Father's Heart Bible™ Audio Bible

In the beginning, our Heavenly Father created the heavens and the earth.

So the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.

The serpent was shrewder than any field animal our Father had made.

Adam slept with his wife Eve; she conceived and bore Cain, saying, "With our Father's help I have gained a man."

This is the written record of Adam's descendants.

When humanity began to multiply on the earth and daughters were born to them,

Then our Father told Noah, "Enter the ark with your whole household, for I've seen you righteous before me in this generation.

But our Father remembered Noah, all the living creatures, and all the livestock with him in the ark, and swept a wind over the earth so the waters began to recede.

Then our Father blessed Noah and his sons, saying, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.

This is the account of Noah's sons—Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Now the whole earth had one language and a common speech.

Now our Father said to Abram, "Go from your land, your relatives, and your father's house, to the land that I will show you.

Abram went up from Egypt to the Negev, he, his wife, all he had, and Lot with him.

In the days of Amraphel king of Shinar, Arioch king of Ellasar, Chedorlaomer king of Elam, and Tidal king of Goiim,

After these things, our Father's word came to Abram in a vision:

Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, our Father appeared to him and said, "I am El Shaddai—your Father Almighty.

Now our Father appeared to Abraham at the oaks of Mamre while he sat at his tent's entrance in the day's heat.

The two angels came to Sodom that evening;

Abraham traveled from there to the Negev, settled between Kadesh and Shur, and lived as a foreigner in Gerar.

Now our Father visited Sarah, just as he had said, and did for her what he had promised.

Some time later, our Father tested Abraham.

Sarah lived to be 127 years old; these were the years of Sarah's life.

Now Abraham was old, well advanced in years, and our Father had blessed Abraham in everything.

Abraham married another wife, whose name was Keturah.

Now there was a famine in the land, besides the earlier famine that occurred in the days of Abraham.

When Isaac grew old and his eyes were too dim to see, he called Esau his older son and said, "My son." "Here I am," he answered.

Then Isaac called Jacob, blessed him, and commanded him:

Then Jacob continued on his journey and came to the land of the eastern peoples.

When Rachel saw that she bore Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister.

Jacob heard Laban's sons say, "Jacob took all our father had;

Jacob went on his way, and the angels of our Father met him.

Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with 400 men.

Dinah, the daughter Leah bore to Jacob, went out to see the young women of the land.

Then our Father told Jacob, "Get up, go to Bethel, stay there, and build an altar to me, who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau."

This is the family record of Esau (that is, Edom).

Jacob settled in the land where his father had lived as a foreigner, the land of Canaan.

At that time Judah left his brothers and went to a man from Adullam named Hirah.

Joseph was brought down to Egypt; Potiphar, Pharaoh's Egyptian official and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.

After these things, the king of Egypt's cupbearer and baker sinned against their lord, the king of Egypt.

After two full years had passed, Pharaoh had a dream:

When Jacob saw grain was in Egypt, Jacob said to his sons, "Why do you stare at each other?"

Now the famine was severe in the land.

Then he told his house steward: "Fill the men's sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put each man's silver at his sack's opening.

Joseph could not control himself before everyone standing by him, so he cried out, "Send everyone away from me!" No one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

So Israel set out with all he had, came to Beersheba, and sacrificed to our Father, whom his father Isaac had worshiped.

Joseph came and told Pharaoh, "My father and my brothers, with their flocks, herds, and all they own, have come from Canaan.

After this, Joseph was told, "Look, your father is sick." So he took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather, so I can tell you what will happen to you in the days ahead.

Joseph bent over his father's face and wept over him and kissed him.

These are the names of Israel's sons who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi.

Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, priest of Midian.

Moses replied, "But they won't believe me or listen to my voice, for they'll say, 'Our Father did not appear to you.'"

Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what our Father of Israel says:

Then our Father told Moses, "Now you'll see what I'll do to Pharaoh:

Our Father told Moses, "See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh, and Aaron your brother will be your prophet.

Then our Father told Moses, "Go to Pharaoh and tell him, 'This is what our Father says:

Then our Father told Moses, "Go tell Pharaoh, 'This is what the Father of the Hebrews says:

Then our Father told Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, for I hardened his heart and his servants' hearts, to put my signs among them.

Our Father said to Moses, "One more plague I will bring on Pharaoh and on Egypt.

Our Father said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt,

Our Father spoke to Moses:

Then our Father said to Moses,

Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to our Father:

The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after leaving the land of Egypt.

All Israel's community left the Wilderness of Sin, journeying stage by stage as our Father commanded, and camped at Rephidim—but there was no water for the people to drink.

Jethro, priest of Midian, Moses' father-in-law, heard all our Father did for Moses and Israel his people, bringing Israel out of Egypt.

In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt, on that same day, they came to the Sinai wilderness.

Then our Father spoke all these words:

"Now these are the regulations you are to set before them:

"Whoever steals an ox or sheep, then kills or sells it, repays five cattle for the ox, four sheep for the sheep.

"Don't spread a false report or join hands with the wicked as a malicious witness.

He said to Moses, "Come up to me—you and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel—and bow in worship from a distance.

Then our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

"Make the tabernacle from ten curtains: finely twisted linen with blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, woven with cherubim by a skilled artisan.

"Make the altar of acacia wood: seven and a half feet long, seven and a half feet wide, square, and four and a half feet high.

"Bring your brother Aaron near to you, with his sons, from the Israelites, to serve me as priests:

"To dedicate them as priests serving me, do this:

"Make an altar for burning incense; make it of acacia wood.

Our Father spoke to Moses:

When the people saw Moses delayed coming down the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said to him, "Get up, make us gods to go before us.

Our Father said to Moses, "Leave here, you and the people you brought up out of Egypt, for the land I swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob:

Our Father told Moses, "Carve two stone tablets for yourself, like the first.

Moses gathered the whole community of Israel's people and told them, "These are the things our Father commanded you to do.

Bezalel, Oholiab, and every skilled person our Father gave skill and understanding to build the sanctuary must do all the work exactly as our Father commanded.

Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood—about forty-five inches long, twenty-seven inches wide, and twenty-seven inches high.

He made the altar of burnt offering from acacia wood:

From the blue, purple, and scarlet yarn they made finely woven garments for serving in the holy place;

Then our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

Our Father called to Moses and spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying:

"When anyone brings a grain offering to our Father, the offering must be fine flour.

"If someone's offering is a peace offering from the herd, male or female, he must present it without defect before me.

Our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

"If anyone sins by hearing a public call to testify, and is a witness, having seen or known, yet stays silent, he bears his guilt.

Our Father spoke to Moses:

"This is the law of the guilt offering. It is most holy.

Our Father spoke to Moses:

On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel.

Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's sons, each took his censer, put fire in it, added incense, and offered unauthorized fire before our Father, which he had not commanded them.

Our Father spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them,

Our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

Our Father spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

Our Father said to Moses:

Our Father spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

Our Father spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron's two sons, who died approaching our Father.

Our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

Our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

Our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

Our Father spoke to Moses:

Our Father said to Moses: "Tell the priests, Aaron's sons:

Then our Father said to Moses,

Our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

Our Father spoke to Moses:

Our Father spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying:

"You must not make worthless idols for yourselves, set up a carved image or sacred pillar, or place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it;

Our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

Our Father spoke to Moses in the Sinai wilderness, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month of the second year after they left the land of Egypt.

Then our Father spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

This is the family line of Aaron and Moses, when our Father spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

Our Father spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

Our Father spoke to Moses:

Then our Father spoke to Moses:

When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and dedicated it and all its furnishings, the altar and all its utensils, anointing and dedicating them.

Our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

Our Father spoke to Moses in the Sinai wilderness, in the first month of the second year after they left Egypt:

Our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

The people complained about their hardship where our Father could hear;

Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses over the Cushite woman he had married—he had married a Cushite woman.

