# verses

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You will not have to fight this battle. Take your positions. Stand firm. You will see how I will save you. Judah and Jerusalem, do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. Go out and face them tomorrow. I will be with you.' "


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Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face toward the ground. All of the people of Judah and Jerusalem also bowed down. They worshiped the Lord.


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Then some Levites from the families of Kohath and Korah stood up. They praised the Lord, the God of Israel. They praised him with very loud voices.


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Early in the morning all of the people left for the Desert of Tekoa. As they started out, Jehoshaphat stood up. He said, "Judah, listen to me! People of Jerusalem, listen to me! Have faith in the Lord your God. He'll take good care of you. Have faith in his prophets. Then you will have success."


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Jehoshaphat asked the people for advice. Then he appointed men to sing to the Lord. He wanted them to praise him because of his glory and holiness. They marched out in front of the army. They said, "Give thanks to the Lord. His faithful love continues forever."


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They began to sing and praise him. Then the Lord hid some men and told them to wait. He wanted them to attack the people of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir. They had gone into Judah and attacked it. But they lost the battle.


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The men of Ammon and Moab rose up against the men from Mount Seir. They destroyed them. They put an end to them. When they finished killing the men from Seir, they destroyed each other.


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The men of Judah came to the place that looks out over the desert. They turned to look down at the huge army. But all they saw was dead bodies lying there on the ground. No one had escaped.


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So Jehoshaphat and his men went down there to carry off anything of value. Among the dead bodies they found a lot of supplies, clothes and articles of value. There was more than they could take away. There was so much it took three days to collect all of it.


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On the fourth day they gathered together in the Valley of Beracah. There they praised the Lord. That's why it's called the Valley of Beracah to this very day.


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Then all of the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned to Jerusalem. They were filled with joy. Jehoshaphat led them. The Lord had made them happy because all of their enemies were dead.


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All of the kingdoms of the surrounding countries began to have respect for God. They had heard how the Lord had fought against Israel's enemies.


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So Jehoshaphat ruled over Judah. He was 35 years old when he became Judah's king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 25 years. His mother's name was Azubah. She was the daughter of Shilhi.


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Jehoshaphat followed the ways of his father Asa. He didn't wander away from them. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.


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But the high places weren't removed. The people still hadn't worshiped the God of Israel with all their hearts.


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The other events of Jehoshaphat's rule from beginning to end are written down. They are written in the official records of Jehu, the son of Hanani. They are written in the records of the kings of Israel.


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Jehoshaphat king of Judah and Ahaziah king of Israel agreed to be friends. Ahaziah was guilty of doing what was evil.


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Jehoshaphat agreed with him to build a lot of ships. They were built at Ezion Geber. They carried goods that were traded for other goods.


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Eliezer was the son of Dodavahu from Mareshah. Eliezer prophesied against Jehoshaphat. He said, "You have joined forces with Ahaziah. So the Lord will destroy what you have made." The ships were wrecked. They were never able to sail or trade goods.


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Jehoshaphat joined the members of his family who had already died. His body was buried in the family tomb in the City of David. His son Jehoram became the next king after him.


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Jehoram's brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael and Shephatiah. All of them were sons of Jehoshaphat, the king of Israel.


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Their father had given them many gifts. He had given them silver, gold and articles of value. He had also given them cities in Judah that had high walls around them. But he had made Jehoram king. That's because Jehoram was his oldest son.


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Jehoram made his position secure over his father's kingdom. Then he killed all of his brothers with his sword. He also killed some of the princes of Israel.


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But the Lord didn't want to destroy the royal family of David. That's because the Lord had made a covenant with him. He had promised to keep the lamp of David's kingdom burning brightly for him and his children after him forever.


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So Jehoram went to Edom. He took his officers and all of his chariots with him. The men of Edom surrounded him and his chariot commanders. But he got up at night and fought his way out.


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To this very day Edom has refused to remain under Judah's control. At that same time, Libnah also refused to remain under the control of Judah. That's because Jehoram had deserted the Lord, the God of his people.


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He had also built high places on the hills of Judah. He had caused the people of Jerusalem to worship other gods. They weren't faithful to the Lord. Jehoram had led Judah down the wrong path.


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Jehoram received a letter from the prophet Elijah. It said, "The Lord is the God of your father David. The Lord says, 'You have not followed the ways of your own father Jehoshaphat or of Asa, the king of Judah.


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Instead, you have followed the ways of the kings of Israel. You have led Judah and the people of Jerusalem to worship other gods, just as the royal family of Ahab did. Also, you have murdered your own brothers. They were members of your own family. They were better men than you are.


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" 'So now I am about to strike your people down with a heavy blow. I will strike down your sons, your wives and everything that belongs to you.


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And you yourself will be very sick for a long time. The sickness will finally cause your insides to come out.' "


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The Lord stirred up the anger of the Philistines against Jehoram. He also stirred up the anger of the Arabs. They lived near the people of Cush.


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The Philistines and Arabs attacked Judah. They went in and carried off all of the goods they found in the king's palace. They also took his sons and wives. The only son he had left was Ahaziah. He was the youngest son.


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After he had been sick for two years, the sickness caused his insides to come out. He died in great pain. His people didn't make a fire in his honor, as they had done for the kings who ruled before him.


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Jehoram was 32 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. No one was sorry when he passed away. His body was buried in the City of David. But it wasn't placed in the tombs of the kings.


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The people of Jerusalem made Ahaziah king in place of Jehoram. Ahaziah was Jehoram's youngest son. Robbers had come with the Arabs into Jehoram's camp. The robbers had killed all of his older sons. So Ahaziah, the king of Judah, began to rule. He was the son of Jehoram.


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Ahaziah was 22 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for one year. His mother's name was Athaliah. She was a granddaughter of Omri.


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Ahaziah also followed the ways of the royal family of Ahab. That's because Ahaziah's mother gave him bad advice. She told him to do what was wrong.


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So he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, just as the family of Ahab had done. After Ahaziah's father died, the members of Ahab's family became his advisers. That's what destroyed him.


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He also followed their advice when he joined forces with Joram, the king of Israel. They went to war against Hazael at Ramoth Gilead. Joram was the son of Ahab. Hazael was king of Aram. The soldiers of Aram wounded Joram.


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So he returned to Jezreel to give his wounds time to heal. His enemies had wounded him at Ramoth in his battle against Hazael, the king of Aram. Ahaziah, the son of Jehoram, went down to Jezreel. He went there to see Joram. That's because Joram had been wounded. Ahaziah was king of Judah. Joram was the son of Ahab.


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Through Ahaziah's visit to Joram, God caused Ahaziah to fall from power. When Ahaziah arrived, he rode out with Joram to meet Jehu, the son of Nimshi. The Lord had anointed Jehu to destroy the royal family of Ahab.


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So Jehu punished Ahab's family, just as the Lord had told him to. While he was doing it, he found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's relatives. They had been serving Ahaziah. So Jehu killed them.


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Then he went to look for Ahaziah. Jehu's men captured him while he was hiding in Samaria. Ahaziah was brought to Jehu and put to death. People buried his body, because they said, "He was a grandson of Jehoshaphat, who followed the Lord with all his heart." So no one in the royal family of Ahaziah was powerful enough to keep the kingdom.


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But Jehosheba went and got Joash, the son of Ahaziah. She was the daughter of King Jehoram. She stole Joash away from among the royal princes. All of them were about to be murdered. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, was the wife of the priest Jehoiada. She was also Ahaziah's sister. So Jehosheba hid the child from Athaliah. That's why Athaliah couldn't kill him.


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The child remained hidden with the priest and his wife at God's temple for six years. Athaliah ruled over the land during that time.


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When Joash was seven years old, Jehoiada showed how strong he was. He made a covenant with the commanders of companies of 100 men. The commanders were Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri.


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They went all through Judah. They gathered together the Levites and the leaders of Israelite families from all of the towns. They came to Jerusalem.


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The whole community made a covenant with the new king at God's temple. Jehoiada said to them, "Ahaziah's son will rule over Judah. That's what the Lord promised concerning the family line of David.


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Here's what I want you to do. A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath day must guard the doors.


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A third of you must guard the royal palace. And a third of you must guard the Foundation Gate. All of the other men must guard the courtyards of the Lord's temple.


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"Don't let anyone enter the temple except the priests and Levites who are on duty. They can enter because they are set apart to the Lord. But all of the other men must guard the places where the Lord has sent them.


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"The Levites must station themselves around the new king. Each man must have his weapons in his hand. Anyone else who enters the temple must be put to death. Stay close to the king no matter where he goes."


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The Levites did just as the priest Jehoiada ordered. So did all of the men of Judah. Each commander got his men. Some of the men were going on duty on the Sabbath day. Others were going off duty. Jehoiada didn't let any of the groups go.


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Then he gave weapons to the commanders of the companies. He gave them spears, large shields and small shields. The weapons had belonged to King David. They had been in God's temple.


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Jehoiada stationed all of the men around the new king. Each man had his weapon in his hand. They were standing near the altar and the temple. They stood from the south side of the temple to its north side. Their line formed half of a circle.


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Jehoiada and his sons brought Ahaziah's son out. They put the crown on him. They gave him a copy of the covenant. And they announced that he was king. They anointed him. Then they shouted, "May the king live a long time!"


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Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the new king. So she went to them at the Lord's temple.


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She looked. And there was the king! He was standing next to his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpet players were standing beside the king. All of the people of the land were filled with joy. They were blowing trumpets. Singers with their musical instruments were leading the songs of praise. Then Athaliah tore her royal robes. She shouted, "Treason! It's treason!"


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The priest Jehoiada sent out the commanders of the companies of 100 men. They were in charge of the troops. He said to them, "Bring her away from the temple between the line of guards. Use your swords to kill anyone who follows her." The priest had said, "Don't put her to death at the Lord's temple."


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So they grabbed hold of her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds. There they put her to death.


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Then Jehoiada made a covenant. He promised that he, the people and the king would be the Lord's people.


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All of the people went to Baal's temple. They tore it down. They smashed the altars and the statues of gods. They killed Mattan in front of the altars. He was the priest of Baal.


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Then Jehoiada put the priests, who were Levites, in charge of the Lord's temple. David had given them their duties in the temple. He had appointed them to sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord. He wanted them to do it in keeping with what was written in the Law of Moses. David wanted them to sing and be full of joy.


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Jehoiada stationed guards at the gates of the Lord's temple. No one who was "unclean" in any way could enter.


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Jehoiada took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all of the people of the land. He brought the new king down from the Lord's temple. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate. Then they seated the king on the royal throne.


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All of the people of the land were filled with joy. And the city was quiet. That's because Athaliah had been killed with a sword.


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Joash was seven years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 40 years. His mother's name was Zibiah. She was from Beersheba.


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Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He lived that way as long as the priest Jehoiada was alive.


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He called together the priests and Levites. He said to them, "Go to the towns of Judah. Collect the money that the nation of Israel owes every year. Use it to repair the temple of your God. Do it now." But the Levites didn't do it right away.


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So the king sent for the chief priest Jehoiada. He said to him, "Why haven't you required the Levites to bring in the tax from Judah and Jerusalem? It was set up by the Lord's servant Moses and the whole community of Israel. It was used for the tent where the tablets of the covenant were kept."


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The children of that evil woman Athaliah had broken into God's temple. They had used even its sacred objects for the gods that were named after Baal.


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King Joash commanded that a wooden chest be made. It was placed outside near the gate of the Lord's temple.


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Then a message went out in Judah and Jerusalem. It said that the people should bring the tax to the Lord. God's servant Moses had required Israel to pay that tax when they were in the desert.


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All of the officials and people gladly brought their money. They dropped it into the chest until it was full.


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The chest was brought in by the Levites to the king's officials. Every time the officials saw there was a large amount of money in the chest, it was emptied out. The royal secretary and the officer of the chief priest came and emptied it. Then they carried it back to its place. They did it regularly. They collected a great amount of money.


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The king and Jehoiada gave it to the men who were doing the work on the Lord's temple. They hired people who could lay the stones and people who could work with wood. They also hired people who could work with iron and bronze. They hired all of them to repair the temple.


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The men who were in charge of the work did their best. The repairs went very well under them. They rebuilt God's temple. They did it in keeping with its original plans. They made it stronger.


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So they finished the work. Then they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada. It was used to pay for the articles that were made for the Lord's temple. The articles were used for serving at the temple. They were also used for the burnt offerings. The articles included dishes and other objects that were made out of gold and silver. As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were sacrificed continually at the Lord's temple.


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His body was buried with the kings in the City of David. That's because he had done so many good things in Israel for God and his temple.


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After Jehoiada died, the officials of Judah came to King Joash. They bowed down to him. He listened to them.


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They turned their backs on the temple of the Lord, the God of their people. They worshiped poles that were made to honor the goddess Asherah. They also worshiped statues of other gods. Because Judah and Jerusalem were guilty of sin, God became angry with them.


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The Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him. The prophets gave witness against the people. But they wouldn't listen.


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Then the Spirit of God came on the priest Zechariah. He was the son of Jehoiada. Zechariah stood in front of the people. He told them, "God says, 'Why do you refuse to obey my commands? You will not have success. You have deserted me. So I have deserted you.' "


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But the people made evil plans against Zechariah. The king ordered them to kill Zechariah by throwing stones at him. They did it in the courtyard of the Lord's temple.


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King Joash didn't remember how kind Zechariah's father Jehoiada had been to him. So he killed Jehoiada's son. As Zechariah was dying he said, "May the Lord see this. May he hold you accountable."


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In the spring, the army of Aram marched into Judah and Jerusalem against Joash. They killed all of the leaders of the people. They took a large amount of goods from Judah. They sent it to their king in Damascus.


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The army of Aram had come with only a few men. But the Lord allowed them to win the battle over a much larger army. Judah had deserted the Lord, the God of their people. That's why the Lord punished Joash.


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The army of Aram pulled back. They left Joash badly wounded. His officials planned to do evil things to him. That's because he murdered the son of the priest Jehoiada. They killed Joash in his bed. So he died. His body was buried in the City of David. But it wasn't placed in the tombs of the kings.


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Those who made the plans against Joash were Zabad and Jehozabad. Zabad was the son of Shimeath. She was from Ammon. Jehozabad was the son of Shimrith. She was from Moab.


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The story of the sons of Joash is written in the notes on the records of the kings. The many prophecies about him are written there too. So is the record of how he made God's temple look like new again. His son Amaziah became the next king after him.


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But he didn't put their children to death. He obeyed what is written in the Law, the Scroll of Moses. There the Lord commanded, "Parents must not be put to death because of what their children do. And children must not be put to death because of what their parents do. People must die because of their own sins."--(Deuteronomy 24:16)


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Amaziah called the people of Judah together. He arranged them by families under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds. He did it for all of the people of Judah and Benjamin. Then he brought together the men who were 20 years old or more. He found out there were 300,000 men who were able to serve in the army. They could handle spears and shields.


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But a man of God came to him. He said, "King Amaziah, these troops from Israel must not march out with you. The Lord is not with Israel. He isn't with any of the people of Ephraim.


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Go and fight bravely in battle if you want to. But God will destroy you right in front of your enemies. God has the power to help you or destroy you."


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Amaziah asked the man of God, "But what about all of that silver I paid for these Israelite troops?" The man of God replied, "The Lord can give you much more than that."


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So Amaziah let the troops go who had come to him from Ephraim. He sent them home. They were very angry with Judah. In fact, they were burning with anger when they went home.


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Then Amaziah showed how strong he was. He led his army to the Valley of Salt. There he killed 10,000 men of Seir.


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The army of Judah also captured 10,000 men alive. They took them to the top of a cliff. Then they threw them down. All of them were smashed to pieces.


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The troops Amaziah had sent back attacked some towns in Judah. He hadn't allowed the troops to take part in the war. They attacked towns from Samaria to Beth Horon. They killed 3,000 people. They carried off huge amounts of goods.


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Amaziah returned from killing the men of Edom. He brought back the statues of the gods of Seir. He set them up as his own gods. He bowed down to them. He burned sacrifices to them.


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The Lord's anger burned against Amaziah. He sent a prophet to him. The prophet said, "Why do you ask the gods of those people for advice? They couldn't even save their own people from your power!"


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While the prophet was still speaking, the king spoke to him. He said, "Did I ask you for advice? Stop! If you don't, you will be struck down." So the prophet stopped. But then he said, "I know that God has decided to destroy you. That's because you have worshiped other gods. You haven't listened to my advice."


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Amaziah, the king of Judah, spoke to his advisers. Then he sent a message to Jehoash, the king of Israel. Jehoash was the son of Jehoahaz. Jehoahaz was the son of Jehu. Amaziah dared Jehoash, "Come on. Meet me face to face in battle."


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You brag that you have won the battle over Edom. You are very proud. But stay home! Why ask for trouble? Why bring yourself crashing down? Why bring Judah down with you?"


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But Amaziah wouldn't listen. That's because God had planned to hand Judah over to Jehoash. After all, they had asked the gods of Edom for advice.


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So Jehoash, the king of Israel, attacked. He and Amaziah, the king of Judah, faced each other in battle. The battle took place at Beth Shemesh in Judah.


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Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah at Beth Shemesh. Amaziah was the son of Joash. Joash was the son of Ahaziah. Jehoash brought Amaziah to Jerusalem. He broke down part of its wall. It's the part that went from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate. That part of the wall was 600 feet long.


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Jehoash took all of the gold and silver. He took all of the articles he found in God's temple. Obed-Edom had been in charge of them. Jehoash also took the palace treasures and the prisoners. Then he returned to Samaria.


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The other events of Amaziah's rule from beginning to end are written down. They are written in the records of the kings of Judah and Israel.


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Amaziah turned away from following the Lord. From that time on, some people made evil plans against him in Jerusalem. So he ran away to Lachish. But they sent men to Lachish after him. There they killed him.


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His body was brought back on a horse. Then he was buried in the family tomb in Jerusalem, the City of Judah.


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He looked to God during the days of Zechariah. Zechariah taught him to have respect for God. As long as Uzziah looked to the Lord, God gave him success.


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Uzziah went to war against the Philistines. He broke down the walls of Gath, Jabneh and Ashdod. Then he rebuilt some towns that were near Ashdod. He also rebuilt some other towns where Philistines lived.


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God helped him fight against the Philistines. He also helped him fight against the Meunites and against the Arabs who lived in Gur Baal.


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The Ammonites brought to Uzziah the gifts he required of them. He became famous all the way to the border of Egypt. That's because he had become very powerful.


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Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem. They were at the Corner Gate, the Valley Gate and the angle of the wall. He made the towers very strong.


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He also built towers in the desert. He dug many wells, because he had a lot of livestock. The livestock were in the western hills and on the flatlands. Uzziah had people working in his fields and vineyards in the hills and in the rich lands. That's because he loved the soil.


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Uzziah's army was well trained. It was ready to march out by companies in keeping with their numbers. Jeiel and Maaseiah brought them together. Jeiel was the secretary. Maaseiah was the officer. They were under the direction of Hananiah. He was one of the royal officials.


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An army of 307,500 men was under their command. The men were trained for war. They were a powerful force. They helped the king against his enemies.


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Uzziah provided the entire army with shields, spears, helmets, coats of armor, bows, and stones for their slings.


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In Jerusalem he made machines that were based on patterns that skilled men had drawn up. The machines were used on the towers and on the corners of walls. They could shoot arrows. They could also throw large stones. Uzziah became famous everywhere. God greatly helped him until he became powerful.


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But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride brought him down. He wasn't faithful to the Lord his God. He entered the Lord's temple to burn incense on the altar for burning incense.


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They stood up to Uzziah. They said, "Uzziah, it isn't right for you to burn incense to the Lord. Only the priests are supposed to do that. They are members of the family line of Aaron. They have been set apart to burn incense. So get out of here. Leave the temple. You haven't been faithful. The Lord God won't honor you."


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Uzziah was holding a shallow cup. He was ready to burn incense. He became angry. He shouted at the priests in the Lord's temple. He did it near the altar for burning incense. While he was shouting, a skin disease suddenly broke out on his forehead.


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The chief priest Azariah looked at him. So did all of the other priests. They saw that Uzziah had a skin disease on his forehead. So they hurried him out of the temple. Actually, he himself really wanted to leave. He knew that the Lord was making him suffer.


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King Uzziah had the skin disease until the day he died. He lived in a separate house because he had the disease. And he wasn't allowed to enter the Lord's temple. Uzziah's son Jotham was in charge of the palace. Jotham ruled over the people of the land.


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The other events of Uzziah's rule from beginning to end were written down by the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah was the son of Amoz.


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Uzziah joined the members of his family who had already died. His body was buried near theirs in a royal burial ground. People said, "He had a skin disease." His son Jotham became the next king after him.


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Jotham did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done. But Jotham didn't enter the Lord's temple as Uzziah had done. In spite of that, the people continued to do very sinful things.


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Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the Lord's temple. He did a lot of work on the wall at the hill of Ophel.


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He built towns in the hills of Judah. He also built forts and towers in areas that had a lot of trees in them.


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Jotham went to war against the king of Ammon. He won the battle over the people of Ammon. That year they paid Jotham almost four tons of silver. They paid him 62,000 bushels of wheat and 62,000 bushels of barley. They also brought him the same amount in the second and third years.


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The other events of Jotham's rule are written down. That includes all of his wars and the other things he did. All of those things are written in the records of the kings of Israel and Judah.


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Jotham joined the members of his family who had already died. His body was buried in the City of David. His son Ahaz became the next king after him.


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Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 16 years. He didn't do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He didn't do what King David had done.


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He followed the ways of the kings of Israel. He also made metal statues of gods that were named after Baal.


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He burned sacrifices in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. He sacrificed his children in the fire to other gods. He followed the practices of the nations. The Lord hated those practices. He had driven out those nations to make room for the people of Israel.


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So the Lord his God handed him over to the king of Aram. The men of Aram won the battle over him. They took many of his people as prisoners. They brought them to Damascus. God also handed Ahaz over to Pekah. His army wounded or killed many of the troops of Ahaz. Pekah was king of Israel.


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In one day Pekah killed 120,000 soldiers in Judah. That's because Judah had deserted the Lord, the God of their people. Pekah was the son of Remaliah.


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Zicri was a fighting man from Ephraim. He killed Maaseiah, Azrikam and Elkanah. Maaseiah was the king's son. Azrikam was the officer who was in charge of the palace. And Elkanah was next in command after the king.


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The men of Israel captured 200,000 wives, sons and daughters from their relatives in Judah. They also took a large amount of goods. They carried all of it back to Samaria.


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But a prophet of the Lord was there. His name was Oded. When the army returned to Samaria, he went out to meet them. He said to them, "The Lord is the God of your people. He burned with anger against Judah. So he handed them over to you. But you have killed them. Your anger reached all the way to heaven.


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"Now you are planning to make the men and women of Judah and Jerusalem your slaves. But aren't you also guilty of sins against the Lord your God?


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Listen to me! You have taken your relatives from Judah as prisoners. The Lord's anger is burning against you. So send your relatives back."


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Then some of the leaders in Ephraim stood up to those who were returning from the war. The leaders were Azariah, Berekiah, Jehizkiah and Amasa. Azariah was the son of Jehohanan. Berekiah was the son of Meshillemoth. Jehizkiah was the son of Shallum. And Amasa was the son of Hadlai.


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"Don't bring those prisoners here," they said. "If you do, we'll be guilty in the sight of the Lord. Do you really want to add to our sin and guilt? We're already very guilty. The Lord's anger is burning against Israel."


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So the soldiers gave up the prisoners and the goods they had taken. They did it in front of the officials and the whole community.


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Azariah, Berekiah, Jehizkiah and Amasa received the prisoners. From the goods that had been taken they gave clothes to all those who were naked. They gave them clothes, sandals, food, drink and healing lotion. They put all of the weak people on donkeys. They took them back to their relatives at Jericho. Then they returned to Samaria. Jericho was also known as the City of Palm Trees.


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At the same time the Philistines had attacked towns in the western hills and in the Negev Desert of Judah. They had captured Beth Shemesh, Aijalon and Gederoth. They had also captured Soco, Timnah and Gimzo and the villages that were around them. They had settled down in all of them.


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The Lord had brought Judah down because of Ahaz, their king. Ahaz had stirred up the people of Judah to do evil things. He hadn't been faithful to the Lord at all.


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Tiglath-Pileser came to Ahaz. But he gave Ahaz trouble instead of help. Tiglath-Pileser was king of Assyria.


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Ahaz took some things from the Lord's temple. He also took some from the royal palace and from the princes. He gave all of them to the king of Assyria. But that didn't help him.


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He offered sacrifices to the gods of Damascus. They had won the battle over him. He thought, "The gods of the kings of Aram have helped them. So I'll sacrifice to them. Then they'll help me." But they brought him down. In fact, they brought the whole nation of Israel down.


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Ahaz gathered together everything that belonged to God's temple. He took all of it away. He shut the doors of the Lord's temple. He set up altars at every street corner in Jerusalem.


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In every town in Judah he built high places. Sacrifices were burned there to other gods. That made the Lord, the God of his people, very angry.


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The other events of the rule of Ahaz and all of his evil practices from beginning to end are written down. They are written in the records of the kings of Judah and Israel.


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Ahaz joined the members of his family who had already died. His body was buried in the city of Jerusalem. But it wasn't placed in the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah became the next king after him.


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In the first month of Hezekiah's first year as king, he opened the doors of the Lord's temple. He repaired them.


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He brought the priests and Levites in. He gathered them together in the open area on the east side of the temple.


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He said, "Levites, listen to me! Set yourselves apart to the Lord. Set apart the temple of the Lord. He's the God of your people. Remove anything that is 'unclean' from the temple.


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Our people weren't faithful. They did what was evil in the sight of the Lord our God. They deserted him. They turned their faces away from the place where he lives. They turned their backs on him.


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They also shut the doors of the temple porch. They put the lamps out. They didn't burn incense at the temple. They didn't sacrifice burnt offerings to the God of Israel there.


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"So the Lord has become angry with Judah and Jerusalem. He has made them look so bad that everyone is shocked when they see them. They laugh at them. You can see it with your own eyes.


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That's why our people have been killed with swords. That's why our sons and daughters and wives have become prisoners.


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"So I'm planning to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel. Then he'll turn his burning anger away from us.


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"My sons, don't fail to obey the Lord. He has chosen you to stand in front of him and work for him. He wants you to serve him and burn incense to him."


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Here are the Levites who went to work. Mahath and Joel were from the family line of Kohath. Mahath was the son of Amasai. Joel was the son of Azariah. Kish and Azariah were from the family line of Merari. Kish was the son of Abdi. Azariah was the son of Jehallelel. Joah and Eden were from the family line of Gershon. Joah was the son of Zimmah. Eden was the son of Joah.


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Shimri and Jeiel were from the family line of Elizaphan. Zechariah and Mattaniah were from the family line of Asaph.


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Jehiel and Shimei were from the family line of Heman. Shemaiah and Uzziel were from the family line of Jeduthun.


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All of those Levites gathered the other Levites together. They set themselves apart to the Lord. Then they went in to purify the Lord's temple. That's what the king had ordered them to do. They did what the Lord told them to.


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The priests went into the Lord's temple to make it pure. They brought out to the temple courtyard everything that was "unclean." They had found "unclean" things in the Lord's temple. The Levites took them and carried them out to the Kidron Valley.


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On the first day of the first month they began to set everything in the temple apart to the Lord. By the eighth day of the month they reached the Lord's porch. For eight more days they set the Lord's temple itself apart to him. They finished on the 16th day of the first month.


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Then they went to King Hezekiah. They reported, "We've purified the whole temple of the Lord. That includes the altar for burnt offerings and all of its tools. It also includes the table for the holy bread and all of its articles.


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We've prepared all of the articles King Ahaz had removed. We've set them apart to the Lord. Ahaz had removed them while he was king. He wasn't faithful to the Lord. The articles are now in front of the Lord's altar."


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Early the next morning King Hezekiah gathered the city officials together. They went up to the Lord's temple.


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They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven male lambs and seven male goats with them. They sacrificed the animals as a sin offering for the kingdom, for the temple and for Judah. The king commanded the priests to offer them on the Lord's altar. The priests were from the family line of Aaron.


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They killed the bulls. Then they sprinkled the blood on the altar. Next they killed the rams and sprinkled the blood on the altar. Then they killed the lambs and sprinkled the blood on the altar.


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The goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the whole community. They placed their hands on them.


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Then the priests killed the goats. They put the blood on the altar as a sin offering. It paid for the sin of the whole nation of Israel. The king had ordered the burnt offering and the sin offering for the whole nation.


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He stationed the Levites in the Lord's temple. They had cymbals, harps and lyres. They did everything in the way King David, his prophet Gad, and the prophet Nathan had required. The Lord had given commands about all of those things through his prophets.


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So the Levites stood ready with David's musical instruments. And the priests had their trumpets ready.


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Hezekiah gave the order to sacrifice the burnt offering on the altar. The offering began. Singing to the Lord also began. The singing was accompanied by the trumpets and by the instruments of David. He had been king of Israel.


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The whole community bowed down. They worshiped the Lord. At the same time the singers sang. The priests blew their trumpets. All of that continued until the burnt offering had been sacrificed.


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So the offerings were finished. King Hezekiah got down on his knees. He worshiped the Lord. So did everyone who was with him.


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The king and his officials ordered the Levites to praise the Lord. They used the words of David and the prophet Asaph. They sang praises with joy. They bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord.


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Then Hezekiah said, "You have set yourselves apart to the Lord. Come and bring sacrifices and thank offerings to his temple." So the whole community brought sacrifices and thank offerings. Everyone who wanted to brought burnt offerings.


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The whole community brought 70 bulls, 100 rams and 200 male lambs. They brought all of them as burnt offerings to the Lord.


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The total number of animals that were set apart as sacrifices to the Lord was 600 bulls and 3,000 sheep and goats.


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But there weren't enough priests to skin all of the burnt offerings. So their brother Levites helped them. They worked until the task was finished. By that time other priests had been set apart to the Lord. The Levites had been more careful than the priests when they set themselves apart.


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There were large numbers of burnt offerings, along with the drink offerings and the fat from the friendship offerings. They were offered along with the burnt offerings. So the service of the Lord's temple was started up again.


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Hezekiah and all of the people were filled with joy. That's because everything had been done so quickly. God had provided for his people in a wonderful way.


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Hezekiah sent a message to all of the people of Israel and Judah. He also wrote letters to the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. He invited everyone to come to the Lord's temple in Jerusalem. He wanted them to celebrate the Passover Feast in honor of the Lord. He is the God of Israel.


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The king, his officials and the whole community in Jerusalem decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month.


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They hadn't been able to celebrate it at the regular time. That's because there weren't enough priests who had set themselves apart to the Lord. Also, the people hadn't gathered together in Jerusalem.


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They decided to send a message all through Israel. It was sent out from Beersheba all the way to Dan. The message invited the people to come to Jerusalem. It invited them to celebrate the Passover in honor of the Lord, the God of Israel. The Passover hadn't been celebrated by large numbers of people for a long time. It hadn't been done in keeping with what was written in the law.


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Messengers went all through Israel and Judah. They carried letters from the king and his officials. The king had ordered them to do that. The letters said, "People of Israel, return to the Lord. He is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel. Return to him. Then he will return to you who are left in the land. You have escaped from the power of the kings of Assyria.


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"Don't be like the rest of your people and relatives. They weren't faithful to the Lord, the God of their people. That's why he punished them. He made them look so bad that everyone was shocked when they saw them. You can see it for yourselves.


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"Don't be stubborn. Don't be as your people were. Obey the Lord. Come to the temple. He has set it apart to himself forever. Serve the Lord your God. Then he'll turn his burning anger away from you.


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"Suppose you return to the Lord. Then those who captured your relatives and children will be kind to them. In fact, your relatives and children will come back to this land. The Lord your God is kind and tender. He won't turn away from you if you return to him."


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The messengers went from town to town in Ephraim and Manasseh. They went all the way to Zebulun. But the people made fun of them. They laughed at them.


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In spite of that, some men from Asher, Manasseh and Zebulun made themselves low in the Lord's sight. They went to Jerusalem.


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God's powerful hand helped the people of Judah. He helped them agree with one another. So they did what the king and his officials had ordered. They did what the Lord told them to do.


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A very large crowd of people gathered together in Jerusalem. They went there to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It took place in the second month.


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They removed the altars in Jerusalem. They cleared away the altars for burning incense. They threw all of the altars into the Kidron Valley.


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They killed the Passover lamb on the 14th day of the second month. The priests and Levites were filled with shame. They set themselves apart to the Lord. They brought burnt offerings to his temple.


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Then they went to their regular positions. They did it just as the Law of Moses, the man of God, required. The Levites gave the blood of the animals to the priests. The priests sprinkled it on the altar.


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Many people in the crowd hadn't set themselves apart to the Lord. They weren't "clean." They couldn't set their lambs apart to him. So the Levites had to kill the Passover lambs for all of them.


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Many people came from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar and Zebulun. Most of them hadn't made themselves pure and clean. But they still ate the Passover meal. That was against what was written in the law. But Hezekiah prayed for them. He said, "The Lord is good. May he forgive everyone


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who wants to worship God with all his heart. God is the Lord, the God of their people. May God forgive them even if they aren't 'clean' in keeping with the rules of the temple."


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The people of Israel who were in Jerusalem celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread. They celebrated for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests sang to the Lord every day. Their singing was accompanied by musical instruments. The instruments were used to praise the Lord.


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Hezekiah spoke words that gave hope to all of the Levites. They understood how to serve the Lord well. For the seven days of the Feast they ate the share that was given to them. They also sacrificed friendship offerings. They praised the Lord, the God of their people.


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Then the whole community agreed to celebrate the Feast for seven more days. So for another seven days they celebrated with joy.


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Hezekiah, the king of Judah, provided 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep and goats for the community. The officials provided 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep and goats for them. A large number of priests set themselves apart to the Lord.


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The entire community of Judah was filled with joy. So were the priests and Levites. And so were all of the people who had gathered together from Israel. That included the outsiders who had come from Israel. It also included those who lived in Judah.


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There was great joy in Jerusalem. There hadn't been anything like it in Israel since the days of Solomon, the son of David. Solomon had been king of Israel.


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The priests and Levites gave their blessing to the people. God heard them. Their prayer reached all the way to heaven. It's the holy place where he lives.


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The Feast came to an end. The people of Israel who were in Jerusalem went out to the towns of Judah. They smashed the sacred stones. They cut down the poles that were used to worship the goddess Asherah. They destroyed the high places and the altars. They did those things all through Judah and Benjamin. They also did them in Ephraim and Manasseh. They destroyed all of the objects that were used to worship other gods. Then the people returned to their own towns and property.


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Hezekiah put the priests and Levites in groups based on their duties. The priests sacrificed burnt offerings and friendship offerings. The Levites served the Lord by giving thanks and singing praises at the gates of his house.


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The king gave some of his own possessions to the temple. He gave them for the morning and evening burnt offerings. He gave them for the burnt offerings for every Sabbath day. He gave them for the burnt offerings for every New Moon feast. And he gave them for the burnt offerings for every yearly appointed feast. He did it in keeping with what is written in the Law of the Lord.


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Hezekiah gave an order to the people who were living in Jerusalem. He commanded them to give to the priests and Levites the share they owed them. Then the priests and Levites could give their full attention to the Law of the Lord.


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The order went out. Right away the people of Israel began to give freely. They gave the first share of the harvest of their grain, fresh wine, olive oil and honey. They also gave the first share of everything else their fields produced. They brought a large amount. It was a tenth of everything.


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The people of Israel and Judah who lived in the towns of Judah brought a tenth of their herds and flocks. They also brought a tenth of the holy things they had set apart to the Lord their God. They put them in piles.


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Hezekiah and his officials came and saw the piles. When they did, they praised the Lord. And they blessed his people Israel.


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The chief priest Azariah answered him. He said, "The people have been bringing their gifts to the Lord's temple. Ever since they began to bring them, we've had enough to eat. We have even had plenty to spare. That's because the Lord has blessed his people. So we have a large amount left over." Azariah was from the family line of Zadok.


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The people were faithful. They brought in their offerings, a tenth of everything they produced, and the gifts they had set apart to the Lord. The Levite Conaniah was in charge of those things. His brother Shimei was next in command after him.


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Conaniah and his brother Shimei had directors who worked under them. Their names were Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismakiah, Mahath and Benaiah. King Hezekiah and Azariah had appointed them. Azariah was the official who was in charge of God's temple.


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The Levite Kore guarded the East Gate. He was in charge of the offerings people chose to give to God. He handed out the offerings that were made to the Lord. He also handed out the gifts that had been set apart to the Lord. Kore was the son of Imnah.


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Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah and Shecaniah helped Kore. They were faithful in helping him in the towns of the priests. They handed out gifts to their brother priests, group by group. They gave the gifts to young men and old men alike.


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In addition to that, they handed out gifts to the males who were three years old or more. The names of those males were listed in their family history. All of them would enter the Lord's temple. They would carry out their duties each day. Each group did all of the different things it was supposed to do.


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Kore and his Levite companions also handed out gifts to the priests. The priests were listed by their families in their family history. Those Levites also handed out gifts to the Levites who were 20 years old or more. Each group did all of the different things it was supposed to do.


