# verses

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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> And the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah, his youngest son, king in his place, for the band of men that came with <f>ⓑ</f>the Arabians to the camp had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah reigned.


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Ahaziah was twenty-two <f>[1]</f> years old when he began to reign, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, <f>ⓒ</f>the granddaughter of Omri.


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He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother was his counselor in doing wickedly.


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He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as the house of Ahab had done. For after the death of his father they were his counselors, to his undoing.


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He even followed their counsel and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to make war against Hazael king of Syria at Ramoth-gilead. And the Syrians wounded Joram,


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and he returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds that he had received at Ramah, when he fought against Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram king of Judah went down to see Joram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was wounded.


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<pb/>But it was ordained by <f>[2]</f> God that the downfall of Ahaziah should come about through his going to visit Joram. For when he came there, <f>ⓓ</f>he went out with Jehoram to meet Jehu the son of Nimshi, <f>ⓔ</f>whom the LORD had anointed to destroy the house of Ahab.


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<f>ⓕ</f> And when Jehu was <f>ⓖ</f>executing judgment on the house of Ahab, he met the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah's brothers, who attended Ahaziah, and he killed them.


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<f>ⓗ</f> He searched for Ahaziah, and he was captured while hiding in Samaria, and he was brought to Jehu and put to death. <f>ⓘ</f>They buried him, for they said, “He is the grandson of Jehoshaphat, <f>ⓙ</f>who sought the LORD with all his heart.” And the house of Ahaziah had no one able to rule the kingdom.


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<pb/><f>ⓚ</f> Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah.


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But Jehoshabeath, <f>[3]</f> the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were about to be put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she was a sister of Ahaziah, hid him <f>[4]</f> from Athaliah, so that she did not put him to death.


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And he remained with them six years, hidden in the house of God, while Athaliah reigned over the land.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> But in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage and entered into a covenant with the commanders of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri.


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And they went about through <f>ⓑ</f>Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.


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And all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada <f>[1]</f> said to them, “Behold, the king's son! Let him reign, <f>ⓒ</f>as the LORD spoke concerning the sons of David.


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This is the thing that you shall do: <f>ⓓ</f>of you priests and Levites who come off duty on the Sabbath, one third shall be gatekeepers,


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and one third shall be at the king's house and one third at the Gate of the Foundation. And all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.


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Let no one enter the house of the LORD except the priests <f>ⓔ</f>and ministering Levites. They may enter, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the charge of the LORD.


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The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever enters the house shall be put to death. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”


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<pb/>The Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they each brought his men, who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss <f>ⓕ</f>the divisions.


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And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains the spears and the large and small shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of God.


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And he set all the people as a guard for the king, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house.


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Then they brought out the king's son and put the crown on him and gave him <f>ⓖ</f>the testimony. And they proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they said, <f>ⓗ</f>“Long live the king.”


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<pb/>When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she went into the house of the LORD to the people.


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And when she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers with their musical instruments leading in the celebration. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”


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Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains who were set over the army, saying to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and anyone who follows her is to be put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Do not put her to death in the house of the LORD.”


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So they laid hands on her, <f>[2]</f> and she went into the entrance of <f>ⓘ</f>the horse gate of the king's house, and they put her to death there.


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<pb/>And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the LORD's people.


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Then all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, <f>ⓙ</f>and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.


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And Jehoiada posted watchmen for the house of the LORD under the direction of <f>ⓚ</f>the Levitical priests and the Levites <f>ⓛ</f>whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the LORD, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, <f>ⓜ</f>as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, <f>ⓝ</f>according to the order of David.


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He stationed <f>ⓞ</f>the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD so that no one should enter who was in any way unclean.


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And he took the captains, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, marching <f>ⓟ</f>through the upper gate to the king's house. And they set the king on the royal throne.


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So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> Joash <f>[1]</f> was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.


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And he gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of <f>ⓔ</f>Judah and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you act quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly.


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So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem <f>ⓕ</f>the tax levied by Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the congregation of Israel for <f>ⓖ</f>the tent of testimony?”


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For <f>ⓗ</f>the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also used all <f>ⓘ</f>the dedicated things of the house of the LORD for the Baals.


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<pb/>So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside the gate of the house of the LORD.


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And <f>ⓙ</f>proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the LORD <f>ⓚ</f>the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness.


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And all the princes and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished. <f>[2]</f>


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And whenever the chest was brought to the king's officers by the Levites, when they saw that there was much money in it, the king's secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and take it and return it to its place. Thus they did day after day, and collected money in abundance.


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And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who had charge of the work of the house of the LORD, and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD.


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So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went forward in their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it.


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And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, and with it <f>ⓛ</f>were made utensils for the house of the LORD, both for the service and for the burnt offerings, and dishes for incense and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD regularly all the days of Jehoiada.


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And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.


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<pb/>Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them.


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And they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served <f>ⓜ</f>the Asherim and the idols. And <f>ⓝ</f>wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.


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<f>ⓞ</f> Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD. <f>ⓟ</f>These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.


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<pb/><f>ⓠ</f> Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah <f>ⓡ</f>the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, <f>ⓢ</f>‘Why do you break the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? <f>ⓣ</f>Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.’”


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But <f>ⓤ</f>they conspired against him, <f>ⓥ</f>and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD.


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Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah's father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, “May the LORD see <f>ⓦ</f>and avenge!” <f>[3]</f>


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<pb/>At the end of the year <f>ⓧ</f>the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.


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Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, <f>ⓨ</f>the LORD delivered into their hand a very great army, <f>ⓩ</f>because Judah <f>[4]</f> had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. Thus they <f>ⓐ</f>executed judgment on Joash.


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<pb/>When they had departed from him, leaving him <f>ⓑ</f>severely wounded, <f>ⓒ</f>his servants conspired against him because of the blood of <f>ⓓ</f>the son <f>[5]</f> of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, <f>ⓔ</f>but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.


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Those who conspired against him were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabite.


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Accounts of his sons and of the many oracles against him and of <f>ⓕ</f>the rebuilding <f>[6]</f> of the house of God are written in the <f>ⓖ</f>Story <f>[7]</f> of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> Amaziah was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jehoaddan of Jerusalem.


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And as soon as the royal power was firmly his, he killed his servants who had struck down the king his father.


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But he did not put their children to death, according to what is written in the Law, in the Book of Moses, where the LORD commanded, <f>ⓒ</f>“Fathers shall not die because of their children, nor children die because of their fathers, but each one shall die for his own sin.”


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<pb/>Then Amaziah assembled the men of Judah and set them by fathers' houses under commanders of thousands and of hundreds for all Judah and Benjamin. He mustered those <f>ⓓ</f>twenty years old and upward, and found that they were <f>ⓔ</f>300,000 choice men, fit for war, <f>ⓕ</f>able to handle spear and shield.


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But <f>ⓖ</f>a man of God came to him and said, “O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel, with all these Ephraimites.


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But go, act, be strong for the battle. Why should you suppose that God will cast you down before the enemy? <f>ⓗ</f>For God has power to help or to cast down.”


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And Amaziah said to the man of God, “But what shall we do about the hundred talents that I have given to the army of Israel?” The man of God answered, “The LORD is able to give you much more than this.”


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Then Amaziah discharged the army that had come to him from Ephraim to go home again. And they became very angry with Judah and returned home in fierce anger.


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But Amaziah took courage and led out his people and went to the <f>ⓘ</f>Valley of Salt and struck down <f>ⓙ</f>10,000 men of Seir.


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The men of Judah captured another 10,000 alive and took them to the top of a rock and threw them down from the top of the rock, and they were all dashed to pieces.


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But the men of the army whom Amaziah sent back, not letting them go with him to battle, raided the cities of Judah, <f>ⓚ</f>from Samaria to Beth-horon, and struck down 3,000 people in them and took much spoil.


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<pb/>After Amaziah came from striking down the Edomites, <f>ⓛ</f>he brought the gods <f>ⓜ</f>of the men of Seir and set them up as his gods and worshiped them, making offerings to them.


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Therefore the LORD was angry with Amaziah and sent to him a prophet, who said to him, “Why have you sought the gods of a people <f>ⓝ</f>who did not deliver their own people from your hand?”


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But as he was speaking, the king said to him, “Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?” So the prophet stopped, but said, “I know that <f>ⓞ</f>God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel.”


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<pb/><f>ⓟ</f> Then Amaziah king of Judah took counsel and sent to Joash the son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, “Come, let us look one another in the face.”


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And Joash the king of Israel sent word to Amaziah king of Judah, <f>ⓠ</f>“A thistle on Lebanon sent to a cedar on Lebanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ and a wild beast of Lebanon passed by and trampled down the thistle.


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You say, ‘See, I <f>[2]</f> have struck down Edom,’ and <f>ⓡ</f>your heart has lifted you up in boastfulness. But now stay at home. Why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?”


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<pb/>But Amaziah would not listen, for it was of God, in order that he might give them into the hand of their enemies, <f>ⓢ</f>because they had sought the gods of Edom.


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So Joash king of Israel went up, and he and Amaziah king of Judah faced one another in battle at Beth-shemesh, which belongs to Judah.


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And Joash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, son of <f>ⓣ</f>Ahaziah, at Beth-shemesh, and brought him to Jerusalem and broke down the wall of Jerusalem for 400 cubits, <f>[3]</f> from <f>ⓤ</f>the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate.


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And he seized all the gold and silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God, in the care of <f>ⓥ</f>Obed-edom. He seized also the treasuries of the king's house, also hostages, and he returned to Samaria.


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<pb/><f>ⓦ</f> Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, lived fifteen years after the death of Joash the son of Jehoahaz, king of Israel.


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Now the rest of the deeds of Amaziah, from first to last, are they not written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel?


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From the time when he turned away from the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish. But they sent after him to Lachish and put him to death there.


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And they brought him upon horses, and he was buried with his fathers in the city of David. <f>[4]</f>


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<pb/>And all the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king instead of his father Amaziah.


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Uzziah was <f>ⓐ</f>sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem.


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He set himself to seek God <f>ⓑ</f>in the days of Zechariah, <f>ⓒ</f>who instructed him in the fear of God, and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.


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<pb/>He went out and <f>ⓓ</f>made war against the Philistines and broke through the wall of Gath and the wall of Jabneh and the wall of Ashdod, and he built cities in the territory of Ashdod and elsewhere among the Philistines.


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God helped him <f>ⓔ</f>against the Philistines and against the Arabians who lived in Gurbaal and against the <f>ⓕ</f>Meunites.


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The Ammonites <f>ⓖ</f>paid tribute to Uzziah, and his fame spread even to the border of Egypt, for he became very strong.


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Moreover, Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at <f>ⓗ</f>the Corner Gate and at <f>ⓘ</f>the Valley Gate and at <f>ⓙ</f>the Angle, and fortified them.


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And he built towers in the wilderness and <f>ⓚ</f>cut out many cisterns, for he had large herds, both in the Shephelah and in the plain, and he had farmers and vinedressers in the hills and in the fertile lands, for he loved the soil.


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Moreover, Uzziah had an army of soldiers, fit for war, in divisions according to the numbers in the muster made by Jeiel the secretary and Maaseiah the officer, under the direction of Hananiah, one of the king's commanders.


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Under their command was an army of <f>ⓛ</f>307,500, who could make war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.


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And Uzziah prepared for all the army shields, spears, helmets, <f>ⓜ</f>coats of mail, bows, and stones for slinging.


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In Jerusalem he made machines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and great stones. And his fame spread far, for he was marvelously helped, till he was strong.


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<pb/>But when <f>ⓝ</f>he was strong, <f>ⓞ</f>he grew proud, to his destruction. For he was unfaithful to the LORD his God and entered the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.


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But <f>ⓟ</f>Azariah the priest went in after him, with eighty priests of the LORD who were men of valor,


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and they withstood King Uzziah and said to him, <f>ⓠ</f>“It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the LORD, <f>ⓡ</f>but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the LORD God.”


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Then Uzziah was angry. Now he had a censer in his hand to burn incense, and when he became angry with the priests, <f>ⓢ</f>leprosy <f>[1]</f> broke out on his forehead in the presence of the priests in the house of the LORD, by the altar of incense.


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And Azariah the chief priest and all the priests looked at him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead! And they rushed him out quickly, and he himself hurried to go out, because the LORD had struck him.


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<f>ⓣ</f> And King Uzziah was a leper to the day of his death, and being a leper lived <f>ⓤ</f>in a separate house, for he was excluded from the house of the LORD. And Jotham his son was over the king's household, governing the people of the land.


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<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, from first to last, <f>ⓥ</f>Isaiah the prophet the son of Amoz wrote.


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And Uzziah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the burial field that belonged to the kings, for they said, “He is a leper.” And Jotham his son reigned in his place.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> Jotham was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah the daughter of Zadok.


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And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD according to all that his father Uzziah had done, <f>ⓑ</f>except he did not enter the temple of the LORD. But the people still followed corrupt practices.


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He built the upper gate of the house of the LORD and did much building on the wall of <f>ⓒ</f>Ophel.


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He fought with the king of the Ammonites and prevailed against them. And the Ammonites gave him that year 100 talents <f>[1]</f> of silver, and 10,000 cors <f>[2]</f> of wheat and 10,000 of barley. The Ammonites paid him the same amount in the second and the third years.


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<f>ⓓ</f> Now the rest of the acts of Jotham, and all his wars and his ways, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.


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He was <f>ⓔ</f>twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.


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And Jotham slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David, and Ahaz his son reigned in his place.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> Ahaz was twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem. And he did not do what was right in the eyes of the LORD, as his father David had done,


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but he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel. He even made <f>ⓑ</f>metal images for <f>ⓒ</f>the Baals,


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and <f>ⓓ</f>he made offerings in the <f>ⓔ</f>Valley of the Son of Hinnom and <f>ⓕ</f>burned his sons as an offering, <f>[1]</f> according to <f>ⓖ</f>the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.


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And he sacrificed and <f>ⓗ</f>made offerings on the high places and on the hills and under every green tree.


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<pb/><f>ⓘ</f> Therefore the LORD his God gave him into the hand of the king of Syria, who defeated him and took captive a great number of his people and brought them to Damascus. He was also given into the hand of the king of Israel, who struck him with great force.


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For <f>ⓙ</f>Pekah the son of Remaliah killed 120,000 from Judah in one day, all of them men of valor, because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers.


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And Zichri, a mighty man of Ephraim, killed Maaseiah the king's son and Azrikam the commander of the palace and Elkanah the next in authority to the king.


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<pb/>The men of Israel took captive 200,000 <f>ⓚ</f>of their relatives, women, sons, and daughters. They also took much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria.


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But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the LORD, the God of your fathers, <f>ⓛ</f>was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand, but you have killed them in a rage <f>ⓜ</f>that has reached up to heaven.


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And now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as your slaves. Have you not sins of your own against the LORD your God?


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Now hear me, and send back the captives <f>ⓝ</f>from your relatives whom you have taken, for the fierce wrath of the LORD is upon you.”


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<pb/>Certain chiefs also of the men of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who were coming from the war


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and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives in here, for you propose to bring upon us guilt against the LORD in addition to our present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.”


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And <f>ⓞ</f>the men who have been mentioned by name rose and took the captives, and with the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them. They clothed them, gave them sandals, <f>ⓟ</f>provided them with food and drink, and anointed them, and carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys, they brought them to their kinsfolk at Jericho, <f>ⓠ</f>the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.


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<f>ⓢ</f> And the Philistines had made raids on <f>ⓣ</f>the cities in the Shephelah and the Negeb of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco <f>ⓤ</f>with its villages, Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo with its villages. And they settled there.


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For the LORD humbled Judah because of Ahaz king of Israel, for he had made <f>ⓥ</f>Judah act sinfully <f>[3]</f> and had been very unfaithful to the LORD.


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So <f>ⓦ</f>Tiglath-pileser <f>[4]</f> king of Assyria came against him and afflicted him instead of strengthening him.


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<f>ⓧ</f> For Ahaz took a portion from the house of the LORD and the house of the king and of the princes, and gave tribute to the king of Assyria, but it did not help him.


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For <f>ⓨ</f>he sacrificed to the gods of Damascus that had defeated him and said, <f>ⓩ</f>“Because the gods of the kings of Syria helped them, I will sacrifice to them that they may help me.” But they were the ruin of him and of all Israel.


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And Ahaz gathered together the vessels of the house of God and <f>ⓐ</f>cut in pieces the vessels of the house of God, and he shut up the doors of the house of the LORD, and he made himself <f>ⓑ</f>altars in every corner of Jerusalem.


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In every city of Judah he made high places to <f>ⓒ</f>make offerings to other gods, provoking to anger the LORD, the God of his fathers.


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<f>ⓓ</f> Now the rest of his acts and all his ways, from first to last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


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And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city, in Jerusalem, for <f>ⓔ</f>they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. And Hezekiah his son reigned in his place.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah <f>[1]</f> the daughter of <f>ⓑ</f>Zechariah.


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<pb/>In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he <f>ⓒ</f>opened the doors of the house of the LORD and repaired them.


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and said to them, “Hear me, Levites! Now <f>ⓓ</f>consecrate yourselves, and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers, and carry out the filth <f>[2]</f> from the Holy Place.


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For our fathers have been unfaithful and have done what was evil in the sight of the LORD our God. They have forsaken him and <f>ⓔ</f>have turned away their faces from the habitation of the LORD and turned their backs.


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They also <f>ⓕ</f>shut the doors of the vestibule and put out the lamps and have not burned incense or offered burnt offerings in the Holy Place to the God of Israel.


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Therefore <f>ⓖ</f>the wrath of the LORD came on Judah and Jerusalem, and he has made them <f>ⓗ</f>an object of horror, of astonishment, <f>ⓘ</f>and of hissing, as you see with your own eyes.


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For behold, <f>ⓙ</f>our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity for this.


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Now <f>ⓚ</f>it is in my heart <f>ⓛ</f>to make a covenant with the LORD, the God of Israel, in order that his fierce anger may turn away from us.


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My sons, do not now be negligent, <f>ⓜ</f>for the LORD has chosen you to stand in his presence, to minister to him and to be his ministers and make offerings to him.”


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<pb/>Then the Levites arose, <f>ⓝ</f>Mahath the son of Amasai, and Joel the son of Azariah, of the sons of <f>ⓞ</f>the Kohathites; and of the sons of <f>ⓟ</f>Merari, Kish the son of Abdi, and Azariah the son of Jehallelel; and of the <f>ⓠ</f>Gershonites, Joah the son of Zimmah, and Eden the son of Joah;


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and of the sons of <f>ⓡ</f>Elizaphan, Shimri and Jeuel; and of the sons of <f>ⓢ</f>Asaph, Zechariah and Mattaniah;


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and of the sons of <f>ⓣ</f>Heman, Jehuel and Shimei; and of the sons of <f>ⓤ</f>Jeduthun, Shemaiah and Uzziel.


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They gathered their brothers and <f>ⓥ</f>consecrated themselves and went in as the king had commanded, <f>ⓦ</f>by the words of the LORD, <f>ⓧ</f>to cleanse the house of the LORD.


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The priests went into the inner part of the house of the LORD to cleanse it, and they brought out all the uncleanness that they found in the temple of the LORD into the court of the house of the LORD. And the Levites took it and carried it out to <f>ⓨ</f>the brook Kidron.


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They began to consecrate <f>ⓩ</f>on the first day of the first month, and on the eighth day of the month they came to the vestibule of the LORD. Then for eight days they consecrated the house of the LORD, and on the sixteenth day of the first month they finished.


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Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils.


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All the utensils <f>ⓐ</f>that King Ahaz discarded in his reign when he was faithless, we have made ready and consecrated, and behold, they are before the altar of the LORD.”


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<pb/>Then Hezekiah the king rose early and gathered the officials of the city and went up to the house of the LORD.


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And they brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven male goats <f>ⓑ</f>for a sin offering for the kingdom and for the sanctuary and for Judah. And he commanded the priests, the sons of Aaron, to offer them on the altar of the LORD.


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So they slaughtered the bulls, and the priests received the blood <f>ⓒ</f>and threw it against the altar. And they slaughtered the rams, and their blood was thrown against the altar. And they slaughtered the lambs, and their blood was thrown against the altar.


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Then the goats for the sin offering were brought to the king and the assembly, <f>ⓓ</f>and they laid their hands on them,


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and the priests slaughtered them and made a sin offering with their blood on the altar, <f>ⓔ</f>to make atonement for all Israel. For the king commanded that the burnt offering and the sin offering should be made for all Israel.


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<pb/><f>ⓕ</f> And he stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres, <f>ⓖ</f>according to the commandment of David and of Gad <f>ⓗ</f>the king's seer and of <f>ⓘ</f>Nathan the prophet, for the commandment was from the LORD through his prophets.


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Then Hezekiah commanded that the burnt offering be offered on the altar. And when the burnt offering began, <f>ⓛ</f>the song to the LORD began also, and the trumpets, accompanied by the instruments of David king of Israel.


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The whole assembly worshiped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded. All this continued until the burnt offering was finished.


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When the offering was finished, <f>ⓜ</f>the king and all who were present with him bowed themselves and worshiped.


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And Hezekiah the king and the officials commanded the Levites to sing praises to the LORD with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed down and worshiped.


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<pb/>Then Hezekiah said, <f>ⓝ</f>“You have now consecrated yourselves to <f>[3]</f> the LORD. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the LORD.” And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were <f>ⓞ</f>of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.


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The number of the burnt offerings that the assembly brought was 70 bulls, 100 rams, and 200 lambs; all these were for a burnt offering to the LORD.


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But the priests were too few and could not flay all the burnt offerings, so until other priests had consecrated themselves, <f>ⓟ</f>their brothers the Levites helped them, until the work was finished — <f>ⓠ</f>for the Levites were more upright in heart than the priests in consecrating themselves.


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Besides the great number of burnt offerings, there was <f>ⓡ</f>the fat of the peace offerings, and there were <f>ⓢ</f>the drink offerings for the burnt offerings. Thus the service of the house of the LORD was restored.


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And Hezekiah and all the people rejoiced because God had provided for the people, for the thing came about suddenly.


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<pb/>Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem to keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel.


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For the king and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had taken counsel to keep the Passover <f>ⓐ</f>in the second month —


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for they could not keep it <f>ⓑ</f>at that time <f>ⓒ</f>because the priests had not consecrated themselves in sufficient number, nor had the people assembled in Jerusalem —


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So they decreed to make a proclamation throughout all Israel, <f>ⓓ</f>from Beersheba to Dan, that the people should come and keep the Passover to the LORD, the God of Israel, at Jerusalem, for they had not kept it as often as prescribed.


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<f>ⓔ</f> So couriers went throughout all Israel and Judah with letters from the king and his princes, as the king had commanded, saying, “O people of Israel, <f>ⓕ</f>return to the LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, that he may turn again to the remnant of you who have escaped from the hand of <f>ⓖ</f>the kings of Assyria.


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<f>ⓗ</f> Do not be like your fathers and your brothers, who were faithless to the LORD God of their fathers, so that he made them a desolation, as you see.


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<f>ⓘ</f> Do not now be stiff-necked as your fathers were, but yield yourselves to the LORD and come to his sanctuary, which he has consecrated forever, and serve the LORD your God, <f>ⓙ</f>that his fierce anger may turn away from you.


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For <f>ⓚ</f>if you return to the LORD, your brothers and your children <f>ⓛ</f>will find compassion with their captors and return to this land. For <f>ⓜ</f>the LORD your God is gracious and merciful and will not turn away his face from you, <f>ⓝ</f>if you return to him.”


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<pb/><f>ⓞ</f> So the couriers went from city to city through the country of <f>ⓟ</f>Ephraim and Manasseh, and as far as Zebulun, but <f>ⓠ</f>they laughed them to scorn and mocked them.


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However, <f>ⓡ</f>some men of Asher, of Manasseh, and of Zebulun humbled themselves and came to Jerusalem.


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The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and the princes commanded <f>ⓢ</f>by the word of the LORD.


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<pb/>And many people came together in Jerusalem to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread <f>ⓣ</f>in the second month, a very great assembly.


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They set to work and removed <f>ⓤ</f>the altars that were in Jerusalem, and all the altars for burning incense they took away <f>ⓥ</f>and threw into the brook Kidron.


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<f>ⓦ</f> And they slaughtered the Passover lamb on the fourteenth day of the second month. <f>ⓧ</f>And the priests and the Levites were ashamed, <f>ⓨ</f>so that they consecrated themselves and brought burnt offerings into the house of the LORD.


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<f>ⓩ</f> They took their accustomed posts according to the Law of Moses <f>ⓐ</f>the man of God. The priests threw the blood that they received from the hand of the Levites.


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For there were many in the assembly who had not consecrated themselves. Therefore the Levites had to slaughter the Passover lamb for everyone who was not clean, to consecrate it to the LORD.


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For a majority of the people, <f>ⓑ</f>many of them from Ephraim, Manasseh, Issachar, and Zebulun, had not cleansed themselves, yet they ate the Passover otherwise <f>ⓒ</f>than as prescribed. For Hezekiah had prayed for them, saying, “May the good LORD pardon everyone


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<f>ⓓ</f> who sets his heart to seek God, the LORD, the God of his fathers, even though not according to the sanctuary's rules of cleanness.” <f>[1]</f>


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And the people of Israel who were present at Jerusalem kept <f>ⓔ</f>the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with great gladness, and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with all their might <f>[2]</f> to the LORD.


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And Hezekiah spoke <f>ⓕ</f>encouragingly to all the Levites who showed good skill in the service of the LORD. So they ate the food of the festival for seven days, sacrificing <f>ⓖ</f>peace offerings and giving thanks to the LORD, the God of their fathers.


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<pb/>Then the whole assembly agreed together to keep the feast <f>ⓗ</f>for another seven days. So they kept it for another seven days with gladness.


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For Hezekiah king of Judah <f>ⓘ</f>gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 7,000 sheep for offerings, and the princes gave the assembly 1,000 bulls and 10,000 sheep. And the priests <f>ⓙ</f>consecrated themselves in great numbers.


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The whole assembly of Judah, and the priests and the Levites, <f>ⓚ</f>and the whole assembly that came out of Israel, and the sojourners who came out of the land of Israel, and the sojourners who lived in Judah, rejoiced.


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So there was great joy in Jerusalem, for <f>ⓛ</f>since the time of Solomon the son of David king of Israel there had been nothing like this in Jerusalem.


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Then <f>ⓜ</f>the priests and the Levites arose and <f>ⓝ</f>blessed the people, and their voice was heard, and their prayer came to <f>ⓞ</f>his holy habitation in heaven.


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<pb/>Now when all this was finished, all Israel who were present went out to the cities of Judah and <f>ⓐ</f>broke in pieces the <f>ⓑ</f>pillars and cut down <f>ⓒ</f>the Asherim and broke down the high places and the altars throughout all Judah and Benjamin, and in Ephraim and Manasseh, until they had destroyed them all. Then all the people of Israel returned to their cities, every man to his possession.


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<pb/>And Hezekiah appointed <f>ⓓ</f>the divisions of the priests and of the Levites, division by division, each according to his service, the priests and the Levites, <f>ⓔ</f>for burnt offerings and peace offerings, to minister in the gates of the camp of the LORD and to give thanks and praise.


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<f>ⓕ</f> The contribution of the king from his own possessions was for the burnt offerings: the burnt offerings of morning and evening, and the burnt offerings for the Sabbaths, the new moons, and the appointed feasts, <f>ⓖ</f>as it is written in the Law of the LORD.


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And he commanded the people who lived in Jerusalem to give <f>ⓗ</f>the portion due to the priests and the Levites, that they might give themselves to the Law of the LORD.


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As soon as the command was spread abroad, the people of Israel gave in abundance the firstfruits of grain, wine, oil, honey, and of all the produce of the field. And they brought in abundantly <f>ⓘ</f>the tithe of everything.


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And the people of Israel and Judah who lived in the cities of Judah also brought in the tithe of cattle and sheep, and <f>ⓙ</f>the tithe of the dedicated things that had been dedicated to the LORD their God, and laid them in heaps.


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Azariah the chief priest, who was <f>ⓚ</f>of the house of Zadok, answered him, “Since they began to bring the contributions into the house of the LORD, we have eaten and had enough and have plenty left, <f>ⓛ</f>for the LORD has blessed his people, so that we have this large amount left.”


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<pb/>Then Hezekiah commanded them to prepare <f>ⓜ</f>chambers in the house of the LORD, and they prepared them.


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And they faithfully brought in the contributions, the tithes, and the dedicated things. The chief officer <f>ⓝ</f>in charge of them was Conaniah the Levite, with <f>ⓞ</f>Shimei his brother as second,


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<f>ⓟ</f> while Jehiel, Azaziah, Nahath, Asahel, Jerimoth, Jozabad, Eliel, Ismachiah, <f>ⓠ</f>Mahath, and Benaiah were overseers assisting Conaniah and Shimei his brother, by the appointment of Hezekiah the king and <f>ⓡ</f>Azariah the chief officer of the house of God.


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And Kore the son of Imnah the Levite, keeper of the east gate, was over the freewill offerings to God, to apportion the contribution reserved for the LORD and the most holy offerings.


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<f>ⓢ</f> Eden, Miniamin, Jeshua, Shemaiah, Amariah, and Shecaniah were faithfully assisting him in <f>ⓣ</f>the cities of the priests, to distribute the portions to their brothers, old and young alike, by divisions,


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except those enrolled by genealogy, males from three years old and upward — all who entered the house of the LORD <f>ⓤ</f>as the duty of each day required — for their service according to their offices, by their divisions.


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The enrollment of the priests was according to their fathers' houses; that of the Levites <f>ⓥ</f>from twenty years old and upward was according to their offices, by their divisions.


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They were enrolled with all their little children, their wives, their sons, and their daughters, the whole assembly, for they were faithful in keeping themselves holy.


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And for the sons of Aaron, the priests, who were in the fields of common land belonging to their cities, there were men in the several cities who were <f>ⓦ</f>designated by name to distribute portions to every male among the priests and to everyone among the Levites who was enrolled.


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<pb/>Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, <f>ⓧ</f>and he did what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God.


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And every work that he undertook in the service of the house of God and in accordance with the law and the commandments, seeking his God, he did with all his heart, and prospered.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and invaded Judah and encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them for himself.


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he planned with his officers and his mighty men to stop the water of the springs that were outside the city; and they helped him.


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A great many people were gathered, and they stopped all the springs and <f>ⓑ</f>the brook that flowed through the land, saying, “Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?”


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He set to work resolutely and built up <f>ⓒ</f>all the wall that was broken down and raised towers upon it, <f>[1]</f> and outside it he built another wall, and he strengthened the <f>ⓓ</f>Millo in the city of David. He also made weapons and shields in abundance.


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And he set combat commanders over the people and gathered them together to him in the square at the gate of the city and spoke <f>ⓔ</f>encouragingly to them, saying,


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<f>ⓕ</f> “Be strong and courageous. <f>ⓖ</f>Do not be afraid or dismayed before the king of Assyria and all the horde that is with him, <f>ⓗ</f>for there are more with us than with him.


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With him is <f>ⓘ</f>an arm of flesh, <f>ⓙ</f>but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people took confidence from the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.


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<pb/>After this, Sennacherib king of Assyria, who was besieging Lachish with all his forces, sent his servants to Jerusalem to Hezekiah king of Judah and to all the people of Judah who were in Jerusalem, saying,


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“Thus says Sennacherib king of Assyria, ‘On what are you trusting, that you endure the siege in Jerusalem?


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Is not Hezekiah misleading you, that he may give you over to die by famine and by thirst, when he tells you, “The LORD our God will deliver us from the hand of the king of Assyria”?


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<f>ⓚ</f> Has not this same Hezekiah taken away his high places and his altars and commanded Judah and Jerusalem, “Before one altar you shall worship, and on it you shall burn your sacrifices”?


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Do you not know what I and my fathers have done to all the peoples of other lands? Were the gods of the nations of those lands at all able to deliver their lands out of my hand?


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Who among all the gods of those nations that my fathers devoted to destruction was able to deliver his people from my hand, that your God should be able to deliver you from my hand?


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Now, therefore, do not let Hezekiah deceive you or mislead you in this fashion, and do not believe him, for no god of any nation or kingdom has been able to deliver his people from my hand or from the hand of my fathers. How much less will your God deliver you out of my hand!’”


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And he wrote letters to cast contempt on the LORD, the God of Israel, and to speak against him, saying, “Like the gods of the nations of the lands who have not delivered their people from my hands, so the God of Hezekiah will not deliver his people from my hand.”


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And they shouted it with a loud voice in the language of Judah to the people of Jerusalem who were on the wall, to frighten and terrify them, in order that they might take the city.


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And they spoke of the God of Jerusalem as they spoke of the gods of the peoples of the earth, which are the work of men's hands.


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<pb/>Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven.


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And the LORD sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with <f>ⓛ</f>shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword.


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So the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side.


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And many <f>ⓜ</f>brought gifts to the LORD to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.


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<pb/><f>ⓝ</f> In those days Hezekiah became sick and was at the point of death, and he prayed to the LORD, and he answered him and gave him a sign.


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But Hezekiah <f>ⓞ</f>did not make return according to the benefit done to him, for <f>ⓟ</f>his heart was proud. Therefore <f>ⓠ</f>wrath came upon him and Judah and Jerusalem.


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But Hezekiah <f>ⓡ</f>humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah.


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<pb/>And Hezekiah had very great riches and honor, and he made for himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of <f>ⓢ</f>costly vessels;


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storehouses also for the yield of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of cattle, and sheepfolds.


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He likewise provided cities for himself, and flocks and herds in abundance, for God had given him very great possessions.


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This same Hezekiah <f>ⓣ</f>closed the upper outlet of the waters of <f>ⓤ</f>Gihon and directed them down to the west side of the city of David. And Hezekiah prospered in all his works.


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And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, <f>ⓥ</f>who had been sent to him to inquire about <f>ⓦ</f>the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, <f>ⓧ</f>in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.


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<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Hezekiah and his good deeds, behold, they are written <f>ⓨ</f>in the vision of Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, <f>ⓩ</f>in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.


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And Hezekiah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the <f>ⓐ</f>upper part of the tombs of the sons of David, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem did him honor at his death. And Manasseh his son reigned in his place.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.


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And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to <f>ⓑ</f>the abominations of the nations whom the LORD drove out before the people of Israel.


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For he rebuilt the high places <f>ⓒ</f>that his father Hezekiah had broken down, and he erected altars to the Baals, and made <f>ⓓ</f>Asheroth, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them.


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And he built altars in the house of the LORD, of which the LORD had said, <f>ⓔ</f>“In Jerusalem shall my name be forever.”


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<f>ⓖ</f> And he burned his sons as an offering <f>ⓗ</f>in the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, and <f>ⓘ</f>used fortune-telling and omens and sorcery, and dealt with <f>ⓙ</f>mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking him to anger.


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And <f>ⓚ</f>the carved image of the idol that he had made he set in the house of God, of which God said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, <f>ⓛ</f>I will put my name forever,


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and I will no more remove the foot of Israel from the land <f>ⓜ</f>that I appointed for your fathers, if only they will be careful to do all that I have commanded them, all the law, the statutes, and the rules given through Moses.”


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Manasseh led Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem astray, to do more evil than the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the people of Israel.


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<f>ⓝ</f> Therefore the LORD brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and <f>ⓞ</f>bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon.


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And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God <f>ⓟ</f>and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.


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He prayed to him, and <f>ⓠ</f>God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. <f>ⓡ</f>Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.


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<pb/>Afterward he built an outer wall for the city of David west of <f>ⓢ</f>Gihon, in the valley, and for the entrance into <f>ⓣ</f>the Fish Gate, and carried it around <f>ⓤ</f>Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. He also put commanders of the army in all the fortified cities in Judah.


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And <f>ⓥ</f>he took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside of the city.


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He also restored the altar of the LORD and offered on it sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and he commanded Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel.


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<f>ⓦ</f> Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.


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<pb/>Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and <f>ⓧ</f>his prayer to his God, and the words of <f>ⓨ</f>the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, behold, they are in the <f>ⓩ</f>Chronicles of the Kings of Israel.


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And his prayer, and how <f>ⓐ</f>God was moved by his entreaty, and all his sin and his faithlessness, and the sites <f>ⓑ</f>on which he built high places and set up the <f>ⓒ</f>Asherim and the images, before <f>ⓓ</f>he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the Chronicles of the Seers. <f>[1]</f>


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So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his house, and Amon his son reigned in his place.


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<pb/><f>ⓔ</f> Amon was twenty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned two years in Jerusalem.


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And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, as Manasseh his father had done. Amon sacrificed to all the images <f>ⓕ</f>that Manasseh his father had made, and served them.


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And he did not humble himself before the LORD, <f>ⓖ</f>as Manasseh his father had humbled himself, but this Amon incurred guilt more and more.


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But the people of the land struck down all those who had conspired against King Amon. And the people of the land made Josiah his son king in his place.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.


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And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, and walked in the ways of David his father; and he did not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.


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For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet a boy, he began to seek the God of David his father, and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem of the high places, the <f>ⓑ</f>Asherim, and the carved and the metal images.


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And they chopped down the altars of the Baals in his presence, and he cut down the <f>ⓒ</f>incense altars that stood above them. And he broke in pieces the <f>ⓓ</f>Asherim and the carved and the metal images, and he made dust of them and <f>ⓔ</f>scattered it over the graves of those who had sacrificed to them.


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And in the <f>ⓖ</f>cities of Manasseh, Ephraim, and Simeon, and as far as Naphtali, in their ruins <f>[1]</f> all around,


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he broke down the altars and beat the <f>ⓗ</f>Asherim and the images <f>ⓘ</f>into powder and cut down all the incense altars throughout all the land of Israel. Then he returned to Jerusalem.


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<pb/><f>ⓙ</f> Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had cleansed the land and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the <f>ⓚ</f>governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz, <f>ⓛ</f>the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God.


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They came to <f>ⓜ</f>Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had collected from <f>ⓝ</f>Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the remnant of Israel and from all Judah and Benjamin and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


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And they gave it to the workmen who were working in the house of the LORD. And the workmen who were working in the house of the LORD gave it for repairing and restoring the house.


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They gave it to the carpenters and the builders to buy quarried stone, and timber for binders and <f>ⓞ</f>beams for the buildings that the kings of Judah had let go to ruin.


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And the men did the work faithfully. Over them were set Jahath and Obadiah the Levites, of the sons of Merari, and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites, to have oversight. <f>ⓟ</f>The Levites, all who were skillful with instruments of music,


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were over <f>ⓠ</f>the burden-bearers and directed all who did work in every kind of service, and some of the Levites were scribes and officials and gatekeepers.


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<pb/>While they were bringing out the money that had been brought into the house of the LORD, <f>ⓡ</f>Hilkiah the priest found the Book of the Law of the LORD given through <f>[2]</f> Moses.


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Then Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the house of the LORD.” And Hilkiah gave the book to Shaphan.


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Shaphan brought the book to the king, and further reported to the king, “All that was committed to your servants they are doing.


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They have emptied out the money that was found in the house of the LORD and have given it into the hand of the overseers and the workmen.”


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Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read from it before the king.


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


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“Go, inquire of the LORD for me and for those who are left in Israel and in Judah, concerning the words of the book that has been found. For great is <f>ⓣ</f>the wrath of the LORD that is poured out on us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD, to do according to all that is written in this book.”


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<pb/>So Hilkiah and those whom the king had sent <f>[3]</f> went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shallum the son of Tokhath, son of Hasrah, keeper of the wardrobe (now she lived in Jerusalem in the Second Quarter) and spoke to her to that effect.


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Thus says the LORD, Behold, I will bring disaster upon this place and upon its inhabitants, all the curses that are written in the book that was read before the king of Judah.


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Because they have forsaken me and <f>ⓤ</f>have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the works of their hands, therefore <f>ⓥ</f>my wrath will be poured out on this place and will not be quenched.


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because your heart was tender and you humbled yourself before God when you heard his words against this place and its inhabitants, and you have humbled yourself before me and have torn your clothes and wept before me, I also have heard you, declares the LORD.


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Behold, I will gather you to your fathers, and you shall be gathered to your grave in peace, and your eyes shall not see all the disaster that I will bring upon this place and its inhabitants.’” And they brought back word to the king.


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And the king went up to the house of the LORD, with all the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the priests and the Levites, all the people both great and small. And he read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been found in the house of the LORD.


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And the king <f>ⓧ</f>stood in his place <f>ⓨ</f>and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes, with all his heart and all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.


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Then he made all who were present in Jerusalem and in Benjamin join in 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 <f>ⓩ</f>all the abominations from all the territory that belonged to the people of Israel and made all who were present in Israel serve the LORD their God. All his days they did not turn away from following the LORD, the God of their fathers.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> Josiah kept a Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem. And they slaughtered the Passover lamb <f>ⓑ</f>on the fourteenth day of the first month.


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He appointed the priests to their offices <f>ⓒ</f>and encouraged them in the service of the house of the LORD.


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And he said to the Levites <f>ⓓ</f>who taught all Israel and who were holy to the LORD, “Put the holy ark in the house that Solomon the son of David, king of Israel, built. You need not carry it on your shoulders. Now serve the LORD your God and his people Israel.


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Prepare yourselves <f>ⓔ</f>according to your fathers' houses by your divisions, <f>ⓕ</f>as prescribed in the writing of David king of Israel <f>ⓖ</f>and the document of Solomon his son.


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And <f>ⓗ</f>stand in the Holy Place <f>ⓘ</f>according to the groupings of the fathers' houses of your brothers the lay people, and according to the division of the Levites by fathers' household.


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And slaughter the Passover lamb, and <f>ⓙ</f>consecrate yourselves, and prepare for your brothers, to do according to the word of the LORD by <f>[1]</f> Moses.”


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<pb/>Then Josiah contributed to the lay people, as Passover offerings for all who were present, lambs and young goats from the flock to the number of 30,000, and 3,000 bulls; <f>ⓚ</f>these were from the king's possessions.


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And his officials contributed willingly to the people, to the priests, and to the Levites. <f>ⓛ</f>Hilkiah, Zechariah, and Jehiel, the chief officers of the house of God, gave to the priests for the Passover offerings 2,600 Passover lambs and 300 bulls.


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Conaniah also, and Shemaiah and Nethanel his brothers, and Hashabiah and Jeiel and Jozabad, the chiefs of the Levites, gave to the Levites for the Passover offerings 5,000 lambs and young goats and 500 bulls.


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<pb/>When the service had been prepared for, the priests <f>ⓜ</f>stood in their place, <f>ⓝ</f>and the Levites in their divisions according to the king's command.


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<f>ⓞ</f> And they slaughtered the Passover lamb, and the priests <f>ⓟ</f>threw the blood that they received from them <f>ⓠ</f>while the Levites flayed the sacrifices.


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And they set aside the burnt offerings that they might distribute them according to the groupings of the fathers' houses of the lay people, to offer to the LORD, as it is written in the Book of Moses. And so they did with the bulls.


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<f>ⓡ</f> And they roasted the Passover lamb with fire according to the rule; and they <f>ⓢ</f>boiled the holy offerings in pots, in cauldrons, and in pans, and carried them quickly to all the lay people.


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And afterward they prepared for themselves and for the priests, because the priests, the sons of Aaron, were offering the burnt offerings and the fat parts until night; so the Levites prepared for themselves and for the priests, the sons of Aaron.


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The singers, the sons of Asaph, were in their place <f>ⓣ</f>according to the command of David, and Asaph, and Heman, and Jeduthun the king's <f>ⓤ</f>seer; <f>ⓥ</f>and the gatekeepers were at each gate. They did not need to depart from their service, for their brothers the Levites prepared for them.


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<pb/>So all the service of the LORD was prepared that day, to keep the Passover and to offer burnt offerings on the altar of the LORD, according to the command of King Josiah.


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And the people of Israel who were present kept the Passover at that time, <f>ⓦ</f>and the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days.


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<f>ⓧ</f> No Passover like it had been kept in Israel since the days of Samuel the prophet. None of the kings of Israel had kept such a Passover as was kept by Josiah, and the priests and the Levites, and all Judah and Israel who were present, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.


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<pb/><f>ⓨ</f> After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at <f>ⓩ</f>Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah went out to meet him.


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But he sent envoys to him, saying, “What have we to do with each other, king of Judah? I am not coming against you this day, but against the house with which I am at war. And God has commanded me to hurry. Cease opposing God, who is with me, lest he destroy you.”


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Nevertheless, Josiah did not turn away from him, but <f>ⓐ</f>disguised himself in order to fight with him. He did not listen to the words of Neco from the mouth of God, but came to fight in the plain of <f>ⓑ</f>Megiddo.


