# verses

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[He did the same] in the cities of Manasseh, Ephraim and Simeon, even unto Naphtali, with their swords round about.


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And when he had broken down the altars and the groves and had beaten the graven images into powder and cut down all the idols [of the sun] throughout all the land of Israel, he returned to Jerusalem.


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Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house, he sent Shaphan, the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah, the son of Joahaz, the writer of chronicles, to repair the house of the LORD his God.


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And they went to Hilkiah, the high priest, and delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim and of all the remnant of Israel and of all Judah and Benjamin, having [then] returned to Jerusalem.


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And they put [it] in the hand of those that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD, to repair and restore the house.


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They [also] gave to the craftsmen and builders, to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and for the woodwork of the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.


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And the men did the work faithfully, and the overseers of them [were] Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of Kohath, to set [it] forward; and [others of] the Levites, all those with understanding in instruments of music.


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Also [they were] over the bearers of burdens and [were] overseers of all that wrought the work in any manner of service; and of the Levites [there were] scribes, and officers, and porters.


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And when they brought out the money that had been brought into the house of the LORD, Hilkiah, the priest, found the book of the law of the LORD [given] by the hand of Moses.


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And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan, the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the LORD. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan.


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And Shaphan carried the book to the king and brought the king word back again, saying, Thy servants have fulfilled all that was committed unto them to do.


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And they have gathered together the money that was found in the house of the LORD and have delivered it into the hand of those who were commissioned and to the hand of the workmen.


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Then Shaphan, the scribe, told the king, saying, Hilkiah the priest, has given me a book. And Shaphan read in it before the king.


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And the king commanded Hilkiah and Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, and Abdon, the son of Micah, and Shaphan, the scribe, and Asaiah, a servant of the king's, saying,


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Go, enquire of the LORD for me and for the remnant of Israel and of Judah, concerning the words of the book that is found, for great [is] the wrath of the LORD that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all the things that are written in this book.


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Then Hilkiah and those of the king went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum, the son of Tikvath, the son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she dwelt in Jerusalem in the house of doctrine); and they spoke to her to that [effect].


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that thus hath the LORD said, Behold, I will bring evil upon this place and upon its inhabitants all the curses that are written in the book which they have read before the king of Judah


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because they have forsaken me and have sacrificed unto other gods, provoking me to anger with all the works of their hands; therefore, my wrath shall be poured out upon this place and shall not be quenched.


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But as for the king of Judah, who sent you to enquire of the LORD, so shall ye say unto him, Thus hath the LORD God of Israel said, [Because] thou hast heard the words [of the book],


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and thy heart became tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, hearing his words against this place and against its inhabitants [and] didst humble thyself before me and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me, I also have heard thee, saith the LORD.


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Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace; neither shall thy eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place and upon the inhabitants of the same. So they brought the king word again.


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And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and with him all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites and all the people, great and small; and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.


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And the king stood in his place and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and that they would keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and with all their soul to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.


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And he caused all that were present in Jerusalem and Benjamin to stand [to it]. And the inhabitants of Jerusalem did according to the covenant of God, the God of their fathers.


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And Josiah took away all the abominations out of all the lands that [pertained] to the sons of Israel and made all that were present in Israel serve the LORD their God [only]. [And] all his days they did not depart from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.:


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Moreover, Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem and they killed the passover on the fourteenth [day] of the first month.


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and said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, who were holy unto the LORD, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel, built, that ye not carry it any longer upon your shoulders; serve now the LORD your God and his people Israel


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and prepare [yourselves] by the houses of your fathers, after your courses, according to the writing of David, king of Israel, and according to the writing of Solomon, his son.


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And stand in the sanctuary according to the divisions of the families of the fathers of your brethren, the people, and [after] the division of the families of the Levites.


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So kill the passover and sanctify yourselves and prepare your brethren, that [they] may do according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.


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And Josiah gave to the people, of the flock, lambs and kids, all for the passover offerings, for all that were present, to the number of thirty thousand, and three thousand bullocks; these [were] of the king's substance.


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And his princes gave willingly unto the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, rulers of the house of God, gave unto the priests for the passover offerings two thousand six hundred [sheep] and three hundred oxen.


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Conaniah, likewise, and Shemaiah and Nethaneel, his brethren, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, princes of the Levites, gave unto the Levites for the sacrifices of the passover five thousand [sheep], and five hundred oxen.


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So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites, likewise, in their courses, according to the king's commandment.


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And they killed the passover, and the priests sprinkled [the blood taken] from the hands of the Levites [who] flayed [them].


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And they took away [part of the animals that they had] for the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, for them to offer unto the LORD, as [it is] written in the book of Moses. And [they did], likewise, with the oxen.


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And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance, but that which had been sanctified, they cooked in pots and in caldrons and in pans and divided [them] speedily among all the people.


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And afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests because the priests, the sons of Aaron, were occupied in the sacrifice of the burnt offerings and the fat until night; therefore, the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron.


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Likewise, the singers, the sons of Asaph, [were] in their place, according to the commandment of David and Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, the king's seer; and the porters [waited] at every gate; it was not necessary for them to depart from their ministry, for their brethren, the Levites, prepared for them.


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So all the service of the LORD was prepared the same day, to keep the passover and to sacrifice the burnt offerings upon the altar of the LORD, according to the commandment of King Josiah.


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And the sons of Israel that were present kept the passover at that time and the solemn feast of unleavened bread for seven days.


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And there was no passover like unto that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel, the prophet; neither did any of the kings of Israel keep such a passover as Josiah kept, and the priests and the Levites and all Judah and Israel that were present, together with all the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


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After all this, when Josiah had prepared the house, Necho, king of Egypt, came up to fight against Carchemish by Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him.


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But he sent ambassadors to him, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? [I do] not [come] against thee this day, but against the house that makes war with me, for God commanded me to make haste. Forbear from [meddling with] God, who [is] with me, that he not destroy thee.


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Nevertheless, Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself, that he might fight with him, and did not hearken unto the words of Necho from the mouth of God, and came to fight him in the valley of Megiddo.


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And the archers shot King Josiah, and the king said to his servants, Take me away, for I am sore wounded.


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His servants, therefore, took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had; and they brought him to Jerusalem, and he died and was buried in the sepulchres of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.


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And Jeremiah lamented for Josiah; and all the singing men and the singing women spoke of Josiah in their lamentations to this day and made them an ordinance in Israel, which [are] written in the lamentations.


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Now the rest of the acts of Josiah and his mercy, according to [that which was] written in the law of the LORD,


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and his deeds, first and last, behold, they [are] written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah.:


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Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz, the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem.


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Jehoahaz [was] twenty-three years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months in Jerusalem.


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And the king of Egypt put him down at Jerusalem and condemned the land in one hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold.


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And the king of Egypt made Eliakim, his brother, king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed his name to Jehoiakim. And Necho took Jehoahaz, his brother, and carried him to Egypt.


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Jehoiakim [was] twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem, and he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD his God.


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And Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came up against him and bound him with [fetters of] brass; he carried him to Babylon.


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Nebuchadnezzar also carried of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon and put them in his temple at Babylon.


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Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim and his abominations which he did and that which was found in him, behold, they [are] written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah; and Jehoiachin, his son, reigned in his stead.


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Jehoiachin [was] eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem; and he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD.


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And when the year was expired, King Nebuchadnezzar sent and caused him to be brought to Babylon with the precious vessels of the house of the LORD and made Zedekiah, his brother, king over Judah and Jerusalem.


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And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD his God [and] did not humble himself before Jeremiah, the prophet, [who spoke unto him] from the mouth of the LORD.


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He rebelled, likewise, against King Nebuchadnezzar, unto whom he had sworn by God; but he stiffened his neck and hardened his heart from turning unto the LORD God of Israel.


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Moreover, all the princes of the priests and the people increased the rebellion, rebelling according to all the abominations of the Gentiles and polluting the house of the LORD which he had sanctified in Jerusalem.


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And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by the hand of his messengers, rising up early, and sending because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place.


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But they mocked the messengers of God and despised his words and misused his prophets until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, and there [was] no remedy.


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Therefore, he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age; he gave [them] all into his hands.


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Likewise, all the vessels of the house of God, great and small, and the treasures of the house of the LORD and the treasures of the king and of his princes; all [these] he brought to Babylon.


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And they burnt the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burnt all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its desirable vessels.


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And those that escaped from the sword he carried away to Babylon; where they were servants to him and his sons until the reign of the kingdom of Persia,


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to fulfil the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah until the land had fulfilled her sabbaths; for all the time of her desolation she rested until the seventy years were fulfilled.


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But in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, that the word of the LORD [spoken] by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and [put it] also in writing, saying,


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Thus saith Cyrus, king of Persia, The LORD God of the heavens has given me all the kingdoms of the earth; and he has charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who [is there] among you of all his people? [Let] the LORD his God [be] with him, and let him go up.:


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Now in the first year of Cyrus, king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and [put it] also in writing, saying,


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Thus saith Cyrus, king of Persia, The LORD God of the heavens has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah.


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Who [is there] among you of all his people? Let God be with him and let him go up to Jerusalem, which [is] in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (he [is] God), which [is] in Jerusalem.


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And whoever may remain of all the places where they remained a stranger, let the men of his place help him with silver and with gold and with goods and with beasts, with freewill gifts for the house of God that [is] in Jerusalem.


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Then rose up the heads of the families of Judah and of Benjamin and the priests and the Levites, of all those whose spirit God woke up to go up to build the house of the LORD which [is] in Jerusalem.


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And all those that [were] about them strengthened their hands with vessels of silver and of gold, with goods and with beasts and with precious things, besides all [that] was willingly offered.


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Also Cyrus, the king, brought forth the vessels of the house of the LORD, which Nebuchadnezzar had brought forth out of Jerusalem and had put them in the house of his god.


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Even those did Cyrus, king of Persia, bring forth by the hand of Mithredath, the treasurer, and numbered them unto Sheshbazzar, the prince of Judah.


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And this [is] the number of them: thirty chargers of gold, a thousand chargers of silver, twenty-nine knives,


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thirty basins of gold, silver basons of a second [sort] four hundred and ten, [and] another thousand vessels.


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All the vessels of gold and of silver [were] five thousand four hundred. All [these] did Sheshbazzar cause to be brought up with those that came up from the captivity of Babylon unto Jerusalem.:


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Now these [are] the sons of the province that went up out of the captivity, of those which had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away unto Babylon, and that returned unto Jerusalem and Judah, every one unto his city,


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which came with Zerubbabel: Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:


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The sons of the porters: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, [in] all one hundred and thirty-nine.


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And these [were] those which went up from Telmelah, Telharsa, Cherub, Addan, [and] Immer, but they could not show their father's house and their seed, whether they [were] of Israel.


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And of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, the sons of Barzillai; who took a wife of the daughters of Barzillai, the Gileadite, and was called after their name.


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These sought their register [among] those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found; therefore, they were, as polluted, put from the priesthood.


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And the Tirshatha said unto them that they should not eat of the most holy things until there stood up a priest with Urim and Thummim.


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besides their servants and their maids, of whom [there were] seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and [there were] among them two hundred men and women who were singers.


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And [some] of the heads of the fathers, when they came to the house of the LORD which [was] at Jerusalem, offered freely for the house of God to set it up in his place.


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They gave after their ability unto the treasure of the work sixty-one thousand drams of gold and five thousand pounds of silver and one hundred priests' garments.


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So the priests and the Levites and [those] of the people and the singers and the porters and the Nethinims dwelt in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.:


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And when the seventh month was come and the sons of Israel [were] in the cities, the people gathered themselves together as one man in Jerusalem.


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Then stood up Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings upon it, as [it is] written in the law of Moses, the man of God.


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And they set the altar upon its bases, for fear [was] upon them because of the peoples of those lands, and they offered burnt offerings upon it unto the LORD, [even] burnt offerings morning and evening.


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They kept also the feast of the tabernacles, as [it is] written, and [offered] the daily burnt offerings by number, according to the ordinance, each thing in its day,


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and in addition to this, the continual burnt offering and the new moons and all the sanctified feasts of the LORD and every spontaneous freewill [offering] unto the LORD.


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From the first day of the seventh month they began to offer burnt offerings unto the LORD. But the foundation of the temple of the LORD was not [yet] laid.


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And they gave money unto the masons and to the carpenters; and food and drink and oil unto the Zidonians and to those of Tyre, to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea of Joppa, according to the will of Cyrus, king of Persia, over them.


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And in the second year of their coming unto the house of God in Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren, the priests and the Levites, and all those that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the LORD.


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Then Jeshua stood [with] his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, [with] their sons and their brethren, the Levites.


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And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, according to the ordinance of David, king of Israel.


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And they sang, praising and giving thanks unto the LORD because [he is] good, for his mercy [endures] for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, praising the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.


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But many of the priests and Levites and of the heads of the fathers, [who were] ancient men that had seen the first house, as the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice while many shouted aloud for joy:


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so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.:


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Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the sons of the captivity built the temple unto the LORD God of Israel,


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then they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the fathers and said unto them, Let us build with you, for we seek your God, as ye [do]; and we do sacrifice unto him since the days of Esarhaddon, king of Assur, who brought us up here.


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But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of the fathers of Israel, said unto them, Ye have nothing to do with us to build a house unto our God; but we alone will build unto the LORD God of Israel as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us.


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and hired counsellors against them, to frustrate their counsel, all the days of Cyrus, king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius, king of Persia.


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And in the reign of Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote accusations against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.


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And in the days of Artaxerxes wrote Bishlam, Mithredath, Tabeel, and the rest of their companions, unto Artaxerxes, king of Persia; and the writing of the letter [was] written in the Syrian tongue and interpreted in the Syrian tongue.


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Rehum, the chancellor, and Shimshai, the scribe, wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes, the king, in this sort:


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Then [wrote] Rehum, the chancellor, and Shimshai, the scribe, and the rest of their companions, the Dinaites, the Apharsathchites, the Tarpelites, the Apharsites, the Archevites, the Babylonians, the Susanchites, the Dehavites, [and] the Elamites,


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and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble Asnappar ([Sennacherib]) brought over and set in the cities of Samaria and the rest [that are] on the other side of the river, and of Cheenet.


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This [is] the copy of the letter that they sent: Unto Artaxerxes, the king: Thy servants, the men of the other side of the river, and of Cheenet.


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Be it known unto the king that the Jews who came up from thee to us are come unto Jerusalem, building the rebellious and the bad city, and have founded the walls [thereof] and joined the foundations.


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Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city is rebuilt, and the walls founded, they will not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so the revenue of the kings shall be reduced.


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Now because we are salted with the salt of the palace, and it is not just unto us to see the king's dishonour; therefore, we have sent to make this known unto the king,


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that search may be made in the book of the records of our fathers; so shalt thou find in the book of the records and know that this city [is] a rebellious city and hurtful unto kings and provinces and that from old time they form rebellions in the midst of her, for which cause this city was destroyed.


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We notify the king that if this city is built [again], and its walls founded, the portion on the other side of the river shall no longer be yours.


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The king sent this answer unto Rehum, the chancellor, and [to] Shimshai, the scribe, and [to] the rest of their companions that dwell in Samaria and to the rest of those of the other side of the river and to Cheenet.


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And I commanded, and search has been made, and it is found that this city of old time has made insurrection against kings and [that] rebellion and sedition have been made in her


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and that there have been mighty kings in Jerusalem, who have ruled over all [that is] beyond the river, and that toll, tribute, and custom, was paid unto them.


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Give ye now commandment to cause these men to cease and that this city not be built until [another] commandment shall be given from me.


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Now when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter [was] read before Rehum, and Shimshai, the scribe, and their companions, they went up in haste to Jerusalem unto the Jews and made them to cease by force and power.


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Then the work of the house of God which [was] at Jerusalem ceased. So it ceased unto the second year of the reign of Darius, king of Persia.:


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Then the prophets, Haggai, the prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that [were] in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel unto them.


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Then Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, rose up and began to build the house of God which [was] at Jerusalem; and with them [were] the prophets of God helping them.


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At the same time Tatnai, captain of this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and their companions came to them and said thus unto them, Who has commanded you to build this house and to make up this wall?


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For the eyes of their God were upon the elders of the Jews, and they could not cause them to cease until the matter came to Darius, and then they returned answer by letter concerning this [matter].


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The copy of the letter that Tatnai, captain of this side the river, and Shetharboznai, and his companions, the Apharsachites, which [were] on this side the river, sent unto Darius, the king:


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Be it known unto the king that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is being built with stones of marble, and the timbers are laid in the walls, and this work is going fast and prospers in their hands.


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Then we asked the elders [and] said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house and to found these walls?


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We asked their names also, to notify thee, that we might write the names of the men that [were at] the head of them.


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And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are servants of the God of heaven and earth and rebuild the house that was built many years ago, which the great king of Israel built and founded.


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But after our fathers raged against the God of heaven, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried the people away into Babylon.


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But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon [the same] King Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.


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And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that [was] in Jerusalem and had brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus, the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto Sheshbazzar, whom he had made captain;


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and said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that [is] in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be built in his place.


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Then the same Sheshbazzar came [and] laid the foundation of the house of God which [was] in Jerusalem, and since that time until now it is being built, and it is not yet finished.


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Now, therefore, if [it seems] good to the king, let there be a search made in the king's treasure house, which [is] there in Babylon, whether it is so, that a decree was made by Cyrus, the king, to build this house of God in Jerusalem, and let the king send unto us his will concerning this matter.:


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Then Darius, the king, gave a commandment, and a search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.


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And there was found in the coffer of the palace that [is] in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein [was] a record thus written:


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In the first year of Cyrus, the king, [the same] Cyrus, the king, gave a commandment [concerning] the house of God at Jerusalem, that the house be built as a place for sacrifices to be offered, and let the walls thereof be covered; the height thereof sixty cubits, [and] the breadth thereof sixty cubits;


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the orders, three of stones of marble and one order of new timber and let the expenses be given out of the king's house.


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And also let the golden and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took forth out of the temple which [was] at Jerusalem and brought unto Babylon, be restored and go again unto the temple which [is] at Jerusalem, to his place, and let them be placed in the house of God.


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Now [therefore], Tatnai, captain of the other side of the river, Shetharboznai, and your companions, the Apharsachites, who [are] on the other side of the river, remove yourselves from there.


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Leave the work of this house of God unto the captain of the Jews and to their elders that they may build this house of God in his place.


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And by me is given the commandment regarding what ye shall do with the elders of these Jews, to build this house of God: that of the king's goods, of the tribute from the other side of the river, the expenses be given unto these men, that they not cease.


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And that which they have need of, both young bullocks and rams and lambs for the burnt offerings of the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, and oil, according to the word of the priests which [are] at Jerusalem, let it be given them day by day that they not cease:


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that they may offer sacrifices of sweet savours unto the God of heaven and pray for the life of the king, and of his sons.


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It is also given by my commandment that whoever shall alter this word, let a timber be pulled down from his house, and being set up, let him be hanged upon it, and let his house be made a dunghill for this.


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And the God that has caused his name to dwell there destroy all kings and people that shall put to their hand to alter [or] to destroy this house of God which [is] at Jerusalem. I Darius have made the decree; let it be done with speed.


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Then Tatnai, captain of the other side of the river, Shetharboznai, and their companions, speedily did according to that which Darius, the king, had sent.


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And the elders of the Jews built, and they prospered according to the prophesy of Haggai, the prophet, and Zechariah, the son of Iddo. They built and finished [it], according to the commandment of the God of Israel and according to the commandment of Cyrus and of Darius and of Artaxerxes, king of Persia.


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And this house was finished on the third day of the month Adar, which was in the sixth year of the reign of Darius, the king.


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And the sons of Israel, the priests and the Levites and the rest of the sons of the captivity, kept the dedication of this house of God with joy,


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and they offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bullocks, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs; and as the sin of all Israel, twelve he goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.


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And they set the priests in their divisions and the Levites in their courses over the work of God, which [is] at Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.


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For the priests and the Levites were purified together, all of them [were] pure, and killed the passover for all the sons of the captivity and for their brethren, the priests, and for themselves.


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And the sons of Israel who had returned out of captivity and all those who had separated themselves unto them from the uncleanness of the Gentiles of the land, to seek the LORD God of Israel, ate


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and kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with joy; for the LORD had made them joyful and turned the heart of the king of Assyria unto them, to strengthen their hands in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.:


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Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, Ezra, the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,


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This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a diligent scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.


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And there went up [some] of the sons of Israel and of the priests and the Levites and the singers and the porters and the Nethinims, unto Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes, the king.


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For upon the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon, and on the first [day] of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God upon him.


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For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD and to do [it] and to teach in Israel [his] statutes and judgments.


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Now this [is] the copy of the letter that the king Artaxerxes gave unto Ezra, the priest, the scribe, a scribe of the words of the commandments of the LORD and of his statutes over Israel.


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Artaxerxes, king of kings, unto Ezra, the priest, perfect scribe of the law of the God of heaven, perfect [peace], and to Cheenet.


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By me is given commandment, that any of the people of Israel and [of] his priests and Levites in my realm, who desire of their own freewill to go up to Jerusalem, go with thee.


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For thou art sent on behalf of the king and of his seven counsellors, to inquire of Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of thy God which [is] in thy hand,


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and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors freely offer unto the God of Israel, whose habitation [is] in Jerusalem,


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and all the silver and gold that thou canst find in all the province of Babylon, with the freewill offering of the people and of the priests, who offer willingly for the house of their God which [is] in Jerusalem;


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Therefore, with diligence thou shalt buy with this money bullocks, rams, lambs, with their presents and their drink offerings, and offer them upon the altar of the house of your God which [is] in Jerusalem.


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And whatever shall seem good to thee and to thy brethren, to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, that do after the will of your God.


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The vessels also that are given thee for the service of the house of thy God, thou shalt restore before the God of Jerusalem.


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And whatever else shall be needful for the house of thy God, which thou shalt have need to bestow, bestow [it] out of the king's treasure house.


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And by me, Artaxerxes, the king, is given the commandment to all the treasurers who [are] on the other side of the river, that whatever Ezra, the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, shall require of you, it be done speedily,


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unto one hundred talents of silver and to one hundred measures of wheat and to one hundred baths of wine and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing [how much].


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Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be speedily done for the house of the God of heaven: for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?


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Also unto you we cause it to be known, that regarding all of the priests and Levites, singers, porters, Nethinims, and ministers of the house of this God, no one shall be able to impose toll, tribute, or custom, upon them.


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And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that [is] in thy hand, set as judges and governors, who govern all the people that [are] on the other side of the river, all such as know the laws of thy God, and teach those that do not know [them].


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And whoever will not do the law of thy God and the law of the king, let them be judged speedily, whether [it be] unto death or to banishment or to confiscation of goods or to imprisonment.


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Blessed [be] the LORD God of our fathers, who has put [such a thing] as this in the king's heart, to honour the house of the LORD which [is] in Jerusalem,


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and has extended mercy unto me before the king, and his counsellors and before all the king's mighty princes. And I, comforted according to the hand of the LORD my God upon me, gathered together the principals of Israel to go up with me.:


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These [are] now the heads of their fathers, and [this is] the genealogy of those that went up with me from Babylon, in the reign of Artaxerxes, the king:


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Of the sons of Shechaniah, of the sons of Pharosh; Zechariah: and with him were reckoned by genealogy of the males one hundred and fifty.


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And of the last sons of Adonikam, whose names [are] these: Eliphelet, Jeiel, and Shemaiah, and with them sixty males.


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And I gathered them together to the river that runs to Ahava, and there we encamped three days, and having searched among the people and the priests, I did not find there any of the sons of Levi.


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Then I commissioned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and Meshullam, principals, also Joiarib and Elnathan, men of understanding;


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and I sent them unto Iddo, the captain at the place of Casiphia, and I put words in their mouth that they should speak unto Iddo [and] to his brethren, the Nethinims, at the place of Casiphia, that they should bring unto us ministers for the house of our God.


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And by the good hand of our God upon us, they brought us a man of understanding, of the sons of Mahli, the son of Levi, the son of Israel; and Sherebiah, with his sons and his brethren, eighteen;


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also of the Nethinims, whom David and the princes had appointed for the ministry of the Levites, two hundred and twenty Nethinims: all of them were expressed by name.


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Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us and for our little ones and for all our substance.


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For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to defend us against the enemy in the way because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God [is] upon all those that seek him for good; but his power and his wrath [is] against all those that forsake him.


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Then I separated twelve of the principals of the priests, Sherebiah, Hashabiah, and ten of their brethren with them,


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and weighed unto them the silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God, which the king and his counsellors and his princes and all those that were of Israel had offered.


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I weighed, therefore, unto their hand six hundred and fifty talents of silver and silver vessels of one hundred talents [and] of gold one hundred talents;


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And I said unto them, Ye [are] holiness unto the LORD; the vessels [are] holiness also; and the silver and the gold [are] a freewill offering unto the LORD God of your fathers.


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Watch and keep [them] until you weigh [them] before the princes of the priests and the Levites and of the princes of the fathers of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the LORD.


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The priests and the Levites received the weight of the silver and of the gold and of the vessels, to bring [them] to Jerusalem unto the house of our God.


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And we departed from the river of Ahava on the twelfth of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was upon us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and of such as lay in wait by the way.


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Now on the fourth day the silver and the gold and the vessels were weighed in the house of our God by the hand of Meremoth, the son of Uriah, the priest; and with him [was] Eleazar, the son of Phinehas; and with them [was] Jozabad, the son of Jeshua, and Noadiah, the son of Binnui, Levites;


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Those that had been carried away, the sons of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, twelve he goats [as] sin; all [this was] a burnt offering unto the LORD.


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And they delivered the king's commissions unto the king's lieutenants and captains of the other side the river, which favoured the people and the house of God.:


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Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites, doing according to their abominations,


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for they have taken of their daughters for themselves and for their sons, and the holy seed is mingled with the peoples of the lands; and the hand of the princes and of the governors has been foremost in this trespass.


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And when I heard this thing, I rent my garment and my mantle and plucked off of the hair of my head and of my beard and sat down astonied.


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Then each one that trembled at the words of the God of Israel because of the transgression of those that had been carried away were assembled unto me; and I sat astonied until the evening sacrifice.


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And at the evening sacrifice I arose up from my affliction; and having rent my garment and my mantle, I fell upon my knees and spread out my hands unto the LORD my God


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and said, O my God, I am confused and ashamed to lift up my face to thee, my God, for our iniquities have multiplied over our head, and our guiltiness is grown up unto heaven.


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Since the days of our fathers, we [have been] in great guiltiness unto this day; and for our iniquities we, our kings [and] our priests, have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to spoil, and to confusion of face, as [it is] this day.


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And now for as [for] a brief moment there has been the mercy of the LORD our God, to leave us an escape, and that we may be given a stake in his holy sanctuary that our God may illuminate our eyes and give us a little preservation of life in our bondage.


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For we [were] bondmen; yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage, but has extended mercy over us before the king of Persia, that we may be given life to lift up the house of our God and to cause the desolations thereof to be restored and to give us a wall of protection in Judah and in Jerusalem.


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which thou hast commanded by thy servants the prophets, saying, The land, unto which ye go to possess it, is an unclean land because of the uncleanness of the people of the lands, for the abominations with which they have filled it from one end to another with their uncleanness.


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Now, therefore, do not give your daughters unto their sons, neither take their daughters unto your sons, nor seek their peace or their prosperity forever, that ye may be strengthened, and eat the good of the land and leave [it] for an inheritance to your sons forever.


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And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guiltiness, seeing that thou our God hast intervened that we no longer be oppressed because of our iniquities and hast given us [such] an escape as this,


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should we again break thy commandments and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? Would thou not be angry with us until thou hadst consumed [us], so that [there should be] no remnant nor escape?


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O LORD God of Israel, thou [art] righteous; for we have an escape, as [it is] this day, behold us here, before thee in our guiltiness; for we cannot stand before thee because of this.:


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Now as Ezra prayed and confessed weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, there assembled unto him out of Israel a very great congregation of men and women and children; and the people wept very sore.


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[Then] Shechaniah, the son of Jehiel, [one] of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have rebelled against our God and have taken strange women of the peoples of the land, but there is yet hope for Israel concerning this thing.


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Now, therefore, let us make a covenant with our God to send away all the women and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of the Lord and of those that fear the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.


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Arise; for [this] matter [belongs] unto thee; we also [will be] with thee: be of good courage, and do [it].


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Then Ezra arose and made the princes of the priests, the Levites, and all Israel, swear that they should do according to this word. And they swore.


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Then Ezra rose up from before the house of God and went into the chamber of Johanan, the son of Eliashib; and [when] he came there, he ate no bread, nor drank water; for he mourned because of the transgression of those that had been carried away.


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And they made proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem unto all the sons of the captivity, that they should gather themselves together unto Jerusalem


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and that whoever would not come within three days, according to the counsel of the princes and of the elders, all his substance should be forfeited and himself separated from the congregation of those that had been carried away.


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Thus were all the men of Judah and Benjamin gathered together unto Jerusalem within three days. It [was] the ninth month, on the twentieth of the month; and all the people sat in the plaza of the house of God, trembling because of [this] matter and because of the rains.


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And Ezra, the priest, stood up, and said unto them, Ye have transgressed because ye have taken strange women, thus increasing the guiltiness of Israel.


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Now, therefore, make confession unto the LORD God of your fathers and do his will; and separate yourselves from the peoples of the lands and from the strange women.


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Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, Let it be done according to thy word.


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But the people [are] many, and [it is] a time of much rain, and there is no strength to stand in the street; neither [is this] a work of one day or two; for we are many that have transgressed in this thing.


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Let our rulers of all the congregation now stand, and let all those who have taken strange women in our cities come at appointed times, and with them the elders of each city and the judges thereof, until the fierce wrath of our God for this matter is turned from us.


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Jonathan, the son of Asahel, and Jahaziah, the son of Tikvah, were placed over this matter; and Meshullam and Shabbethai, the Levites, helped them.


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And the sons of the captivity did so. And Ezra, the priest, and the men who were the heads of the fathers in the house of their fathers were separated, all of them by [their] names, and sat down in the first day of the tenth month to inquire into the matter.


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And they finished, with all the men that had taken strange women by the first day of the first month.


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And among the sons of the priests that had taken strange women these were found: Of the sons of Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and of his brethren: Maaseiah and Eliezer, and Jarib and Gedaliah.


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And they gave their hands that they would send away their women; and [being] guilty, [they offered] a ram of the flock for their guiltiness.


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And of the sons of the Levites; Jozabad, Shimei, Kelaiah, (the same [is] Kelita,)Pethahiah, Judah, and Eliezer.


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Likewise of Israel: of the sons of Parosh; Ramiah, Jeziah, Malchiah, Miamin, Eleazar, Malchijah, and Benaiah.


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And of the sons of Pahath-moab; Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezaleel, Binnui, and Manasseh.


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The words of Nehemiah, the son of Hachaliah. And it came to pass in the month Chisleu, in the twentieth year, as I was in Shushan, the palace,


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that Hanani, one of my brethren, came, he and [certain] men of Judah; and I asked them concerning the Jews that had escaped, which were left of the captivity, and concerning Jerusalem.


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And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province [are] in great affliction and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem [is] broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.


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And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept and mourned [certain] days and fasted and prayed before the God of the heavens


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and said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of the heavens, strong, great and terrible, who keeps covenant and mercy for those that love thee and observe thy commandments;


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let thine ear now be attentive and thine eyes open, that thou may hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the sons of Israel, thy servants, and I confess the sins of the sons of Israel, with which we have sinned against thee; both I and my father's house have sinned.


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We have dealt very corruptly against thee and have not kept the commandments nor the statutes nor the judgments, which thou didst command thy servant Moses.


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Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou didst command thy servant Moses, saying, [If] ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the peoples;


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but [if] ye turn unto me and keep my commandments and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heavens, [yet] will I gather them from there and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to cause my name to dwell there.


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Now these [are] thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast ransomed with thy great power and with thy strong hand.


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O Lord, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant and to the prayer of thy servants who desire to fear thy name; and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him grace before this man. For I was the king's cupbearer.:


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And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes, the king, [that as] wine [was] before him, I took up the wine and gave [it] unto the king. And as I had not been sad before in his presence,


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the king said unto me, Why [is] thy countenance sad, seeing thou [art] not sick? This [is] nothing [else] but brokenness of heart. Then I was very sore afraid


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and said unto the king, Let the king live for ever; why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the house of my fathers' sepulchres, [lies] waste, and the its gates are consumed with fire?


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And I said unto the king, If it pleases the king, and if thy servant has found favour in thy sight, that thou would send me unto Judah, unto the city of my fathers' sepulchres, that I may rebuild it.


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Then the king said unto me (the queen also sitting by him), For how long shall thy journey be, and when wilt thou return? So the matter pleased the king, and he sent me; and I set him a time.


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Moreover, I said unto the king, If it pleases the king, let letters be given me to the captains on the other side of the river, that they may convey me over until I come into Judah,


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and a letter unto Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of the palace of the house and for the wall of the city and for the house that I shall enter into. And the king granted me, according to the good hand of the LORD upon me.


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Then I came to the captains of the other side of the river and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent princes of the army and horsemen with me.


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When Sanballat, the Horonite, and Tobiah, the servant, the Ammonite, heard [of it], it grieved them exceedingly that there was come a man to seek the welfare of the sons of Israel.


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And I arose in the night, I and some few men with me; neither did I tell [any] man what my God had put in my heart to do at Jerusalem; neither [was there any] beast with me, except the beast that I rode upon.


