu de casa e sentou-se à beira do mar. ² Uma grande multidão se juntou em volta Dele. Então Ele entrou em um barco e sentou-se; toda a multidão permaneceu em pé na praia.

³ Então Jesus disse-lhes muitas coisas em parábolas. Ele disse: "Eis que o semeador saiu para semear. ⁴ Enquanto ele semeava, algumas sementes caíram na beira da estrada, e os pássaros vieram e as devoraram. ⁵ Outras sementes caíram no solo rochoso, onde elas não tinham muita terra, e imediatamente elas brotaram porque o solo não tinha profundidade. ⁶ Mas, quando o sol nasceu, elas foram queimadas, pois não tinham raízes, e então secaram.

⁷ Outras sementes caíram entre as plantas espinhosas, as quais cresceram e as sufocaram. ⁸ Outras sementes caíram em solo bom e produziram grãos, algumas cem vezes mais, outras sessenta e outras trinta. ⁹ Aquele que tem ouvidos, ouça".

¹⁰ Os discípulos vieram e disseram a Jesus: "Por que falas às multidões em parábolas?" ¹¹ Jesus respondendo, disse-lhes: "A vós tem sido dado o privilégio de entender os mistérios do Reino dos Céus, mas não a eles. ¹² Porque àquele que tem, muito mais lhe será dado, porém àquele que não tem, até o que tem lhe será tomado.

¹³ Então, Eu lhes falei em parábolas, porque, mesmo vendo, não veem realmente e, mesmo ouvindo, não ouvem, nem entendem. ¹⁴ Para eles, a profecia de Isaías é cumprida, a qual diz: 'Ouvindo, ouvireis, mas de maneira nenhuma entendereis; vendo, vereis, mas de maneira nenhuma percebereis.

¹⁵ Porque o coração deste povo tornou-se insensível, e ouviram com má vontade, e fecharam seus olhos; se assim não fosse, eles perceberiam com seus olhos, ouviriam com seus ouvidos, entenderiam com seus corações, e se arrependeriam, e Eu os curaria'.

¹⁶ Mas abençoados são os vossos olhos, porque veem; e os vossos ouvidos, porque ouvem. ¹⁷ Em verdade eu vos digo que muitos profetas e homens justos desejaram ver as coisas que vós vedes, e eles não as viram, e ouvir as coisas que vós ouvistes, e eles não as ouviram.

¹⁸ Compreendei, então, a parábola do semeador. ¹⁹ Quando alguém ouve a palavra do Reino, mas não a entende, então o maligno vem e rouba aquilo que foi semeado em seu coração. Essa é a semente que foi semeada à beira do caminho.

²⁰ A que foi semeada em solo rochoso é aquele que ouve a palavra e imediatamente a recebe com alegria; ²¹ entretanto ele não tem raiz em si mesmo, mas só permanece por pouco tempo. Quando a tribulação ou a perseguição se levanta por causa da palavra, ele tropeça imediatamente.

²² A que foi semeada entre plantas espinhosas é aquele que ouve a palavra, mas as preocupações do mundo e o engano das riquezas sufocam a palavra, e ela torna-se infrutífera. ²³ Aquela que foi semeada em bom solo é aquele que ouve a palavra e a entende; esse é o que verdadeiramente produz fruto; alguns cem vezes mais do que foi plantado, alguns sessenta, e alguns trinta vezes mais".

²⁴ Jesus apresentou-lhes outra parábola, dizendo: "O Reino dos Céus é como um homem que semeou boa semente em seu campo. ²⁵ Porém, enquanto as pessoas dormiam, seu inimigo veio e também semeou ervas daninhas no meio do trigo, e, então, foi embora. ²⁶ Quando as sementes de trigo brotaram e produziram suas espigas, então ervas daninhas também apareceram.

²⁷ Os servos do dono do campo vieram e disseram-lhe: 'Senhor, não plantaste boa semente no seu campo? Como agora ele tem ervas daninhas?' ²⁸ Ele disse-lhes: 'Um inimigo fez isso'. Os servos disseram a ele: 'Queres, então, que as arranquemos?'

²⁹ O dono do campo disse: 'Não! Porque enquanto vós puxardes as ervas daninhas, podereis puxar o trigo também junto com elas. ³⁰ Deixai os dois crescerem juntos até a colheita. No tempo da colheita, eu direi aos encarregados: "Primeiramente puxai as ervas daninhas e as amarrai em feixes para queimá-las, contudo, juntai o trigo no meu celeiro".

³¹ Então Jesus apresentou-lhes outra parábola, dizendo: "O Reino dos Céus é como uma semente de mostarda que um homem pegou e semeou em seu campo. ³² Essa semente é, de fato, a menor de todas as sementes. Mas, quando cresce, é maior que as plantas do jardim e torna-se uma árvore, de modo que os pássaros vêm e fazem ninho nos seus galhos".

³³ Jesus então contou-lhes outra parábola: "O Reino dos Céus é como fermento que uma mulher pegou e misturou com três medidas de farinha até a massa fermentar".

³⁴ Todas essas coisas Jesus disse às multidões em parábolas; e, sem parábolas, Ele não lhes disse nada. ³⁵ Isso foi para que o que foi dito por meio do profeta se tornasse verdade, quando ele disse: "Eu abrirei minha boca em parábolas; eu direi coisas que estavam escondidas desde a fundação do mundo".

³⁶ Então Jesus deixou as multidões e entrou em casa. Seus discípulos vieram a Ele e disseram: "Explica para nós a parábola das ervas daninhas no campo". ³⁷ Jesus respondendo, disse-lhes: "Aquele que semeia a boa semente é o Filho do Homem. ³⁸ O campo é o mundo; a boa semente são os filhos do reino e as ervas daninhas são os filhos do maligno, ³⁹ e o inimigo que os plantou é o maligno. A colheita é o fim do mundo, e os encarregados da colheita são os anjos.

⁴⁰ Portanto, como as ervas daninhas são recolhidas e queimadas no fogo, assim será no fim do mundo. ⁴¹ O Filho do Homem enviará seus anjos e eles ajuntarão do seu reino todas as coisas que causam pecado, e aqueles que cometem iniquidade, ⁴² e os lançarão na fornalha de fogo, onde haverá lamento e rangido de dentes. ⁴³ Então os justos brilharão como o sol, no reino de seu Pai. Aquele que tem ouvidos, ouça.

⁴⁴ O Reino dos Céus é como um tesouro escondido em um campo que um homem achou e o escondeu. Em sua alegria, ele vai, vende tudo que possui e compra aquele campo. ⁴⁵ Novamente, o Reino dos Céus é como um homem que é um mercador à procura de pérolas preciosas. ⁴⁶ Quando ele encontrou uma pérola de grande valor, foi e vendeu tudo que possuía e a comprou.

⁴⁷ Novamente, o Reino dos Céus é como uma rede que foi lançada ao mar e capturou criaturas de todos os tipos. ⁴⁸ Quando estava cheia, os pescadores arrastaram-na para a praia. Então sentaram e juntaram as coisas boas em cestos, porém, as coisas sem valor jogaram fora.

⁴⁹ Será desta maneira no fim do mundo: os anjos virão e separarão os maus dentre os justos, ⁵⁰ e os lançarão na fornalha de fogo, onde haverá lamento e rangido de dentes.

⁵¹ Vós entendestes todas essas coisas? Os discípulos disseram a ele: "Sim". ⁵² Então Jesus disse-lhes: "Portanto todo mestre da lei que torna-se discípulo do Reino dos Céus é como um homem que é o dono de uma casa, que retira coisas velhas e novas de seu tesouro". ⁵³ Aconteceu que, quando Jesus terminou essas parábolas, Ele deixou aquele lugar.

⁵⁴ Então Jesus entrou na sua própria região, e ensinou as pessoas nas suas sinagogas, e eles ficaram maravilhados e disseram: "De onde este homem consegue Sua sabedoria e estes milagres? ⁵⁵ Não é este homem o filho do carpinteiro? Não é Sua mãe Maria? E não são Tiago, José, Simão e Judas Seus irmãos? ⁵⁶ E Suas irmãs não estão entre nós? Então, de onde este homem tira todas estas coisas?"

⁵⁷ Eles ofendidos por Jesus. Mas Ele lhes disse: "Um profeta não é sem honra, exceto em seu próprio país e em sua própria família". ⁵⁸ E Ele não realizou muitos milagres lá por causa da descrença deles.

Capítulo 14

¹ Naquele tempo, Herodes, o tetrarca, ouviu as notícias sobre Jesus. ² Ele disse aos seus servos: "Esse é João, o Batista; ele ressuscitou dos mortos, por isso esses poderes estão operando Nele".

³ Pois Herodes o havia prendido, amarrado e colocado na prisão, por causa de Herodias, a esposa de seu irmão Filipe, ⁴ porque João havia lhe dito: "Não é legítimo tê-la como tua esposa". ⁵ Herodes teria mandado matá-lo, mas ele temeu o povo, porque eles o consideravam um profeta.

⁶ Mas, quando o aniversário de Herodes chegou, a filha de Herodias dançou no meio dos convidados e agradou a Herodes. ⁷ Em resposta, ele prometeu com um juramento que daria a ela qualquer coisa que ela pedisse.

⁸ Após ser instruída por sua mãe, ela disse: "Dá-me aqui, em um prato, a cabeça de João, o Batista". ⁹ O rei ficou muito triste com o pedido dela, mas, por causa do seu juramento e por causa de todos os que estavam no jantar com ele, ordenou que isso deveria ser feito.

¹⁰ Ele enviou soldados, os quais decapitaram João na prisão. ¹¹ Então sua cabeça foi trazida em um prato e dada à menina e ela a levou para a sua mãe. ¹² Então seus discípulos vieram, pegaram o corpo e o enterraram. Após isso, eles foram e contaram a Jesus.

¹³ Quando Jesus ouviu o que havia acontecido, retirou-se de lá, em um barco, para um lugar isolado. Ao ouvir isso, as multidões O seguiram a pé, vindas das cidades. ¹⁴ Então Jesus desembarcou, viu a grande multidão, teve compaixão dela e curou seus doentes.

¹⁵ Quando o fim da tarde chegou, os discípulos vieram a Ele e disseram: "Este é um lugar deserto e o dia já terminou. Despede as multidões, para que elas possam ir às vilas e comprar comida para si".

¹⁶ Mas Jesus disse-lhes: "Eles não precisam ir embora, dai-lhes algo para comer". ¹⁷ Eles Lhe disseram: "Nós temos aqui apenas cinco pães e dois peixes". ¹⁸ Jesus disse: "Trazei-os para Mim".

¹⁹ Então Jesus ordenou que a multidão se sentasse na grama. Ele pegou os cinco pães e os dois peixes e, olhando para o céu, abençoou, partiu os pães, deu-os aos discípulos e os discípulos os deram à multidão. ²⁰ Todos comeram e ficaram satisfeitos. Então eles recolheram o que sobrou dos pedaços de comida: doze cestos cheios. ²¹ Aqueles que comeram eram em torno de cinco mil homens, além de mulheres e crianças.

²² Imediatamente Ele fez os discípulos entrarem no barco e irem adiante Dele para o outro lado, enquanto despedia a multidão. ²³ Depois que mandou a multidão embora, Ele subiu a montanha sozinho para orar. Quando escureceu, Ele estava lá sozinho. ²⁴ Mas o barco estava distante da terra e quase fora de controle por causa das ondas, pois o vento soprava contra eles.

²⁵ Na quarta vigília da noite, Jesus aproximou-se deles, andando sobre o mar. ²⁶ Quando os discípulos O viram andando sobre o mar, ficaram aterrorizados e disseram: "É um fantasma!" E eles gritaram de medo. ²⁷ Mas Jesus falou-lhes imediatamente: "Sede corajosos! Sou Eu! Não tenhais medo".

²⁸ Pedro respondeu-Lhe: "Senhor, se és Tu, ordena a mim para que vá a Ti sobre a água". ²⁹ Jesus disse: "Vem!" Assim Pedro saiu do barco e andou sobre as águas para ir até Jesus. ³⁰ Mas, quando Pedro viu o vento, teve medo; e, começando a afundar, gritou: "Senhor, salva-me!"

³¹ Jesus imediatamente esticou a mão, agarrou Pedro e disse-lhe: "Tu, que tens pequena fé, por que duvidaste?" ³² Então, quando Jesus e Pedro entraram no barco, o vento parou de soprar. ³³ Os discípulos no barco adoraram a Jesus e disseram: "Verdadeiramente Tu és o Filho de Deus".

³⁴ Após completarem a travessia, chegaram a terra, em Genesaré. ³⁵ Quando os homens naquele lugar reconheceram Jesus, enviaram mensagens para todos os lugares nos arredores e trouxeram a Ele todos os que estavam doentes. ³⁶ Eles Lhe imploraram que pudessem apenas tocar na borda do Seu manto, e todos os que tocaram foram curados.

Capítulo 15

¹ Então alguns Fariseus e escribas vieram de Jerusalém a Jesus e disseram: ² "Por que os Teus discípulos violam a tradição dos anciãos? Pois eles não lavam suas mãos quando comem". ³ Jesus respondeu e disse-lhes: "E vós, por que violais o mandamento de Deus por causa das vossas tradições?

⁴ Pois Deus diz: 'Honra teu pai e tua mãe,' e 'Aquele que maldisser seu pai ou sua mãe, certamente morrerá'. ⁵ Mas vós dizeis: 'Aquele que disser a seu pai ou a sua mãe: 'Qualquer ajuda que poderíeis receber de mim é agora oferta para Deus', ⁶ essa pessoa não terá de honrar seu pai'. Dessa forma, vós anulais a palavra de Deus por causa das vossas tradições.

⁷ Hipócritas! Bem falou a profecia de Isaías sobre vós quando disse: ⁸ 'Este povo honra-Me com os lábios, mas seu coração está longe de Mim. ⁹ Eles Me adoram em vão, porque ensinam mandamentos humanos'".

¹⁰ Então Ele chamou a multidão para Si e disse-lhes: "Ouvi e entendei: ¹¹ nada do que entra pela boca torna impura uma pessoa. Ao contrário, o que sai da boca, isso é o que torna impura uma pessoa".

¹² Então os discípulos vieram e disseram a Jesus: "Sabes que os fariseus ficaram ofendidos quando ouviram a Tua declaração?" ¹³ Jesus respondeu e disse: "Toda planta que Meu Pai Celestial não plantou será arrancada. ¹⁴ Deixai-os a sós; eles são guias cegos. Se um cego guia outro cego, ambos cairão no barranco".

¹⁵ Pedro respondeu e disse a Jesus: "Explica-nos essa parábola". ¹⁶ Jesus disse: "Ainda estais sem entendimento? ¹⁷ Não vedes que tudo o que entra pela boca passa pelo estômago e, por fim, é expelido?

¹⁸ Mas as coisas que saem da boca vêm do coração. Isso é o que torna uma pessoa impura. ¹⁹ Pois do coração procedem maus pensamentos, assassinatos, adultérios, imoralidades sexuais, roubos, falsos testemunhos, e insultos. ²⁰ Essas são as coisas que tornam impura uma pessoa. Mas comer com as mãos sujas não torna impura uma pessoa".

²¹ Então Jesus saiu dali e retirou-Se em direção às regiões das cidades de Tiro e Sidom. ²² E uma mulher Cananeia veio daquela região, gritando: "Tem misericórdia de mim, Senhor, filho de Davi; minha filha está severamente atormentada por um demônio". ²³ Mas Jesus não lhe respondeu qualquer palavra. Seus discípulos vieram e imploraram-Lhe, dizendo: "Despede-a, pois ela está gritando atrás de nós".

²⁴ Mas Jesus respondeu e disse: "Eu não fui enviado senão às ovelhas perdidas da casa de Israel". ²⁵ Porém ela veio e prostrou-se ante Ele, dizendo: "Senhor, ajuda-me". ²⁶ Ele respondeu e disse: "Não é correto tirar o pão dos filhos e lançá-lo aos cachorrinhos".

²⁷ Ela disse: "Sim, Senhor, mas mesmo os cachorrinhos comem algumas migalhas que caem da mesa dos seus donos". ²⁸ Então Jesus respondeu e disse-lhe: "Mulher, grande é a tua fé! Seja-te feito isso exatamente como desejas". E sua filha ficou curada naquela hora.

²⁹ Jesus deixou aquele lugar e aproximou-Se do mar da Galiléia. Depois Ele subiu a um monte e sentou-Se lá. ³⁰ Grandes multidões vieram a Ele; as pessoas traziam coxos, cegos, mudos e aleijados, e muitos outros que estavam doentes. Eles eram apresentados aos pés de Jesus, e Ele os curava. ³¹ Então a multidão se maravilhava quando as pessoas viam os mudos falarem, os aleijados serem curados, os coxos andarem e os cegos verem. Eles todos louvaram ao Deus de Israel.

³² Jesus chamou a Si seus discípulos e disse: "Eu tenho compaixão dessa multidão, porque eles continuam Comigo por três dias e nada têm para comer. Eu não quero mandá-los embora sem comer, temo que eles desfaleçam no caminho". ³³ Os discípulos disseram-Lhe: "Onde conseguiremos pães suficientes que satisfaçam tão grande multidão, em um lugar tão deserto?" ³⁴ Jesus disse-Lhes: "Quantos pães tendes?" Eles disseram: "Sete, e um peixinho". ³⁵ Então Jesus ordenou à multidão para sentar-se no chão.

³⁶ Ele tomou os sete pães e o peixe, e, após dar graças, partiu os pães e os deu aos discípulos; e os discípulos distribuíram-nos à multidão. ³⁷ Todas as pessoas comeram e ficaram satisfeitas. E eles recolheram sete cestos cheios dos pedaços partidos que sobraram da comida. ³⁸ Aqueles que comeram eram quatro mil homens, além das mulheres e crianças. ³⁹ Então Jesus despediu as multidões, entrou no barco e partiu para a região de Magadã.

Capítulo 16

¹ Os fariseus e saduceus vieram colocar Jesus à prova, pedindo que lhes mostrasse um sinal do céu. ² Mas Ele lhes respondeu: "Quando a tarde vem, vós dizeis: 'Haverá bom tempo, pois o céu está avermelhado'.

³ E de manhã dizeis: 'O tempo hoje está ruim, as nuvens estão vermelhas e escuras'. Sabeis interpretar o aspecto do céu, mas não sabeis interpretar os sinais dos tempos? ⁴ Uma geração má e adúltera pede um sinal, mas nenhum sinal será dado senão o de Jonas." E Jesus, deixando-os, foi embora.

⁵ Os discípulos chegaram ao outro lado, mas eles esqueceram-se de levar pão. ⁶ Jesus disse-lhes: "Prestai atenção e sede cuidadosos com o fermento dos fariseus e saduceus". ⁷ Os discípulos discutiam entre si dizendo: "É porque não trouxemos pão". ⁸ E Jesus percebendo isso disse: "Homens de pequena fé, por que discutis entre vós e dizeis que é por não trazerdes pão?

⁹ Vós ainda não percebeis e nem vos lembrais dos cinco pães para cinco mil homens e de quantos cestos recolhestes? ¹⁰ E dos sete pães para quatro mil homens e de quantos cestos recolhestes?

¹¹ Como não entendeis que não vos falei de pães? Prestai atenção e sede cuidadosos com o fermento dos fariseus e saduceus". ¹² Então eles entenderam que Ele não estava falando de serem cuidadosos com o fermento dos pães, mas de serem cuidadosos com os ensinamentos dos fariseus e saduceus.

¹³ Quando Jesus veio para as regiões próximas de Cesareia de Filipe, perguntou a Seus discípulos: "Quem o povo diz ser o Filho do Homem?" ¹⁴ Eles disseram: "Alguns dizem: 'João, o Batista'; uns dizem: 'Elias', outros dizem: 'Jeremias ou um dos profetas'". ¹⁵ E Ele perguntou-lhes: "Mas vós dizeis que Eu sou quem?" ¹⁶ Respondendo Simão Pedro, disse: "Tu és o Cristo, o Filho do Deus vivo."

¹⁷ E Jesus lhe respondeu: "És abençoado, Simão Barjonas, pois não foi carne e sangue que te revelaram isso, mas O Meu Pai que está no céu. ¹⁸ E também Eu te digo que tu és Pedro, e sobre esta rocha edificarei a Minha igreja e as portas do inferno não prevalecerão contra ela.

¹⁹ Eu te darei as chaves do Reino do Céu. O que ligares na terra terá sido ligado nos céus e o que desligares na terra terá sido desligado no céu". ²⁰ Então Jesus ordenou aos discípulos que não contassem a ninguém que Ele era o Cristo.

²¹ A partir daquele momento, Jesus começou a dizer aos Seus discípulos que Lhe era necessário ir para Jerusalém sofrer muitas coisas nas mãos dos anciãos, principais sacerdotes e escribas; ser morto e ressuscitar no terceiro dia. ²² Então Pedro chamou Jesus à parte e reprovou-O, dizendo: "Longe de Ti, Senhor, isso nunca vai Te acontecer". ²³ Mas, Jesus voltando-se, disse: "Sai para trás de Mim, Satanás, tu és para Mim pedra de tropeço, porque não cuidas das coisas de Deus, mas das coisas dos homens".

²⁴ Então Jesus disse a Seus discípulos: "Se alguém quiser Me seguir, negue-se a si mesmo, tome a sua cruz e siga-Me. ²⁵ Portanto quem quiser salvar a sua vida a perderá. E quem perder a sua vida por Minha causa a encontrará. ²⁶ Pois o que aproveitaria a uma pessoa ganhar o mundo inteiro e perder a sua vida? O que pode uma pessoa dar em troca da sua vida?

²⁷ Porque o Filho do Homem virá na glória do Seu Pai com os Seus anjos. Então Ele recompensará cada um de acordo com aquilo que tiver feito. ²⁸ Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo que alguns de vós dos que aqui estão não experimentarão a morte até que vejam o Filho do Homem vindo no Seu Reino".

Capítulo 17

¹ Seis dias depois, Jesus levou consigo Pedro, Tiago e seu irmão João, e em particular subiu com eles a um alto monte. ² Ele foi transfigurado na frente deles; Seu rosto brilhava como o sol, e Suas vestes tornaram-se brilhantes como a luz.

³ Eis que lhes apareceram Moisés e Elias, falando com Ele. ⁴ Então, Pedro disse a Jesus: "Senhor, é bom para nós estarmos aqui. Se desejas, farei aqui três tendas: Uma para o Senhor, uma para Moisés, e uma para Elias".

⁵ Ele ainda estava falando quando uma nuvem os encobriu, e ouviu-se uma voz vinda da nuvem, dizendo: "Este é Meu Filho amado, em Quem me agrado. A Ele ouvi". ⁶ Quando os discípulos a ouviram, caíram com os seus rostos em terra e estavam com muito medo. ⁷ Então Jesus veio e tocou neles e disse-lhes: "Levantai-vos e não tenhais medo". ⁸ E eles olharam e não viram ninguém, exceto Jesus.

⁹ Enquanto eles desciam o monte, Jesus ordenou-lhes, dizendo: "Não conteis essa visão a ninguém, até que o Filho do Homem seja ressuscitado dentre os mortos". ¹⁰ Seus discípulos perguntaram a Ele, dizendo: "Por que os escribas dizem que Elias deve vir primeiro?"

¹¹ Jesus respondeu e disse: "Elias de fato virá e restaurará todas as coisas. ¹² Todavia Eu vos digo: "Elias já veio, mas eles não o reconheceram; ao invés disso, fizeram o que quiseram com ele. Do mesmo modo, o Filho do Homem vai sofrer igualmente nas mãos deles". ¹³ Então os discípulos entenderam que Ele estava falando sobre João, o Batista.

¹⁴ Quando eles chegaram junto à multidão, um homem veio, ajoelhou-se diante de Jesus, dizendo: ¹⁵ "Senhor, tenha misericórdia de meu filho, ele é epiléptico e sofre demais. Muitas vezes ele cai no fogo, e outras muitas ele cai na água. ¹⁶ Eu o trouxe para os Teus discípulos, mas eles não puderam curá-lo".

¹⁷ Jesus respondendo disse: "Geração perversa e descrente, até quando estarei convosco? Até quando vos aguentarei? Trazei o menino para mim". ¹⁸ Jesus repreendeu o demônio e este saiu do menino, que foi curado naquela hora.

¹⁹ Então os discípulos vieram a Jesus em particular e disseram: "Por que nós não pudemos expulsá-lo?" ²⁰ Jesus disse a eles: "É por causa da vossa pequena fé; pois de fato eu vos digo: se tiverdes fé como um pequeno grão de mostarda, podereis dizer para este monte: 'Move-te daqui para lá.' E ele se moverá. Nada vos será impossível. ²¹ ¹

²² Enquanto eles estavam na Galileia, Jesus disse aos seus discípulos: "O Filho do Homem está para ser entregue nas mãos dos homens; ²³ eles vão matá-Lo mas, ao terceiro dia, Ele ressuscitará". Os discípulos ficaram muito tristes.

²⁴ Quando eles chegaram a Cafarnaum, aproximaram-se de Pedro os cobradores do imposto das duas dracmas, e perguntaram: "O Teu mestre não paga os impostos?" ²⁵ Ele respondeu: "Sim, ele paga". Mas quando Pedro entrou na casa, Jesus antecipou-se, dizendo: "O que achas, Simão? De quem os reis da terra recebem taxa ou tributo? Dos seus filhos ou dos estrangeiros?"

²⁶ Quando Pedro disse: "Dos estrangeiros," Jesus disse a ele: "Então os seus filhos estão dispensados de pagar. ²⁷ Mas, para que não os escandalizemos, vai ao mar, lança o anzol, e o primeiro peixe que tu pescares, segura-o e abre-lhe a boca. Encontrarás aí uma moeda de prata. Pega-a e dá ao coletor de impostos por mim e por ti."

¹Mas esse tipo de demônio não sai, exceto com oração e jejum. (As melhores cópias antigas omitem o versículo 21.)

Capítulo 18

¹ Naquele mesmo tempo, os discípulos vieram a Jesus e perguntaram: "Quem é o maior no Reino dos Céus?" ² Jesus chamou para si uma criança, colocou-a entre eles ³ e disse: "Verdadeiramente eu vos digo que, a menos que vos convertais e vos torneis como criança, de modo algum entrareis no Reino dos Céus.

⁴ Portanto aquele que se humilhar como esta criança é o maior no Reino dos Céus. ⁵ E aquele que receber uma destas crianças em meu nome, a mim me recebe. ⁶ Mas aquele que levar a pecar um destes pequeninos que acreditam em mim, melhor seria que uma grande pedra de moinho fosse pendurada em seu pescoço e fosse afundado até as profundezas do mar.

⁷ Ai do mundo por causa dos que fazem tropeçar! É necessário que venham os tropeços, mas ai da pessoa pela qual vem o tropeço! ⁸ Se tua mão ou teu pé te faz tropeçar, corta-o e atira-o longe de ti. É melhor para ti entrares na vida manco ou aleijado, do que seres atirado no fogo eterno tendo as duas mãos ou os dois pés.

⁹ Se o teu olho te leva a tropeçar, arranca-o e atira-o longe de ti. É melhor para ti entrares na vida com um olho do que seres atirado no fogo eterno tendo os dois olhos.

¹⁰ Vede que não desprezeis nenhum destes pequeninos. Pois Eu vos digo que os seus anjos nos céus vêem continuamente a face de meu Pai que está nos céus. ¹¹ ¹

¹² O que pensais? Se alguém tiver cem ovelhas, e uma dessas se extraviar, não deixa as noventa e nove sobre a colina, e parte seguindo aquela que se extraviou? ¹³ Verdadeiramente vos digo que, se ele a encontra, alegra-se mais por esta do que pelas noventa e nove que não se desviaram. ¹⁴ Do mesmo modo, não é o desejo de vosso Pai celeste que pereça um destes pequeninos.

¹⁵ Se teu irmão pecar ² , vai, dize-lhe sobre sua falta, entre ti e ele somente. Se ele te ouvir, terás ganhado o teu irmão. ¹⁶ Mas, se ele não te ouvir, traz contigo mais uma ou duas pessoas e, então, pela boca de duas ou três testemunhas toda palavra será confirmada.

¹⁷ Porém, se ele se recusar a ouvi-lo, dize-o à igreja. Se ele também se recusar a ouvir a igreja, considera-o como um gentio e coletor de impostos.

¹⁸ Verdadeiramente eu vos digo: tudo que ligardes na terra será ligado no céu; e tudo que desligardes na terra será desligado no céu. ¹⁹ Além disso, eu vos digo que, se dois concordarem na terra sobre qualquer coisa que pedirem, isso será feito em favor deles por meu Pai, que está nos céus. ²⁰ Pois onde há dois ou três reunidos em meu nome, ali estou no meio deles".

²¹ Então Pedro veio e disse a Jesus: "Senhor, quantas vezes meu irmão pecará contra mim e eu lhe perdoarei? Até sete vezes?" ²² Jesus respondeu: "Não apenas sete vezes, mas até setenta vezes sete.

²³ Portanto o reino dos céus é similar a certo rei que queria acertar as contas com seus servos. ²⁴ Assim que ele começou o acerto, foi-lhe trazido um servo que devia dez mil talentos. ²⁵ Mas, uma vez que ele não tinha os meios para pagar, seu senhor ordenou que ele fosse vendido juntamente com a esposa e os filhos e tudo o que ele tinha, e o pagamento fosse feito.

²⁶ Então o servo caiu prostrado diante dele e disse: 'Senhor, tem paciência comigo, e eu te pagarei tudo'. ²⁷ Então o senhor daquele servo, movido de compaixão, livrou-o e perdoou-lhe a dívida.

²⁸ Mas aquele servo saiu e encontrou um de seus conservos que lhe devia cem denários. Ele agarrou-o, pegou-o pela garganta, e disse: 'Paga-me o que me deves'. ²⁹ Mas seu conservo caiu e implorou-lhe, dizendo: 'Tem paciência comigo, e eu te pagarei'.

³⁰ Mas o primeiro servo se recusou a perdoar-lhe. Em vez disso, ele atirou-o na prisão, até que lhe pagasse tudo o que devia. ³¹ Quando seus conservos viram tudo o que tinha acontecido, ficaram muito desapontados, foram e contaram ao seu senhor tudo o que tinha acontecido.

³² Então o senhor daquele servo o chamou e disse-lhe: 'Servo mau, perdoei-te toda aquela dívida porque me imploraste. ³³ Não devias tu ter tido misericórdia do teu conservo, assim como eu tive misericórdia de ti?'

³⁴ Seu senhor enfureceu-se e entregou-o aos torturadores até que ele pagasse tudo aquilo que era devido. ³⁵ Assim também meu Pai celeste vos fará, se cada um de vós não perdoar, de coração, ao seu irmão".

¹As cópias mais antigas omitem a frase que aparece como v.11 Pois o Filho do Homem veio salvar o que estava perdido.

²contra ti

Capítulo 19

¹ Aconteceu que, quando Jesus terminou essas palavras, partiu da Galileia e foi para a região da Judeia, além do rio Jordão. ² Grandes multidões O seguiram, e Ele as curou.

³ Fariseus vieram a Ele e, colocando-O à prova, disseram: "É legítimo a um homem repudiar sua esposa por qualquer motivo?" ⁴ Jesus respondeu dizendo: "Não lestes que Aquele que os fez desde o princípio os fez homem e mulher?

⁵ E que Ele também disse: 'Por essa razão, o homem deixará seu pai e sua mãe e se unirá a sua mulher, e os dois se tornarão uma só carne?' ⁶ Logo eles não são mais dois, mas uma só carne. Portanto, o que Deus uniu, ninguém separe".

⁷ Eles Lhe disseram: "Por que, então, Moisés nos mandou dar uma certidão de divórcio e repudiar?" ⁸ Ele disse-lhes: "Por causa da dureza do vosso coração, Moisés vos permitiu repudiar vossas esposas, mas, no princípio, não era dessa forma. ⁹ Eu vos digo que todo aquele que repudiar sua esposa, exceto por imoralidade, e casar-se com outra, comete adultério; ¹ .

¹⁰ Os discípulos disseram a Jesus: "Se esse é o caso de um homem em relação a sua esposa, não é bom casar-se". ¹¹ Mas Jesus disse-lhes: "Nem todos podem aceitar esse ensinamento, mas somente aqueles a quem é permitido aceitá-lo. ¹² Pois há eunucos que são nascidos assim do útero de suas mães. E há eunucos que são feitos eunucos pelos homens. E há eunucos que fizeram a si mesmos eunucos por causa do Reino dos Céus. Aquele que está apto para receber esse ensino receba-o".

¹³ Então foram trazidas algumas crianças para que Ele estendesse as mãos sobre elas e orasse, mas os discípulos repreenderam-lhes. ¹⁴ Todavia Jesus disse: "Deixai as crianças, e não as proibais de vir a Mim, pois delas é o Reino dos Céus.". ¹⁵ Ele colocou as mãos sobre elas, e então partiu dali.

¹⁶ Eis que um homem veio a Jesus e disse: "Mestre, o que posso fazer de bom para ter a vida eterna?" ¹⁷ Jesus disse-lhe: "Por que Me perguntas sobre o que é bom? Só um é bom, mas se queres entrar na vida, cumpra os mandamentos".

¹⁸ O homem perguntou-Lhe: "Quais mandamentos?" Jesus respondeu: "Não matarás, não cometerás adultério, não roubarás, não dirás falso testemunho, ¹⁹ honra teu pai e tua mãe, e amarás o teu próximo como a ti mesmo".

²⁰ O jovem disse-Lhe: "A todas essas coisas tenho obedecido; o que eu preciso fazer ainda?" ²¹ Jesus respondeu-lhe: "Se desejas ser perfeito, vai, vende o que tens, e dá aos pobres, e terás um tesouro no céu; então vem e segue-Me." ²² Mas, quando o jovem ouviu o que Jesus falou, foi embora triste, pois tinha muitas propriedades.

²³ Jesus disse aos seus discípulos: "Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo que é difícil para um homem rico entrar no Reino dos Céus. ²⁴ Novamente eu vos digo: É mais fácil para um camelo passar através do buraco da agulha, do que para um homem rico entrar no Reino de Deus".

²⁵ Quando os discípulos ouviram isso, ficaram muito maravilhados e disseram: "Quem então pode ser salvo?" ²⁶ Jesus olhou-os e disse: "Para o ser humano isso é impossível, mas para Deus todas as coisas são possíveis". ²⁷ Então Pedro respondeu e disse-Lhe: "Vê, nós deixamos tudo e Te seguimos; o que então receberemos?"

²⁸ Jesus disse-lhes: "Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo que, na regeneração, quando o Filho do Homem sentar-se no Seu glorioso trono, vós que tendes Me seguido também sentareis sobre doze tronos para julgar as doze tribos de Israel.

²⁹ Todo aquele que deixou casas, irmãos, irmãs, pai, mãe, filhos, ou propriedades, por causa do Meu nome, receberá cem vezes mais e herdará a vida eterna. ³⁰ Porém muitos dos primeiros serão últimos; e muitos dos últimos serão primeiros".

¹e o homem que se casar com uma mulher repudiada comete adultério

Capítulo 20

¹ Pois o Reino dos Céus é como o dono de uma propriedade que saiu cedo, pela manhã, para contratar trabalhadores para a sua vinha. ² Após ter combinado com os trabalhadores um denário por dia, ele os enviou para a sua vinha.

³ Ele saiu novamente por volta da terceira hora e viu outros trabalhadores ociosos na praça. ⁴ E disse-lhes: 'Ide também vós a minha vinha, e eu vos darei o que for justo'. Então eles foram trabalhar.

⁵ Outra vez, ele saiu por volta da sexta hora e, de novo, na nona hora, e fez o mesmo. ⁶ Uma vez mais, por volta da décima primeira hora, ele saiu e encontrou outros que estavam ociosos. E perguntou-lhes: 'Por que estais aqui ociosos todo o dia?' ⁷ Eles lhe responderam: 'Porque ninguém quis nos contratar'. Ele lhes disse: 'Ide também para a minha vinha'.

⁸ Quando a tarde chegou, o dono da vinha disse ao administrador: 'Chama os trabalhadores e paga-lhes o salário, começando do último até o primeiro'. ⁹ Quando os trabalhadores que foram contratados na décima primeira hora chegaram, cada um deles recebeu um denário. ¹⁰ Quando os primeiros trabalhadores chegaram, eles pensaram que poderiam receber mais, contudo cada um deles também recebeu um denário.

¹¹ Quando eles receberam seus pagamentos, queixaram-se do dono da propriedade. ¹² Eles disseram: 'Estes últimos trabalharam somente uma hora, mas tu os fizeste igual a nós, que suportamos o fadiga do dia e do intenso calor'.

¹³ Mas o dono respondeu a um deles, dizendo: 'Amigo, eu não te faço injustiça, não combinaste comigo por um denário? ¹⁴ Recebe o que te pertence e vai embora; eu decidi dar a esses trabalhadores contratados por último exatamente o mesmo que a ti.

¹⁵ Não é meu direito fazer o que eu quiser com as minhas posses? Ou são teus olhos maus porque eu sou generoso?' ¹⁶ Assim os últimos serão os primeiros, e os primeiros os últimos." ¹

¹⁷ Quando Jesus estava subindo para Jerusalém, chamou à parte os doze discípulos e, no caminho, disse-lhes: ¹⁸ "Vede: Nós estamos subindo para Jerusalém, e o Filho do Homem será entregue aos principais sacerdotes e escribas. Eles O condenarão à morte ¹⁹ e O entregarão aos gentios para que zombem Dele, O açoitem e O crucifiquem. Mas no terceiro dia Ele ressuscitará".

²⁰ Então a mãe dos filhos de Zebedeu veio a Jesus com seus filhos. Ela se prostrou diante Dele e fez-Lhe um pedido. ²¹ Jesus perguntou-lhe: "O que queres?" Ela respondeu: "Ordena que, no Teu reino, esses meus dois filhos possam sentar, um a Tua direita e outro a Tua esquerda".

²² Mas Jesus respondeu e disse: "Não sabeis o que estais pedindo. Vós sois capazes de beber o cálice que Eu estou prestes a beber?" Eles responderam: "Somos capazes". ²³ Ele lhes disse: "Meu cálice de fato vós bebereis. Mas sentar-se a minha direita e sentar-se a minha esquerda não cabe a Mim conceder, mas isso é para aqueles que foram preparados por Meu Pai". ²⁴ Quando os outros dez discípulos ouviram isso, eles ficaram indignados com os dois irmãos.

²⁵ Mas Jesus chamou-os para Si e disse-lhes: "Sabeis que os governantes dos gentios os subjulgam, e os homens mais importantes exercem autoridade sobre eles. ²⁶ Mas não deve ser dessa forma entre vós. Ao contrário, qualquer que deseja se tornar grande entre vós deve ser o vosso servo; ²⁷ e qualquer que deseja ser o primeiro entre vós deve ser o vosso servo; ²⁸ assim como o Filho do Homem não veio para ser servido, mas para servir, e para dar sua vida como resgate de muitos".

²⁹ Quando eles saíram de Jericó, uma grande multidão O seguiu. ³⁰ E eis que dois homens cegos estavam sentados à beira da estrada; quando eles ouviram que Jesus estava passando perto, gritaram dizendo: "Senhor, Filho de Davi, tem misericórdia de nós". ³¹ Mas a multidão os repreendeu, dizendo-lhes que ficassem quietos. Contudo eles clamavam mais alto e diziam: "Senhor, Filho de Davi, tem misericórdia nós".

³² Então Jesus parou, chamou-os e disse: "O que querem que Eu vos faça?" ³³ Eles Lhe disseram: "Senhor, que nossos olhos sejam abertos". ³⁴ Então Jesus, sendo movido de compaixão, tocou nos olhos deles. Imediatamente eles receberam a visão e o seguiram.

¹Muitos são chamados, mas poucos são escolhidos. os manuscritos mais antigos omitem esta parte .

Capítulo 21

¹ Quando Jesus e Seus discípulos se aproximavam de Jerusalém e chegaram a Betfagé, ao Monte das Oliveiras. Dali Jesus enviou dois discípulos, ² dizendo-lhes: "Entrai na próxima vila e imediatamente encontrareis lá uma jumenta amarrada e um jumentinho com ela. Desamarrai-os e trazei-os para Mim. ³ Se alguém vos disser qualquer coisa sobre isso, dizei: 'O Senhor precisa deles e imediatamente vos devolverá".

⁴ Isso aconteceu para que se cumprisse o que foi dito pelo profeta, que disse: ⁵ "Dizei à filha de Sião: 'Vê, Teu Rei está vindo a ti, humilde e montado em um jumento, em um jumentinho, cria de um animal de carga'".

⁶ Então os discípulos foram e fizeram como Jesus os havia instruído. ⁷ Eles trouxeram o jumento e o jumentinho, e colocaram seus trajes nos animais e Jesus montou. ⁸ A maioria da multidão espalhou suas vestimentas no caminho, e outros cortaram ramos das árvores e os espalhavam pelo caminho.

⁹ As multidões que passaram à frente de Jesus e aqueles que O seguiam, gritavam, dizendo: "Hosana ao filho de Davi! Bendito é o que vem em nome do Senhor! Hosana nas alturas!" ¹⁰ Quando Jesus entrou em Jerusalém, toda a cidade estava agitada, dizendo: "Quem é este?" ¹¹ As multidões responderam: "Este é Jesus, o profeta de Nazaré da Galileia".

¹² Então Jesus entrou no templo e expulsou todos aqueles que ali compravam e vendiam. Também derrubou a mesa de dinheiro dos cambistas e os assentos daqueles que vendiam pombos. ¹³ Ele lhes disse: "Está escrito: 'Minha casa será chamada casa de oração,' mas vós fazeis dela um covil de ladrões". ¹⁴ E os cegos e os aleijados vieram a Ele no Templo, e Ele os curou.

¹⁵ Mas, quando os principais sacerdotes e os escribas viram os milagres que Ele fez e quando eles ouviram as crianças gritando no templo e dizendo: "Hosana ao filho de Davi", eles ficaram furiosos ¹⁶ e disseram a Ele: "Tu estás ouvindo o que estas pessoas estão dizendo?" Jesus respondeu-lhes: "Sim! Mas vós nunca lestes: 'Da boca dos pequeninos e das crianças que mamam sai o perfeito louvor'"? ¹⁷ Então Jesus deixou-os e saiu da cidade para Betânia e passou a noite lá.

¹⁸ Pela manhã, quando Ele retornou para a cidade, estava com fome. ¹⁹ Viu uma figueira na margem da estrada; foi até ela, mas não encontrou nada nela, exceto folhas. Ele disse à árvore: "Jamais volte a nascer fruto de ti". E imediatamente a figueira secou.

²⁰ Quando os discípulos viram isso, maravilharam-se e disseram: "Por que a figueira secou imediatamente?" ²¹ Jesus respondeu e disse-lhes: "Verdadeiramente eu vos digo: Se tiverdes fé e não duvidardes, não só fareis o que foi feito a esta figueira, mas dirão a este monte: 'Arranca-te e lança-te dentro do mar', e isso será feito. ²² Todas as coisas que pedirdes em oração, acreditando, recebereis".

²³ Quando Jesus entrou no Templo, os principais sacerdotes e os anciãos do povo vieram a Ele, enquanto estava ensinando, e disseram: "Com que autoridade fazes estas coisas? E quem Te deu esta autoridade?" ²⁴ Jesus respondeu e disse-lhes: "Eu também vos farei uma pergunta. Se me responderdes, da mesma forma Eu vos direi com que autoridade faço estas coisas.

²⁵ De onde veio o batismo de João? Do céu ou dos homens?" Eles discutiram entre eles mesmos, dizendo: "Se nós dissermos: 'Do céu', Ele nos dirá: 'Por que então não acreditastes nele?' ²⁶ Mas, se dissermos: 'Dos homens', nós tememos a multidão, porque todos eles veem João como um profeta". ²⁷ Então eles responderam a Jesus e disseram: "Nós não sabemos". Ele também disse a eles: "Nem Eu vos direi com que autoridade Eu faço estas coisas.

²⁸ Todavia o que pensais? Um homem tinha dois filhos. Ele foi ao primeiro e disse: 'Filho, vai trabalhar hoje na vinha'. ²⁹ O filho respondeu e disse: 'Eu não irei'. Mas depois ele mudou sua opinião e foi. ³⁰ E o homem foi ao segundo filho e disse a mesma coisa. Esse filho respondeu e disse: 'Eu irei, senhor', contudo ele não foi.

³¹ Qual dos dois filhos fez a vontade de seu pai?" Eles disseram: "O primeiro". Jesus disse a eles: "Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo: Os coletores de impostos e as prostitutas entrarão no Reino de Deus antes de vós. ³² Pois João veio a vós no caminho de justiça, mas vós não acreditastes nele; enquanto os coletores de impostos e as prostitutas acreditaram. Vós, porém, mesmo vendo isso, não vos arrependestes e não crestes nele.

³³ "Ouvi outra parábola: Havia um homem, um proprietário de terra que plantou uma vinha, colocou cerca nos arredores, fez um lagar para pisotear uvas, construiu uma torre de vigia e arrendou a propriedade para lavradores de vinha. Depois ele foi para outro país. ³⁴ Quando chegou o tempo da colheita da uva, ele enviou alguns servos aos responsáveis pela vinha para receber suas uvas.

³⁵ Mas os lavradores da vinha pegaram os servos do proprietário, espancaram um, mataram outro, e apedrejaram o outro. ³⁶ Mais uma vez, o proprietário enviou outros servos, mais que da primeira vez. Todavia os lavradores da vinha os trataram da mesma maneira. ³⁷ Depois disso, o proprietário enviou-lhes seu próprio filho, dizendo: 'Eles respeitarão meu filho'.

³⁸ Mas, quando os lavradores da vinha viram o filho, disseram entre eles: "Este é o herdeiro. Vinde, vamos matá-lo e tomar a herança". ³⁹ Então eles o pegaram, lançaram-no para fora da vinha, e o mataram.

⁴⁰ Agora, quando o proprietário da vinha retornar, o que fará àqueles lavradores da vinha?" ⁴¹ As pessoas disseram a ele: "Ele destruirá aqueles homens miseráveis da forma mais severa e arrendará a vinha a outros lavradores, que lhe entregarão sua parte no tempo da colheita".

⁴² Jesus disse-lhes: "Vós nunca lestes nas Escrituras: 'A pedra que os construtores rejeitaram tornou-se a pedra angular. Isso veio do Senhor e é maravilhoso aos nossos olhos'?

⁴³ Portanto Eu vos digo: O Reino de Deus será tirado de vós e será dado a uma nação que produza frutos. ⁴⁴ E quem quer que caia sobre esta pedra será quebrado em pedaços. Mas sobre aquele sobre o qual ela cair, esse será esmagado".

⁴⁵ Quando os principais sacerdotes e os fariseus ouviram Suas parábolas, entenderam que Ele estava falando sobre eles. ⁴⁶ Buscando prendê-Lo, temiam a multidão porque as pessoas consideravam-No um profeta.

Capítulo 22

¹ E respondeu-lhe Jesus novamente em parábolas, dizendo: ² "O Reino dos Céus é semelhante a um rei que fez uma festa de casamento para seu filho. ³ Ele enviou seus servos para chamar aqueles que haviam sido convidados para a festa de casamento, mas eles não quiseram vir.

⁴ Novamente, o rei enviou outros servos, dizendo: "Dizei àqueles que são convidados: 'Vede, eu preparei um jantar; meus bois e animais cevados foram mortos, e tudo está pronto. Vinde para a festa de casamento'".

⁵ Mas eles não deram atenção e partiram: um para o seu campo, outro para os seus negócios. ⁶ E os outros agarraram os servos do rei, trataram-nos vergonhosamente e os mataram. ⁷ O rei ficou furioso e, tendo enviado seus soldados, mataram aqueles assassinos e incendiaram a cidade deles.

⁸ Então disse aos seus servos: 'A festa de casamento está pronta, mas aqueles que foram convidados não eram dignos. ⁹ Portanto ide pelas encruzilhadas dos caminhos e a quantos encontrardes convidai-os para a festa de casamento '. ¹⁰ Os servos saíram pelos caminhos e reuniram todos os que encontraram, tanto maus como bons. Então, o salão ficou cheio de convidados.

¹¹ Mas, quando o rei entrou para ver os convidados, viu um homem que não estava com trajes de casamento ¹² e disse-lhe: “Amigo, como entraste aqui sem trajes de casamento?” E o homem se calou.

¹³ Então o rei disse aos servos: 'Amarrai as mãos e os pés desse homem e atirai-o nas trevas exteriores, onde haverá choro e ranger de dentes'. ¹⁴ Porque muitos são chamados, porém poucos são escolhidos.

¹⁵ Então os fariseus foram e planejaram como poderiam pegar Jesus em sua própria fala. ¹⁶ E enviaram-lhe os seus discípulos junto com os herodianos. Eles disseram a Jesus: 'Mestre, nós sabemos que és verdadeiro e ensinas o caminho de Deus em verdade e não te importas com a opinião de ninguém e não faz diferença entre as pessoas. ¹⁷ Então diga-nos o que achas? É lícito pagar impostos a César ou não?

¹⁸ Tendo percebido a maldade deles, Jesus lhes disse: "Por que estão me testando, seus hipócritas? ¹⁹ Mostrai-me a moeda do imposto". Então trouxeram-Lhe um denário.

²⁰ Jesus disse-lhes: "De quem é esta imagem e este nome?" ²¹ Eles lhe disseram: "De César". Então disse-lhes Jesus: "Dai a César o que é de César, e a Deus o que é de Deus". ²² Quando ouviram isso, maravilharam-se, deixaram-No e foram embora.

²³ Naquele dia, foram ter com Ele saduceus, dizendo não haver ressurreição, e interrogaram-No, ²⁴ dizendo: "Mestre, Moisés disse: 'Se um homem morre, não tendo filhos, seu irmão deve casar-se com a esposa dele e ter um filho para seu irmão'".

²⁵ Havia sete irmãos. O primeiro casou-se e então morreu. Não tendo filhos, deixou sua esposa para seu irmão. ²⁶ Da mesma forma, o segundo, o terceiro e até o sétimo. ²⁷ Depois de todos eles, a mulher morreu. ²⁸ Agora na ressurreição, de qual dos sete irmãos ela será esposa? Pois todos a tiveram.

²⁹ Jesus, porém, lhes respondeu: “Vós estais errados, porque não conheceis as Escrituras nem o poder de Deus. ³⁰ Pois na ressurreição eles não se casam e nem se dão em casamento. Em vez disso, são como anjos no céu.

³¹ Mas, a respeito da ressurreição dos mortos, não lestes o que foi dito por Deus: ³² 'Eu sou o Deus de Abraão, o Deus de Isaque, e o Deus de Jacó?' Deus não é o Deus dos mortos, mas dos vivos". ³³ Quando as multidões ouviram isso, se maravilharam com o Seu ensino.

³⁴ Mas, quando os fariseus ouviram que Jesus tinha calado os saduceus, eles se reuniram. ³⁵ Um deles, um doutor da Lei, questionou-O, testando-O: ³⁶ "Mestre, qual é o maior mandamento da Lei?"

³⁷ Jesus lhes disse: "'Ame ao Senhor teu Deus com todo o teu coração, com toda a tua alma e com toda a tua mente'. ³⁸ Esse é o maior e primeiro mandamento.

³⁹ E o segundo mandamento é semelhante a esse: 'Amarás o teu próximo como a ti mesmo'. ⁴⁰ Desses dois mandamentos depende toda a Lei e os profetas".

⁴¹ Enquanto os fariseus ainda estavam reunidos, Jesus lhes perguntou, dizendo: ⁴² "O que pensais sobre o Cristo? De quem ele é filho?" Eles lhe disseram: "O filho de Davi".

⁴³ Disse-lhes Jesus: "Como então Davi, no Espírito, o chama Senhor, dizendo: ⁴⁴ "O Senhor disse ao meu Senhor: 'Assenta-te à minha direita, até que eu ponha os teus inimigos por debaixo de teus pés?'"

⁴⁵ Se Davi, pois, chama a Cristo "Senhor", como é que Ele é filho de Davi? ⁴⁶ Ninguém podia responder-Lhe uma palavra sequer, e nenhum homem se atrevia questioná-Lo daquele dia em diante.

Capítulo 23

¹ Então Jesus falou à multidão e aos seus discípulos, ² dizendo: "Os escribas e fariseus se assentam na cadeira de Moisés. ³ Portanto o que quer que eles vos ordenem, fazei e guardai. Mas não imiteis seus atos, pois eles falam, mas não os praticam.

⁴ Sim, eles atam fardos pesados que são difíceis de carregar, e os colocam nos ombros dos homens. Mas eles mesmos não moverão um dedo para carregá-los. ⁵ Eles fazem todos os seus atos para serem vistos pelos homens, pois aumentam os seus filactérios e alargam as franjas das vestes.

⁶ Eles amam os primeiros lugares nos banquetes e as primeiras cadeiras nas sinagogas ⁷ e as saudações especiais nas praças e serem chamados 'Mestres' pelo povo.

⁸ Mas não deveis ser chamados 'Rabi', pois para vós há um só Mestre, e todos vós sois irmãos. ⁹ E não chamai nenhum homem na terra de vosso pai, pois para vós há um só Pai, e Ele está nos céus. ¹⁰ Nem sejais chamados 'mestres', pois para vós há um só Mestre, o Cristo.

¹¹ Mas aquele que é maior entre vós será vosso servo. ¹² Quem se exaltar será humilhado, e quem se humilhar será exaltado.

¹³ Mas ai de vós, escribas e fariseus, hipócritas! Vós que fechais o Reino dos Céus aos homens. Pois não entrais e nem deixais entrar os que entrariam. ¹⁴ ¹ ¹⁵ Ai de vós, escribas e fariseus, hipócritas! Pois rodeais o mar e a terra para fazer um prosélito. E quando ele tiver se tornado um, o fizestes duas vezes mais filho do inferno do que vós.

¹⁶ Ai de vós, guias cegos, que dizeis: 'Quem jurar pelo santuário, nada vale, mas quem jurar pelo ouro do santuário, está obrigado para com o seu juramento'. ¹⁷ Cegos tolos! Qual é maior, o ouro ou o santuário que santifica o ouro?

¹⁸ E 'Quem jurar pelo altar, nada vale. Mas quem jurar pela oferta que está sobre ele, está obrigado para com o seu juramento'. ¹⁹ Cegos! Qual é maior, a oferta ou o altar que consagra a oferta?

²⁰ Portanto quem jura pelo altar, jura por ele e por todas as coisas sobre ele. ²¹ E quem jura pelo santuário, jura por ele e por quem habita nele. ²² E quem jura pelo céu, jura pelo trono de Deus e por quem se assenta nele.

²³ Ai de vós, escribas e fariseus, hipócritas! Pois dais o dízimo da hortelã, do endro e do cominho, mas deixais os preceitos mais importantes da Lei: justiça, misericórdia e fé. Mas deveis fazer essas coisas sem omitir aquelas. ²⁴ Guias cegos, que filtrais um mosquito, mas engolis um camelo!

²⁵ Ai de vós, escribas e fariseus, hipócritas! Pois limpais fora do copo e do prato, mas por dentro estão cheios de rapina e intemperança. ²⁶ Fariseus cegos! Limpai primeiro dentro do copo e do prato, para que o exterior também fique limpo.

²⁷ Ai de vós, escribas e fariseus, hipócritas! Pois sois como sepulcros caiados, que por fora parecem bonitos, mas por dentro estão cheios de ossos de mortos e de imundícia. ²⁸ Da mesma maneira, exteriormente também pareceis justos aos homens, mas por dentro estais cheios de hipocrisia e de iniquidade.

²⁹ Ai de vós, escribas e fariseus, hipócritas! Porque edificais os sepulcros dos profetas e ornamentais os túmulos dos justos. ³⁰ Vós dizeis: “Se tivéssemos vivido nos dias dos nossos pais, não teríamos sido participantes com eles no derramamento do sangue dos profetas”. ³¹ Portanto, testificais contra vós mesmos que sois filhos dos que mataram os profetas.

³² Completai também a medida de vossos pais. ³³ Serpentes, raça de víboras, como escapareis do juízo do inferno?

³⁴ Portanto vede, eu vos envio profetas, sábios e escribas. Alguns deles matareis e crucificareis, e alguns açoitareis nas vossas sinagogas e perseguireis de cidade em cidade; ³⁵ para que recaia sobre vós todo sangue dos justos lançado na terra, desde o de Abel, o justo, até o de Zacarias, filho de Baraquias, a quem matastes entre o santuário e o altar. ³⁶ Verdadeiramente eu vos digo: "Todas essas coisas virão sobre esta geração".

³⁷ Jerusalém, Jerusalém, que matas os profetas e apedrejas os que te são enviados! Quantas vezes eu tentei ajuntar os vossos filhos, como a galinha ajunta seus pintinhos debaixo das suas asas, mas não quisestes! ³⁸ Vede, a vossa casa vos será deixada deserta. ³⁹ Eu vos digo, não me vereis de agora em diante até que direis: 'Bendito o que vem em nome do Senhor'.

¹Ai de vós, escribas e fariseus, hipócritas! Pois devorais casas de viúvas enquanto vos exibis com longas orações. Recebereis portanto maior condenação. (Os manuscritos mais antigos omitem o verso 14, alguns o colocam após o verso 12)

Capítulo 24

¹ Jesus saiu do templo e, enquanto caminhava, Seus discípulos vieram até Ele para mostrar-Lhe as construções do templo. ² Mas Ele lhes respondeu, dizendo: “Não vedes todas estas coisas? Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo: nenhuma pedra ficará sobre outra pedra que não seja derrubada".

³ Estando Jesus assentado no Monte das Oliveiras, os discípulos vieram até Ele em particular e disseram: "Dize-nos, quando estas coisas acontecerão? Qual será o sinal da Tua vinda e do fim desta época?" ⁴ Jesus respondeu e disse-lhes: “Cuidado para que ninguém vos engane. ⁵ Pois muitos virão em Meu nome, dizendo: 'eu sou o Cristo', e enganarão a muitos.

⁶ Ouvireis falar de guerras e de rumores de guerras; vede, não vos assusteis, pois é necessário que estas coisas aconteçam; mas ainda não é o fim. ⁷ Pois nação se levantará contra nação, e reino contra reino. Haverá fomes e terremotos em vários lugares. ⁸ Mas estas coisas são apenas o início das dores de parto.

⁹ Então vos entregarão às tribulações e vos matarão, e sereis odiados por todas as nações por causa do Meu nome. ¹⁰ E muitos serão atribulados, e trairão uns aos outros, e odiarão uns aos outros. ¹¹ Muitos falsos profetas se levantarão e enganarão a muitos.

¹² Por se multiplicar a iniquidade, o amor de muitos se esfriará. ¹³ Mas aquele que perseverar até o fim, será salvo. ¹⁴ Este evangelho do reino será pregado em todo o mundo como testemunho para todas as nações; e então virá o fim.

¹⁵ Portanto, quando virdes a abominação da desolação que foi falada por Daniel, o profeta, estando no lugar sagrado (que o leitor entenda), ¹⁶ aqueles que estiverem na Judéia fujam para os montes, ¹⁷ aquele que estiver no terraço não desça para pegar nada que esteja em sua casa, ¹⁸ e aquele que estiver no campo não retorne para pegar sua capa.

¹⁹ Mas ai daquelas que estiverem grávidas e que estiverem amamentando naqueles dias! ²⁰ Orai para que a vossa fuga não ocorra no inverno, ou no Sábado. ²¹ Pois haverá grande tribulação, tal que nunca existiu desde o início do mundo até agora, e nem haverá jamais. ²² Se aqueles dias não tivessem sido abreviados, ninguém seria salvo; mas, por causa dos eleitos, aqueles dias serão abreviados.

²³ Logo, se qualquer pessoa vos disser: 'Eis aqui o Cristo!' ou, 'Lá está o Cristo!' Não acrediteis. ²⁴ Pois falsos Cristos e falsos profetas virão e apresentarão grandes sinais e maravilhas para enganar, se possível até os eleitos. ²⁵ Eis que vos tenho predito.

²⁶ Entretanto, se vos disserem, 'Eis que Ele está no deserto', não saiais; ou, 'Ei-Lo no interior da casa', não acrediteis. ²⁷ Pois assim como o relâmpago sai do oriente e brilha até o ocidente, assim será a vinda do Filho do Homem. ²⁸ Onde estiver o cadáver, ali os abutres se ajuntarão.

²⁹ E logo após a tribulação daqueles dias, o sol escurecerá, a lua não nos dará a sua luz, as estrelas cairão do céu, e os poderes dos céus serão abalados.

³⁰ Então o sinal do Filho do Homem aparecerá no céu, e todas as tribos da terra se lamentarão e verão o Filho do Homem vindo sobre as nuvens do céu, com poder e grande glória. ³¹ Ele enviará os Seus anjos com grande som de trombeta, e eles reunirão os Seus eleitos dos quatro ventos da terra, de uma a outra extremidade dos céus.

³² Aprendei a parábola da figueira: Assim quando os ramos se renovam e brotam suas folhas, sabeis que o verão está próximo; ³³ assim também, quando virdes todas estas coisas, deveis saber que Ele está próximo, às portas.

³⁴ Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo que esta geração não passará, sem que todas estas coisas tenham acontecido. ³⁵ O céu e a terra passarão, mas as Minhas palavras nunca passarão.

³⁶ Mas, a respeito daquele dia e hora, ninguém sabe, nem os anjos do céu, nem o Filho, mas somente o Pai.

³⁷ Assim como foi nos dias de Noé, também será na vinda do Filho do Homem. ³⁸ Pois naqueles dias antes do dilúvio, eles estavam comendo e bebendo, casando e dando-se em casamento, até o dia em que Noé entrou na arca; ³⁹ e não se deram conta, até que o dilúvio veio e levou a todos - assim será a vinda do Filho do Homem.

⁴⁰ Então dois homens estarão num campo; um será levado, e o outro será deixado. ⁴¹ Duas mulheres estarão moendo no moinho; uma será tomada, e a outra deixada. ⁴² Portanto vigiai, pois não sabeis em que dia vem o vosso Senhor.

⁴³ Mas sabei isto: se o dono da casa soubesse a que hora o ladrão viria, ele estaria vigilante e não permitiria que sua casa fosse arrombada. ⁴⁴ Portanto, também vós deveis estar preparados, pois o Filho do Homem virá naquela hora em que não esperais.

⁴⁵ Assim, quem é o servo fiel e sábio, que seu senhor o deixou responsável por seus criados, com o fim de dar-lhes o alimento no tempo certo? ⁴⁶ Abençoado é aquele servo a quem seu senhor encontrá-lo fazendo isso quando ele vier. ⁴⁷ Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo: o seu senhor o colocará sobre tudo o que ele possui.

⁴⁸ Mas se o servo mau disser em seu coração: 'Meu senhor está demorando', ⁴⁹ e começar a bater nos seus conservos, e a comer e beber com os bêbados; ⁵⁰ então o senhor daquele servo virá no dia em que ele não espera, e em uma hora que não sabe, ⁵¹ e o cortará em pedaços e lhe dará o mesmo destino dos hipócritas; ali haverá choro e ranger de dentes.

Capítulo 25

¹ Então o Reino dos Céus será semelhante a dez virgens que tomaram suas lâmpadas e saíram ao encontro do noivo. ² Cinco delas eram tolas e cinco eram sábias. ³ E quando as tolas pegaram suas lâmpadas, elas não levaram azeite consigo; ⁴ mas as sábias trouxeram vasilhas de azeite juntamente com suas lâmpadas.

⁵ E demorando o noivo, todas elas ficaram com sono e dormiram. ⁶ Mas à meia-noite, ouviu-se um grito: 'Eis o noivo! Saí ao seu encontro.'

⁷ Então todas as virgens se levantaram e ajuntaram suas lâmpadas. ⁸ As tolas disseram às sábias: 'Dai-nos um pouco do vosso azeite porque nossas lâmpadas estão se apagando.' ⁹ Mas as sábias responderam, dizendo: 'De modo algum, não haverá suficiente para nós e vós, ide aos que vendem azeite e comprai para vós.'

¹⁰ Enquanto elas foram comprar, o noivo chegou, e as que estavam prontas foram com ele para a festa de casamento e a porta foi fechada. ¹¹ Após isso as outras virgens também chegaram e disseram: 'Senhor, senhor, abre-nos a porta'. ¹² Mas ele respondeu e disse: 'Verdadeiramente vos digo que não vos conheço.' ¹³ Portanto vigiai, porque não sabeis o dia nem a hora.

¹⁴ Pois será como um homem que quando estava prestes a ir para outro país, chamou seus servos e os colocou no controle dos seus bens. ¹⁵ A um deles deu cinco talentos, a outro deu dois, e ainda a outro ele deu um talento - cada um de acordo com sua própria habilidade, e partiu em viagem. ¹⁶ Imediatamente, o que recebeu cinco talentos foi negocia-los e fez outros cinco talentos.

¹⁷ Da mesma maneira, o que recebeu dois talentos fez outros dois. ¹⁸ Mas o servo que recebeu um talento foi embora, cavou um buraco no chão e escondeu o dinheiro do seu senhor.

¹⁹ E após um longo tempo, o senhor daqueles servos voltou e acertou as contas com eles. ²⁰ O servo que recebeu cinco talentos veio e trouxe outros cinco; ele disse: 'Senhor, tu me deste cinco talentos. Eis aqui mais cinco talentos.' ²¹ Seu senhor disse-lhe: 'Muito bem, servo bom e fiel! Foste fiel sobre poucas coisas; sobre muitas te colocarei. Entra na alegria do teu senhor'.

²² E aproximando-se o servo que recebeu dois talentos disse: 'Senhor, tu me deste dois talentos. Eis aqui mais dois talentos.' ²³ Seu senhor disse-lhe: 'Muito bem, servo bom e fiel! Foste fiel sobre poucas coisas; sobre muitas te colocarei. Entra na alegria do teu senhor'.

²⁴ Então o servo que recebeu um talento disse: 'Senhor, eu sei que és rigoroso; colhes onde não semeaste; e ajuntas onde não espalhaste. ²⁵ Eu tive medo, então fui e escondi na terra o teu talento. Aqui tens o que é teu'.

²⁶ Mas o seu senhor lhe respondeu, dizendo: “Servo mau e preguiçoso, sabias que eu colho onde não semeei e que ajunto onde não espalhei. ²⁷ Portanto, deverias ter entregue o meu dinheiro aos banqueiros, e na minha volta eu o receberia com juros.

²⁸ Portanto, tirai o talento dele e dai-o ao que tem dez talentos. ²⁹ Pois a todo que possui, mais será dado - e terá em abundância. Mas ao que não possui nada, até o que ele tem lhe será tirado. ³⁰ Lançai o servo inútil para fora, nas trevas. Ali haverá choro e ranger de dentes'.

³¹ E quando o Filho do Homem vier em Sua glória e todos os anjos com Ele, então Ele se assentará no Seu glorioso trono. ³² Diante Dele estarão juntas todas as nações, e Ele separará as pessoas umas das outras, como o pastor separa as ovelhas dos bodes. ³³ Ele colocará as ovelhas à Sua mão direita, mas os bodes à Sua mão esquerda.

³⁴ Então o Rei dirá àqueles à Sua mão direita: 'Vinde, benditos do Meu Pai, herdai o Reino que vos foi preparado desde a fundação do mundo. ³⁵ Pois Eu tive fome e Me destes de comer; tive sede e Me destes de beber; era forasteiro e Me acolhestes; ³⁶ estava nu e Me vestistes; estava doente e cuidastes de Mim; estive preso e viestes ver-Me'.

³⁷ Então os justos responderão, dizendo: “Senhor, quando é que Te vimos com fome, e Te alimentamos? Ou com sede e Te demos de beber? ³⁸ E quando é que Te vimos forasteiro e Te acolhemos? Ou nu e Te vestimos? ³⁹ E quando Te vimos doente ou na prisão e fomos Te visitar?” ⁴⁰ E o Rei lhes responderá: “Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo que, o que fizestes por um dos Meus pequeninos irmãos, a Mim o fizestes'.

⁴¹ Então Ele dirá àqueles à Sua mão esquerda: “Afastai-vos de Mim, vós malditos, para o fogo eterno que foi preparado para o diabo e seus anjos, ⁴² porque Eu tive fome e não Me destes de comer; tive sede e não Me destes de beber; ⁴³ era forasteiro e não Me acolhestes; estive nu e não Me vestistes; doente e na prisão e não me visitastes'.

⁴⁴ Então eles também responderão, dizendo: “Senhor, quando é que Te vimos com fome, ou com sede, ou forasteiro, ou nu, ou doente, ou preso, e não Te servimos?' ⁴⁵ Então Ele lhes responderá: “Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo, o que não fizestes a um dos Meus pequeninos, foi a Mim que o deixastes de fazer.” ⁴⁶ Estes irão para o castigo eterno, mas os justos para a vida eterna.

Capítulo 26

¹ Aconteceu que, quando Jesus terminou todas estas palavras, Ele disse aos Seus discípulos: ² "Sabeis que daqui a dois dias será a Páscoa, e o Filho do Homem será entregue para ser crucificado".

³ Então os principais sacerdotes e os anciãos do povo reuniram-se no palácio do sumo sacerdote, que se chamava Caifás. ⁴ Secretamente, eles conspiraram prender Jesus e matá-Lo. ⁵ Mas diziam: "Não durante a festa, para que não se levante um tumulto entre o povo".

⁶ Estando Jesus em Betânia, na casa de Simão, o leproso, ⁷ enquanto estava reclinado à mesa, uma mulher veio a Ele trazendo um vaso de alabastro com bálsamo muito valioso, e o derramou sobre Sua cabeça. ⁸ Mas quando os discípulos viram isso, eles se zangaram e disseram: "Qual a razão para tal desperdício? ⁹ O bálsamo poderia ser vendido por uma boa quantia e dada aos pobres".

¹⁰ Mas Jesus, sabendo disso, disse a eles: "Por que estão perturbando esta mulher? Ela praticou uma boa ação para comigo. ¹¹ Sempre tereis os pobres convosco, mas nem sempre me tereis.

¹² Pois quando ela derramou o bálsamo sobre o meu corpo, ela o fez para o meu sepultamento. ¹³ Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo, onde quer que este evangelho seja pregado em todo o mundo, o que esta mulher fez será contado em sua memória".

¹⁴ Então, um dos doze, que se chamava Judas Iscariotes, foi aos principais sacerdotes ¹⁵ e disse-lhes: "O que me dareis se eu o entregar a vós?" Eles pesaram trinta moedas de prata para ele. ¹⁶ A partir daquele momento, ele procurava uma oportunidade para entregá-Lo".

¹⁷ No primeiro dia dos pães asmos, os discípulos vieram a Jesus e disseram: "Onde desejas que te preparemos a refeição da Páscoa?" ¹⁸ Ele disse: "Ide à cidade, a certo homem e dizei-lhe: O Mestre diz: 'Minha hora está próxima. Eu celebrarei a Páscoa em tua casa com meus discípulos'". ¹⁹ Os discípulos fizeram como Jesus os instruiu e prepararam a refeição da Páscoa.

²⁰ Quando a noite chegou, Ele sentou-se para comer com seus doze discípulos. ²¹ Enquanto eles comiam, disse-lhes: "Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo que um de vós me trairá". ²² Eles ficaram muito tristes, e cada um perguntava-Lhe: "Certamente não sou eu, Senhor?"

²³ Ele respondeu: "Aquele que pôs comigo a mão no prato, esse me trairá. ²⁴ O Filho do Homem morrerá, conforme está escrito sobre Ele. Mas ai daquele por quem o Filho do Homem é traído! Seria melhor para ele que não tivesse nascido". ²⁵ Judas, que iria traí-Lo, disse: "Sou eu, Rabi?" Ele respondeu: "Tu o disseste".

²⁶ Enquanto comiam, Jesus tomou um pão e, abençoando-o, o partiu e o distribuiu a Seus discípulos, dizendo: "Tomai, comei. Este é o meu corpo".

²⁷ Então Ele tomou o cálice e dando graças, deu-lhes, dizendo: "Bebei dele, todos. ²⁸ Pois este é o meu sangue, o sangue da Aliança, que é derramado por muitos para o perdão dos pecados. ²⁹ Mas Eu lhes digo que não beberei de novo deste fruto da videira, até o dia em que eu o beberei novamente convosco no Reino de Meu Pai".

³⁰ Depois de cantarem um hino, saíram para o Monte das Oliveiras. ³¹ Jesus disse-lhes então: "Essa noite todos vós vos escandalizareis por minha causa, pois está escrito: 'Eu ferirei o pastor e as ovelhas do rebanho serão dispersas'. ³² Mas após Eu ressuscitar, irei adiante de vós para a Galileia".

³³ Disse-lhe Pedro: "Ainda que todos se escandalizem por tua causa, eu não me escandalizarei". ³⁴ Jesus disse-lhe: "Verdadeiramente te digo, que esta noite, antes que o galo cante, me negarás três vezes". ³⁵ Pedro disse-Lhe: "Mesmo que tiver de morrer contigo, não te negarei". O mesmo disseram todos os discípulos.

³⁶ Então Jesus foi com eles a um lugar chamado Getsêmani e disse aos discípulos: "Sentai-vos aqui enquanto Eu vou ali orar". ³⁷ Ele levou Pedro e os dois filhos de Zebedeu consigo, começou a entristecer-se e angustiar-se. ³⁸ Então disse-lhes: "Minha alma está profundamente entristecida até a morte. Permanecei aqui e vigiai Comigo".

³⁹ Ele se distanciou um pouco, prostrou-se com o rosto ao chão, e orou. Ele disse: "Meu Pai, se é possível, que passe de mim este cálice. Entretanto que não seja como Eu desejo, mas como Tu desejas". ⁴⁰ Ele veio aos seus discípulos e os encontrou dormindo, e disse a Pedro: "Ora, não podeis vigiar comigo por uma hora? ⁴¹ Vigiai e orai para que não entreis em tentação. O espírito de fato está preparado, mas a carne é fraca".

⁴² Ele afastou-se uma segunda vez para orar e disse: "Meu Pai, se não é possível que esse cálice passe, sem que Eu o beba. Seja feita a Tua vontade". ⁴³ Ele voltou mais uma vez e os encontrou dormindo, pois seus olhos estavam pesados. ⁴⁴ Então deixando-os de novo, afastou-se e orou pela terceira vez, dizendo as mesmas palavras.

⁴⁵ Depois, Jesus veio aos discípulos e lhes disse: "Estais dormindo e descansando ainda? Vede, a hora está próxima, e o Filho do Homem será entregue nas mãos dos pecadores. ⁴⁶ Levantai-vos, vamos. Eis que o traidor se aproxima".

⁴⁷ Enquanto Ele ainda falava, Judas, um dos doze, acompanhado de uma grande multidão, vinda da parte dos principais sacerdotes e anciãos do povo, vieram com espadas e paus. ⁴⁸ O homem que estava para trair Jesus dera-lhes um sinal dizendo: "Aquele que eu beijar, é ele. Prendei-o

⁴⁹ Imediatamente, ele foi a Jesus e disse: "Salve, Rabi!" E o beijou. ⁵⁰ Jesus disse-lhe: "Amigo, faça aquilo que vieste fazer". Então eles se aproximaram, lançaram suas mãos sobre Jesus e O prenderam.

⁵¹ Eis que um dos que estavam com Jesus estendeu sua mão, puxou a espada, e feriu o servo do sumo sacerdote, cortando sua orelha. ⁵² E Jesus disse-lhe: "Coloca tua espada de volta ao seu lugar, pois todo aquele que pega em espada, perecerá pela espada. ⁵³ Não pensas que Eu posso clamar ao Meu Pai, e Ele me enviaria mais de doze legiões de anjos? ⁵⁴ Mas então, como se cumpririam as Escrituras, que dizem ser necessário que isto aconteça?"

⁵⁵ Naquela hora, Jesus disse à multidão: "Viestes com espadas e paus para me prender como um ladrão? Eu sentava-me diariamente no templo ensinando e não me prendestes. ⁵⁶ Mas tudo isto aconteceu para que os escritos dos profetas fossem cumpridos". Em seguida, todos os discípulos o deixaram e fugiram.

⁵⁷ Aqueles que prenderam Jesus o levaram a Caifás, o sumo sacerdote, onde os escribas e os anciãos estavam reunidos. ⁵⁸ Mas Pedro O seguia a distância até o pátio do sumo sacerdote. Entrou e sentou-se com os guardas para ver o fim.

⁵⁹ Os principais sacerdotes e todo o Sinédrio procuravam um falso testemunho contra Jesus, para que pudessem condená-Lo à morte. ⁶⁰ Eles não encontraram nenhum, mesmo que tantas falsas testemunhas tenham se apresentado. Porém mais tarde, duas vieram à frente ⁶¹ e disseram: "Este homem disse: 'Posso destruir o templo de Deus e reconstruí-lo em três dias'".

⁶² O sumo sacerdote levantou-se e Lhe disse: "Tu não tens resposta? O que é isso que testificam contra Ti?" ⁶³ Mas Jesus ficou em silêncio. O sumo sacerdote disse-Lhe: "Eu te ordeno pelo Deus vivo, diga-nos se és o Cristo, o Filho de Deus". ⁶⁴ Jesus respondeu-lhe: "Tu disseste por ti mesmo. Mas Eu te digo que de agora em diante verás o Filho do Homem sentando ao lado direito do Todo-Poderoso, vindo sobre as nuvens do céu".

⁶⁵ Então o sumo sacerdote rasgou suas vestes e disse: "Ele tem falado blasfêmia! Por que ainda precisamos de testemunhas? Ouvistes a blasfêmia. ⁶⁶ O que pensais?" Eles responderam e disseram: "Ele é digno de morte".

⁶⁷ E cuspiam em Sua face, batiam Nele e O esbofeteavam, ⁶⁸ e diziam: "Profetiza-nos, Cristo. Quem é que Te bateu?"

⁶⁹ E estando Pedro assentado do lado de fora, no pátio, uma criada foi até ele e disse: "Tu também estavas com Jesus da Galileia". ⁷⁰ Mas ele negou na frente de todos, dizendo: "Eu não sei do que estás falando".

⁷¹ Quando ele saiu para o portão, outra criada o viu e disse aos que estavam ali: "Este homem também estava com Jesus de Nazaré". ⁷² E ele negou de novo com um juramento: "Eu não conheço esse homem".

⁷³ Pouco depois, aqueles que estavam ali vieram e disseram a Pedro: "Certamente, tu também és um deles, porque a tua maneira de falar te denuncia". ⁷⁴ Então ele começou a amaldiçoar e a jurar: "Eu não conheço esse homem", e imediatamente um galo cantou. ⁷⁵ Pedro lembrou-se das palavras que Jesus lhe dissera: "Antes do galo cantar, tu me negarás três vezes". Então ele foi para fora e chorou amargamente.

Capítulo 27

¹ Quando a manhã chegou, todos os principais sacerdotes e anciãos do povo conspiravam contra Jesus, para O matarem. ² E tendo-O amarrado, levaram-No e O entregaram a Pilatos, o governador.

³ Então Judas, que O havia traído, vendo que Jesus fora condenado, ficou cheio de remorso, devolveu as trinta moedas de prata aos principais sacerdotes e anciãos ⁴ e disse: "Eu pequei traindo sangue inocente". Mas eles disseram: "O que nos importa? Isso é contigo". ⁵ Então ele jogou as moedas de prata no templo, retirou-se e foi enforcar-se.

⁶ Os principais sacerdotes pegaram as moedas de prata e disseram: "Não é lícito colocá-las junto às ofertas, porque é preço de sangue". ⁷ Eles discutiram juntos o assunto e, com o dinheiro, compraram o campo do oleiro para sepultar estrangeiros. ⁸ Por essa razão, até o dia de hoje, o campo é chamado "Campo de Sangue".

⁹ Então, cumpriu-se o que foi dito pelo profeta Jeremias: "Eles pegaram as trinta moedas de prata, preço pelo qual Ele foi avaliado pelo povo de Israel. ¹⁰ e deram isso pelo campo do oleiro, conforme o Senhor me ordenou".

¹¹ Então Jesus, estando diante do governador, este perguntou-Lhe: "És Tu o Rei dos Judeus?" Jesus respondeu-lhe: "Tu o dizes". ¹² Mas, quando Ele foi acusado pelos principais sacerdotes e anciãos, nada respondeu. ¹³ Então Pilatos disse-Lhe: "Não ouves todas as acusações contra Ti?" ¹⁴ Mas Ele não respondeu uma palavra sequer, e assim o governador ficou muito admirado.

¹⁵ Durante a festa, era costume do governador libertar um prisioneiro escolhido pela multidão. ¹⁶ Naquela ocasião, eles tinham um prisioneiro muito conhecido, chamado Barrabás.

¹⁷ Então, quando eles estavam todos reunidos, Pilatos disse-lhes: "A quem quereis que eu vos solte? Barrabás ou Jesus, chamado Cristo?" ¹⁸ Porque sabia que eles O haviam entregado por inveja. ¹⁹ Enquanto ele estava sentado no tribunal, sua mulher enviou-lhe uma palavra dizendo: "Não te envolvas com esse justo; porque hoje, em sonho, muito sofri por seu respeito".

²⁰ Os principais sacerdotes e os anciãos persuadiram a multidão a pedir Barrabás, e matar Jesus. ²¹ O governador perguntou-lhes: "Qual dos dois quereis que eu vos solte?" Eles disseram: "Barrabás". ²² Pilatos disse-lhes: "O que devo eu fazer com Jesus, chamado Cristo?" E todos responderam: "Crucificai-O".

²³ E ele disse: "Que mal fez Ele?" Mas eles gritaram ainda mais alto: "Crucificai-O". ²⁴ Então, quando Pilatos viu que não poderia fazer nada e que um tumulto estava começando, ele pegou água, lavou as mãos diante da multidão e disse: "Eu sou inocente do sangue deste homem; isso é convosco".

²⁵ Todo o povo disse: "Que o sangue Dele caia sobre nós e nossos filhos". ²⁶ Então ele libertou a Barrabás, mas açoitou a Jesus e O entregou para ser crucificado.

²⁷ Então os soldados do governador levaram Jesus para dentro do pretório, e juntaram toda a companhia de soldados. ²⁸ Eles O despiram e colocaram um manto vermelho Nele. ²⁹ Então fizeram uma coroa de espinhos e colocaram em Sua cabeça, e um cajado na Sua mão direita, e eles ajoelhavam diante Dele e zombavam Dele, dizendo: "Salve, Rei dos judeus!"

³⁰ E, cuspindo Nele, pegaram o cajado e bateram na Sua cabeça. ³¹ Enquanto zombavam Dele, tiraram-Lhe o manto vermelho, vestiram-No com as suas próprias roupas, e levaram-No para ser crucificado.

³² Ao saírem, eles encontraram um homem de Cirene chamado Simão, a quem obrigaram a carregar a Sua cruz. ³³ Eles chegaram a um lugar chamado Gólgota, que significa "Lugar da Caveira". ³⁴ Deram-Lhe vinho misturado com fel; mas tendo provado, não quis beber.

³⁵ Depois de O crucificarem, dividiram entre si as roupas Dele, lançando sorte; ³⁶ e, assentados ali, o vigiavam. ³⁷ E puseram acima da Sua cabeça a acusação na qual estava escrito: "ESTE É JESUS O REI DOS JUDEUS".

³⁸ Dois ladrões foram crucificados com Ele, um à Sua direita e outro à Sua esquerda. ³⁹ Aqueles que passavam, blasfemavam Dele, balançando a cabeça ⁴⁰ e dizendo: "Tu, que irias destruir o templo e reconstruí-lo em três dias, salva-Te a Ti mesmo. Se Tu és o Filho de Deus, desça da Cruz".

⁴¹ Da mesma maneira, os principais sacerdotes estavam zombando Dele juntamente com os escribas e anciãos, e diziam: ⁴² "Ele salvou os outros, mas não pode salvar-Se a Si mesmo. Ele é o Rei de Israel! Que Ele desça agora da cruz, e nós creremos Nele.

⁴³ Ele confiou em Deus; que Deus O resgate agora, se Lhe quer bem, porque Ele disse: 'Eu sou o Filho de Deus'". ⁴⁴ E os ladrões que estavam crucificados com Ele também falavam-Lhe os mesmos insultos.

⁴⁵ Desde a hora sexta até a hora nona, escuridão veio sobre toda a terra. ⁴⁶ Perto da hora nona, Jesus clamou em alta voz e disse: "Eli, Eli, lamá sabactani?", que significa: "Deus meu, Deus meu, por que Me desamparaste?" ⁴⁷ Quando alguns dos que estavam parados ali ouviram isso, disseram: "Ele está chamando por Elias".

⁴⁸ Imediatamente um deles correu, pegou uma esponja, encheu-a de vinagre, colocou-a na ponta de um caniço, e deu-Lhe de beber. ⁴⁹ Os outros disseram: "Deixe-O sozinho, vamos ver se Elias virá para salvá-Lo". ⁵⁰ Então Jesus clamou novamente em alta voz e entregou Seu espírito.

⁵¹ E eis que o véu do templo rasgou-se em duas partes de alto a baixo; a terra tremeu, e as rochas se fenderam. ⁵² Os túmulos foram abertos, e muitos corpos de santos, que dormiam, foram ressuscitados. ⁵³ Eles saíram dos túmulos após a Sua ressurreição, entraram na cidade santa e apareceram a muitos.

⁵⁴ Quando o centurião e aqueles que guardavam a Jesus viram o terremoto e as coisas que haviam acontecido, ficaram com muito medo e disseram: "Verdadeiramente este era o Filho de Deus". ⁵⁵ Muitas mulheres, que seguiam a Jesus desde a Galiléia para O servirem, estavam ali, olhando de longe. ⁵⁶ Entre elas, Maria Madalena; Maria, a mãe de Tiago e José; e a mãe dos filhos de Zebedeu.

⁵⁷ Ao cair da tarde, veio de Arimateia um homem rico, chamado José, que também era discípulo de Jesus. ⁵⁸ Ele aproximou-se de Pilatos e pediu o corpo de Jesus. Então Pilatos ordenou que lhe fosse dado.

⁵⁹ José tomou o corpo, envolveu-o em um pano limpo de linho ⁶⁰ e o colocou em seu túmulo novo, que havia sido escavado na rocha. Depois ele rolou uma grande pedra em frente à porta do túmulo e foi embora. ⁶¹ Maria Madalena e a outra Maria estavam lá, sentadas diante do sepulcro.

⁶² No dia seguinte, que era o dia depois da Preparação, os principais sacerdotes e os fariseus reuniram-se com Pilatos. ⁶³ Eles disseram: "Senhor, lembramo-nos que quando Aquele enganador estava vivo, Ele disse: 'Após três dias, Eu ressuscitarei'. ⁶⁴ Portanto ordena que o túmulo seja vigiado até o terceiro dia, ou então Seus discípulos podem vir, roubar o corpo e dizer ao povo: 'Ele ressuscitou dos mortos'; e esse último engano será ainda pior que o primeiro".

⁶⁵ Pilatos disse-lhes: "Levai guardas, ide e guardai o túmulo como bem vos parecer. ⁶⁶ Indo eles, montaram guarda ao túmulo, selando a pedra e deixando ali os guardas.

Capítulo 28

¹ E após o sábado, ao raiar o primeiro dia da semana, Maria Madalena e a outra Maria foram ver o sepulcro. ² E eis que houvera um grande terremoto, pois um anjo do Senhor desceu do céu, veio e rolou a pedra e sentou-se sobre ela.

³ Seu aspecto era como um relâmpago e as suas roupas, brancas como a neve. ⁴ Os guardas tremeram de medo e ficaram como mortos.

⁵ Mas o anjo, dirigindo-se às mulheres, disse-lhes: "Não temais, eu sei que buscais Jesus, que foi crucificado. ⁶ Ele não está aqui, mas ressuscitou como tinha dito. Vinde ver o lugar onde o Senhor estava. ⁷ Ide depressa e dizei aos Seus discípulos: 'Ele ressuscitou dentre os mortos e vai à frente de vós para a Galileia, lá O vereis'. É como vos digo!"

⁸ As mulheres deixaram o sepulcro rapidamente com temor e grande alegria, e correram para falar aos discípulos. ⁹ E eis que Jesus veio ao encontro delas e disse: "Saudações!". As mulheres, aproximando-se, abraçaram-Lhe os pés e O adoraram. ¹⁰ Então Jesus lhes disse: "Não temais. Ide e dizei para Meus irmãos irem à Galileia e lá Me verão".

¹¹ E enquanto as mulheres estavam indo, eis que alguns dos guardas foram à cidade e contaram aos chefes dos sacerdotes tudo o que tinha acontecido. ¹² Tendo os sacerdotes se reunido com os anciãos e elaborado um plano, deram uma grande quantidade de dinheiro aos soldados, recomendando-lhes: ¹³ "Dizei que os discípulos de Jesus vieram de noite e roubaram-lhe o corpo, enquanto dormíamos.

¹⁴ E se esta notícia chegar aos ouvidos do governador, nós o convenceremos, e vos deixaremos livres de preocupações". ¹⁵ Então os soldados pegaram o dinheiro e fizeram conforme tinham sido instruídos. Essa história se espalhou entre os judeus até o dia de hoje.

¹⁶ Os onze discípulos foram para a Galileia, para o monte que Jesus lhes indicara. ¹⁷ Quando eles O viram, O adoraram, mas alguns duvidaram.

¹⁸ E Jesus, aproximando-se deles, disse-lhes: "Toda autoridade foi-Me dada no céu e sobre a terra. ¹⁹ Portanto ide e fazei discípulos de todas as nações. Batizando-as em nome do Pai, do Filho e do Espírito Santo.

²⁰ Ensinando-as a guardar todas as coisas que vos tenho ordenado. E eis que estou convosco todos os dias, até o fim dos tempos".

Mark

Capítulo 1

¹ Este é o princípio do evangelho de Jesus Cristo, o Filho de Deus. ² Como está escrito no livro do profeta Isaías: "Eis aí estou enviando o Meu mensageiro diante da Tua face, o qual irá preparar o Teu caminho. ³ A voz de alguém clamando no deserto: 'Preparai o caminho do Senhor, fazei retas as Suas veredas'";

⁴ João veio, batizando no deserto e proclamando um batismo de arrependimento para perdão dos pecados. ⁵ Toda a província da Judeia e todos os habitantes de Jerusalém vinham até ele. Eles eram batizados por ele no rio Jordão, confessando os seus pecados. ⁶ João vestia-se com roupas de pelos de camelo, tinha um cinto de couro ao redor de sua cintura e alimentava-se de gafanhotos e mel silvestre.

⁷ Ele proclamava, dizendo: "Alguém está vindo depois de mim, o qual é mais poderoso do que eu, e eu não sou digno de abaixar para desatar as correias de Suas sandálias. ⁸ Eu vos batizei com água, mas Ele vos batizará com o Espírito Santo".

⁹ Aconteceu que, naqueles dias, Jesus veio de Nazaré da Galileia, e foi batizado por João no rio Jordão. ¹⁰ Quando Jesus saiu da água, Ele viu os céus se abrirem e o Espírito descendo sobre Ele como uma pomba. ¹¹ E uma voz veio dos céus: "Tu és Meu Filho amado. Eu tenho muito prazer em Ti".

¹² Então o Espírito imediatamente O compeliu para o deserto. ¹³ Ele esteve no deserto por quarenta dias, sendo tentado por Satanás. Ele estava com os animais selvagens, e os anjos O serviam.

¹⁴ Depois que João foi preso, Jesus veio até a Galileia, proclamando o evangelho de Deus, ¹⁵ dizendo: "O tempo é cumprido, e o reino de Deus está próximo. Arrependei-vos e credes no evangelho".

¹⁶ Caminhando junto ao mar da Galileia, Ele viu Simão e André, irmão de Simão, lançando a rede ao mar, pois eram pescadores. ¹⁷ Jesus disse-lhes: "Vinde, segui-Me, e Eu vos farei pescadores de homens". ¹⁸ Imediatamente deixaram as redes e seguiram-No.

¹⁹ E Jesus, caminhando um pouco mais além, viu Tiago, filho de Zebedeu, e João, seu irmão; eles estavam no barco consertando as redes. ²⁰ E logo os chamou, e eles deixaram seu pai, Zebedeu, com os empregados no barco e O seguiram.

²¹ Entraram em Cafarnaum, e no Sabbath Jesus entrou na sinagoga e pôs-se a ensinar. ²² Eles estavam maravilhados com o Seu ensino, porque Ele os ensinava como alguém que tem autoridade e não como os escribas.

²³ E ali, na sinagoga, estava um homem com um espírito imundo que gritou dizendo: ²⁴ "O que temos nós contigo, Jesus de Nazaré? Vieste para nos destruir? Eu sei quem és. Tu és o Santo de Deus!". ²⁵ Jesus repreendeu o demônio e disse: "Cala-te e sai dele!". ²⁶ E o espírito imundo jogou-o no chão e saiu dele gritando em alta voz.

²⁷ Todas as pessoas estavam maravilhadas e perguntavam umas às outras: "O que é isso? Um novo ensinamento com autoridade? Ele ordena até os espíritos imundos, e eles O obedecem". ²⁸ Imediatamente a notícia acerca Dele espalhou-se em toda a região da Galileia.

²⁹ Logo que saíram da sinagoga, foram à casa de Simão e André, com Tiago e João. ³⁰ A sogra de Simão estava deitada, enferma e com febre. E logo eles falaram a Jesus sobre ela. ³¹ Então Ele veio, segurou-a pela mão e a levantou; a febre a deixou, e ela começou a servi-los.

³² Quando era noite, depois que o sol se pôs, eles Lhe trouxeram todos os que estavam doentes ou possuídos por demônios. ³³ Toda a cidade reuniu-se à porta. ³⁴ Ele curou muitos que estavam doentes de várias enfermidades e expulsou muitos demônios. Mas não permitiu que os demônios falassem, porque eles O conheciam.

³⁵ Ele levantou-se muito cedo, enquanto ainda estava escuro; saiu, foi para um lugar solitário e ali orou. ³⁶ Simão e aqueles que estavam com Ele O procuravam. ³⁷ Eles O encontraram e disseram-Lhe: "Todos estão procurando por Ti".

³⁸ Ele lhes disse: "Vamos para outros lugares, para as cidades vizinhas, para que Eu pregue lá também. É isso que Eu vim fazer aqui". ³⁹ Ele foi por toda Galileia, pregando em suas sinagogas e expulsando os demônios.

⁴⁰ Um leproso veio até Ele e Lhe suplicava de joelhos. Ele disse a Jesus: "Se Tu quiseres, podes me tornar limpo". ⁴¹ Movido de compaixão, Jesus estendeu a sua mão e o tocou, dizendo-lhe: "Eu quero. Sê limpo". ⁴² Imediatamente a lepra o deixou, e ele ficou limpo.

⁴³ Jesus advertiu-o severamente e o mandou embora, ⁴⁴ dizendo-lhe: "Olha, não digas nada a ninguém, mas vai e apresenta-te ao sacerdote e oferece pela tua purificação o que Moisés ordenou, como testemunho para eles".

⁴⁵ Mas ele saiu e começou a proclamar a todos e espalhou a notícia, de tal maneira que Jesus não podia entrar livremente em qualquer cidade. Ele tinha que ficar em lugares desabitados, mas mesmo assim as pessoas vinham a Ele de todos os lugares.

Capítulo 2

¹ Quando voltou para Cafarnaum, depois de alguns dias, ouviu-se que Ele estava em casa. ² Assim, muitos se reuniram lá, e não havia mais espaço, nem mesmo à porta, e Jesus anunciava-lhes a palavra.

³ Alguns vieram a Jesus trazendo-Lhe um homem paralítico; quatro pessoas o carregavam. ⁴ Mas eles não podiam chegar perto Dele por causa da multidão. Então, removeram o telhado do lugar onde Jesus estava e, tendo feito um buraco, desceram o leito no qual o homem paralítico estava deitado.

⁵ Vendo-lhes a fé, disse Jesus para o homem paralítico: "Filho, teus pecados estão perdoados". ⁶ E havia ali alguns escribas da lei sentados que raciocinavam em seu coração: ⁷ "Como pode esse homem falar deste jeito? Ele blasfema! Quem pode perdoar pecados senão Deus somente?".

⁸ Imediatamente, Jesus, sabendo em Seu espírito o que eles estavam pensando entre si, disse-lhes: "Por que estais pensando isto em vossos corações? ⁹ O que é mais fácil dizer para o homem paralítico: 'Os teus pecados estão perdoados' ou dizer: 'Levanta-te, pega o teu leito e anda'?

¹⁰ Mas, para que saibais que o Filho do Homem tem autoridade na terra para perdoar pecados," disse Ele ao paralítico: ¹¹ "Eu te digo: Levanta-te, pega o teu leito e vai para tua casa". ¹² Ele se levantou e imediatamente pegou seu leito e saiu da casa na frente de todos, de modo que estavam todos maravilhados e deram glória a Deus e disseram: "Nós nunca vimos qualquer coisa como esta".

¹³ Ele saiu novamente para a beira do mar, e toda a multidão vinha a Ele, e Ele a ensinava. ¹⁴ Enquanto passava, viu a Levi, o filho de Alfeu, que estava sentado no lugar de coletar impostos, e lhe disse: "Segue-me." Ele se levantou e O seguiu.

¹⁵ Enquanto Jesus estava à mesa na casa de Levi, muitos cobradores de impostos e pecadores comiam com Jesus e os seus discípulos, porque havia muitos que O seguiam. ¹⁶ Quando os escribas dos fariseus viram que Jesus estava comendo com pessoas pecadoras e cobradores de impostos, falaram aos discípulos Dele: "Por que Ele come com cobradores de impostos e pecadores?".

¹⁷ Quando Jesus ouviu isto, disse-lhes: "Pessoas saudáveis não precisam de médico; somente os doentes precisam. Eu não vim para chamar os justos, mas os pecadores".