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Those groups included all of the little ones, the wives, and the sons and daughters of the whole community. All of them were listed in their family history. They were faithful in setting themselves apart to serve the Lord.


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Some of the priests, who were from the family line of Aaron, lived in other towns or on farms around their towns. Men were chosen by name to hand out shares to those priests. They gave a share to every male among them. They also gave a share to everyone whose name was written down in the family history of the Levites.


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That's what Hezekiah did all through Judah. He did what was good and right. He was faithful to the Lord his God.


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He looked to his God. He worked for him with all his heart. That's the way he worked in everything he did to serve God's temple. He obeyed the law. He followed the Lord's commands. So he had success.


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Hezekiah had been completely faithful to the Lord. But in spite of that, Sennacherib came and marched into Judah. He was the king of Assyria. He surrounded the cities that had high walls around them. He got ready to attack them. He thought he could win the battle over them. He thought he could take them for himself.


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So he asked his officials and military leaders for advice. He asked them about blocking off the water from the springs that were outside the city. They gave him the advice he asked for.


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A large group of men gathered together. They blocked all of the springs. They also blocked the stream that flowed through the land. "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find plenty of water?" they asked.


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Then Hezekiah worked hard repairing all of the broken parts of the wall. He built towers on it. He built another wall outside that one. He built up the areas that had been filled in around the City of David. He also made large numbers of weapons and shields.


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He appointed military officers over the people. He gathered the officers together in front of him in the open area at the city gate. He gave them words of hope. He said,


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"Be strong. Be brave. Don't be afraid. Don't lose hope. The king of Assyria has a huge army with him. But there's a greater power with us than there is with him.


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The only thing he has is human strength. But the Lord our God is with us. He will help us. He'll fight our battles." The people had great faith in what Hezekiah, the king of Judah, said.


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Later Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, and all of his forces surrounded Lachish. They got ready to attack it. At that time, he sent his officers to Jerusalem. They went there with a message for Hezekiah, the king of Judah. The message was also for all of the people of Judah who were there. The message said,


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"Sennacherib, the king of Assyria, says, 'Why are you putting your faith in what your king says? Why do you remain in Jerusalem when you are surrounded?


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" 'Hezekiah says, "The Lord our God will save us from the powerful hand of the king of Assyria." But he isn't telling you the truth. If you listen to him, you will die of hunger and thirst.


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" 'Didn't Hezekiah himself remove your god's high places and altars? Didn't Hezekiah say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, "You must worship at one altar. You must burn sacrifices on it"?


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" 'Don't you know what I and the kings who ruled before me have done? Don't you know what we've done to all of the peoples of the other lands? Were the gods of those nations ever able to save their lands from my power?


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The kings who ruled before me destroyed many nations. Which one of the gods of those nations has been able to save his people from me? So how can your god save you from my power?


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" 'Don't let Hezekiah trick you. He's telling you lies. Don't believe him. No god of any nation or kingdom has been able to save his people from my power. No god has been able to save his people from the power of the kings who ruled before me. So your god won't save you from my power either!' "


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The king also wrote letters against the Lord. His letters made fun of the God of Israel. They said, "The peoples of other lands have their gods. But those gods didn't save their people from my powerful hand. So the god of Hezekiah won't save his people from my powerful hand either."


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Then the officers called out in the Hebrew language to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall. They were trying to scare them and make them afraid. That's because they wanted to capture the city.


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They were comparing the God of Jerusalem to the gods of the other nations of the world. But those gods were only statues. They had been made by the hands of men.


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King Hezekiah cried out in prayer to God in heaven. He prayed about the problem Jerusalem was facing. So did the prophet Isaiah. He was the son of Amoz.


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The Lord sent an angel. The angel wiped out all of the enemy's fighting men, leaders and officers. He put an end to them right there in the camp of the Assyrian king. So Sennacherib went back to his own land in shame. He went into the temple of his god. There some of his own sons cut him down with their swords.


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So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the people of Jerusalem. He saved them from the power of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria. He also saved them from all of their other enemies. He took care of them on every side.


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Many people brought offerings to Jerusalem for the Lord. They brought expensive gifts for Hezekiah, the king of Judah. From then on, all of the nations thought highly of him.


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In those days Hezekiah became sick. He knew he was about to die. So he prayed to the Lord. And the Lord answered him. He gave him a miraculous sign.


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But Hezekiah's heart was proud. He didn't give thanks for the many kind things the Lord had done for him. So the Lord became angry with him. He also became angry with Judah and Jerusalem.


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Then Hezekiah had a change of heart. He was sorry he had been proud. The people of Jerusalem were also sorry they had sinned. So the Lord wasn't angry with them as long as Hezekiah was king.


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Hezekiah was very rich. He received great honor. He made storerooms for his silver and gold. He also made them for his jewels, spices, shields and all kinds of expensive things.


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He made buildings to store the harvest of grain, fresh wine and olive oil. He made barns for all kinds of cattle. He made sheep pens for his flocks.


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Hezekiah blocked up the upper opening of the Gihon spring. He directed the water to flow down to the west side of the City of David. He had success in everything he did.


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The rulers of Babylon sent messengers to him. They asked him about the miraculous sign that had taken place in the land. Then God left him to put him to the test. He wanted to know everything that was in his heart.


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Hezekiah did many things that showed he was faithful to the Lord. Those things and the other events of his rule are written down. They are written in the record of the vision of the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz. That record is part of the records of the kings of Judah and Israel.


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Hezekiah joined the members of his family who had already died. His body was buried on the hill where the tombs of David's family are. The whole nation of Judah honored him when he died. So did the people of Jerusalem. Hezekiah's son Manasseh became the next king after him.


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Manasseh rebuilt the high places. His father Hezekiah had destroyed them. Manasseh also set up altars to the gods that were named after Baal. He made poles that were used to worship the goddess Asherah. He even bowed down to all of the stars. And he worshiped them.


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He built altars in the Lord's temple. The Lord had said about his temple, "My Name will remain in Jerusalem forever."


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He sacrificed his children in the fire to other gods. He did it in the Valley of Ben Hinnom. He practiced all kinds of evil magic. He took part in worshiping evil powers. He got messages from those who had died. He talked to the spirits of the dead. He did many things that were evil in the sight of the Lord. He made him very angry.


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Manasseh had carved a statue of a god. He put it in God's temple. God had spoken to David and his son Solomon about the temple. He had said, "My Name will be in this temple and in Jerusalem forever. Out of all of the cities in the tribes of Israel I have chosen Jerusalem.


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I gave this land to your people who lived long ago. I will not make the Israelites leave it again. But they must be careful to do everything I commanded them. They must follow all of the laws, directions, and rules I gave them through Moses."


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But Manasseh led Judah and the people of Jerusalem down the wrong path. They did more evil things than the nations the Lord had destroyed to make room for the people of Israel.


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So the Lord brought the army commanders of the king of Assyria against them. They took Manasseh as a prisoner. They put a hook in his nose. They put him in bronze chains. And they took him to Babylon.


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When Manasseh was in trouble, he asked the Lord his God to show favor to him. He made himself very low in the sight of the God of his people.


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Manasseh prayed to him. When he did, the Lord felt sorry for him. He answered his prayer. He brought him back to Jerusalem and his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the Lord is God.


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After that, Manasseh rebuilt the outer wall of the City of David. It was west of the Gihon spring in the valley. It reached all the way to the entrance of the Fish Gate. It went around the entire hill of Ophel. Manasseh also made the wall much higher. He stationed military commanders in all of the cities in Judah that had high walls around them.


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Manasseh got rid of the strange gods. He removed the statue of one of those gods from the Lord's temple. He also removed all of the altars he had built on the temple hill and in Jerusalem. He threw them out of the city.


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Then he made the Lord's altar look like new again. He sacrificed friendship offerings and thank offerings on it. He told the people of Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel.


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The people continued to offer sacrifices at the high places. But they offered them only to the Lord their God.


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The other events of Manasseh's rule are written down in the official records of the kings of Israel. They include his prayer to his God. They also include the words the prophets spoke to him in the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.


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Everything about Manasseh is written in the records of the prophets. That includes his prayer and the fact that God felt sorry for him. It includes everything he did before he made himself low in the Lord's sight. It includes all of his sins and the fact that he wasn't faithful to the Lord. It includes the locations where he built high places. It includes the places where he set up poles that were used to worship the goddess Asherah. And it includes the places where he set up statues of other gods.


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Manasseh joined the members of his family who had already died. His body was buried in his palace. His son Amon became the next king after him.


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Amon did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, just as his father Manasseh had done. Amon worshiped and offered sacrifices to all of the statues of gods that Manasseh had made.


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He didn't make himself low in the Lord's sight as his father Manasseh had done. So Amon became even more guilty.


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He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He lived the way King David had lived. He didn't turn away from it to the right or the left.


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While he was still young, he began to worship the God of King David. It was the eighth year of Josiah's rule. In his 12th year he began to get rid of the high places in Judah and Jerusalem. He removed the poles that were used to worship the goddess Asherah. He also removed the wooden and metal statues of gods.


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He ordered the altars of the gods that were named after Baal to be torn down. He cut to pieces the altars for burning incense that were above them. He smashed the Asherah poles. He also smashed the wooden and metal statues of gods. He broke all of them to pieces. He scattered the pieces over the graves of those who had offered sacrifices to those gods.


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He burned the bones of the priests on their altars. That's the way he made Judah and Jerusalem pure and clean.


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He went to the towns of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon. He went all the way to Naphtali. He also went to the destroyed places around all of those towns.


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Everywhere he went he tore down the altars and the Asherah poles. He crushed the statues of gods to powder. He cut to pieces all of the altars for burning incense. He destroyed all of those things everywhere in Israel. Then he went back to Jerusalem.


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In the 18th year of Josiah's rule, he decided to make the land and temple pure and clean. So he sent Shaphan, Maaseiah and Joah to repair the temple of the Lord his God. Shaphan was the son of Azaliah. Maaseiah was ruler of the city. And Joah, the son of Joahaz, kept the records.


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They went to the high priest Hilkiah. They gave him the money that had been brought into God's temple. The Levites who guarded the doors had collected it. They had received some of the money from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the others who remained in Israel. They had received the rest of it from the people of Judah and Benjamin and those who lived in Jerusalem.


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They put all of the money in the care of the men who had been appointed to direct the work on the Lord's temple. Those men paid the workers who repaired the temple and made it look like new again.


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They also gave money to the builders and those who worked with wood. The workers used it to buy lumber and blocks of stone. The lumber was used for the supports and beams for the buildings. The kings of Judah had let the buildings fall down.


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The men were faithful in doing the work. Jahath and Obadiah directed them. They were Levites from the family line of Merari. Zechariah and Meshullam also directed them. They were from the family line of Kohath. The Levites were skilled in playing musical instruments.


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They were in charge of the laborers. They directed all of the workers from job to job. Some of the Levites were secretaries and writers. Others guarded the doors.


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The money that had been taken into the Lord's temple was being brought out. At that time the priest Hilkiah found the Scroll of the Law of the Lord. It had been given through Moses.


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Hilkiah spoke to the secretary Shaphan. He said, "I've found the Scroll of the Law in the Lord's temple." He gave it to Shaphan.


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Then Shaphan took the scroll to King Josiah. He told him, "Your officials are doing everything they've been asked to do.


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They have paid out the money that was in the Lord's temple. They've put it in the care of the directors and workers."


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He gave orders to Hilkiah, Ahikam, Abdon, the secretary Shaphan and Asaiah. Ahikam was the son of Shaphan. Abdon was the son of Micah. And Asaiah was the king's attendant. Josiah commanded them,


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"Go. Ask the Lord for advice. Ask him about what is written in this scroll that has been found. Do it for me. Also do it for those who remain in Israel and Judah. The Lord has poured out his burning anger on us. That's because our people before us didn't obey what the Lord had said. They didn't do everything that is written in this scroll."


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Hilkiah and those the king had sent with him went to speak to the prophet Huldah. She was the wife of Shallum. Shallum was the son of Tokhath. Tokhath was the son of Hasrah. Shallum took care of the sacred robes. Huldah lived in the New Quarter of Jerusalem.


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"The Lord says, 'I am going to bring horrible trouble on this place and its people. All of the curses that are written down in the scroll that has been read to the king of Judah will take place.


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That is because the people have deserted me. They have burned incense to other gods. They have made me very angry because of everything their hands have made. So I will pour out my burning anger on this place. The fire of my anger will not be put out.' " '


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"The king of Judah sent you to ask for advice. Tell him, 'The Lord is the God of Israel. He has a message for you about the things you heard.


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He says, "Your heart was tender. You made yourself low in my sight. You heard what I spoke against this place and its people. So you made yourself low. You tore your royal robes and sobbed. And I have heard you," announces the Lord.


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" ' "You will join the members of your family who have already died. Your body will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all of the trouble I am going to bring on this place and those who live here." ' " Huldah's answer was taken back to the king.


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He went up to the Lord's temple. The people of Judah and Jerusalem went with him. So did the priests and Levites. All of them went, from the least important of them to the most important. The king had all of the words of the Scroll of the Covenant read to them. The scroll had been found in the Lord's temple.


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The king stood next to his pillar. He agreed to the terms of the covenant in front of the Lord. He promised to follow him and obey his commands, directions and rules. He promised to obey them with all his heart and with all his soul. So he promised to obey the terms of the covenant that were written down in that scroll.


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Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and in Benjamin commit themselves to the covenant. The people of Jerusalem did it in keeping with the covenant of the God of Israel.


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Josiah removed all of the statues of gods from the whole territory that belonged to the people of Israel. The Lord hated those statues. Josiah had everyone in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they didn't fail to follow the Lord, the God of their people.


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Josiah celebrated the Passover Feast in Jerusalem in honor of the Lord. The Passover lamb was killed on the 14th day of the first month.


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Josiah appointed the priests to their duties. He cheered them up as they served the Lord at his temple.


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The Levites taught all of the people of Israel. The Levites had been set apart to the Lord. Josiah said to them, "Put the sacred ark of the covenant in the temple Solomon built. He was the son of David and king of Israel. The ark must not be carried around on your shoulders. Serve the Lord your God. Serve his people Israel.


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Prepare yourselves by families in your groups. Do it based on the directions that were written by David, the king of Israel, and by his son Solomon.


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"Stand at the temple. Stand there with a group of Levites for each group of families among your people.


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Kill the Passover lambs. Set yourselves apart to the Lord. Prepare the lambs for your people. Do what the Lord commanded through Moses."


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Josiah provided animals for the Passover offerings. He gave them for all of the people who were there. He gave a total of 30,000 sheep and goats and 3,000 head of cattle. He gave all of them from his own possessions.


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His officials also gave freely. They gave to the people and the priests and Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah and Jehiel were in charge of God's temple. They gave the priests 2,600 Passover lambs and 300 head of cattle.


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Conaniah and his brothers Shemaiah and Nethanel also gave offerings. So did Hashabiah, Jeiel and Jozabad. All of them were the leaders of the Levites. They gave 5,000 Passover lambs and 500 head of cattle for the Levites.


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The Passover service was arranged. The priests stood in their places. The Levites were in their groups. That's what the king had ordered.


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The Passover lambs were killed. The priests sprinkled the blood that had been handed to them. The Levites skinned the animals.


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They set the burnt offerings to one side. Those offerings were for the smaller family groups of the people to offer to the Lord. That's what was written in the Scroll of Moses. The Levites did the same thing with the cattle.


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They cooked the Passover animals over the fire, just as the law required. They boiled the holy offerings in pots, large kettles and pans. They served the offerings quickly to all of the people.


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After that, they got things ready for themselves and the priests. That's because the priests, who were from the family line of Aaron, were busy until dark. They were sacrificing the burnt offerings and the fat parts. The Levites got things ready for themselves and for the priests, who belonged to Aaron's family line.


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Those who played music were from the family line of Asaph. They were in the places that had been set up by David, Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun. Jeduthun had been the king's prophet. The guards at each gate didn't have to leave their places. That's because their brother Levites got things ready for them.


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So at that time the entire service in honor of the Lord was carried out. The Passover Feast was celebrated. The burnt offerings were sacrificed on the Lord's altar. That's what King Josiah had ordered.


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The people of Israel who were there celebrated the Passover at that time. They observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days.


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The Passover hadn't been observed like that in Israel since the days of the prophet Samuel. None of the kings of Israel had ever celebrated a Passover like Josiah's. He celebrated it with the priests and Levites. All of the people of Judah and Israel were there along with the people of Jerusalem.


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Josiah had put the temple in order. After all of that, Neco went up to fight at Carchemish. He was king of Egypt. Carchemish was on the Euphrates River. Josiah marched out to meet Neco in battle.


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But Neco sent messengers to him. They said, "King Josiah, there isn't any trouble between you and me. I'm not attacking you at this time. I'm at war with another country. God told me to hurry. He's with me. So stop opposing him. If you don't, he'll destroy you."


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But Josiah wouldn't turn away from Neco. He wore different clothes so people wouldn't recognize him. He wanted to go to war against Neco. He wouldn't listen to what God had commanded Neco to say. Instead, he went out to fight him on the flatlands of Megiddo.


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Men who had bows shot arrows at King Josiah. After he was hit, he told his officers, "Take me away. I'm badly wounded."


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So they took him out of his chariot. They put him in his other chariot. They brought him to Jerusalem. There he died. His body was buried in the tombs of his family. All of the people of Judah and Jerusalem sobbed over him.


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Jeremiah wrote songs of sadness about Josiah. To this very day all of the male and female singers remember Josiah by singing those songs. That became a practice in Israel. The songs are written down in the Book of the Songs of Sadness.


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Josiah did many things that showed he was faithful to the Lord. Those things and the other events of Josiah's rule were in keeping with what is written in the Law of the Lord.


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All of the events from beginning to end are written down. They are written in the records of the kings of Israel and Judah.


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The people of the land went and got Jehoahaz. He was the son of Josiah. The people made Jehoahaz king in Jerusalem in place of his father.


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The king of Egypt removed him from his throne in Jerusalem. The king of Egypt made the people of Judah pay him a tax of almost four tons of silver and 75 pounds of gold.


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Neco, the king of Egypt, made Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem. Eliakim was a brother of Jehoahaz. Neco changed Eliakim's name to Jehoiakim. But he took Eliakim's brother Jehoahaz with him to Egypt.


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Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 11 years. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God.


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Nebuchadnezzar attacked him. Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylonia. He put Jehoiakim in bronze chains. And he took him to Babylon.


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Nebuchadnezzar also took articles from the Lord's temple. He took them to Babylon. He put them in his own temple there.


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The other events of Jehoiakim's rule are written in the records of the kings of Israel and Judah. He did things the Lord hated. Those things and everything that happened to him are also written in those records. His son Jehoiachin became the next king after him.


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Jehoiachin was 18 years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for three months and ten days. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.


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In the spring, King Nebuchadnezzar sent for him. He brought him to Babylon. He also brought articles of value from the Lord's temple. He made Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem. Zedekiah was Jehoiachin's uncle.


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He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God. He didn't pay any attention to the message the Lord spoke through the prophet Jeremiah.


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Zedekiah also refused to remain under the control of King Nebuchadnezzar. The king had made him take an oath in God's name. But his heart became very stubborn. He wouldn't turn to the Lord, the God of Israel.


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And that's not all. The people and the leaders of the priests became more and more unfaithful. They followed all of the practices of the nations. The Lord hated those practices. The people and leaders made the Lord's temple "unclean." The Lord had set the temple in Jerusalem apart in a special way for himself.


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The Lord, the God of Israel, sent word to his people through his messengers. He sent it to them again and again. He took pity on his people. He also took pity on the temple where he lived.


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But God's people made fun of his messengers. They hated his words. They laughed at his prophets. Finally the Lord's burning anger was stirred up against his people. Nothing could save them.


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The Lord brought the king of Babylonia against them. The Babylonian army killed their young people with their swords at the temple. They didn't spare young men or women. They didn't spare the old people either. God handed all of them over to Nebuchadnezzar.


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Nebuchadnezzar carried off to Babylon all of the articles from God's temple. Some of the articles were large. Others were small. He carried off the treasures of the temple. He also carried off the treasures that belonged to the king and his officials.


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The Babylonians set God's temple on fire. They broke down the wall of Jerusalem. They burned all of the palaces. They destroyed everything of value there.


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Nebuchadnezzar took the rest of the people to Babylon as prisoners. They had escaped from being killed with swords. They served him and his sons. That lasted until the kingdom of Persia became stronger than Babylonia.


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The land of Israel enjoyed its sabbath years. It rested. That deserted land wasn't farmed for a full 70 years. What the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah came true.


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It was the first year of the rule of Cyrus. He was king of Persia. The Lord stirred him up to send a message all through his kingdom. It happened so that what the Lord had spoken through Jeremiah would come true. The message was written down. It said,


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Cyrus, the king of Persia, says, " 'The Lord is the God of heaven. He has given me all of the kingdoms on earth. He has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah. Any one of his people among you can go up to Jerusalem. And may the Lord your God be with you.' "


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"Cyrus, the king of Persia, says, " 'The Lord is the God of heaven. He has given me all of the kingdoms on earth. He has appointed me to build a temple for him at Jerusalem in Judah.


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" 'Any one of his people among you can go up to Jerusalem. And may your God be with you. You can build the Lord's temple. He is the God of Israel. He is the God who is in Jerusalem.


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" 'The people who are still left alive in every place must bring him gifts. They must provide him with silver and gold. They must bring goods and livestock. They should also bring any offerings they choose to. All of those gifts will be for God's temple in Jerusalem.' "


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Then everyone God had stirred up got ready to go. They wanted to go up to Jerusalem and build the Lord's temple there. They included the family leaders of Judah and Benjamin. They also included the priests and Levites.


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All of their neighbors helped them. They gave them silver and gold articles. They gave them goods and livestock. And they gave them gifts of great value. All of those things were added to the other offerings the people chose to give.


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King Cyrus also brought out the articles that belonged to the Lord's temple. Nebuchadnezzar had carried them off from Jerusalem. He had put them in the temple of his own god.


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Cyrus, the king of Persia, told Mithredath to bring them out. Mithredath was in charge of the temple treasures. He counted the articles. Then he gave them to Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.


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Here is a list of the articles. There were 30 gold dishes. There were 1,000 silver dishes. There were 29 silver pans.


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The total number of gold and silver articles was 5,400. Sheshbazzar took all of them with him to Jerusalem. He brought them along when the Jews who had been forced to leave Judah came back from Babylon.


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Nebuchadnezzar had taken many Jews away from the land of Judah. He had forced them to go to Babylonia as prisoners. Now they returned to Jerusalem and Judah. All of them went back to their own towns. Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylonia.


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The leaders of the Jews included Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah and Reelaiah. They also included Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah. Here is a list of the men of Israel who returned home.


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Here is a list of the priests. There were 973 from the family line of Jedaiah through the line of Jeshua.


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Here is a list of the Levites. There were 74 from the family lines of Jeshua and Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah.


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Here is a list of the men who guarded the temple gates. There were 139 from the family lines of 'ZZ'Shallum, Ater, Talmon, 'ZZ'Akkub, Hatita and Shobai.


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Here is a list of the members of the family lines of the servants of Solomon. Sotai, Hassophereth, Peruda,


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The total number of the members of the family lines of the temple servants and the servants of Solomon was 392.


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Many people came up to Judah from the towns of Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Kerub, Addon and Immer. But they weren't able to prove that their families belonged to the people of Israel.


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Here is a list of the members of the family lines of the priests. They were Hobaiah, Hakkoz and Barzillai. Barzillai had married a daughter of Barzillai from Gilead. So he was also called Barzillai.


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The priests looked for their family records. But they couldn't find them. So they weren't able to serve as priests. They weren't "clean."


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The governor gave them an order. He told them not to eat any of the most sacred food. They had to wait until there was a priest who could use the Urim and Thummim to find out what the Lord wanted them to do.


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That didn't include their 7,337 male and female slaves. There were also 200 male and female singers.


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All of the people arrived at the Lord's temple in Jerusalem. Then some of the leaders of the families brought offerings they chose to give. They would be used for rebuilding the house of God. It would stand in the same place it had been before.


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The people gave money for the work. It was based on how much they had. They gave 1,100 pounds of gold. They also gave three tons of silver. And they gave 100 sets of clothes for the priests. All of that was added to the temple treasure.


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The priests and Levites settled in their own towns. So did the singers, the men who guarded the gates, and the temple servants. The rest of the people of Israel also settled in their own towns.


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The people of Israel had settled down in their towns. In the seventh month all of them gathered together in Jerusalem.


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Then Jeshua began to build the altar for burnt offerings to honor the God of Israel. Jeshua was the son of Jehozadak. The other priests helped Jeshua. So did Zerubbabel and his men. They built the altar in keeping with what is written in the Law of Moses. Moses was a man of God. Zerubbabel was the son of Shealtiel.


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The people who built the altar were afraid of the nations that were around them. But they built it anyway. They set it up where it had stood before. They sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord. They offered the morning and evening sacrifices on it.


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Then they celebrated the Feast of Booths. They did it in keeping with what is written in the Law. They sacrificed the number of burnt offerings that were required for each day.


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After they celebrated the Feast of Booths, they sacrificed the regular burnt offerings. They offered the New Moon sacrifices. They also offered the sacrifices for all of the appointed sacred feasts of the Lord. And they sacrificed the offerings the people chose to give him.


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On the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings to the Lord. They did it even though the foundation of the Lord's temple hadn't been finished yet.


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The people gave money to those who worked with stone and those who worked with wood. They gave food and drink and olive oil to the people of Sidon and Tyre. Then those people brought cedar logs down from Lebanon to the Mediterranean Sea. They floated them down to Joppa. Cyrus, the king of Persia, authorized them to do it.


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It was the second month of the second year after they had arrived at the house of God in Jerusalem. Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, began the work. Jeshua, the son of Jehozadak, helped him. So did everyone else. That included the priests and Levites. It also included the rest of those who had returned to Jerusalem. They had been prisoners in Babylonia. Levites who were 20 years old or more were appointed to be in charge of building the Lord's house.


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Those who joined together to direct the work included Jeshua and his sons and brothers. They also included Kadmiel and his sons. And they included the sons of Henadad and all of their sons and brothers. All of those men were Levites. Kadmiel and his sons were members of the family line of Hodaviah.


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The builders laid the foundation of the Lord's temple. Then the priests came. They were wearing their special clothes. They brought their trumpets with them. The Levites who belonged to the family line of Asaph also came. They brought their cymbals with them. The priests and Levites took their places to praise the Lord. They did everything just as King David had required them to.


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They sang to the Lord. They praised him. They gave thanks to him. They said, "The Lord is good. His faithful love to Israel continues forever." All of the people gave a loud shout. They praised the Lord. They were glad because the foundation of the Lord's temple had been laid.


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But many of the older priests and Levites and family leaders sobbed out loud. They had seen the first temple. So when they saw the foundation of the second temple being laid, they sobbed. Others shouted with joy.


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No one could tell the difference between the shouts of joy and the sounds of sobbing. That's because the people made so much noise. The sound was heard far away.


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The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard about what the people who had returned from Babylonia were doing. They heard that they were building a temple to honor the Lord. He is the God of Israel.


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The enemies came to Zerubbabel. The family leaders of Israel were with him. The enemies said, "We want to help you build. We're just like you. We worship your God. We offer sacrifices to him. We've been doing that ever since the time of Esarhaddon. He was king of Assyria. He brought our people here."


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Zerubbabel and Jeshua answered them. So did the rest of the family leaders of Israel. They said, "You can't help us build a temple to honor our God. You aren't part of us. We'll build it ourselves. We'll do it to honor the Lord. He is the God of Israel. Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us to build it."


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Then the nations that were around Judah tried to make its people lose hope. They wanted to make them afraid to go on building.


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So they hired advisers to work against them. They wanted their plans to fail. They did it during the whole time Cyrus was king of Persia. They kept doing it until Darius became king.


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The enemies of the Jews brought charges against the people of Judah and Jerusalem. It happened when Xerxes began to rule over Persia.


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Then Artaxerxes became king of Persia. During his rule, Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel and their friends wrote a letter to him. It was written in the Aramaic language. And it used the Aramaic alphabet.


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Rehum and Shimshai also wrote a letter to King Artaxerxes. Rehum was the commanding officer. Shimshai was the secretary. Their letter was against the people of Jerusalem. It said,


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We, Rehum and Shimshai, are writing this letter. Rehum is the commanding officer. Shimshai is the secretary. Our friends join us in writing. They include the judges and officials who are in charge of the people from Tripolis, Persia, Erech and Babylon. They are also over the Elamites from Susa.


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And they are over those who were forced to leave their countries. The great King Ashurbanipal, who is worthy of honor, forced them to leave. He settled them in the city of Samaria. He also settled them in other places west of the Euphrates River.


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Here is a copy of the letter that was sent to Artaxerxes. We are sending this letter to you, King Artaxerxes. It is from your servants who live west of the Euphrates River.


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We want you to know that the Jews who left you and came up to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that evil city. It has caused trouble for a long time. The Jews are making its walls like new again. They are repairing the foundations.


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Here is something else we want you to know. Suppose this city is rebuilt. And suppose its walls are made like new again. Then no more taxes, gifts or fees will be collected. And there will be less money for you.


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We owe a lot to you. We don't want to see dishonor brought on you. So we're sending this letter to tell you what is going on.


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Then you can have a search made in the official records. Have someone check the records of the kings who ruled before you. If you do, you will find out that Jerusalem is an evil city. It causes trouble for kings and countries. For a long time the city has refused to let anyone rule over it. That's why it was destroyed.


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We want you to know that this city shouldn't be rebuilt. Its walls shouldn't be made like new again. If that happens, you won't have anything left west of the Euphrates River.


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The king replied, I am writing this letter to Rehum, the commanding officer. I am also writing it to Shimshai, the secretary. And I am writing it to your friends who are living in Samaria and in other places west of the Euphrates River. I give you my greetings.


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I gave an order. I had a search made. We found out that Jerusalem has a long history of turning against the kings of the countries that have ruled over it. It has refused to remain under their control. It is always stirring up trouble.


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Jerusalem has had powerful kings. Some of them ruled over everything west of the Euphrates. Taxes, gifts and fees were paid to them.


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So give an order to those men. Make them stop their work. Then the city won't be rebuilt until I give the order.


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Pay careful attention to this matter. Why should we let this danger grow? That would not be in our best interests.


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The copy of the letter of King Artaxerxes was read to Rehum and the secretary Shimshai. It was also read to their friends. Right away they went to the Jews in Jerusalem. They forced them to stop their work.


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And so the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to an end. Nothing more was done on it until the second year that Darius was king of Persia.


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The prophets Haggai and Zechariah prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They spoke to them in the name of the God of Israel. He had spoken to those prophets. Zechariah belonged to the family line of Iddo.


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Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, began to work. So did Jeshua, the son of Jehozadak. They began to rebuild the house of God in Jerusalem. The prophets of God were right there with them. They were helping them.


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At that time Tattenai was governor of the land west of the Euphrates River. He and Shethar-Bozenai and their friends went to the Jews. They asked them, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple? Who told you that you could make this building like new again?"


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But the God of the Jews was watching over their elders. So they didn't have to stop their work. First a report would have to be sent to Darius. Then they would have to receive his answer in writing.


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Here is a copy of the letter that was sent to King Darius. It was from Tattenai, the governor of the land west of the Euphrates. Shethar-Bozenai joined him in writing it. So did their friends. They were officials of that land.


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The report they sent to the king said, We are sending this letter to you, King Darius. We give you our most friendly greetings.


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We want you to know that we went to the land of Judah. We went to the temple of the great God. The people are building it with large stones. They are putting wooden beams in the walls. The people are working hard. The work is moving ahead very quickly under the direction of the people.


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We asked the elders some questions. We said to them, "Who authorized you to rebuild this temple? Who told you that you could make this building like new again?"


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We also asked them their names. We wanted to write down the names of their leaders for your information.


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Here is the answer they gave us. They said, "We serve the God of heaven and earth. We are rebuilding the temple that was built many years ago. The great King Solomon built it and finished it.


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But our people made the God of heaven angry. So he handed them over to Nebuchadnezzar from Chaldea. He was king of Babylonia. He destroyed this temple. He forced the Jews to leave their own country. He took them away to Babylonia.


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"But King Cyrus gave an order to rebuild this house of God. He gave it in the first year he was king of Babylonia.


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He even removed some gold and silver articles from the temple of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar had brought them there from the house of God in Jerusalem. He had taken them to the temple in Babylon. "Then King Cyrus brought them out. He gave them to a man named Sheshbazzar. Cyrus had appointed him as governor.


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He told him, 'Take these articles with you. Go and put them in the temple in Jerusalem. Rebuild the house of God in the same place where it stood before.'


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"So Sheshbazzar made the trip to Jerusalem. He laid the foundations of the house of God there. From that day until now the people have been working on it. But they haven't finished it yet."


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If it pleases you, King Darius, let a search be made in the official records of the kings of Babylonia. Find out whether King Cyrus really did give an order to rebuild this house of God in Jerusalem. Then tell us what you decide to do.


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King Darius gave an order. He had a search made in the official records that were stored among the treasures at Babylon.


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A scroll was found in a safe storeroom at Ecbatana in the land of Media. Here is what was written on it. This is my official reply to your letter.


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In the first year that Cyrus was king, he gave an order. It concerned God's temple in Jerusalem. It said, Rebuild the temple. Then the Jews can offer sacrifices there. Lay its foundations. The temple must be 90 feet high and 90 feet wide.


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Its walls must have three layers of large stones. They must also have a layer of beautiful wood. Use money from the royal treasures to pay for everything.


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The gold and silver articles from the house of God must be returned. Nebuchadnezzar had taken them from the first temple in Jerusalem. And he had brought them to Babylon. Now they must be returned to their places in the temple at Jerusalem. They must be put in the house of God there.


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Tattenai, you are governor of the land west of the Euphrates River. I want you to stay away from the temple in Jerusalem. Shethar-Bozenai and the other officials of that area must also stay away from it.


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Don't try to stop the work on God's temple. Let the governor of the Jews and their elders rebuild the house of their God. Let them build it in the same place where it stood before.


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Here is what I want you to do for the elders of the Jews. Here is how you must help the men who build the house of their God. Pay all of their expenses from the royal treasures. Use the money you collect from the people who live west of the Euphrates. Don't let the work on the temple stop.


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Don't fail to give the priests in Jerusalem what they ask for each day. Give them what they need. Give them young bulls, rams and male lambs. The priests can use them to sacrifice burnt offerings to the God of heaven. Also give them wheat, salt, wine and olive oil.


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Give them those things so they can offer sacrifices that please the God of heaven. And I want them to pray that things will go well for me and my sons.


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Don't change this order. If a man tries to change it, he must be put to death. A pole must be pulled from his house. The pole must be stuck through his body. Then it must be set up where people can see it. Because the man tried to change my royal order, his house must be broken to pieces.


text:
God has chosen to put his Name in the temple at Jerusalem. May he wipe out any king or nation that lifts a hand to change this order. May he also wipe out anyone who tries to destroy the temple in Jerusalem. That's what I have ordered. I am King Darius. Make sure you carry out my order.


text:
The governor Tattenai carried out the order King Darius had sent. So did Shethar-Bozenai and their friends.


text:
The elders of the Jews continued to build the temple. They enjoyed great success because of the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah. Zechariah belonged to the family line of Iddo. The people finished building the temple. That's what the God of Israel had commanded them to do. Cyrus and Darius had given orders allowing them to do it. Later, Artaxerxes supplied many things that were needed in the temple. Those three men were kings of Persia.


text:
So the temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar. It was in the sixth year that Darius was king.


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When the house of God was set apart, the people of Israel celebrated with joy. The priests and Levites joined them. So did the rest of those who had returned from Babylonia.


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When the house of God was set apart to him, the people sacrificed 100 bulls. They also sacrificed 200 rams and 400 male lambs. As a sin offering for the whole nation of Israel, the people sacrificed 12 male goats. One goat was sacrificed for each tribe in Israel.


text:
The priests were appointed to their companies. And the Levites were appointed to their groups. All of them served God at Jerusalem. They served him in keeping with what is written in the Scroll of Moses.


text:
Those who had returned from Babylonia celebrated the Passover Feast. It was on the 14th day of the first month.


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The priests and Levites had made themselves pure and clean. The Levites killed the Passover lamb for everyone who had returned from Babylonia. They also did it for themselves and their relatives, the priests.


