# verses

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A priest of Aaron’s family must be with the Levites when they receive the tenth of the people’s crops. The Levites must bring a tenth of all they receive to the Temple of our God. Then they will put it in the storerooms of the treasury.


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The people of Israel and the Levites are to bring their gifts to the storerooms. These are the gifts of grain, new wine and oil. The things for the Temple are kept in the storerooms. It is also where the priests, who are serving, the gatekeepers and singers stay. We will not ignore the Temple of our God.


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New People Move into Jerusalem The leaders of Israel lived in Jerusalem. The rest of the people threw lots. One person out of every ten was to come and live in Jerusalem. It was the holy city. The other nine could stay in their own cities.


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These are the area leaders who lived in Jerusalem. (Some people lived on their own land in the cities of Judah. These included Israelites, priests, Levites, Temple servants and descendants of Solomon’s servants.


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Others from the families of Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem.) These are descendants of Judah who moved into Jerusalem. There was Athaiah son of Uzziah. (Uzziah was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Amariah. Amariah was the son of Shephatiah, who was the son of Mahalalel. Mahalalel was a descendant of Perez.)


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There was also Maaseiah son of Baruch. (Baruch was the son of Col-Hozeh, who was the son of Hazaiah. Hazaiah was the son of Adaiah, who was the son of Joiarib. Joiarib was the son of Zechariah, who was a descendant of Shelah.)


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These are descendants of Benjamin who moved into Jerusalem. There was Sallu son of Meshullam. (Meshullam was the son of Joed, who was the son of Pedaiah. Pedaiah was the son of Kolaiah, who was the son of Maaseiah. Maaseiah was the son of Ithiel, who was the son of Jeshaiah.)


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Joel son of Zicri was appointed over them. And Judah son of Hassenuah was second in charge of the new area of the city.


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and Seraiah son of Hilkiah. (Hilkiah was the son of Meshullam, who was the son of Zadok. Zadok was the son of Meraioth, who was the son of Ahitub. Seraiah was the supervisor in the Temple.)


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And there were others with them who did the work for the Temple. All together there were 822 men. Also there was Adaiah son of Jeroham. (Jeroham was the son of Pelaliah, who was the son of Amzi. Amzi was the son of Zechariah, who was the son of Pashhur. Pashhur was the son of Malkijah.)


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And there were family heads with him. All together there were 242 men. Also there was Amashsai son of Azarel. (Azarel was the son of Ahzai, who was the son of Meshillemoth. Meshillemoth was the son of Immer.)


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And there were brave men with Amashsai. All together there were 128 men. Zabdiel son of Haggedolim was appointed over them.


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These are the Levites who moved into Jerusalem. There was Shemaiah son of Hasshub. (Hasshub was the son of Azrikam, who was the son of Hashabiah. Hashabiah was the son of Bunni.)


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And there were Shabbethai and Jozabad. They were two of the leaders of the Levites. They were in charge of the work outside the Temple.


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There was Mattaniah son of Mica. (Mica was the son of Zabdi, who was the son of Asaph.) Mattaniah was the director. He led the people in thanksgiving and prayer. There was Bakbukiah, who was second in charge over his fellow Levites. And there was Abda son of Shammua. (Shammua was the son of Galal, who was the son of Jeduthun.)


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These are the gatekeepers who moved into Jerusalem. There were Akkub, Talmon and others with them. There was a total of 172 men. They guarded the city gates.


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The other Israelites, priests and Levites lived on their own land. They were in all the cities of Judah.


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Uzzi son of Bani was appointed over the Levites in Jerusalem. (Bani was the son of Hashabiah, who was the son of Mattaniah. Mattaniah was the son of Mica.) Uzzi was one of Asaph’s descendants. They were the singers. They were responsible for the service of the Temple.


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Pethahiah son of Meshezabel was the king’s spokesman. Meshezabel was a descendant of Zerah, the son of Judah.


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Some of the people of Judah lived in villages with their surrounding fields. Some lived in Kiriath Arba and its surroundings. Some lived in Dibon and its surroundings. Some lived in Jekabzeel and its surroundings.


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Zanoah, Adullam and their villages. Some were in Lachish and the fields around it. Some lived in Azekah and its surroundings. So they settled from Beersheba all the way to the Valley of Hinnom.


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Priests and Levites These are the priests and Levites who returned with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua. There were Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,


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Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah and Jedaiah. They were the leaders of the priests and their relatives. This was in the days of Jeshua.


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The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah and also Mattaniah. He and his relatives were in charge of the songs of thanksgiving.


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Jeshua was the father of Joiakim. Joiakim was the father of Eliashib. Eliashib was the father of Joiada.


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In the days of Joiakim, these priests were the leaders of the families of priests. Meraiah was over Seraiah’s family. Hananiah was over Jeremiah’s family.


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The leaders of the families of the Levites and the priests were written down. This was in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua. They were written down while Darius the Persian was king.


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The family leaders among the Levites were written down in the history book. These were only up to the time of Johanan son of Eliashib.


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The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel and their relatives. Their relatives stood across from them. They gave praise and thanksgiving to God. One group answered the other group. That is what David, the man of God, had commanded.


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These were the gatekeepers who guarded the storerooms next to the gates: Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub.


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They served in the days of Joiakim son of Jeshua. (Jeshua was the son of Jozadak.) They also served in the days of Nehemiah the governor and Ezra the priest and teacher.


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Giving of the Wall of Jerusalem The wall of Jerusalem was offered as a gift to God. The Levites were found in the places where they lived. And they were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate with joy the giving of the wall. They were to celebrate with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres.


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They also brought together singers. They came from all around Jerusalem and from the Netophathite villages.


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They came from Beth Gilgal and the areas of Geba and Azmaveth. The singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem.


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The priests and Levites made themselves pure. They also made the people, the gates and the wall of Jerusalem pure.


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I had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I appointed two large choruses to give thanks. One chorus went to the right on top of the wall. This was toward the Trash Gate.


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Some priests with trumpets also went, along with Zechariah son of Jonathan. (Jonathan was the son of Shemaiah, who was the son of Mattaniah. Mattaniah was the son of Micaiah, who was the son of Zaccur. Zaccur was the son of Asaph.)


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Zechariah’s relatives also went. They were Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani. These men played the musical instruments of David, the man of God. Ezra the teacher walked in front of them.


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They went from the Fountain Gate straight up the steps to the older part of the city. They went on to the slope of the wall. They went above the house of David to the Water Gate on the east.


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The second chorus went to the left. I followed them on top of the wall. Half the people were with me. We went from the Tower of the Ovens to the Broad Wall.


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We went over the Gate of Ephraim to the Old Gate and the Fish Gate. We went to the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred. We went as far as the Sheep Gate. We stopped at the Gate of the Guard.


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These priests were there with their trumpets: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah.


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These people were also there: Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer. The choruses sang, led by Jezrahiah.


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The people offered many sacrifices that day. They were happy because God made them very happy. The women and children were happy. The sound of happiness in Jerusalem could be heard far away.


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At that time the leaders appointed men to be in charge of the storerooms. These rooms were for the gifts, the first fruits and a tenth of what the people gained. The Teachings said they should bring a share for the priests and Levites. These were to come from the fields around the towns. The people of Judah were happy to do this for the priests and Levites who served.


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They performed the service of their God. They had the service of purifying things. The singers and gatekeepers also did their jobs as David had commanded his son Solomon.


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Earlier, in the time of David and Asaph, there was a leader of the singers. There were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.


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So it was in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah. All the people of Israel gave something to the singers and gatekeepers. They also set aside things for the Levites. The Levites set aside things for the descendants of Aaron.


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Foreign People Are Sent Away On that day they read the Book of Moses to the people. They found that it said no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be allowed in the meeting to worship.


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The Ammonites and Moabites had not welcomed the Israelites with food and water. Instead, they hired Balaam to put a curse on Israel. (But our God turned the curse into a blessing.)


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Nehemiah Returns to Jerusalem Before that happened, Eliashib the priest was in charge of the Temple storerooms. He was friendly with Tobiah.


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Eliashib let Tobiah use one of the large storerooms. That storeroom had been used for grain offerings, incense and other things for the Temple. It was also used for the tenth offerings of grain, new wine and olive oil. These belonged to the Levites, singers and gatekeepers. It had also been used for gifts for the priests.


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I was not in Jerusalem when this happened. I had gone back to Artaxerxes king of Babylon. I went back in the thirty-second year he was king. Finally I asked the king to let me leave.


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I came to Jerusalem. Then I found out the evil thing Eliashib had done. He had let Tobiah have a room in the Temple courtyard.


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I ordered the rooms to be purified. And I brought back the things for God’s Temple, the grain offerings and the incense.


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Then I found out the people were not giving the Levites their shares. So the Levites and singers who served had gone to their own farms.


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So I argued with the officers. I said, “Why haven’t you taken care of the Temple?” Then I gathered the Levites and singers. I put them back at their places.


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Then all the people of Judah brought a tenth of what they had gained in grain, new wine and olive oil. And they brought it to the storerooms.


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I put these men in charge of the storerooms: Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the teacher and Pedaiah a Levite. I made Hanan son of Zaccur their helper. (Zaccur was the son of Mattaniah.) Everyone knew they were honest men. They gave out the portions that went to their relatives.


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In those days I saw people in Judah working in the winepresses on the Sabbath day. People were bringing in grain and loading it on donkeys on the Sabbath day. People were bringing loads of wine, grapes and figs into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. I warned them about selling food on that day.


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Men from the city of Tyre were living in Jerusalem. They brought in fish and other things. They sold them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath day to the people of Judah.


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I argued with the important men of Judah. I said to them, “What is this evil thing you are doing? You are ruining the Sabbath day.


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This is just what your ancestors did. So our God did terrible things to us and this city. Now you are making him even more angry at Israel. You are ruining the Sabbath day.”


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So I ordered the doors shut at sunset before the Sabbath. The gates were not to be opened until the Sabbath was over. I put my servants at the gates. So no load could come in on the Sabbath.


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So I warned them. I said, “Why are you spending the night by the wall? If you do it again, I will force you away.” After that, they did not come back on the Sabbath.


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Then I ordered the Levites to purify themselves. I told them to go and guard the city gates. They were to make sure the Sabbath remained holy. Remember me, my God, for this. Have mercy on me because of your great love.


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Half their children were speaking the language of Ashdod or some other place. They couldn’t speak the language of Judah.


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I argued with those people. I put curses on them. I hit some of them and pulled out their hair. I forced them to make a promise to God. I said, “Do not let your daughters marry the sons of foreigners. Do not take the daughters of foreigners as wives for your sons or yourselves.


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Foreign women made King Solomon of Israel sin. There was never a king like him in any of the nations. God loved Solomon. God made him king over all Israel. But foreign women made Solomon sin.


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And now you are not obedient when you do this evil thing. You are unfaithful to our God when you marry foreign wives.”


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Joiada was the son of Eliashib the high priest. One of Joiada’s sons married a daughter of Sanballat the Horonite, who was not a Jew. So I forced Joiada’s son away from me.


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Remember them, my God. They made the priesthood unclean. They made the agreement of the priests and Levites unclean.


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So I purified them of everything that was foreign. I appointed duties for the priests and Levites. Each man had his own job.


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I also made sure wood was brought for the altar at regular times. And I made sure the first fruits were brought. Remember, my God, to be kind to me.


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Queen Vashti Disobeys the King This is what happened during the time of King Xerxes. He was the king who ruled the 127 areas from India to Cush.


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In the third year of his rule, he gave a banquet. It was for all his important men and royal officers. The army leaders from the countries of Persia and Media were there. And the important men from all Xerxes’ empire were there.


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The banquet lasted 180 days. All during that time King Xerxes was showing off the great wealth of his kingdom. And he was showing his own honor and greatness.


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When the 180 days were over, the king gave another banquet. It was held in the courtyard of the palace garden for 7 days. It was for everybody in the palace at Susa, from the greatest to the least important.


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The courtyard had fine white curtains and purple drapes. These were tied to silver rings on marble pillars by white and purple cords. And there were gold and silver couches. These were on a floor set with tiles of white marble, shells and gems.


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Wine was served in gold cups of various kinds. And there was plenty of the king’s wine because he was very generous.


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The king commanded that each guest be permitted to drink as much as he wished. He had told the wine servers to serve each man what he wanted.


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On the seventh day of the banquet, King Xerxes was very happy because he had been drinking much wine. He gave a command to the seven eunuchs who served him. They were Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas.


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He commanded them to bring him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown. She was to come to show her beauty to the people and important men. She was very beautiful.


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The eunuchs told Queen Vashti about the king’s command. But she refused to come. Then the king became very angry. His anger was like a burning fire.


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It was a custom for the king to ask advice from experts about law and order. So King Xerxes spoke with the wise men. They would know the right thing to do.


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The wise men the king usually talked to were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan. They were seven of the important men of Persia and Media. These seven had special privileges to see the king. They had the highest rank in the kingdom.


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The king asked those men, “What does the law say must be done to Queen Vashti? She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes, which the eunuchs took to her.”


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Then Memucan spoke to the king and the other important men. He said, “Queen Vashti has not done wrong to the king alone. She has also done wrong to all the important men and all the people in all the empire of King Xerxes.


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All the wives of the important men of Persia and Media will hear about the queen’s actions. Then they will no longer honor their husbands. They will say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought to him. But she refused to come.’


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Today the wives of the important men of Persia and Media have heard about the queen’s actions. And they will speak in the same way to their husbands. And there will be no end to disrespect and anger.


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“So, our king, if it pleases you, give a royal order. And let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be changed. The law should say Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her place as queen to someone who is better than she is.


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And let the king’s order be announced everywhere in his large kingdom. Then all the women will respect their husbands, from the greatest to the least important.”


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The king and his important men were happy with this advice. So King Xerxes did as Memucan suggested.


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He sent letters to all the areas of the kingdom. A letter was sent to each area, written in its own form of writing. And a letter was sent to each group of people, written in their own language. These letters announced that each man was to be the ruler of his own family. Also, each family was to speak the language of the man.


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Esther Is Made Queen Later, King Xerxes was not so angry. Then he remembered Vashti and what she had done. And he remembered his order about her.


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Then the king’s personal servants had a suggestion. They said, “Let a search be made for beautiful young virgins for the king.


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Let the king choose supervisors in every area of his kingdom. Let them bring every beautiful young virgin to the palace at Susa. These women should be taken to the women’s quarters and put under the care of Hegai. He is the king’s eunuch in charge of the women. And let beauty treatments be given to them.


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Then let the girl who most pleases the king become queen in place of Vashti.” The king liked this advice. So he did as they said.


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Now there was a Jewish man in the palace of Susa. His name was Mordecai son of Jair. Jair was the son of Shimei. And Shimei was the son of Kish. Mordecai was from the tribe of Benjamin.


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Mordecai had been taken captive from Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. Mordecai was part of the group taken into captivity with Jehoiachin king of Judah.


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Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, who had no father or mother. So Mordecai took care of her. Hadassah was also called Esther, and she had a very pretty figure and face. Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter when her father and mother died.


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The king’s command and order had been heard. And many girls had been brought to the palace in Susa. They had been put under the care of Hegai. When this happened, Esther was also taken to the king’s palace. She was put into the care of Hegai, who was in charge of the women.


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Esther pleased Hegai, and he liked her. So Hegai quickly began giving Esther her beauty treatments and special food. He gave her seven servant girls chosen from the king’s palace. Then Hegai moved Esther and her seven servant girls to the best part of the women’s quarters.


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Every day Mordecai walked back and forth near the courtyard. This was where the king’s women lived. He wanted to find out how Esther was and what was happening to her.


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Before a girl could take her turn with King Xerxes, she had to complete 12 months of beauty treatments. These were ordered for the women. For 6 months she was treated with oil and myrrh. And she spent 6 months with perfumes and cosmetics.


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Then she was ready to go to the king. Anything she asked for was given to her. She could take it with her from the women’s quarters to the king’s palace.


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In the evening she would go to the king’s palace. And in the morning she would return to another part of the women’s quarters. There she would be placed under the care of a man named Shaashgaz. Shaashgaz was the king’s eunuch in charge of the slave women. The girl would not go back to the king again unless he was pleased with her. Then he would call her by name to come back to him.


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Esther daughter of Abihail, Mordecai’s uncle, had been adopted by Mordecai. The time came for Esther to go to the king. She asked for only what Hegai suggested she should take. (Hegai was the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the women.) And everyone who saw Esther liked her.


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So Esther was taken to King Xerxes in the royal palace. This happened in the tenth month, the month of Tebeth. It was in Xerxes’ seventh year as king.


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And the king was pleased with Esther more than with any of the other virgins. And he liked her more than any of the others. So King Xerxes put a royal crown on Esther’s head. And he made her queen in place of Vashti.


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Then the king gave a great banquet for Esther. He invited all his important men and royal officers. He announced a holiday in all the empire. And he was generous and gave everyone a gift.


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Mordecai Discovers an Evil Plan Now Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate. This was when the virgins were gathered the second time.


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And Esther had still not told anyone about her family or who her people were. That is what Mordecai had told her to do. She still obeyed Mordecai just as she had done when he was bringing her up.


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Now Bigthana and Teresh were two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway. While Mordecai was sitting at the king’s gate, Bigthana and Teresh became angry at the king. And they began to make plans to kill King Xerxes.


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But Mordecai found out about their plans and told Queen Esther. Then Queen Esther told the king. She also told him that Mordecai had found out about the evil plan.


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When the report was investigated, it was found to be true. The two officers who had planned to kill the king were hanged. And all this was written down in the daily court record in the king’s presence.


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Haman Plans to Destroy the Jews After these things happened, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite. He gave Haman a new rank that was higher than all the important men.


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And all the royal officers at the king’s gate would bow down and kneel before Haman. This was what the king had ordered. But Mordecai would not bow down, and he did not kneel.


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And they said this to him every day. When he did not listen to them, they told Haman about it. They wanted to see if Haman would accept Mordecai’s behavior because Mordecai had told them that he was a Jew.


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Then Haman saw that Mordecai would not bow down to him or kneel before him. And he became very angry.


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He had been told who the people of Mordecai were. And he thought of himself as too important to try to kill only Mordecai. So he looked for a way to destroy all of Mordecai’s people, the Jews, in all of Xerxes’ kingdom.


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It was in the first month of the twelfth year of King Xerxes’ rule. That is the month of Nisan. Pur (that is, the lot) was thrown before Haman. The lot was used to choose a day and a month. So the twelfth month, the month of Adar, was chosen.


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Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain group of people in all the areas of your kingdom. They are scattered among the other people. They keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all the other people. And they do not obey the king’s laws. It is not right for you to allow them to continue living in your kingdom.


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If it pleases the king, let an order be given to destroy those people. Then I will pay 375 tons of silver to those who do the king’s business. They will put it into the royal treasury.”


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So the king took his signet ring off and gave it to Haman. Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, was the enemy of the Jews.


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On the thirteenth day of the first month, the royal secretaries were called. They wrote out all of Haman’s orders. They wrote to the king’s governors and to the captains of the soldiers in each area. And they wrote to the important men of each group of people. The orders were written to each area in its own form of writing. And they were written to each group of people in their own language. They were written in the name of King Xerxes and sealed with his signet ring.


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Letters were sent by messengers to all the king’s empire. They stated the king’s order to destroy, kill and completely wipe out all the Jews. That meant young and old, women and little children, too. The order said to kill all the Jews on a single day. That was to be the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which was Adar. And it said to take all the things that belonged to the Jews.


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A copy of the order was to be given out as a law in every area. It was to be made known to all the people so that they would be ready for that day.


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The messengers set out, hurried by the king’s command. At the same time the order was given in the palace at Susa. And the king and Haman sat down to drink. But the city of Susa was in confusion.


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Mordecai Asks Esther to Help Now Mordecai heard about all that had been done. To show how upset he was, he tore his clothes. Then he put on rough cloth and ashes. And he went out into the city crying loudly and very sadly.


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But Mordecai went only as far as the king’s gate. This was because no one was allowed to enter that gate dressed in rough cloth.


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The king’s order reached every area. And there was great sadness and loud crying among the Jews. They gave up eating and cried out loudly. Many Jews lay down on rough cloth and ashes to show how sad they were.


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Esther’s servant girls and eunuchs came to her and told her about Mordecai. Esther was very upset and afraid. She sent clothes for Mordecai to put on instead of the rough cloth. But he would not wear them.


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Then Esther called for Hathach. He was one of the king’s eunuchs chosen by the king to serve her. Esther ordered him to find out what was bothering Mordecai and why.


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Then Mordecai told Hathach everything that had happened to him. And he told Hathach about the amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the king’s treasury for the killing of the Jews.


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Mordecai also gave him a copy of the order to kill the Jews, which had been given in Susa. He wanted Hathach to show it to Esther and to tell her about it. And Mordecai told him to order Esther to go into the king’s presence. He wanted her to beg for mercy and to plead with him for her people.


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“All the royal officers and people of the royal areas know this: No man or woman may go to the king in the inner courtyard without being called. There is only one law about this. Anyone who enters must be put to death. But if the king holds out his gold scepter, that person may live. And I have not been called to go to the king for 30 days.”


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Then Mordecai gave orders to say to Esther: “Just because you live in the king’s palace, don’t think that out of all the Jews you alone will escape.


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You might keep quiet at this time. Then someone else will help and save the Jews. But you and your father’s family will all die. And who knows, you may have been chosen queen for just such a time as this.”


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“Go and get all the Jews in Susa together. For my sake, give up eating. Do not eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my servant girls will also give up eating. Then I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I die, I die.”


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Esther Speaks to the King On the third day Esther put on her royal robes. Then she stood in the inner courtyard of the king’s palace, facing the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the doorway.


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The king saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard. When he saw her, he was very pleased. He held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther went up to him and touched the end of the scepter.


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Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want to ask me? I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”


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Esther answered, “My king, if it pleases you, come today with Haman to a banquet. I have prepared it for you.”


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Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly so we may do what Esther asks.” So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared for them.


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As they were drinking wine, the king said to Esther, “Now, Esther, what are you asking for? I will give it to you. What is it you want? I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”


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My king, I hope you are pleased with me. If it pleases you, give me what I ask for and do what I want. Come with Haman tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for you. Then I will answer your question about what I want.”


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Haman’s Plans Against Mordecai Haman left the king’s palace that day happy and content. Then he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate. And he saw that Mordecai did not stand up nor did he tremble with fear before him. So Haman became very angry with Mordecai.


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But he controlled his anger and went home. Then Haman called his friends and Zeresh, his wife, together.


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And he told them about how wealthy he was and how many sons he had. He also told them about all the ways the king had honored him. And he told them how the king had placed him higher than his important men and his royal officers.


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“And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to come with the king to the banquet she gave. And tomorrow also the queen has asked me to be her guest with the king.


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But all this does not really make me happy. I’m not happy as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”


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Then Haman’s wife Zeresh and all his friends said, “Have a platform built to hang someone. Build it 75 feet high. And in the morning ask the king to have Mordecai hanged on it. Then go to the banquet with the king and be happy.” Haman liked this suggestion. So he ordered the platform to be built.


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Mordecai Is Honored That same night the king could not sleep. So he gave an order for the daily court record to be brought in and read to him.


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And it was found recorded that Mordecai had warned the king about Bigthana and Teresh. These men had planned to kill the king. They were two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway.


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Then the king asked, “What honor and reward have been given to Mordecai for this?” The king’s personal servants answered, “Nothing has been done for Mordecai.”


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The king said, “Who is in the courtyard?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace. He had come to ask the king about hanging Mordecai on the platform he had prepared.


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The king’s personal servants said, “Haman is standing in the courtyard.” So the king said, “Bring him in.”


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So Haman came in. And the king asked him, “What should be done for a man that the king wants very much to honor?” And Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king want to honor more than me?”


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Have the servants bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn. And also bring a horse with a royal crown on its head. The horse should be one the king himself has ridden.


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Then let the robe and the horse be given to one of the king’s most important men. Let the servants put the robe on the man the king wants very much to honor. And let them lead him on the horse through the city streets. As they are leading him, let them announce: ‘This is what is done for the man the king wants very much to honor!’”


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The king commanded Haman, “Go quickly. Take the robe and the horse just as you have said. And do all this for Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king’s gate. Do not leave out anything that you have suggested.”


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So Haman took the robe and the horse. And he put the robe on Mordecai. Then he led him on horseback through the city streets. Haman announced before Mordecai: “This is what is done for the man the king wants very much to honor!”


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Then Mordecai went back to the king’s gate. But Haman hurried home with his head covered. He was embarrassed and ashamed.


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He told his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Haman’s wife and the men who gave him advice said, “You are starting to lose power to Mordecai. Since he is a Jew, you cannot win against him. You will surely be ruined.”


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While they were still talking, the king’s eunuchs came to Haman’s house. They made Haman hurry to the banquet Esther had prepared.


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They were drinking wine. And the king said to Esther on this second day also, “What are you asking for? I will give it to you. What is it you want? I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”


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Then Queen Esther answered, “My king, I hope you are pleased with me. If it pleases you, let me live. This is what I ask. And let my people live, too. This is what I want.


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I ask this because my people and I have been sold to be destroyed. We are to be killed and completely wiped out. If we had been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet. That would not be enough of a problem to bother the king.”


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Esther said, “A man who is against us! Our enemy is this wicked Haman!” Then Haman was filled with terror before the king and queen.


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The king was very angry. He got up, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman stayed inside to beg Queen Esther to save his life. He could see that the king had already decided to kill him.


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The king came back from the palace garden to the banquet hall. And he saw Haman falling on the couch where Esther was lying. The king said, “Will he even attack the queen while I am in the house?” As soon as the king said that, servants came in and covered Haman’s face.


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Harbona was one of the eunuchs there serving the king. He said, “Look, a platform for hanging people stands near Haman’s house. It is 75 feet high. This is the one Haman had prepared for Mordecai, who gave the warning that saved the king.” The king said, “Hang Haman on it!”


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So they hanged Haman on the platform he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king was not so angry anymore.


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The King Helps the Jews That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther everything Haman had left when he died. Haman had been the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came in to see the king. He came because Esther had told the king how he was related to her.


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Then the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken back from Haman. And he gave it to Mordecai. Then Esther put Mordecai in charge of everything Haman had left when he died.


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Once again Esther spoke to the king. She fell at the king’s feet and cried. She begged the king to stop the evil plan of Haman the Agagite. Haman had thought up the plan against the Jews.


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She said, “My king, I hope you are pleased with me. And maybe it will please you to do this. You might think it is the right thing to do. And maybe you are happy with me. If so, let an order be written to cancel the letters Haman wrote.


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I could not stand to see that terrible thing happen to my people. I could not stand to see my family killed.”


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King Xerxes answered Queen Esther and Mordecai the Jew. He said, “Because Haman was against the Jews, I have given his things to Esther. And my soldiers have hanged him.


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Now write another order in the king’s name. Write it to the Jews as it seems best to you. Then seal the order with the king’s signet ring. No letter written in the king’s name and sealed with his signet ring can be canceled.”


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At that time the king’s secretaries were called. This was done on the twenty-third day of the third month, which is Sivan. The secretaries wrote out all of Mordecai’s orders. They wrote to the Jews and to the governors and to the captains of the soldiers in each area. And they wrote to the important men of the 127 areas which reached from India to Cush. They wrote to each area in its own form of writing. And they wrote to each group of people in their own language. They also wrote to the Jews in their own form of writing and their own language.


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Mordecai wrote orders in the name of King Xerxes. And he sealed the letters with the king’s signet ring. Then he sent the king’s orders by messengers on horses. The messengers rode fast horses, which were raised just for the king.


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These were the king’s orders: The Jews in every city have the right to gather together to protect themselves. They have the right to destroy, kill and completely wipe out the army of any area or people who attack them. And they are to do the same to the women and children of that army. The Jews also have the right to take by force the property of the enemies.


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The one day set for the Jews to do this was the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. This was the month of Adar. They were allowed to do this in all the empire of King Xerxes.


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A copy of the king’s order was to be sent out as a law in every area. It was to be made known to the people of every nation living in the kingdom. This was so the Jews would be ready on that set day. The Jews would be allowed to pay back their enemies.


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The messengers hurried out, riding on the royal horses. The king commanded those messengers to hurry. And the order was also given in the palace at Susa.


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Mordecai left the king’s presence wearing royal clothes. They were blue and white. And he had on a large gold crown. He also had a purple robe made of the best linen. And the people of Susa shouted for joy.


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The king’s order went to every area and city. And there was joy and gladness among the Jews. This happened in every area and city to which the king’s order went. The Jews were having feasts and celebrating. And many people through all the empire became Jews. They did that because they were afraid of the Jews.


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Victory for the Jews The order the king had commanded was to be done on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month. That was the month of Adar. That was the day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to defeat them. But that was changed. So the Jews themselves defeated those who hated them.


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The Jews met in their cities in all the empire of King Xerxes. They met in order to attack those who wanted to harm them. And no one was strong enough to fight against them. This was because all the other people living in the empire were afraid of the Jews.


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And all the important men of the areas, the governors, captains of the soldiers, and the king’s officers helped the Jews. They helped because they were afraid of Mordecai.


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Mordecai was very important in the king’s palace. He was famous in all the empire. This was because he was becoming a leader of more and more people.


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And, with their swords, the Jews defeated all their enemies, killing and destroying them. And the Jews did what they wanted with those people who hated them.


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They were the ten sons of Haman, son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. But the Jews did not take their belongings.


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The king said to Queen Esther, “The Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men in the palace at Susa. And they have also killed Haman’s ten sons. What have they done in the rest of the king’s empire! Now what else are you asking? I will do it! And what else do you want? It will be done.”


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Esther answered, “If it pleases the king, give the Jews who are in Susa permission to do this. Let them do again tomorrow what the king ordered for today. And let the bodies of Haman’s ten sons be hanged on the platform built for hanging people to death.”


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So the king ordered that it be done. A law was given in Susa, and the bodies of the ten sons of Haman were hanged.


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The Jews in Susa came together. It was on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar. And they killed 300 men in Susa. But they did not take their belongings.


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At that same time, the other Jews in the king’s empire also met. They met in order to protect themselves and get rid of their enemies. And they killed 75,000 of those who hated them. But they did not take their belongings.


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This happened on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth day the Jews rested. They made it a day of joyful feasting.


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The Feast of Purim But the Jews in Susa met on the thirteenth and fourteenth days of the month of Adar. Then they rested on the fifteenth day. They made it a day of joyful feasting.


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This is why the Jews who live in the country and small villages celebrate on the fourteenth day. They keep the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day of joyful feasting. And it is also a day for giving presents to each other.


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Mordecai wrote down everything that had happened. Then he sent letters to all the Jews in all the empire of King Xerxes. He sent letters to places far and near.


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Mordecai did this to have the Jews celebrate every year. They were to celebrate on the fourteenth and fifteenth days of the month of Adar.


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It was to celebrate a time when the Jews got rid of their enemies. They were also to celebrate it as the month their sadness was turned to joy. It was the month when their crying for the dead was turned into celebration. Mordecai wrote letters to all the Jews. He wrote to tell them to celebrate those days as days of joyful feasting. It was to be a time of giving food to each other. And it was a time of giving presents to the poor.


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So the Jews agreed to do what Mordecai had written to them. And they agreed to hold the celebration every year.


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Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, was the enemy of all the Jews. He had made an evil plan against the Jews to destroy them. And Haman had thrown the pur (that is, the lot) to choose a day to ruin and destroy the Jews.


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But when the king learned of the evil plan, he sent out written orders. This was so the evil plans Haman had made against the Jews would be used against him. And those orders said that Haman and his sons should be hanged on the platform for hanging.


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And so the Jews set up this custom. They and their descendants would celebrate these two days every year. The Jews and all those who join them are to celebrate these two days. They should do it without fail every year. They should do it in the right way and at the time Mordecai had ordered them in the letter.


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These two days should be remembered and celebrated from now on in every family. And they must be celebrated in every area and every city. These days of Purim should never stop being celebrated by the Jews. And the descendants of the Jews should always remember to celebrate these two days of Purim.


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So Queen Esther daughter of Abihail, along with Mordecai the Jew, wrote this second letter about Purim. Using the power they had, they wrote to prove the first letter was true.


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And Mordecai sent letters to all the Jews in the 127 areas of the kingdom of Xerxes. Mordecai wrote a message of peace and truth.


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He wrote to set up these days of Purim. They are to be celebrated at their chosen times. Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther had sent out the order for the Jews. They had set up for themselves and their descendants these two days. They set them up so the Jews would give up eating and cry loudly.


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Esther’s letter showed that these practices about Purim were correct. They were written down in the records.


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The Greatness of Mordecai King Xerxes made people pay taxes. Even the cities far away on the seacoast had to pay taxes.


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And all the great things that Xerxes did are written down. They tell of his power and strength. They are written in the record books of the kings of Media and Persia. Also written in those record books are all the things that Mordecai did. The king had made Mordecai a great man.


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Mordecai the Jew was second in importance to King Xerxes. He was the most important man among the Jews. And his fellow Jews respected him very much. They respected Mordecai because he worked for the good of his people. And they respected him because he spoke up for the safety of all the Jews.


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Job, the Good Man A man named Job lived in the land of Uz. He was an honest man and innocent of any wrong. He honored God and stayed away from evil.


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He owned 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 pairs of oxen and 500 female donkeys. And he had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.


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Job’s sons took turns holding feasts in their homes. And they invited their sisters to eat and drink with them.


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After a feast was over, Job would send and have them made clean. Early in the morning Job would offer a burnt offering for each of them. He thought, “My children may have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” Job did this every time.


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Satan Appears Before God One day the angels came to show themselves before the Lord. Satan also came with them.


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The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the Lord, “I have been wandering around the earth. I have been going back and forth in it.”


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Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him. He is an honest man and innocent of any wrong. He honors God and stays away from evil.”


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You have put a wall around him, his family and everything he owns. You have blessed the things he has done. So his flocks of sheep and herds of cattle are large. They almost cover the land.


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The Lord said to Satan, “All right, then. Everything Job has is in your power. But you must not touch Job himself.” Then Satan left the Lord’s presence.


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One day Job’s sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine together. They were at the oldest brother’s house.


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And the Sabeans attacked and carried them away. They killed the servants with swords. And I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”


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The messenger was still speaking when another messenger came in. He said, “Lightning from God fell from the sky. It burned up the sheep and the servants. And I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”


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The second messenger was still speaking when another messenger came in. He said, “The Babylonians sent three groups of attackers. They swept down and stole your camels. They killed the servants. And I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”


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The third messenger was still speaking when another messenger came in. He said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine together. They were at the oldest brother’s house.


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Suddenly a great wind came in from the desert. It struck all four corners of the house at once. The house fell in on your sons and daughters. And they are all dead. I am the only one who escaped to tell you!”


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When Job heard this, he got up. To show how sad he was he tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he bowed down to the ground to worship God.


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He said: “I was naked when I was born. And I will be naked when I die. The Lord gave these things to me. And he has taken them away. Praise the name of the Lord.”


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Satan Appears Before God Again On another day the angels came to show themselves before the Lord. And Satan also came with them.


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Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? No one else on earth is like him. He is an honest man, innocent of any wrong. He honors God and stays away from evil. You caused me to ruin him for no good reason. But he continues to be without blame.”


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So Satan left the Lord’s presence. And he put painful sores all over Job’s body. They went from the top of his head to the soles of his feet.


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Then Job took a piece of broken pottery. And he used it to scrape himself. He sat in ashes to show how upset he was.


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Job answered, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Should we take only good things from God and not trouble?” In all this Job did not sin in what he said.


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Job’s Three Friends Now Job had three friends. They were Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite. These friends heard about the troubles that had happened to Job. So they agreed to meet and go see Job. They wanted to show him they were upset for him, too. And they wanted to comfort him.


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They saw Job from far away. But he looked so different they almost didn’t recognize him. They began to cry loudly. They tore their robes and put dirt on their heads to show how sad they were.


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Then they sat on the ground with Job seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him. This was because they saw how much he was suffering.


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Let thick darkness capture that night. Don’t count it among the days of the year. Don’t put it in any of the months.


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Let that day’s morning stars become dark. Let it wait for daylight, but don’t let it come. Don’t let it see the first light of dawn.


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I would be asleep with kings and wise men of the earth. They built places for themselves that are now ruined.


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Or why was I not buried like a child born dead? I wish I were like a baby who never saw the light of day.


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Some people want to die, but death does not come. They search for death more than for hidden treasure.


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Life shouldn’t be given to a man who doesn’t know what will happen to him. It shouldn’t be given to a man who feels trapped by God.


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“Think about this now: A person who has not done wrong will not die. Honest people were never destroyed.


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The spirit stopped, but I could not see what it was. A shape stood before my eyes. And I heard a quiet voice.


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So he puts even more blame on people who live in clay houses. The foundations of these houses are made of dust. They can be crushed more easily than a moth.


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Between dawn and sunset they are broken to pieces. They are not noticed. They die and are gone forever.


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Hungry people eat this fool’s harvest. They even take what grew up among the thorns. And thirsty people want his wealth.


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God does wonderful things that cannot be understood. He does so many miracles they cannot be counted.


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He catches wise men in their own clever traps. And the plans of those who try to trick others are swept away.


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God will buy you back from death in times of hunger. And in battle he will save you from death by the sword.