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And the archers shot King Josiah. And the king said to his servants, <f>ⓒ</f>“Take me away, for I am badly wounded.”


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So his servants took him out of the chariot and carried him in his second chariot and brought him to Jerusalem. And he died and was buried in the tombs of his fathers. <f>ⓓ</f>All Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah.


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<f>ⓔ</f> Jeremiah also uttered a lament for Josiah; and all <f>ⓕ</f>the singing men and singing women have spoken of Josiah in their laments to this day. They made these a rule in Israel; behold, they are written in the Laments.


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Now the rest of the acts of Josiah, and his good deeds according to what is written in the Law of the LORD,


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and his acts, first and last, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> The people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah and made him king in his father's place 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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Then the king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem and <f>ⓑ</f>laid on the land a tribute of a hundred talents of silver and a talent <f>[1]</f> 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. But Neco took Jehoahaz his brother and carried him to Egypt.


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<pb/><f>ⓒ</f> Jehoiakim was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God.


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<f>ⓓ</f> Against him came up Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon <f>ⓔ</f>and bound him in chains <f>ⓕ</f>to take him to Babylon.


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<f>ⓖ</f> Nebuchadnezzar also carried part of the vessels of the house of the LORD to Babylon and put them in his palace in Babylon.


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<f>ⓗ</f> Now the rest of the acts of Jehoiakim, and the abominations that he did, and what was found against him, behold, they are written in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah. And Jehoiachin his son reigned in his place.


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<pb/><f>ⓘ</f> Jehoiachin was eighteen <f>[2]</f> years old when he became king, and he reigned three months and ten days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.


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In <f>ⓙ</f>the spring of the year King Nebuchadnezzar sent and brought him to Babylon, <f>ⓚ</f>with the precious vessels of the house of the LORD, and made his brother <f>ⓛ</f>Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.


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<pb/><f>ⓜ</f> Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem.


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He did what was evil in the sight of the LORD his God. He did not humble himself before <f>ⓝ</f>Jeremiah the prophet, who spoke from the mouth of the LORD.


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<f>ⓞ</f> He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. <f>ⓟ</f>He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the LORD, the God of Israel.


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All the officers of the priests and the people likewise were exceedingly unfaithful, following all the abominations of the nations. And they polluted the house of the LORD that he had made holy in Jerusalem.


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<pb/>The LORD, the God of their fathers, <f>ⓠ</f>sent persistently to them by his messengers, because he had compassion on his people and on his dwelling place.


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<f>ⓡ</f> But they kept mocking the messengers of God, <f>ⓢ</f>despising his words and scoffing at his prophets, <f>ⓣ</f>until the wrath of the LORD rose against his people, until there was no remedy.


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<pb/><f>ⓤ</f> Therefore he brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans, who killed their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary and had no compassion on young man or virgin, old man or aged. He gave them all into his hand.


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<f>ⓥ</f> And 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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<f>ⓦ</f> And they burned the house of God and broke down the wall of Jerusalem and burned all its palaces with fire and destroyed all its precious vessels.


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He <f>ⓧ</f>took into exile in Babylon those who had escaped from the sword, <f>ⓨ</f>and they became servants to him and to his sons until the establishment of the kingdom of Persia,


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to fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had <f>ⓩ</f>enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days that it lay desolate <f>ⓐ</f>it kept Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.


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<pb/><f>ⓑ</f> Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, <f>ⓒ</f>that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, <f>ⓓ</f>the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:


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“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The LORD, the God of heaven, 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. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up.’”


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, <f>ⓑ</f>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, so <f>ⓒ</f>that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:


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<pb/>“Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and <f>ⓓ</f>he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah.


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Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the LORD, the God of Israel — <f>ⓔ</f>he is the God who is in Jerusalem.


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And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”


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<pb/>Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, <f>ⓕ</f>everyone whose spirit <f>ⓖ</f>God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem.


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And all who were about them <f>ⓗ</f>aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered.


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<f>ⓘ</f> Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the LORD that <f>ⓙ</f>Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods.


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Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of <f>ⓚ</f>Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to <f>ⓛ</f>Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah.


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all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> Now these were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles <f>ⓑ</f>whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried captive to Babylonia. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his own town.


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They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, <f>ⓒ</f>Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum, and Baanah. <pb/>The number of the men of the people of Israel:


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The sons of the <f>ⓙ</f>gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, and the sons of Shobai, in all 139.


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<pb/><f>ⓛ</f> The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Hassophereth, the sons of Peruda,


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<pb/>The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer, <f>ⓜ</f>though they could not prove their fathers' houses or their descent, whether they belonged to Israel:


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Also, of the sons of the priests: the sons of Habaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, and the sons of <f>ⓝ</f>Barzillai (who had taken a wife from the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite, and was called by their name).


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These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but they were not found there, and <f>ⓞ</f>so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.


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The <f>ⓟ</f>governor told them that they were not <f>ⓠ</f>to partake of the most holy food, until there should be a priest to consult <f>ⓡ</f>Urim and Thummim.


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besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337, and they had 200 male and female <f>ⓣ</f>singers.


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<pb/><f>ⓤ</f> Some of the heads of families, when they came to the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem, made freewill offerings for the house of God, to erect it on its site.


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According to their ability they gave to <f>ⓥ</f>the treasury of the work 61,000 darics <f>[1]</f> of gold, 5,000 minas <f>[2]</f> of silver, and 100 priests' garments.


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<pb/><f>ⓦ</f> Now the priests, the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants lived in their towns, and all the rest of Israel <f>[3]</f> in their towns.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> When the seventh month came, and the children of Israel were in the towns, the people gathered as one man to Jerusalem.


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Then arose Jeshua the son of Jozadak, with his fellow priests, and <f>ⓑ</f>Zerubbabel the son of <f>ⓒ</f>Shealtiel with his kinsmen, and they built the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings on it, <f>ⓓ</f>as it is written in the Law of Moses the <f>ⓔ</f>man of God.


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They set the altar in its place, <f>ⓕ</f>for fear was on them because of the peoples of the lands, and <f>ⓖ</f>they offered burnt offerings on it to the LORD, burnt offerings morning and evening.


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<f>ⓗ</f> And they kept the Feast of Booths, <f>ⓘ</f>as it is written, <f>ⓙ</f>and offered the daily burnt offerings by number according to the rule, as each day required,


text:
and after that the regular burnt <f>ⓚ</f>offerings, the offerings at the new moon <f>ⓛ</f>and at all the appointed feasts of the LORD, and the offerings of everyone who made a freewill offering to the LORD.


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


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So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, <f>ⓜ</f>and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians <f>ⓝ</f>to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, <f>ⓞ</f>according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.


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<pb/>Now in the second year after their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, <f>ⓟ</f>Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and <f>ⓠ</f>Jeshua the son of Jozadak made a beginning, together with the rest of their kinsmen, the priests and the Levites and all who had come to Jerusalem from the captivity. They <f>ⓡ</f>appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to <f>ⓢ</f>supervise the work of the house of the LORD.


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And <f>ⓣ</f>Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, and Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together <f>ⓤ</f>supervised the workmen in the house of God, along with the <f>ⓥ</f>sons of Henadad and the Levites, their sons and brothers.


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<pb/>And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, the priests in their vestments came forward with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the LORD, <f>ⓦ</f>according to the directions of David king of Israel.


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And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD, <pb/><t><f>ⓧ</f>“For he is good, </t><t>for his steadfast love endures forever toward Israel.” </t> <pb/>And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised 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 heads of fathers' houses, <f>ⓨ</f>old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy,


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so that the people could not distinguish the sound of the joyful shout from the sound of the people's weeping, for the people shouted with a great shout, and the sound was heard far away.


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<pb/>Now when <f>ⓐ</f>the adversaries of Judah and Benjamin heard that the returned exiles were building a temple to the LORD, the God of Israel,


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they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers' houses and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God as you do, and we have been sacrificing to him ever <f>ⓑ</f>since the days of <f>ⓒ</f>Esarhaddon king of Assyria <f>ⓓ</f>who brought us here.”


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But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the rest of the heads of fathers' houses in Israel said to them, <f>ⓔ</f>“You have nothing to do with us in building a house to our God; but we alone will build to the LORD, the God of Israel, <f>ⓕ</f>as King Cyrus the king of Persia has commanded us.”


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<pb/>Then <f>ⓖ</f>the people of the land discouraged the people of Judah and made them afraid to build


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and bribed counselors against them to frustrate their purpose, all the days of Cyrus king of Persia, even until the reign of Darius king of Persia.


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<pb/>And in the reign of <f>ⓗ</f>Ahasuerus, in the beginning of his reign, they wrote an accusation against the inhabitants of Judah and Jerusalem.


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<pb/>In the days of Artaxerxes, Bishlam and <f>ⓘ</f>Mithredath and Tabeel and the rest of their associates wrote to Artaxerxes king of Persia. The letter was written <f>ⓙ</f>in Aramaic and translated. <f>[1]</f>


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Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe wrote a letter against Jerusalem to Artaxerxes the king as follows:


text:
Rehum the commander, Shimshai the scribe, and the rest of their associates, the <f>ⓚ</f>judges, the <f>ⓛ</f>governors, the officials, the Persians, the men of Erech, the Babylonians, the men of Susa, that is, the <f>ⓜ</f>Elamites,


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and the rest of the nations whom the great and noble <f>ⓝ</f>Osnappar deported and settled in the cities of Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River.


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(This is a copy of the letter that they sent.) “To Artaxerxes the king: Your servants, the men of the province Beyond the River, send greeting. And now


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be it known to the king that the Jews who came up from you to us have gone to Jerusalem. They are rebuilding that rebellious and wicked city. They are <f>ⓞ</f>finishing the walls and repairing the foundations.


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Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay <f>ⓟ</f>tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired.


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Now because we eat the salt of the palace <f>[2]</f> and it is not fitting for us to witness the king's dishonor, therefore we send and inform the king,


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in order that search may be made in the book of the records of your fathers. You will find in the book of the records and learn that this city is a rebellious city, hurtful to kings and provinces, and that sedition was stirred up in it from of old. That was why this city was laid waste.


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We make known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and its walls finished, you will then have no possession in the province Beyond the River.”


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<pb/>The king sent an answer: “To Rehum the commander and Shimshai the scribe and the rest of their associates who live in Samaria and in the rest of the province Beyond the River, greeting. And now


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And I made a decree, and search has been made, and it has been found that this city from of old has risen against kings, and that rebellion and sedition have been made in it.


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And mighty kings have been over Jerusalem, <f>ⓡ</f>who ruled over the whole province Beyond the River, to whom <f>ⓢ</f>tribute, custom, and toll were paid.


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Therefore make a decree that these men be made to cease, and that this city be not rebuilt, until a decree is made by me.


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<pb/>Then, when the copy of King Artaxerxes' letter was read before Rehum and Shimshai the scribe and their associates, they went in haste to the Jews at Jerusalem and by force and power made them cease.


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Then the work on the house of God that is in Jerusalem stopped, and it ceased until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia.


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<pb/>Now the prophets, <f>ⓐ</f>Haggai and <f>ⓑ</f>Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.


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<f>ⓒ</f> Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and <f>ⓓ</f>Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and the prophets of God were <f>ⓔ</f>with them, supporting them.


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<pb/>At the same time <f>ⓕ</f>Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and their associates came to them and spoke to them thus: <f>ⓖ</f>“Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?”


text:
They also asked them this: <f>[1]</f> “What are the names of the men who are building this building?”


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But <f>ⓗ</f>the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until the report should reach Darius and then an answer be returned by letter concerning it.


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<pb/>This is a copy of the letter that <f>ⓘ</f>Tattenai the governor of the province Beyond the River and Shethar-bozenai and his associates, the <f>ⓙ</f>governors who were in the province Beyond the River, sent to Darius the king.


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Be it known to the king that we went to the province of Judah, to the house of the great God. It is being built with huge stones, and timber is laid in the walls. This work goes on diligently and prospers in their hands.


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Then we asked those elders and spoke to them thus: <f>ⓚ</f>‘Who gave you a decree to build this house and to finish this structure?’


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We also asked them their names, for your information, that we might write down the names of their leaders. <f>[2]</f>


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And this was their reply to us: ‘We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and we are rebuilding the house that was built many years ago, <f>ⓛ</f>which a great king of Israel built and <f>ⓜ</f>finished.


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<f>ⓝ</f> But because our fathers had angered the God of heaven, he <f>ⓞ</f>gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house and carried away the people to Babylonia.


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<f>ⓟ</f> However, in the first year of Cyrus king of Babylon, Cyrus the king made a decree that this house of God should be rebuilt.


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<f>ⓠ</f> And the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple that was in Jerusalem and brought into the temple of Babylon, these Cyrus the king took out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered to one whose name was <f>ⓡ</f>Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;


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and he said to him, “Take these vessels, go and put them in the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be rebuilt on its site.”


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Then this <f>ⓢ</f>Sheshbazzar came and <f>ⓣ</f>laid the foundations of the house of God that is in Jerusalem, and from that time until now it has been in building, and it is <f>ⓤ</f>not yet finished.’


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Therefore, if it seems good to the king, <f>ⓥ</f>let search be made in the royal archives there in Babylon, to see whether a decree was issued by Cyrus the king for the rebuilding of this house of God in Jerusalem. And let the king send us his pleasure in this matter.”


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<pb/>Then Darius the king made a decree, and <f>ⓐ</f>search was made in Babylonia, in the house of the archives where the documents were stored.


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And in Ecbatana, the citadel that is <f>ⓑ</f>in the province of Media, a scroll was found on which this was written: “A record.


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In the first year of Cyrus the king, Cyrus the king issued a decree: Concerning the house of God at Jerusalem, let the house be rebuilt, the place where sacrifices were offered, and let its foundations be retained. Its height shall be sixty cubits <f>[1]</f> and its breadth sixty cubits,


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<f>ⓒ</f> with three layers of great stones and one layer of timber. Let the cost be paid from the royal treasury.


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And also <f>ⓓ</f>let the gold and silver vessels of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that is in Jerusalem and brought to Babylon, be restored and brought back to the temple that is in Jerusalem, each to its place. You shall put them in the house of God.”


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<pb/>“Now therefore, <f>ⓔ</f>Tattenai, governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, <f>ⓕ</f>and your <f>[2]</f> associates the governors who are in the province Beyond the River, keep away.


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Let the work on this house of God alone. Let the governor of the Jews and the elders of the Jews rebuild this house of God on its site.


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Moreover, <f>ⓖ</f>I make a decree regarding what you shall do for these elders of the Jews for the rebuilding of this house of God. The cost is to be paid to these men in full and without delay from the royal revenue, the tribute of the province from Beyond the River.


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And whatever is needed — bulls, rams, or sheep for burnt offerings to the God of heaven, wheat, salt, wine, or oil, as the priests at Jerusalem require — let that be given to them day by day without fail,


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that they may offer pleasing sacrifices to the God of heaven <f>ⓗ</f>and pray for the life of the king and his sons.


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Also I make a decree that if anyone alters this edict, a beam shall be pulled out of his house, and he shall be impaled on it, and <f>ⓘ</f>his house shall be made a dunghill.


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May the God <f>ⓙ</f>who has caused his name to dwell there overthrow any king or people who shall put out a hand to alter this, or to destroy this house of God that is in Jerusalem. I Darius make a decree; let it be done with all diligence.”


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<pb/>Then, according to the word sent by Darius the king, <f>ⓚ</f>Tattenai, the governor of the province Beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai, and their associates did with all diligence what Darius the king had ordered.


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<f>ⓛ</f> And the elders of the Jews built and prospered through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo. They finished their building by decree of the God of Israel and <f>ⓜ</f>by decree of Cyrus and <f>ⓝ</f>Darius and <f>ⓞ</f>Artaxerxes king of Persia;


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and this house was finished on the third day of the <f>ⓟ</f>month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of Darius the king.


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<pb/>And the people of Israel, the priests and the Levites, and the rest of the returned exiles, celebrated the <f>ⓠ</f>dedication of this house of God with joy.


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They offered at the dedication of this house of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel <f>ⓡ</f>12 male goats, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.


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And they set the priests <f>ⓢ</f>in their divisions and the Levites <f>ⓣ</f>in their divisions, for the service of God at Jerusalem, <f>ⓤ</f>as it is written in the Book of Moses.


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<f>ⓦ</f> For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together; all of them were clean. <f>ⓧ</f>So they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the returned exiles, for their fellow priests, and for themselves.


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It was eaten by the people of Israel who had returned from exile, and <f>ⓨ</f>also by every one who had joined them and separated himself <f>ⓩ</f>from the uncleanness of the peoples of the land to worship the LORD, the God of Israel.


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And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread <f>ⓐ</f>seven days with joy, for the LORD had made them joyful <f>ⓑ</f>and had turned the heart of <f>ⓒ</f>the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.


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<pb/>Now after this, <f>ⓐ</f>in the reign of <f>ⓑ</f>Artaxerxes king of Persia, <f>ⓒ</f>Ezra the son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,


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this Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe <f>ⓓ</f>skilled in the Law of Moses that the LORD, the God of Israel, had given, and the king granted him all that he asked, <f>ⓔ</f>for the hand of the LORD his God was on him.


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<pb/>And there went up also to Jerusalem, in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king, some of the people of Israel, and <f>ⓕ</f>some of the priests and <f>ⓖ</f>Levites, the singers and gatekeepers, and the temple <f>ⓗ</f>servants.


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And Ezra <f>[1]</f> came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.


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For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylonia, and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, <f>ⓘ</f>for the good hand of his God was on him.


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For Ezra had set his heart to study the Law of the LORD, and to do it <f>ⓙ</f>and to <f>ⓚ</f>teach his statutes and rules in Israel.


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<pb/>This is a copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, a man learned in matters of the commandments of the LORD and his statutes for Israel:


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“Artaxerxes, <f>ⓛ</f>king of kings, to Ezra the priest, the <f>ⓜ</f>scribe of the Law of the God of heaven. Peace. <f>[2]</f> <f>ⓝ</f>And now


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<f>ⓞ</f> I make a decree that anyone of the people of Israel or their priests or Levites in my kingdom, who freely offers to go to Jerusalem, may go with you.


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For you are sent by the king <f>ⓟ</f>and his seven counselors to make inquiries about Judah and Jerusalem according to the Law of your God, which is in your hand,


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and also to carry the silver and gold that the king <f>ⓠ</f>and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, <f>ⓡ</f>whose dwelling is in Jerusalem,


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<f>ⓢ</f> with all the silver and gold that you shall find in the whole province of Babylonia, and <f>ⓣ</f>with the freewill offerings of the people and the priests, vowed willingly for the house of their God that is in Jerusalem.


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With this money, then, you shall with all diligence buy bulls, rams, and lambs, with their grain offerings and their drink offerings, and <f>ⓤ</f>you shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God that is in Jerusalem.


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Whatever seems good to you and your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and gold, you may do, according to the will of your God.


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The vessels that have been given you for the service of the house of your God, you shall deliver before the God of Jerusalem.


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And whatever else is required for the house of your God, which it falls to you to provide, you may provide it out of the king's treasury.


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<pb/>“And I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers in the province Beyond the River: Whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the Law of the God of heaven, requires of you, let it be done with all diligence,


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up to 100 talents <f>[3]</f> of silver, 100 cors <f>[4]</f> of wheat, 100 baths <f>[5]</f> of wine, 100 baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.


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Whatever is decreed by the God of heaven, let it be done in full for the house of the God of heaven, lest his wrath be against the realm of the king and his sons.


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We also notify you that it shall not be lawful to impose <f>ⓥ</f>tribute, custom, or toll on anyone of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the doorkeepers, the temple servants, or other servants of this house of God.


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<pb/>“And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, <f>ⓦ</f>appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River, all such as know the laws of your God. <f>ⓧ</f>And those who do not know them, you shall teach.


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Whoever will not obey the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be strictly executed on him, whether for death or for banishment or for confiscation of his goods or for imprisonment.”


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<pb/><f>ⓨ</f> Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, <f>ⓩ</f>who put such a thing as this into the heart of the king, to beautify the house of the LORD that is in Jerusalem,


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<f>ⓐ</f> and who extended to me his steadfast love before the king and his counselors, and before all the king's mighty officers. I took courage, for the hand of the LORD my God was on me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.


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<pb/>These are the heads of their fathers' houses, and this is the genealogy of those who went up with me from Babylonia, in the reign of Artaxerxes the king:


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Of the sons of Phinehas, Gershom. Of the sons of <f>ⓐ</f>Ithamar, Daniel. Of the sons of David, <f>ⓑ</f>Hattush.


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Of the sons of Shecaniah, who was of the sons of <f>ⓒ</f>Parosh, Zechariah, with whom were registered 150 men.


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Of the sons of Adonikam, those who came later, their names being Eliphelet, Jeuel, and Shemaiah, and with them 60 men.


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<pb/>I gathered them to the river that runs to <f>ⓕ</f>Ahava, and there we camped three days. As I reviewed the people and the priests, I found there <f>ⓖ</f>none of the sons of Levi.


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Then I sent for Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah, and <f>ⓗ</f>Meshullam, leading men, and for Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of insight,


text:
and sent them to Iddo, the leading man at the place Casiphia, telling them what to say to Iddo and his brothers and <f>[3]</f> the temple servants at the place Casiphia, namely, to send us ministers for the house of our God.


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And <f>ⓘ</f>by the good hand of our God on us, they brought us a man of discretion, of the sons of <f>ⓙ</f>Mahli the son of Levi, son of Israel, namely Sherebiah with his sons and kinsmen, 18;


text:
also <f>ⓚ</f>Hashabiah, and with him Jeshaiah of <f>ⓛ</f>the sons of Merari, with his kinsmen and their sons, 20;


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<f>ⓜ</f> besides 220 of the temple servants, whom David and his officials had set apart to attend the Levites. These were all <f>ⓝ</f>mentioned by name.


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<pb/><f>ⓞ</f> Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river <f>ⓟ</f>Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, <f>ⓠ</f>to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods.


text:
For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, <f>ⓡ</f>“The hand of our God is for good on <f>ⓢ</f>all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him.”


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<pb/>Then I set apart twelve of the leading priests: <f>ⓣ</f>Sherebiah, <f>ⓤ</f>Hashabiah, and ten of their kinsmen with them.


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And I weighed out to them the <f>ⓥ</f>silver and the gold and the vessels, the offering for the house of our God that the king and his <f>ⓦ</f>counselors and his lords and all Israel there present had offered.


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<f>ⓧ</f> I weighed out into their hand 650 talents <f>[4]</f> of silver, and silver vessels worth 200 talents, <f>[5]</f> and 100 talents of gold,


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20 bowls of gold worth 1,000 darics, <f>[6]</f> and two vessels of fine bright bronze as precious as gold.


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And I said to them, <f>ⓨ</f>“You are holy to the LORD, and <f>ⓩ</f>the vessels are holy, and the silver and the gold are a freewill offering to the LORD, the God of your fathers.


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Guard them and keep them until you weigh them before the chief priests and the Levites and the heads of fathers' houses in Israel at Jerusalem, <f>ⓐ</f>within the chambers of the house of the LORD.”


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So the priests and the Levites <f>ⓑ</f>took over the weight of the silver and the gold and the vessels, to bring them to Jerusalem, to the house of our God.


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<pb/>Then we departed from the river Ahava <f>ⓒ</f>on the twelfth day of the first month, to go to Jerusalem. <f>ⓓ</f>The hand of our God was on us, and he delivered us from the hand of the enemy and from ambushes by the way.


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On the fourth day, within the house of our God, the silver and the gold and the vessels were <f>ⓕ</f>weighed into the hands of <f>ⓖ</f>Meremoth the priest, son of Uriah, and with him was Eleazar the son of Phinehas, and with them were the Levites, <f>ⓗ</f>Jozabad the son of Jeshua and Noadiah the son of <f>ⓘ</f>Binnui.


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<pb/>At that time <f>ⓙ</f>those who had come from captivity, the returned exiles, offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel, <f>ⓚ</f>twelve bulls for all Israel, ninety-six rams, seventy-seven lambs, and as a sin offering twelve male goats. All this was a burnt offering to the LORD.


text:
<f>ⓛ</f> They also delivered the king's commissions to the king's <f>ⓜ</f>satraps <f>[7]</f> and to the governors of the province Beyond the River, and they aided the people and the house of God.


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<pb/>After these things had been done, the officials approached me and said, “The people of Israel and the priests and the <f>ⓐ</f>Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands <f>ⓑ</f>with their abominations, from the <f>ⓒ</f>Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.


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<f>ⓓ</f> For they have taken some of their daughters to be wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the <f>ⓔ</f>holy race <f>[1]</f> has <f>ⓕ</f>mixed itself with the peoples of the lands. And in this faithlessness the hand of the officials and chief men has been foremost.”


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As soon as I heard this, I <f>ⓖ</f>tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and <f>ⓗ</f>sat appalled.


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Then all who <f>ⓘ</f>trembled at the words of the God of Israel, because of the faithlessness of the returned exiles, gathered around me while I sat <f>ⓙ</f>appalled until the evening sacrifice.


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And at the <f>ⓚ</f>evening sacrifice I rose from my fasting, with my garment <f>ⓛ</f>and my cloak torn, and fell upon my knees <f>ⓜ</f>and spread out my hands to the LORD my God,


text:
saying: <pb/>“O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift my face to you, my God, for our iniquities <f>ⓝ</f>have risen higher than our heads, and our <f>ⓞ</f>guilt has <f>ⓟ</f>mounted up to the heavens.


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<f>ⓠ</f> From the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great <f>ⓡ</f>guilt. And for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plundering, <f>ⓢ</f>and to utter shame, as it is today.


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But now for a brief moment favor has been shown by the LORD our God, to leave us a <f>ⓣ</f>remnant and to give us a <f>ⓤ</f>secure hold <f>[2]</f> within his holy place, that our God may <f>ⓥ</f>brighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our slavery.


text:
<f>ⓦ</f> For we are slaves. Yet our God has not forsaken us in our slavery, <f>ⓧ</f>but has extended to us his steadfast love before the kings of Persia, to grant us some reviving to set up the house of our God, to repair its ruins, and to give us protection <f>[3]</f> in Judea and Jerusalem.


text:
which you commanded by your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land that you are entering, to take possession of it, is a land impure with the impurity of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations that have filled it from end to end with <f>ⓨ</f>their uncleanness.


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<f>ⓩ</f> Therefore do not give your daughters to their sons, neither take their daughters for your sons, and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land <f>ⓐ</f>and leave it for an inheritance to your children forever.’


text:
And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for <f>ⓑ</f>our great guilt, seeing that you, our <f>ⓒ</f>God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserved and have given us such a <f>ⓓ</f>remnant as this,


text:
shall we break your commandments again and <f>ⓔ</f>intermarry with the peoples who practice these abominations? Would you not be angry with us <f>ⓕ</f>until you consumed us, so that there should be no <f>ⓖ</f>remnant, nor any to escape?


text:
O LORD, the God of Israel, you are just, for we are left a <f>ⓗ</f>remnant that has escaped, as it is today. Behold, we are before you in our <f>ⓘ</f>guilt, <f>ⓙ</f>for none can stand before you because of this.”


text:
<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> While Ezra prayed and <f>ⓑ</f>made confession, weeping and <f>ⓒ</f>casting himself down <f>ⓓ</f>before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly.


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And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: <f>ⓔ</f>“We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.


text:
Therefore <f>ⓕ</f>let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and <f>ⓖ</f>their children, according to the counsel of my lord <f>[1]</f> and of <f>ⓗ</f>those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done <f>ⓘ</f>according to the Law.


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Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel <f>ⓚ</f>take an oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath.


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<pb/>Then Ezra withdrew <f>ⓛ</f>from before the house of God and went to the <f>ⓜ</f>chamber of <f>ⓝ</f>Jehohanan the son of <f>ⓞ</f>Eliashib, where he spent the night, <f>[2]</f> neither <f>ⓟ</f>eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles.


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And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to all the returned exiles that they should assemble at Jerusalem,


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and that if anyone did not come within three days, by order of the officials and the elders all his property should be forfeited, and he himself banned from the congregation of the exiles.


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<pb/>Then all the men of Judah and Benjamin assembled at Jerusalem within the three days. It was the ninth month, on the twentieth day of the month. And all the people sat in the open square before the house of God, trembling because of this matter and because of the <f>ⓠ</f>heavy rain.


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And Ezra the priest stood up and said to them, “You have broken faith and married foreign women, and so increased the guilt of Israel.


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Now then <f>ⓡ</f>make confession to the LORD, the God of your fathers and do his will. <f>ⓢ</f>Separate yourselves from the peoples of the land and from the foreign wives.”


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But the people are many, and it is a time of heavy rain; we cannot stand in the open. Nor is this a task for one day or for two, for we have greatly transgressed in this matter.


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Let our officials stand for the whole assembly. Let all in our cities who have taken foreign wives come <f>ⓣ</f>at appointed times, and with them the elders and judges of every city, <f>ⓤ</f>until the fierce wrath of our God over this matter is turned away from us.”


text:
Only Jonathan the son of Asahel and Jahzeiah the son of Tikvah opposed this, and <f>ⓥ</f>Meshullam and <f>ⓦ</f>Shabbethai the Levite supported them.


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<pb/>Then the returned exiles did so. Ezra the priest selected men, <f>[3]</f> heads of fathers' houses, according to their fathers' houses, each of them designated by name. On the first day of the tenth month they sat down to examine the matter;


text:
and by the first day of the first month they had come to the end of all the men who had married foreign women.


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<pb/>Now there were found some of the sons of the priests who had married foreign women: Maaseiah, Eliezer, Jarib, and Gedaliah, some of the sons of <f>ⓧ</f>Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers.


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They <f>ⓨ</f>pledged themselves to put away their wives, and their guilt offering was <f>ⓩ</f>a ram of the flock for their guilt. <f>[4]</f>


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<pb/>And of Israel: of the sons of Parosh: Ramiah, Izziah, Malchijah, Mijamin, Eleazar, Hashabiah, <f>[5]</f> and Benaiah.


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Of the sons of Pahath-moab: Adna, Chelal, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattaniah, Bezalel, Binnui, and Manasseh.


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All these had married foreign women, and some of the women <f>ⓔ</f>had even borne children. <f>[7]</f>


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<pb/>The words of <f>ⓐ</f>Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah. <pb/>Now it happened in the month of <f>ⓑ</f>Chislev, <f>ⓒ</f>in the twentieth year, as I was in <f>ⓓ</f>Susa the citadel,


text:
that <f>ⓔ</f>Hanani, one of my brothers, came with certain men from Judah. And I asked them concerning the Jews who escaped, who had survived the exile, and concerning Jerusalem.


text:
And they said to me, “The remnant there in the province who had survived the exile is in great trouble and <f>ⓕ</f>shame. <f>ⓖ</f>The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, <f>ⓗ</f>and its gates are destroyed by fire.”


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<pb/>As soon as I heard these words I <f>ⓘ</f>sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying before the <f>ⓙ</f>God of heaven.


text:
And I said, “O LORD God of heaven, <f>ⓚ</f>the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments,


text:
<f>ⓛ</f> let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, <f>ⓜ</f>confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even <f>ⓝ</f>I and my father's house have sinned.


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<f>ⓞ</f> We have acted very corruptly against you and have not kept the commandments, the statutes, and the rules <f>ⓟ</f>that you commanded your servant Moses.


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Remember the word that you commanded your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, <f>ⓠ</f>I will scatter you among the peoples,


text:
<f>ⓡ</f> but if you return to me and keep my commandments and do them, <f>ⓢ</f>though your outcasts are in the uttermost parts of heaven, from there I will gather them and bring them <f>ⓣ</f>to the place that I have chosen, to make my name dwell there.’


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<f>ⓤ</f> They are your servants and your people, whom you have redeemed by your great power and by your strong hand.


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O Lord, <f>ⓥ</f>let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” <pb/>Now I was <f>ⓦ</f>cupbearer to the king.


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<pb/>In the month of Nisan, <f>ⓐ</f>in the twentieth year of King <f>ⓑ</f>Artaxerxes, when wine was before him, <f>ⓒ</f>I took up the wine and gave it to the king. Now I had not been sad in his presence.


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And the king said to me, “Why is your face sad, seeing you are not sick? This is nothing but <f>ⓓ</f>sadness of the heart.” Then I was very much afraid.


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I said to the king, <f>ⓔ</f>“Let the king live forever! Why should not my face be sad, <f>ⓕ</f>when the city, the place of my fathers' graves, lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?”


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And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers' graves, that I may rebuild it.”


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And the king said to me (<f>ⓗ</f>the queen sitting beside him), “How long will you be gone, and when will you return?” So it pleased the king to send me <f>ⓘ</f>when I had given him a time.


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And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, let letters be given me <f>ⓙ</f>to the governors of the province Beyond the River, that they may let me pass through until I come to Judah,


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and a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the king's forest, that he may give me timber to make beams for the gates of <f>ⓚ</f>the fortress of the temple, and for the wall of the city, and for the house that I shall occupy.” And the king granted me what I asked, <f>ⓛ</f>for the good hand of my God was upon me.


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<pb/>Then I came to <f>ⓜ</f>the governors of the province Beyond the River and gave them the king's letters. Now the king had sent with me officers of the army and horsemen.


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But when <f>ⓝ</f>Sanballat the Horonite and <f>ⓞ</f>Tobiah the Ammonite servant heard this, it displeased them greatly that someone had come to seek the welfare of the people of Israel.


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Then I arose in the night, I and a few men with me. And I told no one what my God had put into my heart to do for Jerusalem. There was no animal with me but the one on which I rode.


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I went out by night by <f>ⓠ</f>the Valley Gate to the Dragon Spring and to <f>ⓡ</f>the Dung Gate, and I inspected the walls of Jerusalem <f>ⓢ</f>that were broken down <f>ⓣ</f>and its gates that had been destroyed by fire.


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Then I went on to <f>ⓤ</f>the Fountain Gate and to <f>ⓥ</f>the King's Pool, but there was no room for the animal that was under me to pass.


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Then I went up in the night <f>ⓦ</f>by the valley and inspected the wall, and I turned back and entered by the Valley Gate, and so returned.


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And the officials did not know where I had gone or what I was doing, and I had not yet told the Jews, the priests, the nobles, the officials, and the rest who were to do the work.


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<pb/>Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, <f>ⓧ</f>how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer <f>ⓨ</f>suffer derision.”


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And I told them <f>ⓩ</f>of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” <f>ⓐ</f>So they strengthened their hands for the good work.


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But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite servant and <f>ⓑ</f>Geshem the Arab heard of it, <f>ⓒ</f>they jeered at us and despised us and said, “What is this thing that you are doing? <f>ⓓ</f>Are you rebelling against the king?”


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Then I replied to them, <f>ⓔ</f>“The God of heaven will make us prosper, and we his servants will arise and build, but you have no portion or right or claim <f>[1]</f> in Jerusalem.”


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<pb/>Then <f>ⓐ</f>Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built <f>ⓑ</f>the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and <f>ⓒ</f>set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the <f>ⓓ</f>Tower of Hananel.


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And next to him <f>ⓔ</f>the men of Jericho built. And next to them <f>[1]</f> Zaccur the son of Imri built.


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<pb/>The sons of Hassenaah built <f>ⓕ</f>the Fish Gate. <f>ⓖ</f>They laid its beams and <f>ⓗ</f>set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.


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And next to them <f>ⓘ</f>Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them <f>ⓙ</f>Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired.


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And next to them <f>ⓚ</f>the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord. <f>[2]</f>


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<pb/>Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah <f>ⓛ</f>repaired the Gate of Yeshanah. <f>[3]</f> <f>ⓜ</f>They laid its beams and <f>ⓝ</f>set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.


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And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of <f>ⓞ</f>the governor of the province Beyond the River.


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Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as <f>ⓟ</f>the Broad Wall.


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Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, <f>ⓠ</f>ruler of half the district of <f>[4]</f> Jerusalem, repaired.


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Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired.


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Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and <f>ⓡ</f>the Tower of the Ovens.


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Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, <f>ⓢ</f>ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.


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<pb/>Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired <f>ⓣ</f>the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and <f>ⓤ</f>set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits <f>[5]</f> of the wall, as far as <f>ⓥ</f>the Dung Gate.


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<pb/>Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of <f>ⓦ</f>Beth-haccherem, repaired <f>ⓧ</f>the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and <f>ⓨ</f>set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.


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<pb/>And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired <f>ⓩ</f>the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and <f>ⓐ</f>set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of <f>ⓑ</f>the Pool of Shelah of <f>ⓒ</f>the king's garden, as far as <f>ⓓ</f>the stairs that go down from the city of David.


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After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite <f>ⓔ</f>the tombs of David, as far as <f>ⓕ</f>the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men.


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After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district.


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Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at <f>ⓖ</f>the buttress. <f>[6]</f>


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After him Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired <f>[7]</f> another section from the buttress to the door of the house of <f>ⓗ</f>Eliashib the high priest.


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After him <f>ⓘ</f>Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib.


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After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house.


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After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress and to <f>ⓚ</f>the corner.


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Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at <f>ⓛ</f>the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh


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<f>ⓜ</f> and the temple servants living on <f>ⓝ</f>Ophel repaired to a point opposite <f>ⓞ</f>the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower.


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After him <f>ⓟ</f>the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.


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After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired.


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After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him <f>ⓡ</f>Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite <f>ⓢ</f>his chamber.


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After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate, <f>[8]</f> and to the upper chamber of the corner.


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And between the upper chamber of the corner and <f>ⓣ</f>the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.


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<pb/><f>[1]</f> Now when <f>ⓐ</f>Sanballat heard that we were building the wall, he was angry and greatly enraged, and he jeered at the Jews.


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And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of <f>ⓑ</f>Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they restore it for themselves? <f>[2]</f> Will they sacrifice? Will they finish up in a day? Will they revive the stones out of the heaps of rubbish, and burned ones at that?”


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<f>ⓒ</f> Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Yes, what they are building — <f>ⓓ</f>if a fox goes up on it he will break down their stone wall!”


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<f>ⓔ</f> Hear, O our God, for we are despised. <f>ⓕ</f>Turn back their taunt on their own heads and give them up to be plundered in a land where they are captives.


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<f>ⓖ</f> Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders.


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<pb/>So we built the wall. And all the wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a mind to work.


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<pb/><f>[3]</f> But when <f>ⓗ</f>Sanballat and Tobiah and the Arabs and the Ammonites and the Ashdodites heard that the repairing of the walls of Jerusalem was going forward and that the breaches were beginning to be closed, they were very angry.


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<f>ⓘ</f> And they all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and to cause confusion in it.


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<pb/>In Judah it was said, <f>[4]</f> “The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall.”


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And our enemies said, “They will not know or see till we come among them and kill them and stop the work.”


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At that time the Jews who lived near them came from all directions and said to us ten times, “You must return to us.” <f>[5]</f>


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So in the lowest parts of the space behind the wall, in open places, I stationed the people by their clans, with their swords, their spears, and their bows.


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And I looked and arose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, <f>ⓙ</f>“Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, <f>ⓚ</f>who is great and awesome, <f>ⓛ</f>and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.”


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<pb/>When our enemies heard that it was known to us <f>ⓜ</f>and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each to his work.


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From that day on, half of my servants worked on construction, and half held the spears, shields, bows, and <f>ⓝ</f>coats of mail. And the leaders stood behind the whole house of Judah,


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who were building on the wall. Those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other.


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And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The man who sounded the trumpet was beside me.


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And I said to <f>ⓞ</f>the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, “The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another.


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In the place where you hear the sound of the trumpet, rally to us there. <f>ⓟ</f>Our God will fight for us.”


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<pb/>So we labored at the work, and half of them held the spears from the break of dawn until the stars came out.


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I also said to the people at that time, “Let every man and his servant pass the night within Jerusalem, that they may be a guard for us by night and may labor by day.”


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So neither I nor my brothers nor my servants nor the men of the guard who followed me, none of us took off our clothes; <f>ⓠ</f>each kept his weapon at his right hand. <f>[6]</f>


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<pb/>Now there arose <f>ⓐ</f>a great outcry of the people and of their wives <f>ⓑ</f>against their Jewish brothers.


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For there were those who said, “With our sons and our daughters, we are many. So let us get grain, that we may eat and keep alive.”


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There were also those who said, “We are mortgaging our fields, our vineyards, and our houses to get grain because of the famine.”


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And there were those who said, “We have borrowed money for <f>ⓒ</f>the king's tax on our fields and our vineyards.


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Now <f>ⓓ</f>our flesh is as the flesh of our brothers, our children are as their children. Yet <f>ⓔ</f>we are forcing our sons and our daughters to be slaves, and some of our daughters have already been enslaved, but it is not in our power to help it, for other men have our fields and our vineyards.”


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I took counsel with myself, and I brought charges against the nobles and the officials. I said to them, <f>ⓖ</f>“You are exacting interest, each from his brother.” And I held a great assembly against them


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and said to them, “We, as far as we are able, <f>ⓗ</f>have bought back our Jewish brothers who have been sold to the nations, but you even sell your brothers that they may be sold to us!” They were silent and could not find a word to say.


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So I said, “The thing that you are doing is not good. Ought you not to walk <f>ⓘ</f>in the fear of our God <f>ⓙ</f>to prevent the taunts of the nations our enemies?


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Moreover, I and my brothers and my servants are lending them money and grain. Let us abandon this exacting of interest.


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Return to them this very day their fields, their vineyards, their olive orchards, and their houses, and the percentage of money, grain, wine, and oil that you have been exacting from them.”


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Then they said, “We will restore these and <f>ⓚ</f>require nothing from them. We will do as you say.” And I called the priests and <f>ⓛ</f>made them swear <f>ⓜ</f>to do as they had promised.


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<f>ⓝ</f> I also shook out the fold <f>[1]</f> of my garment and said, “So may God shake out every man from his house and from his labor who does not keep this promise. So may he be shaken out and emptied.” <f>ⓞ</f>And all the assembly said “Amen” and praised the LORD. And the people did as they had promised.


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<pb/>Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah, from <f>ⓟ</f>the twentieth year to <f>ⓠ</f>the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes the king, twelve years, <f>ⓡ</f>neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor.


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The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration <f>[2]</f> forty shekels <f>[3]</f> of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, <f>ⓢ</f>because of the fear of God.


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I also persevered in the work on this wall, and we acquired no land, and all my servants were gathered there for the work.


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Moreover, there were <f>ⓣ</f>at my table 150 men, Jews and officials, besides those who came to us from the nations that were around us.


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<f>ⓤ</f> Now what was prepared at my expense <f>[4]</f> for each day was one ox and six choice sheep and birds, and every ten days all kinds of wine in abundance. Yet for all this <f>ⓥ</f>I did not demand the food allowance of the governor, because the service was too heavy on this people.


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<pb/>Now when <f>ⓐ</f>Sanballat and Tobiah and <f>ⓑ</f>Geshem the Arab and the rest of our enemies heard that I had built the wall and that there was no breach left in it (<f>ⓒ</f>although up to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates),


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Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, “Come and let us meet together at Hakkephirim in the plain of <f>ⓓ</f>Ono.” But they intended to do me harm.


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And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”


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In the same way Sanballat for the fifth time sent his servant to me with an open letter in his hand.


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In it was written, “It is reported among the nations, and Geshem <f>[1]</f> also says it, that you and <f>ⓔ</f>the Jews intend to rebel; that is why you are building the wall. And according to these reports you wish to become their king.


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And you have also set up prophets to proclaim concerning you in Jerusalem, ‘There is a king in Judah.’ And now the king will hear of these reports. So now come and let us take counsel together.”


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Then I sent to him, saying, “No such things as you say have been done, for you are inventing them out of your own mind.”


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For they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done.” But now, O God, <f>[2]</f> strengthen my hands.


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<pb/>Now when I went into the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah, son of Mehetabel, who was <f>ⓕ</f>confined to his home, he said, “Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple. Let us close the doors of the temple, for they are coming to kill you. They are coming to kill you by night.”


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But I said, “Should such a man as I run away? And what man such as I could go into the temple and live? <f>[3]</f> I will not go in.”


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And I understood and saw that God had not sent him, <f>ⓖ</f>but he had pronounced the prophecy against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.


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For this purpose he was hired, that I should be afraid and act in this way and sin, and so they could give me a bad name in order to taunt me.


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<f>ⓗ</f> Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, O my God, according to these things that they did, and also <f>ⓘ</f>the prophetess Noadiah and the rest of the prophets who wanted to make me afraid.


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And <f>ⓙ</f>when all our enemies heard of it, all the nations around us were afraid and fell greatly in their own esteem, <f>ⓚ</f>for they perceived that this work had been accomplished with the help of our God.


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Moreover, in those days the nobles of Judah sent many letters to Tobiah, and Tobiah's letters came to them.


