and listened to me. As long as I live, I will call to him when I need help.

The one who turns away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer is an abomination.

Their venom is like that of a snake, like a deaf serpent that does not hear,

The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and will not be answered.

Look, the Lord’s hand is not too weak to deliver you; his ear is not too deaf to hear you.

then his master must bring him to the judges, and he will bring him to the door or the doorposts, and his master will pierce his ear with an awl, and he shall serve him forever.

The one who lives uprightly and speaks honestly; the one who refuses to profit from oppressive measures and rejects a bribe; the one who does not plot violent crimes and does not seek to harm others –

Then the king said to the messengers who were stationed beside him, “Turn and kill the priests of the Lord, for they too have sided with David! They knew he was fleeing, but they did not inform me.” But the king’s servants refused to harm the priests of the Lord.