Loyalty in Loss, Love Until the End

1. Now the Philistines fought against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain on Mount Gilboa. 2. The Philistines followed hard after Saul and after his sons; and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, the sons of Saul. 3. The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was distressed by reason of the archers. 4. Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer would not; for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell on it. 5. When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he likewise fell on his sword, and died. 6. So Saul died with his three sons; and all his house died together. 7. When all the men of Israel who were in the valley saw that they fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and lived in them. 8. On the next day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. 9. They stripped him, and took his head and his armor, and sent into the land of the Philistines all around, to carry the news to their idols, and to the people. 10. They put his armor in the house of their gods, and fastened his head in the house of Dagon. 11. When all Jabesh Gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, 12. all the valiant men arose, and took away the body of Saul, and the bodies of his sons, and brought them to Jabesh, and buried their bones under the oak in Jabesh, and fasted seven days. 13. So Saul died for his trespass which he committed against Yahweh, because of Yahweh’s word, which he didn’t keep; and also because he asked counsel of one who had a familiar spirit, to inquire, 14. and didn’t inquire of Yahweh. Therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse. 1. Then all Israel gathered themselves to David to Hebron, saying, “Behold, we are your bone and your flesh. 2. In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. Yahweh your God said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’” 3. So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Yahweh; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to Yahweh’s word by Samuel. 4. David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (also called Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. 5. The inhabitants of Jebus said to David, “You will not come in here.” Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion. The same is David’s city. 6. David said, “Whoever strikes the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain.” Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief. 7. David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it David’s city. 8. He built the city all around, from Millo even around; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. 9. David grew greater and greater; for Yahweh of Armies was with him. 10. Now these are the chief of the mighty men whom David had, who showed themselves strong with him in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to Yahweh’s word concerning Israel. 11. This is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam, the son of a Hachmonite, the chief of the thirty; he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them at one time. 12. After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13. He was with David at Pasdammim, and there the Philistines were gathered together to battle, where there was a plot of ground full of barley; and the people fled from before the Philistines. 14. They stood in the middle of the plot, defended it, and killed the Philistines; and Yahweh saved them by a great victory. 15. Three of the thirty chief men went down to the rock to David, into the cave of Adullam; and the army of the Philistines were encamped in the valley of Rephaim. 16. David was then in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was in Bethlehem at that time. 17. David longed, and said, “Oh that one would give me water to drink from the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” 18. The three broke through the army of the Philistines, and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem, that was by the gate, and took it, and brought it to David; but David would not drink any of it, but poured it out to Yahweh, 19. and said, “My God forbid me, that I should do this! Shall I drink the blood of these men who have put their lives in jeopardy?” For they risked their lives to bring it. Therefore he would not drink it. The three mighty men did these things. 20. Abishai, the brother of Joab, he was chief of the three; for he lifted up his spear against three hundred and killed them, and had a name among the three. 21. Of the three, he was more honorable than the two, and was made their captain; however he wasn’t included in the three. 22. Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, who had done mighty deeds, killed the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion in the middle of a pit on a snowy day. 23. He killed an Egyptian, a man of great stature, five cubits high. In the Egyptian’s hand was a spear like a weaver’s beam; and he went down to him with a staff, plucked the spear out of the Egyptian’s hand, and killed him with his own spear. 24. Benaiah the son of Jehoiada did these things, and had a name among the three mighty men. 25. Behold, he was more honorable than the thirty, but he didn’t attain to the three; and David set him over his guard. 26. The mighty men of the armies also include Asahel the brother of Joab, Elhanan the son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 27. Shammoth the Harorite, Helez the Pelonite, 28. Ira the son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, Abiezer the Anathothite, 29. Sibbecai the Hushathite, Ilai the Ahohite, 30. Maharai the Netophathite, Heled the son of Baanah the Netophathite, 31. Ithai the son of Ribai of Gibeah of the children of Benjamin, Benaiah the Pirathonite, 32. Hurai of the brooks of Gaash, Abiel the Arbathite, 33. Azmaveth the Baharumite, Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 34. the sons of Hashem the Gizonite, Jonathan the son of Shagee the Hararite, 35. Ahiam the son of Sacar the Hararite, Eliphal the son of Ur, 36. Hepher the Mecherathite, Ahijah the Pelonite, 37. Hezro the Carmelite, Naarai the son of Ezbai, 38. Joel the brother of Nathan, Mibhar the son of Hagri, 39. Zelek the Ammonite, Naharai the Berothite, the armor bearer of Joab the son of Zeruiah, 40. Ira the Ithrite, Gareb the Ithrite, 41. Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai, 42. Adina the son of Shiza the Reubenite, a chief of the Reubenites, and thirty with him, 43. Hanan the son of Maacah, and Joshaphat the Mithnite, 44. Uzzia the Ashterathite, Shama and Jeiel the sons of Hotham the Aroerite, 45. Jediael the son of Shimri, and Joha his brother, the Tizite, 46. Eliel the Mahavite, and Jeribai, and Joshaviah, the sons of Elnaam, and Ithmah the Moabite, 47. Eliel, and Obed, and Jaasiel the Mezobaite. 1. Now these are those who came to David to Ziklag, while he was a fugitive from Saul the son of Kish. They were among the mighty men, his helpers in war. 2. They were armed with bows, and could use both the right hand and the left in slinging stones and in shooting arrows from the bow. They were of Saul’s relatives of the tribe of Benjamin. 3. The chief was Ahiezer, then Joash, the sons of Shemaah the Gibeathite; Jeziel and Pelet, the sons of Azmaveth; Beracah; Jehu the Anathothite; 4. Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the thirty and a leader of the thirty; Jeremiah; Jahaziel; Johanan; Jozabad the Gederathite; 5. Eluzai; Jerimoth; Bealiah; Shemariah; Shephatiah the Haruphite; 6. Elkanah, Isshiah Azarel, Joezer, and Jashobeam, the Korahites; 7. and Joelah and Zebadiah, the sons of Jeroham of Gedor. 8. Some Gadites joined David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear; whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains: 9. Ezer the chief, Obadiah the second, Eliab the third, 10. Mishmannah the fourth, Jeremiah the fifth, 11. Attai the sixth, Eliel the seventh, 12. Johanan the eighth, Elzabad the ninth, 13. Jeremiah the tenth, and Machbannai the eleventh. 14. These of the sons of Gad were captains of the army: he who was least was equal to one hundred, and the greatest to one thousand. 15. These are those who went over the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all who lived in the valleys, both toward the east and toward the west. 16. Some of the children of Benjamin and Judah came to the stronghold to David. 17. David went out to meet them, and answered them, “If you have come peaceably to me to help me, my heart will be united with you; but if you have come to betray me to my adversaries, since there is no wrong in my hands, may the God of our fathers see this and rebuke it.” 18. Then the Spirit came on Amasai, who was chief of the thirty, and he said, “We are yours, David, and on your side, you son of Jesse. Peace, peace be to you, and peace be to your helpers; for your God helps you.” Then David received them, and made them captains of the band. 19. Some of Manasseh also joined David, when he came with the Philistines against Saul to battle; but they didn’t help them; for the lords of the Philistines sent him away after consultation, saying, “He will desert to his master Saul to the jeopardy of our heads.” 20. As he went to Ziklag, some from Manasseh joined him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, captains of thousands who were of Manasseh. 21. They helped David against the band of rovers; for they were all mighty men of valor, and were captains in the army. 22. For from day to day men came to David to help him, until there was a great army, like God’s army. 23. These are the numbers of the heads of those who were armed for war, who came to David to Hebron, to turn the kingdom of Saul to him, according to Yahweh’s word. 24. The children of Judah who bore shield and spear were six thousand eight hundred, armed for war. 25. Of the children of Simeon, mighty men of valor for the war, seven thousand one hundred. 26. Of the children of Levi four thousand six hundred. 27. Jehoiada was the leader of the household of Aaron; and with him were three thousand seven hundred, 28. and Zadok, a young man mighty of valor, and of his father’s house twenty-two captains. 29. Of the children of Benjamin, Saul’s relatives, three thousand: for until then, the greatest part of them had kept their allegiance to Saul’s house. 30. Of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers’ houses. 31. Of the half-tribe of Manasseh eighteen thousand, who were mentioned by name, to come and make David king. 32. Of the children of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their heads were two hundred; and all their brothers were at their command. 33. Of Zebulun, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, with all kinds of instruments of war, fifty thousand, and who could command and were not of double heart. 34. Of Naphtali one thousand captains, and with them with shield and spear thirty-seven thousand. 35. Of the Danites who could set the battle in array, twenty-eight thousand six hundred. 36. Of Asher, such as were able to go out in the army, who could set the battle in array, forty thousand. 37. On the other side of the Jordan, of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and of the half-tribe of Manasseh, with all kinds of instruments of war for the battle, one hundred twenty thousand. 38. All these were men of war, who could order the battle array, and came with a perfect heart to Hebron, to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were of one heart to make David king. 39. They were there with David three days, eating and drinking; for their brothers had supplied provisions for them. 40. Moreover those who were near to them, as far as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali, brought bread on donkeys, on camels, on mules, and on oxen: supplies of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Israel.