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For many in Judah were bound by oath to him, because he was the son-in-law of Shecaniah the son of <f>ⓛ</f>Arah: and his son Jehohanan had taken the daughter of <f>ⓜ</f>Meshullam the son of Berechiah as his wife.


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Also they spoke of his good deeds in my presence and reported my words to him. And Tobiah sent letters to make me afraid.


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<pb/>Now when the wall had been built <f>ⓐ</f>and I had set up the doors, and the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed,


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I gave <f>ⓑ</f>my brother Hanani and Hananiah the governor of <f>ⓒ</f>the castle charge over Jerusalem, for he was <f>ⓓ</f>a more faithful and God-fearing man than many.


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And I said to them, “Let not the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot. And while they are still standing guard, let them shut and bar the doors. Appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, some at their guard posts and some in front of their own homes.”


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<pb/>Then my God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles and the officials and the people to be enrolled by genealogy. And I found the book of the genealogy of <f>ⓔ</f>those who came up at the first, and I found written in it:


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<pb/><f>ⓕ</f> These were the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of those exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried into exile. They returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his town.


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They came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, <f>ⓖ</f>Azariah, Raamiah, Nahamani, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispereth, Bigvai, Nehum, Baanah. <pb/>The number of the men of the people of Israel:


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The gatekeepers: the sons of Shallum, the sons of Ater, the sons of Talmon, the sons of Akkub, the sons of Hatita, the sons of Shobai, 138.


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<pb/>The sons of Solomon's servants: the sons of Sotai, the sons of Sophereth, the sons of <f>ⓩ</f>Perida,


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the sons of Shephatiah, the sons of Hattil, the sons of Pochereth-hazzebaim, the sons of <f>ⓐ</f>Amon.


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<pb/><f>ⓑ</f> The following were those who came up from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, <f>ⓒ</f>Addon, and Immer, but they could not prove their fathers' houses nor their descent, whether they belonged to Israel:


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Also, of the priests: the sons of Hobaiah, the sons of Hakkoz, the sons of Barzillai (who had taken a wife of the daughters of Barzillai the Gileadite and was called by their name).


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These sought their registration among those enrolled in the genealogies, but it was not found there, so they were excluded from the priesthood as unclean.


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<f>ⓓ</f> The <f>ⓔ</f>governor told them that they were not to partake of the most holy food until a priest with Urim and Thummim should arise.


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besides their male and female servants, of whom there were 7,337. And they had 245 singers, male and female.


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<pb/>Now some of the heads of fathers' houses gave to the work. The <f>ⓕ</f>governor gave to the treasury 1,000 darics <f>[2]</f> of gold, 50 basins, 30 priests' garments and 500 minas <f>[3]</f> of silver. <f>[4]</f>


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And some of the heads of fathers' houses gave into the treasury of the work 20,000 darics of gold and 2,200 minas of silver.


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<f>ⓖ</f> And what the rest of the people gave was 20,000 darics of gold, 2,000 minas of silver, and 67 priests' garments.


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<pb/>So the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants, and all Israel, lived in their towns. <pb/><f>ⓗ</f>And when the seventh month had come, the people of Israel were in their towns.


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<pb/>And all the people gathered as one man into the square before <f>ⓐ</f>the Water Gate. And they told <f>ⓑ</f>Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel.


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So Ezra the priest <f>ⓒ</f>brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, <f>ⓓ</f>on the first day of the seventh month.


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<f>ⓔ</f> And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.


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And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand.


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And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood.


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And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, <f>ⓕ</f>“Amen, Amen,” <f>ⓖ</f>lifting up their hands. <f>ⓗ</f>And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.


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<f>ⓘ</f> Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, <f>[1]</f> <f>ⓙ</f>helped the people to understand the Law, <f>ⓚ</f>while the people remained in their places.


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They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, <f>[2]</f> and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.


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<pb/>And Nehemiah, who was <f>ⓛ</f>the governor, and Ezra <f>ⓜ</f>the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, <f>ⓝ</f>“This day is holy to the LORD your God; <f>ⓞ</f>do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.


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Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and <f>ⓟ</f>send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”


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And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because <f>ⓠ</f>they had understood the words that were declared to them.


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<pb/>On the second day the heads of fathers' houses of all the people, with the priests and the Levites, came together to Ezra the scribe in order to study the words of the Law.


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And they found it written in the Law that the LORD had commanded by Moses <f>ⓡ</f>that the people of Israel should dwell in booths <f>[3]</f> during the feast of the seventh month,


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and that they should proclaim it and <f>ⓢ</f>publish it in all their towns and <f>ⓣ</f>in Jerusalem, “Go out to the hills and bring <f>ⓤ</f>branches of olive, wild olive, myrtle, palm, and other leafy trees to make booths, as it is written.”


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So the people went out and brought them and made booths for themselves, each <f>ⓥ</f>on his roof, and in their courts and in the courts of the house of God, and in the square at <f>ⓦ</f>the Water Gate and in the square at <f>ⓧ</f>the Gate of Ephraim.


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And all the assembly of those who had returned from the captivity made booths and lived in the booths, for from the days of Jeshua the son of Nun to that day <f>ⓨ</f>the people of Israel had not done so. And there was <f>ⓩ</f>very great rejoicing.


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And day by day, from the first day to the last day, <f>ⓐ</f>he read from the Book of the Law of God. They kept the feast seven days, and <f>ⓑ</f>on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.


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<pb/>Now on the twenty-fourth day of <f>ⓐ</f>this month the people of Israel were assembled <f>ⓑ</f>with fasting <f>ⓒ</f>and in sackcloth, <f>ⓓ</f>and with earth on their heads.


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<f>ⓔ</f> And the Israelites <f>[1]</f> separated themselves from all foreigners and stood and confessed their sins and the iniquities of their fathers.


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<f>ⓕ</f> And they stood up in their place and read from the Book of the Law of the LORD their God for a quarter of the day; for another quarter of it they made confession and worshiped the LORD their God.


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On the stairs of the Levites stood <f>ⓖ</f>Jeshua, Bani, Kadmiel, Shebaniah, Bunni, Sherebiah, Bani, and Chenani; and they cried with a loud voice to the LORD their God.


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Then the Levites, Jeshua, Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabneiah, Sherebiah, Hodiah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, “Stand up and bless the LORD your God from everlasting to everlasting. <f>ⓗ</f>Blessed be your glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.


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<pb/><f>[2]</f> <f>ⓘ</f>“You are the LORD, you alone. <f>ⓙ</f>You have made heaven, <f>ⓚ</f>the heaven of heavens, <f>ⓛ</f>with all their host, <f>ⓜ</f>the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; <f>ⓝ</f>and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.


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You are the LORD, the God <f>ⓞ</f>who chose Abram and brought him out of <f>ⓟ</f>Ur of the Chaldeans <f>ⓠ</f>and gave him the name Abraham.


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<f>ⓡ</f> You found his heart faithful before you, <f>ⓢ</f>and made with him the covenant to give to his offspring <f>ⓣ</f>the land of the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite, and the Girgashite. <f>ⓤ</f>And you have kept your promise, for you are righteous.


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<pb/><f>ⓥ</f> “And you saw the affliction of our fathers in Egypt and heard <f>ⓦ</f>their cry at the Red Sea,


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<f>ⓧ</f> and performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh and all his servants and all the people of his land, for you knew that <f>ⓨ</f>they acted arrogantly against our fathers. And <f>ⓩ</f>you made a name for yourself, as it is to this day.


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<f>ⓐ</f> And you divided the sea before them, so that they went through the midst of the sea on dry land, and you cast their pursuers into the depths, <f>ⓑ</f>as a stone into mighty waters.


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By <f>ⓒ</f>a pillar of cloud you led them in the day, and by a pillar of fire in the night to light for them the way in which they should go.


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<f>ⓓ</f> You came down on Mount Sinai <f>ⓔ</f>and spoke with them from heaven and gave them <f>ⓕ</f>right rules and true laws, good statutes and commandments,


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<f>ⓖ</f> and you made known to them your holy Sabbath and commanded them commandments and statutes and a law by Moses your servant.


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<f>ⓗ</f> You gave them bread from heaven for their hunger and <f>ⓘ</f>brought water for them out of the rock for their thirst, and you <f>ⓙ</f>told them to go in to possess the land that you had sworn to give them.


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<pb/>“But they and our fathers <f>ⓚ</f>acted presumptuously and stiffened their neck and did not obey your commandments.


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They refused to obey <f>ⓛ</f>and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. <f>[3]</f> But you are a God ready to forgive, <f>ⓜ</f>gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.


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Even <f>ⓝ</f>when they had made for themselves a golden <f>[4]</f> calf and said, ‘This is your God who brought you up out of Egypt,’ <f>ⓞ</f>and had committed great blasphemies,


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you <f>ⓟ</f>in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. <f>ⓠ</f>The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day, <f>ⓡ</f>nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go.


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<f>ⓢ</f> You gave your good Spirit to instruct them <f>ⓣ</f>and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst.


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<f>ⓤ</f> Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing. Their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell.


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<pb/>“And you gave them kingdoms and peoples and allotted to them every corner. <f>ⓥ</f>So they took possession of the land of Sihon king of Heshbon <f>ⓦ</f>and the land of Og king of Bashan.


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You multiplied their children <f>ⓧ</f>as the stars of heaven, and you brought them into the land that you had told their fathers to enter and possess.


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<f>ⓨ</f> So the descendants went in and possessed the land, <f>ⓩ</f>and you subdued before them the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, and gave 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 captured <f>ⓐ</f>fortified cities and <f>ⓑ</f>a rich land, and took possession of <f>ⓒ</f>houses full of all good things, cisterns already hewn, vineyards, olive orchards and fruit trees in abundance. So they ate and were filled <f>ⓓ</f>and became fat and delighted themselves in <f>ⓔ</f>your great goodness.


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<pb/><f>ⓕ</f> “Nevertheless, they were disobedient and rebelled against you <f>ⓖ</f>and cast your law behind their back <f>ⓗ</f>and killed your prophets, who <f>ⓘ</f>had warned them in order to turn them back to you, <f>ⓙ</f>and they committed great blasphemies.


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<f>ⓚ</f> Therefore you gave them into the hand of their enemies, who made them suffer. <f>ⓛ</f>And in the time of their suffering they cried out to you and you heard them from heaven, and according to your great mercies you gave them <f>ⓜ</f>saviors who saved them from the hand of their enemies.


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<f>ⓝ</f> But after they had rest they did evil again before you, and you abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so that they had dominion over them. Yet when they turned and cried to you, you heard from heaven, <f>ⓞ</f>and many times you delivered them according to your mercies.


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<f>ⓟ</f> And you warned them in order to turn them back to your law. Yet <f>ⓠ</f>they acted presumptuously and did not obey your commandments, but sinned against your rules, <f>ⓡ</f>which if a person does them, he shall live by them, <f>ⓢ</f>and they turned a stubborn shoulder <f>ⓣ</f>and stiffened their neck and would not obey.


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Many years <f>ⓤ</f>you bore with them <f>ⓥ</f>and warned them <f>ⓦ</f>by your Spirit through your prophets. <f>ⓧ</f>Yet they would not give ear. <f>ⓨ</f>Therefore you gave them into the hand of the peoples of the lands.


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Nevertheless, <f>ⓩ</f>in your great mercies <f>ⓐ</f>you did not make an end of them or forsake them, <f>ⓑ</f>for you are a gracious and merciful God.


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<pb/>“Now, therefore, our God, <f>ⓒ</f>the great, the mighty, and the awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love, let not all the hardship seem little to you that has come upon us, upon our kings, our princes, our priests, our prophets, our fathers, and all your people, <f>ⓓ</f>since the time of the kings of Assyria until this day.


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<f>ⓔ</f> Yet you have been righteous in all that has come upon us, for you have dealt faithfully <f>ⓕ</f>and we have acted wickedly.


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Our kings, our princes, our priests, and our fathers have not kept your law or paid attention to your commandments and your warnings that you gave them.


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Even in their own kingdom, <f>ⓖ</f>and amid your great goodness that you gave them, and in the large and <f>ⓗ</f>rich land that you set before them, <f>ⓘ</f>they did not serve you or turn from their wicked works.


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Behold, <f>ⓙ</f>we are slaves this day; in the land that you gave to our fathers to enjoy its fruit and its good gifts, behold, we are slaves.


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<f>ⓚ</f> And its rich yield goes to the kings whom you have set over us because of our sins. They rule over our bodies and over our livestock as they please, and we are in great distress.


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<pb/><f>[5]</f> “Because of all this <f>ⓛ</f>we make a firm covenant in writing; on <f>ⓜ</f>the sealed document are the names of <f>[6]</f> our princes, our Levites, and our priests.


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<pb/><f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f>“On the seals are the names of <f>[2]</f> Nehemiah <f>ⓑ</f>the governor, <f>ⓒ</f>the son of Hacaliah, Zedekiah,


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<pb/><f>ⓘ</f> “The rest of the people, the priests, the Levites, the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, <f>ⓙ</f>and all who have separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the Law of God, their wives, their sons, their daughters, all who have knowledge and understanding,


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join with their brothers, their nobles, <f>ⓚ</f>and enter into a curse and an oath <f>ⓛ</f>to walk in God's Law that was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord and his rules and his statutes.


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<f>ⓜ</f> We will not give our daughters to the peoples of the land or take their daughters for our sons.


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<f>ⓝ</f> And if the peoples of the land bring in goods or any grain on the Sabbath day to sell, we will not buy from them on the Sabbath or on a holy day. And we will forego the crops of the <f>ⓞ</f>seventh year and the <f>ⓟ</f>exaction of every debt.


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<pb/>“We also take on ourselves the obligation to give yearly <f>ⓠ</f>a third part of a shekel <f>[3]</f> for the service of the house of our God:


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<f>ⓡ</f> for the showbread, <f>ⓢ</f>the regular grain offering, <f>ⓣ</f>the regular burnt offering, the Sabbaths, the new moons, the appointed feasts, the holy things, and the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the work of the house of our God.


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<f>ⓤ</f> We, the priests, the Levites, and the people, have likewise cast lots <f>ⓥ</f>for the wood offering, to bring it into the house of our God, according to our fathers' houses, at times appointed, year by year, to burn on the altar of the LORD our God, <f>ⓦ</f>as it is written in the Law.


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We obligate ourselves <f>ⓧ</f>to bring the firstfruits of our ground and the firstfruits of all fruit of every tree, year by year, to the house of the LORD;


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also to bring to the house of our God, to the priests who minister in the house of our God, the firstborn of our sons and of our cattle, <f>ⓨ</f>as it is written in the Law, and the firstborn of our herds and of our flocks;


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<f>ⓩ</f> and to bring the first of our dough, and our contributions, the fruit of every tree, the wine and the oil, to the priests, <f>ⓐ</f>to the chambers of the house of our God; and to bring to the Levites the tithes from our ground, for it is the Levites who collect the tithes in all our towns where we labor.


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And the priest, the son of Aaron, shall be with the Levites when the Levites receive the tithes. And the Levites shall bring up the tithe of the tithes to the house of our God, to the chambers of <f>ⓑ</f>the storehouse.


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For the people of Israel and the sons of Levi <f>ⓒ</f>shall bring the contribution of grain, wine, and oil to the chambers, where the vessels of the sanctuary are, as well as the priests who minister, and the gatekeepers and the singers. <f>ⓓ</f>We will not neglect the house of our God.”


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<pb/>Now the leaders of the people <f>ⓐ</f>lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people <f>ⓑ</f>cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem <f>ⓒ</f>the holy city, while nine out of ten <f>[1]</f> remained in the other towns.


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<pb/><f>ⓔ</f> These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah <f>ⓕ</f>everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, <f>ⓖ</f>the temple servants, <f>ⓗ</f>and the descendants of Solomon's servants.


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And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the sons of <f>ⓘ</f>Perez;


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and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite.


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<pb/>And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah,


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


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and their brothers who did the work of the house, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah,


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and his brothers, heads of fathers' houses, 242; and Amashsai, the son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer,


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<pb/>And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni;


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and Shabbethai and <f>ⓙ</f>Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over <f>ⓚ</f>the outside work of the house of God;


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and <f>ⓛ</f>Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader of the praise, <f>[3]</f> who gave thanks, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.


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And the rest of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, <f>ⓝ</f>every one in his inheritance.


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<pb/>The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God.


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<f>ⓟ</f> For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a fixed provision for the singers, <f>ⓠ</f>as every day required.


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And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's side <f>[4]</f> in all matters concerning the people.


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<pb/>And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in <f>ⓡ</f>Kiriath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages,


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Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its villages. So they encamped from Beersheba to <f>ⓢ</f>the Valley of Hinnom.


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<pb/>These are <f>ⓐ</f>the priests and the Levites who came up with <f>ⓑ</f>Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and <f>ⓒ</f>Jeshua: <f>ⓓ</f>Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,


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Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.


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<pb/>And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his brothers was <f>ⓔ</f>in charge of the songs of thanksgiving.


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And Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada,


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<pb/><f>ⓖ</f> And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers' houses: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;


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<pb/>In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the Levites were recorded as heads of fathers' houses; so too were the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian.


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As for the sons of Levi, their heads of fathers' houses <f>ⓗ</f>were written in the Book of the Chronicles until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.


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And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and <f>ⓘ</f>Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers who stood opposite them, <f>ⓙ</f>to praise and to give thanks, <f>ⓚ</f>according to the commandment of David <f>ⓛ</f>the man of God, <f>ⓜ</f>watch by watch.


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Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at <f>ⓝ</f>the storehouses of the gates.


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These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and in the days of <f>ⓞ</f>Nehemiah the governor and of <f>ⓟ</f>Ezra, the priest and scribe.


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<pb/>And at <f>ⓠ</f>the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, <f>ⓡ</f>with cymbals, harps, and lyres.


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And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites;


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also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem.


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And the priests and the Levites <f>ⓢ</f>purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.


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<pb/>Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. <f>ⓣ</f>One went to the south on the wall to <f>ⓤ</f>the Dung Gate.


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and certain of the priests' sons <f>ⓥ</f>with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph;


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and his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, <f>ⓦ</f>with the musical instruments of David <f>ⓧ</f>the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them.


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At <f>ⓨ</f>the Fountain Gate they went up straight before them by <f>ⓩ</f>the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to <f>ⓐ</f>the Water Gate on the east.


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<pb/><f>ⓑ</f> The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above <f>ⓒ</f>the Tower of the Ovens, to <f>ⓓ</f>the Broad Wall,


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and above <f>ⓔ</f>the Gate of Ephraim, and by <f>ⓕ</f>the Gate of Yeshanah, <f>[1]</f> and by <f>ⓖ</f>the Fish Gate and <f>ⓗ</f>the Tower of Hananel and <f>ⓘ</f>the Tower of the Hundred, to <f>ⓙ</f>the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at <f>ⓚ</f>the Gate of the Guard.


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So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me;


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and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, <f>ⓛ</f>with trumpets;


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and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader.


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And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.


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<pb/><f>ⓜ</f> On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered.


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And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, <f>ⓝ</f>according to the command of David and his son Solomon.


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For long ago in the days of David and <f>ⓞ</f>Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs <f>[2]</f> of praise and thanksgiving to God.


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And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the <f>ⓟ</f>daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; <f>ⓠ</f>and they set apart that which was for the Levites; <f>ⓡ</f>and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron.


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<pb/>On that day <f>ⓐ</f>they read from the Book of Moses in the hearing of the people. And in it was found written <f>ⓑ</f>that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever enter the assembly of God,


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for they did not meet the people of Israel with bread and water, but hired Balaam against them to curse them — yet our God turned the curse into a blessing.


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As soon as the people heard the law, <f>ⓒ</f>they separated from Israel all <f>ⓓ</f>those of foreign descent.


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<pb/>Now before this, <f>ⓔ</f>Eliashib the priest, who <f>ⓕ</f>was appointed over the chambers of the house of our God, and who was related to <f>ⓖ</f>Tobiah,


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prepared for Tobiah a large chamber where they had previously put the grain offering, the frankincense, the vessels, and the tithes of grain, wine, and oil, <f>ⓗ</f>which were given by commandment to the Levites, singers, and gatekeepers, and the contributions for the priests.


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While this was taking place, I was not in Jerusalem, for <f>ⓘ</f>in the thirty-second year of Artaxerxes <f>ⓙ</f>king of Babylon I went to the king. And after some time I asked leave of the king


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and came to Jerusalem, and I then discovered the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, <f>ⓚ</f>preparing for him a chamber in the courts of the house of God.


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Then I gave orders, and they <f>ⓛ</f>cleansed the chambers, and I brought back there the vessels of the house of God, with the grain offering and the frankincense.


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<pb/>I also found out that <f>ⓜ</f>the portions of the Levites had not been given to them, so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled each <f>ⓝ</f>to his field.


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<f>ⓞ</f> So I confronted the officials and said, <f>ⓟ</f>“Why is the house of God forsaken?” And I gathered them together and set them in their stations.


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And <f>ⓡ</f>I appointed as treasurers over the storehouses Shelemiah the priest, Zadok the scribe, and Pedaiah of the Levites, and as their assistant Hanan the son of Zaccur, son of Mattaniah, <f>ⓢ</f>for they were considered reliable, and their duty was to distribute to their brothers.


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<f>ⓣ</f> Remember me, O my God, concerning this, and do not wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God and for his service.


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<pb/>In those days I saw in Judah people treading winepresses <f>ⓤ</f>on the Sabbath, and bringing in heaps of grain and loading them on donkeys, and also wine, grapes, figs, and all kinds of loads, <f>ⓥ</f>which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day. And <f>ⓦ</f>I warned them on the day when they sold food.


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Tyrians also, who lived in the city, brought in fish and all kinds of goods and sold them on the Sabbath to the people of Judah, in Jerusalem itself!


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<f>ⓧ</f> Then I confronted the nobles of Judah and said to them, “What is this evil thing that you are doing, <f>ⓨ</f>profaning the Sabbath day?


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<f>ⓩ</f> Did not your fathers act in this way, and did not our God bring all this disaster <f>[1]</f> on us and on this city? Now you are bringing more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath.”


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<pb/>As soon as it <f>ⓐ</f>began to grow dark at the gates of Jerusalem before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut and gave orders that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. And I stationed some of my servants at the gates, that no load might be brought in on the Sabbath day.


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<f>ⓑ</f> But I warned them and said to them, “Why do you lodge outside the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you.” From that time on they did not come on the Sabbath.


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Then I commanded the Levites <f>ⓒ</f>that they should purify themselves and come and guard the gates, to keep the Sabbath day holy. <f>ⓓ</f>Remember this also in my favor, O my God, and spare me according to the greatness of your steadfast love.


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<pb/>In those days also I saw the Jews <f>ⓔ</f>who had married women <f>ⓕ</f>of Ashdod, <f>ⓖ</f>Ammon, and <f>ⓗ</f>Moab.


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And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people.


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<f>ⓘ</f> And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. <f>ⓙ</f>And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.


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<f>ⓚ</f> Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? <f>ⓛ</f>Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was <f>ⓜ</f>beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.


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Shall we then listen to you and do all this great evil and <f>ⓝ</f>act treacherously against our God by marrying foreign women?”


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<pb/>And one of the sons of <f>ⓞ</f>Jehoiada, the son of <f>ⓟ</f>Eliashib the high priest, was the son-in-law of <f>ⓠ</f>Sanballat the Horonite. Therefore I chased him from me.


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<f>ⓡ</f> Remember them, O my God, because they have desecrated the priesthood <f>ⓢ</f>and the covenant of the priesthood and the Levites.


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<pb/><f>ⓣ</f> Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign, and I established the duties of the priests and Levites, each in his work;


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and I provided <f>ⓤ</f>for the wood offering <f>ⓥ</f>at appointed times, and for the firstfruits. <pb/><f>ⓦ</f>Remember me, O my God, for good.


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<pb/>Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned <f>ⓐ</f>from India to Ethiopia over <f>ⓑ</f>127 provinces,


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in the third year of his reign <f>ⓔ</f>he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him,


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while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days.


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And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of <f>ⓕ</f>the garden of the king's palace.


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There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods <f>[1]</f> and marble pillars, and also <f>ⓖ</f>couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones.


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Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king.


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And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired.


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<pb/>On the seventh day, <f>ⓗ</f>when the heart of the king was merry with wine, he commanded Mehuman, Biztha, <f>ⓘ</f>Harbona, <f>ⓙ</f>Bigtha and Abagtha, Zethar and Carkas, the seven eunuchs who served in the presence of King Ahasuerus,


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to bring Queen Vashti before the king with <f>ⓚ</f>her royal crown, <f>[2]</f> in order to show the peoples and the princes her beauty, for she was lovely to look at.


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But Queen Vashti refused to come at the king's command delivered by the eunuchs. At this the king became enraged, and his anger burned within him.


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<pb/>Then the king said to <f>ⓛ</f>the wise men <f>ⓜ</f>who knew the times (for this was the king's procedure toward all who were versed in law and judgment,


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the men next to him being Carshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and <f>ⓝ</f>Memucan, <f>ⓞ</f>the seven princes of Persia and Media, <f>ⓟ</f>who saw the king's face, and sat first in the kingdom):


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“According to the law, what is to be done to Queen Vashti, because she has not performed the command of King Ahasuerus delivered by the eunuchs?”


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Then Memucan said in the presence of the king and the officials, “Not only against the king has Queen Vashti done wrong, but also against all the officials and all the peoples who are in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus.


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For the queen's behavior will be made known to all women, causing them to look at their husbands with contempt, <f>[3]</f> since they will say, ‘King Ahasuerus commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, and she did not come.’


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This very day the noble women of Persia and Media who have heard of the queen's behavior will say the same to all the king's officials, and there will be contempt and wrath in plenty.


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If it please the king, let a royal order go out from him, and let it be written among the laws of the Persians and the Medes so <f>ⓠ</f>that it may not be repealed, that Vashti is never again to come before King Ahasuerus. And let the king give her royal position to another who is better than she.


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So when the decree made by the king is proclaimed throughout all his kingdom, for it is vast, <f>ⓡ</f>all women will give honor to their husbands, high and low alike.”


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He sent letters to all the royal provinces, <f>ⓢ</f>to every province in its own script and to every people in its own language, that every man be master in his own household and speak according to the language of his people.


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<pb/>After these things, <f>ⓐ</f>when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti <f>ⓑ</f>and what she had done and what had been decreed against her.


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Then the king's young men who attended him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king.


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And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa the citadel, under custody of <f>ⓒ</f>Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women. <f>ⓓ</f>Let their cosmetics be given them.


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And let the young woman who pleases the king <f>[1]</f> be queen instead of Vashti.” This pleased the king, and he did so.


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<pb/>Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was <f>ⓔ</f>Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite,


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<f>ⓕ</f> who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away.


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He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, <f>ⓖ</f>the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter.


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So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and <f>ⓗ</f>when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of <f>ⓘ</f>Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women.


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And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her <f>ⓙ</f>with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king's palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem.


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<f>ⓚ</f> Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known.


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And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.


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<pb/>Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women —


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when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king's palace.


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In the evening she would go in, and in the morning she would return to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.


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<pb/>When the turn came for Esther <f>ⓛ</f>the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what <f>ⓜ</f>Hegai the king's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her.


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And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign,


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the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set <f>ⓝ</f>the royal crown <f>[2]</f> on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.


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Then the king <f>ⓞ</f>gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther's feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.


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<pb/>Now when the virgins were gathered together <f>ⓟ</f>the second time, Mordecai was sitting <f>ⓠ</f>at the king's gate.


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<f>ⓡ</f> Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just <f>ⓢ</f>as when she was brought up by him.


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In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, <f>ⓣ</f>Bigthan and <f>ⓤ</f>Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.


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And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, <f>ⓥ</f>and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai.


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When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows. <f>[3]</f> And it was recorded in <f>ⓦ</f>the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.


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<pb/>After these things King Ahasuerus <f>ⓐ</f>promoted Haman <f>ⓑ</f>the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, <f>ⓒ</f>and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him.


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And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. <f>ⓓ</f>But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage.


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Then the king's servants who were <f>ⓔ</f>at the king's gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress <f>ⓕ</f>the king's command?”


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And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai's words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew.


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And when Haman saw that <f>ⓖ</f>Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was <f>ⓗ</f>filled with fury.


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But he disdained <f>[1]</f> to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy <f>[2]</f> all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.


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<pb/>In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, <f>ⓘ</f>they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is <f>ⓙ</f>the month of Adar.


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Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. <f>ⓚ</f>Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them.


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If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents <f>[3]</f> of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries.”


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<f>ⓛ</f> So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman <f>ⓜ</f>the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, <f>ⓝ</f>the enemy of the Jews.


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And the king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.”


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<pb/><f>ⓞ</f> Then the king's scribes were summoned on the thirteenth day of the first month, and an edict, according to all that Haman commanded, was written to the king's <f>ⓟ</f>satraps and to the governors over all the provinces and to the officials of all the peoples, <f>ⓠ</f>to every province in its own script and every people in its own language. It was written <f>ⓡ</f>in the name of King Ahasuerus <f>ⓢ</f>and sealed with the king's signet ring.


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Letters were sent <f>ⓣ</f>by couriers to all the king's provinces with instruction <f>ⓤ</f>to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate all Jews, young and old, women and children, <f>ⓥ</f>in one day, the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, <f>ⓦ</f>and to plunder their goods.


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<f>ⓧ</f> A copy of the document was to be issued as a decree in every province by proclamation to all the peoples to be ready for that day.


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<f>ⓨ</f> The couriers went out hurriedly by order of the king, and the decree was issued in Susa the citadel. And the king and Haman sat down to drink, <f>ⓩ</f>but the city of Susa was thrown into confusion.


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<pb/>When Mordecai learned all that had been done, Mordecai tore his clothes <f>ⓐ</f>and put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and he cried out with a loud and bitter cry.


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He went up to the entrance of the king's gate, for no one was allowed to enter the king's gate clothed in sackcloth.


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And in every province, wherever the king's command and his decree reached, there was great mourning among the Jews, <f>ⓑ</f>with fasting and weeping and lamenting, and many of them <f>ⓒ</f>lay in sackcloth and ashes.


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<pb/>When Esther's young women and her eunuchs came and told her, the queen was deeply distressed. She sent garments to clothe Mordecai, so that he might take off his sackcloth, but he would not accept them.


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Then Esther called for Hathach, one of the king's eunuchs, who had been appointed to attend her, and ordered him to go to Mordecai to learn what this was and why it was.


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and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, <f>ⓓ</f>and the exact sum of money that Haman had promised to pay into the king's treasuries for the destruction of the Jews.


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Mordecai also gave him <f>ⓔ</f>a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for their destruction, <f>[1]</f> that he might show it to Esther and explain it to her and command her to go to the king to beg his favor and plead with him <f>[2]</f> on behalf of her people.


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“All the king's servants and the people of the king's provinces know that if any man or woman goes to the king inside <f>ⓕ</f>the inner court without being called, <f>ⓖ</f>there is but one law — to be put to death, except the one <f>ⓗ</f>to whom the king holds out the golden scepter so that he may live. But as for me, I have not been called to come in to the king these thirty days.”


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Then Mordecai told them to reply to Esther, “Do not think to yourself that in the king's palace you will escape any more than all the other Jews.


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For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”


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“Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for <f>ⓘ</f>three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, <f>ⓙ</f>and if I perish, I perish.” <f>[3]</f>


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in <f>ⓑ</f>the inner court of the king's palace, in front of the king's quarters, while the king was sitting on his royal throne inside the throne room opposite the entrance to the palace.


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And when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, <f>ⓒ</f>she won favor in his sight, <f>ⓓ</f>and he held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. Then Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.


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And the king said to her, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given you, even <f>ⓔ</f>to the half of my kingdom.”


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And Esther said, “If it please the king, <f>[1]</f> let the king and Haman come today to a feast that I have prepared for the king.”


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Then the king said, “Bring Haman quickly, so that we may do as Esther has asked.” So the king and Haman came to the feast that Esther had prepared.


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<f>ⓕ</f> And as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king said to Esther, <f>ⓖ</f>“What is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? <f>ⓗ</f>Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” <f>[2]</f>


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<f>ⓘ</f> If I have found favor in the sight of the king, and if it please the king <f>[3]</f> to grant my wish and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come to <f>ⓙ</f>the feast that I will prepare for them, and tomorrow I will do as the king has said.”


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<pb/>And Haman went out that day <f>ⓚ</f>joyful and glad of heart. But when Haman saw Mordecai <f>ⓛ</f>in the king's gate, <f>ⓜ</f>that he neither rose nor trembled before him, he was filled with wrath against Mordecai.


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Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home, and he sent and brought his friends and <f>ⓝ</f>his wife Zeresh.


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And Haman recounted to them the splendor of his riches, <f>ⓞ</f>the number of his sons, all the promotions with which <f>ⓟ</f>the king had honored him, and how he had advanced him above the officials and the servants of the king.


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Then Haman said, “Even Queen Esther let no one but me come with the king to the feast she prepared. And tomorrow also I am invited by her together with the king.


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Yet all this is worth nothing to me, so long as I see Mordecai the Jew sitting <f>ⓠ</f>at the king's gate.”


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Then <f>ⓡ</f>his wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, <f>ⓢ</f>“Let a gallows <f>[4]</f> fifty cubits <f>[5]</f> high be made, and in the morning tell the king to have Mordecai hanged upon it. Then go joyfully with the king to the feast.” This idea pleased Haman, and he had the gallows made.


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<pb/>On that night the king could not sleep. And he gave orders to bring <f>ⓐ</f>the book of memorable deeds, the chronicles, and they were read before the king.


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And it was found written how <f>ⓑ</f>Mordecai had told about <f>ⓒ</f>Bigthana <f>[1]</f> and <f>ⓓ</f>Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, and who had sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus.


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And the king said, “What honor or distinction has been bestowed on Mordecai for this?” The king's young men who attended him said, “Nothing has been done for him.”


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And the king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered <f>ⓔ</f>the outer court of the king's palace to speak to the king about having Mordecai hanged on <f>ⓕ</f>the gallows <f>[2]</f> that he had prepared for him.


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And the king's young men told him, “Haman is there, standing in the court.” And the king said, “Let him come in.”


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So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What should be done to the man <f>ⓖ</f>whom the king delights to honor?” And Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king delight to honor more than me?”


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let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn, <f>ⓗ</f>and the horse that the king has ridden, and on whose head <f>ⓘ</f>a royal crown <f>[3]</f> is set.


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And let the robes and the horse be handed over to one of the king's most noble officials. Let them dress the man whom the king delights to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the square of the city, <f>ⓙ</f>proclaiming before him: ‘Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.’”


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Then the king said to Haman, “Hurry; take the robes and the horse, as you have said, and do so to Mordecai the Jew, who sits <f>ⓚ</f>at the king's gate. Leave out nothing that you have mentioned.”


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So Haman took the robes and the horse, and he dressed Mordecai and led him through the square of the city, proclaiming before him, “Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delights to honor.”


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<pb/>Then Mordecai returned to the king's gate. But Haman hurried to his house, mourning <f>ⓛ</f>and with his head covered.


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And Haman told <f>ⓜ</f>his wife Zeresh and all his friends everything that had happened to him. Then his wise men and his wife Zeresh said to him, “If Mordecai, before whom you have begun to fall, is of the Jewish people, you will not overcome him but will surely fall before him.”


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<pb/>While they were yet talking with him, the king's eunuchs arrived and hurried to bring Haman <f>ⓝ</f>to the feast that Esther had prepared.


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And on the second day, as they were drinking wine after the feast, the king again said to Esther, <f>ⓐ</f>“What is your wish, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? <f>ⓑ</f>Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.”


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Then Queen Esther answered, <f>ⓒ</f>“If I have found favor in your sight, O king, and if it please the king, let my life be granted me for my wish, and my people for my request.


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<f>ⓓ</f> For we have been sold, I and my people, <f>ⓔ</f>to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have been silent, for our affliction is not to be compared with the loss to the king.”


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Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has dared <f>[1]</f> to do this?”


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And Esther said, <f>ⓕ</f>“A foe and enemy! This wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.


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<pb/>And the king arose in his wrath from the wine-drinking and went into <f>ⓖ</f>the palace garden, but Haman stayed to beg for his life from Queen Esther, for he saw that harm was determined against him by the king.


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And the king returned from <f>ⓗ</f>the palace garden to the place where they were drinking wine, as Haman was falling on <f>ⓘ</f>the couch where Esther was. And the king said, “Will he even assault the queen in my presence, in my own house?” As the word left the mouth of the king, they covered Haman's face.


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Then <f>ⓙ</f>Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Moreover, <f>ⓚ</f>the gallows <f>[2]</f> that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, <f>ⓛ</f>whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits <f>[3]</f> high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.”


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<f>ⓜ</f> So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. <f>ⓝ</f>Then the wrath of the king abated.


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<pb/>On that day King Ahasuerus gave to Queen Esther the house of Haman, <f>ⓐ</f>the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came before the king, for Esther had told <f>ⓑ</f>what he was to her.


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<f>ⓒ</f> And the king took off his signet ring, which he had taken from Haman, and gave it to Mordecai. And Esther set Mordecai over the house of Haman.


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<pb/>Then Esther spoke again to the king. She fell at his feet and wept and pleaded with him to avert the evil plan of Haman <f>ⓓ</f>the Agagite and the plot that he had devised against the Jews.


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<f>ⓔ</f> When the king held out the golden scepter to Esther, Esther rose and stood before the king.


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And she said, “If it please the king, <f>ⓕ</f>and if I have found favor in his sight, and if the thing seems right before the king, and I am pleasing in his eyes, let an order be written to revoke <f>ⓖ</f>the letters devised by Haman <f>ⓗ</f>the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, which he wrote to destroy the Jews who are in all the provinces of the king.


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For how can I bear <f>ⓘ</f>to see the calamity that is coming to my people? Or how can I bear to see the destruction of my kindred?”


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Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Behold, <f>ⓙ</f>I have given Esther the house of Haman, and they have hanged him on the gallows, <f>[1]</f> because he intended to lay hands on the Jews.


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But you may write as you please with regard to the Jews, in the name of the king, <f>ⓚ</f>and seal it with the king's ring, for an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring <f>ⓛ</f>cannot be revoked.”


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<pb/><f>ⓜ</f> The king's scribes were summoned at that time, in the third month, which is the month of Sivan, on the twenty-third day. And an edict was written, according to all that Mordecai commanded concerning the Jews, to <f>ⓝ</f>the satraps and the governors and the officials of the provinces <f>ⓞ</f>from India to Ethiopia, <f>ⓟ</f>127 provinces, <f>ⓠ</f>to each province in its own script and to each people in its own language, and also to the Jews in their script and their language.


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<f>ⓡ</f> And he wrote in the name of King Ahasuerus <f>ⓢ</f>and sealed it with the king's signet ring. Then he sent the letters by mounted couriers riding on <f>ⓣ</f>swift horses that were used in the king's service, bred from the royal stud,


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saying that the king allowed the Jews who were in every city <f>ⓤ</f>to gather and defend their lives, <f>ⓥ</f>to destroy, to kill, and to annihilate any armed force of any people or province that might attack them, children and women included, <f>ⓦ</f>and to plunder their goods,


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<f>ⓧ</f> on one day throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar.


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<f>ⓨ</f> A copy of what was written was to be issued as a decree in every province, being publicly displayed to all peoples, and the Jews were to be ready on that day to take vengeance on their enemies.


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So the couriers, mounted on their <f>ⓩ</f>swift horses that were used in the king's service, rode out hurriedly, urged by the king's command. And the decree was issued in Susa the citadel.


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<pb/>Then Mordecai went out from the presence of the king <f>ⓐ</f>in royal robes of blue and white, with a great golden crown <f>[2]</f> and <f>ⓑ</f>a robe of fine linen and purple, <f>ⓒ</f>and the city of Susa shouted and rejoiced.


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And in every province and in every city, wherever the king's command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and <f>ⓔ</f>a holiday. <f>ⓕ</f>And many from the peoples of the country declared themselves Jews, <f>ⓖ</f>for fear of the Jews had fallen on them.


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<pb/><f>ⓐ</f> Now in the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar, <f>ⓑ</f>on the thirteenth day of the same, <f>ⓒ</f>when the king's command and edict were about to be carried out, <f>ⓓ</f>on the very day when the enemies of the Jews hoped to gain the mastery over them, the reverse occurred: the Jews gained mastery over those who hated them.


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<f>ⓔ</f> The Jews gathered in their cities throughout all the provinces of King Ahasuerus to lay hands on those who sought their harm. And no one could stand against them, <f>ⓕ</f>for the fear of them had fallen on all peoples.


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All the officials of the provinces and <f>ⓖ</f>the satraps and the governors and the royal agents also helped the Jews, for the fear of Mordecai had fallen on them.


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For Mordecai was great in the king's house, and his fame spread throughout all the provinces, for the man Mordecai grew <f>ⓗ</f>more and more powerful.


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The Jews struck all their enemies with the sword, killing and destroying them, and did as they pleased to those who hated them.


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<f>ⓘ</f> the ten sons of Haman the son of Hammedatha, <f>ⓙ</f>the enemy of the Jews, <f>ⓚ</f>but they laid no hand on the plunder.


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And the king said to Queen Esther, “In Susa the citadel the Jews have killed and destroyed 500 men and also the ten sons of Haman. What then have they done in the rest of the king's provinces! <f>ⓛ</f>Now what is your wish? It shall be granted you. And what further is your request? It shall be fulfilled.”


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And Esther said, “If it please the king, let the Jews who are in Susa be allowed <f>ⓜ</f>tomorrow also to do according to this day's edict. And let the ten sons of Haman be hanged on the gallows.” <f>[1]</f>


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So the king commanded this to be done. A decree was issued in Susa, and the ten sons of Haman were hanged.


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The Jews who were in Susa gathered also on the fourteenth day of the month of Adar and they killed 300 men in Susa, but they laid no hands on the plunder.


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<pb/><f>ⓝ</f> Now the rest of the Jews who were in the king's provinces also <f>ⓞ</f>gathered to defend their lives, and got relief from their enemies and killed 75,000 of those who hated them, but they laid no hands on the plunder.


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This was <f>ⓟ</f>on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar, and on the fourteenth day they rested and made that a day of feasting and gladness.


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But the Jews who were in Susa gathered <f>ⓠ</f>on the thirteenth day and on the fourteenth, and rested <f>ⓡ</f>on the fifteenth day, making that a day of feasting and gladness.


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Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in <f>ⓢ</f>the rural towns, hold the fourteenth day of the month of Adar as a day for gladness and feasting, as <f>ⓣ</f>a holiday, and <f>ⓤ</f>as a day on which they send gifts of food to one another.


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<pb/>And Mordecai recorded these things and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far,


text:
obliging them to keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same, year by year,


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as the days on which the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into <f>ⓥ</f>a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and gifts to the poor.


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For Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, <f>ⓦ</f>the enemy of all the Jews, <f>ⓧ</f>had plotted against the Jews to destroy them, and <f>ⓨ</f>had cast Pur (that is, cast lots), to crush and to destroy them.


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But when it came before the king, he gave orders in writing <f>ⓩ</f>that his evil plan that he had devised against the Jews <f>ⓐ</f>should return on his own head, and that he and his sons should be hanged on the gallows.


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Therefore they called these days Purim, after the term <f>ⓑ</f>Pur. Therefore, because of all that was written in <f>ⓒ</f>this letter, and of what they had faced in this matter, and of what had happened to them,


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the Jews firmly obligated themselves and their offspring and <f>ⓓ</f>all who joined them, that without fail they would keep <f>ⓔ</f>these two days according to what was written and at the time appointed every year,


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that these days should be remembered and kept throughout every generation, in every clan, province, and city, and that these days of Purim should never fall into disuse among the Jews, nor should the commemoration of these days cease among their descendants.


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<pb/>Then Queen Esther, <f>ⓕ</f>the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew gave full written authority, confirming <f>ⓖ</f>this second letter about Purim.


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Letters were sent to all the Jews, <f>ⓗ</f>to the 127 provinces of the kingdom of Ahasuerus, in words of peace and truth,


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that these days of Purim should be observed at their appointed seasons, as Mordecai the Jew and Queen Esther obligated them, and as they had obligated themselves and their offspring, with regard to <f>ⓘ</f>their fasts and their lamenting.


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And all the acts of his power and might, and the full account of the high honor of Mordecai, <f>ⓑ</f>to which the king advanced him, are they not written in <f>ⓒ</f>the Book of the Chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?