Our Father said to Moses,

Then the whole congregation raised their voices and cried out, and the people wept that night.

Our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

Korah son of Izhar, son of Kohath, son of Levi, gathered men, along with Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth, sons of Reuben.

Then our Father spoke to Moses, saying:

Our Father said to Aaron, "You, your sons, and your father's house will bear the guilt of the sanctuary;

Our Father spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying:

In the first month the whole community of Israel entered the Wilderness of Zin;

When the Canaanite, king of Arad, living in the Negev, heard Israel was coming by the Atharim road, he fought Israel and took some captive.

Then the Israelites set out and camped in the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan, opposite Jericho.

Balaam told Balak, "Build me seven altars here, prepare seven bulls and seven rams for me here."

Balaam saw that it pleased our Father to bless Israel, so he did not seek omens as before, but turned toward the wilderness.

While Israel lived in Shittim, the people began sexual sin with Moab's daughters.

After the plague, our Father said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,

The daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, from the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph, came forward.

Our Father said to Moses,

"In the seventh month, on the first day, hold a holy assembly.

Moses told Israel's tribal heads: This is what our Father commanded.

Our Father said to Moses,

The sons of Reuben and sons of Gad had vast herds of livestock.

These are the stages of the Israelites' journey out of Egypt, by their divisions under Moses and Aaron's hand.

And our Father spoke to Moses, saying,

Our Father spoke to Moses on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho:

The family heads of Gilead's clan—descendants of Machir son of Manasseh, from Joseph's clans—approached and spoke before Moses and the leaders, heads of Israel's family clans.

Moses spoke these words to all Israel across the Jordan, in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel, Laban, Hazeroth, and Dizahab.

Then we turned and traveled toward the wilderness by way of the Red Sea, as our Father told me, and circled Mount Seir for many days.

We turned and took the road to Bashan, and Og king of Bashan, with all his people, came out to fight us at Edrei.

Now, Israel, listen to the statutes and rules I am teaching you to follow, so you may live and go take possession of the land your Father, the God of your ancestors, is giving you.

Moses called all Israel and said to them:

This is the commandment—statutes and judgments—your Father commanded me to teach you, so you may do them in the land you are crossing over to possess.

When your Father brings you into the land you're entering to possess, and drives out many nations ahead of you—Hittites, Girgashites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—seven nat

Carefully obey every commandment I'm giving you today, so you may live, multiply, enter, and possess the land our Father swore to your ancestors.

Hear, Israel: today you cross the Jordan to go in and drive out nations greater and stronger than you—great cities fortified to the sky.

At that time our Father told me, "Cut two stone tablets like the first, come up to me on the mountain, and make a wooden ark.

So love your Father, and keep his requirements, his statutes, his decrees, and his commandments always.

These are the statutes and judgments you must carefully keep in the land our Father, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, all the days you live on the earth.

If a prophet or dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or wonder,

You are children of your Father—don't cut yourselves or shave your forehead bald for the dead.

At the end of every seven years you are to grant a release of debts.

Observe the month of Abib and keep Passover to your Father, for in the month of Abib your Father brought you out of Egypt by night.

Do not sacrifice to your Father an ox or sheep with any defect or serious flaw;

Levite priests—the whole tribe of Levi—get no portion or inheritance with Israel;

When your Father cuts off the nations whose land your Father gives you, and you drive them out, settling in their cities and houses,

When you go to war against your enemies and see horses, chariots, and an army larger than yours, do not fear them, for your Father is with you—the one who brought you up from the land of Egypt.

If a slain man is found lying in the field in the land your Father gives you to possess, and no one knows who killed him,

Don't see your brother's ox or sheep wandering off and ignore them;

No man with crushed testicles or a severed penis may enter the assembly of our Father.

When a man marries a woman, if she no longer pleases him because he finds something indecent in her, he writes her a certificate of divorce, puts it in her hand, and sends her from his house,

If men have a dispute and go to court, the judges deciding between them clear the innocent and condemn the guilty,

When you enter the land your Father gives you as an inheritance, take possession of it, and settle in it,

Moses and Israel's elders commanded the people:

If you faithfully listen to the voice of your Father, being careful to do all his commandments I give you today, your Father will set you high above all the nations of the earth.

These are the covenant words our Father commanded Moses to make with the Israelites in Moab, besides the covenant he made with them at Horeb.

When all these things happen to you—the blessing and the curse I have set before you—and you remember them among all the nations where your Father has driven you,

Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel.

Listen, heavens, and I will speak; let the earth hear the words of my mouth.

This is the blessing Moses, the man of our Father, gave the Israelites before his death.

Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, the top of Pisgah opposite Jericho, and our Father showed him the whole land—Gilead to Dan,

After Moses our Father's servant died, our Father told Joshua son of Nun, Moses' assistant:

Joshua son of Nun quietly sent two men from Shittim as spies:

Joshua rose early, and he and all Israel set out from Shittim, reached the Jordan, and camped there before crossing over.

When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, our Father said to Joshua,

When all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the sea heard that our Father had dried up the Jordan's waters before Israel until they crossed over, their hearts melte

Now Jericho was shut tight because of the Israelites;

Israel broke faith with what was devoted to destruction:

Then our Father told Joshua, "Don't be afraid or lose courage.

When all the kings beyond the Jordan—in the hill country, the lowland, and along the whole coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites

Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and set it apart for destruction—handling Ai and its king just as he had Jericho and its king—and that Gibeon's people had made peace wi

When Jabin king of Hazor heard this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,

These are the kings of the land the Israelites struck down, taking their land east of the Jordan—from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon—and the whole eastern Arabah:

Joshua was old, far along in years, and our Father said to him, "You are old, far along in years, and very much land still remains to be taken.

These are the inheritances Israel's people received in Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of Israel's ancestral tribes distributed to them.

The lot for the tribe of Judah's sons, by clans, reached Edom's border, the Wilderness of Zin, southward to the southern tip.

The lot for Joseph's descendants ran from the Jordan at Jericho, east of its waters, into the wilderness rising from Jericho through the hill country to Bethel.

The lot for the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's firstborn:

Then the whole Israelite community gathered at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there, since the land was subdued before them.

The second lot came out for Simeon, the tribe of Simeon's descendants, by their clans.

Then our Father spoke to Joshua:

Then the heads of the families of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel.

Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

A long time after our Father gave Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua was old, well along in years.

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, summoned its elders, heads, judges, and officers, and they stood before our Father.

After Joshua's death, the Israelites asked our Father, "Who will go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight them?"

The messenger of our Father went up from Gilgal to Bochim and said, "I brought you up out of Egypt into the land I swore to your fathers.

These are the nations our Father left to test Israel—all who had not known any of Canaan's wars.

Once Ehud was dead, the Israelites again did evil in the eyes of our Father.

On that day Deborah and Barak son of Abinoam sang this song:

Israel did evil in our Father's sight, and our Father gave them into Midian's hand seven years.

Jerubbaal (Gideon) and all his people rose early, camping at Harod's spring;

Then the men of Ephraim said, "Why treat us like this—not calling us when you went to fight Midian?" And they quarreled with him sharply.

Abimelech son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother's brothers, and said to them and to all his mother's father's clan.

After Abimelech, Tola son of Puah, son of Dodo, a man of Issachar, rose to save Israel;

Jephthah the Gileadite was a mighty warrior, but the son of a prostitute.

The men of Ephraim gathered and crossed to Zaphon.

Again the Israelites did evil in our Father's eyes, so he gave them into the Philistines' hand for forty years.

Samson went down to Timnah and saw a young woman there, one of the daughters of the Philistines.

Some time later, at wheat harvest, Samson visited his wife with a young goat, saying, "Let me go to my wife, into her room." Her father wouldn't let him in.

Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he was intimate with her.

There was a man from the hill country of Ephraim whose name was Micah.

