¹After this Absalom the son of David had a lovely sister, whose name was Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. ²Amnon was so distressed over his sister Tamar that he became sick; for she was a virgin. And it was improper for Amnon to do anything to her. ³But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Now Jonadab was a very crafty man. ⁴And he said to him, “Why are you, the king’s son, becoming thinner day after day? Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” ⁵So Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me food, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’ ” ⁶Then Amnon lay down and pretended to be ill; and when the king came to see him, Amnon said to the king, “Please let Tamar my sister come and make a couple of cakes for me in my sight, that I may eat from her hand.” ⁷And David sent home to Tamar, saying, “Now go to your brother Amnon’s house, and prepare food for him.” ⁸So Tamar went to her brother Amnon’s house; and he was lying down. Then she took flour and kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked the cakes. ⁹And she took the pan and placed them out before him, but he refused to eat. Then Amnon said, “Have everyone go out from me.” And they all went out from him. ¹⁰Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the cakes which she had made, and brought them to Amnon her brother in the bedroom. ¹¹Now when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, “Come, lie with me, my sister.” ¹²And she answered him, “No, my brother, do not force me, for no such thing should be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! ¹³And I, where could I take my shame? And as for you, you would be like one of the fools in Israel. Now therefore, please speak to the king; for he will not withhold me from you.” ¹⁴However, he would not heed her voice; and being stronger than she, he forced her and lay with her. ¹⁵Then Amnon hated her exceedingly, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her. And Amnon said to her, “Arise, be gone!” ¹⁶So she said to him, “No, indeed! This evil of sending me away is worse than the other that you did to me.” But he would not listen to her. ¹⁷Then he called his servant who attended him, and said, “Here! Put this woman out, away from me, and bolt the door behind her.” ¹⁸Now she had on a robe of many colors, for the king’s virgin daughters wore such apparel. And his servant put her out and bolted the door behind her. ¹⁹Then Tamar put ashes on her head, and tore her robe of many colors that was on her, and laid her hand on her head and went away crying bitterly. ²⁰And Absalom her brother said to her, “Has Amnon your brother been with you? But now hold your peace, my sister. He is your brother; do not take this thing to heart.” So Tamar remained desolate in her brother Absalom’s house. ²¹But when King David heard of all these things, he was very angry. ²²And Absalom spoke to his brother Amnon neither good nor bad. For Absalom hated Amnon, because he had forced his sister Tamar. ²³And it came to pass, after two full years, that Absalom had sheepshearers in Baal Hazor, which is near Ephraim; so Absalom invited all the king’s sons. ²⁴Then Absalom came to the king and said, “Kindly note, your servant has sheepshearers; please, let the king and his servants go with your servant.” ²⁵But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go now, lest we be a burden to you.” Then he urged him, but he would not go; and he blessed him. ²⁶Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” ²⁷But Absalom urged him; so he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. ²⁸Now Absalom had commanded his servants, saying, “Watch now, when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon!’ then kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant.” ²⁹So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each one got on his mule and fled. ³⁰And it came to pass, while they were on the way, that news came to David, saying, “Absalom has killed all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left!” ³¹So the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the ground, and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. ³²Then Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, answered and said, “Let not my lord suppose they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for only Amnon is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day that he forced his sister Tamar. ³³Now therefore, let not my lord the king take the thing to his heart, to think that all the king’s sons are dead. For only Amnon is dead.” ³⁴Then Absalom fled. And the young man who was keeping watch lifted his eyes and looked, and there, many people were coming from the road on the hillside behind him. ³⁵And Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the king’s sons are coming; as your servant said, so it is.” ³⁶So it was, as soon as he had finished speaking, that the king’s sons indeed came, and they lifted up their voice and wept. Also the king and all his servants wept very bitterly. ³⁷But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son every day. ³⁸So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. ³⁹And King David longed to go to Absalom. For he had been comforted concerning Amnon, because he was dead.

¹We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. ²For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. ³We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. ⁴But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, ⁵in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; ⁶by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by sincere love, ⁷by the word of truth, by the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, ⁸by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; ⁹as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold we live; as chastened, and yet not killed; ¹⁰as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. ¹¹O Corinthians! We have spoken openly to you, our heart is wide open. ¹²You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. ¹³Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. ¹⁴Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? ¹⁵And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? ¹⁶And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” ¹⁷Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” ¹⁸“I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.”