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So the people of Israel who had returned ate the Passover lamb. They ate it together with all those who had separated themselves from the practices of their neighbors who weren't Jews. Those practices were "unclean." The people worshiped the Lord. He is the God of Israel.


text:
For seven days they celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy. That's because the Lord had filled them with joy. They were glad because he had changed the mind of the king of Persia. So the king had helped them with the work on the house of the God of Israel.


text:
After all of those things had happened, Ezra came up to Jerusalem from Babylonia. It was during the rule of Artaxerxes. He was king of Persia. Ezra was the son of Seraiah. Seraiah was the son of Azariah. Azariah was the son of Hilkiah.


text:
Bukki was the son of Abishua. Abishua was the son of Phinehas. Phinehas was the son of Eleazar. And Eleazar was the son of the chief priest Aaron.


text:
So Ezra came up from Babylonia. He was a teacher. He knew the Law of Moses very well. The Lord had given Israel that law. He is the God of Israel. The king had given Ezra everything he asked for. That's because the powerful hand of the Lord his God helped him.


text:
Some of the people of Israel came up to Jerusalem too. They included priests, Levites and singers. They also included the temple servants and those who guarded the temple gates. It was in the seventh year that Artaxerxes was king.


text:
Ezra had begun his journey from Babylonia on the first day of the first month. He arrived in Jerusalem on the first day of the fifth month. That's because the gracious hand of his God helped him.


text:
Ezra had committed himself to study and obey the Law of the Lord. He also wanted to teach the Lord's rules and laws in Israel.


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Ezra was a priest and teacher. He was an educated man. He knew the Lord's commands and rules for Israel very well. Here is a copy of a letter King Artaxerxes had given to Ezra. It said,


text:
I, Artaxerxes, am writing this letter. I am the greatest king of all. I have given it to the priest Ezra. He is a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven. I give you my greetings.


text:
Ezra, there are people from Israel in my kingdom. I am giving an order that any of them who want to go to Jerusalem with you can go. The order also allows priests and Levites to go with you.


text:
I and my seven advisers are sending you to see how things are going in Judah and Jerusalem. Find out whether the people there are obeying the Law of your God. You have a copy of that law with you.


text:
I and my advisers have freely given some silver and gold to the God of Israel. He lives in Jerusalem. Take the silver and gold with you.


text:
Also take any other silver and gold you can get from the land of Babylonia. And take the offerings the people and priests choose to give for the temple of their God in Jerusalem.


text:
Make sure you use the money to buy bulls, rams and male lambs. Also buy their grain offerings and drink offerings. Then sacrifice them on the altar of the temple of your God in Jerusalem.


text:
You and the other Jews can do what you think is best with the rest of the silver and gold. Do what your God wants you to do.


text:
Give to the God of Jerusalem all of the articles you are accountable for. Use them for worshiping your God in his temple.


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You might need to supply some other things for the temple of your God. If you do, take them from among the royal treasures.


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I, King Artaxerxes, also give this order. It applies to all those who are in charge of the treasures west of the Euphrates River. Make sure you provide anything the priest Ezra might ask you to give. He is a teacher of the Law of the God of heaven.


text:
Give Ezra up to three and three-fourths tons of silver. Give him up to 600 bushels of wheat. Give him up to 600 gallons of wine. Also give him up to 600 gallons of olive oil. And give him as much salt as he needs.


text:
Work hard for the temple of the God of heaven. Do everything he has required. I don't want him to be angry with my kingdom and the kingdom of my sons.


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I want you to know that you don't have any authority to collect taxes, gifts or fees from these people. You can't collect them from the priests, Levites, singers or those who guard the temple gates. And you can't collect them from the temple servants or other workers at the house of God in Jerusalem.


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Ezra, appoint judges and other court officials. When you do it, use the wisdom your God gives you. Those you appoint should do what is right and fair when they judge people. They should do it for everyone who lives west of the Euphrates. They should do it for everyone who knows the laws of your God. And I want you to teach the people who don't know those laws.


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Anyone who doesn't obey the law of your God must be punished. The same thing applies to anyone who doesn't obey my law. The people must be punished in keeping with the laws they have broken. Some of them must be put to death. Others must be forced to leave the places where they live. Others must have their property taken away from them. Still others must be put in prison.


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People of Israel, give praise to the Lord. He is the God of our people who lived long ago. He has put it in the king's heart to bring honor to the Lord's temple in Jerusalem. The king has honored the Lord in his letter.


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The Lord has shown his good favor to me. He has caused the king and his advisers to show me their favor. In fact, all of the king's powerful officials have shown favor to me. The strong hand of the Lord my God helped me. That gave me new strength. So I gathered together leaders from Israel to go up to Jerusalem with me.


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Many family leaders came up to Jerusalem with me from Babylonia. So did others who were listed with them. It was during the time when Artaxerxes was king. Here is a list of those who came.


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Gershom came from the family line of Phinehas. Daniel came from the family line of Ithamar. Hattush came from the family line of David.


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Hattush also belonged to the family of Shecaniah. Zechariah came from the family line of Parosh. The total number of men who were listed with him was 150.


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Eliehoenai came from the family line of Pahath-Moab. Eliehoenai was the son of Zerahiah. The total number of men with him was 200.


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Shecaniah came from the family line of Zattu. Shecaniah was the son of Jahaziel. The total number of men with him was 300.


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Ebed came from the family line of Adin. Ebed was the son of Jonathan. The total number of men with him was 50.


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Jeshaiah came from the family line of Elam. Jeshaiah was the son of Athaliah. The total number of men with him was 70.


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Zebadiah came from the family line of Shephatiah. Zebadiah was the son of Michael. The total number of men with him was 80.


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Obadiah came from the family line of Joab. Obadiah was the son of Jehiel. The total number of men with him was 218.


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Shelomith came from the family line of Bani. Shelomith was the son of Josiphiah. The total number of men with him was 160.


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Zechariah came from the family line of Bebai. Zechariah was the son of Bebai. The total number of men with him was 28.


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Johanan came from the family line of Azgad. Johanan was the son of Hakkatan. The total number of men with him was 110.


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Eliphelet, Jeuel and Shemaiah came from the family line of Adonikam. Some members of their family had gone up to Jerusalem before them. The total number of men with them was 60.


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I gathered the people together at the waterway that flows toward Ahava. We camped there for three days. I looked for Levites among the people and priests. But I didn't find any.


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So I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan and Jarib. I also sent for Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam. All of them were leaders. And I sent for Joiarib and Elnathan. They were very well educated.


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I sent all of those men to Iddo. He was the leader in Casiphia. He and his relatives were temple servants there. I told my men what to say to them. I wanted Iddo and his relatives to bring some attendants to us for the house of our God.


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The gracious hand of our God helped us. So they brought us Sherebiah. He was a man of ability. He came from the family line of Mahli. Mahli was the son of Levi. Levi was a son of Israel. They also brought us Sherebiah's sons and brothers. The total number of men was 18.


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And they brought Hashabiah and his brothers and nephews. They brought them together with Jeshaiah. He came from the family line of Merari. The total number of men was 20.


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They also brought 220 of the temple servants. That was a special group David and his officials had established. They were supposed to help the Levites. All of them were listed by name.


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I announced a fast by the waterway that flows toward Ahava. I told the people not to eat any food. In that way, we made ourselves low in the sight of God. We prayed that he would give us and our children a safe journey. We asked him to keep safe everything we owned.


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I was ashamed to ask King Artaxerxes for soldiers and horsemen. They could have kept us safe from enemies on the road. But we had told the king that our God would keep us safe. We had said, "The gracious hand of our God helps everyone who looks to him. But he becomes very angry with anyone who deserts him."


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So we didn't eat anything. We prayed to our God about all of those matters. And he answered our prayers.


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Then I set 12 of the leading priests apart. I also set apart Sherebiah, Hashabiah and ten of their relatives.


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I weighed out to them the offering of silver and gold and other articles. They had been given for the house of our God. The king, his advisers and officials, and all of the people of Israel who were there had given them.


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I weighed out 25 tons of silver to those men. I weighed out almost four tons of silver articles. I weighed out almost four tons of gold.


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I weighed out 20 gold bowls. They weighed 19 pounds. I also weighed out two fine articles. The bronze they were made out of was highly polished. They were as priceless as gold.


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I said to those men, "You are set apart to the Lord. So are these articles. The silver and gold were offered to the Lord by those who chose to give them. He is the God of your people.


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Guard all of those things carefully until you weigh them out. Weigh them in the special rooms of the Lord's temple in Jerusalem. Do it in front of the leading priests and the Levites. Make sure the family leaders of Israel are watching."


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Then the priests and Levites received the silver and gold and sacred articles. All of them had been weighed out. They were going to take them to the house of our God in Jerusalem.


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On the 12th day of the first month we started out. We left the waterway that flows toward Ahava. And we headed for Jerusalem. The powerful hand of our God helped us. He kept us safe from enemies and robbers along the way.


text:
On the fourth day we weighed out the silver and gold. We also weighed out the sacred articles. We weighed everything in the house of our God. We handed all of it over to the priest Meremoth. He was the son of Uriah. Eleazar, Jozabad and Noadiah were with him. Eleazar was the son of Phinehas. Jozabad was the son of Jeshua. Noadiah was the son of Binnui. Jozabad and Noadiah were Levites.


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Then the people sacrificed burnt offerings to the God of Israel. They had returned from Babylonia. They offered 12 bulls for the whole nation of Israel. They offered 96 rams and 77 male lambs. All of that was a burnt offering to the Lord. They sacrificed 12 male goats as a sin offering.


text:
They also handed over the king's orders. They gave them to the royal officials and governors who ruled over the land west of the Euphrates River. Then those men helped the people. They also did many things for the house of God.


text:
After all of those things had been done, the leaders came to me. They said, "The people of Israel have committed sins. Even the priests and Levites have sinned. They haven't kept themselves separate from the nations that are around them. The Lord hates the practices of those nations. He hates what the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites and Jebusites do. He also hates what the Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites do.


text:
"The men of Israel have gotten married to the daughters of some of those people. They've also taken some of those women for their sons to marry. So they've mixed our holy nation with the nations around us. By getting married to women who don't worship the Lord, we leaders and officials have led the way in breaking our covenant with him. We haven't been faithful to him."


text:
When I heard that, I tore my inner robe and my coat. I pulled hair from my head and beard. I was so shocked I sat down.


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Then everyone who trembled with fear because of what the God of Israel had said gathered around me. They came because the people who had returned from Babylonia had not been faithful. So I sat there in shock until the time of the evening sacrifice.


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Then I got up. I had been very sad for quite a while. My inner robe and my coat were torn. I fell down on my knees. I spread my hands out to the Lord my God.


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I prayed, "You are my God. I'm filled with shame and dishonor. I can hardly look to you and pray. That's because our sins are piled up above our heads. Our guilt reaches all the way to the heavens.


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We are filled with it. It has been like that ever since the days of our people who lived long ago. "Kings of other countries have killed many of us and our kings and priests with their swords. They've forced others to leave their own land. They've taken them away as prisoners. They've robbed others. They've made still others feel ashamed and dishonored. "All of those things have happened to us because we've committed so many sins. And that's how things still are to this very day.


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"But you are the Lord our God. Now you have shown us your favor for a short time. You have allowed a few of us to remain here. Your temple has given us new hope. So you have made things easier for us. You have given us a little rest from our slavery.


text:
We are still slaves. But you are our God. You haven't deserted us. You haven't left us in our slavery. You have been kind to us. The kings of Persia have seen it. You have given us new life to repair your temple and rebuild it. You have given us a place of safety in Judah and Jerusalem.


text:
"You are our God. What can we say after the way you have blessed us? We said no to what you commanded us to do.


text:
"You gave us your commands through your servants the prophets. You said, 'You are entering the land to take it as your own. The sinful practices of its people have polluted it. They have filled it with their unclean acts from one end to the other. The Lord hates all of their practices.


text:
So don't let your daughters get married to their sons. And don't let their daughters marry your sons. Don't make a peace treaty with them at any time. Then you will be strong. You will eat the good things the land produces. And you will leave all of it to your children as their share. They and their children after them will enjoy it forever.'


text:
"Our evil acts and our terrible sins have brought about the things that have happened to us. You are our God. Because we sinned so much, you should have punished us even more than you have. But you have left many of your people alive.


text:
Suppose we don't obey your commands again. And suppose we continue to get married to people who commit sins that you hate. If we do, you will be so angry with us that you will destroy us. You won't leave us even a few people. You won't leave anyone alive.


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"Lord, you are the God of Israel. You are holy. You always do what is right. Today you have left many of your people alive. Here we are with all of our guilt. You see the guilt of our sin. Because we have sinned, not one of us can stand in front of you."


text:
Ezra was praying and admitting to God that his people had sinned. He was sobbing and throwing himself down in front of the house of God. Then a large crowd gathered around him. Men, women and children were there. They too sobbed bitterly.


text:
Shecaniah spoke to Ezra. Shecaniah was the son of Jehiel. He belonged to the family line of Elam. Shecaniah said, "We haven't been faithful to our God. We've gotten married to women from the nations that are around us. In spite of that, there is still hope for Israel.


text:
So let's make a covenant in the sight of our God. Let's promise to send away all of those women and their children. That's what you have advised us to do. Those who respect our God's commands have given us the same advice. We want to do what the Law says.


text:
"Get up, Ezra. This matter is in your hands. Do what you need to. We will be behind you all the way. Be brave and do it."


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So Ezra got up. He made the leading priests and Levites and all of the people of Israel take an oath. He made them promise they would do what Shecaniah had suggested. And they took the oath.


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Then Ezra left the house of God. He went to Jehohanan's room. Jehohanan was the son of Eliashib. While Ezra was there, he didn't eat any food. He didn't drink any water. That's because he was filled with sadness. He sobbed because the people weren't faithful to the Lord's commands. Those people were the ones who had returned from Babylonia.


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Then an announcement was sent all through Judah and Jerusalem. All those who had returned were told to gather together in Jerusalem.


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They were supposed to come there before three days had passed. If they didn't, they would lose all of their property. They would also be removed from the community of those who had returned. That's what the officials and elders had decided.


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Before the three days were over, all of the men of Judah and Benjamin had gathered together in Jerusalem. It was the 20th day of the ninth month. They were sitting in the open area in front of the house of God. They were very upset by what they knew would happen. And they were upset because it was raining.


text:
Then the priest Ezra stood up. He said, "You haven't been faithful to the Lord. You have gotten married to women from other lands. So you have added to Israel's guilt.


text:
Admit to the Lord that you have sinned. Tell the God of your people what you have done. Then do what he wants you to do. Separate yourselves from the nations that are around you. Send away your wives from other lands."


text:
But there are a lot of people here. And it's the rainy season. So we can't stand outside. Besides, this matter can't be taken care of in just a day or two. That's because we have sinned terribly by what we've done.


text:
"Our officials can act for the whole community. Have everyone in our towns who has married a woman from another land come at a certain time. Tell them to come together with the elders and judges of each town. Then our God will turn his burning anger away from us concerning this whole matter."


text:
Only a few men opposed that. They included Jonathan and Jahzeiah. Meshullam and the Levite Shabbethai joined them. Jonathan was the son of Asahel. Jahzeiah was the son of Tikvah.


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So those who had returned did what had been suggested. The priest Ezra chose some family leaders. There was one from each family group. All of them were chosen by name. They sat down to check out each case. They started on the first day of the tenth month.


text:
By the first day of the first month they were finished. They had handled all of the cases of the men who had gotten married to women from other lands.


text:
Among the family lines of the priests, here are the men who had married women from other lands. Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib and Gedaliah came from the family line of Jeshua and his brothers. Jeshua was the son of Jehozadak.


text:
All of them made a firm promise to send their wives away. Each of those men brought a ram from his flock as a guilt offering.


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Elioenai, Maaseiah and Ishmael came from the family line of Pashhur. So did Nethanel, Jozabad and Elasah.


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Among the Levites, here are the men who had married women from other lands. There were Jozabad, Shimei and Kelaiah. There were also Pethahiah, Judah and Eliezer. Kelaiah's other name was Kelita.


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Eliashib came from the singers. Shallum, Telem and Uri came from the men who guarded the temple gates.


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Among the other Israelites, here are the men who had married women from other lands. Ramiah, Izziah, Malkijah and Mijamin came from the family line of Parosh. So did Eleazar, Malkijah and Benaiah.


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Mattaniah, Zechariah and Jehiel came from the family line of Elam. So did Abdi, Jeremoth and Elijah.


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Elioenai, Eliashib and Mattaniah came from the family line of Zattu. So did Jeremoth, Zabad and Aziza.


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Adna, Kelal, Benaiah and Maaseiah came from the family line of Pahath-Moab. So did Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui and Manasseh.


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Mattenai, Mattattah, Zabad and Eliphelet came from the family line of Hashum. So did Jeremai, Manasseh and Shimei.


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Jeiel, Mattithiah, Zabad and Zebina came from the family line of Nebo. So did Jaddai, Joel and Benaiah.


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All of those men had married women from other lands. Some of them had even had children by those wives.


text:
These are the words of Nehemiah. He was the son of Hacaliah. I was in the safest place in Susa. I was there in the 20th year that Artaxerxes was king. It was in the month of Kislev.


text:
At that time Hanani came from Judah with some other men. He was one of my brothers. I asked him and the other men about the Jews who were left alive in Judah. They had returned from Babylonia. I also asked him about Jerusalem.


text:
He and the men who were with him said to me, "Some of the people who returned are still alive. They are back in the land of Judah. But they are having a hard time. People are making fun of them. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down. Its gates have been burned with fire."


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When I heard about those things, I sat down and sobbed. For several days I was very sad. I didn't eat any food. And I prayed to the God of heaven.


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I said, "Lord, you are the God of heaven. You are a great and wonderful God. You keep the covenant you made with those who love you and obey your commands. You show them your love.


text:
"Please pay careful attention to my prayer. See how your people are suffering. Please listen to me. I'm praying to you day and night. I'm praying for the people of Israel. We Israelites have committed sins against you. All of us admit it. I and my family have also sinned against you.


text:
We've done some very evil things. We haven't obeyed the commands, rules and laws you gave your servant Moses.


text:
"Remember what you told him. You said, 'If you people are not faithful, I will scatter you among the nations.


text:
But if you return to me, I will bring you back. If you obey my commands, I will gather you together again. I will bring you back from the farthest places on earth. I will bring you to the special place where I have chosen to put my Name.'


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"Lord, they are your people. They serve you. You used your great strength and mighty hand to set them free from Egypt.


text:
Lord, please pay careful attention to my prayer. Listen to the prayers of all of us. We take delight in bringing honor to your name. Give me success today. Help King Artaxerxes show me his favor." I was the king's wine taster.


text:
Wine was brought in for King Artaxerxes. It was the month of Nisan in the 20th year of his rule. I got the wine and gave it to him. I hadn't been sad in front of him before. But now I was.


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So the king asked me, "Why are you looking so sad? You aren't sick. You must be feeling sad deep down inside." I was really afraid.


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But I said to the king, "May you live forever! Why shouldn't I look sad? The city where my people of long ago are buried has been destroyed. And fire has burned up its gates."


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Then I answered the king, "Are you pleased with me, King Artaxerxes? If it pleases you, send me to Judah. Let me go to the city of Jerusalem. That's where my people are buried. I want to rebuild it."


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The queen was sitting beside the king. He turned and asked me, "How long will your journey take? When will you get back?" It pleased the king to send me. So I chose a certain time.


text:
I also said to him, "If it pleases you, may I take some letters with me? I want to give them to the governors of the land west of the Euphrates River. Then they'll help me travel safely through their territory until I arrive in Judah.


text:
"May I also have a letter to Asaph? He takes care of your forest. I want him to give me some logs so I can make beams out of them. I want to use them for the gates of the fort that is by the temple. Some of the logs will be used in the city wall. And I'll need some for the house I'm going to live in." The gracious hand of my God helped me. So the king gave me what I asked for.


text:
Then I went to the governors of the land west of the Euphrates. I gave them the king's letters. He had also sent army officers and horsemen along with me.


text:
Sanballat and Tobiah heard about what was happening. They were very upset that someone had come to work for the good of Israel's people. Sanballat was a Horonite. Tobiah was an official from Ammon.


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Then at night I took a few men with me to check out the walls. I hadn't told anyone what my God wanted me to do for Jerusalem. There weren't any donkeys with me except the one I was riding on.


text:
That night I went out through the Valley Gate. I went toward the Jackal Well and the Dung Gate. I checked out the walls of Jerusalem. They had been broken down. I also checked the city gates. Fire had burned them up.


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I moved on toward the Fountain Gate and the King's Pool. But there wasn't enough room for my donkey to get through.


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It was still night. I went up the Kidron Valley. I kept checking the wall. Finally, I turned back. I went back in through the Valley Gate.


text:
The officials didn't know where I had gone. They didn't know what I had done either. That's because I hadn't said anything to anyone yet. I hadn't told the priests or nobles or officials. And I hadn't spoken to any others who would be rebuilding the wall.


text:
I said to them, "You can see the trouble we're in. Jerusalem has been destroyed. Fire has burned up its gates. Come on. Let's rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. Then people won't make fun of us anymore."


text:
I also told them how the gracious hand of my God was helping me. And I told them what the king had said to me. They replied, "Let's start rebuilding." So they began that good work.


text:
But Sanballat, the Horonite, heard about it. So did Tobiah, the official from Ammon. Geshem, the Arab, heard about it too. All of them laughed at us. They made fun of us. "What do you think you are doing?" they asked. "Are you turning against the king?"


text:
I answered, "The God of heaven will give us success. We serve him. So we'll start rebuilding the walls. But you don't have any share in Jerusalem. You don't have any claim to it. You don't have any right to worship here."


text:
The high priest Eliashib and the other priests went to work. They rebuilt the Sheep Gate. They set it apart to God. They put its doors in place. They continued to rebuild the wall up to the Tower of the Hundred. They set the tower apart to God. Then they continued to rebuild the wall all the way to the Tower of Hananel.


text:
Some men from Jericho rebuilt the next part of the wall. And Zaccur rebuilt the next part. He was the son of Imri.


text:
The sons of Hassenaah rebuilt the Fish Gate. They laid its beams. They put its doors and metal bolts and bars in place.


text:
Meremoth repaired the next part of the wall. He was the son of Uriah. Uriah was the son of Hakkoz. Next to Meremoth, Meshullam made some repairs. He was the son of Berekiah. Berekiah was the son of Meshezabel. Next to Meshullam, Zadok also made some repairs. He was the son of Baana.


text:
Some men from Tekoa repaired the next part of the wall. But their nobles refused to do any work at all. They didn't pay any attention to the people who were in charge of the work.


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Joiada and Meshullam repaired the Jeshanah Gate. Joiada was the son of Paseah. Meshullam was the son of Besodeiah. Joiada and Meshullam laid the beams of the gate. They put its doors and metal bolts and bars in place.


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Next to them, some men from Gibeon and Mizpah made repairs. They included Melatiah from Gibeon and Jadon from Meronoth. Those places were under the authority of the governor of the land west of the Euphrates River.


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Uzziel repaired the next part of the wall. He made his living by working with gold. He was the son of Harhaiah. Hananiah made repairs on the next part. He made his living by making perfume. So the wall of Jerusalem was made like new again all the way to the Broad Wall.


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Rephaiah repaired the next part. He was the son of Hur. Rephaiah ruled over half of the territory where Jerusalem was located.


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Jedaiah repaired the part of the wall that was across from his house. He was the son of Harumaph. Hattush made repairs next to Jedaiah. Hattush was the son of Hashabneiah.


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Malkijah and Hasshub repaired another part of the wall. They also repaired the Tower of the Ovens. Malkijah was the son of Harim. Hasshub was the son of Pahath-Moab.


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Shallum repaired the next part. His daughters helped him. He was the son of Hallohesh. Shallum ruled over the other half of the territory where Jerusalem was located.


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Hanun repaired the Valley Gate. Some people who lived in Zanoah helped him. They rebuilt it. They put its doors and metal bolts and bars in place. They also repaired 500 yards of the wall. They repaired it all the way to the Dung Gate.


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Malkijah repaired the Dung Gate. He was the son of Recab. Malkijah ruled over the territory where Beth Hakkerem was located. He rebuilt the gate. He put its doors and metal bolts and bars in place.


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Shallun repaired the Fountain Gate. He was the son of Col-Hozeh. Shallun ruled over the territory where Mizpah was located. He rebuilt the gate. He put a roof over it. And he put the doors and metal bolts and bars of the gate in place. He also repaired the wall by the Pool of Siloam. It was near the King's Garden. Shallun repaired the wall as far as the steps that go down from the City of David.


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Next to Shallun, Nehemiah made some repairs. He was the son of Azbuk. Nehemiah ruled over half of the territory where Beth Zur was located. He repaired the wall up to the part that was across from the tombs of David. He repaired it all the way to the man-made pool and the House of Heroes.


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Next to Nehemiah, some Levites made repairs. They worked under the direction of Rehum. He was the son of Bani. Next to Rehum, Hashabiah made repairs for his territory. He ruled over half of the territory where Keilah was located.


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Next to him, other people from that territory made some repairs. They worked under the direction of Binnui. He was the son of Henadad. Binnui ruled over the other half of the territory where Keilah was located.


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Next to him, Ezer repaired another part of the wall. He was the son of Jeshua. Ezer ruled over the territory where Mizpah was located. He repaired the part that was across from the place that went up to the storeroom where the weapons were kept. He repaired the wall up to the angle.


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Next to him, Baruch worked hard to repair another part of the wall. He was the son of Zabbai. He repaired the part from the angle to the entrance to Eliashib's house. Eliashib was high priest.


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Next to Baruch, Meremoth repaired another part. He was the son of Uriah. Uriah was the son of Hakkoz. Meremoth repaired the part from the entrance to Eliashib's house to the end of the house.


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Next to them, Benjamin and Hasshub repaired the part of the wall that was in front of their house. Next to them, Azariah repaired the part that was beside his house. He was the son of Maaseiah. Maaseiah was the son of Ananiah.


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Next to Azariah, Binnui made repairs on another part. Binnui was the son of Henadad. Binnui repaired the wall from Azariah's house to the angle and the corner.


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Palal worked across from the angle. He was the son of Uzai. Palal also worked across from the tower that was part of the upper palace. It was near the courtyard of the guard. Next to him, Pedaiah made some repairs. He was the son of Parosh.


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The temple servants who lived on the hill of Ophel helped him. They repaired the wall up to the part that was across from the Water Gate. It was toward the east and the palace tower.


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Next to the temple servants, the men from Tekoa repaired another part. They made repairs from the large palace tower to the wall of Ophel.


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The priests made repairs above the Horse Gate. Each priest repaired the part of the wall that was in front of his own house.


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Next to them, Zadok made repairs across from his house. He was the son of Immer. Next to Zadok, Shemaiah made some repairs. He was the son of Shecaniah. Shemaiah guarded the East Gate.


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Next to him, Hananiah and Hanun repaired another part of the wall. Hananiah was the son of Shelemiah. Hanun was the sixth son of Zalaph. Next to Hananiah and Hanun, Meshullam made some repairs. He was the son of Berekiah. Meshullam repaired the part that was across from where he lived.


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Next to him, Malkijah made some repairs. He made his living by working with gold. He repaired the wall up to the house of the temple servants and the traders. It was across from the Inspection Gate. He also repaired the wall as far as the room that was above the corner.


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The traders and those who made their living by working with gold made some repairs. They repaired the wall from the room above the corner to the Sheep Gate.


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Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall. So he burned with anger. He became very upset. He made fun of the Jews.


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He spoke to his friends and the army of Samaria. He said, "What are those Jews trying to do? Can they make their city wall like new again? Will they offer sacrifices? Can they finish everything in a single day? The stones from their city wall and buildings are piled up like trash. And everything has been badly burned. Can they use those stones to rebuild everything again?"


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Tobiah from Ammon was at Sanballat's side. He said, "What are they building? They're putting up a stone wall. But suppose a fox climbs on top of it. Even that will break it down!"


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I prayed to God. I said, "Our God, please listen to our prayer. Some people hate us. They're making fun of us. So let others make fun of them. Let them be carried off like stolen goods. Let them be taken to another country as prisoners.


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Don't hide your eyes from their guilt. Don't forgive their sins. They have made fun of the builders."


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So we rebuilt the wall. We repaired it until all of it was half as high as we wanted it to be. The people worked with all their heart.


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But Sanballat and Tobiah heard that Jerusalem's walls continued to be repaired. The Arabs and some people from Ammon heard the same thing. Some men from Ashdod heard about it too. They heard that the gaps in the wall were being filled in. So they burned with anger.


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All of them made evil plans to come and fight against Jerusalem. They wanted to stir up trouble against it.


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During that time, the people in Judah spoke up. They said, "The workers are getting weaker and weaker all the time. Broken stones are piled up everywhere. They are in our way. So we can't rebuild the wall."


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And our enemies said, "We will be right there among them. We'll kill them. We'll put an end to their work. We'll do it before they even know it or see us."


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Then the Jews who lived near our enemies came to us. They told us ten times, "No matter where you are, they'll attack us."


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So I stationed some people behind the lowest parts of the wall. That's where our enemies could easily attack us. I stationed the people family by family. They had their swords, spears and bows with them.


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I looked things over. Then I stood up and spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people. I said, "Don't be afraid of your enemies. Remember the Lord. He is great and powerful. So fight for your brothers and sisters. Fight for your sons and daughters. Fight for your wives and homes."


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Our enemies heard that we knew what they were trying to do. They heard that God had blocked their evil plans. So all of us returned to the wall. Each of us did our own work.


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From that day on, half of my men did the work. The other half were given spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers stationed themselves behind all of the people of Judah.


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The people continued to build the wall. Those who carried supplies did their work with one hand. They held a weapon in the other hand.


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Each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who blew the trumpet stayed with me.


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Then I spoke to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people. I said, "This is a big job. It covers a lot of territory. We're separated too far from one another along the wall.


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So we continued the work. Half of the men held spears. We worked from the first light of sunrise until the stars came out at night.


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At that time I also spoke to the people. I told them, "Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night. Then they can guard us at night. And they can work during the day."


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My relatives and I didn't take our clothes off. My men and the guards didn't take theirs off either. Each man kept his weapon with him, even when he went to get water.


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Some of them were saying, "We and our sons and daughters have increased our numbers. Now there are many of us. We have to get some grain so we can eat and stay alive."


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Others were saying, "We're being forced to sell our fields, vineyards and homes. We have to do it to buy grain. There isn't enough food for everyone."


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Still others were saying, "We've had to borrow money. We needed it to pay the king's tax on our fields and vineyards.


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We belong to the same family lines as the rest of our people. Our sons and daughters are as good as theirs. But we've had to sell them off as slaves. Some of our daughters have already been made slaves. But we can't do anything about it. That's because our fields and vineyards now belong to others."


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I thought it over for a while. Then I brought charges against the nobles and officials. I told them, "You are forcing your own people to pay too much interest!" So I called together a large group of people to handle the matter.


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I said, "Our Jewish brothers and sisters were sold to other nations. We've done everything we could to buy them back and bring them home. But look at what you are doing! You are actually selling your own people! Now we'll have to buy them back too!" The people kept quiet. They couldn't think of anything to say.


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So I continued, "What you are doing isn't right. Shouldn't you show respect for our God? Shouldn't you live in a way that will keep our enemies from making fun of us?


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"I'm lending the people money and grain. So are my relatives and my men. But you must stop charging too much interest!


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"Give the people's fields back to them. Give them back their vineyards, olive groves and houses. Do it right away. You have charged them too much. Give everything back to them. Give them back the one percent on the money, grain, fresh wine and olive oil you have charged them."


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"We'll give it back," they said. "And we won't require anything more from them. We'll do exactly as you say." Then I sent for the priests. I made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.


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I also shook out my pockets and emptied them. I said, "Some of you might decide not to keep the promise you have made. If that happens, may God shake you out of your house! May he empty you of everything you own! May you be left with nothing at all!" The whole community said, "Amen." They praised the Lord. And the leaders did what they had promised to do.


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And that's not all. I was appointed as governor of Judah in the 20th year that Artaxerxes was king of Persia. I remained in that position until his 32nd year. During those 12 years, I and my relatives didn't eat the food that was provided for my table.


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But there had been governors before me. They had put a heavy load on the people. They had taken a pound of silver from each of them. They had also taken food and wine from them. Their officials had acted like high and mighty rulers over them. But I have great respect for God. So I didn't act like that.


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Instead, I spent all of my time working on this wall. All of my men were gathered there to work on it too. We didn't receive any land for ourselves.


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Many people ate at my table. They included 150 Jews and officials. They also included leaders who came to us from the nations that were around us.


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Each day one ox, six of the best sheep and some birds were prepared for me. Every ten days plenty of wine of all kinds was brought in as well. In spite of all that, I never asked for the food that was provided for my table. That's because the people were already paying too many taxes.


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You are my God. Please remember me. Show me your favor. Keep in mind everything I've done for these people.


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Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem, the Arab, heard about what I had done. So did the rest of our enemies. All of them heard I had rebuilt the wall. In fact, they heard there weren't any gaps left in it. But up to that time I hadn't put up the gates at the main entrances to the city.


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Sanballat and Geshem sent me a message. They said, "Come. Let's talk with one another. Let's meet in one of the villages on the flatlands of Ono." But they were planning to harm me.


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So I sent messengers to them with my answer. I replied, "I'm working on a huge project. So I can't get away. Why should the work stop while I leave it? Why should I go down and talk with you?"


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Sanballat sent his helper to me a fifth time. He brought the same message. He was carrying a letter that wasn't sealed.


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It said, "A report is going around among the nations. Geshem says it's true. We hear that you and the other Jews are planning to turn against the Persian rulers. And that's why you are building the wall. "It's also reported that you are about to become their king.


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People say that you have even appointed prophets to make an announcement about you. In Jerusalem they are going to say, 'Judah has a king!' That report will get back to the king of Persia. So come. Let's talk things over."


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I sent a reply to Sanballat. I said, "What you are saying isn't really happening. You are just making it up."


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All of them were trying to frighten us. They thought, "Their hands will get too weak to do the work. So it won't be completed." But I prayed to God. I said, "Make my hands stronger."


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One day I went to Shemaiah's house. He was the son of Delaiah. Delaiah was the son of Mehetabel. Shemaiah had shut himself up in his home. He said, "Let's go to God's house. Let's meet inside the temple. Let's close the temple doors. Some people want to kill you. They will come at night."


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But I said, "Should a man like me run away? Should someone like me go into the temple just to save his life? No! I won't go!"


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I realized that God hadn't sent Shemaiah. Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. That's why he had prophesied lies about me.


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They had hired him to scare me. They wanted me to commit a sin by doing what he said. That would give me a bad name in the community. People would find fault with me and my work.


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You are my God. Remember what Tobiah and Sanballat have done. Also remember the prophet Noadiah. She and the rest of the prophets have been trying to scare me.


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All of our enemies heard about it. All of the nations that were around us became afraid. They weren't sure of themselves anymore. They realized that our God had helped us finish the work.


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In those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah. And replies from Tobiah came back to them.


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Many people in Judah had taken an oath that they would be faithful to him. That's because he was Shecaniah's son-in-law. Shecaniah was the son of Arah. Tobiah's son Jehohanan had married Meshullam's daughter. Meshullam was the son of Berekiah.


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Tobiah's friends kept reporting to me the good things he did. They also kept telling him what I said. And Tobiah himself sent letters to scare me.


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The wall had been rebuilt. I had put up the gates at the main entrances to the city. Those who guarded the gates were appointed to their positions. So were the singers and Levites.


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I put my brother Hanani in charge of Jerusalem. Hananiah helped him. Hananiah was commander of the fort that was by the temple. Hanani was an honest man. He had more respect for God than most people do.


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I said to Hanani and Hananiah, "Don't open the gates of Jerusalem until the hottest time of the day. Tell the men who guard the gates to shut them before they go off duty. Make sure they lock them up tight. Also appoint as guards some people who live in Jerusalem. Station some of them at their appointed places. Station others near their own homes."


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Jerusalem was large. It had a lot of room. But only a few people lived there. The houses hadn't been rebuilt yet.


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So my God stirred me up to gather the people together. He also told me to gather the nobles and officials together with them. He wanted me to list them by families. I found the family history of those who had been the first to return. Here is what I found written in it.


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The leaders of the Jews included Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah and Nahamani. They also included Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum and Baanah. Here is a list of the men of Israel who returned home.


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The Levites belonged to the family line of Jeshua through Kadmiel through the line of Hodaviah. The total number of men was 74.


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The men who guarded the temple gates belonged to the family lines of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita and Shobai. The total number of men was 138.


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Here is a list of the members of the family lines of the servants of Solomon. Sotai, Sophereth, Perida,


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The governor gave them an order. He told them not to eat any of the most sacred food. They had to wait until there was a priest who could use the Urim and Thummim to get decisions from the Lord.


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That didn't include their 7,337 male and female slaves. There were also 245 male and female singers.


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Some of the family leaders helped pay for the work. The governor gave 19 pounds of gold to be added to the temple treasure. He also gave 50 bowls and 530 sets of clothes for the priests.


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Some of the family leaders gave 375 pounds of gold for the work. They also gave one and a third tons of silver. All of that was added to the temple treasure.


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The rest of the people gave a total of 375 pounds of gold and one and a fourth tons of silver. They also gave 67 sets of clothes for the priests.


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The priests and Levites settled down in their own towns. So did the singers, the temple servants and the men who guarded the gates. The rest of the people of Israel also settled in their own towns. The people of Israel had settled down in their towns. In the seventh month,


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all of them gathered together. They went to the open area in front of the Water Gate. They told Ezra to bring out the Scroll of the Law of Moses. The Lord had given Israel that law so they would obey him. Ezra was a teacher of the law.