In those days Israel had no king. The tribe of Dan was seeking territory to settle in, for until then no inheritance had fallen to them among the tribes of Israel.

In those days Israel had no king. A Levite in Ephraim's remote hill country took a concubine from Bethlehem in Judah.

All the Israelites came out, the assembly gathering as one man, from Dan to Beersheba, with the land of Gilead, before our Father at Mizpah.

Israel's men had sworn at Mizpah: "None of us will give his daughter to Benjamin as a wife."

When the judges ruled, a famine struck the land, and a man from Bethlehem in Judah went with his wife and two sons to stay a while in the fields of Moab.

Naomi had a relative through her husband, a prominent, wealthy man from Elimelech's clan, named Boaz.

Then her mother-in-law Naomi said, "My daughter, shouldn't I seek a home for you, so it goes well for you?

Boaz went up to the town gate and sat. When the family redeemer he'd mentioned came by, Boaz said, "Come sit here, friend." So he came and sat.

There was a man from Ramathaim-zophim in the hill country of Ephraim named Elkanah son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.

Hannah prayed: "My heart exults in my Father;

The boy Samuel served our Father under Eli.

Samuel's word reached all Israel. Israel went to fight the Philistines, camped at Ebenezer;

The Philistines had captured the ark of our Father, and they brought it from Ebenezer to Ashdod.

The ark of our Father stayed in Philistine territory for seven months.

The men of Kiriath-jearim came, took the ark of our Father, brought it to Abinadab's house on the hill, and dedicated his son Eleazar to guard the ark of our Father.

Now when Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.

There was a man of Benjamin named Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a man of wealth and standing.

Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on Saul's head, kissed him, and said, "Hasn't our Father anointed you ruler over his inheritance?

Then Nahash the Ammonite went up and camped against Jabesh-gilead.

Samuel said to all Israel, "I listened to your voice in all you told me, and made a king over you.

Saul was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned over Israel forty-two years.

One day Jonathan son of Saul said to his armor-bearer, "Come, let's cross to the Philistine post opposite us," but did not tell his father.

Samuel said to Saul, "Our Father sent me to anoint you king over his people Israel.

Our Father said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, since I've rejected him as king over Israel?

The Philistines gathered their forces for battle, assembling at Socoh in Judah and camping at Ephes-dammim, between Socoh and Azekah.

When David finished speaking with Saul, Jonathan's soul was tied to David's, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

Saul spoke to his son Jonathan and all his servants about killing David.

David fled Naioth in Ramah, came to Jonathan, and said, "What have I done?

David came to Ahimelech the priest at Nob.

David left there and escaped to the cave of Adullam;

They reported to David, "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and looting the threshing floors."

After Saul returned from chasing the Philistines, he was told, "David is in the En Gedi wilderness."

Samuel died, and all Israel gathered to mourn him and buried him at his home in Ramah.

Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah: "Isn't David hiding on Hachilah hill, facing Jeshimon?"

David thought, "One day I'll be swept away by Saul's hand.

In those days Philistines massed their forces for war, to fight Israel.

Now the Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, while Israel camped by the spring in Jezreel.

David and his men reached Ziklag on the third day;

The Philistines fought Israel; Israel's men fled them and fell dead on Mount Gilboa.

After the death of Saul, David returned from defeating the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days.

Later, David inquired of our Father, "Should I go up to one of the cities of Judah?" Our Father said, "Go up." David said, "Where?" "Hebron," he said.

The war between Saul's house and the house of David dragged on a long time.

When Saul's son Ish-bosheth heard Abner had died in Hebron, he lost his courage, and all Israel was shaken.

All the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, "We are your own flesh and blood.

Once again David gathered all the chosen men of Israel, 30,000.

When the king had settled in his house, and our Father had given him rest from all his surrounding enemies,

After this, David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took Metheg-ammah from the Philistines.

David asked, "Is anyone left of Saul's family I can show kindness to, for Jonathan's sake?"

Later, the king of the Ammonites died, and his son Hanun became king in his place.

At spring, when kings march out to war, David sent Joab, his men, and all Israel.

Our Father sent Nathan to David. He came and said, "Two men lived in a certain city, one rich, one poor.

After this, Absalom son of David had a beautiful sister named Tamar, and David's son Amnon loved her.

Now Joab son of Zeruiah realized that the king's heart longed for Absalom.

Later, Absalom got himself a chariot and horses, with fifty men to run ahead of him.

When David had passed a little beyond the summit, Ziba, Mephibosheth's servant, met him with a pair of saddled donkeys carrying 200 loaves, one hundred raisin clusters, one hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine.

Then Ahithophel said to Absalom, "Let me pick 12,000 men and set out tonight after David.

David mustered his troops and appointed commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds over them.

Word reached Joab: "Look, the king is weeping and mourning for Absalom."

A worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, was there.

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year;

David spoke to our Father the words of this song when our Father rescued him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

Now these are the last words of David. The oracle of David son of Jesse, the oracle of the man raised on high, anointed by the God of Jacob, our Father, Israel's beloved singer of songs:

Again the anger of our Father burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go, take a census of Israel and Judah."

King David was old, advanced in years. They covered him with clothes, but he couldn't get warm.

When the time drew near for David to die, he charged Solomon his son:

Solomon allied by marriage with Pharaoh king of Egypt.

King Solomon was king over all Israel.

Hiram king of Tyre heard Solomon had been anointed king after his father, and sent him servants, for Hiram had always loved David.

In the 480th year after Israel left Egypt, Solomon's fourth year ruling Israel, in Ziv, the second month, he began building the house of our Father.

But Solomon spent thirteen years building his own palace, until he had finished all of it.

Then Solomon gathered Israel's elders—all the tribal heads, the leaders of the ancestral houses of the children of Israel—before King Solomon in Jerusalem, to bring up the ark of the covenant of our F

When Solomon finished building our Father's house, the royal palace, and all he wanted to do,

When the queen of Sheba heard of Solomon's fame, tied to the name of our Father, she came to test him with hard questions.

King Solomon loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh's daughter—Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians, Hittites,

Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

A man of our Father came from Judah to Bethel by our Father's word, as Jeroboam stood at the altar to burn incense.

At that time Abijah son of Jeroboam fell sick.

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam son of Nebat, Abijam began to reign over Judah.

Then the word of our Father came to Jehu son of Hanani against Baasha:

Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, told Ahab, "As our Father, Israel's God, lives—before whom I stand—no dew or rain will fall these years except by my word."

After many days, in the third year, our Father's word came to Elijah:

Ahab told Jezebel all Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword.

Ben-Hadad king of Aram gathered his whole army—thirty-two kings with him, plus horses and chariots.

After these things, Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside Ahab king of Samaria's palace.

For three years there was no war between Aram and Israel.

After the death of Ahab, Moab rebelled against Israel.

As our Father was about to take Elijah up to heaven in a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha left Gilgal.

Joram son of Ahab became king over Israel in Samaria in Jehoshaphat king of Judah's eighteenth year, and reigned twelve years.

The wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant revered our Father.

Naaman, army commander for Aram's king, was great and highly regarded by his master, because through him our Father gave Aram victory.

The company of prophets said to Elisha, "Look, the place where we live under your care is too cramped for us.

Elisha said, "Hear the word of our Father.

Elisha had told the woman whose son he revived, "Rise, go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can, for our Father has called for the famine, coming on the land seven years."

Elisha the prophet called one of the sons of the prophets:

Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu sent letters to Samaria, to the city officials, elders, and guardians of Ahab's sons, writing:

When Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, saw her son was dead, she set out to destroy the whole royal family.

In Jehu's seventh year Jehoash became king;

In year twenty-three of Joash son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years.

In year two of Israel's King Joash son of Jehoahaz, Amaziah son of Joash became king of Judah.

In Jeroboam king of Israel's twenty-seventh year, Azariah son of Amaziah king of Judah became king.