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You will be hidden from the tongue that hits like a whip. You will not need to be afraid when destruction comes.


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This is because you will have an agreement with the animals born in the wild. And the wild animals will be at peace with you.


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You will know that you will have many children. Your descendants will be as many as the blades of grass on the earth.


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You will come to the grave with all your strength. You will be like bundles of grain gathered at the right time.


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The arrows of God All-Powerful are in me. My spirit drinks in their poison. God’s terrors are gathered against me.


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Then I would have this comfort. I would be glad even in this unending pain. I would know I did not reject the words of the Holy One.


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“They say, ‘A man’s friends should be kind to him when he is in trouble. This should be done even if he stops fearing God All-Powerful.’


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But my brothers cannot be counted on. They are like streams that do not flow regularly, streams that sometimes run over.


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Do you mean to correct what I say? Will you treat the words of a troubled man as if they were only wind?


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When I lie down, I think, ‘How long is it until I get up?’ The night is long, and I toss until dawn.


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A cloud disappears and is gone. In the same way, a person who goes where the dead are does not return.


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“So I will not stay quiet. I will speak out in the suffering of my spirit. I will complain because I am so unhappy.


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If I have sinned, what have I done to you, you watcher of men? Why have you made me your target? Have I become a heavy load for you?


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Why don’t you pardon my wrongs and forgive my sins? I will soon lie down in the dust and die. You will search for me, but I will be no more.”


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You must be good and honest. Then he will start doing something for you. And he will bring you back where you belong.


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That is what will happen to everyone who forgets God. The hope of the person without God will be gone.


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He is like a well-watered plant in the sunshine. The plant spreads its roots all through the garden.


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God does wonderful things that people cannot understand. He does so many miracles they cannot be counted.


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When it comes to strength, God is stronger than I. And when it comes to justice, no one can accuse him!


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Even if I were right, my own mouth would say I was wrong. If I were innocent, my mouth would say I was guilty.


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When land falls into the hands of evil people, God covers the judges’ faces so they can’t see it. If it is not God who does this, then who is it?


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They glide past like boats made of papyrus plants. My days are like eagles that swoop down on animals they attack.


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I wish someone could remove God’s punishment from me. Then his terror would not frighten me anymore.


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“I hate my own life. So I will complain without holding back. And I will speak because I am so unhappy.


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Does it make you happy to trouble me? Don’t you care about me, the work of your own hands? Are you happy with the plans of evil people?


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How terrible it will be for me if I am guilty! But even if I am right, I cannot lift my head. I am full of shame. It is as if I am drowning in my pain.


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You bring new witnesses against me. You increase your anger against me. Your armies come against me like waves of the sea.


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It is the land of darkest night. It is the land of gloom and confusion. Even the light is darkness there.”


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I wish he would tell you the secrets of wisdom. This is because wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.


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God’s limits are higher than the heavens. You cannot reach them! They are deeper than where the dead are. You cannot know them!


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But the wicked people will not be able to see. So they will not be able to find the way to escape. Their only hope will be to die.”


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My friends all laugh at me when I call on God and expect him to answer me. They laugh at me even though I am right and innocent!


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People who are comfortable don’t care that others have trouble. They think that people who are in trouble should have more troubles.


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The tents of robbers are not bothered. Those who make God angry are safe. They have their god in their pocket.


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If God holds back the waters, there is a time without rain. But if he lets the waters go, they flood the land.


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God is strong and victorious. Both the person who fools others and the one who is fooled belong to him.


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God takes the royal belt off of kings. And he dresses them like prisoners with only a cloth around their waist.


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He takes understanding away from the leaders of the earth. He makes them wander through a desert with no paths.


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You put my feet in chains. You keep close watch on everywhere I go. And you mark the soles of my feet.


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We grow up like flowers and then dry up and go away. We are like a passing shadow that does not last.


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Our time is limited. You have given us only so many months to live. You have set limits we cannot go beyond.


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“There is hope for a tree. If you cut it down, it will grow again. It will keep sending out new branches.


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In the same way we lie down and do not rise again. We will not get up or be awakened until the heavens disappear.


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“I wish you would hide me where the dead are. Hide me until your anger is gone. I wish you would set a time and then remember me!


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Water washes over stones and wears them down. And rushing waters wash away the dirt. In the same way, you destroy hope.


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It is your own mouth, not mine, that shows you are wicked. Your own lips speak as a witness against you.


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And man is even less than they are. He is terrible and rotten. He drinks up evil as if it were water!


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These are things wise men have told. Their ancestors told them these things, and they have hidden nothing.


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The evil man suffers pain all his life. The cruel man suffers during all the years saved up for him.


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The evil person gives up trying to escape from the darkness. It has been decided that he will die by the sword.


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He will live in towns that are ruined. He will live in houses where no one lives. They are houses that are crumbling into ruins.


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The evil person will no longer get rich. And the riches he has will not last. The things he owns will no longer spread over the land.


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He will not escape the darkness. A flame will dry up his branches. God’s breath will carry that evil person away.


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The evil person should not fool himself by trusting what is useless. If he does, he will get nothing in return.


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He will be like a vine whose grapes are pulled off before they are ripe. He will be like an olive tree that loses its blossoms.


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People without God can produce nothing. Fire will destroy the tents of people who take money to do evil.


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I also could speak as you do if you were in my place. I could make great speeches against you. And I could shake my head at you.


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God attacks me and tears me with anger. He grinds his teeth at me. My enemy stares at me with his angry eyes.


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People open their mouths to make fun of me. They hit my cheeks to insult me. They join together against me.


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Everything was fine with me. But then God broke me into pieces. He held me by the neck and crushed me. He has made me his target.


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You have closed the minds of my friends so they do not understand. So you will not let them win over me.


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But people who do right will continue to do right. And those whose hands are not dirty with sin will grow stronger.


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It might be that the only home I hope for is where the dead are. I might spread out my bed in darkness.


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I might say to the grave, ‘You are my father.’ And I might say to the worm, ‘You are my mother’ or ‘You are my sister.’


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You tear yourself to pieces in your anger. Does everyone have to leave the earth just for you? Do the rocks have to be moved from their place for you?


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The evil person is torn from the safety of his tent. He is dragged off to Death, the King of Terrors.


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This is surely what will happen to the home of an evil person. This is the place of one who does not know God.”


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“I shout, ‘I have been wronged!’ But I get no answer. I call loudly for help, but I receive no justice.


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He beats me down on every side until I am gone. He pulls up my hope as a tree is pulled up by its roots.


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My guests and my women servants think of me as a stranger. They look at me as if I were a foreigner.


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But you should be afraid of the sword yourselves. God’s anger will bring punishment by the sword. Then you will know that there is judgment.”


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He will fly away like a dream. He will not be found again. He will be chased away like a vision in the night.


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His children will have to make up for how he mistreated the poor. He will have to give his wealth back with his own hands.


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He has swallowed riches, but he will spit them out. God will make the evil person’s stomach vomit them up.


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He must give back what he worked for without eating it. He will not enjoy the money he made from his trading.


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This is because he has troubled the poor people and left them with nothing. He has taken houses he did not build.


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The evil person may eat until his stomach is full. But then God will send his burning anger against him. God will send blows of punishment down on him like rain.


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He will pull the arrow out of his back. He will pull its point out of his liver. Terrors will come over him.


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Total darkness waits for his treasure. A fire not fanned by people will destroy him. That fire will burn up what is left of his tent.


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Yet how often is the lamp of evil people turned off? How often does trouble come to them? How often do they suffer the punishment God plans in his anger?


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It is said, ‘God saves up a man’s punishment for the man’s children.’ God should punish the evil person himself so he will know it.


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You say about me, ‘Now where is this great man’s house? And where are the tents where the evil men lived?’


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The dirt in the valley will seem sweet to him. Everybody follows after him. Many people go before him.


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You took your brothers’ things to pay a debt they didn’t owe. You took clothes from people and left them naked.


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But it was God who filled their houses with good things. He did this even though their way of thinking was not godly.


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When terrible things happen to people, you will say, ‘Have courage.’ Then those who are humble will be saved.


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When he is at work in the north, I catch no sight of him. And when he turns to the south, I cannot see him.


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“I wish God All-Powerful would set a time for judging. People who know God look for such a day, but they do not see it.


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They chase away the orphan’s donkey. And they take the widow’s ox when she cannot pay what she owes.


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The poor become like wild donkeys in the desert. They go about their job of finding food. The desert gives them food for their children.


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They gather hay and straw in the fields. And they pick up leftover grapes from the evil man’s vineyard.


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They spend the night naked, because they have no clothes. They have nothing to cover themselves in the cold.


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The child who has no father is grabbed from its mother’s breast. They take a poor mother’s baby to pay for what she owes.


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So the poor go around naked because they have no clothes. They carry bundles of grain for evil people, but they still go hungry.


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Dying people groan in the city. People who are injured cry out for help. But God accuses no one of doing wrong.


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“There are people who fight against the light. God’s ways are strange to them. And they do not stay in the lighted path.


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When the light of day is gone, the murderer gets up. He kills poor and needy people. At night he goes about like a thief.


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The person who is guilty of adultery watches for the night. He thinks, ‘No one will see me.’ And he keeps his face covered.


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In the dark, evil people break into houses. But in the daytime they shut themselves up in their own houses. They want nothing to do with the light.


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“They are like foam floating on the water. Their part of the land is cursed. No one uses the road that goes by their vineyards.


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Heat and dryness quickly take away the melted snow. In the same way, the place for the dead quickly takes away those who have sinned.


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The evil person’s mother will even forget him. The worms will eat his body. He will no longer be remembered. So wickedness is broken in pieces like a stick.


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God drags away strong men by his power. But even though they seem strong, they do not know how long they will live.


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For a little while they are important, and then they are gone. They are made unimportant and gathered up like everyone else. They are cut off like the tops of stalks of grain.


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God wraps up the waters in his thick clouds. But the clouds do not break under the weight of the water.


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And these are only a small part of God’s works. We only hear a small whisper of him. So who can understand God’s thundering power?”


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I will hold tightly to the right things I said. My sense of right and wrong does not bother me at all.


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“Here is what God has planned for evil people. This is what cruel people will get from God All-Powerful:


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They may have many children, but the sword will kill them. The children who are left will never have enough to eat.


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The evil person may heap up silver like piles of dirt. He may have so many clothes they are like piles of clay.


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But good people will wear what the evil person has gathered. And those who are not guilty of wrong will divide up his silver.


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The evil person is rich when he goes to bed, but he is rich for the last time. When he opens his eyes, everything is gone.


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It will be as if the wind is clapping its hands at him. It will whistle at him as he runs from his place.


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Miners bring light into the mines. They search even the deepest parts of the mines. They look for metal in places of thick darkness.


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Miners dig a tunnel far away from where people live. They dig it where people never go. They work far away from people, swinging and swaying from ropes.


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This is because God sees to the farthest parts of the earth. And he sees everything under the heavens.


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Wisdom began when God gave power to the wind. It was when he measured the water and put limits on it.


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Then he said to man, ‘The fear of the Lord is wisdom, and to stay away from evil is understanding.’”


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I wish for the days when God’s lamp shined on my head. And I wish for the time I walked through darkness by his light.


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Life was so good. It was as if my path were covered with cream. It was as if even the rocks poured out streams of olive oil for me.


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When the young men saw me, they would step out of my way. And the old men would stand up in respect for me.


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The voices of the important men were quiet. It was as if each man’s tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth.


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This was because I saved the poor who cried for help. And I saved the orphan who had no one to help him.


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“I thought, ‘I will live for as many days as there are grains of sand. And I will die in my own house.


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I will be like a tree whose roots reach down to the water. The dew will lie on the branches all night.


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I chose the right way for them and was their leader. I lived like a king among his army. I was like a person who gives comfort to sad people.


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“But now men who are younger than I make fun of me. I would not have even let their fathers sit with my sheep dogs.


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They were thin from being hungry and in need. They wandered through the dry and ruined land at night.


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Great fears overwhelm me. They blow my honor away as if by a great wind. My safety disappears like a cloud.


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I know you will bring me down to death. You will bring me to the place where all living people must go.


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I have not turned away from doing what is right. My heart has not been led by my eyes to do wrong. My hands have not been made unclean.


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If I have done these things, then let other people eat what I have planted. And let my crops be plowed up.


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“I have not desired another woman. I have never waited at my neighbor’s door to commit adultery with his wife.


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If I have done these things, then let my wife grind another man’s grain. And let other men have physical relations with her.


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If I have not, how could I tell God what I did? What will I answer when God asks me to explain what I’ve done?


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God made me in my mother’s womb, and he also made them. The same God formed both of us in our mothers’ wombs.


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“I have never refused anything the poor wanted. I have never let widows give up hope while looking for help.


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I have not let a person die because he had no clothes. I have not let a needy person go without a coat.


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This is because I dread destruction from God. I could not do such things because I fear his majesty.


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I have not thought about worshiping the sun in its brightness. I have not admired the moon moving in glory


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so that my heart was pulled away from God. My hand has never offered the sun and moon a kiss of worship.


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If I had, these also would have been sins to be punished. I would have been unfaithful to God if I had done these things.


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I was not so afraid of the crowd. I did not keep quiet and stay inside because I feared being hated by other families.


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(“How I wish a court would hear my case! Here I sign my name to show I have told the truth. Now let God All-Powerful answer me. Let the one who is against me write down what he accuses me of.


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I did not take the land’s harvest without paying. I did not break the spirit of those who took care of the land.


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If I did, then let thorns come up instead of wheat. And let weeds come up instead of barley.” The words of Job are finished.


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But Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite became very angry with Job. (Elihu was from the family of Ram.) He was angry because Job claimed he was right instead of God.


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Elihu was also angry with Job’s three friends. They had no answer to show that Job was wrong. And yet they continued to blame him.


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Now Elihu had waited before speaking to Job. This is because the three friends were older than he was.


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So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said this: “I am young, and you are old. That is why I was afraid to tell you what I know.


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But it is the spirit in a person that gives him understanding. It is the breath of God All-Powerful in him.


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It is not just older people who are wise. Older people are not the only ones who understand what is right.


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I waited while you spoke. I listened to your explanations. I waited while you looked for words to use.


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I paid close attention to you. But not one of you has proved Job wrong. Not one of you has answered his arguments.


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I am like wine that has been bottled up. I am ready to burst like a new leather bag for holding wine.


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God does speak—sometimes one way and sometimes another. He speaks even though men may not understand it.


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God may speak in a dream or a vision of the night. This is when men are in a deep sleep and lying in their beds.


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A man may be corrected while on his bed in great pain. He may have continual pain in his very bones.


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His body becomes so thin there is almost nothing left of it. And his bones that were hidden by flesh now stick out.


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“But there may be an angel on his side. The angel may be one out of a thousand who will speak for the man. He will tell the man what he should do.


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The angel will beg for mercy and say: ‘Save this man from the place of death. I have found a way to pay for his life.’


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Then his body is made new like a child’s body. It will be returned to the way it was when he was young.


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That person will pray to God, and God will listen to him. He will see God’s face and will shout with happiness. And God will set things right for him again.


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Then the man will say to other people, ‘I sinned and twisted what was right. But I did not receive the punishment I should have received.


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He does them so a person won’t die as punishment for his sins. He does it so the man may still enjoy life.


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Instead of getting a fair trial, I am called a liar. I have been seriously hurt, even though I have not sinned.’


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“So listen to me, you who can understand. God All-Powerful can never do wrong! It is impossible for God to do evil.


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God is the one who says to kings, ‘You are worth nothing.’ And he says to important people, ‘You are evil.’


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God is not better to princes than other people. He is not better to rich people than poor people. This is because he made them all with his own hands.


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They can die in a moment, in the middle of the night. The rich are struck down, and then they pass away. Powerful people die without man’s help.


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God does not need to watch people more closely. He does not need for men to come before him for judging.


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Without asking questions, God breaks powerful people into pieces. And he puts other people in their place.


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But if God keeps quiet, who can blame him? If he hides his face, no one can see him. But God still rules over both men and nations.


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So, Job, should God reward you the way you want when you will not change your heart and life? You must decide, not I. So tell me what you know.


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Job has sinned, and now he turns against God. He claps his hands as an insult. And he speaks more and more against God.”


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He makes us more clever than the animals of the earth. He makes us wiser than the birds of the air.’


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He will listen to you even less when you say you do not see him. He will not listen when you say your case is before him and you must wait for him.


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God does not stop watching over those who do right. He sets them on thrones with kings. And he lifts them up on high forever.


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If they obey and serve him, the rest of their lives will be successful. And the rest of their years will be happy.


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“People who have wicked hearts hold on to anger. Even when God ties them down with trouble, they do not cry for help.


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“God is gently calling you from the jaws of trouble. He is calling you to an open place of freedom. There he has set your table full of the best food.


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God is so great! He is greater than we can understand! No one can discover how many years he has been alive.


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No one understands how God spreads out the clouds. No one understands how he thunders from where he lives.


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He turns his lightning loose under the whole sky. And he sends it to the farthest parts of the earth.


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After that you can hear the roar when he thunders with a great sound. He does not hold back the flashing when his voice is heard.


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Tell us what we should say to God. We cannot get our arguments ready because we do not have enough understanding.


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Should God be told that I want to speak? A man might try to speak to God, but he would surely be swallowed up.


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No one can look at the sun when it is bright in the sky after the wind has blown all the clouds away.


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God All-Powerful is too high for us to reach. He has great strength. He is always right and never punishes unfairly.


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Who did all this while the morning stars sang together? Who did this while the angels shouted with joy?


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It was when I said to the sea, ‘You may come this far, but no farther. This is where your proud waves must stop.’


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At dawn the earth changes like clay being pressed by a seal. The hills and valleys stand out like folds in a coat.


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“Have you ever gone into the storehouse where snow is kept? Or have you seen the storehouses for hail?


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How do you get to the place where light comes from? Or where is the place from which the east winds are scattered over the earth?


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Can you bring out the stars at the right times? Or can you lead out the stars of the Bear with its cubs?


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Can you send lightning bolts on their way? Do the flashes of lightning report to you and say, ‘Here we are’?


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Who gives food to the birds when their young cry out to God? And who gives them food when they wander about without any?


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“Do you know when the mountain goats give birth? Do you watch when the deer gives birth to her fawn?


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Do you count the months until they give birth? Do you know when the time is right for them to give birth?


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Their young ones grow and become strong in the wild country. Then they leave their homes and do not come back.


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I am the one who gave the donkey the desert as his home. I gave him the desert lands as a place to live.


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Will you depend on the wild ox for his great strength? Will you leave your heavy work for him to do?


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“The wings of the ostrich flap happily. But the ostrich’s wings are not as beautiful as the feathers of the stork.


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She does not stop to think that a foot might step on them and crush them. She does not care that some animal might walk on them.


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The ostrich is cruel to her young, as if they were not even hers. She does not care that her work is for nothing.


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With great excitement, the horse races over the ground. He cannot stand still when he hears the trumpet.


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When the trumpet blows, the horse snorts, ‘Aha!’ He smells the battle from far away. He hears the thunder of commanders and the shouts of battle.


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“Will the person who argues with God All-Powerful correct him? Let the person who accuses God answer him!”


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I spoke one time, but I will not answer again. I even spoke two times, but I will say nothing more.”


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If so, then decorate yourself with glory and beauty. And put on honor and greatness as if they were clothing.


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If the river floods, he will not be afraid. He is not afraid even if the Jordan River rushes to his mouth.


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Can you stick him with darts until his skin is full of them? Or can you fill his head with fishing spears?


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The underside of his body is like broken pieces of pottery. It leaves a trail in the mud like a threshing board.


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When he swims, he leaves a shining path in the water. It makes the sea look as if it had white hair.


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You asked, ‘Who is this that made my purpose unclear by saying things that are not true?’ Surely I talked about things I did not understand. I spoke of things too wonderful for me to know.


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End of the Story After the Lord had said these things to Job, he spoke to Eliphaz the Temanite. The Lord said to him, “I am angry with you and your two friends. This is because you have not said what is right about me. But my servant Job did.


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So now take seven bulls and seven male sheep. Go to my servant Job. And offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you. And I will listen to his prayer. Then I will not punish you for being foolish. You have not said what is right about me. But my servant Job did.”


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So Eliphaz the Temanite did as the Lord told him to do. Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite also did as the Lord said. And the Lord listened to Job’s prayer.


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After Job had prayed for his friends, God gave him success again. God gave Job twice as much as he had owned before.


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Job’s brothers and sisters came to his house. Everyone who had known him before came to his house. And they all ate with him there. They comforted Job and spoke kindly to him. They made him feel better about the trouble the Lord had brought on him. And each one gave Job a piece of silver and a gold ring.


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The Lord blessed the last part of Job’s life even more than the first part. Job had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels. He had 1,000 pairs of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys.


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He named the first daughter Jemimah. The second daughter he named Keziah. And his third daughter he named Keren-Happuch.


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There were no other women in all the land as beautiful as Job’s daughters. And their father Job gave them land to own along with their brothers.


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After this, Job lived 140 years. He lived to see his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.


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Book 1 Psalms 1—41 Two Ways to Live Happy is the person who doesn’t listen to the wicked. He doesn’t go where sinners go. He doesn’t do what bad people do.


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He is strong, like a tree planted by a river. It produces fruit in season. Its leaves don’t die. Everything he does will succeed.


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The kings of the earth prepare to fight. Their leaders make plans together against the Lord and his appointed king.


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“Let’s break the chains that hold us prisoners. Let’s throw off the ropes that tie us,” the nations say.


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Now I will tell you what the Lord has declared: He said to me, “You are my son. Today I have become your father.


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You will make them obey you by punishing them with an iron rod. You will break them into pieces like pottery.”


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Show that you are loyal to his son. Otherwise you will be destroyed. He can quickly become angry. But happy are those who trust him for protection.


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A Morning Prayer David sang this when he ran away from his son Absalom. Lord, I have many enemies! Many people have turned against me.


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Lord, rise up! My God, come save me! You have hit my enemies on the cheek. You have broken the teeth of the wicked.


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An Evening Prayer For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A song of David. Answer me when I pray to you, my God who does what is right. Lift the load that I carry. Be kind to me and hear my prayer.


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People, how long will you turn my honor into shame? You love what is false, and you look for new lies. Selah


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You know that the Lord has chosen for himself those who are loyal to him. The Lord listens when I pray to him.


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A Morning Prayer for Protection For the director of music. For flutes. A song of David. Lord, listen to my words. Understand what I am thinking.


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Lord, every morning you hear my voice. Every morning, I tell you what I need. And I wait for your answer.


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Because of your great love, I can come into your Temple. Because I fear and respect you, I can worship in your holy Temple.


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Lord, since I have many enemies, show me the right thing to do. Show me clearly how you want me to live.


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With their mouths my enemies do not tell the truth. In their hearts they want to destroy people. Their throats are like open graves. They use their tongues for telling lies.


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God, declare them guilty! Let them fall into their own traps. Send them away because their sins are many. They have turned against you.


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But let everyone who trusts you be happy. Let them sing glad songs forever. Protect those who love you. They are happy because of you.


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A Prayer for Mercy in Troubled Times For the director of music. With stringed instruments. By the sheminith. A song of David. Lord, don’t correct me when you are angry. Don’t punish me when you are very angry.


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A Prayer for Fairness A shiggaion of David which he sang to the Lord about Cush, from the tribe of Benjamin. Lord my God, I trust in you for protection. Save me and rescue me from those who are chasing me.


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If I have, let my enemy chase me and capture me. Let him trample me into the dust. Let him bury me in the ground. Selah


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Lord, judge the people. Lord, defend me. Prove that I am right. Show that I have done no wrong, God Most High.


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God, you do what is right. You know our thoughts and feelings. Stop those wicked actions done by evil people. And help those who do what is right.


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God’s Greatness and Man’s Worth For the director of music. By the gittith. A song of David. Lord our Master, your name is the most wonderful name in all the earth! It brings you praise in heaven above.


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You have taught children and babies to sing praises to you. This is because of your enemies. And so you silence your enemies and destroy those who try to get even.


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Thanksgiving for Victory For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A song of David. I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell all the miracles you have done.


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You spoke strongly against the foreign nations and destroyed the wicked people. You wiped out their names forever and ever.


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The Lord has made himself known by his fair decisions. The wicked get trapped by what they do. Higgaion. Selah


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The wicked people are too proud. They do not look for God. There is no room for God in their thoughts.


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They hide near the villages. They look for innocent people to kill. They watch in secret for the helpless.


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Lord, surely you see these cruel and evil things. Look at them and do something. People in trouble look to you for help. You are the one who helps the orphans.


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A Statement About Trust in God For the director of music. Of David. I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me, “Fly like a bird to your mountain.


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Like hunters, the wicked string their bows. They set their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from dark places at those who are honest.


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The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord sits on his throne in heaven. And he sees what people do. He keeps his eye on them.


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A Prayer Against Liars For the director of music. By the sheminith. A song of David. Save me, Lord, because the good people are all gone. No true believers are left on earth.


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But the Lord says, “I will now rise up because the poor are being hurt. Because of the moans of the helpless, I will give them the help they want.”


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The Lord’s words are pure. They are like silver purified by fire, like silver purified seven times over.


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A Prayer for God to Be Near For the director of music. A song of David. How long will you forget me, Lord? How long will you hide from me? Forever?


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The Unbelieving Fool For the director of music. Of David. A wicked fool says to himself, “There is no God.” Fools are evil. They do terrible things. None of them does anything good.


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The Lord looked down from heaven at all the people. He looked to see if anyone was wise, if anyone was looking to God for help.


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Don’t the wicked understand? They destroy my people as if they were eating bread. They do not ask the Lord for help.


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I pray that victory will come to Israel from Mount Zion! May the Lord give them back their riches. Then the people of Jacob will rejoice. And the people of Israel will be glad.


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What God Demands A song of David. Lord, who may enter your Holy Tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?


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He must not respect hateful people. He must honor those who honor the Lord. He must keep his promises to his neighbor, even when it hurts.


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He must not charge interest on money he lends. And he must not take money to hurt innocent people. Whoever does all these things will never be destroyed.


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But those who turn to idols will have much pain. I will not offer blood to those idols. I won’t even speak their names.


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You will teach me God’s way to live. Being with you will fill me with joy. At your right hand I will find pleasure forever.


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A Prayer for Protection A prayer of David. Lord, hear me begging for fairness. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer. I speak the truth.


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You have examined my heart. You have tested me all night. You questioned me without finding anything wrong. I did not plan any evil.


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Lord, save me from them by your power. Their reward is in this life. They have plenty of food. They have many sons. They leave money to their children.


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Because I have lived right, I will see your face. When I wake up, I will see your likeness and be satisfied.


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A Song of Victory For the director of music. By the Lord’s servant, David. David sang this song to the Lord. He sang it when the Lord had saved him from Saul and all his other enemies. I love you, Lord. You are my strength.


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The Lord is my rock, my protection, my Savior. My God is my rock. I can run to him for safety. He is my shield and my saving strength, my high tower.


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In my trouble I called to the Lord. I cried out to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice. My call for help reached his ears.


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The earth trembled and shook. The foundations of the mountains began to shake. They shook because the Lord was angry.


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Lord, you spoke strongly. The wind blew from your nose. The valleys of the sea appeared. The foundations of the earth were seen.


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The ways of God are without fault. The Lord’s words are pure. He is a shield to those who trust him.


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You protect me with your saving shield. You support me with your right hand. You have stooped to make me great.


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I beat my enemies into pieces. They were like dust in the wind. I poured them out like mud in the streets.


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You saved me when the people attacked me. You made me the leader of nations. People I never knew serve me.


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The Lord gives great victories to his king. He is loyal to his appointed king, to David and his descendants forever.


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God’s Works and Word For the director of music. A song of David. The heavens tell the glory of God. And the skies announce what his hands have made.


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But their message goes out through all the world. It goes everywhere on earth. The sky is like a home for the sun.


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The sun comes out like a bridegroom from his bedroom. It rejoices like an athlete eager to run a race.


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The sun rises at one end of the sky, and it follows its path to the other end. Nothing hides from its heat.


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The Lord’s teachings are perfect. They give new strength. The Lord’s rules can be trusted. They make plain people wise.


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The Lord’s orders are right. They make people happy. The Lord’s commands are pure. They light up the way.


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It is good to respect the Lord. That respect will last forever. The Lord’s judgments are true. They are completely right.


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They are worth more than gold, even the purest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even the finest honey.


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Keep me from the sins that I want to do. Don’t let them rule me. Then I can be pure and free from the greatest of sins.


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A Prayer for the King For the director of music. A song of David. May the Lord answer you in times of trouble. May the God of Jacob protect you.


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We will shout for joy when you succeed. We will raise a flag in the name of our God. May the Lord give you all that you ask for.


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Now I know the Lord helps his appointed king. He answers him from his holy heaven. He saves him with his strong right hand.


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Thanksgiving for the King For the director of music. A song of David. Lord, the king rejoices because of your strength. He is so happy when you save him!


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When you appear, you will burn them like wood in a furnace. In your anger you will eat them up. Your fire will burn them up.


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The Prayer of a Suffering Man For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of Dawn.” A song of David. My God, my God, why have you left me alone? You are too far away to save me. You are too far away to hear my moans.


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They called to you for help. And they were rescued. They trusted you. And they were not disappointed.


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They say, “Turn to the Lord for help. Maybe he will save you. If he likes you, maybe he will rescue you.”


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I have leaned on you since the day I was born. You have been my God since my mother gave birth to me.


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My strength is gone like water poured out onto the ground. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It has melted inside me.


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My strength has dried up like a piece of a broken pot. My tongue sticks to the top of my mouth. You laid me in the dust of death.


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Then I will tell my brothers and sisters about you. I will praise you when your people meet to worship you.


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Praise the Lord, all you who worship him. All you descendants of Jacob, honor him. Fear him, all you Israelites.


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The Lord does not ignore the one who is in trouble. He doesn’t hide from him. He listens when the one in trouble calls out to him.


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Lord, I praise you in the great meeting of your people. These worshipers will see me do what I promised.


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Poor people will eat until they are full. Those who look to the Lord will praise him. May your hearts live forever!


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People everywhere will remember and will turn to the Lord. All the families of the nations will worship him.


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Even if I walk through a very dark valley, I will not be afraid because you are with me. Your rod and your shepherd’s staff comfort me.


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You prepare a meal for me in front of my enemies. You pour oil of blessing on my head. You give me more than I can hold.


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Surely your goodness and love will be with me all my life. And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.


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A Welcome for God into the Temple A song of David. The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord. The world and all its people belong to him.


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Only those with clean hands and pure hearts. They must not have worshiped idols. They must not have made promises in the name of a false god.


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It is they who will receive a blessing from the Lord. The God who saves them will declare them right.


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Do not remember the sins and wrong things I did when I was young. But remember to love me always because you are good, Lord.


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The Prayer of an Innocent Man Of David. Lord, defend me. I have lived an innocent life. I trusted the Lord and never doubted.


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A Song of Trust in God Of David. The Lord is my light and the one who saves me. So why should I fear anyone? The Lord protects my life. So why should I be afraid?


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Evil people may try to destroy my body. My enemies and those who hate me attack me. But they are overwhelmed and defeated.


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I ask only one thing from the Lord. This is what I want: Let me live in the Lord’s house all my life. Let me see the Lord’s beauty. Let me look around in his Temple.


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During danger he will keep me safe in his shelter. He will hide me in his Holy Tent. Or he will keep me safe on a high mountain.


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My head is higher than my enemies around me. I will offer joyful sacrifices in his Holy Tent. I will sing and praise the Lord.


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Do not turn away from me. Do not turn your servant away in anger. You have helped me. Do not push me away or leave me alone, God, my Savior.


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A Prayer in Troubled Times Of David. Lord, my Rock, I call out to you for help. Do not be deaf to me. If you are silent, I will be like those in the grave.


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Hear the sound of my prayer, when I cry out to you for help. I raise my hands toward your Most Holy Place.


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Don’t drag me away with the wicked, with those who do evil. They say, “Peace” to their neighbors. But evil is in their hearts.


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Pay them back for what they have done. They have done evil. Pay them back for what they have done. Give them their reward.


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They don’t understand what the Lord has done or what he has made. So he will knock them down and not lift them up.


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The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him, and he helps me. I am very happy. And I praise him with my song.


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God in the Thunderstorm A song of David. Praise the Lord, you angels. Praise the Lord’s glory and power.


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The Lord’s voice is heard over the sea. The glorious God thunders. The Lord thunders over the great ocean.


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The Lord’s voice shakes the oaks. The leaves fall off the trees. In his Temple everyone says, “Glory to God!”


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Thanksgiving for Escaping Death A song of David. A song for giving the Temple to the Lord. I will praise you, Lord, because you rescued me. You did not let my enemies laugh at me.


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His anger lasts only a moment. But his kindness lasts for a lifetime. Crying may last for a night. But joy comes in the morning.


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I said, “What good will it do if I die or if I go down to the grave? Dust cannot praise you. It cannot speak about your truth.


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You changed my sorrow into dancing. You took away my rough cloth, which shows sadness, and clothed me in happiness.


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A Prayer of Faith in Troubled Times For the director of music. A song of David. Lord, I trust in you. Let me never be disgraced. Save me because you do what is right.


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Lord, have mercy. I am in misery. My eyes are weak from so much crying. My whole being is tired from grief.


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My life is ending in sadness. My years are spent in crying. My troubles are using up my strength. My bones are getting weaker.


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Because of all my troubles, my enemies hate me. Even my neighbors look down on me. When my friends see me, they are afraid and run.


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I have heard many insults. Terror is all around me. They make plans against me. They want to kill me.


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Lord, I called to you. So do not let me be disgraced. Let the wicked be disgraced. Let them lie silent in the grave.


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How great is your goodness! You have stored it up for those who fear you. You do good things for those who trust you. You do this for all to see.


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You protect them by your presence from what people plan against them. You keep them safe in your shelter from evil words.


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In my distress, I said, “God cannot see me!” But you heard my prayer when I cried out to you for help.


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Love the Lord, all you who belong to him. The Lord protects those who truly believe. But he punishes the proud as much as they have sinned.


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It Is Better to Confess Sin A maskil of David. Happy is the person whose sins are forgiven, whose wrongs are pardoned.


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Then I confessed my sins to you. I didn’t hide my guilt. I said, “I will confess my sins to the Lord.” And you forgave my guilt. Selah


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For this reason, all who obey you should pray to you while they still can. When troubles rise like a flood, they will not reach them.


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You are my hiding place. You protect me from my troubles. You fill me with songs of salvation. Selah


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The Lord says, “I will make you wise. I will show you where to go. I will guide you and watch over you.


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So don’t be like a horse or donkey. They don’t understand. They must be led with bits and reins, or they will not come near you.”


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Praise God Who Creates and Saves Sing to the Lord, you who do what is right. Honest people should praise him.


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Praise God Who Judges and Saves David’s song from the time he acted crazy so Abimelech would send him away. And David did leave. I will praise the Lord at all times. His praise is always on my lips.


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Even lions may become weak and hungry. But those people who go to the Lord for help will have every good thing.


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A Prayer for Help Of David. Lord, battle with those who battle with me. Fight against those who fight against me.


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Make those who want to kill me be ashamed and disgraced. Make those who plan to harm me turn back and run away.


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So let ruin strike them suddenly. Let them be caught in their own nets. Let them fall into the pit and die.


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Even my bones will say, “Lord, who is like you? You save the weak from the strong. You save the weak and poor from robbers.”


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Yet when they were sick, I put on rough cloth to show my sadness. I showed my sorrow by going without food. But my prayers were not answered.


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I acted as if they were my friends or brothers. I bowed in sadness as if I were crying for my mother.


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But when I was in trouble, they gathered and laughed. They gathered to attack before I knew it. They insulted me without stopping.


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Lord, how long will you watch this happen? Save my life from their attacks. Save me from these people who are like lions.


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Do not let my enemies laugh at me. They hate me for no reason. Do not let them make fun of me. They have no reason to hate me.


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Let them be ashamed and embarrassed. They were happy when I hurt. Cover them with shame and disgrace. They thought they were better than I was.


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May my friends sing and shout for joy. May they always say, “Praise the greatness of the Lord. He loves to see his servants do well.”


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Wicked Men and a Good God For the director of music. Of David, the servant of the Lord. Sin speaks to the wicked man in his heart. He has no fear of or respect for God.


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At night he makes evil plans. What he does leads to nothing good. He doesn’t refuse things that are evil.


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Your goodness is as high as the mountains. Your justice is as deep as the great ocean. Lord, you protect both men and animals.


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God Will Reward Fairly Of David. Don’t be upset because of evil people. Don’t be jealous of those who do wrong.


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In a little while there will be no more wicked people. You may look for them, but they will be gone.


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The wicked draw their swords. They bend their bows. They try to kill the poor and helpless. They want to kill those who are honest.


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But the wicked will die. The Lord’s enemies will be like the flowers of the fields. They will disappear like smoke.


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I was young, and now I am old. But I have never seen the Lord leave good people helpless. I have never seen their children begging for food.


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The Lord loves justice. He will not leave those who worship him. He will always protect them. But the children of the wicked will die.


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Wait for the Lord’s help and follow him. He will honor you and give you the land. And you will see the wicked people sent away.