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For Mordecai the Jew was <f>ⓓ</f>second in rank to King Ahasuerus, and he was great among the Jews and popular with the multitude of his brothers, for he <f>ⓔ</f>sought the welfare of his people and spoke peace to all his people.


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<pb/>There was a man in the land of <f>ⓐ</f>Uz whose name was <f>ⓑ</f>Job, and that man was <f>ⓒ</f>blameless and upright, one who <f>ⓓ</f>feared God and <f>ⓔ</f>turned away from evil.


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He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all <f>ⓖ</f>the people of the east.


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His sons used to go and hold a feast in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them.


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And when the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and <f>ⓗ</f>consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and <f>ⓘ</f>offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and <f>ⓙ</f>cursed <f>[1]</f> God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually.


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<pb/>Now there was a day when <f>ⓚ</f>the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and <f>ⓛ</f>Satan <f>[2]</f> also came among them.


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The LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From <f>ⓜ</f>going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”


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And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you <f>ⓝ</f>considered my <f>ⓞ</f>servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, <f>ⓟ</f>a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?”


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Have you not put <f>ⓠ</f>a hedge around him and his house and all that he has, on every side? You have <f>ⓡ</f>blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land.


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But <f>ⓢ</f>stretch out your hand and <f>ⓣ</f>touch all that he has, and he will <f>ⓤ</f>curse you <f>ⓥ</f>to your face.”


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And the LORD said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your hand. Only against him do not stretch out your hand.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD.


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<pb/>Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,


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and there came a messenger to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them,


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and <f>ⓦ</f>the Sabeans fell upon them and took them and struck down the servants <f>[3]</f> with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”


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While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, <f>ⓧ</f>“The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants and consumed them, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”


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While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, <f>ⓨ</f>“The Chaldeans formed <f>ⓩ</f>three groups and made a raid on the camels and took them and struck down the servants with the edge of the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”


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While he was yet speaking, there came another and said, <f>ⓐ</f>“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother's house,


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and behold, a great wind came across <f>ⓑ</f>the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young people, and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you.”


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<pb/>Then Job arose and <f>ⓒ</f>tore his <f>ⓓ</f>robe and <f>ⓔ</f>shaved his head <f>ⓕ</f>and fell on the ground and worshiped.


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And he said, <f>ⓖ</f>“Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I <f>ⓗ</f>return. The LORD <f>ⓘ</f>gave, and the LORD has taken away; <f>ⓙ</f>blessed be the name of the LORD.”


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<pb/>Again <f>ⓐ</f>there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came among them to present himself before the LORD.


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And the LORD said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the LORD and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”


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And the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still <f>ⓑ</f>holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him <f>ⓒ</f>without reason.”


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Then Satan answered the LORD and said, “Skin for skin! All that a man has he will give for his life.


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But <f>ⓓ</f>stretch out your hand and touch his bone and his flesh, and he will <f>ⓔ</f>curse you to your face.”


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<pb/>So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and struck Job with loathsome <f>ⓕ</f>sores from <f>ⓖ</f>the sole of his foot to the crown of his head.


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And he took <f>ⓗ</f>a piece of broken pottery with which to scrape himself while he sat in <f>ⓘ</f>the ashes.


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<pb/>Then his wife said to him, “Do you still <f>ⓙ</f>hold fast your integrity? <f>ⓚ</f>Curse God and die.”


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But he said to her, “You speak as one of the <f>ⓛ</f>foolish women would speak. <f>ⓜ</f>Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?” <f>[1]</f> <f>ⓝ</f>In all this Job did not <f>ⓞ</f>sin with his lips.


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<pb/>Now when Job's three <f>ⓟ</f>friends heard of all this evil that had come upon him, they came each from his own place, Eliphaz <f>ⓠ</f>the Temanite, Bildad <f>ⓡ</f>the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. They made an appointment together to come to <f>ⓢ</f>show him sympathy and comfort him.


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And when they saw him from a distance, they did not recognize him. And they raised their voices and wept, and they <f>ⓣ</f>tore their robes and sprinkled <f>ⓤ</f>dust on their heads toward heaven.


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And they sat with him on the ground <f>ⓥ</f>seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was very great.


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<pb/><t><f>ⓑ</f> “Let the day perish on which I was born, </t><t>and the night that said, </t><t>‘A man is conceived.’</t>


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<t>Let gloom and <f>ⓒ</f>deep darkness claim it. </t><t>Let clouds dwell upon it; </t><t>let the blackness of the day terrify it.</t>


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<t>That night — let thick darkness seize it! </t><t>Let it not rejoice among the days of the year; </t><t>let it not come into the number of the months.</t>


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<t>Let the stars of its dawn be dark; </t><t>let it hope for light, but have none, </t><t>nor see <f>ⓔ</f>the eyelids of the morning,</t>


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<t>because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb, </t><t>nor hide trouble from my eyes. </t>


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<t>For then I would have lain down and been quiet; </t><t>I would have slept; then I would have been at rest,</t>


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<t>Or why was I not as a hidden <f>ⓘ</f>stillborn child, </t><t>as infants who never see the light?</t>


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<t>There the prisoners are at ease together; </t><t>they hear not the voice of <f>ⓚ</f>the taskmaster.</t>


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<pb/><t>“Why is light given to him who is in misery, </t><t>and life to <f>ⓛ</f>the bitter in soul,</t>


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<t>who <f>ⓜ</f>long for death, but it comes not, </t><t>and dig for it more than for <f>ⓝ</f>hidden treasures,</t>


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<t>Why is light given to a man whose <f>ⓞ</f>way is hidden, </t><t>whom God has <f>ⓟ</f>hedged in?</t>


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<t>For my sighing comes <f>ⓠ</f>instead of <f>[1]</f> my bread, </t><t>and my <f>ⓡ</f>groanings are poured out like water.</t>


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<pb/><t>“If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient? </t><t>Yet who can keep from speaking?</t>


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<t>Your words have upheld him who was stumbling, </t><t>and you have <f>ⓑ</f>made firm the feeble knees.</t>


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<t>But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; </t><t>it touches you, and you are dismayed.</t>


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<t><f>ⓒ</f> Is not your fear of God <f>[1]</f> your <f>ⓓ</f>confidence, </t><t>and the integrity of your ways your hope? </t>


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<pb/><t>“Remember: <f>ⓔ</f>who that was innocent ever perished? </t><t>Or where were the upright cut off?</t>


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<t>By <f>ⓖ</f>the breath of God they perish, </t><t>and by <f>ⓗ</f>the blast of his anger they are consumed.</t>


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<t>The roar of the lion, the voice of the fierce lion, </t><t><f>ⓘ</f>the teeth of the young lions are broken.</t>


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<t>The strong lion perishes for lack of prey, </t><t>and the cubs of the lioness are scattered. </t>


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<pb/><t>“Now a word was brought to me stealthily; </t><t>my ear received <f>ⓙ</f>the whisper of it.</t>


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<t>Amid <f>ⓚ</f>thoughts from <f>ⓛ</f>visions of the night, </t><t>when <f>ⓜ</f>deep sleep falls on men,</t>


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<t>It stood still, </t><t>but I could not discern its appearance. </t><t><f>ⓝ</f>A form was before my eyes; </t><t>there was silence, then I heard <f>ⓞ</f>a voice:</t>


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<t><f>ⓟ</f> ‘Can mortal man be in the right before <f>[2]</f> God? </t><t>Can a man be pure before his Maker?</t>


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<t>how much more those who dwell in houses of <f>ⓡ</f>clay, </t><t>whose foundation is in <f>ⓢ</f>the dust, </t><t>who are crushed like <f>[3]</f> <f>ⓣ</f>the moth.</t>


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<t>Between <f>ⓤ</f>morning and evening they are beaten to pieces; </t><t>they perish forever <f>ⓥ</f>without anyone regarding it.</t>


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<t>Is not their tent-cord plucked up within them, </t><t><f>ⓦ</f>do they not die, and that without wisdom?’ </t>


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<pb/><t>“Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? </t><t>To which of <f>ⓐ</f>the holy ones will you turn?</t>


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<t>His children are <f>ⓒ</f>far from safety; </t><t>they are crushed in <f>ⓓ</f>the gate, </t><t>and there is no one to deliver them.</t>


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<t>The hungry eat his harvest, </t><t>and he takes it even out of thorns, <f>[1]</f> </t><t>and the thirsty pant <f>[2]</f> after his <f>[3]</f> wealth.</t>


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<t>who <f>ⓕ</f>does great things and <f>ⓖ</f>unsearchable, </t><t><f>ⓗ</f>marvelous things without number:</t>


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<t>he <f>ⓙ</f>sets on high those who are lowly, </t><t>and those who mourn are lifted to safety.</t>


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<t>He <f>ⓚ</f>frustrates the devices of the crafty, </t><t>so that their hands achieve no success.</t>


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<t>He <f>ⓛ</f>catches the wise in their own craftiness, </t><t>and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.</t>


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<t>But he <f>ⓝ</f>saves the needy from the sword of their mouth </t><t>and from the hand of the mighty.</t>


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<pb/><t>“Behold, <f>ⓟ</f>blessed is the one whom God reproves; </t><t>therefore <f>ⓠ</f>despise not the discipline of the <f>ⓡ</f>Almighty.</t>


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<t>He will <f>ⓤ</f>deliver you from six troubles; </t><t>in seven no <f>ⓥ</f>evil <f>[4]</f> shall touch you.</t>


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<t><f>ⓦ</f> In famine he will redeem you from death, </t><t>and in war from the power of the sword.</t>


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<t>You shall be <f>ⓧ</f>hidden from the lash of the tongue, </t><t>and shall not fear destruction when it comes.</t>


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<t>At destruction and famine you shall laugh, </t><t>and shall not fear <f>ⓨ</f>the beasts of the earth.</t>


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<t>For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, </t><t>and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.</t>


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<t>You shall know that your <f>ⓩ</f>tent is at peace, </t><t>and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.</t>


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<t>You shall know also that your <f>ⓐ</f>offspring shall be many, </t><t>and your descendants as <f>ⓑ</f>the grass of the earth.</t>


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<t>You shall come to your grave in <f>ⓒ</f>ripe old age, </t><t>like a sheaf gathered up in its season.</t>


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<t>Behold, this we have <f>ⓓ</f>searched out; it is true. </t><t>Hear, and know it for your good.” <f>[5]</f> </t>


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<t>For then it would be heavier than <f>ⓐ</f>the sand of the sea; </t><t>therefore my words have been rash.</t>


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<t>For <f>ⓑ</f>the arrows of the Almighty are in me; </t><t>my spirit drinks their poison; </t><t>the terrors of God are arrayed against me.</t>


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<t>Can that which is tasteless be eaten without salt, </t><t>or is there any taste in the juice of the mallow? <f>[1]</f></t>


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<t>My appetite refuses to touch them; </t><t>they are as food that is loathsome to me. <f>[2]</f> </t>


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<t>that it would <f>ⓒ</f>please God to crush me, </t><t>that he would let loose his hand and cut me off!</t>


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<t>This would be my comfort; </t><t>I would even exult <f>[3]</f> in pain <f>ⓓ</f>unsparing, </t><t>for I have not denied the words of <f>ⓔ</f>the Holy One.</t>


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<t>What is my strength, that I should wait? </t><t>And what is my end, that I should be patient?</t>


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<pb/><t>“He who <f>ⓕ</f>withholds <f>[4]</f> kindness from a <f>ⓖ</f>friend </t><t>forsakes the fear of the Almighty.</t>


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<t>My <f>ⓗ</f>brothers are <f>ⓘ</f>treacherous as a torrent-bed, </t><t>as torrential <f>ⓙ</f>streams that pass away,</t>


text:
<t>The caravans turn aside from their course; </t><t>they go up into <f>ⓚ</f>the waste and perish.</t>


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<t>They are <f>ⓝ</f>ashamed because they were confident; </t><t>they come there and are <f>ⓞ</f>disappointed.</t>


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<t>Or, ‘Deliver me from the adversary's hand’? </t><t>Or, ‘Redeem me from the hand of <f>ⓟ</f>the ruthless’? </t>


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<t>Do you think that you can reprove words, </t><t>when the speech of a despairing man is <f>ⓠ</f>wind?</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Has not man <f>ⓐ</f>a hard service on earth, </t><t>and are not his <f>ⓑ</f>days like the days of a hired hand?</t>


text:
<t>Like a slave who longs for <f>ⓒ</f>the shadow, </t><t>and like <f>ⓓ</f>a hired hand who looks for his <f>ⓔ</f>wages,</t>


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<t>so I am allotted months of <f>ⓕ</f>emptiness, </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>and nights of misery are apportioned to me.</t>


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<t><f>ⓗ</f> When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ </t><t>But the night is long, </t><t>and I am full of tossing till the dawn.</t>


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<t>My flesh is clothed with <f>ⓘ</f>worms and <f>ⓙ</f>dirt; </t><t>my skin hardens, then <f>ⓚ</f>breaks out afresh.</t>


text:
<t>My days are <f>ⓛ</f>swifter than <f>ⓜ</f>a weaver's shuttle </t><t>and come to their end without hope. </t>


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<t><f>ⓞ</f> The eye of him who sees me will behold me no more; </t><t>while your eyes are on me, <f>ⓟ</f>I shall be gone.</t>


text:
<t>As <f>ⓠ</f>the cloud fades and vanishes, </t><t>so he who <f>ⓡ</f>goes down to Sheol does not come up;</t>


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<t>he <f>ⓢ</f>returns no more to his house, </t><t>nor does his <f>ⓣ</f>place know him anymore. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Therefore I will not <f>ⓤ</f>restrain my mouth; </t><t>I will speak in the anguish of my spirit; </t><t>I will <f>ⓥ</f>complain in <f>ⓦ</f>the bitterness of my soul.</t>


text:
<t>I <f>ⓐ</f>loathe my life; I would not live forever. </t><t><f>ⓑ</f>Leave me alone, for my days are <f>ⓒ</f>a breath.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> What is man, that you make so much of him, </t><t>and that you set your heart on him,</t>


text:
<t>How long will you not <f>ⓖ</f>look away from me, </t><t>nor leave me alone till I swallow my spit?</t>


text:
<t>If I sin, what do I do to you, you watcher of mankind? </t><t>Why have you made me <f>ⓗ</f>your mark? </t><t>Why have I become a burden to you?</t>


text:
<t>Why do you not pardon my transgression </t><t>and take away my iniquity? </t><t>For now I shall lie in <f>ⓘ</f>the earth; </t><t>you will <f>ⓙ</f>seek me, <f>ⓚ</f>but I shall not be.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“How long will you say these things, </t><t>and the words of your mouth be a <f>ⓑ</f>great wind?</t>


text:
<t>If your <f>ⓓ</f>children have sinned against him, </t><t>he has delivered them into the hand of their transgression.</t>


text:
<t>if you are pure and upright, </t><t>surely then he will <f>ⓕ</f>rouse himself for you </t><t>and <f>ⓖ</f>restore your rightful habitation.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“For <f>ⓘ</f>inquire, please, of bygone ages, </t><t>and consider what <f>ⓙ</f>the fathers have searched out.</t>


text:
<t>For we are but of yesterday and know nothing, </t><t>for our days on earth are <f>ⓚ</f>a shadow.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Can papyrus grow where there is no marsh? </t><t>Can reeds flourish where there is no water?</t>


text:
<t>Such are the paths of all who <f>ⓜ</f>forget God; </t><t><f>ⓝ</f>the hope of <f>ⓞ</f>the godless shall perish.</t>


text:
<t>He leans against his <f>ⓠ</f>house, but it does not stand; </t><t>he lays hold of it, but it does not endure.</t>


text:
<t>If he is destroyed from his <f>ⓢ</f>place, </t><t>then it will deny him, saying, ‘I have never <f>ⓣ</f>seen you.’</t>


text:
<t>Those who hate you will be <f>ⓦ</f>clothed with shame, </t><t>and the tent of the wicked will be no more.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Truly I know that it is so: </t><t>But how can a man be <f>ⓐ</f>in the right before God?</t>


text:
<t>If one wished to <f>ⓑ</f>contend with him, </t><t>one could not answer him once in a thousand times.</t>


text:
<t>He is <f>ⓒ</f>wise in heart and mighty in strength </t><t>— who has <f>ⓓ</f>hardened himself against him, and succeeded? — </t>


text:
<t>who <f>ⓗ</f>made <f>ⓘ</f>the Bear and <f>ⓙ</f>Orion, </t><t>the Pleiades <f>ⓚ</f>and the chambers of the south;</t>


text:
<t>who does <f>ⓛ</f>great things beyond searching out, </t><t>and marvelous things beyond number.</t>


text:
<t>Behold, he passes by me, and I <f>ⓜ</f>see him not; </t><t>he moves on, but I do not perceive him.</t>


text:
<t>Behold, he snatches away; <f>ⓝ</f>who can turn him back? </t><t><f>ⓞ</f>Who will say to him, ‘What are you doing?’ </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“God will not turn back his anger; </t><t>beneath him bowed the helpers of <f>ⓟ</f>Rahab.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓢ</f> Though I am in the right, I cannot answer him; </t><t>I must <f>ⓣ</f>appeal for mercy to my accuser. <f>[1]</f></t>


text:
<t>If I summoned him and he answered me, </t><t>I would not believe that he was listening to my voice.</t>


text:
<t>If it is a contest of <f>ⓥ</f>strength, behold, he is mighty! </t><t>If it is a matter of justice, who can <f>ⓦ</f>summon him? <f>[2]</f></t>


text:
<t>Though I am in the right, <f>ⓧ</f>my own mouth would condemn me; </t><t>though I am blameless, he would prove me perverse.</t>


text:
<t>It is all one; therefore I say, </t><t>‘He <f>ⓐ</f>destroys both the blameless and the wicked.’</t>


text:
<t>When <f>ⓑ</f>disaster brings sudden death, </t><t>he mocks at the calamity <f>[3]</f> of the innocent.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓒ</f> The earth is given into the hand of the wicked; </t><t>he <f>ⓓ</f>covers the faces of its judges — </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>if it is not he, who then is it? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“My <f>ⓕ</f>days are swifter than <f>ⓖ</f>a runner; </t><t>they flee away; they see no good.</t>


text:
<t>If I say, <f>ⓙ</f>‘I will forget my complaint, </t><t>I will put off my sad face, and <f>ⓚ</f>be of good cheer,’</t>


text:
<t>I become <f>ⓛ</f>afraid of all my suffering, </t><t>for I know you will not <f>ⓜ</f>hold me innocent.</t>


text:
<t>For he is not a man, as I am, that I might answer him, </t><t>that we should <f>ⓠ</f>come to trial together.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓡ</f> There is no <f>[4]</f> arbiter between us, </t><t>who might lay his hand on us both.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓢ</f> Let him take his <f>ⓣ</f>rod away from me, </t><t>and let <f>ⓤ</f>not dread of him terrify me.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“I <f>ⓐ</f>loathe my life; </t><t>I will give free utterance to my <f>ⓑ</f>complaint; </t><t>I will speak in <f>ⓒ</f>the bitterness of my soul.</t>


text:
<t>I will say to God, Do not <f>ⓓ</f>condemn me; </t><t>let me know why you <f>ⓔ</f>contend against me.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓕ</f> Does it seem good to you to oppress, </t><t>to despise <f>ⓖ</f>the work of your hands </t><t><f>ⓗ</f>and favor the designs of the wicked?</t>


text:
<t>although you <f>ⓜ</f>know that I am not guilty, </t><t>and there is <f>ⓝ</f>none to deliver out of your hand?</t>


text:
<t>Remember that you have made me like <f>ⓟ</f>clay; </t><t>and will you return me to the <f>ⓠ</f>dust?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓤ</f> If I am guilty, woe to me! </t><t>If I am <f>ⓥ</f>in the right, I cannot lift up my head, </t><t>for I am filled with disgrace </t><t>and <f>ⓦ</f>look on my affliction.</t>


text:
<t>And were my head lifted up, <f>[1]</f> you would hunt me like <f>ⓧ</f>a lion </t><t>and again work <f>ⓨ</f>wonders against me.</t>


text:
<t>You renew your <f>ⓩ</f>witnesses against me </t><t>and increase your vexation toward me; </t><t>you <f>ⓐ</f>bring fresh troops against me. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓑ</f> “Why did you bring me out from the womb? </t><t>Would that I had died before any eye had seen me</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> Are not my days few? </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>Then cease, and leave me alone, <f>ⓕ</f>that I may find a little cheer</t>


text:
<t>before I go — and <f>ⓖ</f>I shall not return — </t><t>to the land of <f>ⓗ</f>darkness and <f>ⓘ</f>deep shadow,</t>


text:
<t>the land of gloom like thick darkness, </t><t>like deep shadow without any order, </t><t>where light is as thick darkness.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Should <f>ⓑ</f>a multitude of words go unanswered, </t><t>and a man full of talk be judged right?</t>


text:
<t>For <f>ⓒ</f>you say, ‘My <f>ⓓ</f>doctrine is pure, </t><t>and I am clean in God's <f>[1]</f> eyes.’</t>


text:
<t>and that he would tell you the secrets of wisdom! </t><t>For he is manifold in <f>ⓔ</f>understanding. <f>[2]</f> </t><t>Know then that God <f>ⓕ</f>exacts of you less than your guilt deserves. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓖ</f> “Can you find out the deep things of God? </t><t>Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?</t>


text:
<t>It is <f>ⓗ</f>higher than heaven <f>[3]</f> — what can you do? </t><t>Deeper than Sheol — what can you know?</t>


text:
<t>If he <f>ⓘ</f>passes through and <f>ⓙ</f>imprisons </t><t>and summons the court, who can <f>ⓚ</f>turn him back?</t>


text:
<t>But a stupid man will get understanding </t><t>when <f>ⓜ</f>a wild donkey's colt is <f>ⓝ</f>born a man! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“If you <f>ⓞ</f>prepare your heart, </t><t>you will <f>ⓟ</f>stretch out your hands toward him.</t>


text:
<t>If iniquity is in your hand, put it far away, </t><t>and let not injustice dwell in your tents.</t>


text:
<t>Surely then you will <f>ⓠ</f>lift up your face without <f>ⓡ</f>blemish; </t><t>you will be secure and will not fear.</t>


text:
<t>You will <f>ⓢ</f>forget your misery; </t><t>you will remember it as waters that have passed away.</t>


text:
<t>And your life will be <f>ⓣ</f>brighter than the noonday; </t><t>its darkness will be like the morning.</t>


text:
<t>And you will feel secure, because there is hope; </t><t>you will look around and <f>ⓤ</f>take your rest in security.</t>


text:
<t>You will <f>ⓥ</f>lie down, and none will make you afraid; </t><t>many will <f>ⓦ</f>court your favor.</t>


text:
<t>But <f>ⓧ</f>the eyes of the wicked will fail; </t><t>all way of escape will be lost to them, </t><t>and their hope is <f>ⓨ</f>to breathe their last.” </t>


text:
<t>But I have <f>ⓐ</f>understanding as well as you; </t><t>I am not inferior to you. </t><t>Who does not know <f>ⓑ</f>such things as these?</t>


text:
<t>I am <f>ⓒ</f>a laughingstock to my friends; </t><t>I, who <f>ⓓ</f>called to God and he answered me, </t><t>a just and blameless man, am a laughingstock.</t>


text:
<t>In the thought of one who is <f>ⓔ</f>at ease there is contempt for misfortune; </t><t>it is ready for those whose feet slip.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓕ</f> The tents of robbers are at peace, </t><t>and those who provoke God are secure, </t><t>who bring their god in their hand. <f>[1]</f> </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; </t><t>the birds of the heavens, and they will tell you;</t>


text:
<t>or the bushes of the earth, and they will teach you; <f>[2]</f> </t><t>and the fish of the sea will declare to you.</t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓚ</f> “With God <f>[3]</f> are wisdom and might; </t><t>he has counsel and understanding.</t>


text:
<t>If he <f>ⓜ</f>withholds the waters, they dry up; </t><t>if he <f>ⓝ</f>sends them out, they overwhelm the land.</t>


text:
<t>With him are strength and <f>ⓞ</f>sound wisdom; </t><t>the deceived and the deceiver are his.</t>


text:
<t>He deprives of speech those who are trusted </t><t><f>ⓢ</f>and takes away the discernment of the elders.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓤ</f>uncovers the deeps out of darkness </t><t>and brings <f>ⓥ</f>deep darkness to light.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓦ</f>makes nations great, and he destroys them; </t><t>he enlarges nations, and <f>ⓧ</f>leads them away.</t>


text:
<t>He takes away understanding from the chiefs of the people of the earth </t><t>and <f>ⓨ</f>makes them wander in a trackless waste.</t>


text:
<t>They <f>ⓩ</f>grope in the dark without light, </t><t>and he makes them <f>ⓐ</f>stagger like a drunken man. </t>


text:
<t><f>ⓑ</f> But I would speak to the Almighty, </t><t>and I desire to <f>ⓒ</f>argue my case with God.</t>


text:
<t>As for you, <f>ⓓ</f>you whitewash with lies; </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>worthless physicians are you all.</t>


text:
<t>Will it be well with you when he <f>ⓙ</f>searches you out? </t><t>Or <f>ⓚ</f>can you deceive him, as one deceives a man?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓞ</f> Though he slay me, I will <f>ⓟ</f>hope in him; <f>[1]</f> </t><t>yet I will <f>ⓠ</f>argue my ways to his face.</t>


text:
<t>How many are my iniquities and my sins? </t><t><f>ⓨ</f>Make me know my transgression and my sin.</t>


text:
<t>For you <f>ⓓ</f>write bitter things against me </t><t>and make me inherit <f>ⓔ</f>the iniquities of my youth.</t>


text:
<t>You put my feet in <f>ⓕ</f>the stocks </t><t>and <f>ⓖ</f>watch all my paths; </t><t>you set a limit for <f>[2]</f> the soles of my feet.</t>


text:
<t>Man <f>[3]</f> wastes away like <f>ⓗ</f>a rotten thing, </t><t>like a garment that is <f>ⓘ</f>moth-eaten. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Man who is <f>ⓐ</f>born of a woman </t><t>is <f>ⓑ</f>few of days and <f>ⓒ</f>full of trouble.</t>


text:
<t>He comes out like <f>ⓓ</f>a flower and <f>ⓔ</f>withers; </t><t>he flees like <f>ⓕ</f>a shadow and continues not.</t>


text:
<t>And do you <f>ⓖ</f>open your eyes on such a one </t><t>and <f>ⓗ</f>bring me into judgment with you?</t>


text:
<t>Since his <f>ⓙ</f>days are determined, </t><t>and <f>ⓚ</f>the number of his months is with you, </t><t>and you have appointed his limits that he cannot pass,</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓛ</f> look away from him and leave him alone, <f>[1]</f> </t><t>that he may enjoy, like <f>ⓜ</f>a hired hand, his day. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“For there is hope for a tree, </t><t>if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, </t><t>and that its shoots will not cease.</t>


text:
<t>yet at the scent of water it will bud </t><t>and put out <f>ⓞ</f>branches like a young plant.</t>


text:
<t>so a man lies down and rises not again; </t><t>till <f>ⓡ</f>the heavens are no more he will not awake </t><t>or be <f>ⓢ</f>roused out of his sleep.</t>


text:
<t>Oh that you would <f>ⓣ</f>hide me in <f>ⓤ</f>Sheol, </t><t>that you would <f>ⓥ</f>conceal me <f>ⓦ</f>until your wrath be past, </t><t>that you would appoint me a set time, and remember me!</t>


text:
<t>If a man dies, shall he live again? </t><t>All the days of my <f>ⓧ</f>service I would <f>ⓨ</f>wait, </t><t>till my renewal <f>[2]</f> should come.</t>


text:
<t>You would <f>ⓩ</f>call, and I would answer you; </t><t>you would long for the <f>ⓐ</f>work of your hands.</t>


text:
<t>For then you would <f>ⓑ</f>number my steps; </t><t>you would not keep <f>ⓒ</f>watch over my sin;</t>


text:
<t>my transgression would be <f>ⓓ</f>sealed up in a bag, </t><t>and you would cover over my iniquity. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“But the mountain falls and <f>ⓔ</f>crumbles away, </t><t>and <f>ⓕ</f>the rock is removed from its place;</t>


text:
<t>the waters wear away the stones; </t><t>the torrents wash away the soil of the earth; </t><t>so you destroy the hope of man.</t>


text:
<t>You prevail forever against him, and he passes; </t><t>you change his countenance, and send him away.</t>


text:
<t>His sons come to honor, and he <f>ⓖ</f>does not know it; </t><t>they are brought low, and he perceives it not.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Should <f>ⓑ</f>a wise man answer with <f>ⓒ</f>windy knowledge, </t><t>and fill his <f>ⓓ</f>belly with <f>ⓔ</f>the east wind?</t>


text:
<t>But you are doing away with the fear of God <f>[1]</f> </t><t>and hindering meditation before God.</t>


text:
<t>Your <f>ⓕ</f>own mouth condemns you, and not I; </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>your own lips testify against you. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓗ</f> “Are you the first man who was born? </t><t>Or <f>ⓘ</f>were you brought forth <f>ⓙ</f>before the hills?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓛ</f> What do you know that we do not know? </t><t>What do you understand that is not clear to us?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓞ</f> What is man, <f>ⓟ</f>that he can be pure? </t><t>Or he who is <f>ⓠ</f>born of a woman, that he can be righteous?</t>


text:
<t>Behold, God <f>[2]</f> <f>ⓡ</f>puts no trust in his <f>ⓢ</f>holy ones, </t><t>and the heavens are not pure in his sight;</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> how much less one who is abominable and <f>ⓤ</f>corrupt, </t><t>a man who <f>ⓥ</f>drinks injustice like water! </t>


text:
<t>The wicked man writhes in pain all his days, </t><t>through all the <f>ⓨ</f>years that are laid up for <f>ⓩ</f>the ruthless.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓐ</f> Dreadful sounds are in his ears; </t><t>in <f>ⓑ</f>prosperity the destroyer will come upon him.</t>


text:
<t>He does not believe that he will return out of darkness, </t><t>and he is marked for the sword.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓒ</f>wanders abroad for bread, saying, ‘Where is it?’ </t><t>He knows that a day of darkness is ready at his hand;</t>


text:
<t>distress and anguish terrify him; </t><t>they <f>ⓓ</f>prevail against him, like a king ready for battle.</t>


text:
<t>and has lived in desolate cities, </t><t>in houses that none should inhabit, </t><t>which were ready to become heaps of ruins;</t>


text:
<t>he will not be rich, and his wealth will not endure, </t><t>nor will his possessions spread over the earth; <f>[3]</f></t>


text:
<t>he will not depart from darkness; </t><t>the flame will dry up his shoots, </t><t>and by <f>ⓗ</f>the breath of his mouth he will depart.</t>


text:
<t>Let him not <f>ⓘ</f>trust in emptiness, deceiving himself, </t><t>for emptiness will be his payment.</t>


text:
<t>He will shake off his unripe grape like the vine, </t><t>and cast off his blossom like the olive tree.</t>


text:
<t>For <f>ⓚ</f>the company of the godless is barren, </t><t>and <f>ⓛ</f>fire consumes the tents of bribery.</t>


text:
<t>They <f>ⓜ</f>conceive trouble and give birth to evil, </t><t>and their <f>ⓝ</f>womb prepares deceit.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“I have heard <f>ⓐ</f>many such things; </t><t><f>ⓑ</f>miserable comforters are you all.</t>


text:
<t>I also could speak as you do, </t><t>if you were in my place; </t><t>I could join words together against you </t><t>and <f>ⓓ</f>shake my head at you.</t>


text:
<t>I could strengthen you with my mouth, </t><t>and the solace of my lips would assuage your pain. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“If I speak, my pain is not assuaged, </t><t>and if I forbear, how much of it leaves me?</t>


text:
<t>Surely now God has worn me out; </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>he has <f>[1]</f> made desolate all my company.</t>


text:
<t>And he has shriveled me up, </t><t>which is <f>ⓕ</f>a witness against me, </t><t>and my <f>ⓖ</f>leanness has risen up against me; </t><t>it testifies to my face.</t>


text:
<t>He has <f>ⓗ</f>torn me in his wrath <f>ⓘ</f>and hated me; </t><t>he has <f>ⓙ</f>gnashed his teeth at me; </t><t>my adversary sharpens his eyes against me.</t>


text:
<t>Men have <f>ⓚ</f>gaped at me with their mouth; </t><t>they have <f>ⓛ</f>struck me insolently on the cheek; </t><t>they <f>ⓜ</f>mass themselves together against me.</t>


text:
<t>I was at ease, and he broke me apart; </t><t>he seized me by the neck and dashed me to pieces; </t><t>he set me up as his <f>ⓝ</f>target;</t>


text:
<t>his <f>ⓞ</f>archers surround me. </t><t>He slashes open my kidneys <f>ⓟ</f>and does not spare; </t><t>he <f>ⓠ</f>pours out my gall on the ground.</t>


text:
<t>I have sewed <f>ⓣ</f>sackcloth upon my skin </t><t>and have laid <f>ⓤ</f>my strength <f>ⓥ</f>in the dust.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“O earth, <f>ⓨ</f>cover not my blood, </t><t>and let my <f>ⓩ</f>cry find no resting place.</t>


text:
<t>Even now, behold, my <f>ⓐ</f>witness is in heaven, </t><t>and he who testifies for me is <f>ⓑ</f>on high.</t>


text:
<t>that he would <f>ⓓ</f>argue the case of a man with God, </t><t>as <f>[2]</f> a son of man does with his neighbor.</t>


text:
<t>For when a few years have come </t><t>I shall go the way <f>ⓔ</f>from which I shall not return. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“My spirit is broken; my days are <f>ⓐ</f>extinct; </t><t><f>ⓑ</f>the graveyard is ready for me.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Lay down a pledge for me with you; </t><t>who is there who will put up <f>ⓓ</f>security for me?</t>


text:
<t>Since you have closed their hearts to understanding, </t><t>therefore you will not let them triumph.</t>


text:
<t>He who informs against his friends to get a share of their property — </t><t>the <f>ⓔ</f>eyes of his children will fail. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“He has made me <f>ⓕ</f>a byword of the peoples, </t><t>and I am one before whom men spit.</t>


text:
<t>My <f>ⓖ</f>eye has grown dim from vexation, </t><t>and all my members are like <f>ⓗ</f>a shadow.</t>


text:
<t>The upright are <f>ⓘ</f>appalled at this, </t><t>and the innocent stirs himself up against the godless.</t>


text:
<t>Yet the righteous holds to his way, </t><t>and he who has <f>ⓙ</f>clean hands grows stronger and stronger.</t>


text:
<t>But you, <f>ⓚ</f>come on again, all of you, </t><t>and I shall not find a wise man among you.</t>


text:
<t>They <f>ⓜ</f>make night into day: </t><t>‘The light,’ they say, ‘is near to the darkness.’ <f>[1]</f></t>


text:
<t>if I say to the pit, ‘You are my father,’ </t><t>and to the worm, ‘My mother,’ or ‘My sister,’</t>


text:
<t>Will it go down to the bars of <f>ⓟ</f>Sheol? </t><t>Shall we <f>ⓠ</f>descend together <f>ⓡ</f>into the dust?” <f>[2]</f> </t>


text:
<t>You who <f>ⓓ</f>tear yourself in your anger, </t><t>shall the earth be forsaken for you, </t><t>or <f>ⓔ</f>the rock be removed out of its place? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Indeed, <f>ⓕ</f>the light of the wicked is put out, </t><t>and the flame of his fire does not shine.</t>


text:
<t>He is torn from the tent in which he trusted </t><t>and is brought to <f>ⓜ</f>the king of terrors.</t>


text:
<t>In his tent dwells that which is none of his; </t><t><f>ⓝ</f>sulfur is scattered over his habitation.</t>


text:
<t>He has no <f>ⓢ</f>posterity or progeny among his people, </t><t>and no survivor where he used to live.</t>


text:
<t>They of the west are appalled at his <f>ⓣ</f>day, </t><t>and <f>ⓤ</f>horror seizes them of the east.</t>


text:
<t>Surely such are the dwellings of the unrighteous, </t><t>such is the place of him who <f>ⓥ</f>knows not God.” </t>


text:
<t>These <f>ⓐ</f>ten times you have cast reproach upon me; </t><t>are you not ashamed to wrong me?</t>


text:
<t>If indeed you <f>ⓑ</f>magnify yourselves against me </t><t>and make my disgrace an argument against me,</t>


text:
<t>Behold, I <f>ⓓ</f>cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not answered; </t><t>I call for help, but there is no justice.</t>


text:
<t>He has <f>ⓔ</f>walled up my way, so that I cannot pass, </t><t>and he has set darkness upon my paths.</t>


text:
<t>He breaks me down on every side, and I <f>ⓗ</f>am gone, </t><t>and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.</t>


text:
<t>His <f>ⓙ</f>troops come on together; </t><t>they have <f>ⓚ</f>cast up their siege ramp <f>[1]</f> against me </t><t>and encamp around my tent. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“He has put my <f>ⓛ</f>brothers far from me, </t><t>and <f>ⓜ</f>those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.</t>


text:
<t>The guests <f>ⓟ</f>in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger; </t><t>I have become a foreigner in their eyes.</t>


text:
<t>I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer; </t><t>I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.</t>


text:
<t>My breath is strange to my <f>ⓠ</f>wife, </t><t>and I am a stench to the children of <f>ⓡ</f>my own mother.</t>


text:
<t>All my <f>ⓣ</f>intimate friends abhor me, </t><t>and those whom I loved have turned against me.</t>


text:
<t>My <f>ⓤ</f>bones stick to my skin and to my flesh, </t><t>and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.</t>


text:
<t>Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends, </t><t>for the hand of God has <f>ⓥ</f>touched me!</t>


text:
<t>For I <f>ⓩ</f>know that my <f>ⓐ</f>Redeemer lives, </t><t>and at the last he will stand upon the <f>ⓑ</f>earth. <f>[2]</f></t>


text:
<t>And after my skin has been thus destroyed, </t><t>yet in <f>[3]</f> my flesh I shall <f>ⓒ</f>see God,</t>


text:
<t>whom I shall see for myself, </t><t>and my eyes shall behold, and not <f>ⓓ</f>another. </t><t>My heart <f>ⓔ</f>faints within me!</t>


text:
<t>If you say, ‘How we will <f>ⓕ</f>pursue him!’ </t><t>and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’ <f>[4]</f></t>


text:
<t>be afraid of the sword, </t><t>for wrath brings the punishment of the sword, </t><t>that you may know there is <f>ⓖ</f>a judgment.” </t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> that the exulting of the wicked is short, </t><t>and the joy of the godless but for a moment?</t>


text:
<t>he will perish forever like his own <f>ⓕ</f>dung; </t><t>those who have seen him will say, <f>ⓖ</f>‘Where is he?’</t>


text:
<t>He will fly away like <f>ⓗ</f>a dream and not be found; </t><t>he will be chased away like a vision of the night.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓘ</f> The eye that saw him will see him no more, </t><t>nor will his place any more behold him.</t>


text:
<t>His children will seek the favor of the poor, </t><t>and his hands will <f>ⓙ</f>give back his wealth.</t>


text:
<t>His bones are full of his <f>ⓚ</f>youthful vigor, </t><t>but it will lie <f>ⓛ</f>down with him in the dust. </t>


text:
<t>He will not look upon <f>ⓟ</f>the rivers, </t><t>the streams flowing with <f>ⓠ</f>honey and <f>ⓡ</f>curds.</t>


text:
<t>He will <f>ⓢ</f>give back the fruit of his toil </t><t>and will not <f>ⓣ</f>swallow it down; </t><t>from the profit of his trading </t><t>he will get no enjoyment.</t>


text:
<t>For he has crushed and abandoned the poor; </t><t>he has seized a house that he did not build. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Because he <f>ⓤ</f>knew no <f>ⓥ</f>contentment in his belly, </t><t><f>ⓦ</f>he will not let anything in which he delights escape him.</t>


text:
<t>In the fullness of his sufficiency he will be in distress; </t><t>the hand of everyone in misery will come against him.</t>


text:
<t>To fill his belly to the full, </t><t>God <f>[1]</f> will send his burning anger against him </t><t>and rain it upon him <f>ⓧ</f>into his body.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓨ</f> He will flee from an iron weapon; </t><t><f>ⓩ</f>a bronze arrow will strike <f>ⓐ</f>him through.</t>


text:
<t>It <f>ⓑ</f>is drawn forth and comes out of his body; </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>the glittering point comes out of his <f>ⓓ</f>gallbladder; </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>terrors come upon him.</t>


text:
<t>Utter darkness is laid up for his treasures; </t><t><f>ⓕ</f>a fire not fanned will devour him; </t><t>what is left in his tent will be consumed.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓖ</f> The heavens will reveal his iniquity, </t><t>and the earth will rise up against him.</t>


text:
<t>The possessions of his house will be carried away, </t><t>dragged off in the day of God's <f>[2]</f> wrath.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓗ</f> This is the wicked man's portion from God, </t><t><f>ⓘ</f>the heritage decreed for him by God.” </t>


text:
<t>Their <f>ⓕ</f>offspring are established in their presence, </t><t>and their descendants before their eyes.</t>


text:
<t>They sing to <f>ⓚ</f>the tambourine and <f>ⓛ</f>the lyre </t><t>and rejoice to the sound of <f>ⓜ</f>the pipe.</t>


text:
<t>They <f>ⓝ</f>spend their days in prosperity, </t><t>and in <f>ⓞ</f>peace they go down to <f>ⓟ</f>Sheol.</t>


text:
<t>They say to God, <f>ⓠ</f>‘Depart from us! </t><t>We do not desire the knowledge of your ways.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓡ</f> What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? </t><t>And what <f>ⓢ</f>profit do we get if we pray to him?’</t>


text:
<t>Behold, is not their prosperity in their hand? </t><t><f>ⓣ</f>The counsel of the wicked is far from me. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“How often is it that <f>ⓤ</f>the lamp of the wicked is put out? </t><t>That their calamity comes upon them? </t><t>That God <f>[1]</f> distributes pains in his anger?</t>


text:
<t>That they are like <f>ⓥ</f>straw before the wind, </t><t>and like <f>ⓦ</f>chaff that the storm carries away?</t>


text:
<t>You say, ‘God <f>ⓧ</f>stores up their iniquity for their <f>ⓨ</f>children.’ </t><t>Let him pay it out to them, that they may <f>ⓩ</f>know it.</t>


text:
<t>Let their own eyes see their destruction, </t><t>and let them <f>ⓐ</f>drink of the wrath of the Almighty.</t>


text:
<t>For what do they care for their houses after them, </t><t>when <f>ⓑ</f>the number of their months is cut off?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓒ</f> Will any teach God knowledge, </t><t>seeing that he <f>ⓓ</f>judges those who are on high?</t>


text:
<t>For you say, <f>ⓘ</f>‘Where is the house of the prince? </t><t>Where is <f>ⓙ</f>the tent in which the wicked lived?’</t>


text:
<t>that <f>ⓚ</f>the evil man is spared in the day of calamity, </t><t>that he is rescued in the day of wrath?</t>


text:
<t>Who declares his way <f>ⓛ</f>to his face, </t><t>and who <f>ⓜ</f>repays him for what he has done?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓞ</f> The clods of the valley are sweet to him; </t><t><f>ⓟ</f>all mankind follows after him, </t><t>and those who go before him are innumerable.</t>


text:
<t>How then will you comfort me with empty nothings? </t><t>There is nothing left of your answers but falsehood.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓑ</f> “Can a man be profitable to God? </t><t>Surely he who is wise is profitable to himself.</t>


text:
<t>Is it any pleasure to the Almighty if you are in the right, </t><t>or is it gain to him if you <f>ⓒ</f>make your ways blameless?</t>


text:
<t>Is it for your fear of him that he reproves you </t><t>and <f>ⓓ</f>enters into judgment with you?</t>


text:
<t>For you have <f>ⓔ</f>exacted pledges of your brothers for nothing </t><t><f>ⓕ</f>and stripped the naked of their clothing.</t>


text:
<t>You have given no water to the weary to drink, </t><t>and you have <f>ⓖ</f>withheld bread from the hungry.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓗ</f> The man with power possessed the land, </t><t>and <f>ⓘ</f>the favored man lived in it.</t>


text:
<t>You have <f>ⓙ</f>sent widows away empty, </t><t>and <f>ⓚ</f>the arms of <f>ⓛ</f>the fatherless were crushed.</t>


text:
<t>or <f>ⓝ</f>darkness, so that you cannot see, </t><t>and a <f>ⓞ</f>flood of <f>ⓟ</f>water covers you. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Is not God high in the heavens? </t><t>See <f>ⓠ</f>the highest stars, how lofty they are!</t>


text:
<t>But you say, <f>ⓡ</f>‘What does God know? </t><t>Can he judge through <f>ⓢ</f>the deep darkness?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> Thick clouds veil him, so that he does not see, </t><t>and he walks on the vault of heaven.’</t>