In Pekah son of Remaliah's seventeenth year, Ahaz son of Jotham became king of Judah.

In Ahaz king of Judah's twelfth year, Hoshea son of Elah became king over Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years.

In Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel's third year, Hezekiah son of Ahaz became king of Judah.

When King Hezekiah heard this, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and went into the house of our Father.

In those days Hezekiah became sick and was near death.

Manasseh became king at twelve and reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.

Josiah, eight when made king, reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

Then the king sent word, and they gathered to him all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem.

Under Jehoiakim, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked the land;

In Zedekiah's ninth year, the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched on Jerusalem with his whole army, camped outside, and built a siege wall around it.

Adam, Seth, Enosh,

These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,

David's sons born to him in Hebron: the firstborn Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel;

The descendants of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.

The sons of Reuben, Israel's firstborn—he was indeed the firstborn, but since he violated his father's bed, his birthright went to the sons of Joseph son of Israel, so he could not be listed as the fi

The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

The sons of Issachar were Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron—four in all.

Benjamin fathered Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,

All Israel was registered by genealogy, recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

The Philistines fought Israel; Israel's men fled before them and fell slain on Mount Gilboa.

Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron, saying, "Look, we are your bone and flesh.

These are the men who came to David at Ziklag while he was still banned from Saul son of Kish's presence—mighty warriors who helped him in battle.

David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader.

Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, with cedar logs, masons, and carpenters, to build him a house.

David built houses for himself in the city of David, prepared a place for the ark of our Father, and pitched a tent for it.

They brought the ark of our Father and set it inside the tent that David had pitched for it, and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before our Father.

After David settled in his house, he told Nathan the prophet, "Look, I live in a cedar house, but the ark of our Father's covenant sits under tent curtains."

After this, David defeated the Philistines, subduing them, and took Gath and its villages from the Philistines' hand.

Some time later, Nahash king of the Ammonites died, and his son became king in his place.

At the turn of the year, when kings march to war, Joab led the army out and devastated the Ammonites' land, then came and besieged Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem.

Now the Accuser rose up against Israel and incited David to count Israel.

David said, "This is the house of our Father, and this the altar of burnt offering for Israel."

When David was old and had lived many years, he made his son Solomon king over Israel.

These are the divisions of Aaron's sons. Aaron's sons:

David and the army commanders set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun for service, who prophesied with lyres, harps, and cymbals.

Gatekeeper divisions: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah son of Kore, of Asaph's sons.

This is the count of Israel's people—heads of families, commanders of thousands and hundreds, and officers serving the king in every matter of the divisions that rotated monthly through the year, each division 24,000.

David assembled at Jerusalem all Israel's officials:

David the king told the whole assembly: My son Solomon, the one our Father has chosen, is young and inexperienced, and the task is great, for the temple is not for man but for our Father.

Solomon son of David strengthened his hold on his kingdom;

Solomon resolved to build a house for our Father's name, and a royal palace for himself.

Then Solomon began building our Father's house in Jerusalem, on Mount Moriah, where our Father had appeared to his father David, at the site David had prepared on Ornan the Jebusite's threshing floor.

He made a bronze altar thirty feet long, thirty feet wide, and fifteen feet high.

Solomon completed all the work for the house of our Father.

Then Solomon said, "Our Father has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.

When Solomon finished praying, fire fell from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and sacrifices, and our Father's glory filled the house.

After twenty years, in which Solomon built the house of our Father and his own palace,

Hearing Solomon's fame, the queen of Sheba came to Jerusalem to test him with hard questions—a huge retinue, camels bearing spices, much gold, precious stones.

Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.

Rehoboam came to Jerusalem and assembled the house of Judah and Benjamin—180,000 chosen warriors—to fight against Israel and restore the kingdom to Rehoboam.

When Rehoboam's reign was secure and strong, he abandoned our Father's law, and all Israel with him.

In the eighteenth year of King Jeroboam, Abijah became king of Judah.

Abijah rested with his ancestors; they buried him in the City of David.

The Spirit of our Father came upon Azariah son of Oded.

In Asa's thirty-sixth year, Baasha king of Israel invaded Judah, fortifying Ramah to keep anyone from leaving or entering Asa king of Judah's territory.

His son Jehoshaphat became king in his place and strengthened himself against Israel.

Now Jehoshaphat had great riches and honor, and he allied himself with Ahab by marriage.

Jehoshaphat king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem.

Later, Moabites and Ammonites, with some Meunites, came to make war on Jehoshaphat.

Jehoshaphat rested with his ancestors, buried with them in the City of David;

The people of Jerusalem made his youngest son Ahaziah king in his place, since the raiders who came with the Arabs into the camp had killed all the older sons.

In the seventh year Jehoiada took courage and made a covenant with the commanders of hundreds—Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.

Joash became king at seven, and reigned forty years in Jerusalem.

Amaziah became king at twenty-five and reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem.

Then all the people of Judah made Uzziah, sixteen years old, king in place of his father Amaziah.

Jotham was twenty-five when he became king;

Ahaz became king at twenty; he reigned sixteen years in Jerusalem.

Hezekiah became king at twenty-five, reigning twenty-nine years in Jerusalem.

Hezekiah sent word to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters to Ephraim and Manasseh, to come to the house of our Father in Jerusalem to keep the Passover to our Father, the God of Israel.

When this ended, all Israel present went out to the towns of Judah, smashed the sacred pillars, cut down the Asherah poles, and tore down the high places and altars throughout Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim

After these things and these acts of faithfulness, Sennacherib, Assyria's king, invaded Judah, besieged its fortified cities, meaning to break into them for himself.

Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem.

Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned thirty-one years in Jerusalem.

Josiah kept Passover to our Father in Jerusalem;

The people of the land took Josiah's son Jehoahaz and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.

In Cyrus king of Persia's first year, to fulfill our Father's word through Jeremiah, our Father stirred Cyrus king of Persia's spirit, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and put it in writing:

These are the province's people who came up from captivity—those Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon exiled to Babylon.

In the seventh month, with Israel settled in their towns, the people gathered as one in Jerusalem.

When Judah and Benjamin's enemies heard the returned exiles were building our Father a temple,

Then the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem, in the name of our Father, the God of Israel, over them.

Then King Darius issued a decree, and a search was made in Babylon's archive house, where the treasures were stored.

After these events, in Artaxerxes king of Persia's reign, Ezra son of Seraiah, son of Azariah, son of Hilkiah,

These are the heads of their families, and the genealogy of those who came up with me from Babylon during King Artaxerxes' reign:

When this was done, the officials came to me:

As Ezra prayed, confessed, wept, and fell before the house of our Father, a huge assembly of Israel—men, women, children—gathered to him, and the people wept bitterly.

The words of Nehemiah son of Hacaliah. In the month of Kislev, in the twentieth year, I was in the citadel of Susa,

In the month of Nisan, in King Artaxerxes' twentieth year, wine was before him;

Eliashib the high priest and his fellow priests rose and built the Sheep Gate.

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he was furious and seething with rage, and he ridiculed the Jews.

Now there arose a great outcry from the people and their wives against their fellow Jews.

Sanballat, Tobiah, Geshem the Arab, and our other enemies heard I had rebuilt the wall with no gap left—though I hadn't yet set the doors in the gates.

After the wall was rebuilt and I set up the doors, the gatekeepers, singers, and Levites were appointed.

When the seventh month came, all the people gathered as one in the square before the Water Gate and asked Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses, which our Father commanded for Israel.

On this month's twenty-fourth day, the Israelites gathered fasting, wearing sackcloth, with dirt on their heads.

Now those who set their seal to it were: Nehemiah the governor, son of Hacaliah, and Zedekiah,

Leaders lived in Jerusalem; the rest cast lots to bring one of every ten to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, leaving nine-tenths in the towns.