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The priest Ezra brought the Law out to the whole community. It was the first day of the seventh month. The group was made up of men and women and everyone who was old enough to understand what Ezra was going to read.


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He read the Law to them from sunrise until noon. He did it as he faced the open area in front of the Water Gate. He read it to the men, women and others who could understand. And all of the people paid careful attention as Ezra was reading the Scroll of the Law.


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Ezra, the teacher, stood on a high wooden stage. It had been built for the occasion. Mattithiah, Shema and Anaiah stood at his right side. So did Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah. Pedaiah, Mishael and Malkijah stood at his left side. So did Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.


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Ezra opened the scroll. All of the people could see him. That's because he was standing above them. As he opened the scroll, the people stood up.


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Ezra praised the Lord. He is the great God. All of the people lifted up their hands. They said, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down. They turned their faces toward the ground. And they worshiped the Lord.


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The Levites taught the Law to the people. They remained standing while the Levites taught them. The Levites who were there included Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai and Hodiah. They also included Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan and Pelaiah.


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All of those Levites read parts of the Scroll of the Law of God to the people. They made it clear to them. They told them what it meant. So the people were able to understand what was being read.


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Then Nehemiah and Ezra spoke up. So did the Levites who were teaching the people. All of those men said to the people, "This day is set apart to honor the Lord your God. So don't sob. Don't be sad." All of the people had been sobbing as they listened to the words of the Law. Nehemiah was governor. Ezra was a priest and a teacher of the law.


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Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy some good food and sweet drinks. Send some of it to those who don't have any. This day is set apart to honor our Lord. So don't be sad. The joy of the Lord makes you strong."


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The Levites calmed all of the people down. They said, "Be quiet. This is a sacred day. So don't be sad."


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Then all of the people went away to eat and drink. They shared their food with others. They celebrated with great joy. Now they understood the words they had heard. That's because everything had been explained to them.


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All of the family leaders gathered around Ezra, the teacher. So did the priests and Levites. All of them paid attention to the words of the Law. It was the second day of the month.


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The Lord had given the Law through Moses. He wanted the people of Israel to obey it. It is written there that they were supposed to live in booths during the Feast of Booths. That Feast was celebrated in the seventh month.


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They were also supposed to spread the message all through their towns and in Jerusalem. They were supposed to announce, "Go out into the central hill country. Bring back some branches from olive and wild olive trees. Also bring some from myrtle, palm and shade trees. Use the branches to make booths."


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So the people went out and brought some branches back. They built themselves booths on their own roofs. They made them in their courtyards. They put them up in the courtyards of the house of God. They built them in the open area in front of the Water Gate. And they built them in the open area in front of the Gate of Ephraim.


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All those who had returned from Babylonia made booths. They lived in them during the Feast of Booths. They hadn't celebrated the Feast with so much joy for a long time. In fact, they had never celebrated it like that from the days of Joshua, the son of Nun, until that very day. So their joy was very great.


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Day after day, Ezra read parts of the Scroll of the Law of God to them. He read it out loud from the first day to the last. They celebrated the Feast of Booths for seven days. On the eighth day they gathered together. They followed the required rules for celebrating the Feast.


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It was the 24th day of the seventh month. The people of Israel gathered together again. They didn't eat any food. They wore black clothes. They put dust on their heads.


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The people of Israel separated themselves from everyone else. They stood and admitted they had sinned. They also admitted that their people before them had done evil things.


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They stood where they were. They listened while the Levites read parts of the Scroll of the Law of the Lord their God. They listened for a fourth of the day. They spent another fourth of the day admitting their sins. They also worshiped the Lord their God.


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The Levites stood on the stairs. They included Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel and Shebaniah. They also included Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani and Kenani. With loud voices they called out to the Lord their God.


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Then some Levites spoke up. They included Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani and Hashabneiah. They also included Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah and Pethahiah. They said to the people, "Stand up. Praise the Lord your God. He lives for ever and ever!" So the people said, "Lord, may your glorious name be praised. May it be lifted high above every other name that is blessed and praised.


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You are the one and only Lord. You made the heavens. You made even the highest heavens. You created all of the stars in the sky. You created the earth and everything that is on it. And you made the oceans and everything that is in them. You give life to everything. Every living being in heaven worships you.


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"You are the Lord God. You chose Abram. You brought him out of Ur in Babylonia. You named him Abraham.


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You knew that his heart was faithful to you. And you made a covenant with him. You promised to give to his children after him a land of their own. It was the land of the Canaanites, Hittites and Amorites. The Perizzites, Jebusites and Girgashites also lived there. You have kept your promise. That's because you always do what is right and fair.


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You did miraculous signs and wonders against Pharaoh. You sent plagues on all of his officials. In fact, you sent them on all of the people of Egypt. You knew how they treated our people. They looked down on them. But you made a name for yourself. That name remains to this very day.


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"You parted the Red Sea for the people of Israel. They passed through it on dry ground. But you threw into the sea those who chased them. They sank down like a stone into the mighty waters.


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By day you led them with a pillar of cloud. At night you led them with a pillar of fire. It gave them light to show them the way you wanted them to go.


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"You came down on Mount Sinai. From heaven you spoke to our people. You gave them rules and laws. Those laws are right and fair. You gave them orders and commands that are good.


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You taught them about your holy Sabbath day. You gave them commands, orders and laws. You did it through your servant Moses.


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"When the people were hungry, you gave them bread from heaven. When they were thirsty, you brought them water out of a rock. "You told them to go into the land of Canaan. You told them to take it as their own. It was the land you had promised to give them. You had even raised your hand and taken an oath to do it.


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They refused to listen to you. They forgot the miracles you had done among them. So they became stubborn. When they refused to obey you, they appointed a leader for themselves. They wanted to go back to being slaves in Egypt. But you are a God who forgives. You are gracious. You are tender and kind. You are slow to get angry. You are full of love. So you didn't desert them.


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"They made for themselves a metal statue of a god that looked like a calf. They said, 'Here is your god. He brought you up out of Egypt.' And they did evil things that dishonored you. But you still didn't desert them.


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"Because you loved them so much, you didn't leave them in the desert. During the day the pillar of cloud didn't stop guiding them on their path. At night the pillar of fire didn't stop shining on the way you wanted them to go.


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You gave them your good Spirit to teach them. You didn't hold back your manna from their mouths. And you gave them water when they were thirsty.


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For 40 years you took good care of them in the desert. They had everything they needed. Their clothes didn't wear out. And their feet didn't swell up.


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"You gave them kingdoms and nations. You even gave them lands far away. They took over the country of Sihon. He was king of Heshbon. They also took over the country of Og. He was king of Bashan.


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You gave them as many children as there are stars in the sky. You told their parents to enter the land. You told them to take it over. And you brought their children into it.


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Their children went into the land. They took it as their own. You brought the people of Canaan under Israel's control. The Canaanites lived in the land. But you handed them over to Israel. You also handed their kings and the other nations in the land over to Israel. You allowed Israel to deal with them just as they wanted to.


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"Your people captured cities that had high walls around them. They also took over the rich land in Canaan. They took houses that were filled with all kinds of good things. They took over wells that had already been dug. They took many vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees. They ate until they were very full and satisfied. They were filled with joy because you were so good to them.


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"But they didn't obey you. Instead, they turned against you. They turned their backs on your law. They killed your prophets. The prophets had warned them to turn back to you. But they did very evil things that dishonored you.


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"So you handed them over to their enemies, who beat them down. Then they cried out to you. From heaven you heard them. You loved them very much. So you sent leaders to help them. The leaders saved them from the powerful hand of their enemies.


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"But as soon as the people were enjoying peace and rest again, they did what was evil in your sight. Then you handed them over to their enemies. So their enemies ruled over them. When they cried out to you again, you heard them from heaven. You loved them very much. So you saved them time after time.


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"You warned them to obey your law again. But they became proud. They didn't obey your commands. They sinned against your rules. Anyone who obeys them will live by them. But the people didn't care about that. They turned their backs on you. They became very stubborn. They refused to listen to you.


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"For many years you put up with them. By your Spirit you warned them through your prophets. In spite of that, they didn't pay any attention. So you handed them over to the nations that were around them.


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But you loved them very much. So you didn't put an end to them. You didn't desert them. That's because you are a gracious God. You are tender and kind.


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"Our God, you are great, mighty and wonderful. You keep the covenant you made with us. You show us your love. So don't let all of our suffering seem like a small thing in your sight. We've suffered greatly. So have our kings and leaders. So have our priests and prophets. Our people who lived long ago also suffered. And all of your people are suffering right now. In fact, we've been suffering from the time of the kings of Assyria until today.


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"In spite of everything that has happened to us, you have been fair. You have been faithful in what you have done. But we did what was wrong.


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Our kings and leaders didn't follow your law. Our priests and our people before us didn't follow it either. They didn't pay any attention to your commands. They didn't listen to the warnings you gave them.


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They didn't serve you. They didn't turn from their evil ways. They didn't obey you even when they had a kingdom. You were very good to them. And they enjoyed it. You gave them a rich land. It had plenty of room in it. But they still didn't serve you.


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"Now look at us. We are slaves today. We're slaves in the land you gave our people long ago. You gave it to them so they could eat its fruit and the other good things it produces.


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But we have sinned against you. So its great harvest goes to the kings of Persia. You have placed them over us. They rule over our bodies and cattle just as they please. And we are suffering terribly.


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"So we are making a firm agreement. We're writing it down. Our leaders are stamping it with their seals. And so are our Levites and priests."


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Here are the names of those who stamped the agreement with their seals. The governor Nehemiah, the son of Hacaliah Zedekiah,


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Here are the names of the Levites. Jeshua, the son of Azaniah Binnui, one of the sons of Henadad Kadmiel


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The rest of the people gathered together. They included the priests, the Levites and the men who guarded the gates. They included the singers and temple servants. They also included all those who separated themselves from the surrounding nations to obey the Law of God. All of those men brought their wives with them. And they brought all of their sons and daughters who were old enough to understand what was being agreed to.


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All of the men joined the nobles of their people. They made a firm agreement. They put themselves under a curse and took an oath. They promised to follow the Law of God. It had been given through Moses, the servant of God. They promised to obey carefully all of the commands, rules and laws of the Lord our Lord.


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The priests, Levites and people said, "We promise not to give our daughters to be married to men from the nations that are around us. And we promise not to let their daughters get married to our sons.


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"The people around us will bring goods and grain to sell on the Sabbath day. But we won't buy anything from them on the Sabbath. In fact, we won't buy anything from them on any holy day. Every seventh year we won't farm the land. And we'll forgive people what they owe us.


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"We will be accountable for carrying out the commands for serving in the house of our God. Each of us will give an eighth of an ounce of silver every year.


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It will pay for the holy bread that is placed on the table in the temple. It will pay for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings. It will pay for the offerings on the Sabbath days. It will pay for the offerings at the New Moon Feasts and appointed feasts. It will pay for the holy offerings. It will be used for sin offerings to pay for the sin of Israel. It will also pay for everything else that needs to be done at the house of our God.


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"We are the priests, Levites and people. We have cast lots to decide when each of our families should bring a gift of wood to the house of our God. They will bring it at certain appointed times every year. The wood will be burned on the altar of the Lord our God. That's what the Law requires.


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"We will also be accountable for bringing the first share of our crops each year. And we'll bring the first share of every fruit tree. We'll bring them to the Lord's house.


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"Each of us will bring our oldest son to the priests who serve there. We'll also bring the male animals that were born first to their mothers among our cattle, herds and flocks. We'll bring them to the house of our God. That's what the Law requires.


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"We will also bring the first part of the meal we grind. We'll bring the first of our grain offerings. We'll bring the first share of fruit from all of our trees. And we'll bring the first share of our olive oil and fresh wine. We'll give all of those things to the priests. They'll put them in the storerooms of the house of our God. "And we'll give a tenth of our crops to the Levites. They collect the tenth shares. They do it in all of the towns where we work.


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A priest from Aaron's family line must go with the Levites when they receive the tenth shares. And the Levites must bring a tenth of those shares up to the house of our God. They must put it in the rooms where the treasures are stored.


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"The people of Israel, including the Levites, must bring their gifts. They must bring grain, olive oil and fresh wine. They must put them in the storerooms where the articles for the temple are kept. That's where the priests stay when they are serving at the temple. The singers and the men who guard the gates also stay there. "We won't forget to take care of the house of our God."


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The leaders of the people settled down in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots. They did it to choose one person out of every ten. That person was brought to live in the holy city of Jerusalem. The other nine had to stay in their own towns.


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Here are the leaders from different parts of the country who settled down in Jerusalem. Some Israelites, priests and Levites lived in the towns of Judah. So did some temple servants and some members of the family lines of Solomon's servants. All of them lived on their own property in the towns of Judah.


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At the same time, other people from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. Here are the leaders from the family line of Judah. There was Athaiah. He was the son of Uzziah. Uzziah was the son of Zechariah. Zechariah was the son of Amariah. Amariah was the son of Shephatiah. Shephatiah was the son of Mahalalel. Mahalalel belonged to the family line of Perez.


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There was also Maaseiah. He was the son of Baruch. Baruch was the son of Col-Hozeh. Col-Hozeh was the son of Hazaiah. Hazaiah was the son of Adaiah. Adaiah was the son of Joiarib. Joiarib was the son of Zechariah. Zechariah belonged to the family line of Shelah.


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Many able men who belonged to the family line of Perez lived in Jerusalem. The total number of them was 468.


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Here are the leaders from the family line of Benjamin. There was Sallu. He was the son of Meshullam. Meshullam was the son of Joed. Joed was the son of Pedaiah. Pedaiah was the son of Kolaiah. Kolaiah was the son of Maaseiah. Maaseiah was the son of Ithiel. Ithiel was the son of Jeshaiah.


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Joel was their chief officer. He was the son of Zicri. A man named Judah was in charge of the New Quarter of Jerusalem. He was the son of Hassenuah.


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There was also Seraiah. He was the son of Hilkiah. Hilkiah was the son of Meshullam. Meshullam was the son of Zadok. Zadok was the son of Meraioth. Meraioth was the son of Ahitub. Ahitub was a ruler in God's house.


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There were also those who helped them. They carried out the work for the temple. The total number of men was 822. There was also Adaiah. He was the son of Jeroham. Jeroham was the son of Pelaliah. Pelaliah was the son of Amzi. Amzi was the son of Zechariah. Zechariah was the son of Pashhur. Pashhur was the son of Malkijah.


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There were also those who helped Adaiah. They were family leaders. The total number of men was 242. There was also Amashsai. He was the son of Azarel. Azarel was the son of Ahzai. Ahzai was the son of Meshillemoth. Meshillemoth was the son of Immer.


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There were also those who helped Amashsai. They were able men. The total number of them was 128. Their chief officer was Zabdiel. He was the son of Haggedolim.


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Here are the leaders from among the Levites. There was Shemaiah. He was the son of Hasshub. Hasshub was the son of Azrikam. Azrikam was the son of Hashabiah. Hashabiah was the son of Bunni.


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There were also Shabbethai and Jozabad. They were two of the leaders of the Levites. They were in charge of the work that was done outside God's house.


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There was also Mattaniah. He led in prayer and in giving thanks. He was the son of Mica. Mica was the son of Zabdi. Zabdi was the son of Asaph. There was also Bakbukiah. He was second among those who helped Mattaniah. And there was Abda. He was the son of Shammua. Shammua was the son of Galal. Galal was the son of Jeduthun.


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Here are the leaders from among the men who guarded the gates. There were Akkub, Talmon and those who helped them. They stood guard at the gates. The total number of men was 172.


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The rest of the Israelites were in all of the towns of Judah. The priests and Levites were with them. All of them lived on their own family property.


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Uzzi was the chief officer of the Levites in Jerusalem. He was the son of Bani. Bani was the son of Hashabiah. Hashabiah was the son of Mattaniah. Mattaniah was the son of Mica. Uzzi was one of the members of Asaph's family line. They were singers. They were in charge of the worship services at God's house.


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The singers received their orders from the Persian king. He told them what they should do every day.


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Pethahiah worked for the king in all matters that were connected with the people. He was the son of Meshezabel. Meshezabel belonged to the family line of Zerah. Zerah was the son of Judah.


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Many of the people of Judah lived in villages that had fields around them. Some of them lived in Kiriath Arba and the settlements that were around it. Others lived in Dibon and its settlements. Others lived in Jekabzeel and its villages.


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Zanoah and Adullam and their villages. Others lived in Lachish and its fields. Still others lived in Azekah and its settlements. So the people of Judah were living all the way from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.


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Some of the members of the family line of Benjamin who were from Geba lived in Micmash. Others lived in Aija and in Bethel and its settlements.


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Some priests and Levites returned to Judah with Zerubbabel and Jeshua. Zerubbabel was the son of Shealtiel. Here are the names of those priests and Levites. Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,


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Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah All of them were the leaders of the priests and those who helped them. They lived in the days of Jeshua.


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The Levites were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah and Judah. There were also Mattaniah and those who helped him. They were in charge of the songs for giving thanks.


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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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Here are the names of the family leaders of the priests. They were the leaders in the days of Joiakim. Meraiah was from Seraiah's family. Hananiah was from Jeremiah's family.


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The names of the family leaders of the Levites in the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan and Jaddua were written down. So were the names of the family leaders of the priests. That happened while Darius ruled over Persia.


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The names of the leaders in Levi's family line up to the time of Johanan were written down. They were written in the official records. Johanan was the son of Eliashib.


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The leaders of the Levites were Hashabiah, Sherebiah and Jeshua. Jeshua was the son of Kadmiel. Those who helped them stood across from them to sing praises and give thanks. One group would sing back to the other. That's what David, the man of God, had ordered.


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Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon and Akkub stood at the gates of the temple. They guarded the storerooms at the gates.


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They served in the days of Joiakim. He was the son of Jeshua. Jeshua was the son of Jehozadak. They also served in the days of Nehemiah and Ezra. Nehemiah was governor. Ezra was a priest and a teacher of the law.


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The wall of Jerusalem was set apart to God. For that occasion, the Levites were gathered together from where they lived. They were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate that happy occasion. They celebrated the fact that the wall was being set apart to God. They did it by singing and giving their thanks to him. They celebrated by playing music on cymbals, harps and lyres.


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The singers were also brought together. Some of them came in from the area around Jerusalem. Others came from the villages where the people of Netophah lived.


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Others came from Beth Gilgal. Still others came from the area of Geba and Azmaveth. The singers had built villages for themselves around Jerusalem.


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The priests and Levites made themselves pure. Then they made the people, the gates and the wall pure and clean.


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I, Nehemiah, had the leaders of Judah go up on top of the wall. I also appointed two large choirs to sing and give thanks. I told one of them to walk south on top of the wall. That was toward the Dung Gate.


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Some priests who had trumpets followed them. So did Zechariah. He was the son of Jonathan. Jonathan was the son of Shemaiah. Shemaiah was the son of Mattaniah. Mattaniah was the son of Micaiah. Micaiah was the son of Zaccur. Zaccur was the son of Asaph.


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Those who helped Zechariah also marched along. They were Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah and Hanani. They brought instruments of music with them. That's what David, the man of God, had ordered. Ezra led the group that was marching south. He was a teacher of the law.


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At the Fountain Gate they continued straight up the steps of the City of David that went up to the wall. Then the group passed above David's house. They continued on to the Water Gate on the east.


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The second choir went north. I followed them on top of the wall. Half of the people went with me. They went past the Tower of the Ovens. They went to the Broad Wall.


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They marched over the Gate of Ephraim. They went over the Jeshanah Gate and the Fish Gate. They went past the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred. They continued on to the Sheep Gate. At the Gate of the Guard they stopped.


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Then the two choirs that sang and gave thanks took their places in God's house. So did I. So did half of the officials.


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And so did the priests. They were Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah and Hananiah. They had their trumpets with them.


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Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malkijah, Elam and Ezer were also there. The choirs sang under the direction of Jezrahiah.


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On that day large numbers of sacrifices were offered. The people were glad because God had given them great joy. The women and children were also very happy. The joyful sound in Jerusalem could be heard far away.


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At that time some men were put in charge of the storerooms. That's where all of the gifts the people brought were placed. They included the first shares of their crops. They also included a tenth of everything the Law required. From the fields that were around the towns the people had to bring the shares of their crops that were required by the Law. They gave them to the priests and Levites. That's because the people of Judah were pleased with the priests and Levites who were serving God.


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The priests and Levites did everything their God wanted them to do. They made things pure and clean. The singers and those who guarded the temple gates also served God. Everything was done just as David and his son Solomon had commanded.


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A long time ago there had been directors for the singers. There had also been directors for the songs for giving thanks and praise to God. It was in the time of David and Asaph.


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So now in the days of Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, all of the people of Israel brought their gifts. They gave the singers and those who guarded the gates what they were supposed to give them every day. They also set apart the shares for the other Levites. And the Levites set apart the shares for the priests in the family line of Aaron.


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On that same day the Scroll of Moses was read out loud. All of the people heard it. It was written there that no one from Ammon or Moab should ever be allowed to become a member of the community of God.


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That's because they hadn't given the people of Israel food and water. Instead, they had hired Balaam to call a curse down on them. But our God turned the curse into a blessing.


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When that law was read, the people of Judah obeyed it. They put out of Israel everyone who was from another nation.


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The priest Eliashib had been put in charge of the storerooms in the house of our God. He had worked closely with Tobiah.


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He had also provided a large room for Tobiah. It had been used to store the grain offerings. The incense and temple articles had been put there. And a tenth of the grain, olive oil and fresh wine had been kept there. That's what the Law required for the Levites. That's also what it required for the singers and those who guarded the temple gates. The gifts for the priests had been kept there too.


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But I wasn't in Jerusalem while all of that was going on. I had returned to the Persian King Artaxerxes, the king of Babylonia. I went to him in the 32nd year of his rule. Some time later I asked him to let me return to Jerusalem.


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When I got back, I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done. He had provided a room for Tobiah. It was in the courtyards of God's house.


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I gave orders to make the rooms pure and clean again. Then I put the supplies from God's house back into them. That included the grain offerings and the incense.


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I also learned that the shares the Levites were supposed to receive hadn't been given to them. So all of the Levites and singers had to leave their regular temple duties. They had to go back and farm their own fields.


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I gave a warning to the officials. I asked them, "Why aren't you taking care of God's house?" Then I brought them together. I stationed them in their proper places. I put them back to work.


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All of the people of Judah brought a tenth of the grain, olive oil and fresh wine. They took it to the storerooms.


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I put some men in charge of the storerooms. They were Shelemiah, Zadok and Pedaiah. Shelemiah was a priest. Zadok was a teacher of the law. And Pedaiah was a Levite. I made Hanan their assistant. He was the son of Zaccur. Zaccur was the son of Mattaniah. I knew that those men could be trusted. They were put in charge of handing out the supplies to their people.


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You are my God. Remember me because of what I've done. I've worked faithfully for your temple and its services. So please don't forget the good things I've done.


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In those days I saw some men of Judah stomping on grapes in winepresses. They were doing it on the Sabbath day. Others were bringing in grain. They were loading it on donkeys. Still others were loading up wine, grapes, figs and other kinds of things. They were bringing all of it into Jerusalem on the Sabbath. So I warned them not to sell food on that day.


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People from Tyre who lived in Jerusalem were bringing in fish. In fact, they were bringing in all kinds of goods. They were selling them in Jerusalem on the Sabbath. The people of Judah were buying them.


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I gave a warning to the nobles of Judah. I said, "Why are you doing such an evil thing? You are misusing the Sabbath day!


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Your people before you did the very same things. That's why our God has brought all of this trouble on us. That's why he's making this city suffer so much. Now you are stirring up even more of his anger against Israel. You are misusing the Sabbath day."


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Evening shadows fell on the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath started. So I ordered the gates to be shut. They had to remain closed until the Sabbath was over. I stationed some of my own men at the gates. I told them not to let anything be brought in on the Sabbath day.


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Once or twice some traders and sellers spent the night outside Jerusalem. They were hoping to sell all kinds of goods.


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But I gave them a warning. I said, "Why are you spending the night by the wall? If you do this again, I'll arrest you." So from that time on they didn't come on the Sabbath anymore.


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I commanded the Levites to make themselves pure. Then I told them to go and guard the gates. I wanted the Sabbath day to be kept holy. You are my God. Remember me because of the good things I've done. Be kind to me in keeping with your great love.


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In those days I also saw that some men of Judah had gotten married to women from Ashdod. Others had married women from Ammon or Moab.


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Half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod. Or they spoke the language of one of the other nations. They didn't even know how to speak the language of Judah.


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So I gave them a warning. I called curses down on them. I beat some of them up. I pulled their hair out. I made them take an oath in God's name. I said, "You must promise not to give your daughters to be married to their sons. You must promise not to let their daughters marry your sons. And you must not marry their daughters either.


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"That's how Solomon, the king of Israel, sinned. He married women from other nations. There wasn't a king like him anywhere. His God loved him. In fact, God made him king over the whole nation of Israel. But even he was led into sin by women from other lands.


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Now I hear that you too are doing all of the same terrible and evil things. You aren't being faithful to our God. You are marrying women from other lands."


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One of the sons of Joiada was the son-in-law of Sanballat. Joiada was the high priest. He was the son of Eliashib. I drove Joiada's son away from me. Sanballat was a Horonite.


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You are my God. Remember what those priests have done. They have polluted their own work. They have also polluted the covenant that God made with the priests and Levites long ago.


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So I made the priests and Levites pure. I made them pure from every practice that had come from other countries and had polluted them. I gave them their duties. Each one had his own job to do.


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I also made plans for gifts of wood to be brought at certain appointed times. And I made plans for the first share of the crops to be brought. You are my God. Please remember me. Show me your favor.


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King Xerxes ruled over the 127 territories in his kingdom. They reached from India all the way to Cush. Here is what happened during the time Xerxes ruled over the whole Persian kingdom.


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In the third year of his rule King Xerxes gave a big dinner. It was for all of his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media were there. So were the princes and the nobles of the territories he ruled over.


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Every day for 180 days he showed his guests the great wealth of his kingdom. He also showed them how glorious his kingdom was.


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When those days were over, the king gave another big dinner. It lasted for seven days. It was held in the garden of the king's courtyard. It was for all of the people who lived in the safest place in Susa. Everyone from the least important person to the most important was invited.


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The garden was decorated with white and blue linen banners. They hung from ropes that were made out of white linen and purple cloth. The ropes were connected to silver rings on marble pillars. There were gold and silver couches in the garden. They were placed on a floor that was made out of small stones. The floor had purple crystal, marble, mother-of-pearl and other stones of great value.


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Royal wine was served in gold cups. Each cup was different from all of the others. There was plenty of wine. The king always provided as much as his guests wanted.


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He commanded that they should be allowed to drink as much or as little as they wished. He directed all of his servants to give them what they asked for.


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Queen Vashti also gave a big dinner. Only women were invited. It was held in the royal palace of King Xerxes.


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On the seventh day Xerxes was in a good mood because he had drunk a lot of wine. So he gave a command to the seven officials who served him. They were Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Carcas.


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He told them to bring Queen Vashti to him. He wanted her to come wearing her royal crown. He wanted to show off her beauty to the people and nobles. She was lovely to look at.


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The attendants told Queen Vashti what the king had ordered her to do. But she refused to come. So the king became very angry. In fact, he burned with anger.


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It was the king's practice to ask advice from those who knew a lot about matters of law and fairness. So he spoke with the wise men who were supposed to understand what was going on at that time.


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They were the men who were closest to the king. They were Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memucan. They were the seven nobles of Persia and Media. They were the king's special advisers. In fact, they were the most important men in the kingdom.


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"You know the law," the king said. "What should I do to Queen Vashti? She hasn't obeyed my command. The officials told her what I ordered her to do, didn't they?"


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Then Memucan gave a reply to the king and the nobles. He said, "Queen Vashti has done what is wrong. But she didn't do it only against you, King Xerxes. She did it also against all of the nobles. And she did it against the people in all of the territories you rule over.


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"All of the women will hear about what the queen has done. Then they will look down on their husbands. They'll say, 'King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought to him. But she wouldn't come.'


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Starting today, the leading women in Persia and Media who have heard about the queen's actions will act in the same way. They'll disobey all of your nobles, just as she disobeyed you. They won't have any respect for their husbands. They won't honor them.


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"So if it pleases you, send out a royal order. Let it be written down in the laws of Persia and Media. They can never be changed. Let the royal order say that Vashti can never see you again. Also let her position as queen be given to someone who is better than she is.


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"And let your order be announced all through your entire kingdom. Then all of the other women will have respect for their husbands from the least important of them to the most important."


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He sent messages out to every territory in the kingdom. He sent them to each territory in its own writing. He sent them to every nation in its own language. The messages announced in each nation's language that every man should rule over his own family.


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Later, the anger of King Xerxes calmed down. Then he remembered Vashti and what she had done. He also remembered the royal order he had sent out concerning her.


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At that time the king's personal attendants made a suggestion. They said, "King Xerxes, let a search be made for some beautiful young virgins for you.


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Appoint some officials in every territory in your kingdom. Have them bring all of those beautiful virgins into the safest place in Susa. Put them in the special place where the virgins stay. Then put Hegai in charge of them. He's the eunuch who serves you. He's in charge of the virgins. Let beauty care be given to the new group of virgins.


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Then let the one who pleases you the most become queen in Vashti's place." The king liked that advice. So he followed it.


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There was a Jew living in the safest place in Susa. He was from the tribe of Benjamin. His name was Mordecai. He was the son of Jair. Jair was the son of Shimei. Shimei was the son of Kish.


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Nebuchadnezzar had forced Mordecai to leave Jerusalem. He was among the prisoners who were carried off along with Jehoiachin. Jehoiachin had been king of Judah. Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylonia.


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Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah. He had brought her up in his own home. She didn't have a father or mother. Hadassah was also called Esther. She was very beautiful. Mordecai had adopted her as his own daughter. He had done it when her father and mother died.


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After the king's order and law were announced, many virgins were brought to the safest place in Susa. Hegai was put in charge of them. Esther was also taken to the king's palace. She was put under the control of Hegai. He was in charge of the place where the virgins stayed.


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Esther pleased him. He showed her his favor. Right away he provided her with her beauty care and special food. He appointed seven female attendants to help her. They were chosen from the king's palace. He moved her and her attendants into the best part of the place where the virgins stayed.


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Esther hadn't told anyone who her people were. She hadn't talked about her family. That's because Mordecai had told her not to.


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Mordecai tried to find out how Esther was getting along. He wanted to know what was happening to her. So he walked back and forth near the courtyard by the place where the virgins stayed. He did it every day.


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Each virgin had to complete 12 months of beauty care. They used oil of myrrh for six months. And they used perfume and make-up for the other six months. A virgin's turn to go in to King Xerxes could come only after a full 12 months had passed.


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And here is how she would go to the king. She would be given anything she wanted from the place where the virgins stayed. She could take it with her to the king's palace.


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In the evening she would go there. In the morning she would leave. Then she would go to the special place where the king's concubines stayed. She would be put under the control of Shaashgaz. He was the king's eunuch who was in charge of the concubines. She would never return to the king unless he was pleased with her. He had to send for her by name before she could go to him again.


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Mordecai had adopted Esther. She had been the daughter of his uncle Abihail. Her turn came to go in to the king. She only asked for what Hegai suggested. He was the king's eunuch who was in charge of the place where the virgins stayed. Everyone who saw Esther was pleased with her.


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She was taken to King Xerxes in the royal house. It was now the tenth month. That was the month of Tebeth. It was the seventh year of the rule of Xerxes.


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The king liked Esther more than he liked any of the other women. She pleased him more than any of the other virgins. So he put a royal crown on her head. He made her queen in Vashti's place.


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Then the king gave a big dinner. It was in honor of Esther. All of his nobles and officials were invited. He announced a holiday all through the territories he ruled over. He freely gave many gifts in keeping with his royal wealth.


text:
The virgins were gathered together a second time. At that time Mordecai was sitting at the palace gate.


text:
Esther had kept her family history a secret. She hadn't told anyone who her people were. Mordecai had told her not to. She continued to follow his directions. That's what she had always done when he was bringing her up.


text:
Bigthana and Teresh were two of the king's officers. They guarded the door of the royal palace. They became angry with King Xerxes. So they decided to kill him. They made their evil plans while Mordecai was sitting at the palace gate.


text:
So he found out about it. And he told Queen Esther. Then she reported it to the king. She told him that Mordecai had uncovered the plans against him.


text:
Some people checked Esther's report. And they found out it was true. So the two officials were put to death. Then poles were stuck through them. They were set up where people could see them. All of that was written in the official records. It was written down while the king was watching.


text:
After those events, King Xerxes honored Haman. Haman was the son of Hammedatha. He was from the family line of Agag. The king gave Haman a higher position than he had before. He gave him a seat of honor. It was higher than the positions any of the other nobles had.


text:
All of the royal officials at the palace gate got down on their knees. They gave honor to Haman. That's because the king had commanded them to do it. But Mordecai refused to get down on his knees. He wouldn't give Haman any honor at all.


text:
The royal officials at the palace gate asked Mordecai a question. They said, "Why don't you obey the king's command?"


text:
Day after day they spoke to him. But he still refused to obey. So they told Haman about it. They wanted to see whether he would let Mordecai get away with what he was doing. Mordecai had told them he was a Jew.


text:
Haman noticed that Mordecai wouldn't get down on his knees. He wouldn't give Haman any honor. So Haman burned with anger.


text:
But he had found out who Mordecai's people were. So he decided not to kill just Mordecai. He also looked for a way to destroy all of Mordecai's people. They were Jews. He wanted to kill all of them everywhere in the kingdom of Xerxes.


text:
The lot was cast in front of Haman. That was done to choose a day and a month. It was the 12th year that Xerxes was king. It was in the first month. That was the month of Nisan. The lot chose the 12th month. That was the month of Adar. The lot was also called [pur.


text:
Then Haman said to King Xerxes, "Certain people are scattered among the nations. They live in all of the territories in your kingdom. Their practices are different from the practices of all other people. They don't obey your laws. It really isn't good for you to put up with them.


text:
"If it pleases you, give the order to destroy them. I'll even add 375 tons of silver to the royal treasures. You can use it to pay the men who take care of the matter."


text:
So the king took his ring off his finger. The ring had his royal seal on it. He gave the ring to Haman. Haman was the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite. He was the enemy of the Jews.


text:
The king sent for the royal secretaries. It was the 13th day of the first month. The secretaries wrote down all of Haman's orders. They wrote them down in the writing of each territory in the kingdom. They also wrote them in the language of each nation. The orders were sent to the royal officials. They were also sent to the governors of the territories. And they went out to the nobles of the nations. The orders were written in the name of King Xerxes himself. And they were stamped with his own royal seal.


text:
They were carried by messengers. They were sent to all of the king's territories. The orders commanded people to destroy, kill and wipe out all of the Jews. That included young people and old people alike. It included women and little children. All of the Jews were supposed to be killed on a single day. That day was the 13th day of the 12th month. It was the month of Adar. The orders also commanded people to take the goods that belonged to the Jews.


text:
A copy of the order had to be sent out as law. It had to be sent to every territory in the kingdom. It had to be announced to the people of every nation. Then they would be ready for that day.


text:
The king commanded the messengers to go out. So they did. The order was sent out from the safest place in Susa. Then the king and Haman sat down to drink wine. But the people in the city were bewildered.


text:
Mordecai found out about everything that had been done. So he tore his clothes. He put on black clothes. He sat down in ashes. Then he went out into the city. He sobbed out loud. He cried bitter tears.


text:
But he only went as far as the palace gate. That's because no one who was dressed in black clothes was allowed to go through it.


text:
All of the Jews were very sad. They didn't eat anything. They sobbed and cried. Many of them put on black clothes. They were lying down in ashes. They did all of those things in every territory where the king's order and law had been sent.


text:
Esther's eunuchs and female attendants came to her. They told her about Mordecai. So she became very troubled. She wanted him to take his black clothes off. So she sent him other clothes to wear. But he wouldn't accept them.


text:
Then Esther sent for Hathach. He was one of the king's eunuchs. He had been appointed to take care of her. She ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai. She wanted to know why he was so upset.


text:
Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him. He told him about the exact amount of money Haman had promised to add to the royal treasures. He said Haman wanted it to be used to pay some men to destroy the Jews.


text:
Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the order. It commanded people to wipe out the Jews. The order had been sent from Susa. Mordecai told Hathach to show the order to Esther. He wanted him to explain it to her. He told him to try and get her to go to the king. He wanted her to beg for mercy. He wanted her to make an appeal to the king for her people.


text:
"There is a certain law that everyone knows about. All of the king's officials know about it. The people in the royal territories know about it. It applies to any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard without being sent for. It says they must be put to death. But there is a way out. Suppose the king reaches out his gold rod toward them. Then their lives will be spared. But 30 days have gone by since the king sent for me."


text:
Then he sent back an answer. He said, "You live in the king's palace. But don't think that just because you are there you will be the only Jew who will escape.


text:
What if you don't say anything at this time? Then help for the Jews will come from another place. But you and your family will die. Who knows? It's possible that you became queen for a time just like this."


text:
"Go. Gather together all of the Jews who are in Susa. And fast for my benefit. Don't eat or drink anything for three days. Don't do it night or day. I and my attendants will fast just as you do. Then I'll go to the king. I'll do it even though it's against the law. And if I have to die, I'll die."


text:
On the third day Esther put her royal robes on. She stood in the inner courtyard of the palace. It was in front of the king's hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall. He was facing the entrance.


text:
He saw Queen Esther standing in the courtyard. He was pleased with her. So he reached out toward her the gold rod that was in his hand. Then Esther approached him. She touched the tip of the rod.


text:
The king asked, "What is it, Queen Esther? What do you want? I'll give it to you. I'll even give you up to half of my kingdom."