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And I went out by night by the gate of the valley, even before the fountain of the dragon and to the dung port and considered the walls of Jerusalem, which were broken down, and the its gates were consumed with fire.


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Then I went on to the gate of the fountain and to the king's pool, but [there was] no place for the beast [that was] under me to pass.


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Then went I up in the night by the brook and considered the wall and turned back and entered by the gate of the valley and [so] returned.


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And the rulers did not know where I had gone or what I had done; neither had I as yet told [it] to the Jews nor to the priests nor to the nobles nor to the rulers nor to the rest that did the work.


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Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we [are] in, how Jerusalem [lies] waste and its gates are burned with fire; come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no longer in reproach.


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Then I told them how the hand of my God was good upon me and likewise the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they comforted their hands for good.


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But when Sanballat, the Horonite, and Tobiah, the servant, the Ammonite, and Geshem, the Arabian, heard [it], they laughed us to scorn and despised us and said, What is this thing that ye do? Will ye rebel against the king?


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Then I gave them a reply and said unto them, The God of the heavens, he will prosper us; therefore, we, his servants, will arise and build; but ye have no portion nor righteousness, nor memorial in Jerusalem.:


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Then Eliashib, the high priest, rose up with his brethren, the priests, and they built the sheep gate; they sanctified it and set up the doors of it; even unto the tower of Meah they sanctified it, unto the tower of Hananeel.


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And the sons of Hassenaah built the fish gate; they laid its beams and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.


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And next to them Meremoth, the son of Urijah, the son of Koz restored. And next to them Meshullam, the son of Berechiah, the son of Meshezabeel restored. And next to them Zadok, the son of Baana, restored.


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And next to them the Tekoites restored; but their nobles did not put their necks to the work of their Lord.


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Moreover, the old gate [was] restored [by] Jehoiada, the son of Paseah, and Meshullam, the son of Besodeiah; they laid its beams and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.


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And next to them restored Melatiah, the Gibeonite, and Jadon, the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, on behalf of the captain [of the king over the land] on this side the river.


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Next to them Uzziel, the son of Harhaiah, of the refiners restored. Next unto him Hananiah, the son of [one of] the apothecaries, also restored, and they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.


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And next unto them, Jedaiah, the son of Harumaph restored, and over against his house. And next unto him Hattush, the son of Hashabniah, restored.


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Malchijah, the son of Harim, and Hashub, the son of Pahathmoab, restored the other piece and the tower of the furnaces.


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And next to them restored Shallum, the son of Halohesh, prince of the half part of Jerusalem, he and his daughters.


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The valley gate [was] restored [by] Hanun with the inhabitants of Zanoah; they rebuilt it and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, and a thousand cubits in the wall unto the dung gate.


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And Malchiah, the son of Rechab, prince of the province of Bethhaccerem, restored the dung gate; he built it and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars.


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Shallun, the son of Colhozeh, the prince of the region of Mizpah, restored the gate of the fountain; he built it, covered it, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, and the wall of the pool of Siloah of the king's garden, unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.


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After him restored Nehemiah, the son of Azbuk, the prince of half the region of Bethzur, unto [the place] over against the sepulchres of David and to the pool that was made and unto the house of the mighty.


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After him restored the Levites, Rehum, the son of Bani. Next unto him Hashabiah, prince of half the region of Keilah, restored in his part.


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After him their brethren, Bavai, the son of Henadad, prince of the half the region of Keilah restored.


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And next to him Ezer, the son of Jeshua, prince of Mizpah, restored another piece over against the going up to the armoury at the turning [of the wall].


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After him Baruch, the son of Zabbai, earnestly restored the other piece, from the turning [of the wall] unto the door of the house of Eliashib, the high priest.


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After him, Meremoth, the son of Urijah, the son of Koz, restored another piece, from the door of the house of Eliashib even to the end of the house of Eliashib.


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After them Benjamin and Hashub restored over against their house. After them Azariah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ananiah, restored by his house.


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After him, Binnui, the son of Henadad, restored another piece, from the house of Azariah unto the turning [of the wall], even unto the corner.


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Palal, the son of Uzai, over against the turning [of the wall], and the tower which lies out from the king's high house, that [was] by the court of the prison. After him Pedaiah, the son of Parosh.


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And the Nethinims were in Ophel, unto [the place] over against the water gate toward the east and the tower that lies out.


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After them the Tekoites restored the another piece, over against the great tower that lies out, unto the wall of Ophel.


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After them Zadok, the son of Immer, restored over against his house. After him, Shemaiah the son of Shechaniah, the keeper of the east gate restored.


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After him, Hananiah, the son of Shelemiah, and Hanun, the sixth son of Zalaph, restored another piece. After him Meshullam, the son of Berechiah restored over against his chamber.


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After him, Malchiah, the son of the refiner, restored unto the place of the Nethinims and of the merchants, over against the gate of judgment and to the going up of the corner.


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And between the going up of the corner unto the sheep gate, the refiners and the merchants restored.:


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But it came to pass that when Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was wroth and took great indignation and mocked the Jews.


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And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria and said, What are these feeble Jews doing? Is this to be permitted them? Will they sacrifice? Will they finish on time? Will they resurrect the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which were burned?


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Now Tobiah, the Ammonite, [was] by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox [were to] go up [it], he would break down their stone wall.


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Hear, O our God; for we are despised; and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of their captivity.


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And do not cover their iniquity, nor let their sin be blotted out from before thee, for they have become angry against the builders.


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But we built the wall, and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof, for the people were motivated to work.


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And it came to pass when Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabians and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the walls of Jerusalem were sound [and] that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth


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Nevertheless, we made our prayer unto our God and set a watch over the [builders] day and night because of them.


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And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and [there is] much rubbish so that we are not able to build the wall.


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And our adversaries said, They shall not know or see until we come in the midst among them and slay them and cause the work to cease.


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But it came to pass, that when the Jews who dwelt among them came, they advised us ten times of all the places from which they would come upon us.


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Therefore, I set in the lower places behind the wall, [and] on the higher places, I set the people by families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.


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Then I looked and rose up and said unto the nobles and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, Do not be afraid of them: remember the Lord, [who is] great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.


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And it came to pass when our enemies heard that we had understood it, God brought their counsel to nought, [and] we returned all of us to the wall, each one unto his work.


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And it came to pass from that time forth [that] half of the young men wrought in the work, and the other half of them held spears, shields, bows, and coats of mail; and the princes [were] behind all the house of Judah.


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Those that built on the wall and those that bore burdens and those that laded wrought with one hand in the work and with the other held a weapon.


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For the builders, each one had his sword girded by his side, and so they built. And he that sounded the shofar [was] by me.


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And I said unto the principals and to the rulers and to the rest of the people, The work [is] great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.


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So we laboured in the work, and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning until the stars appeared.


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Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let each one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that by night they may be a guard to us, and labour by day.


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So neither I nor my brethren nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us put off our clothes, each one put them off [only] for washing.:


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For there were [some] that said, We, our sons, and our daughters, [are] many; therefore we have bought grain that we may eat and live.


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There were also [some] that said, We have mortgaged our lands, vineyards, and houses, that we might buy grain because of the famine.


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And there were [some] that said, We have borrowed money for the king's tribute, [and that] upon our lands and vineyards.


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Yet now, [given] that the flesh of our brethren [is] as our flesh [and] their sons as our sons, behold, we subject our sons and our daughters to slavery, and there are [some] of our daughters in bondage [already]; neither [is it] in our power to redeem them; for other men have our lands and vineyards.


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Then I meditated unto myself, and I rebuked the principals and the rulers and said unto them, Does each one of you exact usury of his brother? And I set a great assembly against them.


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And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our brethren, the Jews who had been sold unto the Gentiles; and will ye even sell your brethren? And shall they be sold unto us? Then they remained silent, for they had nothing to answer.


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Also I said, What you do is not good, do you not walk in the fear of our God, that ye not be the reproach of our enemies the Gentiles?


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I, likewise, [and] my brethren and my servants, have lent them money and grain; let us now release them from this burden.


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Restore, I pray you, to them, today, their lands, their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, and [even] the hundredth [part] of the money, and of the grain, the wine, and the oil, that ye exact of them.


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Then they said, We will return [it] and will require nothing of them; so we will do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests and caused them to sware that they should do according to this promise.


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Also I shook my lap and said, Thus will God shake out each man from his house and from his labour, that does not perform this promise, even thus shall he be shaken out and emptied. And all the congregation said, Amen and praised the LORD. And the people did according to this promise.


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Moreover, from the day that I was appointed [by the king] to be their captain in the land of Judah, from the twentieth year even unto the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, the king, [that is], twelve years, I and my brethren have not eaten the bread of the captain.


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But the former captains that [had been] before me had charged the people and had taken of them for bread and wine, upon forty shekels of silver; and in addition to this their servants bore rule over the people; but I did not do so because of the fear of God.


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In addition to this, I restored my part in the work of this wall, neither did we buy any inheritance; and all my servants [were] gathered together unto the work.


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I also had at my table one hundred and fifty of the Jews and rulers, besides those that came unto us from among the Gentiles that [are] around us.


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Now [that] which was prepared for each day [was] one ox [and] six choice sheep; also fowls were prepared for me, and every ten days wine in all abundance; yet with all this I did not require the bread of the captain because the bondage was heavy upon this people.


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Now it came to pass when Sanballat and Tobiah and Geshem, the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had built the wall and [that] there was no breach left in it (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates),


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that Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in [one of] the villages in the plain of Ono. But they had thought to do me evil.


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And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I [am] doing a great work so that I cannot come down; why should the work cease, whilst I leave it and come down to you?


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Then Sanballat sent his servant to say the same thing for the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,


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in which [was] written, It is reported among the Gentiles, and Gashmu saith [it], [that] thou and the Jews think to rebel, for which cause thou dost build the wall, that thou may be their king, according to these words.


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And thou hast also appointed prophets to preach of thee at Jerusalem, saying, [There is] a king in Judah! And now these words shall be heard by the king. Come now, therefore, and let us take counsel together.


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Then I sent unto him, saying, There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou dost feign them out of thine own heart.


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For they all made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it not be done. Now, therefore, [O God], strengthen my hands.


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Afterward I came in secret unto the house of Shemaiah, the son of Delaiah, the son of Mehetabeel, who [was] shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple; for they are coming to slay thee; yea, tonight they will come to slay thee.


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Then I said, Should such a man as I flee? And who is there as I who could go into the temple and live? I will not go in.


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And I perceived that God had not sent him, but that he pronounced this prophecy against me, for Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.


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For he was bribed to make me be thus afraid and sin and [that] they might have [matter] for an evil report, that they might reproach me.


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My God, think thou upon Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works and on the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets, that [did things to] put me in fear.


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And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard [of it], all the Gentiles that [were] about us feared, and they were much cast down in their own eyes, and they knew that this work was wrought of our God.


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Likewise, in those days the principals of Judah sent many letters unto Tobiah, and [the letters] of Tobiah came unto them.


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For [there were] many in Judah sworn unto him, because he [was] the son-in-law of Shechaniah, the son of Arah; and his son Johanan had taken the daughter of Meshullam, the son of Berechiah.


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They also reported his good deeds before me and uttered my words to him. [And] Tobiah sent letters to put me in fear.:


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Now it came to pass, when the wall was built and I had set up the doors and the porters and the singers and the Levites were appointed,


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that I commanded my brother Hanani, and Hananiah, the prince of the palace in Jerusalem (for he was as a man of truth and feared God above many);


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and I said unto them, Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot and even [with] the [guards] present, let them shut the doors and bar [them]. And appoint guards of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, each one in his watch and each one [to be] in front of his house.


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Now the city [was] large and great, but there were few people in it, and the houses [were] not rebuilt.


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And my God put [it] into my heart to gather together the principals and the rulers and the people, that they might be reckoned by genealogy. And I found the register of the genealogy of those who had come up before and found written therein:


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These [are] the sons of the province, that came up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had carried away and returned to Jerusalem and to Judah, each one unto his city,


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who came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, [and] Baanah. The number of the men of the people of Israel:


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The porters: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, one hundred thirty-eight.


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And these [were] they which came up [also] from Telmelah, Telharesha, Cherub, Addon, and Immer; but they could not show their father's house, nor their seed, whether they [were] of Israel.


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And of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Koz, the sons of Barzillai, who took [one] of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite to wife, and was called after their name.


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These sought their register [among] those that were reckoned by genealogy, but it was not found; therefore, were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood.


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And the Tirshatha said unto them that they should not eat of the most holy things until there stood [up] a priest with Urim and Thummim.


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not counting their menservants and their maidservants, of whom [there were] seven thousand three hundred and thirty-seven; and they had two hundred and forty-five men and women singers.


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And some of the princes of the families gave unto the work. The Tirshatha gave for the treasure one thousand drams of gold, fifty basins, and five hundred and thirty priests' garments.


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And the princes of the families gave for the treasure of the work twenty thousand drams of gold and two thousand two hundred pounds of silver.


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And [that] which the rest of the people gave [was] twenty thousand drams of gold and two thousand pounds of silver and sixty-seven priests' garments.


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So the priests and the Levites and the porters and the singers and [those] of the people and the Nethinims and all Israel dwelt in their cities; and when the seventh month came, the sons of Israel [were] in their cities.:


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And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the plaza that [was] before the water gate, and they spoke unto Ezra, the scribe, to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.


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And Ezra, the priest, brought the law before the congregation, both of men and women and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.


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And he read in the [book] before the plaza that [was] before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people [were attentive] unto the book of the law.


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And Ezra, the scribe, stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Urijah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and on his left hand, Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchiah, Hashum, Hashbadana, Zechariah, [and] Meshullam.


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And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people (for he was above all the people), and when he opened it, all the people stood up:


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and Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, lifting up their hands; and they humbled themselves and worshipped the LORD with [their] faces to the ground.


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And Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, [and] Pelaiah, Levites, caused the people to [be silent] that they might understand the law; and the people [were] in their place.


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And Nehemiah, the Tirshatha, and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites that caused the people to be attentive, said unto all the people, This day [is] holy unto the LORD your God; do not mourn nor weep. For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.


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Then he said unto them, Go, eat the fat, and drink sweet wine, and send portions unto those who have nothing prepared; for [this] day [is] holy unto our Lord, and not sad; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.


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So the Levites caused all the people to be silent, saying, Be silent, for the day [is] holy; neither be ye sad.


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And all the people went to eat and to drink and to send portions and to rejoice with great joy because they had understood the words that were taught unto them.


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And on the next day the princes of the families of all the people, the priests, and the Levites were gathered together unto Ezra, the scribe, to understand the words of the law.


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And they found written in the law, which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the sons of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month


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and that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount and bring olive branches and pine branches and myrtle branches and palm branches and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as [it is] written.


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So the people went forth and brought [them] and made themselves booths, each one upon the roof of his house and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God and in the plaza of the water gate and in the plaza of the gate of Ephraim.


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And all the congregation of those that returned out of the captivity made booths and dwelt in the booths, for since the days of Jeshua, the son of Nun, unto that day, the sons of Israel had not done so. And there was very great joy.


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And Ezra read in the book of the law of God each day, from the first day unto the last day. And they kept the feast seven days, and on the eighth day [was] a solemn assembly, according to the ordinance.:


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Now in the twenty-fourth day of this month, the sons of Israel were assembled with fasting and with sackcloth and earth upon them.


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And the seed of Israel had separated themselves from all strangers and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.


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And they stood up in their place and read in the book of the law of the LORD their God [one] fourth part of the day; and [another] fourth part they confessed and worshipped the LORD their God.


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Then stood up upon the stairs of the Levites, Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, [and] Chenani and cried with a loud voice unto the LORD their God.


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Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, [and] Pethahiah said, Stand up [and] bless the LORD your God for ever and ever; and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.


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Thou, O LORD, art alone; thou hast made the heavens and the heavens of the heavens, with all their host, the earth and all [things] that [are] therein, the seas and all that [is] therein, and thou givest life to them all; and the host of the heavens worship thee.


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Thou art, O LORD, the God who didst choose Abram and didst bring him forth out of Ur of the Chaldees and didst give him the name of Abraham


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and didst find his heart faithful before thee and didst make a covenant with him to give the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite, to give [it], to his seed and hast performed thy word; for thou [art] righteous.


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and didst show signs and wonders upon Pharaoh and on all his servants and on all the people of his land; for thou didst know that they had dealt proudly against them. So didst thou make thee a name, as [it is] this day.


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And thou didst divide the sea before them so that they went through the midst of the sea on the dry land; and their persecutors thou didst throw into the deeps, as a stone into the mighty waters.


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Moreover, thou didst lead them by day with a pillar of cloud and by night with a pillar of fire to give them light in the way by which they should go.


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Thou didst come down upon Mount Sinai and didst speak with them from heaven and didst give them right judgments and true laws, good statutes and commandments,


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and didst make known unto them the sabbath of thy holiness and didst prescribe for them commandments, statutes, and law by the hand of Moses, thy servant.


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And thou didst give them bread from heaven in their hunger and didst bring forth water for them out of the rock in their thirst and didst promise them that they should go in to possess the land which thou hadst sworn to give them.


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But they and our fathers dealt proudly and hardened their necks and did not hearken unto thy commandments


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and refused to hear; neither did they remember thy wonders that thou hadst done among them, but hardened their necks and in their rebellion [thought] to appoint a leader to return to their bondage; but thou [art] a God of pardons, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great mercy, and for thou didst not leave them.


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Even when they had made themselves a molten calf and said, This [is] thy God that brought thee up out of Egypt, and had committed great abominations;


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yet thou in thy manifold mercies didst not forsake them in the wilderness; the pillar of the cloud did not depart from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither did the pillar of fire by night, to illuminate the way in which they should go.


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Thou didst give thy good spirit to teach them and didst not withhold thy manna from their mouth and didst give them water for their thirst.


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[Yea], forty years didst thou sustain them in the wilderness [so that] they lacked nothing; their clothes did not wax old, and their feet did not swell.


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Thou didst give them kingdoms and peoples and didst divide them into corners; so they possessed the land of Sihon and the land of the king of Heshbon and the land of Og, king of Bashan.


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Thou didst multiply their sons as the stars of heaven and didst introduce them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to inherit [it].


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So the sons came in and possessed the land, and thou didst humble the inhabitants of the land before them, the Canaanites, and didst give them into their hand, with their kings and the peoples of the land, that they might do with them as they would.


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And they took strong cities and fertile land and inherited houses full of all goods, hewn cisterns, vineyards and oliveyards and many trees of good fruit; so they ate and were filled and became fat and delighted themselves in thy great goodness.


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Nevertheless, they were contentious and rebelled against thee and cast thy law behind their backs and slew thy prophets who testified against them to turn them to thee, and they wrought great abominations.


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Therefore, thou didst deliver them into the hand of their enemies, who afflicted them; and in the time of their tribulation, they cried unto thee, thou didst hear [them] from the heavens; and according to thy manifold mercies thou didst give them saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies.


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But after they had rest, they did evil again before thee; therefore, thou didst leave them in the hand of their enemies so that they had the dominion over them; yet when they returned and cried unto thee, thou didst hear [them] from the heavens; and many times didst thou deliver them according to thy mercies


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and didst protest unto them, that they return unto thy law; yet they dealt proudly and did not hearken unto thy commandments, but sinned against thy judgments (which if a man shall do, in them he shall live) and withdrew the shoulder and hardened their neck and would not hear.


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Yet many years didst thou forbear them and didst protest against them with thy spirit by the hand of thy prophets; yet they did not hear; therefore, thou didst give them into the hand of the peoples of the land.


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Nevertheless, for thy great mercies' sake thou didst not utterly consume them nor forsake them; for thou [art] a gracious and merciful God.


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Now, therefore, our God, the great, mighty, and terrible God, who keeps covenant and mercy, let not all the trouble seem little before thee, that has come upon us, on our kings, on our princes, on our priests, on our prophets, on our fathers, and on all thy people, since the time of the kings of Assyria unto this day.


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Howbeit thou [art] just in all that has come upon us; for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly;


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neither have our kings, our princes, our priests, nor our fathers, kept thy law nor hearkened unto thy commandments and thy testimonies, with which thou didst testify against them.


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For they did not serve thee in their kingdom and in thy great goodness that thou didst give them and in the large and fat land which thou didst deliver before them; neither did they turn from their wicked works.


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Behold, we [are] servants this day, behold us here, servants in the land which thou didst give unto our fathers to eat the fruit thereof and the good thereof.


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And it multiplies its fruit for the kings, whom thou hast set over us because of our sins, who have dominion over our bodies and over our cattle, according to their will, and we [are] in great distress.


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And because of all this, we make a sure [covenant] and write [it]; and our princes, Levites, [and] priests seal [unto it].:


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And the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the porters, the singers, the Nethinims, and all those that had separated themselves from the peoples of the lands unto the law of God, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, every one having knowledge and having understanding;


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Strengthened with their brethren, their nobles, they came forward in an oath with a curse that they would walk in God's law, which was given by the hand of Moses, the servant of God, and observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes;


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and that we would not give our daughters unto the peoples of the land nor take their daughters for our sons.


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Likewise that if the peoples of the land bring merchandise or any food on the sabbath day to sell, [that] we would not take anything from them on the sabbath or on the holy day, and [that] we would leave the seventh year and remit every debt.


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Also we made ordinances for us, to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel for the service of the house of our God,


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for the showbread and for the continual present and for the continual burnt offering, and of the sabbaths and of the new moons, for the appointed feasts and for the holy [things] and for the [atonement for] sin to reconcile Israel and [for] all the work of the house of our God.


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And we cast the lots among the priests, the Levites, and the people, regarding the wood offering, to bring [it] into the house of our God, according to the houses of our fathers, at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the LORD our God, as [it is] written in the law.


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And that each year we would bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of all trees, unto the house of the LORD.


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Likewise, the firstborn of our sons and of our beasts, as [it is] written in the law and that we would bring the firstlings of our cows and of our sheep to the house of our God, unto the priests that minister in the house of our God.


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And [that] we would also bring the firstfruits of our dough and of our offerings and the fruit of every tree, of the wine and of the oil, unto the priests, to the chambers of the house of our God, and the tithe of our ground unto the Levites, that the same Levites might have the tenths of our labours in all the cities.


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And that the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive tithes; and the Levites shall offer the tithe of the tithes in the house of our God, to the chambers, in the treasure house.


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For the sons of Israel and the sons of Levi shall bring the offering of the grain, of the new wine and the oil, unto the chambers where [are] the vessels of the sanctuary and the priests that minister and the porters and the singers; and we will not forsake the house of our God.:


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And the rulers of the people dwelt at Jerusalem; but the rest of the people cast lots, to bring one of ten to dwell in Jerusalem the holy city and nine parts [to dwell] in the [other] cities.


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Now these [are] the heads of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem; but in the cities of Judah each one dwelt in his possession in their cities, of Israel, of the priests, the Levites, and the Nethinims, and of the sons of Solomon's servants.


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And at Jerusalem dwelt [certain] of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah, the son of Uzziah, the son of Zechariah, the son of Amariah, the son of Shephatiah, the son of Mahalaleel, of the sons of Perez;


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and Maaseiah, the son of Baruch, the son of Colhozeh, the son of Hazaiah, the son of Adaiah, the son of Joiarib, the son of Zechariah, the son of Shiloni.


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And these [are] the sons of Benjamin: Sallu, the son of Meshullam, the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah, the son of Kolaiah, the son of Maaseiah, the son of Ithiel, the son of Jesaiah.


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And Joel, the son of Zichri, [was] their overseer; and Judah, the son of Senuah, [was] second over the city.


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Seraiah, the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, prince of the house of God,


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and their brethren that did the work of the house [were] eight hundred and twenty-two; and Adaiah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Pelaliah, the son of Amzi, the son of Zechariah, the son of Pashur, the son of Malchiah,


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and his brethren, princes of families, two hundred and forty-two; and Amashai, the son of Azareel, the son of Ahasai, the son of Meshillemoth, the son of Immer,


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and their brethren, mighty men of valour, one hundred and twenty-eight; and their captain [was] Zabdiel, the son of Gedolim.


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And of the Levites: Shemaiah, the son of Hashub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Bunni;


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and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the principals of the Levites, overseers of the exterior work of the house of God.


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And Mattaniah, the son of Micha, the son of Zabdi, the son of Asaph, [was] the principal to begin the thanksgiving in prayer; and Bakbukiah, the second among his brethren, and Abda, the son of Shammua, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun.


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Moreover, the porters, Akkub, Talmon, and their brethren, guards at the gates, [were] one hundred and seventy-two.


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And the residue of Israel, of the priests [and] the Levites, [were] in all the cities of Judah, each one in his inheritance.


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The overseer of the Levites at Jerusalem [was] Uzzi, the son of Bani, the son of Hashabiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Micha of singers, the sons of Asaph, over the work of the house of God.


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For [there was] a commandment of the king concerning them and a determination of the singers for each day.


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And Pethahiah, the son of Meshezabeel, of the sons of Zerah, the son of Judah, [was] at the king's hand in all matters concerning the people.


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And [regarding] the villages with their lands, [some] of the sons of Judah dwelt in Kirjatharba and [in] its villages and in Dibon and [in] its villages and in Jekabzeel and [in] its villages,


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Zanoah, Adullam, and [in] their villages, in Lachish and its lands, in Azekah and [in] its villages. And they dwelt from Beersheba unto the valley of Hinnom.


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Now these [are] the priests and the Levites that came up with Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel and with Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,


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Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, [and] Jedaiah. These [were] the princes of the priests and of their brethren in the days of Jeshua.


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And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, [and] Mattaniah, who with his brethren officiated in the songs of praise.


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And in the days of Joiakim the priests, the heads of the families were of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;


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The Levites in the days of Eliashib, of Joiada and of Johanan and [of] Jaddua, [were] recorded as heads of families; also the priests, until the reign of Darius, the Persian.


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The sons of Levi, heads of families, [were] written in the book of the Chronicles, until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.


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The heads of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua, the son of Kadmiel, and their brethren before them, to praise [and] to give thanks, according to the statute of David, the man of God, keeping each one their ward.


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Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, [and] Akkub [were] porters keeping the ward at the thresholds of the gates.


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These [were] in the days of Joiakim, the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the captain, and of Ezra, the priest [and] scribe.


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And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites out of all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem, to keep the dedication with gladness, both with thanksgiving and with singing, [with] cymbals, psalteries, and with harps.


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And the sons of the singers were gathered together, both out of the plain country round about Jerusalem and from the villages of Netophathi;


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also from the house of Gilgal and out of the fields of Geba and Azmaveth; for the singers had built themselves villages round about Jerusalem.


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And the priests and the Levites purified themselves and purified the people and the gates and the wall.


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Then I brought up the princes of Judah upon the wall and appointed two great choirs [which went] in procession, [one] went on the right hand upon the wall toward the dung gate.


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and [certain] of the priests' sons with trumpets: [namely], Zechariah, the son of Jonathan, the son of Shemaiah, the son of Mattaniah, the son of Michaiah, the son of Zaccur, the son of Asaph;


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and his brethren, Shemaiah, Azarael, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethaneel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David, the man of God, and Ezra, the scribe, before them.


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And at the fountain gate, which was over against them, they went up by the stairs of the city of David, at the going up of the wall, from the house of David unto the water gate eastward.


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And the second choir went over against [them], and I after them with half of the people upon the wall, from the tower of the furnaces even unto the broad wall,


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and from the gate of Ephraim, to the old gate, and to the fish gate, to the tower of Hananeel, and the tower of Meah, unto the sheep gate; and they stood still in the gate of the guards.


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and the priests: Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Michaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, [and] Hananiah, with trumpets;


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and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang loud, with Jezrahiah [their] overseer.


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Also that day they offered great sacrifices and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women also and the children rejoiced, so that the joy of Jerusalem was heard even afar off.


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And at that time men were appointed over the chambers of the treasures, of the offerings, of the firstfruits, and of the tithes, to gather into them out of the fields of the cities the legal portions for the priests and the Levites; for the joy of Judah was upon the priests and the Levites that served.


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And they kept the ward of their God and the ward of the purification, and the singers and the porters, according to the statute of David [and] of Solomon, his son.


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For from the time of David and Asaph of old [there were] princes of the singers, and songs and praise and thanksgiving unto God.


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And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah, gave the portions of the singers and the porters, each thing in its day; and they sanctified [them] unto the Levites; and the Levites sanctified [them] unto the sons of Aaron.:


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On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and it was found written therein that the Ammonites and the Moabites should not come into the congregation of God forever


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because they did not meet the sons of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, that he should curse them; howbeit our God turned the curse into a blessing.


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Now it came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude.


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And before this, Eliashib, the priest, had been the overseer of the chamber of the house of our God, [and was] related to Tobiah,


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and he had prepared for him a great chamber, where before they had kept the present, the frankincense, the vessels, the tithe of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil, which was commanded [to be given] to the Levites, to the singers and the porters and the offerings of the priests.


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But in all this [time] I was not at Jerusalem; for in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes, king of Babylon, I went unto the king, and after certain days I was sent by the king.


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And I came to Jerusalem and understood the evil that Eliashib had done attending Tobiah, in preparing him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.


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And it grieved me sore; therefore, I cast forth all the household vessels of Tobiah out of the chamber.


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Then I commanded, and they cleansed the chambers; and I caused the vessels of the house of God to be brought there again, with the present and the frankincense.


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And I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given [to them] and that the Levites and the singers, that did the work, had fled each one to his inheritance.


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Then I contended with the rulers and said, Why is the house of God forsaken? And I gathered them together and set them in their place.


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Then all Judah brought the tithe of the grain, of the new wine, and of the oil unto the store houses.


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And I made treasurers over the store houses, Shelemiah, the priest, and Zadok, the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah; and next to them [was] Hanan, the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their office [was] to distribute unto their brethren.


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Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and wipe not out my mercies that I have done for the house of my God and for its wards.


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In those days I saw in Judah [some] treading wine presses on the sabbath and bringing in sheaves and lading asses with wine, grapes, figs, and all [manner of] burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the sabbath day; and I protested [unto them] the day in which they sold the food.


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There dwelt men of Tyre also therein, who brought fish and all manner of merchandise, and sold on the sabbath to the sons of Judah in Jerusalem.


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Then I contended with the nobles of Judah and said unto them, What evil thing [is] this that ye do and profane thus the sabbath day?


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Did not your fathers do this, and did not our God bring all this evil upon us and upon this city? Yet ye bring more wrath upon Israel by profaning the sabbath.


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And it came to pass, that when shadow came to the gates of Jerusalem before the sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened until after the sabbath; and I set [some] of my servants at the gates, [that] no burden be brought in on the sabbath day.


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Then I testified and protested against them and said unto them, Why do ye lodge about the wall? If ye do so again, I will lay hands on you. From that time forth they came no [more] on the sabbath.


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And I told the Levites that they should cleanse themselves and [that] they should come [and] guard the gates, to sanctify the sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, [concerning] this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.


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and their sons spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and according to the language of each people; for they could not speak in the Jews' language.


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And I contended with them and cursed them and smote certain of them and plucked off their hair and made them swear by God, [saying], Ye shall not give your daughters unto their sons nor take their daughters unto your sons, or for yourselves.


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Did not Solomon, king of Israel, sin by these things? Yet among many nations there was no king like him, who was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel; nevertheless, strange women caused even him to offend.


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Shall we then hearken unto you to do all this great evil, to transgress against our God in marrying strange women?


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And [one] of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib, the high priest, [was] son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite; therefore, I chased him from me.


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Remember them, O my God because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood and of the Levites.


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Thus I cleansed them from all strangers and appointed the wards of the priests and the Levites, each one in his work,


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and for the wood offering, at the appointed times, and for the firstfruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.:


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Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus (this [is] Ahasuerus who reigned from India even unto Ethiopia [over] one hundred and twenty-seven provinces)


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[That] in those days, when the king Ahasuerus sat on the throne of his kingdom, which [was] in Shushan, the palace,


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In the third year of his reign, he made a banquet unto all his princes and his servants, [having] before him the power of Persia and Media, the governors and princes of the provinces, '


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to show them the riches of the glory of his kingdom and the honour of beauty of his greatness for many days, [even] one hundred and eighty days.


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And when these days were expired, the king made a banquet unto all the people that were present in Shushan the palace, both unto great and small, for seven days, in the court of the garden of the king's palace.


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[There were] white, green, and blue [hangings], fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble; the beds [were of] gold and silver, upon a pavement of porphyre and of marble and of alabaster and of blue.


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And they gave [them] drink in vessels of gold (the vessels being diverse one from another) and royal wine in abundance, according to the power of the king.


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And the drink [was] according to this law: let no one constrain themselves; for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house that they should do according to the will of each one.


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On the seventh day, when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar, and Carcas, the seven eunuchs that served in the presence of Ahasuerus, the king,


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to bring Vashti, the queen, before the king with the crown of the kingdom, to show the people and the princes her beauty, for she [was] fair to behold.


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But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's word by [his] eunuchs; therefore, the king was very wroth, and his anger burned in him.


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Then the king asked the wise men, who knew the times, (for so [was] the king's manner toward all that knew [about] the law and rights,


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and the next to him [was] Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memucan, seven princes of Persia and Media, who saw the king's face, [and] who sat first in the kingdom;)


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What shall we do unto Queen Vashti according to law because she has not performed the decree of King Ahasuerus by the eunuchs?


