¹And the sons of the prophets said to Elisha, “See now, the place where we dwell with you is too small for us. ²Please, let us go to the Jordan, and let every man take a beam from there, and let us make there a place where we may dwell.” So he answered, “Go.” ³Then one said, “Please consent to go with your servants.” And he answered, “I will go.” ⁴So he went with them. And when they came to the Jordan, they cut down trees. ⁵But as one was cutting down a tree, the iron ax head fell into the water; and he cried out and said, “Alas, master! For it was borrowed.” ⁶So the man of God said, “Where did it fall?” And he showed him the place. So he cut off a stick, and threw it in there; and he made the iron float. ⁷Therefore he said, “Pick it up for yourself.” So he reached out his hand and took it. ⁸Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” ⁹And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” ¹⁰Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. ¹¹Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” ¹²And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” ¹³So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and get him.” And it was told him, saying, “Surely he is in Dothan.” ¹⁴Therefore he sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. ¹⁵And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” ¹⁶So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” ¹⁷And Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the Lᴏʀᴅ opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. ¹⁸So when the Syrians came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lᴏʀᴅ, and said, “Strike this people, I pray, with blindness.” And He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. ¹⁹Now Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.” But he led them to Samaria. ²⁰So it was, when they had come to Samaria, that Elisha said, “Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” And the Lᴏʀᴅ opened their eyes, and they saw; and there they were, inside Samaria! ²¹Now when the king of Israel saw them, he said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?” ²²But he answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” ²³Then he prepared a great feast for them; and after they ate and drank, he sent them away and they went to their master. So the bands of Syrian raiders came no more into the land of Israel. ²⁴And it happened after this that Ben-Hadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria. ²⁵And there was a great famine in Samaria; and indeed they besieged it until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty shekels of silver, and one-fourth of a kab of dove droppings for five shekels of silver. ²⁶Then, as the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried out to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!” ²⁷And he said, “If the Lᴏʀᴅ does not help you, where can I find help for you? From the threshing floor or from the winepress?” ²⁸Then the king said to her, “What is troubling you?” And she answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ ²⁹So we boiled my son, and ate him. And I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him’; but she has hidden her son.” ³⁰Now it happened, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes; and as he passed by on the wall, the people looked, and there underneath he had sackcloth on his body. ³¹Then he said, “God do so to me and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat remains on him today.” ³²But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. And the king sent a man ahead of him, but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, “Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent someone to take away my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold him fast at the door. Is not the sound of his master’s feet behind him?” ³³And while he was still talking with them, there was the messenger, coming down to him; and then the king said, “Surely this calamity is from the Lᴏʀᴅ; why should I wait for the Lᴏʀᴅ any longer?”

¹This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work. ²A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; ³not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; ⁴one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence ⁵(for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); ⁶not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. ⁷Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. ⁸Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy for money, ⁹holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. ¹⁰But let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons, being found blameless. ¹¹Likewise their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things. ¹²Let deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. ¹³For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a good standing and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁴These things I write to you, though I hope to come to you shortly; ¹⁵but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. ¹⁶And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

¹In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, whose name was called Belteshazzar. The message was true, but the appointed time was long; and he understood the message, and had understanding of the vision. ²In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. ³I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. ⁴Now on the twenty-fourth day of the first month, as I was by the side of the great river, that is, the Tigris, ⁵I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, a certain man clothed in linen, whose waist was girded with gold of Uphaz! ⁶His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like torches of fire, his arms and feet like burnished bronze in color, and the sound of his words like the voice of a multitude. ⁷And I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, for the men who were with me did not see the vision; but a great terror fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. ⁸Therefore I was left alone when I saw this great vision, and no strength remained in me; for my vigor was turned to frailty in me, and I retained no strength. ⁹Yet I heard the sound of his words; and while I heard the sound of his words I was in a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. ¹⁰Suddenly, a hand touched me, which made me tremble on my knees and on the palms of my hands. ¹¹And he said to me, “O Daniel, man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak to you, and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” While he was speaking this word to me, I stood trembling. ¹²Then he said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. ¹³But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia. ¹⁴Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.” ¹⁵When he had spoken such words to me, I turned my face toward the ground and became speechless. ¹⁶And suddenly, one having the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips; then I opened my mouth and spoke, saying to him who stood before me, “My lord, because of the vision my sorrows have overwhelmed me, and I have retained no strength. ¹⁷For how can this servant of my lord talk with you, my lord? As for me, no strength remains in me now, nor is any breath left in me.” ¹⁸Then again, the one having the likeness of a man touched me and strengthened me. ¹⁹And he said, “O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.” ²⁰Then he said, “Do you know why I have come to you? And now I must return to fight with the prince of Persia; and when I have gone forth, indeed the prince of Greece will come. ²¹But I will tell you what is noted in the Scripture of Truth. (No one upholds me against these, except Michael your prince.