¹⁸ Os discípulos de João e os fariseus estavam jejuando. Vieram alguns e disseram-Lhe: "Por que os discípulos de João e os discípulos dos fariseus jejuam, mas os Teus discípulos não jejuam?". ¹⁹ Jesus disse-lhes: "Podem os convidados do casamento jejuar enquanto o noivo ainda está com eles? Enquanto eles têm o noivo, eles não podem jejuar.

²⁰ Mas dias virão em que o noivo lhes será tirado e, naqueles dias, eles jejuarão. ²¹ Ninguém remenda um pedaço de roupa nova em uma roupa velha; caso contrário, o remendo irá romper a roupa velha, e um rasgo maior se fará.

²² Nenhum homem põe vinho novo em odres velhos; se ele fizer isso, o vinho novo romperá as peles, e tanto o vinho como os odres se perderão. Em vez disso, põe-se vinho novo em odres novos".

²³ E aconteceu que, em um dia de Sabbath, ao passar Jesus por algumas plantações, Seus discípulos começaram a abrir caminhos arrancando as espigas de grãos. ²⁴ E os fariseus disseram-Lhe: "Vê, por que eles estão fazendo algo que não é permitido no Sábado?".

²⁵ Ele lhes disse: "Nunca lestes o que Davi fez quando estava em necessidade e com fome, ele e os homens que estavam com ele? ²⁶ Como ele entrou na casa de Deus quando Abiatar era o sumo sacerdote e comeu o pão da presença, que não é permitido para qualquer um comer, exceto os sacerdotes; e o deu também àqueles que estavam com ele?".

²⁷ Jesus disse: "O Sabbath foi feito para o homem, não o homem para o Sabbath. ²⁸ Portanto, o Filho do Homem é Senhor até do Sabbath".

Capítulo 3

¹ Novamente, Jesus entrou na sinagoga e havia um homem com uma mão atrofiada. ² E algumas pessoas O observavam atentamente para ver se Ele o curaria no Sabbath, para que pudessem acusá-Lo.

³ Jesus disse ao homem com a mão atrofiada: "Levanta e vem aqui para o meio de todos". ⁴ Então, Ele disse às pessoas: "É permitido fazer o bem no Sabbath ou fazer mal; salvar uma vida, ou matar?". Mas eles ficaram em silêncio.

⁵ Ele, olhando ao redor indignado, muito entristecido pela dureza de seus corações, disse ao homem: "Estende a mão". Ele estendeu a mão e Jesus a restaurou. ⁶ Os fariseus se retiraram e, imediatamente, começaram a conspirar com os herodianos, sobre como poderiam matá-Lo.

⁷ Então, Jesus foi com seus discípulos para o mar. E uma grande multidão de pessoas O seguia, vinda da Galileia, da Judeia, ⁸ de Jerusalém, Idumeia e dalém do Jordão, e dos arredores de Tiro e Sidom. Quando ouviram falar das coisas que Ele estava fazendo, uma grande multidão veio até Ele.

⁹ E pediu a Seus discípulos que deixassem um pequeno barco pronto para Ele, por causa da multidão, para que não O esmagassem. ¹⁰ Pois Ele curou a muitos, a ponto de que todos os que padeciam de enfermidades, ansiosamente, se aproximavam Dele para tocá-Lo.

¹¹ Sempre que os espíritos imundos O viam, caíam diante Dele, clamavam e diziam: "Tu és o Filho de Deus". ¹² Ele, com firmeza, ordenava-lhes que não O tornassem conhecido.

¹³ Ele subiu à montanha e chamou por aqueles que queria, e vieram a Ele. ¹⁴ Escolheu os doze (a quem chamou apóstolos) para que estivessem com Ele, para enviá-los a proclamar a mensagem, ¹⁵ e ter autoridade para expelir demônios. ¹⁶ Ele nomeou os doze: Simão, a quem Ele deu o nome de Pedro;

¹⁷ Tiago, filho de Zebedeu, e João, irmão de Tiago, aos quais Ele deu o nome de Boanerges, que significa filhos do trovão; ¹⁸ e André; Filipe; Bartolomeu; Mateus; Tomé; Tiago, filho de Alfeu; Tadeu; Simão, o zelote; ¹⁹ e Judas Iscariotes, que O trairia.

²⁰ Então, Ele foi para casa, e a multidão se ajuntou novamente de modo que eles não podiam nem mesmo se alimentar de pão. ²¹ Quando Sua família ouviu sobre isso, eles saíram para impedi-Lo, pois diziam: "Ele está fora de si". ²² Os escribas que vieram de Jerusalém diziam: "Ele está possuído por Belzebu" e "pelo chefe dos demônios é que Ele expulsa os demônios".

²³ Jesus os chamou e falou-lhes em parábolas: "Como pode Satanás expulsar Satanás? ²⁴ Se um reino está dividido contra si mesmo, tal reino não pode permanecer. ²⁵ Se uma casa está dividida contra si mesma, tal casa não conseguirá permanecer.

²⁶ Se Satanás se levantou contra si mesmo e está dividido, não pode permanecer, mas chegou ao fim. ²⁷ Mas ninguém pode entrar na casa de um homem forte e roubar seus pertences sem amarrá-lo primeiro; então, lhe saqueará a casa.

²⁸ Verdadeiramente eu vos digo, todos os pecados dos filhos dos homens serão perdoados, até mesmo todas as blasfêmias que proferiram; ²⁹ mas quem blasfema contra o Espírito Santo nunca terá perdão, mas é culpado de um pecado eterno". ³⁰ Jesus disse isso porque estavam dizendo: "Ele tem um espírito imundo".

³¹ Sua mãe e irmãos vieram e ficaram do lado de fora. Eles enviaram alguém para chamá-Lo. ³² Uma multidão sentou-se em volta Dele e falou para Jesus: "Tua mãe e Teus irmãos estão lá fora e estão à Tua procura".

³³ Ele lhes respondeu: "Quem são minha mãe e meus irmãos?". ³⁴ Ele olhou para todos os que estavam sentados em círculo a sua volta e lhes disse: "Vede, aqui estão minha mãe e meus irmãos! ³⁵ Porque qualquer um que faz a vontade de Deus, esse é Meu irmão, irmã e mãe".

Capítulo 4

¹ Novamente, Jesus começou a ensinar à beira do mar. E uma grande multidão se reuniu ao seu redor, assim, Ele entrou em um barco no mar, e sentou-se. Toda a multidão estava ao lado do mar, na praia. ² Ele lhes ensinava muitas coisas por parábolas, e lhes dizia:

³ "Escutai! Eis que o semeador saiu para semear. ⁴ Enquanto ele semeava, algumas sementes caíram no caminho, as aves vieram e as devoraram. ⁵ Outras caíram em terreno rochoso, onde não havia muita terra. Imediatamente elas brotaram, porque a terra não tinha profundidade.

⁶ Mas quando o sol nasceu, elas foram queimadas porque não tinham raízes e secaram-se. ⁷ Outras sementes caíram em meio às plantas espinhosas, estas cresceram e sufocaram. E com isso as sementes não produziram grãos.

⁸ Outras sementes caíram em solo bom e produziram grãos enquanto cresciam e se multiplicavam, alguns produzindo trinta, outros sessenta, e outros cem vezes mais". ⁹ Ele disse: "Aquele que tem ouvidos para ouvir, ouça!".

¹⁰ Quando Jesus estava sozinho, os que estavam perto Dele e os doze, perguntaram-Lhe sobre as parábolas. ¹¹ Ele disse-lhes: "A vós é dado o mistério do Reino de Deus, mas àqueles de fora tudo é feito em parábolas, ¹² para que, vendo, vejam, mas não enxerguem, e ouvindo, ouçam, mas não percebam, caso contrário, eles se converteriam e Deus os perdoaria".

¹³ Ele lhes disse: "Vós não entendeis esta parábola? Como então compreendereis todas as outras? ¹⁴ O semeador semeia a palavra. ¹⁵ E aqueles à beira do caminho são os que a ouvem, mas vem Satanás e rouba imediatamente de seus corações a palavra que neles foi semeada.

¹⁶ E alguns são aqueles que são semeados em solo rochoso, os quais, quando ouvem a palavra, logo a recebem com alegria. ¹⁷ E eles não têm raízes em si mesmos, mas resistem por um tempo. Então, vem tribulação ou perseguição por causa da palavra, e, imediatamente, eles tropeçam.

¹⁸ E outros são aqueles semeados em meio aos espinhos. Eles são os que ouvem a palavra, ¹⁹ mas os cuidados do mundo, a ilusão das riquezas e as ambições por outras coisas entram e sufocam a palavra, e ela torna-se infrutífera. ²⁰ E há aqueles que são semeados em solo bom. Eles ouvem a palavra, a recebem e ela produz fruto, alguns trinta, outros sessenta e outros cem vezes”.

²¹ Jesus disse-lhes: "Vós trazeis uma lâmpada para dentro da casa e a colocais embaixo de um cesto ou embaixo da cama? Vós a trazeis e a colocais no velador. ²² Porque nada há oculto, que não venha a ser conhecido, nem há algo em segredo que não venha a ser descoberto. ²³ Se alguém tem ouvidos para ouvir, ouça".

²⁴ Ele lhes disse: "Prestai atenção ao que ouvis, pois a medida que vós medirdes, vos medirão a vós e ainda mais vos será aumentada. ²⁵ Porque aquele que tem, mais lhe será dado, e ao que não tem, dele será tirado até o que tem".

²⁶ Jesus disse: "O Reino de Deus é como um homem que planta sua semente no solo. ²⁷ Ele dorme e se levanta, enquanto a semente brota e cresce, embora não saiba como. ²⁸ A terra por si mesma produz o fruto: primeiro surge a planta, depois a espiga, e mais tarde, os grãos que enchem a espiga. ²⁹ E quando o grão está maduro, imediatamente, o homem passa a foice porque a colheita chegou".

³⁰ Disse-lhe ainda: "A que podemos comparar o reino de Deus? E qual parábola podemos usar para explicá-lo? ³¹ Ele é como um grão de mostarda que, quando é plantado, é a menor de todas as sementes na terra. ³² Porém, quando plantado, cresce e se torna maior do que todas as hortaliças do jardim. E forma ramos grandes, de modo que as aves do céu podem fazer seus ninhos em sua sombra”.

³³ E com muitas parábolas lhes dirigia a palavra, conforme podiam compreender. ³⁴ E Ele nada lhes falava, a não ser em parábolas. Porém, em particular, explicava tudo aos Seus próprios discípulos.

³⁵ Naquele dia, ao anoitecer, Ele lhes disse: "Vamos para o outro lado". ³⁶ Deixando a multidão, os discípulos levaram Jesus, pois já estava no barco. Outros barcos também estavam com Ele. ³⁷ Então começou uma violenta tempestade com vento, e as ondas invadiam o barco, de modo que estava prestes a ficar cheio de água.

³⁸ Mas Jesus estava na popa, dormindo sobre um travesseiro. Os discípulos o acordaram, dizendo: "Mestre, Tu não Te importas que estejamos prestes a morrer?”. ³⁹ Jesus acordou, repreendeu o vento e disse ao mar: "Silêncio, fica calmo”. E o vento cessou e houve grande calmaria.

⁴⁰ Ele disse-lhes: "Por que estais com medo? Vós ainda não tendes fé?". ⁴¹ Estavam cheios de grande temor e disseram uns aos outros: "Quem é Este que até o vento e o mar Lhe obedecem?".

Capítulo 5

¹ Chegaram ao outro lado do mar, à região dos gerasenos. ² Assim que Jesus saiu do barco, um homem com espírito imundo, saindo dos sepulcros, veio até Ele.

³ O homem vivia em sepulcros. Ninguém podia detê-lo, nem mesmo com uma corrente. ⁴ Ele havia sido preso várias vezes com correntes e algemas, mas as quebrava e ninguém tinha força para dominá-lo.

⁵ Todas as noites e dias, nos sepulcros e nas montanhas, ele gritava e se cortava com pedras afiadas. ⁶ Quando viu Jesus de longe, correu e ajoelhou-se diante Dele.

⁷ Ele clamou em alta voz: "Que tenho eu contigo, Jesus, Filho do Deus Altíssimo? Imploro-Te, por Deus, que não me atormentes". ⁸ Pois Jesus já lhe havia ordenado: "Sái deste homem, espírito imundo".

⁹ Todavia Jesus o interrogou: "Qual é o teu nome?" Respondeu ele: "Meu nome é Legião, pois nós somos muitos". ¹⁰ E implorava a Jesus repetidamente que não os mandasse para fora da região.

¹¹ Aconteceu que uma grande manada de porcos pastava no monte, ¹² e os espíritos imundos O imploraram, dizendo: "Manda-nos para os porcos; deixa-nos entrar neles". ¹³ E Jesus assim lhes permitiu. Então os espíritos imundos saíram e entraram nos porcos. A manada, de uns dois mil, lançou-se ao lago por um precipício, e se afogaram na água.

¹⁴ As pessoas que apascentavam os porcos fugiram, relataram esses fatos na cidade e nos campos, e todo o povo correu para ver o que se havia passado. ¹⁵ Chegando a Jesus, viram o endemoniado, o que tivera a legião, sentado, vestido e em perfeito juízo e eles ficaram com medo.

¹⁶ Aqueles que viram o que acontecera ao homem possuído por demônios contaram o que havia ocorrido a ele e também aos porcos. ¹⁷ Começaram a suplicar para Jesus que deixasse sua região.

¹⁸ Quando Ele estava entrando no barco, o homem antes possuído por demônios implorou para que pudesse estar com Ele. ¹⁹ Jesus porém, não lhe permitiu, mas disse: "Vai para tua casa, para teu povo, e dize-lhes o que o Senhor fez por ti e como teve misericórdia de ti". ²⁰ Então o homem foi embora e proclamou em Decápolis os grandes feitos de Jesus por ele. E todos ficaram maravilhados.

²¹ Quando Jesus atravessou novamente para o outro lado, no barco, uma grande multidão se aglomerou ao Seu redor, enquanto Ele estava junto ao mar. ²² E eis que chegou um dos chefes da sinagoga, chamado Jairo, e caiu aos Seus pés quando O viu. ²³ Ele implorava repetidamente, dizendo: "Minha filhinha está à beira da morte. Te imploro que venhas e imponhas as Tuas mãos sobre ela, e assim ficará bem e viva". ²⁴ Então Jesus foi com ele. Uma grande multidão O seguia e O comprimia.

²⁵ Ora, havia uma mulher que sofria de hemorragia há doze anos. ²⁶ Ela muito sofrera sob os cuidados de vários médicos e gastara tudo o que possuía. Mas nada lhe ajudava; pelo contrário, piorava. ²⁷ Tendo ouvido falar a respeito de Jesus, veio por detrás, entre a multidão, e tocou-lhe o manto.

²⁸ Pois ela dizia: "Se eu tocar ao menos Suas vestes, serei curada". ²⁹ Naquele instante, se lhe estancou a hemorragia e a mulher sentiu que seu corpo estava liberto do seu sofrimento.

³⁰ Imediatamente, Jesus percebeu que Dele havia saído poder. Virou-se, no meio da multidão, e perguntou: "Quem tocou em Minhas vestes?". ³¹ Os Seus discípulos Lhe disseram: “Vês esta multidão comprimindo-Te e dizes: ‘Quem Me tocou?'". ³² Mas Jesus olhou ao Seu redor para ver quem havia feito isto.

³³ A mulher, sabendo o que lhe havia acontecido, temeu e tremeu. Ela veio, prostrou-se diante de Jesus e contou-Lhe toda a verdade. ³⁴ Então, lhe disse: "Filha, tua fé te curou. Vai em paz e fica livre da tua doença".

³⁵ Enquanto Ele falava, algumas pessoas vieram da casa do chefe da sinagoga, dizendo: "Tua filha está morta. Por que ainda incomodas o Mestre?"

³⁶ Mas quando Jesus ouviu o que eles diziam, disse ao chefe da sinagoga: "Não temas. Apenas crê". ³⁷ E não permitiu que ninguém O acompanhasse, exceto Pedro, Tiago e João, irmão de Tiago. ³⁸ Quando chegaram a casa do chefe da sinagoga, viu Jesus um alvoroço, e os que estavam chorando e lamentando alto.

³⁹ Quando Ele entrou na casa, disse-lhes: "Por que estais alvoroçados e chorais? A criança não está morta, mas dorme". ⁴⁰ Riram de Jesus, porém Ele colocou todos para fora, tomou o pai da criança, a mãe e os que estavam com Ele, e foi onde a criança estava.

⁴¹ E, tomando a mão da menina, disse-lhe: "Talita cumi", que significa: "Menina, Eu te digo: 'Levanta-te'". ⁴² Imediatamente a criança se levantou e andou (pois ela tinha doze anos de idade). Logo foram tomados de grande espanto. ⁴³ Jesus ordenou expressamente que ninguém soubesse disso, dizendo que dessem algo de comer à menina.

Capítulo 6

¹ Jesus saiu dali e veio para sua terra natal, e Seus discípulos O seguiram. ² Quando chegou o Sabbath, Ele ensinou na sinagoga. Muitos O ouviram e ficaram maravilhados. Eles diziam: "Onde Ele aprendeu esses ensinamentos?". "Que sabedoria é essa que Lhe foi dada?". "O que são esses milagres que Ele faz com Suas mãos?". ³ "Não é Esse o carpinteiro, filho de Maria, e irmão de Tiago, José, Judas e Simão? Não estão Suas irmãs conosco?". E eles se escandalizaram com Jesus.

⁴ E Jesus lhes disse: "Não há profeta sem honra, a não ser em sua terra natal, e entre seus próprios parentes, e em sua própria casa". ⁵ Ele não podia realizar qualquer milagre ali, exceto a alguns doentes sobre os quais Ele impôs Suas mãos e os curou. ⁶ A falta de fé deles O deixou atônito. E ele saiu pelas vilas ensinando.

⁷ Ele chamou os Doze e começou a enviá-los, dois a dois; e deu-lhes autoridade sobre os espíritos imundos, ⁸ e Ele os instruiu que nada levassem pelo caminho, a não ser um cajado: nem pão, nem bolsa, nem dinheiro em seus cintos, ⁹ mas que calçassem sandálias e não vestissem duas túnicas.

¹⁰ Disse-lhes ainda: "Sempre que entrardes em uma casa, ficai nela até que deixeis o lugar. ¹¹ E se em algum lugar não vos receberem nem vos ouvirem, quando sairdes dali, sacudi a poeira debaixo de vossos pés, em testemunho contra eles".

¹² Eles saíram e proclamaram que as pessoas deveriam arrepender-se de seus pecados. ¹³ E expulsavam muitos demônios, ungiam muitos doentes com óleo e os curavam.

¹⁴ O rei Herodes ouvira isso, pois o nome de Jesus havia se tornado bastante conhecido. Alguns diziam: "João, o Batista, foi levantado dentre os mortos e devido a isso, esses poderes miraculosos estão agindo Nele". ¹⁵ Outros diziam: "Ele é Elias". Ainda outros diziam: "Ele é um profeta, como um dos profetas de antigamente".

¹⁶ Mas quando Herodes ouviu isso, disse: "João, o qual eu decapitei, foi ressuscitado". ¹⁷ Pois o próprio Herodes havia mandado prender João e o colocou na prisão por causa de Herodias (esposa de seu irmão Filipe), pois ele havia se casado com ela.

¹⁸ Porque João dissera a Herodes: "Não é lícito que possuas a esposa de teu irmão". ¹⁹ No entanto, Herodias guardava rancor contra João e desejava matá-lo, mas não podia, ²⁰ pois Herodes temia João, sabia que ele era um homem justo e santo, e o mantinha em segurança. Ao ouvir João, Herodes sentia-se incomodado, porém ouvia-o de boa vontade.

²¹ Então, em um dia oportuno, por conta de seu aniversário, Herodes ofereceu um jantar a seus oficiais, comandantes e líderes da Galileia. ²² A filha da própria Herodias veio e dançou para eles e ela agradou Herodes e seus convidados. O rei disse à menina: "Pede-me qualquer coisa que desejares e eu te darei".

²³ Ele jurou-lhe dizendo: "Qualquer coisa que me pedires eu te darei, até mesmo metade do meu reino". ²⁴ Ela saiu e disse à sua mãe: "O que devo pedir-lhe?" Ela respondeu: "A cabeça de João, o Batista". ²⁵ Ela imediatamente se apressou de volta ao rei e lhe pediu, dizendo: "Desejo que me dês, agora mesmo, sobre um prato, a cabeça de João, o Batista".

²⁶ O rei se entristeceu muito, mas por causa de seu juramento e dos convidados, não poderia recusar seu pedido. ²⁷ Então o rei enviou um soldado de sua guarda e o ordenou a trazer a cabeça de João. O guarda foi e o decapitou na prisão. ²⁸ Ele trouxe sua cabeça num prato e deu-a à menina e ela deu à sua mãe. ²⁹ Ao ouvirem isso, seus discípulos vieram e colheram seu cadáver e o colocaram num túmulo.

³⁰ Os apóstolos, reunindo-se em volta de Jesus, contaram-Lhe tudo o que eles haviam feito e ensinado. ³¹ Ele lhes disse: "Vinde à parte para um lugar deserto e descansai por um tempo". Pois muitos estavam indo e vindo e eles não tiveram tempo nem mesmo para comer. ³² Então foram sós, num barco, para um lugar deserto.

³³ Mas muitos os viram saindo e os reconheceram, e correram juntos, a pé, de todas as cidades, e eles chegaram antes deles. ³⁴ Quando desembarcaram, Jesus viu uma grande multidão e teve compaixão deles, porque eram como ovelhas sem um pastor. E Ele começou a ensiná-los muitas coisas.

³⁵ Quando a hora estava avançada, Seus discípulos vieram a Ele e disseram: "Este é um lugar deserto e a hora já está avançada. ³⁶ Despede-os para que possam ir a campos e vilas próximos comprar algo para comer".

³⁷ Mas Jesus, respondendo, disse-lhes: "Dai-lhes algo para comer". Eles disseram-Lhe: "Podemos ir e comprar duzentos denários de pão e dar-lhes para que comam?". ³⁸ Ele lhes disse: "Quantos pães tendes vós? Ide e conferi". Quando eles descobriram, disseram: "Cinco pães e dois peixes".

³⁹ Ele ordenou que todos sentassem em grupos sobre a grama verde. ⁴⁰ Eles sentaram em grupos; grupos de cem e de cinquenta. ⁴¹ Ele, pegando os cinco pães e dois peixes, olhando para o céu, abençoou e partiu os pães e os deu aos discípulos para que colocassem em frente à multidão. E dividiu os dois peixes entre todos.

⁴² Todos comeram até se saciarem. ⁴³ Eles coletaram os pedaços de pães partidos, doze cestos cheios, e também pedaços de peixe. ⁴⁴ Eram cinco mil homens os que comeram os pães.

⁴⁵ Imediatamente Ele fez Seus discípulos entrarem no barco e seguirem à Sua frente para o outro lado, para Betsaida, enquanto Jesus dispersava a multidão. ⁴⁶ Quando eles saíram, Ele subiu a montanha para orar. ⁴⁷ A noite veio, o barco estava agora no meio do mar, e Ele estava sozinho em terra.

⁴⁸ Ele viu que eles estavam tendo grande dificuldade ao remar, pois o vento era contrário. Então, por volta da quarta vigília da noite, Ele veio a eles, andando sobre o mar, e queria passar adiante deles. ⁴⁹ Mas quando O viram andando sobre o mar, pensaram que era um fantasma e gritaram. ⁵⁰ Pois O viram e ficaram aterrorizados. Mas imediatamente Ele lhes disse: "Sede corajosos! Sou Eu! Não temais".

⁵¹ Ele entrou no barco com eles, e o vento cessou de soprar. Eles estavam completamente maravilhados, ⁵² pois não entenderam acerca dos pães; em vez disso, seus corações estavam endurecidos.

⁵³ Terminada a travessia, eles vieram à terra de Genesaré e ancoraram o barco. ⁵⁴ Quando saíram do barco, o povo imediatamente reconheceu Jesus. ⁵⁵ As pessoas percorreram toda a região e começaram a trazer-Lhe os doentes sobre macas, onde quer que ouviam que Ele estivesse.

⁵⁶ Onde quer que Ele entrasse nas vilas, cidades ou campos, eles colocavam os doentes nas praças, e rogavam-Lhe que lhes permitisse ao menos tocar na borda de Suas vestes. E todos quantos O tocavam eram curados.

Capítulo 7

¹ Os fariseus e alguns dos escribas que vieram de Jerusalém, reuniram-se em torno de Jesus.

² Eles viram que alguns dos Seus discípulos comiam pães com mãos impuras, ou seja, sem lavá-las. ³ (Pois os fariseus e todos os judeus não comem sem lavar as mãos, pois guardam a tradição dos anciãos. ⁴ Quando retornam do mercado, os fariseus não comem, a menos que se lavem. E existem muitas outras regras as quais eles seguem rigorosamente, incluindo a lavagem de copos, jarros, vasos de bronze, e até dos assentos das mesas).

⁵ Os fariseus e os escribas perguntaram a Jesus: "Por que os Teus discípulos não vivem de acordo com a tradição dos anciãos, pois comem seus pães sem lavar as mãos?"

⁶ Ele respondeu-lhes: "Hipócritas, bem profetizou Isaías acerca de vós, como está escrito: 'Este povo me honra com seus lábios, entretanto seu coração está distante de Mim. ⁷ Eles me oferecem um culto vazio, ensinando as regras de homens como suas doutrinas'.

⁸ Vós abandonais os mandamentos de Deus e vos apegais à tradição dos homens." ⁹ Disse-lhes ainda: "Convenientemente rejeitais os mandamentos de Deus para que mantenhais vossas tradições! ¹⁰ Pois Moisés disse: 'Honra teu pai e tua mãe', e, 'Aquele que maldisser a seu próprio pai ou mãe, certamente morrerá'.

¹¹ Entretanto vós dizeis: 'Se um homem disser ao seu pai ou mãe: "Qualquer ajuda que devias receber de mim é 'Corbã,’” (isto quer dizer, 'Ofertado a Deus'), ¹² então não mais permitis que ele faça alguma coisa para seu pai ou sua mãe. ¹³ Estais anulando o mandamento de Deus pela tradição que transmitistes. E vós fazeis muitas coisas semelhantes”.

¹⁴ Outra vez, chamou Ele a multidão e disse-lhes: "Todos vós, ouvi o que digo, e entendei. ¹⁵ Não há nada fora do homem que, adentrando-o, possa contaminá-lo. Mas é o que sai dele que o torna impuro". ¹⁶ ¹

¹⁷ Naquele momento, quando Jesus deixou a multidão e entrou na casa, os Seus discípulos Lhe perguntaram sobre a parábola. ¹⁸ Jesus disse: "Vós também continuais sem entender? Não vês que tudo o que adentra o homem não pode torná-lo impuro, ¹⁹ pois isto não pode entrar em seu coração, mas vai para seu estômago e então é expelido". Com esta afirmação, Jesus tornou todos os alimentos puros.

²⁰ Ele disse: "O que sai do homem é o que o torna impuro. ²¹ Pois do interior do coração, procedem os maus pensamentos, a imoralidade sexual, o roubo, o assassinato, ²² o adultério, a cobiça, a maldade, o engano, a sensualidade, a inveja, a calúnia, o orgulho, a tolice. ²³ Todos estes males brotam de dentro, e eles tornam o homem impuro".

²⁴ Ele saiu dali e foi para a região de Tiro e Sidom. Entrou em uma casa e não quis que ninguém soubesse que Ele estava lá, mas não podia ocultar-Se. ²⁵ Imediatamente porém, uma mulher cuja filha pequena tinha um espírito imundo, ouviu a respeito de Jesus, veio e se prostrou aos Seus pés. ²⁶ Todavia a mulher era grega, de origem siro-fenícia. Ela Lhe implorou que expulsasse o demônio de sua filha.

²⁷ Ele lhe disse: "Deixa que as crianças se alimentem primeiro. Pois não é bom tirar o pão das crianças e lançá-lo aos cachorrinhos". ²⁸ Contudo ela Lhe respondeu: "Sim, Senhor, mas até os cachorrinhos debaixo da mesa comem as migalhas das crianças".

²⁹ Ele disse-lhe: "Porque disseste isso, és livre para ir. O demônio saiu da sua filha". ³⁰ Ela retornou para casa e encontrou a criança deitada na cama, e o demônio a havia deixado.

³¹ Então, Ele saiu novamente da região de Tiro, passando por Sidom até o Mar da Galileia, na região de Decápolis. ³² Eles trouxeram-Lhe um surdo que tinha deficiência na fala, e imploravam para Jesus colocar Sua mão sobre ele.

³³ Ele o tirou da multidão e, em particular, pôs Seus dedos em seus ouvidos e, após cuspir, Ele tocou sua língua. ³⁴ Jesus olhou para o céu, suspirou e disse-lhe: "Efatá!", que quer dizer, "Abre-te!" ³⁵ E, imediatamente, seus ouvidos se abriram, e aquilo que obstruía sua língua foi retirado, e ele pôde falar claramente.

³⁶ Ele ordenou-lhes que não contassem a ninguém. Quanto mais os ordenava, tanto mais anunciavam. ³⁷ Eles estavam absolutamente maravilhados, dizendo: "Ele fez bem todas as coisas. Ele faz até mesmo o surdo ouvir e o mudo falar".

¹Se alguém tem ouvidos para ouvir, ouça. (Os melhores manuscritos antigos omitem o versículo 16)

Capítulo 8

¹ Naqueles dias, havia novamente uma grande multidão, e eles não tinham nada para comer. Jesus chamou Seus discípulos e disse-lhes: ² "Tenho compaixão da multidão, pois permanecem comigo há três dias e não têm o que comer. ³ Se eu os despedir para as suas casas sem comererem, desfalecerão pelo caminho. Muitos deles vieram de longe". ⁴ Seus discípulos responderam: "Onde podemos conseguir pães o bastante para satisfazer essas pessoas neste lugar deserto?".

⁵ Jesus perguntou: "Quantos pães tendes?". Eles disseram: "Sete". ⁶ Ele ordenou à multidão que se assentasse no chão. Ele pegou os sete pães, deu graças e os partiu; deu aos discípulos para servirem, e eles serviram a multidão.

⁷ Eles também tinham alguns peixinhos, e depois de dar graças, Ele ordenou aos discípulos que os servissem. ⁸ Eles comeram e ficaram satisfeitos. Os discípulos pegaram dos pedaços que havia sobrado, sete cestos grandes. ⁹ Havia cerca de quatro mil homens ali. Jesus os despediu. ¹⁰ Imediatamente Ele foi para o barco com Seus discípulos e foram para a região de Dalmanuta.

¹¹ Então os fariseus vieram e começaram a discutir com Ele. Pediram-Lhe um sinal do céu, para testá-Lo. ¹² Suspirando profundamente em Seu espírito, disse: "Por que esta geração busca um sinal? Em verdade vos digo que nenhum sinal será dado a esta geração". ¹³ E, deixando-os, entrou novamente no barco e partiu para o outro lado.

¹⁴ Aconteceu que os discípulos se esqueceram de levar pães. E tinham apenas um pão no barco. ¹⁵ Jesus lhes advertiu: "Atentai-vos e guardai-vos do fermento dos fariseus e do fermento de Herodes".

¹⁶ Os discípulos arrazoavam entre si: "É porque não temos pão". ¹⁷ Jesus percebendo isso, disse-lhes: "Por que arrazoais por não terdes pão? Não percebeis ainda? Não entendeis? Estão os vossos corações endurecidos?

¹⁸ Tendes olhos e não vedes? Tende ouvidos e não ouvis? Não vos lembrais? ¹⁹ Quando Eu parti os cinco pães entre os cinco mil, quantos cestos de pães recolhestes?". Responderam-Lhe: "Doze".

²⁰ "E quando reparti os sete pães entre os quatro mil, quantos cestos recolhestes?". Eles disseram: "Sete". ²¹ Então perguntou-lhes: "E ainda não entendeis?"

²² Eles chegaram a Betsaida. As pessoas levaram até Jesus um cego rogando-Lhe que o tocasse. ²³ Jesus o tomou pela mão e o levou para fora da aldeia. Quando Ele cuspiu em seus olhos e colocou as mãos sobre ele, perguntou-lhe: "Vês alguma coisa?".

²⁴ Levantando os olhos, ele disse: "Vejo homens que parecem árvores andando". ²⁵ Então Ele novamente tocou-lhe os olhos; a visão do homem foi restaurada e ele tudo viu com clareza. ²⁶ Jesus o mandou para sua casa e disse: "Não entres na cidade".

²⁷ Jesus foi com Seus discípulos para as aldeias de Cesareia de Filipe. No caminho, Ele perguntou aos discípulos: "Quem as pessoas dizem que Eu sou?" ²⁸ Eles responderam: "João, o Batista. Outros dizem: 'Elias'; outros, 'Um dos profetas'".

²⁹ Ele perguntou-lhes: "Mas quem vós dizeis que Eu sou?". Respondendo, Pedro disse: "Tu és o Cristo". ³⁰ Jesus advertiu-lhes que não contassem a ninguém a respeito Dele.

³¹ Ele começou a ensiná-los que o Filho do Homem deve sofrer muitas coisas, ser rejeitado pelos anciãos, pelos principais sacerdotes e pelos escribas, ser morto, e ressuscitar após três dias. ³² Ele disse isso abertamente. Então Pedro, chamando-O em particular, começou a repreendê-Lo.

³³ Mas Jesus virou-se, olhou para os discípulos, repreendeu a Pedro, dizendo: "Para trás de Mim, Satanás! Não pensas nas coisas de Deus, mas nas dos homens". ³⁴ Então Ele chamou a multidão com os discípulos e disse: "Se alguém quiser Me seguir, negue-se a si mesmo, tome sua cruz e siga-Me.

³⁵ Pois aquele que quiser salvar sua vida, a perderá, e qualquer que perder sua vida por causa de Mim e do Evangelho, este a salvará. ³⁶ Que benefício terá aquele que ganhar o mundo todo e perder sua vida? ³⁷ O que daria o homem em troca da sua vida?

³⁸ Qualquer que se envergonhar de Mim e da Minha palavra nesta geração adúltera e pecadora, o Filho do Homem se envergonhará dele quando vier na glória de Seu Pai com os santos anjos".

Capítulo 9

¹ E Jesus disse-lhes: "Em verdade vos digo, alguns de vós que estão aqui não experimentarão a morte antes que vejam o reino de Deus vir com poder". ² Seis dias depois, Jesus tomou consigo Pedro, Tiago e João, e os levou em particular a um alto monte. Então foi transfigurado diante deles. ³ Suas vestes tornaram-se radiantemente brilhantes, extremamente brancas, mais brancas do que qualquer lavandeiro na terra poderia branquear.

⁴ Então Elias e Moisés apareceram a eles e conversavam com Jesus. ⁵ Pedro respondeu e disse a Jesus: "Rabi, é bom estarmos aqui; façamos três tendas: uma para Ti, uma para Moisés, uma para Elias". ⁶ (Ele não sabia o que dizer, pois estavam aterrorizados).

⁷ Uma nuvem veio e os envolveu. Então uma voz veio da nuvem: "Este é meu Filho amado. A Ele ouvi!". ⁸ De repente, quando olharam em volta, não viram mais ninguém com eles, apenas Jesus.

⁹ Ao descerem do monte, Ele lhes ordenou que não contassem a ninguém o que haviam visto, até que o Filho do Homem ressuscitasse dos mortos. ¹⁰ Então eles guardaram o assunto para si mesmos, mas discutiam o que poderia significar "ressuscitar dos mortos".

¹¹ Eles lhe perguntaram: "Por que os escribas dizem que Elias deve vir primeiro?" ¹² Jesus lhes respondeu: "Elias realmente vem primeiro para restaurar todas as coisas. Então por que está escrito que o Filho do Homem deve sofrer muitas coisas e ser desprezado? ¹³ Mas Eu vos digo que Elias veio, e fizeram o que quiseram com ele, exatamente como as escrituras dizem sobre ele".

¹⁴ Quando voltaram para onde estavam os outros discípulos, viram que uma grande multidão os rodeava, e escribas discutindo com eles. ¹⁵ E quando a multidão O viu, ficou maravilhada, e correu até Ele para cumprimentá-Lo. ¹⁶ Ele perguntou a Seus discípulos: "Sobre o que vós estais discutindo com eles?".

¹⁷ Alguém da multidão Lhe respondeu: "Mestre, eu Te trouxe meu filho; ele tem um espírito que o impede de falar. ¹⁸ Este o faz ter convulsões, o derruba e ele espuma pela boca, range seus dentes, e se enrijece. Eu pedi a Seus discípulos para expulsá-lo, mas eles não puderam". ¹⁹ Ele lhes respondeu: "Geração incrédula, até quando Eu terei de estar convosco? Até quando Eu vos suportarei? Trazei-o para Mim".

²⁰ Eles trouxeram-Lhe o menino. Quando o espírito viu Jesus, imediatamente o fez convulsionar. O menino caiu no chão e rolando espumava pela boca. ²¹ Jesus perguntou a seu pai: "Há quanto tempo ele está assim?" O pai disse: "Desde a infância. ²² E muitas vezes o atira no fogo ou na água, e tenta destruí-lo. Se Tu podes fazer algo, tem compaixão de nós e ajuda-nos".

²³ Jesus lhe disse: "’Se Tu podes!’ Todas as coisas são possíveis ao que crê". ²⁴ Imediatamente o pai da criança clamou e disse: "Eu creio! Ajuda-me na minha incredulidade!". ²⁵ Quando Jesus viu a multidão correndo em direção a eles, repreendeu o espírito imundo, dizendo-lhe: "Espírito surdo e mudo, Eu te ordeno: Sai dele, e nunca mais entres nele novamente".

²⁶ E gritou e convulsionou o menino grandemente e então saiu dele. Ele parecia morto, tanto que a maioria do povo dizia: "Ele está morto". ²⁷ Mas Jesus o tomou pela mão e o levantou, e o menino ficou de pé.

²⁸ Quando Jesus entrou na casa, Seus discípulos Lhe perguntaram em particular: "Por que não pudemos expulsá-lo?". ²⁹ Ele lhes disse: "Esse tipo não pode ser expulso senão pela oração".

³⁰ Partindo de lá, passavam pela Galileia, e Jesus não queria que ninguém soubesse onde eles estavam, ³¹ pois Ele ensinava a seus discípulos e lhes dizia: "O Filho do Homem será entregue nas mãos dos homens, e eles O matarão. Quando Ele for morto, após três dias ressuscitará". ³² Mas eles não entenderam esta declaração e estavam com medo de perguntar-Lhe.

³³ Foram para Cafarnaum. Quando Ele estava em casa perguntou a Seus discípulos: "O que vós estáveis discutindo pelo caminho?". ³⁴ Mas eles ficaram calados, pois argumentavam uns com os outros pelo caminho sobre quem era o maior. ³⁵ Ele sentou-se, chamou os doze e disse-lhes: "Se alguém quer ser o primeiro, será o último e o servo de todos".

³⁶ Ele pegou uma criança pequena, colocou-a no meio deles, e tomando-a em Seus braços, disse-lhes: ³⁷ "Qualquer um que receber uma criança como esta em Meu nome, este também Me recebe; e se alguém Me recebe, este não recebe a Mim, mas Àquele que Me enviou".

³⁸ João disse-Lhe: "Mestre, nós vimos alguém expulsando demônios em Teu nome e o proibimos, porque ele não nos segue". ³⁹ Mas Jesus disse: “Não o proibais. Porque ninguém pode fazer um milagre em Meu nome e logo depois dizer algo ruim a Meu respeito.

⁴⁰ Quem não é contra nós, é por nós. ⁴¹ Qualquer um que vos der um copo de água para beber porque sois de Cristo, verdadeiramente vos digo que não perderá sua recompensa.

⁴² Qualquer que fizer um destes pequeninos que crê em Mim tropeçar, seria melhor para ele ter uma grande pedra de moinho amarrada em volta de seu pescoço e ser lançado ao mar. ⁴³ Se tua mão te faz tropeçar, corta-a fora. É melhor para ti entrar na vida com uma das mãos decepada do que ter as duas mãos e ires para o inferno, para o fogo que não se apaga. ⁴⁴ ¹ .

⁴⁵ Se teu pé te faz tropeçar, corta-o fora. Melhor será que entres na vida aleijado, a ter os dois pés, e seres lançado no inferno. ⁴⁶ ² .

⁴⁷ Se teu olho te causar tropeço, arranca-o. Melhor será que entres no Reino de Deus com um olho do que ter os dois olhos, e seres lançado no inferno, ⁴⁸ onde os vermes nunca morrem, e o fogo nunca se apaga.

⁴⁹ Porque cada um será salgado com fogo. ⁵⁰ O sal é bom, mas se o sal tiver perdido o sabor, como podeis fazê-lo salgar novamente? Tende sal em vós mesmos, e vivei em paz uns com os outros".

¹Onde os vermes nunca morrem, e o fogo nunca se apaga (Este trecho é omitido nos manuscritos mais antigos)

²Onde os vermes nunca morrem, e o fogo nunca se apaga (Este trecho é omitido nos manuscritos mais antigos)

Capítulo 10

¹ Jesus deixou aquele lugar e foi para a região da Judeia, para além do rio Jordão; e as multidões vieram a Ele novamente. Ele os ensinava, como tinha por costume. ² Os fariseus se aproximaram e para testá-Lo perguntaram: "É lícito ao marido divorciar-se de sua esposa?". ³ Ele respondeu: "O que vos ordenou Moisés?". ⁴ Eles disseram: "Moisés permitiu ao homem escrever uma certidão de divórcio e, então, repudiar a esposa".

⁵ Jesus, então, lhes disse: "Foi por causa de vossos corações endurecidos que Moisés escreveu essa lei. ⁶ Mas, desde o início da criação, 'Deus os fez macho e fêmea’.

⁷ ‘Por esse motivo o homem deixará seu pai e sua mãe e se unirá à sua esposa ⁸ e os dois se tornarão uma única carne. Então já não são dois, mas uma única carne'. ⁹ Portanto, o que Deus uniu, não separe o homem".

¹⁰ Quando eles estavam em casa, os discípulos mais uma vez Lhe perguntaram sobre isso. ¹¹ Ele disse-lhes: "Todo aquele que repudiar sua mulher e se casar com outra, comete adultério. ¹² Se ela se divorciar de seu marido e se casar com outro homem, ela comete adultério".

¹³ Traziam-Lhe suas crianças para que pudesse tocá-las, mas os discípulos os repreendiam. ¹⁴ Quando Jesus viu isto, ficou indignado, e disse-lhes: "Deixai as crianças virem até Mim e não as proibais, pois o reino de Deus pertence aos que são semelhantes a elas.

¹⁵ Verdadeiramente vos digo: Todo aquele que não receber o reino de Deus como uma criança, de modo algum entrará nele". ¹⁶ Então, Ele tomou as crianças em Seus braços e as abençoou impondo as mãos sobre elas.

¹⁷ Quando Ele continuou Seu caminho, um homem veio correndo, ajoelhou-se diante Dele e perguntou: "Bom Mestre, o que farei para herdar a vida eterna?". ¹⁸ E Jesus lhe respondeu: "Por que Me chamas bom? Ninguém é bom, exceto Deus. ¹⁹ Tu conheces os mandamentos: 'Não matarás, não cometerás adultério, não roubarás, não darás falso testemunho, não defraudarás, honrarás teu pai e tua mãe'".

²⁰ Disse o homem: "Mestre, todas essas coisas tenho obedecido desde quando era jovem". ²¹ Jesus olhou para ele e o amou, e disse-lhe: "Uma coisa te falta; vai, vende tudo o que tens e dá-o aos pobres, e terás um tesouro no céu. Então, vem e segue-Me". ²² Mas o homem, desanimado com esta palavra, retirou-se triste porque tinha muitos bens.

²³ Jesus olhou em volta e disse aos Seus discípulos: "Como é difícil para os ricos entrar no reino de Deus!". ²⁴ Os discípulos estavam admirados com Suas palavras. Mas, Jesus disse-lhes outra vez: "Filhos, como é difícil entrar no reino de Deus! ²⁵ É mais fácil um camelo passar pelo buraco de uma agulha, do que um rico entrar no Reino de Deus".

²⁶ Eles estavam perplexos e diziam uns aos outros: "Então, quem pode ser salvo?”. ²⁷ Jesus olhou para eles e disse: "Para os homens é impossível, mas não para Deus. Porque todas as coisas são possíveis para Deus". ²⁸ Pedro começou a dizer-Lhe: "Eis que nós deixamos tudo para trás e Te seguimos".

²⁹ Jesus respondeu: "Verdadeiramente vos digo, não há quem tenha deixado casa, irmãos, irmãs, mãe, pai, filhos ou terras por Minha causa e pelo Evangelho ³⁰ que não receba cem vezes mais, agora neste mundo, casas, irmãos, irmãs, mães, filhos, terras, com perseguições; e no mundo que virá, vida eterna. ³¹ Mas muitos que são primeiros serão últimos, e os últimos serão primeiros".

³² Eles estavam no caminho, subindo para Jerusalém, e Jesus ia à frente deles. Os que O seguiam estavam assustados e tinham medo. Jesus chamou os doze à parte novamente, e começou a dizer-lhes o que aconteceria a Ele em breve: ³³ "Eis que estamos subindo para Jerusalém e o Filho do Homem será entregue aos chefes dos sacerdotes e aos escribas. Eles O condenarão à morte e O entregarão aos gentios. ³⁴ Zombarão Dele, cuspirão Nele, O açoitarão e O matarão. Mas depois de três dias, Ele ressuscitará".

³⁵ Tiago e João, filhos de Zebedeu, vieram até Ele e disseram: "Mestre, queremos que atendas o pedido que Te faremos". ³⁶ Ele lhes disse: "Que quereis que Eu vos faça?". ³⁷ Eles responderam: "Permite-nos sentar com o Senhor em Sua glória, um à Tua direita e outro à Tua esquerda".

³⁸ Mas Jesus lhes respondeu: "Não sabeis o que estais pedindo. Vós podeis beber do cálice do qual beberei, ou suportar o batismo com o qual serei batizado?". ³⁹ Eles responderam-Lhe: "Nós podemos". Disse-lhes Jesus: "Do cálice que Eu beber, vós bebereis. E do batismo que Eu sou batizado, vós também sereis batizados. ⁴⁰ Mas não cabe a Mim conceder quem se assenta à Minha direita ou à Minha esquerda, mas é para aqueles a quem isso foi preparado".

⁴¹ Quando os outros dez discípulos ouviram sobre isso, ficaram indignados com Tiago e João. ⁴² Jesus chamou-os para Si e disse: "Vós sabeis que aqueles que são considerados governantes dos gentios os dominam, e os seus altos oficiais exercem autoridade sobre eles.

⁴³ Mas não deve ser dessa forma entre vós. Aquele que deseja tornar-se grande entre vós, deve ser o vosso servo, ⁴⁴ e aquele que deseja ser o primeiro entre vós, deve ser escravo de todos. ⁴⁵ Pois o Filho do Homem não veio para ser servido, mas para servir e dar a Sua vida em resgate de muitos".

⁴⁶ E vieram para Jericó. Saindo Jesus de Jericó com os Seus discípulos e uma grande multidão, um homem chamado Bartimeu, filho de Timeu, um mendigo cego, estava sentado à beira da estrada. ⁴⁷ Ouvindo ele que era Jesus, O Nazareno, que estava chegando, começou a gritar e a dizer: "Jesus, Filho de Davi, tem compaixão de mim!". ⁴⁸ Muitos o censuravam e diziam para que se calasse. Mas ele gritava ainda mais: "Filho de Davi, tem compaixão de mim!".

⁴⁹ Jesus parou e ordenou-lhes que o chamassem. Então chamaram o cego, dizendo: "Coragem! Levanta! Ele te chama". ⁵⁰ Ele lançou fora a sua capa, levantou-se em um salto e veio a Jesus.

⁵¹ Jesus, respondendo-lhe, disse: "O que queres que Eu te faça?". O cego Lhe disse: "Rabi, que eu recupere minha visão". ⁵² Jesus disse: "Vai, a tua fé te curou". Imediatamente, ele recebeu sua visão e O seguia pelo caminho.

Capítulo 11

¹ Quando se aproximavam de Jerusalém, perto de Betfagé e Betânia, no Monte das Oliveiras, Jesus enviou dois de Seus discípulos, ² e disse-lhes: "Ide ao povoado que está diante de vós. Logo que entrardes nele, encontrareis um jumentinho que nunca foi montado. Desatai-o e trazei-o. ³ Se alguém vos disser: 'Por que estais fazendo isso?', respondei: 'O Senhor precisa dele e logo o devolverá para cá'".

⁴ Eles foram e encontraram um jumentinho amarrado a um portão, do lado de fora na rua e o desamarraram. ⁵ Algumas pessoas estavam ali e lhes perguntaram: "O que fazeis desamarrando o jumentinho?". ⁶ Eles responderam conforme Jesus havia lhes dito, e as pessoas os deixaram ir.

⁷ Os dois discípulos levaram a Jesus o jumentinho, puseram suas vestes sobre ele, e Jesus montou nele. ⁸ Muitas pessoas estendiam suas vestes no caminho e outras estendiam ramos que haviam cortado dos campos. ⁹ Os que iam adiante Dele e os que O seguiam clamavam: "Hosana! Bendito O que vem em nome do Senhor! ¹⁰ Bendito seja o reino que vem de nosso pai Davi! Hosana nas alturas!".

¹¹ Então Jesus entrou em Jerusalém, dirigiu-se ao templo e observou tudo ao redor. E, sendo tarde da noite, partiu para Betânia com os doze. ¹² No dia seguinte, quando retornaram de Betânia, teve fome.

¹³ E vendo uma figueira que mostrava suas folhas a uma certa distância, foi ver se poderia achar nela algum fruto. Chegando perto dela, não achou nada além de folhas, pois não era estação de figos. ¹⁴ Ele disse à figueira: "Ninguém jamais comerá um fruto teu novamente". E os discípulos Dele ouviram isso.

¹⁵ E vieram para Jerusalém. E entrando no templo, Jesus começou a expulsar os que ali vendiam e compravam. Derrubou as mesas dos cambistas e as cadeiras dos que vendiam pombas. ¹⁶ E não permitiu que ninguém atravessasse o templo carregando qualquer coisa que pudesse ser vendida.

¹⁷ Ele lhes ensinava, dizendo: "Não está escrito: 'A Minha casa será chamada casa de oração para todas as nações?' Mas vós tendes feito dela um covil de ladrões". ¹⁸ Os chefes dos sacerdotes e os escribas ouviram o que Ele disse e procuravam uma maneira para matá-Lo. Pois O temiam, visto que toda a multidão estava impressionada com os Seus ensinamentos. ¹⁹ Ao entardecer, eles saíram da cidade.

²⁰ E pela manhã, enquanto caminhavam, viram que a figueira estava seca até a raiz. ²¹ Então Pedro, lembrando-se, disse-Lhe: "Rabi, eis que a figueira que Tu amaldiçoaste secou-se".

²² Jesus lhes respondeu: "Tende fé em Deus. ²³ Verdadeiramente vos digo que qualquer um dentre vós que disser a este monte: 'Ergue-te e lança-te ao mar', e não duvidar no seu coração, mas crer que o que foi dito acontecerá, assim Deus o fará.

²⁴ Portanto Eu vos digo que tudo que pedirdes em oração, crede que já o recebestes, e vos será concedido. ²⁵ Quando estiverdes orando, vós deveis perdoar tudo que tendes contra alguém, para que vosso Pai que está nos céus também perdoe as vossas transgressões. ²⁶ ¹ .

²⁷ Eles retornaram para Jerusalém. Enquanto Jesus andava pelo templo, os chefes dos sacerdotes, os escribas e os anciãos se dirigiram a ele. ²⁸ E Lhe perguntaram: "Com que autoridade fazes essas coisas? E quem Te deu autoridade para realizá-las?".

²⁹ Jesus lhes disse: "Vou lhes fazer uma pergunta, respondei-me e lhes direi com que autoridade faço essas coisas: ³⁰ O batismo de João era do céu ou dos homens? Respondei-me".

³¹ Eles discutiam entre si, argumentavam e diziam: "Se dissermos: 'Do céu', ele dirá: 'Então por que não crestes nele?'. ³² Mas se dissermos: 'Dos homens'..." Eles temiam o povo, pois todos consideravam que João era profeta de fato. ³³ Então responderam a Jesus: "Não sabemos". E Jesus lhes disse: "Tampouco Eu lhes direi com que autoridade faço essas coisas".

¹Porém se não perdoardes, também vosso Pai celestial não perdoará as vossas transgressões (os melhores manuscritos antigos omitem este verso)

Capítulo 12

¹ Então Jesus começou a ensiná-los por parábolas, dizendo: "Um homem plantou uma vinha, colocou um cercado ao redor, cavou um poço para prensar as uvas, e construiu uma torre. Então arrendou a vinha para alguns lavradores e saiu de viagem. ² No tempo certo da colheita, ele enviou um servo até os lavradores para receber deles do fruto da vinha. ³ Mas eles o pegaram, o espancaram e o mandaram de volta sem nada.

⁴ Mais uma vez, ele mandou outro servo, e lhe feriram na cabeça e o humilharam. ⁵ Ele mandou ainda outro, e a este mataram. Eles trataram a muitos outros servos da mesma maneira, espancando alguns e matando outros.

⁶ E restava-lhe ainda um, seu filho amado, o último que lhes fora enviado. Ele disse: 'Eles respeitarão o meu filho'. ⁷ Mas os lavradores disseram entre si: 'Esse é o herdeiro, vamos matá-lo e a herança será nossa'.

⁸ Eles o agarraram, o mataram e o jogaram para fora da vinha. ⁹ Portanto, que fará então o dono da vinha? Ele virá, destruirá os lavradores e dará a vinha para outras pessoas.

¹⁰ Acaso não lestes esta Escritura? 'A pedra que os construtores rejeitaram veio a ser a angular. ¹¹ Isso vem do Senhor, e é maravilha aos nossos olhos’". ¹² Eles procuraram um meio de prender Jesus, mas temiam a multidão, pois sabiam que Ele havia contado essa parábola contra eles. Então O deixaram e foram embora.

¹³ E eles Lhe enviaram alguns dos fariseus e dos herodianos para que O apanhassem em alguma palavra. ¹⁴ Quando chegaram, disseram-Lhe: "Mestre, sabemos que és verdadeiro e não Te importas com a opinião de ninguém, porque não julgas pela aparência dos homens. Verdadeiramente ensinas o caminho de Deus. É certo pagarmos impostos a César ou não? Devemos pagar ou não?". ¹⁵ Mas Jesus conhecia a hipocrisia deles e disse-lhes: "Por que Me testais? Trazei-Me um denário para que Eu o veja".

¹⁶ Eles Lhe trouxeram um. Então, Jesus perguntou: "De quem é esta imagem e inscrição?". ¹⁷ Eles Lhe responderam: "De César". Jesus disse: "Dai a César o que é de Cesar e a Deus, o que é de Deus". E ficaram maravilhados com Ele.

¹⁸ Então os saduceus, que dizem não haver ressurreição, vieram até Ele e perguntaram-Lhe, dizendo: ¹⁹ "Mestre, Moisés nos deixou escrito que: 'Se o irmão de um homem morrer e deixar uma esposa sem filhos, o irmão deve casar-se com a viúva e ter filhos para seu irmão'.

²⁰ Havia sete irmãos; o primeiro teve esposa e depois morreu, sem deixar filhos. ²¹ Então, o segundo a tomou por esposa e morreu, sem deixar filhos. E com o terceiro de igual modo. ²² E os sete não deixaram filhos. Depois de todos, a mulher também morreu. ²³ Na ressurreição, quando ressuscitarem, de quem ela será esposa? Já que os sete irmãos a tiveram como esposa".

²⁴ Respondeu-lhes Jesus: "Não é esta a razão pela qual estais enganados, porque não conheceis as Escrituras nem o poder de Deus? ²⁵ Pois quando ressuscitarem dentre os mortos, não se casam nem se dão em casamento, mas são como os anjos nos céus.

²⁶ Mas, quanto aos mortos que são ressuscitados, não lestes no livro de Moisés, no relato sobre a sarça, como Deus falou com ele e disse: 'Eu sou o Deus de Abraão, o Deus de Isaque e o Deus de Jacó?'. ²⁷ Ele não é Deus de mortos, mas de vivos. Grande é o vosso erro".

²⁸ Um dos escribas veio e ouviu a discussão, ele viu que Jesus lhes respondeu bem. E perguntou-Lhe: "Qual mandamento é o mais importante de todos?". ²⁹ Respondeu Jesus: "O mais importante é este: 'Ouve, Israel, o Senhor nosso Deus é o único Senhor. ³⁰ Amarás, pois, o Senhor teu Deus, com todo o teu coração, com toda a tua alma, com todo o teu entendimento, e com todas as tuas forças'. ³¹ O segundo mandamento é este: 'Ama o teu próximo como a ti mesmo'. Mandamento maior do que esses não existe".

³² Então o escriba lhe disse: "Muito bem, Mestre! Verdadeiramente falaste que Deus é um só, e que não há outro exceto Ele. ³³ Amá-Lo com todo o coração, com todo o entendimento e com todas as forças, e amar ao próximo como a si mesmo, é mais importante do que todos os sacrifícios e holocaustos". ³⁴ Quando Jesus viu que ele deu uma resposta sábia, disse-lhe: "Tu não estás longe do Reino de Deus". Depois disto, ninguém mais se atreveu a questionar Jesus.

³⁵ E, enquanto ensinava no templo, Jesus respondeu-lhes, dizendo: "Como dizem os escribas que o Cristo é filho de Davi? ³⁶ Davi mesmo disse pelo Espírito Santo: 'O Senhor disse ao meu Senhor: Senta-te à Minha direita, até que Eu faça dos teus inimigos como escabelo debaixo dos teus pés'. ³⁷ O próprio Davi chama o Cristo de 'Senhor', então, como pode ser filho dele?". A grande multidão O ouvia com alegria.

³⁸ Em seu ensinamento, Jesus dizia: "Cuidado com os escribas, que desejam andar com longas túnicas, receber saudações nas praças, ³⁹ os lugares principais nas sinagogas e os lugares de honra nos banquetes. ⁴⁰ Eles também devoram as casas das viúvas e, para o justificar, fazem longas orações. Estes receberão maior condenação".

⁴¹ Então Jesus sentou-Se perto de uma caixa de ofertas na área do templo. Ele estava olhando as pessoas enquanto lançavam seu dinheiro na caixa. Muitas pessoas ricas lançavam ali grandes quantias de dinheiro. ⁴² Então, uma pobre viúva chegou e colocou na caixa duas moedas, que valem um quadrante.

⁴³ Jesus chamou os Seus discípulos e disse-lhes: "Verdadeiramente vos digo: Esta viúva pobre colocou ali mais do que todos aqueles que ofertaram na caixa. ⁴⁴ Todos eles deram do que lhes era abundante, mas esta viúva, de sua pobreza, colocou todo o dinheiro que tinha para viver.

Capítulo 13

¹ Enquanto Jesus saía do templo, um de Seus discípulos disse-Lhe: “Mestre, olha que lindas pedras e construções!”. ² Jesus respondeu: "Vês estas grandes construções? Não será deixada pedra sobre pedra que não seja derrubada".

³ E, assentando-se Ele no Monte das Oliveiras do lado oposto do templo, Pedro, Tiago, João e André Lhe perguntaram em particular: ⁴ “Dize-nos, quando essas coisas acontecerão? Qual será o sinal quando todas essas coisas estiverem prestes a acontecer?”.

⁵ Jesus começou a dizer-lhes: “Sede cautelosos para que ninguém vos engane. ⁶ Muitos virão em Meu nome e dirão: ‘Eu sou o Cristo’, e enganarão a muitos.

⁷ E quando ouvirdes de guerras e rumores de guerras, não vos preocupeis; essas coisas devem acontecer, mas ainda não será o fim. ⁸ Porque nação se erguerá contra nação, e reino contra reino. Haverá terremotos em muitos lugares, e fome. Esse é o início das dores de parto.

⁹ Ficai alertas. Eles vos entregarão às assembleias, e sereis espancados nas sinagogas. Vós estareis diante de governadores e reis por Minha causa, como um testemunho para eles. ¹⁰ Mas é preciso que primeiro o evangelho seja proclamado a todas as nações.

¹¹ Quando vos prenderem e levarem a julgamento, não preocupeis com o que deveis dizer. Porque naquela hora, o que deveis dizer lhes será dado; não sereis vós que falareis, mas o Espírito Santo. ¹² Irmão entregará irmão à morte, e pai a seu filho. Filhos se levantarão contra seus pais e causarão as suas mortes. ¹³ Vós sereis odiados por todos por causa do Meu nome. Mas aquele que suportar até o fim, esse será salvo.

¹⁴ Quando virdes a abominação da desolação no lugar onde não devia estar (que o leitor entenda), aqueles que estão na Judeia fujam para as montanhas, ¹⁵ aquele que estiver no telhado não desça para casa, nem pegue qualquer coisa nela, ¹⁶ aquele que estiver no campo não retorne para pegar sua capa.

¹⁷ Mas ai das que estiverem grávidas e das que estiverem amamentando naqueles dias! ¹⁸ Orai para que isso não ocorra no inverno. ¹⁹ Porque haverá grande tribulação, tão grande como nunca houve desde o início, quando Deus criou o mundo até agora, e nunca mais haverá. ²⁰ Se o Senhor não tivesse encurtado os dias, ninguém seria salvo. Mas por causa dos eleitos, aqueles que Ele escolheu, abreviou assim os dias.

²¹ Então, se alguém vos disser: ‘Eis o Cristo aqui!" Ou: ‘Eis que lá está Ele!’, não acrediteis. ²² Porque falsos Cristos e falsos profetas aparecerão e farão sinais e maravilhas, de modo a enganar, se possível, até os eleitos. ²³ Ficai alertas! Eis que vos falei todas estas coisas antes delas acontecerem.

²⁴ Todavia, depois da tribulação daqueles dias, o sol escurecerá, a lua não dará a sua luz, ²⁵ as estrelas cairão do céu, e os poderes que estão nos céus serão sacudidos. ²⁶ Então, verão o Filho do Homem vir nas nuvens com imenso poder e glória. ²⁷ Ele enviará Seus anjos e juntará Seus eleitos dos quatro ventos, dos confins da terra aos confins do céu.

²⁸ Aprendei a lição da figueira. Assim que o galho se renova e mostra suas folhas, sabeis que o verão está perto. ²⁹ E também, quando virdes essas coisas acontecendo, sabei que Ele está perto, às portas.

³⁰ Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo, esta geração não passará até que todas essas coisas aconteçam. ³¹ Céu e terra passarão, mas Minhas palavras nunca passarão. ³² Mas a respeito daquele dia ou hora, ninguém sabe, nem mesmo os anjos no céu, nem o Filho, somente o Pai.

³³ Ficai alertas! Vigiai e orai, porque não sabeis quando será o tempo. ³⁴ É como um homem que vai para uma viagem: ele deixa sua casa e coloca seus servos no comando da casa, cada um com seu trabalho. E ele ordena ao vigia que fique acordado.

³⁵ Por isso vigiai! Porque não sabeis quando o dono da casa voltará, se à tarde, à meia noite, quando o galo cantar, ou pela manhã. ³⁶ Se Ele vier de repente, que Ele não vos encontre dormindo. ³⁷ O que Eu vos digo, digo a todos: Vigiai!”.

Capítulo 14

¹ Em dois dias seria a Páscoa e a Festa dos Pães sem Fermento. E os principais sacerdotes e os escribas andavam procurando um modo para prendê-lo em segredo e matá-lo. ² Pois diziam: "Não durante a Páscoa, para que um tumulto não surja entre o povo".

³ Estava Jesus em Betânia na casa de Simão, o leproso, e enquanto ele se reclinava à mesa, aproximou-se uma mulher com um vaso de alabastro que continha um líquido muito precioso, nardo puro. Ela quebrou o vaso e derramou sobre a cabeça de Jesus, ⁴ mas alguns se indignaram. Eles diziam entre si: "Por que esse desperdício de perfume? ⁵ Esse perfume poderia ser vendido por mais de trezentos denários e assim ser dado aos pobres”. E a repreendiam.

⁶ Mas Jesus disse: "Deixai-a em paz. Por que a perturbais? Ela fez uma bela coisa por Mim. ⁷ No meio de vós sempre haverá pobres e sempre que quiserdes podeis fazer o bem a eles, porém, não Me tereis sempre. ⁸ Ela fez o que podia, ungiu o Meu corpo antecipadamente para o sepultamento. ⁹ Verdadeiramente vos digo, onde quer que o Evangelho for pregado no mundo todo, o que essa mulher fez será contado, em memória dela".

¹⁰ Então Judas Iscariotes, um dos Doze, foi até os principais sacerdotes para entregar Jesus a eles. ¹¹ Quando os sacerdotes ouviram isso, alegraram-se e prometeram dar-lhe dinheiro. E ele começou a procurar uma oportunidade de entregar-lhes Jesus.

¹² No primeiro dia da Festa dos Pães sem Fermento, quando eles sacrificavam o cordeiro da Páscoa, Seus discípulos disseram-lhe: "Onde desejas que preparemos a refeição da Páscoa?". ¹³ Ele enviou dois dos Seus discípulos e disse-lhes: "Ide para a cidade e um homem carregando uma jarra de água vos encontrará. Segui-o. ¹⁴ E onde quer que ele entrar, segui-o e dizei ao dono da casa: 'O Mestre diz: Onde fica a sala em que comerei a refeição da Páscoa com Meus discípulos?'.

¹⁵ E ele vos mostrará uma grande sala mobiliada no andar superior que está pronta. Fazei lá nossos preparativos. ¹⁶ Os discípulos saíram e foram até a cidade; encontraram tudo como Ele havia lhes dito e prepararam a refeição da Páscoa.

¹⁷ Quando já era noite, Ele veio com os doze. ¹⁸ Enquanto estavam reclinados à mesa e comendo, Jesus disse: "Verdadeiramente Eu vos digo, um de vós, que está comendo Comigo, irá Me trair". ¹⁹ Todos se entristeceram e um a um disseram-Lhe: "Acaso sou eu?"

²⁰ Jesus, respondendo, disse-lhes: "É um dos doze, aquele que agora mergulha o pão Comigo na tigela. ²¹ Porque o Filho do homem vai conforme as escrituras dizem sobre Ele; mas ai daquele que O trair! Melhor seria para ele se não tivesse nascido".

²² Enquanto comiam, Jesus pegou o pão, abençoou-o, repartiu-o e lhes deu. Então disse: "Tomai, este é o Meu corpo". ²³ Ele pegou um cálice, agradeceu, deu-lhes e todos beberam dele. ²⁴ Então disse-lhes: "Este é o Meu sangue da aliança, o sangue que é derramado em favor de muitos. ²⁵ Em verdade vos digo, Eu não beberei novamente do fruto da vinha até o dia em que Eu beber o vinho novo no Reino de Deus".

²⁶ Após cantarem um hino, foram para o Monte das Oliveiras. ²⁷ Jesus lhes disse: "Vós todos Me abandonareis, porque está escrito: 'Ferirei o Pastor e todas as ovelhas se espalharão'.

²⁸ Mas depois da Minha ressurreição, Eu irei à vossa frente para a Galileia". ²⁹ Pedro lhe disse: "Mesmo que todos Te abandonem, eu não Te abandonarei".

³⁰ Jesus disse a ele: "Verdadeiramente Eu digo que, esta noite, antes que o galo cante duas vezes, você Me negará três vezes". ³¹ Mas Pedro disse: "Mesmo que eu morra Contigo, não Te negarei". Todos eles fizeram a mesma promessa.

³² Eles foram para um lugar chamado Getsêmani, e Jesus disse aos Seus discípulos: "Sentai aqui enquanto Eu oro". ³³ Ele tomou Pedro, Tiago e João, então começou a ficar angustiado e em extrema aflição. ³⁴ Jesus disse-lhes: "Minha alma está profundamente triste, a ponto de morrer. Permanecei aqui e vigiai".

³⁵ Jesus foi um pouco mais longe, caiu em terra, e orava, para que, se fosse possível, essa hora passasse Dele. ³⁶ Ele disse: "Aba, Pai, todas as coisas são possíveis para Ti, tira este cálice de Mim. Porém, que não seja a Minha vontade, mas a Tua".

³⁷ Ele retornou, encontrou-os dormindo, e disse a Pedro: "Simão, tu estás dormindo? Não podes vigiar nem por uma hora? ³⁸ Vigiai e orai para que não entreis em tentação. O espírito está preparado, mas a carne é fraca". ³⁹ Novamente Ele Se distanciou e orou, e usou as mesmas palavras.

⁴⁰ Outra vez Se aproximou Jesus dos discípulos e os encontrou dormindo; seus olhos estavam muito pesados e eles não sabiam o que Lhe dizer. ⁴¹ Ele veio pela terceira vez e disse-lhes: "Ainda estais dormindo e descansando? Basta! A hora chegou. Eis que o Filho do Homem está sendo entregue às mãos dos pecadores. ⁴² Levantai-vos, vamos! Eis que aquele que está Me traindo está próximo".

⁴³ Imediatamente, enquanto Ele ainda falava, Judas, um dos doze, chegou, e uma grande multidão estava com ele; armada de espadas e pedaços de pau, da parte do principais sacerdotes, escribas e anciãos. ⁴⁴ O traidor deu-lhes um sinal, dizendo: "É Aquele que eu beijar". Prendei-O e levai-O sob guarda". ⁴⁵ Quando Judas chegou, imediatamente veio até Jesus e Lhe disse: "Rabi!" e ele O beijou. ⁴⁶ Então eles O pegaram e prenderam-No.

⁴⁷ Mas um dos que ali estavam puxou sua espada, feriu o servo do sumo sacerdote e cortou fora sua orelha. ⁴⁸ Jesus lhes disse: "Saístes para Me prender como contra um ladrão, com espadas e pedaços de pau? ⁴⁹ Quando Eu estava convosco e ensinava diariamente no templo, não Me prendestes. Mas isso foi feito para que as Escrituras fossem cumpridas". ⁵⁰ E todos os que estavam com Jesus O deixaram e fugiram.

⁵¹ Um jovem O seguia, o qual estava vestindo apenas um lençol de linho que estava envolto nele; eles o agarraram, mas ⁵² o jovem deixou para trás o lençol e fugiu deles nu.

⁵³ Levaram Jesus ao sumo sacerdote. Reuniram-se todos os principais sacerdotes, anciãos e escribas. ⁵⁴ Nessa hora, Pedro acompanhava tudo a distância, até o interior do pátio do sumo sacerdote. Ele se sentou entre os guardas, que estavam próximos ao fogo, para se manter aquecido.

⁵⁵ Os principais sacerdotes e todo o Sinédrio procuravam testemunhos contra Jesus, para que pudessem matá-Lo. Mas eles não encontraram, ⁵⁶ pois muitos trouxeram falsos testemunhos contra Ele, mas mesmo esses testemunhos eram divergentes.

⁵⁷ Alguns se levantaram e trouxeram falso testemunho contra Ele; eles diziam: ⁵⁸ "Nós O ouvimos dizer: 'Eu destruirei esse templo feito por mãos humanas e em três dias eu construirei outro, não feito por mãos humanas'". ⁵⁹ Ainda assim seus testemunhos divergiam.

⁶⁰ Então, o sumo sacerdote se levantou no meio deles e perguntou a Jesus: "Tu não respondes nada? O que esses homens depõem contra Ti?" ⁶¹ Mas Ele estava em silêncio e não respondia. Outra vez o sumo sacerdote perguntou: "Tu és o Cristo, o Filho do Deus Bendito?" ⁶² Jesus disse: "Eu sou. E vereis O Filho do Homem sentado à direita do Poderoso e vindo com as nuvens do céu".

⁶³ Diante disso, o sumo sacerdote rasgou suas roupas e disse: "Ainda precisamos de testemunhas? ⁶⁴ Vós ouvistes a blasfêmia. Qual é a vossa decisão?". E todos condenaram a Jesus como merecedor de morte. ⁶⁵ Alguns começaram a cuspir Nele e cobrir o Seu rosto, bater Nele e dizer: "Profetiza!" Os guardas O levaram e bateram Nele.

⁶⁶ Estando Pedro na parte de baixo, no pátio, uma das servas do sumo sacerdote veio até ele. ⁶⁷ Ela, vendo Pedro próximo ao fogo, para se manter aquecido, olhou bem para ele e disse: "Tu também estavas com o Nazareno, Jesus". ⁶⁸ Mas ele negou, dizendo: "Eu nem sei nem entendo o que tu estás falando". Então ele saiu para o pátio.

⁶⁹ Mas lá, a criada o viu e começou a dizer de novo aos que ali estavam: "Esse homem é um deles!" ⁷⁰ Mas ele negou isso novamente. Logo, os que lá se encontravam diziam a Pedro: "Com certeza és um deles, pois também és um galileu".

⁷¹ Mas ele começou a amaldiçoar e a jurar: "Eu não conheço esse Homem de quem falais". ⁷² Então, imediatamente, o galo cantou pela segunda vez. Pedro então se lembrou das palavras que Jesus havia lhe dito: "Antes que o galo cante duas vezes, três vezes Me negarás". Ele se irrompeu em tristeza e começou a chorar.

Capítulo 15

¹ De manhã cedo, os principais sacerdotes se encontraram com os anciãos e escribas e todo o Sinédrio. Eles amarraram Jesus, levaram-No e O entregaram a Pilatos. ² Pilatos Lhe perguntou: "Tu és o Rei dos Judeus?" Ele respondeu: "Tu o dizes". ³ Os principais sacerdotes apresentavam muitas acusações contra Jesus.

⁴ Pilatos perguntou novamente: "Tu não respondes nada? Vês quantas acusações eles têm contra Ti?". ⁵ Mas Jesus não mais respondeu a Pilatos, e isso o deixou impressionado.

⁶ Na época da festa, era de costume Pilatos soltar um prisioneiro qualquer que eles escolhessem. ⁷ Juntamente com os rebeldes na prisão, entre os assassinos presos por terem tomado parte em uma rebelião, havia um homem chamado Barrabás. ⁸ A multidão veio até Pilatos e começou a pedir-lhe para fazer o que era de costume.

⁹ E Pilatos respondeu-lhes: "Quereis que eu solte o Rei dos Judeus?". ¹⁰ Pois ele sabia que era por inveja que os principais sacerdotes tinham entregado Jesus. ¹¹ Mas os principais sacerdotes incitaram a multidão a clamar que, no lugar Dele, Barrabás fosse solto.

¹² Pilatos tornou a responder-lhes: "O que então eu deveria fazer com o Rei dos Judeus?". ¹³ Eles gritaram novamente: "Crucifica-O!".

¹⁴ Pilatos disse-lhes: "O que Ele fez de errado?". Mas eles gritavam mais e mais: "Crucifica-O!". ¹⁵ Pilatos, querendo agradar a multidão, entregou-lhes Barrabás. Ele entregou Jesus para que, depois de açoitado, fosse crucificado.

¹⁶ Os soldados O levaram para dentro do Palácio, que é o Pretório, e chamaram todo o destacamento dos soldados. ¹⁷ Vestiram-No com um manto púrpura, trançaram uma coroa de espinhos e a colocaram em Jesus. ¹⁸ Começaram, então, a saudá-Lo dizendo: "Viva o Rei dos Judeus!".

¹⁹ Eles bateram em Sua cabeça com um bordão e cuspiram Nele e, de joelhos, prestaram-Lhe homenagens. ²⁰ Depois de zombarem Dele, despiram-Lhe o manto púrpura e O vestiram com Suas próprias roupas, e levaram-No para fora, a fim de ser crucificado. ²¹ Eles obrigaram um transeunte, que vinha do campo, a carregar a cruz de Jesus. Seu nome era Simão de Cirene (pai de Alexandre e Rufo).

²² Os soldados levaram Jesus a um lugar chamado Gólgota, que quer dizer Lugar da Caveira. ²³ E ofereceram-Lhe vinho misturado com mirra, mas Ele não bebeu. ²⁴ Então O crucificaram e dividiram Suas roupas, lançando sortes para determinar que peça cada soldado pegaria.

²⁵ Era a hora terceira quando O crucificaram. ²⁶ Em uma placa, eles escreveram a acusação: "O REI DOS JUDEUS". ²⁷ Com Ele crucificaram dois ladrões, um à sua direita e o outro à sua esquerda. ²⁸ ¹

²⁹ Aqueles que passavam O insultavam, balançando suas cabeças e dizendo: "Ah! Tu és o que destruiria o templo e o reconstruiria em três dias, ³⁰ salva a Ti mesmo e desce da cruz!".

³¹ Do mesmo modo, os principais sacerdotes zombavam Dele entre si, com os escribas, e diziam: "Ele salvou os outros, mas não consegue salvar a Si mesmo. ³² Que o Cristo, o Rei de Israel, desça agora da cruz e assim possamos ver e acreditar". E os que com Ele foram crucificados também O insultavam.

³³ Na hora sexta, a escuridão veio sobre toda a terra até a hora nona. ³⁴ Na hora nona, Jesus bradou em alta voz: "Eloí, Eloí, lamá sabactani?", que significa, "Deus meu, Deus meu, por que Me desamparaste?" ³⁵ Alguns dos que estavam ali ouviram e disseram: "Eis que Ele está chamando por Elias".

³⁶ Alguém correu, colocou vinagre em uma esponja, a pôs em uma vara e O deu para beber. O homem disse: "Vejamos se Elias vem tirá-Lo". ³⁷ Então Jesus bradou em alta voz e morreu. ³⁸ E o véu do templo se partiu em dois, de cima a baixo.

³⁹ E o centurião que estava diante Dele, vendo-O expirar desse modo, disse: "Verdadeiramente este Homem era o Filho de Deus". ⁴⁰ Havia também mulheres que observavam à distância. Entre elas estavam Maria Madalena, Maria (a mãe de Tiago, o mais novo, e de José) e Salomé. ⁴¹ Quando Ele estava na Galileia, elas O seguiam e O serviam. Muitas outras mulheres também subiram com Ele para Jerusalém.

⁴² Ao cair da tarde, por ser o Dia de Preparação, isto é, a véspera do Sabbath, ⁴³ José de Arimateia foi até lá. Ele era um respeitado membro do Conselho, que esperava o Reino de Deus. Ele corajosamente foi até Pilatos e pediu pelo corpo de Jesus. ⁴⁴ Pilatos admirou-se de que Jesus já estivesse morto; então chamou o centurião e lhe perguntou se Jesus morrera.

⁴⁵ Quando Pilatos ouviu do centurião que Ele estava morto, cedeu o corpo a José. ⁴⁶ José tinha comprado um lençol de linho. Ele desceu Jesus da cruz, envolveu-O com o lençol, e colocou-O em um sepulcro talhado na rocha. Então, rolou uma pedra sobre a entrada do sepulcro. ⁴⁷ E Maria Madalena e Maria, a mãe de José, viram o lugar onde Jesus fora sepultado.

¹E cumpriu-se a escritura que diz: E foi contado com os malfeitores (os melhores manuscritos mais antigos omitem o versículo 28. Comparar com Lucas 22:37).

Capítulo 16

¹ Ao final do Sabbath, Maria Madalena, Maria, a mãe de Tiago e Salomé compraram especiarias aromáticas para ir ungir o corpo de Jesus. ² No primeiro dia da semana, bem cedo, ao nascer do sol, elas foram até o sepulcro.

³ Elas se perguntavam umas às outras: "Quem rolará para nós a pedra do sepulcro?" ⁴ Quando ergueram os olhos, viram que alguém havia rolado a pedra, que era muito grande.

⁵ Entrando no sepulcro, viram um jovem vestido com manto branco, sentado ao lado direito, e ficaram atônitas. ⁶ Ele lhes disse: "Não temais. Procurais por Jesus, o Nazareno, que foi crucificado. Ele ressuscitou! Não está aqui. Vede o lugar onde O puseram. ⁷ Mas ide dizer a Seus discípulos e a Pedro que Jesus vai adiante de vós para a Galileia. Lá O vereis, como Ele lhes havia dito".

⁸ Elas saíram e correram do sepulcro, estavam tremendo e assombradas. Não disseram nada a ninguém, pois tinham muito medo.

⁹ ¹ Tendo ressuscitado na manhã do primeiro dia da semana, Jesus apareceu primeiro a Maria Madalena, de quem expulsara sete demônios. ¹⁰ Ela saiu e contou o que tinha visto a todos que estiveram com Ele, enquanto esses lamentavam e choravam. ¹¹ Eles ouviram que Jesus estava vivo e que fora visto por ela, mas não creram.

¹² Depois destas coisas, Ele apareceu em uma forma diferente para mais dois deles, enquanto estavam a caminho do campo. ¹³ Eles foram contar ao resto dos discípulos, mas estes não creram.

¹⁴ Depois, Jesus apareceu aos onze, enquanto eles se reclinavam à mesa, e os censurou pela incredulidade e dureza de coração, por não terem crido naqueles que O viram depois de ter ressuscitado. ¹⁵ Então, disse-lhes: "Ide pelo mundo todo, pregai o Evangelho a toda criatura. ¹⁶ Quem crer e for batizado será salvo, e o que não crer será condenado.

¹⁷ Estes sinais acompanharão aqueles que creem: em Meu nome expulsarão demônios, falarão novas línguas, ¹⁸ pegarão serpentes com as mãos e se beberem algo venenoso, isso não os ferirá; imporão as mãos sobre os doentes e eles serão curados".

¹⁹ Depois do Senhor Jesus ter falado com eles, foi levado aos céus e se assentou à direita de Deus. ²⁰ Os discípulos saíram e pregaram por toda parte, enquanto o Senhor trabalhava com eles e confirmava a palavra através dos milagrosos sinais que os seguiam.

¹Os melhores manuscritos antigos omitem os versículos de 9 a 20.

Luke

Capítulo 1

¹ Uma vez que muitos tentaram colocar em ordem uma narrativa sobre os acontecimentos que se realizaram entre nós - ² conforme nos foi transmitido pelos que desde o começo foram testemunhas oculares e servos da mensagem -, ³ então pareceu-me bom também, investigando cuidadosamente o curso de todas essas coisas desde o começo, escrevê-las em sua ordem correta, excelentíssimo Teófilo, ⁴ para que conheças plenamente a verdade sobre as coisas que te foram ensinadas.

⁵ Nos dias de Herodes, rei da Judeia, havia um certo sacerdote, chamado Zacarias, da ordem de Abias. Sua mulher era da linhagem de Arão e chamava-se Isabel. ⁶ Ambos eram justos diante de Deus, andando de modo irrepreensível em todos os mandamentos e exigências do Senhor. ⁷ Mas eles não tinham filhos, porque Isabel era estéril, e também eram ambos muito velhos nesse tempo.

⁸ Aconteceu que Zacarias estava na presença de Deus, cumprindo os seus deveres sacerdotais, conforme a sua linhagem; ⁹ então ele foi escolhido por sorteio, segundo o costume do ofício sacerdotal, para entrar no templo do Senhor e queimar incenso. ¹⁰ Toda a multidão estava orando do lado de fora no momento em que o incenso estava sendo queimado.

¹¹ Então um anjo do Senhor apareceu a ele, de pé, à direita do altar do incenso. ¹² Quando Zacarias o viu, ficou perturbado e o medo veio sobre ele. ¹³ Mas o anjo disse-lhe: “Não temas, Zacarias, porque a tua oração foi ouvida. Tua esposa, Isabel, dará à luz um filho, e tu o chamarás João.

¹⁴ Tu terás alegria e satisfação, e muitas pessoas se regozijarão com o seu nascimento. ¹⁵ Pois ele será grande aos olhos do Senhor; não beberá vinho, nem bebida forte; e, ainda no ventre de sua mãe, ele será cheio do Espírito Santo,

¹⁶ e muitos dentre o povo de Israel se voltarão ao Senhor, seu Deus. ¹⁷ Ele irá à frente do Senhor no espírito e poder de Elias, para voltar o coração dos pais aos seus filhos, e levar os desobedientes a andarem de acordo com a sabedoria dos justos. Ele fará isso a fim de formar um povo preparado para o Senhor”.

¹⁸ Zacarias disse ao anjo: “Como posso ter certeza disso? Pois eu sou um homem velho e minha esposa é de idade avançada”. ¹⁹ O anjo respondeu: “Eu sou Gabriel, permaneço na presença de Deus e fui enviado para falar contigo e trazer-lhe essas boas novas. ²⁰ E eis que ficarás mudo e não poderás falar até o dia em que isso suceder, porque não acreditaste em minhas palavras, que se cumprirão no momento certo”.

²¹ Enquanto as pessoas esperavam por Zacarias, elas se perguntavam por que ele estava há tanto tempo no templo. ²² Quando ele saiu, ele não podia falar com eles, por isso fez movimentos com as mãos para tentar explicar o que aconteceu. Então perceberam que ele teve uma visão enquanto estava lá dentro. ²³ Aconteceu que, quando os dias de seu serviço terminaram, ele voltou para sua casa.

²⁴ Depois desses dias, sua esposa Isabel ficou grávida e se escondeu por cinco meses, dizendo: ²⁵ "Isso foi o que o Senhor fez por mim quando Ele me olhou com favor para tirar a minha vergonha diante das pessoas”.

²⁶ No sexto mês de gestação, o anjo Gabriel foi enviado por Deus para uma cidade da Galileia, chamada Nazaré, ²⁷ a uma virgem que estava noiva de um homem chamado José. José era descendente de Davi, e o nome da virgem era Maria. ²⁸ O anjo apareceu a ela e disse: “Saudações, tu que és grandemente favorecida! O Senhor é contigo!”. ²⁹ Mas ela ficou muito perturbada com essas palavras e se perguntou que tipo de saudação seria essa.

³⁰ E o anjo falou para ela: “Não temas, Maria, pois foste agraciada por Deus. ³¹ Eis que conceberás em teu ventre e darás à luz um filho. Tu lhe porás o nome de Jesus. ³² Ele será grande, será chamado Filho do Altíssimo. O Senhor Deus Lhe dará o trono de Seu pai, Davi. ³³ Ele reinará sobre a casa de Jacó para sempre, e Seu reinado jamais terá fim”.

³⁴ Maria disse ao anjo: “Como isso acontecerá, visto que sou virgem?” ³⁵ O anjo respondeu e disse-lhe: “O Espírito Santo virá sobre ti, e o poder do Altíssimo te envolverá. Por isso, aquele que é Santo nascerá e será chamado O Filho de Deus.

³⁶ Eis que Isabel, tua parente, também concebeu um filho na sua velhice. Ela que era chamada estéril está em seu sexto mês de gestação. ³⁷ Pois nada será impossível para Deus”. ³⁸ Maria disse: "Eis aqui a serva do Senhor. Que isso seja feito em mim de acordo com a Sua palavra". E o anjo a deixou.

³⁹ Naqueles dias, Maria partiu às pressas para uma região montanhosa, para uma cidade da Judeia. ⁴⁰ E ela entrou na casa de Zacarias e saudou Isabel. ⁴¹ Quando isso aconteceu, ouvindo Isabel a saudação de Maria, o bebê em seu ventre saltou, e Isabel ficou cheia do Espírito Santo.

⁴² Ela exclamou em alta voz e disse: “Tu és bendita entre todas as mulheres, e abençoado é o fruto do teu ventre. ⁴³ Como é possível que a mãe do meu Senhor venha me visitar? ⁴⁴ Assim que ouvi sua saudação, o bebê que carrego em meu ventre saltou de alegria. ⁴⁵ E bem-aventurada aquela que creu porque se cumprirão todas as coisas que lhe foram ditas pelo Senhor".

⁴⁶ Maria disse: “Minha alma exalta ao Senhor, ⁴⁷ e o meu espírito muito se alegrou em Deus, meu Salvador.

⁴⁸ Pois Ele olhou para minha humilde condição de serva. A partir de agora, todas as gerações me chamarão bem-aventurada, ⁴⁹ porque o Poderoso fez grandes coisas por mim, e Seu nome é Santo.

⁵⁰ Sua misericórdia estende-se de geração em geração sobre aqueles que O temem. ⁵¹ Ele demonstrou força com seu braço, dispersou aqueles que eram orgulhosos nos pensamentos dos seus corações.

⁵² Derrubou os príncipes dos seus tronos e exaltou as pessoas humildes. ⁵³ Encheu de bens os famintos e despediu os ricos sem dar nada a eles.

⁵⁴ Ajudou a Israel, seu servo, em lembrança da Sua misericórdia ⁵⁵ - como Ele disse aos nossos pais - em favor de Abraão e sua descendência para sempre!”.

⁵⁶ Maria permaneceu com Isabel cerca de três meses e depois voltou para sua casa. ⁵⁷ Quando chegou a hora de Isabel dar à luz seu bebê, ela teve um menino. ⁵⁸ Seus vizinhos e parentes ouviram que o Senhor multiplicou Sua misericórdia para com ela e se alegraram com ela.

⁵⁹ Então, aconteceu que, no oitavo dia, eles vieram para circuncidar o bebê. Eles queriam chamá-lo de Zacarias, como seu pai. ⁶⁰ Mas sua mãe tomou a palavra e disse: “Não, ele se chamará João”. ⁶¹ Disseram a ela: “Não há ninguém entre vossos parentes que é chamado por esse nome”.

⁶² Eles gesticularam ao pai para descobrir como queria que ele fosse chamado. ⁶³ Seu pai pediu uma pequena tábua e escreveu: “Seu nome é João”. Todos ficaram admirados com isso.

⁶⁴ Imediatamente, sua boca se abriu, sua língua se soltou, e ele começou a falar, louvando a Deus. ⁶⁵ Então veio temor sobre todos os que viviam ao seu redor, e tudo o que aconteceu espalhou-se por toda a área das colinas da Judeia. ⁶⁶ Todos aqueles que ouviram isso, ficaram pasmos em seus corações, dizendo: “O que virá a ser esse menino?”. Pois a mão do Senhor estava sobre ele.

⁶⁷ Seu pai, Zacarias, estava cheio do Espírito Santo e profetizou, dizendo: ⁶⁸ “Bendito seja o Senhor, o Deus de Israel, porque visitou e libertou o Seu povo.

⁶⁹ Ele levantou para nós um chifre de salvação na casa de Davi, seu servo, ⁷⁰ como prometera há muito tempo, através de Seus santos profetas. ⁷¹ Ele nos trará salvação de nossos inimigos e da mão de todos os que nos odeiam.

⁷² Ele fará isso para mostrar a Sua misericórdia para com os nossos pais e lembrar-Se da Sua santa aliança. ⁷³ Essa aliança é o juramento que Ele fez a Abraão, nosso pai, ⁷⁴ para nos libertar das mãos dos nossos inimigos e para que possamos servi-Lo sem medo, ⁷⁵ em santidade e justiça, perante Ele, todos os nossos dias.

⁷⁶ Sim, e tu, menino, serás chamado profeta do Altíssimo, porque tu irás à frente do Senhor, para preparar as pessoas para a Sua vinda, ⁷⁷ e fazer conhecida a salvação ao Seu povo através do perdão dos seus pecados.

⁷⁸ Isso acontecerá por causa da terna misericórdia do nosso Deus, por meio da qual a Aurora do alto virá até nós, ⁷⁹ para brilhar sobre aqueles que estão em trevas e na sombra da morte; Ele fará isso para guiar nossos passos no caminho da paz”.

⁸⁰ Então o menino cresceu e se fortaleceu em espírito. Ele viveu no deserto, até que apareceu publicamente ao povo de Israel.

Capítulo 2

¹ Naqueles dias, o Imperador César Augusto enviou um decreto ordenando que houvesse um censo de todas as pessoas que viviam no mundo habitado. ² Isto foi feito, pela primeira vez, quando Quirino era o governador da Síria. ³ Então, todos foram à sua cidade natal para serem registrados no censo.

⁴ José também partiu da cidade de Nazaré, na Galileia, para Belém, na Judeia, conhecida como cidade de Davi, pois ele era descendente do Rei Davi. ⁵ José foi com sua noiva Maria para se registrarem. Ela estava grávida.

⁶ Aconteceu que, chegando em Belém, era o momento de Maria ter o Bebê. ⁷ Então ela deu à luz o seu filho, seu Primogênito, e ela O envolveu em panos. Depois, ela O colocou em uma manjedoura, pois não havia lugar para eles na hospedaria.

⁸ Naquela mesma região alguns pastores estavam no campo, cuidando de suas ovelhas à noite. ⁹ Um anjo do Senhor apareceu para eles e a glória do Senhor brilhava em torno deles; e todos ficaram tomados de grande temor.

¹⁰ Então, o anjo lhes disse: "Não temais, pois vos trago boas novas de grande alegria para todo o povo. ¹¹ Hoje, na cidade de Davi, vos nasceu o Salvador. Ele é Cristo, o Senhor! ¹² Ireis reconhecê-Lo através deste sinal: Ele estará envolvido em panos e deitado em uma manjedoura".

¹³ De repente, uma grande quantidade de anjos, vindos do céu, apareceu e se juntou ao outro anjo louvando a Deus e dizendo: ¹⁴ “Glória a Deus nas alturas e que haja paz na terra entre o povo o qual Deus quer bem”.

¹⁵ Após os anjos voltarem ao céu os pastores disseram entre si: “Vamos imediatamente para Belém ver esta coisa maravilhosa que aconteceu e o Senhor nos permitiu saber”. ¹⁶ Foram apressadamente e lá encontraram José e Maria em um estábulo. E viram o Bebê deitado na manjedoura.

¹⁷ Após verem isso, eles contaram às pessoas o que foi dito a eles sobre o Bebê. ¹⁸ Todos os que se encontraram com os pastores ficaram maravilhados com o que ouviam. ¹⁹ Mas, Maria guardava tudo o que havia ouvido e conservava isso em seu coração. ²⁰ Os pastores retornaram glorificando e louvando a Deus, pois tudo o que ouviram e viram era exatamente como o anjo lhes dissera.

²¹ No oitavo dia, era chegado o tempo de circuncidar o Bebê. Eles puseram-lhe o nome Jesus, pois foi assim que o anjo O chamou, antes que Ele fosse concebido no ventre.

²² Quando o número de dias da purificação deles se passaram, de acordo com a Lei de Moisés, José e Maria levaram o Bebê até o templo, em Jerusalém, para apresentá-Lo ao Senhor. ²³ Pois estava escrito na Lei do Senhor: “Todo menino nascido primogênito deve ser santificado ao Senhor”. ²⁴ De acordo com a Lei do Senhor, eles também deveriam ofertar “duas rolinhas ou dois pombinhos” como sacrifício.

²⁵ Eis que havia em Jerusalém um homem chamado Simeão. Ele era justo e piedoso. Ele estava esperando a consolação de Israel e o Espírito Santo estava sobre ele. ²⁶ O Espírito Santo revelou a ele que não morreria antes que visse o Cristo prometido por Deus.

²⁷ Guiado pelo Espírito, Simeão entrou no templo. José e Maria trouxeram o Bebê, Jesus, para cumprir os costumes requeridos na Lei. ²⁸ Simeão recebeu Jesus em Seus braços e louvou a Deus dizendo: ²⁹ “Senhor, permita agora que teu servo vá em paz, pois se cumpriu a Tua promessa.

³⁰ Pois meus olhos viram a Tua salvação, ³¹ a qual Tu preparaste diante de todos os povos; ³² Luz para revelação aos gentios, e para glória do Teu povo de Israel”.

³³ Os pais do Bebê estavam maravilhados com as coisas que eram ditas a respeito Dele. ³⁴ Simeão os abençoou e disse a Maria, Sua mãe: “Eis que este Bebê está destinado tanto para ruína como para levantamento de muitos em Israel e para ser alvo de contradição ³⁵ (também uma espada traspassará a tua própria alma), de modo que os pensamentos de muitos corações sejam revelados.

³⁶ Uma profetisa chamada Ana também estava lá. Ela era filha de Fanuel, da tribo de Aser. Ela era idosa, e viveu com seu marido por sete anos desde a sua virgindade, ³⁷ e depois tornou-se viúva e assim permaneceu por oitenta e quatro anos. Ela nunca deixou o templo, adorando a Deus continuamente com jejum e oração, noite e dia. ³⁸ Naquele mesmo momento, ela começou a agradecer a Deus e falou sobre o menino a todos que estavam esperando pela redenção de Jerusalém.

³⁹ Quando eles terminaram de fazer tudo o que deviam de acordo com a Lei do Senhor, eles retornaram à Galileia, para sua própria cidade, Nazaré. ⁴⁰ E o Menino crescia em estatura, tornando-se forte, enchendo-Se de sabedoria, e a graça de Deus estava sobre Ele.

⁴¹ Seus pais iam todos os anos a Jerusalém, para a Festa da Páscoa. ⁴² Quando Jesus completou doze anos, eles foram para a festa, como era de costume. ⁴³ Terminados os dias de celebração, ao regressarem, permaneceu o menino Jesus em Jerusalém e Seus pais não O souberam, ⁴⁴ pois pensaram que estava na caravana que viajava com eles. Após um dia inteiro de jornada, eles começaram a procurá-Lo entre os familiares e amigos.

⁴⁵ Quando eles não O encontraram, eles voltaram para Jerusalém e começaram a procurá-Lo por lá. ⁴⁶ Após três dias, eles O encontraram no templo, sentado entre os mestres, ouvindo-os com atenção e fazendo perguntas. ⁴⁷ Todos os que O ouviam ficavam maravilhados com Seu entendimento e com Suas respostas.

⁴⁸ Quando eles viram Jesus, ficaram atônitos. Então Sua mãe disse-Lle: “Por que fizeste assim conosco? Eis que Teu pai e eu estivemos aflitos procurando por Ti”. ⁴⁹ E Jesus respondeu: “Por que vós estáveis procurando por Mim? Vós não sabíeis que Eu devo estar na casa do Meu Pai?”. ⁵⁰ Mas eles não entenderam o que Jesus queria dizer com essas palavras.

