You have followed the ways of your sister, so I will place her cup of judgment<n id="1" /> in your hand.

Now I understand that<n id="1" /> you have gone away<n id="2" /> because you longed desperately<n id="3" /> for your father&#8217;s house. Yet why did you steal my gods?&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

Have you not copied their behavior<n id="1" /> and practiced their abominable deeds? In a short time<n id="2" /> you became even more depraved in all your conduct than they were!

Balak said to Balaam, &#8220;Did I not send again and again<n id="1" /> to you to summon you? Why did you not come to me? Am I not able to honor you?&#8221;<n id="2" />

I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated<n id="1" /> all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">Absalom said to Hushai, &#8220;Do you call this loyalty to your friend? Why didn&#8217;t you go with your friend?&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">When he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, the king asked him, &#8220;Why didn&#8217;t you go with me, Mephibosheth?&#8221;

For the <sc>Lordsc> gave me strict orders,<n id="1" /> &#8216;Do not eat or drink<n id="2" /> there and do not go home the way you came.&#8217;&#8221;

He said, &#8220;Why do you want to go see him today? It is not the new moon<n id="1" /> or the Sabbath.&#8221; She said, &#8220;Everything&#8217;s fine.&#8221;<n id="2" />

I was with you wherever you went and I defeated<n id="1" /> all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth.<n id="2" />

<p class="poetry">I will say,<n id="1" /> &#8216;My dear children of Israel,<n id="2" /> keep in mindp> <p class="poetry">the road you took when you were carried off.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">Mark off in your minds the landmarks.p> <p class="poetry">Make a mental note of telltale signs marking the way back.p> <p class="poetry">Return, my dear children of Israel.p> <p class="poetry">Return to these cities of yours.p>

<p class="bodytext">Then the daughter of Pharaoh<n id="1" /> came down to wash herself<n id="2" /> by the Nile, while her attendants were walking alongside the river,<n id="3" /> and she saw the basket among the reeds. She sent one of her attendants,<n id="4" /> took it,<n id="5" />

<p class="bodytext">The Ephraimites said to him, &#8220;Why have you done such a thing to us? You did not summon us<n id="1" /> when you went to fight the Midianites!&#8221; They argued vehemently with him.

For the <sc>Lordsc> gave me strict orders,<n id="1" /> &#8216;Do not eat or drink<n id="2" /> there; do not go back the way you came.&#8217;&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">Jehoram<n id="1" /> received this letter from Elijah the prophet: &#8220;This is what the <sc>Lordsc> God of your ancestor David says: &#8216;You<n id="2" /> have not followed in the footsteps<n id="3" /> of your father Jehoshaphat and of<n id="4" /> King Asa of Judah,

When you leave me today, you will find two men near Rachel&#8217;s tomb at Zelzah on Benjamin&#8217;s border. They will say to you, &#8216;The donkeys you have gone looking for have been found. Your father is no longer concerned about the donkeys but has become anxious about you two!<n id="1" /> He is asking, &#8220;What should I do about my son?&#8221;&#8217;p>

Now, O <sc>Lord,sc> God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, &#8216;You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel,<n id="1" /> provided that your descendants watch their step and serve me as you have done.&#8217;<n id="2" />

Now, O <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, &#8216;You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel,<n id="1" /> provided that your descendants watch their step and obey my law as you have done.&#8217;<n id="2" />