These are the priests and Levites who came up with Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel and Jeshua:

That day they read Moses' book aloud to the people and found it written that no Ammonite or Moabite was ever to enter our Father's assembly,

This happened in the days of Xerxes—the Xerxes who reigned from India to Cush over 127 provinces,

Later, when King Xerxes' anger cooled, he remembered Vashti, what she had done, and what was decreed against her.

After this King Xerxes promoted Haman son of Hammedatha the Agagite, elevating him and raising his seat above all the officials with him.

When Mordecai learned all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city crying loud and bitter.

On the third day, Esther dressed in royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, facing the king's hall.

That night, sleep escaped the king; he ordered the record book—the chronicles—brought and read to him.

So the king and Haman came to drink with Queen Esther.

That day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews.

In the twelfth month, Adar, on the thirteenth day—when the king's order and decree were to take effect, the day the Jews' enemies hoped to dominate them—it reversed:

King Xerxes imposed tribute on the land and on the coastlands of the sea.

There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil.

Again there came a day when the members of the heavenly court came to present themselves before our Father, and the accuser also came among them to present himself before him.

After this Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

"Call out now—is there anyone who will answer you?

Then Job answered:

"Don't people have hard service on earth, and aren't their days like those of a hired worker?

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

Then Job answered:

"I am sick of my own life. I will give free rein to my complaint;

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:

Then Job answered:

"Look, my eye has seen all this; my ear has heard and understood it.

"Man, born of woman, is short of days and full of trouble.

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

Then Job answered:

"My spirit is broken, my days are snuffed out, the grave is ready for me.

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

Then Job answered:

Then Zophar the Naamathite answered:

Then Job answered:

Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered:

Then Job answered:

"Why doesn't the Almighty set aside times for judgment?

Then Bildad the Shuhite answered:

Then Job answered:

And Job again took up his discourse and said:

"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined.

And Job spoke again and said:

"But now those younger than I laugh at me—men whose fathers I would have refused to put with the dogs of my flock.

"I made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?

So these three men stopped answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes.

"But now, Job, hear my words; listen to everything I say.

Then Elihu continued and said:

Then Elihu continued and said:

And Elihu continued and said:

"At this also my heart trembles and leaps from its place.

Then our Father answered Job out of the whirlwind:

"Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?

Then our Father said to Job:

"Can you draw out Leviathan with a fishhook, or press down his tongue with a cord?

Then Job answered our Father:

Blessed is the one who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand among sinners, nor sit in the seat of mockers,

Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain?

My Father, how many are my enemies! Many rise up against me.

Answer me when I call, O my Father, the one who upholds my righteousness.

Listen to my words, my Father; consider my groaning.

My Father, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath.

O my Father, in you I take refuge; save me from all who pursue me, and deliver me,

O our Sovereign Father, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

I will give thanks to you, my Father, with all my heart;

Why, our Father, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

In my Father I have taken refuge. How can you say to my soul, "Flee to your mountain like a bird"?

Help, our Father, for the faithful are gone;

How long, my Father, will you forget me? Forever?

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;

Father, who may dwell in your tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?

Keep me safe, my Father, for in you I take refuge.

Hear a just cause, my Father; attend to my cry;

I love you, my Father, my strength.

The heavens declare the glory of our Father;

May our Father answer you in the day of trouble;

O our Father, in your strength the king rejoices;

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

My Father is my shepherd; I lack nothing.

The earth is our Father's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.

To you, my Father, I lift up my soul.

Vindicate me, my Father, for I have walked in my integrity, and in my Father I have trusted without wavering.

My Father is my light and my salvation—whom should I fear?

To you, my Father, I call; my Rock, do not be deaf to me, for if you stay silent toward me, I will become like those who go down to the pit.

Ascribe to our Father, you heavenly beings, ascribe to our Father glory and strength.

I will exalt you, my Father, for you lifted me up and did not let my enemies gloat over me.

In you, my Father, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame;

How blessed is the one whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is covered over!

Rejoice in our Father, you righteous; praise is fitting for the upright.

I will bless our Father at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.

Contend, my Father, with those who contend with me;

Rebellion speaks to the wicked deep within his heart;

Do not fret because of evildoers; do not be envious of those who do wrong,

O my Father, do not rebuke me in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.

I said, "I will guard my ways so I won't sin with my tongue;

I waited patiently for our Father; he turned to me and heard my cry.

Blessed is the one who considers the helpless;

As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my Father.

Vindicate me, my Father, and defend my cause against an unfaithful nation;

O our Father, we have heard with our own ears;

My heart overflows with a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king;

Our Father is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of trouble.

Clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to our Father with cries of joy!

Great is our Father, and greatly to be praised, in the city of our Father, on his holy mountain.

Hear this, all you peoples; listen, all who live in the world,

The Mighty One, our Father, has spoken; he summoned the earth from the rising of the sun to its setting.

Have mercy on me, my Father, according to your covenant love;

Why do you boast of evil, mighty one? The faithful love of our Father endures all day long.

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, doing detestable wrong;

O my Father, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might.

Hear my prayer, my Father, and do not hide yourself from my plea for mercy.

Be gracious to me, my Father, for men trample me;

Be gracious to me, my Father, be gracious to me, for in you my soul takes refuge;

Do you indeed decree what is right, you rulers?

Deliver me from my enemies, my Father; set me securely on high above those who rise against me.

Our Father, you have rejected us; you have broken through our defenses;

Hear my cry, my Father; listen to my prayer.

For my Father alone my soul waits in silence;

My Father, you are my Father; I seek you with all my heart.

Hear my voice, my Father, in my lament; guard my life from the terror of the enemy.

Praise awaits you in silence, our Father, in Zion;

Shout for joy to our Father, all the earth!

May our Father be gracious to us and bless us, and make his face shine upon us,

May our Father arise; may his enemies be scattered, and may those who hate him flee before him.

Save me, my Father, for the waters have risen to my neck.

Hurry, my Father, to rescue me! My Father, hurry to help me!

In you, my Father, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame.

Give the king your justice, our Father, and your righteousness to the king's son.

Truly our Father is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart.

O our Father, why have you cast us off forever?

We give thanks to you, our Father; we give thanks, for your name is near.

Our Father is known in Judah; in Israel his name is great.

I cry aloud to our Father; my voice rises to our Father, that he may hear me.

Listen, my people, to my teaching; turn your ears to the words of my mouth.

Our Father, the nations have invaded your inheritance;

Listen, Shepherd of Israel—our Father—you who lead Joseph like a flock;

Sing for joy to our Father, our strength;

Our Father takes his stand in the divine assembly;

O our Father, do not keep silent; do not hold your peace or be still, O our Father.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Father of heaven's armies!

You showed favor to your land, our Father;

Bend down and hear me, my Father; answer me, for I am poor and needy.

He has founded his city on the holy mountains;

The Father of my salvation, by day I cry out, and at night I cry before you.

I will sing of our Father's covenant love forever;

Sovereign Father, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

It is good to give thanks to our Father, to sing praises to your name, Most High,

Our Father reigns; he is robed in majesty.

Our Father who brings justice—our Father;

Come, let us sing for joy to our Father; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Sing to our Father a new song; sing to our Father, all the earth.

Our Father reigns! Let the earth rejoice;

Sing to our Father a new song, for he has done marvelous things;

Our Father reigns; let the peoples tremble!

Shout for joy to our Father, all the earth!

Of covenant love and justice I will sing;

Hear my prayer, our Father; let my cry for help come to you.

Bless our Father, my soul; and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

Bless our Father, my soul. My Father, you are very great;

Give thanks to our Father; call on his name;

Hallelujah! Give thanks to our Father, for he is good;

Give thanks to our Father, for he is good;

My heart is steadfast, my Father; I will sing and make music with all that I am.

O Father of my praise, do not be silent,

Our Father said to my Lord—Jesus: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet."

Hallelujah! I will praise our Father with all my heart, in the company of the upright and in the assembly.

Hallelujah! Blessed is the one who fears our Father, who delights greatly in his commandments.