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Esther replied, "King Xerxes, if it pleases you, come to a big dinner today. I've prepared it for you. Please have Haman come with you."


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"Bring Haman at once," the king said to his servants. "Then we'll do what Esther asks." So the king and Haman went to the big dinner Esther had prepared.


text:
As they were drinking wine, the king asked Esther the same question again. He said, "What do you want? I'll give it to you. What do you want me to do for you? I'll even give you up to half of my kingdom."


text:
I hope you will show me your favor. I hope you will be pleased to give me what I want. And I hope you will be pleased to listen to my appeal. If you are, I'd like you and Haman to come tomorrow to the big dinner I'll prepare for you. Then I'll answer your question."


text:
That day Haman was happy. So he left the palace in a good mood. But then he saw Mordecai at the palace gate. He noticed that Mordecai didn't stand up when he walked by. In fact, Mordecai didn't have any respect for him at all. So he burned with anger against him.


text:
But Haman was able to control himself. He went on home. Haman called his friends and his wife Zeresh together.


text:
He bragged to them about how rich he was. He talked about how many sons he had. He spoke about all of the ways the king had honored him. He bragged about how the king had given him a higher position than any of the other nobles and officials had.


text:
"And that's not all!" Haman added. "I'm the only person Queen Esther invited to come with the king to the big dinner she gave. Now she has invited me along with the king tomorrow.


text:
"But even all of that doesn't satisfy me. I won't be satisfied as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the palace gate."


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Haman's wife Zeresh and all of his friends spoke up. They said to him, "Get a pole. In the morning, ask the king to have Mordecai put to death. Have the pole stuck through his body. Set it up at a place where it will be 75 feet above the ground. Everyone will be able to see it there. Then go to the dinner with the king. Have a good time." Haman was delighted with that suggestion. So he got the pole ready.


text:
That night the king couldn't sleep. So he ordered the official records of his rule to be brought in. He ordered someone to read them to him.


text:
It was written there that Mordecai had uncovered the plans of Bigthana and Teresh against the king. They had been two of the king's officers who guarded the door of the royal palace. They had decided to kill King Xerxes.


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"What great honor has Mordecai received for doing that?" the king asked. "Nothing has been done for him," his attendants answered.


text:
The king asked, "Who is in the courtyard?" Haman had just entered the outer courtyard of the palace. He had come to speak to the king about putting Mordecai to death. He wanted to talk about putting Mordecai's body up on the pole he had gotten ready for him.


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The king's attendants said to him, "Haman is standing in the courtyard." "Bring him in," the king ordered.


text:
Haman entered. Then the king asked him, "What should be done for the man I want to honor?" Haman said to himself, "Is there anyone the king would rather honor than me?"


text:
Have your servants get a royal robe you have worn. Have them bring a horse you have ridden on. Have a royal crest placed on its head.


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Then give the robe and horse to one of your most noble princes. Let the robe be put on the man you want to honor. Let him be led on the horse through the city streets. Let people announce in front of him, 'This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor!' "


text:
"Go right away," the king commanded Haman. "Get the robe. Bring the horse. Do exactly what you have suggested. Do it for the Jew Mordecai. He's sitting out there at the palace gate. Make sure you do everything you have suggested."


text:
So Haman got the robe and the horse. He put the robe on Mordecai. And he led him on horseback through the city streets. He walked along in front of him and announced, "This is what is done for the man the king wants to honor!"


text:
After that, Mordecai returned to the palace gate. But Haman rushed home. He covered his head because he was very sad.


text:
He told his wife Zeresh everything that had happened to him. He also told all of his friends. His advisers and his wife Zeresh spoke to him. They said, "Your fall from power started with Mordecai. He's a Jew. So now you can't stand up against him. You are going to be destroyed!"


text:
They were still talking with him when the king's officials arrived. They hurried Haman away to the big dinner Esther had prepared.


text:
They were drinking wine on the second day. The king again asked, "What do you want, Queen Esther? I'll give it to you. What do you want me to do for you? I'll even give you up to half of my kingdom."


text:
Then Queen Esther answered, "King Xerxes, I hope you will show me your favor. I hope you will be pleased to let me live. That's what I want. Please spare my people. That's my appeal to you.


text:
"My people and I have been sold to be destroyed. We've been sold to be killed and wiped out. Suppose we had only been sold as male and female slaves. Then I wouldn't have said anything. That kind of suffering wouldn't be a good enough reason to bother you."


text:
Esther said, "The man hates us! He's our enemy! He's this evil Haman!" Then Haman was terrified in front of the king and queen.


text:
The king got up. He was burning with anger. He left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman realized that the king had already decided what he was going to do to him. So he stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.


text:
The king returned from the palace garden to the dinner hall. Just then he saw Haman falling on the couch where Esther was lying. The king shouted, "Will he even rape the queen? Is he going to rape her while she's right here with me in the palace?" As soon as the king finished speaking, his men covered Haman's face.


text:
Then Harbona said, "There's a pole standing near Haman's house. He has gotten it ready for Mordecai. Mordecai is the one who spoke up to help you. Haman had planned to have him put to death. He was going to have the pole stuck through his body. Then he was going to set it up at a place where it would be 75 feet above the ground." Harbona was one of the officials who attended the king. The king said to his men, "Put Haman to death! Stick the pole through his body! Set it up where everyone can see it!"


text:
So they did. And they used the pole Haman had gotten ready for Mordecai. Then the king's anger calmed down.


text:
That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther everything Haman had owned. Haman had been the enemy of the Jews. Esther had told the king that Mordecai was her cousin. So Mordecai came to see the king.


text:
The king took his ring off. It had his royal seal on it. He had taken it back from Haman. Now he gave it to Mordecai. And Esther put Mordecai in charge of everything Haman had owned.


text:
Esther made another appeal to the king. She fell at his feet and sobbed. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman, the Agagite. He had decided to kill the Jews.


text:
"King Xerxes, I hope you will show me your favor," she said. "I hope you will think that what I'm asking is the right thing to do. I hope you are pleased with me. If you are, and if it pleases you, let an order be written. Let it take the place of the messages Haman wrote. Haman was the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite. He planned to kill the Jews. He wrote orders to destroy us in all of your territories.


text:
I couldn't stand by and see the horrible trouble that would fall on my people! I couldn't stand to see my family destroyed!"


text:
King Xerxes gave a reply to Queen Esther and the Jew Mordecai. He said, "Haman attacked the Jews. So I've given Esther everything he owned. My men have stuck a pole through his dead body. And they've set it up where everyone can see it.


text:
"Now write another order in my name. Do it for the benefit of the Jews. Do what seems best to you. Stamp the order with my royal seal. Nothing that is written in my name and stamped with my seal can ever be changed."


text:
Right away the king sent for the royal secretaries. It was the 23rd day of the third month. That was the month of Sivan. They wrote down all of Mordecai's orders to the Jews. They also wrote them to the royal officials, the governors and the nobles of the 127 territories in his kingdom. The territories reached from India all the way to Cush. The orders were written down in the writing of each territory. They were written in the language of each nation. They were also written to the Jews in their own writing and language.


text:
Mordecai wrote the orders in the name of King Xerxes. He stamped them with the king's royal seal. He sent them by messengers on horseback. They rode fast horses that were raised just for the king.


text:
The Jews in every city could now gather together and fight for their lives. The king's order gave them that right. But what if soldiers from any nation or territory attacked them? What if they attacked their women and children? Then the Jews could destroy, kill and wipe out those soldiers. They could also take the goods that belonged to their enemies.


text:
A day was appointed for the Jews to do that in all of the king's territories. It was the 13th day of the 12th month. That was the month of Adar.


text:
A copy of the order was sent out as law in every territory. It was announced to the people of every nation. So the Jews would be ready on that day. They could pay their enemies back.


text:
The messengers rode on the royal horses. They raced along. That's what the king commanded them to do. The order was also sent out in the safest place in Susa.


text:
Mordecai left the king and went on his way. Mordecai was wearing royal clothes. They were blue and white. He was also wearing a large gold crown. And he was wearing a purple coat. It was made out of fine linen. The city of Susa celebrated with great joy.


text:
The Jews were filled with joy and happiness. They were very glad because now they were being honored.


text:
They celebrated and enjoyed good food. They were glad and full of joy. That was true everywhere the king's order went out. It was true in every territory and every city. Many people from other nations announced that they had become Jews. That's because they were so afraid of the Jews.


text:
The king's order had to be carried out on the 13th day of the 12th month. That was the month of Adar. On that day the enemies of the Jews had hoped to win the battle over them. But now everything had changed. The Jews had gained the advantage over those who hated them.


text:
The Jews gathered together in their cities. They gathered in all of the territories King Xerxes ruled over. They came together to attack those who were trying to destroy them. No one could stand up against them. The people from all of the other nations were afraid of them.


text:
All of the nobles in the territories helped the Jews. So did the royal officials, the governors and the king's officers. That's because they were so afraid of Mordecai.


text:
He was well known in the palace. His fame spread all through the territories. So he became more and more important.


text:
The Jews struck down all of their enemies with swords. They killed them and destroyed them. They did what they pleased to those who hated them.


text:
They were the ten sons of Haman. He was the son of Hammedatha. Haman had been the enemy of the Jews. They didn't take anything that belonged to their enemies.


text:
A report was brought to the king that same day. He was told how many men had been killed in the safest place in Susa.


text:
He said to Queen Esther, "The Jews have killed 500 men. They destroyed them in the safest place in Susa. They also killed the ten sons of Haman there. What have they done in the rest of my territories? Now what do you want? I'll give it to you. What do you want me to do for you? I'll do that too."


text:
"If it pleases you," Esther answered, "let the Jews in Susa carry out today's order tomorrow also. Stick poles through the dead bodies of Haman's ten sons. Set them up where everyone can see them."


text:
So the king commanded that it be done. An order was sent out in Susa. And the king's men did to the bodies of Haman's sons everything they were told to do.


text:
The Jews in Susa came together on the 14th day of the month of Adar. They put 300 men to death in Susa. But they didn't take anything that belonged to those men.


text:
During that time, the rest of the Jews also gathered together. They lived in the king's territories. They came together to fight for their lives. They didn't want their enemies to bother them anymore. They wanted to get some peace and rest. So they killed 75,000 of their enemies. But they didn't take anything that belonged to them.


text:
It happened on the 13th of Adar. On the 14th day they rested. They made it a day to celebrate with great joy. And they enjoyed good food.


text:
But the Jews in Susa had gathered together on the 13th and 14th. Then on the 15th they rested. They made it a day to celebrate with great joy. And they enjoyed good food.


text:
That's why Jews who live out in the villages celebrate on the 14th of Adar. They celebrate that day with great joy. And they enjoy good food. They also give presents to each other on that day.


text:
Mordecai wrote down those events. He sent letters to all of the Jews all through the territories of King Xerxes. It didn't matter whether the Jews lived nearby or far away.


text:
Mordecai told them to celebrate the 14th and 15th days of the month of Adar. He wanted them to do it every year.


text:
Mordecai told the Jews to celebrate the time when they got rest from their enemies. That was the month when their sadness was turned into joy. It was when their sobbing turned into a day for celebrating. He wrote the letters to celebrate those days as times of joy. He wanted the people to enjoy good food. He told them to give presents of food to one another. He also wanted them to give gifts to those who were poor.


text:
So the Jews agreed to continue the celebrating they had started. They kept doing what Mordecai had written to them.


text:
Haman was the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite. He had been the enemy of all of the Jews. He had planned to destroy them. He had cast the lot to destroy them completely. The lot was also called pur.


text:
But the king had found out about Haman's evil plan. So the king had sent out written orders. He had ordered that the evil plan Haman had made against the Jews should come back on his own head. He had also commanded that Haman and his sons should be put to death. Poles should be stuck through their dead bodies. Then they should be set up where everyone could see them.


text:
The days the Jews were celebrating were called Purim. Purim comes from the word pur. Pur means "lot." Now the Jews celebrate those two days every year. They do it because of everything that was written in Mordecai's letter. They also do it because of what they had seen and what had happened to them.


text:
So they established it as a regular practice. They decided they would always observe those two days of the year. They would celebrate in the required way. And they would celebrate at the appointed time. They and their children after them and everyone who joined them would always observe those days.


text:
The days should be remembered and celebrated. They should be remembered by every family for all time to come. They should be celebrated in every territory and in every city. The Jews should never stop celebrating the days of Purim. Their children after them should always remember those days.


text:
So Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, wrote a second letter. She wrote it together with the Jew Mordecai. They wanted to give their full authority to this second letter about Purim.


text:
Mordecai sent letters to all of the Jews in the 127 territories of the kingdom of Xerxes. The letters had messages of kindness and hope in them.


text:
The letters established the days of Purim at their appointed times. They spoke about what the Jew Mordecai and Queen Esther had ordered the people to do. Everything should be done in keeping with the directions the Jews had set up for themselves and their children after them. The directions applied to their times of fasting and sadness.


text:
King Xerxes required people all through his kingdom to bring him gifts. He required gifts from its farthest shores.


text:
All of his powerful and mighty acts are written down. That includes the whole story of how important Mordecai was. The king had given him a position of great honor. All of those things are written in the official records of the kings of Media and Persia.


text:
The Jew Mordecai's position was second only to the position of King Xerxes. Mordecai was the most important Jew. All of the other Jews had the highest respect for him. That's because he worked for the good of his people. And he spoke up for the benefit of all of the Jews.


text:
There was a man who lived in the land of Uz. His name was Job. He was honest. He did what was right. He had respect for God and avoided evil.


text:
He owned 7,000 sheep and 3,000 camels. He owned 500 pairs of oxen and 500 donkeys. He also had a large number of servants. He was the most important man among all of the people in the east.


text:
His sons used to take turns giving big dinners in their homes. They would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.


text:
When the time for enjoying good food was over, Job would have his children made pure and clean. He would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them. He would do it early in the morning. He would think, "Perhaps my children have sinned. Maybe they have spoken evil things against God in their hearts." That's what Job always did for his children when he felt they had sinned.


text:
The Lord said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered, "From traveling all around the earth. I've been going from one end of it to the other."


text:
Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you thought about my servant Job? There isn't anyone on earth like him. He is honest. He does what is right. He has respect for me and avoids evil."


text:
Haven't you guarded him and his family? Haven't you taken care of everything he has? You have blessed everything he does. His flocks and herds are spread all through the land.


text:
"But reach out your hand and strike down everything he has. Then I'm sure he will speak evil things against you. In fact, he'll do it right in front of you."


text:
The Lord said to Satan, "All right. I am handing everything he has over to you. But do not touch the man himself." Then Satan left the Lord and went on his way.


text:
One day Job's sons and daughters were at their oldest brother's house. They were enjoying good food and drinking wine.


text:
During that time a messenger came to Job. He said, "The oxen were plowing. The donkeys were eating grass near them.


text:
Then the Sabeans attacked us and carried the animals off. They killed some of the servants with their swords. I'm the only one who has escaped to tell you!"


text:
While he was still speaking, a second messenger came. He said, "God sent lightning from the sky. It struck the sheep and killed them. It burned up some of the servants. I'm the only one who has escaped to tell you!"


text:
While he was still speaking, a third messenger came. He said, "The Chaldeans separated themselves into three groups. They attacked your camels and carried them off. They killed the rest of the servants with their swords. I'm the only one who has escaped to tell you!"


text:
While he was still speaking, a fourth messenger came. He said, "Your sons and daughters were at their oldest brother's house. They were enjoying good food and drinking wine.


text:
Suddenly a strong wind blew in from the desert. It struck the four corners of the house. The house fell down on your children. Now all of them are dead. I'm the only one who has escaped to tell you!"


text:
After Job heard all of those reports, he got up and tore his robe. He shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground and worshiped the Lord.


text:
He said, "I was born naked. And I'll leave here naked. You have given, and you have taken away. May your name be praised."


text:
Then the Lord said to Satan, "Have you thought about my servant Job? There isn't anyone on earth like him. He is honest. He does what is right. He has respect for me and avoids evil. You tried to turn me against him. You wanted me to destroy him without any reason. But he still continues to be faithful."


text:
Satan replied, "A man will give everything he has to save himself. So Job is willing to give up the lives of his family to save his own life.


text:
"But reach out your hand and strike his flesh and bones. Then I'm sure he will speak evil things against you. In fact, he'll do it right in front of you."


text:
Then Satan left the Lord and went on his way. He sent painful sores on Job. They covered him from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head.


text:
He got part of a broken pot. He used it to scrape his skin. He did it while he was sitting in ashes.


text:
His wife said to him, "Are you still continuing to be faithful to the Lord? Speak evil things against him and die!"


text:
Job replied, "You are talking like a foolish woman. We accept good things from God. So we should also accept trouble when he sends it." In spite of everything, Job didn't say anything that was sinful.


text:
Job had three friends named Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They heard about all of the troubles that had come to Job. So they started out from their homes. They had agreed to meet together. They wanted to go and show their concern for Job. They wanted to comfort him.


text:
When they got closer to where he lived, they could see him. But they could hardly recognize him. They began to sob out loud. They tore their robes and sprinkled dust on their heads.


text:
Then they sat down on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him. That's because they saw how much he was suffering.


text:
"May the day I was born be wiped out. May the night be wiped away when people said, 'A boy is born!'


text:
May darkness and deep shadow take it back. May a cloud settle over it. May blackness cover up its light.


text:
May deep darkness take over the night I was born. May it not be included among the days of the year. May it never appear in any of the months.


text:
May people call down a curse on that day. May those who are ready to wake up the sea monster Leviathan curse that day.


text:
May its morning stars become dark. May it lose all hope of ever seeing daylight. May it not see the first light of the morning sun.


text:
If all of that hadn't happened, I would be lying down in peace. I'd be asleep and at rest in the grave.


text:
I'd be with the earth's kings and advisers. They had built for themselves places that are now destroyed.


text:
Why wasn't I buried like a baby who was born dead? Why wasn't I buried like a child who never saw the light of day?


text:
The least important and most important people are there. And there the slaves are set free from their owners.


text:
"Why is the light that leads to life given to those who suffer? Why is it given to those whose spirits are bitter?


text:
Why is life given to those who long for death that doesn't come? Why is it given to those who would rather search for death than for hidden treasure?


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Why is life given to a man like me? God hasn't told me what will happen to me. He has surrounded me with nothing but trouble.


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"Job, suppose someone tries to talk to you. Will that make you uneasy? I can't keep from speaking up.


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"Here's something to think about. Have blameless people ever been wiped out? Have honest people ever been completely destroyed?


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Here's what I've observed. People gather a crop from what they plant. If they plant evil and trouble, that's what they will harvest.


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Then the spirit stopped. But I couldn't tell what it was. Something stood there in front of me. I heard a soft voice.


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It said, 'Can a human being be more right than God? Can a mere man be more pure than the One who made him?


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So he'll certainly find fault with human beings. After all, they are made out of dust. They can be crushed more easily than a moth.


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Eliphaz continued, "Call out if you want to, Job. But who will answer you? Which one of the holy angels will you turn to?


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Hungry people eat up the crops of those who are foolish. They even take the food that grows among thorns. Thirsty people long for the wealth of the foolish.


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He stops those who are tricky from doing what they plan to do. The work of their hands doesn't succeed.


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Some people think they are so wise. But God catches them in their own tricks. He sweeps away the evil plans of sinful people.


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God saves needy people from the cutting words of their enemies. He saves them from their powerful hands.


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He wounds. But he also bandages up those he wounds. He harms. But his hands also heal those he harms.


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From six troubles he will save you. Even if you are in trouble seven times, no harm will come to you.


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When there isn't enough food, God will keep you from dying. When you go into battle, he won't let a sword strike you down.


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He will keep you safe from words that can hurt you. You won't need to be afraid when everything is being destroyed.


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You will laugh when things are being destroyed. You will enjoy life even when there isn't enough food. You won't be afraid of wild animals.


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You will make a covenant with the stones in the fields. They won't keep your crops from growing. Even wild animals will be at peace with you.


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You will know that the tent you live in is secure. You will check out your property. You will see that nothing is missing.


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You can be sure you will have a lot of children. They will be as many as the blades of grass on the earth.


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You will go down to the grave while you are still very strong. You will be like a crop that is gathered at the right time.


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"We have carefully studied all of those things. And they are true. So pay attention to them. Apply them to yourself."


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I'm sure they would weigh more than the grains of sand on the seashore. No wonder I've been so quick to speak!


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The Mighty One has shot me with his arrows. I have to drink their poison. God's terrors are aimed at me.


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Does a wild donkey cry out when it has enough grass? Does an ox call out when it has plenty of food?


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Then I'd still have one thing to comfort me. It would be that I haven't said no to the Holy One's commands. That would give me joy in spite of my pain that never ends.


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"I'm so weak that I no longer have any hope. Things have gotten so bad that I can't wait for help anymore.


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"A man's friends should love him when his hope is gone. They should be faithful to him even if he stops showing respect for the Mighty One.


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But my friends aren't faithful to me. They are like streams that only flow for part of the year. They are like rivers that flow over their banks


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But they stop flowing when the dry season comes. They disappear from their stream beds when the weather warms up.


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Groups of traders turn away from their usual paths. They go up into the dry and empty land. And they die there.


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They become troubled because they had expected to find some. But when they arrive at the stream beds, they don't find any water at all.


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And now, my friends, you haven't helped me either. You see the horrible condition I'm in. And that makes you afraid.


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Are you trying to correct what I'm saying? You are treating the words of this hopeless man like nothing but wind.


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You would even cast lots for those whose fathers have died. You would even trade away your closest friend.


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Stop what you are saying. Don't be so unfair. Think it over again. You are trying to take my honesty away from me.


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Job continued, "Doesn't every man have to work hard on this earth? Aren't his days like the days of a hired worker?


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I've been like a slave who longs for the evening shadows to come. I've been like a hired worker who can hardly wait to get paid.


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When I lie down I think, 'How long will it be before I can get up?' The night drags on. I toss and turn until sunrise.


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"So I won't keep quiet. When I'm suffering greatly, I'll speak out. When my spirit is bitter, I'll tell you how unhappy I am.


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"What are human beings that you think so much of them? What are they that you pay so much attention to them?


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If I've really sinned, tell me what I've done to you. Why do you watch people so closely? Why do you shoot your arrows at me? Have I become a problem to you?


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Why don't you forgive the wrong things I've done? Why don't you forgive me for my sins? I'll soon lie down in the dust of my grave. You will search for me. But I'll be gone."


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Be pure and honest. And he will rise up and help you now. He'll return you to the place where you belong.


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"Find out what your people who lived long ago taught. Discover what those who lived before them learned.


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After all, we were born only yesterday. So we don't know anything. Our days on this earth are like a shadow that disappears.


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Won't your people of long ago teach you and tell you? Won't the things they said help you understand?


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He is like a plant in the sunshine that receives plenty of water. It spreads its new growth all over the garden.


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"I'm sure God doesn't turn his back on anyone who is honest. And he doesn't help those who do what is evil.


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God doesn't hold back his anger. Even the helpers of the sea monster Rahab bowed in fear at his feet.


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Even if I hadn't done anything wrong, I couldn't answer him. I could only beg my Judge to have mercy on me.


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If it's a matter of strength, he is mighty! And if it's a matter of being fair, who would dare to bring charges against him?


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Even if I hadn't sinned, what I said would prove me guilty. Even if I were honest, my words would show that I'm wrong.


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It all amounts to the same thing. That's why I say, 'God destroys honest people and sinful people alike.'


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Suppose a nation falls into the power of sinful people. Then God makes its judges blind to the truth. If he isn't the one doing it, who is?


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Then I'd still be afraid I'd go on suffering. That's because I know you would say I had done something wrong.


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"I'm sick of living. So I'll talk openly about my problems. I'll speak out because my spirit is bitter.


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Does it make you happy when you crush me? Does it please you to turn your back on what you have made? While you do those things, you smile on the plans of sinful people!


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If I were guilty, how terrible that would be for me! Even if I haven't sinned, I can't be proud of what I've done. That's because I'm so full of shame. I'm drowning in my suffering.


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You bring new witnesses against me. You become more and more angry with me. You use your power against me again and again.


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It's the land of darkest night and deep shadow and disorder. There even the light is like darkness.' "


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I wish he'd show you the secrets of wisdom. After all, true wisdom has two sides. Here's what I want you to know. God has forgotten some of your sins.


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"Do you know how deep the mysteries of God are? Can you discover the limits of the Mighty One's knowledge?


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They are higher than the heavens. What can you do? They are deeper than the deepest grave. What can you know?


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"Suppose God comes along and puts you in prison. Suppose he takes you to court. Then who can oppose him?


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A wild donkey's colt can't be born a human being. And a man who doesn't have any sense can't become wise.


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You will lie down, and no one will make you afraid. Many people will want you to show them your favor.


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But sinful people won't find what they are looking for. They won't be able to escape. All they can hope for is to die."


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But I have a brain, just like you. I'm as clever as you are. In fact, everyone knows as much as you do.


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"My friends laugh at me all the time, even though I called out to God and he answered. My friends laugh at me, even though I'm honest and right.


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People who have an easy life look down on those who have problems. They think trouble comes only to those whose feet are slipping.


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Why doesn't anyone bother the tents of robbers? Why do those who make God angry remain secure? They carry the statues of their gods in their hands!


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"But ask the animals what God does. They will teach you. Or ask the birds of the air. They will tell you.


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Our tongues tell us what tastes good and what doesn't. And our ears tell us what's true and what isn't.


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Strength and success belong to him. Those who tell lies and those who believe them also belong to him.


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He sets people free from the chains that kings put on them. Then he dresses the kings in the clothes of slaves.


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He removes the authority of priests and leads them away. He removes from their positions those who have been in control for a long time.


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He makes nations great, and then he destroys them. He makes nations grow, and then he scatters them.


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He takes away the understanding of the leaders of the earth. He makes them wander in a desert where no one lives.


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Without any light, they feel their way along in darkness. God makes them unsteady like those who get drunk.


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But you spread lies about me and take away my good name. If you are trying to heal me, you aren't very good doctors!


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No matter how things turn out, I'm sure I'll still be saved. After all, no ungodly person would dare to come into his court.


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How many things have I done wrong? How many sins have I committed? Show me my crime. Show me my sin.


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I'm already like a leaf that is blown by the wind. Are you going to terrify me even more? I'm already like dry straw. Are you going to keep on chasing me?


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You write down bitter things against me. You make me suffer for the sins I committed when I was young.


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You put my feet in chains. You watch every step I take. You do it by putting marks on the bottom of my feet.


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You decide how long anyone will live. You have established the number of his months. You have set a limit to the number of his days.


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"At least there is hope for a tree. If it's cut down, it will begin to grow again. New branches will appear on it.


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No man is like that. When he dies, he is buried in a grave. He takes his last breath. Then he is gone.


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In the same way, a man lies down and never gets up. He won't wake up or rise from his sleep until the heavens are gone.


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"I wish you would hide me in a grave! I wish you would cover me up until your anger passes by! I wish you would set the time for me to spend in the grave and then bring me back up!


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If a man dies, will he live again? All the days of my hard work I will wait for the time when you give me new life.


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You overpower us completely, and then we're gone. You change the way we look and send us to our graves.


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"Job, if you were wise, would you answer us with a lot of meaningless talk? Would you fill your stomach with the hot east wind?


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But you even cause others to lose their respect for God. You make it hard for them to be faithful to him.


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So he'll certainly find fault with human beings. After all, they are evil and sinful. They drink up evil as if it were water.


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I'll tell you what those who are wise have said. They don't hide anything they've received from their people of long ago.


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The land was given only to those people. Their wisdom didn't come from outsiders. And here's what those who are wise have said.


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Suffering and pain terrify them. Their troubles overpower them, like a king ready to attack his enemies.


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They'll live in towns that have been destroyed. They'll live in houses where no one else lives. The houses will crumble to pieces.


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They won't be rich anymore. Their wealth won't last. Their property will no longer spread out over the land.


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They won't escape the darkness of death. A flame will dry up everything they have. The breath of God will blow them away.


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They'll be like vines that are stripped of their unripe grapes. They'll be like olive trees that drop their flowers.


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People who are ungodly won't have any children. Fire will burn up the tents of people who accept money from those who want special favors.


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Instead of having children, ungodly people create suffering. All they produce is evil. They are full of lies."


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Your speeches go on forever. Won't they ever end? What's wrong with you? Why do you keep on arguing?


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If you and I changed places, I could say the same things you are saying. I could make fine speeches against you. I could shake my head at you.


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God is angry with me. He attacks me and tears me up. He grinds his teeth at me. He stares at me as if he were my enemy.


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Everything was going well with me. But he broke me into pieces like a clay pot. He grabbed me by the neck and crushed me. He has taken aim at me.


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He shoots his arrows at me from all sides. Without pity, he stabs me in the kidneys. He spills my insides on the ground.


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People who make fun of me are all around me. I'm forced to watch as they attack me with their words.


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You have closed the minds of those who are trying to comfort me. They don't understand that I haven't done anything wrong. So don't let them win the argument.


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Suppose a man tells lies about his friends to get a reward. Then his own children will suffer for it.


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Those who claim to be honest are shocked when they see me. Those who think they haven't sinned are stirred up against me. They think I'm ungodly.


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Suppose the only home I can hope for is a grave. And suppose I make my bed in the darkness of death.


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Suppose I say to the grave, 'You are like a father to me.' And suppose I say to its worms, 'You are like a mother or sister to me.'


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Will hope go down to the gates of death with me? Will we go down together into the dust of the grave?"


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Your anger is tearing you to pieces. Does the earth have to be deserted just to prove you are right? Must all of the rocks be moved from their places?


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They are torn away from the safety of their tents. They are marched off to the one who rules over death.


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Now you know what the homes of sinners are like. Those who don't know God live in places like that."


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"I cry out, 'Someone harmed me!' But I don't get any reply. I call out for help. But I'm not treated fairly.


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God has blocked my way, and I can't get through. He has made my paths so dark I can't see where I'm going.


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He tears me down on every side until I'm gone. He pulls up the roots of my hope as if I were a tree.


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His troops march toward me in force. They come at me from every direction. They camp around my tent.


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My guests and my female servants think of me as a stranger. They look at me as if I were an outsider.


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I myself will see him with my own eyes. I'll see him, and he won't be a stranger to me. How my heart longs for that day!


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But you should be afraid when God comes to judge you. He'll be angry. He'll punish you with his sword. Then you will know that he is the Judge."


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"I'm sure you must know how things have always been. They've been that way ever since man was placed on this earth.


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Those who are evil are happy for only a short time. The joy of ungodly people lasts only for a moment.


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But they will disappear forever, like the waste from their own bodies. Anyone who has seen them will say, 'Where did they go?'


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Like a dream they will fly away. They will never be seen again. They will be driven away like visions in the night.


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Their children must pay back what they took from poor people. Their own hands must give back the wealth they stole.


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But their food will turn sour in their stomachs. It will become like the poison of a serpent inside them.


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What they worked for they must give back before they can eat it. They won't enjoy what they have earned.


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They've crushed poor people and left them with nothing. They've taken over houses they didn't even build.


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While they are enjoying the good life, trouble will catch up with them. Terrible suffering will come on them.


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When they've filled their stomachs, God will pour out his burning anger on them. He'll strike them down with blow after blow.


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They will pull the arrows out of their backs. They will remove the shining tips from their livers. They will be filled with terror.


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Total darkness hides and waits for their treasures. God will send a fire that will destroy them. It will burn up everything that's left in their tents.


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Every time their bulls mate, their cows become pregnant. And the calves don't die before they are born.


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They sing to the music of tambourines and harps. They have a good time while flutes are being played.


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But they aren't in control of their own success. So I don't pay any attention to the advice they give.


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"How often are their lamps blown out? How often does trouble come on them? How often does God punish them when he's angry?


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How often are they like dried-up seed coverings blowing in the wind? How often are they like straw swept away by a storm?


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People say, 'God punishes a man's children for his sins.' But let him punish the man himself. Then he'll learn a lesson from it.


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What does he care about the family he leaves behind? What does he care about them when his life comes to an end?


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Some people die while they are still very strong. They are completely secure. They have an easy life.


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You are saying to yourselves, 'Where is the great man's house now? Where are the tents where his evil family lived?'


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Haven't you ever asked questions of those who travel? Haven't you paid any attention to their stories?


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They'll tell you that sinful people are spared from the day of trouble. They'll say that those people are saved from the day when God will judge.


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The soil in the valley will be pleasant to those who have died. Many people will walk along behind their bodies. Many others will walk in front of them.


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"So how can you comfort me with your speeches? They don't make any sense at all. Your answers are nothing but lies!"


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Job, what pleasure would it give the Mighty One if you were right? What would he get if you were completely honest?


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"You say you have respect for him. Is that why he corrects you? Is that why he brings charges against you?


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You took clothes away from your relatives just because they owed you some money. You left them naked for no reason at all.


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But he was the one who filled their houses with good things. So I don't pay any attention to the advice they give.


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"Those who do what is right are joyful when they see sinners destroyed. Those who haven't done anything wrong make fun of them.


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If you return to the Mighty One, you will have what you had before. But first you must remove everything that is evil far from your tent.


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"Even today my problems are more than I can handle. In spite of my groans, God's hand is heavy on me.


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I'm an honest person. I could state my case to him. Then my Judge would tell me once and for all that I'm not guilty.


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When he's working in the north, I don't see him there. When he turns to the south, I don't see him there either.


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But even the darkness of death won't make me silent. When the darkness of the grave covers my face, I won't be quiet.


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"Why doesn't the Mighty One set a time for judging sinful people? Why do those who know him have to keep waiting for that day?


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They take away the donkeys that belong to children whose fathers have died. They take a widow's ox until she has paid what she owes.


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They push those who are needy out of their way. They force all of the poor people in the land to go into hiding.


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The poor are like wild donkeys in the desert. They have to go around looking for food. The dry and empty land provides the only food for their children.


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The poor go to the fields and get a little grain. They gather up what is left in the vineyards of sinners.


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The poor don't have any clothes. So they spend the night naked. They don't have anything to cover themselves in the cold.


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They are soaked by mountain rains. They hug the rocks because they don't have anything to keep them warm.


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Children whose fathers have died are torn away from their mothers. A poor person's baby is taken away to pay back what is owed.


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The poor don't have any clothes. They go around naked. They carry bundles of grain, but they still go hungry.


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They work very hard as they crush olives. They stomp on grapes in winepresses, but they are still thirsty.


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The groans of those who are dying are heard from the city. Those who are wounded cry out for help. But God doesn't charge anyone with doing what is wrong.


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When daylight is gone, murderers get up. They kill poor people and those who are in need. In the night they sneak around like robbers.


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Those who commit adultery wait until the sun goes down. They think, 'No one will see us.' They keep their faces hidden.


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In the dark, people break into houses. But by day they shut themselves in. They don't want anything to do with the light.


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"But sinners are like bubbles on the surface of water. Their share of the land is under God's curse. So no one goes to their vineyards.


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Melted snow disappears when the air is hot and dry. And sinners disappear when they go down into their graves.


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Even their mothers forget them. The worms in their graves eat them up. No one remembers sinful people anymore. They are cut down like trees.


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But God is powerful. He even drags away people who are strong. When he rises up against them, they can never be sure they are safe.


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For a little while they are honored. Then they are gone. They are brought low. And they die like everyone else. They are cut off like heads of grain.


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You haven't offered advice to those who aren't wise! In fact, you haven't understood anything at all!


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"The spirits of the dead are suffering greatly. So are those that are under the waters. And so are all those that live in them.


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He marks out the place where the sky meets the sea. He marks out the boundary between light and darkness.


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His breath made the skies bright and clear. His hand wounded the serpent that glides through the sea.


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Those are only on the edges of what he does. They are only the soft whispers that we hear from him. So who can understand how very powerful he is?"


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"God hasn't treated me fairly. The Mighty One has made my spirit bitter. You can be sure that God lives. And here's something else you can be sure of.


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What hope do ungodly people have when their lives are cut off? What hope do they have when God takes away their lives?


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A plague will kill those who are left alive. The widows of sinful men won't even sob over their own children.


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But people who do what is right will wear those clothes. People who haven't done anything wrong will divide up that silver.


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The house an evil person builds is like a moth's cocoon. It's like a hut that's made by someone on guard duty.


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Sinful people lie down wealthy, but their wealth is taken away. When they open their eyes, everything is gone.


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A miner lights up the darkness. He searches for ore in the deepest pits. He looks for it in the blackest darkness.


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Far from where people live he cuts a tunnel. He does it in places where others don't go. Far away from people he swings back and forth on ropes.