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Think of the innocent person. Watch the honest one. The man who has peace will have children to live after him.


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The Lord helps them and saves them. He saves them from the wicked because they trust in him for protection.


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A Prayer in Time of Sickness A song of David to remember. Lord, don’t correct me when you are angry. Don’t punish me when you are very angry.


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Some people set traps to kill me. Those who want to hurt me plan trouble. All day long they think up lies.


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Life Is Short For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A song of David. I said, “I will be careful how I act. I will not sin by what I say. I will be careful what I say around wicked people.”


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You have given me only a short life. My lifetime is like nothing to you. Everyone’s life is only a breath. Selah


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A person is like a shadow moving about. All his work is for nothing. He collects things, but he doesn’t know who will get them.


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You correct and punish people for their sins. Like a moth, you destroy what they love. Everyone’s life is only a breath. Selah


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“Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry. Do not ignore my tears. I am like a visitor with you. Like my ancestors, I’m only here a short time.


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Praise and Prayer for Help For the director of music. A song of David. I waited patiently for the Lord. He turned to me and heard my cry.


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He lifted me out of the pit of destruction, out of the sticky mud. He stood me on a rock. He made my feet steady.


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He put a new song in my mouth. It was a song of praise to our God. Many people will see this and worship him. Then they will trust the Lord.


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Happy is the person who trusts the Lord. He doesn’t turn to those who are proud, to those who worship false gods.


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Lord our God, you have done many miracles. Your plans for us are many. If I tried to tell them all, there would be too many to count.


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You do not want sacrifices and offerings. But you have made a hole in my ear to show that my body and life are yours. You do not ask for burnt offerings and offerings to take away sins.


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I will tell about your goodness in the great meeting of your people. Lord, you know my lips are not silent.


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I do not hide your goodness in my heart. I speak about your loyalty and salvation. I do not hide your love and truth from the people in the great meeting.


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Troubles have gathered around me. There are too many to count. My sins have caught me. I cannot see a way to escape. I have more sins than hairs on my head. I have lost my courage.


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People are trying to kill me. Shame them and disgrace them. People want to hurt me. Let them run away in disgrace.


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But let those who follow you be happy and glad. They love you for saving them. May they always say, “Praise the Lord!”


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Lord, I am poor and helpless. But please remember me. You are my helper and savior. My God, do not wait.


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A Prayer in Time of Sickness For the director of music. A song of David. Happy is the person who thinks about the poor. When trouble comes, the Lord will save him.


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The Lord will protect him and spare his life. The Lord will bless him in the land. The Lord will not let his enemies take him.


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Book 2 Psalms 42—72 Wishing to Be Near God For the director of music. A maskil of the sons of Korah. A deer thirsts for a stream of water. In the same way, I thirst for you, God.


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When I remember these things, I speak with a broken heart. I used to walk with the crowd. I led the happy crowd to God’s Temple, with songs of praise.


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Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? I should put my hope in God. I should keep praising him, My Savior and


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my God. I am very sad. So I remember you while I am in the land where the Jordan River begins. I will remember you while I am near the Hermon mountains and on the mountain of Mizar.


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Troubles have come again and again. They sound like waterfalls. Your waves are crashing all around me.


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My enemies’ insults make me feel as if my bones were broken. They are always saying, “Where is your God?”


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Why am I so sad? Why am I so upset? I should put my hope in God. I should keep praising him, my Savior and my God.


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A Prayer for Protection God, defend me. Argue my case against those who don’t follow you. Save me from liars and those who do evil.


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Send me your light and truth. They will guide me. Lead me to your holy mountain. Lead me to where you live.


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I will go to the altar of God, to God who is my joy and happiness. I will praise you with a harp, God, my God.


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A Prayer for Help For the director of music. A maskil of the sons of Korah. God, we have heard about you. Our ancestors told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.


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With your power you forced the nations out of the land. You placed our ancestors here. You destroyed those other nations. But you made our ancestors grow strong.


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It wasn’t their swords that took the land. It wasn’t their power that gave them victory. But it was your great power and strength. You were with them because you loved them.


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All these things have happened to us, but we have not forgotten you. We have kept our agreement with you.


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But for you we are in danger of death all the time. People think we are worth no more than sheep to be killed.


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A Song for the King’s Wedding For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” A maskil. A love song of the sons of Korah. Beautiful words fill my mind. I am speaking of royal things. My tongue is like the pen of a skilled writer.


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You love right and hate evil. So God has chosen you to rule those with you. Your God has given you much joy.


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Your clothes smell like myrrh, aloes and cassia. From palaces of ivory music comes to make you happy.


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Kings’ daughters are among your honored women. Your bride stands at your right side wearing gold from Ophir.


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In her beautiful clothes she is brought to the king. Her bridesmaids follow behind her. And they are also brought to him.


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You will have sons to take the place of your ancestors. You will make them rulers through all the land.


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God Protects His People For the director of music. By alamoth. A song of the sons of Korah. God is our protection and our strength. He always helps in times of trouble.


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We will not fear even if the oceans roar and foam, or if the mountains shake at the raging sea. Selah


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There is a river which brings joy to the city of God. This is the holy place where God Most High lives.


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He stops wars everywhere on the earth. He breaks all bows and spears and burns up the chariots with fire.


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God says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be praised in all the nations. I will be praised throughout the earth.”


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God, the King of the World For the director of music. A song of the sons of Korah. Clap your hands, all you people. Shout to God with joy.


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The leaders of the nations meet with the people of the God of Abraham. Even the leaders of the earth belong to God. He is supreme.


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Jerusalem, the City of God A song of the sons of Korah. The Lord is great; he should be praised in the city of our God, on his holy mountain.


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It is high and beautiful. It brings joy to the whole world. Mount Zion is like the high mountains of the north. It is the city of the Great King.


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First we heard. And now we have seen that God will always keep his city safe. It is the city of the Lord of heaven’s armies, the city of our God. Selah


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God, your name is known everywhere. Everywhere on earth people praise you. Your right hand is full of goodness.


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Notice how strong they are. Look at the palaces. Then you will be able to tell your children about them.


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Trusting Money Is Foolish For the director of music. A song of the sons of Korah. Listen to this, all you nations. Listen, all you who live on earth.


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Their graves will always be their homes. They will live there from now on, even though they named places after themselves.


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This is what will happen to people who trust in themselves. And this will happen to their followers who believe them. Selah


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Like sheep, they must die. And death will be their shepherd. Honest people will rule over them in the morning. Their bodies will rot in a grave far from home.


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God Wants True Worship A song of Asaph. The God of gods, the Lord, speaks. He calls the earth from the rising to the setting sun.


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He says, “You who worship me, gather around. You have made an agreement with me, using a sacrifice.”


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I have kept quiet while you did these things. So you thought I was just like you. But I will scold you. I will accuse you to your face.


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“Think about this, you people who forget God. Otherwise, I will tear you apart, and no one will save you.


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Those people honor me who give me offerings to show thanks. And I, God, will save those who do that.”


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A Prayer for Forgiveness For the director of music. A song of David when the prophet Nathan came to David after David’s sin with Bathsheba. God, be merciful to me because you are loving. Because you are always ready to be merciful, wipe out all my wrongs.


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You are the one I have sinned against. I have done what you say is wrong. So you are right when you speak. You are fair when you judge me.


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God, save me from the guilt of murder. God, you are the one who saves me. I will sing about your goodness.


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The sacrifice God wants is a willing spirit. God, you will not reject a heart that is broken and sorry for its sin.


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Then you will be pleased with right sacrifices and whole burnt offerings. And bulls will be offered on your altar.


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God Will Punish the Proud For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite came to Saul and said to him, “David is in Ahimelech’s house.” Mighty warrior, why do you brag about the evil you do? God’s love will continue forever.


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But God will ruin you forever. He will grab you and throw you out of your tent. He will tear you away from the land of the living. Selah


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“Look what happened to the man who did not depend on God. Instead, he depended on his money. He grew strong by his evil plans.”


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God, I will thank you forever for what you have done. With those who worship you, I will trust you because you are good.


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The Unbelieving Fool For the director of music. By mahalath. A maskil of David. A wicked fool says to himself, “There is no God.” Fools are evil. They do terrible things. None of them does anything good.


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God looked down from heaven at all the people. He looked to see if anyone was wise, if anyone was looking to God for help.


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Don’t the wicked understand? They destroy my people as if they were eating bread. They have not asked God for help.


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The wicked became filled with terror where there had been nothing to be terrified of. God will scatter the bones of your enemies. You will defeat them, because God has rejected them.


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I pray that victory will come to Israel from Mount Zion! May God give them back their riches. Then the people of Jacob will rejoice. And the people of Israel will be glad.


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A Prayer for Help For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David when the Ziphites went to Saul and said, “We think David is hiding among our people.” God, save me because of who you are. By your strength show that I am innocent.


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A Prayer About a False Friend For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A maskil of David. God, listen to my prayer. Do not ignore my prayer.


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by what the enemy says and how the wicked look at me. They bring troubles down on me. In anger they attack me.


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It was not an enemy insulting me. I could stand that. It was not someone who hated me. I could hide from him.


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Let death take away my enemies. Let them die while they are still young because evil lives with them.


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God who lives forever will hear me and punish them. But they will not change. They do not fear God. Selah


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His words are slippery like butter. But war is in his heart. His words are smoother than oil, but they cut like knives.


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But, God, you will bring down the wicked to the grave. Murderers and liars will live only half a lifetime. But I will trust in you.


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Trusting God for Help For the director of music. To the tune of “The Dove in the Distant Oak.” A miktam of David when the Philistines captured him in Gath. God, be merciful to me because people are chasing me. The battle has pressed me all day long.


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You have saved me from death. You have kept me from being defeated. So I will walk with God in light among the living.


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A Prayer in Troubled Times For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A miktam of David when he escaped from Saul in a cave. Be merciful to me, God. Be merciful to me because I come to you for protection. I will come to you as a bird comes for protection under its mother’s wings until the trouble has passed.


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He sends help from heaven and saves me. He punishes those who attack me. Selah God sends me his love and truth.


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Enemies are like lions all around me. I must lie down among them. Their teeth are like spears and arrows. Their tongues are as sharp as swords.


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They set a trap for me. I am very worried. They dug a pit in my path. But they fell into it themselves. Selah


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Lord, I will praise you among the nations. I will sing songs of praise about you to all the nations.


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Unfair Judges For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A miktam of David. Do you rulers really say what is right? Do you judge people fairly?


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Let them be like snails that melt as they move. Let them be like a child born dead who never saw the sun.


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Good people will be glad when they see him get even. They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.


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Then people will say, “There really are rewards for doing what is right. There really is a God who judges the world.”


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A Prayer for Protection For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A miktam of David when Saul sent men to watch David’s house to kill him. God, save me from my enemies. Protect me from those who come against me.


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You are the Lord God of heaven’s armies, the God of Israel. Come and punish those people. Do not give those traitors any mercy. Selah


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Lord, our protector, do not kill them. If you do, my people will forget. With your power scatter them and defeat them.


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They sin by what they say. They sin with their words. They curse and tell lies. So let their pride trap them.


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Destroy them in your anger. Destroy them completely! Then they will know that God rules over Israel and to the ends of the earth. Selah


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But I will sing about your strength. In the morning I will sing about your love. You are my protection, my place of safety in times of trouble.


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A Prayer After a Defeat For the director of music. To the tune of “Lily of the Agreement.” A miktam of David. For teaching. When David fought the Arameans of Northwest Mesopotamia and Zobah, and when Joab returned and defeated 12,000 Edomites at the Valley of Salt. God, you have rejected us and scattered us. You have been angry, but please come back to us.


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You have given your people trouble. You made us unable to walk straight, like people drunk with wine.


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A Prayer for Protection For the director of music. With stringed instruments. Of David. God, hear my cry. Listen to my prayer.


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Let me live in your Holy Tent forever. Protect me as a bird protects its young under its wings. Selah


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Trust Only in God For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A song of David. I wait patiently for God. Only he can save me.


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How long will you attack me? Will all of you throw me down? I am like a leaning wall, like a fence ready to fall.


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You are planning to make me fall. You enjoy telling lies about me. With your mouth you bless me. But in your heart you curse me. Selah


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People are only a breath. Even the greatest men are just a lie. On the scales, they weigh nothing. Together they are only a breath.


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Do not trust in force. Stealing is of no use. Even if you gain more riches, don’t put your trust in them.


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Wishing to Be Near God A song of David when he was in the desert of Judah. God, you are my God. I want to follow you. My whole being thirsts for you, like a man in a dry, empty land where there is no water.


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But the king will rejoice in his God. All who make promises in his name will praise him. But the mouths of liars will be shut.


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A Prayer Against Enemies For the director of music. A song of David. God, listen to my complaint. I am afraid of my enemies. Protect my life from them.


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They encourage each other to do wrong. They talk about setting traps. They think no one will see them.


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Then everyone will fear God. They will tell what God has done. They will learn from what he has done.


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Good people will be happy in the Lord. They will find protection in him. Let everyone who is honest praise the Lord.


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A Hymn of Thanksgiving For the director of music. A song of David. God, you will be praised in Jerusalem. We will keep our promises to you.


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Happy are the people you choose. You have them stay in your courtyards. We are filled with good things in your house, your holy Temple.


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You answer us in amazing ways, God our Savior. People everywhere on the earth and beyond the sea trust you.


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Even those people at the ends of the earth fear your miracles. You are praised from where the sun rises to where it sets.


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You take care of the land and water it. You make it very fertile. The rivers of God are full of water. Grain grows because you make it grow.


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You cause rain to fall on the plowed fields. You soak them with water. You soften the ground with rain. And then you bless it.


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The pastures are full of sheep. The valleys are covered with grain. Everything shouts and sings for joy.


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Praise God for Answering Prayers For the director of music. A song of praise. Everything on earth, shout with joy to God!


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He turned the sea into dry land. The people crossed the river on foot. So let us rejoice because of what he did.


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He rules forever with his power. He keeps his eye on the nations. So people should not turn against him. Selah


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You let our enemies walk on our heads. We went through fire and flood. But you brought us to a place with good things.


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Everyone Should Praise God For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A song of praise. God, have mercy on us and bless us. Show your kindness to us. Selah


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The nations should be glad and sing because you judge people fairly. You guide all the nations on earth. Selah


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Praise God Who Saved the Nation For the director of music. A song of David. Let God come and scatter his enemies. Let those who hate him run away.


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Blow them away as smoke is driven away by the wind. As wax melts before a fire, let the wicked be destroyed before God.


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But those who do right should be glad. They should rejoice before God. They should be happy and glad.


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Sing to God. Sing praises to his name. Prepare the way for him who rides through the desert. His name is the Lord. Rejoice before him.


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God gives the lonely a home. He leads prisoners out with joy. But those who turn against God will live in a dry land.


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The ground shook, and the sky poured down rain before God, the God of Mount Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.


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Why do you mountains with many peaks look down on Mount Zion, which God chose for his home? The Lord will live there forever.


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He went up to the heights. He led a parade of captives. He received the payment he demanded from the people, even from those who turned against him. And the Lord God will live there.


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The Lord said, “I will bring the enemy back from Bashan. I will bring them back from the depths of the sea.


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The singers are in front, and the instruments are behind. In the middle are the girls with the tambourines.


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There is the smallest tribe, Benjamin, leading them. And there are the leaders of Judah with their group. There also are the leaders of Zebulun and of Naphtali.


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Punish Egypt, the beast among the tall grass along the river. Punish the leaders of nations, those bulls among the cows. Then they will bring you their silver. Scatter those nations that love war.


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Sing to the one who rides through the skies, which are from long ago. He speaks with a thundering voice.


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God, you are wonderful in your Temple. The God of Israel gives his people strength and power. Praise God!


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A Cry for Help For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies.” A song of David. God, save me. The water has risen to my neck.


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I’m sinking down into the mud. There is nothing to stand on. I am in deep water. The flood covers me.


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I am tired from calling for help. My throat is sore. My eyes are tired from waiting for God to help me.


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There are more people who hate me for no reason than hairs on my head. Those who want to destroy me are powerful. My enemies are liars. They make me pay back what I did not steal.


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Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, do not let those who hope in you be ashamed because of me. God of Israel, do not let your worshipers be disgraced because of me.


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But I pray to you, Lord. I pray that you will accept me. God, because of your great love, answer me. You are truly able to save.


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Do not let the flood drown me. Do not let the deep water swallow me. Do not let the grave close its mouth over me.


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Insults have broken my heart. I am weak. I looked for sympathy, but there was none. I found no one to comfort me.


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That will please the Lord more than offering him cattle. It will please him more than the sacrifice of a bull with horns and hooves.


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God will save Jerusalem. He will rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will live there and own the land.


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A Cry for God to Help Quickly For the director of music. A song of David. To help people remember. God, save me. Lord, hurry to help me.


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But let all the people who worship you rejoice and be glad. Let the people who love your salvation always say, “Praise the greatness of God.”


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Be my place of safety where I can always come. Give the command to save me. You are my rock and my strong, walled city.


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I have depended on you since I was born. You have been my help from the day I was born. I will always praise you.


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Let them be ashamed. Destroy those who accuse me. They are trying to hurt me. Cover them with shame and disgrace.


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I will tell about how you do what is right. I will tell about your salvation all day long, even though it is more than I can tell.


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I will come and tell about your powerful works, Lord God. I will tell only about you and how you do what is right.


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Even though I am old and gray, do not leave me, God. I will tell the children about your power. I will tell those who will live after me about your might.


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You have given me many troubles and bad times. But you will give me life again. When I am almost dead, you will keep me alive.


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I will praise you with the harp. I trust you, my God. I will sing to you with the lyre. You are the Holy One of Israel.


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I will tell about your justice all day long. And those who want to hurt me will be ashamed and disgraced.


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A Prayer for the King Of Solomon. God, give the king your good judgment and the king’s son your goodness.


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Help him live as long as the sun shines. Help him rule as long as the moon glows. Let him be king from now on!


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Let the kings of Tarshish and the faraway lands bring him gifts. Let the kings of Sheba and Seba bring their presents to him.


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He will help the poor when they cry for help. He will help the needy when no one else will help them.


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Long live the king! Let him receive gold from Sheba. Let people always pray for him. Let them bless him all day long.


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Let the fields grow plenty of grain. Let the hills be covered with crops. Let the land be as fertile as Lebanon. Let the cities grow like the grass in a field.


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Let the king be famous forever. Let him be remembered as long as the sun shines. Let the nations be blessed because of him. And may they all bless him.


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Book 3 Psalms 73—89 Should the Wicked Be Rich? A song of Asaph. God is truly good to Israel, to those who have pure hearts.


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But I am close to God, and that is good. The Lord God is my protection. I will tell all that you have done.


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A Nation in Trouble Prays A maskil of Asaph. God, why have you rejected us for so long? Why are you angry with us, the sheep of your pasture?


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Remember the people you bought long ago. You saved us. We are your very own. You live on Mount Zion.


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They thought, “We will completely crush them!” They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.


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God, come and defend yourself. Remember the insults that come from those foolish people all day long.


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God the Judge For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A song of Asaph. God, we thank you. We thank you because you are near. We tell about the wonderful things you do.


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The Lord holds a cup of anger in his hand. It is full of wine mixed with spices. He pours it out even to the last drop. And the wicked drink it all.


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The God Who Always Wins For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A song of Asaph. People in Judah know God. People in Israel know he is great.


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The brave soldiers were stripped as they lay asleep in death. Not one warrior had the strength to stop it.


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People praise you for your anger against evil. Those who live through your anger are stopped from doing more evil.


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Remembering God’s Help For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A song of Asaph. I cry out loud to God. I call to God, and he will hear me.


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I looked for the Lord on the day of trouble. All night long I reached out my hands. I cannot be comforted.


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You made a way through the sea and paths through the deep waters. But your footprints were not seen.


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God Saved Israel from Egypt A maskil of Asaph. My people, listen to my teaching. Listen to what I say.


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We will not keep them from our children. We will tell those who come later about the praises of the Lord. We will tell about his power and the miracles he has done.


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The Lord made an agreement with Jacob. He gave the teachings to Israel. And he commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children.


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Then their children would know them, even their children not yet born. And they would tell their children.


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So they would all trust God. They would not forget what God had done. Instead, they would obey his commands.


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They would not be like their ancestors who were stubborn and disobedient. Their hearts were not loyal to God. They were not true to him.


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When he hit the rock, water poured out. Rivers flowed down. But can he give us bread also? Will he provide his people with meat?”


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When the Lord heard them, he was very angry. His anger was like fire to the people of Jacob. His anger grew against the people of Israel.


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God became angry with them. He killed some of the healthiest of them. He struck down the best young men of Israel.


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Anytime he killed them, some would look to him for help. They would come back to God and follow him.


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Still God was merciful. He forgave their sins. He did not destroy them. Many times he held back his anger. He did not stir up all his anger.


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He found a way to show his anger. He did not keep them from dying. He let them die by a terrible disease.


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So God brought them to his holy land. He brought them to the mountain country he took with his own power.


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He forced out the other nations. And he had his people inherit the land. He let the tribes of Israel settle there in tents.


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They turned away and sinned just like their ancestors. They were like a crooked bow that does not shoot straight.


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They made God angry by building places to worship false gods. They made him jealous with their idols.


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He let his Ark of the Covenant be captured. He let the Ark of the Covenant, which was his glory, be taken by enemies.


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He brought him from tending the sheep so he could lead the flock, the people of Jacob. This flock was his own people, the people of Israel.


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The Nation Cries for Jerusalem A song of Asaph. God, nations have come against your people. They have ruined your holy Temple. They have turned Jerusalem into ruins.


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They have given the bodies of your servants as food to the wild birds. They have given the bodies of those who worship you to the wild animals.


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Lord, how long will this last? Will you be angry forever? How long will your jealousy burn like a fire?


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God our Savior, help us so people will praise you. Save us and forgive our sins so people will honor you.


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Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Tell the other nations in our presence that you punish those who kill your servants.


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We are your people, the sheep of your flock. We will thank you always. Forever and ever we will praise you.


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A Prayer to Bring Israel Back For the director of music. To the tune of “Lilies of the Agreement.” A song of Asaph. Shepherd of Israel, listen to us. You lead the people of Joseph like a flock. You sit on your throne between the gold creatures with wings. Show your greatness


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You brought us out of Egypt as if we were a vine. You forced out other nations and planted us in the land.


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A Song for a Holiday For the director of music. By the gittith. A song of Asaph. Sing for joy to God, our strength. Shout out loud to the God of Jacob.


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Blow the sheep’s horn at the time of the New Moon. Blow it when the moon is full, when our feast begins.


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He made this agreement with the people of Joseph when they went out of the land of Egypt. I heard a language I did not know, saying:


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When you were in trouble, you called, and I saved you. I answered you with thunder. I tested you at the waters of Meribah. Selah


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God Judges the Judges A song of Asaph. God is in charge of the great meeting of his people. He judges the judges.


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He says, “How long will you defend evil people? How long will you show greater kindness to the wicked? Selah


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A Prayer Against the Enemies A song of Asaph. God, do not keep quiet. God, do not be silent or still.


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They say, “Come, let’s destroy them as a nation. Then no one will remember the name ‘Israel’ anymore.”


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Do to their important leaders what you did to Oreb and Zeeb. Do to their princes what you did to Zebah and Zalmunna.


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Then they will know that you are the Lord. They will know that only you are God Most High over all the earth.


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Wishing to Be in the Temple For the director of music. By the gittith. A song of the sons of Korah. Lord of heaven’s armies, how lovely is your Temple!


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I want to be in the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple. My whole being wants to be with the living God.


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The sparrows have found a home. And the swallows have nests. They raise their young near your altars, Lord of heaven’s armies, my King and my God.


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As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it like a spring. The autumn rains fill it with pools of water.


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One day in the courtyards of your Temple is better than a thousand days anywhere else. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the Temple of my God than live in the homes of the wicked.


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The Lord God is like our sun and shield. The Lord gives us kindness and glory. He does not hold back anything good from those whose life is innocent.


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A Prayer for the Nation For the director of music. A song of the sons of Korah. Lord, you have been kind to your land. You gave the people of Jacob back their riches.


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I will listen to God the Lord. He has ordered peace for his people who worship him. Don’t let them go back to foolishness.


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Lord, teach me what you want me to do. And I will live by your truth. Teach me to respect you completely.


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But Lord, you are a God who shows mercy and is kind. You don’t become angry quickly. You have great love and faithfulness.


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Turn to me and be merciful. Give me, your servant, strength. Save me, the son of your female servant.


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Show me a sign of your goodness. When my enemies look, they will be ashamed. You, Lord, have helped me and comforted me.


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God says, “I will put Egypt and Babylonia on the list of nations that know me. People from Philistia, Tyre and Cush will be born there.”


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They will say about Jerusalem, “This one and that one were born there. God Most High will strengthen her.”


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A Sad Complaint A song of the sons of Korah. For the director of music. By the mahalath leannoth. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. Lord, you are the God who saves me. I cry out to you day and night.


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I have been left as dead, like a body lying in a grave. You don’t remember dead people. They are cut off from your care.


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My eyes are weak from crying. Lord, I have prayed to you every day. I have lifted my hands in prayer to you.


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Will your miracles be known in the dark grave? Will your goodness be known in the land where the dead are forgotten?


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A Song About God’s Loyalty A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will always sing about the Lord’s love. I will tell of his loyalty from now on.


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I told him, ‘I will make your family continue forever. Your kingdom will continue from now on.’” Selah


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Lord, the heavens praise you for your miracles and for your loyalty in the meeting of your holy ones.


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Once, in a vision, you spoke to those who worship you. You said, “I have given strength to a warrior. I have selected a young man from my people.


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Lord, how long will this go on? Will you ignore us forever? How long will your anger burn like a fire?


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Lord, remember how they insulted your servant. Remember how I have suffered the insults of the nations.


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Lord, remember how your enemies insulted you. Remember how they insulted your appointed king wherever he went.


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Book 4 Psalms 90—106 God Is Eternal, and We Are Not A prayer of Moses, the man of God. Lord, you have been our home since the beginning.


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Before the mountains were born, and before you created the earth and the world, you are God. You have always been, and you will always be.


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Our lifetime is 70 years. If we are strong, we may live to be 80. But the years are full of hard work and pain. They pass quickly, and then we are gone.


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Lord our God, be pleased with us. Give us success in what we do. Yes, give us success in what we do.


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I will say to the Lord, “You are my place of safety and protection. You are my God, and I trust you.”


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He will protect you like a bird spreading its wings over its young. His truth will be like your armor and shield.


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They will call to me, and I will answer them. I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue them and honor them.


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Thanksgiving for God’s Goodness A song for the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the Lord, to sing praises to God Most High.


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Lord, you have made me happy by what you have done. I will sing for joy about what your hands have done.


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Lord, surely your enemies, surely your enemies will be destroyed. All who do evil will be scattered.


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They will be like trees planted in the courtyards of the Lord. They will grow strong in the courtyards of our God.


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The Majesty of God The Lord is king. He is clothed with majesty. The Lord is clothed in majesty and armed with strength. The world is set, and it cannot be moved.


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God Will Pay Back His Enemies The Lord is a God who gives people what they should get. God, show your greatness and punish!


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God will pay them back for their sins. He will destroy them for their evil. The Lord our God will destroy them.


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A Call to Praise and Obedience Come, let’s sing for joy to the Lord. Let’s shout praises to the Rock who saves us.


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He is our God. And we are the people he takes care of and the sheep that he tends. Today listen to what he says:


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“Do not be stubborn, as your ancestors were at Meribah, as they were that day at Massah in the desert.


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I was angry with those people for 40 years. I said, ‘They are not loyal to me. They have not understood my ways.’


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Tell the nations, “The Lord is king.” The earth is set, and it cannot be moved. He will judge the people fairly.


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Let the fields and everything in them show their joy. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy.


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They will sing before the Lord because he is coming. He is coming to judge the world. He will judge the world with fairness and the nations with truth.


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Those who worship idols should be ashamed. They brag about their false gods. All the gods should worship the Lord.


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When Jerusalem hears this, she is glad. The towns of Judah rejoice. They are happy because of your judgments, Lord.


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People who love the Lord should hate evil. The Lord watches over those who follow him. He frees them from the power of the wicked.


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The God of Power and Justice A song. Sing to the Lord a new song because he has done miracles. By his right hand and holy arm he has won the victory.


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The Lord has told about his power to save. He has shown the other nations his victory for his people.


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He has remembered his love and his loyalty to the people of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen God’s power to save.


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Let them sing before the Lord because he is coming to judge the world. He will judge the world fairly. He will judge the nations with fairness.


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God the Fair and Holy King The Lord is king. Let the nations shake with fear. He sits between the gold creatures with wings. Let the earth shake.


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The King is powerful and loves justice. Lord, you made things fair. You have done what is fair and right for the people of Jacob.


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Moses and Aaron were among his priests. And Samuel was among his worshipers. They called to the Lord, and he answered them.


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Lord our God, you answered them. You showed them that you are a forgiving God. But you punished them for their wrongs.


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Come into his city with songs of thanksgiving. Come into his courtyards with songs of praise. Thank him, and praise his name.


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A Promise to Rule Well A song of David. I will sing of love and fairness. Lord, I will sing praises to you.


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I will be careful to live an innocent life. When will you come to me? I will live an innocent life in my house.


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I will not look at anything wicked. I hate those who turn against you. They will not be found near me.


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If anyone secretly says things against his neighbor, I will stop him. I will not allow people to be proud and look down on others.


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I will look for trustworthy people so I can live with them in the land. Only those who live innocent lives will be my servants.


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Every morning I will destroy the wicked in the land. I will rid the Lord’s city of people who do evil.


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A Cry for Help A prayer of a person who is suffering when he is discouraged and tells the Lord his complaints. Lord, listen to my prayer. Let my cry for help come to you.


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Do not hide from me in my time of trouble. Pay attention to me. When I cry for help, answer me quickly.


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They will be destroyed, but you will remain. They will all wear out like clothes. And, like clothes, you will change them. And they will be thrown away.


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Praise to the God of Love Of David. All that I am, praise the Lord. Everything in me, praise his holy name.


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He has not punished us as our sins should be punished. He has not repaid us for the evil we have done.


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But the Lord’s love for those who fear him continues forever and ever. And his goodness continues to their grandchildren


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You who are his angels, praise the Lord. You are the mighty warriors who do what he says. Listen to what he says.


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Everything the Lord has made should praise him in all the places he rules. My whole being, praise the Lord.


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Praise to God Who Made the World My whole being, praise the Lord. Lord my God, you are very great. You are clothed with glory and majesty.


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You build your room above the clouds. You make the clouds your chariot. You ride on the wings of the wind.


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But at your command, the water rushed away. When you gave your orders like thunder, it hurried away.


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You give us wine that makes happy hearts. And you give us olive oil that makes our faces shine. You give us bread that gives us strength.


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Lord, you have made many things. With your wisdom you made them all. The earth is full of your riches.


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When you give it to them, they gather it up. When you open your hand, they are filled with good food.


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When you turn away from them, they become frightened. When you take away their breath, they die and turn into dust.


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Let sinners be destroyed from the earth. Let the wicked people live no longer. My whole being, praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.


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Then he brought his people out, and they carried with them silver and gold. Not one of his people stumbled.


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Israel’s Failure to Trust God Praise the Lord! Thank the Lord because he is good. His love continues forever.


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Let me see the good things you do for your chosen people. Let me be happy along with your happy nation. Let me join your own people in praising you.


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Our ancestors in Egypt did not learn from your miracles. They did not remember all your kindnesses. So they turned against you at the Red Sea.


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So God said he would destroy them. But Moses, his chosen one, stood before him. He stopped God’s anger from destroying them.


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He said their children would be killed by other nations and that they would be scattered among other countries.


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They killed innocent people. They killed their own sons and daughters as sacrifices to the idols of Canaan. So the land was made unholy by their blood.


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The Lord saved his people many times. But they continued to turn against him. So they became even more wicked.


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Lord our God, save us. Bring us back from other nations. Then we will thank you. Then we will gladly praise you.


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Praise the Lord, the God of Israel. He always was and always will be. Let all the people say, “Amen!” Praise the Lord!


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Book 5 Psalms 107—150 God Saves from Many Dangers Thank the Lord because he is good. His love continues forever.


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That is what the people the Lord has saved should say. They are the ones he has saved from the enemy.


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The ships tossed as high as the sky and fell low in the waves. The storm was so bad the men lost their courage.


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Let them praise his greatness in the meeting of the people. They should praise him in the meeting of the elders.


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But he lifted the poor out of their suffering. And he made their families grow like flocks of sheep.


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A Prayer for Victory A song of David. God, my heart is right. I will sing and praise you with all my being.


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A Prayer Against an Enemy For the director of music. A song of David. God, I praise you. Do not be silent.


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Make his children wander around, begging for food. Let them be forced out of the ruins they live in.


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Let the people he owes money to take everything he owns. Let strangers steal everything he has worked for.


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“He did not remember to be loving. He hurt the poor, the needy and those who were sad until they were nearly dead.


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He loved to put curses on others. So let those same curses fall on him. He did not like to bless others. So do not let good things happen to him.


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He cursed others as often as he wore clothes. Cursing others filled his body and his life, like drinking water and using olive oil.


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But you, Lord God, be kind to me so others will know you are good. Because your love is good, save me.


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They may curse me, but you bless me. They may attack me, but they will be disgraced. Then I, your servant, will be glad.


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The Lord Appoints a King A song of David. The Lord said to my Master, “Sit by me at my right side until I put your enemies under your control.”


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The Lord will make you king in Jerusalem over all nations. And you will rule your enemies in their own countries.


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Your people will join you on the day you come to power. You have been dressed in holiness from birth. You have the freshness of a child.


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The Lord has made a promise and will not change his mind. He said, “You are a priest forever, a priest like Melchizedek.”


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He will judge those nations, filling them with dead bodies. He will defeat rulers all over the world.


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Praise for God’s Goodness Praise the Lord! I will thank the Lord with all my heart in the meeting of his good people.


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Wisdom begins with respect for the Lord. Those who obey his orders have good understanding. He should be praised forever.


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Honest People Are Blessed Praise the Lord! Happy is the person who fears the Lord. He loves what the Lord commands.


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A light shines in the dark for honest people. It shines for those who are good and kind and merciful.


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He gives freely to the poor. The things he does are right and will continue forever. He will be given great honor.


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The wicked will see this and become angry. They will grind their teeth in anger and then disappear. The wishes of the wicked will come to nothing.


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Praise for God’s Kindness Praise the Lord! Praise him, you servants of the Lord. Praise the name of the Lord.


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God Brought Israel from Egypt The Israelites went out of Egypt. The people of Jacob left that foreign country.


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The One True God It does not belong to us, Lord. The praise belongs to you because of your love and loyalty.


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They have hands, but they cannot feel. They have feet, but they cannot walk. And no sounds come from their throats.


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The Lord remembers us and will bless us. He will bless the family of Israel. He will bless the family of Aaron.


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Lord, you have saved me from death. You have stopped my eyes from crying. You have kept me from being defeated.


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Lord, I am your servant. I am your servant and the son of your female servant. You have freed me from my chains.


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They surrounded me like a swarm of bees. But they died as quickly as thorns burn. By the Lord’s power, I defeated them.


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Shouts of joy and victory come from the tents of those who do right: “The Lord has done powerful things.”


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God bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless all of you from the Temple of the Lord.


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The Lord is God. And he has shown kindness to us. With branches in your hands, join the feast. Come to the corners of the altar.


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I have wandered like a lost sheep. Look for your servant because I have not forgotten your commands.


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A Prayer of Someone Far from Home A song for going up to worship. When I was in trouble, I called to the Lord. And he answered me.


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The Lord Guards His People A song for going up to worship. I look up to the hills. But where does my help come from?


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Happy People in Jerusalem A song for going up to worship. Of David. I was happy when they said to me, “Let’s go to the Temple of the Lord.”


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The people from the tribes go up there. The tribes belong to the Lord. It is the rule to praise the Lord at Jerusalem.


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Slaves depend on their masters. And a female servant depends on her mistress. In the same way, we depend on our God. We wait for him to show us mercy.


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The Lord Saves His People A song for going up to worship. Of David. What if the Lord had not been on our side? (Let Israel repeat this.)


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God Protects Those Who Trust Him A song for going up to worship. Those who trust the Lord are like Mount Zion. It sits unmoved forever.


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The wicked will not rule over those who do right. If they did, the people who do right might use their power to do evil.


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But, Lord, when you punish those who do evil, also punish those who stop following you. Let there be peace in Israel.


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Lord, Give Our Riches Back A song for going up to worship. When the Lord gave the riches back to Jerusalem, it seemed as if we were dreaming.


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Then we were filled with laughter, and we sang happy songs. Then the other nations said, “The Lord has done great things for them.”


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All Good Things Come from God A song for going up to worship. Of Solomon. If the Lord doesn’t build the house, the builders are working for nothing. If the Lord doesn’t guard the city, the guards are watching for nothing.


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It is no use for you to get up early and stay up late, working for a living. The Lord gives sleep to those he loves.


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Happy is the man who has his bag full of arrows. They will not be defeated when they fight their enemies in court.


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Your wife will give you many children. She will be like a vine that produces a lot of fruit. Your children will bring you much good. They will be like olive branches that produce many olives.