⁵¹ Então Jesus voltou com Seus pais para Nazaré, e era submisso a eles e Sua mãe guardava todas essas coisas em Seu coração. ⁵² Mas Jesus continuava a crescer em sabedoria, estatura e graça para com Deus e as pessoas.

Capítulo 3

¹ No décimo quinto ano do reinado de Tibério César, enquanto Pôncio Pilatos era governador da Judeia, e Herodes, era tetrarca da Galileia, e seu irmão Filipe, era tetrarca da região de Itureia, e Traconites e Lisânias, tetrarca de Abilene, ² durante o tempo dos sumos sacerdotes Anás e Caifás, a palavra de Deus veio a João, filho de Zacarias, no deserto.

³ Ele viajou por toda a região em derredor do Jordão, pregando o batismo do arrependimento, para o perdão dos pecados.

⁴ Como está escrito no livro das palavras do profeta Isaías: “Voz do que clama no deserto: 'Preparai o caminho do Senhor, endireitai as Suas veredas.

⁵ Todo vale será enchido, toda montanha e colina serão abaixadas, as estradas tortuosas serão endireitadas, e os caminhos acidentados serão feitos planos; ⁶ e todos verão a salvação de Deus'”.

⁷ Então João disse para a grande multidão que vinha para ser batizada por ele: “Vós sois raça de víboras! Quem vos alertou para fugir da ira que está chegando?

⁸ Portanto produzi frutos dignos de arrependimento e não comeceis a dizer entre vós: 'Nós temos Abraão por nosso pai!', porque eu vos digo que Deus pode suscitar filhos a Abraão até mesmo destas pedras.

⁹ O machado já está posto junto à raiz das árvores. Pois toda árvore que não produz bom fruto é cortada e lançada no fogo”.

¹⁰ E as multidões perguntavam-lhe, dizendo: “O que devemos fazer então?” ¹¹ Ele respondeu, dizendo: “Se alguém tem duas túnicas, dê uma delas àquele que não tem nenhuma e o que tem alimentos, faça o mesmo”.

¹² Então alguns coletores de impostos, que também vieram para ser batizados, perguntaram: “Mestre, o que devemos fazer?” ¹³ E João disse-lhes: “Não coleteis mais dinheiro do que vos foi ordenado”.

¹⁴ Alguns soldados também lhe perguntaram, dizendo: “E quanto a nós? O que devemos fazer?” E Ele respondeu: “Não tomeis dinheiro das pessoas à força, nem acuseis alguém falsamente. Contentai-vos com o vosso salário”.

¹⁵ Como o povo estava avidamente esperando a chegada do Cristo, todos estavam imaginando em seus corações que João poderia ser o Cristo. ¹⁶ João respondeu-lhes, dizendo: “Quanto a mim, eu vos batizo com água, mas virá Aquele que é mais poderoso do que eu e eu não sou digno nem de desatar as amarras de Suas sandálias. Ele vos batizará com o Espírito Santo e com fogo.

¹⁷ Ele tem em Sua mão uma pá para limpar cuidadosamente a Sua eira e para ajuntar o trigo em Seu celeiro. Mas Ele queimará a palha com fogo que nunca pode apagar.”

¹⁸ Com muitas outras advertências, João pregava as boas novas ao povo. ¹⁹ E repreendeu Herodes, o tetrarca, por ter se casado com a mulher do seu irmão, Herodias, por muitas outras coisas más que ele havia feito, ²⁰ e ainda acrescentou a todos elas, o de prender João na prisão.

²¹ Sucedeu então que enquanto as pessoas eram batizadas por João, Jesus também foi batizado, ²² e enquanto Ele orava o céu se abriu; e o Espírito Santo desceu até Ele em forma corpórea, como uma pomba. E ouviu-se uma voz do céu: “Tu és o meu Filho amado, em Ti me comprazo”.

²³ Quando Jesus começou o Seu ministério, Ele tinha trinta anos. Ele era filho de José (como se pensava), filho de Eli, ²⁴ filho de Matate, filho de Levi, filho de Melqui, filho de Janai, filho de José,

²⁵ filho de Matatias, filho de Amós, filho de Naum, filho de Esli, filho de Nagai, ²⁶ filho de Maate, filho de Matatias, filho de Semei, filho de Joseque, filho de Jodá,

²⁷ filho de Joanã, filho de Resa, filho de Zorobabel, filho de Salatiel, filho de Neri, ²⁸ filho de Melqui, filho de Adi, filho de Cosã, filho de Elmodã, filho de Er, ²⁹ filho de Josué, filho de Eliézer, filho de Jorim, filho Matate, filho de Levi,

³⁰ filho de Simeão, filho de Judá, filho de José, filho de Jonã, filho de Eliaquim, ³¹ filho de Meleá, filho de Mená, filho de Matatá, filho de Natã, filho de Davi, ³² filho de Jessé, filho de Obede, filho de Boaz, filho de Salá, filho de Nasom,

³³ filho de Aminadabe, filho de Admim, filho de Arni, filho de Esrom, filho de Farés, filho de Judá, ³⁴ filho de Jacó, filho de Isaque, filho de Abraão, filho de Terá, filho de Naor, ³⁵ filho de Seruque, filho de Ragaú, filho de Faleque, filho de Eber, filho de Salá,

³⁶ filho de Cainã, filho de Arfaxade, filho de Sem, filho de Noé, filho de Lameque, ³⁷ filho de Matusalém, filho de Enoque, filho de Jarede, filho de Maleleel, filho de Cainã, ³⁸ filho de Enos, filho de Sete, filho de Adão, filho de Deus.

Capítulo 4

¹ Então Jesus, cheio do Espírito Santo, retornou do rio Jordão e foi guiado pelo Espírito ao deserto. ² Por quarenta dias, Ele foi tentado pelo diabo. Durante esses dias, Jesus não comeu nada e no final Ele teve fome.

³ O diabo disse-Lhe: “Se Tu és o Filho de Deus, ordene que esta pedra se transforme em pão”. ⁴ E Jesus respondeu: “Está escrito, 'nem só de pão viverá o homem'”.

⁵ Então o diabo O levou até um lugar alto, mostrou-Lhe todos os reinos do mundo ⁶ e disse: “Eu Te darei autoridade para dominar sobre todos estes reinos, com todo o seu esplendor. Pois a mim foram dados, e eu posso dá-los a quem eu quiser. ⁷ Portanto, se Te prostrares diante de mim e me adorares, tudo isto será Teu”.

⁸ Mas Jesus respondeu, dizendo: “Está escrito: 'adorarás somente o Senhor teu Deus e somente a Ele prestarás culto'”.

⁹ Em seguida, o diabo levou Jesus a Jerusalém, colocou-O no ponto mais alto do templo, e disse: “Se Tu és o Filho de Deus, se jogue daqui. ¹⁰ Pois está escrito: 'Ele dará ordem aos Seus anjos para cuidar de Ti e protegê-Lo.' ¹¹ E também disse: 'Eles vão Te segurar com as suas mãos para que os Teus pés não tropecem em nenhuma pedra'".

¹² Jesus respondeu dizendo: “está escrito, 'não tentarás o Senhor teu Deus'”. ¹³ E, tendo esgotado toda sorte de tentação, o diabo afastou-se Dele até o tempo oportuno.

¹⁴ Então Jesus retornou para a Galiléia, pelo poder do Espírito, e notícias sobre Ele se espalhavam por toda a região circunvizinha. ¹⁵ E ensinava nas sinagogas, e todas as pessoas O glorificavam.

¹⁶ Ele veio a Nazaré a cidade onde cresceu. Como de costume, Ele entrou na sinagoga, no dia de sábado, e levantou-Se para ler as Escrituras. ¹⁷ E foi-Lhe entregue o rolo do profeta Isaías, e, desenrolando-o, encontrou o lugar em que estava escrito:

¹⁸ “o Espírito do Senhor está sobre Mim, pois Ele Me ungiu para pregar boas novas aos pobres. Ele Me enviou para proclamar liberdade aos cativos e restaurar a vista dos cegos, para libertar os oprimidos ¹⁹ e proclamar o ano favorável do Senhor”.

²⁰ Então Ele fechou o rolo, devolveu ao assistente da sinagoga e Se sentou. Todos na sinagoga estavam com os olhos fixos Nele. ²¹ Ele começou falando-lhes: “hoje se cumpriu a Escritura que acabais de ouvir”. ²² Cada um testemunhou o que Ele disse, e todos eles estavam maravilhados com as palavras graciosas que saíam de Sua boca. Eles diziam: “não é este o filho de José?”.

²³ Jesus disse-lhes: “certamente Me direis este provérbio: 'médico, cura a ti mesmo. Faz em tua terra tudo o que ouvimos que fizeste em Cafarnaum'”. ²⁴ E Ele disse: “asseguro-vos que nenhum profeta é bem recebido em sua própria terra.

²⁵ Mas em verdade vos digo que havia muitas viúvas em Israel na época de Elias, quando por três anos e meio não choveu, e houve grande fome sobre toda a terra. ²⁶ Mas Elias não foi enviado a nenhuma delas, somente a uma viúva que vivia em Sarepta, perto da cidade de Sidom. ²⁷ No tempo do profeta Eliseu, também havia muitos leprosos em Israel, mas somente um foi curado, Naamã, o sírio”.

²⁸ Todos na sinagoga se enfureceram quando ouviram essas coisas. ²⁹ Eles se levantaram, O expulsaram para fora da cidade e O conduziram para o pico do monte sobre o qual a cidade deles estava edificada, a fim de lançá-Lo abaixo. ³⁰ Mas Ele caminhou entre eles e seguiu o Seu caminho.

³¹ Então Ele desceu a Cafarnaum, uma cidade na Galiléia. Aos sábados Ele estava ensinando as pessoas na sinagoga. ³² Elas ficavam atônitas com o ensino Dele, pois falava-lhes com autoridade.

³³ Naqueles dias, na sinagoga, havia um homem que era controlado pelo espírito de um demônio imundo. Ele gritava fortemente: ³⁴ “O que temos contigo, Jesus de Nazaré? Tu vieste para nos destruir? Eu sei quem Tu és, o Santo de Deus!”.

³⁵ Jesus repreendeu o demônio, dizendo: “Cala-te e sai dele!”. O demônio arremessou o homem no meio deles e saiu sem causar-lhe nenhum dano. ³⁶ E o povo ficou espantado e, uns com os outros, conversavam: “Que palavras são essas? Com poder e autoridade Ele ordena aos espíritos imundos e eles saem”. ³⁷ E notícias sobre Ele começaram a se espalhar em todos os lugares da região.

³⁸ Então Jesus deixou a sinagoga e foi até a casa de Simão. A sogra de Simão estava sofrendo com uma febre muito alta, e eles suplicavam-Lhe em favor dela. ³⁹ Jesus se inclinou sobre ela e repreendeu a febre, e essa a deixou. No mesmo momento, ela levantou-se e começou a servi-los.

⁴⁰ Quando o Sol estava se pondo, as pessoas trouxeram a Jesus todos os que estavam enfermos, com vários tipos de doenças. Jesus, impondo as mãos sobre cada um, os curava. ⁴¹ E demônios também saíram de muitos deles, gritando e dizendo: “Tu és o Filho de Deus!”. E Jesus repreendia os demônios, não os deixando falar, porque eles sabiam que Ele era o Cristo.

⁴² Quando o dia raiou, Jesus saiu para um lugar deserto para orar. E as multidões o procuravam e vieram até o lugar onde Ele estava. E tentaram impedi-Lo de ir embora. ⁴³ Mas Jesus lhes disse: “Eu tenho que pregar as boas novas do Reino de Deus para muitas outras cidades, pois é por essa razão que Eu fui enviado”. ⁴⁴ Então Ele continuou pregando nas sinagogas em toda a província da Judeia.

Capítulo 5

¹ E aconteceu que, certo dia, a multidão se comprimia ao redor de Jesus para ouvir a palavra de Deus, e Ele estava em pé junto ao lago de Genesaré. ² Ele viu dois barcos à beira do lago, os pescadores haviam desembarcado e lavavam as suas redes. ³ Então Ele subiu em um dos barcos, que era de Simão, e pediu-lhe para afastar um pouco o barco da praia. Jesus assentou-se e, do barco, ensinava às multidões.

⁴ Quando terminou de ensinar, Jesus disse a Simão: “eva o barco às águas profundas e lançai as vossas redes”. ⁵ E Simão respondeu: “Mestre, trabalhamos a noite inteira e não pescamos nada, mas por causa da Tua palavra baixarei as redes”. ⁶ Depois de fazerem isso, eles pegaram uma grande quantidade de peixes, e as redes começaram a se rasgar. ⁷ Então eles acenaram aos seus companheiros no outro barco para virem ajudá-los. Eles encheram tanto os dois barcos que chegaram a ponto de quase afundarem.

⁸ Quando Simão Pedro viu isso, ele se prostrou aos pés de Jesus, dizendo: “afasta-Te de mim, porque sou um pecador, Senhor”. ⁹ Pois ele e todos os que estavam consigo ficaram assombrados com a pesca que haviam feito. ¹⁰ Semelhantemente, também, Tiago e João, filhos de Zebedeu, que eram sócios de Simão. Então Jesus disse a Simão: “Não temas, pois a partir de agora tu serás pescador de homens”. ¹¹ Quando eles trouxeram os barcos para a praia, deixaram tudo e seguiram a Jesus.

¹² Aconteceu que, enquanto Ele estava em uma das cidades, havia um homem cheio de lepra. Quando ele viu Jesus, prostrou-se, tocando o rosto no solo, e implorou-lhe, dizendo: “Senhor, se esta é a Tua vontade, podes purificar-me.” ¹³ E Jesus estendeu as suas mãos e o tocou, dizendo: “Esta é a minha vontade. Sê purificado!” E imediatamente a lepra o deixou.

¹⁴ Ele o instruiu para não dizer a ninguém, mas falou-lhe: “Segue teu caminho, mostra-te ao sacerdote e oferece um sacrifício por tua purificação, de acordo com o que Moisés ordenou, para testemunhar-lhes".

¹⁵ Porém, notícias sobre Ele espalharam-se ainda mais, e multidões de pessoas vinham para ouvir Jesus ensinar e para serem curadas de suas doenças. ¹⁶ E com frequência Ele se retirava para um lugar solitário e orava.

¹⁷ Aconteceu que, certo dia, Jesus estava ensinando, e havia fariseus e mestres da Lei sentados perto Dele. Eles vieram de diversas aldeias das regiões da Judeia e da Galileia e também da cidade de Jerusalém. E o poder do Senhor estava com Ele para curar.

¹⁸ Então alguns homens vieram carregando em um leito um homem que era paralítico. Eles procuravam uma maneira de trazê-lo para dentro do local, a fim de deitá-lo em frente a Jesus. ¹⁹ Mas, por causa da multidão, eles não conseguiram. Então subiram ao telhado e, por entre as telhas, desceram o homem em seu leito, no meio das pessoas, exatamente na frente de Jesus.

²⁰ Vendo-lhes a fé, Jesus disse: “Homem, os teus pecados estão perdoados”. ²¹ Os escribas e fariseus começaram a questionar, dizendo: “Quem é este para dizer essas blasfêmias? Somente Deus pode perdoar pecados”.

²² Mas Jesus, percebendo o que eles estavam pensando, respondeu e disse-lhes: “Por que estais questionando isso em vossos corações? ²³ O que é mais fácil dizer: 'Os teus pecados estão perdoados.' ou 'Levanta-te e anda?' ²⁴ Porém, para que saibais que o Filho do Homem tem autoridade na terra para perdoar pecados, eu te digo: 'Levanta-te, pega o teu leito e vai para a tua casa".

²⁵ Imediatamente ele se levantou perante eles, pegou o leito em que vivia deitado e foi para a sua casa glorificando a Deus. ²⁶ Todos ficaram maravilhados, glorificavam a Deus e, cheios de temor, diziam: “Hoje nós vimos coisas extraordinárias”.

²⁷ Depois disso, Jesus saiu de lá e viu um coletor de impostos chamado Levi assentado no local de coleta de impostos. Então Jesus lhe disse: “Segue-Me". ²⁸ Levi deixou tudo, levantou-se e O seguiu.

²⁹ Então Levi preparou um grande banquete para Jesus em sua casa. Muitos coletores de impostos e outras pessoas estavam reclinados à mesa, comendo com eles. ³⁰ E os fariseus e escribas se queixavam aos discípulos de Jesus, dizendo: “Por que vós comeis e bebeis com coletores de impostos e outros pecadores?”. ³¹ Respondeu-lhes Jesus: “Aqueles que têm saúde não precisam de médico, somente os doentes. ³² Eu não vim para chamar os justos, mas para chamar os pecadores ao arrependimento".

³³ Eles Lhe disseram: “Os discípulos de João estão sempre jejuando e orando, os discípulos dos fariseus também. Porém os teus discípulos bebem e comem”. ³⁴ Jesus disse-lhes: “Pode alguém fazer os convidados de um casamento jejuarem enquanto o noivo está com eles? ³⁵ Mas chegarão dias em que o noivo lhes será tirado, e naqueles dias eles jejuarão".

³⁶ Então Jesus contou-lhes uma parábola: “Ninguém tira remendo de uma roupa nova para consertar uma roupa velha. Pois, se fizer isso, a roupa nova ficará rasgada, e o remendo não combinará com a roupa velha.

³⁷ Ninguém põe vinho novo em odres velhos. Se assim o fizer, o vinho novo romperá os odres e se derramará, e os odres serão destruídos. ³⁸ Mas o vinho novo deve ser colocado em odres novos. ³⁹ Ninguém, após tomar vinho velho, deseja tomar o vinho novo, pois diz: “O velho é que é bom!”.

Capítulo 6

¹ E aconteceu que em um dia de Sábado, Jesus estava atravessando campos de cereais e Seus discípulos iam colhendo espigas, debulhando com as mãos e comendo os grãos. ² Então alguns dos fariseus disseram: “Por que vós estais fazendo algo que não é lícito no dia de Sábado?”

³ Jesus respondendo, disse-lhes: “Nunca lestes o que Davi fez quando ele e os homens que estavam com ele tiveram fome? ⁴ Ele entrou na casa de Deus, pegou o pão da proposição, comeu e também deu aos que estavam com ele. E os sacerdotes eram os únicos que tinham permissão para comer este pão. ⁵ E Jesus disse-lhes: “O Filho do Homem é Senhor do Sábado”.

⁶ E aconteceu que, em outro Sábado, Jesus foi até a sinagoga e ensinava as pessoas. E estava ali um homem com a mão direita atrofiada. ⁷ E os escribas e fariseus observavam Jesus de perto, para ver se Ele iria curar alguém no dia de Sábado, pois procuravam um motivo para acusá-Lo. ⁸ Mas Jesus, sabendo o que eles estavam pensando, disse ao homem da mão atrofiada: “Levanta-te e fica aqui no meio de todos”. Então o homem se levantou e permaneceu em pé.

⁹ Então Jesus disse-lhes: “Eu vos pergunto: No Sábado é permitido fazer o bem ou fazer o mal? Salvar uma vida ou destruí-la?” ¹⁰ Então Ele olhou ao redor de todos eles e disse ao homem: “Estende a tua mão". Ele fez isto, e sua mão foi restaurada. ¹¹ Mas eles ficaram cheios de fúria, e discutiam entre si sobre o que eles poderiam fazer a Jesus.

¹² Aconteceu naqueles dias, que Jesus foi para uma montanha orar. Durante toda a noite, Ele continuou orando a Deus. ¹³ Quando o dia amanheceu, Ele chamou os Seus discípulos, escolheu doze deles, os quais Ele também chamou de apóstolos.

¹⁴ Os nomes desses apóstolos eram: Simão, a quem Ele chamou de Pedro, e seu irmão André; Tiago; João; Filipe; Bartolomeu; ¹⁵ Mateus; Tomé; Tiago, filho de Alfeu; Simão, que era chamado Zelote; ¹⁶ Judas, filho de Tiago; e Judas Iscariotes, que tornou-se o traidor.

¹⁷ Então Jesus desceu com eles da montanha e permaneceram em um lugar plano, onde havia uma grande multidão de Seus discípulos, e também muitas pessoas da Judeia e Jerusalém, e do litoral de Tiro e Sidom. ¹⁸ Eles tinham vindo para ouvi-Lo e serem curados de suas enfermidades. Pessoas que eram atormentadas por espíritos imundos também eram curadas. ¹⁹ E toda a multidão tentava tocar Jesus, porque dEle saía poder, e Ele curava todos.

²⁰ Então erguendo os olhos para os Seus discípulos, disse-lhes: “Benditos sois vós, os pobres, pois vosso é o Reino de Deus. ²¹ Benditos vós que agora tendes fome, pois sereis saciados. Benditos vós que agora chorais, pois rireis.

²² Benditos sereis quando as pessoas vos odiarem e vos excluírem, e quando vos insultarem e rejeitarem o vosso nome como mau, por causa do Filho do Homem. ²³ Alegrai-vos naquele dia e pulai de alegria, certamente vós tereis uma grande recompensa no céu, pois os antepassados deles trataram os profetas da mesma forma.

²⁴ Mas, ai de vós que sois ricos! Pois já recebestes o vosso conforto. ²⁵ Ai de vós, que estais saciados agora! Pois vós tereis fome. Ai de vós, que estais sorrindo agora. Pois vós estareis enlutados e chorareis.

²⁶ Ai de vós, quando todos vos bendisserem! Pois os antepassados deles trataram os falsos profetas da mesma forma.

²⁷ Eu porém vos digo a vós que me ouvis: amai os vossos inimigos e fazei o bem aos que vos odeiam. ²⁸ Bendizei aqueles que vos amaldiçoam e orai por aqueles que vos caluniam.

²⁹ Se alguém te der um tapa na face, ofereça a ele também o outro lado. Se alguém tomar a tua capa, não recuse a ele a tua túnica. ³⁰ Se alguém te pedir algo, dê a ele. Se alguém tomar algo que te pertença, não peça-lhe que devolva.

³¹ Assim como quereis que vos façam, fazei o mesmo a eles. ³² Se amais somente aqueles que vos amam, que recompensa tereis? Pois até mesmo os pecadores amam os que os amam. ³³ Se vós fizerdes o bem somente àqueles que vos fazem o bem, que recompensa tereis? Pois até mesmo os pecadores fazem isso. ³⁴ Se vós emprestais somente àqueles que vós sabeis que devolverão, que mérito tereis? Até mesmo pecadores emprestam aos pecadores e esperam que eles devolvam a mesma quantia emprestada.

³⁵ Mas, amai os vossos inimigos, fazei-lhes o bem e emprestai sem nunca esperar que vos devolvam, e grande será vossa recompensa. Sereis filhos do Altíssimo, pois Ele é bondoso para com os ingratos e maus. ³⁶ Sede misericordiosos, assim como o vosso Pai é misericordioso.

³⁷ Não julgueis, e não sereis julgados. Não condeneis, e não sereis condenados. Perdoai, e sereis perdoados.

³⁸ Dai aos outros e vos será dado. Recebereis uma medida generosa, calcada, recalcada, sacudida e transbordante. Pois, com a medida que medirdes, sereis medidos de volta.

³⁹ Então Ele também contou-lhes uma parábola: “Pode um cego guiar outro cego? Se ele o fizer, não cairão ambos em um buraco? ⁴⁰ Um discípulo não é maior que o seu mestre, mas quando estiver completamente treinado será como o seu mestre.

⁴¹ E porque vês o cisco que está no olho do teu irmão, mas não percebes a trave que está no teu próprio olho? ⁴² Como podes dizer ao teu irmão: 'Irmão, deixa-me tirar o cisco que está no teu olho', quando tu mesmo não vês a trave que está no teu próprio olho? Hipócrita! Primeiro tira a trave do teu olho, então verás claramente para poder tirar o cisco que está no olho do teu irmão.

⁴³ Não há árvore boa que produza mau fruto, nem árvore ruim que produza bom fruto. ⁴⁴ Pois cada árvore é conhecida pelo fruto que produz. Ninguém pode colher figos de espinheiros, nem uvas de sarça.

⁴⁵ O homem bom, do bom tesouro do seu coração tira o que é bom, mas o mau, da maldade do seu coração traz para fora o que é mau; porque a boca fala daquilo de que está cheio o coração.

⁴⁶ E porque Me chamais: 'Senhor, Senhor' e não obedeceis às coisas que digo? ⁴⁷ Toda pessoa que vem a Mim e ouve minhas palavras e as obedecem, Eu direi como ele é: ⁴⁸ 'ele é como um homem que, ao construir a sua casa, cavou fundo no solo e a alicerçou sobre a rocha. Quando a tempestade veio, as águas do rio bateram com ímpeto contra a casa, mas ela não se abalou, pois foi bem construída.

⁴⁹ Mas aquele que ouve as minhas palavras e não as obedece, é como um homem que construiu a sua casa sobre a terra, sem alicerce. Quando as águas do rio bateram com ímpeto contra a casa, ela imediatamente desabou, e a sua ruína foi completa'".

Capítulo 7

¹ Quando Jesus terminou de transmitir aos ouvidos do povo todas essas palavras, entrou em Cafarnaum.

² Um servo, de um centurião, muito querido por ele, estava muito doente e prestes a morrer. ³ E tendo ouvido falar sobre Jesus, o centurião enviou até Ele alguns anciãos dos judeus pedindo que Ele viesse e salvasse seu servo. ⁴ Quando eles chegaram até Jesus, pediram-Lhe insistentemente: “Ele é digno de que lhe faças isso, ⁵ pois ama nossa nação, e é quem construiu a sinagoga para nós”.

⁶ Então Jesus seguiu em Seu caminho com eles. Estando não muito longe da casa, o centurião enviou os seus amigos para dizer-Lhe: “Senhor, não te incomodes, pois não sou digno de que entres em minha casa. ⁷ Por essa razão não me considero digno de ir ao Teu encontro; dize porém apenas uma palavra e meu servo será curado. ⁸ Pois também estou sob autoridade, e tenho soldados sob minhas ordens. Eu digo a este: “Ide” e ele vai; e digo a outro “Vinde” e ele vem; Eu digo ao meu servo: “Fazei isto” e ele o faz.

⁹ Quando Jesus ouviu isso, Ele ficou admirado, e virando-se para a multidão que O seguia, disse: “Eu vos digo que nem mesmo em Israel encontrei alguém com tamanha fé”. ¹⁰ Então aqueles que foram enviados a Ele retornaram para a casa e encontraram o servo saudável.

¹¹ Depois disso, aconteceu que Jesus estava viajando para uma cidade chamada Naim. Os Seus discípulos iam com Ele, juntamente com uma grande multidão. ¹² Quando aproximou-se do portão da cidade, um homem morto estava sendo carregado, o único filho de sua mãe. Ela era uma viúva, e uma multidão numerosa da cidade estava com ela. ¹³ Quando o Senhor a viu, Ele se compadeceu dela, e disse-lhe: “Não chores!” ¹⁴ Então Ele chegou perto, tocou a armação de madeira que levava o corpo, e aqueles que a carregavam pararam, e Ele disse: “Jovem, Eu te digo, levanta-te”. ¹⁵ O homem que estava morto se levantou e começou a falar. Então Jesus o entregou para sua mãe.

¹⁶ E sobreveio temor sobre todos e eles glorificavam a Deus dizendo: “Um grande profeta surgiu entre nós” e “Deus tem olhado para o Seu povo”. ¹⁷ Essas notícias sobre Jesus se espalharam por toda a Judeia e por todas as regiões vizinhas.

¹⁸ Os discípulos de João contaram todas estas coisas para ele. ¹⁹ Então João chamou dois de seus discípulos e os enviou até o Senhor para dizer: “Tu és o que haveria de vir ou devemos esperar por outro? ²⁰ Quando eles encontraram Jesus, disseram: “João Batista nos enviou a Ti para perguntarmos: 'Tu és o que estava para vir ou devemos esperar por outro?'”

²¹ Naquela mesma hora Ele curou muitas pessoas de doenças, de aflições, de espíritos malignos e, a muitos cegos deu visão. ²² Jesus respondeu-lhes, dizendo: “Ide e relatai a João tudo o que tendes visto e ouvido. Pessoas cegas estão recebendo a visão, paralíticos estão andando, leprosos estão sendo purificados, surdos estão ouvindo, mortos estão sendo trazidos de volta à vida e aos necessitados estão sendo anunciadas as boas novas”. ²³ Bendito aquele que não deixar de acreditar em Mim por causa das minhas ações.

²⁴ Quando os mensageiros de João foram embora, Jesus começou a falar para a multidão sobre ele. “O que fostes ver no deserto? Um caniço balançado pelo vento? ²⁵ O que fostes ver? Um homem vestido em roupas finas? Eis que pessoas que vestem roupas esplendorosas e têm uma vida de luxo estão em palácios reais. ²⁶ Mas o que fostes ver? Um profeta? Sim, Eu vos digo, e mais do que profeta.

²⁷ Este é aquele sobre o qual está escrito: 'Eis que estou enviando Meu mensageiro diante de Tua face, o qual irá preparar Teu caminho diante de Ti'. ²⁸ Eu vos digo que entre os nascidos de mulher, não há ninguém maior do que João, mas aquele que é menor no Reino de Deus, é maior do que ele".

²⁹ Quando todas as pessoas ouviram isso, inclusive os coletores de impostos, todos declararam que Deus é justo, sendo então, batizados com o batismo de João. ³⁰ Mas os fariseus e os mestres da lei judaica rejeitaram o conselho de Deus para si mesmos, não sendo batizados por ele.

³¹ “A quem, pois, compararei as pessoas desta geração? A quem elas se assemelham? ³² São como crianças brincando na praça que sentam e chamam umas às outras e dizem: 'Nós vos tocamos flauta, mas não dançastes. Nós cantamos um cântico fúnebre e não chorastes’.

³³ João Batista veio, não comendo pão e nem bebendo vinho, e vós dissestes: 'Ele tem demônio'. ³⁴ Veio o Filho do Homem, comendo e bebendo, e vós dissestes: 'Eis um homem glutão e bebedor de vinho, amigo de cobradores de impostos e pecadores!' ³⁵ Mas a sabedoria é justificada por todos os seus filhos".

³⁶ Então, um certo fariseu estava pedindo que Jesus comesse com ele. Então Jesus entrou na casa do fariseu e reclinou-se à mesa para comer. ³⁷ Havia naquela cidade uma certa mulher que era pecadora. Ao descobrir que Ele estava à mesa na casa do fariseu, ela levou um vaso de alabastro com perfume. ³⁸ Então, ela se colocou atrás Dele, junto aos Seus pés e pranteou. E começou a molhar os Seus pés com suas lágrimas e enxugá-los com seu cabelo, beijando Seus pés e os ungindo com perfume.

³⁹ Quando o fariseu que havia convidado Jesus viu isso, ele pensou consigo mesmo: “Se este homem fosse profeta, saberia quem e que tipo de mulher está tocando nele, pois ela é uma pecadora”. ⁴⁰ Então Jesus respondeu-lhe, dizendo: “Simão, eu tenho algo para lhe dizer”. E Simão disse: “Fala, Mestre!”.

⁴¹ Jesus disse: “Havia dois devedores a certo credor. Um devia quinhentos denários e o outro devia cinquenta denários. ⁴² Como eles não tinham dinheiro para pagar a dívida, o credor perdoou os dois. Qual deles o amará mais?” ⁴³ Simão respondeu: “Eu suponho que aquele a quem mais foi perdoado”. Disse-lhe Jesus: “Julgaste corretamente”.

⁴⁴ Jesus virou-se para a mulher e disse a Simão: “Vês esta mulher? Eu entrei em tua casa e tu não Me ofereceste água para lavar os Meus pés, mas esta mulher molhou os Meus pés com suas lágrimas e os enxugou com seus cabelos. ⁴⁵ Tu não Me deste um beijo, mas ela, desde que cheguei aqui, não para de beijar os Meus pés.

⁴⁶ Não ungistes a Minha cabeça com óleo, mas ela tem ungido Meus pés com perfume. ⁴⁷ Por isso, te digo que os seus muitos pecados têm sido perdoados - porque ela muito amou. Mas aquele que pouco é perdoado, pouco ama.

⁴⁸ Então Ele disse-lhe: “Os teus pecados estão perdoados”. ⁴⁹ Aqueles que estavam sentados à mesa começaram a dizer entre si. “Quem é este que até perdoa pecados? ⁵⁰ Então Jesus disse à mulher: “A tua fé te salvou. Vai em paz”.

Capítulo 8

¹ E aconteceu que, depois disso, Jesus começou a andar por diferentes cidades e vilas, pregando e proclamando as boas novas do reino de Deus. E os doze foram com Ele, ² assim como algumas mulheres que foram curadas de espíritos malignos e doenças. Eram elas: Maria, chamada Madalena, da qual sete demônios foram expulsos; ³ Joana, mulher de Cuza, administrador de Herodes, Suzana e muitas outras mulheres que lhes traziam provisão com seus próprios recursos materiais.

⁴ E reunindo-se uma grande multidão, incluindo pessoas que vinham de outras cidades para encontrá-Lo, Jesus lhes falou por meio de uma parábola: ⁵ “Um semeador saiu para semear algumas sementes. Enquanto ele semeava, algumas sementes caíram à beira do caminho, elas foram pisoteadas, e os pássaros do céu comeram todas elas. ⁶ Outras sementes caíram em solo rochoso e assim que elas cresceram, secaram por falta de umidade.

⁷ Ainda outras sementes caíram entre plantas espinhosas e elas cresceram juntamente com os espinhos, e eles as sufocaram. ⁸ Mas algumas sementes caíram em solo bom, e cresceram saudáveis, e produziram uma colheita cem vezes maior”. Após Jesus dizer estas coisas, Ele exclamou em alta voz: “Aquele que tem ouvidos para ouvir, ouça”.

⁹ Então os discípulos perguntaram a Ele o que esta parábola queria dizer. ¹⁰ Jesus disse-lhes: “Vós recebestes o privilégio de entender os mistérios do reino de Deus, mas os demais serão ensinados apenas por parábolas, desta forma 'embora vendo, eles não possam enxergar, e ouvindo não entendam'.

¹¹ Este é o significado da parábola: a semente é a Palavra de Deus. ¹² As sementes que caíram à beira do caminho são aqueles que ouvem, mas o diabo vem e arranca a Palavra de seus corações para que não creiam, e assim, não sejam salvos. ¹³ As sementes que caíram no solo rochoso são aqueles que ouvem a Palavra, recebem-na com alegria, mas não criam raízes. Eles acreditam por um tempo e em tempo de provação se desviam.

¹⁴ As sementes que caíram entre os espinhos são como pessoas que ouviram a Palavra, mas a medida que seguem os seus caminhos foram sufocadas pelos cuidados, riquezas e prazeres desta vida, e então não produzem frutos. ¹⁵ Mas as sementes que caíram em solo bom são como pessoas que, com sinceridade e bom coração, ouvem a Palavra, agarram-na com firmeza e produzem frutos com perseverança.

¹⁶ E ninguém acende uma lamparina e a cobre com um vaso ou a coloca embaixo de uma cama. Ao contrário, a coloca em cima de uma mesa e, assim, todos que entrarem podem ver a luz. ¹⁷ Pois tudo o que está escondido será revelado, e tudo o que é secreto será conhecido e trazido à luz. ¹⁸ Então escutai cuidadosamente, pois para aquele que tem, mais lhe será dado, e aquele que não tem, até o que ele pensa ter lhe será tirado.

¹⁹ Então a mãe e os irmãos de Jesus vieram até Ele, mas não podiam se aproximar por causa da multidão. ²⁰ E disseram-lhe: “Tua mãe e teus irmãos estão do lado de fora esperando para te ver”. ²¹ Mas Jesus lhes disse: “Minha mãe e meus irmãos são aqueles que ouvem a Palavra de Deus e a praticam”.

²² Aconteceu que em um daqueles dias, Jesus e os Seus discípulos entraram em um barco, e Jesus disse-lhes: “Vamos para o outro lado do lago”. Então eles zarparam. ²³ Mas, enquanto eles navegavam, Jesus dormiu e uma tempestade de ventos fortes atingiu o lago e o barco começou a se encher de água, e eles estavam em grave perigo.

²⁴ Os discípulos de Jesus foram até Ele e o acordaram dizendo: “Mestre, Mestre, estamos prestes à morrer!” Ele acordou, repreendeu a tempestade e a fúria das águas, elas cessaram e houve calmaria. ²⁵ Então Ele lhes disse: “Onde está a vossa fé?” Possuídos de temor e admiração, diziam uns aos outros: “Quem é Este, que comanda os ventos e a água, e estes Lhe obedecem?”

²⁶ E eles navegaram para a região dos gerasenos, que fica no outro lado do lago da Galileia. ²⁷ Quando Jesus pisou em terra, um certo homem da cidade foi ao encontro dEle, e este homem tinha demônios. Há muito tempo ele não vestia roupas e não vivia em casa, mas sim nos sepulcros.

²⁸ Quando viu Jesus, ele gritou e se prostrou diante Dele. E em alta voz disse: “O que tenho contigo, Jesus, Filho do Deus Altíssimo? Eu te imploro, que não me atormentes”. ²⁹ Pois Jesus tinha ordenado ao espírito imundo que saísse do homem que, por muitas vezes, tinha se apoderado dele. Embora ficasse preso por correntes e grilhões, e sob vigilância de guardas, ele quebrava as correntes e era levado ao deserto pelo demônio.

³⁰ Então Jesus perguntou a ele: “Qual é o seu nome?” E ele disse: “Legião”, porque muitos demônios haviam entrado nele. ³¹ Eles imploravam para que Jesus não os mandasse para o abismo.

³² Uma grande manada de porcos estava ali, se alimentando na colina, e os demônios lhe imploraram para entrarem nos porcos. Ele lhes permitiu que fizessem isso. ³³ Então os demônios saíram do homem e entraram nos porcos, e a manada correu e se lançou despenhadeiro abaixo para dentro do lago e se afogaram.

³⁴ Quando os homens que estavam cuidando dos porcos viram o que aconteceu, eles fugiram e relataram isso na cidade e nos campos. ³⁵ As pessoas que ouviram sobre isso foram ver o que aconteceu e, quando se aproximaram de Jesus, elas viram o homem do qual os demônios saíram. O homem estava vestido, em perfeito juízo, sentado aos pés de Jesus, à vista disso ficaram atemorizados.

³⁶ Aqueles que viram o que aconteceu, contaram a outros como o homem que era controlado por demônios foi salvo. ³⁷ Todas as pessoas da região dos gerasenos e aos arredores pediram que Jesus se retirasse do meio deles, pois eles ficaram com muito medo. Então Jesus entrou no barco e retornou.

³⁸ O homem do qual os demônios haviam saído suplicou que Jesus o deixasse ir com ele, mas Jesus o mandou embora, dizendo: ³⁹ “Volta para a tua casa e conta as coisas que Deus fez por ti”. O homem seguiu seu caminho, proclamando por toda a cidade as coisas que Jesus havia feito por ele.

⁴⁰ Quando Jesus retornou, a multidão o recebeu com alegria, pois eles estavam esperando por Ele. ⁴¹ Lá havia um homem chamado Jairo, que era um dos líderes da sinagoga. Jairo se prostrou aos pés de Jesus e o implorou que Ele fosse até a sua casa, ⁴² pois sua única filha, de doze anos, estava morrendo. Mas enquanto Jesus ia, as multidões O espremiam.

⁴³ Uma mulher que há doze anos sofria de fluxo de sangue estava na multidão. Ela já havia gastado todo o seu dinheiro com médicos, mas nenhum deles conseguira curá-la. ⁴⁴ Ela veio por trás de Jesus, tocou a borda de seu manto e imediatamente seu sangramento parou.

⁴⁵ Jesus disse: “Quem me tocou?” Quando todos negaram, Pedro disse: “Mestre, as multidões de pessoas estão te espremendo e te apertando”. ⁴⁶ Mas Jesus disse: “Alguém me tocou, pois eu sei que de Mim saiu poder”.

⁴⁷ Quando a mulher viu que não poderia se esconder do que fez, ela veio tremendo, se prostrou aos pés de Jesus e declarou na presença de todos o motivo de ter tocado Nele e como ela fora curada imediatamente. ⁴⁸ Então Jesus disse: “Filha, a tua fé te curou. Vá em paz”.

⁴⁹ Enquanto Jesus ainda falava, alguém veio da casa do líder da sinagoga, dizendo: “Não incomode o Mestre. A tua filha está morta”. ⁵⁰ Mas quando Jesus ouviu isso, disse a Jairo: “Não temas. Apenas acredite e ela será salva”.

⁵¹ Então quando Jesus chegou na casa, não permitiu que ninguém entrasse com Ele, exceto Pedro, João e Tiago, bem como o pai e a mãe da menina. ⁵² Todas as pessoas estavam lamentando e chorando por ela, mas Ele disse: “Não choreis. Ela não está morta, está adormecida". ⁵³ E eles riram Dele com desdém, sabendo que ela estava morta.

⁵⁴ Mas Ele segurou a mão da menina e clamou dizendo: "Menina, levanta-te". ⁵⁵ O espírito dela retornou e ela levantou no mesmo momento. E Ele ordenou que dessem algo para ela comer. ⁵⁶ Seus pais estavam espantados, mas Ele ordenou que não contassem a ninguém o que aconteceu.

Capítulo 9

¹ Jesus convocou os doze e os deu poder e autoridade sobre todos os demônios e para curar doenças. ² Ele os enviou para pregar o Reino de Deus e curar os doentes.

³ Ele disse-lhes: “Não leveis nada para a viagem, nem cajado, bolsa, pão, dinheiro, nem mesmo uma túnica extra. ⁴ Qualquer casa em que entrardes, permanecei ali até retirardes do lugar.

⁵ Quando não vos receberem, ao sair daquela cidade, sacudi a poeira de vossos pés em testemunho contra eles”. ⁶ Eles então partiram pelas vilas, proclamando as boas novas e curando as pessoas por todos os lugares.

⁷ Herodes, o tetrarca, ouviu sobre tudo o que estava acontecendo e ficou perplexo, pois uns diziam que João Batista havia ressuscitado dos mortos. ⁸ Alguns diziam que Elias havia aparecido e outros que um dos profetas antigos havia voltado à vida. ⁹ Herodes, porém, disse: “A João eu mandei que fosse decapitado, então quem pode ser este sobre o qual ouço tais coisas?” E Herodes tentou encontrar alguma maneira de ver Jesus.

¹⁰ Quando os doze apóstolos enviados por Jesus retornaram, eles contaram-Lhe tudo que haviam feito. Então Jesus os levou consigo para uma cidade chamada Betsaida, ¹¹ mas as multidões ouviram sobre isso e O seguiram. Ele acolheu a todos, falou sobre o Reino de Deus e curou os que necessitavam ser curados.

¹² Quando estava entardecendo os doze vieram até Ele e disseram: “Despede a multidão, dessa forma eles poderão ir até vilas aos arredores e interior para encontrar abrigo e comida, pois o lugar que estamos é isolado. ¹³ Mas Ele lhes disse: “Dai-lhes algo para comer”. Eles disseram: “Não temos mais que cinco pães e dois peixes, a não ser que fôssemos comprar comida para todo esse povo”. ¹⁴ (Havia cerca de cinco mil homens lá.) Então Ele disse aos Seus discípulos: "Fazei-os sentar em grupos de cerca de cinquenta pessoas".

¹⁵ Então eles assim fizeram e todas as pessoas assentaram-se. ¹⁶ Ele pegou os cinco pães, os dois peixes e olhando para o céu os abençoou, partiu-os em pedaços e os entregou aos discípulos para que eles distribuíssem à multidão. ¹⁷ Todos comeram, ficaram satisfeitos e encheram doze cestos com a comida que sobrou.

¹⁸ E aconteceu que Jesus estava orando em particular e seus discípulos estavam com Ele. Então Ele os questionou: “Quem as multidões dizem que Eu sou?” ¹⁹ E eles responderam: “Uns dizem que tu és João Batista, alguns dizem que és Elias e outros dizem que tu és um dos profetas antigos que voltou à vida”.

²⁰ E disse-lhes: "Mas quem dizeis que Eu sou?" Respondendo Pedro disse: "O Cristo de Deus". ²¹ Mas alertando-os, Jesus os instruiu que a ninguém falassem isso, ²² dizendo-lhes: "É necessário que o Filho do Homem sofra muitas coisas, seja rejeitado pelos anciãos, pelos chefes dos sacerdotes, pelos escribas, seja morto e seja ressuscitado no terceiro dia".

²³ Se alguém quer vir após Mim, negue a si mesmo, tome a sua cruz diariamente e siga-me. ²⁴ Aquele que deseja salvar a sua vida irá perdê-la, mas aquele que perder a sua vida por minha causa, irá salvá-la. ²⁵ Pois que benefício há para uma pessoa se ela ganhar o mundo todo, mas perder-se ou arruinar-se a si mesmo?

²⁶ Aquele que se envergonha de Mim e das minhas palavras, o Filho do Homem se envergonhará dele quando vier em Sua glória, na glória do Pai e dos santos anjos. ²⁷ Verdadeiramente eu vos digo, há alguns de vós que estais aqui que não passarão pela morte até que vejam o reino de Deus.

²⁸ E aconteceu que, oito dias após dizer essas palavras, Jesus levou consigo Pedro, João e Tiago e subiu ao monte para orar. ²⁹ Enquanto Ele estava orando, a aparência do seu rosto mudou, suas roupas se tornaram brancas e resplandecentes.

³⁰ E eis que dois homens estavam falando com Ele, Moisés e Elias, ³¹ os quais apareceram em glorioso esplendor. Eles falavam sobre a partida Dele que estava prestes a se cumprir em Jerusalém.

³² Pedro e os que estavam com Ele estavam dominados pelo sono, mas quando despertaram, viram a glória de Jesus e os dois homens que estavam com Ele. ³³ Quando estes iam se afastando de Jesus, disse-Lhe Pedro: “Mestre, é bom estarmos aqui. Façamos três tendas, uma para Ti, uma para Moisés e outra para Elias", porém ele não sabia o que dizia.

³⁴ Enquanto ele estava dizendo estas coisas, uma nuvem veio e os envolveu com sua sombra, eles ficaram aterrorizados ao entrarem na nuvem. ³⁵ Uma voz saiu da nuvem, dizendo: “Este é o Meu Filho, O escolhido; a Ele ouvi". ³⁶ Quando a voz parou, Jesus estava sozinho. Eles ficaram em silêncio e naqueles dias não disseram nada a ninguém sobre o que tinham visto.

³⁷ E aconteceu que, no dia seguinte, uma grande multidão O encontrou quando eles desceram do monte. ³⁸ Um homem da multidão clamou dizendo: “Mestre, eu Te imploro que olhes para o meu filho, pois ele é o único que tenho. ³⁹ E eis que um espírito se apodera dele, que de repente grita, convulsiona e até espumar pela boca. O espírito dificilmente sai dele, machucando ele muito. ⁴⁰ Eu supliquei a Seus discípulos para que o expulsasse, mas eles não o puderam.

⁴¹ Jesus respondeu-lhes, dizendo: "Ó geração incrédula e perversa, até quando estarei convosco e vos suportarei? Traze o teu filho aqui”. ⁴² Enquanto o menino estava vindo, o demônio o lançou ao chão e o convulsionou. Mas Jesus repreendeu o espírito imundo, curou o menino e o entregou para o seu pai.

⁴³ Todos ficaram maravilhados com a grandeza de Deus. Mas enquanto todos ainda estavam admirados com tudo o que Jesus fez, Ele disse aos Seus discípulos: ⁴⁴ “Ponde em vossos ouvidos estas palavras: o Filho do Homem será entregue nas mãos de homens”. ⁴⁵ Mas eles não entenderam o significado dessas palavras, isto foi-lhes encoberto, para que não entendessem. E estavam com medo de perguntá-Lo acerca dessa declaração.

⁴⁶ Então os discípulos começaram a discutir entre si sobre qual deles seria o maior. ⁴⁷ Mas Jesus sabendo o que eles estavam pensando em seus corações, pegou uma criança e a colocou ao seu lado, ⁴⁸ e disse-lhes: “Se alguém receber esta criança em Meu nome, ele também Me recebe, e se alguém Me recebe, ele também recebe Aquele que Me enviou. Pois aquele que for o menor dentre vós, esse que é grande".

⁴⁹ João lhe disse: “Mestre, nós vimos alguém expulsando demônios em Seu nome e o proibimos, porque ele não Te segue conosco”. ⁵⁰ Mas Jesus disse a ele: “Não o impeçais, pois quem não é contra vós é a favor de vós”.

⁵¹ E aconteceu que, estando para se completar os dias de Sua ascensão, Ele resolutamente decidiu ir para Jerusalém ⁵² e enviou mensageiros à sua frente. Eles entraram em uma vila samaritana para preparar Sua chegada. ⁵³ Mas as pessoas de lá não O receberam, porque a Sua face estava direcionada para Jerusalém.

⁵⁴ Então quando Seus discípulos Tiago e João viram isso, eles disseram: “Senhor, queres que mandemos descer fogo do céu e os destruir?” ⁵⁵ Mas Jesus voltou-se para eles e os repreendeu. ⁵⁶ Então eles foram para outra vila.

⁵⁷ Enquanto iam pelo caminho, alguém Lhe falou: “Eu Te seguirei para onde quer que fores”. ⁵⁸ Jesus disse-lhe: “As raposas têm suas tocas e os pássaros do céu seus ninhos, mas o Filho do homem não tem onde reclinar a cabeça”.

⁵⁹ Então Ele disse a outra pessoa: “Segue-me”. Mas ele respondeu: “Senhor, permita-me primeiro sepultar o meu pai”. ⁶⁰ Mas Ele lhe disse: “Deixa que os mortos sepultem seus próprios mortos, tu, porém, vai e proclama em todo o lugar o reino de Deus”.

⁶¹ Outra pessoa também disse: “Eu vou te seguir, Senhor, mas me permita primeiro despedir-me dos de minha casa”. ⁶² Mas Jesus disse-lhe: “Ninguém que, tendo posto a mão no arado e fica olhando para trás, é apto para o Reino de Deus”.

Capítulo 10

¹ Depois disso, o Senhor designou outros setenta ¹ e os enviou, de dois em dois, à Sua frente a todas as cidades e lugares aonde Ele pretendia ir. ² E dizia-lhes: “A colheita é grande, mas os trabalhadores são poucos. Por isso rogai ao Senhor da colheita, para que Ele envie trabalhadores para a Sua colheita.

³ Ide! Eis que Eu vos envio como cordeiros no meio de lobos. ⁴ Não leveis nenhum saco de dinheiro, nem bagagem de viagem, nem sandálias e não cumprimenteis a ninguém pelo caminho.

⁵ Em qualquer casa que entrardes, dizei primeiro: 1'Que a paz esteja nesta casa'. ⁶ Se ali houver um filho da paz, a vossa paz repousará sobre ele, mas, se não houver, ela voltará sobre vós. ⁷ Permanecei na mesma casa, comendo e bebendo do que eles tiverem, porque o trabalhador merece receber o seu salário. Não fiqueis mudando de casa em casa.

⁸ Em qualquer cidade que entrardes, e vos receberem, comei do que puserem diante de vós ⁹ e curai os enfermos que lá estiverem. Dizei-lhes: 'O Reino de Deus é chegado a vós'.

¹⁰ Mas, em qualquer cidade em que entrardes, e não vos receberem, saí para as ruas e dizei: ¹¹ 'Até mesmo a poeira de vossa cidade que se agarrou a nossos pés, sacudimos contra vós! Mas sabei disto, que o Reino de Deus está próximo'. ¹² Eu vos digo que, no dia do julgamento, haverá mais tolerância para Sodoma do que para aquela cidade.

¹³ Ai de ti, Corazim! Ai de ti, Betsaida! Porque, se os milagres que foram feitos em vós tivessem sido feitos em Tiro e Sidom, há muito tempo que eles teriam se arrependido e se assentado sobre cinzas, em panos de saco. ¹⁴ Contudo, haverá mais tolerância para Tiro e Sidom no juízo do que para vós. ¹⁵ Tu, Cafarnaum, tu achas que serás elevada até o céu? Do contrário, tu serás levada para baixo, ao Hades.

¹⁶ Os que vos ouvem, ouvem a Mim; e quem lhes rejeita, a Mim me rejeita; e os que Me rejeitam também rejeitam aquele que Me enviou".

¹⁷ Os setenta (e dois) voltaram com alegria, dizendo: "Senhor, até os demônios se submeteram ao Teu nome". ¹⁸ Jesus lhes disse: “Eu via Satanás caindo do céu como um relâmpago. ¹⁹ Eu vos dei autoridade para pisar serpentes e escorpiões, e sobre todo o poder do inimigo, e nada irá de maneira alguma lhe causar dano. ²⁰ No entanto, não vos alegreis no fato de os espíritos se submeterem a vós, mas regozijai-vos ainda mais por seus nomes estarem gravados nos céus”.

²¹ Naquele momento, Ele exultou no Espírito Santo, dizendo: “Eu te louvo, ó Pai, Senhor do céu e da terra, porque Tu ocultaste essas coisas dos que são sábios e cultos, mas as revelaste àqueles que são ignorantes como pequenas crianças. Sim, ó Pai, porque assim foi agradável à Tua vista.

²² Todas as coisas Me foram confiadas pelo Meu Pai, e ninguém conhece quem é o Filho senão o Pai, e ninguém conhece quem é o Pai senão o Filho e aqueles a quem o Filho quiser revelar”.

²³ E, voltando-se para os discípulos, Ele lhes disse em particular: “Bem-aventurados são aqueles que veem as coisas que vedes. ²⁴ Pois Eu vos digo que muitos profetas e reis desejaram ver as coisas que vedes, mas não puderam vê-las; ouvir as coisas que ouvis, e não ouviram”.

²⁵ E eis que certo mestre da Lei Judaica levantou-se para testá-Lo, dizendo: “Mestre, o que devo fazer para herdar a vida eterna?”. ²⁶ Jesus disse-lhe: “O que está escrito na Lei? Como é que lês?”. ²⁷ Ele, então, respondeu: “Amarás ao Senhor teu Deus com todo o teu coração, com toda a tua alma, com toda a tua força, e com todo o teu entendimento, e ao teu próximo como a ti mesmo”. ²⁸ Jesus disse-lhe: “Respondeste corretamente. Faze isso e viverás”.

²⁹ Mas o mestre, querendo justificar-se, perguntou a Jesus: “E quem é o meu próximo?”. ³⁰ Em resposta, disse Jesus: “Certo homem descia de Jerusalém para Jericó, ele caiu nas mãos de ladrões que sacaram seus pertences, bateram nele e o deixaram quase morto.

³¹ E por acaso um sacerdote estava descendo por aquele caminho e, quando o viu, passou pelo outro lado. ³² Semelhantemente um levita, quando chegou até o lugar e o viu, também passou pelo outro lado.

³³ Mas um samaritano que ia de viagem chegou perto dele e, vendo-o, encheu-se de compaixão ³⁴ e, aproximando-se dele, enfaixou suas feridas, derramando azeite e vinho sobre elas. Ele o colocou sobre o seu próprio animal, levou-o para uma hospedaria e cuidou dele. ³⁵ No dia seguinte, tirou dois denários, deu-os ao hospedeiro e disse: ‘Cuida dele, e qualquer despesa extra que tiveres, quando eu voltar, eu te reembolsarei’.

³⁶ Qual dos três, em tua opinião, foi o próximo daquele que caiu nas mãos dos ladrões?” ³⁷ O mestre da Lei disse: “Aquele que usou de misericórdia para com ele”. Jesus lhe disse: “Vai e faça o mesmo.”

³⁸ Enquanto Jesus e seus discípulos viajavam, eles entraram numa vila, e uma certa mulher chamada Marta os recebeu em sua casa. ³⁹ Ela tinha uma irmã chamada Maria, a qual ficou sentada aos pés do Senhor e ouviu a Sua Palavra.

⁴⁰ Marta, estava extremamente ocupada preparando a refeição para servir. Ela veio até Jesus, e disse: “Senhor, não Te importas que minha irmã me deixou servindo sozinha? Dize-lhe, portanto, que me ajude”. ⁴¹ Mas o Senhor respondeu, e disse-lhe: “Marta, Marta, estás ansiosa sobre muitas coisas, ⁴² mas só uma coisa é necessária. Maria escolheu o que era bem melhor, e essa parte não lhe será tomada”.

¹e dois (muitos manuscritos antigos não contêm este trecho)

Capítulo 11

¹ E aconteceu que, estando Jesus em certo lugar orando, e ao terminar um dos Seus discípulos Lhe disse: “Senhor, ensina-nos a orar, assim como João ensinou a seus discípulos".

² Disse-lhes Jesus: “Quando orardes, dizei: 'Pai, santificado seja o Teu Nome. Venha o Teu reino.

³ Dá-nos o pão que diariamente precisamos; ⁴ perdoa os nossos pecados, assim como nós perdoamos aos nossos devedores. Livra-nos da tentação'".

⁵ Disse-lhes Jesus: “Quem dentre vós, se tiver um amigo e indo a meia noite até ele, dizendo: 'Amigo, empresta-me três pães, ⁶ pois um amigo meu acabou de chegar de viagem e eu não tenho nada para lhe oferecer'; ⁷ e, o que está dentro lhe responda: 'Não me importunes, pois a porta já está fechada e meus filhos e eu estamos na cama. Eu não posso me levantar e dá-los a ti'. ⁸ Eu lhes digo, mesmo que ele não se levante para dar-lhe os pães por serem amigos, ainda assim ele se levantará por causa da sua importuna persistência, e lhe dará todos os pães que forem necessários.

⁹ Eu também vos digo: pedi e vos será dado, buscai e encontrareis, batei e vos será aberto. ¹⁰ Pois todo o que pede, recebe; o que busca, encontra; e quem bate, lhe será aberto.

¹¹ Qual pai dentre vós, se o filho pedir um peixe, no lugar do peixe lhe dará uma serpente? ¹² Ou, se ele pedir um ovo, lhe dará um escorpião? ¹³ Portanto, se vós, que sois maus, sabeis dar coisas boas aos vossos filhos, quanto mais o vosso Pai do céu dará o Espírito Santo aos que O pedirem?".

¹⁴ Em outro momento, Jesus estava expulsando um demônio que era mudo. Quando o demônio saiu, o mudo falou. A multidão ficou perplexa! ¹⁵ Mas algumas pessoas disseram: “É por Belzebu, o príncipe dos demônios, que Ele expulsa demônios”.

¹⁶ Outros O testavam e buscavam Dele um sinal do céu. ¹⁷ Mas Jesus, conhecendo os pensamentos deles, disse-lhes: “Todo reino dividido contra si mesmo é arruinado; e cai toda casa dividida contra si mesma.

¹⁸ Se Satanás contra si mesmo estiver dividido, como o seu reino subsistirá? Pois vós dizeis que Eu expulso demônios por Belzebu. ¹⁹ Se Eu expulso demônios por Belzebu, por quem então os expulsam vossos seguidores? Por causa disso, eles serão os vossos juízes. ²⁰ Mas, se é pelo dedo de Deus que Eu expulso os demônios, então o Reino de Deus chegou até vós.

²¹ Quando um homem forte, que está totalmente armado, guarda sua própria casa, seus bens estão seguros. ²² Mas quando um homem mais forte o derrota, tira-lhe a armadura e distribui os seus bens. ²³ Aquele que não está comigo está contra mim, e aquele que comigo não ajunta, espalha.

²⁴ Quando um espírito maligno sai de uma pessoa, vaga por lugares áridos e procura repouso. Não o encontrando, diz: 'Eu voltarei para a minha casa, de onde vim'. ²⁵ Tendo voltado, encontra a casa limpa e organizada. ²⁶ Logo, ele vai e leva consigo outros sete espíritos ainda piores, e todos eles habitam ali. Então, a última condição daquela pessoa, torna-se pior do que a primeira”.

²⁷ E aconteceu que, dizendo Ele essas coisas, uma certa mulher no meio da multidão levantou a voz e Lhe disse: “Bendito é o ventre que Te gerou e os seios que Te amamentaram.” ²⁸ Mas Ele disse: “Antes, benditos são aqueles que ouvem a Palavra de Deus e a guarda”.

²⁹ Enquanto a multidão se aglomerava, Ele começou a dizer: “Esta geração é uma geração perversa. Ela busca um sinal, mas nenhum sinal lhe será dado, exceto o sinal de Jonas. ³⁰ Pois assim como Jonas se tornou um sinal para os Ninivitas, assim também o Filho do Homem será um sinal para esta geração.

³¹ A Rainha do Sul se levantará, no julgamento, junto com os homens desta geração e os condenará, pois ela veio dos confins da terra para ouvir a sabedoria de Salomão. Eis que alguém maior do que Salomão está aqui.

³² Os homens de Nínive se levantarão, no julgamento, com as pessoas desta geração e os condenarão, pois eles se arrependeram diante da pregação de Jonas. E eis aqui alguém maior do que Jonas.

³³ Ninguém, ao acender uma lâmpada, coloca-a dentro de um lugar escondido, ou debaixo de um cesto, mas sobre o candelabro, para que aqueles que entram possam ver a luz. ³⁴ Teu olho é a lâmpada do corpo. Quando o teu olho é bom, todo o teu corpo fica iluminado. Mas quando o teu olho é mau, todo o teu corpo fica cheio de trevas. ³⁵ Portanto, cuide para que a luz que há em ti não seja trevas. ³⁶ Se, pois, todo o teu corpo for cheio de luz, sem parte alguma nas trevas, então todo o teu corpo será como uma lâmpada, quando o seu brilho te ilumina.

³⁷ Quando Ele terminou de falar, um fariseu O convidou para comer com Ele em sua casa, então Jesus foi e tomou lugar à mesa. ³⁸ O fariseu ficou admirado por Ele não ter Se lavado antes da refeição.

³⁹ Mas o Senhor lhe disse: “Vós, fariseus, limpais o exterior dos copos e vasilhas, mas o vosso interior está cheio de ganância e maldade. ⁴⁰ Homens insensatos! Por acaso aquele que fez o exterior não fez também o interior? ⁴¹ Dai aos pobres o que está dentro de vós, e tudo vos ficará limpo.

⁴² Mas ai de vós, fariseus, que entregueis o dízimo da hortelã e da arruda e das demais verduras, mas negligenciais a justiça e o amor de Deus. É necessário agir com justiça e amar a Deus, sem negligenciar as outras coisas.

⁴³ Ai de vós fariseus pois amais os primeiros lugares nas sinagogas e os respeitosos cumprimentos nas praças. ⁴⁴ Ai de vós, pois sois como sepulturas disfarçadas, e pessoas caminham sobre elas, sem perceber.

⁴⁵ E um certo mestre da lei Lhe disse: “Mestre, o que dizes também nos insulta”. ⁴⁶ Jesus disse: “Ai de vós também, mestres da lei! Pois sobrecarregais os homens com cargas difíceis de suportar, mas não quereis tocá-las, nem mesmo com um de vossos dedos.

⁴⁷ Ai de vós, pois edificais túmulos para os profetas que vossos ancestrais mataram. ⁴⁸ Assim, concordais com os feitos de vossos ancestrais, e deles sois testemunhas; porque eles, por um lado, mataram os profetas, e vós edificais os túmulos.

⁴⁹ Também por essa razão, a sabedoria de Deus disse: 'Eu lhes enviarei profetas e apóstolos, a alguns eles perseguirão e matarão'. ⁵⁰ Então esta geração será responsabilizada por todo o sangue dos profetas, derramado desde a fundação do mundo, ⁵¹ desde Abel até o sangue de Zacarias, que foi morto entre o altar e o santuário. Sim, eu vos digo, que tudo isso será requerido desta geração.

⁵² Ai de vós, mestres da lei, pois tomastes para vós a chave do conhecimento; vós mesmos não entrastes e ainda impedis os que estão entrando".

⁵³ Depois que Jesus saiu dali, os escribas e fariseus começaram a hostilizá-Lo terrivelmente e interrogá-Lo a respeito de muitas coisas, ⁵⁴ tramando a fim de apanhá-Lo em Suas próprias palavras.

Lucas 12

¹ Enquanto isso, milhares de pessoas estavam reunidas ali, ao ponto de estarem até pisando umas nas outras. Ele começou a dizer, primeiro aos seus discípulos: “Cuidado com o fermento dos fariseus, que é a hipocrisia.

² Pois não há nada oculto que não venha a ser revelado e nada escondido que não venha a ser conhecido. ³ Então o que vós tiverdes dito às escuras será ouvido à luz e o que vós tiverdes falado aos ouvidos no interior das casas será proclamado de cima das casas.

⁴ Mas Eu vos digo, meus amigos, não temais aqueles que matam o corpo e que depois disso nada mais podem fazer. ⁵ Mas Eu vos alertarei sobre quem deveis temer. Temei Aquele que, depois de ter matado, tem autoridade para lançar no inferno. Sim, eu vos digo, a Ele temei.

⁶ Não são dois pardais vendidos por duas moedinhas? Ainda assim nenhum deles é esquecido diante de Deus. ⁷ Até mesmo os cabelos da vossa cabeça estão contados. Não temais. Vós sois mais valiosos que muitos pardais.

⁸ Eu vos digo que todo aquele que Me confessar diante dos homens, o Filho do Homem também o confessará diante dos anjos de Deus, ⁹ mas aquele que Me negar diante dos homens, será negado diante dos anjos de Deus. ¹⁰ Aquele que falar uma palavra contra o Filho do Homem, isso lhe será perdoado, mas aquele que blasfemar contra o Espírito Santo, isso não lhe será perdoado.

¹¹ Quando vos levarem diante das sinagogas, dos chefes e das autoridades, não vos preocupeis como falar em sua defesa ou o que ireis dizer, ¹² pois o Espírito Santo vos ensinará naquela hora o que deveis dizer.

¹³ Então alguém da multidão Lhe disse: “Mestre, dize a meu irmão que divida a herança comigo.” ¹⁴ Jesus respondeu-lhe: “Homem, quem Me fez juiz ou mediador sobre vós?” ¹⁵ Depois disse a multidão: “Cuidai para que vos guardeis de todos os desejos gananciosos, pois a vida de alguém não consiste na abundância de seus bens.”

¹⁶ Então Jesus contou-lhes uma parábola: “O campo de um homem rico produziu abundantemente ¹⁷ e ele pensou consigo mesmo: 'Eu não tenho espaço para armazenar toda a minha colheita. O que farei?'. ¹⁸ Ele disse: 'Isso é o que farei, derrubarei meus celeiros e construirei outros maiores para armazenar todos os meus grãos e outros bens. ¹⁹ Direi a minha alma: 'Alma, tens muitos bens armazenados para muitos anos. Descansa tranquila, come, bebe e alegra-te.'

²⁰ Mas Deus disse a ele: 'Louco! Esta noite te pedirão a tua alma e o que tens preparado, para quem será?'. ²¹ Assim é alguém que armazena tesouros para si e não é rico para com Deus".

²² Jesus disse aos seus discípulos: “Portanto Eu vos digo que não vos preocupeis com vossas vidas, quanto ao que haveis de comer; ou com os vossos corpos, quanto ao que haveis de vestir. ²³ Pois a vida é mais do que comida e o corpo mais do que vestimentas.

²⁴ Considerai os corvos. Eles não semeiam nem colhem. Eles não têm despensa nem celeiro, mas Deus os alimenta. Quanto mais valeis vós do que as aves! ²⁵ E qual de vós que, por estar ansioso, pode acrescentar um côvado à sua vida? ²⁶ Se então vós não sois capazes de fazer nem mesmo as mínimas coisas, por que vos preocupais com as demais?

²⁷ Considerai os lírios e como eles crescem. Eles não trabalham nem fiam. Contudo eu vos digo que nem mesmo Salomão, em toda a sua glória, se vestiu como um deles. ²⁸ Se assim Deus veste a erva do campo que hoje existe e amanhã é lançada no forno, muito mais vestirá a vós, ó homens de pouca fé!

²⁹ Não busqueis o que comer ou o que beber, não fiqueis ansiosos. ³⁰ Pois todas as nações do mundo buscam essas coisas e seu Pai sabe que vós precisais delas.

³¹ Antes buscai o Seu Reino e essas coisas vos serão acrescentadas. ³² Não temas, pequeno rebanho, pois é do agrado do Pai dar-vos o Reino.

³³ Vendei vossos bens e deem aos pobres. Fazei para si bolsas que não envelhecem, tesouros inesgotáveis nos Céus, onde os ladrões não se aproximam e nem traça destrói. ³⁴ Pois onde está o vosso tesouro, ali estará também o vosso coração.

³⁵ Deixai vossas vestes presas por seus cintos, em prontidão para servir e mantenham suas lâmpadas acesas. ³⁶ Sede semelhantes a pessoas esperando seu mestre retornar da festa de casamento, para que, quando ele chegar e bater, eles abram a porta imediatamente.

³⁷ Bem-aventurados aqueles servos que forem encontrados vigiando quando o senhor vier. Verdadeiramente eu vos digo que ele prenderá suas longas vestes em seu cinto, os fará sentar para uma refeição, então virá e os servirá. ³⁸ Se o senhor vier na segunda vigília da noite, ou até mesmo na terceira e os achar prontos, bem aventurados serão aqueles servos.

³⁹ Sabei também que: se o senhor da casa soubesse a hora em que o ladrão viria, ele não permitiria que sua casa fosse arrombada. ⁴⁰ Estai vós também preparados, pois não sabeis a hora em que o Filho do Homem virá”.

⁴¹ Pedro disse: “Senhor, estás a contar esta parábola somente para nós, ou também a todos?” ⁴² O Senhor disse: “Quem é o administrador fiel e sábio, a quem seu senhor confiará seus criados para lhes dar suas porções de comida no tempo certo? ⁴³ Bem-aventurado aquele servo a quem o seu senhor encontrar fazendo isto quando ele vier. ⁴⁴ Verdadeiramente eu vos digo que a ele confiará todos os seus bens.

⁴⁵ Mas se aquele servo diz em seu coração: 'Meu senhor demora para voltar' e começar a bater nos servos e servas, a comer, a beber, e a embriagar-se; ⁴⁶ o senhor daquele servo virá em um dia em que ele não espera, em uma hora que ele não sabe, o castigará e o porá em um lugar com os incrédulos.

⁴⁷ Aquele servo que, sabendo da vontade do seu senhor, não tiver se preparado ou feito de acordo com sua vontade, será açoitado com muitos golpes. ⁴⁸ Mas aquele que não sabia e tiver feito coisas dignas de castigo, será açoitado com poucos golpes. A todo pois que muito for dado, muito lhe será exigido, e aquele a quem muito for confiado, muito mais lhe será pedido.

⁴⁹ Eu vim lançar fogo sobre a terra e como Eu queria que já estivesse aceso. ⁵⁰ Mas Eu tenho um batismo com o qual hei de ser batizado e como estou angustiado até que ele seja cumprido.

⁵¹ Vós achais que eu vim trazer paz à terra? Eu digo que não, pois vim trazer divisão. ⁵² A partir de agora haverá cinco em uma casa divididos: três pessoas contra duas e duas contra três. ⁵³ Eles estarão divididos: Pai contra filho e filho contra pai, mãe contra filha e filha contra mãe, sogra contra nora e nora contra sogra”.

⁵⁴ Jesus também dizia às multidões: “Quando vedes uma nuvem vindo do oeste, imediatamente vós dizeis: 'Uma chuva está vindo' e assim acontece. ⁵⁵ E quando o vento sul está soprando, dizeis: 'Haverá um calor abrasador', e acontece. ⁵⁶ Hipócritas, vós sabeis discernir os sinais da terra e do céu, entretanto vós não sabeis discernir o que está acontecendo no tempo presente?

⁵⁷ Por que não julgais o que é justo para vós mesmos? ⁵⁸ Quando fores com o teu adversário diante do magistrado, esforça-te para resolver o problema com ele no caminho, para que ele não te arraste ao juiz, e o juiz te entregue nas mãos do carcereiro e o carcereiro te jogue na prisão. ⁵⁹ Eu te digo que de modo algum sairás dali enquanto não pagares até o último centavo.

Capítulo 13

¹ Naquela ocasião algumas pessoas contaram a Jesus sobre os galileus, cujo sangue Pilatos havia misturado com os seus próprios sacrifícios. ² Disse-lhes Jesus: “Vós pensais que esses galileus são mais pecadores do que eram todos os outros galileus porque sofreram desta maneira? ³ Eu vos digo que não. Mas se não vos arrependerdes, todos vós perecereis de igual maneira.

⁴ Ou aqueles dezoito sobre os quais caiu a torre de Siloé e os matou, pensais vós que eles eram mais culpados que os outros homens de Jerusalém? ⁵ Eu vos digo que não. Mas se não vos arrependerdes, todos vós também perecereis.

⁶ E Jesus disse essa parábola: “Certo homem tinha uma figueira plantada em sua vinha. E vindo procurar nela fruto, não encontrou. ⁷ Então disse ao homem que trabalhava na vinha: 'Vede, há três anos eu venho procurar frutos nesta figueira e não encontro. Corta-a! Por que deixá-la desgastar o solo?'.

⁸ Este lhe respondeu: “Deixa-a ainda este ano, para que eu escave ao redor dela e a adube. ⁹ Se ela der fruto no próximo ano, está bem. Caso contrário, corta-a!”.

¹⁰ Ora, Jesus estava ensinando em uma das sinagogas, durante um sábado. ¹¹ Eis que se encontrava ali uma mulher que há dezoito anos tinha um espírito de enfermidade; ela estava completamente encurvada, e não podia ficar de pé.

¹² Vendo-a Jesus, chamou-a e disse: “Mulher, estás livre da tua enfermidade”. ¹³ Ele impôs as mãos sobre ela, e imediatamente ela se endireitou e dava glórias a Deus. ¹⁴ Mas, o chefe da sinagoga ficou indignado por Jesus ter curado num dia de Sábado. Então o chefe disse à multidão que ali estava: “Há seis dias em que se deve trabalhar. Vinde, pois, e sejais curados nesses dias, e não no Sábado”.

¹⁵ O Senhor lhe respondeu dizendo: “Hipócritas! Quem de vós não solta da manjedoura o jumento ou o boi e o leva para beber água no Sábado? ¹⁶ Então, esta filha de Abraão, a quem Satanás aprisionou por dezoito anos, não convinha ter suas amarras desatadas no dia de Sábado?”.

¹⁷ Quando Ele disse essas coisas, todos os que se opuseram a Ele ficaram envergonhados, mas a multidão inteira se regozijava de alegria com todos os gloriosos feitos que Ele realizava.

¹⁸ Então, disse-lhes Jesus: “A que se assemelha o Reino de Deus e a que o compararei? ¹⁹ Ele é como uma semente de mostarda que um homem pegou e lançou na sua horta; e ela cresceu e se tornou uma grande árvore, e as aves do céu construíram ninhos em seus ramos”.

²⁰ E novamente disse-lhes Jesus: “A que pode ser comparado o Reino de Deus? ²¹ Ele é como o fermento que uma mulher tomou e misturou com três medidas de farinha até que tudo ficasse fermentado".

²² Jesus visitava e ensinava em cada cidade e vila no caminho para Jerusalém. ²³ Alguém lhe perguntou: “Senhor, são poucos os que serão salvos?". Então disse-lhes Jesus: ²⁴ “Esforçai-vos para entrar pela porta estreita, pois vos digo que muitos procurarão entrar e não poderão”.

²⁵ Uma vez que o dono da casa se levantar e fechar a porta, então vós ficareis de fora batendo na porta e dizendo: 'Senhor, Senhor, deixa-nos entrar!'. E Ele vos dirá: 'Eu não vos conheço e não sei de onde sois'. ²⁶ Então direis: 'Comíamos e bebíamos contigo e Tu nos ensinavas nas ruas'. ²⁷ Mas Ele responderá: 'Digo-vos que não sei de onde sois. Afastai-vos de mim, vós que praticais a injustiça!'.

²⁸ E haverá choro e ranger de dentes quando virdes Abraão, Isaque e Jacó e todos os profetas no Reino de Deus, mas vós lançados fora. ²⁹ Eles virão do leste e do oeste, do norte e do sul, e sentarão à mesa no Reino de Deus. ³⁰ E eis que há últimos que serão os primeiros e primeiros que serão últimos.

³¹ Pouco tempo depois, alguns fariseus vieram até Ele e disseram: "Vai embora daqui porque Herodes quer te matar". ³² Jesus disse: "Ide dizer àquela raposa: 'Eis que expulso demônios e realizo curas hoje e amanhã, e no terceiro dia terei consumado. ³³ Porém é necessário que eu prossiga hoje, amanhã, e no dia seguinte, pois não convém que um profeta pereça fora de Jerusalém.

³⁴ Jerusalém, Jerusalém, que matas os profetas e apedrejas aqueles que te foram enviados. Quantas vezes eu desejei ajuntar teus filhos assim como uma galinha ajunta seus pintinhos debaixo de suas asas, mas tu não o quiseste. ³⁵ Eis que a vossa casa ficará abandonada. Eu vos digo que não me vereis até o momento em que direis: "Bendito é aquele que vem em nome do Senhor".

Capítulo 14

¹ E aconteceu que num sábado, quando Ele entrou na casa de um dos líderes dos fariseus para comer pão, eles o estavam observando com atenção. ² Eis que havia diante Dele um homem que sofria de edema. ³ Jesus perguntou aos mestres da lei judaica e aos fariseus: "É permitido curar no sábado, ou não?"

⁴ Mas eles se mantiveram em silêncio. Então Jesus tomou-o, curou-o e o mandou ir. ⁵ E disse-lhes: "Qual de vós, se o seu filho ou seu boi cair em um poço, não irá imediatamente retirá-lo de lá, mesmo num dia de sábado?" ⁶ Diante disso, eles nada puderam responder.

⁷ Quando Jesus observou como aqueles que haviam sido convidados para uma festa escolhiam os assentos de honra, contou-lhes uma parábola, dizendo: ⁸ "Quando fores convidado para uma festa de casamento, não te assentes no lugar de honra, pois alguém mais honrado que tu pode ter sido convidado. ⁹ Para que não aconteça que, quando a pessoa que convidou a ti e a ele, venha a te dizer: 'Dê o lugar a este'. E então, envergonhado, tu terás de assentar-te no último lugar.

¹⁰ Pelo contrário, quando fores convidado, vai e assenta-te no último lugar, para que, quando aquele que te convidou vier, te diga: 'Amigo, ocupa um lugar mais elevado'. Então serás honrado na presença de todos os convidados. ¹¹ Pois todo aquele que se exalta será humilhado, e todo aquele que se humilha será exaltado".

¹² Jesus também disse ao homem que o convidou: "Quando ofereceres um jantar ou uma ceia, não convides teus amigos, nem teus irmãos, nem teus parentes, nem teus vizinhos ricos, de tal forma que eles também te convidem e te retribuam do mesmo modo.

¹³ Pelo contrário, quando ofereceres uma festa, convida os pobres, os aleijados, os paralíticos e os cegos, ¹⁴ e serás abençoado, porque eles não terão como te retribuir. Tu serás retribuído no dia da ressurreição dos justos".

¹⁵ Ao ouvir isso, um dos que estavam com Jesus à mesa, disse-lhe: "Bem-aventurado é aquele que comer pão no Reino de Deus!". ¹⁶ Jesus, porém, respondeu-lhe: "Certo homem preparou uma grande ceia e convidou a muitos. ¹⁷ À hora da ceia, ele enviou seu servo para dizer àqueles que haviam sido convidados: 'Vinde, pois tudo já está pronto'.

¹⁸ Mas todos, sem exceção, começaram a se desculpar. O primeiro disse-lhe: 'Comprei um campo e preciso vê-lo. Por favor, me desculpe'. ¹⁹ Outro disse: 'Comprei cinco juntas de boi, e vou experimentá-las. Por favor, me desculpe'. ²⁰ Ainda outro disse: 'Casei-me, por isso não posso ir'.

²¹ O servo voltou e anunciou todas essas coisas ao seu senhor. Então o senhor da casa, indignado, disse ao seu servo: 'Sai depressa pelas ruas e becos da cidade, traz até aqui os pobres, os paralíticos, os cegos e os aleijados e faze-os entrar'. ²² O servo disse: 'Senhor, o que me mandou fazer foi feito, e ainda há lugar'.

²³ O senhor disse ao seu servo: 'Vai pelas estradas e vielas e obriga as pessoas a entrarem, para que a minha casa fique cheia. ²⁴ Eu te digo que nenhum daqueles que foram convidados provará minha ceia'".

²⁵ Grandes multidões O acompanhavam. E Jesus voltando-se, disse-lhes: ²⁶ “Se alguém vem a Mim e não odeia seu próprio pai, mãe, esposa, filhos, irmãos e irmãs e até mesmo a sua própria vida, não pode ser Meu discípulo. ²⁷ Quem não carrega a sua própria cruz e Me segue não pode ser meu discípulo.

²⁸ Pois qual de vós, querendo construir uma torre, primeiro não se assenta para calcular os custos e ver se tem o que precisa para completá-la? ²⁹ Para não acontecer que, tendo colocado o alicerce e não sendo capaz de concluir, todos aqueles que virem a situação comecem a caçoar dele, dizendo: ³⁰ 'Este homem começou a construir e não foi capaz de terminar'.

³¹ Ou qual é o rei que, partindo para combater outro rei, não senta primeiro para se aconselhar sobre se é capaz de, com dez mil homens, lutar contra o outro rei que vem contra ele com vinte mil homens? ³² E, se não for capaz, enquanto o outro exército estiver ainda distante, ele envia uma delegação para pedir condições de paz. ³³ Assim, qualquer que entre vós não renuncia tudo quanto tem não pode ser Meu discípulo.

³⁴ O sal é bom, mas, se o sal perder o sabor, como se poderá restaurar-lhe o sabor? ³⁵ Não presta nem para o solo nem para adubo. É jogado fora. Aquele que tem ouvidos para ouvir, ouça”.

Capítulo 15

¹ E todos os cobradores de impostos e outros pecadores se aproximavam para ouvir Jesus. ² Os fariseus e os escribas murmuravam entre si, dizendo: “Este homem acolhe os pecadores e até come com eles”.

³ Então Jesus contou a seguinte parábola: ⁴ “Qual de vós que, possuindo cem ovelhas e em seguida perdendo uma delas, não deixa as noventa e nove no deserto e não vai atrás da perdida até que a encontre? ⁵ E, quando a encontra, a coloca sobre os ombros e regozija.

⁶ E quando ele chega em casa, convida os amigos e vizinhos, dizendo-lhes: 'Regozijai-vos comigo, porque achei a minha ovelha perdida'. ⁷ Digo-vos que, de igual maneira, haverá grande alegria no céu por um pecador que se arrepende, mais do que por noventa e nove justos que não necessitam de arrependimento.

⁸ Ou qual é a mulher que, tendo dez moedas de prata, se vier a perder uma delas, não acende uma lâmpada, varre a casa e busca diligentemente até que a encontre? ⁹ E quando ela a encontra, reúne as amigas e vizinhas, dizendo: 'Regozijai-vos comigo, porque achei a moeda que eu perdi'. ¹⁰ Da mesma maneira, eu vos digo, há júbilo na presença dos anjos de Deus por um só pecador que se arrepende”.

¹¹ Então Jesus disse: “Um homem tinha dois filhos, ¹² o mais novo deles disse ao pai: 'Pai, dá-me a parte dos bens que é minha por herança'. Assim, ele repartiu seu patrimônio entre eles.

¹³ Não muitos dias depois, o filho mais novo ajuntou tudo o que tinha, viajou para uma terra distante e ali desperdiçou seus bens comprando o que não precisava e gastando seu dinheiro com extravagâncias. ¹⁴ E, quando gastou tudo, houve uma grande fome naquele país, e ele começou a passar necessidade.

¹⁵ Ele começou a trabalhar para um dos cidadãos daquele país, que o enviou para seus campos, a fim de cuidar dos porcos. ¹⁶ E desejava comer as alfarrobas que os porcos comiam, pois ninguém dava comida para ele.

¹⁷ Mas ele caiu em si e disse: 'Quantos empregados de meu pai têm mais que suficiente para comer, e eu aqui morrendo de fome! ¹⁸ Irei ao meu pai e lhe direi: Pai, pequei contra o céu e contra ti. ¹⁹ Não sou digno de ser chamado teu filho, trata-me como um dos teus empregados'.

²⁰ Então o jovem partiu e foi ao seu pai. Enquanto ainda estava distante, o pai o avistou e, cheio de compaixão, correu em direção a ele, o abraçou e o beijou. ²¹ E o filho disse: 'Pai, pequei contra o Céu e contra ti, não sou digno de ser chamado teu filho'.

²² Então o pai disse aos seus empregados: 'Ide depressa e trazei a melhor túnica e cobri-o, colocai um anel em seu dedo e sandálias nos seus pés. ²³ Trazei também o novilho gordo e matai-o; comamos e celebremos uma festa! ²⁴ Pois meu filho estava morto e agora vivo está. Estava perdido e foi encontrado'. E todos celebraram.

²⁵ Enquanto isso o seu filho mais velho trabalhava no campo. Ao aproximar-se da casa, escutou barulho de música e dança. ²⁶ Ele chamou um empregado e perguntou o que estava acontecendo. ²⁷ O empregado respondeu: 'Seu irmão regressou para casa e, por esse motivo, seu pai matou o novilho mais gordo, porque ele retornou saudável e em segurança'.

²⁸ O filho mais velho ficou irado e não quis entrar. Então seu pai saiu e implorou para que ele entrasse. ²⁹ Mas o filho lhe respondeu, dizendo: 'Eis que todos esses anos trabalhei para ti como um escravo e nunca quebrei nenhuma de tuas regras; mesmo assim, o senhor nunca me deu um cabrito para eu fazer uma festa com meus amigos. ³⁰ Mas, quando o teu filho, que gastou todos os teus bens com prostitutas, regressou, o senhor matou para ele o novilho mais gordo'.

³¹ Mas o pai respondeu-lhe: 'Filho, tu sempre estás comigo e tudo o que é meu é teu. ³² Mas nós tínhamos que festejar e nos alegrar, porque teu irmão estava morto e agora está vivo, estava perdido e foi encontrado'".

Capítulo 16

¹ Jesus também disse aos seus discípulos: "Havia um certo homem rico o qual tinha um administrador, esse foi denunciado de desperdiçar os bens dele. ² Então o homem rico o chamou e disse: 'O que é isso que ouço falar a teu respeito? Presta contas da tua administração, pois tu não podes ser mais administrador'.

³ O administrador disse consigo mesmo: 'O que farei, já que o meu senhor está me tirando do trabalho de administrador? Eu não tenho forças para cavar e tenho vergonha de pedir. ⁴ Sei o que farei para que, quando eu for removido da administração, as pessoas venham me receber em suas casas'.

⁵ Então o administrador chamou cada um dos devedores do seu senhor e perguntou ao primeiro: 'Quanto deves ao meu senhor?'. ⁶ Ele disse: 'Cem batos de óleo de oliva'. E o administrador lhe disse: 'Toma a tua conta, senta-te depressa e escreve que deves cinquenta'. ⁷ Então o administrador disse ao outro: 'E tu quanto deves?'. E este lhe respondeu: 'Cem coros de trigo'. Ele lhe disse: 'Toma a tua conta e escreve oitenta'.

⁸ O senhor elogiou o administrador corrupto, porque ele agiu com astúcia. Pois os filhos deste mundo são mais astutos para com seu próprio povo do que os filhos da luz. ⁹ Eu vos digo: 'Fazei amigos para si mesmos por meio de riquezas injustas, para que quando elas acabarem, eles vos recebam nas moradas eternas'.

¹⁰ Quem é fiel no pouco também é fiel no muito, e quem é injusto no pouco também é injusto no muito. ¹¹ Sendo assim, se não fostes fiel usando as riquezas desse mundo, quem irá confiar a ti as verdadeiras riquezas? ¹² Se não fostes fiel com o dinheiro de outras pessoas, quem vos dará o vosso?

¹³ Nenhum servo pode servir a dois senhores, ou ele odiará um e amará o outro, ou ele se apegará a um e desprezará o outro. Não podeis servir a Deus e as riquezas".

¹⁴ Quando os fariseus, que eram amantes do dinheiro, ouviam essas coisas, ridicularizavam-no. ¹⁵ Mas Ele disse: “Vós vos justificais uns perante os outros, mas Deus conhece vossos corações. O que é exaltado entre os homens é detestável diante de Deus.

¹⁶ A Lei e os profetas vigoraram até a chegada de João. Desde então, o evangelho do Reino de Deus é pregado, e todos se esforçam para entrar nele. ¹⁷ Porém é mais fácil passar o céu e a terra do que um só acento de uma letra da Lei ser invalidada.

¹⁸ Aquele que repudiar sua mulher e casar-se com outra comete adultério, e quem se casa com a repudiada comete adultério.

¹⁹ E havia um homem rico, que se vestia de púrpura e linho fino e desfrutava diariamente de sua grande riqueza. ²⁰ Um pobre chamado Lázaro, estava jogado à sua porta, cheio de feridas. ²¹ Ele desejava comer do que caía da mesa do homem rico e até os cães vinham lamber suas feridas.

²² Aconteceu que o pobre morreu e foi levado pelos anjos para o seio de Abraão. O rico também morreu, foi sepultado ²³ e no Hades, sendo atormentado, ele ergueu os olhos e de longe viu Abraão e Lázaro reclinado no seio dele.

²⁴ Então ele clamou, dizendo: 'Pai Abraão, tem compaixão de mim, manda Lázaro molhar a ponta de seu dedo e com água resfrescar minha língua, porque estou aflito nesta chama'.

²⁵ Porém Abraão disse: 'Filho, lembra-te que, enquanto estavas vivo, tu recebestes as coisas boas, por outro lado Lázaro recebeu as coisas más. Mas agora Lázaro está consolado aqui, enquanto tu estás em agonia. ²⁶ Além do mais, um grande abismo foi colocado, para que aqueles que queiram cruzar daqui para o teu lado não consigam, e ninguém será capaz de cruzar daí para o nosso lado'.

²⁷ O homem rico disse: 'Eu te imploro pai Abraão, que o senhor o envie à casa de meu pai, ²⁸ pois eu tenho cinco irmãos e quero que eles sejam avisados sobre este lugar de tormento, pois eu temo que eles terminem aqui'.

²⁹ Mas Abraão disse: 'Eles tem Moisés e os Profetas, deixa que eles os ouçam'. ³⁰ E o homem rico respondeu: 'Não pai Abraão, mas se alguém dentre os mortos for até eles, arrepender-se-ão'. ³¹ Disse Abraão: 'Se eles não ouvem a Moisés e aos Profetas, tão pouco serão persuadidos por alguém que ressuscite dos mortos'".

Capítulo 17

¹ Jesus disse aos Seus discípulos: "É inevitável que escândalos venham, mas ai daquele por meio do qual essas coisas acontecem! ² Melhor seria se uma pedra de moinho fosse amarrada no seu pescoço, e ele lançado ao mar, do que fazer tropeçar a um desses pequeninos.

³ Ficai atentos. Se o teu irmão pecar, repreende-o; se ele se arrepender, perdoa-lhe. ⁴ Se ele pecar sete vezes contra ti no mesmo dia e se sete vezes retornar dizendo: 'Estou arrependido', perdoa-lhe!".

⁵ Os apóstolos disseram ao Senhor: "Aumenta em nós fé!" ⁶ O Senhor respondeu: "Se tivésseis fé como um grão de mostarda, diríeis a esta amoreira: 'Arranca-te pela raiz e planta-te no mar' e ela vos obedeceria!

⁷ E quem dentre vós, tendo um servo que trabalha a terra ou guarda os animais, lhe dirá quando ele voltar do campo: 'Vem logo e senta-te para comer'? ⁸ Ao contrário, não lhe dirá: 'Prepara-me a refeição, apronta-te, ponha um cinto em torno das tuas vestes e serve-me, até que eu tenha comido e bebido, e depois comerás e beberás'?

⁹ Será que ele deve agradecer ao servo porque este fez o que lhe foi ordenado? ¹⁰ Assim também vós quando fizerdes tudo o que vos foi ordenado, dizei: 'Somos servos inúteis, fizemos apenas o que devíamos fazer'".

¹¹ A caminho de Jerusalém, Jesus passava pela divisa entre Samaria e a Galileia. ¹² Entrando em uma certa aldeia, saíram-lhe ao encontro dez homens leprosos. Eles pararam distante Dele ¹³ e gritaram, dizendo: "Jesus, Mestre, tem misericórdia de nós".

¹⁴ Ao vê-los, disse-lhes: "Ide e mostrai-vos aos sacerdotes". E aconteceu que no caminho ficaram limpos. ¹⁵ Um deles, vendo que fora curado, voltou, glorificando a Deus em alta voz, ¹⁶ e prostrou-se aos pés de Jesus, dando-Lhe graças. Este era um samaritano.

¹⁷ Então Jesus perguntou: "Não foram dez os curados? Onde estão os nove? ¹⁸ Não houve outro que voltasse para dar glória a Deus, exceto este estrangeiro?". ¹⁹ E disse-lhe: "Levanta-te, vai, a tua fé te salvou".

²⁰ Certa vez, quando os fariseus perguntaram quando o Reino de Deus viria, Jesus respondeu-lhes: "A vinda do Reino de Deus não é algo que possa ser observado. ²¹ Nem dirão: 'Está aqui!' ou: 'Está ali!', porque o Reino de Deus está entre vós".

²² Jesus disse aos discípulos: "Virão dias em que desejareis ver um dos dias do Filho do Homem, e não o vereis. ²³ E eles vos dirão: 'Está aqui! Está ali! 'Não saiais, nem os sigais. ²⁴ Pois como o relâmpago brilha fortemente de uma extremidade a outra do céu, assim também será o Filho do Homem no Seu dia.

²⁵ Mas primeiro Ele tem que sofrer muitas coisas e ser rejeitado por esta geração. ²⁶ Assim como aconteceu nos dias de Noé, também acontecerá nos dias do Filho do Homem. ²⁷ Comiam, bebiam, casavam e davam-se em casamento, até o dia em que Noé entrou na arca, e veio o dilúvio e destruiu a todos.

²⁸ Do mesmo modo como aconteceu nos dias de Ló: comiam, bebiam, compravam, vendiam, plantavam, construíam. ²⁹ Mas, no dia em que Ló saiu de Sodoma, choveu fogo e enxofre do céu e destruiu a todos.

³⁰ Assim será no dia em que o Filho do Homem for revelado. ³¹ Naquele dia, quem estiver no terraço e tiver os seus bens em casa, não desça para buscá-los. E aquele que estiver no campo não volte atrás.

³² Lembrai-vos da mulher de Ló. ³³ Quem procura ganhar a sua vida irá perdê-la, mas quem perder a sua vida irá salvá-la.

³⁴ Digo-vos, naquela noite dois estarão numa cama, um será levado e outro será deixado. ³⁵ Duas mulheres estarão moendo grãos juntas, uma será levada e a outra será deixada". ³⁶ ¹ . ³⁷ E Lhe perguntaram: "Onde, Senhor?". Respondeu-lhes: "Onde há um corpo, ali os abutres também se ajuntarão".

¹Dois estarão no campo, um será levado e o outro será deixado (Este versículo não se encontra nos manuscritos mais antigos)

Capítulo 18

¹ Então Jesus contou uma parábola sobre como eles deveriam sempre orar e nunca desanimar: ² "Havia numa cidade um juiz que não temia a Deus nem respeitava as pessoas.

³ E havia, na mesma cidade, uma viúva que constantemente vinha ter com ele, dizendo: 'Faze-me justiça contra o meu adversário'. ⁴ Por muito tempo, ele não estava disposto a ajudá-la, mas depois disse a si mesmo: 'Embora eu não tema a Deus nem respeite os homens, ⁵ por causa dessa viúva que me aborrece, vou tratar de fazer justiça, de modo que ela pare de me incomodar'".

⁶ Então disse o Senhor: "Escutai o que diz o juiz injusto. ⁷ Não fará Deus justiça aos Seus escolhidos, que clamam a Ele dia e noite, mesmo que demore em ajudá-los? ⁸ Digo-vos que Ele rapidamente lhes fará justiça. Contudo, quando o Filho do homem vier, encontrará fé sobre a terra?".

⁹ Então Jesus contou a seguinte parábola para alguns que, convencidos de serem justos, desprezavam os outros: ¹⁰ "Dois homens subiram ao templo para orar, um era fariseu e o outro era um cobrador de impostos.

¹¹ O fariseu, posto em pé, consigo mesmo estas coisas orava: 'Deus, eu Te agradeço porque não sou como os demais homens, ladrões, injustos, adúlteros e nem como este cobrador de impostos. ¹² Jejuo duas vezes por semana e dou dízimo de tudo quanto ganho'.

¹³ Mas o cobrador de impostos, de pé, a distância, sem ousar levantar os olhos ao céu, batia em seu peito, dizendo: 'Deus, tem misericórdia de mim, pecador'. ¹⁴ Digo-vos que este homem retornou para sua casa justificado e o outro não, pois todo aquele que se exalta será humilhadom e todo aquele que se humilha será exaltado".

¹⁵ As pessoas também traziam-Lhe criancinhas, para que Ele as tocasse, mas quando os discípulos viram isso, as repreenderam. ¹⁶ Mas Jesus chamou-as dizendo: "Deixai vir a Mim as criancinhas, não as impeçais. Porque delas é o reino de Deus. ¹⁷ Em verdade vos digo, aquele que não receber o reino de Deus como uma criança, de maneira alguma entrará nele".

¹⁸ Certo homem de posição perguntou-Lhe: "Bom Mestre, o que devo fazer para herdar a vida eterna?" ¹⁹ E Jesus respondeu a ele: "Por que me chamas bom? Ninguém é bom, a não ser um, que é Deus. ²⁰ Tu sabes os mandamentos: não cometas adultério, não mates, não roubes, não dês falso testemunho, honra teu pai e tua mãe". ²¹ E ele disse: "Tudo isso tenho obedecido desde a minha juventude".