Hallelujah! Praise him, you servants of our Father;

When Israel came out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a foreign-speaking people,

Not to us, our Father, not to us, but to your name give glory, because of your covenant love and your faithfulness.

I love my Father, because he hears my voice, my cries for mercy.

Praise our Father, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!

Give thanks to our Father, for he is good;

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the instruction of our Father.

In my distress I called to our Father, and he answered me.

I lift up my eyes to the hills—from where will my help come?

I rejoiced with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of our Father."

To you I lift up my eyes, you who are enthroned in the heavens.

If our Father had not been for us—let Israel say it now,

Those who trust in our Father are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but abides forever.

When our Father restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.

Unless our Father builds the house, its builders labor in vain.

Blessed is everyone who honors our Father, who walks in his ways.

"They have greatly afflicted me from my youth"—let Israel now say.

Out of the depths I cry to you, my Father.

My Father, my heart is not proud, and my eyes are not haughty;

Remember, our Father, for David's sake, all the hardships he endured,

Look how good and how pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!

Come, bless our Father, all you his servants, who serve at night in his house.

Hallelujah! Praise the name of our Father;

Give thanks to our Father, for he is good;

By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down and wept, when we remembered Zion.

I will praise you with all my heart; before the gods I will sing your praise.

You have searched me, my Father, and you know me.

Rescue me, my Father, from evil people; from the violent keep me safe,

My Father, I call to you; come quickly to me.

With my voice I cry out to my Father; with my voice I plead with him for mercy.

My Father, hear my prayer; listen to my pleas for mercy;

Blessed be my Father, my rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle,

I will exalt you, my Father, my King, and I will bless your name forever and ever.

Hallelujah! Praise our Father, my soul.

Hallelujah! How good it is to sing praises to our Father;

Hallelujah! Praise our Father from the heavens;

Hallelujah! Sing to our Father a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful.

Hallelujah! Praise our Father in his sanctuary;

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

My son, if you receive my words and store up my commandments within you,

My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,

Listen, my children, to a father's instruction;

My son, pay attention to my wisdom; listen closely to my understanding,

My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger,

My son, keep my words, and store up my commandments within you.

Does not Wisdom call out, and understanding raise her voice?

Wisdom—Jesus, the wisdom of our Father—has built her house;

The proverbs of Solomon: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.

Dishonest scales are an abomination to our Father, but accurate weights are his delight.

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is senseless.

A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a scoffer does not listen to rebuke.

The wisest of women builds her house, but foolishness tears hers down with her own hands.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue comes from our Father.

Better a dry crust eaten in peace than a house full of feasting with strife.

Whoever isolates himself pursues his own desire;

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity than one whose words are crooked and is a fool.

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever staggers under it is not wise.

The king's heart is a stream of water in our Father's hand;

A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold.

When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you,

Do not envy evil men, and do not desire to be with them,

These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out.

Like snow in summer and like rain at harvest, honor is not fitting for a fool.

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.

The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.

Whoever is often corrected yet refuses to listen will suddenly be broken beyond healing.

The words of Agur son of Jakeh—the oracle.

The words of King Lemuel—an oracle his mother taught him:

The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem.

In my heart I said, "Come, I'll test you with pleasure;

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

Again I looked and saw all the oppression under the sun:

Guard your steps entering the house of God.

There is an evil I have seen under the sun, and it weighs heavily on humanity:

A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death than the day of birth.

Who is like the wise? Who knows what a thing means?

I set my heart to examine all this: the righteous, the wise, and their deeds are in God's hand.

Dead flies make the perfumer's oil stink and ferment;

Cast your bread upon the waters, for after many days you will find it again.

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I find no pleasure in them,"

The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's.

I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys.

On my bed through the night I sought the one my soul loves;

How beautiful you are, my love, how beautiful you are!

I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride;

Where has your beloved gone, most beautiful of women?

How beautiful are your feet in sandals, noble daughter!

Oh, that you were like a brother to me, who nursed at my mother's breasts!

The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah.

The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

For look—the Father of heaven's armies is about to strip from Jerusalem and from Judah every support and supply:

On that day seven women will take hold of one man, saying, "We will eat our own bread and wear our own clothes;

Let me sing now for the one I love a song of my beloved about his vineyard.

In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord Jesus seated on a throne, high and lifted up, and the hem of his robe filled the temple.

In the days of Ahaz son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched on Jerusalem to fight it, but could not overpower it.

Our Father said to me, "Take a large tablet and write on it plainly:

But there will be no gloom for her that was in anguish.

Woe to those who enact unjust decrees, to the writers who issue oppressive laws,

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;

And in that day you will say: "I will praise you, my Father, for though you were angry with me, your anger has turned away, and you have comforted me.

The oracle concerning Babylon that Isaiah son of Amoz saw.

For our Father's heart will feel compassion for Jacob;

An oracle about Moab. In one night Ar of Moab is destroyed, ruined;

Send the lambs to the ruler of the land, from Sela by way of the wilderness, to the mountain of the daughter of Zion.

An oracle about Damascus. Look—Damascus will no longer be a city;

Ah, land of whirring wings, beyond the rivers of Cush,

An oracle about Egypt. Look—our Father rides a swift cloud into Egypt.

The year the commander-in-chief came to Ashdod, sent by Sargon king of Assyria, he fought Ashdod and captured it.

The oracle of the wilderness of the sea. Like whirlwinds sweeping the Negev, it comes from the wilderness, a fearsome land.

An oracle concerning the Valley of Vision.

The oracle concerning Tyre: Wail, you ships of Tarshish, for your harbor is destroyed, left without house or haven.

Look—our Father lays the earth waste and leaves it empty;

You are my Father; I will exalt you, I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things—plans formed long ago, faithful and sure.

That day this song will be sung in Judah's land:

In that day our Father will punish, with his fierce, great, mighty sword, Leviathan the fleeing serpent—Leviathan the twisting serpent—and he will slay the sea monster.

Woe to the proud crown of the drunkards of Ephraim, and to the fading flower of its glorious beauty, which sits on the head of the lush valley of those overcome with wine!

Woe to Ariel, Ariel, the city where David encamped!

"Woe to the rebellious children," declares our Father, "who carry out a plan, but not mine, and who forge an alliance, but not of my Spirit, heaping sin upon sin;

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong—but they do not look to the Holy One of Israel,

Look, a king will reign in righteousness, and rulers will govern with justice.

Woe to you, destroyer, who have not been destroyed;

Come close, you nations, and listen; pay attention, you peoples!

The wilderness and the dry land will be glad;

In King Hezekiah's fourteenth year, Sennacherib king of Assyria attacked all Judah's fortified cities and captured them.

When King Hezekiah heard it, he tore his clothes, put on mourning clothes, and went into the house of our Father.

In those days Hezekiah fell mortally ill.

At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah, having heard he had been sick and recovered.

Comfort, comfort my people, says your Father.

Listen to me in silence, coastlands; let the peoples renew their strength.

"Look at my servant—Jesus—whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights.

But now, this is what our Father says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:

But now listen, Jacob my servant, Israel whom I have chosen.

This is what our Father says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut:

Bel bows down, Nebo stoops low; their idols are loaded on beasts and cattle.

"Step down, sit in the dust, virgin daughter of Babylon;

Listen to this, house of Jacob, you who are called by the name of Israel and who came from the line of Judah;

Listen to me, coastlands; pay attention, you peoples from afar.

This is what our Father says: "Where is your mother's certificate of divorce, with which I sent her away?

"Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek our Father:

Wake up, wake up, put on your strength, Zion;

Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of our Father been revealed?

Sing, barren woman who never bore a child;

"Listen! All you who are thirsty, come to the water;

This is what our Father says: Keep justice and do what is right, for my salvation is coming soon, and my righteousness is about to be revealed.