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A Prayer Against the Enemies A song for going up to worship. They have treated me badly all my life. (Let Israel repeat this.)


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Let those who pass by them not say, “May the Lord bless you. We bless you by the power of the Lord.”


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A Prayer for Mercy A song for going up to worship. Lord, I am in great trouble. So I call out to you for help.


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I wait for the Lord to help me more than night watchmen wait for the dawn, more than night watchmen wait for the dawn.


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Childlike Trust in God A song for going up to worship. Of David. Lord, my heart is not proud. I don’t look down on others. I don’t do great things, and I can’t do miracles.


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But I am calm and quiet. I am like a baby with its mother. I am at peace, like a baby with its mother.


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Rise, Lord, and come to your resting place. Come with the Ark of the Covenant that shows your strength.


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The Lord made a promise to David. It was a sure promise that he will not take back. He promised, “I will make one of your descendants rule as king after you.


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But your sons must keep my agreement and the rules that I teach them. Then their sons after them will rule on your throne forever and ever.”


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“I will make a king come from the family of David. I will provide my appointed one descendants to rule after him.


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The Love of God’s People A song for going up to worship. Of David. It is good and pleasant when God’s people live together in peace!


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It is like having perfumed oil poured on the priest’s head and running down his beard. It ran down Aaron’s beard and on to the collar of his robes.


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It is like the dew of Mount Hermon falling on the hills of Jerusalem. There the Lord gives his blessing of life forever.


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Temple Guards, Praise the Lord A song for going up to worship. Praise the Lord, all you servants of the Lord. You serve at night in the Temple of the Lord.


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God Saves, Idols Do Not Praise the Lord! Praise the name of the Lord. Praise him, you servants of the Lord.


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The Lord has chosen the people of Jacob for himself. He has chosen the people of Israel for his very own.


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He brings the clouds from the ends of the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain. He brings out the wind from his storehouses.


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God’s Love Continues Forever Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love continues forever.


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Those who captured us asked us to sing. Our enemies wanted happy songs. They said, “Sing us a Temple song from Jerusalem!”


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Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you. Let these things happen if I do not think about Jerusalem as my greatest joy.


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Lord, remember what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. They said, “Tear it down! Tear it down to its foundations!”


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People of Babylon, you will be destroyed. The people who pay you back will be happy. They will punish you for what you did to us.


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A Hymn of Thanksgiving A song of David. Lord, I will thank you with all my heart. I will sing to you before the false gods.


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I will bow down facing your holy Temple. And I will thank you for your love and loyalty. You have made your name and your word greater than anything.


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Though the Lord is supreme he takes care of those who are not proud. But he stays away from those who are proud.


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Lord, even when I have trouble all around me, you will keep me alive. When my enemies are angry, you will reach down and save me by your power.


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God Knows Everything For the director of music. A song of David. Lord, you have examined me. You know all about me.


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But even the darkness is not dark to you. The night is as light as the day. Darkness and light are the same to you.


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I praise you because you made me in an amazing and wonderful way. What you have done is wonderful. I know this very well.


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you saw my body as it was formed. All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one day old.


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If I could count them, they would be more than all the grains of sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.


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A Prayer for Protection For the director of music. A song of David. Lord, rescue me from evil people. Save me from cruel men.


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Proud men have hidden a trap for me. They have spread out a net beside the road. They have set traps for me. Selah


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Lord, do not give the wicked what they want. Don’t let their plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah


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Let burning coals fall on them. Throw them into the fire or into pits from which they cannot escape.


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A Prayer Not to Sin A song of David. Lord, I call to you. Come quickly. Listen to me when I call to you.


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Don’t let me want to do evil or join others in doing wrong. Don’t let me eat with those who do evil.


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If a good man punished me, that would be kind. If he corrected me, that would be like having perfumed oil on my head. I shouldn’t refuse it. But I pray against those who do evil.


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A Prayer for Safety A maskil of David when he was in the cave. A prayer. I cry out to the Lord. I pray to the Lord for mercy.


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Listen to my cry because I am helpless. Save me from those who are chasing me. They are too strong for me.


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Free me from my prison. Then I will praise your name. Then the good people will surround me because you have taken care of me.


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A Prayer Not to Be Killed A song of David. Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for mercy. Come to help me because you are loyal and good.


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My enemies are chasing me. They have crushed me to the ground. They have made me live in darkness like those who are long dead.


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I remember what happened long ago. I recall everything you have done. I think about all you have made.


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Lord, answer me quickly. I am getting weak. Don’t turn away from me, or I will be like those who are dead.


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Tell me in the morning about your love. I trust you. Show me what I should do because my prayers go up to you.


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A Prayer for Victory Of David. Praise the Lord, my Rock. He trains me for war. He trains me for battle.


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He gives me love and protects me like a strong, walled city. He is my place of safety and my Savior. He is my shield and my protection. He helps me rule my people.


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Let our sons in their youth grow like strong trees. Let our daughters be like the decorated stones in the Temple.


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Let our barns be filled with crops of all kinds. Let our sheep in the fields have thousands and thousands of lambs.


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Let our cattle be strong. Let no one break in. Let there be no war. Let there be no screams in our streets.


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Praise to God the King A song of praise. Of David. I praise your greatness, my God the King. I will praise you forever and ever.


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Then everyone will know what powerful things you do. They will know about the glory and majesty of your kingdom.


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Your kingdom will continue forever. And you will be King from now on. The Lord will keep his promises. With love he takes care of all he has made.


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The Lord does what is fair for those who have been wronged. He gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free.


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The Lord gives sight to the blind. The Lord lifts up people who are in trouble. The Lord loves those who do right.


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Praise God Who Helps His People Praise the Lord! It is good to sing praises to our God. It is good and pleasant to praise him.


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The World Should Praise the Lord Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens. Praise him high above the earth.


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God has given his people a king. He should be praised by all who belong to him. He should be praised by the Israelites, the people closest to his heart. Praise the Lord!


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Praise the God of Israel Praise the Lord! Sing a new song to the Lord. Sing his praise in the meeting of his people.


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Let the Israelites be happy because of God, their Maker. Let the people of Jerusalem rejoice because of their King.


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Praise the Lord with Music Praise the Lord! Praise God in his Temple. Praise him in his mighty heaven.


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Why Proverbs Is Important These are the wise words of Solomon son of David. Solomon was king of Israel.


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They will teach you how to be wise and self-controlled. They will teach you what is honest and fair and right.


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They give the ability to think to those with little knowledge. They give knowledge and good sense to the young.


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Wise people should also listen to them and learn even more. Even they can find good advice in these words.


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Then they will be able to understand wise words and stories. They will understand the words of wise men and their riddles.


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Warnings Against Evil My child, listen to your father’s teaching. And do not forget your mother’s advice.


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Their teaching will beautify your life. It will be like flowers in your hair or a chain around your neck.


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They might say, “Come with us. Let’s ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some harmless person just for fun.


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Wisdom Speaks Wisdom is like a good woman who shouts in the street. She raises her voice in the city squares.


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“You foolish people! How long do you want to stay foolish? How long will you make fun of wisdom? How long will you hate knowledge?


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Disaster will come over you like a storm. Trouble will strike you like a whirlwind. Pain and trouble will overwhelm you.


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“Then you will call out to me. But I will not answer. You will look for me. But you will not find me.


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Such women leave the husbands they married when they were young. They forget the promise they made before God.


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Don’t ever stop being kind and truthful. Let kindness and truth show in all you do. Write them down in your mind as if on a tablet.


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With her right hand wisdom offers you a long life. With her left hand she gives you riches and honor.


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As a tree makes fruit, wisdom gives life to those who use it. Everyone who uses wisdom will be happy.


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Using his knowledge, he made rivers flow from underground springs. And he made the clouds drop rain on the earth.


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You won’t need to be afraid of trouble coming suddenly. You won’t need to fear the ruin that comes to the wicked.


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If you have what your neighbor asks for, don’t say to him, “Come back later. I will give it to you tomorrow.”


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The Lord will put a curse on the evil person’s house. But he will bless the home of people who do what is right.


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Wisdom Is Important My children, listen to your father’s teaching. Pay attention so you will understand.


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And my father taught me and said, “Hold on to my words with all your heart. Keep my commands and you will live.


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Wisdom is the most important thing. So get wisdom. If it costs everything you have, get understanding.


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Like flowers in your hair, it will beautify your life. Like a crown, it will make you look beautiful.”


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Always remember what you have been taught. Don’t let go of it. Keep safe all that you have learned. It is the most important thing in your life.


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The way of the good person is like the light of dawn. It grows brighter and brighter until it is full daylight.


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If you do, you will give your riches to others. And the best years of your life will be given to someone who is cruel.


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You wouldn’t drink from streams flowing in the city streets or squares. So be satisfied with your wife, not those outside your home.


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Be happy with the wife you married when you were young. She gives you joys as your fountain gives you water.


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She is as lovely and graceful as a deer. Let her love always make you happy. Let her love always hold you captive.


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Dangers of Being Foolish My child, be careful about giving a guarantee for somebody else. Be careful about promising to pay what someone else owes.


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My child, you might do this and be under somebody’s control. Then here is how to get free. Go to your neighbor and don’t be proud. Beg him to free you from your promise.


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But free yourself like a deer running from a hunter. Free yourself like a bird flying away from a trapper.


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So you will be as poor as if you had been robbed. You will have as little as if you had been held up.


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They will guide you when you walk. They will guard you while you sleep. They will speak to you when you are awake.


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Their commands are like a lamp. Their teaching is like a light. And the correction that comes from them helps you have life.


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Such teaching will keep you from sinful women and from the pleasing words of another man’s unfaithful wife.


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A prostitute may leave you with only a loaf of bread. And a woman who takes part in adultery may cost you your life.


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The same thing happens if you commit adultery with another man’s wife. Anyone who does so will be punished.


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But if he is caught, he must pay back seven times what he stole. It may cost him everything he owns.


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Wisdom and understanding will keep you away from adultery. They will keep you away from the unfaithful wife and her pleasing words.


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She was always out in the streets or in the city squares. She was always waiting around on the street corners.


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All at once he followed her. He was like an ox being led to the butcher. He was like a deer caught in a trap.


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But quickly an arrow shot through his liver. He was like a bird caught in a trap. He didn’t know what he did would kill him.


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Don’t let yourself be tricked by the woman who is guilty of adultery. Don’t join her in her evil actions.


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People with good sense know that what I say is true. People with knowledge know that my words are right.


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If you respect the Lord, you also will hate evil. It is wise to hate pride and bragging, evil ways and lies.


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I was there when he ordered the sea not to go beyond the borders he had set for it. I was there when he laid the earth’s foundation.


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Those who listen to me are happy. They stand watching at my door every day. They are at my open doorway, wanting to be with me.


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“If you correct someone who makes fun of wisdom, you will get insulted. If you correct an evil person, you will get hurt.


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Do not correct someone who makes fun of wisdom, or he will hate you. But correct a wise man, and he will love you.


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The wise person is rewarded by his wisdom. But a person who makes fun of wisdom will suffer for it.”


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But these people don’t know that everyone dies who goes there. They don’t realize that her guests are deep in the grave.


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The Proverbs of Solomon These are the wise words of Solomon: A wise son makes his father happy. But a foolish son makes his mother sad.


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The Lord does not let people who live right go hungry. But he does not let evil people get what they hunger for.


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A son who gathers crops when they are ready is wise. But the son who sleeps through the harvest is a disgrace.


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People who do what is right will have rich blessings. But the wicked will be overwhelmed by violence.


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Like a fountain of water, the words of a good person give life. But the words of the wicked contain nothing but violence.


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You can expect wise people to speak with understanding. But people without wisdom can expect to be punished.


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The person who accepts correction is on the way to life. But the person who ignores correction will be ruined.


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A good person’s words will help many others. But a foolish person dies because he doesn’t have wisdom.


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A lazy person brings trouble to the one he works for. He bothers others like vinegar on the teeth or smoke in the eyes.


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Riches will not help when it’s time to die. But doing what is right will save you from dying too soon.


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The goodness of an innocent person makes his life easier. But a wicked person will be destroyed by his wickedness.


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Doing what is right brings freedom to honest people. But those who are not trustworthy will be caught by their own desires.


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When a wicked person dies, his hope is gone. The hopes he placed in his riches will come to nothing.


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A person without good sense finds fault with his neighbor. But a person with understanding keeps quiet.


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You can be sure that evil people will be punished. But those who do what is right will not be punished.


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The wishes of those who do right will come true. But the hopes of the wicked will be defeated by God’s anger.


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Some people give much but get back even more. But others don’t give what they should, and they end up poor.


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People curse someone who keeps all the grain for himself. But they bless a person who is willing to sell it.


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Whoever brings trouble to his family will be left with nothing but the wind. And a foolish person will become a servant to the wise.


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As a tree makes fruit, a good person gives life to others. The wise person shows others how to be wise.


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Anyone who loves learning accepts being corrected. But a person who hates being corrected is stupid.


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A person might not be important but still have a servant. He is better off than someone who acts important but has no food.


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The person who works his land will have plenty of food. But the one who chases useless dreams isn’t wise.


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A wise son takes his father’s advice. But a person who makes fun of wisdom won’t listen to correction.


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Whoever is careful about what he says protects his life. But anyone who speaks without thinking will be ruined.


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Some people pretend to be rich but really have nothing. Other people pretend to be poor but really are wealthy.


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A rich man may have to pay a ransom for his life. But a poor person will never have to face such a danger.


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Money that comes easily disappears quickly. But money that is gathered little by little will slowly grow.


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It is sad when you don’t get what you hoped for. But when wishes come true, it’s like eating fruit from the tree of life.


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Whoever rejects what he is taught will pay for it. But whoever does what he is told will be rewarded.


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The teaching of a wise person gives life. It is like a fountain of water that can save people from death.


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People with good understanding will be liked. But the lives of those who are not trustworthy are hard.


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A person who refuses correction will end up poor and disgraced. But a person who accepts correction will be honored.


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Whoever spends time with wise people will become wise. But whoever makes friends with fools will suffer.


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Good people’s wealth will be inherited by their grandchildren. And a sinner’s wealth will be saved for good people.


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If a person does not punish his children, he does not love them. But the person who loves his children is careful to correct them.


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People who live good lives show respect for the Lord. But those who live evil lives show no respect for him.


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When there are no oxen, there is no food in the barn. But with the strength of an ox, much grain can be grown.


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Those who make fun of wisdom look for it but do not find it. But the person with understanding easily finds knowledge.


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What makes a person wise is understanding what to do. But what makes a person foolish is dishonesty.


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Evil people will be paid back for their evil ways. And good people will be rewarded for their good ones.


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A wise person is careful and stays out of trouble. But a foolish person is quick to act and careless.


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A person who quickly loses his temper does foolish things. But a person with understanding remains calm.


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Foolish people get nothing for their work but more foolishness. But wise people are rewarded with knowledge.


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Evil people will have to bow down to good people. The wicked will bow down at the door of those who do right.


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Wise people are rewarded with wealth. But foolish people will only be rewarded with more foolishness.


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A person who does not quickly get angry shows that he has understanding. But a person who quickly loses his temper shows his foolishness.


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The wicked are ruined by their own evil. But those who do what is right are protected by their honesty.


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With their words wise people spread knowledge. But there is no knowledge in the thoughts of the foolish.


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The Lord hates the sacrifice that the wicked person offers. But he is pleased with an honest person’s prayer.


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The person who quits doing what is right will really be punished. The one who hates to be corrected will die.


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The Lord knows what is happening where the dead people are. So he can surely know what living people are thinking.


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A person who quickly gets angry causes trouble. But a person who controls his temper stops a quarrel.


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A lazy person’s life is as difficult as walking through a patch of thorns. But an honest person’s life is as easy as walking down a smooth highway.


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A greedy person brings trouble to his family. But the person who can’t be paid to do wrong will live.


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A person who refuses correction hates himself. But a person who accepts correction gains understanding.


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A person should live so that he pleases the Lord. If he does, even his enemies will make peace with him.


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It is better not to be proud and to be with those who suffer than to share stolen property with proud people.


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Whoever pays attention to what he is taught will succeed. And whoever trusts the Lord will be happy.


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Understanding is like a fountain of water which gives life to those who use it. But foolishness will cause foolish people to be punished.


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Someone who winks at you is planning evil. And the one who grins at you is about to do something wrong.


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A wise servant will rule over his master’s disgraceful son. And he will even inherit a share of what the master leaves his sons.


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If you make fun of the poor, you insult God, who made them. If you laugh at someone’s trouble, you will be punished.


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A person might think he can pay people and they will do anything he asks. He thinks it will succeed every time.


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Whoever forgives someone’s sin makes a friend. But the one who tells about the sin breaks up friendships.


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The Lord hates both these things: letting guilty people go free and punishing those who are not guilty.


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A person with an evil heart will find no success. And the person whose words are evil will get into trouble.


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The person with understanding looks for wisdom. But a foolish person lets his mind wander everywhere.


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It is not good to punish those who have done what is right. Nor is it good to punish leaders for being honest.


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Even a foolish person seems to be wise if he keeps quiet. He appears to have understanding if he doesn’t speak.


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A foolish person does not want to understand anything. He only enjoys telling others what he thinks.


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Understanding people’s words is as hard as getting water out of a deep well. But understanding wisdom is as easy as getting water from a flowing stream.


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The first person to tell his side of a story seems right. But that may change when somebody comes and asks him questions.


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A brother who has been insulted is harder to win back than a walled city. And arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace.


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A poor person’s relatives avoid him. Even his friends stay far away! He runs after them, begging. But they are gone.


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A king’s anger scares people like the roar of a lion. But his kindness is as pleasant as the dew on the grass.


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Being kind to the poor is like lending to the Lord. The Lord will reward you for what you have done.


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A person who is always getting angry will pay for it. If you help him, you will have to do it again and again.


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Whip a person who makes fun of wisdom, and then foolish people will learn how to think. Just correct a smart man, and he will gain knowledge.


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Don’t stop listening to correction, my child. If you do, you will not obey what you have already learned.


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Understanding a person’s thoughts is as hard as getting water from a deep well. But someone with understanding can find the wisdom there.


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There is plenty of gold, and there are many rubies. But there are only a few people who speak with knowledge.


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Take the coat of someone who promises to pay what a stranger owes. Keep it until he pays the stranger’s bills.


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When a person gets food dishonestly, it may taste sweet at first. But later he will feel as if he has a mouth full of gravel.


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It’s dangerous to promise something to God too quickly. After you’ve thought about it, it may be too late.


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The Lord can control a king’s mind as easily as he controls a river. He can direct it as he pleases.


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Punish a person who makes fun of wisdom, and he will become wise. But just teach a wise person, and he will get knowledge.


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God, who is always right, sees the house of the wicked. And he brings about the ruin of every evil person.


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A gift given secretly will calm an angry man. A present given in secrecy will calm even great anger.


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Wicked people will suffer instead of good people. And those who cannot be trusted will suffer instead of those who can.


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The Lord hates sacrifices made by evil people, particularly when they make them for the wrong reasons.


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Being respected is more important than having great riches. To be well thought of is better than owning silver or gold.


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When a wise person sees danger ahead, he avoids it. But a foolish person keeps going and gets into trouble.


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The lives of evil people are like paths covered with thorns and traps. People who protect themselves don’t have such problems.


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A person who does evil things will receive trouble in return. Then he won’t be cruel to others any longer.


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The words of an unfaithful wife are like a deep trap. Those who make the Lord angry will get caught by them.


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The one who gets rich by being cruel to the poor will become poor. And so will the one who gives presents to the wealthy.


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Other Wise Sayings Pay attention and listen to what wise people say. Remember what I am teaching you.


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Do not abuse poor people because they are poor. And do not take away the rights of the needy in court.


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Don’t make friends with someone who easily gets angry. Don’t spend time with someone who has a bad temper.


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Don’t promise to pay what someone else owes. And don’t give guarantees that you will pay what he owes.


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Don’t move an old stone that shows where a person’s land is. These stones were set up by your ancestors.


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Do you see a man skilled in his work? That man will work for kings. He won’t have to work for ordinary people.


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Wealth can vanish in the wink of an eye. It seems to grow wings and fly away like an eagle in the sky.


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A selfish person is always worrying about how much the food costs. He tells you, “Eat and drink.” But he doesn’t really mean it.


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So you will feel like throwing up the little bit you have eaten. And you will have wasted your kind words.


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Don’t move an old stone that shows where somebody’s land is. And don’t take fields that belong to orphans.


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Some people drink too much wine. They try out all the different kinds of drinks. So they have trouble. They are sad. They fight. They complain. They have unnecessary bruises. They have bloodshot eyes.


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Don’t stare at the wine’s pretty, red color. It may sparkle in the cup. It may go down your throat smoothly.


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You will feel dizzy, as if you’re out on the stormy ocean. You will feel as if you’re on top of a ship’s sails.


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You will think, “They hit me, but I’m not hurt! They have beaten me up, but I don’t remember it. I wish I could wake up. Then I would get another drink.”


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So you need the advice of others when you go to war. If you have many people to give advice, you will win.


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You may say, “We don’t know anything about this.” But God knows what is in your mind, and he will notice. He is watching you, and he will know. He will pay each person back for what he has done.


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In the same way, wisdom is pleasing to you. If you find it, you have hope for the future. Your wishes will come true.


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A good man may be bothered by trouble seven times, but he does not give up. But the wicked are overwhelmed by trouble.


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More Words of Wisdom These are also wise sayings: It is not good to take sides when you are the judge.


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But things will go well for judges who punish the guilty. And they will receive good things from God.


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First, you should work outside and prepare your fields. After that, you can start having your family.


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Thorns had grown up everywhere. The ground was covered with weeds. And the stone walls had fallen down.


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Soon you will be poor, as if you had been robbed. You will have as little as if you had been held up.


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More Wise Sayings of Solomon These are more wise sayings of Solomon. They were copied by the men of Hezekiah king of Judah.


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No one can measure the height of the skies or the depth of the earth. So also no one can understand the mind of a king.


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Remove wicked people from the king’s presence. Then his government will be honest and last a long time.


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It is better for him to promote you to a higher job than to give you a less important position. Because of something you have seen,


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do not quickly take someone to court. What will you do later when your neighbor proves you are wrong?


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The warning of a wise person is valuable to someone who will listen. It is worth as much as gold earrings or fine gold jewelry.


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A trustworthy messenger refreshes those who send him. He is like the coolness of snow in the summertime.


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Don’t trust unfaithful people when you are in trouble. It’s like eating with a broken tooth or walking with a crippled foot.


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Don’t sing songs to someone who is sad. It’s like taking off a coat on a cold day or pouring vinegar on soda.


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Curses will not harm someone who is innocent. They are like sparrows or swallows that fly around and never land.


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A whip is used to guide a horse, and a harness is used for a donkey. In the same way, a paddle is used on a foolish person to guide him.


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But answer a foolish person as he should be answered. If you don’t, he will think he is really wise.


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Don’t send a message by a foolish person. That would be like cutting off your feet or drinking poison.


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Someone might employ a foolish person or anyone just passing by. That employer is like an archer who shoots at anything he sees.


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The lazy person is like a door that turns back and forth on its hinges. He stays in bed and turns over and over.


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To grab a dog by the ears is asking for trouble. So is interfering in someone else’s quarrel if you’re just passing by.


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A person shouldn’t trick his neighbor and then say, “I was just joking!” That is like a madman shooting deadly, burning arrows.


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Whoever digs a deep trap for others will fall into it himself. Whoever tries to roll a boulder over others will be crushed by it.


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Don’t praise yourself. Let someone else do it. Let the praise come from a stranger and not from your own mouth.


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Stone is heavy, and sand is hard to carry. But the complaining of a foolish person causes more trouble than either.


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When someone is full, not even honey tastes good. But when he is hungry, even something bitter tastes sweet.


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Don’t forget your friend or your father’s friend. Don’t always go to your brother for help when trouble comes. A neighbor close by is better than a brother far away.


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The person who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit. And the person who takes care of his master will be honored.


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People will never stop dying and being destroyed. In the same way, people will never stop wanting more than they have.


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There will be plenty of goat milk to feed you and your family. It will make your servant girls healthy.


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When a country is disobedient, it has one ruler after another. But when it is led by a man with understanding and knowledge, it continues strong.


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People who disobey what they have been taught praise the wicked. But those who obey what they have been taught are against the wicked.


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The son who obeys what he has been taught shows he is wise. But the son who makes friends with those who have no self-control disgraces his father.


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Some people get rich by overcharging others. But their wealth will be given to those who are kind to the poor.


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Those who lead honest people to do wrong will be ruined by their own evil. But the innocent will be rewarded with good things.


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If you hide your sins, you will not succeed. If you confess and reject them, you will receive mercy.


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A ruler who is cruel does not have wisdom. But the one who hates money taken dishonestly will live a long time.


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The person who works his land will have plenty of food. But the one who chases useless dreams instead will end up very poor.


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Some people rob their fathers or mothers and say, “It’s not wrong.” Such people are just like those who destroy things.


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The person who gives to the poor will have everything he needs. But the one who ignores the poor will have many curses put on him.


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Some people are still stubborn after they have been corrected many times. But they will suddenly be hurt beyond cure.


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Whoever loves wisdom makes his father happy. But the one who makes friends with prostitutes wastes his money.


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If a king is fair, he makes his country strong. But if he takes money dishonestly, he tears his country down.


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A wise man should not take a foolish person to court. The fool will only shout or laugh at him. There will be no peace.


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Punishment and correction make a child wise. If he is left to do as he pleases, he will disgrace his mother.


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When there are many wicked people, there is much sin. But those who do right will see them destroyed.


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Where there is no word from God, people are uncontrolled. But those who obey what they have been taught are happy.


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Sometimes you see people who speak too quickly. There is more hope for a foolish person than for them.


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The partner of a thief is his own worst enemy. He has to testify in court, but he is afraid to say anything.


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Wise Words from Agur These are the words of Agur son of Jakeh. This is his message to Ithiel and Ucal:


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Who has gone up to heaven and come back down? Who can hold the wind in his hand? Who can gather up the waters in his coat? Who has decided where the ends of the earth will be? What is his name? And what is his son’s name? Surely, you know!


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Keep me from lying and being dishonest. And don’t make me either rich or poor. Just give me enough food for each day.


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If I have too much, I might reject you. I might say, ‘I don’t know the Lord.’ If I am poor, I might steal. Then I would disgrace the name of my God.


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“Do not say bad things about a servant to his master. If you do, he will curse you, and you will suffer for it.


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Some people have teeth like swords. It is as if their jaws are full of knives. They want to remove the poor people from the earth. They want to get rid of the needy.


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“Greed has two daughters. Their names are ‘Give me. Give me.’ There are three things that are never satisfied. There are really four that never say, ‘I’ve had enough!’


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These things are the cemetery, the childless mother, the land that never gets enough rain, and fire that never says, ‘I’ve had enough!’


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“Don’t make fun of your father. Don’t refuse to obey your mother. If you do, your eye will be pecked out by the birds of the valley. You will be eaten by hawks.


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the way an eagle flies in the sky, the way a snake slides over a rock, the way a ship sails on the sea and the way a man acts with a girl.


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“This is the way a woman who takes part in adultery acts: She sins and doesn’t care. She says, ‘I haven’t done anything wrong.’


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“There are three things that strut proudly. There are really four that walk as if they are important:


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Wise Words of King Lemuel These are the words of King Lemuel. This is the message his mother taught him:


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“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Defend the rights of all those who have nothing.


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She gets up while it is still dark. She prepares food for her family. She also feeds her servant girls.


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Her husband is recognized at the city meetings. He makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land.


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The wind blows to the south. Then it blows to the north. It blows from one direction and then another. Then it turns around and repeats the same pattern, going nowhere.


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Everything is boring. It makes you so tired you don’t even want to talk about it. Words come again and again to our ears. But we never can hear enough. Nor can we ever really see all we want to see.


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All things continue the way they have been since the beginning. The same things will be done that have always been done. There is nothing new here on earth.


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A person might say, “Look, this is new!” But really it has always been here. It was here before we were!


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People don’t remember what happened long ago. In the future, people will not remember what happens now. And later, other people will not remember what was done before them.


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I decided to use my wisdom. I wanted to learn about everything that happens here on earth. I learned that God has given us terrible things to face here on earth.


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I looked at everything done here on earth. I saw that it is all a waste of time. It is like chasing the wind.


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If something is crooked, you can’t make it straight. If something is missing, you can’t say it is there.


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I said to myself, “I have become very wise. I am now wiser than anyone who ruled Jerusalem before me. I know what wisdom and knowledge really are.”


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So I decided to find out how wisdom and knowledge are better than foolish thinking. But I learned that trying to become wise is also like chasing the wind.


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With much wisdom comes much disappointment. The person who gains more knowledge also gains more sorrow.


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Does “Having Fun” Bring Happiness? I said to myself, “I will try having fun. I will enjoy myself.” But I found that this is also useless.


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I decided to cheer myself up with wine. At the same time my mind was still thinking wisely. I wanted to find a way to enjoy myself. I wanted to see what was good for people to do during their few days of life.


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Does Hard Work Bring Happiness? Then I did great things. I built houses, and I planted vineyards for myself.


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I bought men and women slaves. Slaves were also born in my house. I had large herds of cattle and flocks of sheep. I had more than anyone in Jerusalem before me.


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I also gathered silver and gold for myself. I took treasures from kings and other areas. I had men and women singers. I had all the wives a man could ever want.


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I became very famous. I was greater than anyone who had lived in Jerusalem before me. My wisdom helped me in all this.


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Anything I saw and wanted, I got for myself. I did not miss any pleasure I desired. I was pleased with everything I did. And this pleasure was the reward for all my hard work.


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But then I looked at what I had done. I thought about all the hard work. Suddenly I realized it was just a waste of time, like chasing the wind! There is nothing to gain from anything we do here on earth.


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Maybe Wisdom Is the Answer Then I began to think again about being wise. And I thought also about being foolish and doing crazy things. But after all, what more can any king do? He can only do what some other king has already done.


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I saw that being wise is certainly better than being foolish, just as light is better than darkness.


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A wise man sees where he is going. But a foolish person is like someone walking around in the dark. Yet I saw that both the foolish person and the wise man end the same way.


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I thought to myself, “What happens to a foolish person will happen to me, too. So what do I get for being so wise?” I said to myself, “Being wise is also useless.”


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The wise man and the foolish person will both die! People will not remember either one forever. In the future, both will be forgotten.


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Is There Real Happiness in Life? So I hated life. It made me sad to think that everything here on earth is useless. It is like chasing the wind.


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I hated all the things I had worked for here on earth. I hated them because I must leave them to someone who will live after me.


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Someone else will control everything for which I worked so hard here on earth. And I don’t know if he will be wise or foolish. This is also useless.


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A person can work hard using all his wisdom, knowledge and skill. But he will die, and other people will get the things he worked for. They did not do the work, but they will get everything. This is also unfair and useless.


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All his life his work is full of pain and sorrow. Even at night his mind doesn’t rest. This is also useless.


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If a person pleases God, God will give him wisdom, knowledge and joy. But the sinner will get only the work of gathering and storing wealth. Then he will have to give it to the one who pleases God. So all his work is useless. It is like chasing the wind.


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There Is a Time for Everything There is a right time for everything. Everything on earth has its special season.


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There is a time to be born and a time to die. There is a time to plant and a time to pull up plants.


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There is a time to throw away stones and a time to gather them. There is a time to hug and a time not to hug.


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There is a time to look for something and a time to stop looking for it. There is a time to keep things and a time to throw things away.


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There is a time to tear apart and a time to sew together. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.


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God has also given us a desire to know the future. God certainly does everything at just the right time. But we can never completely understand what he is doing.


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So I realize that the best thing for people is to be happy. They should enjoy themselves as long as they live.


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I know anything God does will continue forever. People cannot add anything to what God has done. And they cannot take anything away from it. God does it this way to cause people to honor him.


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What happens now has also happened in the past. Things that will happen in the future have also happened before. God makes the same things happen again and again.


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God Allows Unfairness I also saw this here on earth: Where there should have been justice, there was evil. Where there should have been fairness, there was wickedness.


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I certainly believe that God has planned a time for every thing and every action. He will judge both good people and bad people.


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But I decided that God leaves it the way it is to test people. He wants to show them they are just like animals.


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The same thing happens to animals and to people. They both have the same breath. So they both die. People are no better off than the animals. The lives of both are soon gone.


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Who can be sure that the spirit of man goes up to God? Or who can be sure that the spirit of an animal goes down into the ground?


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So I saw the best thing a person can do is to enjoy his work. That is all he has. No one can help a person see what will happen in the future.


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Is It Better to Be Dead? Again I saw all the people who were treated badly here on earth. I saw their tears. I saw that they had no one to comfort them. Cruel people had all the power. There was no one to comfort the people they hurt.


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But those who have never been born are better off still. They have not seen the evil that is done here on earth.


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Why Work So Hard? I realized the reason people work hard and try to succeed: They are jealous of each other. This, too, is useless. It is like chasing the wind.


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Maybe so, but I say it is better to be content with what little you have. Otherwise, you will always be struggling for more. That is like chasing the wind.


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I saw a person who had no family. He had no son or brother. He always worked hard. But he was never satisfied with what he had. He never asked himself, “For whom am I working so hard? Why don’t I let myself enjoy life?” This also is very sad and senseless.


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Friends and Family Give Strength Two people are better than one. They get more done by working together.


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If one person falls, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone when he falls. No one is there to help him.


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An enemy might defeat one person, but two people together can defend themselves. A rope that has three parts wrapped together is hard to break.


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Fame and Power Are Useless A young person may be poor but wise. He is better than a foolish, old king who doesn’t listen to advice.


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I saw such a young person become king. He had been born poor in the kingdom. He had even gone to prison before becoming king.


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Yes, a great many people followed him at first. But later, they did not like him, either. So fame and power are shown to be useless. They are like chasing the wind.


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Be Careful About Making Promises Be careful when you go to worship at the Temple. It is better to listen than to offer foolish sacrifices. People who do this don’t even know they are doing wrong.


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Think before you speak. Be careful about what you promise to God. God is in heaven, and you are on the earth. So say only a few words to God.


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The saying is true: Bad dreams come from too much worrying. So too many words come from foolish people.


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If you make a promise to God, don’t be slow to keep it. God is not happy with foolish people. Give God what you promised.


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So don’t let your words cause you to sin. Also, don’t say to the priest at the Temple, “I didn’t mean what I promised!” If you do, God will become angry with your words. He will destroy everything you have worked for.


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Officers Cheat Each Other In some countries you will see poor people treated badly. They are not treated fairly or given their rights. Don’t be surprised! One officer is cheated by a higher officer. They in turn are cheated by even higher officers.


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The wealth of the country is divided up among them all. Even the king makes sure he gets his share of the profits.


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Wealth Cannot Buy Happiness The person who loves money will never have all the money he wants. The person who loves wealth will not be satisfied when he gets it. This is also useless.


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The more wealth a person has, the more friends he has to help him spend it. So what does he really gain? He gains nothing except to look at his riches.


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A man who works hard sleeps in peace. It is not important if he has little or much to eat. But a rich person worries about his wealth. He cannot sleep.


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A person comes into this world with nothing. And when he dies, he leaves with nothing. In spite of all his hard work, he leaves exactly as he came.


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Enjoy Your Life’s Work I have seen what is best for a person to do here on earth. He should eat and drink and enjoy his work. This is because the life God has given him on earth is short.


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God gives some people the ability to enjoy the wealth and property he gives them. He also gives them the ability to accept their state in life and enjoy their work.


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Such people do not worry much about how short life is. This is because God keeps them busy with the things they love to do.


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God gives some people great wealth, riches and honor. They have everything they want. But God does not let them enjoy such things. Someone else enjoys them instead. This is unfair and senseless.


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It is sad when a person can’t enjoy the good things God gives him. Such a person might have 100 children. He might live a long time. But what good is it if he can’t enjoy the good God gives him? I say a baby who is born dead is better off than he is.


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It is useless for such a baby to be born. It ends up in the darkness of the grave without even a name.


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That baby never saw the sun. It never knew anything. But it finds more rest than the person who never gets to enjoy the good things God gives him.


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Even if he lives 2,000 years, it is sad if a person can’t enjoy the good things God gives him. After all, both he and the baby born dead go to the same place—the grave.


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In this way a wise man is no better off than a foolish person. Then, too, it does a poor man little good to know how to get along in life.


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So it is better to be happy with what you have than always to be wanting more. Always wanting more is useless— like chasing the wind.


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Who Can Understand God’s Plan? Everything that happens was planned long ago. A man is only what he was created to be. It is useless to argue with God about it. This is because God is more powerful than man is.


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A person has only a few days of life on the earth. His short life passes like a shadow. And who knows what is best for him while he lives? Who can tell him what will happen after his time on earth?


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Some Benefits of Serious Thinking It is better to have respect than good perfume. The day a person dies is better than the day he was born.


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It is better to go to a funeral than to a party. We all must die. Everyone living should think about this.


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The laughter of foolish people is useless. It is like heating a pot by burning straw. There is a lot of fire but no heat.


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Wisdom is like money. They both help a person. But wisdom is better than money, because it can save a person’s life.


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Stop and think about everything that God causes to happen. You cannot change a thing, even if you think it is wrong.