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And Memucan answered before the king and the princes, Vashti, the queen, has not only committed iniquity against the king, but also against all the princes and against all the people that [are] in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.


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For [this] deed of the queen shall be [known] abroad unto all the women so that they shall despise their husbands, saying, King Ahasuerus commanded Vashti, the queen, to be brought in before him, but she did not come.


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And now the princesses of Persia and Media who have heard of the deed of the queen shall say [this] unto all the king's princes, and [there shall be] much contempt and wrath.


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If it pleases the king, let there go forth a royal commandment from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes, that it not be altered, That Vashti come no more before King Ahasuerus, and let the king give her royal estate unto another that is better than she.


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And this sentence which the king shall make shall be heard throughout all his empire, although it is great, and all the wives shall give their husbands honour, from the greatest to the least.


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for he sent letters into all the king's provinces, into every province according to the writing thereof, and to every people after their language, saying, That every man should bear rule in his own house and that [it] should be published according to the language of every people.:


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After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was appeased, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what was decreed against her.


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Then the king's servants that ministered unto him said, Let there be fair young virgins sought for the king,


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and let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom that they may gather together all the fair young virgins unto Shushan, the palace, to the house of the women, unto the custody of Hege, the king's eunuch, keeper of the women; and let them be given that which is necessary for [their] purification;


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and let the maiden which pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti. And the thing pleased the king, and he did so.


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[Now] in Shushan, the palace, there was a certain Jew, whose name [was] Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite;


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who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captivity which had been carried away with Jeconiah, king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, had carried away.


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And he had brought up Hadassah, that [is], Esther, his uncle's daughter; for she had neither father nor mother, and the maid [was] fair and beautiful; and as her father and mother were dead, Mordecai had taken her for his own daughter.


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So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan, the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.


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And the maiden pleased him, and she found mercy before him; and he speedily gave her that which was necessary for purification and her rations, and seven maidens, [which were] meet to be given her out of the king's house; and he moved her and her maids into the best [place] of the house of the women.


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Esther had not declared her people nor her birth, for Mordecai had charged her that she should not declare [it].


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And Mordecai walked every day before the court of the women's house to know the peace of Esther and what was done with her.


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Now when each maid's turn was come to go in to King Ahasuerus, after she had been twelve months according to the law [regarding] the women (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, [that is], six months with oil of myrrh and six months with aromatic odours and oils for women),


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then thus came [each] maiden unto the king; whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.


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In the evening she went, and on the morrow she returned into the second house of the women, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who kept the concubines; she came in unto the king no more, unless the king delighted in her and called for her by name.


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Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail, the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, was come to go in unto the king, she required nothing but what Hegai, the king's eunuch, the keeper of the women, appointed. And Esther obtained grace in the sight of all those that looked upon her.


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So Esther was taken unto King Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, which [is] the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign.


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And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and mercy in his sight more than did all the other virgins so that he set the crown of the kingdom upon her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.


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Then the king made a great banquet unto all his princes and his servants, the banquet of Esther; and he made a release to the provinces [of their taxes] and gave gifts according to the power of the king.


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Esther had not [yet] declared her birth nor her people; as Mordecai had charged her; for Esther did the commandment of Mordecai as when she was being brought up with him.


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In those days, while Mordecai sat in the king's gate, two of the king's eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, of those which kept the door, were wroth and sought to lay hand on King Ahasuerus.


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And the thing was known by Mordecai, who told [it] unto Esther, the queen; and Esther notified the king [of this] in Mordecai's name.


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And when inquisition was made of the matter, it was found out; therefore, they were both hanged on a tree; and it was written in the book of the Chronicles before the king.:


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After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, and advanced him and set his seat above all the princes that [were] with him.


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And all the king's servants that [were] in the king's gate, knelt down and worshipped Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not kneel or worship [before him].


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Then the king's servants, who [were] in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why dost thou pass over the king's commandment?


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Now it came to pass, when they spoke daily unto him, and he did not hearken unto them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai's word would stand; for he had told them that he [was] a Jew.


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And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not kneel or worship [before] him, then Haman was filled with wrath.


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And he thought it a small matter to lay hands on Mordecai alone; for now they had declared unto him the people of Mordecai; therefore, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews that [were] throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus, the people of Mordecai.


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In the first month, that [is], the month Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur, that [is], the lot, before Haman from day to day and from month to month, and the twelfth [month], that [is], the month Adar was taken.


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And Haman said unto King Ahasuerus, There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of thy kingdom, and their laws [are] different from all [other] people; neither do they observe the king's laws: therefore, it [is] not profitable for the king to allow them to remain.


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If it pleases the king, let it be written that they may be destroyed; and I will pay ten thousand talents of silver to the hands of those that have the charge of the public works, to bring [it] into the king's treasuries.


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And the king took his ring from his hand and gave it unto Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the Jews' enemy.


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And the king said unto Haman, The silver [is] given to thee, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to thee.


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Then the king's scribes were called on the thirteenth day of the first month, and it was written according to all that Haman had commanded unto the king's lieutenants and to the governors that [were] over each province and to the rulers of every people of every province according to the writing thereof and [to] every people after their language; in the name of King Ahasuerus it was written and sealed with the king's ring.


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And the letters were sent by posts into all the king's provinces, to destroy, to kill, and to cause to perish, all Jews, both young and old, little children and women, in one day, upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which is the month Adar, and [to take] the spoil of them for a prey.


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The copy of the writing was to be given as law in every province that it be published unto all the peoples, that they should be ready against that day.


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The posts went out in haste by the king's commandment, and the law was given in Shushan, the palace. And the king and Haman sat down to drink; but the city of Shushan was perplexed.:


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When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes and put on sackcloth with ashes and went out into the midst of the city and cried with a loud and a bitter cry


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and came before the king's gate; for no one was allowed to enter into the king's gate clothed with sackcloth.


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And in each province, wherever the king's commandment and his law came, [there was] great mourning among the Jews and fasting and weeping and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.


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So Esther's maids and her eunuchs came and told her. Then the queen was grieved exceedingly, and she sent raiment to clothe Mordecai and to take away his sackcloth from him; but he did not receive [it].


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Then Esther called for Hatach, [one] of the king's eunuchs, whom he had appointed to attend her, and sent him to Mordecai, to know what it [was] and why it [was].


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And Mordecai told him of all that had happened unto him and of the sum of the money that Haman had promised to pay to the king's treasuries for the Jews, to destroy them.


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Also he gave him the copy of the writing of the decree that was given at Shushan to destroy them, to show [it] unto Esther and to declare [it] unto her and to charge her that she should go in unto the king to make supplication unto him and to make request before him for her people.


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All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces do know that anyone, whether man or woman, who shall come unto the king into the inner court without being called [by] one law shall be put to death, unless the king shall hold out the golden sceptre, that they may live; but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days.


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Then Mordecai told [them] to answer Esther, Do not think in thy soul that thou shalt escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews.


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For if thou art silent at this time, [then] enlargement and deliverance shall arise to the Jews from another place, but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed; and who knows whether thou art come to the kingdom for [such] a time as this?


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Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan and fast for me, and neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day; I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so I will go in unto the king, even though [this is] not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish.


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Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on [her] royal [apparel], and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house; and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house.


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And it was so, when the king saw Esther, the queen, standing in the court, [that] she had grace in his sight; and the king held out to Esther the golden sceptre that [was] in his hand. So Esther drew near and touched the top of the sceptre.


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Then the king said unto her, What wilt thou, Queen Esther? And what [is] thy request? It shall be given thee, even to the half of the kingdom.


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And Esther answered, If [it seems] good to the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.


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Then the king said, Cause Haman to make haste that he may do as Esther has said. So the king and Haman came to the banquet that Esther had prepared.


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And the king said unto Esther at the banquet of wine, What [is] thy petition? And it shall be granted thee. What [is] thy request? Even to the half of the kingdom it shall be performed.


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If I have found grace in the sight of the king and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and to perform my request, let the king and Haman come to the banquet that I shall prepare for them, and I will do tomorrow as the king has commanded.


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Then Haman went forth that day joyful and with a glad heart, but when Haman saw Mordecai in the king's gate [and] that he did not stand up nor move for him, he was filled with indignation against Mordecai.


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Nevertheless, Haman refrained himself, and when he came home, he sent and called for his friends and Zeresh, his wife.


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And Haman told them of the glory of his riches and the multitude of his sons and all [the things] in which the king had promoted him and how he had advanced him above the princes and servants of the king.


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Haman said, moreover, Even Esther, the queen, let no one come in with the king unto the banquet that she had prepared but myself, and tomorrow I am also invited by her with the king.


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Then said Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends unto him, Let a gallows be made fifty cubits high, and tomorrow speak unto the king that Mordecai may be hanged upon it; then go in merrily with the king unto the banquet. And the thing pleased Haman, and he caused the gallows to be made.:


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On that night the king could not sleep, and he commanded to bring the book of records of the Chronicles, and they were read before the king.


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And it was found written that Mordecai had told of Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, the keepers of the door, who had sought to lay hand on King Ahasuerus.


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And the king said, What honour and dignity has been done unto Mordecai for this? Then the king's servants who ministered unto him answered, Nothing has been done for him.


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And the king said, Who [is] in the court? Now Haman had come into the outward court of the king's house to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him.


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And the king's servants said unto him, Behold, Haman stands in the court. And the king said, Let him come in.


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So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delights to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself?


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let [the] royal apparel be brought which the king wears, and the horse that the king rides upon, and the royal crown which is set upon his head;


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and let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king's most noble princes, that he may clothe the man whom the king delights to honour and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honour.


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Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, [and] take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do so unto Mordecai, the Jew, that sits at the king's gate; let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken.


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Then Haman took the apparel and the horse and clothed Mordecai and brought him on horseback through the plaza of the city and caused it to be proclaimed before him, Thus shall be done unto the man whom the king delights to honour.


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After that Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hastened to his house mourning and having his head covered.


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And Haman told Zeresh, his wife, and all his friends all that had befallen him. Then his wise men and Zeresh, his wife, said unto him, If Mordecai is of the seed of the Jews, before whom thou hast begun to fall, thou shalt not prevail against him, but shalt surely fall before him.


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And while they [were] yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs came in haste to bring Haman to the banquet that Esther had prepared.:


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And the king said again unto Esther on the second day at the banquet of wine, What [is] thy petition, Queen Esther? And it shall be granted thee. What is thy request? And it shall be performed, [even] to the half of the kingdom.


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Then Esther, the queen, answered and said, If I have found grace in thy sight, O king and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me at my petition and my people at my request.


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For we are sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be slain, and to perish. If we had been sold for bondmen and bondwomen, I would remain silent, even though the enemy could not recompense the damage to the king.


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And King Ahasuerus answered and said unto Esther, the queen, Who is he, and where is he, that has filled his heart [with the arrogance] to do so?


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Then Esther said, The man [who is the] adversary and enemy [is] this wicked Haman. Then Haman was afraid before the king and the queen.


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And the king arising from the banquet of wine in his wrath [went] into the palace garden, and Haman stood up to make request for his life to Esther, the queen; for he saw that there was evil determined against him by the king.


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Then the king returned out of the palace garden into the place of the banquet of wine, and Haman had fallen upon the bed upon which Esther [was]. Then said the king, Will he force the queen also before me in the house? When this word went out of the king's mouth, they covered Haman's face.


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Then said Harbonah, one of the eunuchs before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, stands in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him upon it.


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So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king's wrath was pacified.:


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On that same day King Ahasuerus gave the house of Haman, the Jews' enemy, unto Esther, the queen. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told what he [was] unto her.


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And the king took off his ring, which he had taken from Haman and gave it unto Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.


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And Esther spoke yet again before the king and fell down at his feet and besought him with tears to put away the evil of Haman, the Agagite, and his device that he had devised against the Jews.


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And said, If it pleases the king and if I have found grace in his sight and if the thing is right before the king and if I am good in his eyes, let it be written to reverse the letters devised by Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who [are] in all the king's provinces.


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For how can I endure to see the evil that shall come unto my people? How can I endure to see the destruction of my nation?


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Then King Ahasuerus said unto Esther, the queen, and to Mordecai, the Jew, Behold, I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him upon the gallows because he extended his hand against the Jews.


text:
Write ye also for the Jews, as it pleases you, in the king's name, and seal [it] with the king's ring; for the writing which is written in the king's name and sealed with the king's ring may not be revoked.


text:
Then the king's scribes were called at that time in the third month, that [is], the month Sivan, on the twenty-third [day] thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews and to the lieutenants and the captains and the princes of the provinces which [are] from India unto Ethiopia, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces, unto each province according to the writing thereof, and unto each people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.


text:
And he wrote in King Ahasuerus' name and sealed [it] with the king's ring and sent letters by posts on horseback, [and] riders on mules, mules that were born of mares,


text:
that the king granted [power] to the Jews who [were] in all the cities to gather themselves together and to stand for their life, to destroy, to slay, and to cause to perish any army of the people or province that would assault them, [and even their] little ones and women, and [to take] the spoil of them for a prey,


text:
upon the same day in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, [namely], upon the thirteenth [day] of the twelfth month, which [is] the month Adar.


text:
The copy of the writing which was to be given as law in each province [was] published unto all people and [said] that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves of their enemies.


text:
[So] the posts rode upon mules, they went out on mules, being hastened and pressed on by the king's commandment. And the law was given at Shushan, the palace.


text:
And Mordecai went out from the presence of the king in royal apparel of blue and white and with a great crown of gold and with a mantel of fine linen and purple; and the city of Shushan rejoiced and was glad.


text:
And in each province and in each city wherever the king's commandment and his decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a banquet and a good day. And many of the people of the land became Jews, for the fear of the Jews fell upon them.:


text:
Now in the twelfth month, that [is], the month Adar, on the thirteenth day of the same, when the king's commandment and his law drew near to be put in execution, in the day that the enemies of the Jews hoped to have power over them, it was turned to the contrary; for the Jews took dominion over those that hated them.


text:
The Jews gathered themselves together in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, to lay hand on such as sought their hurt; and no one could withstand them, for the fear of them had fallen upon all the peoples.


text:
And all the princes of the provinces and the lieutenants and the captains and officers of the king helped the Jews because the fear of Mordecai fell upon them.


text:
For Mordecai [was] great in the king's house, and his fame went out throughout all the provinces, for this man Mordecai waxed greater and greater.


text:
Thus the Jews smote all their enemies with the stroke of the sword and slaughter and destruction and did what they would unto those that hated them.


text:
the ten sons of Haman, the son of Hammedatha; the enemy of the Jews, they slew, but on the spoil they did not lay their hand.


text:
On the same day the number of those that were slain in Shushan, the palace, was brought before the king.


text:
And the king said unto Esther, the queen, The Jews have slain and destroyed five hundred men in Shushan, the palace, and the ten sons of Haman; what have they done in the rest of the king's provinces? Now what is thy petition, and it shall be granted thee? What is thy request further, and it shall be done?


text:
Then said Esther, If it please the king, let it be granted to the Jews who [are] in Shushan to do tomorrow also according unto this day's decree, and let Haman's ten sons be hanged upon the gallows.


text:
And the king commanded it to be so done; and it was given as law at Shushan; and they hanged Haman's ten sons.


text:
And the Jews that [were] in Shushan gathered themselves together also on the fourteenth day of the month Adar and slew three hundred men at Shushan; but on the spoil they did not lay their hand.


text:
And the other Jews that [were] in the king's provinces also gathered themselves together and stood for their lives and had rest from their enemies and slew of their foes seventy-five thousand, but they did not lay their hands on the spoil,


text:
on the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same they rested and made it a day of banquet and gladness.


text:
But the Jews that [were] at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth [day] thereof and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth [day] of the same they rested and made it a day of banquet and gladness.


text:
Therefore, the Jews of the villages that dwelt in the unwalled towns made the fourteenth day of the month Adar [a day of] gladness and banquet and a good day and of sending portions one to another.


text:
And Mordecai wrote these things and sent letters unto all the Jews that [were] in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, [both] near and far,


text:
to establish [this] among them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly,


text:
as the days in which the Jews had rest from their enemies and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy and from mourning into a good day, that they should make them days of banquet and joy and of sending portions one to another and gifts to the poor.


text:
Because Haman, the son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews, had devised against the Jews to destroy them and had cast Pur, that [is], the lot, to consume them and to destroy them,


text:
but when she came before the king, he commanded by letters that his wicked device, which he devised against the Jews, should return upon his own head and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.


text:
Therefore, they called these days Purim after the name of Pur. Therefore, for all the words of this letter and [of that] which they had seen concerning this matter and which had come unto them,


text:
the Jews ordained and took upon them and upon their seed and upon all such as joined themselves unto them, so as it should not fail, that they would keep these two days according to their writing and according to their [appointed] time each year,


text:
and [that] these days [should be] remembered and kept throughout every generation, every family, every province, and every city, and [that] these days of Purim should not fail from among the Jews nor the memorial of them perish from their seed.


text:
Then Esther, the queen, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai, the Jew, wrote with all authority, to confirm this second letter of Purim.


text:
And he sent the letters unto all the Jews, to the hundred twenty-seven provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, [with] words of peace and truth,


text:
to confirm these days of Purim in their times [appointed], according as Mordecai, the Jew, and Esther, the queen, had enjoined them, and as they had decreed for themselves and for their seed, the words of the fastings and their cry.


text:
And all the acts of his power and of his might and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, unto which the king advanced him, [are] they not written in the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?


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For Mordecai, the Jew, [was] next unto King Ahasuerus and great among the Jews and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the good of his people and speaking peace unto all his seed.


text:
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name [was] Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and departed from evil.


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His substance was seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred she asses, and a very great store of servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east.


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And his sons went and had banquets [in their] houses, each one on his day, and sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them.


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And it was so, when the days of [their] banquets were over, that Job sent and sanctified them and rose up early in the morning and offered burnt offerings [according] to the number of them all; for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually.


text:
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.


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And the LORD said unto Satan, Where dost thou come from? Then Satan answered the LORD and said, From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it.


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And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God and has departed from evil?


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Hast thou not made a hedge about him and about his house and about all that he has on every side? Thou hast blessed the work of his hands; therefore, his substance has increased in the land.


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But put forth thy hand now and touch all that he has, [and thou shalt see] if he will not blaspheme thee to thy face.


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And the LORD said to Satan, Behold, all that he has [is] in thy power; only upon himself do not put forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.


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And there was a day when his sons and his daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn;


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and the Sabeans fell [upon them] and took them away; they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell thee.


text:
While he [was] yet speaking, another came who said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven and has burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell thee.


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While he [was] yet speaking, another came and said, The Chaldeans made three bands and fell upon the camels and have carried them away and have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell thee.


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While he [was] yet speaking, there another came and said, Thy sons and thy daughters [were] eating and drinking wine in the house of their brother, the firstborn;


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and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell thee.


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and said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.


text:
Again there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them to present himself before the LORD.


text:
And the LORD said unto Satan, Where dost thou come from? And Satan answered the LORD and said, From going to and fro in the earth and from walking up and down in it.


text:
And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that [there is] none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that fears God and has departed from evil and that he still retains his perfection, although thou didst incite me against him to destroy him without cause.


text:
But put forth thy hand now and touch his bone and his flesh, [and thou shalt see] if he does not blaspheme thee to thy face.


text:
So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD and smote Job with sore boils from the sole of his foot unto the crown of his head.


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But he said unto her, Thou hast spoken as any of the foolish women speak. What? Shall we receive good at the hand of God and shall we not receive evil? In all this Job did not sin with his lips.


text:
Now three friends of Job, Eliphaz, the Temanite, Bildad, the Shuhite, and Zophar, the Naamathite, [when] they heard of all this evil that had come upon him, each one came from his own place; for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.


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And when they lifted up their eyes afar off and knew him not, they lifted up their voice and wept; and each one rent his mantle and sprinkled dust upon his head toward heaven.


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So they sat down with him upon the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word unto him; for they saw that [his] grief was very great.:


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Let the day perish in which I was born and the night [in which] it was said, There is a man child conceived.


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Let darkness and the shadow of death redeem it; let a cloud dwell upon it; let the blackness of the day terrify it.


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As [for] that night, let darkness seize upon it; let it not be joined unto the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the months.


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Let the stars of its dawn be darkened; they waited for light, but [have] none; neither let them see the dawning of the day;


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For now I should have lain still and been quiet; I should have slept; then I would have been at rest,


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For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me and that which I was afraid of is come unto me.


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If we attempt to commune with thee, thou wilt be grieved. But who can withhold himself from speaking?


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The roaring of the lion and the voice of the fierce lion and the teeth of the young lions, are broken.


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How much more [with] those that dwell in houses of clay, whose foundation [is] in the dust, [who] shall be crushed by the moth!


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Call now, if there shall be anyone to answer thee; and if there shall be any of the saints for thee to look unto?


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His sons are far from saving health, and they shall be crushed in the gate, and there shall be no one to deliver [them].


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The hungry shall eat up his harvest, and even take it out from among the thorns, and the thirsty shall drink up their substance.


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For the iniquity does not come forth out of the dust; neither does chastisement spring up out of the ground;


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But he saves the poor from the sword, from the mouth of the wicked, and from the hand of the violent.


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Behold, blessed [is] the man whom God chastens; therefore, do not despise not the correction of the Almighty.


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Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue; neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it comes.


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At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh; neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth;


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for thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field; and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee.


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And thou shalt know that there is peace in thy tent, and thou shalt visit thy habitation and shalt not sin.


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Thou shalt come to [thy] grave in a full age, like a shock [of wheat] that is gathered in its season.


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For the arrows of the Almighty [are] within me; my spirit drinks of the poison; and terrors of God combat me.


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Then should my comfort grow; I would hold on to sorrow without mercy; for I have not contradicted the words of the Holy One.


text:
He that is afflicted [deserves] mercy from his friend; but he has forsaken the fear of the Almighty.


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Man certainly has an appointed [amount of] time upon earth, and his days are like the days of a hireling.


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When I lie down, I say, When shall I arise? I measure the night, and I am full of tossings to and fro unto the dawning of the day.


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The eyes of those that see me [now] shall not see me again; thine eyes [shall be] upon me, and I will cease to be.


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As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he that goes down to Sheol, who shall not come up again;


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Therefore, I will not refrain my mouth; I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.


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If I have sinned, what shall I do unto thee, O thou preserver of men? Why hast thou set me as a mark against thee, so that I am a burden to myself?


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And why dost thou not take away my rebellion and pass over my iniquity? For now I shall sleep in the dust; and if thou shalt seek me in the morning, I shall not be found.:


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How long wilt thou speak such things and [how long shall] the words of thy mouth [be like] a strong wind?


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if thou [wert] pure and upright, surely now he would awake upon thee and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.


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[In such a way] that thy beginning would have been small, [in comparison] to the great increase of thy latter.


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He shall lean upon his house, but it shall not stand; he shall hold it fast, but it shall not endure.


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Behold, this [is] the joy of his way, and out of the earth from where he was [transplanted] others, shall grow.


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Those that hate thee shall be clothed with shame, and the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.:


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[He is] wise in heart and mighty in strength; who has hardened [himself] against him and remained in peace?


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Behold, he shall pass before me, and I shall not see him; and he shall pass on, and I shall not understand him.


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Who even though I am righteous, [yet] I would not answer, [but] I would make supplication to my judge.


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Who if I were to invoke him, and he answered me; [yet] I would not believe that he had hearkened unto my voice.


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If [we were to speak] of [his] strength, he is certainly strong; and if of [his] judgment, who shall cause us to meet?


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If I justify myself, my own mouth shall condemn me: [if I say], I [am] perfect, he shall prove me perverse.


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The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; he covers the faces of its judges; if [it is] not [he who does this then], who is it and where [is] he?


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For [he is] not a man, as I [am], [that] I should answer him, [and] we should come together unto judgment.


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My soul is cut off in my life; [therefore], I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul.


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[Is it] good unto thee that thou should oppress, that thou should reject the work of thine hands and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?


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If I am wicked, woe unto me; and [if] I am righteous, I will not lift up my head, being full of dishonour and of seeing my affliction.


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Thou dost renew thy plagues against me and increase thine indignation upon me, bringing up armies against me.


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Why then hast thou brought me forth out of the womb? Oh that I had given up the spirit and no eye had seen me!


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land of darkness, as darkness [itself], [and] of the shadow of death, without any order, and [where] the light [is] as darkness.:


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and that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom! For thou dost deserve double according to sound wisdom; and thou dost know that God has forgotten thee because of thine iniquity.


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if there is any iniquity in thy hand and thou dost put it far away and dost not consent that wickedness dwell in thy habitations,


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then shalt thou lift up thy face without spot; thou shalt be strongly established and shalt not fear;


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and [thine] age shall be clearer than the noonday; thou shalt shine forth, thou shalt be as the morning.


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But the eyes of the wicked shall consume themselves, and they shall have no refuge, and their hope [shall be] agony of the soul.:


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But I have a heart as well as you; I [am] not inferior to you; and who shall not be able to say as much again?


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He who invokes God and he answers him is mocked by his friend; the just and perfect [man is] laughed to scorn.


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The torch is held in low esteem in the thought of him that is prosperous, which was prepared to guard against a slip of the feet.


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The tents of robbers are at ease, and those that provoke God and those who carry gods in their hands live secure.


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But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the heavens, and they shall show thee;


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or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee; the fishes of the sea shall declare [it] unto thee [also].


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Behold, he shall break down, and it shall not be built again; he shall shut up a man, and no one shall be able to open unto him.


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Behold, he shall withhold the waters, and they shall dry up; also he shall send them forth, and they shall destroy the earth.


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He takes away the heart of the heads of the people of the earth and causes them to become lost, wandering without a way.


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Thou dost put my feet also in the stocks and look narrowly unto all my paths; thou dost set a print upon the heels of my feet.


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Seeing his days [are] determined, the number of his months [are] with thee, thou hast appointed his bounds that he cannot pass.


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If thou should leave him, he will cease [to exist]; until then, he shall desire, as a hireling, his day.


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For there is yet hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again and that its tender branch will not cease.


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So man lies down and does not rise; until there is no heaven, they shall not awake nor be raised out of their sleep.


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O that thou would hide me in Sheol, that thou would keep me covered until thy wrath is past, that thou would appoint me a set time and remember me!


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If a man dies, shall he live [again]? All the days of my appointed time I will wait until my transformation comes.


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[Then] thou shalt call, and I will answer thee; thou wilt have a desire towards the work of thine hands.


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The impetuous waters break the stones and wash away the dust of the earth; in like manner thou dost cause man to lose hope.


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Thou shalt be stronger than him for ever, and he passes; thou dost change his countenance and send him away.


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His sons shall be honoured and he shall not know [of it]; or they shall be afflicted, but he shall not perceive of them.


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[Are] the consolations of God in such small esteem with thee? Is there by chance any secret thing concerning thee?


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The wicked man travails with pain all [his] days, and the number of years is hidden from the violent.


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He wanders abroad for bread, [saying], Where [is it]? He knows that the day of darkness is prepared for him.


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Tribulation and anguish shall make him afraid; they shall prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle.


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He shall not become rich, nor shall his strength be established, neither shall he extend his beauty upon the earth.


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He shall not escape from the darkness; the flame shall dry up his branches, and by the breath of his mouth he shall perish.


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For the congregation of the hypocrites shall be made desolate, and fire shall consume the tents of bribery.


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I also could speak as ye [do]. I wish your soul were in my soul's stead, that I could heap up words against you and shake my head at you.


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[But] I would strengthen you with my mouth, and the consolation of my lips would assuage [the pain].


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And thou hast filled me with wrinkles, [which] is a witness [against me]: and my leanness rising up in me bears witness to my face.


text:
His wrath has torn me and has been against me; he gnashed upon me with his teeth; my enemy sharpened his eyes upon me.


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They have opened their mouth against me; they have smitten me upon the cheek reproachfully; they have gathered themselves together against me.


text:
I was prosperous, but he has broken me asunder; he has taken [me] by my neck and shaken me to pieces and set me up for his mark.


text:
His archers compassed me round about; he cleaved my kidneys asunder and did not spare; he poured out my gall upon the ground.


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For with these, thou hast hid their heart from understanding; therefore, thou shalt not exalt [them].


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Upright [men] shall be astonied at this, and the innocent shall stir up himself against the hypocrite.


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O thou that dost tear thy soul in thine anger; shall the earth be forsaken because of thee and shall the rocks be removed out of their place?


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He shall dwell in his tent, as if it were not his; brimstone shall be scattered upon his habitation.


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Those that come after [him] shall be dismayed at his day, as those that went before were overcome with fear.


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Surely such [are] the dwellings of the wicked, and this [is] the place [of him that] does not know God.:


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Behold, I shall cry out that I have been wronged, and I shall not be heard; I shall cry aloud, and [there] shall be no judgment.


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He has pulled me up on every side, and I am dried up; he has caused my hope to pass like an uprooted tree.


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Those that dwell in my house and my maids have counted me for a stranger; I was an alien in their sight.


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whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another, [though] my kidneys be consumed within me.


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Be ye afraid of the sword; for the wrath of the sword [comes] because of the iniquities, that ye may know [there is] a judgment.:


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[yet] he shall perish for ever like his own dung; those who have seen him shall say, What is become of him?


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He shall fly away as a dream and shall not be found: [yea], he shall flee away as a vision of the night.


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He has swallowed down riches, but he shall vomit them up again; God shall cast them out of his belly.


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He shall restore the work [that was not his]; according to the substance that he took; neither shall he devour, nor rejoice.


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Because he oppressed [and] forsook the poor; [because] he has violently taken away houses which he did not build,


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therefore, he shall not feel quietness in his belly; he shall not escape with that which he desired.


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In the fullness of his sufficiency, he shall come into anguish; the hands of all the wicked shall come upon him.


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[When] he is about to fill his belly, [God] shall cast the fury of his wrath upon him and shall rain [it] upon him and upon his food.


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He shall draw forth [an arrow] from his quiver, and [like] lightning it shall strike through his gall; terrors shall come upon him.


text:
All darkness is kept for his secrets; a fire not blown shall consume him; his successor shall be broken in his tent.


text:
This [is] the portion of a wicked man from God and the heritage that God appoints unto him by his word.:


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How often is the candle of the wicked put out and their destruction comes upon them, and [God] distributes sorrows upon them in his anger.


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For ye say, What [is] of the house of the prince, and what of the tent of the habitation of the wicked?


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That the wicked is reserved for the day of destruction, they shall be brought forth to the day of wrath.


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The clods of the river [valley] shall be sweet unto him, and every man shall be drawn after him, as [there were] innumerable before him.


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[Is it] any pleasure to the Almighty that thou art justified? Or [is it] gain [to him] that thou makest thy ways perfect?


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For thou didst take a pledge from thy brother without cause and stripped the naked of their clothing.


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If thou return to the Almighty, thou shalt be built up, thou shalt put away iniquity far from thy tent;


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Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee; and the light shall shine upon thy ways.


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When [others] are cast down, then thou shalt say, [There is] lifting up; and he shall save the humble person.


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He shall deliver the island of the innocent; and in the pureness of thine hands thou shalt be kept.:


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There the righteous might dispute with him; and should I escape for ever from the one who condemns me.


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if he is working to the north, I shall not see him; to the south, he hides himself, that I shall not see [him].


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Neither have I separated myself from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary [food].


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Behold, [as] wild asses in the desert, they go forth to their work, rising early for a prey; the wilderness [yields] food for them [and] for [their] children.


text:
They are among those that rebel against the light; they have never known its ways nor abided in its paths.


text:
The eye of the adulterer waits for the twilight, saying, No eye shall see me; and disguises [his] face.


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In the dark they dig through houses, [which] they had marked for themselves in the daytime; they do not know the light.


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For the morning [is] to them even as the shadow of death; if they are known, the terrors of the shadow of death [come over them].


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They are swift upon the waters; their portion is cursed in the earth; they never come by the way of the vineyards.


text:
The Merciful One shall forget them; the worm shall feed sweetly on them; they shall never be remembered again; and iniquity shall be broken as a tree.


text:
They were exalted for a little while, but are gone and brought low; they are taken out of the way as all [others] and cut off as the tops of the heads of grain.


text:
How hast thou helped the one who has no power? Hast thou saved with thy arm the one who has no strength?


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How hast thou counselled the one that has no wisdom? and [how] hast thou plentifully declared the thing as it is?


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Behold, these [are] parts of his ways; but how little a portion have we heard of him? For the thunder of his power, who shall understand?:


text:
I hold fast to my righteousness and will not let it go; my heart shall not reproach [me] so long as I live.