The righteous one perishes, and no one takes it to heart;

"Shout aloud, do not hold back; raise your voice like a trumpet.

Look, our Father's hand is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of our Father has risen upon you.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Father is upon me, because our Father has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until her righteousness shines out like the dawn, and her salvation like a blazing torch.

Who is this coming from Edom, in crimson-stained garments from Bozrah, this one majestic in his apparel, striding in his great strength?

Oh, that you would tear open the heavens and come down, that the mountains would quake at your presence,

I let myself be sought by those who did not ask for me;

This is what our Father says: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.

The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the priests at Anathoth in Benjamin's land.

The word of our Father came to me, saying:

They say: If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, will he return to her again?

"If you will return, Israel," declares our Father, "then return to me.

"Roam through the streets of Jerusalem, look now and take note!

"Run for safety, you children of Benjamin, out of Jerusalem!

The word that came to Jeremiah from our Father:

"At that time,' declares our Father, 'they will remove the bones of Judah's kings, officials, priests, prophets, and Jerusalem's people from their graves.

Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

Hear the word that our Father speaks to you, house of Israel.

The word that came to Jeremiah from our Father:

You are righteous, my Father, whenever I bring my case before you;

This is what our Father said to me: "Go, buy yourself a linen loincloth, put it around your waist, but do not let it touch water."

This is the word of our Father that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts:

Then our Father told me: "Even if Moses and Samuel stood before me, my heart wouldn't turn toward this people.

The word of our Father came to me:

Judah's sin is engraved with an iron pen, inscribed with a diamond point on the tablet of their heart and on the horns of their altars,

The word that came to Jeremiah from our Father:

This is what our Father said: Go and buy a potter's clay flask, and take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests,

Pashhur son of Immer, priest and chief officer in our Father's house, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.

The word that came to Jeremiah from our Father when King Zedekiah sent him Pashhur son of Malchiah and Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah:

This is what our Father says: Go down to the house of Judah's king and speak this word there,

"Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!' declares our Father.

Our Father showed me two baskets of figs placed before our Father's temple—after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon exiled Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with Judah's officials, craftsmen, and

The word to Jeremiah about all Judah's people, in Jehoiakim son of Josiah's fourth year, king of Judah—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon's first year.

When Jehoiakim son of Josiah began his reign over Judah, this word came from our Father:

When Zedekiah son of Josiah began to reign as king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from our Father:

That year, early in Zedekiah king of Judah's reign, the fourth year, fifth month, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur from Gibeon told me in the house of our Father, before the priests and all the people:

These are the words of the letter Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, the priests, the prophets, and all the people Nebuchadnezzar had exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon.

The word that came to Jeremiah from our Father:

"At that time," declares our Father, "I will be the Father of all Israel's families, and they will be my children."

The word to Jeremiah from our Father in Zedekiah king of Judah's tenth year, Nebuchadnezzar's eighteenth.

The word of our Father came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still held in the guard's courtyard:

The word to Jeremiah from our Father when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, all his army, and all the kingdoms he ruled and all the peoples fought against Jerusalem and all its cities:

The word that came to Jeremiah from our Father in the days of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:

In Judah's King Jehoiakim son of Josiah's fourth year, this word came to Jeremiah from our Father:

Zedekiah son of Josiah reigned instead of Coniah son of Jehoiakim, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made king in Judah's land.

Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard Jeremiah telling all the people:

In Zedekiah king of Judah's ninth year, tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and besieged it.

The word to Jeremiah from our Father after Nebuzaradan, guard captain, freed him at Ramah, having taken him chained among all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah being carried to Babylon.

In the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of royal lineage and a king's chief officer, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah.

Then all the commanders of the forces, along with Johanan son of Kareah and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people, least to greatest, approached,

When Jeremiah finished telling all the people all the words of their Father—all the words their Father sent him to speak to them.

The word to Jeremiah about all the Jews living in Egypt, at Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and Pathros:

The word Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch son of Neriah when he wrote these words on a scroll at Jeremiah's dictation, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah:

This is the word of our Father that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations.

The word of our Father to Jeremiah the prophet about the Philistines, before Pharaoh struck Gaza.

Concerning Moab. This is what the Father of heaven's armies, our Father of Israel, says:

Concerning the Ammonites: this is what our Father says:

The word our Father spoke concerning Babylon, the land of the Babylonians, through Jeremiah the prophet:

This is what our Father says: I am stirring up a destroyer's spirit against Babylon and against the people living in Leb-kamai.

Zedekiah, twenty-one at his crowning, ruled Jerusalem eleven years.

How lonely sits the city that once was full of people!

How the Sovereign Father in his anger has shrouded daughter Zion in a cloud!

I am the man who has seen affliction under the rod of his wrath.

How the gold has grown dim, how the purest gold is changed!

Remember, our Father, what has happened to us;

In the thirtieth year, fourth month, fifth day, as I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens opened and I saw visions of our Father.

He said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you."

He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find.

"You, son of man, take a brick, set it before you, and carve a city on it—Jerusalem.

"You, son of man, take a sharp sword as a barber's razor and pass it over your head and beard.

The word of our Father came to me:

The word of our Father came to me, saying:

In the sixth year, sixth month, on the fifth day, as I sat in my house with the elders of Judah before me, the hand of the Sovereign Father fell on me there.

Then he called out in my hearing with a loud voice:

Then I looked: above the expanse over the cherubim's heads appeared what looked like a sapphire stone, shaped like a throne.

The Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the east gate of the house of our Father, which faces east.

The word of our Father came to me:

The word of our Father came to me:

Then some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me.

Then the word of our Father came to me:

The word of our Father came to me:

The word of our Father came to me:

The word of our Father came to me:

"As for you, take up a lament for the princes of Israel,

In the seventh year, the fifth month, the tenth of the month, some elders of Israel came to consult our Father, and sat before me.

The word of our Father came to me:

The word of our Father came to me:

The word of our Father came to me:

In the ninth year, tenth month, tenth day, the word of our Father came to me:

The word of our Father came to me:

In year eleven, on the first of the month, our Father's word came to me:

The word of our Father came to me:

The word of our Father came to me, saying:

In the tenth year, tenth month, twelfth day, our Father's word came to me:

The word of our Father came to me:

In the eleventh year, third month, first day, the word of our Father came to me:

In the twelfth year, twelfth month, first day, the word of our Father came to me:

The word of our Father came to me:

The word of our Father came to me:

The word of our Father came to me:

And you, son of man, prophesy to the mountains of Israel:

The hand of our Father came on me. He brought me out by the Spirit of our Father and set me down in the middle of the valley—it was full of bones.

The word of our Father came to me:

"And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog:

In the twenty-fifth year of our exile, at the start of the year, on the tenth of the month, fourteen years after the city was struck down—that very day the hand of our Father came on me and brought me there.

Then he brought me to the main hall and measured the doorposts—ten and a half feet wide each side, the width of the tent.

He led me out to the outer court on the north, to the chamber facing the separate courtyard and the north building.

Then he led me to the gate, the gate facing east.

Then he brought me back to the sanctuary's outer gate facing east, and it was shut.

"When you divide the land by lot as an inheritance, set apart a portion for our Father, a holy portion of the land:

The Sovereign Father says this: The inner court's east gate stays shut six workdays, but opened on the sabbath and opened on the new moon.

Then he brought me back to the temple entrance, and water was flowing out from under the threshold eastward, for the temple faced east.

"These are the names of the tribes: at the northern end, along the Hethlon road to Lebo-hamath, to Hazar-enan on the border of Damascus northward beside Hamath—from the east side to the west—Dan:

In Jehoiakim king of Judah's third year, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched on Jerusalem and besieged it.

In the second year of his reign, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams;

King Nebuchadnezzar made a gold statue, about ninety feet tall and nine feet wide, and set it up on the Dura plain in Babylon province.