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When life is good, enjoy it. But when life is hard, remember: God gives us good times and hard times. And no one knows what tomorrow will bring.


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It Is Impossible to Be Truly Good In my short life I have seen both of these: I have seen good men die being good. And I have seen evil men living a long time.


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Don’t try to be too right all the time. Don’t try to be too wise, either. Why should you destroy yourself this way?


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Try to avoid going too far in doing anything. Those who honor God will avoid doing too much of anything.


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I studied and tried very hard to find wisdom. I tried to find some meaning for everything. I learned that it is foolish to be evil. And it is crazy to act like a fool.


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I found that some women are worse than death. They are as dangerous as traps. Their love is like a net. Their arms hold men like chains. A man who follows God will run away from them. But a sinner will be caught by them.


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The Teacher says, “This is what I learned: I added all these things together to see if I could find some meaning for everything.


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I am still looking for it, but I have not found it. But I did discover that truly good people are hard to find. Such people are one in a million!


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Obey the King No one is like the wise man. He can understand what things mean. His wisdom makes him happy. It makes his sad face happy.


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Don’t be too quick to quit the job the king gave you. But don’t support something that is wrong. Remember, the king does whatever he pleases.


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A person will be safe if he obeys the king’s command. A wise man knows how to do the right thing at the right time.


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No one has the power to keep the wind from blowing. No one has the power to stop his own death. During war a soldier cannot go home. So also, the person who does evil will not get away free.


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Justice, Rewards and Punishment I saw all of this as I studied. I considered all that is done here on earth. And I saw men rule others and hurt them.


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I saw evil people being buried. They used to go in and out of the holy place. Good things were said about them in the same towns where they had done evil. This is senseless, too.


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Sometimes people are not punished right away for the bad things they do. That makes other people want to do bad things, too.


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A sinner might do a hundred evil things. And he might live a long time. Even so, I know it will be better for those who honor God. They fear him, and he sees it.


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And I also know it will not go well for evil people. Their lives will be like a brief shadow. They will not live very long.


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But sometimes something senseless happens on earth. Bad things happen to good people. Good things happen to bad people. This is truly senseless.


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So I decided it was more important to enjoy life. The best that people can do here on earth is to eat, drink and enjoy life. These joys will help people do the hard work God gives them here on earth.


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We Cannot Understand All God Does I used my mind to learn about all that happens on earth. I saw how busy people are. They work day and night and hardly ever sleep.


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I also saw all that God has done. Nobody can understand what God does here on earth. No matter how hard a person tries to understand it, he cannot. Even if a wise man says he understands, he really cannot. No one at all can really understand it.


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Is Death Fair? I thought about something else and tried hard to understand it. I saw that God takes care of both good people and wise people and what they do. But no one knows if he will see good or bad times.


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Both good and bad things happen to everyone. They happen to those who are fair and to those who are wicked. They happen to those who are good and to those who are evil. They happen to those who sacrifice and to those who do not. The same things happen to a good person as happen to a sinner. The same things happen to a person who makes promises to God as to one who does not.


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This is something unfair that happens here on earth. The same things happen to everyone. So men’s minds are full of evil and foolish thoughts while they live. After that, they join the dead.


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The living know they will die. But the dead no longer think about such things. Dead people have no more reward. People forget them.


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After a person is dead, he can no longer show love or hate or jealousy. And he will never again share in the things that happen here on earth.


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Enjoy Life While You Can So go eat your food and enjoy it. Drink your wine and be happy. It is all right with God if you do this.


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Enjoy life with the wife you love. Enjoy all the days of this short life God has given you here on earth. It is all you have. So enjoy the work you have to do here on earth.


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Whatever work you do, do your best. This is because you are going to the grave. There is no working, no planning, no knowledge and no wisdom there.


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Time and Chance I also realized something else here on earth that is senseless: The fast runner does not always win the race. The strong army does not always win the battle. The wise man does not always have food. The smart man does not always become wealthy. And the man with special skills does not always receive praise. Bad things happen to everyone.


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A person never knows what will happen to him next. He is like a fish caught in a cruel net. He is like a bird caught in a trap. In the same way, a person is trapped by bad things that suddenly happen to him.


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Wisdom Does Not Always Win I also saw something wise happen here on earth. And it was very impressive to me.


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There was a small town with only a few people in it. A great king fought against it and put his armies all around it.


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Now there was a wise man in the town. He was poor, but he used his wisdom to save his town. But later on, everyone forgot about him.


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I still think wisdom is better than strength. But those people forgot about the poor man’s wisdom. And they stopped listening to what he said.


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Dead flies will make even perfume smell bad. In the same way, a little foolishness can ruin a wise man’s fame for wisdom.


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A wise man’s heart leads him in the right way. But the heart of a foolish person leads him in the wrong way.


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A foolish person is not wise. It shows in everything he does. Even as he walks along the road, he shows everyone how stupid he is.


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Don’t leave your job just because the ruler is angry with you. Remain calm. It will help correct your mistakes.


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Anyone who moves large stones might be hurt by them. And anyone who cuts logs might get hurt while doing it.


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Cutting logs with a dull ax makes you work harder. A wise man will sharpen his ax. In the same way, wisdom can make any job easier.


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Someone might know how to control snakes. But what good is such wisdom if the snake has already bitten him?


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A foolish person talks too much about what he will do. No one knows the future. No one can tell him what will happen after he dies.


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A foolish person doesn’t know even the most obvious things. He can’t even find his way back to town. So he has to wear himself out working.


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The Value of Work How terrible it will be for a country if its king is a child. How terrible it will be for that country if its leaders have parties all the time.


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A country is well off if its king comes from a good family. It is good for a country if its leaders control their eating and drinking. They should eat and drink for strength, not to get drunk.


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If a person is lazy and doesn’t repair the roof, it will begin to fall. If he refuses to fix it, the house will leak.


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Don’t say or think bad things about the king. And don’t say bad things about rich people even alone in your bedroom. A little bird might report it to others. A bird might fly to them and tell all you said.


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Boldly Face the Future Do good things everywhere you go. After a while the good you do will return to help you.


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Invest what you have in several different businesses. You don’t know what bad things might happen on earth.


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If clouds are full of rain, they will pour water on the earth. A tree can fall to the north or south. But it will stay where it falls.


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If a person waits for perfect weather, he will never plant his seeds. And if he is afraid that every cloud will bring rain, he will never harvest his crops.


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You don’t know where the wind will blow. And you don’t know how a baby grows in its mother’s body. In the same way, God certainly made all things. But you can’t understand what he is doing.


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Begin planting early in the morning, and don’t stop working until evening. This is because you don’t know which things you do will succeed. It is even possible that everything you do will succeed.


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A person ought to enjoy every day of his life. This is true no matter how long he lives. But he should also remember this: You will be dead much longer than you live. After you are dead, you accomplish nothing.


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Young people, enjoy yourselves while you are young. Be happy while you are young. Do whatever your heart desires. Do whatever you want to do. But remember that God will judge you for everything you do.


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So avoid sorrow and sadness. Forget about all the bad things that happen to you. This is because the joys of youth pass quickly away.


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The Problems of Old Age Remember your Creator while you are young. Your old age is coming when you will have many troubles. When that time comes, you won’t have much to enjoy.


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When you become old, the light from the sun, moon and stars will seem dark to you. It will seem as if the rain clouds never go away.


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At that time your arms will lose their strength. Your strong legs will become weak and bent. Your teeth will fall out so you cannot chew. Your eyes will not see clearly.


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Your ears will be deaf to the noise in the streets. You will barely hear singing. The sound of the millstone grinding your grain will seem very quiet. But you’ll wake up when a bird first starts singing!


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You will fear high places. And you will be afraid to go for a walk because you may fall. Your hair will become white like the flowers on an almond tree. You will limp along like a grasshopper when you walk. Your desires will be gone. Then you will go to your everlasting home. And people will go to your funeral.


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Remember God before your life is snapped like a silver chain. Remember God before your life is broken like a golden bowl. It will be as useless as a broken bucket at the spring. It will be no good, like a broken wheel at a water well.


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Your body will become part of the dust of the earth again. But your spirit will return to God who gave it.


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Conclusion The Teacher was very wise. He taught the people what he knew. The Teacher very carefully thought about, studied and set in order many wise teachings.


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Words from wise men are like sharp sticks used to guide animals. These words are like nails that have been driven in firmly. They are wise teachings that come from God the Shepherd.


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So be careful, my son, about other teachings. People are always writing books. And too much study will make you very tired.


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Now, everything has been heard. Here is my final advice: Honor God and obey his commands. This is the most important thing people can do.


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God knows everything people do, even the things done in secret. He knows all the good and all the bad. He will judge everything people do.


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The Woman Speaks to the Man She Loves Kiss me with the kisses of your mouth! Your love is better than wine.


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The smell of your perfume is pleasant. Your name is pleasant like expensive perfume! That’s why the young women love you.


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Take me with you; let’s run. The king takes me into his rooms. Friends Speak to the Man We will rejoice and be happy with you. We praise your love more than wine. The Woman Speaks With good reason, the young women love you, my lover.


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I’m dark but lovely, women of Jerusalem. I’m dark like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon.


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Don’t look at how dark I am, at how dark the sun has made me. My brothers were angry with me. They made me tend the vineyards. So I haven’t tended my own vineyard!


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Tell me, you whom I love, where do you feed your sheep? Where do you make them rest at noon? Why should I look for you near your friend’s sheep? Am I like a woman who wears a veil?


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The Man Speaks to the Woman You are the most beautiful of women. Surely you know to follow the sheep. Feed your young goats near the shepherds’ tents.


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The Woman Answers Among young men, my lover is like an apple tree among the trees in the woods! I enjoy sitting in his shadow. His fruit is sweet to my taste.


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The Woman Speaks to the Friends Women of Jerusalem, promise me by the gazelles and the deer. Promise not to wake love. Don’t excite my feelings of love until I’m ready.


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The Woman Speaks Again I hear my lover’s voice. He comes jumping across the mountains. He comes skipping over the hills!


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My lover is like a gazelle or a young deer. Look, he stands behind our wall. He stares in through the windows, looking through the blinds.


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Blossoms appear through all the land. The time has come to sing. The cooing of doves is heard in our land.


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There are young figs on the fig trees. The blossoms on the vines smell sweet. Get up, my darling. Let’s go away, my beautiful one.”


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The Man Speaks My beloved is like a dove that hides in the cracks of the rock. She hides in the secret places of the cliff. Show me your face. Let me hear your voice. Your voice is very sweet, and your face is lovely.


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until the day dawns and the shadows disappear. Turn, my lover. Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the rugged mountains.


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The Woman Dreams At night on my bed, I looked for the one I love. I looked for him, but I could not find him.


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I will get up now. I will go around the city, in the streets and squares. I will look for the one I love. I looked for him, but I could not find him.


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As soon as I had left them I found the one I love. I held him. I would not let him go until I had brought him to my mother’s house. I brought him into the room where I was born.


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Who is this coming out of the desert like a cloud of smoke? Who is this that smells like myrrh, incense and other spices?


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These soldiers all carry swords. They have been trained in war. Every man wears his sword at his side. He is ready for the dangers of the night.


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He made its posts of silver and its braces of gold. The seat was covered with purple cloth. The women of Jerusalem wove it with love.


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Women of Jerusalem, go out and see King Solomon. He is wearing the crown his mother put on his head. It was his wedding day, when his heart was happy!


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The Man Speaks to the Woman How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, you are beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are like doves. Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead.


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Your teeth are white like newly-sheared sheep just coming from their bath. Each one has a twin. None of them is alone.


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Your lips are like red silk thread. Your mouth is lovely. Your cheeks behind your veil are like slices of a pomegranate.


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Your neck looks like David’s tower. The tower was built with rows of stones. A thousand shields hang on its walls. Each shield belongs to a strong soldier.


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Until the day dawns and the shadows disappear, I will go to that mountain of myrrh. And I will go to that hill of incense.


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Come with me from Lebanon, my bride. Come with me from Lebanon. Come from the top of Mount Amana, from the tops of Mount Senir and Mount Hermon. Come from the lions’ dens and from the leopards’ hills.


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My sister, my bride, you have thrilled my heart. You have thrilled my heart with a glance of your eyes, with one jewel from your necklace.


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Your love is so sweet, my sister, my bride! Your love is better than wine. Your perfume smells better than any spice.


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My bride, your lips drip honey. Honey and milk are under your tongue. Your clothes smell like the cedars of Lebanon.


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My sister, my bride, you are like a garden locked up. You are like a spring with a wall around it, a fountain that is closed.


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Your limbs are like an orchard of pomegranates and all the best fruit. It is filled with flowers and nard.


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It also has saffron, calamus and cinnamon. It is filled with trees of incense, myrrh and aloes— all the best spices.


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The Woman Speaks Awake, north wind! Come, you south wind! Blow on my garden. Let its sweet smells flow out. Let my lover enter the garden. And let him eat its best fruits.


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The Man Speaks I have entered my garden, my sister, my bride. I have gathered my myrrh with my spice. I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey. I have drunk my wine and my milk. The Friends Speak Eat, friends, and drink. Yes, drink deeply, lovers.


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The Woman Dreams I sleep, but my heart is awake. I hear my lover knocking. “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my perfect one. My head is wet with dew. And my hair is wet with the dampness of the night.”


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I have taken off my garment. I don’t want to put it on again! I have washed my feet. I don’t want to get them dirty again!


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I got up to open the door for my lover. Myrrh was dripping from my hands. Myrrh was flowing from my fingers, onto the handles of the lock.


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I opened the door for my lover. But my lover had left. He was gone. When he had spoken, he had taken my breath away. I looked for him, but I could not find him. I called for him, but he did not answer me.


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The watchmen found me as they patrolled the city. They hit me; they hurt me. The guards on the wall took away my coat.


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The Friends Answer the Woman Is your lover better than other lovers, you, the most beautiful of women? Is your lover better than other lovers? Is that why you talk like this?


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His eyes are like doves by springs of water. They seem to be bathed in cream. They are set like jewels.


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His cheeks are like garden beds of spices. They smell like mounds of perfume. His lips are like lilies flowing with myrrh.


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His hands are like gold hinges, filled with jewels. His body is like smooth ivory covered with sapphires.


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His legs are like large marble posts, standing on bases of fine gold. He is tall like a cedar of Lebanon— like the best cedar trees.


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His mouth is sweet to kiss. I desire him very much. Yes, daughters of Jerusalem, this is my lover. This is my friend.


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The Friends Speak to the Woman Where has your lover gone, most beautiful of women? Which way did your lover turn? We will look for him with you.


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The Woman Answers the Friends My lover has gone down to his garden. He has gone to the garden beds of spices to feed in the gardens and to gather lilies.


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The Man Speaks to the Woman My darling, you are as beautiful as the city of Tirzah. You are as lovely as the city of Jerusalem. You are as wonderful as an army flying flags.


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Turn your eyes from me. They excite me too much! Your hair is like a flock of goats streaming down Mount Gilead.


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Your teeth are white like sheep just coming from their bath. Each one has a twin. None of them is alone.


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But there is only one like my dove, my perfect one. She is her mother’s only daughter, the brightest of the one who gave her birth. The young women saw her and called her happy. The queens and the slave women also praised her.


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The Young Women Praise the Woman Who is that young woman? She shines out like the dawn. She’s as pretty as the moon. She’s as bright as the sun. And she’s as wonderful as an army flying flags.


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The Man Speaks I went down into the orchard of nut trees. I went to see the blossoms of the valley. I went to look for buds on the vines, to see if the pomegranate trees had bloomed.


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The Friends Call to the Woman Come back, come back, woman of Shulam. Come back, come back, so we may look at you! The Woman Answers the Friends Why do you want to look at the woman of Shulam as you would at the dance of two groups?


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The Man Speaks to the Woman Your feet are beautiful in sandals, you daughter of a prince. Your round thighs are like jewels shaped by an artist.


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Your navel is like a round drinking cup always filled with wine. Your stomach is like a pile of wheat with lilies around it like a fence.


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Your neck is like an ivory tower. Your eyes are like the pools in Heshbon near the gate of Bath Rabbim. Your nose is like a tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.


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Your head is like Mount Carmel. And your hair is like purple cloth. The king is captured in its folds.


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I said, “I will climb up the palm tree. I will take hold of its fruit.” Let your breasts be like bunches of grapes. Let the smell of your breath be like apples.


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And let your mouth be like the best wine. The Woman Speaks to the Man Let this wine go down sweetly for my lover. May it flow gently past the lips and teeth.


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Let’s go early to the vineyards. Let’s see if the buds are on the vines. Let’s see if the blossoms have already opened and if the pomegranates have bloomed. There I will give you my love.


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The mandrake flowers give their sweet smell. And at our gates there are all the best fruits. I have saved them for you, my lover, the old delights and the new.


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I wish you were like my brother who was fed at my mother’s breasts! If I found you outside, I would kiss you. And no one would look down on me.


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I would lead you and bring you to my mother’s house. She is the one who has taught me. I would give you a drink of spiced wine from my pomegranates.


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The Woman Speaks to the Friends My lover’s left hand is under my head. And his right arm holds me tight!


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Women of Jerusalem, promise me. Promise not to wake love. Don’t excite my feelings of love until I’m ready.


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The Friends Speak Who is this coming out of the desert, leaning on her lover? The Man Speaks to the Woman I woke you under the apple tree. It was there that you were born. There your mother gave birth to you.


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Put me like a seal on your heart, like a seal on your arm. Love is as strong as death. Desire is as strong as the grave. Love bursts into flames. It burns like a very hot fire.


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Even much water cannot put out the flame of love. Floods cannot drown love. If a man offered everything in his house for love, people would totally reject it.


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The Woman’s Brothers Speak We have a little sister, and her breasts are not yet grown. What should we do for our sister on the day she becomes engaged?


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If she is a wall, we will put silver towers on her. If she is a door, we will protect her with cedar boards.


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The Woman Speaks I am a wall, and my breasts are like towers. So I was to him, as one who brings happiness.


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Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hamon. He rented the vineyards for others to tend. Everyone who rented had to pay 25 pounds of silver for the fruit.


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But my own vineyard is mine to give. Solomon, the 25 pounds of silver are for you. And 5 pounds are for those who tend the fruit.


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The Man Speaks to the Woman You who live in the gardens, my friends are listening for your voice. Let me hear it!


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The Woman Speaks to the Man Hurry, my lover. Be like a gazelle or a young deer on the mountains where spices grow.


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God’s Message in Troubled Times This is the vision Isaiah son of Amoz saw. God showed Isaiah what would happen to Judah and Jerusalem. Isaiah saw these things while Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz and Hezekiah were kings of Judah.


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God Finds Fault with His People Heaven and earth, listen, because the Lord is speaking: “I raised my children and helped them grow. But they have turned against me.


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An ox knows its master. And a donkey knows where its owner feeds it. But the people of Israel do not know me. My people do not understand.”


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Terrible times are coming for Israel, a nation of sin. The people are loaded down with guilt. They are like a group of children doing evil. They are full of evil. They have left the Lord. They hate God, the Holy One of Israel. They have turned away from him.


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Why should you continue to be punished? Why do you continue to turn against him? Your whole head is hurt. And your whole heart is sick.


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There is no healthy spot from the bottom of your foot to the top of your head. You are covered with wounds, hurts and open sores. Your wounds are not cleaned and covered. No medicine takes away the pain.


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Your land is ruined. Your cities have been burned with fire. While you watch, your enemies are stealing everything from your land. Your land is ruined like a country destroyed by enemies.


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Jerusalem is left alone like an empty shelter in a vineyard. It is like a hut left in a field of melons. It is like a city surrounded by enemies.


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The Lord of heaven’s armies allowed a few of our people to live. Otherwise we would have been completely destroyed like the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.


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Jerusalem, your rulers are like those of Sodom. Your people are like those of Gomorrah. Hear the word of the Lord. Listen to the teachings of our God!


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The Lord says, “I do not want all these sacrifices you give me. I have had enough of your sacrifices of male sheep and fat from fine animals. I am not pleased by the blood of bulls, sheep and goats.


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Don’t continue bringing me worthless sacrifices! I hate the incense you burn. I can’t stand your New Moons, Sabbaths and other feast days. I can’t stand the evil you do in holding your holy meetings.


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I hate your New Moon feasts and your other yearly feasts. They have become like heavy weights on me. I am tired of carrying them.


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You will raise your arms in prayer to me. But I will refuse to look at you. Even if you say many prayers, I will not listen to you. It’s because your hands are full of blood.


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Wash yourselves and make yourselves clean. Stop doing the evil things I see you do. Stop doing wrong!


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Learn to do good. Be fair to other people. Punish those who hurt others. Help the orphans. Stand up for the rights of widows.”


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The Lord says, “Come, we will talk these things over. Your sins are red like deep red cloth. But they can be as white as snow. Your sins are bright red. But you can be white like wool.


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But if you refuse to obey and if you turn against me, you will be destroyed by your enemies’ swords.” The Lord himself said these things.


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Jerusalem Is Not Loyal to God The city of Jerusalem once followed the Lord. But she is no longer loyal to the Lord. She used to be filled with fairness. People there lived the way God wanted. But now, murderers live there.


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Jerusalem, you have become like the scum left when silver is purified. You are like wine mixed with water.


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Your rulers are rebels. They are friends of thieves. They all accept money for doing wrong things. They are paid to cheat people. They don’t try to help the orphans. And they don’t listen to the widows’ needs.


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The Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, the Mighty One of Israel, says: “You, my enemies, will not cause me any more trouble. I will pay you back for what you did.


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I will turn against you. I will clean away all your wrongs as if with soap. I will take all the worthless things out of you.


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I will bring back judges as you had long ago. Your counselors will be like the ones you had in the beginning. Then you will be called the City That Is Right with God. You will be called the Loyal City.”


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Because the Lord does what is fair, he will rescue Jerusalem. Because the Lord does what is right, he will save her people who come back to him.


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But sinners and those who turn against him will be destroyed. Those who have left the Lord will die.


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“You will be ashamed because you have worshiped false gods under the oak trees. You will be disgraced because you have worshiped idols in your gardens.


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Powerful people will be like small, dry pieces of wood. And what they do will be like sparks. The people and what they do will burn together. And no one will be able to stop that fire.”


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In the last days the mountain on which the Lord’s Temple stands will become the most important of all mountains. It will be raised above the hills. And people from all nations will come streaming to it.


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Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord. Let us go to the Temple of the God of Jacob. Then God will teach us his ways. And we will obey his teachings.” The Lord’s teachings will go out from Jerusalem. The Lord’s message will go out from Jerusalem.


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Then the Lord will settle arguments among many nations. He will make decisions for strong nations that are far away. Then the nations will make their swords into plows. They will make their spears into hooks for trimming trees. Nations will no longer fight other nations. They will not even train for war anymore.


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A Terrible Day Is Coming Lord, you have left your people, the family of Jacob. They have become filled with wrong ideas from people in the East. Your people try to tell the future like the Philistines. They have completely accepted those foreign ideas.


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Their land has been filled with silver and gold. There are a great many treasures there. Their land has been filled with horses. There are many chariots there.


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Their land is full of idols. The people worship these idols that they made with their own hands. They worship statues shaped by their fingers.


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Go into the caves of the cliffs. Dig holes and hide in the ground. Hide from the anger of the Lord and from his great power!


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Proud people will stop being proud. They will bow low with shame. At that time only the Lord will still be praised.


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The Lord of heaven’s armies has a certain day planned. On that day he will punish the proud and those who brag. They will no longer be important.


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He will bring down the tall cedar trees from Lebanon. He will destroy the great oak trees of Bashan.


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At that time proud people will stop being proud. They will bow low with shame. And at that time only the Lord will be praised.


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People will run to caves in the rocky cliffs. They will dig holes and hide in the ground. They will hide from the anger of the Lord and his great power. They will do this when the Lord stands to shake the earth.


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At that time people will throw away their gold and silver idols. They made these idols for themselves to worship. But they will throw them away to the bats and moles.


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Then the people will hide in caves and cracks in the rocks. They will hide from the anger of the Lord and his great power. They will do this when the Lord stands to shake the earth.


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You should stop trusting in people to save you. People are only human. They aren’t able to help you.


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God Will Punish Judah and Jerusalem Understand what I am telling you. The Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, will take away everything Judah and Jerusalem need. He will take away all the food and water.


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He will take away all the heroes and great soldiers. He will take away all the judges, prophets, people who do magic and elders.


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He will take away the military leaders and government leaders. He will take away the counselors, the skilled craftsmen and those who try to tell the future.


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Everyone will be against everyone else. Young people will not respect older people. Common people will not respect important people.”


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At that time a man will grab one of his brothers from his own family and say, “You have a coat. So you will be our leader. You will be the leader over all these ruins.”


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But that brother will stand up and say, “I cannot help you. I do not have food or clothes in my house. You will not make me your leader.”


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This will happen because Jerusalem has stumbled and Judah has fallen. The things they say and do are against the Lord. They sin openly against the Lord.


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The look on their faces shows they are guilty of doing wrong. Like the people of Sodom, they are proud of their sin. They don’t care who sees it. How terrible it will be for them! They have brought much trouble to themselves.


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Tell the good people that good things will happen to them. They will receive a reward for the good they do.


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But how terrible it will be for wicked people! They will be punished for all the wrong they have done.


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Children treat my people cruelly. Women rule over them. My people, your guides lead you in the wrong way. They turn you away from what is right.


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The Lord presents his case against the elders and other leaders of his people. He says, “You have burned my vineyard. Your houses are full of what you took from the poor.


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What gives you the right to crush my people? How can you grind the faces of the poor into the dirt?” The Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, said this.


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A Warning to Women of Jerusalem The Lord says, “The women of Jerusalem are proud. They walk around with their heads held high. They flirt with their eyes. They take quick, short steps, making noise with their ankle bracelets.”


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So the Lord will put sores on the heads of those women in Jerusalem. He will make them lose all their hair.


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At that time the Lord will take away everything that makes them proud. He will take away their beautiful ankle bracelets, their headbands and their necklaces shaped like the moon.


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He will take away their scarves, ankle chains, the cloth belts worn around their waists, their bottles of perfume and charms.


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Instead of having sweet-smelling perfume, they will stink. Instead of fine cloth belts, they will have ropes of captives to wear. Instead of having their hair fixed in fancy ways, they will be bald. Instead of fine clothes, they will have rough clothes of sadness. Instead of having beauty, they will have the brand of a captive.


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There will be crying and sadness in the meeting places near the city gates. Jerusalem will be like a woman who has lost everything and sits on the ground.


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At that time seven women will grab one man. They will say, “We will make our own bread. And we will make our own clothes. But please marry us! Please, take away our shame.”


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The Branch of the Lord At that time the Lord’s branch will be very beautiful and great. The people still living in Israel will be proud of what the land grows.


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All the people who are still living in Jerusalem will be called holy. This will be all the people whose names are recorded among the living in Jerusalem.


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The Lord will wash away the filth from the women of Jerusalem. He will wash the bloodstains out of Jerusalem. He will clean Jerusalem with the spirit of fairness and the spirit of fire.


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As he did when Israel left Egypt, the Lord will cover them with a cloud of smoke during the day. And he will cover them with a bright, flaming fire at night. These proofs will be over Mount Zion. They will be over every meeting of the people there. There will be a covering over every person.


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This covering will be a place of safety. It will protect the people from the heat of the sun. It will be a safe place to hide from the storm and rain.


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Israel, God’s Special Field Now I will sing a song to my friend. This song is about his vineyard. My friend had a vineyard on a hill with very rich soil.


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He dug and cleared the field of stones. He planted the best grapevines there. And he built a tower in the middle of it. He cut out a winepress as well. He hoped good grapes would grow there. But only bad grapes grew.


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My friend says, “You people living in Jerusalem, and you men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.


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What more could I have done for my vineyard? I did everything I could. I hoped for good grapes to grow. But why were there only bad grapes?


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Now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will remove the hedge, and it will be burned. I will break down the stone wall, and it will be walked on.


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I will ruin my field. It will not be trimmed or hoed. Weeds and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it.”


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The vineyard belonging to the Lord of heaven’s armies is the nation of Israel. The garden that the Lord loves is the men of Judah. The Lord looked for justice, but there was only killing. The Lord hoped for right living, but there were only cries of pain.


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How terrible it will be for you who add more houses to your houses and more fields to your fields. Finally there is no room left for other people. Then you are left alone in the land.


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The Lord of heaven’s armies said this to me: “The fine houses will be destroyed. The large and beautiful houses will be left empty.


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At that time a ten-acre vineyard will make only six gallons of wine. And ten bushels of seed will grow only half a bushel of grain.”


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How terrible it will be for people who rise early in the morning to look for strong drink. They stay awake late at night, becoming drunk with wine.


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At their parties they have lyres, harps, tambourines, flutes and wine. They don’t see what the Lord has done. They don’t notice the work of his hands.


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So my people will be captured and taken away because they don’t really know me. All the great men will die of hunger. The common people will die of thirst.


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So the place where the dead are wants more and more people. It opens its mouth wide. Jerusalem’s important men will go down into it. And the common people will go down into it.


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The Lord of heaven’s armies will receive glory by judging fairly. The holy God will show himself holy by doing what is right.


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How terrible it will be for those people! They pull their guilt and sins behind them as people pull wagons with ropes.


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They say, “Let’s see God hurry. Let’s see him do his work soon. We want to see it. Let’s see the plan of the Holy One of Israel happen soon. Then we would know what it really is.”


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How terrible it will be for people who call good things bad and bad things good. They think darkness is light and light is darkness. They think sour is sweet and sweet is sour.


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How terrible it will be for people who are famous for drinking wine. They are champions at mixing drinks.


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They will be destroyed just as fire burns straw or dry grass. They will be destroyed like a plant whose roots rot and whose flower dies and blows away like dust. They have refused to obey the teachings of the Lord of heaven’s armies. They hated the message from the Holy God of Israel.


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So the Lord has become very angry with his people. And he has raised his hand to punish them. Even the mountains are frightened. Dead bodies lie in the streets like garbage. But the Lord is still angry. His hand is still raised to strike down the people.


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God raises a banner for the nations far away. He is whistling to call those people. The enemy comes quickly!


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Not one of them becomes tired or falls down. Not one of them gets sleepy and falls asleep. Their weapons are close at hand. Their sandal straps are not broken.


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Their arrows are sharp. All of their bows are ready to shoot. The horses’ hooves are hard as rock. Their chariot wheels move like a whirlwind.


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Their shout is like the roar of a lion. It is loud like a young lion. The enemy growls as they grab their captives. There is no one to stop them from taking their captives away.


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On that day they will roar like the waves of the sea. And when people look at the land, they will see only darkness and pain. All light will become dark in this thick cloud.


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Isaiah Becomes a Prophet In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a very high throne. His long robe filled the Temple.


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Burning heavenly creatures stood above him. Each creature had six wings. They used two wings to cover their faces. They used two wings to cover their feet. And they used two wings for flying.


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Each creature was calling to the others: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heaven’s armies. His glory fills the whole earth.”


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I said, “Oh, no! I will be destroyed. I am not pure. And I live among people who are not pure. But I have seen the King, the Lord of heaven’s armies.”


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On the altar there was a fire. One of the burning heavenly creatures used a pair of tongs to take a hot coal from the fire. Then he flew to me with the hot coal in his hand.


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The creature touched my mouth with the hot coal. Then he said, “Look. Your guilt is taken away because this hot coal has touched your lips. Your sin is taken away.”


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Then I heard the Lord’s voice. He said, “Whom can I send? Who will go for us?” So I said, “Here I am. Send me!”


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Then the Lord said, “Go and tell this to the people: ‘You will listen and listen, but you will not understand. You will look and look, but you will not learn.’


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Make these people stubborn. Make them not able to understand what they hear and see. Otherwise, they might really understand what they see with their eyes and hear with their ears. They might really understand in their minds. If they did this, they would come back to me and be forgiven.”


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Then I asked, “Lord, how long should I do this?” He answered, “Do this until the cities are destroyed and the people are gone. Do this until there are no people left living in the houses. Do this until the land is destroyed and left empty.


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One-tenth of the people will be left in the land. But the land will be destroyed again. These people will be like an oak tree. When the tree is chopped down, a stump is left. The people who remain will be like a stump that will sprout again.”


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Trouble with Aram Now Ahaz was the son of Jotham, who was the son of Uzziah. When Ahaz was king of Judah, Rezin and Pekah went up to Jerusalem to fight against it. Rezin was king of Aram. And Pekah son of Remaliah was king of Israel. But they were not able to defeat the city.


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A message was told to Ahaz king of Judah. It said, “The armies of Aram and Israel have joined together.” When Ahaz heard this, he and the people became very frightened. They shook with fear like trees of the forest blown by the wind.


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Then the Lord told Isaiah, “You and your son Shear-Jashub should go out and talk to Ahaz. Go to the place where the water flows into the upper pool. This is on the road to the Washerman’s Field.


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Tell Ahaz, ‘Be careful. Be calm, and don’t be afraid. Don’t let those two men, Rezin and Remaliah’s son Pekah, scare you. Don’t be afraid of their anger and Aram’s anger. Those two men are as weak as two barely burning sticks that are ready to go out.


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“Let’s fight against Judah and tear it apart. We will divide Judah for ourselves. We will make the son of Tabeel the new king of Judah.”


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That is because Aram is led by the city of Damascus. And Damascus is led by its weak king, Rezin. Within 65 years Israel will no longer be a nation.


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Israel is led by the city of Samaria, and Samaria is led by its weak king, the son of Remaliah. If your faith is not strong, then you will not have strength to last.’”


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The Lord said, “Ask for a sign to prove to yourself that these things are true. It may be a sign from as deep as the place where the dead are or as high as the heavens.”


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Then Isaiah said, “Ahaz, descendant of David, listen very carefully! Isn’t it bad enough that you wear out the patience of people? Do you have to wear out the patience of my God also?


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But the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be pregnant. She will have a son, and she will name him Immanuel.


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He will be eating milk curds and honey when he learns to reject what is evil and to choose what is good.


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You are afraid of the kings of Israel and Aram now. But before the child learns what is good and what is evil, the lands of Israel and Aram will be empty.


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The Lord will bring some troubled times to you. Those troubles will come to your people and to the people of your father’s family. The Lord will bring the king of Assyria to fight against you.


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“At that time the Lord will whistle to call for the Egyptians. And they will come like flies from the streams of Egypt. The Lord will call for the Assyrians. And they will come like bees from the land of Assyria.


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These enemies will camp in the deep ravines and in the cliffs. They will camp by the thornbushes and watering holes.


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The Lord will use Assyria to punish Judah. Assyria will be hired and used like a razor. It will be as if the Lord is shaving the hair from Judah’s head and legs and is shaving off Judah’s beard.


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There will be only enough milk for that person to eat milk curds. All who remain in the land will go back to eating only milk curds and honey.


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In this land there are now vineyards that have 1,000 grapevines. These grapevines are worth about 25 pounds of silver. But these fields will become full of weeds and thorns.


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People once worked and grew food on these hills. But at that time people will not go there. The land will be filled with weeds and thorns. Only sheep and cattle will go to those places.”


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Assyria Will Come Soon The Lord told me, “Take a large scroll on which to write. Use a pen to write these words: ‘Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.’


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I will gather some men to be reliable witnesses. They will be Uriah the priest and Zechariah son of Jeberekiah.”


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Then I went to the prophetess. She became pregnant and had a son. Then the Lord told me, “Name the boy Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz.


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The king of Assyria will take away all the wealth and possessions of Damascus and Samaria. This will happen before the boy learns to say ‘my father’ or ‘my mother.’”


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He said, “These people refuse to accept the slow-moving waters of the pool of Shiloah. These people are terrified of Rezin and Remaliah’s son Pekah.


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So I, the Lord, will bring the king of Assyria and all his power against them. They will come like a powerful flood of water from the Euphrates River. The Assyrians will be like water rising over the banks of the river, flowing over the land.


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That water will flow into Judah and pass through it. It will rise to Judah’s throat. Immanuel, this army will spread its wings like a bird until it covers your whole country.”


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Be broken, all you nations. Be smashed to pieces. Listen, all you faraway countries. Prepare for battle and be smashed to pieces! Prepare for battle and be smashed to pieces!


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Make your plans for the fight. But your plans will be defeated. Give orders to your armies. But your orders will be useless. This is because God is with us.


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Warnings to Isaiah The Lord spoke to me with his great power. He warned me not to follow the lead of the rest of the people. The Lord said,


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“People are saying that others make plans against them. You should not believe those things. Don’t be afraid of the things they fear. Do not dread those things.


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But remember that the Lord of heaven’s armies is holy. He is the one you should fear. He is the one you should dread.


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Then he would be a place of safety for you. But for the two families of Israel, he will be like a stone that causes people to stumble. He will be like a rock that makes them fall. He will be like a trap for the people of Jerusalem. He will catch them in his trap.


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Many people will fall over this rock. They will fall and be broken. They will be trapped and caught.”


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I will wait for the Lord to help us. The Lord is ashamed of the family of Israel. I will trust the Lord.


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I am here. And with me are the children the Lord has given me. We are signs and proofs for the people of Israel. We have been sent by the Lord of heaven’s armies. He lives on Mount Zion.


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Some people say, “Ask the mediums and fortune-tellers what to do. They whisper and mutter and ask dead people what to do.” But I tell you that people should ask their God for help. Why should people who are still alive ask something from the dead?