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He said to human beings, 'Have respect for me. That will prove you are wise. Avoid evil. That will show you have understanding.' "


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That's because I saved poor people who cried out for help. I saved helpless children whose fathers had died.


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Sinners are like animals that have powerful teeth. But I took from their mouths the people they had caught.


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They waited for me just as they would wait for showers. They drank my words just as they would drink the spring rain.


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I chose the way they should go. I sat as their chief. I lived as a king lives among his troops. I was like someone who comforts those who are sad.


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"But now those who are younger than I am make fun of me. I wouldn't put even their parents with my sheep dogs!


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They were weak because they were needy and hungry. They wandered through dry and empty deserts at night.


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They were forced to live in dry stream beds. They had to stay among rocks and in holes in the ground.


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God has made my body weak. It's like a tent that has fallen down. So those children do what they want to in front of me.


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Many people attack me on my right side. They lay traps for my feet. They come at me from every direction.


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They attack me like troops smashing through a wall. Among the destroyed buildings they come rolling in.


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I hoped good things would happen, but something evil came. I looked for light, but all I saw was darkness.


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My skin has become dark, but the sun didn't do it. I stand up in the community and cry out for help.


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Suppose my steps have turned away from the right path. Suppose my heart has longed for what my eyes have seen. Or suppose my hands have become 'unclean.'


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Wanting another woman would have been a shameful thing. It would have been a sin that should be judged.


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It's like a fire that burns down to the grave. It would have caused my crops to be pulled up by the roots.


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"Suppose I haven't treated my male and female servants fairly when they've brought charges against me.


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Then what will I do when God opposes me? What answer will I give him when he asks me to explain myself?


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Suppose I've seen people dying because they didn't have any clothes. I've seen needy people who had nothing to wear.


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Suppose I've raised my hand against children whose fathers have died. And I did it because I knew I had power in the courts.


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Suppose I've worshiped the sun in all of its glory. I've bowed down to the moon in all of its beauty.


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Then those things would have been sins that should be judged. And I wouldn't have been faithful to God in heaven.


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I was never afraid of the crowd. I never worried that my relatives might hate me. I didn't have to keep quiet or stay inside.


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"I wish someone would listen to me! I'm signing my name to everything I've said. I hope the Mighty One will give me his answer. I hope the one who brings charges against me will write them down.


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Then let thorns grow instead of wheat. Let weeds come up instead of barley." The words of Job end here.


text:
But Elihu the Buzite burned with anger against Job. That's because Job said he himself was right instead of God. Elihu was the son of Barakel. He was from the family of Ram.


text:
Elihu's anger also burned against Job's three friends. They hadn't found any way to prove that Job was wrong. But they still said he was guilty.


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Elihu the Buzite, the son of Barakel, said, "I'm young, and you are old. So I was afraid to tell you what I know.


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I thought, 'Those who are older should speak first. Those who have lived for many years should teach people how to be wise.'


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Older people aren't the only ones who are wise. They aren't the only ones who understand what is right.


text:
I paid careful attention to you. But not one of you has proved that Job is wrong. None of you has answered his arguments.


text:
Do I have to keep on waiting, now that they are silent? They are just standing there with nothing to say.


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You said, 'I'm pure. I haven't sinned in the ways you have charged. I'm clean. I'm not guilty of doing anything wrong.


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"But I'm telling you that you aren't right when you talk like that. After all, God is greater than a mere man.


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He might speak in a dream or in a vision at night. That's when people are sound asleep in their beds.


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He wants to stop them from going down into the grave. He doesn't want them to be killed with swords.


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"But suppose there is an angel who will speak up for him. The angel is very special. He's one out of a thousand. He will tell that person what is right for him.


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He'll be gracious to him. He'll say to God, 'Spare him from going down into the grave. I know a way that can set him free.'


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He prays to God and finds favor with him. He sees God's face and shouts with joy. God makes him right with himself again.


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Then the person comes to others and says, 'I sinned. I made what was wrong appear to be right. But I wasn't punished as I should have been.


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God set me free. He kept me from going down into the grave. So I'll live to enjoy the light that leads to life.'


text:
He wants to stop people from going down into the grave. Then the light that leads to life will shine on them.


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Even though I'm right, he thinks I'm a liar. Even though I'm not guilty, his arrows give me wounds that can't be healed.'


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"So listen to me, you men who have understanding. God would never do what is evil. The Mighty One would never do what is wrong.


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He doesn't favor princes. He treats rich people and poor people the same. His hands created all of them.


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They die suddenly in the middle of the night. God strikes them down, and they pass away. Those who are mighty are removed, but not by human hands.


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God doesn't need to bring charges against men. He knows they are guilty. So he doesn't need to have them appear in his court to be judged.


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He destroys the mighty without asking them questions in court. Then he sets others up in their places.


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But if he remains silent, who can judge him? If he turns his face away, who can see him? He rules over people and nations alike.


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But you refuse to turn away from your sins. So God won't treat you the way you want to be treated. You must decide, Job. I can't do it for you. So tell me what you know.


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To his sin he adds even more sin. He claps his hands and makes fun of us. He multiplies his words against God."


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The evil things you do only hurt someone like yourself. The right things you do only help other human beings.


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"People cry out when they are beaten down. They beg to be set free from the power of those who are over them.


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So he certainly won't listen to you. When you say you don't see him, he won't hear you. He won't listen when you state your case to him. He won't pay attention even if you wait for him.


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When you say his anger never punishes sin, he won't hear you. He won't listen when you say he doesn't pay any attention to evil.


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So you say things that don't mean anything. You use a lot of words, but you don't know what you are talking about."


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"God is mighty, but he doesn't hate people. He's mighty, and he knows exactly what he's going to do.


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He watches over those who do what is right. He puts them on thrones as if they were kings. He honors them forever.


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He makes them listen when he corrects them. He commands them to turn away from the evil things they've done.


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But if they don't listen to him, they'll be killed with swords. They'll die because they didn't want to know anything about him.


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"Those whose hearts are ungodly are always angry. Even when God puts them in chains, they don't cry out for help.


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"Job, he wants to take you out of the jaws of trouble. He wants to bring you to a wide and safe place. He'd like to seat you at a table that is loaded with the best food.


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Be careful that no one tempts you with riches. Don't take money from people who want special favors, no matter how much it is.


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How great God is! We'll never completely understand him. We'll never find out how long he has lived.


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Who can understand how God spreads out the clouds? Who can explain how he thunders from his home in heaven?


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Next comes the sound of his roaring thunder. He thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice fills the air, he doesn't hold anything back.


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He directs the clouds to circle above the surface of the whole earth. They do everything he commands them to do.


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Do you know how the clouds stay up in the sky? Do you understand the wonders of the One who has perfect knowledge?


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We can't reach up to the Mighty One. He is lifted high because of his power. Everything he does is fair and right. So he doesn't crush people.


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I said, 'You can come this far. But you can't come any farther. Here is where your proud waves have to stop.'


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The daylight takes the earth by its edges as if it were a blanket. Then it shakes sinful people out of it.


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The earth takes shape like clay under a seal. Its features stand out like the different parts of your clothes.


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Can you bring out all of the stars in their seasons? Can you lead out the Big Dipper and the Little Dipper?


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Who provides food for ravens when their babies cry out to me? They wander around because they do not have anything to eat.


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Do you count the months until the animals have their babies? Do you know the time when they give birth?


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"The wings of ostriches flap with joy. But they can't compare with the wings and feathers of storks.


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Ostriches are mean to their little ones. They treat them as if they did not belong to them. They do not care that their work was useless.


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When they hear the trumpets they snort, 'Aha!' They catch the smells of battle far away. They hear the shouts of commanders and the battle cries.


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"Job, are you wise enough to teach hawks where to fly? They spread their wings and fly toward the south.


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"I am the Mighty One. Will the man who argues with me correct me? Let him who brings charges against me answer me!"


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"Get ready to stand up for yourself. I will ask you some more questions. Then I want you to answer me.


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"Would you dare to claim that I am not being fair? Would you judge me in order to make yourself seem right?


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It is not afraid when the river roars. It is secure even when the Jordan River rushes against its mouth.


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"Job, can you pull the leviathan out of the sea with a fish hook? Can you tie down its tongue with a rope?


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When the leviathan rises up, even mighty people are terrified. They run away when it moves around wildly.


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Its undersides are like broken pieces of pottery. It leaves a trail in the mud like a threshing sled.


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You asked me, 'Who do you think you are to disagree with my plans? You do not know what you are talking about.' I spoke about things I didn't completely understand. I talked about things that were too wonderful for me to know.


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"You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak. I will ask you some questions. Then I want you to answer me.'


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So I hate myself. I'm really sorry for what I said about you. That's why I'm sitting in dust and ashes."


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After the Lord finished speaking to Job, he spoke to Eliphaz the Temanite. He said, "I am angry with you and your two friends. You have not said what is true about me, as my servant Job has.


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"So now get seven bulls and seven rams. Go to my servant Job. Then sacrifice a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you. And I will accept his prayer. I will not punish you for saying the foolish things you said. You have not said what is true about me, as my servant Job has."


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So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did what the Lord told them to do. And the Lord accepted Job's prayer.


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After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord made him successful again. He gave him twice as much as he had before.


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All of his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came to see him. They ate with him in his house. They showed their concern for him. They comforted him because of all of the troubles the Lord had brought on him. Each one gave him 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. He gave Job 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels. He gave him 1,000 pairs of oxen and 1,000 donkeys.


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


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Job's daughters were more beautiful than any other women in the whole land. Their father gave them a share of property along with their brothers.


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After all of that happened, Job lived for 140 years. He saw his children, his grandchildren and his great-grandchildren.


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BOOK I Blessed is the one who obeys the law of the Lord. He doesn't follow the advice of evil people. He doesn't make a habit of doing what sinners do. He doesn't join those who make fun of the Lord and his law.


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He is like a tree that is planted near a stream of water. It always bears its fruit at the right time. Its leaves don't dry up. Everything godly people do turns out well.


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When the Lord judges them, their life will come to an end. Sinners won't have any place among those who are godly.


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The Lord watches over the lives of those who are godly. But the lives of sinful people will lead to their death.


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The kings of the earth take their stand against the Lord. The rulers of the earth gather together against his anointed king.


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The One who sits on his throne in heaven laughs. The Lord makes fun of those rulers and their plans.


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I will announce what the Lord has promised. He said to me, "You are my son. Today I have become your father.


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Obey the son completely, or he will be angry. Your way of life will lead to your death. His anger can blaze out at any moment. Blessed are all those who go to him for safety.


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A psalm of David when he ran away from his son Absalom. Lord, I have so many enemies! So many people are rising up against me!


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Lord, rise up! My God, save me! Strike all my enemies in the face. Break the teeth of sinful people.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David to be played on stringed instruments. My faithful God, answer me when I call out to you. Give me rest from my trouble. Show me your favor. Hear my prayer.


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How long will you people turn my glory into shame? How long will you love what will certainly fail you? How long will you pray to statues of gods? Selah


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Remember that the Lord has set his faithful people apart for himself. The Lord will hear me when I call out to him.


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Many are asking, "Who can show us anything good?" Lord, let us see your face smiling on us with favor.


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You have filled my heart with great joy. It is greater than the joy of people who have lots of grain and fresh wine.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David to be played on flutes. Lord, listen to my words. Pay attention when I sigh.


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God, you aren't happy with anything that is evil. Those who do what is wrong can't live where you are.


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Because of your great love I will come into your house. With deep respect I will bow down toward your holy temple.


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Not a word from their mouths can be trusted. Their hearts are filled with plans to destroy others. Their throats are like open graves. With their tongues they tell lies.


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God, show that they are guilty. Let their evil plans bring them down. Send them away because of their many sins. They have refused to obey you.


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But let all those who go to you for safety be glad. Let them always sing with joy. Spread your cover over them and keep them safe. Then those who love you will be glad because of you.


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For the director of music. For sheminith. A psalm of David to be played on stringed instruments. Lord, don't correct me when you are angry. Don't punish me when you are burning with anger.


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My groaning has worn me out. All night long my tears flood my bed. My bed is wet because of my crying.


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All of my enemies will be troubled and put to shame. They will turn back in dishonor. It will happen suddenly.


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A shiggaion of David. He sang it to the Lord about Cush, who was from the tribe of Benjamin. Lord my God, I go to you for safety. Help me. Save me from all those who are chasing me.


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If you don't, they will tear me apart as if they were lions. They will rip me to pieces so that no one can save me.


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If I have done any of those things, let my enemy chase me and catch me. Let him walk all over me. Let him bury me in the dust. Selah


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Lord, rise up in your anger. Rise up against the great anger of my enemies. My God, wake up. Command that the right thing be done.


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Lord, judge all people. Lord, judge me. But remember that I have done what is right. Most High God, remember that I am honest.


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God, you always do what is right. You look deep down inside the hearts and minds of people. Bring to an end the terrible things sinful people do. Make godly people safe.


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If evil people don't change their ways, God will sharpen his sword. He will get his bow ready to use.


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I will give thanks to the Lord because he does what is right. I will sing praise to the Lord Most High.


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For the director of music. For gittith. A psalm of David. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in the whole earth! You have made your glory higher than the heavens.


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You have made sure that children and infants praise you. You have done it because of your enemies. You have done it to put a stop to their talk.


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I think about the heavens. I think about what your fingers have created. I think about the moon and stars that you have set in place.


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You made human beings the rulers over all that your hands have created. You put everything under their control.


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They rule over the birds of the air and over the fish in the ocean. They rule over everything that swims in the oceans.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David to the tune of "The Death of the Son." Lord, I will praise you with all my heart. I will tell about all of the miracles you have done.


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You have punished the nations. You have destroyed evil people. You have erased their names from your book for ever and ever.


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The enemy has been destroyed forever. You have leveled their cities to the ground. Even the memory of them is gone.


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The Lord is a place of safety for those who have been beaten down. He keeps them safe in times of trouble.


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Sing praises to the Lord. He rules from his throne in Zion. Tell among the nations what he has done.


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Lord, see how badly my enemies treat me! Show me your favor. Don't let me go down to the gates of death.


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Then I can give praise to you at the gates of the city of Zion. There I will be full of joy because you have saved me.


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The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug. Their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.


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But those who are in need will always be remembered. The hope of those who are hurting will never die.


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An evil person is proud and hunts down those who are weak. He catches weak people by making clever plans.


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He brags about what his heart longs for. He speaks well of those who always want more. He attacks the Lord with his words.


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Because he is proud, that evil person doesn't turn to the Lord. There is no room for God in any of his thoughts.


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Everything always goes well for him. So he is proud. He doesn't want to have anything to do with God's laws. He makes fun of all of his enemies.


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His mouth is full of curses and lies and warnings. With his tongue he speaks evil and makes trouble.


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Sinful people hide and wait near the villages. From their hiding places they murder those who aren't guilty of doing anything wrong. They watch in secret for those they want to attack.


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They hide and wait like a lion in the bushes. From their hiding places they wait to catch those who are helpless. They catch them and drag them off in their nets.


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Those they have attacked are beaten up. They fall to the ground. They fall because their attackers are too strong for them.


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Sinful people say to themselves, "God doesn't pay any attention. He covers his face. He never sees us."


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Why do sinful people attack you with their words? Why do they say to themselves, "He won't hold us accountable"?


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God, you see trouble and sadness. You take note of it. You do something about it. So those who are attacked place themselves in your care. You help children whose fathers have died.


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Take away the power of bad and sinful people. Hold them accountable for the evil things they do. Uncover all the evil they have done.


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Lord, you hear the longings of those who are hurting. You cheer them up and give them hope. You listen to their cries.


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You stand up for those whose fathers have died and for those who have been beaten down. You do it so that no one made of dust may terrify others anymore.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. I run to the Lord for safety. So how can you say to me, "Fly away like a bird to your mountain.


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Look! Evil people are bending their bows. They are placing their arrows against the strings. They are planning to shoot from the shadows at those who have honest hearts.


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The Lord is in his holy temple. The Lord is on his throne in heaven. He watches all people. His eyes study them.


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The Lord watches over those who do what is right. But he hates sinful people and those who love to hurt others.


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He will pour out flaming coals and burning sulfur on those who do what is wrong. A hot and dry wind will destroy them.


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The Lord always does what is right. So he loves it when people do what is fair. Those who are honest will enjoy his blessing.


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For the director of music. For sheminith. A psalm of David. Help, Lord! Those who do what is right are gone. Those who are faithful have disappeared from the earth.


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Everyone tells lies to his neighbors. With his lips he praises others, but he doesn't really mean it.


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May the Lord cut off all lips that don't mean what they say. May he cut out every tongue that brags.


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They say, "We will win the battle with our tongues. Our lips belong to us. No one else is in charge of us."


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The Lord says, "The weak are beaten down. Those who are in need groan. So I will stand up to help them. I will keep them safe from those who tell lies about them."


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The words of the Lord are perfect. They are like silver made pure in a clay furnace. They are like silver made pure seven times over.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. Lord, how long must I wait? Will you forget me forever? How long will you turn your face away from me?


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How long must I struggle with my thoughts? How long must my heart be sad day after day? How long will my enemies keep winning the battle over me?


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. Foolish people say in their hearts, "There is no God." They do all kinds of horrible and evil things. No one does anything good.


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The Lord looks down from heaven on all people. He wants to see if there are any who understand. He wants to see if there are any who trust in God.


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Won't those who do evil ever learn? They eat up my people as if they were eating bread. They don't call out to the Lord for help.


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You who do evil make it hard for poor people to do what they plan to do. But the Lord is their place of safety.


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How I pray that the One who saves Israel will come out of Zion! Then the Lord will bless his people with great success again. So let the people of Jacob be filled with joy! Let Israel be glad!


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He doesn't tell lies about others. He doesn't do wrong to his neighbors. He doesn't say anything bad about them.


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He hates sinful people. He honors those who have respect for the Lord. He keeps his promises even when it hurts.


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He lends his money without charging too much interest. He doesn't accept money to harm those who aren't guilty. Anyone who lives like that will always be secure.


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Those who run after other gods will have nothing but trouble. I will not pour out offerings of blood to those gods. My lips will not speak their names.


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You always show me the path that leads to life. You will fill me with joy when I am with you. You will give me endless pleasures at your right hand.


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A prayer of David. Lord, hear me when I ask you to treat me fairly. Listen to my cry for help. Hear my prayer. It doesn't come from lips that tell lies.


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Look deep down into my heart. Study me carefully at night. Put me to the test. You won't find anything wrong. I have made up my mind that my mouth won't say sinful things.


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I don't do the things other people do. By obeying your word I have kept myself from acting like those who try to hurt others.


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Show the wonder of your great love. By using your powerful right hand, you save those who go to you for safety from their enemies.


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Take good care of me, just as you would take care of your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.


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They have tracked me down. They are all around me. Their eyes watch for a chance to throw me to the ground.


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They are like a hungry lion, waiting to attack. They are like a powerful lion, hiding in the bushes.


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Lord, by your power save me from people like that. They belong to this world. They get their reward in this life. You satisfy the hunger of those you love. Their children have plenty. And those children store up wealth for their children.


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The Lord is my rock and my fort. He is the One who saves me. My God is my rock. I go to him for safety. He is like a shield to me. He's the power that saves me. He's my place of safety.


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When I was in trouble, I called out to the Lord. I cried to my God for help. From his temple he heard my voice. My cry for help reached his ears.


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The earth trembled and shook. The base of the mountains rocked back and forth. It trembled because the Lord was angry.


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Clouds came out of the brightness that was all around him. They came with hailstones and flashes of lightning.


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He shot his arrows and scattered our enemies. He sent great flashes of lightning and chased the enemies away.


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The bottom of the sea could be seen. The foundations of the earth were uncovered. Lord, it happened when your anger blazed out. It came like a blast of breath from your nose.


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The Lord has been good to me because I do what is right. He has rewarded me because I lead a pure life.


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Lord, to those who are faithful you show that you are faithful. To those who are without blame you show that you are without blame.


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Lord, you keep the lamp of my life burning brightly. You are my God. You bring light into my darkness.


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God's way is perfect. The word of the Lord doesn't have any flaws. He is like a shield to all who go to him for safety.


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Lord, you are like a shield that keeps me safe. You help me win the battle. Your strong right hand keeps me going. You bend down to make me great.


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You saved me when my own people attacked me. You made me the ruler over nations. People I didn't know serve me now.


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He saves me from my enemies. You have honored me more than them. You have saved me from men who want to hurt me.


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The Lord helps his king win great battles. He shows his faithful love to his anointed king. He shows it to me and my family forever.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies show that his hands created them.


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At the same time, their voice goes out into the whole earth. Their words go out from one end of the world to the other. God has set up a tent in the heavens for the sun.


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The sun is like a groom coming out of the room where he spent his wedding night. The sun is like a great runner who takes delight in running a race.


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It rises at one end of the heavens. Then it moves across to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.


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The law of the Lord is perfect. It gives us new strength. The laws of the Lord can be trusted. They make childish people wise.


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The rules of the Lord are right. They give joy to our hearts. The commands of the Lord shine brightly. They give light to our minds.


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The law that brings respect for the Lord is pure. It lasts forever. The directions the Lord gives are true. All of them are completely right.


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They are more priceless than gold. They have greater value than huge amounts of pure gold. They are sweeter than honey that is taken from the honeycomb.


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Keep me also from the sins I want to commit. May they not be my master. Then I will be without blame. I will not be guilty of any great sin against your law.


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Lord, may the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart be pleasing in your eyes. You are my Rock and my Redeemer.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble. May the God of Jacob keep you safe.


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We will shout with joy when you win the battle. We will lift up our flags in the name of our God. May the Lord give you everything you ask for.


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Now I know that the Lord saves his anointed king. He answers him from his holy heaven. The power of God's right hand saves the king.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. Lord, the king is filled with joy because you are strong. How great is his joy because you help him win his battles!


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You have given him what his heart longed for. You haven't kept back from him what his lips asked for. Selah


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His glory is great because you helped him win his battles. You have honored him with glory and majesty.


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You have given him blessings that will last forever. You have made him glad and joyful because you are with him.


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When you appear, you will be like a flaming furnace to them. The Lord will swallow them up in his anger. His fire will burn them up.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David to the tune of "The Doe of the Morning." My God, my God, why have you deserted me? Why do you seem to be so far away when I need you to save me? Why do you seem to be so far away that you can't hear my groans?


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All those who see me laugh at me. They shout at me and make fun of me. They shake their heads at me.


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They say, "He trusts in the Lord. Let the Lord help him. If the Lord is pleased with him, let him save him."


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But you brought me out of my mother's body. You made me trust in you even when I was at my mother's breast.


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From the time I was born, you took good care of me. Ever since I came out of my mother's body, you have been my God.


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They are like roaring lions that tear to pieces what they kill. They open their mouths wide to attack me.


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My strength is like water that is poured out on the ground. I feel as if my bones aren't connected. My heart has turned to wax. It has melted away inside me.


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My strength is dried up like a piece of broken pottery. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You bring me down to the edge of the grave.


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A group of sinful people has closed in on me. They are all around me like a pack of dogs. They have pierced my hands and my feet.


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I will announce your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among those who worship you.


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You who have respect for the Lord, praise him! All you people of Jacob, honor him! All you people of Israel, worship him!


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He has not forgotten the one who is hurting. He has not turned away from his suffering. He has not turned his face away from him. He has listened to his cry for help.


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Because of what you have done, I will praise you in the whole community of those who worship you. In front of those who respect you, I will keep my promises.


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Those who are poor will eat and be satisfied. Those who look to the Lord will praise him. May their hearts be filled with new hope!


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People from one end of the earth to the other will remember and turn to the Lord. The people of all the nations will bow down before him.


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All the rich people of the earth will worship God and take part in his feasts. All those who go down to the edge of the grave will fall on their knees in front of him. I'm talking about those who can hardly keep themselves alive.


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Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid. You are with me. Your shepherd's rod and staff comfort me.


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I am sure that your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. And I will live in the house of the Lord forever.


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A psalm of David. The earth belongs to the Lord. And so does everything in it. The world belongs to him. And so do all those who live in it.


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Anyone who has clean hands and a pure heart. He does not worship the statue of a god. He doesn't use the name of that god when he makes a promise.


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People like that will receive the Lord's blessing. When God their Savior hands down his sentence, it will be in their favor.


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Those who put their hope in you will never be put to shame. But those who can't be trusted will be put to shame. They have no excuse.


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Don't remember the sins I committed when I was young. Don't remember how often I refused to obey you. Remember me because you love me. Lord, you are good.


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A psalm of David. Lord, when you hand down your sentence, let it be in my favor. I have lived without blame. I have trusted in the Lord. I have never doubted him.


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Their hands are always planning to do evil. Their right hands are full of money that bought them off.


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A psalm of David. The Lord gives me light and saves me. Why should I fear anyone? The Lord is my place of safety. Why should I be afraid?


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Even if an army attacks me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if war breaks out against me, I will still trust in God.


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I'm asking the Lord for only one thing. Here is what I want. I want to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life. I want to look at the beauty of the Lord. I want to worship him in his temple.


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When I'm in trouble, he will keep me safe in his house. He will hide me in the safety of his holy tent. He will put me on a rock that is very high.


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Then I will win the battle over my enemies who are all around me. At his holy tent I will offer my sacrifice with shouts of joy. I will sing and make music to the Lord.


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Don't turn your face away from me. Don't turn me away because you are angry. You have helped me. God my Savior, don't say no to me. Don't desert me.


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My enemies want to harm me. So don't turn me over to them. Witnesses who tell lies are rising up against me. They are trying to destroy me.


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A psalm of David. Lord, my Rock, I call out to you. Pay attention to me. If you remain silent, I will die. I will be like those who have gone down into the grave.


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Hear my cry for your favor when I call out to you for help. Hear me when I lift up my hands in prayer toward your Most Holy Room.


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Don't drag me away with sinners. Don't drag me away with those who do evil. They speak in a friendly way to their neighbors. But their hearts are full of hatred.


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Pay them back for their evil actions. Pay them back for what their hands have done. Give them exactly what they should get.


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They don't care about the Lord's mighty acts. They don't care about what his hands have done. So he will tear them down. He will never build them up again.


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The Lord gives me strength. He is like a shield that keeps me safe. My heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart jumps for joy. I will sing and give thanks to him.


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Praise the Lord for the glory that belongs to him. Worship the Lord because of his beauty and holiness.


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The voice of the Lord is heard over the waters. The God of glory thunders. The Lord thunders over the mighty waters.


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He makes the mountains of Lebanon skip like a calf. He makes Mount Hermon jump like a young wild ox.


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The voice of the Lord twists the oak trees. It strips the forests bare. And in his temple everyone cries out, "Glory!"


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A psalm of David. A song for committing the completed temple to God. Lord, I will give you honor. You brought me out of deep trouble. You didn't give my enemies the joy of seeing me die.


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His anger lasts for only a moment. But his favor lasts for a person's whole life. Sobbing can remain through the night. But joy comes in the morning.


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Lord, when you showed me your favor, you made my mountain stand firm. But when you turned your face away from me, I was terrified.


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I said, "What good will come if I die? What good will come if I go down into the grave? Can the dust of my dead body praise you? Can it tell how faithful you are?


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. Lord, I have gone to you for safety. Don't let me ever be put to shame. Save me, because you do what is right.


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Pay attention to me. Come quickly to help me. Be the rock I go to for safety. Be the strong fort that saves me.


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I will be glad and full of joy because you love me. You saw that I was hurting. You took note of my great pain.


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Lord, show me your favor. I'm in deep trouble. I'm so sad I can hardly see. My whole body grows weak with sadness.


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Pain has taken over my life. My years are spent in groaning. I have no strength because I'm hurting so much. My body is getting weaker and weaker.


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My neighbors make fun of me because I have so many enemies. My friends are afraid of me. Those who see me on the street run away from me.


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I hear the lies many people tell about me. There is terror all around me. Many have joined together against me. They plan to kill me.


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Lord, I have cried out to you. Don't let me be put to shame. But let sinners be put to shame. Let them lie silent in the grave.


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Their lips tell lies. Let them be silenced. They speak with pride against those who do right. They make fun of them.


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How great your goodness is! You have stored it up for those who have respect for you. While other people watch, you give it to those who run to you for safety.


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They are safe because you are with them. You hide them from the evil plans of their enemies. In your house you keep them safe from those who bring charges against them.


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Give praise to the Lord. He showed me his wonderful love when my enemies attacked the city I was in.


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I was afraid and said, "I've been cut off from you!" But you heard my cry for your favor. You heard me when I called out to you for help.


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Love the Lord, all of you who are faithful to him! The Lord watches over the faithful. But he completely pays back those who are proud.


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A maskil of David. Blessed is the one whose lawless acts are forgiven. His sins have been taken away.


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Day and night your heavy hand punished me. I became weaker and weaker as I do in the heat of summer. Selah


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Then I admitted my sin to you. I didn't cover up the wrong I had done. I said, "I will admit my lawless acts to the Lord." And you forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah


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Let everyone who is godly pray to you while they can still look to you. When troubles come like a flood, they certainly won't reach those who are godly.


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You are my hiding place. You will keep me safe from trouble. You will surround me with songs sung by those who praise you because you save your people. Selah


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I will guide you and teach you the way you should go. I will give you good advice and watch over you.


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Don't be like the horse or the mule. They can't understand anything. They have to be controlled by bits and bridles. If they aren't, they won't come to you.


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Sinful people have all kinds of trouble. But the Lord's faithful love is all around those who trust in him.


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Be glad because of what the Lord has done for you. Be joyful, you who do what is right! Sing, all of you whose hearts are honest!


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The heavens were made when the Lord commanded it to happen. All of the stars were created by the breath of his mouth.


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A king isn't saved just because his army is big. A soldier doesn't escape just because he is very strong.


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But the Lord looks with favor on those who respect him. He watches over those who put their hope in his faithful love.


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He watches over them to save them from death. He wants to keep them alive when there is no food in the land.


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A psalm of David when he was in front of Abimelech and pretended to be out of his mind. Abimelech drove him away, and he left. I will thank the Lord at all times. My lips will always praise him.


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The Lord doesn't look with favor on those who do evil. He removes all memory of them from the earth.


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The Lord is close to those whose hearts have been broken. He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.


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A psalm of David. Lord, stand up against those who stand up against me. Fight against those who fight against me.


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Get your spear and javelin ready to fight against those who are chasing me. Say to me, "I will save you."


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Let those who are trying to kill me be brought down in dishonor. Let those who plan to destroy me be turned back in terror.


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So let them be destroyed without warning. Let the trap they set for me catch them. Let them fall into the pit and be destroyed.


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Then I will be full of joy because of what the Lord has done. I will be glad because he has saved me.


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My whole being will cry out, "Who is like you, Lord? You save poor people from those who are too strong for them. You save poor and needy people from those who rob them."


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Mean people come forward to give witness against me. They ask me things I don't know anything about.


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But when they were sick, I put on black clothes. I made myself low by going without food. My prayers for them weren't always answered.


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So I went around crying as if I were crying over my friend or relative. I bowed my head in sadness as if I were sobbing over my mother.


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But when I tripped and fell, they were all very happy. Attackers gathered against me when I didn't even know it. They kept on telling lies about me.


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Lord, how much longer will you just look on? Save me from their deadly attacks. Save the only life I have. Save me from those lions.


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Don't let those who are my enemies without any reason laugh at me and make fun of me. Don't let those who hate me without any reason wink at me with an evil purpose.


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They don't speak words of peace. They make up false charges against those who live quietly in the land.


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They open their mouths wide at me. They make fun of me. They say, "With our own eyes we have seen what you did."


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Lord my God, when you hand down your sentence, let it be in my favor. You always do what is right. Don't let my enemies have the joy of seeing me fall.


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Don't let them think, "That's exactly what we wanted!" Don't let them say, "We have swallowed him up."


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Let all those who laugh at me because I'm in trouble be ashamed and bewildered. Let all who think they are better than I am put on shame and dishonor as if they were clothes.


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Let those who are happy when my name is cleared shout with joy and gladness. Let them always say, "May the Lord be honored. He is pleased when everything goes well with the one who serves him."


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For the director of music. A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. Here are the words God has given me to say about the evil ways of anyone who sins. He doesn't have any respect for God.


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His mouth speaks words that are evil and false. He has stopped being wise. He has stopped doing good.


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Even as he lies in bed he makes evil plans. He commits himself to a sinful way of life. He never says no to what is wrong.


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You are as holy as the mountains are high. You are as honest as the oceans are deep. Lord, you keep people and animals safe.


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How priceless your faithful love is! Important and ordinary people alike find safety in the shadow of your wings.


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They eat well because there is more than enough in your house. You let them drink from your river that flows with good things.


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Don't let the feet of those who are proud step on me. Don't let the hands of those who are evil drive me away.


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He will make your godly ways shine like the dawn. He will make your honest life shine like the sun at noon.


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Be still. Be patient. Wait for the Lord to act. Don't be upset when other people succeed. Don't be upset when they carry out their evil plans.


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Sinful people will be cut off from the land. But it will be given to those who put their hope in the Lord.


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In a little while, there won't be any more sinners. Even if you look for them, you won't be able to find them.


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Sinners pull out their swords. They bend their bows. They want to kill poor and needy people. They plan to murder those who lead honest lives.


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The power of those who are evil will be broken. But the Lord takes good care of those who do what is right.


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Every day the Lord watches over those who are without blame. What he has given them will last forever.


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When trouble comes to them, they will have what they need. When there is little food in the land, they will still have plenty.


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But sinful people will die. The Lord's enemies will be like flowers in the field. They will disappear like smoke.


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I once was young, and now I'm old. But I've never seen godly people deserted. I've never seen their children begging for bread.


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The Lord loves those who are honest. He will not desert those who are faithful to him. They will be kept safe forever. But the children of sinners will be cut off from the land.


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But the Lord will not leave the godly in their power. He will not let them be found guilty when they are brought into court.


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Wait for the Lord to act. Live as he wants you to. He will honor you by giving you the land. When sinners are cut off from it, you will see it.


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Think about those who are without blame. Look at those who are honest. A man who loves peace will have a tomorrow.


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But all sinners will be destroyed. Those who are evil won't have a tomorrow. They will be cut off from the land.


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The Lord helps them and saves them. He saves them from sinful people because they go to him for safety.


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A psalm of David. A prayer. Lord, don't correct me when you are angry. Don't punish me when you are burning with anger.


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Those who are trying to kill me set their traps. Those who want to harm me talk about destroying me. All day long they plan ways to trick me.


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I said, "Don't let my enemies have the joy of seeing me fall. Don't let them brag when my foot slips."


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They pay me back with evil, even though I was good to them. They tell lies about me because I try to do what is good.


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For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I said, "I will be careful about how I live. I will not sin by what I say. I will keep my mouth closed when sinful people are near me."


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My heart was deeply troubled. As I thought about what was happening to me, I became even more troubled. Then I spoke out.


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I said, "Lord, show me when my life will end. Show me how many days I have left. Tell me how short my life will be.


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You have given me only a few days to live. My whole life doesn't seem like anything to you. No man's life lasts any longer than a breath. Selah


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People are only shadows as they go here and there. They rush around, but it doesn't mean anything. They pile up wealth, but they don't know who will get it.


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You correct and punish people for their sin. Just as a moth eats cloth, you destroy their wealth. No one's life lasts any longer than a breath. Selah


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"Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my sobbing. I'm like a guest in your home. I'm only a visitor, like all of my family who lived before me.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. I was patient while I waited for the Lord. He turned to me and heard my cry for help.


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I was sliding down into the pit of death, and he pulled me out. He brought me up out of the mud and dirt. He set my feet on a rock. He gave me a firm place to stand on.


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He gave me a new song to sing. It is a hymn of praise to our God. Many people will see what he has done and will worship him. They will put their trust in the Lord.


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Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord. He doesn't look to proud people for help. He doesn't turn away to worship statues of gods.


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Lord my God, no one can compare with you. You have done many miracles. And you plan to do many more for us. There are too many of them for me to talk about.


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You didn't want sacrifices and offerings. You weren't pleased with burnt offerings and sin offerings. You gave me ears to hear you and obey you.


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I have told the whole community of those who worship you that what you do is right. Lord, you know that I haven't kept quiet.


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I haven't kept to myself that what you did for me was right. I have spoken about how faithful you were when you saved me. I haven't hidden your love and truth from the whole community.


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There are more troubles all around me than I can count. My sins have caught up with me, and I can't see any longer. My sins are more than the hairs of my head. I have lost all hope.


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Let all those who are trying to kill me be put to shame. Let them not be honored. Let all those who want to destroy me be turned back in shame.


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But let all those who look to you be joyful and glad because of what you have done. Let those who love you because you save them always say, "May the Lord be honored!"


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But I am poor and needy. May the Lord be concerned about me. You are the One who helps me and saves me. My God, please don't wait any longer.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. Blessed is the one who cares about weak people. When he is in trouble, the Lord saves him.


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The Lord will guard him and keep him alive. He will bless him in the land. He won't hand him over to the wishes of his enemies.


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When anyone comes to see me, he says things he doesn't mean. At the same time, he thinks up lies to tell against me. Then he goes out and spreads those lies around.