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I will teach you [what there is] in the hand of God; I will not conceal that which [is] regarding the Almighty.


text:
This [is] the portion of a wicked man with God and the heritage of the violent, [which] they shall receive of the Almighty.


text:
If their sons are multiplied, [it is] for the sword; and his offspring shall not be satisfied with bread.


text:
The rich man shall lie down, but he shall not be gathered; he shall open his eyes and not see anyone.


text:
The east wind shall take him away, and he shall depart; the storm shall catch him up out of his place.


text:
He set a border unto the darkness, and unto every perfect work that he made, he [placed] a stone of darkness and shadow of death.


text:
The river breaks forth next to the inhabitant; [even the waters] forgotten of the foot, that were higher than man, are gone away.


text:
And unto man he said, Behold, that the fear of the Lord, [is] wisdom; and to depart from evil [is] understanding.:


text:
the voice of the principals would not be noticed, and their tongue would cleave to the roof of their mouth.


text:
The blessing of the one that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.


text:
[If] I laughed at them, they did not believe [it]; and they did not cast down the light of my countenance.


text:
I approved their way and sat at the head and dwelt as a king in the army, as one [that] comforts the mourners.:


text:
But now [those that are] younger than I have me in derision, whose fathers I would have disdained to have set with the dogs of my flock.


text:
For want and famine [they walked] alone; fleeing into solitude, to the dark place, desolate and waste.


text:
Because [God] has loosed my cord and afflicted me, they have also gone out of control before my face.


text:
Upon [my] right [hand] rise the youth; they push away my feet, and they raise up against me the ways of their destruction.


text:
They have loosed terrors upon me; they fought my will as the wind and my saving health as a cloud that passes.


text:
By the great force [of my disease] my garment is changed; it binds me about as the collar of my coat.


text:
But he will not stretch out [his] hand against the grave; do those who are buried cry out when he destroys them?


text:
If my step has turned out of the way and my heart walked after my eyes and if any blot has cleaved to my hands,


text:
If my heart has been deceived regarding a woman, or [if] I have laid in wait at my neighbour's door,


text:
Did not he that made me in the belly [also] make him? And did not [the same] one fashion us in the womb?


text:
(for from my youth the [fatherless] was brought up with me, as [with] a father, and I have guided the [widow] from my mother's womb)


text:
if I have lifted up my hand against the fatherless, even when I saw that they would all help me in the gate;


text:
if I feared a great multitude or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence, [and] did not go out of the door?


text:
Oh that someone would hear me! Behold, my mark [is], [that] the Almighty will testify for me, even though my adversary had written down the charges.


text:
let thistles grow up unto me instead of wheat and stinkweed instead of barley. The words of Job are ended.:


text:
Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel, the Buzite, of the kindred of Ram, was kindled; against Job was his wrath kindled, because he justified himself rather than God.


text:
Also against his three friends was his wrath kindled because they had found no answer, and [yet] had condemned Job.


text:
But when Elihu saw that [there was] no answer in the mouth of [these] three men, then his wrath was kindled.


text:
And Elihu, the son of Barachel, the Buzite, answered and said, I [am] younger, and ye [are] older; therefore, I was afraid, and I feared to declare unto you my opinion.


text:
Even so, I attended unto you, and, behold, [there was] none of you to reproved Job [or] to answer his words.


text:
If there is a messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to show unto man his uprightness;


text:
to tell him that [God] had mercy on him, that he delivered him from going down to the pit; that he found a ransom;


text:
He shall pray unto God, and he will love him; and he shall see his face with shouts of joy; for he will render unto the man the recompense of his righteousness.


text:
He looks upon men, and [if any] say, I have sinned and perverted [that which was] right, and it did not profit me;


text:
In my judgment he was a liar, my arrow [wound] is grievous without [my having committed a] transgression.


text:
Therefore, hearken unto me, ye men of understanding: far be it from God, [that he should do] wickedness; and [from] the Almighty, [that he should commit] iniquity.


text:
[How much less to him] who is not a respecter of the persons of princes, nor respects the rich more than the poor; for they all [are] the work of his hands.


text:
In a moment they shall die, and the peoples shall be troubled at midnight and shall pass away; and the mighty shall be taken away without hand.


text:
For he will not lay upon man more [than that which is just]; that he should enter into judgment with God.


text:
Therefore, he shall cause their works to be notorious, when he shall overturn [them] in the night, so that they are destroyed.


text:
When he gives rest, who then can make trouble? If he hides [his] face, who then can behold him? This applies to a nation and the same to a man,


text:
Will he, perchance finish his work by thee; whether thou refuse or whether thou choose, or by me? Speak what thou knowest.


text:
For he added rebellion unto his sin, he claps [his hands] among us and multiplies his words against God.:


text:
For thou didst say, What advantage will it be unto thee? [And], What profit shall I have, [if] I am cleansed] from my sin?


text:
If thou dost sin, what hast thou done against him? Or [if] thy rebellion is multiplied, what doest thou unto him?


text:
Thy wickedness [shall hurt] a man as thou [art]; and thy righteousness [shall profit] the son of man.


text:
By reason of the great violence they shall call out; they cry out because of the strength of the many.


text:
For much that thou dost say, he will not look upon it, [submit to] judgment before him, and trust thou in him.


text:
He shall not withdraw his eyes from the righteous; but with kings he shall place them on the throne for ever, and they shall be exalted.


text:
If they hearken and serve [him], they shall spend their days in goodness and their years in delight.


text:
Likewise, he would have removed thee out of the mouth of anguish [into] a broad place where [there is] no distress and should have set thy table full of fatness.


text:
But thou hast fulfilled the judgment of the wicked, against the judgment and the justice that sustain [everything].


text:
Therefore it is to be feared that he take thee away with [a] stroke, which cannot be avoided even with a great ransom.


text:
He shall place it straight under the whole of the heavens, and his light [shall extend] unto the ends of the earth.


text:
After it shall the sound roar; his valiant voice shall thunder; and he will not stay them even when his voice is heard.


text:
For he saith to the snow, Be thou [on] the earth; rain after rain, and rain after rain in his strength.


text:
And they are turned round about by his counsels; that they may do whatever he commands them upon the face of the world in the earth.


text:
On some occasions for correction, on others for his land, on others for mercy he causes them to appear.


text:
Dost thou know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of the one who is perfect in knowledge?


text:
Also, sometimes the clear light which [is] in the heavens is not seen, but the wind passes and cleanses them.


text:
[Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out; [he is] excellent in power and in judgment, and in plenty of righteousness he will not afflict.


text:
Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Cause me to know, if thou hast understanding.


text:
and said, Thou shalt come unto here, but no further; and there shall the pride of thy waves be stayed.


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to cause it to rain on the earth, [where] no man [is]; [on] the wilderness, in which [there is] no man;


text:
Canst thou bring forth the signs of the heavens in their season, or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?


text:
Their young ones are healthy, they grow up with grain; they go forth and never return unto them again.


text:
He laughs at the multitude of the city, neither does he hearken to the voice of the exactor [of tribute].


text:
She is hardened against her young ones, as though [they were] not hers, not fearing that her labour is in vain,


text:
for the blasts of the shofar fill him with courage; he smells the battle afar off, the thunder of the princes and the sound of the battle-cry.


text:
Shall he that contends with the Almighty instruct [him]? Let him that disputes with God answer this.


text:
Behold, he shall drink up a river [and] not change; he trusts that he can draw up the Jordan into his mouth.


text:
Who [is] he that hides counsel without knowledge? Therefore, I have denounced that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.


text:
And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz, the Temanite, My wrath has been kindled against thee, and against thy two friends; for ye have not spoken by me in uprightness, as my servant Job [has].


text:
Therefore, take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you; for only because I will accept him, I shall not deal with you [according to your] folly, in that ye have not spoken by me in uprightness, like my servant Job.


text:
So Eliphaz, the Temanite, and Bildad, the Shuhite, [and] Zophar, the Naamathite, went, and did according as the LORD commanded them; and the LORD accepted Job.


text:
And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends; also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.


text:
Then all his brethren came unto him and all his sisters and all those that had been of his acquaintance before and ate bread with him in his house; and they condoled him and comforted him over all the evil that the LORD had brought upon him; each one also gave him an ewe, and an earring of gold.


text:
So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning; for he had fourteen thousand sheep and six thousand camels and a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand she asses.


text:
And he called the name of the first, Jemima, and the name of the second, Kezia, and the name of the third, Kerenhappuch.


text:
And in all the land no women were found [as] beautiful as the daughters of Job; and their father gave them inheritance among their brethren.


text:
After this Job lived one hundred and forty years, and saw his sons, and his sons' sons, [even] four generations.


text:
Blessed [is] the man that does not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful.


text:
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.


text:
Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.


text:
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his anointed, [saying],


text:
I will declare the decree; the LORD hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day I have begotten thee.


text:
Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the Gentiles [for] thine inheritance and [unto] the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession.


text:
Kiss the Son lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way when his wrath is kindled in a little [while]. Blessed [are] all those that put their trust in him.:


text:
&lt;&lt;A Psalm of David, when he fled from Absalom his son.&gt;&gt; LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many [are] they that rise up against me.


text:
I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and [he] answered me out of the mountain of his holiness. Selah.


text:
Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God, for thou hast smitten all mine enemies [upon] the jawbone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer in Neginoth, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness; thou hast enlarged me [when I was] in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.


text:
O ye sons of men, how long [will ye turn] my glory into shame? [how long] will ye love vanity, [and] seek after the lie? Selah.


text:
But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself; the LORD will hear when I call unto him.


text:
[There are] many that say, Who will show us [any] good? LORD, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon Nehiloth, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my meditation.


text:
The foolish [those who are governed by carnal thoughts or desires] shall not stand in thy sight; thou dost hate all workers of iniquity.


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But as for me, I will come [into] thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: [and] in thy fear I will worship toward thy holy temple.


text:
Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.


text:
For [there is] no uprightness in their mouth; their inward part [is] very wickedness; their throat [is] an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.


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Declare them guilty, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; cast them out for the multitude of their rebellions; for they have rebelled against thee.


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And all those that put their trust in thee shall rejoice: they shall ever be in jubilee, for thou shalt cover them; and all that love thy name shall be joyful in thee.


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer in Neginoth upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.


text:
All my enemies shall be ashamed; they shall be sorely troubled: they shall turn back [and] be ashamed suddenly.:


text:
&lt;&lt;Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.&gt;&gt; O LORD my God, in thee I have put my trust: save me from all those that persecute me, and deliver me


text:
if I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me, then let my persecutor escape without retribution.


text:
Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take [it]; let him tread down my life upon the earth and lay my honour in the dust. Selah.


text:
Arise, O LORD, in thine anger; lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake the judgment in my favour [that] thou hast commanded.


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So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about, for their sakes therefore return thou on high.


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The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity [that is] in me.


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Let wickedness consume the wicked; but establish the just: for the righteous God is he who tries the hearts and kidneys.


text:
I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; O LORD our Lord, how great [is] thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy praise above the heavens.


text:
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou might still the enemy and the avenger.


text:
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;


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Thou hast made him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all [things] under his feet:


text:
The birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, [and whatever] passes through the paths of the seas.


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; I will praise [thee], O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all thy marvellous works.


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For thou hast accomplished my judgment and my cause; thou didst sit in the throne judging [according to] righteousness.


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Thou hast reprehended the Gentiles, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.


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O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and the cities that thou hast destroyed; their memorial is perished with them.


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And those that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those that seek thee.


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Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble [which I suffer] from those that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:


text:
that I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy saving health.


text:
The Gentiles are sunk down in the pit [that] they made: in the net which they hid their own foot is taken.


text:
The LORD is known [by] the judgment [which] he has executed; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion ([meditate on this for ever]). Selah.


text:
The wicked in [his] pride persecutes the poor; let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.


text:
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, does not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts.


text:
His ways are always grievous; thy judgments [are] far above out of his sight; [as for] all his enemies, he puffs at them.


text:
He sits in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places he murders the innocent: his eyes are secretly set against the poor.


text:
He lies in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lies in wait to catch the poor: he catches the poor when he draws him into his net.


text:
In what does the wicked irritate God? He has said in his heart, Thou wilt not require [accountability].


text:
Thou hast seen [it], for thou dost behold mischief and spite to requite [it] with thy hand: the poor commits himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.


text:
Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil [man]; seek out his wickedness [until] thou find none.


text:
LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart; thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A [Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; I put my trust in the LORD put I: how say ye to my soul, Flee [as] a bird to your mountain?


text:
For, behold, the wicked bend [their] bow; they make ready their arrow upon the string that they may secretly shoot at the upright in heart.


text:
The LORD [is] in the temple of his holiness, the LORD'S throne [is] in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men.


text:
Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, with winds of whirlwinds: [this shall be] the portion of their cup.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon Sheminith, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; Help, LORD; for the merciful man ceases, for the faithful fail from among the children of men.


text:
Each one speaks vanity with his neighbour: they speak [with] flattering lips [and] with a double heart.


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For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now I will arise, saith the LORD; I will set in safety the one whom [the wicked one] has ensnared.


text:
The words of the LORD [are] pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?


text:
How long shall I take counsel in my soul, [having] sorrow in my heart daily? how long shall my enemy be exalted over me?


text:
lest mine enemy say, I have prevailed against him; [and] those that trouble me rejoice when I am moved.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A [Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; The fool has said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] no one that does good.


text:
The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand [and] seek God.


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They are all gone aside, they are [all] together become filthy: [there is] no one that does good, no, not one.


text:
The workers of iniquity certainly know [this]; those who eat up my people [as] they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD.


text:
Oh that the saving health of Israel [were come] out of Zion! When the LORD turns back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, [and] Israel shall be glad.:


text:
&lt;&lt;A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in the mountain of thy holiness?


text:
[He that] does not backbite with his tongue nor do evil to his neighbour nor take up a reproach against his neighbour.


text:
In whose eyes the vile person is not esteemed; but he honours those that fear the LORD. [He that] swears to [his own] hurt and does not change.


text:
[He that] does not put out his money to usury nor take a bribe against the innocent. He that does these [things] shall never be moved.:


text:
The sorrows of those [that] hasten [after] another god shall be multiplied; their drink offerings of blood I will not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.


text:
For thou wilt not leave my soul in Sheol; neither wilt thou suffer thy Merciful One to see corruption.


text:
Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fullness of joy; in thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore.:


text:
&lt;&lt;A Prayer of David.&gt;&gt; Hear righteousness, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, [that] does not [go] not out of feigned lips.


text:
Thou hast proved my heart; thou hast visited [me] in the night; thou hast refined me [and hast] found no iniquity; that which I thought did not pass through my mouth.


text:
I have called upon thee, because thou dost hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me [and hear] my speech.


text:
Show thy mercy [to be] marvellous, O Saviour of those who put their trust in thee, from those that rise up against thy right hand.


text:
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes upon throwing [us] down to the earth


text:
from men, [with] thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, [who have] their portion in [this] life and whose belly thou dost fill with thy provision: they satisfy their sons and leave the rest to their family.


text:
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, [A Psalm] of David, the servant of the LORD, who spoke unto the LORD the words of this song in the day [that] the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul: And he said,&gt;&gt;I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.


text:
The LORD [is] my rock and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, [and] my high tower.


text:
In my distress I called upon the LORD and cried unto my God; he heard my voice out of his temple, and my cry came before him, [even] into his ears.


text:
Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations of the mountains collapsed and were removed because he was wroth.


text:
He made darkness his hiding place; in his tabernacle round about him [were] dark waters [and] thick clouds of the heavens.


text:
Then the depths of the waters were seen, and the foundations of the world were discovered at thy rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of thy nostrils.


text:
He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from those who hated me, even though they were too strong for me.


text:
The LORD will reward me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he shall recompense me.


text:
Because I have kept the ways of the LORD and did not become wicked [departing] in apostasy from my God.


text:
Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands before his eyes.


text:
With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; with a perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect;


text:
[As for] God, his way [is] perfect: the word of the LORD is precise: a shield to all those that wait in him.


text:
[In the same manner] thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand will hold me up, and thy meekness shall multiply me.


text:
They cried out, but [there was] no one to save [them]: [even] unto the LORD, but he did not answer them.


text:
Thou hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; [and] thou hast made me the head of the Gentiles: a people [whom] I did not know served me.


text:
As soon as they heard of me, they obeyed me: the sons of strangers submitted themselves unto me even [against their will].


text:
He delivers me from my enemies: yea, thou liftest me up above those that rise up against me: thou hast delivered me from the one who would betray me.


text:
He gives great deliverance to his king and shows mercy to his anointed, to David, and to his seed for evermore.:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows the work of his hands.


text:
[One] day provides a word for the [next] day, and [one] night declares wisdom unto the [next] night.


text:
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun,


text:
His going forth [is] from the end of the heavens, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof.


text:
The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.


text:
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD [is] pure, enlightening the eyes.


text:
The fear of the LORD [is] clean, enduring for ever; the rights of the LORD [are] true, they are all just.


text:
More to be desired [are they] than gold, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.


text:
Keep back thy servant also from pride [and arrogance]; let them not have dominion over me; then I shall be perfect, and I shall be innocent of the great rebellion.


text:
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; [Let] the LORD hear thee in the day of trouble; [let] the name of the God of Jacob lift thee up


text:
[and] remember all thy offerings and reduce thy burnt sacrifice to [the ashes] of [burnt] fat, Selah.


text:
We will rejoice in thy saving health, and in the name of our God we will be standard-bearers: [let] the LORD fulfil all thy petitions.


text:
Now know I that the LORD has kept his anointed; he will hear him from the heavens of his holiness with the saving valour of his right hand.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; The king shall joy in thy strength, O LORD; and in thy saving health how greatly shall he rejoice!


text:
For thou givest him beforehand the blessings of goodness; thou settest a crown of pure gold on his head.


text:
For thou hast made him most blessed for ever; thou hast made him exceeding glad with thy countenance.


text:
Thou shalt make them as a fiery oven in the time of thine anger; the LORD shall swallow them up in his wrath, and the fire shall devour them.


text:
Therefore shalt thou separate them; thou shalt make ready [thine arrows] upon thy strings against the face of them.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [why art thou so] far from helping me [and from] the words of my cry?


text:
But thou [art] he that took me out of the womb; thou hast made me wait [upon thee] since I was upon my mother's breasts.


text:
I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.


text:
My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaves to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.


text:
For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.


text:
Ye that fear the LORD, praise him; all ye the seed of Jacob, glorify him; and fear him, all ye the seed of Israel.


text:
For he has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the poor [in spirit]; neither has he hid his face from him, but when he cried unto him, he heard.


text:
My praise [shall be] of thee in the great congregation; I will pay my vows before those that fear him.


text:
The poor shall eat and be satisfied: those that seek him shall praise the LORD; your heart shall live for ever.


text:
All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn unto the LORD; and all the families of the Gentiles shall worship before thee.


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All [those that are] fat upon earth shall eat and worship; all those that go down to the dust shall bow before him; and no one can keep his own soul alive.


text:
They shall come and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he has done [this].:


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Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff shall comfort me.


text:
Thou shalt prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou hast anointed my head with oil; my cup [is] running over.


text:
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will rest in the house of the LORD for ever.:


text:
&lt;&lt;A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; The earth [is] the LORD'S, and the fullness thereof; the world and they that dwell therein.


text:
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and lift yourselves up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.


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Lift up your heads, O ye gates; lift yourselves up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in.


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[Gimel] Yea, none that wait on thee shall be ashamed; those which rebel without cause shall be ashamed.


text:
[He] Cause me to walk in thy truth and teach me: for thou [art] the God of my saving health; I have waited for thee all the day.


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[Zain] Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my rebellions; according to thy mercy remember me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD.


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[Jod] All the paths of the LORD [are] mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.


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&lt;&lt;[A Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; Judge me, O LORD, for I have walked in my integrity; I have trusted also in the LORD; [therefore] I shall not slide.


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&lt;&lt;[A Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; The LORD [is] my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD [is] the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?


text:
When the wicked, [even] my enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.


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Though a host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war should rise against me, in this [will] I [be] confident.


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One [thing] have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life to behold the beauty of the LORD and to enquire in his temple.


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For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his tabernacle; in the secret of his tent shall he hide me; he shall set me high upon a rock.


text:
And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in his tabernacle; I will sing, [yea], I will sing praises unto the LORD.


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Hide not thy face [far] from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; do not leave me or forsake me, O God of my saving health.


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Deliver me not over unto the will of my enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me and such as breathe out cruelty.


text:
Wait for the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart; wait, I say, for the LORD.:


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&lt;&lt;[A Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent unto me lest, [if] thou be silent unto me, I become like those that go down into the grave.


text:
Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward the oracle of thy holiness.


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Do not catch me away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, who speak peace to their neighbours, but evil [is] in their hearts.


text:
Give them according to their deeds and according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render unto them their desert.


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Because they do not regard the works of the LORD nor the operation of his hands, he shall destroy them and not build them up.


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The LORD [is] my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices; and with my song I will praise him.


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&lt;&lt;A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.


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The voice of the LORD [is] upon the waters: the God of glory thunders: the LORD [is] upon many waters.


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The voice of the LORD [that] shall shake the wilderness; the LORD shall shake the wilderness of Kadesh.


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The voice of the LORD shall make the hinds to calve and shall uncover the forests: and in his temple every one speaks to [his] glory.


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&lt;&lt;A Psalm [and] Song [at] the dedication of the house of David.&gt;&gt; I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me.


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O LORD, thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol; thou gavest me life from my descent into the grave.


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For his anger [endures but] a moment; in his will is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy [comes] in the morning.


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LORD, by thy favour thou hast made my mountain to stand strong; thou didst hide thy face, [and] I was troubled.


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What profit [is there] in my blood when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth?


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Thou hast turned my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness;


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to the end that [I] may sing glory unto thee and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.:


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; In thee, O LORD, have I waited; let me never be ashamed; deliver me in thy righteousness.


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Incline thine ear unto me; deliver me speedily; be thou my strong rock, for a house of defence to save me.


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For thou [art] my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake thou shalt lead me and guide me.


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I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy, for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities


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Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: my eye is consumed with grief, [yea], my soul and my belly.


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For my life is spent with grief and my years with sighing: my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones are consumed.


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I was a reproach among all my enemies, but especially among my neighbours, and a fear to my acquaintances: those that see me without flee from me.


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For I have heard the slander of many; fear [was] on every side; while they took counsel together against me, they devised to take away my life.


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My times [are] in thy hand: deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those that persecute me.


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Let me not be ashamed, O LORD, for I have called upon thee; let the wicked be ashamed, [and] let them be cut off for Sheol.


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Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.


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[Oh] how great [is] thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for those that fear thee; [which] thou hast wrought for those that wait in thee before the sons of men!


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Thou shalt keep them in the secret place of thy face from the pride of man; thou shalt keep them in the tabernacle [protected] from the strife of tongues.


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For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes; nevertheless thou hast heard the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.


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O love the LORD, all ye his merciful ones, [for] the LORD preserves the faithful and plentifully rewards the proud doer.


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&lt;&lt;[A Psalm] of David, Maschil.&gt;&gt; Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered.


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Blessed [is] the man unto whom the LORD does not impute iniquity and in whose spirit [there is] no guile.


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For day and night thy hand was heavy upon me: my green [growth] is turned into the drought of summer. Selah.


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I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and I have not hid my iniquity. I said, I will confess (against myself) my rebellions unto the LORD, and thou shalt forgive the iniquity of my sin. Selah.


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For this shall every one that is merciful pray unto thee in the time when thou may be found; surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come near unto him.


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Thou [art] my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.


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Be ye not as the horse [or] as the mule, [which] have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in subjection with bit and bridle, or they will not come near unto thee.


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[There are] many sorrows for the wicked; but he that waits in the LORD, mercy shall compass him [round] about.


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Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, ye righteous, and shout for joy, all [ye that are] upright in heart.:


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Celebrate unto the LORD with harp; sing unto him with the psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings.


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The LORD brings the counsel of the Gentiles to nought; he makes the devices of the peoples of no effect.


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Blessed [is] the people whose God [is] the LORD; the people [whom] he has chosen for his own inheritance.


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The king is not saved by the multitude of the army; the mighty man does not escape by much strength.


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&lt;&lt;[A Psalm] of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed.&gt;&gt; [Aleph] I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise [shall] continually [be] in my mouth.


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[Jod] The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but those that seek the LORD shall not lack any good [thing].


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[Ain] The anger of the LORD [is] against those that do evil to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.


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[Tzaddi] The LORD [is] near unto those that are of a broken heart and saves such as are of a contrite spirit.


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[Tau] The LORD ransoms the soul of his servants, and none of those that trust in him shall be [declared] guilty.:


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&lt;&lt;A [Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; Plead [my cause], O LORD, with those that strive with me; fight against those that fight against me.


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Draw out also the spear, and stop [the way] against those that persecute me; say unto my soul; I [am] thy saving health.


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Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.


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For without cause they have hid their net for me [in] a pit, [which] without cause they have dug for my soul.


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Let destruction come upon him at unawares, and let his net that he has hid catch himself; into that very destruction let him fall.


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All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like unto thee, who delivers the poor from him that is too strong for him, [yea], the poor and the needy from him that spoils him?


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But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing [was] sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting, and my prayer rose up in my bosom.


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I behaved myself as though [he had been] my friend or brother; I bowed down heavily, as one that mourns [for his] mother.


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But in my adversity they rejoiced and gathered themselves together; [yea], the smiters gathered themselves together against me, and I knew [it] not; they tore me [apart] and did not cease:


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Let not those that are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; [neither] let those that hate me wink with the eye without a cause.


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For they do not speak peace, but they devise deceitful matters against [those that are] meek in the land.


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Let them not say in their hearts, Ah, so would we have it; let them not say, We have swallowed him up.


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Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at my hurt; let them be clothed with shame and dishonour that magnify [themselves] against me.


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Let them shout for joy and be glad that favour my righteous cause; let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, who has pleasure in the peace of his servant.


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A [Psalm] of David the servant of the LORD.&gt;&gt; The rebellion of the wicked saith to my heart [that There] is no fear of God before his eyes.


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He devises iniquity upon his bed; he sets himself in a way [that] is not good; he does not abhor evil.


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Thy righteousness [is] like the mountains of God; thy judgments [are] a great deep; O LORD, thou dost preserve man and beast.


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How excellent [is] thy mercy, O God! therefore the sons of Adam cover themselves in the shadow of thy wings.


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They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house, and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.


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&lt;&lt;A [Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; [Aleph] Do not be angry with the evildoers, neither be thou envious of the workers of iniquity.


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[Daleth] Be silent before the LORD and wait [patiently] for him; do not be angry with him who prospers in his way, with the man who brings wicked devices to pass.


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[Vau] For yet a little while, and the wicked [shall] not [be]; thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it [shall] not [be].


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[He] The wicked have drawn out the sword and have bent their bow to cast down the poor and needy [and] to slay such as are of upright conversation.


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[Caph] But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD as the fattest of rams shall be consumed; as smoke They shall fade away.


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For [such as are] blessed of him shall inherit the earth, and [those that are] cursed of him shall be cut off.


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[Nun] I have been young and [now] am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.


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For the LORD loves uprightness and does not forsake his merciful ones; they are preserved for ever, but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.


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[Koph] Wait on the LORD and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the earth; when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see [it].


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[Tau] But the salvation of the righteous is the LORD; [he is] their strength in the time of trouble.


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And the LORD helped them and delivers them; he shall deliver them from the wicked and save them because they wait in him.:


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&lt;&lt;A Psalm of David, to bring to remembrance.&gt;&gt; O LORD, rebuke me not in thy wrath: neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure.


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[There is] no soundness in my flesh because of thine anger; neither [is there any] rest in my bones because of my sin.


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Those that seek after my life lay snares [for me], and those that seek my hurt speak calamities and imagine deceits all the day long.


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For I said, Let them not rejoice over me; let them not magnify [themselves] against me when my foot slips.


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For my enemies [are] alive, [and] they are strong, and those that hate me wrongfully are multiplied;


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, [even] to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; I said, I will take heed to my ways that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bit while the wicked is against me.


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LORD, make me to know my end and the measure of my days, what it [is that] I may know how long I am to be of this world.


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Behold, thou hast made my days [as] a handbreadth, and my age [is] as nothing before thee; verily every man that lives [is] altogether vanity. Selah.


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Surely man walks in darkness; surely they are disquieted in vain; they heap up [riches] not knowing who shall gather them.


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When thou with chastening dost correct man for iniquity, thou makest his greatness to consume away like a moth; surely every man [is] vanity. Selah.


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Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I [am] a stranger with thee [and] a sojourner, as all my fathers [were].


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; I waited patiently for the LORD, and he inclined unto me and heard my cry.


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He brought me up also out of the pit of hopelessness, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock [and] straightened my steps.


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And he has put a new song in my mouth, [even] praise unto our God; many shall see [it] and fear and shall wait on the LORD.


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Blessed [is] that man that makes the LORD his trust and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.


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Thou hast increased, O LORD my God, thy wonderful works [which] thou hast done and thy thoughts regarding us; they are beyond our ability to express, declare, or speak; they cannot be told.


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Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened; burnt offering and sin offering thou hast not required.


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I have preached righteousness in the great congregation; behold, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.


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I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy truth and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth from the great congregation.


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Do not withhold thy tender mercies from me, O LORD; let thy mercy and thy truth continually preserve me.


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For innumerable evils have compassed me about; my iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to see; they are more than the hairs of my head; therefore my heart fails me.


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Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my life to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.


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Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee; let such as love thy salvation say continually, The LORD be magnified.


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When I [am] poor and needy; the Lord will remember me; thou [art] my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.:


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; Blessed [is] he that understands regarding the poor; the LORD will deliver him in the day of evil.


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The LORD will preserve him and keep him alive, [and] he shall be blessed upon the earth, and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.


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The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing; thou wilt soften all his bed in his sickness.


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And if he came to see [me], he spoke lies: his heart gathered iniquity to itself, and [when] he goes out, he tells [it].


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A disease of Belial, [they say], cleaves fast unto him, and [now] that he lies he shall rise up no more.


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Even the man of my peace, in whom I trusted, who ate of my bread, has lifted up [his] heel against me.


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer: Maschil, for the sons of Korah.&gt;&gt; As the hart pants after the water brooks, so does my soul pant after thee, O God.


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I will remember these [things]; I will pour out my soul in me. When I shall be included in the number; I will go with them to the house of God with voice of joy and praise, dancing [in] the multitude.


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Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and [why] art thou disquieted against me? Wait thou for God, for I shall yet praise him [for] the wellbeing of his presence.


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O my God, my soul is cast down within me; therefore I will remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the mountain of Mizar.


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Deep calls unto deep at the voice of thy waterspouts; all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.


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[Yet] the LORD will command his mercy in the daytime, and in the night his song [shall be] with me, [and] my prayer unto the God of my life.


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I will say unto God, My rock, why hast thou forgotten me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?


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[It is] as death in my bones when my enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where [is] thy God?


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Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Wait thou for God, for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the saving health of my countenance and my God.:


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Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against those who are not merciful; O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man.


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For thou [art] the God of my strength; why dost thou cast me off? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?


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O send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me; let them bring me unto the mountain of thy holiness and to thy tabernacles.


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Then I will enter in to the altar of God, unto the God [of] my exceeding joy; yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God.


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Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? Wait for God, for I shall yet praise him, [who is] the saving health of my countenance and my God.:


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer for the sons of Korah, Maschil.&gt;&gt; We have heard with our ears, O God, our fathers have told us, what work thou didst in their days in the times of old.


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[How] thou didst drive out the Gentiles with thy hand and plant them [in their place]; [how] thou didst afflict the peoples and cast them out.


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For they did not get the land in inheritance by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them, but thy right hand and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance because thy delight was in them.


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Through thee will we push down our enemies; through thy name will we tread under those that rise up against us.


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Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and a derision to those that are round about us.


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All this is come upon us; yet we have not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falsely in thy covenant.


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer: upon Shoshannim [lilies], for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.&gt;&gt; My heart is overflowing with a good word; I speak of the things which I have done concerning the king; my tongue [is] the pen of a ready writer.


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Thou art fairer than the sons of men, grace is poured into thy lips; therefore God has blessed thee for ever.


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And in thy majesty be prospered; ride upon the word of truth and of humility [and] of righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.


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Thine arrows, [by which] the peoples fall under thee, [penetrate] the heart of the enemies of the king.


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Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness; therefore God, thy God, has anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.


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All thy garments [smell] of myrrh and aloes [and] cassia, out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made thee glad.


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Kings' daughters [were] among thy honourable women; the queen stands at thy right hand with a [crown of gold] from Ophir.


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Hearken, O daughter, and consider and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;


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And the daughter of Tyre [shall be there] with a gift; [even] the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.


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She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework; the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.


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I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations; therefore shall the people praise thee eternally and for ever.:


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer: for the sons of Korah, A Song upon Alamoth.&gt;&gt; God [is] our refuge and strength, a very present help in tribulation.


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Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea,


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[though] the waters thereof roar [and] be troubled, [though] the mountains shake with the violence thereof. Selah.


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[There is] a river, the streams of which shall make glad the city of God, the sanctuary of the tents of the most High.


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He makes wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and cuts the spear in sunder; he burns the chariot in the fire.


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Be still, and know that I [am] God; I will be exalted in the Gentiles, I will be exalted in the earth.


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer: A Psalm for the sons of Korah.&gt;&gt; O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.


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The princes of the peoples have joined the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth [belong] unto God; he is greatly exalted.:


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&lt;&lt;A Song [and] Psalm for the sons of Korah.&gt;&gt; Great [is] the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, [in] the mountain of his holiness.


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Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, [is] mount Zion, [on] the sides of the north, the city of the great King.


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As we have heard, so have we seen in the city of the LORD of the hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish it for ever. Selah.


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According to thy name, O God, so [is] thy praise unto the ends of the earth; thy right hand is full of righteousness.


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.&gt;&gt; Hear this, all [ye] people; give ear, all [ye] inhabitants of the world:


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For he sees [that] all the wise men die, likewise the fool and the ignorant perish and leave their wealth to others.


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Their inward thought [is] [that] their houses are eternal [and] their dwelling places to all generations; they call [their] lands after their own names.