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You should follow the teachings and the agreement with the Lord. The mediums and fortune-tellers do not speak the word of the Lord. Their words are worth nothing.


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People will wander through the land troubled and hungry. When they become hungry, they will become angry. Then they will look up and curse their king and their God.


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They will look around them at their land. And they will see only trouble and darkness and awful gloom. And they will be forced into the darkness.


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A New Day Is Coming But suddenly there will be no more gloom for the land that suffered. In the past God made the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali hang their heads in shame. But in the future that land will be made great. That land stretches from the way along the Mediterranean Sea to the land along the Jordan River. And it goes north to Galilee where the people who are not Israelites live.


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Now those people live in darkness. But they will see a great light. They live in a place that is very dark. But a light will shine on them.


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God, you will cause the nation to grow. You will make the people happy. And they will show their happiness to you. It will be like the joy during harvest time. It will be like the joy of people taking what they have won in war.


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Like the time you defeated Midian, you will take away their heavy load. You will take away the heavy pole from their backs. You will take away the rod the enemy uses to punish your people.


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Every boot that marched in battle will be destroyed. Every uniform stained with blood will be destroyed. They will be thrown into the fire.


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A child will be born to us. God will give a son to us. He will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.


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Power and peace will be in his kingdom. It will continue to grow. He will rule as king on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom. He will make it strong, by ruling with goodness and fair judgment. He will rule it forever and ever. The Lord of heaven’s armies will do this because of his strong love for his people.


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God Will Punish Israel The Lord sent a message against the people of Jacob. That message says that God will judge Israel.


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Then everyone in Israel, even the leaders in Samaria, will know that God punished them. Those people, who are proud and who brag now, say this:


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“These bricks have fallen, but we will build again with cut stones. These small trees have been chopped down. But we will put great cedars there.”


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But the Lord will make the enemies of Rezin strong against them. He will stir up their enemies against them.


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The Arameans come from the east and the Philistines from the west. They will eat up Israel with their armies. But the Lord is still angry. His hand is still raised to punish the people.


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But the people do not return to the one who struck them. They do not follow the Lord of heaven’s armies.


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So the Lord will cut off Israel’s head and tail. He will take away both the branch and stalk in one day.


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Those who lead the people lead them in the wrong direction. And those who follow them will be destroyed.


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So the Lord is not happy with the young men. He will not show mercy to the widows and orphans. All the people are separated from God and are very evil. They all speak lies. But the Lord is still angry. His hand is still raised to strike down the people.


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Evil is like a small fire. First, it burns weeds and thorns. Next, it burns the larger bushes in the forest. They all go up in a column of smoke.


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The Lord of heaven’s armies is angry. So the land will be burned. All the people will be burned in that fire. No one will try to save his brother.


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People will grab something on the right, but they will still be hungry. They will eat something on the left, but they will not be filled. Then each person will turn and eat his own children.


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The people of Manasseh will fight against the people of Ephraim. And Ephraim will fight against Manasseh. Then both of them will turn against Judah. But the Lord is still angry. His hand is still raised to strike down the people.


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How terrible it will be for the lawmakers who write evil laws. They write laws that make life hard for people.


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They are not fair to the poor. They rob my people of their rights. They allow people to steal from widows and to take from orphans what they should get.


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Lawmakers, how will you explain the things you have done? What will you do when your destruction comes from far away? Where will you run for help? Where will you hide your money and your riches then?


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You will have to bow down among the captives. You will fall down among the dead bodies. But the Lord is still angry. His hand is still raised to strike down the people.


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God Will Punish Assyria God says, “How terrible it will be for the king of Assyria. I use him like a stick. In anger I use Assyria like a club.


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I send it to fight against a nation that is separated from God. I am angry with those people. So I command Assyria to fight against them. Assyria will take their wealth from them. Judah will become like dirt for them to walk on in the streets.


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But Assyria’s king doesn’t understand that I am using him. He doesn’t know he is a tool for me. He only wants to destroy other people. He plans to destroy many nations.


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The city Calno is like the city Carchemish. And the city Hamath is like the city Arpad. The city Samaria is like the city Damascus.


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I defeated those kingdoms that worship idols. And those idols were more than the idols of Jerusalem and Samaria.


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The Lord will finish doing what he planned to Mount Zion and Jerusalem. Then he will punish Assyria. The king of Assyria is very proud. His pride made him do these bad things. So God will punish him.


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The king of Assyria says this: “By my own power I have done these things. By my wisdom I have defeated many nations. I have taken their wealth. And like a mighty one, I have taken their people.


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I have taken the riches of all these people, like one who reaches into a bird’s nest. I have taken these nations, like a person taking eggs. No one raised a hand against me. No one opened his mouth to stop me.”


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An ax is not better than the person who swings it. A saw is not better than the person who uses it. A stick cannot control the person who picks it up. A club cannot pick up the person!


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So the Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, will send a terrible disease against Assyria’s soldiers. The strength of Assyria will be burned up. It will be like a fire burning until everything is gone.


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God, the Light of Israel, will be like a fire. The Holy One will be like a flame. He will be like a fire that suddenly burns the weeds and thorns.


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The fire burns away the great trees and rich farmlands. It will destroy everything. Things will be like a sick man who wastes away.


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Only a few trees will be left standing. There will be so few even a child will be able to count them.


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At that time some people will be left alive in Israel from the family of Jacob. They will not continue to depend on the person who defeated them. They will learn truly to depend on the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.


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Israel, your people are very many. They are like the grains of sand by the sea. But only a few of them will be left alive to return to the Lord. God has announced that he will destroy the land completely and fairly.


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The Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, will certainly destroy this land. He will destroy it as he has announced.


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This is what the Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, says: “My people living in Jerusalem, don’t be afraid of the Assyrians. They beat you with a rod. They raise a stick to hurt you, as Egypt did.


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Then the Lord of heaven’s armies will beat the Assyrians with a whip. He will defeat them as he defeated Midian at the rock of Oreb. He will raise his stick over the waters as he did in Egypt.


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Then the troubles that Assyria puts on you will be removed. The load they make you carry will be taken away.


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Assyria Invades Israel The army of Assyria will enter near Aiath. They will walk through Migron. They will store their food in Micmash.


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The army will go over the pass. They will sleep at Geba. The people of Ramah will be afraid. The people at Gibeah of Saul will run away.


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This day the army will stop at Nob. And the army will shake their fist at Mount Zion, at the hill of Jerusalem.


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Watch! The Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, will chop them down like a great tree. He will do this with his great power. Those who are great will be cut down. Those who are important will fall to the ground.


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The Lord will cut them down as a forest is cut down with an ax. And the great trees of Lebanon will fall by the power of the Mighty One.


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The King of Peace Is Coming A branch will grow from a stump of a tree that was cut down. So a new king will come from the family of Jesse.


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The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon that king. The Spirit gives him wisdom, understanding, guidance and power. And the Spirit teaches him to know and respect the Lord.


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This king will be glad to obey the Lord. He will not judge by the way things look. He will not judge by what people say.


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He will judge the poor honestly. He will be fair in his decisions for the poor people of the land. At his command evil people will be punished. By his words the wicked will be put to death.


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Then wolves will live in peace with lambs. And leopards will lie down to rest with goats. Calves, lions and young bulls will eat together. And a little child will lead them.


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Cows and bears will eat together in peace. Their young will lie down together. Lions will eat hay as oxen do.


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A baby will be able to play near a cobra’s hole. A child will be able to put his hand into the nest of a poisonous snake.


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They will not hurt or destroy each other on all my holy mountain. The earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the sea is full of water.


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At that time the new king from the family of Jesse will stand as a banner for the people. The nations will come together around him. And the place where he lives will be filled with glory.


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At that time the Lord will again reach out and take his people who are left alive. These are God’s people who are left alive in Assyria, North Egypt, South Egypt, Cush, Elam, Babylonia, Hamath and all the islands of the sea.


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God will raise a banner as a sign for all people. He will gather the people of Israel who were forced from their country. He will gather the scattered people of Judah from all parts of the earth.


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At that time Israel will not be jealous anymore. Judah will have no enemies left. Israel will not be jealous of Judah. And Judah will not hate Israel.


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But Israel and Judah will attack the Philistines on the west. Together they will take the riches from the people of the east. They will conquer Edom and Moab. And the people of Ammon will be under their control.


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The Lord will dry up the Red Sea of Egypt. He will wave his arm over the Euphrates River. He will dry it up with a scorching wind. He will divide it into seven small rivers. And people will be able to walk across them with their sandals on.


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So God’s people who are left alive will have a way to leave Assyria. It will be like the time the Israelites went out of Egypt.


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A Song of Praise to God At that time you will say: “I praise you, Lord! You were angry with me. But you are not angry with me now! You have comforted me.


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God is the one who saves me. I trust him. I am not afraid. The Lord, the Lord, gives me strength and makes me sing. He has saved me.”


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At that time you will say, “Praise the Lord, and worship him. Tell everyone what he has done. Tell them how great he is.


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Shout and sing for joy, you people of Jerusalem. The Holy One of Israel does great things before your eyes.”


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God’s Message to Babylon Raise a flag on the bare mountain. Call out to the men. Raise your hand to signal them. Tell them to enter through the gates for important people.


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I myself have commanded those people whom I have separated as mine. I have called those warriors to carry out my anger. They rejoice and are glad to do my will.


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Listen to the loud noise in the mountains. It sounds like many people. Listen to the noise among the kingdoms. Nations are gathering together. The Lord of heaven’s armies is calling his army together for battle.


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This army is coming from a faraway land. It is coming from the edge of the horizon. In anger the Lord is using this army like a weapon. And it will destroy the whole country.


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Everyone will be afraid. Pain and hurt will grab them. They will hurt like a woman giving birth to a baby. They will look at each other in fear. Their faces will become red like fire.


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Look, the Lord’s day of judging is coming. It will be a terrible day. God will be very angry, and he will destroy the country. God will destroy the sinners who live in the land.


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The stars will not show their light. The skies will be dark. The sun will grow dark as it rises. And the moon will not give its light.


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The Lord says, “I will punish the world for its evil. I will punish wicked people for their sins. I will cause the proud people to lose their pride. I will destroy the pride of those who are cruel to others.


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People will be harder to find than pure gold. There will be fewer people than there is fine gold in Ophir.


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I will make the sky shake. And the earth will be moved from its place. The Lord of heaven’s armies will be very angry. His anger will burn at that time.


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“Then the people from Babylon will run away like hunted deer. They will run like sheep who have no shepherd. Everyone will turn back to his own people. Each will run back to his own land.


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Their little children will be beaten to death as their parents watch. Everything in their houses will be stolen. And their wives will be raped.


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Look, I will cause the armies of Media to attack Babylon. They do not care about silver. They do not delight in gold.


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Their soldiers will shoot the young men with arrows. The soldiers will show no mercy on the children. They will not feel sorry for the little boys.


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Babylon is the most beautiful of all kingdoms. The Babylonians are very proud of it. But God will destroy it like Sodom and Gomorrah.


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No one will ever live there. No one will settle there again. No Arab will put his tent there. No shepherd will bring his sheep there.


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Only animals from the desert will live there. The houses of Babylon will be full of wild dogs. Owls will live there. Wild goats will leap about in the houses.


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Wolves will howl within the strong walls. Wild dogs will bark in the beautiful buildings. The end of Babylon is near. Its time is almost over.”


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Israel Will Return Home The Lord will again show mercy to the people of Jacob. The Lord will again choose the people of Israel. He will settle them in their own land. Then non-Israelite people will join the Israelites. The non-Israelite people will become a part of the family of Jacob.


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Nations will take the Israelites back to their land. Those men and women from the other nations will become slaves to Israel. In the past the Israelites were their slaves. But now the Israelites will defeat those nations and rule over them.


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The King of Babylon Will Fall The Lord will take away the Israelites’ hard work, and he will comfort them. They will no longer have to work as slaves.


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On that day Israel will sing this song about the king of Babylon: The cruel king who ruled us is finished. His rule is finished!


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The king of Babylon beat people in anger. He beat them again and again. He ruled the people in anger. He kept on doing terrible things to the people.


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Even the pine trees are happy. And the cedar trees of Lebanon rejoice. They say, “The king has fallen. No one will ever cut us down again.”


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The place of the dead is excited to meet you when you come. It wakes the spirits of the dead to greet you. They were the leaders of the world. It makes dead kings stand up from their thrones to greet you. They were rulers of nations.


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All these leaders will make fun of you. They will say, “Now you are weak, as we are. Now you are just like us.”


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Your pride has been sent down to where the dead are. The music from your harps goes with it. Flies are spread out like your bed beneath you. And worms cover your body like a blanket.


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King of Babylon, morning star, you have fallen from heaven, even though you were as bright as the rising sun! In the past all the nations on earth bowed down before you. But now you have been cut down.


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You told yourself, “I will go up to heaven. I will put my throne above God’s stars. I will sit on the mountain of the gods. I will sit on the slopes of the sacred mountain.


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But you were brought down to the grave. You were brought down to the deep places where the dead are.


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Those who see you stare at you. They think about what has happened to you. They say, “Is this the same man who caused great fear on earth? Is he the one who shook the kingdoms?


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Is this the man who turned the land into a desert? Is he the one who destroyed its cities? Is he the one who captured people in war and would not let them go home?”


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But you are thrown out of your grave, like an unwanted branch is cut from a tree and thrown away. You are covered by bodies that died in battle. You have been thrown into a rocky pit. And other soldiers walk on you.


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You will not be buried like other people. This is because you ruined your own country. And you killed your own people. So your children will never be mentioned again.


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Prepare to kill his children. Kill them because their father is guilty. They will never again take control of the earth. They will never again fill the world with their cities.


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The Lord of heaven’s armies says this: “I will fight against those people. I will destroy Babylon and its people. I will destroy its people and their descendants,” says the Lord.


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“I will make Babylon fit only for owls. It will become a swamp. I will sweep Babylon as with a broom of destruction,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies.


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God Will Punish Assyria The Lord of heaven’s armies has made this promise: “These things will happen exactly as I planned them. These things will happen exactly as I set them up.


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I will destroy the king of Assyria in my country. I will trample him on my mountains. He put a heavy load on my people. But that weight will be removed.


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When the Lord of heaven’s armies makes a plan, no one can stop it. When the Lord raises his hand to punish people, no one can stop him.


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Country of Philistia, don’t be so happy. The king who beat you is now dead. But he is like a snake that will give birth to another dangerous snake. The new king will be like a quick, dangerous snake to bite you.


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Even the poorest of my people will be able to eat safely. People in need will be able to lie down in safety. But I will kill your family with hunger. And all your people who are left will die.


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People near the city gates, cry out! Philistines, be frightened! A cloud of dust comes from the north. It is an army, full of men ready to fight.


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What shall we tell the messengers from Philistia? Say that the Lord has made Jerusalem strong. Say that his poor people will go there for safety.


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God’s Message to Moab This is a message about Moab: In one night armies took the wealth from Ar in Moab. That night the city was destroyed. In one night armies took the wealth from Kir in Moab. That night the city was destroyed.


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The people of Dibon go to the places of worship to cry. The people of Moab cry for the cities of Nebo and Medeba. Everyone has shaved his head and beard to show how sad he is.


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In the streets at Moab they wear rough cloth to show their sadness. On the roofs and in the public squares, they are crying loudly.


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People in the cities Heshbon and Elealeh cry out loud. You can hear their voices far away in the city Jahaz. Even the soldiers are frightened. They are shaking from fear.


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My heart cries with sorrow for Moab. Its people run away to Zoar for safety. They run to Eglath Shelishiyah. People are going up the mountain road to Luhith. They are crying as they go. People are going on the road to Horonaim. They cry out loud over their destruction.


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But the water of Nimrim has dried up. The grass has dried up. All the plants are dead. Nothing green is left.


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So the people gather up what they have saved. They carry those things and cross the Ravine of the Poplars.


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Crying is heard everywhere in Moab. Their crying is heard as far away as the city Eglaim. Their crying is heard as far away as Beer Elim.


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The water of the city Dibon is full of blood. And I, the Lord, will bring even more troubles to Dibon. A few people living in Moab have escaped the enemy. But I will send lions to kill them.


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Send the king of the land the payment he demands. Send a lamb from Sela through the desert to the mountain of Jerusalem.


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The women of Moab try to cross the river Arnon. They are like little birds that have fallen from their nest.


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They say: “Help us. Tell us what to do. Protect us from our enemies as shade protects us from the noon sun. Hide us because we are running for safety! Don’t give us to our enemies.


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Let those of us who were forced out of Moab live in your land. Hide us from our enemies.” The robbing of Moab will stop. The enemy will be defeated. The men who hurt others will disappear from the land.


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Then a new loyal king will come. This faithful king will be from the family of David. He will judge fairly. He wants to do what is right.


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We have heard that the people of Moab are proud and very conceited. They are very proud and angry. But their bragging means nothing.


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So the people of Moab will cry. They will all be sad. They will moan and groan for the raisin cakes they had in Kir Hareseth.


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But the fields of Heshbon and the vines of Sibmah cannot grow grapes. Foreign rulers have destroyed the grapevines. The grapevines once spread as far as the city of Jazer and into the desert. They had spread as far as the sea.


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I cry with the people of Jazer for the grapevines of Sibmah. I will cry with the people of Heshbon and Elealeh. There will be no shouts of joy, because there will be no harvest or ripe fruit.


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There will be no joy and happiness in the orchards. There will be no songs or shouts of joy in the vineyards. No one makes wine in the winepresses. I have put an end to shouts of joy.


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The people of Moab will go to their places of worship. They will try to pray. But when they go to their temple to pray, they will not be able.


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And now the Lord says, “In three years all those people and what they are proud of will be hated. (This is three years as a hired helper would count time.) There will be a few people left, but they will be weak.”


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God’s Message to Aram This is the message for Damascus: “The city of Damascus will be destroyed. Only ruins will be left there.


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People will leave the cities of Aroer. Flocks of sheep will wander freely in those empty towns. There will be no one to bother them.


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The strong, walled cities of Israel will be destroyed. The government in Damascus will end. Those left alive of Aram will be like the glory of Israel,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies.


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“At that time Israel’s wealth will all be gone. Israel will be like a man who has lost much weight from sickness.


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That time will be like the grain harvest in the Valley of Rephaim. The workers cut the wheat. Then they cut the heads of grain from the plants. And they collect the grain.


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That time will also be like the olive harvest, when a few olives are left. Two or three olives are left in the top branches. Four or five olives are left on full branches,” says the Lord, the God of Israel.


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They will not trust the altars they have made. They will not trust what their hands have made. They will not respect the Asherah idols and altars they have made.


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In that day all their strong cities will be empty. They will be like the cities that the Hivites and the Amorites left. They left their cities when the Israelites came to take the land. Everything will be ruined.


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You have forgotten the God who saves you. You have not remembered that God is your place of safety. You plant the finest grapevines. You plant grapevines from faraway places.


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You will plant your grapevines one day and try to make them grow. The next day they will begin to grow. But at harvest time everything will be dead. A sickness will kill all the plants.


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Listen to the many people! They are crying loud like the noise from the sea. Listen to the noise! The crying is like the crashing of great waves.


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The people roar like those waves. But when God speaks harshly to them, they will run away. They will be like chaff on the hills being blown by the wind. They will be like tumbleweeds blown away by a storm.


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At night the people will be very frightened. Before morning, no one will be left. So our enemies will come to our land, but they will become nothing.


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God’s Message to Cush How terrible it will be for the land beyond the rivers of Cush. It is filled with the sound of wings.


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That land sends people across the sea. They go on the water in boats made of reeds. Quick messengers, go to the people who are tall and smooth-skinned. They are feared everywhere. They are a powerful nation with strange speech. They defeat the other nations. Their land is divided by rivers.


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All you people of the world, look! Everyone who lives in the world, look! You will see a banner raised on a mountain. You will hear a trumpet sound.


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The Lord said to me, “I will quietly watch from where I live. I will be like heat in the sunshine. I will be like the dew in the heat of harvest time.”


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The time will be after the flowers have bloomed and before the harvest. The new grapes will be budding and growing. Then the enemy will cut the plants with knives. He will cut down the vines and take them away.


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They will be left for the birds of the mountains to eat. They will be left for the wild animals to eat. Birds will feed on them all summer. And that winter wild animals will eat them.


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At that time gifts will be brought to the Lord of heaven’s armies. They will come from the people who are tall and smooth-skinned. They are feared everywhere. They are a powerful nation with strange speech. Their land is divided by rivers. These gifts will be brought to the place of the Lord of heaven’s armies. They will be brought to Mount Zion.


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God’s Message to Egypt The message about Egypt: Look, the Lord is coming on a fast cloud. He will enter Egypt. And the idols of Egypt will tremble before him. Egypt’s courage will melt away.


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The Lord says, “I will cause the Egyptians to fight against themselves. Men will fight with their brothers. Neighbors will fight neighbors. Cities will fight cities. Kingdoms will fight kingdoms.


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The Egyptians will be afraid. I will ruin their plans. They will ask their idols and spirits of the dead what they should do. They will ask their mediums and fortune-tellers.”


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The Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, says, “I will give Egypt to a hard master. A powerful king will rule over them.”


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The canals will stink. The streams of Egypt will decrease and dry up. All the water plants will rot.


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All the plants along the banks of the Nile will die. Even the planted fields by the Nile will dry up, blow away and disappear.


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The fishermen, all those who catch fish from the Nile, will groan and cry. Those who depend on the Nile for food will be sad.


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The officers of the city of Zoan are fools. The wise men who advise the king of Egypt give wrong advice. How can they say to him they are wise? How can they say they are from the old family of the kings?


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Egypt, where are your wise men? Let them show you what the Lord of heaven’s armies has planned for Egypt.


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The officers of Zoan have been fooled. The leaders of Memphis have believed false things. So the leaders of Egypt lead her the wrong way.


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The Lord has made the leaders confused. They wander and lead Egypt in the wrong ways. They are like drunk people stumbling in their own vomit.


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In that day the people of Egypt will be like frightened women. They will be afraid of the Lord of heaven’s armies. He will raise his hand to strike them down.


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The land of Judah will bring fear to the people in Egypt. Anyone in Egypt who hears the name Judah will be afraid. This will happen because the Lord of heaven’s armies has planned terrible things for Egypt.


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At that time five cities in Egypt will speak Hebrew, the language of Canaan. They will promise to be loyal to the Lord of heaven’s armies. One of these cities will be named the City of Destruction.


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At that time there will be an altar for the Lord in the middle of Egypt. At the border of Egypt there will be a monument to the Lord.


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This will be a sign. It will show that the Lord of heaven’s armies is powerful. When the people cry to the Lord for help, he will send help. He will send someone to save and defend the people. He will rescue them from those who hurt them.


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So the Lord will show himself to the Egyptians. Then they will say he is the Lord. They will serve God and offer many sacrifices. They will make promises to the Lord, and they will keep them.


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The Lord will punish the Egyptians. Then he will heal them. They will come back to the Lord. He will listen to their prayers and heal them.


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At that time there will be a highway from Egypt to Assyria. Then people from Assyria will go to Egypt. And the Egyptians will go to Assyria. The Egyptians and Assyrians will worship God together.


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The Lord of heaven’s armies will bless them. He will say, “Egypt, you are my people. Assyria, I made you. Israel, I own you. You are all blessed!”


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Assyria Will Defeat Egypt and Cush Sargon was the king of Assyria. He sent a military commander to Ashdod to attack that city. So the commander attacked and captured it.


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Then the Lord spoke through Isaiah son of Amoz. The Lord said, “Take the rough cloth off your body. Take your sandals off your feet.” So Isaiah obeyed the Lord. He walked around without his clothes of rough cloth or his sandals.


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Then the Lord said, “Isaiah my servant has walked around without his clothes of rough cloth or his sandals for three years. This is a sign for Egypt and Cush.


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The king of Assyria will defeat Egypt and Cush. Assyria will take prisoners and lead them away from their countries. The old people and young people will be led away naked. They will go without clothes and without sandals. So the Egyptians will be shamed.


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People who looked to Cush for help will be afraid. People who were amazed by Egypt’s glory will be shamed.


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Those people who live near the sea will say, ‘We trusted those countries to help us. We ran to them so they would save us from the king of Assyria. But look at them. They have been captured. So how will we be able to escape?’”


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God’s Message to Babylon The message about the Desert by the Sea: Disaster is coming from the desert. It is coming like wind blowing in the south. It is coming from a terrible country.


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I have seen a terrible vision. I see traitors turning against you. I see people taking your wealth. Elam, attack the people! Media, surround the city and attack it! I will bring an end to the pain the city causes.


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I saw those terrible things, and now I am in pain. My pains are like the pains of giving birth. What I hear makes me very afraid. What I see causes me to shake with fear.


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They set the table. They spread the rugs. They eat and drink! Leaders, stand up. Prepare the shields for battle!


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Then the lookout called out, “My Master, each day I stand in the watchtower watching. Every night I have been on guard.


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Look. I see a man coming in a chariot with a team of horses.” The man gives back the answer, “Babylon has fallen. It has fallen! All the statues of her gods lie broken on the ground.”


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My people are crushed like grain on the threshing floor. My people, I tell you what I have heard from the Lord. He is the Lord of heaven’s armies, the God of Israel.


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God’s Message to Edom The message about Dumah: Someone calls to me from Edom. He says, “Watchman, how much of the night is left? Watchman, how much longer will it be night?”


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The watchman answered, “Morning is coming, but then night will come again. If you have something to ask, then come back and ask.”


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God’s Message to Arabia The message about Arabia: A group of traders from Dedan spent the night near some trees in Arabia.


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They were running from swords. The swords were ready to kill. They were running from bows ready to shoot. They were running from a hard battle.


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This is what the Lord said to me: “In one year all the glory of the country of Kedar will be gone. (This is a year as a hired helper counts time.)


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At that time only a few of the archers will be left. Only a few of the soldiers of Kedar will be left alive.” The Lord, the God of Israel, has spoken.


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God’s Message to Jerusalem The message about the Valley of Vision: What is wrong with you people? Why are you on your roofs?


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This city was a very busy city. It was full of noise and wild parties. But your people have been killed, but not with swords. They did not die in battle.


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All your leaders ran away together. But they all have been captured without using a bow. All you who were captured tried to run away before the enemy came near.


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So I say, “Don’t look at me. Let me cry loudly. Don’t hurry to comfort me about the destruction of Jerusalem.”


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The Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, has chosen a special day. There will be riots and confusion. People will trample each other in the Valley of Vision. The city walls will be knocked down. The people will cry out to the mountain.


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The soldiers from Elam will take their bags of arrows. Men in chariots and on horses will attack. Kir will prepare their shields.


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Your nicest valleys will be filled with chariots. Horsemen will be ordered to guard the gates of the city.


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The walls protecting Judah will fall. At that time the people of Jerusalem depended on the weapons kept at the Palace of the Forest.


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You saw that the walls of Jerusalem had many cracks that needed repairing. You stored up water in the lower pool.


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You made a pool between the two walls. It was to save water from the old pool. But you did not trust the God who made these things. You did not respect the One who planned them long ago.


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The Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, told the people to cry and be sad. He told them to shave their heads and wear rough cloth.


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But look. The people are happy. There are wild parties. They kill the cattle and the sheep. They eat the food and drink the wine. They say, “Let us eat and drink, because tomorrow we will die.”


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The Lord of heaven’s armies said to me: “You people will die before this guilt is forgiven.” The Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, said this.


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God’s Message to Shebna This is what the Master, the Lord of heaven’s armies, says: “Go to this servant Shebna. He is the manager of the palace.


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Say to him, ‘What are you doing here? Who said you could cut out a tomb for yourself here? Why are you preparing your tomb in a high place? Why are you carving out a tomb from the rock?


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He will roll you tightly into a ball and throw you into another country. There you will die. Your fine chariots will remain there. You are a disgrace to your master’s house.


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I will force you out of your important job here. You will be thrown down from your important place.’


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I will take your robe and put it on him. I will give him your belt. I will give him the important job you have. He will be like a father to the people of Jerusalem and the family of Judah.


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I will put the key to the house of David around his neck. If he opens a door, no one will be able to close it. If he closes a door, no one will be able to open it.


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He will be like an honored chair in his father’s house. I will make him strong like a peg that is hammered into a strong board.


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All the honored and important things of his family will depend on him. All the adults and little children will depend on him. They will be like bowls and jars hanging on him.


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“At that time,” says the Lord of heaven’s armies, “the peg hammered into the strong board will weaken. It will break and fall. And everything hanging on it will be destroyed.” The Lord says this.


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God’s Message to Lebanon The message about Tyre: You ships of Tarshish, cry! The houses and harbor of Tyre are destroyed. This news came to the ships from the land of Cyprus.


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Be silent, you who live on the island of Tyre. You merchants of Sidon, be silent. Seamen have made you rich.


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They traveled the sea to bring grain from Egypt. The men of Tyre brought grain from the Nile Valley and sold it to other nations.


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Sidon, be ashamed. Strong city of the sea, be ashamed. The sea says: “I have not felt the pain of giving birth. I have not reared young men or women.”


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Look at your once happy city! Look at your old, old city! People from that city have traveled far away to live.


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Who planned Tyre’s destruction? Tyre made others rich. Her merchants were treated like princes. Her traders were greatly respected.


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It was the Lord of heaven’s armies who planned this! He decided to make these proud men unimportant. He decided to disgrace those who were greatly respected.


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The Lord has stretched his hand over the sea. He makes its kingdoms tremble. He commands that Canaan’s places of safety be destroyed.


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The Lord said, “Sidon, you will not rejoice any longer. You are destroyed. Even if you cross the sea to Cyprus, you will not find a place to rest.”


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Look at the land of the Babylonians. Babylonia is not a country now. Assyria has made it a place for wild animals. Assyria built towers to attack it. The soldiers took all the treasures from its cities. They turned it into ruins.


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At that time people will forget about Tyre for 70 years. That is the length of a king’s life. After 70 years, Tyre will be like the prostitute in this song:


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“Oh woman, you are forgotten. Take your harp and walk through the city. Play your harp well. Sing your song often. Then people will remember you.”


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After 70 years the Lord will deal with Tyre. Tyre will again have trade. It will be like a prostitute for all the nations of the earth.


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The profits will be saved for the Lord. Tyre will not keep the money she earns. It will give them to the people who serve the Lord. So they will have plenty of food and nice clothes.


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God Will Punish the World Look! The Lord will destroy the earth and leave it empty. He will ruin the surface of the land and scatter its people.


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At that time the same thing will happen to everyone: to common people and priests, to slaves and masters, to women slaves and their women masters, to buyers and sellers, to those who borrow and those who lend, and to bankers and those who owe the bank.


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The earth will be completely empty. The wealth will all be taken. This will happen because the Lord commanded it.


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The earth will dry up and die. The world will grow weak and die. The great leaders in this land will become weak.


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The people of the earth have ruined it. They do not follow God’s teachings. They do not obey God’s laws. They break their agreement with God that was to last forever.


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A curse will destroy the earth. The people of the world are guilty. So they will be burned up. Only a few will be left.


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The happy music of the tambourines will end. The happy sounds of wild parties will stop. The joyful music from the harps will end.


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People will no longer sing while they drink their wine. The beer will taste bitter to those who drink it.


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People in the streets will ask for wine. But joy will have turned to sadness. All the happiness will have left.


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This is what will happen all over the earth. This will happen to all the nations. The earth will be like an olive tree after the harvest. It will be like the few grapes left on a vine after harvest.


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People in the east, praise the Lord. People in the islands of the sea, praise the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.


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We hear songs from every part of the earth. These songs praise God, the Righteous One. But I said, “I am dying! I am dying! How terrible it will be for me! Traitors turn against people. With their dishonesty, they turn against people.”


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Anyone who tries to escape from the sound of terror will fall into a hole. Anyone who climbs out of the hole will be caught in a trap. The clouds in the sky will pour out rain. The foundations of the earth will shake.


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The earth will stumble around like a man who is drunk. It will shake like a hut in a storm. Its sin is like a heavy weight on its back. The earth will fall and never rise again.


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They will be gathered together. They will be thrown into a pit as prisoners. They will be shut up in prison. After much time they will be punished.


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The moon will be embarrassed. The sun will be ashamed. This will happen because the Lord of heaven’s armies will rule as king on Mount Zion in Jerusalem. Jerusalem’s leaders will see his greatness.


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A Song of Praise to God Lord, you are my God. I honor you and praise you. You have done amazing things. You have always done what you said you would. You have done what you planned long ago.


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You have made the city a pile of rocks. You have destroyed her walls. The city our enemies built with strong walls is gone. It will never be built again.


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You help the poor people. You help the helpless when they are in danger. You are like a shelter from storms. You are like shade that protects them from the heat. The cruel people attack like a rainstorm beating against the wall.


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The cruel people burn like the heat in the desert. But you, God, stop their violent attack. As a cloud cools a hot day, Lord, you silence the songs of those who have no mercy.


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God’s Banquet for His Servants The Lord of heaven’s armies will give a feast. It will be on this mountain for all people. It will be a feast with the best food and wine. The meat and wine will be the finest.


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On this mountain God will destroy the veil that covers all nations. This veil, called “death,” covers all peoples.


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But God will destroy death forever. The Lord God will wipe away every tear from every face. God will take away the shame of his people from the earth. The Lord has spoken.


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At that time people will say, “Our God is doing this! We have trusted in him, and he has come to save us. We have been trusting our Lord. So we will rejoice and be happy when he saves us.”


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The Lord will protect Jerusalem. But the Lord will crush our enemy Moab. Moab will be like straw that is trampled down in the manure.


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They will spread their arms in it like a person who is swimming. The Lord will bring down their pride. All the clever things they have made will mean nothing.


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Moab’s high walls protect them. But the Lord will destroy these walls. The Lord will throw them down on the ground. The stones will lie in the dust.


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A Song of Praise to God At that time people will sing this song in Judah: We have a strong city. God protects us with its strong walls and defenses.


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You, Lord, give true peace. You give peace to those who depend on you. You give peace to those who trust you.


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But the Lord will destroy the proud city. And he will punish the people living there. He will bring that high city down to the ground. He throws it down into the dust.


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Then those who were hurt by the city will walk on its ruins. Those who were made poor by the city will trample it under their feet.


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The path of life of the people who are right with God is level. Lord, you make the way of life smooth for those people.


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My soul wants to be with you at night. And my spirit wants to be with you at the dawn of every day. When your way of justice comes to the land, people of the world will learn the right way of living.


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An evil person will not learn to do good even if you show him kindness. He will continue doing evil, even if he lives in a good world. He never sees the Lord’s greatness.


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Lord, you are ready to punish those people. But they do not see that. Lord, show them your strong love for your people. Then the evil people will be ashamed. Burn them in the fire you have prepared for your enemies.


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Those masters are now dead. Their ghosts will not rise from death. You decided to destroy them. And you destroyed any memory of them.


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Lord, you multiplied the number of your people. You multiplied them and brought honor to yourself. You made the borders of the land wide.


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Lord, people remember you when they are in trouble. They say quiet prayers to you when you punish them.


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Lord, when we are with you, we are like a woman giving birth to a baby. She cries and has pain from the birth.


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In the same way, we had pain. We gave birth, but only to wind. We don’t bring salvation to the land. We don’t make new people for the world.


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Your people have died, but they will live again. Their bodies will rise from death. Dead people in the ground, get up and be happy! The dew covering you is like the dew of a new day. The ground will give birth to the dead buried in it.


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Judgment: Reward or Punishment My people, go into your rooms. Shut your doors behind you. Hide in your rooms for a short time. Hide until God’s anger is finished.


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The Lord will leave his place. He will punish the people of the world for their sins. The earth will show the blood of the people who have been killed. It will not cover the dead any longer.


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At that time the Lord will judge Leviathan, the gliding snake. He will punish Leviathan, the coiled snake. The Lord will use his great sword, his hard and powerful sword. He will kill the monster in the sea.


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“I, the Lord, will care for that vineyard. I will water it at the right time. No one will hurt it. I will guard it day and night.


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But if anyone comes to me for safety and wants to make peace with me, he should come and make peace with me.”


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In the days to come, the people of Jacob will be like a plant with good roots. Israel will grow like a plant beginning to bloom. Then the world will be filled with their children.


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God “Divorces” Israel The Lord has not hurt his people as he hurt their enemies. His people have not been killed like those who tried to kill them.


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The Lord will settle his argument with Israel by sending it far away. Like a hot desert wind, he will drive Israel away.


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This is how Israel’s guilt will be forgiven. This is how its sins will be taken away. Israel will crush the rocks of the altar to dust. No statues or altars will be left standing for the Asherah idols.


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At that time the strong, walled city will be empty. It will be like a desert. Calves will eat grass there. They will lie down there. They will eat leaves from the branches.


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The limbs will become dry and break off. Women will use them for firewood. The people refuse to understand. So God will not comfort them. Their Maker will not be kind to them.


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At that time the Lord will begin gathering his people one by one. He will gather all his people from the Euphrates River to the brook of Egypt. He will separate them from others as grain is separated from chaff.


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Many of my people are now lost in Assyria. Some of my people have run away to Egypt. But at that time a great trumpet will be blown. And all those people will come back to Jerusalem. They will bow down before the Lord on that holy mountain.


