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14 1
6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will act for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.”(D) 7 His armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that your mind inclines to.[b] I am with you; as your mind is, so is mine.”[c] 8 Then Jonathan said, “Now we will cross over to those men and will show ourselves to them. 9 If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place, and we will not go up to them. 10 But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hand. That will be the sign for us.”(E) 11 So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines, and the Philistines said, “Look, Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden themselves.”(F) 12 The men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer, saying, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.”(G) 13 Then Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer following after him. The Philistines[d] fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer coming after him killed them. 14 In that first attack Jonathan and his armor-bearer killed about twenty men within an area about half a furrow long in an acre[e] of land. 15 There was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people; the garrison and even the raiders trembled; the earth quaked; and it became a very great panic.(H)
16 Saul’s lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin were watching as the multitude was surging back and forth.[f](I) 17 Then Saul said to the troops who were with him, “Call the roll and see who has gone from us.” When they called the roll, Jonathan and his armor-bearer were not there. 18 Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God here.” For at that time the ark of God went with the Israelites. 19 While Saul was talking to the priest, the tumult in the camp of the Philistines increased more and more, and Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”(J) 20 Then Saul and all the people who were with him rallied and went into the battle, and every sword was against the other, so that there was very great confusion.(K) 21 Now the Hebrews who previously had been with the Philistines and had gone up with them into the camp turned and joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22 Likewise, when all the Israelites who had gone into hiding in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines were fleeing, they also followed closely after them in the battle.(L) 23 So the Lord gave Israel the victory that day.
The battle passed beyond Beth-aven, and the troops with Saul numbered altogether about ten thousand men.[g] The battle spread out over the hill country of Ephraim.(M)
Saul’s Rash Oath
24 Now Saul committed a very rash act on that day.[h] He had laid an oath on the troops, saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food before it is evening and I have been avenged on my enemies.” So none of the troops tasted food.(N) 25 All the troops[i] came upon a honeycomb, and there was honey on the ground. 26 When the troops came upon the honeycomb, the honey was dripping out, but they did not put their hands to their mouths, for they feared the oath. 27 But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the troops with the oath, so he extended the staff that was in his hand and dipped the tip of it in the honeycomb and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.(O) 28 Then one of the soldiers said, “Your father strictly charged the troops with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed be anyone who eats food this day.’ And so the troops are faint.” 29 Then Jonathan said, “My father has troubled the land; see how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey.(P) 30 How much better if today the troops had eaten freely of the spoil taken from their enemies, for now the defeat of the Philistines has not been great.”
31 After they had struck down the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon, the troops were very faint, 32 so the troops flew upon the spoil and took sheep and oxen and calves and slaughtered them on the ground, and the troops ate them with the blood.(Q) 33 Then it was reported to Saul, “Look, the troops are sinning against the Lord by eating with the blood.” And he said, “You have dealt treacherously; roll a large stone before me here.”[j] 34 Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the troops and say to them: Let all bring their oxen or their sheep, and slaughter them here and eat, and do not sin against the Lord by eating with the blood.” So all of the troops brought their oxen with them that night and slaughtered them there. 35 And Saul built an altar to the Lord; it was the first altar that he built to the Lord.(R)
Jonathan in Danger of Death
36 Then Saul said, “Let us go down after the Philistines by night and despoil them until the morning light; let us not leave one of them.” They said, “Do whatever seems good to you.” But the priest said, “Let us draw near to God here.” 37 So Saul inquired of God, “Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you give them into the hand of Israel?” But he did not answer him that day.(S) 38 Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the people, and let us find out how this sin has arisen today.(T) 39 For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, even if it is in my son Jonathan, he shall surely die!” But there was no one among all the people who answered him.(U) 40 He said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.” 41 Then Saul said, “O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If this guilt is in me or in my son Jonathan, O Lord God of Israel, give Urim, but if this guilt is in your people Israel,[k] give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were indicated by the lot, but the people were cleared.(V) 42 Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.
43 Then Saul said to Jonathan, “Tell me what you have done.” Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the tip of the staff that was in my hand; here I am; I will die.”(W) 44 Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan!”(X) 45 Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has accomplished this great victory in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, not one hair of his head shall fall to the ground, for he has worked with God today.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, and he did not die.(Y) 46 Then Saul withdrew from pursuing the Philistines, and the Philistines went to their own place.
