Then from the wicked the light is withheld, and the arm raised in violence is broken.

if he retains it for himself and does not let it go, and holds it fast in his mouth,

You gave the weary no water to drink and from the hungry you withheld food.

If I have refused to give the poor what they desired, or caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

My child, do not go down their way, withhold yourself from their path;

Do not withhold good from those who need it, when you have the ability to help.

People will curse the one who withholds grain, but they will praise the one who sells it.

Two things I ask from you; do not refuse me before I die:

Your misdeeds have stopped these things from coming. Your sins have deprived you of my bounty.’

So now, go back where you came from! I said that I would greatly honor you; but now the Lord has stood in the way of your honor.”

You imparted your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths; you provided water for their thirst.

You grant him his heart’s desire; you do not refuse his request. (Selah)

Do not withhold discipline from a child; even if you strike him with the rod, he will not die.

That is why the rains have been withheld, and the spring rains have not come. Yet in spite of this you are obstinate as a prostitute. You refuse to be ashamed of what you have done.

A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the Lord’s work! A curse on anyone who keeps from carrying out his destruction!

Jacob became furious with Rachel and exclaimed, “Am I in the place of God, who has kept you from having children?”

And they came to Balaam and said to him, “Thus says Balak son of Zippor: ‘Please do not let anything hinder you from coming to me.

For the Lord God is our sovereign protector. The Lord bestows favor and honor; he withholds no good thing from those who have integrity.

Do not chase after other gods until your shoes wear out and your throats become dry. But you say, ‘It is useless for you to try and stop me because I love those foreign gods and want to pursue them!’

The Lord says to her, “Stop crying! Do not shed any more tears! For your heartfelt repentance will be rewarded. Your children will return from the land of the enemy. I, the Lord, affirm it!