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When I remember what has happened, I tell God all of my troubles. I remember how I used to walk along with the crowd of worshipers. I led them to the house of God. We shouted with joy and gave thanks as we went to the holy feast.


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My spirit, why are you so sad? Why are you so upset deep down inside me? Put your hope in God. Once again I will have reason to praise him. He is my Savior and


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my God. My spirit is very sad deep down inside me. So I will remember you here where the Jordan River begins. I will remember you here on the Hermon mountains and on Mount Mizar.


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You have sent wave upon wave of trouble over me. It roars down on me like a waterfall. All of your waves and breakers have rolled over me.


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During the day the Lord sends his love to me. During the night I sing about him. I say a prayer to the God who gives me life.


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I say to God my Rock, "Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go around in sorrow? Why am I beaten down by my enemies?"


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My body suffers deadly pain as my enemies make fun of me. All day long they say to me, "Where is your God?"


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My spirit, why are you so sad? Why are you so upset deep down inside me? Put your hope in God. Once again I will have reason to praise him. He is my Savior and my God.


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God, when you hand down your decision, let it be in my favor. Stand up for me against an ungodly nation. Save me from those lying and sinful people.


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You are God, my place of safety. Why have you turned your back on me? Why must I go around in sorrow? Why am I beaten down by my enemies?


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Send out your light and your truth. Let them guide me. Let them bring me back to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.


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Then I will go to the altar of God. I will go to God. He is my joy and my delight. God, you are my God. I will praise you by playing the harp.


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For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. God, we have heard what you did. Those who came before us have told us what you did in their days, in days long ago.


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With your powerful hand you drove out the nations. You settled our people in the land. You crushed the people who were there. And you made our people do well.


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They didn't win the land with their swords. They didn't gain success with their powerful arms. Your powerful right hand and your mighty arm gave them success. You looked on them with favor. You loved them.


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But now you have turned your back on us and made us low. You don't march out with our armies anymore.


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You have made us something that our neighbors laugh at. Those who live around us make fun of us and tease us.


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All of this happened to us, even though we had not forgotten you. We had been true to the covenant you made with us.


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For the director of music. A maskil of the Sons of Korah. A wedding song to the tune of "Lilies." My heart is full of beautiful words as I say my poem for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.


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You are the most excellent of men. Your lips have been given the ability to speak gracious words. God has blessed you forever.


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In your majesty ride out with power in honor of what is true and right. Do it in honor of all those who are not proud. Let your right hand do wonderful things.


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Your throne is the very throne of God. Your kingdom will last for ever and ever. You will rule by treating everyone fairly.


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You love what is right and hate what is evil. So your God has placed you above your companions. He has filled you with joy by pouring the sacred oil on your head.


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Myrrh and aloes and cassia make all of your robes smell good. In palaces decorated with ivory the music played on stringed instruments makes you glad.


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Daughters of kings are among the women you honor. At your right hand is the royal bride dressed in gold from Ophir.


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Royal bride, listen. Think about this and pay attention to it. Forget about your people and the home you came from.


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Dressed in beautiful clothes, she is led to the king. Her virgin companions follow her and are brought to him.


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Your sons will rule just as your father and grandfather did. You will make them princes through the whole land.


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I will make sure that people will always remember you. The nations will praise you for ever and ever.


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For the director of music. A song of the Sons of Korah. For alamoth. God is our place of safety. He gives us strength. He is always there to help us in times of trouble.


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The earth may fall apart. The mountains may fall into the middle of the sea. But we will not be afraid.


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The waters of the sea may roar and foam. The mountains may shake when the waters rise. But we will not be afraid. Selah


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God's blessings are like a river. They fill the city of God with joy. That city is the holy place where the Most High God lives.


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He makes wars stop from one end of the earth to the other. He breaks every bow. He snaps every spear. He burns every shield with fire.


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He says, "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be honored among the nations. I will be honored in the earth."


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For the director of music. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. Clap your hands, all you nations. Shout to God with cries of joy.


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God went up to his throne while his people were shouting with joy. The Lord went up while trumpets were playing.


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The nobles of the nations come together. They are now part of the people of the God of Abraham. The kings of the earth belong to God. He is greatly honored.


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A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. The Lord is great. He is really worthy of praise. Praise him in the city of our God, his holy mountain.


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Mount Zion is high and beautiful. It brings joy to everyone on earth. Mount Zion is like the highest parts of Mount Zaphon. It is the city of the Great King.


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What we heard we have also seen. We have seen it in the city of the Lord who rules over all. We have seen it in the city of our God. We have heard and seen that God makes her secure forever. Selah


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God, your fame reaches from one end of the earth to the other. In the same way, people praise you from one end of the earth to the other. You use your power to do what is right.


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Think carefully about its outer walls. Just look at how safe it is! Then you can tell its people that God keeps them safe.


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For the director of music. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. Hear this, all you nations. Listen, all you who live in this world.


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Why should I be afraid when trouble comes? Why should I fear when sinners are all around me? They are the kind of people who want to take advantage of me.


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Everyone can see that even wise people die. Foolish and dumb people also pass away. All of them leave their wealth to others.


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Their graves will remain their houses forever. Their graves will be their homes for all time to come. Naming lands after themselves won't help either.


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Even though people may be very rich, they don't live on and on. They are like the animals. They die.


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That's what happens to those who trust in themselves. It also happens to their followers, who agree with what they say. Selah


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Like sheep they will end up in the grave. Death will swallow them up. When honest people come to power, a new day will dawn. The bodies of sinners will waste away in the grave. They will end up far away from their princely houses.


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A psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks. He calls out to the earth from the sunrise in the east to the sunset in the west.


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Our God comes, and he won't be silent. A burning fire goes ahead of him. A terrible storm is all around him.


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God says, "Listen, my people, and I will speak. Listen, Israel, and I will give witness against you. I am God, your God.


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I don't find fault with you because of your sacrifices. I don't find fault with the burnt offerings you always bring me.


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Bring me thank offerings, because I am your God. Carry out the promises you made to me, because I am the Most High God.


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But here is what God says to sinful people. "What right do you have to speak the words of my laws? How dare you speak the words of my covenant!


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You have done those things, and I kept silent. So you thought I was just like you. But now I'm going to correct you. I will bring charges against you.


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"You who forget God, think about this. If you don't, I will tear you to pieces. No one will be able to save you.


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Anyone who sacrifices thank offerings to me honors me. He makes it possible for me to show him that I am the God who saves."


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For the director of music. A psalm of David when the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba. God, show me your favor in keeping with your faithful love. Because your love is so tender and kind, wipe out my lawless acts.


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You are the one I've really sinned against. I've done what is evil in your sight. So you are right when you sentence me. You are fair when you judge me.


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I know I've been a sinner ever since I was born. I've been a sinner ever since my mother became pregnant with me.


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Make me pure by sprinkling me with hyssop plant. Then I will be clean. Wash me. Then I will be whiter than snow.


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Let me hear you say, "Your sins are forgiven." That will bring me joy and gladness. Let the body you have broken be glad.


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Give me back the joy that comes from being saved by you. Give me a spirit that obeys you. That will keep me going.


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You are the God who saves me. I have committed murder. Take away my guilt. Then my tongue will sing about how right you are no matter what you do.


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You don't take delight in sacrifice. If you did, I would bring it. You don't take pleasure in burnt offerings.


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The greatest sacrifice you want is a broken spirit. God, you will gladly accept a heart that is broken because of sadness over sin.


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Then holy sacrifices will be offered in the right way. Whole burnt offerings will bring delight to you. And bulls will be offered on your altar.


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For the director of music. A maskil of David when Doeg, who was from Edom, had gone to Saul. Doeg had told Saul, "David has gone to the house of Ahimelech." You think you are such a big, strong man! Why do you brag about the evil things you've done? You are a dishonor to God all the time.


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You plan ways to destroy others. Your tongue is like a blade that has a sharp edge. You are always telling lies.


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So God will destroy you forever. He will grab hold of you and throw you out of your tent. He will remove you from this life. Selah


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"Just look at this fellow! He didn't depend on God for his safety. He put his trust in all his wealth. He grew strong by destroying others!"


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But I am like a healthy olive tree. My roots are deep in the house of God. I trust in your faithful love for ever and ever.


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I will praise you forever for what you have done. I will put my hope in you because you are good. I will praise you when I'm with your faithful people.


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For the director of music. For mahalath. A maskil of David. Foolish people say in their hearts, "There is no God." They do all kinds of horrible and evil things. No one does anything good.


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God looks down from heaven on all people. He wants to see if there are any who understand. He wants to see if there are any who trust in God.


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Won't those who do evil ever learn? They eat up my people as if they were eating bread. They don't call out to God for help.


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Just look at them! They are filled with terror even when there is nothing to be afraid of! People of Israel, God will scatter the bones of those who attack you. You will put them to shame, because God hates them.


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How I pray that the One who saves Israel will come out of Zion! God will bless his people with great success again. So let the people of Jacob be filled with joy! Let Israel be glad!


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For the director of music. To be played on stringed instruments. A maskil of David when the men from Ziph had gone to Saul. They had said, "Isn't David hiding among us?" God, save me by your power. Set me free by your might.


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My enemies tell lies about me. Do to them the evil things they planned against me. God, be faithful and destroy them.


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I will sacrifice an offering to you just because I choose to. Lord, I will praise your name because it is good.


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You have saved me from all of my troubles. With my own eyes I have seen you win the battle over my enemies.


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For the director of music. A maskil of David to be played on stringed instruments. God, listen to my prayer. Pay attention to my cry for help.


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I'm troubled by what my enemies say about me. I'm upset because sinful people stare at me. They cause me all kinds of suffering. When they are angry, they attack me with their words.


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Lord, destroy the plans of sinners. Keep them from understanding one another. I see people destroying things and fighting in the city.


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Forces that destroy are at work inside it. Its streets are full of people who cheat others and take advantage of them.


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If an enemy were making fun of me, I could stand it. If he were looking down on me, I could hide from him.


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Let death take my enemies by surprise. Let them be buried alive, because their hearts and homes are full of evil.


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God sits on his throne forever. He hears my prayers and makes my enemies suffer. Selah They never change their ways. They don't have any respect for God.


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His talk is as smooth as butter. But he has war in his heart. His words flow like olive oil. But they are like swords ready for battle.


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God, you will bring sinners down to the grave. Murderers and liars won't live out even half of their lives. But I trust in you.


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For the director of music. A miktam of David after the Philistines had captured him in Gath. To the tune of "A Dove on Distant Oak Trees." God, show me your favor. Men are chasing me. All day long they keep attacking me.


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You have saved me from death. You have kept me from tripping and falling. Now I can live with you in the light that leads to life.


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For the director of music. A miktam of David when he had run away from Saul into the cave. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Show me your favor, God. Show me your favor. I go to you for safety. I will find safety in the shadow of your wings. There I will stay until the danger is gone.


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He answers from heaven and saves me. He puts to shame those who chase me. Selah He shows me his love and his truth.


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Men who are like lions are all around me. I am lying down among hungry animals. Their teeth are like spears and arrows. Their tongues are like sharp swords.


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My enemies spread a net to catch me by the feet. I felt helpless. They dug a pit in my path. But they fell into it themselves. Selah


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For the director of music. A miktam of David to the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Are you rulers really fair when you speak? Do you judge people honestly?


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Even from birth those who are evil go down the wrong path. From the day they are born they go the wrong way and speak lies.


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Their words are like the poison of a snake. They are like the poison of a cobra that has covered up its ears.


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Let those people disappear like water that flows away. When they draw their bows, let their arrows be dull.


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Let them be like a slug that melts away as it moves along. Let them be like a baby that is born dead and never sees the sun.


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Evil people will be swept away quicker than a pot can feel the heat of thorns burning under it. And it doesn't matter if the thorns are green or dry.


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Godly people will be glad when those who have hurt them are paid back. They will wash their feet in the blood of those who do evil.


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Then people will say, "The godly will get their reward. There really is a God who judges the earth."


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For the director of music. A miktam of David when Saul had sent men to watch David's house in order to kill him. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." God, save me from my enemies. Keep me safe from those who rise up against me.


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See how they hide and wait for me! Lord, angry people plan to harm me, even though I haven't hurt them in any way or sinned against them.


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I haven't done anything wrong to them. But they are ready to attack me. Rise up and help me! Look at what I'm up against!


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Lord God who rules over all, rise up. God of Israel, punish all of the nations. Don't show any mercy to those sinful people who have turned against me. Selah


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My enemies are like a pack of barking dogs that come back to the city in the evening. They prowl around the city.


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Listen to what pours out of their mouths. The words from their lips are like swords. They think, "Who can hear us?"


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You are my loving God. God will march out in front of me. He will let me look down on those who tell lies about me.


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Lord, you are like a shield that keeps us safe. Don't kill my enemies all at once. If you do, my people will forget about it. Use your power to make my enemies wander around. Destroy them.


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They have sinned with their mouths. Their lips have spoken evil words. They have called down a curse on me and lied. Let them be caught in their pride.


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Burn them up in your anger. Burn them up until there isn't anything left of them. Then everyone from one end of the earth to the other will know that God rules over the people of Jacob. Selah


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My enemies are like a pack of barking dogs that come back into the city in the evening. They prowl around the city.


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They wander around looking for food. They groan if they don't find something that will satisfy them.


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But I will sing about your strength. In the morning I will sing about your love. You are like a fort to me. You keep me safe in times of trouble.


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You have shown your people hard times. You have made us drink the wine of your anger. Now we can't even walk straight.


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But you lead into battle those who have respect for you. You give them a flag to wave against the enemy's weapons. Selah


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God has spoken from his temple. He has said, "I will win the battle. Then I will divide up the land around Shechem. I will divide up the Valley of Succoth.


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Gilead belongs to me. So does the land of Manasseh. Ephraim is the strongest tribe. It is like a helmet for my head. Judah is the royal tribe. It is like a ruler's staff.


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Moab serves me like one who washes my feet. I toss my sandal on Edom to show that I own it. I shout to Philistia that I have won the battle."


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God, isn't it you, even though you have now turned away from us? Isn't it you, even though you don't lead our armies into battle anymore?


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For the director of music. A psalm of David to be played on stringed instruments. God, hear my cry for help. Listen to my prayer.


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From a place far away I call out to you. I call out as my heart gets weaker. Lead me to the safety of a rock that is high above me.


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For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of David. I find my rest in God alone. He is the One who saves me.


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How long will you enemies attack me? Will all of you throw me down? I'm like a leaning wall. I'm like a fence that is about to fall.


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You only want to pull me down from my place of honor. You take delight in telling lies. You bless me with what you say. But in your hearts you call down curses on me. Selah


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Trust in him at all times, you people. Tell him all of your troubles. God is our place of safety. Selah


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Ordinary people are only a breath. Important people are not what they seem to be. If they were weighed on a scale, they wouldn't amount to anything. Together they are only a breath.


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Don't trust in money you have taken from others. Don't be proud of things you have stolen. Even if your riches grow, don't put your trust in them.


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The other is that you, Lord, are loving. I'm sure you will reward each person in keeping with what he has done.


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A psalm of David when he was in the Desert of Judah. God, you are my God. I greatly long for you. With all my heart I thirst for you in this dry desert where there isn't any water.


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I will be as satisfied as if I had eaten the best food there is. I will sing praise to you with my mouth.


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But the king will be filled with joy because of what God has done. All those who take an oath in God's name will praise him. But the mouths of liars will be shut.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. God, hear me as I tell you my problem. Don't let my enemies kill me.


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Hide me from those who make evil plans against me. Hide me from that crowd of people who are doing evil.


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They shoot from their hiding places at people who aren't guilty of doing anything wrong. They shoot quickly. They aren't afraid of being caught.


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They help each other make evil plans. They talk about hiding their traps. They say, "Who can see what we are doing?"


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They make plans to do what is evil. They say, "We have thought up a perfect plan!" The hearts and minds of people are so clever!


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He will turn their own words against them. He will destroy them. All those who see them will shake their heads and look down on them.


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Let godly people be full of joy because of what the Lord has done. Let them go to him for safety. Let all those whose hearts are honest praise him.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song. God, we look forward to praising you in Zion. We will keep our promises to you.


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Blessed are those you choose and bring near to worship you. You bring us into the courtyards of your holy temple. There in your house we are filled with all kinds of good things.


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God our Savior, you answer us by doing wonderful things. You save us by your power. People all over the world and beyond the farthest oceans put their hope in you.


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You calmed the oceans and their roaring waves. You calmed the angry words and actions of the nations.


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Those who live far away are amazed at the miracles you have done. What you do makes people from one end of the earth to the other sing for joy.


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You take care of the land and water it. You make it very rich. You fill your streams with water. You provide the people with grain. That's how you prepare the land.


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The meadows are covered with flocks and herds. The valleys are dressed with grain. They sing and shout with joy.


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Say to God, "What wonderful things you do! Your power is so great that your enemies bow down to you in fear.


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He turned the Red Sea into dry land. The people of Israel passed through the waters on foot. Come, let us be full of joy because of what he did.


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He rules by his power forever. His eyes watch the nations. Let no one who refuses to obey him rise up against him. Selah


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You let people run over our heads. We went through fire and water. But you brought us to a place where we have everything we need.


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I will sacrifice fat animals to you as burnt offerings. I will offer rams, bulls and goats to you. Selah


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For the director of music. A psalm. A song to be played on stringed instruments. God, show us your favor. Bless us. May you smile on us with your favor. Selah


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May the nations be glad and sing with joy. You rule the people of the earth fairly. You guide the nations of the earth. Selah


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. A song. May God rise up and scatter his enemies. May they turn and run away from him.


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As wind blows smoke away, so may God blow them away. As fire melts wax, so may he destroy sinful people.


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But may those who do what is right be glad and filled with joy when they are with him. May they be happy and joyful.


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Sing to God. Sing praise to his name. Lift up a song to the One who rides on the clouds. His name is the Lord. Be glad when you are with him.


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God is in his holy temple. He is a father to those whose fathers have died. He takes care of women whose husbands have died.


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God gives lonely people a family. He sets prisoners free, and they go out singing. But those who refuse to obey him live in a land that is baked by the sun.


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The ground shook when you, the God of Sinai, appeared. The heavens poured down rain when you, the God of Israel, appeared.


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They said, "Kings and armies are running away. In the camps, Israel's soldiers are dividing up the things they have taken from their enemies.


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Even while the soldiers sleep near the campfires, God wins the battle for them. He gives the enemy's silver and gold to Israel, his dove."


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You rocky mountains are jealous of Mount Zion, aren't you? That's where God chooses to rule. That's where the Lord himself will live forever.


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God has come with tens of thousands of his chariots. He has come with thousands and thousands of them. The Lord has come from Mount Sinai. He has entered his holy place.


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When he went up to his place on high, he led a line of prisoners. He received gifts from people, even from those who refused to obey him. The Lord God went up to live on Mount Zion.


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Give praise to the Lord. Give praise to God our Savior. He carries our heavy loads day after day. Selah


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God will certainly smash the heads of his enemies. He will break the hairy heads of those who keep on sinning.


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The Lord says, "I will bring your enemies from Bashan. I will bring them up from the bottom of the sea.


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Then your feet can wade in their blood. The tongues of your dogs can lick up all the blood they want."


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God, those who worship you come marching into view. My God and King, those who follow you have entered the sacred tent.


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The singers are walking in front. Next come those who play the music. Young women playing tambourines are with them.


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The leaders sing, "Praise God among all those who worship him. Praise the Lord in the community of Israel."


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The little tribe of Benjamin leads the worshipers. Next comes the great crowd of Judah's princes. Then come the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.


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Give a strong warning to Egypt, that beast among the tall grass. Warn the leaders of the nations, who are like bulls among the calves. May they bow down before you with gifts of silver. Scatter the nations who like to make war.


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How wonderful is God in his holy place! The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Give praise to God!


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For the director of music. A psalm of David to the tune of "Lilies." God, save me. My troubles are like a flood. I'm up to my neck in them.


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I'm sinking in deep mud. I have no firm place to stand. I am out in deep water. The waves roll over me.


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Those who hate me without any reason are more than the hairs on my head. Many people who don't have any reason to be my enemies are trying to destroy me. They force me to give back what I didn't steal.


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Lord, you are the Lord who rules over all. May those who put their hope in you not be dishonored because of me. You are the God of Israel. May those who worship you not be put to shame because of me.


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But Lord, I pray to you. May this be the time you show me your favor. God, answer me because you love me so much. Save me, as you always do.


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Save me from the trouble I'm in. It's like slippery mud. Don't let me sink in it. Save me from those who hate me. Save me from the deep water I'm in.


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Don't let the floods cover me. Don't let the deep water swallow me up. Don't let the grave close its mouth over me.


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You know how they make fun of me. They dishonor me and put me to shame. You know all about my enemies.


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They have broken my heart by saying evil things about me. It has left me helpless. I looked for pity, but I didn't find any. I looked for someone to comfort me, but I didn't find anyone.


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May their names be erased from the Book of Life. Don't include them in the list of those who do right.


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That will please the Lord more than offering him an ox. It will please him more than offering him a bull with its horns and hoofs.


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God will save Zion. He will build the cities of Judah again. Then people will live in them and own the land.


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For the director of music. A prayer of David. God, hurry and save me. Lord, come quickly and help me.


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Let those who are trying to kill me be put to shame. Let them not be honored. Let all those who want to destroy me be turned back in shame.


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But let all those who look to you be joyful and glad because of what you have done. Let those who love you because you save them always say, "May God be honored!"


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But I am poor and needy. God, come quickly to me. You are the One who helps me and saves me. Lord, please don't wait any longer.


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Be my rock of safety that I can always go to. Give the command to save me. You are my rock and my fort.


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You are the King and the Lord. You have always been my hope. I have trusted in you ever since I was young.


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From the time I was born I have depended on you. You brought me out of my mother's body. I will praise you forever.


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May those who bring charges against me die in shame. May those who want to harm me be covered with shame and dishonor.


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I will say that what you have done is right. All day long I will talk about how you have saved your people. It is more than I can understand.


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Lord and King, I will come and announce your mighty acts. I will announce that you alone do what is right.


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God, ever since I was young you have taught me about what you have done. To this very day I tell about your wonderful acts.


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God, don't leave me even when I'm old and have gray hair. Let me live to tell my children about your power. Let me tell all of them about your mighty acts.


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You have sent many bitter troubles my way. But you will give me new life. Even if I'm almost in the grave, you will bring me back.


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My God, I will use the harp to praise you because you are always faithful. Holy One of Israel, I will use the lyre to sing praise to you.


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All day long my tongue will say that you have done what is right. Those who wanted to harm me have been put to shame. They have not been honored.


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A psalm of Solomon. God, give the king the ability to judge fairly. He is your royal son. Help him to do what is right.


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Then he will rule your people in the right way. He will be fair to those among your people who are hurting.


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The king will stand up for those who are hurting. He will save the children of those who are in need. He will crush those who beat others down.


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He will rule as long as the sun shines and the moon gives its light. He will rule for all time to come.


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Godly people will do well as long as he rules. They will have more than they need as long as the moon lasts.


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He will rule from ocean to ocean. His kingdom will reach from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.


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The kings of Tarshish and of places far away will bring him gifts. The kings of Sheba and Seba will give him presents.


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People who are in need will cry out, and he will save them. He will save those who are hurting. They don't have anyone else who can help them.


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He will save them from people who beat others down. He will save them from people who do mean things to them. Their lives are very special to him.


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May he live a long time! May gold from Sheba be given to him. May people always pray for him. May they ask the Lord to bless him all day long.


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Let there be plenty of grain everywhere in the land. May it sway in the wind on the tops of the hills. Let crops grow well, like those in Lebanon. Let them grow like the grass of the field.


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May the king's name be remembered forever. May his fame last as long as the sun shines. All nations will be blessed because of him. They will call him blessed.


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Many sins come out of their hard and stubborn hearts. There is no limit to their proud and evil thoughts.


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They laugh at others and speak words of hatred. They are proud. They warn others about the harm they can do to them.


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Here is what sinful people are like. They don't have a care in the world. They keep getting richer and richer.


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It seems as if I have kept my heart pure without any reason. It didn't do me any good to wash my hands to show that I wasn't guilty of doing anything wrong.


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What if I had said, "I will speak as evil people do"? Then I wouldn't have been faithful to God's children.


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It troubled me until I entered God's temple. Then I understood what will happen to bad people in the end.


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A dream goes away when a person wakes up. Lord, it will be like that when you rise up. It will be as if those people were only a dream.


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You give me wise advice to guide me. And when I die, you will take me away into the glory of heaven.


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My body and my heart may grow weak. God, you give strength to my heart. You are everything I will ever need.


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Those who don't want anything to do with you will die. You destroy all those who aren't faithful to you.


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But I am close to you. And that's good. Lord and King, I have made you my place of safety. I will talk about everything you have done.


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A maskil of Asaph. God, why have you turned your back on us for so long? Why does your anger burn against us? We are your very own sheep.


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Remember that you chose us to be your own people a long time ago. Remember that you set us free from slavery to be your very own tribe. Remember Mount Zion, where you lived.


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Walk through this place that has been torn down beyond repair. See how completely your enemies have destroyed the temple!


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In the place where you used to meet with us, your enemies have shouted, "We've won the battle!" They have set up their flags to show they have beaten us.


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They had said in their hearts, "We will crush them completely!" They burned every place where you were worshiped in the land.


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You don't give us miraculous signs anymore. There aren't any prophets left. None of us knows how long that will last.


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Why don't you help us? Why do you hold back your powerful right hand? Use your strong arms to destroy your enemies!


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God, you have been my king for a long time. The whole earth has seen you save us over and over again.


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Lord, remember how your enemies have made fun of you. Remember how foolish people have attacked you with their words.


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Don't hand Israel, your dove, over to those wild animals. Don't forget your suffering people forever.


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Honor the covenant you made with us. Horrible things are happening in every dark corner of the land.


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For the director of music. A psalm of Asaph. A song to the tune of "Do Not Destroy." God, we give thanks to you. We give thanks because your Name is near. People talk about the wonderful things you have done.


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God is the One who judges. He says to one person, "You are guilty." To another he says, "You are not guilty."


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In the hand of the Lord is a cup. It is full of wine mixed with spices. It is the wine of his anger. He pours it out. All of the evil people on earth drink it down to the very last drop.


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For the director of music. A psalm of Asaph. A song to be played on stringed instruments. In the land of Judah, God is known. His name is great in Israel.


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There he broke the deadly arrows of his enemies. He broke their shields and swords. He broke their weapons of war. Selah


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Brave soldiers have been robbed of everything they had. Now they lie there, sleeping in death. Not one of them can even lift his hands.


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God, that happened when you rose up to judge. It happened when you came to save all of your suffering people in the land. Selah


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Your anger against sinners brings you praise. Those who live through your anger gather to worship you.


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Make promises to the Lord your God and keep them. Let all of the neighboring nations bring gifts to the One who should be respected.


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For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A psalm of Asaph. I cried out to God for help. I cried out to God to hear me.


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When I was in trouble, I looked to the Lord. During the night I lifted up my hands in prayer. But I refused to be comforted.


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I remembered how I used to sing praise to you in the night. I thought about it, and here is what I asked myself.


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Has God forgotten to show us his favor? Has he held back his tender love because he was angry?" Selah


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Then I thought, "Here is what I will make my appeal to. For many years the Most High God showed how powerful his right hand is."


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God, the water of the Red Sea saw you. It saw you and boiled up. The deepest waters were stirred up.


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The clouds poured down rain. The skies rumbled with thunder. Lightning flashed back and forth like arrows.


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Your thunder was heard in the windstorm. Your lightning lit up the world. The earth trembled and shook.


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Your path led through the Red Sea. You walked through the mighty waters. But your footprints were not seen.


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I will open my mouth and tell stories. I will speak about things that were hidden. They happened a long time ago.


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We won't hide them from our children. We will tell them to those who live after us. We will tell them about what the Lord has done that is worthy of praise. We will talk about his power and the wonderful things he has done.


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He gave laws to the people of Jacob. He gave Israel their law. He commanded our people who lived before us to teach his laws to their children.


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Then those born later would know his laws. Even their children yet to come would know them. And they in turn would tell their children.


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Then they would put their trust in God. They would not forget what he had done. They would obey his commands.


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They would not be like their people who lived before them. Those people were stubborn. They refused to obey God. Their hearts were not true to him. Their spirits were not faithful to him.


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He did miracles right in front of our people who lived long ago. At that time they were living in the land of Egypt, in the area of Zoan.


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When he struck the rock, streams of water poured out. Huge amounts of water flowed down. But can he also give us food? Can he supply meat for his people?"


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When the Lord heard what they said, he was very angry. His anger broke out like fire against the people of Jacob. He became very angry with Israel.


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But even before they had finished eating, God acted. He did it while the food was still in their mouths.


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His anger rose up against them. He put to death the strongest among them. He struck down Israel's young men.


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But even after all that, they kept on sinning. Even after they had seen the miracles he did, they still didn't believe.


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Every time God killed some of them, the others would look to him. They gladly turned back to him again.


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But he was full of tender love. He forgave their sins and didn't destroy his people. Time after time he held back his anger. He didn't let all of his burning anger blaze out.


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He remembered that they were only human. He remembered they were only a breath of air that drifts by and doesn't return.


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How often they refused to obey him in the desert! How often they caused him sorrow in that dry and empty land!


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They didn't remember his power. They forgot the day he set them free from those who had beaten them down.


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They forgot how he had shown them his miraculous signs in Egypt. They forgot his miracles in the area of Zoan.


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He turned the rivers of Egypt into blood. The people of Egypt couldn't drink water from their streams.


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He brought great trouble on Egypt by pouring out his blazing anger. In his hot anger he sent destroying angels against them.


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He killed the oldest son of each family in Egypt. He struck down the oldest son in every house in the land of Ham.


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He brought his people to the border of his holy land. He led them to the central hill country he had taken by his power.


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He drove the nations out to make room for his people. He gave to each family a piece of land to pass on to their children. He settled the tribes of Israel in their homes.


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Like their people who lived before them, they turned away from him and were not faithful. They were like a bow that doesn't shoot straight. They couldn't be trusted.


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They made God angry by going to their high places. They made him jealous by worshiping the statues of their gods.


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He allowed the ark to be captured. Into the hands of his enemies he sent the ark where his glory rested.


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Then the Lord woke up as if he had been sleeping. He was like a man waking up from the deep sleep caused by wine.


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He turned his back on the tents of the people of Joseph. He didn't choose to live in the tribe of Ephraim.


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There he built his holy place as secure as the heavens. He built it to last forever, like the earth.


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He brought him from tending sheep to be the shepherd of his people Jacob. He made him the shepherd of Israel, his special people.


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A psalm of Asaph. God, an army from the nations has attacked your land. They have polluted your holy temple. They have completely destroyed Jerusalem.


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They have given the dead bodies of your people as food to the birds of the air. They have given the bodies of your faithful people to the animals of the earth.


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They have poured out the blood of your people like water all around Jerusalem. No one is left to bury the dead.


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Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Will it be forever? How long will your jealousy burn like fire?


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Pour out your burning anger on the nations that don't pay any attention to you. Pour it out on the kingdoms that don't worship you.


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Don't hold against us the sins of our people who lived before us. May you be quick to show us your tender love. We are in great need.


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God our Savior, help us. Then glory will come to you. Be true to your name. Save us and forgive our sins.


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Why should the nations say, "Where is their God?" Show the nations that you punish those who kill your people. We want to see it happen.


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Listen to the groans of the prisoners. Use your powerful arm to save the lives of those who have been sentenced to death.


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We are your people. We are your very own sheep. We will praise you forever. For all time to come we will keep on praising you.


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For the director of music. A psalm of Asaph to the tune of "The Lilies of the Covenant." Shepherd of Israel, hear us. You lead the people of Joseph like a flock. You sit on your throne between the cherubim. Show your glory


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God who rules over all, make us new again. Let your face smile on us with favor. Then we will be saved.


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You brought Israel out of Egypt. Israel was like a vine. After you drove the nations out of Canaan, you planted the vine in their land.


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The mountains were covered with its shade. The shade of its branches covered the mighty cedar trees.


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Your vine sent its branches out all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. They reached as far as the Euphrates River.


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Guard the root you have planted with your powerful right hand. Take care of the branch you have raised up for yourself.


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May you honor the people at your right hand. May you honor the nation you have raised up for yourself.


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Lord God who rules over all, make us new again. Let your face smile on us with favor. Then we will be saved.


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For the director of music. For gittith. A psalm of Asaph. Sing joyfully to God! He gives us strength. Give a loud shout to the God of Jacob!


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Blow the ram's horn on the day of the New Moon Feast. Blow it again when the moon is full and the Feast of Booths begins.


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He gave it as a covenant law for the people of Joseph when God went out to punish Egypt. There we heard a language we didn't understand.


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God said, "I removed the load from your shoulders. I set your hands free from carrying heavy baskets.


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You called out when you were in trouble, and I saved you. I answered you out of a thundercloud. I put you to the test at the waters of Meribah. Selah


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I am the Lord your God. I brought you up out of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it with good things.


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Then I would quickly bring their enemies under control. I would use my power against their attackers.


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A psalm of Asaph. God takes his place at the head of a large gathering of rulers and judges. He announces his decisions among them.


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He says, "How long will you stand up for those who aren't fair to others? How long will you show favor to sinful people? Selah


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Stand up for those who are weak and for those whose fathers have died. See to it that those who are poor and those who are beaten down are treated fairly.


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"You rulers and judges don't know anything. You don't understand anything. You are in the dark about what is right. Law and order have been destroyed all over the world.


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"Come," they say. "Let's destroy that whole nation. Then the name of Israel won't be remembered anymore."


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Do to them what you did to the people of Midian. Do to them what you did to Sisera and Jabin at the Kishon River.


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Do to the nobles of your enemies what you did to Oreb and Zeeb. Do to all of their princes what you did to Zebah and Zalmunna.


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For the director of music. For gittith. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. Lord who rules over all, how lovely is the place where you live!


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I long to be in the courtyards of the Lord's temple. I deeply long to be there. My whole being cries out for the living God.


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Lord who rules over all, even the sparrow has found a home near your altar. My King and my God, the swallow also has a nest there, where she may have her young.


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As they pass through the dry Valley of Baca, they make it a place where water flows. The rain in the fall covers it with pools.


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God, look with favor on your anointed king. You appointed him to be like a shield that keeps us safe.


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A single day in your courtyards is better than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather guard the door of the house of my God than live in the tents of sinful people.


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The Lord God is like the sun that gives us light. He is like a shield that keeps us safe. The Lord blesses us with favor and honor. He doesn't hold back anything good from those whose lives are without blame.


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For the director of music. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. Lord, you showed favor to your land. You blessed the people of Jacob with great success again.


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I will listen to what God the Lord will say. He promises peace to his faithful people. But they must not return to their foolish ways.


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Lord, teach me how you want me to live. Then I will follow your truth. Give me a heart that doesn't want anything more than to worship you.


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God, proud people are attacking me. A gang of mean people is trying to kill me. They don't care about you.


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But Lord, you are a God who is tender and kind. You are gracious. You are slow to get angry. You are faithful and full of love.


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Prove your goodness to me. Then my enemies will see it and be put to shame. Lord, you have helped me and given me comfort.


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He says, "I will include Egypt and Babylon in a list of those who recognize me as king. I will also include Philistia and Tyre, along with Cush. I will say about them, 'They were born in Zion.' "


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Certainly it will be said about Zion, "This nation and that nation were born in her. The Most High God himself will make her secure."


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For the director of music. For mahalath leannoth. A song. A psalm of the Sons of Korah. A maskil of Heman the Ezrahite. Lord, you are the God who saves me. Day and night I cry out to you.


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People treat me as if I were dead. I'm like those who have been killed and are now in the grave. You don't even remember them anymore. They are cut off from your care.


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You have taken my closest friends away from me. You have made me sickening to them. I feel trapped. I can't escape.


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I'm crying so much I can't see very well. Lord, I call out to you every day. I lift up my hands to you in prayer.


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Do those who are dead speak about your love? Do those who are in the grave tell how faithful you are?


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Are your miracles known in that dark place? Are your holy acts known in that land where the dead are forgotten?


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I've been in pain ever since I was young. I've been close to death. You have made me suffer terrible things. I have lost all hope.


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A maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. Lord, I will sing about your great love forever. For all time to come, I will tell how faithful you are.


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I will tell everyone that your love stands firm forever. I will tell them that you are always faithful, even in heaven itself.


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You said, "Here is the covenant I have made with my chosen one. Here is the promise I have made to my servant David.


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'I will make your family line continue forever. I will make your kingdom secure for all time to come.' " Selah


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Lord, the heavens praise you for your miracles. When your holy angels gather together, they praise you for how faithful you are.


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God is highly respected among his holy angels. He's more wonderful than all those who are around him.


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Lord God who rules over all, who is like you? Lord, you are mighty. You are faithful in everything you do.


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The heavens belong to you. The earth is yours also. You made the world and everything that is in it.


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Your kingdom is built on what is right and fair. Your truth and faithful love lead the way in front of you.


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Blessed are those who have learned to shout praise to you. Lord, they live in the light of your favor.


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All day long they are full of joy because of who you are. They praise you because you do what is right.