text:
<t>They were snatched away <f>ⓤ</f>before their time; </t><t>their foundation was washed away. <f>[1]</f></t>


text:
<t>They said to God, <f>ⓥ</f>‘Depart from us,’ </t><t>and <f>ⓦ</f>‘What can the Almighty do to us?’ <f>[2]</f></t>


text:
<t>Yet he filled their houses with good things — </t><t>but <f>ⓧ</f>the counsel of the wicked is far from me.</t>


text:
<t>saying, ‘Surely our adversaries are cut off, </t><t>and what they left <f>ⓐ</f>the fire has consumed.’ </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓑ</f> “Agree with God, and <f>ⓒ</f>be at peace; </t><t>thereby good will come to you.</t>


text:
<t>Receive instruction from <f>ⓓ</f>his mouth, </t><t>and <f>ⓔ</f>lay up his words in your heart.</t>


text:
<t>If you <f>ⓕ</f>return to the Almighty you will be <f>ⓖ</f>built up; </t><t>if you <f>ⓗ</f>remove injustice far from your tents,</t>


text:
<t>if you lay gold in <f>ⓘ</f>the dust, </t><t>and gold of <f>ⓙ</f>Ophir among the stones of the torrent-bed,</t>


text:
<t>For then you <f>ⓚ</f>will delight yourself in the Almighty </t><t>and <f>ⓛ</f>lift up your face to God.</t>


text:
<t>You will <f>ⓜ</f>make your prayer to him, and he will hear you, </t><t>and you will <f>ⓝ</f>pay your vows.</t>


text:
<t>You will decide on a matter, and it will be established for you, </t><t>and <f>ⓞ</f>light will shine on your ways.</t>


text:
<t>For when they are humbled you say, ‘It is because of pride’; <f>[3]</f> </t><t>but he saves <f>ⓟ</f>the lowly.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓠ</f>delivers even the one who is not innocent, </t><t>who will be delivered through <f>ⓡ</f>the cleanness of your hands.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Today also my <f>ⓐ</f>complaint is bitter; <f>[1]</f> </t><t>my <f>ⓑ</f>hand is heavy on account of my groaning.</t>


text:
<t>Oh, <f>ⓒ</f>that I knew where I might find him, </t><t>that I might come even to his <f>ⓓ</f>seat!</t>


text:
<t>Would he <f>ⓕ</f>contend with me in the greatness of his power? </t><t>No; he would pay attention to me.</t>


text:
<t>There an upright man could argue with him, </t><t>and I would be acquitted forever by my judge. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Behold, <f>ⓖ</f>I go forward, but he is not there, </t><t>and backward, but I do not perceive him;</t>


text:
<t>on the left hand when he is working, I do not behold him; </t><t>he turns to the right hand, but I do not see him.</t>


text:
<t>But he <f>ⓗ</f>knows <f>ⓘ</f>the way that I <f>ⓙ</f>take; </t><t>when he has <f>ⓚ</f>tried me, I shall come out as gold.</t>


text:
<t>My foot <f>ⓛ</f>has held fast to his steps; </t><t>I have kept his way and have <f>ⓜ</f>not turned aside.</t>


text:
<t>I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; </t><t>I have <f>ⓝ</f>treasured the words of his mouth more than my <f>ⓞ</f>portion of food.</t>


text:
<t>But he is unchangeable, <f>[2]</f> and <f>ⓟ</f>who can turn him back? </t><t>What he <f>ⓠ</f>desires, that he does.</t>


text:
<t>For he will complete what he <f>ⓡ</f>appoints for me, </t><t>and many such things are <f>ⓢ</f>in his mind.</t>


text:
<t>yet I am not silenced because of the darkness, </t><t>nor because thick darkness covers my face. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Why are <f>ⓐ</f>not times of judgment <f>ⓑ</f>kept by the Almighty, </t><t>and why do those who know him never see his <f>ⓒ</f>days?</t>


text:
<t>They drive away the donkey of the fatherless; </t><t>they <f>ⓔ</f>take the widow's ox for a pledge.</t>


text:
<t>They <f>ⓕ</f>thrust the poor off the road; </t><t>the poor of the earth <f>ⓖ</f>all hide themselves.</t>


text:
<t>Behold, like wild donkeys in the desert </t><t>the poor <f>[1]</f> <f>ⓗ</f>go out to their toil, <f>ⓘ</f>seeking game; </t><t>the wasteland yields food for their children.</t>


text:
<t>They gather their <f>[2]</f> fodder in the field, </t><t>and they glean the vineyard of the wicked man.</t>


text:
<t>They are wet with the rain of the mountains </t><t>and <f>ⓚ</f>cling to the rock for lack of shelter.</t>


text:
<t>(There are those who snatch the fatherless child from the breast, </t><t>and they take a pledge against the poor.)</t>


text:
<t>among the olive rows of the wicked <f>[3]</f> they make oil; </t><t>they tread the winepresses, but suffer thirst.</t>


text:
<t>From out of the city the dying <f>[4]</f> groan, </t><t>and the soul of <f>ⓜ</f>the wounded cries for help; </t><t>yet God charges no one with <f>ⓝ</f>wrong. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“There are those who rebel <f>ⓞ</f>against the light, </t><t>who are not acquainted with its ways, </t><t>and do not stay in its paths.</t>


text:
<t>The murderer rises before it is light, </t><t>that he <f>ⓟ</f>may kill the poor and needy, </t><t>and in the night he is like a thief.</t>


text:
<t>The eye of the adulterer also waits for <f>ⓠ</f>the twilight, </t><t>saying, ‘No <f>ⓡ</f>eye will see me’; </t><t>and he veils his face.</t>


text:
<t>In the dark they <f>ⓢ</f>dig through houses; </t><t>by day they shut themselves up; </t><t>they do not know the light.</t>


text:
<t>For <f>ⓣ</f>deep darkness is morning to all of them; </t><t>for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“You say, <f>ⓤ</f>‘Swift are they on the face of the waters; </t><t>their portion is cursed in the land; </t><t>no treader turns toward their vineyards.</t>


text:
<t>Drought and heat snatch away the snow waters; </t><t>so does <f>ⓥ</f>Sheol those who have sinned.</t>


text:
<t>The womb forgets them; </t><t>the worm finds them sweet; </t><t>they are <f>ⓦ</f>no longer remembered, </t><t>so wickedness is broken like <f>ⓧ</f>a tree.’ </t>


text:
<t>Yet God <f>[5]</f> prolongs the life of the mighty by his power; </t><t>they rise up when they despair of life.</t>


text:
<t>He gives them security, and they are supported, </t><t>and his <f>ⓨ</f>eyes are upon their ways.</t>


text:
<t>They are exalted <f>ⓩ</f>a little while, and then <f>ⓐ</f>are gone; </t><t>they are brought low and gathered up like all others; </t><t>they are <f>ⓑ</f>cut off like the heads of grain.</t>


text:
<t>If it is <f>ⓒ</f>not so, who will prove me a liar </t><t>and show that there is nothing in what I say?” </t>


text:
<t>Is there any number to his <f>ⓑ</f>armies? </t><t>Upon whom does his <f>ⓒ</f>light not arise?</t>


text:
<t>How then can man be <f>ⓓ</f>in the right before God? </t><t>How can he who is <f>ⓔ</f>born of woman be <f>ⓕ</f>pure?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓖ</f> how much less man, who is <f>ⓗ</f>a maggot, </t><t>and <f>ⓘ</f>the son of man, who is a worm!” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“How you have <f>ⓐ</f>helped him who has no power! </t><t>How you have saved <f>ⓑ</f>the arm that has no strength!</t>


text:
<t>How you have <f>ⓒ</f>counseled him who has no wisdom, </t><t>and plentifully declared sound knowledge!</t>


text:
<t>With whose help have you uttered words, </t><t>and whose breath <f>ⓓ</f>has come out from you?</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓗ</f>stretches out the north over <f>ⓘ</f>the void </t><t>and hangs the earth on nothing.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓙ</f>binds up the waters in his thick clouds, </t><t>and the cloud is not split open under them.</t>


text:
<t>He has inscribed <f>ⓛ</f>a circle on the face of the waters </t><t>at the boundary between light and darkness.</t>


text:
<t>By his power he <f>ⓞ</f>stilled the sea; </t><t>by his understanding he shattered <f>ⓟ</f>Rahab.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓠ</f> By his wind the heavens were made fair; </t><t>his hand pierced <f>ⓡ</f>the fleeing serpent.</t>


text:
<t>Behold, these are but the outskirts of his <f>ⓢ</f>ways, </t><t>and how small <f>ⓣ</f>a whisper do we hear of him! </t><t>But the thunder of his power who can understand?” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“As God lives, who has <f>ⓑ</f>taken away my right, </t><t>and the Almighty, who has <f>ⓒ</f>made my soul bitter,</t>


text:
<t>my lips will not speak <f>ⓔ</f>falsehood, </t><t>and my tongue will not utter <f>ⓕ</f>deceit.</t>


text:
<t>Far be it from me to say that you are right; </t><t>till I die I will not put away my <f>ⓖ</f>integrity from me.</t>


text:
<t>I <f>ⓗ</f>hold fast my righteousness and will not let it go; </t><t>my heart does not <f>ⓘ</f>reproach me for any of my days. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Let my enemy be as the wicked, </t><t>and let him who rises up against me be as the unrighteous.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓙ</f> For what is the hope of the godless <f>ⓚ</f>when God cuts him off, </t><t>when God takes away his life?</t>


text:
<t>I will teach you concerning the hand of God; </t><t><f>ⓝ</f>what is with the Almighty I will not conceal.</t>


text:
<t>Behold, all of you have seen it yourselves; </t><t>why then have you become altogether vain? </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓞ</f> “This is the portion of a wicked man with God, </t><t>and the heritage that <f>ⓟ</f>oppressors receive from the Almighty:</t>


text:
<t>If his <f>ⓠ</f>children are multiplied, it is for <f>ⓡ</f>the sword, </t><t>and his descendants have not enough bread.</t>


text:
<t>he may pile it up, but the righteous will wear it, </t><t>and <f>ⓤ</f>the innocent will divide the silver.</t>


text:
<t>He builds his <f>ⓥ</f>house like a moth's, </t><t>like <f>ⓦ</f>a booth that <f>ⓧ</f>a watchman makes.</t>


text:
<t>He goes to bed rich, but will <f>ⓨ</f>do so no more; </t><t>he opens his eyes, and <f>ⓩ</f>his wealth is gone.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓐ</f> Terrors overtake him like <f>ⓑ</f>a flood; </t><t>in the night a whirlwind <f>ⓒ</f>carries him off.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> The east wind lifts him up and he is gone; </t><t>it <f>ⓔ</f>sweeps him out of his place.</t>


text:
<t>It <f>[1]</f> hurls at him <f>ⓕ</f>without pity; </t><t>he flees from its <f>[2]</f> power in headlong flight.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Surely there is a mine for silver, </t><t>and a place for gold that they <f>ⓐ</f>refine.</t>


text:
<t>Man puts an end to darkness </t><t>and searches out to the farthest limit </t><t>the ore in <f>ⓑ</f>gloom and <f>ⓒ</f>deep darkness.</t>


text:
<t>He opens shafts in a valley away from where anyone lives; </t><t>they are forgotten by travelers; </t><t>they hang in the air, far away from mankind; they swing to and fro.</t>


text:
<t>As for the earth, <f>ⓓ</f>out of it comes bread, </t><t>but underneath it is turned up as by fire.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓕ</f> The proud beasts have not trodden it; </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>the lion has not passed over it. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Man puts his hand to <f>ⓗ</f>the flinty rock </t><t>and overturns mountains by the roots.</t>


text:
<t>He dams up the streams so that they do not trickle, </t><t>and the thing that is hidden he brings out to light. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓘ</f> “But where shall wisdom be found? </t><t>And where is the place of understanding?</t>


text:
<t>It cannot be valued in <f>ⓜ</f>the gold of <f>ⓝ</f>Ophir, </t><t>in precious <f>ⓞ</f>onyx or <f>ⓟ</f>sapphire.</t>


text:
<t>No mention shall be made of <f>ⓠ</f>coral or of crystal; </t><t>the price of wisdom is above <f>ⓡ</f> <f>ⓢ</f>pearls.</t>


text:
<t>It is hidden from the eyes of <f>ⓤ</f>all living </t><t>and concealed from the birds of the air.</t>


text:
<t>when he made a decree for the rain </t><t>and <f>ⓩ</f>a way for the lightning of the thunder,</t>


text:
<t>And he said to man, </t><t>‘Behold, <f>ⓐ</f>the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, </t><t>and to <f>ⓑ</f>turn away from evil is understanding.’” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Oh, that I were as in the months of old, </t><t>as in the days when God watched over me,</t>


text:
<t>when my steps were <f>ⓔ</f>washed with <f>ⓕ</f>butter, </t><t>and <f>ⓖ</f>the rock poured out for me streams of <f>ⓗ</f>oil!</t>


text:
<t>When I went out to <f>ⓘ</f>the gate of the city, </t><t>when I prepared my seat in the square,</t>


text:
<t>the voice of the nobles was hushed, </t><t>and their <f>ⓚ</f>tongue stuck to the roof of their mouth.</t>


text:
<t>because I <f>ⓛ</f>delivered the poor who cried for help, </t><t>and the fatherless who had none to help him.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓜ</f> The blessing of him who was <f>ⓝ</f>about to perish came upon me, </t><t>and I caused <f>ⓞ</f>the widow's heart to sing for joy.</t>


text:
<t>I <f>ⓟ</f>put on righteousness, and it clothed me; </t><t>my justice was like a robe and <f>ⓠ</f>a turban.</t>


text:
<t>I was a father to the needy, </t><t>and I searched out <f>ⓢ</f>the cause of him whom I did not know.</t>


text:
<t>I <f>ⓣ</f>broke <f>ⓤ</f>the fangs of the unrighteous </t><t>and made him drop his prey from his teeth.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓥ</f> Then I thought, ‘I shall die in my <f>ⓦ</f>nest, </t><t>and I shall multiply my days as <f>ⓧ</f>the sand,</t>


text:
<t>my <f>ⓨ</f>roots spread out to <f>ⓩ</f>the waters, </t><t>with the dew all night on my <f>ⓐ</f>branches,</t>


text:
<t>They waited for me as for the rain, </t><t>and they <f>ⓔ</f>opened their mouths as for the <f>ⓕ</f>spring rain.</t>


text:
<t>I smiled on them when they had no confidence, </t><t>and <f>ⓖ</f>the light of my <f>ⓗ</f>face they did not cast down.</t>


text:
<t>I chose their way and sat as chief, </t><t>and I lived like <f>ⓘ</f>a king among his troops, </t><t>like one who comforts mourners. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“But now they <f>ⓐ</f>laugh at me, </t><t>men who are <f>ⓑ</f>younger than I, </t><t>whose fathers I would have disdained </t><t>to set with the dogs of my flock.</t>


text:
<t>What could I gain from the strength of their hands, </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>men whose <f>ⓓ</f>vigor is gone?</t>


text:
<t>Through want and hard hunger </t><t>they <f>ⓔ</f>gnaw <f>ⓕ</f>the dry ground by night in <f>ⓖ</f>waste and desolation;</t>


text:
<t>they pick saltwort and the leaves of bushes, </t><t>and the roots of the broom tree for their food. <f>[1]</f></t>


text:
<t><f>ⓗ</f> They are driven out from human company; </t><t>they shout after them as after a thief.</t>


text:
<t>In the gullies of the torrents they must dwell, </t><t>in holes of the earth and of <f>ⓘ</f>the rocks.</t>


text:
<t>They <f>ⓝ</f>abhor me; they keep aloof from me; </t><t>they do not hesitate to <f>ⓞ</f>spit at the sight of me.</t>


text:
<t>Because God has loosed my cord and humbled me, </t><t>they have cast off restraint <f>[2]</f> in my presence.</t>


text:
<t>On my <f>ⓟ</f>right hand the rabble rise; </t><t>they push away my feet; </t><t>they <f>ⓠ</f>cast up against me their ways of destruction.</t>


text:
<t>They break up my path; </t><t>they promote my <f>ⓡ</f>calamity; </t><t>they need no one to help them.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> Terrors are turned upon me; </t><t>my honor is pursued as by the wind, </t><t>and my prosperity has passed away like <f>ⓤ</f>a cloud. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“And now my soul is <f>ⓥ</f>poured out within me; </t><t>days of affliction have taken hold of me.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓦ</f> The night <f>ⓧ</f>racks my bones, </t><t>and the pain that <f>ⓨ</f>gnaws me takes no rest.</t>


text:
<t>With great force my garment is <f>ⓩ</f>disfigured; </t><t>it binds me about like the collar of my tunic.</t>


text:
<t>God <f>[3]</f> has cast me into the mire, </t><t>and I have become like <f>ⓐ</f>dust and ashes.</t>


text:
<t>You have <f>ⓑ</f>turned cruel to me; </t><t>with the might of your hand you <f>ⓒ</f>persecute me.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> You lift me up on the wind; you make me ride on it, </t><t>and you toss me about in the roar of the storm.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓔ</f> For I know that you will bring me to death </t><t>and to the house appointed for <f>ⓕ</f>all living. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Yet does not one in a <f>ⓖ</f>heap of ruins stretch out his hand, </t><t>and in his disaster cry for help? <f>[4]</f></t>


text:
<t>Did not I <f>ⓗ</f>weep for him whose day was hard? </t><t>Was not my soul grieved for the needy?</t>


text:
<t>But <f>ⓘ</f>when I hoped for good, evil came, </t><t>and when I waited for light, <f>ⓙ</f>darkness came.</t>


text:
<t>My inward parts are in turmoil and never still; </t><t>days of affliction <f>ⓚ</f>come to meet me.</t>


text:
<t>I <f>ⓛ</f>go about darkened, but not by the sun; </t><t>I stand up in <f>ⓜ</f>the assembly and cry for help.</t>


text:
<t>My <f>ⓡ</f>lyre is <f>ⓢ</f>turned to mourning, </t><t>and my <f>ⓣ</f>pipe to the voice of those who weep. </t>


text:
<t>What would be <f>ⓑ</f>my portion from God above </t><t>and <f>ⓒ</f>my heritage from the Almighty on high?</t>


text:
<t>if my step has turned aside from the way </t><t>and <f>ⓖ</f>my heart has gone after my eyes, </t><t>and if any <f>ⓗ</f>spot has stuck to my hands,</t>


text:
<t>then let me <f>ⓘ</f>sow, and another eat, </t><t>and let what grows for me <f>[1]</f> be rooted out. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“If my heart has been enticed toward a woman, </t><t>and I have <f>ⓙ</f>lain in wait at my neighbor's door,</t>


text:
<t>For that would be a heinous crime; </t><t>that would be an iniquity <f>ⓜ</f>to be punished by the judges;</t>


text:
<t>for that would be a fire <f>ⓝ</f>that consumes as far as Abaddon, </t><t>and it would burn to the root all my increase. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“If I have rejected the cause of my manservant or my maidservant, </t><t>when they brought a complaint against me,</t>


text:
<t>what then shall I do when God rises up? </t><t>When he <f>ⓞ</f>makes inquiry, what shall I answer him?</t>


text:
<t>Did <f>ⓟ</f>not he who made me in the womb make him? </t><t>And did not one fashion us in the womb? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“If I have <f>ⓠ</f>withheld anything that the poor desired, </t><t>or have <f>ⓡ</f>caused the eyes of the widow to fail,</t>


text:
<t>(for from my youth the fatherless <f>[2]</f> grew up with me as with a father, </t><t>and from my mother's womb I guided the widow <f>[3]</f>),</t>


text:
<t>if I have seen anyone <f>ⓢ</f>perish for <f>ⓣ</f>lack of clothing, </t><t>or the needy without <f>ⓤ</f>covering,</t>


text:
<t>if his body has not <f>ⓥ</f>blessed me, <f>[4]</f> </t><t>and if he was not warmed with the fleece of my sheep,</t>


text:
<t>if I have raised my hand against <f>ⓦ</f>the fatherless, </t><t>because I saw my help in <f>ⓧ</f>the gate,</t>


text:
<t>then let my shoulder blade fall from my shoulder, </t><t>and let my arm be broken from its socket.</t>


text:
<t>For I was <f>ⓨ</f>in terror of calamity from God, </t><t>and I could not have faced his <f>ⓩ</f>majesty. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> “If I have made gold my <f>ⓑ</f>trust </t><t>or called <f>ⓒ</f>fine gold my confidence,</t>


text:
<t>if I have <f>ⓓ</f>rejoiced because my wealth was abundant </t><t>or because <f>ⓔ</f>my hand had found much,</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓕ</f> if I have looked at the sun <f>[5]</f> when it shone, </t><t>or <f>ⓖ</f>the moon moving in splendor,</t>


text:
<t>this also would be <f>ⓗ</f>an iniquity to be punished by the judges, </t><t>for I would have been false to God above. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“If I have <f>ⓘ</f>rejoiced at the ruin of him who hated me, </t><t>or exulted when evil overtook him</t>


text:
<t>if the men of my tent have not said, </t><t>‘Who is there that has not been filled with his <f>ⓚ</f>meat?’</t>


text:
<t>(<f>ⓛ</f>the sojourner has not lodged in the street; </t><t>I have opened my doors to the traveler),</t>


text:
<t>if I <f>ⓜ</f>have concealed my transgressions <f>ⓝ</f>as others do <f>[6]</f> </t><t>by hiding my iniquity in my heart,</t>


text:
<t>because I stood in great fear of <f>ⓞ</f>the multitude, </t><t>and the contempt of families terrified me, </t><t>so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors — </t>


text:
<t>Oh, that I had one to hear me! </t><t>(Here is my signature! Let the Almighty <f>ⓟ</f>answer me!) </t><t>Oh, that I had <f>ⓠ</f>the indictment written by my adversary!</t>


text:
<t>Surely I would carry it on my <f>ⓡ</f>shoulder; </t><t>I would <f>ⓢ</f>bind it on me as <f>ⓣ</f>a crown;</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓤ</f> if I have eaten its yield without payment </t><t>and made its owners <f>ⓥ</f>breathe their last,</t>


text:
<t>let <f>ⓦ</f>thorns grow instead of wheat, </t><t>and foul weeds instead of barley.” </t> <pb/>The words of Job are ended.


text:
Then Elihu the son of Barachel <f>ⓑ</f>the Buzite, of the family of Ram, burned with anger. He burned with anger at Job because he justified himself <f>ⓒ</f>rather than God.


text:
He burned with anger also at Job's three friends because they had found no answer, although they had <f>ⓓ</f>declared Job to be in the wrong.


text:
<pb/>And Elihu the son of Barachel the Buzite answered and said: <pb/><t>“I am young in years, </t><t>and you are <f>ⓔ</f>aged; </t><t>therefore I was timid and afraid </t><t>to declare my opinion to you.</t>


text:
<t>But it is <f>ⓕ</f>the spirit in man, </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>the breath of the Almighty, that makes him <f>ⓗ</f>understand.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓘ</f> It is not the old <f>[1]</f> who are wise, </t><t>nor the aged who understand what is right.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Behold, I waited for your words, </t><t>I listened for your wise sayings, </t><t>while you searched out what to say.</t>


text:
<t>I gave you my attention, </t><t>and, behold, there was none among you who refuted Job </t><t>or who answered his words.</t>


text:
<t>He has not directed his words against me, </t><t>and I will not answer him with your speeches. </t>


text:
<t>And shall I wait, because they do not speak, </t><t>because they stand there, and answer no more?</t>


text:
<t>Behold, my belly is like wine that has no vent; </t><t>like new <f>ⓚ</f>wineskins ready to burst.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓛ</f> I must speak, that I may find <f>ⓜ</f>relief; </t><t>I must open my lips and answer.</t>


text:
<t>My words declare the uprightness of my heart, </t><t>and what my lips know they speak sincerely.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓑ</f> The Spirit of God has made me, </t><t>and <f>ⓒ</f>the breath of the Almighty gives me life.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> Answer me, if you can; </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>set your words in order before me; take your stand.</t>


text:
<t>Behold, I am toward God as you are; </t><t>I too was pinched off from a piece of <f>ⓕ</f>clay.</t>


text:
<t>Behold, no <f>ⓖ</f>fear of me need terrify you; </t><t>my <f>ⓗ</f>pressure will not be heavy upon you. </t>


text:
<t>You say, ‘I am <f>ⓘ</f>pure, without <f>ⓙ</f>transgression; </t><t>I am clean, and there is no iniquity in me.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Behold, in this you are not right. I will answer you, </t><t>for God is greater than man.</t>


text:
<t>Why do you <f>ⓝ</f>contend against him, </t><t>saying, ‘He <f>ⓞ</f>will answer none of man's <f>[1]</f> words’? <f>[2]</f></t>


text:
<t>For God <f>ⓟ</f>speaks in one way, </t><t><f>ⓠ</f>and in two, though man <f>ⓡ</f>does not perceive it.</t>


text:
<t>In <f>ⓢ</f>a dream, in <f>ⓣ</f>a vision of <f>ⓤ</f>the night, </t><t>when <f>ⓥ</f>deep sleep falls on men, </t><t>while they slumber on their beds,</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Man is also rebuked with pain on his bed </t><t>and with continual strife in his <f>ⓩ</f>bones,</t>


text:
<t>His flesh is so wasted away that it cannot be seen, </t><t>and his bones that were not seen <f>ⓒ</f>stick out.</t>


text:
<t>If there be for him <f>ⓕ</f>an angel, </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>a mediator, <f>ⓗ</f>one of the thousand, </t><t>to declare to man what is <f>ⓘ</f>right for him,</t>


text:
<t>and he is merciful to him, and says, </t><t>‘Deliver him from going down into the pit; </t><t>I have found <f>ⓙ</f>a ransom;</t>


text:
<t>let his flesh <f>ⓚ</f>become fresh with youth; </t><t>let him return to the days of his youthful vigor’;</t>


text:
<t>then man <f>[4]</f> <f>ⓛ</f>prays to God, and he accepts him; </t><t>he <f>ⓜ</f>sees his face with a shout of joy, </t><t>and he <f>ⓝ</f>restores to man his righteousness.</t>


text:
<t>He sings before men and says: </t><t>‘I <f>ⓞ</f>sinned and perverted what was right, </t><t>and it was not repaid to me.</t>


text:
<t>He has redeemed my <f>ⓟ</f>soul from going down <f>ⓠ</f>into the pit, </t><t>and my life shall <f>ⓡ</f>look upon the light.’ </t>


text:
<t>to bring back his soul from the pit, </t><t>that he may be lighted with <f>ⓣ</f>the light of life.</t>


text:
<t>For Job has said, ‘I am <f>ⓒ</f>in the right, </t><t>and <f>ⓓ</f>God has taken away my right;</t>


text:
<t>in spite of my right I am counted a liar; </t><t>my wound is incurable, though I am <f>ⓔ</f>without transgression.’</t>


text:
<t>For <f>ⓗ</f>he has said, ‘It profits a man nothing </t><t>that he should take delight in God.’ </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Therefore, hear me, you men of understanding: </t><t>far be it from God that he should <f>ⓘ</f>do wickedness, </t><t>and from the Almighty that he should do wrong.</t>


text:
<t>For according to <f>ⓙ</f>the work of a man he will repay him, </t><t>and <f>ⓚ</f>according to his ways he will make it befall him.</t>


text:
<t>Of a truth, God will not do wickedly, </t><t>and <f>ⓛ</f>the Almighty will not pervert justice.</t>


text:
<t>Who gave him charge over the earth, </t><t>and who <f>ⓜ</f>laid on him <f>[1]</f> the whole world?</t>


text:
<t>If he should <f>ⓝ</f>set his heart to it </t><t>and <f>ⓞ</f>gather to himself his <f>ⓟ</f>spirit and his breath,</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓡ</f> Shall one who hates justice govern? </t><t>Will you condemn him who is righteous and mighty,</t>


text:
<t>who <f>ⓣ</f>shows no partiality to princes, </t><t>nor regards the rich <f>ⓤ</f>more than the poor, </t><t>for <f>ⓥ</f>they are all the work of his hands?</t>


text:
<t>In a moment <f>ⓦ</f>they die; </t><t>at <f>ⓧ</f>midnight the people are shaken and pass away, </t><t>and the mighty are taken away by <f>ⓨ</f>no human hand. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“For his eyes are on <f>ⓩ</f>the ways of a man, </t><t>and he sees all his <f>ⓐ</f>steps.</t>


text:
<t>There is no <f>ⓑ</f>gloom or <f>ⓒ</f>deep darkness </t><t>where evildoers may hide themselves.</t>


text:
<t>For God <f>[2]</f> has no need to consider a man further, </t><t>that he should go before God in <f>ⓓ</f>judgment.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓔ</f>shatters the mighty without investigation </t><t>and sets <f>ⓕ</f>others in their place.</t>


text:
<t>Thus, knowing their works, </t><t>he <f>ⓖ</f>overturns them in the night, and they are crushed.</t>


text:
<t>because they turned aside from <f>ⓗ</f>following him </t><t>and had no regard for any of his ways,</t>


text:
<t>so that they <f>ⓘ</f>caused the cry of the poor to come to him, </t><t>and he <f>ⓙ</f>heard the cry of the afflicted — </t>


text:
<t>When he is quiet, who can condemn? </t><t>When he hides his face, who can behold him, </t><t>whether it be a nation or a man? — </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“For has anyone said to God, </t><t>‘I have borne punishment; I will not offend any more;</t>


text:
<t>Will he then make repayment to suit you, </t><t>because you reject it? </t><t>For you must choose, and not I; </t><t>therefore <f>ⓛ</f>declare what you know. <f>[3]</f></t>


text:
<t>For he adds rebellion to his sin; </t><t>he <f>ⓝ</f>claps his hands among us </t><t>and multiplies his words against God.” </t>


text:
<t>that you ask, <f>ⓑ</f>‘What advantage have I? </t><t>How am I better off than if I had sinned?’</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> Look at the heavens, and see; </t><t>and behold the clouds, which are higher than you.</t>


text:
<t>If you have sinned, <f>ⓔ</f>what do you accomplish against him? </t><t>And if your transgressions are multiplied, what do you do to him?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓕ</f> If you are righteous, what do you give to him? </t><t>Or what does he receive from your hand?</t>


text:
<t>Your wickedness concerns a man like yourself, </t><t>and your righteousness <f>ⓖ</f>a son of man. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Because of the multitude of <f>ⓗ</f>oppressions people <f>ⓘ</f>cry out; </t><t>they call for help because of the arm of <f>ⓙ</f>the mighty. <f>[1]</f></t>


text:
<t>who teaches us <f>ⓜ</f>more than the beasts of the earth </t><t>and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?’</t>


text:
<t>How much less when you say that you <f>ⓞ</f>do not see him, </t><t>that the case is before him, and you are <f>ⓟ</f>waiting for him!</t>


text:
<t>And now, because <f>ⓠ</f>his anger does not punish, </t><t>and he does not take much note of transgression, <f>[2]</f></t>


text:
<t>Job opens his mouth in empty talk; </t><t>he <f>ⓡ</f>multiplies words <f>ⓢ</f>without knowledge.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Bear with me a little, and I will show you, </t><t>for I have yet something to say on God's behalf.</t>


text:
<t>I will get my knowledge from <f>ⓐ</f>afar </t><t>and ascribe <f>ⓑ</f>righteousness to my <f>ⓒ</f>Maker.</t>


text:
<t>For truly my words are not false; </t><t>one who is <f>ⓓ</f>perfect in knowledge is with you. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Behold, God is mighty, and <f>ⓔ</f>does not despise any; </t><t>he is <f>ⓕ</f>mighty in strength of understanding.</t>


text:
<t>He does not withdraw his <f>ⓗ</f>eyes from the righteous, </t><t>but with <f>ⓘ</f>kings on the throne </t><t>he sets them forever, and they are <f>ⓙ</f>exalted.</t>


text:
<t>then he declares to them their work </t><t>and their transgressions, that they are <f>ⓛ</f>behaving arrogantly.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓜ</f>opens their ears to instruction </t><t>and commands that they <f>ⓝ</f>return from iniquity.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓞ</f> If they listen and serve him, </t><t>they <f>ⓟ</f>complete their days in prosperity, </t><t>and their years in pleasantness.</t>


text:
<t>But if they do not listen, they <f>ⓠ</f>perish by the sword </t><t>and die <f>ⓡ</f>without knowledge. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“The <f>ⓢ</f>godless in heart cherish anger; </t><t>they do not cry for help when he <f>ⓣ</f>binds them.</t>


text:
<t>He delivers <f>ⓥ</f>the afflicted by their affliction </t><t>and <f>ⓦ</f>opens their ear by adversity.</t>


text:
<t>He also allured you out of distress </t><t>into <f>ⓧ</f>a broad place where there was no cramping, </t><t>and what was set on your <f>ⓨ</f>table was full of <f>ⓩ</f>fatness. </t>


text:
<t>Beware lest wrath entice you into scoffing, </t><t>and let not the greatness of <f>ⓐ</f>the ransom turn you aside.</t>


text:
<t>Will your <f>ⓑ</f>cry for help avail to keep you from distress, </t><t>or all the force of your strength?</t>


text:
<t>Take care; <f>ⓔ</f>do not turn to iniquity, </t><t>for this you have chosen rather than affliction.</t>


text:
<t>Who has <f>ⓖ</f>prescribed for him his way, </t><t>or who can say, <f>ⓗ</f>‘You have done wrong’? </t>


text:
<t>Behold, God is great, and we <f>ⓚ</f>know him not; </t><t>the number of his <f>ⓛ</f>years is unsearchable.</t>


text:
<t>Can anyone understand <f>ⓟ</f>the spreading of the clouds, </t><t>the thunderings of his <f>ⓠ</f>pavilion?</t>


text:
<t>Its crashing declares his presence; <f>[1]</f> </t><t>the cattle also declare that he rises. </t>


text:
<t>Keep listening to the thunder of his voice </t><t>and the rumbling that comes from his mouth.</t>


text:
<t>Under the whole heaven he lets it go, </t><t>and his <f>ⓐ</f>lightning to the <f>ⓑ</f>corners of the earth.</t>


text:
<t>After it <f>ⓒ</f>his voice roars; </t><t><f>ⓓ</f>he thunders with his majestic voice, </t><t>and he does not restrain the lightnings <f>[1]</f> when his voice is heard.</t>


text:
<t>God thunders wondrously with his voice; </t><t>he does <f>ⓔ</f>great things that we cannot <f>ⓕ</f>comprehend.</t>


text:
<t>For to <f>ⓖ</f>the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’ </t><t>likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓗ</f>seals up the hand of every man, </t><t>that all men whom he made may <f>ⓘ</f>know it.</t>


text:
<t>From <f>ⓛ</f>its chamber <f>ⓜ</f>comes the whirlwind, </t><t>and <f>ⓝ</f>cold from the scattering winds.</t>


text:
<t>By the breath of God <f>ⓞ</f>ice is given, </t><t>and <f>ⓟ</f>the broad waters are frozen fast.</t>


text:
<t>They <f>ⓠ</f>turn around and around by his <f>ⓡ</f>guidance, </t><t><f>ⓢ</f>to accomplish all that he commands them </t><t>on the face of <f>ⓣ</f>the habitable world.</t>


text:
<t>Whether for <f>ⓤ</f>correction or for his <f>ⓥ</f>land </t><t>or for <f>ⓦ</f>love, he causes it to happen. </t>


text:
<t>Do you know how God lays his command upon them </t><t>and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine?</t>


text:
<t>Do you know the balancings <f>[2]</f> of the clouds, </t><t>the wondrous works of him who is <f>ⓨ</f>perfect in knowledge,</t>


text:
<t>Teach us what we shall say to him; </t><t>we cannot draw up our case because of <f>ⓑ</f>darkness.</t>


text:
<t>Shall it be told him that I would speak? </t><t>Did a man ever wish that he would be swallowed up? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“And now no one looks on the light </t><t>when it is bright in the skies, </t><t>when the wind has passed and cleared them.</t>


text:
<t>The Almighty — we <f>ⓓ</f>cannot find him; </t><t>he is <f>ⓔ</f>great in power; </t><t><f>ⓕ</f>justice and abundant righteousness he will not <f>ⓖ</f>violate.</t>


text:
<t>Therefore men <f>ⓗ</f>fear him; </t><t>he does not regard any who are <f>ⓘ</f>wise in their own conceit.” <f>[3]</f> </t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> Dress for action <f>[1]</f> like a man; </t><t>I will question you, and you make it known to me. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Where were you when I <f>ⓔ</f>laid the foundation of the earth? </t><t>Tell me, if you have understanding.</t>


text:
<t>when the morning stars <f>ⓕ</f>sang together </t><t>and all <f>ⓖ</f>the sons of God <f>ⓗ</f>shouted for joy? </t>


text:
<t>and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, </t><t>and here shall your <f>ⓛ</f>proud waves be stayed’? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Have you <f>ⓜ</f>commanded the morning since your days began, </t><t>and caused the dawn to know its place,</t>


text:
<t>that it might take hold of <f>ⓝ</f>the skirts of the earth, </t><t>and the wicked be <f>ⓞ</f>shaken out of it?</t>


text:
<t>From the wicked their <f>ⓟ</f>light is withheld, </t><t>and <f>ⓠ</f>their uplifted arm is broken. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Have you <f>ⓡ</f>entered into the springs of the sea, </t><t>or walked in the recesses of the deep?</t>


text:
<t>Have <f>ⓢ</f>the gates of death been revealed to you, </t><t>or have you seen the gates of <f>ⓣ</f>deep darkness?</t>


text:
<t>that you may take it to its territory </t><t>and that you may discern <f>ⓤ</f>the paths to its home?</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Have you entered <f>ⓦ</f>the storehouses of the snow, </t><t>or have you seen <f>ⓧ</f>the storehouses of the hail,</t>


text:
<t>which I have reserved <f>ⓨ</f>for the time of trouble, </t><t><f>ⓩ</f>for the day of battle and war?</t>


text:
<t>What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, </t><t>or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain </t><t>and <f>ⓐ</f>a way for the thunderbolt,</t>


text:
<t>to bring rain on <f>ⓑ</f>a land where no man is, </t><t>on <f>ⓒ</f>the desert in which there is no man,</t>


text:
<t>to satisfy the waste and desolate land, </t><t>and to make the ground sprout with <f>ⓓ</f>grass? </t>


text:
<t>From whose womb did <f>ⓕ</f>the ice come forth, </t><t>and who has given birth to <f>ⓖ</f>the frost of heaven?</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Can you bind the chains of <f>ⓘ</f>the Pleiades </t><t>or loose the cords of <f>ⓙ</f>Orion?</t>


text:
<t>Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth <f>[2]</f> in their season, </t><t>or can you guide <f>ⓚ</f>the Bear with its children?</t>


text:
<t>Do you know <f>ⓛ</f>the ordinances of the heavens? </t><t>Can you establish their rule on the earth? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, </t><t>that <f>ⓜ</f>a flood of waters may cover you?</t>


text:
<t>Who has <f>ⓝ</f>put wisdom in <f>ⓞ</f>the inward parts <f>[3]</f> </t><t>or given understanding to the mind? <f>[4]</f></t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Can you hunt the prey for the lion, </t><t>or <f>ⓠ</f>satisfy the appetite of the young lions,</t>


text:
<t>Who provides for <f>ⓣ</f>the raven its prey, </t><t>when its young ones cry to God for help, </t><t>and wander about for lack of food? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Do you know when <f>ⓐ</f>the mountain goats give birth? </t><t>Do you observe <f>ⓑ</f>the calving of the does?</t>


text:
<t>Can you number the months that they fulfill, </t><t>and do you know the time when they give birth,</t>


text:
<t>when they <f>ⓒ</f>crouch, bring forth their offspring, </t><t>and are delivered of their young?</t>


text:
<t>Their young ones become strong; they grow up in the open; </t><t>they go out and <f>ⓓ</f>do not return to them. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Who has let the wild donkey go free? </t><t>Who has <f>ⓔ</f>loosed the bonds of the swift donkey,</t>


text:
<t>to whom I have given <f>ⓕ</f>the arid plain for his home </t><t>and <f>ⓖ</f>the salt land for his dwelling place?</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Is <f>ⓗ</f>the wild ox willing to serve you? </t><t>Will he spend the night at your <f>ⓘ</f>manger?</t>


text:
<t>Can you bind <f>ⓙ</f>him in the furrow with ropes, </t><t>or will he harrow the valleys after you?</t>


text:
<t>Will you depend on him because his strength is great, </t><t>and will you leave to him your labor?</t>


text:
<t>Do you have faith in him that he will return your grain </t><t>and gather it to your threshing floor? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“The wings of the ostrich wave proudly, </t><t>but are they the pinions and plumage of love? <f>[1]</f></t>


text:
<t>She <f>ⓚ</f>deals cruelly with her young, as if they were not hers; </t><t>though her <f>ⓛ</f>labor be in vain, yet she has no fear,</t>


text:
<t>because God has made her forget wisdom </t><t>and <f>ⓜ</f>given her no share in understanding.</t>


text:
<t>He paws <f>[3]</f> in the valley and exults in his strength; </t><t>he <f>ⓞ</f>goes out to meet the weapons.</t>


text:
<t>With fierceness and rage he swallows the ground; </t><t>he cannot stand still at <f>ⓟ</f>the sound of the trumpet.</t>


text:
<t>When the trumpet sounds, he says ‘Aha!’ </t><t>He smells the battle from afar, </t><t>the thunder of the captains, and the shouting. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Is it by your understanding that the hawk soars </t><t>and spreads his wings toward the south?</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Shall a faultfinder <f>ⓑ</f>contend with the Almighty? </t><t>He who argues with God, let him answer it.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Behold, I am <f>ⓒ</f>of small account; what shall I answer you? </t><t><f>ⓓ</f>I lay my hand on my mouth.</t>


text:
<t>I have spoken <f>ⓔ</f>once, and I will not answer; </t><t><f>ⓕ</f>twice, but I will proceed no further.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓗ</f> “Dress for action <f>[1]</f> like a man; </t><t><f>ⓘ</f>I will question you, and you make it known to me.</t>


text:
<t>Will you even put me in the wrong? </t><t>Will you condemn me that <f>ⓙ</f>you may be in the right?</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; </t><t><f>ⓜ</f>clothe yourself with glory and splendor.</t>


text:
<t>Pour out the overflowings of your anger, </t><t>and look on everyone who is <f>ⓝ</f>proud and abase him.</t>


text:
<t>Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low </t><t>and <f>ⓞ</f>tread down the wicked <f>ⓟ</f>where they stand.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓠ</f> Hide them all in <f>ⓡ</f>the dust together; </t><t>bind their faces in the world below. <f>[2]</f></t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Behold, Behemoth, <f>[3]</f> </t><t>which I made as I made you; </t><t>he eats <f>ⓣ</f>grass like an ox.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“He is <f>ⓤ</f>the first of <f>ⓥ</f>the works <f>[4]</f> of God; </t><t>let him who made him bring near his sword!</t>


text:
<t>Behold, if the river is turbulent he is not frightened; </t><t>he is confident though Jordan rushes against his mouth.</t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>[1]</f> “Can you draw out <f>ⓐ</f>Leviathan <f>[2]</f> with a fishhook </t><t>or press down his tongue with a cord?</t>


text:
<t><f>[3]</f> Behold, the hope of a man is false; </t><t>he is laid low even at the sight of him.</t>


text:
<t>No one is so fierce that he dares to stir him up. </t><t>Who then is he who can stand before me?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓔ</f> Who has first given to me, that I should repay him? </t><t><f>ⓕ</f>Whatever is under the whole heaven is mine. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“I will not keep silence concerning his limbs, </t><t>or his mighty strength, or his goodly frame.</t>


text:
<t>They are <f>ⓖ</f>joined one to another; </t><t>they clasp each other and cannot be separated.</t>


text:
<t>His sneezings flash forth light, </t><t>and his eyes are like <f>ⓗ</f>the eyelids of the dawn.</t>


text:
<t>When he raises himself up, the mighty <f>[5]</f> are afraid; </t><t>at the crashing they are beside themselves.</t>


text:
<t>Though the sword reaches him, it does not avail, </t><t>nor the spear, the dart, or the javelin.</t>


text:
<t>His underparts are like sharp <f>ⓚ</f>potsherds; </t><t>he spreads himself like <f>ⓛ</f>a threshing sledge on the mire.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“I know that you can <f>ⓐ</f>do all things, </t><t>and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓑ</f> ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ </t><t>Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, </t><t>things <f>ⓒ</f>too wonderful for me, which I did not know.</t>


text:
<pb/>After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz <f>ⓕ</f>the Temanite: “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.