¹Blessed are the undefiled in the way, Who walk in the law of the Lᴏʀᴅ! ²Blessed are those who keep His testimonies, Who seek Him with the whole heart! ³They also do no iniquity; They walk in His ways. ⁴You have commanded us To keep Your precepts diligently. ⁵Oh, that my ways were directed To keep Your statutes! ⁶Then I would not be ashamed, When I look into all Your commandments. ⁷I will praise You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. ⁸I will keep Your statutes; Oh, do not forsake me utterly! ⁹How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. ¹⁰With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! ¹¹Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You! ¹²Blessed are You, O Lᴏʀᴅ! Teach me Your statutes! ¹³With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. ¹⁴I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. ¹⁵I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. ¹⁶I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word. ¹⁷Deal bountifully with Your servant, That I may live and keep Your word. ¹⁸Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law. ¹⁹I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me. ²⁰My soul breaks with longing For Your judgments at all times. ²¹You rebuke the proud—the cursed, Who stray from Your commandments. ²²Remove from me reproach and contempt, For I have kept Your testimonies. ²³Princes also sit and speak against me, But Your servant meditates on Your statutes. ²⁴Your testimonies also are my delight And my counselors. ²⁵My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. ²⁶I have declared my ways, and You answered me; Teach me Your statutes. ²⁷Make me understand the way of Your precepts; So shall I meditate on Your wondrous works. ²⁸My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word. ²⁹Remove from me the way of lying, And grant me Your law graciously. ³⁰I have chosen the way of truth; Your judgments I have laid before me. ³¹I cling to Your testimonies; O Lᴏʀᴅ, do not put me to shame! ³²I will run the course of Your commandments, For You shall enlarge my heart. ³³Teach me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, the way of Your statutes, And I shall keep it to the end. ³⁴Give me understanding, and I shall keep Your law; Indeed, I shall observe it with my whole heart. ³⁵Make me walk in the path of Your commandments, For I delight in it. ³⁶Incline my heart to Your testimonies, And not to covetousness. ³⁷Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, And revive me in Your way. ³⁸Establish Your word to Your servant, Who is devoted to fearing You. ³⁹Turn away my reproach which I dread, For Your judgments are good. ⁴⁰Behold, I long for Your precepts; Revive me in Your righteousness. ⁴¹Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lᴏʀᴅ— Your salvation according to Your word. ⁴²So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. ⁴³And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, For I have hoped in Your ordinances. ⁴⁴So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. ⁴⁵And I will walk at liberty, For I seek Your precepts. ⁴⁶I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed. ⁴⁷And I will delight myself in Your commandments, Which I love. ⁴⁸My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes. ⁴⁹Remember the word to Your servant, Upon which You have caused me to hope. ⁵⁰This is my comfort in my affliction, For Your word has given me life. ⁵¹The proud have me in great derision, Yet I do not turn aside from Your law. ⁵²I remembered Your judgments of old, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And have comforted myself. ⁵³Indignation has taken hold of me Because of the wicked, who forsake Your law. ⁵⁴Your statutes have been my songs In the house of my pilgrimage. ⁵⁵I remember Your name in the night, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And I keep Your law. ⁵⁶This has become mine, Because I kept Your precepts. ⁵⁷You are my portion, O Lᴏʀᴅ; I have said that I would keep Your words. ⁵⁸I entreated Your favor with my whole heart; Be merciful to me according to Your word. ⁵⁹I thought about my ways, And turned my feet to Your testimonies. ⁶⁰I made haste, and did not delay To keep Your commandments. ⁶¹The cords of the wicked have bound me, But I have not forgotten Your