You deliver oppressed ¹  people, but you watch the proud and bring them down. ² 

Now send word quickly to David and warn him, ¹  “Don’t spend the night at the fords of the desert ²  tonight. Instead, be sure you cross over, ³  or else the king and everyone who is with him may be overwhelmed.” ⁴ 

Gad went to David and told him, “Shall seven ¹  years of famine come upon your land? Or shall you flee for three months from your enemy with him in hot pursuit? Or shall there be three days of plague in your land? Now decide ²  what I should tell the one who sent me.”

So Abner spoke again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me! I do not want to strike you to the ground. ¹  How then could I show ²  my face in the presence of Joab your brother?”

All the people and all Israel realized on that day that the killing of Abner son of Ner was not done at the king’s instigation. ¹ 

Then Absalom went to the king and said, “My shearers have begun their work. ¹  Let the king and his servants go with me.”

The one who touches them must use an iron instrument or the wooden shaft of a spear. They are completely burned up right where they lie!” ¹ 

When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the trees, act decisively. For at that moment the Lord is going before you to strike down the army ¹  of the Philistines.”

For the sake of your promise and according to your purpose ¹  you have done this great thing in order to reveal it to your servant. ² 

The king said to Shimei, “You won’t die.” The king vowed an oath ¹  concerning this.

Foreigners are powerless before me; ¹  when they hear of my exploits, they submit to me. ² 

But evil people are like thorns – all of them are tossed away, for they cannot be held in the hand.

I represent the peaceful and the faithful in Israel. You are attempting to destroy an important city ¹  in Israel. Why should you swallow up the Lord’s inheritance?”

She said, “In the past they would always say, ‘Let them inquire in Abel,’ and that is how they settled things.

It seems like you arrived just yesterday. Today should I make you wander around by going with us? I go where I must go. But as for you, go back and take your men ¹  with you. May genuine loyal love ²  protect ³  you!”

Now, O sovereign Lord, you are the true God! ¹  May your words prove to be true! ²  You have made this good promise to your servant! ³ 

Because he committed this cold-hearted crime, he must pay for the lamb four times over!” ¹ 

Then the woman said, “Please permit your servant to speak to my lord the king about another matter.” He replied, “Tell me.”

I, the servant of my lord ¹  the king, give it all to the king!” Araunah also told the king, “May the Lord your God show you favor!”

David said on that day, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must approach the ‘lame’ and the ‘blind’ who are David’s enemies ¹  by going through the water tunnel.” ²  For this reason it is said, “The blind and the lame cannot enter the palace.” ³