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Like sheep they are laid in Sheol; death shall feed on them, and the upright shall have dominion over them in the morning, and their beauty shall be consumed in the grave from their dwelling.


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Though while he lives, his life shall be blessed: and [men] will praise thee when thou art prosperous.


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&lt;&lt;A Psalm to Asaph.&gt;&gt; The God of gods, [even] the LORD, has spoken and convocated the earth from the rising of the sun unto the going down thereof.


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Our God shall come and shall not keep silence; a fire shall devour before him, and it shall be very tempestuous round about him.


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Hear, O my people, and I will speak; O Israel, and I will testify against thee; I [am] God, [even] thy God.


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But unto the wicked God saith, What [part] hast thou to declare my statutes or [that] thou should take my covenant in thy mouth?


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When thou didst see a thief, then thou didst consent with him and hast been partaker with adulterers.


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These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou didst think that I was altogether [such a one] as thyself, [but] I will reprove thee and set [them] in order before thine eyes.


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Whosoever sacrifices praise glorifies me; and to him that orders [his] ways [aright] I will show the salvation of God.:


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba.&gt;&gt; Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy mercy; according unto the multitude of thy compassion eradicate my rebellion.


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Against thee, against thee only, have I sinned and done [this] evil in thy sight that thou be declared just in thy word [and] pure in thy judgment.


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Behold, the pain of [my] iniquity has caused me to writhe; my mother conceived me so that sin might be removed from me.


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Behold, thou dost desire truth in the inward parts, and in the secret [things] thou hast made me to know wisdom.


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Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation, [and] my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.


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For thou dost not desire sacrifice [or] else would I give [it]; thou dost not delight in burnt offering.


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The sacrifices of God [are] a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.


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Then thou shalt be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, the burnt offering, the offering that has been totally consumed by the fire; then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.:


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when Doeg the Edomite came and told Saul, and said unto him, David is come to the house of Ahimelech.&gt;&gt; Why dost thou boast of evil, O strong man? The mercy of God is day by day.


text:
God shall likewise cast thee down for ever; he shall cut thee off and pluck thee out of [thy] dwelling place and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.


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Behold, [this is] the man [that] did not make God his strength, but trusted in the abundance of his riches [and] strengthened himself in his wickedness.


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But I [am] like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the eternal mercy of God for ever.


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I will praise thee for ever because thou hast done [it], and I will wait on thy name, for [it is] good before thy merciful ones.:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon Mahalath, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; The fool has said in his heart, [There is] no God. They have corrupted themselves and have done abominable iniquity; [there is] no one that does good.


text:
God looked down from heaven upon the sons of Adam to see if there were [any] that did understand, that did seek God.


text:
Every one of them is gone back; they are altogether become filthy; [there is] no one that does good, no, not one.


text:
Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people [as] they eat bread; they have not called upon God.


text:
They were there in great fear [where] no fear was; for God has scattered the bones of him that encamps [against] thee: thou hast put [them] to shame because God has despised them.


text:
Oh that the saving health of Israel [were come] out of Zion! When God brings back the captivity of his people, Jacob shall rejoice, [and] Israel shall be glad.:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David, when the Ziphims came and said to Saul, Does David not hide himself with us?&gt;&gt; Save me, O God, in thy name and defend me by thy valour.


text:
For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul; they have not set God before them. Selah.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer on Neginoth, Maschil, [A Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; Give ear to my prayer, O God, and do not hide thyself from my supplication.


text:
because of the voice of the enemy because of the oppression of the wicked; for they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.


text:
Day and night they go about it upon the walls thereof; iniquity also and sorrow [are] in the midst of it.


text:
For [it was] not an enemy [that] reproached me; then I could have borne [it], neither [was it] he that hated me [that] did magnify [himself] against me; then I would have hid myself from him:


text:
Let them be condemned unto death, [and] let them go down alive into Sheol for wickedness [is] in their dwellings [and] among them.


text:
He has ransomed my soul in peace from the battle [that was] against me, for there were many against me.


text:
God shall hear and bring them down, even he that abides from of old. Selah. Because they do not change, nor do they fear God.


text:
[The words] of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war [was] in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they [were] drawn swords.


text:
Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee; he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.


text:
But thou, O God, shalt bring them down into the pit of the grave; bloody and deceitful men shall not live out half their days, but I will trust in thee.:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon: The silent dove in a distant land, Michtam of David, when the Philistines took him in Gath.&gt;&gt; Be merciful unto me, O God, for man would swallow me up; he oppresses me fighting me daily.


text:
My enemies would daily swallow [me] up, for [they are] many that fight against me, O thou most High.


text:
In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.


text:
They gather themselves together, they hide themselves, they mark my steps when they wait for my soul.


text:
For [thou hast] delivered my life from death; thou hast kept my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer [upon], Do not destroy, Michtam of David, when he fled from the presence of Saul in the cave.&gt;&gt; Be merciful unto me, O God, be merciful unto me: for my soul trusts in thee; and in the shadow of thy wings I will make my refuge until [these] calamities are overpast.


text:
He shall send from the heavens and save me [from] the reproach of him that would swallow me up. Selah. God shall send forth his mercy and his truth.


text:
My soul [is] among lions, [and] I lie [even among] those that are set on fire, [even] the sons of men, whose teeth [are] spears and arrows and their tongue a sharp sword.


text:
They have prepared a net for my steps; my soul is bowed down; they have dug a pit before me, into the midst of which they are fallen [themselves]. Selah.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer [upon], Do not destroy, Michtam of David.&gt;&gt; Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of Adam?


text:
Their poison [is] like the poison of a serpent; [they are] like the deaf adder [that] stops her ear,


text:
Let them melt away as waters [which] run continually; [when] he bends [his bow to shoot] his arrows, let them be as cut in pieces.


text:
As a snail [which] melts, let [them] pass away, [like] the untimely birth of a woman, [that] they may not see the sun.


text:
Before your pots can feel the [fire of the] thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in [his] wrath.


text:
The righteous shall rejoice when he sees the vengeance; he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.


text:
So that a man shall say, Verily [there is] a reward for the righteous; verily there is a God that judges in the earth.:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer [upon], Do not destroy, Michtam of David; when Saul sent, and they watched the house to kill him.&gt;&gt; Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from those that rise up against me.


text:
For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul; the strong are gathered against me; I [am] not in rebellion, nor [in] sin, O LORD.


text:
Thou, therefore, O LORD God of the hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the Gentiles; be not merciful to any rebellious [workers of] iniquity. Selah.


text:
Behold, they belch out with their mouth; swords [are] in their lips; for who, [say they], doth hear?


text:
Slay them not lest my people forget; scatter them by thy power and bring them down, O Lord our shield.


text:
[For] the sin of their mouth [and] the words of their lips, let them even be taken in their pride; they shall be subject to weakness and to a curse.


text:
Consume [them] in wrath, consume [them] that they [may] not [be] and let them know that God rules in Jacob unto the ends of the earth. Selah.


text:
But I will sing of thy power; I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning, for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand.&gt;&gt; O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us; thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again.


text:
God has spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem and mete out the valley of Succoth.


text:
Gilead [is] mine, and Manasseh [is] mine; Ephraim also [is] the strength of my head; Judah [is] my lawgiver;


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon Neginah, [A Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer.


text:
From the end of the earth I will cry unto thee when my heart is overwhelmed; lead me to the rock [that] is higher than I.


text:
Thou wilt add days upon days unto the king's [life]; his years [shall be] from generation to generation.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; Only in God does my soul rest; from him [comes] my saving health.


text:
How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? Shall ye murder each other [until ye are] as a bowing wall [and as] a tottering fence?


text:
They only consult to cast [him] down from his greatness; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse in their inward parts. Selah.


text:
Surely the sons of Adam [are] vanity, [and] the sons of nobles [are] a lie; to be laid in the balance, they [are] altogether [lighter] than vanity.


text:
Trust not in violence and become not vain in the taking of spoil; if riches increase, set not your heart [upon them].


text:
&lt;&lt;A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah.&gt;&gt; O God, thou [art] my God; early will I seek thee; my soul thirsts for thee; my flesh longs for thee in a dry and thirsty land where [there] is no water;


text:
My soul shall be satisfied as [with] marrow and fatness, and my mouth shall praise [thee] with joyful lips


text:
But the king shall rejoice in God; every one that swears by him shall be praised; for the mouth of those that speak lies shall be stopped.:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer; preserve my life from fear of the enemy.


text:
Who whet their tongue like a sword [and] bend [their bows to shoot] their arrows, [even] bitter words


text:
They encourage themselves [in] an evil matter; they attempt to hide the snares; they say, Who shall see them?


text:
They search out iniquities; they perfect and put into effect that which they have invented in the inward [thought] of each one [of them] and that which they have devised in their heart.


text:
So they shall make their own council and agreements to fall upon themselves; all that see them shall flee away.


text:
The righteous shall be glad in the LORD and shall become secure in him, and all the upright in heart shall glory [in him].:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm [and] Song of David.&gt;&gt; Praise doth rest in thee, O God, in Sion and unto thee shall the vow be performed.


text:
Blessed [is the man whom] thou dost choose and cause to approach [unto thee] [that] he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house [even] of thy holy temple.


text:
With tremendous things in righteousness wilt thou answer us, O God of our saving health, [who art] the hope of all the ends of the earth and of those that are afar off [upon] the sea:


text:
They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy wonders; thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.


text:
Thou dost visit the earth, and when thou hast caused it to want, thou dost greatly enrich it with the river of God, [which] is full of water; thou dost prepare their grain, according to thy will.


text:
Thou dost water its rows abundantly; thou dost settle its furrows; thou dost make it soft with showers [of rain]; thou dost bless its sprouting.


text:
The plains clothe themselves with sheep, and the valleys cover themselves with grain; they give shouts of triumph, they even sing.:


text:
Say unto God, How terrible [art thou in] thy works! Through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee.


text:
He turned the sea into dry [land]; they went through the river on foot; there did we rejoice in him.


text:
He rules by his power for ever; his eyes watch the Gentiles; the rebellious shall not exalt themselves. Selah.


text:
Thou hast placed [a] man over our head; we went through fire and through water, but thou didst bring us out into abundance.


text:
I will offer unto thee burnt sacrifices of fatlings with the incense of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats. Selah.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song.&gt;&gt; God be merciful unto us and bless us [and] cause his face to shine upon us. Selah.


text:
O let the Gentiles be glad and sing for joy, for thou shalt judge the people righteously and shepherd the Gentiles upon the earth. Selah.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm [or] Song of David.&gt;&gt; Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered; let those that hate him flee before him.


text:
As smoke is driven away; [so] drive [them] away: as wax melts before the fire, [so] shall the wicked perish at the presence of God.


text:
Sing unto God, sing psalms unto his name; extol him that rides upon the heavens by his name JAH and rejoice before him.


text:
God sets the solitary in families; he brings out those who are bound with chains, but the rebellious dwell in a dry [land].


text:
O God, when thou didst go forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:


text:
The earth shook, the heavens also dropped [their rain] at the presence of God; [even] Sinai itself [was moved] at the presence of God, the God of Israel.


text:
Thou, O God, didst send a plentiful rain, by which thou didst confirm thine inheritance, when it was weary.


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Though ye be cast among the pots, [yet shall ye be as] the wings of a dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold.


text:
Why leap ye, ye high mountains? [This is] the mountain [which] God desires to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell [in it] for ever.


text:
The chariots of God [are] two thousand thousands of angels; the Lord [is] among them [as in] Sinai, in the sanctuary.


text:
Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive; thou hast received gifts for men, [yea], [for] the rebellious also that the LORD God might dwell [among them].


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Blessed [be] the Lord, [who] daily ladens us [with benefits], [even] the God of our saving health. Selah.


text:
[He that is] our God [is] the God of salvation, and unto GOD the Lord [belongs] the way of escape from death.


text:
Surely God shall smite the head of his enemies, [and] the hairy scalp of such a one as goes on still in his trespasses.


text:
The Lord said, I will bring again from Bashan, I will bring [my people] again from the depths of the sea:


text:
The singers went before, the players on instruments [followed] after; in between [them were] the virgins playing with timbrels.


text:
There [was] little Benjamin [as] their ruler, the princes of Judah [in] their congregation, the princes of Zebulun [and] the princes of Naphtali.


text:
Reprehend the company of spearmen, the multitude of the strong, with the lords of the peoples, trampling them underfoot with [their] pieces of silver; Destroy thou the peoples [that] delight in war.


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To him that rides upon the heavens of the heavens [which were] of old; behold, he shall send forth his voice, [his] mighty voice.


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O God, [thou art] terrible out of thy sanctuaries; the God of Israel [is] he that gives strength and power unto [his] people. Blessed [be] God.:


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon Shoshannim ([lilies]), [A Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; Save me, O God; for the waters are come in unto [my] soul.


text:
I sink in deep mire where [there is] no standing; I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.


text:
Those that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; those that would destroy me, [being] my enemies wrongfully, are mighty; then I restored [that] which I did not take away.


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Do not let those that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of the hosts, be ashamed for my sake; do not let those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.


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For the zeal of thy house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those that reproached thee are fallen upon me.


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But I [corrected] my prayer unto thee, O LORD, [in] the time of [thy] good pleasure; O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy saving health.


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Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not drown; let me be delivered from those that hate me and out of the deep waters.


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Let not the violent force of the waters overcome me, neither let the deep swallow me up, and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.


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Hear me, O LORD, for thy mercy [is] perceptible, look upon me according to the multitude of thy acts of compassion


text:
Reproach has broken my heart, and I am full of heaviness, and I looked [for some] to take pity, but [there was] no one, and for comforters, but I found none.


text:
Let their table become a snare before them, and [that which should have been] for [their] prosperity, [let it become] a stumbling block.


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[This] also shall please the LORD better [than the sacrifice of an ox or] bullock that [struggles] with horns and hoofs.


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For God will protect Zion and will rebuild the cities of Judah; they shall dwell there and inherit it.


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, [A Psalm] of David, to bring to remembrance.&gt;&gt; [Make haste], O God, to deliver me; make haste to help me, O LORD.


text:
Let them be ashamed and confounded that seek after my life; let them be turned backward and put to confusion that desire my hurt.


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Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee, and let such as love thy saving health say continually, Let God be magnified.


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But I [am] poor and destitute; make haste unto me, O God: thou [art] my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying.:


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Be thou my strong habitation unto which I may continually resort; thou hast given [a] commandment that I should be saved because thou [art] my rock and my fortress.


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Deliver me, O my God, out of the hand of the wicked, out of the hand of the perverse and violent man.


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By thee have I been sustained from the womb; thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels; my praise [has been] continually of thee.


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Let them be confounded [and] consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered [with] reproach and dishonour that seek my hurt.


text:
My mouth shall show forth thy righteousness [and] thy salvation all the day, for I know not the numbers [thereof].


text:
I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD; I will make mention of thy righteousness, [even] of thine only.


text:
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not until I have showed [the strength] of thy arm unto [the next] generation [and] thy power to every one [that] is to come,


text:
and thy righteousness, O God, unto excellence because thou hast done great things; O God, who [is] like unto thee!


text:
[Thou] who hast caused me to see great and sore troubles, shalt return and quicken me and shalt bring me up again from the depths of the earth.


text:
I will also praise thee with [an] instrument of the psaltery, O my God; unto thee will I sing thy truth with the harp, O thou Holy One of Israel.


text:
In the same manner my tongue shall talk of thy righteousness every day, for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.:


text:
&lt;&lt;[A Psalm] for Solomon.&gt;&gt; Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son.


text:
He shall judge the poor of the people; he shall save the children of the destitute and shall break in pieces the violent.


text:
In his days shall righteousness flourish and abundance of peace until [there is] no [longer any] moon.


text:
The kings of Tarshish and of the isles shall bring presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer gifts.


text:
He shall redeem their soul from deceit and violence, and precious shall their blood be in his sight.


text:
And he shall live, and to him shall be given of the gold of Sheba; prayer also shall be made for him continually; [and] daily he shall be given blessings.


text:
There shall be [planted] a handful of grain in the earth upon the tops of the mountains; its fruit shall thunder like Lebanon; and [out] of the city [they] shall blossom like the grass of the earth.


text:
His name shall endure for ever; before the sun his name shall be disseminated, and all Gentiles shall be blessed in him; they shall call him blessed.


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And blessed [be] his glorious name for ever, and let the whole earth be filled [with] his glory; Amen, and Amen.


text:
&lt;&lt;A Psalm of Asaph.&gt;&gt; Truly God [is] good to Israel, [even] to such as are pure in heart.


text:
How they are [brought] into desolation, as in a moment! They have come to an end; they are utterly consumed with terrors.


text:
As the dream of [one] who awakes; [so], O Lord, when thou shalt rise up, thou shalt despise their appearances.


text:
Whom have I in heaven [but thee]? And apart from thee [there is] nothing upon the earth [that] I desire.


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For, behold, those that stray from thee shall perish; thou dost cut off all those that go a whoring from thee.


text:
But [as for me], to draw near to God is good; I have put my hope in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.:


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&lt;&lt;Maschil of Asaph.&gt;&gt; O God, why hast thou cast [us] off for ever? [Why] does thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture?


text:
Remember thy congregation, [which] thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, [which] thou hast redeemed, this mount Zion, in which thou hast dwelt.


text:
Lift up thy feet unto the eternal desolations, unto every enemy who has done wickedly in the sanctuary.


text:
Thine enemies have roared in the midst of thy assemblies; they set up their [own] banners [for] signs.


text:
Renowned, as one on the way to heaven, he who lifted up axes upon the thick trees [for the work of the sanctuary].


text:
They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them at once; they have burned up all the meeting places [of the people] of God in the earth.


text:
We no longer see our [own] banners; [there is] no longer any prophet: neither [is there] among us any that knows. How long [shall this be]?


text:
Thou didst break the heads of leviathan in pieces [and] didst give him [to be] food to the people inhabiting the wilderness.


text:
Remember this, [that] the enemy has spoken against the LORD and [that] the foolish people have blasphemed thy name.


text:
O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the beasts; forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever.


text:
Have respect unto the covenant; for the dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of violence.


text:
Forget not the voices of thine enemies; the tumult of those that rise up against thee increases continually.:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon, Do not destroy, A Psalm [or] Song of Asaph.&gt;&gt; Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, [unto thee] do we give thanks, for [that] thy name is near, thy wondrous works declare.


text:
For the cup is in the hand of the LORD, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he pours out of the same; yea, the dregs thereof, shall wring out and swallow up all the wicked of the earth.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer on Neginoth, A Psalm [or] Song of Asaph.&gt;&gt; In Judah [is] God known; his name [is] great in Israel.


text:
The stouthearted are spoiled; they have slept their sleep; and nothing was found in the hands of the men of might.


text:
Surely the wrath of man shall cause praise to come unto thee; the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.


text:
Vow and pay unto the LORD your God; let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph.&gt;&gt; I cried unto God with my voice, [even] unto God with my voice; and [he] gave ear unto me.


text:
In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my sore bled in the night and ceased not; my soul refused to be comforted.


text:
I call to remembrance my songs of the night; I commune with my own heart, and my spirit made diligent search.


text:
And I said, This [is] my infirmity, [but I will remember] the years of the right hand of the most High.


text:
The clouds poured out floods of waters; the heavens thundered; thy bolts [of lightning] also went forth.


text:
The voice of thy thunder [was] all around; the lightnings lightened the world; the earth trembled and shook.


text:
&lt;&lt;Maschil of Asaph.&gt;&gt; Give ear, O my people, [to] my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth.


text:
We will not hide [them] from their sons, showing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD and his strength and his wonderful works that he has done.


text:
For he established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their sons:


text:
That the generation to come might know [them], [even] the sons [which] should be born; [who] should arise and declare [them] to their sons


text:
and might not be as their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation [that] did not set their heart aright and whose spirit was not steadfast with God.


text:
He did marvellous things in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, [in] the field of Zoan.


text:
Behold, he smote the rock that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?


text:
Therefore the LORD heard [this] and was wroth, so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and anger also came up against Israel


text:
But he, [being] full of compassion, forgave [their] iniquity and did not destroy [them]; many a time turned he his anger away and did not stir up all his wrath.


text:
He cast upon them the fierceness of his anger, wrath, and indignation and trouble by sending evil angels [among them].


text:
He made a way to his anger; he did not spare their soul from death but gave their life over to the pestilence


text:
And he brought them into the borders of his holiness, into this mountain, [which] his right hand had purchased.


text:
He cast out the Gentiles also before them and divided them an inheritance by line and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their habitations.


text:
For they provoked him to anger with their high places and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.


text:
from following the ewes great with young, he brought him to feed Jacob his people and Israel his inheritance.


text:
&lt;&lt;A Psalm of Asaph.&gt;&gt; O God, the Gentiles are come into thine inheritance; they have defiled the temple of thy holiness; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps.


text:
The dead bodies of thy servants they have given [to be] food unto the fowls of the heavens, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth.


text:
Pour out thy wrath upon the Gentiles that do not know thee and upon the kingdoms that do not call upon thy name.


text:
O remember not against us former iniquities; let thy tender mercies speedily meet us on the way, for we are very poor.


text:
Help us, O God, our saving health, for the honor of thy name and deliver us and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake.


text:
Why should the Gentiles say, Where [is] their God? let him be known among the Gentiles in our sight [by] the revenging of the blood of thy servants [which is] shed.


text:
Let the sighing of the prisoners come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve those that are appointed to die


text:
and render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, with which they have reproached thee, O Lord.


text:
So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: from generation to generation we will sing thy praises.:


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon Shoshannim, A testimony of Asaph: A Psalm.&gt;&gt; Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest [between] the cherubim, shine forth.


text:
and the vineyard which thy right hand has planted and the branch [that] thou didst make strong for thyself.


text:
Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man [whom] thou didst make strong for thyself,


text:
&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon Gittith, [A Psalm] of Asaph.&gt;&gt; Sing aloud unto God our strength; make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.


text:
This he ordained in Joseph [for] a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt [where] I heard a language [that] I did not understand.


text:
Thou didst call in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret [place] of thunder; I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.


text:
I [am] the LORD thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt; open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.


text:
The haters of the LORD would have submitted themselves unto him, and their time would endure for ever.


text:
And [God] would have fed them also the finest of the wheat, and with honey out of the rock I would have satisfied thee.:


text:
&lt;&lt;A Psalm of Asaph.&gt;&gt; God stands in the congregation of the mighty; he judges among the gods.


text:
They do not know, neither do they understand; they walk in darkness; they move all the foundations of the earth.


text:
&lt;&lt;A Song [or] Psalm of Asaph.&gt;&gt; Do not keep silence, O God; do not hold thy peace, and do not be still, O God.


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They have said, Come and let us cut them off from [being] a people that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer upon Gittith, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.&gt;&gt; How amiable [are] thy habitations, O LORD of the hosts!


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My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing to the living God.


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Even the sparrow has found a house and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young upon thine altars, O LORD of the hosts, my King and my God.


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for a day in thy courts [is] better than a thousand [outside of them]. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.


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For the LORD God [is] a sun and shield [unto us]; the LORD will give grace and glory; he will not withhold good from those that walk uprightly.


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.&gt;&gt; LORD, thou hast been favourable unto thy land; thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob.


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I will hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace unto his people and to his saints, that they not turn again to folly.


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For thou, Lord, [art] good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy unto all those that call upon thee.


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Among the gods [there is] none like unto thee, O Lord, neither is there any other who does thy works.


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All the Gentiles whom thou hast made shall come and humble themselves before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name.


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O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent [men] have sought after my soul and have not set thee before them.


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But thou, O Lord, [art] a merciful and gracious God, longsuffering and plenteous in mercy and truth.


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O look into me and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant and keep the son of thine handmaid.


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Show me a token for good that those who hate me may see [it] and be ashamed because thou, O LORD, hast helped me and comforted me.:


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&lt;&lt;A Psalm [or] Song for the sons of Korah.&gt;&gt; His foundation [is] in mountains of holiness.


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I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to those that know me; behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this [one] was born there.


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And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man were born in her; and the highest himself shall establish her.


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&lt;&lt;A Song [or] Psalm for the sons of Korah, to the Overcomer: to sing upon Mahalath, Maschil of Heman the Ezrahite.&gt;&gt; O LORD God of my saving health, I cry day [and] night before Thee;


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Freed among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou dost remember no more; and they are cut off from thy hand.


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Thou hast put away mine acquaintances far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them; [I am] shut up, and I cannot come forth.


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My eye mourns by reason of affliction; LORD, I have called daily upon thee; I have stretched out my hands unto thee.


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&lt;&lt;Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite.&gt;&gt; I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever; with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.


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For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever in the heavens; in them thou shalt establish thy truth.


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For who in the heavens can be compared unto the LORD? [who] among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD?


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God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints and to be had in reverence of all [those that are] about him.


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Thou hast broken Egypt in pieces as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm.


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Happy [are] the people that know [how to] enter into joy; they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.


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Then thou didst speak in vision to thy holy one and didst say, I have laid help upon [one that is] mighty; I have exalted [one] chosen out of my people.


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Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant; thou hast profaned his crown [by casting it] to the ground.


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What man [is he that] lives and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of Sheol? Selah.


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Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; [how] I do bear in my bosom [the reproach of] many peoples,


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because thine enemies have dishonoured, O LORD; they have dishonoured the footsteps of thine anointed.


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&lt;&lt;A Prayer of Moses the man of God.&gt;&gt; Lord, thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation.


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Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou [art] God.


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Thou dost cause them to pass by as the waters of a river; they are [as] a dream, which is strong in the morning like grass.


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The days of our years [are] seventy, and of the most valiant eighty years, yet their strength [is] labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.


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Make us glad according to the days [in which] thou hast afflicted us [and] the years [in which] we have seen evil.


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And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and set thou aright the work of our hands upon us; yea, set thou aright the work of our hands.:


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He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings thou shalt be secure: his truth [shall be thy] shield and buckler.


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[nor] for the pestilence [that] walks in darkness, [nor] for the destruction [that] wastes at noonday.


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Thousands shall fall at thy side and ten thousands at thy right hand, [but] it shall not come near thee.


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Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.


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Because he has set his will upon me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high because he has known my name.


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He shall call upon me, and I will answer him; I [will be] with him in trouble; I will deliver him and glorify him.


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&lt;&lt;A Psalm [or] Song for the sabbath day.&gt;&gt; [It is a] good [thing] to give thanks unto the LORD and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:


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The wicked spring forth as the grass, and all the workers of iniquity blossom, [so] that they shall be destroyed for ever:


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For, behold, thine enemies, O LORD, for behold, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.


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And my eye saw [my desire] on my enemies, [and] my ears heard [my desire] of those that rose up against me, of the wicked.


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The LORD reigns; he has clothed himself with majesty; the LORD has clothed himself with strength; he has girded himself: he has established the world also, that it cannot be moved.


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The rivers have lifted up, O LORD; the rivers have lifted up their voice; the rivers lift up their waves.


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The LORD on high [is] mightier than the noise of many waters, [yea], [than] the mighty waves of the sea.


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[How long] shall they utter [and] speak hard things? [and] all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?


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He that chastens the Gentiles, shall he not correct? he that teaches man knowledge, [shall not he know]?


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But the judgment shall be returned unto righteousness, and all the upright in heart shall follow it.


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Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? [or] who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?


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They gather [themselves together] as an army against the life of the righteous and condemn the innocent blood.


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And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; [yea], the LORD our God shall cut them off.:


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For he [is] our God, and we [are] the people of his pasture and the sheep of his hand. Today if ye will hear his voice,


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Forty years long I was grieved with [this] generation and said, It [is] a people that err from the heart, who have not known my ways;


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Say among the Gentiles [that] the LORD reigns; he also has established the world, it shall not be moved; he shall judge the peoples righteously.


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before the LORD; for he has come, for he has come to judge the earth; he shall judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with his truth.:


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The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.


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Let all those that serve graven images be confounded, those that boast of idols; worship him, all [ye] gods.


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Ye that love the LORD [are to] hate evil; he preserves the souls of his saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.


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&lt;&lt;A Psalm.&gt;&gt; O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he has done marvellous things; his right hand has gotten him the victory, even the arm of his holiness.


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The LORD has made known his saving health; he has openly showed his righteousness in the sight of the Gentiles.


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He has remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the saving health of our God.


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before the LORD; for he has come to judge the earth; with righteousness he shall judge the world and the peoples with equity.:


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The LORD reigns; the peoples shall tremble; he who sits above the cherubim [reigns]; the earth shall be moved.


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The king's strength [is] that he loves judgment; thou dost establish equity; thou dost execute judgment and righteousness in Jacob.


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Moses and Aaron [are] among his priests and Samuel among those that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.


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He spoke unto them in the pillar of fire; they kept his testimonies and the order [that] he gave them.


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Thou didst answer them, O LORD our God; thou wast a God that didst forgive them, and [an] avenger for their works.


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Know ye that the LORD he [is] God; [it is] he [that] has made us and not we ourselves; [we are] his people and the sheep of his pasture.


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Enter into his gates with thanksgiving [and] into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him [and] bless his name.


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&lt;&lt;A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; I will sing of mercy and judgment; unto thee, O LORD, will I sing.


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When thou shalt come unto me, I will walk in the way of perfection and understand. I will walk in the midst of my house in the perfection of my heart.


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I will set nothing of Belial before my eyes: I hate the work of those that betray; [it] shall not cleave to me.


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Whosoever secretly slanders his neighbour, I will cut off; he that has a high look and a proud heart I will not [suffer].


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My eyes [shall be] upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he that walks in the way of perfection, he shall serve me.


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He that works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he that tells lies shall not tarry in my sight.


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I will early destroy all the wicked of the land, that I may cut off all the workers of iniquity from the city of the LORD.:


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&lt;&lt;A Prayer of the poor [in spirit], when he is overwhelmed, and pours out his complaint before the LORD.&gt;&gt; Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee.


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Hide not thy face from me in the day [when] I am in trouble; incline thine ear unto me; in the day [when] I call, answer me speedily.


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He shall have regarded the prayer of those who are [alone and] destitute and not despised their prayer.


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This shall be written for the generation to come, and the people who shall be created shall praise JAH.


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I said, O my God, do not cut me off in the midst of my days; thy years [are] from generation to generation.


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They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture thou shalt change them, and they shall be changed:


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&lt;&lt;[A Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, [bless] the name of his holiness.


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For as the heavens are high above the earth [so] does he increase his mercy over those that fear him.


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But the mercy of the LORD [is] from everlasting to everlasting upon those that fear him, and his righteousness unto the children's children,


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Bless the LORD, ye his angels, valiant and strong, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word.


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Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty,


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who dost cover [thyself] with light as [with] a garment, who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain,


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who dost establish his chambers between the waters, who makes the clouds his chariot, who walks upon the wings of the wind,


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The mountains were exposed; they descended through the valleys unto the place which thou hast founded for them.


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He causes the hay to grow for the cattle and grass for the service of man, that he may bring forth bread out of the earth


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and wine [that] makes glad the heart of man, making [his] face to shine with oil and bread [which] sustains man's heart.


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O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom thou hast made them all; the earth is full of thy riches.


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[So is] this great and wide sea, wherein [are] innumerable creeping things, both small and great beasts.


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Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled; thou takest away their spirit, they cease to exist and return to their dust.


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Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Halelu- JAH ([Praise ye the LORD]).:


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And he brought them forth with silver and gold, and [there was] not one sick [person] among their tribes.


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Remember me, O LORD, with the favour [that thou dost bear unto] thy people; O visit me with thy saving health,


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that I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance.


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Our fathers did not understand thy wonders in Egypt; they did not remember the multitude of thy mercies but rebelled by the sea, [even] at the Red sea.


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He reprehended the Red sea also, and it was dried up, so he led them through the depths, as through the wilderness.


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And he saved them from the hand of him that hated [them] and redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.


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Therefore he said that he would destroy them, had not Moses his chosen stood before him in the breach, to turn away his wrath lest he should destroy [them].


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and shed innocent blood, [even] the blood of their sons and of their daughters, whom they sacrificed unto the idols of Canaan; and the land was polluted with blood.


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Therefore was the wrath of the LORD kindled against his people, insomuch that he abhorred his own inheritance.


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He delivered them many times, but they rebelled at his counsel and were brought low for their iniquity.


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Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the Gentiles, that we might lift up thy holy name, that we might glory in thy praise.


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Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel from everlasting to everlasting; and let all the people say, Amen. Halelu-JAH. Part Five:


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and gathered them out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.


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Oh that [men] would praise the LORD [for] his mercy and [for] his wonderful works unto the sons of Adam!


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They mount up to the heavens; they go down again to the depths; their soul is melted because of trouble.


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Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people and praise him in the assembly of the elders.


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He pours contempt upon princes and causes them to wander in the wilderness, [where there is] no way.


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&lt;&lt;A Song [or] Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; O God, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise; this is my glory.


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Gilead [shall be] mine; Manasseh [shall be] mine; Ephraim also [shall be] the strength of my head; Judah [shall be] my lawgiver;


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for the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me; they have spoken of me with a lying tongue.


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Let his children be continually vagabonds and beg; let them seek [their bread] out of their desolate places.


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Let there be no one to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.


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Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD, and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.


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Because he did not remember to show mercy but persecuted the man who is poor [in spirit] and destitute and broken in heart, that he might slay him.


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As he loved the curse, so let it come unto him; as he delighted not in the blessing, so let it be far from him.


