But let none of you suffer as a murderer or thief or criminal or as a troublemaker.

Greet one another with a loving kiss. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

Dear friend, you demonstrate faithfulness by whatever you do for the brothers (even though they are strangers).

When their fathers or brothers come and protest to us, we’ll say to them, “Do us a favor and let them be, for we could not get each one a wife through battle. Don’t worry about breaking your oath! You would only be guilty if you had voluntarily given them wives.’”

They refused to obey and did not recall your miracles that you had performed among them. Instead, they rebelled and appointed a leader to return to their bondage in Egypt. But you are a God of forgiveness, merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and unfailing in your loyal love. You did not abandon them,

Therefore, O king, may my advice be pleasing to you. Break away from your sins by doing what is right, and from your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps your prosperity will be prolonged.”

He prayed to the Lord and said, “Oh, Lord, this is just what I thought would happen when I was in my own country. This is what I tried to prevent by attempting to escape to Tarshish! – because I knew that you are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in mercy, and one who relents concerning threatened judgment.

God said, “Let the water swarm with swarms of living creatures and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the sky.”

And all living things that moved on the earth died, including the birds, domestic animals, wild animals, all the creatures that swarm over the earth, and all humankind.

Then he said to them, “If you agree that I may bury my dead, then hear me out. Ask Ephron the son of Zohar

When the boys grew up, Esau became a skilled hunter, a man of the open fields, but Jacob was an even-tempered man, living in tents.

I have oxen, donkeys, sheep, and male and female servants. I have sent this message to inform my lord, so that I may find favor in your sight.’”

But you said, ‘I will certainly make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand on the seashore, too numerous to count.’”

Then Shechem said to Dinah’s father and brothers, “Let me find favor in your sight, and whatever you require of me I’ll give.

So I will extend my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do among them, and after that he will release you.

And the Lord did this on the next day; all the livestock of the Egyptians died, but of the Israelites’ livestock not one died.

By your loyal love you will lead the people whom you have redeemed; you will guide them by your strength to your holy dwelling place.

The Lord said to Moses, “I will do this thing also that you have requested, for you have found favor in my sight, and I know you by name.”

The Lord passed by before him and proclaimed: “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness,

then the priest will command that two live clean birds, a piece of cedar wood, a scrap of crimson fabric, and some twigs of hyssop be taken up for the one being cleansed.