²² E Jesus ouvindo isso disse-lhe: “Uma coisa ainda te falta: vende tudo o que tens, distribui aos pobres e terás tesouro nos céus; depois, vem e segue-me". ²³ Mas, ouvindo estas coisas, o homem ficou muito triste, pois era extremamente rico.

²⁴ Então, ao ver a tristeza do homem ¹ , Jesus disse: "Como é difícil para os que têm riquezas entrar no reino de Deus! ²⁵ Pois é mais fácil um camelo passar pelo fundo de uma agulha do que um rico entrar no reino de Deus".

²⁶ Os que ouviram isso perguntaram: "Então, quem pode ser salvo?" ²⁷ Jesus respondeu: "As coisas que são impossíveis para as pessoas são possíveis para Deus".

²⁸ E Pedro disse: "Nós deixamos tudo o que tínhamos e O seguimos". ²⁹ Então Jesus lhes disse: "Em verdade vos digo que não há ninguém que tenha deixado casa, esposa, irmãos, pais ou filhos por causa do reino de Deus ³⁰ que não receberá muito mais nesse tempo e, no mundo vindouro, a vida eterna".

³¹ E tomando consigo os doze, lhes disse: "Estamos subindo a Jerusalém e então se cumprirão todas as coisas que foram escritas pelos profetas acerca do Filho do Homem. ³² Pois Ele será entregue aos gentios e será zombado e insultado e cuspirão nele. ³³ Depois de açoitá-Lo, irão matá-Lo e ao terceiro dia Ele ressuscitará".

³⁴ Eles não entenderam nada dessas coisas, essa palavra lhes era obscura e não compreendiam o que fora dito.

³⁵ Aconteceu que, quando Jesus se aproximava de Jericó, havia um cego sentado à beira do caminho, pedindo esmola. ³⁶ Ouvindo ele uma multidão passar, perguntou o que estava acontecendo ³⁷ e anunciaram-lhe que Jesus de Nazaré estava passando.

³⁸ Então o cego clamou, dizendo: "Jesus, filho de Davi, tem misericórdia de mim". ³⁹ Os que iam caminhando à frente o repreendiam para que se calasse. Mas ele gritava ainda mais: "Filho de Davi, tem misericórdia de mim".

⁴⁰ Jesus parou e ordenou que trouxessem o homem até Ele. Então, quando o cego se aproximou, Jesus perguntou-lhe: ⁴¹ "O que queres que Eu te faça?" Ele disse: "Senhor, que eu torne a ver".

⁴² E Jesus lhe disse: "Torna a ver. A tua fé te salvou". ⁴³ Imediatamente ele recuperou a visão e O seguiu glorificando a Deus. Vendo isso a multidão também louvou a Deus.

¹estudiosos estão divididos se deveria ser incluída aqui a frase: Ele entristeceu-se . Compare com o versículo 23

Capítulo 19

¹ Jesus entrou em Jericó e atravessava a cidade. ² Eis que ali havia um homem chamado Zaqueu, que era chefe dos cobradores de impostos e era rico.

³ Ele tentava ver quem era Jesus, mas não conseguia vê-Lo por cima da multidão, pois era de baixa estatura. ⁴ Então, Zaqueu correu à frente do povo e subiu num sicômoro para ver Jesus, pois Ele estava prestes a passar por ali.

⁵ Quando Jesus chegou àquele lugar, olhou para cima e disse-lhe: “Zaqueu, desce depressa porque hoje tenho que ficar em tua casa”. ⁶ Então, ele desceu rapidamente e O recebeu cheio de alegria. ⁷ Quando as pessoas viram isso, indignaram-se, dizendo: “Ele foi visitar um homem pecador”.

⁸ Zaqueu se levantou e disse ao Senhor: "Olha, Senhor, a metade dos meus bens eu darei aos pobres e se defraudei alguém em qualquer coisa, eu lhe restituirei quatro vezes mais”. ⁹ Jesus lhe disse: “Hoje a salvação chegou a esta casa, porque ele também é filho de Abraão. ¹⁰ Pois o Filho do Homem veio para buscar e salvar os que estão perdidos”.

¹¹ Enquanto eles ouviam essas coisas, Jesus continuou a falar. Contou-lhes uma parábola, por estar se aproximando de Jerusalém e porque as pessoas pensavam que o Reino de Deus apareceria imediatamente. ¹² Ele disse: "Um certo homem nobre partiu para uma terra distante a fim de tomar posse de um reino e voltar.

¹³ Ele chamou dez de seus servos, e deu-lhes dez minas e disse: 'Negociai até eu voltar'. ¹⁴ Mas seus concidadãos o odiaram e enviaram uma delegação atrás dele dizendo: 'Não queremos que este homem reine sobre nós'. ¹⁵ Após ter sido coroado rei, retornou e ordenou que chamassem os servos a quem havia dado o dinheiro, para saber qual lucro haviam tido nos negócios.

¹⁶ O primeiro veio diante dele dizendo: 'Senhor, tua mina rendeu mais dez minas'. ¹⁷ Respondeu-lhe: 'Muito bem, servo bom. Porque fostes fiel no pouco, tu terás autoridade sobre dez cidades'.

¹⁸ O segundo veio dizendo: 'Senhor, tua mina rendeu cinco minas'. ¹⁹ E o nobre lhe disse: 'Tu terás autoridade sobre cinco cidades'.

²⁰ E veio outro dizendo: 'Senhor, eis aqui tua mina que mantive em segurança embrulhada num lenço, ²¹ pois eu estava com medo de ti porque és um homem severo. Tu tiras o que não depositaste, colhes o que não semeaste'.

²² O nobre lhe disse: 'Por tuas próprias palavras te julgarei, servo mau. Sabias que sou um homem severo, que tiro o que não depositei e colho o que não semeei. ²³ Por que não colocaste o meu dinheiro no banco? Assim, no meu retorno, o receberia com juros.'

²⁴ E disse aos que estavam ali: 'Tirai dele a mina e dai-a ao que tem dez minas'. ²⁵ Eles lhe disseram: 'Senhor, ele já tem dez minas'.

²⁶ Eu vos digo: 'Ao que tem, mais lhe será dado, mas ao que não tem, até o que tem lhe será tirado. ²⁷ Quanto a esses inimigos meus, que não queriam que eu reinasse sobre eles, trazei-os aqui e degolai-os diante de mim'”.

²⁸ E tendo dito essas coisas, seguiu viagem adiante deles, subindo a Jerusalém.

²⁹ Aconteceu que, quando Ele chegou perto de Betfagé e de Betânia, junto ao monte que é chamado das Oliveiras, enviou dois dos discípulos, ³⁰ dizendo: “Ide ao próximo povoado. Assim que entrardes, encontrareis um jumentinho amarrado sobre o qual ninguém jamais montou. Desatai-o e trazei-o a Mim. ³¹ Se alguém perguntar: 'Por que o desatais?' Dizei: 'O Senhor necessita dele'”.

³² Os que foram enviados encontraram o jumentinho assim como Jesus lhes havia dito. ³³ Enquanto o desatavam, o dono lhes disse: “Por que estais desatando o jumentinho?” ³⁴ Eles responderam: “O Senhor necessita dele.” ³⁵ Eles o trouxeram a Jesus, colocaram seus mantos sobre o jumento e puseram Jesus sobre ele. ³⁶ À medida em que avançava, as pessoas estendiam seus mantos pelo caminho.

³⁷ E quando se aproximavam da descida do Monte das Oliveiras, toda a multidão de discípulos começou a se alegrar e a louvar a Deus em alta voz pelos atos poderosos que tinha visto, ³⁸ dizendo: “Bendito é o Rei que vem em nome do Senhor. Paz no céu e glória nas alturas!”

³⁹ Alguns dos fariseus em meio à multidão disseram-lhe: “Mestre, repreende os teus discípulos”. ⁴⁰ Jesus respondeu, dizendo: “Digo-vos, se estes se calarem, as pedras clamarão!”

⁴¹ Quando Jesus se aproximou da cidade, vendo-a, chorou por ela, dizendo: ⁴² “Se hoje conhecesses aquilo que te traz a paz! Mas agora estas coisas estão ocultas aos teus olhos.

⁴³ Porque sobre ti virão dias em que teus inimigos construirão trincheiras em teus arredores, te cercarão, te pressionarão por todos os lados. ⁴⁴ E arrasarão a ti, aos teus filhos dentro de ti. Não deixarão pedra sobre pedra porque não reconheceste o tempo em que foste visitada”.

⁴⁵ E entrando Jesus no templo, começou a expulsar os que vendiam, ⁴⁶ dizendo-lhes: “Está escrito: 'A minha casa será casa de oração', mas fizestes dela um covil de ladrões”.

⁴⁷ Jesus ensinava diariamente no templo. Mas os chefes dos sacerdotes, os escribas e os líderes do povo procuravam matá-Lo. ⁴⁸ Não encontravam, porém, uma maneira de fazê-lo, porque todo o povo O ouvia fascinado.

Capítulo 20

¹ Aconteceu que, certo dia, Jesus ensinava o povo no templo e pregava o evangelho; chegaram os chefes dos sacerdotes e os escribas, juntamente com os anciãos ² e Lhe perguntaram: “Dize-nos, com que autoridade Tu fazes estas coisas? E quem Te deu esta autoridade?”.

³ Ele lhes respondeu: "Eu também vos farei uma pergunta: Dizei-Me ⁴ o batismo de João era do céu ou dos homens?".

⁵ Eles discutiam entre si, dizendo: "Se respondermos: 'do céu,' Ele dirá: 'por que vós não crestes nele?' ⁶ Mas se dissermos: 'dos homens,' todo o povo nos apedrejará, pois está convencido de que João Batista era profeta".

⁷ Então eles responderam que não sabiam de onde era. ⁸ E Jesus lhes disse: "Nem eu vos direi com que autoridade faço estas coisas".

⁹ Jesus começou a contar ao povo esta parábola: “certo homem plantou uma vinha, arrendou-a a uns vinicultores e ausentou-se do país por muito tempo. ¹⁰ No devido tempo, ele enviou um servo aos vinicultores, para que lhe dessem do fruto da vinha. Mas eles o espancaram e o mandaram de volta de mãos vazias.

¹¹ Então enviou outro servo e a esse também espancaram, humilharam e o mandaram de volta de mãos vazias. ¹² Ele ainda enviou um terceiro, mas eles também o machucaram e o expulsaram.

¹³ Então o dono da vinha disse: 'Que farei? Enviarei meu filho amado. Talvez a ele respeitarão'. ¹⁴ Mas quando os vinicultores o viram, discutiram entre si, dizendo: 'Este é o herdeiro. Vamos matá-lo, para que a herança seja nossa'.

¹⁵ Eles o expulsaram da vinha e o mataram. Que lhes fará, então, o dono da vinha? ¹⁶ Ele virá e destruirá esses vinicultores e dará a vinha a outros”. Quando ouviram isso, disseram: "Que isso não aconteça!"

¹⁷ Mas Jesus fitando-os, disse: “O que quer dizer isto que está escrito: 'A pedra que os construtores rejeitaram tornou-se a pedra angular'? ¹⁸ Todo aquele que cair sobre esta pedra ficará em pedaços; aquele sobre quem ela cair será reduzido a pó”.

¹⁹ Naquela mesma hora, os escribas e os principais sacerdotes procuravam uma maneira de prendê-Lo, pois perceberam que a parábola que Ele havia contado era contra eles. Mas temiam o povo. ²⁰ E observando-O cuidadosamente, enviaram espiões, que se fingiam de justos, para ver se o apanhavam em alguma de Suas palavras, e assim entregá-Lo à jurisdição e à autoridade do governador.

²¹ Então eles O interrogaram, dizendo: “Mestre, sabemos que falas e ensinas corretamente, e não És influenciado pela aparência da pessoa, mas ensinas o caminho de Deus segundo a verdade. ²² Nos é lícito pagar impostos a César ou não?"

²³ Mas Jesus compreendeu a astúcia deles e disse: ²⁴ "Mostrai-me um denário. De quem é esta imagem e inscrição nele?” E eles responderam: "De César".

²⁵ Disse-lhes Jesus: “Então dai a César o que é de César e a Deus o que é de Deus”. ²⁶ E não puderam apanhá-Lo em palavra alguma diante do povo, mas admirados com Sua resposta, calaram-se.

²⁷ Aproximando-se alguns dos saduceus, que dizem que não há ressurreição, ²⁸ perguntaram-Lhe dizendo: “Mestre, Moisés nos deixou escrito que, se o irmão de alguém morrer, sendo casado e não tendo filhos, ele deve tomar por esposa a viúva e suscitar descendência ao seu irmão.

²⁹ Havia sete irmãos. O primeiro casou-se e morreu sem filhos; ³⁰ o segundo também ³¹ e depois o terceiro se casou com a viúva, e todos os sete, e também não deixaram filhos, e morreram. ³² Por fim, a mulher também morreu. ³³ Então, na ressurreição, de qual deles ela será esposa? Pois todos os sete a tiveram por esposa”.

³⁴ E disse-lhes Jesus: “Os filhos deste mundo se casam e se dão em casamento. ³⁵ Mas os que são julgados dignos de alcançar aquela era e obter a ressurreição dentre os mortos não se casarão e nem se darão em casamento. ³⁶ Eles nem podem morrer mais, pois são iguais aos anjos e são filhos de Deus, sendo filhos da ressurreição.

³⁷ Pois os mortos ressuscitarão, como também Moisés revelou no local da sarça ardente, onde ele chama o Senhor Deus de Abraão, o Deus de Isaque e o Deus de Jacó. ³⁸ Deus não é Deus de mortos, mas de vivos, pois para Ele todos vivem”.

³⁹ Alguns dos escribas disseram: “Mestre, respondeste bem”. ⁴⁰ Já não ousavam fazer-Lhe mais perguntas.

⁴¹ Mas perguntou-lhes Jesus: “Como podem dizer que o Cristo é filho de Davi? ⁴² Pois o próprio Davi diz no livro de Salmos: 'O Senhor disse ao meu Senhor: Assenta-te à minha direita, ⁴³ até que eu ponha teus inimigos por estrado dos teus pés'. ⁴⁴ Se Davi chama Cristo de 'Senhor', como é que Ele pode ser seu filho?”.

⁴⁵ E como todo o povo o ouvia, Ele disse aos Seus discípulos: ⁴⁶ “Cuidado com os escribas, que gostam de andar com túnicas, amam as saudações nas praças, os principais assentos nas sinagogas e os primeiros lugares nos banquetes, ⁴⁷ que devoram as casas das viúvas, com pretexto de longas orações. Esses receberão uma condenação mais severa".

Capítulo 21

¹ Jesus levantou os olhos e viu os ricos que lançavam suas ofertas no gazofilácio. ² E viu certa viúva pobre lançando ali duas pequenas moedas. ³ Então, disse: “Em verdade vos digo que esta viúva pobre deu mais do que todos eles. ⁴ Pois todos eles deram ofertas do que lhes sobrava. Mas esta viúva, da sua pobreza, deu tudo o que tinha para viver”.

⁵ E alguns falavam acerca do templo, como ele era adornado com lindas pedras e de ofertas provenientes de votos. ⁶ Então Jesus disse: “Quanto a estas coisas que vedes, dias virão em que não ficará pedra sobre pedra que não seja derrubada”.

⁷ Eles então Lhe perguntaram: "Mestre, quando acontecerão essas coisas? E qual será o sinal quando essas coisas estiverem para acontecer?” ⁸ Jesus respondeu: "Tende cuidado para não serdes enganados, pois muitos virão em Meu nome, dizendo: 'Eu sou ele' e 'O tempo está próximo'. Não os sigais. ⁹ Quando ouvirdes de guerras e revoluções, não vos assusteis, pois é necessário que primeiro aconteçam essas coisas, mas o fim não virá imediatamente”.

¹⁰ Então Ele disse: "Nação se levantará contra nação, reino contra reino. ¹¹ Ocorrerão grandes terremotos e, em vários lugares, fomes e pestes. Ocorrerão eventos terríveis e grandes sinais vindos do céu.

¹² Mas, antes de tudo isso, lançarão as mãos sobre vós e vos perseguirão, e sereis entregues às sinagogas e prisões e também sereis conduzidos à presença de reis e governadores por causa do Meu nome. ¹³ Isso resultará em oportunidades para vosso testemunho.

¹⁴ Portanto resolvei em vossos corações de não preparardes antecipadamente vossa defesa, ¹⁵ pois Eu vos darei as palavras e a sabedoria, às quais nenhum dos vossos adversários poderá resistir ou contradizer.

¹⁶ E sereis entregues também por pais, irmãos, parentes e amigos, e eles matarão alguns de vós. ¹⁷ E sereis odiados por todos por causa de Meu nome. ¹⁸ Mas nem um só fio de cabelo da vossa cabeça perecerá. ¹⁹ Na vossa perseverança, ganhareis as vossas almas.

²⁰ Quando virdes os exércitos cercarem Jerusalém, então sabei que sua desolação se aproxima. ²¹ Então os que estiverem na Judéia fujam para os montes, e os que estiverem no meio da cidade saiam, e os que estiverem nos campos não entrem nela. ²² Porque estes são dias de vingança, em cumprimento de tudo que foi escrito.

²³ Ai daquelas que estiverem grávidas e das que estiverem amamentando naqueles dias! Pois haverá grande aflição sobre a terra e ira contra este povo. ²⁴ E morrerão a fio de espada e serão levados cativos para todas as nações, e Jerusalém será pisada pelos gentios, até que os tempos deles sejam cumpridos.

²⁵ E haverá sinais no sol, na lua e nas estrelas. Sobre a terra, haverá angústia entre as nações, desesperadas pelo bramido e a agitação do mar e das ondas. ²⁶ Haverá homens desmaiando de medo, na expectativa das coisas que sobrevirão ao mundo. Pois os poderes dos céus serão abalados.

²⁷ Então eles verão o Filho do Homem vir numa nuvem, com poder e grande glória. ²⁸ Mas, quando essas coisas começarem a acontecer, levantai e erguei as vossas cabeças, porque vossa redenção se aproxima”.

²⁹ E Jesus contou-lhes uma parábola: “Vede a figueira e as demais árvores. ³⁰ Quando elas dão brotos, por vós mesmos, sabeis que o verão já se aproxima. ³¹ Assim também vós, quando virdes essas coisas acontecendo, sabei que o reino de Deus está próximo.

³² Verdadeiramente eu vos digo, não passará esta geração até que todas essas coisas aconteçam. ³³ O céu e a terra passarão, mas as Minhas palavras jamais passarão.

³⁴ E tende cuidado de vós mesmos, para que vossos corações não estejam sobrecarregados com as consequências das orgias, da embriaguez e das preocupações da vida. Para que aquele dia não venha sobre vós repentinamente, como armadilha. ³⁵ Pois ele virá sobre todo ser vivente sobre a face da terra.

³⁶ Mas estai em alerta por todo o tempo, orando para terdes a força suficiente para escapar de todas essas coisas que acontecerão, e permanecerdes na presença do Filho do Homem".

³⁷ E, durante os dias, Ele estava ensinando no templo e à noite saía e pernoitava no monte que é chamado 'das Oliveiras'. ³⁸ Todas as pessoas vinham de manhã cedo ao templo para ouvi-Lo.

Capítulo 22

¹ Aconteceu que a festa dos Pães Sem Fermento, que se chamava Páscoa, aproximava-se. ² Os principais sacerdotes e os escribas discutiam como eles poderiam levar Jesus à morte, pois eles temiam o povo.

³ Satanás entrou em Judas Iscariotes, um dos doze. ⁴ E Judas foi discutir com os principais sacerdotes e os oficiais do templo sobre como ele poderia lhes entregar Jesus.

⁵ Eles se alegraram e combinaram em lhe dar dinheiro. ⁶ Ele consentiu e buscava uma oportunidade para entregá-Lo, longe da multidão.

⁷ Chegado o dia da festa dos Pães Sem Fermento, em que o cordeiro pascal deveria ser sacrificado, ⁸ Jesus enviou Pedro e João, dizendo: "Ide e preparai para nós a ceia da Páscoa, para que possamos comê-la". ⁹ Eles Lhe perguntaram: "Onde Tu queres que preparemos?".

¹⁰ Ele lhes respondeu: "Eis que, quando entrardes na cidade, um homem carregando um cântaro de água se encontrará convosco. Segui-o até a casa em que ele entrar. ¹¹ E dizei ao dono da casa: 'O Mestre te diz: Onde está a sala em que Eu irei comer a Páscoa com Meus discípulos?'.

¹² Ele lhes mostrará uma grande sala mobiliada no andar de cima. Fazei os preparativos lá". ¹³ Então eles foram e encontraram tudo como Ele lhes dissera. E prepararam a ceia pascal.

¹⁴ Quando a hora veio, Ele sentou-se com os apóstolos. ¹⁵ Então lhes disse: "Eu desejei grandemente comer convosco esta Páscoa antes que Eu sofra. ¹⁶ Pois Eu lhes digo: 'Eu não a comerei de novo, até que ela se cumpra no Reino de Deus'".

¹⁷ Então, Jesus tomou um cálice e, tendo dado graças, disse: "Tomai-o e compartilhai-o entre vós. ¹⁸ Pois Eu vos digo que não beberei do fruto da videira de novo, até que o Reino de Deus venha".

¹⁹ Então Ele tomou o pão e, havendo dado graças, o partiu e lhes entregou, dizendo: "Este é o Meu corpo, que é entregue por vós. Fazei isto em memória de Mim". ²⁰ Da mesma forma, após cear, Ele tomou o cálice, dizendo: "Este cálice é a nova aliança no Meu sangue, que é derramado por vós.

²¹ Mas eis que a mão daquele que está Me traindo está comigo à mesa. ²² Pois o Filho do Homem, de fato, faz como tem sido determinado. Mas ai do homem por quem Ele é traído!". ²³ E eles começaram a perguntar entre si qual deles seria que faria isto.

²⁴ Então levantou-se também uma contenda entre eles sobre quem seria considerado o maior. ²⁵ Ele lhes disse: "Os reis dos gentios têm domínio sobre eles, e aqueles que têm autoridade sobre eles são chamados benfeitores.

²⁶ Mas isso não deve ser assim entre vós. Ao invés disso, aquele que é maior entre vós seja como o mais jovem. E aquele que é o mais importante seja como o que serve. ²⁷ Pois qual é o maior, aquele que está sentado à mesa, ou aquele que serve? Não é aquele que está sentado à mesa? Porém, Eu estou no meio de vós como o que serve.

²⁸ Mas vós sois aqueles que têm permanecido comigo em Minhas provações. ²⁹ Eu lhes confiei um Reino, assim como Meu Pai o confiou a Mim, ³⁰ para que possais comer e beber à Minha mesa, no Meu Reino. E vos senteis sobre tronos julgando as doze tribos de Israel.

³¹ Simão, Simão, fica atento, Satanás pediu para tê-los, para peneirá-los como trigo. ³² Mas Eu roguei por ti, para que tua fé não falhe. E quando te converteres, fortalece teus irmãos".

³³ Pedro Lhe disse: "Senhor, eu estou pronto para ir contigo tanto para a prisão quanto para a morte". ³⁴ Jesus respondeu: "Eu te digo, Pedro, o galo não cantará neste dia, antes que, por três vezes, tenhas negado que me conheces".

³⁵ Então Jesus lhes disse: "Quando Eu vos enviei sem sacola, bolsa de provisões ou calçados, sentistes falta de algo?" E eles responderam: "Nada". ³⁶ Então Ele lhes disse: "Porém agora aquele que tiver uma sacola leve-a e também uma bolsa de provisões. Aquele que não tiver espada venda sua capa e compre uma.

³⁷ Pois Eu lhes digo que tudo que está escrito sobre Mim deve se cumprir: 'E ele foi considerado como um malfeitor'. Pois, tudo o que foi predito sobre Mim está se cumprindo". ³⁸ Então, eles disseram: "Senhor, eis aqui duas espadas". E Ele lhes disse: "É o suficiente".

³⁹ Após a ceia, Jesus saiu para o Monte das Oliveiras, como Ele costumava fazer, e Seus discípulos O seguiram. ⁴⁰ Quando eles chegaram, Ele lhes disse: "Orai para que não entreis em tentação".

⁴¹ Ele se afastou deles cerca de um arremesso de pedra e, ajoelhando-se, orou ⁴² dizendo: "Pai, se Tu queres, afasta de Mim este cálice. Entretanto não seja feita a Minha vontade, mas a Tua".

⁴³ Então, apareceu-Lhe um anjo do céu, fortalecendo-O. ⁴⁴ Estando em agonia, Ele orava ainda mais intensamente, e Seu suor tornou-se em grandes gotas como que de sangue caindo sobre o chão.

⁴⁵ Então, levantando-Se de Sua oração, Ele veio até os discípulos e os encontrou dormindo, por causa da tristeza deles, ⁴⁶ e perguntou-lhes: "Por que estais dormindo? Levantai e orai, para que não entreis em tentação".

⁴⁷ Enquanto Ele ainda falava, eis que uma multidão chegava com Judas, um dos doze, que vinha à frente e se aproximou de Jesus para beijá-Lo, ⁴⁸ mas Jesus lhe disse: "Judas, tu estás traindo o Filho do Homem com um beijo?".

⁴⁹ Quando aqueles que estavam ao redor de Jesus viram o que estava acontecendo, disseram: "Senhor, devemos feri-los a espada?". ⁵⁰ Então um deles feriu o servo do sumo sacerdote e cortou fora sua orelha direita. ⁵¹ E Jesus disse: "Basta, deixai-os". E Ele tocou-lhe a orelha e o curou.

⁵² Jesus disse aos principais sacerdotes, oficiais do templo e anciãos que vieram contra Ele: "Viestes como contra um ladrão, com espadas e pedaços de pau? ⁵³ Enquanto Eu estive diariamente convosco no templo, não pusestes as vossas mãos sobre Mim. Mas esta é a vossa hora e do domínio das trevas".

⁵⁴ Prendendo-O, levaram-No e trouxeram-No à casa do sumo sacerdote. Mas Pedro, a distância, seguiu. ⁵⁵ Mais tarde, eles acenderam um fogo no meio do pátio e sentaram juntos. Pedro sentou-se no meio deles.

⁵⁶ Certa criada o viu quando ele se sentava próximo à luz do fogo, olhou diretamente para ele e disse: "Este homem também estava com Ele". ⁵⁷ Mas Pedro negou, dizendo: "Mulher, eu não O conheço". ⁵⁸ Após um tempo, outra pessoa o viu e disse: "Tu também és um deles". Mas Pedro lhe disse: "Homem, eu não sou".

⁵⁹ Após cerca de uma hora, insistiu outro dizendo: "Verdadeiramente este homem também estava com Ele, pois Ele é galileu". ⁶⁰ Mas Pedro disse: "Homem, eu não sei do que estás falando". E imediatamente, enquanto ele falava, o galo cantou.

⁶¹ O Senhor se voltou e olhou para Pedro. E Pedro lembrou-se da palavra do Senhor, quando lhe disse: "Hoje, antes que o galo cante, tu me negarás três vezes". ⁶² Saindo, Pedro chorou amargamente.

⁶³ Então os homens que detinham Jesus zombavam Dele e batiam Nele. ⁶⁴ Após vendarem Seus olhos, perguntavam, dizendo: "Profetiza! Quem foi o que te bateu?" ⁶⁵ Eles blasfemavam falando muitas outras coisas contra Jesus.

⁶⁶ Tão logo o dia amanheceu, os anciãos do povo reuniram-se, ambos os principais sacerdotes e os escribas. Eles O levaram ao Conselho dos judeus, ⁶⁷ dizendo: "Se Tu és o Cristo, diga-nos". Porém Ele respondeu: "Se Eu vos disser, não acreditareis; ⁶⁸ se Eu vos perguntar, não respondereis.

⁶⁹ Mas, de agora em diante, o Filho do Homem estará assentado à direita do poder de Deus". ⁷⁰ Todos eles disseram: "Então, Tu és o Filho de Deus?". E Jesus lhes respondeu: "Vós dizeis que Eu Sou". ⁷¹ Eles disseram: "Por que nós ainda precisamos de testemunhas? Pois nós mesmos ouvimos de Sua própria boca".

Capítulo 23

¹ Então, todos os líderes dos judeus se levantaram contra Ele e O trouxeram a Pilatos. ² E começaram a acusar-Lo dizendo: “Encontramos este homem pervertendo a nossa nação, proibindo pagar os impostos a César, declarando que Ele mesmo é o Cristo, um rei”.

³ Pilatos perguntou-Lhe: “Tu és o Rei dos Judeus?”. E Jesus lhe respondeu: “Tu o dizes". ⁴ E disse Pilatos aos chefes dos sacerdotes e às multidões: “Não encontro nenhum crime neste homem”. ⁵ Mas eles insistiam, dizendo: “Ele agita o povo, ensinando por toda Judeia, começando desde a Galileia até aqui”.

⁶ Então Pilatos ouviu isso e perguntou se aquele homem era galileu. ⁷ Quando descobriu que Ele estava sob a autoridade de Herodes, enviou-O a este, que também estava em Jerusalém naqueles dias.

⁸ Quando Herodes viu Jesus, alegrou-se muito, porque, havia muito tempo, desejava vê-Lo. Ele ouvira falar sobre Jesus e desejava ver algum milagre realizado por Ele. ⁹ Herodes interrogava Jesus com muitas palavras, porém Este não lhe respondia nada. ¹⁰ Os chefes dos sacerdotes e os escribas se levantaram, acusando-O severamente.

¹¹ Herodes, com os seus soldados trataram-No com despreso e zombaram Dele, vestindo-O com uma túnica elegante e, em seguida, enviaram Jesus de volta a Pilatos. ¹² Pilatos e Herodes tornaram-se amigos um do outro naquele mesmo dia. Antes disso eram inimigos.

¹³ Pilatos, então, convocou os chefes dos sacerdotes, as autoridades do povo e a multidão, ¹⁴ e disse-lhes: “Vós me trouxestes este homem como alguém que está levando o povo a se rebelar, mas vejam: eu, tendo-O interrogado diante de vós, não encontrei culpa alguma neste homem a respeito das coisas sobre as quais vós O acusastes.

¹⁵ Nem mesmo Herodes, porque O enviou de volta. Vejam que Ele nada tem feito digno de morte. ¹⁶ Eu, portanto, irei castigá-Lo e soltá-Lo". ¹⁷ ¹ .

¹⁸ Mas eles gritaram todos juntos, dizendo: “Fora daqui com este homem e solta-nos Barrabás!”. ¹⁹ Barrabás era um homem que estava preso por causa de uma rebelião na cidade e também por assassinato.

²⁰ Outra vez falou Pilatos, desejando soltar a Jesus. ²¹ Mas eles gritaram, dizendo: “Crucifica-O, crucifica-O”. ²² E disse-lhes pela terceira vez: “Por quê? Que mal fez este homem? Eu não encontrei nada Nele que mereça a pena de morte. Logo, após castigá-Lo, eu vou liberá-Lo”.

²³ Mas eles gritaram insistentemente, pedindo que Ele fosse crucificado. E o clamor da multidão convenceu Pilatos. ²⁴ Então, Pilatos decidiu conceder a exigência deles. ²⁵ Ele soltou aquele que pediram, o qual havia sido colocado na prisão por motim e assassinato. Porém, entregou Jesus à vontade deles.

²⁶ Enquanto O levavam dali, pegaram um tal de Simão, da cidade de Cirene, que vinha do campo, e puseram a cruz sobre ele para carregá-la, seguindo Jesus.

²⁷ Uma grande multidão do povo e de mulheres que lamentavam e pranteavam por Ele O seguia. ²⁸ Mas voltando-se para elas, Jesus disse: “Filhas de Jerusalém, não choreis por Mim; chorai antes por vós mesmas e por vossos filhos.

²⁹ Eis que virão os dias em que dirão: 'Bem-aventuradas as estéreis e os ventres que não geraram, e os seios que não amamentaram'. ³⁰ Então, começarão a dizer aos montes: 'Caí sobre nós', e às colinas: 'Cobri-nos'. ³¹ Porque, se eles fazem isso quando a árvore ainda está verde, o que acontecerá quando ela estiver seca?”.

³² Outros homens, dois criminosos, foram levados com Jesus para serem mortos.

³³ Quando chegaram ao lugar chamado "Caveira", ali O crucificaram, bem como aos criminosos, um à Sua direita e outro à Sua esquerda. ³⁴ Jesus disse: “Pai, perdoa-lhes, eles não sabem o que fazem". E lançaram sortes, dividindo as Suas vestes.

³⁵ O povo ficou observando enquanto as autoridades também O ridicularizavam, dizendo: "Ele salvou outros, deixe que salve a Si mesmo, se Ele é o Cristo, O escolhido de Deus".

³⁶ Os soldados também zombavam Dele, oferecendo-Lhe vinagre, ³⁷ dizendo: “Se Tu és o Rei dos judeus, salva-Te". ³⁸ Havia também uma inscrição sobre Ele: “ESTE É O REI DOS JUDEUS".

³⁹ Um dos criminosos que foi crucificado, insultou-O dizendo: “Não és Tu o Cristo? Salva-Te a Ti mesmo e a nós". ⁴⁰ Mas o outro lhe respondeu e, repreendendo-o, disse: “Não temes a Deus, tu que estás sob a mesma condenação? ⁴¹ Nós, de fato, estamos aqui justamente, pois estamos recebendo o que merecemos por nossos atos. Mas este homem não cometeu mal algum".

⁴² E acrescentou: “Jesus, lembra-Te de mim, quando entrares no Teu reino”. ⁴³ Disse-lhe Jesus: “Em verdade te digo, ainda hoje tu estarás comigo no paraíso".

⁴⁴ Já era mais ou menos a hora sexta, e houve trevas sobre toda a terra até à hora nona, ⁴⁵ pois o sol deixou de brilhar e a cortina do templo foi rasgada ao meio.

⁴⁶ E, clamando em alta voz, Jesus disse: “Pai, em Tuas mãos entrego o Meu espírito”. Dito isso, Ele morreu. ⁴⁷ Quando o centurião viu o que acontecera, deu glória a Deus, dizendo: “Certamente este homem era justo".

⁴⁸ Quando todas as multidões vieram para ver o acontecimento, após o que viram, voltaram batendo no peito. ⁴⁹ Mas todos os conhecidos de Jesus, e as mulheres que O haviam seguido desde a Galileia permaneceram de longe, observando essas coisas.

⁵⁰ Eis que havia um membro do Conselho dos judeus chamado José, homem bom e justo, ⁵¹ de Arimatéia, uma cidade judia. Ele esperava pelo Reino de Deus (ele não havia concordado com a decisão e a ação do Conselho).

⁵² Esse homem, indo até Pilatos, pediu-lhe o corpo de Jesus. ⁵³ Ele O desceu, envolveu-O em um lençol de linho fino e O colocou em um túmulo escavado na pedra, onde ninguém havia sido colocado antes.

⁵⁴ Era o Dia da Preparação, e o Sábado estava para começar. ⁵⁵ As mulheres que andavam com Ele desde a Galileia viram o túmulo e como Seu corpo fora colocado ali. ⁵⁶ Elas voltaram e prepararam essências e perfumes. Então, no sábado repousaram conforme o mandamento.

¹Pilatos era obrigado a soltar um prisioneiro para os judeus durante a festa (Este versículo não se encontra nos manuscritos mais antigos)

Capítulo 24

¹ Mas, no primeiro dia da semana, alta madrugada, elas foram ao túmulo, levando as especiarias que haviam preparado. ² Elas encontraram a pedra do sepulcro removida; ³ mas, ao entrarem, não encontraram o corpo do Senhor Jesus.

⁴ E sucedeu que elas estavam perplexas sobre o ocorrido. Então, dois homens apareceram junto a elas com vestes resplandescentes. ⁵ As mulheres ficaram cheias de medo e, voltando o rosto para o chão, eles disseram para as mulheres: “Por que buscais entre os mortos Aquele que vive?

⁶ Ele não está aqui, ressuscitou! Lembrai-vos de como Ele falou a vós, quando ainda estava na Galileia, ⁷ dizendo que o Filho do Homem devia ser entregue nas mãos de homens pecadores e crucificado e, ao terceiro dia, ressuscitar”.

⁸ As mulheres se lembraram das palavras Dele. ⁹ E, voltando do túmulo, contaram todas essas coisas aos onze e a todos os demais. ¹⁰ Maria Madalena, Joana e Maria, mãe de Tiago, e as outras que estavam com elas relataram essas coisas aos apóstolos.

¹¹ Mas os apóstolos não acreditaram nas mulheres, essas palavras lhes pareciam como um delírio. ¹² Pedro, contudo, se levantou e correu para o túmulo. Curvando-se e olhando para dentro, viu apenas os lençóis de linho. Voltou para casa maravilhado com o que havia acontecido.

¹³ Naquele mesmo dia, dois deles estavam indo para uma aldeia chamada Emaús, a sessenta estádios de distância de Jerusalém. ¹⁴ E iam conversando sobre todas as coisas que haviam ocorrido.

¹⁵ Aconteceu que, enquanto eles discutiam e conversavam, o próprio Jesus se aproximou e começou a caminhar com eles. ¹⁶ Mas seus olhos estavam impedidos de reconhecê-Lo.

¹⁷ Perguntou-lhes Jesus: "Sobre o que conversais pelo caminho?". E pararam entristecidos. ¹⁸ Um deles, chamado Cléopas respondeu: "És tu o único peregrino que não sabes as coisas que aconteceram em Jerusalém nesses dias?".

¹⁹ Ele lhes disse: “Quais coisas?”. Eles responderam: “As que dizem respeito a Jesus de Nazaré, O qual foi um profeta poderoso em obras e palavras, diante de Deus e de todo o povo, ²⁰ e de como os chefes dos sacerdotes e as nossas autoridades O entregaram para ser condenado à morte e O crucificaram.

²¹ Nós esperávamos que fosse Ele quem libertaria Israel. No entanto, apesar disso, hoje é o terceiro dia desde que essas coisas aconteceram.

²² É verdade que algumas mulheres do nosso meio nos surpreenderam, tendo ido de madrugada ao sepulcro. ²³ E não encontrando o corpo de Jesus, voltaram dizendo que tiveram uma visão de anjos, os quais disseram que Ele vive. ²⁴ Alguns dos que estavam conosco foram ao túmulo e confirmaram o que as mulheres haviam dito; mas não O viram".

²⁵ Jesus, então, lhes disse: “Ó homens insensatos e tardios de coração para crer em tudo o que os profetas disseram! ²⁶ Não era necessário que o Cristo sofresse essas coisas e entrasse em Sua glória?”. ²⁷ Então, começando por Moisés e percorrendo todos os profetas, interpretou-lhes, em todas as Escrituras, o que dizia a respeito de Si próprio.

²⁸ Quando se aproximaram da aldeia, para onde se dirigiam, Jesus fez como quem seguiria adiante. ²⁹ Mas eles insistiram com Ele, dizendo: “Fica conosco, porque já é tarde e o dia está quase terminando". E entrou para ficar com eles.

³⁰ E, uma vez à mesa com eles, tomou o pão, abençoou-o, partiu-o e deu-o a eles. ³¹ Então, seus olhos foram abertos, eles O reconheceram, e Ele desapareceu da vista deles. ³² Eles disseram uns aos outros: “Não estava queimando o nosso coração, enquanto Ele nos falava durante o caminho e nos explicava as Escrituras?".

³³ Naquela mesma hora, levantaram-se e voltaram para Jerusalém. Eles encontraram os onze reunidos e os que estavam com eles, ³⁴ que disseram: “Verdadeiramente o Senhor ressuscitou e apareceu a Simão”. ³⁵ Então, contaram as coisas que aconteceram no caminho e como Jesus foi reconhecido por eles no partir do pão.

³⁶ Enquanto ainda falavam essas coisas, Jesus apareceu no meio deles e lhes disse: “A paz esteja convosco!". ³⁷ E ficaram assustados e com medo, pensando estar vendo um espírito.

³⁸ Mas Jesus disse: “Por que estais perturbados? Por que surgem dúvidas em vossos corações? ³⁹ Vede Minhas mãos e Meus pés, sou Eu mesmo! Tocai-Me e vede. Um espírito não tem carne nem ossos como vós vedes que Eu tenho". ⁴⁰ Tendo dito isso, mostrou-lhes as mãos e os pés.

⁴¹ E, como eles ainda não podiam acreditar, por causa da alegria e estando maravilhados, Jesus disse-lhes: “Vós tendes alguma coisa para comer?”. ⁴² Deram-Lhe um pedaço de peixe assado. ⁴³ Jesus tomou-o e comeu-o diante deles.

⁴⁴ Ele lhes disse: “Quando ainda estava convosco, vos dizia: era necessário que se cumprisse tudo o que estava escrito acerca de Mim na Lei de Moisés, nos Profetas e nos Salmos”.

⁴⁵ Então, lhes abriu o entendimento para que pudessem compreender as Escrituras. ⁴⁶ E lhes disse: “Assim está escrito que o Cristo haveria de sofrer e ressuscitar dentre os mortos ao terceiro dia. ⁴⁷ E que, em Seu Nome, fossem pregados o arrependimento e o perdão dos pecados a todas as nações, começando por Jerusalém.

⁴⁸ Vós sois testemunhas dessas coisas. ⁴⁹ Eis que Eu envio a promessa de Meu Pai sobre vós; mas esperai na cidade até que sejais revestidos do poder do alto”.

⁵⁰ Então, Jesus os conduziu para fora até perto de Betânia. E, erguendo Suas mãos, os abençoou. ⁵¹ Aconteceu que, enquanto Ele os abençoava, afastou-se e foi elevado ao céu.

⁵² Então, eles O adoraram e voltaram para Jerusalém com grande alegria. ⁵³ Eles estavam continuamente no templo, bendizendo a Deus.

John

Capítulo 1

¹ No princípio Aquele que é a Palavra já existia; e a Palavra estava com Deus; e a Palavra era Deus. ² Ele estava desde o princípio com Deus. ³ Todas as coisas foram feitas por intermédio Dele, e sem Ele nada do que foi feito se fez.

⁴ Nele estava a vida, e a vida era a luz dos homens. ⁵ A luz brilha nas trevas, e as trevas não prevaleceram contra ela.

⁶ Houve um homem enviado por Deus cujo nome era João. ⁷ Ele veio como testemunha para testificar a respeito da Luz, para que todos cressem por meio dele. ⁸ Ele não era a Luz, mas veio a fim de testificar da Luz.

⁹ Era a verdadeira Luz, que ilumina todo homem, que estava chegando ao mundo.

¹⁰ Ele estava no mundo, e o mundo foi feito por Ele, mas o mundo não O conheceu. ¹¹ Veio para o que era Seu, e os Seus não O receberam.

¹² Mas a todos que O receberam, os quais creram no Seu nome, deu-lhes o poder de se tornarem filhos de Deus, ¹³ os quais não nasceram do sangue, nem da vontade da carne, nem da vontade de homem, mas de Deus.

¹⁴ E a Palavra tornou-Se carne e habitou entre nós, e vimos a Sua glória, como a glória do Unigênito do Pai, cheio de graça e de verdade. ¹⁵ João testifica Dele e clama, dizendo: "Este é Aquele de quem eu disse: 'O que vem depois de mim é superior a mim, pois era antes de mim’”.

¹⁶ Porque da Sua plenitude todos recebemos graça sobre graça. ¹⁷ Pois a Lei foi dada por meio de Moisés, mas a graça e a verdade vieram por meio de Jesus Cristo. ¹⁸ Ninguém jamais viu a Deus. O único que, sendo Deus, estava junto ao seio do Pai, foi quem O revelou.

¹⁹ E este é o testemunho de João, quando os judeus lhe enviaram de Jerusalém sacerdotes e levitas a fim de interrogá-lo: "Quem és tu?". ²⁰ Ele afirmou claramente e não negou, mas confessou: "Eu não sou o Cristo". ²¹ Então lhe perguntaram: "Quem és tu, então? Tu és Elias?". Ele respondeu: "Não sou". Eles disseram: "Tu és o profeta?". Ele respondeu: "Não".

²² Então lhe disseram: "Diga-nos quem és, para que demos resposta àqueles que nos enviaram. O que dizes de ti mesmo?". ²³ Ele disse: "Eu sou a voz daquele que clama no deserto: 'Endireitai o caminho do Senhor', como o profeta Isaías disse".

²⁴ E aqueles que foram enviados eram dos fariseus. ²⁵ E lhe perguntaram: "Então, por que batizas, se não és o Cristo, nem Elias e nem o profeta?".

²⁶ João lhes respondeu: "Eu batizo com água; porém, no meio de vós, está Alguém que não conheceis. ²⁷ Esse é o que vem depois de mim, de Quem eu não sou digno de desatar as correias de Suas sandálias". ²⁸ Essas coisas aconteceram em Betânia, no outro lado do Jordão, onde João estava batizando.

²⁹ No dia seguinte, João viu Jesus aproximando-Se dele, e disse: "Eis o Cordeiro de Deus que tira o pecado do mundo! ³⁰ Foi a respeito Dele que eu disse: 'Aquele que vem depois de mim é superior a mim, pois existia antes de mim'. ³¹ Eu não O conhecia, mas, para que Ele fosse revelado a Israel, eu vinha batizando com água".

³² João testemunhou: "Eu vi o Espírito descendo do céu como pomba, e permaneceu sobre Ele. ³³ Eu não O conhecia; porém, Aquele que me enviou a batizar com água, disse-me: 'Aquele sobre Quem vires o Espírito descer e permanecer sobre Ele, Este é o que batiza com o Espírito Santo'. ³⁴ Eu vi e testemunhei que Esse é o Filho de Deus".

³⁵ No dia seguinte, João estava lá novamente com dois de seus discípulos; ³⁶ e, ao ver Jesus passando, disse: "Eis o Cordeiro de Deus!".

³⁷ Os dois discípulos ouviram o que João disse, e passaram a seguir Jesus. ³⁸ Jesus voltou-Se, viu que eles O seguiam, e disse-lhes: "O que quereis?". Eles responderam: "Rabi (que quer dizer 'mestre'), onde moras?". ³⁹ Ele diz-lhes: "Vinde e vereis". Foram, pois, e viram onde Jesus morava; e permaneceram com Ele naquele dia, pois já se aproximava da hora décima.

⁴⁰ André, irmão de Simão Pedro, era um dos que ouviram João falar e seguiram a Jesus. ⁴¹ Ele encontrou primeiro seu próprio irmão, Simão, e lhe disse: "Encontramos o Messias" (que traduzido significa 'Cristo'). ⁴² Ele o levou a Jesus. Olhando para ele, Jesus lhe disse: "Tu és Simão, filho de João. Serás chamado Cefas (que quer dizer 'Pedro')".

⁴³ No dia seguinte, quando Jesus foi para a Galileia, encontrou Filipe e lhe disse: "Segue-Me". ⁴⁴ Filipe era de Betsaida, a cidade de André e Pedro. ⁴⁵ Filipe encontrou Natanael e disse-lhe: "Aquele sobre O qual a Lei de Moisés e os profetas escreveram, nós O encontramos: Jesus, Filho de José, de Nazaré".

⁴⁶ Natanael perguntou: "Pode vir alguma coisa boa de Nazaré?". Filipe respondeu: "Vem e vê". ⁴⁷ Jesus viu Natanael se aproximando, e disse a seu respeito: "Eis aí um israelita em quem não há desonestidade!". ⁴⁸ Natanael Lhe perguntou: "De onde me conheces?". Jesus respondeu: "Antes que Filipe te chamasse, Eu te vi, quando estavas debaixo da figueira".

⁴⁹ Natanael respondeu: "Rabi, Tu és o Filho de Deus! Tu és o Rei de Israel!". ⁵⁰ Então Jesus lhe disse: "Porque te disse que havia te visto debaixo da figueira, crês? Tu verás coisas maiores do que essa. ⁵¹ Em verdade, em verdade vos digo que vós vereis os céus abertos, e os anjos de Deus subindo e descendo sobre o Filho do Homem".

Capítulo 2

¹ No terceiro dia, houve um casamento em Caná da Galileia, e a mãe de Jesus estava presente. ² Jesus e Seus discípulos também foram convidados para o casamento.

³ E, tendo acabado o vinho, a mãe de Jesus Lhe disse: "Eles não têm vinho." ⁴ Jesus respondeu: "Por que vens a Mim, mulher? O meu tempo ainda não chegou". ⁵ Sua mãe disse aos servos: "Fazei o que Ele vos disser".

⁶ Havia ali seis vasilhas de pedra usadas para a purificação dos judeus, cada uma armazenava entre oitenta e cento e vinte litros. ⁷ Jesus lhes diz: "Enchei as vasilhas com água". Eles as encheram até a borda. ⁸ Então, Ele disse aos servos: "Tirai um pouco e levai ao chefe de cerimônia". Assim o fizeram.

⁹ Quando o chefe de cerimônia provou a água transformada em vinho, ele não sabia de onde vinha (mas os servos que haviam tirado a água sabiam). Ele chamou o noivo ¹⁰ e disse-lhe: "Todos oferecem primeiro o vinho bom, e em seguida o vinho inferior, quando os convidados estiverem bêbados. Tu guardaste o vinho bom até agora".

¹¹ Este primeiro sinal, Jesus fez em Caná da Galileia, manifestando Sua glória, e Seus discípulos creram Nele.

¹² Depois disso, Jesus, Sua mãe, Seus irmãos e Seus discípulos desceram para Cafarnaum e permaneceram por alguns dias.

¹³ A Páscoa dos judeus estava próxima, então Jesus subiu a Jerusalém. ¹⁴ Ele encontrou no templo aqueles que vendiam bois, ovelhas, pombas e os cambistas ali sentados.

¹⁵ Jesus fez um chicote de cordas, e expulsou todos para fora do templo, incluindo as ovelhas, os bois; espalhou o dinheiro dos cambistas pelo chão, e virou as suas mesas. ¹⁶ Ele disse aos que vendiam pombas: "Tirai estas coisas daqui, e não façais da casa de Meu Pai um mercado".

¹⁷ Seus discípulos lembraram o que está escrito: "O zelo da Tua casa me consumirá”. ¹⁸ Logo, as autoridades dos judeus Lhe responderam: "Que sinal nos mostrarás visto que fazes estas coisas?". ¹⁹ Jesus respondeu: "Destruí este templo, e em três dias o reconstruirei".

²⁰ Disseram, então, os judeus: "Este templo levou quarenta e seis anos para ser construído, e Tu irás levantá-lo em três dias?". ²¹ Entretanto, Ele falava do templo do Seu corpo. ²² Tempos depois, quando Ele ressuscitou dos mortos, Seus discípulos lembraram-se do que Ele havia dito, e acreditaram nas Escrituras e nas palavras ditas por Jesus.

²³ Quando Ele estava em Jerusalém, durante a celebração da Páscoa, muitos acreditaram em Seu nome, pois viram os sinais miraculosos que Ele realizava. ²⁴ Entretanto, Jesus não confiava neles, pois conhecia a todos ²⁵ e não precisava de ninguém para testificar sobre o homem; pois Ele mesmo conhecia o que havia no homem.

Capítulo 3

¹ Havia um fariseu cujo nome era Nicodemos, um líder dos judeus. ² Ele veio até Jesus durante a noite e disse-Lhe: "Rabi, sabemos que és um mestre vindo de Deus, porque ninguém pode fazer estes sinais, a menos que Deus esteja com ele".

³ Jesus respondeu: "Em verdade, em verdade te digo: se um o homem não nascer de novo, ele não pode ver o reino de Deus". ⁴ Nicodemos disse-Lhe: "Como pode um homem nascer sendo já velho? Ele pode entrar uma segunda vez no ventre de sua mãe e nascer de novo?".

⁵ Jesus respondeu: "Em verdade, em verdade, te digo: quem não nascer da água e do Espírito não pode entrar no reino de Deus. ⁶ Aquele que é nascido da carne é carne, o que é nascido do Espírito é espírito.

⁷ Não te admires de eu te dizer: ‘Necessário vos é nascer de novo’. ⁸ O vento sopra onde quer, e ouves o seu som, mas não sabes de onde vem e nem para onde vai. Assim é todo aquele que é nascido do Espírito".

⁹ Nicodemos respondeu-Lhe dizendo: "Como pode ser isso?". ¹⁰ Jesus lhe respondeu: "Tu, que és mestre em Israel, não entendes estas coisas? ¹¹ Em verdade, em verdade, te digo: Nós falamos daquilo que sabemos, e testificamos do que temos visto; ainda assim vós não aceitais nosso testemunho.

¹² Se vos falei sobre coisas terrenas e não acreditastes, como acreditareis se vos contar sobre as coisas celestiais? ¹³ Ninguém jamais subiu ao céu, exceto Aquele que desceu do céu, o Filho do Homem.

¹⁴ Assim como Moisés levantou a serpente no deserto, o Filho do Homem deverá ser levantado, ¹⁵ para que todos que creiam Nele tenham vida eterna.

¹⁶ Porque Deus amou o mundo de tal maneira que deu o Seu Filho Unigênito, para que todo aquele que Nele crê não pereça, mas tenha a vida eterna. ¹⁷ Pois Deus não enviou o Seu filho ao mundo para condenar o mundo, mas para que o mundo fosse salvo por meio Dele. ¹⁸ Aquele que Nele crê não será condenado. O que não crê já está condenado, porque não crê no Nome do Unigênito Filho de Deus.

¹⁹ Este é o julgamento: que a Luz veio ao mundo, e os homens amaram mais as trevas que a Luz, porque suas obras eram perversas. ²⁰ Pois todo aquele que pratica o mal odeia a luz, e não vem para a luz para que suas obras não sejam expostas. ²¹ Entretanto, aquele que pratica a verdade vem para a luz, a fim de que se veja claramente que suas ações foram feitas em Deus.

²² Depois disso, Jesus e Seus discípulos foram para a região da Judeia, onde passou algum tempo com eles, e ali batizava. ²³ João também estava batizando em Enom, próximo a Salim, porque havia ali muita água, e as pessoas vinham até ele e eram batizadas, ²⁴ pois João ainda não havia sido lançado na prisão.

²⁵ E surgiu uma disputa entre alguns discípulos de João e um judeu sobre a cerimônia da purificação. ²⁶ Eles foram até João e disseram-lhe: "Rabi, O que estava contigo do outro lado do Jordão, sobre Quem tu testemunhaste, eis que Ele está batizando, e todos estão indo até Ele".

²⁷ João respondeu: "Ninguém pode receber nada, a não ser que lhe seja dado dos céus. ²⁸ Vós mesmos sois testemunhas de que eu disse: 'Eu não sou o Cristo', mas disse: 'Sou enviado adiante Dele'.

²⁹ A noiva pertence ao noivo, mas o amigo do noivo, que está presente e o ouve, alegra-se muito por causa da voz do noivo. Assim, pois, minha alegria é completa. ³⁰ É necessário que Ele cresça e eu diminua.

³¹ Aquele que vem do alto está acima de todos; o que vem da terra é da terra, e fala de coisas terrenas. Aquele que vem dos céus está acima de todos. ³² Ele testifica daquilo que ouviu e viu, mas ninguém aceita o Seu testemunho. ³³ Aquele que aceita o Seu testemunho confirma que Deus é verdadeiro.

³⁴ Pois Aquele que é enviado de Deus fala as palavras de Deus. Pois Seu Espírito é dado sem medida. ³⁵ O Pai ama o Filho e entregou todas as coisas na Sua mão. ³⁶ Aquele que crê no Filho tem a vida eterna, mas aquele que desobedece ao Filho não verá a vida, mas sobre ele permanece a ira de Deus".

Capítulo 4

¹ E quando Jesus soube que os fariseus tinham ouvido que Ele estava fazendo e batizando mais discípulos que João ² (embora Jesus mesmo não batizasse, mas os Seus discípulos), ³ deixou a Judeia e retornou para a Galileia.

⁴ Era necessário que Ele passasse por Samaria. ⁵ Então, veio a uma cidade de Samaria, chamada Sicar, perto das terras que Jacó havia dado a seu filho José.

⁶ Havia ali o poço de Jacó. Jesus estava cansado da viagem, e sentou-Se próximo ao poço. Era por volta da hora sexta. ⁷ Uma mulher samaritana veio tirar água, e Jesus lhe disse: "Dá-Me de beber"; ⁸ pois Seus discípulos haviam ido à cidade comprar comida.

⁹ Então, a mulher samaritana disse-Lhe: "Como Tu, sendo judeu, pedes a mim, que sou mulher samaritana, algo para beber?"; pois os judeus e os samaritanos não se davam bem. ¹⁰ Jesus respondeu: "Se tu conhecesses o dom de Deus, e quem é O que te diz: 'Dá-me de beber', tu é que Lhe pedirias, e Ele te daria a água viva".

¹¹ A mulher Lhe respondeu: "Senhor, Tu não tens um balde, e o poço é bem fundo; de onde tirarias essa água viva? ¹² Por acaso és Tu maior que o nosso pai Jacó, que nos deu o poço do qual ele mesmo bebeu com seus filhos e seu gado?".

¹³ Jesus respondeu: "Qualquer que beber desta água terá sede novamente; ¹⁴ mas qualquer que beber desta água que Eu lhe der, nunca mais terá sede. Pelo contrário, a água que Eu lhe der se tornará nele uma fonte de água que jorra para a vida eterna".

¹⁵ A mulher Lhe disse: "Senhor, dá-me dessa água, para que eu não tenha mais sede, e não tenha que vir aqui tirar”. ¹⁶ Jesus disse-lhe: "Vai, chama teu marido e volta aqui".

¹⁷ A mulher Lhe respondeu: "Não tenho marido". Jesus, então, disse-lhe: "Disseste bem: 'Eu não tenho marido', ¹⁸ pois já tiveste cinco, e o que tens agora não é teu! Nisto falaste a verdade".

¹⁹ Disse-Lhe a mulher: "Senhor, vejo que és profeta. ²⁰ Nossos pais adoravam neste monte, mas vós dizeis que Jerusalém é o lugar onde se deve adorar".

²¹ Jesus lhe respondeu: "Mulher, crê em Mim, que é chegado o tempo em que nem neste monte, nem em Jerusalém, adorareis o Pai. ²² Vós adorais o que não conheceis; nós adoramos o que conhecemos, pois a salvação vem dos judeus.

²³ Entretanto, está chegando a hora, e já chegou, em que os verdadeiros adoradores adorarão o Pai em espírito e em verdade, porque são esses os adoradores que o Pai tem procurado. ²⁴ Deus é Espírito, e aqueles que O adoram devem adorá-Lo em espírito e em verdade".

²⁵ Disse-Lhe a mulher: "Eu sei que o Messias está vindo, Aquele que é chamado 'Cristo'. Quando Ele vier, explicará tudo para nós". ²⁶ Disse-lhe Jesus: "Eu Sou, O que fala contigo".

²⁷ E naquele momento os Seus discípulos chegaram e ficaram admirados porque Ele falava com uma mulher; porém, nenhum deles Lhe perguntou: "O que procuras?" ou "Por que falas com ela?".

²⁸ Então a mulher deixou o seu pote, voltou para a cidade, e disse às pessoas: ²⁹ "Vinde, vede o homem que me contou todas as coisas que fiz. Não seria Este o Cristo?". ³⁰ Eles deixaram a cidade e vieram até Ele.

³¹ Enquanto isso, os discípulos estavam pedindo: "Rabi, come". ³² Mas Ele lhes disse: "Tenho uma comida para comer que vós não conheceis." ³³ Os discípulos perguntavam um ao outro: "Será que alguém Lhe trouxe algo para comer?".

³⁴ Jesus lhes disse: "Minha comida é fazer a vontade Daquele que Me enviou, e completar a Sua obra". ³⁵ Vós não dizeis: ‘Faltam ainda quatro meses para a colheita?’. Eu, porém, vos digo: levantai os olhos e vede os campos, pois já estão prontos para a colheita! ³⁶ Aquele que está colhendo recebe seu salário e ajunta fruto para a vida eterna, para que se alegrem juntos o que semeia e o que colhe.

³⁷ Assim, o ditado é verdadeiro: ‘Um semeia e o outro colhe’. ³⁸ Eu vos enviei para colher onde não trabalhastes; outros têm trabalhado, e vós tendes entrado no trabalho deles".

³⁹ Muitos dos samaritanos daquela cidade acreditaram Nele por causa do testemunho daquela mulher: "Ele me contou tudo que eu havia feito". ⁴⁰ Então, quando os samaritanos vieram até Ele, imploraram-Lhe que ficasse com eles, e Ele ficou ali dois dias.

⁴¹ E muitos mais creram por causa da palavra Dele. ⁴² Eles diziam à mulher: "Nós cremos, não por causa das suas palavras apenas, mas porque O ouvimos por nós mesmos, e agora sabemos que Este é realmente o Salvador do mundo".

⁴³ Depois daqueles dias, partiu para a Galileia; ⁴⁴ porque o próprio Jesus havia declarado que um profeta não tem honra na sua própria terra. ⁴⁵ Quando Ele chegou à Galileia, os galileus O receberam. Eles tinham visto todas as coisas que Ele havia feito em Jerusalém na festa, pois eles também tinham ido à festa da Páscoa.

⁴⁶ Veio novamente para Caná da Galileia, onde havia transformado água em vinho. Havia certo oficial do rei, cujo filho estava doente em Cafarnaum. ⁴⁷ Quando ele ouviu que Jesus havia deixado a Judeia e retornado para a Galileia, foi até Ele e implorou que descesse e curasse seu filho que estava à beira da morte.

⁴⁸ Jesus, então, disse-lhe: "Se não virdes sinais e maravilhas, vós não crereis". ⁴⁹ O oficial respondeu: "Senhor, desce comigo antes que meu filho morra". ⁵⁰ Jesus lhe disse: "Vai, teu filho vive". O homem creu na palavra que Jesus havia dito, e foi.

⁵¹ Enquanto ele estava descendo, seus servos o encontraram, dizendo que o seu filho estava vivo. ⁵² Então perguntou-lhes quando foi que ele tinha melhorado; e responderam: "Ontem à noite, à sétima hora, a febre o deixou".

⁵³ O pai reconheceu que aquela era a hora em que Jesus lhe havia dito: "O teu filho vive"; então ele e toda sua família creram. ⁵⁴ Este foi o segundo milagre que Jesus fez quando veio da Judeia para a Galileia.

Capítulo 5

¹ Depois disso, houve uma festa dos judeus, e Jesus subiu a Jerusalém. ² Existe em Jerusalém um tanque, perto da Porta das Ovelhas, que em aramaico se chama Betesda, e tem cinco entradas cobertas em volta. ³ Um grande número de pessoas doentes, cegos, mancos e paralíticos, costumava ficar por ali nas portas ¹ ⁴ ²

⁵ Certo homem, que estava enfermo havia trinta e oito anos, estava ali. ⁶ Vendo-o deitado e sabendo que estava ali por muito tempo, Jesus lhe perguntou: "Queres ser curado?”.

⁷ O homem enfermo respondeu: "Senhor, eu não tenho ninguém para me colocar no tanque, quando a água é agitada. Enquanto estou indo, outro passa à minha frente". ⁸ Jesus lhe disse: Levanta-te, pega a tua maca, e anda".

⁹ Imediatamente, o homem ficou são, pegou sua maca e andou. Aquele dia era um sábado.

¹⁰ Então, os judeus disseram ao homem que havia sido curado: "É sábado, e não te é permitido carregar a tua maca." ¹¹ O homem respondeu: "Aquele que me curou disse: 'Pega a tua maca, e anda'".

¹² Perguntaram-lhe: "Quem te disse: 'Pega a tua maca e anda?'". ¹³ Entretanto, o homem curado não sabia quem o curara, pois Jesus tinha se retirado secretamente por haver uma grande multidão ali.

¹⁴ Mais tarde, Jesus encontrou o homem no templo, e lhe disse: "Eis que ficaste saudável! Não peques mais, para que algo pior não te aconteça". ¹⁵ O homem se retirou e foi relatar aos judeus que Jesus é que o havia feito saudável.

¹⁶ Então, os líderes dos judeus perseguiam Jesus, porque Ele estava fazendo estas coisas no sábado. ¹⁷ Disse-lhes Jesus: "Meu Pai trabalha até agora, e Eu trabalho também". ¹⁸ Por esta razão, os judeus ainda mais queriam matá-Lo, não apenas por quebrar o sábado, mas por chamar Deus de Seu próprio Pai, fazendo-Se igual a Deus.

¹⁹ Jesus lhes respondeu: "Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo que o Filho não pode fazer nada por Si mesmo, apenas o que vê o Pai fazendo; pois o que o Pai faz, o Filho também faz. ²⁰ Porque o Pai ama o Filho, e mostra-Lhe tudo o que Ele mesmo faz, e mostrará coisas maiores que essas, e vós ficareis admirados.

²¹ Pois, assim como o Pai ressuscita os mortos e lhes dá vida, o Filho também dá vida a quem Ele quiser. ²² Portanto, o Pai a ninguém julga, mas Ele concedeu todo o julgamento ao Filho, ²³ para que todos honrem o Filho, tal como honram o Pai. E aquele que não honra o Filho, não honra o Pai que O enviou.

²⁴ Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo, que aquele que ouve as Minhas palavras e crê Naquele que Me enviou tem a vida eterna e não será condenado, mas passou da morte para a vida.

²⁵ Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo que virá o tempo, e já chegou, em que os mortos ouvirão a voz do Filho de Deus, e os que a ouvirem, viverão.

²⁶ Pois, assim como o Pai tem a vida em Si mesmo, da mesma maneira, Ele concedeu ao Filho ter a vida em Si mesmo, ²⁷ e o Pai deu ao Filho autoridade para exercer julgamento, porque Ele é o Filho do Homem.

²⁸ Não vos admireis com isso, pois está chegando o tempo em que aqueles que estiverem nos túmulos ouvirão a Sua voz e sairão: ²⁹ os que fizeram o bem, para a ressurreição da vida, e os que fizeram o mal, para a ressurreição do julgamento.

³⁰ Eu não posso fazer nada por Mim mesmo. Como ouço, julgo, e o Meu julgamento é justo porque não estou procurando fazer a Minha vontade, mas a vontade Daquele que Me enviou. ³¹ Se, sozinho, Eu der testemunho de Mim mesmo, o Meu testemunho não é verdadeiro. ³² Existe um Outro que testifica acerca de Mim, e Eu sei que o Seu testemunho sobre Mim é verdadeiro.

³³ Vós enviastes mensageiros a João, e ele testificou a verdade. ³⁴ Entretanto, o testemunho que Eu recebo não vem do homem. Eu digo estas coisas a fim de que vós sejais salvos. ³⁵ João era uma lâmpada que ardia e iluminava e, por um pouco de tempo, vos alegrastes com sua luz.

³⁶ Contudo, o testemunho que tenho é maior do que o de João, pois as obras que o Pai Me deu para realizar, as mesmas obras que faço, testificam de Mim que o Pai me enviou. ³⁷ O próprio Pai, que Me enviou, testificou a Meu respeito. Vós nunca ouvistes Sua voz, nem vistes Sua forma; ³⁸ e nem tendes a Sua palavra em vós, pois não credes Naquele que Ele enviou.

³⁹ Examinais as Escrituras porque acreditais ter nelas a vida eterna, e essas mesmas Escrituras testemunham a Meu respeito; ⁴⁰ mas não quereis vir a Mim para terdes vida.

⁴¹ Eu não recebo glória de homens, ⁴² mas sei que não tendes em vosso interior o amor de Deus.

⁴³ Eu vim em Nome de Meu Pai, e não Me recebestes; se outro qualquer vier em seu próprio nome, vós o recebereis. ⁴⁴ Como podeis crer, vós que recebeis glória uns dos outros, mas não buscais a glória que vem do único Deus?

⁴⁵ Não penseis que Eu mesmo vos acusarei perante o Pai. Aquele que vos acusa é Moisés, em quem pondes a vossa esperança. ⁴⁶ Se tivésseis crido em Moisés, creríeis em Mim, porque ele testemunhou a Meu respeito. ⁴⁷ Porém, se não crestes no que ele escreveu, como crereis em Minhas palavras?".

¹As melhores cópias antigas não têm a frase, esperando as águas se moverem .

²As melhores cópias antigas não têm o versículo 4, porque o anjo do Senhor descia e movia as águas de tempo em tempo, e qualquer que entrasse enquanto as águas se moviam, era curado de qualquer enfermidade .

Capítulo 6

¹ Após estas coisas, Jesus foi para o outro lado do mar da Galileia, também chamado o mar de Tiberíades. ² Uma grande multidão O estava seguindo, porque eles viam os sinais que Jesus fazia naqueles que estavam doentes. ³ Jesus subiu a encosta da montanha e lá sentou-Se com Seus discípulos.

⁴ A Páscoa, a festa dos judeus, estava próxima. ⁵ Quando Jesus olhou e viu uma grande multidão vindo em Sua direção, disse a Filipe: “Onde iremos comprar pão para estes comerem?” ⁶ Jesus disse isso para experimentar Filipe, porque Ele sabia o que estava prestes a fazer.

⁷ Respondeu-Lhe Filipe: "Duzentos denários em pão não seriam suficientes para que cada um recebesse ao menos um pouco". ⁸ Um dos discípulos, André, irmão de Simão Pedro, disse a Jesus: ⁹ "Há aqui um menino que tem cinco pães de cevada e dois peixes; mas o que é isto para tantos?".

¹⁰ Jesus respondeu: “Fazei o povo assentar-se". Havia muita grama naquele lugar. Então os homens se assentaram, em número de uns cinco mil. ¹¹ Então, Jesus tomou os pães e, depois de dar graças, deu-os aos que estavam sentados. De igual modo, Ele o fez com os peixes, tanto quanto queriam. ¹² Quando o povo se satisfez, Jesus disse a Seus discípulos: "Recolhei os pedaços que restaram para que nada seja desperdiçado".

¹³ Então, os discípulos ajuntaram e encheram doze cestas com os pedaços dos cinco pães de cevada, deixados por aqueles que haviam comido. ¹⁴ Quando as pessoas viram este sinal que Jesus fez, disseram: “Este é verdadeiramente O profeta que devia vir ao mundo”. ¹⁵ Quando Jesus percebeu que eles estavam prestes a vir e agarrá-lo à força para fazê-Lo rei, retirou-Se sozinho novamente para o monte.

¹⁶ Quando a noite chegou, Seus discípulos desceram ao lago. ¹⁷ E, tendo entrado em um barco, foram pelo mar rumo a Cafarnaum. Já estava escuro nessa hora, e Jesus ainda não havia vindo encontrá-los. ¹⁸ E, por causa de um forte vento que soprava, o mar estava ficando agitado.

¹⁹ Então, quando os discípulos tinham remado por volta de vinte e cinco ou trinta estádios, viram Jesus caminhando sobre o mar, vindo para perto do barco, e ficaram com medo. ²⁰ Mas Jesus lhes disse: “Sou Eu! Não temais". ²¹ Então, eles prontamente O receberam no barco, e imediatamente o barco chegou ao seu destino.

²² No dia seguinte, a multidão que estava do outro lado do mar viu que não havia nenhum outro barco lá, exceto um, e que Jesus não tinha entrado nele com Seus discípulos, mas que Seus discípulos tinham ido sozinhos. ²³ Contudo, havia alguns barcos que vieram de Tiberíades perto do lugar onde eles comeram o pão depois do Senhor ter dado graças.

²⁴ Quando a multidão descobriu que nem Jesus nem Seus discípulos estavam lá, entraram nos barcos e foram a Cafarnaum procurando por Ele. ²⁵ E encontrando-O no outro lado do Lago, disseram-Lhe: "Rabi, quando chegaste aqui?".

²⁶ Jesus lhes respondeu, dizendo: "Em verdade, em verdade, vós Me procurais, não porque vistes sinais, mas porque comestes dos pães e vos saciastes. ²⁷ Trabalhai não pela comida que perece, mas pela comida que permanece para a vida eterna, a qual o Filho do Homem vos dará, porque Deus, o Pai, O selou.

²⁸ Então, eles disseram a Jesus: "O que devemos fazer para realizar as obras de Deus?". ²⁹ Jesus respondeu: "Esta é a obra de Deus: que creiais Naquele que Ele enviou".

³⁰ Então, eles Lhe disseram: "Que sinal operas, para que vejamos e creiamos em Ti? O que fazes? ³¹ Nossos pais comeram do maná no deserto, como está escrito: 'Ele deu-lhes para comer o pão dos céus'".

³² Então, Jesus lhes respondeu: "Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo que não foi Moisés que vos deu o pão do céu, mas é o Meu Pai que vos dá o verdadeiro Pão de Deus. ³³ Porque o Pão de Deus é o que desce do céu e dá vida ao mundo”. ³⁴ Então eles disseram a Jesus: "Senhor, dá-nos sempre desse Pão".

³⁵ Jesus lhes disse: “Eu sou o Pão da Vida, aquele que vem a Mim não terá fome, e aquele que crê em Mim jamais terá sede. ³⁶ Mas, de fato, Eu vos disse que Me vistes, e ainda assim não crestes. ³⁷ Todo aquele que o Pai Me dá virá a Mim, e o que vem a Mim, Eu nunca o lançarei fora.

³⁸ Porque vim do céu, não para fazer Minha própria vontade, mas a vontade Daquele que Me enviou. ³⁹ E esta é a vontade Daquele que Me enviou, que Eu não perca nenhum de todos os que Ele Me deu, mas os ressuscite no último dia”. ⁴⁰ Porque esta é a vontade do Meu Pai, que todo o que vê o Filho e Nele crê, tenha a vida eterna; e Eu o ressuscitarei no último dia”.

⁴¹ Então, os judeus murmuravam a respeito Dele porque disse: "Eu sou o Pão que desceu do céu". ⁴² Eles diziam: "Não é Este Jesus, o Filho de José, cujo pai e mãe conhecemos? Como, pois, Ele diz: 'Eu desci do céu'?".

⁴³ Jesus respondeu-lhes: "Não murmureis entre vós. ⁴⁴ Nenhum homem pode vir a Mim, a menos que o Pai que Me enviou o traga, e Eu o ressuscitarei no último dia. ⁴⁵ Está escrito nos profetas: 'Todos eles serão ensinados por Deus. Todos que têm ouvido e aprendido do Pai vêm a Mim’.

⁴⁶ Não que alguém tenha visto o Pai, exceto Aquele que vem de Deus; Este viu o Pai. ⁴⁷ Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo que aquele que crê tem a vida eterna.

⁴⁸ Eu sou o Pão da Vida. ⁴⁹ Vossos pais comeram o maná no deserto, e morreram.

⁵⁰ Este é o Pão que desce do céu, para que aquele que comer Dele não morra. ⁵¹ Eu sou o Pão Vivo que desceu do céu. Se alguém comer deste Pão, viverá para sempre. O pão que Eu darei é a Minha carne para a vida do mundo”.

⁵² Os judeus ficaram irados entre si, e começaram a perguntar, dizendo: "Como Este pode nos dar a Sua carne a comer?". ⁵³ Jesus, então, disse-lhes: "Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo que se não comerdes a carne do Filho do Homem, e beberdes o Seu sangue, não tendes vida em vós mesmos.

⁵⁴ Quem come a Minha carne e bebe o Meu sangue tem vida eterna, e Eu o ressuscitarei no último dia. ⁵⁵ Porque Minha carne é verdadeira comida, e Meu sangue é verdadeira bebida. ⁵⁶ Aquele que come Minha carne e bebe Meu sangue permanece em Mim, e Eu nele.

⁵⁷ Assim como o Pai que vive Me enviou, e assim como Eu vivo por causa do Pai, aquele que de Mim se alimenta também por Mim viverá. ⁵⁸ Este é o Pão que desceu do céu, não como aquele que vossos pais comeram, e morreram. Aquele que comer este Pão viverá para sempre". ⁵⁹ Jesus disse essas coisas na sinagoga, enquanto ensinava em Cafarnaum.

⁶⁰ Então, muitos dos Seus discípulos, quando ouviram isto, disseram: "Dura é esta palavra; quem pode ouvi-la?". ⁶¹ Mas Jesus, sabendo por Si mesmo que Seus discípulos estavam murmurando sobre isso, disse-lhes: "Isto vos escandaliza?

⁶² E se virdes o Filho do Homem subindo para onde Ele estava antes? ⁶³ É o Espírito que dá vida. A carne não produz nada. As palavras que Eu vos tenho dito são espírito e vida.

⁶⁴ Ainda há alguns de vós que não creem". Porque Jesus sabia desde o início quem eram os que não criam e quem O havia de trair. ⁶⁵ Ele disse: "É por isso que vos disse que ninguém pode vir a Mim, a menos que isso lhe seja concedido pelo Pai".

⁶⁶ Depois disso, muitos dos Seus discípulos voltaram, e não mais andaram com Ele. ⁶⁷ Jesus, então, disse aos doze: "Vós não quereis também retirar-vos?" ⁶⁸ Simão Pedro Lhe respondeu: “Senhor, para quem iremos? Tu tens as palavras de vida eterna, ⁶⁹ e nós cremos e viemos a saber que és o Santo de Deus".

⁷⁰ Jesus respondeu: "Eu não vos escolhi a vós, os doze? Contudo, um de vós é um diabo". ⁷¹ Ele falava de Judas, o Filho de Simão Iscariotes, porque seria ele, um dos Doze, quem haveria de traí-Lo.

Capítulo 7

¹ Após estas coisas, Jesus viajou pela Galileia, pois não queria andar pela Judeia, porque os judeus desejavam matá-Lo. ² A festa judaica dos Tabernáculos estava próxima.

³ Disseram-Lhe, então, seus irmãos: "Deixa este lugar, e vai para a Judeia, assim os Teus discípulos poderão ver as coisas que Tu fazes; ⁴ porque ninguém faz nada em segredo quando quer ser conhecido publicamente. Se fazes essas coisas, mostra-Te para o mundo".

⁵ Pois nem mesmo os Seus irmãos acreditavam Nele. ⁶ Então, disse-lhes Jesus: "O Meu tempo ainda não chegou, mas o vosso tempo sempre está presente. ⁷ O mundo não pode vos odiar, mas odeia a Mim, porque Eu testifico que suas obras são más.

⁸ Subi vós à festa. Eu não subo porque o Meu tempo ainda não está cumprido". ⁹ Após dizer-lhes essas coisas, Ele permaneceu na Galileia.

¹⁰ Contudo, após Seus irmãos subirem para a festa, Ele também subiu; não publicamente, mas em secreto. ¹¹ Os judeus estavam procurando-O na festa, dizendo: "Onde Ele está?".

¹² Na multidão, havia várias opiniões sobre Ele. Alguns diziam: "Ele é um bom homem"; outros diziam: "Não; Ele engana as multidões". ¹³ Mesmo assim, ninguém falava abertamente sobre Ele, por medo dos judeus.

¹⁴ Quando a festa estava na metade, Jesus subiu ao templo e começou a ensinar. ¹⁵ Então, os judeus ficaram admirados, e diziam: "Como este homem sabe tanto sem nunca ter sido instruído?". ¹⁶ Jesus respondeu-lhes: "O Meu ensino não é Meu, mas Daquele que Me enviou.

¹⁷ Se alguém deseja realizar a Sua vontade, saberá sobre os Seus ensinos, se isso vem de Deus, ou se Eu falo de Mim mesmo. ¹⁸ Aquele que fala de si próprio procura sua glória, mas o que busca a glória daquele que o enviou, esse é verdadeiro, e não há injustiça nele.

¹⁹ Não foi Moisés que vos deu a Lei? Contudo, nenhum de vós a pratica. Por que procurais matar-Me?". ²⁰ A multidão respondeu: "Tens um demônio. Quem procura matar-Te?".

²¹ Jesus respondeu e disse-lhes: "Eu realizei uma só obra, e todos vós estais admirados com isso. ²² Moisés vos deu a circuncisão — não que isto tenha vindo de Moisés, mas dos patriarcas —, e no sábado circuncidais um homem.

²³ Se um homem é circuncidado no sábado, para que a Lei de Moisés não seja quebrada, por que estais enraivecidos por Eu ter curado um homem por completo no sábado? ²⁴ Não julgueis de acordo com a aparência, mas julgai corretamente".

²⁵ Alguns de Jerusalém diziam: "Não é Este a quem eles procuram matar? ²⁶ E eis que Ele fala abertamente, e nada Lhe dizem. Será que as autoridades reconheceram que Este é realmente o Cristo?” ²⁷ Sabemos de onde Ele é, mas quando o Cristo vier, ninguém saberá de onde Ele é".

²⁸ Então, Jesus levantou a voz no templo, ensinando e dizendo: "Vós Me conheceis e sabeis de onde sou; não venho de Mim mesmo, mas Aquele que Me enviou é verdadeiro, e vós não O conheceis. ²⁹ Eu O conheço porque venho Dele e Ele Me enviou".

³⁰ Então, eles procuravam prendê-Lo, mas ninguém Lhe pôs a mão porque a hora Dele não havia chegado. ³¹ Todavia, muitos da multidão criam Nele. Eles diziam: "Quando o Cristo vier, fará Ele mais sinais que Este homem tem feito?". ³² Os fariseus ouviram a multidão sussurrar essas coisas sobre Jesus, e os principais sacerdotes e os fariseus enviaram oficiais para prendê-Lo.

³³ Então, Jesus lhes disse: "Ainda estou convosco por um curto período de tempo, e então vou para Aquele que Me enviou. ³⁴ Vós Me buscareis, mas não Me encontrareis; e para onde vou, não podeis ir".

³⁵ Por esta razão, os judeus falavam entre si: "Para onde Este homem irá, que não seremos capazes de encontrá-Lo? Ele irá para a dispersão entre os gregos, para ensiná-los? ³⁶ O que significa esta palavra que Ele falou: 'Vós Me buscareis e não Me encontrareis; para onde vou, não podeis ir'?".

³⁷ Chegando o último dia, o grande dia da festa, Jesus levantou-Se e em alta voz disse-lhes: "Se alguém tem sede, venha a Mim e beba. ³⁸ Aquele que crê em Mim, como diz a Escritura, do seu interior fluirão rios de água viva".

³⁹ Ele disse isso sobre o Espírito que haviam de receber os que Nele cressem; o Espírito ainda não havia sido entregue, porque Jesus ainda não tinha sido glorificado.

⁴⁰ Alguns da multidão, quando ouviram essas palavras, disseram: "Este certamente é o Profeta". ⁴¹ Outros disseram: "Este é o Cristo". Mas alguns disseram: "Poderia o Cristo vir da Galileia? ⁴² A Escritura não diz que o Cristo virá da descendência de Davi, e de Belém, do povoado de onde era Davi?".

⁴³ Então, iniciou-se uma divisão entre a multidão por causa Dele. ⁴⁴ Alguns dentre eles queriam prendê-Lo, porém ninguém Lhe pôs a mão.

⁴⁵ Então, os oficiais vieram até os principais sacerdotes e fariseus, e estes lhes perguntaram: "Por que não O trouxestes?". ⁴⁶ Os oficiais responderam: "Ninguém jamais falou como Ele".

⁴⁷ Por isso, os fariseus responderam-lhes: "Vós também fostes enganados? ⁴⁸ Alguém de entre as autoridades ou algum dos fariseus acreditaram Nele? ⁴⁹ Mas a multidão, que não conhece a Lei, é maldita".

⁵⁰ Nicodemos, um dos fariseus que havia-se encontrado com Jesus anteriormente, disse-lhes: ⁵¹ "As nossas leis julgam um homem sem primeiro ouvi-lo ou saber o que ele faz?". ⁵² Eles responderam: "És também galileu? Procura e vê que nenhum profeta surge da Galileia".

⁵³ ¹ [Então, retornaram todos para suas casas.

¹Os manuscritos mais antigos omitem João 7:53—8:11.

Capítulo 8

¹ Jesus seguiu para o Monte das Oliveiras. ² De manhã cedo, foi novamente ao templo, e todo o povo veio até Ele; Ele se assentou e começou a ensiná-lo. ³ Os escribas e fariseus trouxeram uma mulher apanhada em adultério; colocando-a no meio de todos,

⁴ e disseram-Lhe: "Mestre, esta mulher foi apanhada em flagrante cometendo adultério. ⁵ A Lei de Moisés nos ordena que tais mulheres sejam apedrejadas; Tu, portanto, que dizes?". ⁶ Eles diziam isso para prová-Lo, para que tivessem algo para acusá-Lo, mas Jesus, inclinando-Se, começou a escrever no chão com o dedo.

⁷ Como insistissem na pergunta, Ele levantou-Se e disse-lhes: "Aquele que não tiver pecado, seja o primeiro a lhe atirar uma pedra". ⁸ Então, inclinou-Se novamente e voltou a escrever no chão com Seu dedo.

⁹ Quando ouviram isso, saíram um por um, começando pelos mais velhos; e Jesus foi deixado sozinho com a mulher ficando no meio. ¹⁰ Jesus Se levantou e disse-lhe: "Mulher, onde estão os teus acusadores? Nenhum te condenou?". ¹¹ Ela respondeu: "Nenhum, Senhor". Jesus disse: "Nem Eu te condeno. Vai e, a partir de agora, não peques mais.”] ¹

¹² Novamente Jesus lhes falou: "Eu sou a luz do mundo. Aquele que Me segue não andará em trevas, mas terá a luz da vida". ¹³ Os fariseus Lhe disseram: "Tu dás testemunho de Ti mesmo; o Teu testemunho não é verdadeiro".

¹⁴ Jesus respondeu-lhes: "Ainda que Eu dê testemunho de Mim mesmo, Meu testemunho é verdadeiro. Eu sei de onde vim e para onde vou, mas vós não sabeis de onde venho e nem para onde vou. ¹⁵ Vós julgais segundo a carne, Eu a ninguém julgo. ¹⁶ E se Eu julgo, Meu julgamento é verdadeiro, porque não estou sozinho, mas Eu estou com o Pai que Me enviou.

¹⁷ E na vossa Lei está escrito que o testemunho de dois homens é verdadeiro. ¹⁸ Eu dou testemunho de Mim mesmo, e o Pai que Me enviou dá testemunho de Mim".

¹⁹ Eles disseram: "Onde está o Teu Pai?" Jesus respondeu-lhes: "Vós não conheceis a Mim, nem a Meu Pai; se Me conhecêsseis, saberíeis quem é o Meu Pai”. ²⁰ Ele disse essas palavras perto da caixa das ofertas, quando ensinava no templo, e ninguém O prendeu porque Sua hora ainda não havia chegado.

²¹ E lhes disse outra vez: "Vou embora, e Me procurareis, mas morrereis em vosso pecado. Para onde vou não podeis ir". ²² E os judeus diziam: "Será que vai-Se matar? Pois diz: ‘Para onde vou, vós não podeis ir’”.

²³ E dizia-lhes: "Vós sois daqui de baixo, Eu sou lá de cima. Vós sois deste mundo, Eu não sou deste mundo. ²⁴ Por isso Eu vos disse que morrereis nos vossos pecados. Pois se não crerdes que EU SOU, morrereis nos vossos pecados”.

²⁵ Diziam-Lhe então: "Quem és Tu?". Jesus lhes respondeu: "O que Eu tenho lhes dito desde o princípio. ²⁶ Tenho muitas coisas para falar e para julgar a vosso respeito. Entretanto, Aquele que Me enviou é verdadeiro, e as coisas que Dele ouvi, essas coisas digo ao mundo”. ²⁷ Eles não entenderam que Ele falava do Pai.

²⁸ Jesus lhes disse, portanto: "Quando tiverdes levantado o Filho do Homem, então sabereis que EU SOU, e que nada faço por Mim mesmo; mas falo como o Pai Me ensinou. ²⁹ E Aquele que Me enviou está Comigo, e Ele não Me deixa sozinho, pois Eu sempre faço as coisas que Lhe agrada". ³⁰ Enquanto Jesus dizia essas coisas, muitos creram Nele.

³¹ Jesus disse aos judeus que creram Nele: "Se vós permanecerdes na Minha palavra, sereis verdadeiramente Meus discípulos. ³² E conhecereis a Verdade, e a Verdade vos libertará". ³³ Eles responderam: "Somos descendentes de Abraão, e nunca fomos escravos de ninguém, como podes Tu dizer: 'Sereis libertos'?".

³⁴ Jesus lhes respondeu: "Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo que quem comete pecado é escravo do pecado. ³⁵ O escravo não permanece na casa para sempre, mas o filho permanece para sempre. ³⁶ Portanto, se o Filho vos libertar, verdadeiramente sereis livres.

³⁷ Eu sei que sois descendentes de Abraão; vós procurais Me matar porque as Minhas palavras não encontram lugar em vós. ³⁸ Eu falo o que vi de Meu Pai, e vós fazeis o que ouvistes de vosso pai”.

³⁹ Eles responderam: "Nosso pai é Abraão". Jesus lhes disse: "Se fôsseis filhos de Abraão, faríeis as obras de Abraão. ⁴⁰ Contudo vós procurais matar-Me, que tenho lhes contado a verdade que ouvi de Deus; mas Abraão não fez isso. ⁴¹ Vós fazeis as obras de vosso pai". Eles disseram: "Nós não nascemos de imoralidade sexual; nós temos um Pai, Deus".

⁴² Jesus disse: "Se Deus fosse vosso Pai, vós Me amaríeis, pois venho de Deus, e aqui estou; porque não vim por Mim mesmo, mas Ele Me enviou. ⁴³ Por que vós não entendeis as Minhas palavras? É porque sois incapazes de compreender Minha palavra. ⁴⁴ Vós sois de vosso pai, o diabo, e vós quereis satisfazer vosso pai. Ele foi homicida desde o princípio, e não permaneceu na verdade, porque a verdade não estava nele. Quando ele fala uma mentira, fala o que vem de sua natureza, porque é mentiroso e pai da mentira.

⁴⁵ Mas, porque Eu falo a verdade, vós não credes em Mim. ⁴⁶ Quem dentre vós pode acusar-Me de algum pecado? Se digo a verdade, por que não credes em Mim? ⁴⁷ Aquele que é de Deus ouve as Suas palavras; por isso vós não ouvis, porque não sois de Deus".

⁴⁸ Os judeus responderam-Lhe: "Acaso não temos razão ao dizermos que Tu és samaritano e que tens demônio?". ⁴⁹ Jesus lhes respondeu: "Eu não tenho demônio; mas Eu honro o Meu Pai, e vós Me desonrais.

⁵⁰ Eu não busco Minha própria glória; há quem a procure e julgue. ⁵¹ Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo que, se alguém guarda a Minha palavra, jamais verá a morte".

⁵² Os judeus disseram-lhe: "Agora sabemos que tens demônio. Abraão e os profetas morreram, mas Tu dizes: 'Se alguém guardar a Minha palavra, nunca verá a morte'. ⁵³ Acaso, Tu és maior que nosso pai Abraão que morreu? Os profetas também morreram. Quem pretendes ser?".

⁵⁴ Jesus lhes respondeu: "Se Eu glorificasse a Mim mesmo, Minha glória não seria nada; é o Meu Pai Quem Me glorifica, Aquele que vós dizeis ser vosso Deus. ⁵⁵ Vós não O conheceis, mas Eu O conheço. Se Eu dissesse que Eu não O conheço, seria mentiroso como vós. Entretanto, Eu O conheço, e guardo a Sua palavra. ⁵⁶ Seu pai Abraão se regozijou ao ver o Meu dia; ele viu e se alegrou".

⁵⁷ Os judeus disseram: "Tu não tens nem cinquenta anos de idade, e viste Abraão?". ⁵⁸ Jesus lhes respondeu: "Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo que antes que Abraão existisse, EU SOU". ⁵⁹ Então, pegaram pedras para apedrejá-Lo, mas Jesus escondeu-Se e saiu do templo.

¹Veja a nota em João 7:53.

Capítulo 9

¹ Enquanto Jesus passava, viu um homem cego de nascença. ² Seus discípulos perguntaram-Lhe: "Rabi, quem pecou para que esse homem nascesse cego? Ele ou seus pais?".

³ Jesus respondeu: "Nem ele nem seus pais pecaram, mas foi para que as obras do Senhor fossem reveladas nele. ⁴ Devemos fazer a obra Daquele que Me enviou, enquanto ainda é dia. A noite está chegando, quando ninguém pode trabalhar. ⁵ Enquanto Eu estou no mundo, Eu sou a Luz do mundo".

⁶ Depois que Jesus disse essas coisas, cuspiu no chão, fez uma lama com sua saliva, e ungiu os olhos do homem com essa lama. ⁷ Jesus lhe disse: "Vai, lava-te no tanque de Siloé (que é traduzido como 'enviado')". Então o homem foi, lavou-se e voltou vendo.

⁸ Então, os vizinhos daquele homem que o viram anteriormente como pedinte diziam: "Não é este aquele que costumava sentar e mendigar?". ⁹ Alguns diziam: "É ele". Outros diziam: "Não, mas se parece com ele". Porém, ele dizia: "Sou eu".

¹⁰ Eles lhe disseram: "Mas, como teus olhos foram abertos?". ¹¹ Ele respondeu: "O homem chamado Jesus fez uma lama e ungiu meus olhos; então, me disse: 'Vai e lava-te no Siloé'. Então eu fui, lavei-me e passei a enxergar". ¹² Eles lhe disseram: "Onde está Ele?". Ele respondeu: "Eu não sei".

¹³ Trouxeram o homem que era cego para os fariseus. ¹⁴ Aquele dia era sábado, quando Jesus fez a lama e abriu seus olhos. ¹⁵ Mais uma vez os fariseus lhe perguntaram como havia recuperado a visão: "Ele colocou uma lama em meus olhos, eu os lavei, e agora posso ver", disse o homem.

¹⁶ Alguns dos fariseus disseram: "Esse homem não vem de Deus, pois, não guarda o sábado". Outros diziam: "Como alguém pode fazer tais sinais sendo pecador?". E houve uma divisão entre eles. ¹⁷ Então, perguntaram ao cego novamente: "O que dizes tu Daquele que te abriu os olhos?". O cego disse: "Ele é profeta". ¹⁸ Nesse momento, os judeus ainda não acreditavam que ele havia sido cego e tinha recebido a visão até que chamaram os pais do homem que havia passado a enxergar.

¹⁹ Eles perguntaram a seus pais: "É esse o vosso filho que nasceu cego? Como pode ele agora enxergar?". ²⁰ Seus pais então responderam-lhes: "Nós sabemos que esse é nosso filho, e que nasceu cego. ²¹ Como ele agora enxerga nós não sabemos. Perguntai a ele. Ele é adulto e pode responder por si".

²² Seus pais disseram isso porque eles tinham medo dos judeus, pois estes haviam concordado que qualquer um que confessasse a Jesus como Cristo deveria ser expulso da sinagoga. ²³ Por causa disso seus pais disseram: "Ele é adulto; pergunte a ele."

²⁴ Pela segunda vez, eles chamaram o homem que havia sido cego e disseram-lhe: "Dá glória a Deus! Nós sabemos que Esse Homem é pecador". ²⁵ Então aquele homem respondeu: "Se Ele é pecador ou não, eu não sei. Uma coisa eu sei: eu era cego e agora vejo".

²⁶ Então, disseram-lhe: "O que Ele fez por ti? Como Ele te abriu os olhos?". ²⁷ Ele respondeu: "Eu já vos disse, e vós não me ouvistes! Por que querem ouvir de novo? Por acaso também quereis fazer-vos Seus discípulos?". ²⁸ Eles o insultaram e disseram: "Tu és discípulo Dele; nós porém somos discípulos de Moisés. ²⁹ Sabemos que Deus falou a Moisés, mas Esse Homem não sabemos de onde vem".

³⁰ O homem respondeu-lhes, dizendo: "Ora, isso é surpreendente! Vós não sabeis de onde Ele é, e ainda assim Ele abriu os meus olhos. ³¹ Nós sabemos que Deus não escuta a pecadores, mas se alguém O adora e faz a Sua vontade, Deus o escuta.

³² Desde o início do mundo, nunca se ouviu que alguém tenha aberto os olhos de um homem nascido cego. ³³ Se Esse Homem não fosse enviado por Deus, Ele não poderia fazer coisa alguma". ³⁴ Eles responderam e disseram-lhe: "Nasceste em pecado, e agora estás nos ensinando?". Então, eles o expulsaram.

³⁵ Jesus ouviu que eles o haviam expulsado da sinagoga. Ele o encontrou e disse-lhe: "Crês no Filho do Homem?". ³⁶ Ele respondeu dizendo: "Quem é esse, Senhor, para que eu creia Nele?". ³⁷ Jesus disse-lhe: "Já O tens visto, e é O que fala contigo". ³⁸ O homem disse: "Senhor, eu creio". Então, adorou-O.

³⁹ Jesus disse: "Foi para julgamento que Eu vim a esse mundo, para que aqueles que não veem vejam, e aqueles que veem fiquem cegos". ⁴⁰ Alguns dos fariseus que estavam lá, O ouviram dizer essas coisas, e perguntaram-Lhe: "Nós também somos cegos?". ⁴¹ Jesus lhes disse: "Se fôsseis cegos não teríeis pecado. Porém, como dizeis: 'Nós vemos', então vosso pecado permanece.

Capítulo 10

¹ Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo que aquele que não entra pelo portão do aprisco, mas vem por outro caminho, esse é ladrão e assaltante. ² Aquele que entra pelo portão é o pastor das ovelhas.

³ Para ele, o porteiro abre; as ovelhas ouvem sua voz, ele chama suas ovelhas pelo nome, e as conduz para fora. ⁴ Depois de ter feito sair todas as que lhe pertencem, vai adiante delas, e as ovelhas o seguem, pois conhecem sua voz.

⁵ Elas não seguirão o desconhecido; mas, ao invés disso, irão evitá-lo, pois não conhecem a voz de estranhos". ⁶ Jesus lhes contava essas parábolas, mas eles não compreendiam o que lhes dizia.

⁷ Então, disse-lhes novamente: "Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo: Eu sou a porta das ovelhas. ⁸ Todos os que vieram antes de Mim são ladrões e assaltantes, mas as ovelhas não lhes ouviram.