text:
Now therefore take <f>ⓖ</f>seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and <f>ⓗ</f>offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall <f>ⓘ</f>pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”


text:
<f>ⓙ</f> So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD had told them, and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.


text:
<pb/>And the LORD <f>ⓚ</f>restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the LORD gave Job <f>ⓛ</f>twice as much as he had before.


text:
Then came to him all his <f>ⓜ</f>brothers and sisters and all who had <f>ⓝ</f>known him before, and ate bread with him in his house. And they <f>ⓞ</f>showed him sympathy and comforted him for all the evil <f>[2]</f> that the LORD had brought upon him. And each of them gave him <f>ⓟ</f>a piece of money <f>[3]</f> and <f>ⓠ</f>a ring of gold.


text:
<pb/>And the LORD blessed <f>ⓡ</f>the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had <f>ⓢ</f>14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys.


text:
And he called the name of the first daughter Jemimah, and the name of the second Keziah, and the name of the third Keren-happuch.


text:
And in all the land there were no women so beautiful as Job's daughters. And their father gave them an inheritance <f>ⓤ</f>among their brothers.


text:
<pb/><t>Blessed is the man <f>[1]</f> </t><t>who <f>ⓐ</f>walks not in <f>ⓑ</f>the counsel of the wicked, </t><t>nor stands in <f>ⓒ</f>the way of sinners, </t><t>nor <f>ⓓ</f>sits in <f>ⓔ</f>the seat of <f>ⓕ</f>scoffers;</t>


text:
<t>but his <f>ⓖ</f>delight is in the law <f>[2]</f> of the LORD, </t><t>and on his <f>ⓗ</f>law he meditates day and night. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>He is like <f>ⓘ</f>a tree </t><t>planted by <f>ⓙ</f>streams of water </t><t>that yields its fruit in its season, </t><t>and its <f>ⓚ</f>leaf does not wither. </t><t><f>ⓛ</f>In all that he does, he prospers.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>Therefore the wicked <f>ⓝ</f>will not stand in the judgment, </t><t>nor sinners in <f>ⓞ</f>the congregation of the righteous;</t>


text:
<t>for the LORD <f>ⓟ</f>knows <f>ⓠ</f>the way of the righteous, </t><t>but the way of the wicked will perish. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> Why do <f>ⓑ</f>the nations rage <f>[1]</f> </t><t>and the peoples plot in vain?</t>


text:
<t>The kings of the earth set themselves, </t><t>and the rulers take counsel together, </t><t>against the LORD and against his <f>ⓒ</f>Anointed, saying,</t>


text:
<pb/><t>He who <f>ⓔ</f>sits in the heavens <f>ⓕ</f>laughs; </t><t>the Lord holds them in derision.</t>


text:
<t>Then he will speak to them in his <f>ⓖ</f>wrath, </t><t>and terrify them in his fury, saying,</t>


text:
<pb/><t>I will tell of the decree: </t><t>The LORD said to me, <f>ⓚ</f>“You are my Son; </t><t>today I have begotten you.</t>


text:
<t>Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, </t><t>and <f>ⓛ</f>the ends of the earth your possession.</t>


text:
<t>You shall <f>ⓜ</f>break <f>[2]</f> them with <f>ⓝ</f>a rod of iron </t><t>and dash them in pieces like <f>ⓞ</f>a potter's vessel.” </t>


text:
<t><f>ⓟ</f> Serve the LORD with <f>ⓠ</f>fear, </t><t>and <f>ⓡ</f>rejoice with <f>ⓢ</f>trembling.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> Kiss <f>ⓤ</f>the Son, </t><t>lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, </t><t>for his <f>ⓥ</f>wrath is quickly kindled. </t><t><f>ⓦ</f>Blessed are all who take refuge in him. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> O LORD, <f>ⓑ</f>how many are my foes! </t><t>Many are <f>ⓒ</f>rising against me;</t>


text:
<t>many are saying of my soul, </t><t><f>ⓓ</f>“There is no salvation for him in God.” <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/><f>[1]</f> </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But you, O LORD, are <f>ⓔ</f>a shield <f>ⓕ</f>about me, </t><t>my glory, and <f>ⓖ</f>the lifter of my head.</t>


text:
<t>I <f>ⓗ</f>cried aloud to the LORD, </t><t>and he <f>ⓘ</f>answered me from his <f>ⓙ</f>holy hill. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>I <f>ⓛ</f>will not be afraid of many thousands of people </t><t>who have <f>ⓜ</f>set themselves against me all around. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓝ</f> Arise, O LORD! </t><t>Save me, O my God! </t><t>For you <f>ⓞ</f>strike all my enemies on the cheek; </t><t>you <f>ⓟ</f>break the teeth of the wicked. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓠ</f> Salvation belongs to the LORD; </t><t>your blessing be on your people! <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> <pb/><t>Answer me when I call, O God of my <f>ⓒ</f>righteousness! </t><t>You have <f>ⓓ</f>given me relief when I was in distress. </t><t>Be gracious to me and hear my prayer! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>O men, <f>[1]</f> how long shall my honor be turned into shame? </t><t>How long will you love vain words and seek after <f>ⓔ</f>lies? <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>But know that the LORD has <f>ⓕ</f>set apart <f>ⓖ</f>the godly for himself; </t><t>the LORD hears when I call to him. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓗ</f> Be angry, <f>[2]</f> and do not sin; </t><t><f>ⓘ</f>ponder in your own hearts <f>ⓙ</f>on your beds, and be silent. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t>There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? </t><t><f>ⓜ</f>Lift up <f>ⓝ</f>the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”</t>


text:
<t>You have put <f>ⓞ</f>more joy in my heart </t><t>than they have when their grain and wine abound. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>In peace I will both <f>ⓟ</f>lie down and sleep; </t><t>for you alone, O LORD, make me <f>ⓠ</f>dwell in safety. </t>


text:
<t>Give attention to the sound of my cry, </t><t>my <f>ⓑ</f>King and my God, </t><t>for <f>ⓒ</f>to you do I pray.</t>


text:
<t>O LORD, in <f>ⓓ</f>the morning you hear my voice; </t><t>in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you <f>[1]</f> and <f>ⓔ</f>watch. </t>


text:
<t>The <f>ⓕ</f>boastful shall not <f>ⓖ</f>stand before your eyes; </t><t>you <f>ⓗ</f>hate all evildoers.</t>


text:
<t>You destroy those who speak <f>ⓘ</f>lies; </t><t>the LORD abhors <f>ⓙ</f>the bloodthirsty and deceitful man. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love, </t><t>will enter your house. </t><t>I will <f>ⓚ</f>bow down <f>ⓛ</f>toward your <f>ⓜ</f>holy temple </t><t>in the fear of you.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓝ</f> Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness </t><t>because of my enemies; </t><t><f>ⓞ</f>make your way straight before me. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>For there is no truth in their mouth; </t><t>their inmost self is <f>ⓟ</f>destruction; </t><t><f>ⓠ</f>their throat is <f>ⓡ</f>an open grave; </t><t>they <f>ⓢ</f>flatter with their tongue.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> Make them bear their guilt, O God; </t><t>let them <f>ⓤ</f>fall by their own counsels; </t><t>because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out, </t><t>for they have rebelled against you. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But let all who <f>ⓥ</f>take refuge in you <f>ⓦ</f>rejoice; </t><t>let them ever sing for joy, </t><t>and spread your protection over them, </t><t>that those who love your name may <f>ⓧ</f>exult in you.</t>


text:
<t>For you <f>ⓨ</f>bless the righteous, O LORD; </t><t>you <f>ⓩ</f>cover him with favor as with <f>ⓐ</f>a shield. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <pb/><t>O LORD, <f>ⓑ</f>rebuke me not in your anger, </t><t>nor <f>ⓒ</f>discipline me in your wrath.</t>


text:
<t>Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing; </t><t><f>ⓓ</f>heal me, O LORD, <f>ⓔ</f>for my bones are troubled.</t>


text:
<t>For in <f>ⓗ</f>death there is no remembrance of you; </t><t>in Sheol who will give you praise? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>I am <f>ⓘ</f>weary with my <f>ⓙ</f>moaning; </t><t>every night I flood my bed with tears; </t><t>I drench my couch with my weeping.</t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓛ</f> Depart from me, all you <f>ⓜ</f>workers of evil, </t><t>for the LORD <f>ⓝ</f>has heard the sound of my weeping.</t>


text:
<t>All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled; </t><t>they shall <f>ⓟ</f>turn back and be put to shame in a moment. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <pb/><t>O LORD my God, in you do I <f>ⓑ</f>take refuge; </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,</t>


text:
<t>lest like <f>ⓓ</f>a lion they tear my soul apart, </t><t>rending it in pieces, with <f>ⓔ</f>none to deliver. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>O LORD my God, <f>ⓕ</f>if I have done this, </t><t>if there is <f>ⓖ</f>wrong in my hands,</t>


text:
<t>if I have repaid <f>ⓗ</f>my friend <f>[2]</f> with evil </t><t>or <f>ⓘ</f>plundered my enemy without cause,</t>


text:
<t>let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, </t><t>and let him <f>ⓙ</f>trample my life to the ground </t><t>and lay my glory in the dust. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓚ</f> Arise, O LORD, in your anger; </t><t><f>ⓛ</f>lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; </t><t><f>ⓜ</f>awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>The LORD <f>ⓝ</f>judges the peoples; </t><t><f>ⓞ</f>judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness </t><t>and according to the integrity that is in me.</t>


text:
<t>Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, </t><t>and may you establish the righteous — </t><t>you who <f>ⓟ</f>test <f>ⓠ</f>the minds and hearts, <f>[3]</f> </t><t>O righteous God!</t>


text:
<pb/><t>If a man <f>[4]</f> does not repent, God <f>[5]</f> will <f>ⓥ</f>whet his sword; </t><t>he has <f>ⓦ</f>bent and <f>ⓧ</f>readied his bow;</t>


text:
<t>he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, </t><t>making his <f>ⓨ</f>arrows <f>ⓩ</f>fiery shafts.</t>


text:
<t>Behold, the wicked man <f>ⓐ</f>conceives evil </t><t>and is <f>ⓑ</f>pregnant with mischief </t><t>and gives birth to lies.</t>


text:
<t>His <f>ⓓ</f>mischief returns upon his own head, </t><t>and on his own skull his violence descends. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, </t><t>and I will <f>ⓔ</f>sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <pb/><t>O LORD, our Lord, </t><t>how majestic is your <f>ⓑ</f>name in all the earth! </t><t>You have set your <f>ⓒ</f>glory above the heavens.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> Out of the mouth of babies and infants, </t><t>you have established <f>ⓔ</f>strength because of your foes, </t><t>to still <f>ⓕ</f>the enemy and the avenger. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>When I <f>ⓖ</f>look at your heavens, the work of your <f>ⓗ</f>fingers, </t><t>the moon and the stars, <f>ⓘ</f>which you have set in place,</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓙ</f> what is man that you are <f>ⓚ</f>mindful of him, </t><t>and <f>ⓛ</f>the son of man that you <f>ⓜ</f>care for him? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Yet you have made him a little lower than <f>ⓝ</f>the heavenly beings <f>[2]</f> </t><t>and crowned him with <f>ⓞ</f>glory and honor.</t>


text:
<t>You have given him <f>ⓟ</f>dominion over the works of your hands; </t><t><f>ⓠ</f>you have put all things under his feet,</t>


text:
<t>the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, </t><t>whatever passes along the paths of the seas. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>[2]</f>  <pb/><t>I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; </t><t>I will recount all of your <f>ⓐ</f>wonderful deeds.</t>


text:
<t>I will be glad and <f>ⓑ</f>exult in you; </t><t>I will <f>ⓒ</f>sing praise to your name, <f>ⓓ</f>O Most High. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>When my enemies turn back, </t><t>they stumble and perish before <f>[3]</f> your presence.</t>


text:
<t>For you have <f>ⓔ</f>maintained my just cause; </t><t>you have <f>ⓕ</f>sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>You have <f>ⓖ</f>rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; </t><t>you have <f>ⓗ</f>blotted out their name forever and ever.</t>


text:
<t>The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; </t><t>their cities you rooted out; </t><t>the very memory of them has perished. </t>


text:
<t>and he <f>ⓘ</f>judges the world with righteousness; </t><t>he <f>ⓙ</f>judges the peoples with uprightness. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The LORD is <f>ⓚ</f>a stronghold for <f>ⓛ</f>the oppressed, </t><t>a stronghold in <f>ⓜ</f>times of trouble.</t>


text:
<t>And those who <f>ⓝ</f>know your name put their trust in you, </t><t>for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Sing praises to the LORD, who <f>ⓞ</f>sits enthroned in Zion! </t><t>Tell among the peoples his <f>ⓟ</f>deeds!</t>


text:
<t>For he who <f>ⓠ</f>avenges blood is mindful of them; </t><t>he <f>ⓡ</f>does not forget the cry of the afflicted. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓢ</f> Be gracious to me, O LORD! </t><t>See my affliction from those who hate me, </t><t>O you who lift me up from <f>ⓣ</f>the gates of death,</t>


text:
<t>that I may recount all your praises, </t><t>that in the gates of <f>ⓤ</f>the daughter of Zion </t><t>I may <f>ⓥ</f>rejoice in your salvation. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The nations have sunk in <f>ⓦ</f>the pit that they made; </t><t>in <f>ⓧ</f>the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.</t>


text:
<t>The LORD has made himself <f>ⓨ</f>known; he has executed judgment; </t><t>the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. <pb/><i>Higgaion. <f>[4]</f> Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t>The wicked shall <f>ⓩ</f>return to Sheol, </t><t>all the nations that <f>ⓐ</f>forget God. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>For the needy shall not always be forgotten, </t><t>and <f>ⓑ</f>the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓒ</f> Arise, O LORD! Let not <f>ⓓ</f>man prevail; </t><t>let the nations be judged before you!</t>


text:
<t>Put them in fear, O LORD! </t><t>Let the nations know that they are but <f>ⓔ</f>men! <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t>Why, O LORD, do you stand <f>ⓐ</f>far away? </t><t>Why <f>ⓑ</f>do you hide yourself in <f>ⓒ</f>times of trouble? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; </t><t>let them <f>ⓓ</f>be caught in the schemes that they have devised.</t>


text:
<t>For the wicked <f>ⓔ</f>boasts of the desires of his soul, </t><t>and the one greedy for gain <f>ⓕ</f>curses <f>[1]</f> and <f>ⓖ</f>renounces the LORD.</t>


text:
<t>In the pride of his face <f>[2]</f> the wicked does not <f>ⓗ</f>seek him; <f>[3]</f> </t><t>all his thoughts are, <f>ⓘ</f>“There is no God.”</t>


text:
<t>His ways prosper at all times; </t><t>your judgments are on high, <f>ⓙ</f>out of his sight; </t><t>as for all his foes, he <f>ⓚ</f>puffs at them.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓛ</f>says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; </t><t>throughout all generations I <f>ⓜ</f>shall not meet adversity.”</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓝ</f> His mouth is filled with cursing and <f>ⓞ</f>deceit and <f>ⓟ</f>oppression; </t><t><f>ⓠ</f>under his tongue are <f>ⓡ</f>mischief and <f>ⓢ</f>iniquity.</t>


text:
<t>He sits in ambush in the villages; </t><t>in <f>ⓣ</f>hiding places he murders the innocent. </t><t>His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;</t>


text:
<t>he lurks in ambush like <f>ⓤ</f>a lion in his <f>ⓥ</f>thicket; </t><t>he <f>ⓦ</f>lurks that he may seize the poor; </t><t>he seizes the poor when he draws him into his <f>ⓧ</f>net.</t>


text:
<t>He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, </t><t>he has <f>ⓨ</f>hidden his face, he <f>ⓩ</f>will never see it.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> Arise, O LORD; O God, <f>ⓑ</f>lift up your hand; </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>forget not the afflicted.</t>


text:
<t>Why does the wicked <f>ⓓ</f>renounce God </t><t>and say in his heart, “You will not <f>ⓔ</f>call to account”?</t>


text:
<t>But you do see, for you <f>ⓕ</f>note mischief and vexation, </t><t>that you may take it into your hands; </t><t>to you the helpless <f>ⓖ</f>commits himself; </t><t>you have been <f>ⓗ</f>the helper of the fatherless.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓘ</f> Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; </t><t><f>ⓙ</f>call his wickedness to account till you find none. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓚ</f> The LORD is king forever and ever; </t><t>the <f>ⓛ</f>nations perish from his land.</t>


text:
<t>O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; </t><t>you will <f>ⓜ</f>strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear</t>


text:
<t>to <f>ⓝ</f>do justice to the fatherless and <f>ⓞ</f>the oppressed, </t><t>so that <f>ⓟ</f>man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>In the LORD I take refuge; </t><t>how can you say to my soul, </t><t><f>ⓐ</f>“Flee like a bird to your mountain,</t>


text:
<t>for behold, the wicked <f>ⓑ</f>bend the bow; </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>they have fitted their arrow to the string </t><t>to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;</t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓔ</f> The LORD is in his holy temple; </t><t>the LORD's <f>ⓕ</f>throne is in heaven; </t><t>his eyes see, his eyelids <f>ⓖ</f>test the children of man.</t>


text:
<t>The LORD <f>ⓗ</f>tests the righteous, </t><t>but <f>ⓘ</f>his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.</t>


text:
<t>Let him rain coals on the wicked; </t><t><f>ⓙ</f>fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be <f>ⓚ</f>the portion of their cup.</t>


text:
<t>For the LORD is righteous; </t><t>he <f>ⓛ</f>loves righteous deeds; </t><t><f>ⓜ</f>the upright shall behold his face. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <pb/><t> Save, O LORD, for <f>ⓐ</f>the godly one is gone; </t><t>for the faithful have vanished from among the children of man.</t>


text:
<t>Everyone <f>ⓑ</f>utters lies to his neighbor; </t><t>with <f>ⓒ</f>flattering lips and <f>ⓓ</f>a double heart they speak. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>May the LORD cut off all <f>ⓔ</f>flattering lips, </t><t>the tongue that makes <f>ⓕ</f>great boasts,</t>


text:
<t>those who say, “With our tongue we will prevail, </t><t>our lips are with us; who is master over us?” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Because <f>ⓖ</f>the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, </t><t><f>ⓗ</f>I will now arise,” says the LORD; </t><t>“I will place him in the <f>ⓘ</f>safety for which he longs.”</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓙ</f> The words of the LORD are pure words, </t><t>like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, </t><t>purified seven times. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>You, O LORD, will keep them; </t><t>you will guard us <f>[2]</f> from this generation forever.</t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> How long, O LORD? Will you <f>ⓑ</f>forget me forever? </t><t>How long will you <f>ⓒ</f>hide your face from me?</t>


text:
<t>How long must I take <f>ⓓ</f>counsel in my soul </t><t>and have sorrow in my heart all the day? </t><t>How long shall my enemy be exalted over me? </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓔ</f> Consider and answer me, O LORD my God; </t><t><f>ⓕ</f>light up my eyes, lest <f>ⓖ</f>I sleep the sleep of death,</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓗ</f> lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” </t><t>lest my foes rejoice because I am <f>ⓘ</f>shaken. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But I have <f>ⓙ</f>trusted in your steadfast love; </t><t>my heart shall <f>ⓚ</f>rejoice in your salvation.</t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> The <f>ⓑ</f>fool says in his heart, <f>ⓒ</f>“There is no God.” </t><t>They are <f>ⓓ</f>corrupt, they do abominable deeds; </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>there is none who does good. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The LORD <f>ⓕ</f>looks down from heaven on the children of man, </t><t>to see if there are any who understand, <f>[1]</f> </t><t>who <f>ⓖ</f>seek after God. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>They have all turned aside; together they have become <f>ⓗ</f>corrupt; </t><t>there is none who does good, </t><t>not even one. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Have they no <f>ⓘ</f>knowledge, all the evildoers </t><t>who <f>ⓙ</f>eat up my people as they eat bread </t><t>and <f>ⓚ</f>do not call upon the LORD? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>There they are in great terror, </t><t>for God is with <f>ⓛ</f>the generation of the righteous.</t>


text:
<t>You would shame the plans of the poor, </t><t>but <f>[2]</f> the LORD is his <f>ⓜ</f>refuge. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! </t><t>When the LORD <f>ⓝ</f>restores the fortunes of his people, </t><t>let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>O LORD, <f>ⓐ</f>who shall sojourn in your <f>ⓑ</f>tent? </t><t>Who shall dwell on your <f>ⓒ</f>holy hill? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>He who <f>ⓓ</f>walks blamelessly and <f>ⓔ</f>does what is right </t><t>and <f>ⓕ</f>speaks truth in his heart;</t>


text:
<t>who <f>ⓖ</f>does not slander with his tongue </t><t>and does no evil to his neighbor, </t><t>nor <f>ⓗ</f>takes up a reproach against his friend;</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓘ</f> in whose eyes a vile person is despised, </t><t>but who honors those who fear the LORD; </t><t>who <f>ⓙ</f>swears to his own hurt and does not change;</t>


text:
<t>who <f>ⓚ</f>does not put out his money at interest </t><t>and <f>ⓛ</f>does not take a bribe against the innocent. </t><t>He who does these things shall never be <f>ⓜ</f>moved. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>As for <f>ⓓ</f>the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, </t><t>in whom is all my delight. <f>[2]</f> </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The sorrows of those who run after <f>[3]</f> another god shall multiply; </t><t>their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out </t><t>or <f>ⓔ</f>take their names on my lips. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The LORD is <f>ⓕ</f>my chosen portion and my <f>ⓖ</f>cup; </t><t>you hold my <f>ⓗ</f>lot.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓘ</f> The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; </t><t>indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>I bless the LORD who <f>ⓙ</f>gives me counsel; </t><t>in <f>ⓚ</f>the night also my <f>ⓛ</f>heart instructs me. <f>[4]</f></t>


text:
<t><f>ⓜ</f> I have <f>ⓝ</f>set the LORD always before me; </t><t>because he is at my <f>ⓞ</f>right hand, I shall not be <f>ⓟ</f>shaken. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Therefore my heart is glad, and my <f>ⓠ</f>whole being <f>[5]</f> rejoices; </t><t>my flesh also dwells secure.</t>


text:
<t>For you will not abandon my soul to <f>ⓡ</f>Sheol, </t><t><f>ⓢ</f>or let your <f>ⓣ</f>holy one see <f>ⓤ</f>corruption. <f>[6]</f> </t>


text:
<pb/><t>You make known to me <f>ⓥ</f>the path of life; </t><t>in your presence there is <f>ⓦ</f>fullness of joy; </t><t>at your right hand are <f>ⓧ</f>pleasures forevermore. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> Hear a just cause, O LORD; <f>ⓑ</f>attend to my cry! </t><t>Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!</t>


text:
<pb/><t>You have <f>ⓓ</f>tried my heart, you have <f>ⓔ</f>visited me by <f>ⓕ</f>night, </t><t>you have <f>ⓖ</f>tested me, and you will find nothing; </t><t>I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.</t>


text:
<t>With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips </t><t>I have avoided the ways of the violent.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>I <f>ⓘ</f>call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; </t><t><f>ⓙ</f>incline your ear to me; hear my words.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓚ</f> Wondrously show <f>[1]</f> your steadfast love, </t><t>O Savior of those who seek refuge </t><t>from <f>ⓛ</f>their adversaries at your right hand. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Keep me as <f>ⓜ</f>the apple of your eye; </t><t>hide me in <f>ⓝ</f>the shadow of your wings,</t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓟ</f> They close their hearts to pity; </t><t>with their mouths they <f>ⓠ</f>speak arrogantly.</t>


text:
<t>They have now surrounded our <f>ⓡ</f>steps; </t><t>they set their eyes to <f>ⓢ</f>cast us to the ground.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him! </t><t>Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,</t>


text:
<t>from men by your hand, O LORD, </t><t>from <f>ⓤ</f>men of the world whose <f>ⓥ</f>portion is in this life. <f>[2]</f> </t><t>You fill their womb with treasure; <f>[3]</f> </t><t>they are satisfied with <f>ⓦ</f>children, </t><t>and they leave their abundance to their infants. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>As for me, I shall <f>ⓧ</f>behold your face in righteousness; </t><t>when I <f>ⓨ</f>awake, I shall be <f>ⓩ</f>satisfied with your likeness. </t>


text:
<t>The LORD is my <f>ⓓ</f>rock and my <f>ⓔ</f>fortress and my deliverer, </t><t>my God, my <f>ⓕ</f>rock, in <f>ⓖ</f>whom I take refuge, </t><t>my <f>ⓗ</f>shield, and <f>ⓘ</f>the horn of my salvation, my <f>ⓙ</f>stronghold.</t>


text:
<t>I call upon the LORD, who is <f>ⓚ</f>worthy to be praised, </t><t>and I am saved from my enemies. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓛ</f> The cords of death encompassed me; </t><t><f>ⓜ</f>the torrents of destruction assailed me; <f>[1]</f></t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓞ</f> In my distress I called upon the LORD; </t><t>to my God I cried for help. </t><t>From his <f>ⓟ</f>temple he heard my voice, </t><t>and my cry to him reached his ears. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Then the earth <f>ⓠ</f>reeled and rocked; </t><t>the foundations also of the mountains trembled </t><t>and quaked, because he was angry.</t>


text:
<t>Smoke went up from his nostrils, <f>[2]</f> </t><t>and devouring <f>ⓡ</f>fire from his mouth; </t><t>glowing coals flamed forth from him.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓢ</f>bowed the heavens and <f>ⓣ</f>came down; </t><t><f>ⓤ</f>thick darkness was under his feet.</t>


text:
<t>He made darkness his covering, his <f>ⓦ</f>canopy around him, </t><t>thick clouds <f>ⓧ</f>dark with water.</t>


text:
<t>Out of the brightness before him </t><t><f>ⓨ</f>hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The LORD also <f>ⓩ</f>thundered in the heavens, </t><t>and the Most High uttered his <f>ⓐ</f>voice, </t><t>hailstones and coals of fire.</t>


text:
<t>And he sent out his <f>ⓑ</f>arrows and scattered them; </t><t>he flashed forth lightnings and <f>ⓒ</f>routed them.</t>


text:
<t>Then <f>ⓓ</f>the channels of the sea were seen, </t><t>and the foundations of the world were laid bare </t><t>at your <f>ⓔ</f>rebuke, O LORD, </t><t>at the blast of <f>ⓕ</f>the breath of your nostrils. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>He <f>ⓖ</f>sent from on high, he took me; </t><t>he <f>ⓗ</f>drew me out of <f>ⓘ</f>many waters.</t>


text:
<t>He rescued me from my strong enemy </t><t>and from those who hated me, </t><t>for they were <f>ⓙ</f>too mighty for me.</t>


text:
<t>He brought me out into <f>ⓚ</f>a broad place; </t><t>he rescued me, because he <f>ⓛ</f>delighted in me. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The LORD dealt with me <f>ⓜ</f>according to my righteousness; </t><t>according to <f>ⓝ</f>the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me.</t>


text:
<t>For I have <f>ⓞ</f>kept the ways of the LORD, </t><t>and have not wickedly departed from my God.</t>


text:
<t>For <f>ⓟ</f>all his rules <f>[3]</f> were before me, </t><t>and his statutes I did not put away from me.</t>


text:
<t>So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, </t><t>according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>With <f>ⓡ</f>the merciful you show yourself merciful; </t><t>with the blameless man you show yourself blameless;</t>


text:
<t>with the purified you show yourself pure; </t><t>and with <f>ⓢ</f>the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous.</t>


text:
<t>For by you I can run against a troop, </t><t>and by my God I can <f>ⓦ</f>leap over <f>ⓧ</f>a wall.</t>


text:
<t>This God — his way is <f>ⓨ</f>perfect; <f>[4]</f> </t><t>the word of the LORD <f>ⓩ</f>proves true; </t><t>he is <f>ⓐ</f>a shield for all those who <f>ⓑ</f>take refuge in him. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>For <f>ⓒ</f>who is God, but the LORD? </t><t>And who is <f>ⓓ</f>a rock, except our God? — </t>


text:
<t>He made my feet like the feet of a <f>ⓖ</f>deer </t><t>and set me secure on <f>ⓗ</f>the heights.</t>


text:
<t>You have given me the shield of your salvation, </t><t>and your right hand <f>ⓙ</f>supported me, </t><t>and your <f>ⓚ</f>gentleness made me great.</t>


text:
<t>I pursued my enemies and overtook them, </t><t>and did not turn back till they were consumed.</t>


text:
<t>For you equipped me with strength for the battle; </t><t>you made those who rise against me sink under me.</t>


text:
<t>You made my enemies <f>ⓜ</f>turn their backs to me, <f>[5]</f> </t><t>and those who hated me I destroyed.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓝ</f> They cried for help, but there was none to save; </t><t>they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them.</t>


text:
<t>I beat them fine as <f>ⓞ</f>dust before the wind; </t><t>I cast them out like <f>ⓟ</f>the mire of the streets. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>You delivered me from <f>ⓠ</f>strife with the people; </t><t>you made me <f>ⓡ</f>the head of the nations; </t><t><f>ⓢ</f>people whom I had not known served me.</t>


text:
<t>As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; </t><t><f>ⓣ</f>foreigners <f>ⓤ</f>came cringing to me.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, </t><t>and exalted be the God of my salvation — </t>


text:
<t>who rescued me from my enemies; </t><t>yes, you <f>ⓨ</f>exalted me above those who rose against me; </t><t>you delivered me from <f>ⓩ</f>the man of violence. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, </t><t>and <f>ⓑ</f>sing to your name.</t>


text:
<t>Great <f>ⓒ</f>salvation he brings to his king, </t><t>and shows steadfast love to his <f>ⓓ</f>anointed, </t><t>to <f>ⓔ</f>David and his offspring forever. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> The heavens declare the glory of God, </t><t>and the sky above <f>[1]</f> proclaims his handiwork.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓑ</f> Their <f>ⓒ</f>voice <f>[2]</f> goes out through all the earth, </t><t>and their words to the end of the world. </t><t>In them he has set a tent for <f>ⓓ</f>the sun,</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓔ</f> which comes out like <f>ⓕ</f>a bridegroom leaving his chamber, </t><t>and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.</t>


text:
<t>Its rising is from the end of the heavens, </t><t>and its circuit to the end of them, </t><t>and there is nothing hidden from its heat. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓖ</f> The law of the LORD is perfect, <f>[3]</f> </t><t><f>ⓗ</f>reviving the soul; </t><t><f>ⓘ</f>the testimony of the LORD is <f>ⓙ</f>sure, </t><t><f>ⓚ</f>making wise <f>ⓛ</f>the simple;</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓜ</f> the precepts of the LORD are right, </t><t>rejoicing the heart; </t><t>the commandment of the LORD is <f>ⓝ</f>pure, </t><t><f>ⓞ</f>enlightening the eyes;</t>


text:
<t>the fear of the LORD is clean, </t><t>enduring forever; </t><t>the rules <f>[4]</f> of the LORD are <f>ⓟ</f>true, </t><t>and righteous altogether.</t>


text:
<t>More to be desired are they than <f>ⓠ</f>gold, </t><t>even much <f>ⓡ</f>fine gold; </t><t><f>ⓢ</f>sweeter also than honey </t><t>and drippings of <f>ⓣ</f>the honeycomb.</t>


text:
<t>Moreover, by them is your servant warned; </t><t><f>ⓤ</f>in keeping them there is great reward. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓥ</f> Who can discern his errors? </t><t><f>ⓦ</f>Declare me innocent from <f>ⓧ</f>hidden faults.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓨ</f> Keep back your servant also from <f>ⓩ</f>presumptuous sins; </t><t>let them not have <f>ⓐ</f>dominion over me! </t><t>Then I shall be blameless, </t><t>and innocent of great transgression. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart </t><t>be acceptable in your sight, </t><t>O LORD, my <f>ⓑ</f>rock and my <f>ⓒ</f>redeemer. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>May the LORD <f>ⓐ</f>answer you in the day of trouble! </t><t>May <f>ⓑ</f>the name of the God of Jacob <f>ⓒ</f>protect you!</t>


text:
<t>May he send you help from <f>ⓓ</f>the sanctuary </t><t>and give you support from <f>ⓔ</f>Zion!</t>


text:
<t>May he <f>ⓕ</f>remember all your offerings </t><t>and regard with favor your burnt sacrifices! <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>May we shout for joy over <f>ⓗ</f>your salvation, </t><t>and in the name of our God set up our <f>ⓘ</f>banners! </t><t>May the LORD fulfill all your petitions! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; </t><t>he will answer him from his holy heaven </t><t>with <f>ⓙ</f>the saving might of his right hand.</t>


text:
<t>Some trust in <f>ⓚ</f>chariots and some in <f>ⓛ</f>horses, </t><t><f>ⓜ</f>but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>O LORD, in your <f>ⓐ</f>strength the king rejoices, </t><t>and in your <f>ⓑ</f>salvation how greatly he exults!</t>


text:
<t>You have <f>ⓒ</f>given him his heart's desire </t><t>and have not withheld the request of his lips. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>For you <f>ⓓ</f>meet him with rich blessings; </t><t>you set <f>ⓔ</f>a crown of <f>ⓕ</f>fine gold upon his head.</t>


text:
<t>He asked life of you; you <f>ⓖ</f>gave it to him, </t><t><f>ⓗ</f>length of days forever and ever.</t>


text:
<t>His <f>ⓘ</f>glory is great through your salvation; </t><t><f>ⓙ</f>splendor and majesty you bestow on him.</t>


text:
<t>For you make him most blessed forever; <f>[1]</f> </t><t>you make him glad with the <f>ⓚ</f>joy of your presence.</t>


text:
<t>For the king trusts in the LORD, </t><t>and through the steadfast love of the Most High he shall not be <f>ⓛ</f>moved. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Your hand will <f>ⓜ</f>find out all your enemies; </t><t>your right hand will find out those who hate you.</t>


text:
<t>You will make them as <f>ⓝ</f>a blazing oven </t><t>when you appear. </t><t>The LORD will swallow them up in his <f>ⓞ</f>wrath, </t><t>and <f>ⓟ</f>fire will consume them.</t>


text:
<t>You <f>ⓠ</f>will destroy their <f>ⓡ</f>descendants from the earth, </t><t>and their offspring from among the children of man.</t>


text:
<t>Though they plan evil against you, </t><t>though they <f>ⓢ</f>devise mischief, they will not succeed.</t>


text:
<t>For you will put them <f>ⓣ</f>to flight; </t><t>you will <f>ⓤ</f>aim at their faces with your bows. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? </t><t>Why are you so <f>ⓑ</f>far from saving me, from the words of my <f>ⓒ</f>groaning?</t>


text:
<t>O my God, I cry by <f>ⓓ</f>day, but you do not answer, </t><t>and by night, but I find no rest. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Yet you are <f>ⓔ</f>holy, </t><t><f>ⓕ</f>enthroned on <f>ⓖ</f>the praises <f>[1]</f> of Israel.</t>


text:
<t>To you they <f>ⓗ</f>cried and were rescued; </t><t>in you they <f>ⓘ</f>trusted and were not put to shame. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But I am <f>ⓙ</f>a worm and not a man, </t><t><f>ⓚ</f>scorned by mankind and <f>ⓛ</f>despised by the people.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓞ</f> “He trusts in the LORD; let him <f>ⓟ</f>deliver him; </t><t>let him rescue him, for he <f>ⓠ</f>delights in him!” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Yet you are he who <f>ⓡ</f>took me from the womb; </t><t>you made me trust you at my mother's breasts.</t>


text:
<t>On you was I cast from my birth, </t><t>and from <f>ⓢ</f>my mother's womb you have been my God.</t>


text:
<t>Be not <f>ⓣ</f>far from me, </t><t>for trouble is near, </t><t>and there is <f>ⓤ</f>none to help. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>I am <f>ⓨ</f>poured out like water, </t><t>and all my bones are <f>ⓩ</f>out of joint; </t><t>my <f>ⓐ</f>heart is like <f>ⓑ</f>wax; </t><t>it is melted within my breast;</t>


text:
<t>my strength is <f>ⓒ</f>dried up like a potsherd, </t><t>and my <f>ⓓ</f>tongue sticks to my jaws; </t><t>you lay me in the dust of death. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>For <f>ⓔ</f>dogs encompass me; </t><t>a company of evildoers <f>ⓕ</f>encircles me; </t><t>they have <f>ⓖ</f>pierced my hands and feet <f>[2]</f> — </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But you, O LORD, <f>ⓙ</f>do not be far off! </t><t>O you my help, <f>ⓚ</f>come quickly to my aid!</t>


text:
<t>Save me from <f>ⓜ</f>the mouth of the lion! </t><t>You have rescued <f>[3]</f> me from the horns of <f>ⓝ</f>the wild oxen! </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓞ</f> I will tell of your name to my <f>ⓟ</f>brothers; </t><t>in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:</t>


text:
<t>You who <f>ⓠ</f>fear the LORD, praise him! </t><t>All you offspring of Jacob, <f>ⓡ</f>glorify him, </t><t>and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!</t>


text:
<t>For he has not despised or abhorred </t><t>the affliction of <f>ⓢ</f>the afflicted, </t><t>and he has not <f>ⓣ</f>hidden his face from him, </t><t>but has heard, when he <f>ⓤ</f>cried to him. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>From you comes my praise in the great <f>ⓥ</f>congregation; </t><t>my <f>ⓦ</f>vows I will <f>ⓧ</f>perform before those who fear him.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓨ</f> The afflicted <f>[4]</f> shall <f>ⓩ</f>eat and be satisfied; </t><t>those who seek him shall praise the LORD! </t><t>May your hearts <f>ⓐ</f>live forever! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>All <f>ⓑ</f>the ends of the earth shall remember </t><t>and turn to the LORD, </t><t>and all <f>ⓒ</f>the families of the nations </t><t>shall worship before you.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>All <f>ⓔ</f>the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; </t><t>before him shall <f>ⓕ</f>bow all who go down to the dust, </t><t>even the one who could not <f>ⓖ</f>keep himself alive.</t>


text:
<t>Posterity shall serve him; </t><t>it shall be told of the Lord to the coming <f>ⓗ</f>generation;</t>


text:
<t>they shall <f>ⓘ</f>come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet <f>ⓙ</f>unborn, </t><t>that he has done it. </t>


text:
<t>He makes me lie down in green <f>ⓒ</f>pastures. </t><t>He leads me beside still waters. <f>[1]</f></t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓓ</f>restores my soul. </t><t>He <f>ⓔ</f>leads me in <f>ⓕ</f>paths of righteousness <f>[2]</f> </t><t>for his <f>ⓖ</f>name's sake. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Even though I <f>ⓗ</f>walk through the valley of <f>ⓘ</f>the shadow of death, <f>[3]</f> </t><t>I will <f>ⓙ</f>fear no evil, </t><t>for <f>ⓚ</f>you are with me; </t><t>your <f>ⓛ</f>rod and your staff, </t><t>they comfort me. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>You <f>ⓜ</f>prepare a table before me </t><t>in <f>ⓝ</f>the presence of my enemies; </t><t>you <f>ⓞ</f>anoint my head with oil; </t><t>my <f>ⓟ</f>cup overflows.</t>


text:
<t>Surely <f>[4]</f> goodness and mercy <f>[5]</f> shall follow me </t><t>all the days of my life, </t><t>and I shall <f>ⓠ</f>dwell <f>[6]</f> in the house of the LORD </t><t><f>ⓡ</f>forever. <f>[7]</f> </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> The earth is the LORD's and the fullness thereof, <f>[1]</f> </t><t>the world and those who dwell therein,</t>


text:
<t>for he has <f>ⓑ</f>founded it upon <f>ⓒ</f>the seas </t><t>and established it upon the rivers. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓓ</f> Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD? </t><t>And who shall stand in his <f>ⓔ</f>holy place?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓕ</f> He who has <f>ⓖ</f>clean hands and <f>ⓗ</f>a pure heart, </t><t>who does not <f>ⓘ</f>lift up his soul to <f>ⓙ</f>what is false </t><t>and does not swear deceitfully.</t>


text:
<t>He will receive <f>ⓚ</f>blessing from the LORD </t><t>and <f>ⓛ</f>righteousness from <f>ⓜ</f>the God of his salvation.</t>


text:
<t>Such is <f>ⓝ</f>the generation of those who seek him, </t><t>who <f>ⓞ</f>seek the face of the God of Jacob. <f>[2]</f> <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓟ</f> Lift up your heads, O gates! </t><t>And be lifted up, O ancient doors, </t><t>that <f>ⓠ</f>the King of glory may come in.</t>


text:
<t>Who is this King of glory? </t><t>The LORD, strong and mighty, </t><t>the LORD, <f>ⓡ</f>mighty in battle!</t>


text:
<t>Lift up your heads, O gates! </t><t>And lift them up, O ancient doors, </t><t>that the King of glory may come in.</t>


text:
<t>Who is this King of glory? </t><t><f>ⓢ</f>The LORD of hosts, </t><t>he is the King of glory! <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>O my God, in you I <f>ⓑ</f>trust; </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>let me not be put to shame; </t><t><f>ⓓ</f>let not my enemies exult over me.</t>


text:
<t>Indeed, <f>ⓔ</f>none who wait for you shall be put to shame; </t><t>they shall be ashamed who are <f>ⓕ</f>wantonly <f>ⓖ</f>treacherous. </t>


text:
<t>Lead me in your <f>ⓘ</f>truth and teach me, </t><t>for you are the God of my salvation; </t><t>for you I wait all the day long. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Remember your <f>ⓙ</f>mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love, </t><t><f>ⓚ</f>for they have been from of old.</t>


text:
<t>Remember not <f>ⓛ</f>the sins of my youth or my transgressions; </t><t>according to your <f>ⓜ</f>steadfast love remember me, </t><t>for the sake of your goodness, O LORD! </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓝ</f> Good and upright is the LORD; </t><t>therefore he <f>ⓞ</f>instructs sinners in the way.</t>


text:
<t>All the paths of the LORD are <f>ⓟ</f>steadfast love and faithfulness, </t><t>for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. </t>


text:
<t>Who is the man who fears the LORD? </t><t>Him <f>ⓢ</f>will he instruct in the way that he should choose.</t>


text:
<t>His soul shall <f>ⓣ</f>abide in well-being, </t><t>and his <f>ⓤ</f>offspring <f>ⓥ</f>shall inherit the land.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓦ</f> The friendship <f>[2]</f> of the LORD is for those who fear him, </t><t>and he makes known to them his covenant.</t>


text:
<t>My <f>ⓧ</f>eyes are ever toward the LORD, </t><t>for he will <f>ⓨ</f>pluck my feet out of the net. </t>


text:
<t>Oh, guard my soul, and deliver me! </t><t><f>ⓑ</f>Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.</t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> Vindicate me, O LORD, </t><t>for I have <f>ⓑ</f>walked in my integrity, </t><t>and I have <f>ⓒ</f>trusted in the LORD without wavering.</t>


text:
<t>For your <f>ⓕ</f>steadfast love is before my eyes, </t><t>and I <f>ⓖ</f>walk in your <f>ⓗ</f>faithfulness. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>I do not <f>ⓘ</f>sit with men of <f>ⓙ</f>falsehood, </t><t>nor do I consort with hypocrites.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>O LORD, I <f>ⓝ</f>love the habitation of your house </t><t>and the place where your glory dwells.</t>


text:
<t>My foot stands on <f>ⓠ</f>level ground; </t><t>in <f>ⓡ</f>the great assembly I will bless the LORD. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The LORD is my <f>ⓐ</f>light and my <f>ⓑ</f>salvation; </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>whom shall I fear? </t><t>The LORD is the stronghold <f>[1]</f> of my life; </t><t>of whom shall I be afraid? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>When evildoers assail me </t><t>to <f>ⓓ</f>eat up my flesh, </t><t>my adversaries and foes, </t><t>it is they who stumble and fall. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓔ</f> Though an army encamp against me, </t><t>my heart shall not fear; </t><t>though war arise against me, </t><t>yet <f>[2]</f> I will be confident. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓕ</f> One thing have I asked of the LORD, </t><t>that will I seek after: </t><t>that I may <f>ⓖ</f>dwell in the house of the LORD </t><t>all the days of my life, </t><t>to gaze upon <f>ⓗ</f>the beauty of the LORD </t><t>and to inquire <f>[3]</f> in his temple. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>For he will <f>ⓘ</f>hide me in his shelter </t><t>in the day of trouble; </t><t>he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; </t><t>he will <f>ⓙ</f>lift me high upon a rock. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>And now my <f>ⓚ</f>head shall be lifted up </t><t>above my enemies all around me, </t><t>and I will offer in his tent </t><t>sacrifices with shouts of <f>ⓛ</f>joy; </t><t><f>ⓜ</f>I will sing and make melody to the LORD. </t>


text:
<t>You have said, <f>ⓞ</f>“Seek <f>[4]</f> my face.” </t><t>My heart says to you, </t><t>“Your face, LORD, do I seek.” <f>[5]</f></t>


