When you eat your fill, when you build and occupy good houses,

Take away the insults that I dread! Indeed, your regulations are good.

So you will walk in the way of good people, and will keep on the paths of the righteous.

Those who are evil will bow before those who are good, and the wicked will bow at the gates of the righteous.

The Beloved to Her Lover: Oh, how I wish you would kiss me passionately! For your lovemaking is more delightful than wine.

Absalom would then say to him, “Look, your claims are legitimate and appropriate. But there is no representative of the king who will listen to you.”

Two people are better than one, because they can reap more benefit from their labor.

The fragrance of your colognes is delightful; your name is like the finest perfume. No wonder the young women adore you!

ט (Tet) Those who died by the sword are better off than those who die of hunger, those who waste away, struck down from lack of food.

I also gave them decrees which were not good and regulations by which they could not live.

The Lord then addressed good, comforting words to the angelic messenger who was speaking to me.

They said to him, “If you are fair to these people, grant their request, and are cordial to them, they will be your servants from this time forward.”

So when Rehoboam humbled himself, the Lord relented from his anger and did not annihilate him; Judah experienced some good things.

Nevertheless you have done some good things; you removed the Asherah poles from the land and you were determined to follow the Lord.”

“You came down on Mount Sinai and spoke with them from heaven. You provided them with just judgments, true laws, and good statutes and commandments.

Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these days?” for it is not wise to ask that.

Then you will remember your evil behavior and your deeds which were not good; you will loathe yourselves on account of your sins and your abominable deeds.

They said to him, “Today if you show a willingness to help these people and grant their request, they will be your servants from this time forward.”

Sow your seed in the morning, and do not stop working until the evening; for you do not know which activity will succeed – whether this one or that one, or whether both will prosper equally.

“The Lord who rules over all says, ‘The fast of the fourth, fifth, seventh, and tenth months will become joyful and happy, pleasant feasts for the house of Judah, so love truth and peace.’