15:1And it came to pass after this, that Absalom prepared him a chariot and horses, and fifty men to run before him. 15:2And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that, when any man had a suit which should come to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 15:3And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 15:4Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man who hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! 15:5And it was so, that, when any man came nigh to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took hold of him, and kissed him. 15:6And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.
15:7And it came to pass at the end of forty years, that Absalom said unto the king, I pray thee, let me go and pay my vow, which I have vowed unto Jehovah, in Hebron. 15:8For thy servant vowed a vow while I abode at Geshur in Syria, saying, If Jehovah shall indeed bring me again to Jerusalem, then I will serve Jehovah. 15:9And the king said unto him, Go in peace. So he arose, and went to Hebron. 15:10But Absalom sent spies throughout all the tribes of Israel, saying, As soon as ye hear the sound of the trumpet, then ye shall say, Absalom is king in Hebron. 15:11And with Absalom went two hundred men out of Jerusalem, that were invited, and went in their simplicity; and they knew not anything. 15:12And Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David's counsellor, from his city, even from Giloh, while he was offering the sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong; for the people increased continually with Absalom.
15:13And there came a messenger to David, saying, The hearts of the men of Israel are after Absalom. 15:14And David said unto all his servants that were with him at Jerusalem, Arise, and let us flee; for else none of us shall escape from Absalom: make speed to depart, lest he overtake us quickly, and bring down evil upon us, and smite the city with the edge of the sword. 15:15And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall choose. 15:16And the king went forth, and all his household after him. And the king left ten women, that were concubines, to keep the house. 15:17And the king went forth, and all the people after him; and they tarried in Beth-merhak. 15:18And all his servants passed on beside him; and all the Cherethites, and all the Pelethites, and all the Gittites, six hundred men that came after him from Gath, passed on before the king.
15:19Then said the king to Ittai the Gittite, Wherefore goest thou also with us? return, and abide with the king: for thou art a foreigner, and also an exile; return to thine own place. 15:20Whereas thou camest but yesterday, should I this day make thee go up and down with us, seeing I go whither I may? return thou, and take back thy brethren; mercy and truth be with thee. 15:21And Ittai answered the king, and said, As Jehovah liveth, and as my lord the king liveth, surely in what place my lord the king shall be, whether for death or for life, even there also will thy servant be. 15:22And David said to Ittai, Go and pass over. And Ittai the Gittite passed over, and all his men, and all the little ones that were with him. 15:23And all the country wept with a loud voice, and all the people passed over: the king also himself passed over the brook Kidron, and all the people passed over, toward the way of the wilderness.
15:24And, lo, Zadok also came, and all the Levites with him, bearing the ark of the covenant of God; and they set down the ark of God; and Abiathar went up, until all the people had done passing out of the city. 15:25And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favor in the eyes of Jehovah, he will bring me again, and show me both it, and his habitation: 15:26but if he say thus, I have no delight in thee; behold, here am I, let him do to me as seemeth good unto him. 15:27The king said also unto Zadok the priest, Art thou not a seer? return into the city in peace, and your two sons with you, Ahimaaz thy son, and Jonathan the son of Abiathar. 15:28See, I will tarry at the fords of the wilderness, until there come word from you to certify me. 15:29Zadok therefore and Abiathar carried the ark of God again to Jerusalem: and they abode there.
15:30And David went up by the ascent of the mount of Olives, and wept as he went up; and he had his head covered, and went barefoot: and all the people that were with him covered every man his head, and they went up, weeping as they went up. 15:31And one told David, saying, Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom. And David said, O Jehovah, I pray thee, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness. 15:32And it came to pass, that, when David was come to the top of the ascent, where God was worshipped, behold, Hushai the Archite came to meet him with his coat rent, and earth upon his head. 15:33And David said unto him, If thou passest on with me, then thou wilt be a burden unto me: 15:34but if thou return to the city, and say unto Absalom, I will be thy servant, O king; as I have been thy father's servant in time past, so will I now be thy servant; then wilt thou defeat for me the counsel of Ahithophel. 15:35And hast thou not there with thee Zadok and Abiathar the priests? therefore it shall be, that what thing soever thou shalt hear out of the king's house, thou shalt tell it to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. 15:36Behold, they have there with them their two sons, Ahimaaz, Zadok's son, and Jonathan, Abiathar's son; and by them ye shall send unto me everything that ye shall hear. 15:37So Hushai, David's friend, came into the city; and Absalom came into Jerusalem.