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As he clothed himself with the curse like as with his garment, and it entered into his bowels like water and like oil into his bones.


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Let it be unto him as the garment [which] covers him and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.


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[Let] this [be] the reward from the LORD of those who spoke falsely against me and of those that speak evil against my soul.


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Let those who speak evil against me falsely be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion as with a mantle.


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For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor [in spirit] to save his soul from those that judge him.:


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&lt;&lt;A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.


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Thy people [shall be] willing in the day of thy power, in the beauty of holiness; [as] the dew [which falls] from the womb of the morning, thus shall those who are thine be born unto thee.


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The LORD has sworn and will not repent, Thou [art] a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.


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He shall judge among the Gentiles; he shall fill their [places] with [dead] bodies; he shall wound the head over much [of the] earth.


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[Aleph] Halelu-JAH. I will praise the LORD with [my] whole heart, [Beth] in the company and [in the] congregation of the upright.


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[Gimel] The works of the LORD [are] great, [Daleth] sought out by all those that have pleasure therein.


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[Zain] He has made his wonderful works to be remembered; [Cheth] The LORD [is] gracious and merciful.


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[Teth] He has given sustenance unto those that fear him; [Jod] He will ever be mindful of his covenant.


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[Caph] He has shown his people the power of his works, [Lamed] by giving them the inheritance of the Gentiles.


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[Pe] He sent redemption unto his people; [Tzaddi] he has commanded his covenant for ever: [Koph] Holy and reverend [is] his name.


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[Resh] The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom; [Schin] A good understanding have all those that do [his will]; [Tau] His praise endures for ever.:


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[Aleph] Halelu-JAH. Blessed [is] the man [that] fears the LORD, [Beth that] delights greatly in his commandments.


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[Gimel] His seed shall be mighty upon earth; [Daleth] the generation of the upright shall be blessed.


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[Zain] A light has shined in the darkness upon the upright: [Cheth] Gracious and merciful and righteous.


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[Caph] Surely he shall not be moved for ever; [Lamed] the righteous shall be in eternal remembrance.


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[Samech] His heart [is] established; he shall not be afraid, [Ain] until he sees [his desire] upon his enemies.


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[Pe] He has dispersed; he has given to the poor; [Tzaddi] his righteousness endures for ever; [Koph] his horn shall be exalted in glory.


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[Resh] The wicked shall see [it] and be furious; [Schin] he shall gnash with his teeth and waste away: [Tau] The desire of the wicked shall perish.:


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What came upon thee, O thou sea, that thou didst flee? [And] thou O Jordan, [that] thou wast driven back?


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they have hands, but they shall never touch; they have feet, but they shall never walk; they shall never speak through their throat.


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The LORD has been mindful of us: he will bless [us]; he will greatly bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.


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The sorrows of death compassed me and the pains of Sheol found me; I encountered trouble and sorrow.


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[This is] so, O LORD, because I [am] thy servant; I [am] thy servant, the son of thine handmaid; thou hast loosed my bonds.


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For he has greatly increased his mercy upon us; and the truth of the LORD [endures] for ever. Halelu-JAH.:


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The LORD takes my part with those that help me; therefore I shall see [my desire] upon those that hate me.


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They compassed me about; [yea], they laid hold of me; but in the name of the LORD I will cut them off.


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They compassed me about like bees; they were quenched as the fire of thorns; for in the name of the LORD I will cut them off.


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The voice of singing and saving health [is] in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the LORD does valiantly.


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God [is] the LORD, who has shined on us; bind the sacrifice with cords, [even] unto the horns of the altar.


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I will lift up My hands unto thy commandments, which I have loved, and I will meditate in thy statutes.


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JOD. Thy hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, and I shall learn thy commandments.


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Let the proud be ashamed, for they dealt perversely with me without a cause, [but] I will meditate in thy precepts.


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Thou dost cause all the wicked of the earth to come undone [like] dross; therefore I have loved thy testimonies.


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Therefore I have esteemed all [thy] precepts [concerning] all [things to be] right [and] I have hated every false way.


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The beginning of thy word [is] truth, and every one of the judgments of thy righteousness is eternal.


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&lt;&lt;A Song of degrees.&gt;&gt; I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains, from whence cometh my help.


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The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.:


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&lt;&lt;A Song of degrees of David.&gt;&gt; I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.


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Because the tribes went up there, the tribes of JAH, the testimony to Israel, to praise the name of the LORD.


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&lt;&lt;A Song of degrees.&gt;&gt; Unto thee I lift up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.


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Behold, as the eyes of servants [look] unto the hand of their masters [and] as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes [wait] upon the LORD our God, until he shall have mercy upon us.


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Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we are exceedingly weary of [being held in] contempt.


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Our soul is exceedingly weary of the scorning of those that are at ease [and] of the contempt of the proud.:


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Our soul has escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers; the snare has broken, and we are escaped.


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&lt;&lt;A Song of degrees.&gt;&gt; Those that trust in the LORD [are] as mount Zion, [which] cannot be removed [but] abides for ever.


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As the mountains [are] round about Jerusalem, so the LORD [is] round about his people from now on even for ever.


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For the rod of wickedness shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous because the righteous shall not put forth their hands unto iniquity.


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As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall take them away with the workers of iniquity; [and] peace [shall be] upon Israel.:


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&lt;&lt;A Song of degrees.&gt;&gt; When the LORD shall turn again the captivity of Zion, we shall be like those that dream.


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Then our mouth shall be filled with laughter and our tongue with singing; then they shall say among the Gentiles, The LORD has done great things with them.


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He that goes forth and weeps, bearing the precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves [with him].:


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&lt;&lt;A Song of degrees for Solomon.&gt;&gt; Unless the LORD builds the house, they labour in vain that build it; unless the LORD keeps the city, the watchmen watch in vain.


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[It is] vain for you to rise up early, to come home late, to eat the bread of sorrows, because he shall give his beloved sleep.


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Happy [is] the man that has filled his quiver with them: he shall not be ashamed when he speaks with the enemies in the gate.:


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&lt;&lt;A Song of degrees.&gt;&gt; Blessed [is] every one that fears the LORD, that walks in his ways.


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When thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands; happy [shalt] thou [be], and [it shall be] well with thee.


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Thy wife [shall be] as a fruitful vine by the sides of thy house; thy children like olive plants round about thy table.


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The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion, and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.


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&lt;&lt;A Song of degrees.&gt;&gt; Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:


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Neither did those who go by say, The blessing of the LORD [be] upon you; we bless you in the name of the LORD.:


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My soul [has waited] for the Lord more than those that watch for the morning: [I say, more than] those that watch for the morning.


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Let Israel wait for the LORD; for with the LORD [there is] mercy and plenteous redemption close to him.


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&lt;&lt;A Song of degrees of David.&gt;&gt; LORD, my heart has not become haughty, nor mine eyes lofty; neither have I walked in grandeur, nor in wonderful things [above and] beyond that which pertains to me.


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Rather [I] have [quieted] myself and caused my soul to become silent, [that I might be] as a child that is weaned of his mother, as one who is weaned from my [own] life.


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The LORD has sworn truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body I will set upon thy throne.


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If thy sons will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their sons shall also sit upon thy throne for ever.


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&lt;&lt;A Song of degrees of David.&gt;&gt; Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity!


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[It is] like the precious ointment upon the head, that runs down upon the beard, [even] Aaron's beard, that goes down to the skirts of his garments;


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as the dew of Hermon, that descends upon the mountains of Zion; for there the LORD commands blessing and eternal life.:


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&lt;&lt;A Song of degrees.&gt;&gt; Behold, bless ye the LORD, all [ye] servants of the LORD, who by night stand in the house of the LORD.


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Whatever the LORD desired, he did in the heavens and in the earth, in the seas and in all the deep places.


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He who causes the clouds to ascend from the ends of the earth, made the lightnings in the rain; he who brings the winds out of his treasuries.


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when there, those that carried us away captive asked us for the words of the song; [with] our harps of joy [hung upon the willows saying], Sing us [one] of the songs of Zion.


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If I do not remember thee, my tongue shall cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I do not prefer to lift up Jerusalem as my chief joy.


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Remember, O LORD, the sons of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase [it], rase [it], [even] to the foundation thereof.


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O daughter of Babylon, [who art to be] destroyed; happy [shall he be], that rewards thee as thou hast served us.


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&lt;&lt;[A Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods I will sing praises unto thee.


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I will worship the temple of thy holiness and praise thy name above thy mercy and thy truth; for thou hast made thy name [to be] magnificent [and raised up] thy [spoken] word above all things.


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All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hearken unto the [spoken] words from thy mouth.


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Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me; thou shalt stretch forth thy hand against the wrath of my enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.


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The LORD will perfect [that which] concerns me; thy mercy, O LORD, [endures] for ever; forsake not the works of thine own hands.:


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Even the darkness does not hide from thee; but the night shines as the day; the darkness is as the light.


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I will praise thee; for I am fearfully [and] wonderfully made; marvellous [are] thy works, and [that], my soul knows right well.


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My body was not hid from thee, even though [I] was made in secret [and] brought together in the lowest parts of the earth.


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Thine eyes did see my substance yet being imperfect; and in thy book all [my members] were written, [which] were then formed, without [lacking] one of them.


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[If] I should count them, they are more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with thee.


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Do I not hate [all] those, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?


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&lt;&lt;To the Overcomer, A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man; preserve me from the man of Violence.


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Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the man of violence, who have purposed to overthrow my steps.


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The proud have hid a snare for me and cords; they have spread a net; on the path they have set snares for me. Selah.


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Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked; do not further his [wicked] thought [lest] they exalt themselves. Selah.


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Let burning coals fall upon them; let them be cast into the fire, into deep pits, that they not rise up again.


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The man [with an evil] tongue shall not be established in the earth; evil shall hunt the man of violence to overthrow [him].


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&lt;&lt;A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; LORD, I have called unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.


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Let my prayer be set forth before thee [as] incense, the gift of my hands [as] the evening sacrifice.


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Incline not my heart to [any] evil thing, to do works with ungodliness with the men that work iniquity, and let me not eat of their dainties.


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Let the righteous smite me in mercy, and let him reprove me: and let not [a] flattering [evil] prince anoint my head, for my prayer [shall] ever [be] against his evil.


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Their judges shall be thrown down from strong places; they shall hearken unto my words; for they are sweet.


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Therefore mine eyes [look] unto thee, O GOD the Lord; in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.


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Keep me from the hands of the snare [which] they have laid for me, and from the snares of the workers of iniquity.


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&lt;&lt;Maschil of David; A Prayer when he was in the cave.&gt;&gt; I shall cry unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice shall I ask the LORD for mercy.


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When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou didst know my path. In the way in which I walked have they secretly laid a snare for me.


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I looked on [my] right hand, and beheld, but [there was] no one that would know me; I had no refuge; no one cared for my soul.


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Attend unto my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I.


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Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name; the righteous shall feast with me; when thou shalt have weaned me.:


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&lt;&lt;A Psalm of David.&gt;&gt; Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my supplications for [the sake of] thy truth; answer me for [the sake of] thy righteousness.


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For the enemy has persecuted my soul; he has smitten my life down to the ground; he has made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.


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Hear me speedily, O LORD; my spirit fails; hide not thy face from me lest I be like those that go down into the grave.


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Cause me to hear thy mercy in the morning, for in thee do I trust; cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul unto thee.


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Teach me to do thy will, for thou [art] my God. Let thy good Spirit lead me into the land of uprightness.


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By thy name, O LORD, thou shalt give me life; by thy righteousness thou shalt bring my soul out of trouble.


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And by thy mercy thou shalt scatter my enemies and destroy all the adversaries of my soul; for I [am] thy servant.:


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&lt;&lt;A [Psalm] of David.&gt;&gt; Blessed [be] the LORD my strength, who trains my hands for the battle [and] my fingers for the war:


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My mercy and my fortress; my high tower and my deliverer; my shield and [he] in whom I trust, who subdues my people under me.


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Send thine hand from above; redeem me and deliver me out of many waters, from the hand of the strange sons,


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I will sing a new song unto thee, O God; upon a psaltery [and] an instrument of ten strings I will sing [praises] unto thee.


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Redeem me, and save me from the hand of strange sons, whose mouth speaks vanity, and their right hand [is] a right hand of falsehood:


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That our sons [may be] as plants grown up in their youth; [that] our daughters [may be] as corner stones, polished [after] the similitude of a palace;


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[that] our garners [may be] full, affording all manner of store; [that] our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets;


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[that] our oxen [may be] strong to labour; [that there be] no breaking in nor going out; that [there be] no shout [of alarm] in our streets.


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Blessed [is that] people, that is in such a case; [yea], blessed [is that] people, whose God [is] the LORD.:


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&lt;&lt;David's [Psalm] of praise.&gt;&gt; [Aleph] I will extol thee, my God, my king, and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.


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[Lamed] to make known to the sons of Adam his mighty acts and the glory of the magnificence of his kingdom.


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[Mem] Thy kingdom [is] a kingdom of all ages, and thy dominion [endures] throughout all generations.


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[Resh] He will fulfil the desire of those that fear him; he also will hear their cry and will save them.


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[Tau] My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD, and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.:


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His spirit shall go forth, he shall return to his earth; in that very day all his thoughts shall perish.


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He who does justice unto the oppressed; who gives bread to the hungry. The LORD looses the prisoners:


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The LORD opens [the eyes of] the blind; the LORD raises those that are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous:


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The LORD preserves the strangers; he raises up the fatherless and widow; but the way of the wicked he turns upside down.


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Who covers the heavens with clouds, who prepares the rain for the earth, who makes grass to grow upon the mountains.


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Let them praise the name of the LORD; for his name alone is excellent; his glory [is] above earth and heavens.


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[He] has exalted the horn of his people; let all his merciful ones praise him; [even] of the sons of Israel, the people near unto him. Halelu-JAH.:


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to execute upon them the judgment written: this shall be glory for all his merciful ones. Halelu-JAH.:


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If the wise will hear [them], doctrine shall increase, and the man of understanding shall acquire wise counsel:


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If they say, Come with us, let us lay [in] wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without cause.


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So [are] the ways of every one that is greedy of gain [which] takes away the life of those who possess it.


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She cries in the chief place of concourse, in the entrance to the gates of the city she utters her words, [saying,]


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How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and the fools hate knowledge?


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Return at my reproof; behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.


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when what you have feared comes as destruction, and your calamity comes as a whirlwind; when tribulation and anguish come upon you.


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Then they shall call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:


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Let not mercy and truth forsake thee; bind them about thy neck; write them upon the tablet of thine heart:


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for the merchandise of it [is] better than the merchandise of silver and the fruits thereof more than fine gold.


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She [is] more precious than precious stones, and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.


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She [is a] tree of life to those that lay hold upon her, and blessed [is every one] that retains her.


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When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: [yea], thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.


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Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do [it].


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Do not say unto thy neighbour, Go and come again and tomorrow I will give when thou hast it by thee.


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The curse of the LORD [is] in the house of the wicked, but he shall bless the habitation of the just.


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Hearken, ye sons, [unto] the chastening of the father, and pay attention that ye might know understanding.


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Wisdom [is] the principal thing, [therefore] get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.


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Grow in [wisdom], and she shall promote thee; she shall bring thee to honour when thou hast embraced her.


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When thou goest [in these paths], thy steps shall not be hindered; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.


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For they do not sleep, unless they have done evil; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause [someone] to fall.


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But the path of the just [is] as the light of the [morning] star, that shines more and more until the day is perfect.


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Let thine eyes look upon that which is right, and let thine eyelids straighten [thy path] before thee.


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and have not obeyed the voice of those who chastened me, nor inclined my ear to those that instructed me!


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[Let her be as] the loving hind and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love, [without eyes for anyone else].


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And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a woman belonging to someone else, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?


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His [own] iniquities shall take hold of the wicked, and he shall be imprisoned with the cords of his sins.


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He shall die because he did not submit to chastening; and due to the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.:


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Do this now, my son, and deliver thyself, for thou hast fallen into the hand of thy friend; go, humble thyself, and make sure thy friend.


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When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and [when] thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.


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For the commandment [is] fire, and the law [is] light; and reproofs of chastening [are] the way of life,


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For by means of a whorish woman [a man is reduced] to a piece of bread, and the woman will hunt the precious soul of the man.


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[But] whosoever commits adultery with a woman [has a] fault in [his] heart; he [that] does it corrupts his own soul.


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That they may keep thee from the woman belonging to someone else, from the stranger [who] flatters with her words.


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With her much fair speech she caused him to yield; with the flattering of her lips she persuaded him.


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He went after her straightway, as an ox goes to the slaughter or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,


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until the arrow pierces through his liver. [He is] as a bird struggling in the snare and not knowing that it [is] against his own life.


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For wisdom [is] better than precious stones; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.


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The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil; pride, arrogancy, the evil way, and the perverse mouth, do I hate.


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when he gave to the sea his decree that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth,


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I was with him ordering everything; I was his delight every day, being content before him at all times;


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Blessed [is] the man that hears me, keeping vigil at my gates, waiting at the threshold of my doors.


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whosoever [is] simple, let him turn in here; [as for] those that lack understanding, she saith unto him,


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He that chastens a scorner brings shame unto himself, and he that chastens a wicked [man brings] himself a blot.


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Give [instruction] to a wise [man], and he will be yet wiser; teach a just [man], and he will increase in learning.


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The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.


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If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; but [if] thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear [it].


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Whosoever [is] simple, let him turn in here; and [as for] him that lacks understanding, she saith unto him:


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(The parables of Solomon.) A wise son makes a glad father; but a foolish son [is] sadness unto his mother.


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The LORD will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish, but wickedness shall cast out the wicked.


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He that gathers in summer [is] a wise son, [but] he that sleeps in harvest [is] a son that causes shame.


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In the lips of the prudent wisdom is found and [is] a rod unto the back of him that is void of understanding.


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In the multitude of words there [is] no lack [of] rebellion, but he that refrains his lips [is] wise.


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The tongue of the just [is as] choice silver, but the understanding of the wicked [is worth] little.


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To make an abomination [is] as sport to the fool, but wisdom is recreation to the man of intelligence.


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The lips of the righteous shall know the will [of God], but the mouth of the wicked speaks perversion.:


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The perfection of the upright shall guide them in the way, but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them.


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The righteousness of the perfect shall straighten his way, but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.


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The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them, but transgressors shall be imprisoned in [their own] sin.


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When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish, [there are] feasts.


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By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.


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When intelligence is lacking, the people shall fall, but in the multitude of counsellors [there is] salvation.


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With anxiety shall he that is surety for a stranger be afflicted, and he that hates suretyship shall live securely.


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They that are of a perverse heart [are an] abomination to the LORD, but [such as are] perfect in [their] way [are] his delight.


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No matter how many covenants he has made with death, the wicked shall not be absolved, but the seed of the righteous shall escape.


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There are [those who] scatter, and more is added unto [them]; and [there are those who] withhold more than is just, but [come] to poverty.


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The soul who is a blessing [unto others] shall be made fat, and he that fills shall be filled also himself.


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He that withholds the grain, the people shall curse him, but blessing [shall be] upon the head of him that sells [it].


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He that troubles his own house shall inherit the wind, and the fool [shall be] servant to the wise of heart.


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The righteous shall certainly be recompensed in the earth; how much more the wicked and the sinner!:


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The virtuous woman [is] a crown to her husband, but she that makes ashamed [is] as rottenness in his bones.


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The words of the wicked [are] to lie in wait for blood, but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them.


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God shall overthrow the wicked, and they shall not be any longer, but the house of the righteous shall remain.


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A man shall be commended according to his wisdom, but he that is of a perverse heart shall be despised.


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He that despises himself and becomes a servant [is] better than he that honours himself and lacks bread.


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He that tills his land shall be satisfied with bread, but he that follows vain [persons is] void of understanding.


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The wicked is snared by the transgression of [his] lips, but the just shall come out of the tribulation.


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Man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of [his] mouth, and the recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.


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There are [those] that speak like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise [is] medicine.


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Deceit [is] in the heart of those whose thoughts are evil, but joy in that of those whose thoughts are good.


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The deceitful [man] does not [even] roast that which he took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man [is] precious.


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The soul of the sluggard desires, and attains nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.


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There are [those] that make themselves rich, yet [have] nothing: [there are those] that make themselves poor, yet [have] great riches.


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Whosoever despises the word shall perish by it: but he that fears the commandment shall be rewarded.


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Poverty and shame [shall be to] him that refuses chastening: but he that regards reproof shall be honoured.


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A good [man] shall leave an inheritance to his children's children, and the wealth of the sinner [is] laid up for the just.


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He that walks in his uprightness fears the LORD, but [he that is] perverse in his ways despises him.


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The backslider in heart shall be filled with his own ways, and the good man [shall be separated] from him.


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Those [who are] evil shall bow before those [who are] good, and the wicked at the gates of the righteous.


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Do they not err that meditate upon evil? but those that meditate upon good shall attain mercy and truth.


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In the multitude of the people [is] the king's glory, but in the failure of the people [is] the weakness of the prince.


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He [that is] slow to wrath [is] of great intelligence, but [he that is] short of spirit exalts folly.


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The sacrifice of the wicked [is] an abomination to the LORD, but the prayer of the upright [is] his delight.


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The way of the wicked [is] an abomination unto the LORD, but he loves him that follows after righteousness.


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The way of the slothful [man is] as a hedge of thorns, but the path of the righteous [is] made plain.


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Folly [is] joy to [him that is] destitute of understanding, but the man who is intelligent walks uprightly.


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Without counsel purposes are disappointed, but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.


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He that refuses chastening despises his own soul, but he that hears reproof has an [understanding] heart.


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Every one [that is] proud in heart [is] an abomination to the LORD; the covenant that he makes, shall not be without chastening.


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[It is] an abomination to kings to commit wickedness, for the throne is to be established with righteousness.


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In the light of the king's countenance [is] life, and his favour [is] as [a] cloud of the latter rain.


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How much better [is it] to acquire wisdom than gold! and to acquire understanding is worth more than silver!


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The highway of the upright [is] to separate himself from evil; he that keeps his way preserves his soul.


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The wise in heart is called [a man] of understanding; and the sweetness of the lips shall increase doctrine.


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Understanding [is] a wellspring of life unto him that has it, but the instruction of fools [is] folly.


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The heart of the wise causes his mouth [to be] prudent, and with his lips [he] shall increase doctrine.


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[He that is] slow to anger [is] better than the mighty, and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.


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A prudent servant shall have rule over a son that causes shame and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.


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Whosoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker, [and] he that is glad regarding the calamity [of someone else] shall not go unpunished.


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To release the [waters (to speak rashly)] is the beginning of contention; therefore, leave off strife before it gets started.


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He that justifies the wicked and he that condemns the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.


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Of what good is the price to buy wisdom in the hand of the fool, seeing [he has] no heart [to understand]?


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He that has a perverse heart shall never find good, and he that stirs up [trouble] with his tongue shall fall into evil.


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Wisdom [appears] upon the countenance of him that has understanding, but the eyes of a fool [manifest his folly] unto the ends of the earth.


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Even a fool, when he is silent is counted wise, and he that shuts his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.:


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The words of a man's mouth [are as] deep waters, [and] the wellspring of wisdom [as] a flowing brook.


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To respect the person of the wicked so that the righteous loses that which is rightfully his is not good.


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Before being broken, the heart of man is haughty, and before coming into honour, [comes] being brought to humility.


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A brother offended [is harder to be won] than a strong city, and [their] contentions [are] like the bars of a castle.


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A man's belly shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth, [and] with the product of his lips shall he be filled.


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The man [that has] friends must show himself to be a friend, and there is a friend [that] sticks closer than a brother.:


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Better [is] the poor that walks in his integrity than [he that is] perverse in his lips and is a fool.


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All the brethren of the poor hate him; how much more shall his friends separate themselves from him? He shall seek their friendship and not find it.


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He that gets wisdom loves his own soul; he keeps intelligence that he might find that which is good.


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A foolish son [is] a pain unto his father, and the contentions of a wife [are] a continual dripping.


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A man of great wrath shall suffer the consequences, for [even] if thou deliver [him], yet thou must do it again.


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Contentment is unto men to show mercy, but [it is] better [to do it] unto the poor than to the liar.


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The fear of the LORD [is] unto life, and [he that has it] shall live satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.


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The slothful [man] hides his hand in [his] bosom and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.


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Smite a scorner, and the simple will become prudent, and reproving one that has understanding, he will understand knowledge.


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He that steals from his father [and] chases away [his] mother [is] a son that causes shame and brings reproach.


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The fear of the king [is] as the roaring of a lion; [whoever] provokes him to anger sins [against] his own soul.


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The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; [therefore] he shall beg in harvest and [have] nothing.


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Do not love sleep lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, [and] thou shalt be satisfied with bread.


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Take his garment that is surety [for] a stranger, and take a pledge of him that is surety for a strange woman.


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He that goes about [as] a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore meddle not with him that flatters with his lips.


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The scars of [past] wounds [are] medicine for evil, and living reproof reaches the most secret [places] in the inward parts.:


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The king's heart [is] in the hand of the LORD, [as] the rivers of water, he turns it wherever he will.


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The thoughts of the diligent [tend] only to plenteousness, but of every one [that is] too hasty, only to want.


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The getting of treasures by a lying tongue [is] a vanity tossed to and fro of those that seek death.


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When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise, and [by] instructing the wise, he receives wisdom.


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The righteous [man] wisely considers the house of the wicked, [how God] overthrows the wicked for [their] evil.


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[There is] treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spends it up.


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A [good] reputation [is] rather to be chosen than great riches [and] good grace rather than silver and gold.


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Thorns [and] snares [are] in the way of the perverse; he that keeps his soul shall be far from them.


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Foolishness [is] bound in the heart of a child, [but] the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.


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He that oppresses the poor to increase his [riches] [and] who gives to the rich [shall] surely [come] to want.


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For [it is] a delightful thing if thou keep them within thee; they shall be ordered together in thy lips.


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that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth, that thou mightest answer the words of truth to those that send unto thee?


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Seest thou a man diligent in his work? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before obscure [men].:


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Wilt thou set thine eyes upon riches which are not? For they shall certainly make themselves wings; they shall fly away as an eagle toward heaven.


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for as he thinks in his soul, so [is] he; Eat and drink, he shall say unto thee, but his heart [is] not with thee.


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Do not withhold correction from the child; for [if] thou shall beat him with the rod, he shall not die.


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for the drunkard and the glutton shall come to poverty, and drowsiness shall cause them to wear rags.


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The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice, and he that begets a wise [child] shall have joy with him.


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For who [shall be] the woe? for who [shall be] the woe? for who contention? for who quarrels? for who the wounds without cause? who shall have redness of eyes?


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Do not look upon the wine when it is red, when it gives its colour in the cup, it goes down smoothly.


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[Yea], thou shalt be as he that lies down in the midst of the sea or as he that sleeps at the rudder.


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They have stricken me, [thou shalt say], [and] I was not sick; they have beaten me, [and] I felt [it] not; when I shall awake, I will seek it yet again.:


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For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war, and in the multitude of counsellors there is saving health.


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If thou forbear to deliver [those that are] drawn unto death and [those that are] ready to be slain,


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if thou should say, Behold, we knew it not; shall not he that weighs the hearts understand [it]? and he that keeps thy soul, does he [not] know [it]? and shall he [not] render to [every] man according to his works?


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My son, eat of the honey, because [it is] good, and of the honeycomb, [which is] sweet to thy taste:


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So [shall] the knowledge of wisdom [be] unto thy soul: if thou shalt find [it], and in the end thy hope shall not be cut off.


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Do not lay [in] wait, O wicked [man], against the dwelling of the righteous; do not spoil his resting place.


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He that saith unto the wicked, Thou [art] righteous; him shall the peoples curse, nations shall abhor him:


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Prepare thy work without and make it fit for thyself in thine inheritance, and afterwards thou shalt build thine house.


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Do not say, I will do unto him as he has done unto me; I will render to the man according to his work.


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and, behold, it was all grown over with thorns, [and] nettles had covered its face, and its stone wall was broken down.


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For the height of the heavens and depth of the earth and for the heart of kings, there is no investigation.


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for [it is] better that it be said unto thee, Come up here than that thou should be put lower in the presence of the prince whom thine eyes have seen.


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Do not go forth hastily to strive lest [thou know not] what to do in the end thereof when thy neighbour has put thee to shame.


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[As] an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, [so is] he who reproves a wise man who has a docile ear.


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As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, [so is] a faithful messenger to those that send him, for he refreshes the soul of his master.


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Hast thou found honey? eat so much as is sufficient for thee lest thou be filled therewith, and vomit it.


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Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble [is like] a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.


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As he that takes away a garment in cold weather [and as] vinegar upon soap, so [is] he that sings songs to a heavy heart.


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[It is] better to dwell in the corner of the housetop than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.


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As the sparrow in its wandering, as the swallow in its flight, so the curse causeless shall never come.


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He that gives responsibility to one who is not able to carry it out [is like] him that sends a message by the hand of a fool, and he shall drink the damage.


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He that passes by [and] meddles with strife not [belonging] to him [is like] one that takes a dog by the ears.


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Even though his hatred is covered up in the desert, his wickedness shall be showed before the [whole] congregation.


text:
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, so [does] the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel.


text:
Do not forsake thine own friend and thy father's friend, neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity, [for] better [is] a neighbour [that is] near than a brother far off.


text:
A prudent [man] foresees the evil [and] hides himself, [but] the simple pass on [and] are hurt by it.


text:
Take his garment that is surety for a stranger and take a pledge of him that is surety for a strange woman.


text:
He that blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him.


text:
Whosoever keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit thereof, so he that waits on his master shall be honoured.


text:
As the fining pot tries the silver and the furnace the gold; so the man is tried by the mouth of whoever praises him.


text:
Though thou should bray a fool in a mortar among wheat with a pestle, [yet] his foolishness will not depart from him.


text:
And [thou shalt have] goats' milk enough for thy food, for the food of thy household, and [for] the maintenance of thy maidens.:


text:
By the rebellion of the land, many [are] its princes, but by the man of understanding [and] wisdom the [land] shall remain stable.


text:
Better [is] the poor that walks in his perfection than [he that is] perverse [in his] ways, though he [is] rich.


text:
He that by usury and unjust gain increases his substance, he shall gather it for him that will pity the poor.


text:
Whosoever causes the upright to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit, but the perfect shall inherit [every] good [thing].


text:
When the righteous rejoice, [there is] great glory, but when the wicked rise, the sane man hides himself.


text:
He that covers his sins shall not prosper, but whosoever confesses and forsakes [them] shall attain mercy.


text:
The prince void of intelligence [is] also a great oppressor, [but] he that hates covetousness shall prolong [his] days.


text:
A man that does violence to the blood of [any] person shall flee all the way to the grave, and no one shall sustain him.


text:
Whosoever walks in integrity shall be saved, but [he that is] perverse [in his] ways shall fall into one of them.


text:
He that tills his land shall be filled with bread, but he that follows after vain [persons] shall be filled with poverty.


text:
The man of truth shall abound with blessings, but he that makes haste to be rich shall not be absolved.


text:
To have respect of persons [in judgment] is not good; even for a piece of bread, man will transgress.


text:
He that hastens to be rich [has] an evil eye and does not consider that poverty shall come upon him.


text:
Whosoever robs his father or his mother and says, [It is] no transgression; the same [is] the companion of the destroyer.


text:
He that is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he that puts his trust in the LORD shall be made fat.


text:
He that gives unto the poor shall never lack, but he that hides his eyes [from the poor] shall have many a curse.


text:
He that being often reproved hardens [his] neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy.


text:
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice, but when the wicked bear rule, the people mourn.


text:
Whosoever loves wisdom causes his father to rejoice, but he that maintains harlots shall lose [his] inheritance.


text:
An unjust man [is] an abomination to the just, and [he that is] upright in the way [is] abomination to the wicked.:


text:
The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, [even] the prophecy: the man spoke unto Ithiel, even unto Ithiel and Ucal,


text:
Who has ascended up into heaven, or descended? who has gathered the wind in his fists? who has bound the waters in a garment? who has established all the ends of the earth? what [is] his name, and what [is] his son's name, if thou canst tell?


text:
Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the bread of my judgment:


text:
Lest I be full, and deny [thee], and say, Who [is] the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and blaspheme the name of my God.


text:
Do not accuse a servant in the presence of his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.


text:
[There is] a generation [that are] pure in their own eyes, and [yet] is not washed from their filthiness.


text:
[There is] a generation, whose teeth [are as] swords, and their molars [as] knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the destitute from [among] men.


text:
The horseleach has two daughters, [which are called], Give, give. There are three [things that] are never satisfied, [yea], four [things] say not, [It is] enough:


text:
Sheol; and the barren womb; the earth [that] is not filled with water; and the fire [that] never says, [It is] enough.


text:
The eye [that] mocks at [his] father, and despises the teaching of [his] mother, the ravens shall pluck it out of the river, and the young eagles shall eat it.


text:
The track of the eagle in the air; the track of the serpent upon the rock; the track of the ship in the midst of the sea; and the track of the man in the maid.


text:
Such [is] the track of an adulterous woman; she eats, and wipes her mouth, and says, I have done no wickedness.


text:
[the greyhound] who is girded up of loins; a he goat also, and the king, against whom no one rises up.


text:
If thou hast fallen, it is because thou hast lifted thyself up; and if thou hast thought evil, [lay] thine hand upon thy mouth.


text:
Surely the churning of milk brings forth butter and the wringing of the nose brings forth blood; so the forcing of wrath brings forth strife.:


text:
[Zain] She considered the inheritance and bought it; with the fruit of her hands she planted a vineyard.


text:
[Lamed] She shall not be afraid of the snow for her family, for all her family [is] clothed with double garments.


text:
[Schin] Grace [is] deceitful, and beauty [is] vain, [but] the woman that fears the LORD shall be praised.


text:
The sun arises, and the sun goes down, and with desire returns to his place from which he arises again.


text:
The wind goes toward the south and turns about unto the north; it whirls about continually, and the wind returns again according to its circuits.


text:
All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea [is] not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, there they return again.


text:
All things [are] full of labour; more [than] man can express; the eye is not satisfied with seeing nor the ear filled with hearing.


text:
The thing that has been, it [is that] which shall be; and that which is done [is] that which shall be done; and [there is] no new [thing] under the sun.


text:
Is there [any] thing of which it may be said, See, this [is] new? it has been already of old time which was before us.