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Our king is like a shield that keeps us safe. He belongs to the Lord. He belongs to the Holy One of Israel.


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You once spoke to your faithful people in a vision. You said, "I have given strength to a soldier. I have raised up a young man from among the people.


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I will also make him my oldest son. Among all the kings of the earth, he will be the most important one.


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Then I will punish them for their sins. I will strike them with the rod. I will whip them for their evil acts.


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Once and for all, I have made a promise with an oath. It is based on my holiness. And I will not lie to David.


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Lord, remember how my enemies have made fun of me. I've had to put up with mean words from all of the nations.


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Lord, your enemies have said mean things. They have laughed at everything your anointed king has done.


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Before you created the world and the mountains were made, from the beginning to the end you are God.


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To you a thousand years are like a day that has just gone by. They are like a few hours of the night.


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You have put our sins right in front of you. You have placed our secret sins where you can see them clearly.


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We live to be about 70. Or we may live to be 80, if we stay healthy. But all that time is filled with trouble and sorrow. The years quickly pass, and we are gone.


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Satisfy us with your faithful love every morning. Then we can sing with joy and be glad all of our days.


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Make us glad for as many days as you have made us suffer. Give us joy for as many years as we've had trouble.


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May the Lord our God show us his favor. Lord, make what we do succeed. Please make what we do succeed.


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I will say about the Lord, "He is my place of safety. He is like a fort to me. He is my God. I trust in him."


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He will cover you with his wings. Under the feathers of his wings you will find safety. He is faithful. He will keep you safe like a shield or a tower.


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You won't have to be afraid of the terrors that come during the night. You won't have to fear the arrows that come at you during the day.


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You won't have to be afraid of the sickness that attacks in the darkness. You won't have to fear the plague that destroys at noon.


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A thousand may fall dead at your side. Ten thousand may fall near your right hand. But no harm will come to you.


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He will call out to me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in times of trouble. I will save him and honor him.


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A psalm. A song for the Sabbath day. Lord, it is good to praise you. Most High God, it is good to make music to honor you.


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It is good to sing every morning about your love. It is good to sing every night about how faithful you are.


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I sing about it to the music of the lyre that has ten strings. I sing about it to the music of the harp.


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Here is something a man who isn't wise doesn't know. Here is what a foolish person doesn't understand.


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Those who are evil spring up like grass. Those who do wrong succeed. But they will be destroyed forever.


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Those who do what is right will grow like a palm tree. They will grow strong like a cedar tree in Lebanon.


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Their roots will be firm in the house of the Lord. They will grow strong and healthy in the courtyards of our God.


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The Lord rules. He puts on majesty as if it were clothes. The Lord puts on majesty and strength. The world is firmly set in place. It can't be moved.


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But Lord, you are more powerful than the roar of the ocean. You are stronger than the waves of the sea. Lord, you are powerful in heaven.


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They say, "The Lord doesn't see what's happening. The God of Jacob doesn't pay any attention to it."


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He will again judge people in keeping with what is right. All those who have honest hearts will follow the right way.


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Can you have anything to do with rulers who aren't fair? Can those who make laws that cause suffering be friends of yours?


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They join together against those who do what is right. They sentence to death those who aren't guilty of doing anything wrong.


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He will pay them back for their sins. He will destroy them for their evil acts. The Lord our God will destroy them.


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He is our God. We are the sheep belonging to his flock. We are the people he takes good care of. Listen to his voice today.


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If you hear it, don't be stubborn as you were at Meribah. Don't be stubborn as you were that day at Massah in the desert.


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There your people of long ago really put me to the test. They did it even though they had seen what I had done for them.


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For 40 years I was angry with them. I said, "Their hearts are always going down the wrong path. They do not know how I want them to live."


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Praise the Lord for the glory that belongs to him. Bring an offering and come into the courtyards of his temple.


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Worship the Lord because of his beauty and holiness. All you people of the earth, tremble when you are with him.


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Say to the nations, "The Lord rules." The world is firmly set in place. It can't be moved. The Lord will judge the people of the world fairly.


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Let the fields and everything in them be glad. Then all of the trees in the forest will sing with joy.


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They will sing to the Lord, because he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the people of the world in keeping with what is right and true.


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All who worship statues of gods or brag about them are put to shame. All you gods, worship the Lord!


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Zion hears about it and is filled with joy. Lord, the villages of Judah are glad because of how you judge.


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Lord, you are the Most High God. You rule over the whole earth. You are honored much more than all gods.


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Let those who love the Lord hate evil. He guards the lives of those who are faithful to him. He saves them from the power of sinful people.


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The light of his favor shines on those who do what is right. Joy comes to those whose hearts are honest.


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A psalm. Sing a new song to the Lord. He has done wonderful things. By the power of his right hand and his holy arm he has saved his people.


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He has shown his faithful love to the people of Israel. People from one end of the earth to the other have seen that our God has saved us.


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Let them sing to the Lord, because he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the nations of the world in keeping with what is right and fair.


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The Lord rules. Let the nations tremble. He sits on his throne between the cherubim. Let the earth shake.


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The King is mighty. He loves what is fair. He has set up the rules for fairness. He has done what is right and fair for the people of Jacob.


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Moses and Aaron were two of his priests. Samuel was one of those who worshiped him. They called out to the Lord. And he answered them.


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Lord our God, you answered them. You showed Israel that you are a God who forgives. But when they did wrong, you punished them.


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I want you to realize that the Lord is God. He made us, and we belong to him. We are his people. We are the sheep belonging to his flock.


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Give thanks as you enter the gates of his temple. Give praise as you enter its courtyards. Give thanks to him and praise his name.


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I will be careful to lead a life that is without blame. When will you come and help me? I will lead a life that is without blame in my house.


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I won't look at anything that is evil. I hate the acts of people who aren't faithful to you. I don't even want people like that around me.


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I will stay away from those whose hearts are twisted. I don't want to have anything to do with evil.


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I will get rid of anyone who tells lies about his neighbor in secret. I won't put up with anyone whose eyes and heart are proud.


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I will look with favor on the faithful people in the land. They will live with me. Those whose lives are without blame will serve me.


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Every morning I will get rid of all the sinful people in the land. I will remove from the city of the Lord everyone who does what is evil.


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A prayer of a suffering man when he is weak and pours out his problems to the Lord. Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for help.


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Don't turn your face away from me when I'm in trouble. Pay attention to me. When I call out for help, answer me quickly.


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Let this be written down for those born after us. Then people who are not yet born can praise the Lord.


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Here is what should be written. "The Lord looked down from his temple in heaven. From heaven he viewed the earth.


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In the beginning you made the earth secure. You placed it on its foundations. Your hands created the heavens.


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They will pass away. But you will remain. They will all wear out like a piece of clothing. You will make them like clothes that are taken off and thrown away.


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A psalm of David. I will praise the Lord. Deep down inside me, I will praise him. I will praise him, because his name is holy.


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He saves my life from going down into the grave. His faithful and tender love makes me feel like a king.


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He satisfies me with the good things I long for. Then I feel young and strong again, just like an eagle.


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He doesn't punish us for our sins as much as we should be punished. He doesn't pay us back in keeping with the evil things we've done.


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A father is tender and kind to his children. In the same way, the Lord is tender and kind to those who have respect for him.


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But the Lord's love for those who have respect for him lasts for ever and ever. Their children's children will know that he always does what is right.


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He always loves those who keep his covenant. He always does what is right for those who remember to obey his commands.


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Praise the Lord, you angels of his. Praise him, you mighty ones who carry out his orders and obey his word.


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You build your palace high in the heavens. You make the clouds serve as your chariot. You ride on the wings of the wind.


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They flowed down the mountains. They went into the valleys. They went to the place you appointed for them.


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You water the mountains from your palace high in the clouds. The earth is filled with the things you have made.


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You make grass grow for the cattle and plants for people to take care of. That's how they get food from the earth.


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There is wine to make people glad. There is olive oil to make them healthy. And there is bread to make them strong.


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Lord, you have made so many things! How wise you were when you made all of them! The earth is full of your creatures.


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Look at the ocean, so big and wide! It is filled with more creatures than people can count. It is filled with living things, from the largest to the smallest.


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When you give it to them, they eat it. When you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.


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When you turn your face away from them, they are terrified. When you take away their breath, they die and turn back into dust.


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But may those who sin be gone from the earth. May evil people disappear. I will praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.


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Remember what he has done, you children of his servant Abraham. Remember it, you people of Jacob, God's chosen ones.


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He was in prison until what he said would happen came true. The word of the Lord proved that he was right.


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The king of Egypt sent for Joseph and let him out of prison. The ruler of many nations set him free.


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Then the rest of Jacob's family went to Egypt. The people of Israel lived as outsiders in the land of Ham.


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The Lord sent his servant Moses to the king of Egypt. He sent Aaron, his chosen one, along with him.


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The Lord gave them the power to do miraculous signs among the Egyptians. They did his wonders in the land of Ham.


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Then he killed the oldest son of every family in Egypt. He struck down the oldest of all of their sons.


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He brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. The Egyptians loaded them down with silver and gold. From among the tribes of Israel no one got tired or fell down.


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Who can speak enough about the mighty acts of the Lord? Who can praise him as much as he should be praised?


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Then I will enjoy the good things you give your chosen ones. I will be joyful together with your people. I will join them when they praise you.


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When our people were in Egypt, they forgot about the Lord's miracles. They didn't remember his many kind acts. At the Red Sea they refused to obey him.


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In their camp some of them became jealous of Moses. They were also jealous of Aaron. He had been set apart to serve the Lord.


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They forgot the miracles he did in the land of Ham. They forgot the wonderful things he did by the Red Sea.


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So he said he would destroy them. But Moses, his chosen one, stood up for them. He kept God's anger from destroying them.


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He promised he would scatter their children's children among the nations. He would make them die in other lands.


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They joined in worshiping the Baal that was worshiped at Peor. They ate food that had been offered to gods that aren't even alive.


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They killed those who weren't guilty of doing anything wrong. They killed their own sons and daughters. They sacrificed them as offerings to statues of the gods of Canaan. The land became "unclean" because of the blood of their children.


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Many times the Lord saved them. But they refused to obey him. So he destroyed them because of their sins.


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Because they were his people, he remembered his covenant. Because of his great love, he felt sorry for them.


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Lord our God, save us. Bring us back from among the nations. Then we will give thanks to you, because your name is holy. We will celebrate by praising you.


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Give praise to the Lord, the God of Israel, for ever and ever. Let all of the people say, "Amen!" Praise the Lord.


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That's what those who have been set free by the Lord should say. He set them free from the power of the enemy.


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He brought them back from other lands. He brought them back from east and west, from north and south.


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Some of them wandered in deserts that were dry and empty. They couldn't find their way to a city where they could settle down.


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Let them give thanks to the Lord for his faithful love. Let them give thanks for the miracles he does for his people.


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He gives those who are thirsty all of the water they want. He gives those who are hungry all of the good food they can eat.


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That's because they hadn't obeyed the words of God. They had refused to follow the advice of the Most High God.


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So he made them do work that was hard and bitter. They tripped and fell, and there was no one to help them.


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Others were foolish. They suffered because of their sins. They suffered because they wouldn't obey the Lord.


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They rose up to the heavens. Then they went down deep into the ocean. In that kind of danger the people's boldness melted away.


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Then they cried out to the Lord because of their problems. And he brought them out of their troubles.


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The people were glad when the ocean became calm. Then he guided them to the harbor they were looking for.


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Let them honor him among his people who gather for worship. Let them praise him in the meeting of the elders.


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He turned land that produced crops into a salty land where nothing could grow. He did it because the people who lived there were evil.


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He turned the desert into pools of water. He turned the dry and cracked ground into flowing springs.


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He blessed the people, and they greatly increased their numbers. He kept their herds from getting smaller.


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Then the number of God's people got smaller. They were brought low by trouble, suffering and sorrow.


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But he lifted needy people out of their suffering. He made their families increase like flocks of sheep.


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A song. A psalm of David. God, my heart feels secure. I will sing and make music to you with all my heart.


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Sinful people who lie and cheat have spoken against me. They have used their tongues to tell lies about me.


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Appoint an evil person to take my enemies to court. Let him stand at their right hand and bring charges against them.


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May everything those people own be taken away to pay for what they owe. May strangers rob them of everything they've worked for.


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May the Lord remember the evil things their fathers have done. May he never erase the sins of their mothers.


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They never thought about doing anything kind. Instead, they drove those who were poor and needy to their deaths. They did the same thing to those whose hearts were broken.


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They loved to call down curses on others. May their curses come back on them. They didn't find any pleasure in giving anyone their blessing. May no blessing ever come to them.


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They called down curses on others as easily as they put on clothes. Cursing was as natural to them as getting a drink of water or putting olive oil on their bodies.


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May their curses cover them like coats. May their curses be wrapped around them like a belt forever.


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May that be the Lord's way of paying back those who bring charges against me. May it happen to those who say evil things about me.


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They may call down a curse on me. But you will give me your blessing. When they attack me, they will be put to shame. But I will be filled with joy.


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Those who bring charges against me will be clothed with dishonor. They will be wrapped in shame as if it were a coat.


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With my mouth I will continually praise the Lord. I will praise him when all of his people gather for worship.


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He stands ready to help those who need it. He saves them from those who have sentenced them to death.


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A psalm of David. The Lord says to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your control."


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The Lord will make your royal authority spread out from Zion to other lands. You will rule over your enemies who are all around you.


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Your troops will be willing to fight for you on the day of battle. You will be wrapped in holy majesty. Just as the dew falls fresh early in the morning, you will always be young and strong.


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The Lord has taken an oath and made a promise. He will not change his mind. He has said, "You are a priest forever, just like Melchizedek."


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He will judge the nations. He will pile up dead bodies on the field of battle. He will crush the rulers of the whole earth.


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Praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord with all my heart. I will praise him where honest people gather for worship.


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The Lord has done great things. All who take delight in what he has done will spend time thinking about it.


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He set his people free. He made a covenant with them that will last forever. His name is holy and wonderful.


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If you really want to become wise, you must begin by having respect for the Lord. All those who follow his rules have good understanding. People should praise him forever.


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Praise the Lord. Blessed is the one who has respect for the Lord. He finds great delight when he obeys God's commands.


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Even in the darkness light shines on honest people. It shines on those who are kind and tender and godly.


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Good things will come to those who are willing to lend freely. Good things will come to those who are fair in everything they do.


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They have spread their gifts around to poor people. Their good works continue forever. They will be powerful and honored.


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Evil people will see it and be upset. They will grind their teeth and become weaker and weaker. What evil people long to do can't succeed.


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He gives children to the woman who doesn't have any children. He makes her a happy mother in her own home. Praise the Lord.


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The people of Israel came out of Egypt. The people of Jacob left a land where a different language was spoken.


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They have hands, but they can't feel. They have feet, but they can't walk. They have throats, but they can't say anything.


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You who have respect for the Lord, trust in him. He helps you. He is like a shield that keeps you safe.


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The Lord remembers us and will bless us. He will bless the people of Israel. He will bless the priests of Aaron.


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The Lord will bless those who have respect for him. He will bless important and unimportant people alike.


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The ropes of death were wrapped around me. The horrors of the grave came over me. I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.


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The Lord takes care of those who are as helpless as children. When I was in great need, he saved me.


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Lord, you have saved me from death. You have dried the tears from my eyes. You have kept me from tripping and falling.


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Lord, I serve you. I serve you just as my mother did. You have set me free from the chains of my suffering.


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I will keep my promise in the courtyards of the Lord's temple. I will keep my promise in Jerusalem itself. Praise the Lord.


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They attacked me like large numbers of bees. But they died out as quickly as burning thorns. By the Lord's power I destroyed them.


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Shouts of joy ring out in the tents of godly people. They praise him for his help in battle. They shout, "The Lord's powerful right hand has done mighty things!


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The Lord's powerful right hand has won the battle! The Lord's powerful right hand has done mighty things!"


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The Lord is God. He has made the light of his favor shine on us. Take branches in your hands. Join in the march on the day of the feast. March up to the corners of the altar.


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Help me understand what your rules can teach me. Then I'll spend time thinking about the miracles you have done.


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Proud people have spread lies about me and have taken away my good name. But I follow your rules with all my heart.


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You made me and formed me with your own hands. Give me understanding so that I can learn your commands.


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May those who have respect for you be filled with joy when they see me. I have put my hope in your word.


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Proud people have treated me badly without any reason. May they be put to shame. I will spend time thinking about your rules.


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I've learned that everything has its limits. But your commands are perfect. They are always there when I need them. Mem


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You are my place of safety. You are like a shield that keeps me safe. I have put my hope in your word.


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You turn your back on all those who wander away from your orders. They lie and cheat, but it doesn't amount to anything.


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Like a lost sheep, I've gone down the wrong path. Come and look for me, because I haven't forgotten to obey your commands.


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. I call out to the Lord when I'm in trouble, and he answers me.


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Lord, save me from people whose lips tell lies. Save me from people whose tongues don't tell the truth.


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He will punish you with the sharp arrows of a soldier. He will punish you with burning wood from a desert tree.


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How terrible it is for me to live in the tents of the people of Meshech! How terrible to live in the tents of the people of Kedar!


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. I look up to the hills. Where does my help come from?


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. A psalm of David. I was very glad when they said to me, "Let us go up to the house of the Lord."


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The tribes of the Lord go there to praise his name. They do it in keeping with the law he gave to Israel.


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I'm concerned about the house of the Lord our God. So I pray that things will go well with Jerusalem.


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. I look up and pray to you. Your throne is in heaven.


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Slaves depend on their masters. Maids depend on the women they work for. In the same way, we depend on the Lord our God. We wait for him to show us his favor.


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. A psalm of David. Here is what Israel should say. Suppose the Lord had not been on our side.


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Suppose he had not been on our side when their anger blazed out against us. Then they would have swallowed us alive.


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They would have been like a flood that drowned us. They would have swept over us like a rushing river.


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion. They will always be secure. They will last forever.


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Evil people will not always rule the land the Lord gave to those who do right. If they did, those who do right might do what is evil.


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But what about those who have taken paths that are crooked? The Lord will drive them out, along with those who do what is evil. May Israel enjoy peace.


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Our enemies took us away from Zion. But when the Lord brought us home, it seemed like a dream to us.


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Our mouths were filled with laughter. Our tongues sang with joy. Then the people of other nations said, "The Lord has done great things for them."


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Those who go out sobbing as they carry seeds to plant will come back singing with joy. They will bring the new crop back with them.


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. A psalm of Solomon. If the Lord doesn't build a house, the work of its builders is useless. If the Lord doesn't watch over a city, it's useless for those on guard duty to stand watch over it.


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It's useless for you to work from early morning until late at night just to get food to eat. God provides for those he loves even while they sleep.


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Blessed are those who have many children. They won't be put to shame when they go up against their enemies in court.


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Blessed are all those who have respect for the Lord. They live as he wants them to live.


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As a vine bears a lot of fruit, so your wife will have many children by you. They will sit around your table like young olive trees.


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May the Lord bless you from Zion. May you enjoy the good things that come to Jerusalem all the days of your life.


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Here is what Israel should say. Many times my enemies have beaten me down ever since I was a young nation.


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Many times my enemies have beaten me down ever since I was a young nation, but they haven't won the battle.


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May no one who passes by say to those who hate Zion, "May the blessing of the Lord be on you. We bless you in the name of the Lord."


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Lord, I cry out to you because I'm suffering so deeply.


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I wait for the Lord to help me. I wait with more longing than those on guard duty wait for the morning. I'll say it again. I wait with more longing than those on guard duty wait for the morning.


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Israel, put your hope in the Lord, because the Lord's love never fails. He sets his people completely free.


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. A psalm of David. Lord, my heart isn't proud. My eyes aren't proud either. I don't concern myself with important matters. I don't concern myself with things that are too wonderful for me.


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I have made myself calm and content like a young child in its mother's arms. Deep down inside me, I am as content as a young child.


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. Lord, remember David and all of the hard times he went through.


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Lord, rise up and come to your resting place. Come in together with the ark. It's the sign of your power.


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May your priests put on godliness as if it were their clothes. May your faithful people sing with joy."


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The Lord took an oath and made a promise to David. It is a firm promise that he will never break. He said, "After you die, I will place one of your own sons on your throne.


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If your sons keep my covenant and the laws I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever."


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He has said, "This will be my resting place for ever and ever. Here I will sit on my throne, because that's what I want.


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I will greatly bless Zion with everything it needs. I will give plenty of food to the poor people living there.


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I will put salvation on its priests as if it were their clothes. God's faithful people will always sing with joy.


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"Here in Jerusalem I will raise up a mighty king from the family of David. I will set up the lamp of David's kingdom for my anointed king. Its flame will burn brightly forever.


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I will put shame on his enemies as if it were their clothes. But the royal crown he wears will shine with glory."


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. A psalm of David. How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in peace!


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It's like the special olive oil that was poured on Aaron's head. It ran down on his beard and on the collar of his robe.


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It's as if the dew of Mount Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. There the Lord gives his blessing. He gives life that never ends.


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A song for those who go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord. All of you who serve the Lord, praise the Lord. All of you who serve at night in the house of the Lord, praise him.


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You who serve in the house of the Lord, praise him. You who serve in the courtyards of the temple of our God, praise him.


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The Lord has chosen the people of Jacob to be his own. He has chosen Israel to be his special treasure.


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The Lord does anything he wants to do in the heavens and on the earth. He does it even in the deepest parts of the oceans.


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He makes clouds rise from one end of the earth to the other. He sends lightning with the rain. He brings the wind out of his storerooms.


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He killed the oldest son of each family in Egypt. He struck down the oldest males that were born to people and animals.


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He killed Sihon, the king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Bashan. He killed all of the kings of Canaan.


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When the Lord hands down his sentence, it will be in his people's favor. He will show deep concern for those who serve him.


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The statues of the gods of the nations are made of silver and gold. They are made by the hands of men.


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Give thanks to the One who killed the oldest son of each family in Egypt. His faithful love continues forever.


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Give thanks to the One who remembered us when things were going badly for us. His faithful love continues forever.


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Those who held us as prisoners asked us to sing. Those who enjoyed hurting us ordered us to sing joyful songs. They said, "Sing one of the songs of Zion to us!"


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If I don't remember you, may my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth so I can't sing. May it happen if I don't consider Jerusalem to be my greatest joy.


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Lord, remember what the people of Edom did on the day Jerusalem fell. "Tear it down!" they cried. "Tear it down to the ground!"


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People of Babylon, you are sentenced to be destroyed. Happy are those who pay you back for what you have done to us.


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A psalm of David. Lord, I will praise you with all my heart. In front of those who think they are gods I will sing praise to you.


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I will bow down facing your holy temple. I will praise your name, because you are loving and faithful. You have honored your name and your word more than anything else.


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The Lord is in heaven. But he watches over those who are free of pride. He knows those who are proud and stays far away from them.


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Trouble is all around me, but you keep me alive. You reach out your hand to put a stop to the anger of my enemies. With your powerful right hand you save me.


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Lord, you will do everything you have planned for me. Lord, your faithful love continues forever. You have done so much for us. Don't stop now.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. Lord, you have seen what is in my heart. You know all about me.


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You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know what I'm thinking even though you are far away.


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If I go up to the heavens, you are there. If I lie down in the deepest parts of the earth, you are also there.


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Suppose I were to rise with the sun in the east and then cross over to the west where it sinks into the ocean.


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Suppose I were to say, "I'm sure the darkness will hide me. The light around me will become as dark as night."


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Even that darkness would not be dark to you. The night would shine like the day, because darkness is like light to you.


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How you made me is amazing and wonderful. I praise you for that. What you have done is wonderful. I know that very well.


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None of my bones was hidden from you when you made me inside my mother's body. That place was as dark as the deepest parts of the earth. When you were putting me together there,


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your eyes saw my body even before it was formed. You planned how many days I would live. You wrote down the number of them in your book before I had lived through even one of them.


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If I could count them, they would be more than the grains of sand. If I were to fall asleep counting and then wake up, you would still be there with me.


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For the director of music. A psalm of David. Lord, save me from sinful men. Keep me safe from those who want to hurt me.


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Their tongues are as deadly as the tongue of a serpent. The words from their lips are like the poison of a snake. Selah


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Lord, keep me out of the hands of sinful people. Keep me safe from men who want to hurt me. They plan to trip me up and make me fall.


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Proud people have hidden their traps to catch me. They have spread out their nets. They have set traps for me along my path. Selah


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Lord and King, you save me because you are strong. You are like a shield that keeps me safe in the day of battle.


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Lord, don't give sinners what they want. Don't let their plans succeed. If you do, they will become proud. Selah


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Those who are all around me have caused me trouble by what their lips have said. Let that trouble fall on their own heads.


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Let burning coals fall on people like that. May they be thrown into the fire. May they be thrown into muddy pits and never get out.


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Don't let men who tell lies about me settle down in the land. May trouble hunt down those who want to hurt me.


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I know that the Lord makes sure that poor people are treated fairly. He stands up for those who are in need.


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A psalm of David. Lord, I call out to you. Come quickly to help me. Listen to me when I call out to you.


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May my prayer come to you like the sweet smell of incense. When I lift up my hands in prayer, may it be like the evening sacrifice.


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Don't let my heart be drawn to what is evil. Don't let me join men who do evil. They don't do what is right. Don't let me join them and eat their fancy food.


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If a person who does what is right were to strike me, it would be an act of kindness. If that person were to correct me, it would be like pouring olive oil on my head. I wouldn't say no to it. But I always pray against the things that sinful people do.


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When their rulers are thrown down from the rocky cliffs, those evil people will realize that my words were true.


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They will say, "As clumps of dirt are left from plowing up the ground, so our bones will be scattered near an open grave."


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A prayer of David when he was in the cave. A maskil. I call out to the Lord. I pray to him for his favor.


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When I grow weak, you know what I'm going through. In the path where I walk, people have hidden a trap to catch me.


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Look around me, and you will see that no one is concerned about me. I have no place of safety. No one cares whether I live or die.


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Lord, I cry out to you. I say, "You are my place of safety. You are everything I need in this life."


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Listen to my cry. I am in great need. Save me from those who are chasing me. They are too strong for me.


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My troubles are like a prison. Set me free so I can praise your name. Then those who do what is right will gather around me because you have been good to me.


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A psalm of David. Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for your favor. You are faithful and right. Come and help me.


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My enemies chase me. They crush me down to the ground. They make me live in darkness like those who died long ago.


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I remember what happened long ago. I spend time thinking about all of your acts. I consider what your hands have done.


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I spread out my hands to you in prayer. I'm thirsty for you, just as dry ground is thirsty for rain. Selah


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Lord, answer me quickly. I'm growing weak. Don't turn your face away from me, or I will be like those who go down into the grave.


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In the morning let me hear about your faithful love, because I've put my trust in you. Show me the way I should live, because I pray to you.


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A psalm of David. Give praise to the Lord. He is my rock. He trains my hands for war. He trains my fingers for battle.


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He is my loving God. He is like a fort to me. He is my place of safety and the One who saves me. He is like a shield that keeps me safe. I go to him for safety. He brings nations under my control.


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Lord, what is a human being that you take care of him? What is a son of man that you think about him?


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My enemies are like a mighty flood. Reach down from heaven and save me. Save me from strangers who attack me.


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They tell all kinds of lies with their mouths. Even when they make a promise by raising their right hands, they don't mean it.


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Save me. Set me free from strangers who attack me. They tell all kinds of lies with their mouths. Even when they make a promise by raising their right hands, they don't mean it.


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While our sons are young, they will be like healthy plants. Our daughters will be like pillars that have been made to decorate a palace.


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Our storerooms will be filled with every kind of food. The sheep in our fields will increase by thousands. They will increase by tens of thousands.


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Our oxen will pull heavy loads. None of our city walls will be broken down. No one will be carried off as a prisoner. No cries of pain will be heard in our streets.


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Blessed are the people about whom all of those things are true. Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord.


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A psalm of praise. A psalm of David. I will honor you, my God the King. I will praise your name for ever and ever.


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Lord, you are great. You are really worthy of praise. No one can completely understand how great you are.


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They will speak about the powerful and wonderful things you do. I will talk about the great things you have done.


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Then all people will know about the mighty things you have done. They will know about the glorious majesty of your kingdom.


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Your kingdom is a kingdom that will last forever. Your rule will continue for all time to come. The Lord is faithful and will keep all of his promises. He is loving toward everything he has made.


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The Lord is ready to help all those who call out to him. He helps those who really mean it when they call out to him.


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Blessed are those who depend on the God of Jacob for help. Blessed are those who put their hope in the Lord their God.


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He is the Maker of heaven and earth and the ocean. He made everything in them. The Lord remains faithful forever.


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He stands up for those who are beaten down. He gives food to hungry people. The Lord sets prisoners free.


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The Lord gives sight to those who are blind. The Lord lifts up those who feel helpless. The Lord loves those who do what is right.


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The Lord watches over the outsiders who live in our land. He takes good care of children whose fathers have died. He also takes good care of widows. But he causes evil people to fail in everything they do.


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Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God! How pleasant and right it is to praise him!


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He doesn't take pleasure in the strength of horses. He doesn't take delight in the strong legs of men.


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Praise him, you kings of the earth and all nations. Praise him, all you princes and rulers on earth.


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Let them praise the name of the Lord. His name alone is honored. His glory is higher than the earth and the heavens.


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He has given his people a strong king. All of his faithful people praise him for that gift. All of the people of Israel are close to his heart. Praise the Lord.


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Praise the Lord. Sing a new song to the Lord. Sing praise to him in the community of his faithful people.


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Let Israel be filled with joy because God is their Maker. Let the people of Zion be glad because he is their King.


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The Lord takes delight in his people. He saves those who aren't proud. He makes them feel like kings.


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Let his faithful people be filled with joy because of that honor. Let them sing with joy even when they are lying in bed.


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Let them carry out God's sentence against the nations. That will bring glory to all of his faithful people. Praise the Lord.


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They provide you with training and help you live wisely. They lead to what is right and honest and fair.


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They give understanding to childish people. They give knowledge and good sense to those who are young.


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Let wise people listen and add to what they have learned. Let those who understand what is right get guidance.


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What I'm teaching also helps you understand proverbs and stories. It helps you understand the sayings and riddles of those who are wise.


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If you really want to gain knowledge, you must begin by having respect for the Lord. But foolish people hate wisdom and training.


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What they teach you will be like a beautiful crown on your head. It will be like a chain to decorate your neck.


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They might say, "Come along with us. Let's hide and wait to spill someone's blood. Let's catch some harmless people in our trap.


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Let's swallow them alive, as the grave does. Let's swallow them whole, like those who go down into the pit.


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That's what happens to everyone who goes after money in the wrong way. That kind of money takes away the lives of those who get it.


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"How long will you childish people love your childish ways? How long will you rude people enjoy making fun of God and others? How long will you foolish people hate knowledge?


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Suppose you had paid attention to my warning. Then I would have poured out my heart to you. I would have told you what I was thinking.


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But you turned away from me when I called out to you. None of you paid attention when I reached out my hand.


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I will laugh when hard times hit you like a storm. I will laugh when danger comes your way like a windstorm. I will make fun of you when suffering and trouble come.


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So you will eat the fruit of the way you have lived. You will choke on the fruit of what you have planned.


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"Childish people go down the wrong path. They will die. Foolish people are satisfied with the way they live. They will be destroyed.


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But those who listen to me will live in safety. They will not worry. They won't be afraid of getting hurt."


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He stores up success for honest people. He is like a shield to those who live without blame. He keeps them safe.


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Wisdom will save you from a woman who commits adultery. It will save you from a sinful wife and her tempting words.


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Don't let love and truth ever leave you. Tie them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.


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Then your storerooms will be so full they can't hold everything. Your huge jars will spill over with fresh wine.


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My son, hold on to good sense and the understanding of what is right. Don't let them out of your sight.


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Suppose you have something to give. Don't say to your neighbor, "Come back later. I'll give it to you tomorrow."


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The Lord puts a curse on the houses of sinners. But he blesses the homes of those who do what is right.


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My father taught me. He said, "Hold on to my words with all your heart. Keep my commands. Then you will live.


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The path of those who do what is right is like the first gleam of dawn. It shines brighter and brighter until the full light of day.


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But the way of those who do what is wrong is like deep darkness. They don't know what makes them trip and fall.


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If you do, you will give your best strength to others. You will give the best years of your life to someone who is mean.


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Should your springs pour out into the streets? Should your streams of water pour out in public places?


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She is like a loving doe, a graceful deer. May her breasts always satisfy you. May you always be captured by her love.


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He will die because he refused to be corrected. His sins will capture him because he was very foolish.


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Instead, my son, do something to free yourself. Don't fall into your neighbor's hands. Don't be proud. Hurry and make your appeal to your neighbor.


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As a deer frees itself from a hunter, free yourself. As a bird frees itself from a trapper, free yourself.


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Then you would be poor, as if someone had robbed you. You would have little, as if someone had stolen from you.


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When you walk, they will guide you. When you sleep, they will watch over you. When you wake up, they will speak to you.


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Your father's commands are like a lamp. Your mother's teaching is like a light. And the training that corrects you leads to life.


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It keeps you from a sinful woman. It keeps you from the smooth tongue of a woman who commits adultery.


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It's the same for anyone who has sex with another man's wife. Anyone who touches her will be punished.


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But when he is caught, he must pay seven times as much as he stole. It may even cost him everything he has.


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They will keep you from a woman who commits adultery. They will keep you from the smooth talk of a sinful wife.


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She said, "At home I have meat left over from my offerings. Today I offered what I had promised I would.


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All at once he followed her. He was like an ox going to be killed. He was like a deer stepping into a trap


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until an arrow struck its liver. He was like a bird rushing into a trap. Little did he know it would cost him his life!


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To those who have understanding, all my words are right. To those who have knowledge, they are true.


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To have respect for the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride and bragging. I hate evil ways and twisted words.


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It happened before the Lord made the earth and its fields. It was before he made the dust of the world.


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I was there when he set the heavens in place. When he marked out the place where the sky meets the sea, I was there.


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It was when he set limits for the sea so that the waters had to obey his command. When he marked out the foundations of the earth, I was there.


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I was the skilled worker at his side. I was filled with delight day after day. I was always happy to be with him.


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"When you correct someone who makes fun of others, you might be laughed at. When you warn a sinner, you might get hurt.


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Don't warn those who make fun of others. They will hate you. Warn those who are wise. They will love you.


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Teach a wise man. He will become even wiser. Teach a person who does right. He will learn even more.


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"If you really want to become wise, you must begin by having respect for the Lord. To know the Holy One is to gain understanding.


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But they don't know that dead people are there. They don't know that her guests are in the deepest parts of the grave.


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These are the proverbs of Solomon. A wise son makes his father glad. But a foolish son brings sorrow to his mother.


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Riches that are gained by sinning aren't worth anything. But doing what is right saves you from death.


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Blessings are like crowns on the heads of those who do right. But the trouble caused by what sinners say destroys them.


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The mouths of those who do right are a fountain of life. But the trouble caused by what sinners say destroys them.


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Wisdom is found on the lips of those who understand what is right. But those who have no sense are punished.


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The wealth of rich people is like a city that makes them feel safe. But having nothing destroys those who are poor.


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Anyone who pays attention to his training is on his way to life. But anyone who refuses to be corrected leads others down the wrong path.


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The tongues of those who do right are like fine silver. But the hearts of those who do wrong aren't worth very much.


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The words of those who do right benefit many people. But those who are foolish die because they have no sense.


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A foolish person finds pleasure in doing evil things. But a man who has understanding takes delight in wisdom.


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Anyone who doesn't want to work hurts those who send him. He is like vinegar on the teeth or smoke in the eyes.


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The way of the Lord leads to a safe place for those who do right. But it destroys those who do evil.


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Those who do right will never be removed from the land. But those who do wrong will not remain in it.


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The mouths of those who do right produce wisdom. But tongues that speak twisted words will be cut out.


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The Lord hates it when people use scales to cheat others. But he is delighted when people use honest weights.


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Those who do what is right are guided by their honest lives. But those who aren't faithful are destroyed by their trickery.


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The ways of honest people are made straight because they do what is right. But those who do what is wrong are brought down by their own sins.


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Godly people are saved by doing what is right. But those who aren't faithful are trapped by evil longings.


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When an evil man dies, his hope dies with him. Everything he expected to gain from his power will be lost.


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With their words ungodly people destroy their neighbors. But those who do what is right escape because of their knowledge.


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When those who do right succeed, their city is glad. When those who do wrong die, people shout for joy.


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A person who has no sense makes fun of his neighbor. But a man who has understanding controls his tongue.


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Anyone who puts up money for what someone else owes will certainly suffer. But a person who doesn't agree to pay up for someone else is safe.


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Those who do what is wrong really earn nothing. But those who plant what is right will certainly be rewarded.


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You can be sure that sinners will be punished. And you can also be sure that godly people will go free.


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What godly people long for ends only in what is good. But what sinners hope for ends only in God's anger.


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People call down curses on those who store up grain for themselves. But blessing makes those who are willing to sell feel like kings.


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Anyone who looks for what is good finds favor. But bad things happen to a person who plans to do evil.