King Nebuchadnezzar, to all peoples, nations, and languages living throughout the earth:

King Belshazzar held a great feast for 1,000 nobles, drinking wine in the presence of the 1,000.

Darius appointed 120 satraps over the kingdom, stationed throughout the whole kingdom,

In Belshazzar king of Babylon's first year, Daniel dreamed and saw visions in his head on his bed.

In King Belshazzar's third year, a vision appeared to me, Daniel, after the earlier one.

In the first year of Darius son of Xerxes, a Mede, made king over the Babylonian realm.

In Cyrus king of Persia's third year, a message was revealed to Daniel, called Belteshazzar—true, about a great war.

And I, in the first year of Darius the Mede, stood up to support and strengthen him.

At that time Michael, the great prince guarding your people's children, will arise.

The word of our Father that came to Hosea son of Beeri, in the days of Judah's kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, and in the days of Israel's king Jeroboam son of Joash.

Say to your brothers, "My People," and to your sisters, "Shown Mercy."

Our Father told me again: "Go, love a woman loved by another, an adulterous woman—like your Father loves the children of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes."

Hear the word of our Father, children of Israel, for he has a case against the inhabitants of the land:

Hear this, priests! Pay attention, house of Israel!

Come, let us return to our Father, for he has torn us so he can heal us;

Whenever I try to heal Israel, the sin of Ephraim is uncovered, and the evils of Samaria;

Put the trumpet to your lips! An eagle swoops over my house, because they have broken my covenant and rebelled against my law.

Do not rejoice, Israel; do not exult like the nations.

Israel was a lush vine that yielded its fruit.

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son.

Ephraim feeds on the wind and chases the east wind all day long;

When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel.

Return, Israel, to your Father; for you have stumbled because of your sins.

The word of our Father that came to Joel son of Pethuel.

Blow the ram's horn in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain!

"For look, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,

The words of Amos, a shepherd of Tekoa, which he saw about Israel when Uzziah ruled Judah and Jeroboam son of Joash ruled Israel, two years before the earthquake.

This is what our Father says: For three sins of Moab, and for four, I will not revoke it—he burned the bones of Edom's king to lime.

Hear this word our Father has spoken against you, children of Israel—against the whole family I brought up from Egypt:

Hear this word, you cows of Bashan who are on the mountain of Samaria, you who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who say to your masters, "Bring us something to drink!"

Hear this word that I raise as a lament over you, house of Israel:

Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria—the notable men of the foremost nation, to whom the house of Israel comes!

This is what the Sovereign Father showed me:

This is what the Sovereign Father showed me:

I saw the Sovereign Father standing by the altar, and he said:

The vision of Obadiah. This is what the Sovereign Father says about Edom:

Now the word of our Father came to Jonah son of Amittai:

Then Jonah prayed to our Father from inside the fish:

Then the word of our Father came to Jonah a second time:

But this upset Jonah deeply, and he burned with anger.

The word of our Father to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—what he saw about Samaria and Jerusalem.

Woe to those who plot wickedness and work out evil upon their beds!

Then I said: Listen, leaders of Jacob, rulers of the house of Israel!

In the last days the mountain where our Father's house stands will be firmly established as the highest of the mountains, lifted high above the hills, and peoples will stream to it.

Marshal your forces, daughter of troops! A siege has been laid against us.

Hear what our Father says: Stand, plead your case before the mountains;

How miserable I am! I am like someone who gathers summer fruit, like one who gleans the vineyard after harvest:

An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.

The scatterer has come up against you, Nineveh.

Woe to the city of bloodshed, all full of lies and plunder—the prey never departs!

The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.

I will stand at my watchpost and station myself on the rampart;

A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, on Shigionoth.

The word of our Father came to Zephaniah son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, when Josiah son of Amon ruled Judah.

Gather together, gather yourselves, you shameless nation,

Woe to this rebellious, defiled city—the oppressor!

In King Darius's second year, in the sixth month, on the first day, the word of our Father came through Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua son of Jehoz

In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day, the word of our Father came through Haggai the prophet:

In Darius's second year, eighth month, our Father's word came to Zechariah son of Berechiah, son of Iddo the prophet:

Then I looked up and saw a man with a measuring line in his hand.

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the messenger of our Father, with the Accuser at his right hand to accuse him.

Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me, like someone woken from sleep.

Again I lifted my eyes and looked, and there before me was a flying scroll.

I looked up again—four chariots coming out between two mountains, mountains of bronze.

In King Darius's fourth year, our Father's word came to Zechariah on the fourth day of the ninth month, Chislev.

The word of the Father of heaven's armies came to me, saying:

An oracle: the word of our Father is against the land of Hadrach, and Damascus is its resting place—for the eyes of mankind and all the tribes of Israel are toward our Father,

Ask rain from our Father in the season of the spring rains—our Father who makes the storm clouds;

Open your doors, Lebanon—let fire devour your cedars!

A burden: the word of our Father concerning Israel—the declaration of our Father, who stretches the heavens, founds the earth, forms the human spirit within:

On that day a fountain will open for the house of David and the people of Jerusalem, to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

A day is coming for our Father, when your plunder will be divided among you.

This is the word of our Father to Israel, delivered through Malachi.

Now, priests, this command is for you.

Look, I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me.

Look—a day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and every wrongdoer will be stubble;

This is the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham:

After Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea, in the days of King Herod, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem,

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea,

Then the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up the mountain;

"Take care not to practice your righteousness before others to be seen by them, or you have no reward from your Father in heaven.

"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged.

When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.

Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town.

Jesus called his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to drive them out and heal every disease and every sickness.

After Jesus finished instructing his twelve disciples, he left there to teach and preach in their towns.

At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath.

On that day Jesus went out of the house and sat down beside the sea.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus.

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said,

The Pharisees and Sadducees came to test him, asking him to show them a sign from heaven.

Six days later, Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain alone.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, asking, "Who, then, is greatest in the kingdom of our Father?"

When Jesus finished these words, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea, across the Jordan.

"For the kingdom of our Father is like a landowner who went out at dawn to hire workers for his vineyard.

As they neared Jerusalem and reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples ahead,

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:

Then Jesus spoke to the crowds and to his disciples,

Jesus was leaving the temple when his disciples came to show him its buildings.

"Then the kingdom of our Father will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

When Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,

At dawn, all the chief priests and elders of the people met and plotted to kill Jesus.

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of our Father.

A few days later, when Jesus came back to Capernaum, word spread that he was home.

Once again Jesus entered the synagogue, and a man with a withered hand was there.

Jesus again taught by the sea. So large a crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat on the water and sat, while the whole crowd was on land by the sea.

They came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the Gerasenes.

He went out from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.

The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus,

In those days, again a large crowd gathered with nothing to eat.

He said to them, "Truly I tell you: some standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of our Father come with power."

He left there for the region of Judea and beyond the Jordan;

Nearing Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany by the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead,

He began speaking to them in parables: "A man planted a vineyard, fenced it in, dug a winepress pit, built a watchtower, rented it to farmers, and left.

Leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Teacher, look!

Two days before Passover and Unleavened Bread, the chief priests and scribes were looking for a way to seize Jesus by trickery and kill him.

At dawn the chief priests, elders, scribes, and the whole council consulted together, bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate.

When the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to go anoint him.

Since many have undertaken to compile an ordered account of what has been accomplished among us.

In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree to register the whole inhabited world.

In Tiberius Caesar's fifteenth year, when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias of Abilene,

Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan, led by the Spirit in the wilderness.

Once, as the crowd pressed around him to hear our Father's word, Jesus stood by Lake Gennesaret.

On a Sabbath, Jesus walked through grainfields;

After he had finished saying all this to the people, he entered Capernaum.

Soon after, he traveled through towns and villages, preaching and announcing the good news of our Father's kingdom.

Jesus called the twelve together, gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.

After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two more, sending them ahead of him two by two, into every town and place he himself intended to go.