law. ⁶²At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments. ⁶³I am a companion of all who fear You, And of those who keep Your precepts. ⁶⁴The earth, O Lᴏʀᴅ, is full of Your mercy; Teach me Your statutes. ⁶⁵You have dealt well with Your servant, O Lᴏʀᴅ, according to Your word. ⁶⁶Teach me good judgment and knowledge, For I believe Your commandments. ⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Your word. ⁶⁸You are good, and do good; Teach me Your statutes. ⁶⁹The proud have forged a lie against me, But I will keep Your precepts with my whole heart. ⁷⁰Their heart is as fat as grease, But I delight in Your law. ⁷¹It is good for me that I have been afflicted, That I may learn Your statutes. ⁷²The law of Your mouth is better to me Than thousands of coins of gold and silver. ⁷³Your hands have made me and fashioned me; Give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments. ⁷⁴Those who fear You will be glad when they see me, Because I have hoped in Your word. ⁷⁵I know, O Lᴏʀᴅ, that Your judgments are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. ⁷⁶Let, I pray, Your merciful kindness be for my comfort, According to Your word to Your servant. ⁷⁷Let Your tender mercies come to me, that I may live; For Your law is my delight. ⁷⁸Let the proud be ashamed, For they treated me wrongfully with falsehood; But I will meditate on Your precepts. ⁷⁹Let those who fear You turn to me, Those who know Your testimonies. ⁸⁰Let my heart be blameless regarding Your statutes, That I may not be ashamed. ⁸¹My soul faints for Your salvation, But I hope in Your word. ⁸²My eyes fail from searching Your word, Saying, “When will You comfort me?” ⁸³For I have become like a wineskin in smoke, Yet I do not forget Your statutes. ⁸⁴How many are the days of Your servant? When will You execute judgment on those who persecute me? ⁸⁵The proud have dug pits for me, Which is not according to Your law. ⁸⁶All Your commandments are faithful; They persecute me wrongfully; Help me! ⁸⁷They almost made an end of me on earth, But I did not forsake Your precepts. ⁸⁸Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth. ⁸⁹Forever, O Lᴏʀᴅ, Your word is settled in heaven. ⁹⁰Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. ⁹¹They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. ⁹²Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. ⁹³I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life. ⁹⁴I am Yours, save me; For I have sought Your precepts. ⁹⁵The wicked wait for me to destroy me, But I will consider Your testimonies. ⁹⁶I have seen the consummation of all perfection, But Your commandment is exceedingly broad. ⁹⁷Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. ⁹⁸You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. ⁹⁹I have more understanding than all my teachers, For Your testimonies are my meditation. ¹⁰⁰I understand more than the ancients, Because I keep Your precepts. ¹⁰¹I have restrained my feet from every evil way, That I may keep Your word. ¹⁰²I have not departed from Your judgments, For You Yourself have taught me. ¹⁰³How sweet are Your words to my taste, Sweeter than honey to my mouth! ¹⁰⁴Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way. ¹⁰⁵Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. ¹⁰⁶I have sworn and confirmed That I will keep Your righteous judgments. ¹⁰⁷I am afflicted very much; Revive me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, according to Your word. ¹⁰⁸Accept, I pray, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And teach me Your judgments. ¹⁰⁹My life is continually in my hand, Yet I do not forget Your law. ¹¹⁰The wicked have laid a snare for me, Yet I have not strayed from Your precepts. ¹¹¹Your testimonies I have taken as a heritage forever, For they are the rejoicing of my heart. ¹¹²I have inclined my heart to perform Your statutes Forever, to the very end. ¹¹³I hate the double-minded, But I love Your law. ¹¹⁴You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word. ¹¹⁵Depart from me, you evildoers, For I will keep the commandments of my God! ¹¹⁶Uphold me according to Your word, that I may live; And do not let me be ashamed of my hope. ¹¹⁷Hold me up, and I shall be safe, And I shall observe Your statutes continually. ¹¹⁸You reject all those who stray from Your statutes, For their deceit is falsehood. ¹¹⁹You put away all the wicked