8:1Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God which hath been given in the churches of Macedonia; 8:2how that in much proof of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 8:3For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, 8:4beseeching us with much entreaty in regard of this grace and the fellowship in the ministering to the saints: 8:5and this, not as we had hoped, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. 8:6Insomuch that we exhorted Titus, that as he made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace also. 8:7But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also. 8:8I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. 8:9For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might become rich. 8:10And herein I give my judgment: for this is expedient for you, who were the first to make a beginning a year ago, not only to do, but also to will. 8:11But now complete the doing also; that as there was the readiness to will, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. 8:12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according as a man hath, not according as he hath not. 8:13For I say not this that others may be eased and ye distressed; 8:14but by equality: your abundance being a supply at this present time for their want, that their abundance also may become a supply for your want; that there may be equality: 8:15as it is written, He that gathered much had nothing over; and he that gathered little had no lack. 8:16But thanks be to God, who putteth the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 8:17For he accepted indeed our exhortation; but being himself very earnest, he went forth unto you of his own accord. 8:18And we have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the gospel is spread through all the churches; 8:19and not only so, but who was also appointed by the churches to travel with us in the matter of this grace, which is ministered by us to the glory of the Lord, and to show our readiness: 8:20Avoiding this, that any man should blame us in the matter of this bounty which is ministered by us: 8:21for we take thought for things honorable, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 8:22and we have sent with them our brother, whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he hath in you. 8:23Whether any inquire about Titus, he is my partner and my fellow-worker to you-ward, or our brethren, they are the messengers of the churches, they are the glory of Christ. 8:24Show ye therefore unto them in the face of the churches the proof of your love, and of our glorying on your behalf.
22:1Moreover the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 22:2And thou, son of man, wilt thou judge, wilt thou judge the bloody city? then cause her to know all her abominations. 22:3And thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: A city that sheddeth blood in the midst of her, that her time may come, and that maketh idols against herself to defile her! 22:4Thou art become guilty in thy blood that thou hast shed, and art defiled in thine idols which thou hast made; and thou hast caused thy days to draw near, and art come even unto thy years: therefore have I made thee a reproach unto the nations, and a mocking to all the countries. 22:5Those that are near, and those that are far from thee, shall mock thee, thou infamous one and full of tumult. 22:6Behold, the princes of Israel, every one according to his power, have been in thee to shed blood. 22:7In thee have they set light by father and mother; in the midst of thee have they dealt by oppression with the sojourner; in thee have they wronged the fatherless and the widow. 22:8Thou hast despised my holy things, and hast profaned my sabbaths. 22:9Slanderous men have been in thee to shed blood; and in thee they have eaten upon the mountains: in the midst of thee they have committed lewdness. 22:10In thee have they uncovered their fathers' nakedness; in thee have they humbled her that was unclean in her impurity. 22:11And one hath committed abomination with his neighbor's wife; and another hath lewdly defiled his daughter-in-law; and another in thee hath humbled his sister, his father's daughter. 22:12In thee have they taken bribes to shed blood; thou hast taken interest and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by oppression, and hast forgotten me, saith the Lord Jehovah. 22:13Behold, therefore, I have smitten my hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee. 22:14Can thy heart endure, or can thy hands be strong, in the days that I shall deal with thee? I, Jehovah, have spoken it, and will do it. 22:15And I will scatter thee among the nations, and disperse thee through the countries; and I will consume thy filthiness out of thee. 22:16And thou shalt be profaned in thyself, in the sight of the nations; and thou shalt know that I am Jehovah. 22:17And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 22:18Son of man, the house of Israel is become dross unto me: all of them are brass and tin and iron and lead, in the midst of the furnace; they are the dross of silver. 22:19Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because ye are all become dross, therefore, behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. 22:20As they gather silver and brass and iron and lead and tin into the midst of the furnace, to blow the fire upon it, to melt it; so will I gather you in mine anger and in my wrath, and I will lay you there, and melt you. 22:21Yea, I will gather you, and blow upon you with the fire of my wrath, and ye shall be melted in the midst thereof. 22:22As silver is melted in the midst of the furnace, so shall ye be melted in the midst thereof; and ye shall know that I, Jehovah, have poured out my wrath upon you. 22:23And the word of Jehovah came unto me, saying, 22:24Son of man, say unto her, Thou art a land that is not cleansed, nor rained upon in the day of indignation. 22:25There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey: they have devoured souls; they take treasure and precious things; they have made her widows many in the midst thereof. 22:26Her priests have done violence to my law, and have profaned my holy things: they have made no distinction between the holy and the common, neither have they caused men to discern between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them. 22:27Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, that they may get dishonest gain. 22:28And her prophets have daubed for them with untempered mortar, seeing false visions, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah, when Jehovah hath not spoken. 22:29The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery; yea, they have vexed the poor and needy, and have oppressed the sojourner wrongfully. 22:30And I sought for a man among them, that should build up the wall, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none. 22:31Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I brought upon their heads, saith the Lord Jehovah.
