“In that day,” says the Lord, “I will destroy your horses from your midst, and smash your chariots.

The best of them is like a thorn; the most godly among them are more dangerous than a row of thorn bushes. The day you try to avoid by posting watchmen – your appointed time of punishment – is on the way, and then you will experience confusion.

Cush and Egypt had limitless strength; Put and the Libyans were among her allies.

You too will act like drunkards; you will go into hiding; you too will seek refuge from the enemy.

Why do you force me to witness injustice? Why do you put up with wrongdoing? Destruction and violence confront me; conflict is present and one must endure strife.

Your creditors will suddenly attack; those who terrify you will spring into action, and they will rob you.

He is as bright as lightning; a two-pronged lightning bolt flashes from his hand. This is the outward display of his power.

Indeed, Gaza will be deserted and Ashkelon will become a heap of ruins. Invaders will drive away the people of Ashdod by noon, and Ekron will be overthrown.

On the twenty-first day of the seventh month, the Lord spoke again through the prophet Haggai:

Then the Lord spoke again to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month:

The crown will then be turned over to Helem, Tobijah, Jedaiah, and Hen son of Zephaniah as a memorial in the temple of the Lord.

“‘It then came about that just as I cried out, but they would not obey, so they will cry out, but I will not listen,’ the Lord Lord who rules over all had said.

So on that day I will set out to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”

“In that day there will be a fountain opened up for the dynasty of David and the people of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and impurity.

And people will settle there, and there will no longer be the threat of divine extermination – Jerusalem will dwell in security.

“All nations will call you happy, for you indeed will live in a delightful land,” says the Lord who rules over all.

When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless.

Isaac had just finished blessing Jacob, and Jacob had scarcely left his father’s presence, when his brother Esau returned from the hunt.

If he said, ‘The speckled animals will be your wage,’ then the entire flock gave birth to speckled offspring. But if he said, ‘The streaked animals will be your wage,’ then the entire flock gave birth to streaked offspring.

In three days, when they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, each took his sword and went to the unsuspecting city and slaughtered every male.