text:
<t><f>ⓟ</f> Hide not your face from me. </t><t>Turn not your servant away in anger, </t><t>O you who have been my help. </t><t>Cast me not off; forsake me not, </t><t><f>ⓠ</f>O God of my salvation!</t>


text:
<t>For <f>ⓡ</f>my father and my mother have forsaken me, </t><t>but the LORD will <f>ⓢ</f>take me in. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓣ</f> Teach me your way, O LORD, </t><t>and lead me on <f>ⓤ</f>a level path </t><t>because of my enemies.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓥ</f> Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; </t><t>for <f>ⓦ</f>false witnesses have risen against me, </t><t>and they <f>ⓧ</f>breathe out violence. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>I believe that I shall look <f>[6]</f> upon <f>ⓨ</f>the goodness of the LORD </t><t>in <f>ⓩ</f>the land of the living!</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓐ</f> Wait for the LORD; </t><t><f>ⓑ</f>be strong, and let your heart take courage; </t><t>wait for the LORD! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>To you, O LORD, I call; </t><t><f>ⓐ</f>my rock, be not deaf to me, </t><t>lest, if you <f>ⓑ</f>be silent to me, </t><t>I become like those who <f>ⓒ</f>go down to the pit.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, </t><t>when I cry to you for help, </t><t>when I <f>ⓔ</f>lift up my hands </t><t><f>ⓕ</f>toward your most holy sanctuary. <f>[1]</f> </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Do not <f>ⓖ</f>drag me off with the wicked, </t><t>with the workers of evil, </t><t><f>ⓗ</f>who speak peace with their neighbors </t><t>while evil is in their hearts.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓘ</f> Give to them according to their work </t><t>and according to the evil of their deeds; </t><t>give to them according to the work of their hands; </t><t><f>ⓙ</f>render them their due reward.</t>


text:
<t>Because they <f>ⓚ</f>do not regard the works of the LORD </t><t>or the work of his hands, </t><t>he will tear them down and build them up no more. </t>


text:
<t>The LORD is my strength and <f>ⓜ</f>my shield; </t><t>in him my heart <f>ⓝ</f>trusts, and I am helped; </t><t>my heart exults, </t><t>and with my <f>ⓞ</f>song I give thanks to him. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The LORD is the strength of his people; <f>[2]</f> </t><t>he is <f>ⓟ</f>the saving refuge of his anointed.</t>


text:
<t>Oh, save your people and bless <f>ⓠ</f>your heritage! </t><t><f>ⓡ</f>Be their shepherd and <f>ⓢ</f>carry them forever. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, <f>[1]</f> </t><t><f>ⓐ</f>ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.</t>


text:
<t>Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; </t><t>worship the LORD in <f>ⓑ</f>the splendor of holiness. <f>[2]</f> </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The voice of the LORD is over <f>ⓒ</f>the waters; </t><t>the God of glory <f>ⓓ</f>thunders, </t><t>the LORD, over many waters.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars; </t><t>the LORD breaks <f>ⓕ</f>the cedars of Lebanon.</t>


text:
<t>He makes Lebanon to <f>ⓖ</f>skip like a calf, </t><t>and <f>ⓗ</f>Sirion like a young <f>ⓘ</f>wild ox. </t>


text:
<t>The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; </t><t>the LORD shakes the wilderness of <f>ⓙ</f>Kadesh. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The voice of the LORD makes <f>ⓚ</f>the deer give birth <f>[3]</f> </t><t>and strips the forests bare, </t><t>and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The LORD sits enthroned over <f>ⓛ</f>the flood; </t><t>the LORD sits enthroned <f>ⓜ</f>as king forever.</t>


text:
<t>May the LORD give <f>ⓝ</f>strength to his people! </t><t>May the LORD bless <f>[4]</f> his people with <f>ⓞ</f>peace! </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> I will <f>ⓑ</f>extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up </t><t>and have not let my foes <f>ⓒ</f>rejoice over me.</t>


text:
<t>O LORD, you have brought up my soul from <f>ⓕ</f>Sheol; </t><t>you restored me to life from among those who <f>ⓖ</f>go down to the pit. <f>[1]</f> </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Sing praises to the LORD, O you <f>ⓗ</f>his saints, </t><t>and <f>ⓘ</f>give thanks to his holy name. <f>[2]</f></t>


text:
<t><f>ⓙ</f> For his anger is but for a moment, </t><t>and <f>ⓚ</f>his favor is for a lifetime. <f>[3]</f> </t><t><f>ⓛ</f>Weeping may tarry for the night, </t><t>but <f>ⓜ</f>joy comes with the morning. </t>


text:
<t>By your favor, O LORD, </t><t>you made my <f>ⓟ</f>mountain stand strong; </t><t>you <f>ⓠ</f>hid your face; </t><t>I was <f>ⓡ</f>dismayed. </t>


text:
<t>“What profit is there in my death, <f>[4]</f> </t><t>if I go down to the pit? <f>[5]</f> </t><t>Will <f>ⓣ</f>the dust praise you? </t><t>Will it tell of your faithfulness?</t>


text:
<pb/><t>You have turned for me my mourning into <f>ⓥ</f>dancing; </t><t>you have loosed my sackcloth </t><t>and clothed me with gladness,</t>


text:
<t>that my <f>ⓦ</f>glory may sing your praise and not be silent. </t><t>O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever! </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> In you, O LORD, do I <f>ⓑ</f>take refuge; </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>let me never be put to shame; </t><t>in your <f>ⓓ</f>righteousness deliver me!</t>


text:
<t>Incline your ear to me; </t><t>rescue me speedily! </t><t>Be <f>ⓔ</f>a rock of <f>ⓕ</f>refuge for me, </t><t>a strong fortress to save me! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>For you are my rock and my fortress; </t><t>and for your <f>ⓖ</f>name's sake you lead me and guide me;</t>


text:
<t>you <f>ⓗ</f>take me out of <f>ⓘ</f>the net they have hidden for me, </t><t>for you are my <f>ⓙ</f>refuge.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓚ</f> Into your hand I commit my spirit; </t><t>you have redeemed me, O LORD, <f>ⓛ</f>faithful God. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>I <f>ⓜ</f>hate <f>[1]</f> those who pay <f>ⓝ</f>regard to worthless <f>ⓞ</f>idols, </t><t>but I trust in the LORD.</t>


text:
<t>I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, </t><t>because you have seen my affliction; </t><t>you have <f>ⓟ</f>known the distress of my soul,</t>


text:
<t>and you have not <f>ⓠ</f>delivered me into the hand of the enemy; </t><t>you have set my feet in <f>ⓡ</f>a broad place. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am <f>ⓢ</f>in distress; </t><t><f>ⓣ</f>my eye is wasted from grief; </t><t>my soul and my body also.</t>


text:
<t>For my life is spent with sorrow, </t><t>and my years with sighing; </t><t>my strength fails because of my iniquity, </t><t>and <f>ⓤ</f>my bones waste away. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Because of all my adversaries I have become <f>ⓥ</f>a reproach, </t><t>especially to my <f>ⓦ</f>neighbors, </t><t>and an object of dread to my acquaintances; </t><t>those who see me in the street <f>ⓧ</f>flee from me.</t>


text:
<t>I have been <f>ⓨ</f>forgotten like one who is dead; </t><t>I have become like <f>ⓩ</f>a broken vessel.</t>


text:
<t>For I <f>ⓐ</f>hear the whispering of many — </t><t>terror on every side! — </t><t><f>ⓑ</f>as they scheme together against me, </t><t>as they plot to take my life. </t>


text:
<t>My <f>ⓓ</f>times are in your hand; </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!</t>


text:
<t>O LORD, <f>ⓖ</f>let me not be put to shame, </t><t>for I call upon you; </t><t>let the wicked be put to shame; </t><t>let them go <f>ⓗ</f>silently to Sheol.</t>


text:
<t>Let the lying lips be mute, </t><t>which <f>ⓘ</f>speak <f>ⓙ</f>insolently against the righteous </t><t>in pride and contempt. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Oh, how abundant is your goodness, </t><t>which you have stored up for those who fear you </t><t>and worked for those who take refuge in you, </t><t><f>ⓚ</f>in the sight of the children of mankind!</t>


text:
<t>In <f>ⓛ</f>the cover of your presence you hide them </t><t>from the plots of men; </t><t>you <f>ⓜ</f>store them in your shelter </t><t>from the strife of tongues. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Blessed be the LORD, </t><t>for he has wondrously <f>ⓝ</f>shown his steadfast love to me </t><t>when I was in <f>ⓞ</f>a besieged city.</t>


text:
<t>I had said in my <f>ⓟ</f>alarm, <f>[2]</f> </t><t>“I am <f>ⓠ</f>cut off from <f>ⓡ</f>your sight.” </t><t>But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy </t><t>when I cried to you for help. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Love the LORD, all you his <f>ⓢ</f>saints! </t><t>The LORD preserves the faithful </t><t>but abundantly <f>ⓣ</f>repays the one who acts in pride.</t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <pb/><t> <f>ⓐ</f> Blessed is the one whose <f>ⓑ</f>transgression is forgiven, </t><t>whose sin is covered.</t>


text:
<t>Blessed is the man against whom the LORD <f>ⓒ</f>counts no iniquity, </t><t>and in whose spirit <f>ⓓ</f>there is no deceit. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>For when I kept silent, my <f>ⓔ</f>bones wasted away </t><t>through my <f>ⓕ</f>groaning all day long.</t>


text:
<t>For day and night your <f>ⓖ</f>hand was heavy upon me; </t><t>my strength was dried up <f>[2]</f> as by the heat of summer. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t>I <f>ⓗ</f>acknowledged my sin to you, </t><t>and I did not cover my iniquity; </t><t>I said, “I <f>ⓘ</f>will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” </t><t>and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t>Therefore let everyone who is <f>ⓙ</f>godly </t><t>offer prayer to you at a time when you <f>ⓚ</f>may be found; </t><t>surely in the rush of <f>ⓛ</f>great waters, </t><t>they shall not reach him.</t>


text:
<t>You are a <f>ⓜ</f>hiding place for me; </t><t>you preserve me from <f>ⓝ</f>trouble; </t><t>you surround me with <f>ⓞ</f>shouts of deliverance. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t>I will <f>ⓟ</f>instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; </t><t>I will <f>ⓠ</f>counsel you with my eye upon you.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓡ</f> Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, </t><t>which must be curbed with <f>ⓢ</f>bit and bridle, </t><t>or it will not stay near you. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓣ</f> Many are the sorrows of the wicked, </t><t>but steadfast love surrounds the one who <f>ⓤ</f>trusts in the LORD.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓥ</f> Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, </t><t>and <f>ⓦ</f>shout for joy, all you <f>ⓧ</f>upright in heart! </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> Shout for joy in the LORD, O you righteous! </t><t><f>ⓑ</f>Praise befits the upright.</t>


text:
<t>Give thanks to the LORD with the <f>ⓒ</f>lyre; </t><t>make melody to him with <f>ⓓ</f>the harp of <f>ⓔ</f>ten strings!</t>


text:
<pb/><t>For the word of the LORD is upright, </t><t>and all his work is done in <f>ⓖ</f>faithfulness.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓗ</f>loves righteousness and justice; </t><t><f>ⓘ</f>the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>By <f>ⓙ</f>the word of the LORD the heavens were made, </t><t>and by <f>ⓚ</f>the breath of his mouth all <f>ⓛ</f>their host.</t>


text:
<t>He gathers the waters of the sea as <f>ⓜ</f>a heap; </t><t>he <f>ⓝ</f>puts the deeps in storehouses. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Let all the earth fear the LORD; </t><t>let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!</t>


text:
<pb/><t>The LORD <f>ⓟ</f>brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; </t><t>he frustrates the plans of the peoples.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓠ</f> The counsel of the LORD stands forever, </t><t>the plans of his heart to all generations.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓡ</f> Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, </t><t>the people whom he has <f>ⓢ</f>chosen as his heritage! </t>


text:
<t>from <f>ⓤ</f>where he sits enthroned he <f>ⓥ</f>looks out </t><t>on all the inhabitants of the earth,</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓦ</f> The king is not saved by his great army; </t><t>a warrior is not delivered by his great strength.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓧ</f> The war horse is a false hope for salvation, </t><t>and by its great might it cannot rescue. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Behold, <f>ⓨ</f>the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, </t><t><f>ⓩ</f>on those who hope in his steadfast love,</t>


text:
<t>that he may <f>ⓐ</f>deliver their soul from death </t><t>and keep them alive in <f>ⓑ</f>famine. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Our soul <f>ⓒ</f>waits for the LORD; </t><t>he is our <f>ⓓ</f>help and <f>ⓔ</f>our shield.</t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> <pb/><t>I will bless the LORD <f>ⓒ</f>at all times; </t><t>his praise shall continually be in my mouth.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>I <f>ⓖ</f>sought the LORD, and he answered me </t><t>and delivered me from all my fears.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓘ</f> This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him </t><t>and <f>ⓙ</f>saved him out of all his troubles.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓚ</f> The angel of the LORD <f>ⓛ</f>encamps </t><t>around those who fear him, and delivers them. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Oh, <f>ⓜ</f>taste and see that <f>ⓝ</f>the LORD is good! </t><t><f>ⓞ</f>Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓟ</f> The young lions suffer want and hunger; </t><t>but those who <f>ⓠ</f>seek the LORD lack no good thing. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓡ</f> Come, O children, listen to me; </t><t><f>ⓢ</f>I will teach you the fear of the LORD.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> What man is there who desires life </t><t>and loves many days, that he may <f>ⓤ</f>see good?</t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓩ</f> The eyes of the LORD are toward the righteous </t><t><f>ⓐ</f>and his ears toward their cry.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓑ</f> The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, </t><t>to <f>ⓒ</f>cut off the memory of them from the earth.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears </t><t>and delivers them out of all their troubles.</t>


text:
<t>The LORD is near to <f>ⓔ</f>the brokenhearted </t><t>and saves <f>ⓕ</f>the crushed in spirit. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓖ</f> Many are the afflictions of the righteous, </t><t><f>ⓗ</f>but the LORD delivers him out of them all.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓙ</f> Affliction will slay the wicked, </t><t>and those who hate the righteous will be condemned.</t>


text:
<t>The LORD <f>ⓚ</f>redeems the life of his servants; </t><t>none of those who take refuge in him will be <f>ⓛ</f>condemned. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Contend, O LORD, with those who <f>ⓐ</f>contend with me; </t><t><f>ⓑ</f>fight against those who fight against me!</t>


text:
<t>Draw the spear and javelin <f>[1]</f> </t><t>against my pursuers! </t><t>Say to my soul, </t><t>“I am your salvation!” </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓓ</f> Let them be <f>ⓔ</f>put to shame and dishonor </t><t>who seek after my life! </t><t>Let them be <f>ⓕ</f>turned back and disappointed </t><t>who devise evil against me!</t>


text:
<t>Let them be like <f>ⓖ</f>chaff before the wind, </t><t>with the angel of the LORD driving them away!</t>


text:
<t>Let their way be dark and <f>ⓗ</f>slippery, </t><t>with the angel of the LORD pursuing them! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>For <f>ⓘ</f>without cause <f>ⓙ</f>they hid their net for me; </t><t>without cause they dug <f>ⓚ</f>a pit for my life. <f>[2]</f></t>


text:
<t>Let <f>ⓛ</f>destruction come upon him <f>ⓜ</f>when he does not know it! </t><t>And let the net that he hid ensnare him; </t><t>let him fall into it — to his destruction! </t>


text:
<t>All my <f>ⓞ</f>bones shall say, </t><t>“O LORD, <f>ⓟ</f>who is like you, </t><t>delivering the poor </t><t>from him who is too strong for him, </t><t>the poor and needy from him who robs him?” </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓠ</f> Malicious <f>[3]</f> witnesses rise up; </t><t>they ask me of things that I do not know.</t>


text:
<t>But I, <f>ⓢ</f>when they were sick — </t><t>I <f>ⓣ</f>wore sackcloth; </t><t>I <f>ⓤ</f>afflicted myself with fasting; </t><t>I prayed <f>ⓥ</f>with head bowed <f>[5]</f> on my chest.</t>


text:
<t>I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; </t><t>as one who laments his mother, </t><t>I <f>ⓦ</f>bowed down in mourning. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; </t><t>they gathered together against me; </t><t><f>ⓧ</f>wretches whom I did not know </t><t>tore at me without ceasing;</t>


text:
<t>like profane mockers at a feast, <f>[6]</f> </t><t>they <f>ⓨ</f>gnash at me with their teeth. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>How long, O Lord, will you <f>ⓩ</f>look on? </t><t>Rescue me from their destruction, </t><t><f>ⓐ</f>my precious life from the lions!</t>


text:
<t>I will thank you in <f>ⓑ</f>the great congregation; </t><t>in the mighty throng I will praise you. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓒ</f> Let not those rejoice over me </t><t>who are <f>ⓓ</f>wrongfully my foes, </t><t>and let not those <f>ⓔ</f>wink the eye </t><t>who <f>ⓕ</f>hate me <f>ⓖ</f>without cause.</t>


text:
<t>For they do not speak peace, </t><t>but against those who are quiet in the land </t><t>they devise words of deceit.</t>


text:
<t>They <f>ⓗ</f>open wide their mouths against me; </t><t>they say, <f>ⓘ</f>“Aha, Aha! </t><t>Our eyes have seen it!” </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓙ</f> You have seen, O LORD; <f>ⓚ</f>be not silent! </t><t>O Lord, <f>ⓛ</f>be not far from me!</t>


text:
<t>Awake and <f>ⓜ</f>rouse yourself for <f>ⓝ</f>my vindication, </t><t>for my cause, my God and my Lord!</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓞ</f> Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, </t><t>according to your righteousness, </t><t>and <f>ⓟ</f>let them not rejoice over me!</t>


text:
<t>Let them not say in their hearts, </t><t><f>ⓠ</f>“Aha, our heart's desire!” </t><t>Let them not say, <f>ⓡ</f>“We have swallowed him up.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Let them be <f>ⓢ</f>put to shame and disappointed altogether </t><t>who rejoice at my calamity! </t><t>Let them be <f>ⓣ</f>clothed with shame and dishonor </t><t>who <f>ⓤ</f>magnify themselves against me! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Let those who delight in my righteousness </t><t>shout for joy and be glad </t><t><f>ⓥ</f>and say evermore, </t><t><f>ⓦ</f>“Great is the LORD, </t><t>who <f>ⓧ</f>delights in the welfare of his servant!”</t>


text:
<t>Then my <f>ⓨ</f>tongue shall tell of your righteousness </t><t>and of your praise all the day long. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> Transgression speaks to the wicked </t><t>deep in his heart; <f>[1]</f> </t><t><f>ⓑ</f>there is no fear of God </t><t>before his eyes.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓒ</f> For he flatters himself in his own eyes </t><t>that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.</t>


text:
<t>The words of his mouth are <f>ⓓ</f>trouble and deceit; </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>he has ceased to act wisely and do good.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓕ</f>plots <f>ⓖ</f>trouble while on his bed; </t><t>he sets himself in <f>ⓗ</f>a way that is not good; </t><t><f>ⓘ</f>he does not reject evil. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, </t><t>your faithfulness to the clouds.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓙ</f> Your righteousness is like the mountains of God; </t><t><f>ⓚ</f>your judgments are like the great deep; </t><t>man and beast you <f>ⓛ</f>save, O LORD. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓜ</f> How precious is your steadfast love, O God! </t><t>The children of mankind take refuge <f>ⓝ</f>in the shadow of your wings.</t>


text:
<t>They feast on <f>ⓞ</f>the abundance of your house, </t><t>and you give them drink from <f>ⓟ</f>the river of <f>ⓠ</f>your delights.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>Oh, continue your steadfast love to those who <f>ⓣ</f>know you, </t><t>and your righteousness to <f>ⓤ</f>the upright of heart!</t>


text:
<t>There <f>ⓥ</f>the evildoers lie fallen; </t><t>they are thrust down, <f>ⓦ</f>unable to rise. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <pb/><t> <f>ⓐ</f> Fret not yourself because of evildoers; </t><t>be not <f>ⓑ</f>envious of wrongdoers!</t>


text:
<t>For they will soon <f>ⓒ</f>fade like <f>ⓓ</f>the grass </t><t>and wither <f>ⓔ</f>like the green herb. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓕ</f> Trust in the LORD, and do good; </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. <f>[2]</f></t>


text:
<t><f>ⓗ</f> Delight yourself in the LORD, </t><t>and he will <f>ⓘ</f>give you the desires of your heart. </t>


text:
<t><f>ⓛ</f> He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, </t><t>and your justice as <f>ⓜ</f>the noonday. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓝ</f> Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; </t><t><f>ⓞ</f>fret not yourself over the one who <f>ⓟ</f>prospers in his way, </t><t>over the man who carries out evil devices! </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓠ</f> Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! </t><t><f>ⓡ</f>Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓢ</f> For the evildoers shall be cut off, </t><t>but those who wait for the LORD shall <f>ⓣ</f>inherit the land. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>In <f>ⓤ</f>just a little while, the wicked will be no more; </t><t>though you look carefully at <f>ⓥ</f>his place, he will not be there.</t>


text:
<t>But <f>ⓦ</f>the meek shall inherit the land </t><t>and delight themselves in <f>ⓧ</f>abundant peace. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The wicked <f>ⓨ</f>plots against the righteous </t><t>and <f>ⓩ</f>gnashes his teeth at him,</t>


text:
<t>but the Lord <f>ⓐ</f>laughs at the wicked, </t><t>for he sees that his <f>ⓑ</f>day is coming. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The wicked draw the sword and <f>ⓒ</f>bend their bows </t><t>to bring down the poor and needy, </t><t>to slay those whose <f>ⓓ</f>way is upright;</t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓕ</f> Better is the little that the righteous has </t><t>than the abundance of many wicked.</t>


text:
<t>For <f>ⓖ</f>the arms of the wicked shall be broken, </t><t>but the LORD <f>ⓗ</f>upholds the righteous. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The LORD <f>ⓘ</f>knows the days of the blameless, </t><t>and their <f>ⓙ</f>heritage will remain forever;</t>


text:
<t>they are not put to shame in evil times; </t><t>in <f>ⓚ</f>the days of famine they have abundance. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But the wicked will perish; </t><t>the enemies of the LORD are like <f>ⓛ</f>the glory of the pastures; </t><t>they vanish — like <f>ⓜ</f>smoke they vanish away. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The wicked borrows but does not pay back, </t><t>but the righteous <f>ⓝ</f>is generous and gives;</t>


text:
<t>for those blessed by the LORD <f>[3]</f> shall <f>ⓞ</f>inherit the land, </t><t>but those cursed by him <f>ⓟ</f>shall be cut off. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The <f>ⓠ</f>steps of a man are <f>ⓡ</f>established by the LORD, </t><t>when he delights in his way;</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓢ</f> though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, </t><t>for the LORD <f>ⓣ</f>upholds his hand. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>I have been young, and now am old, </t><t>yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken </t><t>or his children <f>ⓤ</f>begging for bread.</t>


text:
<t>For the LORD <f>ⓨ</f>loves justice; </t><t>he will not forsake his <f>ⓩ</f>saints. </t><t>They are preserved forever, </t><t>but the children of the wicked shall be <f>ⓐ</f>cut off.</t>


text:
<t>The LORD will not <f>ⓕ</f>abandon him to his power </t><t>or let him <f>ⓖ</f>be condemned when he is brought to trial. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓗ</f> Wait for the LORD and keep his way, </t><t>and he will exalt you to inherit the land; </t><t>you will look on <f>ⓘ</f>when the wicked are cut off. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓙ</f> I have seen a wicked, ruthless man, </t><t>spreading himself like <f>ⓚ</f>a green laurel tree. <f>[4]</f></t>


text:
<t>But he passed away, <f>[5]</f> and behold, <f>ⓛ</f>he was no more; </t><t>though I sought him, he could not be found. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Mark the blameless and behold the upright, </t><t>for there is a future for the man of <f>ⓜ</f>peace.</t>


text:
<t>But <f>ⓝ</f>transgressors shall be altogether destroyed; </t><t>the future of the wicked <f>ⓞ</f>shall be cut off. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓟ</f> The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; </t><t>he is their stronghold in <f>ⓠ</f>the time of trouble.</t>


text:
<t>The LORD helps them and <f>ⓡ</f>delivers them; </t><t><f>ⓢ</f>he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, </t><t>because they <f>ⓣ</f>take refuge in him. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> O LORD, <f>ⓑ</f>rebuke me not in your anger, </t><t>nor discipline me in your wrath!</t>


text:
<t>For your <f>ⓒ</f>arrows have sunk into me, </t><t>and your hand <f>ⓓ</f>has come down on me. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>There is <f>ⓔ</f>no soundness in my flesh </t><t>because of your indignation; </t><t>there is no health in my <f>ⓕ</f>bones </t><t>because of my sin.</t>


text:
<t>For my <f>ⓖ</f>iniquities have gone over my head; </t><t>like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. </t>


text:
<t>I am <f>ⓗ</f>utterly bowed down and <f>ⓘ</f>prostrate; </t><t>all the day I <f>ⓙ</f>go about mourning.</t>


text:
<t>My heart throbs; my strength fails me, </t><t>and <f>ⓝ</f>the light of my eyes — it also has gone from me.</t>


text:
<t>My <f>ⓞ</f>friends and companions <f>ⓟ</f>stand aloof from my <f>ⓠ</f>plague, </t><t>and my nearest kin <f>ⓡ</f>stand far off. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Those who seek my life <f>ⓢ</f>lay their snares; </t><t>those who seek my hurt <f>ⓣ</f>speak of ruin </t><t>and meditate <f>ⓤ</f>treachery all day long. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear, </t><t>like <f>ⓥ</f>a mute man who does not open his mouth.</t>


text:
<t>I have become like a man who does not hear, </t><t>and in whose mouth are no <f>ⓦ</f>rebukes. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But for <f>ⓧ</f>you, O LORD, do I wait; </t><t>it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.</t>


text:
<t>For I said, “Only <f>ⓨ</f>let them not rejoice over me, </t><t>who <f>ⓩ</f>boast against me when my <f>ⓐ</f>foot slips!” </t>


text:
<t>But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty, </t><t>and many are those who hate me <f>ⓔ</f>wrongfully.</t>


text:
<t>Those who <f>ⓕ</f>render me evil for good </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>accuse me because I <f>ⓗ</f>follow after good. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> I said, “I will <f>ⓑ</f>guard my ways, </t><t>that I <f>ⓒ</f>may not sin with my tongue; </t><t>I will <f>ⓓ</f>guard my mouth with a muzzle, </t><t>so long as the wicked are in my presence.”</t>


text:
<t>I was <f>ⓔ</f>mute and silent; </t><t>I held my peace to no avail, </t><t>and my distress grew worse.</t>


text:
<t>My <f>ⓕ</f>heart became hot within me. </t><t>As I mused, the fire burned; </t><t>then I spoke with my tongue: </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“O LORD, <f>ⓖ</f>make me know my end </t><t>and what is the measure of my days; </t><t>let me know how fleeting I am!</t>


text:
<t>Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, </t><t>and <f>ⓗ</f>my lifetime is as nothing before you. </t><t>Surely <f>ⓘ</f>all mankind stands as a mere breath! <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>Surely a man <f>ⓙ</f>goes about as a shadow! </t><t>Surely for nothing <f>[1]</f> they are in turmoil; </t><t>man <f>ⓚ</f>heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! </t>


text:
<t>When you discipline a man </t><t>with <f>ⓠ</f>rebukes for sin, </t><t>you <f>ⓡ</f>consume like a <f>ⓢ</f>moth what is dear to him; </t><t><f>ⓣ</f>surely all mankind is a mere breath! <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓤ</f> “Hear my prayer, O LORD, </t><t>and give ear to my cry; </t><t>hold not your peace at my tears! </t><t>For I am <f>ⓥ</f>a sojourner with you, </t><t><f>ⓦ</f>a guest, like all my fathers.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓧ</f> Look away from me, that I may smile again, </t><t><f>ⓨ</f>before I depart and <f>ⓩ</f>am no more!” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>I <f>ⓐ</f>waited patiently for the LORD; </t><t>he inclined to me and <f>ⓑ</f>heard my cry.</t>


text:
<t>He drew me up from <f>ⓒ</f>the pit of destruction, </t><t>out of <f>ⓓ</f>the miry bog, </t><t>and <f>ⓔ</f>set my feet upon a rock, </t><t><f>ⓕ</f>making my steps secure.</t>


text:
<t>He put <f>ⓖ</f>a new song in my mouth, </t><t>a song of praise to our God. </t><t>Many will <f>ⓗ</f>see and fear, </t><t>and put their trust in the LORD. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Blessed is the man who <f>ⓘ</f>makes </t><t>the LORD his trust, </t><t>who does not turn to the proud, </t><t>to those who <f>ⓙ</f>go astray after a lie!</t>


text:
<t>You have multiplied, O LORD my God, </t><t>your <f>ⓚ</f>wondrous deeds and your <f>ⓛ</f>thoughts toward us; </t><t>none can compare with you! </t><t>I will proclaim and tell of them, </t><t>yet they are <f>ⓜ</f>more than can be told. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓝ</f> In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted, </t><t>but you have given me an open <f>ⓞ</f>ear. <f>[1]</f> </t><t>Burnt offering and sin offering </t><t>you have not required.</t>


text:
<t>Then I said, “Behold, I have come; </t><t>in the scroll of the book it is written <f>ⓟ</f>of me:</t>


text:
<pb/><t>I have told the glad news of deliverance <f>[2]</f> </t><t>in <f>ⓢ</f>the great congregation; </t><t>behold, I have not <f>ⓣ</f>restrained my lips, </t><t><f>ⓤ</f>as you know, O LORD.</t>


text:
<t>I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart; </t><t>I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; </t><t>I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness </t><t>from the great congregation. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain </t><t>your mercy from me; </t><t>your <f>ⓥ</f>steadfast love and your faithfulness will </t><t>ever preserve me!</t>


text:
<t>For evils have <f>ⓦ</f>encompassed me </t><t>beyond number; </t><t>my <f>ⓧ</f>iniquities have overtaken me, </t><t>and I cannot <f>ⓨ</f>see; </t><t>they are <f>ⓩ</f>more than the hairs of my head; </t><t>my heart <f>ⓐ</f>fails me. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓑ</f> Be pleased, O LORD, to <f>ⓒ</f>deliver me! </t><t>O LORD, <f>ⓓ</f>make haste to help me!</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓔ</f> Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether </t><t>who seek to snatch away my life; </t><t>let those be <f>ⓕ</f>turned back and brought to dishonor </t><t>who delight in my hurt!</t>


text:
<pb/><t>But may all who seek you </t><t>rejoice and be glad in you; </t><t>may those who love your salvation </t><t><f>ⓗ</f>say continually, “Great is the LORD!”</t>


text:
<t>As for me, I am <f>ⓘ</f>poor and needy, </t><t>but <f>ⓙ</f>the Lord takes thought for me. </t><t>You are my help and my deliverer; </t><t>do not delay, O my God! </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> Blessed is the one who considers the poor! <f>[1]</f> </t><t><f>ⓑ</f>In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;</t>


text:
<t>the LORD protects him and keeps him alive; </t><t>he is called blessed in the land; </t><t>you <f>ⓒ</f>do not give him up to the will of his enemies.</t>


text:
<t>The LORD sustains him on his sickbed; </t><t>in his illness you restore him to full health. <f>[2]</f> </t>


text:
<pb/><t>As for me, I said, “O LORD, <f>ⓓ</f>be gracious to me; </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>heal me, <f>[3]</f> for I have sinned against you!”</t>


text:
<t>And when one comes to see me, <f>ⓕ</f>he utters empty words, </t><t>while his heart gathers iniquity; </t><t>when he goes out, he tells it abroad.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>They say, “A deadly thing is poured out <f>[5]</f> on him; </t><t>he will not rise again from where he lies.”</t>


text:
<t>Even my <f>ⓖ</f>close friend in whom I trusted, </t><t>who <f>ⓗ</f>ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>By this I know that <f>ⓘ</f>you delight in me: </t><t>my enemy will not shout in triumph over me.</t>


text:
<t>But <f>ⓙ</f>you have upheld me because of <f>ⓚ</f>my integrity, </t><t>and <f>ⓛ</f>set me in your presence <f>ⓜ</f>forever. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓝ</f> Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, </t><t>from everlasting to everlasting! <pb/>Amen and Amen. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <pb/><t><f>ⓑ</f> As a deer pants for flowing streams, </t><t>so pants my soul for you, O God.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓒ</f> My soul thirsts for God, </t><t>for <f>ⓓ</f>the living God. </t><t>When shall I come and <f>ⓔ</f>appear before God? <f>[2]</f></t>


text:
<t><f>ⓕ</f> My tears have been my food </t><t>day and night, </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>while they say to me all the day long, </t><t>“Where is your God?”</t>


text:
<t>These things I remember, </t><t>as I <f>ⓗ</f>pour out my soul: </t><t><f>ⓘ</f>how I would go <f>ⓙ</f>with the throng </t><t>and lead them in procession to the house of God </t><t>with glad shouts and songs of praise, </t><t><f>ⓚ</f>a multitude keeping festival. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓛ</f> Why are you cast down, O my soul, </t><t>and why are you <f>ⓜ</f>in turmoil within me? </t><t><f>ⓝ</f>Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, </t><t>my salvation <f>[3]</f> </t>


text:
<t>and my God. </t> <pb/><t>My soul is cast down within me; </t><t>therefore I <f>ⓞ</f>remember you </t><t><f>ⓟ</f>from the land of Jordan and of <f>ⓠ</f>Hermon, </t><t>from Mount Mizar.</t>


text:
<t>Deep calls to deep </t><t>at the roar of your waterfalls; </t><t><f>ⓡ</f>all your breakers and your <f>ⓢ</f>waves </t><t>have gone over me.</t>


text:
<t>By day the LORD <f>ⓣ</f>commands his steadfast love, </t><t>and at <f>ⓤ</f>night his song is with me, </t><t>a prayer to the God of my life.</t>


text:
<t>I say to God, <f>ⓥ</f>my rock: </t><t>“Why have you forgotten me? </t><t><f>ⓦ</f>Why do I go mourning </t><t>because of the oppression of the enemy?”</t>


text:
<t>As with a deadly wound in my bones, </t><t>my adversaries taunt me, </t><t><f>ⓧ</f>while they say to me all the day long, </t><t>“Where is your God?” </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓨ</f> Why are you cast down, O my soul, </t><t>and why are you in turmoil within me? </t><t>Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, </t><t>my salvation and my God. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> Vindicate me, O God, and <f>ⓑ</f>defend my cause </t><t>against an ungodly people, </t><t>from <f>ⓒ</f>the deceitful and unjust man </t><t>deliver me!</t>


text:
<t>For you are <f>ⓓ</f>the God in whom I take refuge; </t><t>why have you <f>ⓔ</f>rejected me? </t><t>Why do I <f>ⓕ</f>go about mourning </t><t>because of the oppression of the enemy? </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓖ</f> Send out your light and your truth; </t><t>let them lead me; </t><t>let them bring me to your <f>ⓗ</f>holy hill </t><t>and to your <f>ⓘ</f>dwelling!</t>


text:
<t>Then I will go to the altar of God, </t><t>to God my exceeding joy, </t><t>and I will praise you with the lyre, </t><t>O God, my God. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓙ</f> Why are you cast down, O my soul, </t><t>and why are you in turmoil within me? </t><t><f>ⓚ</f>Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, </t><t>my salvation and my God. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <pb/><t>O God, we have heard with our ears, </t><t><f>ⓑ</f>our fathers have told us, </t><t>what deeds you performed in their days, </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>in the days of old:</t>


text:
<t>you with your own hand <f>ⓓ</f>drove out the nations, </t><t>but <f>ⓔ</f>them you planted; </t><t>you afflicted the peoples, </t><t>but <f>ⓕ</f>them you set free;</t>


text:
<t>for not <f>ⓖ</f>by their own sword did they win the land, </t><t>nor did their own arm save them, </t><t>but your right hand and your arm, </t><t>and <f>ⓗ</f>the light of your face, </t><t><f>ⓘ</f>for you delighted in them. </t>


text:
<t>Through you we <f>ⓛ</f>push down our foes; </t><t>through your name we <f>ⓜ</f>tread down those who rise up against us.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓟ</f> In God we have boasted continually, </t><t>and we will give thanks to your name forever. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t>But you have <f>ⓠ</f>rejected us and disgraced us </t><t>and <f>ⓡ</f>have not gone out with our armies.</t>


text:
<t>You have made us <f>ⓢ</f>turn back from the foe, </t><t>and those who hate us have gotten spoil.</t>


text:
<t>You have made us like <f>ⓣ</f>sheep for slaughter </t><t>and have <f>ⓤ</f>scattered us among the nations.</t>


text:
<t>You have made us <f>ⓦ</f>the taunt of our neighbors, </t><t>the derision and <f>ⓧ</f>scorn of those around us.</t>


text:
<t>You have made us <f>ⓨ</f>a byword among the nations, </t><t><f>ⓩ</f>a laughingstock <f>[2]</f> among the peoples.</t>


text:
<t>at the sound of the taunter and reviler, </t><t>at the sight of <f>ⓑ</f>the enemy and the avenger. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓒ</f> All this has come upon us, </t><t>though we have not forgotten you, </t><t>and we have not been false to your covenant.</t>


text:
<t>Our heart has not turned back, </t><t>nor have our <f>ⓓ</f>steps <f>ⓔ</f>departed from your way;</t>


text:
<t>yet you have <f>ⓕ</f>broken us in the place of <f>ⓖ</f>jackals </t><t>and covered us with <f>ⓗ</f>the shadow of death.</t>


text:
<t>If we had forgotten the name of our God </t><t>or <f>ⓘ</f>spread out our hands to <f>ⓙ</f>a foreign god,</t>


text:
<t>Yet <f>ⓜ</f>for your sake we are killed all the day long; </t><t>we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓝ</f> Awake! Why are you sleeping, O Lord? </t><t>Rouse yourself! <f>ⓞ</f>Do not reject us forever!</t>


text:
<t>Rise up; <f>ⓡ</f>come to our help! </t><t><f>ⓢ</f>Redeem us for the sake of your steadfast love! </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <pb/><t>My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; </t><t>I address my verses to the king; </t><t>my tongue is like the pen of <f>ⓑ</f>a ready scribe. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>You are <f>ⓒ</f>the most handsome of the sons of men; </t><t><f>ⓓ</f>grace is poured upon your lips; </t><t>therefore God has blessed you forever.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓔ</f> Gird your <f>ⓕ</f>sword on your thigh, O <f>ⓖ</f>mighty one, </t><t>in <f>ⓗ</f>your splendor and majesty! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>In your majesty <f>ⓘ</f>ride out victoriously </t><t>for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; </t><t>let your right hand teach you <f>ⓙ</f>awesome deeds!</t>


text:
<t>Your arrows are sharp </t><t>in the heart of the king's enemies; </t><t>the peoples fall under you. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓚ</f> Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. </t><t>The <f>ⓛ</f>scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓜ</f> you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. </t><t>Therefore <f>ⓝ</f>God, your God, has <f>ⓞ</f>anointed you </t><t>with the oil of <f>ⓟ</f>gladness <f>ⓠ</f>beyond your companions;</t>


text:
<t>your robes are all fragrant with <f>ⓡ</f>myrrh and aloes and cassia. </t><t>From ivory palaces <f>ⓢ</f>stringed instruments make you glad;</t>


text:
<t>daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor; </t><t><f>ⓣ</f>at your right hand stands the queen in <f>ⓤ</f>gold of Ophir. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear: </t><t>forget your people and your father's house,</t>


text:
<t>and the king will desire your beauty. </t><t>Since he is your <f>ⓥ</f>lord, <f>ⓦ</f>bow to him.</t>


text:
<t>The people <f>[2]</f> of Tyre will <f>ⓧ</f>seek your favor with <f>ⓨ</f>gifts, </t><t><f>ⓩ</f>the richest of the people. <f>[3]</f> </t>


text:
<t><f>ⓑ</f> In many-colored robes <f>ⓒ</f>she is led to the king, </t><t>with her virgin companions following behind her.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>In place of your fathers shall be your sons; </t><t>you will make them <f>ⓓ</f>princes in all the earth.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓔ</f> I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations; </t><t>therefore nations will praise you forever and ever. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> <pb/><t>God is our <f>ⓒ</f>refuge and strength, </t><t>a very <f>ⓓ</f>present <f>[2]</f> help in <f>ⓔ</f>trouble.</t>


text:
<t>Therefore we will not fear <f>ⓕ</f>though the earth gives way, </t><t>though the mountains be moved into <f>ⓖ</f>the heart of the sea,</t>


text:
<t>though <f>ⓗ</f>its waters roar and foam, </t><t>though the mountains tremble at its swelling. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t>There is <f>ⓘ</f>a river whose streams make glad <f>ⓙ</f>the city of God, </t><t>the holy <f>ⓚ</f>habitation of the Most High.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓛ</f> God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; </t><t>God will help her when morning dawns.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓜ</f> The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; </t><t>he <f>ⓝ</f>utters his voice, the earth <f>ⓞ</f>melts.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓟ</f> The LORD of hosts is with us; </t><t>the God of Jacob is our fortress. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓠ</f> Come, behold the works of the LORD, </t><t>how he has brought desolations on the earth.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓡ</f> He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; </t><t>he <f>ⓢ</f>breaks the bow and shatters the spear; </t><t><f>ⓣ</f>he burns the chariots with fire.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓤ</f> “Be still, and know that I am God. </t><t><f>ⓥ</f>I will be exalted among the nations, </t><t>I will be exalted in the earth!”</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓦ</f> The LORD of hosts is with us; </t><t>the God of Jacob is our fortress. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> Clap your hands, all peoples! </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>Shout to God with loud songs of joy!</t>


text:
<t>For the LORD, the Most High, <f>ⓓ</f>is to be feared, </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>a great king over all the earth.</t>


text:
<t>He chose our <f>ⓖ</f>heritage for us, </t><t><f>ⓗ</f>the pride of Jacob whom he loves. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>For God is <f>ⓙ</f>the King of all the earth; </t><t>sing praises <f>ⓚ</f>with a psalm! <f>[1]</f> </t>


text:
<t><f>ⓜ</f> The princes of the peoples gather </t><t>as the people of the God of Abraham. </t><t>For <f>ⓝ</f>the shields of the earth belong to God; </t><t>he is highly exalted! </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> Great is the LORD and greatly to be praised </t><t>in <f>ⓒ</f>the city of our God! </t><t>His <f>ⓓ</f>holy mountain, </t>


text:
<t><f>ⓔ</f> beautiful in elevation, </t><t>is <f>ⓕ</f>the joy of all the earth, </t><t>Mount Zion, in the far north, </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>the city of the great King.</t>


text:
<t>As we have heard, so have we seen </t><t>in the city of the LORD of hosts, </t><t>in <f>ⓝ</f>the city of our God, </t><t>which God will <f>ⓞ</f>establish forever. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t>We have thought on your <f>ⓟ</f>steadfast love, O God, </t><t>in the midst of your temple.</t>


text:
<t>As your <f>ⓠ</f>name, O God, </t><t>so your praise reaches to <f>ⓡ</f>the ends of the earth. </t><t>Your right hand is filled with righteousness.</t>


text:
<t>Let Mount <f>ⓢ</f>Zion be glad! </t><t>Let <f>ⓣ</f>the daughters of Judah rejoice </t><t>because of your judgments! </t>


text:
<t>consider well her <f>ⓤ</f>ramparts, </t><t>go through her citadels, </t><t><f>ⓥ</f>that you may tell the next generation</t>


text:
<t>that this is God, </t><t>our God forever and ever. </t><t>He will <f>ⓦ</f>guide us forever. <f>[1]</f> </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> Hear this, all peoples! </t><t>Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,</t>


text:
<t>My mouth shall speak <f>ⓓ</f>wisdom; </t><t>the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.</t>


text:
<t>I will incline my ear to <f>ⓔ</f>a proverb; </t><t>I will solve my <f>ⓕ</f>riddle to the music of the lyre. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓖ</f> Why should I fear in <f>ⓗ</f>times of trouble, </t><t>when the iniquity of those who cheat me surrounds me,</t>


text:
<t>Truly no man <f>ⓙ</f>can ransom another, </t><t>or <f>ⓚ</f>give to God <f>ⓛ</f>the price of his life,</t>


text:
<pb/><t>For he sees <f>ⓞ</f>that even the wise die; </t><t><f>ⓟ</f>the fool and the stupid alike must perish </t><t>and <f>ⓠ</f>leave their wealth to others.</t>