⁹ Eu sou a Porta. Se alguém entrar por Mim, será salvo; entrará, sairá e achará pastagem. ¹⁰ O ladrão não vem senão para roubar, matar e destruir. Eu vim para que tenham vida, e a tenham em abundância.

¹¹ Eu sou o Bom Pastor. O bom pastor dá sua vida pelas ovelhas. ¹² Aquele que é mercenário e, não, pastor, a quem as ovelhas não pertencem, quando vê o lobo se aproximar, abandona-as e foge. E o lobo as arrebata e as dispersa. ¹³ Ele foge, porque é mercenário e não se importa com as ovelhas.

¹⁴ Eu sou o Bom Pastor, e conheço as Minhas ovelhas, e elas Me conhecem. ¹⁵ O Pai Me conhece, Eu conheço o Pai, e dou a Minha vida pelas ovelhas. ¹⁶ Tenho outras ovelhas que não são deste aprisco. A estas, devo também trazê-las, e elas ouvirão a Minha voz, para que haja um só rebanho e um só Pastor.

¹⁷ Por isso, o Pai Me ama: Eu dou Minha vida para reavê-la. ¹⁸ Ninguém a tira de Mim, mas Eu mesmo a dou. Tenho autoridade para dá-la e para tomá-la de volta. Recebi esse mandamento do Pai".

¹⁹ Surgiu uma nova divisão entre os judeus por causa dessas palavras. ²⁰ Muitos deles diziam: "Ele tem demônio, e é louco. Por que O escutais?". ²¹ Outros diziam: "Essas declarações não são de alguém possuído por demônio. Pode um demônio abrir os olhos de um cego?".

²² Era, então, a festa da Dedicação, em Jerusalém. ²³ Era inverno, e Jesus andava pelo templo, no Pórtico de Salomão. ²⁴ Então, um dos judeus aproximou-se Dele e Lhe disse: "Até quando nos deixarás em suspense? Se Tu és o Cristo, dize-nos francamente".

²⁵ Jesus respondeu: "Já lhes disse, mas vós não credes. As obras que Eu realizo em nome de Meu Pai dão testemunho de Mim. ²⁶ Vós não credes em Mim porque não sois Minhas ovelhas.

²⁷ As Minhas ovelhas ouvem a Minha voz; Eu as conheço, e elas Me seguem. ²⁸ Eu lhes dou vida eterna; jamais perecerão, e ninguém as tomará de Minha mão.

²⁹ Meu Pai, que as deu a Mim, é maior do que todos, e ninguém poderá tomá-las de Sua mão. ³⁰ Eu e o Pai somos Um". ³¹ Então, os judeus começaram a pegar em pedras novamente, a fim de apedrejá-Lo.

³² Jesus disse: "Tenho-lhes apresentado muitas boas obras da parte do Pai. Por qual delas vós Me apedrejais?". ³³ Responderam-Lhe os judeus: "Não é por causa das boas obras, mas pela blasfêmia, porque Tu, sendo homem, Te fazes Deus".

³⁴ Jesus lhes respondeu: "Não está escrito na vossa Lei: 'Eu disse: Vós sois deuses?'. ³⁵ Se Ele chamou de deuses àqueles a quem a Palavra de Deus veio — e a Escritura não pode ser anulada —, ³⁶ vós dizeis sobre Aquele a quem Deus santificou e enviou: 'Estás blasfemando', porque Eu disse: 'Sou o Filho de Deus'?

³⁷ Se Eu não faço as obras de Meu Pai, não creiais em Mim. ³⁸ Porém, se as faço, ainda que não creiais em Mim, crede nas obras, a fim de que saibais e reconheceis que o Pai está em Mim, e Eu Nele". ³⁹ Tentaram outra vez prendê-Lo, mas Ele se escapou de suas mãos.

⁴⁰ Jesus dirigiu-Se novamente para além do Jordão, para o local onde João batizava, e permaneceu lá. ⁴¹ Muitas pessoas vinham até Ele, e diziam: "João, na verdade, não fez nenhum sinal, mas todas as coisas que ele dizia sobre este homem são verdade". ⁴² Muitos ali creram em Jesus.

Capítulo 11

¹ Certo homem chamado Lázaro estava doente. Ele era de Betânia, povoado de Maria e de sua irmã Marta. ² Essa era a mesma Maria que havia ungido o Senhor com mirra e secado Seus pés com os cabelos, cujo irmão Lázaro estava doente.

³ As irmãs mandaram uma mensagem a Jesus, que dizia: "Senhor, aquele a quem amas está doente". ⁴ Quando Jesus ouviu isso, respondeu: "Essa doença não é para a morte, mas é para a glória de Deus, para que o Filho de Deus seja glorificado por meio dela".

⁵ Jesus amava a Marta, a sua irmã e a Lázaro. ⁶ Quando ouviu falar que Lázaro estava doente, permaneceu mais dois dias no local onde estava. ⁷ Depois disso, disse aos discípulos: "Vamos outra vez para a Judeia".

⁸ Os discípulos Lhe disseram: "Rabi, os judeus há pouco queriam apedrejar-Te, e mesmo assim queres voltar para lá?". ⁹ Jesus respondeu: "O dia não tem doze horas? Se alguém anda de dia, não tropeça, pois vê a luz do dia.

¹⁰ Entretanto, se ele anda à noite, tropeça, porque não há luz nele". ¹¹ Jesus disse essas coisas e, após dizer isso, disse-lhes: "Nosso amigo Lázaro dormiu, mas Eu irei lá para acordá-lo de seu sono".

¹² Os discípulos disseram-Lhe: "Senhor, se ele dorme, irá melhorar". ¹³ Jesus falava da morte de Lázaro, mas eles pensavam que Jesus estava falando do repouso do sono. ¹⁴ Então, Jesus lhes disse claramente: "Lázaro está morto.

¹⁵ Por vossa causa, alegro-Me por não ter estado lá, para que creiais. Mas vamos até ele". ¹⁶ Então, Tomé, chamado Dídimo, disse aos outros discípulos: "Vamos também para morrermos com Jesus".

¹⁷ Quando Jesus chegou, Ele descobriu que Lázaro já estava no sepulcro havia quatro dias. ¹⁸ Betânia era perto de Jerusalém, mais ou menos quinze estádios de distância. ¹⁹ Muitos judeus tinham vindo consolar Marta e Maria, por causa de seu irmão. ²⁰ Então Marta, quando soube que Jesus estava vindo, foi até Ele, mas Maria permaneceu em casa.

²¹ Marta, então, disse a Jesus: "Senhor, se estivesses aqui, meu irmão não teria morrido. ²² Mesmo agora, eu sei que qualquer coisa que pedires a Deus, Ele Te dará". ²³ Jesus respondeu a ela: "Teu irmão ressuscitará".

²⁴ Marta disse: "Eu sei que ele ressuscitará na ressurreição no último dia". ²⁵ Jesus lhe disse: "Eu sou a ressurreição e a vida, aquele que crê em Mim, mesmo que morra, viverá, ²⁶ e aquele que vive e crê em Mim nunca morrerá. Crês nisso?".

²⁷ Ela Lhe disse: "Sim, Senhor, eu creio que Tu és o Cristo, o Filho de Deus, que devia vir ao mundo". ²⁸ Ao dizer isso, ela se retirou e chamou Maria à parte, dizendo: "O Mestre está aqui, e está chamando a ti". ²⁹ Quando Maria ouviu isso, levantou-se depressa e foi ao Seu encontro.

³⁰ Jesus ainda não havia chegado no povoado, mas ainda estava no local onde Marta O encontrara. ³¹ Os judeus que a estavam consolando, ao notarem que Maria se levantou apressadamente e partiu, seguiram-na, pois supunham que ela iria ao sepulcro para ali chorar. ³² Maria, então, ao chegar onde Jesus estava, vendo-O, ajoelhou-se aos Seus pés dizendo: "Senhor, se estivesses aqui, meu irmão não teria morrido".

³³ Ao vê-la chorar assim, como também os judeus que a acompanhavam, Jesus ficou intensamente comovido em espírito. E, sob o impulso de profunda emoção, ³⁴ disse-lhes: "Onde o pusestes?". Eles responderam: "Senhor, vem e vê". ³⁵ Jesus chorou.

³⁶ Alguns judeus disseram entre eles: "Vede como Ele amava Lázaro". ³⁷ Já outros disseram: "Não poderia este Homem, que deu vista ao cego, fazer que também este homem não morresse?".

³⁸ Então Jesus, profundamente comovido, foi até o sepulcro. Era uma caverna com uma grande pedra posta na entrada. ³⁹ Jesus disse: "Tirai a pedra!". Marta, irmã de Lázaro, o que havia morrido, disse a Jesus: "Senhor, ele já está em decomposição, pois está morto há quatro dias". ⁴⁰ Jesus lhe respondeu: Eu não te disse que se creres, verás a glória de Deus?".

⁴¹ Então, removeram a pedra. Jesus olhou para os céus e disse: "Pai, agradeço por teres-Me ouvido. ⁴² Eu sei que sempre Me ouves, mas é por causa da multidão que está em pé à minha volta que Eu disse isso, para que creiam que Me enviaste".

⁴³ Depois de dizer essas coisas, Jesus exclamou em alta voz: "Lázaro, vem para fora!". ⁴⁴ O morto saiu com as mãos e os pés enfaixados, e o rosto coberto por um pano. Jesus ordenou-lhes: "Desamarrai-o e deixai-o ir".

⁴⁵ Então, muitos dos judeus que vieram visitar Maria, e viram o que Jesus fez, creram Nele; ⁴⁶ mas alguns deles foram até os fariseus, e contaram-lhes as coisas que Jesus havia feito.

⁴⁷ Então, os principais sacerdotes e os fariseus reuniram no Sinédrio, e disseram: "Que faremos? Esse Homem está fazendo muitos sinais milagrosos. ⁴⁸ Se O deixarmos assim, muitos crerão Nele; então, os romanos virão e nos tirarão o nosso lugar e a nossa nação".

⁴⁹ Entretanto, um deles, chamado Caifás, que naquele ano era o sumo sacerdote, tomou a palavra e disse-lhes: "Vós não sabeis de nada. ⁵⁰ Não estais levando em conta o fato de que é melhor para vós que um homem morra pelo povo, do que perecer a toda uma nação".

⁵¹ Ele não havia dito aquilo dele mesmo, mas, por ser o sumo sacerdote naquele ano, profetizou que Jesus morreria pela nação. ⁵² E não somente pela nação, mas também pelos filhos de Deus, que estão espalhados, para os reunir em um só povo. ⁵³ Então, daquele dia em diante, resolveram planejar como matar Jesus.

⁵⁴ Jesus não andava mais em público entre os judeus, mas retirou-Se para o interior, em uma região próxima do deserto, em um povoado chamado Efraim, onde Ele ficou com os Seus discípulos. ⁵⁵ A Páscoa dos judeus estava próxima, e muitos foram daquele lugar para Jerusalém, a fim de se purificarem.

⁵⁶ Então, eles procuravam Jesus, e diziam uns aos outros no templo: "Que vos parece? Será que Ele não virá à festa?". ⁵⁷ Os chefes dos sacerdotes e os fariseus haviam ordenado que, se alguém soubesse onde Jesus estava, que O denunciasse, para que eles O prendessem.

capítulo 12

¹ Seis dias antes da Páscoa, Jesus veio a Betânia, onde estava Lázaro, o qual Ele havia ressuscitado dentre os mortos. ² Então, ali fizeram com Ele um jantar, e Marta servia, e Lázaro era um dos que sentaram à mesa com Jesus. ³ Então, Maria pegou uma libra de perfume feito de puro nardo, muito precioso, ungiu os pés de Jesus com isso, e enxugou-Lhe os pés com seus cabelos; a casa encheu-se com a fragrância do perfume.

⁴ Judas Iscariotes, um de Seus discípulos, aquele que O havia de trair, disse: ⁵ "Por que este perfume não foi vendido por trezentos denários, e dado aos pobres?". ⁶ Ora, ele disse isso, não por causa do cuidado com os pobres, mas porque era ladrão; ele era encarregado da bolsa do dinheiro, e roubava o que ali se lançava.

⁷ Jesus disse: "Deixai-a, ela guardou isto para o dia do meu sepultamento”. ⁸ Os pobres vós sempre tereis convosco, mas nem sempre tereis a Mim".

⁹ E uma grande multidão de judeus soube que Jesus estava lá, e veio, não apenas por causa de Jesus, mas também para ver Lázaro, a quem Jesus havia ressuscitado dentre os mortos. ¹⁰ Os principais sacerdotes conspiraram juntos para também levar Lázaro à morte; ¹¹ porque foi por causa dele que muitos dos judeus se afastaram e creram em Jesus.

¹² No dia seguinte, uma grande multidão veio para a festa. Quando eles ouviram que Jesus vinha para Jerusalém, ¹³ trouxeram ramos de palmeiras, e saíram ao Seu encontro para saudá-Lo, gritando: "Hosana! Bendito o que vem em Nome do Senhor, o Rei de Israel".

¹⁴ Jesus encontrou um jumentinho, e montou nele, como está escrito: ¹⁵ "Não tenhas medo, filha de Sião; eis que teu Rei está vindo, sentado em um jumentinho".

¹⁶ Seus discípulos não entenderam essas coisas a princípio, mas, quando Jesus foi glorificado, então se lembraram de que essas coisas estavam escritas sobre Ele, e que assim fizeram a Ele.

¹⁷ Então, a multidão que estivera com Jesus quando Ele chamou Lázaro para fora do sepulcro e o ressuscitou dentre os mortos, deu testemunho para outros. ¹⁸ Foi também por esta razão que a multidão saiu para conhecê-Lo, porque ouviram que Ele havia feito este sinal. ¹⁹ Portanto, os fariseus disseram entre si: "Vede, vós não podeis fazer nada; eis que o mundo tem ido atrás Dele".

²⁰ Entre os que subiram para adorar na festa, estavam alguns gregos. ²¹ Esses foram para Filipe, que era de Betsaida na Galileia, e perguntaram-lhe dizendo: "Senhor, nós desejamos ver Jesus". ²² Filipe foi e falou a André; André foi com Filipe, e falaram a Jesus.

²³ Jesus lhes respondeu, dizendo: "Chegou a hora do Filho do homem ser glorificado. ²⁴ Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo que, se o grão de trigo que cai na terra não morrer, ele permanece só, mas, se ele morrer, produzirá muito fruto.

²⁵ Quem ama sua vida a perderá; mas quem odeia sua vida neste mundo a conservará para vida eterna. ²⁶ Se alguém quiser Me servir, siga-Me, e onde Eu estiver, lá Meu servo também estará. Se alguém Me serve, Meu Pai o honrará.

²⁷ Agora, minha alma está angustiada. E o que direi? 'Pai, salva-Me desta hora’?’ Mas por isso vim, para esta hora. ²⁸ Pai, glorifica o Teu nome". Então, uma voz saiu do céu, e disse: "Já O glorifiquei e novamente O glorificarei". ²⁹ Quando a multidão, que ali estava, ouviu isso, disse que foi um trovão. Outros disseram: "Um anjo Lhe falou".

³⁰ Jesus respondeu e disse: "Essa voz não veio por Minha causa, mas por vossa causa. ³¹ Agora é o julgamento deste mundo, e o príncipe deste mundo será expulso.

³² E quando Eu for levantado da terra, atrairei todos a Mim mesmo". ³³ Ele disse isso para referir-Se ao tipo de morte do qual morreria.

³⁴ A multidão Lhe respondeu: "Nós temos ouvido da Lei que o Cristo permanece para sempre. Como Tu dizes: 'O Filho do Homem será levantado?'. Quem é Este Filho do Homem?". ³⁵ Disse-lhes, então, Jesus: "Ainda por um pouco mais de tempo a Luz estará entre vós. Caminhai enquanto tendes luz, para que as trevas não vos surpreendam. Quem caminha na escuridão não sabe para onde vai. ³⁶ "Enquanto tendes luz, crede na luz, para que vos torneis filhos da luz". Jesus disse essas coisas e então partiu, e ocultou-Se deles.

³⁷ Embora Jesus tivesse feito muitos sinais diante deles, eles ainda não creram Nele, ³⁸ para que se cumprisse a palavra do profeta Isaías, que diz: "Senhor, quem creu em nossa pregação? E a quem foi revelado o braço do Senhor?".

³⁹ Por essa razão, eles não podiam crer, pois Isaías também disse: ⁴⁰ "Cegou-lhes os olhos, e endureceu-lhes o coração; para que não vejam com os olhos, nem entendam com o coração, e se convertam, e Eu os cure".

⁴¹ Isaías disse isso porque viu a Sua glória, e falou a respeito Dele. ⁴² Apesar de tudo, muitos dos líderes acreditaram em Jesus; mas por causa dos fariseus, eles não admitiram isso, para não serem banidos da sinagoga. ⁴³ Eles amavam a glória que vinha das pessoas mais do que a glória que vem de Deus.

⁴⁴ Jesus clamou e disse: "Quem crê em Mim, crê não somente em Mim, mas também Naquele que Me enviou, ⁴⁵ e o que Me vê, vê Aquele que Me enviou.

⁴⁶ Eu vim como luz ao mundo, de modo que todo aquele que crê em Mim não permaneça na escuridão. ⁴⁷ Se alguém ouve Minhas palavras, mas não as guarda, Eu não o julgo, pois vim, não para julgar o mundo, mas para salvar o mundo.

⁴⁸ Quem Me rejeita e não recebe Minhas palavras, já tem quem o julgue: a Palavra que Eu preguei, essa o julgará no último dia. ⁴⁹ Pois Eu não falei por Mim mesmo; ao contrário, o Pai que Me enviou, ordenou-Me o que dizer e o que falar. ⁵⁰ Eu sei que Seu mandamento é vida eterna; portanto, o que Eu digo é aquilo que o Pai Me mandou dizer".

Capítulo 13

¹ Ora, antes da festa da Páscoa, sabendo Jesus que Sua hora havia chegado para que passasse deste mundo para o Pai, tendo amado os Seus que estavam no mundo, amou-os até o fim. ² E durante a Ceia, o diabo já havia posto no coração de Judas Iscariotes, filho de Simão, que traísse Jesus.

³ Jesus sabia que o Pai havia dado todas as coisas em Suas mãos, e que Ele viera de Deus, e estava regressando para Deus. ⁴ Ele levantou-Se da ceia e tirou o manto. Então, pegou uma toalha e envolveu-a em Sua cintura. ⁵ Em seguida, Ele derramou água em uma bacia, e começou a lavar os pés dos discípulos, e enxugá-los com a toalha que Ele pusera ao redor da cintura.

⁶ Ele aproximou-Se de Simão Pedro, que Lhe disse: "Senhor, Tu lavarás meus pés?". ⁷ Jesus respondeu e disse-lhe: "O que Eu faço, tu não entendes agora, mas entenderás depois". ⁸ Pedro Lhe disse: "Tu nunca lavarás meus pés". Jesus respondeu-lhe: "Se eu não te lavar, tu não terás parte Comigo". ⁹ Simão Pedro Lhe disse: "Senhor, não laves somente os meus pés, mas também minhas mãos e minha cabeça".

¹⁰ Jesus lhe disse: "Quem já se banhou, não necessita lavar senão os seus pés, e está inteiramente limpo. Vós estais limpos, mas nem todos". ¹¹ Pois Jesus sabia quem O trairia. Foi por isso que disse: "Nem todos vós estais limpos".

¹² Depois que Jesus lavou os pés deles, tomou o manto, voltou à mesa, e perguntou-lhes: "Vós entendeis o que vos fiz? ¹³ Vós me chamais 'Mestre' e 'Senhor,' e fazeis bem, porque Eu o sou. ¹⁴ Se Eu então, o Senhor e Mestre, lavei os vossos pés, vós também deveis lavar os pés uns dos outros. ¹⁵ Pois Eu vos dei o exemplo, de modo que vós também deveis fazer como fiz convosco.

¹⁶ Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo: o servo não é maior do que seu mestre; nem o enviado é maior do que quem o enviou. ¹⁷ Se sabeis essas coisas, benditos sois se as praticardes. ¹⁸ Eu não estou falando sobre todos vós, pois sei aqueles a quem Eu escolhi; mas Eu digo isto para que as Escrituras se cumpram: 'Aquele que comia do Meu pão, levantou contra Mim seu calcanhar'.

¹⁹ Digo-vos isto agora, antes que aconteça, para que quando acontecer, creiais que Eu Sou. ²⁰ Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo: quem receber Aquele a quem Eu enviar, recebe a Mim; e quem Me receber, recebe Aquele que Me enviou".

²¹ Havendo dito isso, Jesus perturbou-Se em espírito, e testificou dizendo: "Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo que um de vós Me trairá". ²² Os discípulos olharam uns aos outros, imaginando de quem Ele falava.

²³ Um dos discípulos, a quem Jesus amava, estava reclinado sobre o peito de Jesus. ²⁴ Simão Pedro fez-lhe sinal pedindo: "Pergunta-Lhe de quem Ele está falando". ²⁵ Então aquele discípulo, reclinando-se sobre o peito de Jesus, perguntou-Lhe: "Senhor, quem é?".

²⁶ Então, Jesus respondeu: "É aquele a quem Eu der o pedaço de pão molhado". E, tendo molhado o pedaço de pão, deu-o a Judas, filho de Simão Iscariotes. ²⁷ E após comer o pão, Satanás entrou nele. Jesus então disse-lhe: "O que estás para fazer, faze-o depressa".

²⁸ Ninguém na mesa sabia a razão pela qual Jesus disse isso para ele. ²⁹ Sendo Judas o encarregado da bolsa do dinheiro, alguns pensavam que Jesus quis dizer-lhe: "Compra o que nós precisamos para a festa", ou que ele deveria dar alguma coisa aos pobres. ³⁰ Depois que Judas recebeu o pão, saiu imediatamente; e era noite.

³¹ Quando Judas saiu, Jesus disse: "Agora o Filho do Homem foi glorificado, e Deus foi glorificado Nele. ³² Deus O glorificará em Si mesmo, e logo O glorificará. ³³ Filhinhos, Eu estou convosco ainda que por pouco tempo. Vós Me procurareis, e como Eu disse aos Judeus: 'Para onde vou, vós não podeis ir.' Agora Eu digo isto para vós também.

³⁴ Um novo mandamento vos dou, que vós ameis uns aos outros; como Eu vos amei, então vós também deveis amar uns aos outros. ³⁵ Nisto todos saberão que vós sois Meus discípulos: se vos amardes uns aos outros".

³⁶ Simão Pedro Lhe disse: "Senhor, para onde vais?". Jesus lhe respondeu: "Para onde vou não podes seguir-Me agora, mas tu me seguirás depois". ³⁷ Pedro disse-Lhe: "Senhor, por que eu não posso Te seguir agora mesmo? Eu entregarei a minha vida por Ti". ³⁸ Jesus respondeu-lhe: "Darás a vida por mim? Em verdade, em verdade, te digo que o galo não cantará antes que tu Me negues três vezes".

Capítulo 14

¹ Não se perturbe o vosso coração. Credes em Deus; crede também em Mim. ² Na casa de Meu Pai há muitas moradas; se não fosse assim, Eu vos teria dito, pois vou preparar-vos um lugar. ³ E, se Eu for e vos preparar lugar, virei outra vez, e vos receberei para Mim mesmo, para que onde Eu estiver, estejais vós também.

⁴ Vós sabeis o caminho para onde vou". ⁵ Tomé disse a Jesus: "Senhor, não sabemos para onde vais. Como podemos saber o caminho?". ⁶ Jesus lhe disse: "Eu sou o Caminho, a Verdade, e a Vida; ninguém vem ao Pai senão por Mim. ⁷ Se vós tivésseis Me conhecido, teríeis conhecido também a Meu Pai; de agora em diante vós O conheceis e O tendes visto".

⁸ Filipe disse a Jesus: "Senhor, mostra-nos o Pai, e isso será suficiente para nós". ⁹ Jesus disse-lhe: "Estou há tanto tempo convosco, e ainda não Me conheces, Filipe? Quem vê a Mim, vê o Pai; como podes Me dizer: ‘Mostra-nos o Pai’?

¹⁰ Não crês que Eu estou no Pai, e que o Pai está em Mim? As palavras que Eu vos digo, não as digo por Minha própria autoridade; em vez disso, é o Pai que vive em Mim faz as Suas obras. ¹¹ Crede em Mim, que estou no Pai, e o Pai está em Mim; ou crede ao menos por causa das mesmas obras.

¹² Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo, que aquele que crê em Mim, também fará as obras que Eu faço, e as fará maiores do que Eu faço, porque Eu vou para o Pai. ¹³ Tudo quanto pedirdes em Meu nome, Eu o farei, para que o Pai seja glorificado no Filho. ¹⁴ Se Me pedirdes qualquer coisa em Meu nome, Eu o farei.

¹⁵ Se Me amardes, guardareis os Meus mandamentos. ¹⁶ Eu rogarei ao Pai, e Ele vos dará outro Consolador, a fim de que esteja para sempre convosco, ¹⁷ o Espírito da verdade, O qual o mundo não pode receber, porque não O vê nem O conhece. Vós, no entanto, O conheceis, pois Ele habita convosco, e estará em vós.

¹⁸ Eu não vos deixarei sozinhos; Eu voltarei para vós. ¹⁹ Dentro de pouco de tempo, o mundo não Me verá mais, mas vós Me vereis. Porque Eu vivo, vós também vivereis. ²⁰ Naquele dia, vós sabereis que Eu estou em Meu Pai, e que vós estais em Mim, e Eu em vós.

²¹ Aquele que tem os Meus mandamentos e os guarda, esse é o que Me ama; e aquele que Me ama será amado por Meu Pai, e Eu o amarei e Me manifestarei a Ele. ²² Judas (não o Iscariotes) perguntou a Jesus: "Senhor, por que Te manifestarás a nós, e não ao mundo?".

²³ Jesus lhe respondeu: "Se alguém Me ama, guardará a Minha palavra. Meu Pai o amará, e viremos a ele e faremos nele morada. ²⁴ Quem não Me ama, não guarda as Minhas palavras. A palavra que ouvis não é Minha, mas do Pai que Me enviou.

²⁵ Essas coisas vos tenho dito enquanto ainda estou convosco. ²⁶ Contudo o Consolador, o Espírito Santo, a Quem o Pai enviará em Meu nome, Ele vos ensinará todas as coisas e vos lembrará de tudo o que Eu vos falei. ²⁷ Deixo-vos a paz, a Minha paz vos dou. Eu não a dou como o mundo a dá. Não se perturbe vosso coração, nem tenha medo.

²⁸ Ouvistes o que Eu vos disse: 'Irei e voltarei para vós'. Se Me amásseis ficaríeis alegres, porque Eu vou para o Pai; pois o Pai é maior do que Eu. ²⁹ Eu vos digo isso agora, antes que aconteça, para que, quando acontecer, creiais. ³⁰ Já não falarei convosco, pois o príncipe deste mundo está chegando, e ele não tem poder sobre Mim. ³¹ Mas, para que o mundo saiba que Eu amo o Pai, faço aquilo que o Pai Me mandou. Levantai-vos, vamos deixar este lugar".

Capítulo 15

¹ "Eu sou a videira verdadeira, e meu Pai é o agricultor. ² Todo o ramo que está em Mim e não produz fruto, Ele o corta; e todo ramo que produz fruto, Ele o limpa, para que produza mais fruto.

³ Já estais limpos pela palavra que Eu vos tenho falado. ⁴ Permanecei em Mim, e Eu em vós. Como o ramo não pode dar fruto por si mesmo se não permanecer na videira, assim também não podeis vós, se não permanecerdes em Mim.

⁵ Eu sou a videira, vós, os ramos. Aquele que permanece em Mim e Eu nele, esse dá muito fruto, pois sem Mim nada podeis fazer. ⁶ Se alguém não permanecer em Mim, é lançado fora como um ramo, e seca; e esses ramos são recolhidos, jogados ao fogo e queimados. ⁷ Se permanecerdes em Mim, e Minhas palavras permanecerem em vós, pedireis o que quiserdes, e vos será concedido.

⁸ Meu Pai é glorificado nisto: em que deis muito fruto; e assim provais ser Meus discípulos. ⁹ Como o Pai Me amou, assim Eu também vos amei. Permanecei no Meu amor.

¹⁰ Se guardardes os Meus mandamentos, permanecereis no Meu amor; do mesmo modo que Eu tenho permanecido nos mandamentos de Meu Pai e no Seu amor permaneço. ¹¹ Eu vos tenho dito essas coisas para que a Minha alegria esteja em vós, e a vossa alegria seja plena.

¹² Este é Meu mandamento: que vos ameis uns aos outros como Eu vos amei. ¹³ Ninguém tem maior amor do que aquele que dá a sua vida pelos seus amigos.

¹⁴ Vós sois Meus amigos se fizerdes o que Eu vos ordeno. ¹⁵ Já não vos chamo de servos, porque o servo não sabe o que o Seu Senhor faz. Eu vos tenho chamado de amigos, pois vos revelei tudo quanto ouvi de Meu Pai.

¹⁶ Não fostes vós que Me escolhestes; mas Eu vos escolhi e vos designei para que vades e deis fruto, e que o vosso fruto permaneça, a fim de que o Pai vos conceda tudo quanto pedirdes em Meu Nome. ¹⁷ Isto vos ordeno: amai-vos uns aos outros.

¹⁸ Se o mundo vos odeia, sabei que, antes de vós, ele odiou a Mim. ¹⁹ Se fôsseis do mundo, o mundo vos amaria como se pertencêsseis a ele; mas, porque vós não sois do mundo, e Eu escolhi tirar-vos do mundo, por esta razão o mundo vos odeia.

²⁰ Lembrai-vos da Palavra que Eu vos disse: 'O servo não é maior que o Seu Senhor'. Se perseguiram a Mim, também perseguirão a vós; se obedeceram à Minha Palavra, obedecerão também à vossa. ²¹ Eles farão todas essas coisas por causa do Meu Nome, pois não conhecem Aquele que Me enviou. ²² Se Eu não tivesse vindo e não tivesse lhes falado, não teriam pecado; mas agora não têm desculpa para os pecados deles.

²³ Aquele que Me odeia, também odeia a Meu Pai. ²⁴ Se Eu não tivesse feito entre eles essas obras que nenhum outro fez, não teriam pecado. Mas agora viram e odiaram tanto a Mim como a Meu Pai. ²⁵ Isso acontece para que a palavra que está escrita na Lei deles se cumprisse: 'Odiaram a Mim sem motivo'.

²⁶ Quando vier o Consolador, que Eu vos enviarei da parte do Pai, o Espírito da Verdade, que procede do Pai, Esse dará testemunho de Mim. ²⁷ E vós também testemunhareis, porque tendes estado Comigo desde o princípio.

Capítulo 16

¹ Eu vos disse essas coisas para não tropeçardes. ² Eles vos expulsarão das sinagogas. De fato, está chegando a hora em que todo aquele que vos matar pensará que oferece um culto a Deus.

³ Eles farão isso porque não conhecem nem o Pai, nem a Mim. ⁴ Eu vos disse essas coisas para que, quando a hora chegar, vos lembreis de como Eu vos falei a respeito delas. Eu não vos disse isso no princípio porque Eu estava convosco.

⁵ Contudo, agora Eu vou para Aquele que Me enviou; e ainda nenhum de vós Me perguntais: 'Para onde vais?'. ⁶ Mas porque Eu vos disse essas coisas, a tristeza encheu o vosso coração. ⁷ Contudo, Eu vos digo a verdade: é melhor para vós que Eu vá; pois se Eu não for, o Consolador não virá a vós; mas se Eu for, O enviarei a vós.

⁸ Quando o Consolador vier, convencerá o mundo a respeito do pecado, da justiça e do juízo. ⁹ Do pecado, porque eles não creram em Mim; ¹⁰ da justiça, porque Eu vou para o Pai, e vós não Me vereis mais; ¹¹ e do juízo, porque o príncipe deste mundo já está julgado.

¹² Ainda tenho muitas coisas para vos dizer; mas não as entenderíeis agora. ¹³ Contudo, quando Ele, o Espírito da Verdade, vier, Ele vos guiará em toda a verdade; pois não falará de Si mesmo; mas Ele dirá tudo o que ouvir, e vos anunciará as coisas que estão por vir. ¹⁴ Ele Me glorificará, porque receberá do que é Meu, e vos anunciará.

¹⁵ Tudo quanto o Pai tem é Meu; por isso, Eu disse que o Espírito receberá do que é Meu, e vos anunciará. ¹⁶ Dentro de um pouco de tempo, vós não Me vereis; e depois de um pouco mais de tempo, de novo Me vereis”.

¹⁷ Então, alguns dos Seus discípulos disseram uns aos outros: "O que é isto que Ele nos diz: 'Um pouco de tempo e vós não Me vereis', e ainda, 'Um pouco mais de tempo, e de novo Me vereis,' e, 'Porque Eu vou para o Pai'?". ¹⁸ Por isso, disseram: "O que é isto que Ele diz: 'Um pouco de tempo'? Nós não sabemos do que Ele está falando".

¹⁹ Jesus viu que queriam interrogá-Lo, e lhes disse: "Perguntais entre vós a respeito disso que Eu vos disse: 'Dentro de um pouco de tempo, vós não Me vereis; e depois um pouco de mais de tempo, de novo Me vereis'? ²⁰ Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo, vós chorareis e lamentareis, mas o mundo se alegrará; vós ficareis tristes, mas a vossa tristeza se transformará em alegria. ²¹ Uma mulher fica triste quando tem dores de parto porque seu tempo de dar à luz chegou; mas depois que ela deu à luz, não se lembra mais das suas dores, por causa da alegria de ter nascido um bebê no mundo.

²² Assim, também vós tendes tristeza agora, mas Eu vos verei novamente; e o vosso coração se alegrará, e ninguém poderá tirar vossa alegria. ²³ Naquele dia, vós não Me perguntareis nada. Em verdade, em verdade, vos digo, se pedirdes qualquer coisa ao Pai em Meu nome, Ele vos dará. ²⁴ Até agora não Me pedistes nada em Meu nome; pedi e recebereis, para que a vossa alegria seja completa.

²⁵ Eu vos disse essas coisas por meio de comparações; mas está chegando a hora em que não falarei mais por comparações, mas claramente anunciarei sobre o Pai.

²⁶ Naquele dia, vós pedireis em Meu nome, e Eu não vos digo que rogarei ao Pai por vós; ²⁷ pois o próprio Pai vos ama, porque tendes Me amado e crido que Eu vim do Pai. ²⁸ Eu vim do Pai para o mundo; novamente, Eu deixo o mundo e vou para o Pai".

²⁹ Seus discípulos disseram: "Eis que agora falas claramente; e não usas comparações. ³⁰ Agora sabemos que Tu conheces todas as coisas, e que não precisas que ninguém Te faça perguntas. Por causa disso, cremos que vieste de Deus. ³¹ Jesus lhes respondeu: "Agora, credes?

³² Eis que vem a hora, e de fato já chegou, em que vós sereis espalhados cada um para vossas próprias casas, e Me deixareis sozinho. Mas não estou sozinho, porque o Pai está comigo. ³³ Eu vos disse essas coisas para que tenhais paz em Mim. No mundo tereis aflições, mas tende coragem; Eu venci o mundo".

Capítulo 17

¹ Depois de dizer essas coisas, Jesus levantou os olhos aos céus e disse: "Pai, chegou a hora. Glorifica Teu Filho para que o Filho Te glorifique, ² assim como Tu Lhe deste autoridade sobre toda carne, para que também Ele dê vida eterna a todos quanto Lhe deste.

³ A vida eterna é esta: que eles conheçam a Ti, o único Deus verdadeiro, e a Jesus Cristo, Aquele que Tu enviaste. ⁴ Eu Te glorifiquei na terra, completando a obra que Me deste para fazer. ⁵ Agora, Pai, glorifica-Me junto a Ti com a glória que Eu tinha Contigo antes do mundo ser criado.

⁶ Manifestei o Teu Nome aos homens que do mundo Me deste. Eles eram Teus; e Tu os deste a Mim, e eles guardaram a Tua Palavra. ⁷ Agora, sabem que todas as coisas que me deste vêm de Ti; ⁸ porque as palavras que Tu me deste, Eu lhes dei. Eles as receberam e verdadeiramente souberam que vim de Ti, e creram que Tu Me enviaste.

⁹ Eu oro por eles; não oro pelo mundo, mas por aqueles que Tu Me deste, pois eles são Teus. ¹⁰ Tudo que é Meu é Teu, e tudo que é Teu é Meu; e sou glorificado neles. ¹¹ Eu não estou mais no mundo, mas eles estão no mundo, e Eu vou para Ti. Pai Santo, guarda-os no Teu Nome que Tu Me deste, para que eles sejam um, assim como Nós somos Um.

¹² Enquanto Eu estava com eles, Eu os guardei em Teu Nome que Me deste; Eu os guardei e nenhum deles se perdeu, exceto o filho da perdição, para que as Escrituras se cumprissem. ¹³ Agora, vou para Ti; mas digo essas coisas no mundo, para que tenham minha alegria completa neles mesmos. ¹⁴ Eu lhes dei a Minha Palavra; e o mundo os odiou porque eles não são do mundo, assim como Eu não sou do mundo.

¹⁵ Eu não oro para que os tires do mundo, mas para que os guardes do maligno. ¹⁶ Eles não são do mundo, assim como Eu não sou do mundo. ¹⁷ Santifica-os na verdade; a Tua Palavra é a Verdade.

¹⁸ Assim como Tu Me enviaste ao mundo, também Eu os enviei ao mundo. ¹⁹ Por causa deles, Eu Me santifico, para que eles mesmos também sejam santificados na Verdade.

²⁰ Oro não somente por esses, mas também por aqueles que crerão em Mim por meio da palavra deles, ²¹ para que eles sejam um, assim como Tu, Pai, estás em Mim, e Eu em Ti. Eu oro para que eles estejam em Nós, a fim de que o mundo creia que Tu Me enviaste.

²² A glória que Tu Me deste, Eu lhes dei, para que eles sejam um, assim como Nós somos Um; ²³ Eu neles, e Tu em Mim, para que eles sejam conduzidos à completa unidade; a fim de que o mundo saiba que Tu Me enviaste, e os amaste, assim como amaste a Mim.

²⁴ Pai, quero que aqueles que Tu Me deste estejam também Comigo onde Eu estiver para que eles vejam a Minha glória, aquela que Tu Me deste, pois Tu Me amaste desde antes da fundação do mundo.

²⁵ Pai justo, o mundo não Te conheceu, mas Eu Te conheço; e estes sabem que Tu Me enviaste. ²⁶ Eu fiz Teu Nome conhecido a eles, e Eu o farei conhecido para que o amor com que Tu Me amaste esteja neles, e Eu neles esteja".

Capítulo 18

¹ Após Jesus ter dito essas palavras, foi com Seus discípulos para o outro lado do ribeiro de Cedrom, onde havia um jardim em que Ele entrou com Seus discípulos. ² E Judas, o que iria traí-Lo, também conhecia o lugar, pois Jesus sempre ia lá com os Seus discípulos. ³ Judas trouxe consigo um destacamento de soldados, e alguns oficiais dos principais sacerdotes e os fariseus; e chegaram lá com lanternas, tochas e armas.

⁴ Então Jesus, sabendo todas as coisas que iriam acontecer Consigo, adiantou-Se e lhes perguntou: "A quem procurais?". ⁵ Eles Lhe responderam: "Jesus, o Nazareno". Jesus lhes disse: "Sou Eu". Judas, o traidor, estava também em pé com os soldados.

⁶ Então, quando Ele lhes disse: "Sou Eu", eles recuaram e caíram por terra. ⁷ Novamente, perguntou-lhes: "A quem procurais?". Outra vez, disseram: "Jesus, o Nazareno".

⁸ Jesus respondeu: "Eu vos disse que Eu Sou; então, se vós Me procurais, deixai estes outros irem". ⁹ Para que se cumprisse a Palavra que dissera: "Não perdi nenhum dos que Me deste".

¹⁰ E Simão Pedro, que tinha uma espada, desembainhou-a e golpeou o servo do sumo sacerdote cortando-lhe a orelha direita. O nome do servo era Malco. ¹¹ Então, Jesus disse a Pedro: "Põe a espada de volta na bainha. Por acaso, não beberei do cálice que o Pai Me deu"?

¹² Então, o destacamento de soldados, o capitão e os oficiais dos judeus agarraram Jesus, e O amarraram. ¹³ Eles O levaram primeiro a Anás, pois ele era sogro de Caifás, sumo sacerdote naquele ano. ¹⁴ Era Caifás o que havia aconselhado aos judeus que era propício que um homem deveria morrer pelo povo.

¹⁵ Simão Pedro seguiu a Jesus, e assim também o outro discípulo. Aquele discípulo era conhecido do sumo sacerdote, e entrou com Jesus no pátio do sumo sacerdote; ¹⁶ Mas Pedro ficou em pé do lado de fora da porta. Então, o outro discípulo, que era conhecido do sumo sacerdote, saiu e falou com a serva que estava guardando a porta, e levou Pedro para dentro.

¹⁷ A serva que guardava a porta disse a Pedro: "Tu também não és um dos discípulos deste Homem?". Ele disse: "Não sou". ¹⁸ Os servos e os oficiais estavam ali; eles haviam feito uma fogueira, pois estava frio, e estavam aquecendo-se. Pedro também estava em pé ali, aquecendo-se com eles.

¹⁹ Então, o sumo sacerdote perguntou a Jesus sobre Seus discípulos e Seus ensinos. ²⁰ Jesus lhe respondeu: "Eu tenho falado abertamente ao mundo; Eu estava sempre ensinando nas sinagogas e no templo onde os judeus se reúnem. Nada falei em segredo. ²¹ Por que me interrogas? Pergunta àqueles que ouviram o que Eu disse. Essas pessoas sabem o que Eu disse".

²² Quando Jesus disse isso, um dos oficiais que estava lá deu uma bofetada em Jesus, e disse: "É desta maneira que Tu respondes ao sumo sacerdote?" ²³ Jesus lhe respondeu: "Se Eu falei mal, dá testemunho do mal. Porém, se falei bem, por que me bates?". ²⁴ Então, Anás O enviou amarrado para Caifás, o sumo sacerdote.

²⁵ Simão Pedro estava em pé aquecendo-se, e perguntaram-lhe: "Tu não és também um dos Seus discípulos?". Ele negou e disse: "Não sou". ²⁶ Um dos servos do sumo sacerdote, que era parente do homem que Pedro havia cortado a orelha, disse: "Eu não te vi no jardim com Ele?". ²⁷ Pedro negou outra vez, e imediatamente o galo cantou.

²⁸ Depois, levaram Jesus da presença de Caifás para o palácio do governador. Era de manhã, e não entraram no palácio para não serem contaminados, e poderem comer a Páscoa. ²⁹ Então, Pilatos saiu para recebê-los, e lhes disse: "Que acusação trazeis vós contra este Homem?". ³⁰ Eles responderam: "Se este Homem não fosse malfeitor, não O entregaríamos a Ti".

³¹ Portanto, Pilatos disse-lhes: "Levai-O vós mesmos, e julgai-O segundo a vossa lei". Disseram-lhe os judeus: "Não nos é permitido levar nenhum homem à morte". ³² Isto disseram para que se cumprisse a Palavra que Jesus havia dito, indicando o modo pelo qual morreria.

³³ Então, Pilatos entrou no palácio novamente, chamou Jesus e Lhe disse: "Tu és o Rei dos judeus?". ³⁴ Jesus respondeu: "Tu dizes isso por ti mesmo, ou outros te disseram a Meu respeito?" ³⁵ Pilatos respondeu: "Por acaso eu sou judeu? Teu próprio povo e os principais dos sacerdotes Te entregaram a mim. O que fizeste?".

³⁶ Jesus respondeu: "Meu reino não é deste mundo. Se o Meu reino fosse deste mundo, meus servos lutariam para que Eu não fosse entregue aos judeus. Mas o Meu reino não é daqui". ³⁷ Pilatos Lhe disse: "Então, Tu és um rei?". Jesus respondeu: "Tu dizes que sou rei. Para isto nasci e vim ao mundo, a fim de dar testemunho da verdade. Todo aquele que é da verdade ouve a Minha voz".

³⁸ Pilatos Lhe disse: "O que é a verdade?". Tendo dito isto, saiu novamente aos judeus, e disse-lhes: "Não encontrei crime algum neste homem. ³⁹ Mas vós tendes o costume de que eu liberte para vós um homem na Páscoa. Então, quereis vós que eu liberte o Rei dos judeus?". ⁴⁰ Então eles gritaram, dizendo: "Não esse homem, mas Barrabás". Barrabás era um criminoso.

Capítulo 19

¹ Então, Pilatos tomou Jesus e mandou chicoteá-Lo. ² Os soldados teceram uma coroa de espinhos, colocaram-na sobre Sua cabeça e O vestiram em um manto púrpura. ³ Vieram a Ele e disseram: "Saudações, Rei dos judeus!". E O esmurraram.

⁴ Pilatos, então, saiu novamente e disse ao povo: "Vede, eu O estou trazendo para que saibais que não encontrei nenhuma culpa Nele". ⁵ Jesus saiu e estava vestindo um manto púrpura e a coroa. Pilatos lhes disse: "Vede, aqui está o Homem!". ⁶ E quando os principais sacerdotes e os oficiais viram Jesus, gritaram dizendo: "Crucifica-O, crucifica-O!". Pilatos lhes disse: "Levai-O vós mesmos, e crucificai-O. Eu, porém, não encontrei culpa Nele".

⁷ Os judeus responderam a Pilatos: "Nós temos uma lei, e pela Lei Ele deve morrer, porque Ele fez de Si mesmo Filho de Deus". ⁸ Quando Pilatos ouviu essa afirmação, ele ficou ainda mais amedrontado; ⁹ e entrou no palácio novamente, e disse a Jesus: "De onde Tu vens?". Entretanto, Jesus não deu nenhuma resposta.

¹⁰ Pilatos então Lhe disse: "Tu não me respondes? Não sabes que tenho poder para libertar-Te e poder para crucificar-Te?". ¹¹ Jesus respondeu: "Tu não terias nenhum poder contra Mim, se não te fosse dado do alto. Por isso, quem Me entregou a ti tem pecado maior".

¹² Por causa disso, Pilatos tentou libertá-Lo, mas os judeus gritaram dizendo: "Se tu libertares este homem, não és amigo de César. Todo aquele que se fizer rei fala contra César". ¹³ Quando Pilatos ouviu essas palavras, trouxe Jesus para fora, e sentou-se na cadeira de julgamento, em um lugar chamado Pavimento de Pedra, e em hebraico, Gabatá.

¹⁴ Ora, era o dia da preparação da Páscoa, por volta da hora sexta. Pilatos disse aos judeus: "Vede, aqui está vosso Rei!". ¹⁵ Eles gritaram: "Fora, fora; crucifica-O!". Pilatos lhes disse: "Devo crucificar vosso Rei?". Os principais sacerdotes responderam: "Não temos Rei, senão César". ¹⁶ Então, Pilatos lhes entregou Jesus para ser crucificado.

¹⁷ Levaram Jesus para fora, e Ele saiu carregando a cruz para o lugar chamado Caveira, o qual em hebraico é chamado Gólgota. ¹⁸ Lá O crucificaram e, com Ele, outros dois homens, um de cada lado, e Jesus no meio.

¹⁹ Pilatos escreveu um letreiro, colocou-o na cruz, e estava escrito: "JESUS DE NAZARÉ, REI DOS JUDEUS". ²⁰ Muitos judeus leram essa inscrição, porque o lugar que Jesus foi crucificado era perto da cidade; e a inscrição estava em hebraico, latim e grego.

²¹ Então, os principais sacerdotes dos judeus disseram a Pilatos: "Não escreva: 'O Rei dos Judeus’, mas: ‘Este homem disse: "Eu sou Rei dos Judeus"’". ²² Pilatos respondeu: "O que escrevi, escrevi".

²³ Quando os soldados crucificaram Jesus, tiraram Suas vestes e as dividiram em quatro partes, uma para cada soldado; e também a túnica que não tinha costura, tecida por inteiro. ²⁴ Então, disseram um ao outro: "Não vamos rasgá-la; mas lançaremos sortes para decidir de quem será". Isso aconteceu para que as Escrituras se cumprissem: "Eles dividiram Minhas roupas entre si, e por Minhas roupas lançaram sortes". Os soldados fizeram essas coisas.

²⁵ E, ao lado da Cruz de Jesus, estavam, de pé, a Sua mãe, a irmã de Sua mãe, Maria, a esposa de Clopas, e Maria Madalena. ²⁶ Quando Jesus viu Sua mãe e, próximo a ela, o discípulo que Ele amava, disse a Sua mãe: "Mulher, eis aí teu filho!". ²⁷ Então, disse ao discípulo: "Eis aí tua mãe!". Daquela hora em diante, o discípulo levou-a para sua própria casa.

²⁸ Depois disso, Jesus, sabendo que todas as coisas estavam consumadas, a fim de que se cumprissem as Escrituras, disse: "Estou com sede". ²⁹ Havia ali uma vasilha cheia de vinagre; então puseram uma esponja ensopada de vinagre em uma vara de hissopo, e a ergueram até Sua boca. ³⁰ Quando Jesus tomou o vinagre, disse: "Está consumado". Ele inclinou a cabeça e entregou Seu espírito.

³¹ Por ser o dia da preparação, para que os corpos não permanecessem nas cruzes durante o sábado (pois, este sábado era um dia importante), os judeus pediram a Pilatos que as pernas dos homens executados fossem quebradas, e que seus corpos fossem retirados. ³² Então, os soldados vieram e quebraram as pernas do primeiro e do segundo homem que haviam sido crucificados com Jesus. ³³ Quando se aproximaram de Jesus, viram que já estava morto; por isso não quebraram Suas pernas.

³⁴ Todavia, um dos soldados perfurou o Seu lado com uma lança, e imediatamente saiu sangue e água. ³⁵ Aquele que viu isto dá testemunho, e seu testemunho é verdadeiro. Ele sabe que diz a verdade, para que também creiais.

³⁶ Essas coisas aconteceram para que se cumprissem as Escrituras: "Nenhum de Seus ossos será quebrado". ³⁷ E outra parte da Escritura diz: "Olharão para Aquele a Quem traspassaram".

³⁸ Depois dessas coisas, José de Arimateia, que era discípulo de Jesus, embora secretamente, por medo dos Judeus, pediu a Pilatos que lhe permitisse levar o corpo de Jesus. Pilatos deu-lhe permissão. Então, José veio e levou embora o corpo Dele. ³⁹ Também veio Nicodemos, aquele que havia-se encontrado com Jesus à noite. Ele trouxe uma mistura de mirra e aloés, cerca de cem libras em peso.

⁴⁰ Então, levaram o corpo de Jesus, e o envolveram em roupas de linho com os aromas, como era costume dos judeus para enterrar os corpos. ⁴¹ No lugar onde foi crucificado havia um jardim; e no jardim havia uma tumba nova na qual nenhuma pessoa havia sido sepultada. ⁴² Porque era o dia da preparação para os judeus, e porque a tumba estava perto, puseram Jesus nela.

Capítulo 20

¹ No primeiro dia da semana, enquanto ainda era escuro, Maria Madalena foi ao sepulcro e viu que a pedra havia sido removida. ² Então, ela correu ao encontro de Simão Pedro e do outro discípulo, a quem Jesus amava, e disse-lhes: "Retiraram o Senhor do sepulcro, e nós não sabemos onde O puseram".

³ Então Pedro e o outro discípulo saíram e foram ao sepulcro. ⁴ Os dois corriam juntos; e o outro discípulo correu mais do que Pedro, e chegou ao sepulcro primeiro. ⁵ Abaixando-se, viu as roupas de linho deixadas lá, mas não entrou.

⁶ Então, chegou Simão Pedro depois dele, e foi para dentro do sepulcro, e viu os lençóis de linho deixados ali, ⁷ e o lenço que estava em Sua cabeça, o qual não foi deixado com os lençóis de linho, mas enrolado em um lugar à parte.

⁸ Então, o outro discípulo, o que chegou primeiro, também entrou no sepulcro; ele viu e creu. ⁹ Pois, até aquele momento, eles não compreendiam o que a Escritura dizia, que Jesus devia ressuscitar dentre os mortos. ¹⁰ Então, os discípulos voltaram novamente para casa.

¹¹ Contudo, Maria permaneceu fora do sepulcro chorando. Enquanto chorava, parou e olhou dentro do sepulcro, ¹² e viu dois anjos de branco sentados, onde o corpo de Jesus repousara, um à cabeça e outro aos pés. ¹³ Eles lhe falaram: "Mulher, por que choras?". Ela lhes respondeu: "Porque levaram meu Senhor, e eu não sei onde O puseram".

¹⁴ Quando ela falou isso, olhou em volta e viu Jesus parado ali; mas ela não sabia que Ele era Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus lhe disse: "Mulher, por que choras? A quem procuras?". Ela pensou que Ele era o jardineiro, então ela Lhe falou: "Senhor, se Tu O tiraste daqui, fala-me onde O colocaste, e eu O levarei".

¹⁶ Jesus lhe disse: "Maria!". Ela, virando-se, disse para Ele em aramaico: "Raboni!" (que quer dizer: "Mestre"). ¹⁷ Jesus lhe disse: "Não me segures, porque eu ainda não subi para o Pai. Mas vá para meus irmãos, e diga-lhes que Eu subirei para Meu Pai e vosso Pai, e Meu Deus e vosso Deus". ¹⁸ Maria Madalena foi, e disse aos discípulos: "Vi o Senhor!", e contou as coisas que Ele lhe dissera.

¹⁹ Sendo, pois, tarde, naquele primeiro dia da semana, estando os discípulos reunidos com as portas trancadas, por medo dos judeus, Jesus veio e colocou-Se no meio deles, e disse-lhes: "Paz seja convosco". ²⁰ Depois de dizer isso, mostrou-lhes as mãos e o lado. E quando os discípulos viram o Senhor, alegraram-se.

²¹ Em seguida, Jesus lhes disse outra vez: "Paz seja convosco. Como o Pai Me enviou, Eu também vos envio". ²² Quando Jesus disse isso, soprou neles e disse-lhes: "Recebei o Espírito Santo. ²³ Se perdoardes os pecados de alguém, serão perdoados; se os retiverdes, serão retidos".

²⁴ Tomé, um dos doze, chamado Dídimo, não estava com eles quando Jesus veio. ²⁵ Os outros discípulos depois disseram-lhe: "Vimos o Senhor". Ele lhes disse: "Se eu não vir em Suas mãos as marcas dos pregos, e colocar meu dedo dentro das marcas dos pregos, e minha mão no Seu lado, eu não crerei".

²⁶ Oito dias depois, os discípulos estavam outra vez ali reunidos, e Tomé estava com eles. Estando as portas trancadas, Jesus colocou-Se no meio deles, e disse-lhes: "Paz seja convosco". ²⁷ Então, Ele disse para Tomé: "Põe aqui os teus dedos, e vê as Minhas mãos; estende aqui a tua mão, e a coloca no Meu lado; não sejas incrédulo, mas crê".

²⁸ Tomé respondeu e disse-Lhe: "Meu Senhor e meu Deus!". ²⁹ Jesus disse-lhe: "Porque Me viste, tu creste? Benditos são aqueles que não viram e creram".

³⁰ Na verdade, Jesus realizou, na presença de Seus discípulos, muitos outros sinais, os quais não foram escritos neste livro. ³¹ Estes, porém, foram escritos para que creiais que Jesus é o Cristo, o Filho de Deus, e para que, crendo, tenhais vida em Seu nome.

Capítulo 21

¹ Depois dessas coisas, Jesus apareceu novamente aos discípulos no mar de Tiberíades. Assim foi que Ele apareceu: ² Simão Pedro estava junto com Tomé, chamado Dídimo, Natanael de Caná da Galileia, os filhos de Zebedeu, e outros dois discípulos de Jesus. ³ Simão Pedro lhes disse: "Vou pescar". E lhe disseram: "Nós também iremos contigo". Eles foram e entraram no barco; mas naquela noite nada apanharam.

⁴ Ao amanhecer, Jesus estava na praia, mas os discípulos não sabiam que era Jesus. ⁵ Então, Jesus lhes disse: "Jovens, tendes algo para comer?". Eles Lhe responderam: "Não". ⁶ E disse-lhes: "Lançai vossa rede do lado direito do barco, e achareis". E eles lançaram a rede, quase não conseguiam puxá-la por causa da quantidade de peixes.

⁷ Então, o discípulo que Jesus amava disse a Pedro: "É o Senhor!". Quando Simão Pedro ouviu que era o Senhor, vestiu sua roupa, pois estava nu, e lançou-se ao mar. ⁸ E os outros discípulos vieram no barco (pois não estavam longe da terra, nem duzentos côvados de distância), puxando a rede cheia de peixes. ⁹ Quando desembarcaram, viram ali pão e peixe sobre brasas.

¹⁰ Disse-lhes Jesus: "Trazei alguns dos peixes que acabastes de pegar". ¹¹ Simão Pedro subiu ao barco e puxou a rede, cheia de cento e cinquenta e três grandes peixes; apesar de serem muitos, a rede não se rompeu.

¹² Disse-lhes Jesus: "Vinde e comei". Nenhum dos discípulos ousou perguntar-Lhe: "Quem és Tu?", sabendo que Ele era o Senhor. ¹³ Jesus aproximou-Se, pegou o pão e lhes deu; e fez da mesma maneira com o peixe. ¹⁴ Esta foi a terceira vez que Jesus apareceu aos discípulos depois de ter ressuscitado dos mortos.

¹⁵ Depois de terem comido, Jesus disse a Simão Pedro: "Simão, filho de João, tu Me amas mais que estes?". Pedro respondeu-Lhe: "Sim, Senhor; Tu sabes que eu Te amo". Jesus disse-lhe: "Apascenta Meus cordeiros". ¹⁶ Tornou a perguntar-lhe pela segunda vez: "Simão, filho de João, tu Me amas?". Pedro respondeu-Lhe: "Sim, Senhor; Tu sabes que eu Te amo". Jesus disse para ele: "Pastoreia Minhas ovelhas".

¹⁷ Ele lhe disse uma terceira vez: "Simão, filho de João, tu Me amas?". Pedro entristeceu-se porque Jesus lhe havia perguntado pela terceira vez: "Tu Me amas?". Ele disse-Lhe: "Senhor, Tu sabes todas as coisas; Tu sabes que Te amo". Jesus disse-lhe: "Alimenta Minhas ovelhas. ¹⁸ Em verdade, em verdade, te digo que quando eras jovem, tu te vestias e andavas como desejavas; mas quando envelheceres, estenderás tuas mãos e outro te vestirá, e te levará onde tu não desejas ir".

¹⁹ Jesus disse isso para indicar com que tipo de morte Pedro glorificaria a Deus. Depois de falar isso, Ele disse a Pedro: "Segue-Me".

²⁰ Pedro virou-se e viu o discípulo a quem Jesus amava acompanhando-lhes, aquele que também havia-se reclinado sobre o peito de Jesus na ceia e perguntado: "Senhor, quem é aquele que Te trairá?". ²¹ Pedro, ao vê-lo, disse a Jesus: "Senhor, e quanto a este?".

²² Jesus lhe respondeu: "Se Eu quiser que ele permaneça até Eu voltar, que te importa? Quanto a ti, Segue-Me". ²³ Então, espalhou-se esta notícia entre os irmãos, de que aquele discípulo não morreria. Todavia, Jesus não disse a Pedro que o outro discípulo não morreria, mas afirmou: "Se Eu quiser que ele permaneça até Eu voltar, que te importa?".

²⁴ Este é o discípulo que dá testemunho sobre essas coisas, e que as escreveu, e nós sabemos que seu testemunho é verdadeiro. ²⁵ Existem também muitas outras coisas que Jesus fez. Se cada uma delas fosse escrita, suponho que nem mesmo o mundo poderia conter os livros que seriam escritos.

Acts

Capítulo 1

¹ Eu escrevi o primeiro livro, Teófilo, contando tudo o que Jesus começou a fazer e a ensinar, ² até o dia em que foi elevado aos céus. Isso aconteceu depois que Ele deu ordens, por meio do Espírito Santo, aos apóstolos que Ele escolheu. ³ Após ter sofrido, Ele apresentou a Si mesmo vivo para eles, com muitas provas incontestáveis. Por quarenta dias, Ele apareceu a eles, e falou-lhes acerca do Reino de Deus.

⁴ Quando Ele estava reunido com eles, ordenou-lhes que não deixassem Jerusalém, mas que esperassem pela promessa do Pai, a qual, Ele disse: "Vós ouvistes de Mim ⁵ que João batizou com água, todavia, dentro de poucos dias, vós sereis batizados com o Espírito Santo".

⁶ Quando eles estavam reunidos lhe perguntaram: "Senhor, é este o tempo em que restaurarás o Reino a Israel?" ⁷ Ele lhes disse: "Não vos compete saber tempos ou épocas as quais o Pai determinou por Sua própria autoridade; ⁸ mas recebereis poder, ao descer sobre vós o Espírito Santo, e sereis minhas testemunhas, tanto em Jerusalém, como em toda a Judéia e Samaria, e até aos confins da terra."

⁹ Depois de dizer essas coisas, o Senhor Jesus foi levado às alturas enquanto eles olhavam, e uma nuvem O escondeu de seus olhos. ¹⁰ Eles ainda estavam olhando para o céu, enquanto Jesus subia, e de repente, dois homens vestidos de branco apareceram ao lado deles. ¹¹ Eles disseram: "Homens galileus, por que estais aqui olhando para o céu? Este Jesus que dentre vós foi elevado aos céus, voltará da mesma maneira como o vistes subir".

¹² Então eles voltaram para Jerusalém do Monte das Oliveiras que fica perto de Jerusalém, à distância da caminhada de um sábado. ¹³ Quando eles chegaram, foram para o quarto no andar superior, onde estavam hospedados. Eram eles Pedro; João; Tiago; André; Filipe; Tomé; Bartolomeu; Mateus; Tiago, filho de Alfeu; Simão, o Zelote; e Judas, filho de Tiago. ¹⁴ Todos estes perseveravam unânimes em oração, juntamente com as mulheres, com Maria, a mãe de Jesus, e com os irmãos Dele.

¹⁵ Naqueles dias, Pedro se pôs em pé no meio dos irmãos, cerca de cento e vinte pessoas, e disse: ¹⁶ "Irmãos, era necessário que se cumprisse a Escritura, aquilo que o Espírito Santo falou anteriormente pela boca de Davi, a respeito de Judas, que foi o guia dos que prenderam Jesus.

¹⁷ Pois ele foi um de nós e teve parte neste ministério. ¹⁸ (Este homem comprou um campo com o lucro da sua impiedade, então, precipitou-se de cabeça, seu corpo se partiu ao meio e seus órgãos foram derramados para fora. ¹⁹ Isso se tornou conhecido por todos aqueles que habitam em Jerusalém, tanto que o campo foi chamado na própria língua deles "Aceldama", que significa "Campo de Sangue".)

²⁰ "Pois está escrito no livro dos Salmos: 'Deixe seu campo ficar abandonado e não permita que pessoa alguma viva ali' e 'Deixe que outro ocupe sua posição de liderança'.

²¹ É necessário, portanto que, dentre os homens que tenham nos acompanhado durante todo o tempo em que o Senhor Jesus esteve entre nós, ²² começando pelo batismo de João até o dia em que Ele foi elevado às alturas, um destes se torne conosco testemunha da Sua ressurreição". ²³ Eles sugeriram dois: José, chamado Barsabás, por sobrenome Justo, e Matias.

²⁴ Eles, orando, disseram: "Tu, Senhor, conheces o coração de todas as pessoas, então, revela-nos qual destes dois é aquele que Tu tens escolhido ²⁵ para ocupar o lugar neste ministério e apostolado, do qual Judas se desviou para ir para seu próprio lugar". ²⁶ E lançaram sortes entre eles; e a sorte caiu sobre Matias e ele foi contado entre os onze apóstolos.

Capítulo 2

¹ Quando o dia de Pentecostes chegou, estavam todos reunidos no mesmo lugar; ² de repente, veio do céu um som como de um vento impetuoso e encheu toda a casa onde estavam assentados. ³ E apareceram línguas como de fogo que foram distribuídas entre eles; e elas pousaram sobre cada um deles. ⁴ Todos ficaram cheios do Espírito Santo e começaram a falar em outras línguas, conforme o Espírito lhes concedia que falassem.

⁵ Estavam morando em Jerusalém judeus piedosos de todas as nações debaixo dos céus; ⁶ quando esse som foi ouvido, a multidão se ajuntou e ficou confusa, porque cada um os ouvia falar na sua própria língua. ⁷ Eles estavam espantados, admiravam-se dizendo: "Na verdade, não são Galileus todos estes que estão falando?

⁸ Como é que os ouvimos falar cada um em nossa própria língua materna? ⁹ Somos partos, medos e elamitas, e aqueles que vivem na Mesopotâmia, na Judeia e na Capadócia, no Ponto e na Ásia, ¹⁰ na Frígia e na Panfília, no Egito e em partes da Líbia perto de Cirene, e visitantes de Roma, ¹¹ judeus e prosélitos, cretenses e árabes, todos nós os ouvimos falar em nossas línguas das poderosas obras de Deus".

¹² Todos eles estavam espantados e perplexos, e diziam uns aos outros: "O que isso quer dizer?" ¹³ Mas outros zombavam dizendo: "Eles estão cheios de vinho novo".

¹⁴ Mas Pedro levantou-se com os onze, ergueu sua voz, e disse-lhes: "Homens da Judeia e todos os que habitam em Jerusalém, seja isto conhecido a vós e escutai as minhas palavras. ¹⁵ Estes homens não estão bêbados, como pensais, pois é apenas a terceira hora do dia.

¹⁶ Mas isto é o que foi dito pelo profeta Joel: ¹⁷ 'Nos últimos dias,' diz Deus: 'Derramarei do meu Espírito sobre toda a carne: vossos filhos e vosas filhas profetizarão, vossos jovens terão visões e vossos velhos sonharão;

¹⁸ E também sobre os meus servos e sobre as minhas servas derramarei do Meu Espírito, e eles profetizarão. ¹⁹ Mostrarei maravilhas em cima no céu, e sinais embaixo na terra: sangue, fogo e vapor de fumaça.

²⁰ O sol se transformará em trevas e a lua em sangue antes que venha o grande e glorioso dia do Senhor. ²¹ E acontecerá que todo aquele que invocar o nome do Senhor será salvo'.

²² Homens de Israel, escutai estas palavras: Jesus de Nazaré, homem aprovado por Deus diante de vós com milagres, prodígios e sinais que Deus fez por meio Dele entre vós, como sabeis; ²³ por causa do plano determinado e da presciência de Deus, Ele foi entregue, e vós, pelas mãos de homens sem lei, o crucificastes e o matastes; ²⁴ a quem Deus ressuscitou, rompendo os grilhões da morte, porque não era possível que Ele fosse detido por ela.

²⁵ Pois, a respeito dele, diz Davi: 'Eu via sempre o Senhor diante de mim, pois Ele está à minha direita para que eu não seja abalado. ²⁶ Portanto, meu coração se alegrou e minha língua se regozijou, até mesmo minha carne há de repousar em esperança.

²⁷ Pois não abandonarás minha alma no Hades, nem permitirás que o Teu Santo sofra corrupção. ²⁸ Tu me revelaste os caminhos da vida; Tu me encherás de alegria na Tua presença'.

²⁹ Irmãos, eu posso vos falar seguramente a respeito do patriarca Davi, ele tanto morreu quanto foi enterrado, e sua tumba está entre nós até hoje. ³⁰ Portanto ele era um profeta, e sabia que Deus havia lhe prometido com juramento, que colocaria um de seus descendentes no seu trono. ³¹ Ele previu isso e falou acerca da ressurreição de Cristo: 'Ele não foi abandonado no Hades, nem sua carne sofreu corrupção'.

³² Este Jesus, a quem Deus ressuscitou, do qual todos nós somos testemunhas. ³³ Assim, tendo sido elevado à direita de Deus, recebeu do Pai a promessa do Espírito Santo, o qual foi derramado e agora vós vedes e ouvis.

³⁴ Porque Davi não subiu aos céus, mas ele diz: "O Senhor disse ao meu Senhor: 'Assenta-Te à minha direita, ³⁵ até que Eu faça dos Teus inimigos estrado para os Teus pés'". ³⁶ Portanto, que toda a casa de Israel certamente saiba: Este Jesus, a quem vós crucificastes, Deus o fez Senhor e Cristo".

³⁷ Quando ouviram isso, seus corações ficaram angustiados e disseram a Pedro e aos outros apóstolos: "Irmãos, que devemos fazer?". ³⁸ E Pedro lhes disse: "Arrependei-vos e cada um de vós seja batizado em nome de Jesus Cristo, para perdão dos vossos pecados e recebereis o dom do Espírito Santo. ³⁹ Pois, a promessa é para vós, para vossos filhos e para todos os que estão longe, para todos quanto o Senhor nosso Deus chamar".

⁴⁰ Com muitas outras palavras Ele testificava e os exortava, dizendo: "Salvai-vos desta geração perversa". ⁴¹ Então, os que receberam a sua palavra, foram batizados, e naquele dia foram acrescentadas cerca de três mil almas. ⁴² Eles perseveravam na doutrina dos apóstolos e na comunhão, no partir do pão e nas orações.

⁴³ Em cada alma havia temor, e muitas maravilhas e sinais eram feitos por meio dos apóstolos. ⁴⁴ Todos os que criam estavam unidos e tinham tudo em comum. ⁴⁵ Vendiam suas propriedades e bens, e os repartiam com todos, conforme a necessidade de cada um.

⁴⁶ Então, diariamente, continuavam num só propósito no templo, partiam o pão de casa em casa, comiam juntos com alegria e singeleza de coração; ⁴⁷ louvavam a Deus e tinham o favor de todo o povo. E o Senhor acrescentava dia após dia os que iam sendo salvos.

Capítulo 3

¹ Pedro e João estavam subindo para a oração no templo, na hora nona. ² Certo homem, aleijado de nascença, era carregado todos os dias e deixado na porta do templo chamada Formosa, assim ele poderia pedir esmolas aos que entravam. ³ Quando viu Pedro e João prestes a entrarem no templo, pediu-lhes esmolas.

⁴ Pedro, fixando seus olhos nele, juntamente com João, disse: "Olha para nós." ⁵ O homem aleijado olhou para eles, esperando receber algo. ⁶ Entretanto, Pedro disse: "Não tenho nem prata nem ouro, mas o que eu tenho, isso te dou. Em nome de Jesus Cristo de Nazaré, anda".

⁷ Pedro, tomando-o pela mão direita, levantou-o; e imediatamente seus pés e os ossos dos seus tornozelos receberam forças. ⁸ Então num salto, o homem aleijado pôs-se de pé e começou a andar; e entrou com Pedro e João no templo, andando, saltando e louvando a Deus.

⁹ Todas as pessoas o viram andando e louvando a Deus. ¹⁰ Eles perceberam que este era o homem que se sentava para receber esmolas na porta Formosa do templo; e ficaram cheios de admiração e maravilhados por causa do que lhe aconteceu.

¹¹ Apegando-se ele a Pedro e a João, todas as pessoas correram para junto deles, imensamente maravilhadas, no chamado Pórtico de Salomão. ¹² Quando Pedro viu isso, questionou-lhes: "Vós, homens de Israel, por que vos maravilhais? Por que fixais vossos olhos sobre nós, como se nós o tivéssemos feito andar por nosso próprio poder e piedade?

¹³ O Deus de Abraão, de Isaque e de Jacó, o Deus de nossos pais, glorificou a seu servo Jesus. Ele é aquele a quem vós entregastes e rejeitastes diante da face de Pilatos, quando este havia decidido libertá-Lo. ¹⁴ Vós rejeitastes o Santo e Justo, e pediram ao invés disso, que um assassino fosse vos dado.

¹⁵ Vós matastes o Autor da Vida, a quem Deus ressuscitou dos mortos, e somos testemunhas disso. ¹⁶ E agora, este homem, o qual vós vedes e conheceis, tem sido fortalecido pela fé em Seu nome. A fé que vem por meio de Jesus, tem dado a este homem saúde perfeita, na presença de todos vós.

¹⁷ Irmãos, sei que agistes por ignorância, como também vossos governantes. ¹⁸ Contudo, as coisas que Deus profetizou pela boca de todos os profetas, que Seu Cristo deveria sofrer, Ele agora cumpriu.

¹⁹ Arrependei-vos, portanto, e convertei-vos, para que vossos pecados sejam perdoados, e assim, possam vir tempos de refrigério na presença do Senhor; ²⁰ e Ele possa enviar o Cristo que vos foi previamente designado, Jesus.

²¹ Ele é Aquele a quem os céus devem receber até o tempo da restauração de todas as coisas, acerca de quem Deus falou, há muito tempo atrás, pela boca dos seus santos profetas. ²² Verdadeiramente disse Moisés: 'O Senhor Deus levantará um profeta como eu dentre vossos irmãos. Deveis ouvi-Lo em tudo o que vos disser. ²³ Acontecerá que, todo aquele que não ouvir esse Profeta, será completamente destruído dentre o povo'.

²⁴ E todos os profetas, desde Samuel e os que o sucederam, falaram e anunciaram sobre esses dias. ²⁵ Vós sois os filhos dos profetas e da Aliança que Deus fez com vossos pais, conforme disse para Abraão: 'Da tua semente todas as famílias da terra serão abençoadas'. ²⁶ Após Deus ter ressuscitado o seu Servo, primeiro O enviou a vós para vos abençoar, desviando cada um de vós das vossas maldades".

Capítulo 4

¹ Enquanto Pedro e João falavam às pessoas, os sacerdotes, o capitão do templo e os saduceus, aproximaram-se deles ² profundamente irados, porque Pedro e João ensinavam as pessoas sobre Jesus, e proclamavam a Sua ressureição dentre os mortos. ³ Então, os prenderam e os colocaram em prisões até o dia seguinte, pois já era tarde. ⁴ Contudo, muitas das pessoas que ouviram a mensagem creram; aproximadamente cinco mil homens.

⁵ Aconteceu que, no dia seguinte, seus governantes, anciãos e escribas se reuniram em Jerusalém. ⁶ Anás, o principal sacerdote, Caifás, João, Alexandre, e todos que eram da linhagem do sumo sacerdote. ⁷ Quando colocaram Pedro e João no meio deles, perguntaram: "Por qual poder ou no nome de quem fizestes isso?"

⁸ Então, Pedro, cheio do Espírito Santo, disse-lhes: "Vós, governantes do povo, e anciãos, ⁹ se nós, neste dia, estamos sendo questionados em relação a uma boa obra feita para um homem doente, e do modo como foi curado. ¹⁰ Seja isto conhecido por todos vós e por todo o povo de Israel, que no nome de Jesus Cristo de Nazaré, a quem vós crucificastes e a quem Deus ressuscitou dos mortos, é por meio Dele que esse homem está curado diante de vós.

¹¹ Jesus Cristo é a pedra que vós, como construtores, desprezastes, mas que foi feita pedra angular. ¹² Não há salvação em nenhum outro; porque não há nenhum outro nome debaixo do céu, dado entre os homens, por meio do qual devamos ser salvos".

¹³ Quando viram a intrepidez de Pedro e João e perceberam que eles eram simples homens iletrados, ficaram surpresos; perceberam que Pedro e João haviam convivido com Jesus. ¹⁴ E, vendo estar com eles o homem que fora curado, nada tinham que dizer ao contrário.

¹⁵ Mas, depois que ordenaram os apóstolos a sairem da reunião do Conselho, conversaram entre si, ¹⁶ dizendo: "O que nós deveríamos fazer a estes homens? Porque é verídico que um incrível milagre que foi feito através deles, é conhecido por todos os que vivem em Jerusalém, e nós não podemos negar isso. ¹⁷ Mas, para que isso não seja propagado entre as pessoas, vamos alertá-los para não mais falarem a ninguém neste nome". ¹⁸ Eles chamaram Pedro e João e ordenaram-lhes que não falassem, de nenhuma maneira, nem ensinassem, no nome de Jesus.

¹⁹ Mas Pedro e João responderam dizendo: "Julgais se é justo, perante Deus, obedecer a vós ao invés de obedecer a Ele. ²⁰ Porque nós não podemos nos calar acerca das coisas que temos visto e ouvido".

²¹ E, ameaçando ainda mais a Pedro e João, os deixaram ir. Eles foram incapazes de achar qualquer justificativa para puní-los, porque todo o povo glorificava a Deus pelo que acontecera. ²² O homem que fora curado tinha mais de quarenta anos de idade.

²³ Depois de soltos, Pedro e João foram para seu próprio povo e relataram tudo o que os principais sacerdotes e os anciãos lhes tinham dito. ²⁴ Quando ouviram isso, levantaram suas vozes juntos a Deus e disseram: "Senhor, Tu que fizestes os céus, a terra, o mar, e tudo o que neles há; ²⁵ Tu que, pelo Espírito Santo, pela boca do nosso pai Davi, Seu servo, disseste: 'Por que as nações dos gentios se iram, e os povos imaginam coisas vãs?

²⁶ Os reis da terra se ajuntaram, e os governantes se reuniram contra o Senhor e contra O Seu Ungido'.

²⁷ De fato, ambos, Herodes e Pôncio Pilatos, junto com os gentios e o povo de Israel, reunidos nesta cidade contra Teu Santo Servo, Jesus, a quem Tu ungistes. ²⁸ Eles reuniram-se para fazer tudo o que a Tua mão e o Teu desígnio decidiram antecipadamente que se havia de fazer.

²⁹ Agora, Senhor, olha para as suas ameaças e concede aos Teus servos falarem as Tuas palavras com toda ousadia. ³⁰ Enquanto estendes a Tua mão para curar, e para que se façam sinais e maravilhas pelo nome do Teu Santo Servo Jesus". ³¹ Quando terminaram de orar, o lugar em que eles estavam reunidos foi sacudido, e todos ficaram cheios do Espírito Santo, e anunciavam a Palavra de Deus com ousadia.

³² Da multidão dos que creram era um só o coração e a alma, ninguém dizia que suas posses eram realmente suas; ao invés disso, tinham todas as coisas em comum. ³³ Com grande poder, os apóstolos proclamavam seus testemunhos acerca da ressureição do Senhor Jesus, e imensa graça estava sobre eles.

³⁴ Não havia ninguém entre eles que precisasse de algo, porque todos que possuíam propriedades ou casas, vendiam-nas e traziam o valor do que fora vendido ³⁵ e depositavam-no aos pés dos apóstolos. E a distribuição era feita a cada um, de acordo com o que cada um necessitava.

³⁶ José, um levita, originário de Chipre, a quem foi dado o nome de Barnabé pelos apóstolos, isto é, filho da consolação. ³⁷ Tendo uma propriedade, vendeu-a e trouxe o dinheiro e colocou-o aos pés dos apóstolos.

Capítulo 5

¹ Certo homem chamado Ananias, com Safira, sua mulher, vendeu uma propriedade, ² e ficou com parte do dinheiro da venda (sua mulher também sabia disso). Ele levou a outra parte e colocou aos pés dos apóstolos.

³ No entanto, Pedro perguntou-lhe: "Ananias, por que Satanás encheu o teu coração para que mentisses ao Espírito Santo e ficasses com uma parte do valor da propriedade? ⁴ Enquanto permanecia sem ser vendida, não era somente tua? E depois de ser vendida, não estava sob teu controle? Como tu pensaste essas coisas no teu coração? Vós não mentistes aos homens, mas a Deus". ⁵ Ao ouvir essas palavras, Ananias caiu e expirou. Grande temor sobreveio a todos os que ouviram isso. ⁶ E levantando-se os moços, cobriram-no, carregaram-no para fora e sepultaram-no.

⁷ Após cerca de três horas, entrou também sua mulher, não sabendo o que tinha acontecido. ⁸ Pedro disse para ela: "Conte-me se tu vendeste aquela propriedade por tal quantia?". Ela lhe respondeu: "Sim, vendi por essa quantia".

⁹ Então, Pedro lhe disse: "Por que entraste em acordo para tentar o Espírito do Senhor? Veja, os que sepultaram o teu marido estão na porta, eles também te levarão". ¹⁰ Imediatamente ela caiu aos pés dele e expirou, e os moços vieram e acharam-na morta; levaram-na para fora e sepultaram-na junto ao seu marido. ¹¹ E um grande temor tomou conta de toda a congregação e de todos aqueles que ouviram essas coisas.

¹² Muitos sinais e maravilhas estavam acontecendo entre o povo pelas mãos dos apóstolos. E eles estavam reunidos no Pórtico de Salomão. ¹³ Embora o povo os estimasse muito, ninguém mais tinha coragem de juntar-se a eles.

¹⁴ E crescia cada vez mais a multidão de crentes no Senhor, tanto homens como mulheres, ¹⁵ de maneira que até mesmo os doentes eram levados para as ruas e colocados em leitos e macas, afim de que, quando Pedro passasse, ao menos a sua sombra se projetasse sobre alguns deles. ¹⁶ Também vinham juntos em grande número de pessoas das cidades ao redor de Jerusalém, levando doentes e atormentados por espíritos impuros, e todos eram curados.

¹⁷ Então o sumo sacerdote se levantou, e todos os que estavam com ele, (isto é, a seita dos saduceus) e tomados de inveja ¹⁸ prenderam os apóstolos, colocando-os na prisão pública.

¹⁹ Durante a noite, o anjo do Senhor abriu as portas da cadeia, tirou-os para fora e disse-lhes: ²⁰ "Ide, apresentai-vos no templo e anunciai para as pessoas todas as palavras dessa vida". ²¹ Após ouvirem isso, entraram no templo ao alvorecer do dia e começaram a ensinar. Porém, chegando o sumo sacerdote e os que estavam com ele, convocaram o Conselho, com todos os líderes religiosos de Israel e enviaram guardas a prisão para trazer os apóstolos.

²² Os guardas foram até lá, contudo, não os encontraram na prisão, retornaram e reportaram: ²³ "Encontramos a prisão trancada com toda segurança, e os guardas em pé juntos às portas, todavia, quando as abrimos, não encontramos ninguém".

²⁴ Quando o capitão da guarda do templo e os principais sacerdotes ouviram essas palavras, ficaram muito perplexos concernente ao que havia acontecido. ²⁵ Então chegou alguém e os avisou: "Os homens que colocastes na prisão estão no templo ensinado as pessoas".

²⁶ Então o capitão foi com os oficiais e os trouxeram sem violência, pois temiam que o povo os apedrejasse. ²⁷ E, depois de trazê-los, os apresentaram ao conselho. O sumo sacerdote os interrogou, ²⁸ dizendo: "Ordenamos expressamente que não ensinásseis nesse nome, ainda sim, enchestes Jerusalém com o vosso ensino e quereis lançar sobre nós o sangue desse homem".

²⁹ Entretanto, Pedro e os apóstolos responderam: "Devemos obedecer a Deus mais do que aos homens. ³⁰ O Deus de nossos pais ressuscitou a Jesus, a quem vós matastes, suspendendo-o num madeiro. ³¹ Deus O exaltou à sua mão direita para ser Príncipe e Salvador, para dar o arrependimento a Israel e a remissão dos pecados. ³² Somos testemunhas dessas coisas, e assim é o Espírito Santo, que Deus tem dado para aqueles que O obedecem".

³³ Quando ouviram isso, os membros do conselho enfureceram-se e quiseram matar os apóstolos. ³⁴ Mas um fariseu chamado Gamaliel, doutor da lei, respeitado por todas as pessoas, levantou-se e ordenou que os apóstolos fossem levados para fora por um momento.

³⁵ Em seguida disse-lhes: "Homens de Israel, prestai muita atenção com o que estais para fazer com esses homens. ³⁶ Há algum tempo atrás, Teudas se levantou dizendo ser alguém, e um número de homens, cerca de quatrocentos, ajuntou-se a ele. Ele foi morto, e todos os que o seguiram foram dispersos e reduzidos a nada. ³⁷ Após isso, Judas da Galiléia, levantou-se nos dias do censo, e muitos o seguiram. Ele também pereceu, e todos aqueles que lhe obedeciam foram dispersos.

³⁸ Digo-vos, afastai-vos desses homens e deixai-os, porque se esse plano ou obra é de homens, perecerá. ³⁹ Todavia, se é de Deus, vós não podereis destruí-los, para que não sejais, porventura, achados lutando contra Deus". E assim, eles foram convencidos.

⁴⁰ Em seguida, chamando os apóstolos, os açoitaram, ordenando-lhes que não falassem no nome de Jesus, e os permitiram ir. ⁴¹ Eles deixaram o conselho regozijando-se por terem sido considerados dignos de sofrer afronta pelo Nome de Jesus. ⁴² Depois disso, todos os dias, no templo e de casa em casa, continuamente ensinavam e pregavam a Jesus, o Cristo.

Capítulo 6

¹ Naqueles dias, enquanto o número dos discípulos se multiplicavam, iniciou-se uma queixa dos gregos contra os hebreus, porque as suas viúvas estavam sendo esquecidas na distribuição diária dos alimentos.

² Os doze, chamaram a comunidade dos discípulos e disseram-lhes: "Não é certo para nós deixar-mos a Palavra de Deus para servirmos às mesas. ³ Portanto, irmãos, escolhei sete homens dentre vós de boa reputação, cheios do Espírito e de sabedoria, os quais serão encarregados deste serviço. ⁴ Quanto a nós, nos dedicaremos à oração e ao ministério da palavra"

⁵ O discurso agradou a toda multidão. Então eles escolheram Estêvão, homem cheio de fé e do Espírito Santo, Filipe, Prócoro, Nicanor, Timão, Pármenas, e Nicolau, prosélito de Antioquia. ⁶ E apresentaram-se perante os apóstolos, que oraram e depois impuseram suas mãos sobre eles.

⁷ Assim, a Palavra de Deus se espalhou; e o número dos discípulos se multiplicaram em Jerusalém e um grande número de sacerdotes tornaram-se obedientes à fé.

⁸ E Estêvão, cheio de graça e poder, fazia prodígios e grandes sinais entre o povo. ⁹ E levantaram alguns que eram da sinagoga dos libertos e dos cirineus e dos alexandrinos, e dos que eram da Cilícia e da Ásia. Essas pessoas disputavam com Estêvão.

¹⁰ Entretanto, não foram capazes de resistir contra a sabedoria e o Espírito com que ele falava. ¹¹ Então subornaram alguns homens para dizer: "Ouvimos Estêvão proferir blasfêmias contra Moisés e contra Deus".

¹² Incitando o povo, os anciãos, e os escribas; e, investindo contra ele, o levaram para o conselho dos judeus. ¹³ Trouxeram falsas testemunhas que disseram: "Este homem não cessa de proferir palavras contra o santo lugar e contra a lei. ¹⁴ Porque o ouvimos dizer que esse Jesus de Nazaré destruirá esse lugar e mudará os costumes que Moisés nos deu". ¹⁵ Então todos os que estavam sentados no Sinédrio fixaram seus olhos nele e viram a sua face, que parecia um rosto de um anjo.

Capítulo 7

¹ O sumo sacerdote perguntou: "Essas coisas são verdade?" ² Estêvão disse: "Irmãos e pais, ouçam-me: O Deus da glória apareceu ao nosso Pai Abraão quando ele estava na Mesopotâmia, antes dele viver em Harã." ³ E disse-lhe: "Deixa tua terra e teus parentes, e vá para a terra que Eu te mostrarei".

⁴ Abraão deixou então a terra dos caldeus para habitar em Harã. De lá, após a morte de seu pai, Deus o fez passar para esta terra que vós habitais agora. ⁵ Ele não lhe deu nenhuma herança, nem sequer onde pôr o pé, mas prometeu que lhe daria a terra como posse e à sua descendência, embora Abraão ainda não tivesse filho.

⁶ Deus falou com ele dessa maneira: Porque seus descendentes viveriam por um tempo numa terra estrangeira, onde seriam escravizados e maltratados por quatrocentos anos. ⁷ Disse Deus: "Eu julgarei a nação na qual eles serão escravos. E, depois disso, virão e me adorarão nesse lugar". ⁸ Então, lhe deu a aliança da circuncisão, e assim Abraão tornou-se o pai de Isaque e o circuncidou no oitavo dia. Isaque foi o pai de Jacó, e Jacó o pai dos doze patriarcas.

⁹ Os patriarcas foram motivados por ciúmes contra José e o venderam para o Egito, mas Deus estava com ele, ¹⁰ e livrou-o de todos os seus sofrimentos, dando-lhe favor e sabedoria na presença do Faraó, rei do Egito. Faraó o fez governador do Egito e de toda a sua casa.

¹¹ Sobreveio, porém, fome em todo o Egito e Canaã, houve grande sofrimento e nossos pais não encontravam comida. ¹² Quando Jacó ouviu que no Egito havia grãos, enviou pela primeira vez, os nossos antepassados. ¹³ Na segunda vez, José fez-se reconhecer por seus irmãos, e a sua origem foi revelada ao Faraó.

¹⁴ José enviou seus irmãos de volta para dizer a Jacó, seu pai, que viesse ao Egito, juntamente com toda a sua parantela, isto é, setenta e cinco pessoas. ¹⁵ Assim, Jacó desceu para o Egito, ali morreu ele e também nossos antepassados. ¹⁶ Foram transportados para Siquém e enterrados no túmulo que Abraão havia comprado por certa soma em dinheiro, dos filhos de Hamor em Siquém.

¹⁷ Aproximava-se o tempo do cumprimento da promessa que Deus havia feito a Abraão; o povo havia crescido e se multiplicado no Egito, ¹⁸ até que levantou-se ali outro rei, que não sabia nada a respeito de José. ¹⁹ Esse mesmo rei enganou nosso povo e maltratou nossos antepassados, obrigando-os a lançarem fora seus bebês, para que não sobrevivessem.

²⁰ Por esse tempo, Moisés nasceu. Ele era formoso diante de Deus, e foi amamentado por três meses na casa de seu pai. ²¹ Quando foi lançado para fora, a filha do Faraó o adotou e o criou como um filho.

²² Moisés foi educado em toda a sabedoria dos egípcios; e era poderoso em suas palavras e obras. ²³ Mas quando tinha cerca de quarenta anos, veio em seu coração o desejo de visitar seus irmãos, os filhos de Israel. ²⁴ Vendo um israelita sendo maltratado, Moisés o defendeu e o vingou contra o seu opressor, matando o egípcio. ²⁵ Pensava que seus irmãos compreenderiam que Deus ia libertá-los por sua mão, mas eles não compreenderam.

²⁶ No dia seguinte, aproximou-se de alguns israelistas enquanto brigavam e tentou reconciliá-los, dizendo: "Homens, vós sois irmãos; por que vos maltratais?" ²⁷ Porém, o que estava maltratando seu vizinho o empurrou, dizendo: "Quem te fez chefe e juiz sobre nós? ²⁸ Tu queres matar-me como mataste o egípcio ontem?".

²⁹ Depois de ouvir isso, Moisés fugiu. Tornou-se estrangeiro na terra de Midiã, onde gerou dois filhos. ³⁰ Decorridos quarenta anos, apareceu-lhe um anjo no deserto do Monte Sinai, numa sarça em chamas de fogo.

³¹ Quando Moisés viu o fogo, ficou maravilhado com a visão e, aproximando para observar, ouviu-se a voz do Senhor, dizendo: ³² "Eu sou o Deus dos seus pais, de Abraão, de Isaque e de Jacó". Moisés tremeu e não se atreveu a olhar.

³³ O Senhor disse-lhe: "Tire as suas sandálias, pois o lugar onde estás é uma terra santa. ³⁴ Eu certamente tenho visto o sofrimento do meu povo que está no Egito. Tenho ouvido o gemido deles e descerei para libertá-los; vem agora e Eu te enviarei ao Egito".

³⁵ A esse Moisés, a quem havia rejeitado dizendo: "Quem te fez chefe e juiz?" -a este enviou Deus como chefe e libertador pela mão do anjo que lhe aparecera na sarça. ³⁶ Moisés tirou-os do Egito depois de fazer milagres e sinais no Mar Vermelho e no deserto, durante quarenta anos. ³⁷ Este é o mesmo Moisés que disse ao povo de Israel: "Deus levantará um profeta para vós do meio dos seus irmãos, um profeta como eu."

³⁸ Este é o que esteve na congregação no deserto, com o anjo que lhe falava no monte Sinai, e com nossos antepassados, o qual recebeu palavras de vida para nos transmitir. ³⁹ Esse é o homem que nossos pais recusaram obedecer; antes o rejeitaram, e voltaram seus corações para o Egito. ⁴⁰ Naquele tempo disseram a Arão: "Faça-nos deuses que nos guiarão. Quanto a Moisés, que nos tirou da terra do Egito, nós não sabemos o que aconteceu com ele".

⁴¹ Naqueles dias fizeram um bezerro e ofereceram sacrifício ao ídolo, alegrando-se com as obras das suas mãos. ⁴² Mas Deus se afastou e os abandonou ao culto das hostes do céu, como está escrito no livro dos profetas: "Porventura me oferecestes vítimas e sacrifícios por quarenta anos no deserto, ó casa de Israel?

⁴³ Vós aceitastes o tabernáculo de Moloque e a estrela do deus Refã, e as imagens que fizestes para adorá-las: e Eu vos levarei para longe, para a Babilônia."

⁴⁴ Nossos antepassados tinham o tabernáculo do testemunho no deserto, assim como Deus ordenara quando ele falou a Moisés, que deveria fazê-lo de acordo com o modelo que tinha visto. ⁴⁵ Essa é a tenda que nossos antepassados, naquele tempo, levaram para a terra com Josué. Isso aconteceu quando tomaram posse das nações que Deus expulsou de diante da presença de nossos antepassados. Foi assim até os dias de Davi, ⁴⁶ que achou graça aos olhos de Deus; ele pediu para encontrar um lugar de habitação para o Deus de Jacó.

⁴⁷ Mas Salomão construiu a casa de Deus. ⁴⁸ Contudo, o Altíssimo não habita em casas feitas por mãos humanas, assim como diz o profeta: ⁴⁹ "Os céus são o Meu trono, e a terra é o estrado para os Meus pés. Que tipo de casa podeis construir para mim, diz o Senhor; ou qual é o lugar do Meu descanso? ⁵⁰ Não fez minha mão todas essas coisas?".

⁵¹ Vós, pessoas obstinadas e incircuncisas de coração e ouvidos, sempre resistis ao Espírito Santo; vós agis assim como vossos antepassados agiram. ⁵² Quais dos profetas seus antepassados não perseguiram? Eles mataram os profetas que apareceram antes da vinda do Justo; e vos tornastes traidores e assassinos também deste; ⁵³ vós, pessoas que recebestes a Lei por ministério de anjos, mas não a guardastes".

⁵⁴ Então, quando os membros do conselho ouviram essas coisas, enfureceram-se no coração e rangeram seus dentes contra Estêvão. ⁵⁵ Mas ele, estando cheio do Espírito Santo, olhou atentamente para o céu e viu a glória de Deus, e Jesus, em pé, à direita de Deus. ⁵⁶ Estêvão disse: "Olhem, vejo os céus abertos, e o Filho do Homem em pé à mão direita de Deus".

⁵⁷ Porém, os membros do conselho gritaram em alta voz, taparam seus ouvidos e juntos precipitaram-se contra ele; ⁵⁸ o lançaram fora da cidade e apedrejaram; as testemunhas deixaram suas capas aos pés de um jovem chamado Saulo.

⁵⁹ Enquanto apedrejavam Estêvão, ele invocando o Senhor dizia: "Senhor Jesus, recebe o meu espírito". ⁶⁰ Ele ajoelhou-se e gritou em alta voz: "Senhor, não considere-os culpados deste pecado". Tendo dito isso, caiu adormecido.

Capítulo 8

¹ Saulo consentiu com sua morte. Então ali naquele dia iniciou-se uma grande perseguição contra a igreja que estava em Jerusalém; e os cristãos estavam todos espalhados pelas regiões da Judéia e Samaria, exceto os apóstolos. ² Homens devotos enterraram Estêvão e houve grande lamentação. ³ Mas Saulo perseguia intensamente a igreja; e entrando de casa em casa, arrastava para fora homens e mulheres, e os levavam para a prisão.

⁴ Entretanto os cristãos que tinham sido dispersos, pregavam a palavra. ⁵ Filipe desceu à cidade de Samaria e proclamou-lhes o Cristo.

⁶ Enquando as multidões ouviram e viram os sinais que Filipe fazia, prestavam atenção ao que ele dizia. ⁷ Pois, os espíritos imundos saiam de muitas pessoas enquanto gritavam em alta voz; e muitos paralíticos e coxos foram curados. ⁸ E houve muita alegria naquela cidade.

⁹ Mas havia um certo homem na cidade chamado Simão, que desde cedo praticava feitiçaria para surpreender as pessoas de Samaria, enquanto afirmavam que ele era uma pessoa importante. ¹⁰ Todos os samaritanos, desde o menor até o maior, prestavam atenção nele; eles diziam: "Este homem é aquele que é chamado de o grande poder de Deus. ¹¹ Estes o escutavam porque os tinha surpreendido por um longo tempo com suas artes mágicas.

¹² Quando, porém, acreditaram que Filipe proclamava o evangelho do Reino de Deus e do nome de Jesus Cristo, foram batizados tanto homens quanto mulheres. ¹³ Simão também creu e após ter sido batizado, permaneceu com Filipe. Quando viu sinais e prodígios sendo realizados ficou maravilhado.

¹⁴ Ouvindo os apóstolos que estavam em Jerusalém, que Samaria tinha recebido a palavra de Deus, enviaram-lhes Pedro e João. ¹⁵ Os quais, tendo descido, oraram por eles, para que pudessem receber o Espírito Santo. ¹⁶ Até aquele momento, o Espírito Santo não havia descido sobre nenhum deles; eles apenas tinham sido batizados no nome do Senhor Jesus. ¹⁷ Então Pedro e João impuseram-lhes as mãos, e eles receberam o Espírito Santo.