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Warnings to North Israel How terrible it will be for Samaria, the pride of Israel’s drunken people! That beautiful crown of flowers is just a dying plant. It sits on a hill above a rich valley where drunkards live.


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Look, the Lord has someone who is strong and full of power. That person will come like a storm of hail and strong wind. He will come like a sudden flood of water pouring over the country. He will throw Samaria down to the ground.


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That beautiful crown of flowers is just a dying plant. It sits on a hill above a rich valley. That city will be like the first fig of summer. When a person sees it, he quickly picks it and eats it.


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At that time the Lord of heaven’s armies will be like a beautiful crown. He will be like a wonderful crown of flowers for his people who are left alive.


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Then the Lord will give wisdom to the judges who rule his people. The Lord will give strength to those who battle at the city gate.


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But now those leaders are drunk with wine. They stumble from drinking too much beer. The priests and prophets are drunk with beer. They are filled with wine. They stumble from too much beer. The prophets are drunk when they see their visions. The judges stumble when they make their decisions.


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The Lord is trying to teach the people a lesson. He is trying to make them understand his teachings. But the people are like little babies. They are like babies who just nursed at their mother’s breast.


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So they make fun of the Lord’s prophet and say: “A command here, a command there. A rule here, a rule there. A lesson here, a lesson there.”


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God said to them, “Here is a place of rest. Let the tired people come and rest. This is the place of peace.” But the people would not listen.


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So the words of the Lord will be, “A command here, a command there. A rule here, a rule there. A lesson here, a lesson there.” They will fall back and will be defeated. They will be trapped and captured.


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You say, “We have made an agreement with death. We have a contract with death. When punishment passes by, it won’t hurt us. We will be safe with our lies. We will hide behind our tricks.”


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Because of these things, this is what the Lord God says: “I will put a stone in the ground in Jerusalem. This will be a tested stone. Everything will be built on this important and precious rock. Anyone who trusts in it will never be disappointed.


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I will use justice as a measuring line. I will use goodness to measure by. The lies you hide behind will be destroyed as if by hail. They will be washed away as if in a flood.


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Your agreement with death will be erased. Your contract with death will not help you. When punishment comes, you will be crushed by it.


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Whenever punishment comes, it will take you away. It will come morning after morning. It will defeat you by day and by night. Those who hear of this punishment will be terrified.”


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You will be like the man who tried to sleep on a bed that was too short for him. And his blanket was too narrow to wrap around himself.


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The Lord will fight as he did at Mount Perazim. He will be angry as he was in the Valley of Gibeon. Then the Lord will do his work, his strange work. He will finish his job, his strange job.


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Now, you must not make fun of these things. If you do, the ropes around you will become tighter. The Lord of heaven’s armies has told me these things. He has told me how the whole earth will be destroyed.


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He prepares the ground. Then he plants the dill seed and scatters the cummin seed. He plants the wheat in rows. He plants barley in its special place, and other wheat in its own field.


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A farmer doesn’t use heavy boards to crush dill. He doesn’t use a wagon to crush cummin. He uses a small stick to break open the dill. With a stick he opens the cummin.


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The grain is ground to make bread. People do not ruin it by crushing it forever. The farmer separates the wheat from the chaff with his cart. But he does not let his horses grind it.


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Warnings to Jerusalem How terrible it will be for you, Jerusalem. You are the city where David camped. Her festivals have continued year after year.


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I will attack Jerusalem. That city will be filled with sadness and crying. It will be like an altar to me.


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I will put armies all around you, Jerusalem. I will surround you with towers. I will build devices around you to attack you.


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You will be pulled down and will speak from the ground. I will hear your voice rising from the ground. It will sound like the voice of a ghost. Your words will come like a whisper from the dirt.


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Your many enemies will become like fine dust. The groups of cruel people will be like chaff that is blown away. Everything will happen very quickly.


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The Lord of heaven’s armies will come. He will come with thunder, earthquakes and great noises. He will come with storms, strong winds and a fire that destroys.


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Then all the nations that fight against Jerusalem will be like a dream. All the nations that surround and attack her will be like a vision in the night.


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They will be like a hungry man who dreams he is eating. But when he wakes up, he is still hungry. They will be like a thirsty man who dreams he is drinking. But when he wakes up, he is still weak and thirsty. It will be the same way with all the nations who fight against Mount Zion.


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Be surprised and amazed. Blind yourselves so that you cannot see. Become drunk, but not from wine. Trip and fall, but not from beer.


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The Lord has made you go into a deep sleep. He has closed your eyes. (The prophets are your eyes.) He has covered your heads. (The seers are your heads.)


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This vision is like the words of a book that is closed and sealed. You may give the book to someone who can read. And you may tell that person to read it. But he will say, “I can’t read the book. It is closed, and I can’t open it.”


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Or you may give the book to someone who cannot read. You may tell him to read the book. But he will say, “I can’t read it because I don’t know how to read.”


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The Lord says: “These people say they love me. They show honor to me with words. But their hearts are far from me. The honor they show me is nothing but human rules they have memorized.


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So I will continue to amaze these people by doing more and more miracles. Their wise men will lose their wisdom. Their wise men will not be able to understand.”


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Warnings About Other Nations How terrible it will be for those who try to hide things from the Lord. How terrible it will be for those who do their work in darkness. They think no one will see them or know what they do.


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You are confused. You think the clay is equal to the potter. You think that an object can tell the person who made it, “You didn’t make me.” This is like a pot telling its maker, “You don’t know anything.”


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A Better Time Is Coming In a very short time, Lebanon will become rich farmland. And the rich farmland will seem like a forest.


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At that time the deaf will hear the words in a book. Instead of having darkness and gloom, the blind will see.


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Then the people without mercy will come to an end. Those who do not respect God will disappear. Those who enjoy doing evil will be gone.


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Those who lie about others in court will be gone. Those who trap people in court will be gone. Those who lie and take justice from innocent people in court will be gone.


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The Lord set Abraham free. This Lord speaks to the family of Jacob. “Now the people of Jacob will not be ashamed. They will not be disgraced any longer.


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They will see all their children, the children I made with my hands. And they will say my name is holy. The people will agree that the Holy One of Jacob is holy. They will respect the God of Israel.


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Warnings to the Stubborn Nation The Lord said, “How terrible it will be for these stubborn children. They make plans, but they don’t ask me to help them. They make agreements with other nations, without asking my Spirit. They are adding more and more sins to themselves.


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They go down to Egypt for help, but they didn’t ask me about it first. They hope they will be saved by the king of Egypt. They want Egypt to protect them.


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But they will be put to shame, because Egypt is useless to them. Egypt will give no help and be of no use. It will cause them only shame and embarrassment.”


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God’s Message to Judah This is the message about the animals in southern Judah: Southern Judah is a dangerous place. It is full of lions and lionesses, poisonous snakes and darting snakes. The messengers travel through there with their wealth on donkeys’ backs. They have put their treasure on the backs of camels. They carry them to a nation that cannot help them.


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Now write this on a sign for the people. Write this on a scroll. Write these things for the days to come. Write them so they will last forever.


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These people are like children who lie and refuse to obey. They refuse to listen to the Lord’s teachings.


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They tell the seers, “Don’t see any more visions!” They say to the prophets, “Don’t tell us the truth! Say things that will make us feel good. See only good things for us.


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So this is what the Holy One of Israel says: “You people have refused to accept this message from the Lord. You depended on cruelty and lies to help you.


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You are guilty of these things. So you are like a high wall with cracks in it. It will fall suddenly and break into small pieces.


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You will be like a clay jar that breaks. It breaks into many pieces. Those pieces will be too small to take coals from the fire or to get water from a well.”


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This is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says: “If you come back to me and trust me, you will be saved. If you will be calm and trust me, you will be strong.” But you don’t want to do that.


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You say, “No, we need horses to run away on.” So you will run away on horses. You say, “We will ride away on fast horses.” So those who chase you will be fast.


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One enemy will make threats, and 1,000 of your men will run away. Five enemies will make threats, and all of you will run from them. You will be left alone like a flagpole on a hilltop. You will be like a banner on a hill.


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The Lord wants to show his mercy to you. He wants to rise and comfort you. The Lord is a fair God. And everyone who waits for his help will be happy.


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God Will Help His People You people who live on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will not cry anymore. The Lord will hear your crying, and he will comfort you. The Lord will hear you, and he will help you.


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The Lord has given you sorrow and hurt. It was like the bread and water you ate every day. But he is your teacher, and he will not continue to hide from you. You will see your teacher with your own eyes.


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If you go the wrong way—to the right or to the left—you will hear a voice behind you. It will say, “This is the right way. You should go this way.”


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You have statues covered with silver and gold. But you will ruin them for further use. You will throw them away like filthy rags. You will say, “Go away!”


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At that time the Lord will send rain for you. You will plant seeds in the ground, and the ground will grow food for you. The harvest will be very great. You will have plenty of food in the fields for your animals. There will be large fields for your sheep.


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Your oxen and donkeys will work the soil. They will have all the food they need. You will have to use shovels and pitchforks to spread all the food for your animals to eat.


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Every mountain and hill will have streams filled with water. These things will happen after many people are killed and the towers are pulled down.


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At that time the light from the moon will be bright like the sun. The light from the sun will be seven times brighter than now. The light from the sun in one day will be like a full week. These things will happen when the Lord bandages his broken people and heals the hurts he gave them.


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Look! The Lord comes from far away. His anger is like a fire with thick clouds of smoke. His mouth is filled with anger, and his tongue is like a burning fire.


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The Lord’s breath is like a rushing river. It rises until it reaches the throat. He will judge the nations as if he is sifting them through the strainer of destruction. He will place in their mouths a bit that will lead them the wrong way.


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You will sing happy songs as on the nights you begin a festival. You will be happy as people listening to flutes as they go to the mountain of the Lord. The Lord is the Rock of Israel.


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The Lord will cause all people to hear his great voice. He will cause them to see his powerful arm come down. It will come with anger like a great fire that burns everything. It will be like a great storm with much rain and hail.


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The Lord will punish Assyria with a rod. He will beat them to the music of tambourines and harps. The Lord will fight against them with his mighty weapons.


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Topheth has been made ready for a long time. It is ready for the king. It was made deep and wide. There is much wood and fire there. And the Lord’s breath will come like a stream of burning sulfur and burn it.


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Warnings About Relying on Egypt How terrible it will be for those people who go down to Egypt for help. They think horses will save them. They think their many chariots and strong horsemen will save them. They don’t trust God, the Holy One of Israel. They don’t ask the Lord for help.


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But it is the Lord who is wise and who can bring them trouble. He does not change his warnings. He will rise up and fight against the evil people. And he will fight against those who try to help evil people.


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The Egyptians are only people and are not God. Their horses are only animals and are not spirit. The Lord will stretch out his arm, and the one who helps will stumble. The people who wanted help will fall. All of them will be destroyed together.


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The Lord says this to me: “When a lion or a lion’s cub kills an animal to eat, it stands over the dead animal and roars. A band of shepherds may be assembled against it. But the lion will not be afraid of their yelling. It will not be upset by their noise. So the Lord of heaven’s armies will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.


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The Lord of heaven’s armies will defend Jerusalem. He will defend it like birds flying over their nests. He will defend and save it. He will ‘pass over’ and save Jerusalem.”


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The time is coming when each of you will stop worshiping the idols of gold and silver that you made. You truly sinned when you made them.


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“Assyria will be defeated by a sword, but not the sword of a man. Assyria will be destroyed, but not by a man’s sword. Assyria will run away from the sword of God. But their young men will be caught and made slaves.


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They will panic, and their place of safety will be destroyed. Their commanders will be terrified when they see God’s battle flag.” The Lord said all these things. The Lord’s fire is in Jerusalem. His furnace is in Jerusalem.


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A Good Kingdom Is Coming A king will rule in a way that brings justice. Leaders will make fair decisions.


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Then each ruler will be like a shelter from the wind. He will be like a safe place in a storm. He will be like streams of water in a dry land. He will be like a cool shadow from a large rock in a hot land.


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People who are now worried will be able to understand. Those who cannot speak clearly now will then be able to speak clearly and quickly.


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A fool says foolish things. And in his mind he plans to do evil things. A fool wants to do things that are wrong. He says wrong things about the Lord. A fool does not feed the hungry. He does not let thirsty people drink water.


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The wicked man uses evil like a tool. He plans ways to take everything from poor people. He destroys the poor with lies, even when the poor man is in the right.


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Hard Times Are Coming You women who are calm now, stand up and listen to me. You women who feel safe now, hear what I say.


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You women feel safe now, but after one year you will be afraid. There will be no grape harvest. There will not be any summer fruit to gather.


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Women, you are calm now, but you should shake with fear. Women, you feel safe now, but you should tremble. Take off your nice clothes. Then put rough cloth around your waist to show your sadness.


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Beat your breasts in grief because the fields that were pleasant are now empty. Cry because the vines that once had fruit now have no more grapes.


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Cry for the land of my people. Cry because only thorns and weeds grow there now. Cry for the city that once was happy. And cry for all the houses that once were filled with joy.


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The palace will be empty. People will leave the noisy city. Strong cities and towers will be empty. Wild donkeys will love to live there. Sheep will go there to eat.


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Things Will Get Better This will continue until God puts his Spirit from above into us. Then the desert will be like a fertile field. And the fertile field will be like a forest.


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My people will live in peaceful places. They will have safe homes. They will live in calm places of rest.


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But you will be happy as you plant seeds near every stream. You will let your cattle and donkeys wander freely.


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Warnings to Assyria and Promises to God’s People How terrible it will be for you who destroy others. But you have not been destroyed yet. How terrible it will be for you, traitor. But no one has turned against you yet. When you stop destroying, others will destroy you. When you stop turning against others, they will turn against you.


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Lord, be kind to us. We have waited for your help. Lord, give us strength every morning. Save us when we are in trouble.


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Like locusts, your enemies will take away the things you stole in war. Like locusts rushing about, they will take your wealth.


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The Lord will be your safety. He is full of salvation, wisdom and knowledge. Respect for the Lord is the greatest treasure.


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There is no one on the roads. No one is walking in the paths. People have broken the agreements they made. People refuse to believe the proof from witnesses. No one respects other people.


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The land is sick and dying. Lebanon is ashamed and dying. The Plain of Sharon is dry like the desert. The trees of Bashan and Carmel are dying.


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The Lord says, “Now, I will stand up and show my greatness. Now, I will become important to the people.


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You people do useless things. These things are like hay and straw. A destructive wind will burn you like fire.


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People will be burned until their bones become like lime. They will burn quickly like dry thornbushes.”


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You people in faraway lands, hear what I have done. You people who are near me, learn about my power.


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The sinners in Jerusalem are afraid. The people who are separated from God shake with fear. They say, “Can any of us live through this fire that destroys? Who can live near this fire that burns on and on?”


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A person might do what is right. He might speak what is right. He might refuse to take money unfairly. He might refuse to take money to hurt others. He might not listen to plans of murder. He might refuse to think about evil.


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This is the kind of person who will be safe. He will be protected as he would be in a high, walled city. He will always have bread, and he will not run out of water.


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You will think about the terror of the past. You will think, “Where is that officer? Where is the one who collected the taxes? Where is the officer in charge of our defense towers?”


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You will not see those proud people from other countries anymore. No more will you hear their strange language that you couldn’t understand.


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God Will Protect Jerusalem Look at Jerusalem, the city of our festivals. Look at Jerusalem, that beautiful place of rest. It is like a tent that will never be moved. The pegs that hold her in place will never be moved. Her ropes will never be broken.


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There the Lord will be our Mighty One. That land is a place with streams and wide rivers. But there will be no enemy boats on those rivers. No powerful ship will sail on those rivers.


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This is because the Lord is our judge. The Lord makes our laws. The Lord is our king. He will save us.


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You sailors from other lands, hear: The ropes on your boats hang loose. The mast is not held firm. The sails are not spread open. The Lord will give us your wealth. There will be so much wealth even the crippled people will carry off a share.


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No one living in Jerusalem will say, “I am sick.” The people who live there will have their sins forgiven.


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God Will Punish His Enemies All you nations, come near and listen. Pay attention, you peoples! The earth and all the people in it should listen. The world and everything in it should listen.


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The Lord is angry with all the nations. He is angry with their armies. He will destroy them and kill them all.


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Their bodies will be thrown outside. The stink will rise from the bodies, and the blood will flow down the mountains.


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The sun, moon and stars will dissolve. The sky will be rolled up like a scroll. The stars will fall like dead leaves from a vine or dried-up figs from a fig tree.


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The Lord’s sword in the sky is covered with blood. It will cut through Edom. He will destroy these people as an offering to the Lord.


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The Lord’s sword will be covered with blood. It will be covered with fat. It is the blood from lambs and goats. It is the fat from the kidneys of male sheep. This is because the Lord decided there will be a sacrifice in Bozrah. He has decided there will be much killing in Edom.


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The oxen will be killed. And the cattle and the strong bulls will be killed. The land will be filled with their blood. The dirt will be covered with their fat.


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The Lord has chosen a time for punishment. He has chosen a year when people must pay for the wrongs they did to Jerusalem.


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Edom’s rivers will be like hot tar. The dirt of Edom will be like burning sulfur. The land of Edom will be like burning tar.


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The fires will burn night and day. The smoke will rise from Edom forever. Year after year that land will be empty. No one will ever travel through that land again.


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Birds and small animals will own that land. Owls and ravens will live there. God will make it an empty wasteland. It will have nothing left in it.


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Thorns will take over the strong towers. Wild bushes will grow in the walled cities. Wild dogs will live there. Owls will live in those homes.


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Desert animals will live with the hyenas there. And wild goats will call to their friends. Night animals will live there. They will find a place of rest there.


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Owls will nest there and lay eggs. When the eggs open, the owls will gather their young under their wings. Hawks will gather with their own kind.


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Look at the Lord’s scroll. Read what is written there: None of these will be missing. Every one will have its mate. God said he will gather them together. So his Spirit will gather them together.


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God has divided the land among them. And he has given them each their land. So they will own that land forever. They will live there year after year.


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God Will Comfort His People The desert and dry land will become happy. The desert will be glad and will produce flowers. Like a flower,


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it will have many blooms. It will show its happiness, as if it is shouting with joy. It will be beautiful like the forest of Lebanon. It will be as beautiful as the hill of Carmel and the Plain of Sharon. All people will see the glory of the Lord. They will see the splendor of our God.


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Say to people who are afraid and confused, “Be strong. Don’t be afraid. Look, your God will come, and he will punish your enemies. He will make them pay for the wrongs they did. He will come and save you.”


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Crippled people will jump like deer. And those who can’t talk now will shout with joy. Springs of water will flow in the desert. Streams will flow in the dry land.


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The burning desert will have pools of water. The dry ground will have springs. Where wild dogs once lived, grass and water plants will grow.


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A road will be there. This highway will be called “The Road to Being Holy.” Evil people will not be allowed to walk on that road. Only good people will walk on that road. No fools will go on it.


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No lions will be there. No dangerous animals will be on that road. They will not be found there. That road will be for the people God saves.


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The people the Lord has freed will return there. They will enter Jerusalem with joy. Their happiness will last forever. Their gladness and joy will fill them completely. Sorrow and sadness will go far away.


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The Assyrians Invade Judah During Hezekiah’s fourteenth year as king, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked Judah. He attacked all the strong, walled cities of Judah and defeated them.


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The king of Assyria sent out his field commander. He went with a large army from Lachish to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem. When the commander came near the waterway from the upper pool, he stopped. The upper pool is on the road to the Washerman’s Field.


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Eliakim, Shebna and Joah went out to meet him. Eliakim son of Hilkiah was the palace manager. Shebna was the royal assistant. And Joah son of Asaph was the recorder.


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You might say, “We are depending on the Lord our God.” But Hezekiah destroyed the Lord’s altars and the places of worship. Hezekiah told Judah and Jerusalem, “You must worship only at this one altar.”


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I have not come to attack and destroy this country without an order from the Lord. The Lord himself told me to come to this country and destroy it.’”


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Then Eliakim, Shebna and Joah spoke to the field commander. They said, “Please speak to us in the Aramaic language. We understand it. Don’t speak to us in Hebrew because the people on the city wall can hear you.”


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Then the commander stood and shouted loudly in the Hebrew language. He said, “Listen to the words from the great king, the king of Assyria!


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Then I will come and take you to a land like your own. It is a land with grain and new wine. It has bread and vineyards.’


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“Don’t let Hezekiah fool you. He says, ‘The Lord will save us.’ The god of any other nation has not saved his people from the power of the king of Assyria.


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Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim? They did not save Samaria from my power.


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Hezekiah Asks God to Help When King Hezekiah heard the message, he tore his clothes. And he put on rough cloth to show how sad he was. Then he went into the Temple of the Lord.


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“Lord of heaven’s armies, you are the God of Israel. Your throne is between the gold creatures with wings. Only you are the God of all the kingdoms of the earth. You made the heavens and the earth.


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Hear, Lord, and listen. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Listen to all the words Sennacherib has said to insult the living God.


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God Answers Hezekiah Then Isaiah son of Amoz sent a message to Hezekiah. Isaiah said, “The Lord, the God of Israel, says this: ‘You prayed to me about Sennacherib king of Assyria.


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So this is what the Lord has said against Sennacherib: The people of Jerusalem hate you and make fun of you. The people of Jerusalem laugh at you as you run away.


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You have used your messengers to insult the Lord. You have said, “I have many chariots. With them I have gone to the tops of the mountains. I have climbed the highest mountains of Lebanon. I have cut down its tallest cedars. I have cut down its best pine trees. I have gone to its greatest heights. I have gone to its best forests.


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The people left alive in the family of Judah will be saved. Like plants that take root, they will grow strong and have many children.


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Then the angel of the Lord went out. He killed 185,000 men in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up early the next morning, they saw all the dead bodies!


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He said, “Lord, please remember that I have always obeyed you. I have given myself completely to you. I have done what you said was right.” And Hezekiah cried loudly.


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“Go to Hezekiah and tell him: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your ancestor David, says: I have heard your prayer. And I have seen your tears. I will add 15 years to your life.


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The sun has made a shadow go down the stairway of Ahaz. I will make it go back ten steps.” So the shadow made by the sun went back up the ten steps it had gone down.


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I said, “I am in the middle of my life. Do I have to go through the gates where the dead are now? Will I have the rest of my life taken away from me?”


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I said, “I will not see the Lord in the land of the living again. I will not again see the people who live on the earth.


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Like a shepherd’s tent, my home has been pulled down and taken from me. I am finished like the cloth a weaver rolls up and cuts from the loom. In one day you brought me to this end.


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All night I cried loudly. Like a lion, he crushed all my bones. In one day you brought me to this end.


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I cried like a bird. I moaned like a dove. My eyes became tired as I looked to the heavens. Lord, I have troubles. Please help me.”


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What can I say? The Lord told me what would happen and then made it happen. I have had these troubles in my soul. So now I will be humble all my life.


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Lord, because of you, men live. Because of you, my spirit also lives. You made me well and let me live.


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It was for my own good that I had such troubles. Because you love me very much, you did not let me die. You threw my sins far away.


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People in the place where the dead are cannot praise you. Those who have died cannot sing praises to you. Those who die don’t trust you to help them.


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The people who are alive are the ones who praise you. They praise you as I praise you today. A father should tell his children that you provide help.


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The Lord saved me. So we will sing and play songs. We will make music in the Temple of the Lord all the days of our lives.


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Messengers from Babylon At that time Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan was king of Babylon. He sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah. He did this because he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick and was now well.


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Hezekiah was happy to see the messengers. So he showed them what was in his storehouses: the silver, gold, spices and expensive perfumes. He showed them his swords and shields. He showed them all his wealth. He showed them everything in his palace and in his kingdom.


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Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah. He asked Hezekiah, “What did these men say? Where did they come from?” Hezekiah said, “They came from a faraway country. They came to me from Babylon.”


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Some of your own children will be taken away. Those who will be born to you will be taken away. And they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”


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Speak kindly to the people of Jerusalem. Tell them that their time of service is finished. Tell them that they have paid for their sins. Tell them that the Lord has punished Jerusalem twice for every sin they did.”


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This is the voice of a man who calls out: “Prepare in the desert the way for the Lord. Make the road in the dry lands straight for our God.


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Every valley should be raised up. Every mountain and hill should be made flat. The rough ground should be made level. The rugged ground should be made smooth.


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Then the glory of the Lord will be shown. All people together will see it. The Lord himself said these things.”


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A voice says, “Cry out!” Then I said, “What shall I cry out?” “Say all people are like the grass. And all their strength is like the flowers of the field.


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The grass dies, and the flowers fall. This is because the breath of the Lord blows on them. Surely the people are like grass.


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Jerusalem, you have good news to tell. Go up on a high mountain. Jerusalem, you have good news to tell. Shout out loud the good news. Shout it out and don’t be afraid. Say to the towns of Judah, “Here is your God.”


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Look, the Lord God is coming with power. He will use his power to rule all the people. Look, he will bring reward for his people. He will have their payment with him.


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The Lord takes care of his people like a shepherd. He gathers the people like lambs in his arms. He carries them close to him. He gently leads the mothers of the lambs.


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God Is Supreme Who has measured the oceans in the palm of his hand? Who has used his hand to measure the sky? Who has used a bowl to measure all the dust of the earth? Who has used scales to weigh the mountains and hills?


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Whom did the Lord ask for help? Who taught him the right way? Who taught the Lord knowledge? Who showed him the way to understanding?


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The nations are like one small drop in a bucket. They are no more than the dust on his measuring scales. To him the islands are no more than fine dust on his scales.


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All the trees in Lebanon are not enough for the altar fires. And all the animals in Lebanon are not enough for burnt offerings.


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A poor man cannot buy those expensive statues. So he finds a tree that will not rot. And he finds a skilled workman to make it into an idol that will not fall over.


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Surely you know. Surely you have heard. Surely in the beginning someone told you. Surely you understand how the earth was created.


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God sits on his throne above the circle of the earth. And compared to him, people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the skies like a piece of cloth. He spreads them out like a tent to sit under.


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They are like plants that are placed in the ground. They are like seeds that are planted. As soon as they begin to grow strong, he blows on them and they die. The wind blows them away like chaff.


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Look up to the skies. Who created all these stars? He leads out all the army of heaven one by one. He calls all the stars by name. He is very strong and full of power. So not one of them is missing.


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People of Jacob, why do you complain? People of Israel, why do you say, “The Lord does not see what happens to me. He does not care if I am treated fairly”?


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Surely you know. Surely you have heard. The Lord is the God who lives forever. He created all the world. He does not become tired or need to rest. No one can understand how great his wisdom is.


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But the people who trust the Lord will become strong again. They will be able to rise up as an eagle in the sky. They will run without needing rest. They will walk without becoming tired.


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The Lord Will Help Israel The Lord says, “Faraway countries, listen to me. Let the nations become strong. Come to me and speak. We will meet together to decide who is right.


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“Who caused the man to come from the east? Who gives the man victories everywhere he goes? The one who brought him gives nations over to him. He defeats kings for him. The man uses his sword, and the kings become like dust. He uses his bow, and they are blown away like chaff.


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Who caused this to happen? Who has controlled history since the beginning? I, the Lord, am the one. I was here at the beginning. And I will be here when all things are finished.”


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All you faraway places, look and be afraid. All you places far away on the earth, shake with fear. Come close and listen to me.


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The man who carves wood encourages the man who works with gold. The workman who smooths the metal with a hammer encourages the man who shapes the metal. This last workman says, “This metal work is good.” He nails the statue to a base so it can’t fall over.


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Only the Lord Can Save Us The Lord says, “People of Israel, you are my servants. People of Jacob, I chose you. You are from the family of my friend Abraham.


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You were far away on the earth. I called you from a faraway country. I said, ‘You are my servants.’ I have chosen you, and I have not turned against you.


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So don’t worry, because I am with you. Don’t be afraid, because I am your God. I will make you strong and will help you. I will support you with my right hand that saves you.


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“All those people who are angry with you will be ashamed and disgraced. Those who are against you will disappear and be lost.


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You will look for your enemies. But you will not find them. Those who fought against you will vanish completely.


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I am the Lord your God. I am holding your right hand. And I tell you, ‘Don’t be afraid. I will help you.’


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You few people of Israel who are left, do not be afraid even though you are weak as a worm. I myself will help you,” says the Lord. “I am the one who saves you, the Holy One of Israel.


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Look, I have made you like a threshing board. You are new, with many sharp teeth. So you will walk on mountains and crush them. You will make the hills like chaff.


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You will throw them into the air. And the wind will carry them away. A windstorm will scatter them. Then you will be happy in the Lord. You will be proud of the Holy One of Israel.


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“The poor and needy people look for water. But they can’t find any. Their tongues are dry with thirst. But I, the Lord, will answer their prayers. I, the God of Israel, will not leave them to die.


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I will make rivers flow on the dry hills. I will make springs of water flow through the valleys. I will change the desert into a lake of water. I will change the dry land into springs of water.


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I will make trees grow in the desert. There will be cedars, acacia, myrtle and olive trees. I will put pine, fir and cypress trees growing together in the desert.


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People will see these things and understand. Together they will think carefully about these things. They will know that the Lord’s power did this. They will know that the Holy One of Israel made these things.”


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The Lord Challenges False Gods The Lord says, “Present your case.” The Lord, the King of Jacob, says, “Tell me your arguments.


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Bring in your idols to tell us what is going to happen. Have them tell us what happened in the beginning. Then we will think about these things. Then we will know how they will turn out. Tell us what will happen in the future.


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Tell us what is coming next. Then we will believe that you are gods. Do something, whether it is good or bad. Make us afraid of you.


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You false gods are less than nothing. You can’t do anything. Those who worship you should be hated.”


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“I have brought someone to come out of the north. I have called by name a man from the east, and he knows me. He walks on kings as if they were mud. He walks on them as a potter walks on the clay.


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Who told us about this before it happened? Who told us ahead of time so we could say, ‘He was right’? None of you told us anything. None of you told us before it happened. No one heard you tell about it.


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I, the Lord, was the first one to tell Jerusalem that the people were coming home. I sent a messenger to Jerusalem with the good news.


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I look at the idols, but there is not one that can answer. None of them can give advice. None of them can answer my questions.


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The Lord’s Special Servant “Here is my servant, the one I support. He is the one I chose, and I am pleased with him. I will put my Spirit in him. And he will bring justice to all nations.


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He will not break a crushed blade of grass. He will not put out even a weak flame. He will bring justice and find what is true.


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He will not lose hope or give up until he brings justice to the world. And people far away will trust his teachings.”


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God, the Lord, said these things. He created the skies and stretched them out. He spread out the earth and everything on it. He gives life to all people on earth. He gives life to everyone who walks on the earth.


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The Lord says, “I called you to do right. And I will hold your hand. I will protect you. You will be the sign of my agreement with the people. You will be a light to shine for all people.


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You will help the blind to see. You will free those who are in prison. You will lead those who live in darkness out of their prison.


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“I am the Lord. That is my name. I will not give my glory to another. I will not let idols take the praise that should be mine.


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The things I said would happen have happened. And now I tell you about new things. Before those things happen, I tell you about them.”


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A Song of Praise to the Lord Sing a new song to the Lord. Sing his praise everywhere on the earth. Praise him, you people who sail on the seas and you animals who live in them. Praise him, you people living in faraway places.


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The deserts and their cities should praise him. The settlements of Kedar should praise him. The people living in Sela should sing for joy. They should sing from the mountaintops.


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The Lord will march out like a strong soldier. He will be excited like a man ready to fight a war. He will shout out the battle cry. And he will defeat his enemies.


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The Lord says, “For a long time I have said nothing. I have been quiet and held myself back. But now I will cry out. I will strain like a woman giving birth to a child.


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I will destroy the hills and mountains. I will dry up all the plants that grow there. I will make the rivers become dry land. I will dry up the pools of water.


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Then I will lead the blind along a way they never knew. I will guide them along paths they have not known. I will make the darkness become light for them. And I will make the rough ground smooth. These are the things I will do. I will not leave my people.


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But some people trust in idols. They say to their statues, ‘You are our gods.’ Those people will be rejected in disgrace.


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No one is more blind than my servant Israel. The messenger I send is the most deaf. No one is more blind than the person I own. No one is more blind than the servant of the Lord.


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These people have been defeated and robbed. They are trapped in pits. They are locked up in prison. Like robbers, enemies have taken them away. There is no one to save them. Enemies carried them off. And no one said, “Bring them back.”


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Who let the people of Jacob be carried off? Who let robbers take Israel away? The Lord allowed this to happen because we sinned against him. We did not live the way the Lord wanted us to live. We did not obey his teaching.


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So the Lord became very angry with us. He brought terrible wars against us. It was as if the people of Israel had fire all around them. But they didn’t know what was happening. It was as if they were burning. But they didn’t pay any attention.


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God Is Always with His People Now this is what the Lord says. He created you, people of Jacob. He formed you, people of Israel. He says, “Don’t be afraid, because I have saved you. I have called you by name, and you are mine.


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When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned. The flames will not hurt you.


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This is because I, the Lord, am your God. I, the Holy One of Israel, am your Savior. I gave Egypt to pay for you. I gave Cush and Seba to make you mine.


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You are precious to me. I give you honor, and I love you. So I will give other people in your place. I will give other nations to save your life.


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So don’t be afraid. I am with you. I will gather your children from the east. I will gather you from the west.


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I will tell the north: Give my people to me. I will tell the south: Don’t keep my people in prison. Bring my sons from far away. Bring my daughters from faraway places.


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Judah Is God’s Witness Bring out the people who have eyes but don’t see. Bring out those who have ears but don’t hear.


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All the nations should gather together. All the people should come together. Which of their gods said that this would happen? Which of their gods can tell what happened in the beginning? They should bring their witnesses to prove they were right. Then others will say, “It is true.”


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The Lord says, “You are my witnesses. You are the servant I chose. I chose you so you would know and believe me. I chose you so you would understand that I am the true God. There was no God before me, and there will be no God after me.


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I myself have spoken to you, saved you and told you these things. It was not some foreign god among you. You are my witnesses, and I am God,” says the Lord.


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“I have always been God. No one can save people from my power. When I do something, no one can change it.”


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This is what the Lord says. He is the Holy One of Israel who saves you. He says, “I will send armies to Babylon for you. All the Babylonians will be captured. They will be taken away in their ships they are proud of.


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God Will Save His People Again This is what the Lord says. He is the one who made a road through the sea. Even through rough waters he made a path for his people.


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He is the one who defeated the chariots and horses. He defeated the mighty armies. They fell together, and they will never rise again. They were destroyed as a flame is put out.


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Look at the new thing I am going to do. It is already happening. Don’t you see it? I will make a road in the desert. I will make rivers in the dry land.


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Even the wild animals will be thankful to me. The wild dogs and owls will honor me. They will honor me when I put water in the desert. They will honor me when I make rivers in the dry land. I will do this to give water to my people, the ones I chose.


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You have not brought your sacrifices of sheep to me. You have not honored me by bringing sacrifices to me. I did not force you to give sacrifices to me. I did not force you to burn incense until you became tired.


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So you did not buy incense for me. You did not freely bring fat from your sacrifices to me. Instead you have weighed me down with your many sins. You have made me tired of your many wrongs.


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“I, I am the One who forgives all your sins. I do this to please myself. I will not remember your sins.


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But you should remind me. Let’s meet and decide what is right. Tell what you have done and show you are right.


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So I will make your holy rulers not holy. And I will bring destruction on the people of Jacob. And I will let Israel be insulted.”


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The Lord Is the Only God The Lord says, “People of Jacob, you are my servants. Listen to me! People of Israel, I chose you.”


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This is what the Lord says. He made you. He formed you when you were in your mother’s body. And he will help you. The Lord says, “People of Jacob, my servants, don’t be afraid. Israel, I chose you.


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I will pour out water for the thirsty land. I will make streams flow on dry land. I will put my Spirit into your children. My blessing will be like a stream of water flowing over your family.


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Your children will grow like a tree in the grass. They will be like poplar trees growing beside streams of water.


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One person will say, ‘I belong to the Lord.’ Another will use the name Jacob. Another will sign his name ‘I am the Lord’s.’ And another will use the name Israel.”


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The Lord is the king of Israel. The Lord of heaven’s armies saves Israel. The Lord says, “I am the beginning and the end. I am the only God.


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There is no other God like me. If there is, then that god should come and prove it. Who has announced coming events from the beginning? He should tell what will happen in the future.


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Don’t be afraid! Don’t worry! I have always told you what will happen. You are my witnesses. There is no other God. I know of no other Rock. I am the only One.”


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False Gods Are Useless Some people make idols, but they are worth nothing. People love them, but they are useless. Those people are witnesses for the statues. But those people cannot see. They know nothing. They don’t know enough to be ashamed.


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The workmen who made those gods will be ashamed! Those workmen are only human. If they all would come together, they would all be ashamed and afraid.


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One workman uses tools to heat iron. He works over hot coals. He uses his hammer to beat the metal and make a statue. He uses his powerful arms. But when he becomes hungry, he loses his power. If he does not drink water, he becomes tired.


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Another workman uses a line and a compass to draw lines on the wood. Then he uses his chisels to cut a statue from wood. He uses his calipers to measure the statue. This way, the workman makes the wood look exactly like a man. And this statue of a man sits in the house.