For the Chief Musician; set to *Shoshanim. A Psalm of David.
69:1Save me, O God;
For the waters are come in unto my soul.
69:2I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing:
I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.
69:3I am weary with my crying; my throat is dried:
Mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.
69:4They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head:
They that would cut me off, being mine enemies wrongfully, are mighty:
That which I took not away I have to restore.
69:5O God, thou knowest my foolishness;
And my sins are not hid from thee.
69:6Let not them that wait for thee be put to shame through me, O Lord Jehovah of hosts:
Let not those that seek thee be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.
69:7Because for thy sake I have borne reproach;
Shame hath covered my face.
69:8I am become a stranger unto my brethren,
And an alien unto my mother's children.
69:9For the zeal of thy house hath eaten me up;
And the reproaches of them that reproach thee are fallen upon me.
69:10When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting,
That was to my reproach.
69:11When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword unto them.
69:12They that sit in the gate talk of me;
And I am the song of the drunkards.
69:13But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Jehovah, in an acceptable time:
O God, in the abundance of thy lovingkindness,
Answer me in the truth of thy salvation.
69:14Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink:
Let me be delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.
69:15Let not the waterflood overwhelm me,
Neither let the deep shallow me up;
And let not the pit shut its mouth upon me.
69:16Answer me, O Jehovah; for thy lovingkindness is good:
According to the multitude of thy tender mercies turn thou unto me.
69:17And hide not thy face from thy servant;
For I am in distress; answer me speedily.
69:18Draw nigh unto my soul, and redeem it:
Ransom me because of mine enemies.
69:19Thou knowest my reproach, and my shame, and my dishonor:
Mine adversaries are all before thee.
69:20Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness:
And I looked for some to take pity, but there was none;
And for comforters, but I found none.
69:21They gave me also gall for my food;
And in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.
69:22Let their table before them become a snare;
And when they are in peace, let it become a trap.
69:23Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see;
And make their loins continually to shake.
69:24Pour out thine indignation upon them,
And let the fierceness of thine anger overtake them.
69:25Let their habitation be desolate;
Let none dwell in their tents.
69:26For they persecute him whom thou hast smitten;
And they tell of the sorrow of those whom thou hast wounded.
69:27Add iniquity unto their iniquity;
And let them not come into thy righteousness.
69:28Let them be blotted out of the book of life,
And not be written with the righteous.
69:29But I am poor and sorrowful:
Let thy salvation, O God, set me up on high.
69:30I will praise the name of God with a song,
And will magnify him with thanksgiving.
69:31And it will please Jehovah better than an ox,
Or a bullock that hath horns and hoofs.
69:32The meek have seen it, and are glad:
Ye that seek after God, let your heart live.
69:33For Jehovah heareth the needy,
And despiseth not his prisoners.
69:34Let heaven and earth praise him,
The seas, and everything that moveth therein.
69:35For God will save Zion, and build the cities of Judah;
And they shall abide there, and have it in possession.
69:36The seed also of his servants shall inherit it;
And they that love his name shall dwell therein.