¹⁸ Quando Simão viu que o Espírito Santo fora dado por meio da imposição das mãos dos apóstolos, ofereceu-lhes dinheiro. ¹⁹ Ele disse: Dai-me este poder também, para que aquele sobre quem eu colocar minhas mãos, receba o Espírito Santo".

²⁰ Mas Pedro lhe disse: "Que sua prata pereça contigo, porque tu pensastes em obter o dom de Deus com dinheiro. ²¹ Tu não tens parte ou porção neste ministério, pois teu coração não é reto para com Deus. ²² Portanto, arrependa-te dessa tua maldade, e ore ao Senhor para que talvez possa perdoá-lo pela intenção do teu coração. ²³ Pois vejo que estás no veneno da amargura e em laços de pecado".

²⁴ Simão respondeu e disse: "Ore ao Senhor por mim, para que nada do que haveis dito possa acontecer comigo".

²⁵ Tendo eles, pois, testificado e falado a palavra do Senhor, Pedro e João retornaram para Jerusalém, anunciando o evangelho em muitas aldeias dos samaritanos.

²⁶ Então, um anjo do Senhor falou a Filipe e disse: "Levanta-te e vai em direção ao sul pela estrada que desce de Jerusalém para Gaza". (Essa estrada está em um deserto.) ²⁷ Ele se levantou e foi. E viu um homem da Etiópia, um eunuco administrador de Candace, rainha dos etíopes, o qual era encarregado de todo seu tesouro, tinha vindo a Jerusalém para adorar. ²⁸ Estava voltando e, sentado em sua carruagem, começou a ler o profeta Isaías.

²⁹ O Espírito disse a Filipe: "Vá e fique perto dessa carruagem". ³⁰ Então, Filipe correu até ele e o ouviu lendo o profeta Isaías, e disse: "Entendes o que estais lendo?". ³¹ O etíope respondeu: "Como posso, a menos que alguém me guie?" Ele implorou a Filipe que subisse na carruagem e com ele se assentasse.

³² A passagem da Escritura que o etíope estava lendo era esta: "Ele foi levado como uma ovelha para o matadouro, e, como um cordeiro diante do seu tosqueador, ficou em silêncio e não abriu a sua boca. ³³ Na Sua humilhação foi retirado a justiça; quem contará à Sua geração? Porque Sua vida é tirada da terra".

³⁴ Então, o eunuco perguntou a Filipe e disse: "Peço-lhe, sobre quem o profeta está falando? De si mesmo, ou de outra pessoa?". ³⁵ Filipe começou a falar e, utilizando essa passagem da Escritura, pregou as boas novas de Jesus para ele.

³⁶ Enquanto eles seguiam pela estrada, chegaram a um lugar onde havia água e o eunuco disse: "Olhe, há água aqui; o que me impede de ser batizado?". ³⁷ ¹ -- ³⁸ Então, o etíope ordenou a carruagem que parasse, e ambos desceram à água, e Filipe o batizou.

³⁹ Quando saíram da água, o Espírito do Senhor arrebatou a Filipe, o eunuco não mais o viu, e seguiu seu caminho com alegria. ⁴⁰ Mas Filipe se achou em Azoto e, pregava o evangelho em todas as cidades, até que chegou a Cesareia.

¹Disse Felipe: Se crês com todo o teu coração, podes ser batizado . O etíope respondeu: Eu creio que Jesus é o Filho de Deus .

Capítulo 9

¹ Porém, Saulo, respirando ainda ameaças e morte contra os discípulos do Senhor, foi até ao sumo sacerdote, ² e pediu-lhe cartas para as sinagogas de Damasco, a fim de que, caso encontrasse alguém que pertencia ao Caminho, os levasse presos para Jerusalém.

³ Enquanto estava viajando, ao aproximar-se de Damasco, de repente uma luz do céu brilhou ao seu redor; ⁴ e, caindo ao chão, ouviu uma voz que lhe dizia: "Saulo, Saulo, por que me persegues?".

⁵ Saulo respondeu: "Quem és Tu, Senhor?" O Senhor disse: "Eu sou Jesus, a quem tu persegues; ⁶ mas levanta-te e entra na cidade, e te dirão o que deves fazer". ⁷ Os homens que viajavam com Saulo ficaram sem palavras, ouvindo a voz, porém, não vendo ninguém.

⁸ Saulo levantou-se do chão e, quando abriu os olhos, não podia ver nada. Então, levaram-no pela mão e o trouxeram para Damasco. ⁹ Por três dias ficou sem ver, não comeu e nem bebeu.

¹⁰ Havia um discípulo em Damasco chamado Ananias. Disse-lhe o Senhor numa visão: "Ananias!" E ele disse: "Eis-me aqui, Senhor"! ¹¹ O Senhor lhe ordenou: "Levanta-te, e vai à rua que se chama Direita, e na casa de Judas pergunta por um homem chamado Saulo, um homem de Tarso; pois ele está orando; ¹² e, numa visão, viu um homem chamado Ananias vindo e impondo as mãos sobre ele, para que recuperasse a vista".

¹³ Ananias porém, respondeu: "Senhor, de muitos tenho ouvido a respeito desse homem, quantos males tem feito aos Teus santos em Jerusalém. ¹⁴ Ele tem autorização pelo sumo sacerdote de prender a todos os que invocam o Teu nome." ¹⁵ Porém, o Senhor lhe disse: "Vai, porque esse é para Mim um vaso escolhido para levar Meu Nome perante os gentios e os reis, e os filhos de Israel; ¹⁶ pois Eu lhe mostrarei o quanto deve sofrer por causa do Meu Nome".

¹⁷ Então Ananias foi e, entrando na casa, colocou sobre ele as mãos, dizendo: "Irmão Saulo, o Senhor Jesus, que te apareceu na estrada por onde vinhas, enviou-me, para que recuperes a vista e sejas cheio do Espírito Santo". ¹⁸ Imediatamente, algo como escamas caíram-lhe dos olhos, e tornou a ver; levantou-se e foi batizado; ¹⁹ comeu e foi fortalecido. E permaneceu com os discípulos em Damasco por vários dias.

²⁰ Logo proclamou Jesus nas sinagogas, dizendo que Ele é o Filho de Deus. ²¹ Todos os que o ouviam estavam maravilhados e diziam: "Não é esse o homem que assolou aqueles em Jerusalém que invocavam este Nome? E veio aqui para trazê-los presos ao sumo sacerdote?". ²² Contudo, Saulo, fortalecendo-se, pregava e confundia os judeus que viviam em Damasco, provando que Jesus é o Cristo.

²³ Depois de muitos dias, os judeus planejaram matá-lo. ²⁴ Mas o plano deles tornou-se conhecido por Saulo. Eles vigiavam os portões dia e noite a fim de matá-lo; ²⁵ mas os seus discípulos tomaram-no de noite e o desceram num grande cesto pelo muro.

²⁶ Quando chegou a Jerusalém, Saulo procurou juntar-se aos discípulos, mas todos estavam com medo dele, não acreditando que era um discípulo. ²⁷ Mas Barnabé, tomando-o consigo, levou-o aos apóstolos; e contou-lhes como ele havia visto o Senhor na estrada, e que Este lhe falara, e como em Damasco pregara corajosamente em nome de Jesus.

²⁸ Estava com eles em Jerusalém, entrando e saindo, falando corajosamente em nome do Senhor Jesus ²⁹ e debatia com os helenistas; mas eles continuaram tentando matá-lo. ³⁰ Quando os irmãos souberam disso, trouxeram-no para Cesareia e enviaram-no para Tarso.

³¹ Assim, as igrejas em toda a Judeia, Galileia e Samaria, tinham paz e eram edificadas, caminhando no temor do Senhor e no consolo do Espírito Santo; cresciam em número. ³² Então, sucedeu que Pedro, caminhando por toda a região, desceu também ao povo de Deus que vivia na cidade de Lida.

³³ Encontrou ali certo homem chamado Eneias, que esteve acamado por oito anos, pois era paralítico. ³⁴ Pedro disse-lhe: "Eneias, Jesus Cristo te cura. Levanta e arruma a tua cama". E de imediato se levantou. ³⁵ Então, todos os que viviam em Lida e em Sarona, vendo o homem, converteram-se ao Senhor.

³⁶ Havia em Jope uma certa discípula chamada Tabita, que traduzido é "Dorcas". Essa mulher era cheia de boas obras e de atos misericordiosos que fazia aos pobres. ³⁷ Aconteceu naqueles dias que ela adoeceu e morreu. Quando eles a lavaram, deitaram-na num aposento superior.

³⁸ Como Lida era perto de Jope, e os discípulos ouviram que Pedro estava lá, enviaram dois homens, pedindo-lhe: "Venha até nós sem demora". ³⁹ Pedro levantou-se e foi com eles. Quando chegou, levaram-no ao aposento superior. Todas as viúvas estavam perto dele chorando, mostrando-lhe as roupas e vestimentas que Dorcas fizera enquanto estava com elas.

⁴⁰ Pedro mandou sair todos do quarto, ajoelhou-se e orou. E, voltando-se para o corpo, disse: "Tabita, levanta". Ela abriu os olhos e, vendo a Pedro, sentou-se. ⁴¹ Pedro, dando-lhe a mão, levantou-a, e, chamando os cristãos e as viúvas, apresentou-a viva. ⁴² Esse fato tornou-se conhecido por toda Jope, e muitas pessoas creram no Senhor. ⁴³ Pedro ficou em Jope por muitos dias, com um homem chamado Simão, um curtidor.

Capítulo 10

¹ Havia certo homem na cidade de Cesareia chamado Cornélio, um centurião da corte Italiana. ² Homem devoto que adorava a Deus com toda sua casa, dava muitas esmolas ao povo e continuamente orava a Deus por todos.

³ Por volta da hora nona do dia, viu claramente em uma visão um anjo de Deus que se dirigia para ele. O anjo disse-lhe: "Cornélio!" ⁴ Cornélio, fixando os olhos no anjo, estava muito assustado e disse: "O que é isso, Senhor?" O anjo disse-lhe: "Tuas orações e tuas esmolas aos pobres têm subido como memorial na presença de Deus". ⁵ Portanto envie homens à cidade de Jope para trazer um homem cujo nome é Simão, também chamado Pedro. ⁶ Ele está com um curtidor chamado Simão, cuja casa fica junto ao mar".

⁷ Quando o anjo que lhe falava se afastou, Cornélio chamou dois dos seus servos e um soldado piedoso, daqueles que estavam ao seu serviço. ⁸ Cornélio disse a todos o que acontecera e os enviou a Jope.

⁹ No dia seguinte, por volta da hora sexta, conforme eles estavam em sua jornada, aproximando-se da cidade, Pedro subiu ao terraço para orar. ¹⁰ Então, tendo fome, quis comer, mas enquanto as pessoas preparavam a comida, sobreveio-lhe um arrebatamento de sentidos. ¹¹ E viu o céu aberto e um objeto que descia como um grande lençol atado pelas quatro pontas, sendo baixado para a terra. ¹² Nele havia todos os tipos de animais quadrúpedes e coisas que rastejavam sobre a terra, e pássaros do céu.

¹³ Uma voz lhe falou: "Levanta-te, Pedro! Mata e come". ¹⁴ Porém Pedro disse: "Não, Senhor, pois jamais comi nada que seja profano e imundo." ¹⁵ Novamente, a voz veio a ele, pela segunda vez: "O que Deus purificou não o chame de impuro." ¹⁶ Isso aconteceu três vezes, e o objeto imediatamente foi recolhido para o céu.

¹⁷ Enquanto Pedro estava muito confuso acerca do que poderia significar a visão que tivera, avistou os homens enviados por Cornélio que perguntavam sobre sua casa, os quais pararam à porta. ¹⁸ Chamando-o, perguntaram se Simão, chamado de Pedro, estava lá.

¹⁹ Enquanto Pedro ainda pensava na visão, o Espírito disse-lhe: "Vê três homens que estão procurando por ti. ²⁰ Levanta, desce e vai com eles. Não tenhas medo de ir, porque Eu os enviei". ²¹ Então Pedro desceu e disse aos homens: "Sou eu a quem procurais. Por que vieste?".

²² Então disseram: "Um centurião chamado Cornélio, homem justo que adora a Deus e que tem bom testemunho de toda a nação judaica, foi instruído divinamente por um santo anjo de Deus, que disse para que te chamasse a sua casa e ouvisse as tuas palavras". ²³ Então Pedro os convidou para entrar e ficar com ele. Na manhã seguinte, levantou-se e foi com eles, e alguns dos irmãos de Jope o acompanharam.

²⁴ No dia seguinte, chegaram a Cesareia. Cornélio estava esperando por eles, tendo reunido seus parentes e amigos íntimos.

²⁵ Quando Pedro entrou, Cornélio saiu-lhe ao encontro e inclinou-se aos seus pés e o adorou. ²⁶ Porém Pedro o ergueu, dizendo: "Levanta-te, pois eu também sou homem".

²⁷ Enquanto Pedro falava, entrou e encontrou muitas pessoas reunidas. ²⁸ E disse-lhes: "Vós bem sabeis que não é permitido para um homem judeu ajuntar-se ou visitar alguém de outra nação. Porém Deus me mostrou que não devo chamar nenhum homem de profano ou imundo. ²⁹ Por isso vim sem objeção, tendo sido chamado. Pergunto-vos, portanto, por que me chamastes?"

³⁰ Cornélio disse: "Há quatro dias, nessa mesma hora, estava eu orando na hora nona, na minha casa, e vi diante de mim um homem com roupas resplandecentes. ³¹ Ele disse: "Cornélio, tua oração tem sido ouvida, e as tuas esmolas aos pobres lembradas diante de Deus. ³² Então envia alguém a Jope e chama Simão, cujo nome também é Pedro. Ele está na casa de um curtidor chamado Simão, junto ao mar". ³³ Por isso te mandei logo chamar e tu fizeste bem em vir. Agora, pois, aqui estamos todos reunidos na presença de Deus para ouvirmos o que o Senhor te mandou dizer". ¹

³⁴ Então, abrindo a boca, Pedro disse: "Verdadeiramente percebo que Deus não faz acepção de pessoas. ³⁵ No entanto, em cada nação, qualquer que O tema e faça o que é justo lhe é aceitável.

³⁶ Vós conheceis a mensagem que foi enviada para o povo de Israel, anunciando-lhe as boas novas da paz por meio de Jesus Cristo, que é o Senhor de todos. ³⁷ Vós sabeis dos acontecimentos que ocorreram por toda a Judeia, começando na Galileia, depois do batismo que João anunciou; ³⁸ os acontecimentos acerca de Jesus de Nazaré, como Deus O ungiu com o Espírito Santo e poder. Ele andou fazendo o bem e curando a todos os oprimidos pelo diabo, pois Deus era com Ele.

³⁹ Nós somos testemunhas de tudo o que Ele fez, tanto na Judeia como em Jerusalém - esse Jesus a quem eles mataram, pendurando-O num madeiro. ⁴⁰ Mas Deus O ressuscitou ao terceiro dia e fez que se manifestasse, ⁴¹ não para todas as pessoas, mas às testemunhas que foram escolhidas de antemão por Deus: a nós mesmos, os que comemos e bebemos com Ele após sua ressurreição.

⁴² Ele nos ordenou que pregássemos ao povo e testificássemos que Ele é quem foi escolhido por Deus Juiz de vivos e de mortos. ⁴³ Todos os profetas dão testemunho Dele, de maneira que todo aquele que Nele crê receberá perdão de pecados através do Seu Nome".

⁴⁴ Enquanto Pedro ainda dizia essas coisas, o Espirito Santo desceu sobre todos aqueles que estavam ouvindo sua mensagem. ⁴⁵ Todos os cristãos circuncidados que vieram com Pedro ficaram maravilhados, porque o dom do Espírito Santo também foi derramado sobre os gentios.

⁴⁶ Pois ouviram esses gentios falarem em línguas e adorar a Deus. Então Pedro respondeu: ⁴⁷ "Pode alguém recusar água a estas pessoas para que não sejam batizadas, estas que receberam o Espírito Santo assim como nós?" ⁴⁸ E ele ordenou que fossem batizados no nome de Jesus Cristo. Então eles pediram-no para ficar com eles por alguns dias.

¹Algumas autoridades antigas acrescentaram: Quando ele vier, falará a ti .

Capítulo 11

¹ Os apóstolos e os irmãos que estavam na Judeia ouviram que os gentios também haviam recebido a Palavra de Deus. ² Quando Pedro subiu a Jerusalém, os que eram da circuncisão criticaram-no ³ e disseram: "Tu te associaste com homens incircuncisos e comeste com eles!"

⁴ Pedro, porém, começou a explicar-lhes o assunto detalhadamente e disse: ⁵ "Estava eu orando na cidade de Jope e tive uma visão de um objeto descendo, como um grande lençol baixado do céu, pendurado pelas quatro pontas, vindo para mim. ⁶ Contemplei e pensei acerca disso; vi os quadrúpedes da terra, bestas selvagens, animais rastejantes e pássaros do céu.

⁷ Então ouvi uma voz que me dizia: "Levanta, Pedro! Mata e come!" ⁸ Eu disse: "De forma alguma, Senhor, pois nada profano ou imundo jamais entrou em minha boca". ⁹ Porém a voz respondeu uma segunda vez do céu: "Não chames imundo o que Deus purificou". ¹⁰ Aconteceu isso três vezes, e todas as coisas foram levadas de volta para o céu.

¹¹ Naquele momento, três homens enviados a mim de Cesareia, pararam em frente à casa onde estávamos. ¹² O Espírito ordenou-me ir com eles, e não fazer distinção a respeito deles. Estes seis irmãos foram comigo, e entramos na casa do homem. ¹³ Ele nos falou como tinha visto o anjo em pé, na sua casa, dizendo: "Envia homens a Jope, e manda buscar Simão, também chamado Pedro. ¹⁴ Ele vos falará a mensagem pela qual serás salvo - tu e todos os teus familiares".

¹⁵ Logo que comecei a lhes falar, o Espírito Santo veio sobre eles, assim como sobre nós, no início. ¹⁶ Lembrei-me das Palavras do Senhor, que disse: "João de fato batizou com água; mas vós sereis batizados com o Espírito Santo".

¹⁷ Portanto, se Deus lhes deu o mesmo dom como concedera também a nós, quando acreditamos no Senhor Jesus Cristo, quem sou eu, para que me opusesse a Deus?" ¹⁸ Quando ouviram estas coisas, nada falaram em resposta, mas oraram a Deus e disseram: "Então Deus também concedeu aos gentios arrependimento para a vida".

¹⁹ Portanto os crentes que foram espalhados por causa da persguição que começou com a morte de Estêvão dispersaram-se para a Fenícia, Chipre e Antioquia, mas falaram a mensagem sobre Jesus somente aos judeus. ²⁰ Mas alguns deles, homens de Chipre e Cirene, os quais, entrando na Antioquia, falaram aos gregos, anunciando-lhes as boas novas sobre o Senhor Jesus. ²¹ E a mão do Senhor estava com eles, e um grande número creu e se converteu ao Senhor.

²² Notícias sobre eles chegaram até os ouvidos da igreja em Jerusalém, e eles enviaram Barnabé até Antioquia. ²³ Quando ele veio e viu o dom de Deus, alegrou-se; e encorajou a todos para permanecerem no Senhor com firmeza de coração. ²⁴ Pois ele era um bom homem, cheio do Espírito Santo e de fé, e muitas pessoas se uniram ao Senhor.

²⁵ Então Barnabé foi para Tarso, procurando por Saulo. ²⁶ Quando o encontrou, levou-o para Antioquia. Sucedeu que, por um ano inteiro, eles congregaram juntos com a igreja e ensinaram muitas pessoas. Os discípulos foram chamados de "cristãos" pela primeira vez, em Antioquia.

²⁷ Naqueles dias, alguns profetas desceram de Jerusalém para Antioquia. ²⁸ Um deles, chamado Ágabo, levantou-se e indicou pelo Espírito que haveria uma grande fome em todo o mundo, o que ocorreu nos dias de Cláudio.

²⁹ Então os discípulos, conforme a capacidade de cada um, decidiram enviar ajuda aos irmãos na Judeia. ³⁰ Eles fizeram isso e enviaram dinheiro para os presbíteros pela mão de Barnabé e Saulo.

Capítulo 12

¹ Porém, naquele tempo, o rei Herodes prendeu alguns da igreja para os maltratar, ² e matou Tiago, o irmão de João à espada.

³ Depois de ter visto que isso agradou aos judeus, prosseguiu para prender também Pedro. Isso ocorreu durante os dias dos Pães sem Fermento. ⁴ Após deter Pedro, colocou-o na prisão e pôs quatro grupos de quatro soldados para vigiá-lo, pretendendo trazê-lo para o povo após a Páscoa.

⁵ Então Pedro foi mantido numa prisão, porém a igreja orava a Deus por ele fervorosamente. ⁶ Naquela noite, quando Herodes estava para apresentá-lo, Pedro estava dormindo entre dois soldados, preso com duas correntes, e, à frente da porta, guardas estavam vigiando a prisão.

⁷ Então um anjo do Senhor repentinamente lhe apareceu, e uma luz resplandeceu na cela. O anjo tocou no lado de Pedro, acordou-o e disse: "Levanta rapidamente". Então suas correntes caíram de suas mãos. ⁸ O anjo disse-lhe: "Coloca tua roupa e calça tuas sandálias". Pedro fez isso. O anjo disse a ele: "Coloca tua capa e segue-me".

⁹ Pedro seguiu o anjo e saiu. Ele não sabia se o que o anjo fizera era real. Ele pensou que estava tendo uma visão. ¹⁰ Depois de passar pela primeira e pela segunda guarda, chegaram ao portão de ferro que dava para a cidade, o qual se abriu sozinho para eles. Saindo, desceram uma rua, e o anjo imediatamente o deixou.

¹¹ Quando Pedro caiu em si, disse: "Verdadeiramente, agora sei que o Senhor enviou seu anjo e me livrou da mão de Herodes e de toda a expectativa do povo judeu". ¹² Após ter entendido isso, foi para casa de Maria, mãe de João, cujo sobrenome era Marcos, onde muitos cristãos estavam reunidos e oravam.

¹³ Quando bateu à porta, uma serva chamada Rode saiu para atender. ¹⁴ Ao reconhecer a voz de Pedro, transbordou de alegria e esqueceu de abrir a porta. Em vez disso, correndo para a sala, informou que Pedro estava em pé, à porta. ¹⁵ Então eles lhe disseram: "Tu estás louca". Porém ela insistia. Eles disseram: "É o anjo dele".

¹⁶ Mas Pedro continuou batendo e, quando abriram a porta, viram-no e ficaram maravilhados. ¹⁷ Acenando-lhes com a mão para que ficassem em silêncio, contou-lhes como o Senhor o retirara da prisão. Ele disse: "Informai essas coisas a Tiago e aos irmãos." Então saiu e foi para outro lugar.

¹⁸ Quando o dia clareou, havia muita agitação entre os soldados a respeito do que havia acontecido a Pedro. ¹⁹ Depois de Herodes ter procurado por ele, não podendo encontrá-lo, interrogou os guardas e ordenou que fossem executados. Então Herodes desceu da Judeia para a Cesareia e passou algum tempo ali.

²⁰ Herodes estava furioso com os habitantes de Tiro e Sidom, os quais foram juntos até ele, e persuadiram Blasto, o assistente do rei, para ajudá-los. Então pediram paz, porque a terra deles recebia comida do país do rei. ²¹ Num determinado dia, Herodes vestiu trajes reais, sentou-se no trono e fez um discurso para eles.

²² As pessoas gritaram: "Voz de Deus, e não de homem!" ²³ Imediatamente um anjo do Senhor o feriu, porque não deu glória a Deus, e, comido por vermes, morreu.

²⁴ Contudo a palavra de Deus crescia e se multiplicava. ²⁵ Barnabé e Saulo retornaram de ¹ Jerusalém após terem completado sua missão, levando consigo João, cujo sobrenome era Marcos.

¹Alguns manuscritos trazem: retornaram para

Capítulo 13

¹ Havia alguns mestres e profetas na igreja em Antioquia. Eram Barnabé, Simeão, chamado Níger, Lúcio de Cirene, Manaém, o irmão adotivo do governante Herodes, e Saulo. ² Enquanto adoravam ao Senhor e jejuavam, o Espírito Santo disse: "Separai-Me Barnabé e Saulo para a obra que os tenho chamado". ³ Após jejuarem, orarem e imporem as suas mãos sobre esses homens, eles os enviaram.

⁴ Então, Barnabé e Saulo obedeceram ao Espírito Santo, e desceram a Selêucia; dali navegaram para a ilha de Chipre. ⁵ Quando estavam na cidade de Salamina, proclamavam a palavra de Deus nas sinagogas dos judeus. Tinham também João Marcos como seu assistente.

⁶ Após atravessarem toda a ilha de Pafos, encontraram um certo mago, um falso profeta judeu cujo nome era Barjesus. ⁷ O qual estava com o procônsul Sérgio Paulo, que era um homem inteligente. Este mandou chamar Barnabé e Saulo, porque queria ouvir a Palavra de Deus. ⁸ Porém, Elimas, "o mago" (essa é a tradução do seu nome), opunha-se a eles; ele tentava desviar o procônsul da fé.

⁹ Mas Saulo, também chamado Paulo, cheio do Espírito Santo, olhou nos seus olhos, ¹⁰ e disse: "Tu, filho do diabo, estás cheio de todo tipo de engano e maldade. Tu és inimigo de todo tipo de justiça. Será que nunca cessarás de perverter os retos caminhos do Senhor?

¹¹ Agora, a mão do Senhor está contra ti, e ficarás cego. Tu não verás o sol por algum tempo". Imediatamente, névoa e escuridão caíram sobre Elimas; e, andando, pedia às pessoas para guiá-lo pela mão. ¹² Depois que o procônsul viu o que aconteceu, creu, porque ficou maravilhado com o ensino acerca do Senhor.

¹³ Então, Paulo e seus amigos navegaram de Pafos e chegaram a Perge, na Panfília. Contudo, João os deixou e retornou para Jerusalém. ¹⁴ Paulo e seus amigos viajaram de Perge, e chegaram a Antioquia da Pisídia. Ali, foram à sinagoga, no dia de sábado, e sentaram-se. ¹⁵ Após a leitura da Lei e dos Profetas, os líderes da sinagoga mandaram-lhes uma mensagem dizendo: "Irmãos, se tendes alguma mensagem de encorajamento para o povo, falai".

¹⁶ Assim, Paulo levantou-se e, pedindo silêncio com a mão, disse: "Homens de Israel e vós que honrais a Deus, ouvi. ¹⁷ O Deus deste povo, Israel, escolheu nossos ancestrais, e fez o povo numeroso quando eles estavam na terra do Egito e com braço poderoso os tirou de lá. ¹⁸ Por cerca de quarenta anos, Ele os sustentou no deserto.

¹⁹ Depois de ter destruído as sete nações da terra de Canaã, Ele deu ao nosso povo essa terra por herança. ²⁰ Tudo isso levou mais de quatrocentos e cinquenta anos. Depois de todas essas coisas, Deus lhes deu juízes até o profeta Samuel.

²¹ Então o povo pediu um rei e, por quarenta anos, Deus lhes deu Saul, filho de Quis, homem da tribo de Benjamim. ²² Com o passar do tempo, Deus o retirou do reinado e deu-lhes Davi como rei. Sobre Davi, Deus disse: 'Achei Davi, filho de Jessé, para ser um homem segundo o meu coração; ele fará tudo o que Eu desejo'.

²³ Da descendência desse homem, Deus trouxe a Israel o Salvador, Jesus, conforme prometeu. ²⁴ Antes de Sua vinda, João anunciou o batismo de arrependimento para todo o povo de Israel. ²⁵ Quando João estava finalizando sua carreira, disse: 'Quem vós pensais que eu sou? Eu não sou Quem pensais. Mas Ele virá após mim, Aquele cujas sandálias dos pés não sou digno de desatar'.

²⁶ Irmãos, filhos da descendência de Abraão e aqueles dentre vós que adorais a Deus, foi a nós que a mensagem desta salvação foi enviada. ²⁷ Pois os que vivem em Jerusalém e suas autoridades, não O conheceram de fato, nem compreenderam a mensagem dos profetas que se leem todos os sábados; mas, eles cumpriram as palavras dos profetas condenando Jesus à morte.

²⁸ Mesmo que não tenham encontrado nenhuma razão para a morte Dele, pediram a Pilatos para matá-Lo. ²⁹ Quando completaram todas as coisas que foram escritas sobre Ele, tiraram-No do madeiro e colocaram-No numa sepultura.

³⁰ Todavia, Deus O ressuscitou dentre os mortos. ³¹ Ele foi visto por muitos dias por aqueles que vieram com Ele da Galileia para Jerusalém; essas pessoas são agora Suas testemunhas para o povo.

³² Então, trazemos para vós boas notícias sobre as promessas feitas aos nossos antepassados. ³³ Deus fez essas promessas para nós, seus filhos, de que Ele ressuscitou Jesus dentre os mortos. Isso também é o que foi escrito no salmo segundo: 'Tu és o Meu Filho, hoje Te gerei’. ³⁴ Também pelo fato de O ter ressuscitado dentre os mortos, para que Seu corpo não se corrompa, Ele falou assim: 'Te darei as santas e fiéis bênçãos de Davi'.

³⁵ Por essa razão, Ele também disse em outro salmo: 'Tu não permitirás que o Teu Santo veja corrupção". ³⁶ Portanto, depois que Davi serviu na sua própria geração aos desígnios de Deus, ele adormeceu, foi sepultado junto a seus pais e viu a corrupção. ³⁷ Mas Ele, a quem Deus ressuscitou, não viu a corrupção.

³⁸ Então, seja isto conhecido por vós, irmãos, que através Desse Homem é anunciado a vós o perdão dos pecados. ³⁹ Por meio Dele, todo aquele que crê é justificado de todas as coisas das quais não pudestes ser justificados pela lei de Moisés.

⁴⁰ Logo, tende cuidado para que as coisas que os profetas disseram não vos aconteçam. ⁴¹ 'Vede, ó desprezadores, admirai-vos e perecei; porque estou fazendo uma obra em vossos dias na qual vós não crereis, mesmo se alguém vos anunciasse'".

⁴² Enquanto Paulo e Barnabé estavam saindo, o povo gentiu lhes rogava que no sábado seguinte falassem mais a respeito dessas coisas. ⁴³ Quando a reunião da sinagoga terminou, muitos judeus e devotos prosélitos seguiram Paulo e Barnabé, os quais, falando-lhes, os exortavam a perseverar na graça de Deus.

⁴⁴ No sábado seguinte, quase toda a cidade estava reunida para ouvir a Palavra do Senhor. ⁴⁵ Quando os judeus viram as multidões, se encheram de inveja e contradiziam as coisas ditas por Paulo e o insultavam.

⁴⁶ Entretanto, Paulo e Barnabé, falando ousadamente, disseram-lhes: "Era necessário que a Palavra de Deus fosse proclamada primeiramente a vós. Visto que a rejeitais e não vos considerais dignos da vida eterna, vede, voltaremo-nos para os gentios. ⁴⁷ Porque assim o Senhor nos ordenou, dizendo: 'Eu tenho vos colocado como luz para os gentios, a fim de que possais levar salvação até aos confins da terra'".

⁴⁸ Quando ouviram isso, os gentios se alegraram e louvaram a Palavra do Senhor. E creram, todos quanto foram designados para a vida eterna. ⁴⁹ A Palavra do Senhor foi espalhada por toda aquela região.

⁵⁰ Todavia, os judeus exortaram mulheres importantes e devotas, assim como os homens que eram líderes na cidade. Eles instigaram uma perseguição contra Paulo e Barnabé e os lançaram fora das fronteiras de sua cidade. ⁵¹ Mas Paulo e Barnabé sacudiram a poeira dos seus pés contra eles. Em seguida, partiram para a cidade de Icônio. ⁵² E os discípulos estavam cheios de alegria e do Espírito Santo.

Capítulo 14

¹ Aconteceu em Icônio que Paulo e Barnabé entraram juntos na sinagoga dos judeus, e falaram de tal maneira que uma grande multidão de judeus e gregos acreditou. ² Mas os judeus que eram desobedientes, agitaram as mentes dos gentios e incitaram-os contra os irmãos.

³ Assim, eles permaneceram lá por um longo tempo, falando ousadamente no Senhor, enquanto Ele dava evidência sobre a mensagem da Sua graça, concedendo que sinais e maravilhas fossem realizados por meio de Paulo e Barnabé. ⁴ Porém, a maioria da cidade estava dividida: algumas pessoas com os judeus e outras, com os apóstolos.

⁵ Gentios e judeus decidiram com seus chefes, recorrer à violência e apedrejar os apóstolos; ⁶ ao saberem disso, eles fugiram para as cidades de Licaônia, Listra e Derbe, e a região ao redor. ⁷ Lá também anunciaram o Evangelho.

⁸ Em Listra encontrava-se um certo homem sentado, sem força nos pés, aleijado desde nascença, que nunca havia andado. ⁹ Esse homem ouviu Paulo falando. Paulo fixou seus olhos nele e viu que ele tinha fé para ser curado. ¹⁰ Então, Paulo lhe disse em alta voz: "Levanta-te e firma teus pés". Assim o homem pulou e começou a andar.

¹¹ Quando a multidão viu o que Paulo havia feito, levantaram suas vozes dizendo no dialeto da licaônia: "Os deuses vieram até nós em forma de homens". ¹² Eles chamaram Barnabé de Zeus e Paulo de Hermes, porque era ele quem falava. ¹³ O sacerdote de Zeus, cujo templo ficava em frente à cidade, trouxe touros e grinaldas aos portões; ele e as multidões queriam oferecer-lhes sacrifícios.

¹⁴ Mas, quando os apóstolos Barnabé e Paulo, ouviram isto, rasgaram suas roupas e foram rapidamente para o meio da multidão, clamando ¹⁵ e dizendo: "Homens, por que fazeis essas coisas?" Nós também somos seres humanos iguais a vós. Trazemos boas novas para que vos afasteis dessas coisas inúteis, e vos volteis para o Deus vivo que criou os céus, a terra, o mar e todas as coisas que neles há. ¹⁶ Nos tempos antigos, Ele permitiu que todas as nações andassem em seus próprios caminhos.

¹⁷ Contudo Ele não deixou a Si mesmo sem testemunho, fazendo o bem, vos deu as chuvas do céu e estações frutíferas, enchendo vossos corações com comida e alegria". ¹⁸ Mesmo com essas palavras, Paulo e Barnabé com muita dificuldade conseguiram impedir que as multidões lhes oferecessem sacrifícios.

¹⁹ Porém, alguns judeus de Antioquia e Icônio vieram e persuadiram as multidões. Eles apedrejaram Paulo e arrastaram-no para fora da cidade, pensando que estava morto. ²⁰ Estando ainda os discípulos ao seu redor, ele se levantou e entrou na cidade. No dia seguinte, partiu com Barnabé para Derbe.

²¹ Após terem pregado o Evangelho naquela cidade e feito muitos discípulos, retornaram para Listra, Icônio e Antioquia. ²² Continuaram fortalecendo as mentes dos discípulos e os encorajando a perseverar na fé. Eles lhes disseram que é por meio de muitos sofrimentos que entraríamos no Reino de Deus.

²³ E designando-lhes presbíteros em cada igreja, tendo orado e jejuado, os confiaram ao Senhor, no qual haviam crido. ²⁴ Então, passando pela Pisídia, chegaram a Panfília. ²⁵ E, anunciado a Palavra em Perge, desceram à Atália. ²⁶ Dali, navegaram para Antioquia, onde havia sido comissionados à graça de Deus para a obra que acabavam de completar.

²⁷ Quando chegaram em Antioquia e reuniram a igreja, relataram todas as coisas que Deus havia feito por meio deles, e como abrira a porta de fé aos gentios. ²⁸ Eles permaneceram por um longo tempo com os discípulos.

Capítulo 15

¹ Certos homens desceram da Judéia e ensinavam aos irmãos dizendo: "A menos que sejais circuncidados segundo o costume de Moisés, não sereis salvos". ² Tendo Paulo e Barnabé uma grande dissensão e debate com eles, os irmãos decidiram que Paulo, Barnabé e alguns outros deveriam subir a Jerusalém, para levar essa questão aos apóstolos e presbíteros.

³ Por causa disso, sendo enviados pela igreja, passando pela Fenícia e Samaria, anunciaram a conversão dos gentios e trouxeram grande alegria a todos os irmãos. ⁴ Quando chegaram a Jerusalém, foram recebidos pela igreja, pelos apóstolos e pelos presbíteros e reportaram-lhes todas as coisas que Deus havia feito por meio deles.

⁵ Entretanto, alguns homens do grupo dos fariseus que creram se levantaram e disseram: "É necessário que eles sejam circuncidados e que sejam ordenados a obedecer a lei de Moisés". ⁶ Os apóstolos e presbíteros se reuniram para tratar esse assunto.

⁷ Depois de muito debater, Pedro se levantou e disse-lhes: "Irmãos, vós sabeis que há algum tempo atrás, Deus fez uma escolha entre vós, que através da minha boca os gentios ouviriam a palavra do Evangelho, e creriam. ⁸ Deus, que conhece o coração, testemunhou a favor deles, dando-lhes o Espírito Santo, assim como a nós; ⁹ e não fez distinção entre nós e eles, purificando-lhes o coração pela fé.

¹⁰ Então, por que tentais a Deus, impondo aos discípulos um fardo que nem nós e nem vossos pais puderam suportar? ¹¹ Cremos, entretanto, que seremos salvos pela graça do Senhor Jesus, assim como eles foram".

¹² Toda a multidão ficou em silêncio enquanto eles ouviam Barnabé e Paulo falar dos sinais e maravilhas que Deus tinha operado entre os gentios através deles.

¹³ Depois que terminaram de falar, Tiago respondeu, dizendo: "Irmãos, ouvi-me". ¹⁴ Simão relatou como Deus primeiro ajudou graciosamente os gentios, a fim de tomar dentre eles um povo para o Seu nome.

¹⁵ As palavras dos profetas concordam com isso, como está escrito: ¹⁶ "Depois dessas coisas, Eu voltarei e reconstruirei a tenda de Davi, que foi destruída. Eu novamente levantarei e restaurarei as suas ruínas, ¹⁷ para que o restante dos homens busque ao Senhor, incluindo todos os gentios chamados pelo Meu Nome", ¹⁸ diz o Senhor, que tem feito essas coisas conhecidas desde a antiguidade. ¹

¹⁹ Portanto, minha decisão é que não devemos perturbar os gentios que se voltam para Deus; ²⁰ mas lhes escrever para se guardarem da contaminação dos ídolos, da fornicação, de comer animais estrangulados e do sangue. ²¹ Porque, desde muitas gerações, Moisés tem sido pregado todos os sábados, nas sinagogas de todas as cidades.

²² Então, pareceu bem aos apóstolos e aos presbíteros, com toda a igreja, escolher Judas, chamado Barsabás, e Silas, que eram líderes da igreja, e os enviar para Antioquia, com Paulo e Barnabé. ²³ Assim escreveram: "Os apóstolos, presbíteros e irmãos, aos irmãos gentios em Antioquia, Síria e Cilícia, saudações.

²⁴ Ouvimos que certos homens, aos quais não havíamos dado nenhuma ordem, se desviaram de nós, e têm-vos perturbado com palavras, confundindo vossas almas. ²⁵ Pareceu-nos bem, tendo chegado a uma decisão, escolher homens e enviá-los até vós juntamente com nossos amados Barnabé e Paulo, ²⁶ homens que têm arriscado suas vidas pelo Nome de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo.

²⁷ Enviamos, portanto, Judas e Silas, que também contarão as mesmas coisas. ²⁸ Pois pareceu bem ao Espírito Santo e a nós não colocar sobre vós fardos maiores do que estas coisas necessárias: ²⁹ que se mantenham distantes de coisas sacrificadas aos ídolos, sangue, animais estrangulados e imoralidade sexual. Se vos guardardes dessas coisas, tudo estará bem com vós. Adeus!"

³⁰ Então eles, depois de dispensados, desceram à Antioquia e, reunindo a multidão, entregaram a carta. ³¹ Quando eles a leram, alegraram-se muito por causa do encorajamento. ³² Judas e Silas, também profetas, encorajaram e fortaleceram os irmãos com muitas palavras.

³³ Após terem passado algum tempo ali, foram enviados em paz de volta aos irmãos que os havia enviado. ³⁴ ² ³⁵ Porém, Paulo e Barnabé ficaram em Antioquia junto com muitos outros, onde ensinavam e pregavam a palavra do Senhor.

³⁶ Após alguns dias, Paulo disse a Barnabé: "Vamos retornar agora para visitar os irmãos em cada cidade onde proclamamos a Palavra do Senhor e vejamos como estão". ³⁷ Barnabé também queria levar João, chamado Marcos; ³⁸ mas Paulo não achou bom o levar, pois, desde a Panfília, havia se afastado deles e não os seguira na obra.

³⁹ Então, surgiu tamanha divergência que se separaram um do outro, e Barnabé tomou consigo Marcos e navegou para Chipre. ⁴⁰ Contudo, Paulo escolheu a Silas e partiu, após ter sido confiado pelos irmãos à graça do Senhor; ⁴¹ e passou pela Síria e Cilícia, fortalecendo as igrejas.

¹Algumas versões antigas trazem: Isso é o que o Senhor diz, àqueles que têm conhecido todos os seus feitos, desde tempos antigos.

²Os melhores manuscritos antigos omitem o verso 34 (veja Atos 15:40). Vs. 34, Mas, pareceu bem a Silas permanecer ali .

Capítulo 16

¹ Paulo também foi para Derbe e Listra; e havia ali um certo discípulo chamado Timóteo, filho de uma mulher judia cristã; seu pai era grego. ² E os irmãos que estavam em Listra e Icônio davam bom testemunho dele. ³ Paulo queria que ele o acompanhasse; então, tomou-o e o circuncidou por causa dos judeus que estavam naqueles lugares, pois todos sabiam que seu pai era grego.

⁴ Enquanto seguiam seu caminho pelas cidades, davam às igrejas ordenanças para que obedecessem, as quais foram escritas pelos apóstolos e presbíteros de Jerusalém. ⁵ Assim, as igrejas eram fortalecidas na fé e cresciam em número dia após dia.

⁶ Paulo e seus companheiros percorreram as regiões de Frígia e Galácia, uma vez que foram impedidos pelo Espírito Santo de pregar a Palavra na Ásia. ⁷ Quando se aproximaram de Mísia, tentaram adentrar em Bitínia, mas o Espírito de Jesus os impediu. ⁸ Então passando pela Mísia, desceram à cidade de Trôade.

⁹ Durante a noite, Paulo teve uma visão: um homem da Macedônia estava em pé, chamando-o e dizendo: "Vem para a Macedônia e ajuda-nos!". ¹⁰ Assim que Paulo teve a visão, imediatamente partimos para a Macedônia, concluindo que Deus tinha nos chamado para pregar-lhes o Evangelho.

¹¹ Portanto, partindo de Trôade, navegamos direto para Samotrácia e, no dia seguinte, para Neápolis; ¹² de lá, seguimos para Filipos, cidade da Macedônia, a mais importante do distrito e uma colônia romana e ali ficamos por vários dias. ¹³ No dia de sábado, fomos para fora dos portões junto ao rio, onde pensamos ser um lugar de oração. Nós nos sentamos e falamos às mulheres que vieram juntas.

¹⁴ Certa mulher chamada Lídia, vendedora de púrpura, da cidade de Tiatira, que adorava a Deus, nos ouviu. O Senhor abriu o seu coração para prestar atenção às coisas que Paulo dizia. ¹⁵ Após ter sido batizada, ela e toda a sua casa, insistiu dizendo: "Se vós julgais que sou fiel ao Senhor, entrai em minha casa e ficai ali". E persuadiu-nos a isso.

¹⁶ Aconteceu que, conforme íamos ao lugar de oração, uma certa jovem, que tinha um espírito de adivinhação, nos encontrou. Ela dava grande lucro ao seus patrões através da adivinhação. ¹⁷ Essa mulher seguia a Paulo e a nós e gritava dizendo: "Estes homens são servos do Deus Altíssimo. Eles vos proclamam o caminho da salvação". ¹⁸ Ela fez isto por muitos dias. Mas Paulo, ficando demasiadamente aborrecido por ela, voltou-se e disse ao espírito: "Eu te ordeno, no Nome de Jesus, saia dela". E o espírito saiu imediatamente.

¹⁹ Quando os patrões da mulher viram que a esperança dos seus ganhos tinha ido embora, amarraram Paulo e Silas e os levaram para dentro do mercado, diante das autoridades. ²⁰ Quando lhes trouxeram para os oficiais do governo, disseram: "Estes homens são judeus e estão causando vários problemas na nossa cidade. ²¹ Eles estão ensinando costumes que não são permitidos aos romanos receber ou observar".

²² Então, toda a multidão se levantou contra Paulo e Silas; e os magistrados, rasgando-lhes as roupas, ordenaram que fossem açoitados com varas. ²³ Após tê-los açoitado várias vezes, jogaram-nos na prisão e ordenaram ao carcereiro que os mantivessem seguros. ²⁴ Depois de receber essa ordem, o carcereiro os lançou na prisão interior e prendeu seus pés no tronco.

²⁵ Por volta da meia noite, Paulo e Silas oravam e cantavam hinos a Deus, e os outros prisioneiros os ouviam. ²⁶ Repentinamente, houve um grande terremoto, e os alicerces da prisão foram abalados; e imediatamente todas as portas foram abertas, e as correntes de todos foram soltas.

²⁷ O carcereiro despertou do sono, e viu abertas as portas da prisão; tomou sua espada, e estava prestes a se matar, porque pensou que os prisioneiros tinham escapado. ²⁸ Mas Paulo gritou em alta voz, dizendo: "Não te mates, porque estamos todos aqui".

²⁹ O carcereiro pediu luzes; apressadamente entrou e, tremendo de medo, prostrou-se diante de Paulo e Silas; ³⁰ e os levou para fora e disse: "Senhores, o que eu devo fazer para ser salvo?". ³¹ Eles disseram: "Crê no Senhor Jesus e serás salvo, tu e a tua casa".

³² Pregaram a Palavra do Senhor para ele, juntos com todos em sua casa. ³³ Então o carcereiro os tomou naquela mesma hora da noite, lavou suas feridas, e ele e toda a sua casa foram imediatamente batizados. ³⁴ Ele levou Paulo e Silas para dentro de sua casa e pôs comida diante deles; e alegrou-se grandemente com toda a sua casa, porque ele creu em Deus.

³⁵ Quando amanheceu, os magistrados ordenaram aos guardas dizendo: "Deixa aqueles homens irem". ³⁶ O carcereiro mencionou as palavras a Paulo, dizendo: "Os magistrados me ordenaram para deixar-vos ir; portanto, saí e ide em paz".

³⁷ Porém, Paulo lhes disse: "Sendo nós cidadãos romanos, publicamente nos açoitaram, sem sermos condenados, e nos lançaram na prisão; e agora querem nos soltar em segredo? De forma alguma! Que eles mesmos venham e nos tirem daqui". ³⁸ Os guardas reportaram essas palavras para os magistrados; e eles ficaram temerosos quando ouviram que Paulo e Silas eram romanos. ³⁹ Os magistrados vieram e se desculparam com eles e, quando os tiraram da prisão, pediram para que Paulo e Silas deixassem a cidade.

⁴⁰ Então, Paulo e Silas saíram da prisão e foram à casa de Lídia. Quando viram os irmãos, eles os encorajaram e assim partiram da cidade.

Capítulo 17

¹ Tendo percorrido as cidades de Anfípolis e Apolônia, chegaram a Tessalônica, onde havia uma sinagoga dos judeus. ² Paulo, como era de seu costume, foi até lá e, por três sábados, debateu com eles acerca das Escrituras.

³ Abrindo as Escrituras, explicava que era necessário que o Cristo sofresse e ressuscitasse dentre os mortos. E dizia: "Esse Jesus que vos proclamo é o Cristo". ⁴ Alguns dos judeus foram persuadidos e se juntaram a Paulo e Silas, incluindo uma grande quantidade de devotos gregos, e muitas das mulheres influentes.

⁵ Entretanto os judeus incrédulos, movidos por ciúmes, tomando homens ímpios do mercado, juntaram a multidão e tumultuaram a cidade. Assaltando a casa de Jasom, queriam trazer Paulo e Silas até o povo. ⁶ Porém, não os tendo encontrado, arrastaram Jasom e alguns outros irmãos perante as autoridades da cidade, e exclamavam: "Esses homens, que têm virado o mundo de cabeça para baixo, chegaram também aqui. ⁷ Esses, a quem Jasom tem recebido, procedem contra os decretos de César e dizem que existe outro Rei, Jesus".

⁸ Quando a multidão e as autoridades da cidade ouviram essas coisas, ficaram perturbados. ⁹ Após receberem fiança de Jasom e dos outros, eles os libertaram.

¹⁰ Naquela noite, os irmãos enviaram Paulo e Silas para Bereia. Chegando lá, foram à sinagoga dos judeus. ¹¹ Em Bereia, as pessoas eram mais nobres que as de Tessalônica, pois receberam a Palavra com toda disposição de mente, diariamente examinando as Escrituras, para ver se de fato as coisas eram assim. ¹² Por isso muitos deles creram, incluindo algumas mulheres gregas influentes e muitos homens.

¹³ Todavia, quando os judeus de Tessalônica descobriram que Paulo estava proclamando a Palavra de Deus em Bereia, foram até lá para incitar e acirrar as multidões. ¹⁴ Imediatamente, os irmãos enviaram Paulo para o litoral, mas Silas e Timóteo permaneceram ali. ¹⁵ Aqueles que guiavam Paulo levaram-no até a cidade de Atenas e regressaram, trazendo dele instruções para que Silas e Timóteo fossem até ele o mais rápido possível.

¹⁶ Enquanto Paulo esperava por eles em Atenas, seu espírito se indignou quando viu a cidade cheia de ídolos. ¹⁷ Então debatia na sinagoga com os judeus e com aqueles que adoravam a Deus, e também com os que ele encontrava todos os dias no mercado.

¹⁸ Contudo alguns dos filósofos epicureus e estoicos, também debatendo com ele, diziam: "O que esse tagarela está tentando dizer?". Outros diziam: "Parece ser um pregador de deuses estranhos", porque ele anunciava sobre Jesus e a ressureição.

¹⁹ Tomaram a Paulo e o levaram até o Areópago, dizendo: "Podemos saber sobre esse novo ensino que tu tens falado? ²⁰ Pois tu trazes algo estranho aos nossos ouvidos. Portanto queremos saber o que essas coisas significam". ²¹ (Todos os atenienses e estrangeiros que ali viviam não gastavam seu tempo com nada além de contar ou ouvir sobre novidades).

²² Então Paulo ficou de pé no meio do Areópago e disse: "Homens atenienses, vejo que sois muito religiosos em todas as maneiras. ²³ Pois, passando eu e observando os objetos de vossa adoração, encontrei um altar com a seguinte inscrição: "AO DEUS DESCONHECIDO". Pois bem, Aquele que adorais sem saber quem é, a Este vos anuncio.

²⁴ O Deus que criou o mundo e tudo o que nele há, Senhor do céu e da terra, não habita em templos construídos por mãos de homens. ²⁵ Tampouco é servido por mãos de homens, como se precisasse de coisa alguma, visto que Ele mesmo dá às pessoas vida, respiração e todas as coisas.

²⁶ E de um só homem Ele criou toda a raça humana que habita na face da terra, tendo-lhes determinado os tempos e o limite da sua habitação. ²⁷ Portanto eles deveriam buscar a Deus e, tateando, talvez pudessem encontrá-Lo e descobri-Lo, embora Ele não esteja longe de cada um de nós.

²⁸ Pois Nele vivemos, nos movemos e existimos, como alguns dos vossos poetas disseram: 'Somos também geração Dele'. ²⁹ Sendo nós geração de Deus, não devemos pensar que a divindade é semelhante ao ouro, prata ou pedra — imagens criadas pela arte e imaginação do homem.

³⁰ Assim sendo, Deus não levou em conta os tempos de ignorância, mas agora ordena que todos os homens, em todos os lugares, arrependam-se. ³¹ Pois determinou um dia em que julgará o mundo em justiça por meio do Homem que Ele escolheu. Deus deu prova desse Homem a todos, ressuscitando-O dentre os mortos".

³² Quando os homens de Atenas ouviram sobre a ressureição dos mortos, alguns zombaram de Paulo, mas outros diziam: "Nós te ouviremos novamente sobre esse assunto". ³³ Depois disso, Paulo os deixou. ³⁴ Alguns homens, porém, juntaram-se a ele, e creram, incluindo Dionísio, membro do Conselho do Areópago, e uma mulher chamada Dâmaris, e com eles ainda outros.

Capítulo 18

¹ Depois dessas coisas, Paulo deixou Atenas e foi para Corinto. ² Encontrou ali certo judeu chamado Áquila, natural do Ponto, que recentemente tinha vindo da Itália com sua esposa Priscila, pois Cláudio havia ordenado que todos os judeus deixassem Roma. Paulo foi até eles ³ e, porque tinham o mesmo ofício, Paulo ficou e trabalhou com eles, porque faziam tendas.

⁴ Paulo debatia na sinagoga todo sábado, persuadiando tanto judeus como gregos. ⁵ Contudo, quando Silas e Timóteo desceram da Macedônia, Paulo foi impulsionado pelo Espírito para testificar aos judeus que Jesus era o Cristo. ⁶ Quando os judeus se opuseram a ele e o insultaram, Paulo sacudiu suas vestes e disse-lhes: "Que o vosso sangue esteja sobre vossas próprias cabeças; eu sou inocente. De agora em diante, irei para os gentios".

⁷ Saindo dali, foi para a casa de Tito Justo, um homem que adorava a Deus. Sua casa era próxima da sinagoga. ⁸ Crispo, o chefe da sinagoga, e toda sua casa creu no Senhor. Muitos dos coríntios que ouviram Paulo também creram e foram batizados.

⁹ O Senhor disse a Paulo durante a noite numa visão: "Não tenhas medo, mas fales e não te cales. ¹⁰ Pois estou contigo, e ninguém te atacará, pois tenho muitos nesta cidade". ¹¹ Paulo morou ali por um ano e seis meses, ensinando a Palavra de Deus entre eles.

¹² Porém, quando Gálio se tornou governador da Acaia, os judeus juntaram-se contra Paulo e o levaram ao tribunal; ¹³ e disseram: "Este homem persuade as pessoas a adorar a Deus, contrariando a lei".

¹⁴ Quando Paulo estava prestes a falar, Gálio disse aos judeus: "De fato, judeus, se houvesse algum crime ou problema grave, seria razoável tratar convosco. ¹⁵ Mas como são questões de palavras e nomes e da vossa própria lei, resolvei isso vós mesmos, não quero ser juiz nestas questões!"

¹⁶ Gálio mandou que saíssem do tribunal. ¹⁷ Contudo, pegaram Sóstenes, o chefe da sinagoga, à força, e o espancaram diante do tribunal. Entretanto, Gálio não se importou com o que fizeram.

¹⁸ Depois de passar alguns dias ali, Paulo deixou os irmãos e navegou para Síria, com Priscila e Áquila. Antes de deixar o porto, em Cencreia, ele raspou a cabeça porque havia feito um voto de nazireu. ¹⁹ Quando chegaram a Éfeso, Paulo deixou Priscila e Áquila ali; porém, ele mesmo foi para a sinagoga e debatia com os judeus.

²⁰ Quando pediram a Paulo que ficasse mais tempo, ele negou. ²¹ Mas, despedindo-se deles, disse: "Voltarei para vós se esta for a vontade de Deus". Então partiu de Éfeso.

²² Quando Paulo desembarcou em Cesareia, subiu a Jerusalém, e, saudando a igreja, desceu para Antioquia. ²³ Após passar algum tempo ali, partiu e passou pelas regiões da Galácia e da Frígia, e encorajou todos os discípulos.

²⁴ Havia certo judeu chamado Apolo, nascido em Alexandria, que veio a Éfeso. Ele era eloquente e poderoso nas Escrituras. ²⁵ Apolo foi instruído nos ensinos do Senhor. Sendo fervoroso de espírito, falava e ensinava acuradamente as coisas concernentes a Jesus; porém, ele conhecia apenas o batismo de João. ²⁶ Apolo começou a falar ousadamente na sinagoga. Entretanto, quando Priscila e Áquila o ouviram, levaram-no consigo e lhe explicaram o caminho de Deus com mais exatidão.

²⁷ Querendo passar pela Acaia, os irmãos o encorajaram e escreveram aos discípulos na Acaia que o recebessem. Quando ele chegou, ajudou imensamente aqueles que haviam crido pela graça. ²⁸ Apolo publicamente vencia os judeus com seu poder e habilidade, mostrando pelas Escrituras que Jesus era o Cristo.

Capítulo 19

¹ Enquanto Apolo estava em Corinto, Paulo passou pelas regiões altas e veio para a cidade de Éfeso e encontrou alguns discípulos ali. ² Paulo perguntou-lhes: "Recebestes o Espírito Santo quando crestes?". Eles responderam: "Não, não recebemos. Nem fomos informados de que existe um Espírito Santo".

³ Paulo disse: "Em que batismo fostes batizados, então?". Eles responderam: "No batismo de João. ⁴ Paulo disse: "João batizou com batismo de arrependimento, dizendo às pessoas que deveriam crer Naquele que viria após ele, isto é, em Jesus".

⁵ Quando ouviram isso, foram batizados no Nome do Senhor Jesus. ⁶ Então, Paulo lhes impôs as mãos, e o Espírito Santo veio sobre eles, e falaram em outras línguas e profetizaram. ⁷ Ao todo, foram cerca de doze homens.

⁸ Paulo foi à sinagoga e falou fervorosamente durante três meses. Ele liderava discussões e persudia as pessoas acerca das coisas concernentes ao reino de Deus. ⁹ No entanto alguns judeus endurecidos e desobedientes começaram a falar mal do caminho de Cristo diante da multidão. Paulo os deixou e guiou seus discípulos para longe deles. Ele começou a falar todos os dias na escola de Tirano. ¹⁰ Isso continuou por dois anos, e assim todos os que viviam na Ásia ouviram a Palavra do Senhor, tanto judeus como gregos.

¹¹ Deus estava fazendo obras poderosas pelas mãos de Paulo, ¹² e até mesmo os doentes eram curados, e os espíritos malignos saíam deles, quando pegavam lenços e aventais do corpo de Paulo.

¹³ Porém havia judeus exorcistas viajando por aquela área, os quais usavam o nome de Jesus sobre aqueles possuídos de espíritos malignos, dizendo: "Eu vos expulso no nome de Jesus, a quem Paulo prega". ¹⁴ Aqueles que fizeram isso eram os sete filhos de Ceva, principal dos sacerdotes.

¹⁵ Entretanto o espírito maligno respondeu: "Conheço Jesus e sei quem é Paulo, mas vós, quem sois?" ¹⁶ O homem que estava possuído pelo espírito maligno saltou sobre os exorcistas e, subjulgando-os, espancou-os, de maneira que eles fugiram da casa, nus e feridos. ¹⁷ Isso se tornou conhecido de todos, tanto judeus como gregos que viviam em Éfeso. Temor caiu sobre todos eles, e o Nome de Jesus estava sendo glorificado.

¹⁸ Muitos dos cristãos vinham, confessavam e admitiam suas obras más. ¹⁹ Muitos dos que praticavam artes mágicas juntavam seus livros e os traziam para queimar diante de todos. E, ao contarem o valor dos livros, chegaram à quantia de cinquenta mil peças de prata. ²⁰ Assim a Palavra do Senhor crescia poderosamente de várias maneiras.

²¹ Quando Paulo terminou seu trabalho em Éfeso, decidiu em espírito ir a Jerusalém, porém planejava antes ver os cristãos nas regiões da Macedônia e da Acaia. Disse Paulo: "Depois de ir a Jerusalém, irei também a Roma". ²² Ele enviou dois de seus colaboradores, Timóteo e Erasto, à Macedônia. Entretanto Paulo permaneceu na cidade de Éfeso, na província da Ásia.

²³ Naquele mesmo tempo, levantou-se um grande alvoroço em Éfeso acerca do Caminho. ²⁴ Certo ourives de prata chamado Demétrio, que fazia nichos de Diana, dava muito lucro para os artifíces. ²⁵ Então, reunindo os artifíces do mesmo tipo de serviço, disse: "Senhores, vós bem sabeis que obtemos muito lucro deste negócio.

²⁶ E bem vedes e ouvis que não somente em Éfeso, mas praticamente por toda a Ásia, esse Paulo tem persuadido e afastado muitas pessoas. Ele está dizendo que não há deuses feitos por mãos humanas. ²⁷ Não há somente o perigo de nossa profissão ficar desacreditada, mas até mesmo o templo da nossa grande deusa Diana poderá vir a ser estimado como nada. Assim ela perderia sua grandeza, aquela a quem toda a Ásia e o mundo adoram".

²⁸ Quando ouviram isso, enfureceram-se e gritaram, dizendo: "Grande é a Diana dos Efésios". ²⁹ Toda a cidade encheu-se de confusão, e todas as pessoas correram juntas para o teatro. Eles arrastaram os companheiros de Paulo, Gaio e Aristarco, que vieram da Macedônia.

³⁰ Paulo queria entrar no meio do povo, porém os discípulos não permitiram. ³¹ Também alguns dos oficiais da província da Ásia, que eram seus amigos, enviaram-lhe uma mensagem rogando que não entrasse no teatro. ³² Alguns clamavam de uma maneira, outros de outra, pois a multidão estava confusa. Muitos deles não sabiam nem porque estavam reunidos.

³³ Os judeus tiraram Alexandre para fora da multidão, trazendo-o diante das pessoas. Alexandre, acenando com a mão, queria dar uma explicação ao povo. ³⁴ Entretanto, quando perceberam que ele era judeu, gritaram em alta voz por cerca de duas horas: "Grande é a Diana dos Éfesios".

³⁵ Então o escrivão da cidade, aquietando a multidão, disse: "Homens de Éfeso, qual é o homem que não sabe que a cidade dos efésios é a guardiã do templo da grande Diana e da sua imagem que caiu do céu? ³⁶ Vendo, então, que essas coisas são inegáveis, convém que vos aquieteis e nada façais. ³⁷ Pois trouxestes esses homens a esta corte, os quais não são ladrões do templo, nem blasfemam contra nossa deusa.

³⁸ Portanto, se Demétrio e os artifíces que estão com ele têm alguma acusação contra alguém, há cortes e magistrados. Que acusem uns aos outros. ³⁹ Contudo, se demandais qualquer coisa concernente a outros assuntos, deverá ser averiguada em assembleia legítima. ⁴⁰ Na verdade, até corremos perigo de sermos acusados deste tumulto. Não há causa para esta desordem, a qual não poderemos explicar". ⁴¹ Após ter dito isso, ele desfez a assembleia.

Capítulo 20

¹ Cessado o tumulto, Paulo chamou os discípulos, e encorajou-os; então, despediu-se deles e partiu para a Macedônia. ² Passando ele por aquelas regiões, encorajava bastante os cristãos dessas áreas; e chegou à Grécia. ³ Depois de passar três meses ali, alguns judeus conspiraram contra ele no momento em que estava prestes a embarcar para a Síria; então, ele decidiu voltar pela Macedônia.

⁴ Acompanhando-o até a Ásia estavam: Sópatro, filho de Pirro de Bereia; Aristarco e Secundo, ambos de Tessalônica; Gaio de Derbe; Timóteo; além de Tíquico e Trófimo da Ásia. ⁵ Contudo, esses homens foram antes e nos esperaram em Trôade. ⁶ Navegamos de Filipos após a Festa dos Pães sem Fermento, e, cinco dias depois, nos reunimos com eles em Trôade. Ali ficamos por sete dias.

⁷ No primeiro dia da semana, quando estávamos reunidos para partir o pão, Paulo falou ao povo, ele pretendia partir no dia seguinte, então, continuou pregando até meia noite. ⁸ Havia muitas candeias no aposento superior, onde estávamos reunidos.

⁹ Assentado numa janela estava um jovem chamado Êutico que caiu num sono profundo. Conforme Paulo estendeu o discurso, esse jovem, ainda dormindo, caiu do terceiro andar, e, quando o levantaram, estava morto. ¹⁰ Entretanto, Paulo desceu, inclinou-se sobre o rapaz, abraçou-o e disse: "Não vos pertubeis, pois ele está vivo".

¹¹ E, subindo, partindo o pão, comeu e falou-lhes por muito tempo, até o amanhecer e partiu. ¹² E levaram de volta o rapaz vivo, o que muito os confortou.

¹³ Nós mesmos fomos à frente de Paulo, de navio, e navegamos até Assôs, onde receberíamos Paulo à bordo; assim como ele mesmo havia determinado, pois planejara ir por terra. ¹⁴ Quando o encontramos em Assôs, recebemos-lo a bordo e fomos para Mitilene.

¹⁵ Então, navegamos dali e, no dia seguinte, chegamos ao lado oposto da ilha de Quios. No outro dia, chegamos à ilha de Samos, e um dia depois chegamos a cidade de Mileto. ¹⁶ Paulo havia decidido não aportar em Éfeso, a fim de não desperdiçar muito tempo na Ásia, pois estava apressado para chegar em Jerusalém no dia de Pentecostes, se de alguma maneira lhe fosse possível.

¹⁷ De Mileto, ele enviou homens a Éfeso, e mandou chamar os presbíteros da igreja. ¹⁸ Quando chegaram, ele lhes disse: "Vós mesmos sabeis, desde o primeiro dia que pisei na Ásia, como sempre passei meu tempo convosco. ¹⁹ Segui servindo ao Senhor com toda a humildade e com lágrimas, e em sofrimentos que me aconteceram por causa das conspirações dos judeus. ²⁰ Vós sabeis que não deixei de pregar-vos nada que não fosse proveitoso, como vos ensinei em público e também de casa em casa, ²¹ testificando tanto a judeus como a gregos sobre o arrependimento diante de Deus e a fé em nosso Senhor Jesus.

²² E agora, compelido pelo Espírito, vou para Jerusalém, sem saber as coisas que me acontecerão ali, ²³ exceto o que o Espírito Santo me testifica que, em toda cidade, prisões e sofrimentos me esperam. ²⁴ Contudo, não considero minha vida preciosa para mim mesmo, se eu puder tão somente terminar a corrida e o ministério que recebi do Senhor Jesus, para dar testemunho do Evangelho da graça de Deus.

²⁵ E agora sei que nenhum de vós, dentre os quais passei pregando o Reino, jamais vereis minha face. ²⁶ Portanto, hoje vos testifico que sou inocente do sangue de qualquer homem. ²⁷ Pois não vos deixei de declarar todo o conselho de Deus.

²⁸ Portanto, cuidai de vós mesmos e de todo o rebanho sobre o qual o Espírito Santo vos fez bispos, para pastoreardes a igreja do Senhor, a qual Ele comprou com Seu próprio sangue. ¹ ²⁹ Sei que após a minha partida, lobos ferozes entrarão no meio de vós, e não pouparão o rebanho. ³⁰ E sei que mesmo dentre vós, alguns homens se levantarão e perverterão a verdade, a fim de afastar os discípulos e atraí-los para si.

³¹ Portanto, vigiai, lembrando-vos que durante três anos não parei de instruir e advertir cada um de vós com lágrimas dia e noite. ³² Agora, encomendo-vos a Deus e à Palavra da Sua graça, que é capaz de vos edificar e dar-vos heranças entre todos que estão sendo santificados.

³³ Não cobicei prata, nem ouro ou roupas de homem algum. ³⁴ Vós sabeis que estas mãos serviram às minhas necessidades e às necessidades daqueles que estavam comigo. ³⁵ Em todas as coisas, dei-vos exemplo de como ajudar os fracos trabalhando, e como deveis lembrar das palavras do Senhor Jesus, palavras que Ele mesmo disse: "Mais bem-aventurado é dar do que receber".

³⁶ Depois de ter falado, ajoelhou-se e orou com todos eles. ³⁷ Todos choraram muito e, abraçando Paulo, o beijaram. ³⁸ Eles estavam tristes principalmente por causa do que ele lhes dissera, que nunca mais veriam sua face novamente. Então o acompanharam até ao navio.

¹Em vez de com Seu próprio sangue , algumas cópias antigas trazem: com o sangue de Seu próprio Filho.

Capítulo 21

¹ Depois que nos separamos deles, navegamos em uma rota direta à cidade de Cós e, no dia seguinte a Rodes, e depois para a cidade de Pátara. ² Encontrando um navio partindo para a Fenícia, embarcamos nele e seguimos viagem.

³ Avistando a ilha de Chipre, deixando-a à esquerda, navegamos para a Síria e aportamos na cidade de Tiro, pois o navio seria descarregado. ⁴ Após ter encontrado os discípulos, permanecemos com eles por sete dias. Os discípulos, através do Espírito, disseram a Paulo que não subisse a Jerusalém.

⁵ Depois de completarmos os dias, deixamos aquele lugar e seguimos viagem. Todos eles nos acompanharam em nosso caminho para fora da cidade juntamente com suas esposas e filhos. Então ajoelhamos na praia, oramos e nos despedimos uns dos outros. ⁶ Embarcamos no navio e eles retornaram para suas casas.

⁷ Concluída a nossa viagem de Tiro, chegamos a Ptolemaida; e, havendo saudado os irmãos, passamos um dia com eles. ⁸ No dia seguinte, partimos e fomos para Cesareia. Entramos na casa de Filipe, o evangelista, que era um dos sete, e permanecemos com ele. ⁹ Esse homem tinha quatro filhas virgens que profetizavam.

¹⁰ Ficamos ali por alguns dias e aconteceu que um homem veio da Judeia, um certo profeta, chamado Ágabo. ¹¹ Ele veio até nós, tomou o cinto de Paulo, amarrou os próprios pés e mãos, e disse: "Isso diz o Espírito Santo: 'Dessa forma os judeus em Jerusalém amarrarão o homem que possui este cinto, e o entregarão nas mãos dos gentios'".

¹² Quando ouvimos essas coisas, tanto nós como as pessoas que viviam naquele lugar, imploramos para que Paulo não subisse a Jerusalém. ¹³ Porém, Paulo respondeu: "O que fazeis chorando e partindo meu coração? Estou pronto não apenas para ser amarrado, mas também para morrer em Jerusalém pelo nome do Senhor". ¹⁴ E como não persuadimos a Paulo, paramos de falar e simplesmente dissemos: "Seja feita a vontade do Senhor".

¹⁵ Depois destes dias, recolhemos nossa bagagem e fomos para Jerusalém. ¹⁶ E juntamente conosco alguns dos discípulos de Cesareia. Levando consigo um homem chamado Mnasom, natural de Chipre, um discípulo antigo, com quem ficaríamos hospedados.

¹⁷ E chegando nós a Jerusalém, os irmãos nos acolheram alegremente. ¹⁸ No dia seguinte, Paulo partiu conosco para encontrar Tiago e todos os presbíteros que estavam ali. ¹⁹ E, depois de cumprimentá-los, relatou uma a uma as coisas que Deus havia feito entre os gentios por meio de seu ministério.

²⁰ Quando ouviram isso, louvaram ao Senhor e disseram-lhe: "Tu vês, irmão, quantos milhares entre os judeus têm crido e todos estão determinados a guardar a Lei. ²¹ Eles foram informados a seu respeito: que tens ensinado a todos os judeus que vivem entre os gentios a abandonar Moisés, a não circuncidar seus filhos e a não seguir os costumes antigos.

²² O que devemos fazer? Eles certamente ouvirão que chegaste. ²³ Faze como te dizemos agora: temos aqui quatro homens que fizeram um voto. ²⁴ Toma esses homens, purifica a ti mesmo com eles e paga suas despesas, para que raspem a cabeça. Assim todos saberão que, o que foi dito a seu respeito, é falso e que és também um guardador da lei.

²⁵ Porém, a respeito dos gentios que creram, escrevemos e instruímos para que se abstenham do sacrifício a ídolos, do sangue, daquilo que é estrangulado e da imoralidade sexual". ²⁶ Então Paulo tomou consigo esses homens, e no dia seguinte purificou-se com eles; foi ao templo, anunciando os dias da purificação, até que a oferta fosse feita por cada um deles.

²⁷ Quando os sete dias estavam quase terminando, alguns judeus da Ásia viram Paulo no templo, e incitaram toda a multidão e puseram as mãos nele. ²⁸ Eles estavam gritando: "Homens de Israel, ajudem-nos. Esse homem tem ensinado a todos, em toda a parte, sobre coisas que vão contra a Lei e esse lugar. Também trouxe gregos para o templo e profanou esse santo lugar". ²⁹ Porque haviam anteriormente visto Trófimo de Éfeso com ele na cidade e pensaram que Paulo o introduzira no templo.

³⁰ Toda a cidade estava agitada e as pessoas correram juntas para agarrar a Paulo. Eles o arrastaram para fora do templo, e as portas imediatamente foram fechadas. ³¹ Enquanto tentavam matá-lo, essas notícias rapidamente chegaram ao comandante da guarda, de que Jerusalém estava toda em confusão.

³² Imediatamente ele tomou soldados e centuriões e correu até a multidão. Quando as pessoas viram o comandante e os soldados, pararam de espancar Paulo. ³³ Então ele aproximou-se, agarrou Paulo e ordenou que ele fosse preso com duas correntes. Perguntou quem ele era e o que havia feito.

³⁴ Alguns na multidão gritavam uma coisa e outros, outra. Como o comandante não conseguia discernir coisa alguma por causa do barulho, ordenou que Paulo fosse levado para a fortaleza. ³⁵ Quando chegaram às escadas, ele foi carregado pelos soldados por causa da violência da multidão. ³⁶ Pois a multidão o seguia gritando: "Mata-o!".

³⁷ Conforme Paulo estava para ser levado até a fortaleza, ele perguntou ao comandante: "Posso dizer-lhe uma coisa?"Ele respondeu: "Falas grego? ³⁸ Não és tu aquele egípcio que há um tempo atrás liderou uma rebelião e levou quatro mil assassinos ao deserto?"

³⁹ Paulo disse: "Sou judeu, da cidade de Tarso, na Cilícia. Sou cidadão de uma cidade importante. Peço-te que me permitas falar ao povo". ⁴⁰ Quando o comandante lhe deu permissão, Paulo levantou-se dos degraus e acenou ao povo com a mão. E quando houve um grande silêncio, falou-lhes na língua hebraica, dizendo:

Capítulo 22

¹ "Irmãos e pais, ouvi a minha defesa, que vos apresentarei agora". ² Quando a multidão ouviu Paulo lhes falar na língua hebraica, ficaram em absoluto silêncio. E ele falou:

³ "Sou judeu, nascido em Tarso da Cilícia, mas educado nessa cidade aos pés de Gamaliel. Fui instruído exatamente de acordo com a lei dos nossos antepassados. Sou zeloso para com Deus, assim como hoje todos vós sois. ⁴ Persegui esse Caminho até a morte; prendendo ambos, homens e mulheres, e os lancei na prisão. ⁵ O sumo sacerdote e todos os anciãos também podem dar testemunho de que recebi cartas deles direcionadas aos irmãos em Damasco, a fim de viajar para lá. Eu devia trazer acorrentados para Jerusalém todos desse Caminho que ali estivessem, para que fossem punidos.

⁶ Aconteceu que, enquanto eu viajava, chegando próximo a Damasco, por volta do meio-dia, de repente, uma forte luz do céu começou a brilhar ao meu redor. ⁷ Caí no chão e ouvi uma voz que me dizia: 'Saulo, Saulo, por que Me persegues'? ⁸ Respondi: 'Quem és Tu, Senhor'? Ele me disse: 'Eu sou Jesus de Nazaré, a quem tu persegues'.

⁹ Aqueles que estavam comigo viram a luz, mas não entenderam a voz do que falou comigo. ¹⁰ Eu disse: 'O que devo fazer Senhor'? O Senhor me disse: 'Levanta-te, e vai a Damasco; ali te será dito o que deves fazer'. ¹¹ Eu não podia ver por causa do brilho daquela luz, então fui para Damasco, sendo guiado pelas mãos dos que estavam comigo.

¹² Ali encontrei um homem chamado Ananias, varão devoto de acordo com a Lei e de bom testemunho por todos os judeus que lá viviam. ¹³ Ele veio até mim, parou em minha frente, e disse: 'Irmão Saulo, volta a enxergar'. Naquela mesma hora eu o vi.

¹⁴ Então ele disse: 'O Deus de nossos antepassados te escolheu para conhecer a Sua vontade, para ver O Justo, e para ouvir a voz que vem da Sua própria boca. ¹⁵ Porque serás Sua testemunha para todos os homens sobre o que tens visto e ouvido. ¹⁶ E agora o que estás esperando? Levanta-te, batiza-te e lava teus pecados, invocando o nome Dele'.

¹⁷ Após ter retornado de Jerusalém, enquanto orava no templo, tive uma visão. ¹⁸ Eu O vi dizer a mim: 'Apressa-te e deixa Jerusalém, porque não aceitarão teu testemunho a Meu respeito'.

¹⁹ Eu respondi: 'Senhor, eles mesmos sabem que prendi e açoitei em cada sinagoga aqueles que criam em Ti. ²⁰ Quando o sangue de Estêvão, Tua testemunha, foi derramado, eu também estava presente, consentindo e guardando as vestes dos que o matavam'. ²¹ Porém, Ele me disse: 'Vai, porque Te enviarei para longe aos gentios'".

²² As pessoas permitiram-lhe falar até esse ponto e, então, gritaram dizendo: "Tira da terra tal indivíduo, porque não convém que ele viva". ²³ Quando gritavam, jogavam suas roupas e poeira para o ar, ²⁴ o chefe da guarda ordenou que Paulo fosse levado à fortaleza, ordenando que fosse interrogado sob açoites, para que soubesse o porquê de gritarem com ele dessa maneira.

²⁵ Quando eles o amarraram no tronco, Paulo disse ao centurião que estava presente: "Será que tendes o direito de açoitar um cidadão romano sem ser condenado?" ²⁶ Quando o centurião ouviu isso, foi ao capitão chefe, e disse: "O que estás para fazer? Pois esse homem é um cidadão romano".

²⁷ O capitão chefe veio e disse-lhe: "Dize-me, és tu cidadão romano?" Paulo disse: "Sim!" ²⁸ O capitão chefe respondeu: "Com uma grande quantia de dinheiro, adquiri a cidadania". Porém, Paulo disse: "Eu nasci cidadão romano". ²⁹ Então, os homens que estavam para interrogá-lo, imediatamente o soltaram. O capitão chefe também teve medo, quando ouviu que Paulo era cidadão romano, pois o tinha amarrado.

³⁰ No dia seguinte, o capitão chefe queria saber a verdade acerca das acusações dos judeus contra Paulo. Então, desataram suas amarras e ordenaram que os principais sacerdotes e todo o conselho dos judeus se reunissem. Assim, trazendo Paulo, apresentou-o diante deles.

Capítulo 23

¹ Paulo olhou diretamente para os membros do conselho dos judeus e disse: "Irmãos, tenho vivido diante de Deus com consciência pura até este dia". ² O sumo sacerdote Ananias ordenou àqueles que estavam próximos a Paulo para que o ferissem na boca. ³ Então Paulo disse-lhe: "Deus te ferirá, parede branqueada! Tu estás aí sentado para me julgar conforme a lei, mas ordena que me firam contra a lei?"

⁴ Os que ali estavam disseram: "Como tu insultas o sumo sacerdote de Deus"? ⁵ Paulo disse: "Eu não sabia, irmãos, que ele era o sumo sacerdote. Porque está escrito: 'Não falarás mal de uma autoridade do teu povo".

⁶ Quando Paulo viu que parte do conselho era de saduceus e outra parte era de fariseus, falou alto no conselho: "Irmãos, eu sou um fariseu, filho de fariseus. E eu estou sendo julgado porque espero confiantemente a ressurreição dos mortos". ⁷ Quando ele disse isso, iniciou-se uma discussão entre os fariseus e os saduceus, e a assembleia dividiu-se. ⁸ Porque os saduceus dizem que não há ressurreição, nem anjos, nem espíritos, enquanto os fariseus aceitam todas essas coisas.

⁹ Assim ocorreu um grande alvoroço, e alguns dos escribas pertencentes aos fariseus levantaram-se e argumentaram, dizendo: "Não encontramos nenhum mal neste homem. Quem sabe se foi um espírito ou um anjo que falou com ele"? ¹⁰ Havendo uma grande discussão, o comandante temia que Paulo fosse despedaçado por eles. Então ordenou aos soldados que descessem e retirassem Paulo à força de entre os membros do conselho e o trouxessem para a fortaleza.

¹¹ Na noite seguinte, o Senhor esteve ao seu lado e disse: "Sê corajoso, pois como testemunhaste de mim em Jerusalém, assim também é necessário que testemunhes em Roma".

¹² Ao amanhecer, alguns judeus juraram e, sob pena de uma maldição sobre si mesmos, disseram que não comeriam nem beberiam qualquer coisa até que matassem Paulo. ¹³ Eram mais de quarenta os que fizeram essa conspiração.

¹⁴ Eles foram aos principais sacerdotes e aos anciãos e disseram-lhes: "Juramos, sob pena de maldição, não comermos nada até que tenhamos matado Paulo. ¹⁵ Agora, portanto, informai ao comandante juntamente com o consellho para que vos traga Paulo, como se fôsseis investigar o caso dele com mais precisão. Quanto a nós, estamos preparados para matá-lo antes que ele chegue aqui".

¹⁶ Mas o sobrinho de Paulo, ouvindo que eles estavam armando uma cilada, entrou na fortaleza e informou a Paulo. ¹⁷ Paulo chamou um dos centuriões e disse: "Leva este jovem ao comandante, porque ele tem algo para contar-lhe".

¹⁸ Então o centurião tomou o jovem e o levou ao comandante e disse: "Paulo, o prisioneiro, chamou-me até ele, e pediu-me para trazer-lhe este jovem. Ele tem algo para dizer-te". ¹⁹ O comandante o levou pela mão a um local privado e perguntou-lhe: "O que tens para comunicar-me"?

²⁰ O jovem disse: "Os judeus combinaram solicitar-te que leves Paulo amanhã, ao conselho, como se fosses interrogá-lo com mais precisão sobre o seu caso. ²¹ Porém não lhes dê ouvidos, pois há mais de quarenta homens emboscados para matá-lo. Eles juraram, sob pena de maldição sobre si mesmos, que não comeriam e nem beberiam até que o tenham matado. Mesmo agora, já estão de prontidão, aguardando pelo seu consentimento".

²² Então o comandante deixou o jovem sair, após instruí-lo: "Não contes a ninguém que você me disse essas coisas". ²³ Então ele chamou dois dos centuriões e disse: "Deixai de prontidão, desde a hora terceira da noite, duzentos soldados de infantaria, setenta de cavalaria e duzentos lanceiros, para irem até Cesareia". ²⁴ Ele também ordenou-lhes para preparar montarias para que Paulo pudesse viajar e ser conduzido em segurança ao governador Félix.

²⁵ Assim ele escreveu uma carta: ²⁶ "Cláudio Lísias ao excelentíssimo governador Félix. Saudações! ²⁷ Este homem foi preso pelos judeus e estava prestes a ser morto por eles, quando cheguei com soldados e o resgatei, ao descobrir que ele era cidadão romano.

²⁸ Querendo saber por que eles o acusavam, então o levei perante o conselho deles. ²⁹ Descobri que ele estava sendo acusado de questões relativas as suas próprias leis, mas não havia acusações contra ele que merecesse morte ou prisão. ³⁰ Também descobri que havia uma conspiração contra este homem. Assim enviei-o imediatamente para ti e instruí os seus acusadores a apresentarem as acusações na tua presença. Saudações".

³¹ Então os soldados obedeceram as suas ordens: eles apanharam Paulo e o levaram durante a noite para Antipátride. ³² No dia seguinte, os soldados de cavalaria foram com Paulo e os demais soldados retornaram à fortaleza. ³³ Quando os cavaleiros chegaram à Cesareia e entregaram a carta ao governador, também apresentaram-lhe Paulo.

³⁴ Quando o governador leu a carta, perguntou de qual província Paulo era. Quando ouviu que ele era da Cilícia, ³⁵ disse-lhe: "Ouvir-te-ei quando os teus acusadores chegarem aqui". Então ele ordenou que Paulo fosse mantido no Palácio de Herodes.

Capítulo 24

¹ Cinco dias depois, Ananias o sumo sacerdote, alguns presbíteros e um advogado chamado Tértulo desceram até Cesareia. Esses homens trouxeram acusações contra Paulo ao governador. ² Quando Paulo estava diante do governador, Tértulo começou a acusá-lo dizendo: "Governador, por tua causa temos grande paz, e por tua providência trazes boas reformas para nossa nação; ³ assim, com toda gratidão reconhecemos tudo o que tu fazes, ó excelentíssimo Félix.

⁴ Entretanto, para que não mais te detenha, peço-te que brevemente ouça-me com bondade. ⁵ Pois verificamos ser este homem uma peste e alguém que leva judeus de todo mundo a se rebelarem. Ele é um líder da seita nazarena, ⁶ e até tentou profanar o templo; então, nós o prendemos. ¹

⁷ ² ⁸ Quando perguntares a Paulo sobre todas estas questões, tu, também, serás capaz de descobrir aquilo de que o acusamos". ⁹ Juntos, os judeus também acusaram Paulo, e disseram que essas coisas eram verdade.

¹⁰ Todavia, quando o governador acenou para Paulo falar, ele respondeu: "Entendo que por muitos anos tu tens sido o juiz desta nação, e estou muito feliz em me explicar para ti. ¹¹ Tu estás apto a verificar que, não faz mais de doze dias que subi para adorar em Jerusalém; ¹² e quando eles me encontraram no templo, não discuti com ninguém, e não agitei a multidão, nem nas sinagogas e nem nas cidade; ¹³ e eles não podem provar a ti as acusações que agora fazem contra mim.

¹⁴ Mas isso admito a ti, que, de acordo com o caminho que eles chamam de seita, neste mesmo caminho eu sirvo ao Deus de nossos antepassados. Sou fiel a tudo o que está na lei e nos escritos dos profetas. ¹⁵ Tenho a mesma esperança em Deus, como estes homens também esperam por isso, a ressureição vindoura dos mortos, tanto dos justos como dos injustos, ¹⁶ e nisso, procuro ter uma consciência inculpável diante de Deus e dos homens em tudo.

¹⁷ Depois de muitos anos venho trazer ajuda à minha nação e ofertas em dinheiro. ¹⁸ Quando fiz isso, certos judeus da Ásia me acharam na cerimônia de purificação no templo, não com uma multidão ou um tumulto. ¹⁹ Esses homens deveriam estar diante de ti neste momento, para dizer o que têm contra mim, caso tivessem algo.

²⁰ Ou então, esses mesmos homens deveriam dizer o que acharam de errado em mim, quando estive diante do conselho dos judeus. ²¹ A não ser que seja sobre isso que eu disse quando estava diante deles: 'Por causa da ressureição dos mortos que eu estou sendo julgado hoje por vós'".

²² Félix, porém, estava bem informado acerca do Caminho, e assim adiou a audiência. Ele disse: "Quando o comandante Lísias voltar de Jerusalém decidirei o teu caso". ²³ Então ele ordenou que o centurião prendesse a Paulo, mas com brandura e que não impedisse seus amigos de ajudá-lo ou visitá-lo.

²⁴ Após alguns dias, Félix retornou com sua esposa Drusila, judia, e mandou trazer a Paulo e o ouvia acerca da fé em Cristo Jesus. ²⁵ Porém quando Paulo argumentou com ele sobre justiça, domínio próprio, e o julgamento vindouro, Félix ficou com medo e respondeu: "Por agora, vai-te. Mas quando eu tiver oportunidade, mais tarde, te chamarei".

²⁶ Ao mesmo tempo, ele esperava que Paulo lhe desse algum dinheiro, por isso mandava chamá-lo com mais frequência e conversava com ele. ²⁷ Contudo, quando dois anos se passaram, Pórcio Festo, tornou-se o governador depois de Félix, e querendo agradar os judeus, manteve Paulo na prisão.

¹Os melhores manuscritos antigos omitem a segunda parte do v. 24.6 Queríamos julgá-lo de acordo com nossa lei

²Os melhores manuscritos antigos omitem o v.7, Porém, Lísias, o comandante veio e forçosamente o tirou das nossas mãos

Capítulo 25

¹ Festo entrou na província e depois de três dias foi de Cesareia para Jerusalém. ² O sumo sacerdote e os judeus proeminentes trouxeram acusações a Festo contra Paulo. ³ E solicitavam-lhe por um favor concernente a Paulo, que pudesse chamá-lo para Jerusalém, e assim eles poderiam matá-lo no caminho.

⁴ Porém, Festo respondeu que Paulo era prisioneiro em Cesareia, e que ele mesmo partiria em breve para lá. ⁵ "Portanto, aqueles que pudessem, deveriam ir conosco. Se houver algo errado com esse homem, devem acusá-lo".

⁶ Depois de permanecer com eles não mais de oito ou dez dias, desceu para Cesareia. No dia seguinte, ele tomou lugar no tribunal e ordenou que trouxessem a Paulo. ⁷ Quando ele chegou, os judeus de Jerusalém ficaram ao redor dele e trouxeram sérias acusações às quais eles não podiam provar. ⁸ Paulo se defendeu dizendo: "Nada fiz de errado contra a lei dos judeus, contra o templo, ou contra César".

⁹ Festo, porém, queria ganhar o favor dos judeus, e respondeu a Paulo: "Queres ir a Jerusalém para ser ali julgado por mim a respeito destas coisas"? ¹⁰ Paulo disse: "Estou agora diante do tribunal de César, onde devo ser julgado. Não fiz mal algum aos judeus, como o sabes muito bem.

¹¹ Entretanto, se fiz algo de errado, ou se cometi algo que mereça pena de morte, não recuso morrer. Mas, se nada há na acusação deles, ninguém poderá entregar-me a eles. Apelo para César". ¹² Então Festo consultou o seu conselho, e respondeu: "Tu apelastes para César, para César irás".

¹³ Depois de alguns dias, o rei Agripa e Berenice chegaram em Cesareia para uma visita oficial a Festo. ¹⁴ Após ficar muitos dias ali, Festo apresentou o caso de Paulo ao rei: "Um certo homem foi deixado aqui por Félix como prisioneiro. ¹⁵ Quando estive em Jerusalém, o sumo sacerdote e os anciãos dos judeus trouxeram acusações contra esse homem, e pediram a sua condenação. ¹⁶ Eu lhes disse que não é costume romano entregar um homem à morte sem que o acusado tenha presentes os seus acusadores e possa defender-se das acusações que lhe fazem.

¹⁷ Portanto quando eles vieram aqui, eu não esperei, e no dia seguinte, assentei-me no tribunal e ordenei que o trouxessem. ¹⁸ Quando os seus acusadores se levantaram para o acusar, não encontrei nenhuma acusação séria entre as que trouxeram. ¹⁹ Ao contrário, tinham alguns pontos de divergência entre eles acerca da sua própria religião e sobre um certo Jesus que estava morto, a quem Paulo afirma estar vivo. ²⁰ Fiquei confuso sobre como investigar tal assunto, e perguntei se ele estaria disposto a ir para Jerusalém, para alí ser julgado sobre essas coisas.

²¹ Mas, quando Paulo apelou para ser mantido sob a guarda do imperador, ordenei que ficasse sob custódia, até que eu o enviasse a César". ²² Agripa disse a Festo: "Também gostaria de ouvi-lo". Disse Festo: "Amanhã o ouvirás".

²³ Então, no dia seguinte, Agripa e Berenice vieram com grande pompa e entraram na sala de audiências com os oficiais militares e os homens mais influentes da cidade. Festo deu o comando e Paulo foi trazido a eles. ²⁴ Festo disse: "Rei Agripa, e todos os teus homens que estão aqui conosco, vedes este homem de quem toda a multidão de judeus tanto em Jerusalém como aqui tem me consultado, clamando que ele não deveria mais viver.

²⁵ Mas verifiquei que ele nada fez que fosse digno de morte; porém, como ele apelou para o imperador, decidi enviá-lo. ²⁶ Pois não tenho nada definido para escrever ao imperador a respeito dele. Por isso, eu o trouxe especificamente a ti, ó rei Agripa, a fim de que eu possa ter algo para escrever sobre o caso. ²⁷ Porque não me parece justo enviar um prisioneiro sem especificar as acusações contra ele".

Capítulo 26

¹ A seguir, Agripa disse a Paulo: "Tu podes falar por ti mesmo". Paulo, então, estendeu a mão e fez sua defesa: ² "Eu me considero feliz, Rei Agripa, por poder responder hoje, perante ti, todas as acusações dos judeus; ³ especialmente porque és profundo conhecedor de todas as tradições e questões dos judeus. Então eu peço que me ouças pacientemente.

⁴ Verdadeiramente, todos os judeus sabem como eu vivi desde a minha juventude em minha nação e em Jerusalém. ⁵ Eles me conhecem desde o início, e deveriam admitir que eu vivia como um fariseu, um grupo bem severo em nossa religião.

⁶ Agora estou aqui, para ser julgado porque espero pela promessa que Deus fez a nossos pais. ⁷ Por essa razão, nossas doze tribos perseverantemente servem a Deus noite e dia, e esperamos alcançá-la. E é por causa dessa esperança que os judeus me acusam, rei Agripa! ⁸ Por que julgais que seja inacreditável que Deus ressuscite os mortos?

⁹ Durante um tempo, pensava comigo mesmo que devia fazer muitas coisas contra o Nome de Jesus de Nazaré. ¹⁰ Fiz isso em Jerusalém. Prendi muitos dos santos na prisão pela autoridade que tinha dos chefes dos sacerdotes para assim o fazer; e quando eles eram mortos, também dava o meu voto contra eles. ¹¹ Frequentemente, eu os punia em todas as sinagogas, e tentava fazer com que blasfemassem. Estava enfurecido contra ele e os perseguia até em cidades estrangeiras.

¹² Enquanto fazia isso, fui para Damasco debaixo da autoridade e da ordem dos chefes dos sacerdotes; ¹³ e, no caminho, ao meio-dia, ó rei, eu vi uma luz que veio do céu, brilhando mais que o sol, resplandecendo em torno de mim e dos demais que viajavam comigo. ¹⁴ Quando caímos em terra, ouvi uma voz na língua dos hebreus, falando comigo, que dizia: 'Saulo, Saulo, por que me persegues? Resistir ao aguilhão vai ser difícil!'

¹⁵ Perguntei: 'Quem és Tu, Senhor?' E o Senhor respondeu: 'Sou Jesus, a quem tu persegues. ¹⁶ Agora, levanta-te e fica de pé; porque foi para esse propósito que Eu apareci para ti, para fazer-te servo e testemunha das coisas que já sabes sobre mim e das coisas que Eu irei te mostrar mais tarde. ¹⁷ Te livrarei desse povo e dos gentios, a quem te envio, ¹⁸ para abrir os olhos deles, desviá-los das trevas para a luz e do poder de Satanás para Deus, a fim de que recebam de Deus o perdão dos pecados e a herança que Eu dou àqueles que santifiquei pela fé em Mim'.

¹⁹ Portanto, Rei Agripa, não desobedeci à visão celestial; ²⁰ ao contrário, preguei para que todos arrependessem, voltassem para Deus, praticando boas obras de arrependimento; primeiro, para os de Damasco, depois os de Jerusalém e toda a região da Judeia, e também para os gentios. ²¹ Por causa disso, os judeus me prenderam no templo e tentaram matar-me.

²² Deus tem me ajudado até esse dia. Então eu me levanto e testifico, tanto às pessoas simples quanto às importantes, do que os profetas e Moisés disseram que iria acontecer, nada além; ²³ que Cristo deveria sofrer e seria o primeiro a ressuscitar dos mortos e proclamar luz para o povo judeu e para os gentios".

²⁴ Quando Paulo completou sua defesa, Festo disse em voz alta: "Ele, está louco; seu grande conhecimento te faz insano". ²⁵ Mas Paulo disse: "Não estou louco, ó excelentíssimo Festo, mas com coragem digo palavras de verdade, em perfeito juízo. ²⁶ Pois o rei conhece todas essas coisas; por isso, eu lhe falo livremente, porque estou convencido que nada lhe está oculto; pois nada disso aconteceu em segredo.

²⁷ Crês nos profetas, Rei Agripa? Sei que crês". ²⁸ Agripa disse a Paulo: "Por pouco me persuades a fazer-me cristão"? ²⁹ Paulo disse: "Oro a Deus que por pouco ou por muito, não apenas tu, mas também todos os que hoje me ouvem sejam como eu, porém sem estas correntes".

³⁰ Então, o rei se levantou e, com ele, o governador e Berenice, e todos os que estavam assentados com eles. ³¹ Quando deixaram o salão, disseram uns aos outros: "Esse homem não fez nada digno de morte ou prisão". ³² Agripa disse a Festo: "Esse homem poderia ter sido solto se não tivesse apelado a César".

Capítulo 27

¹ Quando foi decidido que navegaríamos para a Itália, entregaram Paulo e alguns outros prisioneiros a um centurião chamado Júlio, do Regimento Augustino. ² Nós embarcamos em um navio de Adramítio, que estava prestes a navegar junto à costa da Ásia. Então, fomos para o mar; Aristarco que era de Tessalônica, cidade da Macedônia, vinha conosco.

³ No dia seguinte, desembarcamos na cidade de Sidom, onde Júlio tratou Paulo de modo gentil e permitiu-lhe ir até seus amigos, a fim de receber cuidados. ⁴ Partindo dali, fomos para o mar e navegamos em volta da ilha de Chipre, que nos abrigou do vento, porque esse estava contra nós. ⁵ A seguir, navegamos através das águas perto da Cilícia e Panfília, e fomos a Mirra, uma cidade da Lícia. ⁶ Lá, o centurião encontrou um navio de Alexandria, que ia para a Itália, no qual nos embarcou.