of the earth like dross; Therefore I love Your testimonies. ¹²⁰My flesh trembles for fear of You, And I am afraid of Your judgments. ¹²¹I have done justice and righteousness; Do not leave me to my oppressors. ¹²²Be surety for Your servant for good; Do not let the proud oppress me. ¹²³My eyes fail from seeking Your salvation And Your righteous word. ¹²⁴Deal with Your servant according to Your mercy, And teach me Your statutes. ¹²⁵I am Your servant; Give me understanding, That I may know Your testimonies. ¹²⁶It is time for You to act, O Lᴏʀᴅ, For they have regarded Your law as void. ¹²⁷Therefore I love Your commandments More than gold, yes, than fine gold! ¹²⁸Therefore all Your precepts concerning all things I consider to be right; I hate every false way. ¹²⁹Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul keeps them. ¹³⁰The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. ¹³¹I opened my mouth and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. ¹³²Look upon me and be merciful to me, As Your custom is toward those who love Your name. ¹³³Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. ¹³⁴Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts. ¹³⁵Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes. ¹³⁶Rivers of water run down from my eyes, Because men do not keep Your law. ¹³⁷Righteous are You, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And upright are Your judgments. ¹³⁸Your testimonies, which You have commanded, Are righteous and very faithful. ¹³⁹My zeal has consumed me, Because my enemies have forgotten Your words. ¹⁴⁰Your word is very pure; Therefore Your servant loves it. ¹⁴¹I am small and despised, Yet I do not forget Your precepts. ¹⁴²Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth. ¹⁴³Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, Yet Your commandments are my delights. ¹⁴⁴The righteousness of Your testimonies is everlasting; Give me understanding, and I shall live. ¹⁴⁵I cry out with my whole heart; Hear me, O Lᴏʀᴅ! I will keep Your statutes. ¹⁴⁶I cry out to You; Save me, and I will keep Your testimonies. ¹⁴⁷I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. ¹⁴⁸My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word. ¹⁴⁹Hear my voice according to Your lovingkindness; O Lᴏʀᴅ, revive me according to Your justice. ¹⁵⁰They draw near who follow after wickedness; They are far from Your law. ¹⁵¹You are near, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And all Your commandments are truth. ¹⁵²Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever. ¹⁵³Consider my affliction and deliver me, For I do not forget Your law. ¹⁵⁴Plead my cause and redeem me; Revive me according to Your word. ¹⁵⁵Salvation is far from the wicked, For they do not seek Your statutes. ¹⁵⁶Great are Your tender mercies, O Lᴏʀᴅ; Revive me according to Your judgments. ¹⁵⁷Many are my persecutors and my enemies, Yet I do not turn from Your testimonies. ¹⁵⁸I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, Because they do not keep Your word. ¹⁵⁹Consider how I love Your precepts; Revive me, O Lᴏʀᴅ, according to Your lovingkindness. ¹⁶⁰The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. ¹⁶¹Princes persecute me without a cause, But my heart stands in awe of Your word. ¹⁶²I rejoice at Your word As one who finds great treasure. ¹⁶³I hate and abhor lying, But I love Your law. ¹⁶⁴Seven times a day I praise You, Because of Your righteous judgments. ¹⁶⁵Great peace have those who love Your law, And nothing causes them to stumble. ¹⁶⁶Lᴏʀᴅ, I hope for Your salvation, And I do Your commandments. ¹⁶⁷My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly. ¹⁶⁸I keep Your precepts and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You. ¹⁶⁹Let my cry come before You, O Lᴏʀᴅ; Give me understanding according to Your word. ¹⁷⁰Let my supplication come before You; Deliver me according to Your word. ¹⁷¹My lips shall utter praise, For You teach me Your statutes. ¹⁷²My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. ¹⁷³Let Your hand become my help, For I have chosen Your precepts. ¹⁷⁴I long for Your salvation, O Lᴏʀᴅ, And Your law is my delight. ¹⁷⁵Let my soul live, and it shall praise You; And let Your judgments help me. ¹⁷⁶I have gone astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, For I do not forget Your commandments.