Saul’s Continuing Wars
47 When Saul had taken the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side: against Moab, against the Ammonites, against Edom, against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines; wherever he turned he routed them.(Z) 48 He did valiantly and struck down the Amalekites and rescued Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.(AA)
49 Now the sons of Saul were Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua, and the names of his two daughters were these: the name of the firstborn was Merab, and the name of the younger was Michal.(AB) 50 The name of Saul’s wife was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner son of Ner, Saul’s uncle;(AC) 51 Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.(AD)
52 There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul, and when Saul saw any strong or valiant warrior, he took him into his service.(AE)
31 Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, “When the Messiah[a] comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?”[b](A)
Officers Are Sent to Arrest Jesus
32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering such things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple police to arrest him. 33 Jesus then said, “I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me.(B) 34 You will search for me, but you will not find me, and where I am, you cannot come.”(C) 35 The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?(D) 36 What does he mean by saying, ‘You will search for me, but you will not find me’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”
Rivers of Living Water
37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me,(E) 38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As[c] the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart[d] shall flow rivers of living water.’ ”(F) 39 Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive, for as yet there was no Spirit[e] because Jesus was not yet glorified.(G)
Division among the People
40 When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” 41 Others said, “This is the Messiah.”[f] But some asked, “Surely the Messiah[g] does not come from Galilee, does he?(H) 42 Has not the scripture said that the Messiah[h] is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”(I) 43 So there was a division in the crowd because of him. 44 Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.
The Unbelief of Those in Authority
45 Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” 46 The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” 47 Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived, too, have you? 48 Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him?(J) 49 But this crowd, which does not know the law, they are accursed.” 50 Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus[i] before and who was one of them, asked, 51 “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?”(K) 52 They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.”
The Woman Caught in Adultery
[[53 Then each of them went home,
Psalm 109
Prayer for Vindication and Vengeance
To the leader. Of David. A Psalm.
1 Do not be silent, O God of my praise.(A)
2 For wicked and deceitful mouths are opened against me,
speaking against me with lying tongues.
3 They surround me with words of hate
and attack me without cause.(B)
4 In return for my love they accuse me,
even while I make prayer for them.[a](C)
5 So they reward me evil for good
and hatred for my love.(D)
6 They say,[b] “Appoint a wicked man against him;
let an accuser stand on his right.(E)
7 When he is tried, let him be found guilty;
let his prayer be counted as sin.(F)
8 May his days be few;
may another seize his position.(G)
9 May his children be orphans
and his wife a widow.(H)
10 May his children wander about and beg;
may they be driven out of[c] the ruins they inhabit.
11 May the creditor seize all that he has;
may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil.(I)
12 May there be no one to do him a kindness
nor anyone to pity his orphaned children.(J)
13 May his posterity be cut off;
may his name be blotted out in the second generation.(K)
14 May the iniquity of his father[d] be remembered before the Lord,
and do not let the sin of his mother be blotted out.(L)
15 Let them be before the Lord continually,
and may his[e] memory be cut off from the earth.(M)
16 For he did not remember to show kindness
but pursued the poor and needy
and the brokenhearted to their death.(N)
17 He loved to curse; let curses come on him.
He did not like blessing; may it be far from him.(O)
18 He clothed himself with cursing as his coat;
may it soak into his body like water,
like oil into his bones.(P)
19 May it be like a garment that he wraps around himself,
like a belt that he wears every day.”
20 May that be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,
of those who speak evil against my life.(Q)
21 But you, O Lord my Lord,
act on my behalf for your name’s sake;
because your steadfast love is good, deliver me.(R)
22 For I am poor and needy,
and my heart is pierced within me.(S)
23 I am gone like a shadow at evening;
I am shaken off like a locust.(T)
24 My knees are weak through fasting;
my body has become gaunt.(U)
25 I am an object of scorn to my accusers;
when they see me, they shake their heads.(V)
26 Help me, O Lord my God!
Save me according to your steadfast love.
27 Let them know that this is your hand;
you, O Lord, have done it.(W)
28 Let them curse, but you will bless.
Let my assailants be put to shame;[f] may your servant be glad.(X)
29 May my accusers be clothed with dishonor;
may they be wrapped in their own shame as in a mantle.(Y)
30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;
I will praise him in the midst of the throng.(Z)
31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy,
to save them from those who would condemn them to death.(AA)
5 A fool despises a parent’s instruction,
but the one who heeds admonition is prudent.(A)
6 In the house of the righteous there is much treasure,
but trouble befalls the income of the wicked.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge;
not so the minds of fools.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.