⁷ Navegamos vagarosamente por muitos dias, e finalmente chegamos, com dificuldade, próximo a Cnido. Contudo, o vento não nos permitiu seguir o caminho; então, navegamos pelo lado de Creta protegido contra os ventos, oposto a Salmona. ⁸ Navegamos pela costa com dificuldade, até que chegamos a um certo lugar chamado Bons Portos, que é perto da cidade de Laseia.

⁹ Tínhamos gasto muito tempo, já havia passado o tempo do jejum dos judeus, e também se tornou perigoso navegar. Então, Paulo os alertou, ¹⁰ e disse: "Homens, eu vejo que a viagem que estamos prestes a fazer será danosa e com muita perda, não apenas da mercadoria e do navio, mas também de nossas vidas". ¹¹ Porém, o centurião prestou mais atenção ao mestre e ao proprietário do navio, do que às coisas que foram ditas por Paulo.

¹² Não sendo o porto propício para se passar o inverno, a maioria dos marinheiros aconselhou que partissem dali, se, por algum meio, conseguíssemos chegar a cidade de Fenice, para ali passar o inverno. Fenice é um porto em Creta, voltado para o nordeste e sudeste. ¹³ Quando o vento do sul começou a soprar gentilmente, os marinheiros pensaram que tinham o que precisavam; então, eles ergueram a âncora e navegaram próximo a Creta, perto da costa.

¹⁴ Mas, depois de um curto período, um vento forte de tempestade chamado Euroaquilão começou a nos golpear, vindo da ilha. ¹⁵ Quando o navio foi apanhado em cheio, e não podia enfrentar o vento, nós nos deixamos ser levados. ¹⁶ Passamos por um lado protegido de uma pequena ilha chamada Cauda; e com dificuldade pudemos segurar o bote salva-vidas.

¹⁷ Quando eles levantaram o bote, usaram as suas cordas para amarrá-lo no casco do navio. Eles temiam que pudéssemos ir em direção aos bancos de areia de Sirte; então, abandonaram a âncora, e deixaram-se ser conduzidos. ¹⁸ Nós estávamos muito abatidos por causa da tempestade; então, no dia seguinte, os navegadores começaram a jogar a carga para fora do navio.

¹⁹ No terceiro dia, os marinheiros também lançaram ao mar com as próprias mãos, o equipamento do navio. ²⁰ Depois de o sol e as estrelas não brilharem sobre nós por vários dias, e de ainda ser castigado por grande tempestade, qualquer esperança de que pudéssemos ser salvos foi abandonada.

²¹ Estando eles há muito tempo sem comer, Paulo se levantou entre os marinheiros e disse: "Homens, devieis ter me ouvido, e não partir de Creta a fim de evitar este dano e perda. ²² E agora, eu vos incentivo a tomarem coragem, porque não haverá nenhuma perda de vidas entre vós, mas apenas a perda do navio.

²³ Porque na noite passada, um anjo de Deus, a quem eu pertenço, e também adoro, se colocou ao meu lado ²⁴ e disse: 'Não temas, Paulo. Tu deves te encontrar com César, e Deus te concede a vida de todos os que estão viajando contigo'. ²⁵ Portanto, homens, tomem coragem! Porque confio em Deus que acontecerá assim como Ele me falou. ²⁶ Mas nós devemos naufragar em alguma ilha".

²⁷ Quando a décima quarta noite veio, enquanto estávamos sendo levados por este caminho, que era o mar Adriático, por volta da meia noite, os navegadores pensaram que estavam se aproximando de alguma terra. ²⁸ Eles fizeram sondagens e encontraram vinte braças; depois de um breve momento, fizeram mais sondagens e encontraram quinze braças. ²⁹ Estavam com medo de bater nas rochas; então, baixaram quatro âncoras da popa, e oraram para que a manhã viesse logo.

³⁰ Os marinheiros procuravam uma maneira de abandonar o navio, e abaixaram o bote ao mar, sob pretexto de lançar as âncoras da proa. ³¹ Mas, Paulo disse ao centurião e aos soldados: "A menos que estes homens continuem no navio, não podereis salvar-vos". ³² Então os soldados cortaram as cordas do bote e deixaram-no ir embora.

³³ Quando amanheceu, Paulo alertou a todos para que comessem. Ele disse: "Este é o décimo quarto dia que vós esperais, e não comestes nada. ³⁴ Então eu vos peço que comais, porque isto é para que sobrevivais; e nenhum cabelo de vossa cabeça será perdido". ³⁵ Quando ele disse isso, tomou o pão e agradeceu a Deus à vista de todos eles; então, partiu-o e começou a comer.

³⁶ Assim, eles foram todos encorajados e também comeram. ³⁷ Nós éramos duzentas e setenta e seis pessoas no navio. ³⁸ Quando eles comeram o suficiente, fizeram com que o navio ficasse mais leve jogando o trigo ao mar.

³⁹ Quando amanheceu, eles não reconheceram a terra, mas viram uma baía com uma praia, e discutiram se levariam o navio até lá. ⁴⁰ Então, cortaram as âncoras e as deixaram no mar. Na mesma hora, desataram as cordas dos lemes e levantaram a vela principal ao vento; e, então, se dirigiram para a praia. ⁴¹ Mas eles foram para um lugar onde duas correntes se encontravam, e o navio foi em direção à praia. A proa do navio encalhou ali e permaneceu imóvel, mas a popa começou a quebrar por causa da violência das ondas.

⁴² O plano dos soldados era matar os prisioneiros para que nenhum deles pudesse nadar e fugir. ⁴³ Mas o centurião quis salvar Paulo, então ele impediu o plano deles; e ordenou àqueles que podiam nadar que pulassem do navio primeiro e chegassem a terra. ⁴⁴ Então, o resto dos homens deveria segui-los, alguns em tábuas, e outros em algumas coisas do navio. Desta forma, todos nós chegamos seguros a terra.

Capítulo 28

¹ E, tendo sido salvos, soubemos que aquela ilha se chamava Malta. ² As pessoas nativas nos trataram com gentileza incomum; elas acenderam uma fogueira e nos convidaram por causa da constante chuva e frio.

³ Mas quando Paulo apanhava alguns gravetos para colocá-los no fogo, uma víbora saiu por causa do calor e prendeu-se à sua mão. ⁴ Quando os nativos viram o animal preso na sua mão, disseram uns aos outros: "Este homem certamente é um assassino que escapou do mar, e a Justiça não lhe permitiu viver".

⁵ Então ele sacudiu o animal no fogo e não sofreu nenhum mal. ⁶ Eles estavam esperando que ele viesse a inchar com a febre ou cair morto no chão. Mas, depois de o observarem por algum tempo e, vendo que não tinha nada usual, eles mudaram de ideia e passaram a dizer que ele era um deus.

⁷ Em um lugar próximo dali, havia terras que pertenciam ao homem principal da ilha, cujo nome era Públio. Ele nos recebeu gentilmente e nos hospedou por três dias. ⁸ E aconteceu que o pai de Públio tinha sido acometido de febre e disenteria. Quando Paulo foi até ele, orou com imposição de mãos e o curou. ⁹ Depois que isso aconteceu, as demais pessoas da ilha que estavam doentes vinham também e eram curadas. ¹⁰ As pessoas também nos distinguiram com muitas honras. Quando estávamos nos preparando para navegar, eles nos supriram com o que precisávamos.

¹¹ Depois de três meses, embarcamos em um navio de Alexandria que havia invernado na ilha, cuja insígnia trazia os deuses gêmeos, Castor e Pólux. ¹² Depois, desembarcamos em Siracusa e ficamos ali por três dias.

¹³ De lá, navegamos e chegamos a cidade de Régio. Depois de um dia, soprando o vento sul, no segundo dia, chegamos a cidade de Putéoli. ¹⁴ Lá, encontramos alguns irmãos e fomos convidados a estar com eles por sete dias. Assim, chegamos até Roma. ¹⁵ De lá, os irmãos, depois de ouvirem sobre nós, vieram nos encontrar no mercado de Ápio e nas Três Vendas. Quando Paulo viu os irmãos, agradeceu a Deus, e foi encorajado.

¹⁶ Quando entramos em Roma, Paulo recebeu autorização para morar sozinho, acompanhado por um soldado que o guardava. ¹⁷ Então, passados três dias, chamou para si alguns homens que eram líderes entre os judeus. Quando eles vieram, disse-lhes: "Irmãos, embora eu nada tenha feito de errado contra o povo ou os costumes de nossos antepassados, fui enviado como prisioneiro de Jerusalém até as mãos dos romanos. ¹⁸ Depois de terem me interrogado, quiseram me soltar, porque não havia em mim razão para pena de morte.

¹⁹ Mas, quando os judeus se opuseram a isso, fui forçado a apelar para César, embora eu não tenha acusação alguma contra minha nação. ²⁰ Por isso, convidei-vos para vos ver e conversar, pois é por causa da esperança de Israel que estou preso a estas correntes".

²¹ Então, eles lhe disseram: "Nem recebemos cartas da Judeia a teu respeito; nem veio aqui irmão algum que relatasse ou dissesse algum mal de ti. ²² Mas nós queremos ouvir de ti o que pensas sobre essa seita, porque sabemos que se tem falado contra ela por toda parte".

²³ Como eles haviam marcado um dia para estar com Paulo, mais pessoas foram vê-lo em sua casa. Ele lhes apresentou a questão e testificou sobre o Reino de Deus. E tentou persuadi-los a respeito de Jesus, tanto pela lei de Moisés, como pelos profetas, desde a manhã até o anoitecer. ²⁴ Alguns foram convencidos pelo que ele dizia, enquanto outros não creram.

²⁵ Como não concordaram entre si, eles se retiraram depois que Paulo falou estas palavras: "O Espírito Santo falou bem, por intermédio do profeta Isaías para seus antepassados ²⁶ quando disse: 'Vai a este povo e dize: Ouvindo, ouvireis, e de maneira nenhuma entendereis; e vendo, vereis, e de maneira nenhuma percebereis.

²⁷ Porque o coração deste povo se endureceu, e com os ouvidos ouviram sem dar atenção e fecharam os olhos; de outra forma, eles poderiam ver com olhos, ouvir com os ouvidos, entender com o coração e se converter, e Eu os curaria'.

²⁸ Portanto, vós devíeis saber que essa salvação de Deus tem sido enviada aos gentios, e eles ouvirão". ²⁹ ¹

³⁰ Paulo viveu por dois anos inteiros na casa que havia alugado, e ele recebia todos os que vinham a ele. ³¹ Ele pregava o Reino de Deus e ensinava a respeito do Senhor Jesus Cristo com toda a ousadia, sem impedimento algum.

¹Os melhores manuscritos omitem o verso 29, Quando ele disse essas coisas, os judeus partiram, tendo uma grande disputa entre eles mesmos

Romans

Capítulo 1

¹ Paulo, servo de Jesus Cristo, chamado para ser apóstolo, separado para o Evangelho de Deus, ² o qual Ele prometeu previamente por intermédio dos Seus profetas nas Escrituras Sagradas, ³ a respeito de Seu Filho, que veio da descendência de Davi segundo a carne,

⁴ pela ressurreição dos mortos, Ele foi declarado o poderoso Filho de Deus pelo Espírito de santidade, Jesus Cristo, nosso Senhor. ⁵ Através Dele, nós temos recebido graça e apostolado para obediência da fé entre todas as nações, por causa do Seu nome. ⁶ Entre essas nações, vós também sois chamados para pertencer a Jesus Cristo.

⁷ A todos vós, amados de Deus que estais em Roma, e que fostes chamados para serdes santos: graça e paz, da parte de Deus, nosso Pai, e do Senhor Jesus Cristo.

⁸ Primeiro, agradeço ao meu Deus, mediante Jesus Cristo, por todos vós, porque a vossa fé é proclamada em todo o mundo. ⁹ Pois Deus, a Quem sirvo em meu espírito no Evangelho do Seu Filho, é minha testemunha de como continuamente faço menção de vós ¹⁰ em minhas orações, pedindo que, de alguma forma, segundo a vontade de Deus, eu possa visitar-vos.

¹¹ Porque desejo ver-vos, para compartilhar convosco algum dom espiritual, para serdes fortalecidos, ¹² isto é, para serdes mutuamente encorajados, através da fé de cada um, a vossa e a minha.

¹³ E não quero, irmãos, que ignoreis que muitas vezes me propus a ir visitar-vos (mas até agora fui impedido), a fim de conseguir entre vós algum fruto, como também entre os demais gentios. ¹⁴ Eu sou devedor tanto a gregos como a estrangeiros, tanto a sábios como a ignorantes. ¹⁵ Por isso, quanto a mim, estou pronto para proclamar o evangelho também a vós que estais em Roma.

¹⁶ Porque eu não me envergonho do Evangelho, pois ele é o poder de Deus para a salvação de todo aquele que crê, primeiro para o judeu depois para o grego. ¹⁷ Porque Nele a justiça de Deus é revelada, de fé em fé, como está escrito: "O justo viverá pela fé".

¹⁸ Porque a ira de Deus é revelada do céu contra toda impiedade e injustiça daqueles que impedem a verdade por meio da injustiça, ¹⁹ pois o que é conhecido sobre Deus está visível para eles, pois Deus lhes tem manifestado.

²⁰ Porque os Seus atributos invisíveis, principalmente Seu eterno poder e Sua natureza divina, têm sido claramente manifestos desde a criação do mundo, através das coisas criadas. Por isso, eles são indesculpáveis. ²¹ Pois, embora conhecessem sobre Deus, não O glorificaram como Deus, nem Lhe deram graças. Em vez disso, se tornaram tolos em seus pensamentos, e seus corações insensatos ficaram obscurecidos.

²² Afirmando serem sábios, tornaram-se tolos. ²³ Eles trocaram a glória do Deus imperecível por uma imagem com semelhança de homem perecível, bem como de aves, quadrúpedes e de répteis.

²⁴ Portanto, Deus os entregou às paixões dos seus corações para impureza sexual, para desonrarem seus corpos entre si, ²⁵ pois trocaram a verdade de Deus pela mentira, adorando e servindo à criatura em lugar do Criador, o qual é bendito eternamente. Amém.

²⁶ Por esse motivo, Deus os entregou a paixões vergonhosas, pois, tanto suas mulheres trocaram as suas relações íntimas por outras que são contrárias à natureza, ²⁷ como também os homens deixaram as suas relações naturais com mulher e se arderam em desejo sexual uns com os outros, homem com homem, praticando o que é indecente, recebendo em si mesmos a punição devida de sua perversão.

²⁸ E por haverem desprezado o conhecimento de Deus, o próprio Deus os entregou a uma mente reprovada, para praticarem coisas que não lhes são próprias.

²⁹ Estão cheios de toda sorte de injustiça, perversidade, cobiça e malícia; cheios de inveja, homicídio, discórdias, fraudes e más intenções; ³⁰ são fofoqueiros, caluniadores, inimigos de Deus, violentos, arrogantes, orgulhosos, inventores de coisas ruins, desobedientes ao pais, ³¹ sem juízo, desleais, sem afeto e sem compaixão.

³² Eles conhecem a sentença de Deus, de que aqueles que praticam tais coisas são merecedores de morte; mas não somente as fazem, mas também aprovam os que as praticam.

Capítulo 2

¹ Então estás indesculpável tu, que julgas; pois, naquilo que julgas o outro, te condenas a ti mesmo. Porque tu, que julgas, praticas as mesmas coisas. ² Mas nós sabemos que o julgamento de Deus é de acordo com a verdade contra os que praticam tais coisas.

³ Mas considere isto: se tu, que julgas os que praticam tais coisas, ainda assim fazes as mesmas, como escaparás do julgamento de Deus? ⁴ Ou desprezas as riquezas da Sua bondade, da sua tolerância e da sua paciência, não sabendo que a Sua bondade é para te conduzir ao arrependimento?

⁵ Mas é pela dureza e falta de arrependimento do teu coração que estás acumulando sobre ti mesmo ira no dia da ira, o dia da revelação do justo juízo de Deus. ⁶ Ele retribuirá a cada pessoa a mesma medida das suas ações: ⁷ aos que, perseverando em boas obras, buscam glória, honra e incorruptibilidade, Ele dará vida eterna.

⁸ Mas virão ira e furor aos que são egoístas, que desobedecem a verdade, mas obedecem à injustiça. ⁹ Deus trará tribulação e sofrimento a toda alma humana que praticou o mal, primeiro ao judeu e também ao grego.

¹⁰ Mas glória, honra e paz virão a todos os que praticam o bem, tanto ao judeu quanto ao grego. ¹¹ Pois não há parcialidade com Deus, ¹² porque todos os que pecaram sem Lei também sem Lei perecerão, e todos os que pecaram sob a Lei pela Lei serão julgados.

¹³ Pois não são os ouvintes da Lei que são justos diante de Deus, mas os praticantes da Lei serão justificados. ¹⁴ Porque, quando os gentios, que não têm a Lei, fazem pela natureza as coisas da Lei, eles são a Lei para si mesmos, embora não tendo a Lei.

¹⁵ Eles mostram que as ações requeridas pela Lei estão escritas em seus corações. Suas consciências também testemunham isso com eles, e os seus próprios pensamentos tanto os acusam quanto os defendem. ¹⁶ Isso acontecerá no dia em que Deus irá julgar os segredos de todas as pessoas, de acordo com o meu evangelho, através de Jesus Cristo.

¹⁷ Mas, se tu te chamas judeu e descansas na Lei, e te glorias em Deus, ¹⁸ e conheces a Sua vontade, e aprovas o que é excelente, porque foste instruído pela Lei, ¹⁹ e se estás convencido que tu és um guia dos cegos, uma luz àqueles que estão nas trevas, ²⁰ um instrutor de ignorantes, um mestre de néscios, e que tens na Lei a forma de conhecimento e de verdade, então como isso afeta a tua maneira de viver?

²¹ Tu que ensinas outros, não ensinas a ti mesmo? Tu que pregas para não roubar, roubas? ²² Tu que dizes para não cometer adultério, adulteras? Tu que detestas ídolos, roubas templos?

²³ Tu que te glorias na Lei, desonras a Deus pela transgressão da Lei? ²⁴ Pois como está escrito: "O Nome de Deus é desonrado no meio dos gentios por causa de vós".

²⁵ Pois a circuncisão, de fato, te beneficia, se obedeceres a Lei; mas, se transgrides a Lei, tua circuncisão se torna incircuncisão. ²⁶ Se, então, um incircunciso guardar os princípios da Lei, a sua incircuncisão não será considerada circuncisão? ²⁷ E o naturalmente incircunciso, se guardar a Lei, não condenará a ti, que, apesar das Escrituras e da circuncisão, és transgressor da Lei!

²⁸ Pois não é judeu quem o é somente por fora; nem é circunciso o que é apenas no exterior da carne. ²⁹ Mas é judeu quem o é internamente, e circuncisão é a do coração no Espírito, não segundo a letra. O louvor de tal pessoa não vem dos homens, mas de Deus.

Capítulo 3

¹ Então, que vantagem têm os judeus? E qual o benefício da circuncisão? ² É enorme, em todos os sentidos. Primeiramente, aos judeus foi confiada a revelação de Deus.

³ E, se alguns judeus foram infiéis, irá a sua infidelidade tornar a fidelidade de Deus inválida? ⁴ De forma nenhuma. Ao invés disso, que Deus seja verdadeiro, e todo homem seja mentiroso. Como está escrito: "Para que sejas visto como justo em tuas palavras, e que prevaleças quando vieres a julgamento".

⁵ Mas, se nossa injustiça manifesta a justiça de Deus, o que podemos falar? Podemos dizer que Deus é injusto por trazer Sua ira sobre nós? (Falo de acordo com a lógica humana.) ⁶ De forma nenhuma! Pois, então, como Deus julgaria o mundo?

⁷ Mas, se a verdade de Deus, através de minha mentira, traz mais louvor para Ele, porque ainda sou julgado como um pecador? ⁸ E por que não dizemos, como erroneamente alguns afirmam que falamos: "Façamos o mal, para que o bem venha"? A condenação deles é justa.

⁹ E então? Estamos desculpando a nós mesmos? Absolutamente não. Pois já demonstramos que tanto judeus quanto gregos, todos estão sob pecado, ¹⁰ como está escrito: "Não há um justo, nem um sequer".

¹¹ Não há quem entenda. Não há quem busque a Deus. ¹² Todos se desviaram, todos juntos se tornaram inúteis. Não há quem faça o bem, nem um sequer.

¹³ A garganta deles é um sepulcro aberto. Suas palavras enganam. Há veneno de cobras sob seus lábios. ¹⁴ Suas bocas estão cheias de maldição e amargura.

¹⁵ Seus pés se apressam para derramar sangue. ¹⁶ Destruição e sofrimento estão em seus caminhos. ¹⁷ Eles não conheceram o caminho da paz. ¹⁸ Não há temor a Deus diante de seus olhos.

¹⁹ Agora, sabemos que tudo o que a Lei diz é dito aos que estão sob a Lei, para que toda boca possa ser calada e todo o mundo torne-se sujeito ao julgamento de Deus. ²⁰ Porque ninguém será justificado pelas obras da Lei diante Dele. Pois pela Lei vem a consciência do pecado.

²¹ Mas agora, sem Lei, a justiça de Deus se manifestou testemunhada pela Lei e pelos profetas, ²² isto é, a justiça de Deus, pela fé em Jesus Cristo, para todos os que acreditam. Pois não há distinção.

²³ Porque todos pecaram e estão destituídos da Glória de Deus, ²⁴ sendo justificados gratuitamente pela sua graça através da redenção que há em Cristo Jesus.

²⁵ Pois Deus ofereceu Jesus Cristo como propiciação pelo Seu sangue, por meio da fé. Ele ofereceu Cristo como uma prova da Sua justiça e, em Sua paciência, deixou de punir os pecados cometidos anteriormente. ²⁶ Isso ocorreu como demonstração da Sua justiça no tempo presente, para que Ele seja justo e o justificador de qualquer um que tem fé em Jesus.

²⁷ Onde está o orgulho? Foi excluído. Em qual base? Obras? Não, mas baseado na fé. ²⁸ Nós concluímos, portanto, que uma pessoa é justificada pela fé sem as obras da Lei.

²⁹ Ou Deus é apenas Deus dos judeus? Ele não é também Deus dos gentios? Sim, dos gentios também. ³⁰ Se, de fato, Deus é um, Ele justificará a circuncisão pela fé, e a incircuncisão pela fé.

³¹ Nós, então, anulamos a lei através da fé? De modo nenhum! Pelo contrário, nós a confirmamos.

Capítulo 4

¹ Então, o que diremos que Abraão, nosso antepassado segundo a carne, encontrou? ² Pois, se Abraão foi justificado pelas obras, ele teria razão para se gloriar, mas não diante de Deus. ³ O que as Escrituras dizem? "Abraão acreditou em Deus, e isso foi lhe atribuído como justiça".

⁴ Ora, para o que trabalha, o salário não lhe é pago como um presente, mas como uma dívida. ⁵ Porém, ao que não trabalha, mas, em vez disso, acredita Naquele que justifica o ímpio, a sua fé lhe é atribuída como justiça.

⁶ Davi também proclama bênçãos ao homem a quem Deus atribui justiça independentemente de obras. ⁷ Ele disse: "Felizes são aqueles cujas iniquidades foram perdoadas, e cujos pecados foram cobertos. ⁸ Feliz é o homem a quem o Senhor não atribui pecado."

⁹ Assim, essa bênção foi proclamada somente aos da circuncisão, ou também aos da incircuncisão? Pois nós falamos: "A fé foi atribuída a Abraão como justiça." ¹⁰ Então, como ela lhe foi atribuída? Quando Abraão estava na circuncisão ou na incircuncisão? Não foi na circuncisão, e sim na incircuncisão.

¹¹ Abraão recebeu o sinal da circuncisão, o qual era um selo da justiça da fé que ele já possuía quando estava na incircuncisão. O resultado desse sinal foi que ele se tornou pai daqueles que acreditam, mesmo que não sejam circuncidados. Isso significa que a justiça lhes foi atribuída. ¹² E também significa que Abraão se tornou pai da circuncisão, não apenas dos que foram circuncidados, mas, da mesma forma, dos que seguem os passos de fé de nosso pai Abraão antes que ele fosse circuncidado.

¹³ Porque não foi através da Lei que a promessa foi dada a Abraão e aos seus descendentes, a promessa de que eles seriam herdeiros do mundo. Em vez disso, ela foi dada pela justiça da fé. ¹⁴ Pois, se os que vivem pela Lei são herdeiros, a fé se torna vazia e a promessa, nula. ¹⁵ Porque a Lei traz ira, mas, onde não há lei, não há desobediência.

¹⁶ Por essa razão, isso é pela fé, para que a promessa seja baseada na graça, e seja garantida para todos os descendentes de Abraão. E esses descendentes incluem não somente aqueles que conhecem a Lei, mas também aqueles que são da fé de Abraão. Pois ele é o pai de todos nós, ¹⁷ como está escrito: "Eu te constituí pai de muitas nações". Abraão estava na presença Daquele em Quem confiou, ou seja, Deus, o qual dá vida aos mortos e chama as coisas que não existem à existência.

¹⁸ Apesar de todas as circunstâncias ao seu redor, Abraão confiadamente entregou seu futuro a Deus, e então se tornou o pai de muitas nações, conforme o que foi dito: "Assim serão teus descendentes". ¹⁹ Ele não foi fraco na fé. Abraão entendeu que seu próprio corpo era incapaz de ter filhos, porque tinha cerca de 100 anos de idade. Ele também reconheceu que o ventre de Sara já não podia gerar filhos.

²⁰ Mas, por causa da promessa de Deus, Abraão não permaneceu na incredulidade. Em vez disso, foi fortalecido na fé, e deu glórias a Deus. ²¹ Ele estava totalmente convencido de que Deus era capaz de cumprir o que prometera. ²² Portanto, isso também foi atribuído a ele como justiça.

²³ Não foi apenas para o benefício dele que está escrito que Deus lhe atribuiu justiça. ²⁴ Mas também foi escrito para nosso benefício, porque Deus nos considerará justos, nós, os que cremos Naquele que ressuscitou Jesus, nosso Senhor, dentre os mortos. ²⁵ Aquele que foi entregue por nossas transgressões e foi ressuscitado para a nossa justificação.

Capítulo 5

¹ Portanto, justificados pela fé, temos paz com Deus por intermédio do nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo. ² Através Dele, também temos acesso, pela fé, a esta graça na qual estamos firmes. Alegramo-nos na esperança que Deus nos dá para o futuro, a esperança de que participaremos da glória de Deus.

³ Não somente isso, mas também nos regozijamos em nossos sofrimentos, sabendo que o sofrimento produz perseverança; ⁴ a perseverança produz aprovação; e a aprovação produz esperança para o futuro. ⁵ A esperança não desaponta, porque o amor de Deus tem sido derramado em nossos corações por intermédio do Espírito Santo, que nos foi dado.

⁶ Pois, quando ainda éramos fracos, Cristo morreu pelos ímpios no tempo certo. ⁷ Porque dificilmente alguém morreria por um justo; isto é, talvez alguém até ouse morrer por uma boa pessoa.

⁸ Mas Deus prova Seu próprio amor por nós, porque Cristo morreu por nós, enquanto ainda éramos pecadores. ⁹ Muito mais agora, que somos justificados por Seu sangue, seremos salvos por Ele da ira de Deus.

¹⁰ Pois, se nós, enquanto éramos inimigos, fomos reconciliados com Deus através da morte de Seu Filho, muito mais depois de termos sido reconciliados, seremos salvos por Sua vida. ¹¹ Não somente isso, mas também nos regozijamos em Deus através do nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, por meio de Quem agora recebemos essa reconciliação.

¹² Portanto, como o pecado entrou no mundo através de um homem, da mesma forma a morte entrou através do pecado. E a morte se espalhou para todas as pessoas, porque todos pecaram. ¹³ Pois até a Lei, o pecado estava no mundo, mas o pecado não é levado em conta quando não há Lei.

¹⁴ No entanto, a morte reinou de Adão até Moisés, mesmo sobre aqueles que não pecaram de modo semelhante à desobediência de Adão, que é um modelo Daquele que estava por vir. ¹⁵ Mas, mesmo assim, o dom gratuito não é como a transgressão. Pois, se todos morreram pela transgressão de um, muito mais a graça de Deus e a dádiva pela graça de um único homem, Jesus Cristo, abundaram para muitos.

¹⁶ Porque o dom não é como a consequência do pecado de um homem. Pois, por um lado, o julgamento da condenação veio por causa da transgressão de um só homem; mas, por outro lado, o dom gratuito veio depois de muitas transgressões, para justificação. ¹⁷ Pois, se a morte reinou através de um pela transgressão de um só, muito mais aqueles que recebem a abundância da graça e do dom da justiça reinarão em vida através de um só, Jesus Cristo.

¹⁸ Então, assim como todas as pessoas foram condenadas por uma transgressão, também por um ato de justiça veio a justificação da vida a todas as pessoas. ¹⁹ Pois, como pela desobediência de um só homem, muitos foram feitos pecadores, da mesma forma, através da obediência de um, muitos serão feitos justos.

²⁰ Mas a Lei entrou para que a transgressão abundasse. Entretanto, onde o pecado abundou, a graça abundou ainda mais. ²¹ Isso aconteceu para que, da mesma forma que o pecado reinou na morte, assim também a graça possa reinar, por meio da justiça, para a vida eterna através de Jesus Cristo, nosso Senhor.

Capítulo 6

¹ Então, o que diremos? Devemos continuar no pecado para que a graça possa abundar? ² Nunca! Nós que morremos para o pecado, como podemos ainda viver nele? ³ Não sabeis que, assim como fomos batizados em Cristo Jesus, também fomos batizados em Sua morte?

⁴ Portanto, fomos sepultados com Ele através do batismo na morte. Isso aconteceu para que, como Cristo foi ressuscitado dentre os mortos pela glória do Pai, assim nós também possamos andar em novidade de vida. ⁵ Porque, se temos nos tornado unidos com Ele na semelhança da Sua morte, também estaremos unidos, com Sua ressurreição.

⁶ Nós sabemos isto: que nosso velho homem foi crucificado com Ele, para que o corpo do pecado seja destruído. Isso aconteceu a fim de não sermos mais escravizados pelo pecado. ⁷ Aquele que morreu é declarado justo em relação ao pecado.

⁸ Mas, se tivermos morrido com Cristo, acreditamos que também viveremos com Ele. ⁹ Sabemos que Cristo foi ressuscitado dentre os mortos e que não está mais morto. A morte não tem mais domínio sobre Ele.

¹⁰ Pois, quanto a ter morrido pelo pecado, Ele morreu de uma vez por todas. Contudo a vida que Ele vive, vive para Deus. ¹¹ Da mesma maneira, considerai-vos também mortos em vós mesmos para o pecado, mas vivos para Deus em Cristo Jesus.

¹² Portanto, não deixeis o pecado reinar em vosso corpo mortal, de forma que obedeçais a suas paixões. ¹³ Não apresenteis as partes do vosso corpo ao pecado, para serem instrumentos usados para injustiça. Mas apresentai-vos a Deus como mortos que agora estão vivendo. E apresentai as partes do vosso corpo a Deus como instrumentos a serem usados para justiça. ¹⁴ Não permitais que o pecado vos domine, porque não estais debaixo da Lei, mas debaixo da graça.

¹⁵ E então? Devemos pecar porque não estamos debaixo da Lei, mas debaixo da graça? Nunca! ¹⁶ Não sabeis que a quem vós mesmos vos apresentais como servos é a quem sois obedientes e a quem deveis obedecer? A verdade é esta: ou sois servos do pecado que leva à morte, ou servos da obediência que leva à justificação.

¹⁷ Mas graças a Deus! Pois fostes servos do pecado, no entanto tendes obedecido de coração ao padrão de doutrina que vos foi dado. ¹⁸ Tendes sido libertos do pecado e feitos escravos da justiça.

¹⁹ Falo como homem, por causa da fraqueza da vossa carne. Pois, como apresentastes as partes do vosso corpo como escravos para a impureza e para o mal, da mesma forma, agora, apresentai-as como escravos da justiça para santificação. ²⁰ Visto que, quando éreis escravos do pecado, estáveis livres da justiça. ²¹ Naquele tempo, que fruto, então, tivestes das coisas das quais agora estais envergonhados? Porque o fim dessas coisas é a morte.

²² Mas agora, que fostes libertos do pecado e feitos escravos de Deus, tendes o vosso fruto para santificação, e o resultado é a vida eterna. ²³ Pois o salário do pecado é a morte, mas o dom gratuito de Deus é a vida eterna em Cristo Jesus, nosso Senhor.

Capítulo 7

¹ Ou não sabeis, irmãos, que a lei controla o homem enquanto ele vive? Pois falo a pessoas que conhecem a lei.

² Pois, pela lei, a mulher casada está ligada ao seu marido enquanto ele viver; mas se seu marido morrer, ela estará livre da lei do casamento. ³ Então, se ela unir-se com outro homem enquanto seu marido estiver vivo, ela será chamada de adúltera. Porém, se seu marido morrer, ela estará livre da lei, de modo que não será adúltera se se casar com outro homem.

⁴ Portanto, meus irmãos, vós também fostes mortos para a lei, mediante o corpo de Cristo, de modo que pudésseis pertencer a outro, isto é, Àquele que foi ressuscitado dentre os mortos, a fim de produzirmos frutos para Deus. ⁵ Pois quando estávamos na carne, as paixões pecaminosas, despertadas pela lei, operavam em nossos membros para produzir fruto para a morte.

⁶ Todavia, agora estamos livres da lei. Morremos para aquilo a que estávamos presos, para então servir na novidade do Espírito, e não na velhice da letra.

⁷ O que diremos então? É a lei em si pecado? De modo algum. No entanto, eu jamais conheceria o pecado se não fosse através da lei. Por que eu não conheceria a cobiça se a lei não dissesse: "Não cobiçarás". ⁸ Mas o pecado, aproveitando-se da oportunidade dada pelo mandamento, trouxe todo tipo de cobiça em mim. Pois sem a lei, o pecado está morto.

⁹ Antes eu vivia sem a lei, mas quando o mandamento veio o pecado reviveu e eu morri. ¹⁰ O mandamento, que era para trazer vida, tornou-se em morte para mim.

¹¹ Pois o pecado, aproveitando-se da oportunidade através do mandamento, enganou-me. E através do mandamento, matou-me. ¹² Portanto, a lei é santa, e o mandamento é santo, justo e bom.

¹³ Portanto, o que era bom tornou-se morte para mim? De modo algum. Mas o pecado, para que se mostrasse como pecado por meio do que é bom, produziu em mim a morte. Isso, para que através do mandamento o pecado se revelasse pecaminoso, além da medida. ¹⁴ Porque sabemos que a lei é espiritual, mas eu sou carnal, vendido como escravo ao pecado.

¹⁵ Por que o que eu faço, realmente não entendo. Pois o que quero fazer, eu não faço; e o que odeio, eu faço. ¹⁶ Mas se faço o que não quero, concordo com a lei, que a lei é boa.

¹⁷ Mas agora não sou mais eu quem faz isto, mas o pecado que habita em mim. ¹⁸ Pois sei que em mim, isto é, na minha carne, não habita coisa boa, pois o desejo para o bem está em mim, mas eu não consigo fazê-lo.

¹⁹ Pois o bem que quero fazer, não faço, mas o mal que não quero, este faço. ²⁰ Portanto, se faço o que não quero fazer, então não sou mais eu que estou agindo, mas o pecado que vive em mim. ²¹ Percebo, então, em mim, a lei de querer fazer o que é bom, mas realmente o mal está presente em mim.

²² Pois, com o homem interior, me regozijo na lei de Deus. ²³ Todavia, vejo uma lei diferente nos membros do meu corpo, que lutam contra uma nova lei em minha mente. Isso me faz prisioneiro da lei do pecado que está nos membros do meu corpo.

²⁴ Sou um homem miserável! Quem me livrará deste corpo de morte? ²⁵ Graças a Deus por Jesus Cristo nosso Senhor! Assim, pois, eu sirvo a lei de Deus com minha mente, contudo, com a carne eu sirvo o princípio do pecado.

Capítulo 8

¹ Portanto, não há agora nenhuma condenação para aqueles que estão em Cristo Jesus. ² Porque a lei do Espírito da vida em Cristo Jesus me libertou da lei do pecado e da morte.

³ Pois o que a lei era incapaz de fazer, porque era fraca através da carne, Deus o fez. Ele enviou o seu próprio Filho em semelhança da carne pecaminosa, a fim de ser uma oferta para o pecado, e Ele condenou o pecado na carne. ⁴ Ele fez isso para que a exigência da lei fosse cumprida em nós que andamos, não de acordo com a carne, mas segundo o Espírito. ⁵ Aqueles que vivem de acordo com a carne prestam atenção nas coisas da carne, mas aqueles que vivem segundo o Espírito, nas coisas do Espírito.

⁶ Pois a mentalidade da carne é morte, mas a mentalidade do Espírito é vida e paz; ⁷ porque a mentalidade da carne é hostil em relação a Deus, pois não é sujeita à lei de Deus, nem é capaz de ser. ⁸ Aqueles que estão na carne não podem agradar a Deus.

⁹ Contudo, não estais na carne, mas no Espírito, se é que o Espírito de Deus vive em vós. Mas se alguém não tem o Espírito de Cristo, não pertence a Ele. ¹⁰ Se Cristo está em vós, o corpo está morto em relação ao pecado, mas o Espírito está vivo em relação à justiça.

¹¹ Se o Espírito Daquele que ressuscitou Jesus dos mortos vive em vós, Ele que ressuscitou Cristo dos mortos dará também vida aos vossos corpos mortais através do Seu Espírito, que vive em vós.

¹² Então, irmãos, somos devedores não à carne, para viver de acordo com a carne. ¹³ Pois, se viverdes de acordo com a carne, morrereis; mas, se pelo Espírito matardes as ações do corpo, vivereis.

¹⁴ Pois aqueles que são guiados pelo Espírito de Deus, esses são filhos de Deus. ¹⁵ Porque não recebestes o espírito de escravidão novamente para temor, mas recebestes o espírito de adoção, pelo qual clamamos: "Abba, Pai!"

¹⁶ O próprio Espírito testemunha com o nosso espírito que somos filhos de Deus. ¹⁷ Se somos filhos, somos também herdeiros, herdeiros de Deus, e coerdeiros com Cristo, se de fato sofremos com Ele para que também sejamos glorificados com Ele.

¹⁸ Porque considero que os sofrimentos deste tempo presente não são dignos de serem comparados com a glória que nos será revelada. ¹⁹ Pois a ardente expectativa da criação aguarda a revelação dos filhos de Deus.

²⁰ Porque a criação foi sujeita à futilidade, não por sua própria vontade, mas pela vontade daquele que a sujeitou, na esperança ²¹ de que a própria criação seja liberta da escravidão da corrupção para a liberdade da glória dos filhos de Deus. ²² Pois sabemos que toda a criação geme e sente dores de parto ainda hoje.

²³ Não somente ela, mas também nós, que temos os primeiros frutos do Espírito - inclusive nós mesmos gememos por dentro, esperando pela nossa adoção, a redenção do nosso corpo. ²⁴ Pois na esperança fomos salvos. Mas o que esperamos que aconteça, ainda não se viu, pois como se espera o que já se vê? ²⁵ Mas se esperamos o que não vemos, com paciência esperamos.

²⁶ Do mesmo modo, o Espírito também ajuda em nossas fraquezas. Pois não sabemos como orar, mas o próprio Espírito intercede por nós com gemidos inexprimíveis. ²⁷ Ele, que examina os corações, conhece a mente do Espírito, porque Ele intercede em favor dos santos, de acordo com a vontade de Deus.

²⁸ Sabemos que todas as coisas cooperam para o bem daqueles que amam a Deus, dos que são chamados de acordo com o Seu propósito. ²⁹ Porque, aos que previamente conheceu, Ele também predestinou para serem conforme a imagem de Seu Filho, para que Ele seja o primogênito dentre muitos irmãos. ³⁰ Aos que predestinou, a estes também chamou. Aos que chamou, a estes, Ele também justificou. Aos que justificou, a estes também glorificou.

³¹ O que então devemos dizer sobre essas coisas? Se Deus é por nós, quem será contra nós? ³² Ele, que não poupou Seu próprio Filho, mas O entregou em favor de todos nós, como não nos dará também com Ele todas essas coisas?

³³ Quem trará alguma acusação contra os eleitos de Deus? É Deus quem os justifica. ³⁴ Quem os condenará? Cristo é quem morreu por nós, e, mais que isso, também ressuscitou. Ele está à direita de Deus, o qual também intercede por nós.

³⁵ Quem nos separará do amor de Cristo? Tribulação, angústia, perseguição, fome, nudez, perigo ou espada? ³⁶ Como está escrito: "Por causa de Ti, somos mortos todo o dia. Fomos considerados como ovelhas para o matadouro".

³⁷ Em todas essas coisas, somos mais que vencedores através Daquele que nos amou. ³⁸ Pois estou convencido de que nem morte, nem vida, nem anjos, nem principados, nem coisas presentes, nem coisas futuras, nem poderes, ³⁹ nem altura, nem profundidade, nem nenhuma outra coisa criada será capaz de nos separar do amor de Deus, que está em Cristo Jesus nosso Senhor.

Capítulo 9

¹ Eu digo a verdade em Cristo; eu não minto. Minha consciência dá testemunho comigo, no Espírito Santo, ² de que tenho uma grande tristeza e incessante dor no meu coração;

³ pois eu desejaria que eu mesmo fosse maldito e separado de Cristo por amor dos meus irmãos, que são meus compatriotas segundo a carne. ⁴ Eles são israelitas. Pertence-lhes a adoção, a glória, as alianças, a entrega da Lei, a adoração a Deus, e as promessas. ⁵ Deles são os patriarcas, de quem Cristo descendeu, segundo a carne, o qual é Deus sobre todos, seja Ele bendito eternamente. Amém.

⁶ Mas não é que a palavra de Deus tenha falhado. Pois nem todos os de Israel pertencem a Israel. ⁷ Como também nem todos os descendentes de Abraão são verdadeiramente seus filhos. Mas, "Através de Isaque, será chamada a tua descendência".

⁸ Isto é, os filhos da carne não são os filhos de Deus. Mas os filhos da promessa são considerados como descendência. ⁹ Pois esta é a palavra da promessa: "Neste tempo Eu virei, e será dado um filho a Sara".

¹⁰ E não somente isto, mas também depois que Rebeca concebeu de nosso pai Isaque ¹¹ E os filhos ainda não tinham nascido, nem tinham feito algo bom ou mau (para que o propósito de Deus de acordo com Sua escolha permanecesse, não por obras, mas por causa Daquele que chama), ¹² isto fora dito a ela: "O mais velho servirá o mais novo." ¹³ Assim está escrito: "Eu amei Jacó, mas odiei Esaú".

¹⁴ Que diremos, então? Há injustiça da parte de Deus? Nunca! ¹⁵ Pois Ele falou a Moisés: "Eu terei misericórdia de quem Eu quiser ter misericórdia, e terei compaixão de quem Eu quiser ter compaixão". ¹⁶ Portanto, isso não depende de quem quer, nem de quem corre, mas de Deus, que tem misericórdia.

¹⁷ Pois a Escritura diz a Faraó: "Para isso mesmo te levantei, para que Eu possa demonstrar em ti Meu poder, e para que Meu Nome possa ser proclamado em toda a terra". ¹⁸ Logo, Ele tem misericórdia de quem Ele quer, e endurece a quem quer.

¹⁹ Então, tu me dirás: "Por que Ele ainda culpa alguém? Pois quem resistiu a Sua vontade?" ²⁰ Pelo contrário, homem, quem és tu que respondes contra Deus? Que poderá dizer o barro para aquele que o moldou: "Por que Tu me fizeste assim?" ²¹ Não tem o oleiro o direito sobre o barro para fazer da mesma massa um vaso para uso especial, e outro vaso para uso comum?

²² E se Deus, querendo mostrar Sua ira e fazer conhecido o Seu poder, suportou com muita paciência os vasos da ira, preparados para a destruição? ²³ e se Ele fizesse conhecida a riqueza da Sua glória em vasos de misericórdia, que para a glória Ele preparou anteriormente, ²⁴ os quais somos nós, a quem também chamou, não somente dentre os judeus, mas também dentre os gentios?

²⁵ Como Ele falou também a Oseias: "Eu chamarei Meu povo aquele que não era Meu povo, e amada, aquela que não era amada. ²⁶ E será que, no lugar onde foi falado para eles: 'Vós não sois meu povo', lá eles serão chamados: 'Filhos do Deus vivo'".

²⁷ Isaías clamou a respeito de Israel: "Ainda que o número dos filhos de Israel seja como a areia do mar, haverá um remanescente que será salvo, ²⁸ pois o Senhor executará Sua palavra por toda a terra, breve e completamente." ²⁹ E, como Isaías antes falou: "Se o Senhor dos Exércitos não nos tivesse deixado descendência, teríamos nos tornado como Sodoma e seríamos como Gomorra".

³⁰ Que diremos, então? Que os gentios, que não estavam buscando justiça, alcançaram justiça, a justiça pela fé; ³¹ mas Israel, que buscou a lei da justiça, não a alcançou.

³² Por que não? Porque eles não buscaram isso por fé, mas por obras. Eles tropeçaram na pedra de tropeço, ³³ como está escrito: "Eis que Eu coloco em Sião uma pedra de tropeço, uma rocha de escândalo. Quem nela crer não será envergonhado".

Capítulo 10

¹ Irmãos, o desejo do meu coração e meu pedido a Deus em favor deles é que sejam salvos. ² Pois dou testemunho de que eles têm zelo por Deus, mas não de acordo com o conhecimento. ³ Pois, desconhecendo a justiça de Deus, buscando estabelecer a sua própria justiça, não se submeteram à justiça de Deus.

⁴ Pois Cristo é o cumprimento da lei para justiça de todo aquele que crê. ⁵ Porque Moisés escreve sobre a justiça que vem da lei: "O homem que pratica a justiça que provém da lei viverá por essa justiça".

⁶ Mas a justiça que vem da fé diz: "Não digas em teu coração: 'Quem subirá ao céu?' (isto é, para trazer Cristo para baixo); ⁷ ou: 'Quem descerá até o abismo?' (isto é, para levantar Cristo dentre os mortos)".

⁸ Mas o que diz? "A Palavra está próxima de ti, na tua boca e no teu coração". Esta é a palavra de fé que nós proclamamos. ⁹ Pois, se com tua boca confessares Jesus como Senhor, e creres no teu coração que Deus O ressuscitou dentre os mortos, serás salvo. ¹⁰ Porque com o coração se crê para justiça, e com a boca se confessa para a salvação.

¹¹ Pois a Escritura diz: "Todo o que Nele crê não será envergonhado". ¹² Pois não há distinção entre judeu e grego; porque o mesmo Senhor é Senhor de todos, sendo rico para com todos que O invocam. ¹³ Porque todo o que invocar o Nome do Senhor será salvo.

¹⁴ Como poderão invocar Aquele em Quem não creram? E como poderão crer Naquele de Quem não ouviram falar? E como poderão ouvir se não há quem pregue? ¹⁵ E como poderão pregar, se não forem enviados? — Como está escrito: "Quão belos são os pés daqueles que anunciam as boas novas!".

¹⁶ Mas nem todos eles deram ouvidos ao Evangelho. Pois Isaías diz: "Senhor, quem acreditou na nossa mensagem?" ¹⁷ Pois a fé vem pelo ouvir, e ouvir a Palavra de Cristo.

¹⁸ Mas eu pergunto: eles não ouviram? Sim, certamente. "O som deles se propagou sobre toda a terra, e suas palavras até os confins do mundo".

¹⁹ Além disso, pergunto: Israel não sabia? Primeiro, Moisés diz: "Eu vos provocarei ciúmes pelos que não são uma nação; por meio de uma nação sem entendimento, Eu vos provocarei à ira".

²⁰ E Isaías ousou dizer: "Eu fui achado por aqueles que não Me procuravam. Manifestei-Me aos que não perguntavam por Mim." ²¹ Quanto a Israel, Ele diz: "Todo o dia Eu estendi as Minhas mãos para um povo desobediente e rebelde".

Capítulo 11

¹ Eu pergunto então: Deus rejeitou Seu povo? De modo algum. Pois eu também sou um israelita, um descendente de Abraão, da tribo de Benjamim. ² Deus não rejeitou Seu povo, a quem de antemão conheceu. Não sabeis o que a Escritura diz sobre Elias, como ele suplicou ao Senhor contra Israel? ³ "Senhor, eles mataram Teus profetas, quebraram Teus altares, e só eu fiquei, e eles buscam tirar minha vida".

⁴ Mas, o que Deus lhe respondeu? "Eu reservei para Mim mesmo sete mil homens que não dobraram os joelhos a Baal". ⁵ Assim também, neste tempo presente, há um remanescente, por causa da eleição da graça.

⁶ Mas, se é pela graça, já não é mais pelas obras. Caso contrário, a graça não seria graça. ¹ ⁷ E então? As coisas que Israel procura, isso não alcançou, mas os eleitos as alcançaram, e os demais foram endurecidos. ⁸ Exatamente como está escrito: "Deus lhes deu um espírito de entorpecimento, olhos para que não vejam, e ouvidos para que não ouçam, até o dia de hoje".

⁹ Então Davi diz: "Que sua mesa se torne uma rede e uma armadilha, uma pedra de tropeço e uma retaliação para eles. ¹⁰ Que seus olhos sejam escurecidos para que não vejam, e as suas costas encurvadas para sempre".

¹¹ Pergunto, então: eles tropeçaram para cair? De maneira alguma. Em vez disso, por seu fracasso, veio a salvação para os gentios, a fim de provocar-lhes ciúmes. ¹² Agora, se o fracasso deles é a riqueza do mundo, e a sua perda é a riqueza dos gentios, quanto maior será sua plenitude?

¹³ Mas agora falo a vós, gentios, uma vez que sou um apóstolo para os gentios, glorifico o meu ministério. ¹⁴ Talvez eu provocarei ciúmes àqueles que são da minha própria carne, e, talvez, alguns sejam salvos.

¹⁵ Pois, se a rejeição deles é a reconciliação do mundo, o que será a sua aceitação, senão vida dentre os mortos? ¹⁶ Se os primeiros frutos são santos, a massa também é; se a raiz é santa, os ramos também são.

¹⁷ Mas, se alguns dos ramos foram quebrados, e tu, um ramo de oliveira silvestre, foste enxertado entre eles, e te tornaste participante com eles da rica raiz da oliveira, ¹⁸ não te glories contra os ramos. Mas, se te gloriares, sabe que não és tu que sustenta a raiz, mas a raiz que te sustenta.

¹⁹ Tu então dirás: "Os ramos foram quebrados para que eu fosse enxertado". ²⁰ Verdade! Por causa da incredulidade deles, eles foram quebrados, mas tu permaneces por tua fé. Não penses muito de ti mesmo, mas teme. ²¹ Porque, se Deus não poupou os ramos naturais, também não te poupará.

²² Observa, então, a bondade e a severidade de Deus. Por um lado, a severidade veio sobre os judeus que caíram; mas por outro lado, a bondade de Deus veio sobre ti, se permaneceres em Sua bondade. Caso contrário, tu também serás cortado.

²³ E eles também, se não permanecerem na sua incredulidade, serão enxertados de volta. Pois Deus é capaz de enxertá-los novamente. ²⁴ Porque, se foste cortado da oliveira silvestre por natureza e, contrariamente à natureza, foste enxertado na boa oliveira, quanto mais os judeus, que são ramos naturais, serão enxertados de volta em sua própria oliveira?

²⁵ Porque, irmãos, eu não quero que fiqueis sem saber deste mistério, a fim de que não sejais sábios em vosso próprio pensamento. Este mistério é que ocorreu um endurecimento parcial a Israel, até que chegue a plenitude dos gentios.

²⁶ Assim, todo o Israel será salvo, como está escrito: "Virá de Sião o Libertador. Ele removerá a impiedade de Jacó. ²⁷ E esta será a Minha aliança com eles, quando Eu retirar os seus pecados".

²⁸ Quanto ao Evangelho, eles são odiados por vossa causa; todavia, quanto à escolha de Deus, eles são amados por causa dos antepassados. ²⁹ Pois os dons e o chamado de Deus são imutáveis.

³⁰ Pois, antigamente, fostes desobedientes a Deus; mas, agora, recebestes misericórdia por causa da desobediência deles. ³¹ Do mesmo modo, esses judeus agora têm sido desobedientes. O resultado foi que, através da misericórdia mostrada a vós, eles também podem receber misericórdia agora. ³² Pois Deus encerrou todos dentro da desobediência, a fim de que Ele tenha misericórdia de todos.

³³ Ó profundidade da riqueza, da sabedoria e do conhecimento de Deus! Quão insondáveis são os Seus juízos, e os Seus caminhos incompreensíveis! ³⁴ Pois quem conheceu a mente do Senhor? Ou quem se tornou Seu conselheiro?

³⁵ Ou quem primeiro Lhe deu alguma coisa, para que Deus lhe retribua?" ³⁶ Pois Dele, por Ele e para Ele são todas as coisas. A Ele seja a glória para sempre. Amém.

¹(Algumas cópias antigas traduzem:) Todavia, se é por obras, então não é mais pela graça; de outra maneira, obras não seriam obras .

Capítulo 12

¹ Portanto, irmãos, eu insisto que, pelas misericórdias de Deus, apresenteis vossos corpos como sacrifício vivo, santo e agradável a Deus, que é o vosso culto racional. ² Não vos conformeis com este mundo, mas transformai-vos pela renovação da vossa mente para que conheçais qual é a boa, agradável e perfeita vontade de Deus.

³ Porque, pela graça que me foi dada, eu vos digo que cada um de vós não deve pensar de si mesmo muito mais do que deveria; mas sim, pense sabiamente, segundo a medida da fé que Deus repartiu a cada um.

⁴ Pois nós temos muitos membros em um corpo, mas nem todos os membros têm a mesma função. ⁵ Assim também nós, que somos muitos, formamos um só corpo em Cristo e, individualmente, somos membros uns dos outros.

⁶ Nós temos diferentes dons de acordo com a graça que nos foi dada. Se o dom de alguém é profecia, que seja conforme a proporção da fé. ⁷ Se o dom é serviço, que sirva. Se o dom é ensinar, que ensine. ⁸ Se o dom é encorajamento, que encoraje. Se o dom é contribuir, que contribua generosamente. Se o dom é liderar, que lidere com zelo. Se o dom é misericórdia, que exerça misericórdia com alegria.

⁹ Que o amor seja sem hipocrisia. Odiai o mal; apegai-vos ao que é bom. ¹⁰ Quanto ao amor fraternal, sede afetuosos uns para com os outros. Quanto à honra, respeitai-vos uns aos outros.

¹¹ Quanto ao zelo, não sejais descuidados. Sede fervorosos no espírito, servindo ao Senhor. ¹² Alegrai-vos na esperança que tendes no futuro. Sede pacientes nas tribulações. Orai constantemente. ¹³ Compartilhai as necessidades dos santos e sede hospitaleiros.

¹⁴ Abençoai os que vos perseguem; abençoai e não amaldiçoeis. ¹⁵ Alegrai-vos com os que se alegram; chorai com os que choram. ¹⁶ Tende o mesmo sentimento uns para com os outros. Não penseis de maneira orgulhosa, mas aceitai as pessoas humildes. Não sejais sábios aos vossos próprios olhos.

¹⁷ A ninguém pagueis mal por mal. Fazei o que é bom à vista de todos. ¹⁸ Se for possível, no que depender de vós, tende paz com todos.

¹⁹ Amados, não vos vingueis a vós mesmos, mas dai lugar à ira de Deus. Porque está escrito: "'A vingança pertence a Mim; Eu retribuirei'. diz o Senhor". ²⁰ "Mas se o teu inimigo tiver fome, dá-lhe de comer. Se ele tiver sede, dá-lhe de beber. Porque se fizeres isso, tu amontoarás brasas de fogo sobre a cabeça dele". ²¹ Não te deixes vencer pelo mal, mas vence o mal com o bem.

Capítulo 13

¹ Que toda pessoa seja obediente às autoridades superiores, porque não há autoridade, a menos que esta venha de Deus; e as que existem foram designadas por Deus. ² Portanto, aquele que resiste à autoridade se opõe à ordem de Deus; e aqueles que se opõem a ela receberão julgamento sobre si mesmos.

³ Pois os governantes não são um terror para as boas obras, mas para as más obras. Não queres ter medo da autoridade? Faze o que é bom, e terás sua aprovação. ⁴ Porque ela é uma serva de Deus para o teu bem. Mas, se fizeres o que é mal, teme, porque ela não carrega espada sem razão; pois é uma serva de Deus, uma vingadora para ira contra aquele que pratica o mal. ⁵ Portanto, deves obedecer, não apenas por causa da ira, mas também por causa da consciência.

⁶ Por isso, pagas tributos também. Porque as autoridades são servas de Deus, que se dedicam a todas essas coisas. ⁷ Paga a todos o que lhes é devido: a quem tributo, tributo; a quem imposto, imposto; a quem temor, temor; a quem honra, honra.

⁸ Não devas a ninguém coisa alguma, exceto o amor uns pelos outros. Porque aquele que ama seu próximo tem cumprido a lei. ⁹ Os mandamentos: "Não cometerás adultério", "Não matarás", "Não roubarás", "Não cobiçarás", e se há qualquer outro mandamento também, tudo é resumido na seguinte ordem: "Amarás o teu próximo como a ti mesmo". ¹⁰ O amor não causa dano ao seu próximo. Portanto, o amor é o cumprimento da lei.

¹¹ Por causa disso, tu conheces o tempo, que já é hora de despertardes do sono. Pois agora nossa salvação está mais próxima do que quando cremos no princípio. ¹² A noite está avançada, e o dia vem se aproximando. Vamos, portanto, deixar as obras das trevas, e nos vestir das armas da luz.

¹³ Vamos andar de maneira digna, como em pleno dia; não em orgias ou bebedeiras; não em imoralidade sexual ou depravação; não em contendas ou invejas. ¹⁴ Mas revesti-vos do Senhor Jesus Cristo, e não alimenteis a carne, nos seus desejos.

Capítulo 14

¹ Recebei aquele que é fraco na fé, mas sem julgar opiniões. ² Uma pessoa possui fé para comer qualquer coisa; outra, que é fraca, come apenas vegetais.

³ Aquele que come de tudo não despreze aquele que não come; e aquele que não come de tudo não julgue o que come, pois Deus o recebeu. ⁴ Quem és tu, que julgas um servo alheio? Diante de seu próprio mestre ele fica de pé ou cai. Mas ele ficará de pé, pois o Senhor é poderoso para firmá-lo.

⁵ Uma pessoa considera um dia mais importante que outro; outra considera os dias iguais. Deixemos que cada pessoa esteja convicta em sua própria mente. ⁶ Aquele que observa o dia, observa-o para o Senhor; e aquele que come, come para o Senhor, pois dá graças a Deus. Quem não come, por causa do Senhor não come, e também dá graças a Deus.

⁷ Porque nenhum de nós vive para si, e ninguém morre para si. ⁸ Pois se vivemos, vivemos para o Senhor, e se morremos, morremos para o Senhor. Logo, vivendo ou morrendo, somos do Senhor. ⁹ Porque, para este propósito, Cristo morreu e reviveu, para que possa ser Senhor tanto dos mortos quanto dos vivos.

¹⁰ Mas tu, por que julgas teu irmão? E tu, por que desprezas teu irmão? Pois todos estaremos diante do tribunal de Deus. ¹¹ Pois está escrito: "Tão certo como Eu vivo," diz o Senhor, "a Mim todo joelho se dobrará, e toda língua dará louvores a Deus."

¹² Assim, cada um de nós dará contas de si mesmo a Deus. ¹³ Portanto não julguemos mais uns aos outros; mas, ao invés disso, seja do vosso propósito que ninguém coloque um obstáculo ou armadilha diante de seu irmão.

¹⁴ Eu sei e estou certo no Senhor Jesus de que nada por si mesmo é impuro, exceto para aquele que considera qualquer coisa impura; para ele é impuro. ¹⁵ Se, por causa de comida, teu irmão é entristecido, não estás mais caminhando no amor. Não destruas com tua comida aquele por quem Cristo morreu.

¹⁶ Então, não permitais que aquilo que considerais bom seja difamado. ¹⁷ Pois o reino de Deus não é sobre comida e bebida, mas sobre justiça, paz e a alegria no Espírito Santo.

¹⁸ Pois aquele que serve a Cristo desse modo é aceito por Deus, e aprovado pelas pessoas. ¹⁹ Então, busquemos as coisas da paz e as que edificam um ao outro.

²⁰ Não destruas o trabalho de Deus por causa de comida. Todas as coisas de fato são limpas, mas é errado para a pessoa que come causar tropeço. ²¹ É melhor não comer carne, nem beber vinho, nem qualquer coisa que faça teu irmão tropeçar.

²² Guarda entre ti e Deus o que crês a respeito disso. Abençoado é aquele que não se condena naquilo que aprova. ²³ Aquele que duvida é condenado se comer, porque não é segundo a fé; e o que não provém da fé é pecado.

Capítulo 15

¹ Agora nós, que somos fortes, devemos suportar as fraquezas dos fracos e não devemos agradar a nós mesmos. ² Que cada um de nós agrade ao seu vizinho, pois isso é bom para a edificação dele.

³ Pois também Cristo não agradou a Si mesmo; mas, como está escrito: "Os insultos daqueles que te insultaram caíram sobre mim." ⁴ Pois o que foi escrito anteriormente foi escrito para a nossa instrução, com o objetivo de que, através da paciência e do encorajamento das Escrituras, possamos ter confiança.

⁵ Que o Deus da paciência e do encorajamento vos conceda permanecer com a mesma mente, uns para com os outros, de acordo com Cristo Jesus, ⁶ para que possais adorar a uma só voz o Deus e Pai de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo. ⁷ Portanto acolhei uns aos outros, como Cristo também vos acolheu, para a glória de Deus.

⁸ Pois digo que Cristo foi feito um ministro da circuncisão em favor da verdade de Deus, para confirmar as promessas dadas aos patriarcas, ⁹ e para os gentios glorificarem a Deus pela Sua misericórdia. Assim como está escrito: "Então confessarei a Ti no meio dos gentios, e cantarei louvores ao Teu Nome."

¹⁰ E de novo diz: "Alegrai-vos, gentios, com os povos Dele." ¹¹ E novamente diz: "Louvai ao Senhor, todos vós, gentios; louvai-O, todos os povos."

¹² E ainda Isaías diz: "Brotará a raiz de Jessé, e o que Se levanta para governar sobre os gentios. Nele, os gentios confiarão."

¹³ Agora, que o Deus da esperança vos encha com toda a alegria e paz no que credes, para que possais transbordar de esperança pelo poder do Espírito Santo.

¹⁴ Eu mesmo também estou convencido de que vós, meus irmãos, também estais cheios de bondade e de todo conhecimento. Estou convencido de que sois capazes também de exortar uns aos outros.

¹⁵ Porém vos escrevi mais ousadamente sobre algumas coisas com o objetivo de lembrar-vos novamente, por causa do dom que foi me dado por Deus, ¹⁶ para ser um servo de Cristo Jesus enviado aos gentios, para me oferecer como um sacerdote do Evangelho de Deus. Devo fazer isso, então, para que a oferta dos gentios possa tornar-se aceitável, santificada pelo Espírito Santo.

¹⁷ Tenho, então, orgulho em Cristo Jesus nas coisas pertinentes a Deus. ¹⁸ Assim, não ousarei falar nada, exceto o que Cristo realizou por meu intermédio para a obediência dos gentios, por palavras e por obras, ¹⁹ pelo poder de sinais e maravilhas, pelo poder do Espírito Santo; de forma que, de Jerusalém e arredores até o Ilírico, eu tenha anunciado completamente o Evangelho de Cristo.

²⁰ Desse modo, meu desejo tem sido de proclamar o Evangelho, mas não onde Cristo já foi anunciado, para que eu possa construir não em cima de fundação alheia. ²¹ Assim, como está escrito: "Aqueles a quem não foi anunciado O verão, e aqueles que não escutaram entenderão."

²² Por isso, também fui impedido muitas vezes de ir até vós. ²³ Mas agora, já não tendo mais nenhum lugar nessas regiões e tendo ansiado por tantos anos visitar-vos,

²⁴ então, quando eu for para a Espanha, espero ver-vos de passagem e ser encaminhado por vós, depois de aproveitar de vossa companhia por um tempo. ²⁵ Mas agora, estou indo para Jerusalém para servir os santos.

²⁶ Pois a Macedônia e a Acaia tiveram prazer em fazer uma certa contribuição para os pobres dentre os santos em Jerusalém. ²⁷ Decidiram assim porque, de fato, eles são devedores; pois, se os gentios compartilharam das coisas espirituais com eles, devem também servir-los nas coisas materiais.

²⁸ Então, quando eu tiver completado essa tarefa, e tiver certeza de que eles receberam essa oferta, passando por vós, irei à Espanha. ²⁹ Eu sei que, quando for até vós, irei na plenitude das bênçãos de Cristo.

³⁰ E a vós, irmãos, peço, pelo nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, e pelo amor do Espírito, que luteis juntamente comigo nas vossas orações a Deus por mim. ³¹ Ore para que eu possa ser resgatado daqueles que são desobedientes na Judeia, e que meu serviço por Jerusalém seja aceitável aos santos, ³² para que possa ir até vós em alegria, pela vontade de Deus, e que possa, juntamente convosco, achar descanso.

³³ Que a paz de Deus esteja com todos vós. Amém!

Capítulo 16

¹ Eu vos recomendo nossa irmã Febe, serva da igreja que está em Cencreia, ² para que possais recebê-la no Senhor, de uma maneira digna dos santos, e que a ajudeis em qualquer coisa que ela possa precisar de vós. Pois ela mesma tornou-se uma ajudante de muitos, inclusive de mim.

³ Cumprimentai Priscila e Áquila, meus companheiros de trabalho em Jesus Cristo, ⁴ que por minha vida arriscaram suas próprias vidas. Eu os agradeço, e não apenas eu, mas também todas as igrejas dos gentios. ⁵ Cumprimentai a igreja que está na casa deles. Cumprimentai meu amado Epêneto, o primeiro fruto da Ásia para Cristo.

⁶ Cumprimentai Maria, que trabalhou arduamente por vós. ⁷ Cumprimentai Andrônico e Júnias, meus parentes e companheiros de prisão, que são proeminentes entre os apóstolos, que também estavam em Cristo antes de mim. ⁸ Cumprimentai Amplíato, meu amado no Senhor.

⁹ Cumprimentai Urbano, nosso companheiro de trabalho em Cristo, e meu amado Estáquis. ¹⁰ Cumprimentai Apeles, o aprovado em Cristo. Cumprimentai aqueles que são da família de Aristóbulo. ¹¹ Cumprimentai meu parente Herodião. Cumprimentai aqueles da família de Narciso, que estão no Senhor.

¹² Cumprimentai Trifena e Trifosa, que trabalham arduamente no Senhor. Cumprimentai a amada Pérside, que trabalhou muito no Senhor. ¹³ Cumprimentai Rufo, escolhido pelo Senhor, e a mãe dele e minha. ¹⁴ Cumprimentai Asíncrito, Flegonte, Hermes, Pátrobas, Hermas e os irmãos que estão com eles.

¹⁵ Cumprimentai Filólogo e Júlia, Nereu e sua irmã, Olimpas e todos os santos que estão com eles. ¹⁶ Cumprimentai-vos uns aos outros com um beijo santo. Todas as igrejas de Cristo vos cumprimentam.

¹⁷ Agora, insisto convosco, irmãos, que penseis sobre aqueles que estão causando divisões e tropeços, que vão além do ensinamento que aprendestes. Afastai-vos deles. ¹⁸ Pois pessoas como essas não servem ao nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, mas a seus próprios ventres. Com suas palavras doces e bajulantes, eles enganam os corações dos inocentes.

¹⁹ Pois vosso exemplo de obediência alcança a todos. Eu me alegro, portanto, em vós, mas quero que sejais sábios em relação ao bem, e puros em relação ao mal. ²⁰ O Deus da paz em breve esmagará Satanás debaixo dos vossos pés. Que a graça de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo esteja convosco.

²¹ Timóteo, meu companheiro de trabalho, cumprimenta-vos; bem como meus parentes Lúcio, Jasão e Sosípatro. ²² Eu, Tércio, que escrevo esta carta, cumprimento-vos no Senhor.

²³ Gaio, hospedeiro para mim e para toda igreja, vos cumprimenta. Erasto, o tesoureiro da cidade, e também o irmão Quarto, cumprimentam-vos. ²⁴ ¹

²⁵ Agora, Àquele que é capaz de fazer-vos ficar de pé, de acordo com o meu Evangelho e com a pregação de Jesus Cristo, segundo a revelação do mistério guardado em segredo desde há muito tempo atrás, ²⁶ mas que agora foi revelado, e tornou-se conhecido a todas as nações pelas Escrituras proféticas, segundo o mandamento do Deus eterno, para a obediência da fé.

²⁷ Ao único e sábio Deus, por meio de Jesus Cristo, seja glória para sempre. Amém.

¹Que a graça de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo esteja com todos vós. Amém. (As melhores cópias antigas omitem este verso)

1 Corinthians

Capítulo 1

¹ Paulo, chamado por Jesus Cristo para ser um apóstolo pela vontade de Deus, e Sóstenes nosso irmão, ² para a igreja de Deus em Corinto, àqueles que foram santificados em Jesus Cristo, chamados para ser um povo santo. Nós também escrevemos para todos os chamados no nome do nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo em todo lugar, Senhor deles e nosso. ³ Que graça e paz sejam convosco da parte de Deus nosso Pai e do Senhor Jesus Cristo.

⁴ Sempre dou graças ao meu Deus por vós, por causa da graça de Deus que Jesus Cristo vos deu. ⁵ Ele vos tem feito ricos em tudo, em toda a palavra e com todo o conhecimento, ⁶ assim como o testemunho de Cristo foi confirmado como verdade entre vós.

⁷ De modo que não vos falta nenhum dom espiritual, enquanto ansiosamente esperais pela revelação de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo. ⁸ Ele também vos fortalecerá para o final, para serdes irrepreensíveis no dia do nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo. ⁹ Deus é fiel, o qual vos chamou na comunhão de Seu filho, Jesus Cristo, nosso Senhor.

¹⁰ Agora rogo-vos irmãos em nome de nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo, que vivais em harmonia uns com os outros, e que não haja divisões entre vós. Rogo-vos que estejais unidos com o mesmo pensamento e pelo mesmo propósito. ¹¹ Pois ficou claro para mim, meus irmãos, pelo que me disse a família de Cloé, que há divisões entre vós.

¹² Refiro-me ao que cada um de vós diz: "Eu sou de Paulo", ou "Eu sou de Apolo", ou "Eu sou de Cefas", ou "Eu sou de Cristo". ¹³ Está Cristo dividido? Foi Paulo crucificado por vós? Fostes batizados em nome de Paulo?

¹⁴ Agradeço a Deus por não ter batizado nenhum de vós, exceto Crispo e Gaio. ¹⁵ Para que ninguém diga que fostes batizados em meu nome. ¹⁶ Também batizei a casa de Estéfanas. Além destes, eu não sei se batizei algum outro.

¹⁷ Porque Cristo não me enviou para batizar, mas para pregar o evangelho. Não com palavras de sabedoria humana, para que a cruz de Cristo não seja anulada.

¹⁸ Pois a mensagem sobre a cruz é loucura para aqueles que estão se perdendo. Mas entre aqueles que Deus está salvando, é o poder de Deus. ¹⁹ Pois está escrito: "Destruirei a sabedoria dos sábios e frustrarei a inteligência dos instruídos".

²⁰ Onde está o sábio? Onde está o estudioso? Onde está o argumentador deste mundo? Deus não tornou a sabedoria do mundo em loucura? ²¹ Visto que o mundo, em sua sabedoria, não conheceu a Deus, aprouve a Deus através da loucura da pregação salvar aqueles que creem.

²² Porque os judeus pedem por milagres e os gregos buscam sabedoria. ²³ Mas nós pregamos a Cristo crucificado, escândalo para os judeus e loucura para os gentios.

²⁴ Mas para aqueles a quem Deus chamou, tanto judeus quanto gregos, nós pregamos a Cristo, poder e sabedoria de Deus. ²⁵ Porque a loucura de Deus é mais sábia do que os homens, e a fraqueza de Deus é mais forte do que os homens.

²⁶ Olhai para o vosso chamado, irmãos. Não muitos de vós ereis sábios segundo os padrões humanos, nem muitos ereis poderosos, nem muitos ereis de nobre nascimento. ²⁷ Mas Deus escolheu as coisas loucas do mundo para envergonhar os sábios; e escolheu o que é fraco no mundo para envergonhar o que é forte.

²⁸ Deus escolheu o que é humilde e desprezado no mundo, e escolheu as coisas que são consideradas como nada, para reduzir a nada as coisas que são tidas como valiosas. ²⁹ Ele fez isso para que ninguém tivesse motivo de se gloriar diante Dele.

³⁰ Mas vós estais em Cristo Jesus por causa do que Deus fez. Ele se tornou para nós sabedoria de Deus, justiça, santificação e redenção. ³¹ Por isso as escrituras dizem: "Aquele que se gloria, glorie-se no Senhor".

Capítulo 2

¹ Quando eu vim a vós, irmãos, não vim com eloquência de discurso ou sabedoria, como se tivesse proclamado os mistérios ocultos sobre Deus. ¹ ² Pois decidi não saber nada quando eu estava entre vós, exceto Jesus Cristo, e Ele crucificado.

³ E eu estava convosco em fraqueza, em medo e em muito tremor. ⁴ E minha palavra e a minha proclamação não foram com palavras persuasivas de sabedoria. Em vez disso, foram com demonstração do Espírito e de poder, ⁵ de forma que a vossa fé não esteja na sabedoria humana, mas no poder de Deus.

⁶ Agora, nós falamos com sabedoria entre os maduros, mas não a sabedoria deste mundo, ou a dos governantes desta era, que estão decaindo. ⁷ Mas falamos com a sabedoria de Deus em verdades ocultas, a sabedoria oculta, a qual Deus predestinou antes das eras para nossa glória.

⁸ Nenhum dos governantes desta era conheceu essa sabedoria, pois se a tivessem conhecido naquele tempo, eles não teriam crucificado o Senhor da glória. ⁹ Mas como está escrito: "As coisas que nenhum olho viu, nenhum ouvido ouviu, nenhuma mente imaginou, são as coisas que Deus preparou para aqueles que o amam".

¹⁰ Estas são as coisas que Deus revelou para nós através do Espírito. Pois o Espírito examina tudo, até as coisas profundas de Deus. ¹¹ Pois quem conhece os pensamentos de uma pessoa a não ser o espírito da pessoa que nele está? Assim também, ninguém conhece as coisas profundas de Deus a não ser o Espírito de Deus.

¹² Mas nós não recebemos o espírito do mundo, e sim o Espírito que é de Deus, para que possamos conhecer as coisas livremente dadas a nós por Deus. ¹³ Nós falamos sobre essas coisas em palavras que a sabedoria do homem não pode ensinar, mas que o Espírito nos ensina. O Espírito interpreta palavras espirituais com sabedoria espiritual.

¹⁴ Quem não é espiritual não recebe as coisas que pertencem ao Espírito de Deus, pois são loucura para ele. E não pode conhecê-las porque são discernidas espiritualmente. ¹⁵ Quem é espiritual julga todas as coisas, mas ele não está sujeito ao julgamento de outros. ¹⁶ "Pois quem pode conhecer a mente do Senhor, que possa instruí-Lo?" Mas nós temos a mente de Cristo.

¹(Muitas outras versões trazem:) como eu proclamei o testemunho sobre Deus.

Capítulo 3

¹ Irmãos, eu não vos pude falar como a pessoas espirituais, mas como a pessoas carnais, como a crianças em Cristo. ² Eu vos alimentei com leite, não com alimento sólido, porque não estáveis prontos. E, mesmo agora, não estais.

³ Pois vós continuais carnais. Porque, se existe ciúme e contenda entre vós, não estais vivendo de acordo com a carne e andando por padrões humanos? ⁴ Porque, quando alguém diz: "Eu sigo Paulo," e outro diz: "Eu sigo Apolo", não estais vós vivendo segundo o homem? ⁵ Quem então é Apolo? E quem é Paulo? Servos por meio dos quais acreditastes, conforme a tarefa que o Senhor deu a cada um.

⁶ Eu plantei, Apolo regou, mas Deus deu o crescimento. ⁷ Então, nem o que planta, nem o que rega são nada. Mas é Deus quem dá o crescimento.

⁸ Agora, o que planta e o que rega são um, e cada um receberá sua recompensa de acordo com seu próprio trabalho. ⁹ Porque somos cooperadores de Deus. Vós sois jardim e edifício de Deus.

¹⁰ De acordo com a graça de Deus que me foi dada como um sábio construtor, eu lancei a fundação, e outro constrói sobre ela. Mas que cada homem cuide da maneira como constrói sobre ela. ¹¹ Porque não se pode lançar outra fundação senão a que já foi lançada, que é Jesus Cristo.

¹² Agora, se alguém constrói sobre a fundação com ouro, prata, pedras preciosas, madeira, feno ou palha, ¹³ sua obra será revelada, pois a luz do dia irá revelar. Porque será revelada no fogo; o fogo testará a qualidade do que cada um fez.

¹⁴ Se a obra de alguém permanecer, este receberá recompensa. ¹⁵ Mas, se a obra de alguém for queimada, sofrerá perda. Este será salvo, mas como que escapando pelo fogo.

¹⁶ Não sabeis que sois templo de Deus e que o Espírito de Deus vive em vós? ¹⁷ Se alguém destrói o templo de Deus, Deus o destruirá. Porque o templo de Deus, que sois vós, é santo.

¹⁸ Que ninguém engane a si mesmo. Se alguém entre vós pensa que é sábio neste tempo, que se torne um "tolo", para que ele possa se tornar sábio. ¹⁹ Porque a sabedoria deste mundo é tolice para Deus. Pois está escrito: "Ele apanha o sábio em sua astúcia". ²⁰ E novamente: "O Senhor sabe que o pensamento dos sábios é fútil".

²¹ Então não mais se orgulhem nas pessoas! Porque todas as coisas são vossas, ²² seja Paulo, ou Apolo, ou Cefas, ou o mundo, ou a vida, ou a morte, ou coisas do presente, ou coisas do futuro. Tudo é vosso ²³ e vós sois de Cristo, e Cristo é de Deus.

Capítulo 4

¹ É assim que uma pessoa deveria nos considerar, como servos de Cristo e administradores dos mistérios de Deus. ² Nesse sentido, é um requisito para os administradores que sejam dignos de confiança.

³ Mas para mim é insignificante que eu seja julgado por vós ou por qualquer tribunal humano. Pois, nem a mim mesmo julgo. ⁴ Eu não estou consciente de nenhuma acusação sendo feita contra mim; mas isso não significa que eu seja inocente. É o Senhor quem me julga.

⁵ Portanto, não julgueis qualquer coisa antes do tempo, antes que venha o Senhor. Ele trará à luz as coisas ocultas da escuridão, e revelará os propósitos do coração. Então, cada um receberá o seu louvor da parte de Deus.

⁶ Agora, irmãos, eu apliquei estes princípios a mim mesmo e a Apolo por causa de vós, para que aprendais conosco: "Não vades além do que está escrito"; assim, ninguém fica se orgulhando a favor de um e desprezando ao outro. ⁷ Pois, quem vê alguma diferença entre vós e os outros? O que tendes que não recebestes gratuitamente? Se o recebestes gratuitamente, por que vos gloriais como se não tivesseis recebido?

⁸ Vós já tendes tudo o que poderíeis querer! Já vos tornastes ricos! Começastes a reinar independente de nós! De fato, eu desejo que reinásseis, então poderíamos reinar convosco. ⁹ Pois penso que Deus expôs a nós, os apóstolos, em último lugar, e como homens sentenciados à morte. Nós temos nos tornado um espetáculo ao mundo, aos anjos e aos homens.

¹⁰ Nós somos loucos por causa de Cristo, mas vós sois sábios em Cristo. Nós somos fracos, mas vós sois fortes. Vós sois considerados em honra, mas nós somos considerados em desonra. ¹¹ Até a presente hora, estamos famintos e sedentos, estamos miseravelmente vestidos, somos brutalmente espancados, e não temos casa.

¹² Trabalhamos duro, com as próprias mãos. Quando somos ofendidos, nós bendizemos. Quando somos perseguidos, nós aguentamos. ¹³ Quando somos caluniados, nós falamos com bondade. Nós nos tornamos, e ainda somos considerados, o lixo do mundo e imundícia de todos.

¹⁴ Eu não escrevo essas coisas para vos envergonhar, mas para corrigir-vos como meus filhos amados. ¹⁵ Pois, mesmo que tenhais dez mil instrutores em Cristo, não tendes muitos pais. Pois, eu me tornei vosso pai em Cristo Jesus através do Evangelho. ¹⁶ Assim, insisto que sejais meus imitadores.

¹⁷ Por isso, vos envio Timóteo, meu amado e fiel filho no Senhor. Ele vos lembrará os meus caminhos em Cristo, assim como ensino em todo lugar e em cada igreja. ¹⁸ Alguns de vós vos tornastes arrogantes, agindo como se eu não estivesse para ir visitar-vos.

¹⁹ Mas logo irei a vós, se o Senhor quiser. Então conhecerei não meramente o discurso desses que são tão arrogantes, mas verei o poder deles. ²⁰ Pois o reino de Deus não consiste em palavra, mas em poder. ²¹ O que quereis? Irei a vós com uma vara ou com amor e espírito de gentileza?

Capítulo 5

¹ Nós ouvimos a notícia de que há imoralidade sexual entre vós, um tipo de imoralidade que nem mesmo é permitida entre os gentios. A notícia é que um de vós está dormindo com a esposa de seu pai. ² Sois tão arrogantes! Em vez disso, não deveríeis vos lamentar? Quem fez isso deve ser removido de entre vós!

³ Pois, apesar de eu estar ausente em corpo, mas ainda presente em espírito, já julguei aquele que fez isso, como se eu estivesse aí. ⁴ Quando vos reunirdes no Nome de nosso Senhor Jesus, e meu espírito estando aí também no poder de nosso Senhor Jesus, ⁵ entregai esse homem a Satanás para a destruição da carne, assim então seu espírito poderá ser salvo no dia do Senhor.

⁶ O vosso orgulho não é bom. Não sabeis que um pouco de fermento leveda toda a massa? ⁷ Purificai-vos do velho fermento para que sejais uma nova massa, assim como sois agora, pães não levedados. Pois Cristo, nosso Cordeiro Pascal, foi sacrificado. ⁸ Assim, celebremos a festa, não com fermento velho, o fermento do mau comportamento e da maldade, mas com o pão não levedado da sinceridade e da verdade.

⁹ Eu vos escrevi com minha letra para não vos associardes com pessoas sexualmente imorais. ¹⁰ De maneira nenhuma me refiro às pessoas imorais deste mundo, ou aos gananciosos, aos trapaceiros ou aos idólatras, uma vez que para estar longe deles precisaríeis sair do mundo.

¹¹ Mas agora estou vos escrevendo para não vos associardes a ninguém que é chamado de irmão, mas que está vivendo em imoralidade sexual, ou que é ganancioso, ou é um idólatra, ou é caluniador, ou é um beberrão ou um trapaceiro. Nem mesmo comais uma refeição com tal pessoa. ¹² Pois, como posso estar envolvido com o julgamento daqueles que são de fora da igreja? Em vez disso, não julgais aqueles que estão dentro da igreja? ¹³ Mas Deus julga aqueles que estão fora: "Remova a pessoa má de entre vós".

Capítulo 6

¹ Quando um de vós tem uma disputa contra outro irmão, como se atreve a ir ao tribunal perante os juízes incrédulos e não perante os santos? ² Vós não sabeis que os santos julgarão o mundo? E, se vós julgareis o mundo, não sois capazes de resolver questões de pouca importância? ³ Não sabeis que julgaremos os anjos? Quanto mais as coisas pertencentes a esta vida!

⁴ Portanto, se vós tendes que fazer julgamentos sobre coisas normais da vida, por que colocais tais casos diante daqueles que não têm aceitação na igreja? ⁵ Eu falo isso para vossa vergonha. Não há alguém entre vós sábio o suficiente para resolver a disputa entre irmãos? ⁶ No entanto, um crente vai para o tribunal contra outro crente, e isso é colocado diante de um juiz incrédulo!

⁷ O fato de existir disputas judiciais entre cristãos já é uma derrota para vós. Porque não sofreis o mal? Porque não permitis a vós mesmos serdes traídos? ⁸ Mas vós tendes feito o mal e traído uns aos outros, sendo estes vossos próprios irmãos!

⁹ Não sabeis vós que os injustos não herdarão o Reino de Deus? Não vos enganeis: os sexualmente imorais, os idólatras, os adúlteros, os efeminados, e os homens que mantêm relação sexual com outros homens, ¹⁰ os ladrões, os gulosos, os bêbados, os difamadores e os roubadores, nenhum deles herdará o reino de Deus. ¹¹ Tais fostes alguns de vós. Mas vós fostes lavados, santificados e justificados com Deus no nome do Senhor Jesus Cristo e pelo Espírito de nosso Deus.

¹² "Todas as coisas são lícitas para mim", mas nem tudo me convém. "Todas as coisas são legítimas para mim", mas eu não serei dominado por nenhuma delas. ¹³ "Os alimentos são para o estômago, e o estômago é para os alimentos", mas Deus destruirá a ambos. O corpo não é para imoralidade sexual, porém para o Senhor, e o Senhor para o corpo.

¹⁴ Deus ressuscitou o Senhor e também nos ressuscitará pelo Seu poder. ¹⁵ Vós não sabeis que vossos corpos são membros de Cristo? Porventura tomaria os membros de Cristo e os associaria a uma prostituta? Claro que não!

¹⁶ Não sabeis que quem se une a uma prostituta torna-se um corpo com ela? Como diz a escritura: "Os dois se tornarão uma só carne." ¹⁷ Todavia, quem se une ao Senhor torna-se um espírito com Ele.

¹⁸ Fugi da imoralidade sexual! Qualquer outro pecado que uma pessoa comete é fora do corpo, mas a pessoa sexualmente imoral peca contra seu próprio corpo.

¹⁹ Não sabeis que vossos corpos são templo do Espírito Santo, que mora em vós, os quais recebestes da parte de Deus, e que não sois de vós mesmos? ²⁰ Pois, fostes comprados por um preço. Portanto, glorificai a Deus em vossos corpos.

Capítulo 7

¹ Com relação às coisas que escrevestes: "É bom para o homem não tocar em mulher". ² Mas, por causa dos atos imorais e das tentações, cada homem deve ter a sua própria esposa, e cada mulher deve ter o seu próprio marido.

³ O marido deve dar para a esposa os seus direitos conjugais; e, do mesmo modo, a esposa para com o marido. ⁴ Não é a esposa que tem autoridade sobre seu próprio corpo, e sim, o marido. Da mesma forma, não é o marido que tem autoridade sobre seu próprio corpo, mas a esposa.

⁵ Não vos priveis um ao outro, exceto quando houver concordância mútua e por um período de tempo específico, para que possam se dedicar à oração. Então, depois disso, uni-vos novamente. Assim, Satanás não vos tentará por causa da falta de controle. ⁶ Porém eu vos digo estas coisas como concessão e não como uma ordem. ⁷ Eu gostaria que todos fôsseis como eu; todavia cada um tem seu próprio dom de Deus, um de um tipo e outro de outro.

⁸ Digo aos não casados e às viúvas que é bom que permaneçam sem se casar assim como eu. ⁹ Mas, se eles não podem exercer autocontrole, devem se casar. Pois é melhor que se casem do que arderem em paixão.

¹⁰ Agora para os casados dou esta ordem, não eu, mas o Senhor: "a esposa não deve se separar de seu marido". ¹¹ Mas se ela se separar do seu marido, deverá permanecer sem se casar, ou que se reconcilie com ele. Assim como "o marido não deve se separar da sua esposa".

¹² Mas, para os demais, digo eu, não o Senhor, que se algum irmão tem uma esposa descrente e se ela está contente de viver com ele, ele não deve se separar. ¹³ Se uma mulher tem um marido descrente e ele está contente em viver com ela, ela não deve se separar. ¹⁴ Pois o marido descrente é santificado por causa da sua esposa, e a mulher descrente é santificada porque o seu marido é crente. Caso contrário, os seus filhos poderiam ser impuros, quando na realidade são santos.

¹⁵ Mas, se o companheiro não cristão partir, deixa-o ir. Nesses casos, o irmão ou a irmã não estão presos aos seus votos. Deus nos chamou para viver em paz. ¹⁶ Pois, como sabes, mulher, se vais salvar o teu marido? Ou como sabes, homem, se vais salvar tua esposa?

¹⁷ Somente viva cada um a vida que o Senhor lhe designou e para a qual lhe chamou. Esta é a minha ordenança em todas as igrejas. ¹⁸ Era alguém circuncidado quando foi chamado a crer? Ele não deve tentar esconder a marca da circuncisão. Era alguém incircunciso quando Deus o chamou à fé? Ele não deve ser circuncidado. ¹⁹ Por isso, nem a circuncisão nem a incircuncisão importam. O que importa é obedecer as ordens de Deus.

²⁰ Cada um permaneça no chamado em que estava quando Deus o chamou para crer. ²¹ Eras tu um escravo quando Deus te chamou? Não te preocupes com isso. Mas se te tornares livre, fazes bem. ²² Para alguém que é chamado pelo Senhor como escravo, este é um homem livre para o Senhor. Do mesmo modo, aquele que é livre quando foi chamado a crer, é escravo de Cristo. ²³ Vós fostes comprados por um preço, não vos torneis escravos dos homens. ²⁴ Irmãos, assim como cada um de nós éramos quando fomos chamados a crer, vamos permanecer assim.

²⁵ Agora, em relação àqueles que nunca foram casados, eu não tenho uma ordem do Senhor. Todavia dou minha opinião como alguém que, pela misericórdia do Senhor, é confiável. ²⁶ Portanto eu penso que, por causa das angústias presentes, é bom para um homem permanecer como ele está.

²⁷ Tu estás comprometido com uma mulher? Não tentes te livrar dela. Estás livre de uma esposa? Não procures uma. ²⁸ Mas se casares, não cometes um pecado. E se uma mulher solteira se casa, ela não comete pecado. Já aquele que se casa terá muitos tipos de problemas enquanto viver, e eu gostaria de te poupar disso.

²⁹ Mas, isto eu digo irmãos: o tempo é curto. De agora em diante, deixai aqueles que têm esposas viverem como se não as tivessem. ³⁰ Aqueles que choram como se não chorassem; os que se alegram, como se não se alegrassem; e os que compram, como se não tivessem posse de coisa alguma; ³¹ e os que negociam com o mundo, como se não negociassem; porque a presente forma deste mundo está chegando ao fim.

³² Eu gostaria que vós ficásseis livres de preocupações. O homem não casado está preocupado com as coisas do Senhor, em como agradar a Ele. ³³ Mas o homem casado está preocupado com coisas do mundo, em como agradar sua esposa. ³⁴ Ele está dividido. Assim também, a mulher não casada ou a virgem está preocupada com as coisas do Senhor, em como ser santa no corpo e no espírito. Mas a mulher casada está preocupada com as coisas do mundo, em como agradar seu marido.

³⁵ Eu digo isto para o vosso próprio benefício, e não para vos pressionar, mas o correto é que possais ser dedicados ao Senhor sem nenhuma distração.

³⁶ Mas se alguém pensa que não está tratando sua noiva virgem com respeito, e se ela está passando da idade de se casar, e se tiver que ser assim, faça o que quiser. Ele não peca; que se casem. ³⁷ Mas se ele está firme em seu coração e não está sob pressão, mas controla suas próprias vontades, e se decidiu em seu próprio coração fazer isso, manter sua própria noiva virgem, fará bem ³⁸ Então, aquele que casa com sua noiva virgem faz bem, e o que escolhe não casar, faz ainda melhor.

³⁹ Uma mulher está ligada ao seu marido enquanto ele viver. Mas, se o marido dela morrer, ela está livre para casar com quem ela desejar, mas somente no Senhor. ⁴⁰ Ainda em meu julgamento, ela seria mais feliz vivendo como está. E penso que também tenho o Espírito de Deus.

Capítulo 8

¹ Agora, sobre comida sacrificada aos ídolos, sabemos que "todos temos conhecimento". O conhecimento ensoberbece, mas o amor edifica. ² Se alguém pensa que sabe algo, essa pessoa ainda não sabe como deveria saber. ³ Mas se alguém ama a Deus, essa pessoa é conhecida por Ele.

⁴ Então, sobre comida sacrificada aos ídolos, sabemos que "um ídolo neste mundo não é nada", e "que não existe Deus a não ser o Deus único". ⁵ Pois existem os chamados deuses, seja no céu ou na terra, assim como há vários "deuses" e muitos "senhores". ⁶ Para nós, contudo, "existe apenas um Deus, o Pai, de quem são todas as coisas, e para quem vivemos, e um Senhor Jesus Cristo, por meio de quem todas as coisas existem, e por meio do qual existimos".

⁷ Contudo nem todos possuem esse conhecimento. Ao contrário, alguns anteriormente praticaram adoração a ídolos, e eles comem esse alimento como sendo algo sacrificado a um ídolo. Assim, a consciência deles está corrompida porque ela é fraca.

⁸ Mas não é a comida que nos apresentará diante de Deus. Nós não somos piores se não comemos, nem melhores se comemos. ⁹ Mas cuidai para que a vossa liberdade não se torne um motivo para fazer tropeçar quem seja fraco na fé. ¹⁰ Se alguém vir a vós, que tendes conhecimento, comendo uma refeição em um templo de ídolos, não estará sua fraca consciência encorajada a comer o que é oferecido a ídolos?

¹¹ Então, por causa do vosso entendimento sobre a verdadeira natureza dos ídolos, o mais fraco, o irmão pelo qual Cristo morreu, é destruído. ¹² Desse modo, quando pecais contra vossos irmãos, ferindo-lhes a fraca consciência, pecais contra Cristo. ¹³ Portanto, se o alimento faz meu irmão tropeçar, eu não comerei carne novamente, para não fazer meu irmão cair.

Capítulo 9

¹ Não sou livre? Não sou um apóstolo? Eu não vi a Jesus nosso Senhor? Vós não sois meu trabalho no Senhor? ² Se não sou um apóstolo para outros, ao menos o sou para vós, porque sois a prova do meu apostolado no Senhor.

³ Esta é a minha defesa para aqueles que me examinam. ⁴ Não temos nós o direito de comer e beber? ⁵ Não temos nós o direito de levar conosco uma esposa que seja crente, assim como fazem os demais apóstolos, e os irmãos do Senhor e Cefas? ⁶ Ou é apenas Barnabé e eu que devemos trabalhar?

⁷ Quem serve como um soldado às suas próprias custas? Quem planta uma vinha e não come de seus frutos? Ou quem cuida de um rebanho e não bebe de seu leite? ⁸ Digo isto baseado em autoridade humana? Não diz isso também a Lei?

⁹ Porque está escrito na Lei de Moisés: "Não atarás a boca do boi quando ele estiver pisando os grãos". É com os bois realmente que Deus Se importa? ¹⁰ Não está Ele falando sobre nós? Foi escrito para nós, porque quem ara a terra, deve arar com esperança, e o que debulha, deve debulhar com a confiança de compartilhar da colheita. ¹¹ Se semeamos coisas espirituais entre vós, seria demais colhermos coisas materiais de vós?

¹² Se outros exercem esse direito por meio de vós, não teríamos nós ainda mais? Não obstante, nós não reivindicamos esse direito, mas suportamos tudo ao invés de sermos um obstáculo para o Evangelho de Cristo. ¹³ Vós não sabeis que aqueles que servem no templo, recebem sua comida do templo? E aqueles que servem no altar repartem o que é oferecido no altar? ¹⁴ Do mesmo modo, o Senhor ordenou àqueles que proclamam o Evangelho que vivam do Evangelho.

¹⁵ Mas eu não reivindiquei nenhum desses direitos. E não escrevo isso para que algo seja feito por mim. Eu preferiria morrer a que alguém me retirasse esse orgulho. ¹⁶ Pois, se eu prego o Evangelho, não tenho razão para vanglória, porque tenho obrigação de fazer isso. E ai de mim se não pregar o Evangelho!

¹⁷ Porque, se de boa vontade eu faço isso, tenho uma recompensa; mas se não de boa vontade, ainda tenho uma responsabilidade que me foi confiada. ¹⁸ Qual então é a minha recompensa? Que quando eu pregue, eu possa oferecer o Evangelho sem custo, e então não faço uso de meu direito no Evangelho.

¹⁹ Porque mesmo eu sendo livre de tudo, tornei-me um servo de todos, a fim de que eu pudesse ganhar mais pessoas. ²⁰ Para os judeus, eu me tornei como um judeu, a fim de ganhar judeus. Àqueles sujeitos à Lei, me tornei como alguém sujeito à lei, a fim de ganhá-los pela Lei. ¹ .

²¹ Para os que estão sem lei, me tornei como sem lei, embora não estivesse sem a Lei de Deus, e sim sob a Lei de Cristo. Eu fiz isto para ganhar aqueles sem lei. ²² Para os fracos eu me tornei fraco, com o propósito de ganhar os fracos. Eu me tornei todas as coisas para todas as pessoas, para que possa, por todos os meios, salvar alguns. ²³ E eu faço todas as coisas por causa do Evangelho, de modo a participar das suas bênçãos.