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A man cuts down cedar or gets cypress or oak trees. Those trees grew by their own power in the forest. Or he plants a pine tree, and the rain makes it grow.


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Then he burns the tree. He uses some of the wood for a fire to keep himself warm. He also starts a fire to bake his bread. But he uses part of the wood to make a god. Then he worships it! He makes the idol and bows down to it!


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The man burns half of the wood in the fire. He uses the fire to cook his meat. And he eats the meat until he is full. He burns the wood to keep himself warm. He says, “Good! Now I am warm. I can see because of the fire’s light.”


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But the man makes a statue from the wood that is left. He calls it his god. He bows down to it and worships it. He prays to it and says, “You are my god. Save me!”


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Those people don’t know what they are doing. They don’t understand! It is as if their eyes are covered so they can’t see. Their minds don’t understand.


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They have not thought about these things. They don’t understand. They have never thought to themselves, “I burned half of the wood in the fire. I used the hot coals to bake my bread. I cooked and ate my meat. And I used the wood that was left to make this hated thing. I am worshiping a block of wood!”


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He doesn’t know what he is doing. His confused mind leads him the wrong way. He cannot save himself. He cannot say, “This statue I am holding is a false god.”


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The Lord Is the True God The Lord says, “People of Jacob, remember these things! People of Israel, remember you are my servants. I made you. You are my servants. So Israel, I will not forget you.


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I have swept away your sins like a big cloud. I have removed your sins like a cloud that disappears into the air. Come back to me because I saved you.”


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Skies, sing for joy because the Lord did great things! Earth, shout for joy, even in your deepest parts! Sing, you mountains, with thanks to God. Sing, too, you trees in the forest! The Lord saved the people of Jacob! The Lord showed his greatness when he saved Israel.


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The Lord saved you. He formed you while you were still in your mother’s body. The Lord says, “I, the Lord, made everything! I alone stretched out the skies. I spread out the earth by myself.


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I show that the lying prophets’ signs are false. I make fools of those who do magic. I confuse even wise men. They think they know much, but I make them look foolish.


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I make the messages of my servants come true. I make the advice of my messengers come true. I say to Jerusalem, ‘People will live in you again!’ I say to the towns of Judah, ‘You will be built again!’ I say to Jerusalem’s ruins, ‘I will repair you.’


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I say of Cyrus, ‘He is my shepherd. He will do all that I want him to do. He will say to Jerusalem, “You will be built again!” He will tell the Temple, “Your foundations will be rebuilt.”’”


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God Chooses Cyrus to Free Israel This is what the Lord says to Cyrus, his appointed king: “I hold your right hand. I will help you defeat nations. I will help you take other kings’ power away. I will open doors for you so city gates will not stop you.


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I will go before you. And I will make the mountains flat. I will break down the bronze gates of the cities. I will cut through the iron bars on the gates.


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I will give you the wealth that is stored away. And I will give you hidden riches. I will do this so you will know I am the Lord. I, the God of Israel, call you by name.


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I do these things for my servants, the people of Jacob. I do these things for my chosen people, the Israelites. Cyrus, I call you by name. I give you a title of honor even though you don’t know me.


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I am the Lord. There is no other God. I am the only God. I will make you strong even though you don’t know me.


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I do these things so everyone will know there is no other God. From the east to the west they will know I alone am the Lord.


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I made the light and the darkness. I bring peace, and I cause troubles. I, the Lord, do all these things.


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“Sky above, make victory fall like rain. Clouds, pour down victory. May the earth receive it. May salvation grow. May victory grow with it. I, the Lord, have created it.


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“How terrible it will be for those who argue with the God who made them. They are like one piece of broken pottery among many pieces. The clay does not ask the potter, ‘What are you doing?’ The thing that is made doesn’t say to its maker, ‘You have no hands.’


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How terrible it will be for the child who says to his father, ‘Why are you giving me life?’ How terrible it will be for the child who says to his mother, ‘Why are you giving birth to me?’”


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The Lord is the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker. He says this: “You ask me about what will happen. You question me about my children. You give me orders about what I have made.


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I made the earth. And I made all the people living on it. With my own hands I stretched out the skies. I command all the armies in the sky.


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I will bring Cyrus to do good things. And I will make his work easy. Cyrus will rebuild my city, and he will set my people free. Cyrus has not been paid to do these things. The Lord of heaven’s armies says this.”


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The Lord says, “The things made in Egypt and Cush and the tall people of Seba will come to you. They will become yours. The Sabeans will walk behind you. They will come along in chains. They will bow down before you. They will pray to you, saying, ‘God is with you. And there is no other God.’”


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But Israel will be saved by the Lord. That salvation will continue forever. Never again will Israel be put to shame.


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The Lord created the heavens. He is the God who formed the earth. He made the earth. But he did not want it to be empty. He wanted life to be on the earth. This is what the Lord says: “I am the Lord. There is no other God.


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I did not speak in secret. I did not hide my words somewhere in a dark place. I did not tell the family of Jacob to look for me in empty places. I am the Lord, and I speak the truth. I say what is right.


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“You people have escaped from other nations. So gather together and come before me. Come near together. People who carry idols of wood don’t know what they are doing. They pray to a god who cannot save them.


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Tell these people to come to me. Let them talk about these things together. Who told you long ago that this would happen? Who told about it long ago? I, the Lord, said these things. There is no other God besides me. I am the only good God. I am the Savior. There is no other God.


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I will make a promise by my own power. And my promise is true. What I say will not be changed. I promise that everyone will bow before me. Everyone will promise to follow me.


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People will say, ‘Goodness and power come only from the Lord.’” Everyone who has been angry with the Lord will come to him and be ashamed.


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False Gods Are Useless Bel and Nebo bow down. Their idols are carried by animals. The statues are only heavy loads that must be carried. They only make people tired.


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These false gods will all bow down. They cannot save themselves. They will all be carried away like prisoners.


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“Family of Jacob, listen to me! All you people from Israel who are still alive, listen! I have carried you since you were born. I have taken care of you from your birth.


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Even when you are old, I will take care of you. Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you. I made you and will take care of you. I will carry you, and I will save you.


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Some people are rich with gold. They weigh their silver on the scales. They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god. Then they bow down and worship it.


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They put it on their shoulders and carry it. They set it in its place, and there it stands. It cannot move from its place. People may yell at it, but it cannot answer. It cannot save people from their troubles.


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Remember what happened long ago. Remember that I am God. There is no other God. I am God. There is no one like me.


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From the beginning I told you what would happen in the end. A long time ago I told you things that have not yet happened. When I plan something, it happens. I do the things I want to do.


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I am calling a man from the east to carry out my plan. He will come like a hawk from a country far away. I will make what I have said come true. I will do what I have planned.


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I will soon do the things that are right. I will bring salvation soon. I will save Jerusalem. And I will bring glory to Israel.”


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God Will Destroy Babylon The Lord says, “City of Babylon, go down and sit in the dirt. People of Babylon, sit on the ground. You are no longer the ruler. You will no longer be called tender or beautiful.


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You must use large stones to grind grain into flour. Remove your veil and your nice skirts. Uncover your legs and cross the rivers.


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Men will see your nakedness. They will see your shame. I will punish you. I will punish every one of you.”


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I was angry with my people. So I rejected those people who belonged to me. I gave them to you, but you showed them no mercy. You even made the old people work very hard.


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You said, ‘I will live forever. I will always be the queen.’ You did not think about these things. You did not think about what would happen.


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“Now, listen, you lover of pleasure. You think you are safe. You tell yourself, ‘I am the only important person. I will never be a widow. I will never lose my children.’


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Two things will happen to you suddenly in a single day. You will lose your children and your husband. These things will truly happen to you. All your magic and powerful tricks will not save you.


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You do evil things, but you feel safe. You say, ‘No one sees what I do.’ Your wisdom and knowledge have fooled you. You say to yourself, ‘I am God. No one is equal to me.’


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But troubles will come to you. You will not know how to stop them. Disaster will fall on you. And you will not be able to keep it away. You will be destroyed quickly. You will not even see it coming.


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“Keep on using your tricks. Continue doing all your magic. You have done these things since you were young. Maybe they will help you. Maybe you will be able to scare someone.


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You are tired of the advice you have received. So let those who study the sky come. They tell the future by looking at the stars. So let them save you from what is about to happen to you.


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But they are like straw. Fire will quickly burn them up. They cannot save themselves from the power of the fire. They are not like coals that give warmth. They are not like a fire you may sit beside.


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You have worked with these people. They have been with you since you were young. But they will not be able to help you. Everyone will go his own way. And there will be no one left to save you.”


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God Controls the Future The Lord says, “Family of Jacob, listen to me. You are called Israel. You come from the family of Judah. You use the Lord’s name to make promises. You praise the God of Israel, but you are not honest or sincere.


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You call yourselves people of the holy city. You depend on the God of Israel. He is named the Lord of heaven’s armies.


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Long ago I told you what would happen. I said these things and made them known. Suddenly I acted, and these things happened.


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I did that because I knew you were stubborn. Your neck was like an iron muscle. It was as if your head were made of bronze.


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So a long time ago I told you about these things. I told you about them before they happened. I did this so you couldn’t say, ‘My idols did this. My wooden and metal statues made these things happen.’


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“You heard and saw all the things that happened. So you should tell this news to others. Now I will tell you about new things. These are hidden things that you don’t know yet.


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These things are happening now, not long ago. You have not heard about them before today. So you cannot say, ‘We already knew about that.’


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But you have not heard me. You have not understood. Even long ago you did not listen to me. I knew you would surely turn against me. You have fought against me since you were born.


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But for my own sake I will be patient. People will praise me for not becoming angry and destroying you.


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I have made you pure, but not by fire, as silver is made pure. I have purified you by giving you troubles.


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I do this for myself, for my own sake. I will not let people speak evil against me. I will not let some false god take my glory.


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Israel Will Be Free “People of Jacob, listen to me. People of Israel, I have called you to be my people. I am God. I am the beginning and the end.


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I made the earth with my own hands. With my right hand I spread out the skies. When I call them, they come together before me.


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“All of you, come together and listen. None of the false gods said these things would happen. I, the Lord, have chosen someone to attack the Babylonians. He will carry out my wishes against Babylon.


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Come to me and listen to this. From the beginning I have spoken openly. From the time it began, I was there.” Now, the Lord God has sent me with his Spirit.


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The Lord is your close relative who saves you, the Holy One of Israel. The Lord says, “I am the Lord your God. I teach you to do what is good. I lead you in the way you should go.


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If you had obeyed me, you would have had peace like a full-flowing river. Good things would have flowed to you like the waves of the sea.


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You would have had many children. They would have been as many as the grains of sand. They would never have died out. They would not have been destroyed.”


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My people, leave Babylon! Run from the Babylonians! Tell this news with shouts of joy to the people. Spread it everywhere on earth. Say, “The Lord has saved his servants, the people of Jacob.”


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They did not become thirsty when he led them through the deserts. He made water flow from a rock for them. He split the rock, and water flowed out.


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God Calls His Special Servant All of you people in faraway places, listen to me. Listen, all you nations far away. Before I was born, the Lord called me to serve him. The Lord named me while I was still in my mother’s body.


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The Lord made my tongue like a sharp sword. He hid me in the shadow of his hand. The Lord made me like a sharp arrow. He hid me in the holder for his arrows.


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But I said, “I have worked hard for nothing. I have used all my power, but I did nothing useful. But the Lord will decide what my work is worth. God will decide my reward.”


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The Lord made me in the body of my mother so I would be his servant. He made me to lead the people of Jacob back to him. He made me so that Israel might be gathered to him. The Lord will honor me. I will get my strength from my God.


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The Lord told me, “You are an important servant to me. You will bring back the tribes of Jacob. You will bring back the people of Israel who are left alive. But, more importantly, I will make you a light for all nations. You will show people all over the world the way to be saved.”


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The Lord is your close relative who saves you. He is the Holy One of Israel. He speaks to the one who is hated by the people. He speaks to the servant of rulers. The Lord says, “Kings will see you and stand to honor you. Great leaders will bow down before you. This is because the Lord can be trusted. He is the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”


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The Day of Salvation This is what the Lord says: “At the right time I will hear your prayers. On the day of salvation I will help you. I will protect you. And you will be the sign of my agreement with the people. You will bring back the people to the land. You will give the land that is now ruined back to its owners.


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You will tell the prisoners, ‘Come out of your prison.’ You will tell those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’ The people will eat beside the roads. They will find food even on bare hills.


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They will not be hungry or thirsty. Neither the hot sun nor the desert wind will hurt them. The God who comforts them will lead them. He will lead them by springs of water.


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Look, people are coming to me from far away. They are coming from the north and from the west. They are coming from Aswan in southern Egypt.”


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Heavens and earth, be happy. Mountains, shout with joy. Be happy because the Lord comforts his people. He will comfort those who suffer.


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The Lord answers, “Can a woman forget the baby she nurses? Can she feel no kindness for the child she gave birth to? Even if she could forget her children, I will not forget you.


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Your children will soon return to you. And the people who defeated you and destroyed you will leave.


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Look up and look around you. All your children are gathering to return to you.” The Lord says, “As surely as I live, your children will be like jewels. You will be as proud of them as a bride is of her jewels.


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“You were destroyed and defeated. Your land was made useless. But now you will have more people than the land can hold. And those people who destroyed you will be far away.


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Children were born to you while you were sad. But they will say to you, ‘This place is too small for us. Give us a bigger place to live.’


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Then you will say to yourself, ‘Who gave me all these children? I was sad and lonely. I was defeated and away from my people. So who reared these children? I was left all alone. Where did all these children come from?’”


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This is what the Lord God says: “See, I will lift my hand to signal the nations. I will raise my banner for all people to see. Then they will bring your sons back to you in their arms. They will carry your daughters on their shoulders.


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Kings will teach your children. Daughters of kings will take care of those children. They will bow down before you. They will kiss the dirt at your feet. Then you will know I am the Lord. Anyone who trusts in me will not be disappointed.”


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Can the wealth a soldier wins in war be taken away from him? Can a prisoner be freed from a powerful soldier?


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But this is what the Lord says: “The prisoners will be taken from the strong soldiers. What the soldiers have taken will be saved. I will fight your enemies. I will save your children.


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I will force those who trouble you to eat their own flesh. Their own blood will be the wine that makes them drunk. Then everyone will know I, the Lord, am the One who saves you. I am the Powerful One of Jacob who saves you.”


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Israel Was Punished for Its Sin This is what the Lord says: “People of Israel, you say I divorced your mother. Then where is the paper that proves it? Or do you think I sold you to pay a debt? No! It was because of the evil things you did that I sold you. It was because of the times she turned against me that your mother was sent away.


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I came home and found no one there. I called, but no one answered. Do you think I am not able to save you? Do I not have the power to save you? Look, I need only to shout, and the sea becomes dry. I change rivers into a desert. Their fish rot because there is no water. The fish die of thirst.


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God’s Servant Obeys The Lord God gave me the ability to teach. He has taught me what to say to make the weak strong. Every morning he wakes me. He teaches me to listen like a student.


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I offered my back to those who beat me. I offered my cheeks to those who pulled my beard. I won’t hide my face from them when they make fun of me and spit at me.


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The Lord God helps me. So I will not be ashamed. I will be determined. I know I will not be disgraced.


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The Lord shows that I am innocent, and he is close to me. So who can accuse me? If there is someone, let us go to court together. If someone wants to prove I have done wrong, he should come and tell me.


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It is the Lord God who helps me. So who can prove me guilty? All those who try will become useless like old clothes. Moths will eat them.


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Who among you fears the Lord and obeys his servant? That person may walk in the dark and have no light. Then let him trust in the Lord. Let him depend on his God.


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But instead, some of you want to light your own fires. You want to make your own light. So, go, walk in the light of your fires. Trust your own light to guide you. But this is what you will receive from me: You will lie down in a place of pain.


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Jerusalem Will Be Saved The Lord says, “Listen to me, those of you who try to live right and follow the Lord. Look at the rock from which you were cut. Look at the stone quarry from which you were dug.


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Look at Abraham, your ancestor. Look at Sarah, who gave birth to your ancestors. Abraham had no children when I called him. But I blessed him and gave him many descendants.


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So the Lord will comfort Jerusalem. He will show mercy to those who live in her ruins. He will change her deserts into a garden like Eden. He will make her empty lands like the garden of the Lord. People there will be very happy. They will give thanks and sing songs.


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“My people, listen to me. My nation, pay attention to me. I will give the people my teachings. And my decisions will be like a light to all people.


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I will soon show I do what is right. I will soon save you. I will use my power and judge all nations. All the faraway places are waiting for me. They wait for my power to help them.


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Look up to the heavens. Look around you at the earth below. The skies will disappear like clouds of smoke. The earth will become useless like old clothes. Its people will die like flies. But my salvation will continue forever. My goodness will never end.


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“You people who know what is right should listen to me. You people who follow my teachings should hear what I say. Don’t be afraid of the evil things people say. Don’t be upset by their insults.


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Moths will eat those people as if they were clothes. Worms will eat them as if they were wool. But my goodness will continue forever. My salvation will continue from now on.”


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Wake up, wake up, and use your strength, powerful Lord. Wake up as you did in the old times. Wake up as you did a long time ago. With your own power, you cut Rahab into pieces. You killed that sea monster.


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You caused the sea to become dry. You dried the waters of the deep ocean. You made the deepest parts of the sea into a road. Your people crossed over on that road and were saved.


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The people the Lord has freed will return. They will enter Jerusalem with joy. Their happiness will last forever. They will have joy and gladness. All sadness and sorrow will be gone far away.


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The Lord says, “I am the one who comforts you. So why should you be afraid of people, who die? Why should you fear people who die like the grass?


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Have you forgotten that the Lord made you? He stretched out the skies. He made the earth. Why are you always afraid of those angry people who trouble you? They want to destroy. But where are those angry people now?


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This is because I am the Lord your God. I stir the sea and make the waves roar. My name is the Lord of heaven’s armies.


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I will give you the words I want you to say. I will cover you with my hands and protect you. I made the heavens and the earth. And I say to Jerusalem, ‘You are my people.’”


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God Punished Israel The Lord was very angry with you. Your punishment was like wine in a cup. The Lord made you drink that wine until you stumbled.


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Jerusalem had many people. But there was not a person to lead her. Of all the people who grew up there, no one was there to guide her.


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Troubles came to you in groups of two. No one will feel sorry for you. There was ruin and disaster, great hunger and fighting. No one can comfort you.


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Your people have become weak. They fall down and lie on every street corner. They are like animals caught in a net. They have felt the full anger of the Lord. They have heard God’s angry shout.


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Your God will fight for his people. This is what the Lord your God says: “The punishment I gave you is like a cup of wine. You drank it and could not walk straight. I am taking that cup of my anger away from you. You will never be punished by my anger again.


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I will now give that cup of punishment to those who gave you pain. They told you, ‘Bow down so we can walk over you.’ They made your back like dirt for them to walk on. You were like a street for them to travel on.”


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Jerusalem Will Be Saved Wake up, wake up, Jerusalem! Become strong! Be beautiful again, holy city of Jerusalem. The people who do not worship God and who are not pure will not enter you again.


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Jerusalem, you once were a prisoner. Now shake off the dust and stand up. Jerusalem, you once were a prisoner. But now free yourself from the chains around your neck.


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This is what the Lord God says: “First my people went down to Egypt to live. Later Assyria made them slaves.


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“Now see what has happened,” says the Lord. “Another nation has taken away my people for nothing. This nation who rules them makes fun of me,” says the Lord. “All day long they speak against me.


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But this has happened so my people will know who I am. They will know I am God. And they will know that I am the one speaking to them.”


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How beautiful is the person who comes over the mountains to bring good news. How beautiful is the one who announces peace. He brings good news and announces salvation. How beautiful are the feet of the one who says to Jerusalem, “Your God is king.”


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Listen! Your guards are shouting. They are all shouting for joy! They all will see with their own eyes when the Lord returns to Jerusalem.


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Jerusalem, your buildings are destroyed now. But shout and rejoice together. You can rejoice because the Lord has comforted his people. He has saved Jerusalem.


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The Lord will show his holy power to all the nations. Then everyone on earth will see the salvation of our God.


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You people, leave, leave; get out of Babylon! Touch nothing that is unclean. You men who carry the things used in worship, leave there and make yourselves pure.


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You will not be forced to leave Babylon quickly. You will not be forced to run away. The Lord will go before you. And the God of Israel will guard you from behind.


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God’s Suffering Servant The Lord says, “See, my servant will act wisely. People will greatly honor and respect him.


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Many people were shocked when they saw him. His appearance was so damaged he did not look like a man. His form was changed so much they could barely tell he was human.


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But now he will sprinkle many people. Kings will be amazed and shut their mouths. They will see the things they had not been told about my servant. They will understand the things they had not heard.”


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He grew up like a small plant before the Lord. He was like a root growing in a dry land. He had no special beauty or form to make us notice him. There was nothing in his appearance to make us desire him.


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He was hated and rejected by people. He had much pain and suffering. People would not even look at him. He was hated, and we didn’t even notice him.


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But he took our suffering on him and felt our pain for us. We saw his suffering. We thought God was punishing him.


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But he was wounded for the wrong things we did. He was crushed for the evil things we did. The punishment, which made us well, was given to him. And we are healed because of his wounds.


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We all have wandered away like sheep. Each of us has gone his own way. But the Lord has put on him the punishment for all the evil we have done.


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He was beaten down and punished. But he didn’t say a word. He was like a lamb being led to be killed. He was quiet, as a sheep is quiet while its wool is being cut. He never opened his mouth.


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Men took him away roughly and unfairly. He died without children to continue his family. He was put to death. He was punished for the sins of my people.


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But it was the Lord who decided to crush him and make him suffer. So the Lord made his life a penalty offering. But he will see his descendants and live a long life. He will complete the things the Lord wants him to do.


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He will suffer many things in his soul. But then he will see life and be satisfied. My good servant will make many people right with God. He carried away their sins.


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For this reason I will make him a great man among people. He will share in all things with those who are strong. He willingly gave his life. He was treated like a criminal. But he carried away the sins of many people. And he asked forgiveness for those who sinned.


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People Will Return to Jerusalem The Lord says, “Sing, Jerusalem. You are like a woman who never gave birth to children. Start singing and shout for joy. You never felt the pain of giving birth. But you will have more children than the woman who has a husband.


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Make your tent bigger. Stretch it out and make it wider. Do not hold back. Make the ropes longer. Make its stakes stronger.


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Do this because you will begin growing very much. Your children will take over other nations. And they will again live in cities that once were destroyed.


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“Don’t be afraid because you will not be ashamed. Don’t be embarrassed because you will not be disgraced. You will forget the shame you felt earlier. You will not remember the shame you felt when you lost your husband.


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This is because the God who made you is like your husband. His name is the Lord of heaven’s armies. The Holy One of Israel is the one who saves you. He is called the God of all the earth.


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You were like a woman whose husband left her. And you were very sad. You were like a wife who married young and then her husband left her. But the Lord called you to be his,” says your God.


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God says, “I left you, but only for a short time. But with great kindness I will bring you back again.


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I became very angry and hid from you for a short time. But I will show you mercy with kindness forever,” says the Lord your close relative who saves you.


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The Lord says, “This is like the time of Noah. I promised then that I would never flood the world again. In the same way, I promise I will not be angry with you or punish you again.


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The mountains may disappear, and the hills may come to an end. But my love will never disappear. My promise of peace will not come to an end,” says the Lord who shows mercy to you.


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“You poor city. Storms have hurt you, and you have not been comforted. But I will rebuild you using turquoise stones. I will build your foundations with sapphires.


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I will use rubies to build your walls. I will use shining jewels for the gates. I will build all your outer walls from precious jewels.


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I will build you using fairness. You will be safe from those who would hurt you. So you will have nothing to fear. Nothing will come to make you afraid.


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“See, I made the blacksmith. He fans the fire to make it hotter. And he makes the kind of tool he wants. In the same way I have made the destroyer to destroy.


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So no weapon that is used against you will defeat you. You will show that those who speak against you are wrong. These are the good things my servants receive. Their victory comes from me,” says the Lord.


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God Gives What Is Good The Lord says, “All you who are thirsty, come and drink. Those of you who do not have money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk. You don’t need money; it will cost you nothing.


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Why spend your money on something that is not real food? Why work for something that doesn’t really satisfy you? Listen closely to me, and you will eat what is good. You will enjoy the food that satisfies your soul.


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Come to me and listen. Listen to me so you may live. I will make an agreement with you that will last forever. I will give you the blessings I promised to David.


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I made David a witness of my power for all nations. I made him a ruler and commander of many nations.


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You will call for nations that you don’t yet know. And these nations will run to you. This will happen because of the Lord your God. The Holy One of Israel honors you.”


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Evil people should stop being evil. They should stop thinking bad thoughts. They should return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them. They should come to our God, because he will freely forgive them.


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Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways. And my thoughts are higher than your thoughts.


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Rain and snow fall from the sky. They don’t return without watering the ground. They cause the plants to sprout and grow. And the plants make seeds for the farmer. And from these seeds people have bread to eat.


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The words I say do the same thing. They will not return to me empty. They make the things happen that I want to happen. They succeed in doing what I send them to do.


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“So you will go out with joy. You will be led out in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song before you. All the trees in the fields will clap their hands.


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Large cypress trees will grow where thornbushes were. Myrtle trees will grow where weeds were. These things will be a reminder of the Lord’s promise. And this reminder will never be destroyed.”


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All Nations Will Obey the Lord This is what the Lord says: “Give justice to all people. Do what is right. Do this because my salvation will come to you soon. Soon everyone will know that I do what is right.


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The person who obeys the law about the Sabbath will be blessed. And the person who does no evil will be blessed.”


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Foreigners have joined the Lord. They should not say, “The Lord will not accept me with his people.” The eunuch should not say, “Because I cannot have children the Lord will not accept me.”


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This is what the Lord says: “The eunuchs should obey the law about the Sabbath. They should do what I want. They should keep my agreement.


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If they do, I will make their names remembered within my Temple and its walls. It will be better for them than children. I will give them a name that will last forever. It will never be forgotten.


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Foreigners will join the Lord to serve him. They will worship and love him. They will worship him. They will obey the law about the Sabbath. They will keep the agreement with the Lord.


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I will bring these people to my holy mountain. I will give them joy in my house of prayer. The offerings and sacrifices they place on my altar will please me. This is because my Temple will be called a house for prayer for people from all nations.”


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The Lord gathers the Israelites who were forced to leave their country. This is what the Lord God says, “I will bring other people to those who are already gathered.”


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Israel’s Leaders Are Evil All you animals of the field, come to eat. All you animals of the forest, come to eat.


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The leaders who are to guard the people are blind. They don’t know what they are doing. All of them are like quiet dogs. They don’t know how to bark. They lie down and dream. They love to sleep.


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They are like hungry dogs. They are never satisfied. They are like shepherds who don’t know what they are doing. They each have gone their own way. All they want to do is satisfy themselves.


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They say, “Come, let’s drink some wine. Let’s drink all the beer we want. And tomorrow we will do this again. Or, maybe we will have even a better time.”


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Israel Does Not Follow God Those right with God may die, but no one pays attention. Good people are taken away, but no one understands. The people who do right are being taken away because of evil.


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Whom are you making fun of? Whom are you insulting? At whom do you stick out your tongue? You turn against God, and you are liars.


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You sin sexually under every green tree to worship your false gods. You kill children in the ravines and sacrifice them in the rocky places.


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You take the smooth rocks from the ravines. They are your portion. You pour drink offerings on them to worship them. You give grain offerings to them. Do you think this makes me want to forgive you?


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You have hidden your idols behind your doors and doorposts. You have left me, and you have uncovered yourself. You have pulled back the covers and climbed into bed. You have made an agreement with the ones whose beds you love. And you have looked at their nakedness.


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You use your oils and perfumes to look nice for Molech. You have sent your messengers to faraway lands. You even tried to send them to where the dead are.


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You have worked hard to do these things. But you never gave up. You found new strength. So you did not quit.


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“Whom were you so afraid of that you lied to me? You have not remembered me or even thought about me. I have been quiet for a long time. Is that why you are not afraid of me?


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When you cry out for help, let the false gods you have gathered help you. The wind will blow them all away. Just a puff of wind will take them away. But the person who depends on me will receive the land. He will have my holy mountain.”


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The Lord Will Save His People The Lord says, “Build a road! Build a road! Prepare the way! Make the way clear for my people.”


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God lives forever and is holy. He is high and lifted up, and he says, “I live in a high and holy place. But I also live with people who are sad and humble. I give new life to those who are humble. I give new life to those whose hearts are broken.


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I will not accuse forever. I will not always be angry. If I continued to be angry, man’s life would grow weak. Man, whom I created, would die.


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I was angry because they were dishonest in order to make money. I punished them and turned away from them in anger. But they continued to do evil.


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I have seen what they have done, but I will heal them. I will guide them and comfort them. And those who were sad will praise me.


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How to Honor God The Lord says, “Shout out loud. Don’t hold back. Shout out loud like a trumpet. Tell the people about the things they have done against God. Tell the family of Jacob about their sins.


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Then they will come every day looking for me. And they will want to learn my ways. They will become a nation that does what is right. They will obey the commands of their God. They will ask me to judge them fairly. They will want God to be near them.


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They say, ‘To honor you we had special days when we gave up eating. But you didn’t see. We humbled ourselves to honor you. But you didn’t notice.’” But the Lord says, “You do what pleases yourselves on these special days. And you are unfair to your workers.


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On these special days when you do not eat, you argue and fight. You hit each other with your fists. You cannot do these things as you do now and believe I will listen to your prayers.


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This kind of special day is not what I want. This is not the way I want people to be sorry for what they have done. I don’t want people just to bow their heads like a plant. I don’t want them to wear rough cloth and lie in ashes to show their sadness. This is what you do on your special days when you do not eat. But do you think this is what the Lord wants?


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“I will tell you the kind of special day I want. I want you to free the people you have put in prison unfairly. Undo their chains. Free those to whom you are unfair. Free them from their hard labor.


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I want you to share your food with hungry people. I want you to bring poor, homeless people into your own homes. When you see someone who has no clothes, give him yours. Don’t refuse to help your own relatives.


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If you do these things, your light will shine like the dawn. Then your wounds will quickly heal. Your God will walk before you, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.


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Then you will call to the Lord, and the Lord will answer you. You will cry out to the Lord, and he will say, ‘Here I am.’ “You should stop making trouble for others. You should stop using cruel words and pointing your finger at others.


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You should feed those who are hungry. You should take care of the needs of those who are troubled. Then your light will shine in the darkness. And you will be bright like sunshine at noon.


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The Lord will always lead you. He will satisfy your needs in dry lands. He will give strength to your bones. You will be like a garden that has much water. You will be like a spring that never runs dry.


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Your people will rebuild the old cities that are now in ruins. You will rebuild the foundations of these ancient cities. You will be known for repairing the broken places. You will be known for rebuilding the roads and houses.


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“You must obey God’s law about the Sabbath. You must not do what pleases yourselves on that holy day. You should call the Sabbath a joyful day. You should honor the Lord’s holy day. You should honor it by not doing whatever you please on that day. You should not say whatever you please on that day.


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Then you will find joy in the Lord. And I, the Lord, will carry you to the high places above the earth. I will let you eat the crops of the land your ancestor Jacob had.” The Lord has said these things.


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The Evil That People Do Surely the Lord’s power is enough to save you. He can hear you when you ask him for help.


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It is your evil that has separated you from your God. Your sins cause him to turn away from you. And then he does not hear you.


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With your hands you have killed others. Your fingers are covered with blood from killing people. With your lips you have lied. With your tongue you say evil things.


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People take each other to court unfairly. No one tells the truth in arguing his case. They accuse each other falsely and tell lies. They cause trouble and create more evil.


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They hatch evil like eggs from poisonous snakes. If you eat one of those eggs, you will die. And if you break one open, a poisonous snake comes out. People tell lies as they would spin a spider’s web.


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The webs they make cannot be used for clothes. You can’t cover yourself with those webs. The things they do are evil. They use their hands to hurt others.


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They eagerly run to do evil. They are always ready to kill innocent people. They think evil thoughts. Everywhere they go they cause ruin and destruction.


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They don’t know how to live in peace. There is no fairness in their lives. They are dishonest. Anyone who lives as they live will never have peace.


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Israel’s Sin Brings Trouble Fairness has gone far away. Goodness is nowhere to be found. We wait for the light, but there is only darkness now. We hope for a bright light, but all we have is darkness.


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We are like blind people feeling our way along a wall. We have to feel our way as if we had no eyes. In the brightness of day we trip as if it were night. We are like dead men among the strong.


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All of us growl like the bears. We call out sadly like the doves. We look for justice, but there isn’t any. We want to be saved, but salvation is far away.


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We have done many wrong things against our God. Our sins show we are wrong. We know we have turned against God. We know the evil things we have done.


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We have sinned and turned against the Lord. We have turned away from our God. We have planned to hurt others and to disobey God. We have planned and spoken lies.


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We have driven away justice. We have kept away from what is right. Truth is not spoken in the streets. What is honest is not allowed to enter the city.


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Truth cannot be found anywhere. And people who refuse to do evil are attacked. The Lord looked and could not find any justice. And he was displeased.


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He could not find anyone to help the people. He was surprised that there was no one to help. So the Lord used his own power to save the people. His own goodness gave him strength.


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The Lord covered himself with goodness like armor. He put on the helmet of salvation. He put on the clothes of punishment. And he put on the coat of his strong love.


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The Lord will pay back his enemies for what they have done. He will show his anger to those who were against him. He will punish the people in faraway places. He will give them the punishment they should have.


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Then people from the west will fear the Lord. People in the east will fear his glory. The Lord will come quickly like a fast-flowing river, driven by the breath of the Lord.


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“Then a close relative who will save you will come to Jerusalem. He will come to the people of Jacob who sinned but turned back to God,” says the Lord.


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The Lord says, “I will make an agreement with these people. I promise that my Spirit and my words that I give you will never leave you. They will be with your children and your grandchildren. They will be with you now and forever.”


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Jerusalem Will Be Great “Jerusalem, get up and shine. Your light has come. The glory of the Lord shines on you.


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Darkness now covers the earth. Deep darkness covers her people. But the Lord shines on you, and people see his glory around you.


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“Look around you. People are gathering and coming to you. They are your sons coming from far away. And your daughters are coming with them.


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When you see them, you will shine with happiness. You will be excited and full of joy. The wealth of the nations across the seas will be given to you. The riches of the nations will come to you.


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Herds of camels will cover your land. Young camels will come from Midian and Ephah. People will come from Sheba bringing gold and incense. And they will sing praises to the Lord.


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All the sheep from Kedar will be given to you. The male sheep from Nebaioth will be brought to you. They will be pleasing sacrifices on my altar. And I will make my beautiful Temple more beautiful.


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People in faraway lands are waiting for me. The great trading ships will come first. They are bringing your children from faraway lands. And with them they bring silver and gold. This will happen to honor the Lord your God. He is the Holy One of Israel. And he does wonderful things for you.


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“Jerusalem, foreigners will rebuild your walls. Their kings will serve you. When I was angry, I hurt you. But now I want to be kind to you and comfort you.


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Your gates will always be open. They will not be closed day or night so the nations can bring their wealth to you. And their kings will be led to you.


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“The great trees of Lebanon will be given to you. Its pine, fir and cypress trees will come to you. You will use these trees to make my Temple beautiful. And I will give much honor to this place where I rest my feet.


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The people who have hurt you will bow down to you. Those who hated you will bow down at your feet. They will call you The City of the Lord. They will call you Jerusalem, city of the Holy One of Israel.


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“You have been hated and left empty. No one has even passed through. But I will make you great from now on. You will be a place of happiness forever and ever.


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Nations will give you what you need. It will be like a child drinking milk from its mother. Then you will know that it is I, the Lord, who saves you. You will know that the Powerful One of Jacob protects you.


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I will bring you gold in place of bronze. I will bring you silver in place of iron. I will bring you bronze in place of wood. I will bring you iron in place of rocks. I will change your punishment into peace. And you will be ruled by what is right.


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There will be no more violence in your country. It will not be ruined or destroyed. You will name your walls Salvation. And you will name your gates Praise.


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The sun will no longer be your light during the day. The light from the moon will no longer be your light. This is because the Lord will be your light forever. Your God will be your glory.


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Your sun will never set again. Your moon will never be dark again. This is because the Lord will be your light forever. And your time of sadness will end.


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All of your people will do what is right. They will receive the earth forever. They are the plant I have planted. I made them with my own hands to show my greatness.


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The smallest family will grow to a thousand. The least important of you will become a powerful nation. I am the Lord, and when it is time, I will make these things happen quickly.”


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The Lord’s Message of Freedom The Lord God has put his Spirit in me. This is because he has appointed me to tell the good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort those whose hearts are broken. He has sent me to tell the captives they are free. He has sent me to tell the prisoners that they are released.


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He has sent me to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness and the time when our God will punish evil people. He has sent me to comfort all those who are sad.


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He has sent me to the sorrowing people of Jerusalem. I will give them a crown to replace their ashes. I will give them the oil of gladness to replace their sorrow. I will give them clothes of praise to replace their spirit of sadness. Then they will be called Trees of Goodness. They will be like trees planted by the Lord and will show his greatness.