¹It came to pass in the seventh year, in the fifth month, on the tenth day of the month, that certain of the elders of Israel came to inquire of the Lᴏʀᴅ, and sat before me. ²Then the word of the Lᴏʀᴅ came to me, saying, ³“Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lᴏʀᴅ God: “Have you come to inquire of Me? As I live,” says the Lᴏʀᴅ God, “I will not be inquired of by you.” ’ ⁴Will you judge them, son of man, will you judge them? Then make known to them the abominations of their fathers. ⁵“Say to them, ‘Thus says the Lᴏʀᴅ God: “On the day when I chose Israel and raised My hand in an oath to the descendants of the house of Jacob, and made Myself known to them in the land of Egypt, I raised My hand in an oath to them, saying, ‘I am the Lᴏʀᴅ your God.’ ⁶On that day I raised My hand in an oath to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt into a land that I had searched out for them, ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ the glory of all lands. ⁷Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, throw away the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lᴏʀᴅ your God.’ ⁸But they rebelled against Me and would not obey Me. They did not all cast away the abominations which were before their eyes, nor did they forsake the idols of Egypt. Then I said, ‘I will pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the midst of the land of Egypt.’ ⁹But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles among whom they were, in whose sight I had made Myself known to them, to bring them out of the land of Egypt. ¹⁰“Therefore I made them go out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. ¹¹And I gave them My statutes and showed them My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them.’ ¹²Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the Lᴏʀᴅ who sanctifies them. ¹³Yet the house of Israel rebelled against Me in the wilderness; they did not walk in My statutes; they despised My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; and they greatly defiled My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them in the wilderness, to consume them. ¹⁴But I acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned before the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. ¹⁵So I also raised My hand in an oath to them in the wilderness, that I would not bring them into the land which I had given them, ‘flowing with milk and honey,’ the glory of all lands, ¹⁶because they despised My judgments and did not walk in My statutes, but profaned My Sabbaths; for their heart went after their idols. ¹⁷Nevertheless My eye spared them from destruction. I did not make an end of them in the wilderness. ¹⁸“But I said to their children in the wilderness, ‘Do not walk in the statutes of your fathers, nor observe their judgments, nor defile yourselves with their idols. ¹⁹I am the Lᴏʀᴅ your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; ²⁰hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the Lᴏʀᴅ your God.’ ²¹Notwithstanding, the children rebelled against Me; they did not walk in My statutes, and were not careful to observe My judgments, ‘which, if a man does, he shall live by them’; but they profaned My Sabbaths. Then I said I would pour out My fury on them and fulfill My anger against them in the wilderness. ²²Nevertheless I withdrew My hand and acted for My name’s sake, that it should not be profaned in the sight of the Gentiles, in whose sight I had brought them out. ²³Also I raised My hand in an oath to those in the wilderness, that I would scatter them among the Gentiles and disperse them throughout the countries, ²⁴because they had not executed My judgments, but had despised My statutes, profaned My Sabbaths, and their eyes were fixed on their fathers’ idols. ²⁵Therefore I also gave them up to statutes that were not good, and judgments by which they could not live; ²⁶and I pronounced them unclean because of their ritual gifts, in that they caused all their firstborn to pass through the fire, that I might make them desolate and that they might know that I am the Lᴏʀᴅ.” ‘ ²⁷“Therefore, son of man, speak to the house of Israel, and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lᴏʀᴅ God: “In this too your fathers have blasphemed Me, by being unfaithful to Me. ²⁸When I brought them into the land concerning which I had raised My hand in an oath to give them, and they saw all the high hills and all the thick trees, there they offered their sacrifices and provoked Me with their offerings. There they also sent up their sweet aroma and poured out their drink offerings. ²⁹Then I said to them, ‘What is this high place to which you go?’ So its name is called Bamah to this day.” ‘ ³⁰Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lᴏʀᴅ God: “Are you defiling yourselves in the manner of your fathers, and committing harlotry according to their abominations? ³¹For when you offer your gifts and make your sons pass through the fire, you defile yourselves with all your idols, even to this day. So shall I be inquired of by you, O house of Israel? As I live,” says the Lᴏʀᴅ God, “I will not be inquired of by you. ³²What you have in your mind shall never be, when you say, ‘We will be like the Gentiles, like the families in other countries, serving wood and stone.’ ³³“As I live,” says the Lᴏʀᴅ God, “surely with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out, I will rule over you. ³⁴I will bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you are scattered, with a mighty hand, with an outstretched arm, and with fury poured out. ³⁵And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will plead My case with you face to face. ³⁶Just as I pleaded My case with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will plead My case with you,” says the Lᴏʀᴅ God. ³⁷“I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant; ³⁸I will purge the rebels from among you, and those who transgress against Me; I will bring them out of the country where they dwell, but they shall not enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lᴏʀᴅ. ³⁹“As for you, O house of Israel,” thus says the Lᴏʀᴅ God: “Go, serve every one of you his idols—and hereafter—if you will not obey me; but profane My holy name no more with your gifts and your idols. ⁴⁰For on My holy mountain, on the mountain height of Israel,” says the Lᴏʀᴅ God, “there all the house of Israel, all of them in the land, shall serve Me; there I will accept them, and there I will require your offerings and the firstfruits of your sacrifices, together with all your holy things. ⁴¹I will accept you as a sweet aroma when I bring you out from the peoples and gather you out of the countries where you have been scattered; and I will be hallowed in you before the Gentiles. ⁴²Then you shall know that I am the Lᴏʀᴅ, when I bring you into the land of Israel, into the country for which I raised My hand in an oath to give to your fathers. ⁴³And there you shall remember your ways and all your doings with which you were defiled; and you shall loathe yourselves in your own sight because of all the evils that you have committed. ⁴⁴Then you shall know that I am the Lᴏʀᴅ, when I have dealt with you for My name’s sake, not according to your wicked ways nor according to your corrupt doings, O house of Israel,” says the Lᴏʀᴅ God.’ ” ⁴⁵Furthermore the word of the Lᴏʀᴅ came to me, saying, ⁴⁶“Son of man, set your face toward the south; preach against the south and prophesy against the forest land, the South, ⁴⁷and say to the forest of the South, ‘Hear the word of the Lᴏʀᴅ! Thus says the Lᴏʀᴅ God: “Behold, I will kindle a fire in you, and it shall devour every green tree and every dry tree in you; the blazing flame shall not be quenched, and all faces from the south to the north shall be scorched by it. ⁴⁸All flesh shall see that I, the Lᴏʀᴅ, have kindled it; it shall not be quenched.” ‘ ” ⁴⁹Then I said, “Ah, Lᴏʀᴅ God! They say of me, ‘Does he not speak parables?’ ”

¹To the Chief Musician. A Song. A Psalm. Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! ²Sing out the honor of His name; Make His praise glorious. ³Say to God, “How awesome are Your works! Through the greatness of Your power Your enemies shall submit themselves to You. ⁴All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.” Selah ⁵Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men. ⁶He turned the sea into dry land; They went through the river on foot. There we will rejoice in Him. ⁷He rules by His power forever; His eyes observe the nations; Do not let the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah ⁸Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard, ⁹Who keeps our soul among the living, And does not allow our feet to be moved. ¹⁰For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. ¹¹You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. ¹²You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment. ¹³I will go into Your house with burnt offerings; I will pay You my vows, ¹⁴Which my lips have uttered And my mouth has spoken when I was in trouble. ¹⁵I will offer You burnt sacrifices of fat animals, With the sweet aroma of rams; I will offer bulls with goats. Selah ¹⁶Come and hear, all you who fear God, And I will declare what He has done for my soul. ¹⁷I cried to Him with my mouth, And He was extolled with my tongue. ¹⁸If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lᴏʀᴅ will not hear. ¹⁹But certainly God has heard me; He has attended to the voice of my prayer. ²⁰Blessed be God, Who has not turned away my prayer, Nor His mercy from me!

¹To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song. God be merciful to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us. Selah ²That Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations. ³Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. ⁴Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy! For You shall judge the people righteously, And govern the nations on earth. Selah ⁵Let the peoples praise You, O God; Let all the peoples praise You. ⁶Then the earth shall yield her increase; God, our own God, shall bless us. ⁷God shall bless us, And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.