²⁴ Não sabeis que em uma corrida todos correm a corrida, mas apenas um recebe o prêmio? Então, correi para ganhar o prêmio. ²⁵ Um atleta exercita autocontrole em todo seu treinamento. Eles fazem isso para receber uma coroa que é perecível, mas nós corremos para que possamos receber uma coroa imperecível. ²⁶ Portanto, não corro sem propósito, nem luto golpeando o ar; ²⁷ mas subjugo meu corpo e o faço um escravo, para que, após ter pregado para outros, eu mesmo não seja desqualificado.

¹Eu fiz isso, embora eu mesmo não estivesse sujeito à Lei (Algumas versões mais antigas não trazem essa passagem)

Capítulo 10

¹ Quero que saibais, irmãos, que os nossos pais estiveram todos debaixo da nuvem, e todos atravessaram o mar. ² Todos foram batizados por Moisés na nuvem e no mar, ³ e todos comeram a mesma comida espiritual, ⁴ e todos beberam a mesma bebida espiritual. Pois eles beberam de uma rocha espiritual que os acompanhava, e essa rocha era Cristo.

⁵ Entretanto, Deus não se agradou da maioria deles, e seus cadáveres foram esparramados pelo deserto. ⁶ Estas coisas são exemplos para nós, para que não desejemos fazer coisas más como eles fizeram.

⁷ Não sejais idólatras, como alguns deles foram. Como está escrito: "As pessoas se sentaram para comer e beber, e se levantaram para se divertir". ⁸ Não vamos cometer imoralidade sexual, como muitos deles fizeram, visto que, por causa disso, vinte e três mil pessoas morreram em um dia.

⁹ Nem coloquemos Cristo à prova, como muitos deles fizeram, e foram destruídos por serpentes. ¹⁰ Também não murmureis, como muitos deles fizeram, e foram destruídos por um anjo da morte.

¹¹ Ora, estas coisas aconteceram a eles como exemplo para nós. Elas foram escritas para nossa instrução - para nós, sobre os quais o fim dos tempos tem vindo. ¹² Portanto, qualquer um que pensa que está em pé tenha cuidado para que não caia. ¹³ Nenhuma tentação nos sobreveio que não seja comum a toda humanidade. Mas Deus é fiel. Ele não deixará que sejais tentados além de vossas capacidades, mas com a tentação Ele também providenciará a forma de escape, para que possais suportá-la.

¹⁴ Portanto, meus amados, fuji da idolatria. ¹⁵ Eu vos falo como a pessoas sensatas; assim, podeis julgar o que eu digo. ¹⁶ O cálice da bênção que nós abençoamos, não é o compartilhar do sangue de Cristo? O pão que nós partimos, não é o compartilhar do corpo de Cristo? ¹⁷ Porque há um só pão, nós que somos muitos somos um corpo. Todos nós participamos juntos de um só pão.

¹⁸ Olhai para o povo de Israel: não são aqueles que comem os sacrifícios participantes do altar? ¹⁹ O que estou dizendo então? Que um ídolo é alguma coisa? Ou que aquela comida sacrificada para um ídolo é alguma coisa?

²⁰ Mas eu digo que as coisas que os pagãos gentios sacrificam, eles oferecem estas coisas para demônios e não para Deus. Não quero que sejais participantes com demônios! ²¹ Vós não podeis beber o cálice do Senhor e o cálice dos demônios. Não podeis ter associação com a mesa do Senhor e a mesa dos demônios. ²² Ou vamos provocar o ciúme do Senhor? Nós seríamos mais fortes que Ele?

²³ "Todas as coisas são lícitas", mas nem todas são benéficas. "Todas as coisas são lícitas", mas nem todas edificam as pessoas. ²⁴ Ninguém deve procurar seu próprio bem. Em vez disso, cada um deve procurar o bem do seu próximo.

²⁵ Podeis comer qualquer coisa vendida no mercado, sem questões de consciência. ²⁶ Pois, a terra e a sua plenitude são de Deus. ²⁷ Se um não crente vos convidar para comer um alimento, e desejardes ir, comei tudo o que estiver preparado diante de vós, nada perguntando por questões de consciência.

²⁸ Mas se alguém disser: "Esta comida foi de um sacrifício pagão," não a comais. Isto é por causa daquele que vos informou, e por causa da consciência. ¹ ²⁹ Eu não digo da vossa própria consciência, mas a consciência da outra pessoa. Pois, por que minha liberdade deve ser julgada pela consciência do outro? ³⁰ Se eu partilho do alimento com gratidão, por que sou insultado por causa daquilo que dou graças?

³¹ Portanto, quer comais ou bebais, ou façais qualquer outra coisa, fazei tudo para a glória de Deus. ³² Não vos torneis motivo de tropeço a judeus ou a gregos, ou à igreja de Deus. ³³ Assim como eu tento agradar a todos em todas as coisas, não procurando meu benefício, mas o de muitos, para que eles possam ser salvos.

¹Pois a terra e tudo que há nela pertencem ao Senhor . (Algumas cópias mais antigas trazem esta passagem, mas as melhores cópias não a contém)

Capítulo 11

¹ Sede meus imitadores, assim como sou de Cristo. ² Agora, eu vos louvo porque vos lembrais de mim em tudo, e vos agarrastes às tradições exatamente como as entreguei a vós. ³ Agora, quero que entendais que Cristo é a cabeça de todo homem, que o homem é a cabeça da mulher, e que Deus é a cabeça de Cristo. ⁴ Qualquer homem que ora ou profetiza com sua cabeça coberta desonra sua cabeça.

⁵ Mas qualquer mulher que ora ou profetiza com sua cabeça descoberta desonra sua cabeça; pois é da mesma forma como se sua cabeça estivesse rapada. ⁶ Pois, se uma mulher não cobrir sua cabeça, ela deve cortar seu cabelo curto. Se é vergonhoso para a mulher ter seu cabelo cortado ou rapar sua cabeça, que ela cubra sua cabeça.

⁷ Pois um homem não deve ter sua cabeça coberta, já que ele é a imagem e glória de Deus. Mas a mulher é a glória do homem. ⁸ Pois, o homem não foi feito da mulher, mas a mulher foi feita do homem.

⁹ Pois também o homem não foi criado para a mulher; mas a mulher para o homem. ¹⁰ Por isso, a mulher deve ter um símbolo de autoridade na sua cabeça, por causa dos anjos.

¹¹ Entretanto, no Senhor, a mulher não é independente do homem, nem é o homem independente da mulher. ¹² Pois, assim como a mulher vem do homem, da mesma forma o homem vem da mulher. E todas as coisas vêm de Deus.

¹³ Julgai por vós mesmos: é adequado para uma mulher orar a Deus com sua cabeça descoberta? ¹⁴ A natureza por si mesma não vos ensina que, se um homem tem cabelo longo, é uma vergonha para ele? ¹⁵ A natureza não vos ensina que se uma mulher tiver cabelos compridos, isto é a sua glória? Pois seu cabelo lhe foi dado em lugar do véu. ¹⁶ Mas, se alguém quer causar contendas sobre isto, nós não temos tal prática, nem as igrejas de Deus.

¹⁷ Nas seguintes instruções, porém, eu não vos louvo, porque quando vos juntais, não é para melhor, mas para pior. ¹⁸ Assim, em primeiro lugar, eu ouvi que quando vos reunis na igreja, há divisões entre vós, e em parte acredito nisto. ¹⁹ Pois é preciso que haja facções entre vós, de tal forma que aqueles que são aprovados possam ser vistos.

²⁰ Pois, quando vos reunis, não é a ceia do Senhor que comeis. ²¹ Quando comeis, cada um come sua própria comida antes que os outros façam a sua refeição. Um está faminto, e outro fica bêbado. ²² Não tendes casas onde comer e beber? Vós ignorais a igreja de Deus e humilhais aqueles que nada têm? O que devo dizer-vos? Eu deveria vos parabenizar? Eu não vos parabenizo por isto!

²³ Porque eu recebi do Senhor o que também vos passei, que o Senhor Jesus, na noite em que Ele foi traído, tomou o pão; ²⁴ depois de ter dado graças, Ele o partiu e disse: "Este é o Meu corpo, que é para vós; fazei isto em memória de Mim".

²⁵ Da mesma forma, após a ceia, Ele pegou o cálice e disse: "Este cálice é a Nova Aliança do Meu sangue. Fazei isto, sempre que beberdes, em memória de Mim". ²⁶ Pois, toda vez que comerdes este pão e beberdes este cálice, proclamais a morte do Senhor, até que Ele venha.

²⁷ De sorte que, aquele que comer do pão ou beber do cálice do Senhor de maneira indigna será culpado do corpo e do sangue do Senhor. ²⁸ Que a pessoa examine-se a si mesmo primeiro, e assim coma do pão e beba do cálice. ²⁹ Pois aquele que come e bebe sem discernimento do corpo, come e bebe julgamento para si. ³⁰ Por isso há entre vós muitos fracos e doentes, e alguns que já morreram.

³¹ Mas se examinássemos a nós mesmos, não seríamos julgados. ³² Quando, porém, somos julgados pelo Senhor, somos disciplinados, para que não sejamos condenados juntamente com o mundo.

³³ Portanto, meus irmãos, quando vos juntardes para comer, aguardai uns aos outros. ³⁴ Se alguém está faminto, que coma em casa, de tal forma que quando vos juntardes não seja para julgamento. E sobre as outras coisas que vós escrevestes, darei instruções quando eu chegar.

Capítulo 12

¹ Sobre os dons espirituais, irmãos, eu não quero que sejais desinformados. ² Vós sabeis que quando éreis pagãos, éreis levados por ídolos mudos. ³ Portanto quero que saibais que ninguém que fala pelo Espírito de Deus pode dizer: "Jesus é maldito". E ninguém pode dizer: "Jesus é Senhor", senão pelo Espírito Santo.

⁴ Agora, há diferentes tipos de dons, mas o mesmo Espírito. ⁵ E há diferentes tipos de ministérios, mas o mesmo Senhor. ⁶ E há diferentes tipos de trabalhos, mas é o mesmo Deus quem os faz possível em todos.

⁷ A cada um é dada uma manifestação visível do Espírito para o benefício de todos. ⁸ Pois a um é dada pelo Espírito a palavra de sabedoria, e a outro a palavra de conhecimento pelo mesmo Espírito.

⁹ A outro é dado fé pelo mesmo Espírito, e a outro, dons de cura pelo mesmo Espírito, ¹⁰ e a outro, dons de poder, e a outro, profecia, a outro, a habilidade de discernir espíritos, e a outro, vários tipos de línguas, e a outro, a interpretação de línguas. ¹¹ Mas o mesmo Espírito trabalha em todos, dando os dons a cada um individualmente, como Ele quiser.

¹² Pois, como o corpo é um e tem muitos membros e todos são membros do mesmo corpo, assim é com Cristo. ¹³ Pois, em um só Espírito, todos fomos batizados em um só corpo: sejam judeus, sejam gregos; sejam presos, sejam livres; e todos foram feitos para beber de um único Espírito.

¹⁴ Porque o corpo não é um único membro, mas muitos. ¹⁵ Se os pés dizem: "Como eu não sou mão, eu não sou parte do corpo", eles não deixam de ser parte do corpo. ¹⁶ E se o ouvido disser: "Porque eu não sou olho, eu não sou parte do corpo", ele não deixa de ser parte do corpo. ¹⁷ Se todo o corpo fosse olho, onde estaria a audição? Se todo o corpo fosse ouvido, onde estaria o olfato?

¹⁸ Mas Deus arranjou cada parte do corpo como Ele designou. ¹⁹ E, se eles fossem todos o mesmo membro, onde estaria o corpo? ²⁰ Portanto há muitos membros, mas só um corpo.

²¹ O olho não pode dizer à mão: "eu não preciso de ti", nem a cabeça aos pés: "eu não preciso de vós". ²² Mas os membros do corpo que parecem ser mais fracos são essenciais. ²³ E as partes do corpo que nós pensamos ser menos honrosas, nós damos a elas maior honra, e os nossos membros indecorosos ganham mais dignidade. ²⁴ Agora nossos membros apresentáveis não têm necessidade de serem tratados com dignidade, pois eles já têm isso. Porém Deus coordenou todos os membros juntos, e Ele deu mais honra àqueles que têm falta dela.

²⁵ Ele fez isso assim para que não haja divisão no corpo, mas para que os membros cuidem uns dos outros com a mesma afeição. ²⁶ E, quando um membro sofre, todos os membros sofrem juntamente. Ou, quando um membro é honrado, todos os membros alegram-se juntamente. ²⁷ Portanto vós sois parte do corpo de Cristo e individualmente membros Dele.

²⁸ E Deus designou à igreja primeiro apóstolos, em segundo profetas, em terceiro mestres, depois operadores de milagres, depois dons de cura, aqueles que proveem socorros, aqueles que fazem trabalhos administrativos, e aqueles que têm vários dons de línguas. ²⁹ Somos todos apóstolos? Somos todos profetas? Somos todos mestres? Todos operamos milagres?

³⁰ Todos têm dons de cura? Todos falam em línguas? Todos interpretam línguas? ³¹ Procurai zelosamente os melhores dons. E eu vos mostrarei um caminho mais excelente.

Capítulo 13

¹ Mesmo que eu falasse as línguas dos homens e dos anjos, se eu não tivesse amor, seria como um sino que soa ou um címbalo que retine. ² Mesmo que eu tivesse o dom de profecia e entendesse todas as verdades escondidas e todo o conhecimento e tivesse toda a fé para remover montanhas, se não tivesse amor, eu não seria nada. ³ E se eu desse tudo o que possuo para alimentar os pobres e se eu desse o meu corpo para ser queimado, mas não tivesse amor, de nada adiantaria.

⁴ O amor é paciente e bondoso. O amor não inveja, nem se orgulha; não é arrogante, ⁵ nem rude; não busca os próprios interesses; não se ira facilmente; não leva em conta o mal. ⁶ Não se alegra com a injustiça, mas se alegra com a verdade. ⁷ O amor tudo sofre, tudo crê, tudo espera e tudo suporta.

⁸ O amor jamais acaba. Havendo profecias, elas passarão; havendo línguas, elas cessarão; havendo conhecimento, este passará. ⁹ Pois nós conhecemos em parte e em parte profetizamos, ¹⁰ mas, quando o que é perfeito vier, aquilo que é em parte passará.

¹¹ Quando eu era uma criança, eu falava como criança, pensava como criança, julgava como criança. Quando me tornei um adulto, deixei as coisas de criança. ¹² Por agora, vemos como em espelho, sem clareza, mas depois veremos face a face. Agora eu conheço em parte, mas então conhecerei completamente assim como fui completamente conhecido. ¹³ Agora permanecem estes três: a fé, a esperança e o amor, mas o maior deles é o amor.

Capítulo 14

¹ Segui o amor e desejai intensamente os dons espirituais, especialmente o de profetizar; ² porque aquele que fala em uma língua não fala a pessoas, mas a Deus. Pois ninguém o entende, porque ele fala mistérios no Espírito; ³ mas aquele que profetiza fala a pessoas para as edificar, encorajar e confortar. ⁴ Aquele que fala em língua edifica a si mesmo, mas o que profetiza edifica a igreja.

⁵ Gostaria que todos vós falasseis em línguas; porém, muito mais que isso, gostaria que todos profetizásseis. Aquele que profetiza é maior do que o que fala em línguas (a menos que alguém interprete, para que a igreja seja edificada). ⁶ Entretanto, irmãos, se eu chegar a vós falando em línguas, que beneficio vos trarei? Nenhum! A não ser que vos fale com revelação, conhecimento, profecia ou ensino.

⁷ Se instrumentos sem vida que produzem sons, como a flauta ou a harpa, não produzem diferentes tons, como alguém saberá qual melodia a harpa ou a flauta estão tocando? ⁸ Porque se a trombeta tocar um som incerto, como alguém saberá quando é o tempo de se preparar para a batalha? ⁹ Assim é convosco: se pronunciardes discurso que é ininteligível, como alguém entenderá o que dizeis? Vós falareis, e ninguém vos entenderá.

¹⁰ Sem dúvida, existem muitas línguas diferentes no mundo, e nenhuma é sem sentido. ¹¹ Todavia, se eu não souber o significado de uma língua, serei um estrangeiro para quem fala, e ele será um estrangeiro para mim.

¹² Do mesmo modo, convosco: já que estais desejosos pelas manifestações do Espírito, sede zelosos para abundar na edificação da igreja. ¹³ Então, o que fala em uma língua deve orar para que a possa interpretar. ¹⁴ Porque se eu oro em línguas, meu espírito ora, mas minha mente está infrutífera.

¹⁵ O que devo fazer? Orarei com meu espírito, mas também com minha mente. Cantarei com meu espírito, e também com minha mente. ¹⁶ De outro modo, se louvais a Deus com o espírito, como a outra pessoa dirá "Amém" quando estiveres dando graça, se ele não souber o que tu estás dizendo?

¹⁷ Vós certamente dais graças muito bem, mas a outra pessoa não é edificada. ¹⁸ Eu agradeço a Deus por falar em línguas mais que todos vós, ¹⁹ mas na igreja eu preferiria falar cinco palavras com meu entendimento a fim de instruir a outros, a falar dez mil palavras em línguas.

²⁰ Irmãos, não sejais crianças em vosso pensar. Particularmente, quanto ao mal, sede como criancinhas; mas em vosso pensar, sede maduros. ²¹ Na Lei está escrito: "Por homens de outras línguas e pelos lábios estrangeiros Eu falarei a este povo. Mesmo assim, não Me ouvirão", diz o Senhor.

²² Portanto, línguas são um sinal, não para os cristãos, mas para os não cristãos; mas profecia é um sinal, não para os não cristãos, mas para os cristãos. ²³ Se, portanto, toda a igreja se juntar e todos falarem em línguas, e os de fora e os não cristãos chegarem, não diriam eles que vós estais loucos?

²⁴ Mas se todos vós estiverdes profetizando e um não cristão ou alguém de fora chegar, ele seria convencido de tudo o que ouviu, e seria julgado por tudo o que foi dito. ²⁵ Os segredos do seu coração seriam revelados; como resultado, ele se prostraria com seu rosto em terra, adoraria a Deus, e declararia que Deus está realmente entre vós.

²⁶ Então, como é, irmãos? Quando vos reunis, cada um tenha um salmo, um ensinamento, uma revelação, uma língua ou uma interpretação. Fazei tudo para a edificação da igreja. ²⁷ Se alguém fala em uma língua, que sejam dois ou no máximo três, e um de cada vez, então alguém deve interpretar o que é dito. ²⁸ Contudo, se não há ninguém para interpretar, que cada um permaneça em silêncio na igreja. Deixe que ele fale sozinho consigo mesmo e com Deus.

²⁹ Que dois ou três profetas falem, e que os outros ouçam com discernimento o que é dito. ³⁰ Mas, se uma revelação for dada a quem está sentado no culto, que fique em silêncio o que estava falando.

³¹ Porque cada um de vós pode profetizar, um por um, para que cada um aprenda, e todos sejam encorajados. ³² Porque os espíritos dos profetas estão sob o controle dos profetas. ³³ Porque Deus não é Deus de confusão, mas de paz. Esta é a ordenança em todas as igrejas dos santos.

³⁴ As mulheres devem ficar em silêncio nas igrejas, porque não lhes é permitido falar. Ao invés disso, devem estar submissas, como também diz a Lei. ³⁵ Se há alguma coisa que elas desejem aprender, que elas perguntem para seus maridos em casa. Porque é vergonhoso para a mulher falar na igreja. ³⁶ Veio de vós a palavra de Deus? Vós sois os únicos que fostes alcançados?

³⁷ Se alguém pensa ser um profeta ou espiritual, deveria reconhecer que as coisas que vos escrevi são mandamentos do Senhor. ³⁸ Mas se alguém não reconhece isso, que não seja reconhecido. ¹

³⁹ Então, irmãos, desejai intensamente profetizar, e não proibais ninguém de falar em línguas. ⁴⁰ Mas que todas as coisas sejam feitas decentemente e em ordem.

¹Algumas versões antigas trazem: Todavia, se alguém é ignorante sobre isto, deixe-o ser ignorante.

Capítulo 15

¹ Lembro-vos irmãos, do Evangelho que vos proclamei, que recebestes, e no qual permanecestes. ² É por este Evangelho que sois salvos, desde que segureis firmemente a palavra que preguei, a menos que tenhais crido em vão.

³ Pois vos entreguei em primeiro lugar o que também recebi: que Cristo morreu por nossos pecados, segundo as Escrituras; ⁴ e que Ele foi sepultado e ressuscitado ao terceiro dia, segundo as Escrituras.

⁵ E apareceu a Cefas, depois aos Doze. ⁶ Em seguida, apareceu a mais de quinhentos irmãos de uma vez, os quais, a maioria ainda vive, mas alguns já dormiram. ⁷ Depois apareceu a Tiago e, mais tarde, a todos os apóstolos.

⁸ Por último, Ele apareceu a mim, como a uma criança nascida fora do tempo. ⁹ Pois eu sou o menor dos apóstolos, indigno de ser chamado apóstolo porque persegui a igreja de Deus.

¹⁰ Mas, pela graça de Deus, sou o que sou, e sua graça em mim não foi em vão. Em vez disso, trabalhei muito mais do que todos eles, ainda que não tenha sido eu, mas a graça de Deus que está comigo. ¹¹ Portanto, se fui eu ou eles, assim pregamos, e vós acreditastes.

¹² Ora, se Cristo é proclamado como ressurreto da morte, como podem alguns de vós dizer que não há ressurreição da morte? ¹³ Mas, se não há ressurreição da morte, então nem mesmo Cristo ressuscitou. ¹⁴ E se Cristo não ressuscitou, então nossa pregação é em vão, e vossa fé também é em vão.

¹⁵ E fomos consideradas falsas testemunhas sobre Deus, porque testificamos contra Deus, dizendo que Ele ressuscitou a Cristo, quando Ele não o fez. ¹⁶ Pois se os mortos não são ressuscitados, nem mesmo Cristo foi ressuscitado. ¹⁷ E se Cristo não foi ressuscitado, vossa fé é em vão, e ainda estais em vossos pecados.

¹⁸ Então, aqueles que morreram em Cristo também pereceram. ¹⁹ Se somente nesta vida temos confiança para o futuro em Cristo, somos as mais miseráveis de todas as pessoas.

²⁰ Mas agora, Cristo foi ressuscitado dentre os mortos, sendo o primeiro fruto daqueles que morreram. ²¹ Visto que a morte veio por um homem, por um homem também veio a ressurreição dos mortos.

²² Pois, como em Adão todos morrem, assim também em Cristo todos serão vivificados. ²³ Mas, cada um, em sua própria vez: Cristo, o primeiro dos frutos, depois os que pertencem a Cristo, em Sua vinda.

²⁴ Então será o fim, quando Cristo entregar o reino a Deus, o Pai, e abolir todo o principado e toda autoridade e poder. ²⁵ Pois Ele deve reinar até ter posto todos os seus inimigos debaixo de Seus pés. ²⁶ O último inimigo a ser destruído é a morte.

²⁷ Porque "Ele pôs todas as coisas debaixo de Seus pés". Mas, quando se diz: "Ele pôs todas as coisas", está claro que isso não inclui Aquele que sujeitou a Ele todas as coisas. ²⁸ Quando todas as coisas estiverem sujeitas a Ele, então o Filho Se sujeitará Àquele que todas as coisas Lhe sujeitou, para que Deus, o Pai, possa ser tudo em todos.

²⁹ De outro modo, o que farão aqueles que se batizam pelos mortos? Se os mortos não ressuscitam de modo algum, por que se batizam por causa deles? ³⁰ E por que estamos em perigo a todo o tempo?

³¹ Enfrento a morte todos os dias. Isto é uma certeza de que falo com orgulho a vós, o qual tenho em Cristo Jesus, nosso Senhor. ³² O que eu ganho se, por motivos humanos, lutei com animais ferozes em Éfeso, se os mortos não são ressuscitados? "Comamos e bebamos, pois amanhã morreremos".

³³ Não sejais enganados: "Más companhias corrompem os bons costumes". ³⁴ Tornai-vos sóbrios! Vivei justamente! Não pequeis. Pois, alguns de vós não têm conhecimento de Deus. Digo isto para vossa vergonha.

³⁵ Mas alguém dirá: "Como os mortos são ressuscitados? E com que tipo de corpo eles virão?" ³⁶ Vós sois tão ignorantes! O que vós semeais não crescerá a menos que morra.

³⁷ E o que semeais não é o corpo que há de ser, mas uma simples semente, que se tornará trigo ou outra planta. ³⁸ Mas Deus dará um corpo conforme Ele escolher, a cada semente dá seu corpo apropriado. ³⁹ Nem toda carne é a mesma, mas uma é a carne dos homens, outra é a carne dos animais, outra a dos pássaros e outra a dos peixes.

⁴⁰ Há também corpos celestiais e terrestres. Mas a glória do corpo celestial é um tipo, e a glória do terrestre é outra. ⁴¹ Há uma glória do sol, outra glória da lua e outra glória das estrelas, pois uma estrela difere da outra em glória.

⁴² Assim também é a ressurreição dos mortos: o que é semeado é perecível, e o que ressuscita é imperecível. ⁴³ O que é semeado em desonra é ressuscitado em glória. O que é semeado em fraqueza é ressuscitado em poder. ⁴⁴ O que é semeado num corpo natural é ressuscitado num corpo espiritual. Se há um corpo natural, também há um corpo espiritual.

⁴⁵ Assim, também está escrito: "O primeiro homem, Adão, foi feito alma vivente"; o último Adão tornou-se espírito vivificante. ⁴⁶ Todavia, o espiritual não veio primeiro; mas o natural, e depois o espiritual.

⁴⁷ O primeiro homem é da terra, feito do pó; o segundo homem é do céu. ⁴⁸ À semelhança do homem feito do pó, assim também são aqueles feitos do pó; e, à semelhança do homem do céu, assim também são aqueles que são do céu. ⁴⁹ Assim como carregamos a imagem do homem do pó, também carregaremos a imagem do homem do céu.

⁵⁰ Digo-vos isto, irmãos, que carne e sangue não podem herdar o reino de Deus, nem o perecível herdar o imperecível. ⁵¹ Eis um mistério que vos digo: nem todos morreremos, mas todos seremos transformados.

⁵² Nós seremos transformados em um instante, em um piscar de olhos, na última trombeta. Pois, a trombeta soará, e os mortos serão ressuscitados imperecíveis, e nós seremos transformados. ⁵³ Porque este corpo perecível deve se revestir do imperecível, e este corpo mortal deve-se revestir de imortalidade.

⁵⁴ Mas, quando este corpo perecível se revestir do que é imperecível, e este corpo mortal se revestir do que é imortal, então virá o que está escrito: "Tragada foi a morte pela vitória". ⁵⁵ "Morte, onde está a tua vitória?". "Morte, onde está o teu aguilhão?".

⁵⁶ O aguilhão da morte é o pecado, e o poder do pecado é a lei. ⁵⁷ Mas graças a Deus, que nos dá a vitória através do nosso Senhor Jesus Cristo!

⁵⁸ Portanto, meus queridos irmãos, sede firmes e inabaláveis. Sempre abundantes na obra do Senhor, porque sabeis que o vosso trabalho no Senhor não é em vão.

Capítulo 16

¹ Agora, quanto à coleta para os santos, como ordenei às igrejas da Galácia, assim fazei também. ² No primeiro dia da semana, cada um de vós separe o que puder e armazene, para que não haja coleta quando eu for.

³ E quando eu chegar, aquele que vós aprovardes, eu o enviarei com cartas para entregar vossas ofertas em Jerusalém. ⁴ E se for apropriado que eu também vá, eles irão comigo.

⁵ Mas eu irei até vós quando passar pela Macedônia, pois passarei pela Macedônia. ⁶ Talvez eu possa ficar convosco ou passar o inverno, para que possais ajudar em minha jornada, aonde quer que eu vá.

⁷ Porque eu não desejo vos ver agora por um tempo curto, pois espero passar algum tempo convosco, se o Senhor permitir. ⁸ Mas eu ficarei em Éfeso até o Pentecostes, ⁹ porque se abriu para mim uma porta grande e eficaz, e há muitos adversários.

¹⁰ E, quando Timóteo chegar, cuidai para que ele esteja convosco sem medo, porque ele está fazendo a obra do Senhor, assim como eu. ¹¹ Portanto, que ninguém o despreze. Mas encaminhai-o em paz para que venha a mim, pois o espero com os irmãos. ¹² Quanto ao nosso irmão Apolo, eu fortemente o encorajei a ir vos visitar com os irmãos, mas de modo algum ele quis ir agora. Contudo, ele irá quando tiver oportunidade.

¹³ Vigiai, ficai firmes na fé, sede corajosos, sede fortes. ¹⁴ Tudo o que fizerdes fazei com amor.

¹⁵ Vós sabeis que os da casa de Estéfanas são os primeiros convertidos em Acaia e que se dedicaram ao serviço dos santos. Agora eu vos rogo, irmãos, ¹⁶ que sejais submissos a essas pessoas e a cada um que trabalha e coopera conosco.

¹⁷ E eu me alegro com a vinda de Estéfanas, Fortunato e Acaico. Eles supriram a vossa ausência. ¹⁸ Porque eles revigoraram meu espírito e o vosso. Então, reconhecei pessoas como essas.

¹⁹ As igrejas da Ásia vos saúdam. Áquila e Priscila intensamente vos saúdam no Senhor, com a igreja que está na casa deles. ²⁰ Todos os irmãos vos saúdam. Saudai uns aos outros com beijo santo.

²¹ Eu, Paulo, escrevo isto com minhas próprias mãos: ²² Se alguém não ama o Senhor, seja maldito. Ora vem, SenhorJesus! ²³ Que a graça do Senhor Jesus seja convosco. ²⁴ Meu amor seja com todos vós em Cristo Jesus.

¹Nota: Algumas versões acrescentam: e do Senhor Jesus Cristo

²Nota: Algumas versões trazem: a vosso favor .

⁴Nota: Algumas versões trazem: Em Seu Filho, temos redenção, através do Seu sangue, o perdão de pecados

¹Nota: Algumas versões mais antigas trazem: e perdoou-vos todas as vossas transgressões.

¹Nota: Algumas versões trazem: Quando Cristo, que é nossa vida, aparecer, então, também aparecereis com Ele em glória.

²Nota: Algumas versões trazem: É por essas coisas que a maldição de Deus vem.

¹Nota: Algumas versões antigas trazem: Eu o envio a vós por isso, para que possa saber das coisas a vosso respeito, e que possa encorajar vossos corações

¹Algumas versões antigas adicionam: e o constituíste sobre as obras das tuas mãos .

¹Em alguns manuscritos antigos consta: tu fizeste tua alma pura pela obediência a verdade através do Espírito...

¹Os elementos serão dissolvidos pelo fogo, a terra e as obras sobre ela serão queimadas

¹o Pai, a Palavra, e o Espírito Santo; e estes três são um.

Revelation

Capítulo 1

¹ Esta é a revelação de Jesus Cristo, a qual Deus Lhe deu para mostrar a Seus servos o que deve ocorrer em breve. Ele a fez conhecida ao enviar Seu anjo a Seu servo João. ² João testificou de tudo o que viu sobre a palavra de Deus e o testemunho dado sobre Jesus Cristo. ³ Bem-aventurado é aquele que lê e aqueles que ouvem as palavras desta profecia e obedecem ao que está escrito nelas, porque o tempo está próximo.

⁴ João, às sete igrejas na Ásia: Que a graça seja convosco e a paz Daquele que é, e que era, e que há de vir, e dos sete Espíritos que estão diante do Seu trono, ⁵ e de Jesus Cristo, que é a Testemunha Fiel, o Primogênito dentre os mortos, e o Soberano dos reis da terra. Àquele que nos ama e nos libertou de nossos pecados por Seu sangue, ⁶ e fez de nós um reino, sacerdotes para Seu Deus e Pai, a Ele seja a glória e o poder para sempre e sempre. Amém.

⁷ Eis que Ele está vindo com as nuvens e todo olho O verá, incluindo aqueles que O traspassaram. E todas as tribos da Terra se lamentarão sobre Ele. Sim, amém. ⁸ "Eu sou o Alfa e o Ômega," diz o Senhor Deus, "Aquele que é, e que era, e que há de vir, o Todo-Poderoso." ¹

⁹ Eu, João, vosso irmão, aquele que compartilha convosco nos sofrimentos e no reino, paciente na perseverança em Jesus, estava na ilha chamada Patmos, por causa da palavra de Deus e do testemunho de Jesus. ¹⁰ Eu estava no Espírito, no dia do Senhor. Atrás de mim, eu ouvi uma grande voz como uma trombeta ¹¹ que dizia: "Escreve em um livro o que vês, e envia-o às sete igrejas: Éfeso, Esmirna, Pérgamo, Tiatira, Sardes, Filadélfia e Laodiceia".

¹² Virei-me para ver de quem era a voz que estava falando comigo e, quando me virei, vi sete candeeiros de ouro. ¹³ No meio dos candeeiros, havia um como o Filho do Homem que vestia um longo manto, que Lhe chegava aos pés, e um cinto de ouro ao redor de Seu peito.

¹⁴ Sua cabeça e cabelo eram brancos como a lã e tão brancos como a neve; e Seus olhos, como chamas de fogo. ¹⁵ Seus pés, como de bronze polido, bronze esse que foi refinado na fornalha; e Sua voz, como o som de muitas águas. ¹⁶ Na Sua mão direita, Ele tinha sete estrelas e, saindo de Sua boca, havia uma espada afiada de dois gumes. Sua face era brilhante como o Sol no seu mais forte brilho.

¹⁷ Quando O vi, caí aos Seus pés como um homem morto. Ele colocou Sua mão direita sobre mim e disse: "Não tenhas medo. Eu sou o Primeiro e o Último, ¹⁸ Aquele que vive. Estive morto, mas eis que Eu vivo para sempre! E tenho as chaves da morte e do Hades.

¹⁹ Portanto escreve o que tens visto, o que é agora, e o que acontecerá depois disso. ²⁰ Quanto ao mistério sobre as sete estrelas que viste em Minha mão direita e os sete candeeiros de ouro, as sete estrelas são os anjos das sete igrejas, e os sete candeeiros são as sete igrejas.

¹Algumas versões trazem: Eu sou o Alfa e o Ômega, o Princípio e o Fim , diz o Senhor Deus.

Capítulo 2

¹ Ao anjo da igreja em Éfeso escreve: 'Estas são as palavras Daquele que sustenta as sete estrelas em Sua mão direita e que anda entre os sete candeeiros de ouro: ² Eu conheço o que tens feito, o teu trabalho árduo e a tua perseverança com paciência. Sei que não podes tolerar homens maus e que puseste à prova aqueles que afirmam por si mesmos serem apóstolos, mas não o são, e os achaste falsos.

³ Eu sei que tens perseverado com paciência, tens passado por muitas provações por causa do Meu nome e não tens desfalecido. ⁴ Porém tenho contra ti que deixaste o teu primeiro amor. ⁵ Portanto lembra-te de onde caíste, arrepende-te e pratica as primeiras obras. A não ser que te arrependas, virei a ti e removerei o teu candeeiro do seu lugar.

⁶ Tens, contudo, que odeias as obras dos Nicolaítas, as quais Eu também odeio. ⁷ Quem tem ouvidos ouça o que o Espírito diz às igrejas. Ao que vencer, Eu lhe darei o direito de comer da Árvore da Vida, que está no Paraíso de Deus'".

⁸ "Ao anjo da igreja em Esmirna escreve: 'Estas são as palavras Daquele que é o primeiro e o último, que morreu e tornou a viver: ⁹ Eu conheço tuas aflições e tua pobreza (mas tu és rico) e a blasfêmia daqueles que se dizem judeus, mas não são. Eles são sinagoga de Satanás.

¹⁰ Não temas o que estás prestes a sofrer. Eis que o diabo está para lançar alguns de vós na prisão, para serdes provados, e sofrereis por dez dias. Sê fiel até à morte, e Eu te darei a coroa da vida'. ¹¹ Quem tem ouvidos ouça o que o Espírito diz às igrejas. Aquele que vencer não sofrerá o dano da segunda morte'".

¹² "Ao anjo da igreja em Pérgamo escreve: 'Estas são as palavras Daquele que tem a espada afiada de dois gumes: ¹³ Eu sei onde tu habitas, que é onde está o trono de Satanás. Ainda assim, tu permaneces fiel ao Meu nome. Sei que tu não negaste a tua fé em Mim, mesmo nos dias de Antipas, minha fiel testemunha, que foi morto entre vós, onde Satanás habita.

¹⁴ Porém tenho algumas coisas contra ti: Alguns que seguem firmemente as doutrinas de Balaão, que ensinou Balaque a armar uma cilada diante dos filhos de Israel, para que eles comessem coisas sacrificadas a ídolos e cometessem imoralidade sexual. ¹⁵ Do mesmo modo, tens alguns que seguem firmemente os ensinos dos Nicolaítas.

¹⁶ Portanto, arrepende-te! Caso contrário, Eu virei a ti sem demora e contra eles farei guerra, com a espada da minha boca. ¹⁷ Quem tem ouvidos ouça o que o Espírito diz às igrejas. Àquele que vencer Eu darei do maná escondido e lhe darei uma pedra branca com um novo nome escrito nela, um nome que ninguém conhece, exceto aquele que a recebe'".

¹⁸ "Ao anjo da igreja em Tiatira escreve: 'Estas são as palavras do Filho de Deus, que tem olhos como chama de fogo e os pés como bronze polido: ¹⁹ Eu sei o que tens feito, o teu amor, a tua fé, o teu serviço e a tua perseverança. E conheço os teus últimos feitos que são mais numerosos do que os primeiros.

²⁰ Porém tenho isto contra ti: Toleras a mulher Jezabel, a que se diz profetiza. Pelos seus ensinos, seduz meus servos a cometerem imoralidade sexual e a comerem alimentos sacrificados aos ídolos. ²¹ E dei-lhe tempo para que se arrependesse, mas ela não quer se arrepender de sua imoralidade.

²² Eis que Eu a lançarei em um leito de enfermidade, bem como em grande aflição os que cometeram adultério com ela, a menos que se arrependam das suas obras. ²³ Matarei seus filhos, e todas as igrejas saberão que Eu Sou Aquele que sonda os pensamentos e os corações. Darei a cada um conforme as suas obras.

²⁴ Aos demais em Tiatira, a todos os que não seguem o ensino dela e não conhecem as chamadas coisas profundas de Satanás, Eu vos digo: 'Não lançarei sobre vós mais nenhum fardo'. ²⁵ Porém deveis permanecer firmes até que Eu venha.

²⁶ Àquele que vencer e guardar as minhas obras até o fim Eu lhe darei autoridade sobre as nações. ²⁷ Ele as governará com cetro de ferro e, como vasos de barro, as quebrará em pedaços. ²⁸ Assim como Eu tenho recebido autoridade de meu Pai, Eu também lhes darei a estrela da manhã. ²⁹ Aquele que tem ouvidos ouça o que o Espírito diz às igrejas'".

Capítulo 3

¹ "Ao anjo da igreja em Sardes escreve: 'Estas são as palavras Daquele que tem os sete Espíritos de Deus e as sete estrelas: Conheço as tuas obras: passas por vivo e estás morto. ² Sê vigilante e confirma o restante que estava para morrer, porque não tenho achado as tuas obras íntegras diante do meu Deus.

³ Portanto lembra-te do que tens recebido e ouvido; obedece e arrepende-te. E, se não vigiares, Eu virei como um ladrão, e tu não saberás a que horas virei contra ti. ⁴ Mas há alguns nomes em Sardes que não sujaram suas vestes. Eles andarão comigo vestidos de branco, pois são dignos.

⁵ Aquele que vencer será vestido de vestes brancas e jamais apagarei seu nome do Livro da Vida. Eu confessarei seu nome diante de Meu Pai e diante dos Seus anjos. ⁶ Quem tem ouvidos ouça o que o Espírito diz às igrejas'".

⁷ "Ao anjo da igreja em Filadélfia escreve: 'Estas são as palavras Daquele que é Santo e Verdadeiro. Ele tem as chaves de Davi, O que abre e ninguém fecha, e O que fecha e ninguém pode abrir. ⁸ Eu sei o que tu tens feito. Vê que Eu tenho posto diante de ti uma porta aberta que ninguém pode fechar. Sei que tens pouca força. Mesmo assim, tens obedecido a Minha palavra e não tens negado o Meu nome.

⁹ Eis que farei aos que pertencem à sinagoga de Satanás, aqueles que se dizem judeus e não são, mas mentem, farei que venham e se curvem diante dos teus pés e saberão que Eu te amei. ¹⁰ Uma vez que tens obedecido à minha ordem de suportar pacientemente, também te guardarei da hora da provação que virá sobre todo o mundo, para testar aqueles que vivem sobre a Terra. ¹¹ Venho sem demora, conserva o que tens para que ninguém tome tua coroa.

¹² Àquele que vencer, Eu o farei uma coluna no templo de meu Deus e ele nunca sairá dali. Escreverei nele o nome do Meu Deus, o nome da cidade do Meu Deus (a nova Jerusalém, que descerá do céu, da parte do Meu Deus) e Meu novo nome. ¹³ Quem tem ouvidos ouça o que o Espírito diz às igrejas'".

¹⁴ "Ao anjo da igreja em Laodiceia escreve: 'Assim diz o Amém, a testemunha verdadeira e fiel, o princípio da criação de Deus. ¹⁵ Conheço tuas obras: não és nem frio nem quente; quem dera fosses frio ou quente! ¹⁶ Assim porque tu és morno, nem quente nem frio, Eu te vomitarei da minha boca.

¹⁷ Porque dizes: 'Sou rico, tenho muitos bens e não necessito de coisa alguma'. E não sabes que és infeliz, miserável, pobre, cego e nu. ¹⁸ Aconselho-te que de Mim compres ouro refinado no fogo para que te enriqueças, vestes brancas para que não seja exposta a vergonha da tua nudez, e colírio para ungires os teus olhos, a fim de que vejas.

¹⁹ Corrijo e repreendo os que amo. Portanto, sê zeloso e arrepende-te. ²⁰ Eis que estou à porta e bato. Se alguém ouvir Minha voz e abrir a porta, Eu entrarei em sua casa, cearei com ele e ele Comigo.

²¹ Àquele que vencer darei o direito de sentar-se Comigo em Meu trono, assim como Eu também venci e sentei-Me com Meu Pai, em Seu trono. ²² Quem tem ouvidos ouça o que o Espírito diz às igrejas'".

Capítulo 4

¹ Depois dessas coisas, eu olhei e vi que havia uma porta aberta no céu. A primeira voz que ouvi, como voz de trombeta falando comigo, disse: "Sobe aqui e te mostrarei o que deve acontecer depois dessas coisas". ² Imediatamente, eu estava no Espírito e vi que havia um trono posto no céu, com alguém sentado nele. ³ O que estava sentado era semelhante à pedra de jaspe e sardônio. Ao redor do trono, havia um arco-íris semelhante à esmeralda.

⁴ Ao redor do trono, havia vinte e quatro tronos e, sentados neles, havia vinte e quatro anciãos. Eles vestiam roupas brancas e tinham coroas de ouro em suas cabeças. ⁵ Do trono saíam relâmpagos, estrondos e barulhos de trovão. E, diante dele, sete lâmpadas queimando, que são os sete Espíritos de Deus.

⁶ E, diante do trono, havia um mar como de vidro semelhante ao cristal. No meio e ao redor do trono, havia quatro seres viventes, cheios de olhos tanto na frente como atrás.

⁷ O primeiro ser vivente era como um leão; o segundo ser vivente, como um bezerro; o terceiro ser vivente tinha a face como a de um homem; e o quarto ser vivente era como uma águia voando. ⁸ Os quatro seres viventes tinham seis asas e eram cheios de olhos em cima e embaixo. De dia e de noite, eles não paravam de dizer: "Santo, Santo, Santo é o Senhor Deus Todo-Poderoso, o que era, e que é, e o que há de vir".

⁹ E sempre que os seres viventes davam glória, honra e gratidão ao que estava sentado no trono, ao que vive por toda eternidade, ¹⁰ os vinte e quatro anciãos prostravam-se diante do que estava sentado no trono. Eles adoravam ao que vive para todo sempre e lançavam suas coroas diante do trono, dizendo: ¹¹ "Digno és, nosso Senhor e nosso Deus, de receber a glória e a honra e o poder. Por Ti todas as coisas foram criadas e, por Tua vontade, existiram e foram criadas".

Capítulo 5

¹ Então vi, na mão direita Daquele que estava sentado no trono, um rolo escrito por dentro e por fora. Este estava selado com sete selos. ² Vi um anjo poderoso proclamando em alta voz: "Quem é digno de abrir o rolo e de romper os seus selos?"

³ Ninguém no céu, nem na terra, nem debaixo da terra, estava apto para abrir ou ler o rolo. ⁴ Eu chorava amargamente porque ninguém foi encontrado digno de abrir nem de ler o rolo. ⁵ Mas um dos anciãos me disse: "Não chores. Eis que o Leão da Tribo de Judá, a Raiz de Davi, venceu para abrir o rolo e seus sete selos".

⁶ Vi um Cordeiro em pé, entre o trono e os quatro seres viventes e entre os anciãos. O Cordeiro parecia ter sido morto. Ele tinha sete chifres e sete olhos. Estes são os espíritos de Deus enviados sobre toda a terra. ⁷ Ele veio e tomou o rolo da mão direita Daquele que estava sentado no trono.

⁸ Quando o Cordeiro tomou o rolo, os quatro seres viventes e os vinte e quatro anciãos prostraram-se diante Dele. Cada um deles tinha uma harpa e uma taça de ouro cheia de incenso, que são as orações dos santos.

⁹ Eles cantavam uma nova canção: "Tu és digno de tomar o rolo e de abrir os seus selos, porque foste morto e, com o Teu sangue, compraste para Deus pessoas de toda tribo, língua, povo e nação. ¹⁰ Tu os constituíste reino e sacerdotes para servirem o nosso Deus, e eles reinarão sobre a terra".

¹¹ Então olhei e ouvi o som de muitos anjos, ao redor do trono, dos seres viventes e dos anciãos, cujo número total era de milhares de milhares e de milhões de milhões. ¹² Eles falavam em alta voz: "Digno é o Cordeiro que foi morto de receber poder, riqueza, sabedoria, força, honra, glória e louvor".

¹³ Ouvi toda criatura que estava no céu, na terra, debaixo da terra e no mar - tudo o que neles há - dizendo: "Àquele que está sentado no trono e ao Cordeiro seja o louvor, a honra, a glória e o poder para reinar para sempre". ¹⁴ Os quatro seres viventes disseram: "Amém!" E os anciãos prostraram-se e O adoraram.

Capítulo 6

¹ E vi quando o Cordeiro abriu um dos sete selos, e ouvi um dos quatro seres viventes dizendo com voz que soava como de trovão: "Vem!" ² E vi, e eis um cavalo branco, seu cavaleiro segurava um arco, e a ele foi dada uma coroa. E saiu como um vencedor para vencer.

³ Quando o Cordeiro abriu o segundo selo, ouvi o segundo ser vivente dizendo: "Vem!" ⁴ E saiu outro cavalo, vermelho, e ao seu cavaleiro foi dada permissão para tirar a paz da terra, para que os homens se matassem uns aos outros, e lhe foi dada uma grande espada.

⁵ Quando o Cordeiro abriu o terceiro selo, ouvi o terceiro ser vivente dizendo: "Vem!" E vi, e eis um cavalo preto e o seu cavaleiro com uma balança em sua mão. ⁶ Ouvi o que parecia ser uma voz no meio dos quatro seres viventes, dizendo: "Uma medida de trigo por um denário, e três medidas de cevada por um denário; e não danifiques o azeite e o vinho".

⁷ Quando o Cordeiro abriu o quarto selo, ouvi a voz do quarto ser vivente dizendo: "Vem!" ⁸ E vi, e eis um cavalo amarelo, e o seu cavaleiro foi chamado de Morte, e o Hades o seguia. A eles foi dada autoridade sobre um quarto da terra para matar com espada, com fome, com mortandade, e com os animais selvagens da terra.

⁹ Quando o Cordeiro abriu o quinto selo, eu vi debaixo do altar as almas daqueles que foram mortos por causa da Palavra de Deus e do testemunho que tinham. ¹⁰ Eles gritaram em alta voz: "Até quando, Soberano, santo e verdadeiro, deixarás de julgar aqueles que vivem na terra, e de vingar nosso sangue?" ¹¹ Então, a cada um foi dada uma veste branca, e a eles foi dito que deveriam descansar por mais um pouco de tempo, até que se completasse o número dos seus conservos e seus irmãos que seriam mortos como eles.

¹² E vi quando o Cordeiro abriu o sexto selo, e houve um grande terremoto. O sol se tornou escuro como vestes de luto, e a lua se tornou toda como sangue. ¹³ E as estrelas do céu caíram na terra, como a figueira deixa cair seus figos verdes quando sacudida por um vento forte. ¹⁴ O céu foi recolhido como um pergaminho que estava sendo enrolado, e todos os montes e ilhas foram movidos do seu lugar.

¹⁵ Então os reis da terra, os grandes, os generais, os ricos, os poderosos, todo escravo e livre esconderam-se nas cavernas e nas pedras dos montes. ¹⁶ E dizem aos montes e às pedras: "Caí sobre nós! Escondei-nos da face Daquele que está sentado no trono, e da ira do Cordeiro. ¹⁷ Pois o grande dia da ira Deles é chegado, e quem poderá permanecer de pé?"

Capítulo 7

¹ Depois disso, vi quatro anjos em pé nos quatro cantos da terra, retendo os quatro ventos da terra para que o vento não soprasse sobre a terra, nem sobre o mar, nem contra árvore alguma. ² E vi outro anjo subindo do lado do nascente do sol, tendo o selo do Deus vivo. E clamou com alta voz aos quatro anjos que tinham recebido autoridade para danificar a terra e o mar, dizendo: ³ "Não danifiqueis a terra, nem o mar, nem as árvores até selarmos as testas dos servos do nosso Deus".

⁴ Eu escutei o número daqueles que foram selados, que era cento e quarenta e quatro mil, de todas as tribos dos filhos de Israel: ⁵ da tribo de Judá doze mil foram selados; da tribo de Rúben, doze mil; da tribo de Gade, doze mil; ⁶ da tribo de Aser, doze mil; da tribo de Naftali, doze mil; da tribo de Manassés, doze mil;

⁷ da tribo de Simeão, doze mil; da tribo de Levi, doze mil; da tribo de Issacar, doze mil; ⁸ da tribo de Zebulom, doze mil; da tribo de José, doze mil; da tribo de Benjamim doze mil foram selados.

⁹ Depois dessas coisas, eis que vi uma grande multidão que ninguém podia contar de todas as nações, tribos, povos e línguas, de pé, diante do trono e diante do Cordeiro, usando vestes brancas, com folhas de palmeiras nas suas mãos, ¹⁰ e clamavam em alta voz, dizendo: "A salvação pertence ao nosso Deus, que está sentado no trono, e ao Cordeiro!"

¹¹ Todos os anjos estavam de pé, em volta do trono, dos anciãos e dos quatro seres viventes, e se prostraram sobre seus rostos diante do trono, e adoraram a Deus ¹² dizendo: "Amém! O louvor, a glória, a sabedoria, a ação de graças, a honra, o poder e a força pertencem ao nosso Deus, pelos séculos dos séculos! Amém"!

¹³ E um dos anciãos tomou a palavra, dizendo-me: "Estes, usando vestes brancas, quem são e de onde vieram?" ¹⁴ E eu lhe disse: "Meu senhor, tu sabes". E ele me disse: "Estes são os que vieram da grande tribulação e lavaram suas vestes e as tornaram brancas no sangue do Cordeiro".

¹⁵ Por isso estão diante do trono de Deus e O servem dia e noite no Seu templo. O que está sentado no trono estenderá Sua tenda sobre eles. ¹⁶ Não terão mais fome, nem terão mais sede, nem jamais cairá sobre eles o sol, nem calor algum. ¹⁷ Pois o Cordeiro no meio do trono será o pastor deles, e Ele irá guiá-los às fontes de águas da vida, e Deus enxugará toda lágrima de seus olhos."

Capítulo 8

¹ E, quando o Cordeiro abriu o sétimo selo, houve um silêncio no céu, por cerca de meia hora. ² Então vi os sete anjos que estão em pé diante de Deus, e lhes foram dadas sete trombetas.

³ E outro anjo veio segurando um incensário de ouro e ficou em pé junto ao altar. Muito incenso foi-lhe dado para que oferecesse com as orações de todos os santos, sobre o altar dourado diante do trono. ⁴ E da mão do anjo subiu, diante de Deus, a fumaça do incenso juntamente com as orações dos santos. ⁵ O anjo tomou depois o incensário e o encheu com fogo do altar e o jogou na terra; e houve trovões, clamores, relâmpagos e um terremoto.

⁶ E os sete anjos que tinham as sete trombetas prepararam-se para tocá-las. ⁷ O primeiro anjo tocou a sua trombeta, e houve na terra granizo e fogo misturados com sangue: uma terça parte da terra foi queimada, a terça parte das árvores foi queimada, e toda erva verde foi queimada.

⁸ O segundo anjo tocou a trombeta, e algo como uma grande montanha ardendo em chamas foi lançado ao mar. E a terça parte do mar se tornou sangue, ⁹ e a terça parte dos seres vivos no mar morreu, e a terça parte das embarcações foi destruída.

¹⁰ E o terceiro anjo tocou a trombeta, e uma grande estrela caiu do céu, queimando como uma tocha, sobre uma terça parte dos rios e das fontes de água. ¹¹ O nome da estrela é Absinto. A terça parte das águas se tornou em absinto, e muitas pessoas morreram por causa das águas que se tornaram amargas.

¹² O quarto anjo tocou a sua trombeta, e a terça parte do sol foi ferida, bem como a terça parte da lua e a terça parte das estrelas. Assim a terça parte deles se tornou escura; a terça parte, tanto do dia como da noite, não brilharam.

¹³ E vi e ouvi uma águia voando no meio do céu, clamando em alta voz: "Ai, ai, ai daqueles que habitam na terra, por causa dos toques restantes de trombeta que ainda estão para ser soados pelos três anjos".

Capítulo 9

¹ Então o quinto anjo tocou a trombeta, e vi uma estrela do céu que havia caído na terra. E foi-lhe dada a chave do poço do abismo. ² E abriu o poço do abismo, e subiu fumaça do poço como a fumaça de uma grande fornalha e, com a fumaça do poço, escureceu-se o sol e o ar.

³ E da fumaça saíram gafanhotos para a terra, e foi-lhes dado poder como o que têm os escorpiões da terra. ⁴ A eles foi ordenado que não danificassem a erva, nem qualquer coisa verde ou árvore, mas somente as pessoas que não tivessem na testa o sinal de Deus.

⁵ E não lhes foi permitido matar essas pessoas, mas atormentá-las durante cinco meses. Seu tormento seria como o de uma picada de escorpião quando fere alguém. ⁶ Naqueles dias, as pessoas buscarão a morte e não a encontrarão e desejarão a morte, mas a morte fugirá delas.

⁷ O aspecto dos gafanhotos era semelhante ao de cavalos preparados para a guerra. Em cima de suas cabeças, havia algo como que coroas de ouro, e os seus rostos pareciam com rostos de pessoas. ⁸ E eles tinham cabelos como cabelos de mulheres, e seus dentes eram como dentes de leões; ⁹ tinham couraças como armaduras de ferro, e o som de suas asas era como o som de muitas carruagens que correm para a batalha.

¹⁰ Tinham caudas com ferrões como de escorpiões. Em suas caudas havia poder para causar dano às pessoas por cinco meses. ¹¹ E tinham como rei sobre eles o anjo do abismo, cujo nome em hebraico era Abadom e, em grego, era Apoliom. ¹² O primeiro ai passou; e eis que depois disso vêm ainda dois ais.

¹³ O sexto anjo tocou a trombeta, e ouvi uma voz vinda das quatro pontas do altar de ouro que se encontra diante de Deus. ¹⁴ A voz disse ao sexto anjo que segurava a trombeta: "Liberte os quatro anjos que estão atados junto ao grande rio Eufrates". ¹⁵ Os quatro anjos que estavam preparados para a hora, o dia, o mês e o ano, foram soltos para matar um terço dos seres humanos.

¹⁶ O número de cavaleiros do exército era de duzentos milhões. Eu ouvi seu número. ¹⁷ Assim, nessa visão, os cavalos e os cavaleiros tinham couraças vermelhas como fogo, azuis como jacinto e amarelas como enxofre. As cabeças dos cavalos eram como cabeças de leão e, de suas bocas saía fogo, fumaça e enxofre.

¹⁸ A terça parte da população foi morta por estas três pragas: o fogo, a fumaça e o enxofre que saíram da boca deles, ¹⁹ pois o poder dos cavalos estava nas suas bocas e nas suas caudas, porquanto as suas caudas eram como de serpentes; e tinham cabeças com as quais causavam dano ao povo.

²⁰ Os demais seres humanos, aqueles que não foram mortos por essas pragas, não se arrependeram das obras de suas mãos, nem deixaram de adorar os demônios e os ídolos de ouro, de prata, de bronze, de pedra e de madeira, que não podem ver, nem ouvir e nem andar. ²¹ E não se arrependeram de seus homicidios, nem de suas feitiçarias, nem de suas imoralidades e nem de seus furtos.

Capítulo 10

¹ Então eu vi outro anjo poderoso descendo do céu. Ele estava envolto em uma nuvem, e tinha um arco-íris sobre a sua cabeça. Sua face era como o sol e seus pés como pilares de fogo. ² Ele tinha em sua mão um pequeno rolo que estava aberto, e pôs seu pé direito sobre o mar e seu pé esquerdo sobre a terra,

³ E bradou em alta voz como um rugido de leão. E, quando ele bradou, os sete trovões falaram. ⁴ Logo que falaram os sete trovões, eu estava prestes a escrever, mas ouvi uma voz do céu, dizendo: "Guarda em segredo as coisas que os sete trovões falaram, e não as escrevas".

⁵ Depois disso, o anjo que vi sobre o mar e sobre a terra ergueu sua mão direita ao céu ⁶ e jurou por Aquele que vive para todo o sempre, o qual criou o céu e tudo o que nele há, a terra e tudo o que nela há, o mar e tudo que nele existe: "Já não haverá mais demora, ⁷ mas, no dia em que o sétimo anjo estiver prestes a tocar sua trombeta, então o mistério de Deus será cumprido, como anunciou aos seus servos, os profetas".

⁸ E a voz que ouvi do céu falou novamente comigo, dizendo: "Vai, toma o livro que se acha aberto na mão do anjo que está em pé sobre o mar e sobre a terra". ⁹ Então fui até o anjo, dizendo-lhe para dar-me o livrinho. Ele me disse: "Toma-o e come-o; e ele será amargo ao teu estômago, mas em tua boca será tão doce quanto mel".

¹⁰ Tomei o livrinho da mão do anjo e o comi. Era tão doce quanto o mel em minha boca; mas, depois de comê-lo, meu estômago ficou amargo. ¹¹ Então me disseram: "É necessário que profetizes novamente a muitos povos, nações, línguas e reis".

Capítulo 11

¹ Deram-me um caniço para usar como uma vara de medir. Disseram-me: "Levanta-te e mede o templo de Deus, o altar e os que nele adoram. ² Entretanto não meças o pátio externo do templo, pois ele foi dado aos gentios. Eles pisarão a cidade santa por quarenta e dois meses.

³ Eu darei às minhas duas testemunhas autoridade para profetizar, vestidas de saco, por mil duzentos e sessenta dias". ⁴ Essas testemunhas são as duas oliveiras e os dois candeiros que estão diante do Senhor da terra. ⁵ Se alguém tenta lhes causar dano, fogo sairá de suas bocas, devorando os seus inimigos. Qualquer um que desejar lhes causar dano deverá ser morto dessa maneira.

⁶ Essas testemunhas têm autoridade para fechar o céu, para que não chova durante o tempo em que elas profetizarem. Elas têm poder para transformar as águas em sangue, e também para ferir a terra com toda sorte de pragas, quantas vezes desejarem. ⁷ Quando elas concluírem seu testemunho, a besta que sobe do abismo e das profundezas guerreará contra elas. Ela as conquistará e as matará.

⁸ Seus corpos ficarão estendidos nas ruas da grande cidade (a qual é chamada simbolicamente de Sodoma e Egito), onde o Senhor delas foi crucificado. ⁹ Por três dias e meio, pessoas de cada povo, tribo, língua e nação olharão para seus corpos, e não permitirão que sejam sepultados.

¹⁰ Os que vivem sobre a terra se alegram por causa delas, e celebram e também enviarão presentes uns aos outros, porque esses dois profetas atormentavam os habitantes da terra. ¹¹ Após três dias e meio, um fôlego de vida vindo da parte de Deus entrou neles, e eles ficaram de pé. Grande temor caiu sobre todos os que presenciavam isso. ¹² Então ouviram uma forte voz, vinda do céu, e disse-lhes: "Vinde para cá!" Então, eles subiram para o céu numa nuvem, enquanto seus inimigos os contemplavam.

¹³ Naquele momento, ocorreu um grande terremoto, e a décima parte da cidade foi destruída. Sete mil pessoas morreram no terremoto, e os que sobreviveram ficaram aterrorizados e deram glórias ao Deus do céu. ¹⁴ O segundo ai passou. Veja! O terceiro ai vem rapidamente.

¹⁵ O sétimo anjo soou sua trombeta e altas vozes falaram no céu, dizendo: "O reino deste mundo tornou-se o Reino do nosso Senhor e do Seu Cristo. Ele reinará para sempre e sempre".

¹⁶ Então os vinte e quatro anciãos que estão sentados em seus tronos, na presença de Deus, prostaram-se no chão, com suas faces abaixadas, e adoraram a Deus, ¹⁷ dizendo: "Graças Te damos, Senhor Deus, Todo Poderoso, Aquele que era e que é, porque tomaste Teu grande poder e começaste a reinar. ¹

¹⁸ As nações se enfureceram, mas veio Tua ira. O tempo chegou para que os mortos sejam julgados e para que Tu recompenses Teus servos, os profetas, os santos e todos aqueles que temem o Teu nome, tanto os menores quanto os poderosos. O tempo chegou para que Tu destruas todos os que têm destruído a terra".

¹⁹ Então o templo de Deus, que está no céu, foi aberto e a arca de Sua aliança foi vista dentro do templo. Houve relâmpagos, estrondos, trovões, um terremoto e uma grande chuva de granizo.

¹Algumas cópias trazem: o Governante sobre tudo, Aquele que é, que era, e que virá ; mas as versões mais modernas não.

Capítulo 12

¹ Um grande sinal foi visto no céu: uma mulher vestida com o sol e com a lua debaixo dos seus pés e uma coroa de doze estrelas na sua cabeça. ² Ela estava grávida e gritava com as dores do parto, na angústia para dar à luz.

³ E outro sinal foi visto no céu: Eis que havia um grande dragão vermelho que tinha sete cabeças e dez chifres, e havia sete coroas nas suas cabeças. ⁴ Sua cauda arrastava um terço das estrelas no céu, lançando-as sobre a terra. O dragão ficou diante da mulher que estava para dar à luz, para que, quando ela desse à luz, ele devorasse seu filho.

⁵ Ela deu à luz um filho, um menino que governará todas as nações com um cetro de ferro. Seu filho foi arrebatado para junto de Deus e de Seu trono, ⁶ e a mulher fugiu para o deserto, onde Deus havia preparado um lugar para ela, para que ela pudesse ser sustentada por mil duzentos e sessenta dias.

⁷ Houve então guerra no céu. Miguel e seus anjos lutaram contra o dragão; e o dragão e seus anjos revidaram. ⁸ Mas o dragão não foi forte o suficiente para vencer. Então não havia mais lugar no céu para ele e seus anjos. ⁹ O grande dragão, aquela antiga serpente chamada diabo ou Satanás, que engana o mundo inteiro, foi expulso para a terra, junto com seus anjos.

¹⁰ Então ouvi uma voz alta no céu: "Agora veio a salvação, o poder, o reino do nosso Deus e a autoridade do Seu Cristo. Pois o acusador de nossos irmãos foi expulso, aquele que os acusava diante do nosso Deus dia e noite.

¹¹ Eles o venceram por causa do sangue do Cordeiro e pela palavra do testemunho deles, pois eles não amaram suas vidas até à morte. ¹² Portanto alegrai-vos, ó céus, e todos os que neles habitam. Mas ai da terra e do mar, pois o diabo desceu até vós. Ele está coberto de grande furor, pois ele sabe que tem pouco tempo".

¹³ Quando o dragão percebeu que havia sido lançado para a terra, ele perseguiu a mulher que havia dado à luz o menino. ¹⁴ Mas à mulher foram dadas as asas de uma grande águia, para que pudesse voar ao lugar preparado para ela no deserto, onde seria sustentada por um tempo, tempos, e metade de um tempo, fora da presença da serpente.

¹⁵ A serpente derramou água para fora de sua boca como um rio, para que pudesse causar um alagamento e arrastar a mulher de lá. ¹⁶ Mas a terra ajudou a mulher, abrindo sua boca e engolindo o rio que o dragão havia derramado. ¹⁷ Então o dragão ficou enfurecido com a mulher e foi guerrear contra o restante dos descendentes dela, aqueles que obedecem os mandamentos de Deus e mantêm o testemunho de Jesus. ¹⁸ Então o dragão se pôs em pé na areia do mar.

Capítulo 13

¹ Então vi, saindo do mar, uma besta que tinha dez chifres e sete cabeças. Nos seus chifres, dez coroas, e, em cada cabeça, um nome de blasfêmia. ² A besta que vi era como leopardo, mas tinha pés como os de urso, e sua boca era como de leão. O dragão deu-lhe o seu poder, seu trono e sua grande autoridade para governar.

³ Uma das cabeças da besta parecia ter sofrido um ferimento mortal, mas a ferida foi curada. E toda a terra maravilhou-se e seguiu a besta. ⁴ E adoraram o dragão, pois havia dado autoridade à besta. E adorou a besta, dizendo: "Quem é semelhante à besta?" e "Quem pode lutar contra ela?"

⁵ Foi dada à besta uma boca que poderia falar palavras orgulhosas e blasfêmias. Foi-lhe permitido exercer autoridade por quarenta e dois meses. ⁶ E abriu a sua boca para falar blasfêmias contra Deus: contra o Seu nome, contra o lugar em que Ele vive e contra aqueles que habitam no céu.

⁷ Foi permitido à besta guerrear contra os santos e conquistá-los. E foi-lhe dada autoridade sobre toda tribo, povo, língua e nação. ⁸ Adoraram-na todos os que habitam sobre a terra, cujos nomes não estão escritos no Livro da Vida que pertence ao Cordeiro, o qual foi morto.

⁹ Se alguém tem ouvidos, ouça. ¹⁰ Se alguém for levado ao cativeiro, ao cativeiro irá. Se alguém for morto à espada, com espada será morto. Eis aqui um chamado à perseverança e à fé para os santos.

¹¹ Então vi outra besta saindo da terra, a qual tinha dois chifres como um cordeiro, e falava como um dragão. ¹² Exercia toda a autoridade da primeira besta na sua presença e fazia com que a terra e seus habitantes adorassem a primeira besta, cuja ferida mortal havia sido curada.

¹³ E realizava poderosos milagres, chegando a fazer descer fogo do céu à terra, diante das pessoas. ¹⁴ Por causa dos sinais que lhe foram permitido fazer, ela enganava os que viviam na terra, dizendo-lhes para fazer uma imagem em honra à besta que havia sido ferida pela espada, mas que voltou à vida.

¹⁵ Foi-lhe dada permissão para dar fôlego à imagem da besta, para que a imagem pudesse falar e causar a morte a todos os que não adorassem a besta. ¹⁶ Ela forçou a todos, pequenos e grandes, ricos e pobres, livres e escravos, a receber uma marca na mão direita ou na testa, ¹⁷ para que ninguém possa comprar ou vender, exceto aquele que tenha tal marca, que é o número do nome dela.

¹⁸ Aqui há sabedoria. Aquele que tem entendimento calcule o número da besta, pois é o número do ser humano, e o seu número é seiscentos e sessenta e seis.

Capítulo 14

¹ E olhei e vi o Cordeiro em pé sobre o Monte Sião. Com Ele estavam os cento e quarenta e quatro mil, que tinham escritos em suas testas o nome Dele e do Seu Pai. ² Ouvi uma voz do céu, um som como o barulho de muitas águas e como de um grande trovão. E a voz que eu ouvi era também como harpistas tocando suas harpas.

³ Eles cantavam um novo cântico diante do trono, diante dos quatros seres viventes e dos anciãos. Ninguém podia aprender o cântico, exceto os cento e quarenta e quatro mil que foram comprados da terra. ⁴ Estes são os que não se contaminaram com mulheres, porque se mantiveram sexualmente puros. São estes que seguem o Cordeiro por onde Ele for. Estes foram comprados dentre a humanidade como primícias para Deus e para o Cordeiro. ⁵ Mentira alguma foi encontrada em suas bocas; eles são irrepreensíveis.

⁶ Eu vi outro anjo voando no meio do céu, que tinha a mensagem eterna, boas novas para proclamar aos que vivem sobre a terra, a toda nação, tribo, língua e povo. ⁷ Ele proclamava em alta voz: "Temei a Deus e dai-Lhe glória, pois a hora do Seu juízo chegou. Adorai Aquele que fez o céu, a terra, o mar e as fontes das águas".

⁸ Um segundo anjo o seguiu, dizendo: "Caiu, caiu a grande Babilônia, que persuadiu todas as nações a beberem o vinho da sua paixão imoral".

⁹ Seguiu-os ainda um terceiro anjo, falando em alta voz: "Se alguém adorar a besta e a sua imagem, e receber a marca na testa ou na mão, ¹⁰ também beberá o vinho do furor de Deus, que foi derramado sem mistura no cálice da Sua ira. E será ainda atormentado com fogo e enxofre diante dos Seus santos anjos e diante do Cordeiro.

¹¹ A fumaça do seu tormento sobe para todo o sempre; e não têm descanso, nem de dia e nem de noite, os que adoram a besta e a sua imagem, e todos os que recebem a marca do seu nome. ¹² Aqui está a perseverança dos santos, daqueles que obedecem os mandamentos de Deus e a fé em Jesus".

¹³ Eu ouvi a voz do céu dizer: "Escreve: 'Abençoados são os que morrem no Senhor". "Sim", diz o Espírito: "que eles descansem dos seus trabalhos, pois as suas obras os seguirão".

¹⁴ Olhei, e havia uma nuvem branca e, assentado sobre a nuvem, um semelhante a filho de homem. Ele tinha uma coroa de ouro em sua cabeça e uma foice afiada em sua mão. ¹⁵ Então outro anjo saiu do templo clamando em alta voz ao que estava assentado sobre a nuvem: "Pega a tua foice e começa a colheita, pois o seu tempo chegou, a safra da terra está madura para a ceifa". ¹⁶ Então aquele que estava sentado nas nuvens passou sua foice pela terra, e a terra foi ceifada.

¹⁷ Outro anjo saiu do templo no céu, trazendo também uma foice afiada. ¹⁸ E saiu do altar outro anjo que tem autoridade sobre o fogo, e clamando em alta voz ao que tinha uma foice afiada: "Pega a sua foice afiada e colhe os cachos da vinha da terra, pois as suas uvas estão maduras".

¹⁹ E o anjo passou a foice pela terra e colheu as uvas da ceifa e lançou-as no grande lagar da ira de Deus. ²⁰ O lagar foi pisado fora da cidade e dele saiu sangue até à altura dos freios dos cavalos, numa extensão de mil e seissentos estádios.

Capítulo 15

¹ Então vi no ceu outro sinal grande e maravilhoso. Havia sete anjos com sete pragas, que são as últimas, pois com elas a ira de Deus estará consumada.

² Vi algo como um mar de vidro misturado com fogo. Em pé, junto ao mar, estavam aqueles que venceram a besta e a sua imagem, e o número do seu nome. Eles seguravam harpas que lhes foram dadas por Deus.

³ Eles cantavam o cântico de Moisés, o servo de Deus, e o cântico do Cordeiro: "Grandes e maravilhosas são as Tuas obras, Senhor Deus, Todo Poderoso. Justos e verdadeiros são os Teus caminhos, Rei das nações. ⁴ Quem não Te temerá, Senhor, e quem não glorificará o Teu nome? Pois somente Tu és santo. Todas as nações virão e adorarão diante de Ti, pois os Teus atos de justiça foram revelados".

⁵ Depois dessas coisas olhei, e abriu-se no céu o templo da tenda do testemunho. ⁶ Saíram do santo lugar sete anjos com as setes pragas, vestidos com linho puro e brilhante e com faixas douradas ao redor do peito.

⁷ Um dos quatro seres viventes deu aos sete anjos sete taças douradas cheias da ira de Deus, que vive para sempre. ⁸ E o templo se encheu da fumaça da glória de Deus e do Seu poder. Ninguém podia entrar nele até que as sete pragas dos sete anjos fossem consumadas.

Capítulo 16

¹ E ouvi uma alta voz vinda do templo, dizendo aos sete anjos: "Ide e derramai na terra as sete taças da ira de Deus".

² O primeiro anjo foi e derramou a sua taça sobre a terra, e úlceras malignas e perniciosas vieram sobre as pessoas que tinham a marca da besta, aquelas que adoravam a sua imagem.

³ O segundo anjo derramou a sua taça no mar, que se tornou em sangue, como de um morto, e todo ser vivente que havia no mar morreu.

⁴ O terceiro anjo derramou a sua taça nos rios e nas fontes de águas, e se tornaram em sangue. ⁵ Ouvi o anjo das águas dizer: "Tu és Justo, Aquele que é e que era, o Santo, pois julgaste estas coisas. ⁶ Pois eles derramaram o sangue dos santos e dos profetas, e Tu lhes deste sangue para beber, como eles merecem". ⁷ Eu escutei o altar responder: "Sim, Senhor Deus Todo-Poderoso, os Teus julgamentos são verdadeiros e justos".

⁸ O quarto anjo derramou a sua taça sobre o sol, e foi-lhe dada permissão para queimar os homens com fogo. ⁹ Eles foram queimados pelo terrível calor, e blasfemaram o nome de Deus, que tem poder sobre essas pragas, e não se arrependeram para Lhe darem glória.

¹⁰ O quinto anjo derramou a sua taça sobre o trono da besta, e escuridão cobriu o seu reino, e os homens mordiam a própria língua por causa da dor. ¹¹ Eles blasfemaram contra o Deus do céu por causa das suas úlceras, e não se arrependeram pelo que haviam feito.

¹² O sexto anjo derramou a sua taça no grande rio, o Eufrates, e sua água secou para preparar o caminho para os reis que vêm do lado do nascimento do sol. ¹³ Vi três espíritos imundos que pareciam rãs, saindo da boca do dragão, da boca da besta e da boca do falso profeta. ¹⁴ Pois eles são espíritos de demônios que fazem sinais miraculosos. Eles vão ao encontro dos reis de todo o mundo, a fim de ajuntá-los para a batalha do grande dia do Deus Todo-Poderoso.

¹⁵ ("Eis que venho como um ladrão! Abençoado é aquele que permanece vigiando, mantendo suas vestes consigo, para que não saia nu e vejam sua vergonha".) ¹⁶ Eles se reuniram no lugar que é chamado em hebraico de Armagedom.

¹⁷ O sétimo anjo derramou a sua taça no ar. E então uma voz alta saiu do templo e do trono dizendo: "Está feito!". ¹⁸ Houve relâmpagos, estrondos, trovões, e um terrível terremoto; um terremoto maior do que qualquer um que já tenha ocorrido desde que os homens estão na terra, quão grande foi esse terremoto. ¹⁹ A grande cidade partiu-se em três, e as cidades das nações caíram. Então Deus lembrou-Se da grande Babilônia e deu-lhe o cálice cheio do vinho feito da sua ira furiosa.

²⁰ Todas as ilhas desapareceram e as montanhas não eram mais encontradas. ²¹ Grandes pedras de granizo, pesando cerca de um talento, caíram do céu sobre os homens, e eles amaldiçoaram a Deus pela praga de granizo, pois ela foi terrível.

Capítulo 17

¹ Um dos sete anjos que têm as sete taças veio e falou comigo: "Vem, eu te mostrarei o juízo da grande prostituta que está sentada sobre muitas águas, ² com quem os reis da terra se prostituíram e, com o vinho da sua imoralidade sexual, os habitantes ficaram bêbados".

³ O anjo me levou no espírito ao deserto, e vi uma mulher sentada sobre uma besta vermelha escarlate cheia de nomes de blasfêmias. A besta tinha sete cabeças e dez chifres. ⁴ A mulher estava vestida de púrpura e vermelho escarlate, e adornada com ouro, pedras preciosas e pérolas; estava segurando em sua mão um cálice dourado cheio de abominações e impurezas da sua imoralidade sexual. ⁵ Sobre sua testa estava escrito um nome, um mistério: "A GRANDE BABILÔNIA, A MÃE DAS PROSTITUTAS E DAS ABOMINAÇÕES DA TERRA".

⁶ E vi que a mulher estava embriagada com o sangue dos santos e com o sangue dos mártires por Jesus. Quando eu a vi, eu fiquei grandemente admirado. ⁷ Mas o anjo me disse: "Por que estás admirado? Eu vou te explicar o mistério da mulher e da besta que a carrega, a besta que tem sete cabeças e dez chifres.

⁸ A besta que viste, não existe mais, mas está para vir das profundezas do abismo e caminha para a destruição. E aqueles que vivem sobre a terra, cujos nomes não estão escritos no Livro da Vida desde a fundação do mundo, ficarão estupefatos quando eles virem a besta que existiu, não existe agora, mas está para vir.

⁹ Aqui é necessário uma mente que tem sabedoria. As sete cabeças são sete montes sobre os quais a mulher está sentada. ¹⁰ Elas são também sete reis. Cinco reis caíram, um existe, e outro ainda não chegou; quando ele vier, ele precisa permanecer por pouco tempo.

¹¹ A besta que existiu, mas não existe agora, é ela o oitavo rei, e também um dos sete reis, e caminha para a destruição.

¹² Os dez chifres que você viu são dez reis que ainda não receberam um reino, mas eles receberão autoridade como reis, juntamente com a besta, por uma hora. ¹³ Eles têm um só pensamento e darão seu poder e autoridade para a besta. ¹⁴ Farão guerra contra o Cordeiro, mas o Cordeiro os vencerá porque Ele é o Senhor dos senhores e Rei dos reis, e com Ele estão os chamados, os escolhidos, os fiéis".

¹⁵ E o anjo disse-me: "As águas que tu viste, onde a prostituta está sentada, são povos, multidões, nações e línguas.

¹⁶ Os dez chifres que viste e a besta odiarão a prostituta e a deixarão desolada e nua. Eles devorarão a sua carne e a queimarão completamente com fogo. ¹⁷ Pois Deus colocou em seus corações o realizar Seu propósito, fazendo-os concordar em entregar à besta seu poder de governar até que as palavras de Deus sejam cumpridas.

¹⁸ A mulher que viste é a grande cidade que governa sobre os reis da terra".

Capítulo 18

¹ Depois dessas coisas, vi outro anjo, descendo do céu, que tinha grande autoridade, e a terra foi iluminada com sua glória. ² Ele clamou com uma grande voz, dizendo: "Caiu! Caiu a grande Babilônia! Ela se tornou morada de demônios, esconderijo para todos os espíritos impuros e aves detestáveis. ³ Porque todas as nações têm bebido o vinho da sua paixão imoral. Os reis da terra cometeram imoralidades com ela. Os mercadores da terra se enriqueceram pelo poder da sua imoralidade".

⁴ Ouvi outra voz do céu, que dizia: "Saí dela, povo meu, para que não sejais participantes dos seus pecados, e para que não incorrais nas sua pragas; ⁵ porque os seus pecados se empilharam até o céu, e Deus se lembrou de suas ações maléficas. ⁶ Retribuam-lhe como ela retribuiu aos outros, e paguem-lhe segundo suas obras; no copo que ela misturou, misture em dobro a quantidade para ela.

⁷ Como ela glorificou a si mesma e viveu na luxúria, dai-lhe em igual medida tortura e sofrimento. Pois ela diz em seu coração: 'Estou sentada como uma rainha, não sou viúva e nunca verei lamentações.' ⁸ Portanto, em um único dia, suas pragas virão: morte, lamentações e fome. Ela será queimada pelo fogo, pois o Senhor Deus é poderoso e Ele é o juiz dela".

⁹ Os reis da terra que cometeram com ela imoralidades e fez o que eles queriam com ela chorarão e se lamentarão sobre ela quando virem a fumaça do seu incêndio. ¹⁰ Eles permanecerão distantes, com medo do seu tormento, dizendo: "Ai! Ai! A grande cidade Babilônia, a poderosa! Pois em uma única hora sua punição chegou".

¹¹ Os mercadores da terra choram e pranteiam por ela, já que ninguém compra mais suas mercadorias: ¹² mercadorias de ouro, prata, pedras preciosas, pérolas, linho fino, púrpura, seda, escarlata, e todos os tipos de madeiras aromáticas, todo objeto de marfim, de madeira muito preciosa, de bronze, de ferro e de mármore, ¹³ canela, pimenta, mirra e incenso, vinho, óleo, farinha fina, trigo, gado e ovelhas, cavalos e charretes, escravos e até almas humanas.

¹⁴ O fruto que tanto cobiçavas com todo teu poder foi embora de ti. Todo o seu luxo e esplendor desapareceram; nunca serão encontrados.

¹⁵ Os mercadores desses bens, que se tornaram ricos por meio dela, permanecerão distantes por medo do seu tormento, chorando e lamentando alto. ¹⁶ Eles dirão: "Ai! Ai! A grande cidade que foi vestida de linho fino, de púrpura e escarlata, e adornada com ouro, pedras preciosas e pérolas!" ¹⁷ "Porque, em uma única hora, toda riqueza foi devastada". Todo piloto, todo marinheiro, e todos os que navegam e trabalham no mar, permaneceram distantes.

¹⁸ Eles clamaram assim que viram a fumaça do seu incêndio. Disseram: "Que cidade é igual à grandiosa cidade"? ¹⁹ Eles jogaram poeira em suas cabeças e clamaram, chorando e lamentando: "Ai! Ai da grande cidade, onde todos os que tinham seus navios no mar, tornaram-se ricos por meio dela, pois, em uma única hora, ela foi destruída". ²⁰ "Alegrai-vos sobre ela, ó céus, vós santos, apóstolos e profetas, pois Deus julgou a vossa causa quanto a ela"!

²¹ Um poderoso anjo pegou uma pedra do tamanho de uma grande pedra de moinho e jogou no mar, dizendo: "Dessa maneira, Babilônia, a grande cidade, será derrubada com violência e não será vista jamais. ²² O som de harpas, músicos, tocadores de flauta, e os que tocam trompete não serão mais ouvidos em ti. Nenhum artesão de qualquer tipo será encontrado em ti. Nenhum som de moinho jamais será ouvido em ti.

²³ A luz da lâmpada não mais brilhará em ti. A voz do noivo e da noiva não será jamais ouvida em ti, pois teus mercadores foram os príncipes da terra e todas as nações foram enganadas pelas tuas feitiçarias. ²⁴ Nela foi encontrado sangue de profetas e santos e de todos os que foram mortos na terra".

Capítulo 19

¹ Depois destas coisas, ouvi no céu como uma forte voz de uma grande multidão, dizendo: "Louvai a Yahweh! Salvação, glória e poder pertencem ao nosso Deus. ² Seus julgamentos são verdadeiros e justos, pois julgou a grande prostituta que corrompeu a terra com a sua imoralidade sexual. Ele tomou vingança pelo sangue dos seus servos, o qual ela mesma derramou".

³ Pela segunda vez, disseram: "Louvai a Yahweh! A fumaça dela sobe para sempre e sempre". ⁴ Os vinte e quatro anciãos e os quatro seres viventes se prostraram e adoraram a Deus, que estava sentado no trono, dizendo: "Amém. Louvai a Yahweh"!

⁵ Então saiu uma voz do trono, dizendo: "Louvai ao nosso Deus todos os seus servos, vós que O temeis, tanto pequenos como grandes".

⁶ Então ouvi uma voz como de uma grande e numerosa multidão, como o rugido de muitas águas e como a voz de fortes trovões, dizendo: "Louvai a Yahweh! Porque o Senhor, o Deus Todo-Poderoso, reina.

⁷ Alegremo-nos, exultemos e demos-lhe a glória, porque são chegadas as bodas do Cordeiro, e sua noiva já se preparou". ⁸ Foi permitido que ela vestisse de linho fino, puro e resplandecente" (o linho fino são os atos justos dos santos.)

⁹ O anjo me disse: "Escreva isto: Bem aventurados aqueles que são convidados para as bodas do Cordeiro". E também disse: "São estas as verdadeiras palavras de Deus". ¹⁰ Prostrei-me ante os seus pés para adorá-lo, porém ele me disse: "Não faças isso! Eu sou um servo com você e seus irmãos que mantêm o testemunho de Jesus. Adora a Deus, pois o testemunho de Jesus é o espírito da profecia".

¹¹ Então vi o céu aberto e olhei, e havia um cavalo branco cujo cavaleiro é chamado de Fiel e Verdadeiro. Ele julga e guerreia com justiça. ¹² Seus olhos são como chamas de fogo e, na sua cabeça, há muitos diademas e um nome escrito que ninguém conhece a não ser Ele mesmo. ¹³ Ele está vestido com um manto tingido de sangue, e seu nome se chama Palavra de Deus.

¹⁴ Os exércitos do céu seguiam-no em cavalos brancos, vestidos em linho fino, branco e puro. ¹⁵ De sua boca sai uma espada afiada com a qual Ele fere as nações. Ele as governará com vara de ferro e pisará o lagar da fúria da ira do Deus Todo-Poderoso. ¹⁶ Ele tem um nome escrito no seu manto e na sua coxa: Rei dos reis e Senhor dos senhores.

¹⁷ Vi um anjo em pé, no Sol, que clamava a todas as aves do céu em alta voz dizendo: "Venham, reúnam-se para a grande ceia de Deus. ¹⁸ Venham e comam a carne de reis, a carne de comandantes, a carne de homens poderosos, a carne de cavalos e seus cavaleiros e a carne de todos os homens, quer livres quer escravos, tanto pequenos como grandes".

¹⁹ Vi a besta e os reis da terra com os seus exércitos. Eles estavam se preparando para guerrear contra Aquele que estava montado no cavalo e contra o seu exército. ²⁰ A besta foi capturada e, com ela, o falso profeta que realizava os sinais na presença dela. Com esses sinais ele enganou os que receberam a marca da besta e os que adoravam sua imagem. Os dois foram jogados vivos no lago que arde com enxofre.

²¹ Os demais foram mortos pela espada que saía da boca Daquele que montava no cavalo. Todas as aves se fartaram com a carne de seus cadáveres.

Capítulo 20

¹ Então vi um anjo descer do céu. Ele tinha a chave do abismo e uma grande corrente na mão. ² Ele prendeu o dragão, a antiga serpente, a qual é o diabo ou Satanás, e o amarrou por mil anos. ³ Ele o lançou no abismo, fechou-o e pôs um selo sobre ele, para que não mais enganasse as nações até que os mil anos se completassem. Depois disso, ele será solto por um pouco tempo.

⁴ Então vi tronos, nos quais estavam assentados os que tinham recebido autoridade para julgar. Eu também vi as almas dos que tinham sido decapitados por causa do testemunho de Jesus e da palavra de Deus. Eles não haviam adorado a besta ou sua imagem e se recusaram a receber a marca na testa ou na mão. Eles reviveram e reinaram com Cristo por mil anos.

⁵ Os outros mortos não reviveram até que se completassem os mil anos. Essa é a primeira ressureição. ⁶ Bem-aventurado e santo é aquele que faz parte da primeira ressureição! Sobre estes a segunda morte não tem poder. Eles serão sacerdotes de Deus e de Cristo e reinarão com Ele por mil anos.

⁷ Quando os mil anos chegarem ao fim, Satanás será solto da sua prisão. ⁸ Ele sairá para enganar as nações que estão nos quatro cantos da terra - Gogue e Magogue - a fim de ajuntá-las para a batalha, cujo número será como a areia do mar.

⁹ Subiram sobre a ampla superfície da terra e cercaram o acampamento dos santos, a amada cidade. Mas fogo desceu do céu e as devorou. ¹⁰ O diabo, que os enganava, foi lançado no lago de fogo e enxofre, onde a besta e o falso profeta foram lançados. Eles serão atormentados dia e noite, para sempre e sempre.

¹¹ Em seguida, vi um grande trono branco e Aquele que estava sentado sobre ele. A terra e o céu fugiram da Sua presença e não havia lugar para irem. ¹² Eu vi os mortos, grandes e pequenos, em pé diante do trono e os livros foram abertos. Então outro livro foi aberto, o Livro da Vida. Os mortos foram julgados segundo o que estava registrado nos livros, segundo as suas obras.

¹³ O mar entregou os mortos que nele havia. A morte e o Hades entregaram também os mortos que neles havia, e os mortos foram julgados segundo as suas obras. ¹⁴ A morte e o Hades foram jogados no lago de fogo. Esta é a segunda morte, o lago de fogo. ¹⁵ Se o nome de alguém não foi achado escrito no Livro da Vida, esse foi jogado no lago de fogo.

Capítulo 21

¹ Então vi novo céu e nova terra, pois o primeiro céu e a primeira terra passaram, e o mar já não existe. ² Eu vi a cidade santa, a nova Jerusalém, que descia do céu de Deus, preparada como uma noiva enfeitada para seu noivo.

³ Ouvi uma grande voz do trono, dizendo: "Eis a morada de Deus com os homens, e Ele viverá com eles. Eles serão Seu povo, e o próprio Deus estará com eles e será Seu Deus. ⁴ Ele enxugará toda lágrima dos seus olhos, e não haverá mais morte, nem luto, nem choro, nem dor, porque já as primeiras coisas são passadas.

⁵ Aquele que estava assentado no trono disse: "Eis que Eu fiz tudo novo". Ele disse: "Escreve, porque estas palavras são fiéis e verdadeiras". ⁶ Ele me disse: "Estas coisas estão feitas! Eu sou o Alfa e o Ômega, o Princípio e o Fim. Ao que tem sede darei, sem custo, da fonte da água da vida.

⁷ O que conquistar herdará essas coisas, e Eu serei seu Deus, e ele será Meu filho. ⁸ Mas quanto aos covardes, aos incrédulos, aos detestáveis, aos assassinos, aos sexualmente imoral, aos feiticeiros, aos idólatras, e a todos os mentirosos, o lugar deles será no lago que arde com fogo e enxofre. Essa é a segunda morte".

⁹ Um dos sete anjos veio a mim, o que tinha as sete taças cheias das sete últimas pragas, e disse: "Vem aqui. Eu te mostrarei a noiva, a esposa do Cordeiro". ¹⁰ Então me levou, em espírito, para uma grande e alta montanha, e mostrou-me a cidade santa, Jerusalém, que descia do céu de Deus.

¹¹ Jerusalém tinha a glória de Deus, e brilhava como uma joia muito preciosa, como uma pedra de jaspe cristalina. ¹² Lá havia um grande e alto muro com doze portões, com doze anjos nos portões, nos quais estavam escritos os nomes das doze tribos dos filhos de Israel. ¹³ A leste, havia três portões; ao norte, três; ao sul, três; e a oeste, três portões.

¹⁴ A muralha da cidade tinha doze fundamentos, e nela estava o nome dos doze apóstolos do Cordeiro. ¹⁵ O que falava comigo tinha uma vara de medir, de ouro, para medir a cidade, suas portas e seus muros.

¹⁶ A cidade era quadrangular, seu comprimento era igual a sua largura. Mediu a cidade com a vara e a cidade tinha doze mil estádios de comprimento e o mesmo de largura e de altura. ¹⁷ Ele também mediu os muros: cento e quarenta e quatro côvados, segundo a medida humana, que era também a medida que os anjos usavam.

¹⁸ O muro é de jaspe, e a cidade de ouro puro, semelhante ao vidro límpido. ¹⁹ Os fundamentos do muro estão adornados com todo tipo de pedras preciosas. O primeiro é de jaspe; o segundo, de safira; o terceiro, de calcedônia; o quarto, de esmeralda; ²⁰ o quinto, de sardônica; o sexto, de sárdio; o sétimo, de crisólito; o oitavo, de berilo; o nono, de topázio; o décimo, de crisópraso; o décimo primeiro, de jacinto; o décimo segundo, de ametista.

²¹ Os doze portões são doze pérolas, e cada portão é feito de uma única pérola. As ruas da cidade são de ouro puro, transparente como vidro. ²² Eu não vi nenhum templo na cidade, porque o Senhor Deus Poderoso e o Cordeiro são o seu templo.

²³ A cidade não precisa do sol ou da lua para iluminá-la, porque a glória de Deus a iluminava, e a sua lâmpada é o Cordeiro. ²⁴ As nações andarão na sua luz. Os reis da terra trarão para ela seu resplendor. ¹ ²⁵ Os portões não se fecharão de dia, e não haverá noite ali.

²⁶ Eles trarão para ela a glória e a honra das nações, ²⁷ e não entrará nela coisa alguma que contamine, e cometa abominação e mentira, mas apenas aqueles cujos nomes estão escritos no Livro da Vida do Cordeiro.

¹Nota: Algumas cópias mais antigas trazem: As nações que são salvas andarão na sua luz .

Capítulo 22

¹ Então o anjo me mostrou o rio da água da vida, transparente como cristal, que fluía do trono de Deus e do Cordeiro, ² no meio da rua da cidade. Em cada margem do rio, está a árvore da vida, que produz doze frutos, dando seu fruto de mês em mês. As folhas da árvore são para a cura das nações.

³ Ali jamais haverá maldição. O trono de Deus e do Cordeiro estará na cidade e os Seus servos O servirão. ⁴ Eles verão Sua face e o Nome de Deus estará na testa deles. ⁵ Não haverá mais noite, e eles não precisarão da luz da lâmpada e nem da luz do sol, porque o Senhor Deus brilhará sobre eles, e reinarão para sempre e sempre.

⁶ O anjo me disse: "Estas palavras são fiéis e verdadeiras. O Senhor Deus dos espíritos dos profetas mandou Seu anjo para mostrar aos Seus servos o que deve acontecer em breve". ⁷ "Olha! Eis que venho sem demora! Bem-aventurado é o que obedece às palavras da profecia deste livro".

⁸ Eu, João, sou o que ouviu e viu essas coisas. Quando ouvi e vi isso, prostrei-me aos pés do anjo que me mostrou essas coisas, para adorá-lo. ⁹ Ele me disse: "Não faças isso! Eu estou ao serviço de Deus como tu e como os teus irmãos, os profetas, e daqueles que obedecem às palavras deste livro. Adora a Deus"!

¹⁰ Ele me disse: "Não seles as palavras da profecia deste livro, porque o tempo está próximo. ¹¹ Aquele que é injusto continue fazendo injustiça. Aquele que é impuro continue na impureza. Aquele que é justo continue fazendo o que é justo. Aquele que é santo, seja santificado ainda".

¹² "Olhe! Eis que venho sem demora. Minha recompensa está Comigo para retribuir a cada um segundo as suas obras. ¹³ Eu sou o Alfa e o Ômega, o Primeiro e o Último, o Começo e o Fim.

¹⁴ Bem-aventurados os que lavam suas vestes para que tenham o direito de comer da árvore da vida e entrar na cidade através dos portões. ¹ ¹⁵ Ficarão de fora os cães, os feiticeiros, os sexualmente imorais, os assassinos, os idólatras e todos os que amam e praticam a mentira.

¹⁶ Eu, Jesus, mandei Meu anjo para vos testemunhar essas coisas em favor das igrejas. Eu sou a raiz e a descendência de Davi, a brilhante Estrela da Manhã".

¹⁷ O Espírito e a Noiva dizem: "Vem"! Aquele que ouve diga: "Vem"! Todo aquele que tem sede venha, e todo o que desejar, receba gratuitamente da água da vida.

¹⁸ Eu testemunho a todos os que ouvem as palavras da profecia deste livro: Se alguém acrescentar algo, Deus acrescentará a ele as pragas escritas neste livro. ¹⁹ Se alguém tirar as palavras da profecia deste livro, Deus tirará a sua parte da árvore da vida e da cidade santa, as quais estão escritas neste livro. ²

²⁰ Aquele que testemunha estas coisas diz: "Sim! Eis que venho sem demora". Amém! Vem, Senhor Jesus! ²¹ Que a graça do Senhor Jesus esteja com todos. Amém.

¹Nota: Em vez de Bem-aventurados os que lavam suas vestes , algumas cópias mais antigas trazem: Bem-aventurados os que obedecem aos Seus mandamentos

²Nota: Algumas versões mais antigas trazem: Deus tirará a sua parte no Livro da Vida e na cidade santa, sobre as quais está escrito neste livro

Formatted for Translators

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles

2 Chronicles

Ezra

Nehemiah

Esther

Job

Psalms

Proverbs

Ecclesiastes

Song of Solomon

Isaiah

Jeremiah

Lamentations

Ezekiel

Daniel

Hosea

Joel

Amos

Obadiah

Jonah

Micah

Nahum

Habakkuk

Zephaniah

Haggai

Zechariah

Malachi

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

Romans

1 Corinthians

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Ephesians

Philippians

Colossians

1 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians

1 Timothy

2 Timothy

Titus

Philemon

Hebrews

James

1 Peter

2 Peter

1 John

2 John

3 John

Jude

Revelation

Genesis

Exodus

Leviticus

Numbers

Deuteronomy

Joshua

Judges

Ruth

1 Samuel

2 Samuel

1 Kings

2 Kings

1 Chronicles