Be careful<n id="1" /> not to make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, for when<n id="2" /> they prostitute themselves<n id="3" /> to their gods and sacrifice to their gods, and someone invites you,<n id="4" /> you will eat from his sacrifice;

but you must not go out from the entrance of the Meeting Tent lest you die, for the Lord&#8217;s anointing oil is on you.&#8221; So they acted according to the word of Moses.p>

for the <sc>Lordsc> your God, who is present among you, is a jealous God and his anger will erupt against you and remove you from the land.<n id="1" />p>

He,<n id="1" /> the God who leads you, will expel the nations little by little. You will not be allowed to destroy them all at once lest the wild animals overrun you.

<t /><p class="bodytext">Be sure you do not forget the <sc>Lordsc> your God by not keeping his commandments, ordinances, and statutes that I am giving you today.

Or who among you has planted a vineyard and not benefited from it? He may go home, lest he die in battle and someone else benefit from it.

Or who among you<n id="1" /> has become engaged to a woman but has not married her? He may go home, lest he die in battle and someone else marry her.&#8221;

The judge<n id="1" /> may sentence him to forty blows,<n id="2" /> but no more. If he is struck with more than these, you might view your fellow Israelite<n id="3" /> with contempt.p>

She told them, &#8220;Head<n id="1" /> to the hill country, so the ones chasing you don&#8217;t find you.<n id="2" /> Hide from them there for three days, long enough for those chasing you<n id="3" /> to return. Then you can be on your way.&#8221;

But be careful when you are setting apart the riches for the <sc>Lordsc>. If you take any of it, you will make the Israelite camp subject to annihilation and cause a disaster.<n id="1" />

They said to him, &#8220;We have come down to take you prisoner so we can hand you over to the Philistines.&#8221; Samson said to them, &#8220;Promise me<n id="1" /> you will not kill<n id="2" /> me.&#8221;

The Danites said to him, &#8220;Don&#8217;t say another word to us, or some very angry men<n id="1" /> will attack you, and you and your family will die.&#8221;<n id="2" />

Be strong and act like men, you Philistines, or else you will wind up serving the Hebrews the way they have served you! Act like men and fight!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, &#8220;Come on, let&#8217;s head back before my father quits worrying about the donkeys and becomes anxious about us!&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">A blacksmith could not be found in all the land of Israel, for the Philistines had said, &#8220;This will prevent the Hebrews from making swords and spears.&#8221;

So now assemble the rest of the army<n id="1" /> and besiege the city and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city and it will be named for me.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Give sincere homage!<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Otherwise he<n id="2" /> will be angry,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and you will die because of your behavior,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">when his anger quickly ignites.<n id="5" />p> <p class="poetry">How blessed<n id="6" /> are all who take shelter in him!<n id="7" />p>

<t /><p class="psasuper">By David.p> <p class="poetry">To you, O <sc>Lordsc>, I cry out!p> <p class="poetry">My protector,<n id="2" /> do not ignore me!<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">If you do not respond to me,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">I will join<n id="5" /> those who are descending into the grave.<n id="6" />p>

<p class="poetry">Make the hearts of these people calloused;p> <p class="poetry">make their ears deaf and their eyes blind!p> <p class="poetry">Otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears,p> <p class="poetry">their hearts might understand and they might repent and be healed.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">So now, do not mock,p> <p class="poetry">or your chains will become heavier!p> <p class="poetry">For I have heard a message about decreed destruction,p> <p class="poetry">from the sovereign master, the <sc>Lordsc> who commands armies, against the entire land.<n id="1" />p>