So Moses gave the tribute, which was the Lord’s raised offering, to Eleazar the priest, as the Lord commanded Moses.

The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live near us. So how can we make a treaty with you?”

Manoah said to the Lord’s messenger, “Please stay here awhile, so we can prepare a young goat for you to eat.”

They said to him, “Seek a divine oracle for us, so we can know if we will be successful on our mission.”

Then the Philistine said, “I defy Israel’s troops this day! Give me a man so we can fight each other!”

So David’s servants went and spoke all these words to Nabal in David’s name. Then they paused.

So they buried Abner in Hebron. The king cried loudly over Abner’s grave and all the people wept too.

Then David asked, “Is anyone still left from the family of Saul, so that I may extend kindness to him for the sake of Jonathan?”

So David sent Tamar to the house saying, “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare some food for him.”

So he picked him up and took him to his mother. He sat on her lap until noon and then died.

So Darius the king issued orders, and they searched in the archives of the treasury which were deposited there in Babylon.

So Queen Esther, the daughter of Abihail, and Mordecai the Jew wrote with full authority to confirm this second letter about Purim.

The wicked man is so arrogant he always thinks, “God won’t hold me accountable; he doesn’t care.”

They say, “Come on, let’s annihilate them so they are no longer a nation! Then the name of Israel will be remembered no more.”

Take note, O Lord, of the way your servants are taunted, and of how I must bear so many insults from people!

he taught me, and he said to me: “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live.

Fearing the Lord leads to life, and one who does so will live satisfied; he will not be afflicted by calamity.

Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover to the ear of the one who listens.

Turn to me so you can be delivered, all you who live in the earth’s remote regions! For I am God, and I have no peer.

So take warning, Jerusalem, or I will abandon you in disgust and make you desolate, a place where no one can live.”