text:
<t>Their <f>ⓡ</f>graves are their homes forever, <f>[1]</f> </t><t>their dwelling places <f>ⓢ</f>to all generations, </t><t>though they <f>ⓣ</f>called lands by their own names.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>This is the path of those who have <f>ⓦ</f>foolish confidence; </t><t>yet after them people approve of their boasts. <f>[2]</f> <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; </t><t>death shall be their shepherd, </t><t>and the upright <f>ⓧ</f>shall rule over them in the morning. </t><t><f>ⓨ</f>Their form shall be consumed <f>ⓩ</f>in Sheol, with no place to dwell.</t>


text:
<t>But God will <f>ⓐ</f>ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, </t><t>for he will <f>ⓑ</f>receive me. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t><f>ⓒ</f> For when he dies he will <f>ⓓ</f>carry nothing away; </t><t>his glory will not go down after him.</t>


text:
<t>For though, while he lives, he counts himself <f>ⓔ</f>blessed </t><t>— and though you get praise when you do well for yourself — </t>


text:
<t>his soul will <f>ⓕ</f>go to the generation of his fathers, </t><t>who will never again <f>ⓖ</f>see light.</t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> The Mighty One, God the LORD, </t><t>speaks and summons the earth </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>from the rising of the sun to its setting.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>Our God comes; he <f>ⓕ</f>does not keep silence; <f>[1]</f> </t><t>before him is a devouring <f>ⓖ</f>fire, </t><t>around him a mighty tempest.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓗ</f> He calls to the heavens above </t><t>and to the earth, that he may judge his people:</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓙ</f> The heavens declare his righteousness, </t><t>for <f>ⓚ</f>God himself is judge! <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓛ</f> “Hear, O my people, and I will speak; </t><t>O Israel, I will testify against you. </t><t><f>ⓜ</f>I am God, your God.</t>


text:
<t>Not for your sacrifices <f>ⓝ</f>do I rebuke you; </t><t>your burnt offerings are continually before me.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>“If I were hungry, I would not tell you, </t><t><f>ⓟ</f>for the world and its fullness are mine.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓠ</f> Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, <f>[2]</f> </t><t>and <f>ⓡ</f>perform your vows to the Most High,</t>


text:
<t>and <f>ⓢ</f>call upon me in the day of trouble; </t><t>I will <f>ⓣ</f>deliver you, and you shall <f>ⓤ</f>glorify me.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But to the wicked God says: </t><t>“What right have you to recite my statutes </t><t>or take my covenant on your lips?</t>


text:
<t>If you see a thief, <f>ⓧ</f>you are pleased with him, </t><t><f>ⓨ</f>and you keep company with adulterers. </t>


text:
<t>These things you have done, and I <f>ⓐ</f>have been silent; </t><t>you thought that I <f>[3]</f> was one like yourself. </t><t>But now I <f>ⓑ</f>rebuke you and <f>ⓒ</f>lay the charge before you. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>“Mark this, then, you who <f>ⓓ</f>forget God, </t><t>lest I tear you apart, and there be <f>ⓔ</f>none to deliver!</t>


text:
<t>The one who <f>ⓕ</f>offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; </t><t>to one who <f>ⓖ</f>orders his way rightly </t><t>I will show the <f>ⓗ</f>salvation of God!” </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> Have mercy on me, <f>[1]</f> O God, </t><t>according to your steadfast love; </t><t>according to your <f>ⓒ</f>abundant mercy </t><t><f>ⓓ</f>blot out my transgressions.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓗ</f> Against you, you only, have I sinned </t><t>and done what is evil <f>ⓘ</f>in your sight, </t><t><f>ⓙ</f>so that you may be justified in your words </t><t>and blameless in your judgment.</t>


text:
<t>Behold, <f>ⓚ</f>I was brought forth in iniquity, </t><t>and in sin did my mother conceive me.</t>


text:
<t>Behold, you delight in truth in <f>ⓛ</f>the inward being, </t><t>and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Purge me <f>ⓜ</f>with hyssop, and I shall be clean; </t><t><f>ⓝ</f>wash me, and I shall be <f>ⓞ</f>whiter than snow.</t>


text:
<t>Let me hear joy and gladness; </t><t><f>ⓟ</f>let the bones <f>ⓠ</f>that you have broken rejoice.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> Create in me a <f>ⓤ</f>clean heart, O God, </t><t>and <f>ⓥ</f>renew a right <f>[2]</f> spirit within me.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓦ</f> Cast me not away from your presence, </t><t>and take not <f>ⓧ</f>your Holy Spirit from me.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>Then I will teach transgressors your ways, </t><t>and sinners will <f>ⓨ</f>return to you.</t>


text:
<t>Deliver me from <f>ⓩ</f>bloodguiltiness, O God, </t><t>O <f>ⓐ</f>God of my salvation, </t><t>and <f>ⓑ</f>my tongue will sing aloud of your <f>ⓒ</f>righteousness.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; </t><t>you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.</t>


text:
<t>The sacrifices of God are <f>ⓔ</f>a broken spirit; </t><t>a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓕ</f> Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>build up the walls of Jerusalem;</t>


text:
<t>then will you delight in <f>ⓗ</f>right sacrifices, </t><t>in burnt offerings and <f>ⓘ</f>whole burnt offerings; </t><t>then bulls will be offered on your altar. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <pb/><t>Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? </t><t>The steadfast love of God endures all the day.</t>


text:
<t>Your <f>ⓑ</f>tongue plots destruction, </t><t>like <f>ⓒ</f>a sharp razor, you <f>ⓓ</f>worker of deceit.</t>


text:
<t>You love evil more than good, </t><t>and <f>ⓔ</f>lying more than speaking what is right. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t>But God will break you down forever; </t><t>he will snatch and <f>ⓕ</f>tear you from your tent; </t><t>he will uproot you from <f>ⓖ</f>the land of the living. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>“See the man who would not make </t><t>God his refuge, </t><t>but <f>ⓙ</f>trusted in the abundance of his riches </t><t>and sought refuge in his own destruction!” <f>[2]</f> </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But I am like <f>ⓚ</f>a green olive tree </t><t>in the house of God. </t><t>I trust in the steadfast love of God </t><t>forever and ever.</t>


text:
<t>I will thank you forever, </t><t>because you have done it. </t><t>I will wait for your name, <f>ⓛ</f>for it is good, </t><t>in the presence of the <f>ⓜ</f>godly. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <pb/><t><f>ⓑ</f> The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” </t><t>They are corrupt, doing abominable iniquity; </t><t>there is none who does good. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>God looks down from heaven </t><t>on the children of man </t><t>to see if there are any who understand, <f>[2]</f> </t><t>who seek after God. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>They have all fallen away; </t><t>together they have become corrupt; </t><t>there is none who does good, </t><t>not even one. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Have those who work evil no knowledge, </t><t>who eat up my people as they eat bread, </t><t>and do not call upon God? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>There they are, in great terror, </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>where there is no terror! </t><t>For God <f>ⓓ</f>scatters the bones of him who encamps against you; </t><t>you put them to shame, for God has rejected them. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! </t><t>When God restores the fortunes of his people, </t><t>let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> <pb/><t>O God, save me by your <f>ⓒ</f>name, </t><t>and vindicate me by your might.</t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓔ</f> For <f>ⓕ</f>strangers <f>[2]</f> have risen against me; </t><t>ruthless men <f>ⓖ</f>seek my life; </t><t>they do not set God before themselves. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>He will return the evil to my enemies; </t><t>in your <f>ⓘ</f>faithfulness <f>ⓙ</f>put an end to them. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; </t><t>I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, <f>ⓚ</f>for it is good.</t>


text:
<t>For he has delivered me from every trouble, </t><t>and my eye has <f>ⓛ</f>looked in triumph on my enemies. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <pb/><t><f>ⓑ</f> Give ear to my prayer, O God, </t><t>and hide not yourself from my plea for mercy!</t>


text:
<t>Attend to me, and answer me; </t><t>I am restless <f>ⓒ</f>in my complaint and I <f>ⓓ</f>moan,</t>


text:
<t>because of the noise of the enemy, </t><t>because of the oppression of the wicked. </t><t>For they <f>ⓔ</f>drop trouble upon me, </t><t>and in anger they bear a grudge against me. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>My heart is in anguish within me; </t><t><f>ⓕ</f>the terrors of death have fallen upon me.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓘ</f> yes, I would wander far away; </t><t>I would lodge in the wilderness; <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t>Destroy, O Lord, <f>ⓚ</f>divide their tongues; </t><t>for I see <f>ⓛ</f>violence and strife in the city.</t>


text:
<t>Day and night they go around it </t><t>on its walls, </t><t>and <f>ⓜ</f>iniquity and trouble are within it;</t>


text:
<t>ruin is in its midst; </t><t><f>ⓝ</f>oppression and fraud </t><t>do not depart from its marketplace. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>For it is not an enemy who taunts me — </t><t>then I could bear it; </t><t>it is not an adversary who <f>ⓞ</f>deals insolently with me — </t><t>then I could hide from him.</t>


text:
<t>We used to take sweet counsel together; </t><t>within God's house we walked in <f>ⓠ</f>the throng.</t>


text:
<t>Let death steal over them; </t><t>let them go down to Sheol <f>ⓡ</f>alive; </t><t>for evil is in their dwelling place and in their heart. </t>


text:
<t><f>ⓢ</f> Evening and <f>ⓣ</f>morning and at <f>ⓤ</f>noon </t><t>I <f>ⓥ</f>utter my complaint and moan, </t><t>and he hears my voice.</t>


text:
<t>He redeems my soul in safety </t><t>from the battle that I wage, </t><t>for <f>ⓦ</f>many are arrayed against me.</t>


text:
<t>God will give ear and humble them, </t><t>he who is <f>ⓧ</f>enthroned from of old, <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t><t>because they do not <f>ⓨ</f>change </t><t>and do not fear God. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>My companion <f>[2]</f> <f>ⓩ</f>stretched out his hand against his friends; </t><t>he violated his covenant.</t>


text:
<t>His <f>ⓐ</f>speech was <f>ⓑ</f>smooth as butter, </t><t>yet war was in his heart; </t><t>his words were softer than oil, </t><t>yet they were <f>ⓒ</f>drawn swords. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓓ</f> Cast your burden on the LORD, </t><t>and he will sustain you; </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>he will never permit </t><t>the righteous to be moved. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But you, O God, <f>ⓕ</f>will cast them down </t><t>into <f>ⓖ</f>the pit of destruction; </t><t>men of <f>ⓗ</f>blood and treachery </t><t>shall not <f>ⓘ</f>live out half their days. </t><t>But I will <f>ⓙ</f>trust in you. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> <pb/><t><f>ⓒ</f> Be gracious to me, O God, for man <f>ⓓ</f>tramples on me; </t><t>all day long an attacker oppresses me;</t>


text:
<t>In God, whose word I praise, </t><t>in God I trust; <f>ⓕ</f>I shall not be afraid. </t><t>What can flesh do to me? </t>


text:
<pb/><t>All day long they injure my cause; <f>[2]</f> </t><t>all their thoughts are against me for evil.</t>


text:
<t>They <f>ⓖ</f>stir up strife, they <f>ⓗ</f>lurk; </t><t>they <f>ⓘ</f>watch my steps, </t><t>as they have waited for my life.</t>


text:
<t>For their crime will they escape? </t><t><f>ⓙ</f>In wrath <f>ⓚ</f>cast down the peoples, O God! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>You have kept count of my tossings; <f>[3]</f> </t><t><f>ⓛ</f>put my tears in your bottle. </t><t><f>ⓜ</f>Are they not in your book?</t>


text:
<t>Then my enemies will turn back </t><t><f>ⓝ</f>in the day when I call. </t><t>This I know, that <f>[4]</f> <f>ⓞ</f>God is for me.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>I must perform my <f>ⓠ</f>vows to you, O God; </t><t>I will <f>ⓡ</f>render thank offerings to you.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓢ</f> For you have delivered my soul from death, </t><t>yes, my feet from falling, </t><t><f>ⓣ</f>that I may walk before God </t><t><f>ⓤ</f>in the light of life. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> <f>ⓒ</f> <pb/><t><f>ⓓ</f> Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, </t><t>for in you my soul <f>ⓔ</f>takes refuge; </t><t>in <f>ⓕ</f>the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>till the storms of destruction pass by.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓘ</f> He will send from heaven and save me; </t><t>he will put to shame <f>ⓙ</f>him who tramples on me. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t><t><f>ⓚ</f>God will send out <f>ⓛ</f>his steadfast love and his faithfulness! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>My soul is in the midst of <f>ⓜ</f>lions; </t><t>I lie down amid fiery beasts — </t><t>the children of man, whose <f>ⓝ</f>teeth are spears and arrows, </t><t>whose <f>ⓞ</f>tongues are sharp swords. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓟ</f> Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! </t><t>Let your glory be over all the earth! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>They set <f>ⓠ</f>a net for my steps; </t><t>my soul was <f>ⓡ</f>bowed down. </t><t>They <f>ⓢ</f>dug a pit in my way, </t><t>but they have fallen into it themselves. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> My heart is <f>ⓤ</f>steadfast, O God, </t><t>my heart is steadfast! </t><t>I will sing and make melody!</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓥ</f> Awake, <f>ⓦ</f>my glory! <f>[2]</f> </t><t>Awake, <f>ⓧ</f>O harp and lyre! </t><t>I will awake the dawn!</t>


text:
<t>I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; </t><t>I will sing praises to you among the nations.</t>


text:
<t>For your <f>ⓨ</f>steadfast love is great to the heavens, </t><t>your faithfulness to the clouds. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓩ</f> Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! </t><t>Let your glory be over all the earth! </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> <pb/><t>Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods? <f>[2]</f> </t><t>Do you judge the children of man uprightly?</t>


text:
<pb/><t>The wicked are <f>ⓓ</f>estranged from the womb; </t><t>they go astray from birth, speaking lies.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓔ</f> They have venom like the venom of a serpent, </t><t>like the deaf adder that stops its ear,</t>


text:
<pb/><t>O God, <f>ⓖ</f>break the teeth in their mouths; </t><t>tear out the fangs of the young lions, O LORD!</t>


text:
<t>Let them <f>ⓗ</f>vanish like water that runs away; </t><t>when he <f>ⓘ</f>aims his arrows, let them be blunted.</t>


text:
<t>Let them be like the snail <f>ⓙ</f>that dissolves into slime, </t><t>like <f>ⓚ</f>the stillborn child who never sees the sun.</t>


text:
<t>Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of <f>ⓛ</f>thorns, </t><t>whether green or ablaze, may he <f>ⓜ</f>sweep them away! <f>[3]</f> </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓝ</f> The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; </t><t>he will <f>ⓞ</f>bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.</t>


text:
<t>Mankind will say, “Surely there is <f>ⓟ</f>a reward for the righteous; </t><t>surely there is a God who <f>ⓠ</f>judges on earth.” </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> <f>ⓒ</f> <pb/><t><f>ⓓ</f> Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>protect me from those who <f>ⓕ</f>rise up against me;</t>


text:
<t>deliver me from <f>ⓖ</f>those who work evil, </t><t>and save me from <f>ⓗ</f>bloodthirsty men. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>For behold, they <f>ⓘ</f>lie in wait for my life; </t><t>fierce men <f>ⓙ</f>stir up strife against me. </t><t><f>ⓚ</f>For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD,</t>


text:
<t>for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. </t><t><f>ⓛ</f>Awake, come to meet me, and see!</t>


text:
<t>You, <f>ⓜ</f>LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. </t><t>Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; </t><t>spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t>Each evening they <f>ⓝ</f>come back, </t><t>howling like dogs </t><t>and prowling about the city.</t>


text:
<t>There they are, <f>ⓞ</f>bellowing with their mouths </t><t>with <f>ⓟ</f>swords in their lips — </t><t>for <f>ⓠ</f>“Who,” they think, <f>[2]</f> “will hear us?” </t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> My God in his steadfast love <f>[3]</f> <f>ⓤ</f>will meet me; </t><t>God will let me <f>ⓥ</f>look in triumph on my enemies. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Kill them not, lest my people forget; </t><t>make them totter <f>[4]</f> by your power and <f>ⓦ</f>bring them down, </t><t>O Lord, our <f>ⓧ</f>shield!</t>


text:
<t>For <f>ⓨ</f>the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, </t><t>let them be trapped in their pride. </t><t>For the cursing and lies that they utter,</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓩ</f> consume them in wrath; </t><t>consume them till they are no more, </t><t>that they may <f>ⓐ</f>know that God rules over Jacob </t><t>to <f>ⓑ</f>the ends of the earth. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓒ</f> Each evening they come back, </t><t>howling like dogs </t><t>and prowling about the city.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>But I will sing of your strength; </t><t>I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. </t><t>For you have been to me <f>ⓔ</f>a fortress </t><t>and <f>ⓕ</f>a refuge in <f>ⓖ</f>the day of my distress.</t>


text:
<t>O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, </t><t>for you, O God, <f>ⓗ</f>are my fortress, </t><t><f>ⓘ</f>the God who shows me steadfast love. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> <f>ⓒ</f> <f>ⓓ</f> <pb/><t>O God, <f>ⓔ</f>you have rejected us, <f>ⓕ</f>broken our defenses; </t><t>you have been angry; <f>ⓖ</f>oh, restore us.</t>


text:
<t>You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; </t><t><f>ⓗ</f>repair its breaches, for it totters.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓘ</f> You have made your people see hard things; </t><t><f>ⓙ</f>you have given us <f>ⓚ</f>wine to drink that made us stagger. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>You have set up <f>ⓛ</f>a banner for those who fear you, </t><t>that they may flee to it <f>ⓜ</f>from the bow. <f>[2]</f> <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t><f>ⓝ</f> That your <f>ⓞ</f>beloved ones may be delivered, </t><t>give salvation by your right hand and answer us! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>God has spoken <f>ⓟ</f>in his holiness: <f>[3]</f> </t><t>“With exultation <f>ⓠ</f>I will divide up <f>ⓡ</f>Shechem </t><t>and portion out the Vale of <f>ⓢ</f>Succoth.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; </t><t><f>ⓤ</f>Ephraim is <f>ⓥ</f>my helmet; </t><t>Judah is my <f>ⓦ</f>scepter.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓧ</f> Moab is my washbasin; </t><t>upon Edom I <f>ⓨ</f>cast my shoe; </t><t>over <f>ⓩ</f>Philistia I shout in triumph.” <f>[4]</f> </t>


text:
<t>Have you not <f>ⓑ</f>rejected us, O God? </t><t>You <f>ⓒ</f>do not go forth, O God, with our armies.</t>


text:
<t>With God we shall <f>ⓔ</f>do valiantly; </t><t>it is he who will <f>ⓕ</f>tread down our foes. </t>


text:
<t>from the end of the earth I call to you </t><t>when my heart is <f>ⓒ</f>faint. </t><t>Lead me to <f>ⓓ</f>the rock </t><t>that is higher than I,</t>


text:
<pb/><t>Let me <f>ⓖ</f>dwell in your tent forever! </t><t>Let me take refuge under <f>ⓗ</f>the shelter of your wings! <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>For you, O God, have heard my vows; </t><t>you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓘ</f> Prolong <f>ⓙ</f>the life of the king; </t><t>may his years endure to all generations!</t>


text:
<t>May he be enthroned forever before God; </t><t>appoint <f>ⓚ</f>steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>So will I ever sing praises to your name, </t><t>as I <f>ⓛ</f>perform my vows day after day. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> For God alone <f>ⓑ</f>my soul <f>ⓒ</f>waits in silence; </t><t>from him comes my salvation.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> He alone is my rock and my salvation, </t><t>my <f>ⓔ</f>fortress; <f>ⓕ</f>I shall not be greatly shaken. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>How long will all of you attack a man </t><t>to batter him, </t><t>like <f>ⓖ</f>a leaning wall, a tottering fence?</t>


text:
<t>They only plan to thrust him down from his <f>ⓗ</f>high position. </t><t>They take pleasure in falsehood. </t><t><f>ⓘ</f>They bless with their mouths, </t><t>but inwardly they curse. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>On God rests my <f>ⓛ</f>salvation and my glory; </t><t>my mighty rock, <f>ⓜ</f>my refuge is God. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓝ</f> Trust in him at all times, O people; </t><t><f>ⓞ</f>pour out your heart before him; </t><t>God is <f>ⓟ</f>a refuge for us. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓠ</f> Those of low estate are but a breath; </t><t>those of high estate <f>ⓡ</f>are a delusion; </t><t>in the balances they go up; </t><t><f>ⓢ</f>they are together lighter than a breath.</t>


text:
<t>Put no trust in extortion; </t><t><f>ⓣ</f>set no vain hopes on robbery; </t><t><f>ⓤ</f>if riches increase, set not your heart on them. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓥ</f> Once God has spoken; </t><t><f>ⓦ</f>twice have I heard this: </t><t>that <f>ⓧ</f>power belongs to God,</t>


text:
<t>and that to you, O Lord, <f>ⓨ</f>belongs steadfast love. </t><t>For you will <f>ⓩ</f>render to a man </t><t>according to his work. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> O God, you are my God; <f>ⓑ</f>earnestly I seek you; </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>my soul thirsts for you; </t><t>my flesh faints for you, </t><t>as in <f>ⓓ</f>a dry and weary land where there is no water.</t>


text:
<t>So I will bless you <f>ⓖ</f>as long as I live; </t><t>in your <f>ⓗ</f>name I will <f>ⓘ</f>lift up my hands. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>My soul will be <f>ⓙ</f>satisfied as with fat and rich food, </t><t>and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips,</t>


text:
<t>when I remember you <f>ⓚ</f>upon my bed, </t><t>and meditate on you in <f>ⓛ</f>the watches of the night;</t>


text:
<t>for you have been my help, </t><t>and in <f>ⓜ</f>the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>But those who seek to destroy my life </t><t><f>ⓟ</f>shall go down into <f>ⓠ</f>the depths of the earth;</t>


text:
<t>they shall be given over to the power of the sword; </t><t>they shall be a portion for jackals.</t>


text:
<t>But <f>ⓡ</f>the king shall rejoice in God; </t><t>all who <f>ⓢ</f>swear by him shall exult, </t><t><f>ⓣ</f>for the mouths of <f>ⓤ</f>liars will be stopped. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Hear my voice, O God, in my <f>ⓐ</f>complaint; </t><t>preserve my life from dread of the enemy.</t>


text:
<t>shooting from <f>ⓔ</f>ambush at the blameless, </t><t>shooting at him suddenly and <f>ⓕ</f>without fear.</t>


text:
<t>They <f>ⓖ</f>hold fast to their evil purpose; </t><t>they talk of <f>ⓗ</f>laying snares secretly, </t><t>thinking, <f>ⓘ</f>“Who can see them?”</t>


text:
<t>They search out injustice, </t><t>saying, “We have accomplished a diligent search.” </t><t>For <f>ⓙ</f>the inward mind and heart of a man are deep. </t>


text:
<t>They are brought to ruin, with their own <f>ⓛ</f>tongues turned against them; </t><t>all who <f>ⓜ</f>see them will <f>ⓝ</f>wag their heads.</t>


text:
<t>Then all mankind <f>ⓞ</f>fears; </t><t>they <f>ⓟ</f>tell what God has brought about </t><t>and ponder what he has done. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Let <f>ⓠ</f>the righteous one rejoice in the LORD </t><t>and <f>ⓡ</f>take refuge in him! </t><t>Let all <f>ⓢ</f>the upright in heart exult! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Praise <f>ⓐ</f>is due to you, <f>[1]</f> O God, in Zion, </t><t>and to you shall <f>ⓑ</f>vows be performed.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓖ</f> Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, </t><t>to <f>ⓗ</f>dwell in your courts! </t><t>We shall be <f>ⓘ</f>satisfied with the goodness of your house, </t><t>the holiness of your temple! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>By <f>ⓙ</f>awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, </t><t>O God of our salvation, </t><t>the hope of all <f>ⓚ</f>the ends of the earth </t><t>and of the farthest seas;</t>


text:
<t>the one who by his strength established the mountains, </t><t>being <f>ⓛ</f>girded with might;</t>


text:
<t>who <f>ⓜ</f>stills the roaring of the seas, </t><t>the roaring of their waves, </t><t><f>ⓝ</f>the tumult of the peoples,</t>


text:
<t>so that those who dwell at the ends of the earth are in awe at your signs. </t><t>You make the going out of the morning and the evening to shout for joy. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>You visit the earth and <f>ⓞ</f>water it; <f>[2]</f> </t><t>you greatly enrich it; </t><t><f>ⓟ</f>the river of God is full of water; </t><t><f>ⓠ</f>you provide their grain, </t><t>for so you have prepared it.</t>


text:
<t>You water its furrows abundantly, </t><t>settling its ridges, </t><t>softening it with <f>ⓡ</f>showers, </t><t>and blessing its growth.</t>


text:
<t>You crown the year with your bounty; </t><t>your wagon tracks <f>ⓢ</f>overflow with abundance.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> The pastures of the wilderness overflow, </t><t>the hills <f>ⓤ</f>gird themselves with joy,</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓥ</f> the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, </t><t>the valleys deck themselves with grain, </t><t>they <f>ⓦ</f>shout and sing together for joy. </t>


text:
<t>Say to God, <f>ⓒ</f>“How awesome are your deeds! </t><t>So great is your power that your enemies <f>ⓓ</f>come cringing to you.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓔ</f> All the earth worships you </t><t>and sings praises to you; </t><t>they sing praises to your name.” <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓕ</f> Come and see what God has done: </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.</t>


text:
<t>He <f>ⓗ</f>turned the sea into dry land; </t><t>they <f>ⓘ</f>passed through the river on foot. </t><t>There did we rejoice in him,</t>


text:
<t>who rules by his might forever, </t><t>whose <f>ⓙ</f>eyes keep watch on the nations — </t><t>let not the rebellious exalt themselves. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>you let men <f>ⓝ</f>ride over our heads; </t><t>we went through fire and through <f>ⓞ</f>water; </t><t>yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>I will come into your house with burnt offerings; </t><t>I will <f>ⓟ</f>perform my vows to you,</t>


text:
<t>I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, </t><t>with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; </t><t>I will make an offering of bulls and goats. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓡ</f> Come and hear, all you who fear God, </t><t>and I will tell what he has done for my soul.</t>


text:
<t>If I had <f>ⓢ</f>cherished iniquity in my heart, </t><t><f>ⓣ</f>the Lord would not have listened.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>Blessed be God, </t><t>because he has not rejected my prayer </t><t>or removed his steadfast love from me! </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> May God <f>ⓑ</f>be gracious to us and bless us </t><t>and make his face to <f>ⓒ</f>shine upon us, <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>that <f>ⓓ</f>your way may be known on earth, </t><t>your <f>ⓔ</f>saving power among all nations.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, </t><t>for you <f>ⓖ</f>judge the peoples with equity </t><t>and guide the nations upon earth. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> God shall arise, his enemies shall be <f>ⓑ</f>scattered; </t><t>and those who hate him shall flee before him!</t>


text:
<t>As <f>ⓒ</f>smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; </t><t><f>ⓓ</f>as wax melts before fire, </t><t>so the wicked shall perish before God!</t>


text:
<t>But <f>ⓔ</f>the righteous shall be glad; </t><t>they shall exult before God; </t><t>they shall be jubilant with joy! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Sing to God, <f>ⓕ</f>sing praises to his name; </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>lift up a song to him who <f>ⓗ</f>rides through <f>ⓘ</f>the deserts; </t><t>his name is <f>ⓙ</f>the LORD; </t><t>exult before him!</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓚ</f> Father of the fatherless and <f>ⓛ</f>protector of widows </t><t>is God in his holy habitation.</t>


text:
<t>God <f>ⓜ</f>settles the solitary in a home; </t><t>he <f>ⓝ</f>leads out the prisoners to prosperity, </t><t>but <f>ⓞ</f>the rebellious dwell in <f>ⓟ</f>a parched land. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>O God, when you <f>ⓠ</f>went out before your people, </t><t><f>ⓡ</f>when you marched through <f>ⓢ</f>the wilderness, <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, </t><t>before God, the One of Sinai, </t><t>before God, <f>[1]</f> the God of Israel.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓤ</f> Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; </t><t>you restored your inheritance as it languished;</t>


text:
<t>your flock <f>[2]</f> found a dwelling in it; </t><t>in your goodness, O God, you <f>ⓥ</f>provided for the needy. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>The Lord gives <f>ⓦ</f>the word; </t><t><f>ⓧ</f>the women who announce the news are a great host:</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓨ</f> “The kings of the armies — they flee, they flee!” </t><t>The women at home <f>ⓩ</f>divide the spoil — </t>


text:
<t>though you men lie among <f>ⓐ</f>the sheepfolds — </t><t>the wings of a dove covered with silver, </t><t>its pinions with shimmering gold.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; </t><t>O many-peaked <f>[3]</f> mountain, mountain of Bashan!</t>


text:
<t>Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, </t><t>at the mount that God <f>ⓒ</f>desired for his abode, </t><t>yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, </t><t>thousands upon thousands; </t><t>the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓔ</f> You ascended on high, </t><t><f>ⓕ</f>leading a host of captives in your train </t><t>and <f>ⓖ</f>receiving gifts among men, </t><t>even among <f>ⓗ</f>the rebellious, <f>ⓘ</f>that the LORD God may dwell there. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Blessed be the Lord, </t><t>who daily <f>ⓙ</f>bears us up; </t><t>God is our salvation. <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>Our God is a God of salvation, </t><t><f>ⓚ</f>and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓛ</f> But God will strike the heads of his enemies, </t><t>the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.</t>


text:
<t>The Lord said, </t><t>“I will bring them back <f>ⓜ</f>from Bashan, </t><t><f>ⓝ</f>I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,</t>


text:
<t>that you may <f>ⓞ</f>strike your feet in their blood, </t><t>that <f>ⓟ</f>the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.” </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Your procession is <f>[4]</f> seen, O God, </t><t>the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary — </t>


text:
<t><f>ⓠ</f> the singers in front, <f>ⓡ</f>the musicians last, </t><t>between them <f>ⓢ</f>virgins playing tambourines:</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> “Bless God in the great congregation, </t><t>the LORD, O you <f>[5]</f> who are of <f>ⓤ</f>Israel's fountain!”</t>


text:
<t>There is <f>ⓥ</f>Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, </t><t>the princes of Judah in their throng, </t><t>the princes of <f>ⓦ</f>Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓧ</f> Summon your power, O God, <f>[6]</f> </t><t>the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.</t>


text:
<t>Rebuke <f>ⓩ</f>the beasts that dwell among the reeds, </t><t>the herd of <f>ⓐ</f>bulls with the calves of the peoples. </t><t><f>ⓑ</f>Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; </t><t>scatter the peoples who delight in war. <f>[7]</f></t>


text:
<t>Nobles shall come from <f>ⓒ</f>Egypt; </t><t><f>ⓓ</f>Cush shall hasten to <f>ⓔ</f>stretch out her hands to God. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓕ</f> O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; </t><t>sing praises to the Lord, <pb/><i>Selah</i> <pb/></t>


text:
<t>to him <f>ⓖ</f>who rides in <f>ⓗ</f>the heavens, the ancient heavens; </t><t>behold, he <f>ⓘ</f>sends out his voice, his mighty voice.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓙ</f> Ascribe power to God, </t><t>whose majesty is over Israel, </t><t>and whose <f>ⓚ</f>power is in <f>ⓛ</f>the skies.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓜ</f> Awesome is God from his <f>[8]</f> <f>ⓝ</f>sanctuary; </t><t>the God of Israel — he is the one who gives <f>ⓞ</f>power and strength to his people. </t><t>Blessed be God! </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> Save me, O God! </t><t>For <f>ⓑ</f>the waters have come up to my neck. <f>[1]</f></t>


text:
<t>I sink in deep <f>ⓒ</f>mire, </t><t>where there is no foothold; </t><t>I have come into deep waters, </t><t>and the flood <f>ⓓ</f>sweeps over me.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓔ</f> I am weary with my crying out; </t><t><f>ⓕ</f>my throat is parched. </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>My eyes grow dim </t><t>with <f>ⓗ</f>waiting for my God. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓘ</f> More in number than the hairs of my head </t><t>are <f>ⓙ</f>those who hate me <f>ⓚ</f>without cause; </t><t>mighty are those who would destroy me, </t><t><f>ⓛ</f>those who attack me with lies. </t><t>What I did not steal </t><t>must I now restore?</t>


text:
<pb/><t>Let not those who hope in you <f>ⓜ</f>be put to shame through me, </t><t>O Lord GOD of hosts; </t><t>let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, </t><t>O God of Israel.</t>


text:
<t>For it is <f>ⓝ</f>for your sake that I have borne reproach, </t><t>that dishonor has covered my face.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>For <f>ⓟ</f>zeal for your house has consumed me, </t><t>and <f>ⓠ</f>the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.</t>


text:
<t>I am the talk of those who <f>ⓣ</f>sit in the gate, </t><t>and the drunkards make <f>ⓤ</f>songs about me. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But as for me, my <f>ⓥ</f>prayer is to you, O LORD. </t><t>At <f>ⓦ</f>an acceptable time, O God, </t><t>in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness.</t>


text:
<t>Deliver me </t><t>from sinking in <f>ⓧ</f>the mire; </t><t><f>ⓨ</f>let me be delivered from my enemies </t><t>and from <f>ⓩ</f>the deep waters.</t>


text:
<t>Let not the flood sweep over me, </t><t>or the deep swallow me up, </t><t>or <f>ⓐ</f>the pit close <f>ⓑ</f>its mouth over me. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Answer me, O LORD, for your <f>ⓒ</f>steadfast love is good; </t><t>according to your abundant <f>ⓓ</f>mercy, <f>ⓔ</f>turn to me.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓕ</f> Hide not your face from your servant, </t><t><f>ⓖ</f>for I am in distress; <f>ⓗ</f>make haste to answer me.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>You know my <f>ⓘ</f>reproach, </t><t>and my shame and my dishonor; </t><t>my foes are all known to you.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓙ</f> Reproaches have broken my heart, </t><t>so that I am in <f>ⓚ</f>despair. </t><t>I <f>ⓛ</f>looked for <f>ⓜ</f>pity, but there was none, </t><t>and for <f>ⓝ</f>comforters, but I found none.</t>


text:
<t>They gave me <f>ⓞ</f>poison for food, </t><t>and for my thirst they gave me <f>ⓟ</f>sour wine to drink. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓠ</f> Let their own <f>ⓡ</f>table before them become a snare; </t><t><f>ⓢ</f>and when they are at peace, let it become a trap. <f>[3]</f></t>


text:
<t><f>ⓣ</f> Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, </t><t><f>ⓤ</f>and make their loins tremble continually.</t>


text:
<t>For they <f>ⓦ</f>persecute him whom <f>ⓧ</f>you have struck down, </t><t>and they recount the pain of <f>ⓨ</f>those you have wounded.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓩ</f> Add to them punishment upon punishment; </t><t>may they have no acquittal from you. <f>[4]</f></t>


text:
<t>Let them be <f>ⓐ</f>blotted out of the book of the living; </t><t>let them not be <f>ⓑ</f>enrolled among the righteous. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But I am afflicted and in pain; </t><t>let your salvation, O God, <f>ⓒ</f>set me on high! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>I will <f>ⓓ</f>praise the name of God with a song; </t><t>I will <f>ⓔ</f>magnify him with <f>ⓕ</f>thanksgiving.</t>


text:
<t>This will <f>ⓖ</f>please the LORD more than an ox </t><t>or a bull <f>ⓗ</f>with horns and hoofs.</t>


text:
<t>When <f>ⓘ</f>the humble see it they will be glad; </t><t>you who seek God, <f>ⓙ</f>let your hearts revive.</t>


text:
<t>For the LORD hears the needy </t><t>and <f>ⓚ</f>does not despise his own people who are prisoners. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Let <f>ⓛ</f>heaven and earth praise him, </t><t>the seas and everything that moves in them.</t>


text:
<t>For <f>ⓜ</f>God will save Zion </t><t>and build up the cities of Judah, </t><t>and people shall dwell there and possess it;</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓝ</f> the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, </t><t>and those who love his name shall dwell in it. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> <f>ⓑ</f> Make haste, O God, to deliver me! </t><t>O LORD, make haste to help me!</t>


text:
<t>Let them be put to shame and confusion </t><t>who seek my life! </t><t>Let them be turned back and brought to dishonor </t><t>who delight in my hurt!</t>


text:
<pb/><t>May all who seek you </t><t>rejoice and be glad in you! </t><t>May those who love your salvation </t><t>say evermore, “God is great!”</t>


text:
<t>But I am poor and needy; </t><t><f>ⓒ</f>hasten to me, O God! </t><t>You are my help and my deliverer; </t><t>O LORD, do not delay! </t>


text:
<t>Be to me a rock of <f>ⓑ</f>refuge, </t><t>to which I may continually come; </t><t>you have <f>ⓒ</f>given the command to save me, </t><t>for you are my <f>ⓓ</f>rock and my fortress. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓔ</f> Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked, </t><t>from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.</t>


text:
<t>Upon you I have leaned <f>ⓖ</f>from before my birth; </t><t>you are he who <f>ⓗ</f>took me from my mother's womb. </t><t>My praise is continually of you. </t>


text:
<t><f>ⓚ</f> Do not cast me off in the time of old age; </t><t>forsake me not when my strength is spent.</t>


text:
<t>For my enemies speak concerning me; </t><t>those who <f>ⓛ</f>watch for my life <f>ⓜ</f>consult together</t>


text:
<t>and say, “God has forsaken him; </t><t>pursue and seize him, </t><t>for there is none to deliver him.” </t>


text:
<t>May my accusers be <f>ⓟ</f>put to shame and consumed; </t><t><f>ⓠ</f>with scorn and disgrace may they be covered </t><t>who <f>ⓡ</f>seek my hurt.</t>


text:
<t>My <f>ⓤ</f>mouth will tell of your righteous acts, </t><t>of your deeds of salvation all the day, </t><t>for <f>ⓥ</f>their number is past my knowledge.</t>


text:
<t>With the mighty deeds of the Lord GOD I will come; </t><t>I will remind them of your righteousness, yours alone. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>O God, from my youth you have taught me, </t><t>and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds.</t>


text:
<t>So even to <f>ⓦ</f>old age and gray hairs, </t><t>O God, <f>ⓧ</f>do not forsake me, </t><t>until I proclaim your might to another generation, </t><t>your power to all those to come.</t>


text:
<t>Your <f>ⓨ</f>righteousness, O God, </t><t>reaches the high heavens. </t><t>You who have done <f>ⓩ</f>great things, </t><t>O God, <f>ⓐ</f>who is like you?</t>


text:
<t>You who have <f>ⓑ</f>made me see many troubles and calamities </t><t>will <f>ⓒ</f>revive me again; </t><t>from the depths of the earth </t><t>you will bring me up again.</t>


text:
<pb/><t>I will also praise you with <f>ⓓ</f>the harp </t><t>for your faithfulness, O my God; </t><t>I will sing praises to you with the lyre, </t><t>O <f>ⓔ</f>Holy One of Israel.</t>


text:
<t>My lips will shout for joy, </t><t>when I sing praises to you; </t><t>my soul also, which you have <f>ⓕ</f>redeemed.</t>


text:
<t>And my <f>ⓖ</f>tongue will talk of your righteous help all the day long, </t><t>for they have been <f>ⓗ</f>put to shame and disappointed </t><t>who sought to do me hurt. </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> Give the king your <f>ⓑ</f>justice, O God, </t><t>and your righteousness to the royal son!</t>


text:
<t>Let the mountains bear <f>ⓓ</f>prosperity for the people, </t><t>and the hills, in righteousness!</t>


text:
<t>May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, </t><t>give deliverance to the children of the needy, </t><t>and crush the oppressor! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>May they fear you <f>[1]</f> while <f>ⓔ</f>the sun endures, </t><t>and as long as the moon, <f>ⓕ</f>throughout all generations!</t>


text:
<t>May he be like <f>ⓖ</f>rain that falls on <f>ⓗ</f>the mown grass, </t><t>like <f>ⓘ</f>showers that water the earth!</t>


text:
<t>In his days may <f>ⓙ</f>the righteous flourish, </t><t>and <f>ⓚ</f>peace abound, till the moon be no more! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>May he have dominion from <f>ⓛ</f>sea to sea, </t><t>and from <f>ⓜ</f>the River <f>[2]</f> to the <f>ⓝ</f>ends of the earth!</t>


text:
<t>May the kings of <f>ⓠ</f>Tarshish and of <f>ⓡ</f>the coastlands </t><t>render him <f>ⓢ</f>tribute; </t><t>may the kings of <f>ⓣ</f>Sheba and <f>ⓤ</f>Seba </t><t>bring gifts!</t>


text:
<pb/><t>For he delivers <f>ⓦ</f>the needy when he calls, </t><t>the poor and him who has no helper.</t>


text:
<t>From oppression and violence he redeems their life, </t><t>and <f>ⓧ</f>precious is their blood in his sight. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Long may he live; </t><t>may <f>ⓨ</f>gold of Sheba be given to him! </t><t>May prayer be made <f>ⓩ</f>for him continually, </t><t>and blessings invoked for him all the day!</t>


text:
<t>May there be abundance of grain in the land; </t><t>on the tops of the mountains may it wave; </t><t>may its fruit be like Lebanon; </t><t>and may people <f>ⓐ</f>blossom in the cities </t><t>like the <f>ⓑ</f>grass of the field!</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓒ</f> May his name endure forever, </t><t>his fame continue as long as the sun! </t><t><f>ⓓ</f>May people be blessed in him, </t><t><f>ⓔ</f>all nations call him blessed! </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓕ</f> Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, </t><t>who alone does <f>ⓖ</f>wondrous things.</t>


text:
<t>Blessed be his <f>ⓗ</f>glorious name forever; </t><t>may <f>ⓘ</f>the whole earth be filled with his glory! <pb/><f>ⓙ</f>Amen and Amen! </t>


text:
<pb/><t><f>ⓐ</f> Truly God is good to <f>ⓑ</f>Israel, </t><t>to those who are <f>ⓒ</f>pure in heart.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓓ</f> For I was <f>ⓔ</f>envious of the arrogant </t><t>when I saw the <f>ⓕ</f>prosperity of the wicked. </t>


text:
<t>They are not in trouble as others are; </t><t>they are not <f>ⓖ</f>stricken like the rest of mankind.</t>


text:
<t>All in vain have I <f>ⓞ</f>kept my heart clean </t><t>and <f>ⓟ</f>washed my hands in innocence.</t>


text:
<t>For all the day long I have been <f>ⓠ</f>stricken </t><t>and <f>ⓡ</f>rebuked <f>ⓢ</f>every morning.</t>


text:
<t>If I had said, “I will speak thus,” </t><t>I would have betrayed <f>ⓣ</f>the generation of your children. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>But when I thought how to understand this, </t><t>it seemed to me <f>ⓤ</f>a wearisome task,</t>


text:
<t>Like <f>ⓐ</f>a dream when one awakes, </t><t>O Lord, when <f>ⓑ</f>you rouse yourself, you despise them as phantoms.</t>


text:
<t>You <f>ⓕ</f>guide me with your counsel, </t><t>and afterward you will <f>ⓖ</f>receive me to glory.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓗ</f> Whom have I in heaven but you? </t><t>And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓘ</f> My flesh and my heart may fail, </t><t>but God is <f>ⓙ</f>the strength <f>[2]</f> of my heart and my <f>ⓚ</f>portion <f>ⓛ</f>forever. </t>


text:
<pb/><t>For behold, those who are <f>ⓜ</f>far from you shall perish; </t><t>you put an end to everyone who is <f>ⓝ</f>unfaithful to you.</t>


text:
<t>But for me it is good to <f>ⓞ</f>be near God; </t><t>I have made the Lord GOD my <f>ⓟ</f>refuge, </t><t>that I may <f>ⓠ</f>tell of all your works. </t>


text:
<f>[1]</f> <f>ⓐ</f> <pb/><t>O God, why do you <f>ⓑ</f>cast us off forever? </t><t>Why does your anger <f>ⓒ</f>smoke against <f>ⓓ</f>the sheep of your pasture?</t>


text:
<t><f>ⓔ</f> Remember your congregation, which you have <f>ⓕ</f>purchased of old, </t><t>which you have <f>ⓖ</f>redeemed to be <f>ⓗ</f>the tribe of your heritage! </t><t>Remember Mount Zion, <f>ⓘ</f>where you have dwelt.</t>


text:
<t>Direct your steps to <f>ⓙ</f>the perpetual ruins; </t><t>the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary! </t>


text:
<pb/><t>Your foes have <f>ⓚ</f>roared in the midst of your meeting place; </t><t><f>ⓛ</f>they set up their <f>ⓜ</f>own signs for <f>ⓝ</f>signs.</t>


text:
<t>They <f>ⓠ</f>set your sanctuary on fire; </t><t>they <f>ⓡ</f>profaned <f>ⓢ</f>the dwelling place of your name, </t><t>bringing it down to the ground.</t>


text:
<t>They <f>ⓣ</f>said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”; </t><t>they burned all the meeting places of God in the land. </t>