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[There is] no remembrance of former [things]; neither shall there be [any] remembrance of [things] that are to come with [those] that shall come after.


text:
And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all [things] that are done under heaven (this sore travail God has given to the sons of man that they be occupied in it).


text:
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.


text:
I communed with my own heart, saying, Behold, I am come to great estate and have gotten more wisdom than all [those] that have been before me in Jerusalem; and my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.


text:
And I gave my heart to know wisdom and knowledge and to know folly and [those who are] mad; I learned [in the end] that this also is vexation of spirit.


text:
I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy good things; and, behold, this also [is] vanity.


text:
I proposed in my heart to regale my flesh with wine and that my heart would walk in wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, until I might see what [was] that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.


text:
I got [myself] servants and maidens and had sons born in my house; also I had great possessions of cattle and sheep above all that were in Jerusalem before me;


text:
I gathered [unto] myself also silver and gold and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces; I obtained men singers and women singers and [all] the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and those of all sorts.


text:
So I was great and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem, and more than that, my wisdom remained with me.


text:
And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them; I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour, and this was my portion of all my labour.


text:
At last I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought and on the labour that I had laboured to do; and, behold, all [was] vanity and vexation of spirit, and [there was] no profit under the sun.


text:
And I turned myself to behold wisdom and those [who are] mad, and folly; for what [can] the man [do] that comes after the king? [even] that which has already been done.


text:
The wise man [has] his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness: And I myself also understood that one event happens to the one and to the other.


text:
[Then] I said in my heart, As it shall happen to the fool, so it shall happen even to me. Why have I worked until now to make myself wiser? Then I said in my heart that this also [is] vanity.


text:
For [there is] no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever, seeing that which now [is] in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And also the wise [man] shall die the same as the fool.


text:
[Therefore] I hated life because [every] work that is wrought under the sun [was] grievous unto me; for all [was] vanity and vexation of spirit.


text:
[Yea], I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun, which I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.


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And who knows whether he shall be a wise [man] or a fool, he who shall have rule over all my labour in which I have laboured and in which I have showed myself wise under the sun? This [is] also vanity.


text:
That the man who worked with wisdom and with knowledge and with uprightness would have to leave his portion to a man that has not laboured therein. This also [is] vanity and a great evil.


text:
For what does man have of all his labour and of the vexation of his heart in which he has laboured under the sun?


text:
For all his days [are only] sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart does not take rest in the night. This is also vanity.


text:
[There is] nothing better for a man [than] that he should eat and drink and [that] he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. I also have seen that this [is] from the hand of God.


text:
For God gives to the man that [is] good in [his] sight wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he gives travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to the one that is good before [God]. This also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.:


text:
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up [that which is] planted;


text:
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;


text:
He has made every [thing] beautiful in his time: even the world he has given over to their will, [in such a way] that no man can attain to this work that God makes from the beginning to the end.


text:
And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labour; it [is] the gift of God.


text:
I have understood that whatever God does, it shall be for ever; nothing can be added to it, nor any thing taken from it because God does [it] that [men] should fear before him.


text:
That which has been is now, and that which is to be has already been and God shall seek that which is past.


text:
And moreover I saw under the sun [that] instead of judgment, there [was] wickedness; and instead of righteousness, [that] iniquity [was] there.


text:
I said in my heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked; for [there is] a time determined [to judge] every will and regarding everything that is done.


text:
I said in my heart concerning the estate of the sons of men that God might manifest them and that they might see that they themselves [are] beasts one to another.


text:
For that which befalls the sons of men befalls beasts; even one thing befalls them: as the one dies, so dies the other; and they all have one breath; so that a man has no more [breath] than a beast: for all [is] vanity.


text:
Who knows that the spirit of the sons of men goes upward and that the spirit of the beast goes downward to the earth?


text:
Therefore I perceive that [there is] nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his own works; for that [is] his portion; for who shall bring him to see what shall be after him?:


text:
So I returned and considered all the violence that is done under the sun and behold the tears of [such as are] oppressed, and they have no comforter; and on the side of their oppressors [there was] power; but the [oppressed] had no comforter.


text:
And [I thought that] better [is he] than both of them who has not yet been who has not seen the evil works that are done under the sun.


text:
Again, I considered all travail and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.


text:
It is the [man] who is alone, without a successor, who has neither son nor brother; yet [is there] no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labour and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity and sore travail.


text:
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow; but woe to him [that is] alone when he falls, for [he has] not another to help him up.


text:
And if one prevails against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.


text:
I saw all the living who are under the sun walking with the child, the successor that shall stand up in his stead.


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[There is] no end of all the people that have been before them; those also that come after shall not be content in him. Surely this also [is] vanity and vexation of spirit.:


text:
Watch thy feet when thou goest to the house of God and draw near [with] more [willingness] to hear than to give the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know how to do what [God] wants.


text:
Do not be rash with thy mouth and do not let thy heart be hasty to utter [any] thing before God, for God [is] in heaven and thou upon earth; therefore let thy words be few.


text:
For [out] of much preoccupation comes the dream, and the voice of the fool [out] of a multitude of words.


text:
When thou dost vow a vow unto God, do not defer to pay it; for [he has] no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed.


text:
Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin; neither say thou before the angel, that it [was] ignorance. Why [should thou cause] God to be angry because of thy voice and destroy the work of thine hands?


text:
If thou seest violence unto the poor and [the] extortion of rights and justice in a province, do not marvel at the matter, for height is looking upon height; and [there is] one higher than they.


text:
And there is higher [authority] in all of the things of the earth, [but] he who serves the field is king.


text:
He that loves money shall not be satisfied with money; nor he that loves abundance with increase; this [is] also vanity.


text:
When goods increase, those that eat them are increased; and what good [is there] to the owners thereof, except the beholding [of them] with their eyes?


text:
The sleep of the servant [is] sweet whether he eats little or much, but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.


text:
There is [another] sore evil [which] I have seen under the sun, [namely], riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurt;


text:
which are lost by evil pursuits and to the sons which he has begotten; [there is] nothing left in his hand.


text:
As he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came and shall take nothing of his labour, which he may carry away in his hand.


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And this also [is] a sore evil; [that] in all points as he came, so shall he go; and what profit has he that has laboured for the wind?


text:
In addition to this, all the days of his life he shall eat in darkness, with much wrath and pain and sorrow sickness.


text:
Behold therefore the good which I have seen: that good is to eat and to drink and to enjoy of the good of all his labour that he takes under the sun all the days of his life, which God gives him; for it [is] his portion.


text:
Likewise, unto every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, he has also given him power to eat thereof and to take his portion and to rejoice in his labour; this [is] the gift of God.


text:
To such a one, God will remove the concerns common [to others], for God shall answer [him] with joy from his heart.:


text:
A man to whom God has given riches, wealth, and honour so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires, yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but the strangers eat it; this [is] vanity, and it [is] an evil disease.


text:
If a man begets a hundred [sons] and lives many years so that the days of his years are many, if his soul is not filled with good and also [that] he have no burial; I say [that] an aborted birth [is] better than he.


text:
For though [the other should] live a thousand years twice and has not enjoyed good; both shall surely go to the same place.


text:
For what has the wise more than the fool? what [more has] the poor that knows how to walk among the living?


text:
It is better to enjoy the good that is present than the wandering of desire; this [is] also vanity and vexation of spirit.


text:
He that is has been named already; and it is known that he [is] man and that he shall not be able to contend with him that is mightier than he.


text:
For who knows what [is] good for man in [this] life, all the days of the life of his vanity which he causes [to be] as a shadow? for who shall teach the man what shall be after him under the sun?:


text:
[It is] better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for that [is] the end of all men; and the living will lay [it] to his heart.


text:
The heart of the wise [is] in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools [is] in the house of pleasure.


text:
The laughter of the fool [is] as the crackling of thorns under a pot, and this [also (the laughter or prosperity of the fool) is] vanity.


text:
Better [is] the end of a thing than its beginning, [and] he who has suffered in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.


text:
Never say, What is [the cause] that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this.


text:
For knowledge [is] a defence, [and] money [is] a defence; but wisdom excels in [that] it gives life to those that have it.


text:
In the day of good enjoy that which is good, but in the day of adversity open your [eyes and learn]: God also has made the one [(the day of adversity)] before the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.


text:
All [things] have I seen in the days of my vanity: there is a just [man] that perishes for his righteousness, and there is a wicked [man] that prolongs [his days] by his wickedness.


text:
Do not be too legalistic; neither make thyself over wise [in thine own eyes]: why should thou destroy thyself?


text:
Do not be hasty [to] condemn, neither be thou foolish: why should thou die in the midst of thy labours?


text:
[It is] good that thou should take hold of this; and also from the other not withdraw thy hand; for he that fears God shall come through with everything.


text:
Also do not take to heart all the words that are spoken lest thou hear thy servant speak evil of thee:


text:
I applied my heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason [of things], and to know the wickedness of folly and the madness of error;


text:
and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart [is] snares and nets, [and] her hands [are] bonds; whosoever pleases God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be held prisoner in her.


text:
which my soul yet seeks, but I find not: one man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all those I have not found.


text:
Behold, this only have I found: that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many perversions.:


text:
Who [is] as the wise [man]? and who [is as] he who knows the interpretation of [all] things? The wisdom of [this] man shall make his face to shine, and the coarseness of his face shall be changed.


text:
I [counsel thee] to keep the king's commandment and the word of the covenant [that thou hast made] with God.


text:
Do not be hasty to rebel against him; do not persist in [any] evil thing, for he shall do whatsoever pleases him;


text:
Whosoever keeps the commandment shall experience no evil thing, and a wise man's heart discerns both time and judgment.


text:
[There is] no man that has power over the spirit to retain the spirit; neither [does he have] power over the day of death, and weapons are of no use in [that] war; neither shall wickedness deliver those that are given to it.


text:
All this I have seen and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the sun: the time in which one man rules over another to his own hurt.


text:
Then I also saw that [the] wicked who were buried came into remembrance more than those who had frequented the holy place, and these were forgotten in the city where they had worked uprightly. This also [is] vanity.


text:
Because [the] sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.


text:
Though a sinner does evil one hundred times and his [judgment] is prolonged, yet surely I know that it shall be well with those that fear God, who fear before his presence;


text:
but it shall never be well with the wicked, neither shall his days be prolonged, [which are] as a shadow, because he did not fear before the presence of God.


text:
There is [another] vanity which is done upon the earth: that there are just [men], who are recompensed as if [they had done] according to the work of the wicked; again, there are wicked [men], who are recompensed as if [they had done] according to the work of the righteous; I say that this also [is] vanity.


text:
Therefore I commended joy because a man has no better thing under the sun than to eat and to drink and to be merry, for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God gives him under the sun.


text:
Therefore I applied mine heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done upon the earth (for also [there is he that] neither day nor night sees sleep with his eyes).


text:
And I have seen regarding all the works of God that man cannot attain [to understand] the work that is being done under the sun, because though a man labours to seek [it] out, yet he shall not find it; even though the wise [man] says that he knows [it], yet he shall not be able to attain it.:


text:
Certainly I applied my heart unto all of this that I might declare all of this: that the righteous and the wise and their works [are] in the hand of God; no man knows either love or hatred by all that [passes] before them.


text:
All [things come] alike to all: [there is] one event to the righteous and to the wicked; to the good and to the clean and to the unclean; to him that sacrifices and to him that does not sacrifice: as [unto] the good so [unto] the sinner; [and unto] him that swears as [unto him] that fears the oath.


text:
This [is] an evil among all [things] that are done under the sun, that [there is] one event unto all; and also that the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness [is] in their heart while they live, and after that [they go] to the dead.


text:
For to him that is [still] among the living there is hope: for a living dog is better than a dead lion.


text:
For the living know that they shall die, but the dead do not know any thing; neither do they have any more reward, for their memory is placed into oblivion.


text:
Even their love and their hatred and their envy is now perished; neither have they any more a portion in the age in any [thing] that is done under the sun.


text:
Go, eat thy bread with joy and drink thy wine with a joyful heart that thy works might be acceptable unto God.


text:
Live joyfully with the wife whom thou dost love all the days which thou art to live in this lake of vanity, which are given unto thee; all the days of thy vanity under the sun: for that [is] thy portion in [this] life, and in thy labour in which thou dost work under the sun.


text:
Whatever thy hand finds to do, do [it] with [all] thy might, for [there is] no work nor device nor knowledge nor wisdom in Sheol, where thou goest.


text:
I returned and saw under the sun that the race [is] not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of prudence, nor yet grace to men of eloquence; but time and chance happens to them all.


text:
For man also does not know his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net and as the birds that are caught in the snare, so [are] the sons of men snared in the evil time, when it falls suddenly upon them.


text:
[There was] a little city and few men within it; and a great king came against it and besieged it and built great bulwarks against it;


text:
now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no one remembered that same poor man.


text:
Then I said, Wisdom [is] better than strength: even though the poor man's knowledge [is] despised, and his words are not heard.


text:
Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: likewise a small act of folly unto him [that is] esteemed for wisdom [and] honour.


text:
Even when the fool walks by the way, he lacks prudence, and he says unto every one [that] he [is] a fool.


text:
If the spirit of the ruler rises up against thee, do not leave thy place; for meekness pacifies great sins.


text:
There is [another] evil [which] I have seen under the sun, as an error [which] proceeds from the ruler:


text:
Whosoever moves the stones shall have tribulation along with it, [and] he that cuts the firewood shall be endangered by it.


text:
If the iron is blunt, and he does not whet the edge, [then he must] put forth more strength, but the advantages of wisdom excel.


text:
The words from the mouth of the wise man [are] grace, but the lips of the fool will swallow up himself.


text:
The beginning of the words of his mouth [is] foolishness, and the end of his talk [is] mischievous madness.


text:
The fool multiplies words [and says], Man cannot tell what shall be, and what shall be after him, who can tell him?


text:
Blessed [art] thou, O land, when thy king [is] the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in due season for strength, and not for drunkenness!


text:
By much slothfulness the building decays, and through idleness of the hands [the rain] drips throughout the house.


text:
Do not curse the king, not even in thy thought; and do not curse the rich even in the secret [place] of thy bedchamber; for the birds of the air shall carry the voice, and those who have wings shall tell the matter.:


text:
Give a portion to seven and even to eight, for thou dost not know what evil shall come upon the earth.


text:
If the clouds are full of rain, they shall empty [themselves] upon the earth; and if the tree falls toward the south or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it shall remain.


text:
As thou dost not know what [is] the way of the spirit [nor] how the bones [grow] in the womb of her that is with child, even so thou dost not know the works of God who makes all.


text:
In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand; for thou knowest not which shall prosper, either this or that or whether they both [shall be] equally good.


text:
but if a man lives many years [and] rejoices in them all; yet if afterwards he remembers the days of darkness, for they shall be many, [he shall say] that everything that shall have happened to him [is] vanity.


text:
Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth and walk in the ways of thine heart and in the sight of thine eyes; but know thou, that for all these [things] God will bring thee into judgment.


text:
Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart and put away evil from thy flesh; for childhood and youth [are] vanity.:


text:
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth while the evil days do not come nor the years draw near when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;


text:
before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain:


text:
In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble and the strong men shall bow themselves and the grinders cease [because] they are few and those that look out of the windows are darkened;


text:
and the doors outside shall be shut because the voice of the grinder is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird and all the daughters of song shall be humbled;


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[when] they shall also be afraid of [that which is] high, and fears [shall be] in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and appetite shall fail: because man goes to the home of his age, and the mourners shall go about the streets;


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before the silver chain is broken, and the golden bowl is broken, and the pitcher is broken at the fountain, and the wheel is broken at the cistern;


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And the wiser the preacher became that much more did he teach wisdom to the people, causing them to listen and to search [things] out, and he composed many proverbs.


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The words of the wise [are] as goads and as nails hammered into place, those of the teachers of the congregations, [who] are placed under one Shepherd.


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My son, in addition to this, be admonished: of making many books [there is] no end, and much study [is] a weariness of the flesh.


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The conclusion of the entire sermon is heard: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this [is] the whole [happiness] of man.


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For God shall bring every work to judgment with every secret thing, whether [it is] good or whether [it is] evil.:


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Because of the savour of thy good ointments (ointment poured forth [is] thy name), therefore have the virgins loved thee.


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Draw me after thee, we will run. The king has brought me into his chambers; we will be glad and rejoice in thee; we will remember thy love more than the wine; the upright love thee.


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I [am] dark, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, more desirable as the booths of Kedar as the tents of Solomon.


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Do not look upon me because I [am] dark because the sun has looked upon me; my mother's sons were angry with me; they made me the keeper of the vineyards, [but] I have not kept my own vineyard.


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Tell me, O thou whom my soul loves, where thou dost feed, where thou dost make [thy flock] to rest at noon; for why did I have to be as a wanderer after the flocks of thy companions?


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If thou know not, O thou fairest among women, go forth, following the footprints of the flock and feed thy little female goats beside the booths of the shepherds.


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As the apple tree among the trees of the wild, so [is] my beloved among the sons. [I] desired to [sit] under his shadow, and his fruit [was] sweet to my taste.


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I charge you, O ye virgins of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the hinds of the field that ye not awake nor stir up love, until he pleases.


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My beloved is like a roe or a young hart; behold, he stands behind our wall; he looks through the windows, blossoming through the lattice.


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the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the song is come, and the voice of the turtle [dove] has been heard in our land;


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the fig tree has put forth her [green] figs, and the vines in blossom have given forth [their] fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.


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O my dove, [that art] in the clefts of the rock, in the secret [places] of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet [is] thy voice, and thy countenance [is] beautiful.


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Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away, return, my beloved, and be thou like a roe or a young hart upon the mountains of Bether.:


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I will rise now and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loves; I sought him, but I did not find him.


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The watchmen that go about the city found me, [to whom I said], Have ye seen him whom my soul loves?


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[It was] but a little that I passed from them that I found him whom my soul loves: I held him and would not let him go until I had brought him into my mother's house and into the chamber of her that brought me into the light.


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I charge you, O ye virgins of Jerusalem, by the roes and by the hinds of the field, that ye not awake nor stir up love, until he pleases.


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Who [is] she that rises out of the wilderness like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense and with all [the] aromatic powders?


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They all hold swords, [being] expert in war; each one [has] his sword upon his thigh because of the fears of the night.


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He made its pillars [of] silver, the bottom of it [of] gold, the covering of it [of] purple, its interior being paved [with] love, for the virgins of Jerusalem.


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Go forth, O ye virgins of Zion, and behold king Solomon with the crown with which his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart.:


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Behold, thou [art] fair, my love; behold, thou [art] fair; thou [hast] doves' eyes within thy locks; thy hair [is] as a flock of goats that appear from mount Gilead.


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Thy teeth [are] like a flock [of sheep that are even] shorn, which came up from the washing; of which every one bear twins, and none [is] barren among them.


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Thy lips [are] like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech [is] lovely; thy temples [are] like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.


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Thy neck [is] like the tower of David built for teaching, upon which there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty men.


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Until the day breaks, and the shadows flee away, [I] will go to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense.


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With me from Lebanon, [my] spouse, thou shalt come with me from Lebanon; thou shalt look from the top of Amana, from the top of Shenir and Hermon, from the lions' dens, from the mountains of the leopards.


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Thou hast taken hold of my heart, my sister, [my] spouse; thou hast imprisoned my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck.


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How fair is thy love, my sister, [my] spouse! how much better is thy love than wine! and the smell of thine ointments than all spices!


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Thy lips, O [my] spouse, drip [as] the honeycomb; honey and milk [are] under thy tongue, and the smell of thy garments [is] like the smell of Lebanon.


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Thy [newly budded] plants [are] a paradise of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard,


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spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices:


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Awake, O north wind; and come, thou south; blow upon my garden [that] the aroma [of its spices] may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his sweet fruits.:


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I came into my garden, my sister, [my] spouse: I have gathered my myrrh and my spice; I have eaten my honeycomb and my honey; I have drunk my wine and my milk: eat, O friends; drink, beloved, drink abundantly.


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I sleep, but my heart watches [for] the voice of my beloved that knocks [at the door], Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect [one]: for my head is filled with dew, [and] my locks with the drops of the night.


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I rose up to open to my beloved, and my hands dripped [with] myrrh, and my fingers [with] sweet smelling myrrh, upon the handles of the lock.


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I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself [and] was gone; my soul went after his speech; I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.


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The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smote me, they wounded me; the keepers of the walls took away my outer cloak from me.


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I charge you, O virgins of Jerusalem, if ye should find my beloved that ye cause him to know how sick I am with love.


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What [is] thy beloved more than [another] beloved, O thou fairest among women? What [is] thy beloved more than [another] beloved that thou dost so charge us?


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His eyes [are] as doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk, as doves that are next to abundance.


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His cheeks [are] as a bed of aromatic spices, [as] fragrant flowers; his lips [like] lilies, dripping sweet smelling myrrh that transcends.


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His hands [are as] gold rings set with beryls; his belly [is as] bright ivory overlaid [with] sapphires.


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His legs [are as] pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold; his countenance [is] as Lebanon, chosen as the cedars.


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His mouth [is] most sweet; he [is] altogether lovely. This [is] my beloved, and this [is] my friend, O virgins of Jerusalem.:


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Where has thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? where didst thy beloved separate himself? that we may seek him with thee.


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My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens, and to gather the lilies.


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Thou [art] beautiful, O my love, as Tirzah, as desirable as Jerusalem, imposing as the standard-bearer [of the army].


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Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me; thy hair [is] as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead.


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Thy teeth [are] as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, of which every one bears twins, and [there is] not one barren among them.


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My dove is [but] one, my perfect [one]; she [is] the [only] one of her mother, she [is] the choice [one] of her that brought her into the light. The virgins saw her and called her blessed; [yea], the queens and the concubines and they praised her.


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Who [is] she [that] shows herself forth as the morning, fair as the moon, clear as the sun, [and] imposing as the standard-bearer [of the army]?


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I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley, [and] to see whether the vines flourished, [and] the pomegranates budded.


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Return, return, O Shulamite; return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shulamite? [She shall be] as a multitude of tabernacles.:


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How beautiful are thy feet in [thy] shoes, O prince's daughter! the joints of thy thighs [are] like jewels, the work of the hands of an [excellent] workman.


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Thy navel [is like] a round goblet, [which] does not lack liquor; thy belly [is like] a heap of wheat set about with lilies.


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Thy neck [is] as a tower of ivory; thine eyes [like] the fishpools in Heshbon by the gate of Bathrabbim; thy nose [is] as the tower of Lebanon which looks toward Damascus.


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Thine head upon thee [is] like scarlet, and the hair of thine head like the purple of the king hung in the galleries.


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I said, I will climb up the palm tree, I will take hold of the clusters thereof; now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine and the smell of thy nose like apples;


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and thy palate like the best wine that goes into my beloved sweetly and causes the lips of those that are asleep to speak.


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Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vines flourish, [whether] the tender flowers appear, if the pomegranates bud forth; there I will give thee my loves.


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The mandrakes have given their fragrance, and at our gates [are] all manner of sweet [fruits], new and old, [which] I have laid up for thee, O my beloved.:


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O that thou [wert] as my brother, that sucked the breasts of my mother! [when] I should find thee without, I would kiss thee; and I should not be despised.


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I would lead thee [and] bring thee into my mother's house, that [thou] would instruct me; I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate.


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Who [is] she that comes up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I woke thee up under the apple tree; there thy mother had [birth] pains; there she had pains [that] brought thee into the light.


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Set me as a seal upon thine heart as a sign upon thine arm; for love [is] strong as death; jealousy [is] hard as Sheol; the coals thereof [are] coals of fire, [which have a] most vehement flame.


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The many waters cannot quench love, neither can the rivers drown it; if [a] man would give all the substance of his house for this love, it would certainly be despised.


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We have a little sister, and she [still] has no breasts; what shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for?


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If she [is] a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver; and if she [is] a door, we will inclose her with boards of cedar.


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Solomon had a vineyard at Baalhamon; he let out the vineyard unto keepers; for its fruit each one was to bring a thousand [pieces] of silver.


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My vineyard, which [is] mine, [is] before me; the thousand [pieces] shall be thine, O Solomon, and two hundred for those that keep the fruit.


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[Thou], she that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hearken to thy voice; cause me to hear [it].


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The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem in [the] days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, [and] Hezekiah, kings of Judah.


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Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD speaks, I have nourished and brought up sons, and they have rebelled against me.


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The ox knows his owner, and the ass his master's crib; [but] Israel does not know, my people do not have understanding.


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O sinful nation, people laden with iniquity, generation of evildoers, corrupt sons! They have forsaken the LORD; they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger; they have turned back.


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Why should I chastise you any more? Ye will revolt more and more; every head is sick, and every heart faint.


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From the sole of the foot even unto the head [there is] no soundness in him; [but] wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.


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Your country [is] desolate; your cities [are] burned with fire: your land, strangers devour it in your presence, and [it is] desolate, as overthrown by strangers.


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And the daughter of Zion is left as a cottage in a vineyard, as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers, as a besieged city.


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Except the LORD of the hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, [and] we should have been like unto Gomorrah.


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Hear the word of the LORD, ye princes of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.


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To what purpose [is] the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? shall the LORD say. I am full of the burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; and I do not delight in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or of he goats.


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Bring no more vain oblations; the incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot stand them; iniquity and the solemn meeting.


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Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear [them].


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And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; likewise, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear; your hands are full of blood.


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Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil;


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learn to do good; seek judgment; restore unto the oppressed; hear the fatherless in right [judgment]; protect the widow.


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Then come, shall the LORD say, and we shall be even; if your sins were as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow; if they were red like crimson, they shall become as wool.


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But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken [it].


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How is the faithful city become a harlot! It was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it, but now murderers.


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Thy princes [are] rebellious and companions of thieves; every one loves bribes and follows after rewards; they do not hear the fatherless in judgment, neither does the cause of the widow come unto them.


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Therefore saith the Lord, the LORD of the hosts, the mighty One of Israel, Ah, I will ease myself of my adversaries and avenge myself of my enemies;


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and I will turn my hand upon thee and according to pureness purge away thy dross and take away all thy tin;


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and I will restore thy judges as at the first and thy counsellors as at the beginning; afterward thou shalt be called The city of righteousness, the faithful city.


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And the destruction of the transgressors and of the sinners [shall be] together, and those that forsook the LORD shall be consumed.


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For ye shall be ashamed of the oaks which ye have desired, and ye shall be confounded for the groves that ye have chosen.


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And the strong [idol] shall be as tow and the maker of it as a spark, and they shall both burn together, and no one [shall be able to] quench [them].:


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And it shall come to pass in the last of the days [or times], [that] the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be confirmed as [the] head of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills; and all the Gentiles shall flow unto it.


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And many peoples shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths; for out of Zion shall go forth the law and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.


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And he shall judge among the Gentiles and shall rebuke many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.


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Therefore thou hast forsaken thy people the house of Jacob, because they are replenished from the east and [are] soothsayers like the Philistines, and they please themselves in the children of strangers.


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Their land is full of silver and gold, neither [is there any] end of their treasures; their land is also full of horses, neither [is there any] end of their chariots:


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Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:


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And the mean man bows down, and the great man humbles himself; therefore thou shalt not forgive them.


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Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust from the terrible presence of the LORD and from the glory of his majesty.


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The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.


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For the day of the LORD of the hosts [shall be] upon every [one that is] proud and lofty and upon every [one that is] lifted up; and he shall be brought low:


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And the loftiness of man shall be bowed down, and the haughtiness of men shall be made low; and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.


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And they shall go into the holes of the rocks and into the caves of the earth, because of the terrible presence of the LORD and because of the glory of his majesty when he shall arise to smite the earth.


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In that day man shall cast his idols of silver and his idols of gold (which they made [each one] for himself to worship) into the caves of the moles and of the bats,


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to go into the clefts of the rocks and into the caverns of the cliffs from before the fearful presence of the LORD and from the glory of his majesty, when he shall arise to smite the earth.


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For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of the hosts, takes away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread and the whole stay of water,


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[the] mighty man and [the] man of war, [the] judge and [the] prophet, the fortune-teller and [the] ancient,


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[the] captain of fifty and [the] honourable man and [the] counsellor and [the] cunning artificer and [the] eloquent wise man.


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And the people shall do violence, one against another, and each one against his neighbour; the child shall rise up against the ancient and the base against the honourable.


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When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, [saying], Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and [let] this ruin [be] under thy hand;


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in that day he shall swear, saying, I will not be a healer for in my house [is] neither bread nor clothing: do not make me a ruler of the people.


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For Jerusalem is ruined, and Judah is fallen because their tongue and their doings [have been] against the LORD, to irritate the eyes of his majesty.


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The appearance of their countenance witnesses against them, and they declare their sin as Sodom; they hide [it] not. Woe unto their soul! For they have rewarded evil unto themselves.


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Say unto the righteous that [it shall be] well [with him], for they shall eat of the fruit of their doings.


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Woe unto the wicked! [It shall be] ill [with him], for according to the work of his hands it shall be done unto him.


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The oppressors of my people [are] many, and women rule over him. O my people, those who lead thee cause [thee] to err and twist the way of thy paths.


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The LORD will come with judgment against the elders of his people and against these his princes, for ye have eaten up the vineyard; the spoil of the poor [is] in your houses.


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What do you mean [that] ye beat my people to pieces and grind the faces of the poor? saith the Lord GOD of the hosts.


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Moreover the LORD saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and swaggering [as] they go, and making a tinkling with their feet:


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Therefore the Lord will make bare the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will uncover that which they are ashamed of.


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In that day the Lord will take away the adornment of [their] shoes and [their] hair nets and [their] crystals,


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And it shall come to pass [that] instead of sweet perfumes, there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent and instead of well-set hair baldness and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth [and] burning instead of beauty.


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And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread and wear our own apparel; only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach.


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In that day the branch of the LORD shall be for beauty and glory and the fruit of the earth for greatness and honour to those that are freed of Israel.


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And it shall come to pass [that he that is] left in Zion and [he that] remains in Jerusalem shall be called holy, [even] every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem,


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When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion and shall have purged the blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the spirit of judgment and by the spirit of burning.


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And the LORD will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion and upon the places of her assemblies a cloud and darkness by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night because over all glory [there shall be a] covering.


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And there shall be a covert for a shadow in the daytime from the heat and for a place of refuge and for a shelter from storm and from rain.:


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Now will I sing to my well-beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well-beloved had a vineyard in the horn of the sons of oil;


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and he had fenced it and gathered out the stones thereof and planted it with the choicest vine and built a tower in the midst of it and also made a winepress therein; and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.


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And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, between me and my vineyard.


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What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Therefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?


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And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it shall be eaten up; [and] break down its wall, and it shall be trodden down:


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And I will lay it waste; it shall not be pruned, nor hoed; but briers and thorns shall come up there; I will even command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.


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For the vineyard of the LORD of the hosts [is] the house of Israel and every man of Judah his pleasant plant; and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.


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Woe unto those that join house to house [that] lay field to field until they have done away with the borders! Will ye dwell alone in the midst of the earth?


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In my ears, the LORD of the hosts [said], Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, [even] great and fair, without inhabitant.


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Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning [that] they may continue their drunkenness; that continue until night [until] wine inflames them!


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And the harp and the viol, the tambourine and flutes and wine are in their feasts; but they do not regard the work of the LORD, nor consider the work of his hands.


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Therefore my people are gone into captivity because [they have] no knowledge; their glory died of hunger, and their multitude dried up of thirst.


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Therefore Sheol has enlarged himself and opened his mouth without measure; and their glory, and their multitude descended into it and their pomp and he that rejoiced in him.


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And the mean man shall be brought down, and the mighty man shall be humbled, and the eyes of the lofty shall be humbled:


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But the LORD of the hosts shall be exalted in judgment, and God, that is holy, shall be sanctified with righteousness.


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Then the lambs shall be fed after their manner, and strangers shall eat the fat ones that are forsaken.


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that say, Let him make speed [and] hasten his work that we may see [it], and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw near and come that we may know [it]!


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Woe unto those that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!


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Therefore as the fire devours the stubble and the flame consumes the chaff, [so] their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go away as dust because they have cast away the law of the LORD of the hosts and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.


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Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he has stretched forth his hand against them and has smitten them; and the mountains trembled, and their carcasses [were] torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.