1. Now before the feast of the Passover, Jesus, knowing that his time had come that he would depart from this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. 2. During supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him, 3. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he came from God, and was going to God, 4. arose from supper, and laid aside his outer garments. He took a towel, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5. Then he poured water into the basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6. Then he came to Simon Peter. He said to him, “Lord, do you wash my feet?” 7. Jesus answered him, “You don’t know what I am doing now, but you will understand later.” 8. Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus answered him, “If I don’t wash you, you have no part with me.” 9. Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!” 10. Jesus said to him, “Someone who has bathed only needs to have his feet washed, but is completely clean. You are clean, but not all of you.” 11. For he knew him who would betray him, therefore he said, “You are not all clean.” 12. So when he had washed their feet, put his outer garment back on, and sat down again, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? 13. You call me, ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord.’ You say so correctly, for so I am. 14. If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. 15. For I have given you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. 16. Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him. 17. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. 18. I don’t speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with me has lifted up his heel against me.’ 19. From now on, I tell you before it happens, that when it happens, you may believe that I am he. 20. Most certainly I tell you, he who receives whomever I send, receives me; and he who receives me, receives him who sent me.” 21. When Jesus had said this, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, “Most certainly I tell you that one of you will betray me.” 22. The disciples looked at one another, perplexed about whom he spoke. 23. One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was at the table, leaning against Jesus’ breast. 24. Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom he speaks.” 25. He, leaning back, as he was, on Jesus’ breast, asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26. Jesus therefore answered, “It is he to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27. After the piece of bread, then Satan entered into him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28. Now no man at the table knew why he said this to him. 29. For some thought, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus said to him, “Buy what things we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. 30. Therefore having received that morsel, he went out immediately. It was night. 31. When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him immediately. 33. Little children, I will be with you a little while longer. You will seek me, and as I said to the Jews, ‘Where I am going, you can’t come,’ so now I tell you. 34. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also love one another. 35. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” 36. Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you can’t follow now, but you will follow afterwards.” 37. Peter said to him, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38. Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for me? Most certainly I tell you, the rooster won’t crow until you have denied me three times. 1. “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. 2. In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. 3. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also. 4. Where I go, you know, and you know the way.” 5. Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6. Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. 7. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on, you know him, and have seen him.” 8. Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” 9. Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you such a long time, and do you not know me, Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father. How do you say, ‘Show us the Father?’ 10. Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I tell you, I speak not from myself; but the Father who lives in me does his works. 11. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me; or else believe me for the very works’ sake. 12. Most certainly I tell you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also; and he will do greater works than these, because I am going to my Father. 13. Whatever you will ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14. If you will ask anything in my name, I will do it. 15. If you love me, keep my commandments. 16. I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever,— 17. the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you. 18. I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. 19. Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. 20. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21. One who has my commandments, and keeps them, that person is one who loves me. One who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him, and will reveal myself to him.” 22. Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, what has happened that you are about to reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23. Jesus answered him, “If a man loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him. 24. He who doesn’t love me doesn’t keep my words. The word which you hear isn’t mine, but the Father’s who sent me. 25. I have said these things to you, while still living with you. 26. But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you. 27. Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, give I to you. Don’t let your heart be troubled, neither let it be fearful. 28. You heard how I told you, ‘I go away, and I come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I said ‘I am going to my Father;’ for the Father is greater than I. 29. Now I have told you before it happens so that, when it happens, you may believe. 30. I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world comes, and he has nothing in me. 31. But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father commanded me, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here. 1. “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer. 2. Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3. You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4. Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. 5. I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6. If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7. If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you. 8. “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples. 9. Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love. 11. I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full. 12. “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you. 13. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14. You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you. 15. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant doesn’t know what his lord does. But I have called you friends, for everything that I heard from my Father, I have made known to you. 16. You didn’t choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain; that whatever you will ask of the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17. “I command these things to you, that you may love one another. 18. If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, since I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21. But all these things will they do to you for my name’s sake, because they don’t know him who sent me. 22. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23. He who hates me, hates my Father also. 24. If I hadn’t done among them the works which no one else did, they wouldn’t have had sin. But now have they seen and also hated both me and my Father. 25. But this happened so that the word may be fulfilled which was written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’ 26. “When the Counselor has come, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will testify about me. 27. You will also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. 1. “I have said these things to you so that you wouldn’t be caused to stumble. 2. They will put you out of the synagogues. Yes, the time comes that whoever kills you will think that he offers service to God. 3. They will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4. But I have told you these things, so that when the time comes, you may remember that I told you about them. I didn’t tell you these things from the beginning, because I was with you. 5. But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6. But because I have told you these things, sorrow has filled your heart. 7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go away, the Counselor won’t come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8. When he has come, he will convict the world about sin, about righteousness, and about judgment; 9. about sin, because they don’t believe in me; 10. about righteousness, because I am going to my Father, and you won’t see me any more; 11. about judgment, because the prince of this world has been judged. 12. “I have yet many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. 13. However when he, the Spirit of truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth, for he will not speak from himself; but whatever he hears, he will speak. He will declare to you things that are coming. 14. He will glorify me, for he will take from what is mine, and will declare it to you. 15. All things whatever the Father has are mine; therefore I said that he takes of mine, and will declare it to you. 16. A little while, and you will not see me. Again a little while, and you will see me.” 17. Some of his disciples therefore said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me;’ and, ‘Because I go to the Father’?” 18. They said therefore, “What is this that he says, ‘A little while’? We don’t know what he is saying.” 19. Therefore Jesus perceived that they wanted to ask him, and he said to them, “Do you inquire among yourselves concerning this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you won’t see me, and again a little while, and you will see me?’ 20. Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21. A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world. 22. Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you. 23. “In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24. Until now, you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be made full. 25. I have spoken these things to you in figures of speech. But the time is coming when I will no more speak to you in figures of speech, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26. In that day you will ask in my name; and I don’t say to you, that I will pray to the Father for you, 27. for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came from God. 28. I came from the Father, and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” 29. His disciples said to him, “Behold, now you are speaking plainly, and using no figures of speech. 30. Now we know that you know all things, and don’t need for anyone to question you. By this we believe that you came from God.” 31. Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32. Behold, the time is coming, yes, and has now come, that you will be scattered, everyone to his own place, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. 33. I have told you these things, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have oppression; but cheer up! I have overcome the world.”

1. Praise Yah! I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart, in the council of the upright, and in the congregation. 2. Yahweh’s works are great, pondered by all those who delight in them. 3. His work is honor and majesty. His righteousness endures forever. 4. He has caused his wonderful works to be remembered. Yahweh is gracious and merciful. 5. He has given food to those who fear him. He always remembers his covenant. 6. He has shown his people the power of his works, in giving them the heritage of the nations. 7. The works of his hands are truth and justice. All his precepts are sure. 8. They are established forever and ever. They are done in truth and uprightness. 9. He has sent redemption to his people. He has ordained his covenant forever. His name is holy and awesome! 10. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom. All those who do his work have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!