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And he will lift up a banner [as an example] to Gentiles that are far and will hiss unto those [that are] in the end of the earth; and behold, they shall come with speed swiftly:


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None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken;


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whose arrows [are] sharp, and all their bows bent; their horses' hoofs shall be counted like flint, and the [wheels of their chariots] like a whirlwind;


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their roaring [shall be] like a lion: they shall roar like young lions; they shall gnash their teeth and lay hold of the prey and shall carry [it] away safe, and none shall deliver [it].


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And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea; and if [one] looks unto the land, behold darkness [and] sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.:


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In the year that king Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.


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Above it stood the seraphims; each one had six wings; with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.


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And one cried out unto another and said, Holy, holy, holy [is] the LORD of the hosts; the whole earth [is] full of his glory.


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And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.


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Then I said, Woe [is] me! for I am dead because I [am] a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of the hosts.


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Then one of the seraphim flew unto me, having a live coal in his hand [which] he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:


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And he laid [it] upon my mouth and said, Behold, this has touched thy lips; and it shall take away thy guilt, and thy sin shall be cleansed.


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After this, I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I answered, Here [am] I; send me.


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Then he said, Go and tell this people, Hear indeed, but do not understand; and see indeed, but do not perceive.


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Make the heart of this people fat and make their ears heavy and blind their eyes that they not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their heart, nor convert and [there be] healing for him.


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And [I] said, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities are wasted without inhabitant and not a man in the houses, and the land is turned into desert,


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But yet in it shall remain a tenth, and [it] shall return and shall be razed; as the teil tree and as the oak, of which the stump [remains alive] when they are cut down, [likewise in these] his stump shall remain holy seed.:


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And it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, [that] Rezin the king of Syria, and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up toward Jerusalem to war against it, but could not prevail against it.


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And it was told the house of David, saying Syria is confederate with Ephraim. And his heart was moved and the heart of his people as the trees of the wood are moved with the wind.


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Then the LORD said unto Isaiah, Go forth now to meet Ahaz, thou and Shearjashub thy son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the washer's field


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and say unto him, Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear, neither be fainthearted for the two tails of these smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin with Syria, and of the son of Remaliah.


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Let us go up against Judah and vex it, and let us divide it between us and set a king in the midst of it, [even] the son of Tabeal:


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For the head of Syria shall be Damascus, and the head of Damascus Rezin; and within sixty-five years Ephraim shall be broken, [and it shall never again be a] people.


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In the mean time the head of Ephraim [shall be] Samaria, and the head of Samaria, Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.


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[Then] said [Isaiah], Hear ye now, O house of David, [Is it] a small thing for you to weary men, but will ye weary my God also?


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Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.


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For before the child shall know to refuse the evil and choose the good; the land that thou dost abhor shall be forsaken of both her kings.


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The LORD shall bring upon thee and upon thy people and upon thy father's house days that have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah; [even] unto the king of Assyria.


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And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the LORD shall hiss for the fly that [is] in the uttermost part of the rivers of Egypt and for the bee that [is] in the land of Assyria.


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And they shall come and all of them shall rest in the desolate valleys and in the holes of the rocks and upon all thorns and upon all bushes.


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In the same day the Lord shall raze with a razor that is hired, [namely], by them beyond the river by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet and it shall also consume the beard.


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and it shall come to pass for the abundance of milk [that] they shall give, he shall eat butter; for butter and honey shall every one eat that is left in the land.


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And it shall come to pass in that day that [in] the place where there were a thousand vines that were worth a thousand [shekels] of silver, it shall [even] be for the briers and for the thorns.


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With arrows and with bows shall [men] come there because all the land shall become briers and thorns.


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But the fear of briers and thorns shall not come unto all the hills that were dug with the hoe, but they shall be for pasture of oxen and for the treading of the lesser cattle.:


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Moreover the LORD said unto me, Take a great roll and write in it with a man's pen concerning Mahershalalhashbaz.


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And I took unto me faithful witnesses to record, Uriah the priest and Zechariah the son of Jeberechiah.


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And I went unto the prophetess, and she conceived and bore a son. Then the LORD said to me, Call his name Mahershalalhashbaz.


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For before the child shall have knowledge to cry, My father and my mother, the riches of Damascus and the spoil of Samaria shall be taken away before the king of Assyria.


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Forasmuch as this people refused the waters of Shiloah that go softly and rejoiced in Rezin and Remaliah's son,


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now therefore, behold, the Lord brings up upon them the waters of the river, strong and many, [even] the king of Assyria and all his power, and he shall come up over all his channels and go over all his banks:


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And he shall pass through Judah; he shall overflow and go over, he shall reach [even] to the neck; and the stretching out of his wings shall fill the breadth of thy land, O Immanuel.


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Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries, prepare yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces.


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Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand, for God [is] with us.


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For the LORD spoke thus to me with a strong hand and instructed me that I should not walk in the way of this people, saying,


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Do not say, A confederacy, to all [those to] whom this people shall say, A confederacy; neither fear their fear, nor be afraid.


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Sanctify the LORD of the hosts himself; and [let] him [be] your fear, and [let] him [be] your dread.


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Then he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock to cause a fall to both the houses of Israel, for a snare and for a net to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


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Behold, I and the children whom the LORD has given me [are] for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of the hosts, who dwells in mount Zion.


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And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto spiritists and unto wizards that peep and that mutter; shall the people not seek unto their God? [Shall we appeal] for the living unto the dead?


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To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.


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Then they shall pass through [this land], fatigued and hungry, and it shall come to pass that when they shall be hungry, they shall fret themselves and curse their king and their God. And raising their face high,


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they shall look upon the earth and behold tribulation and gross darkness, darkness and anguish; and they shall be submerged in gross darkness.:


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Nevertheless [this] darkness [shall] not [be] the same as the affliction that came upon her when they lightly touched the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, nor afterward when they more grievously afflicted [her by] the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles.


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The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light; those that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the light shined.


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As thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast not increased the joy. They shall rejoice before thee as they rejoice in the harvest [and] as [men] rejoice when they divide the spoil.


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For thou hast broken his heavy yoke and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.


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For every battle of him who fights [is] with shaking [of the earth] and the rolling of garments in blood; but [this] shall be with burning [and] consuming of fire.


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For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government is [placed] upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called The Wonderful [One], The Counsellor, The God, The Mighty [One], The Eternal Father, The Prince of Peace.


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The multitude of [his] dominion and the peace shall have no end upon the throne of David and upon his Kingdom, ordering it and confirming it in judgment and in righteousness from now on even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of the hosts will perform this.


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And all the people shall know, [even] Ephraim and the inhabitant of Samaria, that say in pride and arrogance of heart,


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The bricks are fallen down, but we will build with hewn stones; the wild fig trees are cut down, but we will put cedars in their place.


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the Syrians before, and the Philistines behind; and they shall devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.


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The ancient and venerable to look upon is the head; the prophet that teaches lies, he is [the] tail.


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Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall he have mercy on their fatherless and widows, for every one [is] a hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaks folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.


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For wickedness burns as the fire, it shall devour the briers and thorns and shall kindle in the thickets of the forest, and they shall mount up [like] the lifting up of smoke.


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Through the wrath of the LORD of the hosts the land is darkened, and the people shall be as the fuel of the fire; no man shall spare his brother.


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And he shall snatch on the right hand and be hungry, and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied; they shall eat each man the flesh of his own arm:


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Manasseh, Ephraim; and Ephraim, Manasseh; [and] they together [shall be] against Judah. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.:


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to turn aside the poor from [right] judgment and to take away the right from the afflicted of my people that widows may be their prey and [that] they may rob the fatherless!


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And what will ye do in the day of visitation and in the desolation [which] shall come from far? To whom will ye flee for help and where will ye leave your glory?


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They shall bow down among the prisoners, and they shall fall among the slain. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand [is] stretched out still.


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I will send him against a hypocritical nation, and upon [the] people of my wrath will I send him to take spoil and to take prey and to ready them that they might be tread down like the mire of the streets.


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Howbeit he shall not think like this; not even in his heart shall he imagine this way [of doing things], but his thought shall be to destroy and cut off nations not a few.


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As my hand has found the kingdoms of the idols, and whose graven images did excel those of Jerusalem and of Samaria;


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Therefore it shall come to pass, [that] when the Lord has performed his whole work upon mount Zion and on Jerusalem, I will come upon the fruit of the pride of the heart of the king of Assyria, and upon the glory of his high looks.


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For he said, By the strength of my hand I have done [it], and by my wisdom; for I have been prudent: and I have removed the boundaries of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures, and I have cast down as valiant [ones] those who were seated:


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And my hand has found as a nest the riches of the peoples: and as one gathers eggs [that are] left, I have taken control over all the earth; and there was no one that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or peeped.


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Shall the axe boast itself against him that hews with it? [or] shall the saw magnify itself against him that moves it? as if the rod should rise up against those that lift it up, [or] as if the staff should lift [itself] up. Is it not wood?


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Therefore shall the Lord, the LORD of the hosts, send among his fat ones leanness; and under his glory he shall kindle a burning like the burning of a fire.


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And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day;


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and shall consume the glory of his forest and of his fruitful field, from the soul unto the flesh; and they shall come to be as [a] standard-bearer in defeat.


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And it shall come to pass in that day [that] those who shall be left of Israel and those who shall be left of the house of Jacob shall no more again stay upon him that smote them, but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth.


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For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, [yet] the remnant of them shall become converted; when the consumption comes to an end, righteousness shall overflow.


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Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD of the hosts, O my people, dweller of Zion, be not afraid of the Assyrian; he shall smite thee with a rod and shall lift up his stick against thee by the way of Egypt;


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yet from now until a very little while the indignation and my anger shall cease, to make an end of them.


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And the LORD of the hosts shall raise up a scourge against him as the slaughter of Midian at the rock of Oreb and shall raise up his rod upon the sea, by the way of Egypt.


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And it shall come to pass in that day that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be consumed in the presence of the anointing.


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They are gone over the fords; they have taken up their lodging at Geba; Ramah is afraid; Gibeah of Saul is fled.


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Even yet [shall come] a day when he shall rest at Nob; he shall raise his hand unto the mountain of the daughter of Zion unto the hill of Jerusalem.


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Behold, the Lord, the LORD of the hosts, shall lop the bough with force, and the high ones of stature [shall be] hewn down, and the haughty shall be humbled.


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And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:


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And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD,


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and shall make him of quick olfaction in the fear of the LORD; and he shall not judge according to the sight of his eyes, neither reprove according to the hearing of his ears:


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But with righteousness shall he judge the poor and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the spirit of his lips he shall slay the wicked.


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The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and [a] child shall shepherd them.


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The cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.


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And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.


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They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.


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And it shall be in that day that the Root of Jesse, who shall be [lifted up] as a banner, [as an example] to the Gentiles shall be sought by the Gentiles; and his [Kingdom] of peace shall be glorious.


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And it shall come to pass in that day [that] the Lord shall return to set his hand again to possess the remnant of his people which were left from Assyria and from Egypt and from Pathros and from Cush and from Elam and from Shinar and from Hamath and from the islands of the sea.


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And he shall raise up a banner, [as an example] for the Gentiles and shall assemble the outcasts of Israel and gather together the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.


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The envy also of Ephraim shall depart, and the adversaries of Judah shall be cut off; Ephraim shall not envy Judah, and Judah shall not vex Ephraim.


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But they shall fly upon the shoulders of the Philistines toward the west; they shall spoil those of the east together; they shall lay their hand upon Edom and Moab; and the sons of Ammon shall obey them.


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And the LORD shall utterly dry up the tongue of the Egyptian sea and shall raise his hand in the strength of his spirit upon the river and shall smite it into seven streams and make [men] go over dryshod.


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And there shall be a highway for the remnant of his people, which shall be left from Assyria like as it was for Israel in the day that he came up out of the land of Egypt.:


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And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will sing unto thee; though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou hast comforted me.


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Behold, O God my saving health, I will trust and not be afraid for JAH, the LORD, [is] my strength and [my] song; he also is become saving health unto me.


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And in that day ye shall say, Sing unto the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the peoples, remember how his name is exalted.


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Sing psalms unto the LORD; for he has done excellent things; [let] this [be] known in all the earth.


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Rejoice and sing, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great [is] the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.:


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Lift ye up [a] banner [as an example] upon [the] high mountain, exalt the voice unto them, raise the hand, that they may enter in by gates of princes.


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I have commanded my sanctified ones; I have also called my mighty ones for my anger that they [might] rejoice with my glory.


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The noise of a multitude in the mountains like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of kingdoms, of Gentiles gathered together: the LORD of the hosts orders the host of the battle.


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They come from a far land, from the end of the heavens, [even] the LORD, and the instruments of his indignation, to destroy the whole earth.


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And they shall be filled with terror; anguish and pain shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travails: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces [shall be as] flames.


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Behold, the day of the LORD comes, cruel and with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the earth desolate; and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.


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For this reason the stars of the heavens and the lights thereof shall not shine: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not give forth her light.


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And I will visit evil upon the world and iniquity upon the wicked, and I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease and will lay low the haughtiness of the strong.


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Because I will shake the heavens, and the earth shall be moved out of her place, in the indignation of the LORD of the hosts and in the day of his fierce anger.


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And it shall be as the chased roe, and as a sheep without a shepherd: they shall each man look unto his own people, and flee each one unto his own land.


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Every one that is found shall be thrust through, and every one that is joined [unto them] shall fall by the sword.


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Their children shall also be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.


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They shall shoot at the young boys with bows, and they shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eye shall not spare [the] sons.


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And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah.


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It shall never again be inhabited; neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation; neither shall the Arabian pitch tent there, neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.


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But wild beasts of the desert shall lie there; and their houses shall be full of doleful creatures, and owls shall dwell there, and satyrs shall dance there.


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And the wild beasts of the islands shall cry in their palaces, and dragons in [their] pleasant palaces; and her time [is] near to come, and her days shall not be prolonged.:


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For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob and will yet choose Israel and cause them to rest in their own land; and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob.


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And the peoples shall take them and bring them to their place; and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids; and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.


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And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow and from thy fear and from the hard bondage in which thou wast made to serve,


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that thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon and say, How has the oppressor ceased! The city that covets gold has ceased!


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who smote the peoples in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the Gentiles in anger and who did not defend the persecuted.


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Even the fir trees rejoice at thee, [and] the cedars of Lebanon, [saying], Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us.


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Sheol from beneath is aghast at thee; it stirs up the dead to meet [thee] at thy coming; it has raised up from their thrones all the princes of the earth, all the kings of the Gentiles.


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They all shall shout and say unto thee, Art thou also become sick as we? Art thou become like unto us?


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Thy pride is brought down to Sheol, [and] the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.


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How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! [How] art thou cut down to the ground, who didst claim the Gentiles as an inheritance!


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Thou who said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven; upon high next to the stars of God I will exalt my throne: and I will sit upon the mount of the testimony and in the sides of the north;


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Those that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, [and] consider thee, [saying], [Is] this the man that made the earth to tremble; that shook the kingdoms;


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[that] made the world as a wilderness and destroyed the cities thereof; [that] did not open the prison to his prisoners?


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But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, [and as] the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that went down to the bottom of the pit, as a carcass trodden under feet.


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Thou shalt not be numbered with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land [and] slain thy people; the seed of evildoers shall not be forever.


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Prepare slaughter for his sons for the iniquity of their fathers that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities.


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For I will rise up upon them, saith the LORD of the hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name and remnant and son and nephew, saith the LORD.


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I will also make it a possession for the bittern and pools of water, and I will sweep it with brooms of destruction, saith the LORD of the hosts.


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The LORD of the hosts has sworn, saying, Surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass; and as I have purposed, [so] shall it stand:


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That I will break the Assyrian in my land and upon my mountains tread him under foot; then shall his yoke depart from off them, and his burden depart from off their shoulders.


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This [is] the counsel that is purposed upon the whole earth; and this [is] the hand that is stretched out upon all the Gentiles.


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For the LORD of the hosts has purposed, and who shall disannul [it]? His hand [is] stretched out, and who shall turn it back?


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Rejoice not thou, whole Philistia, because thou didst break the rod of him that smote thee: for out of the serpent's root shall come forth a cockatrice, and his fruit [shall be] a fiery flying serpent.


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And the firstborn of the poor shall be fed, and the needy shall lie down in safety; and I will cause thy root to die of famine, and he shall slay thy remnant.


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Howl, O gate; cry, O city; thou, whole Philistia, [art] dissolved; for there shall come from the north a smoke, and not one [shall be] left in thy assemblies.


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What shall [one] then answer the messengers of the Gentiles? That the LORD has founded Zion, and in her the afflicted of his people shall have confidence.:


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The burden of Moab. Certainly in the night Ar of Moab was laid waste [and] brought to silence; certainly in the night Kir of Moab was laid waste [and] brought to silence.


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He is gone up to Bajith and to Dibon, the altars, to weep; Moab shall howl over Nebo and over Medeba: every head among her shall become bald, [and] every beard shall be cut off.


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In their streets they shall gird themselves with sackcloth; on the tops of their houses and in their streets, every one shall howl, weeping as they come down.


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And Heshbon shall cry, and Elealeh: their voice shall be heard [even] unto Jahaz; therefore the armed soldiers of Moab shall cry out; each one of them shall cry out for his soul.


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My heart shall cry out for Moab; his fugitives shall go up with weeping by the hill of Luhith unto Zoar, a heifer of three years; for in the way of Horonaim they shall raise up a cry of destruction.


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For the waters of Nimrim have run out: for the grass [of the courtyard] is withered away, the herb fails, there is no green thing.


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Therefore that which [each one] has laid up and their riches they shall carry away to the brook of the willows.


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For the cry is gone round about the borders of Moab; the howling thereof unto Eglaim and the clamour thereof unto Beerelim.


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For the waters of Dimon shall be full of blood; for I will bring more upon Dimon: lions upon him that escapes of Moab and upon the remnant of the land.:


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Send ye the lamb to the ruler of the land, from the rock of the wilderness unto the mount of the daughter of Zion.


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For it shall be [that] as a wandering bird cast out of the nest [so] the daughters of Moab shall be at the fords of Arnon.


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Take counsel; execute judgment; make thy shadow as the night in the midst of the noonday; hide the outcasts; do not betray him that escapes.


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Let my outcasts dwell with thee, Moab; be thou a covert to them from the presence of the destroyer; for the extortioner shall come to an end, the destroyer shall cease, the oppressor shall be consumed out of the land.


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And in mercy shall the throne be established; and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging and seeking judgment and hastening righteousness.


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We have heard of the pride of Moab; [he is] very proud, [even] of his haughtiness and his pride and his wrath, [but] his lies [shall] not [be] so.


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Therefore shall Moab howl for Moab; every one shall howl; for the foundations of Kirhareseth shall ye mourn; surely [they are] stricken.


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For the vines of Heshbon were cut off [and] the vines of Sibmah; the lords of the Gentiles have trodden down the offshoots thereof, which had come [even] unto Jazer and extended [through] the wilderness; they had gone over the sea.


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Therefore I will bewail with the weeping Jazer of the vine of Sibmah; I will cause thee to drink my tears, O Heshbon and Elealeh, for the song shall cease upon thy summer fruits and thy harvest.


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And gladness is taken away and joy out of the fertile field; and in the vineyards there shall be no singing, neither shall there be rejoicing: the treaders shall tread out no wine in [their] presses; I have made [their vintage] song to cease.


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And it shall come to pass when it is seen that Moab is weary upon the high places that he shall come to his sanctuary to pray, but he shall be unable to.


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But now the LORD has spoken, saying, Within three years, as a hireling [counts the] years, the glory of Moab shall be cast down, with all [her] great multitude; and the remnant [shall be] few, small [and] feeble.:


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The burden of Damascus. Behold, Damascus is taken away from [being] a city, and it shall be a ruinous heap.


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The cities of Aroer [are] forsaken; they shall be for flocks, which shall lie down, and none shall make [them] afraid.


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The succour of Ephraim shall cease, and the kingdom from Damascus and the remnant of Syria; they shall be as the glory of the sons of Israel, saith the LORD of the hosts.


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And in that day it shall come to pass [that] the glory of Jacob shall be made thin, and the fatness of his flesh shall wax lean.


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And it shall be as when the harvestman gathers the sheaves and reaps the grain with his arm; and it shall be as he that gathers grain in the valley of Rephaim.


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Yet gleaning shall be left in it as when the olive tree is shaken; two [or] three berries [are left] in the top of the uppermost bough, four [or] five in the outmost fruitful branches thereof, saith the LORD God of Israel.


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And he shall not look to the altars, the work of his hands; neither shall he look upon [that] which his fingers have made, either the groves or the images of the sun.


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In that day the cities of his strength shall be as the gleanings which remain on the shoots and on the branches, which were left of the sons of Israel; and there shall be desolation.


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Because thou hast forgotten the God of thy saving health and hast not been mindful of the Rock of thy strength; therefore thou shalt plant pleasant plants and set it with strange slips:


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In the day that thou shalt plant them, thou shalt make them to grow and shalt make thy seed to flourish early; [but] in the day of gathering, the harvest shall flee and [shall be] desperate sorrow.


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Woe to the multitude of many peoples, [which] shall make a noise like the noise of the sea; and the rushing of nations, [that] make an uprising like the rushing of mighty waters!


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The peoples shall make noise like the rushing of great waters, but [God] shall reprehend them, and they shall flee far off and shall be chased as the chaff of the mountains before the wind and like the tumbleweed before the whirlwind.


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And behold at eveningtide trouble, [and] before the morning she [is] not. This [is] the portion of them that tread on us and the lot of them that spoil us.:


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He who sends ambassadors by the sea, even in vessels of bulrushes upon the waters, [saying], Go, ye swift messengers, to the people scattered and peeled, to the people full of fears from their beginning, and until now, [a] people tired of waiting and trodden down, whose land the rivers have spoiled!


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All ye inhabitants of the world and neighbours of the land, when he lifts up a banner [as an example] on the mountains, ye shall see it; and when he blows the shofar, ye shall hear it.


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For so the LORD said unto me, I will take my rest, and I will look forth from my dwelling place like a clear sun after the rain [and] like a cloud filled with dew in the heat of the harvest.


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For before the harvest, when the fruit is perfect, and after the flower is past and the fruit is mature, then he shall both cut off the sprigs with pruning hooks and take away [and] cut down the branches.


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They shall be left together unto the fowls of the mountains and to the beasts of the earth; and the fowls shall summer upon them, and all the beasts of the earth shall winter upon them.


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In that time [the] present shall be brought unto the LORD of the hosts, the people scattered and peeled, the people full of fears from their beginning and until now, [a] people tired of waiting and trodden under foot, whose land the rivers have spoiled, to the place of the name of the LORD of the hosts, to the mount Zion.:


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The burden of Egypt. Behold, the LORD rides upon a swift cloud and shall come into Egypt, and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.


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And I will set the Egyptians against the Egyptians, and they shall fight each one against his brother, and each one against his neighbour; city against city [and] kingdom against kingdom.


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And the spirit of Egypt shall fail in the midst thereof, and I will destroy the counsel thereof; and they shall seek to the idols and to the charmers and to the spiritists and to the wizards.


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And I will give the Egyptians over into the hand of a cruel lord; and a violent king shall rule over them, saith the Lord, the LORD of the hosts.


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And they shall turn the rivers far away, [and] the brooks of defence shall be emptied and dried up; the reeds and flags shall wither.


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The vegetables by the river, by the mouth of the river, and every thing sown beside the river shall dry up, wither away, and be no [more].


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The fishermen also shall mourn, and all those that cast fishhooks into the river shall lament, and those that spread nets upon the waters shall languish.


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Because all their nets shall be broken; all that make ponds to [raise] fish [shall be discontented].


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Surely the princes of Zoan [are] fools; the counsel of the prudent counsellors of Pharaoh is become carnal; how say ye unto Pharaoh, I [am] the son of the wise, the son of the ancient kings?


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Where [are] they? Where [are] thy wise [men]? Let them tell thee now, or let them cause thee to know what the LORD of the hosts has purposed upon Egypt.


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The princes of Zoan are become fools, the princes of Noph are deceived; they have also seduced Egypt, [even those that are] the stay of the tribes thereof.


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The LORD has mingled a perverse spirit in its midst, and they have caused Egypt to err in every work thereof, as a drunken [man] staggers in his vomit.


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Neither shall it be of [any] value unto Egypt, any work which the head or tail, branch or rush, may do.


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In that day Egypt shall be like unto women, and it shall be afraid and fear in the presence of the tall hand of the LORD of the hosts, which he shall raise up over them.


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And the land of Judah shall be a terror unto Egypt; every one that makes mention of it shall be afraid in himself because of the counsel of the LORD of the hosts which he has determined against it.


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In that day five cities in the land of Egypt shall speak the language of Canaan and swear to the LORD of the hosts; one shall be called The city of destruction.


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In that day shall there be an altar to the LORD in the midst of the land of Egypt and a pyramid titled "To the LORD," at the border thereof.


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And it shall be for a sign and for a witness unto the LORD of the hosts in the land of Egypt; for they shall cry unto the LORD because of the oppressors, and he shall send them a Saviour, and a Prince, and he shall deliver them.


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And the LORD shall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians shall know the LORD in that day and shall do sacrifice and oblation; they shall vow vows unto the LORD and perform them.


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And the LORD shall smite Egypt; he shall smite and heal [it] because they shall become converted unto the LORD, and he shall grant them clemency and shall heal them.


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In that day there shall be a highway out of Egypt to Assyria, and the Assyrian shall come into Egypt, and the Egyptian into Assyria, and the Egyptians shall serve the LORD with the Assyrians.


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In that day Israel shall be the third [part] with Egypt and with Assyria, [even] a blessing in the midst of the earth.


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For the LORD of the hosts shall bless them, saying, Blessed [be] Egypt my people, and Assyria the work of my hands, and Israel my inheritance.:


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In the year that Tartan came unto Ashdod (when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him) and fought against Ashdod and took it;


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at the same time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.


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And the LORD said, Like as my servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years [for] a sign and wonder upon Egypt and upon Ethiopia,


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so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians prisoners, and the Ethiopians captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, even with [their] buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt.


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And the inhabitant of this isle shall say in that day, Behold, such [was] our hope which we clung to for help that we might be free from the presence of the king of Assyria. How shall we escape?:


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The burden of the desert of the sea. As the whirlwinds which pass through the wilderness in the land of the south, [so] they come from the terrible land.


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A grievous vision is shown unto me. For [one] who is treacherous, another who deals treacherously, and for [one] destroyer, [another] destroyer. Rise up, Elam; besiege Media; all the sighing thereof I have made to cease.


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Therefore my loins are filled with pain; pangs have taken hold upon me as the pangs of a woman that travails; I was bowed down at the hearing of [it]; I was dismayed at the seeing [of it].


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My heart panted; the horror frightened me; the night of my pleasure he has turned into fear unto me.


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And he saw a chariot [with] a couple of horsemen, a chariot of asses, [and] a chariot of camels; then he looked with more diligence;


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and he cried, A lion upon the watchman. My lord, I stand continually [all] the day and all night long upon my watchtower.


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And, behold, this chariot of men comes [with] a couple of horsemen. Afterwards he spoke and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he has broken unto the ground.


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O my harvest, and the people of my threshing floor, that which I have heard of the LORD of the hosts, the God of Israel, I have declared unto you.


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The burden of Dumah. He calls to me out of Seir, Watchman, what of this night? Watchman, what of this night?


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The watchman said, The morning comes and then the night; if ye will enquire, enquire ye; return, and come.


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Go ye out to meet them bringing water for the thirsty, O inhabitants of the land of Tema; succour those who are fleeing with your bread.


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For they flee from the presence of the sword, from the presence of the drawn sword, from the presence of the bent bow, from the presence of the grievousness of the battle.


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For thus has the Lord said unto me, Within a year, according to the years of a hireling, all the glory of Kedar shall be undone:


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And the residue of the number of valiant archers, sons of Kedar, shall be diminished: for the LORD God of Israel has spoken [it].:


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The burden of the valley of the vision. What ails thee now that thou art completely gone up to the housetops?


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Thou that art full of tumults, a tumultuous city, a joyous city, thy dead [are] not slain with the sword nor slain in battle.


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All thy princes together fled from the bow; they were bound; all that were found in thee were bound together; [the others] fled far away.


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Therefore I said, Leave me; I will weep bitterly; do not labour to comfort me of the destruction of the daughter of my people.


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For a day of trouble and of treading down and of wearing down by the Lord GOD of the hosts [is sent] in the valley of the vision to break down the wall and [give a] cry unto the mountain.


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And it came to pass, [that] thy choicest valleys were full of chariots, and the soldiers set themselves in array at the gate.


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And he discovered the covering of Judah, and thou didst look in that day to the house of weapons of the forest.


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Ye have also seen the breaches of the city of David that they are multiplied, and ye gathered together the waters of the lower pool.


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Ye also made a moat between the two walls with the water of the old pool, but ye have not looked unto the maker thereof, nor had respect unto him that fashioned it long ago.


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Therefore the Lord GOD of the hosts did call in this day unto weeping and to mourning and to baldness and to girding with sackcloth:


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And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine [while they say], let us eat and drink for tomorrow we shall die.


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This was revealed in my ears by the LORD of the hosts, That surely this iniquity shall not be purged from you until ye die, saith the Lord GOD of the hosts.


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Thus saith the Lord GOD of the hosts, Go, get thee unto this treasurer, [even] unto Shebna, which [is] over the house, [and say],


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What hast thou here? or whom hast thou here that thou hast hewed thee out a sepulchre here [as] he that hews himself out a sepulchre on a high place or that graves a habitation for himself in a rock?


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He will surely violently turn and toss thee [like] a ball into a large country, there shalt thou die, and there the chariots of thy glory [shall come to an end], the shame of the House of thy Lord.


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And I will clothe him with thy robe and strengthen him with thy girdle, and I will commit thy government into his hand, and he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah.


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And the key of the house of David I will lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no one shall open.


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And I will fasten him [as] a nail in a sure place, and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father's house.


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And they shall hang upon him all the glory of his father's house, the sons and the grandsons, all the vessels of small quantity, from the cups to drink [from] even unto all the instruments of music.


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In that day, saith the LORD of the hosts, the nail that is fastened in the sure place shall be removed and be cut down and fall and the burden that [was] upon it shall be cut off: for the LORD has spoken [it].:


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The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish, for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in; from the land of Chittim it is revealed to them.


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Be still, ye inhabitants of the isle; [thou] mart of Zidon, that [by] passing over the sea thou wert replenished.


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Her provision [was] from the plantings [that grow] with the many waters of the Nile, of the harvest of the river. She was also the mart of the Gentiles.


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Be thou ashamed, O Zidon, for the sea has spoken, [even] the strength of the sea, saying, I have never travailed nor brought forth children, neither did I nourish up young men [nor] bring up virgins.


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[Is] this your joyous [city], whose antiquity [is] of ancient days? Her own feet shall carry her afar off to sojourn.


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Who has decreed this against Tyre, the crowning [city], whose merchants were princes, whose traders [were] the honourable of the earth?


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The LORD of the hosts has purposed it to stain the pride of all glory [and] to bring down all [those] who are exalted in the earth.


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He stretched out his hand over the sea; he shook the kingdoms; the LORD commanded upon Canaan that her strength should be weakened.


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And he said, Thou shalt no more rejoice, O thou oppressed virgin, daughter of Zidon; arise, pass over to Chittim, and even there thou shalt have no rest.


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Behold the land of the Chaldeans. This people was not [until] the Assyrian founded it for those that dwell in the wilderness; they set up its towers; they raised up its palaces, [and] he brought it to ruin.


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And it shall come to pass in that day that Tyre shall be forgotten seventy years according to the days of one king; after the end of seventy years Tyre shall sing as a harlot.


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Take a harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet melody, sing the song again that thou may be remembered.


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And it shall come to pass after the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire and shall commit fornication again with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth.


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But her profit and her hire shall be consecrated unto the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up for her profit shall be for those that dwell before the LORD, to eat until they are filled and to dress honourably.:


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Behold, the LORD makes the earth empty and makes it naked and turns it upside down and scatters abroad its inhabitants.


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And it shall be, as with the people so with the priest; as with the servant so with his master; as with the maid so with her mistress; as with the buyer so with the seller; as with the lender so with the borrower; as with the taker of usury so with the giver of usury to him.


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The earth has destroyed itself and fallen; the world has become sick and fallen; the haughty peoples of the earth are become sick.


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The earth is also become bankrupt under its inhabitants because they have transgressed the laws, falsified the order, broken the everlasting covenant.


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Therefore the curse has consumed the earth, and those that dwell therein are found guilty; therefore, the inhabitants of the earth are consumed, and few men left.


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For thus it shall be in the midst of the land among the peoples as the shaking of an olive tree, as the gleanings when the vintage is done.


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These shall lift up their voice; they shall sing joyfully in the majesty of the LORD; they shall lift up their voice from the sea.


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Therefore glorify ye the LORD in the valleys; let the LORD God of Israel be called upon by name in the isles of the sea.


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From the uttermost part of the earth we have heard psalms, Glory to the righteous [one]. But I said, My leanness, my leanness, woe unto me! The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; [yea], the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously.


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And it shall come to pass [that] he who shall flee from the noise of the fear shall fall into the pit; and he that shall come up out of the midst of the pit shall be taken in the snare: because from on high, windows have been opened, and the foundations of the earth shall shake.


